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Post by DornKoon on Oct 13, 2024 22:23:47 GMT
Longwood House is a mansion on the Island of St. Helena and the final residence of Napoleon Bonaparte, former Emperor of the French. It was his last home during his exile on the island from 10 December 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821.  Aladdin glanced up from the pamphlet he had been given upon entering the building. What had once been the last home of one of Europe's greatest conquerors was now little more than a glorified way for the French people to attract more tourists. The djinn had taken on his more comfortable male form for this visit, which he had used while serving Napoleon; it seemed respectful somehow. After a short glance, the djinn tucked the pamphlet inside his jacket before casually walking along the rupes, glancing at the familiar rooms as he passed them, walking past a small group of tourists with a guide jabbering in poor English.  He stopped once he reached a room with a bed covered in green, and Aladdin stopped in front of it. The placement was correct, but the linen was not original, and he was not even sure if the canopy over the bed was the original. Still, looking at and being in the room filled him with a slight melancholy. It was a long time ago for mortals, but for Aladdin, it could have been last year. He was not even sure why he was here at all...
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 14, 2024 11:26:09 GMT
"'A good sketch is better than a long speech.' That's what he used to say. The fact we are here, staring at an approximation of Napoleon's bed attests to that."
Aladdin was joined by a second man, though his approach had been quiet and sudden, as if he had just appeared. Dressed in a leather jacket over a casual shirt and jeans, looking at the bed with a similar sort of melancholy and thought. He glanced across at Aladdin, a smile on the corner of his lips.
"Not many would remember this place because they had actually been here. A surprise, then, that we are both present. I remember your face, standing beside Napoleon for many of his campaigns. Names escape me, but faces do not."
The man looked around the room as he turned, taking in the grand and final resting place of a great and powerful Emperor. He was grinning as he did so.
"It still holds the memories of the power he conjured here. The memories of the wars that clung to his soul like flowers blossoming in the spring. Fascinating. You, too, have that smell about you. A man who has waded through many battles. You're not a mortal, but not quite a God, either. More like me than these humans, though. You understand this place. You know it is more than four walls and false memories."
The man turned to face Aladdin, holding out a hand.
"Ares. God of War. It has been a long time, but please remind me your name?"
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 14, 2024 12:09:12 GMT
Aladdin glanced at Ares when the god of war made himself known. It was a surprise, but perhaps it should not be.
"He did say that yes," Aladdin agreed before looking back to the bed. "It is such a mortal thing, recreating the past to glorify it; I hear they even make reenactments of great wars these days. No matter the horrors when a war is there, they all forget those before long." Aladdin sighed. "That I did; he was a different man. One of few with a wish left upon his death. Oddly enough, all he wished for was fine weather during his wedding with Joséphine and money to fund his army."
He slowly glanced at Ares again, giving him a melancholy smile.
"Yes, I do know who you are, and yes, I am no god; I'm the offspring of Desire." The djinn accepted the hand for a shake. "These days, I go by Aladdin; before that, I did not have much of a name or identity. We did meet at least once at Olympus during one of your father's many feasts; I was there as a guest of Hermes." He did not mention that it was not long before the fall of Atlantis. If Ares remembered that, it would be good for him.
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 16, 2024 11:14:17 GMT
"Ah, Desire. Yes, I know of them. My son is the God of desire, among other things. I apologise if he ever stepped on your parent's toes!"
Ares chuckled. Such was the complexities of the universe. Mankind had tried to simplify the basic laws to their own design, but in doing so had made it far worse.
"In fact, I do remember. Father used to host so many feasts upon Mount Olympus. Was that before the fall of Atlantis? I have a good memory for war, better than I do for faces."
Ares looked side long at Aladdin, an intrigued smirk playfully dancing across his lips. The Fates had been having a field day with him recently.
"Prey tell, Aladdin, what brought you to this place, on this day over any other?"
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 16, 2024 11:48:30 GMT
Aladdin laughed; it was a pearly sound, not in the same way as Desire, but still a pleasant sound.
