marred | ( eachdraidh inbox )

[Hey, Luke, you're getting a surprise message from a least likely source! Apologies for his abruptness.]

Castellan. Call me back when you've got a chance. I have a question for you.

[ to say clarisse is furious would be an understatement. she has quite possibly reached the pinnacle of the wrath of ares, and while she would love to show him just how angry she is, her voice conveys it more than well enough for him to visualize it himself. she didn't even think to contact him via video; she'd simply roared GET ME LUKE CASTELLAN into the locket, and audio was the default, apparently. not that she figured he'd answer, which he doesn't. but even over audio, her rage is palpable. somehow, she's more pissed off about this than the backbiter incident — this is personal. this is a direct violation of her privacy and probably some kind of property laws, if those even exist in the drabwurld. ]

[ no, it's not unexpected for a child of hermes to steal shit, but this is certainly not putting them on any better terms. she can't even fathom how bad their terms are now. after a month of putting up with him and then two weeks of putting up with only him, this is the last goddamn straw. she'd been trying to make meaning out of him saving her life, trying to reevaluate her position in the case of luke castellan v. la rue, but now all that evidence has been thrown out the damn window. she doesn't even care if he saved her life once (or twice) or stole the dara or made her a stupid documentary about trees and made her laugh — he stole her chariot, her gift from the monarchs (and by proxy her dad, or so she likes to think), which might as well be a big fuck you to ares. and more than she hates when people disrespect her, she hates when people disrespect her dad. she thought luke at least respected her a fraction of enough not to steal her shit, but that's where she'd be dead wrong. he's just as fucking selfish as he's always been. ]

[ it doesn't even occur to her that he'd be upset about annabeth. why would it? this feels like a direct attack on her, in retaliation for the backbiter incident or the way clarisse has treated him this entire time or whatever. she won't apologize, not now, and probably never given the current circumstances — this feels like a declaration of war, and he should know damn well that clarisse takes this shit extremely seriously. if he wants to start something, she won't back down. not this time, not when he's personally offended her. this is between them, not them and the gods or them and jason or anyone else. she isn't going to let him get away with this, but there isn't much she can do right now except scream at him. ]

I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing, but I swear to all the gods above, Luke Castellan, if I don't get my chariot back come this fortnight, I will hunt you down and take it back, and I won't hold back this time. [ she's giving him a chance to reconsider before he jumps headfirst into a real war — not just petty fights about the gods — with the daughter of war. ] You know exactly what I'm capable of, so don't think for a fucking second that I'm bluffing. And if I find that anything else is missing, it's on your ass, Castellan. [ and just in case she wasn't clear before, she enunciates the following: ] Two weeks. [ she crushes the locket closed in the palm of her hand and resists every urge telling her to throw it at the wall. ]

[ mhhh well he's in the "demi god" crowd right, whatever that means. (does that make korra an actual god? he's sure the rules can't be translated that way but... whatever.) ]

Hey, Luke.

[ oh, he sounds serious. but when doesn't he sound serious? ]

[ he- almost doesn't do it. almost doesn't. he thinks twice about making it a video message, because he isn't sure he's ready to actually look Luke in the face again, or make Luke have to do the same. after everything- it seemed like too much.

still, Percy doesn't like the idea that they're living in the same place and have the same group of people who are (in some measure) important to them while... seemingly avoiding each other? it didn't make sense.

so he gathers up whatever amount of courage he needs to send a message, and sits down in his room to do so. ]

Hey, Luke. It's Percy. Uh, I don't know if you want to hear from me or anything. But I know that both of us know we're both here. [ whoa, that sentence was a trainwreck. he clears his throat. ] If you ever feel up to it, I have stuff about home I'd like to tell you about. So, uh, offer is open whenever, I guess. [ he closes the locket after that; part of him wants to say that he's glad Luke is alive, that it's really Luke, but. it feels too complicated right now to really be relieved. ]

