Percy stared up into the irate eyes of the insane primordial goddess. She had bought their ruse of being tourists for a while —As stupid as that sounded— but her husband had not. He was floating there beside his wife, his body purple, curved ram horns making their way out of his head. Percy wondered momentarily if that was where people had gotten the image for the devil from, before his thoughts were torn to more pressing matters.
You would deign to attempt to fool me and my wife?
Erebus didn't speak, he conveyed messages directly into Percy's head.
"My lord Erebus, we didn't mean to-"
Silence girl.
Annabeth was cut off mid sentence, and Percy swallowed. Their best chance of getting out of here alive was if Annabeth could convince the god to spare them. If that wasn't going to happen, Percy didn't love their chances.
"No, no, they will explain. If you are not here as tourists, you will tell me why you are here. If you lie to me this time, you will personally know the horrors within my mansion." Nyx seemed to overrule her husband. Despite the primordial goddess being crazy, Percy had to admit she was still terrifyingly powerful.
Annabeth and he locked eyes. He shrugged helplessly. He didn't know what to say to get them out of a situation like this, that was supposed to be her ballpark. Point him at something to slash and stab and he'd get the job done, but diplomacy and convincing ultra powerful gods not to smite them was something he was not great at. In fact, if he opened his mouth he would find it more than likely that he'd increase their odds of being turned into piles of ash.
She turned her attention back to the primordial gods impatiently waiting for their answer. Swallowing her fear, she decided to go for the ultimate hail mary; the truth.
"We fell in. Well, I fell in, and he fell with me. We're trying to find the doors of death and leave, so that we can stop Gaea from destroying humanity."
Nyx frowned. "No humans would be a good thing, I think. No more nasty light pollution. I would get all my constellations back. Oh, that would be wonderful." she turned it into a smile, as if imagining how much less of a hassle she'd have to deal with if more than seven billion people lost their lives.
Erebus nodded along, seemingly not disagreeing.
And why would we care for the humans?
The question was simple, but the answer was not. Percy and Annabeth glanced at each other hopelessly. There wasn't a reason that would make these beings want to help them, as far as they could tell. If their reactions were anything to go off of, their opinion of Gaea wasn't low enough to manipulate, and their opinion of humanity not high enough.
"Because we'll do anything," Was the only thing Percy could say. "I don't know what you want, if anything, but I'm a demigod of two great prophecies. If you help me survive, let humanity survive, I'll do anything you want."
Percy meant the words, even if he didn't like them. He hated the feeling of selling his soul to this thing before him, but the alternative was likely dying, and letting humanity collapse.
A booming laugh and a high cackle were the first responses he got.
And what could you possibly do for us that we could not do ourselves?
This question Percy was more prepared for than the last, even as Annabeth took his hand.
"There have to be things you can't accomplish on your own that you want done. Demigods have a purpose, and even if there are no rules stopping you, you're hardly subtle. I've also been told on more than one occasion my life can be some pretty good entertainment." It was a gamble, he knew, but he didn't have much to lose at this point. If they decided they had better entertainment elsewhere or that they didn't need him for anything, then he was just where he started, right?
Annabeth stepped forward. "Me too. This counts for both of us. If there's any way to get out of here, we'll do what you want."
The lack of laughter that followed had Percy nervous. That meant they were considering his proposal, right? Percy couldn't convince himself that was a good thing.
"It does get quite boring." Nyx mused, an odd calm coming over the crone.
Erebus nodded in agreement before looking at Nyx, seeming to ignore their presence entirely.
Indeed it does. I could use some entertainment. Very well. I will send the strong one to a world that aspects of my son and I ruled long ago as entertainment. In return, I will take the girl out of the pit.
Annabeth's hand tightened around his, shaking her head. "No, either we go together or we-"
"Deal." Percy interrupted, avoiding the betrayed look he knew Annabeth would be giving him.
He knew he was breaking a promise. Again he was breaking his promise not to separate from her. But this was something he would do for both of them, whether she liked it or not.
He didn't have the luxury of ignoring her for much longer, as she spun him around to face her, her grey eyes lit in anger. She opened her mouth to chew him out when she was interrupted.
