Tell Me a Secret (Kevin)

[issa]

Standing on the bridge overlooking the Little Tiber, a strange warmth blossomed in Issa’s chest where a feeling of cool indifference had existed before. Certainly she had a soft spot for friends, but in one fell swoop, Issa was being changed, if only a little, by remaining near the icy boy who was presently coming towards her from the direction of camp. He was, quite possibly, one of the nicest guys she’d ever met that she thought it might be safe to indulge in… thoughts of more than being friends. When his lips met her cheek sometime earlier, it made her feel even warmer, and she knew her face was as scarlet as a tomato. But for once, she didn’t want to run away from her embarrassment. She wanted to stay and see if she could stand to survive it and learn how to become comfortable around Kevin. Sure she was still a bit weary of boys in general. But in the years Issa had been there, she’d surely become something of a new person, and the winds around them were doing a little breezy dance. She had to scoff just a little at that; she was sure she’d hear the rumors dancing on the winds later.

She became brave enough to look up at Kevin and smile as he approached, if a bit mischeviously. “I, uh, appreciated that favor from earlier.” She shuffled her position a little bit where she was standing, leaning back against the railing. She was feeling a little stiff from standing and thinking in one attitude for so long but up until then, Issa’d really barely noticed. After adjusting a little bit to a comfortable pose, she settled again and started toying with the rail, flicking it absently as she thought of something to talk about. She thought it couldn’t hurt to make small conversation; she wanted to know more about him, and hoped he might feel similarly. It took a little while for her to build up the courage to open her mouth again because the wind was so soothing and she was content just to stay as she was for once, but she kept feeling like she better say something as the silence stretched.

Finally she blurted, “So, tell me something about you. Like, um… Maybe your favorite color. And animal. And…” She thought for a moment for something interesting to ask about, something that might give her more insight into his personality so she wouldn’t have to ask him straight out. Maybe… “How about a favorite childhood memory?” As she had asked it, she found herself suddenly nervous again, because she was aware that sometimes childhood was an indisputably difficult time for a young demigod. But surely he’d have a good memory to relate?

Word Count: 465

[kevin]

Kevin remembered not long before, he had been talking to Issa, and they shared a genuinely happy moment. She even kissed his cheek, an action that likely made him blush a brighter red than a strawberry. He happily returned the favor by giving her a kiss on the cheek as well. It made him happy to see such a reaction, the blush on her cheeks. While he didn't particularly want to embarrass her or anything, he was happy that she must feel at least a little similarly to him. He was no longer thinking that maybe he liked her a little too much, or that he was the only one crushing in this situation. He could feel a genuine vibe that she enjoyed his company, and that similar feelings were welling up inside her as to the ones growing inside him. Perhaps, the thoughts he had of her becoming something more than a friend were not only possible, but likely. At the very least, he could hope. He saw her standing on a bridge, overlooking the little Tiber. He approached and stopped next to her, smiling at her as he leaned slightly onto the rail, looking into the water. She appeared to be unsure of what to say, a feeling he was battling with as well. She mentioned what had transpired a while ago, causing him to grin and chuckle a little. "I'm glad you liked it." His smile remained as averted his gaze, and of course, his mind wandered. He found himself wondering about potential futures, about what could happen. Not only the good things, but the bad as well. The life of a demigod is a dangerous one. You never knew when something terrible could happen and you could become seriously hurt. Regardless, he always had a powerful urge to protect those he cared for, and this typically involved the whole camp. But in this case, his desire to protect was significantly stronger. What lengths would he go to, in order to keep her safe? He mentally asked this question, and could find no answer.

He was glad when she finally spoke up again, asking him a simple question. He could tell she was merely breaking the silence, since it was getting a little awkward no doubt. "Hmm? My favorite color?"He asked softly, making sure he heard her correctly. He smiled to her, his eyes a bright icy blue. The light of the sun reflected off his irises, giving them a strange prism effect. They sometimes seemed to resemble snowflakes, to the extent that they both appeared slightly different. "I would have to say white or light blue. As for animals, I am particularly fond of sharks." He spoke slowly and softly, as always, his eyes meeting hers as he spoke. Of course, as the animal part came out, he chuckled. Most people would find that a strange choice, but he had his reasons. "I imagine you wonder why sharks." He said with another chuckle, nodding slightly.

"Truth be told, I admire them greatly. They are so different from species to species, but they are all misunderstood. They are made to be thought of as man-eaters and monsters simply because their mannerisms are misunderstood, and they, like all creatures, make mistakes. They are powerful, cunning, proud, and above all, misunderstood." As he spoke, one would be able to tell that he feels a kinship with the creatures. He had grown up being considered different by all of those around him, and for demigods, it was common. But he felt it especially. Maybe it was because people expected him to be cold and aggressive, just like people expect sharks to be. He always wanted people to understand that he wasn't guaranteed to be violent, in fact, he spent most of his time shunning violence, wanting to stray from the judgment. Of course, his thoughts drifted again."I remember something my father said to me once when I was young. As clearly as if he had just told me yesterday." As he spoke, his voice dropped slightly, and his voice actually caught in the middle of the part about his father. He looked to her intently again, staring deeply into her eyes. He could feel something strange when he looked into her eyes, a strange sensation that he couldn't explain. It was always like he had a block of ice around his heart that prevented him from getting too close to people, that kept anyone from understanding him. That loner nature, he supposed. It felt as though when she was looking at him, the block was melting, and someone was actually getting through. This frightened him a little, but at the same time, he welcomed it.

