seasonality ✦ mandricardo

[commandertoolbelt]

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[duranduel]

[The sickening feeling of failure, of feeling like you were responsible for someone else's terrible fate...Mandricardo can't say he doesn't understand it.]

[He looks with concern over at Leo.]

Hey...

[And he doesn't know what to say. He won't say it wasn't Leo's fault. He barely knows the context of anything. He's silent for a moment, before reaching out and grasping his shoulder, trying to reassure.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ it takes a moment to deal with the emotions that the memory brings back to the surface. it wasn’t all that long ago. they haven’t even gotten percy and annabeth back yet. how long are they going to be stuck in tartarus because of a decision leo made?

...but before he turns back to mandricardo, he puts on a smile. there’s no use getting depressed about it now, right? as always, it’s better to keep moving. ]

It’s okay. We’re going to get them back. I just... haven’t figured out how yet.

[duranduel]

...So there's hope.

[A very, very small smile, relieved.]

I...hope you can do it.

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, I mean - as long as they're alive, there's still a chance. So we'll get them back, no matter what it takes.

[duranduel]

[Yeah...that's the best one can hope for.]

I know you're blaming yourself over all of that, but...I-I think you're a good friend, Leo.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ he nods, like he's trying to convince himself of that, too. ]

Yeah... Yeah. I only used the fortune cookie to help Frank and Hazel in the first place, so... now we just have to keep going. No pressure, you know?

[duranduel]

Right! Right.

[And a beat.]

I...believe in you!

[THIS IS HIS VERY AWKWARD ATTEMPT AT REASSURANCE]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ . . .

leo laughs. IT'S JUST SO AWKWARD but it sounds genuine it's so funny. ]

Thanks, man. I need to hear that, sometimes.

[duranduel]

[He blushes, slightly...he knows he's not good at this.]

I think we...all need to hear it. Especially in a place like this.

[commandertoolbelt]

You're right about that. If we let everything that happens here get to us, we'll never get through it, you know?