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(Thankfully, Percy was already pretty close to the place. It had seemed like a good idea to stick around. He'd almost gotten mugged in another part of this place, but that hadn't gone down so well for the muggers in question. This place seemed safer though.

He walks along, his gray hoodie zipped up over his camp shirt and to his neck. Although the situation was explained to him and things were cut out, he didn't want to make the mistake of possibly advertising what he was until he got his powers back. If he got them back. He hadn't asked anyone about that either because wow, painting a target on your head much? Who knows what kind of people lived here.

He's chewing on one of the strings of his hoodie as he approaches the center, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. His eyes land on Gansey and he grins around the string.)

Hi.

[gansey hasn't yet done much exploring on his own. he'd woken up in a section of town that had been filled with canals and quaint little shops, and the slightly odd folk there had pointed him directly to the welcome center. if there was anything he'd learned in his time in henrietta, it was that he probably would do better not exploring strange and potentially magical places on his own.

he loiters out in front of the welcome center, dressed in a salmon polo shirt, khaki cargo shorts, and docksiders. in short, he kinda looks like a douche. except when percy says hello, his face brightens into a genuine smile, eyes squinting up in the corners.]

Percy, right? Gansey. Pleased to meet you.

[he extends his hand. his nails are neat but his hands look strong, not nearly as lily-white as his clothes would seem to indicate. actually, the entirety of gansey doesn't look half bad in the strength department, although he's no demigod.]

(If Gansey looks like a douche, Percy looks like the poster child for runaway orphan. Jeans are ripped to hell at the bottom, worn through thin at the knees, hoodie was gray but it very clearly used to be blue. Don't even ask about his converse: they've seen hell. Literally. All the same, Percy seems perfectly comfortable in his skin and doesn't seem put off by Gansey's more upscale wardrobe.

Instead, he smiles just as genuinely right back. Gansey is sturdier looking than he could make out on screen. Percy safely figures that the kid can probably hold his own on a solid exploration.

At the offered hand, Percy gives it a bit of a surprised look. Not too many people he meets are in the habit of shaking hands, but the kid has his manners and he reaches out with his own hand. Tanned skin, blunt nails though not entirely clean. Too much dirt, too much running around. He shakes Gansey's hand all the same, his grip secure.)

Nice to meet you too, Gansey. You got an idea of where you wanted to head to? Or were we gonna do this real general?

[gansey, for his part, doesn't seem to care about percy's clothes either, although he does notice them. percy looks strong and seems friendly enough, which is all that really matters at the moment. there's an ease about percy that gansey finds he likes. so few people are truly comfortable with themselves.

one of the many lessons his father had taught him about business was that a lot could be learned from a handshake, which is why gansey made a habit of them. his own is warm and firm, but also brisk.]

Well, I woke up in a place full of canals and got pointed in this direction. I was told there was a place where people like us tended to live, which may be a good place to start. But if you've seen something else worth looking at, then we can go that way. Honestly, I just like having at least a vague sense of where I am.

(Sadly, Percy has no gauge on handshakes. Gansey's grooming is lost on him. He's a good deal more interested in the aspect of adventuring, so he listens with rapt attention as Gansey talks.)

The Water Sector. I woke up there too.

(In a fountain, actually. Some old lady was poking at his leg. He shakes his head at Gansey.)

No, I've no idea of any places. I actually spent the last hour finding food. They had these awesome grilled stick things? I don't know. Anyway, I haven't spent much time. So if you want, we can just kind of walk around.

[gansey's grooming may be lost on percy, but it still works just fine for gansey. percy has a good handshake.]

Really? Interesting. I woke up in a boat and almost fell into the canal. Not an experience I'd recommend.

[his stomach makes a vaguely annoyed sound, and gansey looks just the tiniest bit embarrassed.]

Food. Something I definitely should have thought of. With any luck there will be more of that. Just walking around works for me.

(Percy does snort a little bit at that. Not out of malice or anything but seriously. Imagining Gansey in his current outfit landing face first into the canal? Kinda priceless.)

I personally am a fan of water. I'd have just let myself fall. But if it makes you feel better, I woke up in an actual fountain so, you know.

(The backside of his clothes were still damp even.)

Let's get you food firstly. I don't know- are you from...Earth? Like...normal...Earth? Do you know what McDonalds is?

(Because apparently this was going to be his gauge for what to expect from other Foreigners. McDonalds. Safe bet. Gansey seemed normal enough but Percy wouldn't take a chance.)

