ohlympns

[ohlympns]

“You wrote me a note, cast a spell on my heart

And bewitched me”

🌿🧡🍃

[ohlympns]

               MANY   OF   THE   APOLLO   KIDS   HAD   SOME   IDEA   OF   HOW   to   tend   to   wounds   just   as   some   have   an   idea   how   to   shoot   an   arrow.   She   landed   on   the   other   half,   knowing   a   little   more   about   shooting   a   target   spot   on.   Kayla   also   believed   that   all   of   them   had   a   sense   of   rhythm   whether   they   admitted   it   or   not.   She   was   one   of   those   that   wouldn’t   admit   it.

               KAYLA   OFFERED   A   BRIGHTER   SMILE   AT   HIS   WORDS.   HE   WAS   funny,   a   nice   breath   of   fresh   air.   They   needed   more   of   that   around   here   after   all   the   wars   they’ve   been   in.   Kayla   missed   the   jokes,   the   lightness   of   just   kids   learning   about   their   other   half.   Of   course,   it   only   meant   sooner   or   later   danger   would   step   into   their   lives.   Naive   thinking   on   her   end   she   guessed.   

               TO   SUM   UP   HER   THOUGHTS   IN   SHORT,   SHE   FOUND   SHE   really   enjoyed   being   in   his   presence.

               FRECKLED   NOSE   SCRUNCHED   WITH   A   SMALL   SNORT   OF   AMUSEMENT   WHILE   one   hand   waved   him   off   playfully.   Her   gaze   drifted   to   the   bronze   dragon   that   made   odd   clicks   in   response   to   her   voice.   Kayla   leaned   forward   so   both   arms   could   rest   on   her   knees.   In   her   cheerful   manner   she   didn’t   think   that   her   words   could   have   been   taken   the   wrong   way   by   Festus.   Still,   she   didn’t   panic,   she   only   kept   a   warm   smile   in   the   dragon’s   direction.   Though   another   string   of   chuckles   left   her   as   soon   as   Leo   whispered   to   her,   “   I   mean...   ”   she   started,   her   voice   raised   just   enough   for   Festus   to   hear,   “   You’re   the   best   boy   anyone   could   ask   for!   How   about   I   come   visit   you   more   often,   huh?   Just   some   checkups   to   let   you   know   who’s   the   goodest   boy   around   is!   ”   

               WITH   THAT,   THE   DAUGHTER   OF   APOLLO   LOOKED   BACK   TO   LEO.   She   moved   so   that   she   could   sit   cross   legged   now,   her   body   shifted   so   she   could   speak   with   her   fellow   demi-god,   “   A   suitcase?   ”   A   brow   arched   as   she   thought   about   that   big   guy   turning   into   a   suitcase,   “   Hm.   I   mean   that   makes   sense.   I   am   curious   what   he   can   turn   into.   Like…   does   he   have   a   size   limit?   Would   a   suitcase   size   be   the   smallest   he   can   go?   If   so,   why   not   a   backpack?   It   would   be   easier   to   transport   with   him   like   that,   ”   her   eyes   gleamed   at   the   idea,   “   Have   you   tested   if   he   has   a   size   limit?   ”

Leo had learned one consistency among the Apollo kids: They were insanely observant. If you caught one staring at you like you were the next thing on the menu, you didn’t need to be too concerned, because the “menu” was just “I know you’re hiding injuries from me, and I’m going to find out.” Okay, maybe a little concerned— the frustration and disappointment that spurred from that were pretty uncomfortable to face—but, see, Kayla’s gaze practically cutting into him in those few moments didn’t make him squirm as much since he knew she wasn’t actually about to stab him. (Like plenty of other girls had wanted to do and would want to do in the future; he had that effect on people, what could he say?)

