#»⌛—Luke Castellan

[furysburn]

“I know you won’t hurt me” | ( THALIA & LUKE ) | @spectrophobias

" You haven't known me for a very long time. " The blade leveled with her throat and a voice whispered for action, to mark the start of this war with the blood of Zeus' own kin. " I do not know this Thalia who sides with Artemis. Who after everything they have done to you defend the same gods who left you to die. After what they have asked of you ? Of Jason ? "

[furys-burn]

( NICO & LUKE ) cont'd | @stygicniron "I think he didn't want to make things worse," Nico said, trying to be charitable for a moment before his expression crumpled. He really shouldn't try to put words in the mouths of gods, especially when Hermes hadn't done anything in particular to earn such a charitable light. Nico’s fingers worked around his skull ring on his thumb, spinning it around and around. "That's not my job," he said shortly, half-apologetic and half-cautionary. Shoulders rolled under his bomber jacket for a moment, an uncomfortable nerve jangling down his spine before he shoved it aside. It was a fair question to ask--it tended to be the question most heroes had on their way through the Underworld. But was Luke a hero? He was thankful he didn't need to answer that question. His eyes studied the far banks of the Styx, not looking at the ghost of the son of Hermes. "You're headed to the Halls of Judgement. They'll decide there."

Past Nico, the Underworld was a soft green smear in the distance. Luke stood ( keeping careful balance on the raft as if it mattered ) to get a better look at his future home. The lines of specters and the slobbering giant of Cerberus acting as guard dog. He couldn't see council but he can imagine them. His will not be a pretty trial.

" So I really am dead then. " The memory of the deed was too foggy to grasp like trying to trap a dream faded before you woke. The thought to run came and he almost laughed because where would he go? His mouth tasted like ash and if he focused too hard on his hands he could see the bones. He sat down, suddenly feeling woozy.

" If you're not here my personal guide then why are you here ? " The tone was sharp but it was hard to keep his head above golden water. Regret burned his throat and shame made his eyes itch. Fuck, who was going telling his mother ?

[furysburn]

❛ don’t make me fight you. i am really really good. ❜ | ( NICO & LUKE ) | @stygicniron

The scythe feels at home in his hand. Much better than backbiter or the hundreds Chiron had tried to pair him with. He gives a practice twirl feeling the slice of seconds in its wake. He is not near Kronos, not yet anyway, but he can feel the interlocking dominos of age crunch in his palm as he reaffirms his grip. This is going to be good.

" Of course child of Hades, but I wonder, how good can the runt truly be ? "

[furysburn]

@folkorae | Starter | ( ANNABETH & LUKE )

There is no running forward, no crushing hug, no greater whisper than, "Annabeth..." as he sees her. He knows he should be wary of betrayal but he can't help the smile that tugs the corners of his lips. Can't help the catch in his voice as he tries to find the words to ask around the sheer happiness that enfolds him over half of his family returning to him. " Are you— Is this real ? "

[furysburn]

( WILL & LUKE CONT'D @gloryseized )

From what Will's heard, he knows it's harder for some kids. For one thing, Maron, the satyr that saved them from the attacking pigeons was actually able to explain everything to him and his mom. Except it wasn't attacking pigeons, it was Stymphalian Birds, so basically murder pigeons, and oh yeah, the bit before about how Maron is a satyr. So his father is some god, it turns out. His mother hadn't been all the surprised, but she didn't seem to know who exactly his father was. She just 'had a hunch', but couldn't really explain more than that. And at least she got to come with him and Maron most of the way to Camp Half-Blood. So that is easier too. And even if all of that is true, that doesn't stop the aching in his chest, wondering what his mother might be up to that night. He has his own backpack of his stuff, but he hadn't thought to pack a whole bed. "Thank you," he manages politely. "Do you--how does this work? Does my father phone call or email or visit or something?"

If someone ever came to Camp Half-Blood there was a high chance it would be Luke who got them fitted for a shirt, found a sleeping bag in their favorite color, and some commissary he nicked with a wink. He has soothed countless nighttime terrors and tended to hundreds of homesick stomach aches with sweet promises it'll be OK.

( Somedays, even he believed the pleasant reality he painted for them. )

So when Will looked at him with the same overwhelmed and confused expression that so many had already, Luke offered a smile and a soft pat to the shoulder. " Your godly parent will claim you when they choose too. Sometimes it can happen immediately and other times..." He let the sentence end and hoped to give more an impression of dashed family reunion dreams rather than outright say it. " We can do some trials by fire that might nudge them to speak up sooner rather than later, but until then, you bunk with us ! "

There were a few theories Luke could guess for the kid's parentage but it was dangerous to play Maury because gods forbid you step on their toes. Last thing anyone wants is for someone to go unclaimed because someone played hubris.

[furysburn]

You need to get out of here! go! i’ll buy you some more time! | ( THALIA & LUKE ) | @spectrophobias

" No, no, Thalia- please. Please. We're so close. I can see the Camp. " Thunder rumbled and he had to lock his knees to not fall from the aftershocks that shook the ground. Annabeth clung to his hand to him but their grip was slippery from the torrent of rain that had poured since they left New Jersey and through the breaks he could just make out her, alight by the lightning strikes that arced above them.

