Event ϟ The Center of the Western World

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Event ϟ The Center of the Western World

Who: Claimed kids of the Big Three
When: Friday
Where: Olympus
What: So do you live or do you die?
Warnings: Gods are dicks

Olympus is huge to begin with. How something this size floats above the Empire State Building? Don't bother thinking about it, you'll just get a headache. After stepping off the elevator, the demigods were greeted by much warmer looks than when they first arrived. Nearly two months, no one's dead yet and that might be a camp record. Chiron smiles at them as they arrive on Friday night, sending them to look around (don't touch too much and everyone should know not to give you things that will kill you, and don't look at the gods should they ever decide to take their true forms). There are interesting things set up everywhere, and a young girl is handing out brochures to every maiden who passes--information about the Hunters of Artemis, should they ever decide they'd like to join. Gods chat about a book--Hestia's Guide to Peaceful Resolutions, if they can read the title in ancient Greek--animatedly as they pass. Everything is somewhat excited. Summer Solstice is a big thing and--

And didn't you hear about one of the things the gods are deciding today? The residents of Olympus haven't seen a son or daughter of the Big Three in decades, so it's kind of exciting, kind of sad, that this chapter of the most powerful demigods might come to an end so fast.

After being shown their residences (a different room for each cabin, decorated in the symbols of their parent or patron, much more comfortable than their cabins, more like luxurious hotel rooms), the demigods are left alone until morning. The kids from Cabins 1 and 3, and the Hades children from Cabin 11 are risen early, though, and urged to make themselves presentable. For those kids, Chiron ushers them away, to wait. They can explore after. He says after with a kind of optimistic determination. There will be an after, he believes. He hopes. And it isn't long before they're beckoned into the Hall of the Gods.

Twelve thrones sit in a U-shape. Giant thrones, holding giant people-looking beings that loom over the demigods. Some of them look pleased, or proud. Some of them look disgusted or bored. Some just look curious. Unfortunately, it seems to be a pretty even split.

To the side in a rainbow of a fountain, Hades watches as well. Poseidon gives his children a small smile. His brothers don't offer their children the same courtesy. At the head of the thrones, in a pinstriped suit, Zeus is the first to speak.

"Chiron has informed you why you're here. For what reason, Heroes, should we allow you to live?"

It's not a rhetorical question. You'd better answer and you'd better answer well.

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[You've got this one chance.]

Akihiko couldn’t stop himself from looking at everything around them, although he did keep a keen ear attentive to hear what Chiron was saying. So these were their erstwhile parents… He wondered when the other people at camp would have the opportunity to meet the gods as well.

After the address from Zeus, Akihiko paused and waited for his turn. Standing tall with confidence, he stepped forward and inclined his head in a bow, as a sign of greeting and respect in his natural culture. He hadn’t forgotten his manners, and whether or not the gods cared about that aspect, he wasn’t going to give them anything less than his best efforts.

“Thank you for meeting with us directly.”

Now, with that brief formality out of the way…

“We were brought here for a purpose,” he began in a calm tone, “but we haven’t been able to fulfill it yet. We would like to be given the opportunity to reflect positively on your honor and integrity. Tell us what your objective is, and we’ll do our best to carry it out. It’d be a waste to discard all of the training that we’ve learned from Chiron, up to this point.

“Apart from the goal of this camp, everyone has an important objective that they still need to see through. And in the short time we’ve been here, people have made new friends. They’ve come to trust and rely on each other. We’re not a danger to anyone. We’re getting along just fine. It’d be severely demoralizing for them to suffer more losses, considering the other revelations they’ve already uncovered about themselves, and their origins. On that note, they haven’t even met any of you yet, and… I know they’d like to.

“As for me, well…” Akihiko paused briefly, closed his eyes, and then slowly exhaled as he reopened them again, “I can’t let the whole world down, or any of my friends, for that matter. I have to keep my word and help them out to the very end. We’re fighting to save everyone. Besides… There are people that I still need to protect. I want to get stronger, so I can be there for them, whenever they need me.”

