#like with Nero being willing to burn children

[winters0689]

Im casually re-listening to the TOA audiobooks, and istg it is SO GOOD!!!

The humor is absolutely funny and the theme is more mature, especially with a character like Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos, who is a complex character who has done horrible stuff and good stuff and is learning to embrace his humanity.

His relationship with Meg is honestly so sweet, and the way that they grow to care for each other, and I love how they address Meg’s trauma with growing up with an abusive parent (well, ‘step father’ but Nero ABSOLUTELY doesn’t deserve that title) and how she grows as a person to the point of being able to confront him and telling him off.

I also love how it also deals with Apollo’s not so good actions, especially in the Tyrants Tomb. The antagonists are also amazing, with Nero’s ruthless nature, manipulating children for his own goal and being willing to BURN CHILDREN!! to Commodus’s over the top style that also has a cruel side to it as he is willing to slice through as many animals as he needs to and is willing to kill his subordinates on a whim to Caligula’s extremely paranoid nature, causing him to change guards so often in fear of being betrayed, while also being incredibly selfish and power hungry, willing to do whatever it takes to become the Sun God.

The story is about dealing with abusive relationships while also dealing with the trauma those relationships leave you. It also deals with learning to be a better person, and that you have the ability to change. It also deals with platonic relationships, and how meeting a person can change your life for the better.

This story made me laugh, made me ache in sadness, and made me fall in love with the characters.

Trials of Apollo is such a great series.

#trials of apollo #lester papadopoulos #meg mccaffrey #toa #I adore all the books but the audiobook I frequently go back to listen to is The Burning Maze #it also sometimes got pretty dark #like with Nero being willing to burn children #to Apollo being chained as he is forced to forget himself as his friend is literally being murdered in front of him #like… dang #this series is so good though #would 100% recommend the audiobook if you’re struggling to read the first book #Robbie Daymond does SUCH a good job voicing the characters

[papastarion]

Papastarion Headcanons Pt. 6

Back at it again? Back at it again.

•Playing off the idea of Astarion taking up tailoring post-canon (another headcanon I subscribe to), I think he learns just about every form of needlework he can. Obviously embroidery, but tailoring, crocheting, needlepoint, so on and so forth. He doesn’t crochet often—he learns to solely to make blankets for the dhampirs before they’re born. He knows he’s not the warmest to the touch, even after a good feed, and the last thing he wants is his children to not feel warm when they’re being held by him.

•He doesn’t need to sleep, but you’d better believe any time Thea decides it’s time to take a nap because apparently their unborn child doesn’t realize they don’t need to be nocturnal like their father, he’s going to follow. He’ll use it as time to work on his needlepoint or to read, depending on the mood. Some of his favorite memories are the ones spent in bed together like that—although he does joke (affectionately) that they went from being world-saving heroes to people who nap in the middle of the day faster than he would have expected.

•He takes everything the kids say so seriously, even when they’re too young to really understand what they’re saying. (“Nero said he hates me.” “Nero can’t spell the word “hate,” he’s just upset we won’t let him have a tressym like Tara.” “I simply don’t know how I’ll go on.” “He’ll be in love with you again in twenty minutes, you’ll survive.”)

•He might not have much interest in medical information, but he hangs on to every piece of advice Dalyria gives and asks her a million and one questions. He didn’t know he wanted any of this, not until he had it, and he’d do anything to keep from losing it.

•Is utterly convinced his kids are the best kids in the world.

•Isn’t convinced he can be a good father, but he tries so hard. And those kids adore him. He’s an excellent father because he’s their father, and he would burn the world for them to keep them warm.

•Since dhampiric hunger can vary, he uses his love of reading to make sure he’s prepared in advance for whatever type of hunger his children may develop. The hardest one ends up being Nero, the firstborn, who develops a hunger for psychic energy—something Astarion associates with the fact that Thea may or may not have been pregnant while they were still tadpoled. (Post-graveyard.)

•He worries more than he cares to admit about Bhaal’s possible influence. He knows his wife was a special case, but he does wonder if they’ll be targeted by Bhaalists, or if Bhaal will decide to punish his wayward progeny for refusing him. But if he’s willing to burn the world to keep his kids warm, then you’d better believe there’s little he won’t do beyond that. They’ve faced Bhaal once before, after all.

#I think that’s all for now #quite the gap this time between posts so apologies! #Papastarion #Astarion #Durge #Thea #bg3

[bringmefoxgloves]

I saw your tags on the Daniel Matthews post and honestly I hadn’t even thought about parallels between Daniel/Gideon and Eric/John…but I’m thinking about it now…*holds out microphone* care to elaborate further?

okay sorry had to go drink some water, get out of pjs, start some laundry, make oatmeal, slice up an avocado, discuss the world and news with my parents, get a nice lil iced beverage for myself (an iced chai latte), and eat the last brownie from a family picnic i didn't attend. listening to no reptiles by everything everything on repeat LET'S GO

so like. this gets long. i should put it under a read more but fuck it. I actually slept last night and woke up before 5am, and have now been up for six hours already, so you're all gonna suffer through this as well. welcome to hell aka my brain on saw brainrot.

This is also kinda based off my tags on this post as well.

But like I said in that post, Saw is about families, made and unmade. It's also about self perception, legacy, and continuation.

John Kramer, in a metaphorical sense, is trying to rebuild his family. He lost Gideon, and he will never have a child of his own flesh and blood, so he improvises.

You can very easily see Amanda, Mark, Lawrence and Logan (but we don't want to talk about him and for good reason) as surrogate children. We joke about this being the worst murder family in the world a lot, but they are in a sense, a family. They're followers of Jigsaw in the real sense, but daughter and sons of him in a spiritual sense, a succession and legacy. And those children, I believe, are his attempts at replacing Gideon in his life.

But like any father with children, John has expectations of them. He wants them as impartial judges, as merciless executioners of his will and his philosophy.

They fail him.

Amanda, who is angry and too emotion driven, too in love with and hopeful for humanity to judge them without letting her feelings get involved. She is too much like a daughter, wanting her father's love and attention above all else. Which disappoints him. John has no love to give her, and has given as much instruction as he thinks necessary. He tests her until she fails, until she breaks and is laying on the floor dead before him in his final act on earth and alive.

Mark, who is in no way impartial, who departs from John's will and directives, who imposes his own overwhelming will on this broken family. He is too much the Cain, the killer of his sister. Too much Nero, killing his mother, Jill, and burning down the kingdom. Too tyrant and consumed with his own passions, but still a perfect mirror for John because he's too much John. John has no choice but to cut the tall poppy, to put down the rabid dog.

Then, there's Lawrence. Lawrence who does follow John's directions, but is in the end, a simple shell, broken beyond repair and an automaton with no heart in contrast to Amanda's too much. He follows, he obeys, he cuts and stitches up those wounds, he bends his will and his passion and his drives to John's unlike Mark. But he's a ghost, a caricature of John and his reputation. Lawrence, the man, never made it out of that bathroom, but Lawrence, the dutiful set of hands, the cutting sword, the walking insurance policy, did.

And, if you include him-Logan. Who is lost to the wilds of the greater world, to war and battle with no bearing on the insular familial cycle of Jigsaw's legacy. He never comes back, and John never wants him back, he has his hands full with the others.

All these willful and vengeful and ungrateful children, who do not accept the gifts John presents them, the paths laid out for them.

But there's the child that never arrived.

Gideon, his unborn son. Gideon, Hebrew for warrior, feller, one who cuts down. Gideon is there in John's mind, constantly, the measuring stick up against which all these children made by his hand, by not by his blood, are judged. Plan upon plan was laid out for Gideon. He was suppose to be John's legacy, his way to outlive himself. He was suppose to be born in the year of the Pig, a child filled with the dreams and hopes of his parents, but never was one to grow up and break their hearts.

He can remain everything John Kramer wanted because he was never alive, never realized fully in all the complexities of every living being. He was the perfect child and could make no mistakes, couldn't rebel.

And that brings us to Daniel.

Daniel is selected, chosen, to be the central figure in the nerve gas house. Daniel, Hebrew, God is my judge, except in the world of Saw, John Kramer is god, isn't he? He is chosen because, in John's eyes, he breaks his father's heart and yet still is the apple of Eric's eye. The nerve gas house is to temper Daniel, turn him into a purer version of an already largely innocent child. He wants to correct the faults he sees growing in Daniel.

John sees Daniel and sees Amanda, the attention seeking child calling for a father's love. John sees Daniel, who holds the potential of both his sons, the wrath of Mark and the duty of Lawrence. Sees what Gideon could have been, and how a son can turn away from a father. He sees Daniel and wishes to show Eric what he sees in Daniel, with a less than successful result.

First, Daniel survives. He was always suppose to survive. John couldn't kill what is perhaps the closest analogue to what Gideon could have been, he never could. And this was suppose to be a lesson to Eric Matthews, to open his eyes to John's idealized expectations of what having a son, a legacy, should feel like.

But, Eric fails. Eric doesn't see what John wants him to see, because Eric was always going to fail. He was a failure from the outset, too consumed by his work, too angry and hotheaded and unwilling to bend. He is a narrative foil to John, two fathers with the same problems.

Eric wants Daniel to bend to him, to obey the rules and structures. Eric lays his hopes and dreams within his son, like John did with Gideon. Eric received his gift of a son, but he's wasted it, in John's eyes. Eric wants Daniel to be upright and better, greater, than him, but he doesn't lead by example.

But neither does John. John expects greatness from his children, but he's not a god, he's just a man, prone to mistakes, just like Eric Matthews, in the end.

They both fail their children.

#saw #cai says things back #saw meta #YAY I CAN START THAT TAG!!!! #i apologize to everyone for putting this massive post on your dashes but i have THOUGHTS OKAY #long post

[julia-drusilla-xii]

- What if Caligula defeated Apollo and became the new sun god?

- What if Nero managed to convince Meg in betraying Apollo once again?

- What if Commodus managed to destroy the Waystation?

- What if the Triumvirate won the battle against Apollo?

I got extremely carried away since I've thought about this for a long time. Everythings under the cut not only because it turned out to be long, but also so I can warn you that it gets pretty dark.

Caligula defeating Apollo

Medea successfully took Apollo's immortal essence.

With her fancy spellwork, Caligula now has the combined powers of Apollo and Helios.

Ave, Neos Helios!

And history repeats itself- the Triumvirate goes to civil war.

Commodus allies with Caligula

Python switches sides from Nero to Caligula

There was a scene in the book where Python was all "if there's a new sun in the west-" to Nero and that basically implied Python would no longer support Nero if Caligula succeeded.

New Rome would've fallen, either the same way as it did in Tyrant's Tomb or by the sheer power of Caligula and Commodus' army, money, weaponry, you name it (bc tbf they could've won if Rick didn't hold back). And possibly sooner than in the books unless Caligula still wants to slow his arrival and drink his Shirley Temple.

Any survivors are now on Caligula's side.

Meanwhile, Nero's desperate although he's hiding that desperation as much as he can.

Meg's no longer in control of Apollo and MIA over in California.

But, she has the Meliai.

Nero knows the reason Meg and her father ended up in New York. Because Caligula burned their home down. Because of how her father was working on something important and powerful, Caligula viewed that as a threat. He probably knew about the seeds and what they were, same as Caligula.

And Caligula knows that Nero knows.

Meg McCaffrey is the one who can change the odds, even slightly.

Realistically, she'd never want to go back to Nero or help Caligula. But Nero might be able to talk her into his side. She could equally decide to help Camp Half-Blood.

Caligula, Medea, Commodus, Python vs Nero vs CHB

Assuming Caligula is in control of Herophile, Harpocrates, and the Oracle of Cumae, then not only does he still have the power of prophecy but also the communications are still down for the demigods.

No matter how you want to dice it, Caligula wins overall by the sheer amount of power and resources on his side.

What would stop him from ordering to kill Meg on sight, simply firing an onager at camp (and it working bc Octavian isn't there to catapult himself to the sky), and winning against a full-fledged fight against Nero?

Maybe the gods but that's on if they decide to work with Camp Half-Blood to begin with. Rick's characterization via reactions on Apollo's return makes them iffy, but I'd really like to believe they at have a heart for their children, Jason, and Apollo. They stand a good chance if they side together in the end and it shows they actually learned the message of not letting the kids do all the work and appreciating them.

Maybe even the Waystation could help, provided that Commodus doesn't destroy them first.

If Caligula won, then it's just taking out Commodus and Python if he wants sole power.

If he lost, then there's a lot of mourning, the numbers of survivors are small, but there's a new appreciation and a better environment for the demigods.

Meg betraying Apollo

At any point in the series, Nero could have convinced her to betray Apollo but the two more likely times are in the Dark Prophecy- before she escaped to find Apollo and at the end of the book when after everything they've been through together all it took was being back in Nero's environment to get her back into being his pawn.

And as Apollo mentions multiple times in the series, Meg has the power to command him to kill himself. So, it wouldn't end well for Apollo.

If it were the first one, then it would be less emotional and painful on both parties, but it would still hurt.

The only person on Apollo's side from the beginning turned out to be a traitor. He'd have support from his children, but that doesn't change how she helped him.

The only escape from Nero that Meg had was no longer beside her and there was enough convincing to happen to convince Meg it was for the better.

Apollo still has a chance of restoring his immortality, especially if Lityerses became his companion in replacement so Apollo's not alone.

Meg would just be out to get him throughout his trials.

If it were towards the end, it would be more emotional.

Both lose their friend, ally, and their greatest supporter.

Domino effect to Nero's favor. Camp Half-Blood falls first. The rest of New Rome and the Waystation is next. Possibly Olympus if he wanted to go that far but if he doesn't want to push his luck then he still is powerful and the Olympians might be content that at least they are still standing.

Nero gets a swifter rise to power because Caligula and Commodus are already eliminated and Nero has their combined powers.

And Python rules from a backseat.

Ave imperator! Ave Caesar!

Commodus destroys the Waystation

Unlike before, Commodus has proven he could be a threat.

Especially if Apollo never got the chance to blind him.

There isn't much seen with him being someone who plans ahead and willing to just fight without the flashiness so I'm not entirely sure if being the sole ruler is in his favor.

He does, however, turn the tides in either Caligula or Nero's favor depending on who he decided to support. He still is part of the Triumvirate with wealth and resources, regardless of his want to provide a show and have fun.

If he sided with Caligula, then after the demigods and Nero are taken care of, Commodus would be next on Caligula's list.

Same if he sided with Nero.

The only real chance Commodus has of winning big is if he destroyed the Waystation before Apollo destroyed the oracle and if Commodus manages to capture Apollo first.

Apollo and Commodus seem to both at least remember how they were before Apollo drowned him.

Maybe manipulation via that way?

Either way, I can't say much for Commodus so this one's shorter than the rest. I can see anything happening, from him achieving co-emperor at best to still losing everything at worst.

Triumvirate vs Apollo

This one entirely depends on which battle.

Assuming that all the three emperors are alive, then the story changes at the latest in the Tyrant's Tomb. Specifically, Caligula and Commodus are actually still alive despite Frank's sacrifice.

And they show up at the end, weak, but alive.

Because unless you count that picture Rachel got of them in a penthouse that was blurry, there was never a scene where all of them were together which isn't fair. Then again, Rick was the one who invented overpowered emperors in the series so that was probably a conscious decision to make it easier for Apollo.

The soonest would be immediately after The Hidden Oracle, where Nero could supply help to Commodus since he would know that would be Apollo and Meg's destination.

This one would be short because this is an equally open-ended question.

But if they actually helped each other first, things don't look good for Apollo or the demigods.

They might spare the demigods for the specific purpose of ruling over them.

If they continued to share their victory, then their empire is still split three ways.

If they decided to go all civil war, then as the first two triumvirates of Roman history went, the weakest go down first and the main two hash it over a lot of battles.

Caligula would still have Medea, so he has the means of magic.

And Nero would still have Python. Tbh, not sure if that snake even has powers of prophecy. But either way, Python was Nero's ally from the beginning.

I'd say the only thing stopping the triumvirate from complete control is once again, Olympus itself.

Especially if Meg's alive and inspires everyone to avenge Jason and Apollo.

Bonus~

Caligula as the sole emperor includes paranoia that someone betrays him since he was originally killed by his own guards. He might be able to rule the people as well as he did when he first became emperor (back in ancient Rome, the first few months of his rule he was well-loved until he became ill). If anything else, you can count on the yachts being his palace. Incitatus might be by his side because they might part ways since Incitatus wants horses to rule the world in the books. Caligula might renovate New Rome to his liking and upgrade it with his personal wealth.

Commodus as sole emperor involves Commodianapolis and a football stadium where he can host games. A lot of wealth being poured into grandeur, parties, and Commodus' name and likeness everywhere.

Nero as sole emperor means the Imperial Household is there to stay. From what I gather, there are twelve children to replace the twelve Olympians. I don't they're exactly all are children/legacies, but I could be wrong. Either way, Nero has them to help him enforce the rules. He has his tower and he's conveniently near Olympus and Camp Half-blood. He could decide to expand in Manhattan and Long Island.

#these were all scenarios I thought about when the books were released #great minds think alike #not sure if this is what you wanted but hope you liked this anyways #tw mention of death #tw mention of suicide #trials of apollo #caligula trials of apollo #neos helios #nero trials of apollo #commodus trials of apollo #meg mccaffrey #lester papadopoulos #python

[jasonsscar]

The Ingenuine-ness of The Trials of Apollo - an Essay

As someone who has been following every Percy Jackson release since 2012 when Mark of Athena was released, I almost cannot believe it has come to an end. After fifteen books with five books across three series, it has come to an end with Rick Riordan closing the world as we know it (while leaving room for a possible stand alone novel or two in the future). Although I have had my qualms with the Heroes of Olympus story, I was willing to give the Trials of Apollo a chance to redeem itself and allow myself to continue this journey one last time. Upon reading the Tower of Nero, I felt as if the journey did not fully come to a close, due to many factors but the main factor being how Rick Riordan has chosen to not write a story he was passionate about but because he would have rather wrote a story he was hoping to make money off of.

Frankly putting it, Trials of Apollo felt like a rip-off of what Riordan wanted to be Percy Jackson and the Olympians 2.0, but reminding the audience that it was 2.0 constantly. The cameos just so happened to be the only thing that his audience seemed to ever be looking forward to every book and Riordan knew this. Plenty of interviews that he did as each book got released, Rick Riordan has always had a point of bringing up who was going to be making an appearance in each book. The Hidden Oracle was Percy Jackson and the rest of Camp Half-Blood. The Dark Prophecy had the appearance of Leo Valdez and Calypso. The Burning Maze had the addition of Grover Underwood (who the audience hasn’t seen since The Last Olympian), Jason Grace and Piper McLean. The Tyrant’s Tomb had Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arrelano, the Hunters of Artemis and the rest of Camp Jupiter. The Tower of Nero had the appearance of all of the characters in one way or another. Overall, there were very few characters who were new to the series. Even Apollo, who is considered a “fan-favorite” god among the fans is not an original character to this series, having been introduced in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse. Nothing felt new and fresh and it is clear that Riordan is clinging onto these old faces that have enraptured his audience in the past to keep them holding onto this new series.

Although the characters were not the only problems that lead to the Trials of Apollo being as unpassionate as it feels. The plot overall was rather predictable from the beginning, hinting to the audience where it was going to lead to by the time the audience arrived at the Tower of Nero, the final book. Though, a fair argument could be set up that a larger scheme was at play within this series. The Hidden Oracle, the first book within the series, sets up that a company by the name of Triumvirate Holdings is trying to take control of all the oracles. Though, upon learning this information, the audience also learns about some information that is linked to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books from none other than Rachel Elizabeth Dare herself: “... during the Titan War, Luke Castellan mentioned he had backers in the mortal world? They had enough money to buy a cruise ship, helicopters, weapons. They even hired mortal mercenaries… That cruise ship, the Princess Andromeda, was property of Triumvirate Holdings” (The Hidden Oracle 197-198). Just reading this scene alone could get long time readers to believe that something more was coming. The ending to the series was really coming, this could almost be the ending to wars in general, no more battles or even the ideas of quests because they could no longer be funded by this company. Sadly, that was not what happened, rather the plot becomes dry. It follows a direct sequence of events not getting as complicated as it had been in the Heroes of Olympus series (although, Riordan has since learned the Heroes of Olympus was definitely out of his comfort level as an author). 

This of course leads to how the Trials of Apollo as a whole ended. In the Tower of Nero the antagonists, Emperor Nero and Python, have been defeated. After conquering the many trials and the major quests he has been sent cross country to do, Apollo has finally returned to his rightful throne on Olympus, though, feeling out of place after what he had endured in the last six months. With the series having ended and Apollo having learned some valuable lessons during his time as a mortal, a lot feels unanswered. After the ending of the Last Olympian where Percy Jackson asked the gods to listen to their children and maybe take responsibility for some of their actions, they did not change. In the Heroes of Olympus, the gods were asked again to do this, take some responsibility, praise their children yet nothing happened. In the Trials of Apollo, Apollo himself comments on this when he says: “I suppose I could have raged at him and called him bad names… But it would not have changed him. It would not have made anything different between us. You cannot change a tyrant by trying to out-ugly him” (The Tower of Nero 377). This pegs the question, why only change one god’s perspective of mortal lives? The gods still have their issues, everything could have been resolved but was not. The book ends with the possibility of a stand-alone novel with Nico di Angelo and Will Solace after receiving news about a new prophecy for the two of them. Riordan will not close this series and the problems that could be fixed because he knows that it closes off all possibilities for him to continue and make more profit off of it.

Overall, while the Percy Jackson Chronicles as a whole is a rather fun read, I cannot help to be disappointed with the outcome of where the series stands as a whole. It has ended but it never really feels as if Riordan wants it to end. Some can argue that it is because some worlds never end. There is so much to discover but if that is the case, where is the close off then? Where is the satisfaction to the readers who have dedicated so much time and energy for this series? At some point, fans will grow tired and not be as passionate as they once were, because they will no longer feel that same passion in the words written. Instead they will begin to sense how the author is simply writing this all as a gamble for himself and to raise the already large sum amount of money he makes for the books he has written and sold.

Works Cited

Riordan, Rick. The Hidden Oracle. Disney-Hyperion, 2017.

Riordan, Rick. The Tower of Nero. Disney-Hyperion, 2020.

