I don't own Percy Jackson & the Olympians. I wish I did, but I don't.
This was just some random idea I had, I hope it is entertaining. I have had a lot of trouble writing lately, so I was glad when I got this idea.
This won't be Pothena in the beginning, but there will be slight Pothena in the end:D Enjoy!
Athena's favorite way to pass time might be exactly this; spending time in her workplace working on some new invention that would no doubt be brilliant. Everything she invented was nothing short from brilliatn after all. She didn't waste time on anything less than brilliant, expected nothing less from herself.
She had not a lot of time to herself and always woke early , both to be able to finish the tremendous amount of work she had and because she didn't believe in sleeping in. She was aware sleep was necessary, so she did sleep but only slept as many hours as was absolutely necessary to function.
Athena wholeheartedly believed that, in order to make you life something precious or at least worth the gift of life, you should work hard and do everything in your power to achieve what you were able to achieve.
Your life needed a purpose and you had to do anything you could to reach said purpose. Athena didn't believe in taking days off, resting or doing anything that didn't serve a purpose.
She believed in working any hour you could work and using all your talents to improve the world. Which was why she always worked so hard and pushed herself so far.
While she believed she was intelligent, wise and efficient, other people who didn't possess her insight called her stiff, detached and dull. They just didn't comprehend her, didn't comprehend why she did the things she did. They called her all kind of things she wasn't, only because they didn't understand.
Poseidon even said she didn't know how to have fun, which always managed to vex and anger her. That gullible sea god obviously had no clue as to what he was talking about.
He didn't know her, didn't know what she enjoyed and he also didn't know what made your life worthwhile. He just didn't comprehend all she did was to make the earth a better place, to improve situations that needed improvement.
All he saw was someone unlike him, someone with divergent values, beliefs and enjoyments, and thus someone who wasn't appealing. Someone who didn't know how to enjoy life. Poseidon didn't comprehend there were dissimiliar ways to live life, that there were people with divergent values, beliefs and enjoyments whom still enjoyed life and made the best of it.
She despised people like Poseidon, people who didn't even attempt to coprehend other opinions, beliefs and values. It was why she argued so much with him, why she could never like him and why they always seemed unable to cooperate. They were just too dissimiliar, there just too many things they disagreed about. They would never be able to be amicable to each other.
Even before the Medusa incident and the fight about Athens , they had argued. From the first moment they saw it each other, there was a certain tension between them. They never seemed able to stop arguing, to stop having fruitless fights.
Every topic of conversation could turn into an argument or even escalate so much they were attempting to destroy the other. They seemed destined to be contenders forever.
Which was a pity, because Athena didn't enjoy having enemies or contenders. They only complicated things,life was a lot easier without them.
Her rivalry with Poseidon was one of the many things that was on Athena's mind while she worked on a new didn't need to focus solemny on the contraption in order to make it perfect; she could let her thoughts drift a little.
It was always like that; her mind was always occupied while she worked, thousand thoughts occupying it while her long, nimble fingers worked seemingly effortless on the contraption.
Athena was a master of multitasking and she never worked on one thing at one time, no she would work on one thing while making plans for others in her head.
Being the wisdom goddess- among others- meant her mind was occupied at all times. She couldn't seize thinking at any time, simply had to think. It wasn't something she controlled nor did she want to. Having thousand thoughts at the same time was a part of her. She simply wouldn't be her without it.
The disadvantage of having so many divergent thoughts at the same time, meant she sometimes had headaches and there were times when she didn't hear people approaching, when she was so lost in thoughts you had to call her name various times before she reacted. Like now.
Athena only heard her doorbell when it must have been ringing for five minutes at least. She hadn't been aware of the sound earlier, lost in her own thoughts too much like always.
She turned towards the wall opposite of her where there was a small TV-screen that showed her door,with an exasperated Hermes in front of it.
He was leaning against her door, his hand firmly on the doorbell ( in the shape of an owl) , muttering something under his breath. Athena didn't doubt he was muttering insults. He looked like he had been waiting for some time and he hated waiting.
She pressed a button next to her and the door was replaced with another invention of hers; a contraption that scanned DNA, fingerprints and everything else that could prove someone's identity ( and could also scan everything else that was going on in their bodies, like how much hormones they were producing, but only she knew that).
In less than a minute, the machine had confirmed it was indeed Hermes who was standing in front of her door and he was let in. He looked even more annoyed at being checked than he had at being forced to wait.
Athena turned back to her work, hoping she could finish it before Hermes arrived or while they talked. She was almost done after all, she probably needed mere minutes to finish it.
