This chapter doesn't have much bearing on the plot other than Percy earning ultimate respect from the campers and also being a complete and total dumbass all at once. But I love it.
Replies:
Guest: Eh, he didn't mean it. Luke's just very exasperated lol.
Undeath9087: Eh, the only people who know about Silena are Chiron, the girls and Luke. Silena doesn't even know they told Chiron. Though if she was around Luke it would be awkward lol. And yes, yes Percy would be a terrifying politician- and you may approve of how she wins over her constituents fully- aka the campers. Heheheheh
Percy didn't get much chance to rest after dealing with the crowd- she watched as they started to mill around, several of them leaving and Annabeth moved over to talk to Luke and Chiron- and Percy did see how relieved Chiron looked at that potential disaster being averted so swiftly. A point for her in her ever so humble opinion.
Her attention was quickly diverted by the feeling of Piper's arms wrapping around her from behind, pulling her back into the taller girls chest, and Percy tilted her head backwards, a smile playing across her lips as her eyes met Pipers. "Hey." Piper's voice was almost soft. "You did good Sea Star."
"Thank you." Percy turned her head to the side slightly so that she could brush her lips against Piper's, "So did Annabeth. And you, shutting them all up. It would have been a pain in the ass getting them to listen to me without that."
"I dunno." Piper's lips twitched. "You're pretty persuasive. You're a natural born leader, just like Carter is except your style of leadership would probably fit even better here than it does at the House."
"Piper-" Percy's face was flushed, "I'm not-"
"You are so a leader Percy." Piper's arms tightened around her. "And deep down you know it. You're just too humble for your own good."
"Oh just hush." Percy felt herself relaxing against Piper- until she spotted a familiar figure moving towards them, long sleek wavy black hair, bright blue eyes, she heard Piper's attempt to stifle a snicker and she elbowed the taller girl, pulling away from her and aiming a wry smile at the other girl.
"Hi-" she was clearly nervous and excited all at once, "We've met before. My name is S-"
"Silena." Percy finished, "I remember you." Hard to forget. That day had been the start of the newest chapter in her life after all. The start of her truly becoming involved with her biological fathers world rather than just being distantly aware of it. "You got me to sign your shirt right?"
"Yes!" Silena practically lit up, "I can't believe you really remember me- or that- I mean… that some of it's true- and that you know Annabeth-"
"I mean I met her after you." Percy pointed out. "And of course I remember you. I have a very good memory-"
"Bullshit-" Piper scoffed, which earned her an offended look.
"Bullshit- you take that back Piper I do not have a bad-"
"Under your bed." Piper's tone was deadpan and Percy felt her face burning with embarrassment. Because okay, okay yes maybe, just maybe Piper had a teeny tiny point there.
"You- I- just hush. Hush now."
That made Silena giggle, "I take it she's just touched a nerve there. I- gods I didn't think I'd get to meet you a second time let alone like this." And was it just Percy or was there that usual fangirl worship in Silena's eyes. "And- the books and movies- you really did some of that stuff-"
"I mean, not all of the details are accurate." Percy gave a sheepish smile.
And it really was just too easy to imply that her achievements weren't so extreme as in the books and the movies, as if they'd been over dramatized when in truth they'd mostly been downplayed. "But some of it. The bare bones are fairly accurate-"
"That's amazing." Silena breathed the words, "I- I bet Annabeth was so excited when she met you. She's so lucky."
"Well you're right about that." Piper chimed in. Which drew Silena's gaze to her.
"Hey- you're- earlier I heard you using Charmspeak." Silena was looking at Piper curiously, "I only know one other demigod who can do that- it's usually a trait of-"
"Daughters of Aphrodite?" Piper's lips twitched, "I know. Which from what Annabeth told us makes you my older sister right?"
"Yes." Silena beamed and gave a small nod, "It's great to have another sister here. The only other one of us who can use Charmspeak is Drew and she's not here at the moment. She sent a message saying that some crazy stuff happened at her school so –"
"Woah-" Piper's eyes narrowed and she held up a hand, "Drew… what's her last name?"
"I-" Silena blinked, "Why-"
"Wait-" Percy blinked. Drew. Something happening at a school… "Oh my god- Pipes you don't think-"
"I am praying not." Piper's face scrunched up, "What's her last name Silena?"
"Tanaka but wh-"
"Ughhhh." Piper let out a loud groan and Percy giggled, unable to help herself.
"Awe, poor thing."
"She's my sister?" the exasperation in Piper's tone made Percy's giggle turn into a loud laugh.
"Don't get too upset or I'll get offended. I happen to be good friends with your sister. She gets my love of all things fashionable-"
"Woah-" Silena's eyes flicked between them. "Wait- wait you're the actress friend Drew mentioned to me?" she demanded, her mouth dropping open, "Oh that bitch she knows I'm one of your biggest fans and she didn't tell me it was you! I am going to kill her."
"It truly is tragic." Percy gave a cheeky grin, "She could have been giving you a steady supply of signed pictures and memorabilia if only you'd known-"
"I- I mean I wouldn't want her to pester-"
"Percy wouldn't actually mind." Piper snickered and shook her head fondly. "She never does."
"It's flattering." Percy gave a small shrug of her shoulders. She wasn't going to pretend to be offended when she wasn't.
It was an honor to have so many people look up to her. "It'd be rude to just ignore fans. Though I admit there are limits."