"He said...The shark, it has tears, and they stream down its face. But the shark lives in the ocean, so no one can see its tears. In the depths, it is lonely, and so many a tear flows. That is why the water in the seas is salty." He spoke very clearly, his voice taking a slightly deeper tone as he spoke, making him sound more adult than when he usually spoke, but in a way, it also sounded pained. This poem had always touched him, and he supposed because it was his father, that was all the more important. He paused for a moment."As for your other question, a childhood memory? I suppose the best one would be when I was eight years old. It was the middle of winter, I was still living with my father at that point. We were talking in my room about the troubles I had. He was sick and I knew he was, no matter how much he tried to hide it. I was upset and I asked him about my mother, a thought that always pained him. He again told me the story of how they met and how he had fallen in love. How she disappeared again not long after she left me with him at his door step. He said that there was a ring on a chain around my neck when he found me there, and he had kept it. He decided it was time for me to finally have it, and gave it to me. It was the most beautiful gem I had ever seen. It was always cold to the touch, and, I remember there was a message engraved on it. I can't remember for the life of me what it said."As he spoke, he touched his chest, a spot where a necklace would likely be if he had been wearing one, imitating as if he were gripping an object before looking back to her. "Anyway, he gave it to me and told me that no matter what the future held, he would always be proud of me, and that as long as I had that ring, he would always be there with me, as would my mother."He said somewhat happily, like he was lost in his memories. He looked to her with a bright smile, his happiness seeming to flood back into his eyes as he looked to her. "A couple years ago, during a battle, it was cut from my neck and taken. I haven't seen it since." He said softly. But, instead of the sadness from before, he still seemed happy, just to be looking at her. He supposed even after losing that, at least now, he had something better than an old trinket from his mother. He had a genuine friend, and who knows, maybe some day she could be more than that."You, Issa, I would rather have around over a trinket any day." He said in a whisper, not realizing he had spoken out loud. He was glancing at the ground as he spoke the last bit, apparently lost in his thoughts yet again.

Note: 1351
(Hope this is okay lol)

[issa]

Issa was feeling fidgety as Kevin’s eyes left hers to lose themselves somewhere she wasn’t looking. She noticed that they were facing opposite directions, he towards the river, she with her back to it. It gave her mind time to disengage itself from the dance of anxiety she was feeling. It was something she didn’t quite understand except as vulnerability, and it was something a Roman didn’t like to feel. But she’d feel it anyway. In some way, she almost thought she could feel his thoughts focused on her and for the second time, she felt her cheeks heat.

When he turned to answer her questions, her breath caught as she saw his eyes, stunningly colored that she felt completely entranced, unable to look away. Once she was finally free of them, she’d finally registered that one, she’d almost missed what he’d said; and two, her mouth was hanging open. She shut it with a click and forced herself to look away. My god this boy has dangerous eyes. She gathered her mind again and looked back over at him as he continued, not meeting his eyes but nodding. When he’d said shark, she’d opened her mouth to ask exactly what he knew she would. She shut it again and listened as he explained his feelings for sharks, which by the end of it had made her lips purse and her eyebrows knit together in concern, but she nodded in understanding. She opened her mouth once more to say something, but she closed it again as he began his memory. She hoped at this point she didn’t look some kind of weird fish.

By the time he’d finished that one, she was somewhat stunned into silence. A strong wind picked up for a few and her hair whipped around, and when she looked back up at him, her eyes were sad and stormy. “I… I mean…” She rubbed the back of her head, unsure of how to respond to what he’d just told her except with sadness, and the strange urge to find the person or thing that had taken his only treasure from his parents and strangle them- perhaps take the oxygen from their lungs, or blow them off a cliff. But her violent imaginings ground to a halt as she heard his quiet comment about her. Startled, she blushed furiously, staring at him for a measure of time.

Finally, she cleared her throat and looked away, back up to the sky. The storminess ebbed from her eyes and left them solemn as she watched the clouds move. “I… Suppose it’s only fair for me to tell you the same three things about me, although you didn’t ask.” She looked back over at him out of the corner of her eyes. “My favorite color is the same as the green in the trees over there. It reminds me of life, fragile as it might be.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back, sighing. “My favorite animal is the hawk,” she mused, “Although it’s related to Jupiter’s eagle, it’s so beautiful to see fly. He catches the wind up and up and up, astute, free, and savage. He depends upon no one else to live. I remember when I was little, I sometimes used to go out just to see the one that nested in our yard. He landed at my feet once and stared at me and you’d swear he was trying to tell me something.” She smiled wryly, knowing that she was starting to ramble like crazy.

“And… My memory.” She looked at him, the sadness coming back for a moment. “It’s so strange, I sometimes wonder if I just made it up. But I remember it so vividly… Once, I’m sure I must have been very small, I remember seeing my mother and my father together. They were talking to eachother and I remember seeing both pairs of eyes, his were golden-brown like the summer, and my mother’s were grey-green. And there was so much love there, that when I think of what a family is supposed to be like, I think of them. I suppose I wonder what it would have been like if we had been a human family.” She looked over at Kevin at this point, her eyes becoming much gentler. “And yet, I’d never give up the people I have here.” She caught his gaze again.

Word count: 733
.oO(Shorter, i know, but i hope it's okay!)

[kevin]

Kevin realized that he likely just served to dampen her spirits with his sad story. He let out a soft sigh after he finished speaking and observed her reaction. He turned, his back now to the rail, leaning back against it. "I'm sorry if I upset you, Issa. I certainly didn't mean to." He looked to her with a look of sadness. He was happy when she began talking of her own favorite color and animals. The color green and her description both seemed quite fitting. As well as the hawk as her favorite animal. They made a lot of sense with her. She had the kind of personality that was befitting of a creature that represented a freedom and primal force of nature. A graceful and beautiful creature, that could be deadly when it had need to be. Yes, that could easily describe a woman like Issa. She was certainly beautiful to look at, and he knew, looking into her eyes, she was a force to be reckoned with as well. It was at this time that he realized he had been gazing at her, looking over her features, but his eyes had remained on her face, taking in each feature of her expression as she spoke. It seemed every little aspect of her made him want to pay attention, demanded his attention, even. Yes, she was beautiful. Watching the wind blow her hair about, catching slightly in her face made him want to brush her hair behind her ear, just for a chance to touch her. He knew he would be able to feel something from the softness of her skin, a sense of electricity running through him. His mind was bombarded with images of himself caressing her cheek, embracing her, and yes, at one point, even kissing her. His gaze faltered, lowering to his feet again as he shook the thoughts away.

