WB[]
| [[|Casey Maier]] ~ Child of Hades | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 "I'm living, quietly bleeding." |
{{{1}}} | |||||||
| ||||||||
| Owned by: Gen ~ Posted on: 22:14, December 16, 2015 (UTC) | ||||||||
| [[File:|100px]] |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Continued from Casey Maier
Camp[]
|
Casey: The blush that flashed across his face turned his ice-pale complexion a burning scarlet hue. He made it a point not to do so often. "It's uh...unisex," he responded with his eyes seeming to look at something deep beneath the grass. Allison: Allison nodded. "If you're looking for dirt, by the way, there's plenty around." She decided not to mention that Casey looked like a tomato. "So, am I just going to start all the conversation here?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. "That seems fair. I like deciding what other people do, or say, for once." Allison wondered, Am I awkward? She hadn't talked much before, even before Camp. Casey: Casey's eyebrows rose slightly as he eyed the figure before him. The girl had an air of assertiveness about her, though Casey was not intimidated in the slightest. He simply wasn't used to this 'friendly conversation'. Rarely had he ever approached anyone simply just to talk and never had it been the other way around, unless it was to knock his textbooks out of his hands and call him "Stiff". This however, was a relatively new concept for him. The girl's comment regarding the abundance of dirt only worsened the reddening of his usually pale face. "Sorry, uh...I'm not very good at this," he said biting his lip. "So uh, have you been here long?" Allison: "Long? Um, I think I've been here for about three weeks. So, no, I guess not. Still, I haven't made any, you know...friends," Allison replied uncomfortably. She hated to remember her former mortal best friend, Destiny. Sure, she'd moved before Allison went to camp, but they still kept in touch using this wonderful tool called the Internet. Now? Apparently electronics attracted monsters. "What about you?" It was the first time that Casey had asked her a question, she realized, or so she remembered. She didn't have the best memory. Casey: Casey listened intently as he always did, noting not only the words that she said but the expressions she made as she did so. Something caught him...'friends'. Something about the way she said it sounded a bit...reminiscent. He thought back to Lukas, the only true friend he'd ever had. The picture of the Chimera's jaws snapping the satyr's neck ran through his head once more. He blinked and suddenly he was staring into the frightened eyes of his old friend who lay sprawled about in the mud of Half-blood Hill. His vision suddenly returned to the present moment after he tasted the sanguine fluid that was dripping from his lip. He subtly ran his tongue across his lower lip, wiping away the evidence of his habit. Recalling her question he answered in his whisper of a voice. "Few days." He thought for a moment more before continuing, his voice as chilling as the piercing December breeze. "Never had many friends." He thought back to Half-blood Hill once more, replaying the fight over and over as he did every night as he struggled to attain the sleep that he so desired. His thoughts stopped at Petra, the girl who had left him and Lukas for dead. He replaced the image with the memory of his sword piercing her body, the Stygian iron blade bringing about her swift death. "Attachment always weighed me down," he sneered. Allison: "I'm confused," Allison replied. "Um, just wondering...if it's, you know, weighing you down, it's like they say. Friends aren't supposed to make you feel bad. Ugh, I'm being hypocritical right now." She didn't explain why, and hurried on. She'd noticed that Casey's tone seemed different at those words. "And it sounds like you had experience with that, didn't you." It wasn't a question. Casey: Casey, realizing what was happening, returned his face to its usual placid expression. He'd already allowed his emotions to seep into his verbal and bodily language. Perhaps he wasn't as stable as he'd thought. Well, shit. He wasn't quite sure whether that was such a bad thing. "You could say that," he responded. He had noticed her explanation, or rather lack therefore, regarding how she was being hypocritical and the immediate follow up question to deter him from pursuing the topic. He'd used the same social tactic more times than he'd care to admit. Nevertheless, he dropped it, deciding to let it be what it was. Instead, he elected to change the topic entirely. It seemed neither would take anything positive from this. "What do you do around here? I mean, for leisure?" He subtly substituted the word 'fun'. It just wasn't appropriate in his case. Allison: Allison tapped her chin thoughtfully. She'd never put much thought into what she liked to do; she just did it. "Well, for starters, I like visiting Starbucks in town," she replied. "And shopping at the mall. Sometimes visiting the beach. Exploring camp. Talking to the counselors of my cabin. A lot of stuff, really. Maybe even painting my nails - that stuff isn't reserved for Aphrodite's kids, you know. At least, most of that stuff was when I was having a normal life." She didn't know what she liked to do now. "I take it you don't have as many hobbies? Well, not a lot of people do, actually." She liked laughing. She liked gardening. But she doubted anyone would understand that, so she kept quiet. Casey: As the girl spoke he checked off each option. Starbucks: not really his thing. Shopping: definitely not his thing. The beach: not since the Chimera chose to leave him with a gruesome reminder of what fire does to human flesh. He wasn't entirely comfortable with removing his shirt. Then, he'd have to explain to everyone why his torso looked