Yes. You read that right. Greece has fallen...or at least the camp that has catered to Greek demigods for over three millennia has fallen. Camp Half-Blood had a traitor in their midst. A traitor with powerful allies who quickly burned the camp to the ground. Some were lost, some killed, and the rest who remained began the long trek across the country to the only place where they might be safe: Camp Jupiter.
Chiron banded what campers they had left, told them of the other camp and sent word to Camp Jupiter pleading for shelter. Chaos now threatens the camp daily with the arrival of new Greek campers to this foreign camp. This camp with strange customs and rules. While on the Roman end the Praetors are forced to hold up a balancing act of providing sanctuary while also trying to find the traitor before their home suffers the same fate as Camp Half-Blood.
New alliances are forged, new enemies are made, and these two worlds have to find some way to work together for the future of them all. Which side are you on? Which position will you take? It's time to jump in the fray because Greece has fallen.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Welcome to our site! We are so glad you are here my friend. Pull up a seat, set your weapons down and let's chat. We are a non-canon, percy jackson RP site based in Camp Jupiter. Both Greek and Roman demigods allowed. Legacies are limited. We have a very small word requirement for posting and we're pretty relaxed around here. We like drama but not the RL kind so keep this place nice and friendly. If you've got questions don't hesitate to ask!
GHF is the product of the mind of Addi; inspired by the percy jackson and heroes of olympus series by rick riordian. this is a work of fiction. names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. several beautiful remodels (including mini profile, profile) were designed by deltra of gangnam style and edited by Haya to fit the site's concept and needs. most images and gifs used for the skin are taken from assassins creed, the percy jackson movies and various google finds. all contents are copyright to their original owners. all characters belong to their original creators, and may not be used or replicated without permission. all images are copyright to their original owners. if you see an image/gif which is yours and you would like us to specifically credit you or remove it please do not hesitate to let us know in the cbox with a link.
Nathan would be the first to be a bit of a flirt at times. He liked pretty girls and most of the times they liked his tanned handsome looks and muscles. But there was a time and place for that sort of thing. Having a busted snout and a chance of kicking back for the day (Doc’s orders after all), meant this was not one of those times. He had no idea what chances he had with the nursey girl, so why push his luck? If he and Avery were to get to know each other- they’d end up meeting some other time. As they say: ‘Tomorrow is another day’.
“Always good to meet new people” he said with a smile as he lowered his head now that (hopefully) the bleeding had stopped. Nathan resisted the desire to sniff, because he was aware that it would hurt in the worst possible way. Figuring that he was good to go, he hopped of the bench he had been sitting on whilst Felix tended to him. Felix didn’t seem to object to him standing up, which just reinforced this opinion.
Hearing that Avery wasn’t that good at archery, he gave an understanding smile. Some people are destine to be warriors and others weren’t. Nathan knew that there were some Roman kids who were better at making weapons than making. Others were best left to design and site field fortifications, then actually build them. On some level he was pretty sure that sooner or later Avery would find her niche in Camp Jupiter and shine in it. What it was exactly…well, only the Gods knew that for sure.
“Well…if you want to get better at something- you got to practice at it” he advised Avery. Whether it was true or accurate, Nathan had no idea. For all he knew, he might have completely the wrong idea.
It took all the self-control that Nathan could muster, not to wince as Felix poked and prodded his injured nose. Not that he was trying to impress the Greek kids or anything…
Well, maybe a little. Not so much Felix- he probably knew how painful Nathan’s injury was, having seen uber-numbers of them in the past coming through the infirmary door. No, he was trying to impress the pretty ‘nursey’ girl that was helping him. He wouldn’t be Nathan Russo or a son of Bacchus if he wasn’t appraising the pretty girl a little. Not that he had any intention of flirting- kind of hard with a throbbing sore nose…
But he did look. Look as best he could with his nose elevated and looking past it and down as best he could.
