Midnight Writers February 2012

February 2012 midnightwriters.webs.com midnight.writers2013@gmail.com

Ask Aphro & Dite

Musings of Hades

Athena’s Corner

To submit questions, please email askaphro@gmail.com.

They will remain anonymous!

Valentine’s Day has become a moneymaking scheme, and it really ticks Aphrodite and her son Eros off. Quite understandable. They’re the deities of love. I mean, I would be upset, too, if greedy little berks began offering spots in Elysium in exchange for money, or if they turned my fearsome, undead subjects, like vampires, into lovesick, sparkly – Oh. Wait a minute… Note to self: drag (insert names here) to Fields of Punishment and drown them in glitter.

Anyway, I don’t really see the point in Valentine’s Day. Persephone and I know we both love each other. We don’t need frilly pink cards and assorted chocolates that all taste like toothpaste (and Persephone despises mint) to know that.

So the mint story. There’s this Naiad named Menthe who, for lack of a better word, is a gold-digger. And I’m the God of Wealth. Now, Aphrodite is still upset about the whole Adonis debacle between her and Persephone (I hate talking about it, so please don’t ask), so she gets Eros to shoot me with one of those effing arrows of love. And Menthe is conveniently there when I recover from getting skewered.

This could’ve been the end of my marriage, and Menthe was about to debaucher my poor, innocent self (shut up, Zeus, I can hear you laughing), but Persephone came home just in time to pick up some things she’d forgotten when she went up to visit her mother.

Obviously, she was quite pissed, and she promptly turned Menthe into mint.

So that is why Persephone hates Mentha spicata. But I never got revenge on that stupid, arrow-happy little twit.

Then again, I may or may not have been the one to suggest to the humans that they begin drawing Cupid as a fat baby in diapers.

Graffiti Moon: Beth Crowley, February 2012 Lucy has just graduated from high school and is determined to figure out the secret identity of Shadow, a graffiti artist and her crush. Ed is Shadow, unbeknownst to Lucy, but doesn’t want to reveal himself because he dropped out of high school in tenth grade soon after a date with Lucy that ended badly.

In one crazy, chaotic night, Ed and Lucy and their friends all live through many dangerous encounters and discover the importance of love and honesty.

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip: Jordan Sonnenblick, March 2012 Peter Friedman is a freshman in high school, a formerly amazing pitcher whose arm was ruined in an accident over the summer. His freshman year is going down the tubes, especially with the beautiful girl in his photography class sending mixed signals. With his grandfather’s possible Alzheimer’s on his mind, how is Peter going to survive freshman year without losing his mind? Jordan Sonnenblick delivers yet another book that will have you laughing one minute, and sobbing the next, but learning so much and having a good time the whole way.

Dear Aphrodite, I asked someone out for Valentine’s Day and got turned down. I’ve been kind of depressed and I don’t know how to cheer myself up.

Any advice? Sincerely, Heartbroken Dear Heartbroken, I’m so sorry you got turned down. I’m sure you’re an amazing person and the guy is just an idiot. My special recipe for a broken heart = Ben & Jerry’s + good movie. I know I’m supposed to be the Goddess of Love but if he turned you down, he’s definitely not good enough to appreciate you. Just go out with some friends or get a great book you’ve been waiting to read! Do something fun for yourself. Love, Aphro (P.S. The best Ben & Jerry’s flavor is cheesecake brownie!)

Dear Aphro & Dite, I have a friend who’s had a crush on a girl for over seven years. She just got a boyfriend and he’s breaking down. He even came to me for advice and someone to talk to, but I have no idea what to do.

Help? Sincerely, Cidney Dear Cidney, The most important part here is what you already achieved, making sure you’re there when he needs you. Your help doesn’t need to be profound. Consistency is the key.

Seven years is a long time for a crush.

You just need to convince him there are other girls out there and he should move on. I doubt the girl or her boyfriend would appreciate it if he kept liking her. Also, if she’s the type of Continued on Pg. 2

Special thanks to Sra. Steele and acknowledgement to Hades, Athena, Hippolyta, and Hermes.

Ask Aphro & Dite cont. girl who has longer relationships, it would hurt him a lot if he kept liking her. Of course, any way he goes about it, there’ll be pain, but that’s what you’ll be there for.

