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CALLIOPE: There are many conversations that need to be had today. This, of course, means that we are going to start with the conversations that do not need to be had first.

Welcome, dear listeners, to Forged Bonds.

We will join our story in the forge where Hephaestus is taking a break to talk to Aphrodite about her latest creation.

HEPHAESTUS: So what do you think?

APHRODITE: It’s gorgeous. What is it?

HEPHAESTUS: It’s the start of a new sculpture. I’m taking a whack at making a person rather than an object; this little friend right here will be her arm. The gears on the inside will allow the arm to move– see, they roll on a track so the wrist, elbow, and shoulder will be adjustable. Pretty neat, right?

APHRODITE: ‘Pretty neat’ she says, as if she hasn’t just shown me the coolest thing ever.

HEPHAESTUS: I wouldn’t say the coolest thing ever. It’s just a little something I’m trying out, I don’t even know if it will turn out good.

APHRODITE: Phae.

HEPHAESTUS: No, don’t you start! 

APHRODITE: But if I don’t tell you how incredible everything you make is, then who will?

HEPHAESTUS: (playfully) This is unacceptable behavior and I will fight you for it.

APHRODITE: (playfully) See if I ever try to show support for you again. (pause) It’s going to turn out great, Phae. Because you’re making it and because everything you make is phenomenal. 

HEPHAESTUS: You’re an absolute bastard, you know that? Making me feel all emotional on a Tuesday morning? (pause) I appreciate it, Aph. Thank you.

APHRODITE: What made you decide to try sculpting a person anyway? Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed that you’re giving it a go and will tell Apollo that you make better things out of metal than he ever could make out of marble but I guess I’m just… Curious. This is so unlike anything you’ve done before.

HEPHAESTUS: I guess after making the wedding rings I wanted to see if I could continue to push myself. Those were also unlike anything I had ever made before and I think they turned out okay–

APHRODITE: They turned out brilliantly. Almost makes me wish the wedding actually meant something. Anyway, continue.

HEPHAESTUS: I know you had said when we first met about the rings that I could do delicate pieces but I really wanted to test that theory. There’s a lot of intricate building involved with the kind of piece I’m making now– creating thin wires and gears, adding in functionality to the pieces, rounding out edges that would typically be pointed on my weaponry. I thought it could be a fun challenge.

APHRODITE: (hesitantly) And… You’re doing this for you, right? Not because someone is making you?

HEPHAESTUS: I know it’s surprising but… I guess I got a little bored of the knives.

APHRODITE: (teasing) You? Bored of knives?

HEPHAESTUS: (laughing) I know, I know, it never seemed like it would happen but– (pause) I think I was stuck in a rut of what I knew. I liked knives and swords and weapons because it was what I had always made. And sure, I made a sculpture or two here and there but it was often with the same lines that a knife would have. And I’m good at it, don’t get me wrong, I just… 

APHRODITE: (curious) What changed?

HEPHAESTUS: I think I did. I think you did.

APHRODITE: Me?

HEPHAESTUS: Yeah, you. I… I met you, really met you and I just… I don’t know. Things felt different, life felt different. Gods, Aph, do you know how long it had been since I had been in Olympus proper? I wouldn’t have gone if not for you. You came out of nowhere and pulled me out of the rut I was in. You… You became my friend. The first one I had had other than Dionysus in years. I guess it changed me more than I thought. I– Thank you, Aph. For being my friend.

APHRODITE: You don’t have to thank me for that, Phae. If anything, I should be thanking you.

HEPHAESTUS: Oh, come on–

APHRODITE: No, really. You… I didn’t know what to expect when Hera told me that you would be making the rings. I thought perhaps you’d be rude, closed off, but you were so kind from the first moment we met. Keeping secrets that weren’t truly secrets from your dearest friend because you didn’t want to share my business without consent. Listening to me ramble about the wedding I didn’t really want because you knew what it was like to be put in these impossible situations. Letting me and Ares into your home– into your forge– to create these beautiful pieces for us. You… You’re astounding, Hephaestus. I’m so incredibly lucky to know you and even luckier to be your friend. 

