forum Learning to be human

Started January 03, 2023 by @FanfictionFanatic group

tune

(ok! Well, here she is…)

Name: Maddalena
Nicknames/Aliases: Maddie (this one annoys her), Lena, Mercy (is her favorite because she thinks it's ironic…) Goddess of Thieves and Mischief
Age: around 900 but appears to be 28
Species: goddess… Human, generally, but she's also a shapeshifter.
Gender/Pronouns: she/her
Appearance: 6’6”, built like an Amazon but still feminine, medium-length dark brown hair, hazel brown eyes with a ring of gold on the edges,
Personality: Her personality is hard to narrow down. One minute, she's cold, distant, even uncaring. The next, she's grinning like a Cheshire cat and causing trouble. She's been called impulsive but even that’s not constant since she can be calculating and analytical when she's planning or curious about something. Another side of herself she's unafraid to show off is her more aggressive fighting spirit. It's part of the reason she ended up in this situation. Secretly, she does have a softer, more compassionate, and caring side that borders on protective but she keeps it well guarded and deeply buried.
Powers/Mutations/Hybrid: (If applicable) (Also give a brief description please ^^) Well, she's a Goddess so… Normally, she's got quite a lot but her favorite, of course, is shapeshifting and she's good with illusions as well as some elemental magic. Though after getting cast down to Earth, she's limited to what she considers simple parlor tricks and it annoys her.
Hobbies: does causing trouble count? Otherwise… Reading, gardening (that’s a bit of a secret though), occasionally pickpocketing, and sparring/fighting.
Quotes: “Hey, you try getting recognition from anyone in a Parthenon that’s at least 70% male. You can't get anywhere unless you fight for it and fight hard.”
Theme Songs: “Like a Lady” by Lady Antebellum, “People like us” by Carrie Underwood, “Shatter me” and “Lost Girls” by Lindsey Stirling.

(Sure!)

Maddalena sighed rather bored as she stood between the two guards who had been instructed to escort her to the main hall just outside the “throne room”. Apparently, her last prank got too much out of hand for the rest of the Parthenon and they had decided to punish her for it. It wasn't her fault that some property damage had occurred because of it… Though she did feel just the tiniest bit guilty that a few wind spirits had been injured. Not that it was that serious but it was enough to the rest of the Gods and Goddess to make this kind of a scene.
“They're ready for you.” one of the guards finally announced before leading the Goddess of Thieves and Mischief towards the grand doors.
“Oh, good. I was starting to think they forgot about me.” she quipped in a monotonous tone.
The entirety of the most powerful Gods and Goddess were assembled as Maddalena entered and despite the calm masks everyone wore, she could feel their radiating anger.
“Maddalena, Goddess of Thieves and Mischief, you know why you are here.”
“Yes.” she sighed, not in the mood to hear them recite her “crimes”.
“It is the will of all present that you shall be stripped of your title, your rank, and your divine powers. You will become mortal and not return to us until you can reclaim your Godhood.”
Maddalena looked up at the group in shock. That seemed rather extreme and very unfair to her. But before she could even begin to protest, she was forced to her knees as her power was painfully stripped away. She couldn't help but scream as her vision failed and the last thing she was aware of was how her skin was burning as she fell to the mortal realm.

Anna Clayton was well-versed in the art of speed walking in high heels. And she was putting her talent to practice as she headed swiftly for the park a few blocks down from the law firm she was employed with. The clicks of her shoes presented a look of authority, though Anna currently felt the complete opposite. Everything in her world was going awry, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Between the most stressful case of her career, and the fact that her credit cards were all being overloaded by her ex-husband Harry's gambling addiction, and her daughter Daisy's desperate need to attend a private all-girls academy next school year with tuition through the roof… the woman was overwhelmed. It was the perfect storm.

Anna crossed the street and entered the park, remorsefully slowing her pace as she did. Her feet were killing her now. Great. She sat down on a park bench and took a deep breath while reaching into her purse for her cell phone. But who could she call? Her first thought was Harry, but she quickly pushed it away. He was always part of the problem – not the solution. But after Harry, her mind went blank. She'd been with him for so unbearably long… and she didn't make many friends in her line of work.

The poor woman had no one.

Normally, the transition to the mortal realm was painless and often instant. But because this time she had no control over her descent, Maddalena felt like she was barely breathing as she ended up lying in a smoldering crumpled heap in a shallow crater with a trickle of reddish-bronze blood coming from her temple. It wouldn't have surprised her if her journey had been this harsh as part of her punishment. Some of the others were often petty like that.

It took a her few good moments before she even attempted to sit up, her head spinning from the action as she tried to catch her breath. And regrettably longer for her to get her bearings. She didn't often visit the world of mortals, but then again very few Gods or Goddesses did anymore. Except for pleasure… and occasionally guidance but that seemed to be much less of a reason lately.

Anna heard something behind her, and she looked up from scrolling aimlessly through her contacts. The woman looked over her shoulder, and her mouth dropped open in momentary shock. There was a new… dent in the ground. She rose to her feet, thankful no one else was nearby for the moment, before hurrying over to see a collapsed and bleeding woman in the middle of the hole.

