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Post by Lioncl on Jan 5, 2021 23:42:16 GMT -5
Nathan smiled as he looked down at his phone and saw the incoming text from Atticus. Nathan had already found a good ambush spot down one of the paths and had been waiting there even before Atticus' text. He was smiling because he finally had his chance to have some fun with these new champions. He hoped that he'd be able to meet the one that scarred up Rip's face, maybe they could have a good laugh about it before they fought. Even if he couldn't meet up with that guy, he'd take anyone at this point. Having been stuck at the base for so long as backup reserves or the team healer had made the Champion of Khepri restless and he was ready to let loose. Though he still had to be careful not to go too out of control since he would hate to piss off Atticus. He much preferred not being strung up in a bundle of vines again.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 5, 2021 23:52:25 GMT -5
Lorenzo had glanced at Irene, grateful for the additional help. When he learned Venice had been targeted, he felt dread. Quite a bit of it. His sisters, who he had left, were there. He couldn't imagine what they must have felt.
Venice held other fears of their own too, heartbreak, her. Felicia, the girl he had planned to propose to before that fateful night that changed his life. Part of him still felt bad, even if she cheated, it must have been something he had done. He left without a warning, and as horrible as it was, he didn't feel that upset about what happened lately.
When Dillon opened the portal, he made quick movements to emerge on the other side, swallowing back the telltale feel of nausea. When he stabilized, he took a deep breath, smelling the sea salt on the wind, hearing the telltale lap of waves nearby. The sunny sky, beaming reflectance onto the water. He concentrated on the sun for a moment as his senses went into overdrive from the familiarity of it all.
The shock of being back caused him to lose whatever Dillon had been talking about. When he realized the boy was expecting a reply, he apologetically glanced at him, offering a nervous, sheepish smile. "Sorry, it's...weird to be back."
That was one way to put it, he guessed.
Dillon had mentioned the Lido di Venezia, and he nodded. "That's a good place to start, I can lead the way?" He offered, listening to the telltale ramblings of Italian on the wind. He was filled with an anxiety of being recognized, given that he was reported as missing. Though it was likely fine, he figured, it had been months.
With that, he began leading the way, strangely quiet as he soaked in the culture he had been ripped from. His head ducked a bit to hide against the sun's rays and the stares of people who may recognize him.
It was going to be an interesting trip, wasn't it?
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 6, 2021 0:12:58 GMT -5
Soft drops sounded through the shelves, a leak of water from the storm raging outside. Thunder echoed through the halls imposed by scattered shelves, and the soft patter of drops sounded almost like ceramic chimes. Staring at the drops, Esme switched her gaze to the area ahead of her, unlike her leaders, she hid under some of the shelving.
Scouting out the competition, that was. Given her ability to be stealthier than others. Her eyes peered from the darkness, waiting and counting the drops of water as they fell. That was, until she heart the patter of feet. She ducked back, hiding herself once more, and waited.
Meanwhile, Atticus had remained in his area, rolling his eyes at Ripley's response. He typed back a response quickly, glaring at his phone.
I hate you.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 6, 2021 18:27:10 GMT -5
Lucien had been the one to announce over the intercom the second mission in Italy. He was glad someone was going to check it out, but he had to admit that he was more than a little irritated at being told he couldnβt help out at either of the two ongoing missions.
He wasnβt a child, for starters. Just because heβd been hurt in the last battle didnβt mean he could take care of himself, and he certainly didnβt need to be treated like he were made of glass. He was more than capable.
Still, heβd headed down to see the two groups off, neglecting to listen to Cleoβs speech. He was still mad at them after the last meeting and he couldnβt see that changing anytime soon. Not while they hadnβt given so much as an apology or even addressed it since the last meeting.
Heβd wished a quick goodbye to River and Naida and their group, bidding them all to βtry not to die,β before watching them all disappear through Naidaβs portal.
Then he watched Irene rush forward, saying that she was going to accompany Dillon and Lorenzo. So one could just run up and say they were joining a mission now, apparently. Damn, why hadnβt Lucien thought of that?
He watched the trio leave before moving to stand next to Luka. She was one of the few of the leaders of the Pantheon he really got along with right now, apart from River and their relationship was still some weird brotherly hate thing.
Besides, she had to relate to exactly how he was feeling right now.
βSo, what shall we do?β Lucien questioned with a smirk, keeping his voice low so only Luka could hear βsomething suitably childish, I hope, since weβre obviously too young to be taken seriously.β
Yeah okay, he was bitter. But he did genuinely want to do something. Technically he should be making sure he was available if he was needed for healing but he didnβt plan to go too far anyway. Besides, Naidaβs group had Pascal, and he was pretty sure Italy had free healthcare.
He deserved to have fun and just let loose for once. Besides, if they thought he was a kid, heβd be a kid. He had no problem with that.
After all, it was Halloweβen.
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Post by Nariku The Avaricious on Jan 6, 2021 23:05:52 GMT -5
Following the other two through the portal, Irene stepped into the city of Venice, momentarily taking a moment to pause at the sights while they all got their bearings. The young woman almost missed Dillonβs comment about how she should keep a look-out, only managing to give him a thumbs up in response. She glanced at the buildings, taking note of how different everything looked from what she was used to. Sure, living by the ocean wasnβt exactly new to her, and Venice was one of the most famous cities in the world, but she couldnβt help but notice how sureal it was that she was actually there. Never once in her life did she expect to be so far away from home.
Guess it never dawned on her just how much her life changed because of this βgodβ bs. Most of it was the Pantheon, having to fight to survive against the exiled, and her being thrust into a position of leadership. It didnβt feel like she had much time to breath, let alone take time off to enjoy herself.
Walking through the streets of some city in Italy to hunt an exile attack or monster just felt less stressful than sitting in a meeting with 6 other kids. At least she knew what her f*cking task was instead of just being told to βfigure it outβ. She doubted half of the current leaders even knew what the f*ck they were supposed to do (she was no exception.) It was hard for her to imagine why people voted for her in the first place. Was it because her guide happened to be the leader of an entire pantheon of gods, or because she yelled the loudest in a group of 24 scared children.
βWhat shame it would be if my champion wasnβt in a position of leadership, like Iβd ever allow that to happen,β Zeus responded boldly, seeming to have slightly calmed down enough to pat himself on the back.
βWhy? Would it hurt your fragile ego if I wasnβt voted in?β Irene snipped back, not in the mood to hear her guide boasting about his petty victory.
βYou ungrateful little-β
βHey, guys, I have a question,β Irene stated, cutting off Zeusβs voice in her head, βDid the pantheon provide money for us? Since it would kinda suck to be stranded in Venice of all places without so much as cash for food or a motel.β Easy way to get her mind off her guide if she was focused on the task at hand, right? Especially if it was information that dictated weather they slept in a bed somewhere.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 12, 2021 18:14:57 GMT -5
Dillon waved off Lorenzoβs apology good-naturedly. He totally understood it. He didnβt know how heβd react if he found himself back on the beach at Eastbourne. Lorenzoβs distracted demeanour was more than forgiven.
βI get it,β the boy smiled gently βI think any of us would react the same if they went back to their hometown.β
Not that he thought of Eastbourne as his home, as such. It was the place heβd grown up and heβd always have a strong connection to it, but it was also where heβd grown up in a place with a thriving gay community he hadnβt been able to be openly part of because of his father. It was where his dad had hurt him.
The Pantheon was far more his home than that place ever was.
He was drawn out of his train of thought when Enzo suggested he lead the way, to which Dillon responded with a a nod of agreement, his expression looking more than a little relieved that he wouldnβt have to pull out the map heβd brought and try to find his way around a strange city.
Irene began to speak up then, which instantly brought Heraβs anger raging forward.
βWho said she could come anyway? I bet this is my cheating, arrogant, man-child of a husband trying to wrangle his way into my championβs first mission.β the goddess seethed
Dillon wasnβt having any of that, not today. He needed to focus and he had enough of Heraβs telling about Zeus in every single leadersβ meeting.
