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[ She thinks that, really, she should be surprised. She isn't. Instead, she just... Replies, because this is one of the most normal things going on in her life right now, all things considered. ]

I'm glad to know you haven't just abandoned your quest, Luke. I am a little surprised that you mistook a bush for some kind of animal - are you sure you don't need your eyes tested, just a little?

I'm very proud all the same. Keep up the good work - you get an "O" for effort!

Can you blame me? I'm eager to complete it. I've never seen a muggle before — yeah, I know, you're going to tell me it's a mortal, but let me have my time on the stage. I've been told my eyes are just fine. You can check if you want. I'm sure you're just trying to take a blow to my prowess as you know I'm going to win. "O"?

[ he doesn't speak wizarding world, remember? all he got for his grades were ... well, lets just go with the camp half-blood records. he's wondering what the o could stand for. outstanding? outsmart? ... orange? ]

I'll give you your time, don't worry. I'm actually looking forward to see what kind of poor animal you drag up to finish off this quest. As long as no animals are hurt in the completion of it you have my full approval to keep going.

Honestly, I can trust your judgement. I'm just a little worried about a man who sees a bush and thinks it's an animals - but I suppose I could see the problem, if there are bush-like animals in your world. Are there? I assure you I'm not trying to blow anything, your prowess or otherwise.

I mean.

Back on topic. An "O" means outstanding, in the wizarding world's grading system. You can get Outstanding, Exceeds Expectations, Acceptable, Poor, Dreadful and Troll. You don't want to get a Troll from me, Luke.

[ he did good, it's outstanding!!! she's very proud. ]

Looks can be deceiving. Satyrs? Look like normal guys until you get their pants off, then they're just all hard hoof and hairy legs. Major turn-off. So, a bush can be an animal. You just need to be able to see through the Mist. I'm being very thorough. You know how disappointing it can be when you realize that hot guy from that boy band was just a corner away if you had chosen to go left instead of right. Still never am going to get over missing bumping into JT. Troll? Never met one of those. Must be real awful in the Land of Wizards if they get a grade named after them.

I've never had the luck to meet a Satyr, but I have been around Centaurs before - one was a teacher in my school, not that I ever took the class. I think there are a few plant-based animals in my world, too, but I don't think I've ever seen any that would look like a fuzzy bush - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on that one, for now. Even if I have no idea what the Mist is, or who JT is. Could I have an explanation?

Well, it's not that they're awful, it's more than they're known for being incredibly stupid. I'm sure there are some smart trolls and the stereotype is rather cruel but that's how it is.

Edited 2014-07-03 23:52 (UTC)

[ it's weird, and, at the same time, not weird, that their worlds have so much overlap. from centaurs to witches to strange monsters … luke's almost tempted to believe they're from the same world, and that hecate's arm has quite the reach. while it's tempting to give her a tl;dr explanation of everything, and of how he knows of centaurs, not finding it any less difficult to believe one would take to teaching, luke behaves as luke always does: by being a pain in the ass. ]

Do the Centaurs like to play paintball? Mist is a long story. While I like to type a full on novel out, it's only going to get confusing. But the short version is: It's what keeps the mortals from noticing anything funny going on. Cyclops' one eye? They see two. There's a big fight going on? They see something weird, like two people tangoing, or maybe fighting with bananas rather than swords. It's an illusion thing. JT is bringing sexy back. You haven't heard about that?

I don't think so. Muggle technology doesn't work inside the school grounds and they're the only centaurs I've ever met. There might be some that rather enjoy playing it elsewhere but it's not something I'd expect. Most of them prefer their forests and their lifestyle just as it was before paintballing even began.

[ It's only after she's written it all out that she realises Luke may have been joking and she feels a little foolish. As much as she feels comfortable with him, strangely so, seeing as how he reminds her of some of her friends back home, she also doesn't want to look like an idiot. Learning about his world is one stumbling block she has to overcome - she doesn't have to be prattish on top of that. ]

So it's like a charm, then? Hogwarts, my school, has a few of those. Notice-me-not charms, muggle repellents, things to make it look like the castle is just a decrepit old palace rather than the amazing thing it actually is. It's sensible, really, seeing as it protects us from them and them from us. I wish it wasn't so separate, considering my parents are both muggles and so are the rest of my family but I do understand the secrecy.

And, no, I haven't. I'm from 1999, almost 2000, if that helps?

