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

[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?

[kelpful]

Yeah. Of course. I mean - we're going to be okay, okay? [Implying that they're not right now because Percy is the best with words] But I appreciate the offer, man. Especially when - I know I haven't been the easiest to be around, lately.

[iguanasolution]

[He's so lost trying to catch every and all implications on 'we're going to be okay' that he almost misses what Percy says next.]

Uh, what? I- [He frowns.] Well, you have been- you have been tense. But that's understandable after what you will have to go through.

[kelpful]

[It's not Frank's fault. Percy knows his friend is just looking out for him, being understanding. But it sill grates on him, like someone stepping on his foot when it's already broken. It might have been an accident, but it still sets him of]

look, I really don't want to alk about it, okay? I get that you're concerned but just - let it go. [His jaw clenches, and he can already feel the guilt and shame clawing a him. He shouldn't have snapped.]

Please.

[iguanasolution]

[Frank flinches, but it's almost unnoticeable unless you know what to look for. He might be the worst son of Mars that's ever been, but he still is a son of Mars and they don't get intimidated by someone snapping. Specially when that someone is a friend they know would never hurt them willingly.]

I won't bring it up again if you want... but snapping like that isn't going to change what happens.

[kelpful]

I know it's not going to change what happens. Nothing I do can change that. Nothing I could have done would have changed that. [And things maybe come a little clearer. There's anger in his tone,sure, but also a kind of helplessness.

Percy hates being helpless. But there's nothing he can do about this situation, and nothing he would have done differently in the first place. And there's maybe some guilt in his tone, too. For snapping at Frank, sure, but something else as well. Something that's crushing him]

[iguanasolution]

It wasn't your fault.

[He says so automatically, barely a whisper and while he winces when he realizes what he just said... he doesn't take it back. It might be obvious, it might be even stupid to say it out loud.

But he still gets the feeling it needed to be said.]

[kelpful]

[He shakes his head, frustrated and angry but it's all directed internally at this point, not at Frank.] It's not about what happened, Frank, it's about what might happen because I went after her, and I can't - I just--

[And he stops because he doesn't have the words to explain it, not to anyone except Annabeth. He abruply deflates, rubbing a hand over his face. He looks freaking miserable, truth be told] I'm really sorry, you don't need any of this. We're going to go to the Emperor soon and find out what - what happens, okay? I won't be - this much of a jerk forever.

[iguanasolution]

[A pause.]

You're... going to the Emperor? [Because he's been- tempted, in the past. He would have done it secretly, without telling Annabeth or Percy or anyone- so he wouldn't have to give explanations later. He just wanted to know if two of his best friends were alright, just that, a little look and out.

But the idea that he could find out they weren't okay at all scared him too much to get the guts to do it. It doesn't surprise him that Percy is brave where he was a coward.] Both of you?

[kelpful]

[He nods, looking exhausted. And maybe his voice trembles slightly when he speaks, because he's fast running out of energy to hide just how scared he is. Not even for his own sake, not really. He just doesn't want to have to watch his girlfriend get hurt]

Whenever she holds her next audience. It's just - neither of us can keep going like this. It's ruining [us] things. At least if we find out what happens, it'll be over. One way or another.

[iguanasolution]

What if it's the other way?

[Knowing his friend will die and there is nothing he can do about it is one thing. Knowing you will die because you weren't able to let go of your girlfriend while knowing what it would cost the world- it's unimaginable to Frank.]

[kelpful]

[Some kind of emotion spasms over his face, and he has to turn away. One of his fists clenches, unclenches. Nearby, Mrs O'Leary whines in concern] It'll be better than this.

[It goes without saying that it'll still be awful, but that speaks for just how much Percy has been suffering lately more than anything else.]

[iguanasolution]

[He glances at Mrs O'Leary because he can't really look at Percy right now.]

I wish I could help, make things better. I'd suggest asking the emperor to show me first but I think- well. It looks like one of those things you have to do yourself?

[kelpful]

[Percy nods.] Yeah, that - that's pretty much it. [he pauses] I'm really sorry, Frank.

[iguanasolution]

It's not your fault I can't do anything to help. [It isn't exactly monotone, but it does come off a bit tone-less.]

I'll leave you two alone? Well, three. Sorry Mrs O'Leary.

[kelpful]

Dude, not. [He actually reaches out to lay a steadying hand on his friend's shoulder.] None of this is your fault. It's like, the opposite of your fault. Don't even think like that.