Rinse and Repeat ((Jay))

[Jay Sun Keon]

Jay could only shake his head at Mel’s proposal of flying her Pegasus. It didn’t matter how nice of a pegasi it was, there was no way in Tartarus that he would ever get on it. Maybe he would stand by and watch as she did it, but not do it himself. ”Still a no, Mel.” He replied with a small but playful sigh, he didn’t want to come across as rude to the potential friend it was just heights was the one thing that Jay couldn’t deal with. For some people it’s spiders, for some it’s the dark. For Jay, it’s heights.

It sounded like an empty promise but Mel seemed trustworthy to Jay that still didn’t mean that he would happily get onto a pegasi and just begin to fly with it or ride it. Besides normal horse are cool and look badass, he didn’t need to fly. ”I definitely think you are wrong in me loving it. I’d hate it, I hate heights in general. I throw up or pass out when it’s too high.” He was definitely a sucker for a cute girl however so the face she was pulling had an effect on him for sure. However his acrophobia was too big for him to be able to ignore it just so he could ride a horse with wings. "Sorry Blondie."

[Melanie Hunt]

A small sigh escaped her pink lips as he rejected the offer. She supposed she couldn't force him to ride Cherry with her, but she was slightly let down nonetheless. "No worries! I'm absolutely terrified of the dark," she confessed with an understanding smile. She was always like that, constantly trying to support others no matter the circumstance. Besides, she did find the dark terrifying. If Jay was as afraid of heights as she was the dark... Well, she couldn't blame him for not wanting to fly.

"What about other animals?" she asked cheerfully to change the subject. The girl loved animals so much that she became one at times, movements similar to those of the elegant deer she spent all her time with. She didn't quite understand how some people just disliked animals. Even the 'bad' animals were just misjudged. Of course she would get to know them on a personal level as one of Persephone's skills was communication with animals, though only during the spring and summer months. "I'm friends with almost all the wildlife,"

[Jay Sun Keon]

The small sigh didn’t go unnoticed and Jay let his body slightly loosen a bit before giving an awkward look around the room before she spoke again. ”The dark? Looks like we’ve both got quite cliché fears… Even though we get hunted by monsters but nah, heights and darkness are worse.” Jay replied with a smirk, he was being sarcastic as usual and decided to put a comedic note onto their situation as a demigod. He’d only encountered the harpies that killed his mother so he wasn’t exactly trained in escaping monsters, let alone killing them and defending himself from them.

Jay gave a few moments to think about what animals he’d liked. He quite liked dogs considering he grew up with one but other than that he supposed pandas were pretty cool. ”Pandas I guess. I had a dog back home when I was growing up. A border collie. But yeah wild animals, I’d say pandas. They’re just big balls of fluff.” He replied with a small laugh, giving her a couple nods as he listened to her saying she was friends with all wildlife. ”Sorry Snow White.” Jay said with a grin, raising an eyebrow playfully.

[Melanie Hunt]

She supposed being afraid of the dark was a bit cliché. It made sense to her though. It wasn't so much the dark itself that was scary, but the fact that the darkness could hide many deadly things. Perhaps that's why she enjoyed Jay's company so much. He was quite literally the son of light, something which the flowery girl thrived in. Flowers do need the sun to grow after all.

Pandas were definitely adorable. She wished she could meet one, though it was rather unlikely she'd be going to China any time soon. She could just go to a zoo and see one, but zoos always made her horribly depressed. The animals were always so sad, empty eyes staring at her full of pleas for help. She couldn't handle it. "I grew up on an animal sanctuary," she said with a wistful smile. She missed her home and her family, not to mention all of the animals she left behind. She blushed again at his Snow White comment. "I suppose I am a bit like Snow White. I don't sleep with seven little men, though."

[Jay Sun Keon]

Jay watched the girl in front of him as he waited for words to come out her mouth; he wasn’t quite sure why he actually started the conversation with her. He didn’t even know her so it wasn’t even like they were friends going back to have a little catch up with each other after a long absence. However he was happy he did speak to her, she seemed like the type of person he was going to become quite close to. They had already opened up about their fears to each other so Jay felt like if he had a problem he could go to her, and vice versa. ”Well hey, I’m the son of light so maybe I can help with that fear.” He offered with a shrug, if he had managed to help her get over her fear he’d feel good about himself since he would have helped a big issue in her life.

An animal sanctuary? That was definitely different from living above a Chinese restaurant. How stereotypical that the Asian kid actually did have a Chinese restaurant back home. ”That sounds cool, maybe I can come see it one day, animals are pretty dope.” He said with a small smile, he didn’t mean this in the way of a date at all. He just wanted to try and become better friends with the girl and the potential aspect of seeing where she grew up may prove good for bonding and trust. ”Yeah…Maybe not the seven men part. It’s okay though, I’m Bruce Lee.” Referring to himself as Bruce Lee was something he loved, by now he had done it to at least three people. Logan, the kid from the mess hall, probably Tabitha at one point and now Mel.

