#between other epithets

[deliajackson]

If we follow the logic; No. According to the Achilleid - which is the main source of him being bathed in the Styx by his mother when he was an infant(and is roman literature, btw). The Styx didnt stop him from aging naturally. He still growned up and died at the early age of his 20's.

If I had a nickel for every time Percy Jackson turned down immortality/godhood, I would have two nickels. Which is a lot, and it is absolutely iconic that it happened twice!

[accirax]

got tagged in this game by @samglyph like a week ago but i'm only getting to it now. sorry about that! thanks for tagging me :)

Rules: Make a poll of your favorite female characters (no limits - as many or as little as you want) and see which your followers like the most!

limited myself to one lady per thing. i think it's pretty clear that i generally have a type for which girls are my favorite (silly and/or evil)

iiiiiiiiiii can't remember who i tagged the last time i did one of these so let's try @venus-is-thinking @1moreff-creator @thebadjoe @a-star-that-burns-brightly @gleamingtempest and @sapphireroses282 . for any of those people feel free to not do it if you don't want to, and for anyone who i didn't manage to tag feel free to do it if you want to! i'd love to see it :)

[loonarmuunar]

If I talked about ALL my Zora headcanons mfs would be beating me with a stick. I have Far Too many.

[ernmark]

In writing, epithets ("the taller man"/"the blonde"/etc) are inherently dehumanizing, in that they remove a character's name and identity, and instead focus on this other quality.

Which can be an extremely effective device within narration!

They can work very well for characters whose names the narrator doesn't know yet (especially to differentiate between two or more). How specific the epithet is can signal to the reader how important the character is going to be later on, and whether they should dedicate bandwidth to remembering them for later ("the bearded man" is much less likely to show up again than "the man with the angel tattoo")

They can indicate when characters stop being as an individual and instead embody their Role, like a detective choosing to think of their lover simply as The Thief when arresting them, or a royal character being referred to as The Queen when she's acting on behalf of the state

They can reveal the narrator's biases by repeatedly drawing attention to a particular quality that singles them out in the narrator's mind

But these only work if the epithet used is how the narrator primarily identifies that character. Which is why it's so jarring to see a lot of common epithets in intimate moments-- because it conveys that the main character is primarily thinking of their lover/best friend/etc in terms of their height or age or hair color.

[blackvahana]

[the-mortuary-witch]

GRIMORE IDEAS

INTRODUCTION:

A book blessing.

Table of contents.

ABOUT ME:

Your current path.

Your personal beliefs.

Your spiritual journey.

Superstitions.

Past lives.

Favourite herbs/crystals/animals/etc.

Natal chart.

Craft name.

Astrology signs and their meanings.

Birthday correspondences (birth tarot card, birth stone, etc).

Goals.

SAFETY:

Fire safety.

What not to burn.

Toxic plants and oils (to humans, plants, and animals).

Crystals that shouldn’t be put… (in sunlight, in water, etc).

Things that shouldn’t be left in nature (glass, salt, etc).

Potion safety.

How to incorporate blood in spells.

Smoke safety.

Wound care.

Biohazards.

Spirit work safety guide.

CORE CONCEPTS:

Intention and how it works.

Directing energy.

Protection.

Banishing.

Cleansing.

Binding.

Charging.

Shielding.

Grounding.

Centering.

Visualization.

Consecration/blessing.

Warding.

Enchanting.

Manifestation.

Meditation.

What makes a spell work.

Basic spell structure.

What not to do in spells.

Disposing spell ingredients.

Revitalizing long term spells.

How to cast spells.

What to put in spells.

Spell mediums (jars, spoken, candle, and sigils).

Spell timing.

Potion bases.

Differentiating between magick and mundane.

Common terms.

Common symbols.

Intuition.

Elements.

Basic alchemy and symbols.

Ways to break spells.

Laws and philosophies.

CORRESPONDENCES:

Herbs and spices and their uses and/or properties.

Crystals and their uses and/or properties.

Colours.

Liquids and drinks.

Metals.

Salt and their properties.

Numbers.

Tarot cards and their meanings.

Elements.

Trees and woods.

Flowers.

Days.

Months.

Seasons.

Moon names, phases, and their meanings.

Zodiacs.

Planets.

Incense.

Teas.

Essential oils.

Directions.

Candle colours and their meanings.

Animals.

Symbology.

Bone correspondences.

Different types of water.

Common plants.

ENTITIES:

Deities you worship.

Pantheons.

Pantheons and deities closed to you.

Common offerings.

Epithets.

Mythos.

Family.

Worship vs work.

Prayers and prayer template.

Deity comms.

Devotional acts.

Angels.

Demons.

Ancestors.

Fae.

Familiars.

House, animal, plant, etc, spirits.

Folklore entities.

Spirit etiquette.

Graveyard etiquette.

Boundaries.

Communication guide and etiquette.

Spirit work safety guide.

How entities appear to you.

Circle casting.

Servitors.

Mythological creatures (dragons, gorgons, unicorns, etc).

UTILITY PAGES:

Gazing pages.

Sigil charging station.

Altar pages.

Intent pages.

Getaway pages.

Vision boards.

Dream pages.

Binding page.

Pendulum board.

Throwing bones page.

Divination pages.

Mirror gazing page.

Invocation pages.

Affirmation/manifestation pages.

Spirit board page.

OTHER PRACTICES:

Practices that are closed to you (Voodoo, Hoodoo, Santeria, Brujeria, Shamanism, Native practices).

Wicca and Wiccan paths.

Satanism, both theistic and non-theistic.

Deity/entity work.

Religious paths (Hellenism, Christianity, Kemeticism, etc).

Animism.

TYPES OF MAGICK:

Pop culture Paganism/magick.

Tech magick.

Chaos magick.

Green magick.

Lunar magick.

Solar magick.

Sea magick.

Kitchen magick.

Ceremonial magick.

Hedge magick

Death magick.

Gray magick.

Eclectic magick.

Elemental magick.

Fae magick.

Spirit magick.

Candle magick.

Crystal magick.

Herbalism.

Glamours.

Hexes.

Jinxes.

Curses.

Weather magick.

Astral magick.

Shadow work.

Energy work.

Sigils.

Runes.

Art magick.

Knot magick.

Music magick.

Blood magick.

Bath magic/rituals.

Affirmations.

DIVINATION:

Tarot cards.

Oracle cards.

Playing cards.

Card spreads.

Pendulum/how to use one.

Numerology.

Scrying.

Palmistry.

Tasseography.

Runes.

Shufflemancy

Dice.

Bibliomancy.

Carromancy.

Pyromancy.

Psychic abilities.

Astrology.

Auras.

Lenormand.

Sacred geometry.

Angel numbers.

Ornithomancy.

Aeromancy.

Aleuromancy.

Axinomancy.

Belomancy.

Hydromancy.

Lecanomancy.

Necromancy.

Oneiromancy.

Onomancy.

Oomancy.

Phyllomancy.

Psephomancy.

Rhabdomancy.

Xylomancy.

TOOLS:

Crystal grid.

Candle grid.

Charms.

Talismans.

Amulets.

Taglocks.

Wand.

Broom.

Athame.

Boline.

Cingulum.

Stang.

Bells.

Drums.

Staffs.

Chalices.

Cauldrons.

Witches ladder.

Poppets.

HOLIDAYS:

Imbolc.

Ostara.

Beltane.

Litha.

Lammas.

Mabon.

Samhain.

Yule.

How to celebrate the Sabbats.

Esbats.

Deity specific holidays.

Religious holidays (Christmas, Easter, Dionysia, etc).

Celestial events.

ALTARS:

Basics of altars.

Travel altars.

Deity altars.

Spirit altars.

Familiar altars.

Ancestor altars.

Self altars.

Working altars.

