just keep moving

Of all the things that Calvin had seen Axel produce from that bag of seemingly never ending items, a wooden carving had been pretty much nowhere on the list of expected outcomes. But... Almost as soon as the wooden carving was offered to him? Calvin was beaming.

However long it took for Calvin to respond? It wasn't nearly as long as it felt for Axel. A funny little turn of the tables from the whole saying 'I love you' moment not too long ago. But he'd put a lot of time, thought, and work into these little trinkets- something he would've never done before. Because who would he give it to before coming here? Who would notice, let alone appreciate them? Now he had people who cared and appreciated him. It was new and he wanted to make sure they knew how he felt.

Was there the distinct possibility Calvin had taken it upon himself to find enough resolve to not let the weight of what trial they'd been on really settle in his head? Absolutely. He'd come to terms with death as a thing a long time ago but that hadn't made it any less daunting it face one of it's Warden's trials. But, he'd needed to stand strong, and he liked to think he had. Those hands immediately anchoring to his waist, well, yeah okay now he could really let the tension seep out of his system.

"Alright, alright." Axel begrudingly let go of Calvin so that he could go into that extradimensional pocket (he really hated calling it a portable hole- that didn't make sense to him) that had served him so well on both trials. "Probably for the best so that I don't raise expectations higher than the execution of it."

"Same. I know there isn't a huge amount I can do to keep you safe out there, but I know there's plenty of people who will." Thankfully he was pretty good at one of the few things he could do out in the middle of the fray to keep the people he cared about safe: beat the ever living hell out of enemies before they could get to them. Make himself a prime target. Or. Tempting target, he was clearly not a good idea for a prime target given that altercation but still.

With the pup released and the two of them alone for a moment, Axel walked in ahead of Calvin and waited for the door to be closed. Now in the privacy of the Chronus cabin, he pivoted in spot and put his hands on its resident's hips. Just something to anchor them both: the heat and weight of their proximity a reminder that they've both made it out of a trial revolving around death.

He was glad that it had stuck. It hadn't even fully been an intentional thing, to start calling Axel that more than anything else, it just came naturally with the lessons. He didn't miss the way the other's was beaming at the name given, his own lips contently curled upward as they eventually made it to his door.

"I'm happy you're in one piece, yeah." He hummed, relishing their closeness. They'd been like this for a while, but it felt different now, with feelings now expressed. "Me being the one to help keep you that way is a bonus but someone else doing it wouldn't upset me. What matters most is you being okay." Thankfully, Calvin seemed to be liked well enough by everyone that he didn't have to worry too much about someone having his back if Axel wasn't around.

"Maybe? Guess it depends how much you like hearing me say it. If anything it'd be Angel, could you pass me that." It's easy and playful, relaxed now that they were back at camp without twenty thousand looming threats over their head, and it seemed tragedy averted for the time being. The scratches to Milo's head did indeed get the bundle of energy barely being contained by the son of Chronus to start wiggling even more, and almost had him dropped. Nearly. "Besides. I've seen you use your portals. An accident feels like a stretch."

God, he was never gonna get tired of hearing that nickname in that language. It was only made better by knowing he was the one who'd taught it to him. He hoped the day that the one word in Celestial didn't make him smile wouldn't come any time soon. It definitely wasn't today because Axel was damn near beaming as he turned to return the kiss, though it only got Calvin on the corner of his mouth.

LOCATION: ENROUTE TO CHRONUS CABIN WITH: AXEL @duckandash

"Is that how you're gonna open every conversation now?" Axel had wrapped one of his own arms around Calvin's back. He gave him a playful squeeze while scratching at Milo's head, probably making him squirm even more. "It'll be all 'I love you, can you grab that for me?' and 'I love you, please tell me you didn't accidentally put someone on a roof again.'" Which, it wasn't an accident the first time.

ender didn't even have to tap into his domain for the party to be lively and fully of life. it was nice to know that his friends were all enjoying themselves because they wanted to and didn't need his help in doing so. it made him relax a bit more, allowing himself to enjoy it just as well not feeling like he had to be life of the party for once... though he was a son of dionysus so it just came naturally to him.  "i do not think it is fair that they used wine that is only located here," ender said complaining as he sipped his own glass of wine. "i mean each wine tastes different depending on where it is grown. for example a chardonnay from napa valley tastes much different than one from côte de beaune in burgundy. using a wine that is not grown in the mortal worlds--" he let out a small whistle that indicated he was impressed. because honestly he was. "do you think they will give oliver or me one of the grape seeds so we can grow it back home? never have i tasted a wine that tastes like sunshine before."

while he could claim to know a good amount about a wide variety of topics, axel couldn't claim to know much about wines outside of what his taste buds had told him through the years. when out with others, he just followed their lead. so if ender was giving his stamp of approval? he trusted the godling on the topic more than practically anyone else here that it was good.

