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Ace Michael Thatcher

"A knock on the door you hear, a knock on your head you don't." ~ Dixie Waters

0 · 1,007 views · located in Olympia

a character in “Land of Gods and Monsters”, originally authored by maloneyc16, as played by RolePlayGateway

Description

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"If your going through hell, keep going." ~ Winston Churchill
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FULL NAME: Ace Michael Thatcher

NICKNAME: None

AGE: 19

HOMETOWN: Phoenix, Arizona

GODLY PARENT: Ares

GENDER: Male

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

ETHNICITY: Caucasian

DOB: June 17

HEX CODE: #3D5726



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HEIGHT: 6’0”

WEIGHT: 170

APPEARANCE: Ace has thick, dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. He keeps his hair pretty short and because he doesn't bother to style it, it tends to look unruly. Ace isn't especially tall, but he is extremely fit and is 170 pounds of pure muscle, he is more of a lean muscular though. His smile shows off both his dimples and his mischievous demeanor. When it come to clothes, Ace doesn't really care much what he wears as long as it's comfortable. Jeans, sweatpants, and t-shirts are typically what his wardrobe consists of. Ace also has his fair share of scars from fights he has participated in.





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Temperamental ❖ Competitive ❖ Impulsive
Absent-minded ❖ Energetic ❖ Intense


PERSONALITY

The word that best describes Ace would be unpredictable. He does things that most people wouldn't expect and because he never plans anything, not even he knows what he is going to do. As a result of his being ignored his whole life, he does dangerous and risky things. It started as a way to get attention and became an addiction as he loves the rush of adrenaline he gets from doing crazy things. Another reason why he loves doing risky things is because he hates being bored. His short attention span and his energetic personality do not go well together and have made Ace an easily bored person. He will do almost anything to keep from being bored, even if he has to cause trouble. Something Ace is notorious for is being an instigator when it comes to arguments because he finds arguments to be entertaining.

His absent-mindedness comes from his short attention span and has made him an easily distracted and somewhat careless person. When it comes to competitions however, he becomes extremely focused an intense. Nothing distracts him during combat. Although Ace can be a difficult person to get along with, he does have a fun side to him. His energetic personality makes him playful and fun to be around and he has a good sense of humor as well. As long as his fiery temper stays away, he can be an enjoyable person to talk to.

BIOGRAPHY


Ace was the result of an affair. His mother cheated on her husband with Ares and accidently got pregnant. Despite the fact that his mother was ashamed of being pregnant with Ares child, she decided to keep Ace and her husband helped raise him, not happily though. Ares was not around during Ace's childhood and he was stuck with his mother and step father, both of whom despised him. They already had a daughter and son of their own and treated Ace as though he was not a part of the family. He lived in the shadow of his older half-siblings and became a trouble maker as a result of it. Ace acted out as a way to get attention, but the problem with that was that his mom and step dad didn't care so his behavior became more and more erratic. He was always getting into fights and causing trouble during middle school.

It wasn't until Ace began to excel at sports when Ares finally made an appearance in Ace's life. Ares was especially impressed in his skills in mixed martial arts. However, Ares still didn't attempt to have much of a relationship with his son. Ares lack of interest in him only made Ace more wild than he already was. By the time he was halfway through his freshman year in high school, he had already been arrested twice. The first time for assaulting a person, the second for taking someone's car for a joy ride. By this time, Ares was aware of Ace's recent behavior and decided to enroll him in the Legacy Academy for Higher Learning to keep him out of trouble. Ace has been going there for three and a half years now and while he still gets in his fair share of fights, his behavior has calmed down somewhat. He finds himself excelling in this school and wants nothing more than to win the Agon during his final year at Legacy Academy.




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QUIRKS
      Fidgety: Ace is extremely energetic and can't sit still. He often shakes his legs and he is that annoying person that keeps clicking his pen repeatedly.

      Gritting His Teeth: A sign of Ace's agitation is when he clenches his jaw and grits his teeth, he does it frequently.

      Forgetful: Ace has such a short attention span that he tends to forget things that people normally don't, such as tying his shoes.
LIKES
      *Gambling
      *Exercise
      *Arguing
      *Sports
      *Fast Cars
      *Card Games
      *Fighting
      *Challenges

DISLIKES
      *Being Bored
      *Losing
      *Authority
      *Waiting
      *Cowards
      *Being Wrong
      *Being Confused




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GRADE: 12th


TEAM ROLE: Brawn


RELATIONSHIP WITH GODLY PARENT: Complicated. Ares likes Ace for his strength and his skills, but doesn't care about him much aside from that. Ace is constantly fighting for his father's approval because of this. He feels that by winning the Agon that Ares will finally treat him like an actual son instead of a trophy.


HOBBIES:
*Racing cars
*Mixed martial arts
*Football
*Track
*Lifting weights
*Knife Throwing
*Stick Fighting
*Playing Cards
*Arguing



AMBITIONS:
Ace wants to win the Agon in the hopes that his father will see him as his son. He also aspires to not be a failure and believes that the only way to avoid this is by winning the Agon.



FEARS:


Failure: Ace hates to lose, despises it, and part of the reason why is because he is afraid of failing. He acts out occasionally, almost as if he is trying to disprove it, but the fear is always there. His need of approval from his father also plays into his fear because he feels that if his father does not favor him, then he is a failure.

Abandonment: Ace is known to push people away when they get too close to him and he does this so they won't be able to abandon him. He is always fearful that people will abandon him and this is due to his bad relationships with his parents and half-siblings.



STRENGTHS:


Enhanced Strength and Reflexes:
Ace has enhanced strength, but he is not as strong as some of the other students at Legacy Academy. Ace is by no means slow, but his speed does not compare to the children of Hermes. His quick reflexes are more noticeable than his speed and are very helpful to him in combat.

Hand to Hand Combat:
As someone who is known for getting into fights, Ace is talented at hand to hand combat. His biggest strength in this area is his talent in mixed martial arts. He knows a lot of unique moves and is able to take people by surprise.

Knife Throwing & Stick Fighting:
Ace is naturally good at all sports and athletic activities, but knife throwing and stick fighting are two of his unusual talents. His accuracy is extremely good and this makes him an excellent knife thrower. His talent for stick fighting goes well with his mixed martial arts skills and makes him a strong competitor.


WEAKNESSES:


Strategizing:
When it comes to strategy, Ace is not the best. He is the kind of person that acts first, then thinks later and this makes him a poor planner.

Impulsive:
Ace lets his emotions and instincts guide him and makes a lot of mistakes because of this.





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REPUTATION: Ace is known for being extremely unpredictable and this makes people wary of him. Add that to the fact that he is almost impossible to keep up with and people see him as bad company. Those that are friends with him, see him as slightly dangerous, but fun as he likes to do risky things. His history of being in juvy sometimes gets talked about behind his back, but it doesn't bother Ace.


FAMILY: Mom, stepdad, half-brother, and half-sister.




FACE CLAIM: Dylan O'Brien

USERNAME: maloneyc16

So begins...

Ace Michael Thatcher's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Blake Taylor Character Portrait: Jace Holmes Character Portrait: Ryan Grayson Character Portrait: Vince Darling Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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xxxxxxJace Holmes
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HermesxxxxxSpecial xxxxxOutfit: [x] xxxHex#9eb21e
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"BABY I DON'T NEED DOLLAR BILLS TO HAVE FUN TONIGHT! I LOVE CHEAP THRILLS!"
The loud, and clearly off beat, singing was enough to drive Jace crazy. The pre-Agon bash was something every senior needed to experience so Jace couldn't refuse to come. He attended every previous one and it wasn't a party till the top troublemaker arrived. The event brought in plenty of students. Jace had to hold on tightly to his beer bottle if he didn't want to lose it. The theme this year was neon and the students definitely went all out. Almost everyone was painted in some whimsical design or wearing neon or light colored clothing; Jace was no exception. He wore a white shirt he wouldn't mind getting paint on and pair of black jeans, along with sturdy, black running shoes. Half of his face was decorated in curly lines, highlighting his blue eyes. Participation was his one award at every themed party. The decorations were mostly items painted in neon colors; the same for the dance floor and bars. Jace smiled as fireworks light up the dark sky, his own personal firework would be soon. He cashed in on a favor from one of the Hecate kids running the firework stand.

Jace took a sip of his beer, deep in thought. Don't get him wrong, Jace is a party animal. However on a night like tonight, he had more important tasks to do than get drunk at a party. Tomorrow is the big day. He has been training for this moment since he entered Legacy. Jace would get his wish or die trying, no other way. Nonetheless, Jace wouldn't let a good party go to waste. He'll go easy on the alcohol, but he was determined to have fun. A few of his buddies should be here tonight. Jace saw Ryan attempting to dance among the throngs of students. Ryan was one of the few nice guys at Legacy. He didn't know why they were friends, but the two worked well together. His dancing was a bit on embarrassing side, but it worked for him; his endearing, but awkward dance moves. If Ryan tries to get him to dance, Jace will be party stopper. Literally, the party will stop at his horrendous attempts at dancing. He scanned the party trying to find his fellow troublemaker, Ace. The two had already set up a prank for the naĂŻve freshman who were so star struck by two seniors talking to them. He should be around here somewhere. Jace could hang out with his teammates... Vince is definitely here and Blake never misses a social event. Jace groaned remembering himself trying to convince his reserved, serious roommate and teammate to come tonight. He can remember everything.