Climbing up the hill, he could make out the faces of Furys, hellhounds, echidnas and more horrors that would leach his mind if he looked longer. No matter how many they killed, more came and no matter how hard they ran, it seemed like they would only lose ground.

There was nothing for a son of Hermes to do, the scraps of godliness he held nothing in the face of death. But he could be Luke and he could be the boy who loved his family and maybe that was enough to stop it. " You go with Annabeth, I'll fight, I'll do something. Please. "

[furysburn]

❛ what is worse than death? ❜ | ( LUKE & TANNER ) @ximerose

"Many things actually." Luke rested his chin on the hilt of his sword staring at nothing in the distance. Today was another day of eternity acting as guard for the Camp he betrayed until he was cut loose from damnation. Not the worst gig in the world but sometimes death did sound better.

" You could be forgotten. You could be hated and reviled to the point of infamy...but who wants that? Or a tale of hubris to pass down to others with the same ideas. " He gestured at himself with a shrug. " If you want advice from me, it is better to die and miss out the epilogue or live eternity hearing it. Or maybe just live a good life and hope when they tell your story it'll be in prayer and not bitterness they say it. "

[furysburn]

❛ you’ve changed, or maybe i’ve changed. ❜ | ( THALIA & LUKE ) | @spectrophobias

The night sky was clear above and the scent of strawberries hung so heavy and fat on the air he could almost taste them. The Camp had fallen asleep hours ago and yet he sat leaned against Thalia's tree wishing to be anywhere but his bed in Hermes' cabin. Except he has not slept there for nearly five years now and, with a jerk, he realizes he is dreaming and he panics looking for Kronos—

Instead, like always, she sneaks up on him.

Thalia is alive and yet she is leaning against her own tree. " Is this death ? Or a dream ? " He asks and stares at his own hands noticing a soft golden glow to them. How her own face shines silver matching the crown on her head. He thought of her question and gave a soft bitter laugh, " I guess we have, haven't we ? We're a long way from sharing a tent under an overpass. "

[furysburn]

" Please don’t go… " | ( ANNABETH & LUKE ) | @stellaelillac

The most dangerous thing a person can do is make a promise they were never able to keep.

Luke has more than a few and more he felt doomed by not through his own failure but the reverbs of another. His father's promise to love his mother, his too many to count promises to Thalia, and to Annabeth—

He took her hand and saw the echo of gold in her veins;

Kronos had promised him so much and returned so little. He had hoped that with the power of literal time itself he could pause it long enough on the cusp of ruin for them to be good again. But that was the issue of children half made divine by gods, they shared that selfishness too. " Ok. Ok Annabeth, I won't leave. "

It would not be the first time a demigod chooses hubris but he hopes this fall burns brighter than the last one did.

[furys-burn]

( NICO & LUKE ) cont'd | @stygicniron Skittering back a step as the bag of chips dropped down next to his feet, Nico shot the older demigod an accusatory look although he knew better than to say anything. And a part of him knew better than to turn away free food. He hadn’t been on his own for too many weeks at that point, but that was more than enough time to go hungry, which he definitely had. Nico couldn’t remember much of his life before going to the military school in New England, but he didn’t think he’d ever been as hungry as he had been the last couple weeks. And as high and mighty as the idea was to find some way to pay for the food he wanted, he mostly preferred to just get the food. Reluctant fingers scooped up the bag of chips off the ground, drifting in the older demigod’s wake as he went to the front of the store. Only for his mouth to pop open in shock as Luke opened the register, selecting some bills for himself. He could justify taking food but taking money straight out of the register just seemed wrong somehow. Or maybe it was just because he was hungry and you couldn’t eat money. Nico’s mouth twisted. Not a runaway, he silently contradicted the other demigod. At least not based on what the other kids at Camp told him, but for some reason, ever since the older guy started talking, that all seemed kind of fuzzy. “You’re not like me,” he muttered, chips and milk now cradled uncertainty in his arms. “I’m– not a runaway,” he cut himself off, changing what he was going to say. He did have a nice smile, a smile that made Nico want to start talking to him and telling him everything that had happened. Maybe that was what almost made him stumble over his words and almost say something he would really regret. The alarm bells still sounded in the back of his mind but fainter now, and he swallowed thickly. Gods, he just wanted something to eat.

The till shut with a chirpy little bell and Luke could feel time ticking down on this little exchange. Soon, cashier-man is going to notice that he is not where he is supposed to be and come in a touch unhappy over his unnecessary excursion. Thalia could bend light enough to cover the missing pile of notes but Luke's stopped at soft willing forgetfulness. It's why they made such a great pair once upon a time and that thought ends with a twist of his mouth.

( He could slow him down, find the scrapped seconds he would have wasted on this shift ? Another tie binding them but his stomach rolled, relying on another's power never came easy. )

" Listen kid, Stanley out there is going be coming back confused with a plunger in five so we don't have time for a life story but I have an offer. " For years he heard the "Demigod Talk" given to confused tweens but that was usually with more tact than cheap junk food and dirty tile.

