#harpy castor

[o-i-w-u]

my brainrot grows

[amoreva]

girl i beg you i need reader x luke based on gorgeous by taylor swift... its been on my mind for like past week

FESS UP!

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pairing: luke castellan x reader

summary: you still have some unresolved feelings about a certain Hermes counselor.

warnings: cursing, implied reader is halfblood, sexual innuendo, dorky, drinking, kinda loser!reader

a/n: is it dorky? probably, lmk with feedback in the comments. every one is appreciated and helps me write towards your liking.

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You were a coward.

Not with everything, because gods forbid you’re afraid of monsters despite having demigod-blood in you.

No, you were a coward with confrontation. With emotions, with love. Mainly love. You couldn’t even confess to a someone without your stomach churning.

And how you expressed attraction was…not ideal, according to Silena. You kind of, sort of—just a tad made fun of some things you found attractive of them.

Ideally, you wanted to leave yourself out for the harpies to maul you when your crushes give you a look (you knew you fucked up).

Which is why you have stuck to the tactic of watch and admire from afar and be happy with just friendship.

A classic.

The bonfire burned high and orange as many of the older campers and counselors, including yourself, were hanging out without the responsibilities of taking care of your younger siblings.

The typical red solo cups were in the hands of every demigod. A mysterious mixture made by Dionysus’ twins, Pollux and Castor, occupied the container. They never told anyone the recipe or what’s in it, but it left a warm feeling in your chest.

“You keep staring and he’s bound to notice.” Silena sat next to you. “Or your eyes fall out.”

“I hate him. Why does he have to look like that?” You groaned and sipped your drink to distract you from your current crush.

Luke Castellan. The golden boy of Camp Half-Blood. He could charm anyone’s pants off with a smile. It was frustrating how good looking and friendly and cool and kind he was. Fuck him.

He was talking the Chris and Beckendorf about who knows what. Somehow, the Hermes counselor has yet to have a girlfriend. He’s probably a virgin. You could fix that.

“Honey…” Silena looked at you with concern in her eyes and a polite smile. “The whole sit and admire tactic is redundant. Talk to him.”

“Silena…” You whined and the girl was preparing herself to listen to your list of excuses of why you can’t.

“No, no—don’t whine like a baby!” Silena dumped the rest of her drink into your cup. Taking initiative, she made your chug like half. “Fess up or mess up! Take some liquid courage and go talk to him.”

“Silen—” You sputtered as your chest grew as warm as the bonfire. Your throat burned in a good way.

Whoever said Silena was the Camp’s Cupid was right and she was quite determined to get a start on pairing you and Luke. Just to see how it turns out, of course.

Next thing you know, you’re dragged over to Luke, Chris and Beckendorf; interrupting the boys’ conversation. Silena made up some lame excuse and said a quick introduction before shoving Chris and Beckendorf away from Luke and you.

Gods, he’s so gorgeous. His curly hair tosseles over his head. His eyes meeting yours as he sipped on his own drink. That amused smirk that paired so well with his scar—both working in favor of his boyish charm.

And suddenly he’s moving his mouth.

“Hey.” He said normal and polite as one would do. Obviously.

And you can’t help but think of Tangled. Specifically, the scene when Flynn Rider is tied up to a chair with Rapunzel’s hair. She interrogating him and all he could muster was a smolder and the word “Hey”, to try and charm his way out.

Luke looks out quizzically as you poorly try to stifle a mix between a giggle and a snort behind your hand. He must’ve thought you were crazy for laughing or extremely rude.

It’s frustrating how nervous you can be in front of your crushes.

“Hi—sorry…” You managed to quiet your laughs and awkwardly sip your drink. The words began flying out of your mouth before you had a chance to stop. “I was thinking about how you remind me of Flynn Rider from Tangled. How are you?”

“Tangled?” Luke tilted his head in confusion. Oh gods, has this boy never experience Disney movies? This just made it even more terribly awkward if he didn’t get the reference.

“Y’know…the girl with the glowing hair locked in a tower until Flynn Rider gets her out to see the lanterns in exchange for the crown?” You explained.

“Oh! Rapunzel.” Luke nodded. “Yeah I remember that. I always loved the lantern scene.”

“Me too! I’ve always wanted to experience something like that.” You agreed and looked over at the bonfire. Silena and Beckendorf encouraging you to keep talking to him.

Though Luke and you fell silent. Your mind wracking topics to talk about with him, but all you can think of is how handsome he is. Now looks aren’t everything, but his personality was a gorgeous as Elysium.

“Gods, you are just so handsome.” You find yourself admitting without even thinking about it. You find the words to talk to him about anything and everything, but your stumble.

Luke grabbed your arm. Stars dotting your vision. The “liquid courage” Silena forced down your throat catching up to you. “Hey, I think that’s enough drinking. Yeah?”

“Yeah…” You mumble as Luke leads you away from the bonfire and towards your cabin.

“Let’s get you back to your bunk, yeah? S’not good to be so drunk now.” He cared enough to walk you back to your cabin! It left a warm feeling in your body, or that was the Dionysus twins’ special drink.

The cabin door creaks open and Luke procures some water. You drink it as Luke crouches to get your converse off. Again, your heart is warm inside, but that could just be the alcohol.

Luke laid your blanket over your body. An amused smirk on his face. He found you drunk, cute. So, he decides to admit something hoping you’d remember tomorrow. You’re already half asleep when you hear this.

“I think you’re cute too. Let’s start out with watching Tangled first before we do anything, yeah?” Luke laughed quietly, trying not to wake your siblings. He wanted it to take it slow with you. Was this some drunk dream?

“Yeah…” You find yourself mumbling. Your eyes drooping shut before opening again. Struggling to stay awake to keep talking to Luke, you fall asleep.

Silena was a damn good Cupid.

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[twice-damned-birdie]

alright, i'm trying to figure out who all the other D.A.M.N. students are so i'm just going to start a list and tag folks. if you don't see your name on there, say hi and i'll add you.

Tire Anon // @tire-anon

Salem Sage// @salem-the-elemental

Ruzha // @chaotic-fox-anon

Raitor Blanc // @invisiwhere Pidge (that's me) // @twice-damned-birdie

Note Leaver // @andanoteforyou

Maddie Harris // @that-one-harpy

Lukas Kawaoto // @razzberry-p

Kyson // @ky-reads

Jace // @cyb3r-spac3-69

Hudson // @dj-anx13ty

Grey // @graviton-chills

Gavin // @freelancers-gavin

Freelancer // @not-the-avatar

Felixvarela // @theotherdamnincubus

Edge // @edge-of-the-milkyway

Doc // @docya-mum

Clover Fields// @fortunesfavoriteclover

Castor // @your-tired-shifter

Aria // @aria-aisling

Allan // @silent-and-deadly

Achernar // @achernarthedemon

not necessarily students, but still relevant:

The Sovereign Fan Club // @thesovereignfanclub

Professor Lasko Moore // @laskomoore

Professor Dear // @calm-as-waterrr

Omen // @omenkhan

Huxley // @huxley-69

For Our Xavier //@xavier-in-loving-memory

Mr. Damien Rhone // @damien-rhone

Dr. Gabriella Auclair // @auclairhealing

D.A.M.N. Student News // @damn-student-news

D.A.M.N. Daycare // @damn-daycare-news

D.A.M.N. Admin // @proud-damn

Blake Blanc // @yourlocalcultist

[stygianoaths]

There are times where I wonder if Luke asked Dionysus to cure his mother, you know, what with Dionysus being the god of madness.

I like to believe that Luke had offered to steal the best bottle of wine there is to be stolen in the world, a solemn promise from the son of Hermes.

"No one would know," he whispered earnestly.

Not even the gods.

And maybe Dionysus had laughed at the idea, no matter how intriguing it was, because of course a demigod of mere fifteen would be so bold yet naive to strike deals with gods so much bigger than he. He shut the child down on the spot. He wouldn't fall for such nonsense.

"And risk my father's wrath? You mock me," he drawled. He had made it a point to omit the fact he was not going to tamper with his uncle's curse either. It was off-limits after all, just like that troublesome nymph. He flicked the dirt from his nails, ignoring the way Luke shook on the spot.

"Well? If that's all you better get going, Lucius," he had said.

And Luke's wrath bubbled over in return.

"What good are you gods for, if you won't help us? You're so useless," he scoffed.

Dionysus's eyes lit up in purple at the jab and he got up from his chair. The ground shook as vines broke through the earth. Something felt off yet familiar with the way Luke did not cower at the display of power. Tch, heroes and their bravado.

"We gods do not owe you mortals anything."

"Yes, you do?" Luke retorted with incredulity, dragging a chair to the side as he inched on Dionysus, uncaring of the purple flames that had begun to circle them, the vines that were dangerously close to tugging him by the ankle.

"You owe your entire existence to humanity! We wrote your stories and remembered you! We fought your battles and we died for you!"

"And?" Dionysus laughed, though there was no humor behind it, "I don't care. You can come up with a thousand sob stories, Luis, and I still won't care. I've seen it all and it's all the same. You demigods are nothing but mayflies, destined to die early since the day you were born."

That seemed to silence the boy.

"Of course, I'll make sure to tell all of that to Castor and Pollux. I'll tell them Pops doesn't give a damn if they die now or later, because apparently it doesn't matter anyways. Tell them how he knew what demigod life would be like for them and still went ahead and brought them into this world anyways."

Or not.