[that's why gansey had told the story, so he looks a bit pleased by percy's reaction. and of course, percy's story makes him laugh.]

You definitely win there. And yes, I know McDonalds. Best fast food french fries besides KFC, and those shouldn't even count in the competition.

[gansey hadn't considered the possibility that other foreigners might not be from earth.]

You're from the United States, right? You sound like you are. What's the nation's capital?

(Percy's pretty delighted at making Gansey laugh right back. But then he makes a bit of a face and sticks his tongue out just a little.)

Ugh. I hate KFC. I'm gonna have to judge you on that one.

(Percy was used enough to weird, impossible things that it was one of the first things to cross his mind. That and the fact that they were literally on a giant floating turtle. Kind of threw expectations out the window.)

Yeah. I'm from New York City.

(He stares at Gansey a moment. Yeah he was seriously not good with school stuff. So he just kind of smiles at Gansey weakly and shrugs.)

Ummmmm. Washington?

Oh, come on. Put everything else aside, the fries are amazing.

[gansey's spectrum of weird and impossible things tends to follow a narrow and specific sort of pattern, which has never led him to considering alternate universes on the whole. alternate timelines, perhaps, but entire worlds just isn't the first thing he'd come up with.

but neither are gods, so he's going to eventually be rather surprised on that front.]

Really? I'm from Virginia. And yes, Washington, DC is the nation's capital. Sorry, I thought that was an easy one, but I did grow up around there.

[he gives percy a clap on the shoulder that's intended to express that he really didn't mean to ask a question percy couldn't easily answer. it also works as a good opportunity to change the subject.]

In any case, we have enough in common so far to proceed, I think.

No way, dude. They're always so soggy.

(See, this was why Percy was so open-minded. One day he'd get around to telling Gansey about all that. Maybe. Probably. So far, it seemed like Gansey was a down to earth normal enough guy. Not a serial killer or a hydra in disguise.

At being told he was right, Percy claps his hands together just once and thrusts a fist up into the air in a simple display of victory.)

Yes. I knew it. I sucked at that whole segment in history.

(Or science, really. Depending on how involved in maps they had gotten. But history had always put Percy to sleep faster than most subjects. It was on account of the fact that they read so many excerpts from texts and primary sources and it just wound up liquefying Percy's brain to mush. The only time he ever excelled in history was the one time they finally discussed something he knew anything about: Greek history.

He grins a bit at the clap to his shoulder, not wholly offended. At least he had been right. It would have been more embarrassing if he hadn't been.)

I think so too.

(He gestured for Gansey to follow him and took off.)

So, Gansey's a pretty different name. And I have a huge list of pretty different names I've heard. Most of which I can't even pronounce.

Not if you get them fresh. But I will concede that if you like a crunchy fry McDonalds does win.

[gansey is definitely not a serial killer and super definitely not a hydra. only one head and two legs on this kid. they're even pretty nice legs, as legs go.

he finds himself laughing at percy's victory pose.]

I'm guessing that you don't pay much attention to the news, either.

[it's not said with even the smallest hint of meanness, just an observation. plenty of people didn't bother with the news. when percy takes off, gansey's at his heels, and then at his side. percy's a little taller, but gansey has a sort of sure-footed stride that makes it easy to keep up.]

It's my last name, actually. I just prefer it to Richard.

I do prefer crunchy fries.

(He says this with a sage nod. Pretty nice legs or pretty nice calves. One could burn down bridges, so it is said.)

Why would you make that connection? I pay particularly close attention to the news.

(He says this rather simply. He doesn't add the fact that he kind of had to because a lot of the time, you could tell what was wrong in the world beyond Mist by watching the news. Things like freak storms and the like.

Also the fact that he sometimes had his face splattered on news reports being called a criminal. After a while, you learned to follow the news pretty closely to try and be one step ahead of others.

He glances at Gansey, brow quirked.)

Richard is kind of nicer than Gansey. But each to their own. My full first name is Perseus so I can't really judge. My last name's Jackson. Which isn't so bad if I wanted to go by my last name. Sounds kind of like a jerkish name though.

There you have it then.

[both, actually, although his thighs are covered by his shorts. and, as a bonus, there's booty to match.]

It's hard to watch the news without running into something about the government, that's all. DC is almost always in the national news somehow.

[he gives a shrug. he hadn't meant anything serious by it. but it is interesting that percy pays attention to the news but has to guess at the nation's capital. gansey files that one away for later.]