βIβm not your marriage counsellor,β Dillon muttered under his breath βeither deal with your issues on your own time or start paying me Β£70 an hour.β
He needed a guide right now, not Hera complaining in his ear about what a pain Zeus was. Dillon had never really cared, and at this point his care cup was rapidly emptying.
Still, as they started to walk, he supposed he had better start answering Ireneβs question. He chuckled nervously, which should automatically tell her what the answer was.
βTechnically? No.β Dillon explained βThe gods seem to have forgotten that money is a thing we need. All we have is what was on us, which in my case is nothing.β
Heβd been at a wedding, he hadnβt exactly been carrying around money in his suit. Lane had a few dollars and a bus ticket. Lucien had been carrying maybe ten dollars, Chiara had about the same. Laurie had been reaching the end of his night out when he came to the Pantheon, which meant heβd already spent most of his cash on drinks. All told, heβd had about β¬12 on him in cash. And cash was all that mattered; credit cards were useless because they were linked to their names and the Ascendants were all supposed to be missing.
Luckily, though, they did have one advantage when it came to their current situation.
Dillon looked hopefully at Lorenzo.
βI was kind of banking on Enzo being able to convince someone to give us some hotel rooms for the night.β
Yes, Dillon knew this was the real world, where hotels didnβt just give out rooms for free. But he also knew that this was Venice, a city full of overpaying tourists. A hotel might be more willing to haggle - or give rooms for free - to a local in need. All Dillon and Irene would have to do was keep quiet so they didnβt catch on that Dillon and Irene werenβt Italian.
Worst came to worst, theyβd figure something out. If they had to go back to the Pantheon and grab the camping equipment from their trip then they could do that.
The gods had seriously provided camping equipment and hadnβt thought of giving a little cash. Wild.
βNot our problem that you mortals exchange tiny pieces of metal for things you need.β Hera tutted βYou are the strange ones.β
He ignored her as she muttered something about the fact that they shouldβve probably listened to Hermes when it came to the money thing. Apparently they hadnβt, which didnβt surprise him. It shocked him that anyone but Hera and Zeus managed to get a word in edgeways to be entirely honest.
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Jan 13, 2021 4:30:11 GMT -5
River felt his brow furrow and his grip on his spear tighten. He looked straight ahead as he walked and there was a twitch in his features. He managed to catch a piece of what Pascal muttered but not all of it. But from what he did catch he was able to piece it together.
"We're not going to die, Pascal," River said a little too harshly. He was still a little too tense and his expression was extremely pained. He closed his eyes as he rounded a corner and sighed heavily.
Hopefully...
He needed to calm down. Focus. Actually, believe what he was saying instead of just saying it to make someone else feel better. Pascal deserved better than that. Everyone deserved better than that. He chose to be a leader this time and he needed to be there for everyone like he promised he would be.
Taking another breath, River opened his eyes and gently placed a hand on Pascal's shoulder. His features were softer as he addressed the other boy but he wouldn't smile. Not yet. "Listen, I'm not going to let anyone sneak up on you. Especially, on your birthday," River explained quietly. "You do the same for me and we'll be out of here in no time."
Dropping his hand from Pascal's shoulder River looked straight ahead again and his gaze hardened. "I'm not looking to make another mistake like last time..." the ginger muttered, mostly to himself. He felt angry again. At himself mostly, but with the whole situation as well. Something just felt...
Off.
"But," River said looking up at the decaying machinery and unattended boxes of unknown items. The air tasted stale and felt alive. "You're right. This place is creepy,"
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Jan 13, 2021 5:14:23 GMT -5
Ripley checked his phone as he followed the trio from above. He leaped from shelf to shelf with quiet ease smiling at Atticus's reply to his text. He typed out another quick response before catching up with the three good kids as they managed the maze. Atta boy Ripley stopped when he noticed that one of the members was missing. And who other than his Laurie? Poor thing had gotten separated and went in the opposite direction of his friends. Ripley hummed thoughtfully to himself as he diverted his path and followed the stray. He shoved his phone into his pocket and smirked devilishly. A shame really. Ripley would just have to help the poor thing back to his herd. "Laurie," Ripley teased in a sing-song manner as he leaped from one shelf to another, a chuckle following his words. He was careful to stay in the shadows as he moved. Not ever letting the other boy get a glance at who was suddenly near him. The champion of Set climbed down a shelf on the other side of Laurie and wove his way behind the boxes, allowing only small glimpses of him to be seen until he disappeared again. "It's been a while, Laurie," He continued, sounding closer and even smugger. "Poor thing...""Are you lost?"The voice was too close. Coming from behind Laurie, Ripley whispered the words into the frenchboy's ear. He was close enough that he could have easily rested his head against the other boy's. Part of him was tempted to do so. But, he couldn't let his guard down. Before Laurie could attack, Ripley let him turn before grabbing his arm, turning in a way that his back was against Laurie's chest, and flipped him over his shoulder. Ripley held onto the boy's arm and twisted it away so that Laurie wouldn't fight him too much. "As much as I love looking into your eyes," Ripley started a smirk playing on his lips. He used the tip off his boot to push Laurie's head to one side and stepped on his cheek to keep him there. "I'm going to need you to either look away or keep your pretty little eyes closed. Got it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Crouching down, Ripley's expression softened and he moved a strand of hair from Laurie's face tenderly. However, he didn't remove his foot. Couldn't have him screaming for help now could we? "This is just a precaution. We're bringing you to the right side of the war I promise."
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 13, 2021 7:55:25 GMT -5
Laurie had been completely unaware that he was going the wrong way. Of course, he'd known that it was a 50/50 chance. But he had no idea how far away he was from other members of the group.
Until he heard a voice say his name, a singsong voice echoing, bouncing off the rusted old machines.
None of the exiled would be stupid enough to pursue him if he were close to any of the others, Laurie knew that much. That would be too much of a risk, even for them.
Most importantly, the voice caused Laurie to feel a twinge of recognition. He'd heard that voice before, and immediately his mind whirred as he tried to place it. It was one of the exiled, but which one?
Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind.
"And here I thought you were just a cute face."
The guy from the first fight, with the sand powers. The one who'd threatened Echo. The one who - for some reason - had flirted with him in the middle of a fight, which was a bit weird. Then again, Theo had done the same thing, and at least this guy hadn't flirted with a giant wolf.
The one Laurie now, after watching the news reports, knew was named Ripley Gates.
He supposed those news reports were how Ripley seemed to know Laurie's name. There wasn't time to think about that, though, because he had to keep moving. If Ripley was pursuing him he didn't fancy his chances in a fight. Sure, Laurie could confuse him and he had his staff, but Laurie couldn't hold his confusion for too long without causing himself pain. Ripley had his own powers, ones Laurie didn't know if he could keep up with in a fight with just the two of them. He hadn't had much chance to develop his powers given that he couldn't use them on the other Ascendants - nor would he want to use them on the others. Still, his capabilities were untapped, which wasn't the case for Ripley.
So he walked on, staying on high alert. Morphing, flickering shadows soon changed as the voice became closer and Laurie caught his first glimpse of a figure weaving between the boxes. Just a flash, before melting again into the shadows. That was enough to make his blood run cold.
More clouds of breath as Laurie moved a little faster, hoping against hope he was anywhere near close to one of the others. Naida, Kaz, Echo, Daniel, Pascal. Hell, he'd even take River right now. The only way a fight with Ripley would go well was with more than one person; even the group before with Daniel, Echo and Eydan wouldn't have been enough if it weren't for Daniel's powers.
At least when he could see the figure, though the voice was getting closer, he knew where Ripley was. The most unsettling thing was when he disappeared. Was there really any need to be this creepy?
Laurie kept moving but slowed down again, more cautious, eyes scanning. He should've called out for one of the others since he now knew he'd been found. But before he could, a voice whispered in his ear.
"Are you lost?"
Laurie felt a chill at the words, the sudden breath on his skin. He stiffened, as if his body wanted to freeze. He couldn't do that, it was the last thing he should do right then.
