Cornelius "Corey" Drake (sandcastlegod) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-12-12 07:31:00

Entry tags:

Greeking Out
While Argo had a few private moments with Harmony, Corey stood in the kitchen, stirring the stew and talking to Andy.
"Mind if I ask how old you are?"

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	gammagodling 2010-12-12 07:47 am UTC (link)
	"I'm twenty-three." Andy says, writing down a list of names on a sheet of paper in his notebook. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-12 07:51 am UTC (link)
	"Just a few years younger than Argo, then," Corey says, nodding. "I'm 17, for the record." He doesn't like that list. No, not at all. "Getting stuff in order?" he asks quietly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-12 08:00 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, you could say that." Andy says with a grin. Despite what they'd all just gone through, Andy didn't seem terribly perplexed at all. "I've got a big plan to pull together in a short amount of time and several people are going to be involved. If it works, a lot of things will change." Andy says. Pause. "Do you like being Argo's follower?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-12 08:02 am UTC (link)
	"...That's...good? I hope." Corey raised an eyebrow. "Dude. It's not a draft. I didn't like it, I could tone it down." He resumed stirring. "Still.... I love the guy, but I wish he'd think about some things just a little bit more, y'know?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gammagodling
2010-12-12 08:10 am UTC (link)

"Well, it'll be a damn sight better than what we just saw, Corey. No one should have to suffer that way when they die and too many people through the ages have ended up in that Hell." Andy says.

"It just seems unfair to me. That's what I'm saying." he says.

"I'm glad you like it. Argo is a great guy, even if his solutions to a lot of problems rate on the 'hit it until it doesn't move anymore' side. I'm familiar with that approach.

Some days, I even use it myself." Andy jests.

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	sandcastlegod 2010-12-12 08:15 am UTC (link)
	"Understandable," Corey says, still a little wary about it. "Hey, well, with a beautiful piece of workmanship like this strapped to my back," he says, leaving the stew to simmer and looking at the sword. "It's an even more tempting thing to resort to." He starts to reach towards the pretty pretty craftsmanship. "Can I look at it?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gammagodling
2010-12-12 08:40 am UTC (link)

"Go for it, but be careful. It's extremely sharp. I don't want you getting hurt and having to explain it to Argo. I don't want to be accused of abusing someone's followers or the hospitality being shown by your and your teammates." Andy says.

The laws of hospitality are pretty big with Andy; Zeus has stricken people down for disobeying them. As Andy does not enjoy the same protections his brother does, he tries to obey any and all courtesies.

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sandcastlegod
2010-12-12 08:42 am UTC (link)

As a Nova Roman Traditionalist, Corey's quite familiar with hospitality rules as well, so he just nods. "Of course."

He picks it up very carefully, very gingerly, and starts admiring the perfection of the craftsmanship aloud like a big ol' dork.

He notices an inscription. Grandfather Lucius had wanted him to get a good Traditional education, so his Greek is okay.
"...Was this your dad's or Argo's before it was yours, or do all three of you have the same nickname?" He asked curiously.

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gammagodling
2010-12-12 09:03 am UTC (link)

Andy looks up at Corey, reading the runes on his sword.

"You can read those runes?" Andy asks, impressed. He's never thought to ask anyone to do so before now.

"My dad gave me the sword, but I don't know that he or Argo ever used it. Does it say something about 'the Lion of Olympus'?" Andy asks with a chuckle. That nickname belonged to Hercules before he was known as the Prince of Power. Then, it became Argo's nickname and the rest, as they say, is history.

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	sandcastlegod 2010-12-12 09:09 am UTC (link)
	Corey snickered. "I might be a mere mortal, but Grandfather Lucius made sure we could be pretty oldschool. I'm not great or anything, but yeah, there's something about the Lion of Olympus. And then there's something else about Olympus, and an attack or something -- wait, you don't know this?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-12 09:18 am UTC (link)
	"No. I'm a bad demigod and failed runic three times. That might be why they don't like me so much. Gods love to write in runic." Andy laughs. He considers Corey's words on what the sword says. "Argo attacking Olympus? Are you sure you're reading that right?" Andy asks skeptically. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

sandcastlegod
2010-12-12 09:26 am UTC (link)

"Um, dude, are we still joking, because this looks like Attic Greek to me. Really Really Ancient, sure, but not exactly high-priestesses-only or anything." Corey asks him, blinking. Then, "No, no, there's the bit about Argo, and the bit about someone attacking Olympus is later. The part is in the middle is hard. I can't remember...katastrop-haes..katas... Destroyer?"

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gammagodling
2010-12-12 09:55 am UTC (link)

"No, I'm joking. What you're looking at is written in runes, man. I don't know why they gave me a sword with runes on it, but they're the same kind as my tattoo here." Andy says, pointing at the sleeve done on his shoulder and right pectoral.

Of course, Corey can read this as well, as it is in Greek.

He who bears this mark shall not set foot near the hallowed Mountain of Olympus or its dominions on pain of death at the behest of the Father of the Gods. If he should do so, Olympus shall consider it an act of war and his life is forfeit immediately, to be taken by the one who wields the power to slay the Destroyer.

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	sandcastlegod 2010-12-12 06:59 pm UTC (link)
	And Corey gives it a good look. "...How'd you get that tattoo?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-13 04:14 am UTC (link)
	"I got it when I was younger." Andy says simply. "I don't really like to talk about how it happened." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-13 05:18 am UTC (link)
	"...Okay. Well... if you don't wanna, I won't ask, then...." Corey's looking very confused and distressed now. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gammagodling
2010-12-13 05:23 am UTC (link)

Andy sighs.