Choose your words carefully girl, they will be the last you ever speak to him.
Her eyes widened momentarily, before she pulled him in for a kiss.
The feeling of her lips against his own would have been awkward at the best of times. Their lips and mouths both were incredibly dry, their energy waning, lacking the enthusiasm the kiss would normally have, and the taste of blood was more apparent than the taste of her lips. But it was amazing nonetheless, and Percy savored the moment. Perhaps the last moment he would have with her, if Erebus was to be believed. He pulled her closer, even as they pulled apart for breath.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
And then she was gone. In his arms one moment, vanished the next.
She is on the surface. Now, for you part of the bargain.
Percy nodded, facing the god, taking deep, shuddering breaths. He had to be strong.
"Will I—… Is there any chance of me coming back?"
No.
The simple denial drove the breath out of him, and he hunched over. This was truly it, then.
Righting himself, Percy stared his fate right in where its eyes would be.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
Apparently the primordial decided his question wasn't worth answering, because a moment later he was nowhere.
Well, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. He was somewhere, obviously… Probably.
Either way, he had no idea where he was, as it was pure white. It was overly bright, as white had a tendency to be, and he felt for a moment like he had just woken in a hospital.
He looked around for a moment, before looking down and observing that he was indeed still in his blood soaked and torn clothes from Tartarus.
This was the part where some dude appeared claiming to be god, right? Then he would give him some vague riddle, give him advice that he would later realize was really important and send him on his way to save the world, just like in the movies.
"Well, you're half right."
Startled, Percy turned around. Behind him stood a casually slouched figure. He wore a red coat with blue jeans and some red sneakers, looking for all the world like some guy. He looked a bit tired as well, as if he had just finished pulling the late shift and had to deal with one last customer before closing shop.
"I'm not gonna talk in riddles or anything if that's what you're concerned about. I'm pretty curious what you're doing here, though. You're not supposed to be here."
Percy blinked. "Ah… Sorry?"
The man waved it off, and Percy took the second to observe him further. He had eastern features, as in far east Asia, and had dark black hair that was cut in a deceptively normal fashion. If he was some sort of god, he was the most human looking god Percy had ever seen.
"Do you know what you're doing here?" the definitely-not-human asked.
Percy shrugged. "I made a deal with a god —Erebus, if you know him— to save my girlfriend's life in exchange for entertainment, and now I'm here." He splayed his arms, as if asking what else do you want from me, I'm as clueless as you are, dude.
The mystery man returned the shrug, seemingly satisfied with his answer. Percy figured that if the guy could read his mind then, he knew he was telling the truth. He didn't have much of a reason to lie at the moment.
"I can't say I've heard of an Erebus. I have to admit that you have me a bit confused as to what to do with you. I have no idea where you came from, what your intentions are, who you are. I can hardly just let you run amok in my creation."
"Really? Erebus said he and his son used to rule here a while back. Might be before your time, god or not. He's… seriously old. Tall, purple, ram's horns? Know who I'm talking about?"
The god's eyes widened in recognition. "I see. He left a very long time ago. He… wasn't supposed to come back. He wasn't allowed back, not yet. It's not time. But, well, he seems to have found a loophole. Can I ask what your intentions are? You've been sent here by the god of darkness, but does your loyalty lie with him?"
Percy shook his head vehemently. "No. He could have asked me to do something specific in this world, but he didn't, so as far as I'm concerned I don't have to do anything for him. He must have known that you'd stop me mid-transit, I guess. More than likely figured asking me to do anything would stop you from letting me near your world. As for my intentions, I really don't have any. Just… live the best I can, I guess, until I find something to do. Maybe find my way back, even if I've been told it's not possible."
The god nodded, seemingly content with his answer. "Well then, let me introduce myself. You may call me Oum. I am the creator of the world that the god of darkness decided to send you to, and decide all that happens here. You can come in, I trust you will make my world a better place. As you said yourself, you are no longer beholden to the god of darkness, so please do make a point to ignore anything he asks you to do. Any questions before you continue into my creation?"
Percy perked up for a moment. "You're like, capital G God, right? If you're omnipotent in this world, could you… send me back?"
Oum shook his head sadly. "My power is all encompassing within this world, and yet it goes not an inch past it. The gods of darkness and light possess substantial power in many realms, but power is not so simple as to be equated so easily. It comes in many different forms, and while I am the most powerful being that will ever exist on Remnant, I am less than powerless in any other realm. I am not even able to access worlds other than my own."
Percy slumped. "I understand. Thanks for you know… not being a dick, at least."
Oum laughed at that, his laugh so human that Percy really did wonder how the guy was so good at faking. No god could live without challenge or peer for so long, and yet seem so down to earth, right?
Percy took a long, considering glance at the man standing just a few feet away from him. He really did seem rather tired, his eyes lidded and his back slumped. Percy had no idea how tiring it was to run a universe, but he imagined it couldn't exactly be relaxing.
Percy cleared his throat. "And hey, if you ever want someone to talk to, let me know. There are quite a few gods where I'm from, and they talk about the loneliness of power pretty often. I can only imagine how bad it is for someone without peers entirely, and you seem like a pretty cool guy so just… let me know." He made his offer, making it as sincere as possible. Oum genuinely seemed like a pretty cool guy, and Percy decided that as far as friends went, God wasn't a bad place to start.
Oum smiled. "I have to say, that is a unique offer. You'll be the first on Remnant to have actually spoken to me. I do have friends though, and peers. The chance to speak with someone on Remnant, though, and not risk disturbing my own creations… I have to admit, it is tempting. I'll get in touch, should I decide to."
Percy shrugged, figuring that was the best he was going to get. "Name's Percy. It's nice to meet you."
"Good luck, Percy."
And once again, he was teleported without warning into a new environment.
This one was less foreign than the pure white… dimension? Room? He had just been in.
He was on a dirt road in the middle of a forest, with no food, no water, and no shelter… Well, time to get moving. Hopefully he would find some civilization before he starved to death. He would have tried hunting, but well… He had spent enough time around the hunters of Artemis to know that he would only embarrass himself, stumbling through the woods with a three foot long glowing sword.
Looking at the positioning of the sun, it took him about a minute to determine that the road he was on went east to west, and then another ten seconds to realize that that information was pointless. Shrugging helplessly, Percy just picked in a direction and started walking.
He observed his surroundings as he continued travelling, minutes turning to hours of walking, and soon the sun was setting. No sooner was he beginning to consider finding some wood to make a campfire before it was too late that he spotted walls on the horizon.
Reinvigorated, he upped his pace, determined to reach the walls before it got any darker.
Minutes later he reached the high walls of a city. It looked old fashioned in design, made entirely of stone, and the two guards posted on either side of the gate into the city wielded spears and shields. That was… interesting. That meant that this world had to have been in the middle ages or something. That would be interesting, and honestly Percy kind of preferred that. Dealing with guns in a world without the mist would be a pain.
He waved to the two guards as he approached, the one on the right catching sight of him and moving forward to intercept him.
"Hey kid, you alright?" he asked, moving over to support him on his shoulder.
Percy blushed as he remembered that he was in torn and blood covered clothes, probably looking like he had gone to hell and back.
Oh wait, I did.
He lightly pushed the guard off of him. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm not hurt at least. Thanks for the help though."
The guard grumbled and backed up a bit. "Are you sure, kid? We have a hospital in the town, we can get you checked up." He offered.
Percy waved it off. "Thanks, but I'm fine, really. I just need some food and rest." he dismissed.
The second guard didn't look as friendly. "Really, Greg? You know the rules. If you don't pay, you don't get in. So pay up, kid."
Greg scowled. "Come on, he's just a kid. He's your son's age, he's covered in blood and barely has clothes on his back. Probably barely survived a grimm attack or something. You really gonna shake down a kid that needs help?"
The other guard —grumpy, Percy decided his name was— just crossed his arms. "If you wanna tell the boss why you think the kid should have his money back then be my guest, but until then he pays up."
Percy spoke up before Greg could retort. "I don't have any money, sorry. I came from a really small village where my family lived west of here. We didn't really have need of currency."
Percy came up with the backstory on the spot. He really had no idea about anything about this world, but the 'I'm from a really small village where we don't learn anything important please don't question my cluelessness' thing usually worked out.