Richard Campbell Gansey III. Richard is my grandfather, Dick is my father, and I'm left with Gansey. Which is a bit better than being left with Dick, to be honest. The jokes are too easy. Perseus is an unusual name. Percy is better than Jackson. You don't really look like a Jackson.

I guess I'm usually paying more close attention to the weather.

(He taps at his chin thoughtfully. He had heard politics before but in his defense, he had always completely ignored them. Politics, as far as he was concerned, had practically no say in how things actually went down in the world. Who cared about presidents when you literally had Zeus trying to crisp you alive?)

Thaaat is a mouthful, dang. That is better than Dick, I'll admit. I don't know who ever thought that was a good nickname. I mean. Dick.

(He gives Gansey an extremely pointed look.)

My mom was really big on Greek mythology.

(Which was completely true. He points suddenly ahead.)

Oh, there's one of those vendors. I have no idea what the meat is but it was definitely edible. I'm not dying yet.

It's more immediately meaningful, anyway. My mother's a senator now, so I get treated to a lot of it regardless. Got treated to it, rather.

[knowing about zeus would probably significantly change one's priorities, yes.]

It is a mouthful. And yes, I know. Trust me, I know. I went by it when I was too young and naive to know about the other meaning.

[he still cringed internally whenever one of his family members called him dick in public.]

Greek mythology is fascinating. Perseus is just...a lot of name to put on a child, I suppose. And that's coming from someone with three names and a roman numeral.

[gansey's eyes follow percy's finger.]

Excellent. There are worse things in life than tasty mystery meat.

[and gansey is clearly hungry, because he picks up the pace a bit until they reach the vendor.]

Oh well that makes sense.

(Complicated family matters. He definitely gets that.

He reaches out and pats Gansey sympathetically on the shoulder.)

It's okay, man. We all make horrible, horrible mistakes.

(Percy quickens his pace to match Gansey's- which is easy enough to do. Percy was in phenomenal shape which wasn't entirely evident through a relatively baggy hoodie and jeans.)

Why do you say that?

(Mostly because he was curious. And just a teensy bit amused by what Gansey might mean, what he thinks that he would mean.

The kid might be dressed like someone from the upside of New York City but he sure didn't act it. Percy smiles with quiet appreciation at that willingness to dig right in and steps aside to wait for Gansey to get his food.)

Don't start, Perseus.

[gansey rolls his eyes at percy's shoulder patting and elbows him gently in the ribs, but he's smiling the whole time. something about percy just makes him feel comfortable, like they've known each other longer than the few minutes they have.]

Well, I mean, I've read some mythology. Son of Zeus, slayer of the Gorgon, some business with Atlas. That's a lot to put on a kid, expectations-wise.

[gansey orders and receives his food, a skewer of meat and a skewer of meat interspersed with what are probably (hopefully?) vegetables. they don't quite look like anything he can identify, but he doubts they'll kill him, either. he takes a bite of meat, pulling it off the stick with his teeth. because he's gansey, he chews and swallows before he speaks.]

You definitely didn't steer me wrong. This is delicious.

(Percy's jaw falls open in mock offense. He automatically smacks Gansey's hand away from his ribs, scoffing loudly. Truth be told, it was nice meeting a guy his own age who didn't instantly want to mercilessly lay into Percy. It was nice. Good. For someone as friendly as Percy, he didn't have too many friends.)

Was he the son of Zeus? I always forget that. Zeus is a total jerk. I don't remember him having much to do with Atlas though. I could be wrong.

(Percy you're such a snark sometimes. Granted, Gansey would have virtually no clue how much of a snark just then for Percy was talking as flippantly as before. He waves his hand dismissively.)

I don't think my mom named me it for expectations. I think she did it because...I don't know. Maybe she was hoping the name would bring luck or something.

(It wasn't in Sally Jackson's nature to put expectations on Percy. She was too good, too pure.

Well that is nice. Percy also chews and swallows before eating. He was hardly a savage.)

Right? So far, my stomach is without holes too so it's totally fine. Can you walk and eat or do you wanna sit down?

[while gansey has the capability to mercilessly lay into someone, it's a power he uses judiciously. and percy's been nothing but funny and helpful so far.]

Definitely the son of Zeus. But at least he's not a weird swan-rape son of Zeus. He was pretty weird. And he definitely had something to do with Atlas. Definitely. I think. But on the whole I guess he was a pretty lucky guy. I'm pretty sure he married a pretty girl and eventually ended up as a constellation. That's not too bad, as Greek myth lives go.

