halfbloodhill | iris message ✿ may 11 (late morning)

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c: gabriel [supernatural]

iris message ✿ may 11 (late morning)

I have a proposition, if you'll lend me an ear.

Though, um, not literally. [ She chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. ] I was thinking I would trade a skill for a skill. I'd very much like to improve upon my sword fighting.

[ Anna takes a few steps back to show that she's been polishing the hilt of her lightweight sword (which once belonged to American horticulturalist John Bartram). ] See? I'm ready to go.

Anyway, I can give baking lessons or simply bake you something for your troubles.

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I'm not so good with swords. But daggers? Count me in.

What kind of baked goods we talking about?

Daggers? I don't think I'm fast enough for a dagger, but I'm willing to learn.

As for the pastries, I was thinking apple strudel, my grandmother's recipe, though perhaps I can alter it for strawberries.

Oh gods. Apple strudel? Seriously? I'm in.

Meet me in the arena in fifteen, sweetheart.

You got it!

[ Anna waves the mist away and skips her way to the arena. Her mind ought to be on fighting techniques, but her mind is really on baking. ]

[Gabriel gives her a little wave when she comes down to the arena. He's leaning against one of the walls, shining his blade.]

You ready, kiddo?

Well, yes. I should think I am, at least.

[ With her own blade still sheathed, she hastily reties the end of one of her braids and nods, satisfied that her hair will be out of her face for the duration of this practice. ]

So have you figured out if your blade has magical properties yet? Or can you do plant-crap with it? Because seriously, that comes in handy. Watch.

[He holds his dagger up to show her its gleaming Celestial bronze blade.]

So, this is Kathreftis. Looks like a regular dagger, right? Aside from the fact that I can kill monsters and bad shit with it. Look again.

[Gabriel looks up into the sky quickly, then snaps his fingers - this time to call her attention - and holds his hand out in front of the blade. He's creating an illusion with the light in front of him by bending it, as usual, but the light's reflected off it to bounce into her eyes.]

Careful, sweetheart. Don't want your retinas to get burned out.

[ Anna blinks a few times before turning away, the afterimage floating in her eyes when she reopens them. ]

I've mostly tried my hand at archery. I'm alright at it, but I - well, I haven't figured out what else Agathi can do. [ She lifts the blade, smiling at how it gleams - perhaps not as bright as Kathreftis, but a pretty glow all the same. ] 'Thorn.' [ With a glance to the sky, she steps back to give it a swing. Nothing happens. ]

Demeter kid, right? Have you figured out how to grow poisonous plants? Because I think...that sort of thing might come in handy for you, sweetheart.

[He swings his own blade back up towards Agathi, clinking it against the gleaming metal.]

Show me what you've got.

I'm especially good with poison ivy!

[ What she lacks in battle drive, she makes up in grace and footwork. Her blade meets his when she swoops it under his arm, but she soon ducks away, better at avoidance than confrontation, at least with her sword. ]

Okay, see if you can rub some of that crap on your blade, then.

[He notices her ducking away and grins, coming right back at her. He hasn't even used his illusions yet - for once, this fight against Gabriel's actually fair.]

I mean, it won't kill anybody any faster, that I know of, but it'll give them one hell of a rash.

[ Anna meets him head on with a breathless laugh and a bounce in her step. It only took her a moment to approach this with some much needed confidence. ]

I use poison ivy for traps, not battle.

[ She spins out and her blade brushes the dirt on the ground. Before she knows it, the smallest greenery sprouts up in that very spot. ]

Time for you to learn to think more creatively, then.

[He steps back a few times and then obscures himself from vision. He's tricking her mind to think he's going to pop up somewhere else, but really? He just wants to see what this girl's planning with her plant.

And if it turns out he didn't move at all? Well, Gabriel thinks that's even more surprising.]

[ She can will it to grow, but that isn't news.

