the world's a beast of a burden//you've been holding up a long time

[kelpful]

Characters: Percy Jackson and you!
Date: October 4-8
Location: All around Keeliai
Situation: Percy is trying to cope with the prospect of literally going to hell, and failing miserably. Sparring, Water Sector fun and getting your head bitten off (not literally) are all options. If you want a specific thread starter, lemme know!
Warnings/Rating: None for now

Starters are in the comments!

Comments

Training His Giant Hellhound

[kelpful]

[The thing about having a giant hellhound is that she needs a giant amount of exercise. Percy and Annabeth are on the outskirts of Keeliai, somewhere with enough room for Mrs O'Leary to run, but close enough to the city - just in case something happens. There's no such thing as too paranoid, when you're a demigod.

Annabeth's parked under a tree with her laptop and totally unavailable to anyone that isn't Knowledge, but Percy's laughing for the first time in what feels like too long; his dog (black, and the size of a large rhino) has him pinned to the ground and is slobbering all over his face. Other options for coming across him involve watching him throw a small tree trunk with large hands made out of water for Mrs O'Leary to fetch, or just racing her around the area.]

[iguanasolution]

[So, Frank had always liked animals. He might not always make the best decisions when it came to them, like that one time he had given Hannibal peanuts and he didn't know he had intolerance to them and yeah, it had been a mess. And then there was Hazel's horse, who Frank was sure just hated him. And then there had been that time where he had accidentally killed one of his Grandmother's Koi fish.

So maybe animals didn't like him all that much all things considered but he still liked them a lot, so when he sees Percy laughing and Mrs licking the hell out of his face it's like having his two favorite things together. He doesn't notice Annabeth just yet, but even then he'd know better than to bother her when she's in full research mode.]

Percy! Mrs O'Leary! [He runs towards them, bow still on his hand since he'd just come from practicing.]

[kelpful]

[He looks over at Frank as his bro approaches, and if his grin fades slightly - well. It's nothing personal. He's happy to see Frank, he is - he's just enjoying these few quiet moments he has around Annabeth and his dog before they finally go and talk to the Emperor, and everything changes forever.

Mrs O'Leary is a little more exuberant, abandoning Percy and bounding over to Frank. Percy shuts his eyes and catches his breath for a second before pushing himself to his feet] Frank, hey. How's it going?

[iguanasolution]

[Frank doesn't notice Percy's mood shift, not yet, as he simply focuses on petting the hell hound while not getting licked all over. Harder than it sounds.

Weeks ago back at home, when they had just started the quest he wouldn't even
have dreamed about bothering Percy when he was obviously having some time on his own. But 'he's like a brother to me', Percy had said and Frank had kind of latched onto it, savored the words.

It might come back to bite his ass.] Hey! I'm fine, getting used to this body again- I will miss not feeling like a bull inside of a antique shop.

[kelpful]

[Percy rolls his neck, trying to release some of the tension. Frank is his friend. Moreover, Frank is someone who hasn't had a bunch of friends. He doesn't need Percy biting his head off now]

I'm really glad you're back to normal. Uh - not that there was anything wrong with you before, but I'm happy you're okay. Now.

[iguanasolution]

[Frank laughs, reaching to rub the back of his neck- even if being temporary a girl hadn't been exactly a bad thing it had still felt weird and not exactly right. His body had never felt like it fit in, like a suit slightly too small for him, but being another gender was another thing altogether.]

No, yeah, I know what you mean. I'm glad to be me as well, at least when I shape shift I have a choice on the matter.

[He glances around, a conversation he'd had with Leo while his body had way more estrogen than it should have on the back of his mind.] Is Annabeth with you?

[kelpful]

Right, exactly. [He nods like he understands, but there's a slightly distracted element to it.

There's a pause at that question, and Percy instinctively glances back to where Annabeth is. If he grimaces a bit, it's because Frank asking that question only reminds him of how codependent he and his girlfriend have become. His tone is sort of subdued] Yeah, she's just under that tree over there. I'm just - trying to give her some space, you know?

[Because they're in each other's faces all the time, obviously!!!]

