Denarii for your thoughts (open)

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For the next couple of weeks, Charlie had made training optional. It probably didn't sit well with Chris, but she felt as if the cohort deserved it. It would give people time to adjust to post war life, for wounds to heal and for people to get back into the swing of things. If they wanted to take some time off and relax to try to get their minds right, that was on them. If it was any consolation, Charlie had enough of rest those weeks she was in the infirmary to treat an infection. Mors had visited her, though she suspected he was also there on other business. She didn't blame him in the least, she knew he was a busy god and war must have been a rather rough time for him. Or at least over worked him. She sent him offerings and gifts through his temple. She hoped that he had received the gifts and Mercury wasn't playing tricks. But at least she knew that Mercury was making sure that he ate.

None the less, training was done for the day. She wasn't nearly as exhausted as she was during the war. But she moved from the sunlight into the shade of the woods. It was much cooler, no where near as over bearing and exhausting as the humid heat that was the south. But being out in it day in and day out, well she could see how it would get to some people. But it had been a while since she had been out and about, so might as well go find a nice little place in the woods to sit, relax and maybe take a quick nap. She started down the trail, but veered off at the sound of trickling water. It had been ages since she had been out here. When she was smaller, she used to come out here all the time. The sound of the water was wonderful, relaxing. Charlie had even made a little hollow where she stashed a few things. Charlie wondered if they were still there. She could look at least. She found the creek, and then walked five steps and turned to the left, there was a rock and she pulled it up easily. Yes, her box was still there. She opened it up and smiled. Her mother's medals were here in the box. Her purple heart, the bronze and silver stars, her grandfathers commendations, her mother's marksman medals and excellence in training, all of the medals her family had earned over the years. When she left the legion, if she left it, she'd add any medals she recieved to the box and she'd put it on display.

Absentmindedly, she pulled her boots off and her socks too, stuffing both unceremoniously to the side. She placed her feet into the water, feeling the cool water rushing over her toes. Oh the feeling was so wonderful. The smooth rocks and the sound of the creek were enough to put her to sleep. But she wasn't particularly tired. She kept her shield on her back and her sword at her hip. there were things lurking about in the woods, foolish monsters that had been lucky enough to escape the slaughter that took place a few weeks ago. The thought of her brother slicing and dicing his way, leading the cohort to victory along side their father, it was such a glorious moment.

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Kyle had found himself walking the forests again. He had a special visit to pay to a certain dryad. The elegant tree spirit had got his eye a few times and they had exchanged a few flirtatious greetings now and again. Nothing was to come of it though, they were just having fun. As all young people should. Kyle felt like he was one of the few Romans to feel like you needed to have fun before you withered up and died, if they even got that pleasantry. At least he managed to make a deal with the prissy Praetor. He had to go to his scheduled practices for a week and in return the infamous stick in the mud would go for a night on the town. Kyle knew exactly what he would do. He would make sure Remus drunk his fill until he forgot all about the camp, demigods, and whatever else went through that kids head. No, Kyle would make sure Remus had a night he wouldn't remember in the morning. After all, if there was one thing Kyle was happy he got from his dad, it was being able to find a good party and throw one. 

As Kyle walked deeper into the forest he heard the sound of the familiar creek. It was always calming. It was brought him into the forest when he first go to camp in the first place. That, and his desire to relax and not train for a bit. He even remembered the one night he convinced a few of his friends to sneak into the forest after curfew. Granted, it didn't end well and Kyle made yet another familiar trip to the Principia. Oh well, it brought about a few jokes that brought smiles to his friends even know. With all the death from the two wars smiles were just what this camp needed. Smiles, laughter, and a good party. 

That was when he spotted her. The familiar blonde centurion from the first cohort. Charlie-Mack. Kyle smirked. Sure, he knew about her relationship with Mors. But that didn't mean he wasn't allowed to talk to her or admit that she was attractive. Kyle walked over and leaned against a tree, looking at her. "At least one of the centurions realizes that with good work deserves a break." Kyle stated. "How have you been Charlie?" Kyle asked. It had been awhile since he talked to her. But since they had both been in camp for a number of years they probably have exchanged greetings at least once, or more. Heck, Kyle probably absent mindlessly flirted with her too.

words: 465

notes: Hey, it okay if I pop in here? Also, Kyle is 19, son of Bacchus and is a bit of a class clown type charrie.

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Charlie found herself sitting and thinking about all of the stuff that had passed. Two wars in three years, that really had to be a new record. Well with as much trouble as the US got itself into, wars that lasted years as opposed to ten days, well things could be worse. Some people had a hard time adjusting, some were skittish and jumpy, she knew more than anyone else that time was what was needed. Time and a little bit of relaxation. Maybe she would ask Mors for a favor, albeit a rather large one, but still, she felt like he would oblige. Her mind slipped off to some place other than the present. It was at the beach, laying on the nice sands feeling the cool water washing up on shore. It had drifted off to one of the many places that Mors had taken her. She thought about all of the places that she and her mom talked about going to once she retired from the Marines. Well that was a bit of wishful thinking. She still had her mother's book in the bottom of her footlocker in the cohort barracks. Maybe when she left the legion, she'd dig the book up and go traveling. After making a good offering to Mr. Mercury of course. He was such a personable god. And rather easy to get along with without being sleezy.

