"That works for me. We can keep talking on the way." Avi said, nodding as she finally dragged her eyes away from the sky. Cain pouted dramatically and she rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out. "We'll be right back. It's not like it's going to take us a month. Practice your dance moves while we're in there, you'll need them." She waited for Eira to lead the way in, hesitating at the doorway before stepping in. And as the door shut behind them, she couldn't help but feeling like this was the first step towards something bad.
"Uh-you were going to say something. Markus interrupted both of us, with the best intentions." She said, speaking up in the quiet of the house. Faintly, arcade music could be heard, along with the sounds of some television sitcom.
Eira made sure her steps were quiet and her breathing was even as they headed into the house. She kept her face blank, as per usual, even though there were a flurry of emotions bouncing around in the inside. She'd never liked coming in here, even though she didn't exactly know why.
"Oh, yeah. Just- with the whole myths and other gods, you don't think that some war might break out, do you? Between whatever other deities you were speaking of and ours?" She'd never put much thought into any other gods or myths so she wasn't the best educated on the subject.
"War only breaks with soldiers to fight it." Avi said with a shrug, eyes scanning the walls as they walked. "You have a good point, and I'd be worried–really worried–if it was anything like with the Romans. But the children of the gods I'm speaking of are so few, and so scattered, that I don't think they'd jump to war if prompted by gods. And honestly? How many of our campers want to go through that, again? I think, if we can take care of this, we can rid any threat of war at all."
She turned her head, eyes focusing on Eira as she continued to speak. "Politics are…a mess, when gods are considered. But they hardly fight their own wars, you know? They make us do it, and if we can make sure no one fights, we have to be good. We can't take another war."
Avi was right, Eira knew, that maybe she was worrying too much. But she couldn't stop that horrible feeling in her gut that maybe they were walking into a hideous situation that no one wanted to be in. No one at all.
She sighed through her nose, glancing down at Avi through her peripheral vision, "Suppose you're right. However with how vague the prophecy was, how little information we got about out task and now with your thoughts on those other gods, it's best to keep our minds open and ready, just in case a war breaks out and we're all, unfortunately, dragged into it."
Avi nodded, huffing a long sigh. "Unfortunately, these gods are a bit less predictable than the Greeks. I hate that you're so spot on, but yeah. And don't worry, I've got my mind open and an eye on our backs. That's just how questing goes."
"Chiron!" She suddenly called out, waiting a moment before they received a response. The 'in here' came from the direction of the camp head's apartment and office, letting them know where they were headed.
"You're not happy to be on this quest at all, I can tell." Her voice once again came out of the quiet, suddenly. "Can I ask why? Tell me to shut up if you really want to, I don't mind."
Eira simply shrugged a shoulder, slipping a hand into her jacket pocket as they walked, "Never been one for quests. Someone always gets hurt even if everyone makes it out alive." Luckily no one had been killed on any of the quests she'd been on over the years. Sure, herself and others hand been injured but they all made it home.
"There's just something about this one that is bugging me. I don't know, like a horrible feeling in my gut that this isn't going to end well."
Avi let out a wry chuckle, eyes dropping to the ground at their feet. "Don't I know it." Her quests were wrought in bad luck and tragedy. And she was at fault. She had to be, considering her parentage, and the fact that she was the recurring factor to each. Gods above, this one had to be different.
"I hope to everything that your gut feeling is wrong." She said, hands fiddling with each other. "No offense, of course. But it'd be better if it was, than if it wasn't, you know?"
Eira smirked, the slight amusement in the action probably the only other emotion she’d shown in Avi’s presence apart from bitter distaste to the whole situation, “None taken, I’d rather my gut feeling be wrong then right at a time like this.”
The less chance of death or injury the better. Sure, the whole trip seemed sketchy and strange and usually her gut feelings weren’t wrong, she prayed that this time it was. If only for the others sake.
"Fingers crossed and tokens waiting." Avi muttered, just loud enough to be heard, even if the phrase didn't make much sense.
Not too long after, they reached Chiron's office, and from there got a reluctant approval to leave. The centaur wasn't happy about them leaving at night, but he understood the importance of leaving as soon as possible. The allowance campers were given for quests was handed off to Eira, and then they were sent off, a wish of good luck echoing in Avi's ears.
Cain, when they made it outside, was laying on the grass. At the site of them he rose to his feet, standing straight as he could and saluting Avi, who had to stand on her toes just to flick his nose. "We good to go?" He asked, looking between the two.
Eira raised a brow at the two of them, "Do you have to salute every time you see her?" She asked, jerking her thumb towards Avi. Hover she didn't give much time for the other male to respond before she answered his question, "Yeah, we're ready." They had money, a destination and part of a goal. That was enough at this point. She pushed the uncomfortable feelings of despair about the whole trip down and locked them away. Fear was only going to be a hindrance and keeping a level head was important. Something she'd learned over the years through trial and error.
"It's cooler than waving." Markus explained, after Eira had answered his question. He had his shield still strapped to his back, though it was now joined by a large broadsword. A camo duffel bag hung over his shoulder, and he adjusted the strap as he started off towards the hill, motioning for the other two to follow him. "Arizona, right? Looks like we're takin' a cross country trip. Any ideas on how to travel?"