She kept an eye on him. He was sorely tempted to give her a little fright just by faking a flinch as he shifted his position but had the decency to decide that was too mean. And when a real laugh pealed out of her, Leo was extra glad he hadn’t done anything to stop that. It was nice, he noted in passing, probably a touch more thrilled by landing a joke than he should’ve been. He was just as much more shocked by Kayla making herself cozy beside him than he should’ve been, too. Lots of surprises today: Leo ought to get blasted into the sky more often.

“Hey, the guy’s famous for a reason. I’ve been trying to kick him off his pedestal for ages,” he said, most likely leaning into that joke too much, now. Just Leo things. “You right, though. You right.” (Insert the sagely nods.) “Maybe Festus will be my Pikachu in the ultimate showdown; that sucker doesn’t lose anything.” But he shrugged, almost as if his body was telling him, Okay, broski. Time to move on, and cocked his head thoughtfully at Kayla’s promise.

—a promise that brought a wicked grin to his lips. “Noted. And just to return the favor, I’ll let him know you already checked me out,” Leo asserted, only to hastily correct himself with, “—over. Checked me over. He doesn’t need to know about anything else.” And as a dude who just loved playing with fire (sometimes literally), he made sure to include a quick wink in there. “Already taken care of, yeah? Maybe that’ll keep him from breaking out the big nag energy. The ol’ BNE.” No one said that, but he was going to make it a thing for sure, now.

If the way Kayla addressed him next was any indication, apparently Leo Valdez was successful at making things . . . Things (capitalized). She got a snicker out of him, and something about that sound actually helped him ignore that his ears felt a bit hotter than before. It was the mention of a secondary bad boy that finally brought his attention back to what he was actually doing before a girl started fussing over him. He glanced sidelong, snorted at the series of offended clicks the dragon let out.

“No idea what you mean. Festus is the best boy. The goodest boy,” he contested, loudly and deliberately so the subject would hear. Then, Leo leaned in to whisper conspiratorially to Kayla, “Seriously, call him a ‘good boy.’ He loves that. Less fire spouted. Less tragedy. You get it.” He wrinkled his nose playfully as he pulled back and actually considered her question. “Uhh, I’m guessing ‘routine maintenance’ wouldn’t be convincing?” Leo scratched his cheek. “You know how Festus can just casually become a suitcase like it’s no big? No? Probably not—? Well, he can, but I was thinking the other day: Why not find a way to turn him into some other ‘normal’ things when we need to blend in, y’know? I mean, the Mist can only do so much, and I can’t always just have a truck with me, so I figured— Hey, why not?”

[ohlympns]

                  SHE   DID   HATE   THE   REPRESENTATION   THAT   OTHERS   HELD   FOR   HER   father.   It   annoyed   her,   made   her   furious   even,   but   she   tried   her   hardest   to   hold   her   tongue.   No   one   could   understand,   no   one   could   see   that   he   was   far   different   than   what   they   took   him   as.   Since   when   did   people   start   to   take   things   at   face   value?   That   the   surface   level   of   someone   was   the   truth?   Why   did   her   siblings   get   treated   like   dirt?   Then   again   she   never   really   helped   the   case.   

               CLARISSE   SHIFTED   HER   WEIGHT   AWAY   FROM   HER   INJURED   ANKLE   AS   she   looked   at   her   father.   Again,   she   instantly   felt   at   ease   with   his   strong   presence,   and   she   felt   her   smile   become   genuine,   “   Yeah,   of   course,   ”   her   brown   eyes   were   rather   gentle   before   she   averted   her   gaze   to   the   training   arena   that   surrounded   them,   “   Agreed.   ”

               HER   EYES   WERE   BRIGHT   WITH   A   CHILDISH   WONDER   AS   SHE   turned   her   gaze   back   to   Ares.   Despite   her   strong   physique   and   her   hard   exterior,   she   turned   into   a   young   girl   within   his   proximity,   “   Oh!   Dad,   I—   ”   she   started   as   she   saw   the   ambrosia   he   pulled   out,   “   I’m   fine.   It   aches   from   time   to   time,   but   you   could   save   that   for   someone   else   who   needs   it   more.   ”

               A   SOLDIER.   A   WARRIOR.   A   LEADER.   IT   WAS   WHAT   SHE   liked   to   think   herself   as.   A good   one,   of   course.   However,   she   was   more   than   sure   that   others   would   pin   her   as   something   else.   Could   she   blame   them?      It   was   just   the   way   they   could   comprehend   someone   who   didn’t   freeze   when   faced   with   danger.

