#hermes loo

[mingot-studios]

Bloom in The Dark/Legends of Olympus: Young Gods' ages

(note: due to Olympians aging much slower than humans in this universe, they are still much older than any mortal while still being children mentally and physically.)

Hermes: 18-19

Artemis & Apollo: 16-17

Persephone: 13-14

Eros: 9-10 (though he acts much younger due to Aphrodite spoiling him)

Hebe: 6-7 (though she is a child prodigy)

(Yes, i took some artistic liberties regarding some of their ages, but it was mostly done because 1). I was just basing their ages on vibes, and 2). since BiTD and LoO are meant to be comedic reimaginings of Greek Mythology [for the most part], I thought this would make for better character dynamics and chemistry between them.)

[marvelimaginesyesplease]

Hermes X Reader

You sniffled, nose crinkling as you stared up at the large building. Bushy ferns and large, stone pillars speckled with gold stood before you. Any other day, you might have found it beautiful, stunning even, but today it left your chest tight, a pit sinking into the very depths of your stomach.

“Nervous?”

You turned, startled. You hadn’t even heard anyone come up beside you. Some hero you’d been.

“Uh-” You paused as you took in the man standing to your right. He was handsome, with sharp almost elfish features and a mop of dark hair. His blue eyes seemed to shift in the morning sun, almost as if he were planning something mischievous.

He smiled, wolfish canines exposed as he tilted his head towards you. “Hermes,” He offered his hand, the other coming up to rest casually on his hip.

Of course, you thought to yourself as your eyes flicked over his robed figure. He seemed so casual despite the way the off white cloth draped across his shoulders. It stopped at the tops of his bronzed thighs, wrapped perfectly around his lean figure, and your eyes widened ever so slightly at the brown leather sandals that adorned his feet. Feathered wings sprouted from his heels, and they shifted and flexed slightly, moving as if they had minds of their own.

“Nice feet,” You offered lightly, almost as if you were mesmerized.

A warm chuckle escaped him. You were cute.

“Thanks!” He chirped, reaching down to take your hand in his own. He shook it lightly, and you flushed as you realized you’d completely ignored a God’s greeting. “Don’t mind the formal attire, it’s not very often people are indicted into the Hero’s Hall of Fame anymore. Casual dress felt too…blah, for such an occasion.” He winked as he spoke, and you couldn’t help the grin that threatened to escape you.

“Hero’s hall of fame…” The words escaped you slowly as you turned your gaze from him, staring up at the building once again. Hero. Had you been a hero? You must have been. But you’d been in battle, sword drawn-

So you’d died.

Oh.

Hermes must have seen the way your expression shifted, because suddenly his warm fingers were gently pressing against your arm.

“I’m the one who fetched you,” He offered quietly. His voice was oddly comforting. You supposed that made sense, since he delivered souls. “You were quite the warrior. Rather ferocious. Ares would have been proud.”

The compliment might have meant something to you if you hadn’t been going over the life you’d left behind, the people you had been trying to save.

“They won because of your sacrifice,” Hermes spoke again, and your gaze shifted from the columns before you to his own swirling, blue irises. They were mesmerizing and entirely in-human. “I was there. I waited for you.”

You felt the way your brows drew together, the thin line of your lips as you pursed them, how your fingers flexed at your sides. He was trying to be nice, but that was easy for someone who couldn’t die. He never had to face his own death.

“Well,” You started. You sounded dry, lack lustre. “Thanks I guess.”

Hermes studied you for a moment before he began to laugh. It sounded like wind chimes-soft and musical. It was beautiful. Your expression softened.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever come across a mortal who was so unimpressed,” He managed through his laughter, casting his gaze back to you. Were all of the gods this laidback? They must not have been. You couldn’t imagine Ares being this kind. Or maybe he would be, since you’d died a warrior.

“It’s refreshing,” He finished, before offering his arm to you. “Are you ready to meet the council? Hear about your great victory and where you’ll be enjoying the rest of your immortal existence?”

You stared down at his muscular arm, shoulders warm as the sun glared down at the two of you. Your immortal existence…so very different than the life you’d lead down below. Or was it above? Where even were you? Olympus? The underworld? You weren’t entirely sure.

“I…suppose so,” You spoke slowly, gingerly looping your arm through his own. You’d never touched a god before, and you marveled at the way his skin seemed to crackle with electricity against your own, almost as if there were a live wire held beneath the surface, like his body was barely containing the energy force that was Hermes. It felt electric, exciting.

You looked up at him, memorizing the way his eyes crinkled and the sharp curves of his cupid’s bow. You understood why mortals fell for god’s: they were beautiful. He reminded you of the man you’d fallen for on earth. He’d been calculated, brave, giving…and the knowing look behind his eyes, the warmth he seemed to emanate was incredibly reminiscent of Hermes’ energy right in this moment. You could only hope he’d lived, that maybe one day you’d see him again.

“I’m ready,” You finally spoke. “Lead the way.”

Hermes nodded, before he began to ascend the steps to his family’s throne room, ensuring you were tucked securely against his side. He could barely admit it to himself, but his heart was thrumming against his ribs, body itching to explode due to your proximity. You looked nothing like you had when you’d been on the mortal plane last-and he was thankful for it.

Do not fall in love with humans, his sister had warned him. They’re fragile beings. They die. And it will only break your heart.

I won’t! He’d laughed.

I would never, he’d tried to convince himself as he’d delivered letters between armies.

I can’t, he’d said again when you were the one who’d been waiting this time instead of the abrasive man who usually met him.

I couldn’t, he’d said again when he’d witnessed how kind you were.

I can’t be, he’d tried to convince himself when he noticed how often he found himself hiding amongst mortals, kept close to your side.

I am, he’d finally confessed, when he’d found himself tangled in your bedsheets, naked limbs intertwined with your own as you’d slept.

He’d looked a little different then, careful to keep his identity hidden. He wasn’t supposed to get involved in mortal affairs, especially ones that could impact wars, change their history, rewrite their future. He wasn’t his father; he didn’t have that sort of power. He’d had to keep it to himself, disappear to attend to his immortal duties, reappear when it wouldn’t look suspicious to you or your comrades, try not to let himself get too distracted as he’d fucked himself into you, completely lost to himself as you’d cried out in his arms.

Even now, he wanted you.

And when he’d seen you collapse in battle, silent as you died, he’d nearly wept. The wail that had escaped him-he almost lost himself. He’d slaughtered men to get to you, sent the Titan’s creations to his uncle’s domain without thinking about the implications, the trouble he’d cause. He was meant to deliver souls, not destroy them. But he’d loved you. Foolishly, recklessly, adored you.

A hero, Zeus had bellowed. Hermes remained stoic, expressionless as your soul lay in his arms. Bring her to Olympus for her trial. She will be celebrated before she is sent to Elysium.

Elysium.

Where Hermes could not go.

Where Hermes could not see you freely.

Where Hermes could not touch you.

Where Hermes could not openly love you.

