#join me in being Sad about eurydice again

[leahblackk]

The Spencer Song

summary: Spencer’s best friend, Y/n, can’t take Spencer locking himself in the apartment anymore.

warnings: quick mention of death, maeves arch, brief mention of spencer’s addiction and relapsing (he doesn’t it’s just mentioned) and a quick mention of unaliving (again it doesn’t happened but it’s mentioned quickly. reader it’s just worried about him) Spencer sad and crying but mainly comforting

couple: spencer reid x fem!reader

taglist: @ssavanessa22, @hey-dw, @reidselle, @demigirl2007, @matthew-gray-gubler-lover, @nomajdetective, @cance1medaddy, @doctorspenceryeet, @all-tings-diego. If you wanna join my taglist here it is the link. (and if you wanna be removed let me know)

honestly this is exactly what the team should’ve done when spencer locked himself in the apartment. it also reminds me of that post @boldlyvoid did on how they’d kick spencer’s door down when this happened 🫶🏻

The young agent was worried about her best friend and also coworker, Spencer Reid. Spencer loved a woman who was out of his reach, not because she didn't love him back, but because as well as the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, she was taken by the god of death, being held by the forever dream. He had to see her, being taken in front of his eyes, while Y/n saw how the love of her life fell for another person who wasn't her, saying they both were heartbroken for different reasons and for different people.

But she didn't care about that anymore, she didn't care when Spencer didn’t reply texts or calls and didn't open the door when all his friends went and knocked.

To say she was worried, was an understatement.

She heard how Hotch told her, Garcia, and JJ to just give him time, that he wanted to be alone and he was gonna come back whenever he was ready.

It didn't sit right with her, she didn't want to just wait and she couldn't believe the others just agreed on waiting. They went to knock on his door and leave him stuff but weren't they worried he was gonna relapse, or even worse, do something to himself?

She sat in Pen’s office while she moved in the chair, thinking, thinking about him. She always thought about him, even if he didn’t even think of her, or maybe he did, but not as the same as she did for him.

When he first told her about Maeve, and how he described her as “The most beautiful girl in the world to me,” she wanted to throw up. She wanted to hide away and cry. Of course she knew that Spencer did not loved her back, but to know he loves someone else deeply hurt her. She put on a smile whatsoever, told him and gave him advice, and when she was taken away from him, she was the one holding him.

While he sobbed on his knees on the floor, he was in shock. She held him, making him bury his face in her neck so he wouldn't have to see, covering his ears so he wouldn't have to hear.

He held her just as strongly, crying into her neck. It felt nice that someone was holding him, he felt good that she was holding him.

After that, she led him away and took him home safely, making sure he went to bed. She left something for him to just heat in the morning and left the apartment.

But after that, she wrote him, and he did not answer.

She called and he did not answer.

She went to his apartment and he didn't open the door. It made her worry, but she couldn't do anything more. She wanted to, she was incredibly worried.

Pen frowned looking at her, and sighed, her and Morgan being the only ones who knew about her crush, it broke their heart when she came to them crying because “Spencer loves someone else and it isn't me,” but Pen knew she was worried about him. About him not answering her, about him locking himself in the apartment.

“Love, he's gonna be okay…” She tried to encourage.

“What if he's not Pen?” she whimpered.

“He's Spencer, he's gonna be okay.”

Y/n nodded, but she didn't believe the blonde girl's words. They didn't know Spencer like her, he always locked himself away but not from her, she was his best friend. I mean, yeah JJ was as well, but JJ had kids and a husband, meanwhile Y/n, well, she had him.

She couldn't leave this like this. She couldn't just leave him like everyone else did. Maybe it's because they don't love him like she does, of course they don't, because she's in love with him, because he is the first and last thought of her day, because she wants him.

She sighed and made her way to her car, she wasn't gonna leave this like this. She wasn't gonna leave him.

…

She made tiredly her way to Spencer's building, door 23. The baskets placed outside carefully, just two weren't there, hers, and the one Penelope left. She smiled softly knowing that at least he took a little bit of what they left.

She knocked carefully, “Spencer,” she called, pressing her ear against the door, “I know you are in there,” she says, “Can you please come out and just tell me you are alive?”

Nothing.

Not even a sound from the other side, she sighed, but not defeated yet.

“Alright if that's what you want. I won't leave until you come out, and I am serious.”

She moved the baskets a little bit to the side so she could sit against the door with her legs crossed, “We all missed you. Today's case was interesting. You know how I'm always talking about the police dogs? Well I got to work with them. There was this one, her name was Luna, she was the cutest. I really want one, do you think I should get one?”

He didn't answer, of course.

“Mmm it feels awful when you ignore me. It's like I'm talking to the door,” she tried to joke.

Spencer, from the other side, smiled at her lame joke.

She smiled sadly, “Well are you gonna eat this? Cause Morgan here brought some almonds and you know how much i love them,” she grabbed the basket and picked up the card he left for him, “Dear Spencer, I brought this little gift for you. I know it's not a lot, but it's with so much love, your brother, Derek.”

Spencer wiped the tears on his face after hearing her, of course he saw the basket, but he didnt think too much of it, he sniffed silently and sat on the floor with his legs crossed.

“Aww that's so cute,” Y/n said, “I'm still eating the almonds though. “

The doctor chuckled softly.

With her fingertips trembling a little, she picked up a little almond and brought it to her mouth, chewing softly. A door on the other side of the hallway, opened, after hearing someone talking, Y/n looked at them and smiled, “Spencer, one of your neighbors is so nosey please open the door so i don't have to give explanations,” she whispered.

Spencer didn't though, she sighed, “Thanks bestie.”

He felt guilty, yet did not move.

…

Half of the day has passed, Spencer hasn't opened the door, but she wasn’t gonna give up.

“I know what's gonna cheer us up,” the young agent said, “A little song!”

Spencer groaned, softly. She was always doing that, making up songs everytime, which, deep down he liked, but he wasn't gonna confess that to her, otherwise she'd tease him.

“This is the Spencer song,” she said, “Spencer spenceeer, please open the door,

“I’m gonna eat all your food in these baskets and you're gonna end up with nothing at all. Spencer Spenceeer please open the door, this hardwood floor is a pain in the ass and-”

Spencer opened the door, which made her fall back, she groaned and looked up, looking at him, who was sitting on the floor.

Red eyes, dark circles, hair a mess, but he still managed to be the most beautiful man to her, she smiled, “Hey there fancy seeing you here mate!” she tried to make a british accent, he just stared at her.

“You don't give up, do you?” He spoke, with a raspy voice.

“Nope. Stubbornness 101 my friend,” Spencer rolled his eyes.

He stood up, and walked inside of the apartment, sitting down on the couch where he had a couple of cans of drinks, books and a photo of Maeve.

Y/n stood up, closing the door and walked to him, sitting down next to him. Picking up some cans from the floor and putting it on the table in front, she looked at him, who was staring at the photo, she smiled sadly.

“You wanna talk about it?” she asked.

Spencer shook his head, biting his lower lip, the tears threatening to come out once again, his lip quivered. Y/n quickly pushed him into her chest, which Spencer didn’t fight back, he quickly hugged her burying himself into her arms while she played with his hair, while she shushed him, “it’s okay Spencer it’s all fine you’re safe with me okay? you’re okay,” she comforted.

He nodded, he believed her, he was safe now.

#criminal minds #spencer reid #spencer reid x fem!reader #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid angst #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fluff #criminal minds angst #criminal minds fluff #spencer reid one shot #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #criminal minds fic

[castiels-trenchcoat1234]

The more i think about the SPN finale the more i think about Orpheus and Eurydice, and Destiel is a lot like their story in a sense. Two lovers, separated by death and one makes a deal with a higher being to try and rescue/bring back the other, but there's a catch and something goes wrong and they end up separated again

When has that NOT been their dynamic?!

Look at him, this sad depressed sad man, this is directly after Castiel got booted to superhell or like absorbed into the goo. Which honestly I know this post is about Orpheus and Eurydice parallels, I just remembered when Dick or whoever the fuck told Dean that his future was covered in black ooze, that black ooze was definitely the Empty imo, idgas if it was said on the edge of the Leviathan arc. That line was directed at the love confession scene IMO

Anyway...I can't find the exact clip but I actually don't think they follow the story in complete parallel instead I think it's switched or like upside down. Where, at least in this example, the one that dies was the one that made the deal with a higher being. And the one alive is the one that stays and waits to be rescued or beg for their lover back.

They're relationship is complex and that's what I love about it, This relationship is real-er and deeply emotional, Cass is family and a good friend and he saved Dean's life more than once. They've learned things from each other and bonded over the human condition. It's probably deeper than anything dean has ever had (even with Benny). And it's because they come back to each other even when if it would be better for them to stay apart or they're separated by death or a couple state boarders. They come back. And when they don't the one that stayed alive searches for a way to bring them back, or gives up all hope and tries to join them through suicide or suicide missions, because living without the other is worse than death yknow. And honestly I wish i could relate lol.

Having a Greek mythology/mythology in general Hyperfixation that eclipses my Supernatural Hyperfixation is actually going to kill me.

#orpheus #eurydice #benny spn #destiel #spn #supernatural #spn s15 #greek mythology #parallels #i did not reread this post before posting

[tending-the-hearth]

why hadestown was literally one of the best shows i've ever seen

so i saw hadestown this past saturday for the first time ever and when i tell you i have never been so emotionally wrecked by a broadway show before

so i've compiled a little list of my favorite things from the show!!

act 1:

orpheus doing the stomping cues for the opening with hermes... that's his mom your honor!!!

"his mama was a friend of mine" THAT LINE WHEN LILLIAS WHITE VOICED CALLIOPE IN THE DISNEY HERCULES MOVIE I LOVE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT LIKE ORPHEUS' MOM REALLY IS ONE OF HER FRIENDS

short king orpheus and tall wife eurydice supremacy

jordan fisher was SUCH a sweet and silly orpheus, like he was fully tripping over himself around eurydice the entire first act

LOVE the chorus so so much

eurydice being so cynical until she sees what orpheus can do and then immediately falling for him

they're the definition of "he fell first, she fell harder"

also during "wedding song", orpheus continues to reach out to eurydice, and then during "all i've ever known", the way she reaches out to him but it's so hesitant and awkward, but orpheus just beams and immediately holds onto her 😭

hades and persephone were playing dominoes up on their little balcony and they actually looked so in love until orpheus started the epic, such good bg character acting

lillias white and betty who said mama bears hermes and persephone supremacy!!!

persephone #1 wingwoman she wants these two idiots to get married immediately

the entirety of "way down hadestown" with eurydice and orpheus being giggly and in love!! they're so so oblivious and focused on each other, just the most innocent love

adding onto the fact that jordan is shorter than both solea and phillip the moment where he jumps between them at the end of the song was so silly

i really love the detail that orpheus stays on stage for "a gathering storm" and the rest of the act, he's so focused on his work and doesn't notice anything

i was worried "wait for me" wouldn't live up to the hype but OH MY GOD OH MY GODDDDDDDD

the little details between hades and persephone, with them shifting from how they were acting in the balcony to persephone barely being able to reach out to hades

act 2:

love that eurydice is naive like orpheus, but in a cynical way

holy SHIT solea my beloved "flowers" was actually godlike

what if i lost my mind at how gentle orpheus was when he found eurydice... what if...

the way eurydice drew back when hades told orpheus that she went with him willingly, like she was ready for him to be angry at her... the way he went right back to her and was checking to make sure she was okay

literally started sobbing during "if it's true", the way orpheus gets angry in a way we haven't seen, and the chorus + eurydice join with him

when the chorus removed their caps and became people again... i was a wreck for the rest of the act ngl

"epic 3" or as i like to call it the "hey look at how hard i can cry" song

orpheus comparing himself to hades, and it being so emotional because we see how innocent and happy he is, how he loves so much, and has so much hope, and seeing how hades had become, and knowing that without eurydice, that's how orpheus becomes, giving up on love and life until he's killed

HADES AND PERSEPHONE DANCING 😭😭 THEY WERE SO PLAYFUL AND HAPPY

jordan and solea were just... the most amazing orpheus and eurydice. they just had such sweet chemistry, and "wait for me" reprise with them reaching for each other UGH

the way you could hear orpheus quietly crying as hermes began to sing the "road to hell" reprise somebody sedate me

IT'S ABOUT SINGING THE SAD SONG AND CONTINUING TO HAVE HOPE THAT IT'LL TURN OUT HAPPY THIS TIME

the only reason i didn't completely decompose is because the knowledge that in the myth, when orpheus dies, hades gives orpheus and eurydice their memories back, and they get to be together, happily, in the underworld.

anyways if i had the money and it was possible i'd fully go see hadestown over and over and over again because it just was so beautiful and impactful plus i'm a sucker for good greek mythology retellings

#hadestown #broadway #orpheus #eurydice #hades #persephone

[absintheandtextbooks]

Message in a Bottle Part 2

penpals Au

content warning: Alcohol, events of the show can't think of much else.

Author's note: sorry for the delay life has life-ed quite a lot but I've had a chance and drive to pick this up again and enjoyed it immensely. hopefully there will be less of a break after this one!

2021 - New Years

Mabel’s aunt wasn’t fully moved out by November, she didn’t fully clear the apartment until mid December. She had started to move in then and had barely finished putting all her boxes in by Christmas. By the time the 31st finally rolled around she had unpacked all of her boxes and was sitting in a bare but intact apartment. As midnight slowly ticked closer she poured herself glass after glass of cheap wine and listened to brighter and brighter music until the room seemed warm and shimmery and her head started to spin. She didn’t like being here tonight but it felt dishonest and almost disrespectful to leave. She cracked open her paints and began priming a wall. By 10:30 she had a new blank canvas. By 10:35 all of her paints were open and glistening in the dim lights she had on but looking at the blank wall she didn’t start painting. Instead, in the warm buzz of light she took out a small piece of pressboard and pulled up google images. She stumbled across several paintings she was entranced with: Orpheus by Franz von Stuck, The Death of Orpheus by Henri Leopold Levy, and Orpheus Lamenting Eurydice by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. In each there was a profound sense of loneliness and quiet. Even though in one Orpheus was playing he seemed deeply sad. She began to sketch on the pressboard. She poured her own loneliness into the sketch glancing over the poetry her Orpheus has sent. The painting began as bright, the background a scattering of colors with a figure silhouetted in blue, an indistinct figure - her Orpheus. At 11:42 she could tell the painting wasn’t done. It felt incomplete. Colors swirled around the figure but he still felt distant, separate. She stepped back and closed her paints, grabbing the rest of her bottle and throwing a thick coat on and headed to the roof. The door handle was icy as she reached towards it despite how thick the door was and it squeaked as it opened and clattered closed. She felt steady enough to sit on the barrier, remembering the feeling of her legs dangling over the street from her childhood but kept herself firmly planted on the ground. Instead she downed the rest of her wine. Snow was falling gently on her cheeks and pleasantly cooled the wine-blush there. She set the empty bottle beside her feet and pulled out her phone. She started a message to Orpheus and then paused. Then, deciding she started typing, quickly. 

Orpheus, 

I’ve been meaning to ask. Haven’t for a while, but meant to ask, why did you join this penpal thing, all those years ago. If you’re comfortable telling me. I want to know - I’d like to know. But no pressure. My friend died. I miss them so much but they were always so bright. Everyone loved them but they were like flashpaper. They burned so bright so fast - now it seems almost inevitable they’d burn out. They never did anything by halves and I loved them so much - like a sibling. So for some reason I couldn’t really get over it. It seems like it shot a hole in my life just dragging things into it. Thank you for talking with me. I just wanted to share. I’m not fully sure why. 

~CS 

With one more cursory glance out at the city, Mabel bundled the coat closer around her and grabbed the bottle, dragging herself back inside, the melting snowflakes making her hair damp and leaving tiny puddles as it dripped on the elevator floor. 

~~~~~~

This New Years was treating Theo much like every other one. He was at some odd dinner party where his father was paying him just enough attention he couldn’t complain about it. He knew no one. After hunting, his father had found him an apartment just far enough away from the Arconia that he was pretty sure he could avoid contact as much as possible, which just made Theo want to visit the damned place less. However, his father was throwing a party there. It always made Theo nervous, having that many people in the same place his father hid the jewels. So, Theo stayed stationary at parties, his back to the miniscule gap in the bookcase just thinking. As he absently sipped whatever concoction his father was serving he read through his files on his phone, poetry just out of reach as a means to cope tonight. He wanted to go back to his apartment, to completely check out but he knew that would just earn him a deeply disappointed look and a very long lecture about the family business and his father sticking his neck out for him and how this was the least he could do. So he stayed, resting the champagne flute on the shelf so he could try to let words bubble up. Stubbornly the words didn’t seem to come. Everything he tried to write felt disjointed - hollow. None of the words doing justice to the swirl of colors and images in his head. Every time he blinked green and silver and gold seemed to glimmer across an inky black the gentle sparkle turning to a quick blur and disappearing. He could see Zoe’s face turn from anger and disgust to shock as she felt the emptiness beneath her and he could feel the numbness of not being in his own body, truly not knowing how he was standing or moving or breathing. 

The words kept not coming as the hours ticked by. A few of his father’s guests would nod politely to him or converse briefly but none of them wanted to keep up the effort of the conversation. As midnight swiftly approached he closed out the files on his phone sharply, finished his glass and went to grab his coat from the room acting as a coat closet. As he finally dug his coat out of the pile his phone buzzed. He rolled his eyes as he pulled it out of his pocket to check the notification, expecting it to be his dad demanding he stay later. It wasn’t. He sat down sharply on the pile of coats, his slung loosley in his arm as he opened his phone to read. It was from Callie. The words seemed like those he’d been trying to reach for as he wrote earlier. They were achingly honest and vulnerable. It was unlike most of the things Callie had sent up till then. She always seemed to stick to short conversational and friendly but almost sterile responses - devoid of the gut wrenching depth he was reading. They were what he would consider friends, each sharing things about themselves but she was always a little distant. Theo hadn’t minded, so was he, but this was different. He wondered what her evening had looked like to lead to the message she sent, probably bleak (much like his own he secretly hoped). 

He paused with his finger hovering over the response button. He genuinely didn’t know what to say. It didn’t feel like there was much he should say. The coats were warm but seemed to waft up a cacophony of smells. The light was bright in the room reflecting off of several mirrors. Maybe the champagne was getting to him. He deftly tapped the response button and began typing quickly, finally the words he was struggling over unblocking. 

Callie, 

I can’t fully explain now. I don’t know if I ever can but I don’t mind telling you a bit. I’d also like you to know. Something happened that I can’t tell my part in. I just know the end point of everything. I can remember a numbness - almost as if I was trapped inside my body but apart from it. I think I was in shock. I can see colors and images and flashes of the whole thing but can’t quite put it all in focus. Even now as I’m trying to remember its swimming in my head and it hurts. And even now i’m scared of it. I’m scared of me. I don’t know if I can talk about it anymore but I never want to feel like that again and I feel trapped. Here. now. Not urgently - you don’t need to call anyone or do anything I don’t either it’s just a feeling. The numbness keeps coming back. 

Thank you for sharing. 

Orpheus

His finger hovered over the send button. And then suddenly, almost as a surprise to himself his finger lunged forward and hit send. Theo stood and pocketed his phone, pulling his coat on and waving to his father as he gently closed the door. As he began to leave and heavily pressed the elevator button the light went on quickly as the elevator seemed to be passing through his floor. As the doors opened he could see a haggard young woman standing inside. She looked damp and like she was deeply tired but her eyes were bright. A wine bottle was held loosely in her fist and her other hand held her coat snugly around her. He looked at the buttons and saw that every number was pressed. She slowly drifted her eyes up to meet his and seemed to barely recognize him. He also thought she looked familiar but couldn’t quite put a finger on it. She tilted her head toward the buttons, not saying anything and leaned towards the wall, letting it hold her up. He pointed at the still lit first floor and went to the opposite side, standing upright in the other corner. He briefly glanced over at her again, trying to catch another glance and try to figure out who she was but her dark hair had fallen limply, its damp locks obscuring her face. She stayed completely still the whole ride down and as he exited the elevator he watched her start pushing all the buttons again as the doors began closing. He wondered how Callie was doing. He hoped she was ok and was around people who cared about her on what was clearly a rough day, and he hoped hearing from him helped her as much as hearing from her had helped him. 

2021 January 31

Mabel was alight with the mystery; it was late in the evening and she was back in the Arconia after a day with Oscar and her mother. She was fresh off of wanting to leave the podcast and finding a new and incredibly exciting clue and was ravenous to find Tim’s killer. And, they had just figured out Teddy Dimas was Angel! It was fantastically exciting. She sat buried in blankets in bed just wired. She wasn’t sure if sleep was possible. On top of all of that, she and Oscar had kissed. It was a very overwhelming day. She glanced over at her stack of puzzles but remembered how late it was. Not wanting to be drawn into a puzzle and be up so late she would be of no help the next day she laid down and opened her phone. She scrolled online for 10 minutes before finally opening her email. She’d reread Orpheus’s message several times since New Years and read it again now. The words were just as stark this time as every other, clear and distinct but unlike his beautiful use of syntax in poetry. She turned the words over in her head before opening some of his other poems, letting the words resonate in her mind, calming her down. She opened a new email to Orpheus. 

Orpheus, 

I’ve had a very busy day! I reconnected with a childhood friend and it was romantic and wonderful and work is going incredibly well!! My day has been electric but I seem to be reaching for your words to calm down. You really should look at publishing these. They’re beautiful. You have this sense of rhythm I can’t seem to find in most other poetry. I just wanted to message you quickly to say I appreciate them and you should let the world see them! I hope you’re doing well. 

~Callie 

As she finished the message she smiled slightly and flipped the lights off, setting an alarm on her phone and snuggling under the blankets to drift off to sleep. 

