and the day keeps on worrying me

[kelpful]

Characters: Percy, Mrs. O'Leary, and YOU
Date: April 9-10
Location: Both Atam and Keeliai. Pick and choose where you want to run into him!
Situation: Percy has a giant hellhound who likes to lick things
Warnings/Rating: IT'S A GIANT PUPPY basically G-rated. Except for Percy and Annabeth oops

[It's no secret that Percy has been in a terrible mood lately. Between everything going wrong on the turtle and what's waiting for him and Annabeth back home, it's difficult for the usually upbeat demigod to maintain a positive attitude. Percy tries to be a source of positivity for the others, but he's still a teenager with the world on his shoulders, so some moodiness is expected.

Except for right now. Because right now, Percy is seated comfortably on the back of a giant black dog - literally, she's about the size of a rhino, or maybe a small elephant. He looks relaxed in a way he hasn't in weeks as he chats to the hellhound; Mrs. O'Leary doesn't really look like she's very interested in what he's saying, tongue lolling out and dribbling drool on anyone who happens to get too close as she looks around the surrounding area. There's a kind of barely restrained energy in her form that says the only thing stopping her from bounding around like a maniac is Percy's presence on her back.

He's not sure how Atam feels about a hellhound in its midst, and the kedan don't seem to happy about her presence in their streets, but they're too intimidated to actually approach the beast of a dog just yet. Besides, she only knocks over a few things, and Percy apologises right away.]

Comments

[kelpful]

[Percy snorts a little at that re-enactment, not meanly or anything] Yeah, that was one thing he did. He was an inventor, though, probably the best one ever. A son of Athena.

[Mrs O'leary finally stops, panting happily] Uh, yeah. I mean, she's still a hellhound, so she's pretty handy to have in battle, but she's a good dog.

[kelpful]

[His smile widens, because Annabeth is cute when she gets on a knowledge kick. Dipping his head a little, he steals a brief kiss] I'm okay. [To say the least] That wasn't never do it again, or anything. [He definitely doesn't want her to think that.He's pretty sure they both know why he stopped her without him having to get into the details. Some things need to be worked up to.

He raises his eyebrows at that smirk. His face is still totally red, but he doesn't sound that embarrassed when he replies] I don't know, I kind of think some of what I was doing shut me up before then. [Like exploring her neck with his mouth oops]

[kelpful]

[Mavis' mood is infectious, and Percy finds himself grinning down at her] I dunno, most people have been going with 'big dog' so far. She's a hellhound, though, so you're right about the monster thing. Where are you from that that's normal? [a beat] Uh. I'm Percy, by the way.

[kelpful]

"Mrs O'Leary! Come on, you've been doing this all day, haven't you had enough yet?" Dutifully, the big dog pulls back, although she seems a little saddened by it. She makes a happy snuffling sound when Cobb holds out his hand.

He frowns a little, because there's something about the voice that seems familiar. He can't quite place it just yet, but he resolves to listen a little more carefully. "Uh - kind of? I mean, she's supposed to be this big, but she's not a normal dog. She's a hellhound, so technically a monster, but she's well-trained. At least, the only problem I've ever had with her is being way too excitable."

[kelpful]

[Percy's hand twitches for Riptide at the sudden shout, just barely stopping himself from uncapping the pen when he sees that his assailant is a tiny child. He grins instead, leaning forward] Hey, Gavroche. You're acting like you've never seen a hellhound before.

[sophos]

[Yeah. Yeah, he doesn't have to explain why. Annabeth figured it out probably before he did, even though he was the one that stopped it first - she's still glad he did though. Because she needs to think.] Good. [That he's okay.] I know. But I'll keep that in mind. [8')]

[Her own face is just as red, but she gets a little huffy at the same time.] You still shut up, and so I won. [She steals a kiss of her own, then her voice turns light.] It's not a bad means of accomplishing that, though.

[That means good job, Seaweed Brain, A++ pls try that again in the future.]

[fatedchaos]

[:V Look, she like. Doesn't need to know all the myths ever, okay.] Athena kids are really smart, aren't they? I mean, yeah I know it's part of the whole deal with her being a goddess of wisdom, but it's cool to hear about.

[Wiping her face off on her sleeve now. Yup.] And you can ride on her, which is something most people can't do past the age of three.

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur just laughs a little at that, patting her nose lightly.]

There are two tridents in my world, I believe. I got the old sea god out of a bind once. Maybe more than once, I can't remember, either way it only responds to the ocean's chosen. Which is turning out to be more people here than I thought.

[andaway]

[He lets out a laugh.] Fair enough, you do deal with gods almost daily.

You see, there was once a war in some far-away planet of the galaxy. A really... really big war, I'm sorry I don't know much more than that about it. But in this war, the planet got separated from the rest of the universe. And it also split in two.