#this started as a joke #then four pages and 1k words later here i was #anyway idk have fun with this??? #its not that fun of read sorry #also nooot my best work the longer i look at it #lmfao anyway #pjo #hoo #toa #ton #ton spoilers #tower of nero #tower of nero spoilers #percy jackson #rick riordan #kari writes #kinda #i know i didnt follow the complete mla format but i kinda needed it to be accessible for tumblr #sorry bout that rip

[blackholesandlions]

SPOILER WARNING

So I was reading ToN and I got to the part about not being able to destroy the fasces, and my mind started racing with ideas so I got down my idea of how the book would end before reading the rest of it, just to see how wrong I was. Anyway I ended up liking it a lot so here’s my alternate ending to the Tower of Nero

Warning this makes no sense if you’ve read any point in the book past where I stopped, so keep that in mind.

Nero’s words still rang in my mind. “You haven’t destroyed it yet, because you can’t. Even if you could, you’d release so much power it would burn you to cinders.” After he said that we ran, fast. He didn’t even bother calling the guards on us. He knew Python would get us first.

I was at the back of the group, because I was carrying the fasces, and it weighed me down. This thing had Nero’s soul in it, it was the only way to kill him, but breaking it would destroy everything around it. And even then, there was still no way to defeat Python. I’m not strong enough to take him out. If only there was some way to… oh. It’s so obvious, why didn’t I think of it earlier? Well, I don’t even want to think about it now, but it’s my only option that gets everyone out safely.

I stopped walking, and the rest of them turned to face me. Rachel asked, “Apollo, what are you doing? We need to keep moving.” I steeled my nerves. “I have a plan to take out Nero and Python in one move.”

“Great, let’s hear it,” Lu said. “No. No time. I need all of you to run, run as far as you can. I’m going to take them out, but you need to be out of the blast zone. Don’t come back for me.” I half wished somebody would protest, say no Apollo, we can’t let you sacrifice yourself, but they nodded, and ran.

Except Meg. Meg was holding back tears.

“Let me help, Lester. You can’t do it on your own.”

“I know.”

“Then how-”

“Destroying the fasces will incinerate anything around it. I’m not strong enough to break it, but he is.”

Meg wasn’t even holding the tears back at this point. She was crying. Over me. “Lester, you can’t,” she sobbed. “You’ll die!”

I pull her into a hug. “Hey, that’s the price of being human.”

“Now go.” She nodded, and gave me a weak smile before turning to run.

I rummaged through my bag, looking for anything to secure the heavy fasces. After a bit of searching I find what I’m looking for. Oh, thank the gods for Duct Tape, truly one of mankind’s greatest inventions. I strap the fasces to my back and shuffle onward towards my doom.

When I finally got there, my old enemy Python has wrapped his way around the entire chamber. His eyes are closed, so he doesn’t see me approaching, and for a second I have to admit, I’m tempted to just flee. Give up this lapse in judgement and live the rest of my mortal life hiding in shame.

But Jason didn’t think like that. Or maybe he did, I guess I have no real way of knowing. Maybe he was just as terrified as I am right now, hesitant to sign his own death warrant. But nevertheless, he jumped into the fray and sacrificed himself to save his friends. So had all the heroes I’ve met on my journey. They were so brave, much braver than I will ever be. But I owe this to them.

“Python!” I yelled into the echoey cavern. Names have power, especially for immortals. Calling the name of someone who wants to kill you is a death wish. But it sure got his attention.

The enormous serpent opened its eyes, the size of lakes, and stared right at me. “Little Lester,” he growled in that horrible voice. “You appear to be all by yourself, but that can’t be possible. I’m sure you have a whole cavalry hidden with some sort of magic. You might as well reveal yourselves, it won’t make a difference.”

I was frozen, shaking. I remember Python well, he terrified me back when I was a god, as a human teen his presence was simply too much. “No,” I squeaked out. I held on to any courage I had. “It’s just me.”

Python smiled, but tilted his head in confusion. “Then how on Earth do you intend to fight me?”

I dropped my bow and ukulele. “I’m not here to fight.”

Now he was incredulous, and angry as well. “I am going to consume you, your entire essence. You will be destroyed, and I will control this world’s future, and you mean to say you aren’t going to fight it?”

“I’m doing this so my friends can survive.”

Python reeled his head back. “Are you sure you’re Apollo?” He hissed. “No immortal in their right mind would be so cavalier with their existence.”

At that I had to laugh. “I don’t think I was ever in my right mind until I was cast down here. I was arrogant, selfish, and cruel. I cared only for myself. But worst of all, I treated mortals like they were expendable. Insignificant humans, good for a laugh, or a duet, or to fetch me something.

“But these people, they live lives that are so full of value and meaning. They form connections that I’ve never had, bonds stronger than anything you or I are capable of. And then… they end. And humans come to terms with it, they accept it. Their lives are so short, but more full than mine ever was. And if sacrificing my life means that they can live another day, then I am fully willing to do so.”

Python was quiet for a moment, looking almost contemplative. Then he curled his sharp teeth into a menacing grin. “Well, Apollo, one thing certainly hasn’t changed about you. You’re still a fool.”

He unhinged his terrifying jaws, and I dove in without hesitation. In the moment before we collided, I could see myself reflected in his eyes. My face was determined and resigned, but my eyes were the real. They were glowing bright orange, two burning orbs, bright and harsh like the unforgiving desert sun.

I could see Python, my oldest enemy, finally recognize me. His mouth didn’t move, but his expression morphed into one of pure terror.

And then he clamped his jaw down.

A fang came down right on top of me, the impact puncturing my body and shattering my spine. The pain was searing, I was probably a few seconds away from death, when I heard a hum from near me. My plan had been a success after all, the fasces was shattered as well, and was slowly getting brighter and brighter, and I could hear Python screaming out in pain. In a burst of light, we were both gone.

I don’t quite remember being dead. I didn’t have any thoughts, not even a haiku crossed my mind. The only reason I knew I was still there was the pain. It got duller and fuller over time, and I started to worry if that meant I was fading away, out of existence. But even then, that barely concerned me. I knew Python was gone, I had done my job. If I faded away now, it didn’t matter, my friends were alive and safe.

And then suddenly I was alive. The first thing I saw was my sister. She was sitting next to me, arm around my shoulder like she did when we were little. “I’m glad you’re here.” I had never heard those words from Artemis before. I started to tear up. “Zeus wants to see you.”

It took me a while to remember how, but I appeared in my father’s palace, right in front of him. I saw his glowering expression. Then I heard his stern, familiar tone. “You were not supposed to die. It took all I had to bring you back this much, but even now…

“You’re still a god, but not powerful like you used to be. You’re on the level of the most minor of deities, not an Olympian. I know this must be very upsetting to you.”

The strangest thing was, it wasn’t. I had lost my status, most of my power, I should be furious at how diminished I’ve become, but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. Alarming, to say the least.

For some reason, my mind kept drifting back to Camp-Half Blood. My children, all the others I had saved, and my brother, Dionysus, still stuck there. It was odd how happy he had been, just to have someone else to work with. I hadn’t seen him that excited since he was first sent to that camp. I had laughed at the time, but now I think his punishment was no better than mine.

Zeus cleared his throat. “Well, at least you’ve learned your lesson now.” I looked at my father, the man who had caused all of this in the first place. “I’ve learned many lessons, Father.”

“I’m glad you’ve learned how to respect me now, Apollo.” Suddenly I was overcome with anger. This… god consistently refused to take responsibility for his actions, and never took into account anyone’s feelings but his own. He was callous, and egotistical, and awful.

But, that’s just what I was like before my journey, wasn’t it? I was just as awful as he is. But I’m better than that now. I don’t have to go back to the way I was, I can make changes. We gods always said we were stuck as we were, that we needed mortals to change things, or we would keep repeating our history forever.

But the truth is, we could have changed at any time, we just refused to accept that we were the same as humans. We refused to accept that we could be wrong, in need of changes. We just continued pretending we were perfect, because we are cowards. I was a coward. But not anymore. And I am going to write my own prophecy, change my future.

“No, actually, I think that’s the one class I skipped.” He furrowed his brow. “What. Did. You. Say.”

“You need to release Dionysus from his post at Camp-Half Blood. Now.” Thunder roared throughout mount Olympus. “That insolent child hasn’t served his full punishment yet!”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll be taking over his post effective immediately.”

When I appeared at Camp-Half Blood that day, I kept myself invisible at first. I wanted to see what was going on at camp before I made my presence known. The scenery was always beautiful, but now I looked at it with a sense of nostalgia. Not just as a place to pop in and show off to the young demigods. But as a home.

The first thing I spotted was, in fact, spotted. It was my brother, in his usual ugly leopard print shirt. The second thing I spotted was Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, at camp. I had last heard they were at Camp Jupiter, but they were here now.

Percy and Dionysus were arguing loudly with each other. I caught a snippet of it. “Look Mr. D, me and Annabeth were on the other side of the country, you can’t just teleport us here on a whim!” Dionysus sighed. “It’s not a whim, Peter Johnson, I brought you two here so you could hear my big announcement! Ah, speaking of!”

He amplified his voice, and began. “Attention campers! Please proceed to the courtyard immediately, I have a very important announcement to make!”

Head counselors shuffled kids out of their cabins until everyone was in the courtyard. I heard some kids muttering things like “ugh, this better not be another end of the world.”

Mr. D cleared his throat. “Now that I have your attention, see you losers!” There were cries of confusion from the crowd. “That’s right, Zeus has lifted my punishment early, which means I don’t have to take care of you brats anymore!” He looked almost giddy. He looked to where I was standing, invisible, because of course gods can see each other, and gave me a nod of gratitude, before disappearing in a flash, leaving behind a cluster of grapes. I had the feeling he wasn’t coming back.

The camp fully erupted into chaos, children freaking out left and right. Even the oldest around were confused, this was new territory even for them. A young child ended the chaos by crying out “who’s gonna be in charge of the camp?” The campers paused for a moment, before turning their heads to all look at Percy Jackson.

The poor boy looked almost ready to cry. He so desperately wanted to be done with everything, to have a normal life, go to college with his girlfriend. He didn’t want to spend his whole life at this camp. But he sighed, and said “if I have to step up, I will.”

In a flash of golden light, I made myself visible. “That’s very noble of you, Percy, but it won’t be necessary.” The whole crowd was stunned. I had to smile. Despite it all, I still loved a good dramatic entrance. I heard a familiar voice from the crowd say “Lester?”

I had never been so happy to see a little girl with a terrible pageboy haircut. I did a little wave and said “hi Meg,” weakly.

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?” She yelled across the courtyard, but I could see she was smiling.

It occurred to me that I still looked like Lester, and even more surprising, that I hadn’t cared to check. I used to spend hours a day agonizing over what form I took, but it hadn’t crossed my mind this whole time. Even stranger, I didn’t feel like changing to someone more handsome. This Lester form felt somehow fitting to me, like I wouldn’t want to change it at all.

“I kinda did die, but I’m back now, and immortal again. But I’m not Apollo. I’m not anywhere near as powerful as I used to be. I’m not even on the Olympian council anymore.”

“Wait, then there’s an empty spot?” Annabeth asked. “An unbalanced council isn’t good.” I nodded my head. “Yes, that’s why I yielded the post to Hestia. I figured she deserved a turn back in the spotlight.”

Percy grinned. “Wow, man, that’s a lot to give up.”

I sighed. “Yes, it is.” I turned back to Meg, tears welling in my eyes. “It’s good to see you again.” She wiped a tear away from her eye. “Well, are you gonna lead us or not?” I smiled. Never change, Meg, never change.

“Right. I’m running this camp now, and you will see some major changes.” The campers looked nervous, probably remembering Mr. D and all his ideas.

“For starters, I’m creating a parents day here at Camp-Half Blood, twice a summer. I understand that some of you don’t have great relationships with your parents, but there are many who do and wish to see them. For those campers, we will provide safe travel so your parents can be here to see you.”

Some kids looked very excited, especially younger ones who had just been pulled away from their parents. I looked up to the sky for this next point. “And also, attendance from godly parents is mandatory!” The sky rumbled with loud thunder. “Don’t try to fight me on this! You all have infinite time and can be in multiple places at once, there’s no reason you can’t be there for your children for a couple of hours!”

The younger campers definitely all looked ecstatic at that, the prospect of meeting their godly parents. The older campers, though more jaded, still smiled at the idea of their parents being there for them. The kids were all chattering excitedly amongst themselves, until one piped up. “What about quests?”

This was the question I’d been dreading, because I didn’t have a good answer for it. I paused. “Quests and prophecies are an unavoidable part of life as a young hero. However, I am aware of how dangerous and traumatizing they can be. So I am instating a policy. If you have gone on a quest, you do not ever have to go on another. You are allowed to opt out, and the gods have promised they will not hold it against you.”

A half-hearted clap of thunder pulsed through the camp. Percy and Annabeth gave me grateful looks.

“Any more questions?” I asked the camp. My son Will raised his hand. “Yeah, what do we call you? You’re not Apollo anymore, and I’m guessing Mr. A isn’t right either, so who are you exactly?”

That was tricky. I didn’t quite know yet. I was certainly still immortal, yet I felt human, so human. But I think I was starting to get the idea.

“I’m Lester. God of Camp-Half Blood.”

#toa #pjo #riordanverse #trials of apollo #tower of nero #ton #fic #toa spoilers #ton spoilers #pjo spoilers

[racefortheironthrone]

"The Church had to govern itself freely...otherwise loyal subjects...were justified in resisting the monarch's attempts to compromise that independence" That sounds like a lot of Popes' positions through time. Would Knox then have been on the side of the Church against Henry VIII?

Knox was extremely not on the side of the Catholic Church. Like a lot of Protestant reformers, he starts out as a Catholic university-trained notary-priest, but pretty early on in the 1540s he’s choosing not to become a parish priest and instead becomes a tutor to the children of two Protestant lairds. He then meets an early Scottish Calvinist named George Wishart who has already had to flee the country once to escape heresy charges, and pretty soon Knox is guarding Wishart from the Regent James Hamilton, the Queen Mother Mary of Guise, and Cardinal David Beaton, with a two-handed broadsword. 

Wishart gets arrested and burned at the stake by Beaton, Knox goes on the run as a fugitive, Beaton gets assassinated, Beaton’s assassins show up at the Castle of St. Andrews (where Knox is coincidentally working as a tutor), with around a hundred and fifty of their friends and family to barricade themselves in the castle in what is not at all a Protestant rebellion (that may have been financed by England). 

By this point, Knox is preaching to this congregation of rebels on the authority of the Bible over the Pope (whom he compares to the Antichrist), and justification through faith alone, and so on. The castle is besieged and eventually taken by a French marine force (on the orders of Mary of Guise), who take Knox and the rest as galley slaves, where (according to Knox), their captors try to force them to venerate Catholic icons of the Virgin Mary - Knox organizes them to resist even if this means being thrown overboard in chains. Knox almost dies in his time onboard the galleys (mostly due to poor food and exposure to the elements, but it’s not like his captors would have been unhappy if he’d up and died), and is released thanks to the intervention of Edward VI (again, because of the possible financing of said failed rebellion). 

He goes into exile in England and gets a job with the Church of England, but they’re not Protestant enough for him despite the fact that he kind of owes their boss his life, so he starts preaching whatever he wants instead of what he’s supposed to, plus he gets into both political disputes with the Duke of Northumberland (who was the new Regent of England) and religious disputes with Cranmer. This is pretty dicey (head-choppy) stuff, but after the galleys you get the sense that he’s no longer giving any fucks and will throw down with anyone, even people who are (politically, at least) on his side.

Edward VI dies and Mary I takes over, so Knox leaves England in a hurry and goes straight to Geneva, where he shows up and starts asking really pointed politically-inflected questions to Calvin himself about whether Protestants should rise up against Mary like right now what are you waiting for, which is further than Calvin is willing to go. (It’s an odd world when Calvin is the reasonable moderate in the room.) He briefly becomes a minister for English exiles in Frankfurt, but does not get along with one of them over Edward VI’s Book of Common Prayer (see why this would be a big issue?), so gets turned in for having written a pamphlet denouncing the Holy Roman Emperor for being “no less enemy to Christ than was Nero.”

At this point, Knox has to get out of Germany and heads back to Scotland, where he immediately starts preaching his own version of the Reformation, and gains such a following that when the Catholic bishops try to put him on trial, he can intimidate them into dismissing the charges. Again showing that he had zero chill (and not much political sense), on a brief trip back to Geneva Knox writes and publishes a pamphlet titled “The first blast of the trumpet against the monstruous regiment of women,” a pretty clear attack on Mary I of England, Mary of Guise, and Mary Queen of Scots...which becomes problematic when Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England and does not take kindly to an attack on the idea of women rulers. 

(Yes, this is where Pratchett got his title from.)

To make a long story short, Knox gets declared an outlaw by Mary of Guise, this kicks off an iconoclastic riot that levels the church and two priories in Perth, Mary sends in the troops, that doesn’t work, and pretty soon Knox is marching at the head of a giant mob that is sacking churches and cathedrals everywhere it goes. The Protestant lairds form the Lords of the Congregation, their army occupies Edinburgh (twice!), Knox preaches from the pulpit of the main Cathedral in Edinburgh the next day, the French send in more troops, the Lords of the Congregation depose Mary of Guise, and Knox plays a major role in negotiating with the English for their military support to kick the French out of Scotland, Mary of Guise conveniently dies right after the English army shows up, the French agree to leave...and that’s when the Scottish Reformation formally begins.

So no, as far as Knox was concerned, the Pope was his enemy, Henry VIII was only slightly less his enemy, and he’d fight them both at the same time if they were man enough to face him broadsword-to-broadsword. 

#historical analysis #the reformation #early modern europe #john knox #history of religion

[phantaloon-books]

I finally read The Tyrant's Tomb and boi I loved this one so much, so here's some my opinion on it (they're not in chronological order)

warning, this is long af and sorry for cursing a bit, I can't help it

Apollo's character arc is lowkey one of the best Rick has written, I'm sorry if you don't agree, but he's gone from wanting others to solve his problems and relying on the halfbloods to intentionally avoiding others doing things for him, volunteering for the quests and saying it should be him that faces the terrible stuff so that demigods and other creatures don't suffer

something really interesting is how his perception of himself has changed, and it's almost worrying how genuinely self depreciating his inner dialogue is, because he no longer sees himself as mighty Apollo, he sees himself as worthless and useless Lester, and his narration is highkey depressing

Also, Apollo disliking and being somewhat disgusted of the god he used to be, realizing the horrible things he had done and how horrible he was and that he looked worse as the former Apollo than as Lester, regretting things he'd done, that's top tier development

(I'm sorry but I love the entire scene with the ravens, the part where he just screams "I'm sorry" it feels as if he isn't just apologizing to the ravens, but to everyone who's been affected by what he's done as a selfish god)

Reyna so openly turning down and laughing at Apollo for suggesting they be together is my favorite thing ever lmao I couldn't stop laughing, like she knew what gods can do if you turn them down (even if it was just mortal Lester) and she didn't give a damn, it was so fucking funny

people say Rick only includes diversity for the sake of including it and to gain popularity, but I still enjoy the fact that he does, because as a teacher he must have had all kinds of students of all religions, colors and sexualities, he includes diversity because he's seen diversity. anyway my point is I love that we have Lavinia, a Jewish lesbian from a Russian family, and she's not ashamed of being any of them

I'm sorry I just love Apollo so much, I've grown to respect him so much, and even if Hermes once said them gods often forget their oaths and promises, I have a feeling Apollo won't ever forget Jason's request that he never forgets what's it like to be mortal

Frank still admiring Apollo despite everything, and despite the fact that he looks like a messed up teen makes me go all uwu

Frank being portrayed as this clumsy and awkward kid but also this powerful and brave leader is my favorite thing ever because I think Frank is underrated and I dare to say that he's one of the strongest demigods we've ever met, even stronger than some of the nig three children

the whole thing about the undead army is honestly so creepy, especially when we see it from Apollo's perspective cause se him slowly succumb to the venom's effect, and that part in Tarquin's tomb where he "calls Lester to be part of his undead" was genuinely disturbing, at least to me

some books in the past have touched the part of the nature spirits not being given enough attention, but I really enjoyed how Apollo comes to realize that he only worries about demigods and gods when all lives are worth the same - mortals, halfbloods, nature spirits, gods, and even monsters

again, I love Apollo's arc, it's just AHH he's becoming so caring of life it just makes me happy

Reyna choosing herself to make herself happy is everything, and inspiring to every single woman who is told by others that they need someone to be happy, I just love it, because self love is the most important love of all

I haven't said anything about it, but man I love Meg and Apollo's friendship, they just care so much for each other, Meg who's so scared of losing her loved ones and Apollo who's so scared of not being able to be loved or to love, but they still love each other, and I'm glad it's not romantic, because yes fraternal love is also what people need, and their friendship is what they need

aurum and argentum being cute doggos rather than the steely (no pun intended) and cold dogs we met in HoO warms my heart. I don't understand why they're so cute and adorable, or maybe that's just how Apollo sees them, but they seem to act like actual dogs in this book

the fact that Reyna never confirmed nor denied being attracted to Thalia just makes me all hyped up, like we love Theyna

Apollo just gives off Eddie Brock vibes throughout the entire book and that's hilarious asf. ever since the start he's said to look like shit, feel like shit and be injured with deathly poison that will turn him to a zombie. if that isn't Venom vibes I don't know what is

I've said it once and I'll say it again, Frank Zhang is one of the strongest demigods Rick has ever introduced in a series, and him facing two immoral and godly in power emperors, burning one to death with his own life fire and injuring the other enough for Apollo to do the final kill is top tier

"If I'm going to burn, I might as well burn bright. This is for Jason." bitch actual goosebumps

We've seen countless deaths before, but something about Frank killing Caligula and Apollo killing Commodus seems so... mature I guess is the word, or well for a more mature audience. I can't describe how or why, but it feels more real, more like actual human death

I can't deal with how human Apollo seems in this book gosh I really am sorry I keep bringing this up, but I feel such warmth

the story of how Frank overcame his curse is actual BS and as much as I love Frank, it makes no sense that they spent all that time thinking of ways to keep the wood secure only for this. idk I mean id that were the case wouldn't the curse had vanished when he broke Thanatos free? he was willing to die then just like against Caligula, so why now but not then?

Don reincarnating into a laurel is peak bittersweet feeling and it actually hurt because in a camp where fauns were seen as dumb and useless, he helped Lavinia organize everything and destroy the canon things on the yachts

I'm still not over Jason's death, he really did deserve better. It makes sense, plotwise, because out of all of the huge characters from the past, Jason, Percy and Annabeth's deaths would impact others the harder, and push them to do better. And I understand that you gotta show, not even the main characters survive sometimes. Still, I'm hurt.