[ she almost leaves without saying anything, without bothering to tell luke jack shit, but the good part of her knows she needs to say something, even if it's not much. she knows he'll take good care of the dogs, because he obviously did it once before, even if he'd stolen them from her first. she's still a little bitter over it, but she's been that desperate before, she gets it. there's really no point in holding it over his head anymore, even though sometimes she wants to. in the end, she got her chariot back, her dogs were fine, and that was that. the end. she may not have apologized very convincingly about flipping out about it, but she really is trying to move past all their crap and at least enter neutral territory instead of a loaded minefield. she's hoping the distance will do them both some good. ]

[ clarisse is up early on the twentieth; she and sleep haven't been getting along very well, so she spends most nights restless or tossing and turning. maglor intruding and luke showing up afterward for some reason is still all too fresh in her mind, and even in the weeks that have passed since the battle with celegorm, the vision from the shard continues to haunt her — it's fainter now that she no longer has the shard in her possession, but it still only serves to reinforce her irrational fear of the dark and what lurks in the shadows. ridire had told her that may have been their future; if they can learn anything on this quest to the drabkeeper's castle, hopefully it will be a way to turn the tide of this war without needless bloodshed. if there's one thing she's sure of, it's that she can't become that again. fighting a war is one thing, but fighting a needless war is another. she still hasn't had the heart to tell anyone that the seelie are actually losing. it's better to let everyone think they've got the upperhand. for now. ]

[ unaccompanied by her dogs, who remain asleep soundly in her room, clarisse approaches luke's door for the second time since they both arrived here, but today she isn't here to talk. today she is simply here to slip a note under his door before she leaves. there's no reason for her to say goodbye in person, but she will leave polemos and achlys to his care. she can't say she trusts him entirely, but there's literally no one else she could ask to look after them, and the boys seem to trust him (they wouldn't behave for anyone else, anyway), so that's good enough for her for the time being. ]

[ GUESS WHO ASSHOLE. THAT'S RIGHT IT'S ME WITH THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP. ]

Hey, Luke! [ He is 90% sure he's got the right guy here. ] It's me, by the way. Bolin. You know, from, uh. Capture the flag. It was a whole big nice day sort of thing. Wow, but I guess that was a while ago, huh? I mean, time seriously started flying on me there. If you don't remember, that's cool, I can just introduce myself again or something.

[ the world today man, smh. ]

But anyway, I definitely remember you liking Naga, right?

Hey, man. I'm getting some people together to try and take back the moon. Can't really think of anyone better to ask for help than someone who is sort of a master in thievery, y'know?

We just got back from our quest today, so uh- It'd be cool if you came along, when we head out. I know we'd appreciate the help.

[ alright, since Luke never seems to want video, Percy can at least take a hint and use voice instead.

Percy wasn't sure if Luke would even want to hear from him, considering he bailed out of the infirmary before Percy even got back, so it's entirely possible that he'd rather do anything but talk to Percy. but hey; since when has Percy ever cared that someone would rather avoid him? never. ]

Hey. We don't have to talk about everything if you don't feel up to it, just let me know you're doing alright? [ a beat. ] And whenever a good time is to drop off a rat for George and Martha 'cause I still owe them a good one.

'I promise', he said, about coming back and checking in after the life threatening and dangerous quests to save the moon.

I hope your snakes are biting you right now, Luke Castellan.

['And poor Elijah. He dedicates himself to everyone but himself.'

It's a funny thing, how standing in a dank cave watching the climax of something that you're so profoundly detached from can have you remembering moments from your own life. That in some twisted, broken way resonates with the situation at hand. At least this time, he was laying on the cold, hard ground with a magical knife embedded in his gut.

It takes Elijah a few days after their surprise win over the Unseelie and subsequent return to Caer Glaem before he realises what had been gnawing at him, picking at old wounds and preventing the scabs from healing over.]

Is this the man who retrieved the moon?