More than nearly any other Olympian, Ares was granted freedom to roam as he pleased. His fingers itched to clutch the handles of his bike always, the same way his knuckles ached to split over someone's face when he went too long without a fair fight. That didn't mean though, that he was given his freedom to be with his children as much as he would have liked ; every single one of them was precious to him, all of them under his fierce and unending protection. Protection from afar though, he glanced at his daughter's ankle, was still rarely close enough.

Clarisse though . . . She was his baby. His first in so long that had made him truly proud. More than just proud of his brood for being his and alive and warriors. Clarisse always wrote to him on Tuesdays, and each Wednesday the old war dog read it as carefully as a goddess of wisdom might examine an old specimen. Mars cared for them less – the letters, but even when his attention was split, the letter was still always safely tucked away when he reemerged.

Both parts of him loved his children. Neither were as good at showing it as they wished they could be. In part that was Zeus' fault, in part his own. He would lay with a mortal he found fiercesome, or brave, or courageous, and find his own pup wandering the world sometime later.

Dark eyes, just a little like hers, wrinkled at the corners and he barked a rumbling laugh. His head shook on instinct and he turned his gaze out to the horizon, ready, always, just in case. His mouth twitched into a small smile, ' no need for the formalities here kiddo, just us old war dogs let loose in the training yard, huh ? '

He would always regret that she was as much a soldier as he was, not because he believed he was wrong about how outdated the pantheon was, but rather because he saw how different the camp was, how changed it had become. The God rummaged through the pockets of his leather jacket to find the small packet of ambrosia he carried special for his demigods ( only his, he wasn't in the habit of holding shit for some other guys brats ).

[ohlympns]

Thanatos - Maurizio L´Altrella

[ohlympns]

               AUSTIN   WATCHED   AS   THE   OTHER   DEMI-GOD   FELL   BACK   INTO   MEMORY.   He   can   see   it   in   his   eyes,   and   Austin   swore   he   felt   his   stomach   drop   as   if   he   was   falling.   Was   that   what   happened   to   him?   Did   he   fall   from   a   building   or   something?   Probably   after   he   got   that   wound.   The   son   of   Apollo   scrunched   his   nose   as   he   placed   a   hand   on   his   own   side—   like   the   pain   was   just   a   phantom   of   his   own.   It   must   have   been   a   child   of   Apollo   thing.   He   wasn’t   so   sure.   He   was   still   sort   of   new   at   this   thing.   

               HIS   CHOCOLATE   EYES   WERE   HARD   YET   HIS   FACE   WAS   GENTLE.   Austin   kept   his   hold   on   the   injured.   He   was   a   patient   whether   he   liked   it   or   not,   and   Austin   was   going   to   make   sure   he   got   through   it.   This   injury   was   horrible.   He   couldn’t   possibly   go   back   to…   wherever   he   was   going   when   help   was   just   in   the   distance,   “   You’d   be   surprised.   I   don’t   care   right   now   what   side   you   were   on.   You   are   a   person   who   needs   help   otherwise   you’ll   die.   ”   His   voice   broke   the   silence   with   the   mighty   heat   of   his   father.   

