#Friend's OC: Festus

[gigizsn]

time travelling kiddos fcs

(in order; left to right)

seneca crane, aelia ravinstill, achilles crane-cardew

plutarch heavensbee, albert canville, athena creed

marcella friend, sol moss-ring, antonia anderson-ring

(albert isn't really a time travelling kiddo- but he created the time travelling machine so)

[felixravinstills]

what if i begged for an au where persephone is friends the three of them in not just a festus dates her briefly sort of way 🙏 let pippa and artemisia bond over childhood trauma or something pleaseeee

conclusion of pelops' shoulder! what happens after you write your oc eating her own dad? persephone finds a fellow cannibal friend! yay! I think I concentrate very much on the bonding over trauma. anyway, my version of persephone sure is militantly optimistic and positive, and that was fun to try to get across. lots of repetition which i hope comes across as on purpose...

thank you, lily, for this request! I am officially done with all the AU requests, yay!

[whitegoldtower]

I have a new character to pair up with Cicero! All these altmer romances I’ve done, I’ve neglected my favourite imperial!!

Time to give him a bit of lovin’.

So. The new guy. What can be said about him?

🩸

His name is Morveth ‘Matty’ Groves; a folk-hero to the poor and needful, and a thorn in the side of the wealthy and powerful. An odd sort of vampire, he plays into the ‘Robin Hood’ trope, robbing the rich blind and sucking them dry, before redistributing his loot amongst those who need it more. Certain Argonians in Riften frequently find their pockets lined. The Khajiit caravans find themselves better off because of the arcane trickster. The Dunmer in Windhelm leave their windows open so that Ol’ Matty Groves might pay them a visit.

The rich, however, lock their windows, hide their wives and coin-purses, and hope for the best.

Appearance-wise, Matty Groves is a rather tall and muscular Dunmer, with lavender-grey skin, dusky and pale mauve eyes (with one dilated pupil that causes one eye to appear black), and a head of dust-white, intensely wavy hair. He’s more on the handsome side, and is known to be distracted by beauty. His appearance is generally pleasing, if a little off-putting; his pupils (one being massively dilated and the other being pin-prick small) giving him a rather feral look, and his twelve-fanged grin being considerably scarier (six fangs on the top row, and six on the bottom, teeth stained slightly from years of drinking blood and smoking canis root, which provides a disturbing contrast to his tongue and gums, which are a deep black-purple).

He’s a freaky rogue with what should be an illegal level of charisma, and the Thieves Guild rack up tens all across the board because this guy is GOOD at his trade - high sneak, high speech, high lockpicking and pickpocketing, double daggers, a bag full of poisons and an expert level of illusion magic.

It’s out of pure curiosity that he happens upon the tiny jester at the Loreius Farm, having heard Uthgerd mention him whilst conducting his business in Whiterun late one night. He does, of course, lend his aid, weirdly charmed by the little guy.

…And then he lends aid to Aventus Aretino (“Hey kids, wanna see a dead body?”), which lands him in the Dark Brotherhood.

Matty Groves has it out for Astrid from the beginning, seeing her as the ultimate target - a stupidly wealthy woman with ‘bad vibes’. He smells treachery, deceit and greed. The corners of his mouth begin to twitch.

Naturally, he’s going to side with sweet Cicero.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Almighty (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: I love making boys miserable -Danny Words: 1,650 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter Listen to: 'Wake Me' –by Bleachers

XLIX: Give Me My Horrid Self-Awareness Back It Was a Gift From My Mother!

I wake up standing on top of a bonfire.

"HOLY—" I jump out of it, frantically checking my feet and legs. I look up and find Leo looking at me wide-eyed. "What...?"

I hear a highway in the distance, but I can't really see anything more than a few scattered trees around us. It's nighttime, and Festus is curled up behind me, his tail wiggling excitedly as he sees me. "Holy crap, it worked!" Leo gets up. "When you said you'd listen if I gave you offerings, I didn't think you'd show up in person..."

"Yeah, no... this is new," I look at myself. "Are you asleep?"

Leo frowns. "No. Are you? Like a projection of yourself, or something?"

I examine my hand. "I don't know... this only happens when I pass out—but Lester says I'm... dividing my essence? I don't know, I just show up when I'm needed." For some reason, saying that and realizing who I'm talking to makes me extremely self-conscious. I look at him through my lashes, his gaze making my heartbeat race in a way I'm quite addicted to feeling. 

"So that means... you're here-here?" He asks, glowing golden. "I can touch you?"

I watch him take a step closer. Instinctively, I stretch out my arm, palm open. Leo reaches for it and gently presses his palm against mine. I feel it. We lock eyes, and the effect is instant. We kiss.

"Gods, I love you," he mumbles against my lips, his free hand reaching to tangle in my hair. A single minute in his presence makes me feel ten times lighter. "I love that you can just do this—I thought I wouldn't be able to see you until..."

"I can't do this all the time," I lean back, frowning. "I still haven't learned to be conscious everywhere—to do this, I gotta leave them unprotected."

"You mean Meg and Lester—and how's Grover?"

"Fine. We're with Piper right now," I smile. "She can't wait to see you. And punch you."

Leo laughs. "Yeah, checks out." He hugs me, burying his face in my neck. "Gods, Ara..."

"Where are we?" I ask, holding the back of his head against my shoulder.

"Nevada. I'll reach the camp any day now. How's your search going?"

"We've found out some things..." I don't have the heart to tell him about Medea's plans. "We're getting closer. We'll see Jason at some point, too. He and Piper broke up."

"What? That's not possible, they're like... they're like us!" I shake my head gloomily, and Leo's expression falls. "Or not. Damn soul lights..."

"They're okay," I card my fingers through his curls. "I'm actually glad you called on me... I think I was the one who needed to see you."

"Hard to believe, Sunshine, but I'll take the praises." Leo beams, grabbing my face and kissing me once more. "Tell Piper and Jason I say hi. And tell Lester to keep his slimy hands away from you."

I snort. "Leo..."

"Kidding, kidding... not." He hugs me tightly again. "Also, why do you smell like a roasted barn?" 

"Long story," I sigh. "I should go back... but they'll be happy to hear you're close—when I tell Jason about you, I'm sure he'll..." I pause. "You know, he's all on his own, you don't think—"

"Already moving on to the next case," my boyfriend smiles. "Maybe he wants to be left alone, Doll..."

"I really, really doubt it," I say, knowing how Jason and I feel about alienating ourselves as a coping mechanism. "He could be happier at the Waystation. More chances of seeing his sister, and he'd have his best friend to keep him company..."

"Don't flatter me to get your way," he pokes my side playfully. "You know I'll say yes. But you should ask him, not me."

I nod, then shake my head. "That place isn't safe, not while the emperors are around and—"

"I get it," he holds my face. "I'm with you. Just remember that demigods make their own choices—like you did once."

The statement stings because it reminds me how quickly I'm losing my humanity. I'm already trying to control the life of a demigod! "Right. Yes. I... I should go now. But I'm glad I saw you, and I'm glad you're okay."

"I'm glad you're good, too. And I'm proud of you," Leo replies, not fighting it. "So... bye?"

I blush. "I sort of uhm... I gotta fall asleep to go back." I look around. "We have until then, I suppose."

"Sweet," Leo grins, already pulling me to sit against Festus. "Let's cuddle, then."

Ara jolts awake, and Grover quickly eases her. "It's fine, you're fine, you're at our camp."

She relaxes. "I saw Leo."

Her friend hesitates. "Like, a hallucination or...?"

"No, dummy. He called on me, so I went... he's getting closer to Camp Jupiter," she feels a throbbing pain in her lower back. "Gods almighty, I feel as if I've been carrying sacks of cement up and down!"

"You held back the power of a titan all on your own, Ara," he says with reluctant respect. "Percy and Annabeth almost died when they held the sky, so it doesn't surprise me."

The girl rubs her eyes, leaning back against the cistern. "Can I be honest with you a moment?"

"Go ahead."

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore," she looks up tiredly. "I want to protect my demigods, but I can't relate to them—I want to be the very best, but I don't want the power it's giving me... and to top it all, now I'm being hunted for some divine essence that I no longer know if I harvested alone or was taken from Apollo so I could thrive!"

Grover picks on his hooves, cleaning them. "You are to all demigods what I am to these dryads. Help. Guidance. And many forces will try their best to get rid of you, because unprotected demigods have endless potential... You keep them from using it wrong."

"Nemesis said something like it to me once..." She examines her blistered hands, thinking of the piece of paper the goddess had given her a year ago. You will have cause to reconsider your choices soon. "When I saw her that time, she looked like me—An older version... I think that is how I look now."

Grover frowns. "That is one thing about you that makes a lot of sense."

"The scales balanced by the mighty daughter of Greece..." she says, still deep in thought. "I've gotten away with many things... but soon I'll have to make a statement."

"About what?"

She glances at Lester's sleeping form, sunburned and vulnerable. "What I'll be."

Lester wakes up before the girls and goes to Ara as soon as he's healed enough to stand. "I heard you saw Leo."

"He should reach San Francisco in a day or so," She glances at him, visibly troubled. "Lester... a titan's essence at their disposal... How are we going to defeat that?"

"We'll find a way," he says, sitting beside her. "You controlled him."

"And it almost killed me. I went blind for like, a good five minutes. He wasn't even focused on getting me, and I couldn't do more. I can't fight him."

"Maybe we can find a way to set him free."

"So he can kill you?"

"He's only pissed because he was forsaken, I'm sure we can send that energy to... wherever retired titans are." He changes the subject. "How are you feeling? You used up a lot of power."

"Body seems to be holding up," she leans back on her hands. "I ate some ambrosia and nectar, healed my eyes, my hair grew back—wish I could say the same about Piper and Meg's... they'll have a few weeks of looking choppy."

He hums, eyeing her carefully. "But you're still... human?"

"Debatable," she looks back at him. "You said some emperors used to try and become deities by being worshipped, and some had actual powers—does that count as being a god?"

"In the most technical way possible, yes, they were. But they didn't have a place in Olympus, like a Great Value version of us. Sure, they can be mighty, but they're never as good as the real thing."

"We both know that's what's happening here." Ara fidgets with Almighty, running her thumb over the Greek letter embedded on the compass. "Medea said that no matter what I'll lose, and I know I sound like a broken record, but I once told Leo that as long as I was up and breathing, the quest would keep going, that I couldn't fail because that meant I was dead. What if dying is the only way to guarantee my work is done?"

Lester's expression sours. "Don't talk like that. You're not disposable, you're not—"

"I'm a soul who's already lived too many lives," she responds calmly. "What if the fates gave me this task so I could finally rest? If I die, it's a direct pass to the Isles of the Blessed. My situation isn't like yours, I'll... go somewhere better."

Lester lowers his gaze and scowls as he picks at his nails. "What are you suggesting?"

"Take my power."

"No."

"We'll find out how Medea was planning to do it, and then we're doing it. You'll be Apollo, and you'll release the oracles."

"I can't do that to you," he scowls. "You know why."

Ara's eyes fill with anguish. "Think of all the demigods affected by this crap—you can make it stop! All I do is postpone it."

Lester wants to refuse; he wants to say that it doesn't make sense, but it does, and she's not even using charmspeak. Ara's path is reaching an end.

"Do you realize what you're asking is basically for me to kill you on purpose? I already suffer enough watching you risk your life indirectly!"

Ara can't even feel embarrassed at his reply, and she wishes she could, really, because that would give her an excuse to drop the subject. "A crush isn't worth the trouble, Lester."

"It wasn't a random flower that my mother grew on your hair, it was Hyacinths," he says quietly, eyes on his feet. "I can't lose you."

