DECEMBER CATCH-ALL LOG

[expulsions]

Who: Percy and quest partners, other people?
Where: Forest mostly, but also maybe the town and the harbor
When: December
What: Quests, maybe other stuff throughout the month, we just don't know
Warnings: Idiocy, probably

Prompts in comments as usual

Comments

IZUKU, QUEST 38

[expulsions]

[Quest info here!]

[Who else was he going to tag for this particular quest? He needed someone with strength, someone with courage, and...you know...someone yellow. Izuku seemed like the best choice to chop down a tree and haul it back into the center of town, but there's one thing about the quest that he finds a little unusual. He waits for Izuku to arrive, hands in his pockets and eyeing the trees skeptically. They probably won't have to go that far.]

Hey. [It's said as Izuku approaches.] Do you think we're supposed to decorate a tree and then take it to the spiders as an offering or what?

[inheritance]

[Izuku, number one hero hopeful, and helpful muscle on call at your service. Even with the new immunity to cold, Izuku still has a coat on, though he's left his scarf behind this time.]

Decorating a tree's part of the Christmas tradition, isn't it? We should take the tree back to one of our houses. Maybe the spiders will come to the tree once we're done decorating it.

[expulsions]

It is where we're from. I don't know how it works where you guys are from. [He kind of misses home once again because even in their apartment Sally always made the holidays a little better even when things were miserable. They'd decorate a tree and she'd bring home Christmas candy and he'd fail at wrapping presents but he'd try anyway.

...Chroma sucks, text it. The cold immunity is nice and he's in his swim team hoodie, the walk keeping him warm enough that he isn't too fussed. Gray eyes examine the area around him and he shrugs in reply.]

Anyway wouldn't that just be inviting the spiders back into town? [There's a slight grin, but he's also kind of serious here.]

[inheritance]

Mmm not really! The department stores have trees up as decoration, but we don't really have them inside our homes like they do in America.

[Izuku grins a little, looking unexpectedly pleased about this.] Even if Chroma puts us through a bunch of terrible things, I have to admit, I like some of these quests. I always wanted to try American traditions like the pumpkin carving and decorating the Christmas trees!

You know, as long as the spiders are harmless, I don't think we have to worry about them being in the town. I'd take Christmas spiders over, say, the Jorogumo.

[expulsions]

I guess I've never thought about that. [When will Riordan send the gang to Asia...still, he doesn't know much besides American traditions and he nods along.] It's really interesting, I think, that he's focusing on a lot of the American traditions. It makes me wonder what kind of person he really is. And at least decorating's pretty easy.

[A grin.] The quest didn't say to fight the thing so I'm hoping for a very peaceful spider. We can probably pick any tree to decorate and see what happens. Any of these catch your eye?

[inheritance]

Maybe the town had very American traditions before... you know. [All the depressing things happened.]

How about that one? [Izuku points at a tree just ahead of them.] Big enough to decorate, but not too big that it won't fit inside.

[expulsions]

It's possible. That makes me wonder even more about Mr. F and stuff though. [Once he spots the tree though he nods enthusiastically.] Yeah, that's perfect! We can definitely carry that one back on our own, too.

[Hmm...] I can probably cut it with Riptide. Unless you think you can just tear it out of the ground.

VAL, QUEST 38

[expulsions]

[Quest info here!]

[Usually when he ventures into the forest he likes to take the time to think and be alone. On the other hand, lately he's gone into the woods with Valvatorez more than most people, so it made sense to contact him and ask for his accompaniment in this particular task. It's only when they're already walking in the woods that Percy asks the question that's on his mind.]

So you've never carved a pumpkin before Chroma, I know that, but what about Christmas? Do you guys do Christmas at all?

[promissum]

[Val just sincerely likes being around people. So if somebody asks him to come along, he will certainly show up. Unless he's out with other people and he doesn't have his laptop. Those fussy things.]

Why would we celebrate Christmas?

[What the hell is Christmas.]

[expulsions]

[FFS.]

Because Christmas is pretty universal, I think. You didn't have any kind of celebration where you guys decorated and exchanged presents and stuff? [Come on, Val. It's easy to walk and talk at the same time, at least.]

[promissum]

[???

That's the only emotion that's registering on Val.]

Why would demons ever do something like that? Demons tend to keep to themselves. [Which is what Val does not do, actually. But usually the more powerful the demon the fewer others stay around them.

Actually, now that he's stuck with Fuuka in the Netherworld, she might demand Christmas.]

[expulsions]

I have a really hard time believing you have ever kept to yourself, but okay, sure. [SOUNDS! FAKE! But he isn't too terribly surprised.]

But Christmas is pretty important to a lot of people. It's like...religious or whatever, but the more common celebrations usually involve exchanging presents, being with people you care about, and decorating Christmas trees which is exactly what we're doing here. My mom used to put all kinds of lights and glass ornaments on ours.

[...Val doesn't know about Christmas, and for a moment Percy pauses before he grins just a little.] Then again, Christmas is also when Santa Claus visits.

[promissum]

Just because I wanted company doesn't mean there were people who wanted mine.

[That's just how it was as a tyrant.

