❛ Infirmary

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir If her thorns would dig into his skin, honestly, Stephen didn't mind bleeding. Again, as long as she didn't run, he would be there—but then again, she would run even if she said she won't leave.

"It's not something you should apologize for," he said softly, letting her go. Her smile caught his eyes once more, but somehow, he couldn't look at her, suddenly feeling as shy - or awkward - as she was. Turning his eyes to the blanket still covering the lower parts of his body, the male demigod lowered his head, not really knowing what should be done. Or what should have been done.

And just then, a hiss escaped the male as pain registered in his system again from his movements, but he shook it off.

"I don't mind you staying, you know," he said. "And I won't tell anyone."

@[R] Stephen Krause Rose didn’t know why she so easily open up to Stephen, but she did. Some say crying was like breathing, the more you hold it in -- the more you let it out. Rose bottled up three years of pain, suddenly all came out. She was a hurricane of a girl, who had a glass heart.

A heart that was shattered by the world's heavy hands -- now all she could do was cut all who tried to pick up her pieces. Rose held on to him dearly, knowing that soon he too will realize just how deadly a rose can be. Her thorns that will dig into his skin until he could not bare with it anymore.

Rose cried for those she had lost and those she knew she would lose -- the path was she headed was for her alone. And no matter how much she wanted someone there -- she knew that it would be better for her to be alone because she could not bare the pain of losing them.

Rose moved away from him, slowly wiping her eyes. ‘sorry--’ she said smiling at him. Crawling off his bed, Rose suddenly felt awkward. How could she just cry to a stranger? Or what kind of fate did the Gods have in front of her for bringing him back? Why now? Now when she had started to make a plan to get back at those who killed her family. She needed to leave Stephen now -- before she felt anymore attachment to him.

She wanted all or nothing, illogically, irrationally, even though inside of her knew nothing was too hard and all was impossible.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir But he saw. He saw everything.

The way her tears rolled down her cheek a moment before she lowered her head and laughed—the way she laughed. Stephen couldn't place it, the laugh, but he knew that feeling well... the need to hide. And he let her.

Still with his hand placed on her cheek, he guided her to lean on his good shoulder before hugging her tight, not saying anything either; honestly, no words were needed. It was what he felt every single time he pushed everyone away, thinking they would never understand. In his most fragile state, all he sought was loneliness—if she laughed to hide her pain, he was the kind to run instead.

The tears, leaving a burning trail on his skin, pained him. But as long as Rose didn't run, he would be there.

She had been a lost part of him, one he would never leave again.

@[R] Stephen Krause They were devouring each other and cannot even digest themselves. They could see all the good things about each other but could no stomach the thought of themselves. The way he looked at her gave knots in her stomach -- she felt like he understood her.

Just like that three words, had tears sliding down her cheek. Rose didn't even know she still had tears left. The two were the unlucky, born with tragedy in their veins and fire in their hearts, and together, they could burn the world down.

It was until her tears fell to the bed, she realized she was crying -- lowering her head so he won't see her crying face -- she laughed again. She laughed because it was easier than crying -- she didn't want to let out the sorrows in her heart because she didn't want to drown him in them. Rose barely knew how to swim through them herself.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir "Tch," Stephen gave her a playful scoff, though he did secretly like it when she laughed - again, it was infectious. Somehow he found himself wondering; yes, wondering how she'd lived for the past ten years... from the time he went away from her life. Especially after she asked that question.

One Stephen had asked himself over and over again.

"Can one not be both at the same time?" He asked, a shaky breath following it as he reached for her cheek - something about her just drew him in. "You, though..."

Looking into her eyes, he questioned - what was it he saw in her eyes, and even his own answer surprised him.

"A warrior."

@[R] Stephen Krause Answers? A smile tugged on her lips, he was looking for the same thing she was. But the kind of questions he was asking was completely different from hers.

