Percy drifted painfully down the road until he reached Alabaster's Apartment. It wasn't spectacular on the outside, but to the moderately trained eyes of a moderately talent sorcerer like him it was amazing. 'Green script on the walls, a melding of Greek and Roman magic... I can read it, but it seems so mixed up. Still, whatever it's doing it's making a barrier. It should be a deadspace, where I can feel no lifeforce but it's making a fake signature of human aura. Monsters wouldn't ever have a reason to check this place out.' He felt a moment of awe and respect pushing at the pain from having just broken up with the girl he was sure was his soul mate. 'He is so far above my level, above any non immortal demigods alive.'

Naturally, fear came forth at the acknowledgment of such a juggernaut. Every single hardened edge that lay upon his nerves focused all at once, leaving him nearly breathless, still he managed to push it down at least slightly.

Enough not to pull out his sword or start a battle cry. So, progress.

'Take a breathe Percy, you need to do this. You said you would, you broke up with Annabeth because you wanted to stand your ground on not being judgmental.' Taking the mentioned breathe, arming himself with a large dose of magic to ease the fear, he walked to the door and knocked. Several of the runes exploded into a light show invisible to those without control or connection to magic, rippling in alarm. He hand quickly went to his pen, an action that eased his fears far more then he liked to admit.

Then the door opened, an a man appeared... or well, some kind of Mist construct. His form rippled and twisted and reeked of Divine power, at least second hand like Annabeth's hat. The man himself was actually moderately handsome, but clearly mortal in appearance with a shock of brown hair twisted with more then a few greys. His eyes were brown with the slightest hint of red, both of which popped against his fair skin.

'Yeah, definitely a creation of the Mist. His features are too obvious, to make it too eye catching for the brain to ignore.' Knowledge from his training with Elenor kicked in before he could stop it, much to his actual pleasure. "I'm here to see Alabaster, he invited me a few days ago?"

He intentionally held back his name, knowing pretty any supernatural being knew it at this point. It was almost a joke to be honest...

Apparently the man did recognize him, with his eyes widening in surprise and actual pride. "Alabaster actually invited you of all people!" He didn't shout, but there was no mistaking his pride and excitement. An air of clearly paternal pride. " Come on it, come on." He shuffled in wards, leading a still nervous Percy down a think hall to a large living room.

It was clearly enlarged with magic, standing at least twenty feet higher then the actual building would have allowed. The walls were an off white and they were covered in runes, pictures and awards. The furniture was second hand, clearly, but still in nice condition. Lots of purplish wood and leather couches. It was actually impressive and Percy couldn't help but feel envious and happy for his one time enemy. He had made his own nest that clearly was filled with more familial love then most Demigods would or have ever known.

Percy felt like an intruder.

"Sit, please, I'd like to chat with you a little before Alabaster gets out of his room. He's tinkering with some runes, a bonding mechanism of sorts." The man sat in a reclining chair, though he didn't push it back, sitting closer to the edge and watched Percy intensely as he sat across from him, with his back closer to one of the floor length windows behind him. The man then gave him an apologetic look. "Sitting by the windows so we can't sneak behind you and so you can have a quick escape?" He just smiled sadly at Percy's discomfort. "I've spent a lot time with Alabaster, I've gotten used to the behavior of your demigods. Living through a war or two forces a lot of such behaviors. Don't be ashamed of it, kid."

The unashamed reassurance actually made Percy really, really uncomfortable. "Yeah, I guess so... um, so what's your name?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you did I? Dr. Howard Claymore, or well I was. " He brushed his body, smiling a little. "I'm sure you noticed the whole Mistform thing? I died during a fight with Lamia, when I first met Alabaster, and their Mother gave me this form as a thank you of sorts."

Needless to say, Percy was utterly amazed. " The magic needed to cast such something so advanced, to create a vessel out of energy for literally more energy..." He froze, his mind going over energy sources. " How do you maintain it? I mean I imagine your sacrifice created enough to hold you, but not enough to keep the density of the Mist in place?"

Howard actually fell back against the back of the seat, looking utterly stunned. Still, he wasn't the one to reply, Alabaster did as he marched of his room. "That's actually what we are working on now... but tell me, you were never overly bright or academic... what changed? We feared Annabeth for a reason, hell if Luke had allowed us to take her down we would have probably won too." The other boy sat on the chair next to the Dr. looking very curious, his brown hair was pulled into a pony tail, allowing Percy to see his oddly bright green eyes and freckle covered face.

"I had a good teacher... and honest a teacher." Percy snorted for a moment. "Let's just say, one on one attention with the right motivation did me wonders. So did therapy. I'm not so ADHD all of the time, so focusing makes it a lot easier to think." He tried to hold back his resentment, and was pleased to see that he seemed to managed just that.