He had fortunately managed to hear everything she said, and even process all of the information. It only took him a couple of moments to think of a decent response. He looked to her with a smile, turning to face her. "It makes me happy to know that such a memory is even possible for a demigod. Many of us don't have the fortune of witnessing such a thing. I'm glad you were able to." He said kindly, taking a small step toward her, looking into her eyes. They couldn't have been more than about a foot apart now. He felt comfortable being this close to her, particularly the way the wind had seemed to calm again, it almost seemed to swirl about them, the gentle breezes carrying his nearly whispered words again. He gazed deeply into her eyes, his thoughts again swirling about in his minds. "The concept of family, is a wonderful thing. Finding new family to add to the old, giving us opportunities to grow with our loved ones. To add more loved ones to the group with each new friend, and more importantly, allow us to create the most important bonds of all. Like love." He spoke barely above a whisper, as he usually did when he got more serious, or simply more emotional in his manner of speech. His voice dropped at the finally couple words, his smile changing from a simply one of happiness, to one of a caring person. The way one smiles to someone as if to assure them that everything would be okay.

Almost subconsciously, he slowly reached out, touching her hand and taking it into his. He could feel the softness of her skin, just as he had imagined it. "We wouldn't give you up for anything either. We are your family, Issa, and we are happily so. I myself cannot think of a single place I would rather be, than here with you." He said with the most powerful sense of happiness he thought he could ever feel. It was something about her eyes, the look of certainty, and yet, of a similar longing that he himself felt. Maybe it was for family, or maybe it was just for her. He wasn't sure, but it was strong enough to make him question his own actions, and his own thoughts. Were they wrong? Was it wrong of him to feel this way for her? Was it wrong of him to act on these feelings? He found that at that moment, holding her hand, he didn't care. Not in the slightest, in truth. If it was wrong, then he would gladly be wrong, and if he needed to be punished for it, he would accept it gladly. It felt right, and that was what mattered. The visions from before came back into his mind, more vibrant than before. He was able to contain himself, prevent himself from acting on these desires, as much as he wanted to. Simply out of fear that she would react negatively. But then...

No...he couldn't be like that. Don't live in fear, live with no regrets. Even if he offended her, at least he would know the truth of it. At least he would know that he did what he felt was right. His free hand, his right in this case, rose up slowly, the wind seemed to pick up slightly as he moved. The world around him seemed to slow down, his eyes still on hers. His hand finally reached its destination, brushing a bit of her hair behind her ear. His fingers gently caressed her left cheek as he did so. He could feel a new sensation, he could feel his heart thudding in his chest, like a drum. The world stood still around him, aside from the wind around them, and the beating of his heart, all sound had faded. There was only the two of them, and the wind. His expression softened, taking on a look that he had never before made. A look of need, not desire. An expression that was as if to say he was looking at the most precious thing in his life, and his eyes shone brightly as his gaze was still locked on hers. He was at a loss for words. His lips moved ever so slightly, as if he were trying to form words that he couldn't express.

Note: 1059
(Sorry about the length)

[issa]

The wind picked up a little bit around the bridge again and sent Issa’s hair afloat again, but she barely noticed. She registered Kevin’s apology and looked back over at him, shaking her head. “Please don’t apologize. I’m not upset. Just… Sad. That you feel misunderstood, and that your happiest memory is one so sad. But in a way, it isn’t so different from mine. The most vibrant part is always the eyes in the image, and eyes always remind me of gemstones, reflecting the purest colors when caught in the right light. A little like yours, I guess.” She swallowed after she’d said that and averted her gaze again as he did, constantly feeling her nerves reacting to him like live wires. She bit her lip as she again considered her embarrassment, her knowing that she was unaccustomed to being paid so much attention to in such a way. She could feel every beat of her heart as it sped, knew her breathing picked up when she tried to focus on the boy who stood next to her. It was strange.

She continued to stare at a spot across the bridge as he spoke again but this time she managed a smile before she replied, “I suppose I am one of the lucky ones. My father doesn’t have that many children by godly standards, or so I’ve heard, so my mother told me he wanted to see me at least once when I was a baby. It was one of the only times I ever saw him though, except the time he came to tell my mother he had to take me away. To bring me here.” She frowned and her eyebrows knit as if she were reliving a bad memory. She saw him move closer to her out of the corner of her eye and looked back up at him, still trying somewhat to avoid eye contact. The scariest thing about the precipice that they were walking towards was that his eyes could draw her that much closer to it and she had no control. But she couldn’t avoid it when he talked about family. About love. She swallowed hard before she replied. “That’s true. Maybe I had to leave one home, but it made me open my heart to more possibilities. To the idea that… Love… Might happen. Even though I admit, I don’t necessarily know what that entails.”

She couldn’t contain her gasp when she felt his hand take hers and she looked down at them, their fingers interlocked. His hands were cool, almost cold against hers even. She supposed that was to be expected, given who his mother was. She subconsciously rubbed his hand with her thumb, considering the same things he was. Was it moving too fast? Could she accept the way she felt right now about him? She knew he would expect an answer from her soon enough, but she found she didn’t want to let go of his hand. Something stirred in her mind, and she realized it might be what exactly it felt like to care for someone so deeply. But she also found that she wanted more time just to get to know him and understand him. She brought her gaze back up again in time for him to move his hand to her face.