Rose laughed. "Yeah you do, specially when you're frowning squinting your eyes." She said, teasingly making that very expression she described to him. Her laughter was soft and it could be gentle, it was rare to even laugh for Rose. She had promised herself that she would deny herself happiness until she found the answers she was looking for.

"In the world of Gods and monsters -- what am i?"

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir The silence following had Stephen looking down, mulling over his own words. He'd easily said it—but words are far easier said than done; he'd been careless, now he realized. And he should've realized sooner. In fact, he was just apologetic - he didn't pity her, but perhaps there's no difference.

The male was about to say something - anything - about it when she stole the words out of him, and in response, he just shook his head wordlessly. Though he couldn't help but letting out a faint chuckle at her question. "Thirty? Do I even look that old?"

But honestly, perhaps he did—bitterness made someone age so much, and sometimes it just showed.

"Me, I've been looking for... answers," he said, shrugging. "Something along the line of why someone like me exists."

True enough, had he been someone else, he might've hated the person he was now. In fact, he already did. But he didn't even know what went wrong, and he's always stuck with trying to make things right... only that things were never right.

It was easy to see the raw power he had—but how many sees the incapability?

@[R] Stephen Krause People who have monsters recognize each other. They know each other without even saying a word.

There was silence for minutes, she was taken back by what he had said. No one ever said that to her before
and met it -- after her family's murder; everyone gave her that look. Pity.

She hated being pitied, she hated the idea of being weak since then -- so she didn't want to have anyone to rely on. Anyone to protect her; so hearing something along those lines shocked her. Rose ran her free hand though her hair and smiled at him. "I'm pretty good at staying on my feet. So thanks --." But no thanks; she wanted to add. But didn't.

She smiled at him again -- not sure how to tell him that he didn't need to make promises to her, she didn't believe in those things anymore. "What have you been up to for the past ten years? You're what 30 now?'

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir Rose's laugh was infectious—and the boy chuckled at the memories they had; he'd been so scared before, he couldn't explain the guilt he was feeling when he saw her falling down the wall they climbed. But she had the build of a female warrior now, strong and agile. Stephen knew she probably wouldn't fall down anymore, and yet...

"Even if you do, I'm going to catch you," he said, letting her shirt fall back down covering her stomach as he pulled her by her hand - letting her settle on him again, should she want. "This time, I won't let you fall anymore."

It was true. Had he realized that he could actually /fly/ faster than gravity, he'd have caught her. Stephen had been taught manners as young as then, and the values never really went away.

"Not while I'm around, at least."

@[R] Stephen Krause They devour each other and cannot even digest themselves.

When she felt the warmth of his hand over hers, Rose's eyes met his. It was that feeling she felt the first time she met him ten years ago -- though she could never name what the feeling was. It was back; and she recognized something in her just like she did with him. She couldn't stop smiling, it was the first time in three years that she allowed someone to touch her, to hold her.

Stephen Krause was her weakness, a weakness she didn't even know she had.

"I would like that -- there is even a wall we can climb. I promise i won't fall this time.' She laughed, Rose had solemnly focus all her time in the past, never caring about her future -- but for the first time in a long time she was enjoying her present.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir Battle scars, so the little Rose had said; Stephen could only stare at what she showed him so fearlessly - and he found her fascinating, not because of the bruises, not because she didn't even hesitate, and certainly not just because of her words.

It was her smile - and yes, he was fascinated by her existence. It was as if he'd been hollowed, empty all the while, and just like that, she completed him the way no other could.

The son of Jupiter broke into a small smile, one speaking of defeat - something he had never truly admit. He'd been a dominant presence everywhere he went, but only in front of her, he paled in comparison; the girl who smiled at the face of danger itself.

Reaching towards the hand holding her shirt in place, he took her hand in his, grasping it weakly - and looked up towards her.

There is no ending. She wouldn't leave and though he knew that perhaps he would regret not to leave, he couldn't leave, either. The promise, he would honor now. Fate had opted for a second chance. He'd chosen to leave because of the unknown future, now he stays for the present.

They will go on.