"Jace, we should be training for Agon not partying."
Jace rolled his eyes at his troublesome roommate. How a troublemaker and the Captain America were put together; he'll never understand. Jace was checking his appearance in the mirror, brushing away one of his curls, while looking into Vince's eyes through the mirror.
"Exactly why we should party. Getting drunk off our asses and having fun is the perfect way to relax before the Hunger Games begin. Besides, I'm starting to believe you don't know what a party is."
The two were as different as night and day. They didn't get along, but they weren't enemies. Jace thought he was stuck up and uptight while Vince found him careless and disrespectful. However, the two worked well together.
"Let loose for once in your short ass life and have a fucking good time." Jace knew of Vince's dislike and disuse of cuss words which only made things more fun for Jace. "Show off your crazy awesome raps too. If you don't by the end of the night, I will embarrass both of us."


Jace smiled at the memory. He knew how to get under Vince's skin, not like it was difficult though. As he scanned the crowd, he made eye contact with an attractive, maybe junior, boy. His face was completely painted. Jace couldn't recognize him in the poor lighting, but he was attractive enough. Jace was never one to turn down a good time. He had a few sidepieces he could call up at any time, but he wasn't about to call someone when the music was loud he couldn't think. The junior approached him coyly. His attempt to be alluring was sweet and Jace always had a sweet tooth. When the two tried to converse, they laughed, not being able to hear each other. The younger boy motioned for Jace to follow him to opposite side of the lake, devoid of most party goers. Jace swaggered over to him, pleased he was lead somewhere private. The two reached the area before the boy changed in front of his eyes. The boy became a man; a man Jace never wanted to see. As Hermes stood in front of him smiling, Jace groaned. How could he be so stupid? He should've know better than to think a junior would approach him so confidently. Jace's eyes narrowed at his supposed father standing before him.
"What the hell do you want?
Hermes's face fell at his son's cold question.
"I'm here to wish my favorite son luck in the Agon tomorrow. I know you've been training hard."
Jace rolled his eyes. He didn't need this poor attempt at a heart to heart.
"Is that it?"
Hermes wasn't going to give up on his son easily. The two are still family whether Jace likes it or not.
"I was hoping we could talk."
"About what? How you almost sent me to jail or how all my relationships ended because of you? I can go on."
"First, you shouldn't have been stealing-"
"I'm the son of the god of thieves! What do you expect!"
"Jace, I am your father and-"
At that point, Jace couldn't control his rage. How can this god claim to have been a father! He started yelling, not able to stop himself.
"A FATHER? YOU NEVER WERE A FATHER TO ME! A FATHER DOESN'T TRY TO SEND HIS KID TO JAIL! A FATHER DOESN'T CAUSE EVERY PERSON HE EVER HAD FEELINGS FOR TO CHEAT ON OR HUMILATE HIM! A FATHER TAKES CARE OF HIS SON AND IS THERE! YOU WERE NEVER THERE FOR ME! YOU ARE NOT A FATHER!"
Jace tried to calm himself. He wasn't going to let the party shut down to listen to a father-son screaming fest.
"All you are is a fucking sperm donor to me. I would trade you for my human dad any day." Jace took a step closer to Hermes, his breathe hitting Hermes's face. "When I win the Agon, Zeus is going to make sure you never contact me again. You will be out of my life forever and then I will actually party. Stop trying to act like you're my parent. You will never be my father. Do you understand? I hate you. You mean nothing to me."
All of a sudden, a firework went off. The firework began to spell letters. A giant "FUCK YOU!' appeared in the sky. Jace's grin was hard to hide. Perfect Timing. Finding an opportunity to slip away, Jace left leaving Hermes shocked about the firework. He ignored his father's attempts to demand he come back. Jace was grateful for one thing Hermes gave him, his speed. He hurried back to the party, reconsidering his idea of not getting drunk tonight. He needed the hard stuff and a distraction too. Luck isn't usually on his side, but it was tonight. Blake was standing, drinking bourbon out of the bottle. Blake's beauty made her appear to be an angel and, right now, she was in Jace's eyes. He approached her, acting as if nothing was wrong. She smiled and winked at him as she passed the bottle. Jace took a long drink of the strong liquor. The burn felt amazing and he could feel his negative vibes melting away. He looked lazily at his favorite companion.
"I need you and this bourbon right now. Care to fool around?"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Blake Taylor Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Jace Holmes Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Marisole Nadeau
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Godly Parent: Ares || Dialogue: #3D5726

Lights were flashing everywhere, fireworks were exploding in the background, and some naked dude just ran across the field. This party is fucking awesome.

Ace loved parties, they provided him with entertainment and relieved him of his boredom for a time. So at the moment, Ace was feeling pretty good. He wasn't dressed as wildly as some of the other students at Legacy academy as he preferred comfort over fashion, but he did have bright neon green paint designs on his white v-neck. However, no one would be painting his face tonight, unless of course they wanted a few broken teeth. As the beer began to make Ace feel antsy, he actually wished someone would do it just so he would have an excuse to start a fight. Ace watched as a son of Hermes rolled on the ground in pain, holding his nose, and realized his sister had beat him to it. He laughed to himself as the crowd scrambled to get out of her way as she walked over to some girl that he didn't recognize. Ace wasn't exactly friends with Abby, but he had to admit that she was a badass.

Already bored again, Ace scanned the room for his buddy Jace. They had set up a prank for a couple of freshman earlier and Ace knew that Jace would be up for any of his wild ideas. He spotted him storming off through the crowd, and leaving a very pissed looking Blake behind. Well, hanging out with Jace tonight is out of the question then. Ace sighed and slid out of his chair. Looks like he's going to have to go find entertainment for himself.

Sitting far away from the sound system was Joaquin, the leader of Ace's Agon team. He was blending in so well with the crowd that Ace barely even saw him. Personally, Ace thought the guy was pretty boring, but he was smart as hell so he made for a pretty good leader he supposed. He definitely wasn't someone Ace wanted to have a conversation with though. Ace was searching for a different teammate, little miss short and sassy. He was looking forward to bantering with Mj, but he was disappointed when he couldn't find her among all the people.

Ace was just about to start purposely pissing people off when a flash of light caught his attention. A light up coconut bra, how fun. His stare slowly went up from the girl's chest to her face and Ace was pleased to find that the girl was Maya. She was one of the few people that put up with his sporadic personality and they had formed a friendship of some sort despite their many differences. He rushed towards the tiki bar she was at and slid right in front of her. Flashing her a mischievous smile that showed off his dimples, Ace leaned towards her so she would be able to hear him over the music. "Nice bra."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sebastian Rhodes Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Marisole Nadeau Character Portrait: Ryan Grayson
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Intimate moments are delicate things, hard to maintain and easily broken with the wrong kind of pressure. That was doubly true when one of the participants in question was emotionally handicapped. Not that Apollo minded or anything; that was just part of Lee’s charm, but it was difficult sometimes when it always felt like he was pulling away.

“Do you think they’re ready?” 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 wasn’t the only one in need of comfort tonight. His grip on the god’s 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.

“No one’s ever ready.” Lee admitted with another drag from the bottle. “But they’re strong, and they picked their friends wisely.” Sometimes that’s 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 they’d both been smart enough to align themselves onto some of the stronger looking teams this year. Lee couldn’t make promises they’d survive this, but he felt the odds were in their favor.

“Why do you go along with it?” Lee asked impulsively. It was something he’d 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 didn’t involve himself in the power plays that was its primary function.

“What’s the alternative, open war?” Apollo ran a hand through golden locks, the exhaustion of his tone suggesting he’d agonized over the issue quite a bit. “I’ve seen what that looks like, the death that sows. At least now they have a choice
some semblance of a childhood.” He seemed less convinced by the last part, but Lee didn’t comment, instead passing him the bourbon. It took a lot more than a bottle of Kentucky’s finest to get a god tipsy, but Lee figured he’d 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.

“Well, looks like bottoms up.” 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 wasn’t entirely willing. “Do you drink twice if they’ve been duped?” He asked with an arched brow. If Lee didn’t know better, it might even have looked innocent.

***
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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 he’d never been one given to the loss of control inherent to drunken revelry, that wasn’t 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. They’d play along for a time, but the kind of women he attracted didn’t share. If he didn’t give one their metaphorical tiara soon, the game would be a bust, no one leaving happy.

He just couldn’t 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 Seb’s remarks entirely.

“Ah, and with charm like that, how would I ever say no?” 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 fun
if 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 90’s fuck-boy wasn’t Wesley’s concern
but 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.

“Slaaade!” Calden cheered as he swaggered up to Lux, tilted grin plastered across his face. “You went all fucking out girl! Nice aliens
are they down for some probing?” Cal knew Lux fairly well considering they were in the same class and combative groups, but it was the first time he’s ever seen her dress to impress with the assets, and it was a look he could dig.

“They’re occupied.” 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.

“I think it’s up to them whether or not to make first contact rich boy.” 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 wasn’t it. He might have to watch his back tomorrow


***


Maya still hadn’t 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 gods’ sake!) one she’d 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 wasn’t wasting this outfit after all the time she’d 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.

“That
depends on how wild a night you’re in for.” Maya replied with a wink. “We’ve got Corona with lime stocked as lighter fare, but if you’re feeling more adventurous
” Maya grabbed one of the boozy tropical fruit smoothies she’d been enjoying herself, and handed it over to Amelie.

The timing of the hand off couldn’t have been better, because in a flash the open space between them was filled with Ace, dimples and all. Maya couldn’t help the smile that erupted across her face at Ace’s sly remark, and she wiggle her eye brows a bit as she inspected his own outfit for the evening. Far from the wildest outfit she’d seen this evening, but it screamed Ace, and she liked it on him.