A sharp pain rippled across his rib cage as you began to ascend the steps. Images of you beneath him, wide eyes meeting his, lips parted as he braced himself above you, praising you as you took him danced across his mind. The way you’d arched your back, head tossed back as you’d cried out his name, nails raking across his skin.

“I love you,” He’d breathed into your mouth, pupils blown wide as he watched you.

You’d cried out, voice soft as you met his gaze. “I love you.”

Hermes wanted you now. He wanted you in every way for as long as he could have you. He wanted to be selfish too, to steal you, to hide your soul from prying eyes and keep you to himself.

But he continued to ascend the steps, arm linked through your own.

He’d find a way, he swore to himself, watching you from the corner of his eye. He had to.

[olympianchampions]

Welcome to Camp-Halfblood!

Chiron: It is a pleasure to have you here, child. I'm glad you got to Camp in one piece! You can go get settled in the Hermes cabin while you wait to get claimed, someone will show you around soon. Just follow Hermes cabin counselor, Elias Mercer.

How do you say? You've already been claimed? Well, that's wonderful. By who? Was it Zeus? Got already 4 of em! I'll call over cabin 1 counselor Shawn Martin, he's nice, you'll get along-

Oh? You said Poseidon? Well, I'm pretty sure you can find one of the two Donnelly twins, Elizabeth or Aaron by the shore. But counselor is technically Liz.

Oh, no Demeter. Got it. Yes, I'm sure Harper Brooks will be able to help you settle in.

Sorry, I am not in myself today. Did you say Ares or Athena? Either way, you'll find respectively Eleanor Grant and Atticus Brown should be in the fighting range.

Oh, you meant Apollo! Yeah, Ashton Ray is probably by the Bonfire with that dam guitar.

Hephaestus? Just go over to the furnace then, you'll find your way easily. Flint Pierce is always there.

Sure, Aphrodite! I should've guessed immediately, kid. Yeah, Dove Aphroditis, I don't know where she is right now, but we can go loo-

Okay, I'm wrong again, aren't I? It's been a very stressful day. Mr D is gone... wait, is it him? Well, normally he handles his kids himself, but I could go look for Romeo Amadeus... Not him either?

Are you a kid of Hades? Wow, wouldn't have thought so. There are only 3 right now. Your eldest brother Ajax Carter is usually just in the cabin.

Oooh, Iris? Okay, well, Nova Rodriguez is actually in the Big House right now so let's just-

No? Wow, I'm getting real bad at this. Hypnos maybe? I'm sure Selene Patel simply fell asleep somewhere.

Well, if it's Nemesis or Nike, respectively Damian Storm and Mei-Ling Wu are basically inseparable. They might be training in the swordfight range.

Oh, you meant Hebe all along? Well, Grace Wells... I don't know where she is let's... Oh- wrong again, well.

Well, only got two left but well if it's Tyche, you'll find Zara Ali hanging around our Oracle's cabin on the hill. Her and Rachel are pretty close. While if it's Hecate, Luna Martino is most probably just in their cabin.

Well, at least you know where to look now, whoever it is. Good luck, new demigod. I'll go try contacting Mr D again.

[ertois]

💛 YELLOW HEART — how many languages does your oc speak? what language(s) are they learning, if any? 💚 GREEN HEART — does your oc prefer being inside or outside?

💛 YELLOW HEART — how many languages does your oc speak? what language(s) are they learning, if any?

houve um tempo em que gabriel falava todos os idiomas. hermes possui uma marca patenteada de chiclete, o blá-blá-loo, e cada sabor diferente pinta a língua das cores de um certo país, conferindo ao semideus a capacidade de falar fluentemente seu idioma oficial enquanto o estiver mascando. mas sem o chiclete, ele sabe inglês, espanhol, francês e está tentando aprender russo.

💚 GREEN HEART — does your oc prefer being inside or outside?

fora. ele realmente mal pode esperar pra ter permissão de sair do acampamento, fez até planos de viagens com alguns amigos campistas.

[res1dentemo]

isn't hermes like

the og twink

idk i like to think hermes as the og twink

(art by van Loo, oil on canvas, 1751)

[rotterdamvanalles]

Het Atlantic Huis aan het Westplein (scheepvaartkwatier)

Het Atlantic Huis is een bedrijfsverzamelgebouw in het Scheepvaartkwartier in Rotterdam, tegenover de Veerhaven. Het is een rijksmonument.

Het Atlantic Huis werd gebouwd in de periode 1928-1930 in art-decostijl. Het werd ontworpen door architect P.G. Buskens. Het gebouw is bijzonder omdat het een van de eerste bedrijfsverzamelgebouwen in Nederland is en omdat het als een van de eerste gebouwen voorzien was van een parkeergarage. Het gebouw heeft een betonnen skelet en is bekleed met baksteen en betonnen lijsten. Bij de entree van het Atlantic huis staan aan de gevel twee beelden van Willem Coenraad Brouwer. Ze verbeelden Hermes, de god van de handel, en Neptunus, de god van de zee.

Het Atlantic Huis is niet meer in gebruik als bedrijfsverzamelgebouw. Op de begane grond is onder andere het bekende grand-café Loos gevestigd. Op de 1e t/m 6e verdieping bevinden zich luxe woonappartementen (koop) en vier kantoren (verhuur).

Informatie komt van Wikipedia

[replicahermesbirkin]

Our high-quality imitation Hermes handbags are an affordable way to indulge in luxury. Shop now at Replicahermesbirkin.com. Upgrade your look now.

[stmaryslibraryios]

Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach

Our two most recent reads were ‘Tulip Fever’ by Deborah Moggach and ‘The Mermaid & Mr Hancock’ by Imogen Hermes Gowar when we were transported back to the 17th & 18th centuries respectively.

In Amsterdam, fortunes were being made by speculating on the price of bulbs and it is in this febrile atmosphere that we meet Sophia who has married a much older, wealthy merchant. Cornelius is very much in love with his wife and commissions a portrait of her with the young artist Jan Van Loos. Very quickly Sophia and Jan begin a passionate affair which leads them both into dangerous territory.

The author uses clever devices to engage the reader. Throughout the book, she has included photos of contemporary paintings which evoke the atmosphere of 17th century homes – very sombre but with faces and costumes lit with subtle shafts of light. Studying them does give the reader the sense of a moment captured and frozen for eternity which is a recurring theme in the book.

Our group agreed that there was an inevitability about the outcome but not everyone had anticipated the actual ending.  Another comment was that some of the narrative was irrelevant to the main story but the drama was relieved by one moment of humour thanks to the unreliable and drunk Gerrit, Jan’s servant. There was agreement that the book may have been written with a view to being adapted for film. This did happen in 2018 but I felt, as I often do, that the book was far more interesting than the film.

review by U3A

[seaofwine]

art honoring Hermes

here's the third set in the series i'm doing on art honoring the gods as i finish my art history degree; Apollon and Artemis can be found under these links. here are my favorite pieces honoring Hermes :>

Disclaimer: Most artists throughout the neoclassical period (in particular, but not limited to) used Hermes/Mercury interchangeably for a myriad of cultural and religious reasons. I do understand that Hermes and Mercury are syncretized deities with very different aspects in Greek and Roman society respectively.