A longer period of silence fell over him as he debated whether or not he should voice this next part. He had been thinking about it ever since the day of the announcement, and felt pretty certain of his decision. It might anger his fellow SEES members to hear his proposal, but if things had to be resolved without directly fighting against the gods, then this was the best solution that he could come up with, to yield minimal damage.

“If you really feel the need to take one of us, then… I will offer myself up – but, on one condition,” he held Zeus’ gaze evenly, and then finished with, “that everyone else be spared.” A beat. “Please.”

His statement delivered, Akihiko lowered his head once more, and then stepped back to let someone else speak.

Edited 2013-06-21 17:05 (UTC)

Minato's first look is at Hades. This is his first chance he's ever had to see his father. He's uncomfortable, quiet. The way the gods look at him make him feel like he's a zoo animal. His stance is as relaxed as always when he turns back on Zeus.

And he makes a step forward, planted himself with his relaxed posture, as if to shield the rest of the campers. Determination seems to roll off him in waves. Otherwise fairly plain, as normal as he could appear, it might be clear how this kid is the one who ended up facing Nyx. "They don't deserve to die."

A lot of people don't deserve a lot of things. No one here deserves to have their lives taken away to save people they don't know. SEES didn't deserve the burden of saving the world. His siblings--and his cousins in Cabin 11--didn't deserve any less respect just because their parents weren't Olympians. And his father doesn't deserve to have to passively sit and watch as his children are judged.

But this isn't the same thing. This is a decision that can be made, a trust that can be formed. And Minato's words carry the weight of every thing he has had to bear so far. These are the people he died for, the people who gave him strength, the people he befriended in his second chance. His sister, his brothers--a family he never got the chance to have before. His cousins, old friends and new. People with stories and lives and homes and friends.

The gods know why they should allow these Heroes to live. But Minato isn't going to fall to the bait. No big speeches. They won't sway the Olympian's opinions. They should be allowed to live because not a single one of them deserves to die.

"There doesn't need to be a reason."

Ken doesn't step up or move from where he's standing at all, although he's turned toward the thrones, eyes set on the Olympian in the pin-striped suit as he glares up at him as fiercely as he could.

There's no need for a reason. This is sick and they shouldn't be made to defend themselves when it was the gods who made the mistake. Why should they be killed just for existing, when they did nothing wrong? (Well, mostly. They never did anything to be a threat to the world like these people think.)

"This is wrong."

There are million different things that have been flying through her head since she arrived. The trip to the city took her mind off of it for a while; even fighting helped to clear her thoughts out so she could really sit down and think about what might help. Being aggressive wouldn't help. Bargaining wouldn't help. There needed to be a reason, a simple enough reason, to let them live, something that would satisfy gods who are beyond their comprehension (no matter how human they may be).

It would have been more difficult, if they didn't know the reason the gods were considering it, but no matter how strongly Umi rejected that reasoning, it made its own sort of sense. Their long-gone brothers and sisters started wars, caused incredible death and destruction in their own way.

Umi didn't want to die. She didn't want anyone here to die, she'd seen that so, so many of them were good people, who, despite their differences, were willing to do anything for each other, their friends - even the virtual strangers they'd met here. Killing them all was ridiculous and impractical and... just look at them, what they've done, how they've fought and sacrificed purely for good.

Her father was, of course, their, and despite feeling like her heart was going to leap out of her chest, she returned a slight, nervous smile. The god who was her father - she still could hardly believe it.

She had to speak, Umi couldn't leave this up to everyone else to defend them, and she bowed deeply when she finally had her turn. Formality wasn't her thing, but it seemed like she should be on the safe side. "Thank you for allowing us this chance." She rose. "I am Umi Ryuuzaki, daughter of Poseidon, lord of the seas..." They all knew it, but introducing oneself was polite as well.

"There's a lot I could say to defend us, but we never knew what we were before, and we were never all in the same place at once. Maybe that would change things." Just look at those guys Akihiko, Minato, and Ken, though. "I could defend myself, personally, based off of my experiences, and what I've learned through them, but I'm not here to defend myself, or even just my own brothers and sisters, but everyone brought here." It was the truth; losing all of these kids would be disastrous in so very many ways.