like a topographical map of Freddy Kruger's face. Furthermore, he wasn't much of a people person so conversing with the counselors wasn't all that appealing either. However, she hadn't mentioned anything of interest to him yet. When he finally responded his voice was brusque. "You haven't answered my question. What do you like to do?" His face remained as stark as ever, though his stormy grey eyes noticeably softened. "I mean passion. Something you do zealously." It was true he hadn't quite asked the question, but it was the underlying question which he had implied. Allison: She blinked. "Um...." What did she like to do, in that way? "Nothing?" She really didn't mean that, but she just had no way to put it. Going against the stereotype system of godly parents? Not all children of Demeter liked gardening (even though she did). Not all children of Hebe were juvenile and naive. "What about you?" Maybe if she asked him, he would see how hard it was to answer. "You know, zealously." She subconsciously folded her arms, a habit she had taken to doing ever since her Sarcasm Phase. Casey: He was quiet for a moment. Well, he was always quiet but he paused before answering. He wasn't quite sure whether his abruptness had actually offended her in some way. It wouldn't be a first. He was simply tired of the usual answers people gave him. Yeah, the climbing wall and the beach were fun and all but he didn't want to know what everybody else did. He was interested in what she did. Everybody was unique and he was curious of her intersts. However, he found that putting the sentiment into words was oddly...difficult. With her last statement dripping with sarcasm Casey forced himself to bite his tongue. Reminding himself that not everybody was out to belittle him, he quelled his anger and bit his lip thoughtfully. He pondered over his own question a moment longer before blurting out, "fighting." Realizing how silly that may sound he hastily explained. "I've always had to fight for what's mine," he continued more solemnly. "I went from fighting kids at school to fighting mythological monsters. I guess in the end it's not actually about who or why you're fighting. It's about overcoming an obstacle... I suppose." His eyes drifted to the darkening sky, distant, but no less acute. "Books. They offer much to learn. Faces offer more. With enough practice you can read those like books too." His eyes continued to search the horizon for something that seemingly wasn't there. "You get a sense of perceptiveness when looking at society from outside of the cage." Allison: The daughter of Demeter frowned. Fighting didn't seem like her type. She only did that when it was needed, and she certainly never fought with kids at school - at least, not physically. Then again, everyone had arguments sometimes. Books? Um...as much as she loved them, there was a wistfulness to them that she hated. What was there was never going to be real, or true. And personally, Allison appreciated her life inside the cage very much. "Cage?" she wondered aloud. It was a very organized cage, to say the least. "Well, I haven't read, you know, nonfiction since a long time. Was that the type you were referring to? Fiction's never going to happen, and I just don't like wishing it was real. Until you read something like Five Kingdoms by Brandon Mull, which I read in fourth grade. You really learn to appreciate your life, then." She never mentioned that she never actually finished the first book. Casey: Discerning the scowl on her face, Casey decided she didn't truly relate to either of his answers. He hadn't meant to portray himself as a scrapper, so to speak. He was simply well-attuned with the underbelly of society. He was more accustomed to the darker sides of people and as a result fighting had never been a choice. Now he spent his time honing his skills. Unless he somehow established unbreakable ties here, he wasn't planning on sticking around. He'd heard talk of a Broken Covenant- perhaps that was his next destination. He thought on her answer rather scornfully. "No. I hadn't really had a specific genre in mind." Nonfiction wasn't the only way to learn. There was always something left to take away from literature; hell, everything was a test, the lesson was finding the silver lining. His thoughts drifted to the series he was currently indulging, A Song Of Ice And Fire. Set in a fantasy world, he still attained useful information regarding social behavior, battle strategy, and manipulation. He especially respected the latter. "It's funny that you say that," he cocked his head. "I would bet you'd have never guessed where you'd be now, a few years ago. And yet, here you are. A demigod. To find that the world is shrouded by a veil of so-called truth...that mythology has been cast aside as a lie. What is fiction? What is nonfiction? You can't find the right answers until you ask the right questions." By now, his voice had rose not in volume but in intensity, and the speed of his lips paralleled that of his thought process. "If you're not learning anything, then you're not looking close enough. But look too closely and you're constrained by your own periphery." His voice stabbed through the biting wind, cold as a steel blade. "When you think of life as a game it becomes quite simple. You can either submerge yourself totally, become just another piece on the board. Or you can take a step back and become a player. People forget that you play the game and not the other way around." Allison: Allison had to resist the urge to sigh. She'd always been sort of forthright, never bothering with similes or metaphors. "Sure. Mythology. Lie. Game. Player. I guess I wouldn't have guessed that I'd end up here, now..." Allison paused. "But it's nicer here. Everything's organized, categorized. I just think sometimes categorization is taken