Holiday Preparation [OPEN]

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It was coming, creeping up slowly in the month. Her favorite holiday, created long ago with many different additions and transformations over the years. Halloween. It spreed to many other countries, even Japan has started the tradition. Perhaps not the same kind that the United States celebrated, but the visual effects were starting to migrate across the world. Everyone liked candy after all. Pulling a piece of flavored melted sugar shaped into a ball from her pocket, trivia popped it into her mouth, crunching down on it and shattering the once smooth surface. She liked hard candy over soft, but always broke it to pieces instead of what was supposed to be the universal long lasting candy treat. She was never patient enough to not crunch into them, it worked about the same with the soft candies. She wanted instant gratification with those kinds of things. Potions and spells she had an unending patience for, anything that was in her domain in fact, but things like candy where not on that list. The same could be said for anything like eating and sleeping she didn't necessarily need. She didn't have a very busy schedule any more, and especially not like some of the other gods, but she had potions to mix, herbs to treat, cultivate, shower with love so she could extract their rich poisons later. Another candy was crushed by her teeth.

Walking down the sidewalks, looking at the store displays warmed her heart. Cauldrons, jack-o-lanterns, even the ugly little witches brought a smile to her face. New Zeland was a small thing out in the middle of a great ocean, but it had some of the loveliest things she knew of. The creatures and scenery in this part of the world was magical, if she would say so herself. There was a cult here or there practicing itself for the night of spirits and mischief, planning something for her. It was amusing to think about, especially since at one point it was joined with the Christian day of Saints. Details, she loved her little cults scattered around the world, and especially in the United States. There were also the magic uses who didn't believe in her at all, that was a bit frustrating at times. Didn't believe in their magic coming from anywhere but themselves. Leeches.

It was the last shop on the line and she turned to look back at the people walking happily, children in hand, from the stores to the cars or vice versa. How lovely, a pity they won't get to do that too much longer. A few words escaped her painted lips, and an apple appeared in front of her, landing softly in her hand. Her red lips left a mark on it's firm green surface. Christmas colors, not quite the right season, but Saturnalia was coming up soon. How lovely if Olympus fell on that day. Lovelier still if that fool Jupiter got what was coming to him. Too much playing around, fawning after females who had already dismissed you. Another bite of apple brought a small burst of cherry flavor, burning away the foul taste that even the thought of Jupiter seemed to bring to her at times. Once she thought he was fun and worth giving a chance to. Worth letting him take over so the humans could enjoy a bit of freedom. It was fun, but now it was time to try and change things up a little. They should know she was never truly on either of their sides, only there for the fun. Then she'd jump ship once she saw it spring a leak, or in thie case she supposed she could wait until Rhiannon did something. She rather liked being at her little girls side after loosing so many in the last war. The though of it broke her heart just a little and just as she was ready to take another bit of apple. Pulling her teeth from it she looked at it with a sigh. Emotions could be troublesome things when you were thinking and your mind was bouncing from topic to topic. Perhaps tomorrow she'd turn it off and go back to her practice in her cave for a while.

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Australia, now that was a country Neptune enjoyed. A nice warm island with plenty of beach lovers. He felt the most comfortable here, even with Halloween coming into full swing. Ah, the holiday that most reminded him of the dreaded Underworld and his family members who lived down there. A rather, dark, cold place to call home, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Speaking of boats, Neptune was bringing his into port after giving another dolphin tour. He had the best one in the business, which made him appear lucky to the other mortals but in reality he couldn't get the dang mammals to leave him alone. Now, he loved the sea creatures but honestly, couldn't a man enjoy the open waters without hearing their call all the time?

But he couldn't blame them. They knew something was up, there was distress between the gods, much like it was a few years ago. Neptune finished tying his boat up as he stood up, leaning back to stretch as he let out a sigh and headed towards the boardwalk sidewalk. Yes, there was a lot going on. Jupiter was probably listening to as much information as possible and then there was Pluto, who was probably trying his best to keep from being biased. All the gods knew it, that blasted daughter of Pluto had set it in her mind to start another war. What was wrong with that kid? Had she not seen enough agony for one lifetime? Nope, not that brat was putting his daughter and the other campers at risk. They figured sending her on a quest would ease the oncoming storm, yet the pace had not slowed down a bit. A murder at camp and an attempted murder on one of the praetors. This was getting serious and it was no longer a one mans job, that much was obvious.

Everyone focusing on the one person had allowed the others to slip by under their godly noses and now they were one step behind. Crafty little demigods. Neptune glanced around him as families walked with their children. The kids faces alight with the prospect of obtaining candy and with seeing all the festive decorations. A flicker of a smile appeared on Neptunes face. True, not all the kids at Camp Jupiter were right in the head but he felt bad for them. The gods were busy, and the life of a demigod was hard. They would never get to experience a normal childhood. They would live a life of fear and pain. Of course, the gods did try hard to make it as painless as possible. Giving them a place to stay safe and the opportunity to train themselves so that one day they could integrate back in the real world. It was a tiny way of showing how they cared. It wasn't much, but it was the best they could do given the circumstances of their work and immortality.

