Posted straight from a log.
Ares little girl: *Harmonia sat quietly on the arm of her father's throne, watching the conversation between Ares and Strife, the problem inherent in this meeting not yet dawning on her. Her look was full of adoration... young love for Strife, and the worshipping love of a Daddy's girl towards her father. Even without grasping any underlying anger in her father, she was able to tell that any conversation dealing with Rats and cheese and mice playing while cats were away wasn't really headed in the right direction... she tilted her head, blinking confused at her father*
God of War: Harmonia's disorientation and admiring glances aside, Ares was consumed with Strife and the dementia that had apparently taken his toady over......Ares' eyes, only for Strife, inured into a more stoic, typical aloofness after the initial shock of the admittance was heard. Pleasurable. How grand... How grand of Strife to announce that his daughter, his blood, is pleasing to be with. And in such a cursory manner.. "The only.. digging that shall occur is that of your premature grave." Beckoning Strife forward with a finger, and despite the threat just announced, Ares simpers through his words. "You though I would....find this... circumstance agreeable?"
strife_dot_com: Strife's eye's went wide, his eyes darted around the throne room. He shifted and folded his arms to keep from trembling from fear but decided to stand his ground. Pain would accompany him soon enough anyway, so what not prolong it for as long as possible? "AH, yeah...sure..Why not? I mean...yeah, why not? We delivered Zeus' head on a silver platter...kind of...sort of....Well maybe he was in scales but you still got him. " He cleared his throat, trying to divert attention from the subject of conversation, "What did you do with him anyhoo?" He flashed a gooey eyed smile toward Harmonia, his fingers wiggling in a little hardly noticeable wave in her direction.
Ares little girl: *wait...her Father didn't seem at all pleased about this, a fact that was starting to sink in, She tugged lightly on his sleeve, expression forming a slight moue* Daddy... What's so disagreeable about this circumstance? You can't think it's a bad thing
.
God of War: "....Perhaps... I have not been salient enough for you, Strife.." Shrugging Harmonia off his shoulder, Ares grunts. Flipping a thickset arm outward, palm pronounced to the underling's bumbling visage. "I shall be revoltingly clear....." With those ominous words, a sphere of fire-licked flames, azure with the intensity of their heated wrath, forms up from between his thickset fingers and is dismissed, rapidly, in the mooning god's direction....
strife_dot_com: "Oh no...Can't we---" He never had the fleetest feet and while he tried to block the intensity of the blast, the war god was too powerful. He was hit and sent sailing, knocked back a few feet on his back.
God of War: Standing from his throne, Ares with detached theatrics, steps down the stairs of his elaborate chair's dais and approaches the prone godling.... "Stay down, filth.... You have one final opportunity to repent. And perhaps, if it is indeed convincing, I shall spare you the harrowing I've longed to have reason to offer you....." Baleful were the grumblings that began to arise like the ghoulish voices of those long departed. Objects, seemingly inanimate ones, all around the main Temple's public chamber commenced a deep rumbling.... bespeaking of the unrestrained ire brewing in the God the shrine was dedicated to.. "And your answer..?"
Ares little girl: Daddy. *She frowned, watching him, though not making much of a move to stop him.... If her father had a problem with her being with Strife, surely he had a good reason?* You can't blame him...
God of War: Worry not, I plan to blame you, too.
Ares little girl: But... *she silenced, arms hugging around herself, watching in worry...There was little Harm could think of worse then invoking her Father's wrath, and not merely because of the pain it could entail. disappointing her father was out of the question*
strife_dot_com: He eased his way backward, scuttling crab-like, His tone of voice contrite, "I can't give you what you want! C'mon Unc, we've had good times, huh? Haven't I did ....well? I love her!...You know? Yes? No? Not sure?"
Hephaestus: Timing was never one of Hephaestus' charms. Without bothering to alert his brother of his intentions, he phased into the room with a small clatter as new weapons appeared at his feet. In mild shock he looked at the three deities, quickly summing up the potential and probable reasons for the scene before him.
God of War: "You sniveling miscreant excuse for a god." Careening hulking shoulders downward, Ares seizes the front of Strife's clothing about his neck, trawling the scurrying man up off his hands, but not to his feet.... he would dangle there, unless there was protest to the action... "You dare profess that word in my temple? Let alone about MY daughter...." Canting his steep jaw to the right, he mills his teeth. Reeling his left arm backward, that which does not grip Strife, Ares collects his fingers into a fist and readies himself to pummel the menial just as ...He shows up.. Rotating his fiery gaze, War snorts fumes of inky smoke. "I'm kind of busy here, Gimpy. This better be important..."
Ares little girl: *She hissed at the first sight of her step-father....Hephaestus was the only person on Olympus she could honestly feel hatred for.. a hatred usually hidden. This was, however, not the time for overly polite inquiries.*
strife_dot_com: Glaring in Hephestus direction, he hangs in Ares' grasp frozen but squeeking, "Hey there Heph...Ahem."
Hephaestus: "Don't let me interrupt." Hephaestus shrugged as he watched them, gathering from the conversation what was going on. "I was just delivering some toys. Aphrodite told me you needed shiny things." He nodded towards Strife. "Hello."