"Forgive me, but I don't care what anyone does to my mother, toes or otherwise. We've not had the best of relationships for aeons now." The djinn made a dismissive gesture with one hand, walking along the rope path further into the house. "My mother was there, during the Troyan War, as much as in the heart of a jilted lover on London's East End. Mother is not a god; mother is everywhere." Aladdin reached out, a finger pointing towards Ares' chest. "Even here. After all, there could be no war without desire, right?"
The djinn turned his attention to a painting of Napoleon on the wall.
"That it was," Aladdin replied, "I'd be surprised if you did not remember your wars; what kind of god would you be otherwise?"
Aladdin gave the question a few moments of thought: why was he here? And why today? It did seem odd to run into Ares, but maybe not as bizarre, at least not looking at where they were now. "An excellent question," he said, "Mine own fancy, I should think. I felt like coming here, and here I am. If it has a higher purpose, only my Uncle would know, and he was never one to tell." Aladdin looked to Ares, "and you? Surely there is some nice war out there that would appeal more to you than this old house, God of slaughter."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 16, 2024 12:01:01 GMT
"Parents can always be tricky, can't they. Trust me, I can relate."
Ares paused as he moved to the painting too. He remembered Napoleon. A great man, someone who had given him plenty of energy in his campaigns. Such is the lives of mortals, though. They rise and fall quicker than a heartbeat.
"Something has drawn me back to the world. I feel like mankind is on the brink of... something. I felt compelled to come and see what it was. I don't believe in coincidences, Aladdin. You and I being here, of all places, is an act of the Fates, as much as you would like to think it was your own decision."
He paused, frowning.
"But why? What can I learn from here, and why you too? There are plenty of wars, battles and skirmishes going on... but my attention is drawn elsewhere. To America, I think."
The God sighed, and shrugged to himself.
"And this place reminded me of a mortal I was fond of. There have been plenty of good generals in history... but Napoleon stood out as one of the true greats. What can I learn from him? Hmm. Not the colour of his bedsheets, which I know for a fact were blue "
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 16, 2024 12:20:39 GMT
"Oh yes, they sure can. I recall your parents could be rather volatile in their tempers."
Aladdin listened in silence, eyes focused on Napoleon's gaze.
"No need to tell me that; you forget my Uncle is Destiny; all that was, is and will be in the Universe can be found in his tome." The djinn raised a hand slightly, opening and closing it a few times. He did not know what drew Ares to return to the mortal world; there had been no lack of conflict... so it could be anything, or perhaps what it was had not happened yet. "So, you tell me? Why do you think we were meant to meet here?"
Aladdin looked at another group of tourists walking past in the company of a guide who spoke poor English.
"He was different; he had a strong rapport with his troops, his organizational talents were unmatched, and his creativity was excellent." Aladdin smiled faintly. "Are those not all important parts of war? It is more than the destruction and death it causes; there is also the community between soldiers, the despair they feel in the face of horrible odds, the dream they have to return home after a campaign, the desire to win at any odds, and the delirium which causes so many to lose themselves."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 17, 2024 8:52:34 GMT
Ares was quiet for a moment. There was much about war that people misunderstood. It wasn't just
"The world has been graced by a period of peace. Peace stifles innovation. It is a hand that strangles forward thinking. Through war, came inventions. Medicine. Technology. Things that truly help mankind. People forget that. Yet war cannot go on forever. Napoleon realised that. Wars are just as much about the ending than they are about the beginning."
He shrugged again. Ares still wasn't sure of his role in all of this, but he had an idea.
"Zeus gave me two things. Contempt, and my power over War. I doubt dear father thinks of me enough to send me on a mission to discover myself. So... that means a war is coming."
Ares glanced at Aladdin, eyes like Obsidian, glinting in the light of the museum.
"You have been close to war, too, almost as much as I, it seems. Have you felt it too? A deep rumble, like the thunder before the storm. There are more and more of these superpowered mortals appearing. I wonder, how many of them would it take to reach a point of violence that would spill out beyond their small world? Enchantress, New York... there's something in the air."
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 17, 2024 12:07:22 GMT
Aladdin furrowed his brow, not because he disagreed but because he had been around long enough to know what Ares said was true.
