xfireforged

[xfireforged]

Lewis Tan for Esquire Singapore (February 2021)

“You lose a lot of your imagination and your creativity when you grow up. We become tainted as adults. You get stuck in a cycle and cinema breaks you out of that by reminding you of the beautiful things like hope, freedom, love…”

[xfireforged]

@lovecorey

"How are you doing?"

After the last quest that they went on, Matai had been curious to know how Corey was doing. Not because he had been particularly injured, or because they had gotten traumatized by Glycera, but because he had met his sister. That they had freed the goddess Hedona, only to find out that she was actually related to Corey. It made sense, thinking about it, but at the time all Matai had thought about was freeing the goddess from her confines.

He didn't imagine what it would be like to run into a sibling that was actual goddess in their own right - not even a godling.

"I mean, finding one of your deity siblings has to be... something, right?"

[xfireforged]

@isaacbrooks

It had been a good while since Matai had spent some time with the son of Thanatos, the last time being the night that he had stumbled upon Isaac and Winter in Winter's cabin that night of the bacchanal... It wasn't as though Matai had been actively avoiding the man, he had just found himself busy. Busy with trying to temper the fire within him, busy training some of the civilians that wanted to learn how to fight - a good idea, given what had happened at the camp a couple of months ago - and busy learning how to forge under Warwick's tutelage.

"I hope you hadn't thought I was dead to the world," Matai teased the son of death lightly as he moved to pat him on the shoulder, sliding into position next to him. "You been doing alright, Isaac? I feel like it's been awhile, which sucks... because we made a pretty good team against that ugly-ass dragon."

[xfireforged]

[xfireforged]

hephaestus aesthetic

[xfireforged]

@hestiacoded

"So, what did you think?"

It had been a few days since a small group of godlings had traveled to the kingdom of candyland - or, at least, that's what Matai was calling it - to save the goddess Hedona from Glycera and so it had been enough time to process everything they saw there. From the gingerbread men baking their own son, to the amount of dessert monsters to the various powers being used to meeting an actual goddess... It was definitely a lot to wrap your mind around, even if someone that had been around awhile.

And they happened to have three people with them that were relatively new to their world.

He had spoken to Naden a couple of times, the son of Hestia having arrived right before their powers got absolutely swapped around, but this was the first quest that he had gone - at least, as far as Matai was aware of.

"I bet you didn't think you'd wind up meeting an actual goddess because honestly? Neither had I."

[xfireforged]

It was the second time that Matai had found himself drifting off to sleep, only to wind up being whisked away elsewhere without any warning. First time it was to a dreamscape - or so he thought it was, anyhow, given that after it was said and done they were whisked back to their beds - in Russia to fight off a couple of wendigos that were killing people and this time it was to candyland. Or, really, that's the best way he could describe it, given the fact that everything seemed to be made out of everything edible - even the inhabitants and the monsters that they had to fight.

And while Matai had done what he could against the beasts, he was glad that some of the other people that were on the quest hadn't gotten hurt worse than they had. Especially considering about half of them were newer to their world, still learning how to wield their powers and how to hold their own in a fight. Even if he was saddened at the fact that they were losing their own people, left and right, he was glad to see that the people that they gained were capable.

And he also wanted to be able to get to know them, too, so he could know better how to fight alongside them.

He just didn't expect that, when he walked towards the Hypnos cabin, that he would catch the oh so familiar scent of something... and be inclined to join the son of Hypnos. "Honestly, I wasn't thinking about that... my thoughts were making sure everyone was safe," Matai stated, honestly, but now that Jose had brought it up... he couldn't not think about it.

"The real question is how do they just... grow? They said something about how they grow as they live but... that's not how cookies work?" Taking the blunt as it was handed to him, Matai took a long drag - it was obvious that this was not something he wasn't unfamiliar with - before he handed it back to him. "That whole place was fucked up, honestly. And I can't believe you and Rio just... ate everything."

Sure, it looked good but... Matai knew that not everything was what it seemed.

