❝ you know, father, ❞ dionysus began conversationally over wine, ❝ i've exhausted all that i could find on the war with the titans—but i've yet to find anything on the quiet moments, those moments in which words cannot express just how precious they truly are. ❞ he paused, peering over the rim of his kantharos with an uncharacteristically shy smile. ❝ …might you have such a tale? ❞ ( for zeus! he wants a story from his dad 🥺 )
there was no subtlety in dionysus' approach, though zeus could hardly fault him for that. the war with the titans was not always an easy time to revisit - there was victory, yes, and plenty of good to remember and cherish. but there was pain, too, memories of broken bodies and falling allies, of betrayal and fear and heartache. fortunately for dionysus, zeus was in a bit of a storytelling mood.
"there were plenty of those moments," zeus confessed, finger tapping the side of his cheek in thought. "most are mundane. nights spent gathered around a campfire, plotting our next moves or recounting what few stories we had to share at the time. i never had much; growing up in gaia's glade left me with little more of interest than days splashing in streams. my siblings had even less than i that did not draw attention to a darker time. but prometheus and metis could regale us with stories that kept us up late into the night. those were good times."
he paused, eyes growing distant. there was so much there, lingering at the edge of his memory. the peals of laughter around the fire and the distinct sound of sobs from within each tent. nights spent under the moonlight stealing kisses or the cold drip of sweat down his back as he waited for a loved one to return from their mission. the good, zeus. remember the good.
"stories were so important," zeus hummed, gaze still glazed. "there was one night, not much different than any other. we were sparring in the clearing, as we often did in those early days. we all had so much to learn, see. this was the first time bia had ever been defeated, and it was by hades no less. we were overjoyed - and so too were our teachers."
he smiled, head tilting to the side. "that was the night they finally told us their story - the real one, of days spent in the sun and nights by the waters of their mother's river. i remember so vividly the way they spoke of the underworld - lawless, but home. it struck me then how grateful i was to have them as allies; those who left the comfort of their home and joined us so that we might someday have a home ourselves."
zeus straightened, shaking himself out of his reverie. "so yes, quite precious. precious beyond measure."