"Take their names out of your mouth, boy," Dionysus warned, vines seizing at Luke's wrists and knees.

"Or what? You're gonna drive me insane just like Mom?"

Dionysus wanted to tell him that he was pretty much halfway there, with the way Luke wore that look of hysteria that bordered on madness. It was so faint yet tangible all the same. Dionysus wanted to push the kid to the limit, see him snap.

"Oh, but that would be too easy!" he sneers, "no, I was thinking more of that little sister of yours you so adore, Annie Bell, her name was? Yes, yes I think madness would look absolutely delicious on a daughter of Athena."

There was absolutely nothing to back up that threat, but it seemed to hit the mark.

Luke had crumpled completely, like something hit him hard in the stomach. Dionysus's lips twitched up in victory. If the boy wanted to play dirty and mention family, then it was only fair he would too.

"Fuck you," Luke whispered, tears cornering in his eyes.

Before the god could act on his threat, however, the sound of trotting hooves nearing towards the Big House made their way through the windows.

Dionysus sighed, raising a hand to release the vines' hold on Luke. He did not want to listen to Chiron's lecture on how threatening the lives of demigods isn't "Camp Director" like.

Luke, on the other hand, slammed the door behind him, scaring off the harpies perched on the roof of the Big House. Dionysus had half a mind to choke the kid with grapevines for the act of insolence.

Chiron came through that same door, placing a hand on the side of it while he looked backwards.

"With that anger, he will get himself killed too early," he murmured with concern. Dionysus snorted, letting the vines return to the soil, the flames around him dying down.

"They all do."

Oh, how he would eat those words, watching Castor's shroud burn.

He was too young. Too young.

A nagging voice reminds him that so was Luke. So was Thalia. So was Annabeth. So was Percy. So was Nico. So was nearly everyone that huddled around the pyres, holding each other and sobbing. Gods, they were crying. War was never kind.

Even that daughter of Ares, who would rather be caught dead than vulnerable, let slip a few tears, and her hissed out "are you happy now?" as she shoved herself past the god of wine will haunt him for millenias to come.

If only he had tried to save May Castellan, given her back to Hermes the way he was supposed to, maybe his son would be standing here with him and watching the pyres light up the night.

Instead, all he could do was listen to Pollux's hysterical screams while Hermes pulls Castor up by the hand, taking the newly deceased to a place where Dionysus can no longer follow.

[tylermileslockett]

ARGONAUTICA series 6: "Harpies and the Clashing Rocks"

Book 2 begins with the crew docking upon the coast of the Bebrykians, where king Amykos, with outrageous arrogance, challenges the best argonaut to a brutal boxing match. Polydeuks (son of Zeus, and twin half-brother to Castor) rises to meet the challenge. The men wrap their fists with dried leather thongs, and rush headlong into fierce combat. The warriors exchange brutal blows until finally, Polydeukes sizing up the kings weaknesses, delivers the fatal blow, shattering the bones in the kings head. The warriors on both sides rush into battle, the argonauts fighting like wild wolves, and the Bebrykians finally scattering like bees from smoke.

 The following day the Argo sails out through the Bosporos strait where the ship Helmsman, Tiphys, overcomes a giant wave. Here they put in at the Thynian coast where they meet the pitiful King Phineus, who had been given the power of prophecy by Apollo. But having revealed too much truth to mankind, Zeus cursed the king, taking away his eyesight, lengthening his lifespan, and ever hounded by the terrifying Harpies,(half-bird half-human creatures) that descend from the clouds to steal the kings food as he eats, leaving behind a rank odor that spoils everyones appetites. Here the argonaut twin heroes Zetes and Kalais, (twin sons of Boreas, the North wind) with their black wings on their temples and feet, flew after the harpies chasing them away forever, thus saving the king from his curse.

 In appreciation, Phineus warns the men of the deadly passage through the dark, clashing rocks, advising them to send a dove through first, to test the timing. The following day the men journey through the clashing rocks, using the dove, and with Athena’s aid, barely escape death.

Like this art? It will be in my illustrated book with over 130 other full page illustrations coming in march to kickstarter. Please check my links in my linktree in my bio to join the kickstarter notification page. 🤟❤️🏛

[the-tipsy-tailor]

Animal Anniversaries

The existing materialistic anniversary year theme/gift lists are silly and out of reach for most people. What if instead we themed the years around animal species that long term pair bond?

An incomplete list proposal is below. I'm celebrating my coyote year with my spouse, seems rad.

Prairie vole Microtus ochrogaster

3. New Holland Seahorse Hippocampus whitei

4. Oldfield mouse Peromyscus polionotus

5. Rock dove/pigeon Columba livia

6. Racoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides

7. French Angelfish Pomacanthus paru

8. Fennec Fox Vulpes zerda

9. Dik Dik Madoqua

10. Grey wolf Canis lupus

11. Coyote Canis latrans

12. Lovebird Agapornis

13. Gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua

14. Titi Monkey Callicebinae

15. Barn owl Tyto alba

16. Asian small clawed otter Aonyx cinereus

17. Shingleback skink/bobtail lizard Tiliqua rugosa

19. Trumpeter Swans Cygnus buccinator

20. Common Raven corvus corax 

22. Eurasian Beaver Castor fiber

23. Canadian Goose Branta canadensis

24. Black vulture Coragyps atratus

26. Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica

28. Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus

29. Harpy eagle Harpia harpyja

30. Gibbon Hylobatidae

35. Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis

40. Scarlet Macaw Ara macao

50. California condor Gymnogyps californianus

60. Albatross Diomedeidae

[starstwinkleplanetsshine]

Daughter of the Sea

This one is dedicated to @aswallowssong. Thanks for being the Cady to my Angie, and thanks for trusting me with your beloved daughter of Apollo. It's been a blast getting to know her <3

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Drachma for Your Thoughts (Read on AO3)

“Drachma for your thoughts?” 

Cady’s voice pulled me out of my swirling head and back to where we were sitting on the beach. It was well past curfew, but Percy had left earlier that evening with Nico to finally start the plan that the son of Hades had suggested almost a year ago now. A plan so dangerous, so insane, that the mere thought of my brother going through with it meant I had been on the verge of a total breakdown all day. So when I showed up to the infirmary well past midnight, my eyes bloodshot and my hands trembling, I didn’t argue when Cady suggested we take a walk to the beach. 

The harpies hadn’t been very active this summer, anyway. 

“I’m just thinking about how in a week all this will be over.” I kept my eyes on the dark waves in front of me, but I could feel that Cadys’ were trained on me. I wished I could just walk into the sea and run away from it all, but I knew things weren’t much better under the waves. 

“Four days until your birthday.” Her voice was more somber than I had ever heard it. What she should’ve said was “four days until Percy’s birthday.” It didn’t matter that we were twins. His was the one that counted. 

“Four days until the end of the world.” I was trying to make a joke, but Cady didn’t laugh. 

“Do you ever think about the mortals?” I asked after a couple minutes of the waves being the only sounds between us. 

“What?” 

“They have no idea their whole world is hanging in the balance right now. They have no idea what's going on, the war we’re fighting, the battle that will determine the fate of…everything. They have no clue what we’re about to do for them. They just think there’s some really bad storms.” My words spilled out and I didn't try to stop them. There was no point censoring myself with Cady. 

She was quiet again before chuckling lightly, which caught me by surprise. “I think about them all the time. I think��I think that’s who we’re really fighting for.” 

I finally turned my head towards her, and I could see a look of resolute determination on her face in the pale moonlight. 

“We have to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves,” she continued, “whether that’s the gods who are too busy or mortals who can't know the danger they’re in.” 

I let her words settle on me as a smile crept onto my face. I thought about how much older she looked in the shine of the silver moon, and how much she had taught me about the world we shared in the past year. So much of the half blood I was, or was becoming, was thanks to her, Percy and Annabeth. 

“That’s very heroic, Cady.” 

She shrugged, her expression unchanging. “It’s our job.” 

I had never thought of it that way before, but as soon as she said it, I knew it was true. If demigods had one purpose in the world, it was to span the gap between the gods and mortals—to fight both of their battles. It always had been. 

My gaze wandered from the waves to the sky above and I began absentmindedly searching for stories in the sky, the ones that Annabeth had taught me—anything to get my mind off everything that had happened that day. My eyes landed on a new constellation, the form of a hunter who seemed to be a little older than a girl—Zoë. Percy had told me about her, how she was a Huntress of Artemis who had died fighting the Titan Atlas while defending him and, ultimately, the gods. 

Her place was in the sky now, as Beckendorff’s was underground. Along with Lee Fletcher. And Castor. And so many others that had been lost in the past year. 

Would I, too, find my own place amongst them soon? Would I join my namesake in the sky with my brother close behind as our souls found their way, hopefully, to Elysium? 

“I only met her once.” Cady’s voice once again saved me from my thoughts. I peeled my eyes off the sky and turned to her. 

“The Hunter?” 

She nodded. “I saw you looking at her. She was strong, and brave, and very wise.”

“Do you think we’ll end up there someday?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, and Cady furrowed her brow. 

“Angie…”

“I guess there’s already an Andromeda constellation, so probably not—” 

“Angie!” Cady cut off my pathetic attempt to downplay my question. “Why would you say that?” 

I met her eyes and immediately wished I hadn't. Something about them made me drop the walls I always had up. Maybe it was because I was so close to the sea, which always made me feel more honest. Or maybe it was the inherent vulnerability of being under the night sky after midnight. Or maybe it was just because Cady had become the closest thing to a sister I had in the past year. 

