L.A., California

Ares closed the door behind him and stood still for a moment. His right hand was raised into the air as if holding an object verticly, and all of a sudden seemed to strike it down. A sound little less than thunder bomed throughout the manor, announcing his presence. In the hand which was empty now was occupied by a blackwood rod with a bronze spear tip.

On his left arm he was adorned with his round shield, upon it a graphic of a metal beast. His helm beared the signature hoplite plume which gradiantly changed from red to gold in a pattern across its length. the rest of his armor included writst garuds and onyx chast plating.

His physique trippled he now towered over Aphordite, every muscle that wasn't contained was on display for every one to see. The most stiking feature change however was his eyes,now ambiantly changing from red to gold and back again as his hoplite plume did.

He in the better sence, was now Ares the God of War.

He had never hidden his name to anyone, not even to his contract acomplices; albeit the title of god. The name Ares to them was the same as naming a child Hope or Abraham, it mattered little whether they belived in the old legends or not. Now being amoung his brethren with no one else to see Ares fully shed his decieteful form.

He exhaled a breath as if a burden had been lifted off of him, paying little his head to his half-sister near him he went toward the scorce of the voices she mentioned earlier. He found them in the dining hall; his mother Hera there with his other half-sister Athena. "I take it you both know why we're here?"

Artemis was already on her way back, as she got the message. It was an off day for her. She knew something wasn't right. She was correct, which wasn't that surprising.

She was always the last one to get updates. She didn't particularly like that. Artemis was always exiled from the group as it seemed. Pulling up in the lot, she quickly bounced out, and ran inside the manor. It was depressing, immensely depressing. It didn't really from all her previous endeavours. As she entered, she heard chattering from one side. The dining room; however, Agatha had to become Artemis.

Frankly, Aggie was unsure of what to do. She saw Hera quickly descending on the stairs, and waited, before trying to sneak up to her room. Although, at one point, she did trip. Once there, she felt calmer. Her hair grew, and changed, shimmering into a gold, becoming curlier. It fell against her hips, as she felt her t-shirt, and jeans change as well. Shifting into a Grecian tunic. She was Artemis. Artemis flew down the stairs, entering the dining room with poise. Hoping no one did realize she was late. A mistake she couldn't make up for.

(Insanely short.. Sorry..)

A breeze was all the mortals felt as Hermaine ran around the crowd. It was tempting to stay in mortal form with the sped she was slowly accumulating. A human's form spiritually and mentally was too limited for the few Gods and Titans that roamed carelessly, lost into the depths of insanity. Once insanity has engulfed your body, it would take millenia for the mind to be at ease. The Goddess of Travel is unaware that her sanity is seething away, hints of her god form are already showing. The Fates had warned Hermes after the gender switch his time was soon to take its cut. Hermes was ignorant to the Fate's prophecies and so he lived his life to the fullest. The risks were always undetected but he knew something was wrong after his last trip to the Underworld.

In the modern day Hemaine has heard of fairy tales if you get picked up by a group of fairies,never take a meal offering. If a mortal chooses to eat the food and dance with them then their soul is tied to the other realm. When she heard of the story, she couldn't help but think to the Underworld. The herald messenger was restricted by Hades to go to any places other than the ones his guards allowed him to pass for. On the night of the dead, those spirits in Purgatory were allowed to go to the surface for a short hour. Hermes took that time to sneak past the distracted guards and take a canoe to as far as he can. It turned out Hades felt his presence as soon as he was on the river and set it so that he rowed in circles. As he got out of the boat he caught a short glimpse of a woman in rags, she appeared translucent with long hair.

The lady took two steps toward Hermes, her aura pressed down on his God form pressuring him to back up against the stone wall. Her withered fingers pointed to an area behind the God, when he looked back all there was was his shadow from the candlelight. Hermes looked back to the woman, she disappeared leaving behind a thin wool bracelet with the letter [H] written on a bead. Hermes pocketed the bracelet, he delivered the messages and met up with his Uncle. Hades grew suspicious of the female more than the bracelet, not wanting to bother him about it, Hermes left.

"Damnit, that was the third opening closed." Hermaine threw her frustration into the tree. Before mortals were suspicious of unnatural occurrences, Hermes placed small gaps to the Underworld which were usually hidden by small borders. 'Persephone must have noticed the rips through the Underworld and the other Realms.' Hermaine studied the smooth ground, she was positive the opening was in this area and not off 50 kilometers to the right. The marking on the willow tree next to it supported her point,'Why isn't here? AGGHH!' She threw the boulder at the willow tree, and to her surprise it didn't break. The spot where the willow tree should have snapped tore to the size of a sunflower, shadows flew out lengthening to grab Hermaine.

