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[color=86a8ad][b]#86a8ad[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/lq1Z2Ck][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]bonfire[/b][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]

[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]River rested his forearms on his knees and clasped his hands together. He truly had no desire to be there but he knew he couldn’t very well leave right after arriving, no matter how much that appealed to him. At minimum, he needed to make sure Ocean saw him so there could be no complaining later that he never attended. Maybe, once she arrived, he could wave and slip out when no one was paying attention.

Speaking of… Where [i]was[/i] Ocean? His dark gaze bounced from person to person, scanning the various demigods to see if his sister somehow got lost in the crowd. But there was no sign of her. River had half a mind to go seek her out. He’d be damned if he was there… [i]miserable[/i], while she got to ditch. 

Just as he placed his hands against the log on either side of him, preparing to push off and stand, he heard a voice come from behind him. [color=87e3ff]"This seat taken?"[/color]

River grimaced while his back was still toward them. Guess he wasn’t going anywhere. He slowly turned his torso, looking back over his shoulder to see where the voice came from. Behind him was a small and gangling guy, who looked… [i]odd[/i] wearing an old, weathered parka even though the temperature felt like a balmy spring’s day. Not only that, he had a guitar resting on his shoulder like he planned on going John Mayer around the bonfire. The last thing he wanted was to be forced to sit around and listen to someone play music. While other people probably enjoyed it, he was [i]not[/i] the target audience.

With a tight lipped, and somewhat forced, smile, River motioned his hand generally at the obviously empty area around the bonfire. There were several available seats, including the spot on the log beside him. Although he had hoped urinal rules pertained to more than just restrooms. But considering the guy asked specifically about [i]that[/i] seat… It was unlikely he would be so lucky. 

[color=86a8ad]"Yeah, sure,"[/color] he finally replied. River scooted over to the left side of the log, leaving enough room for the guitar wielding demigod to take a seat wherever he saw fit.

To be honest, River didn’t have a clue what to say. Did he introduce himself? Make small talk? Ask about the guitar? No… That’s how he’d end up stuck listening to music he didn’t want to hear. His mind ran through the different possibilities while he sat there in an awkward silence with his hands resting on his knees.

Before either one of them could attempt to start a conversation, an unfamiliar voice shouted from across the party. [color=8a9a5b]"—I am glad I am more like a vole than a fucking human like you!"[/color]

It took a moment for River’s eyes to scan the crowd and find the source until he saw a tall male with curly hair in a transparent shirt nearly chest to chest, yelling at someone with tears in his eyes. As his gaze fell to the recipient of the shouts… it was [i]Anissa?[/i] A strange, foreign knot twisted in his chest, causing the muscle in his neck to spasm reflexively. Maybe not foreign, but a sensation he had only felt for his mom and Ocean before… [i]protectiveness.[/i] 

River was up on his feet before he knew what had taken hold. His jaw clenched and fists tightened as he took one step forward. He barely knew Anissa, yet for whatever reason he had a primal urge to break that guy’s jaw. Perhaps it was because he was the man of the house for as long as he could remember and [i]always[/i] stood on business when it came to protecting the women in his life. It wasn’t like Poseidon was doing it. And in this situation, it wasn’t like Anissa’s dad was stepping up to protect her either. While River might not be the best or friendliest person ever, he still had a code. Shouting in a woman’s face was [i]not[/i] ok and triggered him on a visceral level.

Then, Anissa’s gaze shifted and locked onto him. 

It wasn’t a glance, per se, but a hard look that froze him mid-motion. Time seemed to stretch as her eyes held his, wide and impossibly clear despite the small bit of light reflecting the distant bonfire. In that suspended heartbeat, her entire being seemed to radiate a silent, desperate intensity that, along with the subtle shake of her head, communicated one message: [i]Don’t come. Not now. Not when I’m like this.[/i] 

After that, she turned away from the light and the noise, her silhouette merging seamlessly with the dense trees. The shadows beneath them seemed to part for her, not swallowing her whole, but [i]welcoming[/i] her.

The tension in River’s jaw flexed at the silent plead not to go after her... Or kick the dude’s ass. He stood still and stoic for a moment trying to compose his anger, running the tip of his tongue along his teeth behind clenched lips. He sighed before turning back around and sitting down a bit more forcefully than planned. 

[color=86a8ad]"Sorry,"[/color] he muttered and gestured his hand for the guy to continue. [color=86a8ad]"You were saying?—No, you weren’t."[/color] River pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. A conversation hadn’t even started before he went all puffy chested protector. While he wasn’t dying to socialize, he wasn’t trying to be an ass either. [color=86a8ad]"Sorry,"[/color] he apologized a second time for being rude or forgetting what the guitar player was doing, maybe both.

[sub][i]* disclaimer // until River is told about Marlen’s preferred pronouns, he will most likely refer to them as he/him because he doesn’t know any different.[/i][/sub][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] marlen & anissa [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] anatoliy [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] minor [@Qia] addition[/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]
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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/yRyAsGf.jpeg[/img]
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[color=0a6d6b][b]#0a6d6b[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/pbEPU7M][color=9b9b9b][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=9b9b9b][b]near the bar[/b][/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]

[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]The small, barely noticeable smirk upon his face grew as he held Evelyn’s gaze. She gave a little curtsy, acknowledging his silent praise. So far, most of the pair’s indiscretions have been secret. Aside from some brief conversations and flattery, on Sylas’s part, the majority of their interactions have been private, for no one’s eyes, or ears, but their own. It worked for them. He could keep up his charade of a friendly lady’s man. While she could be rational and pretend to have nothing to do with him, like he told her to do several times before. But seeing her, looking like [i]that[/i], his impulses might drown out all other logic… Just for one night.

