Not-So-Triumphant Return (Action)

[againstallodds]

[Most people (newbies excepted) would probably recognize the teenager that walks straight out of the ocean on the afternoon of the 19th, just as casually as if he were walking down the street in Anytown USA. If the fact that he's choosing to swim fully-clothed in October in New York doesn't give away who he is, the fact that he isn't soaking wet probably does.]

[He needs to meet with Chiron, but the first place Percy goes is actually the Poseidon cabin, closer to the ocean and his home-away-from-home, so he can drop off the small pack he's carrying - but less than ten seconds after he walks through the door, he tears back out it again and back down to the ocean.]

When were you gonna tell me I had a sister?!

[Yup, he's totally screaming at the ocean. This would have been nice to know, okay Dad?]

Comments

[annieisntokay]

[...Wow, that was a lot of information. But Annie follows along, committing it all to memory. When he's done, she nods.] Wow. Okay, I think I got it. I mean, there's really not much of a danger of me going, uhm, into any cabin other than ours.

[Maybe the Aphrodite cabin, but even that... She won't press her luck. Finnick is just flirting with her like he does with all the other girls, anyway. She's nothing special.]

You, ah, really don't seem to like the Aphrodite kids, though.

[againstallodds]

[She asked. And he kind of makes a face at the last statement, because ehhhhhh...]

They're pretty useless as a group. I mean, some of them are nice - Selena was really cool. [There's a bit of a dark expression crossing his face at that, but she may not catch it.] But she died last year in the Battle of Manhattan. She's pretty much the only one I know who's ever really tried to do much other than worry about clothes and makeup and who's hooking up with who. Maybe it's 'cause she ignored their right of passage for being stupid, which is really is.

[annieisntokay]

...Right of passage? [That gets her attention, and she raises an eyebrow as they walk up the steps to their cabin.] I didn't know they had one. What... What is it?

[Her mind is racing with all thoughts concerning one Finnick Odair.]

[againstallodds]

[Percy, of course, is completely oblivious to that. To him these are just regular questions.]

I guess... not all of them like it, but they kind of push it, especially since Silena died. They've gotta make someone fall for them and then break their heart. I was warned about it and apparently everyone knew me and Annabeth were stupid about each other a long time before we did, but I've seen it happen to other people.

[Fair warning is fair, Annie.]

Still... Silena and Beckendorf were a pretty awesome couple.

[annieisntokay]

Oh.

[She looks away, her hand in her hair again. Finnick was always kind to her. She wanted to consider him a friend but... if he was trying to make someone fall for him... Well, he had her eating out of his hand already.

She blinks rapidly. If Finnick was-- no, he was better than that. But... He flirted with everyone else. And she didn't even think he liked her.

Maybe it was just another game. Like Gabe played. Only worse, because she didn't know what would happen, if he broke her heart. Gabe was just playing with the pieces of her mind.

She swallows, digging her nails into the palm of her hand that isn't in her hair.]

Thanks, Percy. For the warning. I, ah, I appreciate it. [She giggles a little.]

[againstallodds]

[Okay he might be sort of a dunce but he can hear that. Also, he can see that. Kinda hard to hide as obvious a reaction as she was having when he's right there next to her, pushing open the door to let her inside.]

What is it? Something wrong?

[annieisntokay]

No! Oh, no. Nothing's wrong, Percy.

[Liar. She swallows as she pushes into the cabin.] I just really appreciate the warning.

[againstallodds]

[Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeees. He follows her, closing the door, and... no, isn't about to drop it. Not just yet. He may not be able to figure out exactly what it is, but he knows he said something to upset her.]

That's not all - what is it? I promise I won't laugh at you or anything.

[annieisntokay]

It's nothing! Percy, stop it. Just because you're half-brother doesn't mean I'm going to tell you everything! [A rare moment when Annie snaps and you can see the fire in her that got her the position of Centurion of the First Cohort.] I've known you for what? Half-an-hour?

Just drop it.

[againstallodds]

Sheesh, okay. [Yeah, if she used to be like that all the time instead of this shy, scared girl - he can see how she got to be a Centurion all right.] Don't have to take my head off for just wanting to make sure you're okay.

[Girls are crazy. So let's get that unpacking going, little enough as he has.]

[annieisntokay]

[She takes a moment and breathes, closing her eyes and grounding herself again.] Sorry. I- I don't like to get like that. Sorry, Percy. I know you only wanted to help. I shouldn't have done that.

[Just don't call her crazy out loud]

[againstallodds]

[He won't, not after what she told him. But sheesh, girls are so weird sometimes - even having one as a best friend for five years hasn't clued him in on how to deal with them any better. And her very quick 180 from sweet and shy to snapping kind of sets his head spinning a little.]

It's okay. Whatever it is, it'll be fine. [He's trying to reassure her, but not knowing what to reassure her about, he can't say anything more explicit.] Look, I know I can be an idiot sometimes, or a lot of the time if you ask the Ares cabin. But if you need me...

[Well... he'll be there.]

[annieisntokay]

I know. I know, I'm sorry. You're great. I appreciate it. I do. I just... [She presses her lips together, looking down.] Sorry, Percy.

[againstallodds]

Don't worry about it. [And really, he can't say anything else. He doesn't know why she was so snappish at him asking what's wrong, and obviously she's not gonna explain. So he gets on with unpacking his sack, throwing dirty shirts more or less in the laundry pile.]