               AGAIN,   HE   TRIED   TO   POSITION   THE   OTHER   SO   HE   WOULD   be   supported   by   his   body,   “   I   think   we   all   just   need   to   breathe.   I   don’t   have   to   take   you   back   to   our   camp.   I   can   keep   you   somewhere   safe,   and   then   I   can   go   grab   some   supplies.   You   need   immediate   help.   You   won’t   be   able   to   make   it   on   your   own.   After   I   get   you   patched   up,   you   get   some   rest,   then   we   can   talk   about   what   you   wanna   do,   okay?   If   you   wanna   go   your   separate   way,   then   I’ll   let   you.   I’ll   go   mine.   ”

               AUSTIN   IGNORED   HIS   COMMENT.   HE   DIDN’T   KNOW   THIS   MAN   PERSONALLY,   and   he   was   probably   right   that   they   just   missed   each   other   too.   Yet   he   was   certain   that   a   white   flag   needed   to   be   hung.   There   are   wounded—   near   death   patients   on   both   sides   that   need   to   be   tended   to.   Austin   would   bet   that   many   under   Kronos’   banner   didn’t   have   medical   care   like   camp   did.   They   retreated,   probably   went   into   hiding,   dysfunctional   at   best.   Austin   knew   that   he   was   this   guy’s   best   bet   at   seeing   another   day.   

            HIS   EYES   LIFTED   TO   THEIR   SURROUNDING   AREA.   HE   INSTANTLY   NOTED   a   construction   sight   of   an   almost   finished   building.   An   empty   spot,   “   C’mon,   let   me   help   you.   ”   It   was   poised   as   a   question,   but   his   tone   made   it   clear   that   it   wasn’t.   

Ethan spoke lowly, doing his best to press down on his own wound. “I was being sarcastic. I actually think I just got… really lucky.” 

Distantly, in fuzzy flashes at the back of his mind, he recalled the shape of a card appearing randomly in his palm, the way it gave off a bright emerald shimmer even in the light of day, the flutter of the corners in the intense wind whizzing past his ears, and then– a cushion. A slow descent, a warm tingle across his skin, and the comforting call of sleep. 

He shot back to reality as he was lifted for the bandaging process, and though it spread sharp, white-hot pain through his center, he only allowed himself a few obvious winces. This guy was doing him a favor; it would be rude to protest too much. 

“I don’t think I know you, do I?” The son of Nemesis asked, squinting through his mildly blurred vision to try and confirm whether or not this guy was familiar. “I must have… left before you arrived, or… or maybe we just never ran into each other.” 

Ethan complied with everything this healer was doing– right up until he told Ethan that he needed to move him.

To an enemy encampment. 

Ethan shoved weakly at the other demigod’s hands, protesting as much as he was able to. “You really don’t wanna bring me around your side of the battlefield, and, frankly, I refuse to go. I don’t want anything to do with Camp Half-Blood right now, and I would bet everything on the feeling being mutual. You wanna start more fighting? Bringing my face around your wounded is a one-way ticket to that. I put some of those people there.”

[ohlympns]

[ohlympns]

            HONESTLY,   SHE   KNEW   SHE   HAD   OVERRATED.   THIS   WAS   A   CHILD   of   Hephaestus.   They   were   built   to   withstand   such   outbursts   from   mechanics   and   whatnot,   right?   But   even   so,   that   didn’t   mean   she   couldn’t   worry.   Anyone   can   be   hurt   despite   how   good   they   are   at   what   they   do.   Even   Apollo   kids   could   get   injured   during   archery   or   when   they   tried   to   put   their   medical   practices   to   use.   Besides,   her   other   father   always   liked   to   be   safe   rather   than   sorry.   

                  BABY   BLUE   EYES   WATCHED   HIM   LIKE   A   HAWK.   SHE   NEEDED   to   be   sure   he   was   fine   like   he   brushed   off   to   be.   No   matter   what   he   said,   a   doctor's   words   trumped   anything.   Health   and   safety   were   important,   and   the   Apollo   kids   won’t   hesitate   to   enforce   that   if   need   be.   However,   it   appeared   that   Leo   was   actually   fine.   Still   that   fall,   the   thud   as   his   body   hit   the   ground,   made   her   wary,   “   ‘Bill   Nye   wishes   he   had   this’?   ”   Kayle   let   out   another   laugh,   “   I’m   sure   you’re   right.   He   doesn’t   have   the   guts   to   stand   in   front   of   a   bronze   dragon.   ”   The   daughter   of   Apollo   made   herself   comfortable,   plopping   down   in   the   grass   next   to   him.   Kayla   once   again   brushed   green   tipped   orange   hair   back   behind   her   ear.   She   then   continued   to   place   her   earbuds   in   her   satchel   before   she   leaned   back   in   her   palms,   and   looked   over   at   him.      