But whatever it was didn’t matter as I let out a heavy sigh and took a deep breath. 

“I don’t think I’m walking away from this, Cady.” 

Her eyes got sad. 

“You’re gonna be okay.” 

I started getting flashbacks to my conversation with Percy just the night before that had sounded a lot like this. I heard his words echoed in my own.

“I wish I could trade places with him. Take what is supposed to be his.”

The words were a lot harder to say than I thought they would be. Cady was quiet, but I knew she understood who I was talking about.

“It should be me, anyways.” I finally got out. 

“Why would you say that?” 

“Can you imagine a world without Percy?” 

Her eyes fell to the sand and she took a deep breath before answering. “No.” 

I wondered if she was remembering those awful two weeks last summer like I was. The time we feared we had lost him for good. 

“Me neither. I don’t…I don’t think I’m supposed to live in a world without him. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just know. So if that means I give my life so he lives, it’s what I’ll do.” I had never been more sure of anything in my entire life. 

“Angie—“

“No, Cady. I’m serious.” I met the girl's eyes, and all I saw staring back at me was fear. And pain. And heaviness. Eyes that were usually as bright as the sun, kind and shining with her father’s light, were as cold and dark as the moon. 

“It should be me.” I kept talking in the heavy silence. “Percy’s the hero, he’s the one everyone needs. If he was gone, camp would never be the same. You know it’s true, you felt it last year. Everyone would be…lost.” 

Cady looked like she wanted to say something, but stopped herself. 

“No one needs me that way. Maybe…” tears filled my eyes as I started to verbalize the one thing I had known for so long, but could never utter, “maybe that’s why I was sent here so late. Maybe that’s my destiny. To save my brother, the real hero, so he can fulfill his purpose. Fulfill the prophecy. Maybe I’m supposed to be the spare. And—” my voice broke— ”maybe that’s not a bad thing.” 

“Angie, we’ve talked about this.” Cady’s eyes were filled with exhaustion. 

“I know! But this time…this time these thoughts aren’t coming from Kronos. It’s not because I don’t think I’m good enough. It’s because I think I am. Just maybe. Maybe I’m enough to save him. To give him a future. To give everyone a future.” I watched as Cady's eyes filled with tears, her shoulders slumping even more. She stayed silent, as if she could tell there was more I needed to say, and I took a deep breath. 

“For my whole life I never knew where my place was. It took me fourteen years to find it, to be shown it. And I know I haven’t been a part of this world for very long, but from the second that trident appeared over my head, I stepped into a shadow I didn’t even know was there. And I spent a long time resenting that shadow, even if I wouldn’t admit it. But the past few months, few weeks really, I realized—maybe that’s the point. Maybe if I can be a shield for Percy, somehow, that will be enough. Maybe I was brought here—“ 

“You weren’t brought to camp just to die.” Cady's words were sharp, cutting like the knives she loved to throw. 

“But what if I was?”

Cady just sighed. “What aren’t you telling me?” 

“What?”

“I can see it in your eyes. There’s something you’re not saying”

I took a deep breath, wondering if I was that bad at hiding my feelings or if she was just that good at reading them. 

“Hestia visited me this afternoon.” 

“Hestia?”

“Ya, like the goddess.” 

“I know who Hestia is. But why did she visit?” 

“She…” Now that I had to put it into words, I was having a hard time making sense of it. Between helping Percy prepare to leave, and feeling the need to be strong for the other counselors and younger campers after Beckendorff’s funeral, I hadn’t had much time to process her words. I told Cady everything the goddess said—the parallels between the original Andromeda and myself, the way that the fates of my brother and I were tied just as Perseus and Andromeda’s had been. I told her about the warning she gave me, how I shouldn’t fight Percy's battles. 

“She said that learning to yield is powerful, and sometimes more important than fighting.” She was quiet for a while, probably trying to untie all the words I had laid in a tangled mess at her feet. 

“What does that even mean?” 

“I have no idea.” I began tracing my fingers in the sand, doodling seashells that didn’t hold their shape. 

“There’s more, isn’t there?”

I let out a sigh—keeping any secrets around Cady was hopeless. 

“I told you she warned me. But what that warning was…I’m really scared, Cady.” 

My best friend's eyebrows pulled together as a concerned frown grew on her face. She reached a hand over and gripped mine tightly, the feeling grounding me and giving me the strength to continue. 

“She said that I needed to learn to control myself, learn to yield, or I would ‘doom us all.’ Those are the words she used. ‘Doom us all.’” 

“That’s encouraging.” 

Cady’s words were so dry, I burst into laughter. She quickly joined me, both of us unraveling as we howled into the night. It must’ve been a ridiculous sight—and we were getting too loud, I knew it. Soon the harpies would find us, but we didn’t stop. We laughed until tears pooled in our eyes and our sides hurt. 

It felt strange. There was nothing to be laughing at, really. Percy was gone. We were at war. The titans were getting closer by the day. But even so, we were laughing. It was almost as if we could forget it all, even just for a moment. 

But then that moment ended. 

Our laughter died and soon the sound of the waves was once again the only thing between us. The air grew heavier, and with it, my heart. The lightness the laughter had brought flew away on the wind, and we were left alone in the black night once again. 

“I wish I knew what she meant.” 

“I think…” Cady hesitated, as if she was afraid to keep going. “I think she was pretty clear, actually.” She turned to face me again, and her eyes were that mixture of gentle and serious that I had only ever seen her pull off. “You can’t fight Percy’s battles for him. When the time comes…maybe you step aside.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do that. Maybe…Maybe that’s not what she means.” 

Her eyes got sad. “You need to realize that you’re not Percy.” Those words would’ve been harsh coming from anyone else. “You don’t need to be Percy. You said it yourself—ever since you got here, you’ve been living in his shadow, a shadow you didn’t even know was drowning you. And sometimes I wonder if you stay there because you think you have to. Because you think you’re not worthy of the sun.” 

Tears rushed to my eyes quickly as her words knocked the air out of my lungs. 

“But believe me when I say this, Angie—everyone is deserving of their place in the sun.” She managed a smile, and I swear the stars shined brighter. “You don’t have to live in Percy’s shadow. It’s like the myth—your destinies are intertwined, Percy’s success is yours. That means that you can do different things, be different people, and still stay connected. You don’t need to stay in his shadow for that.” 

“But what if—” my voice caught and I couldn’t stop the tears from falling onto my cheeks. “What if I don’t do enough, and he dies. What if I don’t try and protect him, and we lose him.” 

Cady took a deep breath as if the very thought pained her. “If Percy is…fated to die, there’s little we can do. But we don’t know that. Prophecies are tricky, and hard to understand. And the more we try and change them, or work against them, the quicker we make them come true.” She looked into the sky before continuing. “What if you interfere and that ends up causing more harm?” 

A sense of hopelessness washed over me. “I don’t want to live without him.” 

I saw a tear streak down Cady's cheek. “I know. But someone has to keep on living when others die.” 

I felt my eyebrows pull together as a terrifying thought crossed my mind. I had never considered that I would live past this week, past my sixteenth birthday. I had made up my mind that Percy was the one walking away from this, not me, and I was determined to do anything I could to make that happen. 

I hadn’t considered other people might be thinking the same thing, might be making those choices, too—regardless of what other people wanted. 

“You don’t think you’re walking out of this either, do you?” 

Cady dropped her head, staring at the sand. “I know I’m not.” 

“Cady—” 

“You’re not the only one who wants to protect people.” Her head snapped up, and I saw a harshness in her eyes. “This is what I’ve been trained for. My siblings walk away from this. You walk away from this. Gods willing, Percy walks away from this. But not me. Not if I can save them.” 

My head felt like it was spinning. No no no, it screamed. This isn’t right. It as to be me, it has to—

“They need you, Cady.” 

She shook her head. “Nobody needs me. They'll miss me, sure. But they’ll be alright. They’re strong.” 

“I need you.” Desperation and fear were swelling in my chest as I choked back a sob. “I can’t do this alone.” 

“You’re not alone, Angie. You never have been. And even when I go, you never will be.” 

Her words weren’t making sense to me, and panic rose in my stomach as I thought about the very real possibility of losing Cady and Percy within the next week. And Annabeth. And Rosie. And—

I was about to break into hysterics when I felt Cady's hand on my arm, with it the familiar feeling of her magic spreading across my nervous system. Usually I didn’t like when Cady used her gifts on me without asking, but in this moment, I was glad. I couldn’t go down that spiral. I would be falling and falling into the darkness for days—that was a bottomless pit I knew I would never be able to climb out of. 

“Thanks, Cades.” I breathed out as her healing touch calmed my anxiety. I took a deep breath, my first one all day, and met her burdened eyes. 

“You’re gonna be okay, Angie. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe we all walk away from this.” But I could tell she didn’t believe her words. “But even if we don’t, you’ll still be okay. Maybe staying behind is what you were sent for—if there’s still a Camp Half Blood in the next week, they’ll need someone to turn to. They’ll need a leader. They’ll need you.” 

I shook my head instinctively. “I’m not—” 

“But you are, Andromeda. You’re Percy’s sister. You’re Poseidon’s daughter. Whether you like it or not, that power is already within you. Everyone else sees it. It’s about time you start seeing it, too.” 

It was all too much. I clenched my eyes shut and forced myself to listen to the waves, to think of nothing else but the sound as they crashed onto the shore. No more wars, or battles, or prophecies, or doomed brothers, or self-sacrificing best friends. No more gods and titans and doomsdays. Just the sand under my fingers and the sea in front of me. 

