Prompt Dos

Me staring at my calendar on the 25th: The prompt is definitely due on the 28th.
Me staring at my calendar on the 26th: Totally, definitely 28th.
Me staring at my calendar on the 27th: Hold on though, I can literally check when it’s due.
Me staring at my calendar right now: Holy flipping penguins.

For the record, I’ve never seen a penguin flip. I’ve never even seen a penguin. I doubt they’re holy. That aside, what do I really say? I’m afraid I’m becoming that person who apologizes for the mistakes he could’ve avoided. I owe you guys big time.

Without further Ado, here’s the prompt, which I’m attempting to write right now because I can’t find the notebook I wrote it in earlier. Forgive the rough draft.

The prompt’s not actually about anything in particular. Well, it is, I just don’t know it yet. But it’s about two of my favourite characters meeting. I hope you enjoy it.

”’
Circe puffed another breath. Her father was really being annoying. Was it because she was off the island? She would’ve sworn two days ago before she left Aeaea that Helios wanted nothing to do with his disappointing daughter – again. But now that she was off the island, it seemed he had nothing else to do with his time than spite her.

“Father, if you will not speak, you might as well turn your attention somewhere else. Aren’t there insects that need watching?” She yelled at her father.

As if in answer, her ship – which she named Telegonus, after the son who once was – croaked. The sea became violent, thrashing her ship with violent waves in quick succession. Since when was her father on talking terms with Nereus?

Just as the waves were trying to sink her ship, something ugly out of children’s bedtime stories emerged from the sea. It looked like an octopus tried – and failed horribly – to become a shark. Muddy green tentacles grew from its body every which way, and it had eyes the size of her lions back at the island. The creature stood well above her ship, and when it shrieked, it’s mouth opened to an ending row of teeth.

Circe almost laughed. The creature reminded her of Scylla, who had tried to steal her beloved. Circe had unknowingly turned Scylla into a monster much more hideous than this, banishing her to the seas forever. Scylla would swallow whole ships when they tried to cross her path, and it had taken Circe’s most determined power to “cure” Scylla. This monster seemed like child’s play in comparison.

Humming to herself, Circe walked to her set of potions, turning her back completely on the creature. It could wait. She was in a good mood and could decide which potion would seem most entertaining to end the creature with. Entertainment had been hard to come by since she got on the ship daring her father, and she wasn’t about to kill her first – albeit ugly – find. She found a potion she liked, and turned to face her foe.

What she found before her was less tall and even less intimidating. The creature was lifeless, it’s body sinking to the depths of wherever Poseidon thought fitting for a monster of that magnitude. But standing in her ship, with no visible place of origin, was a human.

It was definitely human. He had on the weirdest clothing she’d ever seen. There was a band of what looked like pearls on his neck with varying colours. His body was covered in a fabric the same color as her father right before her aunt Selene came out to watch the nights. Another fabric covered each one of his legs, wrapping around his limbs. It seemed like he was trying to kill something in them.

Circe mounted her air of godliness, not wanting to be underestimated by another human. “Speak”, she commanded the human.

The human regarded her with confused green eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it as if he thought better of it. There was a time when humans had fascinated Circe. They were frail but beautiful, with their spindly bones and the bits of meat that wrapped around them. But some of them – some like this one on her ship – seemed to be slow to understand even the simplest of commands.

“Were you dropped on your head as a child?” she asked, turning the godliness down a notch.

This time the human replied. “No, why would you think that?”

“You seemed unable to speak”, she answered, noting his unusual demeanor. For all that he was a dumb human, he didn’t seemed frightened of her, or of the creature that lay dead in the sea.
“It’s weird, I don’t think I’ve seen you before.” he noted, counting something on his fingers. “Were you on Olympus before? I could swear you looked familiar”.

Circe regarded the human. She doubted any of her siblings would take out time to plan a joke at her. But all that she knew of Olympus was what Hermes had told her in their time together. What did this mortal know of the seat of the gods?

“You speak as one who has visited Olympus before. Are you one of the gods?”

“Hell no, the Olympians are already enough trouble on their own.” She could have sworn the human shrieked back from the question. Were the new gods so bad that their worshipers hated them to Hades? She was still thinking about that when the mortal replied again. “Do you know who I am?”

This mortal clearly knew about gods, but seemed oblivious as to their worship. But then again, Circe had been on the island for eons now. Maybe something had changed with the gods and whatever worshipers they allowed. Maybe that was why her Father had been infinitely annoyed recently, extending his anger wherever.

“You speak as though I should”, she replied. “Do you know who I am?” This time when she called on her godliness, she held on to it. Everything went still for a moment and the whole sea yearned for her.

The human cocked his head, and then after a brief moment, answered “Not really. Although something about you seems familiar.”

