halfbloodhill | action ☁ dec 6

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action ☁ dec 6

[ If there's anything Natalie's learned from her mother - Diana, not Hecate - it's that life is full of highs and lows. She simply does not expect the sudden drop today.

She missed something in her last Iris Message to her dad, something he bypassed in their brief talk because she was so busy filling him in on the actual good things in her life recently. Rather, it doesn't hit her until a week later. Something's happening with mom, with both her parents, and it's not very good. Nothing supernatural, even, because she would transport herself there in a heartbeat and fight off whatever was after them. Their problems are most often human, things she doesn't talk about, not even with people she considers her friends.

It's like she's in free fall, leaving her stomach behind for a moment as the rest of her tightens, curling up into a ball of anxiety because, damn it, she had been feeling so good until today. She's just leaving the archery range, sallow-faced and rubbing her aching, slightly bruised arms because she's been there for gods know how long. Though, her battered targets show that she's actually been doing something productive with her time and arrows. ]

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[ Whenever she would get dragged to waiting rooms, Natalie would try to read the pamphlets and she can vaguely remember reading about this kind of thing. And she can easily remember those time she feared she would follow her mother's footsteps.

But then she realized that Diana isn't really her mother.

She rolls her sleeve up to take a look at the bruises from the arrows hitting her the wrong way. ]

[ It's clear she's looking for a distraction now, so he doesn't say anything else, instead standing by while she inspects the bruises. His brows furrow when he sees them; they don't look good, exactly, but he's seen worse. Never seen someone get bruises like that from using a bow and arrow before, though. ]

[ The string's hit her arm too many times but she can manage, pulling the sleeve down again.

Instead, she takes his hand again, quiet for a few seconds longer. ]

I was feeling really good, for a few weeks, even.

[ Leo doesn't want to... apologize, or anything. He knows from personal experience how insincere it feels coming from someone on the outside. Problem is, he still doesn't know what he should say, so instead of thinking about it, he gives her hand a squeeze and uses it to pull her to him for a gentle, possibly awkward hug. He's just... worried about her, okay? It would be enough if she knew that, and knew that he'd be there, just like she was for him. ]

[ Natalie, hesitating, eventually wraps her arms around his middle, her face buried in his shoulder as she holds her breath in fear of something. ]

Hey ...

[ She starts to mumble into his shoulder, an idea entering her head. ] Can you show me how to do something in the forge? Maybe - maybe we can continue combining my magic with something you want to make.

[ His brow furrowed as he considered that. They could defiitely do that if Natalie wanted to, but nothing coming to mind in response to her suggestion. ]

Like what?

[ Natalie looks thoughtful, determined not to think about her problems for even an hour or two. Or never. ]

Let's work on programming something to go invisible with the push of a button. [ She chuckles. The prankster spirit rubs off on her easily. ] Even a stupid gag toy, or whatever.

[ He pulls back, nodding. If Nat wants a distraction, then it's a distraction she'll get. She'd done the same for him. ]

We can give Gabe and Tonks a run for their money, huh.

Totally. It'll a step up from tricks of the light. We can start a business on top of our Vegas act.

[ She chews on the inside of her mouth for a second before jerking forward just slightly to kiss his cheek in a quiet thanks. ]

We'll literally be rolling be rolling in dough. [ He laughs softly, giving her a small smile. ] So, what were thinking? Maybe like a mask or something, to be super cheesy? Oh, or a top hat! We could put sequins on it and everything.

Hm.

[ These are tough choices to make. ] I had this really terrible idea to have gag weapons and they'd disappear whenever anyone tried to pick them up, but would reappear as soon as they pulled their hands away.

Holy Hephaestus, I've created a monster.

[ That said, it is an awesome idea and he can't help but grin. ]

I like it.

[ She pokes his shoulder, snorting. ] Listen, Doc Frankenstein, I wasn't originally like this.

I know! I never should have introduced you to the world of mischief. You're a danger to us all. [ His eyes sparkle. ] But I like it.

I'm surrounded by bad influences and I've apparently come to terms with all the schadenfreude. Sort of. I do feel bad for making it rain on some people on that Friday the 13th, but that's really it.

[ Aw, dumb grin time. ] So, uh, glad you like it on me.

Nah, don't feel bad; we all expect something to go wrong on those days. Better it's a joke than the real deal.

[ He's about to make a comment on how he must be crazy to like a dangerous girl, that if it were anyone else, he'd probably run away screaming. But he bites it back, instead smiling and saying, ] What's scary is that you could probably do your thing and not get caught like everyone else. I do something, everyone knows. That shirt thing with the Romans? Kind of obvious even before John stepped up. But you... [ He points a finger at her playfully. ] You can be completely anonymous if you wanted to.

But I'd hope you'd take me with you.

[ Natalie would crack some stupid joke about how he likely hears "I Knew You Were Trouble" whenever she literally walked in. ]

I don't really hide it, but I guess you're right 'cause I'm not some renowned prankster or anything. [ She shrugs. Leo totally is crazy for liking her, she won't argue with that. ] You're, like, at the top of my list of bad influences, so - duh, of course you're coming with me.

[ He grins. ] Wow, the top? I should feel honored or something.

So. Trick weapons. How do figure it would work?

I think - [ She taps her chin. ] - maybe I could charm them into disappearing as soon as someone specific touches them. Like, I dunno, Ares kids would be funny, but I also appreciate being alive and unbruised right now.

You'd only get bruised if you were caught. [ Leo tells her with a wicked grin. Remember those trick mines he set up back when he first got here? He stole them straight from the Ares kids, rewired them, and turned them into firework mines. Best idea ever, and they hadn't even been suspicious. ]

There's always Cabin Six. They're nowhere near as trigger-happy.

Yeah, but they're also smart enough to have figured out that I was smart enough to have pulled a stunt like that, man.

[ Clearly, pulling Natalie further into the fold is a terrible idea, with Leo on one side and her brother on the other. ] Maybe it should just be a randomized thing, like the black cats I cursed.

[ He shrugs. ] But you're not the only one capable of it, and maybe not the one they'd suspect first.

But I also kind of prefer it when you don't have a sword at your throat, so. Having it randomized'll work.

[ They might just blame Stiles first, which she doesn't really want. Nah, she'd own up to her own prancing if they cornered her. ]

Let's get started, shall we? [ Natalie rubs her hands together with a devious glint in her eyes, a swift change from her earlIer melancholy. It's still there, somewhere behind her eyes, but this is a good distraction. ]

[ That's a good look for her, he thinks, and it's not just because it's a positive change from before. He can still see that something in her eyes, but he'll gladly provide the distraction she wants. ]

Right, so there's this sword I was making the other day. Something to do, you know? We can work it out on that one.

I'm down for that.

[ Said oh so casually, but Natalie's excited. She pulls a stone out from her pocket, smooth and grey, and as she rubs her thumb over it, it seems to disappear in her palm. Of course, it's still there, but no one has to know that. Now, how to get a full weapon to do that ... ]

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