[ annabeth seems just as content to let percy and wille slip into the lead while she walks with river and looks over the differing papers. the letters don't quite match up for her and she can't quite follow the lines of the brush strokes given some of them move as she tries to read it, but annabeth will take river's word for it. she hums. ]

So, even if we don't know where they're returning to, it's clearly all part of the same happenings... [ she squints again at the paper, turning it over like maybe the quality of it will give another clue. ]

... unless it's return to their owners? But why would they be leaving if they just want to go back? Maybe they think it's a fun little game? [ a beat. ] Maybe it is playing spooky hide and seek with dolls? Or even the kids?

[ at this point she is just rambling aloud, but she doesn't get the sense river will mind, and she's pretty sure wille might be used to it. percy certainly is. ]

[ without responding to him, she does gravitate after him anyway, moving easily towards the shop he intends even as she continues to linger with river, handing one of the notes back over. ]

Hat Guy could be a magician. [ oh yeah still lost in thought, but she is also trying to filter in what the boys are saying too! ]