Work Text:
Percy absent-mindedly scratched onto the page a vague sketch of the Aphrodite chariot. He was finishing his page from before the race had taken place. On the spread he'd drawn Annabeth, Clarisse, Beckendorf, Chris, and a boy from the Apollo cabin who he didn't know the name of.
Percy tried to draw them as if he were the flagman for a sports car race, with him facing the drivers of the chariots head on. He had just about finished the shape of cabin 10's chariot since he could still see it parked, where it had been left by the tracks, from the big house. He also saw their horses angrily stomping around the chariot. He wondered what they were talking about.
Other campers joined their groups when they came into the room. Nobody approached Percy so he was left to draw alone as he sat by the window on one of the randomly set armchairs. People continued to walk in as Tantalus and Mr. D talked in stage whisper at each other near the front of the room.
"We could make him do all of the celebration dinner dishes." Tantalus said.
Percy was sure that they were discussing a fit punishment for him after he dared to help save camp from those demon pigeons. He sort of hoped Annabeth and Tyson would be joining him, at least he would have someone to complain at. It would give him a good excuse to talk to Annabeth again since they hadn't spoken since they gave back Chiron's boom box.
"What about a deep clean of the stables?" Mr. D suggested.
That one sounded much more dreadful. Well, at least he could ask the horses who they think should've won. Maybe he'll find out what upset the horses from Cabin 10's chariot.
Percy paused his sketching to reconsider the chapter title. Calling it "The chariot race" felt boring but he couldn't think of anything else.
Finally, Clarisse her siblings made their way into the room, still buzzing from her "win".
Percy sighed. That wasn't fair. He chose to leave the race and get the boombox, she probably would've won the race even if he hadn't. Although he still felt annoyed about it, especially with everybody congratulating her as she walked through.
"Seaweed brain" Annabeth called in a whisper, ushering him over with her hand. She looked exasperated but called him gently.
Percy got up from the windowsill and rushed over. "What's up?"
The doors closed dramatically with a loud slam before Tantalus cleared his throat.
"Well done to the first winner of our camp chariot races!"
The group went up in cheers on cue. Chris Rodriguez clapped Clarisse on the back. She blushed at the praise, Percy noticed.
"And now" He continued, eager to change the subject.
"to punish the troublemakers who disrupted this race!"
This was also met with a cheer, with the exception of some of Percy's friends. Percy rolled his eyes at Tantalus and muttered under his breathe bitterly,
"How is it always my fault?"
A boy from cabin five suggested, "Maybe the birds wouldn't have attacked us if you didn't aggravate them with your shit driving"
This made his siblings giggle at least.
"What a theory" Annabeth replied.
Dionysus was behind Tantalus, looking at something he must've picked up from the desk. He smiled over it as he sipped at a can of coke. Tantalus continued to explain what an awful thing the "Son's of Poseidon" and "Athena's girl" had done to their fellow campers. Percy winced at the plural "sons" and felt immediately felt horrible.
"I've decided" Tantalus declared but was interrupted by Mr. D clearing his throat. Tantalus sighed. "We've decided they can help make our celebration feast"
The campers began to talk amongst themselves. Most likely in surprise that there would be any reward for them other than regular old 'glory'. Percy felt bad for them. He wasn't sure how long he could've lasted without fast food. If he didn't go back to the mortal world for his mother, it most certainly would've been for Burger King. The campers became progressively more excited at the thought.
Mr. D giggled to himself again. Percy had an idea for a chapter title now,
'Dionysus exists and makes every part of my life worse because he's a fucking fuckhead' felt good.
"And you all should be very grateful for the meal. You really don't know what you've got until it's-"
Before Tantalus could finish Dionysus called him over. He looked down at what the God of wine was holding.
Tantalus looked unimpressed. "How quaint" He told the God. He turned back to the group.
Percy paused.
"Wait!" He thought.
Dionysus held out the book to where Clarisse was sat. "What do you think Clara?"
"It's Clarisse, Clarisse La..."
