♇ - [video]

[keeperfromtheflame]

[For a moment, all anyone would be able to see is a blur of browns and greens. Branches. Leaves. An arm. And a loud barking coming from somewhere relatively close by. Once the camera steadies, a brief, high-angle view of a lovely Catahoula Cur with its paws up against a tree trunk could be seen. Or, at least, the dog would seem lovely, if it weren't barking ferociously at something.]

[Another shift in angles, and we find out what the dog is barking at: Hazel.]

[Who is currently stuck up in the tree.]

Umm...help? Somebody?

[The others were so going to laugh at her for this. She's pretty sure they were already laughing at her for this. But it was either ask for help, or hurt the dog.]

Comments

Video

[likesimpossible]

[ The Doctor's been wandering around, with his puppy in tow, when he spots this message, and he can't help but respond. ]

What is it, are you alright?

Video

[keeperfromtheflame]

Never better.

[With the faintest hint of sarcasm behind it. She wasn't hurt, but she also still couldn't move from her spot. At least her tone sounded fairly casual. No signs of fear.]

I have this...thing with most animals.

Namely, they don't like me.

Video

[likesimpossible]

[ And then it occurs to him (belatedly) that those are tree branches, which means she's in a bit of a pickle. ]

I suppose, then, that I should be asking what happened to make them not like you. But that would be wasting time. I'm pretty sure I've got some dog treats around here somewhere.

[ The benefit of having pockets that are bigger on the inside... ]

Do you think you can hang on for a bit longer? I'll try and hurry.

Video

[keeperfromtheflame]

I didn't do anything!

[Her voice rose half an octave, as if she were offended by the mere thought that she had done something to deserve this awful fate,]

[The fact that the dog below was growling low didn't help things any.]

Take your time. I'm not going anywhere.

Video

[likesimpossible]

Right, well, suppose it doesn't matter. It's hard to tell with animals what they'll do.

[ He raises a hand in what's meant to be a placating gesture. ]

I'll be right down. Oh, right, can you tell if there's any landmarks around? It would make finding you a bit easier, that's all.

Video

[keeperfromtheflame]

Trees. A lot of trees.

Oh, and a malicious mutt at the base of one, currently trying to bite my ankles off. He's kind of loud. Can't miss him.

[In her defense, that really was all she had to go on.]

Video --> Action

[likesimpossible]

Right, a great big dog, and lots of trees. It's not ideal, but I've had worse. I'll try not to be long.

[ And with that, he's on his way, heading out of the mansion and onto the grounds, looking for a tree with a girl in it and a dog at the base.

It only takes him a bit of walking around to spot what has to be the tree in question. It's not all that likely that there'd be another tree with a girl in it, anyway.

He sizes up the scene, and having decided it looks manageable, he pulls out the dog treats, and whistles, holding out a handful of them. ]

text;

[boyhood]

It's dangerous to walk around without a weapon.

<sub>[Hazel's newest text partner votes hurt the dog. And that's about all the contribution he has for a girl child in need.

He's tempted to say "it's a dog eat dog world," but that's tacky.]</sub>

audio

[keeperfromtheflame]

[There were two things that came to mind when Hazel received her very first text message. Like, ever.]

[The first was an instinctive what is this? Okay, so she knew what it was. It was words. Which meant reading. Something she had grown to distain ever since she was a little girl in 1930s Louisiana. In those days, ADHD or dyslexia went undiagnosed. Children were simply deemed lazy. No support. So, of course, a child like her never had a chance.]

[Until now.]

[Because...those words...at least, from her perspective...were written in Latin, the "dead" Language her Roman demigod brain had been hardwired for since birth.]

...you speak Latin?

[She wasn't in much of a position to text back right then, but she could voice her surprise at that supposed revelation.]

[boyhood]

_{[Oops, does someone have a problem with him sending text messages? Better keep going, then.]}

This world makes it possible. Nifty bit of magic.

_{[And another one not a minute later:]}

I can still hear the dog. It sounds vicious. What do you prefer, knife or crossbow?

[keeperfromtheflame]

[Not a problem, per say. Just...don't expect any texting in return anytime soon.]

If I wanted to kill it, it would already be dead.

I don't want it hurt. Just gone.

[boyhood]

<sub>[Big words coming from a girl who's likely blocked off from whatever makes her special, the same as him. Now Peter wouldn't mind killing his way to a moment of peace and quiet, but luckily for the pups, they don't try to chase him around like Hazel's.

And besides, venting his feelings takes work when killing has to be all done by hand.]</sub>

What difference does it make? It's only a memory. A living memory.

[keeperfromtheflame]

[Not so big words if and when he ever realized that she wasn't blocked off from what actually made her special: her training. A year of actual, literal Spartan-like warfare and experience. She knew how to carry a sword, how to ride a warhorse, and while, sure, there were certain other abilities that had given her the advantage against recent mythological appearances along their seemingly never-ending Quest...she didn't have to be able to control the Mist to take down a little dog.]

That doesn't even make sense.

[She was quite familiar with the idea of "living memory", in fact--only recently having stopped experiencing actual Blackouts in which she was forced to relive memories of her old life.]

voice

[shadowtravel]

[ oh no- ]

I'm surprised it isn't scared of you instead.

[ seeing as though that tends to be the problem he has. ]

voice

[keeperfromtheflame]

[Nico, you aren't helping.]

Sometimes they are.

But others...I get chased up a tree. Which isn't very comfortable, in case you were wondering.

voice

[shadowtravel]

Right, sorry.

[ come on, Nico, on topic here. ]

Guess you can't shadow travel away, either. [ a beat. ] I'll come get you, if you want.

voice

[keeperfromtheflame]

I've only done it once before, and you were there to help me, remember?

[Not to mention, the whole factor of solid ground to work with. The last time she saw her shadow, it was somewhere several feet below.]

voice

[shadowtravel]

It isn't just that. Our powers aren't working right now.

[ there's a sound of rustling in the background; he's pulling on his jacket so he can go help her. ]

voice

[keeperfromtheflame]

[You know, it said a lot that Hazel hadn't even noticed. Maybe if she had been underground recently. Or so stressed out that she would have expected precious gemstones to start surfacing again. But it had been a while since any incidents of the latter. She'd thought she was simply getting better at controlling i.]

Since when?

( video )

[ripstides]

[ look at that cute little guy. vicious? nah. ]

Why not make a run back for the mansion?

( video )

[keeperfromtheflame]

[You speak blasphemy, Percy. Demigod blasphemy.]

Already tried that.

See how far I made it?

( video )

[ripstides]

Yeah, I think you missed the door. [ trees and doors are both composed of wood, true, but no. wait, oh right. he's supposed to stop teasing her any time now. ]

( video )

[keeperfromtheflame]

[That joke was so bad she couldn't even be bothered to groan.]

Are you going to help me, or are you and the dog secretly forming an alliance behind my back?

( video )

[ripstides]

[ what? come on, that was great! ]

I'm going to help you, but I'm not entirely convinced you couldn't solve your problem with some patience, supervision, and a dog treat.

( video )

[keeperfromtheflame]

[Not even groan worthy.]

Have you met me?

Besides...the only dog treat I have right now are apparently my ankles. And that's one sacrifice I'm not sure I'm willing to make.