"I'm just glad you guys didn't wind up poisoning yourselves or turning into candified versions... Then everyone would wind up wanting to eat you, and not in the fun way."

A ring of smoke floats up and away from Jose Maria's pursed lips. He's got a joint in his hand, sitting lazily in front of his cabin, his legs spread comfortably. The sun is setting in the horizon, coloring everything warm, and golden. He's feeling nice and relaxed, loose and laughing softly to himself as he recalls all of the events of the previous week. Jose knows for certain now that he was just feeling a placebo when he was still smoking the joints he brought from home, because this is hitting pretty damn well, and it's making everything that much more ridiculous, and amusing. He really fucking needed this. "So, yea," he says to the person sitting next to him on the porch of his cabin. "It was mad crazy seeing an entire fucking world made of candy. I kept munching on pieces of plants, and the ground and shit." Jose takes another drag, blowing out the smoke. He offers the joint to his visitor, held between two fingers carefully. "You know, this is going to sound so weird, but there were these talking, living gingerbread men. Gay gingerbread men. And I remember getting home to my cabin here and thinking...how the fuck do they fuck each other?" He quirks a brow, squinting as he ponders it seriously for a few moments. Very quickly he breaks into raucous laughter, throwing his head back. Jose composes himself, clearing his throat, "Not because I want to picture gingerbread men going at it, to be clear. I mean, just logistically. Do they have little gingerbread dicks and holes? They made their baby in an oven, so I'm thinking they're like barbie dolls down there."

[xfireforged]

Lewis Tan

[xfireforged]

@roguelunatiic

"You were there when they fought the son of Serapheim, right?"

Ever since finding the powerful sword in the cave with the dragon devourer, Matai had found that the sword he had would be extremely useful if they were to ever come across another dragon - and something told him that they might. Of course, he knew that there was a chance that he might not be there, and Matai knew that it would be better to have a couple of people he could trust with it.

One of those was Simon.

While he knew he wasn't exactly the son of Selene's closest friend, he did think that there was an understanding and a level of respect there - at least, Matai knew that there was on his end, and he had hoped it would be the same on the other's - and he knew that the son of Selene would make good use of the blade in his absence.

"Did he ever go into his dragon form?"

[xfireforged]

It had happened spontaneously one day - he had been meditating and reflecting on the strange dream he had had before realizing that he was on fire. The fire didn't hurt him as it licked his skin, it didn't burn his clothes as he radiated with the warmth of the flames of the forge, and for a brief moment, he could only think of Gabriel and the fire that had surrounded him in battle. A fire that seemed to act almost as a shield, and he wondered if perhaps there was a piece of Gabriel's flame within the ones that surrounded him.

Ever since, he had been trying to work on the fire that surrounded him, working on trying to call for it and to dismiss it, and he found himself near the lake in the hopes that he wouldn't burn anything of importance if the flames got to be too much.

And also to, hopefully, keep others from looking at him and being concerned.

Meditating at the dock, the son of Hephaestus hadn't noticed anyone was drawing near until he heard their exclamation and he chuckled as he opened his eyes to see Winter trying to control it. "It's no use, Winter... This fire only answers to me," he stated before he finished his stance, the fire acting like a second armor almost as it moved with him. "It's a... new ability of mine. I'm testing its limits, seeing how long I can keep it up for. What I have found, though, is that I control it and it won't even extinguish by water."

Closing his eyes, the son of Hephaestus willed the flames away before he opened them and offered a smile at the son of Hades. "Glad to know some people would care if I did actually combust into flames, though."

☠️ ⋅𓂃 ࣪ for the son of hephaestus ≻ location ; open field ╱ @xfireforged

               winter had finished a late breakfast, wanting to avoid the morning rush, and well the starring. word went around that the son of hera was gone, and winter didn't really want to talk about it. and he wasn't going to hide anymore. he wasn't sure why he had done so much before. he didn't think he was terrible at making friends, but seeing as the people he had gotten close to were leaving, he started to think otherwise.

he shook his head, starting to walk off, letting his feet take him anywhere. and when he found someone on fire, his eyes widened. " shit! " he runs over towards him, letting himself control the fire, so that the fire came to his hands so the other would stop burning.