"Laurie," Dionysus warned "don't-"
But it was too late and Laurie had already turned. Before he could so much as strike out with his staff, Ripley had him on the ground, the staff sliding a small distance away, out of Laurie's reach and pretty useless anyway even if he'd still had it. Ripley's grip on his arm made sure of that. Any attempt to struggle or even move was painful; Laurie soon learned that the hard way, drawing in a sharp intake of breath at the sharp pain that shot down his arm.
He did have on trick up his sleeve, though; his powers. If he could confuse Ripley enough, he could get out of the other boy's grip. That would be a start.
But Ripley obviously knew the same thing; he used the tip of his boot to push Laurie's head to one side and then a foot on his cheek to keep him there. Laurie could feel his pulse rushing, hammering at his neck and whooshing in his ears. This was not how this was supposed to go.
River would've known what to do if it were him. He was a fighter, unlike Laurie. But Laurie was muddled, distracted, not focussed. Had been ever since the breakup. More than that, he wasn't a fighter like River was.
The champion of Set warned Laurie to either look away or close his eyes. Laurie didn't respond to his question in any verbal way, not that he could have done so even if he'd thought Ripley expected any kind of answer. Still, Laurie knew the best step right now was to comply. Ripley couldn't take Laurie's powers away from him, and he knew he'd have another chance to use them. He just had to bide his time until a point at which Ripley didn't have his foot on Laurie's face. He still had his key as a last resort.
He also knew he already felt far too vulnerable and he wasn't going to make that worse by closing his eyes around Ripley. So he opted for looking away, fixing his gaze directly ahead of him. Tried to focus on reading the graffiti on one of the boxes in a feeble effort to distract himself from what was happening now, in a vain attempt to make himself numb from the fear and confusion he was feeling.
He sensed Ripley moving, seeing the other male's shadow falling over him as he crouched. He almost jumped at the touch when Ripley brushed some hair from his face, but instead clamped his jaw, swallowing.
"It's okay, kid, stay calm," Dionysus encouraged, though he didn't sound so confident "just do what this little shit says for now. We're going to figure this out together, you and me. I promise."
Dionysus' words were of little comfort, but at least they were something. They were enough to get Laurie to relax a little, to show that (for now at least) he intended to comply. They were enough to get him to try and focus.
Ripley was saying something about this just being a precaution, about them bringing Laurie to the 'right' side of the war. Laurie didn't want to be part of any war, not that Dionysus had given him much choice in the matter. It was probably good Laurie couldn't speak, because if he could he probably would've made some smart comment about the fact that obviously Ripley would think he was on the right side of the war. Thankfully, Ripley had prevented him from being able to say any of his usual stupidity.
His confusion only increased, though. This whole thing was clearly a trap, to kidnap the group. Why? To draw the other Ascendants into open battle? To use the group as hostages? Or just so the exiled could play with their prey before killing them?
The comment about bringing Laurie to the right side of the war suggested not. That combined with Ripley's apparent caution when it came to Laurie's powers suggested that the exiled saw some value in him, at least. He didn't know about the others, but he'd assume the same for them. Having Daniel on their side, for example? Naida? River? That would be big, and that wasn't even thinking about the others who were there. Echo, Kaz and Pascal all had more power than they knew.
Did they want to make them exiled? Laurie balked at the thought. He could not, would never, do that.
All Laurie could do was glare ahead of him in the most 'go to hell' way he could possibly muster, not that it was particularly convincing given the fear he was trying very hard now to hide. Because goddamn it, River had been right. Laurie was utterly incapable on missions without protection.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 14, 2021 16:28:43 GMT -5
Echo walked through the portal, timidly hiding behind River all the while, her eyes wide and doe like as they entered the dark and musky abandoned factory. She was too busy taking in her surroundings, when Naida separated them out. Suddenly, everyone was splitting up, and River was leaving her, and she hesitantly let go of his arm which she had clung to in fear.
When she spotted who she had been stuck with, she backed up slightly. She remembered that beast he had turned into, chasing them. She remembered that misdirected her punch, and the thought of it caused those strange phantom pains to spread over her cheek.
A nod, she decided to put a brave face on, and lead them a bit. Her vision wasn't necessarily good in the dark, but she can see alright regardless. It sent chills up her spine, she was scared of the dark, of the things that could haunt in the dark. Regardless, she stepped forward, eyes narrowed, but sticking close to Daniel regardless.
Never speaking, however, but that was to be expected, wasn't it?
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 14, 2021 16:59:48 GMT -5
From the shadows, a cloaked figured stepped from their hiding spot. Soft footfalls hidden under the pitter patter of rain, as dark eyes scanned the shadows, picking up on movement and voices. A male giving quite simply a pathetic explanation of not making mistakes, enough that it almost made her feel bad for what she'd have to do.
But tiara boy was there, that tiara emanated power, a king's power. If the others found the boy with that tiara, she'd never make it out alive. Neither would the boy, to be fair. Fenrir would deal with them both, and she knew it.
That had to be Hades kid. He seemed pretty sad, though. A sad, ghastly kid. It should be easy, she decided. Stepping beside one of the shelves, one teetering dangerously on collapse, she leaned her body against it. Taking a soft breath, before pushing against it with her weight, watchin as the shelf tipped, falling between the two boys and separating them as she quickly took back off into the shadows. She needed whoever the redhead was to go away.
Hiding once more, she waited a few moments. With that divider, the redhead was stuck on the other side unless he went around. She pulled her hood over her head, running out on the brink of light, hoping Hades' boy would see her, would follow.
If not, this could get ugly.
---
Atticus watched from his perch as Naida and Kaz separated away from the others. He pointedly ignored Ripley's text, rolling his eyes at the other boys antics. His eyes trained the movements of the champion he had already faced, though a careful gaze held onto Kaz, trying to catalog what he could. The way he walked, if he limped, any possible weaknesses.
Naida was the leader, obviously, he already knew that. Which meant separating them would be easy. Crouching, he grabbed his staff in both hands, letting his legs dangle over the sides, before he let his body succumb to gravity. When his feet touched down, he hit the base of his staff on the ground between his feet, the jewel becoming a bright green glow as vines sprung out, curling around Naida's feet and legs, dragging her back into the shadows, continuing their hold. Some vines took after Kaz too, wrapping around wrists, a forceful tug downwards, to keep him snug and held. His laughter soft, chilling.
"Stay out, would you?" He practically purred out, disappointed Irene seemed to be absent. How he would love to wipe her stupid smug grin away. Regarding Kaz, he stepped towards where his vines led Naida. His face only illuminated by the glow of green, poisonous green, wicked grin.
"We meet again, Champion of the Drowned," He wondered aloud, regarding her carefully. "I seem to have overestimated you, I never expected it to be this easy."
He stepped closer, staff gleaming as he instructed the vines to pick Naida up, dangling her in their hold like a puppet. Mockingly, he made the vines around her wrist lift, forcing her arm into a floppy wave. Tapping his fingers to his chin, the vines mirrored the movements, carrying Naida's hand to her cheek as he hummed. "It can't be helped. It'll be nice to have some company. You'll finally be where you belong, you know?" Piercing eyes stared at her, finally falling silent, as if expecting her to reply.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 14, 2021 17:25:43 GMT -5
Luka bid her friends good luck, and by bid, she meant she glared at them for a long while in childish jealousy. The rational part of her explained that the whole mission as stupid and thus not having to go was great because that meant none of them could control what she did anyways. The rational part of her, however, was almost nonexistent, and thus mostly ignored.
She started to seek out Lane, Lucien, Theo, or even Chaira (for the simple fun of pissing her off, obviously). When turning, blue eyes caught Irene slipping with Lorenzo and Dillon, disappearing into a portal, her mouth falling open.
"Why the hell didn't I think about that?" She whispered out, under her breath. Cleo seemed fine with it, but Luka was kind of mad now, to be honest. She wanted to go have fun in the real world and not be caught in this sad excuse for a private school.
