metem_logs | (no subject)

She's actually pleased by his question. That meant he was at least trying to adjust. "Athena actually. So I have to clarify, I am not really this tall or glowy on normal occasions."

He takes a brief moment to size her up, but holds an arm out to show his shiny self. "Yeah...I generally don't look like a nightlight most days. Far from it, especially if I forget to shave." So, it was a slight attempt at funny.

"So how are you adjusting, now that it's been pretty much shoved into your lap?"

He looks around and back to her. "Well as I can, I guess. Kinda hard to interact or pretend I know what the hell I'm talking about, honestly. How did you manage it?"

"I made some friends and got to know them, before branching out too far. People in your own pantheon are the best place to start, if you want to learn about yourself. It can get weird, but I just remembered that I wasn't the only one."

"I'll get there. Hence the book. Just feel like I should know more, I guess." He sits the book down and offers her a seat. "Bombardment and all that."

She sits. "Yeah, learning the basic lore helps. I don't know what's in here," she says, holding out his present. "But usually the magical gifts are useful for us."

He furrows his brow as he takes the gift, then settles into his seat. "'Magical gifts'?" He eyes the thing suspiciously before shaking it gingerly. "Did you get one?"

She smiles, and when she does, she glows a little more brightly. "Yeah. I got my Aegis. My shield."

"Gods need shields, right?" He chuckles and turns the package over once before finally unwrapping it. A quirked eyebrow is his immediate response at the book in his hands. "Or scrapbooking..."

She noticed his lackluster response. And she couldn't really blame him. It was a scrapbook after all. She'd been expecting something a little grander too. "You should open it. The gifts aren't ever pointless."

He glances at her before taking a deep breath why am I holding my breath and opening the first page. There on the first page is a sketch? etching? of a man who appears to be glowing or shining. Much like he is, now. "What is this?"

She leaned over to look, and felt a pang of envy. This was a far more gentle introduction than she had. How very unfair. But it wasn't his fault Gaia had chosen to be a forceful bitch to her. So her tone was kept gentle. "That's you. How you used to be."

As the pages continue to turn, he feels more and more unsettled. It's not going to attack you

How do you know?

There's some flash of familiarity from what he assumes are the crazy dreams he'd been having. There are more than just pictures in this book. His fingers run over a small piece of leather, the inscription in the book claiming it is a piece from Tyr's armor. He says nothing for a long moment before turning the page. There, another drawing. This time, one of what's supposedly his godly self, and an equally godly woman. Without reading the description of the picture, a word comes forth that Sean has no inkling of where it comes, and there's an obvious hurt that sweeps over his features:

"Nanna."

She can practically feel his pain, and reaches out, taking his hand in hers. She doesn't say anything inane or useless. She just gives her wordless support through the touch of her hand in his.

He shakes his head, wondering where the smack of hurt and the name came from. There is no move to pull his hand away from Athena. "I don't... I don't even know who she is. But... fuck, it hurts." He taps his chest with his free hand before finally taking his other one back from his current companion. The book is slammed shut.

"I understand. I really do. Feeling things you can't explain. Your heart remembering things before your head does. It's hard. It gets easier. Take your time."

"How..?" he whispers, pinching the bridge of his nose as his eyes shut tight. "How does any of this get easier?" It's the same question he's asked his therapists, the grief counselors, any shrink that would look at him. "It really fuckin' doesn't, Pete. And this?" He thumps the book with his knuckles. "Doesn't really help my sanity."

"I'm not talking about grief, Sean. I'm talking about adjusting to this." She mimicked him, thumping the book herself. "Your problem is you are still trying to exist in a world that is small and simple. Where your just some poor guy who's been through a tragedy and is trying to cope. But that isn't the world, Sean. It's bigger than that for you now. And if you don't start accepting the proof that keeps pouring into your lap, then yes, you will go insane. But you probably won't get that kind of time anyway. If you don't at least start getting with the program, Gaia will shove you into it. Whether you want it or not. You're being given a chance to do this the gentle way. I recommend taking it."

He takes a few deep breaths, trying to get his brain refocused. "Okay... okay," he mutters, sliding his glasses off to rub at his eyes. "I'm...trying, Pete. I am." His voice is softer and sadder, still. But, there is some strength remaining that was teetering. "I'm just really fucked up, y'know? I wish for everything that this PTSD shit would just stop. Maybe I could wrap my head around this thing easier, but it creeps in. It latches on. I think for the sheer fact that you're sitting here with me is the only reason I haven't had a meltdown."

"I get it. And there are people who can help you in this group." She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Don't be afraid to ask us for help. We're all in this together. Okay?"

He reaches up to rest his hand on hers before patting it a couple of times. "Yeah." He cleared his throat before attempting the shadow of a smile. "Thanks."

Sean glances at the book as he puts his glasses back on. "Suppose I can look at this later. Don't want to put you through any more of my idiosyncrasies. You don't deserve that."

She smiled down at him. "I don't mind idiosyncrasies. I've got plenty of my own. But maybe you should take this.a little at a time."

Triton had gone to find Athena, but wasn't sure where she'd gone. But, knowing her, the library was as likely a place as any.

There was a low rumble of thunder in the distance as he came in, just a little too casually.
"There you are," he said, a hint of frost in his tone, "Studying up, are we?"

Athena turned at the sound of Triton's voice. She could hear the tone, and wondered what he was suddenly so upset about. "Hey. Sean this is Boden Murphy, but we know him better as Triton, the Prince of the Sea." She was keeping it civil and pleasant, wanting to feel out Triton's mood. "Triton, this is Sean." She did not refer to Sean as Baldr, as she didn't know how he'd feel about it.