Focus first on healing the damage. Then convince him to move on. There’s no good

lying around thinking about a girl enamored with another guy. Sincerely, Dite Dear Dite, Recently, I’ve been really addicted to Sims 3, so my mom made me uninstall it because I didn’t do my homework.

Or piano. Or SAT study stuff. Thing is, I kept the installation files, so I can reinstall it. Do you think I should reinstall it?

Sincerely, Chronos Dear Chronos, I have this issue a lot, too. My parents recently took my computer out of my room. You should not reinstall it. Your parents are trying to help you succeed in school. Addicting games are an issue if you cannot control yourself. (And be honest, if the answer to “Can you stop?” is maybe, then it’s not under control.)

Also, if they catch you, they’ll be pretty annoyed.

Sincerely, Dite

Take the Higher Road

By Izumi Fujimoto Roses are red, Violets are blue.

I gave you my heart, And that was not so smart.

What does he have that I don’t?

Did you just not love me?

Is he so good, Or are we misunderstood?

A bouquet of roses, A box of chocolates, Even that ring, And a song I was going to sing.

Of all the days To show me your little secret, Why must you choose today?

Just when did we go astray?

I would say I hate you But I can’t bring myself to.

So I’ll take the higher road, And these gifts I have bestowed, Do what you will.

But know, I bear no ill-will.

Photograph— “Eternal Promises” by Hades

Illustration—“Forgotten Dreams” by Hunny-Senpai

A Cynic’s Interpretation of Love Stories

By Hades Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Will you come astride your stallion white?

Will you come in armor that shines like silver?

Will you come with your fairy tale ending kisses?

It is, they say, the greatest love story, One that’s lasted the sands of time.

The lovers die, tragically, beautifully, Yes, it’s wonderful, indeed…

Girls lie helpless in their towers, Trapped by their own stupidity.

They prick their fingers, eat the apples, And wait for happily ever afters.

So they wait and wait, they never move, Forever beautiful, even beyond the end.

When Skies Turn Blue

By Hades When skies turn blue and springtime fades, Her children bloom in vibrant shades.

The Earth is laughing, growing green, And swells with colors, ne’er ‘fore seen.

The summer sun, of golden fame, Makes nothing ever seem the same.

This season lives, this season loves, And heaven smiles from above.

She sings and dances, grins with ease, And you will always know her peace.

Photograph—“Eye of Summer” by Eris

Photograph—“Wishing Fountain” by Eris

Photograph—“In the Jungle” by Eris

Ugly

By Hades Ugly is more beautiful Than beautiful itself.

Beauty is a work of art, Marble busts and paint, Priceless, coveted treasures, Lifeless and out of reach.

Ugly is a fireplace, With lumpy logs and soot, Wooden furniture, roughly carved, Incessant popping popcorn.

Beauty is the mountains, Royal, majestic, and violet, With snowy mountain caps, Breathtaking, untouchable.

Ugly is a sweater, The one that Mother made, But it’s warm and soft and fits, Knitted wholly with love.

Beautiful is such a shallow word, Tossed around much too lightly.

Ugly is without pretense, A truth that can be shrugged.

If the world were to fall in darkness, What value would beauty have?

If the world were to be struck blind today, Would beauty still have pride?

Ugly is a cloak of comfort, Better than beautiful’s thin coat.

Beauty inevitably fades with age, But ugliness softens with warmth.

So what if beauty is overpriced?

That says nothing of its true worth.

Ugly is more beautiful Than beautiful itself.

It’s the middle of the game, and Shane is worried about his teammate, Keith, who just got traded to them by the hockey team they’re now facing. Keith feels betrayed by his former friends and alone—but Shane extends the hand of friendship. Read Traded

by Holiday Blues online!

Four are dead. Gabe Cameron, who was a friend of all the victims, is the lead suspect. His trial has begun. As his friend Gino is questioned on the stand, will the ties of friendship hold, or will Gino give into the pressure and help them condemn Gabe? Read The Trial, Part I by Apollo online!

For years and years, girls—whether in fiction or in real life—have consistently gone for “the bad boys.”

A bad boy doesn’t necessarily mean a criminal or rulebreaker but simply someone who has been deemed by society to be “dangerous.” Why does Lo-

ki, the villain in last year’s film Thor, have more sympathizers and fans than the actual title character?

