im just so tired

"I can try?" Argo offers, his smile turning more anxious and worried for his sister.

She patted the spot next to her, looking like she could cry. "I'm so sorry..."

"Why.. why are you sorry?" Argo rushes to her side, wrapping a wing around her.

"I suck! I suck so much! I'm not a good hunter! I'm not worthy..." She leaned on his shoulder, wiping her eyes as she cried. She curled up, shaking.

"Sophia- you are a wonderful hunter. You are strong, brave- and nobody is mad at you... I- I don't know what you saw in your dream.. but it wasn't true!" Argo is very bad at this. He rubs circles on his sister's back, like Rose has done for him many times before.

"You don't know that!" She snapped. "You don't know what I saw or why I saw it."

Argo stops, he backs away.

"I-"

Their wings wrap around them, they stand.

"I was trying to help- I'm sorry-"

She wiped her eyes. "Please don't go! I'm just being an ass, I'm sorry!"

"I- I won't! I thought I was making it worse- I-" Argo steps a bit closer.

She looked at him, guilt playing on her face. "I'm sorry..."

"No- it's not.. it's not your fault. I shouldn't have reacted that badly." Argo reaches out a hand to his sister.

Sheheld her arms out for a hug. "I'm just scared she's gonna be mad at me... I don't wanna take that out on you..."

Argo hugs her, his wings wrapping around Sophia tightly, then releasing.

"She's not mad, Sophie."

"She's gonna be mad..." She leaned on him.

"Why would she be mad?" Argo rubs her arm, humming under his breath.

"...because I'm just a liability. She has to do so much just to make sure I'm in a well enough mental state not to do anything stupid." It took her a moment to decide that would be the reason she would give. Of course, she was dumb enough to fall into almost actually having to talk to someone.

"Sophia. We're talking about Artemis. She has an army of mentally ill teenage girls. She has a whole BUNCH of liability." Argo shakes his head. "Even if you were this giant burden you seem to you are- which you aren't- that's.. what people sign on for when they sign onto friendship. They promise to help you through good and bad times."

She giggled at the way he described it, hugging him tightly. "I guess... We also promise not to keep too many secrets, but just look at me!"

"Sometimes you have to keep secrets." Argo ruffles her hair- trying to keep the more playful energy going.

"But, if it bothers you that much.. tell them your secrets? But.. I understand it's not that easy."

"You have secrets like that, right? Ones where you think they could get you into major trouble even if you didn't really do anything wrong?" She asked hopefully.

"I... I guess so. It's really hard for me to keep secrets- I talk too much.. but.. yeah.. I understand what you mean." Argo nods, his expression serious and trusting.

"I've been distracted lately... my shots aren't as good." She paused. "Not related to the whole secrets thing. Just something I keep noticing."

"Well.. I'm not.. good at archery. But- maybe you just need more practice! Whatever's bothering you- I'll fight it!" Argo smiles, trying to lighten the mood.

She shoved his shoulder with a laugh. "You butt-head! I just need to focus more and get my hands to stop shaking."

",Well, are you scared of the bow? why are your hands shaking?" Argo giggles, pushing her back.

"I don't... I don't actually know. Huh." She furrowed her brow, trying to find some dort of reason. If this was a cartoon, she would have smoke coming out of her ears.

"Okay, well.. I dunno." Argo shrugs, hugging Sophia tightly.

"Maybe I'm cold? Or constant nervousness? I don't really know. All I know is I keep missing. I haven't been able to run as fast, but I already know why."

"Well.. just don't be too hard on yourself. Everything will be alright, okay?" Argo tries to be reassuring.. but he isn't very good at it.

"Just gotta keep reminding myself I'm not gonna get hurt... Not with you here, at least, and not if I can keep my mouth shut."

"Hey, you can say whatever you want! I got your back, Sophie." Argo playfully nudges her.. starting to get distracted by light dancing along the floor from the window.

"I can try?" Argo offers, his smile turning more anxious and worried for his sister.

She patted the spot next to her, looking like she could cry. "I'm so sorry..."

"Why.. why are you sorry?" Argo rushes to her side, wrapping a wing around her.

"I suck! I suck so much! I'm not a good hunter! I'm not worthy..." She leaned on his shoulder, wiping her eyes as she cried. She curled up, shaking.

