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[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]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]It was almost ironic how running an agility course or having to observe over thirty demigods tackle said course wasn’t exhausting, but juggling the onslaught of women that had approached him was. It wasn’t like any of them were trying to hit on him—well, none but one, thank the Gods—but it still felt like an unrelenting tide crashing down on him, wave after wave. Questions, judgements, brown nosing, and flirting, one after the other without ever giving him a chance to breathe. River expected questions and arguments, but that was different… Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe he just wasn’t as prepared as he thought he was. He certainly felt that way. 

While his father loved to talk, or more pointedly he liked to [i]hear himself talk,[/i] Poseidon was a little lax on actually [i]giving[/i] instructions. [i]‘Train them to be warriors. Train them like I trained you.’[/i] Cryptic and unhelpful. He didn’t train River. He unloaded the weight of unrealistic expectations on the shoulders of a boy, demanded perfection, and came back once a year to show him no matter how hard he trained, no matter how much he had grown, it wasn’t enough… It was never enough. There was no explanation as to why [i]he[/i] was sent there instead of someone like Maylisse, or anyone else for that matter. The seasoned demigods seemed to rally behind Andy. So why was he sent to replace her? They were valid questions that he didn’t have an answer for, but people would ask them all the same. 

River groaned, burying his face into his calloused palms as he lowered his elbows down to rest upon his knees. He could handle being the hated drill instructor… for the most part, but whatever the other girl was doing—[i]What was her name?[/i] His brows furrowed as he dragged his hands down his face, stopping when the tips of his fingers rested on his cheeks and he could open his eyes. He stared blankly toward the course for a second trying to recall if she ever actually introduced herself before his gaze fell to his clipboard that sat on the bench beside him. He squinted for a second, weighing if he cared enough to look, then finally sighed and scooped it up. It took the better part of a minute flipping through pages until he found her. Couldn’t swim, one of the lower performers, Aphrodite child… [i]Veronica.[/i]

By the time he set the clipboard back down he had lost his train of thought. River drew in a deep breath through his nose and closed his eyes as he rested his hands against the back of his neck. He tilted his head back trying to stretch some of the tension from his muscles when another voice, quiet and far too close to be meant for anybody but himself, cut through the quiet bubble that surrounded him.

[color=5a3e85]"Hungry?"[/color]

His chest tightened and shoulders tensed as his gaze dragged across the dirt and sand covered ground until he found a small pair of sneakers. Then it climbed dark leggings—a woman, obviously. [i]Great, another one.[/i]—and a familiar sloth sweatshirt until his eyes locked onto Anissa, holding out a plastic to-go bag like a quiet offering. His breath tore from his lungs in a deep, relieved exhale as his shoulders slumped forward and all the tension that had been knotting and coiling in his muscles melted away in an instant.

[color=86a8ad]"Thank the Gods it’s just you."[/color] River was able to settle into that comfort for no more than a second or two before what he said caught up to him. His eyes widened as his awkward and anxious rambling replaced whatever discomfort had taken up residence in him before. [color=86a8ad]"I didn’t mean it like that. There’s just been a lot of people asking questions I don’t have answers to… and a sister I didn’t know I had… and some Aphrodite girl who needs therapy and—"[/color]

He snapped his mouth shut, along with his eyes, as he ran his hands against his thighs until they rested on his knees and he locked his elbows with a sigh. [i]Gods, she’s not there two fucking seconds and he’s already rambling.[/i] [color=86a8ad]"I… [i]sorry.[/i]"[/color] River’s face scrunched, letting his eyes slowly open so he could steal an apologetic glance up toward her. [color=86a8ad]"I’m just thankful it’s you and not… literally [i]anyone else.[/i]"[/color] A faint, apologetic smile tightened his lips and curled one corner of his mouth. 

His gaze fell, watching as her gloved hand disappeared into the plastic bag, withdrawing a white foam container and holding it out toward him. Before she spoke, River reached out subconsciously, like he’d take anything she offered him with hesitation or question. His fingers curled around the side, accidentally brushing hers which immediately made a warmth burn across his cheeks, but he didn’t pull away. It’d be kind of silly after… Well, everything.