               IF   HE   WON’T   TAKE   A   BREATHER   THEN   SHE   WILL   MAKE   him.   Kayla   was   much   better   about   it.   Will   would   be   a   stubborn   doctor,   but   she   would   be   the   relaxed   one.   This   also   helped   her   make   new   friends   too,   “   Hey,   I   won’t   say   nothin’,   but   somehow   he   always   finds   out   if   someone   hurt   themselves.   I   mean,   the   way   you   fell   down?   I’m   sure   he’s   going   to   be   hearing   about   it,   ”   she   shrugged   her   shoulders,   “   Just   know   it   wouldn’t   be   from   me.   ”   

                  A   SOFT   HUM   VIBRATED   BETWEEN   HER   LIPS,   A   GENTLE   MELODY   to   her   father   to   which   would   heal   anything   unseen   by   Leo’s   fall.   It   was   a   casual   approach   that   made   sure   her   patients   were   taken   care   of   in   a   way   they   didn’t   feel   suffocated   by   the   Apollo   treatment,   “   True.   I’m   sure   you   had   worse.   I   mean   just   in   general   compared   to   what   we   go   through   that   was   nothing,   but   sometimes   that   nothing   can   become   something.   It’s   better   to   be   a   little   on   the   safe   side,   Mister   ‘Bad   boy’.   ”   

               AFTER   ALL   SHE   SHOULD   KNOW,   RIGHT?   KAYLA   HERSELF   HAD   BEEN   through   a   few   battles   too.   She   saw   the   carnage,   she   healed   some   of   it,   and   she   caused   some   to   others.   So   far,   she   couldn’t   shake   The   Battle   of   Manhattan   if   only   for   the   reason   that   it   had   been   her   first   major   one.   It   still   haunts   her   dreams,   and   she   was   sure   it   would   never   go   away,   “   So,   what   are   your   plans   with   this   other   bad   boy?   ”   Her   head   tilted   in   the   direction   of   Festus.   

You know how, universally, demigods had this sort of resilience that no one else could really understand? Like, try talking to some Regular Joe about his day at the office, then proudly explain how your own day went that involved barely ducking death about five separate times—as much self-inflicted stupidity as it was inflicted by monsters. Guys like Joe just didn’t get it. This was normal. But, knowing that jerk Joe, he’d probably either stare at you like you’re crazy or be absolutely mortified, as if avoiding a hungry cyclops wasn’t as ordinary as his dumb job. (The audacity.)

Well, the Leo VersionTM of “ordinary day” consisted of at least one explosion.

So when someone reacted to it in a similar manner to Regular Joe (all the fuss, all the hullabaloo, as no one, not even the kids, say), Leo found himself just as bewildered for the exact wrong reason. Or maybe it was a concussion. Could swing either way, honestly; he was pretty sure he suffered more of those than he ever admitted, which was basically a sin with the Apollo kids. And, hey! Check it out! Here’s one right now.

He didn’t really . . . know her. (Hardly an insult, by the way. No matter how long he’d slummed around camp, Leo still stuck to himself and didn’t necessarily make a huge effort to befriend everyone.) But, a couple of marks in the “My brain is at least mostly okay after that” column, he remembered the name “Kayla.” And if he’d had any lingering doubts on what cabin she belonged to, a hand suddenly pressing to his forehead, then moving to help him up really sealed the deal.

No cute girls just went out of their way to dote on him like this. (Was it just in the veins of the Apollo kids to “Mom” everyone in some contest to see who won a mug at the end of the season?)