She stands, voice firmer and slightly angry. "I'm not yours to lose."

Next Chapter –>

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris @obxstiles @ellipsisspelled @thepixiechicksh @ebony-reine-vibes @chxosunbound

[dontspillthefrijoles43]

Leo’s birthday 🥳🥳🥳

(A/N: I know it’s a Fanon birthday, probably, but I could not do a post about our favorite Hammer brain without my oc— cause they’re my sillies, and I’ve been dead for awhile. So here’s my head canons for Leo’s birthday. Btw I hc him as 18 cause that’s the same age I am (🥳) and experiences I have had so far from turning 18)

Warning: Drinking mention, weed mentioned, teenagers being teenagers, etc

Leo has never had a real birthday party since he was 7, and when Breisa hears this she throws him the most nostalgia fueling Mexican/latino birthday party

She buys those ugly ass piñtas with balloons in one and candy in the other. Also party favors and hats (which he wears two of—like cat ears)

It’s either SpongeBob or TMNT theme, she even goes to the local pañería to buy him a cake

She will wake his ass up with the Vicente Fernández song, las mañanitas with his had made speaker that he made her and it sounds loud and booming

She also finds Texas barbeque recipes mixed with Mexican Texan authentic food. Has Will and Annabeth help her cook it.

While the seven distract him for his surprise party by buying new clothes. They also buy him a cowboy hat with flames on it.

When the party finally comes down too, Leo is surprise by party with homemade food, decorations,and jumper + a mechanical bull

You bet ur ass he rides the bull at full speed

He is having the time of his life and he even isn’t drinking— not that he’s much of a drinker anyway. He had his first shot and it tasted like battery acid and orange juice

He dances with everyone to all his favorite songs. He might’ve dance to old school Spanish/tejano songs with Breisa— maybe sharing a kiss under his cowboy hat😉😉

When it finally comes down to the birthday cake, he lights his own candles, everyone sings happy birthday. And he bows out his candles, only to get his face smashed into it by Breisa

Which scares the shit out of her because she thinks she goes too far, but then he pops up laughing hard, frosting all over his face. (Thank god she bought two cakes)

Gifts for the seven include: chuck of Ruby rock from Hazel, weed (trust me I had a vision) and cassettes + Polaroids of the trio from Piper, Lions Paw seashell necklace from Percy, a festus Chinese dragon style bracelet from Frank , power tools + car stickers from Annabeth, and Game disk of all the Mario party games + new controller from Jason

Now you may be wondering if Breisa threw him this big ass party and brought all his friends together, it would be it for birthday gifts. But nah, she loves him too much to leave something out— a hand-made love letter with purple lipstick stains cheesy asf, a restored painting of him + Esperanza, and matching necklace with the sun on it (hers has the moon).

You best believe she covers his face with lipstick stains until he is dizzy and lovestick

Leo: Best birthday ever 🥰

Breisa: Best birthday so far, Amorcito

[heartsandmarketplaces]

(it's rotten work) not to me. not if it's you

Fandom: Percy Jackson

Rating: Teen

Characters: Leo Valdez, OC - Nesta, Nyssa Barrera, Will Solace (mentioned), OC - Agatha (Mentioned)

Summary: Someone had said it once, she didn’t remember who, it didn’t matter, they weren’t trying to be mean. 'Don’t you ever get tired? Doesn’t he ever stop?'

Nesta’s eyes had glittered like moving flames. Because a moving Leo was an alive Leo, was an ‘I’m still here’ Leo, was a fighting Leo.

They didn’t understand. He didn’t let them. They didn’t know how scared she was of Leo’s silence

CW: Implied/Referenced Self-Harm; Depression

A/N: Title taken from Euripedes, Orestes

Nesta loved him.

His grin like gunpowder, exhilarating, potent. One of Leo’s best grins and she was weak at the knees, a total, incapable mess of puddled words and big eyes.

Gods how she loved him.

She loved the smudge of grease that lingered above his lip. She loved his hands, calloused and clever and steady. She loved his dumb jokes and the way his forehead creased when he inspected a machine, his devilish smirk, his laugh free and loud, his cheesy pick-up lines, his winks. And gods she loved his mind, five steps ahead of everyone else and in twelve places at once, jumping from project to project, tossing genius idea after idea like it was nothing . 

Their friends loved him too. They really did. Even if Leo refused to believe it. But Nesta knew that occasionally they found him a bit too much, thought he talked too loudly, joked too far, fidgeted too often. Someone had said it once, she didn’t remember who, it didn’t matter, they weren’t trying to be mean. Don’t you ever get tired? Doesn’t he ever stop? 

Nesta’s eyes had glittered like moving flames.

Because a moving Leo was an alive Leo, was an ‘I’m still here’ Leo, was a fighting Leo.

They didn’t understand. He didn’t let them.

They didn’t know how scared she was of Leo’s silence. 

It happened, again, on his birthday.  

Twenty-three and still kicking. Nesta hated that this was remarkable. But camp was safer than ever, and now Annabeth had designed a New Greece in Halfblood Valley, a place to live normal-ish lives, she hoped that reaching twenty five was no longer going to be some picket-fence dream.  

Hazel and Frank and even Reyna were coming on the weekend for a super-mega-awesome joint celebration for him and Annabeth, but tonight? Tonight was just for the two of them and lasagne and new candles and all Leo’s favourite things. 

She wanted it to be perfect. He deserved no less. Leo, always selfless, always thoughtful, always loving. She’d give him the earth if she could. 

Unfortunately, after Gaea, the earth left a bad taste in her mouth, so a lasagne would have to do. And wine. A quick favour called in with Agatha and she had her hands on a rather nice vintage Château d’Yquem, notes of apricot and saffron and marzipan. Leo would adore it. And they would have the whole evening to spend in the firelight of their own home on fresh sheets and soft pillows…

But she was getting ahead of herself. So she bit her lip and wrinkled her nose and got back to rolling out lasagne sheets, even if she couldn’t quite stop the bounce in her toes, the flutter in her chest. 

The sun shone like ichor on the kitchen bench. The windows were open, they always were, wide to their little orchard and the crisp smell of summer hay and woodsmoke and Tabasco Sauce. 

She blew a kiss to Festus, curled up in the shadow of a large maple tree. His mechanical tail thumped the ground like a dog. 

Today was a good day, Nesta thought. And good days were important to demigods. 

Good days also required music. She tapped the bench with a floured hand and an R&B tune sprung up, she recognised it instantly. 

Leo, my love.  

She didn’t know how he did it, she didn’t know how most of his inventions worked even if their home was full of gadgets and hidden specs and technology. All she knew was that if she hit the bench three times music would play from mystery magic speakers, and somehow, always, the exact song she wanted.

Singing along, sunshine on her face, Nesta maybe got a little distracted, but mainly because she couldn’t decide between a nectarine crumble or a chocolate and fig cake. The impasse only broken because her adhd brain insisted that it was totally manageable to do both. So voila. A lasagne and a nectarine pie and a cake. And she only put them in the oven forty minutes behind schedule which was totally okay. She still had enough time to clean the kitchen before Leo got home, maybe.

It turned out she did have enough time. More than enough, Leo seemed to be running late too. She took her time doing her make-up, adding gold cuffs to her newly-done passion twists that matched her dress, long and in the roman style, slim and golden like twilight. Nesta knew what Leo liked and she knew he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off her.

Half an hour after he was supposed to be home, she had to turn the oven down so the lasagne didn’t burn. 

Twenty minutes later and the cheesy top couldn’t get any crispier. 

And twenty-five minutes after that she was starting to get impatient. Yes Leo often ran late, but not like this, not when something was important. Maybe the kids down at the forge had thrown together some impromptu birthday celebration? It wouldn’t hurt to check. 

She locked the door behind her. ‘Festus, baby, if Leo arrives, tell him I’m at the forges would you?’

Festus blew a stream of fire enthusiastically.

But Leo wasn’t at the forges. In fact, he hadn’t been there at all that day, according to Nyssa  who’d seen Nesta lingering at the door and come over straight away, wiping her face with a red bandana, muscles bulging. 

‘We thought he’d taken the day off, spent it with you.’ She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. 

Nesta refused to blush, ‘You know Leo, a birthday spent tinkering is heaven.’

Nyssa snorted. ‘You haven’t seen him at all? He’s probably built a whole aeroplane or something.’ She didn’t say it with jealousy, ‘Try the bunker.’

‘Ah, good idea.’ Nesta grinned widely and tried to guess which contraption she’d have to drag the love of her life away from this time, ‘Don’t stay too late.’ 

The girl winked. ‘I’ll be fine. The Missus will make me sleep on the couch if I’m here after eight again. Tell Leo happy birthday from us yeah? I have something for him when I see him next.’ 

‘I will. love to you both. Cura ut valeas’

 ‘χαῖρε!’ 

Nesta left with Nyssa’s laugh like a ringing anvil and a smile on her face, her friends were well and it was a warm evening, and soon she would be with Leo. 

After falling asleep one too many times there and leaving no way for anyone else to get in, Leo had given in to wiring fingerprint recognition for a few close people. Mostly it was still his place though, a safe place from the world and she had to swipe her hand a few times before she found the secret control panel. 

The door shuddered open and gods Nesta had to blink desperately. The lights were dimmed, and after the liquid gold of the evening it was like blindness. Her stomach shifted uneasily but she pushed forwards anyway, using the rock wall as a lead. It was warm in here, with so much gunmetal and no windows, but all the same a shiver ran across her skin, like static. She squinted into the tunnel, but her eyes were adjusting rapidly and she couldn’t see anything, couldn’t hear anything.

She jerked to a stop. 

It was totally silent. 

A funny weight dropped to her stomach. Her back straightened. She tugged at the ring on her finger, her engagement ring, and her staff sparked into life. Nesta tested its weight and swung it easily into a two-handed defensive grip.

She crept forwards on her toes, eyes watchful and dark. The silence was heavy in her ears. 

And Leo. Where was Leo?

The lamp at his desk was on – surely a sign he had been here at some point – and she wove towards it, a moth to a flame, and stopped. The photo. Leo and Esperanza. Glass cracked. All the blood left her face.

‘Leo? Darling? Are you here?’

Still that dreadful dreadful silence. Nesta had a horrible suspicion she knew what was going on. 

‘Leo. It’s Nesta. Where are you darling?’ 

She hoped he could – would – reply. Her heart was starting to speed up, far more erratic than when she’d suspected monsters. 

But then, Leo’s worst enemy had always been himself. 

Nesta twisted her spear and immediately it shrunk back to her finger, then slowly, methodical she began her search of all the small hiding places of the bunker.

She needed to keep talking, she had to, maybe he could hear, ‘Leo my darling, we have lasagne for dinner, I made it fresh. Herbs from the garden, lots of cheese just as you like it. We could have it out in the garden with Festus. It’s a nice day outside.’ She prattled on, it didn’t matter what she said really, ‘And wait until you hear about the nectarines. You won’t believe how –’ 

She turned a corner and there he was. Under the saw bench, knees pulled up to his chin. 

‘Leo?’ 

He didn’t even flinch. 

Nesta’s stomach turned to lead. She all but ran towards him and fell to her knees. ‘Leo.’ Her voice was soft. 

His eyes were vacant, locked inwards on something she couldn’t see.

‘Darling one.’ She reached out a careful finger, stroked the top of his hand softly. ‘Leo, darling, it’s Nesta.’ 

His eyes kept staring straight ahead but he moved his lips slightly, no sound came out.

She placed her whole hand on his. ‘Can you hear me Leo? You’re safe, you’re safe.’  

