blowing smoke

Surprised by the answer, Dexter’s face showcased a pleased look to know that Snow was the one who would take the blame, his large forearms now holding himself close while the smoky plumes of the fire began to spread further from the flames. “ Forget about it, Snow, alright? ” He would showcase kindness, a nod as his hands returned to the spoon as he continued to stir the soup. 

“ This place is fuckin’ stressful. Let’s just move on and be there for one another like we promised before this whole mess. ” As a gesture of good will, he ladled a serving of soup into a bowl before offering it to the man. “ Sounds good? ”

Tension seemed to wash off Snow’s shoulders the moment Dexter gave an answer in return. It was good to finally have the matter done and over with. What happened... Snow didn’t want it to get in the way of what he and Dexter had. Whatever it was. They had shit to do. “Thanks for understanding.” Maybe he wasn’t the only guy who felt a touch overwhelmed. Out of his comfort zone.

Though he’d eaten a moment ago, it had just been a motion--an action of need more than want. Taking hold of Dexter’s fresh bowl of stew, Snow actually felt genuine hunger again. Subtle salivating at the back of his tongue. “Yeah... ‘sounds amazing.” He smiled to Dexter, seeming himself again. His gaze had a difficult time pulling away from the son of Hades for a moment, but soon enough he was lifting his spoon and waiting for the intense heat to waft off before taking a nourishing bite. The haunting river before them remained eerie as ever, but Snow was able to see past the dread now. Finally. “So... do you feel connected to this place? At all?”

“Okay…” he drawled, eyes narrowing at Snow, sensing his friends reluctance, or at least what he sensed to be as much. He liked to read people, but even he struggled at times. “You will? Good. You’re basically the biggest bad ass at camp. Don’t waste that potential,” and he was at least trying to be as honest as possible. 

Then the subject of Dane came up. Of course it was buy Asher, but it hurt that It felt like Snow already felt the shift. Simply by the words he used, Asher knew Snow was on the track. “Have you talked to him lately? Like, since we all ended up in the Underworld.”

It was awkward, that much was certain. Snow knew Asher well enough to detect the strain in his voice. As if his neighbor New Yorker was having to push a boulder to keep this conversation going. This... wasn’t how their discussions usually went, actually all those before now had been entirely smooth, just... “Thanks.” He replied, but it felt like sand leaving his mouth. Biggest bad ass at camp? Then why was he not the first chosen? Why wasn’t it his responsibility to protect Asher? When he...

It wasn’t just Asher back there, obviously, but, somehow, Snow’s mind took over and the moment Asher didn’t so enthusiastically look right to him. Expecting a promise to be kept. It was the small rock to be pulled that started the mental landslide to follow. Snow could only blame himself. Totally. Completely. It wasn’t Asher’s fault nor anyone else. “Of course, the moment you guys landed we met up. ‘was still holding my form then.” So, no, they hadn’t exactly talked. Why should that matter though?

Typically, the pair would have embraced, probably kissed, definitely fawned over each other after a trauma like that. The fact that Snow moved to do either both relieved and worried Asher. Had Snow already found out? Was he mad? Did he care? Whatever the case was, he was happy to feel the warm welcome as he meandered toward his friend, that overwhelming sense of safety and security still washing over him, even given the situation. “Not Teddy bear,” he corrected. “Papa Bear. There’s nothing warm and cuddly about you when you shift, Snow,” he teased, with a smirk. 

Hands tucked casually in his pockets as he made his way closer to the blond, eyes scouring the area, hoping, praying that maybe he had someone else in his bedroll, possibly a tent he was sharing with someone else. “Me? No, not even close. D was the one that had everyone’s back. He had my back for sure. He’s… really great right. Right?”

“Alright.” He chuckled, low and drawn, teeth showing through that grin as he adjusted the last pole for his tent. “I’ll remember that.” What Snow felt when the voluntary boat boarding happened was awful. Lies, really, too himself, but... to feel like the short, fat, kid with glasses at a kickball line up, not the first warrior chosen, left Snow to wonder what the hell he was doing here.

Was he kidding himself?

Was this all a waste of time?

Was he not valuable a teammate as he’d been lead to believe--or decided to believe?

