― ᴡʀᴇᴛᴄʜᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴋɪɴɢꜱ

       Sebastian went and signed with the New York Rangers during the summer. I remember watching the PJ film and how NY was heavily consolidated into that universe; this was an easy decision. It also meant that Sebastian’s most likely isn’t the only demigod in the team, and the front office has influential people involved, so the team’s protected.  

“Chocolate it is,” she agreed. She trailed behind him a little awkwardly as he placed the order for the team, her box of donuts still balanced in his hands, ever the chivalrous one even after all this time. She still felt a natural sort of affection for Sebastian, something that would probably always linger, but it didn’t feel natural anymore to fall into step beside him. Times changed. They were adults now, but the change felt nice. “No, it’s for the house. No one but me really knows how to cook, and I didn’t feel like making breakfast with finals coming up soon, so–” She gestured to the box.

“Yeah, I did.” Gods, the kissing booth. “Thankfully my shift was short. The underclassmen were pretty eager to do most of it. I don’t think they get that it’s a dated, gross concept yet. I’ll let ‘em have their fun. Wait a minute, though, why are we even talking about a kissing booth right now? Hi, Mr. College Hockey Champion, that’s kind of incredible. Congratulations,” she told him, and the smile that spread all the way across her face was genuine, warm. “You’ve always been so talented, Seb, seriously. You guys deserve this. I’m really proud of you.”

∞

       “ You’re still the only one that cooks over there? ” Sebastian remarked, gesturing vaguely towards the Aphrodite house before taking a small bite of the brownie. It was good. ( He’s sure because it’s chocolate, and one could never go wrong with it. ) “ Not patient enough to teach some of your siblings basic cooking? ” He teased, realizing that Carly probably didn’t have the allotted time for it. Besides, they’re all adults, and it’s not on her if they couldn’t cook. “ Iker told me that the kissing booth was some rite of passage for the Dite freshers, ” he recalled, briefly thinking about his dear friend ( and, by extension, Carly’s brother ). Chuckling after hearing Carly’s praises, Sebastian mildly ducked his head. “ Thanks, Carly. Yeah, it was a lot of fun. The guys did a mega job. ” He couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic, walking next to Carly — she was there, too, during his early years, when he started to lean away from hockey, but she was one of the few that convinced him to see it through.

       “ You didn’t go to Munich, no? ” He asked, trying to remember if he’s seen her or someone mentioned her name. He would know, that’s the thing, and Vincent would have said something. “ Didn’t see you at the bonfire either. You’re a busy bee these days, Carly. ”

              when  it  comes  to  events  taking  place,  especially  games  and  all  the  energy  that  surrounds  them,  it’s  hard  for  him  to  be  able  to  stay  in  one  place  when  time  has  hit  a  stand  still.    it’s  funny,  because  these  past  few  months  feel  like  they  have  flown  by  in  the  blink  of  an  eye  but  these  past  couple  of  hours  ?    since  they  had  gotten  everything  out  of  the  way,  it  feels  like  time  has  stopped  and  the  minute  hand  the  clock  seems  to  be  moving  lazily  around  the  numbers.    so  clearly,  he  did  some  searching,  things  to  do  and  places  to  see.    there  were  a  few  places  at  night  that  seemed  interesting  enough,  but  there  was  one  particular  google  search  izak  came  across  that  held  his  interest  a  little  too  much.    so  he  grins  when  sebastian  agrees,  wondering  if  there  will  ever  be  a  day  that  his  friend  doesn’t  agree  to  whatever  plan  izak  has  concocted.    “    heard  of  the  english  garden  ?    well,  there’s  this  river  there  called  eisbach,  and  apparently  you  can  surf  there.    it  closes  at  six,  but  if  we  get  there  early  enough  we  might  be  able  to  hide  out  in  the  gardens  so  we  can  stay  a  little  later…    ”

∞

       Oh, Sebastian has heard of the English Garden. It was on his long list of places to visit. Lucky for him, Izak was a step ahead. “ Are we going on a bromantic stroll, eat some pretzels, and drink beer? ” He joked, hinting at their early merrymaking. But Izak wasn’t done. There was more. “ You had me at surf there. ” He would have called it clickbait; Izak and his unplanned yet wild ideas. “ — We talking about the ice brook? ” He asked, leaning forward. “ The Eisbach? ” He sat up straight, impressed. But the absolute cherry on top? Izak was suggesting they hide-out so they can have the river all to themselves. “ Who are you, and what have you done to my Kit-Kat? ” He joked once more. Glancing at the wall clock, he hauled ass off the chair and motioned towards the door. They won’t be missed because everyone’s trying to relax and do their own form of relaxation. “ We better get going then, ” Sebastian decided, lightly clapping his hand on Izak’s back. “ Since we need to get our wetsuits ready. ”

More Info: Sebastian is the only person on campus who knows what has been going on with Vincent. While in Munich for the hockey Vincent spent some time with his friend’s family, having a bit of an emotional heart-to-heart with Amalia. Not wanting to burden his friend with any of it while he was taking part in such important matches Vincent pushed it aside, joining in on the events that followed the games. Now they’ve been back on campus a few days and Sebastian had asked him to meet him after a robotics club meeting . The pair are sat upon the roof of the robotic’s club and looking at some stars - something that they haven’t done together in a while.

