#firealder2005

[tsarinatorment]

okay so-

on the discord i was scrolling through past convos in a desperate search for a link that i've seen before, and i came across another one of your and fsinger's aus starring Michael👀

It was like a Kronos Wins/Time-Travels AU where Michael, Thalia, Bianca, Nico, and Hazel are the MCs and I was like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and then when the first main plotpoint was basically Michael going "SAVE MY DAD" my FIRST thought was that one Puss In Boots: The Last Wish scene;

Michael, about Apollo: I will save you!

Every other god, suffering in Tartarus: Save us too!

Michael: ...if it's convenient!

like. gnawing on this au rn. i gnaw on all of your aus. this one and the Lee Lives/Apollo Becomes Mortal/BotL Au are officially my favs (Eclipse at this point is basically canon to me lol)

but yeah. I know this au has a BUNCH of beloved characters die, which would have admittedly upset me like, three years ago, but now?

now i merely eagerly rub my hands as my brain imagines how this scenario goes down eheheehhe

Ah yes, this AU! Not one I've thought about in a while, but still a fun one!

Fun fact, for you if you missed the origin of it, and also for anyone else who might be reading this and hearing about this AU for the first time - this is an AU spinoff of my AU fic Tears Will Not Wash Away Your Crimes, where defeated!Kronos from canon timetravels back to the start of TLT to take Michael out before he could become the threat that saves Olympus (see: my long rants on how by being the one to realise Williamsburg Bridge needed to break, Michael stopped Kronos winning on the first day of the siege). In that fic, he succeeds in making Luke kill Michael, and while the fic never goes on to state it, it does become an alternate timeline where Kronos does, in fact, win (due to various factors such as Luke's betrayal not being discovered because Percy wasn't there to survive being poisoned and reveal that he was the traitor, etc. and also Kronos knowing how the demigods/gods operated and basically having the cheat code of being able to squash anything they try before they try it).

But also I am a perpetual Michael!lives fan, so with the enabling of @fearlessinger, as you mentioned, another AU spawned off of this, whereby when Luke carelessly mentioned Apollo by name, he caught Apollo's attention and the god himself turned up to whisk Michael away to safety. In the end, though, it doesn't stop Kronos from winning, because no-one knows enough to trump what Kronos knows. Hence, Kronos wins!AU.

But then!

There are some key changes that go down because of Kronos' prior knowledge... Change #1: Thalia is not restored by the Golden Fleece. Kronos did this because he wanted her as his host, but he tried that last time and it failed - he won't try again. Change #2: The di Angelos do not leave the Lotus Casino. No Thalia in the running suggests that Hades may not have bothered to pull his own children back into the prophecy race - if he really wanted them to be feasible as prophecy children, he'd have brought them out when Percy was claimed, as that would make Bianca a similar age to Percy and therefore viable as an alternative. Bringing them out a year or two later makes his kids younger than both Thalia and Percy and doesn't actually make sense, unless it was a response to being the only Big Three god with no kids involved... Change #3: Daedalus doesn't die, because Nico isn't around Change #4: All our Greek Hero demigods (and the Hunters) are dead, barring the above, and Michael, who was kept safe on Delos the whole time.

And these changes all line up quite neatly into a ridiculously large plot, based on the following consequences:

Consequence #1: the gods are thrown down into Tartarus Consequence #2: the triumvirate's deal with Kronos for their support involved getting Apollo as their prize so Caligula can still claim the sun god spot and Commodus gets his revenge. Apollo is passed to them, instead of Tartarus Consequence #3: Michael is rather pissed off about all of this

What happens after that, well. Imagine Michael, no longer trapped on Delos because the twins aren't there, making his way to Delphi. Imagine Phoebe initially reclaiming Delphi, before Kronos realises she was never on her side and instead release Python to reclaim it; Michael has enough time to speak with his grandmother, but only very little before he's forced to flee into the Labyrinth to hide.

