Questing For The Sun 33: Morning Surprise

A reminder before you read this chapter: tomorrow is the last day of voting for the poll.

[CENTER]Chapter 33: Morning Surprise

Questing For The Sun

<<<Laura Horn>>>[/CENTER]

It was the next morning, and Laura gave a demigod a smirk, “Anne banished you to your room didn’t she?” She teased, “But you kept me warm and comfy, and so she has failed in her quest.~” Not that Helena could move at this point, Laura’s arms wrapped around her tightly and, even if they weren’t, the blanket wrapped around them both would stop it. “Did you tie us together, or was that someone else?”

Helena just blushed brightly and mumbled something… and Laura was pretty sure she said something about ‘cuddler’, which was adorable in her opinion. Carmen was a cuddler himself and she always appreciated waking up in his arms… “How’d you sleep?” She asked, nuzzling into Helena’s neck. “Good, I hope.”

“Fine,” Helena said, “... Did you know you grope in your sleep?”

Laura snickered. “Carmen said the exact same thing,” She said, “But yes, I know.”

Helena grumbled a bit before struggling to get free, “... I can’t move.” That was fair, Laura couldn’t either. “So you weren’t the one that tied us together with the blanket?”

“Nope, I thought it was Carmen but I think he’s still asleep,” She replied with a nod, “I’d yell to wake someone up, but that would be rude to you…”

“Ask Bast, I mean she does live in your head right?” Helena asked.

“She finds the whole situation hilarious,” Laura said with a shrug.

“Of course she would,” Helena grumbled, “She’s a cat. Can she get us loose though?”

“I believe one of the things cats find most fun is messing with other cats,” She replied simply, “So does the answer to that question really matter?” The amusement she was feeling from the goddess certainly implied she could and wouldn’t do it. “Right, so if we roll in your direction here, to the right side of the bed, and off, the sound of us hitting the floor should draw attention. And if not… we roll to the door and kick it?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Helena said, though she did grumble something about ‘fucking cats’ but Laura honestly couldn’t blame her for that.

She, too, found cats irritating despite them being perfection itself.

Helena rolled, bringing Laura along for the trip, and they landed on the floor with a loud thud. Laura was just thankful the beds were western style and not traditional Japanese cause otherwise this would’ve been pointless.

They waited for a few moments before the door finally opened, “Ara ara,~” Laura glanced and saw it was the head maid… her name escaped her for the moment.

“Can you help us out?” Helena blurted out before Laura or the maid could say anything.

The maid giggled, “The young Master has gained himself some interesting consorts,” She said with a tittering giggle, “Certainly.”

“It was not our choice to be wrapped up like a burrito…” Laura grumbled.

The maid just hummed but didn’t comment, instead she went to help unwrap them. Though her giggles did intensify when she peeled a piece of paper off the sheet.

“Ah? You’re fortunate the ninja was feeling playful,” The maid teased with a smile, “I wonder if the young Master is aware of our unexpected visitor?”

“... I see I need to improve my wards. Again,” Laura grumbled, slowly extracting herself from the wrapping.

“He knows,” Helena said, “And said we weren’t supposed to attack them because we aren’t their target. Carmen is. And that he’d probably not be attacked by them.”

“Probably?” Laura asked with a squint, “He shall be interrogated over breakfast.”

Regardless, after being freed, and revealing that she slept in as little as possible, Helena hurried to her clothes to get dressed. Laura just whistled while the maid giggled and bowed.

“Breakfast shall be ready soon,” She said, “The young Master is in the dojo going through his morning routine, I’ll leave you two alone,” She added before she left the room.

“Damn you always look good, which I could do that without magic,” Laura said with a grin, “You know, wake up looking perfect.”

Helena blushed, “Well… uh… thanks.” She said, “And well… being part cat just makes you more perfect…”

“Flatterer,” Laura replied, kissing her gently, “Come on, let’s get breakfast and we can interrogate someone that needs questioning!”

Helena nodded, “Yeah,” She said with a smile.

It didn’t take long to find the boy either, her arm wrapped around his shoulders, “Hello darling,~” She purred, “I woke up in an interesting position this morning, do you want to know what it was?”

“I’m going to say… sleep groping?” Carmen guessed.