It didn’t work. 

“I’m not who everyone thinks I am. I can’t be what everyone needs me to be.” 

I was on my feet and sprinting away from the water before Cady had time to call my name, and I didn’t stop running until the door to Cabin 3 was slammed shut behind me.

[thehomophobe]

The Floridian Couple Chapter 2: ticket to busan

"Have you guys seen my sweater?"

"Where the fuck is the bathroom here?!"

"Moon! You better not be using my rosary beads as hair ties!"

"Oh shut up church boy!"

"Chica! I believe I have found your sweater!"

So. Much. Noise. 

I think I'd like to remind everyone that I live in a single apartment building. And while I may own the entire thing, it's not a lot of living space. It was simpler when it was just me and Monty but my ass thought it be cutesy and demure to have five more roommates come over. Great thinking Y/N.

*(Y/N) lies on the couch, legs spread out revealing her hot pink g-string underneath a Goosebumps t-shirt. She scrolls through her phone, mindlessly tapping the screen to hit the like button. Monty did the same thing, only not in a thong.*

"Monty."

"Yeah."

"Remember that one time we talked about having kids and how we wouldn't be good parents."

"Yeah."

"I'm starting to see that now."

You may be wondering why the fuck is there 5 other people living in a apartment as disgusting as this. Well a while back Monty and I went on tour together after given a huge paycheck. It was supposed to be for a few days but then everything screwed over when our plane crashed by a flock of harpies making us walk on foot. We met Freddy in the Alps after getting lost in the snow. (Monty can't look at a map for shit.)  Freddy's apparently an ex-barbarian king until he got kicked out for being gay. Which made at lot of sense when he kept touching Monty when we stayed in his hut during the blizzard. (Being gay doesn't make you less of a man guys) He was only supposed to be a guide on getting out of there but he just sticked with us.

After that, we took a boat out of the mountains, then get shipwrecked on an island, where we met Sun and Moon. We thought we were in Greece cuz of all the togas and tzatziki. Turns out there was a cult apart of the isle and they were using those two as sacrifices for an old ritual . Something about how on the cusp of sunset, the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux, would be revived and smite their island if they were to kill them in time. Luckily we beat those guys up before they stabbed Moon. We didn't want to take them...well Monty didn't want to take them, (mainly cuz he thought Sun was a complete pussy and was too obnoxious to have around) but after hearing that they lost their home to the cult made you want bring them along. They were pretty cute after all.

Then we took another boat and sailed back to city (which I'm surprised we did make it back with the piece of drift wood we were sitting on) . But we stopped by a motel to relax and take showers. You think we're going back home smelling like fish shit? 'Course not. And I'm (pissed) glad we stayed longer than we should've because we wouldn't of found Roxy if we've left early. Apparently there was gentlemen's club near the motel we were at and the owner was an illegal arms dealer hiding away from the cops downtown. With Roxy just so happen to being his (bitch) wife. (Unfortunately) Luckily the police said that Roxy had nothing to do with this but the money was taken from both their account, leaving her broke and homeless. So we took her too. 

Chica is just of friend of Monty's who wanted to get away from the rich girl life and room with her friends.

Now with that all said and done, having 7 people crammed in an apartment like this is disgusting, especially when the owner is too lazy to clean this shit up, but I also get in rent so that's nice. 

"It's better than takin' care of regular kids. Like that time we started babysitting."

"Don't remind me. One of the kids got kidnapped by a leprechaun and we had to find "the end of the rainbow~.""

"I'm surprised there was something."

"If you call a hole to the underworld something." It's a long story. Don't ask much.

*(Y/N) stopped scrolling and swiped down on her phone to look at the time. 9:46 PM.*

"OH SHIT!" *She sits up quickly, short strands of hair falling onto her face.*

"What?" 

"I'm fucking late!" *(Y/N) scrambles off the couch and hurried to her room.*

"Oh right...your job." *Monty huffed*  "Y'know you can call for a day off. "Chow Mein" ain't gonna care if you're sick." 

"Oh real funny asshat. Nguyet gonna kill me if I'm late again. She's already pissed after I left early during the mothmen invasion. I'm not getting my ass cooked any time soon."

God is she an ass. I swear that woman needs to retire.

Oh right my job. About a couple miles down and passed the entrance of Chinatown is a convenience store owned by Ms. Zhihao Nguyet, a medium, a so-called medium. She always said that she could see her dead ex-husband floating around the market and yet I've never sensed a single trace of him anywhere. I think she's turning senile, she keeps talking to the walls in the bathroom.  

*(Y/N) made a mad dash out of her room and scrambled through the kitchen, prepping her packed lunch from the fridge. The other five tenants came down the stairs.*

"Where are you going?" *Moon raised a brow.* 

"She's late for work." *Said Monty*

"You have a job? I thought that ghost busting was your thing." *Roxy commented*

"Yeah well it is, so why don't you shut up and move over." *(Y/N) pushed through Roxy and the other four while struggling to put on her uniform. She headed down the steps and took the keys to the convertible. The camera panes back to the five tenants looking down towards the steps.*

"I'm glad she has a job other than sitting here waiting for monsters to show up. She's getting better at disciplining herself." *Sun smiles, proud of (Y/N) work.*

*Monty adjusted himself on the couch, looking down at a phone with the time as well as a wallpaper that says "DON'T YOU TOUCH MY DAMN PHONE BITCH"*

"And she forgot her phone..." 

God were people such horrible drivers. I almost got hit by a sedan just now. The fuck is wrong with people? Whatever I made it to Chinatown. And with only...

*The camera panes to a clock in the center of town: 

10:06 PM*

Shit! Now Z's gonna kill me. How the fuck did it become 10 already?! The shop's a couple blocks down. I can still make it.

*(Y/N) runs down the sidewalk, the same speed used when killing demons on the job, except without jumping on cars and people. Lights and faces become a blur, blending together in a stream of colors. (Y/N) is focused. Poised and swift. Dodging city folk in a gust of wind. Shopping bags fly and hair whips in people faces. Women's skirts rise, revealing their dainty panties for all the pervs to see. Perhaps she was going too fast.*

Made it. Thank God.

*(Y/N) breathes for a moment before looking at the small convenience store, its sign highlighted by cheap bulbs: 良好的市場. Or translated to "The Good Market". Inside was an old asian woman with a bun of black and dusty gray hair wearing a qipao underneath a shawl. Traditional was the woman inside, for she was hardheaded and stubborn as any elderly woman who worked at the same job for 45 years and still had debt. (Y/N) opens the door, the bell attached to the top rings and alerts the manager inside.*

"Ah Monster Hunter. Why are you late? Too busy demon slaying?" *Zhihao chided* "That's Manager Nguyet to you narrator." *...yes ma'am...*

"Afternoon Ms. Nguyet. How are you?" *(Y/N) greeted lazily.*  

"Awake. And upset. My ex-husband came back and he destroyed the drink coolers. I had to shoo him out with a broom and clean up the mess." *Manager Nguyet huffed.*

"Darn..." *(Y/N) deadpanned. She made it behind the counter and fixed her uniform: a piss yellow polo shirt with the logo printed on the right breast. A short visor was attached to her head, awkward strands of hair fell on her face.*

"Now, you work. I go for 5 minute break." *Manager Nguyet pulls up her glasses and heads deeper inside the storage room.*

The hell is she going? Whatever, I need this shift to be over already. *(Y/N) wiggled through her pants pocket.*

Huh?

*She wiggled through her pockets again. Then her chest, underneath her shirt, inside her pants.*

Shit! I forgot my phone. But I can't leave, I just got here. *(Y/N) looked at the analog clock plastered on the wall.*

She's got 2 minutes before she gets back from break.

*On the ground was a pile of crumpled newspapers, one of which was facing upwards, showing the latest news report:

”JAPANESE BULLET TRAIN FINISHED AND READY FOR TAKE OFF.

Meet "Thomas the Bullet Train" Today!” *

Ain't no fucking way they named it Thomas. *(Y/N) continued reading the article* Can go speeds up to 320 mph, from the suburbs to downtown in a instance. Hope Granny Peking doesn't come back in an instance. I think I have time to catch the train, the first stop's not far from here. I'll just make a quick break for it...

*(Y/N) sneakliy left the store, looking back at the storage room and clock each time. Once out she ran down the streets.*

——————————

I keep forgetting I don't have my phone. And I keep forgetting there would be no point in doing this if I had my phone. I kept looking at the clock. The train doesn't leave until 11:30.

*It's 11:26* 

FUCK!

*(Y/N) bolts down the streets faster. To the point were she almost missed the stairs up to the track.* 

Jesus Christ why did they put so many stairs...? *(Y/N) huffs as more people crowd the enterances.* Damn a lot of people showed up for this thing. Then again, Americans love Japanese stuff. Lot more than Chinese stuff anyways. Well, let's see how long these tracks will last until someone jumps onto them. *The train slowly approaches the stop. It's bright reds and blue pop out with vibrance, and to top it of, the words "THOMAS" was written on the side in pretty cursive.* Jesus Christ, they really did call it Thomas.

*(Y/N), and about several other people, smushed themselves inside.* Jeez, it's just a train. Swear, people are gonna get stepped on if this keeps up. 

The next stop is: Little Italy

Oh god. We're going to every stop. This'll be fun.