"Perhaps we can finally have chocolate ice cream together, then," he said, the smile on his lips turning into a grin. "I promised, after all."

@[R] Stephen Krause In the depths, they see uncertain shadows; they doubt their instincts that tell them to run away from them. They become irrational, black and white blurred; they don’t see what’s right in front of them. They become slowly immune to the truths around them, they lose part of themselves in the darkness and remain a ghost of themselves in the light. Unable to see the beings they were meant to be all along.

Ten years had past and he was broken; but Rose cared anyways, though she would never admit it out loud -- Stephen had always been someone in her life. Someone she had always cared about, that’s why it was hard for her to let him go now -- even with everything she had went through the last ten years. She could not let go of him, not because she loved him, not because they shared a kiss -- but it was something deeper -- now. When she looked into his eyes, she saw the very same brokenness in herself in him.

Her arms remained around him, as he asked why. “Because all I know is hurt.” She said, pulling away from him, she pulled off her shirt. Her pale skin covered in bruises and some small scars, her face was a soft pink. “A couple more scars won’t mean anything.” She said, her voice was soft but strong -- or the facade of being strong. Her hands trembled as she gripped her shirt, just like it does when she has a sword in her hands.

She smiled at him.

It was this trembled that reminded her that she was alive; she was fierce, she was strong, she wasn’t simple. Rose was crazy and barely slept -- when she was down, she would get right back up; the best way to describe the beauty behind the madness was that she took everything life threw at her with a smile. It was the only way she knew how to live, it was the only way she could live.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir Once a mystery, always a mystery.

And Rosemarie Dragomir still surprised him every single time.

Not only had she not pull away - not even after he kissed her like that, not even with the wind surrounding them that spoke of what he really was - but she embraced him with all that he was, and slowly, very slowly, he rested his forehead on her shoulder.

She /still/ felt familiar, yet so different - he didn't know what was. Perhaps it was the way she embraced him, the way she kissed him with such heated fervor. Or maybe it was the way she seemed to understand him even without words - ten years had passed, and she /still/ managed to read through him like an open book.

Worse was that he didn't know whether he should actually be scared or rejoice at it.

"I'm not leaving," she said, and that was all it took for the teardrop to make its mark on the fabric of the top she wore.

How much he would've wanted to stay in the comfort she'd brought him, even if only temporarily - and yet, he'd learned that sometimes it was better never to feel accepted, because rejection hurts more after. His heart wanted it - he's tired of running away, and yet she was like a star to him, someone he could only see the beauty from afar, because he's the sun who would burn her when they're too close.

The way his bare skin burned against her touch was enough reminder. And yet, he found himself wanting almost desperately to defy his own mind.

"...Why not?" Stephen whispered back. "Why staying with someone who can only hurt you?"

@[R] Stephen Krause Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word. Those words never held more true to these pair of Demigods. One couldn’t believe how fate played such twisted games with them, both struggled and pulled the same strings but never seem to get anywhere. Unable to change their destiny, the told control of what little they had left -- for Rose it was finding her parent’s killers. It was saying the names of everyone she ever lost over and over again until she fell asleep; making sure she did not miss one people.

Stephen.

She probably said his name more than a thousand times since she was five, the father used to tuck her into bed and tell her to say goodnight to everyone she cared about Stephen made it on the list to her father’s bitterness. Now, she was kissing him -- oh her father would be royally pissed to know that his daughter was kissing a boy. But Stephen wasn’t just any boy. He was probably one of the most beautiful boys she has ever seen.

He was beautiful in a way deadly things always were -- and she didn’t mind dying his lips remained on hers. She could feel his arm around her, she placed her arms on both sides on him, to keep her from falling on his lap and it did a fine job. Kissing him, was like playing with fire -- it warmed her entire body but if she wasn’t too careful she could burn everything around her down.



His lips said one thing but his eyes said another -- Rose didn’t know which one to believe -- she didn’t know which one she /wanted/ to believe.