“Well, yes,” Laura started, “But also wrapped up like a burrito with Helena, to the point we couldn’t get free…”

Carmen just made a thoughtful sound, “That does sound like an issue,” He said, amusement obvious in his voice, “Given how tired you were I didn’t think you were up to any wrestling.”

Helena choked in amusement as Laura pressed claws into his shoulder, gently to not draw blood but… “Mm, no I wasn’t. In fact, there was a ninja tag there, keeping us wrapped up. Do you know any ninja here?”

“Hmm, seems even after all these years Anzu still has a sense of humor.” Carmen said with a chuckle, “Good, she’ll need that given the life she’s chosen.”

“Anzu?” Helena asked.

Before Laura or Carmen could answer, though, a familiar pair of boots carrying a familiar girl tromped into the room, “What did I miss while I was out?” Thalia asked, “Oh, nice you got muffins. I’m starving, we haven’t eaten all day,” She said, beelining straight for a pile of chocolate chip muffins.

“Well, Carmen’s got a ninja girl after his butt,” Helena said, making Carmen chortle faintly.

“Technically not wrong, I suppose…” He mused, “Though betrothed would be more correct, or Destined Partners in her words.”

“Huh,” Thalia started, “So are we going to need to look out for him getting assassinated or poisoned or something?”

Laura just shook her head, “Doubt it,” She said, “She’s probably going to try stealing him from me which… I mean, have you looked at me?” She gave a twirl in her… rather skimpy nightgown. She’d forgotten to change, not that it mattered. “Good luck pulling Carmen out of me without my permission.”

“While assassination is part and parcel of her training, Anzu is primarily an infiltrator,” Carmen said, “And she’s rather… peculiar, honestly,” He added absentmindedly, “Huh… wonder if mom or Inari had anything to do with her quirks…”

“Probably not,” Laura replied, “Not sure how she’d manage it. That said, did she leave anything? Or steal anything?”

“Oh, well…” Carmen scratched his neck, “Ah… I’ll buy us another batch of those treats you like…”

“... Oh that bitch,” Laura growled, “She is going to regret that. Much punishment awaits. But for now, I’ll just keep an eye out for her.”

Carmen just chuckled, “That’ll just make her mess with you more.”

“She is quite masochistic then,” Laura noted, stepping away from him, “You will join her then! For not warning me a ninja was stalking you.”

Carmen snorted, “I found out just after putting you in Helena’s bed.” He said dryly, “And yes… she is masochistic… from my understanding she and her teacher in interrogation techniques bonded over many things…”

“How fascinating,” Laura knew her voice was dangerous, “But you didn’t go upstairs to check on me? Truly, you need deep punishment.”

“I didn’t expect her to mess with you!” Carmen said, “She didn’t seem overly interested in you or the others.”

“But it happened anyway, so…” Laura grinned, “You get punished with her.”

“Man, am I glad I’m not you,” Thalia started, “And I’m glad it’s Laura that’s my teacher and not Amelia.” A shudder went through her. “She was trying to teach me how to fly.”

“Actually, where is Amelia anyway?” Carmen asked curiously.

“Oh, she’s outside trying to work off the soju she drank last night,” She replied, “Lots of pushups, lots of running.”

“... And she never considered asking for a remedy, did she?” Carmen asked dryly.

“A what?” Thalia asked with a blink as Laura poured herself a cup of coffee, the smell filling the room.

“Similar to ambrosia without the risks that come with it,” Carmen said, “Like a mundane hangover cure but it actually works, just don’t ask how they’re made.”

“... How are they made?” Helena asked for everyone else in the room.

Carmen sighed, “You really don’t want to know.” He said, “But if I have to answer… traditionally most of the ingredients are thrown together to cover the main one. It’s pretty foul, honestly.” He sighed but looked at a maid, “Can you bring a bottle of the remedy, before it’s mixed? It’s hard to put into words.”

The maid grimaced, “Are you certain?”

Carmen just looked back at Helena, “Are you really sure?”

“I mean… it could be useful?” She suggested.

“... Well, you heard her,” Carmen said with a sigh, “Though if anyone wants to be able to enjoy breakfast, step into a side room.”

Laura didn’t bother. “Can’t be that bad,” She said with a shrug, grabbing an egg and potato burrito to eat.

“Eh, it depends,” Carmen admitted, “It depends if you’re squeamish I suppose, different people react to it differently.”