He listens as the walk forward and- why does he never get to hear about the good parts of humanity. He likes that. He wants that. Maybe not all of it, but being with the people he cares about sounds great right now.

And again... he's thrown.]

What is Santa Claus? [It sounds foreign to him.]

MAYA, QUEST 39

[expulsions]

[Quest info here!]

[It's been a long time since he's really seen Maya. In a way, he's sort of ashamed of himself for not being great at following up, but at the same time he thinks about the fact that there's been a lot happening that's kept his attention in a certain direction.

On the other hand, he knows it's an excuse and he thinks a lot about what his mirror self said before he'd punched it and shattered the glass. His hand's healed now, but his eyes are stripped of their natural color and he's already hoping to avoid that particular conversation.

As it is, he texts Maya and arrangements are made for the two of them to venture into the woods and find a bell. It's the promise of a wish that has his attention and he's bouncing on the balls of his feet by the time Maya arrives to the edge of the woods. He doesn't turn his head very much, just enough to confirm it's her before he grins slightly.]

Ready for a hike?

[scooptimistic]

Absolutely!

[ Maya's as chipper as always, lightly bouncing from foot to foot as well. She'd had a good time hunting down a Sphinx last month; nothing's going to stop her from tackling a bell in some woods now. ]

Sorry to keep you waiting, Percy.

[expulsions]

Are you kidding? This was nothing. [It's good-natured and light and he turns forward to begin walking into the forest.] I just got here myself, so you're right on time. It's just good to see you again. Thanks for agreeing to come with me.

[scooptimistic]

Of course! This seems more like a tradition for the town than anything I'm familiar with, so I'm really interested in seeing what happens with it.

[ Maya's curiosity never actually sleeps. But she falls into step right beside him. ]

[expulsions]

I got the same impression. [Into the woods they go. He's on guard as usual, but he keeps his stance relaxed enough to not look like he's going to bolt.] The other quests this month are all pretty Christmas-y but this one's new. I've never heard of wishing bells before. Think they'll actually come true?

[scooptimistic]

You're talking to someone who lived during a time where rumors were coming true all over the place. [ very wry. ]

So I don't think it's too much of a leap for me to assume wishes might actually happen.

check-in, maybe a quest?

[bittybat]

[The reason Damian hunts down Percy post ice palace is because they had the conversation about their mirrors. And, since he broke his own, he wanted to see if Percy's had been broken, too. If they were in the same boat.

When he finally runs into the sea boy, Damian can tell immediately they had been. Except Percy's got it worse. Frozen over, he's guessing.]

Well, well. No one would kiss you, Jackson?

kazooquest, i was going to write you a starter today but here we are X(

[expulsions]

[You know. He's not wrong. He's definitely not at all wrong about suspecting Percy broke his and at the same time he's not even surprised that Damian tracks him down. Today, Damian can find him staring at the new frozen pond in Flavo because it's obviously new and therefore a little suspicious. He hasn't looked at the ice yet nor has he stood on it or the like, but he hears the voice and immediately heaves the world's heaviest sigh.

Why the hell does he keep getting lectured by children younger than him?]

Hilarious. [He turns, lifting an eyebrow and observing him with gray eyes.] Should I even ask who kissed you?

[The humor's there in his words, but the tone's a little flat. Hi Damian.]

i beat you to it in case you were busy

[bittybat]

[WOW. He's being dragged through the mud the moment he arrives after asking for it. Amazing.

Not a whole lot exactly embarrasses him, but this does seem to embarrass him quite a bit. He doesn't sputter, but he freezes for the longest few seconds, looking somewhat surprised and unsure of how to answer before his face crumbles in exasperation.] Bold of you to assume I needed to be kissed at all. [HE WAS FINE.]

You haven't been doing your suggestions from F, have you?

u r the best

[expulsions]

[YEAH. DEAL WITH THAT. Despite the actual terrible situation here he's actually finding this hilarious and he openly laughs. Sorry man. It happens when you're given the prime opportunity to tease someone so serious.] You wanna tell me that you didn't break your mirror?

[Like Damian, Percy has a feeling they're a little more similar than they realize. He doesn't believe it for a moment first of all, and secondly that reaction's a little telling.

Still, that's a question he doesn't quite know how to answer and he shrugs haphazardly.]

I haven't thought about it, no. There's no guarantee that'll work anyway and besides, I can improvise and try to figure out something else.

[bittybat]

[Don't laugh at him, PERCY. Your life is just as much of a disaster as his!] Mn. [It's the only denial or confirmation Percy is going to get. He broke the hell out of his mirror.

He broke the hell out of it and then became a frozen rock, and Kisa had to smooch him, and now he isn't sure what to do with himself other than ignore it.]

Sounds like you're only trying to dodge whatever embarrassing, asinine tasks the town has given you. Lacking color can be bad in the long run, Jackson. It's in your best interest to try to get the color back.

[expulsions]

[That's so cute? Damian don't be a shit and tell Percy this because he'd also find that kind of cute. And familiar. Gods.]

First of all it's just my eye color. Second of all, I think it's only bad in the long run if more color's drained like that quest last month so I'm fine for now. And third of all they aren't embarrassing or asinine tasks...I just have other stuff I have to be doing right now.