↳ Empire State Building

@♦ Apollo Nemesis nodded. "As close as the sun could get, yeah." She said, taking a deep breath before opening the door.

"Thanks."

And flashes of light with interplay of darkness later, the goddess was standing on the side of one of the ranges, high enough for her to see the massive desert that was the Arabian regions.

And what she was wearing was no longer the human-like clothes she sported earlier, but rather the garb of an arabian princess.

"It's time."

And she closed her eyes, invoking her presence from there to far wide, through the people's minds and hearts.

And she let them thirst for revenge.

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "You're welcome." Apollo said lightly. Being a know-all and see-all deity, he has no need to ask where it was.

And so, after a few minutes' more worth of riding the wind, they entered the Saudi borders, only for the god to stop his sun chariot a few seconds later at the place Nemesis mentioned.

"Is here close enough for you?"

@♦ Apollo It was expected, really, for Ares to like something like a revenge served with a dash of bloody revolt. Well, if she wasn't really a detached deity to the rest of them, she'd have - probably - asked Ares to accompany her for this.

But then again, who was she to be all chummy with the Olympians, when supposedly, the only god she should be assisting in the exacting of revenge was Zeus, and that god was, well... that god?

"Bring me down the Asir Mountain Ranges, Asir province." She said, her face blank. "Thanks."

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "Why not?" Apollo just chuckled, concentrating on his driving. They might not be seen as a flying car from down below, but it would not be funny if he suddenly made the island of Bali snows or something. Aeolus would pester him nonstop...

"And ooh. Ares will like that." He commented with a grin. A revenge served bloody sounds like a feast to a god of war — and for such a violence-loving personality like that cousin of his was, well, he has near to zero doubt of it.

"Which part of Saudi should I drop you in, by the way?"

@♦ Apollo "And just to differ, you had the gall to pick one of the most /ostentatious/ rides to use?" Nemesis retorted wryly, letting out a soft "Tch." afterwards. "Seriously, your way of thinking..."

Sensing the speed-up, the goddess only grinned. "I'm guessing I would." She began. "After all, equality will be served... and it's revenge served bloody."

She might be no deity of war, but if it had to go down to it, if revenge has to be served with a tinge of blood - it is revenge in full. That is no less the fulfillment of her element - what she represented.

[Still, Apollo, the word 'Casino' alone suggests of gambling - not my thing of preference. -grins- Alright, then. Wall...]

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "What I am? A god." Apollo smirked. A playboy, when all the gods and goddesses basically has more than one children and with more than one spouses? Except the ones of course, and Hera - but Nemesis herself has quite a lot of children...

Glancing at the other deity - who had a pointed look thrown towards him - he only smiled wryly. "Ares has the motorbike. We need to differ, you know, since his children often took that war chariot..."

And nodding to her request, he picked up speed.

"Very well. Have fun with the game, then."

[ -laughs- Not necessarily, Nemesis. It's where Lotus Casino is, after all, based from the books. But yes, I guess we should really talk about the next place in wall. ]

@♦ Apollo Right. And she actually wasn't wrong. In response, Nemesis had a wry tilt of the mouth and a soft "Tch." escaping her, before she added. "That kind of proves what you are, you know..."

A playboy.

And no, this wasn't a fair jack of the trade, but hey. Compared to Apollo, she's still /way/ more of a minor deity. She can't really /whack/ his head for real, now, could she?

"Well, maybe not a truck. But motorbikes aren't really a bad idea..." Nemesis began, her gaze pointedly shown to Apollo. After all, she had a preference for the vehicle - hell, she owns one. She only gave out a shrug before he grinned in acknowledgement.

"Drop me somewhere along Saudi Arabia, by the way. It might not be in my Greek or Roman jurisdiction anymore, but they have a belief in the concept of revenge. So, if I may? I'll just play around."

[-chuckles- Alright, then. Though, seriously? Las Vegas? Are you suggesting I will go out and... /gamble/? -shakes head with a smile- I think it goes against my jurisdiction, you know, since casinos aren't really meant to be fair. -smirks- The car ride to the arabian countries would be relatively short, though... Should we talk about the next place in wall?]