She could feel the grab of panic at her lungs and she swallowed it down forcefully, any frantic energy would only make him worse, so she closed her eyes, breathed in and out and held her palms up. 

‘Vesta mater, macte esto’, she whispered the prayers of her childhood, ‘Te precor humiliter uti sis volens propitia foco meo, domique familiaeque meae’. 

The familiar shapes of the words on her lips were soothing and they stopped the racing of her heart. She continued to whisper even as she looked him over for injuries. She was starting to think maybe he was okay this time, maybe he’d been safe, when she spotted it, when she saw it, the back of his left hand, hidden, useless at his side. It was bruised colourfully, the skin broken and swollen, dried blood around his knuckles. She pressed her thumb to it, firmly but carefully, in case something’s broken but Leo doesn’t make a sound, he doesn’t even wince. It doesn’t make her feel better. 

Nesta knelt closer and took his face in her hands. ‘Leo my love, we need to get you up.’ She brushed the curls from his forehead and tried to look in his eyes but there was no sense of recognition. Only Leo, far away inside himself. Nesta didn’t want to know how long he’d been like this.

She reached into his tool belt and pulled out a triangle bandage then moved his, probably broken, fingers right up by his opposite shoulder, tying the sling snug so he couldn’t move. Like a doll, Leo let it all happen to him and Nesta told herself this was a good thing, that he recognised her enough to allow her to touch him. 

‘On three my love. One, two –’ she grunted a little as she hauled him to his feet. He was shorter than her so she had to stoop to fit his good arm around her neck, curling her own arm around his waist, half guiding, half carrying him through the bunker. 

He didn’t say a word as she began to chatter away again, anything to lull him back to the land of the living, but as they stepped into the bright sunshine he did curl ever so slightly into her. 

The parcae - or fates, whatever you called them were on their side. The two of them managed to make it back to their house without Leo freaking out or anyone meeting them. 

Festus’ head snapped up and he gave a huff of smoke, but it seemed even he knew better than to interrupt as Nesta bundled Leo inside, up the stairs and into the bathroom. 

‘Wait here, love’. She kissed his forehead and darted out as quickly as she could to fetch a bucket, stopping only for a literal second to shimmy out of her dress and into something more sensible. She dared not leave him alone for long. But Leo was exactly where she left him, wrapping in on himself as if trying to fold himself out of existence. Nesta filled the bucket with warm water and as much antiseptic as she dared and knelt beside him to undo the sling.

‘I’m sorry darling but this will stung,’ she murmured as lowly as she could, as if she could take away the pain she was about to cause. Then, with one perfectly manicured hand, she held his arm firmly, and with a soft cloth began to wash the oil and grease from his cuts.

Leo made a noise like a cry in the back of his throat and tried to pull away but she held him close, hushing him gently. 

‘I know, I know love. I’m sorry. I know.’ She hated the way he trembled under her, the whimper breaking his voice, but she needed to flush out any bacteria and dirt. The bruising looked worse now they were out of the dim workshop, a mottled web of colours that stretched most of his hand, puckering at the broken, split skin. She tested the movement of his fingers as she cleaned them but they were stiff and swollen twice their size and she could see now that one of his knuckles looked caved in. 

She didn’t know what he’d done to himself but it didn’t look good. Will would have to have a look at him tomorrow. 

If his hand looked terrible, at least it was now clean and she pushed up Leo’s sleeve so it wouldn’t brush and sting the cuts, only to hiss through her teeth. It looked like an animal had clawed its way up his arm. Her heart broke. 

‘Leo, darling.’ She brought his good hand up to her mouth and held it there, against her lips, and then kissed along his fingers until she reached his thumb when she gently unfurled his fist. Sure enough, the underside of his fingernails are caked in blood. 

‘I love you Leo.’ She wished her words could take away all his pain and hurt. 

An I love you didn’t fix things, it couldn’t, but she could and she would love him and hold him tightly until he could love himself again. 

She cleaned his arm carefully, every cut and scratch and graze and then his fingers, under each nail until there is only the bronze of his skin. Then she tipped the dirty water down the sink and watched the blood swill away. 

Looking at him now, grimy and sweaty and covered in mechanic’s grease and oil, settled her stomach somewhat; he hadn’t run away to the bunker on purpose to hide, that at least some of his birthday was spent happily building. Idly, she wondered what, if anything, happened to make it this bad. Not that she would ask, not yet, he wasn’t ready and it wasn’t urgent right now. First she needed to coax him out of this – this lostness – help ground him, to provide a safe place for him to come undone. 

Nesta turned the tap of the bath on and rummaged in the medicine cupboard for a small square of ambrosia, weighing it in her hand. She could smell it from here, a honey and leaven smell, of warm figs and mulsum. Leo had only mentioned once, what it tasted like.  Esperanaza’s arepas… it was worth a shot. 

‘Darling,’ she began carefully, holding it out, ‘do you want to try some –’ 

But Leo was already turning his head away. 

Her heart sank. ‘Not even a mouthful?’ 

Leo shook his head, the barest of movements. But it was a response. 

‘It will help my love, I promise. ’ She brought it closer, hoping the smell might help him but he recoiled, she could see his jaw clench. 

‘Okay. That’s okay. I’ll just bandage your arm up then. Is that alright?’

He didn’t move this time which she took as a yes. This time, as she touched him, he felt more agitated, more distressed so she hummed as she worked, careful not to let too much of her power infuse into her voice – just enough that it helps calm him a little. She wouldn’t do anything more without his permission. She took his suspenders off first, folded them neatly on the window ledge along with his tool belt, and his shoes, covered in grease. 

‘I’m going to take your shirt off darling, I’ll try not to move your arm too much.’ She’d hoped he might respond but he was back to staring off into the distance. Nesta kept humming, unbuttoning his shirt all the way so she could remove it sleeve by sleeve, lifting his injured arm carefully through. If it hurt, Leo didn’t let it show. 

She didn’t want to swaddle him like a mummy, and Apollo’s kids were always going on about the importance of letting wounds breathe, so she focussed on bandaging his wrist and fingers, binding them together for support. There was a nasty looking gash on his bicep which she was a little concerned about but she just applied a little of the beeswax cream Will had given them for Christmas last. 

‘Come’on, up we get.’ She helped him stand and couldn’t quite stop herself from reaching out to brush a hand along his cheek and into his hairline. She led him to the wall so that he could lean against it if he needed as she helped him step out of his trousers and boxers, cajoling him gently,  ‘I love you Leo, I love you so much. You’re doing so well.’

Leo didn’t protest as Nesta guided him into the bath and her heart did a funny, sad sort of jump at how unprotesting he was, how docile, how defeated. 

She drew the chair beside the tub, gathering soap and his shampoo and a fresh soft, soft, cloth. It seemed to already be doing him good. His eyes had closed and the steam brought a flush of red to his cheeks. Nesta pressed a kiss to the top of his spine and began to wash him, soap and water and cloth gentle on the skin she loves so much, humming as she goes. She started with his shoulders, scooping water and gently pouring it over him, around the dirt of his collar, the back of his neck. His eyes were still closed when she brought the cloth up to his face but he sighed a little as she wiped under his eyes, at the steak of oil on his forehead, along the contour of his jaw. And like that, she works, methodically, slowly, devoting herself to every inch of his body. 

She didn’t need Will’s powers to know that he was coming back to her; he was Leo. Her Leo. She knew him and his body better than anyone. She recognised the release of his shoulders, felt rather than heard when his breathing changed to something less stifled, more living, saw him focus on things in the room rather than some lonely memory. And when she asked if she could wash his hair, his eyes, brown and sad and full of everything life has demanded from him, looked at her and he made a noise like something of a cry or a whimper and Nesta was undone. 

The trust he had in her to show himself in this way, to let her help him, to see him like this… she wanted to scoop him up in her arms and bury him in her and never let him go until everything in the world that hurt him was gone. 

He tilted his head, just slightly, and she knew straight away what he was asking, and moved close enough for their foreheads to rest together. They sat like that together for a long time until eventually she pressed a kiss into his curls. Then she scooped water up like a prayer in her hands and poured it gently over his head, using her fingers to separate any tangles. Leo sighed, slightly breathily, and leant into her touch and she took a moment to enjoy the feeling of her hands in his hair. 

His conditioner smelt of honey and ginger and cloves, and she always enjoyed this part the best, working it into his curls. Nesta closed her eyes, humming, focusing on him and the feel of him. She wanted him to feel good, and held, and safe and loved.

‘Mi vida, I didn’t know you redecorated.’ His voice was low, quiet in his throat.

Her eyes jumped open. The room was filled with light and incense, smoke curling in through the open window, splayed across the ceiling, reaching towards her with curling tendrils around the faucets. A lilac chaste-tree has grown around the bathroom mirror, and all this, and Leo, who had been mute for hours and the first thing he said was a whispered joke. 

LeoLeoLeo , beautiful, loving, hurting Leo, who still tried to make her smile. She was filled with so much love for him. 

There was a ripple of water as he reached up out of the bath towards her. He took her soapy hand and just held her fingers tightly. She squeezed back and rubbed his knuckles until he was the one to let go. 

Leo rinsed his hair out himself as Nesta watched with practiced eye. His movements were still a little slow and his gaze still reaching for something that wasn’t there but he was searching for her touch too, and his smile, if small and shy and a little broken, was still a smile. 

When he climbed out of the bath she was already waiting for him with a fluffy towel. He took her in a hug, resting his chin on her shoulder. 

‘Come on,’ She hummed, ‘I’ll dry your hair.’ 

They padded through to their bedroom where Nesta hunted through the wardrobe for the softest pair of pyjamas she could find. Leo, standing a little lost by the door, took them from her and stared at them in his hands. 

‘Do you want help darling?’

There was a second, then he nodded, a faint blush to his cheeks. He tried to say something, then licked his lips and tried again. ‘Sorry.’ 

‘You have nothing to apologise for.’ Nesta said simply. She kissed the side of his head and helped him slip the pyjama top over his head, then step into the trousers, before guiding him to their bed. She let him sit between her legs, leaning against her, as she started to dry and scrunch his hair. 

‘Conditioner?’ 

He hummed and she obliged, working it through his hair, defining his curls with careful fingers. 

Leo was still unnervingly silent and still, and it was only as she was finishing that she ventured, ‘Do you want to talk about it?’ 

He shrugged then shook his head but he didn’t say anything and Nesta knew, not tonight. Not yet. 

‘That’s okay. I love you.’ 

He turned his big eyes upon her and burrowed into her chest. Breathing her in deeply and Nesta lets him, never mind his curls were still drying, he needed her close and Jupiter himself be damned if anyone stood in her way. 

‘I love you Leo.’ 

And she did. She loved him, and she would keep telling him so, stroking him softly until he came back to himself. 

‘I love you.’

(Part of a larger story universe)

[persephoneprice]

Pippa: 22 and 24?

thank you my friend 😌

for this ask game that i slightly deviated from so i could talk about persephone more

22.) What character alignment would you consider your OC to be?

lawful good and this is probably the most insane thing to admit but i determined this by taking an online quiz and answering it with how i think she would answer. i might actually be a crazy person.

24.) What is an alternative life path your OC might have gone down? How different would their life be if they'd made those decisions?

this is an interesting question! i think an alternative life path that she could have (and maybe should have?) gone down is to not accept doing what was expected of her. instead of settling down and marring festus, who she was clearly the second choice for, and continuing to engage with the elite capitol circles- she could have chosen to put herself first.

she could have found someone who loves her. she could have escaped the societal obligations that have plagued her since she was a child. she could have lived a life where she was genuinely happy (not that she was unhappy, but it wasn’t her ideal life).

