Chapter Text
Hermes has made a lot of mistakes in his ever-immortal life, his demigod children's quality of life for one, Luke was maimed for life on behalf of his quest. His past lovers going as far back as Crocus and as recent at May Castellan are another. But no that is not the mistakes he is currently laminating even if they do haunt him. No, right now, it seems he is making a multitude of mistakes.
For one, his employees went on strike, two weeks before Winter Solstice, one of if not the busiest time of the year for delivery and mail. Stupid Eris, should have known she couldn’t take a joke, the nerve honestly. It was just a little blood... Okay maybe a pools full, but she had no busy grabbing the last ghoul cookie at the underworld's death day party.
Another mistake haunting him was a trick he learned from one of his older demigod children, Freddie, who was cramming for his final's exam. Good old Energy drink mixed with nectar. Also, while stalkin- Checking in on his son he found a nice little brownie recipe for ambrosia and some... elicit substances. Dionysus loved it.
What a waste, if he didn’t drive himself into psychosis from it, he could have patented it. Pity honestly.
Anyways even after living off that particular concoction for well over a week he was still very behind on orders. Insanely behind in fact that he is starting to get desperate. Three days till the winter solstice, and he refuses to miss one of the only times he’s allowed to directly interact with his children.
He doesn’t know whether it's the desperation that is driving him insane, or if the hybrid energy drinks are, but he’s come up with the most brilliant idea.
It's simple, one of the best solutions he’s come up with. He needs another him. Not a splitting of his essence, but another bonified Hermes. So, with a manic shaky drive he sunk deep into his domains and turned his intention into action.
Standing in some dingy alley two blocks down from his previous delivery, who ordered 12 bottles of soap odd one that Lucas is, he pooled his essence into his hand and clawed at the brick wall in front of him. At first the world resisted his attempt, but as the God of Travels if he wanted to journey to another world then HE will.
And with enforcing his will a solid off-white glowing door appeared. ‘Abra kadabra’ Hermes thought to himself. ‘It’s Perfect!’
Maybe if he was more rested and was running on more than artificially energy and fumes, he would have noticed his features changing. That feathers that had begun to gather behind his ears and around his neck. That his physical age was reversing to that of a young adult barely out of teen hood.
Maybe he would have thought twice about going into a door leading to an unknown world to an unknown pantheon, but he only had two worlds on repeat in his mind.
‘Three days.”
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After making sure the door was thoroughly anchored in-between the worlds Hermes was off. He knew exactly what time period he ended up in. Ancient Greece, already he could feel his powers becoming more empowered. Playfully licking at his heels but healing the damage caused by his work week long frenzy. Fatigue now encircles him, but he’s no stranger to avoiding Hypnos very tempting offers of rest.
Now with a clear mind he can feel something off about this world's energy. While his domains here are being occupied the worlds essence reacts strangely to him. It almost feels like its rejoicing. Maybe this worlds Hermes is stingier with his own essence, this worlds essence is acting like of overexcited puppy. Almost touched starved in a way.
Curiosity pings in him as he explores, almost getting drunk off of this world's attention and admiration of him. ‘Three days’
Quickly untangling himself from this world's energy giddy with whimsy he sets off to this worlds Olympus in search of aid from this worlds Hermes. Another mistake he will regret.
Olympus was... Strange he noted. It felt darker than he remembered it being, there were less temples and if he hadn’t known for a fact what time period he was in, he would have assumed it was an earlier time but no.
Brushing off his concern he reasoned that a different world probably mean different rules, different beliefs. Stepping into Olympus he noticed a more solemn air. Where nymphs and minor gods used to run around and frolic now there were only nymphs and hardly any frolicking.
Whispers coated the air and reached him. “Did you hear?” “It happened again.” “It's so cruel.” “there’s going to be another ceremony.”
It was obvious they were talking about the gods, but the emotions directed to them felt alien to him. Pity. What could have happened to make nymphs pity the gods? Its unthinkable. Offense curled around him making feathers puff up and a snarl began to form until he quickly replaces it with a frown. Not his world not his monkeys, he reminded himself.
He should have investigated more; he reasoned with himself later. Should have talked to others instead of half hardly listened to gossip. Instead, he had walking inside the chambers of the gods arrogant, and ignorant.
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The gods of this world were cursed by Kronos to be childless. Where twelve thrones had typically sat there was only seven. Even if a child is conceived, they never survive the womb. And if by some tragic fate the child survived, they would lead a very short life filled with suffering.
A child’s skeleton coming out of Zeus head donning armor. Hera only succeeding in birth fire and blood, with no bodies left behind. Leto being ripped apart from inside her womb as two beasts attempted to consume each other inside. None of them surviving. A creature born in a mountain with no eyes, or ears, or limbs. Just feathers and suffering. Only able to draw a single breath. Demeter's children wilting and rotting. Hades young turning to ash and smoke. Aphrodite's and Poseidon's sharing the same fate of turning into sea foam.
With the most recent death being the most longed lived child of Zeus stitched into his own leg until he turned into a child of 13 winters. The moment he left Zeus leg he was devoured and ripped apart by vines from within himself.
This world was destined to fail. Or at least it would have been, if someone hadn’t traveled too far. The Fates of this world grinned as the yarn tapestry that was once almost barren gained a new thread, a thread that will lead to more thread.