[ he grins, laughing lightly, ] The brightest witch of her age is imagining me in nothing but my Calvin Kleins right now. [ it's tempting to pick up on the slip and tease her senselessly about it. he's been panning for gold in this particular riverbed and he's struck it. but rather break the mud that's caking the damn thing away so he can become mesmerised in its shine, he leaves it as it is. it is fun embarrassing her and seeing her speak off the cuff rather than with any walls erected. it's actually quite nice he can return the favour with himself. ]

[ instead of showing off the nugget of gold he's found, he pockets it instead. ]

[ luke's shaking his head. ] Is there anything you can't do? That brain of yours can't be sufficiently determined all the time. [ though, he has no doubt whatever it is she puts her mind to, she achieves it, regardless of her skill level. it's an attribute of athena she possesses with an incredibly determined and ruthless grip. it reminds him of annabeth, of how any task was never impossible. ]