They caught her by the arms and ankles, one shadow hissed back at the touch of the bracelet. "I don't need escorting." Hermaine hissed at the dark bands engulfing her arms, she dug her heels to the dirt embracing the sharp pain like needles. A woman in white walked from behind the opening, her beady eyes stared wearily at Hermaine like she was remembering a nightmare. The lady parted her dry lips, her voice came out in rasps, "State your purpose."

"Permission....to see Hades." Hermaine's mortal form could only stand so much in the state transitioning into the Underworld, at this point she focused on breathing than strength. Shadows, there were shadows everywhere. They crawled under the trees, slithering, squerming to get closer to her.

"State your purpose." It was just a slight movement but Hermaine caught the hesitation in her eyes, they gazed wearily at the black strands then quickly to the bracelet and then to Hermaine's face.

"Tsk, that's what you wanted all along. You want me to break these bands, don't you? I could see it in your face....like an open book. You know just as well as I do that I don't stand a chance, striking when I'm mortal. Coward, Hermes would have saved you, Liza...he...he..would revive you, give you flesh. Hades..he would never suspect, a loyal messenger coming and going. Please, I'll lend you my blood. Stop the pain..s-stop it!!" Hermaine found it more difficult to breath, the shadows stayed clear from her left arm but the rest were covering every inch of her torso and legs. Her red eyes stared into the depths of white ones, her head dropped low. "Heh, did you believe me?" Hermaine crained her neck to the side, her layered hair covered most of her face but Liza was able to make out her brown eyes. The shadows recoiled by groups, quickly uncovering her bruised body.

"State your purpose." Liza's voice wavered slightly, her job as the ferryman was tedious and she was not informed of the Goddess trying to enter. Hermaine's posture stiffened, her fists clenched and unclenched, "Uncle Hades. I have a message." They stood silently as Liza contemplated on her decision, finding no another reason to refuse she walked inside the opening. Hermaine followed quickly fingering the bracelet, "Row me to land, and from there I can handle myself."

Hermaine stopped short in front of Hades, dust clouds covered her from the knees under. Reflexively she did a slight bow and a nod to the others, "Zeus wants us at Pegasus Manor. The others are already there, it seems a war is coming."

Hades – Dmitri Ruslan

Private Fourth Floor - Madame’s Strip Bar (Brothel)

(Sorry Cloud, I posted where Hades was several posts back. He wasn't in The Underworld so if you missed that post, it's still there. He's in Madame's.)

The demons, minions, and henchmen left their boss alone to sit within the center of the lounge area, while they lingered about the chairs and tables hugging the walls and whispering sensations into the ears of the succubae and incubi. Hades remained in the chair he had been in before. His arms rested along the armrests with a shot of Jack Daniels in one hand and the bottle in the other. Upon gazing at the shot glass, it made him feel disappointed that he was unable to share a drink with his wife. He turned the glass with his thumb and fingers, staring with eyes racked with fatigue from his long day. About now, he would have preferred the Cabernet Sauvignon wetting his tongue and perhaps the lips of his queen.


At the doors of the bar, the bouncers had first made a motion to stop the young girl who had boldly stridden in as though she might have been expected. Surely not; she was but a teenager, and probably just entered high school. About her though, they had sensed the presence of a god, and not just any god, Hermes. His female guise had puzzled them, but they asked no questions and she would tell no lies. One of the bouncers tore from a roll of paper at his hip a bright-yellow bracelet that they wrapped about her wrist. Regardless if she were a god or not, to the eyes of mortals, she was only a minor.

“He’s up on the fourth floor,” the bouncer informed. The Underworld knew of Hermes’s importance to their lord. He helped escort lost and fresh souls to Charon, and thus was treated like a VIP despite his…current alteration.

As Hermaine made her way to the fourth floor, she would hear all sorts of noises: laughter and the obscene. The main show was on the first floor with half-naked women twirling about poles and shaking their bare hips for their dollar-tossing audiences. On the fourth floor, there were several rooms, but they were all dead silent. A bouncer dressed in a suit and tie stood before the door to a private den, and upon seeing Hermaine, his lip cocked in a manner that read: What the fuck? But as the young girl neared, his brows lifted in disbelief at the god presence that began to thicken strongly around him.

The bouncer stepped aside and warned, “The boss isn’t in a good mood.”

As the girl would enter, she would find a stairwell of only five steps that lowered her into a den. The lounge area was right before her and the smell of secondhand smoke still permeated the air. Dmitri gave one look at the girl that had entered his den and glanced left and then right to his henchmen who gave him startled and oblivious stares.