"Which some fans have tried to cross." Piper's expression soured and Percy gave her an amused look.
"It's fine though, whenever they do I always have my own personal bodyguards there to defend my honor and reputation." On one memorable occasion when a teenage boy- around seventeen or so, had tried to steal a kiss from his 'favorite actress' Piper had got between them and broken the guys face. Which had made Percy feel all warm and bubbly inside. It wasn't that she couldn't handle stuff like that herself but it always felt nice having Piper and Annabeth stand up for her- and Annabeth had been if anything more brutal when one grown ass woman had gotten handsy trying to touch her hair. Percy was pretty sure that she'd broken that womans wrist. It had been highly entertaining at the time.
"I wouldn't-" Silena shook her head quickly, "I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience or anything I wouldn't ask- I mean that would be too much you're more than just an actress. You're not- I mean I know that you're a real person you can't just be at the fans beck and call all the time that wouldn't be fair."
And huh, Percy really did like Silena, and based on the way that Piper was nodding she did too.
"If only everyone thought that way. People act like being famous or having famous friends and family makes you public property." Piper huffed the words.
"Well no one will treat you like that here." Silena vowed, "I'll make sure of it. Though-" Silena's gaze focused on Piper, "I'll have to take you to see our siblings sometime. It'll be amazing I'm sure they'll love you-"
"Of course they will. Piper's an awesome badass."
"This coming from you." Piper snickered, "Miss 'The character has to ski down a cliff? And you want me to have a stunt double? No thanks-"
"I mean- if I can do them I don't see the need for a stunt double and I've never had a stunt that I can't pull off-"
"Is that true?" Travis and Connor seemed to appear out of nowhere, popping up on either side of Silena, with matching manic grins that made Percy grin back.
"You really do all of your own stunts?"
"Of course. " Percy's tone was mock offended, "What do you take me for, a coward?"
"So you must be pretty good at that sort of thing." One of them said, a gleam in his eyes, "At stunts-"
"You could say that-"
"Oh gods above-" Piper looked like she was torn between exasperation and amusement. "Honestly I'm not sure if I should be glad that Annabeth's not here or rushing off to get her. What are you boys planning-"
"Oh nothing big-"
"We were just thinking-"
"Of how cool it would be if you could do some crazy stunt on the lava climbing wall."
"That-" Piper paused, turning her head to focus on Percy, who suddenly had an almost worryingly magic gleam in her eyes.
"What sort of stunt did you have in mind?"
"You-" Silena blinked, "You can't be considering-"
"Now now Silena-" Percy raised a hand, "It's nothing to get all worried about I'm sure I've done crazier than whatever they're considering."
"Do a flip." One of the brothers grinned and Percy matched his grin as Piper tried to stifle her laughter.
"Hmmmm… how about we go a dozen better than that." She suggested, "Do either of you have a skateboard and are you able to set up any kind of ramp?"
Travis and Conner exchanged gleeful looks at that.
"Yes we have a skateboard."
"and yes we can set up some sort of makeshift ramp for you as long as you tell us where to put it."
"Then I think I have a plan. Pipes do you have your cell?"
"Of course." Piper rolled her eyes, "As if I go anywhere without it. I never know when you're going to call in need of rescuing."
"Rude." Percy poked her tongue out before focusing on the task at hand, Silena whisked off after them, wide eyed and anxious looking.
And soon enough it was all set up- Percy had got the sons of Hermes to set up two ramps, one just past the lava that pooled at the base of the walls, sloping down away from the walls, and one several foot away in the opposite direction.
Once she had the skateboard secured to her back Percy started to climb, carefully dodging the lava that trickled down from the top of the wall, reaching the top reasonably quickly with only a few minor burns- small spots nothing more.
And once she was at the top she unstrapped the skateboard from her back, eyeing the length of the wall- she could feel the shaking of the lava wall.
From what Annabeth told her after a time it would clash with the other wall and more lava would burst out and roll down the sides of the wall. Sure enough she felt the wall shake, and she braced herself as the walls crashed, shifting to avoid the lava eyes mapping out a clear path across the length of the top of the wall- thankfully it was long enough for what she planned and wide enough that she could just about pull it off whilst avoiding too many burns.
Then she was setting the board down and pushing off, building up speed as quickly as she could before she reached the edge and pushed herself up and off, crouching and clutching her board as she soared through the air. And she could see that a large crowd had gathered- and there was Annabeth stood by Piper's side, twitching with annoyance and amusement. And Chiron and Artemis looking horrified- no doubt they were thinking of what could happen if an Egyptian Princess died whilst at the Greek Camp.
Of course she couldn't focus on that. No she focused on shifting her body- she'd gotten enough air and distance- she would make it as long as she angled herself right- and then she was falling, and she managed to straighten midair as the wheels hit the top of the ramp and soared down it, she could hear gasps and whoops as she sped from the ramp across the ground towards the other ramp, she crouched again as she sped up it- the speed and force of the fall propelling her, and then she was in the air, kicking away from the board and pushing herself into a flip- which caused a loud whistle from one of the brothers- then she was falling and she managed to brace herself, grunting and rolling when she landed, her whole body jarred and aching- but she lurched to her feet in time for Travis and Connor to reach her, hiking her up onto their shoulders.
"PERCY! PERCY!" they were chanting and laughing, and several other campers joined in.
And as she was paraded through the crowds, Percy found herself beaming widely.
She might hate how the camp was set up. But there was something to say for the people.