Ares little girl: Daddy. Like Love is a foreign concept inside these walls... Let him go. He didn't do anything... It's not like I'm not allowed to date whoever I want. *she crossed her arms, resolving to ignore Hephaestus' presence, her back straightening as she showed her father which of his children got his stubbornness*
God of War: "Shut up, Harmonia." All three sets of eyes leered back at the Smith God, enough to make even the most stalwart somewhat uneasy... "O yeah?" Though, at the mention of shiny things, a devious weakness, Ares allows Strife to plummet back toward the marble floor. The insinuation and death threat was blatant - Strife would be more than wise not to move, get up, blink, breathe or do ANYTHING.... Approaching curiously, Ares tilts his head, inspecting what it is that has been fabricated.. "What kind of shiny things?"
Ares little girl: *she made a bit of a strangled sound, her face furrowing into a hurt frown, and fell back into Ares chair, still glaring at him*
strife_dot_com: Falling back onto the floor, Strife looks at Harmonia, mouthing "Run," while turning his attention back to the door to door weapons salesman....Ur no that was Heph...Stop being Nervous...its just death he thought sarcastically. And tapped his fingers along the floor waiting....
Hephaestus: "The normal brand of shiny. An improved model of the gunblade. Some new blades. Some prototypes for projection weapons." Hephaestus shrugged, turning to Ares and pointing out some of the things he listed.
Ares little girl: *she shrugged at Strife, obviously having no intention of running away fom the temple... it was her Father, no matter how annoyed he was.. and she didn't fear him, for herself at any rate. if she left, she didn't want to know what he'd do. Besides - she really did feel that once he got over his shock, they'd be fine. Or. at any rate, alive.*
God of War: Swung his right hand behind himself, blindly aiming his fingers, those now made into the image of a gun, at Strife's mid-section.....he then lowers it, significantly, prominently.. A crackle of lightning ripples down the barrel of the finger gun at Strife's rat-a-tat-tating.. He was however mightily distracted by Heph's new merchandise, and reached for one of the offensively large weapons. "Now this.... This is art."
Hephaestus: "You know I save the best stuff for you. You appreciate it. That one is long, obviously, but perfectly balanced. Once you get it moving it should be light as air." Heph leaned against one of the marble pillars, watching Ares play with the toys, clearly unworried about the rest of the circumstances.
strife_dot_com: Strife's gaze follows Ares fingers as they low and he gulps, rolling into fetal position. Between a low muffle and a high pitched yelp he mocks what Ares just said.
God of War: Strife's scoffing at his threat did not go unnoticed. "You don't say?" Seemingly enthused to try out the gargantuan scimitar, Ares slashes the blade side to side, already appreciative of the description Heph gave the weapon - as it is indeed maneuverable - so maneuverable, in fact, that Strife may not even recognize the hailing attack until it was far too late........ Stroking downward, Ares steps and plunges the arched edge of the weapon down at Strife's huddled side, aspiring to run him right through, pin him to the floor....
Ares little girl: *Harmonia,. watching, just let out a scream worthy of a war cry as she watched the blade go towards her lover*
Hephaestus: Idly, Heph shrugged. "That wasn't the purpose in mind, of course."
strife_dot_com: Not noticing really what Ares was up to, teh shrill scream alerted to him that something was amiss, as out of the corner of his eye he saw the blade and cringed, "No..No.."
God of War: "What in Hades else would it be for?" Spoken in a far too chipper manner, Ares beamed toward the weapon's creator. Descending the scalpel-sharp blade through Strife and it clinking as it bores into the black marble below, Ares releases a satisfied sigh. "Now that, I dig."
strife_dot_com: Howling out in pain, "Fuck me!"
God of War: Not anymore she won't be.
strife_dot_com: Taking hold of the blade he tried to pull it out....shocked.
Ares little girl: Daddy! *she flew out of the chair, grabbing noto Ares' sleeve, a tear streaming down her cheek*
Hephaestus: "How was the balance?"
strife_dot_com: Pinned to the floor he snarled, "Take it out!"
God of War: To prevent the extraction, which is near impossible without cleaving open his chest or back, Ares swivels the weapon side to side, gouging a tunnel into Strife. "Stop twitching, it'll hurt more." Ignoring Harmonia's clinging, he nods obligingly. "Surprisingly equalized. Like a hot knife through butter." Glancing toward the impaled godling on the floor, as if Heph had not yet noticed. "Extremely pleasing."
Ares little girl: Let him go! Daddy, I'll stop seeing him... jus ttstop hurting him, please.... *she turned, glaring at Hephaestus, hands fisting at her side* Tell him to et him go, you bastard!
strife_dot_com: "Ares," he whinned...."Let me up..."
Hephaestus: Hephaestus turned slowly to Harmonia. "I have no control over your father. Strife is learning a lesson I learned long ago. You don't touch what is Ares without permission. It's better this way. Short and sweet."
Ares little girl: I hate you! *she glared, raising her hand, her own fire ball forming at the end and aimed haphazardly towards her mother's spouse*
God of War: Cocking his right ankle across his left, Ares lays a strapping forearm across the sword's hilt's top, relaxing upon the relatively stable rod, seemingly apathetic to the other end, the lethal end, being through something beneath.. Elevating both eyebrows, a dastardly smug look upon his face....Mars glances down to the sniffling Strife.
Hephaestus: Hephaestus just shrugged, leaning out of the way of the blast which shattered something beyond him. "This isn't news."
strife_dot_com: Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth as he looked at Harmonia pitifully, "No...Don't. " Glaring up toward his master, he pleaded, "Let me up...This like...really sucks...I'm like a finger food..." he began to growl and hiss like a hurt badger or wild animal.