“And I am not at all… rations beat that out of me,” She admitted with a grimace, “We had some that were just filled with mold, and another that was just filled with maggots. Not fun.”

“... Yeah, that’d do it…” Carmen said… before helping himself to a muffin and some tea.

Thalia shrugged herself. “Reminds me of when we had to eat some roadkill,” She noted, sitting down and stretching, “We had to almost burn it, but we didn’t get sick.”

Helena’s mouth worked a bit. “I am… so glad I don’t have your lives. No offense.”

“None taken.” Thalia and Laura said in unison.

“In the defence of the remedy despite its… questionable main ingredient, it actually is very useful,” Carmen said, “Hunters often down a dose before dealing with particularly toxic rogue yokai.”

“Useful,” Laura said, “Sounds like some potions I’ve worked with. Awful taste, awful ingredients, too useful to not use.”

Carmen looked about to reply, but the maid had come back, holding the ‘remedy’ out as far away from her as possible.

Carmen took the bowl, and after grabbing a pair of chopsticks he opened the container and reached in before pulling out what looked like a particularly scrawny piece of spaghetti. Helena was about to say something, probably ‘that ain't too bad’ or something before the ‘noodle’ started to wriggle and look around.

The room was so quiet everyone could hear a tiny little shrill squeal before Carmen returned it to its container.

“It’s a specially cultivated spirit that, by itself, is extremely unpleasant. Very slimy and foul tasting,” Carmen explained, “They’re ingested and they move through your digestive system and settle in your intestines where they consume all manners of harmful toxins you’re exposed to. Thankfully they have a very short lifespan, so after a day they expire, taking all the toxins it consumes, and passes on through the digestive system and… exits.” 

“Eh, drank worse,” Laura said with a shrug, “I drank lead, radium, and arsenic as part of a potion once.”

“... They’re alive the entire time and you can feel them moving,” Carmen said with a very uncomfortable look, “Gods the itching…” He added with a shudder.

“Sounds unpleasant!” She agreed, “But if it isn’t poisonous I’d use it.”

Carmen nodded, “That’s about every Hunter’s opinion on it.” 

“Remind me to not kiss you anytime soon,” Helena said to Laura, “Just until I forget you’ve drunk actual poison.” Then she turned to Carmen, “Never feed me that unless I am dying and need it.”

“I reserve it for when I’m on the job, I’d rather suffer through a hangover. So that’s a promise I can easily keep,” Carmen said.

“Damnit Helena! You just had to ask!” Thalia grumbled before setting her muffin down.

“At least Sally wasn’t here to hear it… actually where is she? And Annabeth?” Carmen asked curiously, “Are they still asleep?”

“Oh, Annabeth said she was going for a run around the grounds,” Thalia said, “Passed her on the way in. And Sally… I don’t know actually.”

The maid giggled, “I know where Miss Sally is,~” She said coyly.

Carmen looked at her, “And… that is…?” He asked.

“Oh, Lord Dove called shortly after you all went to bed,” She said, “Miss Sally drank a bit much, and Lord Dove took her to his home for her to sleep it off.”

“Oh… so, should I be concerned about a Greek God throwing a tsunami our way?” Carmen asked, “Provided if he’s the possessive type…”

“He’s not,” Helena replied, “He loves her, I think, but I think he understands that she’s mortal and she’d like to be able to love someone that’s more… present. He didn’t express any wrath about Gabe anyway.”

“Ah, I wasn’t sure, thanks,” Carmen said, “... Maybe Sally will get Dove to actually relax a little…” He muttered thoughtfully.

“I just hope she doesn’t try to convince me to move to Japan with her,” Helena replied with a snort, “Do you know how hard it was to order food? The thing your mom did didn’t help with written Japanese!”

Laura’s head perked up as she said, “I can teach that-and Annabeth is being kidnapped by ninja. Cat ninja. From the cat clan.” Her voice was flat. “I can’t tell if Bast is messing with me or if it's actually happening. We should probably check it out either way,” She advised, standing up and downing the rest of her coffee.

“... Mom… please… not so early…” Carmen groaned as he finished his tea and scarfed down his muffin, “Cat ninja… I swear it’s times like these I wish I was more familiar with the various clans in the country…” He grumbled.

“They are all, apparently, nekomata,” She drawled, eyes half lidded as she rolled them, “Let me get dressed and equipped. See you in three.”

She thought she made good time up the stairs.

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