Athanasia had to admit that she had fun at the dinner, even though her brother's angry face loomed in the back of her mind. She remained on her best behavior for the rest of the evening. Even with the Lord Panos just on the other side of Lady Daniil, it seemed like he was kind enough to give them privacy as the two spoke and he focused on speaking with others that surrounded them. She did not see Alexandros for the rest of the night.

Now that dinner was over, Athanasia was dawdling in her room, she did not want to get yelled at. She still didn't know why she was in trouble, since no one had weapons, and everything she did was the very same thing even Vangelis would have done everything she did. Is it just because she was a girl?

If he wasn't her older brother, built like a wall, and thirteen years older than her, Athanasia might be tempted to hit him if that was his only reason for her being in trouble right now.

In her room, Asia made sure to wash off all of the charcoal liner and jewelry that she was wearing. Slowly she started feeling more like herself as her hair fell loose around her shoulders. Each pin put away, the fibulae placed in drawers to keep them all safe. Next, she dressed in a simple chiton gown of a soft white linen with simple pins holding the fabric closed at her shoulders and down her arms.

With a sigh, she left her room and headed down the hall to face the yelling that was bound to happen. Her bare feet were silent on the stone flooring before she finally reached the closed door. It was a daunting feeling, she never liked getting in trouble and usually could talk her way out of it, but this time with how her brother looked and sounded as he spoke to her; he was mad.

Knocking softly, Athanasia heard the command for her to come in. The door felt heavier than normal as she pushed it slowly, the door creaking almost obnoxiously loud before she peeked her head around the door to see if he had calmed at all. She could see nothing that gave away from his expressions, the only hint that he was annoyed was what looked like his jaw was clenched as he waited as patiently for her to step fully in as he could.

He reminded her of a cliffside wall again, immovable and impervious to even the most unrelenting storms that Posidon sent at them. Stepping further in, Athanasia looked down at her feet as she pushed the door closed but stayed by it. She knew that he would never hurt her, but that didn't mean she wanted to be closer to the yelling. It was moments like this that the lines between them were blurred in a way that made them more like father and daughter instead of brother and sister. With thirteen years in between them, it was easy to have that boundary pushed.

So as he stood there silently, waiting for her to speak, it was a mental game of who would not speak first. Athanasia did not feel like she did anything wrong, even as Vangelis' stare made her squirm and made her feel like she possibly did. Athanasia was still looking down at her feet, her hands folded behind her back while her hair hide her face. Her mind was wracking with what exactly she did wrong. Was it because she threatened Alexandros? Was it the headlock? Was it because she stepped in to try and move Lady Daniil from the middle of all the men being men? Was it all the above?

The silence was making her uncomfortable as she shifted from foot to foot. He was going to make her speak first, and she hated it, but in the end Athanasia took a deep breath. "You said you wanted to speak with me?"

The silence surrounded them again after Asia spoke first, commenting with a question, a reminder that she was indeed listening and had come when her brother stated that he wanted to speak with her. She could see the scrutiney, watching as her eldest brother took in her appearence, his own looking exhausted from the day's events. The silence was just as much a mind game as it was Vangelis picking the wording he wished to use with her. If she were any soldier, he would probably not even think twice, or just beat the snot out of her, but she was not one of his soldiers.

As the silence expanded, Asia could see the scars that danced across Vang's flesh and across his shoulders and chest. To everyone else Vangelis might look imposing and impossible as a mountain but that wasn't what Asia saw when she looked at him. Water drops clung to the damp eyelashes that veiled angry eyes that matched her own, a glare that she was often told she herself had, and scars that matched the many that she had decorating her own skin.n Kotas were a hard breed and Asia never once felt ashamed of being just like her brothers. In her mind, there was no difference other than her gender. That she was female.

A movement, an intake of breath, alerting Athanasia that Vangelis finally decided to break the imposing silence that surrounded them in the room. 'Sister mine, I want you to imagine something for me,' he said, rubbing the towelling cloth across his chest and then drying his hands, Vangelis finished drying off as he spoke. 'You know the statue in the northern agora? The lower half? The one of the ogre?' Asia could picture the statue he spoke of, her eyes narrowing while her lips pursed just slightly. Her expression was clear that she knew what he spoke of but wondered what he was getting at.