“What is this?” Dmitri questioned. “Who let this fucking kid in here?”

There was silence and as the young woman approached, the mafia boss arched a slow brow. The presence was familiar but the woman that stood before him was not who he was expecting. He was unaware of the Hermes and Aphrodite incident that had morphed his mortal form into a woman. When it came to the world above, there was a major lack of communication. Hades didn’t converse with the gods or got involved in any of their affairs, and they didn’t stick their noses in his business.

“Hermes?” he queried. He had spoken the god’s name aloud for the only creatures that shared the private room with him were Underlings. His hazel eyes continued to probe the teenager curiously until his lips curled in mirth. A snicker ground behind his nose and his lips slid back to flash his white teeth. Dmitri hung his head as his grip tightened on his shot glass and the bottle of Jack. He then threw his head back as his body shook from the laughter that erupted forth.

Zeus wants us at Pegasus Manor. The others are already there, it seems a war is coming.

Hermaine had tried to inform the god, but Dmitri was sliding down in his seat. He beckoned one of the prostitutes over with a wave of his shot glass as the woman from before took his glass and the bottle of Jack from him. Dmitri rested a hand upon his burning abdomen, his insides ached but the humor had been refreshing. He wiped his eyes and then exhaled softly.

“Gods that was brilliant,” he muttered. He then sat back up in his chair and tilted his head to the side as he prepared to respond to Hermes with the response he always gave whenever Zeus tried to invite him/demand he show at any of his occasions. “Over my dead fucking body.”

As soon as the mafia boss made that comment, a loud boom of thunder shook the foundations of the brothel and the power within the entire establishment shut off, bathing everyone in darkness. Dmitri sighed in exasperation. He was going to lose business this way. “All right,” he agreed, and the power flicked back on. Douche bag.

The mafia boss stood and leisurely started for the steps with one hand dipped in his right pants pocket with his thumb poking out, and the other swaying to his stride. “You can tell, Brandon that I am on my way.” He knew Hermes would reach the manor before him. He could have shadow-walked his way there, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to confront his brother yet. He had a hunch the meeting wasn’t going to be pleasant.

Hera gave a small shake of her head and then folded her arms."Were obviously here because someone in the family had the gall to kill a Titan, and I want to know what could have possessed your Uncle Hades to such a thing!" As she spoke her usual dark blue eyes turned a violent shade of purple and seemed to burn brighter then ever before. To say she was merely pissed could have possibly been the understatement of the century. She turned towards Athena and smiled lightly."This isn't your brothers fault actually. " She raised an eyebrow as Athena stared down Ares with a rather disgusted expression on her face."I know you two don't get along and heaven forbid I don't get along all the time with everyone, but I think this is a rare time that we all need to set aside our petty differences and do our best to try and....help each other out of this." She grit her teeth and then began to rub her temples with her fingers.

"Your very temperamental father is upstairs in his room, probably changing or breaking things so he should be down shortly.I believe Dionysus should be here shortly then when Hermes returns from whatever he...or she or...OH WHATEVER when Hermes returns I'm sure we can discuss everything."

Hera's eye returned to their normal dark blue and she leaned back in her chair, dangling her pale legs one over the other."Someone should contact the Fates about all this soon..."

Demeter had been waiting impatiently at Pegasus Manor, irritated that the damn god of the Underworld hadn't brought back her daughter. Truthfully, how hard was it for him to see that his wife would be happy if she got to see her parents from time to time? Even if Zeus didn't openly show much care - which he did sometimes - that their daughter was married to that fiend, this goddess wasn't ready to hand over her daughter just yet. Even after all these years she still hated the idea. The nerve Hades had to steal away her daughter like a thief. Then again, you could never get much lower than that lust-filled monster.

From the chair she sat in in the dark corner of one of the back rooms, she could have sworn she heard voices. Distant of course, but definately voices. It was only several more moments before she heard her daughter's impatient voice yelling for her father and asking questions. Demeter shot up from her seat and raced down the hallway to greet her daughter. Without any warning what-so-ever, the beautiful brunette threw her arms around Persephone and embraced her fully.

"Darling, oh I've missed you!" There would never be another mother who loved their child more than Demeter. Even if the father of her child was Zeus - she still wasn't too proud of that, but he had a way with things... - she'd give up anything to see her happy. She pulled back slightly to examine her daughter's beautiful face, but it faltered as she noticed the blood stains on her shirt. "Persephone, what happened?" she asked, aghast. "Are you alright? Has that devil hurt you?"

[[sorry for the shortness...]]