Thalia talking to Apollo during the funeral for the fallen campers made me actually weep. I'm not sure if it was because of Jason, or when Thalia talked about how much Artemis loves Apollo, or when Apollo "accepted" halfblood children of Zeus as his family

Also, you know who deserved better? Harpocrates, damn right he deserved better. I nearly cried when I read his death, cause he embraced it like one would an old friend in happiness. He and the Sybil deserved better. Dakota also deserved better

On the other hand, I tried so hard not to laugh at 2 am as I read Tarquin demand answers from a cat? he genuinely thought a cat would tell him where the Sybilline Books where and I couldn't handle that

This book is cruel but in a much more human way? The maiming of the pegasi wings? that's horrifying, but in such a human way, unlike what we've seen in any of the greek/roman gods series, and it's unsettling

Meg is braver than any of the other demigods were at that age (maybe excepting Nico), cause she's not embarking on a quest to retrieve an item or rescue someone or bring back their sister from the dead, she's facing her own abusive father while aiding a somewhat weak mortal in releasing the oracles and gaining godhood back. what's she getting from it all? absolutely nothing, she's gifted some seeds and she hangs out with unicorns more than other people and she's lost everything, but she's willing to lose more to help her friend. she's heroic like no one else is, because she's the first who doesn’t want anything more than being with her friend (Percy wanted whoever was taken back, Annabeth wanted to be able to be more, Nico wanted to bring back Bianca, even Bianca wanted freedom). the only other person who didn't have somewhat selfish (but kot wrong) interests while doing something heroic at a young age has been Hazel. What I mean is I love Meg and everything she does

Thalia being that chill over Jason's death bothers me so much, as if she wasn't the happiest when she found out the brother she lost 14 years ago was alive after all, and she had a part of her family back, and it was ripped from her, and Thalia is just not one to easily forget or move on from things, it's just unrealistic that she would only need a little furious session of throwing things to be okay with Jason's death as if her brother was not just taken from her all over again. it's impulsive Thalia we're talking about, who fought Percy when dealing with Annabeth going missing, it's just not her to be over his death that quickly. Sorry for Rick but I think differently

I also kinda don't like that Tyson went from being freaking General of the Cyclops, to the guy that has the Sybilline prophecies or whatever, it's important and all, but he would have been of great help during the battle and they had him waiting for help in the shrine hill like his potential went down the drain

but a thing I really loved was how different Camp Jupiter seems from Lester eyes compared from Percy's or Hazel's or Frank's perspective, it's hilarious. The other three see this place where everyone is serious and shit but Apollo just sees beyond the seriousness and it's actually refreshing, cause he's the first not to make CHB seem immature in comparison and like I said before I hated that in previous books

also Reyna laughing watered my plants, cured my depression, and made the world okay again, I just love her

all in all, this is my favorite book of ToA so far, and I'm really excited to see what's to come, and how Apollo and Meg will face Nero and Python, but more  than anything I'm looking forward to what will happen to Apollo, and whether if given the choice, he'd go back to being a selfish god or remain mortal for a while, with his newfound friends

Also I really miss Annabeth so can I please see Annabeth, I just want to see her cause she won't deal with Apollo's shit and I can't wait to see that, I miss my girl

#pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #hoo #heroes of olympus #toa #trials of apollo #apollo #lester papadopoulos #the tyrants tomb #the tyrant's tomb #meg mccaffrey #reyna avila ramirez arellano #the burning maze #jason grace #thalia grace #hazel levesque #frank zhang #lavinia asimov #tyson the cyclops #ella the harpy #new rome #camp jupiter #the tower of nero

[inviouswriting]

Free - Butler!AU

Aymeric x Kiya

For the butler!au from @whitherliliesbloom

Let me start this off with. I know how some will feel out of character. But this is an AU, there will be moments where characters will always feel like that. Don’t come at me to point out the obvious. I know Nero would least likely be involved, but again this is an AU. I’m not aiming for canon! So now that we got that straight. 

Some warnings in place.

Some blood, some people getting stabbed, TW!forced marriage. Things that can cross into the abuse category with how some people treat their daughters as business trade investments. But remember this has a good ending. I’d never write something that made me uncomfortable.

With that out of the way. Enjoy~ This was suppose to have gone up yesterday but I got busy with other things.

Cameos mentioned.

@whitherliliesbloom​ , @meepsthemiqo​ , @maiden-born-in-snow​ , @wysteria-ffxiv​ , and @tatyltails​ 

Kiya has no idea how things got like this, she is staring at the courtyard from her window and the decorations are already being hung for a wedding. She replayed the previous night in her head, spending time with Aymeric put her in good spirits, but the day had finally come where she would either leave with him or leave married to a man she did not love and be expected to give children.

Kivera was grumbling to herself as she got Kiya ready for the disaster outside in her eyes. She is putting trust in Aymeric, alot of trust, she did not want to see this girl be used for others merits.

There is a knock on Kiya's door and Kivera opens it with a very angry glare. To Aymeric who steps back seeing the maid glowering at him.

"What do YOU want?!"

"Kivera. Please. Let me speak to both of you." He does not miss the lashing of Kivera's tail. She steps aside and let's him in. He spies Kiya dressed in a white dress, looking the part of a bride. Yet he sees on her face the worry.

Kiya looks up at him, curiosity etched into her face as to why he is there.

"It's official now, Edmont signed last night. As of now, you have no assets that these men could want. Other than you, but they'll have to fight me for you." Aymeric saysbwith a grin. He sees Kiya's face light up ag being told she is free, but now to break it to the world.

"Of course when we get back to Ishgard, you will have to stay in the dorms for a bit before you are back in the house to sort the red tape and such. I think you can manage." Kiya nods and Kivera gives him a quirked eyebrow.

"So tell me, what and when do you plan to reveal this information?" Kivera tugs in Kiya's hair a bit fixing it to the curled braid and spirals. Kiya swats at her hands only to have her face pinched.

"At the ceremony. What better spot than to speak now." Aymeric sees Kivera's eyes light amused.

"You know Ilberd might lose his cool. Don’t get stabbed." Kivera warns him.

"That is why I came to you. I think this would be safer in your grasp than mine till the moment." Aymeric hands Kivera the parchment and the miqo takes it hiding it up her sleeve.

"Alright, but if you fail." Kivera gives him a warning glare. Aymeric tugs at his collar then kneels in front of Kiya. To reassure her, he cups her face and places a gentle kiss on her lips avoiding smearing the lip paint.

"You will come home with me. Now I must go help Edmont to his spot. It is almost about. to begin." Kiya gets one more kiss from him before Kivera chases him out for the kisses.

Kivera touches her up, and then they wait. They walk down to a room before the courtyard. Kiya feels panic in her body at what if things go wrong. She recalls Aymeric telling her to have faith in him but it doesn't erase the anxiety in her.

Kiya peeks from the window seeing friends and names. From Shuri and her entourage, Illya and Alphinaud, Meeps and Asahi, Wysteria and Zenos. Kiya sees people who sympathize with her and want to help but can't when they have their own ordeals.

Another knock, this one belonging to Ilberd.

"It is time. Let's get this over with." Ilberd says as he begins to wander out. Kivera sighs as it is now nor never. She hopes for never.

The walk down the aisle was nerve wracking for Kiya every step felt like she had a ball around her ankle dragging her to them. She spies her friends who give anxious looks or glaring daggers at the scene unfolding in front of them.

Kiya reaches the altar and glares through the veil at the men. She felt every nerve on fire, she wanted to burn things, cast fire and ice till the whole place went up in flames for making her do this. Kivera stands to her side, along with a few choice friends from Nanamo to Tatyl. 

There was silence before the officiant began, reciting old words. Kiya wriggles her hands out of Nero’s grasp preferring to keep them at her side for now. There was the moment some were waiting for.

“If there should be a reason these two should not be married, speak now.” Kiya opens her mouth to speak and is shot a glare by Ilberd. She growls low and speaks anyway.

“I don’t want to do this!” Kiya takes a step back, and Aymeric takes this opportunity to get up and make for the center.

“I have some words myself. This woman, is under Ishgard’s maidservant training. In such, all who enter this careful practice relinquish their inheiritances, statuses, wealth, and namely anything that gives them leverage over their peers. It’s what makes us pretty good servers to be treated as equals.” Aymeric looks over to Nero who is comprehending what he just said.

“In other words, you could marry her, but you won’t get anything you are aiming for. Lolorito neglected to inform you didn’t he? That Kiya signed up on her own, they were hoping to marry her off, and save title by having her a Scaeva.” Aymeric looks over at the lalafell who only grins wide.

“Not that any of this matters to me. It was mostly Ilberd’s plan for Nero. You know how butler’s lose rank if their charges and wards lose their goals. An event like this? He’ll be a D rank by the end of the day, if not fired first.” Lolorito looks up at Kiya who only gives him glares.

“Why drag me along in this?” 

“Entertainment. Now the cat’s out of the bag.” Lolorito looks over to Nero who wisely walks away throwing his hands up.

“Back to Cid’s workshop for me.” He doesn’t even chance it. Aymeric pulls out a copy of the Ishgardian laws for Lolorito to read and Kiya’s parents who are more than mortified. Lolorito only accepted Kiya as a bargaining piece so they could pay off a debt to some wine makers. Lolorito also didn’t expect such a chase on the girl. Not that he could complain she is pretty.

“I’m fond of her, but I got what I wanted out of these charades.” Lolorito walks off after other guests as they get up and start to filter once they realized a wedding wasn’t happening.

Ilberd was silent and eyed the parchment on the table, he wondered if burning it would revoke this. Kivera sees his eyes on it, and they both reach for it. Kivera a little faster and the moment Ilberd’s hand graces the table, she plunges a knife into his hand pinning it there. 

The pained anguish that comes from Ilberd reaches the ears of a few and they turned to look in awe. Ilberd holds his hand now bleeding and glares at Kivera who smirks down at him.

“I’ll be taking this. You dare try to ruin this, I’ll gut you like a pig. Mark my words boy.” Kivera hands the parchment over to Aymeric who takes it and further grasps Kiya’s hand to start taking her away from the madness. Kivera follows after them as a way to guard them.

“My life will be ruined, my life is ruined..” Ilberd looks up at the officiant who just shrugs his shoulders and starts tearing up the marriage documents that were prepared. He had seen the sadness on Kiya’s face through the veil at being forced into marriage. 

“You know, marriage is suppose to be about love and happiness, and consenting. Not used as a business. It is appalling at what men do with daughters sometimes. Marry them off once they’re old enough to bleed and have children.” The officiant sees the defeated man and offers a rag to stop the wound.

Something seemed to click and Ilberd gets to his feet, Kiya, and Aymeric made it up the long stairs to go back into the palace. Kivera lingers and looks over her shoulder as she helps usher guests inside. They may as well make use of the banquet. Kivera sees Ilberd dashing up the stairs, and makes a face.

“By Hades and Thanatos. Will this never end?” Kivera takes her knife and turns to Kiya and grabs the hem of the gown and starts cutting it at her legs to remove the skirt from tripping her.

“Kivera?” Kiya winces as the knife nicks her leg.

“Sorry, but it looks like you’ll be missing the festivals a bit. Aymeric get this girl out of here before there are casualties.” Aymeric nods and picks Kiya up as well as usher his wards out to the chocobo they arrived in. They make it as far as the door when Kivera lets out a screech at being stabbed with a rapier.

“Kivera?!” Kiya calls out.

“Get out of here! I’ll be fine. Not the first time. But for this guy it’ll be the last time.” Kivera stares back at Ilberd.

“You ruined so much for me..”

“Me? Ruin things for you? Don’t be daft. You did it to yourself with forcing that girl’s hand. There are plenty of willing heiresses who would have been glad to have Scaeva, but you settled on Kiya because of the market trading she was tied to.” Kivera pulls herself off the blade and gives her wound a check seeing it healing already. Ilberd stares in horror at realizing she is not of this realm.

“What manner of creature are you.”

“Your death if you keep this up.” The knife Kivera holds to her side changes from the little tonberry knife to a grand scythe. Ilberd connects well that he had just harmed something that shrugs it off like a mongoose being bitten by a garter snake. 

Zenos and Wysteria see this change, and Galvus looks on amused at what was about to happen. Wysteria shocked at seeing an otherworldly being for the first time.

There is an exchange and Kivera uses the scythe pressing it down onto the ground and uses it as leverage to kick Ilberd back outside with her following him down the stairs they just climbed.

Ilberd lands back on his feet and prepares to fight with the reaper. This exchange is witnessed by the Fontaye house. Just coming up from the Garden. Startling the heiress head as Ilberd gathers to his feet and runs with Kivera in hot pursuit. Estinien gives a glance after Kivera who was sweeping her scythe at the back of Ilberd’s feet enough to make the man jump and he swears he could see flames at the end of her blade.

“Want me to follow them, Princess?” He offers to go lend his spear if things got out of control.

“Please do.” Estinien leaves her to run after the two in a fight, with Zenos walking slowly to follow. He doesn’t want to miss this, but doesn’t appear anxious for it.

Kivera brandishes the scythe and crosses it in front as the two square off in blows of blade to blade.  The sky was changing from bright sunny to a thick fog rolling in. Kivera notes they are at the front of the palace, and she could see in the distance her ward running, she had bought them enough time to get so far but it was getting them out of the area. She felt at ease but returns her eyes to Ilberd who knocks her back with a blow of his sword onto the front of her scythe. 

 Kivera holding back just a bit to allow people chances to leave. From above Zenos steps forward to watch the spectacle finding it of amusement more than the party. Ilberd lands another stab at her chest where her heart should be, and Kivera only glares down at him.

“Honestly, did you really think stabbing me would solve anything?” Kivera’s clothes change from the maid outfit she once wore into something more fitting for her taste as a butler. A suit to match and smirk on her face. She kicks him back and sends a shock through their weapons to drop him onto his back paralyzing him briefly and she jumps on top of him poising her scythe down near his neck.

“We are going to let them leave here.” She has a wild look on her face. Ilberd was about to raise up when the scythe presses down and he feels immeasurable strength behind her hold. She could easily crush him, or kill him. She would if it meant her ward leaves a happy woman.

“I’ve witnessed that girl grow up to be raised prim and proper, guided every which way to be. She chooses one thing for herself, and everyone has a problem with it. And I’ll be damned to hell again if I allow someone like you, the chance to enslave her in something like “THAT” You’ll accept your resignation of St Lucia’s ranks. If you come after my girl again. I will come for your head. got it?” Frantic nods from Ilberd and Kivera was about to step away.

“So you would let her do as she wan-” The scythe’s point aims dangerous at the center of his head now.

“Not another word. Realize the position you are in. That talk should be reserved for someone who cares, and someone on the winning side instead of losing.” Kivera amuses aloud, she straightens herself and looks around at the onlookers. She spies Kiya’s parents looking the part of wealthy oriented parents do. The mother in a fine dress and the father looking worn out of his mind.

“You two. Disown your daughter! You have no right to her anymore. Per the agreement with Lolorito. If she failed to marry someone to pay off your debt, the contract would be void. Release that girl from THIS.” 

“How would we pay off the debt then?”

“Getting a damned job like the rest of us. I’m sure Lolorito would have a fitting job for the both of you. Since you have no problems about controlling someones life, how about we fix you both up to work it off in a different manner?” Kivera glances over to her ward who offers a nod and grin. Kivera glances down at Ilberd.

“You will be resigning your rank, status, and anything else if you want to keep your head on. You’re not even worth killing.”  Kivera hops off and kicks him once in the side. She looks over to Lolorito who eyes her curious with amusement.

Kivera approaches the parents and holds up a parchment that Aymeric had prepared for her. 

“Sign it. Both of you.” To relinquish their parental status with Kiya. 

“What if we don’t sign it?”

“Then I’ll just kill you both. That should work now shouldn’t it?” Her voice low and venomnous, green eyes a dark red, suggests they obey her command. They realize there is no way out of this without signatures, or their lives at risk. They sign the document, and watch as Kivera glances over to Lolorito the moment it is done.

“I quit!” Kivera announces loud to him, and starts storming off. Zenos was a bit disappointed it didn’t end in bloodshed, but he got entertainment out of it.

“Now this was a party.” He comments and motions for Wysteria to follow him to leave the place.

Kivera goes to let off steam by sitting at the edge of the dock that leads to the salt of The Lochs. She seethed quietly till she hears footsteps behind her. Thinking it was another person bent on challenging her, she whips around and loops the scythe around the man’s neck seeing it is Estinien.

“What do you want?” Estinien holds the spear between himself and the scythe. How she has such fast reflexes.

“Come to offer you a job seeing as you quit your previous wards. I think you would do nicely at the Fontaye house. You can do what you like there, and without consequences and free to go after Ilberd if he shows up again.” Kivera eyes him as her bargains with her.

“I might be interested.” She places the scythe down and eyes him weary still.

“I think you’ll enjoy the house.” Kivera follows him to go greet the miss. They stop at a delivery moogle to send the document she had signed on priority to House Fortemps. She sighs to herself knowing now Kiya is officially a free woman from this life, and hopes that Aymeric will make her happy.

Kivera stands before Shuri, wearing her best. A graceful bow and a wicked grin on her lips.

“I am Kivera. At your service.”

#This was alot longer than I had expected #a few cameos #aymeric #ser aymeric #ffxiv aymeric #aymeric de borel #Kiya Shinikami #aymeric x kiya #estinien #Estinien wyrmblood #zenos yae galvus #wysteria #wysteria x zenos #shuri fontaye #Kivera siverstein #mentions of tatyl #nanamo ul namo #ilberd feare #nero scaeva #tatyl lyn #lolorito

[skvaderarts]

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Here’s my yearly Christmas fic if your interested! I love all the art you’ve been posting! Repost with links to your art and fics! Let’s make a thread!

Gathered for Greetings

 I’m going to end up writing a Christmas fic every year, aren’t I? That’s okay. I just hope that next year I’m no literally writing it on Christmas day! Curse you, procrastination!

-~-

When they’d received the invites in the mail, they’d been skeptical.

Togetherness wasn’t something that none of them were used to, but it was something that they were willing to play at, if only because of the simply apocalyptic year that they’d all had thus far. Due to obvious circumstances, the majority of them had little to no experience with planning holiday events, let alone even attending them, but that wasn’t going to stop them from trying. In a strange turn of events, Nero and Kyrie were probably the most well acquainted with how holiday parties worked due to the addition of the orphans a short while back, but even then they had never thrown a party. After all, there weren’t exactly a lot of people they could invite, and they didn’t have a very spacious living area. Try as they might, there was only so much that they could do, especially on their limited finances. 

But there was one unexpected additional point of intrigue that made this particular holiday get together a bit more interesting than it already seemed to be at first glance, and that was the setting that it was set to take place in. That, and who’s idea it was in the first place. Towards the start of the holiday season, V had approached Nero with a very much out of character proposition:

“... I think we should do something this year… at my house.”

Nero remembered looking at him as though he had grown a second head. Had V lost his mind? From what he knew about his generally socially challenged sibling, this particular request seemed like something he’d come up with after a particularly traumatic head injury or as the result of a late-night cheese binge. Was he caught in the middle of some kind of irreverent fever dream?

“Why do you wanna do that? I thought you hated parties.”

V had looked away from him, obviously uncomfortable with the reality that he was now going to have to explain what he was thinking. He’d figured that he’d more than likely have to do that, but that reality did little the quince the feeling of unease that he felt in the pit of his stomach. Voluntary honesty was difficult, especially when it forced him to speak on matters that he could frankly do without digging out of the lower recesses of his mind. He’d prefer to keep his problems buried deep, and this certainly counted as a problem, but he’d brought this up, so he was going to follow through.

“You’re correct, I do… but this is the first time I’ve ever had a family to actually commemorate the occasion with, and as such, the first time I…” he paused for a second, looking down at the floor with an earnest look of sadness.” I’ve never actually celebrated Christmas. Ever. Even as a child. I was hoping to change that.”

So naturally, not being a heartless psychopath, Nero couldn’t turn down such a heartfelt plea, especially from such a close member of his family. It was rare for V to ask for anything, and after the frankly hellish few months they’d had since his resurrection, he couldn’t think of a logical reason to dismiss his idea. He’d had an opportunity once or twice to do something for the holidays once he’d met Kyrie’s wonderful family as a younger child, but the idea of literally never doing anything for it at all… It actually hurt his heart a little to imagine that. Aside from cultural or even religious reasons, how on earth did that even happen?!

That was a question for another day. If his older sibling wanted to have his house destroyed by their extended family, then he was happy to help him in that regard. So in the last days leading up to Christmas, Nero, Kyrie, and Nico had brought the children over and they had spent several long hours decorating, wrapping gifts, and generally trying to keep V from having a protracted anxiety attack from the prospect of having everyone they knew at his house. Planning it was one thing, but actually doing it was another thing entirely, and he’d never been the best at long periods of social interaction. It drained his social battery to even think about it.

“Do you think they’re actually going to come over? Hell, do they even like Christmas? They barely like each other!” Nero shouted down to V over his shoulder as he shrugged and secured the last of the lights over a doorway. He was dead tired of climbing this ladder, and he hoped that the architects that built the place and decided that it needed close to fifteen-foot ceilings were burning in hell right now. But if he ever saw V climb a ladder again, he was going to have an anxiety attack.” I can’t see our old man even being the festive type. Maybe Dante but…”

He shrugged, fussing over the bottom of the gigantic Christmas tree that Lady and Trish had brought over early that morning. Where they had managed to find a real twelve-foot tall tree on Christmas day was anyone’s guess. It was probably Morrison’s handiwork, considering the fact that he’d helped them bring it over in the first place. That man could find ice in hell. Lady and Morrison were in the kitchen with Kyrie and Magnolia. They were helping taste things while the two of them finished up the last of the cooking. V had helped them cook a short while before deciding to turn his attention to the entirely bare tree. Three people in one kitchen was a bit of a crowd, but considering the fact that this had once been Magnolia’s family home, not inviting her would have been extraordinarily unkind. In an ironic twist, he’d managed to find ornaments but nothing to actually put them on. How fortunate that they’d arrived when they did.

Nico and Trish were on either side of the tree, attempting to help him get the last few ornaments on and clean up the bristles that had fallen on the tree skirt. As it turned out, V was actually horribly allergic to pine needles. They made him break out in an extremely itchy rash, a fact that he’d gone his entire life without knowing due to the fact that he’d literally never gone near a pine tree. It made the process of hanging ornaments slow and slightly nervewracking, to say the least. He imagined that this was what it would feel like to try and decorate poison oak.