Imagine Daedalus trying to atone for all the deaths he's caused by keeping this one demigod still alive, hidden in the Labyrinth while Michael tries to work out how the fuck he's supposed to save the gods, but never even considering not doing it ("the gods", of course, meaning "Apollo, mostly").

Imagine Apollo weakened, but still able to make dream contact. Apollo not being able to dissuade Michael from trying to save him. Apollo with nothing left to lose except his one son he can't protect himself, so he gives Michael knowledge, things to help him stay alive.

Knowledge, like how the daughter of Zeus is a tree but isn't dead, can be healed by that golden fleece (Percy, Annabeth and Grover retrieved it still, but the tree was not sick and so it was never hung upon it). Knowledge, like how there are two more Big Three kids trapped in a place where time doesn't move.

(Imagine Apollo chained up and forced to be his own oracle as his divinity is drained away. Imagine a little girl with sickle-rings on her fingers being drawn to him anyway, this captive god of the Beast. Imagine the god that still wants to save a child, if only he had the chance)

Imagine Michael healing Thalia with the fleece, the pair of them fleeing from the remains of camp (the remains of Michael's home) as Kronos realises he's there. Imagine Michael and Thalia edging into a casino that's too bright, too jovial compared to their broken world, and pulling two younger demigods back into the timestream. Imagine lurking in the Labyrinth, in the Underworld and discovering a dead girl who still remembers when she shouldn't.

Imagine these demigods plotting, scheming, desperate, and the power of three children of the Underworld combined, pooling their powers together until they can go anywhere the shadows touch.

Imagine them rescuing a god, and the little girl coaxed along with them.

And when they've got one god back... it's only a matter of time before they get the rest.

(And when Kronos discovers it's Michael, again, that foiled him in the end... Well. Some Fates can't be denied)

[my-name-is-apollo]

I have a headcanon!!!!!

Demeter is responsible for the plant growth, and not the winter weather correct? That goes to Apollo during his vacations to Hyperborea.

SO I PROPOSE-

When Persephone was kidnapped and after the entire situation was settled, Apollo went "fuck it" and did his vacation at the same time Persephone went to the Underworld because they were besties and now he's without his bestie.

Hence winter's no-growth no-warmth rule.

(Also I heard in the Hymn to Demeter she would have approved of Apollo as a suitor for Persephone, which makes me giggle because it would be a case of 'persephone gets a guy friend and mom starts shipping them' lol. Apollo was probably Demeter's favorite nephew or something heh)

But yeah. I WAS STRUCK WITH THE NEED FOR PERSEPHONE AND APOLLO FRIENDSHIP! THEY DESERVE THE WORLD!

As a fellow Apollo - Persephone enjoyer, I love this! 😩🤌you know what's even better, river Eridanos that flows in hyperborea is also called the river of Hades because it is present in the underworld. So imagine Apollo and Persephone occasionally meeting up at the banks of Eridanos during winters for like, a picnic or smth. (And eventually, maybe Hades would also join them?) And maybe sometimes they both come back to the earth together.

[toasecretsanta]

[3/3] From @worlds-oldest-teenager for @firealder2005 using the prompt Freypollo

[jessequinnfirstofhername]

i surprised myself with fanatically making propaganda for Cassian in my reblog. then i reblogged it again with more propaganda.

anyway i, of the asexuals, have already spoken.

here's the second propaganda from the lesbians;

they have spoken! ! ! ! !

Well, well, well. You know a man's a strong contender for 'hottest man' when both the asexuals and the lesbians are backing him.

(Also, I love all the propaganda. Keep it up!)

[burning-thistles-bt]

Welcome to the Official Burning Thistles AU Blog!

What is Burning Thistles? Burning Thistles, or it’s extended/original workshop title, Burning Spotted Thistles, is a warrior cats au where Fireheart--and his siblings--are the kits of Spottedpaw/leaf and Thistleclaw. The idea was originally started by @alollinglaughingcat and then expanded and co-written with @firealder2005 to create the fanfiction Burning Thistles on ArchiveOfOurOwn.