Snow aimed to smother these thoughts through the private rest period. Refocus and forget. Deny. “Yeah, sounds like Dane.” His smile faltered then, though it held on for dear life. The son of Artemis tried to act natural by tossing in his bedroll. His heart sinking as Dane’s place at camp proved his every fear. Dane was dependable, he put in the effort to study, and... well, Snow knew himself, his true self, so wasn’t really surprised to realize the others didn’t find him nearly as valuable. Didn’t believe that he could be just as reliable. Maybe more.

Grey nodded in agreement. The events of his own boat ride still fresh in his mind and he was still trying to deal with them. There were things that had happened that had really worried him and made him question things. At the mention of his wet state, Grey glanced down and chuckled some. “Yeah, who knew getting possessed by a wraith would mean a swim.” He said, trying to make light of what had been a rather terrifying moment. “He lost his glasses?” Grey questioned, well he would keep an eye out but glasses usually were specific for the wearer. 

“A wraith? What the fuck is that?” Of course, the mention of possession stood out for Snow as well, but he obviously could tell that would be too touchy of a subject. So fresh off the boat. Snow reaches for his pack then and pulls out a fresh t-shirt. “‘decided bringing a change wouldn’t be such a bad idea, why don’t you swap so the other can dry off?” He had jeans and socks as well--but small Grey wearing cloths of that size might appear silly and feel uncomfortable.”

“Yeah... shitty luck, right?”

being nocturnal didn’t mean shit in the underworld, where you got tired when the exhaustion got to be too much. relief from the arrival of the final boat compounded with exhaustion from the day’s events, leading dane to retire about the same time as most others. waking with the majority felt a little new, compared to how dane was spending his time back at olympus.

rolling out of his tent in sweatshorts slung low, dane started some form of stretching-and-workout that seemed to fit his tired brain, barefoot on the scrub-grass wasteland. on one twist of his torso, folded over with legs apart, he saw snow – and grinned, and waved, since the man was back in human shape. “boss!” he called, unfolding to stand straight, jumping to bring his feet together. “good to see you on two fuckin feet,” he chuckled, nodding up at the taller demigod. “you sleep okay?”

The call immediately caught Snow’s attention. Before having to look, he already knew it was his treasured housemate. Seeing Dane now, quite a mess given their circumstances, left him feeling some concern. It was great to be back in human form after a long rest, but where the stood was a battlefield. Anything could happen. “Hey, pup.” He teased in return, wearing a more characteristic smirk today. Yesterday had been a complete mess in some aspects. The blond hoped that feeling of doubt wouldn’t play into what needed to be done moving forward. “Uh... good as one can in a place like this, I guess? ‘least we all got 8 hours.”

Finally, Snow pointed toward Dane, “You should get dressed. We’re still in enemy territory, ya know?”

Thankful that his cooking supplies hadn’t gotten waterlogged, Dexter stirred his massive pot of deer stew for those who may not have had enough preparation to enjoy a warm meal while in the depths of hell. Still, something felt missing in his being but the man attempted to ignore it for the most part. No point in searching for something he couldn’t quite put his finger on quite yet.

Fingertips against the wooden spoon, eyes spotting Snow as he headed over towards his general direction while sitting casually as though they hadn’t had a falling out before the boats departed. “ I mean, we’re fine for the most part. ” He kept his words short, looking around the camp for a moment before letting his eyes rest against the son of Artemis. “ I’m not here to be petty but you’re decision to leave our boat didn’t sit right with me. If you think we should just let it go for the sake of the trial, I can do it. But I need to let you know before we continue forward without addressing it. ” The ball lobbied up for Snow and in his court, Dexter knowing how important conflict resolution would be, especially while in the midst of the most stressful situation he’s ever been in his life.

So, Dexter didn’t skirt the matter aside. If anything, Snow respected the son of Hades more for that. After pressing his lips together, the older man nodded along and patiently waited for his chance to give an answer. By the time it came around, he shook his head now and said, “No, you’re not... if anyone was being petty in that situation it was me.” His forearms loosely crossed to brace across both knees, catching the most heat wafting from the camp fire flames. The manner in which Snow portrayed himself now wasn’t self deprecating or conflicted, just honest and upfront. “Something got in my head the moment we stepped into this place. ... I’m sorry, for letting that get in the way of what needs to be done, ‘n...” Snow tried to say more, but after faltering let the thought return to the hidden, precious recesses of his mind.

Snow finally looked to Dexter again, and the words only both eyes could speak seemed to be hopeful that his friend would forgive him.