God of War: "You do look rather appetizing this way." He mused, "I can see why Harmonia might have found you appealing." Ares, indeed though, would not have "eaten" Strife in quite the same way as his daughter might have......and the thought sickens him, and Strife receives a lurch forward, angling the blade mercilessly in him. "Gimme another one, Heph." Reaching behind him, Ares sneers. "Until you start acting like the subaltern you are, Strife, you shall be put down and kept down. If you cannot understand what it means to be my subordinate metaphorically, then you shall experience it physically."
strife_dot_com: "By what? Being shiskabobbed? Harmonia it would be best if you spare yourself...Get out of here. Dad and I ...we got talk things out some more....It's going to be a while..." he said in a weak, pained voice.
Hephaestus: Hephaestus shrugged and looked over his collection, selecting a modified pike with a jagged edge, and a handle suitable for hand to hand or throwing. Hefting it lightly in his hand for a moment, he then tossed it to Ares.
Ares little girl: I am not leaving. I am not a child! and stop helping him, you freak! *her voice rose with each proclamation, and she growled at Heph, once more pointing her hand towards him and letting out a blast of energy*
God of War: Catching it with a near sixth sense, as he was facing away from Hephaestus, War adjusts the javelin in his secured grasp before directing the point right above Strife's eye. "I'd imagine this'd... also really suck. .. Care to say anything useful yet?"
Hephaestus: His balance faltered with that last blast, and picked up a small globe from the pile, throwing it back towards Harmonia. It didn't harm her, but it threw an energy field around her, containing any blast she might try sending his way. It also kept her from rushing anyone.
strife_dot_com: While pinned to the floor, he thought through the events that led up to this...this crucifixion of sorts. Was the pain getting to him? Was he desensitized to it or something ? He stared at the javelin pointed right in his eyes.....a canine yelp emitted from his lips and he looked through tears at Ares, sniffling and choking on the immortal ichor clotting in his throat. He nodded his head..."Yeow!"
God of War: That is a start.....
strife_dot_com: "I wanna do...what you want me to do..." his voice trembled, as he reach his hand out over Ares boot.
Ares little girl: *she growled, a fist banging out at the air in front of her, realizing qquickly what it was that surrounded her. Still, it didn't keep her from glaring the look of death towards Heph, and turning worried looks towards her father*
God of War: "An exceptional idea." Lifting the blade slightly, a prominent dent in the floor below the pool of leaking divine blood. "You shall cease to court my daughter until the date, if ever, that I deem it acceptable.."
Ares little girl: Daddy! Why?
God of War: Shut up, Harmonia.
strife_dot_com: He continued to lay where he had fallen, hands covering his face, other then whimpering ....silent.
Hephaestus: Hephaestus almost smirked as he watched. "See? Short and sweet. It took me centuries to learn that."
God of War: Some might consider it exceptionally villainous to reduce a grown man, or something relatively close, to tears, blubbering on the floor in pain. To Ares, it was a typical day. "I want your word, Strife."
God of War: I will ignore that giddy-fying opportunity, Gimpy....
Hephaestus: "I'm sure you will, brother."
God of War: It's only because you brought me toys, you know.
strife_dot_com: Crawling, low on his belly he laid his face over on Ares boot, wrapping his arms around his legs in a kind of hug, and continued to whimper, "I'm sorry..."
Hephaestus: "Thank your lover for them."
God of War: "Be that as it may.." Ares uprooted one of his sable brows, he nudged the God of Dissension slightly with his shin. "Your word here, is required.." Flickering a glance to Hephaestus, Ares winked and returned his gaze to the prostrating man below..
strife_dot_com: Each hand feeled the cold marble floor as he stablized himself on all fours and then sat back on his haunches, holding the large gapping hole in his side as he eased his way up on two feet..."Word?" Why was that so difficult to say...to actually say what Ares wanted him to was having a hard time coming and he glared around the temple....No ambrosia...Wasn't that always the fucking case? Never nothing around when you really wanted it.
God of War: ........ YOUR WORD, MAGGOT!
God of War: NOW!
Ares little girl: *she just signed softly, watching, her shoulders slowly losing their rigidness, her voice soft.* Daddy. I won't. It's ok.
strife_dot_com: He glanced back toward Ares, "Well you see....you might want to clarify in words...exactly what word you want me to say....cause the blood isn't really going to the brain.......I've sort of got a major LEAKAGE! " He stared at Harmonia entrapped in a bubble and turned to Heph, "Did you really have to fucking do that? I mean first you give her that fucking necklace, destroy her children! If it weren't for Ares here....Where would she be? But I guess that doesn't even matter now.....Water over the bridge...."
Hephaestus: The only thing that kept Heph from reacting to the booming sound of War's wrath was that it wasn't aimed at him, as it had been many times before. Even with his familiarity, he knew he'd have trouble resisting the demands that were bellowed.
Hephaestus: "Under the bridge - the expression is water under the bridge. And I did that to keep her from getting hurt. The necklace is old news."
God of War: Heaving the javelin up over his shoulder, poised to launch it, and Strife, across the room and spear him on the wall. His daughter's words were considered a moment. "....No. No, I want his damn word. And if he does not SHUT UP immediately and PLEDGE HIS WORD TO ME... RIGHT NOW... THAT HE WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO SEE MY DAUGHTER UNTIL, IF EVER, I DEEM IT APPROPRIATE HE IS GOING TO FUCKING DIE!"
strife_dot_com: Oh yeah...over...under...Fuck....I can't tell up from down right now...Just bare with me.