Additionally, here is the Wiki for Burning Thistles (currently unfinished)

CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: PEDOPHILIA, grooming of minors, non-platonic/familial romantic/sexual relationships between minor(s) and adult(s), implied/referenced sexual harassment/assault/non-consensual/rape, lying/cheating, toxic/abusive relationships, family-based manipulation, general manipulation, mental health state deterioration, queerphobia/LGBTQ+phobia, internalized hatred, self-hate (please note that NONE OF THIS is SUPPORTED or intentionally GLORIFIED by us, pedophiliac relationships are WRONG - pro-shippers DNI!)

Information on Us:

@alollinglaughingcat - Call me Lolling! Any pronouns welcome, though she/her is used primarily for me by others. I also created the Genetically Accurate Warrior Cats series, and various other small projects here and there. I fandom hop quite often, so my attention often quickly shifts! My warriors blog is @leafpool-loves-ashfur , my Ao3 user is LollingCat, and my YouTube is LollingCatto!

@firealder2005 - Feel free to call me Alder, much less of a mouthful! I prefer she/her pronouns, and have an additional Warrior cats Time Travel Fix-It series on Ao3. (I also have fanfics for Star Wars and the Trials of Apollo series) My main blog is @firealder2005 , my new-ish warriors sideblog is @firehollyalder and my AO3 is FireAlder2005.

Feel free to send in questions/messages to either of us!

Tags:

#lolling art / #lolling thoughts / #lolling memes / #lolling response / #lolling rb - the content of the post (art, memes, writing, random) was by Lolling

#firealder art / #firealder thoughts / #firealder memes / #alder answer / #firealder rb - the content of the post (art, memes, writing, random) was by FireAlder

#bt memes / #bt charts / #bt polls - the memes, meme-charts and polls of Burning Thistles

#bt fanart / #bt art / #bt references - art for Burning Thistles

#character ask / #asked and answered - posts/art where characters respond to questions from fans, and the ask common tag

#bt what if / #bt mini-shot / #bt snippit / #bt excerpt - posts about how the story could’ve gone, mini one-shots/drabbles, and teasers of chapters

#bt war era / #the countdown / #pack pack kill kill - referring to specific arcs, such as the Dangerous Path book and the dog pack attack

#ft apprentices group / #the apprentices gang - first refers to the Frosted Thistles apprentices (Spottedpaw, Frostpaw, etc.) and second refers to the dog pack era apprentices (Swiftpaw through Bramblepaw)

#ship-attacks - the ship attacks of March 20th, 2023, #ear rip and #berries being the targets and #waterpoppies being mentioned

#featherships / #spottedfrost - the tags for Lolling’s personal favorite ships, the first focusing on Feathercloud’s love life, and the second being between Spottedleaf and Frostfur

#firesand & #sandfire / #copperdawn & #dawncopper / #darkcherry - ship tags for Alder’s favorite BT ships. 1st being Fireheart & Sandstorm, then Copperleaf & Dawncloud, and the last is a ship involving Cherryfur and Darkstripe!

#firefam / #firesiblings / #firefriends - groups that are relating to a) Fireheart’s direct family, b) Fireheart and his siblings, c) Fireheart and his core friend group

#bt songs / #bt ships / #bt animatic / #bt pmv / #bt incorrect quotes / #bt ages / #bt family tree / #bt timeline / #chapter 161 / #pawspeak - miscellaneous organizational tags

#btr / #btr au / #burning thistles reflamed - refers to an AU of BT made by Lolling! A mash-up of “what-if’s” that gets a little angsiter.

One-Shots/Extras - series link

#frosted thistles (Read) / #roaring rivers (Read) / #elder rush (Read) / #hunted lynx (Read) / #ripened cherries (Read - In progress) / #caramel apples (Idea) / #clouded dawn (Idea) / #bitten adder (Rough outline) / #brindled beach (Idea) / #little sparks (Read) / #bubbling bubbles (Idea/Rough outline) / #longing heart (Read)

Character Asks? Currently Closed!

