[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lAKKpKx.jpeg[/img] [sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][color=86a8ad][b]#86a8ad[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/eVkcqfX ][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][color=a9c9eb]"Sent is… a generous word."[/color] River shook his head, more to himself in silent disbelief that he couldn’t even be trusted enough to do something without a babysitter. What could she even do [i]if[/i] he fucked up somehow? Would she replace him or just go tattle to daddy? [color=a9c9eb]"My father—"[/color] He scoffed and did his best not to roll his eyes. [color=a9c9eb]"—[i]our[/i] father doesn’t tend to waste breath on instructions when outcomes speak for themselves. As you may already know."[/color] She smiled, but it felt… wrong, forced. Like something someone taught themself to do because it was polite or what others did. But it lacked any warmth or light that made it feel like some uncanny valley type shit, like someone who was pretending to empathize or connect... [i]An alien.[/i] [color=a9c9eb]"You’re not wrong about my purpose here. I believe it may be more accurate to say that I observe because it is effective. It provides clarity unclouded by… sentiment."[/color] Well, River was right, as much as he wanted to be wrong in this one instance. He didn’t need another set of eyes scrutinizing his every move. Poseidon put enough stress on his shoulders and now this [i]sister[/i] he never met was going to… [i]observe[/i] him. Why? Because daddy dearest said to? Oh, wait, no. He [i]‘doesn’t waste breath on instructions.’[/i] Maybe not for her. River sure as hell got plenty of them. If their father didn’t trust him so much, then why didn’t he just make her the leader and leave him out of it? Could have saved them all a lot of trouble. Regardless of his own… opinions, a proper introduction felt like the right thing to do, and she seemed haughty enough to expect it, or judge him if he didn’t meet that standard among the list of other expectations she likely kept. But she didn’t take it at first, just studied him like he was a science experiment, not a person. It was a long and painful pause that made him shift uncomfortably under her scrutiny, but he held her gaze and kept his hand extended until she took it. To no surprise, her touch was just as cold and harsh as she was, rigid and unmalleable. [color=a9c9eb]"Maylisse."[/color] He at least had a name. Then in a move he hadn’t expected, Maylisse sat down beside him, using her coat as a small barrier between them, but still close enough to be considered… [i]near.[/i] His brows furrowed, creasing his forehead in a confused and frustrated pensive silence. She sat there, quiet and unbothered like a mannequin sentinel, watching and waiting for him to fuck up in someway. River wasn’t even finished with his first day and now this. His whole body went rigid, muscles tensing across his exposed back, jaw clenched, knuckles flexed and white in the space between his legs. If he was meant to relax in her presence, it was highly unlikely. It was like she had given him his own assessment, but didn’t have the decency to share the parameters. He tried his best to keep his attention locked on the demigods who were running the course a second time, while sparing glances towards the few who chose push ups in lieu of another run. It worked for a time, but it was hard to focus when River felt like every breath and movement was being studied. It was when he started getting restless that he noticed Iliana approaching. Not a saving grace, per se, but a welcome distraction or diversion. It was a surprising choice to approach the pair of pissy looking Poseidon kids, but he’d take anything over a heavy silence that was the only thing more tense than he was. [color=4a766e]"River, I just wanted to thank you for staying. You didn't have to do that,"[/color] Iliana started once she reached them. It took a surprising amount of self control for River not to let his confusion become plain across his face. Of course he had to stay behind. Beyond the fact that a good leader would make himself available if someone needed help and stay until the last person finished… He wasn’t stupid enough to assume everyone would run the course a second time without him watching. They don’t owe him anything nor has he earned their respect. He’d be disappointed if they [i]didn’t[/i] try skirting around doing it if he wasn’t there. [color=4a766e]"I hope I can get better over time. One of my biggest reasons for coming here was to train, the other being to meet others like me besides my adopted brother, Heath. Anyway, sorry for interrupting you two. I just wanted to thank River. Both of you have a nice day."