So, as any mature teenager would do, she pouted about it, dramatically flopping onto the couch. She grabbed a package of crackers, stuffing them into her mouth while staring holes at the wall. Lucien was near her now, and she politely cursed at him in greeting, "Hey moron," she commented, glancing at him and offering up the open box of cheese crackers. Cleo went about their business, disappearing into what Luka called the Wolf's Den, which was just where the Meeting room was.
βSo, what shall we do?β
Oh, this could get very fun very quickly. "Obviously, we're only 17, obviously not mature enough to do anything of sssusssstenancccce." stupid sibilance, a good tell about how frustrated she was, though. At least she didn't purr, that would be a terror and she'd never live it down. She's stick with hisses, thanks.
Thinking on her answer for a while, she practically bounced up when she was struck by an idea, looking like the cat who got the canary, which could probably be literal in her case. Without answering, she grabbed Lucien's arm, already leading him out of the room and to the Map room, where the large glass cool technology map thing sat, glimmering dots indicating where their friends were, tracking the keys. "In America, ya hooligans have that holiday today, right?" She questioned, pointing to the United States, "We can wear disguises, and it won't be seen as weird, since you guys do that on All Hallows' Eve anyways, I mean, we do too. Whatever."
The point was, they could wear costumes so they wouldn't be detected, and no one would think a thing about it. Plus, they could cause some mayhem, she chuckled darkly, "We could scare the living daylights out of people, steal candy, prank all the stuck up people!"
She laughed then, a bit manically, already making a plan. Oh, no one would know what hit them.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 14, 2021 17:35:41 GMT -5
Lorenzo rubbed at his temples as both Dillon and Irene argued with their Guides. Did it bother him slightly that Zeus and Hera has their champions here, in a romantic city, together? Usually it might have, given whatever he felt for Dillon.
Yep, he hated it, but only because Zeus and Hera actually hated each other, and Dillon and Irene had to deal with their petty issues. He frowned in sympathy, sighing out, "I don't know if your guides can hear me," he started, a bit shyly, before turning away, "But if they can, Mr. Zeus, Mrs. Hera, you really need to let Dillon and Irene concentrate. Maybe if you two stopped bickering for once, you might get something accomplished other than affairs and curses."
Fight him, he's tired. And these guides are bothering and frustrating his friends. Irene brought up money though, and he winced. All he had on him was his wallet, and he didn't have a lot of money. "We could probably make it up by doing some tasks for the hotel? I need to stay on the downlow as it is, given...well," he winced, he was a missing person, after all.
"I have some money, but maybe we can get some from my sister, but that would require some explaining," He commented. HE could also ask Sebastien, but Felicia cheated on him with his past best friend. But was it worth it, to prevent Dillon and Irene from being stuck out in the night. They could camp, but they could be attacked if an Exile was really in town.
He honestly had no clue, at this point. He was just thankful that Helios was just being kind and supportive.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 14, 2021 19:12:00 GMT -5
Lucien had only one appropriate response to Lukaβs greeting.
βHey, hiss hiss bitch.β he greeted as he accepted some of the food sheβd offered him. Lucien wasnβt picky about the food he ate. Still, he didnβt love food quite as much as some of the people here, which wasnβt a good thing. Believe it or not, living in a house of so many teenagers and young adults who ate like their stomachs were bottomless meant he grabbed food when he could get it.
He couldnβt help but smirk when she did actually hiss.
βYou really are gonna have to get that thing under control.β he smirked.
But she was right about one thing. The others thought they were too young to do anything of substance, they didnβt taken them seriously at all.
She was thinking the very same things as him, had voiced that same frustration.
When she dragged him by the wrist (which he didnβt appreciate) to the map room, speaking and indicating the United States, he scoffed.
βHave that holiday?β Lucien repeated βWe practically invented that holiday. They used to walk around with turnip lanterns, for Christβs sake.β
Strictly, All Hallowsβ Eve wasnβt an American holiday in origin. But America had made it the holiday it was, really. Did it bigger and better. Probably better, anyway.
He did like Lukaβs idea. It would be a chance to get out of the Pantheon for once and actually have some fun. Was that such a crime?
He detested the idea of dressing up, though. But it would be necessary to avoid them being recognised, especially the American Ascendants. So just this once, heβd suck it up.
βFine, but my costume will be the bare minimum required.β he agreed βif they say weβre childish, letβs act like kids.β
Lucien would react exactly the way he was treated. If the others saw him as a child, heβd be as immature as possible.
βSplit up and tell the others, get changed and meet back up?β he suggested.
They couldnβt let Cleo know, though. Theyβd ruin the fun, guaranteed, and Lucien wanted just one night where he didnβt have to think about healing people, or saving the world. He shouldnβt have to think about that.
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Post by Nariku The Avaricious on Jan 15, 2021 21:31:25 GMT -5
Pascal cast River a nervous glance, not particularly comforted by his words about how they werenβt going to die. Given the mortal peril the others had been put into on a regular occurrence, it was a miracle that no one had died yet. Sure, they had Lucien with his healing touch, but thereβs only so much the younger kid could do (the last incident where Pascal had to step in was proof of that). At this point, it was only a matter of time before someone bites the dust and doesnβt make it back home.
The champion Hades paused when River came over and placed a hand on his shoulder. He tried to comfort the young man, though Pascalβs expression of discomfort was obvious.
βGetting snuck up on is the least terrifying part,β He stated flatly, though his brow narrowed when his birthday was mentioned. The young man had never planned on bringing up the day of his birth to the rest of the kids, so it sounded like someone had figured it out and decided to tell other people. His guess was on Lane, given her excitable personality and the fact her guide is the god of messengers.
βAlso, Iβd rather not discuss this dreadful day, lest it be even more depressing than it already is.β He replied at the end once the leader broke off and walked ahead again. He couldnβt quite hear what the ginger-haired man muttered under his breath, but he figured it wasnβt that important if River didnβt want him to hear it. Instead, Pascal looked down as he fished his key out of his pockets.
Hades called it a key, but it looked more like a pen than a key.
Either way, it was important somehow. He held it in front of his face, squinting at the intricate details along the side of it. By all means, it should have been a normal pen, but he knew full well what it could turn into. Clasping it between his hands, he concentrated on the penβs image. Soon, itβs cold metallic form splintered and shifted until it formed a ring shape in between his hands.
A crown befitting for the champion of Hades, the king of the Underworld. Just looking at it filled Pascal with dread.
Though, his mind soon snapped back to the present when the shelvings in front of him collapsed to the ground, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin in fright. The sound of metal crashing onto the concrete reverberated through air, and Pascal covered his ears to block out the noise.
Once things calmed down, Pascal lifted his head up and peered into the darkness, lowing his hands so he was clutching his crown against his chest.
βRiver?β Pascal whispered, hoping it was loud enough for River to hear. He didnβt want to make himself known to any enemies, but he at least wanted the other kid to know he was okay. The scare was bad enough as is, but the likelihood of there being enemies nearby was enough to have the young man shake in fear. He didnβt sign up for this at all, why was he even here?
Shakily, the young man stood up and started walking down the way he came. He wasnβt sure if River could make his way back to Pascal through the rubble, but he was too scared to make sure. He didnβt want to be caught in an ambush with his back against a wall either. Though, as he made his way down the corridor, he came to a stop when he noticed someone in the corner of his vision. He turned his head to the side and saw a hooded figure standing in a lighted area.
Ominous.
He stared at this figure, unsure how to proceed. He didnβt know who it was, or if they were an enemy. Maybe some eldritch trap to lure him in with a false sense of familiarity. On the other hand, it could have been one of the other kids from the pantheon whoβd gotten lost. It was hard to know for sure, even if he was more adjusted to being in the dark than most.
βN-name?β Pascal stuttered out, knowing that the figure was already aware of his presence. He didnβt get too close, mostly out of fear, but he wasnβt too far enough away either. Far enough that he could get a running start if anything went wrong. Though, given his poor cardio in general, he didnβt expect to be able to run for long if it came to it.
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Post by Nariku The Avaricious on Jan 19, 2021 23:51:36 GMT -5
Irene flashed Dillon a small look of relief when she noticed him speak to his guide. It was almost comforting to know that she wasnβt the only one having issues with her guide. From what she recalled about Hera, she seemed to be a grade A b*tch alongside her husband. Sure, Zeus was always the instigator, but Hera seemed insistent on causing harm to whoever Zeus had an affair with.