“Nice paint.” Maya threw back with a wink. “Is it still wet?” She asked innocently enough, but an impish look twinkled in her eyes.

***


“Right
” Lottie agreed skeptically as her eyes followed Lucas’ retreating form, and then nearly jumped when she turned back to see one of the school’s 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.

“Like you need my help with that.” Abby smirked at her friend’s 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 couldn’t handle, and her skirmishes made for damn good entertainment as well. “I might need help with this though.” Abby held up the bottle of whiskey, looking a little too pleased. “If you care to join.”

“Oh hey, Marisole!” Lottie called out suddenly, interrupting Abby’s 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 Lottie’s excitement didn’t 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. “Are you excited about tomorrow? I mean, I’m kind of nervous, but a good nervous you know? Well, unless you don’t get nervous
’cause well I mean, why would you?” Lottie babbled like an excited puppy, laughing off her obvious nerves.

“Not that I don’t feel safe or anything!” Lottie’s eyes suddenly shot toward Abby almost in apology, before continuing to put her foot in her mouth. “Our team’s great! Wes is scary smart, Abby and Lux kick butt, and Seb is so
” She flushed, clearing her suddenly dry throat like she’d disclosed too much, before her eyes landed on the untouched cup in Ryan’s seemingly outstretched hand.

“Oh thanks!” 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 Ryan’s drink being jacked, and waited for his inevitable look of indignation.

“Not your night?” Abby drawled in what for her passed as a conversational tone. Ryan was Lux’s friend, so they’d spent enough time around each other to pick up on the other’s 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 little


Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Blake Taylor Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Amelie Clark Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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xxAMELIExCLARK
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xxxxxlocation: partyxxxoutfit: here

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xxx"thrills don't come for free
xxxthe price you pay for dreams
xxxin a sea of strangers
xxxi can't find me any more."


Amelie raised her eyebrows at the drink that Maya handed her. She had definitely been looking for something stronger than a Corona, and whatever concoction is was, it looked like it was laced with alcohol, and that was exactly what she was after. However, when Ace appeared, she sighed and took her drink. Ace was far from the worst person in the school, but she didn't plan on sticking around. "I'll see you later, Maya. Thanks for the alcohol!" She called lightly, taking a sip from her drink and grinning. It was as strong as she had both expected and hoped.

She scanned the crowd, looking for someone familiar to talk to. She spotted Blake, and something inside her twisted. She was attracted to all of the sons and daughters of Aphrodite, even that asshole Sebastian. But there was something different about Blake. She was the one person who made Amelie feel like she did. But Amelie just... couldn't. She didn't know if her feelings were her own or just another part of Blake's abilities. God, of all people, why did she have to fall for a daughter of Aphrodite?

Amelie straightened up, fixed a smile on her face, and sauntered over to Blake. If there was any chance she could die in the next few days, she was going to make the most of whatever time she had.

"You're not causing too much trouble, are you? We really shouldn't leave you unattended. You might break one too many hearts," Amelie said lightly, taking a sip out of her drink. "I think I need to be your chaperone. Keep an eye on you," she added. "You wouldn't mind that, would you?" She asked teasingly.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Marisole Nadeau Character Portrait: Ryan Grayson Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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Godly Parent: Ares || Dialogue: #3D5726


Ace raised his brows at Maya's comment, a smile still covering his face. She was playful tonight, that was for sure. Of course, this didn't surprise him as Maya is always playful and bright like the sun. Ace didn't really know why he got along so well with Maya as they are total opposites. Maya was friendly and calm where Ace was aggressive and about as calm as a hungry lion. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that they balanced each other out.

Maya was the calm to Ace's storm and that could very well be the reason why he had always seen her as a friend. However, Maya is friends with pretty much everybody due to her laid-back demeanor and that might mean that she is only friends with him because she feels obligated to be.

Ace finds it difficult to trust her sometimes because of this and is wary about becoming close to her, but for now, he just wants to have fun. Fun without any more alcohol as Ace wants to be focused during the Agon tomorrow. Plus, alcohol makes Ace feel energized and god knows that he doesn't need anything to help him in that department. Even now, he was rocking back and forth from his heels to his toes as he talked to Maya. Ace may be reckless, but he wants to win and he needs to be focused to do that.

The impish look in Maya's eyes made Ace laugh. "You like it?" He playfully tugged on one of her curls. "I'm sorry to let you know that it's all dry now, nothing a little fresh paint can't fix though." He winked at her like she had done to him and leaned in to ask her a question. "Dance with me?"

He moved away from her and began dancing backwards into the dance crowd while keeping his eyes locked with Maya's. Ace wasn't the best dancer, but he knew a few moves. He had just started doing the moonwalk and pulled his eyes from Maya's for a brief second only to see Marisole talking to Ryan. His eyes lit up at the sight of Marisole, but seeing Ryan beside her made Ace roll his eyes. Ace didn't hate the guy or anything, he just found him to be so damn annoying. Always talking and saying stupid things that Ace could really give two shits about. Even thinking about Ryan was giving Ace a headache. As for Marisole, Ace would talk to her later. Right now, his attention was on Maya.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Blake Taylor Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Jace Holmes Character Portrait: Amelie Clark Character Portrait: Benjamin Hughes Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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xxxxxxJace Holmes
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HermesxxxxxSpecial xxxxxOutfit: [x] xxxHex#9eb21e
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Why couldn't Blake simply respond yes or no? She knew he didn't like dancing and that he was pissed so why couldn't she just answer normally. Jace knew she would be anger at him tomorrow. The two of them haven been close for a long time, becoming even closer when they agreed on their friends with benefits situation. Blake began to act weird when they signed up for the Agon. They agreed they'd be on a Agon Team together since sophomore year. Maybe she's worried about tomorrow. I'm such a jerk. Jace has claimed to be an asshole on most occasions, but that doesn't mean he's heartless. He'll apologize to Blake tonight. Jace found her leading Amelie to the dance floor. Blake's been dying to dance. I'll talk to her later. They're kind of cute together. Jace didn't mind if Blake flirted or did anything with other people. The two of them were just friends in Jace's mind. The self proclaimed Sherlock Holmes wasn't as good as he thought when it came to Blake or any one interested in him unless it was obvious.

Jace still has the bourbon with him as he took a drink. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to sit and drink. He'd prefer to be alone, but at a party like this that just wasn't possible. He scanned the crowd, hoping to find a drinking buddy. He noticed Ace trying to get Maya to dance with him. The sight would be great to watch! Jace found a seat, but it was occupied by someone. The guy was one of Hecate's kids, but he couldn't remember what his name was. He was dressed to theme, but not enough to stand out. Was he the kid everyone thought was a serial killer? His name started with a b... What is his name? Jace began to study bench boy, deducing him like his idol would. The tapping of his fingers on the bench was likely a sign the boy was bored or trying to distract himself. Maybe, he's thinking about something else. If he had friends, he'd most likely be with them. The boy was watching the crowd, not looking for anyone, so he must either be a loner or came here by himself. No alcohol so mostly likely not a drinker or didn't feel like it. The guy was good looking, but not in a eye catching way; more like painting, the longer you stare the better it looks. The alcohol coursing through his body was enough liquid courage for Jace. So what if the stranger might be a serial killer?

"Hey B-Be-Bu... Okay, I don't know your name. I'm Jace. Can I sit down?" Jace didn't wait for a reply he sat down. Jace took another drink of the bourbon. He was tipsy, not drunk. "So did your friends ditch you or are you here by yourself? I'm guessing loner. Who are you?" Jace was out of it, asking and saying whatever his brain conjured up. He held out the bourbon to what's his name. "Bottoms up, B, or whatever your name starts with. By the way, I don't think you're a serial killer, but who knows what could happen tonight."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Marisole Nadeau Character Portrait: Ryan Grayson Character Portrait: Wesley Tate
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X // X // X

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Hades // Brain // Outfit // Hex #262f26

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Apollo // Special // Outfit // Hex #21b794

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Ares // Brawn // Outfit// Hex #FF0000


Whatever the half-naked son of Zeus saw in Wesley’s eyes, it was enough to make him take Lux’s advice to leave, but not without first extending the bird as his charming parting gift. Wes trailed Cal with his eyes until he was finally out of sight, his grim smile finally composing itself into something passingly close to friendly when they returned to Lux.

“That was never in question.”
Wes assured simply, leaving his meaning ambiguous whether he meant her ability to take care of herself, or his number of drinks. It applied to both regardless. Lux was capable of handling one drunken idiot, but that wasn’t the fucking point. Logic hadn’t been running the show during his pissing contest with Calden, as much as that pained Wes to admit to himself. The thing that hovered in the air between them was unspoken and fragile, but it was his. Wes usually thought of himself as above alpha male dominance displays, but there were some things instinctively even he succumbed to.

Lux could give him a run for his money in the manipulation department, and Wes knew he was being baited by her subtle challenge to walk away. He took it anyway, along with her hand as he followed her toward the dance floor. “I think you saw to that quite a while ago. No point in fretting now.”

Why the disco ball chose to make an appearance that moment was suspicious timing. Toto’s Africa chiming in to accompany it was even more so. Experimentally, Wes slid his hands down to rest on her hips, tastefully of course (for now), as other coupled paired off for the slow song. He raised a brow almost in challenge, waiting for her to circle her arms around his neck, or start clobbering him.


It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you!
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do!
I bless the rains down in Africa!
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had!


