Like a Game of Ping Pong || Fedmund

[Deleted]

i have been -and always shall be- your  f r i e n d  The last time Edmund had set foot outside of camp, he had been captured by the government and tortured for around a month. The time prior to that, he had left to join Saturn. The time prior to that, he had been sent on a quest. Those three times, leaving Camp meant nothing but negative consequences for him. But this time, this time it was going to be different. This time, he was leaving New Rome to meet up with Felicity. When she IMed him saying she'd be in San Francisco and asking if he'd want to meet up, of course he said yes. Yes without any hesitation. He didn't care if it was outside of the borders and everything. He'd get whatever he got. Perks of being his best friend, partner in crime, and fellow get-up-leave-and-give-me-a-heart-attack idiot. At least she had been nice enough to give him some reassurance that she was still around the past two times. However this time... this time her want to leave felt...different. Felicity had changed. No doubt in that. She had been acting out more... much more. So much so that when he had gone for a surprise visit, just to talk and see what was up, the apartment looked like he had been torn apart. He didn't know when it had happened, but she was gone. He had to pause for around ten minutes, trying to calculate if she had done this, or if she had been taken. It didn't take too long for the latter to make him anxious. He had almost started panicking before she IMed him. The apartment got wrecked in a fight with Remus and she just needed some time. Again. Ed was just really concerned about her. But it wasn't like he was going to tell her, or anyone that. She was acting like she was possessed by Mars. No... No, wait. He had seen this before. Heard about it before. After she "died" in the war and Discordia had the marvelous idea to tell him that she was alive and "exploding her powers". He wasn't quite sure if that helped or hurt. Both. Severely. When she had first IMed him on her need to leave, per his usual in his angered by worry state, he had snapped at her. Then, also per usual, he mellowed out. He'd give her time, but he also didn't hesitate in asking her to come back whenever he had an opening. Now, he a chance to actually see her in person. Of course he'd take it. Some people would probably be nervous to be around her after how she'd been acting around New Rome. Not Edmund. Very little phased him now. He wouldn't say that he knew she wouldn't hurt him, especially in whatever state of mind she was in currently; but, he'd rather be physically hurt by Felicity than by anyone else. He supposed that was just written into the bylaws of their friendship. Walking the streets of San Francisco, Edmund tried to look at the mortal world passing around him with some amusement, but at the same time he was on his guard. Here, any demigod was more vulnerable to a monster attack. There was also the downside that anyone who saw it would most likely see the demigod killing an innocent. No, he definitely didn't want to scar anyone else for life. COMMENTARIUM: hope that was okay. if you want any changes just tell me ^-^ VERBA: 565

[Deleted]

I Don't Know Why You Put Up With Me 

She saw him before he obviously saw her. She was across the road, having bummed a cigarettere off someone. Back in Italy it was still night so she had a solid good few hours before Celso woke up again and went to keeping an eye on her or whatever it was he did. She could never seem to shake him off, but then again, she never gave it her best attempt either, she supposed part of herself enjoyed having someone around to make sure she wouldn't just talk to herself and lock herself into the abyss of her own mind, but she did that anyway. Her nights were usually reserved for the back alleys and the bars were the sinners all go out to play. She fit in like a glove and always left the night stained in one way or another, usually with blood on her hands but killing had just become so numb to her. What was one more life? Psycopathic, maybe, but she had Discrodia to thank for that one. Talk about a hell of a mentor. Plus Felicity was so easy to bend to her will it seemed, maybe it was saying something deep down. She had always gotten along well with her descendants after all, her best friend was her grandson. 