*During the train ride, (Y/N) rested her eyes and laid back cautiously. The train was surprisingly quiet, all the new hobos were getting acquainted with their new living quarters. The smell of weed started to float through the air. A smell all familiar to (Y/N).* They don't make anti-homeless train yet do they? Seriously, this train gonna have jizz stains on the ground in two weeks. We don't have the super clean sanitation teams here in America. They give everyone a Mister Clean Magic Eraser and one travel-size pack of tissues and call it a day.

*The train speeds up.*

Shit! Did I miss my stop? *(Y/N) looks at the train map.* The fuck's the train map? *A black screen replaces the train map.*

*The train speeds up*

"Hey where the fuck are we going?"

"What time is it?"

"Is the next stop coming?"

*The other passengers complain and question as the train speeds up. (Y/N) too is confused about the situation. A black haired woman taps her shoulder.*

"Excuse me miss, do you know what the next stop is?"

"Beats me I don't fucking know." Don't you have a phone lady? Seriously, this shit's getting weird. A train this expensive and fancy should be breaking down on the first day. Then again most expensive things tend to break so I can't deduce it to that. We're passed most of downtown, meaning that we're heading south. That's not even close to my apartment. Maybe the conductor's just shit.

"Hey! The doors won't open!" *A man in a trench coat tries to pry open the train doors but is unsuccessful.*

The doors won't open either. And the train keeps speeding up. This is definitely some fuck up shit. *A glitchy sound emitted from the speaker system of the train.*

"The next stop is: MY ASS BITCHES!!! Cuz I don't plan on stopping!!! Hahahahaha!"

Fuck man. Is this conductor crazy? Did he watch Speed last night? *The train crashed into something on the side.*

*BAM!*

Shit! *(Y/N) and the other passengers flailed to the side. The train must've hit something hard. The lights flickering on and off. The train speeds up even more.* 

—————————————

*We pane back to Monty and the others, walking along the streets with one mission in mind:

Bring (Y/N) here phone.

And maybe some snacks.*

"She works at The Good Market right? I think I have a coupon for some stuff." *Chica digs through her tiny denim purse she just bought for Urban Outfitters and pulls a crumpled colored coupon. Roxy looks over her shoulder.*

"Chica that coupon's expired." 

"Oh."

"Huh? They finished that thing already." *Moon comments.*

"What thing?" *Monty asked.*

"The train." *Moon holds up his phone to Monty. The article about the bullet train appeared in his phone.* 

"They closed down half of the downtown for this thing. No wonder taxes went up last month." *A pop-up appeared on Moon's phone. A livestream of today's news. The same pop-up appeared on Monty's and (Y/N)'s phone.*

"Live footage of runaway train." *Monty read the title and click the video. The stream showed the same train but speeding faster than 89 miles per hour. The speedometer on the right shows the speed increasing drastically. The strangest thing was a woman lying down on top of the train*

"Hey, did you guys get the same pop-up?" 

"Yeah."

"Sure did."

"Who's that chick on top of it?"

...

"Shit! (Y/N)!"

——————————————

You might be wondering how the fuck I got on top of the train?

Apparently, they installed an emergency exit on top of the train. You know, "just in case". I think this is what they meant by it. Just in case the train gets possessed by a spirit and a ghost hunter just so happens to ride it. Clever thinking governor...

What sucks is that I didn't bring anything to expelled the spirit. I left my katana at home and we're to far from the DJ's place to pick up supplies.

*The train starts to laugh like crazy as it speeds up.*

"Ahahahahahahahahaha! Aw man you're a crazy bitch huh? I bet you like it fast and rough."

"Oh shut up!" I'm starting to get tired. My arms can't take the wind anymore.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but where the fuck is Monty?!

*vrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooommmmmm*

Huh?

CRASH!

*A giant black SUV smashes through multiple cars on the road below the train, including cop cars trying to slow the train down by shooting it. The top was off, creating a convertible look on the car. 6 passengers, who were smushed into the car, looked up at the runaway train, trying to find their friend who was stupid enough to climb to the roof.*

"(Y/N)!" 

*A dude with red long flowing hair parallel to the undercut on his right called out as he drove like a mad man.* Where the hell did he get---You know what nevermind.

*The camera cuts to Monty driving through the street while the others clutch onto the car for dear life.* "We're not gonna catch it if it passes the gate!" *Roxy yelled through the wind.*

"I know!" *Monty yelled back, swerving passed the other cars on road. Chica, Freddy, Sun and Moon all rock back 'n forth in the back seats.* 

"WOULD IT KILL YOU NOT TO HIT ANYTHING ELSE?!?!" *Sun screamed from the very back. He clucthes the handle bar with one hand and the seat with the other.*

"What do think I'm doing smartass!" *Monty responsed.* "Chica, you still have the sword?"

"Yeah I have it." *Chica marveled at the katana, unfazed by the car chase.*

*Inbetween the sounds of sirens and broken metal, a helicopter flew above the train. Inside, several newsreporters and camera men record to what's happening below them.*

"Here take the wheel." *Monty's hand were off the steering wheel, wanting Roxy to take over. However, she wasn't ready for that.*

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" "Just trust me!" *From the glove compartment, Monty pulled out a rifle, specifically a C2 Scoripion EVO 3, and cocked it.* "When we get to passed strocum street, pull up to the highway!"

"You better know what you're doing jackass!" *Roxy gripped the wheel and took over. Said street was coming up soon.*

*The camera panes back to (Y/N), who was slowly slipping off the train.*

Shit shit shit shit! Where the fuck are they?! *(Y/N) only catches glimpses of the SUV between the buildings before losing it.*

...

*VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!*

*The car is back, thankful. Monty balances on the side of, trying to aim the rifle without falling.* 

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

*A cascade of bullets shot the wheels of the train. Cries of pain can be heard from the train!*

"AH FUCK!!!! Q-QUIT DOING THAT!!! AAAHHH!!" 

"EAT LEAD DILDO!" *Monty provoked as he shot again.* GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

*It was working. The train was slowing down. The speed slowed enough for (Y/N) to stand with full height.* 

"AHH!!! Is this train supposed to be bulletproof?!?!?!" *The train cried*

"It is. For regular bullets. Monty's guns are made for hurting spirits like you, queefbreath." *(Y/N) smirked. She looked back at her friends, to which she sees one hold a long black stick in hand.*

Gōsutohantā?! Thank god! I thought they would've left at home. I can't kill the spirit without it. But how the fuck are they gonna---

"(Y/N)! Catch!" Huh?

*Chica---the one who was holding the sword---threw it with all her might...

And hit the helicopter flying above the train.*

*SMASH! The glass broke.* Holy fuck!

*But luckily, the bounced off and fell onto (Y/N)'s hand.*

"By the power the heaven spirits above, I rebuke you!" *The katana rises above (Y/N)'s head.* "I banish thee!!!"

*Shink*

*A bright flash of light emitted from the train. It slowed down before halting to a stop. If the train had move any faster, the gang wouldn't off catched it in time. (Y/N)---on her knees---pulled the blade from the top of the train.*

Finally...

*We cut back to Monty and the others. The car screeches to a halt as he jumped off the door. Over the railing, he spots (Y/N), who gave him a thumbs-up. He cheekliy smirks. The others followed suit (with Sun wobbling in fear in the background) and looked over the railing, proud of themselves.*

(TIME SKIP)

"Where have you been?" *Manager Ngyuet's brow furrows. She looks at her employee as well as her friends with her arms crossed.*

"Demon train." *(Y/N) said nonchalantly. Manager Ngyuet looks at Monty with the same face.* "You with her too?"

"Uh...yeah..." *Monty looked away.*

"Hmmm...." *Manager Ngyuet hums, before going to the back. The sound of rustling bags can be heard from behind the door. Manager Ngyuet later comes out with a bags of White Rabbit candies and Haw Flakes as well as other snacks.*"Take. For free."

"Shit really?" *Monty looked at the bag, before Chica snacthed from his hands.*

"You save city from monster. How could I not be grateful?"

"Does that mean I can get off work today?" *(Y/N) asked.*

"No. You stay and you clean." *Manager Ngyuet brings out a mop.* "Here."

[300iqprower]

By-no-means-final list of servants for my two summer event ideas (both of which are realistically over twice the size of an actual FGO event)

1. Argo Cruise in the Flooded Labyrinth

Welfare Avenger Medea w/ second Ascencion swimsuit

Harpies SSR Assassin

Theseus SR gorilla Assassin

SSR Berserker Minotaur

SR Alter Ego Summer Abs Hassan

SR anti caster-caster Penelope w/ Summer second Ascension

SR Foreigner Orpheus with Summer 1st Ascencion.

3 star lancer Peleus.

3 Star “Alter-ego” Telemachus

Okeanos Costume Jason

Adult Paris costume.

Hektor costume + Space Hektor foreshadowing.

Castor + pollux costume, castor in the swimsuit pollux in loungewear.

With additional costumes for: Georgios, Adult Hans, Mary Anning, Scherezade, Lakshmi, Artemis, and Barghest.

2. Stygian Beach Male Swimsuit Spectacular

Welfare Pretender Brutus w/ swimsuit costume

Summer SR Ruler Cleopatra

Unlimited SSR Avenger Chiron Alter

SSR Rider Caesar with summer outfits but a serious costume and FA art.

SR Shielder Patroclus

Summer Achilles Alter Berseker SSR

SSR Pretender Blackbeard.