"I, personally, understand your worries. War is awful, and the risk of allowing further carnage like the two world wars is a heavy risk to take, but as of yet, we have not done anything of the sort - not even to suggest that we might follow that path." If any of them had super hearing she was sure they'd hear her heart about to freaking explode.

"Maybe we aren't entirely innocent of bringing harm to others, either... no one is." Umi, certainly, is not innocent. "I can't speak for what many of us have done before arriving here, but... the crimes we are being charged with have yet to be committed. Should I... should I do anything that justifies your worries..." again, she bowed, "then you might be right to strike me down. Until then, all I ask is that we - all of us - be given a chance to not be the threats that you fear we will be."

That's it. That's... probably way too wordy, oh god her throat is so dry that she might die before they decide, and she needs to step back before she gets so nervous that she falls over and looks like an idiot and... she took a deep breath.

"Thank you."

Gone was the girl who had the snark when she first heard the news of the decision the gods would make because they were too frightened to know if their children would cause chaos in this world. As she listened to everyone else speak up, Aisha glanced over at the sea god, her father. Out of all of them, he was the one who actually tried to do something of reassurance. It didn't make up for everything but at least she knew someone was decent on this panel.

When it was silent again, she took this chance to speak up. If someone had known her before, they wouldn't expect her to have been raised as royalty. Don't focus on anything else at the moment and try not to sound vulgar like the protection line from earlier.

"We were brought to this world because we were needed. We were not asked to do this task and yet we will follow through. You ask why we should be spared but there's also the question of why we were brought here if the only matter we can accomplish is by ending our own lives."

She paused for a moment, trying to keep the hurt and anger in check.

"I don't see myself as a hero but rather someone who wants to do the right thing. Something I grew up with is the idea of protecting others when they cannot do it themselves. That's what guardian fairies do. But denying us the chance to try and prove ourselves, it's not just wrong but defeats the purpose of bringing us here in the first place."

How can someone so small change the mind of a god? The answer is that they can't. Aisha knew that but she wouldn't waiver. She stood up to Darkar and Valtor on her own despite the results but that never stopped her from doing her damnest to protect her home, her friends, and her fellow fairies.

Right now she wasn't standing in front of the gods as a daughter of Poseidon. She was presenting herself as the Fairy of Waves...Aisha of Andros. Come what may, she can at least say that much.

Everyone else's speeches are so long; Ange doesn't really want to make a speech. She doesn't even want to be here. So instead of giving a rational, moral reason as to why they should stop dying, she just shrugs. "You're going to make your own decisions.....I can't stop you from doing what you want to."

"...I've died twice because of some immortal games. I don't want to make it three times. That's all. Done."

And she steps back. Done, indeed.

Among the things Ruka had brought with her on this trip were her high priestess robes and everything that went with it.

It meant nothing here, she knew, except to her. The outfit symbolized eight decades of blood, cruelty, betrayal and a will that had been broken down and then made anew.

She may not be a part of the Hyou Clan by blood, but she is still its high priestess. If she is to die today, this is the person she chooses to die as.

It was not a matter of being sentimental. It was merely a matter of pride.

The robes, she thought idly, were a lot heavier than the jeans and t-shirt she's been wearing, but the weight of it was almost comforting as she stepped forward when it was her turn to speak.

She brought her hands together, her fist resting against an open palm as she gave the gods a shallow bow. Everything, from the way she dressed to the way she moved was beautiful and elegant, as expected of the high priestess of the Hyou Clan. Ruka did not look around when she straightened. Instead she focused only on the face of her father.

"Should my father wish to take my life all he as to do is ask and I will give it up willingly."

Because she would have extended the same courtesy to the man she thought was (and still thought of as) her father.

Because, god or not, he was her one and only father.

Because Hyou Ruka was not the kind of woman who would beg for her life.

She was not saying this to impress anyone. She was offering because she owed her very existence to her father and so he is the only one with the right to order her death. If it came from him, she will accept whatever verdict that is handed to her.

