Lucius steadied himself, bracing his feet on the ground to help Feo up to his own feet. His sapphire eyes flicked between the dual-colored gaze that didn't quite meet his yet, instead focused on the grass below. The cool of the air was slowly dropping without the heat of the sun to keep it warm and Lucius wasn't entirely dressed for the cool night air.

But it felt freeing. The chill of the air, the rush of the emotions running through him. He didn't really expect Feo to agree with what he was doing, that was an unspoken thought in his mind. What he was doing was relatively unheard of, let alone stupid beyond reason. But then again, he was doing it. Because if he didn't, who would?

Lucius let his hand fall to his side, tipping his head lightly. His own head tilted lightly as Feo glanced up at him, mentioning that he would, in fact, see Feo later. The demigod of Zephyrus gave him a lopsided smile. It was something. "You don't have to," Lucius said softly, "at least... not like that. But I'm sure whatever we end up doing... it'll work out either way."

Lucius took a step back as the other demigod somewhat closed his stance. He took it more as an air of uncomfortableness rather than anything else and gave the demigod a bit of space rather than crowding him. Lucius knew, full well, that with the wings, he could take up a bit of space.

His words caught him off guard just slightly. There was amusement, actual amusement in his tone. The words, too, caught him off guard. Golden boy. That was a new title.

Golden idiot was probably a better term but whatever worked, Lucius supposed.

He'd need sleep, he'd need to pull out some funds--which wouldn't be too-too hard and then he'd have to find a plane ticket. That was probably going to be the hardest part. Not to mention trying to push Milo off of his trail.

Lucius spread his creamy white wings out, taking flight in the dark of the night air. The solitary street lamps below lit the empty streets and walkways. Most of them were empty anyways.

His feathers stretched out, taking the wind beneath them as he soared through the air and to the open balcony. The majority of his thoughts were mixed between why Feo had stuck around, had listened to him--and hadn't... flown off the handle--and how to get Milo and Lilian--probably--off of his back.

Those were his main concerns at the current moment but, reluctantly, as he stepped into his own dorm, he found himself looking at the bed with relief. Today mixed with yesterday--ugh. It had all been absolutely exhausting.

Lucius sank down on the bed with a small huff, more than happy to doze off.

But it was the morning light streaming through the window that woke him up far earlier than he wanted to be awake for. A reluctant huff as he dragged himself from the bed, to the closet, changed clothes and stuck the watch on. The ripple of white feathers disappeared with a soft sound as he stepped out of the dorm. Breakfast first, then bank, then airport... probably. That was the initial plan. Breakfast, find Feo, then the rest. Better plan.

With the hustle and bustle of all of the brand new first year students that were finally getting to the college, the other students were more or less holed up in usual meeting spots, getting supplies for classes or just hanging out in various places around the campus.

It meant that Lucius would be more or less left alone in his hustle and bustle. Or, at least, that was the hope. He figured it likely wouldn't end up being that way but where he had been able to shake off Milo fairly easily the day before, it wouldn't be too hard to come up with some sort of story again.

The young man made his way to the stairwell and glanced down the stairs. He'd have to go down at least four flights of stairs if he really wanted. Or, he could take the watch off and just glide down. One of those required far less work. It was little wonder when his wings spread outward and he leapt down, gliding lazily down to the ground below and then replaced the watch once again.

Breakfast first. Right.

Lucius turned to piece through the crowd, heading toward the cafeteria on campus. He worked through the mass amount of people, heading toward the distant building. The food wasn't terrible, it wasn't the best he'd ever had either. It was pretty mediocre, all things considered. But food was food.

It was better to eat than to skip a meal--especially when he wasn't sure how long it would be till he got another meal. If the airports would have anything or if he'd have to go walking around to find a diner, cafe or something of the sort.

He slid through the crowd as best he could, finding himself lost in the midst of people. Which was how it was supposed to be. Nobody was supposed to pay attention to him, they'd just glance and then let him be. Which was exactly what he wanted.

His mind was going through the different things and details of his current phase of the plan. Seducing mortals was easy enough. However, he'd have to find a way to get to the gods. Which, he had a feeling would happen anyways when he finally did get his hands on the Cestus. A part of him had a feeling that it would send some sort of alert to the gods that he had it.

Whether or not they would do anything after that--that was the question. But he'd have the Cestus. Which meant that he'd have the upper hand.

They'd inevitably fall in love. Hopefully. If not... well... he'd have to come up with another story. Something about maybe ... well, if he mentioned that he had a particular demigod in mind but he wasn't sure if they actually liked him or not--eh. It'd be petty enough to fool the gods.