[spell-cleaver]

I made a meme

asdflahskjfhasdklfhksdajh

yeah pretty much

bastards

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

Freypollo? Apricity?

Yes.

@lordofsummergodofrizz hi it's me, FireAlder, and here's that fic I made haha!

[leafpool-loves-ashfur]

they've been rattling around in my head idk

lightningggsss

Lightning Tail is owned by Erin Hunters' obvs, design inspired by thedoodlefox on Twitter. i never finished DoTC but i remember he got like upset @ Thunder for hanging out w/ Star Flower instead of him and also he died. tragic

Lightningtail is owned by the lovely lovely @fallenclan !! she is my Favorite. i hope she Does Nothing Ever. can't name a single one of her kids <3 slay queen slay. or don't idc

Lightningfur is a version of the canon warrior cat Luna (Firestar's sister. no not that one another one) in the Burning Thistles AU by me and @firealder2005 (@burning-thistles-bt). she's so evil you go girl murder all of your familial relatives in a fit of blind bloodlust and rage

Lightningcry is a Clangen oc from my clan FretClan, where i just fuck around. see some info here, but she led another apprentice into a trap on patrol and fucking. killed them, and stole their gender. like what. why'd you do that. just be trans you didnt have to kill the only other genderqueer apprentice wtf. has so far refrained from being evil otherwise

[newobsessioneveryweek]

Comic for @firealder2005 / @apollosgiftofprophecy based on their amazing fic The Secrets That Bind Us (seriously, please go read it, its so good!!)

Y'all, I have never made a comic before (that I can remember at least) so please be nice to me. I know this one isn't that great🙈

Bonus!

Here are the Hermes/Apollo sketches I did before making this

(Someone get Hermes a keg of Red Bull)

[hazardous-lightdas12]

i keep forgetting that i have this account. made this for @firealder2005. Am very excited for your project <333

[my-name-is-apollo]

Hello 👀

Do you have any thoughts on Phoebe and Koios? I love that side of Apollo's family and was wondering 👀

I have never thought much about them because well, there's barely anything about them in the myths but now I do have some thoughts!

So Koios means "query" apparently (according to theoi.com), and add it to the fact that Phoebe is very knowledgeable due to her prophetic powers. Imagine Koios having all sorts of fun and interesting questions for her and Phoebe loves nothing more than answering them and seeing satisfaction spread on Koios' face and that's how they fall in love. They both would be the nerdy couple of the Titans' generation lol. And if course Phoebe would definitely be heartbroken when Koios was banished to Tartarus. But there are versions where Zeus released some Titans, including Koios, so maybe it isn't that much of a tragic tale for them after all.

Theoi.com also says Koios possibly was the Titan of the north pillar of the world. There are no sources cited for this but hey, it can make way for some fun headcanons because you know what lays beyond the north? Hyperborea, which Apollo regularly visited! So did Artemis and Leto occasionally. The twins can have a little chit chat with their gramps before flying off to Hyperborea, as a treat <3 and Phoebe absolutely loves and dotes on her grandkids!! my hc is that Leto named her unborn children Phoebus and Phoebe after her mother (don't ask how she knew the gender-) it's very fitting especially if you consider the version where Phoebe gifts the oracle of Delphi to little Apollo 🥺

It's also very interesting that both the Titans are associated with knowledge, and all of that passed on to Apollo clearly. I had read in a paper a while back where the author wrote how Koios represented the knowledge of the sky while Phoebe represented the knowledge of the earth, and Apollo inherited the knowledge coming from both the sources. This may not have solid evidence in the myths, but I like to think that Apollo inherited qualities from both his grandparents. The prophetic ability from Phoebe and his inquisitive nature from Koios (hence why he is multi-talented, he always seeks to learn something new). Apollo would also be outwardly more affectionate towards his grandparents than Artemis haha they don't have a favorite twin but they definitely enjoy Apollo's company more because they have a lot in common with him.