to a different level entirely. And don't think I don't understand what you're saying. It's just, I don't think of life as a game. You can't take control. No one can. Everyone's life affects others. You know, something that happened to you might have been an effect of something in Asia." And life is much more serious, Allison thought. "But this topic is deep. Seriously. If you could choose your godly parent, who would it be?" She herself already had an answer in mind. Casey: Casey's face was motionless as he followed every word. The girl was most definitely more aboveboard than he was. She was more candid than he, expressing her feelings in more of a mundane manner. He on the other hand entertained more arcane thoughts. And why wouldn't he? When you spend your entire life in solitude the only conversations you have take place in your mind with your own sub-conscience. When introspection became a routine thought process, how could he expect others to share his ideals. He'd followed her response to its entirety, however one line stuck, apart from the others. You can't take control. He simply couldn't live with that. Sure he was a realist, but he couldn't leave his life in others' hands. "Yes, of course it's serious. You mistake my sense of a game as something to be played for individual gratification. The metaphor was not meant quite so literally. I merely believe one can take control." For once, he met her eyes, his austere as usual. "I choose this not because I haven't been affected by others...but quite the opposite." He blinked for a moment. "If I had a choice I would choose Hades." He made a gesture that incorporated his entire figure. "This is me. I wouldn't change that. Son of Death. It's only fitting." His lip curled on one side. Allison: "The real god of death is Thanatos, but yeah, I guess," Allison shrugged. "So you're not, like, wondering about what it's like to die? That would be cool. I mean, not the dying part, but like, the part about finding out. Before camp, I always wondered. And that was fun. Now that I know, I'm kind of disappointed." She deliberately avoided the question she had asked before. It wasn't bad or secretive, but her mother could be listening at any moment, and Allison didn't want to offend her. Casey: Casey shrugged casually. "I suppose that's true. But remember who the Lord of the Underworld is." Her next comment felt like a slap in the face. His lip trembled as he spoke, his voice so light this time that it could've blown away in the winter breeze. "Not a day goes by that I don't think about it." He thought back to the tour he'd undergone with Cody. "I've been to the Underworld. It feels like home." His stormy eyes grew wistful at the thought. "I suppose I wouldn't mind the return." He smirked at the mention of her disappointment. He for one was quite content with what he'd learned. He remembered his father's words, repeating them aloud as he did so. "Death is a beautiful thing." He knew he was most likely coming off creepy and depressing. However, once you embrace death anything is possible. Had he not done so on Halfblood Hill he never would've defeated the Chimera. "It's what makes life so precious." Allison: Well, I guess," Allison shrugged at his second-to-last comment. "Until you actually look Thanatos in the face. And, I hope you mean other people's lives? I plan on not visiting the Underworld until I'm at least seventy. And I want to die peacefully, in my sleep or something. Is that a little ambitious for a demigod? Going to the Underworld is pretty hard for children of non-Underworld goddesses." She hated how the Olympians were referred to as GODS, when obviously there were WOMEN (GODDESSES, whatever) there, too! "Actually, I probably don't want to die at all, but seventy is good enough." OOC: sorry for the wait, I was watching Star Wars. OOC: It's fine. I was sleeping anyway. LOL Casey: "Thanatos? Hell I'd almost be glad to meet him. Bet we'd have quite a pleasant conversation." He was actually more serious than joking. With the current topic traveling down a rather somber path he subtly stretched the sleeves of his leather jacket a tad further down his arms. As soon as he took notice of the subconscious movement he also realized why he had done it. Though there was no way his scars could be seen under his jacket and black short sleeve shirt he was somehow troubled by the topic of death. Not out of fear, no. He was afraid of one thing in this world and it wasn't death, that's for sure. He'd been walking that fine line for years, between fighting depression and monsters. The thought of his near-death experience on Half-Blood Hill made his left hand twitch. Suddenly, he felt inclined to do something he never ever felt content with. "Let me ask you something." His eyes grew solemn and distant. He replayed the scenario, recalling each and every minuscule detail, painting the scene in his head with an uncanny precision. "You're on Half-Blood Hill. Salvation awaits just over the summit. But the way is blocked. A Chimera lurks ahead and death is all but certain. One demigod...alone, forsaken. The rain falls in sheets as you fight an uphill battle (pun intended). Your legs threaten to buckle from exhaustion, your body ravaged into a charred black crisp of flesh and blood and burnt cloth. The smell of scorched flesh invades your nostrils, threatening to suffocate you. There's no way you should still be alive. With nothing left to fight for...what's keeping you going? What pushes you forward? Do you give in peacefully, or do you plunge into the heart of destruction?" There was a point to be made here, but first he awaited her reaction. He wondered for a moment if he was coming off as melodramatic. Matter of fact, that just might have been his intention. Allison: Allison flinched. "What do you mean? There's family. The