current underworld resident

Source Texts:

The Iliad

The Odyssey

Most of Metamorphosis

Homeric Hymns to the gods

Callimachus Hymns to the gods

Sophocles' Antigone, Ichneutae Fragments

Aeschylus' Seven against Thebes

Aristophanes Lysistrata, Frogs

Euripides' Elektra, Medea, Iphigenia 1, Helen, Suppliants

Lucian Dialogues of the gods/sea gods/dead, Zeus Rants

Sappho's poems

Photius' Bibliotheca

Greek Anthology Book 9

Little Iliad Fragments

The Marriage of Philology and Mercury Book 1&2

Parts of a bunch of other stuff that I havent finished yet

Fanfiction:

Tsoa and Circe

Every Rick Riordan book in the Greek mythology series

Like half? of Lore Olympus

Hades 1 and 2

Troy 2004

Epic the Musical

Disney's Hercules

Stone Blind

wing divider by @/pixynari

Hermes’ brain was running numbers again, which all things considered, was surprising seeing needless Mathematics was usually more of his wife’s thing.

But he had spent 23 minutes making sure Zeus’ new mortal baby didn’t get abandoned in the wilderness, overseen three separate marketplaces in three different cities for a total of two hours, lost 46 minutes to dropping off souls at the Styx that Thanatos had not gotten around two, had then rushed his appointment with the king of the ocean and now had a generous five minutes to check in on whatever his brother had called him for before he was meant to grant his guidance in the Athenian athletic competition which would take around three and a half hours, maybe three and a quarter if he was lucky then he could get in a 15 minute visit to his shrine at Colchis before sundown and still have enough time to pick up his father’s messages for the next day before picking up his nightshift as a psychopomp. 

The door that manifested out of seemingly nowhere and collided with his face reminded him of another timer in his head, notably the one counting the time he had gone without sleep: 197 hours and 43 minutes. Something that just now made itself known as either his vision or his reflexes or his memory capacity had decreased far enough to surprise him with a corridor that ended once you flew down it far enough. It didn’t necessarily help that every millimeter of space that Apollo occupied had to sparkle in a blinding gold, making the floor look like the ceiling and the ceiling like the walls and the walls look like the door and he was still just sitting in front of Apollo’s door and rubbing his head.

The designated timer for the minutes left until he was expected elsewhere ticked down while he quickly unruffled his hair, straightened his feathers and put the hat that had flown off his head back on, scrambling to get off the ground and through the door before he could embarrass himself further. 

The second he entered the bedroom of the god of music he was hit with a familiar front of saffron and mirth scented warmth akin to stepping into the middle of a ceremony at Delphi in the burning summer heat. He didn’t let it distract him as he wove through the many colorful silks hanging from the ceiling like static rivers, glittering in the light streaming in through the little stained glass windows that littered the palace roof. Behind them lay a huge, circular bed, plenty big enough to hold a dozen people at a time, covered with countless piles of blankets in the midst of which Hermes could spot his big brother curled up around a big, golden pillow. 

Whatever noise he might have made colliding with the door it did not seem to have been enough to rouse Apollo from his… nest — or very fluffy womb perhaps. It was only once Hermes fluttered right above his big brother and blew a gust of air into his face that he cracked an eye open. 

“What’chu need?” Hermes chirped just as he watched a smile tug at the corners of Apollo’s mouth.

“Just wanted to waste your time.” With that the older god swiftly caught his little brother by the arm and pulled him into bed with him. Hermes’ face was pressed into a pillow as strong arms enveloped his torso tightly enough to spoil any attempt of escape. The little god kicked and sputtered and protested loudly but the lord of music had always been a wickedly good wrestler so it didn’t take long for Hermes to end up in what was essentially a very cuddly body lock. 

“Pollo!” Said Pollo just squeezed him like a big stuffed animal and hummed contentedly. “I’ve got to be in Olympia in three and a half minutes and I need a minute to get there so if you would—”

“Mhhno.”

Hermes made another futile attempt to struggle against Apollo’s grip. “Mmmyes! The games open with the footraces, if I’m not there—”

“Then they’ll still still know where to run. They can spare you for a couple minutes.”