[toasecretsanta]

(2 of 2 fics)

MERRY CHRISTMAS PART 2! :D

Another fic [by @firealder2005] based off of the prompt list by @literallyjusttoa :3 This one is Apollo/Admetus, be it in older times or the modern day!

I will have this posted on Ao3 once the submission is up! :D

Warnings: I have this rated Teen & Up. Only warning is Apollo being rather depressed.

Also fluff alert! :3 This is Admetus/Apollo we’re talking about haha

ENJOY!

Nothing Else To Give But Love…

A soft nose grazed his hand. He shifted and absently began stroking the poofy wool on top of the sheep’s head.

Apollo hummed as the sheep’s baa echoed through the sleepy, spring-green field. Despite the mild warmth, he shivered, one hand nearly strangling the cords wrapped around his hand, the rest of the twine cinched about his waist.

The field was quiet. Simple. Nothing like Olympus had been during, or even before…before…

Before it had happened…

His son’s young face, blue eyes wide and startled as a clap of thunder rolled through the sky and electricity shattered the world around them leaving —

Apollo took in a shuddering breath and squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back the tears welling in them.

Oh, Asclepius… He inwardly whispered. I’m so, so sorry, my sweet, sweet son.

He hadn’t deserved such a wonderful child — frankly, all of his children were marvelous and he couldn’t fathom what he’d done to deserve such bright kids. Apollo didn’t deserve them. He didn’t deserve Asclepius — hadn’t deserved him…

Apollo’s grasp on the cord loosened, letting the rough cords fall from his fingers. He raked a hand through his hair, the locks empty without the laurel wreath usually nestled in them. He hadn’t been casted down to Earth with it the first time, and it was no different now.

He shamefully missed the weight of the crown in his hair. The guilt he made himself carry day in and out. Never letting himself forget her.

Her. Another person he hadn’t deserved…

Did he deserve anything? He, the most glorious of gods…but now nothing more than a mere servant. A shepherd. 

(Not that there was anything wrong with shepherds, mind you. He was the god of them, and had dated a few. Branchus had been a beloved lover, and the person who made Miletus one of Apollo’s favorite cities.)

And what made it worse…he was here because of his own actions. His father’s enraged expression was still fresh in his mind, though the memories were tinted red by his own fiery, destructive fury.

Actions have consequences, my son, Zeus’s voice winded its way through his head. Even you are not above the law.

So here Apollo was. Laying in a field, dressed like a servant. Deprived of even more divinity than he’d had the first time he’d been casted down to Earth to work for Laomedon (the name made him shudder). He thought he felt mortal during his time in Ilion — or Troy, as it was now called. For the first time, his hands had ached. He experienced fatigue and thirst.

Last time was nothing compared to now. By the end of the day, he was exhausted. It was harder to access his divine power to keep himself awake at night, even if dear Admetus attempted to get him to go to sleep, insisting it was natural to need rest after a long day.

But he couldn’t — Apollo didn’t need to rest. He was a god, he could go centuries without rest.

It was only temporary, after all.

(He ignored the yawn that tugged at his lips. The heaviness of his eyes.)

(Temporary. All temporary.)

Footsteps made his head turn. Apollo subconsciously brought a hand up to his hair and played with a strand as he caught sight of Admetus coming closer. Handsome face, dark, soulful eyes and equally dark hair. Stubble grew on his perfect jaw.

Apollo felt his heart flutter when the king softly smiled at him.

He straightened when Admetus slid down beside him, patting the sheep lazing on his other side on the head as he looped an arm around Apollo. The god leaned against him and rested his head on his shoulder, humming happily when Admetus placed a kiss on his hair.

“Slow day?” the king murmured against his hair.