future. Everything keeps me going. But maybe - well, maybe it's the desire to live. Oh, and by the way, I don't get the pun...." Allison said, trying to lift the mood. "Like, doesn't everyone have this innate desire to survive? And why so specific or dramatic, anyway? You'd make a great storyteller." She was surprised to find that that comment was not at all sarcastic. "Huh. I've never smelled scorched flesh. Ewww." (OOC: I was out of the house and traffic was TERRIBLE, sorry!) Casey: Casey smiled. It was a small, thin-lipped smile. He often enjoyed making people think. The variety of answers he received was quite interesting. He appreciated an honest answer. "Yes, I suppose those are all viable options," he sighed. "But not for me." He cringed at the thought of him being a storyteller. He never spoke like this about himself. "It's so specific because it only happened a week ago." He suddenly flashed a crooked grin. "And I can tell you it's a repugnant stench." He wrinkled his nose thinking back on the acrid sensation. In the crippled state he was in he had failed to notice the scent until he recalled the experience the next day. The grin vanished and he blinked for a long moment. "I thought I was all but dead. All the shit they say- your life flashing before your eyes- it's true. Then, I realized someone was gonna die on that hill. The Chimera...or me. All along I'd been running from death...all I had to do was embrace it. And then it didn't matter what happened to me. What I'm trying to say is find what motivates you. Hold onto it. Embrace it." He bit his lip nervously. "That's why I embrace death." OOC: np Allison: "I don't remember what happened to me a week ago," Allison admitted. "Well, I can probably guess that I was in the strawberry fields, since I've been doing that for most of my days here to pass the time. So, I wouldn't use only for a week's time. And I'm pretty sure someone told me it was scientifically proven about your life flashing before your eyes before you die, all in a second. It's all so cool, right?" Allison talked casually, and didn't add melodrama. She enjoyed things just as they were. "Don't you mean accepting death?" It was, in Allison's mind, sickening to desire death, but wise to rather accept it. Casey: "Of course. My embracing death is not tantamount to desire." He ran a hand through his jet black hair, self-conscious of the current conversation. "So um... you want to do something? Your friend here is not exactly thrilled by my company anyway," he gestured toward the tree against which he leaned. Allison: "Was that a joke? There's a real, living tree nymph in there, you know," Allison said, feigning offense. "I am doing something, by the way, if you're noticing. I kind of want to go to the beach, but if that's too social for you, how about a place in town?" She'd been dying to go to town, live the life she'd never gotten to live. That's a lot of life-related words. And it wasn't entirely true - Allison had been living a regular life before she came to camp. If she could have one wish, she knew it was to be a mortal, just based on her experiences. She missed school, and she'd never thought that she could ever miss that. Casey: Casey smiled, appreciating her consideration of his social awkwardness. "Yeah, you really don't want to see me without a shirt," he remarked, thinking on the conversation they'd just had regarding the Chimera. "Town, huh? I've heard little about it, but I haven't gone yet. Did you have a place in mind?" Realizing that there was in fact a living tree nymph within the trunk that he leaned against, he stepped away blushing. His face was flushed, starkly contrasting with his pale complexion that was normally white as snow. Allison: "Nope." That was all she said. She did think of the mall, but no. "I was thinking of something, but it's not really, um, you know...so, sorry." Allison got an uncomfortable thought, but it was fleeting, and it disappeared from her mind before she could fully comprehend it. Still, she thought it hilarious that Casey didn't enjoy leaning against tree nymphs. Allison had no problem with that. Casey: "Oh," was his only response. Something was obviously troubling her and, being someone who had learned to appreciate privacy, he didn't push it. His skin began to visibly pale to its normal complexion, much to his relief. He recalled what he'd heard of the town. "We could try the park, the plaza, or see a movie," he suggested. He wasn't good at this granted he had rarely socialized with his old friends, Lukas and Petra, and in the end Lukas had been the only true friend he'd ever had. It was hard starting over, especially when there was nothing to build off of. He lacked the personality and the experience that he desperately wished he had. Allison: Unfortunately, the uncomfortable thought came again, and this time Allison caught it. Is this what people call a date??? "Let's do the park. I feel like if I'm cooped up one more second, I'll die." Okay, that was a slight exaggeration. Still, Allison enjoyed being outdoors, having fun, that kind of stuff. Maybe that was why she never bothered to read (except for book reports) when she was younger. Casey: Casey smiled pleasantly, for once. He'd had a felling she'd choose the park, being a child of Demeter. He was glad he'd guessed right because the park suited him, despite his relationship with plants. While others might not enjoy the outdoors during winter Casey didn't mind the cold. The only downside was that the freezing temperature turned his complexion a ghostly pale. Not that he wasn't already but if he turned any paler...well he might just become a ghost like the ones he often noticed lingering about. However, the temperature was strangely mild this year and so the park was agreeable. "Good choose," he responded. "Shall we?" He silently reflected on the relatively new sensation of socialization. Perhaps it's possible. Allison: "Sure," Allison shrugged. She stepped out from the shade of the tree and smiled as a snowflake brushed her cheek. Sure, Camp's weather was controlled, but they still let a few snowflakes in now and then. "It's freezing, but whatever." Exercise would get her warm, anyway. She'd left all her layers at the cabin, but it felt nice to freeze once in a while. |