Summer SR Saber Mandy

Summer SR berserker Fergus (E rank Madness Enhancement)

Summer SR Lancer Bedivere (Rhong harpooner)

Unlimited 3 star caster Summer Erik + Gudrun

3 star Assasssin d’Eon w/summer costume

Rank Up and Costume for Caster Mephistopheles + Foreshadowing/RateUp for Pretender Mephistopheles

Summer costume for Tristan and Lancelot and Gawain

With Additional Costumes for: Sheba, Suzuka, Kriemhild, Douman, Edgya, Spartacus, and Hawaiian Cu.

[iobsessoverfictionalmen]

The Temptation of the Immortals (9)

Warnings: cursing, canon typical violence for the Percy Jackson series, spoilers for the Percy Jackson series, nightmares, the gods being absent parents, references to Greek Mythology, mentions of starvation and trauma.

“I brought you some food from the Dining Hall.”  Pollux murmured once he had closed the door of cabin twelve.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Starving yourself will not change Father’s mind,” your half-brother chided.

You huffed and stared at the wall next to you.  It was a dark, earthy brown which made sense because it, like the other walls in the cabin, nourished the vines that sat on the roof of the cabin.  “He shouldn’t have told Mr. Kneef to make those comments about Castor.  You know he doesn’t blame you for his death and neither do I.”

You remained silent and Pollux continued talking, “I’m not saying what he did is right.  He had to watch you journey to the Ancient Lands from Olympus and then when he was permitted to intervene as Bacchus, it was too late into your journey for him to do anything substantial to divert Gaea’s focus.”

“Wouldn’t that have proved to him that I can handle myself?” You erupted, flipping over on the bed to stare at Pollux.  “And that I can protect those around me from harm?!”

“He knows that you can handle yourself.  He regrets that you had to in the first place.”

“I hate it that you’re right.”  You glowered as your stomach rumbled.

Pollux snorted, “It’s so rare.  I wouldn’t worry about it happening too frequently.”  He placed the tray on an empty bed and stood up, “In case you’re wondering, there will be approximately a five-minute delay between the harpies switching shifts instantly following you finishing all the food on that tray.  If you wanted to go to, say Manhattan, I’ve heard through the grapevine that Sally Jackson is looking for a translator to adapt her books into Greek.”

You stared at him open mouthed, “I always say that children are like plants.  They need room to grow.  Enjoy your meal.”

With that Pollux left the cabin and you were left facing a choice.  If you stayed here, Dionysus’ hold on you would only grow and a bitter taste rising in your mouth as you realised that you would become exactly like Annabeth had been before Percy arrived at camp.  If you left, you ran the risk of antagonising a god whose moods were as changeable as the Lord of the Seas.  There would be no chance of you reconnecting with Alexander and your heart lurched at the realisation that he would be alone in a world older demigods struggled to navigate.  But if you crept out of camp now and translated those books into Greek, maybe you could do something productive and worthwhile with your life.

The food was nice as always yet the taste of it barely registered with you because of your eagerness to leave the prison that you found yourself in.  The tray was cleared in a matter of minutes and although you hadn’t snuck out of camp in a long time, you were able to remember exactly where you needed to move so that the shadows concealed you from prying eyes.  Before you knew it, you had drawn level with Thalia’s tree, and without hesitation, you plunged through the border that protected the demigods from the dangers of the mortal and immortal worlds.

“Manhattan, here I come.”

[hlizr50]

Chapter 5: Idle Minds Prone to Wandering

Hunt almost pitied Ephraim for inheriting the Harpy. “And the Hawk?”

“Doing what he does best: trying to outdo Pollux in cruelty and brutality.” The hawk shifter had long been Pollux’s main rival for power. Hunt had steered clear of him for decades.

-House of Sky and Breath, pg. 165

Read on AO3

Read on Wattpad

Thank you all so much for an amazing first week! I'll be taking a break from posting over the weekend, and then we'll be ready for the next five chapters starting Monday! But the content on Tiktok won't stop!

Here's a snippet from chapter 5:

“Ah, here he is. Ruhn Danaan, Crown Prince of the Valbaran fae.” The voice that danced through the air was light and casual. Soft, with an edge of promised pain, and definitely not one that the prince recognized. But where his ears failed, Ruhn’s starlit eyes burned with recognition. The angel was nearly as tall as Athalar, though his body was much leaner. Like an arrow whittled down into the perfect streamlined form. His chin was sharp, cheekbones high, and his dark hair had been pulled away from his face, leaving a stray straight strand that fell in front of his frosty gray eyes. Eyes so cold and cruel they seemed to pierce through him.

Castor Scelus.

The Hawk.

Fuck.

Tag list: @cascadingmoon @thecrispypotatochip @sunshinebingo @octobers-veryown @headcanonheadcase @damedechance @ofduskanddreams @vikingmagic33 @mystical-blaise @daevastanner @highladyofillyria @ablogofbipanic @amsofftrack @romancebooksandshit @chosenfamily-valkyriequeens @daybrights @booknerd87 @seleneastra @sv0430 @madie2200 @mercarimari @houseofhurricane @everfairypie

[o-i-w-u]

YOU

Are there any silly facts about your characters? Stims they may do? Things they really like, favorite activities?

If they are to have sexualities, what some characters sexualities? :> (i suck at thinking of y im trying to pull questions out my void of brain for you)

stims!!

yesss stims!!! these are just a few of the characters and only a few of their stims, a bunch of them have verbal stims too :3

uhhhh big text under cut!

pollux flaps her hands a lot, she does it with her wings sometimes too! castor has stims aswell, but they're a lot less noticable, like leg bouncing or tapping on stuff. both castor and pollux release more star dust with stronger emotions (happiness, anger, sadness etc) :DD

thought (top right bm) picks at clothing and loose metal on his body, he often bites and chews on stuff, like his walking stick has quite a lot of bite marks in it from when he doesn't have anything else to gnaw on.

faith (directly under thought) shakes his head side to side, and he verbal stims a ton too.

L!kc (bottom right corner) shakes his whole body a lot

crimson (bottom left) scratches and picks at themself, it mostly started out as a way to sooth the itchiness from all their pinfeathers but slowly evolved into a stim of sorts

mel (sun inbetween crimson and L!kc) retracts his rays in a circular motion (?), its a nice distraction from ✨the horrors✨

most of my eclipses have verbal stims that they get rather embarrassed about :3

sexualities!!

(a lot of these aren't 100%, identities are pretty damn fluid so these may change :])

mel/S!sun: bisexual

nore/S!eclipse: gay (mel and nore are like,, far too busy to focus on this stuff tho)

L!bloodmoon: i don't think he's ever experienced romantic/sexual attraction before tbh.

H!castor, H!pollux and H!gemini: queer platonic attractions, for now :)

crimson/P!bloodmoon: pan, i dont think they care <3

thorn/P!eclipse: pan

star/P!lunar: ??? hes just as confused as i am

L!kc: shes figuring stuff out. or atleast trying to.

thought/(?)!bloodmoon: hasn't thought much about it, bi maybe?

memory/(?)!bloodmoon (other half): ??????

faith/(?)!lunar: gay gay gay gay gaybo

(?)!eclipse: straight, but hes currently dead so.,.,

wonder/[character not shown yet erher!!]: questioning :)

thats all the sillie's attractions i can think of at the moment

crimson is a big fan of drawing as i've said before, and they love love love collecting things

uhhh random stuff that sorta applies to your other questions

((excluding some characters cus this is getting lengthy))

thorn comes up with insane fucking plans on the daily (never acts on them surprisingly)

star kinda just stares into the void 24/7, but when he's not doing that he's probably playing around with castor/pollux, or just wandering around

L!killcode is just doing her own thing the majority of the time, even his kids don't know what shes doing half the time lmao

pollux likes to hang out with star despite kc's wishes, they just like being silly with eachother

castor gets dragged into doing things that aren't work related, he tries to stay focused but pollux refuses to let him do so

mel likes uh,,, sleep, sleep, sleep and uhh sleep-

nore used to repair stuff for fun, but its become a necessity now

thought just hangs around faith, sorta mirrors whatever he's doing

faith just likes to relax or hang out with family

thank you sm for digging through the void!!! very appreciated :)

[outbackranger108]

1st Gen TD Contestants' Spirit Animals

Gwen - Common Raven (Corvuc Corax)

Trent - Great Green Macaw (Ara Ambiguus)

Bridgette - Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus)

Geoff - Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas)

Duncan - Harpy Eagle (Harpia Harpyja)

Courtney - Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)

Lindsay - American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus Ruber)

Tyler - Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)

Heather - Black Mamba (Dendroaspis Polylepis)

Noah - Meerkat (Suricata Suricatta)

Cody - Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis Antarcticus)

DJ - African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta Africana)

Owen - Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus)

Izzy - Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes)

Harold - Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis)

Leshawna - Hippo (Hippopotamus Amphibius)

Beth - Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Justin - Indian Peafowl (Pavo Cristatus)

Katie - Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens)

Sadie - Giant Panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca)

Eva - Wolverine (Gulo Gulo)

Ezekiel - Opossum (Didelphis Marsupialis)

Alejandro - Jaguar (Panthera Onca)

Sierra - Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus Gazella)

[neator]

Gods, so much ✨shit✨ has happened so here’s the highlights

We picked up Hercules and like 10 other guys. It is the hercules I hooked up with at one point.

