sheep_game | Counting Stars

Really. I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread it around, obviously, but I don't mind Lily knowing what I can do. I have a skill for calming, and a skill that can put someone into a dreamless sleep. It requires a certain level of trust to work properly, but even a little bit is better than nothing, right?

A li — I trust you. Why wouldn't it work?

[shrugs]

That's just how the skill is. If you trust me, even a little, that's enough to help you get a good night's sleep. I...figured you'd have the same concerns that Kevin did about people walking into your dreams, so...

...like what happened tonight?

Just like that. Sorry for starting a fight in your dream.

[ surprised into a slight laugh ]

Sorry for the, um. Literally everything else.

[shakes his head]

It was fine. I'm used to getting weird dreams from time to time. And I'm used to this place. It was pretty refreshing to let off some steam, actually.

[ squints at ]

So you're...not upset about it? I kind of thought you'd be upset about it.

I...am upset that she was there. I'd have liked to be able to get rid of her entirely, but I already said I wouldn't do that without your consent.

[ headshake ]

She wasn't really there, trust me. That was just a nightmare.

...If she's in your nightmares then that means you aren't exactly happy with your current situation either.

[ looks down, drumming his fingers against the counter ]

I never said I was happy about it.

Are you not happy about it, then?

Oh yeah, all I've ever wanted was for a dead fish to adopt me. That was really on my to-do list.

If you don't want her there, I can get her out at any time.

[ shakes his head before lethe's done talking, closing his eyes ]

I can't let you do that. I'm sorry. But I can't.

[sets his water cup down and leans against the counter]

Can you at least tell me why you're not comfortable with it?

[ quiet for a very long moment, eyes still closed ]

I don't want to risk...whatever might happen. She'd know. [ a swallow ] I think she'd know.

[ opening his eyes, then slowly looking at lethe ]

I pacted with Meris of my own free will. Anything that happens because of it now is my fault. What happened to me, I can live with. Honest. But anything happening to you for trying to help? That I can't live with.

[maintains eye contact with him, one finger tapping on the edge of the counter as he mulls over his own words. he looks--concerned, and a little upset.]

I understand your concern. But I am sturdier than I look. Even if it got bad, the worst things that could ever happen to me have already happened, so it's not like I can't take it. And at the end of the day I would rather shoulder anything with you than have you deal with it alone.

If I can prove that I have a safe method to remove it, then would you promise to at least consider it? You don't have to agree. Just think about it.

I'm not doubting what you can take. I'm saying I couldn't take it if something happened to you — any of you — because of me.

I — maybe? But it's not that simple. For one thing, our agreement was sworn on the River Styx. Breaking that is some serious bad juju. I am a broken oath; I'd know. But the other thing is that my power comes from her now. I don't...I've never heard of a half-blood's divinity being changed or removed before. I don't actually know what'd happen to me without her.

Edited 2024-05-11 04:56 (UTC)

[wait a second]

Your power comes from her now? Isn't that more reason to get rid of it...?

[ oops ]

...that's what being the child of a god is. Kevin's powers derive from Hades. Mine used to come from Poseidon's sway over the ocean. But she broke his influence and replaced it with hers.

Maybe getting rid of her would make me mortal? Maybe it'd kill me. I have no idea. It's never been done.

Hmm.

[crosses his arms and tries not to say anything bad about horrible gods]

I thought it was just a weird cosmetic effect. I should have realized there was more to it than that.

Well, for what it's worth, I don't think it would kill you. At the end of the day you're still human too, and humans don't die just because they don't have powers. You still have the power inside of you, too. I can see it. You're just as strong without any god powers.

[ shrugs, manages a half-smile ]

Maybe. But that doesn't matter so much. I'm less worried about the consequences for me than the consequences for you guys.

With all do respect, what's she going to do to us? Smell bad in our general direction?

[his mouth twists into a bit of a frown]

Actually, that's a better question, isn't it? I'm asking all of this because I'm worried about you. Why are you worried about something happening to any of us? She can't touch us.

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