[/color] River didn’t know how to respond, lost between an unknown sister he didn’t know about and the judgement that came with her, and then Iliana thanking him for doing the bare minimum. If nothing else, at least her heart was in the right place? One person at camp who wouldn’t hate him for enforcing training? He gave her a parting two finger wave, trying his best not to piss off one of the few people who didn’t seem to hate him so far. He had a feeling that was going to be rarer as time went on. [color=a9c9eb]"She’s much too genial."[/color] Maylisse’s voice pierced the silence when Iliana was out of ear shot, drawing his attention back to the pressing weight of… whatever the fuck this was. While River, for the most part, agreed with her comment, there was a part of him that was growing more prickly the longer she lingered and tossed her judgements around without prejudice. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees and softly clapped his hands together. [color=86a8ad]"Some people [i]didn’t[/i] get coal for Christmas,"[/color] he replied passively, his comment mirroring her same cool indifference rather than the subtle insult laced beneath it. Whether the meaning hit or not, he couldn’t tell as she turned to face him directly, removing the opportunity for him to let his attention focus on anything [i]but[/i] her. He sighed, conceding to whatever questioning she was preparing to unleash on him, and met her gaze. His expression wasn’t cold or inquisitive, but painted with prominent annoyance and frustrated reserve. [color=a9c9eb]"But what do [i]you[/i] gather? About everyone. So far?"[/color] River parted his lips to answer, but it seemed she wasn’t in the questioning mood as much as a lecturing mood. [i]Lucky him.[/i] [color=a9c9eb]"I gather that they are grateful. For any thoughtfulness or leniency you show, like allowing a celebration the night before training, for instance. Which, frankly, love, tells me more than anything Father chose not to say about you."[/color] There was a pause, brief, just long enough for her to size up the campers who still remained on the course before she got her second wind. [color=a9c9eb]"However...outcomes speak. Actions speak louder still. And what I observe is not the foundational softness in you that Father claims to disdain, but the cultivated conditions under which softness is already being rewarded."[/color] River tried to keep up, he did. He never thought of himself as an idiot by any means, but Maylisse talked like she was intentionally trying to confuse people, pretentious in the way she was unnecessarily long winded, stacked big words like tetris, and didn’t just get to the damn point. He kept up the best he could, tried to pull the context out of the word soup, but mostly sat there, attentively waiting for her to shut up. [color=a9c9eb]"Now, whether that goodwill becomes the bedrock of your authority, or the very substrate that erodes it remains to be seen. A fascinating test, truly, [i]and[/i] potentially fatal."[/color] He waited a beat or two, just to be certain that her ramblings had ceased, before he finally got a chance to speak. And what broke the silence first wasn’t a response, or defense, or whatever else she might have been expecting, but a laugh tinged with dry amusement and disbelief. [color=86a8ad]"You [i]really[/i] like the sound of your own voice, don’t you?"[/color] River asked, his question as rhetorical as her own, which he also promptly answered before she could. [i]Gods he was a little petty today.[/i] [color=86a8ad]"Can’t deny you’re his."[/color] He shook his head, running his hands along his thighs until they rested on the caps of his knees and shifted to sit a little more upright. [color=86a8ad]"He [i]also[/i] talks too much."[/color] River drew in a deep breath before continuing. [color=86a8ad]"You toss around a lot of words that mean nothing."[/color] He held her gaze, fairly emotionless aside from the furrowing of his brow. [color=86a8ad]"If you’re wanting your barbs to cut then you’ll have to dumb it down for the simpleton. But frankly… [i]love[/i], I don’t give a shit about your opinions of me. It’s not my job to please you."[/color] He wasn’t doing this, [i]leading[/i], to get her approval. Hell, there were some days where he wondered if he was even doing it for his father’s approval, maybe part of it was proving to himself he could do what he’s been training his whole life for. But there was something about someone no better than River, looking down her nose at him like she had the right to judge him with the same level of scrutiny as their father… a [i]God.[/i] He understood that judgements and resentment came with the territory, but it was just [i]her.[/i] How she presented herself, spoke, almost seemed to talk down to him, it all rubbed him the wrong way like walking around in wet clothes all day. [color=86a8ad]"He chose me to lead, not you. I don’t know why. Maybe you didn’t cut it or maybe our father is a misogynistic piece of shit. I don’t really care. Judge and observe me all you want. I can’t stop you… But I also don’t answer to you."