Athena didn't look up when she heard Hermes came in, she just continued working and waited until he would start speaking. She had no doubt he would.
" He Theenie, what are you doing?".
" I am working on a very significant project of mine and refrain from using that horrendous appellation Hermes. My name is Athena, not Theenie".
" Sure The-Athena. But what are you making?".
" I am currently in the midst of creating a constraption that uses nanotechnology to cure diseases and simplifies-".
" Stop! I already have no idea what you are saying, just forget I ever asked".
" Your lack of interest and comprehension is very disappointing".
" Yeah yeah , I am sorry. Are you coming?".
" What are you talking about?".
" I am talking about the fact that Zeus has requested us all to come to the throne room for yet another meeting. I am getting the idea he wants to break the record for most boring meetings in a year".
Athena ignored Hermes' grin and comment, still working on the contraption while she talked with Hermes. She had no time for his stupid jokes, she needed to finish this.
" Hermes, if you have no intention to serious whatsoever, then please leave, so I can complete this very significant contraption".
" Fine, but you have to come with me. Zeus want you to come immediately, he made that very clear".
" What is so urgent that my father is unable to wait a few minutes?".
" I have no idea, he wouldn't tell us until you were there".
Athena sighed and, with a regretful look towards her work, turned towards Hermes. She didn't want to leave, but if her father had requested her presence, she had to. It was very vexing, but she didn't have much choice. She didn't want to disobey her father, it would only bring her in trouble.
Athena and Hermes transported to the doors that lead to the throne room and walked the few metres. Hermes perked up a bit, no doubt because he was about to hear why there was a meeting. He had always been curious.
Athena was fuming silently, disappointed and vexed she had been interrupted. What could possibly be so urgent it required her immediate presence? She sincerely hoped this wasn't about another war. They had had more than enough of those.
When Athena, still fuming, walked into the throne room, she knew it wasn't about another war. Had this meeting been about another upcoming war, her father would have worn his 'special' suit ( he had different ones, for different occasions) and looked very grim and - or he believed he did- imposing. And he didn't.
Instead of wearing his special suit and looking grim, he wore a suit Athena knew Hera liked and was smiling while he talked to Hera.
Athena's mouth actually fell open for a short moment when she saw her father. He and Hera were sitting close together, talking in hushed tones and she even thought she heard Hera giggle once. In all the time Athena had known Hera, she couldn't remember Hera had ever giggled.
It made her feel like she had entered a parallel universum. An universum where Hera's giggled and looked at their husband like they were newlyweds and still very much in love. It made her want to vomit.
Abruptly closing her mouth when she realized how stupid she must look, Athena composed herself and attempted not to ogle her own father like he had just changed into a yellow-green striped alien.
She had a hard time composing herself while all she wanted was to run to her father and demand to know why on earth he was behaving like this. Since when did her father sit close to Hera, really close, and talked to her in a hushed whisper. And oh god, was Hera blushing ?
Since when did the queen of heavens - or queen of ice cold, manipulative bitches, like some other people that wouldn't be named called her- blush and giggle like a schoolgirl? What on Gaia was happening here? She didn't even think she wanted to know.
No matter how much Athena craved for knowledge, she had learned not to ask what things her dad told women to make them blush. Those things would often be inappropriate, revolting and scarr her for didn't want to know something that would only serve to make her nauseous, uncomfortable and haunt her.
She walked towards her father's throne and made a small obeisance. Her father didn't even notice her, too occupied with whispering something in Hera's ear that made her blush again. Again, Athena felt the sudden urge to vomit. Couldn't her father stop behaving like an adolescent boy with raging hormones and leave her stepmother alone?
She waited patiently for her father to notice her while she glanced at the other gods to see their expressions. No one looked surprised - what made her suspect the giggling and blushing had been going on for some time now- but most looked slightly revolted or at least highly uncomfortable.
She noticed everyone was deliberately ignoring the king and queen of Heaven. They were either looking another way or talking to someone else. Some had actually moved their throne a bit, so they wouldn't have to look at Zeus and Hera.
Aphrodite was the only one who looked actually happy with the increased display of attention, smiling whenever she glanced in their direction. But then again, Athena had always believed Aphrodite was slightly insane.
Hepheastus and Ares glared glared at their parents, for once agreeing, like they wanted Hera and Zeus to fall from their thrones and die. She couldn't remember they had ever agreed, even if it was silently, on anything.
Artemis looked revolted and was looking in any direction but Zeus'. She obviously didn't like this reminder her dad was a male and also bother females. She always looked disappointed and annoyed when their father was flirting.
Poseidon and Hades shared looks of revoltment and surprise. They obviously hadn't expected this any more than the other gods and didn't like it.
