[center][h1][sub][i][color=#000000]Brandon Murphy[/color] & [color=#918ABB]Erin Chase[/color][/i][/sub][/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/M7Lhe3H.gif[/img][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/8e36204829a612d00d3cd030d4dbd336/tumblr_ntuvvd5HiN1sdw8sao6_250.gifv[/img]
[b]Location:[/b] Ares Cabin, Brandon's Bedroom  - Camp Half-Blood; New York.
[sup][b]Interacting With:[/b] Each other [@Vicier][/sup][/center][hr][hr]
The son of Ares gently closed the door to the Hephaestus cabin behind him, a wide grin still plastered on his face as he rubbed a hand over the stubble on his face. His mind replaying what just happened a few minutes ago, his feet carrying him towards his own cabin without so much as a thought to it. The only thought that crossed his mind was the fact he may or may not need another shower, now. No matter what, the stupid grin on his face didn't change. He didn't care if the passing campers knew. Him and his reputation? They had to have known. 

Brandon pushed his way through his door, and just as he crossed over the threshold the thought crossed his mind that he'd left the revolver back at Ky' vie's.

[color=black][b]"Fuck,"[/b][/color] he mumbled under his breath. He shrugged it off and made a mental note to get it from her later. For now, he was focused on grabbing his things to head off to the Arena to train some. The son of Ares pushed himself up the staircase two at a time, crossing the distance to his bedroom door.. which was slightly cracked open. Bran hadn't remembered leaving it open but shrugged it off as he [i]had[/i] been in a hurry earlier.

Bran quickly noticed the dark figure sitting on his bed, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end, his hands balling up into quick fists. Nudging the light switch with his elbow, the light illuminated the room and revealed who the strange figure on his bed was. Cross-legged against the bed frame to his King-sized [url=https://www.primermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/masculine-bedding_feature.jpg]bed[/url], having apparently donned his favorite [url=https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/25db91be-2d68-43d1-810a-8706819868b0_1.423b6ab7daea75d85e476dfa4379ea8d.jpeg]hoodie[/url] that he clearly recalled had been hanging over one his armchair in the corner of his room.. was Erin. Erin Chase, herself.

The son of Ares snorted softly, slipping into his room and shut the door behind him. 

[color=black][b]"You know, if someone sees you in here there's gonna be a--"[/b][/color] As Bran drew closer, he could see the girl had streaks down her face. She'd clearly been crying. This morning's message from Mr. D and Chiron came springing back into his mind. Brandon moved over to the bed, sitting down half cross-legged with one foot still firmly planted on the floor. He reached a hand up and gently took her chin in hand, lifting her face up so their eyes could meet.

[color=black][b]"Hey, hey. No tears, alright? Dry it up, buttercup."[/b][/color] His hand dropped back into his lap, sitting back a little as he kept his gaze on hers. [color=black][b]"Chiron and Mr. D told us what's happened. Please tell me you have a better plan than coming here to ask me to try talking some sense into him."[/b][/color] The joking was light, and he tried to couple it with a bit of a smile but even Bran had a hard time seeing her this way. He never liked seeing his little sister so torn up, and so [i]afraid[/i].

[color=#918ABB]"..I-... I need you, Bee..."[/color]

One look into his eyes- those stunningly green eyes... The type of green that spoke deeply to the very soul of nature; that existed and could only be found in the lushest of rain forests. It was these very eyes that, for her, sparked that particular color palette she used whenever the art she was creating portrayed a landscape. The fresh wands of grass... the new buds sprouting... that deep emerald that ran through the leaves of the ferns as droplets of water rolled over them-... but for her, it meant more than that. And one look into the eyes of the man that was, through better and worse, her brother was all that it took for the walls that she kept up to come crumbling down completely. And body shifting where she sat, leg awkwardly twisting around underneath her; it wasn't long before Erin was crawling over the bed.

Closing the already small amount of space between them, and curling herself against him like a child seeking comfort. Her dark eyes shutting as she brought her head to rest over his collar bone, arms wrapping around his torso; her fingers curled. Clinging to him almost desperately.

