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[color=2e2c2c]............[/color][color=f7941d][b]#f7941d[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]black hoodie[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]entrance > his cabin[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]........................[/color] [color=c7b29b][b]#c7b29b[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/dAJ1F7M][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]activities field > ace's cabin[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/abg0vvh][color=9b9b9b][b]rocco[/b][/color][/url]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]The last twenty-four hours was nothing short of a fever dream. In life, there were too many coincidences… too many times Ace dodged disaster without understanding how, including the other night. He met a God, who turned out to be his father. He watched this ‘de facto camp leader’ perform some form of Earth Magic? Right in front of him. His eyes scanned around, to watch the reactions of those around him. Who else was surprised? Who else was new here? Not new to the location, but new to [i]this[/i]. Because Ace’s mind was still scrambling to fit all that he’s witnessed, into the rules he’s always known.

“Son of Hermes.” “Daughter of Hecate.” It felt like he jumped into one of those - “Parry Hotter” - type of movies Jordan would force him to watch all-day. But these weren’t special effects. This wasn’t a street magician’s sleight of hand trick. This was real. Ace rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling another wave of exhaustion creeping forth. He made his way to the board after ‘Andromeda’ made her exit, and grabbed one of the maps. The woman simply said to claim a cabin, and Ace knew immediately which one he wanted. Fourteen seemed the furthest from any social activities. Not too close to the beach or the activity field, which should mean privacy. Solitude.

[I][b]Thwack![/b][/I] Ace was no longer lost in his train of thought during his walk. Packed tight and wet, a snowball whacked him in the side of the head with surprising precision. The impact jerked his head sideways, his hood flying back to expose his bruised face to the cold. He froze in place, blinking snowflakes from his eyelashes. His fists curled, expression sharpening into a scowl. A puff of breath escapes his lips, curling like smoke in the frosty air. His hair - already more brown/orange than blonde from Arizona desert dust and dried blood - now damp. He slowly turned to face the source.

[color=f7941d]“You got two seconds to explain before I bea-”[/color] Ace shut up, once he saw the grey puppy and small woman that accompanied him. [i]‘Calm… down…’[/i] he thought to himself. The anger still buzzed in his veins. The night before, the irritation of his arrival, all of it. But he allowed his expression to soften. He bent on one knee, ignoring the cold of the snow as it crept into his knee. He slowly reached a hand out.

Sloane gasped, snow covered hands clapping over her mouth in shock, but mostly embarrassment. Her face quickly flushed, turning far more red than the cold was ever able to accomplish. [color=c7b29b]“Oh no,”[/color] she muttered into hands, hurrying over to the guy to make sure he was ok.

[color=f7941d]“Can I pet him?”[/color] He offered a warm smile, a contrast to his horrible face. [color=f7941d]“I don’t mind if he bites, I can handle it…”[/color] Ace made sure to lock eyes with the woman, not hiding the fact that his gaze was taking in every detail of her face. 

Truth be told, he noticed the puppy before he noticed her. She was almost… invisible, and Ace wouldn’t let anything go unnoticed by him any longer. His eyes gracefully traced her sharp cheekbones that caught the light like sculptures. Her flowing hair framed her face like the brushstrokes on a river painting. His eyes caught hers once more - brown, but opaque, a pair of antique mirrors reflecting thoughts she hadn’t spoken. She was beautiful, all things considered. Ace had her down, and now he wouldn’t forget. Couldn’t forget.

[color=c7b29b]“Oh, yeah. He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.”[/color] Sloane replied quickly, half sweeping her answer under the rug. She couldn’t care less if he pet Rocco. She was far more concerned about her abysmal first introduction with someone new at camp. It was that sort of thing that kept her hidden away like the mouse everyone assumed her to be. [color=c7b29b]“I’m so sorry. I have the athletic coordination of a blind panda.”[/color] Her fingers nervously fiddled with one of the large buttons on her coat. She had an entire second round of word vomit loaded and ready to fire, but when she finally lifted her eyes from the velvet cloth she was met by his own intense, unapologetic gaze.

Sloane usually grew uncomfortable at prolonged eye contact, yet her gaze didn’t waiver so long as his remained fixed on hers. His eyes were darker than any she had ever seen before, like the sky on a starless night. But even in their void, they didn’t carry a foreboding sense of dread as one might imagine. His presence was like an inkblot on the pure white canvas of snow. Everything about him was dark, from his eyes, to his snow soaked hoodie. She stood frozen, not from the cold, but from his piercing gaze that studied her intently. It was only when he looked away that she noticed the shades of purple and blue that surrounded the dark pools of his eyes. 

