chiseler | Day One;

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Day One;

[He's already been here longer than he would like and it hasn't been that long. Still, demigods never do well being trapped and while he ponders on an escape plan he finds himself filled with a bunch of pent-up energy.

As it turns out, the best way to use that energy is to run laps around a track. On occasion he'll sprint, leap over invisible targets and change his direction entirely. Overall it probably looks a little strange and more like he's running from something. But that doesn't matter. It keeps him busy for about an hour and a half before he finds that he's a little worn out. Constantly being on the move like that isn't something he's used to anymore.

The other thing he finds is that he's kind of gross and sweaty now which really doesn't help the situation. He sighs to himself, running a hand through his hair before disappearing from the gym all together. He's not aware of anyone who might be watching and maybe he doesn't even care. Instead, he heads back to his apartment for a change of clothes before ducking into the bathroom.

The bathroom at this hour seems blissfully empty, so he doesn't bother hurrying through anything. Why? They have all the time in the world here, it seems, and he's out of his sweat-drenched clothes shortly after before wrapping a towel around his waist to grab soap/shampoo/etc.

The broken shower door gets his attention though and he's eyeing it curiously, fingering at the hinges before laughing to himself. This is what he finds himself doing when he suddenly hears footsteps behind him and he turns his head a fraction. Upon seeing who it is though, he only gives a tiny smirk in response.]

You know…we should probably stop meeting like this.

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[He'll just stay in the shower, mostly taking his time and also just to see what Adam does next.] Are you? [He sounds a little disbelieving, like he's not sure if it's appropriate to laugh or point out the truth.

He's caught onto that nervousness, too.] I really have to wonder about that. And you're asking me like I actually wrote the dumb thing. [Yeah, he's assuming Adam's just harping about his profile.] What's it matter? I can't summon anything here yet.

[...though he pauses heavily. Showing things in his head, huh? That...sounds vaguely familiar.] ...what kind of things have you seen in your head then?

Of course I am. [ Now he just sounds angry, rage filling him up the way that's been happening so much lately. He's shaking in an attempt to control it because he won't be out of control. ] I'm here, aren't I? I'm not possessed or talking to you in Latin, I'm still me.

[ He rubs at his face, miserable. He kind of just wants to stay in the shower forever because at least it's isolation. ] Ghosts. Apparitions. Whispers and... Whatever, it doesn't matter. I haven't seen anything here. [ A pause. ] Alright. How about the breaking hearts part?

[Ooh, a hot button. That's interesting and he makes note of it quietly.] Even if you were speaking in Latin I wouldn't understand it so how should I know? All I'm saying is that you should be careful with things like that.

[Said the pot to the kettle. But…he's silent again.] …never dreamed about ghosts, but I've been contacted by other things. But nothing here.

[He's surprised Adam asks about that particular one, and he laughs suddenly.] That one I have no idea. I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean? Maybe it's a joke.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. [ He huffs as he starts dressing. ] Don't worry about me too much or I'll think you care. [ But the admission makes him pause. Maybe it's less weird for a demigod to be contacted by things? Also, he never said dreams. ]

What sort of things? You dream about them? [ It is interesting. He glances over at the wall and hums. ]

Telling people what they want to hear?

And wouldn't that be a pity. Like I said, could it worse. [The teasing lilt is in his voice again, though he doesn't let it linger long if only because Adam's asking him things. He doesn't have the foresight at the moment to realize what he's said isn't comparable to what Adam said.]

Demigods have weird dreams sometimes. And it's not that important...all you need to know is that I'm working on something big back home that's going to change Olympus entirely.

[That doesn't sound good. But he hums a little bit before he finally stops screwing around and kills the water.] Depends. Is that such a bad thing?

How do you think it could be worse? [ He's going to push this teasing just because he's tired of Luke avoiding everything with that smug tone. He soon leaves the shower and then waits for Luke. ]

You can't say something like that without explaining. [ Well, he probably can and will. But Luke seems to have a lot of things going on and Adam wants to know some of them. It's a fascinating difference from his own tedious existence. ] By letting others dictate your response, don't you sort of lose yourself anyway?

