halfbloodhill | (no subject)

[ Rainbows seem kind of impractical, if you ask Gale. Quicker than the messengers they'd used in New Rome, at least, but there's so much that could go wrong with these IMs. If you're hunting when you get one, you could kiss your prey goodbye. What if you're in a life or death situation that relies on stealth? Good luck getting out of that one. What if you just so happen to be taking a bath - or if you're in any other sort of compromising situation - when someone decides it's time to sit down for a nice chat? And on top of all that, you have to hope there's a rainbow nearby, or you can't even send your message.

All in all, he prefers the messengers. There's less risk involved, as far as he's concerned. So when this IM goes out, he's looking rather unimpressed with it. ]

So. Camp Half-Blood, huh. Nice place, I guess.

[ Not as nice as New Rome, even if he didn't get to see the nicer parts of it very often. It's still better than what he and his family had, being on the poorer side of the Fifth Cohort. ]

But you can't stay here forever, right? Where do you go when you leave? How do you expect to keep your families safe outside of these borders?

[ As he mentions families, his expression darkens. Gale still hasn't found his own family. But he keeps silent on that end, bottling the anger and frustration up and letting it simmer for a while longer. He'll find them, no matter what. And when he does...

After a moment of silence, he shakes his head almost imperceptibly and continues. ]

I know I can't be the only one from the Fifth left. Has anyone else made it here?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He closes his eyes, thinking back to the day it all happened. ]

I'm not sure what happened, either. There was fire, buildings falling apart in the city. A lot of people were injured, but we got who we could out.

[ Unfortunately, that doesn't include the Hawthornes. ]

I heard about that. [Annie had blacked out most of it, completely gone away, as she'd always called it.]

I'm glad you all did. I should have been more of a help. I'm a worthless Centurion. [She's not looking for pity. She knows it to be true.]

[ Crossing his arms, Gale gives her an appraising look, recalling her promotion in the Legion. She hadn't really had any special connections, right - any names to drop, like Octavian? He's pretty sure she got to her position through working. She'd earned it. ]

If you were worthless, they wouldn't have made you Centurion in the first place.

[ His voice is flat, not meant to comfort. It's simple truth. ]

[Other than being Neptune's Daughter? No, no connections at all. She had worked hard, always the perfectionist, always striving to be the best, and she'd gotten it. Well, maybe, if she could make Praetor at some point. It was her new goal, to match her dreams of the Olympics and Yale.]

Maybe. I don't know. It should have gone to someone like you.

Someone like me? [ Scoff. ] That'll never happen.

[ Gale doesn't have anything against Jason, of course - they were buddies, back before Jason became praetor. It took a special act of valor to get promoted, or a great deal of respect and an open position, and Gale had neither. ]

You never know. Weirder things have happened, right?

If anyone from the Fifth should have made Centurion, it's my dad. And look where he wound up.

Gale... Don't be like that. [She frowns.]

I never knew your dad. And I know I'm... still, all things considered, new to Camp Jupiter. I kinda came in and... found myself in a position of power. But I'd give it up for someone like you. In a heartbeat.

[ He frowns right back at her. This... actually surprises him. A lot. ]

Don't. You earned your position. I didn't.

I did before. Not recently.

[ His expression softens, only a little bit. Most people wouldn't even notice. ]

But you're here, and you're one of the few ranking members of the Legion we have left.

I know...
I'm not going to give up my position. I don't think so. Not unless someone better wanted it. But... I don't know.

Sorry. You don't need to hear all this.

[ Gale nods, satisfied. ] Good.

[ Shrug. ]

Don't worry about it, Centurion.

...Thanks... You're a nice guy, Gale.