The other gods just tried to ignore them and were busy staring off into space or talking to others. They were probably disgusted as well, but didn't want to show it. That, or seeing Zeus and Hera flirting and kissing was just too much for them to handle.
After what seemed like forever, Zeus finally noticed Athena and smiled at her, obviously not noticing she felt uncomfortable and revolted. That annoyed her even more- what father didn't notice that?- but she didn't say anything. This wouldn't only get more uncomfortable if they were going to discuss it.
He gave Hera a perk on the lips - which made Athena frown ( since when did they do that?)- and turned towards his daughter with a grin planted firmly on his face. Whatever had happened between him and Hera- Athena really didn't want to think about what could have happened between them- it obviously had a positive result on his mood. Athena couldn't remember the last time her father had looked this satisfied and smug.
"Athena. Thank you for joining us, my dear".
" You're welcome king Zeus. I heard you requested my immediate presence?".
" Ah yes, I did. Sit down Athena, Hermes while I explain why we are having this meeting".
Athena, after a last glance towards her father, nodded and sat down on her throne after changing to her godly height. Hermes did the same while attempting to look anywhere but in Zeus' direction.
Zeus stood and cleared his throat and everyone stopped talking, looking at him with mixed expression of slight curiousity and surprise. Athena had the idea they were expecting he would explain why he and Hera were suddenly being so nice to each other.
" You must all be wondering why I have requested your presence on this glorious day. And I will explain my reasons".
Zeus smiled at Hera, giving her another perk on the lips before continuing with his speech. " My beautiful wife Hera presented me with an amazing idea this morning. She has noticed how much we argue with each other, how much we disagree and how it destroys so much. And I agree with her".
Everyone was staring at Zeus by now. No one could remember when he had last called Hera 'his beautiful wife' or agreed with , they fought a lot and rarely agreed on anything. And Zeus never called her anything else than Hera. This entire situation was getting stranger every passing minute.
" So, in hopes of improving the relationships here, we will- Zeus paused for dramatic effect before raising his hands and continuing in a raised voice- have a musical!".
He looked around, obviously proud he had come up with such an amazing idea. He had obviously expected to see surprised but pleased faces, but every god looked at him like they wanted to ask if he had hit his head. Really hard. Multiple times.
He decided to ignore the stunned faces and just continue. " All right. So we are going to do a musical, together. I have thought long and hard about this and I have made a list with who is going to do what".
He took the rumpled list from his pocket and started reading from it. " Hephaestus, Athena and Apollo are going to work on the scenography, costumes and everything else the actors need. Athena and Hephaestus will also have roles while Apollo will also be in charge of the lights and music, together with Artemis. Aphrodite will choose what musical we are going to do. Everyone else will be actors and Hera will both have a role and be my co-director. Understood?".
There was a moment of perfect, blessed silence before all hell broke lose. The gods were obviously recovering from their slight shock at seeing Zeus act this way and hearing him say something that didn't make sense at all.
" No, I don't comprehend this father. I don't comprehend why you actually anticipate this will improve anything" A vexed and perplexed Athena, who glared at him, said at the same time that about six other people talked to him. While others just screamed something. It obviously made it very hard to understand her.
" I am not going to cooperate with him! He is immature and won't admit I am older!".
" I am older! And I won't co.. co.. work together with someone who doesn't appreciate my awesomeness and is a totall bore!".
" At least I don't spend every day chasing people who wouldn't like me if I was the last male on the planet!".
" You aren't a male!".
" I was talking about you, you cretin! I don't want to be a male! Urgh, that is revolting!".
Artemis and Apollo's kept arguing, but couldn't be heard over the other people talking. There were just too many people yelling, making so much noise you could barely make out any words.
" Why do I have to have a role and build the scenography?".
" Can we do a play about cereal?".
" Can we not do this?".
" Why am I not in charge of the costumes? I have the best taste". " Musicals are stupid. They never actually fight!".
Zeus hoped they would eventually stop screaming and just let them say their opinions, but he draw the line when Apollo started to sing his haiku's, to show Artemis how 'awesome' he was. Especially when Artemis started hitting him while screaming at him he should stop.
' SILENCE" he yelled, throwing his lightning bolt in the middle of the throne room and causing a small explosion. Everyone immediately stopped talking, turning their attention to him like he wanted. Artemis hit Apollo one more time before retreating to her throne.
" Sit down everyone! No more talking until I say so. And to make something clear; it is compulsory to participate in this musical!".
All the gods sat down, some glaring at Zeus. None of them looked very happy about this idea, except Aphrodite - who was smiling and gazing at Athena and Poseidon dreamily- and Hera, who was smiling at Zeus. Which was why he didn't notice the strange look in Aphrodite's eyes.
