dear_mun | (no subject)

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canon: classical mythology

(no subject)

Mundane.

No, thank you. I'd rather be left alone if it's all the same to you. A person deserves to rest.

I'm not going to talk with you about him either so you can just forget about that as well.

-Princess Polyxena of Troy.

(Always.)

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[Cassandra looks positively startled.]

Polyxena?!

Cassandra?

[Artemis gives a sigh.]

If they shan't leave Gods alone, why should they leave mortals be? That would not make sense.

What are you doing here? Have you become a worldwalker?

I don't know. I'm not sure what that is. What are you doing here? I didn't think I'd ever-

This person starting poking at me.

Lady Artemis!

You would thing Gods would be more interesting to bother.

I've been a worldwalker for two and a half years.

I never...

Oh, Polyxena. Please, please tell me you're a worldwalker. That this isn't some kind of fever dream.

Oh! That's a very long time to be in a place like this. Are you alright? Are you hurt?

I certainly don't feel like a fever dream. A fever dream would probably have more useful things to say.

Dreams are rarely useful. Visions on the other hand...

Well, we needn't discuss those.

[She pauses a moment.]

Not a day's gone by that I haven't thought of you and the others, Polyxena. I thought I was the only one left.

It would certainly seem that way, Princess, but evidently not if you are here also.

It was only moments ago the way I remember it, sister. I haven't had time to think of home or what might have happened next. I just-

You're really alright?

Do you like it here, Goddess?

I'm alive. If that counts for anything. I've been trapped. In a place called Bete Noire. There are gods here, but I'm...

...alone.

They've trapped Gods there too? It hardly seems possible but I've seen Lady Artemis herself walking around. World walking.

Are we the only mortals from home left?

I don't know. I never thought that others might become worldwalkers.

I don't know. Some of the heroes might be good at it. Hector.

Oh, I miss him. I've often wished for him to come to Bete Noire. Although his head would explode. I don't think he could fathom a world where women are allowed to move around freely, without escort.

I miss him too. But without escort? Cassandra! What if something happened? [Never mind what happened last time Polyxena went wandering on her own.] Isn't that dangerous?

Yes. It's very dangerous.

But that's simply the way it's done.

Do they just treat women like men there? Or is it just that you're all trapped anyway?

It's...complicated, Polyxena.

But I think it's better. No more waiting around the harem, doing nothing but weaving.

It always is.

What do you do instead? Just world wander?

We're expected to make a living. And there's generally one disaster or another to contend with.

And you prefer living there with disasters?

Yes.

People believe me.

Oh.

[She almost says the first thing that comes to mind "Maybe we didn't want to believe you. Maybe it's better to die honorably and ignorant instead of-. But she doesn't. There's only a small pause instead.]

I'm glad for that.

[Cassandra pauses this time.]

Sometimes, anyway. When I can control my temper.

And my occasional delight at seeing the gods, especially Apollo, hobbled.

That's still an improvement.

Lord Apollo has been brought down as- Sister. Did you use your power to point and laugh?

There might have been some laughter.

And other things...

Oh! If I weren't your younger sister I would be very disapproving.

What other things?

Let's just say it was amusing, watching a god figure out how to bathe for the first time.

I don't understand but I'm very impressed!

It is ... not unpleasant at all. There are animals to hunt and I do not have to spend time on Olympus playing at being a lady. I can have all the fun that I wish.

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