"Sophia- you are a wonderful hunter. You are strong, brave- and nobody is mad at you... I- I don't know what you saw in your dream.. but it wasn't true!" Argo is very bad at this. He rubs circles on his sister's back, like Rose has done for him many times before.

"You don't know that!" She snapped. "You don't know what I saw or why I saw it."

Argo stops, he backs away.

"I-"

Their wings wrap around them, they stand.

"I was trying to help- I'm sorry-"

She wiped her eyes. "Please don't go! I'm just being an ass, I'm sorry!"

"I- I won't! I thought I was making it worse- I-" Argo steps a bit closer.

She looked at him, guilt playing on her face. "I'm sorry..."

"No- it's not.. it's not your fault. I shouldn't have reacted that badly." Argo reaches out a hand to his sister.

Sheheld her arms out for a hug. "I'm just scared she's gonna be mad at me... I don't wanna take that out on you..."

Argo hugs her, his wings wrapping around Sophia tightly, then releasing.

"She's not mad, Sophie."

"She's gonna be mad..." She leaned on him.

"Why would she be mad?" Argo rubs her arm, humming under his breath.

"...because I'm just a liability. She has to do so much just to make sure I'm in a well enough mental state not to do anything stupid." It took her a moment to decide that would be the reason she would give. Of course, she was dumb enough to fall into almost actually having to talk to someone.

"Sophia. We're talking about Artemis. She has an army of mentally ill teenage girls. She has a whole BUNCH of liability." Argo shakes his head. "Even if you were this giant burden you seem to you are- which you aren't- that's.. what people sign on for when they sign onto friendship. They promise to help you through good and bad times."

She giggled at the way he described it, hugging him tightly. "I guess... We also promise not to keep too many secrets, but just look at me!"

"Sometimes you have to keep secrets." Argo ruffles her hair- trying to keep the more playful energy going.

"But, if it bothers you that much.. tell them your secrets? But.. I understand it's not that easy."

"You have secrets like that, right? Ones where you think they could get you into major trouble even if you didn't really do anything wrong?" She asked hopefully.

"I... I guess so. It's really hard for me to keep secrets- I talk too much.. but.. yeah.. I understand what you mean." Argo nods, his expression serious and trusting.

"I've been distracted lately... my shots aren't as good." She paused. "Not related to the whole secrets thing. Just something I keep noticing."

"Well.. I'm not.. good at archery. But- maybe you just need more practice! Whatever's bothering you- I'll fight it!" Argo smiles, trying to lighten the mood.

She shoved his shoulder with a laugh. "You butt-head! I just need to focus more and get my hands to stop shaking."

",Well, are you scared of the bow? why are your hands shaking?" Argo giggles, pushing her back.

"I don't... I don't actually know. Huh." She furrowed her brow, trying to find some dort of reason. If this was a cartoon, she would have smoke coming out of her ears.

"Okay, well.. I dunno." Argo shrugs, hugging Sophia tightly.

"Maybe I'm cold? Or constant nervousness? I don't really know. All I know is I keep missing. I haven't been able to run as fast, but I already know why."

"Well.. just don't be too hard on yourself. Everything will be alright, okay?" Argo tries to be reassuring.. but he isn't very good at it.

He's suffering, Argo.

(this is me stealing from my favorite horror movie)

TW: hallucination, maybe derealization, manipulation, possession, mentions of blood

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Argo was sitting in his room- eyes glazed. He was screaming. Screaming.

They're so loud. All the voices. Everyone. He's killed so many people and they're all in pain. They want him to be punished more. He has not paid enough for what he's done. He's reaping what he's sown. He's reaping what he's sown. He's reaping what he's sown.

Argo screams until his voice is raw- banging on the floor- there is the sounds of bones cracking.

You did this. You killed them. You killed them all. You have done this. You are evil. You are irredeemable.

Argo looks down at his hands, suddenly covered in blood. He's standing over the bloody corpse of someone he loves. He doesn't know who. They're unrecognizable now.

Then, you knock on their door.

They aren't real. They aren't, they aren't. They're trying to trick you Argo- trust me. Trust me. Trust me. Trust me. Trust me.

Argo sobs, trying to get the blood off of their hands- but it isn't moving. It's not. That blood is part of them. They are a killer. They are.

