Long, long, long ago... Post-Creation, Pre-Olympian Era

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Nyx did not approve.

When Styx had begun seeing more and more of the Titan, appearing on the surface world, of all places, Nyx had not approved.

When Styx had brought her beau, Pallas, to meet her and Erebos in an official capacity, Nyx had not approved.

And when Pallas had asked permission to marry her daughter Nyx had not approved

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After breaking away from the gathering, he went after his wife.

He found her in their gardens. Silently, he watched her pace. It was clear to Erebos that Nyx did not. like. Pallas. But their daughter was in love with him, and Pallas would give her the strength and the support that a proper husband should. He was even looking forward to grandchildren. Though. He would never admit to it.

After watching Nyx for a few moments, he revealed himself from the shadows of a tall-growing honeysuckle vine.

"Nyx," he said.

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Her head whipped around and her fists clenched as her chiton straightened itself. There he was. In all his lurksome, looming glory. Her husband. The presumptuous Lord of the Dark.

"Erebos," she gritted out, flipping hanging curls behind her back as she turned to face him.

She tried - oh, how she tried - to remain silent, to keep a veneer of calm. But it was too much. It wasn't only that he ignored her instincts. It wasn't only that he was too blind to see what to Nyx was all too apparent. It was that he'd presumptuously given his approval - and tacitly, hers as well - to this union without consulting her.

"Honestly, husband. How dare you?"

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He sighed inwardly and approached his wife. It looked as if she were about to go up in steam.

"How dare I -- What? Approve of a fine strong man to tend the daughter that will soon leave us? Seek to keep our little river happy? Expect that you wish the same? How dare I what, Nyx? Why do you dislike the titan so deeply? He had never been anything but respectful to us. He is of fine breeding. And he loves our Styxie more than Styx loves him. This is a good match."

He frowned at her, bracing his hands on her slight shoulders.

"Nyx. Is it that you are having problems letting go of our river?"

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It was not to be borne. Anger would be one thing; outrage even better. But this? This... condescending inquiry? These irrelevant questions?

As though she were the one to have trouble letting go of the children... fair enough, when Aither and Hemera had gone, it had been hard for her. As their children slowly grew and came into their own power, as their departure to their own domains became imminent, it was certainly difficult for Nyx, and though she had done her best to be supportive, Erebos knew well that it caused a bit of an ache in her to see them go. But she had never tried to hold them back, especially when it was obvious that it was best for them.

This was not what was best for Styx

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He let out an exasperated sigh and followed her, flipping her around when she'd prefer to keep her back to him and her hands on the rose she needlessly fiddled with.

"It was a legitimate question. It is. Difficult. for me as well. But they are happy. Can you not see how happy they are? She glows splendid silver when she is with him. Why do you not approve of that? How can you not approve of that? I want her happy. And I want her safe. Pallas gives her both happiness and safety."

He frowned down at his wife.

"I will be pleased to see them united. Why will you not also be pleased?"

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Once again, her jaw was tight, especially as he turned her around, making her face him. Erebos was her lover, her protector, her partner. Unquestionably, unfalteringly, unerringly she loved him, desired him, and... needed him. But Mother had created disparities in them that were simply unfair - one of which being that he was able to move her when she would rather not be moved. Always gentle (well, always as gentle as she wanted him to be in a given moment which sometimes was not at all, though that was a thought for another time), always loving, but always immovable - and she, always just the opposite. Small, light, and easily turned

[erebos_dotcom]

Erebos snorted. "Of course he isn't worthy of her. No one would be. But he is who she wants. If you decided not to allow this union, she would find her own way of taking it.

"Pallas is right to ask us, and I suspect that Styx even wants our blessing. But it is not required, in her mind. Styx wants; Styx will have. It has always been this way."

He was right. Their child was indomitably stubborn. Reaching out and thumbing the hollows of his wife's shoulders, he looked down at her.

"As for the wings of happiness... I would expect you to say something like that about Clotho, but not about Styx. She is not one to take and love, and cast away moments later. She is ferocious about those things she cares for, and she has never shown the vacillation of love that some of our other children have.

"Couple this with the fact that she would never break her own oaths, even if her love for the titan did wane after time, I cannot see how this marriage could be anything other than solid and firm

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Nyx settled a glare on her husband as she stood in silence for several moments. Delicately, one by one, she lifted each hand from each of her shoulders and set it down by his side.

"I assure you, Erebos, that despite your confidence in Styx's steadfastness, Fate has a funny habit of making anyone capable of surprising you given enough time.

"And is that what you want? For this marriage to be solid and firm even if her love for this Titan to 'wane after time?'"