Charlie looked up as there was a voice that spoke out. She didn't jump in the slightest, as she felt if there was some sort of monster, they wouldn't have had the decency to speak first. But she tipped her head backwards as she looked at the speaker. It was Kyle. HE was a rather rambunctious son of Bacchus, but he was a good man. Charlie knew he was a bit of a flirt but it wasn't a bad thing. He had flirted with her once or twice before, though she wasn't exactly someone who understood the whole flirting thing. It sailed over her head and landed in the ocean. But she grinned at him. "Hey Kyle." she said, grinning at him. "Just taking a break. Trying to keep things.... easy for the next few weeks so people can get back into the swing of things." She said as she took her feet out of the water to listen to it drip down into the trickling stream. She placed her feet back in before watching a turtle walk past on the opposite side. "What about you? How have you been holding up?" She always asked other people that question. She had her own fears and reservations but she had to be strong to be that rock for other people. She had Mors to talk to if she wanted to talk to someone.

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Kyle watched the turtle cross along the small stream. Funny, with all the mythical creatures and monsters he was use to seeing it felt as thought the turtle was the animal that was out of place. How had he been? He fought and slice and diced some monster and some people he had once thought were comrades. Just like how it was with the first war. He wasn't even twenty and already he had fought in two wars. With the rate he was going he could probably make a Guinness World Record for most wars fought in. Then again, it would probably go to the camp, not just him specifically. Unless he decided to join the military and America decide to go war crazy and battle everything. Then he might win that record. But would they really believe he fought two wards against mythical Titans in a camp full of demigods and all who fought were basically teenagers? How believable was that to an outside source? Not very. Maybe believable after a few drinks, but that didn't help his case.

"I've been alright. I have made it my mission to try to liven up camp now that we don't have to train as hard because a Titan isn't on our butt anymore." Kyle said as he grabbed the low branch of the tree he was leaning on and pulled himself up. He had always enjoyed tree climbing, ever since he was little. It helped build up his upper body strength when he was younger. Now the task was pretty much effortless. "I also made a deal with your favorite brother to drag his praetor butt out of camp and give him a guys night out on the town. I promised him a night he wouldn't remember." Kyle said with a proud smirk as he pulled himself up onto a bigger branch and plopping himself down on it. "Though I had to promise to go a whole week to scheduled training for him to agree." Kyle said, giving a shrug. Wasn't a big deal. He was lazy at times, true, but he didn't mind the training so as long as he was able to have a life afterwards and drag some of the depressed legionnaires with him.

Now that he thought about it, was it really wise telling Charlie that? She was Remus's little sister and he knew how temperamental Mars kids could be. It's not like he was plotting to secretly kill Remus and leave his body in a ditch. No, just a night out on the town. He would invite Charlie too, but where Kyle was planning on taking him, a girl may feel too uncomfortable. He would have to plan a night out with all the ladies. Kyle would certainly enjoy that. He wouldn't take advantage of any of them. He would just admire, from a distance, and hope that when he got back to camp none of their boyfriends or whatever would punch him in the face.

words: 507
notes: Loved the reply ^_^

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Charlie couldn't help but smile at the son of Bacchus. She really had never been one for emotions, after all, she was a believer that if they were needed, the legion would issue them. But she worried about all of the troops. She was like every other roman out there and was more worried about other peoples well being as opposed to her own. Though Charlie was starting to think there needed to be more... well more Kyle's in the world and a lot less Charlie's. Then the world just might be a bit more peaceful. The world needed peace, but she wasn't stupid enough to believe that war wasn't going to pop up again. Her grandfather had seen many wars, and in the past three years, Charlie herself had fought in two. There was nothing nice about war. But it was where she shined. Peace time often brought discomfort for her. She never quite knew what to do with herself. Other than training more troops, Charlie never quite knew what her path would be. She might enlist for another couple of years when her time in the legion was up. Watching the turtle provided a good distraction from her own thoughts.

She looked at Kyle in a funny manner when he said he was going to take Remus on a guys night out. "Good, but really that's all it took for him to agree to something like that?" She stretched out, looking up at him in the tree. "Just make sure that you get some pictures so I can blackmail him later kay?" Remus needed a chance to hang out and just be with some friends. She was worried that one day he was going to work himself to death. "but seriously don't let anything bad happen to him. I don't want to have to kill you over my brother." But she looked up none the less and smile. "But at least you promised to go to training. Its just as important as vacation." Like she was one to talk, she didn't take breaks or vacations, or much of anything these days. It was one training session after another to keep herself distracted so she didn't go stir crazy. Which was never a good thing, just ask her cohort about the time she came up with weighted water training. "Remus can be a bit of a stick in the mud, but I hope you can get him to loosen up."