Sabbat altars.

SELF-CARE:

Burnout prevention.

Aromatherapy.

Stress management.

Coping mechanisms.

Meditation techniques.

THEORIES AND HISTORY:

Witchcraft history.

Paganism.

New age spirituality.

Cultural appropriation.

Thelema.

Conspiracy theories.

Cults.

Satanic Panic.

KJV.

Witches in history.

Cats in history.

Transphobia in witchcraft circles.

Queerness in witchcraft circles.

OTHER:

Recipes.

How to get herbs.

Foraging.

Drying herbs and flowers.

Chakras.

Reiki.

Witches alphabet.

Runic alphabet.

Guide to gardening

Your witch tips.

Resources.

Other tips.

List of spells.

Cryptids and their lore.

What is a liminal space?

How to start a dream diary. 

Recording/writing rituals.

Wheel of the Year. 

[kissmete]

A Guide to Aphrodite’s Epithets

Aphrodite is a goddess of many forms. She is one of the older goddesses, born from Ouranos. She is the sister to the Titans, the Furies, the Meliae, and the Giants.

She is the mother of Harmonia and Eros, the Graces and Peitho, but also of Anteros, of Phobos and Deimos and Adestria. She is vengeful and chaotic, existing in the passion that drives wars and artists, in the lust that fuels affairs and assaults, in the love that fuels suicides and marriage.

In my experience, the epithet you worship is insanely important. Aphrodite Ourania is much more lighthearted than Aphrodite Skotia, or Aphrodite Tymborychos.

Aphrodite Ourania is a Lady of the Heavens. She is lipstick marks on softly written poetry, she is pink roses in a pearl encrusted vase.

Aphrodite Ambologera is children braiding each others hair at kindergarten, teenagers whispering about boys and girls, twenty one year olds partying hard and living life.

Aphrodite Anadyomene is the feeling of ocean water over your feet. She is collecting seashells on the shore, collecting sand and water for spells and rituals.

Aphrodite Apaturia is teenage drama, that seems life ending at first but silly as you grow older. She is the gossip and drama that weaves its way into youth, and she smiles as you live your own movie.

Aphrodite Apotrophia is the mother standing over her child, watchful for creeps. She is the older sister clinging to the younger, she is the one you pray to after being assaulted, the one that will hold you close and take revenge for you.

Aphrodite Areia stands beside her lover in battle. She sees the passion that drove these young men to war, sees the fight in their eyes. She fights alongside them, whispering reminders in their ears about who they are fighting for, for their wives and daughters at home.

Aphrodite Despoina is seen in femme fatales, the click of black stilettos and women that know their worth. She stands beside women with fire in their eyes, by hardworking women that know they are meant for more, by CEOS that know their place, and that their place is at the top.

Aphrodite Gameloi walks you down the aisle alongside your father, watches as you say your vows. She stands beside Hera and blesses your marriage, crying and wishing you the best as your own mother would.

Aphrodite Gentyllis sits with you as you birth your first child, and every child after that. She holds your hand and kisses you on the forehead, wishing you the best as she leaves for the next.

Aphrodite Melainis looks in shadows at night, watching you as you walk home. She will take revenge for you if you need, and it will be delivered brutally.

Aphrodite Nikephoros stands beside olympians and generals alike, celebrating in their victory. She stands beside soldiers as they rejoice, by athletes as they cry, and by children as they win their first tournament. She is there for the small and the big victories, from making your first successful dinner to winning a war.

Aphrodite Pandemos sees no difference between a while child or a black child. You are all her children, and she will kiss you on the forehead and tell you she is proud. She stands with you, whether you can afford fancy offerings or altars, she is of the people, for the people.

Aphrodite Peitho stands beside you as you seduce your first lover. She is there as you beg your parents for a dog, as you persuade your mother to let you sleepover at your friends house for the first time.

Aphrodite Skotia stands beside you as you insult. She stands with you as you cover yourself in the ruins of your purity, and she cradles you when you weep for your innocence. When you cry over your sins, she is there, reminding you that she too, is Unholy, and it is okay.

Aphrodite Tymborychos stands with the survivors community, with rape victims and domestic abuse survivors. She stands with women that have slaughtered their abusers, with daughters and sons that have stood up to abusive parents. She stands in the middle of riots for freedom, because if her children cannot stand free then their oppressors should not stand at all.

She is all of these at once, and she is there. You can find her wherever you look, in poetry books or romance novels. You can find her in the laughter of young girls and the tears of victims. You can find her in graveyards, whispering her revenge to abusers and murderers, reminding them that she is a gravedigger and a mother, and harm that befalls her children is a slight to her.

DISCLAIMER: You do not have to choose an epithet. This is here to remind you that Aphrodite comes in many forms, and the Aphrodite you worship sometimes won’t line up with someone else’s. <3

[templeofelysium]

worshipping the chthonic gods

first, a note on cthonic vs ouranic: the line between these gods is one that is not really as stark as it can be portrayed. many gods have both ouranic and chthonic aspects, and neither make them any more "good" or "bad" than the other. chthonic gods are not evil gods, at least no more than any ouranic god. all deities have the capability of doing good and evil, but are largely ambivalent in nature. the advice listed below is not set in stone, simply provided as gentle guidance. if you have suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments/reblogs! :)

LIBATIONS/OFFERINGS

In Ancient Greece it was very common for offerings to the chthonic gods to be given in the form of libation--a drink (or any liquid) poured into the ground. Solid offerings, like food, were often burned in their entirety to ash or left to rot, instead of being partially shared by the offeror. Incense was not as commonly used since the smoke travels upwards, towards the heavens.

I suggest disposing of/keeping ashes and rotted food outside or burying them, seeing as chthonic sometimes refers to "-of the earth." This would be similar to how curse tablets were treated in Ancient Greece, as Hermes, messenger of the gods, would deliver them unto their underworld-ly receiver from there.

If you can't do that, consider pouring your libations down the sink or flushing them down the toilet (ONLY do this with water-based liquids, oil and honey will clog up your sink in no time flat). It's not ideal, but it gets the job done.

Common libations include: coffee, blood (animal or your own, we'll get to that at the end), honey (instead of wine), milk

Common offerings include: meat, barley/grain, oil, cheese

PRAYER

In many cases, prayers to ouranic deities are directed upwards, into the sky or delivered unto the wind by voice, song, or some sort of poem. In the case of the chthonic gods, we should be directing them downwards, towards the underworld where they reside. This may include extending your hands with palms facing down, putting your head down, or just imagining your prayers being sent below. The only exceptions to this may be Persephone, who resides in the heavens for half of the year, and Hermes, who can be considered both ouranic and chthonic.

Other recommendations I can make are: light a candle, even if you're not going to use it for pyromancy; light some incense (I do this for focus and cleansing, not so much for the deity); and perform it at night. It's not mandatory, of course, to perform your prayers at night, it's just that in antiquity ouranic activities (festivals, prayer, etc.) were done during the day and often directly enshrouded in sunlight. We can assume, therefore, that a chthonic prayer or festival should occur during the night, especially if being directed towards Hekate or Nyx.

ALTARS/SHRINES

In Ancient Greece, temples to the ouranic gods were constructed so that their doorways would directly face the sun, thus illuminating the inside (and often the main statue(s), too). We can assume, then, that our chthonic altars/shrines should be located somewhere out of the direct sunlight. This can be in a dark spot, like a closet or isolated room--or it can just simply be in a corner furthest from the sun's rays.

Again, there may be some exceptions to this: Hermes, under his ouranic epithet(s), Persephone, for her time in the heavens, and Hekate, for her association with the moon.

DIVINATION

For the most part divination with the chthonic gods is conducted in much the same way as with the ouranic. Of course, when calling upon these deities you'll want to face towards the ground, and perhaps even conduct these sessions in partial darkness. Again, maybe you could light a candle or even pour a libation before a really big reading.

