Father/Daughter Chat (Harlow)

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

Gods knew things. They wouldn't be gods if they didn't. Vulcan knew that his daughter, Harlow, was coming to his temple that day. Then again, he did place a little hint into her dreams to do so. A subtle god trick, but it pretty much always worked with Demi-God kids. If it didn't, Vulcan could just transport her there against her will. Gods were also very determined to get their way.

Vulcan would have liked this to be a casual visit, but gods didn't do a lot of those when it came to seeing their mortal children. Heck, Vulcan didn't see a whole lot of his immortal children, and they could just poof in and visit him any time. No, there was a purpose. Harlow was training to be a soldier and a hero. Harlow had a great destiny ahead of her, and great destinies caused gods to step in. They weren't heroes themselves, but they often had to give their kids that push toward greatness.

Clad in an old camo army uniform and a metal army helmet, Vulcan sat by his temple statue and puffed on a cigar he had lit with a flame from his thumb. He approved of the temple built for hum. Lots of weapons on display, the old school stuff- swords, spears, maces. Lots of nostalgia. Mars may have liked the guns and tanks, but nothing beat the quality stuff, especially what he himself forged. Vulcan then raised his eyebrow a little as he heard approaching footsteps.

HARLOW NGUYEN

[HARLOW NGUYEN]

Harlow walked with her hands in her pockets. Today she had chose to wear jean shorts and a muscle tank top. She has an exposed sports bra and she was in flexible shoes. She was training as usual. They found that her temper was always a bit better is they tired her out with a lot of training. She didn’t mind because she was good at it, thanks to her mother’s constant training. She didn’t know what her life held for her future. She had woken up in the middle of the night the night before with the sign that she was to meet Vulcan in his temple tomorrow. She waved her hand sleepily signaling she’d received his message loud and clear.



Harlow then found herself back to sleep. She didn’t love the idea of avoiding Stacy that morning but she needed to work out a little bit and eat and get to the temple. She walked without much thought and sure enough her feet knew the way to the temple. She’d spent a lot of time there at the start. Just trying to get to know everything. She took a deep breath and started the trek up into the temple. She shouldn’t have been shocked to see Vulcan waiting for her, but she was a bit shocked really. She held her face very neutral thought. “ Well- Hello there.” She said to him. She’d never had a problem calling her, her father. But she liked to test it out to make sure that he was in a good mood before she called him pops.

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

"Well, hello there." Okay, there were some gods who got pretty darn made when mortals, even their kids, didn't tremble before them. Vulcan had an ego as well, but he didn't let stuff like a lack of terror get to him. Plus, Harlow had proven herself to him and that was why he was there. Harlow wouldn't have known it then, but she was cut out for something special... a great destiny to come. Vulcan knew that of course. He was a god. He knew a LOT. But being a god, he could only tell her so much, and had to be cryptic. He hated being cryptic, but it was like a requirement when a god pushed their kid toward some great, danger-filled future.

"Hey kiddo, how ya doin'?" he said. He then looked at the statue erected in his honor and shook his head. "Ya know, they never really get these right. I mean, am I really that ugly? Eh, never was a fan of concrete and clay. Metal's where it's ain't, am I right, kiddo? Anyway, Harlow, come over here and pop a squat. Your pop's gotta talk to ya." Vulcan spoke as if he saw Harlow on a regular basis. He actually did, but the thing was, as in the case of many demi-gods, she hadn't seen him for the first time until now. Godly parent visitations were rare indeed.

HARLOW NGUYEN

[HARLOW NGUYEN]

Harlow had only seen her father this once, but she had spent a lot of time in this very temple trying to feel closer to him. However, she never felt very less than. She always knew she wouldn’t be alone with a god as a parent. She always felt like he was with her weather he was or not. She believed he was there. She believed he saw her for who she was and what she needed. She had a lot of support for her father. She knew it was weird but she just felt like maybe she was special to him. She knew it sounded arrogant and a little twisted, but it was something that made her feel better so she chose to believe it. “ Pretty good thanks. You?” She asked the return question.



She nodded her head matter of factly. “ Yeah….I mean seeing you in person you are not that ugly. Plus I’m pretty hot so…had to have gotten my looks from my parents. All that and everything.” She joked a little bit. “ Metal would have been better. I think.” She shrugged her shoulders and then did as he suggested. She walked over and sat down exactly where her told her to sit. She nodded her head a bit as she god herself comfortable wanting to know what he needed to talk to her about. “ Well what do you need to talk to me about?” She asked him as she waited to see what all he had to say. Her curiosity very much flaring wanting to see what he wanted her to do.

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

Vulcan liked how Harlow seemed to take all this in so naturally. He knew she had always been like that though, very friendly and easy-going. He felt that could work to her advantage or maybe not so much. It always depended on the situation with mortals.

"Eh, can't complain," he said when asked how he was doing. "Got my health, my forge, and I see those like you here in New Rome are really revving it up with the weaponry. It ain't easy to impress me, but you all are doin' pretty darn okay."