Vincent was laid on his back, a little closer to Sebastian than was possibly necessary, as they looked up at the stars. The heat that always radiated from the other was a comfort against the slight bite in the air tonight. While he should have a better knowledge of the stars in the sky due to the time he spent looking at them alongside Sebastian Vincent barely knew anything other than that he found them pretty. There was something about getting to look up at a clear nights sky that helped to make his problems seem insignificant in the best way possible. Exactly what he needed right now. Sebastian once again able to know just the right thing for him without having to try, perhaps Amalia had spoken to him already. No. When she gave him her word that she wouldn’t Vincent trusted that.

“I know I said before that I got to spend some time with your mum while we were in Germany, which by the way you owe me for. You guys couldn’t have had a game in like any other country no?” There’s a playful roll of his eyes even if both of them are still looking at the sky. “But I didn’t tell you what we spoke about. You know Sebastian, I don’t know if I’ve told you before but I think your mother might be my favourite person…. You’re very lucky to have someone like her.” Vincent’s mind was somehow equally calm and overwhelmed as he prepared to breach the subject of his emotional outburst with Sebastian’s mother. Despite their closeness, the time they spent together and Vincent’s more than mixed feelings in regards to Sebastian they never really discussed serious things like this. Not well at least. 

∞

       “ It’s not our call — the powers that be of college hockey decides on it. ” Sebastian responded. If he has any say on it, he would have selected Sweden or Germany. Or if they’re going the distance, Taiwan or South Korea. “ Hm, yeah. She mentioned that you two spent some time together, ” he said with a nod, casually reclined on the lounge chair, eyes fixated on the sea of stars above them. It was belated, that’s the thing, when his mother told him that she and Vincent had a good and long talk. Sebastian was never one to pry. He understood that Vincent was close to his mother, that she’s a confidant, almost a maternal figure to his dear friend. And while she remained mum about her conversation with Vincent, her tone was enough for Sebastian. He had been so focused on hockey that when Vincent needed company, he wasn’t present. Even the text messages and updates weren’t enough — he should have done more.

       “ Yeah, she’s wonderful. ” Patient, kind, clever, and nurturing . . . that’s Amalia. She was a fun one, too, often encouraging them to go on adventures during their families’ annual holiday. “ She hasn’t volunteered on adopting you, has she? ” His tone was light, playful, turning his head to look at Vincent. “ You had a good talk with her, though? It helped some, at least? ”

          the train hurdles smoothly along the track with nary a rock or bump felt, though jason supposes that a train provided by a GOD should probably have that expectation placed upon it ( he also can’t help but wonder if they’d lost instead if the ride would be a bit less pleasant ). upbeat music trickles down mixed with the sounds of rowdiness from the car ahead, a knot of his milling teammates visible through the connecting doors, but something tugs him in the opposite direction towards the quiet instead. slow footsteps take him up the stairs to the observation deck on the last car that hermes had apparently deemed necessary to include. the darkness of the night presses in through the clear curved paneling that makes up the roof, only the row of small dim lights lining the aisle providing guidance. the silhouette blocked out against the twinkling stars and navy sky is familiar in way that only sebastian’s is, and jason thinks that perhaps it’s not so surprising he was drawn in this direction after all.     “ hey — ”     it’s a quiet word, but one that still holds the remnants of the euphoria they’d all been wrapped up in ( that they are still wrapped up in ).     “ — get that champagne out of your ear yet ?? ”     his tone is full of warm jest as he comes up along side sebastian, their shoulders bumping as the train takes a gentle curve — a god’s train or not, physics still applies.