~~~~~~

Water was dripping into the sink, reflecting off of the scalpel and tools at the bottom of the sink and spraying all over Theo’s blue scrub-like coverall leaving little dark specks. Amidst it all he felt a buzz on his phone. He dropped the tools onto a towel and carefully pulled off his gloves, throwing them in the hazardous waste and sitting on the stool he frequented. He saw the message was from Callie. He’d gotten messages from her at all times but hadn’t opened them in the funeral home before. It felt wrong for some reason. But his life felt like it was falling to pieces and he’d found himself looking at her paintings more and more. Getting a message from her when it felt like her stuff had been keeping him ticking though the weird podcast he’d been glued to, terrified of people finding out, especially that Mabel Mora. She had been one of Zoe’s friends and was hyper-focused on Tim’s murder. He worried about her just a bit, alongside his whole thing. He figured it wasn’t long before he was found out and was just trying to come to terms with the whole thing. Upon reading Callie’s message he was happy for her but a little sad. But, flattered. He felt a warmth in his chest as he reread her compliments of his work. He wanted to write more but was unsure about showing people at large. He liked Callie as his audience. She seemed to understand. He resigned himself to finish cleaning up but couldn’t bring himself to respond to the message. Not today. 

2021 February 4

Theo was terrified and felt incredibly dirty. Mabel and Oliver had seen him. He’d had people see the horrible bullshit he was doing. For so incredibly long. His father’s dirty secret was potentially about to get dragged into the stark light of day. He was secretly excited about that but that excitement was eclipsed by how awful he felt about kidnapping Mabel and Oliver. As much as it sounded horrible, that's what he did. He wasn’t sure what to do. He’d driven and driven and driven and driven just hoping a solution would present itself. It hadn’t. But his father had. They had finally stopped in a dump and his father had picked them all up and threatened Mabel and Oliver. He knew acutely what that felt like. His father was a terrifying and exacting man. Theo desperately hoped they wouldn’t be intimidated like he always had been - and continued to be. When the two were finally dropped off, Theo sat silently as his father turned to him. They stayed parked outside the Arconia, the rumble of the engine seemed grounding. 

“How did you not see them coming?!” Teddy signed furiously. 

Theo looked down and shrugged, “I’m not sure”. 

“We’ve stayed out of the line of professionals for years. But these amateurs? This is who finds us out. This is absurd. And your fault. How are you so incredibly stupid. I should have cut you out of this years ago. You were never up for it. Never. You’re useless” 

“I’m sorry” 

“USELESS” 

“I’m sorry” 

His father turned back toward the road, scowling and Theo could see him start shouting more expletives. Theo turned toward the window. As his father began to drive him back to his apartment Theo hoped with every fiber of his being that everything would come to light, even if it meant taking him down with it. When his father finally dropped him at his house Theo stumbled upstairs and after throwing the deadbolt and setting the alarm slumped into his bed fully clothed. He opened his messages to Callie. 

Hi, 

This week has been interesting but enough to give me a weird amount of hope, even when things are going terribly bad. There’s a strong chance I won’t be able to email for a bit but maybe maybe after everything is over I will be able to. If you still want me to. 

~Orpheus

#mabel mora #theo dimas #omitb season 2 #theo x mabel #omitb spoilers #mabel mora x theo dimas #mordimas #theobel #au fic #part two came later rather than sooner #i gave them some more friends backstory. and also trauma. unfortunately. whoops #theobel fics

[kittynannygaming]

[Dreamling Bingo 2023] 14

13/25 - You’re here - 15/25

Square: B2 - Enemies to lovers

Title: Uld Ases’ Dreamling Bingo 2023    

Rating: G

Word Count: 1619

Ship(s): Dreamling

Warnings:

Additional Tags:

Summary: Stories

Link: AO3,

For @dreamlingbingo​

Morpheus needed to know exactly who was Eritaké, if he wanted to court her properly. She had a laugh in her eyes and why wouldn’t she? He was very hostile to her only for him to change his behaviour over night. So, yes, she was amused.

“May I know why you’ve suddenly changed your opinion about silly little me?”

“You saved Eurydice, you saved our family. I’m just… grateful.”

“Sooo… Now that you know I’m not going to hurt your family, we can be friends again?”

“Friends… If it is what you want.” Being friends with Eritaké was a good first step. He would learn everything that he need to make his courting successful. “Well, let’s begin again. I’m Dream of the Endless. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled sweetly at him.

“I’m Eritaké, and the pleasure is all mine, Dream of the Endless.” To his surprise, she hugged him.

Two days later, they were on horses, taking the road to Constantinople. Calliope decided to go back to Greece, the Endless went back to their realms, except for Dream (well, he went to his realm when everyone was asleep). And Orpheus and Eurydice decided to join Morpheus and Eritaké.

“Are you going to court Eritaké, Father?” Orpheus looked back at the girls as he finished his sentence.

“I am. Are you… good with that?”

“She saved my wife and she is very nice. It seems like you made a good choice in the future.”

“You are not angry? About your mother?”

“I’ve known for a long time now that you and mother have been more friends than husband and wife. I would have been disappointed if you had, actually, continue with Mother when you’ve a perfectly goodl future wife in front of you.” Morpheus smiled to his son.

“Thank you, my son. We need to find a good place for the night and catch some food for the three of you.”

Once they made camp and the fire was lit, they began to trade stories while cooking. Eritaké caught them nice fishes in a river nearby. There should be a village not far away, they would restock there.

“And you, Eritaké? Don’t you want to tell us a story?” asked Eurydice, once her belly was full.

“Unfortunately, I’ve only sad stories in my head right now.”

“We don’t mind. Not all stories are happy.” answered Orpheus.

“Please. Let us hear the story you’ve in mind.” added Morpheus. Eritaké sighed in defeat.

“Very well. Once upon a time,” she began softly, “there was two young people who were very much in love. The young man was an amazing singer and poet. The young woman was beautiful, kind and righteous. During their wedding day, the bride was playing with her fellow women when a man tried to kidnap her. She run, run, run until, by mistake, she stepped on a snake, who bite her. She died a few moments later.” Eurydice shivered. Orpheus gripped her hand so hard she thought he would break it.

“Driven by the loss, her husband sang so mournfully that the gods took pity on him and told him how to travel to the underworld to retrieve her. There, Hades and Persephone were so moved by his song that they agreed to his demand on one condition: his wife would be following him but he had to be always in front of her and to never look back until they were both safe in the living world. The more the young husband was walking, the more he doubt that she was there. But he never looked back. Not until he set foot in the living world. He needed so much to make sure she was there that he turned around and saw her fade away because if he had, indeed, crossed the threshold to Hades’ Kingdom, she was still on the other side. He lost her a second time. He lost his will to live, then, and when the Maenads tore him apart, he left them, thinking about his dear wife.” Morpheus was still and even paler. He even stop pretending to breath.

“His parents were never the same. They grieved apart, after fighting each other and the poor father built more walls around his heart, as to not succumb to his grief. He took a long time for the parents to be able to look at each other again and a little more to be friends again.” Eurydice, the brave girl (and quite a bit the romantic) asked, to lighten the mood,

“Did the parents found someone to love?”

“The father, yes. That I know of. The mother had a terrible ordeal and I think it will take time before she’s ready for another relationship.”

“Did it was love at first sight between the father and his lover?” Eritaké laughed.

“Oh no! Lust, maybe! He looked so much like a mischievous virgin little lordling to the mercenary his future lover was.” And that come like a surprise to the three of them. They knew she was talking about them, it was obvious and they knew she was good with a sword. But mercenary wasn’t what they suspected. “He was such an arrogant little piece of work.” But she was smiling softly, her eyes far away in the memory of their first meeting.

“How long before they were together?”

“A little more than 600 years. They were together for a little less than a year before…” she stopped.  With everything that happened, Eritaké didn’t had the time to let everything sink in. But now, realizing the enormity of the situation, panic began. She got up and apologized before walking away. She needed to be alone, to breath. And that’s when the tears started.

“I need to see Destiny.” stated Morpheus. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t do anything foolish, Father.” The Endless smirked.

“I’ll try.” He disappeared in a whirlwind of sand. “My brother, I’m in my gallery and I hold your sigil. May I come?”

“I’ve been waiting for you, Dream. Come in.”

Destiny was imposing. Not the tallest, that would be Dream; nor the broadest, that would be Destruction; but he was the most imposing one. Probably the privilege of being the eldest.

“I can’t say I’m not happy with the changes Eritaké brought.” began Destiny. “It would have been a very sad future for our family.”

“I don’t understand. Isn’t it your duty to keep the future from changing?”

“Dream… The past is done, there is no chance of changing it… Well, almost none. The present, it’s depends on the situation. But the future… The future is not written in stone, Dream. Paper burns. Ink can be erased. Stories can be changed. Some things will happen. I think that’s why some writing are still blurry...”

“Blurry?” Destiny exhaled slowly.

“Indeed. Some things will happen. Do you want to see, little brother? It’s not necessary. This life is not anymore.”

“I understand, but I need to know.”

“Very well.”

Morpheus saw the death of Eurydice, he saw his son coming to him to help, the rejection and then, his death. He saw how he fought with Calliope, how they separated, him unable to mourn his son properly. He saw how, 2500 years after, his sister forced him in a tavern where a man (Eritaké, he knew instinctively) bragged that Death was stupid and he would never die. He saw himself scoff at the handsome mercenary and his sister amused by Dream’s dismissal. He saw himself walking to his (Hob, they called him) table and challenged him. Both of them had this gleam in their eyes saying “You don’t know what you’re getting into with me”. They were both stubborn then. It was a ‘make it or break it’ situation.

He saw him at his lowest, after 80 years of bad luck and misery. How he lost his wife, his newborn and then his first born, probably around the same age as Orpheus. He saw the relief in his eyes when Hob said that death was a mug’s game. He saw how Hob came to his defence and damn, that was very enticing. He saw himself getting captured, the death of his dear Jessamy, the century in a glass cage. He saw how he missed his appointment with Hob and, to his surprise, he saw how Hob tried first to save the White Horse then find a new place for their meeting.

Did he had so much faith in his return, after the way they parted the last time they met? Did he had so much faith in him, in them? He saw how the centennial meeting became a weekly meeting. How Hob tried to make him enjoy life. How he charmed him and courted him. How they got together. How they fit so well in each other life, how they fit so well together. And he saw the moment Hob disappeared and, probably, came to them.

“Did you see everything you needed, little brother?”

“Yes, thank you, Destiny. Thank you again for having me. Farewell.”

“Until next time, Dream.”

Destiny looked as his brother disappeared from his realm. He resumed his walk toward his personal corner of the garden. There was a desk and everything needed for a writing activity. Dream wasn’t the only lover of arts and stories in the Endless family. But where Dream was more fantasy, Destiny was more historical fiction and what if he got inspiration from the failed futures? Well, sue him. Taking paper and pen (and wasn’t it marvellous that his realm existed outside of time?), he began writing.

Title: ???

Characters: Lord Raven, Knight Columba

Time frame: 14th century

Enemies to lovers, slowburn, 50k/100k, idiots in love.

#KittyNanny Original Post #KittyNanny Original Work #Dreamling Bingo #Dreamling Bingo 2023 #Enemies to lovers #Eritaké!Hob #Destiny of the Endless #Dream of the Endless|Morpheus #Eurydice (The Sandman) #Orpheus (The Sandman) #Robert 'Hob' Gadling #Dream of the Endless|Morpheus/Robert 'Hob' Gadling #Dreamling #Eurydice/Orpheus (The Sandman)

[solvnvceae]

you sang for me a lullaby, how did it go again?

#hadestownedit #hadestown #hadestown musical #broadwayedit #musicalgifs #musicaledit #eva noblezada #eurydice #broadwaydaily #mythologyedit #mine #i changed the lyrics to lover instead i know #join me in being Sad about eurydice again

[creed-of-cats]

I saw the national tour of Hadestown while they were in DC! Here's some notes I took about it right after the performance:

- at the very end, in "Road to Hell (reprise) when Eurydice is kneeling and lighting the candle, and Hermes is singing about doing it again, he takes her hand and she rests her head against it while he sings.

-orpheus walks on the tables when he sings the first bits of his special song. The ensemble literally assembles and dissembles a path out of them. This comes right after Hermes says "he's touched by the gods". So this is him using his gifts from the side of his heritage, and thus getting closer to the gods.

-hermes gently encourages him from the side, usually gesturing.

-eurydice reveals her dress in a sexy way when she says "take me home" in the song where Orpehus is trying to flirt with her.

-at the beginning of the last song, Hermes sounds extremely choked up, to the point of not being able to sing. He is off to the side for most of the second act, and is often being good friends with persephone in the background. (Pouring each other's wine, looking at each other, laughing together)

-eurydice joins the workers/ensemble for most of second act, and in "doubt comes in" the workers are in a chain starting with Eurydice, their hand holding on to the person's shoulder in front of them

-speaking of "doubt comes in" you literally can't see or hear them in Orpheus's parts. You know they are there, and when they sing they are illuminated brightly, but like Orpheus, you begin to doubt yourself

-orpheus in "wait for me (reprise)" looks panicked and frightened, (hell Orpheus is extremely scared for most of the last songs). While he's walking he looks like he is pulling hard against something, like it takes extreme effort to keep going forward.

-orpehus is very hesitant and weak when he first sings epic lll, but as the song goes on he gets more confident

-song after epic lll (or before???) has a TON going on. Orpheus stands behind Eurydice, his arms tight around her. When Hades gets pissed and comes near them Orpheus holds on tighter and flinches away while Eurydice raised her fists at him the first time, tried to cover Orpheus the second time and clung to him otherwise.

-epic lll When Hades sings la la la Persephone stands in front of him, crying, holding her hands out to him. When he responds again with Orpheus leading him, Hades gently grabs her hands. After their dance they hug tightly for the rest of the next song.

-in Epic ll the light comes to shine upon Orpheus so he looks like a star

-the first time hades shows up to take persephone, Orpheus and eurydice are spooning/lying together in front of them, its really cute.

-in the song where Hades is heckling Orpheus the lights get so bright when he mentions the electric city that you can't look at it.

- the fates are the wind and they are the industrial noises of hadestowm sometimes. They boop hades nose.

-persephone boops eurydice's nose once

-they sing "he kiss the riot" after the bows. Orpheus does not sing after doubt comes in. At first he just collapsed in absolute shock, staying while they begin road to hell reprise, before exiting completely, and comes back later with a banjo (or a guitar?) But he does not speak one word.

-"its you." "Its me" "orpehus?" "Eurydice-" (ik this is the soundtrack but their fucking faces. Oh fuck oh god.)

-when the workers are attacking Orpheus they literally hold him down. He is absolutely terrified of hades.

-several times the workers orbit Persephone, even when she has no lines or role in a song. She looks awfully sad at eurydice a lot

-eurydice is t i n y.

-theres this one giant ensemble member and you could tell when he was singing cause he is so fucking low

- one of the ensemble (one with a nose ring?) Had a little shimmy when he went up to the front to introduce himself both times, it was great.

-the stage has this super cool opening and closing door thing????

#hadestown #hadestown 2021 #hadestown tour #htown

[kinda-just-chillin-here]

Greek Mythology and Julie & the Phantoms

My first watch through of Julie and the Phantoms (JATP), I noticed a few similarities and parallels to certain myths within Greek mythology. On my million rewatches, I paid more attention to see if there were others. This post is all my observations of the parallels, as well as a few possible theories for season 2 the writers could follow for certain storylines. This is a ridiculously long read, I apologize.

**Disclaimers: 

There are spoilers, so if you haven’t finished watching for the first time yet, don’t read this. 

The content in Greek myths can vary depending on the source. This is largely due to the fact they are just super old. So some of the myths might be slightly different. I did my best just to compare to the gist of the myth. 

I’m going to refer to Luke, Reggie, and Alex together as either Sunset Curve or the boys to save space. 

I apologize for any typos and mistakes; midterm season has left me with an empty head.

1. Orpheus

Obviously a major motif in the first season is the Orpheum. Orpheum literally means House of Orpheus. 

Background information of Orpheus:

His mother is Calliope (muse of epic poetry), and depending on the version of the story, his father is either Apollo (god of the sun, healing, music, medicine, archery, and poetry) or King Oeagrus of Thrace. 

Orpheus was considered to be one of the greatest musicians. He had a “divinely gifted voice that could charm anyone who heard it,” no god or mortal could resist his music. 

Let’s look at some of his myths.

Orpheus and Eurydice:

The basic summary of this myth is that Eurydice, Orpheus’ wife, died after being bitten by snakes while running away from a man, Aristaeus, or a satyr (depends on source) who wanted her for himself. Devastated, Orpheus began singing sad songs until he was advised by nymphs to go to the Underworld and bring her back. After singing to Hades and Persephone, they agreed to let Eurydice return to the main world. However, they warned him not to look back before they both entered the light of the surface. He happily began his trek back to the surface. When Orpheus reached the exit, Eurydice in toe, he turned around to see her, anxious to make sure it wasn’t a trick, that she was really there. Only, Eurydice was still in the Underworld, she hadn’t crossed over yet. Orpheus turning around when he did, caused Eurydice to remain in the underworld. 

So who’s who?

Julie = Orpheus (talented musician and desperate to save their love from the Underworld)

Sunset Curve = Eurydice (dead and trapped)

Caleb = Aristaeus and Hades (wants Eurydice/Sunset Curve for himself; controls the place the dead are) 

Hollywood Ghost Club (HGC) = The Underworld

How do they relate? Stand Tall (s1e09) is where it all goes down.

Like Aristaeus, Caleb is pursing Sunset Curve because he wants them for himself (and Caleb is also threaten by the power they have).

Caleb has the boys trapped in the HGC, just like Eurydice in the Underworld. 

Julie had to deal with the idea the boys died (again) when they didn’t show up before the performance. At first she couldn’t, she ran out until she had a sign from her mom, telling her to go on stage. You could argue this sort of parallels the nymphs telling Orpheus to plea to Hades, or that it parallels Orpheus on his journey back to the surface after Hades agreed.

This is where Julie and Orpheus differ. Julie goes onstage, fully believing in the sign from her mother; that even if the boys don’t come, she can do it. The lyrics of Stand Tall are pure genius. “Keep moving on, never look back.” That’s exactly what Julie does. Unlike Orpheus, Julie doesn’t look back. And the boys appear, no longer trapped by Caleb at the HGC. Julie breaks away from the Orpheus formula and wins. 

@multifandomterrors wrote an essay on how it relates too! She has three theories of how it fits and I definitely recommend you check it out!

Bonus reasons Julie is Orpheus:

Orpheus joined Jason and the Argonauts. When the ship was approaching the Sirens, Orpheus saves the crew from death by playing his own music, drowning out the Sirens’ Song. Likewise, Julie is able to save the boys from Caleb. You can argue that her singing Stand Tall acted as a beacon, beckoning the boys away from Caleb and back to her, saving them in the process.

