Text | UN: Athena

[vintagehardmedia]

Hi all.

I've found in my travels that the best ways to get to know a community are to see what people do in their off time and find out where they go. So. Tell me anything.

What are your favorite places to eat?

What do you do with your time?

What are popular activities or hobbies around here?

For my own interestes, I have a few specifics:

Where is the nearest record shop?

Does anyone need an archival specialist? Data engineer? Librarian?

Also-- Does anyone know of a half decent mechanic that will follow instructions?

Thanks.

Comments

[vintagehardmedia]

... You survived.

[Athena shifted, and their jittery nerves left them feeling uncomfortable in their own skin. Recent weeks had seen them contemplating Medusa as well for a variety of reasons, but none of them were worth elaborating on in that moment. Instead, they bit their lip and added:]

Many women throughout history don't survive the whims of selfish men. And some of the women that did survive decided to get images of you tattooed on their bodies for many reasons-- as a reminder of your strength, and even as a protective ward.

[Staying still was impossible at this point, and Athena started reflexively tapping their foot while they fought with the fount of knowledge in their head as well as their own tongue. After a moment, Athena added another thought. ]

... Much of history has been written and told by men, and even the Goddesses were bound by societal standards. Some scholarly women think that Athena the deity may have had no choice in what she had to do to you... But that she at least tried to give you the strength to defend yourself from such a fate ever happening again.

slowly emerges from hiatus-ish (also tw sexual assault impliations)

[snekeyes]

[She could hear the nerves- the hurried way in which Athena spoke- in their voice, and immediately felt a little guilty for pressing the topic, rather than accepting it as it was.

...But it was still so very strange, for Medusa to hear of all of this. To hear even of those who'd marked themselves with her image in that way. Yes, she had always been a powerful protector. To her sisters, to Sakura- she had to be. They needed her.

Regardless of how many iterations of her myth had been woven throughout history, and her own experiences in the distant and more recent past- She had to be someone who survived, regardless of what had been done to her or what men and/or Gods had seen fit to inflict on her. She just had to get back up and keep going. Each and every time.

...But she kept that to herself. She certainly couldn't find the words to explain all of that, or much desire to drag up her past traumas in that way.]

I never...saw myself as someone who could be that symbol for humans. They mostly sought to have the Monster killed, in my memory...

[But, she supposed, it was (mostly?) men who came after her to try and kill her.

As for the Deity Athena's intentions- she couldn't be sure. Neither of them could. If this Athena had been the Olympian, she wanted to ask her 'Why?'...but it seemed that the words of scholars were the best they had. Certainly, it was a new angle she hadn't considered. Had the Goddess Athena been trying to show her mercy, or was it petty spite? Or something between the two?

...Her head was starting to hurt, thinking about that. For all of this, she certainly appreciated how civil Athena was being with her, despite the misunderstanding, and the heavy topic at hand. And for them to tell them all of this... that did mean a lot,]

But, um... thank you. And I apologise if this is unpleasant for you.

[vintagehardmedia]

[No one could know what the goddess had thought-- all they had was record of the culture at the time, and how even women in powerful positions were still not nearly as powerful as the men around them. Athena had studied the mythology during their younger years, and found that maturity had allowed enough insight to not be angry towards any of the classical witches or goddesses for their actions.

Calypso had been alone on an island for centuries. Circe had nymphs to protect. Hera, her family and reputation. And, Athena..


Her priestesses, and her reputation.]

It's been... Confusing, Priestess. But you don't need to apologize.

[They sighted, and offered the priestess a tired smile even thought it would not be seen.]

It's like the story with Orpheus and Eurydice, right? Even if Hades understood the reasons, he couldn't just turn his back and let either of them walk freely. People would think he had grown soft, and lose some of the respect he held in his role.

Maybe, it was the same for the goddess? Who knows?

But-- you don't need to fear me. I'm just a person, and I'm not even that wise or clever.

