halfbloodhill | [action]

Entry tags:

[action]

[ So today is a certain daughter of Hecate's birthday, and a certain boyfriend of hers has been working on how they should celebrate that. The most obvious thing? A cake, which he has been collaborating with some of the nymphs to make a reality. Sometime after lunch is when the big reveal happens, and they bring it up to Natalie's table with bright grins.

It's... a relatively plain cake, compared to the one she'd had made for Leo's birthday. There are colors swirled in icing, blues and purples with runes dancing over the surface of it in glowing green - what they mean, or how they're glowing, Leo isn't entirely certain, but it looks awesome. His particular contributions was a little fog machine meant to emulate the Mist, the little clouds hugging the layers of the cake but not hiding it entirely. Oh, and the pair of lit torches in lieu of candles, sized down to fit.

And there's another surprise he's put into this, but hopefully that won't be revealed until he's ready. ]

Happy birthday, Nat!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When was the last time it happened? [ As far as she knows, it was forever ago. And the last time she actually saw him do it because of her was probably the infamous dance. ]

[ His brow furrows as he thinks about it. If they want to get technical, Leo did set something on fire in February - his pillow - but that was done deliberately so he wouldn't set everything on fire. At least if he does it of his own will, he can (mostly) control it.

But when was the last time he'd lost it? ] I don't really remember. Maybe on that last quest? Or right after the Red Room got in camp. [ ...And took Dany's dragons and he made that oath and only realized later what that meant. But it's Natalie's birthday, and Leo doesn't want to bring that up again. He settles for a shrug. ] I was telling Dany the other day that I'm probably overdue for it, so.

Someone needs to get you fireproof clothes. Just in case - or at least fireproof bed sheets?

[ She tries to joke; that's another thing they very much have in common. Carefully, she rests Wolfgang on her shoulder again so she can finish her cake. ]

[ Leo ducks his head at that, trying not to spit out the cake he's chewing as he laughs. ]

Fireproof sheets might be a good idea. I don't usually burn my clothes if I'm paying attention. [ Though there have been a few interesting experiences in the forges... ]

You, like, don't burn your sheets because you're thinking of me, right?

[ She just laughs because what an idea. With a wave of her hand, she makes her now empty plate disappear. ]

[ He manages to swallow and gives her a curious look. ] What if I have?

[ Because he has. Luckily Cabin Nine has plenty of bedding to spare. ]

That sounds like some serious thinking.

[ Well, it's certainly natural but considering herself and object of that kind of thinking just makes the bottom of her stomach drop. W h y ? ]

[ Shrug. ] I try not to be too serious. Sometimes you can't help it.

[ Like when your girlfriend is really pretty and amazing and altogether way too hot to be legal. ]

[ Her voice, which normally sits on the lower part of her register, rises to a higher but softer pitch. She's unsure. ]

Are you imp - do you ever just want .... ?

[ Words are hard. Let her just focus on pettjbg Wolfgang's tiny head, poking through her curls. ] Never mind.

[ ...What is she trying to say. He raises an eyebrow, smile faltering as his interest is piqued. ]

Am I imp. Pretty sure I'm not a demon, but I may be wrong. [ Aunt Rosa would say so. But Natalie seriously can't expect him to leave it at that. ] Do I ever just want what?

Are you impatient to go further with me or if not impatient, do you think we're ready for .... anything else?

[ An astonishingly coherent question albeit a bit rambling, which is customary. ]

[ Oh. Leo averts his eyes, taking a breath to control his temperature before it flares while he thinks about that. ]

I, uh. I'm not really impatient, I guess? [ Maybe a little. It's not like he can control his hormones. ] And... I dunno. I guess that'd be up to you.

[ She starts winding her hair into a bun before letting it fall over her shoulders. The blush is clear on her cheeks and she chuckles nervously. ]

Well, I like making out with you.

[ He leans back with a deep sigh of too-obvious relief. ]

That's a weight off my chest. I wasn't sure if you did it just to make me happy or what.

Yeah, I don't think I'd let you go there if I didn't like it also, dude.

[ She snorts before slowly leaning back, waiting for the ferret to crawl over her chest to settle on her stomach before she lays flat on the sand, arms over her head. ] Maybe we can try other things.

[ He laughs, watching the two of them. ] Didn't think so.

...What kind of other things?

Like.

[ She scrunches her whole face. ] More than making out.

[ The cake's all gone, so he sets the plate aside and leans back on his elbows. ]

You mean like we have before? Those kinds of other things?

[ Nat folds her arms under her head and shakes it slightly. ]

No. I mean, even further. [ Six months is a pretty big deal and there are hardly any reservations about sharing this moment with him. It's more about worrying whether she'd be any good at it. ]

Further. [ He nods and looks back out at the waves, trying to process that without breaking his record of non-combustion. Natalie wants to go... further. The mere thought sends a thrill of excitement straight through him, but... ] Wouldn't we get in trouble for that?

[ Asks the kid who went to a school for juvenile delinquents. ]

[ Natalie's entire face and neck are warm and she just wants to burst out laughing at how nervous and awkward she feels. But that would be misleading, like it's some big joke to her. ]

We can come up with a counselor to counselor privacy agreement. [ She counters so seriously. ]

I think between the two of us, we have enough skills to cover our tracks.

A privacy agreement. I guess we could make that work. [ There's an nervous chuckle; he never expected she would suggest any of this, least of all today. ] You did hide us pretty well in that canoe.

[ She genuinely laughs at that, nudging him. ]

My first time will not be in a canoe though. [ The flames though.. ]

[ He makes a face. ] I'm cool with that. It wasn't the most comfortable of places, even for making out. I don't know how the little mermaid did it.

Do you think we could get away with it in the forges? [ Nat sits up again, shaking the sand out of her hair. The polecat looks vaguely miffed at being disturbed on her belly but resettles in the folds of her shirt. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject