SITUATION POST: JUNE 27, 2013

[greekchorus]

[Today is the festival of Skira, which can be both a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who you are at Camp Half-Blood. It's a day about celebrating all female goddesses, so Chiron has taken it upon himself to make it a day of female empowerment. Classes are being taught all over camp celebrating the female heroes of old, and the statues of Hera, Demeter, Athena, and the like are decorated, polished, and clothed in beautiful fabrics suiting each of their temperaments.

Most of all, though, this day is great for the nymphs, since an unofficial rule of Skira for Camp Half Blood has always been 'what the girls say, goes'. So tonight, the boys are serving up the meals at dinner while the nymphs relax.]

Comments

[kissmyass]

[ Considering all the people he pisses off, or in general, all the people who take issue with the Ares cabin in general? Yeah, Jill's not the only one he'd rather not be around today. Though, when the familiar voice comes from behind him, he can't help the small half-smile despite himself. Even being a jerk to him, Jill's always welcome company.

At least it's not in front of the rest of the camp here.

Without turning, he lofts the small tupperware type thing of strawberries up over his head so she can take one herself. ] Done being served in the pavillion?

[staysthesame]

[Jill takes two of them with a grin before plopping on down beside him, stretching her legs out in front of her. She's quiet for a moment, content in the company and the sun bouncing off of the water's surface and the taste of the fruit in her mouth as she takes a bite. This summer's harvest is the best one yet, she thinks.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glances at Ben. Poor guy, getting so much shit. At least nothing dangerous happens, right?] For the moment. I have to admit, I do like the feeling of being catered to, even if it's just one day a year. I see you escaped from that somehow.

[kissmyass]

[ As she sits, he brings the strawberries back and munches on one of his own. It's hard not to like strawberries here. Figure slouched and relaxed as he enjoys the afternoon light through the trees and tepid water of the lake, the day isn't actually too bad, considering. He could always refuse to do whatever someone he doesn't like commands him to, but he doesn't particularly want to start out as Camp Douchebag more than he already doesw. Jill he'll do just because, well, Jill's special.

There is the nothing dangerous thing - the kids don't go that far and the counselors wouldn't let them - but getting ordered around and snickered at was never really something Ben was fond of, for the sake of festivities. ] You're the only one attached to the idea of making my day suck enough to hunt me down. [ A sidelong smirk, and he's joking, obviously. The suck is actually kind of reduced with her around now. ]

[staysthesame]

[She leans in, nudging him with her shoulder a bit. Once, twice, before pulling back and eating the other strawberry she asked for. Ben's too serious; that's what Jill's always thought. Then again, she's too focused. It's what has made them a good team all these years. Good friends. They're similar like that. But he's too easily twisted by emotions, and she just buries everything deep inside. The same, yet different.

Her shoulders lift in a shrug, a lazy smirk tugging at her lips.] Yeah, right. You're day hasn't sucked, and you know it. It does the ego good to be knocked down a couple of pegs, and your ego can take it. [You love it, Ben.]

[kissmyass]

[ There's a snorted laugh for the nudges and he nudges her back in a playful kind of way. They always have sort of balanced each other out, though Ben usually thinks Jill keeps him from doing stupid crap. It doesn't really occur that he does much for her. She's always been the more level headed. But either way, it makes them a great pair in stressful situations.

A laugh for the comment and he kicks his foot a little to the side to splash a bit of water at her legs. ] My ego's just fine, thanks. If someone wants to take me down any pegs they can come find me.

[staysthesame]

[It makes sense, in a way, now that she's been claimed and all. Not that she thinks that fate and parentage have fuck all to do with who she's friends with, but it does make sense that they are as close as they are, that they make a balanced team. He's a son of a war god, she's the daughter of a victory goddess.

Her nose wrinkles as she shoves him.] I came to find you, didn't I?

[kissmyass]

[ There's not a whole lot of battles Ben's gone into without Jill next to him, and honestly, there's not a whole lot of life Ben's gone into without Jill next to him. Even before camp, in day care, in school. Jill's always been there. It's weird to think of them leavng camp at 18 and possibly going separate ways.

He laughs with the shove, giving an exaggerated fall to the side. Oh. You wound him. His poor, brittle body. ] You're more dedicate than most of camp. Don't count.