[color=c7b29b]“Oh my Gods,”[/color] she whispered and fell to her knees in front of him on the other side of Rocco. She hardly noticed the cold as the snow dampened the edges of her skirt. Sloane leaned forward to gently cup his jaw in her petite hands. She was [i]not[/i] the type of person to invade someone’s personal bubble, especially not touch them, but in that moment her inhibitions took a back seat to guilt and panic. [color=c7b29b]“Did [i]I[/i] do this?”[/color] She muttered under her breath, more to herself than him. No, this couldn’t have been her. Bruises don’t form [i]that[/i] quickly. Sloane could barely open a jar on her own, there’s no way she could have done that… [i]Right?[/i] 

She gingerly tilted his head from one side to the other while her eyes frantically assessed his wounds. The pale skin of his face looked like an aurora from all the shades of blue, purple and tinges of yellow that bloomed across his nose and surrounded his right eye. His nose, which might have once been straight and sharp, was swollen along the bridge. Her left hand hesitated before brushing his damp curls out of his face to get a better look at his eye. He was rough around the edges, but even beneath the bruises she could tell he was handsome, if not also reckless. Sloane tilted her head to the side slightly, a sympathetic smile graced her lips as she dropped her hands. [color=c7b29b]“I’m sorry if I made it worse.”[/color] She finally broke the silence. [color=c7b29b]“Is there anyway I can help?”[/color]

[color=f7941d]"Um..."[/color] Ace murmured as he kept his eyes fixated upon the grey puppy. He gave Rocco pats on the head, scratches under the chin, that then led to bully rubs. What initially was a genuine interest in the dog, turned into a distraction to avert his eyes as Sloane's tender, soft touch moved his head around and brushed the hair out of his face. A subtle pink color rose from his neck to his cheeks. Now what the fuck was this feeling? There was no way in hell, he felt nervous. Uncomfortable? A more, comfortable, description. The feeling of someone else analyzing him, potentially wanting to remember his every detail, for a deeper plot which made him uncomfortable. Yeah, that worked for him. He cleared his throat before his gaze met hers, once more.

[i][color=f7941d]"Yes, you actually dislocated my nose again!"[/color][/i] Ace thought to himself. He could probably make that work. With how bruised it was, could she tell the difference? [i][color=f7941d]"I thought I had a concussion already, now it's confirmed!"[/color][/i] That thought in of itself was pretty idiotic. Was this girl really that dumb to believe a snowball would cause a concussion, of all things? There was no way to flip the situation. He felt his anger subsiding. Just a dumb mistake, wrong place... wrong time. Ace allowed himself to blink, noticing he spaced off for a second... again.

[color=f7941d]"Sorry about that, it's been a long night."[/color] He stood and reached down to help Sloane to her feet. Though, with how light she was, the lack of resistance accidentally lifted her to her feet in one smooth, unintended motion. She practically floated off the ground before Ace steadied her, hands catching her waist before she could even wobble. He let go and took a singular step back, for her comfortability's sake. [color=f7941d]"I'm... fine, thank you. I'm sorry that you got your skirt wet. You didn't have to do that on account of me..."[/color] He pulled his hood back on. His brows furrowed as his hands slapped against his two hoodie pockets, and then his jeans, as he patted for the map. It was missing, and he had no idea where it'd gone. Did he drop it when she struck him with her special attack?

When he offered her his hand, Sloane hesitated before lightly resting her palm against his. [color=c7b29b]“I can imagine—”[/color] Her words caught in her throat, startled at how easily she was lifted up. She gasped as she went from kneeling in the snow, to standing with his hands on her waist. Sloane didn’t quite know how to react, standing a bit frozen, flushed and wide eyed until he took a step back. She cleared her throat and ran her hands along her skirt making sure it laid flat and wasn’t hiked up anywhere. The damp fabric clung to her knees but otherwise wasn’t too bad. [color=c7b29b]“You’re fine—It’s fine. Clothes dry.”[/color] The tip of her middle finger ran along her temple, hooking around loose hair and tucked it behind her ear. [color=c7b29b]“It’s nothing compared to a snowball to the face,”[/color] she added with a sheepish smile and weak laugh.

[color=f7941d]"Actually, is there something you can do for me?"[/color] He asked, flashing a smile once again. [color=f7941d]"I uh... lost my map. You wouldn't happen to know where cabin fourteen is, would you?"[/color]

At the mention of something being lost, Sloane reactively looked around trying to see if the map was somewhere nearby. You’d think something like that would stand out against the white snow. It took a second for her to register what he said. [color=c7b29b]“Oh, fourteen?”[/color] Her gaze found its way back up this. His smile wasn’t big and toothy. It was simple and charming, creating creases in his bruised skin. [color=c7b29b]“Yeah, that’s right near my cabin. I’m in sixteen,”[/color] she added with a small mousey smile that matched her petite and unassuming demeanor.