This time her eyes widened as a jolt of tangible electricity moved between his fingers and her face, and as he drew them down with her hair, she felt the path of fire it left in their wake. She realized soon after that she was trembling, her muscles taunt as a bow. He was looking at her, his eyes so deep that it didn’t take her long to realize what he was thinking, what he wanted… But she didn’t know what to do. Time indeed seemed to slow down and there was an eternity of silence between them. Her eyes left his and moved to his lips as she was sure his had done several times and she swallowed as his face came closer. She wondered if she could do it, if she could throw her caution to the wind, as they say, but… warning and embarrassment got the better of her. Her cheeks flushed again, the pressure almost unbearable and instead, she quickly ducked her head and put her face against his shirt to hide it. “J-je suis desolee. I mean... I'm sorry. I just… I like you. I do.” She felt her cheeks heat even more and didn’t realize that at this point, her emotions were beginning to elicit a reaction with the river beneath them, building fog that billowed out from beneath the bridge like it was produced by a machine. It rose and started to cover the bridge itself as well like a blanket. “I just need to adjust. To get comfortable with you. You know? There are friends, and then there’s… us.” She was so embarrassed right now she wanted to die, and she hoped he wasn’t so disappointed with feelings that he’d just leave her on the bridge.

Word count: 846
Notes: .oO( Oh boy, Issa's all in a tizzy)

[kevin]

Kevin listened intently to her words as she spoke. He found himself enthralled by both her eyes and her voice. Something about them made him never want to turn away, to just gaze upon her and listen to her forever. Every time she averted her gaze after saying something, it amused him a little. He could understand a great deal of what she was feeling. When he took her hand, he noticed her gasp. It worried him a little bit for a moment, but then he could feel her thumb pressing against his hand. The feeling sent another surge of electricity through him, his heart quickening more. As her eyes widened, his eyes gazed deeply into hers. He was trying to understand what was running through her mind, gauge her reaction. She seemed to be caught in a moment of severe uncertainty. He was suddenly getting the feeling he was pushing her too far, and he was indeed moving too quickly for her to handle. It was just too much, it seemed. Of course, this impression only deepened when she lowered her head and pressed it to his chest. It wasn't something that bothered him, in fact, he wasn't even disappointed. He was actually surprised that she had allowed him to do what he had without drawing away, particularly since instead of pulling away, she did what she did. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't deny his feelings for her, but he did feel a slight bit of sadness. Not because of how she reacted, but because of how embarrassed he had no doubt made her feel. He slowly withdrew his hand, instead, wrapping his arms around her waist as gently as possible, lightly resting his head on hers, embracing her in a light hug. His eyes closed as he took in the moment, before softly whispering to her. "No, I am sorry. It was wrong of me to push this onto you. I am glad you like me, you can no doubt tell the feeling is mutual." He spoke very softly, a smile forming on his face.

He pulled back slowly, looking down at her, hoping to meet her eyes. "I do not mean to rush you, Issa, nor do I expect anything particular. But, I will say that I am happy to have you around. I hope I didn't offend you too harshly." He said happily to her, although his voice dropped a bit at the last sentence, his eyes losing a bit of their shine as the intense moment was seeming to pass. His heart rate had slowed, and he could feel the normalcy of the situation returning. He would be lying to himself if he said that he didn't hope to have more moments like this in the future, only under much less embarrassing and much more comfortable circumstances. He truly did feel kind of bad for putting her in such a situation. But, it really was the only way to know for certain how she felt, and how much she felt toward him. He was, in truth, satisfied with the results. She did like him, but it was going to take time for her to understand her own feelings, much less his. He would be willing to wait for her, of course. As long as she needed to understand, and whatever her decision in the end, he would support her. Even if her choice was to simply be friends, he would still have a very good friend by his side. It was, in his eyes at least, a win-win situation. Something that wasn't common in their lives as demigods. He took a step back, his arms crossing in front of him as he looked to her, a smile still on his face. Yes, he would take this as a sign, and he would wait. A sudden chuckle sounded as a thought crossed his mind. "Oh, and uh, thank you for not freaking out and slapping me or something." He said with a quiet laugh, looking down at the bridge below them nervously. It was just then that he had realized the minor amounts of fog that had been forming. No doubt due to her anxiety. His smile widened at this. He supposed that maybe he wasn't the only demigod there who's powers reacted to their emotions. He wasn't sure what to do at this point, since the awkwardness of that moment passed, just to bring the awkwardness of this one, where he was standing there like a buffoon who had just asked a girl to prom and been turned down. No, this wasn't really like that, it was quite different. It was more like a maybe in that regard. A thought that brought another chuckle. Perhaps he should let her be alone with her thoughts? He would wait to see what she was thinking first.

Note: 831
(Hope this is okay. Try to ease up the tension. lol)

[issa]

Embarrassed as she was, Issa also found herself sighing in frustration against him. Sure, it wasn’t that she didn’t like him, but she had grown up cautious. Not that she thought Kevin would hurt her, but she didn’t want to rush. She just wanted to get to know him without things getting in the way so that she was certain she wanted something more than just being friends. She silently sorted through her feelings while her face was still against his chest. She relaxed a bit though as his arms came around her and once more she sighed, but more as a gesture of relief as she decided just to drop her anxiety for a moment. She could accept a hug, but she still wasn’t sure how to deal with being snared by those blue eyes. It was hard for her to look back at them without feeling like she was being sucked in and she supposed it shouldn’t surprise her that it sort of bothered her. Wind didn’t like to be trapped, and that side of her rebelled against it. How silly the mind can be, she thought.

