Children of the Gods: Arc 2 [Game/Closed]

[IFS]

"Hmm, how about...three hundred!"

Remus took off, giving himself a well needed head start. She kicked off and ducked under the water in one movement shooting off of the wall with a dolphin kick to push her faster. She needed to surface for maybe one or two strokes before she hit the other side flipping into a turn and kicking off again, catching a glimpse of Remus's swimming as she did so. Is he actually using his arms? Heh that might help against the waves but here its all about the core. Remus would also lose most of his speed at each wall if he didn't know how to turn well. Three hundred was a lot of laps, but she was more worried that she would lose count than run out of endurance. She kept her head down breathing on turns, Remus wasn't trained but he was still a demigod like her, so there was no reason to hold back. She felt like laughing as she entered the second turn, this is fun! Not many I go all out against!

 

[Green Shoes]

Aria and Steven both confronted him at the breakfast table, interrupting his magnificent feast. He promptly swallowed the sweet treat he was eating and brushed the crumbs from his mouth.

"The shop is literally across the motel, but on the otherside of the block, behind the houses. You can't miss it. Be back in an hour, we'll pack up and go. And uh, stay safe. And what not."

Prometheus was perplexed by his somewhat paternal answer. Aria did seem the most out-of-sorts of the group, and he somewhat felt responsibility for all of them. He brushed the strange feeling aside and addressed Steven.

"All people will see is a very, hungry human. Join me! Eat! This is the last good food we'll have for a while!"

Prometheus opened his arms in a sweeping gesture, offering a seat to Steven as he resumed his feast. His hunger was rarely sated, so he enjoyed the opportunity to have a full meal. Yet his eyes had lost their zeal, now lost in thoughts of their next move.

He wondered what Dionysus had done in Sicily.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Aria nodded and left the pair of Titan's to eat, and just as Prometheus said, she couldn't miss it once she was looking for it.

Aria hurried over to the store, which was like a Wallmart back home, grabbed a shopping cart and started collecting what she was after, a back pack, another change of clothing, sun glasses since her's where in Texas still, a charger for her phone, just in case, a pair of fingerless gloves cause why not, and a hat like the one that was left in Gaia's cave. She took her time with her shopping, stopping in the sporting goods section just to have a look though there was nothing there she needed, she did find it odd there wasn't a gun rack, but different country, different gun laws, and she was way more dangerous with out a gun then she was with one anyway.

She also picked a water bottle at random cause it seemed like a good idea given the heat. After about 35 minutes she had every thing and made her way to check out, and after that, grabbed a couple hot dogs on the way mack to the hotel, having stuffed everything she bought into the back pack.

On arriving back at the hotel she made her way back to the girls room and organized her 'hual' putting the clothes she'd had on the last couple days in a plastic bag and stuff them in the bottom with the newer clothing on top of that, her phone its new charger and wallet in a side pocket and the water bottle off the side, full now.

 

[Deu Sex]

Remus was surprised at how badly he was losing already. Despite getting a headstart, Nicole quickly outswam him and was several laps ahead in a minute. "Shit, she's fast." he observed. She was also better trained, as she managed to make her turns at the end of a lap far faster than he was able. Although she was skilled, Remus could have almost matched her speed if he decided to put all his strength into his movements. Yet the demigod avoided doing so, maintaining a solid pace rather than a speedy one. "No point in wasting all my energy just to try and keep nose and nose with her." Hopeful the sheer amount of laps would tire Nicole out. In the meantime, Remus retained his steady speed and observed Nicole's movements carefully as she made her turns.