[rubix-cube06]

Unpleasant Memories

Penelope Lewis is the daughter of Poseidon she is my oc and she originally came to camp with Annabeth, Thalia, Luke and Grover.

It all started when Chiron asked Penelope to go on a quick errand for him. Chiron asked her to get a specific flower in Montana to help Will with the rapidly growing number of injuries in camp. While this wasn't exactly a quest Penelope invited her boyfriend Leo and her two Satyr friends Coach Hedge and Grover Underwood to accompany her. "So not that I mind but why are you bringing my boss on a quest with us?" Coach Hedge asks. "Technically this isn't a quest, I didn't have to talk to Rachel and get a prophecy, this is an errand, and besides, I think Grover's empathy is a good contrast to you," Penelope hums. "My what?" Coach inquires. "Your lack of?" Grover shrugs. "Also, Grover is really busy being the awesome Lord of The Wild and I wanted to be able to catch up with him," Penelope adds as Grover ruffles her hair. "I still don't know why you wanted two satyrs," Coach Hedge replies. "As I recall Nell invited me, and you found out and invited yourself," Leo says. "Sounds about right, although, I don't mind the help anyways," Penelope laughs.

The group travels all day, they get on a bus, and then get back into a forest. Leo starts a fire while the others collect firewood. The group starts cooking their food and then give Hedge and Grover their tin cans. Penelope leans forward and a half gold and steel sword falls out of her sword holster. "Woah, this is awesome who made this Nell, cause I know I didn't," Leo says picking up the sword. "Penelope is that backbiter?" Grover asks. "Yeah, I'm so sorry, I would've told you but-" Penelope starts. "That's awesome how'd you find it?" Grover asks. "Oh um Conner found it under Luke's bed, it apparently had a sticky note on it with my name on it," Penelope explains. "I think I'm missing something," Coach Hedge says looking at Leo. "Don't look at me," Leo says as he slips the sword back in the holster. "That was Luke Castellans', it was his favorite sword," Grover says. "Isn't that the guy who merged with Kronos?" Leo asks. "Among other things," Penelope says. "So why's it matter if he left something in his will to you?" Leo asks. "Well, lets see, if Annabeth found out I had this she'd have a fit, but get over it, same with Percy, but Thalia, would never let it go, because she didn't have to spend six years with the guy at camp because she was a tree, so she would have a major fit and I don't want to deal with it," Penelope explains. "Yeah, I'd have to be the peacekeeper as always," Grover teases. "I mean those two are the biggest instigators in the world for each other," Grover chuckles. "I remember one time she tried to get me to practice fishing, it was before I was claimed but I wouldn't, and Thalia tried to shove the fish down my throat so I'd eat," Penelope smiles. "You remember that fondly?" Coach Hedge says. "Well sure, mainly because I remember her death in perfect detail, now knowing that if I had told the Cyclopes to stop they probably would have listened," Penelope says. "Well in comparison that is a good memory," Leo teases.

The group ends up falling asleep after setting up two tents. One for Grover and Coach Hedge the other for Penelope and Leo. During the night Penelope doesn't fall asleep she just lays awake next to Leo. Penelope eventually decides to leave the tent and take a walk. As Penelope sneaks away from the campsite Festus whines at her. "It's alright Festus, I'll be right back," Penelope says as she pets the robotic dragon. Penelope ends up walking to a small river and she sits in front of it watching the water. "Hey, what're you doing over here?" Grover asks. "I couldn't sleep," Penelope shrugs. "Does it have anything to do with our conversation from earlier?" Grover asks. "I don't know, I guess," Penelope says. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I make you feel as if you shouldn't have kept backbiter because I don't actually care," Grover says. "No, it's not you, I got to thinking about Thalia, how she hasn't really done anything for me lately," Penelope sighs. "Here, let's go back to our campsite and talk about it alright," Grover suggests helping Penelope stand up.

When they get back to the campsite Leo was sitting down petting Festus. "Are you alright? Festus woke me up when you left," Leo says hugging Penelope. "I couldn't sleep," Penelope shrugs. "Sit, and talk please," Grover suggests. Penelope and Leo sit down and Grover sits across from them while Leo lights another fire. "Thalia hasn't done anything for me lately, pur relationship isn't as strong as it used to be," Penelope shrugs. "She's also a liar," Penelope adds. "Elaborate," Leo says. "One of the first things Thalia assured me after the fleece saved her, is that she'd still protect me from anything and everything," Penelope says. "And she ran away from the thing that scared me most," Penelope sighs. "Yeah, she did," Grover says. "Huh," Leo mumbles. "A prophecy regarding a child of one of the big three Gods," Grover says. "A half-blood of the eldest gods Shall reach sixteen against all odds And see the world in endless sleep The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap A single choice shall end his days Olympus to preserve or raze," Penelope recites. "Didn't Percy fulfill it?" Leo asks. "He did, and I am incredibly grateful because if he didn't I was next, he did everything he could have too ensure Nico and I were safe, Thalia stopped physically aging and ran away from it," Penelope shrugs. "She also hasn't talked to me in like four years," Penelope says. "Family, yeah right," Penelope rolls her eyes. Leo kisses Penelope's Temple. "What is your most unpleasant memory of any of us?" Grover asks. "What?" Penelope asks. "Do it, trust me," Grover replies. "I guess it's when Luke first heard the prophecy, he made me train with him for like nine hours everyday," Penelope starts. "I would beg him to let me stop but he wouldn't let me, one day he screamed at me and said if I wanted to die that I could but not only could I not blame him nor would he be around to watch, I think I was around six at the time," Penelope explains. "Do you remember what happened next?" Grover asks. "I locked myself in my cabin. Luke didn't try to find me for hours but I guess Travis and Conner, Silena, Charles and Jake heard so Travis and Conner helped me move one of the empty bunks in front of the door so that nobody could come in, especially Luke after he picked the lock, then Jake and Charles came in through my floor because they made one of the tunnels into my cabin so that everyone could come in and out, and bring me food and stuff," Penelope smiles.

"Luke got really frustrated because he knew people were going in an out from my cabin but he didn't know how," Penelope chuckles. "He even interrogated Annabeth who refused to tell," Grover says. "See, without the unpleasant memories you can't have the good ones,"Grover says. "See do another one," Grover says. "After Leo died was pretty unpleasant," Penelope says. "Well when he came back you were relived weren't you?" Grover asks. "So relieved we had the best makeout sesh of my life," Leo says. "Leo! Quit telling people that," Penelope says playfully slapping his shoulder as Leo laughs and places a kiss to her shoulder. "Anyways, you see the bad memories are what makes the good memories even more special alright, just remember that," Grover says standing up and ruffling Penelope's hair and heading to his tent. "Are you tired at all?" Leo asks softly. "No, not at all, you can go to bed I'll be there in a while," Penelope says. "I don't mind waiting, I'll make you coffee," Leo offers. "No, I'm okay," Penelope says. "Maybe you'll feel more tired if you lie down," Leo suggests. "I'll try I guess," Penelope mumbles as Leo very gently leads her to the tent. Leo was very tired and fell asleep quickly Penelope laid awake the entire night. Penelope decided instead of just staring at the sky she would read.

"Good morning amour," Leo says as he stretches and wakes up. "Oh is it morning already?" Penelope mumbles as Leo crawls over to her and takes her book away. "Did you stay up read all night?" Leo asks. "Sure did," Penelope nods. "Can I have my book back please?" Penelope asks. "Carina, I wanted you to get some sleep you you would be well rested for our errand," Leo says gently. "I only started reading so that I wasn't just staring at the sky for nine hours," Penelope explains. "Breakfast!" Coach Hedge yells. "Come on," Penelope says coming out of the tent with Leo. "Somebody stayed up all night reading," Leo announces. "I thought you felt better after we talked," Grover says. "I did, I just wasn't remotely tired so I just read instead of staring at Leo while he sleeps, because I'm not creepy," Penelope replies as she eats the fruit that Coach Hedge and Grover brought. "You know what always made her sleep?" Grover says. "What's that?" Leo asks. "She always fell asleep when one of us would carry her on our backs and we walked to wherever we were going," Grover explains. "I'm not five anymore G, I don't know if I'll be able to as easily," Penelope says. "Well since I don't mind carrying you we should try," Leo says. "I agree cupcake, we don't know what kind of monsters will be in Montana," Coach Hedge says as they finish breakfast and start taking down the tents. "Alright, but if it doesn't work I'll walk, I'm more than capable of walking by the way," Penelope says. "I suppose that's fair," Leo says. "Okay Cupcakes we should get going," Hedge orders. Penelope sits on a picnic table as Leo adjusts so that Penelope can ride on his back. He picks up Penelope by her thighs and she rests her arms on his shoulders. "Comfortable?" Leo asks. "Yeah," Penelope nods kissing the top of Leo's head.

Within five minutes Penelope was asleep. "Told you it always works," Grover chuckles. "Just be careful, because if she has a nightmare she'll use her Earth Quake thing," Grover says. "Why do I have to be careful? She's a demi it's likely to happen," Leo asks. "Well, don't drop more like," Grover says. The group walks put of the Forrest and they get onto a bus. Leo sits next to Penelope as he gently sits her in the seat. "Leo, where are we?" Penelope mumbles. "A bus," Leo says kissing her forehead as she rubs the sleep from her eyes. "Did you have a nice nap?" Leo adds. "Mhm," Penelope nods. Penelope gently rests her head against his chest for a moment. "Hairtie?" Leo offers noticing Penelope was struggling with her hair. "Please," She sighs as Leo takes a blue hairtie off of his wrist and gives to Penelope. She quickly puts her hair in a bun. "Thank you," Penelope smiles as she kisses Leo's lips for a long time. When Penelope pulls away her face is slightly flush. "Aww did making out with me make you all hot and bothered?" Leo teases as he gently kisses her cheek. "Shut up, Leo," Penelope says as she rolls her eyes playfully and chuckles lightly. "Uh guys, something found us, we've gotta go," Grover whispers. "How urgently, on the bus?" Penelope asks. "No, but it's chasing us," Grover replies. "Right, what is it?" Leo asks. "Manticore, we've gotta kill it before it kills everyone else," Grover says. "Right but we should lore it away from everyone which means.." Penelope says.

"Leaving the bus, come on Hedge will open a window," Grover says leading them to the back of the bus. "Okay, we jump from the window at the next stop and run like hell," Grover says. "Ah, lovely," Leo mumbles. "You'll be fine, we just have to be faster than the satyrs," Penelope winks. The bus stops and Penelope jumps out of the bus and falls on one of her knees before Leo, Grover and Coach Hedge jump out as well. "That's a Manticore," Penelope nods as it starts chasing them. They keep running and the Manticore is only a few feet behind them. Penelope stops running and stomps a few times causing an Earthquake in the direction of the Manticore making it stumble before Penelope continues running and catches up with the group. "Good thinking kid," Coach Hedge compliments. "Thanks," Penelope pants. They finally make it to the forest and Penelope and Leo both draw their swords. The manticore charges at Penelope and she causes another earthquake before it gets to her and then easily beheaded it. Penelope turns around to see Leo staring at her. "What, you all hot and bothered because I killed a manticore?" Penelope teases in a soft tone of voice. "I mean kinda," Leo smiles. "Good job Nell!" Grover says from the top of a tree. "Did you hide in a tree?" Coach Hedge asks as Grover starts climbing down. Penelope suddenly drops to the floor. "Woah! You alright Amour?" Leo asks sitting next to her and helping her sit up. "Y-y-yeah, I'm fine," Penelope says as Grover and Hedge look at her. "What happened to your knee, your bleeding through your jeans?" Grover asks. Penelope simply shrugs as Leo takes his sword and starts cutting through her jeans to see a huge gash on her knee. "We should stop for now, so we can fix her," Grover says. "We don't need to, I'm alright, just a bit lightheaded," Penelope says trying to get up but Leo sits her on his lap. "Here have some ambrosia and nectar," Coach Hedge says. "Thanks," Penelope mumbles. "We should sew up your knee so you don't lose anymore blood, unless there's any water anywhere," Grover says.