The Park:[]
|
Casey: Casey sauntered along on a walkway, his path paralleling a frost-capped field. The tip of his nose had already turned a rosy shade and he subtly shivered beneath his leather jacket. He still wore the same attire as earlier; the slim black t-shirt, tight black jeans, and matching combat boots presented quite a stark contrast to the wintery evening. He let out a light sigh, gazing wistfully as his breath turned to steam. He wore his jacket open, allowing the chilling breeze to pass through. Allison: The daughter of Demeter was waiting for him there. She was wearing skinny jeans and a simple lavender T-shirt, the same thing she'd been wearing before. Seemed like people didn't appreciate plain shirts anymore, but Allison definitely did. She knelt down on the frosty grass, generally unhappy because of the harsh weather but smiling at a rosebud in the bushes. Plants were beautiful in every way, Mother Nature's designer clothing. (Not that Allison would know anything about that.) Casey: The Son of Hades eyed the girl, his stormy eyes resembling the overcast sky that watched from above. He chewed his lip tentatively before traversing the distance in a few strides, moving offhandedly. The casual air in which he presented himself did nothing to represent his true feelings. Social interaction wasn't at all where he excelled. Sure he could read emotions better than most, but he struggled with the whole interaction part. As he approached he noticed that she was seemingly gazing at what appeared to be a...what was that, a rosebud maybe? He remained standing, following her line of sight. He silently pondered the beauty of a rosebud growing in such a frigid environment. Reminded him of himself, though he was more like an icicle in the summer. A serrated edge slowly melting away in the sun... He blinked the thought away and returned his focus on Allison. "Uh, hey." Smooth, he thought numbly. Allison: Allison shifted her gaze from the rosebud. "Hey yourself," she replied. She looked up at the snowflakes drifting down. Where her father had grown up, there was barely any snow. What was that like, anyway? She saw out of the corner of her eye Casey looking at the same rosebud. "Wait a sec...do you even know my name?" she suddenly wondered. Casey: Casey silently cursed. How could he forget to ask her her name? He wasn't used to learning names because he rarely spoke twice to the same people. He bit his lip once again. "Uh, no." Damn, making friends was hard. It was easier to simply keep a low profile and act distant. It had always worked for him, but he had promised himself he would make the best of this opportunity. This was a new life. Allison: "Oh, whoops." Allison smiled. "It's Allison." Thanks, Dad, Allison thought sarcastically yet fondly. "Allison" was a bland name. Still, Allison had a better connection with her mortal parent than most demigods did. She wondered why she still wasn't thankful for that, after all those weeks. "And I see no need to tell you my last name." She only said that to stop the Versanda lying on the tip of her tongue. Formalities weren't usually welcome here anymore, but whenever Allison was introducing herself, her dad made sure that she said her first name and last, to be formal. Casey: His lip curled. He hadn't mentioned his surname either. He'd trusted her to discern his ethnicity without it, based on his mixed Polish/German accent. In fact, her casual manner served to disarm him, if only slightly. Just because he was opening up to others more frequently didn't mean it would just happen overnight. And, to his dismay, the fact that they were all halfbloods didn't make it any easier. He'd discovered early on how normal many of them were. The only difference here was that the other kids weren't harassing him and thus he wasn't "throwing hands" so often. Nevertheless, this prolonged exchange was enjoyable enough; after all, she hadn't called him "Stiff" or made him feel invisible. What a shame. He was just getting used to people seeing through him. He found being a ghost was easier than being a teenager. "Pleasure to meet you, Allison." He rarely said this because he rarely meant it. Allison: "Saying that is just a formality," Allison said, waving the comment away. She thought bitterly of meeting Destiny for the first time. Destiny probably shouldn't have been Allison's friend - she was awesome and totally amazing - but yet she was. And she always said that, but just for fun mostly. "By the way, it's getting late." Allison's smile melted away as the air became chillier. In fact, she actually frowned, something she didn't do often in the summer, spring, even sometimes autumn seasons. Winter was bleak and cold. Even autumn had spices and cinnamon coming to Allison's mind when she thought of it. She thought of winter often as dark nights, shivering, and often associated with ghosts and tiny spaces. Casey: Casey almost burst out laughing at her comment. "No, it's not." Unlike most people he actually saved his "formalities" for moments when he actually meant them. He chose not to explain this though. Noticing the shift in her mood he raised an eyebrow. "If you're cold..." He let the sentence trail off as he removed his jacket and held it out- a silent offering. The cold never bothered him as he figured it might for a child of Demeter. Allison: "Okay, thanks," the daughter of Demeter shrugged, taking