She stubbed out the cigarette and crossed the street, jogging up close to where Ed was before briskly watching to catch up to him, coming up behind him. "Do you know how easy it'd be to stab you in the back right now?" Felicity said with a teasing tone and giving her old friend a smirk. She knew he was probably going to say something sarcastic or turn around and swing at her, or both. They had always had a weird friendship, he was one of the few, well, only people she had bothered to talk to after the incident. She probably should have talked to others, but she wasn't herself and they wouldn't understand. Ed could though, at least she liked to believe that. He had been through shit too and he wasn't like everyone else. Sure, he had yelled at her too, calling her an idiot as per usual but he seemed to understand at the end and this wasn't like last time. She didn't pretend to kill herself, she had literally made an attempt on Remus's life and had been striking out more and well, was a mess. It was best she went away plus she didn't know where she belonged there anymore, she didn't know where she belonged really. Probably in jail in a solitary confinement, that's what it felt like in her brain at least when she was able to make it go nice and quiet with enough alcohol. 

It was a shame she was underage here, she would have already walked up with a bottle which probably would have just given Ed more ammo to use against her to call her and idiot more so than the stench of tobacco all over her would give away. The one downside of that one is that it left such a noticeable evidence. "Man... talk about culture shock. Haven't really been in the states since I left. It's actually warm ish here." Felicity added, acting like it was no big deal at all about the entire scenario and that they were just two friends meeting up after a short break. 

Words: 590 | edmundsimons   |  awkward first reply is awkward
_{By: Jackie}

[Deleted]

is there anything you would not to do for your f a m i l y ? Edmund hadn't told Josh or Rhia where he he was going. He rarely told anyone anything these days. A jibing comment here and there, some sarcastic comebacks, some snapping, but that was pretty much it. Well, he supposed "these days" was misleading. He never really told anyone anything ever. Only when the mounting pressure was too much; and that was usually when he snapped and had was having a break down. He knew how to keep it together, but doing that 24/7/365 was hard; especially in the life of a Roman soldier. He had only done it twice infront of people (and a something). All his other ones he managed to get himself alone, thankfully. Exhaling, he tried to sort out what all of this meant in his head. Everything. Nothing. Ugh. This is why he never properly addressed feelings; they were too...confusing and feeling. Actually, now that he thought about it,, this wasn't the first time he set out of camp for a good thing. He just supposed bad memories stuck in your head longer and more accessible than good ones. Bad memories you got scars from. Good memories, not so much. He had left Camp to go to an amusement park with Felicity after she had gotten amnesia. He had also left Camp to go on an adventure with Felicity, Josh, and Ethan. A small smile flickered over his face. That had been fun; all four of them together again... he sort of (really) missed that. But they all had their own lives now and so much had changed it was near mind blowing. He recognized her voice. Of course he did; how couldn't he? Edmund came to a standstill; he could imagine her smirking and returned it, even though she couldn't see his face. There was a thin line between being noticeably, tone inflicted sarcastic and being so deadpan sarcastic that it came off as serious. He crossed that line a lot; it lead to a lot of misunderstanding, but that was his intention. It's what he used to keep himself, motives, and real thoughts under lock and key. "Easy? Pft. When have either of us really taken and applied that concept?" he returned in jest. "Literally, metaphorically... it's all been done; so cliched," he teased, finally turning around to face his friend. He was probably still insane to consider her as one still, but his whole life was insanity. The fight had looked destroy-everything-I'm-trying-to-kill-you bad, so if that's how it went down between her and her ex-husband, one could only imagine the damage or possible intent towards anyone else. Despite that, Edmund was rather calm. Could she stab him in the stomach? Possibly. He had no doubt she had the ability to. Was he going to turn around and standstill anyway? Yes. This was Felicity, gone insane or not, it was still her. Try to kill him or not, it didn't change anything. ....yeah, he was definitely insane. But he'd rather have her as a friend losing her mind than not have her at all. She gave off a strong tobacco smell, and he almost wouldn't be too surprised if she had been living it up abroad where the drinking age was probably lower. Those were the fastest ways to get rid of feelings: tobacco and alcohol. He knew; he had done the alcohol method once, shortly after she died. It hadn't gone so well with him. After a combination of an overhang and nearly spilling everything (including that he really but really wasn't a traitor), he had decided never to get that wasted again; but it was easy to see how it could get so addicting. Instead of alcohol, he had gotten addicted to forging and solitude. He gave his head a slight tilt. "Wouldn't it be reverse culture shock since you came from here first?" he asked, curiously. Warm here... "So you've come from Antartica?" he teased.  COMMENTARIUM: lol you're all good <3 VERBA: 656

