eachdraidh | video;

I know we're supposed to be celebrating, but does anyone else feel like- you know, not wanting to do that at all? I can't be the only one.

[ as always, Rachel's got smudges of color on her face and her fingertips, but this time her expression isn't bright to match. she scratches at her cheek ( which leaves a bit of blue there, but whatever ) as she frowns, and it's clear she's trying to not look so sullen, but it's hard work. there are some ways this place is way, way different than her home world. but this feels too much like what it would be like if the Roman and Greek demigods really did end up going to war. if the quest failed, and everything crumbled and went to Tartarus and friends were forced to fight friends and Gaia won and that kind of sucks. so she's babbling at the locket network- why? because she's selfish enough to seek some kind of validation for feeling so bummed about this. for not finding that much comfort in a Seelie victory. and maybe also because she's managed to get her hands on a little fairy wine, and she's not drunk, but she's feeling more honest about her less optimistic side than she normally would be. woops. ]

I know the war is important, and unavoidable, but I guess I just thought- [ she huffs a breath ] I got to fight. I got to ride a pegasus into battle and fight, just like everyone else, which I never got to do in my world. And I always thought it was worse, having to sit on the sidelines when the rest of my friends were out fighting. But this- I don't feel any better. [ a beat ] Fighting doesn't scare me, I love knowing I can protect myself in a fight now, but that?

[ another pause, and she's pushing her hair back off her face even though it doesn't really do much to control all those curls ]

I don't think I can do that again. I want to help, I want to keep helping in any way I can, but just- not that. I don't think I'm built for that kind of battle. And I know I can't be the only one that feels that way, but- [ her brow furrows up, like she doesn't like admitting that. ] Does that make me useless here? 'Cause I gotta admit, it makes me feel a little useless. [ but yikes that's depressing. and Rachel Elizabeth Dare isn't depressing. so she shakes her head, lifts a hand like that erases that last bit ]

Anyway. If we're friends, or no matter what if you're a camper - Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter - check in, please. [ :| damnit campers she knows you were all probably way too involved with all of the fighting ] Let me know you're okay. Let's talk. I'm going a little crazy, it feels like everybody's scattered in different places.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It makes sense.

[ it doesn't really help that she chose to go for the wine instead of actually processing everything first, but. eh. details. ]

All of this just makes me really miss home.

You and me both. [A roll of his eyes.] I had part of home here recently and now that's gone, too. It's been crazy. But on the bright side we made it out with only some damage?

[That's putting it very, very mildly.]

Part of home? What happened?

[ all the sad faces ]

People from home showed up before the battle and then left after it was over. Kinda makes me think the Unseelie monarchs are just doing whatever they can to mess with us. [A shrug.] It was almost an impressive strategy though, I was distracted almost until the jabberwock thing attacked our castle.

I don't think it's just an Unseelie thing. I've seen a few friends from home come and go, more than once. [ she huffs ] I don't think the monarchs care much about who comes and goes anymore. They'll take whoever they can grab, and let go of whoever they can't hold onto.

Probably not, but I feel like blaming them for bringing my sister here and kicking her back out again. [Shrug.] I still wish I knew what they were looking for when they go out and search the worlds for us. Nothing's ever completely random. There has to be some kind of pattern right? A way to keep things in order.

Maybe. The prophetic side of me wants to chalk it up to fate, find the ties, but the rest of me can't be bothered right now.

[ because war sucks, yo ]

Still. M'sorry she was only here for a little while. I can't figure out if that's better or worse than her being stuck here, or never showing up at all.

I'm pretty sure the rest of you deserves the break if you really wanna know.

[There's a pause.] You know, I'm not sure either. But it's not like I won't see her if I go home again.

You know what we both need? A distraction. A really good one. Up for an adventure? Not like the last time

Um, yes. I'm always up for an adventure. Especially ones that don't have to do with preparing for war.

[ a beat ]

Only... everything is kind of destroyed all thanks to the Jabberwock, isn't it? Where would we go?

Skyward. [A shrug.] Maybe we should head out and find out what hasn't been destroyed yet. I was going to do that eventually anyway.

Oh. Uh, I don't know if I can handle that just yet.

[ again with the sheepish ]

Last time I was up there everything looked really [ what's a good word ] scary. [ ah that works ]

I think I need to do something that will take my mind off of everything, if I can be perfectly, selfishly honest.

Sometimes I wish more people were selfishly honest. [And then he's reminded of something.] This isn't exactly local, but you've heard about Parrais, right?

Mmmmaybe? I think I've seen it on the map. Maybe.

[ looong pause ]

No, I haven't. Where is it? Or what is it?

Somebody just recently told me about it. It's basically a Seelie-biased city that's really huge on the arts. So, you know, figured it might be something you'd be interested in. It's not really that far from here either, I think. Like it's not on the other side of the world.

What, like- I could buy paints there, maybe? Or does it just kind of have a boho feel to it?

I haven't been out there myself but it makes sense. You'd have to ask Dorian, he's the one who told me about the city. It's one of the next places I'm going though.

That guy knows everything-! I just met Dorian.

[ :D! she's even pointing at the locket, like he'll get what she means that way ]

But yeah, I'm in.

[Surprisingly? He gets exactly what she means.]

He's pretty smart, actually. Get as much information as you can from him and if you get there before me, tell me how it is.

No way! We should go together. Maybe a whole group of us can go. Field trip style. Or- a quest for the arts style.

[There's an idea.] You think we could really make a whole quest sort of thing out of it?

Well, nothing official, but we can pretend.

Then again, maybe there's some Seelie business we can take care of there. It's not just the monarchs sending people on on quests anymore, right? So. We could ask someone?

See, that's a quest I could get behind. "Go ye forth and find the best painters in the Drabwurld and report their secrets back to the monarchs.' Even art can be used in times of war.

We could always ask Lancelot, I guess. Ooor what's his name...John? They might be able to give us something to go on.

Ooo, painter secrets. [ a beat ] Oh, I haven't really introduced myself to any of the- anyone with intimidating amounts of power, really. Names are lost on me. But if they can give us an official quest, I'll meet the heck out of them.

Yeah, wasn't there like a book or a movie or something about secrets hidden in the Mona Lisa? It could happen. [He doesn't know John personally, but he knows Lancelot and knows enough to guess.] Lancelot's the Marshall. I'm not sure what John does, I've just heard rumors. But they're probably our best shot instead of trying to ask the monarchs ourselves.

I guess it can wait until things calm down a little more though.