sheep_game | Counting Stars

[ 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.

[ swallows, hard. ]

...I mean. Between her power being here in me and Cain, are you sure she can't? Or if something weird happens like when we helped Mute. Or even, [ handwave, ] later on. Maybe she comes back to devour the pasture I specifically asked her to leave alone, because the deal's over. Gods might suck at remembering when you help them, but they're amazing at grudges.

If she comes to the pasture that would just make it easier to finish her off. But I don't think she can. If it was possible for outsiders to break into the pasture then it would have already happened by now. Out of everyone that she poses a potential threat to, you're the one that's currently the most at risk. Specifically because of that connection.

[ finish her off...lethe.... ]

I know you're not okay with that. I know none of you are okay with that. You, or Charon, or Ananke, or Kevin, or Minuet. I know. But I am.

...I can think about it. Especially if you prove it's safe or whatever. But that's all I can promise you right now.

[sorry he's like this

he sighs, but after a second he gives a firm nod]

That's fine. That's all I'm asking for right now. Thank you.

[ exhales slowly, leaning more of his weight back against the counter ]

...You don't have to thank me for saying no to you. Again.

You're taking a chance on me. That deserves a word of thanks, doesn't it? Especially since you haven't seen what I can do yet.

I'm considering it, [ corrects, but with the ghost of a smile. ] I should be thanking you for, I don't know. Caring so much about this. Not getting sick of me yet. I know I'm not making it easy.

You're considering it.

[agrees with an incline of his head, wry]

And don't thank me yet. Don't think you're off the hook for not telling anyone about what your agreement entailed. You don't get to hide something like that and get off with no consequences.

[ cants his head, still smiling faintly ]

Consequences, huh. No pancakes until I fess up?

I can come up with a more drastic consequence if that one doesn't feel dire enough. We prefer that everyone be open and honest in this household. So? Tell me the details.

[ oh, he meant Right Now.

> briefly tries to imagine lethe taking the news in a calm and measured way

> fails to imagine lethe taking the news in a calm and measured way

> is pretty sure there is no possibility of lethe taking the news in a calm and measured way

> remembers lethe trying to 1v1 a primordial goddess in his dream like fifteen minutes ago ]

Edited 2024-05-13 01:59 (UTC)

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