[Melanie Hunt]

"Do you glow in the dark or something?" she asked with a giggle. She wasn't completely serious but a part of her wondered if he could. Children of Apollo did have some control over light after all. The image in her head was quite amusing though, the two of them in the forest at night with Jay emitting a green light like a glow stick. Hopefully that wouldn't happen though as that seemed a bit like a medical problem and no doubt she'd have to rush him to the infirmary. She didn't want to see her new friend sick.

She gave him a puzzled look, tilting her head slightly. "Bruce Lee?" she asked. Melanie hoped that she wasn't missing something important. Her childhood was a bit sheltered to say the least, being homeschooled on a mountain and all. The girl had never watched television except for brief moments while traveling to camp, as her father didn't believe much in technology and technology wasn't allowed in camp. Any references to popular culture would go right over her head.

[Jay Sun Keon]

The comment about glowing in the dark had made Jay laugh a tad, he knew she wasn’t being too serious but now that she had asked it Jay begun to wonder himself. As far as he was aware he didn’t glow in the dark but it was always a possibility he supposed. ”I’m not sure, maybe I have a light switch on the back of my neck or something.” Jay said playfully as he looked behind his self before running his hand up and down his neck. ”I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.” He continued on with a grin, pretending to be confused.

No way did this girl not know who Bruce Lee was. How does someone go through life not knowing that? He’s a huge deal and quite frankly, Jay looked up to him. ”You’re kidding me right?” Jay said with an eyebrow raised, the girl said she was raised on a sanctuary but surely they had televisions. ”You know…Bruce Lee. One of the biggest icons of martial arts in films. Fist Of Fury?...Enter the Dragon?...WAY OF THE DRAGON? You gotta have at least heart of some.” He said, putting emphasis on each one of his films, feeling more shocked that she had never heard of him than disappointed.

[Melanie Hunt]

She shook her head with slight embarrassment, pale cheeks tinged pink. "I've never really watched tv..." she admitted quietly. She had read plenty of books and enjoyed hours of music, but never once sat down to watch a movie. It had never really bothered her until now. She didn't want to seem to odd and hopefully her lack of popular knowledge wouldn't ruin their blossoming friendship.

She did know plenty about martial arts though. She wasn't very skilled herself besides the occasional tai chi with her father. The two of them would always rise with the sun to feed and care for the animals, some mornings spent practicing the gentle art form atop their mountain. "Do you know martial arts, then?" she asked, trying to shake her embarrassment.

[Jay Sun Keon]

Jay hesitated slightly as he realised he was being rude towards her, people came from different backgrounds and not everyone had T.Vs or had any interest in them. Some enjoyed simpler things in life but Jay enjoyed technology a lot. ”I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.” He said as he bit the inside of his gum softly, pulling one side of his lip back as he hoped he hadn’t offended her or made her feel awkward. ”That’s pretty cool though, my mum used to say T.V gives you square eyes…” He says with a grin, glancing at her eyes which were really round. Of course he knew it wasn’t true, but it was a reminder of his life before Camp Half Blood.

Martial arts? He may have been Asian but he wasn’t actually a ninja. ”I use a spear and I’m a son of Apollo. Anything I know of martial arts either came from a film or from my father.” He said with a shrug, ”I’m not actually a ninja.” He whispered playfully to her before leaning back again on the table, minding if there was anyone’s paintings behind him.

[Melanie Hunt]

She shook her head quickly, not intending to come off as wounded. "You're not being rude," she said with a smile to back up her words. Her eyes traveled over his face, pausing on his lips. Her brow furrowed slightly, trying to comprehend his body language. People confused her sometimes and as much as she loved having plenty of friends she always felt more comfortable around animals. They were easy to understand unlike the boy in front of her. Mel realized she was staring a bit and quickly looked back up to meet his gaze.

The comment about his mom made her chest tighten a bit. Gods did she miss her family. Of course she'd never have the chance to see her father again unless she traveled to the Underworld, a thought that made a shiver travel down her spine. No way in Hades would she ever go down there. Her little sister and step-mom, though... The girl had thought about visiting them, but she didn't want to bring them any more trouble. Her heritage had already caused their father to be ripped away and that was enough damage as it was.

"Dang. I was hoping you could teach me some super cool ninja skills," she joked, as that had never been her intention. "I'm not much of a fighter, though. I have my knife and that's about it," Hell's Bane seemed to get heavier at the mention of it, the Stygian iron blade strapped to her side as always. It was almost comical, such a gentle girl having the fear-striking weapon all while in her childish dress.

