.\\con\valesce

“greeting someone– I know I won’t turn them around, not on purpose. the first demigod they meet, it can set the tone for their entire time here. I know it did, for me.”

“considering it, that doesn’t mean yes right away. so don’t just, assume or anything.”

“I don’t hate it. I’m not– I mean, I don’t ask someone, not flat out. not on purpose.”

“I don’t… need more than one. but I’ve been there before, and it’s nice, sure. but there’s merits to one-on-one.”

“seven years of nothing to do but drink. my tolerance is… pretty high.”

“have you… there’s so many of us. and I’m busy a lot. so the time I have… when I get a spare hour or two…”

“wouldn’t you?”

“twenty five, and I’m new to dating. I don’t… there’s questions, and answers, and no real examples of what’s right or what I know I want. why do I… I feel judged, right now.”

      𝐗𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐃,  knowing  that  what  he  wanted  was  a  bit  ambitious.   he  glanced  over  at  the  other  and  he  chuckled.   “  i  know,  i  have  crazy  dreams.  but  honestly  i  always  thought  having  something  like  that  would  be  cool.    and  i  think  i  handle  a  buster  sword  better  than  anyone  else.    i  didn’t  get  blessed  with  lifting  500  lbs  for  nothing,  ”   he  nodded.    “   of  course  i’ll  donate  some  drachmae  to  help  with  the  forge.  ”

Daith raised his eyebrows at the mention of Graham’s nutrients source. “Oh… I guess he needs a lot of metal to… be able to conduct electricity better?” he said, shrugging a bit. “I guess it’s also useful when you don’t like how a certain thing came out. Graham gets a little snack” he said with a little chuckle. “I haven’t seen him in a while. How is he?” he asked as he watched Zeke giving the paper to Mr. Candle. The companion seemed interested as his flame licked the son of Hephaestus’ fingers, but the demigod didn’t go apart, so he stayed in his place, moving his arms in a little, weird dance. 

“Yeah… He probably got bored with everything I said… but he recognizes some words now. Like… ouch”. At his voice, Mr. Candle stopped trying to roast Zeke’s fingers and took a little step one. “Good candle,” Daith said, poking him playfully. He then returned his gaze to the other and raised his eyes, curious. “Wow. Yeah, I remember that one… I’ll admit the idea freaked me out a bit. It’s… already a trip to be a demigod to also wonder that there are even more things hidden from our sight” he said, chuckling nervously. He then bit his lower lip and looked at him. “Was… was any of the ingredients… for the curse?” he asked timidly as Mr. Candle looked at Zeke, almost like wondering if he could try to burn him again. 

“it’s... I want to say it works out for the both of us. I hope he likes the metal, since he hasn’t really-- there’s no way to tell if it’s the right kind. all I knew he ate before, was gold. and we’re not swimming in that, so.” his smile turned a bit inward. “graham’s getting so big now. definitely need to finish putting together his own space.”

learning language, it’s not something he imagined a candle doing, but sure enough, there it was. he nodded in regards to the hag’s stone, but for the ingredients... “yeah. the, the cyclops eye. I was worried someone else was gonna get it, but.” his head bounced to the right, towards athena’s library. “gave half the cost to ari, and he got it for us. so we’re one step closer.”

imagining a full night of sleep, it’d only been a month or so, but it felt so far away.

“–it’s different. and, that’s not fair. we didn’t get the chance.”

andrew wouldn’t want him locked away forever, or even at all… or so he believed.

“I moved well enough, when drunk, to get attention where it… where I wanted it to go.”

“we can die… any day. any minute. I’m not– if I feel something, I’m not pushing it down. not anymore.”

“--and anything you get, well. we make it better, here. something about the magic, about hephaestus, the weapons just... they’re stronger. and...”

ezekiel blinked. the newcomer matched him in height, and despite the differences in their builds, the smith could see some strength there. he could also see a slightly distant look, or something he thought appeared like one.

brows drew in. “you--” he narrowed his gaze, a bit. “--are you alright?”