This one is more of a long shot but oh well. Orpheus is said to have a “divinely gifted voice that could charm anyone who heard it,” that no god or mortal could resist his music. The boys say that Julie has “the voice of an angel.” Throughout the season, as soon as Julie starts to sing, people are generally drawn in, even Carrie by the end. 

Onto the next parallel...

2. Lotus Eaters

As soon as the slightest idea of the boys missing the dance was hinted at I knew it was going to happen because ~formulas~, but once they got to the HGC, I had a strong feeling it was going to be a Lotus Eaters situation. 

Summary of the Lotus Eaters:

In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his crew encounter the Lotus Eaters. They do as their name suggests, they eat the peculiar Lotus flower. When the lotus flower is eaten, those who eat it are “overcome with a blissful forgetfulness,” and want to do nothing more than stay where they are. The crew mates had to be dragged back to the ship, otherwise they never would have returned to their duties. The most well known adaptation of this is probably the Lotus Casino in Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, where the characters spend days/years there, only thinking it was a few hours/days. It’s a time warp per se. 

So what’s what?

Hollywood Ghost Club =  Lair/island of the lotus eaters (everyone there appears to have no other worries in life)

The music & dancing = Lotus flower (sucks everyone in)

How do they relate?

Once Caleb starts performing, Sunset Curve are sucked in. Eventually, they are overcome with a “blissful forgetfulness” and forget about Julie and the dance. They only get sucked back out once Caleb mentions it’s the witching hour.

Alex literally says “This place is some sort of time warp.”

When the boys try to leave, the dancers and then Caleb try to reel them back in. 

The next is not directly Greek mythology, but distantly related:

3. Disney’s Hercules 

The story in Disney’s Hercules isn’t exactly what the myths of Heracles are. It’s Disney, so of course the stories are romanticized and changed significantly. First of all, in the original myths, Hercules is really named Heracles, and Megara is nothing more than Heracles’ wife that ends with a tragic story.

In the movie, Hades wants Hercules dead since he is the only one that can ruin his plan to take over the world. He enlists Megara (or Meg, whose soul he owns) to get to know him and find his weakness. As Meg gets to know Hercules, they fall in love. Hades uses this as Hercules’ weakness, and once he outs Meg for working for him, Hercules is emotionally defeated. However, he still gives up his power for 24 hours, as long as Meg remains untouched by harm. Of course that doesn’t happen, and Meg dies while saving Hercules. Her soul is returned to the Underworld, and Hercules journeys down there to save her, even though he might die doing so. Except he doesn’t; he saves Meg, and it’s happily ever after. 

So who’s who?

Alex = Hercules

Willie = Meg

Caleb = Hades

How does it relate?

Like Hades wants Hercules dead, Caleb wants Alex (and the boys) under his control because they are too powerful. He’s threatened by them.

Even though Willie didn’t mean to bring the boys into the mess with Caleb, he still did (no hate, I love my son). Willie acts as Meg in this situation because Caleb still uses him to get to the boys. Caleb gets to put his stamp on them.

Willie, just like Meg, decides to not help Caleb anymore, though he’s still stuck. He cares about Alex, he doesn’t want him to be stuck at the HGC like him forever; he doesn’t want Caleb to own Alex’s soul. So, Willie helps Alex and the boys with their plan to crossover. 

In Stand Tall, right before You’ve Got Nothing to Lose, Caleb appeals to each of the boys’ weakness. Caleb says “Everything you want, including Willie, is right here.” Just like Hades uses Meg against Hercules, Caleb uses Willie against Alex.

Potential Season 2 Willex Storyline

The parallel to Hercules and Meg isn’t finished. Alex hasn’t saved Willie from Caleb yet, and Caleb hasn’t been defeated yet. We don’t see Willie after the Willex hug in Stand Tall. I think it’s safe to assume that Willie is not safe from Caleb, especially since he helped Sunset Curve escape Caleb’s curse. There’s a lot of things that could happen. One of my assumptions is that Caleb is going to use Willie as bait to lure Alex back in. Another is that, like how Hercules goes to the Underworld to save Meg’s soul,  Alex is going to actively choose to return to the HGC to try to save Willie from Caleb. 

And the last parallel to Greek mythology in season 1...

4. Cheyenne Jackson

He plays Hades in Descendants 3, a Disney movie, meaning he’s the same Hades as in Hercules. 

Caleb Covington, you could argue is the “king of the dead” in JATP

That’s it, that’s the parallel.

Possible Season 2 Storylines

Cephalus and Procris (I’m not as familiar with this myth, but it basically goes like this)

Cephalus and Procris are happily married and very in love with each other. One day, the goddess of dawn, Eos, kidnaps Cephalus because she wants him to herself. Depending on the version you read, Cephalus either sleeps with Eos, or he doesn’t, but regardless, his only concern is how much he loves his wife, Procris. Eos finds that annoying, and plants the idea in his head that Procris is cheating on him when she releases him eight years later. Cephalus returns to Procris, disguised as another man, to see if she would remain faithful. A disguised Cephalus continuously brings Procris presents, and slowly, Procris is swayed by the mysterious man. When Cephalus reveals himself, Procris runs away, ashamed, and joins Artemis’ hunt. Eos wins essentially. She get’s Cephalus... until Procris returns, trying to make amends with her husband. He takes her back, but not long after Procris hears rumors that Cephalus has been unfaithful. She follows him on a hunt, hiding behind a bush. Cephalus hears a bush move, and thinking it’s an animal, he shoots, killing Procris. In the end, Eos still wins as Procris is no longer in the picture, and she could theoretically be with him. Expect Cephalus exiles himself and Eos is never seen again.

How could this apply to JATP season 2?

Julie = Procris

Luke = Cephalus

Caleb = Eos

Caleb-Possessed-Nick = Disguised man

Since Caleb possessed Nick at the end, I assume his plan is to get Julie to pick Nick, thus pushing Luke away from her. Caleb wants Luke and the boys to himself, and as long as Julie is in the picture, that won’t happen. As Caleb-Possessed-Nick tries to flirt and get closer to Julie, Luke will see this and get jealous. His jealousness could lead to tensions between Julie and Luke, making the band a bit awkward, maybe even a big fight that pushes Luke to think about joining Caleb, or at least isolating himself where Caleb would have easy access. I think it would be a very loosely applied parallel, but the idea of Caleb working to cause a rift between Luke and Julie to get Luke by himself is a major possibility. Regardless, Caleb-Possessed-Nick is going to get in the way of Luke and Julie’s slow burn pining for each other. 

A General Thought Not Related to Greek Mythology 

Regardless of what the writers end up doing, I think Caleb’s best plan would be to target the boys individually; like the continuance of the Hercules parallel with Willex and potential Cephalus & Procris parallel with Juke. I don’t know how he would isolate Reggie, maybe something with his family, but targeting the boys one-on-one would be the most strategic move for Caleb. He could even get super manipulative with it. He could say something like “Alex already agreed” or something along those lines to try to persuade the boy he is talking to. 

Additionally, I don’t have any theories on where Carrie and Julie’s relationship may go, but i’m looking forward to a Carrie redemption arc. As far as where Bobby fits in, I read someone’s theory that Caleb may approach him, offering to help keep his reputation as Trevor Wilson, if he helps deal with the boys somehow. I’m sure there’s a potential greek myth that fits a potential Bobby and the boys storyline, but out of the ones I can think of right now, there aren’t. Betrayal is a huge theme in greek mythology though.

Anyway...

While the original target audience was kids and the show probably wasn’t meant to be this deep, as a screenwriter myself, I find it super useful (and fun) to parallel classic stories and myths when I write. It can add a sense of nuance to the story, especially when done right. I hope the writers (assuming at least the Orpheus and Lotus Eaters parallels were intentional) continue to parallel the season with some form of myth or classic story, only to then completely flip the ending. 

If you actually took the time to read ALL of this, my god, I applaud you, you amazing human. Thank you so much for reading it. I’d love to hear what y’all think or what theories y’all have as well!

#julie and the phantoms #julie and the himbos #jatp #julie molina #madison reyes #luke patterson #charlie gillespie #alex jatp #owen patrick joyner #owen joyner #reggie jatp #jeremy shada #caleb covington #hollywood ghost club #carrie wilson #trevor wilson #dirty candy #flynn jatp

[theartofimaginaryfriends]

I have an idea for a request. After Luke dies his partner (a child of Apollo) misses him so much they do what Orpheus did with Eurydice and maybe instead of being an idiot like Orpheus and looking back it has a happy ending?

A Second Chance

Premise: Inspired by "Doubt Comes In" from Hadestown, Luke and Y/N face the same test that Hades gave Orpheus and Eurydice.

MASTERLIST

A/N: This is the longest fic I’ve written in a while, and honestly not mad about it. Probably my favourite one I’ve written by far! Hope you enjoy it and please let me know if you like the longer fics more and I will do that XD

The trek back to the mortal world was harder than the Trek into it. The wind grew colder, which was unusual for the summertime. As if Hades tricked them, and this was useless. Y/N felt themself losing energy with every step, knowing this test was going to be the hardest yet. It was designed to make Y/N feel hopeless and to try and keep Luke from having a second chance at life.  

Y/N felt like they were alone, and Luke wasn't truly following them. Like it was a terrible punishment, and for what? They helped save the world. Luke was the one that ended it. Why did Hades feel the need to test them when they had just helped the Gods. Luke was right, the Gods were selfish and had no regard for the Demigods that fought for them. What was the point of this? Was Luke even behind them or was this a clever tactic Hades thought of to get rid of them until they were inevitably killed?

The two Demigods had been through so much together. Y/N joined Kronos' side to be with their boyfriend, wanting nothing more than to be by Luke's side. They watched Luke as he struggled to gain control over Kronos when the Titan entered his body. The fear that went along with it, knowing that if Kronos gained full control once again, Luke would die. Y/N wasn't having any of that. They wanted to be with Luke again, they needed to be with him.  

Still, the doubts tugged at the back of their mind. Why would Luke even bother to follow them back into a world that wasn't kind to them in the first place? Why would he even think to make himself available for the Gods once again? He was ready for death, ready to spend the rest of Eternity in Elysium. Who were they to think Luke loved them enough to endure more pain?  

Luke tried to talk to his partner as they continued up the path, thinking it would help keep them from turning around. Despite his mixed feelings towards going back to the mortal world, Luke knew that his love for Y/N would make everything better. Perhaps the Gods would never ask for a favour from them again? Maybe part of him wants to know if Hermes was willing to be a better father to him? He wanted to see the outcome.  

He spoke to Y/N, even as his throat went dry, to try and help their ambition. He could see the effect this test had on them, but he didn't know that it was too loud in Y/N's mind for them to hear their partner's reassuring words. "I'm right here, Y/N. Keep going we can do this."  

Luke refused to lose hope, to succumb to the energy in the Underworld. He kept rehearsing in his head the reason why they were doing this. He had to remember so he kept following. The worst thing Luke could imagine was breaking the heart of his partner, having them go through all of that only to see that Luke isn't behind them. He couldn't do that Y/N.  

Y/N couldn't help but think about Hades' promise. They were just a mere demigod, something that many Gods viewed as disposable. They didn't think Hades was telling the truth, but it was getting harder and harder not to turn around. The voices in Y/N's head grew louder and louder, taunting them further.  

The voices told Y/N that it wasn't worth it. Why believe Hades? Luke wasn't behind them anyway, so turning around wouldn't affect anything. Hades wouldn't let a soul go just because their partner came down to get them back. Persephone was gone, back in Olympus with the rest of the Gods. Without her, Y/N was shocked that they were even allowed a test. Hades couldn't have been serious, he wasn't the type without someone he cared about insisting he listens to the person pleading.  

The world has never been a good place for demigods, but Y/N still saw the potential it had. Hope was all they had when Luke was revealed to be the traitor, and he convinced them that the world could be the way they saw it if they joined. When they lost the battle, Y/N couldn't see the world in the way they wished anymore. All they could see was the sadness and despair. Trauma hit them hard as they walked on, at this point was certain Luke wasn't behind them anymore.  

It felt like a trick and a trap at the same time. As if the God put Y/N on a wild goose chase until they ended up dying in the Underworld, only to be placed in a part of this place away from their boyfriend. Were they really going to exit out of the Door of Orpheus, or was this all for nothing?  

Luke continued to attempt at reassuring words to say to his significant other, ignoring the sandpaper feeling in his mouth. "I'm still here. We're almost at the Door, babe."  

After what felt like hours, the demigods reached a dead end. In front of Y/N was the Door of Orpheus, and Luke could tell they were trying their hardest not to turn around to check. There was still an air of hopelessness, but neither of them gave up now. They made it this far.  

Exhausted, out of breath and scared, Y/N began to sing. Their voices filled the chamber as they expressed the pain they felt the past few years. They sang about Luke's betrayal, and how he convinced them to join Kronos. About Kronos using Luke as a vessel into the mortal world, and taking over his body. About the final battle and the demigod’s final sacrifice.  

Luke was mesmerized. He cried as the door shuddered open and revealed Central Park, finally understanding what he had put Y/N through during the war. He walked forward, wiping the tears from his eyes, ignoring that they kept flowing. Both demigods waited until the door closed, and finally, Y/N turned around.  

Their eyes met with Luke's, filled with tears from their music. It took a moment to process what they were seeing. They had passed Hades' test and Luke was with them again. Y/N rushed forward, not caring about the mortals looking at the two roughed up teens. Luke scooped them up in his arms and spun them around. "We did it."

"You were behind me the whole time," they breathed out. Y/N couldn't believe it, but they were overjoyed. The trek wasn't for nothing, and Hades actually kept his promise. Both demigods smiled like idiots at each other, happy to be together again.  

Luke pulled Y/N closer and kissed them, grateful that they got through this. At that moment, he didn't care what people were going to say about them when they went back to camp. All that mattered was that they were back together, and nothing was going to get in the way of that.

#luke castellan #luke castellan x reader

[itskyleeyo]

hadestown brain dump (songs)

SPOILERS FOR HADESTOWN/THE STORY OF ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

ok so it may have been more than a few days, but what're you gonna do about it?

so i wanted to do another brain dump, and i wanted to listen to hadestown, so i'm doing a song by song brain dump as i go along. this means that my thoughts are going to be even more stream-of-consciousness style (if that's even possible.) also i'm talking specifically about the original broadway cast recording bc i haven't listened to any other version. (also this was completed across multiple months so it is even more chaotic lmao).

also i highly recommend that you listen to the musical and/or pull up the lyrics as you go along! enjoy!

road to hell. the way andre brings in the chorus is flawless please. also the way that hermes is both a narrator and a character in the story he's narrating? beautiful. "the king of the mine." he sounds so nice here for some reason. also love his self-introduction "maybe it will turn out this time" no it won't but thank you for trying. also breaking the fourth wall to acknowledge the chorus and crew is so nice, here comes reeve ;) mans sounds like an angel. you can hear amber's voice stick out of the chorus and i literally love it so much. i'd die for amber gray but we'll get to that later.

any way the wind blows. the fates literally sound so perfect together. Eva's intro throws me off every time, she sounds so pretty. dear god the harmonies with the fates hit so different. can this cast please narrate my life? there's the wind comparisons ;D the "ooos" are so good. "and it ain't because i'm kind" idk i just like how andre sounds here. oh and the funny behind "so i took him underneath my wing" because hermes has wings on his helmet and shoes.

come home with me. orpheus is so oblivious but i love it. also eurydice is literally such a mood. the wordplay with "come again". the "oh, he's crazy" is my favorite part of the whole song. also eva's voice acting is so good.

wedding song. the way she says "lover"? my ass cannot handle this. eva sounds so smug in the beginning of this song and i love it. "sing the song ;)" eurydice is so fantastic. the chorus of "la" is so pretty. eva joining in during the end is just. so perfect.

epic i. hell yeah introduce the king and queen (both literally and figuratively). reeve's falsetto <3 the way orpheus looks to hermes for approval throughout the musical. hermes narrating over orpheus singing.

livin' it up on top. HELL YES THE QUEEN HAS ARRIVED. i love amber gray so much. the gravel and the rasp. please step on me. also i love the idea of persephone being the wine aunt, especially because media usually portrays her as soft and breakable. the way she says "haaard". the way the music gets more upbeat and energetic when hermes says "the world came back to liiife!" the instrumental/dance? break is so good. please kill me with that trumpet good sir. the leadup to when amber starts singing again. orpheus really knows how to give a speech. "i will ;)" amber please step on me i am not joking.

all i've ever known (intro). thank you for the intro king. the music is so pretty. the way it picks up with the piano part <3

all i've ever known. eva sounds so pretty dear god. yay more wind references! the wordplay with "hold". and also the references to hot and cold throughout the musical. "i don't wanna ever have to let you go." lol ironic because she ends up going with hades. "i knew you before we met, and i don't even know you yet." the fucking wordplay. like holy shit. the "love at first sight" feelings. this line gets me every damn time. the wordplay from 2:10 - 2:38 is so fucking incredible. i lose it every time istg. the instrumental portion is so pretty. the wind! "we'll always be like this" i fucking love irony so much. its so underrated and adds so many layers to the story.

way down hadestown. amber gray. that's it. "you either get to hell or to hadestown, ain't no difference anymore". i fucking love this line so much. not really sure why but the delivery is perfect. also the whole thing with it being a train? i love that so much. all the allusions and comparisons they can make are fantastic. more amber gray appreciation. and ofc. the fates. more fantastic instrumental breaks. "and you better forget about your wishing well." this line is so good but so sad because its literally persephone saying that "hey, fair warning, life is shit down there" and i feel bad for her. like the way she's super sassy and shit, but just stops singing when hades gets there, you can tell that she's definitely not ok. speaking of hades, holy shit patrick page. sounds so fucking fantastic. thank you for existing good sir. eva with the breathtaking single lines. and eva's voice standing out when she sings "ground".

a gathering storm. the constant references to weather and nature throughout the whole musical. eurydice with the common sense. the wind again! "did you hear me, orpheus?" he did not, in fact, hear her.

epic ii. the different names for hades in each epic make me so happy. hades thoughts: "i think my wife might not come back cause i'm super controlling. whatever shall i do? oh, i know! be even more controlling!" lmao dumbass motherfucker. that might not work out so well. i fucking love the transition into "chant" so much.

chant. this is one of my favorite songs from the musical. the wordplay within the entire song is so fucking fantastic. hades singing about desire and then orpheus singing the "song of love" was definitely done on purpose and i'm living for it. every single one of eva's lines make me emotional. ma'am why are you good at everything?? the band! more weather references! patrick page singing "lover" hits different. orpheus singing about hades and persephone being blind and deaf. lmao irony because he's not paying attention to anything around him. the wind! weather! "the song of love" is what brought orpheus and eurydice together, but orpheus' devotion to finishing it is what drives eurydice to hades. "did you think i'd be impressed" i was right ;) it didn't work out so well.

hey, little songbird. the strings <3 patrick page is a god (lol i'm so funny). how does he manage to make manipulation sound so good? bird references! the vocal contrast! eva's voice has this kind of "innocence" to it. especially compared to patrick. not sure if that's on purpose or not, but i love it. also the low note kills me every time. the octave jumps between patrick and eva's voices is just. ugh. and also eva's entire second verse is so fucking good. the emotion she portrays in her voice is so spectacular. seriously hades with the manipulation is so interesting and its so good. (manipulation is not a good thing i just mean that its done so well in the show. do not manipulate people!)

when the chips are down (intro). "your ticket ;)" yes pls sir i'll take a ticket cause life sucks ass.

when the chips are down. i fucking love the fates dear god. gambling references! eva has literally one line and still owns my heart. the band! "shoot to kill" sounds so good like i love it so much pls. also this fucking line "cast your eyes to heaven, you get a knife in the back" is so good. i'm gonna have to get into quite a few lines throughout the musical in a different brain dump because i have so much thought.

gone, i'm gone. darling eurydice. its not your fault that you're starving stop apologizing. "talk of sin" lol she do be going to hell. that's funny. the harmonies.

wait for me (intro). the piano. heremes trying to change the subject hurts my heart. and orpheus' reaction is so sad please. "no.." just rip my fucking heart out, why don't you?