[Jay Sun Keon]

Jay eased up a bit once she told him that he wasn’t being rude, the smile reassuring him into even returning his own. ”Okay phew.” He replied with a sigh of relief, he really didn’t want to offend anyone ever. As her eyes travelled down to his lips Jay watched them, he wasn’t sure what she was thinking about especially since her eyebrows had furrowed. Was there something in his teeth? Jay quickly stopped thinking about it once Mel looked back up to his eyes, she didn’t say anything in return about her family so Jay decided she either didn’t hear it, or it was a sensitive topic that he shouldn’t push on about. That’s okay though; Jay knew what it was like to not want to even think about something.

A small laugh had escaped his already curved lips as she spoke about him teaching her ninja moves. ”Well you never know. I’m pretty badass.” He said with a smirk, taking a quick glance over her as she spoke of her knife. He didn’t notice the knife to begin with but now he knew it was there, he wasn’t sure how to take it. All he knew was it’d be best not to offend her. ”I’d say I can fight well enough to survive… Depending on what I’m fighting. However I don’t really like fighting so I try to avoid it. My charm usually gets me out of fights. It’s irresistible.” Jay teased with a grin. His so called ‘charm’ actually got him hit more than he would have been in a fight but he decided not to mention that.

[Melanie Hunt]

She shook her head in amusement, doubting the boy was any form of bad ass. Most demigods could take care of themselves, but not many were actual fighters. Take her for example. She never wants to fight anyone and certainly doesn't enjoy it but can keep herself alive if needed. She didn't like to kill, regardless if it was a monster or not. The girl wanted to bring life, not end it. Mel noticed Jay eyeing her blade which she supposed was a bit terrifying. "Don't worry, I won't stab you." she promised in complete seriousness. The girl could be a bit odd.

"I'm not much of a fighter," she said with a shrug as if it wasn't already obvious. She practically looked like a little fairy with her small fragile features. Heck the girl had to stand on her tippy-toes to reach things. No one would assume she could reign in battle. She nodded in agreement, saying as sweetly as ever, "I'd say you're rather charming, yeah." It wasn't meant to be flirtatious or anything. She just thought the boy was polite and kind. She liked those qualities in people.

[Jay Sun Keon]

Unlike Mel, Jay didn’t have his own personal weapon to rely on. He just would have to use whatever was available to him at the time but of course he’d often go to something such as a pole or anything that would resemble a spear. ”That’s reassuring…” Jay said quite quietly, letting out a small sigh before maintaining his gaze on the fair haired girl. It didn’t seem too fitting that she had a knife strapped to her side, she didn’t seem like a warrior at all. He could barely imagine what it’d look like if it was a sword and if she was in a full set of armour.

To confirm his thoughts of her being a warrior were her next words. Right on time. ”I’m not either. I’d rather slip away rather than fighting.” He replied as he tapped his finger quietly on the bottom of the table he was currently leaning on. This wasn’t because she was boring him, but simply because he had to always be moving his fingers to keep them distracted. When he was back at school he would always be spinning his pen in between each finger or tapping his leg. ”Why thank you, Snow White.” Jay replied with a smirk, trying to put on his best ‘Prince Charming’ voice to go along with the comedic value of their friendship they had already formed.

[Melanie Hunt]

She crinkled her nose, sticking out her tongue. "The prince in Snow White is creepy!" She complained. Who marries someone the day after meeting them? She just didn't understand all the princess stuff. Though she did think it'd be rather nice to live in the forest surrounded by animal friends. She had at one point in her life, but it was no longer safe for such dreams. Not with monsters coming after her.

"Though he isn't as bad as the prince in Sleeping Beauty." the girl mused, a look of horror on her face. "You know in the original story he impregnated her in her sleep and it was the pain of childbirth that awoke her?" Melanie shivered a bit at the thought. How could anyone ever be so twisted to do such a thing? She couldn't even think about kissing without turning pink. She did quite love the old Grimm tales though. Many nights were spent reading them with her father. She loved fairy tales, especially the darker ones even if they did scare her.

[Jay Sun Keon]

Jay glanced down at Mel’s tongue and laughed at her disgusted expression. To Jay, all of the Disney princes were creepy. Other than the Kristoff and Hercules, but they weren’t really princes at all. All the others were too cringey and it was just plain weird. ”They all are. I mean who runs around trying to find a person to fit a shoe? That just screams weird…and possessive.” He replied, smiling instead of laughing although he was trying not to laugh.

The conversation had taken a sudden weird turn and Jay couldn’t help but let out a small shocked laugh. ”Jesus, that’s dark.” He replied with his eyes widened, he was surprised that she knew that or that there were even original stories of the Disney fairy tales. To Jay they had all been made up just for the movie, he didn’t know there was an actual back story to them. ”You learn something new everyday…” Jay continued on softly with a small laugh before swinging his foot loosely under the table, behind him.