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CALLIOPE: In the week leading up to the divorce, a lot happened for both Hephaestus and Aphrodite. We will be focusing on each of them over the course of our next two chapters of our story before we round out this wider portion of our tale.

Welcome, dear listeners, to Forged Bonds.

We will begin the end of this arc with Hephaestus. She is hard at work in her forge, as she often is, when an unexpected knock sounded at her front door.

HEPHAESTUS: Just a second! (clattering, footsteps, door) Mom? What are you doing here, I wasn’t expecting you! It’s so good to see you and– And Poseidon! I definitely didn’t expect to see you. Come in, please, both of you. 

HERA: I’m sorry for arriving unannounced. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I probably should’ve texted you at the very least.

HEPHAESTUS: It’s fine, mom. You know you’re always welcome here, with or without letting me know first. Take a seat in the kitchen, I’m just going to change out of my work clothes real quick.

HERA: There’s no need, darling, but if it would make you feel better then don’t rush on our account. 

POSEIDON: Yeah, we’re more than happy to wait, especially since we showed up unannounced. Sorry again.

HEPHAESTUS: No apologies necessary, I promise. Mom, if you want to do me a favor and start some tea? I’ll take a shower real quick and then we can talk about whatever’s on your mind.

(footsteps, door)

POSEIDON: Are you sure you want to do this? We can just have a regular conversation without mentioning… This.

HERA: Maybe it’s too fast, but I’m tired of waiting for permission to be happy. You make me happy. My daughter makes me happy. I don’t want to hide you, not from her. If you’re not comfortable, that’s one thing, but if you’re just trying to hold out for my sake you don’t have to. I’ve made my choice and it’s you.

POSEIDON: You’re really sure about this, aren’t you? About me, about us. (pause) I am too. I know what I want and it’s to be here, with you. To be connected to people again and to feel like I am deserving of that. I don’t know what I did to deserve you–

HERA: It’s not about deserving, it’s about the fact that I love you.

CALLIOPE: Before Poseidon could address this, Hephaestus walked back into the room, still looking confused to see Hera and Poseidon but also pleased that they were there.

HEPHAESTUS: So what brings you out to see little old me? And no offense, Poseidon, but this is especially directed at you. I don’t even remember the last time I saw you– maybe at the wedding? But that was very briefly and I didn’t even talk to you. (pause) Not that it isn’t good to see you! I just… I didn’t know you did this kind of thing. Talking to people. 

POSEIDON: It’s a… Recent development. But it’s my understanding that that’s true for you as well?

HEPHAESTUS: Yeah. Before Aph… Di was always there, always, and Hermes was trying to worm his way into my life but I wasn’t ready for that. Not until I really met Aphrodite. She made my world a lot bigger.

POSEIDON: I know the feeling. Hades has really started trying to be a brother to me again and Hera… Makes my world bigger.

HEPHAESTUS: My mom has a way of doing that. Even when she couldn’t talk to me much, she still poured so much love my way that I knew it. I always knew it.

HERA: And nothing will ever stop me from doing that again. Ever. Because I’ve officially left Zeus.

HEPHAESTUS: (awestruck) You did?

HERA: I did. I forced him to sign the papers and I forced him to schedule a time for Ares and Aph’s divorce ceremony. He has no power over me anymore, and soon he won’t have any power over them either.

HEPHAESTUS: Oh, mom, that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you! You deserve so much more than Zeus could ever have been for you and I’m happy you’re getting away from all of that. 

HERA: That’s part of the reason we’re here, actually. I wanted to tell you in person. And I also wanted to tell you that I’ve found someone to move on with.

HEPHAESTUS: Oh yeah? And who… Oh. OH!

POSEIDON: Surprise? (pause) I know how this might look, like I’m just another extension of my brother trying to control your mom’s life but I promise I’m not. I spent so much time alone because I knew I needed to change and the only way I could do that was to be away from everyone– I think that’s a feeling you understand. I… I love Hera. I really, truly do and I can promise you I won’t hurt her. With my past, that might be hard to believe but I’m trying to be better. I’ve been trying to be better for years now and Hera makes me feel like I’ve achieved that. She makes me want to keep being better. 

CALLIOPE: Hephaestus stood from her chair abruptly, Poseidon’s mouth clicking shut audibly. It is not often that I let you peek directly into the minds of the gods, but in this moment it feels particularly relevant. All Poseidon could think was that he had fucked this up before it could truly begin, that he was going to have to say goodbye to Hera because her daughter could never approve of him, that he was going to have to go back to being alone in the ocean after finally getting used to being around people again.