Yeah, sure, because the mortal is to blame when a god decides that he canβt keep it in his pants. Or Toga, whatever the gods wear.
When Dillon mentioned wanting to get paid to deal with their crap, Irene couldnβt help but let out a laugh in response, βHonestly, we should go on strike or something. Getting paid wouldnβt be so bad.β She could hear Zeus grumbling in the back of her head, cursing the lot of, especially when Lorenzo addressed him and his wife.
βNone of these champions show a lick of respect,β Zeus grumbled, clearly fuming. For a moment, he was about to command Irene to make the others hold their tongues, but he quickly realized that it was unlikely for her to do so. Definitely her most irritating aspect; her lack of respect to him and his fellow gods.
Irene snickered at Zeusβs clear annoyance, though her attention went back to the other two when she got her answer on the money situation. Neither Irene nor Dillon had any usable cash on them. Enzo was the only one with some cash on him, but the young woman felt awkward having him pay for everything, especially if heβd need to ask family for more if the mission lasted longer than a few days.
βNo, youβre okay,β Irene replied, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to think about what to do next, βWe either need to complete this task quickly and figure out whatβs happening before dark, or weβll have to do what you suggested and look for workβ¦β The edge of her mouth twitched into a little frown, β-which will prove to be difficult, since not everyone here can speak Italian.β
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Jan 22, 2021 3:11:41 GMT -5
Ripley pouted at the expression that the little french boy was making. Glaring as if he were angry. Which considering the situation made sense. Ripley was currently stepping on the pretty boy's face and had just flipped him rather roughly. Still... "Aw don't make that face," Ripley pleaded softly. He twirled a curl of Laurie's hair around his finger and hummed thoughtfully as he studied the boy under his boot. Every strand of hair and every feature of his face. He couldn't keep him awake could he? If he did then it would be harder to take Laurie with them in an easy way. And there's no guarantee he wouldn't try to run to his friends or scream for help. He'd have to carry him. With a heavy sigh, Ripley lifted his foot gently and turned his eyes away from Laurie's. "Sorry about this," he muttered before pulling his arm back and cracking his fist against Laurie's jaw. There was no pull in his punch, it was heavy and full force with the intention of knocking out. With the Dionysius Champion now peacefully unconscious, Ripley smiled at his form and shifted into a squatting position. "That's better..."Pulling Laurie up and over his shoulders in a fireman's hold, Ripley grabbed his phone and started walking down the maze of boxes towards a little storage closet he found earlier. Good place to hold their new initiates until they could get them home. The boy whistled gently to himself as he walked and typed with one hand. 1 Down
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 22, 2021 16:08:03 GMT -5
Luka has snorted at Lucien's salty behavior, though his comment about her lisp caused her to glare at him, crossing her arms, "Ssshut up," and oh goodness, that was terrible. She choked out a guffaw of mortification, glaring at him like it could save the conversation. She was pretty sure she even heard Clementine snort from somewhere else.
His words about the candy day caused her to shrug, "I really could care less about who created it, I just want to get out of this f*ckfest." And oops, the lighthearted tone she tended to have, or careless air was gone. It was heavier, her voice bordering on agitation, frustration, and some hurt. Noticing it herself, she crossed her arms, scoffing at him, "Not everyone will agree, but sure. Get your own team together, don't worry about outfits yet, I got an idea for that. Meet back in the hall at 14:00," turning on her heal, her shit eating grin struck on her face, she went off to find her own prey for the excursion.
Target number one, would be one Theo.
One would think that after having such a heartfelt conversation, she may be nice to the boy. That she would act like the caring family he obviously never had. One element would be missing if one were to assume that. The fact that the last time Luka Ravana had a family, a real one, was when she was a kid with barely any memories and pretty much too young to be plagued by the hate of the world just yet.
That was to say, she had no idea what caring family really meant. The best estimation were a few of the others in the Pantheon, her found family. Lucien, River, Laurie, Theo, maybe Echo. A select few treasured deeply in her heart, who she knew would never turn against her. Those she trusted the most, no matter what Cleo said.
But still, if one were to assume that Luka of all people knew how to be a good...what, family member? Well, they didn't know Luka, then.
Which is exactly why Luka was waiting by Theo's door in her cat worm with a sprig of holly leaves clamped in her mouth. Her tail was wagging exaggeratedly, obviously playful. Her little ears were perked, like she was waiting with a present. Some cats would hunt and leave their catches for their humans, but Luka wasn't about to go out and kill a snake. So holly would have to do.
Once ready, the cat began yowling annoyingly, scratching at Theo's door. The caterwaul was kind of sad, but it worked for her purposes.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 22, 2021 16:25:28 GMT -5
Lorenzo honestly treasured both of his companions so much. He smiled thankfully at the two of them. So many acted like Irene was rude, but she really wasn't. His bashful smile reached his eyes when she clarified that she'd rather get the job done quickly than push him into a situation that would make him uncomfortable.
When Dillon spoke, he looked at the boy as he agreed to what Irene had said, and the comforting from Dillon had a different effect. Cooling some of the anxiety, pulling him into a sense of comfort. He had a scarf on himself, covering his mouth, and beanie on his head. All to help hide his identity a bit, with sunglasses perched on his nose. It didn't seem too off, given the sunny nature. The twitch of his lips could be seen, a bite of cherry falling over his cheeks.
His attention ran off of Dillon like it burned him, glancing at Irene, and shrugging "Γ vero," he agreed in his native language. "But I can act like your tour guide or whatever, I doubt anyone would expect to see missing kids from America in Venice." He added, nervously fixing his beanie.
Dillon went quiet, and that wasn't quite right. Dillon was soft spoken at times, but when Lorenzo spoke, he tended to reply. When he looked at the boy, Dillon looked shock, struck, and he felt something off. He reached hesitantly for his friend, wanting to find out what was wrong, frowning, "Dillon?" he whispered, softly, hand skimming Dillon's shoulder.
Suddenly, a blinding flip occurred, like his vision was blocked out. But the hazy visage returned, directed at Gwen. Gwen was staring at someone, cruelly grinning, and it ran cold fear over his body. He staggered away from Dillon, the visage burning away, replaced by a turning in his eyes, and with a small gasp, his right hand flew over his eyes, which felt blinded.
He recovered quickly, blinking rapidly, resolutely looking at his companions, before leading them forwards, "We have to find her," he commented, softly. "Follow me, she's probably trying to find a less crowded area, and if not, we want to lead her to one so people don't get hurt," he offered.
He didn't really know what had happened, but that could wait.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 23, 2021 4:35:44 GMT -5
Lucien had two major concerns as his interaction with Luka continued. The first was her tone, which sounded frustrated, hurt somehow. He had no idea what that was about and, while Lucien would claim he didnβt care about any of these assholes in the Pantheon, it would be a lie. He did care about some of them: Echo, Lorenzo, even River. He also cared about Luka, and he didnβt like the idea that she might be hurting.
Still, he knew her too well to think that sheβd actually talk to him about it, at least not right now. Maybe he could catch her at a better time after their little excursion that night was over.
The second major concern was about exactly what she had planned when it came to the costumes. He looked down at his own outfit; black jeans, a black top and his usual leather jacket with all of its pins, one of which was of course his lyre pin. He was wearing all black, which he supposed was a start when it came to Halloweβen. But not exactly a costume - or he hoped not, anyway.
Still, he was doing this to finally have some fun. And to cheer up Luka, who definitely seemed to have something on her mind more than just the general frustration of the other leaders looking down on the two youngest.
βYouβre on.β he agreed βSee you soon, asshole.β
His first targets? Griffin and Guinevere.
__________
Lucien figured their rooms would be a good place to check. Most of the Ascendants seemed to spend most of their time in their rooms unless they were nerds like Chiara and Jason, who spent most of their time in the library. Or Lorenzo, who enjoyed cooking in the kitchen. Other than that, they could be training potentially. But their rooms were a good place to check first.