Penelope shakes her head. "Didn't think so, I'll get the stuff and start cleaning it," Grover says. "I'll help coach start setting up camp for the night," Leo offers. "No, you're gonna want to stay here," Grover says as he cleans Penelope's knee. "He's sewing up a wound with no pain meds, no numbing anything," Penelope says with a wince. "You want me to stay here?" Leo says. "She could pass out, or move, or several other things, you're going to need to keep her still," Grover says. Grover starts putting the stitches in her knee as she winces and cries.

"Don't look at him, look at me Yeah, think about how much you want to do that to me," Leo teases as Penelope sobs while squeezing Leo's hand. Grover continues sewing up the wound suddenly Penelope starts sobbing. "No! No more! I'm done! I'm done! Please! Let me die!" Penelope sobs. "Hey, it's alright amour, you're almost done, just a little more, you're doing so well, mami, okay, just keep breathing alright," Leo coos. As Penelope squirms Leo gently tightens his grip around her waist. Penelope continues sobbing for several more minutes until Grover finally stands up. "You're all done, Nell, you did great kid," Grover says as Penelope looks down at her knee which was covered in bandages. "W-w-why b-bandages?" Penelope mumbles as she leans against Leo's chest. "You were still bleeding a little when I was finishing your stitches and I didn't want you to get an infection. "I'm going to the campsite, you should too," Grover says. "Soon, yeah we will," Penelope nods as Leo rubs her back. When Grover walks away Penelope carefully straddles Leo's lap. "You did it, I'm so proud of you," Leo smiles as he wipes away Penelope's tears. "My nerves are shot," Penelope mumbles. "That's okay, you won't have to do it again for a while," Leo says kissing her forehead. "Can you help me change into something less cut up?" Penelope asks. "Yeah, of course, I bet all of your stuff is at the campsite though," Leo says. "Yeah," Penelope nods as she carefully scoots off of Leo's lap. "I can't bend my knee, you're gonna have to help me up," Penelope says as Leo stands up. "Yeah, I gathered that," Leo says as Leo picks Penelope up bridal style and then sets her on her good foot. Penelope continues balancing using Leo's shoulders and Leo keeps his arm around her waist as they make their way to camp.

When they get to their campsite they quickly explain that Penelope wants to change and Leo helps her change into one of Leo's camp halfblood shirts and a pair of her black shorts. Leo also gently places his jacket on her shoulders as she eats. "I don't think that we're close to any water," Grover says as Leo helps Penelope sit down. "I'll be fine until we get back to camp," Penelope says. "Regular care until further notice, change bandages, clean wound, etcetera," Penelope adds as she leans against Leo's shoulder. "You alright?" Coach Hedge asks. "Tired," Penelope says. "In the feelings corner over here, Leo I don't really know much about you, if you don't mind sharing," Grover says. "Sure, my moms dead, she died in a fire I started, then I was in foster care I left nine homes, six of them were physically abusive, but all of them thought I was a monster but anyways I ran away I should say," Leo explains. "I'm really tired, Leo can you help me up?" Penelope asks. "Of course," Leo says as Penelope rests her arm on his shoulder as Leo stands up. "I'll walk you to the tent," Leo says. "No, I'm alright, I can walk," Penelope says. "No, you can't, it's alright, I don't mind," Leo says as Penelope limps to the tent. "I think we'll just all go to bed," Grover says.

As Leo opens the tent and Penelope goes in and carefully sits down. Penelope starts tearing up as she hugs a pillow. "Mi amour what's wrong?" Leo asks sitting next to her. "How can someone so wonderful go through all of that?" Penelope mumbles. "What? Penelope, I'm okay, it's alright, that stuff doesn't bother me anymore," Leo says as Leo wipes her tears away. "But you were hurt, a lot of people hurt you," Penelope says. "Yeah, but, Carina I wouldn't change anything about what I've been through," Leo says. "R-really?" Penelope asks. "Of course not, If I changed something I don't think I would've met the sweetest, kindest, most caring and empathetic person I know," Leo says as Penelope lets go of the pillow. "I wouldn't change anything either," Penelope says. "Good, now don't cry, I don't want you to cry," Leo says leaning towards Penelope and kisses her lips. "And I want you," Penelope says. "What?" Leo asks. "That's not a full sentence, what do you want me to do?" Leo adds. Penelope turns to Leo and raises an eyebrow. "Oh, right now?" Leo asks. "Mhm," Penelope nods. "What about your knee?" Leo asks. "Well you'll just have to be careful, won't you?" Penelope says as she slips her hand up Leo's shirt and runs her hand up his chest. "Lie down, if you want to do this," Leo chuckles as Penelope practically falls over. "Here," Leo chuckles as he places a pillow behind her head. Leo sits in between Penelope's legs and leans over her and starts kissing her neck and lips. Leo slips his hands under Penelope's shirt and pinches her nipples. "Oh Leo," Penelope whines. "You might want to stay quiet, you don't want Grover to hear you," Leo says as he starts sucking on her neck. Leo pulls up Penelope's shirt to play with her tits more. Penelope moves her hands up to take her shirt off and Leo touches her wrists. "Leave it on?" Leo asks softly. "S-s-sure, " Penelope replies. Penelope reaches up and takes Leo's shirt off of him and tosses it aside. Penelope starts trying to take Leo's pants off but struggles with the button. "Impatient are we?" Leo chuckles as Penelope whines underneath him. "Just fuck me already," Penelope says. Leo starts gently rubbing her slit through her shorts. "L-leo," Penelope says. "If you say please I'll take them off," Leo chuckles. "N-no you won't," Penelope says. "No, why wouldn't I?" Leo asks. "Because you're mean," Penelope says. "I could be meaner," Leo chuckles. Leo gently moves her shorts and underwear aside and starts gently rubbing her clit. "You're so wet already, I've barely touched you," Leo says Penelope as she lets out a quiet whine. "If you say please I'll make you feel really good," Leo says. "F-f-fuck you," Penelope replies. "Well, I'm trying to," Leo says. "All you have to do is say please," Leo adds. "Fucking, fuck me please!" Penelope yells. "Buena nina," Leo says as he takes off his pants. "I need help," Penelope mumbles. "Oh here," Leo says as he quickly takes off Penelope's shorts and underwear. Leo gently puts his cock into Penelope's aching cunt. "Are you okay?" Leo asks. "Yeah, I'm good," Penelope says. Leo bottoms put in her making Penelope's eyes roll back in her head. Leo continues Thrusting into her as Penelope rests her hands on Leo's back. "Fuck me, you feel so good," Leo whines. "Be quiet you d-dont want Hedge to hear," Penelope replies. Leo starts Thrusting very quickly and Penelope starts scratching his back. They both reach their high and Leo carefully pulls put of her. "You alright?" Leo asks as Penelope starts panting. "Y-yeah," Penelope nods as Leo quickly gets himself dressed before putting Penelope's shorts and underwear back on her. "How's that for bad memories?" Leo teases as she gently taps his chest and starts laughing.

The next morning Grover does not take his eyes off of the large hickey on Penelope's neck. "I'm telling Percy," Grover says. "I told you we shouldn't have let them share a tent," Coach Hedge says. "Relax, it'll go away," Penelope says from on top of Leo's back. "I hope it does pr Percy will kill me," Leo says. "And I'm pretty sure he is capable of it," Leo adds.

Fortunately for Leo they found a river for Penelope to heal her knee and her her neck and Percy did not kill Leo once they returned back to camp.

[songbirds-ocs-snakes]

Meet Tallulah Finch. OC created by me.

Portrayed by Tess Holloway.

-

Tallulah Finch is a Capitol born young woman, intelligent, and at the top of her class alongside Coriolanus Snow. She is emotional, often thinking with a mixture of her emotions and facts, but can sometimes become carried away and can be highly volatile, causing lashing out, screaming, and arguments.

Otherwise, she is very gentle and giving, and always willing to help out people and give them gifts, as her family is very wealthy, however this makes her a target for people who'd like to use that for their own good. Such as Arachne Crane and Festus Creed.

-

Funfacts

-

Her favorite colors are light blue and pink.

Her favorite flower is an iris.

She loves reading romance novels.

She has a younger brother named Lester Finch.

She used to be in Academy Rouge's choir class until they cancelled it to fund other projects.

She considers everyone a friend until proven otherwise.

She is neutral on District people, and doesn't understand why they get so much hate.

She is a good cook and an excellent baker.

Her first kiss was Pup Harrington.

-

Pairings

-

Clemensia x Tallulah

Snowjanus x Tallulah

Coriolanus x Tallulah

Sejanus x Tallulah

Reaper x Tallulah

-

Pairs that are more rare

-

Treech x Tallulah

Festus x Tallulah

Pup x Tallulah

-

If you have any questions about her, please ask! Share ideas with me as well whether it be blurbs for her pairings or anything else.

[asira-mizery]

Trepidations of a District Boy (Sejanus/Marcus + OC)

***NOTE: this short drabble is apart of a longer fic i'm writing on ao3 that isn't centered on this ship (marcus/sejanus) but they've taken me by storm and I just had to write something. i'll probably write more for them cause tragic gay angst always gets to me. In this AU Topaz is Lucy Gray's daughter who he helps raise as his own.

.

Sejanus Plinth had only ever fallen in love twice in his life.

The first being a curly haired, brown skinned, wide eyed classmate named Demeter Hilderbilt. She was only a year younger but had excelled in her studies enough to join his grade. She was loud, always angry, and picked more fights with Festus Creed than one could count on their fingers.

It was no surprise that her father, a high-end Councilman and military strategist named Jupiter Hilderbilt, was abhorrently hateful of his family. To the point that he’d instructed his daughter to not go near the Plinth boy. Even the instructors at the academy had been advised to not pair them up for assignments or otherwise Jupiter would pull his funding from the school.

It was an interesting dilemma seeing as how most of the man’s hatred was directed towards his father, and in turn being his father’s son that was close to his daughter had redirected that anger. So, it was a turn of surprise when Jupiter’s wife, Hestia, had extended a hand to his mother. Offering companionship and another ear in the city as most Capitolite women had ignored his mother’s existence. Holding out her arm during events despite the lackluster expressions from the masses.

Her daughter was relentless.

It wasn’t that she pursued him simply for romantic interests as she first put it, but because he seemed to be one of the few people with his head screwed on. And that even if he didn’t like her romantically, that his friendship would be appreciated. A friend who disliked the games was always appreciated.

But in truth, Sejanus could never be her friend.

Not when her father had eyes all over the city, and one wrong move could break the balance of things.

Coriolanus Snow was his only friend, and one that he could be by his side despite all odds.

But still she pursued.

On the eve of new year’s, in the corner where eyes couldn’t roam, Demeter walked up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

It was the first kiss he’d received from someone other than his mother, and perhaps it was his curious mind that led him to return the kiss in full.

They weren’t friends, and they could never be friends.

But their kisses continued in the dark corners.

Their words flowed like honey and rivers.

“My grandfather was from the districts. So, I don’t know if that’s why I can’t stand the games. I don’t know…I just feel like collective punishment is immoral. None of them deserve to be displayed like animals for crimes they never committed.” She’d told him one afternoon.