None the less, there was a small creeping smile at what Avery suggested. Being a son of Bacchus he was all for the idea of blowing of training for the day and chilling by the pool. If that meant it was a pool party. Oh yes- that was most agreeable to Nathan! All ready he could see himself lying on an inflatable pool mattress, dressed only in beach shorts, sunglasses on under a hot California sun, glass of cold lemonade with a little cocktail umbrella in it and lots of cute girls in bikinis all around. What do you expect- he was a son of Bacchus after all…
But the reality-it wasn’t going to happen. Nathan knew an hour after he left the infirmary, he was going to be hauled up in front of his Centurion and chewed out for ill-discipline (that is to say, brawling). There would be no pool party with Legionnaire Nathan Russo of the Third Cohort. Instead under the hot California sun he would be either breaking rocks or building, pulling down and then moving a field fortification from all day from sun up to sun down…
All because he hauled off and bopped some jerk that had it coming. Had it been worth it? Yes. No. Maybe. Nathan wasn’t sure because his nose hurt. Of course…maybe his dad was able to dissuade the Fates and arrange for his Centurion to never know. As it was, Felix pronouncement made him smile, just a little otherwise.
“Something like that…” he answered Avery, none the less.
Oh hello…so ‘nursey’ did have a name after all. Nathan put that information in the back of his mind and planned to find out more about her (just out of honest interest, like if he was making an invitation list for another secret Third Cohort barrack party) later on. He was a son of Bacchus after all.
“Nice to meet you too Avery” Nathan smiled widely, even though his head was still titled back, “I’m Nathan- or as Doc called me, ‘Mr Russo’…but you can call me Nathan” he said.
Unlike Avery, Nathan had no aversion to the sight of blood. Certainly not his own. As a Camp Jupitar kid, he had seen enough of it officially (from training wounds) and unofficially (from being in barrack room brawls). This was not the first time- nor the last time he was sure, that he would be coming into the Infirmary with some kind of bleeding wound, bruised ribs or some other injury from training. Right now he had a bleeding nose- not serious, but still messy.
Nathan wouldn’t be Nathan if he didn’t notice there was a girl in the room. A pretty girl he wasn’t sure. But he knew from Avery’s voice that a girl had just come into the room. Of course looking at the roof, keeping his head back, he couldn’t see them. Oh nut-bunnies!
Of course that didn’t stop the consummate party-boy from wondering if he would be able to flirt with her possible. Leopards don’t change their spots in his case…
“No kidding…” he said with a little too much sarcasm, “Feels like I have been kicked in the face by a Pegasus”. That was uncharitable of him. The Apollo kid was just doing his job and giving him the skinny straight and clear. Also he knew from seeing others with bleeding noses, that it would probably hurt and bleed a little before it healed. He was just annoyed that it had happened to him- even if he did win the fight that caused it. “Sounds good…” he sighed when he was told what he had to do.
“Yeah…” he admitted when he heard what Avery said, “Could have totally busted nose and find it harder to breath. Not impossible, but more of a pain in the neck to do so” he said. “Guess I should be glad the other guy came off worse”. Of that he was abundantly sure- hurt in body, hurt in self-confidence.
Having a busted nose hurt! Nathan was pretty sure it looked worse than it really was, but it still hurt like Hades. He didn’t know the nose could be so sensitive to trauma of any kind. Well now he did. Still hurt like Hades. With luck the Apollo kid knew what he was doing and was telling the truth about Nathan’s nose. Already the front of Nathan’s purple t-shirt was splattered in his blood- by way of his nose, that was entirely his own. No one said that being a Roman kid was easy. From the first minute he set his foot in the House of Lupus, he was well aware that his life would be rough and intense. So small wonder his nose felt it was busted and bleed like a leaky faucet. Not that it was bleed as badly as it was a few minutes ago. Most of that was because of the cotton wool stuck up his nose and part of it die to the skill of the Apollo kid attending upon him.