Hercules Does Not Want To Be Here

And is sat next to me

yay.

oh godsdamnnit one of the other guys is Hylas

Hercules’ boytoy

I don’t know if they’re actually dating and I really don’t care

Next stop is a sorority. Apparently their partner frat? Has all been killed

Their president falls in love with Jason after 5 minutes of meeting him so naturally we have to spend the night

God I Hate Frat Boys

We are on a timeline, so me and herc have to wake people up at 6 AM.

I don’t know why him and Hylas couldn’t do it, but alas.

Next stop bear lodge

There is a party, of course.

The president starts mumbling something about not going in the back but gets distracted by Hercules, who has decided that he actually wants to be here, and moreover, really wants to show off. And is doing so by lifting various frat guys. And Hylas. And doing a Spider-Man kiss while holding Hylas in the air. Fine. Whatever.

We leave and I guess this is around when the satellites start crashing bc our gps gets fucked

We end up at the back door and knock to ask if they have a map

They think we are their rival frat house and start fighting us

Whoopsies

We continue inwards

Next stop, Mysia? Idk it’s on the Cius River

This house has like 5 different names, I’m not keeping track

Their president, Amycus, challenges us to a boxing match

Polydueces picks it up???

Polydeuces-twin to Castor- is one of the several teenagers Jason has enlisted

I don’t remember if he’s 15 or 12 but either way it’s concerning

He wins?? Somehow??

Idk if it really counted as boxing but the guy didn’t specify rules beyond “fight me or die” so

Rest of the frat gets mad that a 15 year old beat their guy, and go to attack him

Apparently Hercules has some morals after all, bc he blocks them from beating up a 12 year old

We sit for a minute, and Hylas goes poking around

Hylas gets lost somewhere and we have to leave. Oh well!

Nvm we have to stay for 2 hours and look through a dark riverbank.

Hercules refuses to leave until they find Hylas

Christsake

Telamon and Jason start arguing about leaving herc behind

A guy comes out of the river??? And tells us that Hylas is chilling with the local lesbian’s kayaking group and isn’t coming back, and that Hercules needs to stay on the Argo

We continue on

The river route we were going to take is blocked by a dam

The highway is blocked by flooding

Apparently there is a mountain pass that is fairly straightforward??? And we just need to talk to some guy known as the “wise one”

This feels a bit too Donner party for me but the guy sounds cool

We find the Guy

Jesus Fucking Christ

He’s fucking miserable

His name is Phineus and his harpies of nurses that come check on him aren’t letting him eat anything?

He says something about hubris but I don’t think that’s the actual deal

He promises us knowledge? and honest to the gods gold if we kill his nurses

The two people who immediately step forward are Zetes and Calais

They’re like 16 or 17. I think they graduated high school their sophomore year??

Why are all the children here so down with murder

Thank fuck they don’t actually kill anyone

Just threaten the nurses into fucking off forever?

Not sure how they did that but oh well

We get actual swords and shit?

Why Does He Have This

We also get a map through the mountains!

At one stop the guy driving gets bitten by a snake and lifeflighted out

Good to know that still works at least

The guy who replaces him can’t read maps and we lose two days

Fuck.

We’re back at Lemnos so of course we’re staying the night

On the plus side it’s been two full days of sitting next to Hercules

He’s even stopped moping over Hylas!

I will update once the driver learns to read a map

[ashens-thoughts]

Once, not so long ago, there was a man who was not so much a man as he was an insect. A moth to be exact. He called himself Rosa and was tall, covered in black fur with a splendid pair of swallowtail wings on his back which were marked with blue and green. He used them every night flying into the sky as far as he could, trying to reach the moon, until one fateful day when he landed and was hit by a sudden impact.

When he woke he found himself lying on a lumpy floor with a pale man dressed in black and red watching him. And then he found himself in pain. Bones broken, wing crumpled, bruised and scraped terribly, although covered in bandaging. He tried to move and could not and he ached most for his loss of flight. He could never reach the moon now. His life was over.

“Begging your pardon, sir,” the pale man spoke as he stepped toward him, “I hate to trouble you so soon, but my name is Albus and it was I who found you.”

“Found me?” Rosa asked, his voice rough and raspy.

“You were injured, sir!” Albus explained, “All alone where you’d been left. I took you in and nursed you up. Welcome to my home.”

He waved a sweeping hand and Rosa found his home was a tent.

“I am a ringmaster, sir,” Albus explained, “I own The Circus of Rainbows, a home for freaks. We make quite the show.”

“Freaks?” Rosa repeated.

“Yes, yes, freaks!” Albus insisted, “The unusual, the grotesque, the queer! We have them all here!”

He pulled out a rolled up poster and unraveled it for Rosa to read:

Watch Jade the beautiful lamia swallow swords! Witness Nermin the cyclops who could lift the sky! See Chao the centaur with leaping tricks surpassing any horse! Bear the terrifying humor of the undead clowns Beau, Bard, and Boni! Watch Asuka the harpy and Dory-Anne the fairy fly high in dazzling acrobatic feats! See Alani the half-tigress control her beasts! Witness the dazzling magic of the lich Castor! All led by the intriguing Ringmaster Albus the Great!

Rosa thought they sounded beautiful and wonderful.

“I think a home of freaks sounds like a place for me,” he admitted, “If I am welcome to stay?”

Ringmaster Albus grinned widely, showing a pair of sharp canine teeth as his black eyes glittered.

“Oh, I insist you stay,” he agreed.

And so it was that Rosa the mothman became one of the colors on the circus’ rainbow. As soon as his talons were under him, he cleaned and ran about until he wore holes into his shoes. He met each talented person of the show and also Diyar the invisible sylph who did much, but most assisted Albus. The freaks took him in and he took them into his heart. Each one was wonderful, beautiful, and kind, no matter the things the crowd sneered at them.

Except, perhaps, for the ringmaster. He ruled the circus like a growling king on a throne. He kept them all stuffed in boxes he pushed and pushed them into, trying to make them fit what the crowd wished to see.

A lover of blades made to dance for the lusty gaze. A soft scholar of sorts made to lift mountains with hands instead of the mind. One made of two parts made to ignore the whole for the one. Brilliance and talent crushed into self-deprecating humor. A couple of likeness and difference who came together made to perform their love. A strong, loving mother made to exploit her kind. A traumatized soldier handling what killed him each night. And the one who was not good enough was forced to stay unseen.

Rosa could not understand why Albus, a fellow freak who nursed him and touched him sweetly, would treat his family as such. How could this be the way?

“Do not linger on it,” Diyar whispered one night as he and Rosa sat close, “We are better here than out there. This is where we belong.”

“Must our place be so rough?” Rosa countered.

“You ask questions that will hurt you,” Diyar dismissed, “You are better off silent.”

Rosa touched his clawed hand softly to one of the bandages that hovered beside him, wrapped around Diyar’s invisible arm.

“And your silence?” He prompted gently, “Does it save you pain, mi cielo?”

“Do not ask me this,” Diyar whispered, “I am not the same as you.”

“What is our difference?” Rosa asked, “Tell me. Do we not breathe the same air? Do we not drink the same water? Do we not walk the same earth?”

He pulled Diyar’s hand to his chest.

“Do we not feel the same pain?”

Diyar’s head laid on Rosa’s shoulder.

“I do not wish to answer,” he murmured, “I do not think I am strong enough.”

“Then I will wait,” Rosa promised.

He had all intention to keep his promise. He would have if Albus had not intervened some time after. He called the mothman before him to speak in private at the top of the acrobatic tower and Rosa’s mind felt heavy with worry.

“You have been here long, my amor,” Albus reminded Rosa, “A year now since I took you in.”

“Yes, sir,” Rosa agreed.

“It is time you fly,” Albus announced, “You will become an act.”

“I still cannot fly,” Rosa said.

“This is quite unfortunate,” Albus answered, “I will have to leave you behind.”

Rosa’s stomach dropped as if pushed off the platform.

“Please, do not do this,” he pleaded.

“I have no use for a second undesired,” Albus insisted, “You are only one more mouth and a thing to trip over.”

“I am not a thing,” Rosa denied sharply, “I am a man who lives, breathes, and loves as you do.”

“You are no man,” Albus scoffed, “You’re a pest, a parasite, a monster. If I hadn’t hit you and brought you in, no one would’ve had you.”

The realization of his words slipped into Rosa’s mind and settled easily. It was not difficult to believe and it gave him finally the answer he had been searching for. Albus could hurt them, because he was not really one of them. So close to the humans he was that he did not see himself in the monsters around him and he could not make himself care for others unless it would serve him. Rosa smiled softly.

“You clipped my wings and expect me to fly?” He asked.

“You will fly or you will die,” Albus answered coldly, like the venom in his fangs.

He lurched forward and shoved at Rosa’s chest, but was shoved aside by an invisible force.

“You ungrateful bitch!” He shrieked, raising a hand.

His arm was caught by Rosa before he could strike Diyar.

“I will not fly,” he dismissed as he pulled the vampire close, “I have no use for it any more, for my loves meet me on the ground. You, however, will soar freely. Good night, sir.”

He stabbed his left claws into the ringmaster’s chest, piercing his unmoving heart and then slashed his through the ringmaster’s neck. He yanked his arm, sending his body down to the floor in two bloody pieces. He climbed calmly down the ladder and walked to the body, ensuring he was dead.

Then he lifted the ringmaster’s hat from the ground. It was a top hat, black in color and velvet in texture with a stolen feather in the red ribbon wrapped around it.

“What will we do now??” Diyar wailed beside him.

“Calm yourself, mi cielo,” Rosa spoke gently as he removed the feather from the hat, “Everything will be as it should. We never needed one who could not stand to be one of us.”