[ luke would reply to all of this, perhaps nitpicking at muggle repellant and asking if she could somehow charm up a demigods-who-strive-to-be-good-and-thus-annoying repellant, but it's the very last note that leaves him frowning. ]

[ luke sends two texts: ]

How in Hera's name —

[ and with a little less typing-as-he'd-speak: ]

I'm nine — or ten — years ahead of you. You've missed out on a lot of national treasures and Hollywood disasters. Maybe I could give you a list so you could prevent half of the shit that defines the 2000s.

Edited (maths.) 2014-07-04 08:48 (UTC)

[ she can't help how she giggles, now. 'how in hera's name', almost like 'merlin's beard', she supposes, little things that show how wildly different their homes are. it's better than cussing, she supposes, which is a welcome relief after years spent around boys and more boys. ]

I don't think the King and Queen are picky about where they bring us from. A friend of mine was sixth months behind me before she left. Time doesn't seem as important here as it is in our worlds. ]

[ still, she's smiling, fiddling with the chain of her locket and nodding to herself, as though luke could possibly see it. ]

If you'd like! I have to warn you, though, that I was out of touch with the non-magical world for a few years before then, too. I was a little bit on the run.

Edited (fucking html) 2014-07-04 08:57 (UTC)

[ well, it'd be so easy for luke to simply type something akin to only one friend being a few moments behind him, and two being a year or so ahead. it's a little difficult to explain the latter, considering it'd end with after my death. but that leads to more questions, ones he senses hermione will ask, and then, perhaps, apologise for the moment she types them out. they're questions he doesn't particularly wish to answer, not with the sting of annabeth's departure still smarting. ]

Yeah? Welcome to the club. Did some catching up while at Camp. The only thing I was up to speed with was the Internet. Little me just loved that creation. Super helpful in the running thing.

[ thanks dad. guess he's useful for something, huh? but any commentary about hermes leaves his fingertips the moment the sarcastic words enter his head. ]

But you're not the only one with people behind and ahead of you. It's weird. It's like they're speaking another language.

[ romans and greeks. gaia and hera. it's another war luke knows nothing of, nor has any part in. he's the hero of the titan war prophecy. he doesn't exist, in any capacity, after it. ]

It'd be really great if you could prevent the breakup between JT and Britney. "Cry Me A River" doesn't really do it for me.

Oh! I've been told about the internet, and gadgets that let you read thousands of books on one tiny piece of technology. It all sounds amazing and I wish I could experience it all right away. I'm at the Station right now, though, so I think I have a lot of time to explore it once I've given out the things I brought here.

[ of course the first thought she has about technology is the advancement of carrying books. not that she minds lugging around her miniature library in her beaded bag but, despite the charms, it did get a little heavy and she was only one person. it was just... frustrating. still, even if she did find a means of transferring the data she'd only be able to use it in the station. a little redundant, really. ]

I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's definitely odd. And very confusing. I've always been the one that's known what's going on or what explanation there is for something - being out of the loop isn't a good look on me, I don't think.

[ still, he's rather confusing her right now. ]

Are any of those words supposed to mean something to me? JT and Britney? Are they famous?

Guess that's another quest for me while I'm here. Find A Muggle Dog and Find A Good Kindle For Hermione Granger. I'm sure there's one lying around here with your name on it. If not, I'm sure I could steal one from my dad. It's not like he really needs it.

[ if hermes can spend an hour reading on his kindle, then that's one hour he could've spent with his son. it's not a thought luke likes to think about, his father choosing something that defines his very godly character over what would define him as a human. ]

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. You don't listen to pop?

I don't need you to steal anything for me, honestly. I can find one by myself if it's that much trouble. I want want you getting yourself into - well, trouble. Not for my sake and not for something as silly as a 'kindle'.

[ she would much rather keep luke safe and sound and not in trouble on her behalf, thank you very much. she'll take what she can get, though. ]

Muggle technology doesn't work on school grounds, remember? And I never had much time for music anyway - I was studying.

[ potato, tomato. stealing to him is like borrowing to her — without the step of asking for permission. ]

The Station's boring without a little adventure. I'm sure you got the nice rundown about how demigods and not sitting still don't quite go together. Besides, my dad owes me.

[ like, a good twenty-four years of father and son bonding, but, hey, we don't get into that. hermes is the god of technology, right? maybe luke could try and phone home, asking good old dad deliver him a kindle with an eternal battery. if this were video, despite his rather sulky and brooding thoughts, hermione would see luke laugh, definitely making fun of her with the following. ]

Were you at school three hundred and sixty five days a year? Better question: Were you studying three hundred and sixty five days a year?