So he knocked first on Griffinβs door and then Guinevereβs before standing between the two rooms, waiting for them to come out. If he got these two, heβd have strength on his side. Plus, Griffin and Guinevere were tall and he figured they could both pull off some really cool costumes. His next potential target was Lane, which would give him the speed advantage on whatever Luka had planned here. She was really fast, and that could only be a positive.
βWeβre doing some Halloweβen shit with Luka, and I want you guys on my team!β he called out to the closed doors
Hopefully theyβd jump at the idea of some Halloweβen fun. If he knew the two of them he was pretty sure theyβd be down for it; who wouldnβt like the chance to dress up and get cavities from all the sugar they were about to consume?
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Post by Lioncl on Jan 23, 2021 14:28:37 GMT -5
Daniel had noticed the way she had flinched and he couldn't help but feel bad for her. She was probably terrified of him after seeing him go berserk in his crocodile form. It didn't help that he had accidentally slugged her. After all that, Daniel was probably the last person Echo would ever want to team up with. Maybe that was why she didn't talk whenever he was around. "You know, thanks to Sobek I have pretty decent night vision so I could lead the way. Plus if we do get attacked by someone or something, it'd be better for me to confront it first right? But if you want to stay up front, I'm totally cool with that also" He said, though he didn't expect an answer from Echo. Daniel's bad habit of not shutting up whenever he got into an awkward situation was starting to come out and he silently cursed to himself.
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Post by Nariku The Avaricious on Jan 23, 2021 15:48:53 GMT -5
It was the day of Halloween, and Theo didnβt have many plans how he wanted to celebrate the occasion. A few of the kids had gone out on missions, which he was thankful that he wasnβt going either. After his last two encounters with the Exiled, he wasnβt in any rush to go out and get himself nearly killed again.
So, instead, Theo stood in the middle of his bathroom, drying his hair in a towel in front of the fogged up mirror. Heβd chosen to take a longer shower than usual since he wasnβt in any rush to get anything done. Might as well take the day off, since it was a holiday.
Heβd finished getting some pants on and draped his towel over his shoulders when his attention was suddenly caught by the loud yowles of a cat, which sounded to be right outside his door. For a moment, he was puzzled and annoyed, wondering who let a cat loose in the pantheon. Was this some kind of prank? Who would do something like-
βOh, right, Lukaβ He muttered, dropping his towel into the clothing hamper before grabbing a nearby sweater. Shoving his head and arms through, he stepped out of the bathroom and made his way to the door. Grabbing the handle, he opened the door, looking out into the hallway before looking down at the small figure of fluff at the ground.
He remembered the form when Luka turned into a cat, back at the time when heβd been woken up at 3 am because of a bad nightmare. The two never really talked about what had happened, especially not to the other champions. Sure, it was mighty confusing for the others, seeing Theo sleeping on the couch in the living room with Luka the cat sleeping on top of his chest. Especially weird for them, since the two didnβt particularly like each other before.
It wasnβt any of their business though. It was rather personal to the both of them, no reason everyone needed to hear about it.
βI was in the middle of something,β Theo spoke, slightly annoyed that his care routine was interrupted, βwhat is it? And before you ask, no, Iβm not going to help you convince people of stuff for a weird prank.β He couldnβt remember how many times sheβd come to his door just to ask him βHey, you should convince Lucien that heβs not straightβ or βHey, what if Chiara thought she was a unicorn.β He didnβt think his powers worked like that, but we wasnβt really willing to check with some really dumb pranks. Doubted theyβd appreciate him for trying that stuff out.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 24, 2021 8:46:53 GMT -5
It was safe to say that Laurie had never experienced a worse Hallowe'en in his entire life, and that was honestly saying a lot.
"Aw, don't make that face."
Ripley's voice was unsettling. Everything about him, from the way he moved (if Laurie remembered rightly from that first fight too) to the way he spoke, had a chilling assuredness about it. To Laurie, it seemed as if he knew he could savour his words because he knew he was in control.
In short, it was predatory.
He could feel the other boy twirling a curl of Laurie's hair around his finger. The helplessness was what frustrated him. Not only had he failed at the simple task of staying with his group, but he also hadn't managed to get so much as a strike against Ripley, and he couldn't even stop him from touching his hair like he was some kind of pet.
The boy remembered that when they were kids that Denise had always loved Laurie's hair; the two siblings looked quite alike but Denise's hair was more slightly wavy, if anything, but certainly not curly. Laurie had always let his sister play with his hair, but this felt different. This felt like it was about control. Ripley reminding him that he couldn't do anything about any of this.
Laurie closed his eyes, trying to do anything at all to take himself away from whatever the hell was happening right then. It was difficult, though. Ever since he'd met the others at the Pantheon but most specifically River - especially River - he'd found it harder and harder to do what he'd always been best at; making himself numb.
Ripley sighed then, Laurie could hear that, and it was soon followed by the release of the pressure on his face. Ripley had removed his foot. Laurie was at least grateful for that; it had certainly been painful.
He should call out for the others now that he could speak, everything was telling him that. It didn't matter what Ripley would do to him for yelling out, it would get the others to come or warn them that this whole thing was a trap and that was what was important. Or at least he could open his eyes and look at Ripley, try to maybe confuse him long enough to get away.
But he didn't have time to do that.
"Sorry about this."
Laurie didn't remember anything after that.
At the very least he'd had his mouth closed, which was good. The damage would have potentially been worse if he hadn't. Small mercies. Unfortunately, that hadn't at all prevented Ripley's well-placed and full-force punch from knocking him out instantly.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 25, 2021 19:59:20 GMT -5
FUTURE STUFF - NOT GUARANTEED CANON It was not long into Lucienβs battle with the Spartae before heβd had to forsake his bow for a sword. While he was better with a bow, it hadnβt been possible to keep the undead warriors at enough of a distance for his bow to be of much use. Not to mention that the throng of fighters was now mixed up, and Lucien had no intention of accidentally hitting one of the young Ascendants he was supposed to be protecting.
Thankfully, heβd had plenty of friends whoβd taught Lucien enough basic proficiency with a blade, even though it was with a bow and arrow that he truly shone. River was chief among those whoβd taught him. Lucien needed a tough teacher who wouldnβt go easy on him but would also encourage him to be his best, and the Ares champion was undoubtedly the best person for that.
Heβd just driven the blade, which had a golden sun design set with amber on the hilt, through another Spartae when he whirled round only to come face-to-face with the very warrior who had threatened Lucien and his pantheon initially. The one who led this small army.
Lucien smiled, feeling a rush of confidence. These creatures were no match for Lucien and his Ascendants. The skeletal warrior raised his blade, making a strike Lucien parried with his own.
βYouβre a fool, godling.β the creature growled βyou and your wards will be but the first casualties in the godsβ losing war.β
Lucien had a quick response for that. Apollo was a poet and had a relentlessly sharp tongue, something Lucien had been surrounded by over the years not just because of the influence of his patron but also because of the witty banter the other Ascendants frequently engaged in.
βIt does take a fool to agree to babysit a couple dozen superpowered teenagers, granted.β Lucien commented dryly βIβd love to help you out, you seem like a solid guy. Unfortunately youβre just the latest in a long line of assholes whoβve threatened to kill me, and Iβm afraid Iβve proved annoyingly tricky to get rid of, moreβs the pity.β
He just had to buy time. Keep himself and the Ascendants under his charge alive until the other leaders could show up. It never took them too long when they had an SOS. Lucien always responded to distress signals instantly himself.
βYou talk too much,β snarled the skeleton as the two crossed swords once again
βAnd youβre a little cartoon-villain,β Lucien shot back βyour believability could use some work.β
He was confident now, on top of the world as he got into the rhythm of the fight. He was able to match every strike of his opponent smoothly. Perhaps he had a chance here, a chance if not to kill this thing, at least to keep himself alive until he had backup.
