closed (ish)

[sophos]

Characters: Annabeth; Zatanna, Vanessa, Ororo, Bryn, Soranik
Date: Today/Tomorrow idek??
Location: PLACES
Situation: Teaching Annabeth how to normal girl
Warnings/Rating: T overall, talk of sex

[When you have spent literally over half your life at a camp for training demigods how not to die in the mortal world, it's really not all that surprising that Annabeth is bad at normal nine times out of ten. There's just usually other things she'd rather be doing. Like poking at her laptop. Reading a book. Knife practice (not that she isn't already good, but it never hurts to spar, and she very much enjoys the 10:2 ratio of victory over Percy right now). Research of any or all kind, and she hasn't stopped drawing buildings even here.]

[So please ladies. Come to her suite, knock on her door, and kidnap her away for shenanigans and girl times, and don't take no for an answer!!]

Comments

[sophos]

[Being greeted with a smile helps, a little. It sets Annabeth at more ease than before. She sort of offers her own in return.]

Hey. Um, pretty well. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?

[trifurcate]

Housework.

[Her smile fades a bit, if only to make room for an expression of supposed long-suffering.]

Which of course means I'm grateful for the interruption. C'mon in.

[She steps back, giving Annabeth room to walk into the suite if she likes.]

[sophos]

[Her face twists into something understanding at the long-suffering look on Bryn's.] I like to keep my space clean, but it's often subject to disaster beyond my control. [Like messy boyfriends.]

[But she nods, stepping inside. Her eyes dart over the room, half out of habit in casing her surroundings and half out of a sudden need to just look at everything; anything moving might get special attention, and she doesn't mean it to be rude. She's not entirely aware she's even doing it. So there's a bit of a delay before she actually vocally responds.] Thanks.

[trifurcate]

[Bryn notices Annabeth checking out the place but, well, it doesn't really phase her. She knows Annabeth's background enough to not find it unexpected, nor strange considering the amount of military personnel in her own life. Letter her do her thing, she heads to the sitting area (messy in her attempts to clean surfaces and such, to clear off some places to relax.]

No problem, no problem. Did you want anything to drink? Something to eat maybe?

[Since Bryn is taking this as a social visit, after all.]

[sophos]

[Some of it's cautionary, but some of it's her ADHD. It's definitely the latter that makes her reply to Bryn's question come a few seconds later, as she's trailing after the woman into the sitting room.]

Water? [She doesn't want to ask for it, but she feels kind of parched. A little awkwardly:] Should I sit?

[trifurcate]

[It's the delay that grabs Bryn's attention first, and while she notices Annabeth is still just looking around, it's the awkward follow-up question that makes her wonder if perhaps something's on her friend's mind.]

Sure thing, take a seat and I'll bring out a couple glasses.

[And, as promised, Bryn returns a minute or two later with two glasses of ice water. Offering one to Annabeth, she takes a seat nearby.]

How're you doing?

[sophos]

[She nods and sits while waiting, this time coming to stare at a particularly interesting to her lamp. She looks up when Bryn comes back in and takes the water with a smile.] Thanks.

[She takes a small sip, watching Bryn a little carefully.] I'm all right. [A pause, where she should probably follow up with the question in return, but Annabeth's always been bad at small talk.] I wanted to ask you something.

[trifurcate]

[Bryn talks enough for most people, so Annabeth's lack of conversational skills doesn't bother her, and truthfully when she's concerned about the other girl, she appreciates that they can get straight to the point.]

Of course, you can ask me anything.

[She's always been an open book, after all. Bryn sips from her glass as well, before leaning back in her seat to get comfortable. Tucking her legs under her on the cushion, she tilts her head slightly to the side.]

[sophos]

[She wrings her hands around the glass for a moment, spinning it in her fingers. Just get it over with, Annabeth.] I - the kedan apparently don't need it, so - I was wondering if you knew what - [a brief pause] - the foreigners used for, um. Well. Protection. Contraception. Whatever.

[She is only moderately flustered!! Only the tips of her ears are red, and she's fairly poker-faced. And it's mostly out of the fact that she had to go to someone else instead of keeping it private, which would have been her preference.]

[trifurcate]

[Sheiva's tits, she's never seen Annabeth act so nervy before, or even speak so haltingly as that. It distracts Bryn only slightly from the question, which when asked makes her eyes widen slightly.

Oh. Now she understands why.

Resisting the urge to ask questions right away, Bryn just sips at her water once more.]

So far as I know, my boss' company produces condoms? You're familiar with what those are, yes?

[There was an official term but she can't remember it for the life of her.]

[sophos]

[Annabeth can feel some of the tension leave her when Bryn reacts like she does - calm, casual, normal. Her cheeks are still tinted red, of course, but it makes it easier to keep talking. However sheepishly.]

Yes. I am. [A beat, then her voice is a little quieter.] That's kind of what I was hoping for, mostly. [Also the fact that they actually exist in Keeliai is kind of a relief, too. And not very surprising.] You work for Bruce Wayne, right?

[trifurcate]

I do. Well, one of my jobs is for him.

[Keeping things light and easy, she runs her fingers along the length of her glass idly. Annabeth's blushing and it's really adorable, enough that Bryn would be tempted to tease her except...she seems to have come to Bryn with some trust with a sensitive matter. And so she refrains.

For now.]

I would say that's your best bet. Unfortunately they don't really have the same methods here that they do where I'm from or I'd recommend one of the charms or spells.

[sophos]

[Annabeth nods. The man's her neighbor, but they've never talked all that much, and she knows his company does a lot of pharmaceutical work. It only makes sense it might expand into birth control.]

