in which Luke is my ever-returning muse

[castellan]

Mun.

Mun, mun, mun.

I get it. You like me, I'll always be one of your first muses. But that does not mean that you should leave me behind for how-long, forget most of what you know about me - pick up the books, woman! Reread them - and then suddenly decide to return.

It gets annoying after a while. Make up your mind, would you? I don't have time for this.

[Going back to your dearest Lord Kronos, Luke?]

Oh, however did you guess that, Mundane? As if it wasn't obvious - there are barely any other canon points, after all--

No, nope. I am not getting into this with you. I have monsters to order around and a Lord to bring back, so why don't you scurry off and leave me to what I was doing?

Comments

[kerauno]

Well, look what the cat dragged in.

[castellan]

What a harsh greeting. My heart is breaking— Oh, wait. No it's not. I'm just disgusted at the sight of you.

[kerauno]

Oh, gee, so glad to know that the feeling's mutual.

You're looking worse for wear these days.

[castellan]

I'm looking a lot better than you are, that's for sure.

Are you still having fun being bossed around by useless, selfish beings? Because I've heard that it's bad for the skin.

[kerauno]

I'm not having as much fun as you clearly are, being a lackey -- no. Being a puppet. I don't think that puts you in a better situation than mine, buddy.

In fact, it seems pretty shoddy. [ You were once better than that, she doesn't say. ]

[castellan]

I'm more than just a puppet, Thalia. So much more than that. It's an honour to work under Lord Kronos, to be chosen as.. well, the leader of his army. That is not being a puppet; I'm becoming bigger, better, stronger.

[He's allowed his hatred to consume him, to push him into something he wouldn't have done before.. Honestly, he's become weaker rather than stronger.]

[kerauno]

[ She looks at him through a narrowed gaze, arms folded over her silver Hunter jacket. ]

You're so blinded by your own anger that you can't even see that you're completely disposable to him. You think he gives a crap about you, more than your own father? When you've served your purpose, he'll toss you like yesterday's trash. Just watch.

[castellan]

[He shrugs, like he doesn't care about what she says or thinks of him. (He does, though. Always has, probably always will.)]

You've got it mixed up here, I think. That's exactly what the gods do. They always have. And.. being used by Kronos or not, I'm going to get my revenge on the gods. Kronos will change things, I'm sure of that.

[For better or worse, though, he isn't sure.]

[kerauno]

[ As if she could read his mind: ] You don't know what kind of change.

There should be change, but I'm so not into his brand.

[castellan]

[He hated it when she did that—] His change.. It'll still be better than how things are being run now.

[kerauno]

[ There's an unusual flicker of light in her eyes and she knits her brow, struck by a memory. ] You're so far gone, Luke. In spite of it all, I actually miss you. Not whatever this is here, whatever's standing here where you should be.

[castellan]

[Okay, he decides. She shouldn't be allowed to say things like that because it's definitely unfair.] I was already— no, that's not allowed, Thalia. You're not supposed to say things like that to the enemy. Tsk, tsk. The me that's here, now? It's the same guy that you've always known, just a little more.. open with his opinions.

[kerauno]

[ Here we go, let it out. ] Oh, no, it's totally fair game. You should know all sides of your enemy if you're going to defeat him. You wouldn't show me any mercy if we were fighting now, would you?

I knew you, before you got all twisted on the inside. It was supposed to be us, you, me and Annabeth. You really think we can still make that happen now?

[castellan]

[No thank you.] And let myself be at a disadvantage? Please. I'd rather fall down into Tartarus than allow that to happen. Good to hear that you think you know me so well, though.

Supposed-to-bes and could-have-beens are never things you should hold onto. Promises are made and never kept; you of all people should know that very well by now. It's never going to happen. Not as long as we fight on two different sides.

[kerauno]

[ Thalia clenches her fists and the friction releases a few sparks. She almost says more but there's no helping him now. ]

Fine. I'll be prepared for whatever you've got.

[castellan]

[At the small flashes, his gaze drifts to her fists but he just shakes his head minutely. biting back a remark about her control.]

And I look forward to seeing if they've even thought to help you train up.

[ripstides]

No, you had it right the first time. You really shouldn't be left unsupervised. [ oh, he knows that's not what Luke meant about being left behind but none of the rest of that is worth touching, so he's going to interpret the line in his own way. ]

[waterproofed]

Luke... [no no no you're not here, no go away nope nope]

[castellan]

[ooh, look who showed up! Luke might be a bit too happy about it]

Percy. How's it going?

[waterproofed]

Are you really here? [this is an important question, since he's been hallucinating you for the past few days]

[castellan]

[ah, so mean, Perce. but he's quite happy to be left alone, even with the different interpretation of what he had been talking about. though, he supposed it could be taken both ways, depending on the person.]

So rude. Shouldn't it be the other way around? After all, I doubt anyone would want to let you off the tight leash they have you on.

[castellan]

If I wasn't, would I be able to-- [and okay, so maybe he slaps the side of Percy's head.] Weird question to ask, hero.

[waterproofed]

It's not weird! I was on a psycho ship where we were hallucinating things, and you were there.

[castellan]

I'm honoured.

[though..] What do you get yourself into, Jackson? A psycho ship?

[waterproofed]

A ship that made people go psycho. Murder, attempted murder... you know. Typical horror movie stuff.