[color=black][b]"I'm right here, Ren, w--"[/b][/color]

Brandon watched as she climbed over the bed and closed the space between them, curling up into his lap as she clung to him. The sight forced a frown on the boy's face, wrapping his arms around her in a firm, comforting embrace. Bran was never really the touchy-feely type, but Erin had always been a soft spot. [i]After what they'd been through together, how could she not?[/i] He gently rested his head atop hers, rubbing her back gently as he stared off at nothing in particular, deep in thought. He let the silence hang in the air for some time before he finally spoke up, keeping her wrapped up in his arms the way he knew she needed right now.

His voice took on a more serious tone but still remained soft as he spoke to her. [color=black][b]"Got a feeling you're not here just cause you needed a hug from lil' ol' me.. so, what's our destination? Have you assembled the Avengers yet?"[/b][/color] Bran cracked a bit of a smile, then, peaking down at her without moving too much.

The smallest shadow of a smile cracked across her lips as his words fell on her ears, only to settle in her mind. Our destination. She didn't even have to ask; aside from the way that he made her feel safe, he already knew why she was there. Knew that she wouldn't- that she couldn't do this without him. She hadn't needed to so much as utter a single syllable in the ways of asking him for his help, and he was already willing to throw himself into the quest with her. No questions asked. Both of them had changed so much over the last four years- neither of them could say that they were the same people that could be seen in the photos both of them kept, but... despite it all, when it came down to it, they were always in it together. The two of them.

[color=#918ABB]"..Roma..."[/color]

Pausing a moment, giving a chance for the knowledge of where this quest was going to lead them to sink in, Erin tilted her head back. Her dark eyes once more meeting with his as she gazed up at him from beneath his favorite hoodie, [color=#918ABB]"..as for the Avengers, I... have my playboy billionaire..."[/color] Again another smile; small as it was, remaining over her lips, she eventually gave a light shake of her head. Her eyes falling away from his to instead wander aimlessly towards the wall she was facing. Her body curling further into his gentle embrace, [color=#918ABB]"..honestly, I-I wasn't even sure I was going to do this- I was ready to just give up... to let your dad have me... and the others-... everyone kept saying 'we'... 'we're going to do this', or... 'we're going to succeed'. Things like that. It... it got too much, so I just... left..."[/color]

...[i]'you've gotta be kidding me..'[/i] he thought to himself. [i]Rome[/i]? Brandon pulled back a little to get a better angle on her just as she looked up at him. Smirking, he grabbed the hoodie and pulled it back over her head so that he could really see her. The Avengers reference only made his smile widen, but only for a moment. As her gaze fell from his, his smile slowly faded. His lips pressed together in a fine line. When she curled further into him, he only tightened his embrace on her, gently rubbing her back again as he'd done before while he listened to her. 

[i]"I was ready to give up...to let your dad have me.."[/i]

Brandon snorted softly, smirking a bit as his mind heard that a totally different way but tried to remain serious.. but his dirty mind won him over in the end, raising an eyebrow at her. [color=black][b]"Let my father [i]have you[/i]? Erin Maree Chase, I never took you for one to go sleeping around. With a god, no less!"[/b] [i]'One that's trying to kill you.'[/i][/color] he finished the thought in his mind, not wanting to completely damper the mood. He wanted to keep it light. She was in a fragile state and he knew it. Knew it better than he could even admit to himself.

[color=black][b]"Gonna let the time run out and have a go at my old man, are ya?"[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..fottuto idiota..!"[/color] Hand drawing back, the warmth spreading over her cheeks causing them to turn a bright shade of red, Erin brought her palm back down against his chest with a dull [i]'smack'[/i]. His jab, however gutter-driven it was causing the smile on her lips to grow just a tad wider. The clearly playful blow, in no way meant to hurt him- not... like she could anyway. Not really.

Brandon laughed, smiling from ear to ear at the smack and the blush that had painted across her face. The position that he sat was starting to get uncomfortable, snaking his hand under her legs and gently picked her up in his arms long enough to turn them around and sit cross-legged against the headboard as she had been before. Bran set her down gently in his lap with her legs draped over his, wrapping his arm back around her and rested his cheek atop of her head.

He had his own walls put up for those he dealt with on a daily basis, but as he sat there with his best friend, his sister, in his arms, he could feel them falling down. Like a drawbridge... It'd been some time since she'd come to him needing him like this. It was nice to feel needed.. as odd as that might be to think that Bran being needed was something he liked. It was different. The vulnerability wasn't entirely ideal, but being vulnerable around Erin was tolerable enough that it didn't bother him.

