[center][h1][i][color=#B7B7B7]Dorian Underwood[/color][/i] & [i][color=DBA901]Lukas Cresswell[/color][/i][/h1]

[color=662d91]—   ۵    ۞    ۵   —[/color]
[center][img]https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/gettyimages-1183878663.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.716xh;0,0.0717xh&resize=480:*[/img][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/3777a091a27992132d9696609c5fd527/tumblr_nb2t90Vv9O1s01rrio1_400.jpg[/img][/center]

Location: Outside the Big House; Camp Half-Blood [/center]

Dorian sat on the edge of his bed still not having bothered to unpack after his conversation with Erin. He still had a few things scattered on his bed. He had really just been lost in thought and worry for the others.

The sound of the of the camp's intercom jerked him out of his mind and into the real world. "Alright you lazy blighters. I want to see the following demigods in my office: Kyrin Nahng, Vivian Lucasta, Elias Schneider, Greyson Davies, Anzu Ito, Levina Engracia, Dorian Underwood, Zane Blacklight, and Michael Stevenson. I also want to see Sawyer Lockwood. Now. Might be an immortal, but I'm not going to waste my existence waiting on you lot."

What would Mr. D want with him? It wasn't until he called on the Satyr Sawyer that Dorian came to the realization that he was being sent on a quest, but not just any quest. The beginning of summer typically brought many new claimed demigods to the camp. Some who unfortunately had to run away from monsters who suddenly uprooted their lives. But why were so many campers going this time? He was sure he'd find the answers to his questions in Mr. D's office.

Dorian stretched before hopping off the bed. He walked towards the door and reached for the knob before pausing. He wanted to shadow travel, but he remembered Mr. D's warning from the last time he made an impromptu travel to his office about how he'd turn the water inside his body into Diet Coke if he ever did it again. He shuddered at having to remember the thought. He decided against shadow traveling outside the Big House since the last time he did Erin ran straight into him. Walking it was. What a drag. He finally opened the door and headed straight down the stairs to leave his cabin.

He didn't remember the walk ever being this long before. Did they add more cabins since the last time he was here?

Lukas began to restack the i-pads in his arms when he heard the announcement. His eyes nearly bugged out when he heard one particular name and he smiled politely to Mikhael and Elias. [color=#DBA901]”Ah, uh. Pardon me, sorry I couldn’t help you more Elias! Feel free to look around, BYE!”[/color] He then rushed into his office, placed the i-pads down, ran back out and put a Healer in charge while he was gone and then -sprinted- out of the Infirmary full tilt. 

What did Mr. D want with Dorian? A quest? Maybe escorting a new half-blood? Maybe it was the ‘big one’ that kept being discussed or the one he had been warned about for medical supplies. Regardless, it didn’t matter, Lukas just had to make sure he saw Dorian before he went into the big house. Immediately Lukas wanted to try an intercept-course based on the distance between the Thanatos cabin and the Big House but then he remembered that Dorian was actually quite talented at Shadow Travel and would probably just head over. 

This caused the Son of Apollo to flounder like a fish out of water as he rapidly changed direction and almost ran over a Satyr. [color=#DBA901]”Sorry!”[/color] Lukas yelled out as he headed for the Big House. There was no logic to why he was sprinting so fast or really why to meet Dorian before Mr. D did, but something was telling him that he [i]needed[/i] to go and talk with the Child of Death who happened to be the only person in Camp that could truly make his heart do back-flips. Sure there were a few other crushes but Dorian was different, if only Lukas could get up the self-confidence to actually TELL the dark-haired boy how he felt. 

Finally, Lukas made it to the Big House and stood panting like a racehorse after pulling the Chariots and looking very un-Lukas like.

Dorian arrived at his destination to see someone he hadn't seen for almost a full year. Lukas, the Golden Boy, Cresswell. But he wasn't looking so golden at the moment. He looked like he just had the race of his life and one he wasn't entirely prepared for. But Dorian wondered what he was doing there. He went over the names called over the intercom and Lukas wasn't one of them.

He walked over to his panting friend and eyed him curiously with a hint of concern. [color=#B7B7B7]"Hey, Luke. You okay? What're you doing panting outside the Big House?"[/color]

With head turning from left to right Lukas attempted to see where Dorian was coming from and both eyebrows raised as Dorian came walking up from the main path and the blonde sighed, eyes now rolling. [color=#DBA901]”Of course this time you decide to walk like a regular demi-god.”[/color] He shook his head, and then giggled. [color=#DBA901]”Oh right, uh… I heard your name being listed for a quest and I was just… Well, it sounds weird but I just felt like I should see you, that you might need me? It was weird?”[/color] Lukas realized that he sounded a bit insane, and perhaps he really was, but he shrugged and looked up at the house.