[staysthesame]

[It's a strange thing, to be so tied up with someone else like for who the hell knows how long now. Jill glances at him from out of the corner of her eye. She's sure that people have probably expected them to hook up by now, but fuck expectations.

A grin tugs at her lips. Oh, yeah. So brittle.] It counts. Dedication always counts. Besides, if not me, then someone might take advantage of you.

[kissmyass]

[ it's a weird thing to think of, 'hooking up' with your best friend. and a little scary too. you go through how many boyfriends and girlfriends in your life? there's some people that date, marry, have kids with, live forever with just one person, but how often is that? Ben knows he cares a lot about Jill, more than practically anyone else, but beyond that? He doesn't think about it. Don't fix something that's not broken.

He lets out something like a snicker. ] Oh, so this is you protecting me, huh? My hero~ [ Complete with falsetto and swooning motion. ]

[staysthesame]

[The worst part about it is, Jill knows demigods have a relatively short lifespan, particularly the Greek ones. Now that the Romans are here, there is a part of her that wonders what it'd be like to have that sort of future. Marriage, kids, retirement? She's an unexceptional demigod with a minor god for a parent. Shit will be easier for her than Ben.

She gives a lazy nod before leaning back on her hands.] That's right. I'm your hero, and don't you forget that anytime soon.

[kissmyass]

Like you'll let me. [ He says with a laugh before rights himself. Ben doesn't expect any kind of life like that - marriage, kids, picket fence. Some days he doesn't even expect he'll live long enough to really try for it, if he gets that idea in mind, considering what kind of things Ares expects of his kids. They don't have a great track record for longevity. It's not always the case, but the thought sneaks in on occasion.

Pushing it aside, he stands, standing his arms up over his head and arching his back before he rolls up his pant legs a little farther and starts walking farther into the lake. ] Come on, it's summer. The water's warm. [ Holding out a hand to help Jill into the deeper water if she wants. ]

[staysthesame]

[Jill climbs to her feet after him, a dubious expression on her face. Sure, it's warm and it's summer, but there's no way she's getting in there with her clothes on. Not that she's going to take them off, either.

Although...]

You shouldn't let your clothes get wet. [She's already leaning down to tug off her boots.]

[kissmyass]

[ He laughs at her, shrugging. ] I've got more clothes.

[ But either way, he marches back up the bank while pulling his shirt of, tossing it towards the drying grass before shuffling his jeans off. They go swimming together plenty of times. Boxers are pretty much the same thing as swim shorts. It doesn't really occur to him as being weird. ]

Come on, wuss, water's not getting any warmer. [ A tease shot out as he steps back into the lake, hands trailing along the surface of the water. ]

[staysthesame]

Yeah, but I'm not about to save you from drowning because your clothes got too heavy.

[Jill watches him for a second as he strips down, slowly doing the same. She keeps her orange camp shirt on, though. For modesty's sake. Wet shirts, she can deal with. Not wet pants.]

Did you just call me a wuss? [Rolling her eyes, she follows him into the water and hopes nobody comes by and sees them.]

[kissmyass]

Really? I thought you were on hero duty today. [ Said with an impish smile and he flicks some water up her way, walking backwards out into the deeper parts of the lake.

It's not like they're skinny dipping or anything. Rumors might get started because they're off on their own and swimming together, but neither Ben or Jill had ever really been that bothered by rumors. ]

Uh huh. What're you gonna do about it, wuss? [ making a 'come get me' gesture. ]

[staysthesame]

Only if it means keeping you safe from girls that might take advantage of you. [Because, let's face it, he's pretty good looking. He works out, a lot, and it definitely shows.

Not that she's looking. Nope.]

You're goading me, that's cute. [And it works, because a second later, she's leaping at him, pushing him down into the water.]

[kissmyass]

What would I ever do with out. [ A dry tone said in something melodramatically scripted sounding, and he's mid way through opening his mouth to respond before Jill's lunging at him.

There's a loud eruption of laughter and a little bit of a play struggle, but he goes down, ducked underwater, but drags her along under with him, flailing and kicking water around before he pops up again, hair a wet mess. ]

Yeah, and it worked!

[staysthesame]

[Her hair immediately flattens under the water, wet strands sticking to her face as she laughs. She brushes it out of her face once she's on her feet again.] Like I was going to resist getting you down.

[There's a small moment where she thinks that sort of thing could go pretty bad, what she just said. Bordering on a pseudosexual comment, and she hates that she recognizes it like that.]