A SHADOW'S TOUCH.

silk sheets dyed soft pink; dark suits tailored to fit. a winning smile. gold coins glimmering at the bottom of a well. the weight of a weapon in your hand.

[shadowstouch]

mxlo-psyche·:

   Milo normally did the milkshakes, an easy task, but for this instance he decided to send the ticket to the back. Typing everything up, asking for extra chocolate, he pressed send which was followed by the ticket machine cranking out the order; it’s particular clicking and cricketing noise echoing in the back. 

    “Okay it’ll just be a moment.” walking over to where she sat, leaning at the back of the counter preparing to open up.

    “—So, um..” stammering, “First I know people actually got hurt in the attack and I feel dumb walking around, sad and all but…it’s just, I’ve never seen a monster attack until that night and I can’t shake the feeling about it all.” 

Birdlike, she cocked her head to the side, watching him as he spoke.. and then she tilted her head back up again, a brief pause between Milo’s last word and her first. “– ‘s not dumb,” Winona began, picking apart the root cause she saw forming. Guilt, maybe. For what he felt? For not having gotten as many scrapes as the others?

“And what,” she said, her voice becoming a little gentler, “is that feeling?” He needs to say it for himself, she thought.

[shadowstouch]

itsbettybiotch·:

“charlie. it’s cool…i kinda miss talking about him sometimes.” betty could feel her eyes stinging and shook her head silently. “it’s just hard, i guess. he was a total badass, though, and a pretty awesome brother. makes the demigod shit kind bittersweet.” she could feel her eyes glassing over now and betty knew it was time to cut this topic short.

forcing a small laugh, she shook her head again. “what a fuckin bummer, shit. i said i would teach you knife tricks, not open up a sob story. definitely look stuff up on youtube, there’s a lot of good tutorials and i highly suggest getting a knife for yourself once you feel a little more adjusted. caspian over in the heph cabin does really dope commissions; takes mortal cash and drachma, loves new designs and people that can get him hyped and inspired to make the piece, so don’t hold back. tell him i sent you.”

“– ‘s okay. I don’t mind it. ‘n besides, I’m the one that asked,” she said, and her voice was soft, though there wasn’t a trace of pity to it; Winona trusting her gut instinct. As Betty changed the subject, she let herself drift along with the blonde’s pacing, not wanting to keep the topic going for longer than it already had – there was a reason Betty was excusing herself from it.

“Caspian? I’ll remember that.”

“Not sure I’ll be getting one of these just yet–” she let the trainer knife flip open for emphasis, handles slowly turning by their own momentum– “but I’m in the market for a sword.”

“You collect anything but daggers?”

[shadowstouch]

witchbcrn:

     it was late. the library was only open until 8:00 now, giving the demigods working in there plenty of time to close up before heading back to their own cabins or apartments. jo had made herself quite comfortable for most of her shift, lounging by the checkout center, feet propped up against the desk. it wasn’t until right before closing, getting snipped at by the librarian, did she begin to reshelve the few books turned in that day. moving across the aisles, pushing the large cart, she spied a couple demigods, either roaming the aisle or seated at one of the tables, most with lost looks in their eyes.

          “are you here for a book? or because the rest of camp seems to be in some sort of melancholy trance.”

“I am,” Winona replied, turning to look at Jo; hand still resting on the spine of the book she’d been contemplating. It didn’t have a title, but a single symbol was carved in gold into its brown leather back – an upward-pointing triangle. “I don’t think I’ve found it yet, but this one looks interesting all the same.” She beat the tip her finger against the nameless book for emphasis, tap-tap-tap, the sound muted by the soft, worn leather.

“The one I’m looking for is called Fire & Its Many Applicable Uses, written by A.S. Reeve in 1745. Last I asked for it they said it had gone missin’, which..” sounds like bullshit. “Could you help me look for it?”

[shadowstouch]

girlignited:

a clench of her hands into fists, putting the fire out within her palms and quickly snatching the lighter before she could do any more damage. the daughter of hephaestus is an audience member along with a number of the nearby demigods as the marks crawl up her arms — illusions of sunburns all over, undetected because olympia can’t feel the pain, the sting of it. 

a raise of her head at the voice, a command that olympia is suddenly shy of following… until a fire of some other kind presents itself in her line of vision. black fire? slowly, olympia does so — scarred palms out, waiting. 

“what…? is that — that’s fire? or am i just, like, going insane?” 

“-- ‘s hellfire,” Winona supplied, “or Hadesfire, I suppose.” She still couldn’t summon it on her own, but the infernal sparks had become more and more apparent the more she worked at it; her T-shirts usually singed when she got home each day, if she wasn’t careful. It was painted in shades of orange and yellow, burned red, looked no different to Olympia’s – and then it would swell, becoming darker than black.. before the dark faded, and it glowed once more.

“Use your lighter again,” she said, her smile inviting – almost alluring, her excitement slowly rising to the surface.

“I wanna test something.”