Luke Castellan! [ oh yeah wait, she can't just enthusiastically shout his name in lieu of saying "hi" with Luke, can she? not technically. well, she can, she just did, but it's probably not going to work out as well as it would with any of the other demigods that know her. since. you know. he doesn't know her. ]

Hi. I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare. We've never actually met? [ well there was that one time ] But I'm from, um, your world. I'm the Oracle of Delphi. Or- I will be, in the- [ woop she almost said "your" ] -future. Anyway.

How do you feel about --acquiring a few things for a new friend? Easy things. Way, way easy. I'd do it myself if I didn't know for a fact that you're way better at that kind of thing than I am.

[ :D?? ]

[ clarisse doesn't particularly feel like trying to find luke, but she does need to talk to him. after everything that happened during the quest for the moon, and everything that percy filled her in on during their trip to the now-ruined drabkeep, clarisse is conflicted but she feels like now is the time to start making amends, if it isn't already too late. she may have felt like he deserved her punishment, and maybe he did, but she also feels like her actions toward him might have cost them the moon if percy had never told her about the end of the war. forgiveness is still something they're going to have to work towards, but they can't do that if she doesn't give a little. they both need to heal, and she can't do that unless she lets go of her death grip on the person luke has been trying so hard to prove that he isn't. ]

[ she knows she has to take the first step this time, because he'd already taken it when the first arrived in the drabwurld, only for her to shove him backwards about ten steps. there's been an impenetrable gap between them ever since, but now is the time to start building a bridge over the canyon of the past and start moving forward to a future that isn't filled with hate. percy was right, after all — what's the point of staying mad at a dead man? even if he's not really dead here, and it's so much easier to take out her anger on him, what has it ever really accomplished? if they're going to win this war, they have to do it together, as a family — and not just her and luke, but all of the seelie. she believes that now as much as he does. ]

[ video seems better than a regular phone call, seems less impersonal that way. he'll be able to tell if she's lying by her face, though she doesn't intend to lie at all. sincerity isn't exactly an ares trait, but she isn't just doing this for herself this time. percy's opened her eyes a little, even agreed that either one of them could have been on luke's side given the right circumstances; they're all not so different after all, and accepting that people make really shitty mistakes and learning not to hold them against them is one of the first steps to making this less of a punishment and more of an opportunity to rebuild — a second chance, for both of them. ]

[ her eyes are set on the locket with a fierce determination. she's prepared for him not to take her seriously, but she's also prepared for a countermeasure this time. unlike last time, she's actually thought about this before she slams in head first like a battering ram. ] Castellan, you got a minute?

[ it's late and thalia isn't even sure if luke is still awake. or maybe that's why she's texting him. hoping that he'll just read them in the morning and not respond. even though she had spoken with nico earlier and gotten jason's shard, she actually hadn't talked about any of the losses she had faced this month. honestly, this had probably been the worst month she had had in a long time. it was as if everything had geared up and slammed her in the face. ]

so Jason is gone. But I think you probably knew that from nico's post. He gave him his shard, y'know. so I guess this time I actually have something left from him. Plus I got to spend a month with him. That's more time than I've had in awhile. So that's a good thing.

Just kidding, it sucks. Gods, it's like I was just getting used to having my little brother around. This whole month sucked, really. You'd think that Hera was here this month was so bad. Because, you know what? Annabeth and Bianca are gone too. All three of them gone in the same stupid month. I was actually starting to like this place too. I never even got to tell Bianca how sorry I am. But, it sucks for Nico more. I'd hate to be in his shoes. seriously you'd think that guy had gone through enough.

[ he'll find a moment, when Annabeth is sleeping, or maybe talking to someone else. after he's told her about Luke, after he's tried to catch her up to speed. because if there's one thing Percy can do, he can at least give Luke a proper heads up this time. ]

She's back. Annabeth, that is. Came in with the other new people at the feast. [ a beat. ] She doesn't remember her last time here, but I gave her the basics? Including telling her about you being here. I just, uh, y'know. Wanted to give you a heads up.