[/color] As River finished, he noticed a dark hair girl who had been lingering around them stepped into view off to the side. When their eyes met, she made sure he knew that it was intentional and she wanted his attention or time by giving him a nod, tight smile and an awkward wave. He clenched his teeth, muscles tensing along his jaw as he drew in a deep breath. Then he motioned his hand for her to come closer. If Maylisse was going to observe him, he imagined many of his [i]private[/i] conversations that happened outside of cabins would be far less private going forward. There was no point in trying to talk elsewhere, so he’d just suffer through questions or judgements from both sides. Who wouldn’t want to spend their day like that? [color=86a8ad]"Need something?"[/color] he asked the girl, trying his best not to sound as prickly as he had grown throughout his conversation and failing. Well, River wasn’t getting any brownie points for approachability but whatever. It wasn’t like he turned her away.[/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] maylisse, iliana & rosalia [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [hr][hr] [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][color=66356a]"Oh,"[/color] was Trinity’s only response at first. Maybe she wasn’t ready to talk or needed more time apart or a million other things that ran through Wes’s head in that silence, torturing him until she spoke up again. [color=66356a]"Yeah, no, we can talk at lunch. Which is where you’re off to now, right?"[/color] She moved her hands around animatedly as she talked, waving them from the arena, toward the main hall and back with a nervous energy like she didn't know exactly what to say or do. He couldn’t help but watch, enamored with her as he always was, even when she rambled and flailed and whatever else. Wes’s smile only grew, patiently waiting for her to settle on her response. [color=66356a]"Let’s walk,"[/color] she finally concluded and pulled on her jacket. [color=667c0c]"Sure."[/color] He chuckled, putting on his own coat and following after her. It was a little weird having a coat on with nothing on his chest underneath. He [i]could[/i] have put his shirt back on, but he was covered in enough blood, and Wes didn’t really want to make it worse. Plus the walk wasn’t too bad. Although the wind still found unique and creative ways to slip beneath the hem of his jacket and brush along his bare chest, which [i]sucked.[/i] So he definitely wasn’t going to complain when Trinity walked shoulder to shoulder with him to conserve heat. And, in his infinite wisdom, regardless of how much more air it’d let in, he [i]still[/i] wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in closer. He never really mastered the art of caring about his own well being when hers was always more important… He could warm up later. It was fine. Wes wasn’t able to hide the sigh of relief that slipped out when they finally entered the main hall and were enveloped in its warmth. The stark difference in temperatures sent an involuntary chill down his back as he let his arm slip from Trinity’s shoulders. He followed her over toward the food, accepting the offered plate and promptly filled it with… a bit of everything really: meat, meat, more meat, carbs, and cheese. Really all a man needed. He tucked a bottle of some kind of juice into his pocket and started after her toward a table that was a little more secluded. As he walked by Tapeesa, who was of a similar mind with stuffed cheeks like a chipmunk, he gave her a nod—since his hand was full—and a warm smile. He did the same for Evelyn and Daniel, then set down his plate on the opposite side of the table than Trinity. Before he sat down, he took off his coat and draped it over the back of his chair. It… felt a little weird eating in the cafeteria, in the middle of winter… shirtless. But he didn’t want to deal with his bulky coat either. [i]Whatever.[/i] If someone got all goo goo eyed, Trinity would handle it anyway. It’d be [i]fine.[/i] Wes had made a decent dent into his meal when he noticed the way she pushed around food but never took a bite of anything. His brows creased, tugging together with an unspoken question as he set aside his fork and waited for whatever it was she was building up the nerve to say. [color=66356a]"I haven’t had someone ask me to move in before,"[/color] she finally confessed, filling the silence with her most immediate thought, rather building up to it. There was one thing for certain, she never skirted around the truth which he appreciated… No deciphering. His smile was warm and patient as he held her gaze from across the table. [color=667c0c]"Well… You’re young,"[/color] he initially joked with a weak laugh, trying to ease the tension that was plain to see in the way she didn’t eat and the stiffness in her posture. Wes’s smile faded to something softer and more sincere. [color=667c0c]"I never asked anyone to move in with me before… New territory for both of us."