Lucius pushed the door open to the cafeteria, slipping in line as he pieced through his thoughts.

Lucius, in all reality, didn't have much of an outfit change. He wore the same thing every day essentially. A dark sooty-grey button up shirt--with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows. He wore a vest over that--and a softer gray tie. The shirt and vest tucked into gray slacks with a black belt, a golden buckle to show some dash of color.

His shoes were nothing spectacular either. Just simpler dress shoes. It was what he usually wore, almost every single day. For someone with such a dazzling personality and brainless ideas, his wardrobe surely didn't reflect that in the slightest.

The different arrays of wardrobes were always interesting. Some wore more traditional styles--styling after their godly heritage. Others were more like him, more modern styles mirroring the usual styles of the mortal world. Realistically, it was up to the student as to what they wore. But it made for a rather interesting array of styles, fashions and the likes. On rare occasions, a student would mix both modern and traditional styles.

Lucius wasn't like that though.

He made his way through the line, snagging a bagel, a banana and then shuffled off to find a place to sit down. It was way easier, he found, when he wasn't fighting with a pair of large wings.

His sapphire eyes scanned around the dining hall, the tables and the likes. Briefly, he spotted the distant figure of Feo in the corner. A part of him wanted to walk over. The other part of him reminded him how stupid that idea was. While he had nearly forgotten about the factions, standing in the midst of students who hardly masked the tension... reminded him that they still existed.

Much to his chagrin.

Lucius picked a different spot to sit down, settling on the bench as he began to piece through other details of his plan. His eyes scanned through the crowd, watching the people that sifted through the dining hall. Once again, he admired the different types of people. Something that was always interesting, perhaps to him, was the different ways that godly heritage made itself known in different people. Some had different colors in their hair, their eyes or a few had other appendages. Tails, ears, arms, wings, and the likes. Others could change shape or the color of their being.

It was a bit strange, all in all.

But that was the life of the gods. If it wasn't a little bit strange, it wouldn't be ethereal.

Lucius risked a glance back toward the door and spotted Milo as he walked in. The young man looked tired and slightly disheveled. It had been a rough night for him, clearly... and Lucius didn't envy him in the slightest. Sure, his night had been a little eventful but he hadn't been left feeling or looking like that.

He finished the rest of his breakfast and stood up, aiming to slip through the doors before he could be caught, questioned and potentially hindered in his plan.

For whatever reason, the ability to slip through the crowd unnoticed, unbothered was a phenomenon that Lucius wasn't entirely sure he would have ever thought he'd know. In his life, he was far more used to others moving out of his way, the stares, the unspoken words behind watching the white wings that trailed behind him.

But now? That didn't exist. He was able to cut through the mass of people like a ship through an ocean. Nobody gave him a second glance--he wasn't anybody particularly special at that point in time. Something, he was slightly grateful for. All these demigods and not one had to anguish about what he was doing, worrying about losing a good-good friend. Milo was an old acquaintance, an old-old friend, but even then, their friendship was loose and based off of when they were young kids.

As he paused for a moment, wondering briefly where on earth Feo would end up... he reminded himself of Lilian's words, noting that Feo often wandered to the gardens for a sort of peace and serenity. It couldn't hurt to check over that way.

His footsteps changed direction, pulling him through the streets and walkways until he went from concrete and stone to grass.the sound of laughter, teasing and jeering had his heart skip a beat or two. But, he reminded himself, he could handle it. Not to mention the fact that Lucius didn't have his wings out. They were hidden comfortably behind spells and that was the main item that made him a target.

Lucius took in a deep breath, enjoying the soft smell of flowers, earth and plants. Something about the earth seemed so natural, so firm and steady. It wasn't like the smell of the air--the crisp air high up in the clouds, the chill of the mist on one's skin. This was different. It was firm, it was unchanging, inviting and calming.

Lucius picked his way through the gardens, skirting around the roughhousing students. His sapphire eyes scanned around before spotting the distant figure hanging at the edge of the garden, just before the trees. Rather than walk directly there, Lucius continued to follow the edge of the garden, keeping his eyes on the other students. Perhaps it was a preventative measure to things but he'd rather prevent something happening than have to run into it.

That was not the goal. Besides, if it grabbed the attention of the Nordic demigod then he'd never hear the end of it! Especially if he decided to jump in.

Lucius stepped closer to Feo, offering him a lopsided and warm smile. "Harder to see when I don't have wings, eh?"

His tone was light and a touch giddy.