-

       They might have gotten a few cars themselves, but the ruckus was beyond outstanding. Everyone was mindful of leaving any mess inside. Still, it didn’t stop the guys from playing catch here and there, singing along once more to We Are the Champions. Some were even dancing, egged by the two goalies. Sebastian’s taking it all in slowly ( he likes it that way, he gets to enjoy it more ), laughing when Ace insisted on wanting to sing vocals and deciding on a disco-inspired song. Eventually, he had to take a phone call, quietly left the merrymaking, and opted for the other car. His mom congratulated him once more and expressed her excitement because he would be home soon. He talked to Michael and Yannick, his brother telling him that he’ll be videocalling soon with Darwin. When the call ended, Sebastian finds himself lingering to this particular spot. It has less to do with the stillness but the sea of stars above him, a reminder that he’s here. It is a quiet reflection of how much time has passed — himself and the boys, particularly with Jason and Izak. “ Hey, ” Sebastian greeted, straightening up and smiling at Jason. “ Yeah, I can hear Val’s off-key tune so well, ” he added, “ I might end up smelling like champagne for a couple of days, max.” He claps his hand on Jason’s shoulder, a token of their accomplishment. “ What’re you doing here? Had enough of the boys’ singing? Rolo was rapping to Eminem a while ago. ”

          with  great  reluctance,    clarisse  moves  away  from  him,    returning  to  her  bustling  and  making  for  the  little  office  space  reserved  for  teachers.               ❛❛      the  carnival    ?    no    ⸺    i’m  afraid  i  must  disappoint  you.    i  haven’t  the  slightest  idea  who  would  do  something  like  that.      ❜❜               but  one  can  be  assured  that  she’ll  be  mentioning  it  to  her  siblings  when  she  gets  back.    clarisse  stops  in  front  of  the  doorway,    head  tilting  inquiringly  in  his  direction.               ❛❛      would  it  have  impressed  you  if  it  were  me    ?    i  feel  a  great  deal  of  people  would  like  to  see  me  lose  my  temper.      ❜❜

∞

       “ If you needed my help or anyone’s, I’m sure you would call, “ Sebastian reasoned, trying his best to suppress his amusement. He never doubted Clarisse’s skills — to say she was adequate when it comes to self-defense would be an understatement, let alone her combat skills. ( He’s deduced that it was the pacifist in her, and frankly, he doesn’t view this as a bad thing. ) “ Yeah, I think a picture of it circulated on social media, ” he answered, moving and looking around to see what he can tidy up. There’s a loose pink ribbon lying near one corner of the room, “ I’ve seen you freeze stuff before, ” Sebastian provided, picking up the satin strip and walking towards Clarisse. “ — And only if there’s a wager involved, then I’d like to see you lose your temper. ”

       He holds out the ribbon for her to see, adding, “ I think this belongs to Masha . . . Sasha. The little girl with the cute braids. ”

As they approached the case, she considered the options in front of them. It had been a long time since she’d spent much uninterrupted time with Sebastian, and she wasn’t sure she trusted her memory of his likes and dislikes well enough. “Maybe the peanut butter? Chocolate and peanut butter’s always a safe combo. I really don’t need anything, I swear. I’m just happy I don’t have to walk back to the house alone.”

∞

       How much Carly carries in her purse was a marvel to Sebastian. It could be one of those magically charmed bags. He wasn’t going to ask — he’d come off as being nosy. “ Can never go wrong with a classic chocolate one, yeah? ” Instead, he responded, forgetting to remind Carly that he was never into peanut butter. ( He only liked it then because the treats he was given were her creations. )

       Then, he bought a brownie, showed the team order to the person behind the counter. “ Is it national donut day, or this entire box’s yours? ” Sebastian asked, grabbing a paper napkin after the brownie was handed to him. There was always something to celebrate each day, and he couldn’t keep track. “ After you, ” he said with a nod, opening the door for them and walking after Carly. “ Heard you did the kissing booth during the carnival. How’d that go? ”

𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 — 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 ⬎

❝ ‘Cause we're gonna be legends, gonna get their attention; What we're doing here ain't just scary, it's about to be legendary.❞

∞

       The entire team was buzzing despite the collective appearance of calm and composed. One could argue that this wasn’t a new thing for them, yet the excitement’s there, thrumming below the surface. Sebastian had taken the spot in front of Izak, eating an apple while lazily looking at his Twitter timeline. He had looked up once, sensing his friend’s mild fussing before deciding to leave him be. He takes another bite of the apple, watching a condense video of a Rangers and Flyers game, thinks about asking Izak if he’s still rooting for the latter. Instead, he noticed his mobile phone battery nearing its low threshold, decided he should charge it. The spark of electricity — a speck on the tip of his finger and spreading throughout, fully charging his mobile phone. “ That was rockstar, ” Sebastian remarked with a pleased smile, “ I have this hot date. We’re meeting under a willow tree, talk about sustainable farming and then maybe pet some goats. No, I don’t have plans aside from the usual. ” He tossed the apple core in the nearby trash bin ( a three-point shot ala Steph Curry ), then fixed his gaze on Izak once more. “ What are we doing tonight? I’m in. ”

       “ When I said I got something for you, this isn’t what I meant, ” said Sebastian, casual as he gesticulates to the bundle in front of them. On the table, the hot drink he was enjoying earlier was now abandoned and sitting on the other small but unoccupied table. Was there an explanation for this? He’ll try. The problem was, he spaced out as soon as he started hearing — needs looking after, it would only be a couple of hours at most — there was more to it, he’s sure. The rest, well, what was presented before him was too distracting and pressing. Everything else was provided, he was told. There’s nothing to worry about! Oh, really? How are they sure about . . . this?! “ So, yeah. You’ve done this before, right? ” Sebastian followed, turning his head to look at Iker.