Alabaster actually smirked at that. "I'm taking that as a dig to Chiron?" He actually laughed, and it was a dry sound, at Percy's apparent expression. " I was a camper, remember? Chiron gave a few handful demigods attention, no one else. I mean really, I heard that you could beat the entire Apollo Cabin during your second summer at the Camp and that's with you slacking on your training. Thalia could manipulate the Mist in mere months from being released, you couldn't until very recently despite being massively more powerful then she is and deserving it a hell of a lot more."

Percy didn't want to respond to that, not really wanting to dig into hating or being angry any more people he loved at the moment. "Yeah... still, you didn't answer my question. How are you going to keep his soul from dispersing... and who is Lamia? I remember the name from one of my lessons but not much else."

Alabaster nodded, rolling his eyes about as he considered what to say, almost tasting the words before they came from his mouth. "Well, that's what I was working on. I want to give him a new body, or creating a bonding rune to bind his form to a source of magic. Issue is, I can't find one strong enough. Well, one that is strong enough to keep his form without...well..."

"Burning out his mortal soul?" Percy finished, catching more surprised looks. "I've been studying a magic, ambrosia came up. Anyway, I guess the only magic I can even think of that can freely be used by mortals would have to be... maybe... the Fleece?"

Alabaster shrugged here. "I thought as much, but one I can't get into the Camp thanks to my banishment and two... well, I am not sure if stealing just a piece would allow the magic to still work or if it would disperse."

"Enough of this depressing topic." Dr. Howard clapped, physically ending the conversation. "I am okay for the time being, we have years before the spell disperses. So, lets answer our guests second question before acting like people not just demigods and mistform sidekick." It was clear that Alabaster wanted to argue, but instead nodded with a smile. "Good... now, Percy. Lamia was a Queen and daughter of Hecate who caught he attention of Zeus. Long story sort, they had two kids. Hera lost her mind, butchered the kids and turned Lamia into a monster. In return, Lamia cursed all Demigods to smell, which ended up being why the Greek Pantheon has fallen so far. Without so many people and kids to worship them, they are being forgotten. Alabaster was fighting her, and Hecate didn't want her kids to kill each other so she separated them with part of the energy from my death. Are we all caught up?" Percy and Alabaster nodded, looking a little chastised. "Good, I'm going to get some snacks. Don't kill each other, we are still renting here."

As he left, Percy couldn't help but snort out. "He's a bit intense."

"Yeah, I know." The fondness was clear in the Son of Hecate's tone. "He was worse before, but getting a second chance at life has calmed him down I think." Then his eyes turned serious. " Now to why I asked you to come here. What happened to you? Your aura is like a frog in a blender, a million colors all making me nauseous."

Percy sat back for a moment, taking the time to really gather his thoughts. 'How much do I want to really share? I couldn't even tell Annabeth everything... maybe a middle ground?' Eventually he managed to get out what he felt was accurate without giving out everything to someone who may still be an enemy. " A lot... but mostly, I grew up. I was forced to reevaluate and critically examine my life and those within it. Lets just say that not everything came out equally."

"Fair enough, welcome to club."

The silence then was awkward, but honest. Their mutual past and issues not ignored, with just enough new ground to make something better...

Or so he hoped.

Then the Doctor returned, with said snacks. " Well, Percy, now that that is done, tell me a bit about yourself. What classes are you taking?"

"Um, well, Marine Biology right now." He ate a few of the chips before something brewed within him. "But to be honest, I am thinking of changing majors."

"To what?"

He bit his lip, and flashes of his childhood and Luke's crossed his mind. "Social work, I think."

Both of his hosts looked surprised, then they both gave him a near identical stares of appreciation and consideration. Alabaster actually chuckled. "I can see that."

"I actually teach at the school, Percy. If you'd like, I can introduce you to a few of the professors who teach the subject, so you can make a better choice. If your up to that, of course."

Percy couldn't hold back his smile. "Yeah, yeah I think I'd like that."

"""

"Come back, any time Percy... well, when were home, obviously." Dr. Claymore waved at him from behind Alabaster.

Percy waved back, feeling deeply relieved. "I'll definitely have to do so."

And he meant it, he hadn't relaxed so much in months bar the spell in Ellenor's office. Once they finally broke the ice, they had chatted about everything from classes to food to games to sports ( He and Alabaster actually really liked Diving, and Dr. Claymore mentioned that Percy would excel in Rugby and maybe Lacrosse) to Percy's baby sister Estelle.

Both men genuinely seemed to enjoy seeing her pictures, happy to hear that despite everything Percy had some good things in his life and that his mom ( who's story had become well know thanks to a few chance meetings) was very happy. IF nothing else, that endeared Percy to the men quite a bit.

He knew he would definitely be going back.

Hopefully soon.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

Yes, I really enjoyed this. It wasn't so violent or morbid and I got to show Percy being a person not just a tool or demigod. I do want to show the conflict though, that he will be personally dealing with...

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.