[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aW0nk4U.jpeg[/img][/center] [color=silver][indent][indent][color=CF328D]“[i]Pallas[/i]…”[/color] Ariana repeated slowly, as if savoring every letter of the name like a delectable dessert. She had heard her fair share of unique names before, but this was certainly a new one to add to her ever-growing collection. [color=CF328D]“I can’t say I’ve heard that name before. Does it mean anything?”[/color] she asked him softly, her innate charm and genuine curiosity peeking though. As she spoke, the daughter of Aphrodite allowed herself to take the outstretched hand that was offered to her and use it to gracefully pull herself into a standing position. [color=daa520]“Yeah,”[/color] he said, as the pair linked hands, [color=daa520]“It means ‘to brandish’ just as I’ve got your hand here.”[/color] He now offered a wry smile with the hand, as he chose to go with the literal meaning, rather than delve into the extensive complicated familial ties. His mother’s best friend, whose name she had taken after bringing about her death, as well as the fact that Athena herself was said to have fallen from Zeus’ head fully grown, armoured and ‘brandishing’ a spear. Quite a lot to unpack there. [color=daa520]“One pull-up for all of those push ups seems fair, anyway.”[/color] Ariana returned Pallas’ smile with one of her own, failing to notice their hands were still intertwined. [color=CF328D]“At least that meaning can totally fit you as a person. When I looked up the name ‘Ariana’ on Google for what it meant, the results it gave me were ‘most holy’, ‘most sacred’ or ‘very pure’... I'll let you guess which one of the three is the one I think fits me the most,”[/color] she trailed off with a wink and a flirtatious, playful giggle. [color=daa520][i]Ariana.[/i][/color] He committed the name to memory. [color=daa520][i]Leo, River, Andy, Ariana.[/i][/color] He rolled through the four names he could connect to faces so far. [color=daa520]“It’s alright, you just caught me off guard,”[/color] [i]Or scared the shit out of me… For a second I forgot I don’t have to wear contacts here.[/i] [color=daa520]“I’ve worn contact lenses most of my life, and forgot that people here would be able to see what color they actually are.”[/color] He found himself realising his breathing still hadn’t returned to normal yet. He didn’t normally combine swimming with a thorough workout like this, had it really thrown off his breathing this much? Was he more tired than he’d first thought? He took another gulp of air, with a sigh. Which came off as embarrassed humility over his eyes. The brunette nodded solemnly in understanding. She could imagine that someone going around the mortal world with eyes as lovely as Pallas’ would bring about both the good and bad types of attention. And considering their heritage, it was probably best to avoid giving anyone a reason to start digging into any family histories or genetics lest their secrets be unceremoniously exposed. [color=CF328D]“I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to be yourself and not wear them around here, though. I'm not exaggerating when I say they're the most gorgeous pair I've ever seen– and I've seen a lot![/color] she complimented him with sincerity, indulging herself with another short look at Pallas’ eyes. [color=daa520]“Oh, never said I feel comfortable. It’s just– I guess, if I don’t make myself at home and try and force myself, then a place like this’ll never be home.”[/color] [color=daa520][i]Plus, I guess it makes others wonder what else you’re hiding...[/i][/color] He thought to himself. Intelligence. Wisdom. Wasn’t exactly a power others necessarily trusted. People would assume you’re always scheming, or dragging out some observation about another based on the tiniest observation. After all, he couldn’t be sure he wasn’t doing that himself sometimes. After all, everyone did. Didn’t they? Observations. Of course, if he were attentive he’d have noticed his world seemed to have shrunk right now. Honeyed words, whilst her eyes seemed to hold him in place. Helpless but to return eye contact to a degree which would normally make him uncomfortable. Her comment about his own eyes made him dare to try to take in the color of her own. Which was a mistake, hazel eyes anchored him in place like a perfect hold. Broken only by her own decision to look away. She had a command of presence as he had learned from the better part of two decades of martial arts training, only her pins and holds wielded all of the strength of social pressure and used it just as expertly as he could apply his bodyweight for leverage in combat. And she wasn’t even really trying. Pallas finally realised he was still holding her hand, and quickly started trying to think of a way to non-chalantly stop doing so without Ariana noticing just how absurdly long he’d been holding it for. [color=daa520]“So, I guess right away’s as good a time as any. I just got in last night. You?”[/color] He tried to subtly release her hand, and gestured out of the arena. [color=daa520]“During the party thing they had set up just out there.”