I mostly use pendulums and tarot, but I've been experimenting with meditation and have had some luck. What works for ouranic deities should work just as good for chthonic, you just might have to shift your approach a little.

Some good tarot spreads for working with chthonic deities:

"Fork in the Road" spread-- for Hermes or Hekate

"The Tower" spread-- for Hermes or Hades

"The Self Exploration" spread-- for any

"The Bat" spread-- for Hades or Persephone or Nyx

EXTRAS

--Consider offering blood if you're able! Animal blood that is sourced from ethical farms is neither morally reprehensible or illegal and can be sourced from a variety of places. Offering your own blood is also a possibility, but for this I would not recommend more than a pinprick. There are limits to how much pain you should be incurring on yourself for your deities. If you have to check your blood sugar often, maybe you can soak up excess blood with some cotton and bury it outside. Make sure to always clean your wounds properly and do not engage in this behavior for the purpose of self-mutilation. That, I can assure you, your deities would not appreciate. Don't be stupid.

--Snakes are commonly associated with almost all chthonic deities, or just the Underworld in general. We see this the most with Hermes, who is pictured with two snakes wrapped around his caduceus. The god Asclepius is also pictured with a staff with a single snake on it. Asclepius is the god of medicine, and (before being deified) was killed by Zeus for making people practically immortal.

--Chthonic deities are the best places to turn to for spirit work, protective, and baneful magic. You're looking to contact a spirit? Turn to Hades. You're looking for protection against spirits/demons? Turn to Hekate or Hermes. You're looking to cast a curse? Turn to Persephone or Hekate.

dividers by @vibeswithrenai

[kitxhenringcutter]

The thing is, Tommy’s worried about Evan coming over to his house for the first time. He’s seen Evan’s loft. It’s all clean lines, modern appliances and details. What little sentimental odds and ends he owns are tucked away or so subtle than Tommy didn’t spot them the first couple of times he came over.

Tommy’s house, by contrast, is filled with the detritus one accumulates when they’ve gone no contact with everyone related to them and they’re trying to create a homey, family atmosphere out of thrift stores and the Pottery Barn catalogue instead of friends and family.

He’s a knick-knacker, an antique furniture collector, a throw pillow and afghan fanatic.

He doesn’t have much in the way of books, but he has shelves and shelves of notebooks, some full, some half-used, some untouched. It’s a habit he picked up when his first ever therapist (after he left the 118) coaxed him into writing everything down to make a little sense of the mess of contradictions, phobias, old prejudices, prejudices still clinging on and traumas that made it feel impossible to figure out what to talk about first when he sat down in that office.

There’s a small, awkward section of wall in his kitchen created when a previous owner of the house decided to add a laundry room (embarrassingly, his favorite room in the house for it’s sheer utility) and that’s where Tommy hangs his collection of coffee mugs. Some of them are Goodwill finds, some souvenirs, some band merch or creations by local artists he picked up at some market or other.

There’s five different varieties of protein powder constantly cluttering his kitchen counter because he ran out of room in the small pantry. His pots and pans hang over the tiny, rolling kitchen island, which is itself nearly taken over by a serving tray that holds his water filter, a candle, a decorative planter filled with his cooking utensils, a plastic case of toothpicks.

He still has a dvd collection, for heaven’s sake, and it takes up most of his sagging entertainment center. He should replace it, but it’s the first piece of furniture he ever restored and he’s having trouble letting go. Speaking of letting go, there’s a dog bed in the corner for a dog that passed away nearly ten months ago. He probably will at least hide that in a closet before Evan gets here.

Because he is coming over. No matter how nervous Tommy is, he’s not gonna come up with another excuse for why they have to postpone or meet at Evan’s instead. He gets the feeling he’s already made Evan a little wary, and with Evan’s relationship history and his fear of being too much, not enough, just left, Tommy will eat his own foot before he purposely exacerbates Evan’s fears.

If Evan looks around and decides Tommy is a hoarder or a slob or a million other nasty epithets Tommy’s brain is offering up like some cruel, self-sabotaging buffet- Well, they’ll talk about it. They’ll learn and adjust. Evan has never, ever been cruel to Tommy and it’s quite frankly laughable that he would start now.

That’s what Tommy tells the rogue half of his brain trying to rain on their parade. Another thing he picked up from his therapist - name the part of you that spews negative self-talk and talk back to it. Predictably, Tommy named his Vince. Shut the fuck up, Vince.

Evan’s shift ended twenty minutes ago and Tommy has chili on the stove keeping warm. Between showering and the drive over, Evan should be due at his door in another twenty-five or so. Tommy hides the dog bed, lights the kitchen candle, tries to find things to do with his hands so he doesn't watch the time like a hawk. They’ve had conflicting shifts for almost two weeks with only stolen moments and half-asleep kisses in between. Tommy misses his boyfriend. But a watched clock never ticks, or whatever.

His strategy works, because Evan’s knock on the front door actually startles him a little from the stack of unopened mail he’s sorting through. So many flyers for what feels like every home decor and craft store in the state.

Evan’s eyes are gentle and joyful when Tommy answers the door. “Hey.” He leans in to squeeze Tommy’s bicep and press a kiss to the wing of his cheek. Tommy can feel Evan’s mouth stretch into a smile against his skin.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Tommy wiggles his fingers under the strap of Evan’s duffel to take it from him and steps aside to let him into the house. His heart thuds in his chest.

Evan surrenders his bag and steps into Tommy’s home for the first time. If he notices Tommy holding his breath, he doesn’t comment yet.

He takes a look around while Tommy tries to look anywhere but his face. He doesn’t want to let on that he’s being a complete lunatic about this, that he let his anxiety take over for the better part of the day.

When Evan turns around to face Tommy again and slides his hands over Tommy’s waist, presses his fingers into Tommy’s back, nudging them closer together, his smile has split into a full grin. Tommy can’t help reflexively smiling in return. He can feel his cheeks flooding with warmth. It should be embarrassing that Evan still makes Tommy blush at the drop of a hat even all these months later, but if it helps Evan know deep in his bones that Tommy is gone for him, Tommy wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“It looks like you.” Evan draws his hands up and down Tommy’s torso in gentle strokes. “Cozy. Warm. Like…” He trails off and bites his lip, drops his eyes to Tommy’s chest.

Tommy hooks his fingers under Buck’s chin and lifts his gaze back up until their eyes meet in a move that’s become so routine it’s pretty much an inside joke between them. “Like what? Don’t leave me hanging.”

It’s Evan turn to flush a deep pink. He takes an unsteady breath in. “L-like home.”

An immense weight lifts off Tommy’s chest so quickly it almost steals his breath, but Evan has tensed up just a fraction, so Tommy hums softly, spreads his big hands over Buck’s wide shoulders and digs his fingers in to massage the tension back out. He slides deeper into Evan’s space to take his mouth in a chaste, lingering kiss, and he murmurs against his lips. “Glad to hear it.”

[sag-dab-sar]

Hellenic Polytheist Reconstructionists

Am I a reconstructionist? No. And I do think there is a difference between Recon and Revival.

Here is my feeling of difference, some are absolutely going to disagree with this but its my perspective:

"Polytheist Reconstructionism & Revivalism is the worship of a pantheon of Gods heavily influenced by the original religion that worshipped them. It is not a claim of continuity with that religion, or a desire to reinstate the ancient culture & its morals/laws. Reconstructionism attempts to be as close as possible to actual ancient practice without forgoing modern morals. While Revivalism attempts to remain close to the meaning of the ancient practice— allowing for heavy modern adaptations while still fulfilling the ancient practice purpose."

My entire practice has to be modified for my disability, I had dreams of recon but the methods I can't preform.

