[ She sounds like she means it. She sounds like she says it a lot. Aaaaand that's all she says. The truth is she's not sure what she wants from him, exactly. Why is she even doing this?
It's probably has nothing to do with her own extremely complicated relationship with mortality, nor the way her heart aches terribly in the place where Nico had burrowed his way in and then disappeared without a word. No, it's probably just because he's annoying, and for some reason she just can't stop herself from hanging out with annoying boys.
Their path is completely incomprehensible. They make so many turns as they pass through basements, utility tunnels, and supply closets. There's no way he'll be able to backtrack. ]
[the short response -- is a better response than he usually gets, really. he doesn't want pity or sympathy. he just wants to be himself]
It's usually a bunch of trouble, but it's not so bad.
[and he falls into quiet when she does, grey eyes scanning wide at the path around them, sometimes lit, sometimes pitch dark. Magnus is Dead, but he is not a death demigod (he's a life demigod, if we're getting technical), and the more turns they make, the less he understands his surroundings, the more his pulse starts to spike]
[he starts to ramble, because that's how Magnus Chase rolls, when he's feeling nervous]
Um. I did know, already. About other pantheons. It sort of even runs in my extended surviving family. My cousin's a daughter of Athena, from uh, your side of the spiritual universe. She'd probably have told me not to follow goddesses into the dark or drink underage, because she's smarter than me. But you seem okay. Better than the goddess running the show where I come from.
[Magnus isn't walking like he owns the place, stumbles over something in the dark, hisses as he cuts his knee on an edge of -- a door hinge, with no door? great -- and suddenly, he's lighting up a bit, gold and subtle at the edges. he's healing, if she can sense that, in a small way. his blond hair stays lit longer than the rest of him]
I'm glad I can't get tetanus. Um, are we nearly there?
[ She stopped and turned to face him the moment he said "Athena." But then, well. He's healing. He's golden and sparkling and healing.
He seems used to the power. She wonders how often he gets hurt. She wonders who killed him. She wonders what he's being used for, now that he's already given his life. ]
Minerva's always like twelve. Her advice is shit.
[ She turns around and keeps walking. Through the next door they are now in natural cave tunnels. Except there are gently glowing vines, that look like blown glass run along the tunnels. They and their brighter pink blossoms begin to light their way. ]
[Magnus hurries to keep up, embarrassed at his fumble in the dark, and is relieved to see light ahead. he thinks they're wires, electric, until they get close and that thought couldn't be further from the truth. they're vines, illuminated and living and gorgeous]
[and it comes without thought, clearly his genuine reaction, rather than something careful or even nervous;]
Wow -- it's so beautiful, down here. They're amazing.
[he reaches to touch, stops, because even if he's not as smart as Annabeth, he's not stupid. he doesn't know mythology that well (hilariously ironic), but he does remember something about Persephone and plants, and the bad mix that happened there]
[ They come then to an open cathedral- half natural cave, half her obvious handiwork. There's a stage, and an alter, and a totally baller-looking sound system. It's also clearly only half done. The vine-woven catwalks for example. Is this a church or a concert hall? Hard to tell. ]
[Magnus almost feels like saying, who?, because he's already forgotten they were talking about some goddess of wisdom, faced with another even more completely astonishing sight. even half-complete, it's one of the coolest things he's ever seen -- though he has no idea what it's for. definitely something to be seen, but not yet (which makes him wonder why he's gotten a backstage pass so far before the show)]
This is so cool... is this your -- [he doesn't know what word goes here. tries, thinking of some long-gone World Civ class] -- temple?
Wow, you really do think I'm a nerd. We drink mead, you know, in Valhalla.
[this is true, but -- he drinks the apple juice and water mostly. he preferred to have a clear head if he was going to lose his head, and the mead of the gods was maybe not the best for that]
[he's pretty sure Ike's Hard Lemon Tea is also a dig, so he goes with a slightly risky]
I'll have whatever you're having. When in -- Hades, and all that.
[he approaches the vine catwalks, slowly, just in case that's not cool. he wants to see them closer up]
[ He'll have to climb up the vine-made access ladders to get there. The blossoms turn to face him as he approaches, almost curiously, but the ladder looks sturdy enough. ]
Nerd was your word, not mine.
[ But gin-and-pomegranate-juice it is! She brings him a double. ]
[the blossoms turn, and Magnus looks positively charmed. it's a nice thought; flowers in Hades]
What's with this place? What happens here?
[Magnus accepts the drink, not seeming to mind that it's kind of cute. he takes a big, mead-quaffing sip -- and his grey eyes blast wide at the taste. he swallows with effort, trying not to cough, and mostly failing]
-- The, pomegranate, is so fresh. That's why I'm coughing. Wow.
[takes a smaller sip... this time...]
WELCOME TO WICDIV, KIDDO. WE'RE THE GODS THEY WARNED YOU ABOUT IN HEALTH CLASS.
[he cocks his head in surprise, but then thinks: yeah, sounds about right. Thor watches Breaking Bad. Heimdall loves taking selfies. Persephone can be a pop star]
[still, he defends his nerdiness]
I'm not being a nerd. I mean, it's not my pantheon, but I know if anybody's gonna grow a great rutabaga for the Greeks, it's you. [...] I will, though. Look you up. What's your music like?