Ares little girl: Strife... Just tell him. Give him your word. Please.
strife_dot_com: He looked at the javelin and stared at Harmonia, "If that's what you want? I'll do what you want...But first?" He strolled toward Ares and his javelin and glanced at Heph, "Can I please have something sharp? I hate to use my switchblade...and then I'll give Ares my word.
Ares little girl: I want you not dead because of me.
God of War: Those rumblings that had occurred at the midway of the meeting were now thunderous roars. Churning waves in the very walls that surrounded the four divine beings. Energy, blood red with the morbid zeal now coursing through the War God, flared about untamedly, down the arm that clutched the spear. "...... Idiot." That was Strife's one chance. With the momentum of the wind, of sound itself, Ares throws the honed shaft for Strife's chest brutishly.
Hephaestus: Heph raised a brow at the request and shrugged, looking towards Ares.
Ares little girl: Nooooo! *she cringed, unable to look away as she watched, arms hugging her shoulders tight*
strife_dot_com: Pierced through the chest, "That's what it feels like.." he is pinned to the wall. He stared at Heph more then a little disappointed...."You would make me use my own knife? Fucker...." He looked at Ares, "Man...no patience...You'll have to some over here now!"
Hephaestus: "What was the intended purpose of the sharp instrument?"
God of War: "Impudent little strumpet.." Slicing the air around his wrist with the still grasped sword, War observes Strife the wall decoration with some esteem, not yet going over to him, and somewhat doubtful Strife can extract himself, at least right away. "Perhaps he wishes to do the deed for me?"
God of War: Offer him a thumbtack.
strife_dot_com: Taking his switchblade from his pocket, with a flick he opened it, opening his mouth and slicing his tongue off ....In Ares mind he speaks "Here it is...Come and get it...I'll leave her alone...but I don't want her to hear me say it."
Ares little girl: *That.... that made her turn her head, one hand going to her stomach.*
God of War: Extending his left hand, that not holding the blade, Ares gravitates Strife's severed, limp tongue into his hand and squeezes it. Tipping his invisible helmet to the fallen one, War smirks. "Much obliged... And I'll be keeping this."
Hephaestus: "That would have taken a while with a thumbtack. Do you need water from the River Styx?"
strife_dot_com: "Ares? Can you take me off the wall now? I want to go see mom..."
Ares little girl: *her shoulders shook lightly, both from upset and squickedness... And yet she was stuck here.*
God of War: "No. You look good there. And it's oddly pacifying..." Wagging the severed appendage grotesquely. "Plus! It'll be quiet for once!"
Ares little girl: Daddy.
God of War: Hmn?
Ares little girl: *with a sniff, she held a hand out towards him, and dropped it, unable to reach far* You're not leaving him there, are you?
strife_dot_com: He hang his head, glanced toward Harmonia shaking his head.
God of War: ....Why wouldn't I? You can still come see him, under my supervision.
Ares little girl: Not like that.
Ares little girl: Please?
Ares little girl: *She wouldn't even look towards Strife, her gaze centered only on her father... hurt, but needing him.*
God of War: Irritatedly, he glanced toward Hephaestus, as if for assistance...
Hephaestus: Hephaestus just shrugged, having little experience with such things, and even less with Ares daughter. "You want the shield down?"
God of War: "Yeah.. Take it down.." Descending the tip of the blade, Ares saunters reluctantly over to Strife. Grasping the halberd's thick wooden shank, he jerks the weapon free of his temple's wall, and Strife, consequently... Standing the weapon on end, War shoves Strife's tongue into his leather trousers' pocket and snaps, "I'm keeping this. A week without your nattering will be my reward for putting up with your insubordination. Understood?"
Hephaestus: He nodded and reached towards Harmonia, pulling the energies that surrounded her back to him, releasing her without a word.
strife_dot_com: He gasped, the jerking off as painful as being pinned to. Slipping his knife back into his pocket....he nodded his head to Ares.
Ares little girl: *Once she could move, she took a few steps back to her Father's chair and sat down in it silently, still not watching anything except her feet.*
God of War: Smirking with sincerity, he snickers, "I think this talk went rather well." Shuffling a glance over to his brother once again, War hums, "Don't you think?"
Hephaestus: "On what sort of scale? I found it an interesting test of the new weapons."
strife_dot_com: Glancing toward the throne he sadly shrugs, before kneeling in front of his lord and laying his cheek against Ares's hand, speaking to him in his mind , "Can I be excused now? Please?"
God of War: "Talking with weapons is the best kind, really." Dissolving the weapons into empty slots on the walls around the chamber, War quite lovingly smooths his hand across Strife's downcast cheek. He then claps his rough palms together sharply. "Now. All of you... Get the Hades out of my Temple." Pointing down toward the tongueless Strife. "Especially you." He took a stride backward before inquiringly.. "O, Gimp. Care for a game of Chess tomorrow?"
Hephaestus: "A friendly game of strategy with the War God? Sure." He shrugged again, knowing well enough how the game would go but willing to play. "I'll see you then." With a nod, he quickly faded from the room leaving the pile he arrived with.
strife_dot_com: Staggers out of Ares' temple too weak to pull the energies together to dematerialize or teleport. Pride dead.