Percy launched himself up from where he sat and rushed over to Dionysus. He snatched the book out of his hands.
"Give it back!!"
There was an awful moment where nobody spoke, nobody moved and nobody breathed. Just utter silence.
Before Dionysus burst out laughing.
Clarisse looked dumbfounded, without any hint of malice or humour
"Was that... supposed to be me?"
No response.
The rest of the room joined in. Giggling or mumbling. Connor Stoll cleared his throat before asking
"What, like, is that your diary?"
"It's not a diary- it's a journal!" Percy offered.
This made the laughter worse. Percy wanted to crawl into a box and throw it into the sea only to never be found again. Maybe his mother's wish for him to live a life like the ancient Perseus may come true after all.
Clarisse still looked too confused to make fun of him. She asked another question, almost to herself.
"Why would you be drawing me?"
Percy snapped out of his embarrassed trance to counter this. He opened the book to the chariot page and held it up to Clarisse.
"I also drew Beckendorf, Annabeth, Chris and..." He trailed off. Shit, he still didn't know that Apollo kids name.
This somehow caused more laughter (seriously, Percy thought, what about this was so funny?). Chris moved closer to Clarisse to get a better look at the drawing. Percy clutched the book back to his chest, defensively.
"Why is your diary a picture book?"
Chris asked with a smug grin, like despite the whole chariot race, this was somehow the highlight of his day.
"The better question-" Mr. D responded,
"Is why would a diary have chapters? Better yet why would they be named such weird things?"
Percy spoke to Chris
"Firstly- not a diary"
He then turned around to Mr. D
"Secondly, NOT a diary!"
Beckendorf interrupted Percy's repetitive speech to say
"There's nothing wrong with having a diary dude"
"That's great for people who have diaries but I don't!"
"My best friend shops for a wedding dress" Dionysus mused.
"Oh shut up" Percy replied.
"I play dogeball with Cannibals"
"Oh my god"
"We hail the taxi of eternal torment"
Annabeth finally spoke "...the Gray sisters"
Percy sighed "Yeah, that's the one"
"Tyson plays with fire-"
Percy interrupted "We get it!"
Tantalus clapped a few times for attention.
"As hilarious as this all is" He started, with no sense of joy in his tone
"We have a very important meal to attend so if you wouldn't mind"
He pointed a single finger at Percy.
"You should be heading down into the kitchen"
Percy exhaled dramatically "Gladly...at least I get away from you guys"
Tyson got up without question to follow Percy, Annabeth after a moment of consideration followed.
-◇-◇-
Silently, the trio were scrubbing dishes in the camp kitchens. Although they'd been told to make the meal they were relegated to clean-up by the naiads and harpies.
Percy hadn't spoken since they left the big house but he had maintained a scowl. This left Annabeth with only Tyson to bounce ideas off of for retriving the golden fleece.
"Don't you think if we just ask Tantalus for a quest he'll give us one"
Anne paused. "No, I don't"
"Maybe we can ask Dad for help, I'm sure if Percy-"
Annabeth grimaced "Perhaps not"
After losing the chariot race, Annabeth was in no mood to joke. Especially about a diary. In fact she wasn't even sure why anyone cared that much. Maybe it was just another thing to do with the mortal world she didn’t get.
The race, alongside Thalia's tree being poisoned and Grover going missing, meant Annabeth wasn't in the mood for anything at all.
Annabeth began to scrub aggressively at a spot on the pan she was holding, grinding her teeth. She could see Percy, in the corner of her eye, drop the spoons he was holding and nudge her hesitantly.
"You okay?"
She smiled slightly, "Yeah, fine"
Percy sighed and went back to cleaning cutlery. The trio continued to clean in silence, except for the sound of dishes clattering.
Annabeth smiled to herself and said
"I didn't think the drawings were that bad"
Percy smiled at her too
"I'm very flattered"
"I mean- not as good as mine"
Annabeth burst into peals of laughter, along with Tyson who might've not understood why they were laughing but did anyway.