wait for me. the transition. andre coming in clutch with the narration. reeve sounds wonderful, as always. the fucking fates. just kill me already. they literally sound so good. the strings' build up between the "la"s. the chorus. the buildup at the end.

why we build the wall. the total 180 in the vibes. call and response has a special pace in my heart. mr page killing it again. god, hades is such a piece of shit and its perfect. he really is a master manipulator. fuck capitalism. the chorus sounds so good. i want to platonically smooch all of them. jesus fucking christ burn capitalism to the ground. the end is amazing. also the not-so-subtle references to slavery/forced labor.

why we build the wall (outro). i'd die for andre. "anybody want a drink?" yes ma'am. yes please. (don't drink, kids) i love you so much.

our lady of the underground. its so jazzy! jesus fucking christ. oh my fucking god. i would literally sell my soul for amber gray. what did we ever do to deserve her? god the raspiness fucking kills me. also love that she breaks the fourth wall to acknowledge the band. when she comes back in after the instrumental break? consider me dead. "what the boss don't know, the boss won't mind" she sounds so good here. also i love that she straight up doesn't give a fuck about hades here.

way down hadestown (reprise). hell yeah i love reprises. the fates. andre. the chorus. i love them all. i'm such a whore for reoccurring lyrics. the strings! fuck capitalism! eva's emotions are just so fucking good. "you've already forgot?" holy shit. this shit hurted. the "ahh ooh"s are so good.

flowers. the intro <3. eva sounds so pretty. the fucking symbolism in this song is incredible. i'm gonna get into this in another brain dump bc it's a very sensitive topic. the fact that she can't actually fully remember orpheus makes me so sad. so pretty <3

come home with me (reprise). hell yeah another reprise. the way the music is much more upbeat when orpheus shows up. their excitement! eva's vocal emotions are literally so fantastic pls.

papers (intro). "young mannn" kill me patrick. train references! hell yeah persephone. the way andre gets louder when he says "raised up his voice." eva <3. reeve just always sounds so pretty. ohmygod the laugh. kill me good sir. mans straight up admits to owning people and is like "it's cool tho cause they signed a piece of paper. def not taking advantage of people that are literally starving or anything. it's fine." fuck you hades. go step on a fucking lego. orpheus is so sad :(

papers (instrumental). yes. sounds so good. i'm imagining an epic chase scene. the transition into nothing changes <3

nothing changes. respectfully? the fates could kill me any day and i'd thank them. the weather reference! that "anyhow" is so fucking good istg.

if it's true. another one of my favorites. pop off intro. the broken "is this how the world is?" sadly, yes. "but everybody knows that walls have ears." is literally such a powerful line to me for some reason. it does a great job of bringing in the chorus. and by calling the workers "walls" it shows that hades views them as "less than." they aren't even referred to as people. "what's the use of his backbone if he never stands upright." oh my god. because they literally cannot stand upright. anais mitchell is literally a fucking genius. fuck the 1%. gambling references! the chorus backing him is just so pretty. the way orpheus looks to the chorus for advice and support. "we're standing." ugh its so good.

how long. oh my fucking god. amber fucking gray. (that's it, that's the post). the way she sounds resigned/disappointed when she says "i've had enough" makes me so sad. there are no words to describe how i feel about 0:25 - 0:41. like their relationship is strained, and super mega fucked up, but it's obvious that they still care about one another. the emotion in their voices throughout this song is fantastic. the play on light and dark. also more bird references! how they view themselves/their self importance. hades is a most importantly king. persephone is most importantly a wife. it really show that hades views power as more important than anything else. "nothing comes of the songs people sing." holy fucking shit. cause their song is the "song of love," but they can barely stand each other and their relationship has fallen apart. persephone commenting on his love of power over his love of her. amber's voice during "the earth must die" is so nice and for what? god i love her. they sound so nice together <3

chant (reprise). another favorite hehe. the strings! it's all just so pretty. when the piano comes in i die a little. the self realization coming from the chorus when they're like "oh shit, this is wrong. i don't deserve to be treated like this." is so fucking fantastic. the "young mannn" again! hades really be like "manipulate her! make her depend on you financially! i've been ding this a while kid! i know how to successfully control women!" reeve sounds so pretty pls. the way that eurydice has basically become part of the chorus (since she's just another worker now). more self realization! the different ways that hades and orpheus view the "song of love." "sing before i kill you so i can use it to manipulate my wife and make her feel like shit." patrick's voice tho.

epic iii. reeve coming in with that falsetto like nobody's business. orpheus really about to bite you in the ass with your own damn song. amber gray <3. the "ooo"s in the background. the way the music picks up when reeve gets to the "la"s. it's just so fucking good. that falsetto again. orpheus really looked at the king of hell, a literal god, and said "i want to ruin him psychologically" and it fucking worked. which is some of my favorite irony because hades wouldn't have shit if it weren't for that fact that he's a good manipulator and takes advantage of the needy. that last line <3

epic iii (instrumental). i have no words for how fucking beautiful this is. i so desperately want an extended version. like for real love this so much. if i get married, i want this to be the song for the first dance.

promises. eurydice is so proud of him for finishing. the way that eurydice realized that she cares about him more that material objects. wind and weather references! "if we can do it so can they!" she sounds so excited. :( "hand-in-hand" lol nope. not them refencing wedding song, anyway the wind blows, and then giving their "i do"s. absolutely heart wrenching.

word to the wise. the fates. pls step on me ladies. the lyrics throughout this are so fucking good. lol hades being damned. cause he's the king of hell. honestly its solid advice tho. humans are really fucking stupid.

his kiss, the riot. give us them adjectives king. " how dare people want rights! >:(" hades is really trying to make himself the good guy rn. the music! 2:15 - 3:03 is so good pls. the lyrics are just so spectacular.

wait for me (reprise) (intro). hello again andre! hermes literally says "he's trying to psych you out and manipulate you. he wants you to doubt everything" and orpheus says "are you sure tho?" and then procedes to doubt everything. the way the music changes is <3. the song transition.

wait for me (reprise). my absolute fucking favorite song in this musical. the first fucking lyric is so good. it really sets an expectation for the song and i am not disappointed. lyrics that talk about how fucked up any single person's brain is are so fucking cool to me. god i love this song. how soft the first set of "wait for me"s are. the support/pressure from the chorus. the entire exchange between hades and persephone. the way amber's voice sticks out of the chorus. the fates coming in clutch again. train references! more brain talk! amber gray please end me. eva sounds so pretty. and the final note is so good!

doubt comes in. the long intro that builds up suspense. the first time that orpheus's "la"s aren't echoed by the chorus/music. wind! weather! the fates sound so pretty like always. reeve genuinely sounds so scared. the way the music picks up and the chorus joins in when eurydice starts singing. the music is so unsettling and i love it. god i love his voice. 3:44 - 3:57 always hits so different. you realize just how much she means to him. how it all goes to shit when the music reaches the climax. the fact that the music clashes on purpose. the sadness in their voices.

road to hell (reprise). it all comes full circle. god andre sounds so sad. the way you come to really hear the lyrics because there's no upbeat music to distract you this time, "its a tragedy" lol because the actual written story is a tragedy. "i learned that from a friend of mine" poor orpheus :(. the way the chorus slowly joins in and the music slowly picks up. the "can you feel it" is literally so fucking powerful. fuck yes amber. fuck it up queen. amber and eva sound so nice together. the "its a love song, its a sad song" is so sad. the final lyric is just. ugh.

we raise our cups. yes pls amber. this song is so pretty. good night queen.

#hadestown #eva noblezada #reeve carney #the fates #orpheus #eurydice #brain dump #hadestown brain dump #patrick page #hades #amber gray #persephone #hadestown musical

[dinosaurtsukki]

across the sea | a bokuaka fanfic (act. III)

inspired by the movie ‘portrait of a lady on fire’ by celine sciamma which is sad and lesbian

pairing: bokuto koutarou x akaashi keiji

word count: 21.8k words

contains: historical setting (actually the setting is vague bec if i tried to describe it more it would take 5 extra pages), heavy angst, slight fluff, greek mythology references, implied smut

summary: when Bokuto accepted a portrait commission for the young, engaged Akaashi Keiji, he never expected him to be so beautiful. he knows it's a mistake to be attached, a mistake for them to fall in love in a time when they know it's impossible for them to be together.

a/n: i’m a sad gay who loves sad lesbian movies and portait of a lady on fire is peak film. a lot of the things here are based on the film so i suggest you check out this beautiful movie, but i added a few tweaks here and there to make it my own.

chapters: act. I, act. II., act. III

Bokuto only saw Akaashi two more times since he last left the Elysium Manor. The first time was three years after that unforgettable summer in a secluded house. Thanks to finishing the portrait commission that pleased Mikoto, a woman of relatively high social standing, Bokuto gained a bit more status within the artist circles. Rich nobles commissioned him for portraits, scholars and other writers and artists commissioned him to create paintings of fantastical scenes, and almost any painting that he made was guaranteed a spot in a museum. Bokuto was invited to join the upper social circles at their dinners and luncheons or visits to the opera, but he would politely decline. He couldn’t imagine himself being a part of that social circle and let them paint a picture of mystery around him.

Instead, he decided to teach. He used his money to open a studio for young artists and taught them the basics of sketching and painting with different mediums, instructing them the way his master did. Bokuto had his own studio situated on the floor above where he would teach that came with a bedroom. At night, he’d open the windows for the smell of turpentine and oil to air out, but he’d keep the windows closed, the lights off, and the backdoor open for Kuroo to come in.

He was a male model, one quite famous with fellow artists for being a good one. There were probably a number of sculptures in the nearby museum, Asphodel, based on his physique. He didn’t discriminate when it came to preferring the company of men and women and hit his preferences just as well as Bokuto did. Kuroo was a nice man, a kind one, and Bokuto knew that maybe the dark-haired model had feelings for him. And yet, he never crossed that line. Most likely, Kuroo could see that faraway look in Bokuto’s eyes when he woke up in the morning, his eyes searching for the sea and whatever was across it.

The first time he saw Akaashi was in Asphodel. Bokuto had recently finished a painting that was going to be a centerpiece in their main gallery. On that day, he wore his best shirt and tried to wet his hair and comb it down but to no avail. ‘It’s alright. You’re known for your skills. Not your looks,’ he told himself before putting on a coat and heading out to leave.

The museum was already packed when he arrived with a good number of people circled around his painting. Bokuto pushed his way through the crowd, muttering ‘Excuse me’ along the way, until he was standing near it with his back to the wall. He was aware that he was drawing attention to himself looking like a sentinel instead of the painter but he couldn’t help but wonder about the things people would say. One of the viewers, a young couple, were in conversation as they scanned the painting.

“It’s that Greek legend, isn’t it? The one with Orpheus.”

“Yes. And his wife Eurydice. He traveled to the Underworld after she died with the hope of being able to bring her to life again.”

“I remember! But then there was a condition, right? He couldn’t turn around.”

“That’s right. Although… most painters and writers depict Eurydice already just as Orpheus turned around. In this one, it’s as if he turned around just in time to see her fall.”

“Kind of like he expected it?”

“Maybe. It’s quite an interesting take, if you ask me.”

“Indeed, it is.”

Bokuto smiled to himself, satisfied at the exchange generated by his painting. It was all about the exchanges, the different conversations that his art generated. He stayed by his painting for a few more minutes, listening to conversations, before deciding to stroll through the museum and peruse the other collections. His best sources of inspiration were other artists, but during this visit, it wasn’t just inspiration he found.

It was another portrait of Akaashi Keiji.

It hung in one of the museum wings that they dedicated to portraits. Bokuto rarely needed inspiration for those but something about that day pulled him into the wing to view the collections until he caught a familiar painted face. ‘Is it really him?’ he wondered, eyes flying to the placard to the right that confirmed his suspicions: Portrait of Akaashi Keiji, oil on canvas. It was him. In the portrait, Akaashi was sitting on a chair, elbows on a desk, hands holding up a book. His posture was impeccable as always but his face was completely absorbed in what he was reading. But it was him: same high cheekbones, same curly brown hair, same delicate fingers, same emerald eyes.

Bokuto didn’t know how long he stood there just drinking in the portrait and attempted to memorize every detail when he came to the book in Akaashi’s hands. The worn spine, the burgundy leather jacket, even the size of it: it was his book on Greek Mythology. The book was angled just so, enough for the viewer to see the top corner of the righthand page. “Page 57,” Bokuto whispered, overcome with sheer sadness and joy at the encounter, “You remember.”

The second and last time Bokuto saw Akaashi happened two years later at the Museum Greek History, this time in a different city. Bokuto was there working on a commission for a noblewoman who wanted portraits of each of her children. It was a lot of work, but the money was good and he got to see much of the city. Bokuto decided to explore the museum during a day off. His favorite part was the collection of ancient texts and scrolls that were each displayed in a glass case. He couldn’t read anything that was written, but he liked knowing that they had such a collection. ‘Maybe this time they won’t keep the homosexual subtext out of translation,’ he thought with a smile. He still held out hope that maybe someday, people would accept that Achilles and Patroclus were lovers.

With that thought in mind, Bokuto decided he was done looking around for the day and get ready for the amount of work he would have to do on the way back home. He was walking down the flights of stairs, deep in thought, when a voice shook him out of his thoughts.

“Bokuto-san.”

He had to hold onto the railing to keep himself from falling. It was just like that time he saw Akaashi’s portrait two years ago. Nobody else said his name like that: all crisp syllables and with more than a little warmth in the tone. Bokuto remembered the last time he actually saw Akaashi back at Elysium Manor, and turned around.

There he was, standing at the top of the staircase. He looked as if five years had barely laid a finger on him and looked just as surprised as Bokuto did. Akaashi took a hesitant step forward and walked down two steps. Bokuto felt as if he was back in Elysium Manor as their surroundings fell away.

“It’s you.”

“It’s me.”

“H-how… how have you been?” Bokuto stammered. So many questions overwhelmed his mind and yet he could only pick out that one. An inkling of a smile appeared on Akaashi’s face as he nodded his head in understanding. ‘Even now, we still have this connection,’ Bokuto thought.

“I’m alright. Married. We live in a nice house. My wife is kind, beautiful, friendly. Sometimes we play card games at night,” he enumerated, tapping absentmindedly at the railing of the stairway. “A good life actually.” He looked back at Bokuto. ‘But you’re not in it,’ he seemed to say. “How about you?”

“I could say the same,” Bokuto managed a smile. “My paintings have been pretty famous. I get commissioned often. I teach young artists. I make enough to keep my studio and do some traveling here and there.”

“Sounds like a good life.”

“It does.” But it was just that: good. Bokuto opened his mouth to say something when a child came running down the staircase from above.

“Father!” he exclaimed, barreling into Akaashi’s side. ‘Father,’ Bokuto echoed in his mind. The little boy looked to be about five or four years old. He mostly took after his mother as he had fair hair and fair skins, but when Bokuto looked at closer, he could tell that the boy had his father’s eyes.

“Hiro. Please don’t run down the stairs, you could slip,” Akaashi gently scolded him, leaning down a bit to fix his tie. It was such a small gesture but it made Bokuto’s heart ache just to watch.

“I saw this really cool looking spear in the Weapons Wing. It looked just like the one in the book you read to me!” the young boy exclaimed excitedly.

“Is that so? I hope you remember it well then,” Akaashi fondly patted his son’s head before turning to Bokuto. “Hiro, this is one of my… good friends, Bokuto. Bokuto, this is Hiro. My son.”

“Nice to meet you,” Bokuto smiled down at him. Hiro cocked his head and waved shyly, making Bokuto chuckle. “He has your eyes, Akaashi.” During the past five years, Bokuto had held out hope that maybe he and Akaashi would cross paths again, that maybe they could run away like what Akaashi dreamed of. But now, he knew that he was too late. Ever since he left Elysium Manor, it was all too late for that.

“It was great seeing you again, Akaashi,” Bokuto cleared his throat and feigned a smile. “I… I have to take my leave now.” He didn’t want to leave. With every fiber of his being, he didn’t want to leave. He would hold this encounter in his heart for the rest of his life but nothing good would come out of him speaking his mind.

“Alright, say goodbye, Hiro,” Akaashi said, tight-lipped. ‘You know it too,’ Bokuto thought.

“Bye,” Hiro waved shyly. Just as Bokuto was about to turn and leave, Akaashi quickly ran down the rest of the steps and wrapped both of his arms around him before he could say anything. Bokuto held his arms awkwardly at his sides before wrapping them around Akaashi’s waist. He wondered how much Akaashi had tried to hold himself back from doing this.

“Koutarou,” he whispered. “Until now, do you…?”

“I do. I think of you every single day,” Bokuto whispered back. “I still love you, Keiji.”

“I’m glad,” Akaashi swallowed and pulled back, leaving the feeling of that loss of warmth that Bokuto would carry with him for the rest of his life. And with that, he nodded once, and left.

Five more years passed. Bokuto had begun to grow tired of the fame and attention and decided to move to a provincial town along the coast. He left his studio to one of his young apprentices, packed up his materials, and bought a small house with a garden that sat near a cliff, overlooking the sea. He still painted, it was something he never grew tired of, but he chose to paint nature or the people at the countryside instead of the portraits of noblemen and fantastical scenes. He liked getting to know his neighbors, going to the festivals held at the town square, and looking out of his window to see the birds that chirped on the trees or dove into the sea for food. He was sitting on his chair outside, trying to sketch the charming woodpecker he saw that morning from memory, when Kageyama came.

“If it isn’t Elysium Manor’s most loyal butler,” Bokuto grinned at him as he saw the familiar head of black hair approach his porch. He looked different from the last time Bokuto saw him. His arms were thicker and his complexion was slightly tanned. But it was still him.

“It took a while for me to find you, Bokuto,” he returned the smile.

“Find me?” Bokuto said, puzzled. “Did you suddenly become a fan of my paintings?”

“No, it’s…” Kageyama paused and exhaled, the look on his face somber. “Can we talk inside?” Bokuto felt his stomach drop. He knew he wasn’t going to like whatever it is Kageyama was going to say.

“Sure. I’ll make tea.”

Once they were sitting at the table with two mugs of tea between them, Kageyama broke the news.

“Akaashi-san passed away last winter.”

The news hit Bokuto like cold water to the face. Akaashi Keiji. The man that Bokuto had loved ten summers ago. The man he just saw five years ago. The one that haunted him at midnight, tossing and turning and longing for that touch and wondering about all the what-could-have-been’s. His Akaashi Keiji. His Akaashi Keiji whose sketch Bokuto still kept in a small pocketbook close to his heart. Who grew up a lonely, sickly boy in a house full of books. His Akaashi Keiji, who would mumble ‘Koutarou’ every time they woke up together during those numbered mornings. His Akaashi Keiji.

“I’m sorry, Bokuto. I truly am,” Kageyama sighed, reaching out to touch his fingertips.

“How—how did you know?” he stammered.

“I received a letter,” he said. “It said that he contracted tuberculosis from a trip abroad and, well you know how sickly he is. He wasn’t able to survive it.”

“God…” Bokuto rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I… I didn’t think… of all things…”

“I know,” Kageyama nodded. “The letter said that I was mentioned in Akaashi-san’s will. He entrusted two items to me to deliver to you.” With that, he pulled a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with twin from his satchel and placed it on the table. Bokuto made no move to accept it. All he wanted was Akaashi back. He didn’t care if had to take ten, twenty more years for them to meet again. He just wanted to know he was alive somewhere and still thinking of him.

“I…I think I know why he had these sent to me instead of having them delivered directly to you,” Kageyama cleared his throat. “Akaashi-san cared about you, and yes, I know he cared about you in that way. I could see it in the way he looked at you. I was skeptical at first of your relationship but ten years after, the moments I witnessed of the two you stand out starkly.”

At this, Bokuto could feel himself collapse with his head on the table, the dam of tears finally breaking as he sobbed into his arms. “It’s true. We did love each other.”

“I know he thought of you in those last moments,” Kageyama consoled him. “You were too important for him to think of breaking the news to you through just a letter.”

Bokuto didn’t know how long he had cried there on the table for. He could hear Kageyama busying himself in the kitchen and the smell of dinner being cooked, as if they were both back at Elysium Manor. Finally, when his tears had all run out, he sat up to open the package that Akaashi had entrusted to Kageyama. Inside, there were two books: the Greek Mythology book that Akaashi loved so much, much worn down than the last time Bokuto had used it to sketch a portrait of himself, and a soft, leather-bound notebook.

