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Forged Bonds Mini 2.2 Transcript

HESTIA: Welcome back, dear friends. There is much to discuss today, from burgeoning relationships to flourishing jealousy and everything in between. We shall begin our day with Zephyr, floating back and forth in his living room, while his brother Aeolus watches on with concern.

AEOLUS: Zeph, can you cut it with the pacing already? Watching you fly back and forth is starting to give me a headache.

ZEPHYR: (still pacing) No one said you had to watch.

AEOLUS: You asked me to be here, Zeph. Did you just want to float in front of me while my eyes are closed or did you have an actual reason to call me here?

HESTIA: This, at the very least, got Zephyr to stop his pacing. He floated down to the floor, sitting crossed legged on the carpet. 

AEOLUS: Alright. Now: what’s going on, Zeph? Tell me what’s the matter.

ZEPHYR: It’s Hyacinthus. He’s… He’s started dating Apollo of all people! 

AEOLUS: Alright.

ZEPHYR: (starts normal, grows into a small tirade) I mean, seriously, Apollo? Of all the people on Olympus he could choose to date, he chose Apollo? Not only am I right here, someone who has been with him since even before he arrived and someone who he has flirted with before now– but also there are just a million better people that he could choose to be with! I mean, seriously, what does Apollo have going for him? He flirts with anything that moves, barely spends time with people outside of his sister unless it’s for sex, and the last person he dated got turned into a fucking tree! But for some reason he’s dating Apollo? Like that’s some sort of good idea and not a recipe for disaster in every way, shape and form?

AEOLUS: I mean, Apollo’s always been a pretty nice guy, Zeph. 

ZEPHYR: Did you miss the part about his ex getting turned into a tree?

AEOLUS: While that may be true, I’m sure there’s more to that story that we don’t know. I seriously doubt that that was purposeful– and Apollo seemed real cut up about it afterwards.

ZEPHYR: That doesn’t matter!! He still caused it, it’s still his fault! Daphne’s gone– all the Nymphs are destroyed over it, but it’s supposed to be okay because Apollo felt sad about it for a bit?

AEOLUS: …What do you really know about Apollo, Zephyr? I mean, other than the fact that he’s dating Hyacinthus.

ZEPHYR: I know that the mortals say Daphne got turned into a tree because he wouldn’t leave her the fuck alone.

AEOLUS: Which, again, likely isn’t the whole story. I mean, seriously, you’re taking the mortals’ word for it? You’ve seen how wrong they get all of us, Zeph, and you wanna take their side? Or are you just doing it because it fits the narrative you’ve already crafted in your head? 

ZEPHYR: …I’m just worried about my friend, Aeolus. I don’t want what happened to her to happen to him too.

AEOLUS: (trying to be understanding) And this has nothing to do with the fact that you’re in love with Hyacinthus?

ZEPHYR: (rare moment of self awareness) It has everything to do with that. Of course it has everything to do with that, I’m just… I don’t want my friend to be hurt, especially not when I know that I would never hurt him the way Apollo is sure to do.

HESTIA: Aeolus studied his younger brother, trying to find the words to explain the real issue that Zephyr was missing at the heart of his words. How does one tell their brother that he’s being jealous and failing to think clearly? How does one say that his knowledge is only half founded in truth because he doesn’t see the whole picture? How does one tell their brother that sometimes the people you love the most don’t love you back? In the end, he settled on:

AEOLUS: Be careful, Zeph. Your emotions are running high right now. I don’t want you to do anything you might regret later.

HESTIA: While Zephyr tries his best to process his brother’s warning, we shall take your attention elsewhere and check in with Apollo and Hyacinthus. The two of them are in the woods, shooting arrows at targets that Apollo and Artemis had pinned to the trees long ago. Apollo, eyes closed, fired his bow, arrow striking the bullseye.

HYACINTHUS: Okay, now you’re just showing off.

APOLLO: (teasing) I don’t know what you’re talking about.

HYACINTHUS: (teasing) I’m sure Artemis could’ve done that backwards, though. And split your arrow in half while doing it.

APOLLO: Oh, no doubt. My sister has always been the better show between the two of us. Don’t tell her I said that, though, she’ll never let me live it down. 

HYACINTHUS: Hmmm I don’t know, Apollo, I feel like I might need to tell her. Maybe that’ll help even the playing field here a bit.

APOLLO: Good luck with that, it’ll just leave you with two people who can kick your ass at archery.

(Pause)

APOLLO: It’s nice to get away for a bit with you. Being outside, shooting arrows, basking in the rays of the sun… It’s just nice.

HYACINTHUS: (teasing) Have we been spending too much time inside for you, Mr. Sun God?

APOLLO: You know I’d spend my time with you regardless of location, my love, but it is nice to be out in the sun sometimes. I know you feel the same way, oh Spartan Soldier. Being cooped up for too long makes you antsy, it’s obvious.

HYACINTHUS: (audio equivalent of looking away) Yeah, being cooped up makes me antsy, mmhmm.

APOLLO: Hy? What’s wrong?

HYACINTHUS: Nothing’s wrong, I just–

APOLLO: You don’t have to lie, Hyacinthus. Not to me.

HYACINTHUS: (sigh) I think Zephyr is upset with me. He… When he saw us together last week, he seemed less than pleased and now he’s not really talking to me as much and I just… (sigh) I miss my friend is all.

APOLLO: I’m sorry, Hy. (they hug) What did he say to you last week?

HYACINTHUS: That I shouldn’t spend time with you. (sad laugh) He said that you were trouble and that I’d end up like Daphne. Well. He insinuated as such at least.

HESTIA: Apollo’s face crumpled at the mention of Daphne’s name, the centuries worth of guilt collapsing down upon him as his new love spoke the name of his old love.

APOLLO: I don’t know what he told you–

HYACINTHUS: I know it wasn’t your fault, Apollo.

APOLLO: You do?

HYACINTHUS: I won’t pretend to know everything that happened, but I see the way your face falls when she’s mentioned. I see the way you stare at the laurel tree in your yard, the way you tend to it and talk to it. Those aren’t the actions of a killer, those are the actions of a man who lost someone he loved.

APOLLO: (surprised huff) You really see that much good in me?

HYACINTHUS: You know I do.

APOLLO: I still owe you an explanation though, don’t I?

HYACINTHUS: You don’t owe me anything, Apollo. Your love is more than enough.

APOLLO: …I may not owe it to you, but I owe it to her. I owe it to me. For so long I didn’t even talk about it. Not to Arte, not to anyone. And the rumors spiraled as they always do and now… You’ve given me your trust, Hy. Even if I might not deserve it. The least I can do is prove to you that I do.

HYACINTHUS: Are you sure?

APOLLO: (shakily) I’m sure. Let me tell you about Daphne.

HESTIA: And that, my dear friends, is where we shall end for the day. As promised before, Daphne is a story for a very soon day indeed. While you may think you know how this tale goes, dear friends, I can assure you that the truth of it is always different than what meets mortal ears. Until next time, and as always, thank you for listening.