Though Erebos' assertion about oaths did give Nyx a thought... they did give Nyx a thought indeed. Perhaps there was a way to assure that Styx would only be stuck in this mess for as long as she was confused enough to think it was best for her to be so... perhaps... perhaps her little river would like assistance in writing her vows.

Nyx put that away for now.

"And," she added, "do not compare them to us. We were literally made for each other, ordained by Creation and the Universe to be together

[erebos_dotcom]

Damn it.

Pulling her again from the blasted plant, he took her injured hand into both of his and turned it into the moonlight. The tiny drops were black in the light, but he knew their true color. Gently, his fingertips brushed the liquid aside, and he brought her hand up to his lips to kiss the breaks in her skin

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Treacherous beast.

Her eyes rose to his, and she knew that she had lost. It was unbearable, was this. The entire situation. His lack of support, her inability to make anyone understand what should be, her lack of will when he touched her.

"What if he will not make her happy, Ere?" she said, trying to regulate her breath even as she shifted under his hands to allow him better access to her. "Not for long... not forever."

But she knew it didn't matter. She knew that ultimately, he was right - at least in saying that her resistance would only cause pain... that this would happen regardless of her wishes.

His words in her ear, his breath on her neck, sent a shiver through her skin and throughout her.

"I only want her to have the best," she breathed, her hand sliding inadvertently to the side of his neck.

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Nodding as he looked down to her, turning his head a little to shove out the air from the curve of her palm and the curve of his neck, he answered:

"I know you do. Right now, Pallas is that. Anything - anyone - else would hurt her, and possibly others. Pallas is who Styx needs right now, who she wants, and who she should have. Do you want to take that from her?"

With a sigh, he tightened his arms about his wife's waist, kissed her hair, and shook his head.

"If Fate, as you mentioned, has other plans, they will come to fruition when the time is right. Now it is time for Pallas and Styx. Do not try to change that. It will not go well. He will make Styxie happy. He already does. Faith, my love."

When she opened her mouth again, he met it with his own, kissing her long and deeply. He loved his Nyx, but sometimes she could be downright difficult.

Kissing always made it easier.

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Infuriating, the way he made her turn to a puddle with his mouth. And she did return the kiss - her mouth against his, nipping at his lip. As tempting as it was to melt into his arms, she squirmed in his grip, maneuvering until her legs were on either side of his hips, and she was pushing against him. She threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled rather ungently, ultimately breaking the kiss so that her lips could descend to his neck. Tasting, kissing, biting, she ascended to his ear where she murmured, her breath tickling his skin,

"I do not like it, my Ere."

She nipped his earlobe.

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Settling his hands on her waist, he urged her gently on, loving the sensation of her mouth against his skin. For a few moments, he forgot all about the guests in their home. Who cared. This was his wife. When she whispered what she did in his ear, he shook his head.

Obligations of hosts.

Dragging himself away from her, or rather, dragging her away from him, he stood carefully, and shifted uncomfortably. This would be . . . fun.

"I am sorry for that," he said sincerely. "Some things are not for us to like."

But when he put his hand out for her to take, his eyes promised that later, when the guests were gone, they would finish what they had begun.

And Erebos always. Kept his promises.

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Flushed and frustrated, very little had occurred to improve Nyx's mood. She felt as ineffectual as before, and now physical frustration was added into the equation. With impatient hands, she straightened her chiton and rearranged her hair.

She did not want to go back into that room, to smile, to feign interest and approval where there was none. The Titan and his parents, Styx and a smattering of her siblings (though Lachesis and Atropos were notably absent - Clotho could never be kept from a family gathering under any circumstances).

"Make my excuses for me, Husband. Tell them I am overwrought with joy, or maternal pride, or some such." Once again she waved her hand.

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"Mm," he said.

He waited a beat. Another. Then frowned once and turned away, heading back toward their temple. He was disappointed in her.

[nyx__dot__com]

Nyx's eyes widened as Erebos frowned at her. Turned away from her. Oh, she could read the insufferable beast's body language, all right.

It had to be Erebos'. Way. Every. Time.

There was No. Other. Perspective. Nothing else. To Consider.

There were Two. Ways.

Erebos' Way. And. The Wrong Way.

Already, she would have to accept this farce of a marriage. Already, she had been unable to make him understand without having to reveal the work of Fate what was afoot. Already he had teased her into thinking she would have a viable means of getting out her aggression, and now he wanted to go tend guests - and on top of that, he wanted to frown at her?!

An acorn pegged him - hard - in the back of the head. The trajectory made it impossible for it to have fallen out of a tree, and well they both knew it.

When he slowly turned around to look at her, her arms were folded and she shrugged her shoulders at him.