Nathan had seen the Apollo kid before at the Palaestrae sparring. Looks could be deceptive for sure. Felix didn’t look like he could last long in a fight, but he had seen the Apollo kid own guys bigger than him in a sparring session. Like make them ‘tap out’ rather than have their arm ripped out or ankle dislocated. Moral of the story: Never judge a book by its cover. Not that he was thinking of shying away from trying the spar with Felix himself- that ought to be an interesting contest. Not that it would be happening today. One thing Nathan did like was older kid bullying smaller kids in camp- Camp Jupiter or not. That did not sit well with the son of Bacchus. Not it did not. As a result, he and another Roman kid had a ‘sparring session’ to settle the matter. There was no doubt that Nathan won the contest. He had pinned the guy in a manner that proved beyond a doubt who the winner was. But it had come at a (minor) price. ”Hurts like Hades” he said to Felix. “You sure it isn’t broken?”. Nathan was worried that his planned date for tonight would have to be cancelled if he nose was broken and he couldn’t breath as well as usual.Having his head elevated he couldn’t see who had just entered the Infirmary- he was a little busy pinching his nose, trying to staunch the last of bleeding from his nose.
“That’s fine” the son of Bacchus said with a shrug, “Means I can give you all my attention to you and your work out”. He smiled when the daughter of Hades said she was lacking in friends. “Don’t worry about that- kids around here can be kinda screwy around here. Just give them time and be yourself and they’ll come around” he said. Nathan wasn’t just saying that- he truly believed that. In his time at Camp Jupiter he had learnt that demigod kids could be complex people who just really needed to find their niche in camp. Some people needed time to feel comfortable with others. That was probably what Deaspro just needed to do. But that wasn’t for Nathan to say- she would have to probably do that herself…
“Neither was I when I first arrived here” he said with a smile, when Deaspro said she wasn’t the strongest demigod around. “I was kinda skinny when I arrived here before I started working out”. Looking at him, it was evident that working out had worked for him. “Don’t worry- I think being uber-strong isn’t what you need I think. Being cardio fit for Shadow Travelling sounds like your kind of thing- no need to lift heavy weights for that”. Nathan had a pretty good idea rattling around in his skull as to a work out program for the daughter of Hades to use. Granted it would mean she’d have to lift lighter weights, but he knew from experience that it would work for her.
Nathan sighed. He missed Colorado. He had been here for a long time. Did that mean he was ‘institutionalized’ now? Maybe he was wrong about that. Maybe one day soon, he would be called up to go on a mission with his cohort. Yeah, that was it- a mission! “Yeah…that sounds good” he said, “I mean, I could probably get sent on a mission out of here some day soon. So…that could be like going home" he said with a little hope in his voice. Maybe all he had to do was present a trip into San Francisco in the context of a mission to his Centurion….
So it was agreed- Nathan and Claire would meet up later and talk. It was so cloak-and-dagger in nature to Nathan, that he felt his spine tingle in places in glee. However as best he could, he kept the glint from his eye as the party progressed. Nathan had a party to host and he took his duty seriously. For the rest of the night he mingled with the party-goers and did what was required of him. He counselled love-lorn couples in the relationships, he helped other kids with their esteem problems and, oh yes- flirted with a couple of Aphrodite girls (of course). Like Claire there were kids who wanted to talk about the event the following day. It was known- or obvious to those that knew Nathan, that he would be entering the Hand-to-Hand Combat event. Nathan was one of the most skilled wrestlers in camp (of course no one had put him up against any of the Greek kids yet) and was also one of the strongest and fittest kids as well. Therefore there were a lot of kids who thought he would win- or at least come in a close second, with whoever beat him hoping they never had to tangle with him again- ever.
All good things to an end. It seemed to Nathan and most of his cohort mates that everyone had a good time and had the chance to let their hair down for the night. Everyone would need to get a decent night’s sleep before the morning’s events, so in dribs and drabs they took their leave into the night. Under the cover story of he and Claire going outside to clean up any rubbish left round from the party (which might attract the attention of the Centurions), he slipped outside into the night to meet Claire.
Ahead of him the darkness he could see the silhouette of Claire standing there, clearing twirling a dagger in her fingers. Fair enough- children of Mars (and now Ares), often carried weapons- that was a given. He himself was still holding a goblet of grape juice, so he was playing into the image of his siblings. Whatever happened now, it was on Claire’s dime- she talked about what she wanted, however long she wanted and whatever she was comfortable about. He was just there to act as a sounding board and If asked- give her advice. ”So…here we are” he said as he drew closer out of the dark, “So what is on your mind” he enquired to get the ball rolling.