When Kevin spoke she almost jumped out of her skin, her eyes flying open but remaining fixed on his shirt. At that point she pulled back to look at him, a wry smile coming across her lips as her mood shifted into a cheeky lightness, her way of pulling herself back from thinking too much about something. “Indeed, I can definitely tell. And… I’m glad. Ah la vache… You make it sound like you tried to take liberties or something. Don’t worry about it so much,” she said with a light tone, meeting his eyes evenly, knowing that her own must still be a little stormy. “And don’t misunderstand. I’m not rejecting you. I just want to take it slow at first. I know we’ve known each other for a while now, but we’ve only just started talking, you know? I want to be sure. And I want you to be sure.” Her eyes turned sharp as she’d said the last bit. “I can almost hear you thinking you are. But even then, love is never easy. I’m sure either one of us could just ask our parents.”

She rolled her eyes at the offended remark. “Please. I’m not offended.” She turned towards the rail of the bridge and looked down, seeing the fog she’d unknowingly created in her moment of tenseness. Instead of trying to dispel it, she reached her hand out towards it and the vapor rose to meet it like a pet. She hooked her fingers into it as if it were a solid thing and pulled upwards and back towards herself, pulling the mist behind it like a sheet of fabric which she proceeded to wrap around herself like a blanket. The feeling was hard to describe, like the lightest blanket in the world wrapping itself around her. It was damp and airy at the same time and she’d fashioned it into some sort of cape. She felt instantly more secure as she’d done it and the mist beneath the bridge had all disappeared. It now billowed and curled where it met the ground but did not dissipate. When she was done, she looked back up at the boy by her side, the mischievous smile still there as she heard him comment on her reaction.

“Sure, Tu es chance. The last boy who tried to kiss me got blown across the field over that way.” She grinned, because it had been true. But it had also been some idiot who hadn’t bothered her since. She knew Kevin was almost nothing like him, but the need for surety pounded in her head like a mantra. However, as the wind blew the remnants of the tension from the moment away, she shifted and put her left hand out of the blanket of fog that remained around her and messed with it, making it into shapes. Turning towards the rail again, she looked over at him out of the corner of her eye and said, “Tell me something else about yourself if you really want me to like you,” she teased.

Word count: 702
.oO( Issa is kind of crazy, I think. xD )

[kevin]

Kevin was suddenly quite glad that she had feelings that were at least similar to his. Not only because it was calming to know that their possibilities were still there and he didn't mess up, but because she could get feisty when flustered. Which isn't all bad, but he had no desire to be tossed across a field or something similar. Especially not for just trying to express his feelings to her. No matter, what is done is done, and she only needs time. His thoughts drifted again, as they always did. The wind seemed to catch them at times and just carry them off towards some other distant topic, that typically was entirely irrelevant. He then noticed her making her fog blanket. That was really neat. Being able to manipulate the fog and force into some kind of solid form. That was quite... "Impressive." He mouth finished his thought out loud, a wide smile forming on his lips. He spoke quietly, admiring her foggy blanket. He really tried not to let things bother him, but he couldn't help but feel a little bad about his advances. She must not have disliked it, after all, he was still standing in the same spot and not hurtling through the air. He was glad that she was happy about his feelings for her.

Although, he did find her story about throwing a boy around who tried to kiss her. Who needs a father or a brother to watch over her from those boys when she has the wind on her side? Quite crafty. He was never one who had to deal much with unsubtle or even subtle advances. Every now and then, but, he typically just ignored their advances. He more often than not had no interest in them at all. Too many were too superficial or selfish. Issa, was obviously different. They were kindred spirits, and he could feel it from the moment they met. He thought for a moment before letting out a soft sigh, followed by a minor laugh. "I'm really no good at talking about myself. Is there anything you would like to know?" He asked her with the same smile. Most of the nervousness had seemed to melt away, he was definitely getting through the wall now, getting comfortable with speaking to her, and the lovely looks he could see in her eyes. "I guess I could start off simply. I was born in Ireland. Umm, I enjoy conversation with people, training, reading, poetry." He paused, really unsure of what else to say. He mentally scolded himself for not being able to really inform her of anything. Oh well, he supposed once she asked something it'd be much easier.

note: 466
(lol Sorry for the shorter post. On a limited time right now, being rushed out the door. Hope its okay.)

[issa]

The billowy vapors danced around Issa’s exposed hand and she smiled beatifically at Kevin when he’d called her antics impressive. Really, the fog was one of the best things about being the daughter of Auster because of things like this, being able to twist it and manipulate it, to use it to hide herself or others. In fact, she remembered an instance during the battle of Mt. Orthys where she’d utilized the fogginess of the mountain to confuse some of the legion of monsters and it had worked to an extent. Essentially it was harmless, but it was a wonderful tool to facilitate a unique upper hand. “Merci,” she said, coming back from her stray track of thought and leaving the mist alone to do as it pleased. “It’s one of my favorite things about being me.”

Her expression turned into an entertained grin as she decided he must be considering her comment on what happened to guys when they tried to hit on her and she didn’t like it. She knew she likely wouldn’t find any reason to do it to Kevin, but the thought was entertaining nonetheless. Aloud, she mused: “You know, I wonder what my father would think of me, fraternizing with you. A daughter of summer with a son of snow and grandchild of winter. Or perhaps your mother’s thoughts of me. Have you ever wondered about that?” Her smile took on a devious edge as she spoke, the fog about her suddenly seeming to simmer and smart.

With purpose she crossed to the opposite side of the bridge and leaned back against the rail there to get a good look at Kevin, and although her limbs were unseen beneath the mist, she had crossed her arms and one leg over the other in an attitude of lounging as he listed off vague facts about what he liked. She snorted after he was finished and one of her hands appeared under her chin as she considered him. “You’re right. You are bad at this. Ireland is interesting. But telling me you enjoy conversation and fighting is like telling me you like breathing. Now, with books and poetry… You must be one of the lucky kids who don’t have awful dyslexia to manage that. Favorite author or book? Favorite poem? Those are things that are good to talk about. Also, perhaps you should tell me something you remember about Ireland, if you remember anything. Come on, don’t guys learn this in girl-wooing school?”