Ares little girl: *Harm looked up at her father, wanting to say something but thinking better of it, and stood off his chair, wandering in the other direction. She didn't leave the temple, but she did leave the throne room.*
God of War: Harmonia's disorientation and admiring glances aside, Ares was consumed with Strife and the dementia that had apparently taken his toady over......Ares' eyes, only for Strife, inured into a more stoic, typical aloofness after the initial shock of the admittance was heard. Pleasurable. How grand... How grand of Strife to announce that his daughter, his blood, is pleasing to be with. And in such a cursory manner.. "The only.. digging that shall occur is that of your premature grave." Beckoning Strife forward with a finger, and despite the threat just announced, Ares simpers through his words. "You though I would....find this... circumstance agreeable?"
strife_dot_com: Strife's eye's went wide, his eyes darted around the throne room. He shifted and folded his arms to keep from trembling from fear but decided to stand his ground. Pain would accompany him soon enough anyway, so what not prolong it for as long as possible? "AH, yeah...sure..Why not? I mean...yeah, why not? We delivered Zeus' head on a silver platter...kind of...sort of....Well maybe he was in scales but you still got him. " He cleared his throat, trying to divert attention from the subject of conversation, "What did you do with him anyhoo?" He flashed a gooey eyed smile toward Harmonia, his fingers wiggling in a little hardly noticeable wave in her direction.
Ares little girl: *wait...her Father didn't seem at all pleased about this, a fact that was starting to sink in, She tugged lightly on his sleeve, expression forming a slight moue* Daddy... What's so disagreeable about this circumstance? You can't think it's a bad thing
.
God of War: "....Perhaps... I have not been salient enough for you, Strife.." Shrugging Harmonia off his shoulder, Ares grunts. Flipping a thickset arm outward, palm pronounced to the underling's bumbling visage. "I shall be revoltingly clear....." With those ominous words, a sphere of fire-licked flames, azure with the intensity of their heated wrath, forms up from between his thickset fingers and is dismissed, rapidly, in the mooning god's direction....
strife_dot_com: "Oh no...Can't we---" He never had the fleetest feet and while he tried to block the intensity of the blast, the war god was too powerful. He was hit and sent sailing, knocked back a few feet on his back.
God of War: Standing from his throne, Ares with detached theatrics, steps down the stairs of his elaborate chair's dais and approaches the prone godling.... "Stay down, filth.... You have one final opportunity to repent. And perhaps, if it is indeed convincing, I shall spare you the harrowing I've longed to have reason to offer you....." Baleful were the grumblings that began to arise like the ghoulish voices of those long departed. Objects, seemingly inanimate ones, all around the main Temple's public chamber commenced a deep rumbling.... bespeaking of the unrestrained ire brewing in the God the shrine was dedicated to.. "And your answer..?"
Ares little girl: Daddy. *She frowned, watching him, though not making much of a move to stop him.... If her father had a problem with her being with Strife, surely he had a good reason?* You can't blame him...
God of War: Worry not, I plan to blame you, too.
Ares little girl: But... *she silenced, arms hugging around herself, watching in worry...There was little Harm could think of worse then invoking her Father's wrath, and not merely because of the pain it could entail. disappointing her father was out of the question*
strife_dot_com: He eased his way backward, scuttling crab-like, His tone of voice contrite, "I can't give you what you want! C'mon Unc, we've had good times, huh? Haven't I did ....well? I love her!...You know? Yes? No? Not sure?"
Hephaestus: Timing was never one of Hephaestus' charms. Without bothering to alert his brother of his intentions, he phased into the room with a small clatter as new weapons appeared at his feet. In mild shock he looked at the three deities, quickly summing up the potential and probable reasons for the scene before him.
God of War: "You sniveling miscreant excuse for a god." Careening hulking shoulders downward, Ares seizes the front of Strife's clothing about his neck, trawling the scurrying man up off his hands, but not to his feet.... he would dangle there, unless there was protest to the action... "You dare profess that word in my temple? Let alone about MY daughter...." Canting his steep jaw to the right, he mills his teeth. Reeling his left arm backward, that which does not grip Strife, Ares collects his fingers into a fist and readies himself to pummel the menial just as ...He shows up.. Rotating his fiery gaze, War snorts fumes of inky smoke. "I'm kind of busy here, Gimpy. This better be important..."
Ares little girl: *She hissed at the first sight of her step-father....Hephaestus was the only person on Olympus she could honestly feel hatred for.. a hatred usually hidden. This was, however, not the time for overly polite inquiries.*
strife_dot_com: Glaring in Hephestus direction, he hangs in Ares' grasp frozen but squeeking, "Hey there Heph...Ahem."
Hephaestus: "Don't let me interrupt." Hephaestus shrugged as he watched them, gathering from the conversation what was going on. "I was just delivering some toys. Aphrodite told me you needed shiny things." He nodded towards Strife. "Hello."
Ares little girl: Daddy. Like Love is a foreign concept inside these walls... Let him go. He didn't do anything... It's not like I'm not allowed to date whoever I want. *she crossed her arms, resolving to ignore Hephaestus' presence, her back straightening as she showed her father which of his children got his stubbornness*
God of War: "Shut up, Harmonia." All three sets of eyes leered back at the Smith God, enough to make even the most stalwart somewhat uneasy... "O yeah?" Though, at the mention of shiny things, a devious weakness, Ares allows Strife to plummet back toward the marble floor. The insinuation and death threat was blatant - Strife would be more than wise not to move, get up, blink, breathe or do ANYTHING.... Approaching curiously, Ares tilts his head, inspecting what it is that has been fabricated.. "What kind of shiny things?"