The son of Ares sighed softly. [color=black][b]"Well, if we're gonna do this, we should probably get a move on, Ren. We've only got a week to get this done... you have anyone else in mind to go with us?"[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..Ty... and Spence- there's no way in Tartarus that either of them would let me leave without them..."[/color]

Shaking her head lightly, mind drawing back to the scene that she'd left back in her cabin. Sure the guys wanted to prove that they were there for her, but... what good was that going to do if half of them continued to bicker with each other..? Tyler didn't seem to like Spencer... Spencer hated her cousin... Greyson just took it all in his stride and jabbed right back with the attitude, and she didn't even want to start about the looks she'd seen thrown back and forth between the two sons of Thanatos. The only two that had managed to keep from getting involved in the bickering had been Kyrin and Elias; though she was sure that both had their own opinions of the others.

Sighing, she once more brought her hand up to rest against his chest, [color=#918ABB]"..Carlos, maybe..? And... I don't know... we're meant to be chasing a damn bird so... Zeru..? Thunder-thighs can fly, right..?"[/color]

Brandon nodded lightly, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he thought about her choices. Counting himself and her, that would mean.. [i]six[/i]?

[color=black][b]"Six, huh? Hm.."[/b][/color] [i]Thunder thighs[/i]. He chuckled softly at the nickname, shaking his head at her. [color=black][b]"Yes, children of Zeus can fly."[/b][/color]

Six people. [i]But why?[/i] Bran was stuck on it, pulling back from her, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. [color=black][b]"What exactly did the Oracle tell you, Ren?"[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB][i]"..six figures, tall, stand strong in the East... a land of Pisa, pasta, and much art none the least..."[/i][/color] Staring blankly at her hand resting over his chest for a moment or two longer, Erin lifted her head. Once again letting her dark gaze draw up to meet with his. It was the second time she'd had to repeat what the Oracle had said to her; already she was sick and tired of it, but she also had a feeling that it was just how these things went, [color=#918ABB][i]"..while two might find love, one soul shall be taken... the Ladies dove shall be found, but what vengeance will it awaken..?"[/i][/color]

Brandon listened closely to her as she spoke, one eyebrow raised as she turned to look up at him. [i]'While two might find love'[/i].. The line made Bran suddenly uncomfortable, stiffening up a bit as he shifted in his seated position [sub](not in that way, you nasties!)[/sub]. [i]'One soul shall be taken.. the Lady's dove shall be found, but what vengeance will it awaken..?'[/i] Brandon's gaze fell from Erin's then, his eyebrows furrowed again as eyes absentmindedly fell on the door of his room.

[i]Would they find the dove, and Ares still take Erin's life? A soul shall be taken.. no.[/i] No, if it came to it, Brandon would take up arms against his own father, even if it killed him. The way the gods played with them was disgusting, forcing a frown to surface on Bran's face. He harbored no affections for his father, nor any of the other gods.. He couldn't care less what they thought but maybe seeing Ares' own son defending the girl, maybe he might see through his rage. [i]Maybe?[/i] Hell, that was like asking for water in an endless desert.

Brandon sighed heavily, turning his gaze back over to hers, his expression softening a bit. His tone playful as he poked her in her side with a cheeky grin, [color=black][b]"How many times have you had to say that one, today?"[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..twice... so far..."[/color] Squirming lightly in his arms; the gentle pokes at her side causing eyes to narrow in warning, though her smile returned, no matter how small. Gods, he could be such a shithead. He knew she was ticklish; but each and every time, he still pushed his luck... and each and every time, despite it all, she let him get away with it.

Rolling her eyes, Erin took a quick swat at his hand as she continued, [color=#918ABB]"..but hearing it-... I may have run away from the Oracle... That shit was straight out of horror movie; there was no way I was sticking around for whatever satanic sacrifice crap that bitch had going on up there... seriously; how many candles does one person need..?"[/color]

Bran chuckled at her squirming and batting at his hand, smacking the top of her hand tenderly. He laughed a bit, wrapping his hand back around her so she couldn't smack it back.

[color=black][b]"Oh, candles aren't that bad. Though the ones up there, you're right. Straight-up horror movie shit. Least get some scented ones, for the gods' sake."[/b][/color] Bran could hear movement outside his door, some of his siblings must have been wandering down the hallway as he could hear the footsteps carry off and fade. His attention came back to Erin, tilting his head to one side like a dog when they hear the word 'walk'.