[/color] He pointed in the direction of the open field beyond the arena’s entrance. The brunette, who hadn’t noticed their hands had been intertwined this whole time and barely noticed Pallas releasing hers, turned to look in the direction where her attention was being pointed to. [color=CF328D]“I got in this morning, actually, so I missed the party you’re talking about,”[/color] Ariana replied with a pink, sparkling pout; that bitterness of having missed a party still ringing clear in her voice. [color=CF328D]“And I freaking [i]love[/i] a good party, so I’m really bummed out that I missed out! Did you have fun? Was it any good?”[/color] He read the disappointment in her voice and pivoted, both because he didn’t want to needlessly further cause harm, but also because he could think of little less interesting - parties in and of themself weren’t particularly worthy of conversation. [color=daa520]“Seemed just an introductory, get-to-know-each-other affair, and I arrived late last night. Only really spoke to one person. So I’m probably not the best person to ask.”[/color] He replied, hoping to staunch her disappointment. In reflection, upon River’s cryptic opening statements of what the camp had been through recently, he wondered how true that really was. Could be they were actually blowing off steam after enduring… well. The things River spoke of. [color=daa520][i]Still, no point scaring the fellow new people with wild theories pertaining to matters you can still claim ignorance of.[/i][/color] [color=daa520]“So where are you in from?”[/color] Ariana nodded quietly in acknowledgement of the man’s summary. Judging by Pallas’ demeanor and the way he spoke about the previous night’s events, chances were that the party wasn’t something she missed out on too terribly– a thought that made her internally sigh with relief. If she had missed out on the glamorous New Year’s Eve party at home in favor of a lame, disappointing one her first night at camp, the Mossos girl would’ve probably packed her bags and returned home this very morning. By arriving earlier that day and thanks to her current conversation partner and a few gorgeous individuals that had caught her eye, the chances of her bailing as quickly as she’d shown up were starting to dwindle. Pallas then changed the topic of conversation by asking where she was from, for which Ariana was grateful. [color=CF328D]“California. Born and raised in Beverly Hills, to be specific,”[/color] the girl declared proudly, flashing Pallas that million-dollar smile of hers. [color=CF328D]“One jet ride across the ocean, car ride through the city and what felt like a 25-mile hike in the snow later and here I am!”[/color] she told him with a giggle, mentally shuddering at the memory of that terrible, horrible, no-good hike. [color=CF328D]“What about you? I imagine demigod kids can come from anywhere in the world.”[/color] [color=daa520]“East Coast. Was born in B-More, and we slowly moved out further and further. Wound up getting into a charter school in New York. My Dad did whatever he could to make sure I could attend. A few years later, scholarship to stay in NY, and he could relax a little.”[/color] The daughter of Aphrodite’s interest was piqued further with Pallas’ answer. Although she had traveled to many places across the globe, Ariana had been raised in the same home, neighborhood, city and state for the entirety of her 21 years on Earth. Her only experiences with moving had been going from one private school to another at the age of fourteen, and she knew that really didn’t count in this context. Baltimore was also a place she hadn’t visited before, so she was eager to hear what it was like. Before she could speak again, the familiar feeling of growling within her abdomen signaled to Ariana that nourishment was required. That meant that she had about fifteen to twenty minutes to procure food before she began to get absolutely insufferable. [color=CF328D]“I’m so sorry, Pallas, I don’t mean to cut you off. But I just realized I’m actually [i]starving[/i],”[/color] the brunette admitted, turning on the charm before asking her next question. [color=CF328D]“I’d love to carry on with this conversation, though! Would you like to come and get lunch with me?”[/color] she inquired, shooting the man a bedroom-eyed look and flirtatiously biting her lower lip for good measure. As Ariana mentioned her hunger, Pallas anticipated the follow-up question. He looked up to the seating to find his clothes, and spying them, determined he could use his first meal as well. Breaking eye contact in the process. [color=daa520]“Yeah, I just gotta get my tracksuit and kicks back on. I could do with eats as well.”[/color] Turning back to her, he pointed at his things in the stands. [color=daa520]“But yeah, you hold up a second, I'll go there with you. Wanted to set up a standing order with them for breakfast over there, anyway.”[/color] He explained, uncertain of the food situation and layout at the Hall. There was a sliver of disappointment that momentarily presented itself on Ariana’s features when Pallas looked away before she could effectively lock him in with her facial expressions, but it transformed into utter delight when she heard the man accept her lunch invitation. Maybe she hadn’t [i]entirely[/i] lost her touch yet. [color=CF328D]“Sounds like a plan. I’ll wait for you, then,”[/color] she replied with a smile, shooting the man a wink before he walked away to retrieve his belongings.[/indent][/indent][/color]