Piper McLean I
Even with the compass, Piper takes a long time to find Reyna.
Honestly, she's still surprised that Leo had this laying around, (Even though it's totally something that the idiot would have laying in his cabin) and even more surprised that Jason was nice enough to give this to her. Though their relationship didn't exactly end on bad terms, she can tell he's pretty upset she ended it out of nowhere. She isn't a daughter of Aphrodite for nothing.
Shifting her backpack, she glances around the California area. From what Annabeth had told her during an Iris Message from her college, the Roman Camp was clouded by a mist Greek demigods couldn't see through, but thanks to Leo, it was possible. Clutching the gold compass tighter in her hand, she watches the hand point towards a tall building. There are two very familiar figures in front of it. Silently, she thanks the magic the Hecate cabin infused to the device years ago.
Piper walks forward to greet the Roman soldiers. If she's right about who that is...
"Hazel! Frank!" She calls out.
The shorter one turns around, grinning when she sees the brunette.
"Piper!" Hazel Levesque cheers. The younger Roman envelopes Piper in a fierce hug. "What are you doing here!?"
"I'm here to visit Reyna for a little." She confesses, tucking some hair behind her ear. Her twin braids have become loose after her long journey, (though all she really did was take a plane and a cab) and the un-braided hair hangs in her face.
"Hey, Piper." Frank says, grinning at his ex-crewmate.
"Frank, can I take Piper to Reyna real quick?"
Frank grins. "Of course."
Hazel stands on her toes and kisses him on the cheek.
"Come on, Piper!"
As usual, New Rome does not fail to impress her. Maybe Piper wasn't the big architectural nut that Annabeth was, but she could still appreciate the grandeur of the city.
"How's the city doing?" Piper asks, watching two Romans practice their fighting skills. "I mean, with Octavian dead, and Frank as Praetor?"
Hazel shrugs. "Well, we don't have that teddy bear shortage anymore."
Piper chuckles. "Good. I'm guessing Frank isn't supposed to be on guard duty?"
"Not really, but Reyna took pity on him. The position kind of drives him crazy." The dark-skinned girl walks over to a particularly grand building. "Luckily, I'm allowed to see him every once in a while if I'm done with my chores."
"Huh." Piper hugs Hazel, before turning to the door. "See you later, then."
"Sure." Hazel walks away, before turning back to her friend. "And Piper..."
"Yeah?"
"Don't give up on demigod life so easily, okay? Just... consider your decisions carefully. Promise me."
Piper studies Hazel for a few seconds, wondering how she got so good at reading her. Or maybe the events of the last few weeks have just made her easier to read. "I promise."
And with that promise comes the added weight to compass she keeps in her pocket, reminding her of a similar promise she made to one of her best friends.
"Jellybean?" Reyna offers, gesturing to the bowl. Piper doesn't really know how to respond to that.
"No thanks." Piper smiles at the raven-haired beauty. Leo once told her 'Reyna' meant 'Queen' in Spanish. It's fitting, really.
That thought still stings.
"How's the search for Leo coming along?" Reyna asks gently, as if she was approaching a chaotic pegasus who has spent too much time around Mr.D.
"Bad." She says. "All Nico can really supply us is that his death was different." It may have been one of the more bitter things she thinks when her spirits are more down than usual.
"I'm guessing you have a bigger reason for visiting other than declining jellybeans?"
Reyna is just as Piper remembered. Her armor is resting so casually on her shoulders, her black braid twisting regally over one shoulder, dark eyes twinkling with structure, amusement, intelligence, and that slightest amount of darkness. In her opinion, Reyna was born to be a Roman Queen. It just seems as if it's one of those inevitable twists of fate.
"Actually, I was wondering if you've been able to contact the Amazons lately. Like, maybe you could put me in contact with them?"
Reyna's eyes narrow. "May I ask what you're planning on talking to them for?"
"Just... catching up?"
A scowl appears.
Is everybody onto me lately?
"Piper, I know that you're thinking of joining the Amazons. Annabeth told me." Reyna steps off of her golden throne. Well, that's the best Piper can describe it. If it weren't for the seriousness of Reyna's expression, she would laugh imagining Frank on the other one.
"Why did Annabeth tell you about that?" Piper almost growls.
"Because..." Reyna sighs, and pets the head of her golden dog. "Because she thinks it's a bad idea."
"I have a good reason, though!" Piper insists. "It's not like joining the Hunters! I fail to see how this is even a bad idea at all."
"Piper... the camp will not survive without you. You are the glue holding that place together, especially with the Leo incident. You cannot leave it right now. Besides, you wouldn't be able to find the Amazons any-"
Reyna snaps her mouth shut instantly.
Piper steps forward tentatively. "Reyna... have the Amazons gone missing?"
She swings her head to the side, glaring out the window. "Maybe. They disappear from time to time, just never for this long. Hylla's been keeping in contact since we fought Orion, but lately..."
Piper places her hands on her hips. "Well, we could go find them. Just to double check. You know, and so I can JOIN THEM AND PROVE EVERYONE WRONG!" She thrusts her fist over her head in an imitation of the Breakfast Club.
Reyna turns back to her. "Think again: you can go. I have to take care of New Rome."
"Leave Frank and Hazel in charge!" Piper insists. "We should head back to Camp Half-Blood, we can take a pegasus, and then we can talk to Chiron and then we can get a third party member! Though it should probably be a girl-"
"Piper, please-"
"Because they tend to attack men, and-"
"Piper, I am begging you-"
"Please, Reyna?" Piper tries to channel Percy's puppy dog eyes.
"I..." Reyna bites her lip carefully. "I will have to bring it up with the Senate. Until then, you can stay with the Fifth Cohort. It's going to be for a while, because I'm certain they won't approve at all."
Piper frowns. "I thought you didn't want to go?"
"I'm a little worried about leaving this place unruled, yes, and Hazel may be good for leading, but I am also concerned how well the Legion may follow a daughter of Pluto... but I think they've developed a certain respect for her as a person..."
"Okay." Piper smiles. "I guess... off to the Fifth Cohort I go."
This would take time, but she would go through with it.
