âDo you think theyâre ready?â It was a question asked out of love, not lack of confidence, but even Lee could pick up the note of anxiety that lay within. The god of light, and music, and bedroom eyes was also a father, and a pretty damn good one as far as the gods went. Lee had lost friends, peers, and students to the Agon, but Apollo had lost children. Perhaps Lee wasnât the only one in need of comfort tonight. His grip on the godâs hand tightened just a fraction, his thumb tracing circles along his skin as Lee watched Apollo flash a smile at someone from across the field.
âNo oneâs ever ready.â Lee admitted with another drag from the bottle. âBut theyâre strong, and they picked their friends wisely.â Sometimes thatâs all anyone could rely on. Apollo has two daughters in the fray this year, and Lee knew both of them well. Lux was far more combatively competent than her sister, but Maya was no one to underestimate either. It also helped that theyâd both been smart enough to align themselves onto some of the stronger looking teams this year. Lee couldnât make promises theyâd survive this, but he felt the odds were in their favor.
âWhy do you go along with it?â Lee asked impulsively. It was something heâd never understood about the god who seemed content to masquerade as a human and steered clear of the politics in Olympia. Why support the Agon, the source of so much heartache for both of them, if he didnât involve himself in the power plays that was its primary function.
âWhatâs the alternative, open war?â Apollo ran a hand through golden locks, the exhaustion of his tone suggesting heâd agonized over the issue quite a bit. âIâve seen what that looks like, the death that sows. At least now they have a choiceâŠsome semblance of a childhood.â He seemed less convinced by the last part, but Lee didnât comment, instead passing him the bourbon. It took a lot more than a bottle of Kentuckyâs finest to get a god tipsy, but Lee figured heâd appreciate the gesture.
Their fingers lingered together on the bottle, and Apollo looked up as if to say something, or maybe something else⊠"What is with the long faces?" And just like that, the moment shattered. Lee scowled, cheeks flaming, as the perpetually oblivious son of Ares invited himself to join. Hale was a decent enough sort, but his timing fucking sucked. Lee continued to silently fume as Apollo simply laughed along, shifting much more effortlessly out of the heavier mood of their private exchange far more easily.
âWell, looks like bottoms up.â Apollo agreed as he pointed out a student in neon paint running round the field. If the amount of bending over and hunching was any indication, his state of dress wasnât entirely willing. âDo you drink twice if theyâve been duped?â He asked with an arched brow. If Lee didnât know better, it might even have looked innocent.
Hades // Brain // Outfit // Hex #262f26
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Apollo // Special // Outfit // Hex #21b794
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Ares // Brawn // Outfit// Hex #FF0000
Wes had been nursing the same glass of scotch for the better part of an hour. As heâd never been one given to the loss of control inherent to drunken revelry, that wasnât necessarily odd, especially with the Agon starting tomorrow. Considering his role was as chief strategist for the team, one might even call his moderation prudent. What was odd however, was his lack of killer focus. Women had always been drawn to Wes, or his wealth and position at least, and that effect was quantified exponentially in the presence of his best friend Sebastian. On a normal night, he would have already sequestered one of the girls vying for his attentions for the evening. The game he played was a delicate one; women were just as competitive as men, and winning was an intoxicating aphrodisiac. Theyâd play along for a time, but the kind of women he attracted didnât share. If he didnât give one their metaphorical tiara soon, the game would be a bust, no one leaving happy.
He just couldnât make himself care, and that in itself was frustrating. Not having absolute control over his own emotions grated, and while logically Wes could identify the source of this change, he refused to acknowledge it to himself. And then, as if the mere whisper of a thought had summoned her, Lux was there, wearing the most ridiculously fetching getup he was almost embarrassed to admit he found appealing. His eyes chased her all the way to the bar with a look that smoldered like heated coals just waiting for tinder to ignite. He was so caught up, that he almost missed Sebâs remarks entirely.
âAh, and with charm like that, how would I ever say no?â Wes tossed back as a playful smirk listed his lips. If the suddenly flushed cheeks were anything to go by, it was a proposition many of the girls here found appealing. Wes could practically see the wheels of fantasy turning in their heads as the imagined all the wicked things they might do to each other, and anyone lucky enough to be brought along for the ride. It was an amusing role to play to, and one Wes might have easily slipped into for an evening of meaningless funâŠif not for those fucking heart framed nipples.
Calden Archer was naked from the waist up, more than happy to let his six pack speak for itself. His chest was mostly bare, with the exception of the pink glow paint hearts someone had drawn around his well-defined man-nips. His white swag cap was on backwards, glowing against the black light in a fashion that was hard to miss. Ordinarily, the cocky son of Zeus deciding to dress like a 90âs fuck-boy wasnât Wesleyâs concernâŠbut he had just swaggered up to Lux with drinks in hand and a twisted half smile that any man with an ounce of testosterone could read the intent from. Something in Wes snapped.