“I’d imagine that they have mixed feelings about this time of year, to say the least. It more than likely brings up unfortunate memories.” He stepped away from the tree and allowed himself to slump over on the couch. All this standing didn’t agree with him.” Admittedly, I was pleasantly surprised when Dante agreed to come over. Even more so when he called back only a short while later to inform me that Vergil would be following suit. I suspect there was violence involved in that negotiation.”

Trish scoffed slightly, trying and failing not to laugh.” Oh, I’m sure there was. I don’t think either of them like parties. It’s one of the few things they agree on!”

With a relieved sigh, Nero climbed down from the ladder, thoroughly done with hanging things.” Sorry, but those are gonna have to stay up until next year. No way I’m going back up there.”

V nodded, equally tired and ready to get started with the festivities..” Agreed. It is quite a hassle. Thank you all for tolerating my request. It seems that none of us particularly enjoy large gatherings or decorating for that matter. I’m flattered that you would do so for my sake at your own expense.”

Everyone present waived him off nonchalantly. None of them minded on this one occasion. It was a welcome moment of normality in their entirely supernatural lives, and they couldn’t say that those happened very often.

“Yea, well as long as this goes better than that damn beach trip, I think we’ll all be just fine.” Nico said as she walked towards the kitchen with a bag full of pine needles.” Now don’t touch that godforsaken tree again or I’ll skin you all alive. I’m tired of cleaning!”

An awkward silence washed over the room as they thought about that trip. It had been a stressful year, hadn’t it? Between that and Belial… “yea, well if you aim low, you can’t be disappointed, can ya? That’s how I talk myself out of bed every day.!”

They all turned in the direction of the doorway, surprised to see who had spoken. Standing before them were Dante and Vergil, the two of them seemingly taking in the surprisingly festive atmosphere. It had been Lady’s idea to play Christmas music. She’d even brought over wine for the occasion. She was perhaps the most excited person there besides Magnolia and the children who were playing in the next room over with Lucia. Getting the redheaded guardian there in time had been nothing short of a logistical nightmare, but they had pulled it off nonetheless. Even Matier had managed to come over for the occasion, no doubt surprised to be invited in the first place. There were still a few stragglers who would be coming later on such as Patty, but the number of people who had agreed to come in the first place was enough for V.

Much to their collective surprise and disbelief, V actually laughed at that statement. It was a sentiment that he honestly had to agree with. It was rare that V actually agreed with Dante on something so wholeheartedly, but this was one of those occasions.” You make a valid point, Dante. I suppose I’m just glad you both came.”

Dante and Vergil almost seemed flattered by the statement, unsure of what to really say. It had taken quite a bit for them to talk themselves into coming over, but seeing everyone there wasn’t something they expected and as such, they were a little unsure of where to start. But they were willing to try, and that was what counted, wasn’t it?

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all…

Looking notably uncomfortable, Vergil glanced in the direction of the tree. It had been a long time since he’d seen one of those… It brought back vague but vibrant memories he thought he’d lost to the void of despair that was his life a lifetime ago. Perhaps actually attempting to make a few new ones wasn’t such an awful idea after all.

“... Thank you for inviting us.”

With that statement, the entire room fell strangely silent again, everyone collectively surprised to hear Vergil say something so… agreeable. It was a nice change of pace. One could only assume that he was genuinely pleased to be included in something like this, but it was hard to tell. They had no point of reference. But if the barely concealed look of surprised pleasure on Dante’s face was anything to go off of, they had done something right.

It was Nero’s turn to break the silence. He was admittedly starting to get hungry, and he was sure the children were probably driving Lucia insane in the next room. It was actually time to celebrate.” Anytime. Now let’s go eat. Kyrie and V were cooking and magnolia brought over desert again.”

Dante practically teleported into the kitchen.” Well, hell you shoulda started there! Speak up next time!”

Vergil shook his head and followed after him at a much slower pace. He was in much less of a hurry to get to the kitchen. He hadn’t really come there for the food.” At least he’s eating something besides pizza.”

Nero and V nodded in agreement. The holidays were supposed to be about the little things. It was about time they went and enjoyed them. After all, it wasn’t every day that they all got to spend time together without it being a life or death situation. They were going to savor that. Well, that and the food. The food was probably going to be amazing.

-~-

Thanks for reading this little holiday fic that I threw together! You’ll all see how this ties into the main story once we get there in Hirathe. I thought you might like this. Happy Holidays everyone! See you on New Years! I hope next year is a little better!

#Happy Holidays #DMC5 #V #Vergil #Nero #Dante #Lady #Trish #Nico #Kyrie #Devil May Cry 5 #Devil May Cry V #Post Devil May Cry 5 #DMC #DMCV #Post Devil May Cry V #Devil May Cry #Fic #A03 FanFiction #Skvader

[flightfoot]

Useful Tyrant’s Tombs quotes

So I know I’m gonna be writing analyses on this book in the future, so I decided to go ahead and pull potentially useful quotations now so I don’t have to hunt for them and type them up later. I figure others might get some good use out of them too though, so I wanted to share them! (I’ll admit though, some of the quotations aren’t ones I think I might use, a few I just put because I really like them)

This song really wasn’t about me at all. (I know. I could hardly believe it, either.) It was “The Fall of Jason Grace”. In the last verses, I sang of Jason’s dream for Temple Hill, his plan to add shrines until ever god and goddess, no matter how obscure, was properly honored. (46)

I realized they weren’t just grieving for Jason. The song had unleashed their collective sorrow about the recent battle, their losses, which - given the sparseness of the crowd - must have been extreme. Jason’s song became their song. By honoring him, we honored all the fallen. (47)

I shuddered. “A caffeinated Meg. Just what I need. How long have I been out?”

“Day and a half.”

“What?!”

“You needed sleep. Also, you’re less annoying unconscious.” (55)

Her expression closed up like a hurricane shutter. “Nightmares. I woke up screaming a couple of times. You slept through it, but...” She picked a clod of dirt off her trowel. “This place reminds me of... you know”

I regretted I hadn’t thought about that sooner. After Meg’s experience growing up in Nero’s Imperial Household, surrounded by Latin-speaking servants and guards in Roman armor, purple banners, all the regalia of the old empire - of course Camp Jupiter must have triggered unwelcome memories. (56)

“Meg and I have been talking, the last day or so, while you were passed out - I mean, recovering - sleeping, you know. It’s fine. You needed sleep. Hope you feel better.”

Despite how terrible I felt, I couldn’t help but smile. “You’ve been very kind to us, Praetor Zhang. Thank you.” (58)

Frank must have read my pained expression.

“It would’ve been much worse if it hadn’t been for you,” he said, which only made me feel guiltier. “If you hadn’t sent Leo here to warn us. One day, out of nowhere, he just flew right in.”

“That must have been quite a shock,” I said. “Since you thought Leo was dead.”

Frank’s dark eyes glittered like they still belonged to a raven. “Yeah. We were so mad at him for making us worry, we lined up and took turns hitting him.”

“We did that at Camp Half-Blood too,” I said. “Greek minds think alike.” (63)

Frank took my arm gently. “One foot in front of the other. That’s the only way to do it.”

I had come here to support the Romans. Instead this Roman was supporting me. (71)

Millennia ago, I’d killed four of my father’s favorites because they had made the lightning bolt that killed my son Asclepius. (And because I couldn’t kill the actual murderer who was, ahem, Zeus). (73)

I had never been a fan of felines. They were self-centered, smug, and thought they owned the world. In other words... All right, I’ll say it. I didn’t like the competition. (76)

No. Of course. The legion had no high priest, no pontifex maximus. Their former auger, my descendant Octavian, had died in the battle against Gaia. (Which I had a hard time feeling sad about, but that’s another story.) Jason would’ve been the logical next choice to officiate, but he was our guest of honor. That meant that I, as a former god, was the ranking spiritual authority. I would be expected to lead the funeral rites. (87)

The golden eagle of the Twelfth loomed over my shoulder, charging the air with ozone. I imagined Jupiter speaking through its crackle and hum, like a voice over shortwave radio: YOUR FAULT. YOUR PUNISHMENT.

Back in January, when I’d fallen to earth, those words had seemed horribly unfair. Now, as I led Jason Grace to his final resting place, I believed them. So much of what had happened was my fault. So much of it could never be made right.

I meant to keep that promise, if I survived long enough. But in the meantime, there were more pressing ways I needed to honor Jason: by protecting Camp Jupiter, defeating the Triumvirate, and, according to Ella, descending into the tomb of an undead king. (88)

I began to speak, the Latin ritual verses pouring out of me. I chanted from instinct, barely aware of the words’ meanings. I had already praised Jason with my song. That had been deeply personal. This was just a necessary formality.

In some corner of my mind, I wondered if this was how mortal felt when they used to pray to me. Perhaps their devotions had been noting but muscle memory, reciting by rote while their minds drifted elsewhere, uninterested in my glory. I found the idea strangely... understandable. Now that I was mortal, why should I not practice nonviolent resistance against the gods, too? (91-92)

In the center, behind a marble altar, rose a massive golden statue of Dad himself: Jupiter Optimus Maximus, draped in a purple silk toga big enough to be a ship’s sail. He looked stern, wise, and paternal, though he was only one of those in real life.

Seeing him tower above me, lightning bolt raised, I had to fight the urge to cower and plead. I knew it was only a statue, but if you’ve ever been traumatized by someone, you’ll understand. It doesn’t take much to trigger those old fears: a look, a sound, a familiar situation. Or a fifty-foot-tall golden statue of your abuser - that does the trick. (94-95)

“My time,” I said. “For what, exactly?”

She nipped the air in annoyance. To be Apollo. The pack needs you.

I wanted to scream I’ve been trying to be Apollo. It’s not that easy! (95)

I stared up at Large Golden Dad.

Zeus had thrown me into the middle of all this trouble. He’d stripped me of my power, then kicked me to the Earth to free the Oracles, defeat the Emperors, and - Oh wait! I got a bonus undead king and a silent god, too! I hoped the soot from the funeral pyre was really annoying Jupiter. I wanted to climb up his legs and finger-write across his chest WASH ME! (98)

Lupa’s message seemed too good to be true. I could contact my fellow Olympians, despite Zeus’s standing orders that they shun me while I was human. I might even be able to invoke their aid to save Camp Jupiter. (98)

I studied the old prophecies set in the floor mosaic. I had lost friends to the Triumvirate. I had suffered. But I realized that Lupa suffered, too. Her Roman children had been decimated. She carried the pain of all their deaths. Yet she had to act strong, even as her pack faced possible extinction.

You couldn’t lie in Wolf. But you could bluff. Sometimes you had to bluff to keep a grieving pack together. What do mortals say? Fake it till you make it? That is a very wolfish philosophy. (99)

Seeing her again, my heart twisted. She had once been a lovely young woman - bright, strong-willed, passionate about her prophetic work. She had wanted to change the world. Then things between us soured... and I had changed her instead.

Her appearance was only the beginning of the curse I had set on her. It would get much, much worse as the centuries progressed. How had I put this out of my mind? How could I have been so cruel? The guilt for what I’d done burned worse than any ghoul scratch. (105)

“Put on your sheet.” Meg threw a toga in my face, which was not the nicest way to be woken up.

I blinked, still groggy, to the smell of smoke, moldy straw, and sweaty Romans lingering in my nostrils. “A toga? But I’m not a senator.”

“You’re honorary, because you used to be a god or whatever.” Meg pouted. “I don’t get to wear a sheet.” (108)

I got dressed, trying to remember how to fold a toga, and mulled over the things I’d learned from my dream. Number one: I was a terrible person who ruined lives. Number two: There was not a single bad thing I’d done in the last four thousand years that was not going to come back and bite me in the clunis, and I was beginning to think I deserved it. 

The Cumaen Sibyl. Oh Apollo, what had you been thinking?

Alas, I knew what I’d been thinking - that she was a pretty young woman I wanted to get with, despite the fact that she was my Sibyl. Then she’d outsmarted me, and being the bad loser that I was, I had cursed her.

No wonder I was now paying the price: tracking down the evil Roman king to whom she’d once sold her Sibylline Books. If Tarquin was still clinging to some horrible undead existence, could the Cumaean Sibyl be alive as well? I shuddered to think what she might be like after all these centuries, and how much her hatred for me would have grown. (109)

No one laughed or called me crazy. Gods didn’t intervene in demigod affairs often, but it did happen on rare occasions. The idea wasn’t completely unbelievable. On the other hand, no one looked terribly assured that I could pull it off.

A different senator raised his hand. “Uh, Senator Larry here, Third Cohort, Son of Mercury. So when you say help, do you mean like... battalions of gods charging down in their chariots, or more like the gods just giving their blessing, like, Hey, good luck with that, legion!?”

My old defensiveness kicked in. I wanted to argue that we gods would never leave our desperate followers hanging on like that. But, of course, we did. All the time. (119)

Frank looked crestfallen, which made me feel bad. I hadn’t meant to take out my frustrations on one of the few people who still called me Apollo unironically. (121)

I had loved everything about her - the way her hair had caught the sunlight, the mischievous gleam in her eyes, the easy way she smiled. She didn’t seem to care that I was a god, despite having given up everything to be my Oracle: her family, her future, even her name. Once she pledged to me, she was known simply as the Sibyl, the voice of Apollo.

But that wasn’t enough for me. I was smitten. I convinced myself it was love - the one true romance that would wash away all my past missteps. I wanted the Sibyl to be my partner throughout eternity. As the afternoon went on, I coaxed and pleaded.

“You could be so much more than my priestess,” I urged her. “Marry me!”

She laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am! Ask for anything in return, and it’s yours.”

She twisted a strand of her auburn locks. “All I’ve ever wanted is to be the Sibyl, to guide the people of this land to a better future. You’ve already given me that. So, ha-ha, joke’s on you.”

“But - but you’ve only got one lifetime!” I said. “If you were immortal, you could guide humans to a better future forever, at my side!”

She looked at me askance. “Apollo, please. You’d be tired of me by the end of the week.”

“Never!”

“So, you’re saying” - she scooped up two heaping handfuls of sand - “if I wished for as many years of life as there are grains of this sand, you would grant me that.”

“It is done!” I pronounced. Instantly, I felt a portion of my own power flowing into her life force. “And now, my love-”

“Whoa, whoa!” She scattered the sand, clambering to her feet and backing away as if I were suddenly radioactive. “That was a hypothetical, lover boy! I didn’t agree- “

“What’s done is done!” I rose. “A wish cannot be taken back. Now you must honor your side of the bargain.”

Her eyes danced with panic. “I-I can’t. I won’t!”

I laughed, thinking she was merely nervous. I spread my arms. “Don’t be afraid.”

“Of course I’m afraid!” She backed away farther. “Nothing good ever happens to your lovers! I just wanted to be your Sibyl, and now you’ve made things weird!”

My smile crumbled. I felt my ardor cooling, turning stormy. “Don’t anger me, Sibyl. I am offering you the universe. I’ve given you near-immortal life. You cannot refuse payment.”

“Payment?” She balled her hands into fists. “You dare think of me as a transaction?”

I frowned. This afternoon really wasn’t going the way I’d planned. “I didn’t mean- Obviously, I wasn’t-”

“Well, Lord Apollo,” she growled, “if this is a transaction, then I defer payment until your side of the bargain is complete. You said it yourself: near-immortal life. I’ll live until the grains of sand run out, yes? Come back to me at the end of that time. Then, if you still want me, I’m yours.”

I dropped my arms. Suddenly, all the things I’d loved about the Sibyl became things I hated: her headstrong attitude, her lack of awe, her infuriating, unattainable beauty. Especially her beauty.

“Very well.” My voice turned colder than any sun god’s should be. “You want to argue over the fine print of our contract? I promised you life, not youth. You can have your centuries of existence. You will remain my Sibyl.I cannot take those things away, once given. But you will grow old. You will wither. You will not be able to die.”

“I would prefer that!” Her words were defiant, but her voice trembled with fear.

“Fine!” I snapped.

“Fine!” she yelled back.

 I vanished in a column of flame, having succeeded in making things very weird indeed.

Over the centuries, the Sibyl had withered, just as I’d threatened. Her physical form lasted longer than any ordinary mortal’s, but the pain I had caused her, the lingering agony... Even if I’d had regrets about my hasty curse, I couldn’t have taken it back any more than she could take back her wish. Finally, around the end of the Roman Empire, I’d heard rumors that the Sibyl’s body had crumbled away entirely, yet she still could not die. Her attendants kept her life force, the faintest whisper of her voice, in a glass jar.

I assumed that her jar had been lost sometime after that. That the Sibyl’s grains of sand had finally run out. But what if I was wrong? If she were still alive, I doubted she was using her faint whisper of a voice to be a pro-Apollo social media influencer.

I deserved her hatred. I saw that now.

Oh, Jason Grace... I promised you I would remember what it was to be human. But why did human shame have to hurt so much? Why wasn’t there an off button? (131-134)

I had ruined every one of my relationships, brought nothing but destruction and misery to the young men and women I’d loved. (135)

“I appreciate a good boon as much as the next person. But if I’m going to contribute to this quest and not just cower in the corner, I need to know how” - my voice cracked “how to be me again.”

The vibration of the arrow felt almost like a cat purring, trying to sooth an ill human. ART THOU SURE THAT IS THY WISH?

“What do you mean?” I demanded. “That’s the whole point! Everything I’m doing is so-” (138)

I was tired of others keeping me safe. The whole point of consulting the arrow had been to figure out how I could get back to the business of keeping others safe. That used to be so easy with my godlike powers.

Was it, though? another part of my brain asked. Did you keep the Sibyl safe? Or Hyacinthus and Daphne? Or your own son Asclepius? Should I go on?

Shut up, me, I thought back. (140-141)

He laughed. “Just take care of yourself, okay? I don’t think I could handle a world with no Apollo in it.” 

His tone was so genuine it made me tear up. I’d started to accept that no one wanted Apollo back - not my fellow gods, not the demigods, perhaps not even my talking arrow. Yet Frank Zhang still believed in me.

Before I could do anything embarrassing - like hug him, or cry, or start believing I was a worthwhile individual - I spotted my three quest partners trudging toward us. (142)

As we passed a silver lake nestled between the hills, I couldn’t help thinking i as just the sort of place my sister would love. Oh, how I wished she would appear with her Hunters!

Despite our differences, Artemis understood me. Well, okay, she tolerated me. I longed to see her beautiful, annoying face again. That’s how lonely and pathetic I had become. (146-147)

What sort of parents would let their children ride such nightmarish creatures? Maybe Zeus, I thought. (150)

I now understood the lines from the Burning Maze: I would face death in Tarquin’s tomb, or a fate worse than death. But I would not allow my friends to perish too. (166)

Then I wondered if Lavinia simply felt more at home in the wild than she did at camp. She and my sister would get along fine (169)

Also, the way she was looking at me, I got the feeling that her grumpy facade might collapse into tears faster than Tarquin’s ceiling had crumbled. (169)

I saw and heard nothing, but I took Hazel’s word for it. “Go. You’ll move faster without me.”

“Not happening,” Meg said. (170)

Home. Such a wonderful word.

I had no idea what it meant, but it sounded nice.

[...]

I dreamed of homes. Had I ever really had one?

Delos was my birthplace, but only because my pregnant mother, Leto, took refuge there to escape Hera’s wrath. The island served as an emergency sanctuary for my sister and me, too, but it never felt like home anymore than the backseat of a taxi would fell like home to a child born on the way to a hospital.

Mount Olympus? I had a palace there. I visited for the holidays. But it always felt more like the place my dad lived with my stepmom.

The Palace of the Sun? That was Helios’s old crib. I’d just redecorated.

Even Delphi, home of my greatest Oracles, had originally been the lair of Python. Try as you might, you can never get the smell of old snakeskin out of a volcanic cavern.

Sad to say, in my four-thousand-plus years, the times I’d felt most at home had all happened during the past few months: at Camp Half-Blood, sharing a cabin with my demigod children; at the Waystation with Emma, Jo, Georgina, Leo, and Calypso, all of us sitting around the dinner table chopping vegetables from the garden for dinner; at the Cistern in Palm Springs with Meg, Grover, Mellie, Coach Hedge, and a prickly assortment of cactus dryads; and now at Camp Jupiter, where the anxious, grief-stricken Romans, despite their many problems, despite the fact that I brought misery and disaster wherever I went, had welcomed me with respect, a room above their coffee shop, and some lovely bed linens to wear.

These places were homes. Whether I deserved to be a part of them or not - that was a different question. (171-172)

Meg huffed, “It’s still light outside. You slept all day.”

“Not turning into a zombie is hard work.”

“I know!” she snapped. “I’m sorry!”

[...]

Just a few minutes ago, Meg had been happily insulting me and gorging on jelly beans. Now... was she crying?

“Meg.” I sat up, trying not to wince. “Meg, you’re not responsible for me getting hurt.

She twisted the ring on her right hand, then the one on her left, as if they’d become too small for her fingers. “I just thought... if I could kill him...” She wiped her nose. “Like in some stories. You kill the master, and you can free the people he’s turned.”

It took a moment for her words to sink in. I was pretty sure the dynamic she was describing applied to vampires, not zombies, but I understood what she meant.

“You’re talking about Tarquin,” I said. “You jumped into the throne room because... you wanted to save me?”

“Duh,” she muttered, without any heat.

I put my hand over my bandaged abdomen. I’d been so angry with Meg for her recklessness in the tomb. I’d assumed she was just being impulsive, reacting to Tarquin’s plans to let the Bay Area burn. But she’d leaped into battle for me - with the hope that she could kill Tarquin erase my curse. That was even before I’d realized how bad my condition was. Meg must have been more worried, or more intuitive, than she’d let on.

Which took all the fun out of criticizing her.

“Oh, Meg,” I shook my head. “That was a crazy, senseless stunt, and I love you for it. But don’t beat yourself up. Pranjal’s medicine bought me some extra time. And you did too, of course, with your cheese-grating skills and your magical chickweed. You’ve done everything you could. When we summon godly help, I can ask for complete healing. I’m sure I’ll be as good as new. Or at least, as good as a Lester can be.”

Meg tilted her head, making her crooked glasses just about horizontal.”How can you know? Is this god going to give us three wishes or something?”

I considered that. When my followers called, had I ever shown up and granted them three wishes? LOL, nope. Maybe one wish, if that wish was something I wanted to happen anyway.

[...]