In order: 1) Souls on the Banks of the Acheron by Adolph Hiremy-Hirschl, 1898, Belvedere Palace, Vienna. 2) Detail from Palazzo Clerici Ceiling Fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1740, Milan. 3) Hermes (Engraving) by William Blake Richmond, 1866, University of Toronto Library. 4) Mercury Attaching his Wings by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, c. 1744, on display in the Louvre, Paris. 5) Hermes by Jules Alexis Coulan, 1914, Grand Central Station. 6) Elevation of the Great Elector to Olympus by Charles-Amedee-Philippe van Loo, 1751, City Palace, Potsdam, Germany. 7) Detail from Mercury Exhorting Aeneas to Leave Carthage by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1757, Palazzina di Caccia, Stupinigi. 8) Mercury and Psyche by Reinhold, 1857, Staatliche Museum, Berlin.

[paganimagevault]

Statues of Mount Nemrut 62 BCE. The bottom picture is an artistic representation of what the monuments would look like restored. Left to right: Apollo, Tyche (fertility Goddess of the Commagene's), Zeus, Antiochus I Theos, and Herakles. The other images are the statues in their current state. The monuments were ordered constructed by Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, who was half Greek half Iranian. There are more images and descriptions on my blog, link at bottom.

"A large inscription is carved into the back of the colossal statues at the East- and West-Terrace. At the back of the Zeus statue, you can read the letters N O M O [ (Nomos). Here, the Holy Law of Antiochos begins. The Nomos of the Nemrud can be regarded as the testament of Antiochos.

...

The Great King Antiochos, the God, the Righteous One, the Manifest (Deity), the Friend of the Romans and the Greeks, the Son of King Mithridates Kallinikos and of Laodike the Brother-loving Goddess, the Daughter of King Antiochos Epiphanes, the Mother-loving, the Victorious, has recorded for all time, on consecrated pedestals with inviolable letters the deeds of his clemency.

I have come to believe that, for mankind, of all good things piety is both the most secure possession and also the sweetest enjoyment. This judgment became, for me, the cause of fortunate power and its blessed use; and during my whole life I have appeared to all men as one who thought holiness the most secure guardian and the unrivaled delight of my reign (or kingdom). By this means I have, contrary to all expectations, escaped great perils, have easily become master of hopeless situations, and in a blessed way have attained to the fullness of a long life. After taking over my father’s dominion, I announced, in the piety of my thought, that the kingdom subject to my throne should be the common dwelling place of all the Gods, in that by means of every kind of art I decorated the representations of their form, as the ancient lore of Persians and of Greeks–the fortunate roots of my ancestry–had handed them down (to us), and honoured them with sacrifices and festivals, as was the primitive rule and the common custom of all mankind; in addition my own just consideration has further devised still other and especially brilliant honors. And as I have taken forethought to lay the foundation of this sacred tomb, which is to be indestructible by the ravages of time, in closest proximity to the heavenly throne, wherein the fortunately preserved outer form of my person, preserved to ripe old age, shall, after the soul beloved by God has been sent to the heavenly thrones of Zeus Oromasdes, rest through immeasurable time,

…. so I chose to make this holy place a common consecrated seat of all the Gods; so that not only the heroic company of my ancestors, whom you behold before you, might be set up here by my pious devotion, but also that the divine representation of the manifest deities might be consecrated on the holy hill and that his place might likewise not be lacking in witness to my piety.

Therefore, as you see, I have set up these divine images of Zeus-Oromasdes and of Apollo-Mithras-Helios-Hermes and of Artagnes-Herakles-Ares, and also of my all-nourishing homeland Kommagene; and from one and the same quarry, throned likewise among the deities who hear our prayers, I have consecrated the features of my own form, and have caused the ancient honor of great deities to become the coeval of a new Tyche. Since I thereby, in an upright way, imitated the example of the divine Providence, which as a benevolent helper has so often been seen standing by my side in the struggles of my reign. Adequate property in land and an inalienable income therefrom have I set aside for the ample provision of sacrifices; an unceasing cult and chosen priests arrayed in such vestments as are proper to the race of the Persians have I inaugurated, and I have dedicated the whole array and cult in a manner worthy of my fortune and the majesty of the Gods. I have decreed the appropriate laws to govern the sacred observances thus established for everlasting, so that all the inhabitants of my realm may offer both the ancient sacrifices, required by age-old common custom, and also new festivals in honor of the Gods and in my honor. The birthday of my natural body, the sixteenth of Audnaios, and the tenth of Loos, the day of my accession to the throne, I have consecrated to the manifestation of the great deities, who were my guides in a prosperous beginning and have been the source of universal blessing for my whole kingdom.

Because of the multitude of offering and the magnificence of the celebration I have consecrated two additional days, each of them as an annual festival. The population of my empire I have divided up for the purpose of these assemblies, festival gatherings, and sacrifices, and directed them to repair by villages and cities to the nearest sanctuaries, whichever is most conveniently located for the festival observance. Moreover, I have appointed under the same title that, in addition to the observance just named, my birth on the sixteenth and my accession on the tenth shall be observed every month by the priests. Now that these regulations have been established, to be observed continually as the pious duty of men of understanding, not only in my honor but also in the blessed hope of their own good fortune, I have, in obedience to the inspiration of the Gods, ordered to be inscribed upon sacred, inviolable stelae a holy law, which shall be binding upon all generations of mankind who in the immeasurable course of time, through their special lot in life, shall successively be destined to dwell in this land; they must observe it without violation, knowing that the stern penalty of the deified royal ancestors will pursue equally the impiety occasioned by neglect as that occasioned by folly and that disregard of the law decreed for the honor of the heroes brings with it inexorable penalties. For the pious it is all a simple matter, but godlessness is followed by backbreaking burdens. This law my voice has proclaimed, but it is the mind of the Gods that has given it authority. NOMOΣ – LAW The priest who is appointed by me for these Gods and heroes, whom I have dedicated at the sacred tomb of my body, on the topmost ridges of the Taurus range, and who shall at a later time hold this office, he, set free from very other duty, shall without let or hindrance and with no excuse for evasion keep watch at his memorial and devote himself to the care and the proper adornment of these sacred images. On the birthdays which I have established forever as monthly and annual festivals of the Gods and of my own person, throughout the whole year he shall, himself decently garbed in Persian raiment, as my benefaction and the ancestral custom of our race have provided, crown them all with the gold crowns which I have dedicated as the sacred honors due the deified ancestors; and out of income from the villages, which I have designated for the sacred honors of the heroic race, he shall offer on these altars rich additional offerings of incense and aromatic herbs, and also splendid sacrifices in honor of the Gods and in my honor,

….. in worthy wise setting up sacred tables with appropriate foods and filling jars from the winepress with precious drink (that is, wine mixed with water). He shall hospitably welcome the whole of the assembled people, both the native and the foreigners who stream hither, and he shall provide for the common enjoyment of the feast by the assembled multitudes, in that, as is the custom, he shall take for himself a portion, as a gift in honor of the priestly office, and then distribute the rest of my benefaction to the others for their free enjoyment, so that during the holy days everyone may receive a never failing sustenance and may thus be able to celebrate the festival without running the risk of malicious calumny. The drinking cups, which I have dedicated, are to be used by them as long as they remain in the holy place and participate in the general assembly for the feast.

