[ luke's never really seen being in the drabwurld with such pure optimism. when he had arrived, he had a brief moment of believing it was his second chance, that perhaps the gods had taken mercy upon a misguided boy who had fallen prey to a titan they should've had under control. but he quickly came to realise it was a different sort of hell for him. meeting new people and pretending what ate at him on the inside was a luxury he thought he had, but it was another way to torture himself as he earned the affection of people like hermione without being completely honest — and a part of him will always believe he's undeserving of it, thinking the loss of such powerful ties will be the punishment that's owed to the foolish boy who tried to teach mount olympus a lesson. having annabeth come and go not once, but twice — during his first few months, it had left him too devastated to properly pull his head from out from his ass. but after the fortunate events of retrieving the moon and seeing high-queen solais restored to her proper health, luke hadn't felt as lost. though the self-deprecation and self-loathing still lingered, he felt he had a purpose — and a part of him felt good in being able to help a man when his wife had been too lost. it's all he had prayed to to hermes for to receive nothing in return. ]
[ but he still doesn't possess the optimism hermione has. his knee-jerk reaction is to be a dick — one with pessimism seeping from his pores. but he doesn't try to stomp on her hope as he would've months ago. he doesn't try to fan its flames, either, knowing there's a good chance he'll end up burned by it. but he basks beneath it, just slightly, allowing himself a moment of selfishness, as the only other positive person he's been hanging around for long periods of time had been percy jackson — and the drabwurld thought to thieve him back into the depths of his own fish bowl. the loss of percy still hangs over him, but he at least knows the kid's going to make it. but it's merely a reminder of what he will never have — being able to see the kid with fish for brains ever again. his journey had ended before he had wound up in the drabwurld with the wound on his chest healed into a nice scar to accompany the one marring his face. he's none too sure if he's lucky, but unlike how he had been in the beginning, he's not really keen on pushing those who have burrowed their ways beneath his flesh away anytime soon. ]
[ it's on the tip of his tongue to pry about the ghosts — something that's new to him, being the son of hermes and not hades — but she places her head on his shoulder instead. it startles him, not enough to make him jump, but it takes him by surprise. even though he can anticipate any reaction, any movement, he hadn't sensed that one coming his way — and he looks down at her, the eyebrow that had been arched lowers as he tries to analyse her motivation, before he stops approaching it as if it's a battle. his senses aren't kicked into overdrive, triggered by backbiter being held tightly and securely within his grip. he's simply thinking too much, trying to attack it like it's some sort of labyrinth when it's merely a straight road. he's always trusted his instincts more than his head — and he relaxes, no longer tense, as he wraps his arm around her waist, hand pressing against her hip. there's a laugh to his voice as he teases her, ] I don't know, you're kind of tiny. I'm not entirely convinced.
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[ but he still doesn't possess the optimism hermione has. his knee-jerk reaction is to be a dick — one with pessimism seeping from his pores. but he doesn't try to stomp on her hope as he would've months ago. he doesn't try to fan its flames, either, knowing there's a good chance he'll end up burned by it. but he basks beneath it, just slightly, allowing himself a moment of selfishness, as the only other positive person he's been hanging around for long periods of time had been percy jackson — and the drabwurld thought to thieve him back into the depths of his own fish bowl. the loss of percy still hangs over him, but he at least knows the kid's going to make it. but it's merely a reminder of what he will never have — being able to see the kid with fish for brains ever again. his journey had ended before he had wound up in the drabwurld with the wound on his chest healed into a nice scar to accompany the one marring his face. he's none too sure if he's lucky, but unlike how he had been in the beginning, he's not really keen on pushing those who have burrowed their ways beneath his flesh away anytime soon. ]
[ it's on the tip of his tongue to pry about the ghosts — something that's new to him, being the son of hermes and not hades — but she places her head on his shoulder instead. it startles him, not enough to make him jump, but it takes him by surprise. even though he can anticipate any reaction, any movement, he hadn't sensed that one coming his way — and he looks down at her, the eyebrow that had been arched lowers as he tries to analyse her motivation, before he stops approaching it as if it's a battle. his senses aren't kicked into overdrive, triggered by backbiter being held tightly and securely within his grip. he's simply thinking too much, trying to attack it like it's some sort of labyrinth when it's merely a straight road. he's always trusted his instincts more than his head — and he relaxes, no longer tense, as he wraps his arm around her waist, hand pressing against her hip. there's a laugh to his voice as he teases her, ] I don't know, you're kind of tiny. I'm not entirely convinced.