[xfireforged]

@thanes-thrall-md

The last time that Matai had checked on Virgil, the man seemed to be dealing quite hard with the powers that had been given to him during the Gods' test on the godlings, and while he wasn't exactly yearning for Virgil's company - at least, not after the son of Asclepius had slut-shamed and insulted Romeo the way that he had - he still cared for him and wanted to make sure he was okay. That's how he found himself heading towards the infirmary, not for himself - this time, thankfully - as he searched for the healer.

"Hey, Virgil," he stated as he found him, a small smile pulling at his lips. "How are you doing? Glad to start feeling like yourself, too?"

[xfireforged]

You know the drill for NSFW starters. Choose an image - peek or don’t, your choice - and send for a starter based off the image.

M/M

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

A   B   C

[xfireforged]

@hestiacoded

The son of Hephaestus had been curious when he had heard that there was a new son of Hestia, and though he was skeptical about anyone taking Gabriel's place... He knew that getting to know the new guy would be good. Or, at least, to try and get closer to him to make him feel welcomed to the camp. Of course, when he came to camp, it was definitely an interesting time given the fact that he had arrived right before the Gods decided to swap around their powers.

Now that Matai had his fire again, he decided to seek out the other child of flames and when he found him, he offered a friendly smile. "Hey, how are you holding up? Feeling as hot as ever?" he asked, teasing lightly as he moved to pat his shoulder. "Last time we talked, I know you were still getting your mind wrapped around being the son of Hestia despite having water powers, but everything should be in order now, right?"

[xfireforged]

Hephaestus - Ἡφαιστος God of Fire, Metalworking, Stone-masonry, Architecture, and Sculpture

[xfireforged]

Training with the abilities that Romeo had was something that Matai was a bit skeptical about. It had taken him awhile to get to a point where he was comfortable with his abilities to where he didn't feel like he'd accidentally hurt someone or burn them... And now he was right back at square one with the electricity coursing through his veins, knowing that Romeo even still struggled with electrocuting everyone - or at least, he had until everyone seemed to piss him off.

And there Matai was, unable to stop from shocking himself on every piece of metal that he touched.

But even if he wasn't given his own abilities, he was still someone that liked to train and liked to work out and even if he wasn't going to spar... He could at least watch.

And it seemed that it was none other than Isaac that he was watching.

Thoughts drifted to the son of Thanatos, to the night at the bar that they shared as well as what had happened at the bacchanal, and he could only watch as the other fought. It was clear he was fighting differently, almost more strategically, and he couldn't help but wonder just who did he get swapped with? He wasn't sure, but when he yielded, Matai finally approached him.

"I got to say, I could get used to seeing you on your back," Matai teased playfully before he moved to pat the other on his shoulder... only to pause when his hand was just a few inches away, realizing that he could still accidentally shock him. "But all things considered... I think you did pretty well."

open notes: he has Atticus's powers, glasses aren't relevant IC but *nerd energy is present

Was this what it was like for Atticus? Isaac hadn't considered much about what his fellow demigods endured beyond their capabilities and their union of trials that connected each of them.

Isaac's back hit the dirt and as he looked up at the sky there was the briefest moment of disassociation. Cirrus clouds formed from the ascent of dry air, turning the gas into a solid, wispy blanket punctuated by the expanse of blue above them. He steadied a breath before he took another and moved to stand, hyper-aware of the breath as it moved through his lungs and energized his cells.

Rolling away at the opportune moment, his mind seemed to work faster than his body would allow, attuning to it only sometime after the fact. Sand brushed under the palms of his hands as Isaac closed it in a grip, feeling the roughness of the silicon dioxide across his calloused fingertips. Alumina, iron oxide, and calcium oxide - information he'd learned decades prior resurfaced as he ruminated over the memory of it. it hadn't been of much interest to him, but the diagram was plastered on the wall of his wall in Junior year.

