halfbloodhill | action ☁ feb 26

[ Natalie has always been a private person. It might be obvious to those who are especially concerned about her that she hasn't been seen in a couple of days since the quest departure.

What a waste of her last drachma for the month, she thinks.

She doesn't want to bog anyone down with her troubles - there are things far bigger than her happening all around, and she is only one girl, one girl who likes to think she can handle it all, but in truth is unprepared for everything sent her way. The only person worse than Natalie at trying to fool the world is her own father, who she had spoken to via Iris Message just after Leo and the others left.

There are a few signs to her poor state, like two singed targets at the archery range and a trail of smoke that follows her when she finally emerges from her various treks around camp and away from everything else. She leans against a stone column outside of Hecate cabin and pulls her parka hood over her head, hugging herself around her empty stomach.

Your vision might go a little haywire if you approach her, with various dizzying effects. She's having a few control problems. ]

( ooc | preemptive warning for discussion of mental illness as portrayed in her canon. nat isn't entirely clear about the subject. )

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[To be perfectly honest, Dany hasn't been doing so well lately, either. She's been trying to busy herself since she couldn't leave after her own dragons - working hard in the forges, spending time with Enjolras (who's been prone to falling asleep on the Hephaestus cabin floor). The talent show was a good moment's reprieve, but Leo was pulled away on the quest and it couldn't be helped, and the world seemed even more dire.

Natalie is older - she is a counselor, and more importantly, she's as close to Leo as Dany thinks she is - albeit on another level. Natalie will know what to do.

She's already looking frazzled, but she becomes even moreso when approaching the Hecate cabin. She feels almost like she's crosseyed, shaky.]

[ Seeing Dany, she can only assume she has food for her, like she used to the summer before. Natalie blinks a few times so her own vision clears, tilting her head confusedly when she sees her falter. ]

Hey ... [ Which is soft and comes out almost like a question. ]

[Actually, she doesn't - if only because Natalie's gotten much better - or at least, it seems that way to Daenerys.

She's also not been eating as well as she should lately, either.]

I can't see well.

[Which isn't totally true, but she is stumbling.]

Shit. [ Comes the swear as Natalie winces, letting her head loll backwards in frustration. She rubs her eyes with the heels of her hands, shaking her head a few times as if trying to clear it.

Hopefully the concentration works. She should have just stayed inside the cabin instead of standing in public where she can physically pull everyone into her bad mood just by breathing. ]

[In what feels like a slow instant, Dany finds herself coming to her senses again, and she's...not quite sure if that's what inebriation feels like, but if so, she doesn't want to ever feel that out of control again.

She frowns a little. Natalie's as troubled as she is. She cuts right to the chase.]

I'm worried about him.

Me too.

[ It's the first time they've been separated since they started officially dating, though it's not on the forefront of her mind. She wants to just sleep but she supposes she owes that much to Dany that she should stay and talk. Her eyes flutter closed for a moment before she looks at her tiredly. ]

I can barely sleep. Not that I was getting so much before he left.

[She does appreciate Natalie doing this, because really, the Hecate counselor seems just as harrowed about this as Dany is. She presses a hand to her shoulder, almost encouraging her to close her eyes. At least someone can.]

[ Natalie just shakes her head. She'd be no use to her sleeping on her front porch. ] Yeah, I miss him too but he's gone on a quest before, and - [ She purses her lips. ] - and I left him a protective stone. He doesn't know about it, but I enchanted it and it should shield him from an especially bad attack. [ She doesn't mention this is something she plans on doing from here on out. ]

[He has gone on a quest before, Dany knows this. She's been here for both. But that doesn't really quell her fears so much.]

You should...make a habit of that. Making those stones.

They're small, not that strong - or they don't last that long - but I can at least get away with giving them to him in secret so... maybe. [ Definitely. She yawns into her sleeve, letting her head drop. ]

I promised him, um, things for when he comes back so, like. He better come back or I'm gonna find him myself and it won't be pretty.

I'd go with you, if he doesn't come back in time.

[Dany is, of course, serious as ever. She'd be out for blood if someone tried to keep Leo away. Her thumb moves over Natalie's shoulder a few times, trying to be comforting.]

I mean it.

Hopefully it won't come to it.

[ She's too weak to shrug away from physical affection. And it would just be rude to shove her away like that. As kind as this all is, Natalie wants to step away and disappear again, but she couldn't do any of that to her. ]

I should ... get some sleep.

That'd be smart. I should too.

[But there's a little sigh, her hand dropping from Natalie's shoulder. Try as she might, she knows she won't be able to. Not really, anyway.]

action ☁ feb 26

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