||Welcome to Camp Half Blood|| A Percy Jackson rp CLOSED

Looping one arm around Josie's waist, Blaze smiled as she leaned up to give his cheek a kiss. His mind was swimming with emotions of affection and excitement. The day was the first day he truly saw Josie as someone who he could stand by as more than just a friend. Of course, he had a crush on Nakita, she was amazing and beautiful too, but his crush on her was mostly a ploy to hide the true one. He gave a nod to her. "Yeah, that day I couldn't help it but admire and watch you in awe." Blaze kept his hold on the wooden box, careful not to drop it once she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Thanks, it took so long to perfect and let's just say I did have a few minor inconveniences but I'm okay" Blaze murmured jokingly. "What would you like do now that I revealed my surprise?"

Regret was a constant internal battle Blaze faced. His mother being killed, the issue with the camp being attack from the inside, and even not telling Josie sooner about his crush. Yet, even though they both were approaching an age where camp might not be a option any longer, he was still glad to be here with Josie now. "Maybe," he joked. If anything was popping up in his head, the strawberry fields were fun to walk through, but they had no shade coverage from the sun. The arena didn't seem really romantic unless you was an Ares kid. "What about going to play with some of the Pegasus or we could go down to the beach?" Blaze asked, his mind trying to run through the options.

Blaze tilted his back and forth for a moment as he understood not wanting to have to go for another swim, though at least that one might be intentional. His brown eyes carefully watched her body language as she set her hands into her pocket on her hoodie. "Yeah, give me a few moments. You can't have it, not yet at least" he said with a soft, sincere smile. He turned back into the Forge and walked the box over to his desk, setting it neatly on a small shelf. The shelf being one of few spots his desk wasn't cluttered with junk. Blaze gave the amazing box one last look before walking back out to Josie. A smile crept on his face as he wrapped his arm around Josie's shoulder and turned both of them to head toward the stables.

Josie would just chuckle at his response before she found herself standing outside of the forge alone. Her bright blue eyes scan her surroundings, slowly turning under herself as she finally just gazes up at the sky, noticing the sun getting lower in the sky, it would probably be getting dark within the next couple of hours. A small smile brightens her expression as she thinks about what they could do tomorrow, and for the first time in a long time Josie looks forward to the next day. Still lost in her thoughts, she lets out a startled gasp as Blaze's arm goes around her and his warm presence is right at her side. Josie smiles more and leans into him, reaching up with a hand to lace their fingers as she walks with Blaze. There isn't much distance between the forge and the stables, so it's not a long walk before they arrive, and she falters to a stop when she sees there's already a couple of campers in there.

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The nudge gets a giggle out of Frances and she leans into the older girl to tap her with her elbow. Her gaze lingers on all of the different colored coats of the horses and pegasi, looking a bit in awe at the large animals. "I could watch, sounds like that could be fun anyways." Frances gives a sheepish smile at Nakita, appreciating how accommodating she was being. She goes to reach out to gently pet the black and white pegasus when she catches movement out of the corner of her eyes and turns to see Blaze and Josie walk in. "Oh, hey!"

Nakita looked up as Fran spoke and gave Blaze and Josie a friendly smile, “Hey, guys! What are you up to?” She asked, opening the door for the pegasus she had been petting. She led the black and white pegasus out of its stall and towards the tack necessary for riding.

"Yeah the naiads were a little too overwhelming to be near the lake, so we just decided to come over and see some pegasi." Blaze turned back to find Fran questioning him, her body language and face saying it all. What? I have to update you on everything? It happened a few hours ago. He bit the inside of his cheek, his lips shifting to the side slightly annoyed. His eyes shifted back toward the pegasus that Nakita was taking riding equipment. The black and white color was stunning, almost reminding him of the old cartoon black and white colors. "Nah we'll just hang out and feed some of them," he said with a smile. He spun on his heels looking for some of the snacks for the pegasi. Quickly, he found said snacks inside a small pantry away from the pegasi's stalls, knowing they had to keep them locked away so the creatures didn't eat all of them. He grabbed a big handful of snacks before walking back over to Josie and holding out his hands for her to take some.

Frances looks back over her shoulder where she catches the look that Blaze sends her way, as well as picks up on his annoyance. Her smile immediately falters and his rejection stings a little more than she's sure it should. She bites her lip and her gaze flickers between Josie and Blaze, and suddenly her chest tightens. Fran considers Blaze to be the most important person to her at camp, besides her siblings, and suddenly without her knowledge she's become second to Josie. She's not jealous, but she wouldn't deny that it hurts a little, especially because it feels a bit out of the blue. She frowns and quickly turns again, scurrying after Nakita and finding a spot in the grass to sit on as she watches her mount Blackpearl and ride off. 

