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

sure thing! :D

[kelpful]

Percy doesn't recognise the face, but he can appreciate a guy who appreciates his dog. "He's a she, but yeah. Too friendly, sometimes."

As if to prove him right, Mrs O'Leary leans over and snuffles at the guy's hair.

[squint]

Cobb's used to gelling his hair back--used to being just a little more clean--but it's hard to get mad when the dog's bigger than you are. Actually, he almost smiles. Almost.

"Friendly is good," He comments, holding out his hand so the giant dog to get comfortable with his scent. "If you don't mind me asking--exactly why is she so big? Is it natural?"

[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."

[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."

[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."

[kelpful]

He shakes his head. “Nah, it’s cool. He was supposed to die a long time ago. He’s building highways in the Fields of Asphodel now.” There’s a grin here, because to a sceptic, that has to sound just as crazy as everything else.

The smiles fades though, because that niggling familiarity is really getting to Percy. He looks at the other guy intently, like maybe staring at him will help. It takes him a couple of seconds, but—

“Hold on. Mr Charles?”