"Nobody's bothering me now at least--which is what I hoped for," he added and set his hands on his hips with a resolute sigh.

Feo continued watching the others for a moment, his sharp gaze scanning their movements and interactions like a hawk surveying its surroundings. He found a small comfort in the familiarity of their gestures, the way they talked and laughed and planned for things that they would do in the future, schemes and hangouts that typically went awry. The world had been unpredictable lately, chaotic in ways he had never imagined, and moments like these reminded him that there was still something constant.

But that comfort was fleeting.

He heard the quiet shuffle of footsteps beside him and a voice that carried a certain weight—steady, soft, but undeniably there. He turned, his eyes meeting Lucius’s, and for a moment, he froze.

His eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight before him. Lucius was standing there, looking oddly diminished. Something was missing. And it took only a second longer for Feo to pinpoint exactly what it was: the wings.

Lucius’s wings were gone.

The realization hit Feo like a slow tide, rising up and overwhelming him in unexpected ways. Without the wings, Lucius seemed smaller, almost fragile in a way that Feo couldn’t quite reconcile with the person he thought he knew. Vulnerable. It was strange—strange and deeply unsettling—to see Lucius like this, stripped of the ethereal presence that had always surrounded him.

He looked... human.

And that was what unsettled Feo the most. Something inside him twinged, an ache he didn’t recognize and wasn’t sure he wanted to understand. It was deeply protective, this feeling, a primal instinct that made his chest tighten and his jaw clench.

“Aye,” Feo mumbled after a beat, his voice low and almost distant. His eyes roved over Lucius again, assessing him in this new light. “That’s... good.”

But was it good?

Feo had to admit to himself—quietly, inwardly—that he much preferred Lucius with the wings. Not just because they were striking, not because they had this otherworldly beauty that seemed to defy logic, but because they made Lucius seem... safer. Stronger. Larger than life in a way that made Feo feel like the world wouldn’t dare harm him. With the wings, Lucius seemed capable of holding his own, of warding off whatever dangers might come his way.

Without them, though...

Without them, Feo felt that protective pit in his gut growing, a gnawing urge to shield Lucius from the harshness of the world. The thought of anyone—or anything—hurting him now was unbearable in a way that caught Feo off guard. It wasn’t just that Lucius looked vulnerable; it was that he was vulnerable, in ways Feo wasn’t sure how to handle.

And then there was the warmth.

Feo swallowed hard, trying to push away the thought, but it lingered stubbornly. The wings had been warm, impossibly warm, and bright in a way that felt almost alive. They had a softness to them, too, a quiet comfort that Feo had grown accustomed to without even realizing it. He would miss leaning into them, the way they seemed to hold not just Lucius but anyone lucky enough to be near.

What was he thinking?

He shook his head slightly, forcing himself to focus on the present, on the matter at hand. There were bigger problems to deal with, and he couldn’t afford to get lost in thoughts he didn’t have time to untangle.

“I scrounged up a bit of money for my own ticket,” Feo began, his tone carrying a hint of weariness. He gestured to the small leather bag hanging from his hip. “Not sure if it’ll be enough, though. You know how it is with conversions and all that. It’s Asgardian coin—earned, so it’s pure—but I’ve never quite figured out how to convert it to local currencies.”

He let out a tired sigh, his fingers absently brushing against the bag as though its weight alone could answer all their problems. “So, tell me this: how do you expect us to buy tickets, let alone get off campus and conduct this whole damn orchestra without being detected?”

His eyes locked on Lucius again, sharper now, though the protective undertone was still there, buried just beneath the surface. There were too many variables, too many risks, and Feo hated leaving things to chance.

Was it foolish? Oh incredibly so. But at the same time, maybe it was a touch selfish. The way that Lucius had expected some sort of praise for figuring it out. Maybe he hadn't believed him the night before but either way, the way that Feo looked wasn't... proud. And it twisted a small knot in the pit of the Greek's stomach. Something inside of him was aching to find that smile, a hint of anything that might've said that it was good.

Instead, he looked uncomfortable and unsettled. That was the type of look that Lucius expected to see when he had his wings, not the opposite. The way his voice grumbled, low and far away reminded him that he was not like others. Lucius never had been. He was always the idiot.

The free-rein idiot kid of that one lady who... everyone knew what she was doing but no one would say anything. But the looks were always the same.

All he said was something about 'that's good' or whatnot.

Lucius turned his attention to the gardens, not daring to look back at Feo while he wrestled his own mask. It didn't bother him. It didn't matter. It wasn't supposed to hurt. Lucius didn't get hurt. He just... didn't. Not to mention that it didn't matter. He ... why did he care?