[ and he should be well aware of how scolded he'll be if she finds out he stole anything in her name. stealing is only acceptable when it's a life or death situation, alright. ]

Not quite, but I can imagine. Restlessness, itching for adventure, wanting to get out and fight the fight - I've known a few people like that in my time.

Like I said, please don't bother anyone too much. It's not worth so much hassle.

[ if only she had some idea. she was curious about how his father could possibly owe him, but... she's still smiling to herself as she replies, the teasing poke as familiar to her as breathing. ]

Not exactly, no, but it didn't hurt to stay on top of things even during breaks. I'd have hated to go back to school and have forgotten something important over the break.

[ yeah, yeah, yeah, hermione. all luke hears is blah blah blah, i'd love one. ]

Maybe not a kid of Hermes. Definitely an Athena. Knowledge, knowledge, knowledge. All that reading must've lead to a few successes when fighting with a wand or broom would only get you cut into a million pieces.

[ as annabeth had lead the success of percy jackson, no doubt. all those books and all that strategising and all that consuming of knowledge had done her a world of good, letting her escape her own grief for thalia and confusion over losing her grip on luke. sometimes, he wishes he had picked up a habit or two from another god. maybe things wouldn't have been as bad as they came to be. ]

I find it a little difficult to believe you'd forget something. Unless it's the stench of a troll. Do they even shower?

[ you're as bad as harry and ron. no, scratch that. you're as bad as the weasley twins. twin. ]

Isn't she the goddess of wisdom? It seems fitting and I'd be proud if I was. There's nothing wrong with doing a lot of studying and reading. It came in handy more than once; even Harry said that he'd be hopeless without me telling him what to do. Brains can sometimes be far better than brawn.

[ not that she doesn't think there is some room to fight, but she'd much rather fix things with her voice and her words than by drawing her wand. she's seen enough bloodshed and war and death in her short years to colour her heart a darker red and to make her turn far, far away from the path of more pain and hurt. she would fight if she had to but it would be a new kind of torture. ]

You'd be surprised; sometimes things take a refresher to sink in. As for the Troll scent - you're right, they don't. It smelt foul.

Athena: Goddess of Wisdom. I'd hate to be graded against one of them. One of my friends is her daughter. Smartest girl I know. She'd probably like you.

[ or old friend, as he's not even sure if annabeth would even classify him as a friend or family, or even acquaintance. bringing up annabeth, and even her mother, had been a mistake on luke's path, but in the spirit of who he is, he thrives in doing stupid things. ]

Harry one of your troll buddies?

[ hermione's entire life is one big, thick adventure book. while luke's slowly reading through it, pushing through his dyslexia and using the tools he's been taught and has taught himself so he can consume the written word, it's still a slow process, tying all the ends together to create a clear picture. from what he can remember of their conversation a month or so back, harry could possibly be one of those she had helped when fighting one of these smelly trolls. ]

Glad I've never run into one, though. Probably smell as bad as a Cyclops who has never heard of Head and Shoulders. Don't even think their caves have indoor plumbing.

I think I've been told a few things about her - a lot of people seem to think that she and I would get along. I hope there's more to that theory than both of us being smart.

[ she has no idea, of course, about the pain he's causing himself and she just continues, entertaining his questions and enjoying the give and take they're offering one another, learning about each other through casually commentary. ]

My best friend - like a brother, really. He's the one that saved me from the Troll when I was just a little girl and since then we've been saving one another almost every year. It's a little bit like tradition.

[ traditionally fighting the dark lord and living to tell the tale. it wasn't the nicest of traditions or one she would be keeping to from now on, but all the same... it was what had made them both so strong. ]

It was just unfortunate for us that we met it in the girl's toilet. It broke all the pipes - it definitely didn't help with the smell.

Most gods aren't really pro-people. Athena's always been nice. Spoke to her a few times — nice lady, if a little too serious. She'd like you for the reading and the wisdom, and probably for asking a thousand questions in one breath. Gods like talking about themselves. Though, her head isn't up her ass too far.