[ Normally, this is where she'd get bitchy. But she thinks of everything Nico and his sister went through just because the Olympians couldn't be arsed. Atheism might be the more reasonable choice than the kids continued devotion. ]
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[ She sounds like she means it. She sounds like she says it a lot. Aaaaand that's all she says. The truth is she's not sure what she wants from him, exactly. Why is she even doing this?
It's probably has nothing to do with her own extremely complicated relationship with mortality, nor the way her heart aches terribly in the place where Nico had burrowed his way in and then disappeared without a word. No, it's probably just because he's annoying, and for some reason she just can't stop herself from hanging out with annoying boys.
Their path is completely incomprehensible. They make so many turns as they pass through basements, utility tunnels, and supply closets. There's no way he'll be able to backtrack. ]
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It's usually a bunch of trouble, but it's not so bad.
[and he falls into quiet when she does, grey eyes scanning wide at the path around them, sometimes lit, sometimes pitch dark. Magnus is Dead, but he is not a death demigod (he's a life demigod, if we're getting technical), and the more turns they make, the less he understands his surroundings, the more his pulse starts to spike]
[he starts to ramble, because that's how Magnus Chase rolls, when he's feeling nervous]
Um. I did know, already. About other pantheons. It sort of even runs in my extended surviving family. My cousin's a daughter of Athena, from uh, your side of the spiritual universe. She'd probably have told me not to follow goddesses into the dark or drink underage, because she's smarter than me. But you seem okay. Better than the goddess running the show where I come from.
[Magnus isn't walking like he owns the place, stumbles over something in the dark, hisses as he cuts his knee on an edge of -- a door hinge, with no door? great -- and suddenly, he's lighting up a bit, gold and subtle at the edges. he's healing, if she can sense that, in a small way. his blond hair stays lit longer than the rest of him]
I'm glad I can't get tetanus. Um, are we nearly there?
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He seems used to the power. She wonders how often he gets hurt. She wonders who killed him. She wonders what he's being used for, now that he's already given his life. ]
Minerva's always like twelve. Her advice is shit.
[ She turns around and keeps walking. Through the next door they are now in natural cave tunnels. Except there are gently glowing vines, that look like blown glass run along the tunnels. They and their brighter pink blossoms begin to light their way. ]
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Minerva -- ?
[Magnus hurries to keep up, embarrassed at his fumble in the dark, and is relieved to see light ahead. he thinks they're wires, electric, until they get close and that thought couldn't be further from the truth. they're vines, illuminated and living and gorgeous]
[and it comes without thought, clearly his genuine reaction, rather than something careful or even nervous;]
Wow -- it's so beautiful, down here. They're amazing.
[he reaches to touch, stops, because even if he's not as smart as Annabeth, he's not stupid. he doesn't know mythology that well (hilariously ironic), but he does remember something about Persephone and plants, and the bad mix that happened there]
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[ They come then to an open cathedral- half natural cave, half her obvious handiwork. There's a stage, and an alter, and a totally baller-looking sound system. It's also clearly only half done. The vine-woven catwalks for example. Is this a church or a concert hall? Hard to tell. ]
Minerva's Athena. As close as we've got anyway.
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This is so cool... is this your -- [he doesn't know what word goes here. tries, thinking of some long-gone World Civ class] -- temple?
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Or uh . . . actual juice?
[Some people drank juice without gin in it. She might not understand it,
but she did respect it. ]
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[this is true, but -- he drinks the apple juice and water mostly. he preferred to have a clear head if he was going to lose his head, and the mead of the gods was maybe not the best for that]
[he's pretty sure Ike's Hard Lemon Tea is also a dig, so he goes with a slightly risky]
I'll have whatever you're having. When in -- Hades, and all that.
[he approaches the vine catwalks, slowly, just in case that's not cool. he wants to see them closer up]
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Nerd was your word, not mine.
[ But gin-and-pomegranate-juice it is! She brings him a double. ]
MAGNUS CHASE AND THE DIVINE HANGOVER THANKS
What's with this place? What happens here?
[Magnus accepts the drink, not seeming to mind that it's kind of cute. he takes a big, mead-quaffing sip -- and his grey eyes blast wide at the taste. he swallows with effort, trying not to cough, and mostly failing]
-- The, pomegranate, is so fresh. That's why I'm coughing. Wow.
[takes a smaller sip... this time...]
WELCOME TO WICDIV, KIDDO. WE'RE THE GODS THEY WARNED YOU ABOUT IN HEALTH CLASS.
[ This is the face of a goddess who believes him. ]
Can't you tell? It's for worship.
he's a homeless drop out he never got the WARNING
[looking at those dope amps]
oops
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Well, there are a couple tribute acts. Local bands, you know.
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You perform, and they worship you?
[blinks]
What do you do, showcase really big rutabagas?
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I sing. Look me up.
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[still, he defends his nerdiness]
I'm not being a nerd. I mean, it's not my pantheon, but I know if anybody's gonna grow a great rutabaga for the Greeks, it's you. [...] I will, though. Look you up. What's your music like?
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But just the fun parts.
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As someone with like, an enormous amount of dying experience, I think I'll have to test that one out.
[he takes a sip of his drink, doesn't cough this time. a victory]
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[he pauses, realises what the word "communion" kind of implies, actually]
-- Wait, you're not trying to convert me, right?
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[he's not joking.]
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How's that working out for you?
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