While Sylas could have looked away, busied himself with something or [i]someone[/i] else, he didn’t. He was content sipping his whiskey, watching every fold of that white cocktail dress hugging her frame as she moved around. At least that was until a far less attractive redhead, already stinking of booze, felt the necessity to speak to him and pull him out of his Evelyn daze. [color=024B30]"Whatcha doin' Sylas? And what do you think of this whiskey?"[/color]

Intentional or not, the obtrusive interjection and invasion of a vulnerable moment made the more impulsive side of Sylas take control before his cleverly crafted mask could fall back into place. [color=0a6d6b]"None of your fucking business,"[/color] he snapped, looking down his nose at her from the corner of his eyes. There was no tact and no remorse. Just a brief moment of unfiltered and honest discontent. He probably should have thought of a sharp response, ‘drinking?’, ‘enjoying the view’, ‘partying?’ But it seemed, even though the night was young, his patience for nosy demigods and stupid questions had already reached its limit.

He swirled the ice and whiskey around in his glass, then took a sip. Sylas held up the drink, studying the amber liquid like a critic studied art. [color=0a6d6b]"Mediocre top shelf by average standards,"[/color] he replied to Fiona’s second question, indifferent. [color=0a6d6b]"My father has a better selection in his study."[/color]

Before she could attempt to tease him any further or ask more questions he had no desire in answering, Sylas left the bar with drink in hand. He wandered aimlessly around the party watching and observing the various groupings of demigods. At one point some shouting briefly caught his attention. Lover’s quarrel… [i]already?[/i] he wondered noticing the spat between a pair he didn’t recognize. Although, by that point, he had already noticed his sister, sitting alone by the bonfire, which held his attention more than whatever yelling about shitty voles, or humans… [i]whatever.[/i]

As he approached Sloane, he couldn’t help but notice the worked up, surfer looking guy, whose gaze was fixed on the arguing couple… More specifically the guy. There was a tinge of bloodlust in his eye and the fiery aura he permeated was palpable. He briefly contemplated a little detour and light meddling but he stayed his course. After all, the timid introvert had a strange magnetism, especially for other guys. Probably because she looked meek and easily manipulated. So who’s to say how long she’d remain alone.

Sylas stopped behind where she sat, looking down at the grey pooch with a faint snarl in his lip. [color=0a6d6b]"Я удивлен, что теперь ты выходишь на улицу и общаешься с людьми, хотя у тебя больше нет твоей дикой сторожевой собаки," [i]I’m surprised to see you out and social now that you no longer have your feral guard dog.[/i][/color] he said in Russian to avoid eavesdropping from other nosy campers. He obviously wasn’t referring to the mutt of the idiot son of Ares, but the long lost meathead himself. 

Sloane’s body went rigid when she heard her brother’s voice. She slowly looked up over her left shoulder to find him looming over her ominously. Her gaze stayed locked on him as he slowly rounded the log bench and took a seat beside her. [color=c7b29b]"Мне не нужна твоя защита," [i]I don’t need protection from [/i]you.[/color] she said coolly while handing Rocco another cocktail sausage.

[color=0a6d6b]"Вы в этом уверены?" [i]Are you sure about that?[/i][/color] he asked with a smug tone as he snatched the piece of food from her before the dog could get it, then tossed it into his mouth. 

She scoffed, clenching her jaw in annoyance when he stole the treat. Sloane went to get him another one but Sylas’s hand reached back out and stole it again. Before he could eat it she grabbed ahold of his wrist. When he tried to pull away with the smallest wavering in his condescending expression, her grip didn’t falter. She slowly turned her head until she met his gaze with a silent intensity. [color=c7b29b]"Бросай это," [i]Drop it.[/i][/color] she whispered, but her voice snarled with authority. 

His hand trembled as he tried to fight her command. Sylas’s jaw clenched and nose flared showing a hint of the battle he fought inside. It was like in a dream when you tried so hard to run, yet all you could do was spin in circles. He kept telling himself to run… run… run. But in the end her spiraling will overpowered his. After a few long seconds of struggling his hand conceded and the sausage fell to the ground where Rocco promptly gobbled it up. 

[color=c7b29b]"Вы забыли, кто сильнее?" [i]Are you forgetting who is more powerful?[/i][/color] she asked with a sharp indifference. Sloane released his hand and slowly looked forward, watching the flames of the bonfire crackle and spark. 

There was a small shift in Sylas’s perfect mask that only the most keen would have noticed. But as quickly as he faltered, he put the pieces back into place before someone could see. He laughed, a cold, forced chuckle to try and show levity. [color=0a6d6b]"А пока, дорогая сестра." [i]For [i]now[/i], dear sister.[/i][/color] The veil of a threat laced within his words. He stood up and dusted wood particles off his pants. He placed a calculated kiss on top of her head to look like a loving and caring brother to any onlooker. [color=0a6d6b]"Наслаждайтесь своей новой свободой," [i]Enjoy your new freedom.[/i][/color] he said with a foreboding darkness, before leaving her alone to wander among the crowd.

[sub][i]* disclaimer // I don’t know Russian. This is google translated. Don’t hate me lol.[/i][/sub][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] fiona & sloane [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] evelyn, anissa, anatoliy & river [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
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