[ One of the ruddy hawks of the Southern Greenwood alights on a nearby window, branch or stone, screeching and flapping its wings. It has sharp eyes, like all from the Maechenibryth, but waits patiently to have the small scroll attached to its foot unravelled. It reads in looping Drabbish:

Invitation for Luke Castellan of Caer Glaem and Companion to the winter Yule festivities within I Othrann-in-Heneb, fortress of Thranduil Oropherion, Elvenking of the Maechenibryth.

To celebrate the holiday of the native Aelfen clans, all guests are welcome to remain within the mountainhome until from 25th December until early January for music and merriment. Bed and board provided. Please bring this invitation with you and make your way south along the forest river where marchwardens will find your party and act as escorts. To confirm attendance, please attach an appropriate message to the hawk. Alternatively, contact Thranduil via locket.

The hawk, if needed, will await a snack along with the RSVP before flying off. ]

( ooc: the log! )

[ delivered by fairy — four of them, actually — are luke's presents for yule. two of the four fairies look distressed by the cargo they bear: one rat each, easily larger than they are, and on each rat is a small collar that reads either "george" or "martha". another fairy takes delight in her brothers' pain, pointing and laughing as she flies around luke to deliver a woven tassel of red and coin to bring him luck. the last gift is a sturdy cloth arm guard with a moon sewn into the outside.

it's the water tribe insignia, and the water tribes consider themselves one big family, luke castellan. you might not be someone she talks to on a regular basis due to conflicting schedules and shifting social circles, but she meant what she said about family. this is a more personal gift than some of the others she's made, a part of her culture that she rarely shares like this. ]

[ Much like a few others, Hermione has asked the faeries to help her with delivering her presents. On the early morning of the 26th a small vial of potion will be left, a chain around it, with a small note; Just in case I'm not there. George and Martha have a matching set of small scarves, while Luke is also given a small backpack with a charm, plus a note explaining it. Alongside all this is one last tiny note that simply reads I hope you're safe. ]

[ it's been a couple days since the audience, a couple days for everything to finally settle and for korra to let the shock of what happened subside. there's one last thread that she needs to tie up, and a lot of her loathes that it's come to this, but it's better to give luke a head's up than let things continue to fester. ]

The Monarchs are angry that we haven't found anyone with the "Sight" yet. I don't want you to get into trouble, but there's something I need to take care of and I don't know when I'll be back.

I'm sorry, Luke. [ she's failed everyone. ] If you can find someone while I'm gone, tell the King. [ not "ridire". not anymore. ] But if not, I'll help you when I get back.

Edited 2015-01-07 21:47 (UTC)

[ there's really only one person she can think of when she's issued her quest to speak to the leadership of the cothromach about requesting aid for the war. it should probably bother her that luke is at the forefront of her mind more often than not these days, but at a time like this, she can't be bothered thinking about the implications of whatever that might mean. she just knows that — for lack of a better way of putting it — she needs him. she's learned not to think of it as needing his skills, because luke is more than just the gifts he inherited from his father and the benevolence of the monarchs. it's taken her a long time to see that, to start seeing him as a person and not just a set of skills to be used, even if sometimes it feels like all she ever does is use people. ]

[ it's been hard admitting that she needs anyone at all — if this were the sea of monsters all over again, she wouldn't have wanted anyone to come with her, because that was her chance to prove herself — but she's learned that it isn't about proving herself; ridire doesn't need her to become heracles and complete twelve labors before she's worthy in his eyes. she already is. ridire saw her worth far more quickly than her own father, and it's only because of ridire's guidance and faith and support that she's able to accept the fact that sometimes she does need help, that she can't always do everything on her own, that her weaknesses are the strengths of others — and it doesn't make her any less of a warrior or a knight or a person to admit that. ]