The group of musicians whom I have chosen for the purpose and those who may later be consecrated, their sons and daughters, and also their descendants shall all learn the same art and be set free from the burden of every other responsibility; and they are to devote themselves to the observances which I have established to the end, and without any evasion are to continue their services as long as the assembly requests it. No one, no king or ruler, no priest or official shall ever make slaves of these hierodules, whom I have, in accordance with the divine will, consecrated to the Gods and to my own honors, or their children or the descendants of their children, who shall continue their family to all later time; he shall neither enslave them to himself nor alienate them to anyone else in any way, nor injure one of them, nor deprive him of this ministry; but the priests shall take care of them, and the kings, officials, and all private persons shall stand by them, and the favor of the Gods and heroes will be laid up for them as a reward for their piety.

It is equally not permitted for anyone to appropriate or to alienate the villages which I have dedicated to these Gods, to sell them or to devote them to some other purpose, or in any way to injure those villages; or to reduce the income from them, which I have dedicated to the Gods as an inviolable possession. Nor shall anyone go unpunished who shall devise in his mind against our honor some other scheme of violence or of disparaging or suspending the sacrifices and festal assemblies which I have established. Whoever shall presume to rescind or to injure or guilefully to misinterpret the just tenor of this regulation or the heroic honors which an immortal judgment has sanctioned, him the wrath of the daemons and of all the Gods shall pursue, both himself and his descendants, irreconcilably, with every kind of punishment.

A noble example of piety, which it is a matter of sacred duty to offer to Gods and ancestors, I have set before the eyes of my children and grandchildren, as through many other, so too through this work; and I believe that they will emulate this fair example by continually increasing the honors appropriate to their line and, like me, in their riper years adding greatly to their personal fame. For those who do so I pray that all the ancestral Gods, from Persia and Macedonia and from the native hearth of Kommagene, may continue to be gracious to them in all clemency. And whoever, in the long time to come, takes over this reign as king or dynast, may he, if he observes this law and guards my honor, enjoy, through my intercession, the favor of the deified ancestors and all the Gods. But if he, in his folly of mind, undertakes measures contrary to the honor of the Gods, may he, even without my curse, suffer the full wrath of the Gods."

-The Nomos: The Holy Law of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene

More images (tumblr only lets me upload 10 per post):

https://paganimagevault.blogspot.com/2020/04/statues-of-mount-nemrut-62-bce.html

[steliosagapitos]

           “Aphrodite, Hermes And Eros” by Louis Michel Van Loo.

[canmom]

observations of AMERICA [1]

it is day 3 of being in california!

there are certain things people say about america. for example, everything is much bigger. this is 100% true; the buildings are large, the roads are huge (residential streets have two or three lanes each way), the houses seem pretty generous - well, of course, so much follows from a history of genociding an entire continent and repopulating it according to the designs of early modern city planners.

but there are also unexpectedly large things that i wouldn’t have thought of. toilet bowls for example. american loos appear to be wider and flatter and drain in a different way. no idea why. that’s just how they do things in america.

it is currently winter in california but you would not know it at all. we went for a walk today and there was a pleasant breeze so it felt like a warm and pleasant summer’s day by UK standards. the sky was completely devoid of clouds - it felt kind of unreal, especially since american city streets are generally something i’ve only seen in movies. in the summer, I’m led to understand that it is almost impossible to be outside under the punishing heat, and of course in recent years half the state catches on fire, filling the air with noxious smoke for months on end.

i do not plan to visit california in the summer.

of course, i know intellectually that things like road signs and street margins and so on are contingent and determined by social norms or the laws of a state; the uk gov’s design rules, fonts etc. are not going to run worldwide. it is still quite strange to see roadsigns done up in Highway Gothic instead of Transport, or different ‘cross the road’ buttons and crossings painted in yellow. Orange’s crossing buttons are large round; they do not have the green walking person/red standing person indicators but small red LEDs; the signs are also different. zebra crossings would sometimes be yellow.

i still feel a spike of nervousness when we overtake someone on the left lol.

vanity plates and bumper stickers are a lot more common than I’m used to. also elaborate house decorations. while driving out of LA I saw a few handmade signs hanging from bridges; a couple advertised loans and one told me that Jesus gives eternal life, which seems like a rather unnecessary message in America, but maybe it gave the christians driving up and down the chance to nod and say “yes, i do believe in that religion!”

people generally seem more like, friendly i guess? more likely to speak to strangers on the street.

one of the most striking things to someone used to the chaotic layout of london is that all the streets are laid out in a grid. all the more striking since we’re in a very flat area, so you can stand at the end of a road and just see it recede into the distance for miles and miles in a straight line. all the roads meet each other perpendicularly at four way intersections. roundabouts are pretty much nonexistent - though there was one, which is sort of the city centre? there was a masonic temple there. apparently these hermetic orders are kind of everywhere; slightly further out was an ‘elk lodge’. it’s not clear to me if ‘hermetic’ is as in ‘hermetically sealed’ or as in ‘hermes trismegistus’, but honestly, if you accept that this place was built by alchemists, a lot falls into place.

there are a lot of antique shops here.

we wandered around the campus of chapman university which isn’t far from here. it was a sunday so there was pretty much nobody to be seen. the buildings were all in an identical ‘neoclassical’ style, reminiscent of “mcmansions”, which is apparently the norm for american public building architecture (and at one point trump even tried to make it mandatory?). there were a lot of statues, plinths and so on with the most sanctimonious and empty inspirational quotes engraved on them; there was also a long line of bronze(?) busts of various historical figures, each one with their most inoffensively ‘positive’ quote written underneath to represent their Wisdom. likewise every single building was named after someone, and had a little plaque to say who funded it.

now, educational architecture is always cursed - I can hardly cast aspersions when I went to cambridge!! evil place - but I feel like I’ve never seen a set of buildings with so much to prove. it felt like the physical residue of a lot of rich peoples’ anxieties, all wanting to be remembered as good statesmen upholding Democracy and setting a good example to the youth by, idk, paying for a bust of alexander hamilton or even paulo freire, because ideological consistency definitely wasn’t a concern in this collection.

so it felt like a university desperately proclaiming “look at us, we’re playing the game, we’re a serious place of learning just like you!” in the corniest way to... whatever example they’re trying to imitate, idk if it’s the more prestigious american unis or like, old ones from europe. (though believe me cambridge dons are more concerned with sneering at people than signalling their great love of democracy.) anyway, pretty much all of the busts were put up in 2009, presumably in a fit of civic pride brought on by obama? in the end, we found the bust of margaret thatcher (next to a fountain shaped like a large black orb, surrounded by flags from various countries, apparently to express some rich couple’s appreciation for all the world’s cultures) and i stuck a twig up her nose. before that me and mogs made good on “what if we kissed in the weirdly sanctimonious monument to internationalism (and we were both girls)”.

later we went to a diner and i had some pancakes like you do in american diners, in a little stack with butter on top. they were so fluffy?? i love crepes but the americans are certainly onto something with this one

mogs and bug are the cutest couple, and rest assured they’re taking very good care of me :3

more reports to come!

