Archive of Our Own

All the thrones were meant to be equal size, but in truth, everyone there could feel the king’s presence strongly, more strongly than anything else. Like a buzz of static in the air. The king’s lightning bolt would hang from his firm and unyielding hand. It was thrumming with pure power. Lightning. Fast and dangerous. Painful, that was for sure. Able to decimate mortal cities in a flash if the king concentrated on it. All the gods were very thankful to have a kind and benevolent ruler, who would never destroy such life carelessly without necessity.

They would all sit in an orderly manner. Of course, all the gods respected the king above all else. They respected the fact that his word was law and his wisdom was undeniable. No one argue against his merciful rule. Anyone who did would simply need to be reminded. Decisive with his hand, the king would be the one to bring down punishment. Everyone would be thankful for the peace, regretful of their past mistakes.

The king had the first word. It would rumble out like distant thunder. His tone would be something that commanded respect. With calmness, he would declare the issue at hand. As loud as the room was, no sound echoed. Nothing needed to be heard twice. They, being the devoted subjects in the face of the one holding their devotion, would listen carefully. If they didn’t, they would only need reminders of the matter’s importance.

Next to speak up would be the wisdom goddess. Respectful and obedient to the king, she would operate only for his benefit, as was natural. She would point out the weaknesses and strengths of each plan and offer ones of her own. The first one would be rejected by the king, who still saw what all his subjects could not and was truly the only one who could make the final decision correctly. The wisdom goddess would see the king’s foresight and readily accept his suggestion, reminder of the authority heeded.

Throughout the meeting, some start to lose focus. The king does not wish to lost his temper but it is nearing it. The messenger god and the wine are dutifully reminded of their task at the meeting. It is only expected to maintain concentration on the topic, no matter how trivial. It is not out of strictness or desire for control, of course, simply the role of the ruler is to keep the wellbeing his rule in his subjects’ minds.

The sea god, would argue. Quite patiently, the king allows the sea god to stay on council. It is only tolerance that keeps him there. The king faces many threats. All of them are managed. He has all the power there is to be had. What they all need are simply reminders. After the reminder from the senseless rebellion, they all see the error of their ways and choose to change.

The war god would ask for bloodshed. As god and overseer of all justice, the king would refuse and gently remind him. There is always hope for the misguided who do not understand the importance of his rule. Even violent, but predictable, the king would accept all his subjects with tolerance. He would remain the hand hovering over all with his presence.

The love goddess and the forge god both know enough to not enrage the king. The king has been kind on them in the past. All his reminders have given fruit. They would no longer seek to go against the laws he’s put in place for the betterment. There would be no need for further action. The king knew self-restraint. Where other rulers would’ve brutally punished their subjects, the king only needs reminders for everything to work as intended.

The agriculture goddess would sit there and prattle about trivial matters beneath the purpose of the council. The king and the agriculture goddess had had quarrels in the past. Thankfully, reason was seen. The king was diplomatic enough to smooth tension, especially when the unruly started trouble again. He only had peace in mind, and all his subjects would respect that. There would be enough reminders for them to understand. They would all be grateful for his rule.

The moon goddess would understand just why the king was such a good ruler. Despite running around with mortals far more unimportant than the gods, the moon goddess had gained enough goodwill and trust to be allowed leniency.

Then, the queen of the council would disagree with the king. She would always rage at him for incomprehensible reasons, but all things only needed reminders. Soon, she would learn to see the wisdom in his actions. The king and the queen would no longer be troubled by simple fights. All order would be gained again. She would understand his reasons in the meeting and intelligently understand her place and back down.

The sun god would need the most reminders. With all the ambition and power he had found, the king knew it was only a matter of time before the sun god forgot his role and would be tempted to go against him. Now, the king was kind. He would remind him.

After the meeting had ended, with the final agreement by the king on the behalf of the council, the king would keep true to all his duties. He would ask the sun god to stay behind. Then they would both stand facing each other, as the king kindly told the sun god the reason for the reminders. The sun god would agree or disagree, both options would not change the story. Satisfied with the response he had gotten, the king would hold out his lightning bolts. They were necessary to all reminders. Reminders needed pain to be listened to properly, or else they would be brushed off.

The lightning bolts would move and strike with their aim true.

The curtains would then finally close, to the loud applause of the audience, happy to see the order maintained. Everyone would be happy.

Lightning is at the tip of Zeus’s fingers. He opens his mouth to speak, the marionettes’ strings tighten, and the play starts another rerun.