It was late so Kageyama stayed the night and slept on a roll-out cot beside Bokuto’s bed before he left the next morning. “It’s a nice place,” he told him, as they stood at the cliffside overlooking the sea. “I could see why you chose to be here.”

The next few months after that was the longest that Bokuto spent without painting. Every time he tried to pick up a brush or a piece of drawing charcoal, his hands shook and all he could see in front of him was the half-finished portrait of Akaashi, and Akaashi himself posing in the distance. And at night, he’d find himself looking over his shoulder more than once to see that vision of his beloved, pale as a ghost.

Finally, he picked up the leather notebook that Akaashi left for him. He had expected it to be a diary but it ended up being slightly more than that. It was a story: about a lonely boy who spent his days reading books in an empty house and the beautiful painter who entered his life and made it worth living. ‘He came on a little lifeboat from across the sea,’ it began. Bokuto found himself tearing up again at the sight of Akaashi’s handwriting.

Every day, little by little, he read a bit more of the story, mostly while he was sitting on a chair near the cliffside. He relived everything: the time Akaashi drank the sea from his cupped hands, the look on his face when he saw the ruined portrait, Akaashi dancing around the maypole with his crown of chrysanthemums, the summer night kiss, the feeling of their bodies pressed together, the sound of his voice when he read out loud, Akaashi’s emerald green suit in the portrait, their last night together, the morning after and the sketches to remember each other by, Akaashi illuminated by a single shaft of light in the middle of the floor, the portrait of him hanging in the museum with the pages of his book turned to the 57th page, the last time Bokuto heard Akaashi say his name.

At the very last page of the notebook was a note, directly addressed to him: I know for a fact that there are others like us, Koutarou. Afraid of the punishment, afraid of the scorn. I don’t think I’ve ever cared about what people would think of me once I died, but if there is one thing I want people to remember about me, its that I was yours, always yours. Maybe someday there will be a place for people like us, a better place. And I want them to know that we’ve always been around. We’ve hid. We’ve suffered. We’ve lost. But we’ve also loved.

“We have loved, haven’t we Akaashi?” Bokuto whispered, closing the notebook. He knew that he was going to finally pick up his charcoals and later on, his brush. He remembered what Akaashi said about how texts were continuously misinterpreted to remove the homoerotic subtext and as much as he knew it would be difficult to do so with Akaashi’s journal, Bokuto wanted to further ensure how history would remember them. He would sketch and paint everything he could possibly remember. But for now, he wanted to finish his day staring out across the sea.

Kageyama knew why Bokuto purposely chose to make his home here. The town and house he lived in was just on the other side of the sea, across where Elysium Manor still reportedly stood. Nobody went there and it was still Akaashi’s name, but the land and the manor would eventually be donated to the nearby town. Under the condition that Akaashi Keiji’s final resting place wouldn’t be disturbed.

“That clause in his will was only allowed for me to hear,” Kageyama had said a few months ago before he left. “That small plot of land next to where Akaashi-san is buried is entrusted to me to be passed on to you. Bokuto-san, I will ensure that that will be your final resting place. And if I pass on before you, I will entrust the task to my nephew. I can promise you that.”

“You do love your Greek myths, don’t you Akaashi?” Bokuto smiled to himself. He could almost hear his laugh in the back of his mind. As he looked out to the sea, he could just barely make out what lay across it. It made Bokuto remember how Orpheus and Eurydice’s tale truly ended. After losing his wife a second time, Orpheus wandered the Earth, lost and mourning, until he was torn apart and killed by Maenads, Dionysus’ traveling followers. When Orpheus soul traveled down to the Underworld, Eurydice was there, standing on the banks of the River Styx, arms outstretched to her lover who finally came home.

#across the sea #bokuaka #bokuto koutarou #akaashi keiji #bokuaka fanfic #haikyuu!! #haikyuu!! fanfic #across the sea: act. III

[meetthefatess]

Persephades HT moments -

I loved every bit of the show but this will be a bit of a long post focusing on Hades/Persephone! As is the theme of like everything I do

Feel free to skip this, this is as much for me to put down all of the stuff I remember as it is for anyone else who is interested!

Act 1:

Guys Amber Gray is so attractive & I almost gasped when she walked out the doors of that balcony in Road to Hell I.

During Epic I Persephone stands up and leans over the balcony smiling, & fanning herself. After a moment she looks over at Hades grinning but he doesn’t even acknowledge her so she scowls and takes a swig from her flask. Babyyyyyy

At the beginning of Living it Up Persephone kisses Hades on the cheek, puts on her coat and drinks from her flask again before leaving. He doesn’t acknowledge her but when her back is turned and she goes down the stairs he looks up for a second & I didn’t think that that usually happened but it made me sooo sad.

Persephone pours Hermes a drink from her flask in Living it Up & he sips it before wincing & looking really concerned for Seph. AH

During All I’ve Ever Known Persephone is sitting off to the side with Hermes & watching Orpheus & Eurydice being tender & looking like she’s about to cry. My heart shattered.

In Way Down Hadestown Persephone fucking chugs that flask and collapses in the middle of the stage. She is pissed when Hades comes down but Hades is smiling & I kinda wanted to punch him.

Chant. Lemme tell you. Hades sounded more sad than angry live & I kind of felt for him & you could tell Persephone did too. He reaches to touch her face & she shakes her head and he looks upsettt. The second time he reaches for her face she nods & he touches her cheek w/ one hand & then takes her other hand & kisses it. She kind of leans toward him & then she seems to realize what she is doing & pulls away abruptly. Hades is not happy about that & I feel like that moment speaks for itself. Godddd.

Brief interlude, Hey Little Songbird was soooo good. Like I always love that song but seeing it live was something else. Patrick Page & Eva Noblezada slayyyy me.

When they both walk out for Why We Build The Wall Persephone is glaring at Hades and looks so crushed when Eurydice comes up through the elevator.

When Hades brings Eurydice up to the balcony he ushers Eurydice in first then looks back down to make eye contact with Persephone who is still standing on the stage & very slowly loosens his tie. OH i was so ready to march up there that stupid fuxkinf-

Act 2:

Hermes comes out with Persephone for Our Lady & before he stands off to the side she kisses his cheek for a good 5 seconds while Hermes goes 😳. & like gd if Hades saw that...

Persephone is very drunk for Our Lady & seems to be very obviously making fun of the fact that Hades is trying to make her jealous. It’s played up for laughs but it was really sad. She finishes her flask once she’s done singing & kind of stumbles away. Babey...

When Hades says “Stay out of this” in Papers he doesn’t even bother to look at Persephone & she is pissed.

At the end of If it’s True all of the workers are getting up to stand behind Orpheus & Persephone goes to join them before stepping away at the last minute.

I just- HOW LONG. God this song always makes me emo but seeing it live was something different. First, Persephone is crying for her first three lines and keeps reaching out to Hades but he doesn’t look at her until he starts singing. AH I just needed him to hug his wifeee. And god they’re both so sad.

During Chant II Hades is looking at Persephone the entire time even though he is singing to Orpheus. She is NOT having it.

Persephone stands next to Hermes & looks very nervous @ the beginning of Epic III.

When Hades says “where’d you get that melody?” he gets up & starts walking towards Orpheus. there’s a long pause & Persephone steps forward before Hades can get closer and raises her hand before saying the “let him finish” line. This is the first time Hades looks at Persephone in this song & this time she is looking at Orpheus instead & he is so confused omg

At the end of Epic III Hades and Persephone are staring at each other and Persephone is crying when she takes the flower and tucks it into his vest. Yeah. Fuck.

In the Lover’s Desire dance Persephone starts out grinning & Hades is smiling too, but she starts crying like halfway through AND THE CHEEK TOUCHING AT THE END. OMG I DIED.

After Promises when Hades and Persephone separate, Seph takes his hand in one of hers and is smiling while she wipes her eyes. It is so fucking cute but makes it hit harder when Hades says “I don’t know” and Persephone pulls away from him to stand behind Orpheus & Eurydice looking super upset.

When she pulls away Hades looks down at the hand Persephone had been holding before the fates come foreword to sing Word To The Wise.

Okay His Kiss The Riot made me so emo?? Hades takes the flower out of his vest & looks down at it while he sings. At the end, he looks down at the flower again & there is a really long pause before he says in the quietest, saddest voice “and doubt comes. Doubt comes in.” I actually have never cried during a show I’ve seen live but that moment made my emotional ass tear up out of nowhere.

Persephone is so shocked when Hermes tells them that Hades agreed the let Orpheus & Eurydice go.

Wait for me II. AH. When Hades says “it’s time for spring” he hands Persephone the flower & they hold hands and take a very long time letting go (like at the beginning of the HT tony performance).

Persephone holds the flower to her chest while she sings in Wait For Me II and yeah. fuck.

Unrelated but my heart fucking stopped when Orpheus turned. The set opens up in Wait For Me & closes again at the end of Doubt Comes In which absolutely convinces you that they’ve made it out. AHHH

In Road To Hell II Persephone comes up the elevator w/ the tables and chairs & a new bouquet in her bag looking v wistful and pretty omg. But Hades walks down from the balcony when they’re singing “with a love song” and he’s so watching Persephone and I just thought that was cute.

That’s all! I love them sm & I’m so emo idk what to do

Sorry this is so long lmao

#if you have any questions feel free to ask #but yeah i want to go read some fic now #hadestown #hades and persephone #long post #😘

[kaufmann-6]

Fanfic Rec

Hey! I wanna rec some fanfics that I've read here! They are of several different fandoms, but I will organize everything, don't worry. All the fics that I will post here arr available on AO3, and all of them are written in English.

Fandoms:

Heroes of Olympus / Percy Jackson;

Harry Potter;

Voltron: Legendary Defender;

Series Unfortunate Events;

Gravity Falls;

Batman;

The Thundermans.

Relationships:

- Heroes of Oympus / Percy Jackson:

Jasico (Nico di Angelo/Jason Grace);

Jercy (Percy Jackson/Jason Grace).

Harry Potter:

Drarry (Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter)

- Voltron: Legendary Defender:

Klance (Keith/Lance).

- Series Unfortunate Events:

Duncan Quagmire/Klaus Baudelaire;

Violet Baudelaire/Quigley Quagmire;

Beatrice Baudelaire/Bertrand Baudelaire/Lemony Snicket.

Gravity Falls:

Dipper Pines & Mabel Pines;

Mabel Pines & Stan Pines;

Dipper Pines & Ford Pines;

Dipper Pines & Ford Pines & Mabel Pines & Stan Pines;

Fiddleford H. McGucket & Dipper Pines & Mabel Pines;

Fiddleford H. McGucket & Ford Pines;

Ford Pines & Stan Pines;

Dipper Pines & Stan Pines;

Ford Pines & Mabel Pines.

Batman:

Tim Drake & Dick Grayson & Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne;

Tim Drake & Damian Wayne; 

Tim Drake & Jason Todd;

Jason Todd & Damian Wayne;

Bruce Wayne & Jason Todd;

Dick Grayson & Damian Wayne;

Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne;

Stephanie Brown & Damian Wayne;

Damian Wayne & Bruce Wayne;

Tim Drake & Bruce Wayne.

The Thundermans:

Max Thunderman & Phoebe Thunderman;

Dr. Colosso & Max Thunderman;

 Allison/Max Thunderman;

Max Thunderman & Hank Thunderman;

Thunderman Family.

PS:You won't find any Top!Lance or Top!Harry

Heroes of Olympus / Percy Jackson

Jasico:

North:

Nico falls into Tartarus. Jason follows shortly thereafter.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13019724/chapters/29776236

Countdown:  

When Nico di Angelo was ten years old he met Percy Jackson, but his watch didn’t stop. He was vaguely disappointed.

Soulmate timers AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1119869/chapters/2256441

Even the Strongest Will Break:

Top!Nico/Bottom!Jason (I put this just to warn those who don't like it, but that is NOT the central theme of the story, it only happens once, in the last or penultimate chapter. The central theme of this story is Jason's traumatic situations.)

It had been happening a lot. Ever since they had gotten back from a recent run in with Deimos, the spirit of fear, dread, and terror. He had messed with Jason’s mind, went deep inside of him and pulled out his inner most fears. He had brought Jason Grace to knees in fear and probably would have broken him, if Annabeth hadn’t slammed an old greek vase down on the spirit’s head. He was grateful for Annabeth, but ever since that incident, there was always this feeling of fear at the back of his neck. And, he wet the bed.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12131247/chapters/27517335

Communication:  Alternative Universe - No Powers

Mute!Jason Grace

Nico works in a coffee shop and Jason is having trouble making himself understood.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2142762

Let Us Go Then, You and I: (Alternative Universe - College/University)

Jason notices a strange boy in the library.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1501262/chapters/3171011

To find where I belong:

“It’s Nico,” Thalia said. Jason almost thought he’d heard wrong. Nobody had seen Nico di Angelo since the war ended, and Jason still regretted that he hadn’t been able to stop him from leaving. Nico had told him about his plans to disappear, but Jason hadn't thought he'd really do it. Now he knew better.

“You found him?” Jason breathed.

“It’s a long story,” Thalia said. “But he’s been badly wounded. Think you could come pick him up?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1162705

The Emotion and the Response:

After the war ends, Nico disappears, and Jason isn't going to sit idly by while his friend hides away among the dead. He'll get him to come back, even if it means going down into the Underworld and dragging Nico out of there himself.

Part 1 of Not with a bang

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1086949/chapters/2186767

The Motion and the Act:

Nico and Jason finally tell the others about their relationship.

Part 2 of Not with a bang

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1138673

(it was always you):

Both overlooked, both struggling to fit in where they didn't belong, Nico and Jason became fast friends when Jason was sent to Westover Hall to bring Nico and his sister to camp. Jason was Nico's hero, his best friend, everything he wanted to be.

And then Jason disappeared.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13371255/chapters/30620913

Consort:

Smut, Top!Nico/Bottom!Jason

"You knelt for me earlier, Jason Grace. Am I wrong to think you might do it again?"

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22643527

Exposition:

"He can think of dozens of ways for them to begin, that's all." 

Jason, and how Nico could be the one for him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22964572

Our Dictionary:

epitome,n.

I can’t think of one word that can fully mean what we have. It’s far from perfect, but it’s too good to be imperfect. It’s not always happy, but it’s not always sad either. We are together, but not quite as one. We do have each other, but we’re still separate beings just keeping each other company.

I suppose I have to concede that whatever this is, has to be love. Platonic, romantic, ours. The precious resin seeping through our cracks, holding us together, keeping us bound.

(A non-chronological series of flash fiction.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22014838/chapters/52535770

First Step After the Fall:

As a general rule, Jason tried not to expect anything from Nico. He didn’t expect Nico to reply to every one of his postcards, or for Nico to want to be his friend. He certainly never expected to arrive at his dorm room late one afternoon after tennis practice to find Nico passed out in his bed.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21028073

Survivor's Guilt:

Nico has unbearable nightmares. The panic attacks come in waves, his sense on his self slipping like water through fingers. When Chiron insists that the seven of the prophecy live in an apartment complex, Jason insists that Nico live with him, since he's the only one who can see how Nico is ripping apart at his seams. Nico can barely keep the horrors of Tartarus contained, and tells his stories of what happened in Tartarus. Surviving it was hard enough, but reliving it may prove to destroy him once and for all.

Written pre Blood of Olympus.

(This fanfiction is a bit complicated, so I decided to explain: 

Jason and Nico are best friends, and they live together in an apartment that is in the same building as the rest of the 7 also live. The beginning of the story is basically Jason helping Nico with nightmares, panic attacks, among other things. But there comes a time when Nico tells Jason what happened in Tartarus, and a horrible creature comes back to haunt them. The thing is, Nico doesn't like Jason romantically, because he still loves Percy, this story revolves around Nico's love for Percy, but it's one-sided, because Percy dates Annabeth, but a creature comes back to attack them discreetly, and mess with it. This story is not really about Jasico, there are only a few things at the end. This story is basically about one-sided love, among other things, especially this creature.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1133440/chapters/2290931

Homecoming:

But he did know what his normal dreams felt like, knew his nightmares even better, and knew his flashbacks like the back of his hand.

By 2019, the crew of the Argo II have drifted apart. An earthquake, a message from a god, and Nico di Angelo bring them back together to face the apocalypse one more time.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20545019/chapters/48767933

Jercy:

Jason Grace Doesn't bottom:

“You think the gods are meddling again?”Percy asked.

“Isn’t that what they do best?”He replied.

(Trust me, this fanfiction is one of the best Jercy I've ever read! It's wonderful! Take a look! It includes, to my great delight, unsafe Jason, and past child abuse in Jason.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22340215

Wait for Me:  Hadestown/Orpheus & Eurydice AU 

(This fanfiction takes place in the original Percy Jackson universe, if you are in doubt.)

Percy Jackson might sometimes be impulsive and reckless, but he knew the gods. He had walked among them, had been asked to join them.

So he knew how to get him back.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22884169

Head.Cars.Bending:

Dom!Percy/Sub!Jason

“Percy. Please. I’m driving.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16422161

When It Rains, It Pours:

Tempest finally delivered Jason's message for Percy.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20040409 

Stay the night. Please.

Drabble prompt: 'Stay the night. Please.'

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8488180

The Last Summer:

It's been two years since Gaea was defeated, and a new age has arrived for the Greek and Roman worlds.

Jason finally has time to relax. He's spent the better part of those two years building an alliance between the two camp, and now his work is done. He isn't quite sure what's next, but he has plenty of time to worry about it. Summer is here, and what better way to celebrate his efforts than a stay at Camp Half Blood?

Percy is drowning. Unable to see a future for himself in the new age, he returns to Camp Half Blood feeling stuck in the past. Jason catches him at the exact wrong moment, and won't let Percy go without having a talk. What starts out as a simple conversation soon escalates into the friendship that both of them desperately need in this time of uncertainty.

The gods have gone silent, the monsters have disappeared. When a new force reveals itself and threatens the lives of everyone they hold dear, Percy and Jason must find it within themselves to help save the world one last time.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22828987/chapters/54559852

Harry Potter

Drarry:

Facts, Convenience, and Falling in Love:  (No smut)

Alpha!Draco Malfoy/Omega!Harry Potter

While most of the wizarding world is under the impression that Harry Potter is an alpha, he knows it's only a matter of time before he gets outed as an omega. As insurance against the backlash he'll no doubt face when his secondary gender is discovered by the general public, Harry ends up attending an event designed to help people find mates. Who he ends up matching with might be a bit of a surprise though.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23189614

An Unplanned Gift:  (No smut)

Mpreg, Top!Draco Malfoy/Bottom!Harry Potter

"We’ve used spells every time, haven’t we? Except… when we were drunk last pub night,” Draco replies, eyes widening. “Oh, Harry, I’m sorry, I know this was all supposed to be in good fun.”

Harry shakes his head. “It’s fine. Er, what do you think?”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20574134

Good to Me (And I'd Be So Good to You):

Tall Draco Malfoy

Everyone returns to Hogwarts after the war, but nothing is quite the same. Harry's groupies are creepier than ever, Ron and Hermione are snogging all over the place, and the once-proud Draco is shuffling around like a kicked puppy. But that's okay: Harry's got a plan.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1385362

Such a Softer Sin:  Alternative Universe - Soulmates, Alternative Universe - Canon Divergence

Angst with a Happy Ending

After Draco meets Harry Potter, he's left with two tattoos, one on each wrist. One for a soul mate, one for his enemy. He's never known any one else who has the same name on both wrists.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/6058141

Completely Screwed (In the Clean Way):  Alternative Universe - Soulmates

On the night of his 17th birthday, Harry Potter receives two names, one on each wrist. One name is his worst enemy's, the other is his soulmate's. The difficult part of this is usually figuring out which is which, but when Harry's names are the same, Harry has no idea what to do. Oh, and there's the whole Voldemort thing.

  https://archiveofourown.org/works/9902510

Third Time's The Charm:  Alternative Universe - Canon Divergence

Slytherin Harry Potter, Abusive Dursley Family

Dolores Umbridge wasn't the only decision the Ministry made in an attempt to control the narrative after Harry Potter claimed that Voldemort came back from the dead at the end of the school year in 1994. Deciding it was too dangerous to leave Harry in Gryffindor, the House of the Brave, the Ministry decides to pass legislature mandating that students face the Sorting Hat again at the start of their 4th year. Officially, it's under the reasoning that as students grow and develop, they may find themselves better suited to another House and the Ministry is really big on Students Continuing To Develop Healthily And Normally. Unofficially, it's an attempt to remove Harry from any friends who might have believed him about Voldemort. And so, in Harry's 5th year, he's resorted as a Slytherin- the House full of children of Death Eaters just as Wizarding Britain is on the brink of another war. 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21109571/chapters/50230406

Lost:

Abused Harry Potter, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Slytherin AU

Harry Potter was perfect, right? He was the Golden Boy, the boy who lived, the Chosen One, his life had to be perfect. Well, that’s what everyone at Hogwarts thought, anyway.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20661836/chapters/49067783

Love is Deaf:  Post - Canon

Fluff, Deaf Harry Potter

A fic wherein Harry comes back for eighth year deaf. The only people who still talk to him are Hermione and Ron cause everyone else finds it so awkward. Draco watches from afar as Harry writes down all he wants to say, gestures wildly and eventually starts giving up on communicating altogether.