He expected her to leave, that’s what he was waiting for -- the pain in his eyes was for having to say goodbye. What someone should have told him was that like hours people change all the time, whether her choices to see it or not -- she was no longer the five year old he visited. She was now sixteen and old enough to know what happens to people when they are left. So instead of leaving, she moved slightly making sure not to hurt him as her arms wrapped around him and she buried her head into his good shoulder.



There was no epilogue for them, no final ending, and no closing remarks. There will always just be that gaping hole where their hearts used to be, that gaping hole where they were once comple-- once upon a time, she thought they could have had a happy ending. But no Rose didn’t want no ending at all.



”I’m not leaving.” She whispered.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir It was ironic, how Rose held war in her eyes and he was always at war with his own self—for a moment, Stephen had wished that they could be fine, that they /would/ be fine. Because that fire in her eyes spoke of danger, the same thing the storm brewing in his own dark orbs has. And yet he felt he'd gone too far to be forgiven at all.

She'd kissed him back with a heated fervor he'd never knew existed, the kind of kiss that made him dizzy. The son of Jupiter had denied his own existence for years, and perhaps - it's only fitting that his goodbye was returned this way, similarly wordless. Suddenly, he felt as if she understood him more than he can ever understand himself, and suddenly, he didn't want to let go.

But he knew he would have to anyway. In truth, they longed for the same thing; sadly, he was too blinded to see it.

No matter how much she'd changed, what he saw in her would forever be that innocent girl, free of shackles and bounds... someone who deserves better, and certainly not him. She said it wasn't his fault, just like what she'd said to defend him before—and just like that, he knew she's still the same Rose he'd known.

He wrapped his uninjured arm round her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her deeper - giving her what she asked from him, and even if she asked for his existence, he'd willingly gave it to her. But with every second it lasted, the wind gets stronger - until it stilled, and he pulled back, still with the same pained look in his eyes, still wordless.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry that all I can do is to hurt you.

Because he realized all too well that whatever he do, it wouldn't be enough. And that one tiny drop of water rolling down his cheek screamed louder than anything else.

Go. I left you once, you can leave me now.

Stephen closed his eyes, waiting; his frames were shaking, but he stayed still.

Mars stood for vengeance, and it was all that he could ever give her.

She could leave and complete the circle - and he'd take all the pain.

@[R] Stephen Krause We are slow to forget those who hurt us, but too fast to forget those who love us. Rose sighed, running her hands freely through her hair. She wasn’t trying to hurt him, the looked of pain brushed on his face -- he felt guilty for such a tiny scar. If he only knew the biggest ones she has were the ones on her heart. Rose pat his leg, her way of trying to comfort him -- she wasn’t used to comforting people not since she lost her family. Since then the only thing she were how to do was start wars.


She brought out the storms in people, because she knew whenever there was dark skies and wild winds, lied the truth. A truth that described how much love one can leave behind the moment they accept all the pain they have to live with and all she ever wanted for someone around her to embrace her storms and whisper gently to her violent winds /shh it’s okay to settle down. you do not need to hurt yourself for others around you to see./

In truth, all she wanted was someone to care -- someone who no matter how much she pushed them away, they would only hold her tighter. Tell her to let go of the pain, that if she did she would not feel lonely at all. But no one did -- when she pushed, they left. Over the years, it made her bitter and cold. It made her forget that war is to bring peace, not just death.

“It was not your fault.”

She repeated, her voice was firm, her eyes were like wild fire, radiate but dangerous. She would not let him blame himself, guilt was a power thing -- it ate away at your insides until you are hollowed. She herself was a ghost of a girl, she thought herself indepent and strong but one little taste of love and she became hungrier than anyone.She was ravenous.

And he was suddenly what she was starving for.

Him.

He was poison to her heart, he was chaos to her thoughts, he was her heartache. Her headache.Yet she wanted everything -- she wanted everything right now. She kissed back with the hunger the beast longed for -- deep inside she knew it won’t last -- he won’t last.

Because whatever their souls were made of; his and hers were the same.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir Apparently, Stephen couldn't be more wrong about himself.