***

“Rats, my devious plot has been foiled! Looks like your face is safe—for now!” Maya laughed as Ace pulled her toward the dance floor. What was a little covert face painting between friends? It was probably for the best though, and for now she was happy enough to watch him do his best impersonation of Michael Jackson. With the disco ball out, and retro music playing, it seemed especially appropriate. Maya twirled along, more than happy to see the playful Ace out in force tonight. His eyes wandered for a moment, and Maya followed them to Marisole. An uncomfortable warmth bloomed in her chest for a moment before Maya squashed it back. Instead of dwelling on the unpleasant feeling, she grabbed Ace’s hand and twirled them deeper into the dancing throng while showing off a few of her disco moves.

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive!

It was during the chorus line of the Bee Gee’s classic that the telltale pickling sensation behind her eyes started. Now?! Why the hell was she having one now?! “Ace-!” That was the only warning she got out before any feeling of normal consciousness fled.

Instead of a crowded makeshift dance floor, Maya was in a narrow stone corridor. It was dimly lit and oddly enough, she could still hear the music echoing eerily off the walls. Disoriented, Maya felt her way across the hall toward open door that was her only source of light. An iron tang tinged the air, and Maya pulled her hands back when they touched something slick. As she got closer to the light, the source of the stomach turning scent became obvious. Every surface in the room was painted with blood, as if some kind of macabre artist had worked with gore instead of oils. On the table however, was a marble bust of her father, remarkably clear but for the long train of blood coming from his eyes


Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah, I'm stayin' alive!


Maya snapped back to reality harshly, kneeling on the floor. “Air!” Maya begged weakly, still feeling too frail to pull herself to her feet.

***


I’m pretty sure I was just insulted. Abby thought dryly, brow raised as Ryan continued to lament his lack of game. “Well with confidence like that, how are you not beating them off with sticks?” It was a glib remark, but it came out more cutting than she’d intended. Ryan wasn’t her friend exactly, but he was a decent enough sort when he wasn’t whining.

“Here.” Abby extended the bottle to Ryan’s hands. “You’re going to need some liquid courage if you plan on making a pass on Blake.” To say he didn’t have a shot in Tartarus was to state the obvious, but after watching both his drinks nabbed from under his nose, Abby was feeling generous.

“Pssht bit strong for you Grayson, you might hurt yourself! I figured wine coolers were more your speed.” From whatever hole Calden Archer crawled his way out of, Abby didn’t notice, but she wished he’d just leave them the fuck alone. Instead, he made a grab for the bottle, and Abby slapped his hand away. The look Cal shot back at her was murderous.

“You always have girls fight your battles for you Grayson?” He sneered Ryan’s way. “Your usual blonde bodyguard isn’t around, so you crawl behind another?” Cal took an intruding step forward, as if to emphasize the point, and Abby shoulder her way in front of Ryan.

“If your dick’s feeling especially small tonight Cal, I suggest you go pick on someone that you can actually get away with. Unless of course you want me to beat your face in publically
again.” Abby added with an extra dose of acid. Calden could be a real bully sometimes, which was enough to piss her off without throwing in his personal vendetta. Some people just can’t handle losing, and Abby had defended her undefeated record in the ring for three years straight. Calden had been her looming shadow of menace ever since, and it had begun to spill over to those she associated with.

Sensing the rising tension Lottie fretted beside them, her attention finally drawn away from her semi-famous sister. “Maybe we should all just take a beat
it’s a party!” Her laugh was as forced as the smile Lottie plastered across her face in an attempt to stop the fight before it really began.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Ryan Grayson Character Portrait: Vince Darling Character Portrait: Layla Athenes Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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▉Layla_Athenes▉
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#054357, Interacting with: Vince Darling

As Layla looked around, she noticed someone approach her from the side. She turned to see the gentle giant, Vince Darling, looking oddly nervous. She smiled at him. She'd always been fond of Vince, or rather, fond might not be the appropriate term but she was a bit nervous about what it really was. They could very well be on the opposite side of the Games tomorrow,
Hey Layla. I'm glad to see you made it. C-Can I can get you something to drink?" He said and she blushed. She wished she hadn't, but the catch in his throat made her stomach do a little dance. "Sure," She said as she tugged on the hem of her dress, which seemed to be the thing that caught his attention. This was not her typical attire, she dressed practically, knowing they had physical training, as well as other academic studies, dressing in a dress or a skirt seemed a bit moot. Why get all dolled up if you're only going to sweat out your hair in PT, or stress sweat right through your pretty dress?
Now, however, seemed the appropriate time, and it seemed to work in a way her mother seemed to think it would.
"Do not fear the future, Little one, enjoy the present." Her mother whispered to her mind, startling her a bit. Layla swallowed. "Talk to him, Her mother urged and she looked up at the tall man. "So, Vince?" She began. "Are you enjoying yourself?" She asked, in a sad attempt to break the ice. She had no idea if he liked parties or not, she didn't, but her mother insisted, and one couldn't exactly disobey a Goddess, especially if said Goddess was her mother. It was at the moment that she could hear Abby giving Calden what for, and she shook her head. She is the child of Ares after all, such violence and anger was to be expected. Layla was never one to say she didn't like someone but Abby wasn't her favorite person in the world, she didn't appreciate Layla's attempts at assistance, called her a know it all, and things of that nature, while she does it for attention Layla does it to help. You can't win 'em all, she supposed. She turned her attention away from Abby and whatever that fight was about and noticed Maya having some sort of fit in the middle of the dance floor, She called out for someone as Layla stepped forward to help but she stopped herself this wasn't for her to do, she wasn't a child of Hermes, she had no natural abilities that could help with this, if anything she could talk to her about the fits, and what they might mean but that wasn't it, for now, she swallowed. Her gift was what caused her to be slightly distracted now, she could see everyone's problems, but her gift of gab wasn't going to stop a fight, not with Abby anyway, nor would it help Maya, especially now that the fight was over. "You hear the world's suffering, Little One, it is hard but drown it out, for now, enjoy your night, you've gentleman caller waiting on you now." her mother advised and inwardly nodded and turned her attention back to Vince.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sebastian Rhodes Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Wesley Tate Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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#, as written by mjolnir
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xxS E B A S T I A N00R H O D E S
xxxxxxxxxxg o d l yxp a r e n t x//x aphrodite
xxxxxxxxxxa t t i r e x//x outfit
xxxxxxxxxxd i a l o g u e x//x #a54803


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xxL U X00S L A D E
xxxxxxxxxxg o d l yxp a r e n t x//x apollo
xxxxxxxxxxa t t i r e x//x outfit
xxxxxxxxxxd i a l o g u e x//x #ac945a


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xxJ O A Q U I N00W O L F
xxxxxxxxxxg o d l yxp a r e n t x//x hephaestus
xxxxxxxxxxa t t i r e x//x outfit
xxxxxxxxxxd i a l o g u e x//x #003f57


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Wes watched Cal as he backed away, and then watched him more until he was clear out of sight. His grim and somewhat intense smile shifted to something that could almost pass as friendly. “That was never in question.”

Of course, Lux wasn't sure if he meant the drinks or her being able to handle herself with Cal. She figured it was the second. She always knew Wes to be protective, but until recently that didn't include her. So, seeing him step up in something so... minor was interesting. Flattering, but interesting. Even if he wouldn't admit it, that reassured her on questions she dare not ask.

Surprisingly, Wes didn't hesitate at her not-so-subtle manipulation into getting him to dance. But more than that, he took her hand as she lead him to the dance floor. “I think you saw to that quite a while ago. No point in fretting now.” Was he talking about her ruining his reputation or his jacket? Most likely his reputation. Lux didn't know if she should be flattered that he didn't care what people thought about seeing them together or if she should be insulted that he just admitted that she ruined his reputation.

When they got to the center of the dance floor, Lux and Wes were nearly shoved chest to chest. When Africa started playing, Lux couldn't help but chuckle. "Can't believe they're actually playing good music," she said more to herself than him. It seemed almost like too much of a coincidence that a slow song started when they moved onto the dance floor... That and the disco ball. Her gaze drifted up to the mirror ball wondering what smart ass Aphrodite kid was probably behind this.

Lux felt the air sucked from her chest when she felt Wes' hands slip down her her hips. Her body stiffened and froze at the touch as her gaze shifted up to his. She never quite realized how tall he was, or how short she was until that moment. Of course, they never stood this close until that moment. He raised his brow like a silent challenge, questioning if she'd allow the dance. Any other guy would be greeted with her knee in their dick and her elbow in their nose. But with Wes, she hesitantly let her hands move to rest on the peaks of his shoulders.

It seemed as the song went on, her hands subconsciously snaked their way up around his shoulders. Her delicate fingers slipping through the hair at the base of his skull. When the more upbeat tempo of the chorus played, Lux playfully moved her shoulders in beat with the song while lip syncing along. "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you. It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you..." As the realize of the scary reality of the lyrics hit Lux, her cheeks quickly flushed and eyes widened. She nuzzled her face into his shoulder to hide her blushing face him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders.

As the song came to an end, Lux parted her lips about to say something, but when she looked up she was met by Sebastian's judgmental gaze. She stiffened, taking a step back from Wes, allowing her hands to slip from his shoulders.

"Lux, is that you?" Seb asked. As if he didn't know? A dumb looking blonde clung to the tailored prick's right arm and an equally as loose brunette stood behind him with her arms around his waist and chin on his shoulder. "She actually looks like a female," he said as he patted Wes' back looking her up and down.

"I swear... If you weren't on my Agon, team I'd fucking wipe the floor with your smug face," she said while crossing her arms and taking a challenging step towards him.