“Collective punishment is immoral. It’s a tactic used to assert control. When those with no power see that they can be killed despite having done no wrong, they can only ever resist or submit themselves. So, you’re right. I just wish everyone else could see it that way.” Sejanus responded, watching as she twirled a blade of grass between her fingers.  

They could never be friends, but she was always there in front of him. With her melancholic smile and her loud words. Her soft kisses and bruised hands. It was then, when one day after their escapades of teenage glory, that Sejanus realized his heart had grown. Finding himself smiling whenever she started her rants early in the morning. Sneaking around with her to explore things he could never utter to a single soul (or else her father would punish her greatly, which meant not even Coriolanus could know).

But they could never be friends, much less what Demeter had truly aspired for them to be. And Sejanus saw the betrayal in her eyes when he told her that.

Afterwards, when she tried hiding her tear-stained cheeks, Sejanus felt too ashamed to even look her way.

.

.

The second was Marcus Alcove.

Marcus Alcove wasn’t someone Sejanus ever thought could throw him off track the way he did.

It was a cruel twist of fate, he figured. The Academy staff probably laughed as they paired him with his old classmate. ‘The boy from 2 ought to mentor one of his own.’ Or most likely it was his father who’d bribed them into giving him the boy from District 2, to set his mind straight. Furthering the gap between him and his birthplace. A grand showcase to the people of 2 that the Plinth’s were never on their level. He felt his stomach lurch the moment Dean Highbottom called it out.

“District 2 Male Tribute, Marcus Alcove – Sejanus Plinth.”

Snickers from his classmates echoed across the room, laughing at the twisted fate of the district-born boy. But for which boy he wondered; maybe it was both. Of course it was both.

There wasn’t much he remembered about Marcus, except for a vivid memory that was etched into his brain before he could comprehend the horrors of what was to come next.

“You like apples, right?” A young 6-year-old Marcus asked, rubbing his snotty nose against his sleeve.

“I do! Especially red ones!” Sejanus grins, his front tooth missing but nonetheless continued to gnaw on hardened fruits.

Marcus pulls out a small paper bag, his tiny fingers grabbing onto a few apple slices and handed them over.

“Here, my Ma said I should share them with you.” Marcus smiled as Sejanus plucked the slices from his hand.

“Thanks!”

“Yeah. She asked if I wanted strawberries but they’re too sour.” Marcus bit into the apple slice, snot still sliding down.

Sejanus nods, “Same here.” That was a lie. Sejanus loved strawberries! So why did he lie?

The gap between them was large, and it only grew as Marcus continued to shovel his distrust towards him. Sejanus couldn’t blame the boy. Despite being born in 2, his old home saw him as a newly born pure-bred Capitol. A bloodthirsty Capitolite whose father betrayed them and sold weapons to the Capitol.

Whose father had set up a prize to excite the mentors into gaining a victor for the games; to bring out the most nauseating, abhorrent ideas one could conjure up to make the games more enticing.

Whose money from the weapons sold to kill their own people bought the clothes he wore. The watches on his wrist. No longer was Sejanus Plinth one of their own. He lost that right the moment he left.

“My goodness, Sejanus Plinth.” Marcus laughed coldly when they locked eyes for the time in over a decade, “Still alive and it looks like the Capitol is treating you well, huh? Fancy new suit you got there.”

But Sejanus persisted. He’d been forced into this position, the very least he could do was make sure they weren’t being starved to death.

Out of ill refute, Marcus revealed that he still liked apples.

Sejanus brought him apple turnovers the next day. He watched as Marcus stared at the turnover, fingers gripping onto the pastry so harshly that it began to break apart, before throwing it onto the ground and spitting on it.

Truthfully, he had no idea why he was so desperate to gain Marcus’s favor, knowing that it would never happen. His family had betrayed him. Had betrayed their people.

Was it his darkened brown eyes? So deep that Sejanus felt as though he could lose himself in them.

The flow of his hair?

The curve of his lips?

The witty remarks?

The fact that Marcus’s words clung to him so deeply, on a level that had Sejanus unable to sleep for most nights.

“I don’t want your food, pretty boy.”

“But you’ll need strength for the arena!” Sejanus argued, desperate to get the boy to accept his Ma’s sandwiches.

Marcus’s face shrivels up, “Why? Feeding me like an animal before the slaughter, Plinth? You take joy out of feeding us mere crumbs only to see our bloods spilled like savages, just like your daddy?” Despite his eyes being brown, there was a flaring red that blazed inside of them. The pits of his eyes were as dark as the abyss, pulling Sejanus even further in.

“I—”

“Quit pretending you care about me.” Marcus hisses, “You’re just like everyone else in this fucking place. Being nice doesn’t change the fact that our blood funds your new home, Plinth. Funds the fancy new clothes you wear. So, take your sandwiches and shove them up your ass.”

Sejanus was grateful Coriolanus had helped him pass out the rest of the sandwiches, but even then, as he saw the tributes take bites – Marcus’s words never left his mind. Like an echo that never seemed to fade away.

Marcus was handsome. No if ands or buts about it. He had the type of gentlemanly look that Sejanus couldn’t stop staring at. Why couldn’t he stop looking at Marcus? Was it normal to think about another guy so much? Many people had brown eyes and hair! But of course, one could admire another guy’s good looks! But would he be as bad as the decrepit men who snickered over district girls with sinister thoughts?

Marcus looked rough but his words were harsher.

Yet he was just as funny as he was from their youth.

To other tributes, however.

Sure, Sejanus was living in the Capitol – but they saw him as district. Why couldn’t Marcus still see him as such? Why couldn’t Marcus tell him such jokes like he once did? (He knew why, he knew exactly why. The illogical part of his brain just refused to admit it).

Why was he so agitated over Marcus leaning against another boy’s shoulders for rest? They were all tributes headed for the same fate except for a singular one. Of course they’d lean on each other for support before being forced to tear each other’s throats off!

“You’ve always been cute, but if you ever tell anyone I said that I’ll crawl out of my grave and drag you down with me.” Marcus spat at him before the interview with Lucky Flickerman.

Sejanus felt his heart race – the same way it did with Demeter.

He shouldn’t be having these feelings.

He shouldn’t have been sitting across from his father during dinner with flashes of Marcus’s eyes gazing up at him in his head.

NO!

He didn’t deserve to harbor such feelings when the very lifestyle he was living was sending his old classmate to his imminent doom. When his own father was orchestrating a competition to make the boy’s demise much more favorable to elite citizens of the Capitol. Sending their own people to die. Guilt clung to Sejanus like a second skin. He could barely hold down his food, much less shove it down his throat. Water turned to ash as it hit his tongue. And right before the games started, in the dark corners of the room, Marcus turned around brushed his lips against his.

It came out of nowhere, almost knocking Sejanus off his feet.

It was electrifying. Sending goosebumps down his back as the boy leaned in, the smell of musk ever so persistent. His lips were riddled with dirt and blood, and his eyes were pooled with such intensity Sejanus felt like he would drown. The kiss bruised his lips, but he wanted more.

“You know, I liked you back then. But you’d already left before I could tell you that.”

“It was nice knowing you, pretty boy.” Marcus whispered in his ears before turning around to leave.

And later, when his eyes flickered to see Marcus’s body on the floor, unmoving – Sejanus felt as though his very soul had been ripped out and shoved into the deepest pits of purgatory. He didn’t think when his legs walked out of his house. He didn’t think when he grabbed the bag of breadcrumbs. He didn’t think when he walked right into the arena and looked onto the boy’s lifeless body. He knelt down, rage clawing at his chest, and began to sprinkle the crumbs over Marcus’s body.

If Marcus couldn’t get peace in this world, he surely deserved it in the next.

And when he was saved by Coriolanus, he figured if no one else was left at least he had him. He had his brother. His best friend. He would one day tell Coriolanus of what exactly unfolded, and surely Coryo would understand.

(Though there was always an underlying fear that even Coriolanus wouldn’t understand a boy liking another boy, and even a girl. It wasn’t as if such things were talked about publicly. Always hidden, always hushed.)

And after his father yelled at him with such indignation that he swore the cabinets shook, Sejanus ran to the bathroom – the gush of bile coming out of his throat. It burned as he emptied the contents of his stomach. He stared at the vomit, feeling his ears ringing. Sejanus then locked the doors to his bedroom and shoved his face into the blood-soaked pillows.

He wasn’t a crier.

Sejanus wasn’t a crier, even when the kids bullied at school. His father instilled in him that men never cried. Even in the face of agony. So, Sejanus promised his father, at the mere age of 10, that he would never cry.

Yet that night, Sejanus broke the first promise he ever made to his father, and cried until he could no longer. Until his tears dried on his cheeks and his voice was so hoarse that a meager ‘Ma’ hurt his throat. Until his blood-soaked pillows were now soaked with tears. He howled into it, feeling every fiber of his being ripping apart. It was a primal yell, one that left him banging his fists into the cushy mattress.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” But what good was saying I’m sorry if they were already dead? If his actions had done nothing? He’d just sent his former classmate to die, and he had the audacity to cry?

And when the altercation with the rebels occurred, and the one man he deemed a brother – a true friend- his only final friend- his best friend shot at him: Sejanus could only think of his Ma. How far out of reach she was and how he would do anything to hold her one last time. And later, when the reality of the situation clarified, he thought of Marcus and Demeter as the sound of bullets continued to ring in his ear.

There was regret.

Regret he never befriended Demeter.

Regret that he couldn’t save Marcus. That he couldn’t know Marcus beyond the few measly moments granted to him by the universe in his final days. So, when Lucy Gray and Topaz had stumbled into his life, Sejanus swore he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

He would befriend Lucy Gray, and he would protect Topaz till his very last breath. Even in the face of the brother who had betrayed him.

So, Sejanus takes his daughter’s arm, dressed in finely pressed clothing his Ma had picked out for them, and they head off.

[gigizsn]

moody teenagers getting kidnapped

So, the mentors' children, who are 13 in here, are on the way to a school field trip to the Capitol museum, and all of a sudden, their Professor and the bus driver gets knocked out by two masked men who broke into the bus and everyone is freaking out.

And during this time, they're very, very moody teenagers.

The kids just start yelling "Do you know who our parents are?!" at the masked men.

One of the masked men takes over and drives the bus to an abandoned house.

The kids start yelling even more.

He just tells everyone to shut up or he'll kill them in an instant.

Surprisingly, it works??

They arrive at the abandoned house, and the kids are pushed in there.

It isn't just the two masked men of course, there are five more in the abandoned house.

One of them says, "Alright, I'm going to call your parents to pay me a ransom of 50 million in order to get all of you brats out."

So, he does. He calls Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray first, and tells him to gather all the parents of the children at Coryo's penthouse and pay a ransom of 50 million.

And the parents are freaking out!

Felix and Clemmie are very worried, but they know Aelia will kick the kidnapper's ass and find a way out somehow because come on, she's a mini version of both Felix and Clemmie. (she got the Ravinstill punch and the Dovecote kick!)

Festus and Pippa are more worried than Clemmie and Felix are, because they know Athena is a sweetheart and won't hurt anyone.

Hilarius & Vippie and Livia & Arachne have a similar reaction to Felix and Clemmie.

Lucy Gray and Coriolanus Snow are FREAKING OUT. June Ruby is the smallest compared to all her classmates and is as pure as snow, she won't even flick an ant!

Io and Urban are also freaking out, because Albert is a nerd and doesn't know how to fight that well, despite having Urban as his father.