“I’m good, I’m good.” Leo didn’t really wave her off; he just decided he better interrupt her before she started whipping out some gross vitamins or something. Frankly, it was a little cute that she was as worried about his health as she was her own clear tendency to be overbearing. He could get behind that kind of self-awareness. “Totally on purpose. Just wanted to see how big of an electric shock a guy needs to fly . . . y’know. Normal stuff. Bill Nye wishes he had this.”

The offering of water, though? Hydration? Coach Hedge would’ve been so proud at how quickly he took her up on that. As long as she didn’t ask him to do any push-ups to earn that water, they were golden. “I’ve had worse landings,” Leo said in his efforts to keep reassuring her, complete with a grin that actually wasn’t forced. (And that wasn’t sarcastic, either.) “Thanks. Just . . . don’t mention this to Will at any point in the near or far future, okay? Dude’s scary when he finds out what I’ve been up to.”

[ohlympns]

I developed a headcanon in which Juniper is the one who really really loves rain while Grover sort of hates getting wet because his fur is getting wet and he smells like a wet dog haha:D

but he’s still all up for that since it makes Juniper happy.

also wow I think I get obsessed with hair a little bit

[ohlympns]

[ohlympns]

[ohlympns]

                  SHE   COULD   TELL   HE   HELD   CONTEMPT   FOR   HER,   FOR   HOW   things   turned   out   the   way   they   did.   She   had   caused   death   amongst   the   people   and   place   she   called   home.   How   could   she   be   welcomed   back   to   it?   The   guilt   was   suffocating,   and   honestly   it   was   the   least   she   could   do.   She   could   carry   that   guilt,   hold   on   to   it,   let   it   fester   inside   of   her   for   as   long   as   she   was   able   to   live.   Silena   knew   it   was   a   very   small   price   compared   to   the   very   rich   right   of   life.   

                  HIS   VOICE   MADE   HER   WINCE   EVER   SO   SLIGHTLY,   MADE   HER   pull   herself   inward   to   appear   smaller   don’t   move   and   he   won’t   see   you.   Percy’s   words   were   as   calm   as   what   the   sea   could   be,   but   there   were   always    small   pockets   of   cold undercurrents   just   below   the   surface.   His   voice   was   no   different   than   that,   and   she   hated   the   fact   it   was   directed   at   her,   “   ‘Okay’…   ”   her   own   voice   repeated   in   a   tremble.   As   if   it   were   okay.   

                     CLARISSE.   SILENA   KNEW   THAT   GIRL   WAS   A   FIRECRACKER.   SHE   WAS   loud,   sudden,   harsh,   but   could   display   a   most   beautiful   picture   if   one   got   to   know   her.   Silena   was   one   of   the   lucky   ones.   That   being   said,   she   appreciated   her   care   and   forgiveness.   The   daughter   of   Aphrodite   knew   she   visited,   but she would   always   act   asleep   when   she   came.   Clarisse   either   didn’t   know,   or   knew   and   didn’t   care.   Again,   either   way   Silena   appreciated   it,   “   I   know.   Sometimes   she   will   give   me   some   sort   of   updates.   ”

               SHE   KEPT   HER   EYE   GLUED   TO   THE   WINDOW,   NOT   NECESSARILY   looking   at   anything   in   particular.   Silena   wouldn’t   dare   make   eye   contact   with   anyone   else   right   now.   Nor   until   she   could   fully   grasp   why   things   turned   out   the   way   they   did,   “   Percy,   I’m   sorry.   ”   She   was   a   smart   girl.   She   knew   that   didn’t   hold   anything,   but   she   did   mean   it.  