 

[IFS]

Nicole quickly settled into a rhythm, kick off, dolphin kick, stroke stroke, turn, repeat, she started counting the tiles as they went past below her. This is going to be a looong race, good thing I can just glide for most of it, much easier than stroking. She didn't doubt she would be tired by the end of it, but she had already established her lead and was doing a solid job of maintaining and extending it. Given Remus's strength he could probably more than match her for endurance, but then proper form did a lot to make things easier, and she certainly had better form than him. I'll have to give him some pointers for next time, make for a closer race. She wondered if any of the others were watching, and what they thought. She doubted they would sit through the whole thing though.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Aria, having finished packing headed back down to the lobby where Prometheus and Steven where eating and loaded up a plate of her own, then took a seat at an unoccupied table to eat by her self, since she knew those hot dogs weren't gonna hold her over from very long since she hadn't really 'eaten' in two days.

 

[Dogmatic99]

"Did... did I screw up? I thought I could fight Dio by myself if I knew everything. I thought I could not risk your lives as I saved the day... Childish, I know."

Able shrugged an 'I don't know.' He was still pretty new at all this, dan at least acted like he'd been doing the whole questing hero thing since he could remember. He could remember the story habout Odin giving up his eye and nailing himself to a tree in exchange for knowledge and charms but it wasn't an overnight thing. More of a seven night thing. He should probably be greatful that Dan hadn't tried impaling himself to a tree while he was at it.

but the physical part was never the point, not if I remember it right. Wasn't it more for magical knowledge that he lost the eye and to see the future, even after that he makes mistakes in some of the stories, has to learn fro- shit I should be telling him this! Able snpped himself back into the present, seeing Dan's forlorn expression. He motioned for him to wait a minute as Able rushed back to the room to get his note pad. Onece he got back he started scribbling furiously, leaveing some pauses in his writing to show Dan and pace things out a little, make it feel like someone was actually talking to him.

[I don't know if you screwed up exactly. But it kind of sounds like you tried to skip to the end. When Odin did it he got a bunch of coll magical ability and a flashforward into the future, he still made mistakes and did things he had to learn from. I think wisdom comes from the journey not just some magic ritual.

Do you think any of us are going to be the same after this? We're going after a GOD for gods sake. Dio is going to try and cut parts out of us for kicks without any of us helping him along.]

Bring it back around you're starting to sound harsh. Poor guy lost an eye he doesn't need you piling on.

[If losing your eye gave you some magical boost then maybe it was worth it. But I'd like to think none of us are alone in this, maybe next time you think you need to make a big sacrifice you come to one of us instead?]

Able shrugged, he was hardly an authority on these matters. [Sorry for rambling.]

 

[Ruedyn]

Dan stopped holding his breath when Abe ran off. He gave him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't running from his eye. Surely it wasn't that disturbing. He noticed Aria leaving and coming back, and wished to speak with her, help her understand, maybe help her feel better. His stomach felt empty, and heavy at the sight of her. The race only made him feel slightly better. He was never into sports, but loved the feeling of victory, of conquering ones enemies... Perhaps there was something wrong with him.

He was glad when Abe came back, with his pen and paper. The writings made him feel a bit humbled, Abe was right he felt. At the mention of boosts, he spoke again,

"Well... I can't tell if it was a true upgrade, but I think I can summon things besides Sleipnir." He felt for his headphones, before finally noticing they were well and truly gone. He felt like an idiot before stcking his hand out, and summoning the first thing that came to mind.

A map of his home city.

"See? I haven't tested it too much, but I think I can summon all I put my mind to. Within reason..." Dan winced as he looked in the corner, David's signature in azure. His favorite color. A pang of nostalgia hit him hard begore turning back to Abe.

"Thank you for your council. You're probably more wise than I was. Though I gave up an eye... I... think I need to check up on Aria. It seemed she was upset. I'll talk to you later, if you want." Dan got up mid speech and paced for awhile, before concluding with a guilty smile on his face. He backed up and went back to the table, finding her quickly.

"Room for one more, my dear?" Dan grinned as he sat down opposite her.

"So, what's on your mind?"

 

[Lunar Templar]

"So, what's on your mind?"

"Besides the whole you put in your own head? My powers, and how they effect people" She said, annoyed in reference to Dan's trip to the well, though that tone turn more 'depressed' when she spoke of her powers.