Ares glared back at his half-sister, all too ready to accuse him of wrong doing. His mother clarified that it was Hades who literally fired the first shot, and also tried to dispell the tension in the room, "Anette" reiterated the message. The God of War glared at all of them and said in a low voice, "Don't lecture me on what has to be done. You know, despite popular belief, I came here to get down to bussiness and not dick off unlike some people." His intent was on Athena and under his breath he muttered, "Pretentious bitch."

He had little patience with the goddess, always pretending that she was so much wiser and better than others esspecially him. Dwelling on meaningless generalities and overcompensating her own faults with her "intelect", when in truth they had little practical means of accomplishing anything. She was not immune to pride, she was just more subtle about it, or in this case blatent.

His vision spread to all present in the room and continued, "I have been preparing for this since we awoke, hell this war is the reason we woke up in the first place! And you want to lecture me on working together for a common goal, when all of you were playing "lets fit in"? Am I really the only one who saw this coming? The war was unfinished! It never stopped in the first place! This is supposed to happen!

AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO FUCKING PREPARED FOR IT, WHILE ALL OF YOU WERE PLAYING DRESS-UP! SO DON'T ANY OF YOU LECTURE ME ON WHATS IMPORTANT LIKE THE HYPOCRITES YOU ARE!" His eyes were seething in anger and rage, his voice boomed through every hall in the structure so that anyone within could hear loudly and clearly with no mistake in his choice of words. And roared Ares at the ceiling, "YOU LEAST OF ALL ZEUS!"

He didn't care weather or not this made his father angry or his mother unhappy, he didn't care if his words struck a chord,they were supposed to, for they were the truth for him; undeniable. His eyes went back to Athena for one more time and said, "And don't even start. Anything you say won't surprise me in the least bit, it'll be the same song and dance as ever. Nothing in this fucking family changes."

He had been looking for an excuse to rant like this for a long time, and he siezed it as soon as he saw it. All formlity and faulse politeness that the others embraced, he had been thrown out the window. Likely there would be "hell to pay", but it was better to him than maintaining thier rediculous and faulse self-image.

"Are you done my angry little preteen? Or perhaps would you like us to wait a bit longer while all that frustration? Do you think I feel calm at the moment? No I don't. I feel like killing everyone single Titan and my Brother for starting this. I however find that keeping your temper during situations like this is the best thing to do. Not act like a child throwing a tantrum and blaming other for things. So do not think to raise your voice towards me...Ares..."

Her son scoffed at her, "And that "mother" is the hypocrisy of which I speak. All of you are children, always playing your little games, I believe I have a right to be angry after all of these eons. I no longer hold any respect for anyone here, and even less faith. It was not a tantrum, its had a long time coming, and I will raise my voice to you, to dad, or anyone else thats failed to act in all of this time. I think not myself privalged, I should have done what Hades did in the first place and ended this myself if I had to. I am almost as much to blame for my inaction."

She spoke to him as if he were still only a child, but in his mind he had grown far more than any of his brethren, though horridly blunt he may be. "I am ready however to discuss plans, I merely wish none of you to treat me as a hormone driven adolecent, incapable of doing a man's job."

Then, one of his least favorite people, though he had few favorites to be fair, Dionysus in all his impertinent glory slithered in. A useless god who fancied only entertainment. "There is no 'we', only I and the few others who will actually fight. You have no place here. Leave."

His mother suggested the help of the Fates, but Ares couldn't help but protest, "What will that change, if they already know what is going to happen? But go ahead if you wish, if you want comfort."

"Very mature Ares... very mature" Athena commented raising an eyebrow at him for his sudden and unreasonable outburst. "Pretentious bitch" she heard him mutter under his breath. Under the table, Athena was clenching her fists. If it wasn't for Hera intervening, her fists may have come into use.. or preferably her spear.
It wasn't a wise course of action but it was a very satisfying idea.
"I agree with Hera.. we should seek the Fates on this matter and decide whatever else from there.." She turned her head noticing the entrance of Dionysus as he sat down beside Aphrodite.
"There is no 'we', only I and the few others who will actually fight. You have no place here. Leave." Ares demanded at him.
"You're being unreasonable Ares!" she yelled at him. "We are all Gods and Goddesses here and thus have a place at this table and in this war!" She yelled more then breathed in and out trying to calm herself.
"We, as they said.... need to work together. The world needs us... the humans need us" she said softly.
"It is rather sad that the only time everyone in this little "Family" gathers together is when someone dies or there's a war!" she realised Dionysus' words.
She turned her head to him. "Yes it is very sad..." she said then glared at Ares.
"Are you one of us God of War? Or a Titan!"