Yes, what had started everything for him had been her—what had eventually made him leave even his girlfriend recently... it all began with her, more than ten years ago. Only what's buried deep in the past could hurt so much when it was dug out, because it was simply something he never recovered from.

Kristina hadn't been the first person he left behind because of who he was - of what he was, and would always be.

Rose was the first.

Her icy tone stabbed right at his heart. What had he done? Every single time he tried to leave people to save them, they ended up hurting, and though she didn't show, he knew. Jupiter had been the holder of faith, of vows... of promises. And how many times had he broken his own? Never had Stephen hated himself that much before... and somewhere between the suffocating pain eating him inside out, he found himself wishing for death.

Only that he knew all to well it wouldn't come.

What met her eyes were regret, of something that would have been—of differences could be made. But at the same time, he also realized it was impossible to make a difference; ultimately, it was the strong wind blowing against the strands of her hair that brought the son of Jupiter to the realization - that he was no longer in control of himself.

Had he been able to turn back time, he'd still leave, because it was the only way. There had been no choices from the beginning. Not for him.

Never.

"It was—mine," he choked out, finding even his voice shook at his feeble attempt to block his emotion from showing; it was far too late, and yet, he refused with all the strength he had left in him to surrender to it.

Not now. Not with her so close to him, so close that he could feel her breaths... no.

By the gods, Stephen swore he would never be the one who took that breath out of her, not even if his death was the only option to take... and the gold band circling his finger glowed a faint shade of white. Rose was right. Nothing does - scars never disappear, moreso scars that you can't see.

But leaving wasn't an option this time. Darkness had followed him for far too long that he couldn't escape its final grasp.

And their lips met in a heated kiss, with only unspoken apologies in it. Because Stephen knew, it would be their last, and he was kissing her goodbye - the word he'd never said.

Because in his heart, he knew that he would have to leave once more.

She lies about how she’s feeling, how she’s hurting, how she wants someone when she tells someone she doesn’t. She lies to protect them and herself. Rose tried to play it off that kisses and touches were nothing -- that intimacy was nothing to her. It was the only way for her to show some kind of feeling without feeling anything at all. Sure -- at the time when she kissed him, it was just a kiss. But now, knowing who he was. Her heart was unsteady, her heart was an wild animal to begin with always beating too fast, loving too hard. A beast in there, but there was also a girl who was afraid of being a beast, and who wondered if other people had beasts in their hearts too. There was strength and there was also just the determination to look strong.

She guarded herself like a secret.

Because of that she knew that here was no prince charming, he didn’t existence -- not for girls like her. Girls with a beast in her heart and darkness in her eyes. Girls whose chaos danced in their smiles and madness dragged on there feet. Once upon a time she called herself a princess, life became her wicked witch -- taken from her everything she loved until only hate was left. In truth, she did not need a prince charming, for a prince would be scare to love a beast -- a monster. What she needed most was someone who had their own monster, because when is a monster not a monster? When you love them of course. She laughed,
she lightly smack his leg. “I haven’t had chocolate ice cream in so long. I remember someone promising me to take me out for some more next time he visit.” She blurted out, she didn’t realize how much of the memory she remembered. Remembering was like tossing a rock into a pond, it caused ripple effects in her mind. “But he never came back.”

Her voice icy over in such a way that Apollo himself might actually have been cold. Was she mad at him? No, she didn’t even remember who he was until now -- but it wasn’t really about him, it was about the promises made. So many left unkept, it made her sad -- but she being angry was easier than being sad, than being broken than being guilty. Anger was a weapon that she could wield, it didn’t shackle her up or freeze her body like the rest of the emotions. But she didn’t want to be angry -- not at him. Good memories didn’t appear too often to her anymore, Rose wanted to hold to it for a bit longer, she found herself wanting to hold on to him too. “Well all you have to do is ask.” She smiled at him.