[shadowstouch]

itsbettybiotch:

“correct. i feel like our dads aren’t the best of pals or anything, but i don’t think i’ve ever really met a hades kid i don’t vibe with. hopefully you won’t break the streak.” the words were playful as they fell from her lips, teasing even. betty shot the other girl a wink as the trademarked hermes smirk started to pull at the corner of her lips. was this flirting? perhaps. nova would probably have her scalp for eyeing up a different redhead, but what could she say? they were betty’s weakness.

“when i first got here, i kinda got taken under an older camper’s wing. he had a lotta problems with his legs…monster attack, i think? but he was really into blades. they were small enough to keep on him at all times and i guess he figured his best chances were hand-to-hand with a dagger rather than fumbling around with a sword when he could barely stand up.“ betty gave a pause, followed by a small shrug as if that would push away any of the emotional vulnerability behind the story. “a lot of people think they’re kinda lame, but he was the most badass person i ever met. i wanted to be like him.”

Betty’s wink earned the blonde a smile, Winona’s lips curling into something resembling gentle amusement. “I’ll try my best,” she said, right hand giving out a mock-salute; smile morphing into more of a grin.

She nodded as Betty told her about her mentor, and kept quiet as she paused – she’d noticed the past tense, and didn’t doubt there was hurt to be found if she prodded.

With her palms pressed to the porch floorboards behind her, she leaned back a little, gaze flitting from Betty to the sky above. “Daggers are badass, though. Sounds like he was, too.”

“What was his name?” A pause. “-- You don’t gotta tell me if y’don’t wanna.”

[shadowstouch]

mxlo-psyche:

      Sincerity was a lovely aura, one that was sheer at it was warm. Most times Milo could tell when someones was filling the conversation with pleasantries; adopted mannerism that were to comfort even if they were hollow—yet this moment the daughter of Hades seemed to be honest (partially). Her aura held a milky, pearl sheen to it, masking the calming blue hue that engulfed her figure. For a split second he could see it, yet once he blinked it dissipated quickly. 

    Pulling himself off the counter, he went for one of the pitchers of water to pour her something while they got situated. “I wouldn’t mind, even if I feel a bit stupid about it.” his smile was weak but it pulled lightly across his lips, “But first…could I put in an order for you or something else other than water?” 

Her fingers curled around the glass of water, nails kept short and plain. “It’s not stupid,” she said, and it wasn’t stern – just factual, because she meant it. “And.. A chocolate milkshake, please.” It had been what she’d come for, after all; Winona taking a quick break from the library and her constant research.

“So. Tell me.”

“What’s up?”

[shadowstouch]

what are you afraid of?

“… Dying, I think.”

“Not in an immediate sense, just- in general.”

In general isn’t entirely honest, either. Most people are afraid to die, in a passive way: the thought isn’t pleasant. It isn’t that she spends her every waking moment terrified, nor is it that she fears the how or the why. It’s that dying seems a waste; it’s that she wants to live forever.

[exceedingdeath]

Visit Original Link

[shadowstouch]

girlignited:

“hey! watch out —” olympia doesn’t have a voice that would be loud enough to catch the attention of crowd, especially through the echoes of the arena’s noise. but her warning seems late as her lighter slips through her fingers, one hand in the air to signal other demigods to move… but the flames follow her hands and olympia’s brown hues reflect the roar of the fire that occurs by her own movements before her. “ah, shit — sorry, sorry!”

A lighter that seemed to match the one warm against her own thigh, hidden in the pocket of her jeans. Flames taking hold of Olympia’s hands like a second limb, following the movement of her joints, trailing after them like a shadow might.

It felt like a compulsion, flicking the wheel of her own lighter; watching as it sparked and shot out down her arm, speckles of black flame fading in and out at the very edges of the red-hot trail of fire cascading down her own arm.

“Hold your hand out,” she said, offering up her own; hellfire gathering in her palm, sputtering black flame.

[shadowstouch]

is there something you really hate/enjoy abt being a hades kid?

“Talking to the dead is underrated.”

“They know a lot, you just need to know how to.. ask them. They’re not always the best with the passing of time. Depends on how far along they are. They rot, even when their body’s long-gone.”

Some of her dearest friends growing up were ghosts; Winona bringing home hauntings, not strays.

[shadowstouch]

mxlo-psyche:

Winona; A Reprieve

    Milo shift moved at a glacier pace, the same playlist became more aware to him after it’s third play through. The Diner was normally had a steady flow of customers but with the camp still rattled things seemed to go almost into a quarantine. Extra training during the days, increased patrols, it seemed to tire the campers—while making them more liking not to venture out to Olympia. The boy had his chin cupped into his palm, while he leaned on the counter, eyes glazed over; his mind floating into a day-dream. The images of the attacks were still ripe behind those crystal eyes of his—vividly painted as he couldn’t shake the colors that clouded the camp that night. He was so stuck in his thoughts that the chime of the bell, that hung above the entrance, didn’t even register to him. The customer approached, speaking, but still lost. 

              It WASN’T until his name was spoke that he snapped back.