"I had a terrifying thought earlier, what if you, or anybody else, only like me cause of some magic that I don't have any control over? Freya is a goddess of love right? How do I know your interested in me cause you actually do like me, and not some stupid spell that's only working now cause I'm around people that aren't predisposed to hating me on sight." she said sadly.

"I'm tired of being alone, I want to be part of a family again, but I don't want it if it's because of some god damned spell." Aria's tone grown increasingly frustrated as she spoke.

 

[hiei82]

Vera watched sat, watching Remus and Nicole race through the water, slowly eating. Normally, she'd bee down there with them, racing herself. Even now, she could feel her blood burning with the desire to compete. But it was that very feeling that made her want to ignore it. The desire to compete; to win. It was a desire for victory - just like her father. Ever sense she'd found out about her parentage - if such a word could be used - she'd begun to wonder who she was. Did her powers make her good at sports & games, making her like them, or was it Verethragna's influence? Was there something in her that made her want to compete. Was her life free will or was she just a pawn for the gods?

Vera took another bite. "More like Bishop or Rook" she mumbled to herself, tired of the thoughts, but unable to shake them. Since the day her power awakened, she'd always wondered, but the fight against the satyr's gave her evidence. She killed them. She'd killed several of them in cold blood. Worse, she didn't care; just like a God of War wouldn't. Just like her father.

Vera wanted a drink, but guessed that - given Dionysus's domain - alcohol was a poor decision. Plus, she wasn't technically allowed considering her age. "What is the drinking age in Australia?" she wondered to herself for a moment before ending the line of thought. Unable and unwilling for such a drink, she shook her head free of the aberrant thoughts and lay back down.

"Gods suck." she muttered at no one in particular, watching the sky.

Spoiler: OOC

I'm assuming Vera is in her normal form again because why not.

 

[Ruedyn]

"Ditto." Dan took her hand in his, and spoke evenly as he stared into her eye.

"I've traveled alone for years. Ever since I saved a kid, and... my brother died. His death made me wander the country, and make a map for every place I went... I have seen impressive things, like waterfalls and great forests. But yet I've felt so alone. I don't care if it's a spell, I doubt it is but I'm honestly happy around you, around everyone else here. I love you, spell or no, just please stay around me, with me..." Dan dropped his head, but didn't let go of her hand. He didn't want to see her unhappy, he wanted her to be happy more than anything else.

"Sorry if I'm taking this too fast. I mean what I say, though. If your hidden power is to cause happiness in others you're the greatest one here." Dan grinned widely, blushing. He was pretty sure he said something wrong. And that he said 'I love you'. He felt like an idiot, infinitely wise and he could barely use his words. Really using his gifts well.

 

[Green Shoes]

Prometheus saw Vera and immediately left his food unfinished. Walking from the breakfast hub to the poolside, he sat down next to her, exhaling loudly. He turned to the now human Vera, musing to her in his typical Greek fashion.

"How are you feeling? You haven't said much of late..."

Turning to her, he took a very serious tone.

"Killing doesn't make you a bad person, Vera. Don't focus on it."

He sat there and simply watched Remus and Nicole swim, Dan and Aria make goofy eyes, Andrew persist after Etna. They were a strange group. Destined to be somewhat stranger after their journey.

He didn't bother waiting for an answer. He went to the poolside, rolled up his jeans, and swished his feet through the brisk water.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Aria listened to Dan, her face turning red when he told her he loved her. "I don't feel 'great', confused, scared, uncertain, sure, but not great. How great can I be when my 'friends' haven't even bothered trying to message me the whole time I've been gone." She said, before shaking her head and looking at Dan.

"You don't care what you feel might not be real? That it could just be an illusion caused by a spell I can't stop?" He'd already answered this, but she wanted to hear it again, she needed to hear it again, for her own sake more then anything else.