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Josie is quiet as the other two leave, but that doesn't mean she didn't catch all of the looks. Frances was so expressive it was hard not to notice the hurt when Blaze told her they would be staying in the stables. She shifts a little in place and then looks up when Blaze approaches again, looking at the contents in his hands and taking a couple pieces of the fruit and snacks that he offered to her. She steps away towards an all blonde pegasus, holding a strawberry out for her to take. "You know, I wouldn't have minded going out there." She finally speaks up, glancing in his direction. "It's not a big deal for all of us to hang out together." 

Josie considered herself to be a rather calm and calculated person. She had to be when faced with life or death situations, and even though she wouldn't consider this one of those life or death situations, she could recognize that if she reacted a certain way then things could blow up. She listens to Blaze's reasonings, let's him speak and explain himself before she takes a deep breath and offers a small smile. "I don't know if I'd say I had any deep secrets to begin with, but if I had a close friend I'd probably be open to sharing it with them. That way it could lighten the burden of carrying that secret around." The next part was a little harder to process. Maybe it was unrealistic to think that just because they had gotten together, Blaze would be completely over Nakita. She has to remind herself that in the end he chose her. Maybe it was fate that brought them together, or just some dumb luck. Either way, she felt that she could at least trust that his feelings were genuine, and he wasn't just using her to get over his crush on her cousin.
With the last treat fed to the pegasus, Josie would move over to Blaze and place a hand on his arm. She gives a soft and comforting squeeze before pulling him into a hug. "I think it's just a bit of a sticky situation overall. If you say that it's me you want to be with, then I trust you. With that being said, I don't think we need to keep this as some sort of secret. At least, I don't want to be a secret you keep from others. There's nothing to hide anymore, Blaze. You have me now." Josie lifts her head to look at him, smiling once again and leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.

Josie's expression softens when he finally looks at her, and when he reveals his real name. She knew how hard it was for him to open up, so it meant a lot to her that he was willing to share this piece of himself with her. "Hayden." His name rolls off her tongue effortlessly and it's followed by a warm smile. One of her hands lift to cradle the side of his face, ghosting her thumb across his cheek, and then briefly his lips, the pad of her thumb soft despite years of training and wielding weapons. Then, she suddenly pulls away and holds out her hand, expecting him to shake it. "It's nice to meet you, Hayden. I can't wait to get to know more about you," her smile grows and there's a spark in her blue eyes. "I'm Josie, your awesome new girlfriend." While Josie never had to experience losing a parent, she knew what it was like to be taken away from her home, never able to leave camp otherwise she would immediately be swarmed by monsters. This all felt like a step forward in the right direction, and it made Josie excited for their future.

(sorry about the short hiatus! was fighting with motivation, and then i didnt have my laptop for a week ^^')

Josie could feel him melt under the touch of her hand before she had removed it, even recognized the glossiness to his eyes that she'd never seen before. She was happy to hear Blaze chuckle and play along with her antics, giving him a firm handshake. Then she finds herself being pulled in, and a yelp slips past her lips. The noise is muffled when he's pressing a kiss to her lips - one that sends shockwaves throughout her entire being. She barely registers the whinnies of the pegasi once her eyes close and she's kissing him back with a rival passion. Her back arches with his hand pressed into her, making Blaze having to lean over her in a slight dip. Josie lets go of his hand so that she could wrap her arms around his shoulders now, trying to take back some of that control by leaning into him more, trying to move upright.

(I was thinking of sending Frances towards the forest to bump into Shadow? If an interaction between them was something you would also be interested in, Flame? c: )

A small, surprised noise leaves her throat as she's being lifted off of the ground. Her legs instinctively wrap around his waist, squeezing tight to hold herself up, even if she didn't need to. Josie has seen his arms, she knows she shouldn't be surprised by Blaze's strength, but still gets flustered as he holds her up. Which he'd see the way her cheeks were flushed, eyelids a bit droopy when he's looking at her. There's always going to be that static spark anytime he touches her, the electric heartbeat alive underneath her skin while he keeps her close. A testament to how much she likes him, how much she's always liked him. His words shoot through her, filling her with a warmth she's never known before as her smile widens. Josie steals one more peck from his lips before pressing back against his forehead. "Yeah? You mean it?" It's not to question him, if anything her tone sounds more teasing.

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(of course!)

At some point after Nakita had touched down, Frances excused herself to leave the stables. For once she didn't have it in her to be in a place so crowded, despite it being the two of them out on the track. Her heart still felt heavy after her brief interaction with Blaze, still hurt by their silent conversation and just feeling silly about it now. She would've headed to the strawberry fields, but didn't exactly want to run into any of her siblings there. So, that's how she found herself at the edge of the forest, hoping to get lost in the tree line. The curly headed blonde leans against a sturdy tree and slides down the trunk until she's sitting in the soft dirt, letting out a deep sigh and taking in the earthy smells around her.

Reaching behind her, Frances unclasps the locket from around her neck and opens the heart up to reveal a picture of her father in his younger years. A small, sad smile creeps into her expression. "Hey, dad. It's me, Fran. Hope you've been doing well. I've been thinking about you a lot, um, especially since y'know...the anniversary is coming up. I miss you." The tears fall before she can register them, soft and slowly rolling down her tan cheeks. Gods, this felt childish. Sitting by herself and crying in the forest. At least no one was around to hear her, to her assumption.

