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

[clearasil]

Yeah. Okay.

[ That's acceptable. It can't be any weirder than waking up as a dog or a salamander, so. ]

What have you heard? This is an Aphrodite thing, right? I could sense something this morning.

[commandertoolbelt]

A little birdie told me she put a spell on the camp. Say someone's name, fall in love.

[ He shrugs. He's been on the receiving end of it once already, and if it always happens like that, he's not sure he wants to do it again. ]

[clearasil]

[ She can totally work around this, Love Goddess, just watch. ]

... I hope not permanently. [ Natalie flops down next to him, pulling her knees to her chest, cheek on her knee to look at him sideways, ] Maybe I should have stayed in my bunk,

[commandertoolbelt]

And I should've stayed in Bunker 9.

[ Oh, right! He hadn't looked while he was there, but... ]

Did you get your bow yet?

[clearasil]

Oh. No, I forgot to ask Dany about it actually.

[ Truth be told, she wanted to go again with him. Just don't attempt to get her to admit it. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Aaaaaand Natalie just said his sister's name. Awesome. He sighs and gives her an exasperated look, though he's still smiling. ]

What do you say we get it and test it? Let's hope she's not hanging out in the shop - I don't need to see you two making out.

[ He makes a face, tongue sticking out and all. Seeing Dany make out with anyone is not on his to-do list, especially if it's with Natalie. ]

[clearasil]

... Shit. Crap. F --

[ Opposite of what she wanted. No! She already feels the dopey, lovey dovey feeling creeping in but Nat is quite resilient. She covers her face and mutters both curses and spells in Ancient Greek, her cheeks completely flushed. ]

She has been looking -- no. No!

[commandertoolbelt]

[ There is some sympathy, but mostly Leo's just laughing. ]

I warned you!

[clearasil]

Shit! Motherf- I was trying not to say your name because that would have been -

[ Stop right there. Do. Not. Complicate. This. Natalie feels a feverish heat spread over the back of her neck. ]

Never mind. Just - I need to be far from like everyone

[commandertoolbelt]

Would have been what? Exactly like normal?

[ He grins. Okay, maybe this spell is annoying, but it obviously has its moments. ]

[clearasil]

[ As far as Natalie knows, she identifies as straight but a million thoughts race through her head, all centered around the girl who has been feeding her like she is her fourth dragon. The necklace lights up when she concentrates, fixing a glare on Leo but obviously a goddess is far more powerful than she is. ]

What - what do you mean normal?

[commandertoolbelt]

Aw, c'mon, you know you love me.

[ The teasing smile fades a little, and he eyes Natalie's necklace as it starts to glow. ]

What are you doing?

[clearasil]

Please! I'd much rather - Shut it, L -

I'm trying to remove it but I think she's just laughing at me. [ She sighs and everything settles around her. Sort of. Maybe she's slowed down the process but mostly she feels like puking. A deep pink blush isn't very becoming on her, especially when all she can think about is holding hands with Dany. ]

You are so more in love with me, anyway.

[commandertoolbelt]

Don't get me wrong; I'm definitely on your side in this. But I really can't blame her if she's laughing.

[ Seriously, this is gold. Thank you, Aphrodite. And thank you, Piper, for the warning. ]

Right. All those favors? Tokens of my love, right from the day we met.

[clearasil]

Oh, oh, sure you laugh. What would you do if I said your name?

[ Yeah. That is a threat to see what he'd do it it was her unabashedly chasing after him. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ What? No, you can't do that! He looks startled for a moment, but quickly settles back into his usual attitude... Maybe a little more tense.

What would Leo do? As long as she wasn't like Maya, he wouldn't run away. There's a feeling that he might enjoy it a little more if it's Natalie, but he pushes that thought away as soon as he thinks it. It's just a stupid spell, remember? ]

Never let you live it down.

[clearasil]

Might be worth remembering your embarrassment and discomfort.

[ She isn't often this daring. Playing jokes on someone isn't in her nature. Stiles did mention she might be just as evil as the rest of them - but honestly, maybe this is Aphrodite's way of -

Funny, that. Her own feelings start to overpower the magic stuff. ]

Leo Valdez.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo's mouth drops, ready to protest - as if they could really protest it, freaking love goddess - but then he just leans back on his hands, rolling his eyes up to the sky. ]

You just had to do it, didn't you.

[ Please don't be like Maya, he thinks, turning back to look at Natalie with a wink. ]

So, am I overwhelmingly handsome yet or what?

[clearasil]

Oh, you always are.

[ It's said so dryly that if might be hard to tell if she's being sincere or not. Except in a second, her intense blush gives her away and she averts her gaze for a moment.

At least she doesn't panic this time, building eagerness to play up the spell for the moment. She smiles prettily and brightly when she looks at him again, almost sweet. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

I know! That's what I keep telling everyone, and no one ever believes me.

[ Natalie Goodman, blushing. If he only had a camera. That smile - and how pretty it makes her look - catches Leo off guard, but he returns it with a shake of his head. That's what happens when you have enough sense to not say someone's name when you know there's a spell going around! Still, he can enjoy it while it lasts. Natalie doesn't smile like that often. ]

[clearasil]

[ Strategy: make him uncomfortable. She subtly scoots closer to him in the sand and rests her cheek against her shoulder. It's uncharacteristic and completely demure-looking, but not totally unbecoming on her. ]

I definitely believe you right now. I am a mess most of the time. Like, oil stains suit you. So rugged.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Weird as this is, he can totally live with these compliments. Keep 'em coming! ]

Yeah? Maybe we should go to Bunker 9, then. I can work on Festus; you can keep telling me how irresistable I am.

[ Two can play that game. ]

[clearasil]

... I may be a bad distraction.

[ She waggles her eyebrows and judges him. Another threat. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He gives her a look. ]

I'm not the one under a love spell.

[clearasil]

See, I know my way around some things.

[ Like what if she kissed him while he was welding things? Love spells can't help that kind of thing, right? ]

I can't resist your manliness, dude.