She then drew her legs up to her chest. "this place is always one of my favorites to hang out." She said. She heard the clattering hooves of a faun as it seemingly was chasing after a dryad. "Fauns non withstanding of course." She said as she rolled her eyes. Those fauns could be such a pain in the butt. One or two of them were alright but the majority of them were such hippies.

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Kyle laughed. He had already planned to take pictures. Like Kyle had previously stated, he promised the praetor a night he wouldn't remember and Kyle needed some photographic proof that the old stick in the mud actually had fun. Maybe he could make a business off of it. Probably would lose interest within a week but still, the first big hype would be good. He knew what would be great key selling points. Single, Praetor Remus Stone shows that he's capable of having fun and is looking for ladies. Kyle slightly smirked at the though. True, he would end up dead if he ran that form of campaign for business but gods, it would be so worth it. "Don't worry, you get first dibs on the photos and I wouldn't let a single cut hurt his little Roman self." Kyle replied with a finishing laugh.

His attention was turned when he heard the clopping of the hooves. A faun. While those things seemed to love his dad, or Pan, they were bipolar at times, Kyle loathed them. Sure, they were the few people in the camp willing to party, thanks to their following to Bacchus, but the way they partied, Kyle didn't want apart of it after awhile. They could get crazy. One of the first ones he went to he ended up leaving with a black guy because he mentioned how one tree always seemed to be in the way and would be better if it was cut down. Granted, Kyle should have seen that punch coming, what with their nature loving ways, but Kyle wasn't thinking straight at the point of time. Didn't stop the demigod and faun from brawling though. Eventually Kyle left once they were pulled apart and another faun yelled at Kyle saying he had basically just told that fauns girlfriend to die. Not what Kyle was going for, but oh well. Got to love the lack of communication at times, not.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, it's a great place but fauns, man, those things." He didn't really have a word for them. "Let's put it this way, they are better are representing my father than I am. And that's saying something." Kyle said with a slight chuckle. But in reality, it was true. Everyone knew Kyle liked to party and was proud of his heritage. The fact that the only thing that screamed Bacchus more than the god himself were fauns was saying something. They were a different breed, no pun intended, of partier. Kyle as a demigod, let alone a Roman demigod, still had to set himself to follow some norms of society. Which meant he couldn't walk around Camp Jupiter and New Rome, drunk off his butt, flirting with anyone and anything while asking for spare change. No, he wanted to present himself better than that. Make his father proud by having a son who honored him and his purpose, but by also not becoming a social disgrace at the same time.

words: 509
notes: Enjoy ^_^

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"Good, I always love blackmail for my siblings." Charlie stated with a laugh. Remus worried her. He really needed a chance to get out and have some fun. She really wanted him to have a chance to relax, but he was too stubborn and obstinate. It must have come from their dad's side of the family. Because let's face it, Mars wasn't exactly known for his laid back attitude. Nah, that was really more of a mercury thing. MArs kids were notorious for being up tight, training all day and pushing themselves till they could no longer move. She worried that loosing Felicity had broken him. Though she hadn't been friends with her in such a long time, Charlie regretted it. She couldn't help but wonder if she had been a better friend to Felicity and never dated Mors, if that would have kept her alive, if it would have made a difference. Charlie would never admit to it, never out loud, but she was sad that the daughter of Pluto was gone. She didn't have many friends as it was, she just really had training and family, and her co-centurion, Chris, but that went with training.

Then she rolled her eyes as she heard a resounding smack and the sound of a rather love struck hooved wonder giggling worse than a Venus girl on the night of the Golden Globe awards. "Gods you'd think that hooves for brains would get the hint." SHe muttered, rolling her eyes. But she returned her attention back to the Bacchus boy in front of her. Damned bums was what they were. Didn't they have a tree to hug or some hippie convent to go join up? "I swear the next one that asks for my cup of tea before I'm done drinking it is going to get punched in the face. Just yesterday, one tried to eat my Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate before the whipped cream melted." She griped. Yes, Charlie was the type of person to drink hot chocolate in the middle of summer. so sue her. But she glanced at him when he said that fauns were better at representing his dad then he was. She gave him a smile. "Don't worry, I'm more than sure your dad is proud of you."

"This place is nice and quiet. I actually used to sneak away here all the time when I was younger. Just a bit harder to do it now when I'm in charge of things." She said shaking her head. "Now don't get me wrong, Chris does his share of work, but sometimes, I wish I could come out here more." She said as she shrugged her shoulders, looking down at the stream as a Newt wandered by. She used to always like to watch the animals that hung out around here. Lots of reptiles and amphibians with the occasional deer, maybe a rabbit or two, all kinds of critters. The birds seemed to like this place as well.