 

[Ruedyn]

Dan simply kept smiling as he got up, and walked over to her side of the table, and knrlt down, staring directly into her eyes. He hoped he didn't look silly. He just didn't want to miss. He leaned in finally, confident that he was not about to jam his nose in her eye. He kissed her, long and hard, wrapping his arms around her. He stayed like this for a moment or two, before releasing her.

"I don't care, even if it's fake, even if this is fleeting, even if neither of us have brushed our teeth in days." He gave a big stupid grin, laughing lightly. He got up, extending his hand as he looked around. So what if he was a jerk who just used a girls moment of weakness to kiss her, so what if he was an idiot who just sacrificed his eye, so what if he was a dork who fumbled over words.

'First kiss, havn't gotten slapped, don't care.'

 

[Lunar Templar]

Aria just kinda froze for a few moments when Dan kissed her, then relaxed and let him kiss her, then started to kiss him back. Then just as soon as it started the kiss was over and Dan was standing up holding his hand out. He'd said something but she didn't hear it, she focused on his hand, and what she figured him offering it to her meant.

The kiss had told her every thing she'd needed to hear, though she was still scared it wasn't rare, with a bit of hesitation she took his hand and stood up

"That, was my first kiss" Aria said face turning red at the admission of her own romantic failings.

 

[Dogmatic99]

'Have fun with that!' Able waved after Dan, hoping he hadn't crossed a line or anything. He'd never... given council before. Or been called wise. Maybe I should start writing like an ancient viking... cus that'll get me all the girls.

With his time as poolside sage over he leaned back and watched the race for a while. The sight of Nicole in a one piece made a nice change of pace comapared to the monsterous things that had been the norm over the last few days. Enjoy it while it lasts, before the next thing tries to kill us. He thought, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling of the sun on his face.

 

[Ruedyn]

Dan smiled meekly in return. Good of her to admit she was just as inexperienced. He felt the the god king of smoothness, and decided to press his luck a bit more with another peck, followed by another long kiss.

"Same here, Aria." He stared into her eyes, it seemed odd to think of her as the same being who cut satyrs in half, and blinded a goddess with her light. He decided he loved them both equally, and stretched his grin out wider. He hugged her, and finally stepped away, face completely red. He hoped she felt better, he certainly did afterall. He supposed this meant they were seeing eachother now?

"Er, sorry if I got a little clingy there. To go from talking to no one to dating seems... off. But wonderful." His face evened out in color again, and his eye showed absolute adoration. He felt the greatest he ever had.

 

[Green Shoes]

Prometheus waved over to Able, then signing with his hands.

"How are you this fine morning? Ready for the flight?"

Watching Dan and Aria made him feel increasingly uncomfortable. Forming such a dangerous and unstable emotional relationship at a crucial moment may have terrible consequences. What if they get distracted? What if they can't be split apart. What if one of them dies?

God help us if one of them dies.

 

[Dogmatic99]

The Titan's booming voice brought him out of his relaxation. Able looked at the movements of his hands, he could get what he was aiming for but the movements were mostly gibberish and the parts he recognised probably didn't mean what Prometheus hoped they meant. Good thing he was still talking when he did it.

[As I'll ever be.] He made a quick motion of his native sign language, repeating it. [Thanks for trying but me no speak Americano.] He would probably have to learn at some point by the looks of things though. Either that or find a wizard who could make him talk.

Don't even think that Abe, don't even bother.

 

[Deu Sex]

As the race past its halfway point and neared the end, Remus decided to increase his pace. Nicole had been laps ahead of him almost the whole time and he needed to give himself a boost now more than ever. He put even more strength into his arms, the limbs propelling him forward in an enhanced speed and splashing much water with every stroke. He made certain to stroke particularly hard when passing by Nicole to splash her. "Getting tired yet?" As he approached the end of a lap, Remus made his turn much faster than before. He amaturely mimicked the way Nicole twisted herself about when she made a turn, and to some extent succeeded. He was still going to lose speed on the turns, but not nearly as much as before.