You could be someone I have absolutely no interest in, you could spit acid in my face, you could sprout a horns out of your head…there's a lot of ways this could be bad. [Give him a moment to dry off.]

And give me a reason why I should explain everything. [It's not exactly a no. He just wants to see what Adam will offer.] And I don't think so. I didn't say that applies all the time. Try again.

Aw, you're interested in me. [ He doesn't actually take it to heart but he sure sounds smug about it. ] And you never know. The profiles don't have everything apparently. Nothing about you being half-god on there.

[ If only he could spit acid in Luke's face. ] You get to brag? Impress me? Or tell me what I want to hear, which you're skilled in.

What can I say? [He's going to leave it at that.] You know that putting "demigod" on my profile would be like putting "mortal" on yours, right? It's kind of stupid. [He finally steps out of the shower, still wrapped in a towel. Give him a moment to collect his clothes, etc.]

You're trying really hard to focus on those things aren't ya? You do this with everybody you meet? [He flashes another smile at him.] I'd almost think you're horribly suspicious of me.

Mortal? Are you saying you can't die? [ He could probably say more but then Luke is stepping out and his mind goes blank, staring before getting enough sense to look away. He crosses his arms over his chest. ]

I'd think your profile would be the cause of anyone being suspicious of you. Maybe that was the point of it. [ He glances over at him. ] But honestly? I've never met anyone like you. I'm interested in learning.

[...hm.] Something like that. [He can still very much die, but why give Adam that advantage of knowing exactly what it'll take? Instead, this time it's much harder to ignore that Adam's staring at him and he laughs under his breath. Flattering, at least.]

There are people here way more suspicious than I am, I'll have you know. If people are suspicious of me they can ask me whatever they wanna know. Some of those things I don't even understand. [Though he thinks back to a few conversations he's had with other people and he tilts his head in Adam's direction. Normally people push him for more answers. Adam's solely asking questions to try and understand. And anyway...they're here for a while. That much is certain.]

I guess I can deal with that as long as you tell me more about your leylines and stuff. I haven't dealt with a lot of mortals over the last couple of years.

[ Something like that. From what he knows about demigods, they're much harder to kill. He nods, accepting that. It's not like he's planning to kill Luke or anything. ]

Are there? [ No, he agrees with that. ] Anyone you're suspecting in particular? Of what? [ He smiles a little, finding himself enjoying this conversation. Luke is a strange one. ]

I find that hard to believe. I'll tell you about them if you tell me about your big plan.

[Thanks for that, Adam. Demigods are much more resilient, but the thing about them is that they are still half-mortal. He's nodding just a bit at Adam's suggestion and steps past him, taking his clothes to duck back into a stall to change. While he's doing that he responds from behind the door.]

I have a few people I'm keeping an eye on and a few people I find interesting. One of my roommates has a crossbow. Another one's got a sword. Met this girl who tried to tell me she's one of the strongest people in her world and I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want my card to say "skilled at causing other people pain." ...saw another profile whose skill listing included torture so that was weird. Little things like that. [He steps out again, dressed in jeans and tugging a long-sleeved shirt over his head.] One of the things on my own card includes breaking promises and I have no idea what that's supposed to mean.

[He's intrigued by that offer though.] Are you gonna go first? We have a deal then.

[ He can finally breathe once Luke goes back in the stall so that's nice. ] A lot of the people here seem to be skilled in fighting, don't they? Plus coming with weapons... [ He can't really talk but. ] What, you don't think you've ever broken a promise? Wonder how many you have to break to make it a skill.

[ He doesn't trust Luke, really. The profiles may be to set them against each other but it's all fairly suspicious and Luke hasn't denied a lot of them. That doesn't mean he can't get to know him, though. After all, Adam isn't skilled at all in fighting but Luke apparently is. ]

You didn't ask anything specific. I'm not an expert but I know they're old. Older than the gods, I'd imagine. They're powerful, but... I don't know what's made them weaker. They're still able to make themselves known, though, not just to me but they'll start taking out electricity and talking to everyone. I got amnesia with them once too... Anyway, is that enough?