Apollo shrugged, fighting back a yawn. “Pretty much. I think the wolves and bears have decided to go elsewhere.”

“They bow before their lord,” Admetus grinned. Apollo giggled into his shoulder. “As they should.”

The god chuckled again, though a slight sigh shivered through his body. “Not now, though,” he murmured. “I’m not their lord now.”

Admetus stroked his hair. Apollo could almost imagine the concerned tilt of his head, the slightly raised right eyebrow as he looked at him.

The king hummed, resting his head on Apollo’s. “They seem to think so,” he softly observed. “They still listen and obey you.”

Apollo shuffled his legs and buried his face further into Admetus’s robes. A hand ran through his hair again, gently working at small knots, before it was removed and Admetus shuffled around himself.

Peering up, Apollo blinked as the king slid off his light cloak, shook it out, then swung it around Apollo’s shoulders and gently fastened the clasp. Apollo raised his hands to Admetus’s, protesting; “You don’t have too—”

“I insist.”

“Really, I’m fine.”

Admetus kissed his forehead and pulled Apollo into a warm, firm hug. The god gratefully sank into it, eyelids fluttering as sleep tugged on his consciousness. He squeezed his eyes shut and mentally shook himself awake. No sleeping, he ordered himself. Especially not when a handsome king is hugging you!

“You have a lot on your mind,” Admetus murmured. “Don’t you?”

Apollo sighed. “Yes,” he admitted. “I do.”

Admetus stroked the back of his neck, which felt really nice. “Anything I can do to help lighten your load?”

The god softly laughed and rubbed at his heavy eyes. “I don’t know,” he said, pulling away slightly and looping his arms around the king’s neck. Their noses brushed against each other. “Not now, anyway.”

The king cupped his cheek and rested his forehead against Apollo’s. Apollo hummed with contentment at the gesture.

“I have something for you,” Admetus bashfully whispered. Apollo stroked the stubble on the king’s chin and blinked slowly at him, a small smile pulling on his lips at Admetus’s flustered expression.

Admetus reached into his exposed robes and withdrew a circlet.

The first thing that caught Apollo’s attention was the color. A thick, lush green. Shining in the soft, sleepy sunlight.

Bay laurels.

A laurel wreath.

Hesitantly, Apollo allowed his fingers to brush over the delicate leaves before withdrawing. “I…I can’t. I’m not —”

“A prince?” Admetus quietly supplied. He used his free hand to gently pull Apollo to his feet, adjusting the cloak around him, before placing the wreath in his long, unfurled hair, fingers tracing the skin of his cheek.

“Admetus —”

“Keep them on, my prince,” Admetus whispered, placing a light, loving kiss to Apollo’s forehead. “You’re just as royal as I am.”

Apollo gazed up at him, blinking rapidly as his blue eyes got suspiciously wet. He didn’t deserve this gift, especially from Admetus. He wasn’t worthy of it, of a crown made from the leaves of a woman as great as she had been.

But…Admetus seemed to think he did. A corner of his lips curved into a shy smile. Oh, Admetus… he wistfully thought. You somehow see something good in me.

Before he could stop himself, Apollo surged up and kissed Admetus on the lips. His hands trailed up into the king’s dark hair as Admetus drew him close. Apollo felt his heavy eyes flutter shut, relying on his other senses to navigate the wonderful kiss —

Before he blinked back into awareness, staring bewilderedly into Admetus’s perplexed eyes.

“Um. Hi,” he squeaked. Admetus had caught him in a dip, holding him over the ground below them. Apollo had to admit, it felt quite nice. Though how did he end up in this lovely position?

“Hi,” Admetus chuckled. “You…passed out there, for a moment.”

Apollo felt his face burn. Oh dear, sweet Ouranos…how embarrassing. Did he really just pass out while kissing? His breath stuttered as he avoided meeting the king’s mirthful eyes.

“Did I steal too much air?” Admetus grinned. “Or did you just fall for me?”