[Deleted]

I Don't Know Why You Put Up With Me 

She should have expected such an answer from him and she couldn't help the fact that the corners of her lips twitched into a smirk once he turned around. Gods she had missed her best friend. No matter how many times he argued about that concept that was still what he was listed in in her book. Even before the quest family she had hung out with him and suffered through all his stubbornness. What a wonder three years could do. Then again, they kept disappearing from each other's live in stupid idiotic stunts that it made her almost wonder about how long their friendship was in terms of actually sticking in one spot. They had the quest together so they had those months being forced together but maybe in reality they only had a little over a year of friendship if you took away all the times they left the other whether willingly or not. "Oh sure, just attack my fun why don't you." She teased at him. It was like putting on a glove that was the perfect size, just slide right on, that was how talking to Edmund felt.

She did her signature move of knitting her eyebrows when he said the thing about reverse culture shock. He was right, she internally chastised herself for messing up the term. Maybe it was true, drinking alcohol did kill brain cells and gods know she needed the ones she already had for safe keeping but yet she just went willy nilly and killed them with each drink and then she clogged her arteries with each puff of a smoke. She was the prime example of a person one should look up to, not. She was perfectly fine with that too, maybe people will realize then to leave her alone. She didn't need anyone and she didn't need anyone. First step would be finally getting rid of Celso. Ever since he stumbled upon her he's stuck to her. Didn't help that the last time she had made a quick stop in new Rome to pick stuff up Remus had stumbled upon them. After some heated argument Remus had the bright idea of basically telling Celso to be Felicity's guardian. She wasn't ten, she was twenty gods dang it. She knew how to take care of herself, she could kill Celso if she wanted to. She thought about it, but it was always at night and then she would look at his sleeping face and see how peaceful he looked and she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She barely even knew the guy, but she knew she didn't like him, no matter how attractive he was. 

"Ah... true, but details, who needs them?" She said before giving a short laugh at his Antarctica joke. "At least there's penguins there. And snow, gods, I mean, would it kill the west coast to snow sometimes? How the hell am I suppose to sing "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" to you without it? Ruining my Frozen vibe." She teased at him, being sarcastic, as per usual. But she did love snow and playing in it, she was the one who started the snowball fight with the quest team, granted they all ended up getting sick but it was so worth it. She shook her head after a moment though. "Italy, actually. I was going to bounce around but some guy found me unconscious in an alley and took me to his place and now I can't shake him away from me. I mean, he's attractive so I guess it could be worse." Felicity said with a shrug, acting like the fact some random guy took her in while in an impaired state was no big deal whatsoever. 

Words: 648 | edmundsimons   |  hehe Fedmund for all the win 
_{By: Jackie}

[Deleted]