And then you have some of us who're skilled and didn't come with weapons and those of us with weapons and maybe no idea how to use them. [A meaningful look. He's not sure if Adam knows how to use the gun in his inventory, but he's curious all the same.] I would remember if I ever broke a promise, so I think whoever wrote those things did it just to make me look bad.

[Trust no one, really. He doesn't have too much to hide since he knows at some point Adam will stop believing him. It's just...Adam hasn't hit that point yet somehow. He listens carefully about the leylines, finding that it's an answer without answer but the way Adam talks about them makes them sound sentient. It's bizarre to him. He wants to ask about the amnesia, about the leylines talking to everybody, but he'll save that for another time.] It's enough for now. Now we're even.

[And with another smile he turns on his heel and begins leaving the bathroom.]

[ Adam raises his eyebrows. Does Luke really think he wouldn't know how to use a gun? He wonders what he must think of him. Probably sees him as weak. ] Sounds like those types of people to team up. Maybe the crazier people with axes won't get them.

[ He waits for Luke to explain and he probably shouldn't be surprised when Luke just... starts walking off. He let himself fall into that trap, honestly. But Luke has been sharing with him enough, he didn't have a reason to doubt now. So he scowls because he's making him look stupid and rushes to catch up to him, reaching to grab onto his wrist. ] Hey. Didn't anyone ever teach you manners? Maybe they really meant deal-breaker on your profile.

[He doesn't acknowledge the comment about teaming up or about axes. Instead, he walks and he hears Adam behind him, not at all surprised he's being followed. He feels Adam wrap a hand around his wrist and he turns, arching an eyebrow almost elegantly as he patiently waits.]

That's entirely possible. [He doesn't elaborate while leaving the statement to apply to just about anything. He does attempt to shake his wrist loose though to continue moving. Come along, Adam.] You don't really think this is the place where manners actually matter, do you? What's the point in that? If you want something, you learn how to take it.

[ He's worried for maybe a second that Luke will hurt him and grabbing strangers who are part-god will end up not being the best idea he's ever had. But nothing happens and Adam slowly lets him go, following behind him. ]

Easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar. If you want me to tell you things, you could try not being an asshole. Or someone who just says whatever anyone wants to hear. I've gone to school with guys like that, it gets old.

[Don't take your chances, Adam. But still, Luke settles for rolling his eyes as he leads them on toward the rec room.]

I think the only one who thinks I'm an asshole is you. Everyone else here seems to put up with me just fine. [A beat.] How'd you handle those guys then?

Really? Maybe they're not as honest about it. Or maybe you're better at telling them what they want to hear. [ But he's still following, still talking to him. It's entirely possible he's been taken in the same way. ]

I ignore them. Isn't that what you should do when people annoy you?

You're not gonna let that go, are you? [He's also not taking it seriously because yeah. Adam's still here, still talking to him, still putting up with him. He's not surprised by much anymore.]

It's a lot harder to ignore people at camp unless you're really sneaky about it, especially when summer session's over. So maybe.

Not unless you give me a reason to. [ He strides enough to catch up with Luke and walk by his side. ]

Tell me about your camp then and I'll go away.

[His hands slip into his pockets.] There're a lot of things about camp I can tell you. Be more specific. You already know where it is and who lives there.

[ He wants to know a lot and it's hard to word it all but he seems to think hard on it. ]

What purpose does it serve? How long were you there for? Do the gods really ignore a place housing a bunch of powerful kids? ... Is that where you last remember being before you came here?

It's a camp for training demigods to become heroes. I've been there since I was fourteen. Yes, the gods ignore their kids and usually quite frequently. Doesn't matter if we're all at camp. And yeah...I was there just getting ready to go somewhere else. Guess this was the somewhere else. Weird, isn't it?

[Into the rec room they go and he's allowing himself to look for something, picking up a deck of cards not long after. He has a plan, but he wants to see what Adam says first.]

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