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[kelpheaded]

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[gracedlightning]

[It... absolutely would make him not worried again.]

I, uh. I guess maybe I should.

Yeah.

If there is a next time.

Maybe Rachel could give us a ride home. If that happens.

[kelpheaded]

You don't think she should be invited, too? I don't want her to feel left out.

[It's important! None of her friends should feel alone or left out.]

[gracedlightning]

Uh. As long as she can get us a ride home, then.

[Which, honestly, she probably can. She can put a helicopter on standby or something. Right?]

She'd probably really like it if you invited her.

[kelpheaded]

Okay, good. We could have a day out.

[And Rachel will be happy, and Percy will be happy, and Jason will be happy. It's a win/win/win. Speaking of being happy?]

Can we stop at the lake? I wanna swim.

[gracedlightning]

[Jason glances over, but - well. Color him not actually surprised. It's Percy.

And things do seem to be pretty quiet. Plus, it's not going to be, like, odd if someone sees Percy in the lake. Naturally.]

Yeah, sure. I guess I'll keep watching the shark?

[He still doesn't think he should just drop her off at the lake and call it a day. Though he does veer in that direction now.]

[kelpheaded]

[She's basically skipping as they switch destinations.]

You could swim, too! He'll stay where he is if we put him on the ground.

[gracedlightning]

Oh will he. [Glad you noticed.]

I don't have a swimsuit, though.

[Even he hears how flimsy this argument is, in the face of Percy's joy.]

[kelpheaded]

So?

[She doesn't see the problem? This is clearly not an issue.]

[gracedlightning]

Yeah, I didn't think you'd see that as a problem.

[A not-actually-very-put-upon sigh.] I guess it's fine. I've got more clothes in my cabin.

[kelpheaded]

[Hopefully he's prepared for another thrilled hug before she picks up the pace because the lake is not too much farther and she's in a rush now.]

[gracedlightning]

[He can't hug back particularly well with his arms full of stuffed shark but he does follow after her, ready to put the thing down.

At least he doesn't have to worry about Percy in her own element. It's probably the best possible situation.

When they get there, he sets the shark down in a good spot and plops down to start untying his shoes. He almost doesn't want to look to see if she's going to stay fully dressed, but he ends up sneaking a peek.]

[kelpheaded]

[Once she's sure the shark is settled properly (so he can guard what's left of the donuts, obviously), she kicks off her shoes and, yeah. The shirt's coming off. And her jeans, because it's a nice day and maybe she doesn't have to get wet while she's swimming if she doesn't want to, but that doesn't mean the sensation isn't refreshing. So.

Hey. She was telling the truth, the bra is part of a matched pair.]

[gracedlightning]

[Yep, that is absolutely Percy stripping off.

And even if it's the same coverage as a bathing suit, it's not technically a bathing suit, and he can't exactly forget that.

So. There's that.

But he's not backing out now. Except Jason does stop after his shoes and socks, just rolling up the legs of his jeans a little before he wades in after her.]

[kelpheaded]

[Once Percy gets into the lake, it's probably the safest she's been since she started this whole adventure. Once she's far enough out to make it worthwhile, she dives under the water and stays under for long enough that it would be concerning if this wasn't Percy and she wasn't literally in her element.

She finally surfaces again not far from Jason, hand outstretched to take his and pull him in further.]

[gracedlightning]

[Yeah, Jason isn't concerned. In fact, he relaxes further. Even if the lake doesn't leach away the last of her tipsiness, she's safe. They're safe. He can come down off high alert just a little, because there are no monsters to attack them here.

He drifts out a little bit, but he's not in very far when she finally comes back up. There was a part of him in the back of his mind maybe trying to keep his clothes mostly dry, but he can't not take her hand when she offers it, so he does.]

No dunking if you're still half-drunk.

[Some of us cannot breathe underwater, Percy.]

[kelpheaded]

I’m not drunk! Tiny, teeny bit tipsy. Maybe. [She helpfully demonstrates what a teeny amount of tipsy she might be by pinching her fingers together. See? So tiny. So sober.

She just hums and swims him out further, though. No dunking.] I promise I won’t let you drown.

[gracedlightning]

[Admittedly with Percy it can be hard to tell, but he is pretty sure she's still at least a tiny, teeny bit tipsy.

But he still takes her at her word, because even tipsy (or full-on drunk, for that matter), he trusts her.]

Thanks. Pretty sure that would be awkward to explain to Chiron.

[Now he is teasing, and has clearly given up on not getting soaked.]

[kelpheaded]

[As promised, she does not dunk him. Though there might be some light splashing, and playfully swimming circles around him. Some of the animals in the lake wander up to see what’s happening, and it’s possible she might get into a couple impromptu races before she finally decides to exit the lake, heading directly for the donut box.

Because she’s Percy, she is suddenly dry as soon as she gets out of the water, and she flops down next to her shark.]

[gracedlightning]

[Jason mostly observes, pretty much aware that he's an absolutely unnecessary lifeguard, but it's not like he can deny that floating in the lake is nice on a day like this. Plus, watching Percy enjoy herself isn't a bad pastime.

Though of course when he trudges up out of the lake after her, he is sopping wet and doesn't even have a towel. Oh, well. It is nice out, he won't freeze.

He does hold out his hand for a donut, though, after he sits down with much less flopping and makes at least some halfhearted attempt to wring out his shirt.]

I bought them, I call at least one.

[kelpheaded]

[Now that he’s out of the water, Percy absolutely does not briefly and shamelessly ogle him or the way his shirt clings to his upper body when it’s soaked. And if she did, it would be totally subtle and not noticeable at all.

She’s kind enough to offer him the box, though, so he can pick out his favorite of the flavors.]

This was nice.

[gracedlightning]

[Jason maybe kind of notices, and maybe kind of smiles a little bit to himself. Just a little.

But he does mostly keep his eyes either averted or on her face, because she still is basically in her underwear.]

Thanks, [he says, reaching into the box to grab one. Now he's pretty hungry.]

And it was. Really nice, actually. Feels almost like being normal, I think.

[In a still completely abnormal sort of way, but maybe Percy will get it.]

[kelpheaded]

[Should she get dressed again? Probably, but she’s comfortable and the sun’s warm on her skin so whatever.]

Almost. I think most normal kids don’t get drunk on pouch wine, though. Cheap beer, maybe.

[gracedlightning]

[Jason can't help the way that makes him snort into his donut.]

Yeah, cheap beer is probably where most people start. I'm kind of surprised the Hephaestus kids and the Dionysus kids haven't gone in together on that one.

[Or... maybe they have? He would not know.]

They probably also don't have to worry about getting eaten by monsters on the way home.

[kelpheaded]

I bet they have. At least some time.

[Maybe not the current batch, especially since Mr. D hasn’t been siring a lot of kids lately.

She lays back against the grass, her head pillowed on her shark, and lets her eyes shut.]

[gracedlightning]

Probably, [he agrees, promptly getting distracted by watching Percy settle and completely unaware of the dumb, fond smile that creeps onto his face as he watches her.

It's good to be safe. To actually feel safe, and to try to feel like just a teenage boy (for all that is kind of frustrating right at this exact moment) for a little while. He leans back a little on one hand and drips water all over the ground and absently finishes the donut with his eyes fixed on her without realizing it.

If she doesn't move, maybe then he'll settle on his side a little - so he can keep an eye on her still, even though he knows nothing is going to happen here in camp. He can understand being drowsy. Swimming and sun can make a person tired.]