You try a bit harder to get in- and you break the door down- but here's the thing.. there is no body. Nobody is dead. Argo standing there- shaking in fear, trying to wipe off blood.. that isn't there.

What do you do?

Eve pretty much panicked as they saw Argo on the ground like that, quickly going over to him, “Argo! Argo what’s wrong—?”

Argo cries out in fear and anguish, their eyes looking at something far off in the distance.

They scream, then grab their head, tucking it into their knees and start shaking.

"Don't hurt me- don't hurt me please- please-please- I'll be good- please-"

“Argo— Argo it’s me- Argo it’s Eve you’re fine-“ Eve knelt to his height and tried to think of what to do- fuck, touching or holding him might not help- maybe it would snap him back into reality? Fuck! She doesn’t know! “Argo, no one’s gonna hurt you!”

Argo whines, a high pitched half strangled scream escapes him. He's so.. scared.

"Eve- Please- I- I didn't- I didn't mean to- I didn't want you to dissappear-"

Argo looks up- Eve's shadow rising taller than her.. but it's not true darkness. It's not an actual shadow. It's some sort of mist- and Argo believes it's Eve.

“Argo- it’s just me, it’s okay- you didn’t do anything, I’m fine, it’s not like you hurt me-“

You hurt me.

Are the only words Argo could stitch together, the winged shadow that loomed above, shifted to a more recognizable form.. the links between the shadow and Eve almost looked like strings for a moment. Eve had no idea that Argo was.. basically hallucinating right now, that he was seeing her in terrifying ways because he’s scared of hurting her, or anyone else.

She gently went to wrap her wing around him to pull him close, “Argo.. everything’s okay..”

…maybe the embrace would remind him of the mere moments before Eve disappeared, the two enveloped in his own feathers as the tired demigod had traveled them away from Eris, bruised and cuts on her from the fight.. some of which could still be seen now.. maybe for a moment he’d remember that. Remember the sheer panic, remembering just how tired she looked back then. Maybe that’s what he’d think back to, the tired and breathless ‘I’m sorry’ that felt like final words for days after her disappearance..

..or perhaps he was staring at the scars. The shadow’s white marks on it, the same scars across the brunette’s face in front of him, but they looked like they were bleeding. Maybe he’d remember that technically he’s the one who gave them to her- and one even matches his own..

Argo flinches away from the embrace.

"DON'T TOUCH ME-"

Argo immeadiately stops themself from yelling, pausing and trying to make themself smaller. "Sorry, sorry.."

"Get- get away. Please- I don't want to hurt you more- I don't know-"

“But you’re not- Argo, cut it out. I’m fine!” Eve frowned, wings drooping more as Argo flinched away, they had no clue what he was seeing.

No clue of the shadowy form he saw, no clue the unfortunate scenes whirring in his mind, but she just reluctantly took a little step back to give Argo some space.

"I- I'm sorry- I'm sorry- I'm sorry- I'm sorry- I'm sorry-" Argo sobs, apologizing so much it doesn't sound like a real word anymore.

She slowly and carefully started to approach again, arms out as she spoke softly, “Argo.. it’s okay. Don’t be sorry, there’s nothing to be sorry for..”

"I- I hurt you- I made you lose your memories- it's all- all of this-" Argo sobs, grabbing his stomach and collapsing to his knees, all he can see is the shadow figure. All he can hear is it's words echoing.

“No- Argo-“ fuck, okay, clearly she can barely help, she just went closer to Argo and attempted to sway him, “You didn’t do it.. I’m sure I did it on my own will- or whatever- like- you know-“ good gods they so badly wanted to envelop their friend into a hug.. poor guy…

Argo moves away, sitting on the floor, trying to make themself smaller.

"I- I-" Their lip quivers, they just want to hide.

They look at Eve's shadow.

Eve frowned and took a little step back, they looked between the shadow, and Argo, unaware of.. whatever Argo was seeing. They looked to him and gently held their hands out, a worried look on their eyes, “..Argo, I love you.. it’s gonna be fine.. I promise.”

"I- I don't want to- I don't-" Argo whines, bowing his head down.. trying to get further away from Eve.

Eve gently held her hand out to Argo, sort of like the gesture when they first met, “Come on… let me help you.. please, Argo.” It’s… ironic that probably neither of them could remember that moment.

Argo winces, hesitating. They look at the hand, all the pain they've caused Eve.. they don't want to cause her any more pain...

