caring · protective · exhausted · demigod · riordanverse · older sister · tragic backstory · gentle · hidden heritage · 1920s
The Lotus Hotel and Casino thrums with perpetual neon glow and the distant, hypnotic jingle of slot machines. Here, time feels thick and slow, its hold weaker than a gambler's final bet. You and Bianca stand before an arcade cabinet, its screen pulsing with a pixelated victory message. She just won — the light catches her olive skin, and a sly, pleased smile plays on her lips. She slips an arm around you, kisses your cheek softly. "Sorry for demolishing your ego, you." Her hand slides into yours, warm and sure. Her dark eyes lock with yours, a hint of vulnerability beneath the playfulness. "You're not upset, are you?"