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@♦ Nemesis [SH] Apollo couldn't help but laugh as he got in and settled behind the wheel.

"Seem? I think that's not just 'how it looks', Nemesis. They do have harems. Where do you think all those demigods came from?"

And before the next second pass, they zoomed across the sky, and the sun god has a calm grin plastered on his freshly-shaven face.

"Besides, I don't think you'd like it if this car suddenly turns into a passenger truck - even if it could turn into practically any car."

[ Let me drop you to Arab first... and then we can talk about it I guess? -laughs- Manhattan doesn't sound bad. Maybe I should suggest Las Vegas to be added in the room list. -chuckles- ]

@♦ Apollo Nemesis raised an eyebrow at the vehicle that made its appearance, but then again, that was... quite... understandable.

"Seriously the reason why olympian males seem to have harems." She muttered while getting inside.

See, it's because of their... well, seemingly rich persona as shown by how even their cars look like they're worth a billion bucks. Honestly, if Apollo wasn't so much of a god himself she'd have found ways to whack him on the head for choosing a Maserati... /a Maserati/ for crying out loud, as his counterpart for the sun chariot. How ostentatious...

[Well, if you want to RP in human form, there are always the other parts of the US. Like, Long Island or Central Park, after all... -shrugs with a grin- I honestly am just randomly suggesting...]

@♦ Nemesis [SH] Brave?

Inwardly, Apollo chuckled and shook his head mentally. Where is the bravery of that? It was just an act of offering... though well, the interpretation was up to her.

At Nemesis' words about Arab, the god nodded. It was /her/ part to take care of. He himself on the other hand would only watch -- from the skies.

"Very well..."

And the male deity smirked as well as a red Maserati zoomed over the air, landing smoothly just near them.

"Ladies first."

[ To be totally honest - lol as I'm the god of truth here - I have no idea. -laughs- ]

@♦ Apollo Surprisingly, the female deity let out a soft scoff, though this one did not contain any tinge of negativity - one of the rarest times for her - and only looked once more at Apollo.

"You're brave to ask me something like that." She began. "But I think I might need to go to the Arabian regions for a while: their rulers are beginning to get too much."

It's time for the people to thirst for the blood of equality, after all. Revolution must come.

"So, I'll probably treat this as an unrepaid favor. I'll get back at you one day."

And with a smirk, she added.

"Your lead."

[Question is, where would it be?]

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "You never know, Nemesis." Apollo grinned.

A simple act today might bring great effect tomorrow.

Who knows?

"So, if your troubles has been solved as of the moment, I shall excuse myself... before some parts of the world starts freezing over." He laughed lightly. "Okay, joking. But, yeah. Oh, and while I'm at it... need a ride?"

[Maybe. Would you like to start another one?]

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@♦ Apollo Now, it all rests on the children of the three deities who she herself knew were the right people for the quest set before them... as goddess of what is fair, she already did their part.

This time, it was theirs that they should fulfill.

Nemesis kept her eyes in the distance, the corners of her lips finally turning up in a legitimate smile.

"That's not anymore necessary, Apollo."

[Sorry for the short reply. There's not much left to say. Shall we mark this scene closed already?]

@♦ Nemesis [SH] Had she, or had she not, only the goddess herself could judge for herself; for Apollo, though, she had.

He spared a glance at her, a smile of his own following. A deserved blessing of luck, this was -- but also what he believed to be their parents' wish.

Hades, he would not know what that uncle of him thought about it, but he knew Ares would be thankful for that as he was, too.

"I thank you for that."

And gazing far away once more, the god let himself be at peace.

The future was set... for now.

@♦ Apollo A slight scoff, though not hostile, escaped Nemesis's frame at the remarks from Apollo. Especially the last one.

"Have I really?" she can only murmur, shaking her head slightly afterwards. Glancing at the male deity, she quickly turned her eyes towards the quest-takers once more.

"I can do anything should I choose..." She repeated his words.

And with the corner of her lips once more turning up slightly...

"I bless you fairness in what is set before you, demigods. One of you already has luck on his side. It is just right that all three of you get the same luck you all deserve."

