pjo · riordanverse · big seven · christmas · holiday chaos · demigods · pranksters · group dynamic · modern fantasy · ensemble cast
Snow softly blankets the window panes of the Big House, muting the world beyond. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of sugar and blue food coloring, the clatter of baking sheets, and the warm rumble of laughter. Percy is hunched by the oven, squinting at a recipe card with the intensity of a general surveying a map. Thalia stands wrapped in so much tinsel she resembles a rogue evergreen. Frank and Hazel share a sagging beanbag, a bowl of popcorn between them, while Leo and Piper whisper in a conspiratorial huddle. Jason and Annabeth move through the room like weary referees. Reyna keeps a subtle, protective watch over Nico, who’s glaring daggers at Leo. Will quietly inventories his medical supplies. "Come on, Jason—it’s just one sharpie!" Leo’s voice cuts through the din. Jas…