i have been -and always shall be- your f r i e n d  Well, she didn't attack him. On the contrary, she seemed happy to see him and eager for banter. He supposed that was a good sign. Not that he'd do much if she lunge at him, anyway. He had let a group of strangers beat him seven ways from Sunday. If he had let that go without an ounce of reciprocation, what do you think he'd do if his best friend decided she wanted to attack? That's right: nothing. Just take it like he deserved. Besides, he'd rather a friend kill him than an enemy. Messed up? A bit. But it was Ed. Messed up was his middle name and around the center of everything he did. Edmund returned Felicity's smirk; easily falling back into their natural banter. It happened this way before too; after she had come back from the dead. They just went straight on teasing each other like nothing had happened. In a way they needed it; like a ballon tether or an anchor. If all else went to hell, know that at least I have a constant relationship with someone who will snark me to death. And it didn't change. Time and multiple leavings had proved it. Tease the Mickey out of each other to mask their own problems. That's how this worked, right? Yup... that about summed it up. But at the same time, if he had to break down in front of anyone, Felicity would probably be on the top of his list to do it in front of  than anyone else. He wondered if she actually knew where she stood in her relationship to him. Sure, he still scoffed and rolled his eyes whenever 'friend' was brought up, but that was more for show and consistency. He had actually thought her quite interesting from the day he met her. Just him being him... well, he supposed he just had to come to terms with it. At the time it was so normal just to consider her as yet another nuisance in his life. Yet now that he thought about it, he probably started considering her his friend after seeing her a few times. She had been fine with his attitude and kept up with his snark rather well. She had never made a big deal about him and his apparent lack of feelings. He'd probably tell her where she actually stood with him. One day. Hopefully before either of them died of stupidity. Perhaps she already knew, but in the case she didn't... "Ah, Weingarten, I attack all forms of enjoyment. Surely you'd know that's what I do!" he said, lightly putting his hand over his chest in feigned shock. Another thing about Felicity... he didn't mind being a bit ridiculous around her for some reason or other. Yes, Edmund could be quite ridiculous if he wanted to be. He used to have rather high spirits before his life burned down around him; some of that came back every now and again around the Rogers and Felicity. Plus, it just fit into their constant teasing of each other. "They are nothing in the grand scheme of things," he waved it off with a slight laugh. Details. Pft. Who needed those. Big picture. Keep it in perspective.Then he actually laughed at her snow rant. It was true. He hadn't seen snow in a long time. "True... there'd be penguin sledding there," he smirked. "Do I have to build a snowman?" he asked in a teasing whine. "I mean... they're so below my skill level," he sighed in exaggeration. Although, he did remember that she liked playing in snow; per his cold he got after she incited a snow day during the quest. "Yeah, no. That snow ambition? I think you need to just.... Let It Go." Italy... that's where she had been last time with Apollo, right? He was going to ask how it had been until she continued. He blinked at her in disbelief, something twisting in his stomach. "So you're letting him live because he's attractive?!" he asked, his voice rising and his eyes going from teasing to glaring. Well, there went their famous mood shift. COMMENTARIUM: <4444 VERBA: 690

[Deleted]

I Don't Know Why You Put Up With Me 

She smirked. "A snowman below your skill level? Have you seen your latest work?" Was that hitting maybe a little too close to home, probably. Did she care? No, not really. If he looked hurt she'd just think he had gone weak anyway. Though his sarcasm level was still up to par and his comebacks were still good. She couldn't help but laugh a little at his own frozen reference. She wondered how he had gone about seeing it. Whether or not he was forced to watch it or he watched it willingly. Even if he had done it willingly he probably would never admit to it. 

Then came his next comment. She grimaced some. She had never said she hadn't killed him yet because he was attractive. True, it was implied but still, why was he getting this way? He was legit glaring. What was he going to do? Yell at her? Because obviously his yelling at her was so effective. Like when he yelled at her for leaving this time, did she come back? Nope. She rolled her eyes. "And what if I am? He's attractive to look at and I have needs you know." She said with annoyance in her voice before she remembered how Celso pretty much choked on his wine when she suggested the idea. "Kidding...kind of. When I offered to get him away he denied." She said with a shrug. Wow, she was totally giving this guy such a good rep with her best friend. A+ job really. They're going to meet up and have absolutely no issue with the other. Though that was a funny though, them ever meeting up, like Felicity cared about the guy or something and was going to introduce him to people. No, she'd rather introduce him to the door of her life and then kick him out of it. 

She huffed and looked around. "Look, if you're going to yell at me can I at least steal a drink or bum a smoke off someone so that listening to your high pitched yelling voice is a bit more bearable." She might as well wore a neon sign with an arrow pointed to her face that said, Edmund, punch me here. But really, she couldn't help it, she wasn't thinking and it was like all her sense of empathy was gone. And she had pushed Remus away, next on the list was Edmund if you thought about it practically. Sure, things might have been easier with her ex now but that was just on the surface. If one were to look inside they'd see that everything was still a mess with her. Blame it on Edmunds dear old grandma for that one. There was always flickers of the old Felicity but that's all it seemed it was. Maybe she was in there again, but she just seemed to give up besides it was true what people said, being bad was so much more fun. 