"Ah," he said, motioning his free hand towards her. "There she is." He smirked while his two companions giggled and shared whispers. Derogatory, of course. They better pray they don't cross Lux during the Agon tomorrow... Her foot would be so far up their asses they could taste the leather. "Well you've made your point and had your moment at the top. Better get back to your kind in the gutter... Trash."

Lux found herself at a loss for words, her mouth agape. Her chest began to heave as she stared between Sebastian and Wes, trying to catch her breath. "Go fuck yourself." She shoved herself past Sebastian, unable to bring herself to meet Wes' gaze. If his looks matched that of his best friend, she wouldn't be able to stomach it. Lux knew Wes was out of her league by a mile, but she was dumb to think it was anything more than a dumb jest between friends.

She pushed and shoved her way through the crowd, knocking over the occasional dancer until she was free. But she didn't stop, bee-lining for the exit. Once the fresh air hit her, Lux inhaled a sharp breath, clutching at her sides. She could feel tears trying to fight their way out, in part from anger... But also, not. Her right hand pinched the bridge of her nose as she paced by the lake. Trash?... Trash.

***

"Could you dears be ever so sweet, and get my friend and I here two scotches on the rocks?" Sebastian asked the girls with a sly smirk and a kiss on the cheek. They both nodded their heads giggling, before scurrying off to the bar. When they looked over their shoulders towards him, he gave them a quick wink.

But as if flipping a switch, he took a step towards Wes, tightly gripping his shoulder. "What in the fuck are you doing?!" he hissed. As he kept strong eye contact with his friend, he focused his attention to the hand on Wes. He let emotion pour from him and into his friend. Not feelings of love, but subtle... very, very subtle sensations of distaste. "You could have any girl here... And I mean any and you dance with her!?"

Sebastian put his right hand on his hip while his left reached up under his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "You're Upper East Side... And she is scum on the bottom of my shoe." He slicked back his hair then adjusted his cuffs. "I can understand pretending to flirt with her for the sake of winning the Agon. Seduce the girl, she protects you, which makes her fight harder... But end this charade, Wes."

His smile returned when the girls came back with their drinks. Seb took the glass from the blonde, draping his left arm over her shoulders while taking a drink. The brunette quickly clung to Wes' side, holding out the glass for him. "Forget Slade," he said while holding up his glass to make a toast. "She's making you soft and clouding your judgement. Why have one girl, when you can have them all?" He smirked, motioning to women before them.

***

Ellis disappeared as quickly as he appeared, leaving Joaquin to fend for himself yet again during the party. God did he hate parties. But from what he could tell, it didn't seem like it'd last much longer. Or maybe he could sneak out without any of the people who begged him to come, notice. He sat there through at least five songs, bouncing a foot to the beat and tapping his finger on the armrest of the chair.

Joaquin finally decided to stand, walking to the bar to get a drink. Non-alcoholic, of course. His head had to be clear if he were to try and lead his team to victory in the Agon. He took the water and a seat on a stool, turning to face the rest of the party. As he was taking a drink he looked up just in time to see Maya collapse on the ground. She wasn't his best friend or anything, but she was on his team. He knew her capabilities and was instantly worried.

Ace was there with her, but Joaquin paid little mind to the that as he hopped to his feet and snaked his way through the crowd to her. He shared a glance with Ace, hoping that he wasn't upset at Joaquin's intrusion. "Hey," he held out the water towards her and lightly placed the back of his hand to her forehead. He looked up at Ace as he took Maya's left arm and draped it over his shoulders. "Help me get her some fresh air?" he asked.

After all, they were all on the same team. Joaquin hoped Ace would be helpful and at least a little worried about getting their other team member back to normal. "Come on, it'll be alright." He reassured Maya as he helped her through the crowd. Once they were outside, he helped her to sit in the grass a decent distance from the party. He held out the water to her, "Drink. You need to stay hydrated." He took a deep breath and sat down on the ground beside her. "What was it? He looked her over. Joaquin had seen her have a vision on a couple occasions during practice. He knew it when he saw it, and this was it.

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Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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Godly Parent: Ares || Dialogue: #3D5726

Maya grabbed Ace’s hand and dragged him deeper into the dance crowd as the loud music and chatter filled the air around them. Ace lost himself in the music, drowning out everything, but him and Maya. He watched as she twirled and twirled, her smile shining like the sun.
It wasn't often that Ace had this feeling of happiness. Normally, he only concerned himself with evading boredom, but where Maya was concerned, he found himself wanting more. These feelings made him feel uncomfortable and Ace typically avoided them, but tonight he gave into them, relishing in his time with her. After all, the Agon was tomorrow, and death was always a possible outcome.
 
Stayin alive by the Bee Gees came on and Ace almost laughed out loud. The song choice was pretty ironic considering that tomorrow, that is exactly what they would be trying to do. When the song reached the chorus, Ace heard Maya call out to him. The panicked edge to her voice startled him and the next thing he knew, she was collapsing to the floor. Instinctively, Ace tried to catch her, but even with his fast reflexes, he only managed to keep her from slamming to the ground. Ace cursed himself for not being fast enough because even though he has lessened her fall, she would probably still be sore from the impact.
 
Ace didn’t have much time to be confused about her condition because within seconds, she was conscious again, kneeling on the ground, and begging for air. Ace had just opened his mouth to speak to her, when Joaquin came over. At first Ace was pissed that Joaquin had intruded, but he clenched his jaw and kept his mouth shut when he realized that brain boy was only here to help.
 
Joaquin placed Maya’s left arm over his shoulder and asked Ace for help. Ace only paused for a moment before following suit and placing Maya’s other arm over his shoulder. Honestly, he could have carried her by himself, but he decided to play nice since Maya was obviously in a fragile state.
 
Ace rolled his eyes as Joaquin spoke words of reassurance to Maya. That’s supposed to be my job, he thought. Ace realized he wasn’t exactly the most comforting person, but still. The two of them got Maya settled to a spot on the grass and Joaquin offered her water. Ace was still confused as to what had happened until Joaquin asked Maya, “What was it?”
 
She had a vision. Of course that's what happened, it was one of the gifts she received from her father. Ace felt dumb for not figuring that out sooner and mad that Joaquin knew it right away. Feeling slightly jealous, Ace sat his hand on top of Maya’s, offering her comfort. He may not be as smart as Joaquin, but Maya was one of his closest friends and he knew how to make her feel better. At least, he thought he did.

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Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sebastian Rhodes Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Ryan Grayson
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Hades // Brain // Outfit // Hex #262f26
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Apollo // Special // Outfit // Hex #21b794
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Ares // Brawn // Outfit// Hex #FF0000


Wesley Tate was not a man who smiled often, at least not with genuinely gentle intent. His smiles were a mask, meant to tightly conceal any true emotion, or highly calculated to elicit the correct response from those around him. Wes was not a sloppy person, and unchecked displays of emotion were just that. Watching Lux lip sync in his arms though, alive, and unabashed, and completely open was like a siren’s call that Wes couldn’t ignore. Hers was a kind of beauty he found hard to define, which was yet another thing about Lux that left Wes feeling like he was wading through uncharted territory. What he was sure of however, was that he didn’t want this song to end. In that moment, with her arms around his shoulders, Wes felt his lips turn up ever so slightly, lids lowered into something soft and unguarded. And then Seb arrived.

At first, Wes was too stunned with disbelief to react. Besides the fact that his best friend had just stepped on his toes romantically, (a cardinal sin between two friends who’d chased as much tail as they had) riling up a teammate like that the night before the Agon was deeply stupid. Seb was many things, but he wasn’t an idiot. Why he was trying to sabotage their team now, Wes wasn’t sure, but it needed to fucking stop. Before he had time to mitigate any of the damage however, Seb hurled one final insult, and Lux stormed off toward the lake. Wes moved to go after her, but was intercepted be Seb before he made it more than two steps. What his friend had to say did little to stop the churning anger in his gut that Wes was doing his best to keep a lid on.

He and Seb had always been different, though complimentary. He knew who Seb was, the peacock nature, chameleon sensibilities, and Wes had never faulted him for that. In this moment however, listening to him lord a sense of supposed superiority over Lux by reason of mere circumstance of birth, Wes felt nothing bust distaste for how
shallow Seb sounded. Wes did believe in a pecking order of superiority. Some people were born with talent, grit, or an indomitable will that helped them claw their way to the top. He’d built their team from those very values, but the idea that being born to excess was somehow the deciding factor was ridiculous to Wes.

“I have too much respect for both your prides to think an apology would undo any of the damage you just did, but I had better never hear you call her that word again.” Wes didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t need to with Seb. They’d known each other long enough to recognize when the other was deathly serious.

“Who I dance with is my business, regardless of the quantity.” Gently, he extracted his arm from the brunette half of Seb’s entourage, and rejecting the drink as well with a swift kiss to her hand. ”I’m afraid I have a prior engagement this evening my dear, but I leave you in most capable hands.” The words were for the girl, but his eyes didn’t break contact with Seb’s until he turned and walked toward the lake.