Apparently it was the wrong thing to say, because even Greg raised an eyebrow at that.
"A village that doesn't use lien? I'll believe it when I see it, kid. Empty your pockets." Grumpy called his bluff.
Percy shrugged, turning his pockets inside out, only revealing riptide. He really had nothing else on him.
Grumpy's eyes caught the golden pen greedily. "Well, you might not have lien, but that pen looks like it could go for a pretty penny. The boss would appreciate it, hand it over."
Greg looked uncomfortable taking what he probably assumed was his last reminder of his dead family or something, but Percy just let out a long sigh and handed it to Grumpy. He'd have it back in his pocket before they were done with this conversation anyway.
"How did your village survive with so few people for so long anyway? Your pa' a huntsman or somethin'?"
Percy shrugged, deciding not to answer the second question. He had no idea what a huntsman was, but the man spoke about it as if it was something of significance. The last thing Percy wanted was to be called on a lie and thrown out or something.
"I guess we were just lucky, but our luck ran out." he said, not really feeling remorse at lying to the two men's faces. It wasn't like they'd believe the truth anyway.
'Actually, I'm a dimension traveller from another universe who was walking through hell with his girlfriend in a quest to kill the planet but then made a deal with a primordial god to go to another world for his entertainment, and I just appeared here. Oh, and did I mention that I met God? Chill dude.'
Yeah, that wouldn't go over the best, not that he could blame them.
Greg and Grumpy both winced at that, seeming to thaw just a little.
"Hey, for what it's worth kid, it ain't personal. I feel bad for you, I really do. It's just that we were told to collect due from new guys, no matter what. And you don't disobey the boss."
Percy shrugged again, really apathetic to the situation. Whether they realized it or not, they hadn't actually taken anything from him. "It's fine. Do you guys know where I can get a job around here? As you've noticed I'm not exactly overflowing with money, here, and I need a place to stay and eat."
Greg refused to meet his eyes, and Grumpy was the helpful one for once. "Go to the nearest tavern —Alexandros's diner— and ask for Aspro. He should be able to help you out."
Percy smiled, internally deciding to go to the man and keep his guard up. If Greg's reaction was any hint, he might not enjoy the meeting.
"Thanks. I appreciate the help." he said.
Greg nodded grudgingly, finally meeting his eyes, before patting him on the shoulder. "Good luck kid, you'll need it in this world."
Percy nodded, walking past them into the bustling city.
"Welcome to Windpath!" Greg called after him. Percy just waved back without turning around.
"You think he'll survive?" Greg asked his companion, staring at the back of the young man walking into the lion's den.
"Eh," Grumpy shrugged. "Probably. Boss will find use for him, though I'd imagine it'll be a more dangerous job than most. Weed out the weaklings and all that. I think the kid will make it though, he's been through some stuff. At least we got that pen, though. You think it's real gold?" he asked, reaching into his pocket to grab it out and finding… nothing.
Greg just raised an eyebrow, even as Grumpy realized what happened.
"Damn it! The kid pickpocketed me. He's got balls, I'll give him that." Grumpy scowled, glaring in the direction the kid had walked off in.
Greg started laughing loudly. "He might do well after all. There's hope for him yet."
HR
A short walk later found Percy in a rather large tavern, people playing pool in a corner even as others drank themselves unconscious. He was glad that everyone spoke and wrote English here. It would be a mess to have to try to figure out a new language, especially when he already sucked at reading his own.
He got a few odd looks as he walked in. Mostly because of his dirty and torn clothes, he figured. Apparently he wasn't that odd of a sight, though, because eventually everyone went back to their drinks and activities. Walking up to the bar, he settled onto a stool, waiting until the bartender got to him.
It only took a few seconds for a young man in a suit with the sleeves rolled up to come over to him.
"You got money, kid? We're not running a charity here."
Percy shook his head. "I was told to ask for Aspro."
The man grunted. "He's in the back with some clients. I'll let him know you're here, but don't expect him to be ready any time soon."
Percy nodded to show he understood.
"You want anything to drink while you wait?" he asked, taking in his ragged state.
Percy shook his head. "Don't have money for it." he replied.
