HE HUMS,  nodding, even if he doesn't quite understand. the thing is, percy's never been entirely jealous of the situation with felicity and her biological family. not to say that they don't deserve a relationship or what have you - he's never been the best at managing feelings or deciphering what other people mean. he likes the facts, the figures, the charts, the analytical stuff. interpersonal relationships are just not his strong suit. “it would be carried by anybody, i think,” nodding, “have you told them you feel that way?” it sounds redundant, but he has to ask, just to be sure. “'cause maybe they still think you want that space. even if you do, it doesn't hurt to talk it out. better than crackin' eggs, you know?” his feet swing over the side of the bed, thinking. a chuckle - “you make it sound like your life is a soap opera or somethin',” though he does feel for her. it's a lot of change. a lot of whirlwind that percy himself wouldn't be able to stand. “should i be expecting a … ” fuckin' hell, do they do a pultzer for writing? “an oscar nomination in your future? they do all sorts of background stuff for the nominations now i've heard.”

"Sedersi." Celina spoke firmly yet softly as Romeo excitedly danced around her feet. This was normal for the four year old belgium malinoius. The kitchen of the Cowans' had grown to be one of her favorite places when she had first come to town. Warm. Inviting. All the things a host family was. The first month, Celina had been so shy about trying to fit into their lifestyle. She had lived in a house before, so it wasn't something too odd. Yet, it was. A stationary place to stay, a home. "Grazie." Celina praised as the normally bouncy pup sat patiently at her feet, waiting for a snack. Momenatrly that was. His attention turned to the behind Celine, teeth bared as she turned on her heel, her fingers gripped on his collar. Only for a second before she realized it was Percy, and she changed her command to down. "Giù, Romeo. Scusa." Her brain was forgetting that the Cowans didn't speak Italian fluently, though her attempts of trying. "Hey, sorry. I swear he's harmless." She waved the Percy in now. "Well, mostly." Obviously joking. Celina's shy smile was creeping back as she didn't know the male Cowan that well. @percipal

HOME.   for as long as percy had been away – with only a few breaks to return – it was easy to fall back into the routine of living there again. he feels young, as if still a child without a care in the world. just basking in the way the home is: inviting, welcoming. like everything is complete and whole - even though a member of their family has long-since been missing from it.  too in his own head to even think about who else might be lurking, attention elsewhere that the dog is what makes him pause — safe distance, just in case. “hi,” a soft chuckle, a tad bit scared just because he's just caught off guard. “that's alright. as long as he doesn't bite my fingers off, we're cool,” both hands are held up in defense anyway, taking a moment before one lowers, offering it for romeo to smell. percy's own small smile as he waits for both the dog and girl settle before walking more into the kitchen, leaning against the counter. “what're you guys doing? waiting for felicity to get home?” he's not as much fun as her, unfortunately. 

"Thank you." Whether it was to be nice to her or done in a selfish way, Camryn didn't really care a lot for. She was just long glad that she didn't need to explain the horrors of what had happened to her father and aunt. She didn't need to feel more like a freak than she already did at that point, her emotions heightened to a point she looked manic one second and then completely numb the next. She didn't know how to deal with loss, so the way the other acted helped, even if she was slow to realise it. "I'm good. Therapy doesn't work anyway." She didn't believe in the commercial aspect of it. Cashing money off of others misery. What a hack. "No." Camryn furrowed, for that was odd. Anything marine she knew a lot of. Though when he started explaining, she started chuckling, albeit softly and shortly. "Oh, you mean sea star wasting syndrome." At least she wasn't behind on something so catastrophic. "Can I help?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm enrolled to study marine biology next school year, so I know a thing or two." @percipal

NODS,   because, well, what else is he going to do? some doors ain't meant to be opened, doesn't the big glowing sign above them that make him want to so bad. as much as percy likes to think he's somewhat good with emotions and feelings .. he's kind of actually not, especially when it comes to people he doesn't know well. or at all, in this case. setting boundaries is good - or whatever this could be considered. “well, i guess that depends on who you ask.” as much as percy agrees with that, he knows plenty of other people benefit from it - himself? maybe, if he could keep his trap shut enough to not concern others. or maybe that's what they're there for? the face she makes – ah. well. can't win ‘em all. “yeah, yeah, semantics.” mostly because he wasn’t sure else would be wasting in the tidepools. an eyebrow raises. “you'll be in good company, then,” a nod of his head that yes, she can help. he doesn't tell her the caveat of him rambling on about things that might not make sense to her. “lots of people here love this kinda stuff. big draw. which school?” silly question, but with all the online options these days.

A CHUCKLE.  “aint that how it happens, mostly? unless you're actively trying to have a gremlin.”  yeah — he's got a long way for that, thank you very much. “well when you say things like that, you can't blame me for being curious.” nosy, yes. someone who pries? also yes, but he gets the feeling this story might not be one he should do that to. “what ‘bout a keurig? then all you gotta do is get those little pods or something. they make, like, 50-somethin’ a box.” not that percy knows, but he's observant. “oh. that's a good one,” he's played a few games of power-washing. shit's tough. “you got a long list of clientele yet? i'm sure in the summer it'll be boomin'.”