And after a moment of silence, and one more look at Apollo, she spoke.

"Your son saved my daughter first, Apollo. It's time I show my gratitude towards him."

Daughter for son, father for mother. But then again, even before this, there was already a son for the daughter.

It's time the mother fulfills the end of the deal.

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "No, you chose not to do anything because you are who you are."

The sun god stared at the horizon, and sees everything at once. His expression, though, remained; calm, smiling, holding the secrets of the future firmly.

"You can do whatever you want had you chose to. We are still both, Nemesis... at the end of it all."

He just grinned.

"And we can be both, as how you have already shown me."

@♦ Apollo On the other hand, the goddess returned to her face to being expressionless. She cannot give anything - not even simply a gesture - a preference. She can't smile nor frown either. She has to be equal. Blank.

"So much in so little time. People like those kids have to be a part in all this... danger. Mere youngsters..."

"It is quite... saddening, don't you think?" She began, her heart showing in her tone instead of her expression. "That as much as we are parents, we are deities. We're even more of the latter than the former, actually."

It was always a decision to either be a mother or father, or a god or goddess.

"We want to do something at least, but because we are who we are, we cannot do anything."

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "It's only fair." Apollo said quietly, his eyes gazing far away once more - to his son, to what he was about to face quite soon. Had his memory not been taken away from him, he would remember. But now...

The god shook his head slowly. He was worried, but he smiled - always the light.

"Three days. They have been warned of the time." He exhaled and rubbed his arms, his hands still crossed in front of his chest.

"Even Poseidon whispers to his children, Nemesis. But I believe they know what to do without us having to tell them."

@♦ Apollo Just those two words from the god was enough for Nemesis to know that everything has now been set. She breathed deeply one time before, surprisingly, letting a soft, small smile line her lips.

Being the holder of something so negative - revenge and retribution - and something actually so serious - balance - the deity has not really been a smiling character. But with the knowledge that the daughter she claimed...

So far the only daughter she had that heart to claim...

Unlike the son before her...

... will be one she knew she could stand up as a mother to. No matter if her daughter herself would hate her in the process.

"Thank you, Apollo."

That was the last thing she said before slipping into a momentary silence. Looking below the four quest-takers are already beginning with the first order of the quest: the first challenge.

And there are still more to come.

"I have seen it before I got to Olympus earlier. She will strike... and soon."

She stuck her thumb into one of the pockets of her black pants, her other hand on the hem of her red jacket. Looking at events unfolding from there, she can only say one thing.

"May those kids know what to do... even without us telling them."

Because they cannot really fraternize with their children in this time. It's not that easy.

@♦ Nemesis [SH] "Even a pawn in the game of chess is involved in the game itself, Nemesis."

Apollo let out a sigh and shook his head slowly.

"It is purely her choice to fight to her death because of what she tries to uphold so much... or not to."

The value that her own mother held.

The god had foreseen everything, and it was all up to choices. They punish the wrong, they reward the right; between the two branches of the future he saw from his choices, though, he knew what was right to do.

"But it is justice to give back something that was lost because of a value rightly upheld. Besides, looking at who she did it for..."

It is only right that he returned the favor. Daughter for the son, father for the mother.

Softly, he returned the look, but with a confident, firm smile — the future had just been decided.

"Very well."

@♦ Apollo For a moment, Nemesis wondered herself what the answer would be to that question of Apollo. She was fighting for justice - fairness - by saying that her child should be allowed to live because the whole quest was never her battle to begin with. She fought an unjust battle, simply because it was not meant for her.

But then... under what guise was she approaching Apollo now?

Nemesis took a deep breath. "I fight for justice by saying that someone who is not involved in the fight should not die an unjust death."

"But it is with the heart of a mother that I ask this favor of you, Apollo. She is..." The goddess couldn't continue, as her frame trembled slightly.

She couldn't say anymore or her eyes will water. And one who upholds revenge should /never/ cry.

"As of now, the way that your son feels for my daughter is of secondary priority. It is in the context of her life that I need you for. You know what I want."

The female deity only looked at the male and said.