Shrugging, the man left it at that before moving to tend to customers.
It was about an hour and a half before anything happened. Percy was bored out of his mind —his ADHD did not help— and it had been a long time since he had eaten, and he was getting more hungry than he'd like.
But eventually his patience was rewarded, and a conspicuous man in a white suit stepped out from a back door, talking and laughing with some other important looking men.
After a couple minutes the other men left, leaving the man in the white suit speaking to the bartender, who nodded towards him. Aspro, presumably, made his way over to Percy. Percy made to stand up when he noticed that both of the stools to either side of him were occupied, but the man to his left beat him to it. He took one glance at Aspro walking over, nodded his respect, and walked over to a table.
Percy raised his eyebrow slightly. He must have been more than respected around here.
Percy extended a hand, making to greet the man.
"Heya boy, nice to meet ya'. I'm Aspro." the man introduced, clapping Percy on the shoulder and sitting down next to him.
Percy retracted the hand as Aspro ordered drinks. "Beers for both of us. Some of that good Vacuan stuff." he ordered, and the bartender went off to procure the drinks.
"So. I hear you were lookin' for me." Aspro began, his eyes meeting Percy's.
Aspro was an average looking man, all things considered. Maybe a tad overweight, but nothing that major. He had some scruff on his beard, and his hairs were all grey, save a few speckled black hairs. He was nearing the end of his middle ages
Percy stared back at the man. Most boys his age, most in the situation he was in, would shrink under the heavy gaze, but Percy had been through more in the last couple of weeks than this man would ever experience.
Percy just slowly nodded. "I'm from a small village to the west of here. I don't have any money, and one of the guys at the front gate told me you might be able to help."
A small smile spread across the man's lips.
"You could say that." he allowed as the drinks were set down in front of them.
Percy hadn't actually had beer before —he had been kind of busy fighting off an overprotective mom, then saving the world, then getting abducted and saving the world again— but he figured it would be rude not to drink, and he had to admit he had always been a bit curious.
Mirroring the man next to him, Percy raised the mug to his lips and took a mouthful, forcing himself not to wince at the taste. It wasn't… horrible tasting, per se, but it was hardly pleasant either.
But either way, after drinking nothing but fire for the last few weeks, the bitter liquid was like nectar.
Putting his mug down, he turned back to the man beside him.
"I can get you a job, the only real job for people like you 'round here. You said you're from a small village, right? Another one wiped out by the grimm?" he asked, and Percy nodded. It was what Greg had suggested earlier as well, and Percy decided that just going along with everyone's assumptions would serve him well.
Aspro wrapped an arm around Percy's shoulders and pulled him a bit closer, the smell of smoke heavy on his clothes. If he noticed Percy tense, he didn't comment.
"Listen boy, you're hardly the first battered orphan to come to me or one of the other bosses for a job. You look like you could fight pretty well if you were trained, so I'll give you a chance. But a chance is all you're gettin'. You'll get enough food for a day and some money for new clothes, and even a room at the tavern tonight. But tomorrow night you meet me in the back rooms at eight, and you get a test. You fail that test, you're out on your ass again. You pass that test, you get a chance to prove yourself to me even more."
Percy nodded, still tense from the man having his hand wrapped around Percy. "What sort of job will I be doing?" Percy asked quietly, trying slightly to sound a bit meeker, like the lonely orphan Aspro took him as.
He shrugged. "I have a small shop giving me some trouble with paying up racket money. I was gonna send some guys to either get the money or burn the place to the ground tomorrow, but I figured I can send you now. Not a threat at all, just a small book store, but I wanna know you have what it takes."
Percy grit his teeth silently. He wanted him to destroy someone's livelihood because they wouldn't pay him money to spare them. That was pathetic.
He apparently wasn't as covert with his displeasure as he thought, because Aspro noticed his silent objection.
"Hey kid, trust me it's not a part of the job anyone likes. We don't take to be cruel, you know. We've gotta make money somehow. But if you can't do something as easy as this, as unpleasant as it is, then you're not the kind of person I need in my employ."
He patted Percy on the shoulder once, before releasing him and moving to stand up.
"What if I say no?" Percy asked. Aspro paused at that, before he started softly laughing.