She looked down at the grey pup, her smile growing slightly. [color=c7b29b]“Alright Rocco, back home.”[/color] He barked, jumped, and spun in a couple circles before running off in the direction of the stables. Sloane started after him, her boots crunching the fresh powder under heel. After a few steps, she looked back at the bruised demigod. [color=c7b29b]“It’s this way.”[/color] She motioned her thumb over her shoulder in the direction Rocco ran off in, beckoning the guy to follow. 

Ace nodded and followed along. He was impressed by how well-trained Rocco was. Most dogs where he was from were strays, and half the time turned out to be coyotes in the distance. Snow, well-trained dogs, magic... he was definitely out of his element. Ace kept his hands stuffed in his pockets and kept a reasonable distance, a foot or two behind Sloane. His boots crunched softly in her wake, and for a while, that were the only sounds made between them. The last thing he wanted was to make this woman uncomfortable. Nestled among the trees, the outline of various cabins began to emerge. He could only imagine that they were relatively close, but he still had no information about Camp Athens and what this whole ordeal was. Finally, he broke the silence.

[color=f7941d]"Name is Ace, by the way..."[/color] He quickened his pace for a second, so he was now walking adjacent to her. [color=f7941d]"So, did you always know about... this?"[/color] He gestured with his arms, to encapsulate what 'this' meant. [color=f7941d]"Or did you find out, and have your head all fucked up like mine is right now?"[/color]

Sloane slowed herself, allowing her pace to sync up with his. [color=c7b29b]“I’m Sloane,”[/color] she replied, offering up her own name along with a small smile. [color=c7b29b]“Umm,”[/color] she inhaled deeply trying to decide how to reply. No one had ever asked her about how she found out about her mother, or her life before camp honestly. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest like a reflex when asked a personal question. [color=c7b29b]“No, I knew for awhile… Several years before camp.”[/color]

She caught a glimpse of a wagging grey tail as it started rounding the corner toward the path that led to her cabin. Sloane whistled to get his attention, then called out to him. [color=c7b29b]“Rocco!”[/color] The puppy quickly grabbed a stick that was half submerged in snow and ran back to them. 

Her pace slowed, gaze fixated on no particular point the snow. Sloane’s hand slipped under the collar of her coat to rub her neck. [color=c7b29b]“[i]Politics was no place for a girl,[/i]”[/color] she quoted her father with a forlorn look in her eyes. [color=c7b29b]“My father sent me away to be [i]molded[/i] by my mother. I was with her for a couple years. But I wasn’t told about camp until shortly before we were sent here… My brother and I,”[/color] she brushed off the tail end of her answer, hoping not to linger on Sylas if she could help it. She answered Ace’s questions, albeit vaguely, but she doubted he wanted the entire story of her life. People rarely cared. 

Sloane’s steps slowed as she turned to face him, looking up into his eyes shadowed beneath his messy curls and hood. [color=c7b29b]“Did your parents spring it on you?”[/color]

Ace caught on to that. It was something about the way she hesitantly mentioned her brother that caught his attention. Dead sibling? A strained relationship? He wasn't sure, but he would make note of it to see if he could find anyone that resembled her later. It was clear she didn't want to speak on it, and it wasn't his place to push. Still, her story told him that he could expect to find people from all upbringings. Ace just found out. Sloane was raised, or rather, 'molded' by her own. Ace reached down to grab the stick from Rocco, tossing it not-too-far ahead in an attempt to play 'fetch'. This would be his first time. [color=f7941d]"Uh, yeah kinda..."[/color]

[color=f7941d]"I mean, my mom's not here anymore,"[/color] Ace looked down at Sloane with a notable lack of emotion in his eyes when speaking said statement. Acceptance, guarded, or uncaring was completely impossible to discern. [color=f7941d]"But Hermes, I met him last night actually. Guy is a fuckin' character, I'll tell ya' that. Showed up at my spot with a hoodie and a bus ticket."[/color] Ace slightly tugged at the collar of his hoodie. A chuckle escaped his lips, but nothing was truly humorous at the moment.

[color=f7941d]"I thought I was skipping to the next town over, maybe even Pheonix. The last thing I expected was to wake up in the fuckin' [i]north pole[/i] of all places."[/color] It was an over-exaggeration for sure, but falling asleep in Arizona waking up to snow was not fun. He just hoped the temperature fluctuation wouldn't make him sick.

