Relaxing on the Beach

Althaia sighed as she laid back on the sand, relaxing herself after a bit of training. She just wanted to be alone for a while. Somewhere quiet. And nobody seemed to be here right now. Slowly, she rested her eyes shut, hearing nothing but the waves. The silence was nice. Normally she didn't get any peace except around her cabin. Which was perhaps why she was lucky Artemis only had two kids. It was pretty quiet with just her and Chaotic. She was still having a bit of trouble with the idea that she had a sister. "Why, mom..? Why didn't you let me know I wasn't alone.." She sighed, not really expecting any kind of answer. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about her, Althaia. Pausing, Altha could have sworn she'd heard a voice in her head. She knew that voice, she'd heard it before. "M-mom?" She almost didn't expect a reply, but there was one. Yes, it's me. She was sure now she wasn't imagining it. She sat up and looked around, almost expecting to see the goddess. Artemis. Her mother. But of course, there was nothing. Still just her, alone. Which was probably a good thing, it looked like she was talking to herself. Take good care of your sister, Althaia. I love you...

Since his time of being claimed by Athena, Luca hadn't done anything productive. His daily routines were slim in activity, and now was a great time to change all of that. The weather outside was beautiful, and so Luca would take the opportunity to embrace it. He would currently be walking towards the sands of the Fireworks Beach, simplified attire consisting of only black swimsuit and a white muscle shirt being worn on his body. He'd be fully prepared for this occasion, holding two towels; one to dry with and one to lie down on for tanning. He'd also have some tanning lotion and a large water-proof bag to store his towels in. Luca would set-up, carefully placing one of his two towels on the sand to lie down on. As he would do this, however, he'd glance at a lady nearby. He could witness her talking to herself, responding with a soft laugh.

Luca would smile, looking over to her as he would lie down on his towel. "Anything wrong?" Luca would ask.

Althaia glanced over at the boy slowly as she heard him speak. She actually blushed, wondering if he'd heard anything she said. "H-how long have you been there?" She shook her head gently before turning away again, not wanting him to see the redness of her blushing face. "I uh... No, nothing's wrong. My mother was just speaking to me, that's all." Sighing, she began to lay back again, thinking Artemis wasn't going to say anything else to her. But why had she chosen now to speak? It didn't matter, really, she supposed. At least she knew she'd been right about Chaotic being her sister, after all. Not that she had any doubt, really.

Luca chuckled a little, wondering if he had startled the lady with his presence. "I just got here." Luca would reply, smiling towards the lady. "I saw you-" Luca would add before interrupting himself, wondering if he should really tell the woman before him what he saw beforehand. He would sigh, still smiling as he would notice the blushing on Althaia's face, seeing her turn away. He would listen to her speaking about her mother, raising a brow as he knew what Althaia wasn't true. "Really?" Luca would say in response to Althaia's chat about her mother, the rising of his brow clearly indicating that he knew otherwise. Albeit, he would still tease her. "Where is she?" Luca would ask, sitting up as he'd stretch his upper body. "By the way, I'm Luca, and you?"

Althaia rolled her eyes a bit as he teased her, looking over to give him a small glare. "Don't you know anything? Our parents may not see us, but they can speak to us. I heard her voice.. In my head.." She sighed, shrugging to herself. Almost not even listening as he said his name. But she did manage to catch it. Silence for a moment before she answered him. "Althaia Fate, daughter of Artemis."

Luca would blush as he noticed Athaia roll her eyes. "I was only joking." Luca would comment, his smile fading away, "I'm the son of Athena. She means more to me than an average mother. I can hear her voices all the time." Luca would rest his arms behind his head as he would lie down again, looking at the beautiful sky above. He would sigh, realizing how much he could've hurt the lady next to him with his words. "I'm sorry... Luca would murmur to the lady next to him.

Althaia simply shrugged as he apologized, having been quiet while he spoke to her. She hadn't meant to seem rude, but it meant a lot when her mother would speak to her. That was all. "It's.. Alright. Don't worry about it." She shrugged again, looking down at the sand with a small sigh, not really sure what to say to him.

Luca would smile as it seemed he was forgiven. "Come." He would invite Althaia as he'd remove his muscle shirt, beginning to run towards the wave. As soon as he'd meet a wave, he'd jump into it, his whole body going underwater. As he'd rise up again, he'd laugh, continuing his routine. He could see himself acting all crazy and...somewhat childish...but he didn't care.

