tushanshu_logs | time it took us // to where the water was

_{( Jason has to step back to avoid those strikes. The longer shape of his gladius helps out some, with blocking, but for the most part its a series of steps that he can't even think about before making.

To the question, he shrugs. Then he tries to catch Riptide in the middle of one of those strikes, relying on his strength and not much else. )}

Adjust.

[It works, because Percy is good, but he can begrudgingly admit that so is Jason. He hisses a little as the shock reverberates up his arm, but recovers quickly. He throws himself back into the fight, seemingly tireless]

I'm a big fan of adjusting. [Maybe he shouldn't be wasting breath on talking, but he can't deny that he wants to...understand Jason a little better. He trusts him as much as he trusts the rest of the seven, but they aren't exactly friends] When did you find out you were a demigod?

_{( Jason's not really banter-y, so the conversation takes half his concentration and he goes back and forth between moments of casually blocking what Percy throws his way and being actively slipped up.

He shrugs at the question. )}

I can't really remember not knowing. Except for, well, when I didn't know anything.

_{( And he gives Percy a sideways look, because that's such a strange point of solidarity to have with someone. )}

I've been at Camp Jupiter since I was two or three. At least, I think so.

_{( It added up, now that he had Thalia's side of the story and his own birthdate. )}

[Percy doesn't hesitate to take advantage of Jason's slip ups, although he can't quite manage to disarm him. He can't decide if he's pleased by that, or annoyed.

The look Jason gets in return for that comment is along the lines of 'I feel you bro', both on the lack of memory front, and on the weirdness. He wishes he knew more about what to do with Jason's general existence in his life.

There's a muffled curse, and he nearly loses his grip on Riptide in his surprise.] Since you were a toddler?

_{( Jason's not really sure what to do with that reaction--it's not great when people react to the facts of your life like they're a bad thing--and then shrugs, again. He takes Percy's moment of inbalance as an opportunity to shift his grip on his gladius, pulling up his sleeve a bit to reveal all twelve of the tattooed lines under Jupiter's eagle. )}

It's a long story. _{( Also one that he describes as being an ugly baby. )}

[Percy has his own tattoo, he knows what the marks mean. But for some reason, it had never really computed just what it meant that Jason had so many]

That's a long time. [He sounds almost irritated. It's not directed at Jason, though. Nope, this is just one other thing to add to Percy's growing list of beef he has with the gods]

_{( Jason catches the irritation but doesn't realize where it's coming from, and his expression flattens a bit as he gets defensive. )}

Yeah. It's my life.

_{( Because despite reuniting with Thalia, he doesn't remember a life before Camp Jupiter. He definitely doesn't remember his mother. )}

[Percy blinks, a little taken aback at that reaction. He signals for a time out and stops, stepping away from the other guy. He's panting, takes a moment to catch his breath.] That wasn't directed at you, man.

[He shoves a hand back through sweat slicked hair and makes a face] I just don't think it's right. That we get dragged into this stuff so early.

_{( Jason takes a step back, drops his sword to one hand and uses the other to rub the back of his neck. He dips his head, not quite apologetic. )}

There wasn't much other choice, in my case.

--how old were you? When you found out?

[He rolls his neck a little, like he's trying to ease some tension in the muscles] None of us really get a choice. Not unless you can avoid monster smell-o-vision.

[There's a pause. It's weird, how he barely even thinks about it anymore. His life has a whole new normal] Twelve. My mom managed to keep it from me my whole life, until Luke stole your dad's lightning. Hades' helm got taken as well, and he thought I did it. Sent one of the Furies after me disguised as an algebra teacher.

_{( Jason nods, through the story. Someone stealing from Jupiter and Pluto is horrifying, but Percy getting to be with his mother until he was twelve... Jason's not jealous. He can't be, since he can't even fathom that. )}

Sounds exciting.

With me--well, it's Thalia's story, too. The gods couldn't let a Roman and a Greek demigod grow up together. So when I was two...

_{( This is the hard part. The part he's never quite able to wrap his head around. )}

My mom gave me to Juno. And Lupa.

Exciting like a hole in the head, maybe. There's not realy easy way to find out your best friend's a satyr, but getting into a car crash with the Minotaur chasing you definitely isn't ideal.

[He's trying for some levity, honest. But that gets sort of blown out of the water with Jason's next comment] They couldn't - what?

[They definitely aren't close, but it's pretty clear that Percy is kind of outraged in Jason's behalf right now]

_{( Jason manages to snort out a half-laugh, but when Percy looks at him like that, he can't really meet his eyes. He's barely talked to anyone about this--Piper and Leo included--and for some reason, it feels like a weakness. And he definitely doesn't want to expose his weaknesses to Percy.

He shrugs, tries for nonchalance. )}

Juno was angry, when I was born. Because my dad fell for my mom twice. It was the only way to calm her down, and the Roman-Greek divide didn't help.

I mean, it's not like I remember any of that happening. I didn't even know until I met Thalia again, a few months ago. Before that, Camp Jupiter was just where I'd always been. It's always been home.

_{( And now, it's not. He's a traitor and the camps are at war and everything is awful. So, that's great. )}

[Percy's jaw clenches a little, but even he can tell from the way Jason doesn't quite meet his gaze that this probably comes under the subject of 'things we don't talk about'. Percy tries to imagine how he'd feel if his mom had given him up, and finds that he can't.

He definitely knows how to feel mad at the gods, though.

