✺ - // A P O L L O

woah, just take it easy, man.

[uselesstublrnamehere-deactivate]

“I’m sorry, did you say something?” 

[apolloix]

✺ - //  “ah, nope.” he answered. “just the wind.” he whistled to mimick the crisp, outdoorsy breeze. “i think fall is coming early.”

[traveleravery]

Texts : Apollo & Artemis

[apolloix]

Avery: Apollo the Pyro – I like it. Has a nice ring to it, because of the o’s. Black olives and cheese coming right up. I’ll text you when I’m here. 

apollo: i dunno what rhymes with avery though. if you had powers, what power would you have ? lit dude, i’ll be here all night. i’m not joking. i can’t leave the hospital.

[grace-thorne-blog]

             “Come on slow-poke, this isn’t the geriatrics club. It’s just a short walk up this trail – the prettiest waterfall you ever did see, with a complimentary swimming-hole. You’re gonna love it! Best thing is, no one else seems to have discovered it yet.“

[apolloix]

✺ - // “aw, grace.” apollo groaned as she tugged his arm. “i know i agreed to this a month ago, but i just got out of the hospital yesterday. no physical activity for a week.” he pointed to his gauzed up leg. “doctor’s orders.”

[costakattalakis]

@apolloix

Constantine had been one of the first to return to work after the hurricane. The injuries were many among the townspeople, and the hospital was needed more than ever. Honestly, the whole incident had thrown him for more of a loop than he’d been expecting, and any time that he wasn’t sitting around moping was time much more well spent. As it was, he’d managed to scrape by for nearly two days working. He disappeared a few times for naps here and there, but no one had noticed anything amiss otherwise. The staff were too busy with patients to care.

Having spent nearly nine hours on his feet, Constantine was on his way to what he felt was a well-earned nap. A name on a chart caught his eye, though - how many Apollos could there be in this town? The only one Constantine knew was the charming musician who’d returned his flirtations. The kid who’d seemed genuinely nice.

Deciding he could put off his break a while longer, Constantine knocked on the door before entering.

“Did someone order the filet mignon and truffle fries?” He announced, tone laced with exhaustion but still good humored. Smiling upon seeing the familiar face, he continued. “Oh, wait, wrong room. But I do have some pain meds. How’re you feeling?”

[apolloix]

✺ - // and to think apollo was sick of seeing sterile hospital walls. now he was confined to them, encased in white, suck on a stiff bed. he kept fidgeting so that his legs wouldn’t fall asleep. after the storm, the hospital was severely understaffed, despite the surplus of patients. cases ranged from hypothermia, bruises and broken bones from falling debris, and burns from the clocktower storm. apollo begged the head doctors to let him help, but the burn on his leg needed urgent care.

he’d been tossing and turning, trying to fall asleep, trying to wake up again. sometimes it felt like he was wearing a straitjacket. sometimes apollo wanted to yank the tubes out of his arms, the bandages off his leg. a movie played on the tv in the corner, muted through all the static. apollo wished they’d invest in flatscreens after paying off the damage to the maternity wing.

a knock at the door somewhat roused him, blinking until he could make out the familiar face approaching. “h-hey.” apollo smiled, sitting up. god, to have costa see him so disheveled. “i ordered the lobster actually. this hospital gown can double as a bib.” a small laugh. “i’ve been alright. they think this might actually be a second degree burn, so i’m in here for at least another week or two.”

[traveleravery]

Texts : Apollo & Artemis

[apolloix]

Avery: Hey – well once you get better, maybe you developed like some cool power. Like the Flash??!! Name the toppings and I’ll be there. You know I always got your back and understand your stomach lol.

apollo: oh man, i’d love to be like the flash. maybe i’ll be able to some pyrokenesis type of thing. ooh black olives for sure. extra cheese. i think that’s it. 

[traveleravery]

Texts : Apollo & Artemis

[apolloix]

Avery: I’m good, no burns but shoot you bet I will. Maybe I’ll sneak in my PS4 and some video games. You know I’ve got your back dude. Pizza too. It’ll just be like old times.

apollo: idk what happened man. one minute i’m fine then the next minute lightning strikes and my leg is on fire. hell yeah, i can’t stare at the wall for the next week. i’ll lose my freakin mind. make that a whole pie for us to share. 

[traveleravery]

Texts : Apollo & Artemis

Avery [Undelivered] : Guys.

Avery [Undelivered] : Okay not to sound dramatic but I feel like I’m in Titanic. It’s so cold here and I’m beginning to feel like Jack. I hope you all are Rose…

@apolloix, @artemisviii

[apolloix]

apollo: hey man, i won’t be in the best shape for the next few days. the fire at the clocktower left a wicked burn on my leg. hopefully they won’t have to chop it off. i know connection is still spotty but let me know how you are asap. and you better come visit me in the hospital. i expect breakfast in bed, gourmet. 

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Well, I've got a full charge on my phone if that's comforting at all?

Avery: Haha I know right. I'm pretty proud of myself right about now.

Avery: Wish you were here though. They have this fire pole, I'm still trying to get the nerve to go down it.