the jacket and putting it on. She wondered if she was being impolite, and she sighed with relief. If she was worrying about being impolite, then she was definitely the same Allison Versanda as before camp. She was fine with change, just not drastic changes. "What do you mean? I mean, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to...." Allison shrugged again. Why did I choose to wear a T-shirt in winter? Allison wondered silently. Casey: He nonchalantly blew steam from his lips. "If I say something I mean it," was all he said. "I don't do formalities." He suddenly realized he was wearing nothing but his black t-shirt revealing the scars on each of his forearms. He subtly crossed them, silently cursing himself. "Come on," he beckoned as he turned back on the pathway, cocking his head for her to follow. Allison: "Okay," Allison said again, getting up from where she was kneeling earlier and took a step forward. It wasn't often that she hiked anymore. In fact, she hadn't even hiked much as a kid. Still, she appreciated the stretch of walking. Most people would be surprised to know that walking was actually an acceptable form of exercise. Well...Allison liked it better before she knew that it was actually exercise. Casey: His steps were more accurately described as strides forcing him to account for her shorter steps, granted he was eight inches taller. While the kids back at school had called him "Stiff", after fighting monsters and training with his hybrid Stygian weapon Skeletós, he had found that he was quite athletic. While his strength was nothing out of the ordinary he was rather agile due to his lithe frame and fast as a hellhound. Not even close he thought, remembering the encounter he'd had with a trio of such beasts back in Berlin. The hike was a simple task for him though he soon felt the left side of his torso igniting with pain as it did everyday. It was only a spark of the inferno that had ravished his body on Half-blood Hill and for the days that followed, a sign that the ambrosia was doing its job well. Nevertheless, he retrieved the medicinal drink from his back pocket and took a smaller-than-usual swig from the canteen. All the while, he never broke stride. Allison: "Where are you going?" Allison asked, plucking a ripe peach from a low-hanging tree nearby. She would clean it later, but for now she rolled it around in her palm, walking faster than usual to match Casey's pace. "You know, staying away from camp too long could be dangerous." Allison actually didn't know that for sure, but because camp had magical borders that kept out monsters and demigods attracted monsters, Allison was pretty sure that it couldn't be good to keep away from the magical borders too long, unless you wanted monsters clawing at your throat. Casey: Casey, noticing her increased pace, slowed his own. He supposed what she said was true, though he honestly didn't care. He cocked his head. "Meh, I lasted a few years I think I can survive a little longer without the precious camp walls." With the thought of combat on his mind he habitually twisted his weaponized, Stygian iron ring. He was practically itching for a fight; he'd actually found something he excelled at. The sun was setting below the horizon and the shadow of the day was drawing near. As a nocturnal guy himself Casey welcomed the night. He personally enjoyed the distance from the other campers and found serenity in the eery silence. He consciously recognized the fact that Allison most likely did not share he's feelings and hoped that a damned monster would attack to avoid the awkwardness of trying to think of something to say. Allison: The daughter of Demeter couldn't believe that anyone could actually crave danger and monsters. Even so-called easy-classified monsters could probably kill you with a single move. This was why Allison never liked quests and didn't enjoy fighting. She remembered in fifth grade a video she watched of war, and she had literally broke down crying afterward. "Well, if you say so," Allison shrugged. "You didn't answer my first question, by the way." Casey: He suddenly realized that he'd become so apt to dodging questions that it was passing under his radar. "I don't know," he shrugged. It was true, he was simply walking aimlessly through the park. He found the wintery breeze refreshing and he needed to escape the abundance of people that lived at camp. Slowing his pace even more he glanced back in her direction. "I never know where I'm going." Allison: Allison snorted. "Oh, well that's real helpful." She wished she had brought her iPod, but it was all the way back at her cabin. Silently cursing for not preparing for a long walk, Allison kicked at a pebble on the path. Well, it wasn't really a path. She sighed. "At least do you know the way back?" she asked hopefully. "If you don't, then that's the part we need to worry about." Casey: "Ja," he replied, absentmindedly reverting to German. Casey could tell her how many steps he'd taken, he could recall every twist and turn in the path, even while he observed his newest acquaintance. It was a habit truly and not one that he intended to shake off any time soon. His constant analysis of social behavior proved quite...interesting. However, Allison was quite blatant sometimes requiring less observation from him. He cocked a brow rather curiously. "Why so vexed?" He hadn't meant it offensively, his tone displaying his earnest inquisitiveness. Allison: "Oh, well, you might think I'm crazy, but I'm not looking forward to getting lost in a place I barely know anything about. I mean, wouldn't everyone else just love that?" Allison asked, not being intentionally sarcastic but still letting sarcasm bleed through her words. "Thank you for asking." After all, she decided, it never hurts to be polite, even when that politeness was fake. This