[ it still is, though. cursing medusa, thus allowing the events of the titan war to come to fruition — though, it's unfair to blame athena for that, merely taking out her anger for poseidon on a woman who had merely been used as a ploy; it's all circumstantial, like hermes taking to may — and never once really stepping forth, like all the gods, to help her prized daughter. but she does more. she'd helped him, on his quest, and he thinks she had even tried to pull him from his own dark path, once or twice. ]

Hopefully it's a tradition you're breaking. While it's all fun to be driven by adrenaline, got to say, I'd like a vacation in Hawaii at some point. Sit back, relax, maybe enjoy the waves.

[ in poseidon's domain. that's a good idea, isn't it? but at least she's confirmed two things for him: (1) he'd been right about who harry was and (2) she had been exposed to monsters perhaps at the age of twelve, similarly to the young age most demigods find that they're not quite so normal and mundane, after all. ]

Could've been the boys'. It's worse. Going to go out on a limb and believe the troll was already trying to convince you to play a hand clapping game with it before Harry entered the stalls. Good thing he was there. Sounds like a friend you don't really want to lose.

[ sounds like thalia. he doesn't doubt this harry, like a brother, had almost thrown himself in the way to protect her. would he throw himself in front of a monster to ensure she got over the threshold of camp half-blood, to safety and security? he doesn't think to ask. going into the stalls to save a girl from a troll says enough. ]

Maybe that comes with the territory of being a God. Having that much strength and power might make anyone a little big-headed if there isn't anyone around to keep them out of their, um, behinds. It's easy to get lost in yourself if you don't have someone tugging you away from it all every now and then.

[ maybe that's too simple, maybe she's seeing things in greys when she should be seeing them in black and white, but it's not that easy for her. it's not as simple as one thing or another, not when people (and, she supposes, gods) are so complex and deep and far more than anyone could experience in one lifetime, or one meeting. it seems far too unfair to rationalise people as one thing or another -- she had learned that the hard way, from watching snape, from peter pettigrew, from remus and more. she had learned that people were far more than they seemed, often in a very good way. ]

I think I'd probably choose Australia. My parents are there, it would be nice to see them again, to sort things out. [ to give them their memories back, awkwardly enough. she isn't going to bring all that up, though dismissing it as a casual point towards taking a holiday elsewhere. ]

Something like that. I was hiding under the sinks when Harry stuck his wand up it's nose. I'm surprised we didn't get killed - or worse, expelled. It's madness how silly the school can be sometimes, honestly, it is.

He is. He's the best friend anyone could ask for even if he is a complete and utter prat sometimes.

[ she thinks, absently, that harry and luke might just get along with one another. ]

[ it's really cute she won't allow herself to say ass. luke figures he'll make a point of doing so until she can't stop herself from copying and pasting what he says and accidentally forgetting to change ass to behind. quest number three. ]

I've never seen a god take to anyone but themselves. They only care about their kids when they do something worthy of their attention. There's so many who go unclaimed — I don't know if a Jason Grace ever answered your request for information a month back, but he's a little blinded by his Roman shades. Gods are just gods. Gotta breed out those future Herculeses.

[ if luke knew what sally jackson was to poseidon, perhaps he could hope that that was what may castellan had been to hermes, once. but after not seeing his father even come to calm his mother down, even if he had been privy to the way poseidon's gaze softens when looking at percy's mother, he doubts may castellan meant anything to hermes, just as he means nothing, too. given the quest to steal a golden apple, one crafted and completed by hercules years before him? it's laziness at its finest. ]

[ he doesn't particularly wish to blow anything jason has built for hermione apart, but, it's the truth, isn't it? no one had seen the pain and the suffering felt by the demigods than those within the hermes cabin. being the leader, he had been the one to build those kids up, only to see them shatter the moment their friend had been claimed, only to wonder what it is about them that makes them so worthless. ]

[ but the mental image he has right now brings the smile hermione had longed to see on his face. unfortunately, this is text, and she may miss any cues he incidentally shoves into his own messages of him taking amusement — and shock — at what it is she reveals. ]

Is that some sort of metaphor for completely kicking the troll's ass?

[ she has no idea, of course, and she's more than happy to continue their conversation, expletives missing, of course. she might be happy to call a friend a prat or an idiot but cursing has always been a little out of her depth, more of ron's thing than her own. ]

He told me a few things, yes, but I don't really know too much about the society of things. I know there's Camps for the children, Roman and Greek, but otherwise I'm still a little at a loss. But - they are Gods, aren't they? Aren't there prayers for them to answer, worlds for them to oversee? It's cruel for them to ignore their children in times of need but it's also understandable, in a way.

