This is an Aglaia/Hephaestus pairing, Enjoy~
Falling in love is like holding a candle. Initially, it lightens up the world around you, then it starts melting and hurts you. Finally, it goes off and everything is darker than ever and all you are left with is the burn~
Syed Arshad
"Sister you must finish telling me what happened at the party" Pasithea pleaded.
Aglaia promptly annoyed by her sisters' antics to try and persuade her to finish her tale— that she wasn't too fond of— continued to try and distract herself with her hair.
"How many times must I tell you 'no' Thea? Lady Aphrodite has ears everywhere, and the last thing I need is to possibly be punished for even speaking about it…" she sighs tentatively "Besides, you know as well as I do that what happened at Calliope's banquet stays there"
Pasithea lets out a loud huff and falls back dramatically against the couch puffing her cheeks and crossing her arms childishly, "Everyone got to go to that stupid banquet but I, and the minute something happens suddenly no god dares to say ANYTHING…it's unequivocally ironic!"
Aglaia rolls her eyes at her younger sister's tantrums. Euphrosyne used to be just like this; whine and moan and beg for attention or the latest gossip from every god under the sun until she got whatever she wanted. Only time made her more mature; even a little hard work. Aglaia was glad she had become a little more manageable now than how she was before, but the eruption at the banquet was a shock to everyone; Apollo, for probably his amusement, struck up a silly statement about how much more beautiful she had become through her years living on Olympus and had offhandedly mentioned she could rival her Lady. Though such a claim could fill one with pride it is perhaps one of the most deadly things to say when it's compared to the most beautiful goddesses in all of Olympus, as her infamous temper was nothing to take lightly, so to no surprise this blasphemous proclaim didn't go unnoticed as Aphrodite can easily pick up the undertone of any statement that was or is made about her.
"And pray tell Apollo? What exactly do you mean by that?" She asked icily her words inviting and sweet, but her eyes glowing vibrantly with building anger.
Aglaia knew better to keep her mouth shut. And Apollo none the wiser cleared his throat while also taking subtle glances towards Eros who had abruptly stopped his conversation with Anteros at the sound of his mother's tone too also pay attention, let out a short laugh, and says,
"Hah— well…EVERYONE has been saying it Aphrodite I'm just repeating what's been told—"
"Really? And Who has been saying such a thing?" She interrogates viciously.
Aglaia's palms had become sweaty and she surely might've looked a little pale from the way this conversation was going the mood that was light and gentle had plummeted greatly to that of foreboding. But she kept a poker face however; she would not break her humility, not here, not where all the gods were.
The drop in ambiance even managed to catch Athena's attention who looked over at their table with a raised brow at the sudden tension rising between two of the highest and oldest deities in Olympus, if only Apollo thought before he spoke then maybe the next thing that had happened wouldn't have ended the party so soon for her.
"I-I can't really recall exactly who but—"
She cuts him off ruthlessly, "Well then maybe you should tell us EXACTLY what everyone has been saying…hmm?"
Apollo coughed nervously strumming a string on his lyre restlessly with each passing second. This was getting awkward.
"Just ask anyone!" He blurts out in a flurry probably hoping this would be enough to hide his embarrassing confession and that HE is the only one who thinks this or has probably said it openly anyway.
With as much ice in her voice as she had gathered during this exchange— she humors him and merely picks a mortal man helping himself to too many sweet lemon tarts at the banquet table.
"You!" Aphrodite commanded loudly towards the man who turned towards them, and looked like a child that got caught doing what they weren't supposed to, approached the table hesitantly and bows respectfully towards them.
"What is your name?" Aphrodite asks sweetly.
"My name is Teiresias Lady Aphrodite" he answers quickly.
"Teiresias, would you so kindly tell me what woman at this table is the most beautiful," she asks so softly Aglaia had to catch herself from accidentally saying her name.
The young man gulps down the remaining tart and visibly avoids eye contact, it makes Aglaia snort faintly. A normal person, especially in front of a god, would just answer without even considering the question— but somehow this youth managed to give a hesitant yet horrifyingly honest response.
Aglaia had merely raised her head to just take a quick glance at the young man, but she had inadvertently caught his gaze and they held each other's stare for she was sure was merely seconds he was quite cute; with light brown hair curled gently around his face, beautiful blue eyes, and a very striking nose his face was tan and looked soft, and if you could try and look closely, there might've been dust of freckles around his cheeks that complimented his natural blush. All in all, he was slightly attractive. However, when he spoke, that might've been the last time, she would've ever made the mistake of looking up because, without hesitation, he pointed towards her.