“I don’t know, Meg,” I confessed. “You’re right. I can’t be sure everything will be okay. But I can promise you I’m not giving up. We’ve come this far. I’m not going to let a belly scratch stop us from defeating the Triumvirate.”

She had so much mucus dripping from her nostrils, she would’ve made Buster the unicorn proud. She sniffled, wiping her upper lip with her knuckle. “I don’t want to lose somebody else.”

My mental gears weren’t turning at full speed. I had trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that by “somebody else,” Meg meant me.

[...]

Now, aside from all the bad memories the Roman trappings of Camp Jupiter might have triggered for her, she was faced with the prospect of losing me. In a moment of shock, like a unicorn staring me right in the face, I realized that despite all the grief Meg gave me, and the way she ordered me around, she cared for me. For the past three months, I had been her one constant friend, just as she had been mine.

[...]

What a horribly insufficient friend I had been.

“Come here.” I held out my arms. “Please?”

Meg hesitated. Still sniffling, she rose from her cot and trudged toward me. She fell into my hug like I was a comfy mattress. I grunted, surprised by how solid and heavy she was. She smelled of apple peels and mud, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t even mind the mucus and tears soaking my shoulder.

I’d always wondered what it would be like to have a younger sibling. Sometimes I’d treated Artemis as my baby sister, since I’d been born a few minutes earlier, but that had been mostly to annoy her. With Meg, I felt as if it was actually true. I had someone who depended on me, who needed me around no matter how much we irritated each other. I thought about Hazel and Frank and the washing away of curses. I supposed that kind of love could come from many different types of relationships. (188-192)

Some of the pandai were young enough to have pure white fur, which made my head hurt, reminding me of my brief friendship with Crest, the youthful aspiring musician who’s lost his life in the Burning Maze. (193)

No matter what happened over the next twenty-four hours, I would not add to Meg’s worries. I would tough it out until the moment I keeled over.

Wow. Who even was I? (195)

she hesitated, then generously decided not to add except for Apollo, who slept through it all (199)

A third group sledded down a dirt hill on their shields.

Hazel sighed. “That would be my group of delinquents. If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to teach them how to slay ghouls.” (203)

I cleared my throat. I’d faced much bigger audience. Why was I so nervous? Oh, right. Because I was a horribly incompetent sixteen-year-old. (205)

I shot at the nearest target - then at the target next farthest out, then at the next - firing again and again in a kind of trance.

Only after my twentieth shot did I realize I’d landed all bull’s-eyes, two in each target, the farthest about two hundred yards away. Child’s play for Apollo. For Lester, quite impossible.

The legionnaires stared at me, their mouths hanging open. We’re supposed to do that?” Dakota demanded.

Lavinia punched my forearm. “See, you guys? I told you Apollo doesn’t suck that much!”

I had to agree with her. I felt oddly not suckish.

The display of marksmanship hadn’t drained my energy. Nor did it feel like the temporary bursts of godly power I’d experienced before. I was tempted to ask for another quiver to see if I could keep shooting at the same skill level, but I was afraid to press my luck. (205-206)

I’d spent a lot of time worrying about the fate of New Rome and Camp Jupiter, the Oracles, my friends, and myself. But these hackberries and crabgrasses deserved to live just as much. They, too, were facing death. They were terrified. If the emperors launched their weapons, they stood no chance. The homeless mortals with their shopping carts in People’s Park would also burn, right along with the legionnaires. Their lives were worth no less. (215)

Honestly, I didn’t know much about dryad life cycles, or how they protected themselves from climate disasters. Perhaps if I’d spent more time over the centuries talking to them and less time chasing them...

Wow. I really didn’t even know myself anymore. (216)

“Why does a strong friendship always have to progress to romance?” (228)

Whether I died today, or turned into a zombie, or somehow managed to live, I would rather face my fate with my conscience clear and no secrets. For one thing, I should tell Meg about my encounter with Peaches. I should also tell her I didn’t hate her. In fact, I liked her pretty well. All right, I loved her. She was the bratty little sister I’d never had. (232)

I crossed my arms. “Well, I’m glad we had this talk, so I could unburden myself of all the things you already knew. I was also going to say that you’re important to me and I might even love you like a sister, but-”

“I already know that, too.” She gave me a crooked grin, offering proof that Nero really should have taken her to the orthodontist when she was younger. “S’okay. You’ve gotten less annoying, too.” (243)

“Lester, I need intel,” she said. “Tell me how we defeat these things.”

“I don’t know!” I wailed. “Look, back in the old days, ravens used to be gentle and while, like doves, okay? But they were terrible gossips. One time I was dating this girl, Koronis. The ravens found out she was cheating on me, and they told me about it. I was so angry, I got Artemis to kill Koronis for me. Then I punished the ravens for being tattle-tales by turning them black.”

Reyna stared at me like she was contemplating another kick to my nose. “That story is messed up on so many level.”

“Just wrong,” Meg agreed. “You had your sister kill a girl who was cheating on you?”

“Well, I-”

“Then you punished the birds that told you about it,” Reyna added, “by turning them black, as if black was bad and white was good?”

“When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound right,” I protested. “It’s just what happened when my curse scorched them. It also made them nasty-tempered flesh-eaters.”

“Oh, that’s much better,” Reyna snarled.

“If we let the birds eat you,” Meg asked, “will they leave Reyna and me alone?”

“I- What?” I worried that Meg might not be kidding. Her facial expression did not say kidding. It said serious about the birds eating you. “Listen, I was angry! Yes, I took it out on the birds, but after a few centuries I cooled down. I apologized. By then, they kind of liked being nasty-tempered flesh-eaters. As for Koronis- I mean, at least I saved the child she was pregnant with when Artemis killed her. He became Asclepius, god of medicine!”

“Your girlfriend was pregnant when you had her killed?” Reyna launched another kick at my face. I managed to dodge it, since I’d had a lot of practice cowering, but it hurt to know that this time she hadn’t been aiming at an incoming raven. Oh, no. She wanted to knock my teeth in.

“You suck,” Meg agreed.

“Can we talk about this later?” I pleaded. “Or perhaps never? I was a god then! I didn’t know what I was doing!”

A few months ago, a statement like that would have made no sense to me. Now, it seemed true. I felt as if Meg had given me her thick-lensed rhinestone-studded glasses, and to my horror, they corrected my eyesight. I didn’t like how small and tawdry and petty everythin looked, rendered in perfect ugly clarity through the magic of Meg-O-Vision. Most of all, I didn’t like the way I looked - not just present-day Lester, but the god formerly known as Apollo. (252-253)

“But you’re the- you used to be the god of music, right? If you can charm a crowd, you should be able to repulse one. Pick a song those birds will hate!”

Great. Not only had Reyna laughed in my face and busted my nose, now I was her go-to guy for repulsiveness.

Still... I was struck by the way she said I used to be a god. She didn’t seem to mean it as an insult. She said it almost like a concession - like she knew what a horrible deity I had been, but held out hope that I might be capable of being someone better, more helpful, maybe even worthy of forgiveness. (255)

I wanted to sing for Reyna, to prove that I had indeed changed. I was no longer the god who’d had Koronis killed and created ravens, or cursed the Cumaean Sibyl, or done any of the other selfish things that had once given me no more pause than choosing what dessert toppings I wanted on my ambrosia.

It was time to be helpful. I needed to be repulsive for my friends! (256)

I sighed. “You two are horrible influences on each other.”

Without taking their eyes off me, Reyna and Meg gave each other a silent high five. (265)

THOU HAST FOUND THY GROOVE. AT LEAST THE BEGINNINGS OF THY GROOVE. I SUSPECTED THIS WOULD BE SO, GIVEN TIME. CONGRATULATIONS ARE MERITED. (266)

“What did you do to him?” Meg asked.

I tried to look offended. “Nothing! I may have teased him a bit, but he was a very minor god. Rather silly-looking. I may have made some jokes at his expense in front of the other Olympians.”

Reyna knit her eyebrows. “So you bullied him.”

“No! I mean... I did write zap me in glowing letters on the back of his toga. And I suppose I might have been a bit harsh when I tied him up and locked him in the stalls with my fiery horses overnight-”

“OH MY GODS!” Meg said. “You’re awful!”

I fought down the urge to defend myself. I wanted to shout, Well at least I didn’t kill him like I did my pregnant girlfriend Koronis! But that wasn’t much of a gotcha.

Looking back on my encounters with Harpocrates, I realized I had been awful. I somebody had treated me, Lester, the way I had treated that puny Ptolemaic god, I would want to crawl in a hole and die. And if I were honest, even back when I was a god, I had been bullied - only the bully had been my father. I should have known better than to share the pain.

I hadn’t thought about Harpocrates in eons. Teasing him had seemed like no big deal. I suppose that’s what made it even worse. I had shrugged off our encounters. I doubted he had.

Koronis’s ravens... Harpocrates...

It was no coincidence they were both haunting me today like the Ghosts of Saturnalias Past. Tarquin had orchestrated this with me in mind. He was forcing me to confront some of my greatest hits of dreadfulness. Even if I survived the challenges, my friends would see exactly what kind of a dirtbag I was. The shame would weigh me down and make me ineffective - the same way Tarquin used to add rocks to a cage around his enemy’s head, until eventually, the burden was too much. The prisoner would collapse and drown in a shallow pool, and Tarquin could claim, I didn’t kill him. He just wasn’t strong enough. (269-270)

The emperors would’ve considered Harpocrates just another dangerous, amusing plaything, like their trained monsters and humanoid lackeys.

And why not let King Tarquin be his custodian? The emperors could ally themselves with the undead tyrant, at least temporarily, to make their of Camp Jupiter a little easier. They could let Tarquin arrange his cruelest trap for me. Whether I killed Harpocrates or he killed me, what did it matter to the Triumvirate in the end? Ether way, they would find it entertaining - one more gladiator match to break the monotony of their immortal lives. (273)

“Would that count?” Meg asked. “I mean, if Reyna doesn’t open the door herself, isn’t that cheating the prophecy?”

Reyna shrugged. “Prophecies never mean what you think, right? If Apollo is able to open the door thanks to my help, I’m still responsible, wouldn’t you say?” (274)

If Harpocrates was indeed waiting inside this shipping contained, I would make sure the full force of his anger fell on me, not Reyna or Meg. (276)

The god glared at me. He forced painful images into my mind: me stuffing his head into a toilet on Mount Olympus; me howling with amusement as I tied his wrists and ankles and shut him in the stables with my fire-breathing horses. Dozens of other encounters I’d completely forgotten about, and in all of them I was as golden, handsome, powerful, and powerful as any Triumvirate emperor - and just as cruel. (279)

Just because we both hated the Triumvirate did not make us friends. Harpocrates had never forgotten my cruelty. (280)

She sent Harpocrates her life story, captured in a few painful snapshots. She knew about monsters. She had been raised by the Beast. No matter how much Harpocrates hated me - and Meg agreed that I could be pretty stupid sometimes - we had to work together to stop the Triumvirate.

Harpocrates shredded her thoughts with rage. How dare she presume to understand his misery? (281)

Harpocrates was unmoved. He bent his will toward me, burying me in his hatred.

All right! I pleaded. Kill me if you must. But I am sorry! I have changed!

I sent him a flurry of the most horrible, embarrassing failures I’d suffered since becoming mortal: grieving over the body of Heloise the griffin at the Waystation, holding the dying pandos Crest in my arms in the Burning Maze, and, of course, watching helplessly as Caligula murdered Jason Grace.

Just for a moment, Harpocrates wrath wavered.

At the very least, I had managed to surprise him. He had not been expecting regret or shame from me. Those weren’t my trademark emotions. (282)

For the emperors, the potential loss of their fasces apparently didn’t outweigh the potential benefit of having me destroyed... or the entertainment value of knowing I’d done it to myself. (283)

They had left me the starkest of choices: run away, let the Triumvirate win, and watch my mortal friends be destroyed, or free two bitter enemies and face the same fate as Jason Grace.

It was an easy decision.

I turned to Reyna and Meg and thought as clearly as I could: Destroy the faces. Cut him free. (283-284)

Harpocrates rage pressed down on me, making my knees buckle. The air pressure increased, as if I’d plummeted a thousand feet. I almost blacked out, but I guessed Harpocrates wouldn’t let that happen. He wanted me conscious, able to suffer. 

He flooded me with bitterness and hate. My joints began to unknit, my vocal cords dissolving. Harpocrates might have been ready to die, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t kill me first. That would bring him great satisfaction.

I bowed my head, gritting my teeth against the inevitable.

Fine, I thought. I deserve it. Just spare my friends. Please.

The pressure eased.

I glanced up through a haze of pain.

In front of me, Reyna and Meg stood shoulder to shoulder, facing down the god.

They sent him their own flurry of images. Reyna pictured me singing “The Fall of Jason Grace” to the legion, officiating at Jason’s funeral pyre with tears in my eyes, then looking goofy and awkward and clueless as I offered to be her boyfriend, giving her the best, most cleansing laugh she’d had in years (Thanks, Reyna.)

Meg pictured the way I’d saved her in the myrmekes lair at Camp Half-Blood, singing about my romantic failures with such honesty it rendered giant ants catatonic with depression. She envisioned my kindness to Livia the elephant, to Crest, and especially to her, when I’d given her a hug in our room at the cafe and told her I would never give up trying.

In all their memories, I looked so human... but in the best possible ways. Without words, my friends asked Harpocrates if I was still the person he hated so much. (288-289)

“Good-bye, Apollo,” said the Sibyl’s voice, clearer now. “I forgive you. Not because you deserve it. Not for your sake at all. But because I will not go into oblivion carrying hate when I can carry love.”

Even if I could’ve spoken, I wouldn’t have known what to say. I was in shock. Her tone asked for no reply, no apology. She didn’t need or want anything from me. It was almost as if I was the one being erased. (291)

Anger swelled in me. I decided I was done with the ravens’ bitterness. Plenty of folks had valid reasons to hate me: Harpocrates, the Sibyl, Koronis, Daphne... maybe a few dozen others. Okay, maybe a few hundred others. But the ravens? They were thriving! They’d grown gigantic! They loved their new jobs as flesh-eating killers. Enough with the blame. (295)

Reyna must have noticed my worried expression.

“You did good back there,” she said. “You stepped up.”

Reyna sounded sincere. But her praise just made me feel more ashamed.

“I’m holding the last breath of a god I bullied,” I said miserably, “in the jar of a Sibyl I cursed, who was protected by birds I turned into killing machines after they tattled about my cheating girlfriend, who I subsequently had assassinated.”

“All true,” Reyna said. “But the thing is, you recognize it now.”

“It feels horrible.”

She gave me a thin smile. “That’s kind of the point. You do something evil, you feel bad about it, you do better. That’s a sign you might be developing a conscience.”

I tried to remember which of the gods had created the human conscience. Had we created it, or had humans just developed it on their own? Giving mortals a sense of decency didn’t seem like the sort of thing a god would brag about on their profile page.

“I- I appreciate what you’re saying,” I managed. “But my past mistakes almost got you and Meg killed. If Harpocrates had destroyed you when you were trying to protect me...”

The idea was too awful to contemplate. My shiny new conscience would have blown up inside me like a grenade.

Reyna gave me a brief pat on the shoulder. “All we did was show Harpocrates how much you’ve changed. He recognized it. Have you completely made up for all the bad things you’ve done? No. But you keep adding to the ‘good things’ column. That’s all any of us can do.”

Adding to the “good things” column. Reyna spoke of this superpower as if it were one I could actually possess.

“Thank you,” I said. (299-300)

“We’re going to make it,” I said, like a fool.

Once again, I had broken the First Law of Percy Jackson: Never say something is going to work out, because as soon as you do, it won’t. (306)

When had I last felt “whole”? I wanted to believe it was back when I was a god, but that wasn’t true. I hadn’t been completely myself for centuries. Maybe millennia.

At the moment, I felt more like a hole - a void in the cosmos through which Harpocrates, the Sibyl, and a lot of people I cared about had vanished. (316)

I laughed - actually laughed - with satisfaction. It felt so good to be a decent archer again, and to watch Meg at her swordplay. What a team we made! (322)

This was how it ended, I thought bitterly. Not fighting threats from the outside, but fighting against the ugliest side of our own history. (323)

There had only ever been one choice. Deep down, I’d always known which god I had to call. 

“Follow me,” I told Ella and Tyson.

I ran for the temple of Diana.

Now I’ll admit I’ve never been a huge fan of Artemis’s Roman persona. As I’ve said before, I never felt like I personally changed that much during Roman times. I just stayed Apollo. Artemis, though...

You know how it is when your sister goes through her moody teenage years? She changes her name to Diana, cuts her hair, hangs out with a different, more hostile set of maiden hunters, starts associating with Hecate and the moon, and basically acts weird? When we first relocated to Rome, the two of us were worshipped together like in the old days - twin gods with our own temple - but soon Diana went off and did her own thing. We just didn’t talk like we used to when we were young and Greek, you know?

I was apprehensive about summoning her Roman incarnation, but I needed help, and Artemis - Sorry, Diana - was the most likely to respond, even if she would never let me hear the end of it afterward. Besides, I missed her terribly. Yes, I said it. If I was going to die tonight, which seemed increasingly likely, first I wanted to see my sister one last time. (332)

Ella rummaged in her supply pouches, pulling out herbs, spices, and vials of oils, which made me realize how long it had been since I’d eaten. Why wasn’t my stomach growling? (333)

The emperors obviously wanted to send a message: they intended to dominate the world at any cost. They would stop at nothing. They would mutilate and maim. They would waste and destroy. Nothing was sacred except their own power.

I rose unsteadily. My hopelessness turned into boiling anger. I howled, “NO!” (340)

A few months ago, I would have been happy to let Frank take this hopeless fight on his own while I sat back, ate chilled grapes, and checked my messages. Not now, not after Jason Grace. I glanced at the poor maimed pegasi chained to the emperors’ chariot, and I decided I couldn’t live in a world where cruelty like that went unchallenged.

“Sorry, Frank,” I said. “You won’t face this alone.” I looked at Caligula. “Well, Baby Booties? Your colleague emperor has already agreed. Are you in, or do we terrify you too much?”

Caligula’s nostrils flared. “We have lived for thousands of years,” he said, as if explaining a simple fact to a slow student. “We are gods.”

“And I’m the son of Mars,” Frank countered. “praetor of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. I’m not afraid to die. Are you?” (345)

Commodus punched me square in the chest. I staggered backward and collapsed on my butt, my lungs on fire, my sternum throbbing. A hit like that should have killed me. (348)

My first punch left a fist-size crater in the emperor’s gold breastplate. Oh, I thought in some distant corner of my mind. Hello, godly strength! (352)

Commodus fought, but his fists were like paper. I let loose a guttural roar - a song with only one note: pure rage, and only one volume: maximum.

Under the onslaught of sound, Commodus crumbled to ash.

My voice faltered. I stared at my empty palms. I stood and backed away, horrified. The charred outline of the emperor’s body remained on the asphalt. I could still feel the pulse of his carotid arteries under my fingers. What had I done? In my thousands of years of life, I’d never destroyed someone with my voice. When I sang, people would often say I “killed it”, but never meant that literally. (360)

I cobbled together the last shreds of my courage. I channeled my old sense of arrogance, from back in the days when I loved to take credit for things I didn’t do (as long as they were good and impressive). I gave Gregorix and his army a cruel, emperor-like smile.

“BOO!” I shouted.

The troops broke and ran. (362-363)

I grinned at the newcomer. “Hey, sis.”

Then I keeled over sideways. The world turned fluffy, bleached of all color. Nothing hurt anymore.

I was dimly aware of Diana’s face hovering over me, Meg and Hazel peering over the goddess’s shoulders.

“He’s almost gone,” Diana said.

Then I was gone. My slipped into a pool of cold, slimy darkness.

“Oh no, you don’t,” my sister’s voice woke me rudely.

I’d been so comfortable, so nonexistent.

Life surged back into me - cold, sharp, and unfairly painful. Diana’s face came into focus. She looked annoyed, which seemed on-brand for her.

As for me, I felt surprisingly good. The pain in my gut was gone. My muscles didn’t burn. I could breathe without difficulty. I must have slept for decades.

“H-how long was I out?” I croaked.

“Roughly three seconds,” she said. “Now, get up, drama queen.”

[...]

I beamed at my sister. It was so good to see her disapproving I-can’t-believe-you’re-my-brother frown again. “I love you,” I said, my voice hoarse with emotion.

She blinked, clearly unsure what to do with this information. “You really have changed.”

“I missed you!”

“Y-yes, well. I’m here now. Even Dad couldn’t argue with a Sibylline invocation from Temple Hill.”

[...]

I checked my stomach, which was easy, since my shirt was in tatters. The bandage had vanished, along with the festering would. Only a thin white scare remained. “So... I’m healed?” My flab told me she hadn’t restored me to my godly self. Nah, that would have been too much to expect.

Diana raised an eyebrow. “Well, I’m not the goddess of healing, but I’m still a goddess. I think I can take care of my little brother’s boo-boos.”

“Little brother?”

She smirked, then turned to Hazel. (382-384)

I suppose I’d been too focused on Thalia, wondering whether or not she was going to kill me and whether or not I deserved it. (388)

“You also saved me,” I said. “You’re here. You’re actually here.”

She took my hand and squeezed it. Her flesh felt warm and human. I couldn’t remember the last time my sister had shown me such open affection. (389)

“It’s just a guess,” I admitted. “Frank went into that tunnel knowing he might die. He willingly sacrificed himself for a noble cause. In doing so, he broke free of his fate. By burning his own tinder, he kind of... I don’t know, started a new fire with it. He’s in charge of his own destiny now. Well, as much as any of us are. The only other explanation I can think of is that Juno somehow released him from the Fates’ decree.” (393)

“How did you survive the fire?” Hazel asked.

“I don’t know. I remember Caligula burning up. I passed out, thought I was dead. Then I woke up on Arion’s back. And now I’m here.” (395)

“Hey, Apollo, you- you know the difference between a faun and a satyr...?”

[...]

A moment later, his body collapsed with a noise like a relieved sigh, crumbling into fresh loam. In the spot where his heart had been, a tiny sapling emerged from the soil. I immediately recognized the shape of those miniature leaves. Not a hemlock. A laurel - the tree I had created from poor Daphne, and whose leaves I had decided to make into wreaths. The laurel, the tree of victory.

One of the dryads glanced at me. “Did you do that...?”

I shook my head. I swallowed the bitter taste from my mouth.