Harlow knew how to compliment a god. That was a good thing. Vulcan wasn't AS egotistical as some of his family, but he knew some of them demanded praise or else at times. He gave Harlow a smile and nod at the compliment.

"Just be careful with those good looks... and you watch out when it comes to that Hart girl. Yeah, I know about that. I know a few things bein' a god. Those Venus kids can be trouble just like their mother." Vulcan then cleared his throat, not that it was gruffy. "But that's not what I came to talk to you about. See, as much as some of us gods want to have casual visits with our mortal kids, we can usually only pop in when we see that hero potential, and you... Harlow... you have a lot ahead of ya."

HARLOW NGUYEN

[HARLOW NGUYEN]

Harlow smiled a little it as she bit her lower lip and she walked over and sat down over at the man that was her father. She was trying her best to not freak out about everything. She nodded her head a little bit. “ Sounds like you have all the makings of a happy life than.” She said with a more obvious smirk on her features as she looked over at him. “ Well I have to say that makes me feel some pride after all. Means that the other’s will feel some pride for you as well.” She said honestly. “ How’d you know about my Venus kid?” She stopped a moment…her venus kid? Was Stacy her’s to claim? She shook her head. <p>



“ I don’t even know what is going on with my feelings for Stacy Dad. I mean I think I know what I want them to mean. But how do I know if she knows that. Ugh. Messy, so messy.” She said as she sniffled a little bit and then looked over at him. She stopped a moment and looked at the man of her father. She thought about it all. She stopped trying to keep herself and her breathing under control. “ You think so? You think that I have a lot a head of me? Like Hero stuff? ” She asked shocked that this could actually be a thing. She stared at the man waiting to see what he had to say.

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

Vulcan almost laughed as Harlow said he had the makings of a happy life. He had lived for a very, very long time, and would live for a very, very long time to come, so he hoped the next few thousand years would treat him okay. He did hope his other kids were proud of him. He remembered the ones who revolted and joined Saturn, or Kronos as the Greeks called him. He could only wonder if any of them still resented him. He tried not to be concerned with that.

"Well, just keep doing the good work in the forges and keep paying tribute and everything will be biscuits and gravy." Vulcan did love biscuits and gravy. Not a typical godly food, but he liked it anyway.

Vulcan smirked about the whole Venus kid thing and how he knew. He hadn't got to full immerse himself in Harlow's life, but he knew things.

"Hey, look at who you're talkin' to, kiddo. We gods see a lot goin' on at the same time. In fact, I found out about that and what my kids in Washington, Montana, and Nevada were doin' all at the same time. Those Nevada ones... always losin' money at the tables. Anyway, look it's clear you love her and she seems to think a lot of you. For all I know, she's perfect for ya. Just be careful, okay?"

Then it came back to the business at hand.

"Okay, now listen. We gods don't really give the full details when it comes to the whole heroes and missions thing. If we did, you'd always know what to do and when to do it, and that goes against the whole point of you bein' tested. But you will be tested at some point soon. When the time comes, you'll know. What I'm here to do is give you a long overdue birthday present." Vulcan snapped his fingers and a metal box with a lock on it appeared. "Inside this box is somethin' very special, but here's the catch. You won't know what it is... or will be unable to unlock the box to see until the time comes to use it." He then handed her a gold key on a gold chain.. "So this key is useless until then, but keep it on ya all the time... and keep that box in a safe place. Got it?"

HARLOW NGUYEN

[HARLOW NGUYEN]

Harlow sat back against the alter as she found herself in this very spot a lot after she offered him her forges for the week and then she laid back. She would think a lot about him and see if she could talk to him. But now here he was talking to her and she nodded her head a little bit. “ Will do. I’ll tell the rest of them to keep it up too.” She winked over at him playfully but nodded as she laid back and then rose an eye brow at him. She listened to him and shook her head as the smile slowly played over her features. “ Leave it to a god to know all about his kids. Well not shocking I mean I have a feeling I’d be a terrible gambler too…” She said honestly and then almost lost her full on mind when he said the Love word. She wanted to do that but then it registered what he was saying and that he was a god and it probably wasn’t appropriate to freak out at a god even if he was her father. “ I mean Love is a bit strong I’m still you know dredging through all the feelings and such. But you think she likes me too? Perfect for me? What because she knows how to take and throw a punch? I mean yeah it’s really attractive and then I mean her body- you know…maybe I shouldn’t talk to a godly parent like that….” She said as she thought out loud.



She looked over at him as the whole feeling started to drift to something more serious and more like she needed to think about it all. She stared at him as she looked over at the box. She stared at the box a moment and then looked over at the key. “ Wow- dad…. I” She looked up at him a bit more serious now. “ Key with me at all times box somewhere hidden and protected got it. We have a safe in out trunks I’ll lock it in the false bottom. “ she said to him promising that it would be in a safe place. “ You are sure I’ll know when the right moment is?” She asked him a little unsure that she’d know. She hoped she would. “ Tested… Well I hope I do you proud old man. I wont bother asking more and more questions as I think that is a fools move. But I have heard you. I will do my best to pass and be worthy to be called your daughter. ” She said honestly to him.