[osakaso5]

Everyday Splendor in Olympus Town: Season 3

Episode 3: Pandora

Episode Index

Pandora: What should I have for lunch, I wonder? Hestia's restaurant might be nice, but I could also stop by Hermes' store.

Pandora: Hmm, decisions, decisions...

Athena: Hello, Mr. Pandora. Are you out shopping?

Pandora: Well, if it isn't Athena and Orpheus! Hello there!

Athena & Orpheus: H-hello.

Pandora: ......?

Athena & Orpheus: !!!

Pandora: Say, why are you both keeping your distance from me?

Athena: A-are you sure you're not imagining things?

Orpheus: ...Right, what he said.

Pandora: Nope! You clearly took a step back just now!

Athena: ...My apologies... As much as we respect you as a teacher, and enjoy talking to you...

Orpheus: Considering all the misfortunes that follow you around, we can't exactly let our guards down, no matter how much we might want to.

Athena: That being said, it was rude of us to avoid you. We're very sorry, sir...

Pandora: ...No, it's fine... I don't mind, really.

Pandora: Misfortune is in my genes, so I really, truly do not mind..!

Orpheus: It sounds like you  mind quite a bit...

Pandora: Maybe I do, but it's nothing you two need to worry about! I have a good feeling about today, so don't be afraid.

Orpheus: ......... Why do I feel like you've just jinxed yourself...

Athena: How curious... I was just thinking the same thing.

Pandora: Speaking of which, why are you together? Did you have a  lunch date planned?

Orpheus: Oh, heavens no. We just happened to run into each other.

Athena: Yes, it was pure coincidence. I was only about to ask him something.

Pandora: What?

Orpheus: I told him and Boss about the ghost in our school, and he just wanted to confirm whether it was true or not.

Pandora: Ah, Ares told me about that, too.

Pandora: He's scared to death of ghosts, so we lent him an ear on his ghost hunting concerns.

Athena: ...I knew it. And he has nothing to fear in the first place.

Orpheus: The Boss believes in his strength above all else, so things that can't be cut down with a sword scare him.

Pandora: That certainly does sound like something Ares might think.  

Athena: So, is it true? I've never heard of a ghost in our school.

Orpheus: As you may have already guessed, it was indeed something I made up so that I could go home earlier.

Pandora: Huh, really..!?

Athena: Ugh... Of course it was.

Athena: I understand how you may feel, but you shouldn't scare your friends so thoughtlessly.

Athena: Did you tell him that it was all made up?

Orpheus: You're a very nice person, President Athena.

Orpheus: I haven't told him yet. He's been so full of vigor lately that I'd like to use this opportunity to help him settle down a bit.

Orpheus: Heh. No need to look so worried. I'll tell him when the time   is right, I swear.

Pandora: You have Ares completely wrapped around your finger, Orpheus...

Athena: Honestly, I can't tell which one of you is the real "boss".

Orpheus: What do you mean? Of course it's Ares.

Athena: In any case, please just tell him you lied before he starts spreading bogus rumors about our school.

Pandora: Er... I hate to rain on your parade, but there is an actual ghost in our school.

Athena & Orpheus: What?

Pandora: What?

Athena & Orpheus: ........

Athena: Um... You're only joking, right?

Pandora: No. I've heard their voice a few times, so I'm almost certain that they're real.

Athena & Orpheus: .........

Athena: Sir, you don't have to lie... We're not the type of students to be afraid of ghost stories.

Orpheus: Sorry to disappoint you.

Pandora: Wait, why don't you seem to believe me!? I'm serious!

Athena: Still... As far as I know, the god of the dead should have all of them under control down in Hades.

Orpheus: And why would a ghost haunt a school for the gods?

Pandora: I-I suppose it is a bit strange, but still...

Pandora: I'm really telling the truth!

Pandora: I was inspecting this empty classroom once, and I heard a feeble voice say "A curse upon you~".

Athena: Could it have been a student, playing a prank?

Pandora: That's what I thought at first, but I couldn't find anyone else in the room, no matter how hard I looked.

Orpheus: Perhaps it was one of the teachers?

Pandora: Unlikely. I was the only faculty member who hadn't left for the day.

Athena & Orpheus: .........

Athena: It doesn't appear that you're lying. Maybe there really is a ghost...

Pandora: I think so, too. I'd like to talk to them sometime.

Pandora: A ghost might be able to see what's inside my box without opening it!

Orpheus: I hate to interrupt, but may I leave now? It's about time for my rakugo show.

Athena: You certainly don't like to stick around...

Orpheus: Mortal entertainment is too good to pass up on.

Pandora: As much as I'd love to talk some more, a good teacher should never stop their students from enjoying their free time.

Orpheus: Thank you. Well then, if you'll excuse me.

Orpheus: .......!

Athena: Hmm? Is something the matter? Are you unable to go home?

Orpheus: It's nothing... I just felt like I stepped on something soft...

Athena: .....!!! T-that is... Dog poop...

Orpheus: ......!

Orpheus: What is dog poop doing in the middle of the street..?

Athena: I guess the one who got jinxed wasn't him, but you...

Orpheus: Do you have to sound so amazed?

Orpheus: Ugh...

Pandora: Don't look so down, Orpheus. Consider it a lucky coincidence!

Orpheus: There's nothing lucky about this. 

[rotterdamvanalles]

Kantoorgebouw Atlantic Huis aan het Westplein gezien vanaf de Veerkade, oktober 1950.

Het Atlantic Huis is een bedrijfsverzamelgebouw in het Scheepvaartkwartier in Rotterdam, tegenover de Veerhaven. Het is een rijksmonument.

Het Atlantic Huis werd gebouwd in de periode 1928-1930 in art-decostijl. Het werd ontworpen door architect P.G. Buskens. Het gebouw is bijzonder omdat het een van de eerste bedrijfsverzamelgebouwen in Nederland is en omdat het als een van de eerste gebouwen voorzien was van een parkeergarage. Het gebouw heeft een betonnen skelet en is bekleed met baksteen en betonnen lijsten. Bij de entree van het Atlantic huis staan aan de gevel twee beelden van Willem Coenraad Brouwer. Ze verbeelden Hermes, de god van de handel, en Neptunus, de god van de zee.

Het Atlantic Huis is niet meer in gebruik als bedrijfsverzamelgebouw. Op de begane grond is onder andere het bekende grand-café Loos gevestigd. Op de 1e t/m 6e verdieping bevinden zich luxe woonappartementen (koop) en vier kantoren (verhuur).

De fotograaf is F.H. van Dijk en de foto komt uit het Stadsarchief Rotterdam. De informatie komt van Wikipedia.