Persephone held tight to her mother and then glared at Dionysus. Se turned her emerald eyes on Ares and smiled slightly."I do wish everyone could stop getting so angry. Ares, I agree that perhaps as a God I should have done something instead of just trying to fit in. " Persephone clutched her mothers hand and then turned her body to face the others."I envy mortals. I envy them because every day is so precious, because they know that they won't live forever. "

Small tears began to pour from her cheeks and she moved her left hand to wipe them away."I am envious of them, because I want to be them. Maybe you all like being Gods. Maybe some of you feel like I do! The matter is that we can't change who we are but I know for certain that I want to help these creatures we call humans survive. Even if it means my own death."

Persephone walked towards Ares and laid a small hand on his shoulder, flashing her angelic smile towards him while a few tears remained on her face." Big brother we do need your help. We need everyone's cooperation in this. No more fighting, no more anger. We just need to win."

She shook her head and then rubbed her eyes once more, feeling slightly shameful for crying in front of everyone. She missed her husband, and wished that he would hurry along to get here.

"So...sorry I just thought I should get my opinion out there..." Persephone gulped slightly and then nervously chuckled before looking at the ground and avoiding the other Gods eyes. "

Ares was ready to shoot back at Athena, as he stated nothing she said surprised him in the least but...

The God of War had not expected this; Persephone getting her opinion in. Unlike the others who were ready to pass off his strong opinions as "Ares being Ares", instead she implored him to quell his anger and at least listen for the sake of the people he wanted to protect. And it actually struck a chord with him.

Her eyes stared at the grond, and Ares stance loosened, she was in tears...she called him brother...no one ever refered to him as a brother without distain in ther voice. It was as if she actually considered herself real blood with him, and not just another half brother. His spear hand laid the weaponon the table and traveled to her chin lifting it up to meet his eyes, "That is exactly what I was trying to say, I just..." For once a pang of guilt welled within him, he hesitated a little but managed to say, "You're right, and I envy them too. Don't worry we'll handle this and everyone can just be in their merry way I promise." And uncharacteristicly he gave her a reasuring smile, tender and understanding. She must have seen her husband kill the Titan.

He released her and looked to the rest, swallowed his pride and said to the others now regaining his steely gaze, "I'll get on your asses later, as I said I didn't come here to be a dick, I came here to resolve this." His vision traveled to Dionysus, "Except you, your still just an ass."

His father barged in barking as he always did and a deep scowl appeared on Ares lips, pretty much stating what he himself was trying to get across, and all of it painfully obvious. "I will fight, no shit there," he answered Zeus' request for accounability.

Then Hades chimed in,and the scowl on Ares lips converted into a knowing smile; he couldn't wait to see how Uncle and Dad would react to eachother.

Artemis didn't speak. She didn't even glance at her relatives. She just listened.

She listened to all the insults Ares, and Athena shot at each other. When Dmitri strolled in, Aggie didn't even cast a second glance in his direction. Too preoccupied in what was actually happening. War. Actually, it kind of pissed her off. Everything in life was sort of like a domino effect. One thing setting off another. This theory was something that lived in her mind. It was one she thought about many times. Agatha casted a glance at her father, and Hades, and then everyone seated around the table. Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, Persephone, Dionysus, just all the Olympians.

Her lips curled into a small smile. We can win this war. The thought slithered through her opened mind. Artemis finally found herself paying attention.

Persephone smiled towards Ares and then froze when she saw her husband walk in as if nothing was the matter. She flashed a small smile towards her mother and wandered over to her husbands side, ready to perhaps speak on his behalf should her father become too angry. She looked directly at her father and straightened up."I..I am no fighter but I will do my best to help us win this war. I will join with you all."

Her emerald green eye flickered brightly with the hope of everyone finally being mature and settling their differences . Persephone stepped slightly close towards her husband and almost nervously brushed her hand against his."Your....your so.....INTOLERABLE!" She said scrunching up her face and then lightly poking her husband in the arm. She flung her arm's around him tightly and then blushed when she realized that they weren't exactly alone.

"Pardon me....ahem..." She said coughing slightly in order to hide her embarrassment.She smiled up towards her husband and then whispered towards him."Your intolerable...but I still love you." She crossed her arms and looked away from him, and almost as if she was on some sort of a childish streak she gave a grin towards Dionysus and stuck her tongue out at him.

We may actually win this thing.

He casually strode, equipped with a backpack in his unassuming form avoiding contact as he made his way through the underbelly of the building that most people never see, only its employees. The walls were lined with pipes and insulated wires; the veins of the building. His face grew a familiar devilish smile as he slinked into a restricted area, two men in staff uniform were there, and when they noticed him they were taken aback by the presence of non-personnel.