Which made him wonder why these children were now revolting. Sure, maybe they could have done better in some places, but for them to turn and side with Saturn? What in the name of Plutos boxers was wrong with them? Or rather, what lies had his father spun to make the demigods believe he was a better choice than their own godly parent? Neptune knew the power of Saturn, in the first Titan War he had fought alongside Jupiter to end him, and it had not been easy. It was also something Neptune was not eager to have happen again. He would go to any length to stop him this time. Even if it meant dumping all the gallons of the ocean into his esphogas and watching his father suffer under not being able to obtain a breath for the rest of eternity due to the millions pounds of gallons of salt water trying to enter his system.

Neptune scanned the area again and his eyes fell on the image of a petite dark haired individual with striking facial features. He recognized the woman. It was Trivia. Not one of the more famous goddesses, so a mortal might wonder who that was, but Neptune knew. This was a fickle individual who seemed all too comfortable in her dealings of magic. Neptune tried to stay away from her, she seemed more like an individual who would favor his older brothers company rather than the God of the Sea. He wondered why she was out at such a warm and sunny place, then he remembered the date and its significance. Of course, this was probably the goddess favorite holiday. After all, it symbolized many of her dealings, witchcraft, spirits, graveyards, and all that other Halloween themed jazz. Still, wouldn't it make sense for her to go to some scarier place rather than Australia?

Neptune walked over to where the goddess was, noticing the apple in her hand. He cleared his throat to announce his presence. "Trivia, odd place to see you again. Enjoying your stroll? I'm surprised you're not hiding out in some cemetery."

words: 860
notes: Eh... well, there ya go!

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She couldn't wait to see the little ones running around in their little outfits. It would be soon, what was it two weeks away? Was there something else significant about this month? Oh right her daughter was born on the thirteenth. That meant she would have a few birthdays on a Friday the thirteenth. Oh that would be fun one year to take her off somewhere for her birthday. When the blow hard Jupiter wasn't around anymore, and she could spend a little time with her children. Mortals would be in servitude again, and worshiping them as they should. She might not get to play with them as she did now, but Saturn was sure to let her do a bit more experimenting on them than Jupiter did. He had this whole hands off the mortals thing. Though Saturn was fairly repulsed by the idea of having children with mortals. About the way mortals saw having children with animals, if that was possible. Perhaps she could add a little animal to the human, make some kind of adorable creature. Minotaurs and Centaurs were simply not cute enough. She wanted something cute she could train and would stay with her in the cave. She had familiars. Almost slipped her mind, two things that had to follow her orders. Creatures she had made from her enemies. The few she had at least.

Oh she noticed him. Hard to not notice an immortal amongst the mortals. They were simply more than mortals could ever be. That Mercury fellow was the only one who slipped seamlessly into the crowd. A businessman. A con artist. An old peddler. Whatever he wanted to be, he could be. Perhaps not the same kind of actor Apollo could be, but good none the less. That and Apollo could never stop being the center of attention. Neptune couldn't hide himself well either. Not that there was a reason for the immortals to hide themselves, just their true forms. A sly smirk played behind her apple a moment. How fun it would be to just reveal herself in all the glory and beauty that was an immortal goddess to these fools. Sure they would die instantly, but it would be a glorious death. Killed by the presence of a goddess. A little egotistic? Yeah.

She was more than willing to ignore him, there was a chance he had forgotten about her anyway. If anyone could forget her marvel it would be the only immortal with Alzheimer’s. She was strikingly gorgeous, and she knew it. Not Venus, but beautiful none the less. Another crunch of her apple and Neptune was by her side. Oh joy. "I've been a recluse for the past few years, thought I might grace the earth with my feet for a bit." she said with a smirk, her self confidence comparable to that of Jupiter at times. "Not so odd, the little miscreants running around waiting for Halloween. I find it so interesting how the United States tradition has spreed so far. The cultural differences. You know, learning." if Neptune or the other Olympians did anything to learn about things instead of only taking in what automatically came with their territory she didn't know. She was fairly sure they didn't. Thinking wasn't exactly their strong suit. Even that attempt of replacing Prometheus with a goddess went foul. No one really liked Minerva.

OOC: New Zealand, not Australia >_> same general area.
Words: 565

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Neptune studied the dark haired minor goddess. Emphasis on minor. A bit rude of him? Oh well, everyone on Olympus knew who was a major and who was a minor god. There was just more power coursing through their veins than the others. They might not show it to the max all the time but their power could be deadly and kill everything and everyone in a matter of seconds. Plus, they were the most well known. Ask any mortal who Trivia is and they would think about the title given to an immense source of knowledge over random stuff, like a television show.

It was true that Trivia had kept to herself for a good many years, not that anyone really cared. But there was at least one descendant running around the same camp as his daughter. That he had noticed. Same cohort too, if he remembered correctly. He gave a slight nod. "Yes it is interesting. Though I wonder if any remember the origins of the Holiday. And I wonder if you do. Amidst all the festivities and graveyard lurkers, surely you must remember the true reason for this holiday." Neptune asked the goddess. Sure, Neptune was prone to forgot some facts, but when it came to using them he did remember. Like how he would pretend to not to remember his childrens name, which he actually did, he just liked his nicknames he would give them, especially since he made them sea themed, his favorite theme. But for his nieces and nephews and what not, he didn't care to remember there name. Not unless he had a reason to commit their names to memory. See, Neptune was more easy going, tending to go more with the flow. He hated confrontation and having to recall so much. If he had his own way he would be able to lounge about on a fishing boat spending the day fishing.