[ohlympns]

[ohlympns]

there he was, standing in the shadows as always. no, not lurking. standing. and he seemed somewhat peaceful where he was, as though the darkness was a familiar, comforting sort of company. Ari understood that. she often felt the same way when she stood among the trees. strangely, Ari didn't fear the Mysterious Boy, despite the unsettling "company" he kept. though Leo often checked beneath her bed & inside her closet to ensure that the shadows were very, very still, something about the stranger's bravery in the darkness encouraged Ari to feel safe among them, too. Ari calmly shuffled towards the boy, creating a trail of wildflowers. patches of them sprouted with every little step she took. soon, she was only two paces away from him, & she lifted her curious evergreen gaze to meet with his. his eyes were devoid of the sunshine hers gleamed with. instead, it seemed as though the night itself had seeped into his entire being, darkening the parts of him that might have once bright. the very thought made Ari feel ... sad. still, the child didn't falter. a small smile grew on her lips as she slowly offered the boy one of the many flowers she had collected only minutes ago. the rest were being cradled in her Trusty Wicker Basket. "fff ... for mister, peas?" Ari began, her voice soft & small.

               SHADOWS   WERE   COMFORTABLE   AND   SAFE   BECAUSE   THAT   WAS   FAMILIAR   TO   him.   The   cold,   the   sadness,   the   anxiety,   the   paranoia   curled   around   him   before   shooting   outwardly   to   anyone   that   dared   to   look   in   his   direction.   It   wasn’t   out   of   malice,   but   for   his   own   protection.   If   he   stayed   alone,   hiding   within   the   darkness,   then   the   fear   of   losing   someone   would   not   exist.   Yet   there   was   a   deep   part   of   his   mind   that   yearned   for   someone   to   reach   out   into   the   darkness   and   pull   him   out.   Who   would   be   so   bold   as   to   do   that?   No   one.   No   one   would   because   they   all   knew   secretly   that’s   what   a   son   of   Hades   deserved.

               But   that   wasn’t   true,   was   it?   

              HE   NOTED   THE   GIRL   A   WHILE   AGO   AS   SHE   WATCHED   him.   Nico   could   feel   her   gaze   burning   into   his   skin,   and   he   knew   she   was   just   curious.   It   was   whatever.   He   was   used   to   gazes   that   lingered.   However,   what   he   didn’t   expect   was   for   her   to   trail   in   his   direction.   Surprise   made   him   shift   from   the   wall   he   had   leaned   against,   and   the   grass   below   his   feet   stopped   wilting.   His   eyes   that   were   once   held   as   dark   voids   seemed   to   come   back   with   life   when   @earthssprout   spoke   to   him,   “   Uh...   ”   His   voice   sounded   lost   to   his   own   ears.   

               NICO   SEARCHED   HER   FACE   FOR   SIGNS   OF   FEAR   OR   hate,   but   there   was   none   of   that.   It   was   genuine   care—   mutual   care   perhaps,   “   You   want   to   give   me…   a   flower?   ”   Most   plant   life   always   rejected   his   touch,   or   even   just   his   presence,   but   she   wanted   him   to   have   it,   “   Um,   thank   you,   ”   a   ghostly   trace   of   a   smile   as   he   took   it   from   her   gingerly,   afraid   that   it   would   start   to   wither   as   soon   as   his   fingers   touched   it,   but   it   didn’t,   “   Why   did   you   want   me   to   have   it?   ”

[ohlympns]

I’m having a psychological breakdown over the PJO show’s Clarisse I love her

[ohlympns]

“…pretty nice guys, but you should always keep one hand on your wallet when they are around and never, under any circumstances, give them access to shaving cream.” -Percy Jackson

[ohlympns]

               HE   LET   OUT   A   SOFT   BREATH   AS   HE   HEARD   A   voice   fill   the   quietness   of   the   once   battlefield.   A   shaky   breath   was   exhaled   with   a   spark   of   joy,   and   the   hand   pressed   harder   as   he   thought   of   what   to   do.   Wrap   the   wound?   Probably,   and   then   move   him   back   to   their   small   makeshift   infirmary.   At   least   there   he   can   focus   on   how   bad   the   wound   was,   and   if   he   can   hum   a   hymn   to   his   father   to   heal   this   guy   because   no   amount   of   ambrosia   or   nectar   would   help   him.   Well,   at   least,   not   at   the   start.   