So no, she won't bargain for her life. She had lived a long life. Should she die again she would not even bat an eye.

She could not feel the same kind of apathy for the people behind her. Behind her were her half-brothers, her cousins and people of as yet undetermined relations with her. She had committed atrocities for her clan, to do any less for the family she had here was unthinkable. And even without that, her pride as a member of the Hyou Clan would not allow her to just turn a blind eye to their plight.

"I only ask that you spare your other children." It was the first time she turned to look at Hades and Poseidon, before her gaze settled back on Zeus. She wasn't going to argue that it was the right thing to do. If they were as powerful as Chiron implied, then the gods had ever right to be cautious. Any one of them here, could very well turn out to be a threat.

Ruka tucked her hands in her sleeves.

"You asked for a reason, but the future is as yet unwritten. How can we answer you when the answer doesn't exist? If you want to know the answer to your question so badly then allow your children to live."

Phibrizzo decided to wait politely while some of the others took their turns first. Although he was likely the eldest here if his past life was factored in, here he was the youngest and he was trying to make a good impression. That meant letting his elders speak first - or at least those who stepped up first. It gave him the chance to choose his words carefully. He didn't know how much all of the gods knew about their lives before coming here.

For perhaps the first time in his life, he felt something akin to guilt. Unlike many, if not all of the other demigods here, Phibrizzo had actually tried to destroy the world in the past. It had been both due to his nature as a mazoku, and due to believing it was what his parents wanted of him. He'd also come so very close to doing it turning the universe to nothingness in the sea of chaos. He hadn't felt a pang of regret for it then, but now that he wasn't a being created for chaos and destruction and now that it had put his half-siblings in danger, he actually felt bad about his previous life choice. It was a bad time to be feeling such human emotion.

"We don't deserve to die because we had no control over coming here. We were brought here whether we liked it or not. Some people complained, but the fact is that we all trained together and lived together for weeks without endangering the world."

Which was all completely true. Regardless of what anyone had done in a past life, not a single one of them had done anything reckless that could so much as destroy a small town, much less the entire world.

"This many children of the lords of the sky, the sea, and the underworld all lived in the same camp, and we haven't had any problems."

He would have liked to acknowledge Hades first amongst the three, but in Zeus' throne room, that would have been stupid. Instead, he just implied indirectly that the three of them were of equal importance and power.

"There had to be some reason for bringing us here, so I'm asking that everyone be allowed to live. If I have to prove I deserve it with a quest, then I'll do it. I'll go on one with a child of Zeus and a child of Poseidon if the gods want, to prove that the children of the Big Three can work together. I'd rather risk dying as a hero than die right now along with all the other demigods here because of what we might do."

He silently refused to beg. He wouldn't shame Hades, himself or his siblings like that. But since Minato and Ange's arguments were so brief, he thought he'd be a little more verbose.

It almost felt like a bizarre retelling of a deja-vu.

Nanjo had once faced a similar situation, and so there was a strange calmness to him, even with upbringing. Yet the difference was also staggering; while Kandori had pretended to stand proudly, he had been a coward who simply had lost all hope. Here, the gods seemed more human than divine, but there was an obvious power radiating from them that Nanjo couldn't deny.

So while his mind screamed defiance, he'd been taught well. His public face was as calm and cold as ever before he gave a small polite bow. Nothing too dramatic nor too long; a simple formality done when one does business. He still had trouble seeing his Zeus as his father, and he assumed it would take a long while for him to do as such. Yamaoka would continue to be the most important member of his family to him, and he knew that he would not want to see 'the young master' be killed off today. But even more importantly, he want the others to suffer a similar face.

"We appear to all be standing before you with a similar mindset. I believe most of my companions have already spoken for all of us; repeating what has been said albeit a little differently would simply be extending the meeting to a duration that I am most certain you would like to be made short. Therefore, I'll keep that part brief by consequence."

Even Kei Nanjo could acknowledge that all of the others had already done an excellent job stating what was in most of the great three's children's minds. If the gods hadn't been won or lost over now, there wasn't much that could change them, so he'd simply state how he'd felt.

