[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BkIWOdW.jpeg[/img] [sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][color=667c0c][b]#667c0c[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/LHEDwTO][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]arena[/b][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]After being certain that Tapeesa was able to reach her seat safely, without tipping over or passing out, Wes climbed the steps back to where he left Trinity. He slid onto the bench beside her with a soft sigh while his fingers ran along the top of his nose. There was no prominent bump or protrusion like there had been earlier, just a smooth normal nose. Sure it was still tender from the bruising that wasn’t whisk away in a wave of golden light, but that’s it. He gave it one last touch before humming in slight disbelief. [color=667c0c]"Why couldn’t Apollo have sent her like a year ago?"[/color] Wes mused, while giving the blonde beside him a gentle nudge with his shoulder. [color=667c0c]"About time camp had a healer. Maybe you’ll worry about me less… Like a [i]little[/i] bit?"[/color] He squinted his eyes and mirrored her gesture earlier by showing a tiny pinch of space between his thumb and index finger while flashing her a lopsided smile. Wes was still coming to terms with his new—[i]or old?[/i]—nose when Trinity’s name was finally called. He could tell that she was chomping at the bit to tackle her run. There was almost a strange irony that the one person who loved shit like that was forced to sit back and watch everyone else go before her. The pains of a last name like Wallace he supposed. [i]…He could fix that.[/i] The thought crossed his mind so effortlessly that the shock slammed into his chest with a similar force to falling several feet from a rope. It startled a small cough from him as he looked over at her, eager, hands slapping against her knees before rising to her feet. [color=66356a]"Wish me luck?"[/color] His gaze rose to look up at her. There was a wild excitement in her eyes, colored with a resolute determination that he had grown to know to be authentically Trinity. The warm light of the sun illuminated her from behind, bathing her in a warm light that made her look like a Goddess of War, radiant, deadly, gorgeous, and entirely out of his league. Seeing her like that… In her element, ready to smoke the entire camp without breaking a sweat, it factory reset his brain, practically erasing their entire conversation the night before with one smile. [color=667c0c]"Knock ‘em dead."[/color] He settled into his seat, watching Trinity descend the stands and make her way out toward the course at the center of the arena. While others had various levels of curiosity or concern as they watched the people they cared about running through the course, Wes was at ease. His posture slacked with a steady smile that said he already knew she’d surpass everyone. It wasn’t a competition, but she’d win regardless. And, to no surprise, she did just that. There was an unfamiliar face in her group that kept pace for a while, but when it mattered she barrelled through and crossed the finish line nearly half a minute ahead of the guy that followed. Wes watched her in admiration as she ascended the stairs back toward him, panting with a triumphant smirk… [i]Trinity Preston had a nice ring to it.[/i] With her group seeming to be the last, their new leader lingered near the course, writing down final notes or judgements on his P.E. teacher clipboard, leaving the rest of camp waiting in a tense silence for his final verdict. When he finally stepped forward and approached him, Wes was thankful that the time for speeches was over and he got to business. There was even a small part of him that respected River for acknowledging everyone, even those who struggled like himself. Not that Wes really cared if someone talked shit about his run, he was almost certain Mason would have some shit to say. [color=86a8ad]"In first place, finishing at 9:23, was Trinity Wallace…"[/color] Wes’s proud smile grew as he looked over at the blonde beside him, [i]his[/i] woman. [color=667c0c]"Knew it,"[/color] he commented under his breath, only loud enough for her to hear. While he hated all the training and combat shit, he knew Trinity thrived in it. That passion and fire was one of the many reasons he loved her, even if he knew he’d never be able to keep up. River continued running through new and familiar names along with their times. It came as no surprise that people like Andy and Sylas finished near the head of the group. Then it was followed by a procession of names and times that continued widening the gap between Wes and Trinity. 11 minutes? No. 12 minutes? No… 14 minutes?… Still no. [color=86a8ad]"15:02…"[/color] Wes shifted to the edge of his seat, clenching his fist, skin pulled so taut over his knuckles it went white. His time didn’t matter at that point, it was over fifteen minutes… He failed. He heard his name called next alongside Evelyn, but he didn’t care at that point. Since losing his arm, Wes had rarely resented it, having found a way to live with it and accept it. But at that moment he was just… [i]frustrated[/i] knowing the one training he would have excelled at, he failed because he didn’t have two fucking arms. Everyone who passed was then excused. Of course the people who didn’t beat the time were going to have some kind of repercussions, although he just wasn’t sure what that would be. Wes looked over at Trinity with a weak smile. [color=667c0c]"Looks like you’re free to go,"[/color] he commented, giving her a gentle nudge while a handful of demigods started gathering their things and heading toward the exit. Before Trinity had a chance to get up and leave, River continued. [color=86a8ad]"For everyone that remains, you will run the course a second time."