Snippet #2695187

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M A Y A00B R A E D E N

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# 9 6 0 8 4 9 // O U T F I T
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C A S S I D Y00D A L Y

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# 5 C 2 8 3 6 // O U T F I T

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"A centaur... Thanks. You're pretty smart you know... Unless that's just common knowledge and I haven't gotten the memo." It wasn't. Or, at least in the case of any normal person out there. Maya could understand his initial confusion, especially having been faced with this herself not so long ago. But unlike most people she had been a book nut long before any knowledge of not-so-mythological creatures would have been put to good use. Now, it seemed her days pouring over any and everything she could had proved to be useful. In the least, she could identify the ever growing oddities around her in a more clinical way, without fear getting in the way. Before she could come up with an answer or, really, even begin to think of one she was pulled forward. Her body tensing at the sudden motions, limbs thrashing for a few seconds but locking into a standstill soon after.

"Sorry. I just reacted..." She stifled mild panic, face devoid of its usual blank facade for a split second to reveal genuine discomfort before that too faded. She forced a half smile, the curl to her lips felt unnatural. At odds with herself once more. A stranger in her own skin. "That's alright, it would have sucked more to get bowled over." She didn't mind it so much as she was surprised by the suddenness of it. She wiped her palms against her jeans, anxious sweat gathering there.

After things calmed a little, she decided to finally address the earlier conversation at hand. Mostly ignoring the amassed group - why were so many people crowded around? "I am smart," Maya conceded quietly, almost arrogantly in a way - she had an ego about her sometimes but usually it was muted or hidden behind awkwardness.

"But you'll get the hang of it being here." Just as she would, if she could only let herself relax into this newfound world. It still felt too new, surreal in a way that left her bewildered by every new thing. Being so analytical had never been so much of a problem before. She would have said more on the topic but things had already begun to smooth out. Jackson had pulled Chiron away and the girl who had fallen seemed to be only lightly injured. Asking for painkillers - Maya could manage a little laugh at that. It wasn't meant to be funny but, her earlier quest for a handful of headache relievers was brought to mind.

"I'm afraid not," Maya spoke, but she may as well have not.

_________________________________

Cas was grateful for Chirons new distraction but knew the battle was far from over. He'd be hearing about it again sometime in the future; and really, he sort of looked forward to the potential competition of snark that could start up because of it. Maybe he won't get as flustered next time, but he resolved to think over what he would say in the meantime. "Apparently... Cas thinks I have a death wish for him. Loathe and love... Sometimes it's hard to differentiate." Cas rolled his eyes - if he could have managed to do it audibly he would have. "Not that hard."

"How are we dividing the teams this year? You know Hades always gets Hermes' cabin, so the newbies and Cassidy come with me unless they are already claimed. You can say goodbye to your not-so-boyfriend." Haha. Cas would have rather not competed at all, but this is how things have been for a while now. He tries to take it in stride without many complaints, besides, when his team kicked Reagan's ass this time around he'd have one favor in his pocket for later. Which was always a good thing to have? Although he could do without Lexa, or the newbies underfoot.

"Oh boy, am I ever so excited for this - " Sarcasm dripped off his tongue in waves, crunching the words out in a way that almost sounded cartooney. Vice filtered between a heavy tongue and half-clenched teeth. He grinned up at Reagan, shark-like, competitive, but ultimately just teasing. "Ready?" He asks, eyebrows waggling. The unasked 'to get your ass kicked,' was silent but implied. But he slid her off of him - he could have carried her the whole way but they were going to have to split up from here anyway. Besides, the sooner this was over with the better.