closed.

[aegist]

WHO: thalia grace & luke castellan!
WHERE: cabin 11. where else do they hang out, god.
WHEN: 4/5 afternoonish?
WHAT: thalia has new bling. also probably regains comparison and snark.
WARNINGS: maybe luke will get hit in the head with a shield we just don't know yet.

[ so it's wednesday afternoon and thalia doesn't have class until later and she doesn't have any shifts today. well, no more shifts today. she did the open shift at the candy shop and as a result brought in a pack of gummy worms she promptly tossed at luke's head. while technically ? this is a bar and it doesn't have a lunch menu she has chosen to come here for lunch, either by getting luke to feed her somehow or by dragging him out to go get some.

after assaulting luke with candy thalia slides onto her stool, crossing her arms on top of the bar. today she is notably wearing a new bracelet, a row of polished silver links latched around her wrist. considering thalia doesn't really go out of her way to get herself jewelry, this is kind of weird, but whatever. ]

I'm starving, what are you doing for lunch?

[ clearly lunch > this mysterious bracelet or whatever, right? ]

Comments

[chiseler]

[If he finds it weird that she's here in the middle of the afternoon, he says nothing. Then again, he probably doesn't find it weird. Luke's grown used to Thalia's schedule and seems to be able to track her like clockwork most of the time, knowing when she has classes and generally knowing when she's scheduled for one of her many jobs. He hardly bothers to look up as his hand snaps into the air, catching the pack of gummy worms even without looking up from what looks like a book on the counter.

It's a particularly slow day but he doesn't mind. He also doesn't mind that she's making herself comfortable.]

Gummy worms, apparently. [He looks up, smirking slightly before his eyes catch the glint of her bracelet. The amusement in his face quickly shifts to something else and though he raises an eyebrow he doesn't ask just yet. He's definitely noticed though.] I have food upstairs, I have appetizer food down here, or I can close for an hour and we can get something before your next class. Got a preference? I'm sort of feeling a burger to be honest.

[aegist]

If you're feeling a burger we can go out. Since I don't think you have burgers upstairs?

[ maybe he does, though. she doesn't keep track of the contents of his fridge, she just sort of expects him to have Something, if only so he can shove said food at his sister and thalia as the opportunity presents itself. ]

Burgers sound fine to me, as they haven't become weird and unpalatable. Yet.

[chiseler]

I have hamburger in the freezer I think but that'd take way longer than just going somewhere. Besides. [He gestures to where the last few patrons are exiting the bar.] Looks like it's about break time anyway.

[The gummy worms go behind the counter and Luke ducks out from behind the bar to join her on the other side. Strangely, he's also grabbing the book from the counter to take with him.] And don't joke about that. The last thing we need is hamburgers with eyes, too. Your classes don't start for like another two hours right? Gives us enough time. [There's a sly grin as he turns to head for the door, waiting for her to follow so he can lock up for an hour.] You're paying, right?

[aegist]

[ what book is that, luke. do you have a secret? ]

I've got about two and a half hours, yes. And I can pay. [ but agreeing immediately means he's locked out of trying to pay for her so ? who is the real winner here (probably luke, but it's not like thalia is great about letting people spend money on her; she'll take free drinks or meals when at the bar, but otherwise can get stubborn) ] Down the street, or somewhere further off?

[chiseler]

[This is the descent into the madness known as Luke Castellan so yeah, he has a few secrets. Whoops!]

Cool. [He knows. He knows Thalia has pride issues and he knows better than to try to pay for her. It's always been a point of contention for the two of them given the fact that Thalia's worked her whole life and Luke's family is well off. Over time, he's learned to only pay when she's not paying attention and otherwise let her do things herself. As it is, once the doors locked he glances at her again.]

Further off? A walk might be a good idea if you're up for it. [He mostly wants to clear his head, too.] Besides everything around here's gonna be crowded anyway.

[aegist]

[ luke she's gonna kick your damn ass. or punch him. one of the two. THROW HIM OFF A CLIFF - no. ]

I'm fine with a walk - the weather's mostly behaving, anyway. [ and she has a jacket and that's all she really needs when the weather is Mostly Behaving. still, thalia shoves her hands into her jacket pockets as they start walking, automatically orienting herself towards a different burger place further off. luke can course-correct if he doesn't want to go to that one. ] What's up with the book?

[chiseler]

[JOKES ON YOU, THERE ARE NO CLIFFS IN RECOLLÉ. Wait, maybe there are. Anyway he doesn't bother trying to redirect her and he's following in her wake as he always does, trying not to think about how this really does feel familiar even if it's not from this life.

...was it another life? He's not sure. He doesn't even seem to hear her at first seeing how he isn't answering right away but then he clues back in.]

Just something I found. Pretty interesting read if you ask me, I can show you when we sit down. [And then, since she brought it up:] New bracelet? I didn't even know you were into jewelry that much.

[aegist]

[ I WILL MAKE A CLIFF TO THROW LUKE OFF OF. APPS TOPH BEIFONG FOR FIVE MINUTES TO MAKE A CLIFF. THROWS LUKE OFF IT. WHAT THEN, TY, WHAT THEN.