"My friends and I were once asked what we were living for. The one that lead us answered that he was going to find his reason for living. That has been my own philosophy as well. We may not all end up knowing that reason, but that we should live each day without regret. Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing. I made a promise to a man who once sacrificed himself to save me that I would become the number one man in Japan. That is still an asseveration I intend to keep."

A pause, while he pushed up his glasses. The next part would have to be a careful dance and choice of words.

"Anxiety for the future has been a common downfall in humanity since the dawn of time. Together, we may seem like a possible threat and cause for worry, but in the few weeks I have been with the others, I have seen growing acquaintanceship rather than animosity. We work together, not against each other. Fear for what may come is understandable, but simply swallowing that which has had no time to grow would be a crime in itself." Kei Nanjo was not someone who begged for his life, rather he simply stated what he believed in to prove his point. In fact...

"As we were told, we were brought to this world to aid it. That is something I think we all intend to do, and, if need be, something I will fight for and sacrifice my own life so that the others may continue towards this path." And therein lay something which he had realized that day; he was acknowledging the new people he had met as the camp more than just mere acquaintances in the short time they had known each other. If he was willing, after all he said, to give up his life so that the other siblings could live, it meant that he put trust in them. And from someone like Kei, that meant a lot.

"When the character of a person is not clear to you, look at their friends, and the connections they have made." He gave a small look at the others, before looking at the gods one final time. "Thank you."

The King of Olympus looks handsome, proud, and grim, though perhaps nobody expected the dark blue pinstripes. There’s no pity in his grey eyes as he regards the demi-gods once each of them has said their piece, though they linger a bit more on his own children than on the others.

“With regards to the vows made, and the lives you have lived, I can not, and will not risk throwing this world into chaos again. Too much is at stake already.”

The beautiful, forbidding-looking woman at Zeus’s side doesn’t even bother looking down. Instead, she looks at her husband and offers two small, disdainful phrases. “Kill them. They’re not worth the trouble.” She doesn’t say anything else; it’s clear she profoundly dislikes them, probably just for existing.

Poseidon looks awfully casual in his Birkenstocks and Bermuda shorts, but his tone is nevertheless serious. “No. I don’t believe killing them now would solve anything.”

A brief pause.

“And I believe my children know better than trying to destroy the world.” Once he’s done, he gives his children a small smile.

Demeter sighs, looking critically at the demigods before folding her arms across her chest. In her disapproval, you can almost hear the summer sounds of harvest: wheat rustling in the wind.

“You really can’t kill them. Where will you put the bodies? Even if I don’t approve of some--” a pointed glare then, at the rainbow where Hades’ face should be -- “people’s parenting techniques, there’s no need for unnecessary violence. Feed them some whole grain cereal instead, they’re all thin as a rail.”

Ares lounges in his seat, and, though his eyes are obscured by sunglasses that seem to be glowing from the inside, seems to regard the whole scene with indifference.

“I say let ‘em live. There’s a hundred missing demigods, and there’s no saying what they’ll be up against. You wanna kneecap yourselves from the get-go? Besides. No real harm in it if they pick on each other a little.”

He smirks, expression made all the more cruel by the scars on his face - here’s looking at you, boys and girls.

Cloudy grey eyes, intense with concentration, turn on the demigods. When this younger woman speaks, her voice is full of power; her eyes never leave the people she’s condemning. “There is too much risk in leaving them alive. They are untrained, and poorly conditioned for battle. Some of them have never seen a weapon in their lives. It’s too much of a gamble to leave them alive.” When she finishes, she looks over at Poseidon, mouth drawn in a thin line. Clearly someone’s life choices are being judged at this moment.

Apollo shrugs his shoulders, eying the kids before him, evenly. He has playful features, and reclines in his throne casually. He doesn't look any older than twenty, and maybe that's what gives him his more progressive view than others.

“If you ask me, killing them is going to make things even worse--it won’t just be them fighting against us, but the whole camp.” Logic coming from his mouth is almost a surprise, but Apollo’s been around a long time and he has his moments.