Some times it did feel like he lived in the Palastrae. Maybe it was true- he did spend a lot of time there. Certainly it did feel like a second home to him. It was also evident from the way he looked that he did spend a long time there.
He just tried not to advertise the fact too much. Even if most people already thought that and he saw no reason to no reason to change that stereotypical view of him. After all, no one was getting hurt by it, right? “Well…like I said- offer there any time” he smiled as he shrugged on a nonchalant manner. “If you like, you could always just bring a friend along if you want. I mean I know Camp Half Blood people who liked to work out, if you know someone who does”. Nathan wanted to feel comfortable training with someone she trusted or knew from Camp Half Blood, if he was engaged in his own training or training Max and his little buddies. After all, she did hardly know who Nathan was.
It had been a while since he had been back to Colorado. No small guess that he missed it. His family, the familiar environment of the family vineyard, hiking in the hills and of course playing football or football with other kids. Like many Roman kids, he had dreams of what could have been, if they hadn’t ended up in Camp Jupiter. A long time ago, he had learned that it didn’t do to fixate on what could have been and to focus on what was going on now.
Was he happy where he was now? Yes. Yes he was happy in Camp Jupiter.
“Really?” the son of Bacchus said. Truly- this was a surprise to Nathan. He had always assumed that Camp Half Blood was set up the same as Camp Jupiter- after all, Ancient Greece had a culture on par with Ancient Rome’s. It was inconceivable that Camp Half Blood didn’t have a New Rome (or New Athens, as the case maybe) or a college. It just showed how little he did actually know about the place.
“Wow…you could actually get to leave there- and then come back?” he said. Nathan would have signed up for that chance if he could have. He did nod though. Nathan was well aware of how monster scoped in on demigods like heat-seeking missiles. Probably that was the real reason he couldn’t go home like he often dreamed of on occasion.
The silence from the daughter of Mars, signified that she was thinking about what was being said.
That was fine by the son of Bacchus.
In the end, it was always his policy that if someone wanted to talk to him about an issue they were having, it was THEIR decision to make. Sure, he always made it known he was offering to help, but he never (as far as he knew) ever pushed his offer on them. That wasn’t who he was- least, he hoped it wasn’t. In the end, his intentions were honest in nature…
Until she spoke again, he sipped his grape juice and watched the others in attendance at the party- he had host duties to undertake after all.
His eyes watched the other kids enjoying themselves at the secret party. He was happy that the party he and his barrack-mates organized, a smile evident on his face. It was an effective front, as Claire gave him her answer. “Sure thing…” he murmured aloud from behind his goblet of grape juice, so she could hear what he said and no one else could. Nathan was capable of being discrete as it turned out.
Truth be told he had no idea what she might say. That didn’t matter- it was all about her saying what she comfortable saying and him listening- not saying anything. Often that was why he was successful at this helping people with problems- he didn’t saying anything, unless asked. It amazed him how many times kids solved the issues worrying them, but just talking about them. Often by doing so, they had an epiphany where the answer was provided to them- by themselves. All he did was sit by and let them talk.
Honestly he had no idea what might happen later…
Maybe he and Claire would go for a long walk around camp whilst she talked. Maybe they’d just sit outside under the moon and talk. Possibly they would end up in the Palestrae, where she could belt the Hades out of a training dummy with a char (or spar with Nathan until neither could move from exhaustion). That would be decided by how Claire felt. Nathan would just help where he felt he could or was asked to. Every kid was different and reacted to different things. Claire was as unique as any other kid in Camp Jupiter.
The girl at the opposite edge of the bench who squealed at when he spoke to her, seemed to be unusually interested in her hoodie...weird.
Not uber-creepy weird, just unusual. Not that Nathan made a habit of noticing stuff like that. It was just something he noticed and took note of. “That’s okay…” he said with a small- if embarrassed smile, “I was kind of surprized too…didn’t expect to see anyone here”. In Nathan’s experience it was rare for two campers to be in the same spot in the gardens at the same time. Sure…there were probably a few campers dotted around the gardens, but they had little idea where the others were (if they even knew they were even there). Small wonder that he was surprized to find Sophie there.