          ❛❛      yes,    i  think  i  have  everything  but  i  still  have  to  lock  up.    i  just  need  to  change  out  of  these  clothes  and  we  can  go.    you  going  to  walk  me  back    ?      ❜❜               she’s  already  unpinning  her  hair,    waves  of  pale  gold  slowly  tumbling  down  over  her  shoulders  as  she  gathers  her  pins  and  elastic  in  one  hand.                ❛❛      if  we  pass  through  gaia’s  i’ll  get  you  a  coffee  and  a  brownie.    my  treat  for  you  trekking  out  here  with  me.      ❜❜

∞

       Sebastian nodded, “ That’s a good power move. Make sure to take a photo as soon as you can. You know what they say, yeah? Pics, or it didn’t happen. ” He did his best to keep a straight face, giving her a small playful smile after his attempt at ducking and avoiding her hand. “ Of course, yeah. I’ll walk you back. ” ( Besides, he didn’t bring his motorcycle this time. ) He does like it here — this dance studio — its previous state, how it looked like, he couldn’t even remember. He steps inside, and it’s all Clarisse, not exactly simple but a touch more. Effortlessly elegant yet soft. Was it the nostalgia that had him coming back, dropping by whenever he can? Perhaps. “ This entire affair of myself and brownies is getting out of hand, ” he remarked with a chuckle, bringing his hand up to tuck some gold hair behind her ear gently.

-

       “ I was going to seduce him with my trigonometry knowledge. My big brain, ” said Sebastian, jesting for the most part. He dare not mention how poorly the Flyers are doing this season and the fact that he’s kind of rooting for them. ( He’s regretting it now, that’s the thing. Perhaps it’s time to root for a west coast NHL team. ) “ A birthday cake taco, oh no. ” They have reached their last stop, and he quickly read the menu, looked at his options. “ I’m going to get both, and we’re sharing. ” It was an executive decision, and he didn’t even need to think about it. “ Oh, and neither, ” Sebastian added, paying for the tacos and glancing at Jason; “ Was thinking about the Robotics club rooftop. It’s nice out. We’ll have the best view of the carnival. ” It’s not going to be a long trek, too. They need only to mosey up to the arts and crafts section of the carnival. The demigod managing the truck was potentially a Hermes kid; the tacos were done quicker than usual. “ Unless you’ve got someplace else in mind? ”

“ that’s the problem, ” she playfully scolds as she continues to tug him along, “ are you only fast with your skates on? ” her smile holds a hint of secrecy at the mention of the food trucks. anyone could just visit the carnival and do the activities as intended, but if you asked elena, great memories were also made from ill-prepared, possibly unwise decisions. “ slight change of plans. the food trucks can come later, but first — we can’t let you overheat, right? ” she can’t help the peal of her own laughter that comes with seeing sebastian submerge into the water, and she barely catches her own breath as she cheerfully resigns herself to her fate at the hands of sebastian.

∞

“Oh, handwritten definitely! Fancy yet professional.” she laughed. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” she teased. “We switch up the titles, I’m not a fan of the stacked books, it’s a little like jenga when trying to get a specific title and of course no one wants to find it on the shelf when it’s the first thing they see here.” she explained. Daphne lifted up her book to show him when the books he leaned on toppled over. Daphne let out a soft laugh covering her mouth with her hand. He was always so smooth on the ice it was kind of cute to see him fumbling in front of her. “See…jenga.” she came around the counter on the other side to help him pick up the books. “They’re not exactly sturdy, you okay?” she grinned looking up at him. “I wouldn’t want re reads to be blamed for injuring our star hockey player.” 

∞

-

       “ You’re welcome, ” said Sebastian, grabbing the receipt and pocketing it — the change went into the tip jar. He takes a sip of his tea, looking around once more and hearing the distant sound of pop music ( from the quad probably ). “ Make it Kevin Hayes making that cotton candy taco for me, and I’ll consider it. ” It was unlikely. He never did utilize his pyrokinesis to impress anyone ( he’s got hockey for that, and karting ). “ You need a bag, J. ” His haul was nicely cushioned in a paper bag, smaller in amount next to Jason’s. And yes, it has room for a cotton candy taco. Perhaps he can persuade Jason into getting a corn dog taco instead — it sounded so wrong, but he’s curious. Grabbing some brown paper towels, he playfully but carefully tucked them in Jason’s shorts pockets. “ All set? ”