[/color] He shrugged his shoulders like her admission was no different than sharing her favorite color. [color=66356a]"I freaked out. Stupidly. And I mean really stupidly. I’ve only known two homes and I’m territorial and…"[/color] She sucked in a breath, trying to stop her rambling, but he didn’t mind. He remained patient and attentive, listening for as long as she needed to speak. [color=66356a]"Wherever you are feels more like home. And that’s where I wanna be."[/color] [color=66356a]"God, that’s corny."[/color] While she might have cringed at her words, that small confession was enough to erase every other negative thought and emotion he had wrestling around in his head since he got up that morning. Wes knew how he felt about her. He’d known it before she was his, before she could hardly stand to be around him. But he waited… He always told her he’d wait and be there when she wanted him, whenever or however that was. He meant that, truly, in all aspects of everything that formed their relationship. It was a slow journey, but every milestone and every confession made his heart soar. And while nothing quite compared to when she finally said she loved him, admitting that he was her home was a pretty fantastic second place. [color=667c0c]"I think you mean [i]romantic,[/i]"[/color] he corrected her gently as he slowly extended his arm across the table, reaching out his hand to take hers. But just before he managed to take it, Trinity was moving again, filling her fork with a mountain of food and shoving it into her mouth. His brows rose in light hearted disbelief as he watched her. Wes didn’t stop her or argue, figuring she had more to say. He just left his hand there, open and available, halfway toward her if she decided she wanted to take it. [color=66356a]"But, I had a really crappy sleep last night,"[/color] she continued, looking up at him briefly before her gaze fell back to her plate like she was scared to see what was staring back at her. Wes sighed as the guilt of telling her he wanted to be alone last night ate at his insides like acid. He swallowed and sighed softly. [color=667c0c]"I… didn’t sleep,"[/color] he offered up his own confession in turn. [color=667c0c]"The bed felt empty and cold… and eerily [i]quiet[/i] without you snoring in my ear."[/color] He grinned over at her, even if she wouldn’t meet his gaze, and lightly bumped his foot against hers to hopefully draw her attention away from her food. [color=66356a]"I liked your plan and I really wish I didn't spoil it. Even down to the dancing."[/color] Trinity then dropped her silverware and rubbed her temple, the frustration with herself evident in her words and body language. Wes pushed aside his plate and hers, then reached out to take her wrist gently before she worked divots into her temple. He pulled her hand close until he was able to lean forward and close the distance with a soft kiss to the center of her palm. [color=667c0c]"We’re not perfect… neither one of us."[/color] He held her gaze as he let his fingers envelope hers with a warm and tender comfort. [color=667c0c]"And there’s this crazy thing about dancing, you can do it [i]anywhere[/i], anytime."[/color] His hand squeezed hers like a gentle hug of reassurance. [color=667c0c]"At midnight on New Year’s Eve, in [i]our[/i] cabin in our pajamas while listening to shitty oldies, or—if I knew you wouldn’t kill me from the embarrassment—right here, right now in the middle of the cafeteria with no music at all, for all of camp to see."[/color] He laughed softly, raising his brows as he held her gaze like a quiet nudge to provoke a laugh or an eye roll… [i]something[/i] from her. [color=667c0c]"We had a… I don’t even know if I’d call it a disagreement. But so what?"[/color] Wes shrugged his shoulders, like it was all water under the bridge. [color=667c0c]"I’ll upset you and you’ll upset me. And we [i]still[/i] fight far less than Andy and Mason,"[/color] he teased, giving her hand a little tug. [color=667c0c]"I’m not going anywhere because we had a fight. I love you and it’ll take a whole hell of a lot more to scare me away."[/color] Wes released her hand and pushed up from his seat. He walked around the table and pulled out the chair beside her. He turned it to face her before sitting down. He then grabbed the lip of her seat and spun her around to face him, scooting her so close that her knees were in the space between his legs. [color=667c0c]"So… [i]Xena.[/i]"[/color] His voice was soft and deep, barely louder than a whisper so his words were for only her ears. [color=667c0c]"Will you move into my cabin with me?"[/color] he asked, his smile growing bright and unguarded with every ounce of love he felt for her plain across his face and glistening in his eyes. [color=667c0c]"I can make it [i]way[/i] worse and get on one knee if you want,"[/color] he teased as his smile turned mischievous and he quirked a brow in a playful challenge.[/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, tapeesa, evelyn & daniel [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]