Althaia watched him silently for a while. "I wasn't really planning on getting in the water." She chuckled with a slight shrug, not really caring if he didn't hear her. She yawned a little as she stared out at the water. She really hadn't thought anyone else would show up here either.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to join me, would it?" Luca would ask, facing Althaia as he'd smile, fortunate to be above water as she'd talk. "Come on!" Luca would tease the woman, "It's not everyday that the water's like this, and I must say, it feels quite nice." Luca would blush towards Althaia, falling back and floating over the water as he'd await a response.

"I would have to leave to get changed," Althaia chuckled softly, winking at him. She couldn't help but want to tease him back a little, since he was doing it to her. She smiled to herself, not moving from where she was.

"Pfft..." Luca would say in response, "There must be a Plan B in this situation!" Luca would continue floating in the water, looking up at the sky as it only became more dazzling. He would tilt his head forward, noticing the smile on Althaia's face as he couldn't help but smile in return. "I'm sure you can figure out what this 'Plan B' is." Luca would add, winking at Althaia.

Althaia had known he would say something like that. She continued staring at him, shaking her head slowly. "I bet you'd like that." She laughed softly as she saw him wink at her, looking like she was actually thinking about it. Really, she just wanted to tease him some more.

"What? Being in your undergarments? I'm fine with that..." Luca would answer, smiling, "Although if you can come up with another solution...I'm fine with that too." Luca would keep floating above the water, embracing his surroundings as he'd smile more brightly. "What a view, huh, Athena?" Luca would say to himself, his thoughts spoken aloud.

Althaia chuckled softly and shook her head. "What makes you think I'd let you see them?" She smirked a bit and winked before looking up at the sky slowly and getting silent.

"What? Your undergarments?" Luca would chuckle, grinning towards Althaia, "I don't judge that. Luca would raise a brow at Althaia once more. "It's your loss if you don't come in!" He would shout, teasing the woman once more. Luca would await a response, staying in his regular position.

Althaia smiled slightly at him and leaned back a bit, thinking silently as she glanced down at herself. She was just in her regular camp clothes with her orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, having changed out of her armor already. "Hm, well... I dunno, I might."

"Take your time." Luca would respond, blushing a bit. "Just remember though..." Luca would add, "It's not often the water gets as nice as this." Luca would sigh as he said this again, his smile fading away, "I've never had a friend before..." Luca would say to himself, hoping Althaia wouldn't hear what he just said.

Althaia stared at him for a while, "It's not that I don't want to be your friend. It's just the idea of partly undressing in front of someone I barely know." She muttered, shrugging to herself. She thought for another moment, staring at him.

"What?! You heard me?!" Luca would ask in response, blushing heavily in embarrassment. Albeit, noticing Althaia's honesty made things seem calmer. "I understand." Luca would respond softly, drifting over the waves. "I wasn't telling you to be my friend." Luca would add, "It's just that...I haven't really been with anyone before. Whether it'd be something as simple as playing in water or talking, I've always seemed to lack that ability. Luca would frown, looking away from Althaia. "Don't feel sympathetic towards me..." Luca would say out of the blue, "I got out of hand."

Althaia couldn't help but smile as she noticed him blushing. She moved to stand up, getting a bit closer to the water. "Hm.." She didn't say anything else, just watched him for a while. Silent.

Luca would focus more on the sky, watching how the clouds moved."Dragon...octopus...paw...bird." Luca would name off the images he saw through the clouds. His blushing would stain his cheeks red as he noticed Athaia watching him. He would smile, then look back up again. "Square...circle...some stupid shape...diamond."

Althaia looked away whenever he seemed to notice her watching him. But for the most part, he seemed to be looking at the sky. So, shrugging to herself, she began to stand. She wasn't sure if she was planning to leave or get into the water with him.

"Oh! I forgot to ask you this!" Luca would say suddenly as he would have an epiphany. "I've always wanted to learn about other Olympians. What is Artemis like?" Luca would ask, smiling towards Althaia. As of now, he'd only try and converse with her, for he felt as though she'd leave him if he failed to do so, ruining a special occasion. He'd be standing upright, showing his full, undivided attention as he'd await a response.

Althaia giggled and shrugged, "I can't tell you what she's really like, as I've never met her. But well, she's a great hunter. Which, I can imagine, is why I am." She paused, thinking about her mother for a moment. And her hunters, the Hunters of Artemis. She still wished she could be a part of them. But she had a sister to take care of, now.