Even though the girl was still fiddling with her hoodie, at least she was able to chuckle at what happened. “Yes it does” he agreed, “Of course we are probably not the only ones here today”. Nathan wasn’t sure if there were any other campers in the gardens that day. That said, even if he did have any idea how many there were- he had no idea where they were. Especially those Hermes kids…they were sneaky.
Sophie’s attempt to say something, made the son of Bacchus cocked his head to the side, partially to hear what she had to say, partially at his confusion at why she stopped saying what she was going to say.
Hearing what she wanted to say, the Bacchus kid smiled his warmest smile. Of course he wanted her to stay longer. He wanted anyone who came here to enjoy their stay in the garden and feel safe there. “Sure- stay as long as you want. That is one of the reasons we have this place. So people can enjoy it freely” he said. Party boy he might be, Nathan loved being here at least a couple of times a week. It wasn’t just because he was there to tend his secret grapevine or to make out with a pretty girl, it was also because the place made him feel good. It was a place dedicated to his father and in its own way, being here Nathan was able to commune with his father, even if a little bit.
“Oh yes…the plants and herds are really nice here- especially in spring. Flowers are just so much more beautiful and the herbs are just that more fragrant” Nathan waved lyrically as he went into a brief revere about the past times he had been there.
Nathan chuckled. Like he hadn’t tongue-tripped over the dichotomy of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses himself. “Yeah- Dionysus/Bacchus…same guy,- just a different party outfit” he agreed. “But yeah- I am a son of Bacchus” the young demigod from Third Cohort verified.
Okay…mentioning the possibility of turning a guy into a guinea pig, was not a good way to get friendly with hedonistic sons of Bacchus who (unfortunately for him) had the habit of flirting. Truth be known, Nathan didn’t know whom Circe was, or even who their Roman version was. All he did know was that he didn’t think he would like to be a small furry squeaking animal running around a cage, twitching his nose and munching on lettuce all day (not that he had a problem with eating lettuces mind you). “That’s…good to know. I’ll make a point of not getting on your bad side” he said with a smile that wasn’t too confident.
People handled stress and frustration differently. Some like Claire bottled it up. Some didn’t give a dam about it all and just chugged along do what they were doing. Others (such as Nathan) used it to motivate and keep themselves going. More than once he had thought about punching out a Centurion during a pack-march when in sight of camp, they turned the cohort to the side and marched them another couple of miles away from camp. Certainly there had been times when the other kids who were doing a field fortification building exercise were getting really tired. In that case he used the frustration of things going pear-shaped and ploughed on, in the hope that the other kids took inspiration from him.
As it was unlike some, Nathan was not one to hide his emotions. If he was happy, he had a big smile plastered across his face. When he was angry, you could see the muscles pop in his jaw and neck. Times when he was sad, those big shoulders of his slumped visibly.
There was a long momentary silence that fell between Nathan and his fellow Third Cohort member, as Claire seemed to weigh up what he had said to her. He had no idea if he believed him. It didn’t really matter that he had been telling her the truth of being there for people in need. What it came down to, was would the other person take up his offer. In the end, it was always their decision, not Nathan’s…
Claire’s glance around to see what others were doing, indicated to the son of Bacchus that she was maybe considering to take up his offer…or was looking for someone else to talk to. It could go either at that moment. Likewise, he too looked around to- just to check how people were enjoying their time here…or if the Centurion had just come in the door and sprung everyone in the process.
Everyone seemed deep engaged in conversation, laughing or moving around the barrack room.
Nathan thought it looked as if it took a lot of courage for Claire to agree (maybe) to talk about what was bothering her. Slow steps…that was the key here. If she decided to unload with him, it would be at her pace, not his. For now he would just listen to what she said and not open his mouth unless asked. “Where and when is up to you…got all night and I don’t think anyone is noticing us” he said as he sipped his grape juice.
Sitting on the bench was a girl that Nathan had never seen before. His first reaction was that she was one of the Greek kids that were now living in Camp Jupiter (through no fault of their own, as far as he was concerned).
It didn’t surprise him if that was true and she was just exploring this part of the camp. Certain he would be if he was a Greek kid who suddenly found himself dumped in Camp Jupiter. Whatever the truth of the matter, Nathan was of the opinion that she could not have chosen a more beautiful place in all of Camp Jupiter. He had himself spent hours in here just enjoying the ambient beauty of the place- by himself or with someone else.
