I am terribly sorry for the long wait! Hope you all enjoy this chapter! I do not own PJO/Hoo or any Rick Riordan writings.
Session 2:Jason
The face palm used to show one frustration at what is perceived as idiotic or lack of common sense. This motion was constantly used for Percy and Leo antics. This has become a symbol for when APALHI needs to have a meeting. Percy decision to become a therapist was an urgent case. The girls used the signal when Hedge let it known, Leo was summoned . The discussion initiated when Leo was dragged to the newly classified 'therapist'.
No one dared speak at first than like any group off unsupervised teens, there was a sudden loud eruption of noise. Jason pointing out how stupid this is,Hazel asking why Leo was first,Frank demanding from Hazel why she cares. Annabeth being herself was analysing the facts and wasn't participating but was getting gradually annoyed at the pointless noise pollution. Piper noticed; a quick decision she came to is that there should be some order before Annabeth shanked them with her bone sword. She used her charm speak to get everyone to settle down. She despised using her power on friends because she felt like Medea but sometimes it was the only option - well there are better methods but this was the quickest way.
She ordered "Silence! Let Annabeth speak!"
Suddenly you could hear Percy and Leo arguing about names. Ignoring the strange behaviour and questioning the topic. Annabeth went through into her usual planned question.
"Anyone give him this idea?"
Everyone said no, but were not offended as this did not seem like a typical Percy plan. They are usually abrupt and improvised but therapy sessions seemed to indicate a lot of strategy.
Hazel spoke up,"I doubt Leo gave his support, he seemed as mystified as us."
Frank puffed like an ox, countered,"Leo is good at hiding his emotions, maybe he could have done this as a ploy?"
Jason with back up from Piper; gave reasons why they disagreed by talking about how Leo weakness in lying. Suggesting that he usually tried not to laugh. He did pranks usually for the thrill of getting caught. Frank could see that his argument was going no where and begrudgingly agreed. Leo was pushed to the backside of their discussion as this was clearly an Percy unique idea.
The next riddle was why would Percy do this? Annabeth mind was a super computer trying to figure out every motive but frustratingly could not. This was a sudden change in the way Percy would help people. Percy is usually not one to preemptively talk about people issues, let alone his own. The other end of the spectrum does not make sense either. He wouldn't mess around this subject if he was bored unlike the Stolls he doesn't do intentional harmful pranks. Sure his pranks can have unintended side affects but he will always right his wrong. In the years she has known him,this was one of the most confusing stunts he has done.
Hazel asked after a bit longer in the conversation, "what do we do?"
Annabeth responded in the usual way when they faced a topic that was so unusual. A vote. Annabeth got everyone to raise their hand to either for or against. She abstained from the vote because she wanted to be impartial and she wanted to see what Percy was thinking.
Jason walking to the office with a face of thunder. Him being chosen next to see Percy was not changing his mind on his vote. Did the Coach really have to escort him? Not like he would fly out the window. There was none on the floor.
Coach stopped,grunting "Knock on the door,cupcake."
The door creaked opened followed by Jason marching like a perfect soldier into the room. The son of Jupiter had no expression. Percy hated how the old praetor was so darn serious. A game he created would hopefully bring out the sense of humour.
"Hello Pichu, please take a seat." Percy pointing to the chair.
"Ave Percy, please my name is Jason." Jason said with his old authority emotionless tone. He sat on the chair, which changed from the colour of fire to a sky blue.
Jason voice asked it all as he said,"wait what? "
Percy winked,"Spoilers."
"Whatever Percy." He bothered not to argue since he was used to the antics of the immature son of Poseidon,"Can we just get on with this charade? I want to go back to reading the newspaper?"
Percy tutted with disapproval "You really are like captain America, dude you need to relax if you want to survive Camp Half-Blood. Luckily I have an awesome solution to help you!"
Jason turned as pale as a Boread he did not like the idea. APAHI should have listened to him. Trying to get out of the pit of Basilisks he was in "No its fine you don't have to, I like being Captain America."
Percy smirked look like an unsteady god as he pulled out a board game. The title showed the symbols of both camps and the title was 'Unite'.
"Now be warned playing this game, will make you laugh, possibly maimed, and in the worst case be kicked out of the camps."
Jason echoed,"Kicked out of the camps?"
Percy was giddy, he nodded. "This will be great!"
Jason tried to share his enthusiasm,"Yes...great..."
Percy set the game out, the board has two circles at the end, one for camp Half-Blood coloured in orange and the other for Camp Jupiter. In the middle was a giant green circle with the word 'United!' There are four figures. Jason figured for the game he is Captain Marvel and Superman. Percy has Aqua-Man and Spider-man.
Jason was amazed by the board-game. Percy thought a lot for something everyone expected was an impulsive decision. Percy started to explain the rules.
1. You win when your two pieces are in the circle labelled united.
2. There's no dice, so to move every turn an opposite player picks up a card from the pile of special tasks that are created just for you.
3. The tasks you complete will either let you move 1,2 or 3 spaces ahead.
4. You get to move an extra space if you manage to blame Leo for your task.
5. Fail to complete a task and you go back to the start.
"Those are the basic rules to the game, meaning I haven't thought-"
"Percy?"Jason hesitated to ask, he clicked his fingers and the son of Poseidon jumped like a scared dolphin, he quickly laughed it off saying he was thinking of the fun they will have. Jason was completely unconvinced but Percy was already talking again and being his usual self.
