[ Action ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo's been scarce for the last few days. He's shown up once or twice, but he's vanished just as quickly, with hardly a word to anyone except maybe his sister. Anyone observant may have noticed him sporting a new leather tool belt, but who really looks that hard? He's just a mechanic, after all.

So where's he been? That's a Cabin Nine secret. But when he reemerges, he's landing a giant dragon automaton made of Celestial bronze somewhere between the arena and the forges. Look, guys, he's got wings now! ]

Comments

[notthatjason]

[Jason downed the bottle of water in his hand as he exited the arena. His injuries were a distant memory and while he was still getting used to this Greek stuff he did have to admit they had excellent training facilities for combat. He'd been working out for a bit and was more than a little startled when his walk to the showers was interrupted by an enormous metal dragon dropping out of the sky.]

Holy--

[Being new, he's not exactly used to this Leo so please forgive him as he flips a magic coin in the air and suddenly has a javelin in his hands. Water bottle forgotten.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Before Leo can stop him, Festus is swinging around with sparks flying, nearly throwing him off. By some miracle, he manages to keep his seat and pulls back on the controls desperately. ]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! No! Down, boy, down!

[ Reluctantly, the dragon stands down, but it doesn't stop him from issuing a low, mechanical grinding sound almost like a growl. ]

Uh, sorry! He's a little sensitive about pointy things being shoved at him.

[notthatjason]

[Jason hadn't noticed Leo on the dragon's back or, if he had, perhaps he had thought Leo a captive to the metallic monster. Jason also hasn't launched the javelin yet and it's Leo's cries that make him stop.

He...wasn't screaming for help? Jason looks confused, though he doesn't exactly lower the javelin just yet. Not until Leo talks about the creature being sensitive to pointy things. Then Jason lowers the weapon, but noticeably does NOT put it away. He still looks baffled though, looking up at Leo.]

That's...your dragon? Where've you been hiding that thing?

[Seriously, the Greeks had a giant metal dragon here?]

[commandertoolbelt]

I wasn't hiding him! He was living in the woods until I found him last week!

[ He jumps off, one hand still on the dragon's snout. ]

Now will you put that thing away?

[notthatjason]

[He found him? How do you...ugh, Jason gave up. As long as the dragon wasn't hurting anyone, who cared, right? Jason looks down at the javelin as if he forgot it was even there.]

Ah. Sorry.

[Jason flips the javelin and in midair it turns back into a coin which he catches a split second later. He pockets it quickly and looks back to Leo. He feels bad now for pulling a weapon on him and his ride. Jason holds out a hand.]

No hard feelings?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He marvels at the javelin-coin. That seems to have made Festus happy, so Leo grins and shakes his hand. ]

No hard feelings. Name's Leo. You new around here?

[notthatjason]

Jason. Yeah, I'm from the Roman camp. I just got in though so I'm still working out my way around. And getting used to...things.

[He eyes the dragon again.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He pats the dragon's side, and it makes a creaking noise of satisfaction. ]

Don't worry about Festus here. He wouldn't hurt a fly.

[ So not telling anyone that he tried to barbecue Leo. ]

[notthatjason]

He didn't look that way a few seconds ago.

[Jason quips, but to be fair he HAD been pointing a sharp weapon at the dragon.]

[commandertoolbelt]

Maybe you looked tasty.

[ Not mentioning that Festus only eats oil and tabasco sauce. Leave that up to Jason to find out. ]

[notthatjason]

Wouldn't be the first time a monster's said that to me, that's for sure.

[He gives Leo a look.]

But please tell me your dragon isn't going to start snacking on demigods.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Okay, okay. Maybe he should come clean. ]

Dude, he's an automaton. Just don't go around covered in oil and tabasco sauce and you're good.

[notthatjason]

[Jason gives him a 'don't blame me look' after all how was HE supposed to know what it ate.]

Give me a break, it's not like I've seen a golden, machine dragon before.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo laughs. ]

Good thing I enlightened you then, huh?

[notthatjason]

[He nods. He's eyeing the dragon again though.]

So what do you plan to do with him? Besides feed him oil and Tabasco sauce and surprise other demigods.

[commandertoolbelt]

I thought we'd start an automaton circus, with Festus here and the Nemean lion as the main attractions.

[notthatjason]

Wait, there's an automaton lion too?

[Jason isn't sure at this point whether to be surprised or not OR if Leo was pulling his leg.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ ...Really? ]

I'm guessing you guys didn't build much where you come from.

[ How boring. }

[notthatjason]

We build stuff.

You make it sound like these things are common here. I don't see a whole flock of automaton dragons.

[commandertoolbelt]

Well, duh. I'm the only one cool enough for one of those.

[ How is this not obvious to you. ]

[notthatjason]

Right. I should have known.

[commandertoolbelt]

Now you're learning!

[notthatjason]

Contrary to popular belief, it can happen.