"Eve-"

“Argo.” She just kept her hand held out to him, “..We’re friends, okay? Some fuckin- I’m with you and you’re with me until we both croak kinda sappy shit, right?” She asked with a light laugh, trying to lighten the mood.. good gods. The tides just kept shifting for them

"We- I-" Argo stutters, struggling to form full words.

"Eve- I'm so- sorry."

“Don’t be- there’s nothing to be sorry for.” She encouraged with a smile, this is her friend.. and he’s struggling. She wishes he wasn’t struggling- poor guy seemed like he’s always going through something, but.. she’d be here for it.

"I.. I hurt you. I'm sorry-" he begins to cry, bowing his head, trying to wipe his tears.

Eve slowly approached him, oh she just wanted to hold her friend close and brush away his tears… to make some shitty joke of a comment or do anything, “Don’t be.. it’s alright.. I forgive you, Argo.”

Argo whines, lip quivering, they look down- and once Eve is close enough, he just.. collapses into her chest.

"No- I- I did hurt you-"

Argo roughly walks inside, their wings wrapping around them like a big fluffy burrito so they take up as little space as possible.

They sit on the floor, glaring at Percy.

"I.." They take a breath, then exhale roughly. "I dislike you. You killed my brother. I disagree with a lot of the things you do.." Argo starts to ramble on, but stops himself.

"But, you are a strong person- and.. since I have effectively scared off everyone else in camp.. I was wondering if.." Argo takes a deep breath- the next sentence clearly paining him to say.

"Spar me?"

[percy chews at the inside of his cheek, looking at argo, taking in everything he’s saying. there’s a defensive part of him that wants to say he didn’t kill their brother, but he doesn’t foresee that being met with a whole lot of positive energy. he thinks about it, looking at them. he really doesn’t have much to lose if they spar, it wouldn’t be any kind of a real problem, though his ego might be a little bruised if he loses. he could also use practice though….]

sure. i’ll spar you. though, maybe not right now, unless you feel like you really want to test the limits of the harpies.

[he tries to crack a smile but thinks better of it, not thinking it would go over terribly well with argo]

"Yeah, yeah.. that's later. Uh-" Argo crosses his arms- letting his wings relax slightly, being a bit cautious of not breaking anything as he unfurls them.

"I do need help with something else.. that isn't sparring- I just. I didn't know if you really could help with it.." Argo shakes his head. Face red.

"No. Nevermind. I don't want to owe you anything- it's fine- I- I'll talk to you later. Sparring."

[percy raises an eyebrow] why don’t you tell me, then we can see if i can help. you won’t owe me anything, if that’s the problem. i’m not really a debt kinda guy.

Argo hesitates, not making eye contact with the other demigod, eyes glued to the floor.

"Everyone seems to.. like you. How do I? How do I do that?" Argo asks quietly.

how do you do….. what? [percy’s brow furrows] get people to like you? [his voice is soft, not judgemental or upset] have i understood that right? [he’s just trying to understand what argo is asking of him]

Argo blushes, trying to hide their face. Their voice mounts in anger.. but they don't seem genuinely mad, just embarrassed. "Yes- yes. Okay? I want to know how to get people to like me- and it comes so easily to you! And it came so easily to my brother, and Annabeth- and-" Argo groans rolling his hands into angry fists.

My rocketship is human bone and skin.

Theo has run off to the forest again. Why? Who the hell knows! But he's spent a concerning amount of time there (nearly the entire day), and some people could get worried if he doesn't come back home soon. So, someone had to go out and look for him.

When wandering the forest, you start hearing things, maybe, if you knew Theo really well, you'd recognize a small voice as his. It sounded like he was talking to someone, but there was no other voice there, and you couldn't exactly make out what he was saying, either.

If you were to come closer, you'd start recognizing words. "What if I just let myself freefall?" And then the sound of a body hitting a tree. "Ow- okay bad idea, makes the circumstances worse actually, got it." Then the sound of Theo sitting down in the grass, and a while later laying down. "What if I let my mind wander aimlessly? Clear my head and stuff?" If you had a good look on him you'd see him closing his eyes and hear him exhaling deeply.

After a moment, the body sat up, eyes slowly opening. You couldn't see them clearly just yet, but something felt... off. Then, the mouth smiled as Theo(?) felt around his body, almost as if to check if this is real.

