Before An: Title a working progress...

AN: Hello, thank you for reading this badboy, I hope my summary is not misleading or anything along those lines. These are indeed one-shots that mainly focus on Travis and Katie, although other characters do make a debut. This is mostly my attempt at romance and humour. A first for romance, so please, do not expect anything overly 'fluffy' or good for the matter. Furthermore, I like to have the slowest of build-ups. SO, I recommend reading this late at night when you're in that bubbly mood and literally any piece of writing is considered a masterpiece. I know some y'all get that reference.

Please Review , feedback is hella thankful that being constructive or naught.(Though please let it be constructive… )

Those who read my other stories, My laptop broke down miserably preventing me from any real long writings. I wrote this over the phone, (a struggle believe me). When I get that badboy fixed up I'll gladly continue writing away.

Disclaimer: Mr. Riordan has full ownership to all of the characters presented. And the location, and the slang.


#1 – Daughter Of Demeter

Travis Stoll, a familiar name no doubt. This teenage demi-god has a tendency of... well, causing havoc alongside his baby brother, Connor Stoll. The two immediately gained a notorious reputation of being obnoxiously annoying. Not exactly the most intimidating of titles, yet the one most heeded. The two brothers, only distinguished apart through their height, have honed their 'inherited' traits at a very young age. The proof of this evidently present in their elaborate and crude pranks. Obviously, practical jokes of their caliber will always guarantee them an angry response. The very source of retaliation always, in the form of a thoroughly enraged daughter of Demeter. Naturally, Travis considered her his very source of entertainment, prompting for the beginning of the most prominent love-hate relationship in all of Half-Blood.

Anyways, the sky was grey and bleak, the puffy cotton candy clouds nonexistent as the empty grey void consumed the entire surface. Despite the inevitable downpour, the camp was granted protection from the cruel excerpts of weather. The wind chilled to the bone piercing through clothing as if nothing. The cool temperature eradicated any traces of humidity, freezing over the very pores of one's skin. The overcast weather portrayed a gloomy atmosphere amongst the campers, making them more susceptible to frustration and anger. The perfect combination as a gleeful Travis carelessly skipped down the dry mud patted ground. Slipped under his arm was a thick shiny red book, which had stray blueprints poking out from the edges. A lopsided smirk was firmly plastered on his face as he continued to stroll down the trail, brushing his open hand against the frail textures of plants and leafs. His sky blue eyes gleamed with mischief as he advanced towards his Hermes Cabin.

The door screeched out in disagreement once it was open. The elfish-like boy slipped in and haphazardly collapsed onto the adhesive and soft touch his mattress had to offer. After a long dragged sigh, and stretching his limbs, Travis finally commenced, first by snapping his book open.

Comfortably resting on his bed, Travis with a critical eye absorbed every single individual word present in the thick text. His attention was solely devoted to the book in hand that he was capable of ignoring all his other younger half-siblings, who were in the process of brewing a ruckus. His facial facade consisted of only two expressions, the occasional one of eureka and some approving nods as he continued to passionately read from the book.

"Yo-... Is that what I think it is?" A rather familiar person questioned, slight traces of excitement seeping out from their steady voice.

Quickly lowering the book and averting his attention from it, Travis linked eyes with his brother Connor, a massive bubbly grin printed on his face as he nodded in agreement.

"NO WAY! When did it come in?" Connor squealed, his excitement surpassing his ability to stay composed.

"Just today actually, I've read all I wanted from it for now. Here." Travis responded as he gently tossed the book into the outstretched open palms.

Lifting up from the bed, Travis made his way towards the exit in anticipation of venturing back out into the wilderness.

"Where are you going?" Connor mumbled, his true attention drawn towards the shiny cover of the fresh book. His blue eyes ogling the black bolded title: The Practical Joker's Handbook the Sequel.

"Putting what I learned to practice." Travis answered with a smirk.

After a few hours of vigorous searching and difficult bartering, Travis finally collected all his desired ingredients. By now, the grey sluggish sky blackened to one of complete darkness, the only light sources being the torches sporadically placed all around camp. From a distance, the torches would appear like unorthodox vibrant blemishes in the forest coat of dark green.

Travis entered the camp store with a hand firmly wrapped around a misty glass cup. A bell rang announcing his presence to the lone individual still working there. A head snapped towards the direction of the door, green eyes furrowing violently as soon as they registered who walked forward.

"Hey Katie! Wanna see a trick?" Travis enthusiastically called.

Broom grasped against her chest, Katie eyed her nemesis with a cautious gaze. She narrowed her brows and wrinkled her nose, the very sight disgusting her.

"What do you want?" She coldly demanded.

"Wow, take it easy, I just wanna offer a proposition." Travis raised his open hand in submission as his aqua blue eyes widen in legitimate fear.

"Hmm... fine, what is it?" Katie asked, keeping a relatively safe distance away from the notorious prankster.

"Five drachmas says I can pin this cup of water to the wall." Travis challenged, a ghost smile curling at the edges of his mouth.

"Are you serious? Deal." Katie replied in a heartbeat, her facade of cold cruelty shattered by the outrageous and very much so impossible bet.

Taking his cue, Travis walked towards one of the oaken beige beams and touched his icy cup of water to the wall. Magically grabbing a pin from his pocket, the prankster slowly illustrated the projected path of the item as he repetitively brought it close to the glass than taking it away, like in a swaying motion.

"Hurry up already." Katie complained, ditching the broom and crossing her arms in annoyance.

The sudden outburst was enough to break Travis' concentration as he clumsily dropped the pin. The two pair of eyes traced the harmless needle's path as it bounced against the wooden floorboards.

"Great, Look what you did, mind getting that?" Travis asked pointing to the pin clearly out of his reach. Tentative at first, Katie finally gave in and slowly inched forward. She then crouched down and fetched the pin.

A sadistic-like smirk intensified as Travis slowly tipped the cool chilly water onto his crouching counterpart. The shock of the incident caused for Katie to arch her neck back and pinch her shoulders together. Once the cup was fully empty and she was completely soaked, Katie instantly snapped back onto her feet. Her green eyes burning like the fiery pits of Tartarus themselves.

"Um... hand slipped?" the trickster offered before spinning on his heels and dashing towards the door. Katie blindly followed.

Whipping the door open with two hands, Travis took a giant leap off from the porch and recklessly crashed against the dirt surface, bobbling over in an attempt to roll out of it. Katie, only mildly skeptical, used the stairs and took the most linear path towards her prey. She did exactly what Travis was anticipating her to do. Katie only managed two steps before her green sneakers were completely covered in murky brown sticky goo. This pseudo brown superglue is usually used by campers to slow down opponents or monsters, which did so with Katie, as her feet was firmly stuck to the ground but her momentum propelling her forward.

Travis casually marched away from the scene, snickering as he had his two hands buried deep into his pockets, only listening to the cusses and complaints of a thoroughly enraged daughter of Demeter.


Clingy Author Note: Hope that was to your liking. These are likely going to be short, even shorter. My phone makes it look big though. anyways, I have a review question for you lovely people, any decent title names? Cause I don't have any….