"Yeah, I was thinking about swimming with them next time." It's easy to return the joke when the other pulled back, just allowing himself to indulge in the proximity. Lose himself for a little in the easy contact. Affection. Letting himself feel wanted and needed and worth protecting and all that came with those hushed words moments prior. And while yes, chasing those charged kisses was incredibly tempting, he knew why they were like this in the first place an-

He laughed quietly at the response he got. It probably wasn't as hard of a laugh as he could, with a whole son of Chronus lying on top of him but the last thing he wanted was for Calvin to move. Hell, he'd keep him exactly where he is for the rest of the day if he could manage it. He'd had this level of closeness and intimacy so rarely in his life that he'd savor this for as long as possible.

drinking was never something atticus particularly participated in, at least until he came to camp. an anxious fear of losing control over his body always kept him from accepting a glass of wine. that was until he was blinded by medusa and had the bacchus party right after, needing to relax a little. he still didn't drink much, usually only doing it when he was at one of the parties or sitting at the scry with ender. but this entire festival had never ending wine being poured for them and after the wine tasting atticus could feel himself getting a little flushed.

seeing atticus in this state was unusual and incredibly endearing. axel's smile grew as he leaned towards friend and fellow godling. he might've been buzzed but there was no doubt that the son of athena was further in his cups than him. not that it was hard since the researcher had been hiding out for most of the festival while the others had fun.

He was at least aware enough of being tugged in that he didn't end up kneeing anywhere sensitive as he settle atop the other. Which... Well it would probably make for an amusing visual for somebody looking in considering the amount of shifting Calvin had to accomplish to try and get some form of eye contact. Proximity. Watching the other's face as best he could with legs tangling a little.

Axel kissed back. This time, it was a little more charged with the emotions of what had happened. It was filled with a promise neither one of them could uphold but they would do their damnedest to follow through on. Surviving was something both of them had gone through in different ways before coming here. It had shaped so much of who they were now. It also meant they were so averse to the idea to the idea of being more loss for someone else.

axel met the look simon gave him with a smile- and the briefest hint of a pained expression. he was so, so grateful for these guys that had been brought into his life. he wasn't sure that he'd still be here if it wasn't for simon, calvin, lars, and some of the others. still, the three of them were so aware of what he's gone through, how it informs his behaviors, and how he thinks that he wondered that perhaps they knew too much. not for him but for them.

Whatever effort that could be made to reduce the space between them was made, shifting and settling in until most of his focus was just on listening to Axel. The steady thump of his heart he could practically feel beneath his fingers where they were connected.

He didn't mean to laugh at that but it came out so suddenly. It was a reaction to hearing a string of words put together that he'd only ever read and never expected to have aimed at him. If Calvin was listening to his heartbeat, then he would notice the pick up when he said what he said.

The slight flex of Axel's fingers was enough to encourage a shift of Calvin's own again, settling in to holding the hand he'd been using as an example instead of just... Using it for the demonstration. Offering a reassuring squeeze, and glad to hear that the distraction had actually helped some, even as he turned his head enough to brush a kiss to Axel's jaw.

The kiss got a smile. It was easy and warm and made the battered son of Hermes look like he was in much better shape than he currently was. The hand not currently being held pulled Calvin closer- or at least as much as he could from their current positions.

"Maybe? I don't know. Been thinking about how our powers work together and it's all just... Speed and force. Making people move faster, slowing things down, little adjustments in the moment to make things work out in our favour." There was no mistaking that they were probably two of the fastest in camp, even if that like... Many things was strongly influenced by the gear Calvin chose to wear more than something innate.

Manipulation of time and space. Two different ways of working with speed but Axel had embraced them both. He was more of a scholar than a scientist but that didn't mean he hadn't come up with a general concept on how his powers worked. Along with that, he could see how he and others complimented each other. His personal feelings about Calvin aside, there was no denying the synergy that should be possible between the two of them.

he nodded. other axel- or whatever was the best way to talk about his other self. him but from a different path. an axel picked up earlier and grown into someone who smiled more but hated harder. one who sought out attention to his own detriment instead of shying away from it. someone with the same face (though probably with more scars) but a different mindset entirely.