One opened his mouth to state the obvious, “Um sir you’re not supposed to be-” In less time then they could perceive and react Cronos unveiled a silenced pistol, not his weapon of choice mind you, but he was here for business first and pleasure later. He smacked his lips in a rhythm one would recognize as “Shave and a Haircut” and proceeded into the restricted chamber. There another staff member was there and of course at the sight of the man he uttered “What-” before a bullet penetrated his lower left leg.

He predictably howled in agony and attempted to reach for his radio, but Cronos was quick to remove it from him and destroy it. The madman unsheathed his knife and grasped the face of the staff member as he mumbled in fear and disbelief under his hand. Cronos made shushing sounds at him as if it would comfort him, “Don’t worry I won’t be cruel, I’d just like to get to know you. Tell me, what is your name?” His voice was honeyed and almost affectionate, but when the man was hesitant to answer he venomously shouted, “YOUR NAME!”

Feebly the hostage responded, “D-David Miles Sir.” David had never considered the possibility of a psychopath ever coming into contact with him; this was just a regular day job there was no reason for anyone with any history to be here.

But Cronos didn’t need a reason.

“Tell me David,” his tone was honeyed once more, “what do you fear most, and don’t say it’s me I’ve heard that one a million times.” No exaggeration.

David was still much paralyzed to speak, but not wishing to test his assailant’s patience he managed, “N-Never seeing my wife and daughters again.”

Cronos smiled at him, “Ah yes, another family man, in that case you have little to fear.”
A feeling of relief began to well within David, maybe this man had some sort of decency though warped they may be. But such feelings left him when Cronos raised the knife and said continuing his honeyed tone, “They won’t miss you for long.”

David’s eyes were the size of dinner plates as he faced his mortality, “Wait! Please, my family needs me-” Cronos was deaf to his pleas as he punctured David’s abdomen mercilessly and in repetition, “Please stop…don’t do this…” David’s breath left him as Cronos carved though his flesh, tears pouring from its origin glands as regret for never completing his plans in life settled in his mind, and eventually he simply ceased to move.

Cronos removed the knife from David’s body and did a quick taste of the fluids present on it. Sheathing the weapon, the mad Titan unequipped his backpack and brought out its contents. It wouldn’t take an expert to determine the object as such a device was usually not very subtle considering the size.

An explosive, one of many Cronos had placed all over the city, sure doing it all himself took what many would consider to be forever the Titan did have all of the time in the world. He alone knew of their existence, and he alone possessed the detonator, meaning that at his leisure… that is to say when his Titan brethren were ready.

The city would be engulfed in flames and chaos. All explosives cleverly placed at a great number of response centers and traffic junctions, inhibiting peoples’ ability to fend for themselves. The ensuing panic would be ripe and he could already hear their cries of anguish and despair. The Olympians would have no choice but to respond and in full force on his terms.

Glorious.

After setting the device the Titan took out his phone planning on making a call and “removing the evidence” soon after. As he waited the call to go through he vibrated his lips and hummed, effectively trumpeting a song one would recognize as “Camptown Races”. Growing impatient he muttered, “C’mon Iapetus pickup, pickup pickup.”

Hades – Dmitri Ruslan

The Beach

Bernard opened the door for his boss. Dmitri stepped from the black Ford, folding the collar of his shirt. For once, he hadn’t been wearing a suit. On the ride over to the beach, he had changed his clothes to something more casual and not too cheap to make him feel low-class. He had gone through three, expensive suits in one day. They weren’t Armani, but they were still phenomenally expensive.

The salty, ocean breeze caressed his cheeks and made his clothes flag as he gazed upon his lotus seated upon the shore. He smiled with slight anticipation. He had every intention to surprise her. “How do I look?” Dmitri asked Bernard haphazardly.

Bernard blinked in surprise. The god’s question had caught him off guard. It wasn’t an unexpected question, but it seemed worrisome. “Excellent as always, Sir,” the chauffeur replied. He then walked to the passenger side of the car to procure the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and two tulip glasses. He returned to Dmitri, offering the dark bottle to Dmitri like a goose, and then the two glasses.

Dmitri smirked and muttered as he took the bottle and wine glasses from the chauffeur, “Ass-kissing answer as usual,” before he walked around the metal rail to the cement steps that would take him down to the sand bank.

Bernard merely returned a smirk as he watched his boss stride down the sand bank.