The longer she's in his arms, the more comfortable she gets. Her own arms weave around his shoulders, bending at the elbow so she could run her fingers through his hair, other hand firmly pressed to the top of his back. She continues to hold his stare, her clear blue eyes holding so much affection. There was this feeling of eagerness now, an excitement of what's to come. Part of her wanting to stay in this moment of all these new relationship feelings, while also wanting to skip ahead to a future where they've been together for years. Then again, that future could be one of constant moving around, avoiding monsters as best as they could. "You know, I never really pegged you for being such a romantic type." She takes the opportunity to tease him, though her hands move to cup his cheeks and hold his jaw. Josie shuts her eyes and gives him one more lingering kiss, the whinnies of the pegasi starting to get to her towards the end. It was a funny parallel to the lake earlier. She snorts and rubs the tip of her nose against his. "Now that you're mine, I'm never letting you go." Another peck and then she lifts her head, looking around. "Wanna go somewhere else? Feeling a bit crowded in here."

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Frances becomes frozen for a second, the voice above her was obviously starling, but one she recognized. Her head tips back and she makes out Shadow's tall frame right above her. Olive-toned cheeks turn bright red when she realizes he must've heard everything she'd just said out loud. The feeling of embarrassment begins to sink in before she's desperately trying to push it away. As mortified as she felt in this moment, there was some honest relief as Fran realized she wasn't alone. Being around someone with a little more chill could be comforting, but that didn't mean she expected any comfort from Shadow. Standing to her feet, thick vines begin to wrap around Fran's ankles, lifting her off of the ground as they grow taller, tall enough so she could be within eye line of Shadow. "Oh, hi Shadow. I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." Frances has wiped the tears from her face by now, offering a gentle smile instead, causing the dimples on her cheeks to appear.

Without asking for permission, the vines raise her higher and she sits in the flat space of the tree where branches meet trunk. She leans over to get a proper look at him, long curls almost in his face before she brushes them out of the way and over her shoulder. "Are you, um, are you talking about your mom?" She looks at him curiously, hazel eyes still glossy with tears that won't fall.

For Blaze to find someone like Josie, he was shocked that it had happened so soon. If he hadn't already known her base personality, a quality he fell in love to begin with, he was enthralled to find the other traits she had. For example, she was just as much as a smart-alec as he was. One reason he believed that she would be not only his girlfriend, but also one of his best friends. He lifted her up a little more until she was just a little taller than he was and smiled softly. "I hope you never will," he whispered. "Let's find somewhere a little more private if you would like?" His eyes stared into hers with a bright light for the future. A future that wasn't all set in stone, but he knew they would likely be together with whatever challenges they faced.

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"Don't..." Shadow growled toward the asking of his mother. The memories flooding back into exist, ones he had buried long ago. The moment he stepped outside of the camp's magical barrier every monster within a ten mile radius would know exactly who was there and how much value in killing a son of the Underworld God. This was exactly why he left his mother before something happened all those years ago. The constant moving around, trying to evade everything, with Hades also attempting to hide them each time. His godly stepmother threatening to wreck havoc on him the only time he was able to visit the underworld. "Why must you invade personal space more than any person I know?" he groan as he tried to shoo her out of his face. For once he thought, going to the forest would be fine. No would be out there, not with the monsters breaches. Yet, here was Frances upset over something he sure wasn't about her missing her father. "Why are you really out here?" Shadow reluctantly asked.

Knowing she wouldn't fall from wrapping her legs around his waist, Blaze slide his hands away from her legs then wrapped his arms around her waist. Laughter spilled out of Blaze once she asked him about whether he was going to carrying her or not. His instincts constantly told him to keep her close to him, which was why he always wanted to wrap his arms around her or pick her up. Though Josie was right, she could walk on her own feet if she wanted to. "Which would you like love?" Blaze said leaving the decision up to her. His own thoughts changed to where they should end up as both wanted to leave the stables as the sky was starting to darken and the air was getting chilly. Although for Blaze, that feeling wasn't really there. He was a consistent warmer, but Josie wouldn't be able to handle that.

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Despite wanting so badly for the peace and quiet to return, Shadow actually listened carefully to what Frances was saying. He kept his eyes off of her as a deception, staring up in the trees and the growing night sky. The branches above them swaying slightly from a small breeze. No doubt that her and Blaze were close, but he knew better than that. She wanted more, but he didn't see it that way. "What did I legit just say? The moment someone sees a weakness, they will take advantage of that," he said. "Hear enough of the same insult and soon you'll begin to believe it yourself. When I call you annoying and invading my personal space, I'm exaggerating a little bit because I hate social interaction." Shadow paused wanting to determine his words carefully. "Care to explain said interaction with fire boy?" Shadow asked.