"Kid, I know you're not from around these parts, but there are no jobs out there for you. Unemployment is at a record high, and you have no provable work history, skills, or education. I'm the only one you can turn to. It's either work for me, or starve to death. Your choice kid." Aspro said, setting down some chips on the counter that Percy had to assume was the currency, lien.
"There, that should be enough until tomorrow evening. Don't be late." he warned, before moving off to the back rooms again.
Percy sighed, looking at the money. He really did need a job to survive…
HR
Percy found himself at the exact same place that he had been twenty hours ago. He sat at the bar in the restaurant, this time nursing a drink. Not alcoholic —he hadn't developed a taste for the stuff between the previous night and now— but he had a drink nonetheless.
It was a few minutes before eight, and he had a date with his new boss in the back rooms. He had gone into the city today to look for a job and buy some new clothes, and found that it was as the man had said. There were no jobs anywhere. Nothing from the local bookstore to a garbage dump he had ventured off to find.
He had found one or two high paying jobs for accountants, but he hardly had the qualifications. Aspro wasn't lying when he said there were no other options.
From what Percy could see, there was an incredibly large homeless population in the city. Out of the few hundred thousand people he guessed were in the city, a good third of those had to be on the streets.
It was absurd, and Percy wondered how someone could run a country so horribly that their unemployment rate was that high. If Aspro was to be believed then even their crime lords were struggling to get by.
Well, not struggling, Percy recalled the man's sparkling white suit and casual disregard for a day's worth of lien. But he wasn't bathing in money either, as most crime lords tended to. Or at least he didn't seem to be, from how he spoke about shaking someone down for racket money.
Speaking of which, was Percy actually about to do this? He had decided he would. If he didn't then he would die now by starving to death, Aspro would just send some goons to do it who would likely be much more violent about the whole thing, and then the story of Percy Jackson would end.
He knew it was a rabbit hole he didn't want to jump into, but it wasn't necessarily flawed. Of course, if everyone was only a criminal because they figured that other people would just do it if they wouldn't, then it was a fallacy or some other fancy term Annabeth would berate him about. But at the end of the day, Percy could only determine his own actions, and his own actions would be making a net gain for the world if he just went through with this.
How far that logic would carry him he had no idea. Could he pull off a murder because someone else would just do it anyway? He wasn't sure, but for now crime was his only option.
Looking at the clock Percy saw the clock strike 7:59, and figured Aspro might just be petty enough to call him late if he walked in a second past eight.
Setting down some lien on the bar, he stood and walked to the single door that led to the rooms behind the bar.
Percy didn't really know what he expected, but this just about matched it. In front of him was a coffee table with two couches on either side.
On one couch was Aspro —identifiable because of his flawlessly clean white suit— with some girl with an incredibly short skirt pressed into his side. On the other was a rather plump woman in a dress, with a smoking pipe held between two of her fingers. Two people —guards, presumably— stood behind her to her left and right. Aspro wasn't without his own detail, several of what looked like his own goons standing around the room.
It looked like he caught the tail end of their conversation, because she was already standing up when he entered.
Stepping to the side to make room for her to make for the door, she didn't so much as spare him a glance as she exited.
Her guards did, however. One glared at him as they passed, and the other bumped their shoulders, with what Percy was sure was frustratingly little result.
Percy continued into the room to stand before his new boss, who didn't seem to want to acknowledge his presence, too busy with the girl now on his lap. Percy waited patiently while Aspro entertained himself.
He let his attention wander, not that he could help himself. The room was mostly barren, but in an upper class way. The table was some fancy wood with intricate carvings, and the couches had fancy flower designs on them. Lamps stood around the room in strange designs which Percy didn't understand.
Another minute passed before they started getting so frisky that Percy wasn't sure the boss had noticed him at all, and Percy cleared his throat.
Looking up, Aspro looked annoyed at being cock blocked, but seemed to recognize that he had actually asked Percy to be here.
Reaching forward, he grumbled about annoying kids. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, before writing something down and handing it to him.
"There, go to that address and get my money's worth. We're expecting 700 lien for this month. If they absolutely refuse to pay up, make sure their shop is trashed. We want to send a message, but we can't keep collecting if they're dead or out of business. Now get outta here."