She realized that she might be being a little bit unfair at the moment, but she was mostly teasing him, seeing how he would react to it, what he had to say to her. She really enjoyed talking to him, but she felt like she had to work to keep the awkward intensity of their feelings out of it if they hoped to get anywhere past feeling excruciatingly awkward, as they had just a few minutes before. Perhaps what she really wanted was to know what his sides were when he wasn’t thinking about kissing her or staring at her in that disconcerting way of his. She’d see. Her current smirk softened into an easy smile as she awaited his response.


Word count: 539
Notes: .oO( Hehehe, I like Roman Issa. And no problem, it was fine!)

[kevin]

Kevin was a little embarrassed again. She was teasing him now, and he knew that, but it didn't change the fact that he was doing awful at this whole thing. He never was any good at talking about himself. He never found much about himself interesting, particularly since aside from a few members of the camp and the times that he was required to mingle, he spent a lot of his time by himself. He just realized that he had been rather quiet for a moment, she had already finished speaking and was waiting for a response. He glanced over to her, seeing how confident and carefree she looked at the moment. He liked that. There was a good chance he could trust her with his life, he had that sense of loyalty from her. Maybe it would be okay to tell her. After all, she may actually find it interesting. Then again, telling anyone about things that the camp would frown upon could be dangerous. But then, there wasn't anyone at the camp that he felt was more trustworthy, and he had to tell someone at some point. But, he would address that after her primary statements. As his thoughts returned to her words, a slight smile crossed his lips. "I honestly hadn't thought about it much. After all, if your father had a major issue with me, I would likely have been thrown away from you as soon as I touched you. As for my mother, I doubt she cares in the slightest who I choose to be with, seeing as how she dislikes heroes in general. After all these years, I haven't had a single conversation with her." He speaks plainly as always, his accent becoming more pronounced as he seems to get more comfortable and relaxed, his posture actually slouching a bit. He looks to her, his smile broadening. "To tell you the truth though, even if my mother had a problem, she couldn't drop enough ice before me to keep me from doing what I want, and all signs point to the idea that I like you. You're father could send me a thousand miles away with a gust of wind, but if I survived, I would make it back to you." He said with a grin, his arms crossing in front of him again. He wondered suddenly if there really were classes on how to woo women, and if there were, what kind of creeps would run a class like that? He chuckled a little at his own thoughts.

He took a few steps closer to her, almost entering her personal fog bubble. He just wanted to be closer so he could speak more softly without having to worry about any potential eavesdroppers. He leaned in close to her, and spoke in a whisper. "Vous voulez entendre un secret?" A grin crossed is lips after the words escaped them. He figured this would catch her off guard, and would be a good way to start with his sort of confession. "Ever since my arrival at camp, I have spent a great deal of my down time learning, studying, practicing, and more. I have studied foreign languages and cultures, a passion of mine, as well as various martial arts, primarily eastern, also a passion." He began, his voice still low, but his smile never leaving. Although, for a moment he did glance around. "I even have been working on a schematic for an eastern style weapon I want to use. I intend on bringing it to a child of Vulcan at some point to actually create it for me, hopefully they won't ask for too much." He spoke the last bit with a chuckle. "I know that most of our comrades wouldn't like that I've been studying so much of other cultures, particularly combat styles. I've been studying parkour as well, but haven't had many opportunities to test it out, since the urban areas are typically crowded, and I have a feeling they wouldn't like this either. I'm already one of the least Roman people here, but with this, they would possibly remove me altogether." He spoke relatively quickly, although his voice was as soft as ever, and his smile had faltered slightly as the words came out. He really did worry that the other campers would shun him all the more for his unorthodox methods if they discovered them. He had done well to stick to Roman practices when in public, but he knew there would be a time when he would slip. Of course, the biggest part was yet to come. "Also, there is one other thing. I think I may know where my ring is, and I have been planning a quest to retrieve it. A decent amount of study went into this, and I feel I know exactly where it is. But it'd be difficult to get there and handle by myself. But, I had to tell somebody about this, and I feel you are the only one I can trust with it. After all, if I went to retrieve it and didn't return..." His voice faltered further at the end of his statement. He was unable to finish the statement, but his concern behind it was that if he had simply left and they didn't know where he had gone, nobody would have known, and they would likely just forget him. After all, he was the only son of Khione there, and she was a goddess that was rarely worshiped at all. His standing at camp was very minute. Would they even remember him? Dying isn't something that frightens him, but being forgotten, is a thought that terrifies him.

note: 987
(Sorry, I totally just got off on a tangent in this post, fingers kept moving and just got into it, after reading over it it seemed okay. lol Hope its fine with you.)

[issa]

Tapping the railing beneath Issa’s slight fingers as she waited for a response from Kevin, she noticed that he had momentarily gotten lost again. She felt a slight twinge at the fact that she had maybe been a little pointed in her capricious manner, but she realized that she would have rather had him acknowledge his feelings about himself in these kinds of situations than to walk in blind. Besides, anyone who could put up with her teasing when the mood possessed her was a worthy friend indeed. Her lips twitched into a smile again as he spoke, figuring that his response was going to be along the lines of what he gave. What person would want to consider being the wrath of the gods on them for who they decided to affiliate with? But it was still a legitimate question that she thought about from time to time.

“You say that, but with the amount of things going on in a god’s world, I wonder if my father will have even noticed yet. As well, they aren’t supposed to directly interfere in human affairs. But even still, it is a distinct possibility. But still…” She sighed. “I’m sorry about your mother. But if it helps, she doesn’t know what she’s missing out on. And that is pretty poetry from thy lips.” She cracked a tentative smile, considering more that the boy she was looking at reportedly spent much of his time alone. Although they were in two different cohorts, Issa lived up to the rumor that the wind hears things, and she’d heard from some of the kids in the fourth that he was a loner. Although she wasn’t crazy about the super awkward moments that came with her feelings of wanting to be there for Kevin, she admitted it to herself anyway, just as she considered that the underlying reasons for his distance might also be a factor that would be addressed between them, should anything ever come of the established feelings.