[iguanasolution]

O... kay?

[He's trying to look like he believes him over here but he can't help the way his eyebrow just... raises. He's seen Percy fall to Tartarus for that girl, and now they want to give each other space?

He needs to talk to Leo asap.] Is everything alright between you two?

[kelpful]

What? [But it's not a lack of understanding. Just - surprise that Frank would ask. Maybe surprise that it's been noticed. He rubs the back of his neck, not quite meeting Frank's gaze.

Honestly, he can't lie to him.] Things are...better. Than they were. [Implying that something's been wrong.] Like, you don't need to worry about anything, we're dealing with it.

[iguanasolution]

[He knows Percy is just trying to calm him down and to make him stop worrying by saying that, but it honestly simply sets off even more imaginary alarms inside his head. He knows they are too young to think about love and things like that but he'd always thought Annabeth and Percy were made for each other. The kind of teenager relationship that grows as both of them do.

If they have to deal with something, if things got so bad that they have to give each other space, what chance does Frank have with a girl like Hazel who's obviously so out of his league?] Uh, okay. But if you guys need- uh- help with anything you know where to find me, right?

[parallels]

[Clara is out on her daily walk. Or at least it has become her daily walk since Rose left. She's desperate for anything to get her mind off of the loss of her friend.

She sees a familiar face on the outskirts and raises her hand to give Percy a wave before stopping dead at the sight of a giant dog. She doesn't scream but she backs up closer to Percy, trying to get out of it's way.]

Okay.

What is that?

[kelpful]

[Clara is his fellow turtle-parent, so Percy tries not to let himself get too tense when she approaches. Tries to rein in the automatic irritation that comes when someone that isn't...well, Annnabeth, comes over him these days.

It's not him. He knows that.]

What? [Oh, right. Sometimes he forgets that Mrs O'Leary isn't exactly normal] That's my dog. She's a hellhound. Don't worry, she's totally trained.

[parallels]

It's really nothing personal. Not really big on dogs. Allergic. Not sure Hellhounds are included in that.

[Clara steps back slightly. She's not a big fan of animals in the first place and a dog half the size of a house? Not exactly comforting. Still, she doesn't back up any further than that single step and turns to look at Percy.]

So.

Hellhound?

[kelpful]

[Percy frowns a little when she back up, but it's only one step and - well. Mrs O'Leary is really big] Man, that sucks. I'll make sure she doesn't try to lick you, or anything.

[Something like a smile quirks on her lips] She was a gift. It took the guy who trained her a couple hundred years to actually make her friendly, I think, but you don't really get more loyal than Mrs O'Leary. She showed up on the mainland a few months ago.

[parallels]

[Clara nods, keeping her distance, but definitely no longer agitated by the gigantic dog's presence.]

Must be nice to have a friend show up here. [She looks Mrs. O'Leary up and down.] Mrs. O'Leary. Is she a married hellhound then?

[kelpful]

[His smile widens slightly] Yeah, there've been a few surprises in this place, but she's definitely one of the good ones. [He even laughs!] Oh man, I hope not. I mean, I haven't seen her with another one, so it would kind of suck if she was separated, you know? But I'm pretty sure she's not. I didn't name her, Daedalus did.

[dracobin]

[Temeraire has finally found somewhere to keep the cows he found in Sinbrilee: a secluded plot with a small shed far from the city, and a kedan who is willing to look the other way in exchange for milk and fertilizer. It is all very neat, and he finds himself in a very good mood indeed as he returns from closing the deal.

At least, he does until he sees someone being attacked.

From this height he is too far up to see who it is, or hear Percy's laughter--only that an immense hound, larger than any he has ever seen before, appears to be savaging a helpless person. At once he folds his wings and drops, claws outstretched, the beginnings of the divine wind rumbling in his chest.]

Let them go, at once; how dare you attack someone so small, when you are so large!

[kelpful]

[Holy crap what is that, there is a thing falling from the sky why is that why--

Mrs O'Leary bounds off Percy almost immediately, hackles raising and a low growl rumbling in the back of her throat. Percy himself is on his feet just as fast, uncapping Riptide and holding his sword out, ready to attack.