The way she was holding out her hand, he took her as a possible daughter of Helios- whoever else but one of them would take such simple pleasure from the rays of the sun up above?
Needless to say, her reaction to him speaking to her caught him unawares…
Her banshee-like shriek of surprise and the way she stepped backwards abruptly, made him react by jumping back just as abruptly. Holy Cow- all he did was say hello and she just about had a fit. Needless to say, she scared the Hades out of the son of Bacchus, since it was the last thing he expected.
“Umm- no…its public property here” he informed the girl as she yanked her hood over her head. “Anyone can come here if they want. Sorry if I freaked you out…its kinda peaceful here and I didn’t expect anyone to be here” Nathan said by way of an apology and an explanation of the garden’s nature.
The strange girl seemed a little freaked out by what happened as well. “No- you don’t have to go. Not unless you want to” he assured Sophie. Slowly he stepped towards the bench that she was sitting on and sat down at the very opposite edge of the bench. “I don’t mind sharing this place- the Garden of Bacchus with others…it’s kinda of a place dedicated to my dad” the son of Bacchus said, smiling up at the sun. “I take it you must be one of the new Greek kids around here- haven’t seen you around before. Least…I don’t think I have” he said.
“Well- yeah…sure” the son of Bacchus agreed with a smile. He was often called on by others in the Palastrae to help others with their work outs. Sometimes it was on how to get the most out of their work out and sometimes it was to assist them with their work out- like lifting heavy weights bars off guys who were lifting way too much to impress girls. Of course, there were trainers around, but they were often busy training other kids or doing necessary jobs. “Any time you want- I am here pretty often during the day if I am nor doing something elsewhere” he said. Subconsciously he didn’t want to sound as if he spent his entire life there- even though it probably did. He had others things to do during the day such as being on inspection parades, training with his cohort or, tending to his grape vine in the Garden of Bacchus.
Nathan was well aware that the transition to life in Camp Jupiter for the Greek kid had been…difficult. More than once he had seen Greeks chaff against the regimentity of the Roman ways and more than once had almost come to blows…or said something they really shouldn’t. But no one said this whole situation was going to be easy. It was true he did find something to be sloppy, as organized as a bath of drunk cats and lacking in martial spirit, but on the whole they were the same as him when it came down to it.
A nod answered Deaspro comment as she reaffirmed all that he had been thinking. “Pretty much the way things are around here- guess you could say it was the way we were raised” he said. Hard to believe he used to be a wiry chatterbox who was always looking for fun to be had when he should be paying attention to what he was doing in the Lupa House.
And look at him now…tall, body like a (to think of a better word) young Greek god and had a ambition in life to work towards as a Aquilifer.
“Oh- New Rome” the son of Bacchus smiled. “Mostly it is for older kids who are, well- retired, from being legionnaires or are ex-Senators. Often it is the way point for those going off to college. Pretty sure at Camp Half Blood had a place like that- you know, New Athens”. He had little knowledge of what Camp Jupiter was really like, never been there, but surely it wasn’t that much different. “Hmm…what do we do around here for fun?” he mused as he rested his chin in the cleft of his hand. “Depends on what you like doing- we have a lake to swim in, then there is the Equitus I Romani if you like horses and my favorite- the Garden of Bacchus. Sometimes we even have parties that out Centurions don’t know about”. Oh yes…he knew all about the secret parties.
It was true that Nathan flirted with girls he found pretty- it was his nature.
However it was also his nature to help those in need of help in the form of someone to listen to their problems- if possible, even help them. He was a firm believer in throwing off one’s cares and letting one’s hair down. Sometimes you just had to say ‘Phooey!’ to your cares and just party. Whether that philosophy would work for him- the future would tell…
What he did know was that he certainly worked hard and played hard. It didn’t matter if it was in the Paleastrae, on the parade ground or out in the field building fortifications, he gave his all. There were days when he pushed himself lifting weights and sparring with other campers in wrestling matches, so hard that it felt as if every muscle in hi body had been smushed up inside of him. More than once after drilling for hours or going on long pack marches, he almost (sometimes literally) so mind-fried that he walked into his barrack walls or felt as if his feet would explode. Lifting, carrying and digging field fortifications had driven nuts sometimes, especially when the Centurion inform them all they needed to tear the whole camp down and move it 2 miles away and have it up in three hours before they even sniffed dinner.
