abraxaslogs | ( open + closed ) this world is gonna end

[ Annabeth's attention solely focused on Bob Cat who has burrowed closer to her no doubt to steal her warmth doesn't escape his notice. Not that he can blame her; sometimes being able to distract yourself in some way makes it easier to gather your thoughts which can only mean that this is something important. For that he has no desire or urge to rush her.

Funnily enough, Annabeth throwing him into the water is the topic that surfaces. He'd find amusement at the irony were it not for the fact that she was being serious. Were it not for the fact that he knows she's being sincere and that this must have weighed heavily on her mind ever since they had emerged from the dream.

His confusion softens into understanding. ]

You don't have to apologize for that. We were trapped in something greater than anything we had the power to break on our own. [ There's a pause, his tone lilting a little. ] But I do appreciate the apology for being thrown into the water.

[ annabeth wrinkles her nose at the light teasing, but appreciates it none-the-less. it makes her feel better that he doesn't blame her - even if she still blames herself for her struggles in escaping. ]

It took three people to get through to me.

[ and even then, it took percy and his stubbornness. she still harbors guilt about hurting him too, even though she knows he probably isn't even thinking about it. she can't help the way she dwells on it, knowing exactly why the illusion clung to her as hard as it did. ]

[ and given what she's shared with him, perhaps cassian has a better understanding of why she reacted to him like she did. he was her brother. he told her suddenly he wasn't. ]

So. It wasn't you. It was me. [ she tries for a dry tone but it doesn't quite hit. ] Throwing you was a kind of dramatic reaction. I just - I've been wanting to say sorry. [ so there. she plucks at bob cat's ear gently. ]

[ Hearing that it had taken not one but three people to help Annabeth realize that the dream they were living was the farthest thing from their reality doesn't come as much of a surprise to him, nor does he begin to pass any sort of judgement. The magic that had held them captive there had been strong.

Nor can he blame her when the dream had mostly been a sweet one compared to the things she had experienced in her short life.

Which is why he approaches this with some levity. ]

It was a little dramatic. [ In the next breath however that levity gives way to sincerity. ] Thank you. But like I said, it's not necessary. We weren't really ourselves. What matter is you woke up in the end.

[ between catering exactly to her pride and her deepest desires to shape a world of permanence, the godly illusion really did a number on her she thinks she's still sorting through, however long ago it was. cassian might say her apology is not necessary, but annabeth certainly feels otherwise. ]

[ it's almost exactly what percy tried to reassure her - that it doesn't matter how long it took, or what she did while resisting, the most important part was she woke up. she has a hard time sitting with that, knowing the physicality of her resistance towards people very important to her. ]

It's important to me. So just let me apologize. I know it wasn't real but - [ bob cat spares her by wriggling around and readjusting himself for more pets. ]

I don't ever want to be that person.

[ The (brotherly) urge to tease her and say that she has already apologized rears, but he allows it to slip away as Bob Cat beats him to the chase in some way. He knows that there's more to her past that he isn't aware of, but they had all had their fair share of regret during their time as gods. The list of things that he had done in this imagined future feels like a stain that he can't wash himself clean of no matter how hard he tries. Apologizing, facing the things that they've done head on, isn't an easy thing to do. Little does Annabeth realize, but she's already far braver than he feels at his lowest points. ]

You won't be.

[ He shifts again, feeling the bulk of something in his pocket. Reaching in he pulls out one of Bob Cat's toys. With a sigh he tosses it onto the bed where the cat, hearing the familiar jingle of the bell twists to reach for it across the bed while still refusing to leave Annabeth's warm lap. ]

And even if you do, I get the feeling you'll have others here who will snap you out of it.

[ he's so reassured in it, in a faith in her, and it reminds her a little of percy's unshakable similar beliefs. annabeth has always been someone who simply wanted people to care about her. it always felt harder than it should have been. ]

[ it doesn't feel so hard anymore. her hubris is a constant battle, and she's not sure that will ever change given the nature of a demigod's fatal flaw, but cassian might be right about her having people here to help her. she proved she can handle herself following the mark of athena, but it doesn't mean she's alone all the time. not anymore. ]

[ she leans over and scoops the toy up for bob cat, dropping it closer so he can play with it in her lap. ]

Maybe you have a point. [ she'll tease a little though. ]

[ Cassian hopes that when he says that there will be those that will be there to snap her out of it, she understands that he counts himself among those numbers. And when she teases him back, he thinks that she does.

A quiet warmth settles around him as he watches Bob Cat play contentedly in Annabeth's lap. ]

Tomorrow then? To get supplies. We can go after your class.

[ Just because they've both skipped classes before doesn't mean that he's about to continue encouraging it. It's about balance. ]

[ something in her expression lightens unexpectedly. tomorrow, after her classes. it's a small bit of consideration that brings a quieter smile to her face. tomorrow, after class, to get supplies so she can build bob cat a tree. cassian wants her along, and he factored in her own potential schedule. ]

Sounds like a plan to me. I'll work on some ideas today then too.

[ she is definitely gonna spend some time tonight sketching up a storm. ]

( open + closed ) this world is gonna end

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