“The only difference between a satyr and a faun,” I said, “is what we see in them. And what they see in themselves. Plant this tree somewhere special.: I looked up at the dryads. “Tend it and make it grow healthy and tall. This was Don the faun, a hero.” (398-399)

She folded her arms and stared at the fire. “I don’t blame you, Apollo. My brother...” She hesitated, steadying her breath. “Jason made his own choices. Heroes have to do that.” (402)

“It seems so cruel,” she continued. “We lose someone and finally get them back, only to lose them again.”

I wondered why she used the word we. She seemed to be saying that she and I shared this experience - the loss of an only sibling. But she had suffered so much worse. My sister couldn’t die. I couldn’t lose her permanently.

Then, after a moment of disorientation, like I’d been flipped upside-down, I realized she wasn’t talking about me losing someone. She was talking about Artemis - Diana.

Was she suggesting that my sister missed me, even grieved for me as Thalia grieved for Jason?

Thalia must have read my expression. “The goddess has been beside herself,” she said. “I mean that literally. Sometimes she gets so worried she splits into two forms, Roman and Greek, right in front of me. She’ll probably get mad at me for telling you this, but she loves you more than anyone else in the world.”

A marble seemed to have lodged in my throat. I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded.

“Diana didn’t want to leave camp so suddenly like that,” Thalia continued. “But you know how it is. Gods can’t stick around. Once the danger to New Rome had passed, she couldn’t risk overstaying her summons. Jupiter... Dad wouldn’t approve.”

I shivered. How easy it was to forget that this young woman was also my sister. And Jason was my brother. At one time, I would have discounted that connection. They’re just demigods, I would have said. Not really family.

Now I found the idea hard to accept for a different reason. I didn’t feel worthy of that family. Or Thalia’s forgiveness. (403-404)

“My whole life, I’ve been living with other people’s expectations of what I’m supposed to be. Be this. Be that. You know?”

[...]

“But you showed me. When you proposed dating...” She took a deep breath, her body shaking with silent giggles. “Oh, gods. I saw how ridiculous I’d been. How ridiculous the whole situation was. That’s what healed my heart - being able to laugh at myself again, at my stupid ideas about destiny. That allowed me to break free - just like Frank broke free of his firewood. I don’t need another person to heal my heart. I don’t need a partner... at least, not until and unless I’m ready on my own terms. I don’t need to be force-shipped with anyone or wear anybody else’s label. For the first time in a long time, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. So thank you.” (405-406)

As we stood to accept the legion’s thanks, I felt strangely uncomfortable. Now that I finally had a friendly crowd cheering for me, I just wanted to sit down and cover my head with a toga. I had done so little compared to Hazel or Reyna or Frank, not to mention all those who had died: Jason, Dakota, Don, Jacob, the Sibyl, Harpocrates... dozens more. (413).

Usually I was against re-gifting, but in this case, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I couldn’t remember when or why I’d given the legion this bow - for centuries, I’d passed them out like party favors - but I was certainly glad to have it back. I drew the string with no trouble at all. Either my strength was godlier than I realized, or the bow recognized me as its rightful owner. Oh, yes. I could do some damage with this beauty. (415)

We’d have to trust the gods for some good luck. (Insert HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA here.) (422)

#ttt spoilers #for future reference #the trials of apollo #trials of apollo #the tyrant's tomb #toa #toa spoilers

[vincered]

    ❛                        IF     YOU     WANT     TO     HAVE     IT     ALL     ,     TAKE     IT     ALL                                 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝  𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬  ,  𝟕𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬  ,  𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬

               [    PARK    CHAEWON,    CIS    FEMALE,    SHE    /    HER.    ]                introducing    nero    waterway,    VICTOR    of    the    72nd    hunger    games,    representing    district    two.    my    sources    say    that    they    are    twenty    years    old    &    that    they’re    pretty    handy    with    manipulating    opponents    and    allies    alike.    wonder    if    that    did    them    any    good    in    the    arena    ?    anyways,    caesar    says    you    can’t    miss    them,    because    they    remind    everyone    of    a    battle    cry    echoing    sending    shockwaves    through    ankle    deep    water,    an    unsatisfied    hum    falling    from    carefully    painted    lips    to    preserve    a    pristine    reputation,    the    sound    of    short    staves    hitting    a    dummy    in    the    dead    of    night    –    raw    hands    interrupted    by    an    unwelcome    visitor    &    happily    sipping    on    hard-earned    wine    ,    hiding    the    bitter    taste    of    blood    behind    a    victorious    grin.

              NOT    ME    literally    seeing    this    rp    &    screaming    becos    i    was    JUST    thinkin    about    the    hunger    games    .    i    was    actually    gonna    bring    nero    in    as    a    tribute    but    i    remembered    i    love    nero    so    i    couldn’t    but    some    day    one    day    maybe    ,    i    don’t    know    .    n    e    ways    ,    i’m    cc    ,    i    can’t    spell    &    i    prefer    feminine    ,    she    /    her    pronouns    .    NERO    is    much    like    her    namesake    ,    the    horrifying    roman    emperor    ,    very    ...    bad    !    in    short    ,    she    don’t    giv    a    fucc    but    i    hope    she    ...    grows    .    BUT    this    is    super    long   ,    i’m    sorry   .   if    u    wanna    plot    PLS    like    this    &    i’ll    hope    on    over    (:    also    pls    click    HERE    for    a    mobile    version    of    this    since    ik    it    might    b    hard    to    read    on    my    theme    .

❛   𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗   𝖔𝖓𝖊   ╱   𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭  

FULL   NAME   nero  atlas  waterway  NICKNAME(S)   empress  (  by  the  capitol  ,  obviously  )  ,  snake  ,  traitor  .    AGE  twenty  GENDER   /   PRONOUNS  cis  gendered   female   /   she  /  her   ORIENTATION  pansexual  ,  demiromantic   HOMETOWN   district  two  ,  inner  city  near  the  wealth  ��FACE   CLAIM  park  chaewon  (  go  won  of  loona  )

aesthetic :    a    battle    cry    echoing    ;    sending    shockwaves    through    ankle    deep    water    ,    an    unsatisfied    hum    falling    from    carefully    painted    lips    to    preserve    a    pristine    reputation    ,    fingers    taped    with    bloodying    bandages    after    hours    of    training    past    her    point    ,    raised    by    wolves    she    learns    to    bare    her    teeth    –    but    not    before    she    learns    to    hide    her    claws    ,    bloodthirsty    eyes    while    holding    an    opponent    underwater    –    her    LAUGH    is    still    used    as    a    soundbite    ,    the    sound    of    short    staves    hitting    a    dummy    in    the    dead    of    night    –    raw    hands    interrupted    by    an    unwelcome    visitor    ,    attending    parties    with    regret    laced    in    the    way    she    stands    properly    (    was    victory    her    best    option    for    infamy    ?    )    &    hiding    the    bitter    taste    of    blood    behind    a    victorious    grin    .

LABEL   the  potentate  ,  the  truculent  ,  the  amoral  MORAL  ALIGNMENTS   neutral  evil  /  chaotic  neutral    ( + ) POSITIVES  strategic  ,  potent  ,  adroit  ,  tactical   ( - ) NEGATIVES  barbaric  ,  nefarious  ,  blasphemous  ,  fustian   HOGWARTS  HOUSE  slytherin  first  ,  ravenclaw  second   MYTHOLOGICAL  PARENT   athena  +  mars   DEADLY  SIN  wrath  +  pride

❛   𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗   𝖙𝖜𝖔   ╱   𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞  

trigger  warning  :  death  ,  murder  ,  drowning

             𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫  𝐢.   nero  ,  a  name  synonymous  with  evil  &  barbaric  acts  –  blessed  is  the  baby  girl  born  into  the  waterway  family  .  her  brother  ,  augustus  is  primed  to  be  a  victor  ;  tall  ,  lethal  with  the  personality  to  match  .  she  can  still  remember  being  held  face  down  in  the  bathtub  by  a  boy  three  years  her  senior  ,  body  flailing  as  she  struggles  for  air  –  nero  can  remember  her  brother  burning  her  arm  over  an  open  flame  ,  can  recall  every  cut  their  parents  had  to  pay  thousands  to  prevent  a  scar  .  nero  got  the  name  synonymous  with  evil  ,  but  it  should’ve  been  given  to  the  boy  who  tried  to  throw  her  into  the  quarries  when  she  was  five  .  their  parents  ,  politicians  in  their  own  right  –  an  ambassador  to  the  capitol  ,  married  to  the  deputy  mayor  –  are  eager  to  produce  a  victor  ,  to  throw  augustus  into  the  spotlight  with  a  laurel  wreath  onto  his  dark  hair  .  they  look  to  nero  &  hope  for  the  same  thing  –  two  victors  are  better  than  one  –  &  once  they  finish  wiping  bathwater  from  her  mouth  ,  finish  healing  a  burn  &  picking  up  a  broken  body  from  the  rock  tops  ,  they  put  her  in  augustus’s  path  .  the  perfect  opponent  ,  the  perfect  rival  ,  the  best  partner  in  school  .  

                          so  the  academy  accepts  both  waterway  children  &  they  climb  the  ranks  faster  than  no  other  .  once  nero  learns  how  to  wield  a  weapon  ,  how  to  hold  her  own  –  payback  is  dished  out  faster  than  augustus  can  blink  &  through  the  attempted  murder  the  siblings  enact  ,  respect  is  earned  .  it’s  rocky  ,  but  there  are  new  nights  they  spend  taping  each  other  up  &  walking  each  other  home  .  teen  years  are  spent  together  ,  ruling  the  career  academies  with  their  sheer  ego  &  skill  .  augustus  ,  rocks  the  spear  like  a  gladiator  while  nero  adopts  short  staves  .  they  both  excel  in  everything  ,  including  the  bloodlust  &  the  craving  to  kill  .  waterways  in  their  true  form  ,  they’re  in  talks  to  volunteer  &  only  the  stupid  would  oppose  their  will  .  but  ,  at  nineteen  augustus  is  found  dead  in  the  quarries  –  feet  away  from  where  nero  laid  at  five  ,  feeling  the  life  slip  from  her  fingers  .  nero  ,  who’s  never  shed  a  tear  in  public  cried  for  the  next  week  ,  red  rimmed  eyes  glaring  at  everyone  who  looked  her  way  at  a  sniffle  .  it’s  deemed  an  accident  ,  but  augustus  –  so  close  to  victory  ,  would’ve  never  accidentally  fallen  to  his  death  .

                         𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫  𝐢𝐢.  the  plan  is  to  enter  the  games  at  twenty  -  three  ;  an  age  near  the  middle  of  the  pack  ,  not  too  young  ,  not  too  old  .  but  the  games  are  supposed  to  be  hers  –  they’re  supposed  to  be  augustus’s  ,  so  she  volunteers  at  eighteen  .  her  sheer  potency  shirks  her  competition  &  she  strides  to  the  stage  with  a  smirk  curled  on  her  lips  .  the  capitol  takes  an  instant  liking  to  her  –  just  the  name  nero  strikes  their  hearts  with  admiration  ;  mixed  with  the  baby  face  ,  the  clear  bloodlust  in  crimson  lips  as  she  boasts  with  pride  about  the  games  .  she  loves  the  games  ,  she  loves  the  capitol  ,  she’s  a  victor  wrapped  up  in  the  cloth  of  a  princess  .  it  becomes  clear  that  manipulation  is  her  forte  –  she’s  good  with  words  ,  she  leaves  everyone’s  head  spinning  &  she  walks  away  with  a  training  score  of  ten  before  interviews  .  when  she  meets  the  stage  clad  in  a  a  ruffly  dress  ,  she  makes  the  crowd  love  her  (  ❛  oh  ,  it’s  an  honor  .  ❜  ,  ❛  i  hope  i  can  make  you  guys  proud  of  me  .  ❜  ,  ❛  my  brother  would’ve  been  so  happy  that  you  guys  have  given  me  a  proud  welcome  .  ❜  )  –  she  earns  her  fair  share  of  sponsors  the  night  before  her  games  &  goes  into  the  game  knowing  she’ll  win  .

                          her  games  are  much  like  her  ,  barbaric  down  to  the  bone  .  a  seemingly  never  ending  fjord  ,  surrounded  by  climbable  walls  of  rock  –  it  almost  reminds  her  of  home  .  the  bloodbath  starts  on  rocky  shores  ,  the  cornucopia  is  the  mouth  of  a  cave  halfway  underwater  &  nero  claims  her  first  kills  in  the  water  .  the  girl  from  eleven  ,  held  underwater  the  way  her  brother  held  her  ;  the  boy  from  three  ,  head  bashed  in  with  a  rock  ;  the  pair  from  five  ,  spear  through  the  pair  like  kebob  .  her  allies  look  to  her  for  instructions  ,  the  career  pack  waits  for  an  eighteen  year  old  empress  to  give  orders  to  her  soldiers  .  the  careers  run  the  game  ,  it’s  almost  un-fun  to  watch  if  not  for  nero  &  her  sheer  entertainment  .  her  laughs  ,  the  quips  she  sends  to  allies  &  non  allies  alike  ,  still  used  as  soundbites  &  promotions  to  this  day  .  she  starts  wars  with  her  words  before  ending  it  herself  with  crimson  stained  hands  .  she  turns  her  allies  against  each  other  just  to  take  them  down  herself  in  the  woods  ,  promises  safety  to  the  non  careers  only  to  betray  them  in  the  cruelest  of  ways  .  her  final  showdown  –  the  girl  from  three  ;  she  survived  to  kill  the  girl  that  killed  her  partner  ,  for  love  ,  or  something  –  the  thing  nero’s  never  searched  for  .  they  survive  a  fall  from  a  cliff  into  icy  waters  &  after  nearly  dying  from  electrocution  ,  blood  is  spilt  in  fjord  water  &  nero  claims  the  crown  with  her  knee  on  the  back  of  the  tribute  ,  hands  drenched  like  the  hair  clutched  in  her  fingers  .  she  can  still  remember  her  brother  trying  to  drown  her  ,  he’s  with  her  when  she  wins  .

                         𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫  𝐢𝐢𝐢.  a  willing  tribute  ,  an  ecstatic  victor  .  she’s  chased  the  crown  for  as  long  as  she’s  lived  &  to  hold  it  in  her  hands  is  enough  to  make  her  smile  for  a  lifetime  .  eager  to  shake  hands  with  president  snow  ,  nero  has  an  easier  life  as  a  tribute  than  most  –  she  has  NO  regrets  ,  she’s  the  perfect  tribute  ,  the  perfect  victor  &  quickly  rises  to  almost  it  -  girl  status  .  her  face  is  everywhere  ,  the  face  of  multiple  brands  &  products  ,  life  size  advertisements  are  all  around  the  capitol  &  her  game  goes  down  in  history  (  top  three  on  the  most  ruthless  ,  cruelest  victors  in  history  )  .  because  of  her  willingness  &  her  eagerness  ,  she  gets  an  easy  life  –   parties  with  the  rich  ,  nights  spent  with  fans  willingly  .  snow  keeps  a  loose  leash  on  his  newest  ,  favorite  victor  ;  lets  her  wield  her  words  in  whichever  way  she  wants  &  nero  gets  everything  she  wants  .  she  watches  with  her  head  held  high  as  others  suffer  ,  losing  no  sleep  ,  sleeping  with  whoever  she  wants  ,  gaining  whatever  she  wants  –  empress  nero  is  branded  on  her  skin  in  invisible  ink  ,  but  she  wears  the  title  with  pride  .

                          and  yet  ,  she  feels  a  little  suffocated  by  the  time  the  74th  games  come  around  .  she’s  known  now  ,  a  capitol  lap  dog  ,  a  willing  victor  ,  a  willing  tribute  –  nero  waterway  is  not  only  lethal  ,  she’s  ruthless  ;  but  ,  there’s  a  part  of  her  that  realizes  snow  is  tightening  her  leash  .  he  demands  secrets  from  the  people  she  beds  ,  the  lives  of  her  parents  hangs  over  her  heads  &  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  ,  nero  FALTERS  underneath  the  watchful  gaze  of  the  capitol  . she  doesn’t  live  up  to  her  namesake  for  the  few  months  leading  up  to  the  games  ,  shirks  from  the  limelight  she’s  grown  to  love  as  she  reevaluates  her  decisions  .  regret’s  started  to  seep  into  her  bones  ,  but  nero  is  an  empress  ,  she  doesn’t  know  how  to  surrender  .

❛   𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗   𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊   ╱   𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

exterior  ,  known  to  be  both  potent  &  untrustworthy  –  nero’s  still  managed  to  wrap  the  capitol  around  her  little  finger  .  she  makes  heads  spin  with  harmless  words  ,  pulls  strings  while  she  bakes  cakes  for  her  favorite  game  makers  .  outwardly  ,  people  know  she’s  NOT  to  be  underestimated  –  that  though  she’s  terrifyingly  tiny  ,  she’s  much  more  lethal  than  most  people  will  ever  be  in  their  entire  lives  .  nero  ,  like  her  namesake  ,  synonymous  with  evil  &  savagery  ,  will  start  wars  without  lifting  a  finger  &  laugh  while  her  fingers  get  stained  with  blood  . 

&  while  the  capitol  craves  it  ,  it  may  rub  other  victors  the  wrong  way  .  a  bit  too  proud  of  her  achievements  ,  nero  has  absolutely  no  regrets  about  her  life  .  she’s  trained  for  it  her  entire  life  ,  she  grasps  her  laurel  wreath  in  between  crimson  hands  &  she  boasts  her  pride  .  she  rolls  in  the  fame  &  the  glory  ,  not  understanding  the  nightmares  &  the  remorse  felt  by  other  winners  clad  in  gold  .  young  &  naive  ,  she’s  almost  childlike  with  her  pure  glee  –  if  not  for  the  bloodthirsty  barbarian  hiding  inside  of  her  .  outrageously  pretentious  ,  borderline  evil  ,  everything  she  says  has  a  meaning  behind  it  –  usually  negative  .

interior  ,  nero  is  lonely  .  a  victorious  socialite  of  all  things  now  ,  she  trains  the  potential  tributes  back  home  ,  attends  lavish  parties  &  mingles  with  high  status  citizens  but  she’s  lonely  at  the  top  .  a  stranger  to  romance  ,  she’s  never  sought  after  it  as  much  as  she  seeks  sexual  interactions  –  she  more  craves  friendship  ,  companionship  in  the  way  she  used  to  have  an  older  brother  .  

but  she  hides  it  well  ,  takes  pictures  by  her  advertisements  ,  watches  the  games  with  glee  ,  laughs  with  game  makers  &  other  ruthless  victors  .  she  masks  her  loneliness  &  her  suspicion  with  charm  &  her  preceding  reputation  ,  unaware  that  her  isolation  is  exactly  what  president  snow  wants  .  her  loneliness  is  what  he  counts  on  ,  but  as  smart  as  nero  is  strategically  ,  she  stupid  .

midway  ,  her  psyche’s  been  a  bit  twisted  &  contorted  because  of  her  upbringing  –  what  ,  with  the  attempted  murder  &  the  glorification  of  the  annual  murder  games  .  she’s  been  an  unfortunate  victim  of  the  capitol’s  brainwashing  ,  viewing  the  games  as  an  extravagant  event  &  winning  to  be  the  greatest  honor  .  she’s  flourished  as  a  victor  as  well  ,  willingly  playing  into  everything  the  capitol  wants  her  to  become  as  a  side  effect  of  being  so  terribly  naive  about  everything  .

there’s  a  part  of  her  that’s  starting  to  suspect  something  is  wrong  –  whispers  of  traitors  &  to  keep  a  close  watch  on  all  the  victors  ,  but  it’s  not  like  nero  has  many  actual  friends  .  not  many  people  actually  want  to  befriend  someone  that’d  gladly  go  into  the  games  again  ,  but  she’s  sat  back  &  observed  while  snow  tightens  her  leash  ,  restricting  her  from  her  daily  life  .  early  signs  of  regret  are  starting  to  seep  into  her  bones  as  snow  starts  demanding  more  &  more  ,  but  she’s  been  idolizing  the  capitol  &  everything  all  her  life  –  it’ll  take  a  lifetime  to  wipe  her  slate  clean  .

❛   𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗   𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖗   ╱   𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

in  conclusion  :  nero’s  evil  ,  very  bad  ,  very  annoying  .  &  don’t  look  at  me  ,  i  know  this  is  long  &  THIS  is  why  i  couldn’t  take  up  two  muses  cos  then  i’d  be  stupid  for  BOTH  &  i’m  simply  so  fuckin  stupid  please  love  me  anyway  if  u  wanna  plot  ....  jus  like  this  &  i’ll  slide  in  .

#oddsintro

[vreugd-madelon]

A Series of Unfortunate Events Review

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket is a 13 part series, consisting of 2,433 total pages. It's a Young Adult series. I listened to these books on Storytel in English. I've read these books when I was young in Dutch, but as I recently saw the show on Netflix I became nostalgic. I enjoyed the show so much and I wanted to re-read the series, so I did. I've yet to obtain them in physical form, but that will also happen in the future.

This is the story of the three Baudelaire children, who become orphans as their house burns down with their parents inside. This is their tragic tale, as they travel across the country. If you can't stand tragedy and misfortune, you shouldn't pick up this series.

Warning for Misforture, Arson and Death.

#1) Bad Beginnings - Rating: 5 Stars. This was an amazing story. I do like what they had done as it really feels like Lemony Snicket is reading to it you, as it makes references as to it being an audiobook. The story is told with an entire cast of people, and there are background noises as well to round out the entire recording. Think of people chattering in the background or the soft thud of a dropped stone. The ominous presence that the book creates is very real, almost tangible.

#2) The Reptile Room - Rating: 3 Stars. This recording is very different from the first. The entire cast and background noises are gone, but it doesn't nessissarrily make it worse, just different. But the couching of Mr. Poe is unbearable near the end. It was only when we were first introduced to Uncle Monty that my enjoyment began to wane. I dislike the voice used for him. I dislike the character and his mannerisms as it makes him come across as a stupid man.' There is one odd question that rose through my mind as I listened; Does Uncle Monty have a permit/license to keep all the exotic animals?

#3) the Wide Window - Rating: 4 Stars. I liked this books a little more than the last. I did greatly enjoy the voice of Lemony Snicket, who narrated this. The annoying couching of Mr. Poe isn't present, and I don't dislike that the background noises have disappeared still. For the characters, there is only one dislike, Aunt Josephine. While in the Netflix show she has a redemption arc. This is present in the books. Even near the end she is willing to give up the children, but it doesn't help her. One thing I do like is the surroundings and the atmosphere, especially with Hurricane Herman approaching. It does feel completely ominous.