She moved a bit so he could sit up, when she tucked her hair behind her ear. He drew her eyes to where he touch. He wasn’t a ghost; yet every nerve she had was unstrung: for a moment she was beyond her own mastery. “Nothing does.” She replied, tracing the line of her scar. His apology caught her off guard -- it wasn’t his fault she got it. She had fell off the wall because of her own doing. Rose boiled with anger -- she didn’t like this look on his face. Crawling between his legs, she met his eyes. The distance between them was tiny now.
“It’s was not your fault..”

[post deleted by owner]

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir And he still couldn't get how easy she made it felt—as if there's nothing in that kiss, but at the same time, there was something he couldn't place. How she so easily agreed... why, really? For all Stephen knew, he was a stranger to her, and yet she had so readily kissed him - so easily, so natural it's hard to believe.

Then again, Rose Dragomir in his childhood had always been such a mystery to him.

In fact, though he did have the making of a prince and he'd have suited the role of prince charming for a damsel in distress, he'd never settle down for one. Any woman could - and would - have been a damsel in distress at any time, but only few of them has it in them to fight for themselves. In the movies, he had always been fascinated with the thought of a darker female heroine, one who does not rely solely on the male lead to save her. Someone who could be his equal; someone as dangerous as he was so he wouldn't have to feel unworthy, because he'd had his fair share of darkness.

"Well, tough luck. I missed having chocolate ice cream." Stephen chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes—but at the same time, the smile following it was soft. Hadn't it been that particular dessert that they finally had together at the end of that said banquet? Innately, he liked anything chocolate even before that, but him mentioning chocolate ice cream had been unintended, only realizing the connection afterwards.

"For one, know that I'll have your kiss anytime over that," he said, suddenly feeling shy that he'd been so outspoken about it—but what's said is said. Besides, it was a fact. In no way would he surrendered a kiss to an empousa... except if he was charmspoken, perhaps.

Trying to sit this time, he pushed himself up using his free hand, only to gaze up at her the moment she tucked her hair behind her ear again—and his gaze fell towards the scar lining her arm, the one he got a scolding for. With a small frown, he reached towards her hand, tracing the faint line by her arm. "This never really disappears, huh..."

'What have you done to my daughter? How could you let her be injured?'

It was nothing but a reminder of his failure... and to see it etched on her skin like it would be there forever, a wave of bitterness swept over him—he looked away, letting go of her hand immediately.

The luxury he could not afford, really. It seemed as if he would always be too dangerous for anyone, even for a friend. It was foolish to think otherwise.

"I'm sorry, Rose."

@[R] Stephen Krause All the hardest, coldest people you meet were once as soft as water. And that’s the tragedy of living -- Rose was no different. She was constant in a war with herself, wanting to move or but never really being able to. Who would she be without the blood lust? The violence? She had no one anymore -- but herself, forgetting and moving felt like betraying her parents -- her family. She was a stubborn girl, her brain and her heart could never agree on something "I will." She said firmly with a nodded.

"Which since the food is crappy here -- I think the nurse is secretly trying to kill us." She joked, talking to him. To the first boy she ever danced with, ever kissed -- was weird for her. Suddenly she realized that what she was regretting was not the lost past but the lost future, not what had not been but what would never be. Rose felt her stomach curl at those thoughts, what would have happen if they had grown together a little more? Would she still feel this alone? Or would he have planned prince charming when she was a damsel in distress. He had the looks of the prince, over the years his face had change, his body grew larger and strong. She could see just by looking at him but Rose still saw the same eyes -- the eyes five year of Rosemarie couldn't stop talking about after the ball. No matter how much it annoyed her father.

"Ew, I never been a fan of those." She commented about the Empusa, those things were just simple gross to her. Once again tucking her hair behind her ear, she smiled at him. "But are you comparing my kiss to one of those things -- I feel offended and attacked right now."

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir "Marking your words there," Stephen said as teasingly, chuckling in response. Rose. How could he not remember? It was because of that little girl that he'd learned the exhilaration of an escapade, even if just in the simplest form. And now it felt as if she had put another meaning to the word. An escapade from boredom... which was simple enough to do.

