[ Oh gods oh gods he's not cut out for this, is he? What the hell was he thinking trying to step up and be a parental figure Clarisse? How does he respond to the rage of an Ares daughter without sounding condescending?
Okay. Okay. Focus. What would Athena say?
What was that one thing she said to Ares? You don't have to attend every fight you're invited to?
Gods, she got that from a book, didn't she?
Besides, even if Clarisse doesn't have to attend this fight, it seems like she really wants to. He's got to approach this from a different angle. ]
I'm not going to pretend I'm not upset. I am. I'm upset and I'm worried.
[ Read: Terrified. ]
But we only have so much of ourselves that we can give. If Will's being threatened and the choice is between getting into a fight or staying by Will's side when he needs me, I think I can do more good by supporting him instead of tearing down someone else.
I think
[ There's a pause. What is he even saying? ]
I know lashing out full force is how you solve problems. That's how you slayed the Drakon at the Battle of Manhattan. Ares is the same way, especially when he's trying to protect people who can't protect themselves.
[ Bringing up her dad in this context is good, right? Comparing her to him positively? Apollo doesn't have a high opinion of Ares, but... maybe he should rethink that. After all, Clarisse is doing what her dad would do, and it's out of passion, not malice or stupidity.
Something to think about later. Right now, focus on Clarisse. ]
But he knows how to meter it out. He looks at the bigger situation and knows when to pull back.
[ does he, though? ]
He knows that he can't protect people if he uses up all this energy and resources getting into fights with everyone who has beef with him. If he accepted challenges from every asshole that called him out, he'd never get anything done. Even if they really deserve to get punched in the face.
private forever
Okay. Okay. Focus. What would Athena say?
What was that one thing she said to Ares? You don't have to attend every fight you're invited to?
Gods, she got that from a book, didn't she?
Besides, even if Clarisse doesn't have to attend this fight, it seems like she really wants to. He's got to approach this from a different angle. ]
I'm not going to pretend I'm not upset. I am. I'm upset and I'm worried.
[ Read: Terrified. ]
But we only have so much of ourselves that we can give. If Will's being threatened and the choice is between getting into a fight or staying by Will's side when he needs me, I think I can do more good by supporting him instead of tearing down someone else.
I think
[ There's a pause. What is he even saying? ]
I know lashing out full force is how you solve problems. That's how you slayed the Drakon at the Battle of Manhattan. Ares is the same way, especially when he's trying to protect people who can't protect themselves.
[ Bringing up her dad in this context is good, right? Comparing her to him positively? Apollo doesn't have a high opinion of Ares, but... maybe he should rethink that. After all, Clarisse is doing what her dad would do, and it's out of passion, not malice or stupidity.
Something to think about later. Right now, focus on Clarisse. ]
But he knows how to meter it out. He looks at the bigger situation and knows when to pull back.
[ does he, though? ]
He knows that he can't protect people if he uses up all this energy and resources getting into fights with everyone who has beef with him. If he accepted challenges from every asshole that called him out, he'd never get anything done. Even if they really deserve to get punched in the face.