One day as they pass each other in the hallway Draco suddenly grabs Harry’s hand, places something in it and then scurries off. Harry looks down and opens a piece of paper that reads ‘meet me in the kitchens for breakfast tomorrow’. Harry has no idea his world is about to change forever.

So basically one of the many things Draco had to learn as a child was sign language and he decides to do something crazy and teach Harry.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13243431/chapters/30293283

What if I had?

Hogwarts Eighth Year, Smut Later (But I don`t know if is Bottom! Harry or not)

Draco knew Azkaban was not an option, not for his crimes.

No, Draco knew that when he came out with the dark mark-his choice or not-he knew he had his fate decided.

What happens when Draco gets help from someone unexpected, unexpected and unwanted, but welcome.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20670938/chapters/49091162

Mood Ring:

Mpreg, Top!Draco Malfoy/Bottom!Harry Potter

“We should probably see a healer.” Draco announced, rubbing Harry’s back. He had been feeling sick the last few weeks. Constant nausea and loss of appetite.

“We don’t need to see a healer.” Harry groaned, “It’s probably a cold or something.”

“Harry. You said it was like you were pregnant again.” Draco argued, “We need to take you to a healer.”

“It’s not possible. You know it’s not possible.” Harry stated stubbornly, “I haven’t been taking any fertility potions or anything. I can’t magically get pregnant without the help of magic.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7895914

A Mother's Son:

Smut, Top!Draco Malfoy/Bottom!Harry Potter Rape / Non - Con

All Harry wanted to do was return Draco's wand. Unfortunately no one thought to warn him that he was a Veela, even though everyone knew about Lily.

(The warning of Rape/Non-con is more specifically because it can be dub con, but there is no actual "force")

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1438927

Don't Fight (What You Can't Deny):

Harry's life changes when he comes across a book that no one else can seem to read. Except for Malfoy, of course.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3603681/chapters/7950867

(Love) Is All You Need:

Draco Malfoy has a chance to start over after being invited back for Eighth year. Althiugh he had doubts of re joining something he helped to destroy, he finds himself wanting to go back.

As much as he doesn't want to be involved in any drama and carry on by himself, it's not something that will go as smoothly.

Especially considering that he is a Veela and his true mate is none other than Harry Potter himself.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22080460/chapters/52695160

Starting Over (Temporary Title):

Past Abuse, Creature fanfic

The war is finally over and things have changed. Or at least, people think things have changed. Harry Potter, however, sees the Wizarding World as the same but with one less murderous wizard to worry about.

 During Lucius Malfoy's trial, Harry must make a decision that will change his and the Malfoy's lives. A decision that may lead to uncovered mysteries from Harry's past loved ones.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7091590/chapters/16117288

At the Crossroads There We’ll Meet:

Time Travel

Potter keeps dying; Draco keeps saving him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/2039154

Beholden To:

Rape / Non - Con

It's only months after the war and Draco can't handle it any longer. Stupid Potter, and his stupid attitude and his stupid having to die almost killed him. That's what happens when you're a Veela mated to the reckless golden boy.

Just a Matter of Time:

Top!Draco Malfoy/Bottom! Harry Potter

Draco's in a bit of a rut. He's nearing forty, divorced, and he still can't figure out how to make his Time Turner reconstruction work. He's bored, he can admit it, so he's not nearly as concerned as he should be when his pet project malfunctions and sends him twenty years into the past. That is, until he ends up relying on a nineteen-year-old Harry Potter for help and starts developing some very inconvenient—and possibly reciprocated—feelings.

(I have to confess that this is not my favorite Drarry fanifction. It's about time travel, and Draco is forty, and he goes back to the past. Harry is nineteen years old in the past. I don't like older people staying with younger people, even for a short period of time, as it is in this fanifction, so I put it here just in case someone likes it, because the story itself is good, Draco is just too old for Harry.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20680190

How to get what you want (even if you don't know what it is):

Smut, Top!Draco Malfoy/Bottom!Harry Potter, Mpreg

"Let me get this clear, shall we? You want me to bugger you in the arse, so you can get pregnant with my superior semen?"

Harry took off his glasses and rubbed his face with both hands. "I knew this was a stupid idea. The most stupid of all stupid ideas."

But Harry wanted a different life, a family, a child, and when his Healer told him it was possible for him to carry a child himself, being a wizard, the thought kind of stuck. Even if he wasn't compleatly truthful about his motives. Not to Malfoy and certainly not to himself.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19950838/chapters/47241751

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Klance:

Together (That's How We Belong):   (No smut)

Alpha!Keith/Omega!Lance  

Keith’s abrupt return takes Lance completely by surprise, as do the unanticipated, yet very noticeable changes in the alpha’s appearance. Yet while the omega is secretly overjoyed to finally see the alpha again, when Keith is within his reach, Lance’s nerves get the best of him, and an accidental blunder will forever change the course of their lives.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17204288

In This Reality:

“You may be a goofy guy from Earth, but if there’s anyone who can support Allura during this it’s you,” Keith finally says softly, turning from the sunset to look at him. It makes Lance’s heart race and he swallows drily, hoping the blush that creeping on his face isn’t visible under Kosmo’s fur. “The annoying, stupid, Earth version of you.”

While Honerva destroys realities, Lance finds himself going back in time to do things differently and is enlisted in helping an unlikely friend save the universe.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18092651/chapters/42767819

Toward the Future:

Keith wasn’t stupid. He saw the way Lance looked at Allura. With a softness in his eyes, one Keith had only ever seen there once. He saw Allura wish Lance good luck and he saw their twin blushes and maybe Lance had been breaking his heart every few minutes since he came back to the team.

(Rewritten from the S8 with Klance.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17072585/chapters/40145954

Fragmented:

In a world of soulmates, Lance drew the short straw. Forever marked inferior to his soulmate, and the people around him, made worse by the first words that pass Keith's lips...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8153570

Kick in the Teeth:

The time travel one-shot that ended up being more fun than expected.

Roughly: Post-Canon Lance wakes up in the Red Lion just after Naxzela and kicks canon in the teeth about as hard as canon tanked his character development.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20109358/chapters/47636014

The Wrong Altean:

It is Lance’s birthday and the gang decides to surprise Lance at his farm for a surprise birthday visit, however, when they arrive, they find the place strangely quiet and even more disturbing, there are signs of struggle. A Galra blade has been found inside Lance’s house one that doesn’t belong to Keith. It is up to them to find Lance before their worst fears become reality.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22670497/chapters/54185773

Just A Touch:

Keith isn't prepared to find himself clinging to Lance, his annoying classmate at the Garrison who is also maybe his "soulmate." He isn't prepared to get expelled or to live alone in the desert and search for the source of a mysterious energy. He definitely isn't prepared to fly into space on a whim or to pilot a magical robot lion in a millennia-old war for the entire universe.

But all of that does happen, so now he has to deal with it. Keith has to adjust to life in space, to becoming a soldier, and to building close and trusting relationships with his teammates – including Lance.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10862013/chapters/24124074

Buried Treasure:

(This fanfiction takes place in the original universe of the series.)

“Last chancey,” the captain sneered down at them. “Wheree be me treasure?” Lance couldn’t answer and Keith’s swears and denial only made pirate grin. “So be it.” And the first shovelful of dirt to bury them alive fell from above.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22361689

Because Love was Your Reality (But it wasn't Mine):

Lance found love in this reality once—he doesn’t think he’ll ever have it again. He swore to love Allura in this universe and the next, and he’s intent on keeping that promise. On the anniversary of her passing, Allura tells him that it’s okay to move on, to find love again and Lance doesn’t believe her—doesn’t want to believe her. How is he supposed to love someone like he loved her?

Altean marks, space phones, and two hearts that were denied their love once, with time telling them to try again.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16991271/chapters/39941202

Don't Forget Your Vitamins:

Fluff, Smut, Alpha!Keith/Omega!Lance

Lance is an omega. Keith is a beta. This was something Lance had made peace with and determined that there was no way they could ever work. No matter how much he would like it to. Saving the universe and all that didn’t leave a whole lot of time to pursue such a complicated relationship.

However, when Keith finally starts getting the food and nutrition his hybrid body needs he is finally revealed to be an alpha. As he struggles with his new presentation, Lance tries his best to be there for him and support him. But it's difficult when the guy you love is now totally capable of giving you the best sex of your life.

Takes place post-season 3. Keith pilots the black lion and Lance pilots the red lion. Shiro is Shiro not a clone and everything is fine except for the impending war against the Galra.

Part 1 of Don't Forget Your Vitamins

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12245481

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm:

Fluff, Alpha!Keith/Omega!Lance

Team Voltron and the castle are on an ice cold planet and Lance is suffering. He hates the cold. He was not made for the cold. He's going to freeze to death and no he isn't being too dramatic about it.

Thankfully, his alpha mate is Galra and they come with some useful features for his predicament. Keith is more than happy to help out.

Part 2 of  Don't Forget Your Vitamins

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12484528

The Black Paladin: 

Black Paladin!Lance

Shiro was gone.

He vanished into thin air after the battle with Zarkon and no one had any idea what to do. The Black Lion was back inside the castle with the shields up so nobody could even get close to her. The Hall of Lions felt cold and empty with the Black Lion just sitting there and looking majestic as ever but now with blackened eyes that might never light up again.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9727025

Magnetic In Our Purple Season Five:

It wasn’t the first time Lance had called Keith to chat and give updates, and sometimes he was even the one picking up to hear about some especially stupid teammate or a warning that he wouldn’t be able to talk for a while because of a covert mission or something. There shouldn’t be a reason for him to hesitate to call his rival, old team leader, and best friend (longtime crush more like it), but there he was with fingers hovering over the familiar face reluctantly. He didn’t want to sound like he was whining or insulting Shiro, it was just…

OR Lance calls Keith after Shiro’s outburst, resulting in the clone's reveal and changing the entire face of Voltron. Between Keith's struggles with the idea of family, Lance's lingering strife from his time with the clone, and their growing feelings for one another, what seemed set in stone must change. For better or for worse.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20122084/chapters/47668594

Lance Has the Flu:

Lance has the flu and Keith takes care of him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21375325

Diplomacy with Tentacle Aliens:

Rape / Non-Con, Top!Keith/Bottom!Lance

Lance and Keith go to engage in diplomacy with a species who, according to the Blade of Marmora, are feared by even the Galra Empire. However, due to the planet's harsh atmosphere, those who enter the planet never leave, so little is known about the species. The Red and Blue Paladins are going in not knowing what to expect, and they're about to find out first hand what happens when you attempt diplomacy with tentacle aliens.

(Fanfiction unfinished.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12191529/chapters/27680001

Lance Has Asthma and Gets a Respiratory Infection:

Fluff, Asthmatic Lance

(This fanfiction takes place in the original universe of the series.)

Lance has asthma and gets a respiratory infection. He wakes up in the middle of the night and needs Keith to help him breathe.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19894864

Series Unfortunate Events

The Awful Abduction:

Kidnapping, Duncan Quagmire/Klaus Baudelaire, Violet Baudelaire/Quigley Quagmire

When the Baudelaire Orphans find the Quagmires at the bottom of Esmé's elevator shaft, they concoct a plan to rescue them. Klaus insists on staying behind however; something doesn't feel right to him.

Little does he know that this one event won't go well.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23310241/chapters/55832605

Cracked China AU (Part One):

Graphic Depictions of Violence, Duncan Quagmire/Klaus Baudelaire, Violet Baudelaire/Quigley Baudelaire, Beatride Baudelaire/Bertrand Baudelaire/Lemony Snicket

The Daily Punctilio claims that the Baudelaire family died in the fire that destroyed their home. They've got it all wrong.

Beatrice, Bertrand, Violet, and Sunny Baudelaire were inside the mansion when it burned down, but they escaped through the secret tunnels below. Now faking their deaths and on the run, they meet up with some allies and visit familiar destinations, looking for the one thing that can free them from both sides of V.F.D.

Klaus Baudelaire was sent to Briny Beach alone on the day of the Baudelaire Fire, his sisters suddenly left behind. Strange to think how that cost them their lives. Sent by Mr. Poe to live with a man named Count Olaf, Klaus meets Duncan and Isadora Quagmire, two triplets who everyone seems to think are his siblings. Chased from guardian to guardian by the sinister Count Olaf, Klaus and the Quagmires just want some peace and quiet. Count Olaf, however, has plans for them... and their money.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21387760/chapters/50949763

Gravity Falls

But We Could Change It:

Time Travel, Dipper Pines & Mabel Pines, Mabel Pines & Stan Pines, Dipper Pines & Ford Pines, Dipper Pines & Ford Pines & Mabel Pines & Stan Pines, Fiddleford H. McGucket & Dipper Pines & Mabel Pines, Fiddleford H. McGucket & Ford Pines, Ford Pines & Stan Pines, Dipper Pines & Stan Pines, Ford Pines & Mabel Pines

Even though everything turned out mostly okay, there was no denying Weirdmeggedon had sucked. So when Mabel found a Time Tape she suggested they go back in time and... rearrange a few things. After all, nothing bad had happened with time traveling before, right? Besides, it wouldn't be that hard to fix the past. They just had to stop Grunkle Ford from finishing the portal and getting sucked into it.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Right?

Yeah, like anything in Gravity Falls was ever simple.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21701614/chapters/51763012

Batman

Raisin Delight:

Time Travel, Tim Drake & Bruce Wayne

A year after Jason Todd dies, Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne take on the case when they notice strange occurrences in Gotham city. This has disastrous consequences, but so do most things that Tim gets caught up in, so what's new, really.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15644082

Cracked Foundation:

Jason Todd & Damian Wayne, Damian Wayne & Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne & Jason Todd

The last thing Damian expected to happen when he ran away from home was to spend a day crammed into a small space with Jason Todd. His father's second son was a black sheep. An outcast. An angry, insanity driven criminal who enjoyed screwing with the batfamily in every way he could. At least, that's what Damian thought. Maybe he was wrong about Todd.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14234844/chapters/32821734

I am We:

Dick Grayson & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake & Damian Wayne, Jason Todd & Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake & Dick Grayson & Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne, Stephanie Brown & Damian Wayne

Damian's hit by a spell that splits him up into four different versions of himself.

Anger, Anxiety, Happiness, and one more that Dick can't quite name.

They're a handful. (He loves them all anyway.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21271943/chapters/50647211

Yesterday's Voices:

Bruce Wayne & His Kids

While trying to take down a drug cartel that deals with memory altering drugs, things go awry, and Batman wakes up with no recollection of the last five years. As a result, his family must now race against time to find the antidote, while also having to deal with a Bruce who still thinks Jason is Robin. A Bruce who doesn't recognise most of them. A Bruce far less jaded and cynical than the one they're used to. A Bruce who still cares.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11035398/chapters/24597084

Secrets:

It was always on the left. He couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. That was the side his skull had been bashed in on. But it never started in his head. It started with tingling in the tips of his fingers and a ringing in his ears that wouldn’t go away. And when the pain inevitably started, just like it always did, he couldn’t help but think that getting his skull bashed in had hurt less.

Ever since he came back to life, Jason has been dealing with chronic migraines.

Part 2 of  Chronic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14770473

Can I Still Be Robin?

“Hi, Mr. Grayson?” Damian groaned and rolled over onto his side and cursed the school policy that parents and guardians had to be contacted in the event of a so-called emergency. It wasn’t even that big of a deal.

 “Yes, hi. This is Nurse Amy from Gotham Academy calling about Damian?” The phone call wouldn’t do anything but cause Grayson to panic. 

“Yes. We need you to come pick him up. He passed out during lunch."

Part 3 of  Chronic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14831252

Juxtaposition:

Juxtaposition (n) the state of being close together or side by side.

Or the one where Jason reminds Tim that sometimes Damian takes jokes all too seriously.

+ the one where Tim reminds Jason that he has only himself to blame.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9606995/chapters/21704609

When the Stakes are Higher:

Tim Drake & Dick Grayson & Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake & Damian Wayne, Tim Drake & Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Damian Wayne

There's a new serial killer in Gotham, and he's managing to evade even Batman's attempts to catch him. The psychopath's inclinations have Bruce on edge, but Jason's not as worried...until it becomes personal. But when even the world's greatest detective is at a loss, will their efforts be enough to prevent another tragedy in the Wayne family?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7826554/chapters/17865421

Time-Travel is not for Amateurs:

Tim Drake & Damian Wayne

That one time a Damian from an alternate future decided make things better.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/617874/chapters/1114756

The Thundermans

This is Your Heart (Can You Feel It?):

Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Max Thunderman & Phoebe Thunderman, Max Thunderman & Hank Thunderman, Thunderman Family

"Dad," Max chokes, clawing at the hand around his neck as the grip tightens and his vision starts to blur. "Dad...please."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17023923/chapters/40024776

He's A Rebel:

Max Thunderman & Phoebe Thunderman, Dr. Colosso & Max Thunderman, Allison/Max Thunderman

An old enemy of Hank gets into the house and renders all the heroes powerless. Max, identifying as a villain, is the only one left standing. The question is, will he finally betray his family for good, or will he fight to protect them?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21945634/chapters/52375057

*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

I hope you enjoyed these fanfictions that I chose! I have others, but they are common stories, without romantic relationships. I know that Batman's stories had no romantic relationship, but I don't read stories of Bruce having a relationship, and I don't read incest either. Anyway, these other stories, I can post them later, if you really liked this list!

