[hr][h1][b][i][color=6666FF][center]Demetri Rowan Howell[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/363556781537886208/798734025891381278/71e249273043b0a4e3f60ba9e14cb059_1.jpg[/img][/center][hr][center][color=6666FF][b]Location[/b][/color]: Sewers
[color=6666FF][b]Skills[/b][/color]: [/center][hr][hr]

Silence filled the air for a moment as some awkward tension built by. He wasn't sure if there was any history between them all, well who was he kidding ofcourse there was, but whatever the reason he couldn't stand the silence.
[Color=6666FF]" Soooo that Nancy chick, whats her deal? Is she like head leader or something?"[/color]

[color=9e005d]"Yes, something like that. She's what we call a praetor. Two are elected at a time, and they act as executive officials, making a majority of the big decisions. Realistically, it's a position that should be granted to someone a little more...put together than her [i]royal highness[/i], but daddy scored her a spot on top when she first came here, and then killed a lizard, soooo...naturally everyone thought she'd make a phenomenal leader,"[/color] Leandra explained as they walked, the sarcasm and contempt audible in her voice, words dripping like poison.

Demetri immediately recognized her tone and inflections as she spoke. It wasn't too disimular from how his parents spoke about some of their bosses. He didn't want to touch a nerve, but if he was going to be fighting under her then he would like to know who she was. [Color=6666FF]"Oh I see."[/color] There was a slight pause as he thought about his next question. [Color=6666FF]"Who was her father? If I may ask that is. Is she a Big Three too?"[/color] He punctuated the title with air quotes as if to mock it, not wanting to let on of his lineage should it make her dislike him as well.

Leandra, for the first part of their conversation, had largely kept her eyes in front of her, straight-faced with her mind half on the battle to come. But when Demetri risked sacrilege, the blonde girl couldn’t help a small smirk from stretching up across her lips. 

[color=9e005d]”No, not quite. She’s the daughter of Apollo. Which would explain why she always thinks she knows all. And probably why she loves the sound of her own voice so dearly.”[/color] she joked at the expense of the audiokinetic oracle. The edge remained in her voice, but none of it seemed to be pointed towards Demetri.

Apollo, that made sense. It appeared that was a familial trait then. Loving their own voice, stepping on others toes, thinking they know so much and just being a general jerk. [Color=6666FF]"Oh we have one of those. His names Zeke, huuuge pain in the ass and just will not stop talking. Honestly he loves hearing himself so much that I almost think he's a son of Narcissis."[/color]  The mood seemed to have changed, almost more into an idle gossip for Demi as opposed to what it was before. He tried to imagine what it would be like if Mr.D and Charon were replaced by Zeke, immediately regretting the idea as he imagined an intercom system being implemented for him to just speak all day for all to hear. 

[Color=6666FF] Should I know anything about where we're going? Who to talk to down there and if there's anyone worth hanging with? I'm not gonna lie I was real nervous about this first meet up but you're not bad, so maybe the other Romans aren't either. Honestly I expected a town of military brats or something."[/color]

A small, audible puff escaped Leandra’s nose at the mention of this Zeke character, the kind one makes in place of a laugh. [color=9e005d]”Sounds like quite the charmer. I’d pay all the money in the world to lock them in a room together,”[/color] she replied as they got nearer to their destination. She gave his question a bit of thought, before her smirk split into a grin. She had to put effort into suppressing it into a small, professional smile. 

[color=9e005d]”I suggest first informing the fifth cohort’s centurions of your presence. They shouldn’t be hard to find, just look for the people gazing calculatingly at those trudging along in the filth of the sewer. After that, however,”[/color] Leandra paused for a moment to glance appraisingly at Demi, before continuing. [color=9e005d]”I think you’d get along particularly well with my Uncle Marco. He shouldn’t be hard to find. Just look for the most attractive couple in there, a young black man and a white girl, Emily. And I expect you’ll find a purple-haired girl following the two of them around like a puppy, she’s been hanging around them quite a bit recently.”[/color]

The leader of the fifth what now? Was all Roman stuff this complicated? If Demetri was being completely honest, he was probably going to skip that step. Any leader who just stood by instead of helped wasn't worth talking to. He'd chat with Marco, Emily, and the purple haired girl and see what they had to say. Maybe they could speak to their leader for him. By the time it all reached his mind he had realized what Leandra said. Stopping dead in his tracks for a split second, staring off before continuing on once more. [Color=6666FF]"I wasn't aware we were heading to the sewers. Is this a Roman thing or is she just a bitch?"[/color]

[color=9e005d]”Both, I’m afraid. The sewers do need to be protected, but the fact that that job lies in the lap of the fifth cohort alone lacks justification,”[/color] she explained, before quickly realizing that she’d best explain the idea of cohorts to him if he was to understand. [color=9e005d]”See, when one arrives at Camp Jupiter, they’re put in a cohort based their letter of recommendation. The fifth is where those with the least impressive letters to no letters at all go, so they tend to get the short end of most sticks. It’s a nepotistic tradition that [i]I[/i] would’ve changed, were I elected praetor.”[/color] she let out a deep sigh, before shaking her head. [color=9e005d]”You’ll have to forgive me. I’ve yet to learn when to stop campaigning.”[/color]

Demetri watched her as she spoke, scarcely paying attention to the road ahead. It made no sense to him how anyone got letters of recommendations, or why they would be sorted in such a manner. It was almost as if they were begging to be pitted against one another. Granted Camp Half-Bloods wasn't perfect, but it certainly seemed nicer than whatever this gap they were building is. He gave the blonde a warm smile as she apologized, shaking his head slightly. [Color=6666FF]"Don't apologize for who you are. You're passionate and that's what helps others, not some title bestowed upon you because someone wrote a dawned letter."[/color] 

By this point they had arrived at the sewers, Demetri looking down with trepidation. [Color=6666FF]"Thanks for all the information by the way. I really appreciate"[/color]

Leandra’s edge softened, and a small smile stretched back across her face, though this one contained less wit and arrogance than her normal half-smirks. It was gentle, almost grateful. [color=9e005d]”We were all skeptical when we heard news of the Greeks coming to New Rome. But should’ve learned by now to expect the most of those from which our dear praetors expect the least. Thank you, Demetri Howell. I wish you luck in the battle to come.”[/color] The girl turned around, gearing up to head back to her cohort, but she stopped. She turned back to Demi, and daintily reached a hand into her purse. When she with withdrew it, a small, half-empty box of Tic Tacs were in her grasp, which she offered to the young Greek. [color=9e005d]”Here, you might need this.”[/color] she added with a smirk, before spinning back around, and sauntering off.

Demetri looked quizitively at the gesture but took it anyways, popping it in before mentally preparing himself for what was about to come. Holding his breath as he descended down into the sewers. Sadly he still needed to breathe, and he let out a large gasp of air as his body rejected his attempts at holding his breath. What came next was horrible, having to breathe back in and take in the aromas of the sewers, he did all he could not to gag, shifting his focus on finding this trio of demi-gods. [Color=6666FF]"Maaaaarco. Marcooooo."[/color] He almost felt as if someone would yell Polo soon, or attack him for invading their sewers. As he stood around listening to the sounds that echoed in the chambers, he found no one calling back to him. Demetri decided to begin moving about, calling out for this man in hopes that he'd hear back. Not long after however he ran into what Leandra described as an attractive couple, and she wasn't wrong. There was a statuesque beauty from both of them, even if there was concern laden on their faces. As he approached closer he noticed the purple haired girl was on the other side of a hole. [Color=6666FF]"Hey I was sent by your Niece Leandra, is that like the break room or something?"[/color]