[color=5a3e85]"I wasn’t sure what you liked,"[/color] Anissa said, filling the silence with a tone that was plain, simple in a way he didn’t know if she had ever been with him before. [color=5a3e85]"So I chose something that seemed… okay. It’s lamb. But if you’d rather the chicken, that’s in the other one."[/color] Then she paused, for only a second or two. [color=5a3e85]"Or, you know, you can mix it up, have a bit of both? I just figured… You might not have had anything this morning."[/color]

River’s finger lightly tapped against hers in a gesture of unseen softness that spoke of his gratitude… and something else that had yet to find its way across his lips and out of his mouth. [color=86a8ad]"Thanks,"[/color] he finally responded, little more than a whisper, taking the box and setting it down on top of his legs gingerly, like the offering was more precious than simple styrofoam filled with food. [color=86a8ad]"I got kind of wrapped up in everything and forgot."[/color]

Not a moment later, the smell of fresh warm food bombarded his senses and immediately caused his stomach to growl so loud there was no way she didn’t hear it. River laughed, the tone light but still laced with the awkward comfort he was quickly learning was only present when Anissa was around. His smile shifted to something a little more bashful as one of his hands rubbed his stomach. [color=86a8ad]"Guess you were onto something,"[/color] he mused with a soft chuckle. 

After a second of calming his now restless stomach, he grabbed his clipboard and jacket, moving them out of the way to clear a spot on the bench beside him. He didn’t say anything, didn’t want her to feel like she was obligated to sit with him while she ate or waited or whatever it was that she planned on doing. But the offer was there whenever she wanted it, now or later… whenever. It didn’t matter. 

He cleared his throat, pulling his attention from her as he opened the box that rested in his lap. The savory smell of the roasted meat that was steaming with warmth wafted freely up to his nose. It wasn’t a scent he was familiar with, but that didn’t make it any less appetizing. [color=86a8ad]"I’ve never had lamb,"[/color] he confessed, studying the thin bones protruding from the meat before looking up and over at her. [color=86a8ad]"It was kind of out of my mom’s budget growing up,"[/color] River added with a quiet, amused laugh. [color=86a8ad]"We had a lot of pork… and fish, [i]obviously.[/i]"[/color] 

His smile was soft, almost warm in the way it sparked something behind his eyes that had been absent since training had started. He looked back down at the meat and without any ceremony or show, he picked up one piece by the bone and took a bite. It was rich and savory, unlike anything he had tried before. River could understand why it was less common, between the price and, you know, the obvious source. But he liked it. Afterall, it was food, meat specifically, and he was a man… It really wasn’t that high of a bar. 

After taking a second bite, he held it out toward Anissa in his own silent offering. He didn’t know where her tastes lied when it came to lamb or chicken, but he wasn’t adverse when it came to sharing either. He probably should have been using a fork or something that was probably somewhere in that bag, but it looked kind of like a chicken wing or rib so he just went for it. Then he grabbed one of the little roasted potatoes between his fingers and popped it into his mouth like it was popcorn, unbothered. The silence settled around them for a handful of minutes as River shoveled in food like he hadn’t eaten in over a day because… [i]Well…[/i] He thought back to his morning the day before climbing the mountain, finding his cabin, passing out on the couch, and then the party. Ok, so he hadn’t eaten in over a day. That would make sense. 

It was only when the box was half empty that he slowed down, letting his gaze drift toward the last two groups that were finishing their second run. [color=86a8ad]"I don’t think I’m going to be a liked leader,"[/color] River confessed plainly, like he wasn’t seeking compassion or sympathy, but there was a quiet understanding that had settled in his chest that he hadn’t fully grasped until that moment. It made sense. He was a fairly isolated child, didn’t have many friends and had less once Poseidon took over his life. There’s no guilt when you force the person who was used to being alone into a role that was destined to isolate them further. Not that the Gods likely felt guilt in the first place. 

He shrugged his shoulders as the truth settled into the muscles of his back that felt perpetually tensed. But despite it, River’s faint, tired smile remained. [color=86a8ad]"There are worse things, I suppose,"[/color] he mused before ripping off a piece of bread and eating it with a soft exhale through his nose.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] anissa [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] maylisse, andy & veronica [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
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