My zero spoon praxis is all modern:

My method of low spoon / no spoon libations is entirely modern and not at all how the ancient people would do it. Purpose: Doing libations is better than not doing them.

The idea of just invoking them. Saying "Hygeia" before a shower. Saying Theoi's names before a sip or bite to make it an offering. Etc. Purpose: Again literally anything is better than nothing.

Watching TV "with" the Gods (no I don't believe they're sitting next to me or anything). Purpose: keep the Gods in my life and mind, as they were ever present for the ancient people.

Defining "purity" as being clean with the clear ability to focus on the Gods even if in PJs. Definitely not ancient standard. I'd worship if sick if I can get all the symptoms under control (like cough medicine for example), have clean clothes, wash hands and face, focus. I'd worship on a period so long as I was clean and could focus. Etc. Purpose: while it is not the ancient standard of purity, purity is important so I had to have some sort of bench mark (its even more important in Sumerian but thats outside scope of post)

New Festivals (I usually write low spoon versions). I'm trying out some ancient ones but I find them hard to connect to (or at least don't have energy yet to appreciate them), I make my own right now. Purpose: The ancient people really liked festivals

I could go on, point is adapting ancient practices to make an attempt to meet the purpose is my goal. I'm not focused necessarily on using the ancient methods (well not yet I take things as my disability allows)

But without reconstructionists (many of whom are classicists) I would not know:

Miasma vs lyma. And this is important because I had met people who head veiled specifically to protect themselves from miasma because they thought it was that common and bad

Different methods of purity: just washing hands face; barley throwing; fire extinguished in water; few others

How to structure ancient prayers if you want to write them in that way. And how it is interwoven with Kharis.

Literally any ancient Hellenic Festival outside the book by Labrys (and I suppose Kosmos but I don't trust the author)

Debunks of modern Hellenic Polytheist things people are claiming are ancient when they are modern

Anything that requires translation from ancient Greek to explain the concept because either no English language translation exists or more often the English translation leaves out significant valuable information for religious practice.

Explanations of ancient texts and their context

Epithet explanations

Explanations of various Theoi beyond the "God of ___" one finds in website info blurbs

Ancient Greek Calendars

Book resource recommendations and often free access.

Website resources recommendations.

Journal articles & authors recommendations

If I didn't know the ancient standards and methods I would not be able to adapt anything at all and meet the "purpose"

........ literally being able to ask questions from people who have actual knowledge of the ancient religion and are willing to take time out of their day to answer

Reconstructionists do so much damn leg work in Hellenic Polytheism. So much. And so many people seem to refuse to acknowledge that. We take it all but never appreciate their approach. And many reconstructionists have been run off this website for no good reason.

I have seen a grand total of one person claiming to be recon who disparaged non-reconstructionists, and he was a xenophobic douche regardless. Beyond that I haven't had any recon disparage revivalism [edit: as in disparage the fact that it exists or claim its not Hellenic Polytheism]. Correction on information =/= hate. Pointing out something is modern =/= hate. Having different opinions =/= hate.

So to all the Hellenic Polytheist Reconstructionists: Thank you.

-dyslexic not audio proof read-

[houseofthedragonn]

(idk if you've done this so if so, pls ignore, my bad)

COULD YOU DO LIKE SOMETHING WITH CREGAN MARRYING LIKE RHAENYRA'S DAUGHTER. idk why I'm yelling sorry. but like she's nervous to consummate because he's like kinda older and kinda intimidating and he kinda just reassures her. Thank yew thank yew 🤭🫶🏼

little sister

cregan stark x jace’s little sister

SYNOPSIS - your mother rhaenyra betroths you to the older, intimidating lord stark, who can come off as cold before warming up to one another…

WARNING - smut, pre-wedding night sex, first time

“It’s an honor to finally meet you, my Princess… my Queen,” Lord Cregan Stark kissed my hand while kneeling before my mother Rhaenyra and I that cold Northern morning.

Foolishly, I believed her when she said we were merely taking our dragons to go on tour.

Of castles held by Great Lords who supported her claim to the Iron Throne. We were, but there was also another motive. My betrothal to Stark. The two already met once. As did he and my eldest brother, Jacaerys, after they treated at the Wall, weeks ago. I thought to discuss troops. Little did I know of my mother and brother’s plan to betroth me to a Great Lord of Westeros now that I was of age. My sixteenth name day only yesterday, a couple years younger than Jace. Cregan was at least five years my senior. But he seemed even older with how intimidatingly cold he could be. Not intentionally, I observed, it was just his quiet, reserved nature so different than that of the Lords and Ladies in King’s Landing. It was refreshing.

And it did not hurt that he was a young, handsome Great Lord, a rarity when most were old enough to be my grandsire.

“The pleasure’s all mine, my Lord…” I smiled with batted lashes as he rose from kneeling before me to stand, towering over.

While the betrothal was not my idea, I was not against it.

If not but a little intimated and nervous to consummate our marriage as he was older and more experienced. But I knew my mother needed Northern troops in return for the marriage pact. As no other Westerosi fought as hard as the Northmen always have. After Rhaenyra and Jace gave Cregan both their blessings, I bid my dragon and family goodbye for now, until my wedding in a month. While I was to stay in Winterfell with my new betrothed for the time being.

To become more familiar with one another. Alone together.

It was the night before our wedding day.

We had not so much as brushed bodies passing each other in the halls of Winterfell. I was still a bit nervous of doing anything more before the big night. But knowing Cregan made me less so than before. We walked in comfortable silence. Stark gave me another tour of his castle, just as he did that first day after Rhaenyra and Jacaerys returned to Dragonstone. As now the Great Hall was all decorated for our wedding.

“Winterfell is ours, now. Not just mine, my Princess,” Cregan reassured me, both of us warming up to each other over the last month, with our words, at least.

If Targaryens were fire and blood, mine melted away Stark’s icy facade. Our little talks throughout the day he actually looked forward to. Longing to hear my voice whenever meetings went too long, or he had more raven scrolls to read or send. Longing for our wedding night, as was I, with nervous excitement.

“Thank you, my Lord. It’s beautiful…” I was breath taken by the Northern beauty of the castle as historic as my own family’s.

But Cregan was too busy being breath taken by his beautiful betrothed.

“Not as beautiful as you. Tales of your great beauty do not do you justice. Princess Velaryon, truly the Realm’s Delight… but I suppose you’ll be Princess Stark, in a few hours time,” Cregan tried easing the tension between us that lingered whenever the subject of our wedding night was brought up.

As we still slept in our own chambers, and would tonight, for the last time.

“I suppose so, Lord Cregan Stark, Wolf of the North…” I teased him by his epithet in return. “I just… don’t wish to disappoint you…” I abashedly admitted, fidgeting with my fingernails, too afraid to meet his burly gaze.

For the first time, Cregan crooked his fingers underneath my chin and he raised it, gently. Until my eyes met his Stark grey gaze, the hue of a beautiful but formidable storm.

“How could you ever disappoint me, Princess?” Cregan asked in a tone so soft, it caught me off guard.

I never heard him speak so sweetly to anyone else before. Not that he was mean, just gruffer than most. But once I pierced that exterior, I saw the kind heart hidden beneath his armor. And muscled chest, his strength only making him even more intimidating. Surely he could have any woman he wants to bed.

“The… bedding ceremony… I’ve never—not really…” I struggled to say what he knew I meant, judging by the knowing look on his handsome face.

“Than it is my honor to be your first… you need not be afraid of me… my pretty Princess. I would never hurt you… I only wish to please you… my love…” Stark eased my mind with his kind words as he held my face in both of his hands now.

I noticed how his eyes bore a deep desire burning with them. They kept flicking to my lips as he spoke. Licking his own full ones ravenously.