Zeus, still not noticing the strange look in Aphrodite's eyes while she stared at Poseidon and Athena, gave Hera a small kiss on her nose before turning towards the sulking gods again. All the gods looked like they wanted to vomit when he did that.
" Okay. This is how we are going to do this; we will have practise twice a week and set up a play. Apollo will work on his own during practise, but Athena and Hephaestus will help him on other days then practise. I will tell you when those days are. Aphrodite and Hera will do the casting and everyone will calmly accepts whatever role he gets or risk severe punishment. Aphrodite will now tell which play we are going to do and she and Hera will ask everyone to come forward so they can give them a role".
Some gods looked like they wanted to protest, but after a glare from both Zeus and Hera, they shut up. No one wanted to anger them both. That was just asking for a trip to Tartarus.
Especially Poseidon and Hades looked annoyed and ready to protest, but Zeus had talked to them beforehand and told them very clearly what would happen when they protested. He hadn't told him what his plan was, but he had told them they couldn't protest against it or he and Hera would be very mad ( that weren't his exact words, but that was it summarized).
Aphrodite stood up and smiled brightly at everyone. She was obviously looking forward to having a musical for some reason.
" okay everyone, I have a small list of the stories I wanted to turn into a musical. These are very famous, amazing stories. They are perfect for a musical. I will read the names to you, sumarize where they are about and then we will vote to decide which one we are going to do".
" Okay the first one; Romeo and Juliet. I looooove this story, because it is so romantic , but it has been a bit overdone, so I understand if you don't want this one. Everyone knows this one, so I am not going to say where it is about".
" Paris and Helena. Everyone knows this one of course, so I don't have to explain that one either... what was the next - oh yeah right! Orpheus and Orydice. Everyone knows that one also. Okay next one. This one-".
" Aphrodite. You do realize that some of these aren't musicals, so you will have to write an entire script for it, don't you?" Athena suddenly said, looking very vexed now she was not only forced to participate in a muscial, but also was reminded of that everything that had happened during the Trojan war.
Aphrodite, looking a lot happier than most gods in the room, smiled at Athena and shrugged. "Sure The. You can do that. And let me finish, you had to remain silent".
" I am not- " Athena started, but she shut up when Zeus glared at her and gripped his lightning bolt tightly. She would obviously not get away with it if she interrupted again.
Hera looked very smug next to him, giving Athena a triumphant look that made her want to hit Hera. She didn't do that of course. She just closed her mouth, composed herself and gave Hera a cold look.
Aphrodite looked very pleased Athena had stopped talking, not noticing the glare contest that was going on between Hera and Athena. She just continued babbling while Hera and Athena glared at each other and probably didn't even hear what she was saying.
" Okay next one; Cleopatra and Mark Antony. I think most of you know this one as well, but Cleopatra was an Egyptian queen while Mark Antony was a Roman general. Long story short; they fell in love, a powerful man named Octavian didn't like this because Anthony divorced his sister to be with Cleopatra and declared war on Cleopatra. Anthony and Cleopatra fled after their combined forces had been defeated and Anthony killed himself when someone told him Cleopatra had died. Except Cleopatra hadn't died, got captured and also committed suicide. Soooo romantic!".
" Next one is Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot was on of the knights of the round table and the best friend of King Arthur. He falls in love with the wife of king Arthur and they start having an affair. Several people are suspiscious and one of them eventually catches them together in bed. A lot happens after that, but it ends with Lancelot becoming a hermit and Guinevere a nun. So sad!".
" A story I also really like is the story of Salim and Anarkali. This one is one my favorite stories. Salim was the son of an emperor named Akbar. He fell in love with Anarkali, a beautiful but ordinary courtesan, when he first saw her. His father didn't accept his son's love for Anarkali and started pressuring her and trying anything to make his son dislike her. When Salim discovered what his father had been doing, he declared war against his own father. Sadly, his father wins and Salim is sentenced to death. Anarkali, desperate to rescue her love, renounces her love to save her beloved from the jaws of death. She is entombed alive in a brick wall right in front of her lover's eyes. I personally think this is one is the best. So sad, romantic and just perfect".
Aphrodite actually looked like she would cry for a moment, but managed to compose herself. She put the list back in her pocket and reverted back to her annoying happy self.
"All right! Time to vote. Just put your hand in the air when you want to vote for a story".
No one was particuliarly interested in any of the stories, so most just voted for the last one. They didn't want to argue with Aphrodite who glared at them in a way that told them not to disagree with her.
