helloeverybunny | RIORDANVERSE • The Winter of Winters (Apocalypse AU)

[ The first winter had been bad. The peculiar cold aside, the monster attacks — of the Norse variety — had escalated. There almost hadn't been a day when Jacen didn't find himself wrangling some wolf or troll right smack in the middle of Edgraton Day and Boarding School.

When the second winter rolled around and Asgard grew silent, he'd known in his gut that Loki had escaped. A cousin of Jason's friend from the Greek camp, who was a demigod and an Einherjar, later confirmed it to be true, and that Ragnarok had been set in motion.

Jason's only concern then had been to return to Camp Half-Blood, to find Piper. So they left Pasadena, because Jacen was a good friend, and he was not going to let his (only) friend go on a suicide mission, despite the fact that Jason was the kriffin' son of Jupiter. But California was a long way from New York, and the weather and the danger grew progressively worse as they neared the East Coast.

By the time Jacen arrives in Manhattan, he's so exhausted and hungry that it even crosses his mind to eat the polar bear he's riding — although he quickly abandons that thought, not wanting his new pal to get the same idea. ]

Grace! [ Gods, it's so hard to see in this blizzard. ] Jason! Dude, where are you?

[ How many potentially world-ending crises did one group of kids have to face? One more, apparently. Piper was worried about her dad; Percy was worried about his mom. She couldn't get to California in this, but she could at least help her friend go make sure his mother is safe and pick up some supplies along the way. The pegasi couldn't really fly in this weather, but they were still safer to take and fly low along the ground than anything else.

Them the snow got worse. It was a good thing Percy could talk to horses, they were able to keep in good distance with each other and had almost arrived at Sally's apartment when Piper thought she heard a familiar name being called.

'Did you hear that?'
'Hear what?'
'...nothing.'

No, there it was again.

'Look, you go in ahead, I'll be right there.'
Percy didn't argue, though he exchanged a long look with the pegasus, 'Stay on the pegasus.'

After agreeing, Piper turns in the direction of the voice. She is bundled up to her eyes, this California girl never liked the cold to begin with, but after encounters with certain wind gods and demigods, finds it even less appealing. The bulk of her layers makes maneuvering the pegasus a little difficult, so it's a good thing Percy had a word with it. She waits until she's a little bit closer, but it's hard to see in all the snow and wind. ]

Hello? Is someone out there?

[ Piper would first be answered by a series of low growls, which Jacen also doesn't miss (but understands). He tries to peer out into the distance, but the snow and wind's making it hard to see anything beyond the bear's fur and the hand he holds out in front of his face. ]

Jason?

[ Where had Grace gone? Jacen’s quite sure his friend’s just been behind him moments ago.

Narrowing his eyes, he urges his bear forward. He begins to trace a symbol on the top of the bear’s head with his forefinger, but his attention remains mostly on their surroundings, on the lookout for his missing friend and whatever it was that the bear had heard.

They grind to a halt just meters away from Piper and her pegasus, although he still can’t make out the shape of her, or what it is she’s riding. No one’s dared to venture outside in this weather, not for miles — at least, not any of the mortals.

The bear sniffs the air. ’Food,’ she tells Jacen. ’Pegasi.’

Well. That explains it. Sort of.

He cups his hands in front of his mouth. ] Hey! Demigod?

[ Piper, unfortunately, could not understand horses. Or Pegasi.

So when the pegasus stopped and wanted to bolt, she had no idea it was because it smelled a large predator and not some other kind of monster - because that was really what a blizzard like this needed, more monsters.

The call of 'Demigod' didn't really make her feel any better, either. Monsters: not big on stealth, always willing to try to eat demigods. She wasn't really interested in volunteering by responding positively to that sort of call.

But she thought she'd heard... She urges her pegasus up, ascending with great care to the top of a nearby building so she can see a little bit better, and hopefully be in a position to better attack or defend. ]

Who's out there?