[snekeyes]

[Even though she couldn't see their smile, some of the emotion behind it came through in their voice all the same. Medusa's own stance was weary, also, that much could be seen now she'd lowered her guard. The whole 'potentially going to confront the Goddess Athena' situation had taken a fair bit out of her.]

...perhaps it was. I understand the logic. I would rather it were for reasons like that than spite.

[She could at least tolerate that sort of reason, even after what became of her because of it. If she were required to be a sacrifice, then she would accept that, especially over that curse simply being a cruel whim.

As for the next part, though... it felt strange, to hear that from someone who seemed (largely?) human. Shouldn't it be the other way around, now that the truth had emerged? Still, she gave a small nod at the reassurance.]

...I don't know when I will become that monster again in the truest sense, but I have no wish to harm you, either.

[She couldn't promise she'd never become a threat, but she could at least make her intentions known to them. Rider may not be the most sociable of individuals, but she really didn't intend to go out and harm people without reason.]

[vintagehardmedia]

It's all right. I'm not afraid of snakes.

[They chuckled at their own joke, hoping that making light of a serious matter would be acceptable to the ancient priestess. There was a great deal yet that Athena didn't know, even about their own body after miracle of experimental technology that saved their life.]

I'm honestly not sure how the eye contact problem would affect me, [they admitted.] Evidently, I should be blind after some recent problems. But, I'm not.

I think it's because the usual anatomical paths needed bypassed... But that's engineering talk that most people aren't interested in.

[And, noticing the priestess's wearied stance, they reached out to gently touch her arm.]

Do you need a place to sit? We can find one, uhh...

... What do you want to be called?

[snekeyes]

[Despite the circumstances, the joke did make Rider crack a rare smile- sure she wasn't the most emotive person, but she still had a sense of humour. And it was nice to talk to them a little more casually.]

I would rather not test it...but that does explain how you knew how to make voice to text work a little better. But- recent? Do you mean since arriving here?

[Hadn't they said their injuries were from decades ago? Or was that to do with being called to this realm? The engineering talk was a little over her head, but if Athena wanted to talk about it, far be it from her to stop them!

At same time, she did not want to pry too much, if it was a personal matter.]

...I will be fine, but we can find somewhere to sit down if you would prefer.

And, I have been going by 'Rider'. It is...a long story and it is more of a title than a name, but it does just as well.

[She only picked 'flyer' as a username because that was taken. Not that she really minded if Athena kept using her username to refer to her, either- on that subject, though: ]

...What about you? I have no objections to referring to you as Athena.

[vintagehardmedia]

I mean-- from some months before I arrived, Rider.

[It was a simple enough transition. Titles often times served better than names, as Athena knew from experience. While they were curious about the circumstances behind such a title, the good Priestess had already shared quite a bit because of the name situation.

Instead, it was Athena's turn to talk. Gently, they shifted so that their hand was in Rider's and took the lead in finding a bench in the park to sit on.]

I was trying to pick up some new additions for the University archive I work for, but my package got mixed up with others. I must've grabbed the wrong one, because not even twelve hours later--

[They sighed-- a wearied, frustrated sound by all accounts.]

It must've been a bomb, and it went live.

[It had to have been triggered by the physical force of their own crash landing on that unregistered world that didn't show up on any star map, but this was a question that Athena may never know the answer to. ]

Someone powerful died to keep me alive when it went off. And-- this is gonna sound crazy-- I sometimes think I hear his voice in my head.

[An empty bench was found at this point, and Athena stopped.]

Here we go. Right in the shade, too.

... I still don't entirely know what happened with all that, but I'm trying to figure it out. The locals revered him as a God... But, you know Gods better than most people. Death doesn't necessarily affect them the same way.

[Sure, Hades took care of matters in the underworld, but the Gods all are the ambrosia that granted them immortality. Besides that, there was no way to define the limits of life on an unknown world.

It was a mystery that would reveal itself in time.]

You can keep calling me Athena if it's no cause of discomfort for you. Otherwise...

A name for a name. My mother called me Mari, and my family name is Mackenzie.