And then Hephaestus wrapped him in a tight hug.

HEPHAESTUS: I trust you.

POSEIDON: You do?

HEPHAESTUS: Of course I do. No one has ever spoken of my mom so… Reverently before. That’s not something you could fake. Plus, you know what it’s like to be alone; you’ll make sure my mom never feels that way.

POSEIDON: I promise.

HEPHAESTUS: And you’re happy, mom?

HERA: I am. I’m happier than I’ve been in centuries.

HEPHAESTUS: Then that’s all I need to know. 

HERA: I told you she’d be okay with it. My daughter has always had so much love in her heart; I’m so happy she’s finally getting to share it with others. 

CALLIOPE: The conversation from there turned to general chit-chat and bright laughter that, while lovely, isn’t the focus of our story today. Instead, we shall follow Hephaestus a few days later as she sits on Dionysus’s couch.

HEPHAESTUS: I’m surprised Apollo isn’t here, he loves cat dress up day.

DIONYSUS: He’s out with Dite and Artemis. Something about celebrating Aphrodite’s divorce? And Hermes is with Ares otherwise I’m sure he’d be here for cat dress up day too. (pause) It’s kind of nice for it to just be the two of us again, though. Don’t get me wrong, I love that we have other friends now but sometimes it’s nice to just be me and you.

HEPHAESTUS: Two loners who pack bonded against the world. Yeah, I’ve missed this too. I feel like the last few times it’s just been you and me have been either of us having big emotions. It’s nice to just… Play with cats. 

DIONYSUS: About that…

HEPHAESTUS: Di. Did you lure me here under false pretenses?

DIONYSUS: We can still play with the cats! I just also wanted to have a conversation with you that falls into the category of ‘big emotions’. Specifically you’re big emotions. For Aphrodite.

HEPHAESTUS: Di, we really don’t have to do this. (definitely not fine) I’m fine! I’m totally fine and coping incredibly well with my feelings so we don’t need to talk about them. 

DIONYSUS: You do realize that your voice just went up like. Seven octaves while you were talking, right? Which is definitely not something that happens when someone is fine. 

HEPHAESTUS: Dionysus.

DIONYSUS: Phae, just listen to me, please. I’m not here to make you do anything you don’t want to do–

HEPHAESTUS: Great, so let’s stop talking about this!

DIONYSUS: But I think you need to hear this. Please, Phae.

HEPHAESTUS: (sighing) You’re not going to stop bothering me until I listen, aren’t you.

DIONYSUS: (joking) It’s what I do best!

HEPHAESTUS: (resigned) Fine, fine. Go ahead. What’s so important that you need to trick me here with the prospect of cat dress up?

DIONYSUS: Dite and Ares are getting divorced. You and Dite have been getting a lot closer recently, to the point where I know other parties involved are picking up on something. I’m not saying you need to confess your undying love or anything like that but… But I think you should talk to her. Really talk to her. She’s going to be single again and I don’t want you to miss your shot because you’re scared. 

HEPHAESTUS: You don’t even know that I have a shot, Di. I can’t afford to mess this up. 

DIONYSUS: Hephaestus. You are my oldest friend, for a while you were my only friend. I wouldn’t be telling you this if I thought it was a recipe for heartbreak. I’m telling you this because I love you and I don’t want to see you make yourself sad over things that might not need to hurt as badly as they do. Either you tell her and she feels the same, or you tell her and she doesn’t. There is no world in which Aphrodite then cuts you off completely. Whether it’s romantic or not, she loves you. Anyone can see that. I just want you to see that too.

HEPHAESTUS: I’m scared, Di.

DIONYSUS: I know. But sometimes you need to do things while you’re scared, otherwise things stay the same forever and you never get to let yourself be happy. 

HEPHAESTUS: …My mom got divorced. She’s started seeing Poseidon. She said she’s happier than she’s been in centuries; she had to leave Zeus to do that. There’s no way she wasn’t terrified, but she did it. She’s happy.

DIONYSUS: You’re the bravest person I know, Phae. You exist so brightly and so boldly and so completely yourself. I know it’s hard, I know it’s scary, but you can do it. Just like Hera.

HEPHAESTUS: Just like my mom.

DIONYSUS: We can stop talking about big feelings now and just play with the cats. But please, Phae. Just keep this in mind.