She knew of the tales, though all the times she played in the mountains and caves of their homeland, she had never once seen an ogre herself. Granted, she avoided the darkest nights, but that did not mean she did not play in the light the goddess Selene and Artemis cast through the forests with the moonlight. With a small nod, Athanasia silently agreed that she was imagining that statue now.

'I want you to imagine that the statue came alive. That the Gods made it flesh and blood. The same size and shape it is now, in stone. The ogre is angry, monstrous and intent on harming all. But it agrees to a single fight to decide the fate of the city. One fight. With one man. And you have to choose. Who would you send to fight the ogre? Me? ...or Silas?' That was an easy one, making Asia smile as she shook her head. "Well the smart answer would be you because you have more skills and experience than Silas. He is still learning and is a captain while you are a general and fearless."

She had an idea of what Vangelis was getting at but Asia had proven many times that size was not everything, and though Silas was good with a bow, there was one thing that Vangelis had taught her long ago. Skill only goes so far when compared to experience. Experence teaches that someone can fight dirty, while skills usually only cover if everyone is following the same rules. "Now if Silas had the same training that you gave me with my dagger, then I would never be able to best him even once. Though he can pack a mean bite." Athanasia rubbed her right arm, her fingers running over the cresent scar that she had aquired from Silas when they were younger and he bit her. He has a matching scar curtasy of her own bite that she got in revenge.

Looking up at Vangelis, she smiled knowing that was not what he was getting at all with his story but the tension was now broken. At least for Asia it was as she stepped further into the room and looked less like she would run. Picking her way around the wet cloths, she found a dry spot on the table near the bowl he was using before she hopped up on it and sat. Her feet dangled a couple feet fron the floor but now she was more eye to eye with her brother. Her hands over her lap now, Athanasia looked at her own scars that decorated her fingers from all the years she practiced with her bow and her dagger, from making arrows with her own hands. Her hair fell around her face, hiding her for a moment before she sighed softly. "He threatened you and Colchis."

Asia knew she did not have to elaborate who, there was only one person it could be. "I told him to behave and that if he treated another woman like he did Lady Daniil, making her shrink into herself and cower... I would end him. I didn't mean that I would kill him. I was even saying it nicely like mother does, because she says something to father and things happen. I implied the same, since I have four brothers who are always in my corner of a fight. That was when he grabbed my arm and said that if I did that, he would take his swords elsewhere against you." Another sigh as she focused with everything on the invisible dirt that she appeared fully invested in removing as she did not look up to see Vangelis' reaction to that comment.

"I almost broke his nose or grabbed the meat cutting knife and stabbed him for that, but I behaved and did not spill blood." Now she did look up, her anger flashing clearly in her eyes mixing with the regret that she did not in fact spill any of that arrogant jerk's blood. Even if it was just a broken nose, it would have been better than what she did. "I can not promise that I won't break his nose if he says something so stupid again." Meeting her brother's gaze, she had to ask, "So what would you have me do when trying to be like mother fails? Should I just simper and let anyone say what they want to about my family or those I care about? Should I ignore it even as it sets my blood on fire with anger? Or should I follow my family's footsteps and break their damn noses when stupidity comes out of their mouth? What would you have done if you were in my place?"

As they spoke of training and ogres, and the differences between men and women that Athanasia just ruthlessly wanted to ignore because she had received training from all of her brothers. They were the best in their fields, so why wouldn't she be the best as well? Men like Alexandros, he was one move away from a broken nose. Asia knew she was quicker than most men and if she had not felt like the man was on his way to becoming a friend, she wouldn't have been so close in the first place to dole out the warning.

Asia sat there as she vented and let all her irritations be known and how hard she tried to her brother about everything that happened. Mixed emotions colored her voice as she spoke, showing her irritation and anger and even hinted at how helpless she felt about not being able to do much else than what she did. 'It doesn’t matter what I would do,' Vangelis answered her frustrations. 'I’m a man, Asia. There are differences that you cannot bridge with training, and I don’t speak solely because of proprietary custom. I speak of literal, physical differences that you will never be able to match.'

