[ there are many, many expectations that come with being a child of athena, and for most of her life, annabeth felt she thrived under them. but on the other side of tartarus, she isn't so sure. athena has the legacy and reputation she does for a reason. ]

[ she lets out a puff of a laugh. ] It's fine. It's just weird to be open about it here, but it's not like I want to run around announcing it every conversation either.

[ she takes another bite of her own cake, chewing it and savoring the taste, trying to pretend it's not just a horizon treat. ]

Then I'm childish too. Because it's tiring. Parts of being have been... nice. Like a respite, in those lulls. [ she shoves another bite of cake into her mouth, a little more aggressively than the one prior. she considers for a moment if she wants to keep talking and finds that she does. ] I've been thinking a lot about war lately. And my mother. And this place.