#4) The Miserable Mill - Rating: 5 Stars. This books is one I enjoyed more than the previous too. The only think I disliked is the voice given to Sir, the owner of the Lucky Smells Lumber Mill. It's so robotic and unpleasent. A thing I do like very much is that Violet and Klaus switch their usual gifts. Violet reads a book which helps break the hypnosis, which is usually Klaus' thing. Klaus on the other hand invents a make-shift fishingpole to save Charles from the saw, while that is more Violet's gimmick. It's nice to see such a progression within their characters, as it shows that they have learned from one another.

#5) The Austere Acadamy - Rating: 5 Stars. I do like this book. The feeling of the grim and dark place that these books are set in really comes through here. Vice-Principle Nero is horrible. Carmelita Spats is annoying. The Quagmire Triplets become true friends in the short amount of time with the bodulair children.

#6) The Ersatz Elevator - Rating: 4.5 Stars. I was only familiar with the Netflix show about this book. From my memories of my childhood, I don't remember anything. The show deviates a lot from the book, and somehow it was nice to not know what the next step was in their adventure. There is one small thing that bothered me and that is time in combination with the Ersatz Elevator, it just doesn't seem right to me. It seems like too much time is happening than it actually is. Like a day is 30 hours long instead of 24 hours. Besides that, this book was amazing.

#7) The Vile Village - Rating: 4.5 Stars. I enjoyed my time with this book. But there are still a few things that I dislike. First off is Jacques Snicket and his ending. This is the first time he is ever mentioned, and his death is supposed to be really impacting, but I couldn't care less. In the Netflix show we spend more time with him, so it's more impactful. I love the note to the editor in this one.

#8) The Hostile Hospital - Rating: 4 Stars. I liked this one the least. While it is the one with the highest stakes yet, especially in the way of plot progression. We do see very little of Count Olaf, but there is a still an ominous prescense that lurks around, that he is behind everything. I loved the atmosphere of the hospital and it's not one I want to end up in.

#9) The Carnivorous Carnival - Rating: 5 Stars. I enjoyed this one greatly as we see much progression; not only in the story, but also in background en character development. We see Sunny interest in cooking unfurl for the first time as she adds cinnamon to hot choco. We see more of V.F.D. and what they represent. There were some minor questions that I asked myself while listening; like how does the rollercoaster work exactly without rails. I felt sorry for the lions who got burned alive. The book ended with a dramatic cliffhanger, and the PS. was very interesting and stood out from all the others.

#10) The Slippery Slope - Rating: 5 Stars. I know this book takes place on Mount Fraught, but the amount of cliffhangers is surreal. Almost every chapter is one, and I wasn't able to read it all in one sitting, so I was anxious to continue on. At a certain point Lemony Snicket tell us that he didn't know what happened to the white-faced women after they left Olaf's troupe, but yet the story is written in such a way that he knew what every character was saying in a particular moment. Weird. We see more and more of Sunny's ingenuity in cooking.

#11) The Grim Grotto - Rating: 5 Stars. One character in this book annoyed me, but I later grew to miss him. And that is Captain Withershins. He is a chubby man with a mouth like a gatling gun, as he always talks on and on. Yet at one moment he disappears with Phil, and I began to miss him, just like Fiona does. Another nice progression in character is Olaf, who almost dispises Carmalita as much as me. I like how at the end the lives begin to turn around as they meet Kit Snicket.

#12) The Penultimate Peril - Rating: 5 Stars. I loved this one. In my opinion is this the best one of all. We come to know so much about the characters, the backstory and the future that is ahead. I loved the characters, especially the Denouemont brothers. If a character was in the lives of the Baudelairs adn they are still alive, they make an appearance here. Too bad they all... well I shouldn't spoil the ending.

#13) The End - Rating: 3 Stars. This one is just an Excessive Ending. It goes on an on, and while most is about the habbits of the islanders and back background of certain characters. I feel that little else happend. Most of the character aren't present, mostly due to the remote location, but it makes the book feel empty. The pacing is suddenly very slow, mostly because of the many descriptions. I can now understand why Netflix made this last book into a 1 parter instead of 2 parts.

I have a few concluding comments about the series as a whole. 1. I like the people used for each book. They do really fit and they are able to put up a wide range of voices. Most of the series was narrated by Tim Curry. 2. Each book begins with a little song, which are always fitting to each book. They are well produced. 3. At the end of each book we get a note to the editor. A small snippet of what is to come in the next part of the series. It is written in universe which is a really nice touch. 4. Each book has 13 chapters, where in the last one the bad becomes worse. 5. I love all the covers. In the beginning they resemble the original books, but the other are more like the Netflix show. 6. Characters overall feel rounded and diverse. And seeing that there are a lot it's very difficult. I think this also has to do with the return of many of them in book 12.

If you have any questions send me an ask here on tumblr or tweet me. If there are any books that you want to recommend, be sure to let me know! Tell me as well, if you like 1 post about a long series like this one.

#A series of unfortunate events #asoue netflix #asoue #netflix #book #books #review #book review #series #unfortunate events #lemony snicket

[itsanelizathing]

Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze Review

May 28,2018

WHAT UP MY PEEPS? 

Oh Gods that was terrible! ANYHOW it has been nearly a month since the Burning Maze was released and thusly, I shall post my review on it. I wrote this as soon as I finished the book so everything was fresh in my mind.

 SPOILERS AHEAD.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

 You have been warned. 

_____________________________

Today I am writing a review for The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze. I’m writing this on May 2nd, 2018 but I will be posting the review later because this will contains spoilers. You have been warned!

We all know how much I love Rick Riordan’s books and this one is absolutely no exception. The first thing I HAVE to talk about it Apollo’s character. Since this is written in Apollo’s point of view, we have a biased narrator. We see everything in Apollo’s eyes alone, much like how we only had Percy’s views in the first series. This first person point of view helps Riordan sneak up on you. For example, in Percy’s story we heard Annabeth’s view on Luke’s betrayal but we felt Percy’s feelings. I sided with Percy through the entire series, like I am sure most readers did. At the end, we get surprised with Luke’s final act of heroism.

In the first Apollo book we can see that Apollo has major ego problems due to being an all powerful god. It wasn’t his fault; Zeus is being unreasonable. Apollo spends a lot of time reflecting on how everything happens to him and how he has no responsibility for the things that happen.Through the books we are watching Apollo grow up and learn more about mortality. Apollo understands sacrifice, friendship, and loyalty better.

I’m about to dive into SPOILERS, so if you don’t want to see it, I suggest reading the book and returning.

By this point, we should all know what terrible thing happens to one of our heroes. Jason Grace, son of Jupiter. This isn’t about that, not yet, but how Apollo reacts. Apollo tried to save both Piper and Jason, he was ready to sacrifice himself to save two mortal demigods. When Jason dies, Apollo feels guilty.

Apollo is willing to die to protect his friends and the world. In the first book, I would have never saw that coming. Apollo was a god; he expected heroes to do the hard stuff. Now, he is a hero. I adore watching Apollo learn more about mortality and our favorite demigods.

ONCE AGAIN I AM GOING TO BE WRITING ABOUT MAJOR SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK AND PLAN TO, DO NOT GET MAD AT ME IF YOU CONTINUE READING MY POST.

Now then, I have to talk about the breakup and the death. I was never a fan of Piper and Jason together. Their relationship was faked and then forced. In life or death situations, you will lean on the people closest to you and you will feel something for them. Since Piper and Jason had memories of being together, they felt as if they were together. They felt as if they were supposed to be together. I don’t doubt that they feel love towards each other, I just don’t think it was relationship love.

I honestly don’t get why fans are upset over the spilt. Two people of opposite genders can be friends without being in a relationship. They can still love each other without have romantic love for each other. I love my friends but I don’t want to date them.

Now, onto the major shock that hit everyone who didn’t read the spoilers: Jason Grace and his final act of heroism. We heard the prophecy. We know that you can’t fight fate. So by going to battle Caligula, they were signing their death certificate.

I think Jason’s death was brilliant. It wasn’t just a shock factor. His death brought Apollo even closer to understanding mortality. Jason had Apollo promise to continue his work on honoring all of the gods and building them temples. He accepted his fate and still went down fighting to protect Piper and the others. Jason helps humanize Apollo.

Okay, I’m stepping away from Jason, Piper, and Apollo. We learn a lot more about Meg in this book. We know where she’s from and how her father caught Demeter’s attention. Also, Meg and Grover’s constant nature talk was adorable. I still don’t understand Meg though. She knows that Nero/The Beast is bad but still suffers from a form of stockholms syndrome or something. Please girl, get with the program. She feels bad for her hate and anger towards him and still views him as a step-father at some points. It’s just depressing girl.

Meg is powerful. Throughout the series we never really see any powerful children of Demeter. I know Katie Gardner is a child of Demeter, but I don’t think we were ever shown her powers. We focus on the stronger gods and goddess. The ones that first come to mind when you think of Greek Gods. Meg also thinks outside of the box. Flowers in ears as earplugs is definitely an idea I wouldn’t have thought of, but it’s definitely Meg.

So overall this book was simply amazing. I love how everything comes together in all of Riordan’s books. He hints at things that are happening at the same time, around the clock. He created a world for us fans and he keeps bringing more content, more entertainment, into that world. I cannot wait for the next book!

~Eliza

#Trials of Apollo #Spoilers #TOA Spoilers #The Burning Maze #Review #Apollo #Rick Riordan #Meg #Jason Grace #Piper McLean #Grover Underwood #Percy Jackson #Annabeth Chase #Greek Mythology #Books #AmReading #Once again spoilers for you people that don't pay attention

[jpaulfontan]

Preaching in All Circumstances

Preach the word, preach the cross, preach redemption to a lost and dying world. Lift your voice, unashamed, of the Gospel of His name! Hello, You’ve found the senior adult Sunday school class of Corinth Baptist Church in Singleton, Ms. The title of today’s lesson is….

Preaching in All Circumstances

This will be our 1stin a 4-lesson series under the general heading of: Facing Adversity

We’ll be drawing Scripture from the 24th, 25th, & 26th chapters of the Book of Acts.

Now, I don't know about you all,

but for me, when several names at

a time start getting thrown around

together in Scripture, it gets hard

for me to keep them all straight;

especially when I'm not real

familiar with all of them.

So I want to begin today's lesson

with a sort of Who's Who.

I want to try to keep them in the

order they're mentioned in the

Scripture we'll be covering today.

1st, then, is Ananias ben Nebedeus.

He was the high priest in Jerusalem

who was intent on having Paul killed.

By the way, "ben" means "son of" so

Ananias was the son of Nebedeus.

It was Ananias who hired and

accompanied Tertullus to Caesarea

hoping to have Paul convicted and

put to death.

This Tertullus character is described

by historians as a sort of forensic

lawyer who was familiar with the

various Roman legal procedures.

He was known as an articulate orator.

It's generally accepted that he

himself was a Hellenistic Jew,

(a person born Jewish and very much

influenced by the Greek culture).

He was probably from the North

African city of Alexandria.

Next to appear in our lesson is

a man simply addressed as Felix.

At the time that Ananias and Tertullus

made the journey to Caesarea, Felix

was the Roman governor over Judea

and Samaria.

Felix was formerly a slave but was

promoted by Claudius Caesar to the

office of governor.

Felix's wife, Drusilla is mentioned

in these verses, and I have learned

to never ignore seemingly

unimportant passages.

Felix was attracted to Drusilla,

a daughter of Herod Agrippa I.

The fact that Drusilla was already

married made no difference to Felix.

He enticed her away from her husband,

Azizus, and they later married.

She and their son, Marcus Antonius

Agrippa, died in the eruption of

Mount Vesuvius....Pompeii...

I hope y'all find this stuff as

interesting as I do; it gets better.

Then comes Festus.

Porcius Festus is the Roman governor

who succeeded Felix.

This is the man who tried to persuade

Paul to return to Jerusalem for trial

by the Sanhedrin.

This was Paul's ticket to Rome because

it was in answer to Festus' suggestion

that Paul appealed to be judged by the

Emperor.

And, it was Festus who had the very

difficult task of detailing the

charges against him that would be

read to Agustus Caesar.

Next comes King Agrippa II and Bernice.

King Agrippa II was a puppet king who

ruled under the Roman supervision of Israel.

Now, King Agrippa I had 5 children.

One of Agrippa II's sisters was Bernice.

These two were in an open incestuous

relationship.

Care to guess who another of their

sisters was?

If you haven't already guessed it, it

was none other than Drusilla; the wife

of Felix.....remember Felix?

(I told you keeping all these folks

straight wasn't so easy!)

Yep, Agrippa Jr., Drusilla, and Bernice

were brothers and sisters.

And that brings me to the last of the

characters I wanted to showcase for

you.

Augustus Caesar.

Oh, sure, he was the Roman Emperor.

But, very often, names and titles get

all jumbled up in the reading of

history.

The word, "agustus" is a word that, in

Latin, means;

"what is venerable, or worthy of

honor and reverence."

That sounds to me like a description

of God.

It's how most of the Roman Emperors

preferred to be thought of by their

subjects; as gods.

So, as it turns out, Agustus was a title bestowed to reigning emperors

by their Senate.

That all began during the days Jesus

still walked as a man on this earth.

It was 1st given to Caesar Octavianus.

So, who was Agustus Caesar?

It was Nero, the guy who burned most

of Rome and blamed it on the Christians.

It was Nero who ordered the Christians

be put to death; and regardless of

whether Paul's murder was ordered

directly or indirectly by Nero is

irrelevant.

I haven't been able to find out if

Paul ever actually got the opportunity

to appeal to Caesar, but in light of

what I've learned, I doubt it. One thing’s for sure, God ordered Paul’s steps even when he was in Roman custody. God’s plan and God’s truth, the gospel, cannot be thwarted by Satan or the schemes of man. What I hope to do in this lesson is to reveal for us how God’s providence was at work in both the life of Paul as well as in ours. That providence is to be revealed in our lives both before and after we embraced Jesus as Savior. It’s just good for us to remember this as we walk through our lives. God will never lead us where He can’t keep us!

And with that, let's get into the 1st

section of our lesson.

Section 1 God Guides His Servant to Preach to Others

Acts 24:1-10

(This is The Accusation against Paul)

1. After five days Ananias

the high priest came down

with some elders and a lawyer

named Tertullus.

These men presented their case

against Paul to the governor.

2. When he was called in,

Tertullus began to accuse

him and said:

“Since we enjoy great peace

because of you,

and reforms are taking place

for the benefit of this nation

by your foresight,

3. we acknowledge this in

every way and everywhere,

most excellent Felix,

with utmost gratitude.

4. However, so that I will

not burden you any further,

I beg you in your graciousness

to give us a brief hearing.

5. For we have found this man

to be a plague,

an agitator among all the Jews

throughout the Roman world,

and a ringleader of the sect

of the Nazarenes!

6. He even tried to desecrate

the temple,

so we apprehended him and

wanted to judge him according

to our law.

7. But Lysias the commander

came and took him from our hands

with great force,

8. commanding his accusers to

come to you.

By examining him yourself you

will be able to discern all

these things we are accusing

him of.”

9. The Jews also joined in

the attack,

alleging that these things were so.

(And, this is the beginning of

Paul’s Defense before Felix)

10. When the governor motioned

to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Because I know you have been

a judge of this nation for many

years,

I am glad to offer my defense

in what concerns me. There's no doubt

in my mind

that God

had His hand on Paul

from a very young

age; as he himself implies in the 1st chapter of his letter to the Galatians.

Every aspect

of his life

had led him to his

Damascus moment.

The Lord had brought him

to a realization of truth,

groomed him for ministry,

instilled in him

complete trust,

courage,

and an assurance

that everything

he would encounter

was in accord with

God's plan.

God's providence can

easily be seen

working in Paul's life

before and long after

he embraced Jesus

as his Savior.

Ananias,

along with his high-

powered lawyer

may have thought

they were going to

go before Felix,

the governor and

make short work of Paul,

but God had not yet

completed the work

to be done through Paul.

As this chapter

in the Book of Acts

continues to unfold,

Felix deferred the matter

claiming there was

more evidence to be

heard.

But, there was something

that caught my attention

down in verse 26.

It says, more or less,

that Felix was greedy

and hoped a

large bribe would

come from Paul to be

set free.

Apparently he hoped for

the bribe for two years.

I just have to believe

God put this in Felix's

heart.

(And, if y'all didn't

know it already,

one of my favorite

verses of Scripture comes

from Proverbs 21;

"A king’s heart

is like

streams of water

in the Lord’s hand:

He directs it

wherever He chooses.") Make no mistake, God IS in control!

Our Bibles tell us

that Felix often

called for Paul over

those two years,

and you can bet

they weren't

talking about the weather.

You know,

in Luke 21:14-15,

Jesus said to

His disciples;

"14. Settle it therefore

in your hearts,

not to meditate before

what ye shall answer:

15. for I will give you

a mouth and wisdom,

which all your adversaries

shall not be able

to gainsay nor resist."

….I will give you a

Mouth ANDWisdom…..

My Lord!

Earlier, while still

in the city of Corinth,

Paul had written a letter

that we now call the

Book of Romans.

In it he had penned;

"If God be for us,

who can be against us?"

He knew perfectly well

that the things that

came to mind while he

witnessed or while he

defended himself could

be spoken because Jesus

had already promised that

He would give him the

wisdom and the words

he needed at the time

he needed them.

Let’s move on to the next section of our lesson.

Section 2

God Sends His Servant Where He Wishes

Acts 25:9-12;

9. Then Festus,

wanting to do a favor

for the Jews,

replied to Paul,

“Are you willing

to go up to Jerusalem,

there to be tried

before me on these charges? ”

10. But Paul said:

“I am standing

at Caesar’s tribunal,

where I ought to be tried.

I have done no wrong

to the Jews,

as even you

can see very well.

11. If then

I am doing wrong,

or have done anything

deserving of death,

I do not refuse to die,

but if there is nothing

to what these men

accuse me of,

no one can give me up to them.

I appeal to Caesar! ”

12. After Festus conferred

with his council,

he replied,

“You have appealed to Caesar;

to Caesar you will go! ”

If you'll remember

from my introduction

for this lesson,

I gave you a

"Who's Who" list of

the various people

who would be involved

in the Scriptures

we're covering today.

Festus was the

Roman governor that

replaced Felix.

This was two years

after Lysias had

rescued Paul from

the Jews just outside

the gates of the

Temple in Jerusalem.

So, in deciding what

to do about Paul,

this new governor,

Festus,

being a politician,

was obviously trying to

do what would be to

his own best advantage.

The phrase in verse 9,

"...wanting to do a favor

for the Jews...",

shows us that he was

wrangling for an

advantageous position

with the people that he

had been appointed to

govern.

Festus knew perfectly well

that the Jews had every

intention of assassinating

Paul on the journey

to Jerusalem.

And, whether they killed

Paul on the journey

to Jerusalem,

or the Sanhedrin

had him stoned

once they got him

there,

either way,

it was a win-win

for Festus.

The Temple priests

would see to it that

Festus was looked on

favorably by the

Jewish nation.

But, given the

wisdom of God,

Paul answered Festus

by declaring that

he was currently

being tried in a

Roman court

for charges that

he was innocent of.

He told Festus

to his face

that he knew

perfectly well

that he was

innocent of the

charges the Jews

had brought

against him.

He said that

he was right

where he should be,

given the fact that

he was a Roman citizen.

He told Festus that

he wasn't afraid to

die, but if there

was no proof of any

wrongdoing on his part,

there was no Roman

official that could

hand him over to the

the authorities of a

foreign court.

Then he boldly demanded

his right to appeal his

case to Caesar himself.

Obviously,

Festus had

at his disposal,

lawyers who he

depended on

to ensure he didn't

step out of line

with Roman law.

This governor was

weighing his options

looking for a way to

gain favorable advantage

with the Jewish People.

Nevertheless,

he had to be careful

not to violate the

laws pertaining to

Roman citizens.

Recorded in the

New Testament,

Roman officials

cringed

at the thought of

violating the rights

of fellow citizens;

probably because the

consequences would

be too severe......

their own deaths!

After conferencing

with his advisors,

Felix was left with

no other option

than to grant Paul's

demand to be sent to

Rome where he could

take his case to

Caesars' court.

God meant Paul was

going to Rome and

no one was going to

prevent that from

happening.

You know,

God was protecting

Paul from his enemies

by having him in the

custody of the Romans.

If the Jews, bent on

killing him, had gotten

to Paul, it would have

probably been the ax

for the soldiers who

were assigned to guard

him. And later, when he finally did get to Rome, he was protected by Roman guards while he lived under house arrest there too. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s get into the final section of our lesson for today.

Section 3

God Controls His

Servant’s Circumstances

Acts 26:27-32;

27. King Agrippa,

do you believe the prophets?

I know you believe.”

28. Then Agrippa

said to Paul,

“Are you going to

persuade me

to become a Christian

so easily? ”

29. “I wish before God,”

replied Paul,

“that whether easily

or with difficulty,

not only you

but all who

listen to me today

might become as I am...

except for these chains.”

30. So the king, the governor,

Bernice, and those

sitting with them got up,

31. and when they had left

they talked with each other

and said,

“This man is doing nothing

that deserves death or chains.”

32. Then Agrippa

said to Festus,

“This man could

have been released

if he had not

appealed to Caesar.”

I want to stop right here and have you compare verse 28 between this translation and that of the King James. I just read to you the rendering; … “Are you going to

persuade me

to become a Christian

so easily? ”… In the King James it says; …”Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”…. To me, these two

quotes from King Agrippa

mean entirely different

things.

They seem to portray

entirely different

attitudes from the

King.

The 1st one seems

to suggest that

Agrippa was saying

he would not be so

easily convinced

where the 2nd

gives the hope

that he doesn't

completely disregard

what Paul is saying

to him.

But to be fair to

King Agrippa,

both of these verses

could also indicate that

he was being the

consummate politician

here.

Could his statement in

either verse possibly be

considered a side-step?

Perhaps a way of avoiding

giving a straight answer?

I mean,

on the one hand,

to declare an unbelief

in the prophets

would have probably

caused an uprising

from the Jews

under his leadership.

On the other,

if he had affirmed

his belief in the prophets,

right then and there,

he may have seemed to

have been

just as

out of his mind

as Paul

to this

Gentile Governor,

Felix.