As he stepped closer, Issa automatically backed against the rail a bit, the decided to climb up to sit on it. Once she realized it was only for the guise of privacy, her hands emerged from the foggy blanket and pushed outward, sending some of the mist roiling towards the edges of the bridge. More spilled from under the bridge and fortified the existing bit, effectively deterring intruders. No one seemed to be around anyway, but it must have been something important if Kevin tried to get her attention by using her own second language. Speaking of which, once she was done with the gesture of keeping the bridge shrouded she put two fingers to her lips subtly to keep herself from correcting his grammar. She understood the sentiment well enough and she nodded just as he was beginning. She listened quietly as he spoke, pursing her lips at his declarations to prevent herself from interrupting. When he was finished with his first confession, she raised an eyebrow at him. "If I didn’t know who your mother was, and were the idea of Minerva having children not blasphemous, I would have supposed you to be her kid then, if I knew all that.” After she said that, she scoffed. “But seriously, give the people around here more credit. I don’t know why you suppose they would frown at your willingness to learn about others. Besides, the Roman Empire was built upon borrowing from the cultures of its subjects and prisoners of war. If anything, it should be considered to your credit that you considered being innovative. Also… I hate to tell you this, but Parkour is the art, effectively, of running about obstacles. Not a fighting style. But indeed, it is considered a martial art of France. You know they make surrender jokes about that, don’t you? But as ma mere used to say…’ Bien faire et laisser dire.’ ” She smiled a self-deprecating smile at that, which quickly turned ironic. “Besides, who told you the camp would kick you out? If Lupa let you in, there’s a good reason. It sounds to me like you’re more worried about being socially cast out. Which would be less of a problem if you chose to socialize. And before you say anything, I know it’s not that simple. But conceptually, it could be. The only real trouble you’d run into would be if you ran around saying things like ‘Rome sucks!’ or rejecting it because you really thought that. So don’t do that.”

At the second announcement, Issa went pale. She was silent for a good while as she let it sink in, and the wind happened to pick up again, blowing tendrils of hair behind her. “J'ai mal au Coeur. Excuse-moi.” She turned her head away, looking out through the fog and remaining silent for another period of time. “Ça ne vaut pas la peine. Ça se perd dans la nuit des temps.” Issa mumbled more to herself, but finally she composed herself and looked back at him, “Listen, are you sure? I mean, do you understand the kind of risk you are putting yourself at? And to leave the Roman camp… C'est une idée loufoque.” It was easy to tell just how agitated she’d become due to the volume of French expressions she was spouting, but she began to pace, the fog around the bridge becoming darker, more ominous. “Écoutez. I know… I know it was special to you. But is it really worth risking your life? Would your… Your father want you to go out and do that? I mean, sure, I’m flattered that you think so highly of me to tell me, and I’m glad you did! But how can I possibly let you go through with that? As my … As my friend?” Her tone was pleading now.

Word count: 969
Notes: .oO( First of all, I just gotta say, your sig is like "creepers be creepin'." Secondly, way to dampen the mood. xD )

[kevin]

Kevin suddenly wished he had focused more on his French studies than he had. A whole lot more. He knew he had said something incorrectly, but that wasn't the annoying part. The fact that he could only understand one or two words she would say at a time. Still, better than not understanding any of them, he supposed. "As for my mother, don't worry about her, most of the time, I don't either. I think with how busy a God likely is at most times, he may not even notice. Not that I'm saying your father is too busy or anything for his daughter, but, you never know. Besides, he may even like me a little." He said with a slight smirk as he glanced up at the sky, then back to her. Of course, when he started to tell her about what he did with most of his time, he felt a twinge of ignorance, and much worse than that, stupidity. It was rather foolish of him to think so little of his fellow campers, especially since what she said of Lupa accepting him was true. Of course they would still accept him, as long as he was still useful, and still loyal to them.

After telling her about his lost heirloom, and how serious she became, he felt another familiar emotion, sadness. He hadn't meant to upset her, and he certainly hadn't been trying to imply that he was going to go on a suicide mission. He just felt that perhaps if he had told her that, maybe she would see that it wasn't a lost cause. But then, maybe it was. Or, at least for now it may have been. Either way, she was right. "You're right. I'm sorry. Just forget I said anything. It was a foolish thought." He turned slowly away, his eyes deep in thought again as he glanced out over the water. The fog had changed, it had become thicker, but more than that, it had become more ominous. Almost to the point that it was a foreboding omen. That wasn't a pleasant thought either. With a soft sigh, he glanced down. He had certainly made a fool of himself today, worse than that, in front of Issa. Probably the last person he would want to see him in such a state. He didn't figure she would think any less of him for it, but still, it felt like he would rather be buried in an ice cap than in sight right now.

He looked to her again, a look of thankfulness on his face. As his eyes met hers again, it was likely one of the very few times since he had been anywhere away from his father that he felt like someone genuinely cared for his safety, and would actually be saddened by his leaving. If something were to happen to him, she would be upset. A slight smile crossed his lips again. "I appreciate your concern, though. I promise, I won't go off and do anything rash...as your friend." His smile widened slightly at the last few words, particularly since he felt that they could be something more someday, even after he made a complete fool of himself. He realized that he was still learning things about himself, even though it was through her. It just made him appreciate her company all the more. "So, would it be rude of me to ask you a little about your life before you came here?" He asked her politely. He figured it would be nice to know a little more about here, particularly since they should know each other well, especially since she was asking about him. Not to say that he wasn't genuinely curious.

