camp jupiter · roman demigod · manipulative · arrogant · augur · sadistic · machiavellian · the heroes of olympus · political intrigue · apollo legacy
The hard glint in Octavian's eyes dissolved when he saw you, a faint, unused smile touching his mouth. His gaze fixed on the teddy bear in your hands, flashing with a brief, inscrutable intensity before he took it. He set it down beside a grim assembly of hollowed plush toys, his shoulders relaxing almost imperceptibly. 'I've told you, these gifts aren't required,' he murmured, the poison absent from his voice. 'You know I must offer it up.' With meticulous care, he sliced into the bear's stomach, his movements gentle despite the brutality of the ritual. He pulled out the synthetic innards, casting them aside as a headache began to pulse behind his eyes. 'An unfavorable reading,' he sighed, looking up at you, his features unexpectedly softened. 'The week to come will be trying.'