[ Yeah, someone seems to be out there, and while there’s an equal chance of the stranger being a monster, he or she or they could also be a demigod. Jacen wantsto believe it’s a demigod, because the last thing he needs is a monster battle while his friend’s still missing.

The bear roars and tries to stand on her hind legs, and Jacen looks up as well. He’s still unable to see through the snowstorm, but he can feel that, yes, there really is someone out there.

He rolls up the sleeve of his left hand and tugs down his glove, exposing his wrist and the strange tattoos on them. Without lowering his eyes, he traces the symbol isa on his wrist, and when he finishes—

The blizzard slows to a halt. At least within their immediate vicinity, in a small bubble surrounding him and the building Piper’s climbed on. Just enough for him to see for a while. ]

Hey! Are you alright? Do you need help?

[ Then, as an afterthought, he looks around again. ]

Grace! Where are you?

[ Well, whatever he was, he wasn't normal.

(What was your first clue, Piper? The sudden change in the weather? The fact that he's not freaking out about a Pegasus? Or that he is riding on a freaking polar bear?)

She calls back cautiously: ] I'm all right. What about you - you lost a friend? When was the last time you saw her? Is she on a polar bear too?

[ She has a better view up here, how hard can it be to find another person on a polar bear in Manhattan? ]

[ Yep, she definitely isn’t normal, because she’s not freaking out that he’s just slowed a blizzard and that he’s riding a polar bear. ]

Yeah, but a he, actually, although he’s quite the pretty boy. [ Seems like that’s something he teases his friend on a regular basis. ] I’m pretty sure he was right behind me— he’s about this tall? Blonde, on a black horse. Well technically not a horse, more like a wind spirit that looks like a horse...

[ The correct term’s at the tip of his tongue, but Jacen figures he can be forgiven for the inaccuracy. Since, you know, it’s the freaking end of the world. ]

That’s a pegasus, right? So you’re Greek?

[ Piper was currently bundled up within an inch of her life, wearing multiple layers, a scarf wrapped tightly around the lower half of her face and a hat pulled down low. Only a inches around her eyes were visible, and all the same, Jacen might be able to see them widen in surprise... and alarm.

Not that the son of Jupiter couldn't handle a windstorm, but... she didn't see anyone else around, and she knew all too well how deadly snow could be. And wherever Khione was, Piper was sure she'd be stronger in this weather, and she didn't know the reach of the goddess's powers. Hera likely had dealt with her, but Piper didn't exactly look to the gods as models of competence. ]

Jason? Do you mean Jason Grace?

[ She honestly had hardly even registered his question after putting two and two together. ]

Edited 2019-02-02 17:28 (UTC)

[ Jacen might have noticed the widening of Piper’s eyes, but he can’t even think of commenting on it, because he’s just as surprised. What are the odds of running into someone who knows who exactly Jason is? ]

Y-Yeah. Jason Grace. I... I know him from school. In Edgraton.

[ Only he’s obviously a demigod because no regular mortal would be up and about in this weather, and riding a polar bear of all things. ]

See him anywhere? I can’t hold this spell for long.

[ Spell?

But Piper doesn't really have time to ask about that when 'not for long' is much more important and she doesn't see Jason anywhere. ]

No. [ And that, to put it very mildly, worries her. She doesn't know if this will work, because he'll have to hear her for it to work, and Piper immediately decides she's going to speak to Hephaestus cabin about getting some kind of portable voice amplifier, but -- ]

Jason! [ Her voice has changed, and it isn't subtle. This is the voice that's convinced armies to halt, inanimate objects to wake, and lulled giants to sleep. She may not have an amplifier, but she's using all her power and it seems louder, echoes in the bubble of safety Jacen's provided, pushes outward. She's calling for her best friend. ] Jason! I know you're looking for your friends - we're here! Come find us. Come find me. Come on - come here.