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

Vulcan didn't blush or feel weird when Harlow talked about the girl she liked. He was married to the Goddess of Love. She had been romantic with numerous mortals and immortals, though not his own wife of course, so this hardly embarrassed him.

"Hey, hey, I ain't steppin' in on your romance," he said. "Just throwin' out some fatherly advice. See, the girl's mom, Venus... well she and I haven't had the best marriage. Soon as we got hitched, she's off with the God of War. One big headache after another, not that we gods actually get headaches, but you know what I mean. For all I know, the girl ain't nothin' like her mom and is pretty half-way decent. I mean, if a classy kid like you likes her, she's gotta be doin' somethin' right."

Vulcan wqas about to confirm that Harlow would know the right moment when the girl called her "old man". Some gods would go into a rage over that, but Vulcan, even in his war-like Roman form, but fairly casual.

"Hey now, just because I'm a few thousand years old and I like takin' the form of an agin' Sylvester Stallone doesn't mean you get to call me 'old man'. I'll let you off this time, but don't do it again, okay? Anyway, you'll know when it's time."

HARLOW NGUYEN

[HARLOW NGUYEN]

Harlow looked over at her father as he stated he wasn’t stepping in on her romance. She was secretly grateful to him for his guidance on those feelings. “ Thank you. I think I needed your guidance to help me through that.” She bowed her head in respect to her father. The truth was she loved him and she was grateful to him for any help he could offer her. She listened to her father and wanted to raise her brow at him a trait she’d inherited from her mother. However she wasn’t about to tell her father how relationships worked as he was a god and would know much more than she ever could so she just nodded. “ Well…I hope she is genuine and makes you happy. I know Stacy makes me happy so…I’ll pursue with caution.” She said to him honestly.



It sort of slipped out and then all of a sudden the god was giving her a stern talking to. She nodded her head in understanding and bowed her head. “ It won’t happen again.” She confirmed. “ I’ll be sure to bring a little extra tomorrow on my offerings. I apologize ’ She said very seriously as she never meant to upset the god that was her father. She looked down for a few moments and finally asked, “ Vulcan? How will I know if I passed this test? Will I even know it’s a test?” She asked him hoping her would be able to provide the guidance on this. As Harlow wanted to be someone who made him proud, proud that she was his daughter and proud that she was in some parts him. She just hoped that when is was all done she would know that he was proud of her. She needed him to be proud of her.

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

Vulcan waved off the whole thing about the future girlfriend making him happy. Gods only got so involved. Still, he did want Harlow to be happy, and wouldn't be too thrilled if the girl did upset her daughter down the line.

"If she makes you happy, and keeps makin' you happy, that's solid with me. Remember I'm the God of Fire, and my area is buildin' and forgin' stuff. As much as I don't like her most of the time, Venus is the expert on love advice. There's no tellin' what she'll tell this Stacy if your girl meets her mom, but hopefully Venus will be wise enough to know you're a great little lady."

Vulcan gave Harlow a pat on the shoulder when she apologized and promised a bigger offering.

"Well, I ain't gonna turn down an extra offerin', but don't sweat it about the 'old man' thing, kiddo. I could tell it was said with love. Still don't do it again though." Vulcan smirked at that. Vulcan then sighed a bit about Harlow passing the test and knowing it was a test. "Kid, like I said, no big details. But it's gonna hit ya like a lot a ton of scrap metal... possibly literally so watch yourself. Mark my words..." Vulcan gently booped Harlow on the nose with his finger. "You will know."

HARLOW NGUYEN

[HARLOW NGUYEN]

Being a god had to be hard work because it was sort of annoying to know that she was so alone. She looked over at the woman and then cleared her throat a little bit. Listening to her father as he spoke and nodded her head. “ Well it’s still new for now but I’ll be sure to let you know. ” She said lightly as she looked at him as she sat with her. “ I do hope her mother can see my feelings are genuine and that I’m a pretty awesome person.” She said with a shrug and then looked at her father feeling really good about how he viewed her. So she sat with him and smiled lightly looking over at his temple. It was really good.



It took her a few times and then looked over at him biting her lip as he booped her nose. She nodded as he accepted her apology which made her feel really good. She looked over at him and nodded her head taking in everything that he was saying that she’d know. She rubbed her forehead thinking about it all. But nodded her head. “ I trust you dad. I trust that you see my future which means I have one. So I will do my best to make sure you are proud of me.” She said honestly as she smiled at him.

[HEPHAESTUS | VULCAN]

Vulcan waved off the whole thing about Venus knowing Harley loved the other girl. Venus wasn't going to mess with his daughter. She would have to deal with him if she did.

"You just worry about you and your lady love," he said. "Don't let Venus give you crap. Olympus knows she gives me enough of it."

Vulcan then nodded as Harley promised he'd be proud of her.

"I'm sure I will be," he said. "Anyway, I gotta split. We gods... we gotta be five hundred places at once... literally. See ya around though, kiddo." And with that, Vulcan vanished in a ball of fire.

HARLOW NGUYEN