Before the Dawn | open

It took everything Espn had not to interrupt. After the rant, though, she took a few uncharacteristic moments to think about what she was going to say. Really, she was trying to find a reason why she wouldn't be in any danger so that Melanie could rely on her like she used to. Of course, no one here was completely out of danger. They were demi-gods and they happened to be at war with some of the worst people around, but this was not the time to bring that up. She looked over to the faces of their friends, who were now all passed out under the later morning sun, "You know, Mel..." Espn started heavily, "I am in the safest possible job here on Concordia." She knew her words didn't make sense but she continued anyway, "I don't fight in the Garrison, I don't building tall building. I teach first grade. Have you ever heard of thirty six years olds killing their teacher?" Espn laughed a little bit, "All that means is that, of all the people on this island, you have to worry about me least of all. I'll be here for you no matter what." Espn didn't enjoy the heavy moment, but knew it was necessary.

"Have you ever heard of anyone in intelligence having friends, or a family? That's because we don't come back, and when we do people get hurt. It gets covered up, sure, but they do. It doesn't matter. I knew when you found me that things were going to change. You aren't going to go away and I have to trust that there's someone out here that can keep on eye on you when I'm not here." Mel countered, pulling out her phone as she spoke. They were too drunk to make it back to their respective living quarters on their own, plus everyone else was either asleep or wobbling their way back home. She would have to call for a ride, though when it would get here she didn't know.

When the call had been made, she reached across Espn to grab one of the few remaining bottles of liquor and took a long swig. If they were going to be here a while longer, then she would save the hangover for later. More alcohol now, less worrying about later, or at least that's what the little voice inside her head was telling her.

It didn't matter that Espn wasn't much of a fighter, in her mind she didn't need anyone to take care of her. So when Melanie insisted that she needed looking after...Let's just say it didn't sit well with the Aphrodite girl. Espn shook her head, "You can't put looking after me just on yourself. Besides, I have my eye on someone who..." She cut herself off, suddenly not sure if she should mention that she has been vying for a date with Owain. Is it appropriate to tell his little minions about that? Espn could help but giggle a little bit over the whole situation. It had never been in her nature to not tell her girl's about her romantic involvements. In fact, it was completely against her nature to keep them a secret. After all, what else does an Aphrodite girl have if not her luxurious love life?

Melanie raised her eyebrows slightly when Espn started giggling. She was keeping a secret, one that she wasn't very likely to keep it much longer. The girl was much too drunk to be able to resist, even if she wanted to. With a shake of her head and another swig of whatever was in the bottle of the moment, Melanie decided that she might as well let Espn have her fun.

"You know better. Finish the sentence madam." Melanie commanded, referencing an old rule of theirs. If you started a sentence, you knew you had to finish it. She might have even smiled, but she would never admit it if someone had asked her. Girl talk. They were really having a girl talk right now. Maybe she should've called for pizza instead of a ride...there was always that possibility, however, that it might be necessary.

It didn't take long for Espn to abandon her worry that she might be crossing a line. She leaned in close to Melanie and whisper, "I was gunna say," She started to fall forward in a drunk stumble but caught herself just in time, "I have my eye on someone who could definitely protect me better than you anyway." She sighed and leaned back, looking at the sky in wonder, "You know him, I'm certain."

"Hmmm. Our age, garrison, probably of a higher rank than myself. Are you going to make me guess?" Melanie had a good idea of who it could be already, but she refused to assume that she was correct untilEspn said it out loud. They were too drunk to do anything else, so a little gossip couldn't quite hurt anyone. Then again, the Commander would probably be fairly irritated if he found out she was hanging out with someone he was considering dating. No. ESPN hadn't confirmed that yet. Melanie had to keep her suspicions to herself for a few more seconds.