"Elekid you go first, who do you want to move first?"
Jason sighed resigned started pointing at Superman in the circle which represented camp Jupiter, Percy wondered if he should ask if he chose that piece because he felt like he had too because of duty. As he picked a card he wonder when he should approach the topic. Soon he figured.
"Wait!" Jason exclaimed raising his hand like a little kid who had saw a bee.
"Yes?" Percy gave him a long suffering tone of a teacher who needed caffeine.
"Did you create the dares yourself?"
Percy didn't even dignify that question with a proper response just uttered one name. Jason never had thought Percy would be desperate enough to make the deal with the demons of pranks. He should have just asked Hermes. He had at least mercy!
"You ready to go Sparky?"
Jason nodded; his face going back to look like that old man Hazel magic him into. Percy bellowed a laughed after reading what Jason had to do. The challenge was worth 2 space. As he told his patient, he felt the dread rolling like stones off a mountain from him. Jason tried to protest! Oh how he tried but Percy would not budge. Dreading the consequences Jason grabbed the bathroom pass which was meant to show Hedge he wasn't running, he was very strict about people leaving anything early.
Coach nearly did not believe him at first but Jason learned to be able to persuade even the most paranoid of satyrs from his Praetor days. He still got the lecture of,"don't be a Percy Jackson or Leo Valdez! Remember to come straight back! And with your clothes on!"
What did they do too have Coach add the last bit to every lecturing warning? Jason decided he didn't want to know. Ever.
He walked quickly to the bathroom, he actually did need to go. Two minutes later and washing his hands as every Roman who didn't wash hands would be chucked into a cave. After the time he was eight, never again would he forget to be sanitary. He still did not know how he hid his object needed for the task without getting caught.
Time for the mission... He walked to the Coach room. He noticed the many death threats on the celestial bronze door, most for Leo and Percy but what did Piper do to get the biggest sign? His stomach was like a tornado as he opened the door shaking a tiny bit, he opened the door. Inside was many posters of Chuck Norris with workout machines made specially for satyrs. He wasn't even sure how one worked when you have hooves.
The prank wasn't to do with any of this, Jason wasn't an expert with machine like Leo or Annabeth, actually he was probably as bad as Frank? He would ponder this list later, he has a prank to do...
Moving like a hawk in a hunt, he went to a shrine. The shrine was made of baseball bats. On the shrine was a signed baseball by his favourite player. No one was allowed to even look at the memento without a hoof to the shin, He reached into the pocket wishing his coin was still in there. He pulled out a similar ball with 'My Little Pony' stickers all over the surface. He was told to replace the ball with his own and hide the treasure. He wondered why he didn't just put stickers on the ball. Maybe Hedge would throw cans at them even more until they went overboard?
The next part was more difficult,if he hid it somewhere easy, Percy said the prank wouldn't count as it was likely sabotage on Jason part. Where to put it? Jason wondered if he could get to Leo work area. He had an idea that could work and get him an extra point. He got to the room in time. Now where did Leo keep the shells of the Archimedes spheres he had made copy off? He knew he could fit the ball into one of the dangerous spheres. The only problem was keeping the ball connected. Jason wondered if he could use air pressure to do this deed. He tried and while the metal seemed to have eaten a little of both sides. He thought it was a good enough try. He found the box where Leo keeps all his deadly inventions. Making sure the ball was in deep. He ran away as fast as his horse on a stormy day.
When he got back,he passed an interrogation off Coach Hedge. Sure he could have gave Percy to Hedge but he did the deed and would feel his goat like wrath. As he walked back into the room. Everything seemed eerily quiet,Percy was playing around with his pen; Riptide. Turning it into a sword and a pen. He stopped what he was doing.
Percy with an all knowing grin asked"How did it go?"
"I did everything you ask."
Percy cheered,"Well done! Now let's hope he doesn't accuse you, or you're dead!"
A defeated sigh,"I know..."
Percy turned Riptide back into a pen, intent to write. He got a notebook to write what he thought when he asked questions to Jason. He had now turned serious. The fun out of his eyes,fear for his friends safety shining like a clam hiding a pearl.
"How did you feel at the start and the end?"
"Nervous and terrified for both."
"Yet you did the task?"
"Yes, I learnt to never complain about a task,never mind how juvenile."
Percy nodded and wrote something down, "do you think sometimes we need something fun and immature to relieve the stress?"
Jason frowned thinking,"of course but that is not for everyone, I feel better when I can watch the world go by and not be the centre."
Percy realised he was finally seeing the true Jason,who wasn't boring and was a leader but was just intent on living his life in his own way. No wonder he liked Camp Half-Blood ,they let you be more your own person. Camp Jupiter was about being a part of a team where you lose your individuality, unless you cold prove you were unique. The people that tried normally ended in the fifth cohort.
Percy asked a final question,"Did you enjoy any part of the prank?"
Jason actually removed the clouds from his face and smiled,"actually yeah, hiding the ball was fun as I had to think of a way to do so."
Percy grinned, glad he had, made him have a little fun. Maybe there was some hope for commander Jason. He noticed that the session was ending. He told Jason his prank would be done in his next session. Waving him off, he asked him to get his next victim(not his word). Jasonas quick as the flash,vanished from the room. Minutes later he could hear Coach shouting and blaming Valdez. He moved Jason piece three spaces up. Putting his game away. He brought out two lists one for jobs and another for universities.
Frank Zhang would be his next patient.