#Heroes of Olympus #Harry Potter #Voltron #Series Unfortunate Events #Gravity Falls #Batman

[mossrotts]

Do you like Greek mythology? Any favourite stories?

if you’re asking about greek mythology i’m gonna assume there’s some figures or stories that you’re familiar with. and like, the story of orpheus and eurydice is a pretty well known one. a bard goes to the underworld to win back his love with music, almost succeeds, but on the way out he falls to a flaw and she’s lost forever. but like, after that, he goes about mourning and then a group of ladies (sometimes called maenads or the bacchae or other shit) are like hey we’re tired of your sad songs, come sleep with us. when orpheus says no they’re like boo to that and literally rip him to shreds.

so like. what the fuck was up with those gals?

there’s a play called the Bacchae by Euripedes--which is a play i haven’t actually read! (i think maybe i heard a professor tell me about it?) but i gotta sometime cause i think it’s just! a really neat tale of revenge! i fucking love revenge stories. i’m gonna give you my best summary of it: so dionysus is a dude. he’s a real neat god cause his dominion is over a lot of things that seem both unrelated but also like they just fit. take a look at these credentials: “god of the vine, grape-harvest, wine-making, wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre.” woah! i think any depiction of him as a kind of drunk frat boy really misses the uniqueness of those last three things. oh, and also, he’s related to death and rebirth and his followers (the maenads/bacchae listed above) were sometimes considered liaisons between the living and the dead. how cool is that? oh, ALSO also, why the fuck does he have a cult (the maenads/bacchae) when other greek gods and goddesses don’t?

some of that’s related to his rebirth. he was first born of zeus and hera (depending on what myth you’re going by. can be unclear.), but then was torn to pieces (a reoccurring theme for both dionysus and people who cross his path) by the titans, but THEN zeus has a son with this mortal woman Semele who is Dionysus reborn. so dionysus is bACK, BABY. but unlike other gods born of immortal/mortal pairings, dionysus’ human family just goes “nah. dio ain’t no god. semele, stop lying.” in fact, many think that maybe semele’s husband is just trying to save face and that semele had a tryst with someone else--which seems reminiscent to more modern opinions on the idea of christian immaculate conception where some folk say that mary was just trying to hide some infidelity and it got out of hand. so like, semele’s family exile her and dionysus and it makes dionysus PISSED cause like. greek gods don’t demand worship, but being denied recognition is huge. eventually he shows up to thebes where his cousin pentheus is ruling and says he’s going to prove his divinity and vindicate his mother by being godly and establishing himself a permanent cult. a lot of people, including dionysus’ aunts, say hey don’t believe this guy, semele was just trying to cover her ass. he’s kicked out again, but comes back in a mortal disguise and just starts sowing chaos everywhere. he causes his aunts to go mad, more and more women join his cult (with him pretending to be a prophet of it) and go to the mountains where they do things like party and chill with animals instead of people and perform cool supernatural feats. his cousin pentheus tries to outlaw the cult of dionysus when pentheus’ dad goes to revel in the cult with his bff blind tiresias.

there’s this cool feeling of like... descent and spiraling in the narrative itself where those of the cult oscillate between freedom from society (i honestly feel like this is why most of dionysus’ followers are women) where it gives a sense of power and control, to freedom from reality where it becomes nightmarish and horrific. more people who once scorned dionysus, including members of his own family (like pentheus’ dad and mom) are joining the cult and losing their once prominent status in society and becoming equal with those around them (for better or worse). and pentheus, the character kind of opposite of dionysus throughout this, is constantly in this push and pull where he’s fascinated by dionysus’ story and his cult and the potential of freedom, but also his loathing of it and his attempt to keep control.

when pentheus gives in and goes to the mountain where all the cult activities seem to take place, he is, of course, torn to pieces by the bare hands of the bacchae (those ladies love their bare-handed shredding)--led by his mother who is completely disconnected from reality. she brings his gory, decapitated head back to her husband. she thinks it’s a like wild animal’s head and is confused when her husband is horrified. she calls for pentheus (whoops) to come help her mount it, but the madness is waning at this point and she realizes what she’s done. the play ends with pentheus’ family trying to reassemble his body to the best of their ability, the palace of thebes in ruin, and dionysus just moving on to fuck up the next town with whatever bacchae who want to come. oh. also dionysus turns pentheus’ mom and dad into snakes.

i probably missed a lot (or misremembered a lot) so i recommend finding a summary somewhere. or like, just look into dionysus! he’s an underrated, complex god that i think gets either oversimplified or overlooked too often when greek mythology comes up.

ALSO, even though i’m positive they didn’t do this story, i also really recommend looking up jim henson’s storyteller sometime and either streaming or pirating it! i’m more familiar with the fairytale one, but there was also a greek miniseries of it and puppets and the oral art of passing on stories is just. idk, a delightful combination. 

#long post #text post #greek mythology #dismemberment #body horror #? #ask to tag #anonymous #thanks! #Anonymous

[mimymomo]

They May Not Have My Smile, But They Have All My Heart

Okay, I spent so long on this story and it’s finally finished! @hollywoodx4 I hope I did your prompt of Orphydice adopting a kid okay. Thank you flower-anon for beta-reading and helping me edit and for coming up with the title. You are a lifesaver! 

Also, the song lyrics are from “I Think of You” by Reeve Carney (I’m obsessed)

“When it's time to say goodbye

And a tear wells in my eye

I can hold my head up high

When I think of You

My flesh is weak, but Your Spirit wills

That my heart and mind ooh, will think of You”

Orpheus trailed off, strumming softly at his guitar that was placed down in his lap. With his eyes shut, he let his thoughts and daydreams drift him away, far away, to the corners of his mind where inspiration would fill his head and soon, the many crumbled pages of his worn notebook.

It was a dreary fall afternoon; the grey sky was beginning to peer out from behind puffy, dirty clouds. The air smelled of freshly poured rain, the browning grass wet from the morning dew. The once colorful leaves that hung bountiful from the trees now littered the muddy ground, stomped and tattered.

Eurydice had left for a midday walk earlier that afternoon. Orpheus could sense something was off with his wife; the poor woman had grown antsier and antsier in the last few weeks. Orpheus had chalked the shifting mood up to the changing weather. The warm and sweet summer had morphed into breezy, frigid fall. And with that change came all the worries and pressures the season provided.

Orpheus had been the one to suggest the walk. It was their first day off in weeks. And due to the weather, the two had been cramped in their tiny cabin. Cabin fever was harshly setting in. Eurydice sat silently perched in their ratty recliner, a near busted thing they found in a junk pile. Bundled under a sheet, she watched the clouds drift away from out the window.

“Love, why don’t you go for a walk?” Orpheus suggested, in a warm, enthused tone.

“Trying to kick me out of the house, Lover?” she shot back with no real bite.

“Oh no, not at all!” Orpheus scrambled, cheeks and ears red and hot like the sun. “I just thought maybe some fresh air would cheer you up a bit and-”

Eurydice let out a single snort and smiled at her stuttering husband- a tiny one where only the corners of her mouth curled the slightest bit up, purely genuine. Orpheus felt the air get caught in his throat. Married for two years and the sight of Eurydice’s smile never failed to send giddy sensations throughout his body, stalling his body into a trance. “Maybe you’re right. A walk could do me some good.”

With a wide toothy grin, Orpheus grabbed her hand. With a slight tug, he pulled his wife from her spot on the chair, the sheet falling slowly to the ground. Eurydice wrapped her arms around Orpheus’ neck, perched herself on the top of her toes, and brought Orpheus down to place a slow, chaste kiss on his lips. It was moments like this that the two loves the most, huddled close together in a warm embrace, completely enamored with one another. They knew each other's strengths and weak spots, and in response, how to soothe and to inspire. Their love knew no bounds, and it showed in times like this.

Eurydice left shortly afterward. In the few hours since Eurydice’s departure, Orpheus spent his free time with not only his lyre but now his guitar he received as a present from the town when he and Eurydice returned. Since coming back from Hadestown, he tried to devote more time to work and Eurydice, never wanting her to feel neglected or lonely again. But in return, it meant fewer hours with his music. Sure, he still performed at Hermes bar quite frequently, but whenever free time was available, he could be found sprawled out on the floor, at the bar counter, music sheets spread to the wind, strumming away.

The sun was beginning to set over the trees; Eurydice would usually be home by now. Just then, Orpheus heard the sound of their creaky door being swung open. A familiar pattern of footsteps: Eurydice’s.

“Oh ‘Rydice, welcome back,” Orpheus called out gleefully, gently placing down his lyre and lifting himself from his spot on the old worn rug. “I think I’ve finally worked out the final verse for that new song and was just about to start dinner. How was your wa-” as Orpheus turned towards the direction of the front door, he couldn’t help but stop mid-sentence. Tucked behind his wife’s small stature was the even smaller frame of a very young boy, no older than six, in a dark, oversized sweatshirt.

The first thing Orpheus noticed was his eyes, a striking teal-ish green that perfectly contrasted with his brown skin. They looked so tired, hard yet sad, hungry; they reminded Orpheus of Eurydice’s when he first met her. Eyes of someone who’s had to deal with more than one person ever should. Leaves and debris protruded from the mop of greasy, ultra-dark hair that curled at the ends to reach the tip of his eyes. The boy’s hoodie was an old thing. Dirt-stained and navy blue. Tattered with rips and holes and the thing completely drowned out his figure. A few cuts and swelling purple-blue bruises covered his arms, cheeks, and neck, instantly making Orpheus’ skin crawl and blood run cold. ‘Did someone hurt this poor boy? He’s so small…’ Orpheus locked eyes with the child who quickly averted his gaze in fear. He violently trembled where he stood, still hiding close behind Eurydice’s legs, little pudgy fingers grasping tight to the woman's ripped black tights. Using all the willpower he could muster, Orpheus held himself back from rushing over and scooping the wee boy up into his arms, wanting nothing more than to sing his pain away. Instead, he chose to address his much calmer wife whose hand was softly brushing through the boy's tangled hair.

“I was just about to start dinner,” Orpheus continued as composed as he could be, not wanting to distress the boy any further. “I was just thinking about making some soup from those beans and other vegetables Lady Persephone gave us.”

Eurydice blew out a relieved sigh, something she nor Orpheus even realized she was holding. The tension in her muscles relaxed, shoulders dropping back down to size, no more bravado needed, “that sounds wonderful, I’m starving. I brought back a few more ingredients from the market that we can use.”

‘That’s not the only thing you brought back…’ Orpheus thought humorously, still stunned by the unknown child in his home.

“Orpheus, hun, would you begin prepping the vegetables?  I need to run a quick bath, and then I’ll be out to join you.” Orpheus nodded his head at his wife’s request. Eurydice directed her attention back to the boy, crouching down to his level. She circled her hand back and forth over his head and the side of his face. She looked so...maternal. It was so different from the usually hardened exterior she put on display for others, but not unwelcome. She was quite entrancing when she acted like this.

“Miko, this is my husband Orpheus, remember I told you about him back at the market?”

Miko meekly nodded his head and with a bit more courage, peeked further out from his spot to stare up at Orpheus, hesitance evident. ‘Miko, huh?’ Orpheus took note of the teeny birthmarks near the corners of his eyes. “Hello, Miko. I’m Orpheus,” he smiled, “but I think my wife told you that already.”

The boy didn’t say anything, just continuing to stare. Orpheus frowned, he couldn’t help but wonder if the child didn’t like him. He knew that it was irrational, he just met the child for Gods sake, who was most likely just nervous about being in a new place, but still, Orpheus couldn’t help but be fraught with worry.

“Alright then,” Eurydice chimed in, snapping the two boys out of their reverie, “I’ll go draw a bath for Miko while you, Orpheus, start prepping the vegetables for me. Come, Miko, I’ll get the tub ready for you.” She grabbed the child’s hand and guided him in the direction of the couple's compact bathroom.

Orpheus rushed to the kitchen to start with dinner. He chopped, peeled, and quartered various ingredients- peppers, potatoes, carrots, squash, an onion, some fresh herbs. Most had been a gift from Persephone. He tried to ignore out the sounds of running water and faint chatter of Eurydice. He hoped that by busying himself with his assigned tasks, he could keep his mind from wandering to who and what was happening in his washroom. Soon minutes passed, and Orpheus was so engrossed in his actions, he failed to notice his wife walk out of the bathroom, holding a filthy sweatshirt and pants. She dropped them to the floor and stepped into their kitchen, right next to her husband, who was humming a song she didn’t recognize.

“Looks yummy,” she whispered as she placed her hand on his forearm, causing Orpheus to jump.

“You scared me,” he breathed, turning away from the counter and pulling Eurydice in close.

“‘Rydice-” Orpheus started but was quickly cut off by his wife.

“Oh, before you get too far with cooking, I bought some special ingredients for tonight.” She pulled away from Orpheus and quickly marched back towards the front door to retrieve her satchel. She yanked out a small parcel wrapped in thin, brown paper and tied tightly with white string. She pushed it into Orpheus’ hands. “Open it,” she lightly commanded.

Orpheus undid the string and pulled back the layers of paper: a chain of sausages. Orpheus felt his eyes go wide; actual ground sausages, six of them to be exact. Eurydice smiled, “I also went ahead and bought a loaf of bread. Nothing big or fancy, but it’s freshly baked from this morning instead of days old.” Orpheus was stunned, the two rarely ever purchased meat or fancy bread during their routine trips to the market in the center of town. It was much cheaper to buy freshly grown produce and canned goods or bargain for near stale bread than to buy things like meat and baked goods. And with Eurydice’s anxieties over their expenses, the two figured they would be okay without. They only splurged on such delicacies on the most special of occasions. Tonight must have been bigger than he thought.

“‘Rydice, I’m...what-”

“Do you think you can handle cooking the rest of dinner? I need to get washing Miko’s clothes.” She picked up the pile of laundry from off of the floor, “they’re absolutely disgusting. They probably need to be resown as well…”

“Eurydice.” 

Eurydice stopped her rambling and faced her husband. She sees the look in Orpheus’ eyes, he was confused and concerned, and that it was driving him mad. But absent was any sign of resentment or anger. “Eurydice, please, what’s going on with Miko? Who exactly is he?”

Eurydice was silent for a few moments, peering down at the clothes in her hands. “I was finishing up my trip to the market, and on my way back I heard screaming. I ran over to an alleyway, and I saw this older man beating on this little boy. According to the man, the boy stole some food from his stall and started to run away. Which meant, in the man’s words, that he was in the right to beat and berate this poor small child,” Eurydice huffed, her eyes hard and glassy. “I paid for the food he stole, and I asked him where his family was...he said, he said…” Hot, angry tears started to fall from her eyes as she gripped the crumpled clothes still in her hands. “He had no one. Nowhere else to go and he, he reminded me of myself...I just couldn’t-”

Orpheus didn’t need to hear anymore. He pulled Eurydice in his arms as she softly sobbed, memories of her past flooded her mind. “Shh, shh, it’s alright, Eurydice, my love. You’re home. Everything is gonna be okay.” He copied what she did with Miko, running his fingers through her hair as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear, kissing along her forehead and temples.

After a few minutes, Eurydice’s sobs subsided. She roughly wiped at her eyes, “I’m sorry.”

“Never apologize for crying ‘Rydice,” Orpheus cooed, using the pad of his thumb to brush away a stray tear. “We all have to sometimes. It doesn’t make you any less strong.”

She sniffed, giving a quick rub at her nose, “please don’t be mad. I know money and food are tight sometimes, but I couldn’t leave him there! I just couldn’t.” She sounded so desperate.

“Hey, why would I ever be mad?” Orpheus asked. Sure he was beyond surprised when his wife, miss lone survivor, brought back a young child home with her from her walk, but he could never be mad at her.

Eurydice gazed at Orpheus, hesitance wavering in her voice, “so Miko, can stay…?”

“Of course, he can!”

A wide grin broke out over Eurydice’s face as she laughed in Orpheus’ neck. Orpheus smiled again at Eurydice’s excitement; he never thought she was the type who wanted to be a mother. He had always wanted to be a dad. To raise a child and teach them many things like how to play the lyre, to sing them lullabies to sleep, watch them grow, be a better father than his own. The happiness in the air turned sour. What if he was a worse parent than his own? Orpheus’ concerns began to manifest on his face, his soft and almost boyish features furrowing at the thought. 

“Orpheus? What’s wrong?”

“What if I’m a terrible father? Miko didn’t exactly enjoy my presence earlier when we met.”

Eurydice chuckled, “oh poor, great Orpheus, fretting over how a child sees him.”

“I’m being serious Eurydice,” Orpheus replied somberly.

“And I am too,” she said, bringing her hands up to cup his face. “Orpheus, I need you to listen to me: you are the kindest, sweetest soul I’ve ever had the chance to meet. Your heart is so full of love, and I know you will be a great dad. You’re nothing like your parents; you’re loyal and brave and so, so caring. And yes, you’re not perfect, but no one is, and I wouldn’t want you any other way. I love you, and I’m sure Miko will learn to love you too.”

Orpheus pressed a passionate kiss to her lips, and Eurydice quickly reciprocated it. “I love you,” he said once he pulled back.

“I love you too. Now, let’s make dinner. I wasn’t joking when I said I was starving.”

The two got to work: Orpheus cooking, Eurydice washing, and hanging Miko’s clothes. Just as they were wrapping up, they heard the bathroom door quietly open.

“Euri?” a quiet voice called out. The two turn around and see Miko all clean and wearing an old white button-up of Eurydice’s. It was too big for him, the fabric reaching past his knees, but it would work for the night.

“Euri?” Orpheus asked with a raised eyebrow.

Eurydice rolled her eyes, “oh, Miko! You’re just in time,” she smiled, pouring hot broth into three different bowls. “Dinner’s just about ready.” Miko gingerly padded over to the kitchen. He stands close Eurydice, rising on his toes, poking his head up to look over the counter. “You wanna hold your bowl, or do you want me to carry it?”

“I can do it, Euri,” Miko said, his demure voice now a bit more determined.

Eurydice handed him the smallest bowl they had, “careful, the bowl’s very hot.”

Miko nodded once more before taking the bowl. With small, cautious steps and a stern face, Miko made his way out the kitchen, past the couples measly make-shift dinner table, then abruptly stopped and sat on an empty spot on the floor.

“Uh, um Miko?” Orpheus said puzzled, “why are you sitting on the floor?”

“I ‘posed to sit here,” he said as if by muscle memory.

“Who said that?” Eurydice pressed.

Miko didn’t speak at first, stirring his spoon in his bowl. The couples waited with bated breath, not wanting the boy to continue if he was uncomfortable. “...the mean man and his wife.”

“Mean man and his wife?” Eurydice repeated.

Miko lowered his head. “Dirty boys don’t get to eat at the table.”

Orpheus swore he could feel hot, burning steam radiating off Eurydice. She was angry, no, furious, pissed off even. She took a deep, shaky breath. Eyes glued to the boy alone on the floor, “Miko, for as long as you stay with us, which will hopefully be a for a long while, we will never, and I mean NEVER, make you eat on the floor.”

Miko raised his head, “you want me to stay?”

Eurydice bopped her up and down, “we’d love for you stay with us.”

“A-and no floor?”

“No floor.”

“...never ever?”

Eurydice smiled, “never ever never.”

Miko grinned, letting out an airy giggle at Eurydice’s words. Both adults felt their chest grow warm, filled to the brim with pure, tender joy. As he grinned, Orpheus noticed a few of Miko’s baby teeth were missing. Eurydice spoke again, “so Miko, do you want to eat up here with us?”

Miko’s smile dropped once again. Maybe it was too soon to expect him to be ready for such a major change. Suddenly, Orpheus thought of a brilliant idea, “Miko, how about instead of you sitting up here, we come and eat with you on the floor? We can sit on the rug near the fireplace. It can be like a picnic!”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Eurydice agreed, blown away at how sweet and quickly her husband had come up with the suggestion. “What do ya say, Miko? Can we join you?”

Miko’s eyes widened, tiny tears popping up in his eyes. In a quiet voice, no louder than a whisper, he said, “yes, please.”

…

After their lively meal on the living room floor: jammed packed with giggles, soup slurping contests, and funny stories, the three now lay spread out, bellies full from bowls of hearty soup. The soft sounds of the crackling fire echoed the home. Miko was cuddled up in Eurydice’s side, his arms wrapped around her middle and one of hers going down his back. Orpheus had just finished washing the dishes and returned to join his wife and the young boy. He reached out to grab his guitar, giving the old instrument a few good strums. Miko’s attention promptly fell on Orpheus, curiosity evident on his face.

“Want to hear Orpheus play?” Eurydice asked Miko, fingers back to playing with his hair. “He’s the best musician in the world.”

Without even looking in a mirror, Orpheus could tell his cheeks were aflame. Beaming from his wife’s praise, he stopped his strumming, “any request you two?”

“How about the new one you’ve been working one?” Eurydice suggested. “You mentioned when we came home that you figured out that part you were stuck on.”

“It’s not finished yet.”

“Don’t matter. I still want to hear it. And I’m sure Miko wouldn’t mind. Right, Miko?” Miko, whose eyes were still locked on the guitar in Orpheus’ lap, gave a quick nod.

Orpheus grinned, “okay, if you insist.”

Then he began. Fingers skillfully plucking strings, a beautiful melody floated through the air. After a short instrumental, he opened his mouth and started to sing:

“When I'm lost, you bring me back

When I cry, you make me glad

When I think I have it bad

I think of You

“When I don't know where to go

And I feel like I'm alone

When I hang my head down low

I think of You

“Each night You wait outside my door

Cause You want to know ohh, I think of You…”

Miko was completely enthralled- eyes open and locked, his body leaning forward as if to be closer to the sound. Eurydice had to check that he was still breathing. She had suspected the young boy would enjoy her husband's music, but to see him, this enthused filled her heart with pride. She wiggled her fingers on Miko’s stomach, causing the boy to giggle loudly. Orpheus smiled at the exchange and continued his song until the end, or well until he got to where he last let off. “So, how was that?”

“As lovely as ever lover boy,” Eurydice swooned. “What did you think, Miko?” Miko nodded his head so fast Eurydice was scared it would come flying right off.