Ares little girl: *she made a bit of a strangled sound, her face furrowing into a hurt frown, and fell back into Ares chair, still glaring at him*
strife_dot_com: Falling back onto the floor, Strife looks at Harmonia, mouthing "Run," while turning his attention back to the door to door weapons salesman....Ur no that was Heph...Stop being Nervous...its just death he thought sarcastically. And tapped his fingers along the floor waiting....
Hephaestus: "The normal brand of shiny. An improved model of the gunblade. Some new blades. Some prototypes for projection weapons." Hephaestus shrugged, turning to Ares and pointing out some of the things he listed.
Ares little girl: *she shrugged at Strife, obviously having no intention of running away fom the temple... it was her Father, no matter how annoyed he was.. and she didn't fear him, for herself at any rate. if she left, she didn't want to know what he'd do. Besides - she really did feel that once he got over his shock, they'd be fine. Or. at any rate, alive.*
God of War: Swung his right hand behind himself, blindly aiming his fingers, those now made into the image of a gun, at Strife's mid-section.....he then lowers it, significantly, prominently.. A crackle of lightning ripples down the barrel of the finger gun at Strife's rat-a-tat-tating.. He was however mightily distracted by Heph's new merchandise, and reached for one of the offensively large weapons. "Now this.... This is art."
Hephaestus: "You know I save the best stuff for you. You appreciate it. That one is long, obviously, but perfectly balanced. Once you get it moving it should be light as air." Heph leaned against one of the marble pillars, watching Ares play with the toys, clearly unworried about the rest of the circumstances.
strife_dot_com: Strife's gaze follows Ares fingers as they low and he gulps, rolling into fetal position. Between a low muffle and a high pitched yelp he mocks what Ares just said.
God of War: Strife's scoffing at his threat did not go unnoticed. "You don't say?" Seemingly enthused to try out the gargantuan scimitar, Ares slashes the blade side to side, already appreciative of the description Heph gave the weapon - as it is indeed maneuverable - so maneuverable, in fact, that Strife may not even recognize the hailing attack until it was far too late........ Stroking downward, Ares steps and plunges the arched edge of the weapon down at Strife's huddled side, aspiring to run him right through, pin him to the floor....
Ares little girl: *Harmonia,. watching, just let out a scream worthy of a war cry as she watched the blade go towards her lover*
Hephaestus: Idly, Heph shrugged. "That wasn't the purpose in mind, of course."
strife_dot_com: Not noticing really what Ares was up to, teh shrill scream alerted to him that something was amiss, as out of the corner of his eye he saw the blade and cringed, "No..No.."
God of War: "What in Hades else would it be for?" Spoken in a far too chipper manner, Ares beamed toward the weapon's creator. Descending the scalpel-sharp blade through Strife and it clinking as it bores into the black marble below, Ares releases a satisfied sigh. "Now that, I dig."
strife_dot_com: Howling out in pain, "Fuck me!"
God of War: Not anymore she won't be.
strife_dot_com: Taking hold of the blade he tried to pull it out....shocked.
Ares little girl: Daddy! *she flew out of the chair, grabbing noto Ares' sleeve, a tear streaming down her cheek*
Hephaestus: "How was the balance?"
strife_dot_com: Pinned to the floor he snarled, "Take it out!"
God of War: To prevent the extraction, which is near impossible without cleaving open his chest or back, Ares swivels the weapon side to side, gouging a tunnel into Strife. "Stop twitching, it'll hurt more." Ignoring Harmonia's clinging, he nods obligingly. "Surprisingly equalized. Like a hot knife through butter." Glancing toward the impaled godling on the floor, as if Heph had not yet noticed. "Extremely pleasing."
Ares little girl: Let him go! Daddy, I'll stop seeing him... jus ttstop hurting him, please.... *she turned, glaring at Hephaestus, hands fisting at her side* Tell him to et him go, you bastard!
strife_dot_com: "Ares," he whinned...."Let me up..."
Hephaestus: Hephaestus turned slowly to Harmonia. "I have no control over your father. Strife is learning a lesson I learned long ago. You don't touch what is Ares without permission. It's better this way. Short and sweet."
Ares little girl: I hate you! *she glared, raising her hand, her own fire ball forming at the end and aimed haphazardly towards her mother's spouse*
God of War: Cocking his right ankle across his left, Ares lays a strapping forearm across the sword's hilt's top, relaxing upon the relatively stable rod, seemingly apathetic to the other end, the lethal end, being through something beneath.. Elevating both eyebrows, a dastardly smug look upon his face....Mars glances down to the sniffling Strife.
Hephaestus: Hephaestus just shrugged, leaning out of the way of the blast which shattered something beyond him. "This isn't news."
strife_dot_com: Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth as he looked at Harmonia pitifully, "No...Don't. " Glaring up toward his master, he pleaded, "Let me up...This like...really sucks...I'm like a finger food..." he began to growl and hiss like a hurt badger or wild animal.