She heaved another sigh, finally tired of the whole charade. “I am the sorceress Circe, Daughter of Helios, Titan of the sun. How did you get on my ship?”

“I’m Percy Jackson”, the human replied with a smirk. “Son of Poseidon. I’ve got a brother who’s a cyclops and really strong. He’ s also a son of Poseidon.”

Circe chided herself for not figuring it out sooner. Of course only a demigod would turn up in the middle of nowhere with a monster and no way of getting back to their homes.

They had the strangest imagination that their divine parents were always watching over them and wouldn’t let anything overly terrible happen to them. Circe wondered what that was like, as her father had been the kind to spite her for things she only thought of.
“Um, Lady Circe”, Percy began. “I’m trying to get to Long Island. Are you by any means travelling in that direction?”

For all that he called her “Lady”, Percy didn’t seem to have the smallest bit of reverence toward her. He stood carelessly, like he was trying to be swayed by the wind – although his balance on the ship was commendable. He had the air of someone who had seen too much to be overly bothered with anything. That, or someone who just wasn’t really into caring.

Circe decided at that moment to take a seat. Their whole introduction had taken too much standing time and she scarcely liked being on her feet. She sat, facing the vast sea and what was left of the sinking monster. “Did you do that?” she asked, pointing at the carcass.

Percy stared in her direction she pointed. Eyes the color of the green sea regarded the area for a while before Percy answered “Do what?”

“Did you kill the monster?” Circe replied, tired of having to repeat herself.

“Oh yeah. She was trying to eat one of my friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yeah, one of them.”

This Percy clearly wasn’t very smart. Circe hadn’t expected much from Poseidon’s offspring. The lot of them couldn’t out-think a seaweed. And those things didn’t have brains. Her grandmother Tethys had once told her the tale of Theseus, the child of Poseidon who founded Athens.

“What abilities do you possess? I hear the children of Poseidon are quite awash with skills for besting creatures like that one.

“Oh!” Percy seemed to like that question. “I …” he stopped talking, as if he thought better of the question. “How do I really know you’re who you say you are?”

“Are there others who speak by my name?” Circe asked.

“I don’t know about speaking by your name or even anyone who tries to talk like you, but of course, you could be one of the gods and trying to enact vengeance on me for something I don’t even remember doing. That wouldn’t be new.”

“Watch your words mortal. You might be a son of Poseidon, but that would not stop me from ending your life if I deemed it fit to end.” Circe didn’t know if she could kill him, she had never fought a child of any of the Olympian gods before. But he was on her ship, and she could at least send him to sleep with a snap of her fingers. Of course he didn’t need to know that.

He said nothing, then paced about the deck for a couple of minutes, after which he stood before her with questioning eyes.

“If there’s something on your mind, say it. I asked you to watch your words, not to become dumb.”

He cocked his head to the side again and she huffed, tired of the movement. “If you will permit me, Lady Circe, I would like to sit.”

Circe felt dumbfounded. She’d been so busy with his arrival and the unusual way he asked questions, that she hadn’t bothered offering him a seat. But then, a normal person would have taken a seat anyway. He really was watching his actions.

“You may seat. But as a word of warning, I do not know where this ship leads and I’m not in a hurry to find out.”

Percy sat, then pulled out a pen from his pocket. “We’re probably a ways off, but we’re heading towards Rome.” He pulled the cap from his pen and Circe got up in alarm. The pen grew many times its size, becoming a double edged sword. The sword seemed to glow, bathing in the heat of Helios’ watch and reflecting the light all over the deck. It was coated in a dazzling bronze that matched the tales she’d overheard by at her father’s palace. It was more mundane than most swords she had encountered, but also more beautiful than most. He capped it back, and then uncapped it again, as if oblivious of his actions.

“You bear Anaklusmos?” Circe asked, alarmed.

“You mean Riptide?” he answered, not looking at her. “I’ve had her for a while.”

Circe spoke a few words and Percy immediately fell asleep, the sword in hand. It would be easier this way. If he didn’t know then he couldn’t prevent it. And if she told him, well that would be inviting Hades to dinner. She didn’t feel like hosting . . .

”’

Me right now: “So, so late OMG”

–

Hey guys.

Sorry for the late upload. I was planning on making this a longer post, but that’ll just take more time. Let me know what you guys think of this post. Should I continue? Or should I start something else?

I think a continuous series would be wonderful, so if you guys are looking forward to that, let me know in the comments. I think this is currently the longest post. It is currently at a total of 2000 words, and I obviously did some pushing to get it there.

But anyways, before I take forever to complete this post, I’ll end it here.

Again, super sorry for the late upload, I kinda explained why above. Thanks for taking the time to read, and do ignore any typographical errors, as this was written in quite the haste.

As always, have fun reading!