"It worked!" A way more feminine voice rang out, much as Theo's own voice was similar to the one that spoke just now, his was definitely at least a little deeper. Then, Theo(?) looked around and spotted you, but his eyes were... fully pink. And glowing. "Uh... Hi?"

Taglist (ask to be added or deleted!!!): @the-great-emperor-commodus @another-argo @literally-tinker-bell @roryandthethorns @reyno-solis-real @glitchyk @judas-of-eris @notaeoluschild @the-little-tadpole @daughter-of-thanatoss

ANYONE CAN INTERACT!!!

"Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't."

She seemed lost in thought for a second.

"...you care about Theo."

Atticus literally bursts out in laughter- having to wipe a tear from their eye because they're laughing so hard.

"OH! That was a good joke- the only reason I care about your brother is because he ruins my plans."

Andrea shook her head and smiled warmly at Atticus, she knew something- she saw a thing a while back.

"Mmm, so you wouldn't care if he died? Like back when he got his Achilles spot hit? You're a version of Argo. As far as I'm concerned, Argo cares about Theo."

"I'm a version that does not care for your brother. All he does is get in my way. I do not care for the boy."

"Sure, buddy. Or maybe you just don't want to admit it? Scared of making actual connections with people?"

"If you keep pushing me, I will murder Theodore- and I will make Argo believe he did it."

Atti growls, glaring at Andrea, golden eyes flickering threateningly.

"He won't stay dead, you know that, right? He's powered by spite for the world and love for his family. He's done it once before, he'll do it again."

She sighed and shook her head. "Besides, we made a deal."

"Dying isn't a pleasant experience. If you keep pushing me- I will make him feel pain. And.. I guess. Fine. Deal, whatever.."

"I'm not pushing you, I'm simply asking you questions. You need to learn not every question will be comfortable for you. And you need to learn you can't solve everything with violence or destruction." She shrugged.

"Why do I need to learn that?"

Atticus huffs, crossing their arms, looking like they're about to throw a small tantrum.

"Well, did you already know that?"

The question sounded geniuine, the look in Andrea's eyes... well, I bet it would also be geniuine if she had pupils or irises.

"Yes, but I think I can outrun genuine connections for a bit longer. If not, I can kill someone and scare people away again."

Atti says proudly.

"Hmm. Now, I'm not gonna say anything, but I'm going to leave you with the question of, are you aware how much that sounds like you're proving my point?"

"Shut up. Nothing. You're proving nothing."

Atti looks away, wings starkly downwards.

"Don't say I told you so when you realize it~"

Andrea said in a singsong voice, almost teasing Atti.

"I hate you. You suck, I'm going to go murder someone."

Atticus huffs, starting to walk off.

"Hey, what did we just say about murder?"

Andrea sighed and stood up, walking after Atti.

Atti frowns, slowly turning back to Andrea.

"That it was bad..."

Oh, this felt like scolding a child.

"And that we...?"

"Shouldn't do it..."

Atticus crosses his arms, kicking the ground. He's definitely gonna keep doing bad shit... but he's not gonna let Andrea know that.

"Mmhmm. Because it doesn't solve our problems, does it?"

Obviously she knew she couldn't exactly stop Atticus from going out and doing horrible things, but she hoped she could at the very least limit it.

"It doesn't..."

Atticus mumbles, stomping his feet in frustration.

"But it makes me feel better for a little..."

"Then that makes it a temporary solution and shouldn't be used, we should find you something better to do. Mm, how about baking? Video games? I know demigods and technology can be a bit wonky, but I think you'd love combat games."

Atti grumbles something under their breath, uncrossing their arms and balling their hands into fists.

"A temporary solution is a solution... And baking is boring! Luna and Argo make me sit through them baking all the time- and combat games are like actual fighting but more boring."

Okay, yeah, this was definitely like talking to a child. It felt like she was trying to teach small Theo something all over again, except Theo listened a lot more.

"But not a good solution. So not baking, okay. Not combat games, for some reason-? Uhh, training? With dummies? Sparring monsters from around the palace? Hell, maybe you can even ask Commodus for help-"

"We don't live at the palace anymore. I think that actually might be partially responsible for Theo's... breakdown? Whatever you call what's happening right now."