God of War: "You do look rather appetizing this way." He mused, "I can see why Harmonia might have found you appealing." Ares, indeed though, would not have "eaten" Strife in quite the same way as his daughter might have......and the thought sickens him, and Strife receives a lurch forward, angling the blade mercilessly in him. "Gimme another one, Heph." Reaching behind him, Ares sneers. "Until you start acting like the subaltern you are, Strife, you shall be put down and kept down. If you cannot understand what it means to be my subordinate metaphorically, then you shall experience it physically."
strife_dot_com: "By what? Being shiskabobbed? Harmonia it would be best if you spare yourself...Get out of here. Dad and I ...we got talk things out some more....It's going to be a while..." he said in a weak, pained voice.
Hephaestus: Hephaestus shrugged and looked over his collection, selecting a modified pike with a jagged edge, and a handle suitable for hand to hand or throwing. Hefting it lightly in his hand for a moment, he then tossed it to Ares.
Ares little girl: I am not leaving. I am not a child! and stop helping him, you freak! *her voice rose with each proclamation, and she growled at Heph, once more pointing her hand towards him and letting out a blast of energy*
God of War: Catching it with a near sixth sense, as he was facing away from Hephaestus, War adjusts the javelin in his secured grasp before directing the point right above Strife's eye. "I'd imagine this'd... also really suck. .. Care to say anything useful yet?"
Hephaestus: His balance faltered with that last blast, and picked up a small globe from the pile, throwing it back towards Harmonia. It didn't harm her, but it threw an energy field around her, containing any blast she might try sending his way. It also kept her from rushing anyone.
strife_dot_com: While pinned to the floor, he thought through the events that led up to this...this crucifixion of sorts. Was the pain getting to him? Was he desensitized to it or something ? He stared at the javelin pointed right in his eyes.....a canine yelp emitted from his lips and he looked through tears at Ares, sniffling and choking on the immortal ichor clotting in his throat. He nodded his head..."Yeow!"
God of War: That is a start.....
strife_dot_com: "I wanna do...what you want me to do..." his voice trembled, as he reach his hand out over Ares boot.
Ares little girl: *she growled, a fist banging out at the air in front of her, realizing qquickly what it was that surrounded her. Still, it didn't keep her from glaring the look of death towards Heph, and turning worried looks towards her father*
God of War: "An exceptional idea." Lifting the blade slightly, a prominent dent in the floor below the pool of leaking divine blood. "You shall cease to court my daughter until the date, if ever, that I deem it acceptable.."
Ares little girl: Daddy! Why?
God of War: Shut up, Harmonia.
strife_dot_com: He continued to lay where he had fallen, hands covering his face, other then whimpering ....silent.
Hephaestus: Hephaestus almost smirked as he watched. "See? Short and sweet. It took me centuries to learn that."
God of War: Some might consider it exceptionally villainous to reduce a grown man, or something relatively close, to tears, blubbering on the floor in pain. To Ares, it was a typical day. "I want your word, Strife."
God of War: I will ignore that giddy-fying opportunity, Gimpy....
Hephaestus: "I'm sure you will, brother."
God of War: It's only because you brought me toys, you know.
strife_dot_com: Crawling, low on his belly he laid his face over on Ares boot, wrapping his arms around his legs in a kind of hug, and continued to whimper, "I'm sorry..."
Hephaestus: "Thank your lover for them."
God of War: "Be that as it may.." Ares uprooted one of his sable brows, he nudged the God of Dissension slightly with his shin. "Your word here, is required.." Flickering a glance to Hephaestus, Ares winked and returned his gaze to the prostrating man below..
strife_dot_com: Each hand feeled the cold marble floor as he stablized himself on all fours and then sat back on his haunches, holding the large gapping hole in his side as he eased his way up on two feet..."Word?" Why was that so difficult to say...to actually say what Ares wanted him to was having a hard time coming and he glared around the temple....No ambrosia...Wasn't that always the fucking case? Never nothing around when you really wanted it.
God of War: ........ YOUR WORD, MAGGOT!
God of War: NOW!
Ares little girl: *she just signed softly, watching, her shoulders slowly losing their rigidness, her voice soft.* Daddy. I won't. It's ok.
strife_dot_com: He glanced back toward Ares, "Well you see....you might want to clarify in words...exactly what word you want me to say....cause the blood isn't really going to the brain.......I've sort of got a major LEAKAGE! " He stared at Harmonia entrapped in a bubble and turned to Heph, "Did you really have to fucking do that? I mean first you give her that fucking necklace, destroy her children! If it weren't for Ares here....Where would she be? But I guess that doesn't even matter now.....Water over the bridge...."
Hephaestus: The only thing that kept Heph from reacting to the booming sound of War's wrath was that it wasn't aimed at him, as it had been many times before. Even with his familiarity, he knew he'd have trouble resisting the demands that were bellowed.
Hephaestus: "Under the bridge - the expression is water under the bridge. And I did that to keep her from getting hurt. The necklace is old news."
God of War: Heaving the javelin up over his shoulder, poised to launch it, and Strife, across the room and spear him on the wall. His daughter's words were considered a moment. "....No. No, I want his damn word. And if he does not SHUT UP immediately and PLEDGE HIS WORD TO ME... RIGHT NOW... THAT HE WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO SEE MY DAUGHTER UNTIL, IF EVER, I DEEM IT APPROPRIATE HE IS GOING TO FUCKING DIE!"
strife_dot_com: Oh yeah...over...under...Fuck....I can't tell up from down right now...Just bare with me.