The sand hushed his steps and the thundering waves and hiss of the sea foam silenced his approach. The weather felt cool against his white, button-up shirt. Burgundy khakis clung to his hips suspended by a black leather belt and leather sandals held to his feet. Dmitri stopped behind Willow and took a seat behind her, stretching his legs out to her left and right as he leaned forward to rest his chest against her back. He wrapped his arms around her as the spice of his cologne gently wafted about them, mingling with her sweet, honeysuckle aroma. His cheek rested against her own, the light stubble prickling her soft skin as he rested his chin upon her shoulder, the wine glasses and bottle visible for her to see.

“Where were we?” he spoke quietly, a smile curling at his lips.

Persephone smiled as she felt the familiar security and warmth of her husband wrapping his arms around her. "Where were we?"His smooth voice had said into her ears causing a small shiver of delight to spread across her body. She turned her head slowly to look at him and then smiled.

"I'm assuming by you following me, Father has let go of that ridiculous punishment?" She wasn't about to let him answer, but instead pressed her soft lips against his own.

She pulled back after a few seconds and then closed her eyes, grabbing his hand and gently holding it in her own."We are Gods and yet we bicker like unruly children. We demand respect and yet we act as we like, doing whatever we please." She let out a deep sigh and then moved her body backwards, closer against his firm and warm chest.


The smell of the ocean , the warm feeling of the sun on her skin, and her Mother's embrace. Those were the things she had cherished above all else when she came to Earth." I do not know whether to stay on Earth or to go back to the Underworld and avoid all of this, because even now I feel weakened.

I am not used to being on Earth during the time I should be in the Underworld. I can feel my strength leaking out of every pore on my body." She turned her gaze towards the ocean and smiled." So what will we do my love? Will we stay on Earth or shall we go back home?"

Hades – Dmitri Ruslan

The Beach

I'm assuming by you following me, Father has let go of that ridiculous punishment?

Dmitri had parted his lips to reply when she quickly turned and pressed her lips against his own. As their kiss broke with a soft smack, he couldn’t help but smile for she aroused him so greatly. She was so sneaky. He eased back like a recliner for her and set the wine glasses carefully upon the sand so no grains dumped within their bowls. He traced circles upon the back of her hand with his thumb as he listened to her words.

So what will we do my love? Will we stay on Earth or shall we go back home?

He set down the Cabernet and lifted his fingers to stroke her wheat strands behind her ear, and then caressed the side of her neck. “I can take you back to The Underworld if you wish. You will be safe there, but I must help my brother and his children in the war. The armies of The Underworld are crucial in this fight if it is to ever conclude. The Titans know that you are my weakness. I cannot fathom anything happening to you. If you were to be killed…” His eyes trembled and pupils shrank at the thought. “I would go insane. You are my sanity for my rage would set the world ablaze.”

Holding her hair away from her neck, he gently placed kisses along the side of it as his embrace became firm, crossing her arms against her chest as he massaged his fingers into her forearms and wrists.

Adrik's unusual silence stopped when Zeus left the room. A small grimace was plastered on his face. "Well" he started off, slowly rising from his chair. "This is it I guess. I mean. its starting. this war is actually going to continue" he said, standing, the table oddly high because it was made for gods, not gods in human form. He thought of all the human casualties, all the lives, as insignificant as some may be, and shrugged. The anti-climactic reaction was his way of showing he understood. he knew that he wouldn't be able to see all the humans he'd gotten to know over all the years, some of them would probably die, if not all of them if they didn't win this war.
"You know, fuck this" he said, leaning forward, putting his hands on the table. "I mean, I get that we have to do this, but god dammit, let me whine" he said, but didn't continue. "I'm gonna go find a party and get as drunk as I can" he said quietly with a smirk and shrug. "Come with me" he said, to all of them, even though he knew none of them would. Adrik slumped out of the room, not even waiting for any of them to reply, already feeling guilty about whining. He went to his room quickly, and changed. He switched out his triforce shirt for an Arctic Monkeys band shirt. He kept the same tight jeans he wore through most of the day, plus the teal hoodie. He slipped on black vans and started for the door of his room. He reached for the handle, but hesitated. He went back to his closet and pulled his messenger bag out from the back. He filled it with what he felt was necessary. It had the usuals, money, his ipod, along with other miscellaneous objects.
He grabbed the pair of drumsticks that were always on his bedside table. He looked at them for a moment and they started to grow. He smiled faintly and watched them extend. They shined brightly, and one started to curve, a string reaching from the top to the bottom of it, made from weaved gold. Adrik had no idea how the gold was elastic, but it worked for him. The drumsticks turned into a golden bow and quiver. they shined dully and he felt powerful with them in his hands. He willed them to go turn back into drumsticks and they changed quickly. He threw the drumsticks in the bottom of his messenger bag and left his room.
"If anyone's coming hurry up" he said, at the door of the mansion, he quickly slipped out the door.