“Please me how… my love? Could you show me how… before we… consummate our marriage?” I asked with bated breath, hitched in my throat, taking in how he towered over me, intimidatingly.

In all his ruggedly handsome, strapping glory, draped in wolf’s fur and the finest Northern clothes. Ice as tall as his six feet, and as wide as one of his broad shoulders. The heavy Valyrian steel strapped firmly on his strong back he carried effortlessly like a feather. Boys my age not nearly as strong as he was, not even the young knights of King’s Landing. And he was all mine. All I wanted was to please him how he promised to please me.

“It would be a pleasure to show you, my love…” Cregan’s cold demeanor melted completely, giving way to his wolfish grin.

His eyes darted to my lips again. Stark leaned in hungrily. My lashes fluttered shut instinctively as he kissed me for the first time. Holding my face in his palms, Cregan’s cold hands on my burning face. But his lips were warm moving against mine. And soft. Perhaps the only part of Stark that was. Still I welcomed the rough feel of his calloused, strong hands against my skin. Shifting from my face, running down my figure, before resting on my hips he squeezed. Pulling me closer. Deepening the kiss. I felt his tongue graze my bottom lip before slipping inside my mouth. And taking claim of it. Our sweet, chaste peck on the lips turned into a wet, messy kiss as we both grew needier. Needing more of each other. Until we needed air, after ages.

“Seven hells…” I cursed for the first time in front of Stark, still reeling from our kiss after we parted, his deep laughter filling my ears once my words registered.

“That’s not all, Princess. We’ve only just begun…” Cregan whispered in my ear, craning his neck down to reach.

Before I felt his fingers interlacing with mine. To lead me by the hand from the Great Hall all the way upstairs. Until we reached his Lord’s chambers. The servants we passed greeting us, and knew better than to not give us privacy on the night before our wedding. He swung the heavy door open, and slammed it shut behind us with ease. We stood there for a moment, just taking in the sheer sight of one another, breathing heavy with lustful anticipation for what was to come. Until Stark suddenly picked me up as easily as he did Ice, and carried me over to his large featherbed, holding me tightly in his strong arms.

“You’re so handsome, my love…” I sighed, lust drunk from just one kiss with him, my head still spinning, legs wrapped around his waist.

I ran my hands through his long dark hair before he laid me on his bed, kicking off our shoes. Then he climbed on top of me.

“And you’re dead pretty, gorgeous… you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. Every single day for the last month I’ve thanked the gods… for blessing me with you…” Cregan praised me, in between kissing my neck hungrily.

All I could do was lie there, a moaning mess as Stark licked, nipped, and sucked at my sensitive flesh. Wet sounds of his mouth on my skin made me even more lust drunk. He made a warm wetness pool in between my thighs from his bruising lovebites on my throat. For all to see, I was his now.

“Fucking hells… they blessed me with a loving husband, whose tongue feels like heaven…” I sighed, my hand holding his head of handsome hair impossibly closer, flush against my neck.

I felt his hands slip underneath my back. Arching it, I gave him more space to unlace my gown. While his lips never left my collarbone, as he worked his way down towards the exposed flesh of my breasts. Bursting at the seams from my corset before he removed it next. I heard my fine clothes land in a soft thud on the wolf’s fur rug covering the cold stone floor of his chambers. Last to go was my chemise underdress he made quick work of removing. I now laid bare on the warm wolf’s fur blankets on his big featherbed. Instinctively, I shielded myself from Stark abashedly. Only for him to capture my wrists gently in his firm grasp, holding them above my head. As his long dark hair framed his handsome face.

“Never hide yourself from me, my Princess. I want to see every beautiful inch of you…” Cregan commanded, before letting go, but the look in his eye telling me to stay put as he undressed.

But I could not help myself. I sat up, my hands flying to unlace his leather long sleeve and tunic. But Stark only flashed me a wolfish grin, seeing how eager I was now and not intimidated anymore. A low laugh leaving his full, swollen, shining lips. He helped me pull off his fine clothes until his strong chest was on full display. My eyes trailed down his muscled abdomen with longing, lingering on the lines making the letter V leading down to where I wanted to feel him most. I watched his large hands go to unlace his britches, before I beat him to it. Desperate to help free his aching bulge straining against his trousers. Once I did, he took off his britches so fast, nearly tearing them off as he did with my fine clothes. Tossing them all to the pile pooling on the floor, as heat kept pooling deep within me. Burning as hot as the hearth Stark always kept roaring in corner of his chambers, crackling.

“Seven hells, you’re my gift from the gods…” I gasped, utterly breathless at the sight of him standing bare before me in all of his strapping glory. “But you’re so big… will it hurt?”

I could not help but be intimidated again at the sheer sight of how large Cregan’s cock was, as long as he was thick. And I had never laid with anyone, unlike my Targaryen uncles who frequented the best brothels. Rhaenyra refusing for Daemon to arrange for a whore to take my maidenhead. But I was glad Stark was my first.

“Perhaps at first, my love… but I will do everything I can to make you feel pleasure after the pain,” Cregan softly spoke, stroking my hair and caressing my face.

He gave me another long, loving kiss. With his teeth capturing my bottom lip lustfully. Before he pulled away, replacing his tongue in my mouth with his fingers. I sucked sensually until Stark pulled them out with a wet pop of my lips. And brought his hand down between my thighs. His wet fingers met the wetness pooling out of my cunt, circling my clit. Making me cry out, a whining mess pinned under all his muscle.

“Bloody hells, Cregan! Don’t stop…” I sighed, squirming under him, my hips bucking and grinding up into his touch I starved for all month since meeting.

“I don’t plan on it, Princess…” Stark flashed his wolfish grin.

Cregan only increased my pleasure by slipping a finger inside me, and moving slowly at first, letting me adjust to the feeling. Before he added another, and after a while, a third. Stretching my walls in preparation to take all of him inside my folds. His long fingers reached spots making me mewl like an animal in heat. Only able to praise his name and curse all seven hells again and again. Until I felt myself start clenching around all three of his fingers. Stark suddenly stopped, pulling out, leaving me empty, despite his promise.

“But you promised!” I whined in protest, but before I could continue complaining, I felt his cock lining up with my walls.

“You won’t be empty for long, my Princess… are you ready?” Cregan asked in a hushed tone, caressing my cheek.

“Oh, yes! I need you now, my love…” I panted, desperate to be filled with him again, clenching around empty nothingness.

At once, I felt Stark start plunging into me slowly, inch by inch.

“If I’m hurting you, tell me… if you wish to stop at anytime, we can, love… shit! I only want to make you feel good—gods you’re so fucking tight!” Cregan groaned as my cunt swallowed him halfway, caging me in with his strong arms on either side of my head, his hair flowing like a river.

“It hurts—but feels good, gods! Please don’t stop, Stark…” I begged as he bottomed out inside me, squeezing his cock like a vice. “I feel pleasure—so much! Fucking hells…”

My arms snaked around his neck, holding onto his broad shoulders as he fucked me deep. His hips starting to snap in and out of mine at a steady pace, getting faster and faster. He hit a spot deeper than his fingers could reach, making me clench around his throbbing cock every time he did. His chambers filled with the wet sounds of our sex, moaning messes in each other’s arms as our flesh met noisily, rutting like animals, over and over. His head fell to my chest, taking each of my breasts in his mouth, sucking hard. Biting gently as his teeth grazed my nipples. And his hand came down in between my thighs again, circling my clit.

“Gods, if you could only see how perfect you look like this, Princess…” He moaned in my ear after leaving my chest with a wet pop of his full lips.