Except that it's Temeraire.

Momentarily caught by the kind of awesome sight of a dragon dropping out of the sky, it takes Percy a second here] Hold on, hold on, Temeraire, stop! It's okay, she's my dog!

[dracobin]

[Oh, oh no, this is terrible, even if the person is free now and they are armed, whoever it is, and they do not stand a chance, and--

But then the person is shouting, and it is Percy, and Temeraire has to flare his wings out abruptly to stop in time. Even then he barely manages it: his tail misses the dog by a matter of feet as he backwings up and hovers in the air a short distance away.

The creature is even larger up close, he notes doubtfully: roughly the size of a small elephant, and not friendly-looking, at all.]

Are you quite sure? Only I have never seen a dog that large, before: she is not perhaps a bear?

[He has never seen a bear either, outside of books, but surely it does not hurt to ask.]

[kelpful]

[And of all things, Percy actually starts to laugh.

It feels like such a long time since he's done it, that he almost seems surprise for a second. But there's just something about a very polite, very British dragon dropping out of the sky and confusing his giant dog for a bear. While he's on the back of a giant turtle.

Percy touches the pen cap to his sword, and it transforms back into a pen as he manages to get himself under control. Still grinning, he tucks it back into his pocket] I'm definitely sure, I promise. She's - well, she's what's called a hellhound. Technically she's a monster, but she's been really well trained.

[dracobin]

[Temeraire's ruff flares in surprise when Percy begins to laugh. It is not funny--it is not funny at all, when Percy could have died--and instinct keeps his ruff flared as he stares down the hellhound. It is very large, he thinks, warily: the largest creature he has seen since Drogon, and although he is still a little larger, he cannot help but feel a little threatened by its presence.

But he thaws a little, when Percy explains, and he hovers closer, still staying carefully out of reach.]

Well, that is all right, I suppose, if she has been trained: a great many people will call creatures they do not understand monsters, when it is simply that the creatures in question do not know any better. Where has your sword gone, Percy?

[kelpful]

Well, I mean - most hellhounds are monsters. Mrs O'Leary is kind of the exception to the rule, and even that took a really long time. But you're right about making assumptions. [A beat] Oh, uh - you can come down if you want. The worst she'll do is lick you.

[He blinks at that last question, because obviously his sword is right - oh, it's a pen. Right. People don't generally expect that] It's right here. [He holds out the pen, and uncaps it again. Sure enough, a bronze sword springs to life in his hands again] It's basically so I can carry it around without people looking at me like I'm crazy.

[dracobin]

[Temeraire is still inclined to be a little cautious, as much out of a general dislike for dogs as out of wariness at something so close to his size, but Percy's words are more effective than he perhaps intended. Temeraire's ruff flares a little in mild indignation, and he lands at once with a thump:]

I am not worried about her, at all; it is only that I do not wish to start a fight, if she is your friend.

[And, oblivious to his blatant hypocrisy, he turns his attention to Percy's pen instead, pointedly ignoring Mrs O'Leary.] Why, that is very clever, and convenient besides: is it some sort of magic which does it?

[kelpful]

[Percy's lips twitch slightly] Uh huh. Right, obviously. [And Mrs O'Leary is going to take that as an invitation, bounding over to Temeraire with a happy bark now that it's clear (to her mind) that he's a Friend. She doesn't lick just yet, but her tail wags furiously]

I guess you could call it that. I never really questioned it too closely, you know? But it does this too. [And he throws the pen away from him as hard as he can. A beat or two passes, before he reaches into his back pocket. Tada, pen!]

[dracobin]

[Temeraire most certainly does not flare his ruff a little more. He very definitely does not tense up. Instead he says, in the politest tones possible,] Hullo, Mrs O'Leary. [Beat.] Percy, why is she called that? Is there a Mr O'Leary?

[He watches intently as Percy hurls the pen away, and his pupils widen significantly when it appears again in his pocket.]

Why, that is a very neat trick; I suppose there is no question of transferring that spell to anything else? [Things like his small pile of treasure, and his favourite books, and certain members of his crew.]