Small wonder he went all out at these parties he helped put together…
Nathan wasn’t a mind-reader…the forty times that girls had slapped his face or thrown something at him when he flirted with them was ample evidence of that. But he did know underlying moods in conversations. For starters, being around the daughter or Mars for so long in the same barrack room, subtly he could pick up on glimpses of her body language. If he judged things right, he was pretty sure something was troubling her and making her a ‘sad panda’ at the party. Would she open up and talk to him? He couldn’t tell.
The crossing of arms across her chest screamed out that Claire didn’t want to talk about whatever was bugging her. It also told him to not bug her, least he wanted his gluteus maximus kicked. Mars’ children had a talent for doing that…one does not ‘fuss’ with a child of Mars over that.
“Okay then…” Nathan said in his typically sing-song voice when his help was rejected. “Just so you know- I am there for anyone in our cohort if they have a problem or need to talk in private. Its what I do and I do it well” he said taking a sip of his grape juice nonchalantly, but not walking away from her. The message was pretty clear: he had left the door open to her if she wanted to talk in private.
The son of Bacchus looked about him reflectively. “Yeah…it is a good place to focus” he said. "Kind of ironic considering the fact my dad isn’t exactly the kind of guy to ‘focus’ on anything for too long. But…I can see why some of my more musical siblings might come here to stir their muse…” he admitted.
For his part, Nathan wasn’t sure if he should even try and flirt with this stranger in the garden. First of all, that was not even what he was there for- he had more important personal jobs to do here and Secondly, she was sure as Hades wasn’t here for that as well. Granted- yes, she was pretty and Nathan would not be who he was if he hadn’t thought- even for a second, of flirting with her half-heartedly. However today, he was about important business.
“Thank you- I appreciate that…really I do” he assured Stella as he beamed pleasantly in a non-flirty manner. He didn’t think there were many kids in camp (at least Roman ones) who would squeal like a piggy on him to the Centurions for his illicit grape growing caper. Most kid could be relied on because they understood how important the grapevine was to him or they didn’t see how growing one was in any way harmful or subversive in nature to the maintenance of good order in camp.
“I hope so too” he said with a hopeful tone in his voice. “If it works out, I will be able to take cuttings off it in the spring and try a propagate an few more grave vines- then maybe I can try and plant a secret vineyards here…for the future”. Nathan was looking to the future. To his mind, surely a vineyard would be the perfect thing for a Garden of Bacchus? It was his way of paying his own homage to his paternal father. It could work. Growing up he had worked on a vineyard and still remembered the skills he learnt from his grandparents and mother in working a vineyard.
Nathan gave a short laugh and looked at his feet for a second. “Well…some of us have to watch our asses” he said as he sat upon the edge of the fountain, “Maybe one of us plans to be an Aquilifer one day”. That role in the legion was one of great renown and responsibility. Nathan knew in his heart that was a goal in life he had to achieve. Of course, he was having run ins with his and few other Centurions. But not for stuff bad enough to warrant formal detention. Nathan knew he was courageous, honorable and dedicated to his cohort and his legion. Also he was big enough to carry the standard into battle easily and defend it- good luck to the monster who thought he could grab it off him without having to encounter considerable resistance from the son of Bacchus.
The son of Bacchus shrugged by way of agreeing with what Meadow. “That’s true…” he said. Many a kid’s plan as to how to win in a sparring season had changed instantly and thrown into utter chaos by a punch to the mouth…it made one ‘reflective’ on how they were doing thing at that moment…
For his part, Nathan’s eyes stayed on hers a fraction later, until he realized what was happening and blinked. Nathan would be the first to admit that Meadow was pretty- but this was hardly the time and place to muse on such things. “I hope so too” he said in reply, “I trained hard enough”. That was a fact that somewhat galled Nathan. Considering how hard he trained and the disciplined life he lived in Camp Jupiter, he was pretty sure he would have been good enough to compete in the mortal’s version of the Olympic Games every four years- and win a good medal in the Greco-Roman wrestling event. Sometimes he actually pictured himself on the top of the dais, after he had won his gold medal and basking in his justly won glory.