"Make her live, Apollo. That is all I ask for. I will stand in the balance should it come to that. But, please... don't let my daughter die."

@♦ Nemesis [SH] Apollo nodded, his golden irises reflecting the sunlight — not a burning glow, but more of a soft one this time. The holder of eternal frost, one who would always be an opposite to his offsprings — and indirectly, himself. Yes, he saw her, and yes, he held the prophecies; it was his own Oracles who had given both.

He stayed, still as a statue, as he listened to Nemesis' words — something was going to happen down below in the city to the quest-takers, but they were not to interfere.

'That is my child, Apollo.'

A smile found its way to the god's features at the statement. This was also how he had reacted upon hearing that Artemis was kidnapped back then — similar even to the wordings.

"Yes, I know."

And he knew what would decide the outcome of this.

"But tell me, Nemesis... is this for you as you, the goddess of balance and retribution, or you as you, the mother of... the one my own son loves?"

@♦ Apollo "... which means you saw /even her/. The holder of eternal frost." Nemesis concluded. "You truly hold the prophecies." And while speaking, the goddess continued to look down at the world of New York below. Apollo saw the entity who has encroached on her jurisdiction - revenge.

But that means he also saw /her own/ involvement, too.

"And I am pretty sure you saw me too, and know where I stand in this." Nemesis began, knowing she can't escape this part of the conversation. "But I cannot let something so unjust happen either. That is my child, Apollo. I might not seem like one who worries for my offspring, but I do."

"You /know/ why I am telling you this, Apollo. You /know/ the reason why I am worried for her..." The goddess added, not mentioning the name of her kid, but knowing the god she was talking to understood.

Ail-- her child was not supposed to die in the first place - this she knew because she peeked into the future herself. She knew that the demi-deity really had a life to live, but because of love....

"And, as much as I want to be fair, I want my daughter to survive as much as your son will."

A deep breath...

"I will be asking a favor of you. A big one. And I need you to do this for me. Me, as me."

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@♦ Nemesis [SH] Click. Click.

A sigh was inaudibly given by the male deity in response to the goddess' question, and he folded his arms in front of his chest, his fingers tracing the contour of his own leather jacket -- his, however, was brown, a white shirt with two topmost button left open under it, paired with blue denim jeans.

What is going to happen...

Interruption. Disappearance. Battles.

All, he sees in the blink of an eye.

"I do."

What mortals does in the name of love, he thought, for a moment smiling thoughtfully. But even gods fall into this.

He saw something else, though.

Revenge.

"But I'd like to say there's a fourth party, Nemesis."

Or maybe fifth. Depends on how this talk ends.

@♦ Apollo It wasn't long that Apollo would have had to wait, because just as he got settled with looking at the scenery, a female slowly materialized a very short distance behind him - seemingly fading in through a mixture of black and white seemingly pixelated ring, from toe to the top.

Two clicks from her black leather heels introduced the female deity's first few words.

"You know what is going to happen, don't you?" She began, ruffling a bit on her red leather jacket under an all black black outfit. Looking out at the city below, she can only gaze passively.

Because that is all she could ever do. Watch. For the quest takers, for their left loved ones, for her daughter.

As much as she wanted to let the world take its course on her child - she has to be fair after all and leave the demigoddess alone to show her that the world innately isn't fair and her demi-deity presence is needed for things to be - she couldn't let her own daughter suffer in the balance.

Because as much as she tried to be fair, in turn, the poor child didn't become fair to her own self. And that, in the grand balance of things, simply was unjust.

"You know the third party in this, don't you?"

@Nemesis [ Stealing room's ity mode on... ]

A bright flash of gold revealed the human form of the sun god on the rooftop of the Empire State Building, the entrance to Olympus, knowing that he would very easily be followed by the goddess who wished to see him in private.

And at the same time, Apollo saw his son departing from the camp and was now in New York City. For the first time after years, he was once more in close proximity with his beloved child; yet, he knew he could not - /should not/ - approach the boy, no matter how much he would wish to warn him of the danger.

His boy has to find his own way.

What he had been seeing related to the goddess of revenge, on the other hand, brought unease he did not let show.

Standing under the golden rays of the sun, he waited.