"It's partially my fault as well. He's got.. issues that he refuses to let anyone see. Attachment mostly, ever since I died- but whatever, let's not dwell on that. The answer to Theo's breakdown is simple: He wants his brother close."

"Argo.."

Atticus pauses, waiting for a few moments.

"He's.. very stressed- constantly. He.. wants to live with Rose, camp is fun.. but he doesn't want Theo to be upset."

"That's going to be difficult. My brother doesn't exactly like change... especially something big and sudden like this. But-"

She sighed and brushed a bit of hair out of her face.

"He's going to get used to it. He just needs some time."

Atticus sighs seeming almost.. sympathetic.

"Argo and him are really just.. the same, huh."

"...is it also exhausting seeing him do stupid things and blame himself for stuff that was out of his control?"

"Very much so."

Atticus groans.

"It stopped being fun to manipulate him, he's just so... sad."

"It's like being an unpaid child care worker, isn't it? Gods-"

Andrea shook her head.

"I don't remember the last time he hasn't felt bad about something."

"I need them to work through these issues. Chaos isn't fun when it's just... sadness.. and I'm not a babysitter- I want to stop being forced to care for children."

"I need them to work through these issues as well, but because I want them to be happy. They deserve a little happiness after everything they went through."

Atticus rolls their eyes, letting out a short scoff.

"Deserve. People don't deserve anything. Did Orpheus and Euridyce deserve a happy ending? do any tragedies deserve to end happily?"

Atticus huffs again, making a gesture.

"They don't deserve happiness, they should still get it. Though."

Argo puts the food on a plate- pancakes and berries.. they look surprisingly good. Argo being a good cook.. just seems like a strange combination.

He walks out of the kitchen, plate in hand- and sees Theo.

"Theo- I.. I'm back- I.. I thought it would be nice if I made everyone breakfast- and I was just about to bring you some-"

Argo notices that Theo was walking away from him.. putting the pieces together.

"Are.. are you mad at me?"

Theo was... so so tired. He didn't remember the last time he actually slept the entire night without waking up and taking a long ass while to fall asleep again. He put on an exhausted looking smile when Argo walked up to him. Just act like everything is fine. Just do that.

"Hi, buddy. That's really nice of you, thank you."

He ruffled Argo's hair like nothing was happening. He tried his very best not to let any of his distress show even though it was leaking through him and making him glow red in his own point of view.

"No- no, I'm not mad at you. I'm just really tired and didn't want to bother you with my cranky ass."

Argo shoves the plate into Theo's hands. Not.. roughly- out of care.. but just forcing Theo to take it.

"I heard... something happened to Froggy. I thought I should come and try to help."

"I can try?" Argo offers, his smile turning more anxious and worried for his sister.

She patted the spot next to her, looking like she could cry. "I'm so sorry..."

"Why.. why are you sorry?" Argo rushes to her side, wrapping a wing around her.

"I suck! I suck so much! I'm not a good hunter! I'm not worthy..." She leaned on his shoulder, wiping her eyes as she cried. She curled up, shaking.

"Sophia- you are a wonderful hunter. You are strong, brave- and nobody is mad at you... I- I don't know what you saw in your dream.. but it wasn't true!" Argo is very bad at this. He rubs circles on his sister's back, like Rose has done for him many times before.

"You don't know that!" She snapped. "You don't know what I saw or why I saw it."

Argo stops, he backs away.

"I-"

Their wings wrap around them, they stand.

"I was trying to help- I'm sorry-"

She wiped her eyes. "Please don't go! I'm just being an ass, I'm sorry!"

"I- I won't! I thought I was making it worse- I-" Argo steps a bit closer.

She looked at him, guilt playing on her face. "I'm sorry..."

"No- it's not.. it's not your fault. I shouldn't have reacted that badly." Argo reaches out a hand to his sister.

Sheheld her arms out for a hug. "I'm just scared she's gonna be mad at me... I don't wanna take that out on you..."

Argo hugs her, his wings wrapping around Sophia tightly, then releasing.

"She's not mad, Sophie."

"She's gonna be mad..." She leaned on him.

"Why would she be mad?" Argo rubs her arm, humming under his breath.

"...because I'm just a liability. She has to do so much just to make sure I'm in a well enough mental state not to do anything stupid." It took her a moment to decide that would be the reason she would give. Of course, she was dumb enough to fall into almost actually having to talk to someone.