Avi tilted her head in thought, dragging a hand through her hair. "Train or by air are the best bet, though I don't know if we'll make it through airport security. I don't even think I have a passport. I can get one, though. However, if a monster followed, fighting on a plane is a lot harder. And if it went down…"
"Agreed, plane is too dangerous," Eira replied, falling into step besides Markus, "However, if we need to travel any further then Arizona, maybe getting a cheap hire car would be the best option, instead of train. That way we can get into more remote locations and leave all our extra junk in the boot at the same time."
Luckily she knew how to drive. If Markus or Avi knew then that was a plus, they could share the driving if they decided to go with that option. Trains were just as dangerous as planes, with the amount of people on board. If they were being followed at any point and the train was to be flipped or the carriage was disconnected, that could be just as dangerous as flying.
"Car first, see how far we can make it on that." Avi started, moving a bit faster as though impatient to reach thetop of the hill. She hated quests, because of the casualties. But gods, did she love being out of camp. Sometimes, the atmosphere that built around her, here in the confines of the border, felt suffocating. All of the eyes on her, like she was a caged animal about to strike. It made her feel like she was. "I can get us one for cheaper than we can rent, and most rentals don't allow out of state, do they? After that, though, if something happens to the car…we might need a quick train ride. Depends on how close we are."
"Don't you have that friend in Indiana that lets you crash at her place?" Markus asked, looking to Avi, who nodded. He then looked over at Eira, explaining. "Avi attracts non-camp demigods like honey does flies. She's got friends in all sorts of places, most up in the states near us, or over around Washington. I met Cleo once, but she's the one we want as a halfway point. Daughter of Hecate, you know? I have a small handful of ex-campers I know, down South, too. Any on your end?"
(Sorry for the absence, went through a tough time/birthday)
Eira thought for a moment. She knew a few ex-campers all over the place, courtesy from coming to the camp young and, despite her antisocial personality, managed to be acquainted with quite a few. It didn't help that she was often on missions and quests or errands for some reason or another. On top of that, she knew a few regular humans that had surprisingly helped her over the years, they would be willing to lend a car, a place to stay, some money if they needed. As long as Markus and Avi kept their mouths shut.
"I know a few people cross the country. They'd be happy to help as long as they don't get hurt along the way. Or their vehicles if we need to borrow them." She shrugged a shoulder.
((shit, dude, you good?))
"We have a strict policy on keeping civilians, retired or mortal, out of harm's way." Avi stated, her voice carrying over the short distance she had created between herself and the other two. "As in, we don't mind help, and have no problem going to people we know. But if shit gets dicey, we're making a scene of leaving. Keeps monsters and shit on our trail, and away from good samaritans." No more repeats. No more repeats. No more repeats. No more-
"They do know that cars don't always come back in one piece, right?" Markus pointed out, arching a brow. "I mean, of course, we'd pay 'em back no problem. Some people are just really attached to their vehicles."
(Tis a complicated answer that is)
Eira just shrugged, "Eh, I know someone who wouldn't care what would happen. He lives just on the outskirts of the city." An old friend, family friend, but the good kind. Most of the people her parents knew were assholes but this guy wasn't, despite how he looked. The closest thing to a father figure she had ever had.
"He's got bikes, cars, one time he even owned a bus. So If we can get a bus, train or something to his then we can take a car from then on out."
((i hope everything's better now?))
"Ah, perfect." Markus grinned, looking ahead to where Avi had finally reached the top of the hill, and was surveying the land ahead. "Subway or quick transit'll get us right there, long as you can find one that'll take us to the address. I think Crow wants to go shopping sometime soon, though. Convenience type, for travel snacks." He said, glancing up at the night sky before returning his gaze to the ground. "Don't matter how much she hates these things, she still loves getting to eat mortal food. Says that the magic stuff 'isn't the same'. Anything you're wanting to grab?"
(yeah kinda)
"There's a subway line that runs fairly close to his place. Then it's a ten minute walk but if we move fast we can make it in six." Eira hitched her bag up higher, "Gum and iced-coffee," She said, "That's the only thing I'm going to request from our stop to a 'mortal supermarket' or whatever. There's more sugar in pure human stuff and I have a feeling I'm going to need it,"
"If you want energy-" Avi called down the hill to them as they neared her, grinning. From where she stood, the stars glowed around her form, her hands at her sides and legs braced like a power pose. Almost ethereal, like the stars were forming an aura around her personally. "We can grab you an apple to go with your snack. Best source of natural caffeine, and they're fun to slice." She explained, voice quieting the closer they got to her. "But coffee is a good one. 24 hour coffee shop, or just one of the little bottled coffees? Bottled are best at corner marts, and that's where you'll get your gum from."
"I'm good with literally anything, as long as I can get some cheap junkfood. Something that tastes a bit more real." Markus said, making a face. "I want salt and sugar, and more calories than necessary."
"Gods I can't stand junk food," Eira wrinkled her nose at the mention of the stuff, "Too greasy, too gross. Can't do it." After having lived off the stuff as a kid and not the good kind, she hadn't touched it since. Besides, she preferred fruits and healthy snacks… most of the time.
"An apple sounds good though. Or strawberries." She shrugged, "But you do you I suppose. If you wanna get junk food go ahead, but I ain't touching the stuff or even going in the building. I'll stick to the healthy stuff."