"She is"
Eros who had been mildly enjoying the exchange spits out his drink and has a violent coughing fit that was intermixed with laughter, the entire table starred at him wide-eyed others laughing nervously at his foolishness Aphrodite's face darkens considerably her soft features contorting, into that of an ugly sneer and Aglaia trembles slightly at the murderous aura her lady emits as she ominously stands from her seat and starts walking closer towards the small man. His blue eyes were still open wide and unblinking— he was speechless.
"Teiresias what did you say? Who do you think is the most beautiful goddess at this table?" She spits venomously.
"Wait—no…I-I didn't mean—" he begins but Aphrodite holds up a hand stopping him and takes several steps closer into his personal space.
"Well, now I believe we all know who you are referring to as beautiful Teiresias?" She laughs dryly, "The Great Goddess of Beauty stands before you and you insult her in such a way! You deserve punishment, yes?"
At this point, all of the yards' attention was on them as Aphrodite continued her tirade against the mortal man. He trembled greatly, clearly terrified.
"It wasn't meant to offend—"Teiresias tried to reason.
"Oh, but you did!" She smiles wickedly, "and maybe you'll think twice before disrespecting me again"
With the rebounding snap of her fingers a blinding white and blue light blinds Aglaia's vision momentarily, as she winces back from the painful sight she was seeing. As soon as her vision returned, the mortal who was once youthful and full of mirth now stood before them as a very old man full of wrinkles sagging skin, and grey hairs, and a peal of deafening laughter filled the courtyard at his new appearance, Teiresias falls to his knees in mercy begging to be changed back, but Aphrodite merely scoffs at his pleadings and walks away dismissively. When Aglaia turns back to him, he is still kneeling, seemingly ashamed and humiliated by what he is now.
Aglaia stops combing her hair for a moment and sighs gravely; the whole theatric had left a bad taste in her mouth for the rest of that day.
"Well at the very least— I did hear a thing or two about it being some silly human insulting Aphrodite" she grumbles from her chair now taking interest in creating a flower crown from the poppy lying on a nearby table.
"Believe me Pasithea it wasn't anything worth knowing about…" Aglaia said.
Pasithea snorts and whispered something that sounded like a 'yeah right' and continues her crown.
"…If it means much— that mortal does now have a lovely set of locks on his head I hear every woman in Crete is trying to be his bride" Aglaia adds randomly which makes Pasithea pause her task and glance up in confusion.
"What—"
Before she could finish her statement the door suddenly burst open and Euphrosyne runs in heaving for breath as her dress is barely hanging onto her shoulders and her hair is a tangled mess everywhere upon her head as if she was struck by one of Zeus's bolts.
Aglaia and Pasithea stare at their sister with a dumbfounded expression waiting patiently for an explanation.
With a newfound breath, she suddenly exclaims, "LORD HEPHAESTUS HAS STRUNG UP LADY APHRODITE AND LORD ARES IN A NET AND ARE BEING PRESENTED NAKED IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE COURTS!"
Without another word, Aglaia rushes to her feet and follows Pasithea and Euphrosyne towards the main hall of Olympus where a boisterous crowd has gathered around. Soon enough they all make it through the crowd of laughing and taunting gods to see Aphrodite and Ares were indeed nude and entrapped within a net dangling from one of the many pillars by the throne room a series of curses coming from Ares at the gods below.
Hephaestus, sat only a few feet away silently sipping on a goblet of wine, seemingly not caring about the ruckus surrounding him, nor did he acknowledge anyone asking what happened.
Aglaia finds Thalia at the other end of the crowd rubbing her temples in frustration, pushing her way through the crowd she finally makes it to where she stood.
"What in Hades is going on!" She demanded.
"You remember that little affair our Lady and Lord Ares were having—" Thalia replied bitterly not bothering to finish the rest of her statement as she dramatically flipped a hand towards the results.
Aglaia takes in a deep breath and calmly asks, "Have you tried speaking to him?"
Thalia narrows her eyes at her.
"Yes…but let's just say my efforts were utterly fruitless." She retorted sarcastically turning her glare elsewhere and seething quietly, "Why is she here? Pasithea doesn't need to be watching this"
Aglaia turns and sees her younger sister staring agape at Aphrodite and Ares in the net and if she squinted a little she could almost see a small smile of amusement forming on her lips. So despite her upset, she is able to suppress a slight groan at the fact. Thalia must've notice this sudden change in Aglaia's demeanor because she frowns at her even more seriously and says flatly,
"It's her first day on Olympus and the last thing we need is to watch her enjoy a mockery of Lady Aphrodite"
Aglaia nods in silent agreement, "Let me try and reason with Lord Hephaestus"
"It won't do you much good the bastard is getting himself drunker by the minute and Euphrosyne and I have tried everything possible without success," Thalia remarked eyeing the revelry swirling around the room unhappily.