There's a pause from Percy, before he sighs, giving his head a shake] When I was thirteen, my friend Grover - the satyr I was talking about - got kidnapped by a Cyclops. Polyphemus. The only way he was able to not get eaten was by wearing a wedding dress and agreeing to marry him.

[yes, Percy is telling dumb stories to lighten the mood]

_{( Jason doesn't realize it, himself, but his personality doesn't lean much to levity. Even his humor is kind of serious, sardonic in a way. But he can't help but laugh at Percy's story--or at least, he chokes a bit, which is as much a laugh as anyone's going to get out of him if they aren't named Piper or Leo.

After a moment he runs a hand over his face, trying to hide the remains of a smile. )}

People talk about him a lot. At Camp Half-blood. But he was gone searching for you the whole time I was there.

[Percy gives a lopsided grin in return, recognising the sound for what it is. He's kind of pleased he managed to get that much out of the other guy, if he's honest.

The grin turns into an expression of true happiness when Jason says that. In contrast to the Roman, Percy's as open with his emotions as ever.] They do? I mean, they were talking about him when I was there, but it was right after the Battle of Manhattan. Everyone was talking about everything, then. He deserves the recognition. [The smile becomes more subdued then, though, before ultimately fading] Yeah. I was the only one who got knocked out, but it's like everyone else's life got put on hold, too.

[There's guilt in his tone, and anger. He tries to hold back a sudden spike of bitterness towards Jason. Jason, who had been considered stable enough to be conscious in the interim months]

_{( Jason shifts awkwardly. It had been a sharp jealousy, when he'd found out that Thalia was searching for Percy. That hadn't been fair, but he'd still felt it. And then, getting back to Camp Half-blood, finding Percy had been the task on everyone's minds.

And then Jason had started piecing his own life back together, and had realized that Camp Jupiter would not have had the same response, where he was concerned.

It's not even worth the comparison. Romans have their ways, the Greeks theirs. And yet, he can't help but draw the comparisons. )}

Maybe they just needed something to talk about.

Or there just wasn't enough else going on at Camp, with you gone.

_{( A shrug there, like he's unsure if he's being light or serious. )}

[Percy snorts] There's always something going on at Camp.

[He's silent for a moment, almost brooding. Percy's always tried not to linger on things, especially not the things the gods get up to, but it's like he's been pushed one step to far this time. His next words just kind of leap out of him] You know what really gets me? If she'd just asked, I probably would've said yes. It's not like any of us are exactly strangers to making sacrifices to save the world. I get why the Camps couldn't know in general, but Annabeth dropped out of school to look. My mom-- [He shakes his head.]

Treating us - treating demigods like they're just tools to be used, that's what made Luke Castellan happen. They couldn't even last two whole months without slipping back into their old ways.

_{( Jason pauses, swallows and presses his lips together. He's uncertain of what to say to in a way that makes him decidedly uncomfortable. He's always had his own issues with the gods, but he never articulates them to others. He just can't. )}

Maybe it wouldn't have worked. If she'd asked, first.

_{( It's something he's been considering for a long time, now. )}

Jun--Hera--argh, you know what I mean--she told me things have to happen a certain way. That we have to make our own paths. And maybe if we'd been even a little bit prepared, things wouldn't have worked.

_{( He pulls a face, at the end of that. He's not yet sure that things did "work." )}

I can't decide which is worse--being used, or radio silence. _{( Since the Romans, for all they honor the gods, have decidedly done their own thing for awhile. Jason asks that almost like a question, like he wonders about Percy's opinion on that difference. )}

Maybe it wouldn't've. But that's - it's part of the problem with everything about how they do things, you know? They don't try to find ways to make it work anyway. They don't have to, because they're gods.

[That bitterness is still there, but it's...measured. Percy isn't just ranting, and he's never going to be the guy (Luke) who advocates some kind of war against the gods. But he's definitely taking advantage of the fact that they aren't here to listen (and smite) to vent a little.

That face gets a wry smile from Percy, because he's not sure it worked, either. Considering how things stand between the Camps right now. He catches the invitation to comment at the end of Jason's words, and shockingly, actually pauses to think] I think...they're both bad, just in different ways. I mean, who wants to be put in that position? Oh, you can talk to your dad, but you have to jump through hoops and put your life and the people you care about in danger before he'll look at you twice?

Maybe when you've been doing something the same way for thousands of years, you forget how to change.

_{( He's thoughtful, his frustrations hidden beneath reserve.

Jason nods, at Percy's answer, until he stops to just blink at him. Something he said... )}

You've talked to your dad?

Yeah. But maybe when the whole world nearly gets destroyed because you forgot how to change, you should start remembering. You know? It shouldn't have taken what it did just to get them to start acknowledging their kids.

[Come on Jason, be frustrated with Percy! Except Percy blinks back, and then doesn't quite get it when he responds] Oh, I mean - not since Zeus shut up shop or anything. Which is still weird, he doesn't usually like...listening to your dad.

Do you like being told you're wrong? Because I don't. I think it's probably worse if you're a god.

_{( He really doesn't empathize with them to that extent but talking about frustrations to others is hard!!

And still just. Gaping at Percy. )}

...but you've met your dad.

[Percy opens his mouth, because he'll accept that he's wrong, sometimes. But the look on Jason's face coupled with his tone completely takes him by surprise]

You haven't?

_{( Jason abruptly clears his throat and his shoulders tense. )}

Roman gods don't interact directly with their children very often. And my dad has to follow the rules he sets. As an example.

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