"Though I never took you for the learning type anyways. More of an opiniated type of goddess. Not caring how others viewed stuff, only caring on how you viewed it." Neptune said with a hint of spite in his voice. Trivia was never one of his favorite minor beings to associate with. He just didn't want to seem rude when he noticed his presence. He, unlike many other gods, had manners, sometimes.

words: 413
notes: gahhh sorry

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"Oh there are, the internet is an amazing source of information for people though they don't always use it for...proper research or learning. More of looking at funny picture of cats really. However there are always those that do enjoy a bit of trivial knowledge." A smirk pulled up the corner of her lips. In general trivial knowledge was supposed to be little known information whose use was specific to certain situations. She didn't mind, she might not have been as widely known as the fat old planet Neptune, but her name had made it's way into everyday use. She was worshiped by people yearning for the powers of magic, for good or ill. She much preferred the ones who did good with it or understood that to gain power and magic you must give back. Simple things like that. Certainly the scientific knowledge that matter nor energy are created, simply taking a different form, was something all true worshipers of her needed to know. Science, how the other gods seemed to discredit it. She thought it rather quaint how well the mortals had gotten the rules of how the world worked. Perhaps not anywhere near exactly right, but it was almost as if telling a child the sky was blue because it was to match their pretty blue eyes.

She didn't have to think at all about what this holiday was about. "A mixture of pagan culture and Christians picking up festivals to try and compete and convert people to their religion. Same as Christmas. Not that one could blame them, Rome incorporated other cultures in their stock after all." She was fond of Romans. While it didn't show in her voice, because she was simply too kind hearted to be too mean to the old codger, she very easily noticed the jab or two at her intelligence. Oh well, no need to take it too personally, might as well let him have his day. They were numbered after all. Peeling at the crisp flesh of the apple she listened again to his poor raspy old voice, or perhaps that was simply how she envisioned it to sound. Somnia and his daydreams where always wonderful. Even a goddess could take a little but and daydream. "Opinion matters little where fact triumphs." another bite of her apple, biting seemed to calm her down a bit. "Of course I care how others view things. It can provide such interesting entertainment." She much preferred Mars to this brute. Weak willed pansy. Perhaps she'd have to visit him, it was always needed when she wanted to see what a real man was like. At least the closest the gods could get to being a real man. Was she perhaps a little bitter over flings with mortals and other gods being a normal thing? Yes. She truly hated it. You married the person you loved, and stayed with them. Not this forced marriage, or whatever else the gods continued to do these days. She enjoyed playing with Mars, and Mercury of course, the mortals were certainly fun as well, though most were quite below her. You still came across that one special one, someone you wanted a family with. Or at least she wanted one with, not that the bloated king of the mountain would ever allow it. Granted neither would her dear friend Saturn, but she'd probably be able to focus on a correct love life at that point. She loved her children, all of them. But she wanted a family. Just might involve adopting all her children after the marriage, to whomever she actually finds to be marriage material.

OOC: <3
Words: 607

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Neptune nodded. She had a point. Some people really devoted their life the to trivia pursuit, was that not the game of a board game also? Still, he found it a bit odd that the name of the goddess in front of him had some to mean something of useless knowledge. Of course, he did find it awfully humorous too, not that he was going to say that in front of her. However, he was impressed that Trivia did know the origins of Halloween, he could applaud her for it. If it wasn't obvious he did not think highly of the dark haired goddess of magic in front of him. Between her little magic tricks and the way she clung to Mars like an obsessive lover, he thought she was useless.

"But sometimes facts can give way to opinions. It is all a matter of how one views them. For example; it is a fact that my baby brother is in power. Yet people have different opinions on how they feel about that fact." Neptune spoke. It was a prime example to be using at the moment as the gossip lately has been about the traitorous individuals that were known to be roaming around Camp Jupiter and then people wondering who else could follow suit, whether demigod or immortal. All this talk has made Neptune keep a closer eye on his daughter. While he may not be around as often as he would have liked, he was still able to watch from a distant, plus he has the nyraids often keeping him informed on her too. Not only did he keep an eye on his daughter but he had the entire sea to keep an eye on too. After the last war where he was locked in battle with his own titan and was unable to help out, he felt selfish afterwards, now he hoped to help this time around and nip whatever problem that may churn in his domain, at the earliest.

"Care to elaborate on your forms of entertainment or am I better off not asking." Neptune responded. He had an idea of what she may be talking about but he honestly did not want to think about that. How someone as strong as Mars and elusive as Mercury find company in such a sleazy minor goddess? It would be one thing if she was attractive, but even that was questionable.

words: 424
notes: writing for Neptune is so hard lately >.< sorry