I would like to believe,

that when we get to heaven,

we'll discover there,

Agrippa & Bernice,

Festus,

Felix,

and all of the

others who heard

the gospel from Paul

during his

two year stay

there in

Caesarea.

The Bible doesn't

tell us that they

died lost.

Anyway, I just felt

like God would have wanted me to point

out this difference

to y'all.

Perhaps it'll give

you something in His

Word to ponder and

meditate on.

One thing's for sure,

just witnessing to

people can't persuade

them to become

Christians;

it takes a

work of God

in their hearts.

But God

does that work

through the

proclamation

of the gospel

of Christ.

Paul had written

in his letter

to the Romans,

"And how shall they

believe in him

of whom they have

not heard!

and how shall they

hear without a preacher!

and how shall they preach,

except they be sent?"

God has a plan, people!

The part of His plan

that we are

living in right now

is called,

among other things,

the time of the Gentiles.

The Jews have been

and

always will be

God's chosen people.

But, right now,

He's building

His church.

It's made up of

Jews and Gentiles

alike.

And He's doing that

in partnership with

His saints; we

carry out His

Great Commission by

being His witnesses,

and He brings the

increase by touching

the hearts of those who

hear the gospel.

Moving on....

It was God's providence

that Paul would be

given the opportunity

to share the gospel

with kings.

As Festus,

the Roman Governor,

sat with King Agrippa

and Bernice,

listening to Paul,

he dismissed him as

a nutcase.

But it wasn't that

easy for Agrippa.

Paul had pointedly

asked the King if

he believed the prophets

of old.

He even declared to

the king that he knew

he did.

He boldly declared

that the king knew

the truth of what Paul

was telling him

about Jesus.

The prophets,

as Agrippa well knew,

had

foretold everything

Paul was now declaring

about the life,

the death,

and the resurrection of

the Lord Jesus Christ.

Look, Paul had a

crystal clear

understanding of the

difficulties and the challenges

of presenting

the gospel

to both the Jews

and to the Gentiles.

The Gentiles prided

themselves on wisdom;

and the Jews, well,

they placed their hopes

in supernatural power.

On the face of it,

the idea of the cross

of Jesus as Messiah,

to them,

seemed like foolishness

and weakness.

(?) And, the very idea

of Jesus somehow being

brought back to life

after His brutal scourging

and crucifixion

three days later?

Well, that was just as

unbelievable and

equally as foolish.

Yet, that's exactly

what the Gospel is;

it's God's wisdom and

strength on display

for the whole world

to see.

Paul never backed down

from its fundamental

truth.

He gave everything

he had

for this message

to go forward.

He stood before

Kings, High Priests,

and Governors in chains,

enduring their criticism

in the hope that

everyone who heard

the gospel through him

would believe

just as he had.

That's a great goal

for us to set in our

own lives;

for everyone that we share

a meaningful conversation

with to be supernaturally

compelled to embrace

Jesus as Lord!

As we go through our lives following Jesus, we may be ridiculed, mocked, falsely accused, and, perhaps, even jailed. The times for us in this country are definitely changing. But whatever comes, we just have to hold on to the same truths that Paul did.

I believe with all my heart that God guides our steps so we can preach this gospel of Jesus Christ to others. I believe God plants us where He wants us to be. And, I believe He is absolutely in control over all of our circumstances. Let me end with this statement of faith: God continuously guides His people, both collectivly and individually where He has called them to carry out the mission He has given them. God carved out Paul’s path and protected him amidst false accusations, being unjustly detained, and the constant threat of being killed by his accusers. God also sent His Son, Jesus, who humbled Himself by enduring false accusations and an undeserved death sentence so that we might be saved. Knowing this should compel us to be concerned for the salvation of others. God providentially connects

us with people who don’t know Jesus so we can share Jesus’ story with them and they might believe and be saved. Let’s pray….

[sunlitroom]

Gotham 3.21 - Destiny Calling

As I watched it, and some random observations here and there.

Previously on Gotham.

In short – the theme for s3 barring these episodes.  Betrayal! More betrayal! Betrayal for lunch, breakfast and dinner!  People are dead, alive, dead, then alive again.

As always, long post will be long - monstrously long- and in two parts.  There are likely to be rambling digressions. Gobblepot may appear (although I welcome all shippers and non-shippers alike :)).  There will be naked favouritism and naked not-favouritism.  Broader comments at the end on plotlines and parallels and general direction.

  Screaming and mayhem outside while the bank still tries to run as normal.  An old woman repeatedly asks for her savings while an uninterested seller tells her there’a problem with the account.  The old woman reveals herself to be infected, and starts wrecking the place.   We’ve all wanted to do that in the bank, really.  And the post office.  Especially the post office.

An armed officer runs out of GCPD while a virus'd prisoner beats a cop and general mayhem reigns.  We go to the locker room and see – hilariously - that someone has written ‘Gordon has the rage’ across the lockers.  What the actual fuck?  Who took the time to do that?

The virus voices are telling Jim he’s a killer as he stares in the mirror, hissing it over and over.

(A big disgruntled aside: So – Jim’s big dark truth is that he’s a killer at heart?  Really? Weirdly – I watched an episode of Star Trek at the weekend, in which Kirk had the following wisdom to offer (because Kirk can solve all problems :)).

All right. It's instinctive. But the instinct can be fought. We're human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands, but we can stop it. We can admit that we're killers, but we're not going to kill today. That's all it takes. Knowing that we won't kill today.

And it’s never more true than here.  Barnes told Jim that.  There’s no big fundamental difference between Butch and Harvey, Oswald and Jim, Barnes and Falcone, Bruce and Jerome, Bruce 1 and Bruce 2.  It comes down to what they choose to do.  Their ability and inclination to make good choices is – of course – dictated by their circumstances: but they still ultimately have a choice.  There’s not some innate quality that makes a killer – nothing ‘special’ about the ability to kill.

Further – we’ve had ample proof that Jim has no particular love of killing.  He refuses to kill Oswald way back in the pilot, and again in the middle of the Galavan mess – even when Oswald has a gun pointed at him, and killing him would have made Jim’s life easier.  He could have shot Barbara in the church tower, or let her fall, but tried to save her instead.  He didn’t want to kill Ogden Barker. He expressed regret over killing Galavan.  We might see him lose his temper a lot, and get physically violent – but that doesn’t equate to some burning need to kill.

So – this just doesn’t really ring true.  

And as a final observation, this is basically a betrayal of the man we started out with.  We come in with Jim, who is appalled at the state of Gotham because of his innate decency. He’s ‘the last good man in Gotham’. He has to compromise his principles over time because there is no other way to get things done, but it is with the end goal of doing the right thing.  If anything, the tension was how much Jim was willing to compromise his ideals to do the right thing, how much that hardened him, damaged him.

So, when, how, and why did this morph into: ‘Jim Gordon has a big bad darkness at the centre of his soul, and his dearest wish is to kill?’)

Jim is visibly fighting the virus.  Harvey enters the room and asks for Jim’s gun - not badge.  The officers know he’s infected, and Harvey is doing his best to keep this situation stable.  Jim says he can control the virus, but Harvey says it’s for his own protection.

We hear that Lee apparently disappeared in the chaos and is waiting for Jim to give in.  Harvey tells Jim to prove her wrong.  Jim asks where Bruce is.

 Bruce is in the interview room, where Alfred watches from behind glass.  Jim and Harvey enter.  There’s a brief conversation where they establish it’s not the clone, and Alfred says he must talk with Bruce – whose strength, he believes, will bring him back to his right mind.  Lucius then enters, calling Harvey.

(An aside – and where was clone Bruce this episode?  It was sorted of implied that he could play a role here, and it never came about)

 Harvey is delighted, Lucius has found that there’s an antidote

I could kiss your face

Lucius actually did detective work and found notes about the antidote in papers from court leaders house. Hugo was designing own special antidote. Jim asks where Strange is, only to be exasperated when Harvey explains.  Jim says Strange is a weasel who’ll be trying to get out of town (you’d never do that, Jim, would you?), and that they should check the downtown train station.

Lucius tells Harvey to wait in a warning tone.  Harvey tries to say he knows the risks, but Lucius points out that Strange's version is accelerated and Jim won't be able to fight long.

I like Lucius.  He’s smart, and measured, and compassionate, and actually puts in the work.  It’ll be interesting to see how the balance at GCPD works next season because, in many ways, he’s supplanted most of what Jim should be.

 The railway station where people are fleeing town.  Hugo still looks so stylish.  He’s stopped by too burly men and utters a truly beautiful,

Oh no

Fish appears

I think you mean: hello Fish - I miss you.

She smiles,

Don’t worry sweetheart, the fun has just begun

Hugo looks resigned as he’s taken away.

 A penthouse overlooking the city.  Ed has been reading Villainy for Dummies, and is loftily talking about Rome – I think it’s Nero fiddling while Rome burned, but I tuned out.  He praises the Court’s style

Barbara is more interested in the opportunity to consolidate power.  Ed has no interest in running Gotham.  He only wants to kill Oswald because, as we saw when he was desperately trying to make contact with the Court, Ed can’t leave a job undone.  Babs is impatient.  Ed will need muscle for that, and why should she help Ed, if Ed won’t help her.  She wants Ed to use that ‘big, beautiful brain’ of his to help her, and she’ll help him.

(An aside – uh, have Barbara and Ed been intimate?  I know that Barbara can sometimes sexualise her mannerisms – but there was a familiarity there (baby, honey, all the touching) that was…. different, and they’re very in-sync.  She’s not really using her sexuality in an attempt to seduce him to her cause either.  I’m not suggesting a romance – but it wouldn’t surprise me if that was how they’d killed some time in that penthouse, or at some other point.)

 Back with Fish and Hugo

I thought we were friends

Hugo stammers that he can't refuse the Court.  Fish tells him she isn't upset.  She knew that when Hugo was summoned it was to cook up horror.  She needs horror.  She knows the Court made the virus, and she knows there’s more.

Hugo pleads, but Fish is implacable.

You will give me the virus.  You will give me the army you promised me.  You will give me everything I say until the city is in the palm of my hand. Clear?

Hugo manages to be bitter, resigned and obsequious in two words

Yes, madame.

 Jim and Harvey arrive at the station too late.  Harvey's phone rings.  It’s for Jim – Lee checking in.

Jim answers.  He tells her to turn herself in.  Lee comments he's fighting – but the cage is finally open – he’s free.  She thought he loved her – they can be together now.  Jim doesn’t want it like this.  She  pours herself some of Jim’s whiskey and asks what the whispers say.  Was it about hurting?  Killing?  

See how well I know you

She says she’ll check in later, but she’s off to have fun.

Jim looks like he’s succumbing to virus when Harvey calls his name.  He gives Jim a gun.  They’re off to find Hugo

 Jim and Harvey  meet Fish’s crew in some tunnel somewhere – presumably leading out of the station

Fish tells Harvey he looks awful.  Harvey thanks her, and then says

I know in your own sick way you love this city.  Gotham is bleeding to death

Hugo laughs suddenly – he’s noticed that Jim has the virus

Fish approaches him, and asks what it feels like.  Jim says like it’s taking all his willpower not to kill her.  Fish and Hugo confirm that they have a cure for the virus, while Jim fumes.  Harvey says he’ll shoot her if she doesn’t step back

Jim growls that she’s had her chance.  Fish is no fool, though – she has backup.  Victor charges up.  Jim leaps up and breaks a water pipe.  Victor’s gun freezes the water, creating an ice wall – behind which Jim snarls.  Fish looks at him.

There he is - the real James Gordon. Nice to meet you, at last.

She laughs and walks away. Jim snarls like an angry chihuahua.

Burning city shot again. We’re at GCPD.

Alfred has brought Bruce tea, and asks if he’s hungry.  Alfred isn’t being trite here – we will try to make tea and sandwiches in times of crisis. He talks about going home, or going to Switzerland, where they had happy holidays

Bruce is blank, and tells him his attempts to elicit emotion are clumsy, and that he murdered his best friend and teacher.  Alfred says he was a liar, manipulator, and brainwasher. Bruce denies this – saying that he gave him revenge, and took away his pain – which is more than Alfred ever did.

Alfred looks like he’s in pain

Bruce says they’ve merely paved the way for one who is to come.  Alfred asks what he means, and Bruce ominously replies:

You'll see

 Oswald’s mansion, where Bridget and Victor squabbling over who gets to kill Hugo, while Hugo trying to ooze way out of it.  They power up, and he panics, calling for

Miss Mooney

Miss Mooney is busy - I'm here now

It’s Oswald, who has been sitting nearby, drinking.

I think your children are angry with you.   You made them what they are, then abandoned them.

He tells Hugo he’s working with Fish.  They’re partners, now – she forgave him.  She has evolved.  She has a vision.  She sees a city where people like Oswald, Victor and Bridget are in charge.  

He also tells Hugo that the virus is tearing that city apart, and they need an antidote.

Hugo says if he tells, he has nothing to trade for his safety – they can torture him all they want. Oswald blithely says OK.  Hugo looks worried.  Oswald comments that in Arkham, he was tortured daily.  Hugo blusters

That was therapy.

Oswald looks outraged for a split second, then smiles

The sensation was like my head being torn open, and hot lava poured into my brain.  Thinking of it afterwards made me physically ill.

(An aside – oh Oswald.)

He laughs

So – naturally - I had to have it

Oswald has the machine. Hugo caves instantly - which is testament to how bad the pain elicited by the machine actually is.  He’ll tell them everything.

Oswald smiles.

I know - but not just yet

He flips the switch. Hugo screams.

 Back in the tunnel – Jim punches his way through the ice.  Apparently, the virus makes your bones very hard too.  When they get to the street, a still virusy Jim tears Harvey’s car door off.  Harvey tells him to fight the virus, not his car, and says he’ll drive.

 GCPD – where a random cop tells Alvarez that Mayor James has called in the national guard.  Oh no - Alvarez is infected.  He breaks the man’s neck, and starts trashing the place.

 The interrogation room, where Alfred asks Bruce again who's coming. Bruce wants him to leave.  Alfred refuses, and asks him again,

Remember who you are

I know who I am. I have a destiny

Alfred tells Bruce what the sensei offered was not real – he needs to remember what's real.   Bruce snarls that vengeance for his parents’ murder was real.

Alfred says that’s not real. What's real was how Bruce's mum read to him when he got sick, or how Alfred and Bruce’s dad looked for him when he got lost sailing in storm, out of their minds with worry.  They might have died in that alley, and that man may have taken away the pain of that one night: but there is no life or love without pain. That man could not touch the love Bruce’s parents gave him, that he still has inside him – the same love Alfred has for him:

I love you. I would do anything for you, I would die for you

He tells Bruce he needs to find that love

Come back to me, master Bruce.

Bruce has tears in his eyes

(An aside – I have tears in my eyes.  Godammit show.)

There’s fracas outside. Alfred reluctantly leaves.  Bruce is still shaken - but sees Alfred has left his pen.

Alvarez is picking off cops at random.  Alfred tackles him, and nearly winds up shot himself – but Lucius comes to the rescue. Alfred thanks him.  Lucius is admirably unshaken.  However, when they head back to the interview room, Bruce is gone having used Alfred’s pen to pick the lock on his cuffs.

 At Sirens, Butch tries to convince Tabitha that Barbara has to go, and that sharing info with Fish would take out Ed and Barbara at once.  Tabitha isn’t convinced though.  She’s also distracted by Lee, who is ordering a drink.  Lee drinks a lot in this episode, are we sure booze wasn’t Lee's deepest desire?

Butch says he’s surprised to see Lee.  She calls him an errand boy, then a shoe-shine boy, then says she wants to see Barbara.  Butch has enough of the insults, and moves to throw her out, but then sees she has the virus, and is tossed across the room

Tabitha checks on an unconscious Butch.  Lee taunts her – asking her repeatedly to take a message to her boss, and calling her a sidekick – first Theo’s, now Barbara’s.  The next time Lee sees Barbara, she’s going to rip her head off. Tabitha looks worried at this. Lee leaves, and Butch begins to come round.

 Bruce is on the chaotic streets, heading for the demon’s head, or whatever.  Lucius and Alfred follow some way behind – Alfred promising to kill whoever did this to him.

 Fish and co in the slaughterhouse where the antidote is kept.  Oswald tells Hugo if this is a trap, Hugo is dead.  Hugo says it’s no trap – he tested this version on livestock and set aside a successful batch.  He takes test tubes of antidote from a safe.  It’s concentrated and once diluted - enough to cure every infected person in the city.

Fish tells Oswald that they will rule the city together.  Oswald agrees, but first he will kill Ed.  Fish promises that he will, and all those who tried to stand in their way.  Oswald looks rapt.  As they begin to leave, there’s a noise.  Fish calls out:

Who’s there - show yourself

It’s more Cirque de Soleil assassins.  I tire of this.  A huge fight breaks out.

 Harvey's doorless car.

Harvey is getting a call about an ice and fire fight in a slaughterhouse, which he mentions to Jim. Jim just snarls in response

Just drive the damn car

Are we sure the virus didn't amplify Jim's innate tendency to behave like a prick?

 Back to the slaughterhouse. Jim and Harvey enter the fight.  Jim starts taking down assassins, flinging them about, killing them for no good reason.  In the middle of his killing frenzy, he runs Fish through with one of the assassin’s sword.  She gasps, and drops the antidote.

You damn fool

Oswald screams

Fish!

He runs to her side.  Fish calls his name in return, and he holds her as she folds to the ground.  He’s desperate – telling her it will be OK and they will get help.  Jim watches wide-eyed behind them, the virus seemingly clearing as soon as he’d realised what he’d done.

Fish shakes her head.

No – I’ve done this enough to know when I'm finished

Oswald is still trying to comfort her, but she interrupts.

Listen to me.  Make this city yours, or you burn it to the ground.  

With that, her eyes become fixed and staring.  Oswald weeps. This is the third time now that Oswald has held a parent (in this case a parent figure) as they died.  The third actual time.

Jim still looks aghast at what he’s done, gaping down at the scene in front of him.  Hell – everyone’s aghast – the place is silent.

Oswald turns, enraged and grief-stricken, running at Jim.

Ppeople call me a monster, but you – Jim Gordon, you are the monster!

The attack puts the virus back in charge and Jim grabs Oswald by the throat, lifting him high in the air.

You're right.  I am a monster.

Harvey hits Jim on the back of head to force him to drop Oswald. He asks Strange if there’s more antidote.  He says there is – he only needs one thing….

 And it’s Jervis, sitting nervously alone in the back of an Arkham ambulance.  We hear sounds – and Butch opens the door.  Jervis is fidgeting, twisting his hands high on his chest as this is happening, and it makes him look oddly vulnerable and childlike.

 Tabitha is nearby, and Barbara and Ed lean against a car, talking. Ed’s sources have told him about the possible antidote and, he smirks, Fish’s death.  But Ed knows they’re missing an ingredient:

This bozo

Ed – you’re wearing a shiny green suit.  Let’s not fling insults.  Meanwhile, Jervis is wide-eyed and smiling

Are you my saviours?  Are you the one to set me free?

(An aside – Jesus, poor Jervis.  And that’s something I never thought I’d write – but he really is set up as incredibly vulnerable here.)

Barbara smirks,

Not exactly. Let’s make Gotham beg

Ed smiles, while Jervis looks like he’s just realised this is not a good place to be.

 Back on the streets again with Bruce, seeking out the Yuyan building.  He has an auditory flashback to his ‘sensei’s’ instructions – which is handy, since his endless wittering about pain and destiny had become white noise to me.  He finds the building, and enters.

It’s a room with a huge statue in the middle.  Bruce touches the statue, a secret door opens, and he walks down a stone spiral staircase.  At the bottom, there’s a stone passageway – which he starts to walk down.  Something seems to speed past behind him

 Lucius and Alfred outside on the street have stopped outside the building.  Alfred tells Lucius to let Harvey know where they are, and Alfred goes in, eyeing the ornate door/statue thing.

Meanwhile, down in the tunnels, more of the slaughterhouse assassins surround Bruce.

(An aside - someone's been playing too much Mortal Kombat)

Another assassin appears behind Bruce, and makes them stand aside.  Bruce enters a room with a large pool in the middle (I feel like I’m playing a text-based adventure)

There’s a voice

I wouldn't touch that, Bruce.

This is Ra’s al Ghul. He tells Bruce his sensei died but succeeded – he led Bruce to him.  He is a demon, a saint, a ghost.  He’s seen things that would shake the core of Bruce’s beliefs.  But in all his travels, he never found a true heir.  He asks Bruce if he’s ready.  Bruce says he is –but  Ra’s says he failed.  Bruce says Alfred distracted him.

Ra’s nods.

I know

He puts his hand on Bruce’s face - like Fish with Oswald, another proxy parental relationship.  As he does so, Alfred is dragged in.  Bruce stares at him

Don't be so surprised - can't get rid of me that easily.

He then banters a bit about the ninjas getting better of him before glancing at Ra’s delivering one of the best – if not the best – line of the episode.

You alright mate?   What you come as?

(An aside - The British instinct to mock even in the worst circumstances does my heart good.  Anything grandiose and melodramatic must immediately be made ridiculous.)

Ra’s laughs, but then hits Alfred.  Bruce is to embrace his future by killing Alfred.  He talks about destiny and joining him as he hands Bruce the sword. Alfred speaks.

He's wrong.  There's no other way to put it.  Your destiny is to be Bruce Wayne.  And one day you're going to remember that, and how much I love you.  I remember when mum and dad brought you home and gave you to me. A tiny defenceless little creature. Look after him, they said.  I held you, and you looked at me, and at that moment I decided I would do anything for you.  So if this is what you need to do, you crack on.

Bruce has tears in his eyes. Alfred repeats himself.

You do it.

Bruce raises the sword, scream, and stabs him.  He almost immediately starts to shake his head, the mist clearing, scattered hallucinations.  As his vision clears, he sees Alfred, and realises what he’s done.  There’s a whispered ‘Bruce’ from Alfred, and he pulls the sword from him.  Alfred falls to the floor.  Bruce weeps.  Ra’s laughs

You've broken through your conditioning.  Impressive

Bruce is enraged

You don't control me anymore!  I will never be your heir!

Ra’s says he will:

No – your strength fulfils the prophecy, you are my knight in the darkness

Bruce’s voice cracks

You made me kills Alfred!

Bashir’s voice gets all whispery

Use the waters Bruce.  Our time will come

Bruce scoops water from the pool, and pours it on the wound.  It seems to cauterize and Alfred splutters – alive.

Part two to follow.....

Thoughts?

#gotham commentary #gotham s3e21 #destiny calling