I wanna be the ocean to your shore, bring you comfort evermore [W3, Monday evening]

[hydrokinetics]

[Too much has happened. Too much has happened and he feels like his head might explode, and when that happens he knows he just needs to be alone with Annabeth for a while. Being here has been almost exhausting but that's normal. What isn't normal is not having enough time together. So. He does as he always does and takes matters into his own hands.

This is why on Monday evening, Annabeth will be approached by Mrs. O'Leary whenever she may be. The hellhound will have a piece of paper in her mouth that simply says "we should say hello to the stars." Mrs. O'Leary will bark and wait for Annabeth to follow her. By the time they step outside she'll lead Annabeth to the general store and look up, barking again.

Hanging over the edge of the roof is a sneaker-clad foot. Come on up, Wise Girl.]

Comments

[athenite]

[ she knows percy jackson? after so many years she should, though. ]

We could maybe go half an hour without any sort of crisis. A beach vacation sounds nice? I could read or actually agree to go swimming. We could pack a picnic?

[ obviously she is going on the vacation with him duh ]

[hydrokinetics]

If we're at the beach you're definitely swimming with me. [In no way shape or form did he ever picture a vacation without her anyway.] Could stay at the place in Montauk and everything, it'll take monsters at least a day to figure it out. It took Grover like half that time.

Besides...you're probably going back to California with your dad for senior year aren't you?

[athenite]

That's the current plan. And then after that...

[ college. maybe. if percy's whole dream about new rome works out. but she just shrugs. ]

So what does a beach vacation with the Jacksons entail? Blue food is a given, but I don't think I know the details beyond that.

[hydrokinetics]

Walks on the beach, bonfires, roasting marshmallows and cleaning out the cabin probably. [A pause.] I'll check for spiders beforehand. Anyway, it's been a while since we've really gone. I bet my mom would love to have you around, too.

[athenite]

We have bonded, recently.

[ you know. WHILE YOU WERE IN NEW ROME, AND/OR IN A COMA, AND/OR WHATEVER ]

I think I actually do miss bonfires. It's kind of weird how much of our lives have involved camp things, except not, but. Also, we should probably eat something before we forget about it entirely.

[ she will, you know, grab a slice of pizza having said that? ]

[hydrokinetics]

That doesn't surprise me. Sometimes I think she thinks you'll actually keep me out of trouble. [Which is a lie? Clearly? But there's a half-smile and he'll follow suit, cracking open the can of soda and taking a slice of pizza.]

I miss a lot of things about camp. And home. It's been...a really, really long time. [Almost eight months for him. It's not hard to guess that he's still homesick.] But at least Hal delivered on the pizza. That's something.

[athenite]

I'm a good influence on your grades? [ clearly, that should count for something here. ]

And yeah, the pizza is something. And so is the fact we can see the sky. And we're together. ...With Mrs. O'Leary for some reason. But. We're going to figure this out and get back to the actual mission.

[hydrokinetics]

[There's a groan.] Don't even think about talking about school right now. I'm gonna have to make up half of junior year at this rate.

[And yet.] ...I can see why Bob wanted to see the stars and the sky again. Being there...you know. Sometimes it felt like we'd never see the sun again. [He takes a sip of his drink, peering over the roof to see Mrs. O'Leary.] I don't think I'd survive this without you. So...stay alive.

[It's then he takes a bite of his pizza and proceeds to talk around it.] Found out some stuff the last couple of days you'd might be interested in though.

[athenite]

I absolutely want to know about that. But also? Just going to point out that you will at least have a tutor for junior year stuff. [ and. that might be more encouraging if the tutor were not annabeth and she were not going to be strict as fuck. rest in fucking pieces, percy jackson? apparently her future plans entail making him do schoolwork to her standards. :) :) :)

who even plans for that in a murder game.

she knocks her elbow into his. ]

Also, you better stay alive, too, Seaweed Brain. So - tell me what you heard.

[hydrokinetics]

That would imply you're staying in New York with me. [...he'll figure it out eventually. And I don't know, who plans to get married and start a family while wandering around in the actual pit of the Underworld? They're perfect for each other.] Wait, are you staying?

[Nonono, focus, Jackson.] I'll be fine. First thing's first. Have you talked to Hal one on one at all?

[athenite]

[ well. she definitely doesn't like the idea of letting him out of her sight, so. ]

Someone has to keep an eye on you. Also, I've only really talked to him during trials. But he did let on more than I expected last trial - I think treating him like a person actually has an effect.

[hydrokinetics]

[A hope for the future. He brightens up considerably because...the idea of having her with him always is definitely a nice one. It's something else to strive for.]

I started doing the same thing after the first trial. [AKA after Annabeth told him to play nice...] What kind of stuff did you get out of him?