[greekbros]

"greek-Bros: Phallic Judgement"

*Surprisingly, Dionysus had gone back to Rome to cause more mischief with Hermes, this time they've brought Ares along*

Dionysus: *again disguised as a wine seller* ok gentlemen, behold. The foulest creatures to crawl on the face of the earth. *Shows just random Roman citizens*

Ares: *who for some reason decided he wanted to disguise himself as the world's most intimidating slave* ......ugh....the goats? *Sees a goat*

Hermes: *cleverly disgusted as farmer* haha no. You see, these guys are absolutely weird. They insist of "rationing" Sapa, they have taxes for literally existing and above all.....their wine is watered down! But they have the best bread I've ever tasted though.

Ares: ... really?

Dionysus: don't be fooled by their baked goods my dudes. These are cruel and unrelenting scum folk. Uncultured, ignorant, and above all....they've inslaved every single country they've conquered.

Hermes: .....it's mostly about the wine isn't it?

Dionysus: ....*turns dramatically* their most unforgiving sin.

Ares: *has wondered off to see a statue of himself*.....my dick isn't THAT small.......*looks at the name plate saying "Mars"* ......I can't believe these guys misspelled my name....*takes some charcoal, scratches out Mars and writes Ares*

Centurion Gaurd: Excuse me slave! Where is your master! Slaves are not allowed near the devine statue of the gods.*sees that Ares has wrote his name on the statue's nameplate* What the?

Ares: *doesn't know the centurion was referring to him considering he's in disguise* .........*turns to the see the back of the statue* ....at least they got the ass right.

Centurion Gaurd: EXCUSE ME! Please stop making remarks about the sacred statue! You've defaced sacred property!

Ares: *slowly peaks over to the centurion* ....hey ugh there's a thing on your helmet*

Centurion Gaurd: oh really? *Pats around his helmet* where?

Ares: *points to the centurion's face* There's a shit attitude a little all over your FuCkInG ugly mug.

Centurion Gaurd: *realising what he meant* YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!

Dionysus: *walks into the situation* Oh there you are Skippy! Bad boy I thought I told you to stay close to me and not open your mouth! *takes a little stick and weakly whips Ares's shoulder with a single thing of wheat*

Ares: *confused* ...wut?

Centurion Gaurd: Is there YOUR disrespectful slave?

Ares: wait you said I was going to be a noblem-*gets a loaf of bread in his mouth by Hermes*

Hermes: please shut up or we'll leave you here to fend for yourself.

Ares: *kinda just enjoying the bread* hmfhmf.

Dionysus: You see my good sir, my slave is extremely stupid, dumb and has testicles the size of grapeseeds. He was used as a human kickball when he was an infant and was raised by goats. He can't help himself sometimes. *Tries to clean the charcoal off the statue*

Ares: *angry noises* ?!?

Centurion Gaurd: .....Ok...you have the pay the "Disrespectful Slave" tax fine.

Dionysus: .....*grumbles and takes a bag filled with gold coins* ....*gives it begrudgingly* .....*grits his teeth* have....a...good day.

Centurion Gaurd: *takes the gold and sees that it's drachma* .....hmm.....*takes out a piece of paper with a semi-crude wanted poster of Dionysus, Apollo and Hermes* ......hmm.....I watching you....sir. *leaves to find Mortus*

Dionysus: *turns to Ares and glares at him* ....you owe me 20 drachma.

Ares: *has finished eat the bread* Why? Don't these mortals know we're gods?

Dionysus: No! We're here in disguise so that was can destroy the city again. You are here to make sure the country doesn't get a chance to get back up.

Ares: Fuck yah. *Literally has no idea what he agreed to*

Hermes: *saw the wanted poster in the centurion's hand* ugh...guys we REALLY need to finish what we came here for because they're definitely on to us.

Dionysus: yeah yeah I know....come on let's go. I want to destroy the coliseum again.

Ares: what's a coliseum?

Dionysus: *suddenly a huge grin forms across his face* Hermes .....is the coliseum....open?

Hermes: let me check. *Literally speeds next to the coliseum and saw a Roman sign that says "Grand Re-Opening" and zips back to Dionysus* yeah. It's open.

Dionysus: perfect. *Pops a waterskin filled with wine, and chugs it* oh gods I'm FuCkInG dry. It's like this place sucks your very essence or something.

Hermes: hmm....yeah, shame really. *as he was following Dionysus and Ares, he accidentally dumbs into a familiar face* oops sorry miss.

Octavia: *turns around with a baby in her arms that looks suspiciously familiar* Oh pardon me sir. I didn't mean to bump into, the market seems rather busy today doesn't it?

Hermes: It's ok, I was just heading to-*knotices the baby* .....ugh...

Caius the baby: *smiles at Hermes as if he knew Hermes was his dad* ba-ba :D

Octavia: Oh sweetie, daddy is working. Oh children are so wonderous, even at a few months old, they have such an imagination. By the way, have we met before? You look so familiar....are you from the countryside?

Hermes: uuggggh *trying his best to not look Octavia in the eye* yeah, I get that all the time. Trust me I have some of my own, I mean children that is. Also no I don't think I have? *Literally hoping she doesn't recognize him even though he shape shifted into her husband a year ago*

Caius: *still happily cooing over his real dad*

Dionysus: come on buddy le-*put two and two together and scowls at Hermes* ......you didn't.

Hermes: ugh....

Dionysus: nevermind we're off! *He pulls Hermes to the direction of the coliseum*

Octavia: hmmm what a strange young man. He's handsome though.

Caius: *coos in disappointment* :(

*later*

Dionysus: *rubs his hands* hehehehehe....

Hermes: this better be worth it. I thought we would write our names on the temple walls here or something.

A Roman Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen! This grand reopening of the Coliseum shall be in honor of our Lord and Emperor Caeser!

Caeser: *does the Royal British wave*

Dionysus: peeeeerfect.

Hermes: ......hey I got to ask...why did you bring Ares?

Dionysus: some bulky bastard is currently the head champion gladiator here, he use to live on Crete before the Romans decided to kidnap a few warriors there....let's just say my pettiness will come with effort.

Hermes: ......ok seriously man what are talking about?

Dionysus: look no one says that their dick is bigger than mine and actually gets away with it.

Hermes: ....you know....you could just smite someone. I mean it's not graceful....but it's effective.

Dionysus: hoho, I'm going to make this extra dramatic.

The Roman Announcer: And now! You're great champion, Maximus the Well-Endowed!

Maximus: *a huge, hulking man came out, roars out* HAIL CAESAR! *Leans to the announcer* I am going to get my 20 hot virgin women after this right?

Announcer: *whispers* yes yes. AND HIS CHALLENGER *looks at a note which was scribbled on his hand* ..... "Skippy the Not-Well-Endowed"! *Looks back his hand still not believing what he had read*

Ares: *is just happy to get into a fight, however was oddly enough only was only wearing a loin cloth and a helmet, armed with a shield and spear* ......oh boy, a whole stadium just for killing? These people rock!

Hermes: ........you didn't....

Dionysus: yep.

Ares: *steps side to side like an exited kid* comeoncomeoncomeonstartthefighting.

Maximus: Alright Skippy, time to end your tiny dicked existence. *Raised his sword on to Ares but Ares was able to break it with his helmet* !?

