Your faith walks on broken glass & the hangover doesn't pass, nothing's ever built to last [W6, Fri]

[hydrokinetics]

[He thinks of where she could be not long after he receives his letter from Hannibal. He remembers something Natalie told him not long ago, about how she and Jason came here once to drink away their sorrows and he finds it funny even now.

It's the only bit of humor he has left.

It's with this in mind that he enters the church quietly and shuts the door silently behind him. Churches are fake, he thinks, too boxed in and too reliant on only one god. Then again, it's not like the gods have ever helped him here, have they? And they won't help now.

Percy's spoken to Natalie before about losing friends. And his heart sinks as he realizes just how true those words are.]

...Natalie?

Comments

[hydrokinetics]

I've been known to say things without thinking, but I'll do my best. [That is to say that yes, he will shut up entirely. He's leaning back and turning his head toward her, eyes attentive and also curious to know what else she has to tell him.]

[robitussin]

[just

gently drops her face into her hand]

We kissed.

[hydrokinetics]

[...

...

...there's a snort of laughter that he ever-so-smoothly turns into a cough.]

Oh? [....pffffhahahaha gods. How unfortunate that he finds that...very sweet.] Your idea or his?

[robitussin]

[PUNCHES HIM IN THE SHOULDER]

[hydrokinetics]

Ow. [But he's still chuckling a little even as he rubs at the spot she's punched.] Sorry, it's just surprising after how much you denied everything yesterday. [He sobers up after that though.] I'm waiting to hear how you fucked up though.

[robitussin]

[She makes a noise that might be amused if they were in any other situation.]

You don't think it's kind of unfair timing on my part?

[hydrokinetics]

[A shrug. And then, after a moment:]

...Annabeth kissed me first. We were fourteen, and she thought I was about to die so she kissed me before she ran to get help. I lied to her and told her I had a plan to get us out of trouble. I lied to her to make sure she got away safely.

I ended up crashing my own funeral not long after that. So no, I don't think it's unfair timing if you meant for it to happen. Did you?

[robitussin]

[She breathes out harshly, but then nods after a moment.]

...I think so? Everything kind of happened pretty fast.

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, that happens. [A lopsided smile.] I don't think it's going to mess anything up more than if you hadn't kissed him. You're overthinking again.

[robitussin]

...Yeah, I guess so.

[But she is definitely pulling her legs up to her chest, burying her face in her knees, and muttering something that sounds suspiciously like 'I hate feelings'.]

[hydrokinetics]

[He's just patting her on the back sympathetically even though she can probably tell he's smirking.]

Usually when I have no idea how to feel about stuff the answer turns out to be the most simple one. And this is all the more reason you're spending the night with us.

[robitussin]

[She scoffs.]

What do you mean, all the more reason?

[percy??]

[hydrokinetics]

Because you'd give him the wrong idea if you kissed him and avoided him? [Duh??] ...wait, why, what were you thinking?

[robitussin]

I don't know what I was thinking, that's why I asked what you were talking about.

[hydrokinetics]

Just that. Don't give him the wrong idea, and also I still say you should be with people you like. I just didn't know you liked him that much.

[robitussin]

Oh my god, stop.

[Shoves??]

[hydrokinetics]

Hey, who knows? When we get back maybe I can call in another favor and send you two to Paris for dinner. [Now he's just fucking around even if he sort of just tips over when she shoves him.]

[robitussin]

Shut up.

[groans??]

Wait, who do you know that you could even call for - no, never mind, I don't want to know.

[hydrokinetics]

Hermes. [The name's out before she even says "never mind."] It worked once when I totally spaced on mine and Annabeth's one-month anniversary. I have a feeling once we beat Gaea I'll have a lot of favors I can call in.

[There's silence.] ...I asked Hal about talking to his employers again, by the way. Still said it wouldn't be worth it. So I'll have to call in favors elsewhere to make this right.

[robitussin]

You went to Paris for a one month anniversary? Oh my god, you've got it bad.

[She shakes her head with a small smirk.]

You'll figure it out. I know you will.

[hydrokinetics]

I had to make it up to her or she would have kicked my ass. The picnic was a good start but I did promise her something special. [A shrug. And then...] ...when I get her back, I'm asking her to marry me.

[It's not something he's said to anyone else, but...it's Natalie. She should probably know what she's getting into by coming home with him.]

I will. And I'll make sure everybody else stays on track. [A beat.] ...we're probably meeting in a bit. We can brainstorm a little more then, too.

[robitussin]

Aw, look at you. What a stud.

[It's her turn to tease him, okay.]

...A meeting is probably a good idea.

[Even if she drags her hand down her face.]

[hydrokinetics]

[He pushes the side of her head because wow, it's worse when the sass is returned?]

Yeah, real romance right here. [But there's another sympathetic look.]

...your secrets are safe with me. All of them. We'll go into that meeting and I'll back you up so there's no suspicions. And...after everything, I'll talk to them. Besides, with Shinnosuke gone, too, it doesn't hurt to be together.

[robitussin]

I know. [She never doubted he would lie for her.] I'm just - not good at not freaking out, I guess. I'm sure I'll deal.

[She'll just scream internally all the while.]

[hydrokinetics]

We'll make it work. [That is to say they'll both internally scream but it's fine? They're fine.]

We have time until then though. What do you wanna do until then? [It's clear he has zero intention of leaving her alone at least.]