#;athena

"Oh, stand, Diomedes. Save the dramatics for Odysseus."

Athena smirks playfully, tilting her head as she pulls him to his feet. She does admire his loyalty, his strength, his tenacity. It's why he is one of her favorites, after all. "I already know all of this. There is no need to pledge yourself all over again. I keep an eye on you just as well as I do Odysseus. Trust me, you two never leave my sight."

— Dr. Constance Morgan to Athena

Unreal, Unearth || Accepting

"You always have a choice, darling. Mankind does have free will." Well, to an extent, anyways. Things that were always meant to happen will happen, but that doesn't mean that people aren't free to live their lives how they choose.

Still, Athena grins, reaching over to gently push a piece of Constance's hair out of her face. Perhaps they were always fated to meet. Perhaps not. Athena doesn't pretend to know about any of that. Fate and prophecies and things that are meant to be are Apollo's area of expertise. She is a woman of logic, first and foremost, even if she is a god. She doesn't rely on fate as much as the others do. She never really has.

     “You seem troubled,” it was an observation, not entirely an offer of condolence, the care was there, the Goddess often cared about people, it had simply been a LONG time since she had graced Gaia with her presence let alone mankind, she’d been there in thoughts and ideas, other than that, it had been quite some time since Athena had taken a physical form to visit mankind. “Tell me your woes.” That was an offer of condolences, something to quell the pain that may have been troubling the other. 

[Sleep Token Meme from @amischiefofmuses for Athena.]

"One eye on the target." ------------

"'Both eyes on the target and lead with your sword'." Athena likely doesn't need even one guess to figure out who she's quoting. Too much time in bad company, it might be said. Or just ... reckless company, known for charging in headlong any chance he gets.

Thera forestalls the expected reaction, roll of eyes or heavy sigh, by adjusting her stance just a little and drawing her bow. It has to be said that her own fighting style matches Athena's more than Ares'; careful, calculating, and at least two different strategies in mind before she even begins.

"Such is the nature of immortality, whether it was willingly received or not. People you care about die. It's not easy to get used to. Perhaps one never gets used to it. It is up to us to decide how we move on, regardless."

It is not often that Athena is called upon anymore, on purpose or otherwise. The world has mostly moved on from her and her kin. She finds her worship in other ways, in the crevices of libraries, in late night studying, in those who need advice or wisdom. To many, she is a gentle voice, a guiding hand, someone who appears when they need it the most. It's not so bad, the modern age. If one doesn't adapt, then they will be left to rot.

Misc dialogue || Accepting

"What have I always told you, Achilles? I will be by your side for as long as you need me to be."

Especially now with eternity stretching before Achilles. Such a punishment is terrifying, and he'd need a goddess other than his mother on his side. Cursed immortals are easy targets. It makes this life infinitely more difficult than it already is. She wouldn't be able to just stand idly by and watch him suffer. It's not her way, at least, not with him.

Misc quotes || Accepting

"There is nothing graceful about loneliness, I fear. You endure it, but to what end?" Not even Athena really has an answer for that. His isolation is by design. Any time anyone gets involved in his endless expanse of life, Thetis can't help but stick her nose into it, much to Athena's irritation. He is a grown man, she tells Thetis. Why does he need your strangling presence? Has he not suffered enough?

She remembers watching Achilles grow up, only wanting the best for him. It's hard, watching him go through this. Even the gods are subject to the whims of the Fates. Athena tried pleading on his behalf a few times, but they only laughed.