A SHRUG,   percy tries his best to not care what other people think of him. waste of time, waste of space in his brain – though he ain't perfect, so sometimes there's a falter in that facade. “'eh, let ‘em. what’re they gonna do about it? far worse going around town i'm sure.” not that he pays much attention. there's so much going on, even more so now that he's back, that he's kind of got lost in the sauce here. too much to think about much. at the explanation, percy's brows furrow a tad. it sounds very… robotic. rehearsed? or maybe something within the dynamics he's not quite sure, but as nosy as he is, untangling the webs of complicated family drama is not his specialty. “sounds like a crap-shoot on his man,” nose scrunches, because. they're your kid. even if you don't agree with everything they do, aren't you supposed to support them in everything? or was percy just placed into the arms of angels when he was placed with the cowans? yes to that, but he's also thinking about it now. “he doesn't have to like it if you're happy. ain't that what matters? who cares about businessmen, half of ‘em ain’t got a heart anyway.” because they're soulless and weird and destroy the earth with their greed. doesn't care about the nuance there — it's mostly true, at least to him. a chuckle. “you're a better person than me, it seems, ‘cause karens make my blood pressure spike when i hear that agitating, grating voice talk to customer service people like they’re stupid or something.” ask for things nicely or don't ask at all. “everyone should work that kinda work for at least six months. then i think the world might go ‘round a little faster with kindness.” or maybe at least they won’t be as awful. “see?” a grin – “ that's the attitude. what's that saying, you like your job and you don't work a day in your life? or something like that. i never paid attention to idioms.” not even close, but percy tries his best and sometimes asks felicity. “as long as i get free coffees sometimes? then, hell yeah absolutely – i'm an easy bribe.” it's meant to be a joke, but the honesty was there; percy didn't have .. many friends. not as many as others, and sometimes he can be a bit much. “oh? that your party trick? and i thought being able to do magic tricks was a good one.” of which percy does but fails miserably every time because he is not in a now you see me movie. “doesn't sugar also fuck up your gums too? or am i just thinking about those people who don't brush?” shivers all around either way – something about teeth queazes him out anyway. “a couple of weeks is all you need, though. change of scenery helps a bit when things get too much – it's like a mental reset or some therapist shit.” personally, percy had enough of living there .. though he wouldn't mind going back, particularly the other areas he didn't get to explore much. there's so much of the world in general to see. how people could stay in one place is mind-boggling. “so you're just not a fan of california…" nods like he's taking notes, sans pad and pen. “noted. it's fine, i hear it's all full of plastic and botox anyway.” head tilts, slight rise of brows in interest. “oh yeah? you meet a kardashian?”

A NOD.   his dramatics might be genetic, but if nothing else, percy thinks it makes himself somewhat interesting. “well, would you rather me just answer? who else is supposed to keep you on your toes?” no one because micah doesn't deserve to be stressed out. the blonde just can't help it sometimes. “and you wouldn't want it to be anyone else, either,” a cheeky grin appears on features, cockiness abound. eyes roll, dramatics rolling back in like a quick-tide. “i do know parties. what're you even onnnnnnnnnnn about?” he did not, but micah can hold the truth. “maybe, but, like, when you get to be my age and explore the world…” another grin – yeah, he gets to rib on him whenever he wants. it's like what friends do. “don't let it get to your head. and don't tell felicity, i don't need to hear all that from either of you.” as much as he ribs on them – what's the saying about can't take the heat, get out the kitchen? anyways. “i'd hope so. imagine if i'd been replaced.” said aghast, holding hand to heart. “nothing? seriously? come on, surely you did something.” brows raise, slightly in disbelief. “but you know i'm always down to find something to do.”

JOSEPH ZADA and WHITNEY PEAK behind the scenes of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping (2025)

A NOD,   because sand is a bitch and doesn't percy know it. always end up in the most horrid places and god forbid it gets wet inside his shoe. horrid. this is an interesting scenario. she's kind of imitating a star fish right now – all splayed about, waiting for the tide to come wash her away. the blonde moves and his eyebrow raises. percy steps back one, just to give her some space. “i'm usually very nosy but i'm not gonna pry into that,” because he gets the feeling she will burst into tears or maybe punch him in retaliation. he doesn't do well with crying, and he'd much rather keep his cute face wholly intact, so he shrugs. “i could refer you to a therapist, if you did want to talk about it. no pressure though.” and hopes that he doesn't come off as much of an asshole as he feels he is. “ah, well,” percy tries to reel in his excitement at being asked. please buckle up camryn. “you ever heard of sea water wasting syndrome?” no, of course not. “billions of sea stars died from it in like the past ten years.” he opens the book to a page, all sorts of different notes and shows it. “i'm lookin' to see if there are more starfish here than there were last year at this time.”