HEPHAESTUS: (full of emotion) What did I say about making me feel things on a Tuesday morning?

APHRODITE: It’s just gone past noon now, actually.

HEPHAESTUS: (laughing) Well, in that case I guess I can’t give you hell for this. Gods know I want to, though. Come here (they hug) We weren’t supposed to get this sappy, we were supposed to talk about forging. 

APHRODITE: I hate to break it to you, Phae, but sappiness often comes with friendship. And now that you’re stuck with me–

HEPHAESTUS: And you’re stuck with me. 

APHRODITE: Who would’ve thought that the goddess of the forge was such a secret softie?

HEPHAESTUS: Don’t tell the other Olympians, they’d never believe it. And don’t tell Di, he’d never let me live it down.

APHRODITE: You say that like he doesn’t already know. 

HEPHAESTUS: …Point taken. But still, don’t tell him. I have to keep up some level of credibility with him and if he believed that I was showing you favoritism he’d get all sad like a lost puppy. Have you ever seen a lost puppy of a man surrounded by cats? It does something to your heart.

APHRODITE: How many cats does Dionysus even have?

HEPHAESTUS: Oh he has so many and they’re all named after alcoholic drinks. (conversation fades off)

CALLIOPE: I did promise you all a conversation that needed to be had at the top of the episode, so it only seems fair that I bring you there now. We will pull our attention away from the goddesses in the forge and redirect it over to the bedroom of Hera where she is eyeing a new doorway distrustfully.

HERA: What in the name of Olympus… 

(door opens)

HADES: Hello, Hera.

HERA: Gods above, Hades! Don’t startle me like that. What– What is this door?

PERSEPHONE: I think this is a conversation better held above ground than below it, darling. Hera, do you mind if we come in?

HERA: I… Of course not, come in, please. (door closes) Would you care to explain why there is a doorway to the Underworld in my bedroom?

PERSEPHONE: It seems that your dear husband felt he owed us a favor.

HERA: What for?

HADES: Covering for him at the wedding. His words not ours, rest assured.

HERA: And… And that leads to a doorway to the Underworld in my bedroom, how, exactly?

HADES: We’ve requested that you be allowed to live with us in the Underworld.

HERA: Hades–

HADES: You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Don’t think this is me pressuring you into another cage, this time with a friendlier owner. No, this… The thought of you living in this room that isn’t even a true sanctuary for yourself because he’s constantly here makes me sick. You don’t have to stay here, not unless you want to. 

PERSEPHONE: The door connects directly into the room we’ve set up for you. It’s far enough from our quarters that you’ll have your own space but close enough for company if you’d like it. You can come and go as you please through Zeus’s home as though you weren’t living anywhere else at all. Even the best reporters don’t have access to the inside of Zeus’s home. It would be safe for you, Hera. 

HADES: It would also be safe for Hephaestus to come and visit. There are entrances to the Underworld all over Olympus, including outside of the city proper. She would be able to visit you, and you would be able to visit her. There would be no Zeus to ruin that for you.

HERA: …You’d really do all of this? For me? 

HADES: You are my sister in every way that matters, Hera. It would be an honor to be able to protect you like one.

PERSEPHONE: And it’s like I told you before: We take care of our own. You don’t have to say yes. The door is easy enough to dismantle and we can be on our way but–

HERA: But I could leave. I could really leave and just. Have space. Have a home, see my daughter, I– (pause) Is there anything to say other than yes? (she hugs them both) Of all the things you could’ve asked for, you asked for me. How can I ever thank you for that?

HADES: By coming home.

HERA: Home. I don’t think I’ve had a home in quite some time.

PERSEPHONE: It’s strange to have a home when you’re so used to feeling like a stranger living in someone else’s walls, but I promise you you’ll get used to it. You deserve to have a home, Hera. You deserve to have a life that is free of this place and all that it has done to you. A life free of Zeus. 