Apollo slapped his chest and burst into laughter. “That was so bad,” he snorted, smiling brightly from ear to ear.

“I know,” Admetus’s grin was still beaming. “But it’s worth it to see you smile.”

Apollo bashfully ducked his head, laughing once more when Admetus scooped him into his arms and grin brightly.

“Now, however,” Admetus began. “You should rest. You’ve barely been sleeping.”

Apollo looped his hands around his neck and laid his head on Admetus’s shoulder. “I’m fine,” he murmured, eyes fluttering. He snapped himself awake. “I’m a god, Admetus. I don’t need sleep.”

Admetus hummed in disagreement, beginning to walk back to Pherae’s palace with Apollo still nestled comfortably in his arms. “But you’re deprived of much more divinity this time,” he wisely pointed out. “And that means, you do need sleep.” The king paused and rested his forehead against Apollo’s, adding quietly; “I would never make you do something you don’t want to, but please,” he implored. “Go to sleep. You need it.”

The god huffed before sheepishly smiling. “What about the flocks?”

“I have a feeling they’ll be fine,” Admetus assured him with a grin. “The message that the god of flocks is protecting this place should have gotten around by now.”

They both shared a light chuckle before Admetus softly kissed Apollo. He leaned into the feeling, feeling a soft thrill of contentment ripple through his being, before murmuring; “Alright. But only if you join me.”

Admetus softly laughed. “If that is what you wish, my prince.”

----------

Admetus glanced at where Apollo laid sprawled beside him beneath the covers. The blanket had slipped off him, and Admetus carefully pulled it back up, brushing Apollo’s golden hair out of his face as he did.

Finally, he was getting some rest.

Apollo was a stubborn god, and seemed convinced he didn’t need the necessities mortals did — food, water, sleep — and Admetus had used every trick in the book to get him to pay attention to the very human needs he now had.

Well. Almost every trick.

He absolutely refused to use the control Zeus gave him over Apollo. Absolutely not. It horrified him that the wise and just king of the gods he’d spent his life honoring would just give a complete stranger the ability to manipulate his own son any way they liked.

Admetus had always carefully crafted his words to leave Apollo the opportunity to refuse an order if he so chose — a loophole, if you will. Ironically, he never did except for when Admetus wanted him to listen, like actually sleeping instead of making cheese in the dead of the night.

Sighing fondly, he gently ran his fingers through Apollo’s hair, mindful of the laurels now nestled in them. It felt like the soft silk that came from the East.

It scared him, sometimes. This temporary bond between them. Admetus found himself second-guessing his words before speaking, fretting over the possibility of accidentally using it against Apollo…

He had no desire to force this beautiful being into anything — especially since they became lovers.

Admetus wasn’t a fool. He was very well-aware of the power dynamic between them, and did his damndest to even the field as much as possible. He had never used the control he had against Apollo, and he never would.

And for that matter, why should he? Yes, Apollo was technically in his service and therefore legally and divinely bound to obey him, but he was his own person too. He had his own personality and quirks.

Like making cheese in the dead of the night, Admetus bit back a chuff at the memory, a smile stretching across his face as he tucked his chin over Apollo’s hair. He remembered that moment well. Apollo with jugs of fresh sheep milk, carefully taking the curdled bits and brining them, letting the cheese soak in the liquid.

His face had been pinched, a slight frown on his lips, but his movements had been precise and smooth, as if he’d been making cheese his whole life.

And well. Considering Apollo was the father of Aristaeus, Admetus could believe that.

Apollo had sheepishly admitted to not being able to sleep that night, smile strained as thunder rolled outside, lightning and a simple beeswax candle their only source of light in the darkness. Instead of urging his beloved back to bed, Admetus had dropped down beside him and gently unpinned his hair, letting the frayed, golden locks free and began to braid them.