It was something to ponder over, after everything her siblings had taught her for her own self defense as well as the tutors she asked for to bring honor to the Kotas' name. Yet here Vangelis was telling her that she will still never be good enough, because she was a female. She missed the move as she looked down at her hands, trying to hide her face. Athanasia could feel the burn in her eyes, a warning of the tears that threatened to escape. So when Vangelis moved, it took her completely by surprise as a squeak escaped her from the sheer force of his shoulder pressed into her midsection. Seconds, one moment she was sitting on the table and the next she was upside down over her brother's shoulder. "Vangelis!!!" Athanasia slammed her fists into Vangelis' broad back even as her feet kicked around to try and get him to let her go. The tears that threatened were now escaping as they fell one by one off the tip of her nose.

Before any of her kicks could land, Vangelis lifted Asia like she was a tiny doll, holding her up high over his head. The extra height and lack of area to hold on had Athanasia scrambling to get some kind of purchase as she held on tight to the arm that braced her, her nails sinking in much like a cat as she tried to find a footing against his chest though finding none. "Vang, put me down, this isn't funny!" The anger was clear on her face even as the tears still fell. The fact that Asia was crying, when she strived so hard to not cry, made her angrier as her cheeks turned red.

'Do you think that there is enough training in the world that you might be able to do this to me? Asia, I could throw you across the room…' Vangelis didn't even look like he was straining at all and there Asia was, struggling to get him to let her go. A flick of his wrists, and Athanasia screamed as she fell with the speed of a rock off of the roof of a house. Sudden and surprising while also finding herself caught from any real injury. Asia looked up at Vang, could see everywhere that her tears hit him, as he pinned her tight. Her arms were mostly free, pinned lightly between them as she met Vang's gaze with her own red and wet eyes. 'Were I angry enough at you I could seriously hurt you just because I am larger and stronger. Training be damned. And so could Alexandros or almost any other man. You were trained in archery and knife throwing for a reason. They are distance assaults. And even then only for self protection. Women do not have the physical capacity to fight against men. Just as it would be foolish to send Silas - even I - against a towering ogre.' Athanasia stopped wiggling, her feet dangling loosely as she all but gave up on the fighting. She could see the worry in his eyes, could see that it was very possible he was afraid at the thought that Alexandros could have hurt her. For a brother who was rumored to feel no fear at all, this was something that hit Asia harder than anything else could have.

More tears escaped as she tried in a last ditch effort to prove that she wasn't a normal and weak woman. That she could defend her family, but there was no more bite in her words as her head flopped back and her voice cracked. "I may not be able to lift a man, but I can bring him to his knees with one well placed kick. You are lucky I adore you, lest I would show you!" Athanasia didn't want to cry more but the tears were just as stubborn as she was as they now fell freely to mix into her hair. How would she ever bring any honor to the Kotas now? What was her worth now if she couldn't even look out for her own self, let alone her own family. What if she had kids someday? Would she be as helpless then as well?

Athanasia was now openly crying as the thoughts invaded her mind but she did not fight her brother's hold. Trying to hide from her own shame, she finally lifted her head before plopping it down against his chest, hiding under his chin while sniffling quietly. 'This is not a criticism of your motivations or bravery, Asia. But if you wish to be truly loyal to this family you must stop choosing paths of action that force us to risk losing a beloved sister. Do you understand?' Vangelis' voice broke through her self wallow, making Athanasia turn her head as she used her slightly pinned hands to wipe the tears free from her cheeks before she reached up and around his neck. It was a simple hug, one that she held on to him tightly to show that she did understand.

"I understand. Though I hate feeling so.. weak.. but I understand. You still never answered me." Leaning back to meet his gaze, Athanasia repeated herself. "So what would you have me do when trying to be like mother fails? When the peaceful and non-violent or risky paths fail, should I just simper and let anyone say what they want to about my family or those I care about? Should I ignore it even as it sets my blood on fire with anger? What about if, one day, I have kids and they are threatened? What should I do when peace and politics fail me? What would you have done if you were in my place?"