Athena was the only one who didn't vote for Salim and Anarkali. She voted for Julia and Romeo because she liked Shakespeare a lot. She wanted to vote again, but Aphrodite had already declared they would now do a musical about Salim and Anarkali. She immediately started talking again, ignoring Athena's attempts at conversation about Shakespeare.
" All right, so our musical will be about Salim and Anarkali. I figured Demeter, Hestia and perhaps Hades could write the script and Athena could correct any mistakes they make. There aren't many roles, so we will just have to write some. I already know who my Salim, Anarkali and Akbar are going to be however. Salim will be Poseidon, Anarkali will be Athena and- ".
" Aphrodite! We haven't heard them sing yet, you first have to let them sing, it is a musical after all" Hera protested, looking faintly annoyed Aphrodite was making casting decisions without her. She never liked it when people didn't ask her opinion and she didn't like Aphrodite.
Aphrodite shrugged and smiled at her. "We don't actually. I heard Athena sing once and she has a beautiful voice. And I have witnesses who have told me Poseidon has the best voice ever".
" Who- ".
" I am afraid I can't give any names, just trust me".
" I would rather not to, but okay".
" Great! So Poseidon will be Salim, Athena Anarkali and Zeus will be Akbar, the father".
" I don't want to be in love with owl head"! Poseidon suddenly protested, looking very dismayed. Athena, looking just as annoyed, rolled her eyes at his whiny voice and choice of words.
" You cretin! You won't actually be in love with me, you will just pretend like you are. And I refuse to even think about pretending to be in love with fish breath!".
"He! My breath doesn't smell like fish!".
" Can you actually smell your own breath? Because I can and believe me, it does".
" Doesn't! And you have never actually been close enough to smell it!".
" What about that time you spat in my face? I could smell your breath, it was even worse than your revolting spit on my face!".
" Well, YOUR breath smells like peppermint and ichor and other delicious things!".
" Well YOU - wait a minute. Did you just give me a compliment ?". Athena voice changed from sharp and cold to one filled with astonishment. She narrowed her eyes at Poseidon, like he had insulted her instead of complimented her.
Poseidon recoiled, thinking about this. He hadn't been thinking about what he was about to say, but had been thinking about how she smelled instead. He couldn't identify her smell, but she smelled vaguely of ichor and nektar. And other things that smelled good, like something flowery.
" Yeah well, don't get used to it".
" Why on earth did you compliment me? You despise me!".
" That doesn't mean I despise your smell! Your scent hasn't done anything to make me hate it!".
" That doesn't make sense!".
" Does!".
"Doesn't!".
" Doe-".
"POSEIDON! Athena! SHUT UP" Zeus suddenly yelled, startling the two bickering gods that had slowly leaned towards each other. They both jumped back, faces faintly red, when they realized their noses were practically touching.
Athena quickly composed herself while Poseidon stared at her. He seemed to find something about her face very interesting, because he was staring at it intently.
She glared at him, but he just smiled. She tried to stop the blush from becoming more prominent and decided to ignore the cretin and focus on her vexed father instead.
" My apologies king Zeus, that was most juvenile".
" It was. But it wasn't your fault- he gave Poseidon a pointed look that was ignored- some people just spark that kind of response. But the main purpose of my idea is that you learn to cooperate so - although I am not very glad with the roles myself- you and Poseidon will have to pretend to be in love. No arguing, no bickering and no complains. Am I clear?".
Athena was far from glad, but she wasn't about to argue with her father. He was unbelievably stubborn, so that was a hopeless case. Maybe she could escape this situation in some other way, she would have to think about it.
Poseidon only nodded, not longer staring at her, but still looking in her direction. She didn't like the faint smirk he had, but tried to ignore it.
" Sure. I will cooperate with owl head".
Athena didn't hear a word of what was said after that, she was too occupied with planning her escape. Her thoughts drifted again until she didn't notice the discussions around her anymore, solely focused on plotting her escape as she was.
She didn't notice some gods actually warming up to it, didn't notice Artemis and Apollo screaming at each other, didn't notice Aphrodite's evil grin, but what she did notice was the odd look Poseidon gave her a few times. It made her faintly anxious. What did that look mean? And was he going to use it on her all the time? That wouldn't be good for her nerves.
She was in for a few very frustrating months, she knew for sure. How would she survive pretending to love Poseidon for a few days every week for months?
This is probably a weird place to stop, but I didn't want to continue writing forever and it would be too much of a story if I did.
My idea was to write two more chapters of the musical idea and post in under Some Pothena Moments if you people liked it.
If you don't like it, I won't write a follow-up and maybe delete this chapter. This was just a random idea really.