They had sat there the rest of the night, in quiet, comfortable silence, though it was occasionally interrupted by a thunderclap or flash of lightning. Apollo flinched a few times at these, prompting Admetus to twine their hands together once he finished the Athenian hairstyle.

In response, the divine herdsman glanced at him, a soft smile lighting up his beautiful features, before it curved into a mischievous look.

“What are you—?”

Apollo looped his arms around his neck and slid onto his lap, eyes sparkling with mirth. “Care for a bite?” He impishly asked, freeing one hand to scoop up a platter of freshly-made cheese.

Admetus raised a brow, lips twitching, as he asked; “Did you slip something in it?”

Apollo scoffed. “Of course not,” he placed his unoccupied hand to his chest, as if offended. “Only the finest of cheese for my favorite king.”

“And only the finest of the gods could ever make it,” Admetus teased, accepting the offered cheese platter, only to pause when Apollo clucked his tongue and nimbly plucked a piece up himself.

“Allow me,” his smile softened from teasing to genuine. “Least I can do for your kindness.”

Admetus chuckled awkwardly. “It’s nothing,” he shook his head. “I do think this world could use a little more kindness.”

Apollo hummed. “I suppose you’re right,” he softly said, offering his hand with the cheese out. “Taste?”

Admetus didn’t break eye contact as he ate the cheese from Apollo’s fingers, cupping the god’s hand as he did. The tangy, rich flavor bathed his tongue and he licked his lips.

“Delicious,” the king proclaimed, snagging another off the platter. “You truly make the best cheese I’ve ever tasted.”

Apollo laughed as he ate a bite of cheese himself. “Ah, then you truly have yet to live,” his eyes danced in the darkness. “Remind me to get you some of Aristaeus’s — he is the true master of cheese-making.”

Admetus smiled and kissed Apollo’s cheek, comfortably wrapping his arms around his waist. “I shall await this marvelous cheese,” he whispered against his beloved’s ear. “But for now, I’m very much content with yours.”

Apollo’s bashful duck of the head sent flutters of warmth through him.

Sighing fondly at the memory, Admetus nosed into Apollo’s warm body beside him, breathing in the scent of laurels, glancing momentarily at the wreath still laying in Apollo’s hair. It sat crookedly, the leaves unused to being crushed under the head of a human.

Delicately, Admetus adjusted the wreath until it sat mostly straight, though there wasn’t much he could do about the crumpled leaves. Some golden strands had fallen back into Apollo’s closed eyes.

Even without a crown, he silently thought to himself as he brushed those strands away. He’ll always be royal to me.

 —

My ramblings on ancient greek CHEESE can be found on Ao3 :3

[jessequinnfirstofhername]

my beloved dinluke 🫡

now I shall support the sister ship of hanleia 🫡

(fun fact, I’ve shipped dinluke for as long as I’ve been a Star Wars fan :3 watched the mandalorian after the og and prequels and fell immediately into the ship hehe I’m not as active in the fandom anymore but if I come across a fanfic that I’m interested in I’ll read it :3)

The good ship Dinluke has gone down, but its sister ship is still floating and will be glad of the reinforcements. 🫡

My first Star Wars OTP was Kylux. Even now, in my Anakin era, I still have a soft spot for those trash boys.

[burning-thistles-bt]

[zenoflee]

"Nah, I'd win." -Lightningfur planning to kill Leopardfur

BURNING THISTLES FANART!!!

My 1st fanart of

Burning Thistles, a Warriors AU

By FireAlder2005, LollingCat

Theire Tumblr= @burning-thistles-bt

Lightningfur is the daughter of Spottedleaf and Thistlestar, as well as siblings with Firestar, for those who never heard of Burning Thistles, go check it out! The writing is so good, its almost in 3 dimension

Yah, ive been thinking about making this fanart for almost a year now, just finnaly made it, Thought I wanted to make it in a mini comic with Thistlestar but i can barely draw a full body cat lol.

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

slowly slides in

drops fic

slinks out

Enjoy 😈