is what I learned from my father, Allison thought with humor building up in her. Casey: Casey caught her sarcasm as if it were a pestering insect before releasing it into the chilling breeze. He preferred straight-forward answers and so he was quite hung up on her tone. It was so... brusque, yet not like him. Then again, he was brusque due to his social anxiety. He let his thoughts drift to a night lost in the park, unencumbered by the presence of other people, or lack thereof. "Yeah, I suppose," he nodded, the motion tentative and awkward. He spoke in his usual whisper of a voice, his tone distant as always. His stormy eyes seemed unfocused as they normally did when he was thinking which was most of the time. "We wouldn't want that," he lied. It wasn't that he was searching for trouble, he simply didn't care much for the alternative of returning to camp. It was so lonely there... then what is it here? He truly longed for an escape from loneliness. But getting lost in the park wouldn't solve anything. "And you're welcome," he replied, smiling dryly without revealing any teeth. His tone was almost apathetic. Allison: Sighing, Allison fingered the ring she kept in her pocket. She wasn't married, of course, so she didn't usually wear it. When she did, most enemies didn't realize it was really a weapon. Somehow she felt that she would have to use it soon, even when her mind said for her to just leave the ring alone. "I guess I am, here anyway," Allison shrugged, watching a wilted brown flower become pink again in her midst. Casey: His eyes, detecting the slight motion, flickered to her pocket before instantly snapping back. "What's in your pocket?" he asked, his voice monotone and deliberate. Shit, that was direct. Is this how normal people talk? I should ask fewer questions. His eyes strayed to the trees where he took note of the flowers that appeared to bloom in her presence despite the wintery atmosphere. While the plants in the park seemed to embrace Allison the shadows did likewise with the son of Hades. He walked along the outside of the path hugging the shadows. Allison: Allison didn't hesitate. After all, what was wrong with telling another demigod about your weapon that wasn't even too secretive? "A ring," she said simply, because that was a ring in her pocket. She felt a smile tugging at her lips and decided not to say anything more. She noticed that Casey was sticking close to the shadows, while Allison was enjoying the sunshine seeping through the thick canopy of trees. Was that natural for children of Hades? Casey: "Oh," he nodded, his distant eyes widening slightly. He didn't press any further though he silently entertained the possibility of her ring being a sort-of magical weapon similar to Skeletós. He continued to spin the Stygian iron ring around his left ring finger out of habit. The ring was characteristically dark in a brilliant way, yet it shimmered as it twirled around his finger. Casey glanced down at his feet subtly averting his eyes from the sunshine that bathed Allison through the vulnerable cracks in the canopy ceiling. Daughter of agriculture. How fitting. Allison: Allison was glad that he didn't try to get more out of her. "Well, you have one, too," she pointed out, spotting a ring around his left ring finger. She didn't say anything more, noticing Casey was looking down at his shoes. She casually slid her hand out of her pocket to avoid drawing further attention to her hidden weapon. To be honest, she wasn't enjoying the time. Each step she took made her even more anxious to get back to camp, especially since her much-desired sunlight was fading away now into the brilliant blackness with its brilliant array of silver specks. Casey: Casey could tell she didn't fancy the walk. Neither did he, really. He simply had no interest in returning to camp and she had given him a reason to leave it all behind for at least awhile. He supposed his solitude would have to end eventually, why forsake the inevitable? "Well, it's getting late. I suppose we should head back now," he suggested. Allison: Allison was relieved. "Okay, sure," she said, a little too quickly. She started going back in the other direction, glad to be heading back to camp. "Sorry." She didn't know what she was saying sorry for, exactly, but it was plenty obvious that Casey wasn't enjoying the walk either. "At least we got some exercise." She smiled, hoping to mask her unease and fear of things jumping out at her at night. Casey: Caseg couldn't fight the grin that forced its way upon his features. "I don't care for walking," he blurted. "Just needed an escape," he explained. It was true what she said about exercise though he got plenty of that daily. Following her immediate alteration in their course Casey took greater strides to cover the distance between them. As he traveled alongside her he took notice of her excessive alertness of her surroundings. Unlike himself she was not quite as tranquil as the eery shadow of night was cast upon the park. Nevertheless, he continued fidgeting with his ring in silence. Allison: "Well, okay," Allison shrugged. She understood. Sometimes she needed to be alone, away from the buzz, too. "But to be honest, I care a lot for walking. It's exercise." A smile twitched on Allison's face. Actually, she didn't really mean that. "So, is that all you want to do?" Allison personally wouldn't mind crashing at her cabin. Casey: Casey fidgeted for a moment which consisted of biting his lip and stuffing his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. He wasn't sure how to respond as he visualized I vast number of possible scenarios in his mind's eye. Finally, he answered cautiously, "did you have something in mind?" It was a safe answer that revealed as little as needed. Allison: "Well...talk," Allison finally offered. "I know it's hard