They turned as their fellows came to see what the noise was about, all shouting in alarm and worry. Rosa lifted the hat and placed it on his head.

“Do not worry,” he said, “Please, calm your minds.”

He adjusted the hat and looked at them all spread out before him, each kind face troubled with uncertainty. He didn’t have all the answers, but he did know one thing:

“The circus will be for us now.”

[bugwolfsstuff]

Annabeth

"Chiron took me, Luke, Castor and Pollux out today!" Annabeth whispered excitedly, climbing into Thalia's arms. "It was great! Luke dropped a snowball on Castor's head, and then Castor ran all the way to camp screaming. It was hilarious! You should have seen it!"

"Annabeth?" Luke asked from the bottom of the pine tree. "You there?" 

Luke sat next to Thalia. His foot resting just past the border. "Are you mad at me because I crushed one of the twins with a snowball?"

Annabeth curled into Thalia's arms. "You crushed Castor." She said.

Somehow, she was the only one —besides Chiron, who could tell which twin was which. Not even their dad, Mr D, seemed to know which one was Castor and which was Pollux. Which she thought was stupid: They may be identical twins, but it's so easy to tell who's who!

Pollux had a faint Annabeth's foot-shaped scar on his chest from a pretty heated fight from when they were nine.

Castor has bucked teeth like a beaver (Huh, maybe that's why Mr D called him Castor) and wears braces.

Pollux fights with his right hand.

Castor with his left.

Pollux fidgets with plant leaves when he's bored.

Castor taps his foot.

Pollux quietly hums his favourite songs.

While Castor dances.

It's so obvious.

"Ah, okay," Luke said. He hoisted himself up to where Annabeth was sitting. "If you're not mad at me, why are you up here?"

"Just telling Thalia about our day." She answered.

Luke nodded as if talking to a tree at her age was normal. "Thalia, they viciously attacked me!" he joked, "You should have seen it!". 

Luke's tone suddenly shifted, "You should have seen it..." he repeated.

Annabeth slumped, her excitement dying, Thalia's cold, wooden limbs pressing into her back like a reminder that she'll never see it.

She looked out to camp, brushing sharp pine needles away from her face. 

The camp was usually quiet during the winter months. Not many campers. Most went back to their families for Christmas. It'd be a lie if she didn't say she envied them sometimes. She tried to go back to her 'family' once. Last year. All that did was prove that she was better off running away. 

She watched the other demigods far down the hill. The sun was setting, and Apollo was finishing his drive across the sky. It was almost time for the campfire sing-along. Most were probably at the campfire.

Her cabinmates were already walking to the campfire. She could see them talking as they walked. Some of the older ones carrying the younger ones on their backs. Others were laughing and joking. They looked like a happy family, and she'll never admit it, but there was always a pain in her heart that she couldn't explain when she saw them.

"You know," Luke said, "Christmas doesn't have to be about family. It could be about friends, too".

Friends. She thought about Castor and Pollux. She thought about how Pollux's face lit up when she called him by the correct name. She thought about how Castor took her flying above camp on his pegasus, Porkpie. And when she fell off Porkpie, he jumped after her.

Friends, that's what they were. They may not have had the best start, but they were her friends.

And by the Styx, was she going to show them that.

Her eyes filled with determination as an idea formed in her head.

"Luke?"

 "Yes?"

"Can you take me to the toy store?" 

Luke's smile disappeared, "No," he said with an unusual bluntness.

Suddenly, Annabeth's plan started to go up in flames before it had begun. She crossed her arms against her chest, "Why not?". 

Before, Luke would jump at the chance to hang out with her. But, since his big quest, he's been acting differently. And Annabeth was really starting to dislike it.

Luke shifted uncomfortably, almost falling out of the tree. "Because...it's late. The toy store will be closed by the time we get there! And the cleaning Harpies will come out soon. So we can't," He said, not meeting Annabeth's eyes.

"You have super speed. You can get us there and back before the Harpies come out!" Annabeth argued. She knew he knew that. He was lying; an idiot could tell that by looking at him.

But...

An idiot shouldn't be able to tell...

Luke is a great liar, a thing he gets from his godly parent, Hermes. There was another reason he was like this, and Annabeth intended to find out—

Luke sighed, "Fine...But be quick."

'—Later. I'll find out later,' Annabeth decided, excitedly scrambling down the tree. 

Luke dropped down from his branch next to her. He reluctantly opened his arms out like he was asking for a hug.

Annabeth grinned, wrapping his arms around his neck. Her feet left the ground as he picked her up in his arms.

"Ready?" Luke asked.

Annabeth nodded.

Luke grinned, holding her securely in his arms. "Hold on tight," he said before running.

The world blurred as Luke picked up speed. Her hair whipped around her face, and the wind whistled in her ears. She looked down and couldn't even see Luke's legs; they were going that fast. 

Her heart raced along with them, but she wasn't afraid. She knew Luke would never let her fall.

The blur had changed from the greens and browns of Camp Half-Blood to the greys and rainbows of the village.

Annabeth wasn't sure how long Luke had been running, but it felt like only seconds before he stopped outside the toy store.

Part 3 of 7

VineOwls Christmas

Pollux's Pov

Pollux felt like he was in a fairyland. Bright blue, red, yellow, and white lights flashed around him and his twin like a kaleidoscope. Snow covered everything, like a crystal wonderland. It was just a (Probably) mortal village decorated for Christmas. But it looked so pretty.

Luke Castellan, a son of Hermes, chuckled behind them. "Haven't you ever seen Christmas lights before?".

"We have, Larry. They're just pretty." Pollux replied, though he didn't think Luke heard him over the scarf.

"Not that you'd know anything about prettiness," Pollux's twin brother, Castor, said. 

Castor always made it clear if he disliked someone by making sarcastic remarks or insults. 

And Pollux liked to be sneaky, like being passive-aggressive or tripping someone while they're carrying something with a vine.

To put it mildly, neither he nor Castor liked Luke Castellan. Sure, there was nothing wrong with the guy. He was nice enough to them. He doesn't talk badly about their dad like the other campers (at least Pollux has never heard him do). But since he came back from his quest, there was a feeling at the back of Pollux's mind, like a gut feeling, that gets stronger by the day. 

"Hey, wait up!" Annabeth called from down the street. Her blonde curls bouncing under her grey woolly hat like a halo as she ran to catch up.

Annabeth had been him and Castor's friend since —well, not since they met her. In fact, they were kinda very mean to her when they first met when they were eight. But they're ten now! They've matured now and become best friends.

He even made space on the sidewalk for her.

"The Christmas lights are so pretty," she said, walking between them, Castor on her right, Pollux on the left.

"Yeah," Pollux said.

"Can you believe what Leonard quoth to us?" Castor said, putting an annoying amount of emphasis on quoth.

Annabeth giggled. "It's Luke, Cast. And what did he quoth to you?"

Pollux sighed, "Don't encourage him, Owlbrain." 

Castor discovered Shakespeare a week ago, and he's been hyper-fixated on it ever since. And Pollux isn't sure how much longer he can take hearing about symbolism in Romeo and Juliet in the middle of the night before he starts thinking he's in a Shakespearean tragedy himself.

"O, speak to me no more. These words like daggers enter my ears." Castor annoyingly grinned as he quoted Hamlet. He turned to Annabeth, "Lenny here," He gestured to Luke, "thinks we've never seen Christmas lights before".

Luke put his hands up in defence, "Hey, I was just saying, you guys seemed so amazed by the lights; it's like you haven't seen Christmas before".

"Probably 'cause me and Cass don't celebrate Christmas," Pollux said.

"Dad has beef with Jesus," Castor explained, scooping up snow in his gloved hand.

"And Mom's relatives come over around Christmas, and Dad says they're a bunch of—" 

"Pollux," Chiron chided, rolling up behind them in his wheelchair, "Language. And Castor put that snowball down."

Castor stared at Chiron. The snowball he was about to throw at Luke dropped to the pavement. "I wasn't going to do anything!" 

"I don't celebrate Christmas either, though not because of that," Annabeth said.

"Then why?" Pollux asked, kicking a ball of snow as he walked.

Annabeth hesitated, "...Because of how it's about family and how great it is. And since I ran away from my 'family'. It's kinda a sore subject."

"Oh," is all he said.

It was all he could say; one of the only downsides to having your godly parent at camp was that you'll never understand your fellow campers.

Annabeth laughed, "Guess neither of us are getting Christmas presents this year."

Pollux giggled. "Yeah," he said.

But he was lying. He had already made up his mind.

Annabeth was getting a Christmas present.

A laugh rang out, and Pollux heard Chiron say, "Don't."

He and Annabeth whipped their heads around to see what was going on.

Luke was standing behind Castor, who had lagged behind and was too distracted by a red robin nearby to see the giant ball of snow Luke had looming over his head.

Pollux scooped up some snow, and Annabeth did the same.

"Cassie, look out!" he yelled, throwing a snowball as hard as he could at Luke's chest. Unfortunately, Pollux was never much good at being a marksman, and instead of hitting the much bigger son of Hermes, he hit the much smaller Castor's left arm.

Annabeth on the other hand, was a better shot than him...unfortunately, not better by much.

Her snowball sailed over Castor's head and past Luke's chest.

Hitting him in the armpit.

Luke dropped the snowball in mild shock...directly onto Castor's head.

'Whoopsie' was all that went through Pollux's head.

Part 1 of 7