Note: 659
(Yeah, my bad. lol. I could change the sig, it just seemed kinda fitting. lol)

[issa]

Agitation, they say, often reveals interesting things about people. For example, it uncovers hidden accents that have been carefully covered up by a nonregional dialect that hides heritage. Or in Issa’s case, it made her spew French like she’d just taken ipecac for verbal vomit induction. She realized that when she did it, the only people in camp who usually understood her were a few Venus kids who’d gotten that gift. But Kevin wasn’t a child of Venus, and he didn’t understand much French. Which was probably a good thing in this situation. Most of what she’d said were figures of speech anyway, so they were hard to translate at times. When she finally managed to turn the French tap off, she inhaled sharply, drawing all of the mist back towards her to completely shroud her except for her head. It honestly was a defense mechanism, making her feel safe by what it hid, keeping herself firmly present and contained by the swirling vapor, which was starting to slow the roiling and return to a more tame state, the more deep breaths she took. Finally, she was calm enough to bring her gaze level with his, her eyebrows back to lines of indifference. “Maybe he does. I suppose we may never know.” Her lips quirked into a quick smile.

She was still pensive about his proposition on what she thought was a hair-brained quest. Being the centurion for the third cohort for a while now since the one before her had retired for New Rome, she was stuck having to wield that authority responsibly and she wondered if it would be ethical to encourage that kind of thinking at all. Even though Kevin wasn’t in her cohort, she knew she had a responsibility to keep him safe and in line, but of course they had already established that her feelings were more than just duty-bound. And it made it seem all the more imperative that she keep him from harm, however she could and however she had to. Yet, she didn’t want him to resent her for preventing him from going after something so important to him. So she was a little relieved when he said they should forget it. She knew better than to trust that to be the end of it though. Her troubled feelings once again shifted the mist, now into nervous coils around itself and over the bridge where some of it lingered. She met his eyes though when he looked at her and kept an even expression, glad to see him smile as he reassured her that he wouldn’t be rash. That was good, and though it did little to ease her concern, she took it as a good sign.

She quirked an eyebrow as he veered the conversation out of his lane and into hers, changing the subject by asking about her life before camp. It was a subject she considered often when she was alone, thinking of her mother, her step-father, and her half-sister who had taken over where she wasn’t capable of being anymore as her mother’s little girl. She smiled faintly despite the thought. “Ma mere moved here from France when she was seventeen when her parent’s died, and she met my father in college. After I was born, I lived with my great aunt and uncle while she finished her degree. I don’t remember much except being so happy to see her when she came home. We moved away after she finished her degree because she missed my father, but where we were was nice. I always felt weird when it snowed though. Something about summer and winter being at odds kind of registered when I was little and I never knew why. Which is ironic, I guess.” She grinned at him then, knowing that she was walking on interesting terrain with her comment. “My mom met Ryan and they had Ellie, and I sort of faded into the background of being a big sister. I was happy for my mother though. And when we did spend time, she always made me feel special, always spoke to me in French and it was just our thing. Ryan and Ellie never learned much.” She paused, realizing she was going on a tangent now. “What specifically would you like to know?”

Word Count: 719
Notes:.oO(Hope that was okay. It was interesting to switch gears into. Haha. Also, your sig is up to you. It's just kind of a weird seductive "come-hither" face that makes Issa want to cover herself with a blanket. xD)

[kevin]

Kevin listened closely to her as she spoke. A smile formed on his lips again as he looked to her. It was nice to actually get to hear a little more about her. Some of the pressure was off him now, since he was learning about her and not having to talk about himself. It was definitely an interesting though, thinking about how their parents would react to their closeness, and even more so interesting if they did become something more than friends. He could imagine how awkward it is with mortal parents when a girl brings back a guy, but just imagine that the girl's father is a god. The thought would make most guy shiver, but to him, it was just another day as a demigod. Besides, with the way his mother is, she likely wouldn't accept his relationship with any demigod, she would probably rather he marry a goddess, but, that'd just be too awkward, and that isn't even taking the fact that he really likes Issa into account. But then, he didn't really care if his mother disapproved. He knows how he feels, and that is really all that matters.

With a smile, he asked his question, then listened to her response, talking about her past. He was glad that she had a good relationship with her mother, especially since her father is a God and it was very likely that she had seen very little of him. It must have been cool for her mother and her to have their own little secret thing going with the French. He was only just beginning to learn it, and was still quite terrible at it. Which didn't bother him, but, it was still a little unsettling to know that people could have an entire conversation around you and you would have no idea what they were saying. When she had begun spouting things in French, it reminded him of when he gets flustered. When it gets back, he'll start speaking very quickly in his native Irish accent, which tends to drive people crazy because it gets to a point that people can't understand him. usually his accent is so minor that it doesn't bother anyone, but then, there are those times. "I'm glad you and you're mother are close. Or, at least were, sorry." The weather part intrigued him, to a point that he couldn't help but grin and laugh a little.

Yeah, that would definitely make sense. When she started speaking of her mother's new man, Ryan, she said his name was, it made him feel a little awkward. Mostly because his father never really had a chance to find someone else. But then, maybe it was better that way. He never had to deal with the awkward "replacement" issue that a lot of people tend to go through, even demigods have those situations at times. He set his hands on the railing and looked to her again whens he asked him if there was anything he would like to know. He thought for a moment, but nothing could really come to mind. Why was he so awful on the spot? Its like the gods cursed him with a blank slate for a brain or something. "Do you have a favorite time with your mother? Like, is there a day that you can think of that you wish you could repeat? Or, is there anything that you regret?" He asked his questions without really thinking, he just spoke the first things that came to his mind. It worked sometimes, he could still learn about her, but his concern of upsetting her was there, but, he tried to ignore that concern. If it was something she didn't wish to discuss, she would tell him.

note: 641
tag: Issa
(lol I'll leave it for now. Its one of those looks I could see him giving her, even if it does embarrass her.)