Her brows knit together when he mentioned his mother. A dead loved one is something Sloane couldn’t relate to when her life tended to lack people close enough to be considered a loved one. She still imagined that speaking about it would make him have some sort of reaction… Something at all. But his eyes were absent, a void mirroring their dark hollows. Her gaze shifted back to Rocco, watching him fetch the stick repeatedly while they walked the last final stretch toward Ace’s new cabin. 

[color=c7b29b]“My mother, Eris… Is just [i]intimidating,[/i]”[/color] she said with a tight lipped smile and small shrug of her shoulders. While Sloane had gotten used to her mother’s commanding presence in the time she spent with her, it made her and what she could do no less terrifying.

[color=c7b29b]“We’re in Greece,”[/color] she contradicted with a soft chuckle. [color=c7b29b]“You could probably grab a coat from the lost and found in the Main Hall.I think anything I’d have to offer would be too small.”[/color] Sloane had no issue handing over one of her jackets, but considering she was tiny compared to most of the other campers, she’d be surprised if he could manage to fit his arm in one of the sleeves. 

Sloane took a couple steps forward and turned around to face him. She pointed to the path on her left that led to a rundown looking cabin. Her face scrunched up trying to understand why camp would create that for him. But she didn’t claim to understand God magic. In the end, if it was what he wanted, who was she to judge? [color=c7b29b]“Cabin fourteen?”[/color] She asked, rhetorically, partly confused but also wanting to be sure she remembered the right number. [color=c7b29b]“My cabin is around that corner, the only one on the left, if you need anything.”[/color] She didn’t really have much to offer in the realm of assistance but she still offered. It was the polite thing to do. 

The cabin in the distance significantly stood out in contrast to the other cabins in the area. The cabin looked like it had been there for decades—centuries, maybe. Even from where they stood, Ace could see the roof sagging in certain spots. Sheets of rusting tin and matted moss patched it. One shutter hung askew, banging softly against the side during a breeze. The walls, made from darkened logs streaked with old rain, leaned ever so slightly, like a tired old man trying to stand straight for company.  Ivy crept up one corner, wrapping the structure in a slow, leafy embrace. Still, Ace knew the value of having a roof over your head. Any roof. Aesthetics wasn't a luxury he was ever offered. His room was just upstairs in a bar after all, which was no longer standing, which meant no turning back. This was his home now. Rundown cabin. Camp Athens. [i]Greece.[/i] Ace would start taking full advantage of it by getting some good ass sleep, because that last fact was enough to allow the exhaustion to wash over him. Ace threw the stick for Rocco, one last time.

[color=f7941d]"Cabin fourteen,"[/color] Ace confirmed with a nod. The walk was quicker than he thought, and he was appreciative of the company all things considered. It helped him keep his mind off of the other night, as well as the cold. The lost and found idea didn't seem too bad. [color=f7941d]"I appreciate you helping me out, Sloane. I owe you one, alright?"[/color] He bent down, giving Rocco a farewell scratch behind the ears. Ace would then stand and begin walking towards his cabin, eager to warm up. He would then stop and pivot suddenly.

[color=f7941d]"Hey, you going to that party tonight?"[/color] Ace asked. [color=f7941d]"You seem like you stay to yourself, but I hope I see you there. Maybe we can pick up where we left off?"[/color] He smirked. [color=f7941d]"I promise there'll be, uh, less waist holding. If that softens the deal?"[/color]

Sloane didn’t understand how [i]he[/i] owed her when [i]she[/i] was the one that hit him in the face with a snowball. But she didn’t argue. She had no intention of holding him to his word and just hoped they could forget about that unfortunate turn of events. She inhaled when he mentioned the party. [color=c7b29b]“I hadn’t decided,”[/color] she admitted, absent mindedly petting Rocco’s head as he sat at her feet. His assessment of her wasn’t incorrect. A bunch of demigods drinking and fooling around rarely ended well. She much rather be holed up in her cabin with a good book and her dog. 

She found it hard to hold his gaze again as the embarrassment crept its way back up to her cheeks when he mentioned waist holding. She tucked her hair behind her ear out of a nervous habit and picked up Rocco’s stick. [color=c7b29b]“I’ll consider it.”[/color] Sloane’s gaze drifted back to his. [color=c7b29b]“It was nice meeting you, Ace.”[/color]

She flashed him one last smile before turning back in the direction they came from. [color=c7b29b]“Ok, buddy. Let’s get some breakfast,”[/color] she spoke quietly to the dog. Sloane hesitated for a minute making sure there was no one in her line of sight, then through the stick for Rocco. As he ran off, she tucked her hands in her pockets and followed after him without turning back.
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