ataraxion | 002 ⇏ video

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002 ⇏ video

[ when the feed comes on, the first thing you'll notice is a head of curly blonde hair, extremely messy, and a hand running through it. Annabeth's currently looking down at something, unable to look at the feed just yet. Probably in fear of not being able to keep her voice stable when she finally starts speaking. ]

If anyone has seen Percy Jackson, Luke Castellan or Wichita since the jump...can you just. Get them to contact me? Or come find me? Or tell me where you saw them? I'll have my device on me at all times, but for some reason I can't connect to Percy’s and Luke’s and I think it’s connecting to Wichita’s but she’s not answering and I don't know if it's just the ship or...

[ she trails off momentarily, needing that half a second to take a breath and drop her hand, lift her head to the feed. She looks exhausted, like she hasn't sleep in days (not since the jump) and a little on edge. Her eyes, normally a much lighter grey, have taken to something like a dark cloud. Like the chaos that comes with a thunder storm. Her jaw is set, determined, but there's something a little off about her. A little dark. ]

I also need to know if there is any way to know, for sure, when someone goes home, and isn't just lost on the ship. Not theories, but facts, if there is a way to check that kind of thing.

[ She swallows, hard, but continues – eyes never leaving the camera. ]

Also, I wanted to know what happens when you die. Here. On board. I'm not interested in ideas on the afterlife and all that [ she made the mistake already of asking people about their beliefs once before, not again ] but more so if you die, does your body remain here? And if you have more to do, back home, does that mean you never go back? Does your story just end, and your time both there and here is over?

I just…yeah.

[ there's a pause and then she nods, having said all she planned on saying, and she ends the feed. ]

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[ no. no no no no no Robb Stark is not allowed to look at her like that and make her feel like she's seven all over again. He's not. ]

He's here, Robb. He has to be. He wouldn't-

[ She takes a breath, swallows, resets. ]

Yes?

[ to stay aboard this ship is to know loss. robb has lost many of those he cares about, more than he cares to remember. it is painful, it will always be painful to be left behind and see the ones you love pulled away from you. ]

The ship gives no one a choice. And Percy would never ignore your calls in this manner.

No.

[ She's done this before, this 'he's here one minute gone the next'. She's lost him and got him back, just got him back, and she won't accept this. She can't. ]

Something wrong. It has to be.

[ Annabeth's voice does not shake. She does not sound desperate. She's remaining completely calm because everything's okay. Everything's going to be okay. ]

Edited 2013-04-11 16:40 (UTC)

[ at robb's side, grey wind whines. robb looks down and away, sinks his hand into the direwolf's fur while he tries to think of what to say. ]

When my sister left, I thought the same. I swore it was a mistake and I searched the ship twice over. It came to naught.

[ a pause, and then. ]

I'd not see you do the same.

But what if he is out there?

[ A good part of Annabeth knows he's just trying to look out for her, keep her from going off and getting hurt or lost or what have you, but she takes it as a challenge. ]

If there's no better way to look, I'm going out there. I don't care.

Did he accompany you to the pods? Did he step inside, and never emerge?

[ he has to protect her. robb swore an oath to percy when percy laid his sword at robb's feet. a bannerman protects his lord, and in turn, his lord protects him and his own. and that is what robb would do, regardless of what came from it. ]

I don't know.

[ There's no use even trying to be in denial about the emotion that comes through then - anger and fear and guilt. ]

I- I got lost on the ship, a week or so before the jump. I think, I don't... it spit me back at the pods when everyone was getting in and I followed. I figured I'd meet Percy at our meeting place, but he never showed.

[ She bites her lip and breathes through her nose for a moment before she has her hands covering her face, rubbing at it. Trying to force herself to stay together, stay calm. She can't look for Percy if she's being emotion, she can't be useful if she's being emotional. ]

What if he didn't get in? What if he went looking for me and didn't make it back to the pods in time? What if he's still out there?

[ all of this is familiar. robb's rode it out so many times, loss after loss after loss and he hates that this is something she has to feel. this should be something he bears for her, because percy would never want to see her this sad. ]

If he were out there, he'd not want you to risk yourself. He'd do what it took to return to you, Annabeth.

But what if he can't?

[ All she can think about is when she was taken, when she was forced to hold up the sky. Percy came after her, then, and it didn't matter how dangerous it was. How he almost didn't make it out. ]

I have to look for him. If he's in danger out there I can help him.

He has his hound, doesn't he? He's a warrior, capable and strong. He will make it back, if there is a way. Annabeth, treading into the darkness after him, it could swallow you whole.

No. [ She shakes her head, runs her hand through her curls again. ] No, Mrs. O'Leary's still here. She's-

[ She's what? Annabeth thinks for a minute how she hasn't seen the Hellhound recently. Or Wichita. That's not good, but also not important at this moment. ]

Robb, I don't- [ Annabeth's voice cracks a little, but she stops. Takes a breath. ] I can't just sit here. As strong as he may be, or however dangerous the ship may be, I have to look for him. If he can survive it, I can, and if he didn't then I... [ She purses her lips. ]

Did Percy tell you he swore his banner to me?

[ this might seem like a divergence bear with him annabeth ]

[ hello rob change of subject much? ]

He did. Why?

Because when he swore his sword me, I swore an oath to him in turn. I swore to protect those he loved as if they were my own kin. He cared for you so greatly, Annabeth. I could not risk letting anything happen to you in his absence.

I'm not-

[ Just talking about Percy like this has her trying to close up, end the conversation. She knows he's fine - but not really, because how can they be fine when they're falling into Tartarus? - back home. But all this talk makes her thinks he's dead, and she's had to deal with that once. Never again. ]

You don't need to protect me, Robb. I'm not- [ going to go crazy, going to do something stupid, weak. ] I'll be okay.

No, I do. I gave my word. I'd not forsake it.

[ She opens her mouth to speak, to counter, but she stops herself. She can understand where he's coming from. Why he's intent on keeping it. ]

How many bannermen do you have?

Three.

Three without Percy.

Aye, three without Percy.

Is that... [ she pauses for a moment, not sure if this is the right way to go about it. ] Is that enough?

[ robb is quiet for a moment. ]

No.

[ all the swords in the world hadn't saved ned stark, but it didn't stop the fitful need to gather allies to himself, surround his family with every protection he could find. ]

[ it takes her all of two seconds to harden her resolve about this. ]

I want to take his place.

[ a beat, and then her intensity crumbles a little. ]

Until he comes back, I mean. I know he wouldn't like thinking he left a spot open in your...bannermen guard. [ or whatever ]

[ robb looks a little startled. it's so freely given, her allegiance. he hadn't expected it. ]

Do you wish to swear the same oaths he did? To take up his banner until he return to carry it?

Percy took those oaths because he believed in you. [ which is enough for me ] He wouldn't want that spot left open.

[ she takes a breath and sets her jaw. she's made up her mind with this. ]

Or carry it with him.

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002 ⇏ video

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