    “—Oh, I’m sorry. Welcome, ummm sit wherever you’d like.” 

“I was asking how your day's been,” she said, and her tone was a little warmer than normal – compensating for how lost he looked, trapped in his own thoughts. She didn’t doubt it was the same thing that had almost everyone else look much the same; the attack still rippling through them, second by second, day by day.

Milo wasn’t one of hers, so to speak, and Winona wasn’t exactly the most adept at the whole cabin counsellor business – but still, leaving him to it without even offering a hand seemed wrong.. and besides, she’d been raised better. “You alright?”

“Wanna talk?”

[shadowstouch]

most annoying person at camp?

“I don’t think I’ve met them yet.”

The truth is a little more callous, in its own way – Winona doesn’t care enough to find anyone annoying. Get in the way of her long-term goals, and you might get there.

[lilmartinimami]

[shadowstouch]

don't you think you're spoiled?

“Oh, I most certainly am.”

“All odds considered, I got off easy, compared to a good few other campers. Did you think I thought I wasn’t spoiled?”

[shadowstouch]

dcrkborn:

w i n o n a .

“Oh, Dominic. Who do you take me for? I’m perfectly aware of the risk.” Her tone wasn’t chiding – barely even stern; Winona still giddy at what she was proving herself capable of. “I promise,” she said, the gleam of her gaze a wildfire in the making. She wasn’t the kind to let someone else take the fall – but beyond that, she felt a certainty she couldn’t deny. She had to try.

“C’mon,” she said, giving the son of Erebus a quick nod as if to say hit me.

There was no crash of thunder to herald its coming – but the diamond shield was a shock of lightning all the same; blinding white in the glow of the sun. It held – until Winona broke.

With the force she used to parry, the spear shot off the side of the shield, nicking her right cheek and narrowly missing her eye; burying itself into the ground a few feet behind her.

The shield was, and then it wasn’t; the diamond crowning the ring again, the gemstone whole and glittering. A steady hand reached up to touch the gash – it would leave a scar, if the healers on duty didn’t get to it. Slowly, she held her smeared right hand out, Winona almost.. mesmerized as she watched the blood stick to her skin, one thick drop running down her middle finger only to course a river through the lines on her hand.

She could have lost an eye.

It was only common sense – I should probably get this checked out, even if I don’t think I’ll bleed to death from it – that held her back from asking Dominic to take his stance again.

“I should probably find a healer,” she said, and whoever it was that had watched the blood trickle down her finger was gone like a ghost, Winona herself again, charming sensibility and all. “Thanks for trustin’ me,” she continued, and there wasn’t a hint of anger or spite – just gratitude, Winona honestly thankful for what she’d gotten to prove to herself.

She could do it. Now she needed practice.

as soon as the spear left dominic’s hands, he knew he’d made a mistake.

winona’s promise of her ability rang in his ears like a warning bell, only seeming to seal her fate as he was sure he’d killed her.

the thud of the spear was the only noise in the arena, echoing off the empty walls, dominic’s slack jaw and hasty breathing being the only things to accompany it.

her words sounded years away, his heartbeat still thundering in his ears. he almost killed her, or at least, blinded her. it was a miracle the two of them were only walking away with one incident.

he stepped aside, letting her pass to go to the inifamry, still in shock from the whole event.

he could of killed her.

[shadowstouch]

[shadowstouch]

istcrdcst:

The day had passed by rather quickly for the demigod. After a hideous training section, she had spent the rest of her day reading away by the lake. A certain book had her mesmerized, it was a book she had found in the library. Hana wondered whether its content was real or merely stories someone decided to write down. Having to figure out whether the stories were based on real events infuriated the girl. Was she to assume that it was all real?

She grew tired of analyzing the book and as the sun set down she made her way into the diner. Too many hours had passed since she ate, this she knew by her trembling fingers. The bell rang as she set foot in the restaurant and almost instantly she noticed Winona. It would have been an exaggeration to say that they were the best of friends, but Hana enjoyed the others company especially since they shared the same fascination towards everything magic. Although the knowledge the daughter of Hades held was beyond Hana’s and that, that she envied.

It was evident that she had stared for too long and yet the question Winona proposes causes a smile to form in Hana’s lips. “I- sure, I would love to.” She sat quickly although her actions carried a certain awkwardness in them. “Sorry if I’m interrupting anything.. But, how have you been?” The question seemed light and while the daughter of Selene lacked in small talk, she thought it was only the appropriate thing to ask. Setting her book down she gazed at the other.

“Got nothing to be sorry for; I invited you to sit,” Winona said, her tone warm – all easy charm, finding that she wanted to.. reassure Hana, somehow. “I’ve been alright, all things considered.” All things like the barrier breach and the subsequent curfew. Much as she knew it was for the safety of them all, she found she hated the idea of being told to stay cooped up. She thrived at night, Winona a nocturnal creature at heart. She didn’t doubt Hana was the same. “Puttin’ together a letter to my dad, at the moment. O’Connell Sr., not..” Hades.

“What about you? How was your day?”