Ah…but that was just a moment’s fancy.
“All my limbs in tact at least…” he likewise mused. Nathan had seen competitions like this and serious sparring sessions end up with a kid sustaining a busted arm, broken leg or dislocated limbs. They could be pretty meaty looking injuries, but not enough to make him stop doing what he loved doing. “All part of the risk we take in life”.
Nathan smiled and chuckled. “I’ll do that…in fact I might dump him on his gluteus maximus and make him tap out” he promised.
Meadow seemed to be really sticking it to Nathan over Aurora. But he didn’t mind- he was too good natured for that. “Yes- if you must know, I did like her…maybe still do” he laughed. If anything was going on between him and Aurora, at the right time he would (like a grapevine) nurture it or prune it, least it get out of control. As it was, everything was under control and neither he or Aurora were going overboard here. A derisive snort came from Nathan. “And we Bacchus kids have a ritual of partying all night and keeping the neighbors awake” he said. It seemed to him that a lot of kid were saddled with reputations based on their parents and their unfortunate habit sometimes to follow in said parents’ footsteps. He was pretty sure that Aurora would lead him on- he was pretty sure he hadn’t led her on...had he?
“Probably…” Nathan said turning to her slightly, chiseled muscles clearly outlined on his body. “I’ve been poked and prodded enough time by Mars kids in weapons sparring in the past”. It was one of his most terrible jokes, but right now witty comebacks weren’t on his mind at the moment. He did however hear the last thing she said. “That could be interesting…” he said with a small smile that matched hers.
Seeing Nathan making his way to the center of the competition area, Nathan’s opponent likewise made his way over. As the referee reminded the two combatants of the rules (things could get a little heated here), the two of them sized the other up. Both were the same height and physical build and looked as if they could wrestle a gorilla and win. Eventually the match began. Meadow’s voice was just one of many that resonated around the fighters as they competed, adding to the sense of drama and suspense of the moment. Nathan waited- figuring his opponent would try and punch him in the face. He wasn’t wrong. Snapping out a ham-sized fist, his opponent took a pop at Nathan. Expecting this, Nathan acted accordingly. Reaching across his body, Nathan grabbed the wrist of the punching hand and pulled it across the front off him. Caught off balance, his opponent was pulled past him, leaving him vulnerable to attack. Stepping in, Nathan grabbed his opponent around the upper arm at the bicep under his armpit and squeezed his arm between his own shoulder and bicep. Pushing down on the wrist and lifting him at the armpit simultaneously, he lifted his opponent off balance and then in an explosive move, stepped across in front of him- giving him no room to move.
In close now, Nathan stepped a foot deep between his opponents so that his hip was under him. Releasing the wrist, he punched his hand up under his opponent’s other armpit and across his back towards his opposite shoulder. Popping his hips and arched through as he did so- his opponent’s balance broken, he throwing his opponent across his body and to the ground, following him down.
Rolling off him and he landed on top of him, Nathan sprang to his feet and dropped low, ready for whatever his opponent would try next.
It was a good start of the match for Nathan so far…
Ave, demigod! Over the next month, all new threads created may be attacked by the Fates at any time, unless specified in the subheader. All random events will be based on prompts from the randomizer. Please refer to the event guide #2 for further and more detailed information about your character's possible fate.
GHF is the product of the mind of addi; inspired by the percy jackson and heroes of olympus series by rick riordian.
this is a work of fiction. names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
several beautiful remodels (including mini profile, profile) were designed by deltra of gangnam style and edited by haya to fit the site's concept and needs.
most images and gifs used for the skin are taken from assassins creed, the percy jackson movies and various google finds.
all contents are copyright to their original owners. all characters belong to their original creators, and may not be used or replicated without permission. all images are copyright to their original owners.
if you see an image/gif which is yours and you would like us to specifically credit you or remove it please do not hesitate to let us know in the cbox with a link.