A sharp pain echoed through his jaw as a harsh blow sent him reeling onto his back. Isaac tasted iron and still, he couldn't stop from thinking about its origin, its function, but before he was hit again he rolled once more and this time was on his feet. He spat blood onto the sand and then raised his hands, his gaze shot to the taut drawn musculature of the other's soleus and its connection to the Achilles tendon. A debilitating strike but as soon as it surfaced he was onto something else.

"I yield." This was far more difficult than Isaac could have imagined.

[xfireforged]

If Matai had thought he was having a rough time trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he didn't have the powers, or his swords that he had originally had...he couldn't imagine what someone that had just arrived at camp was feeling. He knew that the new son of Hestia that had recently arrived was, no doubt, still trying to take in the fact that he was a demigod and now... well, now he was given someone else's abilities.

"Something happened," Matai stated with a sigh as he moved to shake his head. "We must've pissed the Gods off or something because... Well, they decided we needed to be humbled. You're right, though... Hestia is more fire than water." And given the fact that he had felt a kinship with the previous son of Hestia, whom will forever live in his heart and in what he forges, he wondered if he would have a bond with this one, too.

"I'm the son of Hephaestus. Or... I guess I was? Still am? I'm not sure. Usually, I'm like you - blessed with powers of fire but... instead I've got lightning." From one volatile power to another... It was a good thing he had gotten a better grip of his anger and had felt more at peace with himself.

Location: Training Area

"Today was supposed to be my first day of training and I have...Water abilities? Wasn't Hestia all about hearth and family and what not?" Naden couldn't help the soft frown from making it's way onto his lips. "Am I mixing up the gods and goddesses or something?" He asked with a small frown. "And what am I supposed to do with this? Catch fish?" He asked while waving the trident with a frown.

[xfireforged]

Falling into bed that night, the son of Hephaestus had felt pretty good about himself. While he didn't get completely wild like some of the other godlings, he did actually enjoy himself at this bacchanal night - as opposed to the last one, where he mostly just remained on guard, still reeling from the attack on camp - he didn't expect to wake up feeling like he did. For one, his body didn't feel as on fire as it had been before, his body temperature seemingly normal, and for another? He didn't have his armor on him - as he had made it a habit of putting his armor on before bed, just in case - and instead he was wearing leather armor.

Just as he was starting to feel like he had understood his role in this, understood what it meant to be the son of Hephaestus... Matai no longer could feel that fire burning through him.

At least that meant he wouldn't accidentally spontaneously combust anymore.

Still, it had taken him aback when he began to fly and even more so when he could feel something prickle, his hairs standing on end and shocking himself more and more on every little bit of metal in his cabin - even on the metal dog bowls as he went to feed Ember and Blaze. It didn't take him long to realize that he was given Romeo's powers, and he couldn't help but think...

Did he really have to go from one destructive power to another?

He had felt as though he had understood Romeo and the burden that he had carried, but he supposed that the Gods didn't - he wasn't sure, but he wanted to see if perhaps Virgil knew of a way to somehow counteract this.

Though he doubted it.

"I wouldn't say I have a hold on things... I keep accidentally shocking myself whenever I touch anything metal," Matai stated, a soft sigh leaving his lips before he moved to shake his head. "But hey, at least you won't have to worry about Romeo zapping you." Though who knows what power Romeo had now - it could be just as lethal.

"You think there's a way to reverse this?"

open starter location: mess hall.

Virgil had been sitting in the mess hall for the last couple of hours, his hands covering his ears and his eyes squeezed shut. Coming to the mess hall during sloppy joe night was the surgeon's first mistake. Coming to the mess hall while crowded and also less than a day into getting used to the sudden switch in powers was also a rough mistake by Virgil. He wasn't sure how his body was doing it, but Virgil's body kept crawling itself in goose bumps from being near so many people. "What's going on with me? I feel like I've been shivering since I woke up."

"At least you seem to have a hold on things." Virgil says to the person sitting across from him.