Ares: ....that's it?

Maximum: *confused* ugh....*waves to order in more weapons, all of which fail to hurt Ares*

Ares: .......aw come on...you guys have some shitty ass weapons. Bet YOUR weapon is just as shit.

Maximus: grrrrr.....YOU PUNY SLAVE! *Rips off his armored skirt* See! You're fucking wrong!

Roman crowd: *gasps*

Dionysus: .....

Hermes: *whistles* holyshit....dude this guy is hung.

Dionysus: If there's one god who can contest me....the only god who's dick is so epic, so powerful, so irresistible, so near perfect......that Aphrodite can't FuCkInG resist it on a daily basis.

Hermes: Heracles?

Dionysus: No buddy, Ares. Ares is the guy who's dick is better than mine I mean come on a guy who shags the goddess of love more times than any living thing HAS to have something going on down there

Some Roman Karen: EXCUSE me is pronounced Venus! We don't use greek words here.

Dionysus: Please leave me alone lady.

Some Roman Karen: *rhees in anger*

Dionysus and Hermes: *both are struggling to ignore her*

Ares: ....ok...that dick of your isn't that great.....*rips off his loin cloth* .....THIS....is a dick.

Crowd: *the women and gay men swoons over the perfect of Ares's bare body, men quake and cringe at their own feeble members and put to shame*

Caesar: *completely unimpressed and decided to leave* hmf. Pathetic.

Maximus: *wriggles in shame* HOW c-C-C-could this be?! The most PERFECT COCK? Oh my gods why is it fucking glowing?!

Ares: ....what you don't shave yourself weekly? I mean come on man that's how you keep the ladies coming back?

Maximus: *starts crying a little*

Dionysus: *cackling uncontrollably* SO THATS HIS SECRET! *writes on a piece of paper saying "shave, dick, weekly"*

Hermes: *still not fully understanding why all of this* ........you brought Ares here JUST to emasculate some gladiator?

Dionysus: Oh much more than that Herms.....much much m-

Roman Karen: EXCUSE YOU SIR ITS MERCURY!

Dionysus: *has had enough and turned her into a chicken* there much better.

Hermes: .....are you ok? Did you have your wine today?

Dionysus: I RAN OUT OF WINE LONG AGO!

Hermes: *deep sigh* not again.

Ares: *now in full naked display* ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!? *The crowd roared and cheered*

Dionysus: well....yah want to set the animals free from their cages?

Hermes: fuk ye-*feels a tough and strong hand practically crushing his shoulder* .....*turns to see an old man who clearly was Zeus* .....

Zeus: .....boys.....

Dionysus and Hermes: .....Uh Oh.

Zeus: *took each of them by their ears like a discontented mother* you're BOTH grounded for bothering these mortals and above all abusing the dark, unholy power of the sacred male member ....if I had a third arm it would be reserved for Ares. *Looks down at Ares now just doing some naked dance for the crowd*........*deep and disappointed sigh*

Dionysus: but dad, I do that like everyday.

Zeus: I don't care if I don't discipline you or Hermes right the now, Hera will have MY male member nailed to the wall.

(Later that day)

Mortus: *inner noir detective monologue* after several months, nothing. Absolutely nothing. The suspects disappeared from the face of the empire. Likely their crimes have caught up with them. My only consolation to solving this case....is the mysterious birth of my son and my faithful wife. .... speaking of which...why does Caius have blue eyes? Me and Octavia have brown.....did ...she?....nah that's impossible.

The Centurion from earlier: MY LORD! I FOUND THE SUSPECTS!

Mortus: *dramatically turns around* This better be the right ones this time.

*much later after apparently an orgy broke out at the coliseum*

Mortus: .... Absolutely disgusting. Practicing Sexual Festivities without a license is punishable by crucifixion, Mark.

The Announcer (Mark): B-b-but sir! It wasn't my fault! Some slave was to challenge Maximus and they just decided to remove their clothing and everyone went wild! ....to be fair the slave did look a little attractive BUT the fornicating ceased once the slave disappeared.

Mortus:....was he accompanied by a portly, dark haired ..... individual?......an extremely attractive blonde slave and a thinner more athletic young man with brown hair?

The Announcer: ...hmm...well yes minus the other slave.

Mortus: Hmmm.....the plot thickens.....are these the mysterious criminals that destroyed the coliseum last year?....What is the motivated behind these depraved individuals?.....

The Announcer: ugh...why are you talking to yourself?

[acequeenking]

Hadestober #13

13) Take My Hand - Persephone goes down to the Underworld for the first time after Orpheus manages to get it right. (T, Hermes & Persephone, Hades/Persephone)

Persephone drinks the summer away. Doesn’t trust the man to hold to his own promises, not anymore, not after having been burned so many times. She drinks away a good half of May, June, and even July.

“Might want to slow down, green thang,” Hermes says, gives her a weak little smile. She gives him a sharp-eyed glare.

“Sooner or later, he’s likely to ruin it.” She sips down her whiskey, good and burning. He’d introduced her to whiskey long ago: ‘fore that, she was more liable to get drunk with something out of her mama’s wares, a little wine, a little potash. “Always does. Kinda his job, you know, ruinin’ things. Entropy’s a bit of a bitch.”

“Your man don’t seem to have ruined everything.” He flicks his head over at Orpheus and Eurydice, his little boy and their runaway-now-staying-put, giggling over at the bar. Persephone remembers being that much in love. Eurydice thumbs Orpheus’ suspenders, and Persephone’s heart cracks a little bit at a familiarity she can just barely remember feeling.

“A stopped clock is right, once or twice.” She shoots back, then swallows down her liquor.

“All I’m saying is…” Hermes waves his hand, with a weariness she doesn’t think man has any right to feel. Isn’t like they’ve been in circumstances such as this before. “Nothing will change if you don’t try.”

“I’ll try,” she says, after guzzling down the last of her whiskey. “When and what I feel like.”

“Alright,” Hermes’ says, and says it a bit sad, and there’s a twinge in her chest there, knowing as always that he is her closest brother, and she is somehow fucking this summer all up despite his caring. Mama always said there’d be days like this. “Just think about it, for me? For him?”

His eyes gravitate toward the young couple: Orpheus holds out his hand, and Eurydice takes it, smiling like she ain’t just had to walk out of hell not two months ago. Persephone wonders, idly, what Eurydice did with those old worker’s clothes. Probably burned them.

She would.

“I’ll think about it,” she says. “Best I can do.”

“That’s enough,” Hermes says, but the tone says it plain: no, it ain’t.

Persephone drinks her way through a variety of infrequently sampled delights through September. Been rare, right rare, for her to be up so late, thanks to Mr. Lover-I-Was-Lonely, Mr. Lover-I-Was-Despairing no longer showing up so early, by some miracle, well, she has some time to burn and preferably burn down some of her gullet with it. Hard cider ain’t never been her favorite, but it’s a good novelty and she sips her cup while she mulls Mr. Hermes’ words right up til it’s time ot wait for Mr. Hades clarion-bell.