Percy just shrugged, taking the piece of paper and walking out the door.
Percy looked down on the paper, seeing that he would be heading to a 'Brown's Dust and Weapons'.
Walking down the street towards higher numbers, he kept an eye out for the shop. A minute later, he saw the sign leading to the shop. It looked relatively small, but it was still better than what most could do.
Percy crossed the street to enter the shop, remembering that it was one of the places he had checked around for a job in. It was just over a block away, so the chances were hardly slim.
A bell rang as he entered, and Percy took the time to observe the merchandise around him. Colored sands lined the walls around him. There were all sorts of different colors from blue or green to yellow and red. The shop was a dust shop, so Percy figured that the sand had to be the dust. It was a substance that wasn't on Earth, but Percy had to remind himself that he was still very, very new to this world. As far as he knew, unicorns were real here.
Percy wasted little time approaching the counter.
"Welcome to Brown's dust shop, what kinda dust ya' lookin' for?" was the shopkeeper's simple greeting. He was a large man, probably six and a half feet tall or something similar, and built like a house.
"Here for Aspro, actually. Heard you owe us some money." was Percy's return greeting. He really didn't want to do this, but it wouldn't help to skirt around the subject.
The man blinked, before he started laughing, and then didn't stop. Percy stood there with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.
He didn't seem to want to stop any time soon, and Percy was fine waiting.
"Are you serious? I knew Alpikos was going down hill, but this? He actually sends a single kid to do his muggings for him? You'll forgive me if I'm not the most intimidated with him at the moment if the most he can spare is a single unarmed kid. Go home and we can forget this happened. Face it, he cut you loose. If he sent you alone and unarmed against me he clearly doesn't care much for your safety."
The store owner seemed pretty confident, and honestly Percy couldn't blame him. He was probably right. As far as Aspro knew, he had zero marketable skills. A third of the city was unemployed, why hire Percy instead of one of the much older and more desperate people out there? It was a baptism by fire, one that he wasn't intended to succeed.
Which would make it all the better when he did succeed.
Sighing, Percy extended one last olive branch.
"Look, I get it, I hardly look like a threat. But this is the last time I'm gonna ask. I'll need those 700 lien now, or things start breaking."
The shopkeeper snorted. "If you want to start breaking things in a dust shop, go ahead kid. We'll both go up in flames. Is your loyalty so misplaced that you're willing to die for a little bit of profit on your first mission? I'd give you the money if I could, honest. You're not exactly intimidating, and Aspro is on his way out, but he's still one of the bosses. I'd rather not start that kind of trouble. But I'm telling you, I physically don't have the lien. I sleep upstairs, and I'm hardly eating lavishly. In this economy, I'd be lucky to have half of what he's asking for at a time. I keep offering to give him dust, the stuff is practically a currency of it's own, but he's either stupid or insane, or both, because he absolutely refuses, even at double or triple the value of what he's asking."
Percy shrugged. "I don't know what he's getting at. If you give me everything you have, though, I might be able to convince him not to burn this place to the ground."
The shopkeeper snorted. "Yeah, right. Get running before this turns ugly." he threatened, reaching under his counter and coming back up with a small pistol in his hand. It had a 'futuristic' look, and Percy didn't recognize the model at all. Not that he was incredibly knowledgeable on guns, but he figured he would have at least recognized if it existed on earth. He put his hands up and slowly took a step backwards. As much as he had faced down titans and giants, he had zero defense for a small piece of led shredding into him. Now that he thought about it, why hadn't the titans just gotten an assault rifle and killed everyone defending Manhattan? Would have saved them a lot of time. One machine gun and the twelfth legion would be a lot smaller.
Either way, Percy looked cautiously at the gun. Being on the edge of death was not something new for Percy, but having the tables flipped so quickly, and by a mortal no less, was an odd experience.
The clerk shook his head, lowering the pistol slightly. "Yeah, that's what I thought-"
Percy cut off the end of his sentence. As soon as the barrel was pointed slightly away from him Riptide was out and he was over the counter. He grabbed the man's wrist and squeezed.
Crack.