I felt the tension building deep within me like a rope about to snap. Torn in half from the sheer force of how hard and fast he fucked me into his featherbed now. My legs wrapped around his hips to hold him impossibly even closer to me. My mouth biting his shoulder instinctually, wanting to mark him as he had my neck, blooming bruises borne out of love. I could tell that pushed him closer to the edge as he did for me by circling my clit faster, harder. I clenched around him over and over until words were lost on us. Only our gutural groans and mewling moans fell from our lips when not latching onto one another’s, in open-mouthed, sloppy kisses.

“I feel… wave, crashing… close…” I could only say to describe the new, much welcomed feeling I felt inside.

“You’re close to coming for me, my love… good girl. Just try to wait a little longer for me, don’t let go yet… I’m close…” Stark ordered, and all I could do was try doing what he asked.

It felt impossible with it being my first time, but somehow I held on for him. His thrusts devolving into a sloppy mess like our kiss, shoving his tongue down my throat again. I felt his cock twitch inside me, spilling warmth washing over me from inside out. His hand never leaving my clit, or letting up on how harshly he circled it. I was pushed over the edge. I let go with him, our moans reaching their loudest point, while we came together. Cregan crying out my name and I his. Hips riding out our highs we chased, rolling against one another’s until we slowed to a stop. I felt my cunt clenching around his cock so tight I swallowed him whole, never wanting to let go. Draining him dry of every last drop of his seed dripping from my gushing folds.

“Fucking gods! I love you, my pretty Princess…” Stark kissed all over my face as he got his last thrust in deep before pulling out of my cunt clenching around emptiness again, but filled with his warmth.

“I… love you, Cregan… no one ever… made me feel as good as you do, handsome…” I panted, breathless from fucking. But hoped he felt as good as I did, despite my inexperience, “Did you… feel good?”

He collapsed on top of me, lazily kissing my neck, listening. Before my question made him hold my face in his hands again.

“Better than good. You make me feel like I’m in fucking heaven, my love… you were so, so good for me… you were perfect,” He reassured me, before stealing another long, loving kiss.

A kiss that went on for hours as we laid in our lovemaking puddle of sex and sweat, refusing to move an inch. Before we turned in early for the day, crawling bare under the wolf’s fur blankets and dozing off naked in each other’s arms.

Dreaming of doing it all again tomorrow on our wedding night.

[raisengen]

It only just occurred to me that Rhodes Island's codename system is likely rooted in the Sarkaz naming customs (or lack thereof).

It's fairly common for us to see Sarkaz with no name, or just an epithet. Famously, W took her name from a dead man when she picked up his gun.

To other peoples, something as basic as lacking a name is likely to come off as strange or untrustworthy, creating extra distance between them and any nameless Sarkaz.

Rhodes Island can't give every Sarkaz a "real" name, nor can they change Sarkaz culture to accept such things—and they can't change the rest of the world to accept it either. What they can do is create an environment in which "real" names aren't used, so that everyone is on an equal footing.

This realisation brought to you by Degenbrecher insulting the codename system:

[incomingalbatross]

I like the "sweetheart" backstory. It DOES change it, from being (what looks like) a sarcastic, scornful epithet developing into a genuine endearment, to being a genuine endearment more-or-less tainted by bitterness throughout the trilogy. BUT. I don't mind that change.

Haymitch's use of it in SotR is so tender and affectionate and sounds so absolutely natural in his mouth that it's a shocking contrast between what he was as a teen and what he is by the time of the 74th Games.

Teen Haymitch is soft around kids and loved ones without any effort. Adult Haymitch's sentiments come out sharp-edged and broken and angry 90% of the time, even toward those he loves most.

It is also ENTIRELY IN KEEPING with the first use of it in THG and just adds another layer of typical cross-purposes between Haymitch and Katniss. Because the first use of it comes after Katniss shoots the apple out of the roast pig's mouth, then comes back and locks herself in her room and cries for an hour because she's Ruined Everything.

At dinner a few hours later, we get this:

The adults begin some chitchat about the weather forecast, and I let my eyes meet Peeta’s. He raises his eyebrows. A question. What happened? I just give my head a small shake. Then, as they’re serving the main course, I hear Haymitch say, “Okay, enough small talk, just how bad were you today?” Peeta jumps in. “I don’t know that it mattered. By the time I showed up, no one even bothered to look at me. They were singing some kind of drinking song, I think. So, I threw around some heavy objects until they told me I could go.” That makes me feel a bit better. It’s not like Peeta attacked the Gamemakers, but at least he was provoked, too. “And you, sweetheart?” says Haymitch. Somehow Haymitch calling me sweetheart ticks me off enough that I’m at least able to speak. “I shot an arrow at the Gamemakers.”

Katniss clearly takes it as condescending and insincere, and so do we - but the SotR intrepretation WORKS here. And makes it much funnier.

Haymitch, looking at Katniss's tear-blotched face and trying to figure out what went wrong: "And you, sweetheart?" WAIT why did I call her that no I'm not supposed to CARE about them abort abort abort Katniss "surely Peeta is trying to sabotage me when he's being nice and says he loves me" Everdeen, reacting characteristically: How DARE he patronize me like that

And the other thing I like is that it adds a layer to the Haymitch-Katniss relationship. We all know the parallels, we all know they both see themselves in each other and hate it... BUT this means that he also saw Louella in her. He doesn't just see her as a younger mirror of him, he sees a smart, spunky little girl he tried to protect and couldn't. A girl who deserved to be safe from the Games. And I just... it makes me happy that Haymitch was seeing her from the start as a child he wanted to protect, along with a kindred spirit.

ALSO, finally, I think if/when Katniss learned this was an inherited endearment she'd have very messy feelings about that. Which is fun.

[beatingdrumspouringwine]

Advice for beginner Hellenists

This isn't necessarily a post where I include a list of Gods, epithets, resources, and offerings for said Gods, but rather, hopefully soothing the worries of those of us who are starting the journey into the religion. As someone who was once in a religion that made other religions sound like something absolutely terrifying, my journey into Hellenism was once which was also... pretty terrifying, and this fear was mostly just from my own mind.

Anyways, my list of Advice:

You can literally just start praying. If you want to get more formal, you can absolutely get more formal, but you very much don't have to. I've definitely had my first prayers to some Gods be "hello, [God or Goddess's name], I want to worship You! Please lead me in my journey. Thanks!" I can promise you, the Gods are much kinder and more understanding than any of us fully know.

You can also just start worshiping in general. I feel like I've seen on occasion people worried about the Gods not "calling" to them. This is definitely not something that needs to happen pre-worship. If you find them interesting enough to pray to, then that in and of itself is enough.

In a similar vein, I wouldn't be too concerned about the idea of "signs". I feel like there's a tendency for folks to be incredibly worried about everything when first starting out - the behavior of a candle, the sighting of an animal, a strange dream, all can suddenly seem to take on jarring significance. But I can promise you, the Gods don't constantly give out signs, and frequently, these strange occurrences can be attributed to the mundane. When something comes from the Gods, you will know, trust me!

You don't have to worry too much about the idea of cleanliness, be it spiritual or physical. Khernips are cool, and I'd definitely recommend integrating them into your practice sooner or later. Hygiene is cool too! But if I'm being honest, we in the modern day are far more physically clean, and a lot less likely to regularly encounter the type of pollution that would have been encountered in ancient Greece.

The Gods will be at varying distances over the course of your worship. Sometimes, They will feel close, joyfully, burningly so. And sometimes, They will feel far, and prayers may even feel a bit futile. Both of those are perfectly okay, and neither of those will be permanent.

And, once again in a similar vein, you will likely not find yourself having constant, close mystical experiences with the Gods (i.e., conversations, visions, etc.). These experiences are rare and far between, and I would advise that you not make them a central part of your worship. They will come when the Gods deem you're ready for them, and you definitely won't be expecting it. Focus on the little things!

