theshipyard | ✨ .//. Piper McLean » Percy Jackson: Heroes of Olympus

[ There's a brief look of discomfort, edging really close to guilt. It flashes through her eyes as she watches him and listens to his perspective. She's never ASKED what it felt like to be charmspoken before, but she's felt it's effects if just fleetingly. Her own powers dampened most charmspeak at least a bit, though, so she's never felt it full tilt. Hearing Cat Noir talk about it reminds her why she dislikes using it more than necessary, or maybe just a bit teasingly now and then. ]

Yeah... So... Sorry about that. I try not to use it out of the blue like that, but honestly, following you was one of those "easier said than done" things.

[ So, she'd needed to stop him short. Still, she figures she owes him the courtesy of an explanation now, so no holds barred. She can't say why, maybe it's the superhero bit, but she trusts him enough to tell him. Something about him puts her a little more at ease than most strangers, too, maybe she feels a little more kinship than she first thought or let on? ]

At first I didn't know what it was, either. When I was younger I used to use it to talk people into giving me things. It always came back to bite me in the butt, but I didn't really care.

[ She leans her head back, gazing up towards the sky in reflection. ]

My relationship with my dad is pretty... I don't know, complicated doesn't really fit right, but... My point is, I did it for attention, and once I learned how powerful and dangerous it was I swore I wouldn't be so reckless with it. It kind of makes you stop and think about what you say before you blurt it out.

[ Someone who charmspeaks can't be careless and blurt out hurtful things, because the people they love may be compelled to believe it, or act on it. "I hate you!" or "I wish you weren't my dad!"... or worse... Yeah. It's definitely tempered her reactions, even if just subconsciously. ]

Edited 2018-05-24 03:28 (UTC)

[ Oh, wow.

Even for Cat, who tends to be the less serious one when it comes to heroing, this is...more than he was prepared for. He draws in a breath as it sinks in, and it slowly dawns on him what she was really saying.

That she had the power of persuasion on her side.

That Piper being "irresistable" was way more literal than he had believed. ]

Sooo... wait, y-you— you really controlled me? This is really a thing?

You could've been like, "Hey, Cat, give me 100 euros," and I would've just...done it?

... [ She glances at him sideways, raising an eyebrow. If he just knew the half of it. ] Cat Noir, show me a handstand.

[ Oh, okay.

It's not like he's at the edge of a building or anything. ]

[ WELL he is, but he's also the motherfuckin' champion of balance as Cat Noir, so it isn't really an issue, thankfully.

He does the handstand, holds position for a bit, then hops back onto his feet like it's nothing. ]

[ ........He blinks.

Suddenly he's standing. Of course, he doesn't have to ask, because he knows what just happened. He can tell. ]

Trippy.

[ He looks around, especially at himself, as if to make sure nothing was broken or changed, then he's staring at Piper again.

Some of her words finally sink in from before... about her father, about her power coming back to bite her, and while he's still not quite sure what to say, he knows she considers it both a gift and a curse.

He flashes a small smile. ]

Sorry for making you do that, but I wanted to be sure.

[ At his apology she offers a small smile of her own, a small nod. ]

I'm just relieved you're not pissed off, if I'm honest. But, yeah. There it is.

[ Cat shrugs as he sits back down, dangling his feet again as he settles next to her. ]

I've had my fair share of being mind controlled in my heroing career.

[ Not that he remembers most of it, but. ]

Better you than an akuma.

I guess that's fair. Mind control WOULD be a pretty popular super power in the circles you run in. And you said Hawkmoth gives them their powers, right? Makes sense, at least about as much as anything ever does in our worlds.

[ She laughs at the last part, then lets out a breath and offers up a soft, lopsided little smirk. ]

... So... anymore questions? I honestly thought you'd be more curious... cat ears, and all.

Weeell, I'm not actually sure how much control he has over the powers they get.

[ Maybe they're randomized based on the victim and he just has to roll with it? Cat has never given it much thought. ]

...But sure. I've got nine lives worth of questions, chère.

Like...did your dad ever find out?

... [ She grins. ] So does that mean he's hit the crap shoot on super villains at least once in his long career of harrassing teenagers for their jewelry? Like... the power to throw temper tantrums? Or the power to make pigeons crap on command?

[ Because, I mean, come on. No one's luck is good ALL the time.

But serious topic time. Piper hesitates, then lets out a breath, looking out over the ledge as she kicks her feet a bit into the open air, hands bracing on the stone. ]

... Once... We were on a quest. He'd been taken captive by this giant. Enceladus. Jason and two of our friends helped me rescue him but... he couldn't handle the truth. Knowing there were real life monsters out there? Spirits, gods, all that stuff. It was too much for him, so I ended up having to give him this potion to erase his recent memories. So, no. He doesn't know about this stuff. Jason and I are careful to keep him from finding out but its for his own good. As far as he knows there's a logical explanation for all my nifty powers, not all of them are the greatest, though.

[ It's hard not to laugh at her suggestions, it really is. Especially when it makes him think of their school principal, who finally found his calling in everyday, mundane, good deeds. Still, his question had been a serious one, and the answer was about as heavy as he'd been expecting.

His lips turn into a thoughtful frown.

Not that her answer scared him, exactly. Everything Piper has told him about her world, he's taken in stride, but... ]

So how do I know that won't happen to me?

[ He doesn't want to forget Piper. Or any dumb adventures or quests Paris might be the host for, now that she's here. ]

[ Piper goes through a few emotions in the span of a couple seconds. First, she's touched he WANTS to remember her, though she tells herself he could just dislike the idea of someone messing with his memories. She really wants to reassure him that it won't happen, that she wouldn't use something like that on him, that no one is going to try to take his memories of her away. If she's learned anything, though, it's that life isn't all predictable. There are prophecies and the Fates, sure, but the outcome? The little details in between? They make those up as they go.

Jason and Percy had had their memories taken away once. Piper's own memories had been altered to the point it changed her entire life, her entire world view even after the fact of finding out about it. She couldn't promise that Cat Noir would get off totally scot free.

Considering this, she had to take a second to figure out how to answer, honestly or comfortingly? ]

Honestly... you don't. Neither do I. I can't pretend like nothing bad ever happens around heroes like us. People get hurt, and sometimes their memories get messed with. I can promise that it isn't something I want, at least? I'd like for you guys to remember us. I'd like for you to remember me.

[ She offers a crooked smile, looking at him. ]

[ It's both honest and comforting, he supposes. It's not like he can ask for much more than that in an answer, whether it's one he likes or not.
Cat returns the crooked smile, seeming like he understands. ]

I can make a promise, too.

As long as you guys are here, you're Parisians. And that means you're under our protection.

[ Our, meaning him and Ladybug, the Miraculous holders. ]

I promise we'll be keeping you as safe as we can, no matter what happens.

Memories or not.

✨ .//. Piper McLean » Percy Jackson: Heroes of Olympus

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