SOMETIMES, he wonders what it's like - to know your birth family. not that he'd ever really thought much about it until it happened to his sister, but percy still struggles with the idea of it. the lack of vocabulary in his brain doesn't help on how to verbalize it.. so he doesn't. "i don't think comparison is an entirely bad thing. people are compared all the time. it doesn't mean you're not your own unique individual, yeah?" now he's sounding like their father. "it's the effort, though. she's trying. and you are too. it's not gonna be perfect the whole go 'round." a shrug of his own shoulders, thinking. "are you walking on eggshells for a specific reason?" getting to the bottom of things is percy's way of figuring out equations of relationships. not that it did much else with his own, but, still. "it's not silly, though," nudges her leg with his foot in almost-admonishment. "if it's what you want then you should be glad to do it. can always change your mind again if you feel different, yeah?" percy knew what he wanted to do in school before he could even spell marine or biology, let alone both. "i knew a person who changed their major ten times then went back to their first one."

"Not really, but that's your aunt for you." Andrew told him, knowing that with things being as complicated as they were, he had to put his expectations low. All with full understanding, as they had never been able to fully stand in her corner. In the end he did what Mary wanted, and knowing her days would be short lived, she wanted her parents in her life. "I think that sign would send her running for the hills, actually." Letting out a chuckle, Andrew shook his head at his son's question. "She actually likes you. I did no such thing, God's truth." He mused. "She's pretty much seen you and Felicity grow up. Bring your sister along if it makes you feel better. Play some checkers with her, have a meaningless chat. It's an hour of your time but she'll talk about it for weeks, I'm sure." @percipal

QUIET HUM, percy sometimes feels a bit out of his element when it comes to interpersonal relationships. not for the fault of anybody else - but he's always been so .. easy going, enough that most people can come and go with only minimal fall out. it's different, when it's family. "i guess it could've been worse?" easy alternatives. one could've been an all out brawl, the next could've been someone in a grave by the end of it, so happy ... mediums? maybe. don't ask percy. "well i guess it depends if that's what you want to happen. i'm sure we could find a good middle ground for it - get the point across without makin' 'er run, yeah?" what were they talking about again? he forgets. a chortle, shake of his head. "you think fel will go? two for the price of one deal maybe." he can make something shake if it all comes down to it. "and exactly how many times has she beat you at checkers since i've been gone? she's obnoxiously good at it."

ONE TREE HILL ― 6.04 “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (2008)

micaheverhart: happy birthday to my second favorite cowan child to ever walk the planet. (sorry bro, you know the first is reserved for cici). i hope you have the best day doing whatever you want. p.s. i have your present hidden in my car. don't tell your dad.

april 7, 2026: happy birthday @percipal, don't have too much fun today!

This hadn't been the homecoming that Camryn was expecting. She only had such little time with her family before everything fell apart. Many thoughts roamed through her head, such as what if she hadn't taken a gap year? What if she had just stayed home, been with her family. She would've had much more time with her father before he died. Her father, her aunt. She couldn't bear to be at home, even if she had barely lived in it for a few weeks. Nature was her escape, being able to live in her own head. And when her legs were too heavy to carry her, she sat down, and when eventually her back started hurting from slouching, she lay down in the sand. There she lay until a shadow was cast between her and the sun. "I'm fine, you can walk over me.. Or around.. Plenty of space." She mumbled, only barely looking at the other before she cast her gaze back to the clouds.

BORED.   he gets really really bored sometimes. when all of his friends and family are busy – or he feels he's bugged them too much in the past week to do it again – it means it's time to go out. percy is up early for work, and leaves somewhat early. and for the blonde, going out only means a few places: near water, near food, or both. this time the water calls - and from memory, tide pools are best explored in spring. or as close to it he can get. perhaps it was a little ambitious, and maybe having a notebook and backpack with him makes him look a teeeeeeeeeeny bit shady, but he's also not the one laying in the sand. hm. “uh – ” is what he says, her speaking before he can even think of what to say besides are you dead? that would not have gone on well, he doesn't think. “fine people don't typically lay in the sand. shit gets messy, ‘spicially the shoes.” oh, the horror, percy. “you need me to call someone for you? or something? if you lay here for very long, the tide might send you out to sea.” she's too far back for that, but sue him for trying to make the scenario lighter. 

“WELL, THAT,”   percy sits up a little straighter, “is too large of a question. that's like .. askin' a science teacher to describe everything about physics.” that is a terrible comparison but percy's got nothin' else. “see? i'm already keeping your mind sharp. blast from the past type shit. people love this game at parties.” it's kind funny, considering he hadn't entertained the idea of a kismet harbor party. the question makes him pause; lips pursed, leg shaking as he thinks. “probably that as much as i liked it there — i'd miss home too much to move there, you know? you guys are here." his family, he means, micah included. “right into the deep shit, innit? my turn: what's the most exciting thing you did while i was gone?" another pause, cheeky grin, "and since it was soo much fun, can we do it together?”

PERCY HUMS.   well, maybe that's to be expected with a baby. ups and downs and all arounds. “you know, this is just kind of sounding like really good birth control to me. i need my beauty sleep.” which is probably 8 and more hours a night, hard to do with a baby. “sounds like you should stock up on those 5-hour energy drinks or somethin'. it may be a bit out of coffee's range to handle if it's an entire year.” yeah, no thanks. babies are cute but …… “your own business?” brow raises. “right, so, you have more hours in the day than the rest of us do. sounds pretty superman of you. what's the business for?”