My final thing (for now) is that you also shouldn't put undue pressure on yourself to be doing some sort of big offering to the Gods. If that's what you can afford, that's great! But if not, fresh water, a small wildflower that you came across and picked*, or a small bit of a meal also count as a good offering!

And with that, my (much longer than I was previously planning on) list of things for beginners to keep in mind! A lot of this list is made up of things which I picked up along the way, and a lot of it is also made from my own personal hindsight being 20/20. I hope this is helpful to someone, and that it maybe soothes some of the (incredibly common) worries which so often accompany those who are venturing into the world of Hellenic polytheism!

[usahanahaki]

Love me in Ruin

[Trafalgar Law x Reader]

PROMPT: After being lovers, becoming enemies was easier than becoming strangers.

Synopsis: You're held hostage on your ex's ship, and the past you and he both supposedly buried resurfaces along with the feelings you both harbored.

Author's Note: Oh my god, a decade later and I finally got around to writing my first Trafalgar Law oneshot (might become a fic? idk). I've been so down bad for this man since I was in middle school lmao, and I've always wanted to write a lovers to enemies story for him. Please note that I gave the reader the epithet Titania (the first Law fanfic I ever read did this, and I wanted to pay tribute to that). Lastly, this takes place in Wano, so if you aren't that far yet, some things may not make sense. There are some slight? plot spoilers (but nothing major), just characters that may not be familiar if you're not at Wano yet.

Side Note: Wrote this while listening to the following songs on repeat: Disease by Lady Gaga, Crashing by d4vd (with kali Uchis), and TILT by Irene & Seulgi. If you don't mind listening to music while reading, I recommend putting these three on repeat.

Warnings/Content: toxic!exes, mentions of past betrayal, anxiety, co-dependency, spoonfuls of angst, not necessarily a happy ending?I don't actually know what this is; Law and reader are just doing what toxic exes do best: dancing around each other till one folds. Law and Reader match each other's freak. No smut (yet) just kissing and sensual touches. In terms of citrus scale, I think this is lime? Def not lemon lol

Roaming these halls once more, you were reminded of your place. Nothing but cold grey metal pipes, cold chilling vents, and cold grey doors adorned the walls. Letting your fingers trail the metal pipes lining the submarine, memories of the past of when you first boarded the Polar Tang played like a silent film in the confines of your mind. This is my home too, right Law?

God, reminiscing on the past was such a drug. Indulging in the sentiments and feelings left in those memories was so addictive. You're my home Law. It was hard to leave the mind, when rationally, the only happiness and safety you had left remained in the depths of those fleeting moments. I can't live without you Law. Indulgences after all, were meant to provide relief and temporary asylum from past transgressions. But this is reality, not the past. And in this reality, this very moment, survival is the only means of perhaps rediscovering happiness and safety.

But being back aboard the Polar Tang was anything but relieving. No, not like the past. This was not the home you once found safety and comfort in.

These walls, these floors, and halls closing in are enemy territory.

He knew you were here. He knew where you were. It was only a matter of time before the distance that he and you put between yourselves became zero. The rhythmic click of his heels against the metal floors that reverberated throughout the hall was a sound you were all too familiar with. Yet again, reality was not in alignment with expectations. That familiarity was completely null, and in its place, was the sound of your archenemy slowly approaching. 

You knew all too well that Law wasn't one to let his enemies come anywhere near his family, especially not after Corazon. And that principle once used to apply to you too. But this time, you are not a Heart Pirate. You are not family. Like an ancient curse, the words "you are no longer his family" were mentally and erratically repeated over and over. 

Once a confidant and once an equal, all that remained were past titles of what you and he once were. 

His languid movements, yet firm grasp on Kikouku only reaffirmed what you and he both knew. This was not the reunion either of you ever anticipated having. 

Law did not move from his position, and his face remained hidden in the shadows, but you didn't need the light to know the nuances of his expression. Brows furrowed and cold eyes that did not look upon you with the softness and love you once knew. This was the cold, sharp, and calculated demeanor that the seas and its inhabitants knew of the man that donned the title "Surgeon of Death". A terrifying man rumored to carry life and death in his palms like playthings stood before you.

"Lost already? I thought your time with the navy would have fixed your stupidity, Titania". 

You scoffed. "Rest easy, Surgeon. These halls are engraved in my bones." Your hands remained in your pockets, but the chilling numbness that slowly spread wasn't alone. Digging your nails into your palms proved useless in ceasing the tremors. They were muscle memory—reminders of what would inevitably come.

You spoke again, "Congratulations on defeating Doflamingo, Law. Kaido, sends his regards". Law took a step forward into the light. "If you're gonna tell a lie, you should at least try a little harder to sound more believable." "Oh but he does!", you mused, "After all," your eyes wandered back to the walls, before settling back on him, "he personally sent me to greet you. He knows just how much you miss me." 

The pounding of your heart, seemed louder and louder with each beat. Law smirked, "How kind of him." He continued to move towards you, his grip on Kikouku did not waver, and his eyes remained locked onto you. Standing before you, the time you both spent apart was clear. You were not the same person you were two years ago, and he was not the same man that once held your vulnerabilities with care.

The man that stood before you was the same one that ripped your heart out in exchange for becoming a Warlord.

His free hand slowly made its way to your jawline, fingers grazing your cheek before slowly caressing your face. His eyes roamed freely, carefully analyzing the vision before him, "You haven't changed." Your right hand trailed up Kikouku, then moved to envelop his clenched fist lovingly.

"Are you sure Law?", with your left hand, you swiftly pressed your thumb right under his lips and index below the chin, forcing him to look at you directly, "Why don't you take a closer look then." Your steel resolve was not lost on him; he knew what the consequences were when he made his decision to be a Warlord, and he stood by his decision. At least, that's what you told yourself.

What gears were turning in his head? What did he have planned? What was the purpose of you being aboard his sub? Much to your dismay, there were too many unknowns at play for this little game you and he had going on to continue. Right now, you were a hostage on an enemy ship playing hooky with your ex.

Getting back to Onigashima to report back to Kaido was your top priority at the moment. After all, he had ordered Bao Huang to summon you and the other members of the Tobi Roppo for a special announcement. Yet here you were, not in Onigashima, not with the Tobi Roppo, not present for the special announcement, but stuck with your ex on his ship.

Law sighed, before letting go of your face. "You might have changed Titania, but my feelings for you haven't". You scoffed. "You certainly have a funny way of showing it, Surgeon." "Oh? We're back to Surgeon? I liked hearing my name leave your lips," he leaned in close to your ear, "Maybe I should leave you singing my name again, hm?" 

Countless times under the moon’s piercing glow, Law repeatedly had taken all that you had to give and more. What was even left of you for Trafalgar Law to take? A man who hid his immense need for unholy retribution against a foe like Doflamingo from the rest of the world and to an extent, his own crew, was one that needed to be clinically studied. 

And the papers may have concentrated on the Strawhats' conquests in Dressrosa with brief mentions of Law's contributions here and there, but it didn’t take a genius to guess who was the mastermind methodically moving each piece in place for checkmate. 

Eyes remaining glued to his figure, you gently placing your hands flat above his chest, then let them glide down softly as you recommitted his tattoos and anatomy to memory. "Sorry to disappoint", hands stopping near his stomach, you hooked your index finger around the belt loop closest to his zipper, then pulled him in even closer with your eyes glaring back at him, "but my concerts are no longer exclusive to you, Law".

Oh you had his full attention now.

Law was no longer mentally multitasking between his plans and what to do with you. There was nothing left for him to mull over. He had claimed you many times before, and now? Well, the tally was about to increase once more. Hell, who knows maybe he'd take you over and over again until he got his fill. There were many who dared to wonder what the Surgeon of Death looked like beyond his steel exterior, but only you had managed to see the fragility that lay beneath it all. At least, that's what you had hoped.