(OOC: This is going to be a really short post. My apologies, but I don't really have that much to work with and too little time has passed since my last post IC.)

After sending off an explanatory email to Wendy, along with some recommendations as to going about spreading the word of former Congressman Hanson's "grand reentry" into the public view, Iapetus stood on the roof of the Typhoon Hotel. He stared off across the city, not for the purpose of actually trying to see what the Olympians were doing (as the Titan had no knowledge of their location, nor would he actually be able to see the Olympians from this distance), but to gauge the subtle reactions of the environment around them. Such was the price they payed for being the lords of the earth: their domain tended to betray feelings comparatively easily (at least easy compared to the impossibility of such a thing).The air bristled with the feeling of dissent among their ranks, but the whole thing was a difficult process, and required the utmost concentration to pick up anything apart from the strongest, most extreme feelings...

Which of course, meant that it was the perfect time for Gregor's cell phone to go off. Very much annoyed by the disruption of his activity, Iapetus answered the phone, only to hear his lord and brother on the other end of the line. With a touch of sarcasm, the Lord of the West responded:

"You know Cronus, most of us only pretend to use these things... To what do I owe the honor of your call, since we both know this isn't about Coeus."

Athena left the dinner table as Zeus announced "This meeting’s adjourned". She felt very uneasy about this situation.. they hadn't even planned carefully a strategy. She went back to her room aware that she was late for her part time job at the lawyer's office. Not that it was important now with an upcoming war. As she entered her room, she held up her spear to the ceiling. It would be time to use it once again to fight for the greater good.
She lowered the spear somewhat disappointed at how the Gods had turned out. There was a lacking in unity which made them weaker compared to the years before. She frowned somewhat craddling the spear. They still had a good chance of winning this war against the Titans although they weren't sure what was in store for them. The Titans were too few compared to the number of Gods and Goddesses. Fighting alongside Ares would be a pain in the arse.. She couldn't help but think.

Her thoughts drifted back to the meeting as she placed her spear back into its glass case. She had noticed Aphrodite stare in her direction a few times. Was there something she wanted to ask me about...?

Persephone merely smiled under her husbands strong embrace, savoring the feeling of his warm arms around her."I suppose I could go back to the Underworld, for I surely doubt I would be much use here." She looked down at the sand beneath their feet and sighed."I do wish I had been born as Artemis, or even Athena. Not some silly Goddess who can create flowers and such!"

She was Queen of the Underworld and had received powers merely from that title, but surprisingly she only used them when she was in a very awful mood. In fact the only time she seemed to use it is when Hades looks and grins had attracted human girl to bat their eyelashes at him and seduce him. Persephone chuckled at the thought of what she would do to them and then shook her head before twisting her body around and jumping on top of him.


"Will you visit me often if I go back to the Underworld? I will be even more lonely without you there....."She pouted slightly and then rested her right ear to where his heart was."Charon isn't exactly the best conversationalist I've met, and Cerberus isn't the kind of dog I can have cuddle up in bed with me when your not there.."

Hades – Dmitri Ruslan

The Beach

Dmitri stilled his lips as he listened to her woes. "If you had been born Artemis or Athena, I wouldn't be in love with you," he informed. "You are beautiful and that trait is dangerous in itself."

His arms loosened when he felt Willow twisting around to face him and smirked softly when she pounced upon him. Dmitri almost fell back across the sand as his arms locked about the small of her back. "I will visit you and sleep with you [nonsexual of course] every night when my work is done. You should visit the manor when you're bored. You always seemed to like Artemis and Aphrodite, and your hag of a mother."

"Are you hungry?" he questioned. As soon as the mafia boss had asked such a question, Bernard walked from behind him to lower a bag from the New York Bistro. Within it were wrapped deli sandwiches, with homemade chips, and cheesecakes for dessert. Dmitri took the bag and frowned in slight disappointment. "It's not Giovanni's, but it’s not fast-food either." He glanced up to the chauffeur. "If you had brought me McDonalds, you'd be fired and your soul mended into a carpet for the steps of my throne."

Bernard smirked as he jested, "I was at the counter about to order off the Dollar Menu, and then I remembered those exact words, Sir." The chauffer walked off, feeling accomplished for having made his boss smile. It wasn't an easy task, and in fact, he felt as though he were playing with his very life. Dmitri knew he had, which was what made it funny—in a dark way.

Dmitri lowered the bag to Persephone to allow her to dig through it and pick what she liked.