With a giggle and a nod, Espn chimed, "I will always make you guess, dear. Otherwise, what fun is girl talk?" She reached over a grabbed a bottle of what looking like peach champagne. Espn didn't claim to be as good as the Dionysus girls about these things, but she was pretty talented when it came to identifying mystery alcohol. She took a sip and smiled, proud of herself for being right. The bubbles felt weird running down her throat. It made her wonder if maybe she should consider drinking water. As soon as she had the thought, it floated away, replaced by the nauseous feeling that she only started experiencing recently. It made her feel like she might be getting old. To make the feeling go away, she took another long drink and tried to lean back to lay down on the ground behind her. Unfortunately, she forgot she was sitting on a log and fell backwards, landing hard on her butt and hitting her head against the hard dirt, "Oof." She groaned, turning her head so she could barely see the pink-orange liquid trickling out of the bottle she had been holding.

For a moment, Melanie wasn't quite sure whether she should help Espn or laugh. She had still been processing her suggestions for who Espn's mystery man could be when she literally tried to lay back while sitting on a log. She was way too drunk for her own good, but it was funny. So Melanie decided to settle for a compromise and laughed while she helped Espn sit back up. "Alright, alright. No more alcohol for you." She said with a light laugh. "Alright, if I have to guess, you have to give me hints. Rank, high or low?"

After getting herself settled on the log once again, Espn pursed her lips and reached for another bottle, abandoning the one that had been spilled across the dirt just moments before. Of course, Mel was right. She should stop. Instead of grabbing a bottle of wine, Espn found a large bottle of water buried underneath her sister's bag and took a small sip of that. She never expected water to taste so good. Upon further examination of the bottle, she saw that it was mango flavored water. With a smile, Espn took another sip, "High."

"Hmmm. High rank. That does narrow it down." Melanie said with a nod. So, high ranking Garrison member near their age that was unattached. A few more questions and she would know for sure. This was a fun game.

"Roman or Greek?" She said after a moment of deliberation. Too many of the Garrison officers shared parents, so she would have to be a little more specific later. She was fairly certain Espn had taken a fancy to the highest of the high, but hey, why cut the fun short. Taking another swig out of a bottle of something, she decided that the night might not have been a completely horrid idea.

Espn couldn't believe that Melanie hadn't caught on yet. She had always thought that Mel was smart, maybe she was just not thinking that Espn even knew Owain, "He's Roman!" She said, leaning toward Melanie before taking another sip of the water. She still wasn't disappointed in the mango flavor. It had to have been magically enhanced somehow, "Come on Mel, names! names!" She giggled and started drinking again, suddenly feeling like she needed to eat something, "We need pizza." She said out of no where.

"Espn, we just ate...whatever that was we literally just brought back!" Melanie said through her laughter. Then again, pizza did sound good, so maybe Espn wasn't quite wrong. They hadn't eaten much anyways, due to the overabundance of hungry drunk people that had descended on the food the instant they had put it down.

"Double pepperoni, thin crust?" She asked as she pulled out her phone. How many times had they made that order in secret from camp? More than Melanie was quite willing to admit. They had probably kept that small pizzeria open single-handedly one summer, ordering pizzas with her grandfather's credit card after an all night party. "And as for a name, I have a guess, but I wasn't quite sure how amused you would be if I was wrong. Is it Commander Craddock?"

Espn giggled, "Mmmm Pizza." She sighed, leaning against Mel's shoulder. When she finally spat out a name, Espn about creamed in excitement, "Yes! Isn't he just the nicest, most amazing person ever?" Espn knew very well that Owain wasn't exactly 'nice' to his troop and that Melanie probably had a completely different view of the man, but to her that didn't matter. All she saw was the nice, funny guy that caught her attention at the mall that one day.

Melanie could tell that Espn was head over heels for the Commander. Mel only knew him professionally, but surely Espn could do much worse for herself. "He's a good man with a good reputation." Melanie conceded. "Where did you meet him? How long has this been a thing?" Was Melanie even allowed to ask these kinds of questions about her boss' personal life? Surely there was some sort of rule about this kinds of fraternization. Oh well, what would he do, fire her?

Espn opened her mouth to respond only to be cut off by a dry heaving sensation she swore she would never do in public...again. She groaned and leaned into Melanie miserably, "Home." She croaked. She couldn't think or say much more than that, "Please."