Lux was clearly agitated when Wes finally caught sight of her again, and he slowed his approach with deliberately heavy footfalls so that she would hear him coming. Besides the fact that it was profoundly stupid to sneak up on a warrior of Lux’s skill, Wes understood the link between pride and composure. If Lux didn’t want him to see something, she’d have time to put her game face on before he got to her. What exactly he was going to say, Wes wasn’t sure. He hated not having a plan of attack, but he was beginning to grow used to this general lack of footing where she was concerned. “Seb’s an ass.” He began simply, more statement of truth than apology. Seb had a mean streak that was a marvelous tool in their defense, but was rough to be on the receiving end of. Lux knew who she was getting into bed with when she signed on to this team, but as the team’s all but official leader, it was his job to make sure she was okay. That was most certainly the only reason he’d come
he was almost convinced of that. “I doubt he’ll stop being an ass where you’re concerned. I wouldn’t have recruited you on this team though, if I thought you were trash
and I definitely wouldn’t have let you name it.” Wes finished with the ghost of old disgruntlement. He had no idea if those words were the right ones to comfort her or not, Wes was rarely sure of anything where Lux was concerned, but it was the best he had for the moment.

***


As dazed as she was, Maya wasn’t sure just when Joaquin showed up, but she was grateful for his presence none the less as he and Ace helped haul her off the dance floor. The cool night air was both soothing and overwhelming, as suddenly a coconut bra and island girl get up felt far too inadequate to fight off the chill. “Thanks.” Maya bit out, taking the water Joaquin offered and took small sips. As much as she’d like to gulp the whole thing down, Maya knew better, and really didn’t feel like puking it back up on somebody’s shoes.

”I’m not sure.” Maya answered honestly after a moment. Her visions were rarely clear cut, usually more visual metaphor than anything concrete. Some things in them were fixed, events already set in motion, but there were always variables at play. A kaleidoscope of possibilities to be parsed through made an interpreter of the vision more important as the vision itself. It didn’t help that accurate readers were rare, and a misinterpreted vision could often do more harm than good. While Maya was considered somewhat gifted in this area, the pressure to produce good intel felt crushing.

It wasn’t until Ace slipped his hand in hers that Maya felt she could breathe again, and she squeezed back while taking comfort in his reassuring warmth. “It’s dangerous to speculate, but there was a lot of blood
and my father was involved.” Those details alone were concerning, but they didn’t tell them anything conclusive. An obvious conclusion, was that it was a warning of death, likely for herself or one of her siblings, but that was a rabbit hole Maya knew better than to jump down. If she was fated to die tomorrow, there wasn’t much she could do about it. Greek literature was littered with the tragedies of those who tried to defy the fates, and the results were never good. Floating that particular suspicion would only upset her team mates, and none of them could afford to be distracted tomorrow.

“It looked like some kind of temple, stone, tight quarters, nothing to identify it though from the inside.” Maya listed off pertinent details as clinically as possible, trying to distance herself from the gore she’d seen.

***


Abby could practically see Calden’s eye twitch as Ryan chimed in, and any hope Lottie had of deescalating the situation died as Cal began cracking his knuckles. It was a bit of a tell really, a habit Abby had picked up on from their matches in class. The son of Zeus wasn’t looking to pull any punches tonight, which was bad news for Abby since he outclassed her when it came to pure physical strength. Not by much granted, but enough to be a mark in his favor. Luckily, Abby edged him out in the speed department, and despite her close proximity to a perfectly good bottle of whiskey, she remained annoyingly sober. Going by smell, Cal was not.

“You know, I was going to wait until tomorrow to do this, but fuck it! Why wait?!” Cal’s grin was all teeth, as he lunged forward fist first. Abby barely had time to push Ryan to the side and out of the line of fire, but it was a good thing she had since the impact of the hit to her middle sent her sliding back a good five feet, dirt tracks in the grass carved out in her wake. If she hadn’t been a child of Ares, Abby was pretty sure she’d have some broken ribs. As it was, she was probably going to have a seriously nasty bruise, and she coughed doubled over while trying to regain her breath. If there was blood in the spittle she spat out, Abby ignored it.

“I’m gonna grind you down to where you belong, under my boot! Maybe I’ll even let you up once you lick it clean!” Cal didn’t let up, trying to follow up with a knee aimed toward her face, but Abby dodged to the left at the last second and let his own momentum carry him forward and off balance. His guard down, Abby pivoted before driving her foot up and into his gut like she was punting a football. If her opponent had been mortal, that would have been game over, but it only winded Cal. Seizing upon the momentary advantage, Abby connected a quick upper cut to his face, (Cal would definitely be sporting a nice shiner tomorrow morning.) then latched hold of his arm and launched him toward the bar. Luckily everyone had scattered pretty quickly, as Cal crashed into it with enough force to leave it a virtual pile of rubble.

“Stick to grunting asshole, your smack talk sucks.” Abby ground out as she straitened back up. A fighter of Cal’s caliber wouldn’t be down for long, and she shifted into a guard stance as she waited for the next onslaught that would inevitably come. Sure enough, Cal began digging himself out of the rubble, and launched himself at her again.

“ENOUGH!” A crisp British voice boomed out, and suddenly Cal was suspended in mid-air, surrounded by some kind of crimson essence. It might have been funny, watching him dangled motionless like that spewing profanity, except Abby couldn’t move either. That realization was like a bucket of ice water being dropped on her, Abby’s muscles tensing painfully as she struggled to hang on to any semblance of reason.

“Cool it you two, save it for tomorrow!” A much more feminine voice chimed in. Whatever Abby had expected to end this fight, it wasn’t the sudden appearance of Mr. Holden and Miss McKinney walking through some kind of portal.

“Honestly, you two couldn’t leave each other be for one evening?” Mr. Holden’s tone of voice was aggrieved, but there was an intensity to his gaze that Abby found unsettling. She wanted to hit him, jerk away, gain some distance, anything but stay frozen here like some kind of rag doll. Everyone’s intentions felt sinister to Abby when she was restrained. “Very disappointing.”

“Merrick
” Miss McKinney warned with a quick glance at Abby. As the school counselor, June knew better than most that this was the wrong form of punishment for that particular student.

“Right
yes of course.” Mr. Holden agreed languidly walking forward, and with a lingering pat to her head, the red essence reseeded from Abby. Instinctively, she shot back, needing space to collect herself. Cal was also released, hitting the ground with an unceremonious “oomph”, before Miss McKinney pulled him up. “I think you’ve had enough for one evening.” She drawled with a frown. Cal still looked pissed, and he’d be a pain to deal with tomorrow, but he knew better to try anything now that teachers were involved. So instead, he stalked off toward the dorms with as much dignity as he could muster.

“Campus patrol is sweeping by in an hour, I suggest you all aren’t here when they arrive.” Mr. Holden announced like a question, once again their jovial, if eccentric, Arcane studies teacher.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sebastian Rhodes Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Wesley Tate
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xxS E B A S T I A N00R H O D E S
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xxJ O A Q U I N00W O L F
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“I have too much respect for both your prides to think an apology would undo any of the damage you just did, but I had better never hear you call her that word again.” Wes had one thing right, an apology wouldn't change anything. And Seb didn't apologize... His friend didn't need to shout or be firm with his voice for Sebastian to know that in Wes' eyes he over stepped his boundaries. But even if he did piss him off, Seb would have his emotions calm before he laid a hand on him. “Who I dance with is my business, regardless of the quantity.”

Seb smirked slightly. "So, you don't deny her quality isn't up to par?... Interesting." He brought his drink to his lips, taking a good long drink. He remained silent, watching as his friend apologized to the brunette and departed. No doubt to find Lux, although neither Seb nor Wes were good at apologies, so he couldn't imagine how their conversation would go. If he was lucky, Lux would want nothing more to do with Wes. It'd make things easier.

Between his insults with Lux and conversation with Wes, he didn't notice the fight that had broken out during the party. Not until Mr. Holden shouted loud enough for the whole area to hear. Seb's gaze searched the crowd until he saw Abby among the confrontational group. He rolled his eyes, trying not to growl out of frustration. To go calm the annoyingly stupid beast or take the two women back to his room? He knew what he wanted to do... But what he should do is give his teammate a heavy dose of calm-the-fuck-down.

Instead of following the morally correct decision, Seb pulled both of the girls close. "So, the party will be over in an hour... What shall we do?" He raised his brow suggestively, kissing the blonde on the cheek and then softly rubbed the brunette's side with his thumb.

The girls giggled. The blonde swirling her finger on his chest. "I think we'd like to see your room."

"What an excellent idea." He smiled, leading the girls out and away from the party. He allowed himself to look back over his shoulder... Just once, to see Wes and Lux near the lake. He swallowed back the distaste in his mouth as he looked forward. He took one deep breath as he guided the girls to his room. With luck, Lux would die during the Agon and this would all be a thing in the past.

***

Lux stood at the edge of the lake, contemplating going back to her room now and avoiding any other issues for the rest of the night. That was enough for her to know she wouldn't be getting a decent amount of sleep before the Agon, no matter how much she wanted it. She'd have to somehow find a way to get over her insatiable desire to kill Sebastian and figure out... Whatever her and Wes are... Were? Who knew.

She kicked a rock into the water, sniffing back her angry tears. Gods how she hated when she angry cried. Only other girls understood while it only reaffirmed to guys that they are emotional creatures. Bull Shit.

Lux didn't have to look back to know who was approaching when she heard the footsteps. Wes. The steps were loud, deliberate.... But not drunk. She didn't dare look back over her shoulder. Instead she stood there with her arms crossed, watching as the bright lights from the party reflected off the lake's serene waters.

“Seb’s an ass.” Lux snorted back a cold laugh, raising a hand to wipe back tears from her cheeks. “I doubt he’ll stop being an ass where you’re concerned. I wouldn’t have recruited you on this team though, if I thought you were trash
and I definitely wouldn’t have let you name it.”

