LUNCH FELT LIKE A FUNERAL PARTY…like he was the corpse of honor.
"Hmm, we don't generally call a dead person the 'corpse of honor' but it's got a nice ring to it." Hades said amusedly to his nephew
"Maybe we should start calling every person who dies 'corpse of honor' on the funeral. It has some respect to it as well." Nico said
"Don't get any ideas, both of you." Persephone chided them and Hades and Nico just gave identical sheepish grins.
Reyna made a brief speech...trip would help them if shown the letter
"Handy." Leo said in amazement
"That's pretty cool. Kind of like a letter of recommendation but still." Annabeth admitted
"An impressive letter of recommendation then." Percy grinned.
He also kept his leather necklace…They deserve to survive."
Everybody smiled at Percy for his love for his home but as well as the heart to save the people he barely knew.
The T-shirt didn't answer, thankfully.
The Stolls grinned at each other and then at Leo who winked back.
"The Hermes kids and Hephaestus kids on one side is soo not a good idea." Annabeth said with a shake of her head, looking genuinely scared by what the team could come up with.
"That's where you're wrong, Annabeth. It's a great idea." Connor grinned widely. Hermes laughed and Hephaestus chuckled.
One of their roommates…Gaea getting closer and closer.
"Sometimes that vivid imagination can really be a pain in the ass, isn't it, lad?" Hephaestus said
"In a way it helps imagine the worst case scenario at the moment." Percy said after thinking about it
"That's one way to think about it as well." Hephaestus said, impressed.
Work with me…I intend to save this camp.
"I do have a question, Perce." Beckendorf said
"Shoot." Percy replied
"If you hadn't been dating Annabeth at the moment-" Beckendorf shot Annabeth an apologetic glance but Annabeth gestured for him to continue. She didn't have a problem with him clearing any doubt in his mind. "-Would you have accepted Reyna's offer?" Beckendorf completed
"I don't think so." Percy sighed, looking at Reyna apologetically but she just nodded.
"Why not?" Beckendorf asked "Because it is a sweet offer when you think about it, y'know?" he said
"It is pretty sweet and I'm going to admit that but apart from the fact that power doesn't tempt me, I don't think I would be able to start a new life without knowing who I actually am, who I truly was before I couldn't remember shit. I don't think I would be able to forget that I might actually belong somewhere else but I was somewhere where I didn't know if I belonged or not. I don't think that I'd ever be able to feel at home." Percy said with a deep sigh.
"Also, when it comes to the matter of being a couple, I generally would want to really get to know the person, go through life-death moments or just moments in general and just feel a deep connection. I'm not really the type of person to look at just looks and maybe I could have understood Reyna overtime but I think that deep connection might never have come." Percy said, with a small smile and then looked at Annabeth where his love for her shone so brightly. Beckendorf nodded and smiled at Percy.
"Thanks." He said
"Thanks for asking." Percy said with a smile
"You did hope that I was wrong, right?" Aphrodite sighed to Reyna
"There was a time but not anymore. I'm the happiest where I am now." Reyna told her
Looking down at the valley…could share this place with Annabeth
"You know, all this is what makes you and Annabeth my OTP." Aphrodite said with a slight squeal causing Annabeth and Percy to turn redder than tomatoes.
"And here I thought that you'd be on your childrens' sides." Katie chuckled.
"I am. I am but percabeth is just…percabeth." Aphrodite said with a sheepish smile. Everybody thought that Percy and Annabeth couldn't turn redder but they were proved wrong.
"I mean I agree." Silena grinned.
"So do I though I don't exactly uh what do you say um ship people?" Beckendorf said with raised eyebrows at Silena to check if he was correct.
"That's right, my love." Silena chuckled fondly and Beckendorf grinned proudly.
They got off the elephant…headed back into the valley
"Imagine if this was a real taxi service. Elephant Taxi Service." Travis grinned
"ETS." Connor said with a matching grin
"Good idea but like, imagine just driving and just seeing an elephant or like multiple elephants just waiting at the airport or something." Chris said. The Hermes gang seemed to be imagining that and burst into laughter in unison at whatever mental image had formed in their heads.
Percy sighed…Mr. Rule Flouter
Everybody snickered at that.
"We have a new nickname apparently. Mr. Rule Flouter." Leo grinned
"Nah, stick with Aquaman. Mr. Rule Flouter doesn't seem right coming from your mouth." Percy said after thinking about it.
"True." Leo shrugged
Normally, yes, I guard the city…over here so I can pat you down."
"Sus stuff, man." Travis roared with laughter. This called all the ones who understood the joke to burst into uncontrollable laughter with tears in their eyes.
"Maybe we should continue." Athena said
"Did you understand the joke?" Apollo choked out
"I do not engage in such conversations and take no interest in such jokes." Athena replied.
"But you don't have—"…. "Uh, sure."
"Wise move." Dakota chuckled.
He stood next to the armless…"I declare this is stupid."
Everybody looked amused and some laughed.
"Hmph! Probatio tablet…throttle him with my bare hands."
The sea gang sucked in a breath.
"I hate Polybotes." Triton gritted his teeth.
"Yeah, not a fun dude." Percy shook his head
"At least, Terminus gave a warning." Amphitrite said with a sigh.
"Wait—who?" Percy asked…Out you go, now. Good luck!"
"Oh well, having a giant who's your father's bane sounds delightful." Rachel sighed
"Its amazing, you know. An absolute joyride." Percy said
"Yeah, totally. When you go visit two of the quest members fathers banes. That's a fun reunion." Nico deadpanned.
The other gods literally didn't know what to say while the House of Heroes chuckled.
An invisible force kicked them…he was a homeless wild child.
"Yeah, orphans who got separated from their circus caravan." Grover snickered. Annabeth and Percy grinned.
"Yeah, the circus caravan whose ringmaster told us to meet him at the gas station but forgot or meant a different one." Percy completed
"How do you still remember that?" Poseidon asked in amusement
"Hey, I told it and made it. Hard to not remember especially since it was totally crazy but worked." Percy grinned
"Firstly, all your plans are like that. Crazy but work." Grover said with a chuckle
"And secondly, it got us into trouble later on." Annabeth chuckled. Percy grinned sheepishly.
"Technicalities." He said
Frank had stored his spear…mortal world scared him anymore
"True. Fighting monsters and worse has that effect." Pollux sighed.
In the late afternoon… "No way."
"Damn, you guys need a better navy." Beckendorf shook his head. The Greeks nodded while Poseidon just sighed.
"I believe improvements are in order." Frank nodded "I can let the new praetors know." He said
He uncovered the boat…"This'll do," he said. "Hop in."
"Got to make do with what you have." Percy shrugged.
"True words there, brother." Thalia said
Hazel and Frank looked a little…my important little pawn
"I'm no pawn of anybody's. At this point its just annoying and amusing when the villains call you pawns. I mean you had all those millennia and the best you can come up with is 'pawn'. Like, improve your vocabulary." Percy shook his head
"You're just more disappointed than angry." Nico chuckled.
"Exactly!" Percy said.
"Get off my ship,"…heading for the Golden Gate Bridge.
"Chapter's done." Apollo stated
"I'll read." Athena said.