Hell if you became privy to what the man's intimate life looked like after your once shared one ended. How revolting. The mere thought of another person engaging in the same intimate acts with him that you and he once shared, was enough to push you over the edge. It's fine, you half-heartedly told yourself. You lay your head gently on his chest, pressing your ear to hear his heart beat. He's alive.

You lifted your index finger, and dragged your nail across his bare skin down his chest, and his breath had run ragged, "You want me Law?"

Tilting your head up, you began to press light kisses into the side of his neck and smiled, "Earn me." 

He was in for it now.

[burningcheese-merchant]

Merchant! Please, rant to us about the mythological inspirations of the BurningCheese!

The fact that I came home and sat down and wrote out a detailed post for this ask... The fact that I did research into Hindu mythology for BurningCheese inspo in the first place... (sidenote: Hinduism is legitimately interesting, I had genuine fun learning about it even outside of cringe shipping bs)

THE FACT THAT THERE'S ACTUAL SHIT TO WORK WITH...

Buckle up, buckaroos lol (I'll put it under a cut in case it turns out really long)

Do note that I am not a religious scholar nor a follower of Hinduism, and I didn't do a suuuuuuuper deep dive. I spent a few hours reading different articles/sources and looking at some paintings and the like. Whatever I say is what I derived from my own personal understanding (and my old notes), which may well be flawed!

Let's start with the obvious.

Burning Spice is directly inspired by Shiva, Hindu god of destruction. Important note: in the actual religion, Shiva is not malevolent; the destruction he brings is considered a necessary part of life and the foundation of cosmic balance. He can be temperamental and violent, yes, but he is by and large a pretty decent guy and performs his duty in the cycle of life and death without complaint (obviously, this is where Spice deviates lol)

His hair is a fucking pitch black jungle. Matted af. Just like Burning Spice's. I just felt like saying that lmao (they both look like shit, Shiva wears animal skins and dead people's ashes and doesn't brush his damn hair. HE WENT TO HIS OWN WEDDING LOOKING LIKE THAT! (Until Parvati told him to please freshen up and he went "yes dear, anything for you <3" and manifested fancy groom attire))

Now let's poke our heads into the rabbit hole.

Parvati is Shiva's wife, whom he adores and is wholly devoted to (and vice versa).

She is revered as a life-giver. A goddess of creation, love, devotion, and... ABUNDANCE.

Parvati has many forms. Her original form is that of a beautiful woman wearing a red sari, with a GOLDEN HEADDRESS/HEADBAND and LOTS OF GOLD JEWELRY AND PRECIOUS STONES, WHICH SHE LOVES.

She's very beloved by pretty much everyone. She's elegant, vivacious, and revered as a doting wife and mother

I'm not finished.

One of Parvati's forms is that of a fierce warrior woman called Durga. She is powerful, confident, and no less beautiful than her original self

She has many arms, and a sacred weapon in each one. One of which is a GOLDEN SPEAR.

Durga is regarded as a goddess of protection, war and destruction - but not the malevolent sort. She fights and destroys the forces of evil, for the sake of others'; the destruction she brings is in the name of protecting and liberating innocents, and empowering creation

One of her epithets is Mahamoha, which means "great delusion" - and in this context, the delusion/ignorance derives from intense desire and attachment

Now, with all of that said, I'm gonna tell you guys a story.

Shiva's first wife was Sati, daughter of Daksha. Though they were madly in love, Daksha despised him and never approved of their relationship

The blood between them was so bad that Daksha declined to invite either of them to the yajna (VERY important ritual sacrifice) he was hosting. Against both social norms and Shiva's advice, Sati showed up anyway, which led to her father cruelly insulting her, her marriage and basically her whole fucking life in front of everybody

In protest of everyone's derision of her and the life she chose to live, she throws herself on the sacrificial fire and thus kills herself (extreme and unnecessary, I know lol). Shiva finds out and LOSES. HIS. SHIT. Shows up, goes on a rampage, hurts a bunch of people, beheads Daksha (whom he revives and pardons eventually)

In his grief, Shiva basically decides to retire from everything and seclude himself in the mountains, denouncing the world and everything in it and refusing to interact with anyone or anything

Sati ends up reincarnating as Parvati. She remembers exactly who she is/was, and made it her mission to return to Shiva's side and rekindle their relationship

Shiva doesn't buy that that's his beloved and rebuffs her. She doesn't give up. She tries over and over again to convince him and win his affection. She endures harsh weather without appropriate clothes, starvation, the faces of her own fears and doubts, endlessly; all while continuously performing acts of religious penance/piety. So unwavering is she in her strength and devotion that Shiva eventually, finally realizes that that really is the woman he loved and lost

They reunite and remarry quickly (and it was a big blowout event, too! Very important, there are even several sculptures depicting it!) and they live happily ever after

And a short summary of their union:

Shiva and Parvati are considered complementary forces; one without the other does not make sense and simply cannot be. Parvati is the warm, life-affirming, creative force that balances Shiva's cold, world-denying, destructive one. She's portrayed as having lured Shiva away from his lonely, ascetic lifestyle and showed him the value of life, love and marriage. They're almost always depicted together in artworks, as they're admired/adored not only for their loving partnership, but for the way they uphold cosmic order together. They are life and death. Attachment and detachment. ABUNDANCE AND DESTRUCTION.

It's commonly stated that Parvati is the outright source of Shiva's power. His shakti (not super sure how to explain what this is, it's not very simple. It's... ultimate cosmic energy, basically). She encourages and energizes him. Without her, he is incomplete

They have two kids :P two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya. (I DID NOT KNOW THIS when I first made up the fankids, I just happened to guess the correct number of kids to give them lol. I thus decided to partially base Pepper Jack on Ganesha and Matar Paneer on Kartikeya, enjoy those links where I explain properly haha (and you can look through their tags to see more abt them if you want))

They also jointly represent harmony between sexes. Shiva is the male aspect, Parvati is the female

They also jointly symbolize love, devotion and sexuality and are said to have a lot of sex (and are also often depicted having sex)

Let me walk you guys through it all one more time. A god who, in his endless rage and grief, chose to forsake the world and all within it, for he believed he had nothing left to value from it...

Who is temperamental, violent, and is not above lashing out at others when he feels wronged... who can and will destroy everything in his path... (You don't need screenshot evidence of this but whatever lol)

Who will lash out at others if they dare to lay their hands on his counterpart, or otherwise keep him away from her...

... And his counterpart, a beautiful, vibrant, benevolent goddess who can take many different forms, including that of an elegant queen adorned with gold and gems, and a great, fearless warrior... (You notice how there's some red in her Soul Jam now? There's that bit of Destruction, used to defend others...)

Who's known and loved for the boundless love and warmth and charity she bestows upon one and all...

Who's known as a creator, a life-giver; who so cherishes the world and what she makes that she allows herself to descend into madness in pursuit of preserving it all... Whose desire and attachment led to ignorance and delusion...

Who, in stubborn defiance of the cruelties she faced, chose to remove herself from them and from the world itself for a time, only to eventually return with her identity and life's purpose still intact, and livelier than ever...

Who takes the form of a hero, a protector of the innocent, a warrior who battles against evil and seeks to vanquish oppression and tyranny...

And together, she and he make up the foundation of the world. The threads with which the great tapestry of the universe is woven. Life and death. Attachment and love for the world, and detachment from and contempt for it. A woman dressed in the finest garments and jewelry, and a man who embodies the unforgiving wilderness in which he sequesters himself.

Abundance and Destruction.

In conclusion: Burning Spice and Golden Cheese are literally Shiva and Parvati, they are husband and wife, they NEED each other and are meant to be together, together they create and maintain the balance of life and the universe, we must all band together and demand that Devsisters release the cutscene that shows their wedding, they are the bride and the ugly ass groom fr fr