Apollo & Androcles, Lyssie & her husband, Iphigenia & Diana, Florus & Palmyra, and Juno & Domitia are nervous that their children won't be able to get out from there and that the kidnappers will kill their children.

Once all the parents are in Coryo and Lucy Gray's penthouse, he calls the kidnapper again.

The kidnapper's like: "If you all want your children, you must pay me a ransom of 50 million!", though it isn't really clear because of everyone either shouting or crying.

The six masked men are telling their kids to shut up but they can't really hear them.

The kidnapper has to repeat it ten times to the parents.

Now, here's when Aelia, Achilles, and Plutarch get to kick ass.

All of a sudden, Achilles knocks one of the kidnappers out with a pan he randomly found in the house.

This alerts the other kidnappers, so Aelia, and Plutarch help Achilles knock the others out.

The kidnapper on the phone tries to stop the kids, but he was in the middle of threatening their parents.

Their parents could hear all the fighting going on from the phone and they're all speechless.

Plutarch sneaks up behind the kidnapper, who's on the phone and knocks him out too!

All of the kidnappers are knocked out, and they find a way out! (they get out of the abandoned house and just walk in the Capitol streets until they see the Academy)

[felixravinstills]

In the most insane plot twist of the century, attempting to write a Felix Ravinstill x OC story has revealed to me the allure of Felix x Festus (at least in the ways that I've characterized them) and therefore prompts me to consider writing them as a throuple (a move that will mean a lot of reworking the original outline).

[goldenflowers]

🐍 same, there were many things i did not enjoy about HoO but leo is one of the highlights i will always treasure from it. in fact I made my OC just so I could make them be friends with him bc it's like an old childhood dream of mine 😭 it's several years late but i will do it anyway. have u ever made any pjo ocs?

I read your post and i agree with you so much!! EN did jamil so dirty and just the few changes they made to his lines flipped the entire dynamic between him and kalim and basically completely erased how tragic and difficult their situation is, and portrayed jamil as basically just someone throwing a fit over something easily changeable when it isn't. I play on JP so I was so surprised to see the changes EN made, it sucked seeing so many ppl hate my fav

oh nooo yeah if both riddle and jamil are in the athena cabin i have no clue who'd become the head counselor... this is so hard, if only we could have more than one :(. Kalim'd def be in a different cabin at least, but just him being around camp would make it so much harder for jamil to be himself, it hurts my heart. there are so many ways you can write this and it all has so much angst potential. on the other hand you're so right abt the missed leo nico friendship bc i always intuitively felt they could've be good friends without knowing why, but your analysis puts everything into words and makes me even sadder we had such a missed opportunity... like cmon rick....

idia labwear groovy but nico is actually so funny - nico ominously approaching cats with his hands out like the grabbing emoji when nobody is looking and completely unaware how scared the cats feel, meanwhile all he wants is to spend some time with kitty before the chain sneezing sets in

I love your ideas abt the outfits I think they fit super well!! if i get around to doodling the characters in a twst au i'd like to reference your ideas if that's okay with you! They'd both probably attempt to wear the uniforms as a full set in the beginning then decide it's way too much of a hassle/feels too stiff (totally not an excuse to want to draw them in the full outfit), then begin modifying things so it felt more like themselves, though at least I think they both would like the ignihyde uniforms better than the other dorms, igni's seems more casual and practical than the other ones imo. for some reason i feel like the savanaclaw colours would look good on leo, i just picture yellow being a nice colour on him - but leo in savanaclaw would just be like him stuck with a ton of jocks feeling confused why he's even there lool

also imagine leo meeting ortho, he'd be so fascinated that something like ortho was possible and be inspired to make a robot of his own (twst festus origin story?) idk if there's a robotics club but i could see that being leo's club of choice, nico maybe board games... which means he'd meet idia and azul omg, what do you think?

sorry it took me a bit a longer to answer this time. i haven't!! i don't make OCs super often in general, i don't even really have one for twst haha, but i love seeing all the creativity other people put into their OCs.

yeah exactly!! i do keep up with the JP main story updates and have read most of the JP events through fan translations, but i started by playing on EN. and i feel really lucky that i recognized the words for master and servant and could tell they were mistranslating some things, because i can imagine that otherwise i would've come out of it hating jamil for "betraying" kalim too. instead i loved him and was a little annoyed with kalim until book 5 showed more of his growth. i don't ship jamil and kalim but i do love both of them and it's sad that the complexity of their dynamic got watered down so much... i will note, though, that the app is rated E10+ on the google play store and 4+ on the iOS app store, so my guess is that higher-ups at disney thought the actual story wasn't kid-friendly enough.

something else to keep in mind with athena kids that i actually sort of forgot about until recently, is that they're all claimed from birth and therefore are pursued by monsters from birth :( and then also the fact that athena is a virgin goddess who just sort of gives babies to people who might not have been prepared to have one... i bet that would make things so much rougher for riddle and jamil. some other ideas i had are that if jamil's parent was a minor god, it could be nemesis (goddess of revenge) or terpsichore (muse of dance). and for kalim, if his parent was an olympian it would be either dionysus or apollo and if it was a minor god it'd be tyche (goddess of luck and fortune). like you said, there's so many different ways i could see their story going in an AU like this and they'd all be so angsty.

if you wanna see more analysis on how nico and leo fit together there's some stuff i've reblogged from others in my valdangelo tag! not all of it is necessarily romantic, i just basically use that for anything about the two of them--and a lot of the reasons why people like the ship are reasons why they'd work platonically as well. but yeah one of my biggest criticisms of HoO is how even though i like all the new characters for the most part, i feel like their relationships to each other were largely defined by romance (and i don't just mean the actual couples, but also the frank-hazel-leo love triangle for example) and a lot of potential was missed because of that!

oh yeah go for it!! feel free to use pretty much any of these ideas we've been brainstorming as basis for your own headcanons and stuff, i don't mind at all. and like i've been saying, if you did draw anything for this AU i'd love to see it. i can definitely see that about leo and nico both trying on the full uniform and then quickly deciding not to bother with it anymore lol. i imagined them both not wearing the tie because i just think nico wouldn't really want to and that leo might not even know how to tie one AFSKJGHDF. do you think leo would add any other accessories or personalization to his school uniform? also, i was thinking, i totally agree that they'd both like the ignihyde uniform, especially nico because it resembles the bulky jackets he normally likes to wear! but i wonder what nico would wear for a dorm uniform if he transferred to ramshackle... according to one of silver's voice lines at least, they canonically don't have one, so maybe he'd just wear, like, a my chemical romance shirt and call that a uniform lol. or keep his ignihyde uniform and confuse everyone.

omg, i love the thought of leo meeting ortho and being inspired to make festus because of him. he'd definitely be so fascinated by everything ortho could do. as for the clubs, i saved this excellent post about NRC's clubs for reference a while back, and since no other existing clubs were mentioned in either of the camp vargas events, i assume that that's all of them. but afaik there's nothing that says leo couldn't start a robotics club, and i'm sure there'd be people willing to join! out of the existing clubs i can totally see nico being in the board game club, i think that'd be a lot of fun for him.

[twoidiotwriters1]

Almighty (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: We love a mature love interest -Danny Words: 2,600 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter Listen to: 'Feels Like' -by Gracie Abrams

XLI: Lester My Man, You're Scaring the Hoes

"The Throne of Memory, we need it now!" Lester exclaims while Peaches carries in Meg. "Calypso—Notepad?"

"Got it!"

"Stay with me, Meg, you're among friends now. You're in the Throne of Mnemosyne. Speak your prophecy!"

Meg opens her mouth, an oracle voice coming out smoothly.

The words that memory wrought are set to fire,

Ere new moon rises o'er the Devil's Mount.

The changeling lord shall face a challenge dire,

Till bodies fill the Tiber beyond count.

"Oh, no," Lester winces. "No, no, no."

"What?" Leo asks.

"We're going to need a bigger notepad."

"Surely the prophecy's done—"

Yet southward must the sun now trace its course,

Through mazes dark to lands of scorching death

To find the master of the swift white horse

And wrest from him the crossword speaker's breath.

To westward palace must the Lester go;

Demeter's daughter finds her ancient roots.

The cloven guide alone the way does know,

To walk the path in thine own enemy's boots.

When three are known and Tiber reached alive,

'Tis only then Apollo starts to jive.

Meg slumps forward and Lester holds her, shaking like a leaf.

"What was that? Buy one prophecy, get three free? That was a lot of lines." Leo scoffs.

"It was a sonnet. May the gods help us; it was a Shakespearean sonnet."

"That was all one poem?" Thalia frowns. "But it had four different sections."

"Yes. The sonnet conveys only the most elaborate prophecies, with multiple moving parts. None of them good, I fear. We will parse our doom later. We should let Meg rest—" Lester collapses next to the girl suddenly, having run out of energy.

"I'm sorry about Festus..."

Leo grins. "Nah, man. I can put him back together easy enough. I redesigned him so he's like a Lego kit, built for quick assembly!"

Lester nudges her discretely and speaks in a whisper. "Did you tell him what happened at the cave?"

"Yeah," Ara sighs. "He's made his decision. And it's fine, really. He's right, trying to foresee what the right choice is, that's exactly why Janus had so much fun harassing me all these years. You can't opt out of heartache."

Lester hums, eyeing her carefully. "So what now?"

"Now I gotta figure out my new body settings. I still feel like sleeping, but I don't know what will happen if I do. What if I wake up in Olympus? Or worse, what if I combust and die?"

"Many humans have turned into gods," Lester says simply. "You'll be fine."

"You have no empathy towards my issue," she says and continues before he can deny it, "I get it, it feels unfair to you. Just don't try to comfort me, you won't do it right. Not even I know what I'm sad about, I'm having trouble recalling what I lost."

During the funeral rituals for Heloise the griffin, Ara stands with Thalia, needing to speak with someone who might know what she's feeling. "When you became a hunter," she says, "weren't you scared about the whole immortality bit?"

Thalia chuckles. "To be honest, no. I've got no hopes of living long either way, you know?"

Ara looks at her, now taller than the hunter. "I was twelve when I met you, now we're the same age. You've done well so far, so why not consider you might live a few centuries?"

Thalia puts an arm around her shoulders. "To me, you're always going to be a kid, just like Percy. Immortality doesn't change how I feel, it only messes up time, which is something I was already used to since I was a tree for years."

Ara sighs. "Right."

"I'm sorry I can't help you, Birdy," Thalia says empathetically.

"It's almost like you were fated to be where you are," she shakes her head. "I don't feel that way. I feel used."

Thalia raises a brow. "Ara, whether the gods tricked you into it or not, you do good in the world, and it doesn't matter how it came to be."

"I guess," her voice cracks, "I just wish I hadn't been stripped of my own sense of self in order to do so. I'm not Ara anymore."

Thalia hugs her. "You've never been anything other than who you've always been, you just haven't gotten the time to get to know your new body, but trust me—If you weren't you, Leo wouldn't have looked at you the way he did after you fought Commodus."

"My moms told me you might be my dad," Georgie says, staring at Lester's shoes.

"I—I might be, Georgina," Lester blushes down to his neck. "I don't know."

"'Kay. Made this for you. You can take it with you when you go away."

She hands him a doll made with pipe cleaners. "Thank you. Georgina, if you ever need me, if you ever want to talk—"

"No, I'm good." 

Lester is slightly hurt as the girl runs back into Jo's arms. Ara pats his shoulder. "Don't take it personally. If my dad—" her voice catches in the word. "If my progenitor had shown up claiming to be part of my life... that's just stupid. A parent looks after you when you're vulnerable, not when you're old enough to not need them."

"Those visions in the cave... you met your dad?"