Apollo: Ah man, I'm at like 70%. I have my mobile charger though.

Apollo: I'd so pat you on the back if I was there.

Apollo: I dare you to go to that pole and dance around it like you're a stripper.

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: I'll be here all day haha.

Avery: Yikes. Well, stay low dude. Watch out for any crazies. And more importantly when 10:04 hits, don't get struck by lightning like the clocktower did in Back to the Future.

Apollo: Good, I need the distraction

Apollo: I'll try. Aw man again with the Back to the Future reference! Genius, dude!

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Delorean. Forget Dr. Who. More like whose that?

Avery: Keep dreaming.

Avery: Is all good. I'm safe if that's what you're asking. I'm at the Fire station. You're good right?

Apollo: LOL dude. Insert foghorn noise here.

Apollo: Yeah, I'm at the clocktower. I think I'll be alright -- even though we're at max capacity.

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Yep you didn't know? I have in my possession a time machine.

Avery: If we're going to do that, might as well play ding dong ditch.

Avery: Psh the only fighting we'll be doing is in Street Fighter. You know the game.

Apollo: Delorean or Tardis?

Apollo: You know I can't pass up ding dong ditch. Yeah yeah I know but I will use Chun Li to kick your ass into oblivion.

Apollo: Sorry for the delayed response btw. I'm in a clocktower. Did the storm hit you at all?

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Friend foul indeed.

Avery: Who keeps an address book? Not me!

Avery: Let's take it to the streets.

Apollo: Friend foul? What is this 1500?

Apollo: Neither do I but we can take it door to door or phone call

Apollo: The streets? U wanna fight???

[apolloix]

Costa blinked, then burst out laughing. “That was fucking awful. And you know it.” Man, could get this guy get any better? Costa was going to be devastated if things went their usual Oh shit you were into me? Sorry man, but I’m straight way that his nature often steered friendships toward. It didn’t stop him from shamelessly flirting, though. “Okay, it’s a deal,” he said satisfied. He took the fliers and glanced at the front of them before tucking them under his arm. “Shit, isn’t that the worst?” He neglected to mention that he was still getting used to smartphones. Costa still remembered rotary phones. “Yeah, of course.” A pen lay in his pocket from his shift, and he pulled it out and scribbled his number on the outermost flier and reached out to hand it back. “Now I got something to look forward to. Talk to you later?”

✺ - // apollo coughed up a laugh himself. “yeah but it got you to smile so mission accomplished.” his cheeks still burned, both embarrassed and flattered. he knew something seemed a bit off, despite his satisfied tone. maybe he wasn’t into dudes. usually this scenario flipped, where apollo played the coy lothario. then the girl would blush and he would get her number and so on. she’d tell him upfront if she was gay or taken. oh shit, maybe this guy was taken. “yeah, talk to you later.” he took the flyer back and sighed, knowing he needed to say one more thing. “i’m -- sorry if i came on too strong. i’m an idiot.”

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Are you calling me a liar now? Foul dude.

Avery: Psh you're just biased.

Avery: We need a true test. Let's take a poll, ask some unbiased peeps.

Apollo: Maybe I am, maybe I'm not

Apollo: Yeah okay who are we even gonna poll

Apollo: I want names and addresses stat

[apolloix]

“Well, you can have all my olives if you like. I’m fine with that,” Costa said, raising his eyebrows almost imperceptibly. “It’s a…thing, then. I’ll watch you play and we’ll grab pizza sometime. And as for the name?” A smirk played the corners of his mouth. “Blonde. And, according to all the myths, quite handsome too.” Things seemed like they were going well, right? The guy seemed like a pretty good kid, not to mention he was good looking, and was Costa catching the vibe of something? He wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t going to let it go either. “Hey, I’ll make you a deal. You take my number and I’ll take some of those fliers and hang put them in the staff breakroom when I go in tonight. I’m sure some of the hospital folks would show up if they knew.” 

✺ - // “i’ll take olive them.” apollo shot finger guns. “get it, because olives.” internally he cringed at the stupidity of his explanation. the number one rule of comedy was to never explain a joke. the compliment fueled the burn in his cheeks, now noticeably scarlet. “oh god. yikes.” he muttered to himself. fingers crossed costa didn’t hear it. usually apollo played the shameless flirt, but now he melted like butter under the sun. “sure, man.” apollo rummaged through his bag, perhaps a bit too eagerly, and handed costa more fliers. “thank you so much, man. i appreciate your help.” a horrible realization hit him. “wait, i think my phone is dead. can you scribble your number on one of the papers ? i’ll put you in my contacts as soon as i can.”

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Psh. Nope. I'm at a complete stop.

Avery: I have screenshots. Proof. The proof is real.

Apollo: Fake news, fake reciepts

Apollo: Take this fraud away, officer. We will press the charges of harassment and not knowing that Watermelon Sour Patch beats every other flavor.

[apolloix]

@apollo

Avery: Because it wasn't a choice. It was either this or that!

Avery: See you know you're cheating lol.

Apollo: Nuh uh uh, shift this car in reverse

Apollo: I said hypothetical. Meaning it didn't happen. Case closed my dude