“Thanks,” Orpheus said. He watched Miko stare down the guitar, balancing on his legs. “You wanna touch it?”

“Can I?”

Orpheus pushed the guitar away and patted his lap, “come sit here.” Miko crawled over to Orpheus, who scooped him up and placed the boy in his lap. He put the guitar over their laps, then guided Miko’s fingers over the strings and fretboard. “Okay, put your fingers here, and one right there, and...strum!”

Miko did as instructed, and a slightly off note rang out. Miko was all smiles regardless, “You hear Euri?”

“I did, Miko, good job hun,” Eurydice cheered.

“Orphe, did I do a good job?” Orphe? ‘Well, I guess that’s my new name.’

“That was very good. You wanna try the next one?”

“Yes!”

So they continued, learning one chord to the next. Soon the lesson was forgotten altogether as Orpheus began to play some simple song that he was most definitely making up as he went:

“Miko, oh Miko,

A young boy dressed in blue

Look out here comes a pack of…uhh...”

“Puppies!” Miko giggled loudly. Orpheus glanced at his wife, eyebrows high. Was this cheery boy in their room even the same child from earlier in the evening?

“Puppies! Oh, Gods please let that be true!”

Eurydice watched the two in awe: Miko all smiles and laughs and Orpheus singing aloud, playing music without a care. She could get used to this; early mornings laughs as the sun blared through the windows, midday walks through the forest, cold fingers entwined as the wind blew, late evening songs bundled up near the fire. She and her now, two boys, yeah, she could get used to this.

#hadestown #orphydice #orpheus #eurydice #orpheus x eurydice #hadestown musical

[miko-and-companyau]

They May Not Have My Smile, But They Have All My Heart

Previously posted on my main blog. I’m now just moving everything over here, but they will still be available on my main blog as well.

This is the first story of the AU. Only a few small edits have been made.  

...

“When it's time to say goodbye

And a tear wells in my eye

I can hold my head up high

When I think of You

My flesh is weak, but Your Spirit wills

That my heart and mind ooh, will think of You”

Orpheus trailed off, strumming softly at his guitar that was placed down in his lap. With his eyes shut, he let his thoughts and daydreams drift him away, far away, to the corners of his mind where inspiration would fill his head and soon, the many crumbled pages of his worn notebook.

It was a dreary fall afternoon; the grey sky was beginning to peer out from behind puffy, dirty clouds. The air smelled of freshly poured rain, the browning grass wet from the morning dew. The once colorful leaves that hung bountiful from the trees now littered the muddy ground, stomped and tattered.

Eurydice had left for a midday walk earlier that afternoon. Orpheus could sense something was off with his wife; the poor woman had grown antsier and antsier in the last few weeks. Orpheus had chalked the shifting mood up to the changing weather. The warm and sweet summer had morphed into breezy, frigid fall. And with that change came all the worries and pressures the season provided.

Orpheus had been the one to suggest the walk. It was their first day off in weeks. And due to the weather, the two had been cramped in their tiny cabin. Cabin fever was harshly setting in. Eurydice sat silently perched in their ratty recliner, a near busted thing they found in a junk pile. Bundled under a sheet, she watched the clouds drift away from out the window.

“Love, why don’t you go for a walk?” Orpheus suggested, in a warm, enthused tone.

“Trying to kick me out of the house, Lover?” she shot back with no real bite.

“Oh no, not at all!” Orpheus scrambled, cheeks and ears red and hot like the sun. “I just thought maybe some fresh air would cheer you up a bit and-”

Eurydice let out a single snort and smiled at her stuttering husband- a tiny one where only the corners of her mouth curled the slightest bit up, purely genuine. Orpheus felt the air get caught in his throat. Married for two years and the sight of Eurydice’s smile never failed to send giddy sensations throughout his body, stalling his body into a trance. “Maybe you’re right. A walk could do me some good.”

With a wide toothy grin, Orpheus grabbed her hand. With a slight tug, he pulled his wife from her spot on the chair, the sheet falling slowly to the ground. Eurydice wrapped her arms around Orpheus’ neck, perched herself on the top of her toes, and brought Orpheus down to place a slow, chaste kiss on his lips. It was moments like this that the two loves the most, huddled close together in a warm embrace, completely enamored with one another. They knew each other's strengths and weak spots, and in response, how to soothe and to inspire. Their love knew no bounds, and it showed in times like this.

Eurydice left shortly afterward. In the few hours since Eurydice’s departure, Orpheus spent his free time with not only his lyre but now his guitar he received as a present from the town when he and Eurydice returned. Since coming back from Hadestown, he tried to devote more time to work and Eurydice, never wanting her to feel neglected or lonely again. But in return, it meant fewer hours with his music. Sure, he still performed at Hermes bar quite frequently, but whenever free time was available, he could be found sprawled out on the floor, at the bar counter, music sheets spread to the wind, strumming away. 

The sun was beginning to set over the trees; Eurydice would usually be home by now. Just then, Orpheus heard the sound of their creaky door being swung open. A familiar pattern of footsteps: Eurydice’s.

“Oh ‘Rydice, welcome back,” Orpheus called out gleefully, gently placing down his lyre and lifting himself from his spot on the old worn rug. “I think I’ve finally worked out the final verse for that new song and was just about to start dinner. How was your wa-” as Orpheus turned towards the direction of the front door, he couldn’t help but stop mid-sentence. Tucked behind his wife’s small stature was the even smaller frame of a very young boy, no older than five, in a dark, oversized sweatshirt. 

The first thing Orpheus noticed was his eyes, a striking teal-ish green that perfectly contrasted with his brown skin. They looked so tired, hard yet sad, hungry; they reminded Orpheus of Eurydice’s when he first met her. Eyes of someone who’s had to deal with more than one person ever should. Leaves and debris protruded from the mop of greasy, ultra-dark hair that curled at the ends to reach the tip of his eyes. The boy’s hoodie was an old thing. Dirt-stained and navy blue. Tattered with rips and holes and the thing completely drowned out his figure. A few cuts and swelling purple-blue bruises covered his arms, cheeks, and neck, instantly making Orpheus’ skin crawl and blood run cold. 

Did someone hurt this poor boy? He’s so small…

Orpheus locked eyes with the child who quickly averted his gaze in fear. He violently trembled where he stood, still hiding close behind Eurydice’s legs, little pudgy fingers grasping tight to the woman's ripped black tights. Using all the willpower he could muster, Orpheus held himself back from rushing over and scooping the wee boy up into his arms, wanting nothing more than to sing his pain away. Instead, he chose to address his much calmer wife whose hand was softly brushing through the boy's tangled hair.

“I was just about to start dinner,” Orpheus continued as composed as he could be, not wanting to distress the boy any further. “I was just thinking about making some soup from those beans and other vegetables Lady Persephone gave us.”

Eurydice blew out a relieved sigh, something she nor Orpheus even realized she was holding. The tension in her muscles relaxed, shoulders dropping back down to size, no more bravado needed, “that sounds wonderful, I’m starving. I brought back a few more ingredients from the market that we can use.”

That’s not the only thing you brought back… Orpheus thought humorously, still stunned by the unknown child in his home.

“Orpheus, hun, would you begin prepping the vegetables? I need to run a quick bath, and then I’ll be out to join you.” Orpheus nodded his head at his wife’s request. Eurydice directed her attention back to the boy, crouching down to his level. She circled her hand back and forth over his head and the side of his face. She looked so...maternal. It was so different from the usually hardened exterior she put on display for others, but not unwelcome. She was quite entrancing when she acted like this.

“Miko, this is my husband Orpheus, remember I told you about him back at the market?”

Miko meekly nodded his head and with a bit more courage, peeked further out from his spot to stare up at Orpheus, hesitance evident. Miko, huh? Orpheus took note of the teeny birthmarks near the corners of his eyes. “Hello, Miko. I’m Orpheus,” he smiled, “but I think my wife told you that already.”

The boy didn’t say anything, just continuing to stare. Orpheus frowned, he couldn’t help but wonder if the child didn’t like him. He knew that it was irrational, he just met the child for Gods sake, who was most likely just nervous about being in a new place, but still, Orpheus couldn’t help but be fraught with worry.

“Alright then,” Eurydice chimed in, snapping the two boys out of their reverie, “I’ll go draw a bath for Miko while you, Orpheus, start prepping the vegetables for me. Come, Miko, I’ll get the tub ready for you.” She grabbed the child’s hand and guided him in the direction of the couple's compact bathroom.

Orpheus rushed to the kitchen to start with dinner. He chopped, peeled, and quartered various ingredients- peppers, potatoes, carrots, squash, an onion, some fresh herbs. Most had been a gift from Persephone. He tried to ignore out the sounds of running water and faint chatter of Eurydice. He hoped that by busying himself with his assigned tasks, he could keep his mind from wandering to who and what was happening in his washroom. Soon minutes passed, and Orpheus was so engrossed in his actions, he failed to notice his wife walk out of the bathroom, holding a filthy sweatshirt and pants. She dropped them to the floor and stepped into their kitchen, right next to her husband, who was humming a song she didn’t recognize.

“Looks yummy,” she whispered as she placed her hand on his forearm, causing Orpheus to jump.

“You scared me,” he breathed, turning away from the counter and pulling Eurydice in close.

“‘Rydice-” Orpheus started but was quickly cut off by his wife.

“Oh, before you get too far with cooking, I bought some special ingredients for tonight.” She pulled away from Orpheus and quickly marched back towards the front door to retrieve her satchel. She yanked out a small parcel wrapped in thin, brown paper and tied tightly with white string. She pushed it into Orpheus’ hands. “Open it,” she lightly commanded.

Orpheus undid the string and pulled back the layers of paper: a chain of sausages. Orpheus felt his eyes go wide; actual ground sausages, six of them to be exact. Eurydice smiled, “I also went ahead and bought a loaf of bread. Nothing big or fancy, but it’s freshly baked from this morning instead of days old.” 

Orpheus was stunned, the two rarely ever purchased meat or fancy bread during their routine trips to the market in the center of town. It was much cheaper to buy freshly grown produce and canned goods or bargain for near stale bread than to buy things like meat and baked goods. And with Eurydice’s anxieties over their expenses, the two figured they would be okay without. They only splurged on such delicacies on the most special of occasions. Tonight must have been bigger than he thought.

“‘Rydice, I’m...what-”

“Do you think you can handle cooking the rest of dinner? I need to get washing Miko’s clothes.” She picked up the pile of laundry from off of the floor, “they’re absolutely disgusting. They probably need to be resown as well…”

“Eurydice.” 

Eurydice stopped her rambling and faced her husband. She sees the look in Orpheus’ eyes, he was confused and concerned, and that it was driving him mad. But absent was any sign of resentment or anger. “Eurydice, please, what’s going on with Miko? Who exactly is he?”

Eurydice was silent for a few moments, peering down at the clothes in her hands. “I was finishing up my trip to the market, and on my way back I heard screaming. I ran over to an alleyway, and I saw this older man beating on this little boy. According to the man, the boy stole some food from his stall and started to run away. Which meant, in the man’s words, that he was in the right to beat and berate this poor small child,” Eurydice huffed, her eyes hard and glassy. “I paid for the food he stole, and I asked him where his family was...he said, he said…” Hot, angry tears started to fall from her eyes as she gripped the crumpled clothes still in her hands. “He had no one. Nowhere else to go and he, he reminded me of myself...I just couldn’t-”

Orpheus didn’t need to hear anymore. He pulled Eurydice in his arms as she softly sobbed, memories of her past flooded her mind. “Shh, shh, it’s alright, Eurydice, my love. You’re home. Everything is gonna be okay.” He copied what she did with Miko, running his fingers through her hair as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear, kissing along her forehead and temples.

After a few minutes, Eurydice’s sobs subsided. She roughly wiped at her eyes, “I’m sorry.”

“Never apologize for crying ‘Rydice,” Orpheus cooed, using the pad of his thumb to brush away a stray tear. “We all have to sometimes. It doesn’t make you any less strong.”

She sniffed, giving a quick rub at her nose, “please don’t be mad. I know money and food are tight sometimes, but I couldn’t leave him there! I just couldn’t.” She sounded so desperate.

“Hey, why would I ever be mad?” Orpheus asked. Sure he was beyond surprised when his wife, miss lone survivor, brought back a young child home with her from her walk, but he could never be mad at her.

Eurydice gazed at Orpheus, hesitance wavering in her voice, “so Miko, can stay…?”

“Of course, he can!”

A wide grin broke out over Eurydice’s face as she laughed in Orpheus’ neck. Orpheus smiled again at Eurydice’s excitement; he never thought she was the type who wanted to be a mother. He had always wanted to be a dad. To raise a child and teach them many things like how to play the lyre, to sing them lullabies to sleep, watch them grow, be a better father than his own. The happiness in the air turned sour. What if he was a worse parent than his own? Orpheus’ concerns began to manifest on his face, his soft and almost boyish features furrowing at the thought. 

“Orpheus? What’s wrong?”

“What if I’m a terrible father? Miko didn’t exactly enjoy my presence earlier when we met.”

Eurydice chuckled, “oh poor, great Orpheus, fretting over how a child sees him.”

“I’m being serious Eurydice,” Orpheus replied somberly.

“And I am too,” she said, bringing her hands up to cup his face. “Orpheus, I need you to listen to me: you are the kindest, sweetest soul I’ve ever had the chance to meet. Your heart is so full of love, and I know you will be a great dad. You’re nothing like your parents; you’re loyal and brave and so, so caring. And yes, you’re not perfect, but no one is, and I wouldn’t want you any other way. I love you, and I’m sure Miko will learn to love you too.”

Orpheus pressed a passionate kiss to her lips, and Eurydice quickly reciprocated it. “I love you,” he said once he pulled back.

“I love you too. Now, let’s make dinner. I wasn’t joking when I said I was starving.”

The two got to work: Orpheus cooking, Eurydice washing, and hanging Miko’s clothes. Just as they were wrapping up, they heard the bathroom door quietly open.

“Euri?” a quiet voice called out. The two turn around and see Miko all clean and wearing an old white button-up of Eurydice’s. It was too big for him, the fabric reaching past his knees, but it would work for the night.

“Euri?” Orpheus asked with a raised eyebrow.

Eurydice rolled her eyes, “oh, Miko! You’re just in time,” she smiled, pouring the hot broth into three different bowls. “Dinner’s just about ready.” 

Miko gingerly padded over to the kitchen. He stands close Eurydice, rising on his toes, poking his head up to look over the counter. “You wanna hold your bowl, or do you want me to carry it?”

“I can do it, Euri,” Miko said, his demure voice now a bit more determined.

Eurydice handed him the smallest bowl they had, “careful, the bowl’s very hot.”

Miko nodded once more before taking the bowl. With small, cautious steps and a stern face, Miko made his way out the kitchen, past the couples measly make-shift dinner table, then abruptly stopped and sat on an empty spot on the floor.

“Uh, um Miko?” Orpheus said puzzled, “why are you sitting on the floor?”

“I ‘posed to sit here,” he said as if by muscle memory.

“Who said that?” Eurydice pressed.

Miko didn’t speak at first, stirring his spoon in his bowl. The couples waited with bated breath, not wanting the boy to continue if he was uncomfortable. “...the mean man and his wife.”

“Mean man and his wife?” Eurydice repeated.

Miko lowered his head, “dirty boys don’t get to eat at the table.”

Orpheus swore he could feel hot, burning steam radiating off Eurydice. She was angry, no, furious, pissed off even. She took a deep, shaky breath. Eyes glued to the boy alone on the floor, “Miko, for as long as you stay with us, which will hopefully be a for a long while, we will never, and I mean NEVER, make you eat on the floor.”

Miko raised his head, “you want me to stay?”

Eurydice bopped her up and down, “we’d love for you stay with us.”

“A-and no floor?”

“No floor.”

“...never ever?”

Eurydice smiled, “never ever never.”

Miko grinned, letting out an airy giggle at Eurydice’s words. Both adults felt their chest grow warm, filled to the brim with pure, tender joy. As he grinned, Orpheus noticed a few of Miko’s baby teeth were missing. Eurydice spoke again, “so Miko, do you want to eat up here with us?”

Miko’s smile dropped once again. Maybe it was too soon to expect him to be ready for such a major change. Suddenly, Orpheus thought of a brilliant idea, “Miko, how about instead of you sitting up here, we come and eat with you on the floor? We can sit on the rug near the fireplace. It can be like a picnic!”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Eurydice agreed, blown away at how sweet and quickly her husband had come up with the suggestion. “What do ya say, Miko? Can we join you?”

Miko’s eyes widened, tiny tears popping up in his eyes. In a quiet voice, no louder than a whisper, he said, “yes, please.”

…

After their lively meal on the living room floor: jammed packed with giggles, soup slurping contests, and funny stories, the three now lay spread out, bellies full from bowls of hearty soup. The soft sounds of the crackling fire echoed the home. Miko was cuddled up in Eurydice’s side, his arms wrapped around her middle and one of hers going down his back. 

Orpheus had just finished washing the dishes and returned to join his wife and the young boy. He reached out to grab his guitar, giving the old instrument a few good strums. Miko’s attention promptly fell on Orpheus, curiosity evident on his face.

“Want to hear Orpheus play?” Eurydice asked Miko, fingers back to playing with his hair. “He’s the best musician in the world.”

Without even looking in a mirror, Orpheus could tell his cheeks were aflame. Beaming from his wife’s praise, he stopped his strumming, “any request you two?”

“How about the new one you’ve been working one?” Eurydice suggested. “You mentioned when we came home that you figured out that part you were stuck on.”

“It’s not finished yet.”

“Don’t matter. I still want to hear it. And I’m sure Miko wouldn’t mind. Right, Miko?” Miko, whose eyes were still locked on the guitar in Orpheus’ lap, gave a quick nod.

Orpheus grinned, “okay, if you insist.”

Then he began. Fingers skillfully plucking strings, a beautiful melody floated through the air. After a short instrumental, he opened his mouth and started to sing:

“When I'm lost, you bring me back

When I cry, you make me glad

When I think I have it bad

I think of You

“When I don't know where to go

And I feel like I'm alone

When I hang my head down low

I think of You

“Each night You wait outside my door

Cause You want to know ohh, I think of You…”

Miko was completely enthralled- eyes open and locked, his body leaning forward as if to be closer to the sound. Eurydice had to check that he was still breathing. She had suspected the young boy would enjoy her husband's music, but to see him, this enthused filled her heart with pride. She wiggled her fingers on Miko’s stomach, causing the boy to giggle loudly. Orpheus smiled at the exchange and continued his song until the end, or well until he got to where he last let off. “So, how was that?”

“As lovely as ever lover boy,” Eurydice swooned. “What did you think, Miko?” Miko nodded his head so fast Eurydice was scared it would come flying right off.

“Thanks,” Orpheus said. He watched Miko stare down the guitar, balancing on his legs. “You wanna touch it?”

“Can I?”

Orpheus pushed the guitar away and patted his lap, “come sit here.” Miko crawled over to Orpheus, who scooped him up and placed the boy in his lap. He put the guitar over their laps, then guided Miko’s fingers over the strings and fretboard. “Okay, put your fingers here, and one right there, and...strum!”

Miko did as instructed, and a slightly off note rang out. Miko was all smiles regardless, “You hear Euri?”

“I did, Miko, good job hun,” Eurydice cheered.

“Orphe, did I do a good job?” 

Orphe? Well, I guess that’s my new name.

“That was very good. You wanna try the next one?”

“Yes!”

So they continued, learning one chord to the next. Soon the lesson was forgotten altogether as Orpheus began to play some simple song that he was most definitely making up as he went:

“Miko, oh Miko,

A young boy dressed in blue

Look out here comes a pack of…uhh...”

“Puppies!” Miko giggled loudly. Orpheus glanced at his wife, eyebrows high. Was this cheery boy in their room even the same child from earlier in the evening?

“Puppies! Oh, Gods please let that be true!”

Eurydice watched the two in awe: Miko all smiles and laughs and Orpheus singing aloud, playing music without a care. She could get used to this; early mornings laughs as the sun blared through the windows, midday walks through the forest, cold fingers entwined as the wind blew, late evening songs bundled up near the fire. She and her now, two boys, yeah, she could get used to this.

#miko and company #miko and company au #writing #miko #orpheus #eurydice