Why does Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, have almost five times as many Twitter followers (and fangirls) than Daniel Radcliffe? Read Why Girls Go For Bad Boys by Hades online!

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The Love of A Lapdog

By Hunny-Senpai The questions in my mind, they haunt me, taunt me.

Like if it’s normal for a guy to hug another girl around her waist with his own girlfriend right in front of him? Is in okay for a couple to have minimal conversations weekly and still call it “a great relationship” with a bright smile? I’m starting to feel that we live in different universes.

Different worlds.

But I don’t know what to do.

My heart tells me one thing, and my mind, another. The endless questions, doubts, statements pour into my mind like a poisonous snake stalking its next kill.

Yet here I stand, a lapdog to her master. Obedient and loyal. My heart humming with every touch, every caress, every soft kiss from his velvety lips.

But my mind wonders aimlessly in the darkness.

A ghost in the corners of the mind.

One that might stay forever.

But that is love, no? Something this loyal Lassie will be willing to keep silent in exchange for her master’s ravenous smile.

Illustration—“Collared” by Hunny-Senpai

A War Won by the Queen

By Hunny-Senpai It started with a statement.

“No, I thought I was going to be the leader.”

That small statement was the trigger. The plan starts to boil, to sizzle through my mind. The war has started. Like a game, the chess pieces all lined for combat.

Not every piece will be able to survive, there will be sacrifices made.

Sacrifices that could essentially destroy, if not done right.

But here I go, the first step in the game.

My first pawn moves.

It gets blocked by the opponent straight away.

Some pawns start to disappear from my board.

“So you decide to switch sides, hmm? That won’t be a problem…”

My pawns were merely just a prod, poking at the opponent’s defenses and figuring out how the other fights.

The opponent has fallen into my trap.

He has shown how he really fights after my second pawn advances.

Now for the next step.

My tower moves.

Spying over the squares on enemy lines. As the time ticks by, more changes have been made.

More plans.

More small arraignment.

The bishops starting false rumors, the pawns spreading them as facts.

Finally the rumors have reached over to the opponent's ears.

The defenses lower, leaving the king for the taking.

Now, it's the queen's turn to move.

The final blow. She glides seductively across the board.

The king mesmerized by the combination of the false rumors he has heard and the way her walk teases the mind. She draws nearer.

His fate, a warning song, an obvious hymn, yet just a sirens' whisper to the king.

His frail stance, his weak shield makes the queen's heart falter.

Makes her question if it's the right thing to do.

But I am her master.

The queen does my bidding.

Standing right in front of him.

The queen, the piece of most power looms over the king.

So powerful.

Gorgeous.

Strong.

Yet inside, her heart is breaking.

Seeing such thing happen.

The rumors, the whole plan, has taken a toll.

I smile at my opponent.

"Check... Mate."

My plan has worked.

The king is now in my possession.

And so is the leadership.

Yet somewhere inside...

Deep inside, I feel a stirring.

Something has changed...

Illustration—“Checkmate” by Hunny-Senpai

Illustration—“Meeting in Enna” by Hades

Sweet Revenge by Athena When anger takes over, the world becomes red, And thoughts turn toward revenge.

Illustration—“Vengeance” by Hades

Most counsel against it – Be above that, they say.

Rise above that – it will backfire anyway.

Remember, revenge is a dish best served cold.

But when the boiling anger overflows, And it has no other place to go, Logic has nothing to do with it.

In the end… revenge is sweet.

(Sweeter than chocolate.)

Pomegranate Seeds

By Hades One for Mother, Gold like wheat, Weeping for her loss.

She searches, searches, But never finds, And in her grief forgets.

Two for seasons, Four in all, Changing all the world.

At times it rests, At times it blooms, Always will it live.

Three for home, A new one here, Dark and vast and deep.

But in the dark, There can be warmth, A new life and a purpose.

Four for herself, Once just a girl, Now a mighty queen.

No longer a flower, No longer a child, Now just and fair and strong.

Five for love, A simmering heat, In arms that make her safe.

Once afraid, Now adoring, She beloved in return.

Six for glory, Beautiful and great, A tale to last through time.

The seeds she tastes, A choice that’s hers, One she’s never regretted.