He swallowed thickly before turning his attention to him as he spoke again. Money--oh that wasn't a problem at all.

"Oh I never paid attention," Lucius let out a loose laugh, waving one hand. "I've got plenty of money for both of us. Conversion is a pain in the arse, so I never bothered with it. Besides, you're lucky if they'll even take old coinage. If they're a demigod or something of that sort, maybe, but most of the time I find that the tellers aren't," he rambled for a good moment or two on that subject before turning to the next one that Feo addressed.

There, in his eyes once again, was the light of pride. Oh he was so proud of himself and it showed in the way he preened lightly, head shaking just slightly. His tone was full of a sort of confidence, he figured he was so clever.

"Well, it's simple. They'll let us off campus anyways. Nobody's going to notice or pay attention because all the first years are coming and their parents or whatever are going. We slip into the going crowd, nobody bats an eye. Call a taxi, get to the airport, find a flight headed for Kansas and pop on that," he waved one hand. "If anybody does ask, we're getting a head-start on a history project. We're researching mythological artifacts and what's better than going to see the actual thing? Nobody bats an eye because it's for school and if they question why you're there, it's because you have to start turning around and I'm the idiot who gets suckered into thinking that I can help you pull your grades up this year."

Lucius lifted one hand in a loose shrug and dipped his head with the shrug.

"Pretty simple to be honest. All you have to do is be confident. The more confidence you have, the less likely they are to actually question what's happening."

Feo watched Lucius as he spoke, his hands weaving through the air like they were conducting some grand orchestra of half-baked ideas and wild schemes. That glimmer of pride in Lucius’s eyes was unmistakable, and Feo hated how it tugged at something in him, something that felt like reluctant admiration and irritation all at once.

Feo, even just barely meeting him, knew Lucius could be infuriating, especially when he got like this—when he acted as if the world would bend to his will simply because he believed it should. It had already happened multiple times, just in two short days. Feo might have let it slide, might have even smiled at Lucius’s confidence, but today was different. Today, the stakes felt higher, the weight of their situation heavier, and Lucius’s carefree attitude only made Feo’s unease grow.

He tilted his head, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation, and let Lucius finish his explanation. When Lucius finally shrugged, looking as though he’d just solved every problem in the world with a wave of his hand, Feo let the silence stretch for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“You really think nobody’s going to bat an eye, huh?” Feo’s voice broke the quiet, dry and laced with skepticism. He shifted his weight, leaning against a nearby post with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “Because the last time me and my buddies pulled something ‘simple,’ it ended with half the library scorched and us trying to convince a very angry centaur that it was all a big misunderstanding.”

His words hung in the air, sharp enough to cut through Lucius’s self-assured grin. Feo wasn’t trying to be cruel, but he needed Lucius to understand that what seemed to be his usual approach—charging ahead with reckless abandon and hoping for the best—might not work this time.

“Look,” Feo continued, his tone softening but still firm, “I’m not saying it’s a bad plan. Honestly, it’s probably the best shot we’ve got. But just once, I’d like to get through something without relying on sheer luck and the ability to talk your way out of disaster. It has never worked for me in the past."

He sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly, though the tension in his jaw remained. Feo had never been great at masking his emotions, a feature of himself that he really hated, and right now, they were written all over his face: frustration, concern, and a touch of something he wasn’t ready to name.

“That said,” he added after a beat, his voice quieter now, “I’ll follow your lead. But don’t expect me to play the helpless student. I'm one of the best liars in the world. It's in my blood. I will lie my way out of situations if I have to. I won't be good if it means that it'll save our asses."

For a moment, Feo’s eyes lingered on Lucius, and his expression softened just enough to betray the worry gnawing at him. He didn’t like this—any of it—but he trusted Lucius enough to go along with it. Still, that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to keep an eye on him.

“Just... be careful, yeah?” Feo’s voice dropped, almost hesitant. “You might not have those wings anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’m about to let you get yourself into something you can’t get out of.”

He looked away then, running a hand through his hair as if trying to shake off the weight of his own words. Feo had never been great at expressing himself, especially when it came to things like this, and he hated how vulnerable it made him feel.

“So,” he said finally, clearing his throat and straightening up, “where do we start? Are we sneaking off now, or do you have some other brilliant part of the plan you haven’t shared yet?”

The question was light, almost teasing, but the edge of seriousness in his voice was impossible to miss. Feo might have been willing to follow Lucius’s lead, but that didn’t mean he was about to let him charge ahead without thinking things through. For some reason, he cared about him too much to do that.