#apollostarter

Apollo's curse ran more than just skin deep, wound into the confines of the avariel's soul, it was there at every turn. In Elysium he had seen it in the way that the passing Gods did not let their eyes linger for too long, marked and claimed, there was divine retribution for those that didn't adhere to this simple practice of decorum. Hyacinth enjoyed that, a love so powerful that it transcended death, one that burned so bright those who looked upon them had to subvert their gaze. The Spartan's nature was to push against his borders, to go to war everyday and return with spoils. For glory and kingdom, but in Elysium the only kingdom to claim was the ground that he stood upon, and those he felled rose to fight again the next day. Paradise Apollo called it, but a gilded cage was still a cage.

The man was a distraction, a product of the attachment that had been sewn between them. Hyacinth had heard it said that there was some personal choice in matters of the heart, that it allowed you a choice with whom you gave your love. The Spartan could lend some credence to this because it hadn't been love at first sight, not for him. Apollo was arrogant and selfish, petulant and tempestuous. His wrath was the thing of legends and his beauty invoked a level of vanity comparable to Hyacinth's. It happened slowly, quietly, a trickle of a stream as the prince entertained the God's advances as he had fairly done so many others.

Even Apollo could be benevolent, even he could be selfless, and if he was petulant it was because he felt slighted. Tempestuous because he was passionate, and wrathful because he was a God. Somewhere between that initial meeting and the days of discus Hyacinth had become taken by the light, and the man who taught him how to draw a bow just as nimbly as he could lob a spear.

Selfishly, Apollo had kept him in their bed when Hyacinth went to rise before dawn. A subject of carnal desires, particularly where the God was concerned, the Spartan acquiesced. Entangled in the other's limbs, Apollo's body bent beneath his in dawn's arch. After Helios the divine beneath him had been associated with the sun above, a particular curiously, because as mid-morning light streamed across him the God's moans had to have reached the skies.

The last of Emma’s things laid in a box in Micah’s arms, relief and grief mixed together at the finality of it all as he lingered in the doorway for a few extra moments. Despite the halfblooded’s losses, more had flocked to the house, little by little Micah could hear the fresh voices as they filtered through the halls, saw the new faces round the corners. Somehow the faiman never really felt like he belonged, the good senator would have disagreed, but this was Emma’s thing - the family that she’d made when he’d only ever really disappointed her. Micah was daydreaming when he bumped into someone near the door, the contents of the box spilling out onto the floor. Books and framed pictures mostly. “Oh- sorry-” Micah said sheepishly as he bent down to gather the belongings up, looked up at the taller figure, “I wasn’t paying attention.” 

Hermes had dropped him off outside of the bathhouse, even from outside Hyacinth could hear the giggling that was going on within. Long stretches away were in character for the God, he’d disappear from Elysia and go where he pleased - leaving Hyacinth to his ruminations. How long had it been since he’d been back here? It felt like just yesterday but as he stepped out into the street a metal carriage came screeching to a halt, blaring an infernal noise that had the Spartan crinkling his nose. Brow creased as he pressed his palm to it and transformed the machine into a hedge bush. The prisoner that the thing had devoured lept out and started shouting in a garbled, Italian dialect that Hyacinth didn’t understand. “You’re welcome, but I’ve no time for your gratitude, be free and take comfort in the knowledge that this beast would not have you today.” Hyacinth passed the man and entered into the heart of the baths. 

 Laughter ricocheted across the old stones as Hyacinth passed empty chamber after empty chamber. Perfumed waters left undisturbed, the patrons of this bathhouse had all congregated in one area and it did not take a brilliant mind such as Hyacinth’s to understand who was at the center of it all. The prince’s weary sigh followed his every step as he stepped through the doorway, still in his chiton, his crimson himation swept behind him. Bronze ankle guards and sandals befitting antiquity, Hyacinth had not cared for the changing times: content in paradise with his love.

A gaggle of varied creatures and people littered the room in various states of undress, Apollo at their center as a grape was passed between his lips. An inflection of magic, and then a hurricane of rose petals left the two of them alone as they fell shamelessly to the ground, littered the cobbled floors and landed amidst the varied baths. “Found you.” 

It was a shame nobody had died, “I didn’t think Gods were into cockblocking like that.” This no dying thing was annoying, even all the members of The Eye that his family had struck down were still walking around. Mortals and supernaturals alike that should have been wiped out by his plague were completely fine. Even those that had bit it had come back and managed to get medical treatment. Things had been chaotic for a while, but it felt a bit impotent all things considered. Definitely not what Dumah was used to. “Doesn’t bode well for the fighting, plus everyone’s just alive and fucking pissed now.”

It really looked like what Apollo was doing was cheating, but Ganymede had to remind himself that what his son did within the confines of his own relationship was between him and Hyacinth. Apollo had always been his favourite son, his trysts were the thing of legend and Ganymede couldn't have been more proud. A gaggle of men fawned over Apollo while Ganymede sat opposite him in the large bath, his bathing suit was a one piece that went over his shoulders to preserve his modesty. "Have you and Hyacinth decided on kids yet? You know your father has been expecting grandkids for a long time now."