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for me not to kill him?" Lux asked, still facing forward. "I couldn't give a fuck about the Agon... I don't refrain for the sake of our team. I hold myself back... Because of you." She tapped her fingers along her bicep, while bouncing slightly where she stood. "You should be happy he isn't my support, because I wouldn't protect him. I have enough to protect without his fucking worthless ass." She didn't need to say what she meant, Wes wasn't dumb and knew who she had to protect.

She stood there silent for a long while. Swallowing back the anger, tears and frustrated that knotted in her throat. Lux didn't know why exactly she felt the need to be so open and honest with Wes. Maybe it was because she felt it was time, or maybe... Because there was a chance one of them could die tomorrow and she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't say something.

"He's right... We're from two different worlds, Wes. And I was dumb to think otherwise." Lux sighed, slowly turning around to finally look in his direction. The wind blew her short blonde hair across her face, arms crossed over her chest. She hated that Sebastian's words had such an effect on her. She hated that she believed every word that slithered from his forked tongue... And she hated more than anything that she couldn't control her feelings for Wes.

***

”I’m not sure,” Maya said after she took a bit to catch her bearings. Joaquin remained quiet, letting his gaze shift from her to his hands he hand cupped between his knees. He saw out of the corner of his eyes that Ace went to hold Maya's hand. Joaquin didn't show it on his face, but he was glad that she had his support in a way that many didn't have. He waited patiently until she spoke again. “It’s dangerous to speculate, but there was a lot of blood
and my father was involved.”

Joaquin chewed on his bottom lip while looking at his hands and tapping his feet. He didn't see what she saw, so he couldn't begint o try and connect the dots. But blood... a God.... It's not good. "You may wish to tell your sister about this," Joaquin suggested, glancing over at him from the corner of his eyes. "Not now... But before the Agon tomorrow. If it involves your father, she may be able to help... Or something." He shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't much in the realm of advice, but it was something.

“It looked like some kind of temple, stone, tight quarters, nothing to identify it though from the inside.”

He ran his hand back through his hair with a sigh. "I'll see if I can figure anything out. If you think of anything else that you saw just let me know." Joaquin stood up and slowly started walking towards the main part of the academy. He had enough of pretending to enjoy the party. Plus, Maya's vision had him thinking... And worried. Lastly, he didn't want to intrude anymore than he already had with Maya and Ace. Looks like he won't be getting much sleep tonight after all.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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Godly Parent: Ares || Dialogue: #3D5726


Ace couldn't help but let a satisfied smile settle onto his face when Maya squeezed his hand back. It was sign that his presence comforted her and Ace was pleased upon knowing this.

Maya relayed what she could remember of her vision to him and Joaquin. Joaquin seemed to be patiently listening to her, but Ace's mind began to wander. He couldn't help it, if his brain went a second without entertainment, then he became restless. Already, his legs were bouncing up and down and he had no clue what Maya was saying. Based on the look on Joaquin's face though, it wasn't good.

Ace tuned back into the conversation at Joaquin's parting words. "I'll see if I can figure anything out. If you think of anything else that you saw just let me know."

Just as Ace's Agon team leader had left, a fight broke out between Cal and Abby. Knowing that a fight was going on, made Ace feel delighted as he loved conflict of any kind, even as a spectator. However, the fact that Cal was fighting with his sister enraged him. Abby and him may not be close, but she is his sister and Cal is a dickhead that needs to learn how to shut his fucking mouth. Ace was definitely not looking forward to having him as a teammate for the Agon tomorrow.

Ace gritted his teeth as Abby took a hard blow to the stomach. He was just about to get involved when he saw Mr. Holden and Miss McKinney break up the fight. Right after that, they announced that the party would be over in an hour.

Wanting to leave before he got bored again, Ace looked at Maya and said, "I'm heading back to the dorms for the night, want to walk back with me?" He didn't mind walking back alone, but she looked tired and he didn't want her to walk back by herself. He just hoped he would have enough focus to pay attention to her on the way back.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Wesley Tate Character Portrait: Ace Michael Thatcher
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Hades // Brain // Outfit // Hex #262f26
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Apollo // Special // Outfit
// Hex #21b794
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Ares // Brawn // Outfit// Hex #FF0000[/left]

Wes listened to Lux’s complaints patiently, they were valid after all, and he couldn’t exactly blame her for reacting that way after how Seb treated her. How he always treated her. Wes loved Seb, but there was a snobbishness to his best friend that often frustrated Wes. In some ways, it wasn’t his fault, Seb had grown up most of his life in a very tight Manhattan bubble, unaware of his own heritage and the implications of that on the wider world. Every demigod was already inherently superior, they were the legacy of celestial beings after all. Regional elitism held little merit where they were concerned. In some regards, Wes suspected Seb still viewed the world through that narrow perspective, and time and exposure was the only thing that could change that. That didn’t make Seb useless, but Wes highly doubted Lux would be receptive of any defense on his friend’s behalf at the moment. Her admission to holding back on his behalf twisted something in his gut. Guilt, admiration, warmth, it all mixed into a confusing cocktail that tried to turn his stomach. When she tried to use Seb’s own logic to pull away from him however, Wes was through with listening.

“That’s bullshit and you know it.” Wes practically growled, stalking forward. His hand paused briefly, but extended out to brush a stray lock from her face as gently as he could muster. “If you don’t want to be with me, that’s your choice, but don’t let it be because some asshole tried to steal you confidence.” Wes wanted to grab hold of Lux, shield her, cage her, keep her close, whatever it took to stop Lux from pulling away from him like this. Wes did none of those things.

“If you walk away now, it’s because you’re afraid, not because of Seb. You’re a lot of things Lux, but you’ve never been a coward. It’s part of what makes you so damn special.”

***

Maya wasn’t sure what to do with Joaquin’s advice. In some ways, it made sense, but ultimately she feared it might do more harm than good. Maya still had no idea what this vision meant, other than an obvious warning of danger. Her father’s presence could mean a hundred different things, and it was hard to think of an immortal god as the subject in danger. More likely it was someone connected to Apollo, but there was no way to know. Lux had a strong connection with their father, and telling her about a threatening vision that vaguely involved their father would undoubtedly distress her. What if the vision was about Lux being hurt tomorrow, and the cause was from being distracted by Maya’s warning? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a misinterpreted prophecy spelled doom for the ones who tried to act upon it. As Joaquin walked away, Maya resolved to keep the vision to herself, at least until she could puzzle it out more.

Soon, the party was slated to come to an end, the fight between Cal and Abby punctuating an end to the evening. Maya didn’t really feel in the partying mood anyway, and smiled gratefully as Ace asked her to walk him back to the dorms. Ace had never gotten enough credit for being as thoughtful as he was, and Maya was glad to be one of the few people who really got to see that side of him.

“Sure.” Maya smiled, gripping his hand as he helped her up, and they made their way back to the dorms.


***



The granite pillars practically sparkled in the morning sun, the weather absolutely perfect for the opening ceremonies taking place. Weather that weather was natural, or produced specifically by the gods to enhance their own lighting was irrelevant. The spectacle of the Agon had a standard to live up to, and this year did not disappoint. Each team had been ushered through the amphitheater to a hail of applause and white petals, their names announced and saluted by last year’s victors as they stood proudly amongst the gods. A torch was magically lit for each student as they were transported to their drop points, armed with their carryon packs, a single weapon each, and a bewitched hand glass from which they would receive their instructions. A surprisingly few number looked queasy as they were bustled off, but two did manage to puke as the magic that transported them took hold.

Lee felt rather green himself just watching them, remembering the unpleasant sensation from his own time in their shoes. Or it could just be the hangover. Distinct possibility. “Why does this thing always have to be so damn sunny. What’s wrong with a somber ambiance? It’s more appropriate anyway.” Lee grumbled as he massaged his temples. June’s hangover cure had taken the edge off the worst of the effects, but the splitting headache had yet to pass completely. His friend merely rolled her eyes as they stood in the stands with the academy students not competing this year. Most were scattered throughout the stands in some semblance of chaperoning duty, but the festival atmosphere was palpable, and most teachers didn’t even try to keep order in their sections. The mere presence of their godly parents was enough to keep most students in some semblance of their best behavior regardless, and the students’ antics were pretty mild compared to the crap they pulled in class on a daily basis.

”Only you could be grouchy after waking up with a literal god between the sheets.” June mumbled affectionately between cheering along with the students. Heat rose up Lee’s neck to the tips of his ears, as he shot his friend a dirty look. His relationship with Apollo was complicated to say the least, but the fact that it was becoming some sort of public knowledge was incessantly irritating. ”Why aren’t you the one up there with them?” June asked with a sidelong look, her tone as close to casual as she could muster.

”Do I look like the event coordinator?” Lee bit back defensively. The honor of standing with the gods during opening ceremonies was usually reserved for senior staff and those who help coordinate the logistics for that year’s challenge, but the gods were known to personally invite other teachers to share in that supposed recognition as well. While it was true that Lee was the teacher who had logged the most off hour training sessions with competing students, he didn’t exactly advertise that fact. Being a good screw (if Lee could say so himself), wasn’t a prerequisite for being fawned over, which is the only other reason one particular god might have had for requested his presence. The hell he was was going to stand there and be gawked at like some kind of glorified sidepiece. June held his eye a moment, brow furrowed in some kind of obvious disapproval, but she didn’t comment immediately.

“I think the weather is nice, it really highlights the vomit.” June changed the subject, and just like that Lee was reminded why he loved her so damn much. June could be a pitbull when she needed to be, but she’d always been able to read Lee. She knew when to push, and when to give him space, a skill few other people in his life possessed. Lee managed a weak smile to show his appreciation, but neither spoke the sentiment aload.