"Oh yes, it is. Zeus went to war with his father, dethroning the Titans. Lucifer's rebellion against his father ended with him being cast out." The djinn replied, "And yes, mortals do forget; such is the curse of generations. Creatures like us, who lived so long, our problem is that we rarely forget." And immortals seemed to have difficulty changing, or if they did, it happened much slower.
Aladdin laughed as Ares talked about his father; he was not wrong; he doubted the King of Olympus had much care for his only child born from his marriage with Hera. "Indeed. I highly doubt he'd care enough to do giveaway soul-searching missions."
The djinn glanced back, golden eyes glowing slightly. What had he felt? "Fear," Aladdin said softly. "The heroes want to protect, I have no doubt. But those without powers fear those with them; they will want to level the field. Invaders from beyond this world, from other realities, dimensions or even timelines." He rubbed his chin, looking at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Enchantress, the invasion, the birth of The Justice League. The group created by the Sorcerer Supreme..." He paused, "Yes, I have felt it."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 20, 2024 20:26:39 GMT
Ares' gaze was on Aladdin as he spoke. He was smiling softly, though if there was mirth there then it was clouded over by the look in his eyes. A hard glint that betrayed what truly lay within the man's heart.
"Then that is what has drawn me here. There is conflict all across the world. Superheroes have created peace, but it has fueled the fires of anger and resentment from the other side. A festering cancer... and I am here to do something about it."
Ares' gaze seemed to soften slightly as he turned back to Napoleon's face. He smiled again, remembering the man who had given him so much to work with.
"But how will I guide mankind's steps? Diana would want to guide them towards peaceful resolution... but I am not so sure it will be so easy. The atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima marked a change in the mortal's world. Superman came from the stars and others followed, bringing with them worse destruction than has ever been seen. No... this is a new world, alright. I have been trying to get back to my roots, to look into the old ways, but I think I've come to the conclusion that there is no turning back. Not now."
Ares looked at Aladdin with a side long look of intrigue.
"And you, my old acquaintance? What will you do, in this new world of war and strife? Is there one you will stand by when mankind is plunged into a great conflict?"
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 20, 2024 21:57:48 GMT
Aladdin laughed and did not stop for a while as a few tourists looked at them but said nothing.
"I'm sorry," he said once he finally stopped laughing. "It is just funny. I finally see why my uncle abandoned his duties as destruction and claimed he did not want anything to do with it. He saw where the wind was blowing once the mortals started turning their eyes away from mysticism and put their faith in science." He shook his head, "The old ways are dead; war is different; where once soldiers used spears, they now use explosive drones, and where messages took weeks, it now takes but the push of a button. Warfare is done not by soldiers in honourable combat but in offices in front of computers; hackers are today's soldiers. I will admit, that is both a little sad and boring."
The djinn's brow furrowed, choosing to ignore the look he was getting from the god of war.
"If there was, there is no way I would tell you." He replied, "It would depend on where my Lamp ends up. After all, I serve the whims and base desires and wishes of people. Should it fall into the hands of someone like Diana? Who knows what she could wish for? She seems the smart type. On the other hand, should it fall into the hands of someone like Doctor Victor von Doom... the outcome would be very different. So, I have little choice who I "stand with" as you put it."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 20, 2024 23:36:56 GMT
As Aladdin began to laugh, so too did Ares. The situation was absurdly humorous for him as he looked on it from decades of stepping back. Mankind had become so adept at war that they didn't even need to get involved anymore. Ares wiped his eyes, grinning.
"I suppose I am partly to blame, but mankind truly went their own direction after a while. The things that they dream up in the name of mass murder... I had a hard time keeping up, hence my vacation. It was just... too much. So impersonal. No longer did they want to stare into the eyes of their enemies when they clashed.
"Now though? It is not just man that goes to war, but gods and demons too. Mutants, aliens, anyone with a superpower or even a suit of flying armour can create the most wonderful, devastating conflicts. The old ways are truly gone, but I feel we shall see the likes of their splendour return in vastly superior ways. It will certainly not be boring."
Ares sighed, still chuckling to himself.
"I understand. Like me, you are not a creature allowed to walk your own path. The universal war machine marches on, and I am fated to follow. Perhaps you and I will meet on the battlefield, either side by side or as enemies. Who knows what the Fates will decide, the sneaky bastards that they are."