Hey, Castellan. Those fancy shoes of yours still work? I need someone to — uh, accompany me to the Cothromach. [ she hesitates for a second, clearing her throat, then, ] If you're not ... busy or whatever. [ it's not as if she knows what luke gets up to in his spare time. she's got something else to ask him, too, but she figures it might be best to leave that for after she's spoken with the leader of the cothromach so she can speak to everyone at the same time about her little squad of elite soldiers. ]

( it's the day after christmas -- like annabeth had debating sending what she got him at all -- but when luke wakes up there's a basket outside his door, complete with a set of tissues, a few blue feathers from her dog, athee, attached to a necklace, a black leather journal with the first few pages filled in by annabeth with architectural drawings, and a jar of hot chocolate mix, all accompanied by a short letter, taped on.

To lots of Christmases in the future.
- Annabeth C. )

[ war is coming, and clarisse needs to assemble the best possible team she can for ridire; the high-king tasked her to organize a team of elite shardbearers, and while things might still be ... awkward (uncomfortable) between her and luke, the one thing she will admit — and always has, even when anger lined her insides and made her seethe every time someone even mentioned him — is the fact that he's the greatest swordsman she's ever seen. he did essentially teach her the way of the sword; she might instinctively know a parry from a thrust, but it was with luke's guidance that she began to make sense of her instincts and hone them into skill. but even with years of training, she's still never been able to handle a sword like he does. maybe that's made her envious, but even envy comes with the admission that there's one thing clarisse la rue isn't a master at (she'd like to think she at least comes a little close; closer than percy, anyway). ]

[ calling luke twice in one month feels ... odd, to say the least, but at least she's calling ahead to double check he's actually available before she wastes her time knocking on the door of an empty room, much like they'd wasted their time in the cothromach because clarisse hadn't just sent a telegram or whatever backwards method of communication the natives here use. she can already see luke rolling his eyes, even though this is an audio call — at least she's prepared, right? ] Hey. [ she starts off a little hesitantly, almost wondering if she should abort this mission entirely and skip to calling annabeth or thalia instead. it would certainly be a lot easier, but it's probably better to get the hard one out of the way first. ] I need to ask you something. I'd actually rather ... do it in person, if you've got time. [ asking him to join her team face-to-face just seems like the best way to go, adds a sense of formality to an otherwise (mostly) informal phone call. ] It's important.

Luke? Are you busy?

[ Much like her other friends, the box that Hermione sends has a charmed cloak, a charmed bag and set of potions to offer protection.

Luke also gets a broach, in the shape of a fox, with two protective runes to keep him safe, alongside a set of daggers with enchantments to make them stronger and easier to use. He also receives a series of collars for his pets, should he want to use them, with charms to keep them safe too, because she knows how important they are. The last gift in the box is a set of books from her world, on medicine and anit-venom, with some notes of her own about Drabworld-type replacements.

George and Martha get a pair of rats and a bed for them, if they want it, with a soft pillow on the inside with a warming runic charm on it for them. ]

Luke Castellan,

I'd like to thank you for a truly challenging battle. Truthfully, the match was one of the closest that I've ever had. As a friendly gesture, I would like to offer 45 gold marks to you do do with as you see fit.

-Cullen

Edited 2015-04-02 19:31 (UTC)

[ attached to the usual bundle of letters left for Luke to deliver is a note, folded over and sealed with wax, the ₪ symbol making it clear it's meant for him. it's brief, concise, and she'll totally pretend it's for the sake of making sure it's not too revealing if someone else intercepts it, buuut let's be real she just does not want to be delivering this news ]

L-

Th & M have both gone home, left their shards behind. Their routes are taken care of, nothing will change.

- T

[Video]

audio » june 3rd, after ned's meeting

audio; july 12.

audio.

action » august 20, early morning.

video; 9/1 if that date works for u

video.

voice.

text.

audio; oct 16th

video; ssssometime right after the death puppy howled

video » 10/19

private text » 11/19 1/?

voice | 1/12

Royal Hawk of the Maechenibryth »

dec 24th.

26th.

jan 9th.

voice » after the audience