"I was a kid and I was told I couldn't come back to Olympus anymore. My uncle, Ares, delivered the message and the tattoo." Andy says, putting his pen down.

"I got the sword when I turned seventeen. I don't know why I got it when they wanted nothing to do with me, but I was glad for any kind of acknowledgment, really." Andy says.

"Argo doesn't really know about any of this. I came up with a convincing story to explain it to him and Dad and they haven't questioned it. I'd like to keep it that way."

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sandcastlegod
2010-12-13 05:49 am UTC (link)

Corey listens, and exhales at the very last part. "Dioscuri, that's good to know. I don't know what I'd do if they were in on this. Mars is supposed to be a son of a bitch..." Corey's face starts to tighten again, angry rather than confused this time. "But he's severely misjudged Argo."

The strong language -- especially the rather pronounced Latin expletive, are very uncharacteristic of Corey, but very genuine.

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gammagodling
2010-12-13 06:04 am UTC (link)

"Sadly, Corey, Argo isn't hard to figure out at all. He's going to do the right thing and honor is word, no matter how much it costs him. He's going to risk anything for people he loves, because that's the kind of person he is. You just saw proof of that, even if you didn't have any before now.

His code of honor can be used to manipulate him, and I'm trying to limit that as much as I can." Andy says.

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	sandcastlegod 2010-12-13 06:08 am UTC (link)
	"Good point, good point, but he'd never turn on famil--." Corey's eyes widen. "Styx-promises... Andy, okay, you can't go to Olympus, but Pluto doesn't have any reason to have a problem with you, does he?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-13 06:13 am UTC (link)
	Andy can't help it; he smiles as Corey comes upon part of the plan. "No, he doesn't. Not yet, at least." Andy grins. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-13 06:25 am UTC (link)
	Yet? "...There are so many ways this can go horribly, horribly wrong, dude." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-13 07:24 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, there are. If they do, I'm the only person paying for it. If things break even, no one loses anything. But if things go the way I'm hoping...no one will ever have to worry about where they're going when they die, ever again." Andy says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-13 07:39 am UTC (link)
	"You sure about that--?" Corey bit his lip and shook it off. "Never mind, Andy, I just..." He stares at the tattoo again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gammagodling
2010-12-14 02:39 am UTC (link)

"I'm as sure as I can be." Andy says, hearing the trepidation in Corey's voice.

Corey's voicing all of the things that Andy has asked himself a million times since he came up with this plan, but there's no way to know if this will work without putting it into action.

Or, there's no way that he has access to at the moment.

"Corey, you keep looking at my tattoo. Is something wrong?" Andy asks.

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	sandcastlegod 2010-12-14 02:53 am UTC (link)
	"...Mars is a son of a bitch," Corey says again. "That's what's wrong." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-14 05:01 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, the stories of his bastardry are legendary." Andy says. "But you look like you've found a particular reason for it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-14 05:31 am UTC (link)
	"...He...he wants Argo to kill you, and he's stupid enough to think he can pull it off. That's... basically what you get if you put the tattoo and the sword together." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-15 01:53 am UTC (link)
	Andy stares at Corey uncomprehending. "What? Are you sure you read that right?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

sandcastlegod
2010-12-15 08:24 am UTC (link)

"Yeah. The sword says that the Lion of Olympus has to use it to slay 'The Destroyer' if 'The Destroyer' storms Olympus. Your tattoo says you're not allowed on Olympus's turf on pain of getting slain by whomever's been given the means to slay 'The Destroyer.' The son of a bitch thinks he can get Argo to kill you, and that's so not going to happen. It all sounds like the kind of prophecy where you can just hear the chorus in the background explaining how the stupid tragic figures are sealing their own fates trying to avoid them. Which is the second time I've heard a metaphorical chorus in the background today."

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gammagodling
2010-12-16 03:12 am UTC (link)

If Andy had known this before he made his deal with Mephisto, he'd have rethought doing it. But now...all he can really feel is hurt. He thought Zeus gave him the weapon as some kind of peace offering or to acknowledge that he was still a son of Hercules.

Now, all it meant was one more reason that Olympus loved Argo.

"Well, if Ares set this up, then Zeus knew about it. Probably gave the order himself, the bastard." Andy says. Cursing is also a rare for Andy.

"Well, nothing to be done for it, Corey. I'm going to do what I'm going to do and Argo is going to do what he has to do. Take the sword and hide it until Argo needs it.

And he will." Andy says.

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	sandcastlegod 2010-12-16 03:24 am UTC (link)
	"What? Dude, no way. It's still your sword. And if some circumstance is going to force Argo to attack you -- cause you know he wouldn't do it by choice -- there's no reason to arm him to make the consequences worse!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-17 02:50 am UTC (link)
	"Corey, if the sword needs to be in /anyone's/ hands, I'd prefer it be Argo's. He'll at least think about what he's doing when using it. Or would you rather it vanish at some point and turn up in the hands of someone who wouldn't actually mind seeing me dead?" Andy asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-17 03:44 am UTC (link)
	"...Right. Good point. Give it to me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gammagodling 2010-12-18 04:35 am UTC (link)
	Andy turns the sword over, scabbard and all, to Corey. "Keep it safe, Corey." he says, looking into Corey's eyes. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sandcastlegod 2010-12-18 04:43 am UTC (link)
	Corey meets his eyes. "I promise," he says in his other native language. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	gammagodling 2010-12-24 04:13 am UTC (link)
	-(END)- (Reply to this)

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