What is most curious is that when Anna backs away in surprise, the vine, now several feet long, follows her as if waiting for her to make a move. Her jaw drops and she circles it, looking more like a snake charmer than a fighter. Thinking quickly, she soon points her sword and the vine whips out in search of his ankles, ready to pull. ]

Lots of monsters can turn invisible, sweetheart. This is an exercise in listening. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean you can't hear me.

[He's shifting around from side to side, watching the vines and staying on his toes.]

[ Anna doesn't speak, instead circling where she can hear his voice and tapping a few spots on the ground with the tip of her sword. One by one, vines rise up in search of something to cling to and she has a very good idea as to where to direct them. ]

[Gabriel's caught off guard by one of the smaller vines, and it snakes around one of his ankles. Grinning, he pops back into her field of vision, clapping for her.]

You've got game, kid!

[But he's preoccupied now, so whatever Anna chooses to do to him next will definitely surprise him.]

[ That singular vine gives Gabriel a firm tug in hope to trip him up. Anna doesn't want to knock him off his feet with the vine being quite thin, but at least it gives her the advantage to close in on him, with her sword arm extended.

Not bad, she thinks, for a non-warrior. She may call herself a good fighter by the end of the summer. ]

[See, here's the problem.

Despite what Anna doesn't mean to do, Gabriel has the tendency to get cocky. Really cocky. To the point where he decides while Anna's mentally congratulating herself for the vine tricks that he'll come right at her with his dagger.

Then, he proceeds to trip over both the vine and his other foot, falling face down in the dirt. His speech is muffled after that.]

Class dismissed, Anna. A+ all around.

Oh!

[ Anna yelps, started at this (rather amusing) turn of events. And as soon as she sheathes her sword and pockets her compass, the vines sink into the ground. Smiling proudly, she extends her hands to help him up. ]

Thanks for the class!

I could help you if you'd like, Anna.

Really?

I mean - really? Oh, that would be wonderful, Julien!

Of course! I'd be happy to. How about this afternoon?

I'll meet you at two? I really want to show you what my sword can do. I feel so silly that I hadn't known about this before.

I'll be there!

[And he is, a little before two, with a sword in hand. He's content to wait till she shows up, practicing some himself as he waits.]

[ Anna, compass in hand, skips into the arena excitedly, all too glad that Julien agreed to meet her here. She stands by primly, waiting for him to notice her, rather than interrupting his practice. ]

Ahem.

[ He jumps a little, his back to her when he hears her, and turns around. Sheathing his sword quickly, he looks up at her and smiles. ] Sorry, I didn't know you were there. [ Taking a couple of steps closer, he peers curiously at her, looking for the sword she mentioned. ] So you said that you wanted to show me something about your sword?

S-sorry! Um, look here. [ She smiles brightly but apologetically, ducking her head to tuck some hair back into her single braid. In the palm of her other hand is her compass. Now, it is no mystery that it transforms into a sword, and she does so with a flick of the latch. The celestial bronze gleams in the sunlight and Anna can see her reflection, pleased to have polished it.

She touches the tip of the blade to the ground and soon a green vine sprouts up from that very spot. ]

I don't really need baking lessons... But it would be nice to have someone to bake with.

Have you ever tried making a really cute bento? I could help show you how to do that in return!

Then a baking partner! And an exchange of food tips. I already like the sound of this.

I've actually never tried making a bento, though I'm quite good with shrimp tempura, for an amateur.

Then it sounds like you're off to a great start! Have you tried making octopus wieners? The secret to bento is how cute you can make them.

Never, but oh, that sounds right up my alley. I tend to like all things extra adorable. Obviously, my specialty is decorating cookies and cupcakes to look like flowers - the frosting petals are my favorite things in the world.

I can never get the petals right! Oh, we are going to have fun together. I can't wait to exchange secrets!

Oh, oh, me too! How soon can you come and cook? I should be heading to the kitchens in a little bit.

I'll be right there! Need me to bring anything? I took some of my kitchen supplies when we left Camp Jupiter.

A wise decision under dire circumstances. I'm sure you'll make a home in our kitchens for the time being. See you!

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iris message ✿ may 11 (late morning)

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switching to action if that works for you

perfect!

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