"That's an interesting thought, you know... For all I know, I'm going to be stuck here for some time."

And for all he knew, she didn't remember him. How much they've grown since—she was suddenly a young lady, a blooming rose on top of the thorns. On the other hand, he seemed normal in the most common sense of the word—and yet no matter how he tried, he couldn't be. Their past was a memory he would treasure now that he remembered, but it would stay there; it was a luxury he could no longer afford.

He didn't know why he was brought here, but everything has a purpose. It wouldn't be a coincidence.

"Yeah," he ruefully replied. "At least that empousa didn't manage to kiss me, or there won't be today."

The irony, really. Nearly gotten kissed by a bloodthirsty Greek monster from which vampires are based, then got a sudden kiss from a daughter of the war god... Stephen could only wonder what would be greeting him next.

@[R] Stephen Krause At first glance, she’d appear quiet and reserved like a solitary bird, and as fragile as a wing bone. But if you took a moment, if you looked deeper, you would see she was so much buried light — the moment came in waves, first colors and lights, next was a soft music and adults; no faces -- there was never faces in her memories anymore. Lastly was the feeling of his big warm hand holding onto hers. She remember the look on his face -- more like the look in his eyes.

Rose shook her head as if she was trying to toss out the memory, and the feeling it was giving her. His words made a small crack in her armor and she laughed. It was airy and more awkward then anything else. “We can always make more time for that.”She teased right back, giving him a wink. She laughed more -- this time it came out easy and was far more genuine then her previous one.


But once the word enemy slipped from his lips, her laughter hauled and she simply nodded. They weren’t normal children -- they were children thrown into an adult war left to fend for themselves. They were old enough to understand, but young enough to not give a damn. “ to be you.” She said. Rose wanted to care, she wanted to care /so badly/, but there was this gap between what she felt and what she wanted to feel, a space where something important had be carved out -- and it was going. Not even Stephen with his charms, looks and this growing sense of memories could stop that space from expanded. She wanted to care and be cared for -- but she could not let anyone’s light be deteriorated by her darkest demons, they are hers for a reason and not his. Rose had enough blood on her hands she did not need to more to the list.

So she pushed and pushed people away until there was no one left -- she was planning to do the same with the demigod laying in the bed. She planned to ignore him the next they meet, memories or not -- she didn’t need anyone.

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir The memory was hazy; he remembered glittering crystals on the ceiling, faint murmurs, and music. What he always remembered best was music - there had been classical, an orchestra, playing at that time.

Stephen was looking into her eyes all the while, and her hesitation gave him something to think about: after Kristina, he realized that anyone he knew previously could've been a demigod and he wouldn't realize. True enough, the aura of a son of Jupiter would've been enough to disguise the others - all the more why he couldn't sense them sometimes.

But what appeared then in his mind was the picture of a short-haired girl, pulling him out of the hall, away from the music...

"For that to be fun, we have to enjoy it," he remarked, smirking slightly. "I haven't had enough to enjoy." The boy broke out into a series of soft laughter afterwards; clearly, he was joking - but at the same time, he returned the teasing.

"Old enemy," was his answer then, looking up towards her. "Apparently my blood is such rarity for them that they chase me to the end of the earth even after I sent them to Tartarus. They just kept coming back."

@[R] Stephen Krause "I mean dealing with other demis in general. There so much hassle with them -- I just can't." She sighed, running her hands though her hair. She wasn't a team player -- she didn't like people or at least that was the facade she portrayed to the world. But in truth she was too scared of what might happen if she let others in again -- what if her enemies use them again? what if they die or get killed because of her? She was preparing for a war -- they say when you take revenge; you must always preparing two graves.

One for your enemy and one for yourself.

That was why she could not allow anyone close to her anymore, why she buried away her good heart with bad intentions and misguided youth. She wanted them to pay -- and by the power her father have given her she would make them. She don’t want apologies, she want them on their knees, c h o k i n g on their own blood. She want her name on their lips, begging: forgive me, forgive me, forgive me. It drove her mind mad with blood lust, with rage. It was why she could never just get along with the other campers.