"Sophia. We're talking about Artemis. She has an army of mentally ill teenage girls. She has a whole BUNCH of liability." Argo shakes his head. "Even if you were this giant burden you seem to you are- which you aren't- that's.. what people sign on for when they sign onto friendship. They promise to help you through good and bad times."

She giggled at the way he described it, hugging him tightly. "I guess... We also promise not to keep too many secrets, but just look at me!"

"Sometimes you have to keep secrets." Argo ruffles her hair- trying to keep the more playful energy going.

"But, if it bothers you that much.. tell them your secrets? But.. I understand it's not that easy."

"You have secrets like that, right? Ones where you think they could get you into major trouble even if you didn't really do anything wrong?" She asked hopefully.

"I... I guess so. It's really hard for me to keep secrets- I talk too much.. but.. yeah.. I understand what you mean." Argo nods, his expression serious and trusting.

"I've been distracted lately... my shots aren't as good." She paused. "Not related to the whole secrets thing. Just something I keep noticing."

"Well.. I'm not.. good at archery. But- maybe you just need more practice! Whatever's bothering you- I'll fight it!" Argo smiles, trying to lighten the mood.

She shoved his shoulder with a laugh. "You butt-head! I just need to focus more and get my hands to stop shaking."

",Well, are you scared of the bow? why are your hands shaking?" Argo giggles, pushing her back.

"I don't... I don't actually know. Huh." She furrowed her brow, trying to find some dort of reason. If this was a cartoon, she would have smoke coming out of her ears.

"Okay, well.. I dunno." Argo shrugs, hugging Sophia tightly.

"I can try?" Argo offers, his smile turning more anxious and worried for his sister.

She patted the spot next to her, looking like she could cry. "I'm so sorry..."

"Why.. why are you sorry?" Argo rushes to her side, wrapping a wing around her.

"I suck! I suck so much! I'm not a good hunter! I'm not worthy..." She leaned on his shoulder, wiping her eyes as she cried. She curled up, shaking.

"Sophia- you are a wonderful hunter. You are strong, brave- and nobody is mad at you... I- I don't know what you saw in your dream.. but it wasn't true!" Argo is very bad at this. He rubs circles on his sister's back, like Rose has done for him many times before.

"You don't know that!" She snapped. "You don't know what I saw or why I saw it."

Argo stops, he backs away.

"I-"

Their wings wrap around them, they stand.

"I was trying to help- I'm sorry-"

She wiped her eyes. "Please don't go! I'm just being an ass, I'm sorry!"

"I- I won't! I thought I was making it worse- I-" Argo steps a bit closer.

She looked at him, guilt playing on her face. "I'm sorry..."

"No- it's not.. it's not your fault. I shouldn't have reacted that badly." Argo reaches out a hand to his sister.

Sheheld her arms out for a hug. "I'm just scared she's gonna be mad at me... I don't wanna take that out on you..."

Argo hugs her, his wings wrapping around Sophia tightly, then releasing.

"She's not mad, Sophie."

"She's gonna be mad..." She leaned on him.

"Why would she be mad?" Argo rubs her arm, humming under his breath.

"...because I'm just a liability. She has to do so much just to make sure I'm in a well enough mental state not to do anything stupid." It took her a moment to decide that would be the reason she would give. Of course, she was dumb enough to fall into almost actually having to talk to someone.

"Sophia. We're talking about Artemis. She has an army of mentally ill teenage girls. She has a whole BUNCH of liability." Argo shakes his head. "Even if you were this giant burden you seem to you are- which you aren't- that's.. what people sign on for when they sign onto friendship. They promise to help you through good and bad times."

She giggled at the way he described it, hugging him tightly. "I guess... We also promise not to keep too many secrets, but just look at me!"

"Sometimes you have to keep secrets." Argo ruffles her hair- trying to keep the more playful energy going.

"But, if it bothers you that much.. tell them your secrets? But.. I understand it's not that easy."

"You have secrets like that, right? Ones where you think they could get you into major trouble even if you didn't really do anything wrong?" She asked hopefully.

"I... I guess so. It's really hard for me to keep secrets- I talk too much.. but.. yeah.. I understand what you mean." Argo nods, his expression serious and trusting.

"I've been distracted lately... my shots aren't as good." She paused. "Not related to the whole secrets thing. Just something I keep noticing."