HERA: (soft, reverent) A life without Zeus… (normal volume) When I married him, I never once thought I would want that. And then when things started to deteriorate between us, I never thought I could have that. Loving Zeus… It will always be my biggest regret. But perhaps my life can progress without the weight of that regret.

HADES: It can. I promise you, it can.

PERSEPHONE: And until such time as you can shoulder that weight on your own, we’ll help you carry it. You’re not alone anymore, Hera. 

HERA: No. No, I’m not alone anymore. Let’s go… Let’s go home.

CALLIOPE: As the three gods descend the stairs into the Underworld, I will pull your attention in one final direction. In the home of our fearless messenger god, we find Hermes and Ares.

ARES: You… Want me to teach you how to fight?

HERMES: It’s silly, isn’t it?

ARES: No! Not silly, just… Unexpected. I mean, we’ve known each other for how long now and you’ve never once taken an interest in fighting?

HERMES: (laughing) I suppose that’s fair. I guess I just… Wanted to try something new. We don’t have to jump straight to swords or anything like that–

ARES: Good, because we weren’t going to–

HERMES: But if you could teach me even a little bit, I’d appreciate it. I feel like the only thing I’m really good at is running. 

ARES: Hermes. You invented the lyre.

HERMES: Okay, yes, but Apollo plays it better than I ever could. You know what I mean, Ares. I want to diversify a little bit.

ARES; You don’t have to talk me into it, Hermes, I’d love to teach you how to fight. You know I love spending time with you anyway, this just… Gives it a little more direction. (pause) You do realize I don’t need a reason to hang out with you, right? Like, this isn’t some elaborate ruse to try to get us to spend more time together, is it? That’s not needed, Herm, and if you feel like it is, then I’m–

HERMES: I know it’s not necessary, Ares. You… You have never once made me feel like a burden. I hope you can say the same for me as well.

ARES: Of course I can. You’re my best friend, Herm.

HERMES: (slightly bitter) After Aphrodite, of course.

ARES: (teasing) If anything, you’re moving up the ranks. Dite would never let me teach her how to fight. (pause, then remarkably sincere) You not being Aph doesn’t make you any less important to me, right? I value you and your friendship just as much as I value her and her friendship. Don’t let anything convince you otherwise, okay? You… You mean so much to me, Hermes. I hope you believe that.

HERMES: (soft, almost apologetic) I do believe that. I… I’m sorry if my behavior made you believe otherwise. I think between the wedding and everything else, it’s been a little hard for me to spend as much time by your side as I would like. I worried you had moved on without me, settling into marital bliss, even if it is fake marital bliss.

ARES: (missing the true meaning of Hermes’ words) I could never move on without you, Hermes. It’s like I said before, you mean the world to me. Nothing is going to change that, least of all getting married to Aphrodite. Nothing has changed.

HERMES: (slightly pained) You’re right, I suppose nothing has changed. (pause, fake cheer) Except for me wanting to learn how to fight, of course. And you’ve already said yes so I will be holding you to that promise.

ARES: I’m nothing if not a man of my word. 

HERMES: So you’re everything.

ARES: (laughing) Flatterer. I already said I’d teach you. Come on, why don’t we find a good space to start practicing in. We don’t need to start today, but it would be smart to identify an area and start getting whatever you’ll need in terms of equipment. Unless of course you want to train by me and Aph’s place, but if you’re learning how to fight for the first time you might want your own area. Comfort of your own home and all that. 

HERMES: I think training here would be for the best. What exactly do we need in order for you to teach me how to fight?

ARES: A large space is probably the best place to start. I have a lot of the gear you’ll need anyway and am more than happy to lend it to you (conversation trails off). 

CALLIOPE: And that, my dear listeners, is where we shall leave things for the day. Things, big and small, are changing in all of the lives on Olympus. As we journey further together, you’ll see more and more of it. I hope you will join us again to see where this goes. Until next time, and as always, thank you for listening.