Words: 518 | edmundsimons   |  shorter, I'm sorry, she's being moody
_{By: Jackie}

[Deleted]

i don't have to i m a g i n e ( i k n o w ) She was probably wondering how in hell someone like him knew Frozen references, particularly the songs. It just so happened it was because of all the kids in New Rome. They'd bring their Elsa dolls to him because it either fell down the stairs or it got thrown to hard or the dog chewed it or whatever. And he'd fix them. He soon noticed what a mistake that was. Singing dolls... ugh. Who ever thought it was a good idea to let kids's toys talk? If he had to listen to one more broken record (literally) of "Let it Go" or "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman", he was going to wreck it further instead of fix it. Of course, he kidded, but some parents probably still either destroyed the toy or threw it out after learning their child had taken it to a convicted traitor to get it fixed. Like he was going to put in an explosive or brain washing device. Puh-leaze, that was so Third Titan War. The making explosives in little toy like things that was. He had never made a brain washer; would that even be possible? Possibly... maybe if it gave off radiation that somehow changed how the mind thought. Huh, interesting to give a try. "Yes, I have actually. You didn't though, because you left," he quipped back easily. Passive aggressive low blows, not that he was surprised much. He had learned not to develop a full concept of anyone, ever; people were as changeable as the seasons. A stable personality? Pft, please. To an extent, sure, but different situations, different people; you couldn't expect them to act the same every single day to every single thing. He raised his eyebrows slightly "Uh-huh," he commented dryly. He never understood those sort of 'needs' since, quite frankly, he had never had them. He was sure most people did; it was obviously the case since a lot of people found significant others and settled down; very obvious since Felicity didn't kill him because of 'good looks'. "Offered to get away?! You don't offer, you push. Or kill. Whichever resonates better." Now that he thought about that statement, it actually pertained quite well to his life. More the pushing away than the killing. Still, this was unsettling him; as much as he knew that Felicity could handle herself, there was a part of him that just wanted her to kill the damn guy; either that, or chase him off himself. Felicity's choice of introduction and diction wasn't doing the stranger any favors. "No. You're going to listen to me without your recent choices of anesthesia," he snapped angrily, feeling his fist start to curl. He almost felt as if his mindless discord that he usually sent off to people in waves was getting redirected into himself. Of course, that was how he felt all the time, but this time it was much stronger feeling. Was she going to listen to him? Probably not. Did anyone at the Legion ever really listen when someone was yelling at them? No, not really; not unless they were really young and naive. After that, yelling was just a part of every day life. With people like him and Felicity, yelling never did anything... yet here he was, semi-yelling at her. Of course he should know that it wouldn't work, but hypocrite him in his anger borne of worry state... "Look, I know you can take care of yourself. But I may strangle him anyway," he snarled. "You could have been hurt or put yourself in danger!" Oops. That wasn't supposed to come out... "Even more so than usual, you friggin idiot!" he added (after a very slight pause) to cover up. His mouth stayed partly open, but then he snapped it shut, almost continuing with something that he didn't want to say. COMMENTARIUM: You're all good ^-^ I'd say sorry for that gif choice, but am I really? ....nah VERBA: 642

[Deleted]

I Don't Know Why You Put Up With Me 

She smirked ever so slightly at the quip. He still knew how to fire back shots it seemed. Then she just rolled her eyes and shook her head. He didn't get it. She really didn't care at this point, she didn't care what happened to her who did what to her or even if she died. It didn't matter anymore, none of it did. She couldn't feel anything anymore. She could kill someone and just look at them and shrug it off, she didn't feel empathy for it anymore, she had gone numb. Why didn't he get that? He pretended like that was his life for the longest time, he should be able to relate to it in some way or form, why wasn't her getting it? 