[Then she sighs a little, fiddling with her fingers.] That's okay. [The apparent best bet is all she wanted anyway.] I didn't really - well, I didn't know if there was anything at all. I mean, I assumed there must be something. And I just figured you might know.

[There's the instant spark of pure curiosity, her need to know, that has her wanting to ask about said charms or spells from Bryn's world, and she even opens her mouth. But then closes it without a word.]

[trifurcate]

[It takes a great deal of effort not to launch into an unasked for explanation of the differences between birth control available in Keeliai and that in Askoupur.

Instead, noticing that Annabeth seems to be about to ask something, Bryn smiles.]

Well I can take you to the store that has some if you like...was there anything more you had questions about, however?

[And then, knowing that Annabeth's mother is a goddess who's entirely out of touch, uncertain of whether or not she's ever had someone to talk to about this before, she continues. After all, she likes the younger girl, and would hate to not give her opportunities to go into something like this without all the information she might need or want.]

I mean, if this is your first time I'd be happy to explain anything at all about how to use them or things about the act itself...

oops tl;dr

[sophos]

[She wavers over the idea of Bryn needing to take her to the store. She's Annabeth Chase, and now that she knows condoms are a thing, she can get them on her own. The way she wanted to do all of this in the first place. But she can't bring herself to dismiss the offer right away either.] Where is the store?

[When Bryn speaks up again, Annabeth's first reaction is basically LKJSHSLKHJ. No, seriously, that's entirely accurate; her face flushes deep red again, but she finds herself huffing up in her fluster rather than retreating back into herself.] We can figure that out. [She means how to use them. Percy doesn't even know she's here asking about it. But it's also more or less confirmation that no, she hasn't done this before.] And I know what the act itself entails.

[Okay maybe mostly at the most basic levels, because no, she's never really had any maternal or sororal figure to talk about this with. (Her mother was a virgin goddess, for starters, and Annabeth wasn't even born normally.) She never officially got The Talk from anyone, mortal parents included. Not even in school, between floating in and out of them, she never got anything comprehensive. Self taught is basically Annabeth's middle name, and it extends here into sex, too. She doesn't mean to sound entirely dismissive or overly self-confident; it's just kind of a defensive mechanism, for any gaps that crop up in her knowledge. Especially this, something that's supposed to be private.]

[She's new at the whole Talking To Girls about Girl Things, okay??]

no worries XD

[trifurcate]

[Bryn can tell that she's flustered Annabeth but she wants to help! Help in ways that most people don't really realize they might need help at the start. There is figuring things out and then there is figuring things out while already informed of some of the helpful tips and tricks.]

Well I do know a few things about this that would make it easier if you'd like some advice. As for the store...

[Bryn grabs a piece of paper and starts drawing directions, explaining each step and landmark to get to the shop, before sitting back again.]

[sophos]

[She doesn't ignore Bryn's offer - she just shoves it to the side for now, reaching to take the paper and look over the directions. Easy enough to find, she's been to the general area before.]

[Annabeth hesitates for a second, a few seconds - the silence extends into practically awkwardness as she regards Bryn carefully, still wringing her hands around the glass. She's not entirely sure what qualifies under "things" that Bryn might know. And she's fairly confident in her and Percy's ability to figure most things out, they'd done all right fumbling around so far. But - there's something. She doesn't want to ask, and probably part of it is just her pride getting in the way.]

[She struggles with it, because it could be important; important enough that she'd been concerned over it since sex with Percy became a stronger, almost definite possibility, and it's not exactly something she's had an easy time figuring out on her own. And Bryn's been patient, understanding, for all Annabeth keeps closing herself off. If she had to ask someone, it's Bryn she feels most comfortable with doing so right now. Her voice is steady, but a little quiet, and the lowness is the only sign that maybe she's nervous about it.] Does it hurt?

[trifurcate]

[With Annabeth sounding more assured of herself during this conversation, that isn't the question she expects to hear. Not that she minds answering it, but her heart definitely goes out to the younger girl. She can remember being a little younger than her before her first time, and her own anxieties about it, despite how much she'd wanted her first time.

She doesn't want to panic her, but nor does she want to send her back to her boyfriend unprepared.]

The first time it can. Just for a moment...but I think that it makes a huge difference that first time to be with someone who cares about you. Someone who'll take it as slow as you need and will give you time to adjust.

[Smiling a little more certainly, she sets her glass down.]

Relaxing helps if you can remember to, to not over-think it, and a lot of prep-work before you get there helps a lot. But if you're worried, you might try getting used to everything else first, and easing into it.

[She could offer more specifics, but Bryn isn't sure just how much information Annabeth might be comfortable receiving.]

[sophos]

[She exhales, somewhat with relief. It's all she assumed and expected, but hearing Bryn confirm it sets some of the uncertainty at ease. She's still a little nervous, but at least she knows now. She always handles situations better with knowing.]

[And she's not - she's never been - worried in the slightest over Percy himself. Someone who cares about you aligned with him is probably the biggest understatement of the decade. She trusts him, implicitly, in everything, and he's already been overly concerned over how fast they seemed to be moving. (And she's pretty sure, stereotypically, guys are not the ones to be like that - though nothing about her and Percy has ever been normal.)]

[Annabeth offers Bryn a weak but grateful smile.] I thought so. [As for not overthinking it, she can make no promises; her life is overthinking - even if it felt like Percy was the one actually overthinking the situation more than she was in this case. But she does take into consideration all Bryn says, filing away.]

[Prepwork. Prepwork?? She wants to ask, but at the same time she doesn't. Maybe this is something she can dig up on her laptop. Her face sort of reflects that conundrum.]

We'll be okay. [She knows that much, no matter how awkward or successful or unsuccessful they are.]