                  WITH   HIS   MIND   SET,   THE   SON   OF   APOLLO   CLENCHED   HIS   teeth,   and   set   to   work,   “ Unfortunately?   ”   He   shook   his   head   as   he   took   the   man’s   hand   to   replace   his   own   for   the   pressure,   “   You   got   someone   lookin’   out   for   you.   ”   His   voice   was   low,   almost   a   soft   song   as   he   worked.   Chocolate   hues   glanced   around   the   immediate   area   for   anything   to   use.   It   was   just   dirt,   glass,   rubble,   and   what   appeared   to   be   some   type   of   cloth.   It   might   have   been   a   curtain   prior   to   the   battle.   It   didn’t   matter   right   now.   Austin   needed   it   to   help   this   demigod.   

               HE   IGNORED   THE   STICKY   SENSATION   THE   OTHER’S   BLOOD   ON   HIS   hands,   and   yanked   the   curtain   from   where   it   was   nestled,   “   On   the   other   side?   ”   Hm,   he   must   have   been   a   part   of   the   Titan   Army,   “   Uh,   I'm   not   sure if I’m totally   honest.   I’ve   been   setting   traps,   and   healing   when   I   can.   I   haven’t   focused   on   much   of   the   battle,   but   I   know   it   has   come   to   an   end,   ”   Austin   made   quick   work   of   wrapping   the   wound,   even   finding   the   extra   strength   to   slightly   lift   the   other   to   get   it   fully   around   him   with   a   small   ‘sorry’.   Austin   pulled   tight,   but   not   an   uncomfortable   tightness,   but   enough   to   stop   the   blood   flow.   

               Help   me,   dad…

            ONCE   AUSTIN   FELT   SATISFIED   WITH   HIS   WORK,   HE   MOVED   TO   grip   one   of   the   wounded   man’s   arm,   and   another   hand   on   his   shoulder,   “   I’m   going   to   need   you   to   walk,   okay?   Lean   on   me   as   much   as   you   need,   but   I   need   to   move   you   into   a   more   secured   area.   Take   a   deep   breath,   and   when   you’re   ready…   I   will   help   guide   you   up,   okay?   ”

Ethan had never been afraid of heights, but he had the sudden, ironic feeling that that might change going forward. Womp womp. 

If he’d been more conscious, he’d have started taking precautions to slow the bleeding; he might have even taken out the shard of bronze in his abdomen. As it were, he was just grateful that he hadn’t become a traitorous stain on the pavement for his mistakes; he’d done what Nemesis asked of him in the end. She must have decided it was worth keeping him around, then, though through the hazy pounding of his head, he sort of wished it was for a more sentimental reason than that. 

Whatever. Ethan thought, breathing hard against the asphalt, as he struggled to stay awake. His throat was hoarse and weary– otherwise, he’d have been calling for help, not that he could manage to turn his head much to see if anyone was even nearby. 

He didn’t think anyone was. The push to keep monsters out of Olympus must have been taking up everyone’s attention– it would certainly take up Kronos’s army’s attention, as they attempted the opposite. No one would be looking for a TA turncoat out here… 

Except– apparently, that wasn’t true at all. 

Ethan couldn’t hold back the wet yelp he let out when he felt a hand apply pressure to his stomach, and he flinched hard against the pain. But that wouldn’t be very helpful to the person currently trying to save his life, so he promptly adjusted to it, letting his head loll back onto the ground again, using the grip of his broken weapon to white-knuckle his way through. (If he was being honest, though, he wasn’t sure he even could let go of the sword right now– his muscles were tense and stiff, and he didn’t want to move at all). 

“Unfortunately,” the son of Nemesis grumbled, “I am. What’s going on this side of the building? It seems so quiet…”

[ohlympns]

clarisse: IS THIS A GAME TO YOU?! beckendorf: yeah actually silena: it's just uno???? chris: just uno? JUST UNO? WE FIGHT AT DAWN