to do sometimes" - from personal experience, she thought - "but it's good to do too. (OOC: By the way, didn't Casey give the jacket to Allison? xD) So, tell me about yourself." Allison said it like a challenge. She couldn't figure out if she really meant it as one. "If you want to," she added, smiling genuinely. "Your mortal life. Stuff like that." Casey: "Verdammt," he whispered to himself, faintly enough to be incomprehensible to Allison. After a long moment of letting the silence hang in the air he finally spoke, his voice an icy whisper. "I am from Munich. And Warsaw before that. I spent my time alone, often locked away in my room or camped out in the library with my nose in a book. I was never very social. Being a demigod was just another difference among the others. Here...this...is a new beginning. Co było, nie wróci. I am here to forget, not to remember." Allison: "Co bylo what?" she asked nosily. "I don't understand. Mortals have amazing lives. They're not constantly hunted down by monsters. I wish I knew that when I was living a mortal life. I would've enjoyed it better. And, like I said before, I don't prefer being inside. So I don't read that much." Allison looked at the dark sky wistfully. If the gods were up there, the all-powerful gods, they should at least act all-powerful. "So, this forgetting thing. It's quite impossible, isn't it? How is it coming along?" She grinned. "Some memories are just etched in your brain, no matter what you try to do to forget. The ugly truth," Allison concluded melodramatically. Casey: He made no effort to translate the Polish proverb, instead entertaining the latter question. "There's some truth to that, I suppose." He remembered how vulnerable he'd felt when he'd spilled his past to Ambrosia. It'd been enough of a challenge with her and even now he wasn't sure whether he felt better or worse. He had felt something... perhaps a little bit of both. "I guess forgetting isn't an option. But numbing always is." Allison: Allison was shocked that anyone could consider numbing an option. "Why, was it that bad?" she joked. Then she wondered again if it actually was a joke. "I'm sorry if it actually was. And I'm sorry I can't always seem serious. But if you numb yourself, you can't feel any happiness either. I think it's worth the risk of sadness. I respect your opinion, though." Allison bit her chapped lip. Casey: Casey noted the attempt at humor in the girl's voice and chose not to fault her for her insensitivity. He didn't need anybody's sympathy. However, he didn't have an answer for that. He'd been numb for so long and yet he was happy here. Thinking back, he realized that opening up had been the only way he'd found happiness with Ambrosia. Herein lied the problem. If he didn't overcome this numbness he would condemn himself to a cold world. "Thank you," he suddenly whispered. Allison: "For what? Respecting your opinion?" Allison asked skeptically, not a trace of humor in her voice. She was pretty sure it wasn't that, but with other people you could never know. Then she hesitated. What if Casey had said something else and Allison interpreted it incorrectly? How embarrassing... "I meant...never mind. Forget I said anything." Not a very good cover-up, but it still saved her some humiliation. Selfish much? Maybe. Casey: Casey pursed his lips, shaking his head slowly. "No it's... complicated." He paused for a moment putting words to his thought. "You just gave me an idea, that's all." He found it quite humorous being on the opposite side of an awkward exchange. Allison: "Okay." (OOC: By the way if Allison gets out of char and becomes all sassy, I just rp-ed Miss Annoying Extraordinaire so be on guard) Allison looked forward again. "Glad that I could be of service." There was no sarcasm in her tone; perhaps it was just happenstance, because Allison sure felt sarcastic. Casey He mentally shrugged off the comment as her tone was unclear from his perspective. No matter, her opinion meant nothing to him; if she took pleasure in assisting his thought-process that was her prerogative. "Uh, sure," he replied indifferently. Despite the external calm that washed over his features, his mind was still reeling from his previous realization. Allison: "Seriously, I do not have anything else in mind," Allison said. "So is there really anything else you want to do?" (OOC: No literally - this rp's getting boring) Allison kicked at a fallen branch and stared unhappily at the ground. Frosty, stupid ground. Stupid acorn. Stupid squirrel she was about to step on. The daughter of Demeter yelped and jumped sideways. The squirrel scurried up the tree and acted as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately, Allison had also jumped into another tree. She glared at the leaves of the tree the squirrel had just scurried up and brushed herself off, acting unembarrassed. |
OOC:[]
|
I was sick of scrolling on my IPhone so I sectioned it. Np. Sorry of the inactivity, but ya know, yesterday was Christmas.... Btw sorry for changing the color but black is boring :) "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."~Brit
Hi again, just wondering what level are you? I'm a weird person but who cares."If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."~Brit
Ugh sorry again for the inactivity! I'm busy, really sorry! "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."~Brit
I'm pretty sure children of Demeter have that power... Lol I'm too lazy to check. "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."~Brit
Thanks. I wonder if anyone doesn't have a weapon in disguise on this wiki, though. "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."~Brit
Well that was the longest post I've had in a while. That's kind of pathetic, isn't it? LOL >.< (PS Nice new wb) "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."~Brit
|