"That takes far too much work, Ed. You should know that. Decided to take the lazy way out." She said dryly, giving  a shrug. She watched as her friend did something she hadn't seen him do all too often. Show signs of anger. He usually kept himself with the best poker face in the books. Seriously, if you need to take someone gambling, take Ed because no one would know what he was thinking or what he had because his face would give absolutely nothing away. She needed to learn that skill from him one day, that was if he didn't end up punching the living daylights out of her at the current moment. 

She gave a long annoyed sigh. "I don't care anymore! Okay?! I don't. Let me get hurt, let me be in danger. For gods sake, just let me die!" Felicity found herself saying to him in an almost tired manner, where she was basically pleading. She didn't know where it came from. Why of all people she would admit those feelings to Edmund. He didn't need to carry her burden, this was her problem, not his. She messed it, not him. She had to live with it, not him. She ran a hand through her hair and looked around nervously. She needed to get away, this was a bad decision, she never should have offered to meet up with him she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that something bad like this would happen if they did. 

Words: 401 | edmundsimons   |  so short, I'm so sorry
_{By: Jackie}

[Deleted]

is there anything you would not do for  f a m i l y ? She seemed so numb to it all... oh, yes. Dejavu. Himself. Not that he didn't still feel like that every once in a while on really bad days. The days where he didn't even want to get up or put an effort into living. Where he'd be content with someone stabbing him through the stomach again and not surviving like he had during the war. Before, it had been much worse. He just... didn't see the point in living. Before that, it had been very much a part of his personality: living a facade rather than really living as himself. As a Roman soldier, what good did emotions, empathy, and sympathy get you? Near to none: only grief when people died around you or got captured. So, he had made the only logical move: denied them and pretended they had no place in his life. Of course, over time, that revealed to not be the case (unfortunately for him, sometimes). He had learned that having a family could be worth it the emotions: pain, leavings, death, and all. But that didn't mean that sometimes he didn't swing back into numbness or denial of emotions. Putting distance between himself and then, gods forbid something should happen. Putting the mask on was way too easy, old habits (especially well maintained ones for around nine years) died hard. Sometimes it wasn't even the mask. Sometimes he felt legitimately numb, like when Rhia died. Ugh, if he ever found Discordia, he was going to run her through with something that could kill immortals... Ah, yes... his old spark. He sometimes forgot what it felt like to be this angry at the gods; he had shifted to being indifferent a while ago, but certain situations would spark up the old fire in his eyes. The Old Edmund that had died ages ago: during the war. At least Orthys had given him time (and practicality) to perfect his poker face. Ever since then, he had rarely slipped up in portraying his emotions on his face. Well, that went out the window: he wasn't sure if he was angry with her, frustrated, hurt, worried... stupid emotions. Probably all of the above. But him being him... it came out as frustrated anger. "There's no time to be lazy when you're life's on the line!" he snapped at her. Okay, deep breath... she probably didn't need this now... she had lots of other stuff on her plate. Besides, he got most of it out of his system. For a moment, after his first tirade, he had considered swinging at her for a second, but then restrained himself. It wouldn't really help anything. His yelling probably wasn't doing any good either. Then again, what good did Edmund ever really do? Edmund looked at her, a small frown flickering onto his face. Perhaps he didn't understand everything she was going through, but he did understand some elements and aftermaths of it. Not caring. Being numb enough to accept death. Possibly just wanting to get hurt because that's what they thought they deserved. So, he did what he had wanted someone to do back then, but had been too in denial and stubborn about it. Lyn had done it, but she really didn't know to what extent he was out of it (or wanted out of it). Maybe it was a dumb move, but hey, it was Edmund Simons. People (especially Felicity) should expect dumb, reckless decisions. He stepped forward, and hugged her. Just as she had done when they had reunited, he left his arms loose enough for her to either back or push away if she wanted. "You've died one too many times on me. So no." He paused slightly "You're in a perfect position to stab me now, if you want," he said softly, only very mildly joking. COMMENTARIUM: Haha no worries! VERBA: 639