That was when, while Lucien moved to take a swing, the undead creature managed to get a lucky jab in Lucienβs undefended stomach. He gasped as the skeleton pulled him in closer, unable to fight it as his body already began to feel weak and limp, screaming out in pain as the blade twisted. He could already taste the blood, knew it wasnβt looking good. Satisfied, the creature let Lucien drop and the was barely aware of where he was anymore, just that he seemed to fall onto his hands and knees. His sword fell to the ground with a clatter.
No problem, no problem. Heβd seen a lot of blood and many wounds in his time. He just had to heal himself. He could do that. The man raised a hand to the bloody wound in his abdomen, already slick with blood. Trying to drown out the clash of weapons, the shouting and the smell of blood and earth, he focused only on the wound. The pain. He willed with every part of him, already feeling the tears on his cheeks just from the pain, that it would go away. Tried to summon that feeling like golden light that washed pain and wounds away. But none came.
Groggy and losing blood fast, but confused about why his healing powers were ineffective, Lucien opened his eyes slowly. To meet that unsettling permanent grin on the skeletonβs face, who knelt in front of him and seemed to be watching with interest. Lucienβs eyes were drawn to the blade of his sword, covered in Lucienβs blood but also what seemed to be a clear but oily substance.
βThatβs right, naive mortal.β the creature said with satisfaction, obviously enjoying the realisation on Lucienβs face βDid you think we knew not about you? Had not prepared for you? Hydra venom. Too powerful for even divine blood; it took Chiron and Heracles to Hades. Rejoice in that, for youβre in good company. Heroes and great mentors, much like what you fancied yourself to these godlings, I suppose.β
Lucien took a shaky breath, hand pressing in vain on the wound as if to stop the blood. He could not do anything about this kind of venom. Still, he smiled a bloody smile. Triumphant because he knew this skeleton wouldnβt get the war he wanted. The others would kill him when they showed up. Heβd never even get a chance to destroy the other Pantheons.
βYou talk... too much.β Lucien managed to get out through gritted teeth and a voice thick with blood.
The skeletal warrior didnβt seem much bothered by Lucienβs words, looking at him with the disdain and even slight pity of someone looking at a person they knew was no threat to them anymore. The same way Lucien had once looked at defeated members of the exiled.
βWitness what happens when gods bring mortals into their games, Lucien Fairfax. I trust you know youβre a dead man, and so I shall leave you alone to that fate.β
Lucien watched the figure disappear to fight among the other Spartae as the tumult of the battlefield faded to a dull and muffled roar. He managed to inch back slowly, careful not to jar his wound, until at least he had the wall of the building to lean against.
It wasnβt so bad anyway. Lucien knew what awaited him. Lane was still around, after all, in a spirit form. Like other Ascendants who died, heβd go to a form of the afterlife. Have a constellation put in the stars for him. He could live with that; for a nobody from Chicago it was pretty damn incredible.
He never thought heβd think this about his guide, annoying as the god was, but it had been an honour being Apolloβs chosen.
βand being your guide, kid.β Apolloβs voice sounded gentler than Lucien had ever heard it, probably because the god was normally going on at him about something or another βIβm so sorry.β
It was okay, it was fine. It hurt but not worse than anything Lucien had ever had before. In fact, some nerves must have been severed because Lucien had experienced far worse from much less serious wounds.
He didnβt have too long, and his thoughts drifted. First to his girlfriend. God, somebody was going to have to tell her what had happened to him. Would she know how sorry he was? Hopefully. He knew she could take care of herself, and sheβd want for nothing if Lucien knew his fellow leaders as well as he thought he did. Theyβd make sure Claudia would be okay.
Then to his friends, his sister...
βGet the f*ck back, demon skeleton thing!β yelled a familiar voice βMove, move! Enzo, Laurie, Chiara and I will hold them back.β
Dillon?
Lucien could hear more shouting. It sounded like Clementine and some others. So the other leaders had obviously arrived, and with backup. Chiara from the Antarctic pantheon as backup, for instance. Dillon had brought Lorenzo, of course. And obviously River had brought his husband.
βLucien!β yelled another familiar voice
The Champion of Apollo heard rushing footsteps approaching him and two hazy figures appeared before him, one looked male and the other female. The voice had belonged to the male, the flash of red hair telling him instantly that it was River.
The female, with blonde hair, leaned closer to him and her face came into focus. He could see the pain and fear etched into his sisterβs face.
βLucien,β she was saying, and the crack in her voice pained him just as much as everything else
βElara,β Lucien responded βlisten, Iβm sorry-β
Elara shook her head then, sharply, as if enough vehemence would stop what was about to happen.
βNo, shut up,β she said, her voice almost warning in tone βnone of that. Youβre gonna be okay, alright? Itβs gonna be fine.β
βYouβre such a terrible liar,β Lucien scoffed, though the small chuckle afterward hurt badly βlisten, Iβm sorry I wasnβt the best brother. Iβm sorry we werenβt closer. Iβm sorry for all of it.β
She shushed him, leaning forward for a second and placing her hand on top of his.
βItβs okay, Luci.β she assured him βI love you.β
Lucien responded with his own βI love youβ, but was hit by a sudden jolt of pain that took his breath until all he could take in were shallow gasps. It was then that River leaned closer, coming into focus. Lucien could see the pain on his face, too. Though it seemed like he was trying to hide it, as if to keep Lucien calm.
River, still protecting his friends all these years later. He had never changed at all. And the man was so grateful for it. He needed an anchor right then, someone to keep him calm. River would do that for him, he was sure.
He wished he could say something properly, tell River how much he appreciated everything his friend had done for him. Or tell him he loved him. Anything, anything at all. But he couldnβt find his speech in the pain, so his mouth just opened and closed uselessly. River seemed to know what was happening though.
βHey, hey, itβs okay, youβre okay,β River said gently βlook at me.β
Lucien did so, studying Riverβs face. He looked older, they all did. But he was happy, he had a husband and kids and a whole life now. Lucien even caught the flash of the wedding ring on his friendβs hand.
He remembered River and Laurie's wedding, which Lucien had been so happy to be able to be a part of. Making a speech, being in charge of the music. Seeing how happy the two of them were had been pretty amazing, and as he'd said at the wedding, after all they'd been through no couple deserved that happiness more.
Right now, though, Lucien was more scared than he cared to admit. He didn't want River to go anywhere. He knew he would, though; neither River nor Elara were the type to leave Lucien's side right then.
His eyes settled on Riverβs eyes as the other manβs words continued to soothe him. His breathing even began to slow a little then, the soft reassuring words relaxing him.
βIβve got you, brother.β River continued βIβm not going anywhere, Iβm right here.β
And so indeed River didnβt go anywhere. He, along with Elara, stayed there right until the pain faded to nothing and Lucienβs breath slowed to a stop. The last thing Lucien was aware of was Laurie arriving and pulling River to his feet and into a hug.
It was only then that River let out a sob.
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Jan 26, 2021 18:39:11 GMT -5
River glanced at his partner. He tried comforting him and yet it didn't seem to have worked in the slightest. He frowned slightly at that and directed most of his attention to their surroundings. "That's fair..." he muttered simply in response.
Moving away slightly from his partner, River shifted his hold on his spear and held the blade downward. Everything was too quiet, his nerves were on high alert, and he was worried about everyone else. What if something had happened while they were separated? What if the exiles were coming for them next? What if-?
It was a miracle River jumped out of the way when the shelves fell over. He covered his face to protect himself from getting hit with any stray flying item.
When he looked back up, River found that Pascal wasn't on the side with him. He was missing.
"Pascal!" River called. To hell with being quiet. He could be hurt or trapped under the shelves. Naturally, River's heart began to pound harder and he looked desperately around the mess in front of him. "Shit shit shit!"
Immediately, he started trying to climb over the shelves and find a way over to Pascal. But, every step he took, a box collapsed and trapped his foot inside of it. He gritted his teeth and kept trying to climb over, even going so much as using his spear for assistance. Still he never made it very far.
"It's pointless to climb!" Ares growled impatiently in his champion's head. "Just run around and be quick about it," the god urged. There was panic in his voice too. Shared fear for their comrades.
