luke knew what the fleece could do by the way. it was very heavily implied that the titan army's plan was to use the fleece to revive kronos first and then get thalia revived next to expedite the speed at which the great prophecy occurred. luke says that percy is an "unreliable weapon" that needs to be "replaced". the replacement was supposed to be thalia
and there's definitely some ambiguity as to what exactly they wanted thalia for (did they just want a super powerful demigod on their side to fight with them and nothing more? did they only care about having the prophecy child under their control? did they only want her to kill the ophiotaurus for them? was she meant to be kronos' new host instead of luke? would luke have known if that was kronos' true intention for her body? heck would kronos have even needed a host at all if he'd gotten the fleece?). but luke is clearly expressing in these excerpts that he had some kind of deal/understanding with kronos in which he is obligated to get thalia to join their side, or else kronos will use his body as a host. luke is genuinely afraid of this happening to him and clearly doesn't want to lose his body to kronos; this was a very risky gamble for him to make. but as thalia says in tlo luke made his choices - and furthermore, the stringent nature of fate and prophecy predetermined that the war was always going to end with thalia immortal and luke dead by his own hand
You were sat on the deck in the backyard of a friend of a friends friend’s party, mind slightly buzzing from the alcohol and rejoicing in the calmer environment compared to inside; where the party was currently in full swing with no sign of slowing down for the night. You tilt your head up to look at the night sky, not too much to see in terms of stars when you’re in suburbia, but if you look hard enough you can make out orion’s belt.
You feel someone set themselves down next to you, the sound of a lighter rings in your ears.
“Is it okay if i smoke?” the person says
“huh? oh. yeah. Knock yourself out”
“Cool” the clicks of the lighter sound out again. You turn to look at the stranger, the light from inside the party dimly illuminating both of you from behind, the flame of the lighter momentarily showing his features in better light.
“so,” He takes a drag of his cigarette “what brings you out here and not in there?”
You fiddle with the rings on your fingers. “i got a bit overwhelmed in there, wanted a bit of a breather before i go back in there and find my friend,” You turn and point in the general direction of where you saw her last, currently deep in the dancing crowd “she’s my ride home”
“ah, have to say with the way this party is going, i don’t know if you’ll be heading back home any time soon. Your friend seems to be having quite the time in there”
“yeah, figures”
You both return to silence for a while, him finishing off his cigarette while you gently drum your fingers to the music that bleeds out to where you’re sitting. The break in conversation didn’t feel as awkward as it usually does with people, you partially blame that on the alcohol. But something about this stranger feels easygoing.
“So, you asked me now i ask you” You throw out “aside from a smoke break, you don’t look in a rush to get back in there either”
“you caught me” He gently chuckles, jokingly raising his hands up lazily. “if you must know, i too needed a break from all that…I mean I like to party as much as the next guy but sometimes people and sounds get to be too much”
You feel yourself sobering up a little as you nod in agreement with his statement. You want to keep your buzz going, so you start to stand up getting ready to offer to get a drink for him as well.
“Well uh…” you trail off, you realise you haven’t asked his name yet.
“Luke” He smiles up at you
“yes, Luke. I am going to grab another drink, would you like one?”
Luke leans back, resting on his palms. “Whatever you’re having i’ll have too”
You bravely stumble back into the party, mission in mind.
You return, drinks in hand. You pass one to Luke and sit back down in your previously claimed spot.
He mumbles out a thanks as you both enjoy your drinks.
About an hour passes, conversation easily flowing just like the drinks you are having, neither of you making any move to return to the party.
“Man, she’s totally not taking me home tonight is she?” you chuckle, a little pissed off your friend who earlier tonight promised ‘it will just be in and out! i promised my friend we would make an appearance’ How you believed her is beyond you, you think with a smile
“I don’t know about you but i’m ready get out of here.” Luke stretches as he makes a move to get up “I live nearby, walking distance, if you’d like to tag along i was thinking of ordering in some really greasy shit probably a good pizza” He offers his hand to help you up.
Your stomach growls at the mention of proper food, the chips and other finger food at the party doing the bare minimum to satiate the hunger, especially with you being outside and the snacks being deep inside the party. “How can i say no to such an offer? Sure i’ll go to your place stranger. Promise not to murder me?”
“We’re not really strangers now are we? you know my name, i know yours” he pulls you up with ease ‘does he work out?’ you think. “Plus the walk back to mine should give us enough time to become even less of strangers, no promises on the murder thing, gee you know i just loooovee doing that all the time” he throws in at the end jokingly. You let out a big laugh as you both make your way out of the party.
You message your friend,
‘Not kidnapped, left with a friend, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