Ares little girl: Strife... Just tell him. Give him your word. Please.
strife_dot_com: He looked at the javelin and stared at Harmonia, "If that's what you want? I'll do what you want...But first?" He strolled toward Ares and his javelin and glanced at Heph, "Can I please have something sharp? I hate to use my switchblade...and then I'll give Ares my word.
Ares little girl: I want you not dead because of me.
God of War: Those rumblings that had occurred at the midway of the meeting were now thunderous roars. Churning waves in the very walls that surrounded the four divine beings. Energy, blood red with the morbid zeal now coursing through the War God, flared about untamedly, down the arm that clutched the spear. "...... Idiot." That was Strife's one chance. With the momentum of the wind, of sound itself, Ares throws the honed shaft for Strife's chest brutishly.
Hephaestus: Heph raised a brow at the request and shrugged, looking towards Ares.
Ares little girl: Nooooo! *she cringed, unable to look away as she watched, arms hugging her shoulders tight*
strife_dot_com: Pierced through the chest, "That's what it feels like.." he is pinned to the wall. He stared at Heph more then a little disappointed...."You would make me use my own knife? Fucker...." He looked at Ares, "Man...no patience...You'll have to some over here now!"
Hephaestus: "What was the intended purpose of the sharp instrument?"
God of War: "Impudent little strumpet.." Slicing the air around his wrist with the still grasped sword, War observes Strife the wall decoration with some esteem, not yet going over to him, and somewhat doubtful Strife can extract himself, at least right away. "Perhaps he wishes to do the deed for me?"
God of War: Offer him a thumbtack.
strife_dot_com: Taking his switchblade from his pocket, with a flick he opened it, opening his mouth and slicing his tongue off ....In Ares mind he speaks "Here it is...Come and get it...I'll leave her alone...but I don't want her to hear me say it."
Ares little girl: *That.... that made her turn her head, one hand going to her stomach.*
God of War: Extending his left hand, that not holding the blade, Ares gravitates Strife's severed, limp tongue into his hand and squeezes it. Tipping his invisible helmet to the fallen one, War smirks. "Much obliged... And I'll be keeping this."
Hephaestus: "That would have taken a while with a thumbtack. Do you need water from the River Styx?"
strife_dot_com: "Ares? Can you take me off the wall now? I want to go see mom..."
Ares little girl: *her shoulders shook lightly, both from upset and squickedness... And yet she was stuck here.*
God of War: "No. You look good there. And it's oddly pacifying..." Wagging the severed appendage grotesquely. "Plus! It'll be quiet for once!"
Ares little girl: Daddy.
God of War: Hmn?
Ares little girl: *with a sniff, she held a hand out towards him, and dropped it, unable to reach far* You're not leaving him there, are you?
strife_dot_com: He hang his head, glanced toward Harmonia shaking his head.
God of War: ....Why wouldn't I? You can still come see him, under my supervision.
Ares little girl: Not like that.
Ares little girl: Please?
Ares little girl: *She wouldn't even look towards Strife, her gaze centered only on her father... hurt, but needing him.*
God of War: Irritatedly, he glanced toward Hephaestus, as if for assistance...
Hephaestus: Hephaestus just shrugged, having little experience with such things, and even less with Ares daughter. "You want the shield down?"
God of War: "Yeah.. Take it down.." Descending the tip of the blade, Ares saunters reluctantly over to Strife. Grasping the halberd's thick wooden shank, he jerks the weapon free of his temple's wall, and Strife, consequently... Standing the weapon on end, War shoves Strife's tongue into his leather trousers' pocket and snaps, "I'm keeping this. A week without your nattering will be my reward for putting up with your insubordination. Understood?"
Hephaestus: He nodded and reached towards Harmonia, pulling the energies that surrounded her back to him, releasing her without a word.
strife_dot_com: He gasped, the jerking off as painful as being pinned to. Slipping his knife back into his pocket....he nodded his head to Ares.
Ares little girl: *Once she could move, she took a few steps back to her Father's chair and sat down in it silently, still not watching anything except her feet.*
God of War: Smirking with sincerity, he snickers, "I think this talk went rather well." Shuffling a glance over to his brother once again, War hums, "Don't you think?"
Hephaestus: "On what sort of scale? I found it an interesting test of the new weapons."
strife_dot_com: Glancing toward the throne he sadly shrugs, before kneeling in front of his lord and laying his cheek against Ares's hand, speaking to him in his mind , "Can I be excused now? Please?"
God of War: "Talking with weapons is the best kind, really." Dissolving the weapons into empty slots on the walls around the chamber, War quite lovingly smooths his hand across Strife's downcast cheek. He then claps his rough palms together sharply. "Now. All of you... Get the Hades out of my Temple." Pointing down toward the tongueless Strife. "Especially you." He took a stride backward before inquiringly.. "O, Gimp. Care for a game of Chess tomorrow?"
Hephaestus: "A friendly game of strategy with the War God? Sure." He shrugged again, knowing well enough how the game would go but willing to play. "I'll see you then." With a nod, he quickly faded from the room leaving the pile he arrived with.
strife_dot_com: Staggers out of Ares' temple too weak to pull the energies together to dematerialize or teleport. Pride dead.
Ares little girl: *Harm looked up at her father, wanting to say something but thinking better of it, and stood off his chair, wandering in the other direction. She didn't leave the temple, but she did leave the throne room.*