"Must've been primal memories," Ara frowns. "From the day he left me at the orphanage."

"But you know his face now, you could—"

"He's dead." Saying it out loud feels like taking off the heaviest winter coat. "Killed by one of you."

"A god?"

"He died within the day of abandoning me—not a chance of vindication for that guy... his car stopped working."

Lester scowls. "Well, it must've been Aphrodite."

"She would've told me," Ara shakes her head. "I mean, why wouldn't she? A man who rejects her gifts isn't worthy anymore."

"Who, then?"

"Maybe he pissed off someone else on the way, maybe the fates kill off the parents of abandoned demigods. Thalia's mom died after she gave away Jason..."

"So he's dead."

"Yeah..." And then she sniffs, crying softly.

Lester stiffens. "I'm sorry..."

"I'm happy," Ara admits, "I've feared for years that one day he'd try to take me away from my parents and I wouldn't be able to say no because I'm underage..." she sobs. "I was scared of a man that didn't even care enough to feel anything towards me... I get it now, why I cling to my title."

"You don't wanna feel like your father was right," Lester concludes, deeply understanding her. "That you were a curse."

"Now I find out he's been dead all along, that giving me away was a mistake..." She crumbles and clings to Lester, who wraps his arms around her, slightly shocked. "I think knowing would've been enough."

The Waystation is packed with cheery-looking people, even Meg and Lester look that way. Even Ara.

"Okay," says Calypso. "We've interpreted some of these lines, but we need your help, Apollo. Maybe you could start by telling us what happened at the Cave of Trophonius."

Meg is quick to hand over the responsibility. "Don't remember much. You two go ahead." 

Lester and Ara take turns talking.

"I don't mind the Oracle being destroyed, but I worry about Georgie. She's always felt connected to that place. And Agamethus... she likes him a lot." Emmie says.

"The last thing I want is to cause more pain to Georgina. I think, though, the destruction of the cave was necessary. Not just for us. But for her. It may free her to move forward."

"We cannot remain," Ara adds. "Agamethus told you that the other day, didn't he? You told me that."

Lester remembers. "True. Maybe he was ready for this." 

"All right, then," Jo continues. "About the prophecy..."

"The first stanza mentions the new moon," Thalia comments.

"Time limit," Leo sighs, draping one arm around Ara's shoulders. "Always a dang time limit."

"But the next new moon is in only five nights," the hunter frowns.

"Bodies filling up the Tiber," Emmie quotes, "I assume the Tiber refers to the Little Tiber, the barrier of Camp Jupiter in California."

"Yeah. The changeling lord... that's gotta be our homeboy Frank Zhang. And the Devil's Mount, that's Mount Diablo, right near the camp. I hate Mount Diablo. Ara and I fought Enchiladas there once."

"I got hit by lightning," Ara winces. "Not fun."

Jo glances at them with concern. "So the demigods of New Rome are about to be attacked."

"I believe the first stanza is all of a piece. It mentions the words that memory wrought. Ella the harpy is at Camp Jupiter, using her photographic memory to reconstruct the lost books of the Cumaean Sybil. The details aren't important right now. My guess is that the Triumvirate means to eliminate the threat by burning down the camp. The words that memory wrought are set to fire." Lester explains.

Calypso scowls. "Five days. How do we warn them in time? All our means of communication are down."

"We gotta send someone," Ara replies. "Can't be the hunters, they'll attract attention. That without mentioning they've done too much for us already."

"Damn right," Leo nods at the girl. "You've done enough for us, T."

Thalia glances at Ara with a little grin. "All in a day's work, guys. But you do owe me a bottle of the Texas hot sauce you were telling me about, Valdez."

"That can be arranged," Leo smirks.

"Well and good, but we're left with the same dilemma. How do we get a message to California in five days?"

"Me," Leo declares casually.

"Leo," Calypso shakes her head. "It took us six weeks just to get here from New York."

"Yeah, but with four passengers. And... no offense, one of them was a former god who was attracting us all kinds of negative attention and had no means to deal with it. Ara and I were dragging your butts until you got your magic back. I'll be fine."

Everyone looks at Ara like waiting for the bomb to explode, but instead, she smiles. "You sure you got this?"

"I travel fast and light," he taps the table with eager digits. "I've covered that much distance before by myself. I can do it."

"I believe you," Ara says. "But you told Lester you wanted an easy life..."

"I'll just enroll late for the spring semester! Cal can help me catch up. Besides, it'll be good to see Hazel and Frank again. And Reyna, too, though that girl still scares me."

"I love Reyna," Ara says, maybe too fancifully, because Leo glances at her with a scowl.

"Yeah, well," he reaches for a piece of her hair and tugs to regain her attention. "My point is, I've got plenty of time to start that life. You guys don't."

Lester sighs heavily. "No, we really don't."

"So we've got one stanza figured out. Yippee," Thalia puts away her knife. "What about the rest?"

"I'm afraid the rest is about Meg and me."

"Yep," Meg nods while still eating. "Pass the biscuits?"

Josephine gives her the entire basket. "So the line about the sun going southward, that's you, Apollo."

"Obviously. The third emperor must be somewhere in the American Southwest, in a land of scorching death. We get there through mazes—"

"The Labyrinth," Meg offers.

Ara groans. "I hate that place. I don't care how dormant Chiron thinks it is."

"We must find the crossword speaker," Lester insists. "I believe that refers to the Erythraean Sybil, another ancient Oracle. I... I don't remember much about her—"

"Surprise," Meg taunts him.

"But she was known to issue her prophecies in acrostics—word puzzles."

"Sounds bad. Annabeth told me how she met the Sphinx in the Labyrinth once. Riddles, mazes, puzzles... No thanks. Give me something I can shoot."

"I remember the Sphinx," Ara tilts her head. "Whiny."

"And the third emperor? Do you know who it is?" Emmie questions.

"Meg," Lester looks at the girl. "what about the line Demeter's daughter finds her ancient roots? Do you have any family in the Southwest? Do you remember ever going there before?"

Meg hesitates a millisecond before replying. "Nah."

Lester and Ara share a knowing look. "Hey, though," Leo pipes in. "That next line, The cloven guide alone the way does know. That means you get a satyr? They're guides, aren't they, like Coach Hedge was? That's, like, their thing."

"True," Jo nods. "But we haven't seen a satyr in these parts since—"

"Decades," Emmie sighs.

"I'll find us one," Meg burps.

"How?" Lester frowns.

"Just will."

"I wouldn't mind a satyr. My friend Grover is one," Ara ponders. "Haven't seen him in months..."

"That just leaves the closing couplet: When three are known and Tiber reached alive, / 'Tis only then Apollo starts to jive." Calypso reads again.

Leo wiggles in his seat doing a funny dance. "About time, man. Lester needs more jive."

"Hmph." Lester adopts a haughty expression. "I believe those lines mean we will soon know the identity of all three emperors. Once our next quest is complete in the Southwest, Meg and I can travel to Camp Jupiter, reaching the Tiber alive. Then, I hope, I can find the path back to my former glory."

"By... jive talkin'," Leo sings out of tune.

"Shut up," Lester grumbles.

Leo and Ara watch the hunters from the rooftop as they leave, riding the army of ostriches.

"Man, this never gets old," the boy grins, leaning against her. "By the way, you know Lester has a crush on you, right?"

Ara snorts so hard she coughs. "Yeah, right," she glances down at the aforementioned, currently bickering with Meg as they return to the Waystation. "He can't stand me."

"He can't stand how nervous you make him," Leo retorts. "Trust me, that guy is hanging by a thread."

"His soul light ignites for others."

"I said he's got a crush, not that he's happy about it," the boy clarifies. "Soul lights only show people's positive emotions. I wasn't happy to be crazy about you after like a day of knowing you. You saw mine until I gave in."

Ara shifts in her place uncomfortably. "Is that why you volunteered to travel to Camp Jupiter? To make sure I'm not left alone with Lester for long?"

"Nah, it's never gonna happen between you two," he laughs. "He's all spectacle and you're all substance. He would fizzle out the moment he tried to touch you."

Ara blushes. "Don't be dumb..."

"Reyna, on the other hand," he raises his voice teasingly, turning sideways against the railing to face her. "That's a conversation we gotta have out. I don't see no soul lights, but I practically heard you moan her name."

The girl gets even redder. "Leo!"

"Listen, I won't hate if you tell me you feel some kind of way about her. I also love a girl that can step on me, Ripley from Alien could get it—"

"Leo!"

"I just feel like... like you're no longer mine to keep. And if you feel more in tune with her than with me... I just... I want to know."

Ara stares at him, shocked but not angry. "Are you serious?" 

"About 90%."

She doesn't even know what to answer. "Just because I'm... whatever I am, doesn't mean I suddenly developed an interest in dating multiple people at the same time!"

"Yeah, no, but I don't know, I feel like I'm hoarding too much real state that needs more than one person to look after it—"

"Are you calling me property right now?" 

"I'm calling you a freaking goddess on earth," Leo huffs, "who is worth so much more than I can offer. I won't give you up, but if you... if you feel like you want something better, or different, I—"

"Leónidas," Ara holds his face. "Yes, I have a crush on Reyna, but this is crazy talk."

"You're only saying that because you haven't settled into power yet," he grumbles through a pout. "Let it simmer and see if you're still happy having me as your only partner."

"You're crazy. But I knew that since the start." She kisses his nose. "I can't believe Lester sent you spiralling like this—We've been dating for more than a year, Cracker."

"Technically, it's been nine months. I went missing for six."

"You were my boyfriend, weren't you?"

"Was I?"

"Duh."

That's a good enough response for Leo, so he kisses her.

Next Chapter –>

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris @obxstiles @ellipsisspelled @thepixiechicksh @ebony-reine-vibes

[abimee]

i cant find myself talking about flatline anywhere on this blog which is crazy cause shes one of the older YOU/ME ocs (i think she even predates First Victim?)

anyway the basics with her is she's the exiled one in her community, like if first victim and drew are outcasts then Flatline is 30 paces farther than them. NOBODY talks to Flatline and she has no friends, and rumors are spread about her all around with baseless claims like that she goes to the City at night and robs people of their money, that she was given up for adoption because she's cursed, or that she isn't actually a teenager and has simply been held back so many years that she's still stuck in school

the only facts anybody knows is that she's a rat and in some way related to Knogler, the region's original chemist/scientist who now sits locked up down in the Comical Kingdom, and that she was raised by a goat woman who passed away when she was young. She lives down in the valley near Amare and Festus, and she walks to school every day through the mountains with just a backpack and some old shoes

when the dickheads go down to the Comical kingdom and get ensared in the issue with the Queen, Flatline is repeatedly seen down there and tells them all to go back home and to get out of this place; Capra-Marie thinks Flatline followed them down there, but when they talk to Odiar they find out Flatline has been visiting the Comical kingdom for years, and it's not unusual for her to spend long periods of time down in town.

Sprite_DeadChild senses that something is off with Flatline due to her (at the time) singular skeletonized arm and leg, since it's the same affliction Drew has but in a strange form where only part of her body has skeletonized. Flatline refuses to comment on it

ancient art of Flatline and Curve.....

[anarkhebringer]

All my Art Fight attacks from this year! In order we have:

porkchop for @m-o-ths Festus for @floople-doople​ The Eye Merchant for Mock_Orange (IG and Toyhouse) Butterfly Boy (Bibi) for Potatingwolfy (IG and Toyhouse) Sky Deathstar for @seyumei Natsume for bluejaypace (Twitter, IG and Toyhouse) Adarkidai Kha for NukinitArt (Twitter) Crash for @pokebeans Dheo for _koru_ru (Twitter)