“Blood of my blood, this day marks the passing of a great trial, a test to showcase the most worthy among you.” Zeus boomed from the elevated stage above in the opening toast that Lee had heard a dozen times. Very little of the pageantry ever changed, which meant soon the challenge would be revealed on the monitor below them, and instructions given to the teams. Lee’s hands gripped the railing like a vice, knuckles whitening, as June laid a gentle hand over his own. Sacrifice and courage, the qualities all great heroes must display on their proving ground. Today we drink to their honor, prepared to bring more into this hallowed fold. May the worthy prevail!” Zeus lifted his goblet in the air, the other gods following suit before they brought the edge of the cup to their lips, and drank in unison. What happened next was utter fucking chaos.

Which god began convulsing first was anyone’s guess, but Lee couldn’t rip his eyes away from Apollo...Andy. Seeing a god in pain was as shocking as it was terrifying. These were celestial beings, their faces weren’t supposed to contort like that. Lee watched, practically paralysed as slowly they began changing, a gray crusty layer creeping across their skin. Andy’s green eyes were the last to go, their warm depths morphed into a stony mask of confusion that twisted Lee’s gut. He wanted to run toward that stage, but June gripped his arm, holding him back among the screaming students. Soon he realized why.

”Lee!” June warned, conjuring fire in her hand as she hollered orders for students to get down. They had come out of nowhere, an entire flock of dragons descending up the amphitheatre of the gods. Students shrieked as they dove for cover, others reaching for weapons to defend themselves as the beasts dove closer. The dragons were relatively small, the one consolation in the raging chaos that ensued. Several teachers tried to herd the younger students to safety, doing their best to ward off attacks from above. That’s when the doors flew open, armed men dressed in the armor of Achillon mercenaries flooding through.

This had to be coordinated
 Lee’s mind screamed as he grabbed for his sword. He didn’t want to believe what he was seeing, but to deny the truth would be fatal. Too many lives hung in the balance for Lee to fall to pieces, so instead he ordered the seventh grade students into the pavilion, and stood guard with June at the entrance, back to back as they prepared to face their foes.


======

The tremor was almost inperceivable, but Wesley’s hand shook as he held the glass, watching the bloodshed that was unfolding within the amphitheater they’d been standing in not ten minutes prior. Students younger than they were lay bloodied in the grass, while warriors charged through the stadium, and dragons rained death down from above. It was the scene from a nightmare, and if Wesley hadn’t seen the rising flames on the mountain in the distance, he would have thought it was a trick.

“H-how is that even possible?” Lottie’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

“I don’t know.” Wes admitted quietly, as painful as it was. His mind was spinning itself in circles trying to explain what had happened, but no logical conclusion presented itself. Something terrible had just happened to the gods, and the timing of that enemy assault had been too perfect. Someone on the inside had to have helped them, but he had no idea who would have the motive to do such a thing, much less the power.

“What are we doing just standing here?! Let’s GO!” Abby practically shook with rage as she paced about, the screams of their classmates threatening to work her into a frenzy, she felt so helpless.

“And do what?” Wes challenged in his best impression of calm, silencing the glass before tucking it away.

”Fight, kill those bastards, do something!” Abby shot back incredulously. [color=#FF0000]”They’re getting slaughtered in there!”

“Were at least half a day away, probably more on foot.We’d never get there in time to make a difference, and even if we did, there’s a small army overrunning them. We don’t have the numbers to stop that kind of assault.” Wes fidgeted his hands, a nervous habit he’d picked up when he tried to cobble plans together on the fly.


“We need to move.” Wes decided. “We’re too close. An army like that has to have supply lines, possibly reinforcements, and probably scouts in the area. We need to get our bearings, and figure out what the fuck just happened. If we get caught up out here, we won’t stand a chance.”

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Sebastian Rhodes Character Portrait: Maya Torres Character Portrait: Joaquin Wolf Character Portrait: Abby Rae Jarvis Character Portrait: Lux Slade Character Portrait: Marisole Nadeau
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xxL U X00S L A D E
xxxxxxxxxxg o d l yxp a r e n t x//x apollo
xxxxxxxxxxa t t i r e x//x battle
xxxxxxxxxxd i a l o g u e x//x #ac945a


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xxJ O A Q U I N00W O L F
xxxxxxxxxxg o d l yxp a r e n t x//x hephaestus
xxxxxxxxxxa t t i r e x//x battle
xxxxxxxxxxd i a l o g u e x//x #003f57


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“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Wes growled and stomped forward. He froze before Lux, raising a hand to brush back loose hair from her face. “If you don’t want to be with me, that’s your choice, but don’t let it be because some asshole tried to steal your confidence.”

Lux found herself struggling to breathe, but unable to break his gaze. “If you walk away now, it’s because you’re afraid, not because of Seb. You’re a lot of things Lux, but you’ve never been a coward. It’s part of what makes you so damn special.”

Lux didn't know what to say. She stood there frozen like a deer in headlights. Wes never spoke like that, never said what he truly felt deep down inside. Neither did Lux, that's why this was in such a fragile balance. She wasn't going to walk away, but she didn't want to say anything either. Instead she slowly and hesitantly, slipped her hand into his, sliding her fingers between his. Then started walking back towards the dormitories, with him at her side.

* x * x *

T x H x E xxxxx N x E x X x T xxxxx D x A x Y

* x * x *

Seb, unlike most of the other demigods, slept like a baby with the help of the all too eager blonde and brunette. In the morning he prepared for the Agon but, of course, he didn't look nearly as prepared as everyone else. Instead of wearing practical clothing, or even armor, he had on simple athletic attire. His one strength was parkour, so he need flexibility. But as for his weapon, all he brought was a simple shield. He couldn't fight, but he could run. So, defense was all he had.

Lux on the other hand could sleep a wink. She tossed and turned with a plagued mind of the night's events, the coming Agon and anything else that she felt like freaking out about instead of sleeping. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she prepared herself, dressing in multiple layers for whatever type of circumstances they could encounter. She stared at her weapons for what felt like an eternity, trying to decide what to take and in the end decided on her throwing knives. In the end, they are small and wouldn't slow her down if she needed to make a run from it.

She barely spared Seb as sideways glance as their team moved to their launching zone. On a regular day, she'd be the first one to make a rude quip about he looked less than prepared for sparring, let alone the Agon. But he's Abby's support, not hers.

Everyone was silent as they were transported to their drop point. They all hovered around Wes as he held the looking glass, watching the commencing speech given by Zeus. Lux's hand reached out to steady Wes' as it shook watching the horror unfold through the looking glass. When the view passed over her father Apollo, she snatched it from his hands, shaking her head in disbelief. "No.... No, no, no."

“H-how is that even possible?” Lottie sounded as unstable as she looked.

“I don’t know.”

As everyone started panicking and arguing about what to do, Lux dropped the looking glass and sprinted in the direction of the smoke. 30 miles. I could get there by night fall if I paced myself. Fuck the Agon. This wasn't about glory anymore. She had to get there, to save her father and all of the helpless young demigods there. It didn't take a genius to know someone had to be behind this from the inside.

But she wasn't even 100 yards out when somebody tackled her from behind sending them both to the ground. Ryder wrestled with her on the ground until he somehow managed to get her on her knees before him in a choke hold, with one of her arms pinned behind her back. "Let me go!" She cried, fighting to break free of his grasp. Lux could have if she really tried, but turning against each other wasn't the answer either.

"Stop... Stop. You can't take on an army by yourself Lux, even you." Ryder slowly let his grasp on her fall.

Lux slumped over, catching herself with her hands upon the ground. Ryder helped her onto her feet, keeping an arm around her just in case she tried to run again. They came back to the group finding Abby about as furious as Lux felt, and Wes trying to think of some kind of plan. “We need to move.”

That was all Lux needed to hear. She took her excess baggage: jacket, knives and whatever else, slamming it against Wes' chest before she looked up at the top of the trees. She circled around until she found the tallest one and proceeded to climb up it. She didn't dare go all the way to the top. If by some chance a dragon or something else caught sight of her about the tree line, they'd be done for. Instead she carefully walked out on a branch beneath the leaves looking for somewhere they could go.

After a moment or two of looking, she saw a side of a small cliff with what looked like a cave. Lux quickly descended the tree, jumping down from a branch about 10 feet from the ground. She yanked her things from Wes' arms and proceeded to trudge forward in the direction of the cliff. "There's a cave a mile north." And that's all she said. She was worried and angry, and pissed that they were traveling in the opposite direction.

***

Joaquin had to fight himself from dropping the looking glass as he stood amongst his team in a small clearing surrounded by a dense and thick forest. They had a line of sight to the mountain that looked to be going up in flames and surrounded by several flying beast. He quickly shut off the looking glass and shoved it into his tool belt, unable to stomach what he was seeing any longer.

"We uh..." He cleared his throat, trying to think straight. "We need to get somewhere safe, out of sight and harms way."

Joaquin looked in each direction trying to find anything that could remotely count as cover, but nothing. "Being on the ground level is too risky. We could search all day for shelter... So..." He looks up again, weaving through trees until he finds 3 large trunks that stretched high, but didn't go all the way to the top of the tree line. "Up in the trees." He pointed up at the sky.

"Marisole. Ben. With me... We're going to climb, and build a canopy. We need foliage to surround us from every side so we're camouflaged in leaves, but also a quick means of escape." With that, Joaquin removed his jackets, and set them on the ground. He twisted his tool belt to hang off the back of his waist. Joaquin then proceeded to climb the tree. When he reached the top he started breaking off branches and building a make shift canopy.