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 21, 2024 11:36:39 GMT
"I don't think you're to blame," Aladdin said. "Uncle was not as destructive as he might have been, and it's not like destruction has stopped happening; it's just that now we can't blame Uncle for anything that happens with it. The same goes for you; with or without you, they will find a reason to make more war."
"You could," Aladdin shook his head. "Uncle did, and he is the personification of Destruction in the whole universe; wherever destruction happened, he was there. You could turn away from everything, and the world would know no difference. I, on the other hand, am a prisoner of reality; I could not walk away." The djinn turned to face the god of war. "Don't insult yourself and me by claiming we are anything alike, Lord Ares; you do not follow the path unwillingly; you run it, headfirst and revelling as you go." Aladdin's voice was not one of anger or insult; it was a statement. "You revel in war; violence is your true love; not even Aphrodite could turn your eyes for long."
Aladdin rounded a table, not looking at Ares.
"So let's not blame the fates because you'd go to war with or without their input." Aladdin's eyes turned to Ares again. "Because, at the end of it all, you'll never truly change because you can only change if you want to. And, Ares, I know of no god who enjoys being who he is more than you."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 21, 2024 12:14:54 GMT
"Ah, how your words sting! Barbed with a truthful venom and with a wicked bite."Ares was grinning, a look of mirth on his face. Truth, perhaps. He did enjoy war, but had he not been made so by a vengeful father and a disdainful Olympus? The God pondered the words of the Djinn. There were few who would dare be so open and brazen to him, and he found that he enjoyed it.
"I do enjoy war, or what it used to be. The mortals have a mind of their own, and need no input to drive themselves to the brink of extinction. Still, I could not stray from this path, even if I wanted. As much as I seem like a being who loves war, it loves me as much in return, and that I cannot escape from."Ares shrugged as he kept in pace with Aladdin, his expression suddenly that much more sombre than before. "It's not a case of wanting to, whether or not I could. I was cursed by my father to be slaughter incarnate. Where I go, conflict and war are inevitable, even if I sat back and did nothing. So, I thank you for your honesty, but I still blame the Fates for where my life has gone."He kept Aladdin's gaze, and there was a truth to it. Ares hadn't chosen to be War. He had simply made the most of the hand dealt him. "Without me, I can only imagine what your uncle would have seen. Mankind would have taken the concept they had deep within their nature and caused their own demise, if it wasn't for my guidance. As you say, there is no war without peace, and mortals seem so incapable of finding it without divine help. Diana is the other side of my coin for that.
"Yet I won't deny it, and I never look back. War is my being. A few decades has shown me what I truly want, and it is the conflict of the century. That is why I returned, perhaps. To seek the next fight, and to keep mankind from driving itself into the dirt."Ares smiled again to himself as he turned away from Aladdin, staring at another portrait of Napoleon. He sighed, faintly, hands in his pockets. "To live a simpler life... would it be so easy. Napoleon had such grand ideas, and it just bred aminosity towards him across the world. Perhaps it is the Fate of all of us who march into war."
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 21, 2024 16:27:52 GMT
Aladdin listened and said nothing as Ares continued to talk; he was very good at that.
"You make for excellent bedfellows, that's for sure." He said with a quaint smile. "Perhaps there is truth in your words, but that does not make you less of a monster, as little as it makes me less of one just because I regret my part in the sinking of Atlantis. Does that mean I blame the Fates for it?" He shook his head, "My actions did it; no one forced my hand, and I did it because it was fun to stick it to those Atlanteans. I was made that way; my mother had me twist wishes and turn them into despair. But it's not like Desire forced my hand; my actions did it."
The djinn sighed, smile slowly fading. He did not for a moment believe that Ares had such altruistic reasons for coming back; he had never done anything of the sort before, not even when he was still active during ancient times. He chose to ignore the comment about the uncle; it was not like he or Ares could ever understand what Destruction saw.
"So, answer me this, Lord Ares, and I would want an honest answer. If you could wish yourself to become the god of something else, cast off the mantle of war, violence and slaughter" He paused, waiting for a few seconds before he finished the question: "Would you?"
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