"Argh!"
Percy wrenched the small pistol out of the man's hand before tossing it away and shoving him to the ground. The giant man fell over like a ton of bricks, and Percy was on him, sword at his throat.
"You're going to open that safe and give me every lien in it," he nodded towards the very obvious safe towards the back of the room. "Then you're gonna show me wherever your hidden safe is and give me every lien in there. Then, you're going to find me a container to hold as much dust as I can, and fill it up with your best stuff. After that, as a personal favor between two friends, you're gonna lend me your gun and all the ammunition you have, so I can go back to my boss and tell him how incredibly cooperative you were, and how you've promised to always pay up in the future, right?"
He nodded quickly, slight tears pouring out of his eyes, either at the threat of death or the broken wrist. Maybe both.
Percy stood up, not even bothering keeping his sword at the man's throat. He was a demigod. As much as that didn't make him bullet proof, it did make him superior to mortals in basically every other way. Short of the guy grabbing another gun, Percy could beat him into submission with his left hand.
The man didn't even try. As soon as Percy was off of him he stumbled to his feet and rushed over to his safe.
He unlocked it after a few tries, failing a few times in his haste. When it was open, there was about what Percy expected to be in there. A few hundred lien and some papers, likely some legal stuff, as well as a small plastic block. From what Percy had seen earlier, it was some holographic phone when turned on.
Shrugging, Percy accepted the lien the man shoved into his hands, putting them in his pocket, even as he hastened into a back office. He had half a mind to take the phone, but decided the guy had suffered enough. In the end, he was an innocent in all this, even if he did threaten Percy at gunpoint.
Percy walked back into the man's office behind him, seeing the safe already open and the man holding out another thousand lien. Percy whistled, it seemed the guy really was holding out on them. Peeking into the safe, he noticed more documents and a little bit of gold, as well as some dust and ammunition in separate corners. He almost took the gold, but decided not to. His job wasn't to rob the guy blind, even if things did go a bit awry.
Percy took the lien and shoved it into his pocket, before reaching back and grabbing the ammo. It was just a box, but Percy wasn't exactly planning on killing anyone, so he hoped it would do.
Percy pulled back from the safe to see the now silent man offering him a rather large suitcase with dozens of spots for containers. Percy took it, assuming it was for the dust, and walked back out into the main store.
He walked around the desk, before bending over and picking up the pistol. He was careful not to point the barrel anywhere near him or touch the trigger, knowing he had no idea how to turn on the safety or take out the magazine. He carried it over to a wall filled with dozens of containers of red dust, and began filling up his case.
It was only a couple minutes before it was full, and he closed up the case, latching it shut. He put the ammo in his pocket, stretching the jeans pocket, and grabbed the suitcase with one hand, his gun with the other.
He would ask his new friend for help with the gun, but didn't trust him half enough to trust he wouldn't just turn the barrel on him — something Percy still didn't have a defence for, mind you.
Tinkering for a moment, he found a small switch which looked a bit like a safety and flicked it. Pointing the gun away from him and the apparently explosive dust, he pulled the trigger, flinching in expectation of the loud noise, but none came.
Satisfied, he stuffed the pistol in his pocket and picked up the suitcase, walking out of the store.
"Have a good one." he called back while he left, noting with amusement that the little bell signalled his departure.
So this is a new RWBY/PJO fic. It's technically AU, with just one change in that population has been increased a bit. We have no idea the exact figures of the population in Remnant, so for now I'm going with each of the major cities having the population of a large European country. Surrounding 'towns' will be the size of a medium city in the US, that being from about thirty thousand to ten times that.
That's technically the only change just to fix the scale of Remnant a bit, but it obviously has other consequences because nothing else has changed. For instance, despite there being about 70 million people per kingdom on average, depending on the kingdom itself of course, there's still only one huntsman academy for each of those nations, who produce a total of one to two dozen hunters per year. Hunters also have a high fatality rate, which makes them exceptionally more rare, and not something that exists in everyday life.
Those are the only changes. Several other chapters have already been written, and I'll be releasing them weekly until I run out and then release them in longer intervals. You can expect me to run out in about 2 months.
Next chapter comes out August 31st.