"Pascal if you can hear me don't move! I'm coming!" River yelled out to him as he climbed back down and started running. He poised his spear in a striking position and gritted his teeth. He was not going to lose someone else. Not today.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 29, 2021 14:46:00 GMT -5
Echo was uncomfortable, but noticing Daniel's strange energy, a nervous one, made her chuckle the tiniest bit. She finally offered a small smile, eager to help settle his nerves too.
"Okay," She agreed, slowing her pace so he could walk in the front. Sure, she was scared he'd lose control and hurt her, but she could tell be didn't mean to ever hurt her. That he had wanted to help get her away from Ripley, that Ripley had manipulated hat situation.
It wasn't fair to blame him, but she still tensed as he stepped ahead, her nervous gaze lingering on the darkness. She froze, shivering at the sound of a distant crash, as if something fell. It was followed by a yell that echoed through the corridors, that had to be River. Her eyes widened, swiveling to Daniel with a panicked expression.
River had yelled, screamed maybe, too far to hear what was said, but the haunting nature of it seemed to echo through the dark factory. "River!" She yelled back, wincing at her own volume, as she turned to take off in his direction.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 29, 2021 15:00:11 GMT -5
The figure before Pascal seemed to waver in it's spot, turning around slowly, an undercurrent of air through one of the nearby vents caused the gentlest of flutters amongst the fabrics of their cloak, as rain fell through a small hole in the ceiling. Lightning crackled, illuminating the area in a wave of light, illuminating the figure from it's flash, a shadow amongst the darkness. A raven amongst the night.
Eyes of dark grey stared at Pascal, a smile perhaps hidden by the darkness crawling onto their lips. "My name not matters, but yours does," she tipped her head, voice soft, mystified for a moment, before adding on in a more grave tone, "Champion of Hades."
How exactly should she approach needing to take his key? She assumed scaring him may work. "So, you're the king of the dead?" She questioned, stepping closer, slowly, as if approaching prey rather than a fellow person. Her dark eyes narrowed as she took another step closer, filled with annoyance now, "I'm assuming you're not an idiot then. I have a proposition for you, Macaria."
She honestly was surprised with Hades choice, a skittish boy it seemed. They didn't have much time, though, so she could ponder Hades' choice later. Instead, she held out her hand expectantly, glaring at Pascal with eyes mixed with irritation, as if taking a toy away from a misbehaving child, "The crown of Hades, please."
And no, it wasn't a question or a plea. The please wasn't out of kindness or respect, it was cold, expectant. It was darkness layered in her voice with an undertone of warning and threat.
She would leave that room with the crown, essentially, whether the boy was awake for it to happen or not.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 29, 2021 15:14:29 GMT -5
Luka's little ears flattened against her head out of annoyance at waiting. What was Theo doing anyways, getting beauty sleep? Spending a long time doing his little beauty care routine? She didn't come to wait on him like some little maid waiting on a royal.
Though, one of her ears flicked as she heard steps, her whiskers twitching in excitement, and her little ears perking in interest, eyes becoming wide as she stared expectantly at the door, pupils wide due to the lack of light in the hall. Which was weird. The whole pupils dilating more than normal thing was weird, and her vision was better, different though. So was her hearing. Smell was...she didn't even want to get into it, these kids made some weird smells. Taste was lacking, though. So was the fur. The fur was weird too, but cool.
When the door finally opened, like seriously Theo, what the heck? Anyways, when the door opened, she practically grinned, immediately purring loudly and somewhat annoyingly, especially at how annoyed he was. Her tail wiggled in excitement, sitting by his feet expecting some pets, and licking her paw as he expressed annoyance.
When he finished his complaining, she looked up, tipping her head mockingly, "Are you done?" she questioned, paw still lifted. She finally pointed it out towards him, waving it around slightly as a gesture, voice somewhat rumbly due to the soft purr escaping her. "We got plans tonight, we're gonna go out and get some stuff done." She explained, finally standing up completely, stretching her body, clawing at the ground slightly. After, her eyes focused back on him, "Since Cleo keeps blowing us off, Luci and I are taking some of you out on a mission of our own."
Her voice was dead serious, which probably wasn't a good sign. After a few moments of foreboding silence, she continued, "A mission that's top secret, very very important. We will be receiving some special goods for the Pantheon, goods that we can't get at any other time."
Finally, she snickered softly, "Lucien will have his own stupid team, and I'll have a cool one. You're first up on my roster, bucko."
Turning then, waving her tail around expectantly, she looked back at him, dead serious, "We'll need to suit up soon," she announced. "Next up on our list will be Chiara."
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Jan 29, 2021 15:24:55 GMT -5
Guinevere had been up, watering some of the roses and plants she had in her room. The sweet smell, the rose color of the walls, the pretty golden lighting, it was such a nice atmosphere. Not exactly girly, per se, but nice, almost romantic too. Which was fitting, given Guinevere's guide.
A guide who kept telling her to just tell Griffin those pesky feelings already, who kept insisting that Griffin liked her back. Guinevere doubted it, she could sense that he liked someone, but she noticed those feelings at peculiar times. It seemed too good to be true that it could be her.
A knock had come at her door, and so she had assumed it to be Ariella or Griffin, two of her closest friends in the Pantheon, other than Laurie (who was on a mission, and was severely heartbroken right now).
She sighed, placing her watering pot down on a table, and placing gentle fingers on the gorgeous petals of the plants in her room. She stepped to her door then, swinging the door open, and staring down at the boy before her. She was surprised it wasn't someone taller than her (the few people there were), but instead one of the leaders. She smirked, leaning against her door, raising an eyebrow at Lucien, "What's up, shorty?"
When he explained the plan, she shrugged, "I have nothing better to do, it wouldn't hurt to babysit you and keep you out of trouble." She teased, softly. She felt bad for him, the poor kid was made leader, and then ignored. She winked at the end of her statement, hoping to assure the boy that that's all she meant was jest, not an actual insult.
"Plus, I can do makeup for you hooligans, maybe Lane will help." She offered, grinning at Griffin and Lucien, already excited somewhat at the prospect of seeing some of the kids have some fun after all this stress. Maybe she should tell them no, make them stay, but after the stressful weeks, they deserved a day off. Lucien and Luka deserved to do something for once.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Jan 29, 2021 18:15:25 GMT -5
Lucien watched as Guinevere opened her door, raising an eyebrow when she called him βshortyβ.
βNone of that giant sass from you, Skyscraperβ he commented, adding a smile so she knew it was meant affectionately.
He was used to this kind of thing anyway, his older sister being taller than him. Lucien wasnβt short by any stretch of the imagination, but he just seemed to know a lot for exceptionally tall people. He should make shorter friends. Like Luka, she made him look like a mountain.
He folded his arms when she joked about keeping him out of trouble.
βOh no, weβll have to throw away all the plans,β he said, clicking his finger as if frustrated at a strategy foiled βwe were going to have so much fun, too.β
He was glad she was on board, though. That meant one person down, two to go. If they could ever catch Lane; god knew where she was at any one time.
The Champion of Apollo seemed to deliberate for a moment when she suggested makeup, before sighing.
βFine, but come near me with an eyelash curler and Iβll break your arm, I donβt care how much bigger you are than meβ he joked βthose things look demonic and Iβll not have them near my eyes.β
Technically Lucien had no problem with wearing makeup, not that he exactly had a habit of doing it himself. He couldnβt see himself liking the feel of lipstick though, certainly not lipgloss. But eyelash curlers looked weird and frightening. Lucien didnβt much like things near his eyes anyway, but even less so when they looked like a torture device.
He just had strong feelings on the topic and would not be accepting constructive criticism.
After these two, there was only Lane to find and then theyβd meet Luka. That was good, he had a good team. Better than anything Luka could pull together, he felt sure.
βDonβt worry about costumes, either. As much as it frightens me to say so, Luka has a plan for that.β
Luka having a plan was almost always a scary prospect for anyone involved, or so it seemed to Lucien. And he didnβt doubt that he should be scared of any plan of hers that involved costumes.
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