âSlaaade!â Calden cheered as he swaggered up to Lux, tilted grin plastered across his face. âYou went all fucking out girl! Nice aliensâŠare they down for some probing?â Cal knew Lux fairly well considering they were in the same class and combative groups, but it was the first time heâs ever seen her dress to impress with the assets, and it was a look he could dig.
âTheyâre occupied.â Wesley Tate practically growled from behind Lux out of nowhere. It was the kind of stealth Cal would normally find disturbing, not that he would admit to it, but was perfectly content to blame the alcohol on that one.
âI think itâs up to them whether or not to make first contact rich boy.â Cal smirked back, unperturbed as he took another swig from his beer in hand. Whatever Cal had expected Wes to respond with that stare and small delayed smile wasnât it. He might have to watch his back tomorrowâŠ
***
Maya still hadnât quite forgiven Helen and the others on the party commission for going with the retro rave theme over the far more appropriate spring break beach getaway (They had a lake right there for godsâ sake!) one sheâd spent the better part of a year planning out. She had to admit though, that it was going well, but she still maintained her tropical slice of the party, especially in the middle of so much neon crazy, was the best part. Besides, she sure as hades wasnât wasting this outfit after all the time sheâd spent putting it together. The pineapple passion fruit concoction Maya had been sipping on was a bit strong, but there was just enough sweetness counteracting the bite to leave a myriad of flavors playing across her tongue.
"I'm starting to feel a little over-dressed." Her beautiful friend Amelie came up from behind, and Maya gave her an appreciative once over as she asked for a drink recommendation.
âThatâŠdepends on how wild a night youâre in for.â Maya replied with a wink. âWeâve got Corona with lime stocked as lighter fare, but if youâre feeling more adventurousâŠâ Maya grabbed one of the boozy tropical fruit smoothies sheâd been enjoying herself, and handed it over to Amelie.
The timing of the hand off couldnât have been better, because in a flash the open space between them was filled with Ace, dimples and all. Maya couldnât help the smile that erupted across her face at Aceâs sly remark, and she wiggle her eye brows a bit as she inspected his own outfit for the evening. Far from the wildest outfit sheâd seen this evening, but it screamed Ace, and she liked it on him.
âNice paint.â Maya threw back with a wink. âIs it still wet?â She asked innocently enough, but an impish look twinkled in her eyes.
***
âRightâŠâ Lottie agreed skeptically as her eyes followed Lucasâ retreating form, and then nearly jumped when she turned back to see one of the schoolâs more notorious children of Hera suddenly next to Abby. Lottie had nothing against Greer of course, but there was something about the sight of those two powder kegs together that set her nerves on edge.
âLike you need my help with that.â Abby smirked at her friendâs offer. They both knew Greer was perfectly capable of kicking any necessary asses on her own. Present company excluded, Abby had yet to see Greer in a fight she couldnât handle, and her skirmishes made for damn good entertainment as well. âI might need help with this though.â Abby held up the bottle of whiskey, looking a little too pleased. âIf you care to join.â
âOh hey, Marisole!â Lottie called out suddenly, interrupting Abbyâs thought, and drawing her eyes about ten feet off where her excited teammate (and her friends who were also apparently children of Demeter) had run off to greet her sister. Marisole Nadeau had earned something of a reputation at Legacy as a breaker of stereotypes. While it was true that some children of Demeter displayed more passive natures, many resented that trope, and the assumption of weakness that went with it. Especially for some of the younger Demeter students at Legacy, Marisole had become a role model, so Lottieâs excitement didnât surprise Abby. Seeing her with Ryan Grayson was a different story.
Before she really had time to think about it, Abby had followed Lottie and her friends over to the makeshift group, Greer presumably behind her. âAre you excited about tomorrow? I mean, Iâm kind of nervous, but a good nervous you know? Well, unless you donât get nervousâŠâcause well I mean, why would you?â Lottie babbled like an excited puppy, laughing off her obvious nerves.
âNot that I donât feel safe or anything!â Lottieâs eyes suddenly shot toward Abby almost in apology, before continuing to put her foot in her mouth. âOur teamâs great! Wes is scary smart, Abby and Lux kick butt, and Seb is soâŠâ She flushed, clearing her suddenly dry throat like sheâd disclosed too much, before her eyes landed on the untouched cup in Ryanâs seemingly outstretched hand.
âOh thanks!â Lottie accepted the drink, grateful for the distraction from her own babbling as she proceeded to gulp down its contents. Abby snorted, unable to hide her smile as she watched Ryanâs drink being jacked, and waited for his inevitable look of indignation.
âNot your night?â Abby drawled in what for her passed as a conversational tone. Ryan was Luxâs friend, so theyâd spent enough time around each other to pick up on the otherâs mannerisms. Things had a habit of both going terribly wrong, yet strangely alright for Ryan, which if nothing else, was entertaining to watch from afar. And maybe she enjoyed poking his buttons a littleâŠ