"A venemous flower
Only hurts that which eats it;
It's a bad plan."

And there went that moment.

Artemis gives her brother the most unimpressed look she can muster before sighing heavily and regarding the demigods. It's not without pity, nor with malice. Just the knowledge of ages. “It’s too dangerous. We can’t risk such power rising. For as long as these children survive, the world will continue to be in danger.”

Hephaestus nods in agreement, even though he spares a pitying glance for the demigods. “I’m sure none of us has forgotten. Everyone bled in that war. There’s no use waiting for it to repeat itself.”

“If you ask me it’s romantic.” Aphrodite tucks a strand of long hair behind her ear, throwing a look at Ares. “These are the kinds of things epics start with. Give them a chance to show their worth. If they cause problems later, it can be fixed easily enough.”

“It wasn’t their choice to come here in the first place.” Hermes, his elfish features for once serious, very briefly looks at Zeus, gesturing fluidly as he speaks. “I don’t see why we should punish them for something that they had no say in.”

Dionysus doesn't look much different than he does at Camp Half-Blood. Except, a lot more imposing for his size and the power that can be felt from him, same as the other Olympians. His tone remains much the same, too.

“It’s... nice that so many of you seem to have that kind of faith in them. But if we’re all being honest for a change, we already know how that’s turned out for the past few centuries. Why do they deserve a chance? Because they grew up somewhere else? No, I don’t see it. Better to get it over with now than wait for someone to set a country on fire.”

Zeus opens his mouth to speak, probably something about getting two votes because he's king of the gods, but he's silenced by a presence entering the room that really isn't supposed to be there.

“I think,” a dry comment seems to melt out from the shadows themselves as Hades seems to materialize from thin air, “If it’s a tie, I will have a say.”

Zeus rises from his throne, red faced, about to argue that his word is final and Hades is not supposed to be here, but a cold aura emanates from the pale god. Even the Olympians look uncomfortable in his presence. The Lord of Death speaks with purpose, showing no kindness to even his own children, simply stating facts.

“Some of these children are my own. Should they stray from their path, I will take responsibility for them. Should they require dealing with, I will do so. But until such a time, my children have proven themselves as level-headed and keepers of the peace. We brought them here, full well knowing their power and the dangers. For now, we will let the children live.”

Zeus’s hands are balled into tight fists, and he makes a motion to reach behind him, but Poseidon rises next to him. “Peace, brother. He makes a point.” And, though he still shakes with rage, Zeus sits back down. He closes his eyes, and the moment stretches on, until he finally announces the verdict.

“Fine. They’ll be allowed to live, for now.” But with unwavering rage, he stares down Hades’ children. “But do not expect any kindness should they take to the skies.”

[While the big kids are arguing (and by big kids I mean Zeus and Hades and by arguing I mean staring daggers at each other), the kids are free to talk among themselves, maybe celebrate not being dead!

Enjoy, kids. Have fun, you have at least a few more weeks.]

[ Oh gods, they're alive. Alive. She can still continue her quest; she can still help her brother, her family. She doesn't even think of Hades as her dad, really, but right now she's more than happy to think of him as a good god, indeed.

So of course, the first thing to do is turn and hug Minato, then Phibrizzo, in turn. She doesn't say anything; she doesn't think she needs to. They just need to accept the hugs, that's all. ]

[Phibrizzo doesn't need kindness from their father. The fact that he made the effort to come here personally to speak in favour of letting them live is enough. It's a tremendous relief. He'd been prepared to face down dying with as much dignity as he could muster, but he's grateful that it's not necessary.

He realizes after a moment that he's not just happy for his own sake, but he's actually sincerely happy for everyone - especially his siblings. Perhaps not all human emotions are a bad thing to get used to.

The hug is accepted and returned with a sincere smile.]

[ She's actually happy that no one has to die -- as much front as she puts on, she's still scared and tired inside. She's not really concerned with her own death, though she said she was. No, she was more concerned for these people...living with them has been an experience. ]

That one woman needs to learn to smile.