"Oh my God," she breathed, fumbling for her phone again to call 911.

Maddalena groaned as she finally managed to sit up without feeling nauseous. Though she was not yet able recognize her surroundings. Having her power stripped, being forced into a human body, and being thrown from her home was actually draining. Not to mention the physical pain she was currently in. Normally, deities couldn't be hurt except by other gods and goddesses but now, she would only have a higher pain tolerance.

The former goddess winced as the dizziness finally wore off and was replaced by an unfortunate awareness of injuries that she now had. Thanks to her fall. None of them were life-threatening but given how tender her ankle felt and the small trickle of blood down the side of her face… any walking she would be doing would be slow.

Anna hesitated for a moment, seeing the woman sit up and look around somewhat. She didn't want to go down near her… but she also didn't want the woman to further injure herself trying to stand or move around. And she didn't know what kind of danger there might be. The woman had made a crater in the ground with her arrival, for God's sake!

"Um… hello?" Anna called out tentatively. "Are you alright?"

Maddalena blinked as she heard someone speaking and looked around before finally seeing the woman. “Who are you and where am I?” she asked, managing to keep her voice steady and authoritative as she tried to get to her feet. Though she couldn't help the wince as she realized how tender her ankle was and the fact that she was actually bleeding. She sighed in annoyance as she wiped away the cooper-tinted liquid and glared up at the sky.

Anna saw the woman wince and closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, she stepped into the crater and walked down the bank carefully to aid the woman. As she got closer, she realized that however tall this woman was, she would dwarf Anna's own 5'10" height – sometimes taller when she wore heels.

"My name is Anna," she said and offered her hand by way of greeting. "You're in London."

Maddalena hummed in acknowledgment as she looked down at the other woman. Though she wasn't going to admit that it had been so long since she had visited the mortal realm that she wasn't familiar with the name. “I see.” she nodded indifferently before limping out of the crater, muttering something under her breath.

Anna frowned with confusion. This woman was clearly new and disoriented, but she was acting like everything was fine. What was the point of that? If you aren’t sure about something can you ask someone who might know more than you for help? It seem like the reasonable thing to do in Anna‘s logical mind.

Then, she noticed the woman’s limp. “Are you all right? Do you need help?” Anna asked, trailing her as she walked out of the crater.

Maddalena looked back at the mortal woman, barely holding back a scoff at the question. “Unless you have some kind of power, I doubt you could help me.” she stated flatly before she misjudged the final step out of the crater and put too much pressure on her sore ankle. But she was more surprised by the fact that she actually let out a yelp at the pain.

Some kind of power? Who did this woman think she was? Sure, she was nearly a foot taller than Anna, but the attorney didn't give in to rudeness that easily. "Excuse me, but you're hurt," she commented. "Would you rather I leave you alone and injured to fend for yourself in a place you've clearly never been?"

When the woman cried out from the pain, Anna instinctively moved closer to support her. "Do you want my help or not?" she asked pointedly, adding an expectant arch of her eyebrows to show that she was willing to leave the woman behind.

This time the taller woman did scoff, unfamiliar with having much concern directed at her. “I have healed from worse. And this would not be the first time I have been on my own.” she informed before taking in the other woman’s strange clothes. Her own usual garb of dark pants, loose shirt, sturdy boots, and full-length cloak seemed to be out of style among mortals these days. Though since she wasn't sure what might of remained of her powers, she didn't think she would be able to transform her clothes to match.

She sighed as the mortal approached her and matched her gaze. “I… I do not think you can help me.” she said a bit kinder as she straightened her posture. Whatever task the others had set out for her was hers and hers alone. No mere human could do much to help.

"I should think not," Anna remarked. "Everyone spends moments on their own in life. But not everyone does it in a completely foreign place, and you…" She studied the woman's clothes which looked like something out of an old history book. "You are very foreign."

Anna frowned slightly as the woman dismissed her yet again. Though it was with a kinder tone, the words still didn't sit right with the attorney. "I may, I may not," she replied evenly. "But I can try, and I think that's worth something in a city full of strangers."

“Moments?” she chuckled humorlessly. “Oh, you mortals have no idea.” she said more to herself before glaring slightly at the comment of being foreign. “How I appear right now is none of your concern.”

Maddalena hummed thoughtfully and studied the mortal woman. “I must say that you make a good point… Perhaps you can help me to some extent,” she admitted, thinking of the possibility of this woman showing her around this city and perhaps show her where to get more current clothing.

Mortal? Anna thought, wondering what caused the woman to refer to her that way. Maybe she'd hit her head a bit harder during her fall.

"I never said that it was," she retorted simply. Though her features softened a bit as the woman accepted her invitation. "I tend to try for that," she quipped lightly. "What's your name? I've already told you mine."

She hummed slightly at the quick reply but nodded when the woman asked her name. She had never been as well-known as most others. “I am Maddalena.” she answered, feeling there was no need to bring up her title at the moment. Partly because her title had been taken along with her powers.