“They really can’t. And I shouldn’t linger just because—”

“You’ve been speeding around the entire world non stop for over a week, if anyone should be lingering it’s you. Now stop squirming.”

“Pollo—”

“No. Nap time.”

“I—”

“Shut.” He was quickly manoeuvred into a position where only one of Apollo’s arms was wrapped firmly around him so his other hand was free to— oh. Oh no. 

“Hey! That’s no fair!” Hermes attempted to voice his complaints but was quickly silenced by fingers threading through his hair and scratching at his scalp in the exact way that Apollo damn well knew made his bones turn to jelly. “Nooo!” he whined as Apollo’s nails circled the base of his left wing and let a shiver run through his spine even as his wing instinctually flared out to allow for better access. 

“See? You can spare a few hours,” his big brother’s voice soothed in the same tone he used to calm infants. In turn Hermes shook his head though it was really just a weak attempt to get Apollo to brush his fingers over the right spots. “You know Philologia has been complaining about you not being home much.” 

“I have work,” Hermes grumbled before suppressing a groan as Apollo’s touch ghosted over his coverts and along the primary feathers until it played at the very tips, sending tingling sensations through his nervous system. 

“You also have a need for rest.” It really was unfair. Apollo was terribly warm for no discernible reason and his bed was so soft it should be illegal. Against his better judgement, Hermes turned his head so his other wing was no longer pressed into the pillow. Apollo took the opportunity to rearrange himself and the pile of little bother in his arms to rest his back against the headboard and Hermes' head against his chest. For a brief moment Hermes' mind noted that he was in a position to slip out of the other god’s grasp before hands were back in his hair, now massaging at full potential. “There you go, that's good isn’t it?” Apollo soothed while digging into the soft plume at the base of his wings which made Hermes all but melt into his hold.

He could do nothing but hum his approval. “You have a few hours to spare don’t you?” His brother’s soft voice was slowly boring into his brain to bring the timer steadily running forward to a halt. 

“Hah… there was something…?” He barely managed to get out, eyes drooping, the tension in his whole body slowly giving way to exhaustion. There was still time – surely – until he had to be… where exactly?

“No there wasn’t. You can take a little break.” Delicate fingertips brushed along the vanes of his primary feathers. 

“Huh…hm.” 

“Glad you agree.” A gentle kiss was placed onto the crown of his head before Hermes succumbed to the power of Hypnos.

__________________________________________________

When he woke up, big brown eyes were staring right into his soul, strangely familiar face close enough for Hermes to count the hairs between her eyebrows. The laugh of his wife chimed like a bell when he startled back, wings puffing up like a scared chicken. “Goodness, Philo, you scared me! I thought Apollo turned into a woman!” 

“That does seem like something he would do,” his wife joked as she ruffled his feathers back into place. 

One shock was followed by another as Hermes realized that the colourful light streaming in through the ceiling had petered out. “Oh no, how long have I been asleep for?!” 

Philologia gave him a satisfied smile. “Just a few hours, dove, you’re alright.”

“Alright?!” He scrambled to right himself up, instantly falling face first back into the pillows as his circulatory system decided being upright was not an option. “I was supposed to take over for Than hours ago!” he babbled into the pillow as he attempted to escape the small ocean of soft fabrics swallowing him.

“Thanatos can do a few more hours.” Philologia hushed him, gently guiding her husband to sit up with her. 

“He did last night!”

“He has one job, he can do it for a few more hours. You clearly haven’t slept in days, Apollo told me you flew into his door!”

Hermes huffed and crossed his arms over his chest even as Philologia made her signature ‘Don’t pout’ face. “So he was awake! It was all an ambush!”

“Some god of trickery you are,” his wife chuckled, brushing some stray strands of hair out of his face. “Now do you want to get out of here?” She placed a kiss on his lips that made him dizzy. “I heard of a rich guy in Libya who got a little too into philosophy and I would be amenable to raiding his archives with you.” 

As much as it pained him to, he carefully pushed her away. “Philo, I have work–”

“Come with me or I’m getting a divorce.” Grabbing him by the arm, his love pulled them both off the bed and to their feet.

“You can’t just pull that every time!” he protested whereupon he was silenced by another kiss to his lips.