[ not that she's, somehow, giving them a way out. she's frustrated with the idea of people abandoning their family, blood or not, and it puts her a little on edge. she was (lucky?) thankful that she had been able to take care of her own family and keep them out of danger and trouble - erasing their memories hadn't been the most good natured thing she had ever done but it had been necessary to keep them safe. their safety came before any goodness in her heart and any hopes she'd had for the future. one day she'd like to go and find them and return to them as their daughter, but for now she was stuck here and had far more important things to look at.

honestly speaking, though, learning about the worlds other than hers through multiple eyes is a bit of a learning curve for her. she knows that one person experiences things differently from another but she could scarcely imagine how hard it must be for an unclaimed child, for one that's left alone, heartbroken or feeling like they didn't belong. she could empathise with wanting to prove yourself, feeling out of place, going above and beyond to show that you deserve to be a part of something. she just wished she knew how to express it a little better.

at least she could work on that, perhaps with luke, perhaps not. expressing her empathy had always been a little more difficult for hermione. ]

No, actually. He literally stuck his wand up the Troll's nose.

Not going to lie, I'm a little lost on the Roman thing, too. The Big Reveal happens after me. I'd be glad to give you a rundown on the whole Greek side of things if the information gathering didn't stop when the calendar switched over to June. Doubt there's much difference besides the togas they wear.

[ despite anything jason and nico may tell him, the roman thing still confuses him. to think he has even more siblings, but from mercury ... it doesn't make luke mad nor happy, it merely seems as though he should've expected this. more doomed children, even if jason believes the romans did things better, recognising their kids and the like, unlike the greeks who couldn't give a damn. if hermione were to ask him about the roman side, well, luke's not even sure what the hell the camp even looks like. jason seems normal, if a little less edgier and harder than thalia. perhaps that's the difference — roman's aren't scarred like the greeks. ]

They only answer prayers when they feel like it. My dad never answered mine.

[ it's all he'll let himself say, finding it difficult to even type out the two sentences. speaking it is easier, it leaving his mouth without so much thought. in text, luke can see how he sounds, can feel the words forming on his fingertips, and despite wishing to rid himself of their weight, he finds it only anchors him down more. dad's an ass or dad didn't care or they only have kids so they can sit on their asses all day, "can't interfere" this and "die for me so you can attain a good afterlife" that. all he had ever prayed for was help, and all he had received as a magical sheep thalia followed to halcyon green's home. that's the only prayer he's ever seen answered by a father to his child. he thinks athena had answered some of his, or perhaps annabeth's, when he'd been on his own quests. ]

[ he'd rather talk about wands up troll's noses, though. harry? sounds like his type of guy, even if luke's never seen a troll before. he imagines it as a cyclops, tall and big and dumb, shoving a stick — or a sword that isn't backbiter — right up the nostril. ]

Sounds like a badass. Is there a one wand per wizard/witch policy? Troll snot doesn't sound very magical.

I can't deny how interesting the whole thing is. It's obviously an entirely different world, but the links between yours and mine and others I've learned about is just incredible. I kind of imagine it as a domino effect, really. My world is one way and it taps against another and something minute changes and this goes along and along until we find a world that is completely different from out own but, still, linked somehow.

[ She really is getting a little ahead of herself with all of this talk of things and places and parallel universes but she can't help it. To her it's like a book waiting to be opened and read about; it's fascinating, incredible, and she longs to dive in and get as much information as she possibly can. She doesn't know what else she can do but keep asking for information, even if people shrug her off and make it sound like she's being an insufferable pain in the backside.

It's not like she isn't used to being told that, really. ]

Oh. That's both strange and disappointing, I'm sorry, Luke.

[ It's strange because it doesn't make sense, to her, that a parent could not answer a prayer, especially if they're a God. Isn't that their duty? They answer prayers and help people and surely they'd want to go out of their way to help their kids especially. Perhaps there's a little more to all of this than she's aware of but, either way, it's leaving her very frustrated and wanting to dig more information out of Luke and Nico and Jason - as much as she could without being a little too presumptuous.

She's more than happy to drop the topic in favour of wands, though, considering how utterly fascinating wandcraft is as a subject all by itself. ]

Something like that. There's a saying; 'the wand chooses the wizard'. They're semi-sentient, that's why they work better for their owners than other people, and some wands have auras and feelings about them. I had to use someone else's wand for a while and it really hated me and didn't want to work for me at all - and it felt evil. It was awful.

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