tushanshu | 01 || Video

[The face that appears in the video feed is young with golden eyes and doesn’t seem to be aware that her console is broadcasting video. She actually looks a little confused as her brow crinkles as she tries to remember what the kedan said about using the console. For those actually paying close attention there’s a hint of concern in her gaze. ]

Oh…

[There’s a slight shuffle as she props her chin in one hand and leans on her elbow, her other arm crossed over her chest.]

Hello. [Another pause and her lips purse for a moment. This is almost as weird as sending an Iris Message honestly.] My name is Hazel Levesque. I was curious if anyone might be willing to give me another quick tutorial on how to use this console. They went through it really fast.

[She falls silent again, as she tries to figure out if she should ask about her friends.]

I’m looking for my friends if they’re here. [The way she says it makes it clear that she’s torn about whether or not she really wants to know if her friends are or aren’t in Tu Vishan, but she covers it up by moving on to the next matter of business and making her voice shift to a more chipper tone. The image however, continues to hold a certain amount of concern and the crinkle between her brows still hasn’t gone away although it isn’t so much confusion anymore as it is worry about what could be happening at home without her.]

And maybe a job, as I’ve been told I will need to find one in order to be a productive member of the community. I’m good with horses and art. I hope those are useful to someone here, but I won’t mind jobs like cleaning or organizing either, they were regulars on the duty roster back home.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's not. Hence the whole not the best timing thing. You kinda showed up in the middle of a downward spiral. But it is good to see you.

[A pause.] Potentially weird question, but what's the last thing you remember, before arriving here?

Aren't things usually poorly timed? It's good to see you too and everyone else.

[slight smile because she's starting to expect this question from all of her friends. but as before there's a slight look of embarrassment as she answers.] Storming out of the mess hall of the Argo II.

[A commiserating snort.] More often than not, it seems.

[There's a flash of some kind of relief, but Annabeth offers an apologetic smile for asking it.] Can't say I blame you for that. But most of us seem to have been pulled here from a little later. When I first arrived - well, uh, I hadn't even met you or Frank yet.

[only all the time it seemed. someone really seemed to have it out for demigods and she doubted Gaea could cause this much trouble] So it's not just me.

I've been getting that impression. [she says it softly not a touch of the common snark or exasperation in her voice. for now she's leaving out the bit about everyone being squirrely about her questions of what she's missing. they'll tell her or she'll find out about it later she figures. right now she's trying to avoid having the weird outweigh the fact that they're here too. but she's surprised to know that Annabeth didn't know her back when she arrived] It must have been stranger for you when the others started showing up than it is for me then.

[Her expression shifts into something half grin, half frown.] Definitely not just you.

Time works weirdly here, though you've probably worked that out for yourself. [Pause.] I was here for six months before anyone else from home showed up. I was only a week behind Leo and Percy in what I remembered, having been pulled just before the Argo II reached Camp Jupiter, but I'd spent months here without any of what came after. I don't really understand it, to be honest.

[Another pause, this time with even more hesitation.] The Emperor can show you the future, at a price. But - but you should worry about settling in first, and we can talk about that some other time, if you'd like.

[her lips purse] I was hoping it was just me.

Yeah. [she's positively flabbergasted. six months holy crow] That's a long time to be on your own in a strange world. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it's complicated here. [pause] Still I wouldn't mind a little simple one day.

[it takes a minute but then what she hears connects with past experiences] I might like talking about that sometime.

Maybe one day we'll get lucky.

[She smiles weakly.] It was... interesting, to say the least. It's weird to think of myself as having been away from home for that long. It's been almost a year now, in total.

[A nod.] Just, you know, let me know when you're up for it. In the meantime, there's probably a lot about this place I could tell you.

I hope so.

Do you miss it? [cause Hazel isn't sure if she does just yet, that could be the suddeness of arriving talking though.]

I'd like to hear as much as you can tell me. If you have time to have me ask you questions later?

Camp Half-Blood? [A pause.] Yeah. [It's been her home for almost ten years; as much as she's okay with not being in Tartarus right now, as much as having Percy here with her helps, she misses Camp a lot more than she usually lets on.]

[Another nod.] Sure. I can come over with Percy sometime. Where's your suite? It looks like Wood?

[She smiles sadly feeling for her friend.] I'm sure we'll get home.

That'd be great. [She nods a bit]Yeah, WO-1D.

[Her own face falters for a moment.] Eventually, yeah.

Okay. Percy and I are mostly in Metal, ME-1A, for the record.

Isn't that better than never? [it's okay Annabeth all will be well]

Once I get myself settled I'll ask about coming to see you both.

[Another brief moment of hesitation.] Better late than never, they say, huh?

Sure thing.

It couldn't be any closer than when Percy, Frank, and made it with Alyconeus.

[She makes a face, then nods with a small sigh.] Yeah, Percy told me about that.

There isn't much worse than that. We'll get home though, it's just a matter of time.

[The combination of things Hazel says brings her brain to think of Tartarus, in that it's definitely worse and what's waiting when they do get home. For a moment, her face darkens, but then her smile is wry.] It exists. We just have to find it.

[she bites her lower lip and frowns. she did it again. what did she keep walking into that was upsetting so many of her friends?] And we will. [she forces a smile in an attempt to reassure Annabeth.]

[She spots the expression right away, the frown, and forces her own into a similar reassuring smile when Hazel attempts it first.] Hey. It's fine. We'll all be fine.

[nod] Yeah we will.