[ She stops talking, only because she's not sure if her voice is carrying enough to make a difference, searching with systematic urgency to find any hint of Jason in the storm. She's already thinking that she's going to need to go get Percy, start a search for him if he doesn't show up soon... ]

[ The moment Piper calls out Jason’s name, Jacen’s eyes widen even more. There’s so much power in that one word, so much that he’d actually felt something run through him like electricity. Compelled by something he can’t put his finger on, he turns his head to look around, searching for his friend—

Then the implication of her words hit him.

He turns back to look at her, slack-jawed. Because again, what are the odds? ]

You’re Piper.

[ Her attention returns to Jacen, and she urges the pegasus off the roof -- though it won't go too near the polar bear, and she doesn't blame it. But if the spell he has in place is going to break soon, Piper doesn't want to be on the roof -- she wants to be out there, looking for Jason, but going to get all the help she can in order to do that is probably her best bet. ]

Yeah. You are?

[ Sensing the tension between her pegasus and his polar bear, Jacen leans in to... well, it looks like he’s whispering to his big white bear. Or something. Whatever it is, he seems satisfied when he finishes, pulling back a little to regard Piper again. ]

It’s okay. She promises she won’t bite.

[ He remembers her question, and he nods at her in greeting. ] Jacen Solo. Hi. In case Jason never mentioned me, I’m his Norse demigod friend from school.

[ Piper doesn't speak pegasus, but if she can read it's attitude correctly it's something like: Yeah, thanks, but I'll still stay right here.

Norse demigod? Had Jason mentioned him?

Either way-- ]

Hi Jacen. [ Her focus was definitely not on him, her gaze flickering around in search for Jason. ] When did you last see Jason?

[ They need to go look for him, this storm is only going to get worse. That's the way demigod luck works. ]

Five minutes ago. I swear, he was right behind me—

[ True enough, there’s a sudden draft of icy wind that batters against their protective bubble. Jacen grits his teeth. This isn’t good. And the backlash is going to be worse. Runic magic is rather punishing, and using this much power is going to mean a great deal of pain. ]

I have to call the spell off, but I... [ He glances towards Sally’s apartment. ] You should take cover. This storm isn’t clearing and we‘ll have to think of something else. Do you Greeks know how to scry?

Not unless that's a type of dance move. Then probably.

[ Five minutes ago -- in a blizzard. What would Jason do? Would he find cover? Or would he... try to go up, ride the winds, find his friend?

Yeah, like that was a question.

She shifts in her seat, gripping her pegasus harder with her knees. ]

I'm going to go up there to look for him. [ She glances around to look for a space big enough for his polar bear. ] Can you make it into that parking garage before you let it go? That way I'll know where to look for you when I get back.

[ If I get back. Finding shelter was a smarter idea. But if Jason was out there... ]

[ Unless it’s a dance move? Huh. Weren’t the Greeks supposed to be the ones who knew how to party? You know, with Dionysius and all.

But that’s really not important right now, so Jacen doesn’t say anything. Instead he looks towards the garage Piper’s referring to, and nods. ]

Okay. I’ll hold the spell as long as I can.

[ And he’ll try his very best to give her more time to take to the skies without being battered by the blizzard. But just a few minutes after he and his polar bear make it to the garage, his control slips from exhaustion and the spell dies, the ice and frosty winds returning with a vengeance.

At the same time, a jolt of pain goes through his body like a lightning strike, and he collapses on the back of the bear, nearly losing consciousness from the pain. Damn runic magic. Why were the Norse such masochists? ]

RIORDANVERSE • The Winter of Winters (Apocalypse AU)

Manhattan | en route to Camp Half-Blood

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couldn't resist >.>

heeee ilu /gigglesnicker

^^

i’m so sorry, work was super crazy and i had days of endless training :c

no worries at all! rl always > rp ^^

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sorry, i was out on a family trip for several days! back now though :3

No worries!

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