But if that kid was on the run he could imagine he had at least seen somethings. "Not a runaway I can get but if you're running from...camp, I am too. I know a place you can go, rest up, and actually eat something bigger than a bag of chips. If not— " He landed cleanly on the other side of the counter. " Then this is goodbye and good luck out there. "

[furysburn]

annabeth shoots an arrow at luke - he hasn't done anything (yet, today) but it makes her feel better | ( ANNABETH & LUKE ) | @madefate

Jerking to the side, Luke dodged the arrow managing to keep his skin whole but his shirt holey— " Hey, this is my lucky shirt ! "

[furysburn]

The outside of Artemis' cabin glowed with soft moonlight and he could make out whispers and laughter from within. He was seeking out Thalia hoping to bend her ear for a meeting or to catch up but felt stuck in place at the sight of the door. He knew what his presence would bring and he was on the verge of turning away when a voice caught him by surprise,

‘ i want to be there when you get what’s coming to you. ’ | ( PHOEBE & LUKE ) | @spectrophobias

" Was eternal sword master not enough for you ? " He kept his voice light but felt his cheeks burn at her remark. She was one of Thalia's most trusted so it only made sense then that she didn't trust him. While his relationship to Thalia had gotten better in the years after the war, there were still scars that no matter what he did would never heal between them.

But that was between them.

" I'm here to meet with Lieutenant Grace, have you seen her by any chance. " Already he was looking for a way out debating on the fall from jumping the Cabin's guardrails. Couldn't be worse than this conversation, could it ?

[furysburn]

❝ and maybe that’d be sad for you, but maybe it’d be great for me. ❞ | ( LUKE & PERCY ) | @mecwmellc

Luke passed water to Percy and laughed at his words, " Yeah, that's what happens when you train someone. Someday they get better and you're left scrabbling for your sword in the dust. " He patted his shoulder but kept it brisk to hide the anxious flex in them. He could feel the stirring in his his mind, there was no more time to waste. Summer maybe slow to leave but Luke...

In another world, another day, another kinder universe he would pat his back and tell him to reset for another bout. He would be beaming over the fact the trick he taught him disarmed Ares and be stunned by his Percy's rapid improvements as a fighter.

But they don't live in those worlds.

" How did the mission go ? " And time was out.

[furys-burn]

@storiedhistories : [ Luke & Kronos ] "Change your mind?" the Titan repeated, watching the demigod for any indication that that was a possibility. "Why would you want to do that?" he asked. "The gods abandon their children, they treat them as though they don't matter at all, as though they're nothing more than ants beneath their feet." Kronos had seen quite a few things, even from his prison deep in Tartarus. "Rather than taking responsibility for prophecies or trying to protect those they might affect, the gods wash their hands of it, letting things take what course they will. Does that sound like the kind of world that values justice, that values right?" It was time for the gods to be replaced, and he was counting on Luke to help with that. He just had to keep reminding him why he'd agreed to this in the first place, and if he kept his word, his mother's suffering would end.

During his fall from the Titan's perch there was a moment where he could feel every way his life had gone off course. His mother's green eyes and screams, Thalia's last stand, the dragon closing in faster than he could raise his shield. He could almost feel the cut through his cheek again before the rocks hit turning his world seafoam and red. He was alive only because of Kronos' aid and it was a mercy he wished he could still see. Now it just felt like a joke that had run on too long.

The words of the Titan curled inside his mind making him press down harder into his bow, head touching the cool marble of the floor. " I apologize for my moment of doubt. " The words of Annabeth and her friends faded until all he could hear was Kronos again. Arguments that once made so much sense sounded silly, unreasonable. How could he doubt their mission when they have all given so much up for the chance of revenge. For a new era.

" Please, accept my apologies and give your next orders. I believe we're close to our goal despite the...missteps of Mount Othrys. I will not allow such failure to happen again. "

[furys-burn]

[ CUP ]: Bringing both hands up to cup the receiver’s face, the sender draws them in closer to them in order to get a better look at their face. | ( LUKE & KRONOS!NICO ) | @stygicniron​

Never look away was the scrap of wisdom that Luke let himself keep from Camp Halfblood; Chiron standing firm telling him to never back down even when terrified. Maybe that is why he makes himself look down into the golden eyes of Nico di Angelo at the touch on his jaw. 

Or maybe it was relief that makes him look directly into the future he avoided. The cost he was so willing to pay passed down from father to son before his mother was even born now burning another from inside out. 

His fingers drift down to grip Kron- Nico’s wrist and hold on. Look on, don’t shake, don’t waiver, feel the bite of a clashing swords and know that the ringing in your head means you did it right. “ I have been loyal. I have been good. I have done everything you’ve asked of me and was ready to die for you. ” 

A step forward and he could press the blade between his ribs. End this before it began and save him as much as he could save anyone-

He swallowed. 

“ I am loyal. I am good. I am ready to do whatever else you need of me. "