Because the thing is: Hermes is not half-right. Persephone doesn’t owe her old ball and chain much; ask anybody downstairs, and they would tell you – well, after you pour a little firewater in’em –  that their lady has been the one dealing with most of his bullshit, not the other way around.  Her problem is one that they keep dancing around, because she can’t bend herself down to get out of it, no matter how much he wants her to: six months up, six months down. Holy route, and they’ve all seen what happens when she doesn’t keep to schedule.

Man might as well ask brother Paulie not to make the sun shine. Some things just ain’t – ain’t malleable. Fixed. And her husband just isn’t built to be able to accept it for long.

Except, of course, that he seems to be awful quiet. So mayhaps he finally has.

“What’s he doing down there?” She asks, half-fearing the answer, because there are a lot of desperate women and now she is well aware that he’s willing to look for replacements if pushed far enough. Asks it casual of Hermes, asks it over her gin and tonic, fizzy with hope. “My old husband.”

Hermes raises an eyebrow at her. “Think he’s waitin’ for you.”

“And how, pray tell is he waiting?” She takes a drink, presses the subject.

Hermes just shakes his head. Refusing to give up the goods, and odds are good the reason is that Mr. Hads himself is holding him to such. But it isn’t out of nature for Hermes to play coy.

“Waiting alone,” Hermes says, quiet. “I’ll say that much.”

She gives him a sour look and he just laughs, won’t say more.

“Just wait and see, green thang. Wait and see.” She sips at her drink, but she doesn’t feel like drinking. Lousy old Hermes just seems to suck the fun out of it all.

“I don’t do well anymore,” she says, quiet. “Not with his surprises.”

“Maybe it’s not a surprise,” Hermes says. He reaches out, holds her hand for a good long moment, squeezes it, drops it. “Maybe it’s just what it is, sunshine-sister.”

They don’t talk a long while after that; Seph spends her time watching Orpheus tend bar, Miss Eurydice helping him out by serving the patrons. But, since Hermes gets relatively few customers, well, it’s mostly Persephone playing looky-loo and watching the kids make eyes at one another. She wonders: were they ever like that? Himself and herself? Were they ever quite so innocent? She doesn’t think so. Himself was jaded from the beginning, and well…she weren’t far behind. Always been the type to just cling to what she could take and not expect much more than that. Cup half-empty kind of girl, you know? Kind who always has to fill her cup, least she think too much about herself.

She stares at Eurydice, perhaps a bit overlong; girl blushes at the attention and moves next to Orpheus, who holds her so easily, and for a moment, Persephone feels a bright jealousy take ahold her heart; been many a year since her husband has done more than hold her hand in public. Was a time when she made that mountain of a man bend to kiss her.

Hermes must see the despair on her face because he tuts and grabs her hand once more.

“You know how rare it is, for a man to know how good he’s got?” Hermes says, in a low voice. “Even the kids, simple as they are, can’t tell a good thing too often til they lose it. Trust me. I been around. I know.”

“Your point?” Persephone might be almost as old as time, but it ain’t necessarily made her patient. Critical flaw that seems to flow through most of her kind.

But not Hermes.

“It’s a miracle, ain’t it?” He smiles, a little too pointedly, old Hermes. “To love someone so much you fear the second they ain’t in your sight.”

“Starts off feeling romantic,” Persephone says dryly. “But trust me, Hermes, it gets old, being appreciated like that.”

He looks at her; nods twice more. She looks at the serious look on his face and notices, for the first time, how his suit is looking a little bit more threadbare than it used to.  Didn’t he used to have some feathers round that jacket? Seems a time she could recall him being proud of such.

“Can’t tell you that your reasons against him ain’t good ones,” Hermes says. “Lord knows, you two have had your ups and your downs. More downs than ups, I know. But take it from a man who ain’t never – never felt that urge to tie myself down—”

She rolls her eyes; only thing to do, with such an uncomfortable speech. Never liked these big emotional speeches; give her a moment’s tic or tell. The unsaid, brother, sometimes says it a lot more comfortably.

“Well…” Hermes cleared his throat. “Seems to me that it’s rare enough, two people finding one another like that, falling out and then in love, over and over again. Almost miraculous, right?”

“We’re gods, if you believe in miracles at this age…” He cuts her off, with one elegant hand.

“I believe in optimism. Always got a chance of turning better, sister.” His eyes glitter. “If, perhaps, someone gives such a chance…”

She bats her hand away. “Maybe I’ll consider it,” she says, finally. She stares down at Orpheus and Eurydice: Orpheus holds out his hand, and there’s the girl, grinning, taking that hand, so easy, so easy. Maybe that’s youth, she thinks, that slip of hand in hand, so easy, not weighed down by history. Or maybe it’s love, where you ignore the weight of it all because you believe, for one moment, that weight shared is weight eased.

And as she tries to think of a return, a bonmot, a repartee to Hermes’ great big speech, well, she don’t get the chance. She’s silenced as a high train whistle roars.

Hermes flips back his fancy sleeve, checks his watch. “Right on time, sister,” he says. He rises. “Best be goin’.”

And Persephone, well, she thinks: suppose it’s time. She grabs her coat, and it feels heavy on her shoulders, if smaller than the gordian knot in her belly. Hermes offers her his arm, ever the gentleman, but she shakes her head, not in the mood to share.

She’s a bit drunk, and she doesn’t need any distraction besides her husband himself.

“Orpheus,” Hermes says, too casual: “Watch the bar.”

She looks behind, sees the kids smiling at the bar. Doesn’t seem like they’ve heard at all, and for a brief, bitter moment, she envies them. Then she’s out, and she’s walking.

And the train door is there all too quickly.

And a man steps out all too fast.

There’s nothing different about him in particular: same white hair, same dark eyes, same Cheshire smile, same obnoxious glasses. He thinks they make him look young, but they don’t. She stares at him carefully, neutrally: he smiles, flicks off the hated glasses.

And she sees in that moment how his eyes tick, the nervousness that is evident in them; sees the redness of his ears and cheeks, the heavy breath that tells her that he’s been thinking of this moment for dozens of hours. And it’s that, more than any speech of Hermes’ or any glimpses of the young ones, that renders her heart softer towards the man: the way that hand shakes just a lil’ bit when he reaches for her, because he’s nervous. Mr. Hades is a mighty king, but she reduced him to a man once. Seems liable she might be able to again.

“Hey,” he says, the most neutral of all openings. She’d critique it but she, too, struggles to find words, the snappish openings of so many years having erased the old kindliness.

“Hey,” she says. Disgusting neutral, careful in a way they’ve never been. But neutral is safe, and maybe she takes his hand and grips it, and maybe he doesn’t mention the alcohol on her breath, and maybe when he pulls her toward her, well, maybe his hand doesn’t feel heavy after all.

Maybe she’s a fool for thinking that, but she does, and when he leans close to give her a kiss on her cheek after how-long, well: she believes, she believes.

“Let’s go home,” she says. And she holds him tight, and she steps on that train, and they go together to parts simultaneously too-well-known and too-unknown all at once.

But at least they go together.