[color=black][b]"If I'm gonna pack, you're gonna need to get up, goofball."[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..if I get up, I'm taking this hoodie with me."[/color]

Bran smirked, raising an eyebrow. [color=black][b]"Well, yeah.. what do you think I'm gonna do... rip it off you?"[/b][/color] He shook his head, the smirk only growing as he sat up, picking her up once more to move her off to the side of the bed before standing up, moving far enough away he wouldn't get smacked before saying, [color=black][b]"Just because I have a reputation to uphold when it comes to undressing women... no. You're... [i]beautiful[/i], Ren. But it's a hard no, from me. Kay? Just.. [i]no.[/i]"[/b][/color]

The pillow was sent soaring across the room before the words had so much as finished leaving his lips; her own turning even further up, and for the first time in quite some time, her features were lit up with her smile. A soft twinkle sparkling in her iris' as she slid off the edge of the bed. Getting back to her feet, [color=#918ABB]"You're such a dick, Bee. I seriously can't believe you even went there."[/color]

Brandon caught the pillow before it could hit him, laughing as he tossed it back onto the bed. [color=black][b]"Do you seriously expect any less from me? Come on. You know me better than that."[/b][/color] 

The boy wandered over to his closet and pulled open the door, moving over his sword and armor set he had lying on the floor as he tried to find his bag. Spotting it, it was located at the back of the closet on the opposite end from where he was currently looking. A great huff of a sigh passed through his lips as he tugged the closet door shut and opened the other side, leaning in to pull out his backpack before tossing it up onto the bed where they'd just been sitting.

She did. Erin could swear that she knew Brandon better than she knew herself; it was just a simple fact that it worked both ways. Hesitating a moment, her hands finding their way into the pockets of his hoodie, when she spoke again, her voice was softer.

[color=#918ABB]"..travel-wise, I-... I don't know what to do... I just know I want to avoid the Underworld..."[/color]

Brandon wandered over to his Chester drawers, pulling out clothing from each one of them and tossing them over his shoulder. His aim was for the bed but some fell short, falling to the floor. He didn't care, he'd pick them up when he turned back around.

[color=black][b]"Why, though? It'd be one of the quickest ways. Either that or shadow travel. You and Spence could take half the group each and get there. It'd be quite the jump, but... it's either that or risk flying. Driving is clearly out of the question and a boat would just take way too long."[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..it is the quickest way, yeah, but... taking that route means entering the Labyrinth..."[/color]

[i]Right.[/i] Brandon turned then and snatched up all the clothing that had fallen to the floor, stuffing them into his backpack without folding them up at all. [color=black][b]"Well, again.. could just shadow travel. It [i]is[/i] a far distance, though. You gotta be careful with that."[/b][/color] With that, his eyes turned up to meet hers. [color=black][b]"Spencer is from that area, isn't he? Should be easy to get a location to travel to."[/b][/color]

Remaining planted where she was, Erin followed his movements with a simple turn of her head. Her gaze trailing after him, [color=#918ABB]"..he kept talking about Wales... it's where he's from originally; same with fish-breath..."[/color]

Brandon chuckled softly. For some reason, he [i]did[/i] remember Davies was from Wales. He zipped up his backpack and reached into the closet, grabbing out his sword and his throwing knives, eyeing Erin. [color=black][b]"So.. are you gonna give me my hoodie back or am I going to have to pick another one?"[/b][/color]

Realistically, he was fine with it either way. [color=black][b]"Either way, we gotta hurry up and get a move-on, Ren. Time is of the essence."[/b][/color]

[color=#918ABB]"..it's cute how you think you're getting this back."[/color] It was a jab, a playful one, though even she knew that it was half-hearted. Really, she didn't want to think about the fact that she only had seven days. Seven days to find a bird or suffer. Gods, it sounded like something straight out of one of her novels. And she still needed to bust down her pride enough that to ask the others if they would even [i]consider[/i] helping her...

..she was really regretting the fact that she ever got up this morning...

Nodding her head lightly, however, Erin hesitated. Almost as though she were trying to work up the courage to do it before she eventually turned and left the room. Her shoulders hunching over as she made her way down the stairs, and out the front door of the Ares cabin. Not caring one iota of whoever might see her doing so.

[hider=Translations]
Fottuto idiota = "Fucking idiot"
[/hider]