Aglaia purses her lips together thoughtfully.
"Just try and find a way to get them down and let me see what I can do"
Thalia stares at her doubtfully for a moment then takes off to join Pasithea and her sister, who has already disappeared amongst the throng of gods gathered outside the throne room. As Aglaia steps forward to confront the seated drunken god the look on his face sends a shiver through her body as his bronze-yellow eyes flash dangerously before they close again in concentration on the rest of the drink in his cup.
Clearing her throat she firmly calls to him "Lord Hephaestus"
He doesn't bother looking up or addressing her directly. Instead, he continues to fixate on his goblet, closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh before murmuring under his breath "Pathetic—alw…ays pathetic"
In his marginally intoxicated state, his words came out slurred. Aglaia however can read his tone clearly; this isn't due to a lack of respect, but rather due to his total disinterest and bitterness in what is happening and has been happening for a long time. She wasn't completely innocent in knowing what her lady and Ares were doing, but she did hope with all her heart that she would never have to witness such behavior from him of all people.
"My Lord, if I may, I know that—"
"You don't" he interrupted rudely before she could speak further, throwing back the rest of his drink in one swallow "keep your pity and shallow reasons for your mistress's feelings or whatever the hell it is you wish to say to excuse her actions, I'll hear none of it"
Aglaia is rendered speechless for a moment, surprised by his forthrightness in both the disdainful tone of his voice as well as his refusal to address her.
She tries again, hoping he will be kind enough to hear her out, "Please just—"
A loud crack of thunder silences the room instantly, and the people turn their heads towards Zeus and Hera who appeared through the doors of the throne room in utter confusion.
"What is the meaning of this!" the Queen cries harshly before she notices Ares and Aphrodite tied in a net suspended by Hephaestus.
Immediately Hera's face changes from irritation to embarrassment as her husband begins to tremble slightly with laughter at the sight. Zeus shakes his head slowly before glancing down at Hera who glared up at him with slight annoyance.
Zeus's lips curl into a soft smirk.
"It seems our son is the vengeful type," he says mildly.
Hera turns away from her husband without a word and struts angrily toward Hephaestus.
"Explain" she demands staring him down.
Hephaestus only shrugs again before taking a sip of wine that remains on his lip. He then turns to Hera and remarks harshly.
"Your majesty if I am, to be honest; you had already known this marriage was never going to work out from the beginning, I assumed quite heavily what Aphrodite was doing until Helios confirmed it for me so what was left for me to do but retaliate in what I saw fit" he answered with a graveled deadpanned voice, "Need I explain more to my heavenly mother about betrayed wedding vows ?"
Hera only stared at him and her gaze momentarily drops to the floor in what Aglaia can only deem as silent understanding. For a moment everything goes quiet save the ruckus surrounding them, but soon enough they are all snapped back to attention when Hera raises her eyes back to Hephaestus and chastises him,
"And your way of punishing them was to embarrass these halls?"
"Did you expect more? I wasn't looking to go as big as you do"
Aglaia flinches as the air had suddenly grown stiff around them. Before Hera could say a word the sea god steps in to calm the already agitating situation,
"Alright let's settle down, as hilarious as this is I'm sure the point was made very clear don't you agree?" he asked and gazed sternly at both Hera and Hephaestus before turning his attention to Zeus for assistance.
Zeus sighed, though he did look somewhat pleased with Hephaestus's current stance, instead turned to Hera and remarked:
"What do you think sweetheart how shall we orchestrate this?"
Her response is swift and unexpected.
"Let him decide what he will"
"My Queen—" Aglaia suddenly spoke out in shock.
"Your mistress plays with the hearts of gods far too often some punishment would do her good " she replies firmly.
"Is this punishment not good enough Hera?" Poseidon scoffed in question. Not bothering with his matter-of-fact tone Hera turns away from Poseidon who continued to stand there as if nothing had ever been said.
"Oh I think this will suffice" she mumbles.
Poseidon rolls his eyes and takes a step closer before addressing Hephaestus.
"Just release them nephew I'll make sure personally Ares pays the bridal price for the humiliation he's rot upon you" He persuades before moving forward and gently shaking Hephaestus's shoulder.
Hephaestus cocks an eyebrow at Poseidon and shook him off before simply shaking his head at the agreement to release them.
"No" he states simply and turns to leave.
"Well I assume that's that, Poseidon I need to speak with you anyway" Zeus laughs loudly gesturing towards his brother to follow as they depart.
Leaving Aglaia alone staring blankly in confoundedness at where the gods once stood and slowly turns her head to her expectant sisters who all but dropped their shoulders at the revelation, that they will not be retrieving their mistress today.