[color=#DBA901]”I got a warning note to prepare for a large quest and Zane, Kalinda, and a few others are getting supplies for it. But I thought that one had already been prepped. Is this one a new one?”[/color] It was probable that Dorian had absolutely no idea, but once again Lukas could only speak on his instinct and gut feeling that he should be right here, right now. [color=#DBA901]”Oh… And it’s really good to see you, I missed you over the break.[/color] It was said matter-of-factly but Lukas couldn’t help the soft tint of pink that flared into his cheeks and so the Son of Apollo looked down to try and hide it.

Dorian laughed at Lukas's joke about walking like a normal demigod and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. It was weird for him too. At least within the borders of camp. [color=#B7B7B7]"It's not weird. It could just be your Apolloan instincts."[/color] He said with a smile, but his smile faded at the mention of a large quest. If it was for something that he had already been made aware of it was likely Erin's quest. He felt a sudden pain in his chest where he was sure his heart was. [color=#B7B7B7]"I missed you too. The real world just doesn't feel right without my two best friends. Speaking off…"[/color] He looked down anxiously before looking back up. Bringing up Erin's quest was painful for him, but it was something he had to face. [color=#B7B7B7]"The quest you're thinking of may be Erin's. She's going to Rome to search for Aphrodite's dove. Which she's been accused of stealing."[/color]

The mix of emotions that ran across his face was rapid and sudden. Surprise, shock, disbelief, sorrow, determination, frustration. It was all there for at least a second before Lukas just shook his head and peered at the boy in front of him. [color=#DBA901]”Erin… Steal, but why would they think…”[/color] He sighs and just shakes his head. [color=#DBA901]”I have to find her too before she leaves but Dorian are you?”[/color] There was a bit of hesitation as he sensed the pain when the dark-haired boy had to talk about the quest. So instead, something came over the blonde and he pulled Dorian into a hug and squeezed tightly. [color=#DBA901]“We’ll get through this.”[/color] His brain then caught up with his thoughtless action and his pink cheeks turned a much darker shade of pink. [color=#DBA901]”Er… Sorry.”[/color] He coughed and took a step back that may not have helped depending on how much of an invasion the hug was perceived as.

Dorian was caught off guard by Lukas' hug but it was honestly much needed. It was similar yet different to the hug he received from Erin, but with that one he had to be the strong one and comfort his friend who was facing a nightmarish fate while breaking the news to him that he couldn't be there to help her. But here he was the one being comforted. His best friend and his new brother were going on a quest where someone's soul could be taken. Quests were already dangerous enough with monsters attacking them everywhere they went, but taken souls weren't so easily turned and he hoped so badly that nothing would happen to them. [i]Any[/i] of them. But once Lukas hugged him for a moment he forgot all about his fears. In that moment there were no doomed futures, his friends were safe and they were home. He was home.

Reality resumed when Lukas let go and stepped back. [color=#B7B7B7]"No, it's okay. I… I actually really needed that. Thank you. I'm okay as I can be I guess. It's hard. I'm worried crazy about her and them, but I have to be strong, you know? Because if I'm not how can I expect her to be? But maybe this new quest for Mr. D will help me get my minds off things."[/color] Dorian realized he was starting to ramble and stopped himself. Was Spencer rubbing off on him already?

Lukas brightened when Dorian seemed to accept the hug and not pull away and Lukas made sure to fight down the butterflies that seemed to appear out of nowhere. [color=#DBA901]”Er, glad I could help. But Dorian, that means you’re going on a quest as well? How am I supposed to keep you company with Erin gone if you go off and leave me too eh?”[/color] His tone turned playful but Dorian knew him enough to know that Lukas was quite concerned. [color=#DBA901]”I mean, I guess these are some large groups so that’s good, but then again the more of you out there the more monsters migh…”[/color] He trailed off and then just hugged Dorian again. [color=#DBA901]”Ok, you go and get briefed. Come by my cabin when you’re done, I have something I have to tell you before you go, ok?”[/color]

Dorian was starting to feel how Erin felt when she had to leave him behind. Lukas was concerned for his safety on the quest and for his emotional well-being. It showed in his words and his hugs and he appreciated him a lot for it.

[color=#B7B7B7]"Okay, actually I'll stop by after I finish re-packing. That way I'm ready when they need me."[/color] He then turned to face the Big House, [color=#B7B7B7]"Here goes nothing."[/color] walking forward into an uncertain future, but as he did so he started to wonder what Lukas had to tell him so urgently that he had to run all the way here for.

With a deep swallow, Lukas could only nod his head dumbly as Dorian mentioned coming after re-packing. He had a few questions about that but decided now wasn’t the time. He stood silently as the Son of Thanatos headed to the Big House door and Lukas took a deep breath inward. Now he only had to figure out how to tell his best friend that he not only liked him, but like, liked him. Groaning, the teen backed up a few steps, turned, and ran off to his cabin, music would help.