...

moving on. thalia makes a face at him. ]

I'm not. But I got it probably the same way you got that book. It was on my dresser the other day.

[chiseler]

[UH, BANNED? As it is, he's ignoring the face though and he's staring straight ahead as they walk.]

Book was on the counter of the bar. Probably came in the mail when I wasn't paying attention. I thought maybe somebody had left it, but pretty sure that doesn't make sense either. Any idea why a bracelet?

[aegist]

Noooo.

[ but it's drawn out, slow. ]

But I think I was wearing it in a few of the flashback whatevers.

[chiseler]

[Something seems to be tugging at the back of his mind, but he's not touching it yet.]

The ones with you and me? Or other memory-flashback things?

[aegist]

No, not all of them with you.

[ she knows she wasn't wearing it in the dragon memory. but she's pretty sure she wore it when they met annabeth? ]

I'm not sure why, it doesn't look that...I don't know, interesting?

[chiseler]

It's really classy if you think about it. Polished and silver and kind of ancient. [He's been putting some thought into this.] And even if it's not that interesting you're still wearing it anyway.

[He looks at her wrist contemplatively.] ...Annabeth got something the other day, too. [That's easier than talking about his magic book for the time being.]

[aegist]

It...seems important, I guess.

[ she's not sure why but it's hers and like fuck is she going to risk losing it. even though her usual feelings on jewelry are mostly "well it exists that's nice". ]

What did Annabeth get? She didn't text me, so.

[chiseler]

Yeah? [He doesn't seem to discount that either. But he's quiet again for a moment.]

She came by a few days ago with a dagger she got in the mail. [It's said as casually as one might say "she got a birthday card."] A bronze one that didn't even look like it was made from this century.

[aegist]

The one from the flashback.

[ he only mentioned it to her briefly. but she remembers what it looked like, now. bronze and glinting in the dark of an alley. ]

[chiseler]

That's the one. [There's a grim expression, though he's glad he doesn't have to explain it.] I recognized it right away, it's exactly the same one. I don't know what it means but that just made that hallucination ten times more real.

[He looks ahead down the road.] Once we sit down for food I need to show you something.

[aegist]

All right. I can wait.

[ but about things being more real? yeah. there's a bracelet on her wrist she remembers, sideways. she was wearing it, a few times - it was never the focus, but it was there. it shouldn't really exist, not if things weren't more real than they had seemed to be.

mostly it makes her worry about jason. a lot of things do that, though. ]

I don't think anyone knows what any of this means.

[chiseler]

[His grip on the book tightens but nothing in his expression changes.] I've been talking to a few people. Nobody's come up with an idea that we can all agree with. I talked to this kid who seemed to think that the memories or whatever are definitely triggers and I agree with that. The items, physical changes and abilities though...that's something else.

Annabeth's knife is the first thing that's come through that was tied to a memory I've had. I'm not even sure I want her having it, but I haven't taken it from her either.

[aegist]

Yeah, let me know how that goes if you try to take it from her. [ which. annabeth might just hand it over? but also. annabeth. ]

I've spoken to people off and on. Mostly Kashuu. [ because family bias. ] But some people think it's still a joke.

[chiseler]

Shut up, I'm serious. We don't know where that thing really came from so I don't want her to hold onto it if it's something bad. [But yeah, good luck, Luke.]

Kashuu came by the bar the other day too for the same reason. I keep talking to people about things they're getting in the mail or memories they're having. I don't know how anybody can still take this so lightly when this has been happening for some of us for two months now. It doesn't hurt that Retrospec or whoever's really starting to take themselves seriously, too. [A pause.] What'd Kashuu tell you?

[aegist]

He's kept me mostly up to date on the stuff he's getting back. [ a shrug. HE IS NOW A SWORD SOULBONDER? but she's not sure if he told luke that and it's kind of a huge thing so if he didn't she won't spill. ] There may be some things he hasn't told me, I'm not sure, but we've mostly told one another whatever I think.

[chiseler]

[There's a nod.] He told me about two things he got back, too. [A shell and a magical sword. But they're of the understanding he knows a little at least. The burger place is in sight and he picks up his pace.]

I hate to say it but we're going to have to start sharing this stuff with people if we're going to get any close to figuring out what's going on. I already talked to Kashuu about helping you me and the siblings keep an eye on stuff. He seemed pretty agreeable with it. [A beat.] I told Kashuu about some of the stuff I got back, too.

[aegist]

Like I said, he knows pretty much all my stuff. Jay knows about the bracelet. I've mentioned offhand I remember meeting you a way I did not meet you, though I was scarce on the details. Someone said they'd never remembered anything with anyone they knew and thought that was like a rule, so.

[ it was relevant.

thalia speeds up to match luke's gait. ]

"Stuff" means more than just your mystery book, right?

[chiseler]

I've been comparing some notes with people, too, like Yuri and Karkat. He was telling me about memories he has with people he's not really friends with so that's even more disturbing if you think about it.

[He sighs though.] Three things showed up. The book, a pair of sneakers, and a bent out of shape golf club. Nothing as useful as a knife or a bracelet I guess.