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[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

Characters: Triton, Dionysus
Date/Time: Beginning Monday, December 26, 2011
Location: Mackinac Island, MI mostly
Rating: Probably nothing too bad... PG-13 at worst?
Warnings: Possibly language
Summary: Triton is following the next clue to finding his father's trident... oh, and his cousin is coming along for the ride.

Triton was quick to arrive in Michigan. He'd made all the necessary reservations, even had a car in his name. Perhaps his family hadn't been exactly delighted by his need to leave New York so quickly after Christmas, but he did not want to delay this any more than necessary.

His cousin Dionysus was supposed to be meeting him here somewhere. So far, the sea prince didn't see the wine god. Well, no matter. He could do this perfectly well without his drunken cousin along if he needed to.

Comments

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"Aw, you know me, I can sleep anywhere," he said carelessly.
As they approached the reserved sports car, Dionysus gave an approving nod, and said "Dude, sweet wheels. Riding in style, huh? Shotgun!"
He pulled out a handle of scotch, opened it, and took a deep drink from it. Looking over at Triton apologetically, he said "I'd offer you one, but I've only got five left. Should last me most of the way there, I hope."

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"Cousin. I have not yet reached my twenty-first birthday. It is illegal for me to consume alcohol, especially as I am operating a motor vehicle." Triton gave Dionysus a hard, cold look. "And, for that matter, it is unlawful for there to be any open containers of alcohol in said moving motor vehicle. You will refrain from its consumption while in this car, or you can walk to the island. Your choice."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

Dionysus snorted. "Lawful? Seriously? Are we caring about laws today?" However, as he could see that his cousin was about one smart remark away from dumping him on the side of the road and leaving him to Ted Nugent's tender mercies, he slipped the bottle back into his bag. I can always sneak a swig when Daddy's Boy makes a rest stop, he thought to himself. However, he couldn't resist tossing off "You know, you'll have much more fun in life if you don't care about what people think about what you do." He settled into the passenger seat and tilted it back.

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"I care about the law every day. I'll be going to law school after I graduate, after all," Triton retorted as he got into the car. "This trip isn't about fun. It's about finding my father's trident so that we can make sure to keep the upper hand."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"And I think we'd all be a lot better off if we didn't have so many laws around. Don't do this, don't do that, don't have fun-- people always gotta get hassled and they just want to go their own way," he said wistfully as Triton pulled them out of the parking lot. "I'd put a stop to that pretty damn quick if I was in charge, seriously."
He looked over at Triton next to him, sitting properly in the driver's seat, his hands on the steering wheel precisely at ten and two. "And just 'cause we've got a job to do doesn't mean we can't have fun doing it."

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"And that, Cousin, is precisely why you're not in charge," Triton replied crisply.

"I'll save it for when we win. However... you and your antics could be a useful distraction for anyone looking too closely into what we're doing on the island. Just don't get us kicked out."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"If being in charge means you can't ever take a break once in a while to loosen up, you can have it, and good riddance to it," Dionysus said. "As for not getting kicked out, no promises."
However, the thought did make him pause for a moment and consider. "You think someone's going to be there that knows who we are? Or someone who's looking for the same thing?"

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"I doubt it. More that people are going to wonder why we're so interested in poking around in the off season, I'd guess."

He turned a cold look on Dionysus.
"I am one of the few in our pantheon that doesn't want to kill you. Frankly, I don't care what transpires between you and the Muses. But, if you ruin this for me, and make it so I can't recover what's waiting for us on the island, that will change. Very, very quickly."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

Dionysus raised his hands in mock-fear. "Whoa, everybody stand back-- we're dealing with a badass here." He snorted. "You're forgetting that I want to find the damn thing as much as you do."
He looked out the side window so his cousin couldn't see the surprising flash of pain in his expression as he muttered "Probably more."
Turning back, his face was back in its sardonic mask. "Believe it or not, we ARE on the same side here. How about this-- I'll do whatever I can to help you, and you consider unclenching a little. Deal?"

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"This is my father's trident we're speaking of. I doubt you have the same vested personal interest," Triton said flatly.

"I need you to not get us kicked out. Beyond that, I don't care, so long as you don't interfere. I'm not sure if the Trident is actually on the island or not. I don't sense it, but being human now, that's not a big surprise," he continued with a shrug, "But, one doesn't get results by going soft on the troops. Discipline at all times--now that's the Greek way to get things done."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"Last I checked, we're not in Greece. And, so I'm a 'troop' now, huh?" he asked, amused. "Does that mean I get one of those big helmets with the fuzzy crest on it like in 300?"
He settled down lower in his seat as the Michigan forest sped by outside. "I may know war-- but if you wanted discipline, boy, did you ever come to the wrong guy," he said. He took a closer look at Triton next to him. "Something's bothering you, I can tell-- and it's not just me getting on your nerves, but something deeper. What gives?"

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"We may not be in Greece, but that is no reason to abandon the traditions we were born to, Cousin," Triton said crisply, "I have every intention in keeping my skills sharp so as to command my father's armies once more. Discipline, duty, leadership, respect--these are the measure of a man in the kingdoms of the sea. Clearly, things are different for you shore-dwellers."

Triton shrugged.
"You're hardly a soldier. Still, I suppose you're the best I have at the present moment. Follow my commands, and it you really want a crested helmet, I'm sure I can find one for you somewhere."

The sea prince frowned at Dionysus's question.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Cousin. I am not bothered by anything. I am focused on the goal of carrying out this duty that I have taken as assignment."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"Hardly a soldier? Ha. No. I'm not a soldier at all," he said. "There's a difference between being a soldier and just whupping some ass that needs it. Still, the helmet is badass, and you can't tell me you don't want one too," Dionysus grinned.

"Duty," he mused. "I've heard it well-spoken of. Me, I'll have no truck with it-- what gives me meaning is right here," he said, and nudged the bottle-filled pack with his foot.

"Man, I'm thirsty, though. How much longer?"

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

Triton just shook his head ever so slightly when he heard the bottles clink inside Dionysus's bag.

"We board the ferry here," he announced, parking the car. "I hope you're in shape for walking. No motor vehicles are permitted on the island." He gave his cousin a disdainful once-over. "And you'll probably not be permitted onto the grounds at the Grand Hotel. Not unless you have something less... scruffy in which to present yourself."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"Your faith in me is truly heartening, dear cousin," he quipped, getting out of the car and hoisting his bag onto his shoulder. "Don't worry, I've got better clothes. And if it's a dress code you're worried about, I've got experience getting around those."

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"I would prefer you exercise a shred of decorum rather than "get around" the dress code," Triton said crisply as he prepared to board the ferry.

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

"And I would prefer to have a pony made of Everclear. It is unfortunate that fate does not always grant our wishes," Dionysus muttered under his breath as he followed his cousin aboard.

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

Triton shot his cousin a look to warn him that his patience, though longer than his father's, was not infinite.
"Just do as I tell you, and we should be fine," he said as soon as they disembarked.

Triton looked up the hill.
"We're here to find a weapon. I suggest the fort."

[acratophorus.insanejournal.com]

Dionysus turned slowly, his face fixed in a look of intensity that he hadn't worn yet on this trip. After completing a full circle on his heel, he relaxed and faced Triton. "You may be right; I get the sense that there's something in that direction at least."

[heraldofthedeep.insanejournal.com]

"Then let's not waste any time." Triton marched right up the hill to the fort, and began to look around, keeping an eye on anyone watching them too closely.