SITUATION POST: JULY 21, 2013 (APHRODISIA)

[greekchorus]

[Today, a single rose has been placed at the feet of the statue of Aphrodite in accordance with the laws for celebrating Aphrodisia.

When you ate your breakfast this morning, you might have noticed it was delicious, even better than usual. Maybe the nymphs and harpies took extra care, or maybe there was a little Love Potion No. 9 in it.

Who knows?

OOC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT CAN BE FOUND HERE.]

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

He didn't say, but I'm pretty sure I didn't program him as a Taylor Swift fan.

[ ...Did this just weird? Leo thinks it did. He's just gonna... try to pretend she didn't say that. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

Well, what would you like me to play then?

*She'll just sit down a bit closer. Personal space? What's that?

I'm always happy to take any kind of request. Especially if I'm properly motivated.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Alarms start going off in Leo's head - this definitely just got weird. Granted, is totally used to being the light of the ladies' eyes, but... not like this. He leans away from her just slightly, one eyebrow raised. ]

You always sit this close to your audience?

[anythingwithstrings]

Until you give me something to play you're just a really cute guy with a pet robo-bird.

*Not an audience right now, so she can sit as close as she wants. At least she's keeping her hands to herself.*

Why, is something wrong?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Okay, that just means he has think of a song! Easy.

...Why can't he think of a song?! ]

Mirrors?

[ He just kind of blurts it out without stopping to consider it, and now Leo's... kind of baffled. Something by that Timberlake guy? Why is that the first thing that comes to mind?

...Oh, right. It played on the radio when they were heading off for the quest, didn't it. Argus has some weird taste in music if that's what he listens to. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

...Didn't really peg you as a Timberlake fan.

*Maya leans in, hand on Leo's thigh as she smiles.*

I can manage that~

*Now she gives him some space, puts her guitar in her lap. And she has absolutely no trouble singing the song. She's also really good with the guitar, and singing. Even a cover of Timberlake which Leo probably didn't want to hear.*

*She's making bedroom eyes while she sings, probably not helping Leo feel comfortable.*

[commandertoolbelt]

I'm not.

[ Well, that sure is physical contact he was not expecting today. But he has to admit... Maya is good, and she's finally pulled away a little... even if she's still giving him those looks. She really didn't seem like that kind of girl when she'd first walked up. Weird. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

*She doesn't quit singing just because he's not a Timberlake fan. He could just like the song, that is an option. So she'll play through until the end, and... well, she's still undressing him with her eyes.*

Then, why the songpick, wanted to see if I knew the words? Or is this for your little bird friend?

*She'll just twirl her hair a moment before pushing it behind her ear.*

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Gods, this is weird. He looks away, wondering if something happened to the camp while he was gone. ]

First one I thought of.

[ Though Caelum had been chirping along with it. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

*Kinda like weeping angels, looking away means she's a lot closer when you look back. ...Granted she'd have gotten closer anyway, but that's not the point here.*

You could ask for a song you want, it isn't a pop quiz you know. I'll happily oblige any reasonable request.

And maybe a few unreasonable ones.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ That gets his attention, because he has no idea what that's supposed to mean. He turns back to ask, but instantly recoils upon finding she's gotten closer.

Is it hotter all of a sudden? ]

[anythingwithstrings]

*Maya's just going to laugh at that reaction to her. She doesn't take it personally, and his reaction was hilarious.*

Wow you're jumpy, do you find me that terrifying.

I swear, I'm harmless. I don't bite. ...Unless you're into that sort of thing.

[commandertoolbelt]

Still on quest adrenaline, I guess?

[ That's his story and he's sticking to it. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

Quest?

*Is she being ditzy on purpose to make you talk, or did nobody really explain the quest thing to her? You decide!*

[commandertoolbelt]

[ What, she didn't know? ]

Me and a few others just got back from a quest last night. Let me tell you, deer hunting is not all it's cracked up to be.

[anythingwithstrings]

I've never been hunting before, so I wouldn't know the first thing about it.

...Except the Daughter of Apollo shoot things with arrows portion, I guess.

If you're so stressed clearly we need to find a way for you to relax. Would you like a shoulder massage?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ You know, he could really use one of those. Working on something for hours means getting into some weird positions and it can get kind of painful when you finally move agai-

-no! ]

Nnnnnno thanks. That's what this is for.

[ He holds up the thing he'd been tinkering with until she showed up - a small helicopter made with rubber bands, paperclips, and a few other odds and ends. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

*Way to be kind to a girl's feelings, a toy robot instead of real hands? She'd come up with a more coherent argument if that didn't hurt so much.*

I see... I guess that's cool too.

What other stuff have you built here?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ W-Whoa, wait a minute. Is she upset? What'd he do?

Ugh, sometimes he wishes he had the same ability with people as he does with machines. People are too freaking hard to understand. He takes a shaky breath before he talks again, hands working to undo the helicopter and start building something new. ]

I, uh... The security automatons... Millard, Hoover, Polk. I've been fixing up Festus lately.

[ His expression brightens, and he relaxes a little. Let him talk machines for a while; that's all he really needs. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

Festus?

*Given who the God of the Forge is, a thing named after him has to be pretty impressive. Plus Leo seemed to do better talking about his toys. Boys don't ever grow up, do they?*

[commandertoolbelt]

My dragon! He's still got a few parts that need fixing. That cable in his neck, a bunch of the wires need replacing, the joints probably need to be checked again...

[ And, most importantly, the control disk. Can't have Festus going nuts on them again. ]

Last I checked, he was sleeping.

[anythingwithstrings]

Sounds like a lot of work. Taking care of a dragon like that. Hey... if he sleeps, does he dream about stuff?

*And Maya on that oh-so-subtle note gently puts her hand on Leo's arm. Because she is in no way as subtle as a wrecking ball.*

Do you dream about stuff~?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ What kind of question is that? ]

...Yes?

[anythingwithstrings]

What do you dream about?

*Wow you're thick.*

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He hesitates to answer, because the first thing that comes to mind is his mother, or the fire. The sleeping lady with the clothes made of dirt was there in the worst of them, taunting him, whispering reminders of how he couldn't do anything to help that night, that it was just a matter of time before he's not a concern anymore.

With a shaky breath, Leo tells himself to forget those dreams. No one wants to hear about them any more than he wants to share. Luckily, something else comes to mind, something he's thought about more often lately. ]

Flying.

[ That can't be it. C'mon, Valdez, there's more to you than that. ]

...And the next great prank for the camp. What about you?