Apokolips and New Genesis. What we call 'hellhounds' comes from the former.

[moreofalark]

[ Good job, Marius. In return for cooperating, you get a warmer smile this time.

At Percy's comment, Cosette lights up. There's a certain brightness to her expression, like that of a child discovering something new. Apart from the happiness Marius has brought her, this is one of the best things to happen here! ]

Ah, truly? I am glad to hear so. I knew a dog when I was younger, but I never got to spend much time with one. I would have thought I wasn't good with animals, honestly.

[chiot]

[ Gavroche's eyes are huge, but he quickly backs away, suddenly terrified. He's heard the stories--and he may not be religious, but hellhounds? Are scary. That's exactly why he clumsily crosses himself,looking frantically at Percy. ]

Why you ridin' it?!

[kelpful]

[Oh, crap. It hadn't occurred to Percy that that might actually be a problem] No, uh - it's like a breed, you know? That's why she's so big. Her name's Mrs O'Leary, she's pretty much the friendliest dog you'll ever meet. I've known her for over a year now.

[kelpful]

[Percy grins. There's a hint of derp there, because Athena kids :B] They are, yeah. And they definitely don't hold back on letting you know it.

Haha, yeah. I never had a pet dog before, so it's pretty neat. [A beat] You want a ride?

[kelpful]

[Percy snorts] Yeah, the rate we're going, we can form an undersea band or something. [He hesitates for a second] What kind of thing did he get into that he couldn't get himself out of?

[kelpful]

Believe me, I wish I didn't. [And then he blinks] Whoa, hold on. The whole planet split in half? [There's a little extra concern in his voice there, considering that his enemy back home is earth itself]

Apokolips, huh? Sure sounds Greek.

[squint]

Well now. Cobb's brow shoots up. "A hellhound," He repeats, trying not to sound so skeptical. It's a testimony to his stubbornness that he believes it to be untrue despite seeing it with his own eyes.

His lips press into a thin line. "I can't really say I'd ever imagine seeing one of them up close. You trained her yourself?"

[kelpful]

Percy laughs a little at that look. "So you're travelling on the back of a giant turtle with people who have weird powers all over the place, but it's a hellhound you have a problem with believing?" He shakes his head. "No, someone else did. She came to me when he - died."

[fatedchaos]

[Boys.] Why should they? It's a talent worth throwing out there. [As opposed to others, yes.]

I've never had any kind of pet. [Unless you count Catty.] A... ride? On your giant dog?

[chiot]

Friendly to you. [ And, quietly, in a hushed tone: ] Does she eat bad children?

[squint]

Never said I believed that, either.

Hnn. Cobb keeps this thought to himself and his lips press together in a thin line. Best keep the conversation going, avoid the apparent strangeness he exhibited in thinking something like that's odd. Not before vaguely addressing it, of course.

"It's weird, the things that trip you up--but I'm sorry to hear that. About her...previous owner."

[brbparadise]

Big dog? [Mavis looks to Mrs. O'Leary and up at Percy, an eyebrow arching up.] Yeah, and I'm totally zombie Mozart. [A laugh. Then a pause and a nervous smile as she realises this Percy guy looks really... human.]

My name's Mavis. [She waves a hand -- careful to keep it under the shading of the parasol.]

And I'm from Transylvania! My dad runs a monster hotel there. I know all the weres. We don't get a lot of hellhounds though. The zombies hate sharing the cemetery grounds with them. [SIGH. ZOMBIES.]

[kelpful]

[Percy is on the verge of responding to Annabeth in kind, maybe with some teasing and another kiss, when a scratching sound makes itself known. And then a whimpering. And then finally a godawful howling. Pushing himself up so he can see out a window, he spots Mrs O’Leary lifting her head to the sky.]

Oh – crap. [Annabeth gets an apologetic look.] I should – probably see to her before the kedan come after us with pitchforks.

[kelpful]

Hey, don’t mention it. [Percy waves away Marius comment easily, before returning to Cosette]

Honestly, most animals are fine with most people so long as they’ve been treated well. Mrs O’Leary likes basically anyone who isn’t trying to attack us, so you’re welcome to come hang out with her if you want.

[kelpful]

My twelve year old self would probably have a few things to say about that. [A beat] And probably my thirteen to fifteen year old selves as well.

[He holds out a hand] Sure! She’s fought with elephants before, she can handle two people.

[kelpful]

Friendly to everyone except bad guys. As in, people trying to attack me and my friends. [Percy shakes his head] There aren’t really any bad kids, but even if there were, she wouldn’t eat them. She prefers to give them rides. [He raises his eyebrows a little – it’s an offer, if Gavroche wants to take it]