[gansey grins at percy.]

I can walk and eat. Let's see what there is to see.

(Percy was not so good at that. He was pretty good at teasing but in a certain way and to a certain extent. The kid was more soft edges than he was hard.

Percy makes a sort of horrified face on a deep, spirtual level at the mention of swan-rape.)

Please never mention the swan thing.

(He seriously did not want to think about his uncle- nope. Noooope nope. No thank you. Bye.)

Well, there's no room for ugly girls in Greek mythology so duh.

(He says this with great sarcasm. He glances up at the sky, his smile a little softer. Almost sadder, actually, at the mention of constellations. That was still an ache he felt keenly. Losing your friends...It was never easy. He bows his head down and looks again at Gansey. He's back to being bright.)

Being made into a constellation is usually one of like, the biggest homages that can be paid. So yeah, not too bad.

(Not too bad at all. It's what she had deserved, what she had wanted.)

Sweet.

(He walked on and his face shut down a bit into something more serious.)

Do you really think we're on an actual turtle? A living one?

[gansey can tell. it's charming and kind of novel. he's used to navigating around sharp edges and rough spots and all-out open wounds that someone friendly and easy is just...nice.]

Right, no swan thing, got it.

[he gives a snort at percy's sarcasm about ugly girls.]

They were there, just...as the enemies. Because everyone loves a little misogyny.

[but then everything about percy's manner changes, and he looks up at the sky, where there aren't currently any stars to be seen.]

I suppose if one must die, it's probably the greatest way to be remembered I can think of. Especially for the people you leave behind. Being able to just look up at night...beats anything like a gravestone, that's for sure.

[he takes another bite of food and considers percy's question.]

I want to be skeptical, because it sounds so ridiculous. But on the other hand, I'm not sure why that would be a lie when everything else seems to be true. The scale of the thing alone is astonishing.

Thank you.

(He grins over at Gansey. Maybe one day, Gansey would get it. No one wanted to hear about their family member's weird sex scandals. And Percy's family? They were notorious for their weird as hell sex. He's just glad Gansey didn't mention the golden shower story tied to his namesake. Small blessings. )

Oh yes, you're right. How could I forget.

(He lightly smacks the side of his head as if to say duh!

Percy looks at Gansey as he speaks, his own expression still a bit tender around the edges. It had only been a year, after all. He eventually smiles, looking a good deal more cheerful genuinely. Gansey had hit it on the head.)

Absolutely. Stars are pretty awesome like that.

(Percy's smile fades some and he looks down at his feet. Or rather, the ground below. He gently skids his foot over it.)

I feel like it's true too. Just. It's alive. You know? A living animal. Plus, it's so quiet for something so big...

(He stresses on the word and then looks around them. All the buildings, the people walking around. And the turtle was quiet. Percy should have been able to speak to the creature- at least if it was a sea turtle of some sort. But the creature was silent. Granted, it might not be a sea turtle. Or it might even extend beyond the realm of gods altogether. That was absolutely possible. Anything was. It was unsettling all the same.

Even without the ability to speak to animals, it seemed kind of incredible being on a living beast they couldn't hear, right?)

Stars are pretty awesome.

[gansey agrees with a nod. he's on the verge of asking percy what's wrong, but then percy smiles much more genuinely and gansey's not sure he wants to do anything to open that wound, whatever it is. plus, they barely know each other. is it rude to ask such a personal thing? in the end, he just reaches out and gives percy's should a squeeze and a little shake.]

It is quiet. But if it's that big...and it has to be huge, we might not be able to hear it. Or there might not be anything to hear. I think I remember reading that a blue whale's heart beats something like once every ten seconds, because they're so massive. Multiply that by however enormous the animal under us is...it could go years between something simple as a heartbeat. A heartbeat could take years, maybe. Biology wasn't my thing.

(Percy is pretty glad Gansey doesn't pry. He's really not one for oversharing. It isn't some dumb boy principal of not wanting to appear weak or anything either. It's just, you know. Personal.

At the mention of whales, he almost, almost comments that whales are insanely loud and always have something to say to everyone. He sticks with a safer bet.)

Whales are pretty loud. You think they aren't because, like, comparison wise you're like oh- well- I'm not in the ocean and so I can't hear anything. But..you know.

(Wow, this makes no sense does it? Nope. Percy clears his throat and waves his hands around in the air.)

Never mind. Point is, heartbeats aren't the only noise animals make.

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