[ She says it quietly, because the gods might still be listening, and doesn't mention names. But it's obvious she's happy, because she made a joke about smiling, and Ange never smiles. ]

We should throw her in the lake.

Maybe we can team up with Poseidon's kids to prove we can play well with others.

[He's kidding too, but it's not too hard to figure out which goddess Ange is referring to. Artemis and Athena may have condemned them for death, but they at least bothered to look at the demigods they were speaking against and to offer reasons. Hera, on the other hand...]

[ She keeps it vague on purpose; the gods could easily slay her for such remarks, but she's a whore to sarcasm when she warms up, and she means to use it properly. ]

Zeus's kids can bring the lightning to the lake.

It's a perfect example of teamwork.

[He's also sticking with being vague. It would be a shame to passively commit suicide via being a blabbermouth when they just survived by virtue of a tie-breaking vote from their father.]

We could celebrate with snacks later.

...I think I can handle snacks. If we get out of here with all our limbs, we can celebrate.

[That was surprising. Not bad surprising. But surprising. He isn't used to getting hugs from... anybody?

Ange might feel exactly how tense his shoulders are despite his terrible posture. He's a mess right now and he's been a mess for days and he was actually very scared he was going to have to watch his friends die.

He has nothing to lose but his friends and now he realizes he's just as glad that Ange and Phibrizzo aren't going to die because maybe he doesn't think of them as siblings, but... he does think of them as family. Family he doesn't know well, but now family nonetheless and maybe it's sappy because he hasn't had much of a family for ten years. And for a second he has no idea what to do, but he breaks through that sudden moment of "wait what" to hug Ange back.

And his shoulders relax and sshhhh, don't bring it up just let him relax for these few seconds.]

[ She's still tense, even if she's hugging him -- she's bad at relaxing in general, preferring to stay uptight, guarded. But she'll stand quietly and let him relax, because he needs it. ]

...if the food is bad, it's a wasted trip.

[ Social Link Unlocked: Ange Sarcasm! At least, she thinks, it's better than nothing. She needs someone to be sarcastic at. It's been so long since someone has accepted her like this. ]

We'll go back downstairs and get ramen. [China town, after all, is only a bus ride away. And there's gotta be a good place to eat.

He appreciates the sarcasm. Any sort of humor is a good start, a piece of normalcy that they can get back in their lives now that they're, you know. Not going to die.

Finally he pulls away, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He offers Ange a tiny smile. He doesn't smile a lot so it might look kinda weird.]

[She would celebrate if she wasn't trying to calm herself down first. Of course some of them would be complete jerks such as the head god (seriously, wanting to kill his own kids just because of past history that she wanted to slug him) but others...she was surprised on. She had to admit that Poseidon, the god she kind of cursed to herself badly, was actually a decent guy.

At least on the surface.

Don't mind this water kid looking down at the floor, just trying to regain some kind of composure.]

Edited 2013-06-22 04:19 (UTC)

[ Umi is JUST ABOUT ready to collapse. That vote was too close, and way too stressful, and they've probably already knocked a few years off her life anyways just by having a split vote interrupted by Hades like that.

When it was down to the wire she was sure, oh so sure, that Zeus would insist even if it came close, and the subsequent tantrum makes her all the more stressed that such a whiny manchild had that power. ]

Th-thank you... everyone who... had faith in us...

[ And now she finds something to lean against. ]

[So his 'father' was a dick...

And yet somehow he wasn't surprised. In fact it just felt more like the same old at home. Gods or not, they still argued like humans. He'd been right; their fears about themselves and how they'd acted were probably reflected in what they assumed the entire group could do.

Well then, it was just going to be interesting proving how wrong those who had voted against them had been.]

[She let out a breath, though it was less relieved and more exasperated.

She gave her half-brother a side-long glance before looking forward again, the delicate chains of her headdress swaying with the movement.]

Are you disappointed? [She wasn't asking about the verdict. It's pretty obvious that they all wanted to live.

This was the first time they saw their so-called father...and she had to say that she wasn't very impressed.

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