[/color] [color=667c0c]"You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,"[/color] Wes grumbled under his breath. He was willing to pay whatever price for failing, but he expected something like… Janitor duty or running laps, not struggling his way through the same course a second time. It didn’t matter if it was timed or not, it wouldn’t change his outcome. He was lucky enough to get his nose healed once. Wes saw how exhausted Tapeesa was, he’d be damned if he went crawling to her asking for another patch job and he wasn’t particularly keen on falling on his face again in the first place. [color=667c0c]"Yeah, fuck that."[/color] He pushed off the bench, leaving his bloodied t-shirt and Trinity behind. Wes descended the stairs quickly, taking two at a time, before making his way over to River who sat on the far end of the arena, out of the way, but watchful. [color=667c0c]"Hey man."[/color] Wes waved his hand awkwardly as he slowly approached. [color=667c0c]"Ok, so I’m under strict orders from the new camp healer that I’m not allowed to break any more bones for at least 24 hours and I’d rather not eat shit again."[/color] He laughed uncomfortably, trying to soften the conversation with some lighthearted self-deprecation. [color=667c0c]"If I had both of my arms I could do this… I’ll prove it however you want, just don’t make me climb that shit again, please."[/color] RIver’s gaze was fixed on the occasional dark speck of brown in a sea of tan that covered the floor of the arena. His hand rhythmically rubbed the back of his neck, mind slipping into thoughts of the training, his father… Anissa. But the sound of approaching steps and the dip of a shadow into his periphery caught his attention and pulled his gaze to the man that approached him. One armed, nose no longer broken, with an awkward wave to cut through the silence. He pushed off his knees, sitting up straighter as he listened to Wes’s plea for mercy. Mercy in his father’s eyes was weakness. You do not bend to the weak, they conform or break. That was the only path. But River had seen Wes’s fight and determination, seen how he got back up and did not ask to stop, but pushed through. River also wasn’t blind, he could see the man’s muscles and physique… He was looking a little [i]too[/i] long to be honest. The thought helped him pry away his gaze and clear his throat. He might have been sent to camp by his father, but that didn’t mean he [i]was[/i] his father. [color=86a8ad]"[i]Umm[/i]..."[/color] River sucked in a breath and quietly clapped his hands together. [color=86a8ad]"Can you do push ups?"[/color] He asked while his gaze focused on the spot where Wes’s right arm would live… If he had one. [color=667c0c]"Yeah,"[/color] Wes responded with a nod of his head. [color=86a8ad]"Very well."[/color] River pushed off his knees and stood up. He brought two fingers from each hand to his lips, pressed them against his tongue and blew, filling the arena with a sharp whistle to catch the attention of anyone who remained. [color=86a8ad]"If you don’t wish to run the course a second time, I’ll also accept 30 push ups."[/color] He looked back over at Wes, now standing eye to eye, but there was no intimidation or powerplay in the move, simply a quiet question begging to be answered. [color=86a8ad]"Does that compromise work for you?"[/color] The tension that tightened across Wes’s shoulders eased as his usual warm smile took up residence across his face. He gave River a pat to the shoulder with a soft laugh. [color=667c0c]"I would have done 50 if it got me out of running that shit again. Thanks."[/color] He gave River a mock salute before turning and walking off. Wes wandered toward a spot at the center of the arena that was out of the way of anyone running the course or wanting to leave, but still gave him enough room to pay penance and call it a day. Once in the small clearing, he lowered himself to his knees and wiped the sweat from his palm. His hand pressed into the dirt, shifting and twisting against the grit to create a bit of traction and keep himself from slipping. Steadily, he pushed his right leg backwards with bent toes and a tentative balance. He took a deep breath, then similarly slid his other leg back and got into position. With his back straight and no need to counterbalance the weight of an unused arm, Wes lowered himself until his nose nearly touched the ground and his breaths stirred the dirt beneath him, then pushed back up. Every muscle in his arm and across his back rippled and tensed with each dip, while the sunlight reflected off the sheen of sweat that glistened across his skin. Yet, somehow he made it look almost… [i]easy.[/i] He took in a sharp breath then descended again. 2 down, 28 to go.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] trinity & river [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] tapeesa [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]