CALLIOPE: Hephaestus tried her best to stay present as she and Dionysus played with the cats, but it was clear her mind was miles away from where she was. It wouldn’t catch back up to her until much later as she knocked on the door to Ares and Aphrodite’s house.

ARES: Hephaestus? What are you doing here?

HEPHAESTUS: Can I come in?

ARES: Of course, of course, come on. Aph isn’t here, just so you know. She’s out with Arte and Apollo. And Hermes just left, he said something about stopping by Dionysus’s… 

HEPHAESTUS: I’m actually here to see you, actually. Which I know isn’t what we usually do, but I just… I think you’re the only one who can give me advice on this.

ARES: Yeah, of course, here why don’t we sit. You can tell me what’s going on and I’ll do my best to help you out. I’m not as good as Aph or Hermes, but I can be helpful sometimes.

HEPHAESTUS: I’m sure you’ll be great help, Ares. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think that.

ARES: Well, thank you. So. What’s on your mind?

HEPHAESTUS: You and Aph are best friends, right?

ARES: Right.

HEPHAESTUS: And you had asked her out at one point?

ARES: (sheepish) Yeah, yeah I did. It wasn’t my brightest moment, but it all worked out.

HEPHAESTUS: You two are still friends, nothing changed or became horrible between you two? No cut contact, no ‘I need some space’, nothing like that?

ARES: No, nothing like that. Honestly, Aphrodite was really sweet about it. I think she felt worse turning me down than I did being turned down. She doesn’t fall in love easy, but she always makes sure that those she cares about feel loved. Even with her not feeling romantically for me, she never made me feel bad for it. We joked around about it, even. It stung a bit, because of course it did, but I never regretted telling her. She stayed my friend though it all. 

HEPHAESTUS: You never regretted it? Not even a little bit?

ARES: No, not really. It’s hard to regret anything in my life when it comes to Aph. She’s just this constant presence and no matter what happens, I can’t regret what has brought us to this point. 

HEPHAESTUS: (contemplative) Huh.

ARES: Does this help at all? Is there… Is there someone you’re trying to confess feelings for? 

HEPHAESTUS: Maybe?

ARES: (finally catching up) It’s Aph, isn’t it?

HEPHAESTUS: I just want to know that I won’t ruin what we have when she doesn’t feel the same way. She’s… You’re right, Ares. She always makes everyone feel loved. And I don’t want to lose her just because I was stupid enough to fall in love with her in the first place.

ARES: I don’t think that’s stupid.

HEPHAESTUS: Air–

ARES: No, really, I don’t. You can’t help who you fall in love with, Phae. If I wasn’t stupid for falling in love with Aph, why are you?

HEPHAESTUS: It’s different.

ARES: Is it? Because from where I’m sitting it looks pretty damn similar. Best friends, check. Falling in love with her, check. I’m assuming you felt bad because she’s the goddess of love and you felt like you were somehow objectifying her?

HEPHAESTUS: …check.

ARES: Do you think I was stupid for falling in love with Aph?

HEPHAESTUS: No. Of course I don’t, it would be ridiculous to think that you’re stupid for falling in love.

ARES: So extend yourself that same grace, Phae. It’s not stupid that you fell in love with Aph. And it wouldn’t be stupid for you to tell her either.

HEPHAESTUS: What if it’s different? Because it’s me?

ARES: It might be. But have you ever considered that it could be a good thing?

HEPHAESTUS: I’ve never once assumed that I’m worthy of a good thing.

ARES: Look, Hephaestus. I haven’t known you very long all things considered, and I definitely don’t know you as well as Dite does, but I know that you’re worthy of good things. Just like I know that my best friend loves you, and nothing would change that. I’m not going to tell you that things will work out perfectly, but I don’t know that. But I know enough to say that she wouldn’t break your heart so cruelly that you couldn’t put it back together. And if she did break your heart, she’d be the first to try to pick up those pieces.

HEPHAESTUS: …thank you, Ares.

ARES: There’s nothing to thank me for.

HEPHAESTUS: I think we both know that’s not true. So thank you.

ARES: Any time, Hephaestus. Any time. 

CALLIOPE: And that, my dear listeners, is where we shall draw this chapter to a close. You may be worried that Ares has betrayed Aphrodite by telling Hephaestus of her love, to which I say: worry not. He has not expressed the depth of Aphrodite’s feelings for Hephaestus, just that there is love there, the same way there’d be love in any friendship. What Hephaestus does with this information, well… That will have to wait. Until next time, and as always, thank you for listening.