Rapture let go of Thalia's wrist and, walking with a prideful swagger, walked over to Nico, grabbing him by the chin and lifting his head until he was looking Rapture in the eye. After a few seconds of examining, Rapture let out a loud bark of laughter and turned to Serenity, letting out a wolf-whistle, " The kid's blessed. He looks exactly like you"
Curious, Serenity shifted in his seat and turned to face Nico, his trenchcoat billowing out behind like the wings of a raven, his misty black pupils narrowing slightly as he focused on Nico's features and tried to find similarities.
It was at that point that Nico suddenly noticed just how beautiful his elder brother was. His coffee-coloured complexion contrasted perfectly with his raven-black hair, which flowed from his scalp down to his shoulders like a gleaming ebony waterfall. His form was lightly muscled, and lithe, like a panther's, and small droplets of sweat glimmered on his collarbone like a pearl necklace. As he focused on Nico, the misty blackness that filled his eyes slowly cleared away, as smoke clears before a gust of wind, revealing light blue, crystal-clear irises that sparkled in the dim light coming from the crystals hanging from the dark, high ceiling of the hall.
It appeared that he hadn't been the only one to notice Serenity's beauty though. As he looked across the table, he noticed Percy, who was currently staring at Serenity ( to be more specific, his neck) in the exact same way he looked at delicious food. His eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly agape. He was beginning to drool
Nico resisted the urge to burst out laughing, " So much for being straight", he thought, " Although…", he turned to look at his, apparently identical brother, " I wonder if I ever had a chance", he thought wistfully.
Serenity, oblivious to the attention he was getting, frowned slightly and Nico resisted the urge to mourn the loss of that perfect forehead, " Yes. He does", Serenity said in a worried tone. Riptide looked shocked, " You don't think…", he began asking, before Serenity interrupted him, " It is a… possibility", he said, looking crestfallen.
For a minute, all was silent. Even Rapture looked taken-aback at that declaration.
Just then, Riptide loudly clapped once, breaking the awkward silence, " All right. Time for introductions !"
Riptide stood up, his sapphire robes flowing down his back like a waterfall, " I am Riptide, also known as Anaklusmos, the Lord of the Watery Depths and the Horror of the Deep. I'm a son of Poseidon. I was born in…." He seemed to think for a second before continuing, "… Greece"
Thalia looked slightly impressed, " The motherland ?"
Rapture snorted, " What are we ? Russians ?"
Riptide concluded, " That's all you need to know"
Serenity stood up next, speaking in a soft, melodious voice, " I am Serenity Spring, son of Hades. I am Latin-American by heritage, and British by birth. Second generation off the boat. I am also gay". He fixed everyone with a fierce glare. " If anyone has a problem with that, get out now"
No one objected, but Riptide started at Serenity's words, " We were supposed to give our sexualities as well. If so, then I am bisexual…" He paused for a moment before forcing himself to continue, "…. And transgender". His last statement had a bite to it, as if he was daring everyone to have a negative opinion, or an objection to his gender.
No one objected, which was good, because all three of them looked like they would have torn anyone who had to shreds. Rapture stood up next, " I am Rapture, son of Zeus. And no, I'm not white, even if I look like I am", he chuckled and pointed to himself.
No one laughed until a "stray" bolt of lightning nearly cut the table in half.
He continued " I am actually Polynesian by heritage. Fourth generation off the boat. I am also bisexual"
With the introductions for the elder demigods over, the younger generation began to speak
Nico stood up first, " I am Nico di Angelo, the son of Hades. I am Italian-American by birth, and I…."
He turned to look at Serenity, who spoke in a commanding tone, " No one needs to say anything they are uncomfortable saying"
Nico, with a look of supreme gratitude directed towards his brother, sat back down
Percy stood up next and began speaking, still staring at Serenity, " I am Percy. Percy Jackson. I am the son of Poseidon, and am American, sorry white, by birth. I am straight". " Liar", Nico muttered with a wry smile.
Thalia stood up next, " I am Thalia Grace, the daughter of Zeus, and Lieutenant of Artemis. I am American, and my sexuality hardly matters."
Rapture scowled, " Grace ? As in Jason Grace, the Despot of New Rome ?"
Serenity chuckled slightly, " Easy there, Cassius. We get it, you hate Rome"
Before Rapture could begin spitting lava at Serenity for that insult, Riptide turned to look at him with an exasperated expression, " Praetor, not Despot, babe"
Thalia and Percy both looked horrified at the implications of that final word, while Nico just felt amused. Rapture sat back down with a huff, " Same thing"
Chapter Management
Serenity suddenly became serious, and the smile faded from his face, " Still. Where are the others ? Why has the table only generated three sections ?"
Percy mouthed the word "generated", but Nico wasn't even faxed. He had seen far too much insanity to be faxed by something so simple
As a response to that question, Riptide stood up and stretched out his right hand with the palm facing upwards. The water at his feet quickly rushed up his body and formed a small floating heart above his palm
" Ruby", he began, " said that he was "out with the boys" . Presumably he won't be able to walk tomorrow "
Serenity chuckled, " Don't underestimate Ruby"
The heart dissipated and reformed into the head of an owl, " Owl said that family reunions "weren't his style " "
Rapture winced, " They're probably painful for him"
The owl dissipated and was replaced by a floating eagle , " Eagle is currently somewhere in the Infernal Mountains that form a ring around Camp Jupiter. The mountains contain the Ember-Inferno forges and fortresses, so he's probably gearing up"
The eagle was replaced with two digits - a hammer and a flame , " Ember and Inferno are, of course, forging the equipment"
The two digits faded and the water rose up again, forming a small wolfs head, " Zihuang, the Wolf, Lupus, whatever, is currently observing the other camp."
The wolfs head became a ravens , " Raven is ensuring that he won't go berserk and destroy the camp"
Rapture grumbled, " Honestly, we should let him"
Riptide grew grim, " A Sigil recently reappeared in the palace."
Serenity and Rapture blanched and their expressions turned into ones of pure horror, " Y-You can't mean..", Rapture began, looking as if he was about to faint.
Riptide nodded, " He has awoken. The most powerful among us"
He brought out a clenched fist and opened it , revealing a dark red, bloody sigil. A tall figure was bound in chains with a single eye open, revealing a blood-red iris.
"Prodotis, the Hanged King, son of Typhon, has returned"
Chapter Management