Rose's mind always wandered to dark but hearing his voice reeled her in back on her reality at hand -- pushing back the thoughts of blood and glore. She laughed slightly at his expression, something in her mind clicked.

A boy around ten flashed through her mind -- he had the same expression on his face. The soft pink and those eyes -- trying to remember the last time she seen them. She was young -- bits and pieces were coming back to her. A dance hall -- her parents -- him. The memory faded just as quick as it came.

Stunned at her mind's confusion, her looked at him. She smiled, it had been a lot time since she heard someone call her by her last name. Dragomir -- the one who peace is dear. How ironic. "It was just a small peck -- but you have to say it was kinda fun?' She teased, Rose had a habit of tucking her hair behind her hair. As a child her father always kept her hair short so it was always in her way, and now even with her hair grown far past her shoulders, she never wore it up -- so it was constantly getting in her way. "So what landed you in here?'

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir "You meant Venus' children?" Stephen mused out loud, suddenly wondering what's between them. Mars and Venus had even been made a book in their time - reference to 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus', which he never really read but know anyway. It was obvious who were in love with each other, but for a goddess of love to betray her own husband... he didn't even want to know what really happened between those gods.

As if his own problem hadn't given him enough headache as is.

Eyes widening upon the quick - and honestly very surprising - peck on his lips, the male felt his heart doing a somersault.

...Did she just kissed him on the lips!? Thank Venus Kristina was /not/ there - well, they're over anyway, but still.

"I--" he trailed off, clearly still too surprised to process what just happened, but a faint shade of pink had gotten back to his cheeks. He'd been so near to remembering, and what she did even /felt/ familiar somewhat - but where had he experienced it really?

Quickly recovering his composure, though, he then broke into soft chuckles. "Looks like I owe you a change, miss Dragomir... (Now where had he even heard that name before? Heck, this was confusing.) That /was/ a bit... overwhelming."

@[R] Stephen Krause "Somehow all the power isn't worth all the drama that comes along with it." She sighed. She was never a fan of drama, or what came with it. Which was why she stayed away from other girls -- they were too much drama. Specially soft girls, she could not deal with soft. Not anymore.

She was a problem child, she always had been since she came back to camp after her parents death. She didn't drop her eyes from eyes, Rose tried to figure out where she seen those eyes. Once again tried to figure out who or where she seen his eyes and him. A small smirk appeared on her face. She leaned over and pecked his lips. "How about this?"

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir "As for me, I suppose it's both Neptune and Pluto's childrens I have to be wary about..."

Perks of being a child of a major god. Or probably the downside of it. You're too strong, attracts too many monsters, and just basically has to be aware of the rifts between those major gods as well. Honestly? Stephen mostly just stayed away from any sort of possible conflict.

But then she--

Stephen could only look at her. The way she tucked her hair had just reminded him of...

"Try me."

@[R] Stephen Krause She laughed. "I try to stay away from Aphrodite's children -- given the history of our parents. It seems smart to stay away." She said, she moved to him again. The way he laughed -- the way his face look when he did it reminded of her someone. But her memory was shotty and too much had happen to try to figure out exactly who he was.

Rose debating if she should go through with what she was thinking of doing with him or just find something 'safe'. He looked unsure and lost for a second -- Rose tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Something fun."

@[G] Rosemarie Dragomir "Came as a surprise for me, that one," Stephen muttered, rather ruefully. It /did/ surprise him, though. Never had he thought she was a demigoddess in the first place; but perhaps it was just because he didn't observe enough.

"I'll keep that in mind," he began, chuckling slightly as he let his eyes close. "I have my fair share of temper, too, I'll have to admit that. Though I try to keep that at a minimum."

The headache he was getting was enough reason for that, really.

"Something... for example?" He challenged with a grin, before confusion flashed in his eyes for a fleeting moment.

Deja vu at its finest...