Mature Crescent City Excursions

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo had disappeared from Camp Halfblood for some time as he was wont to do, being old enough. He could be gone anywhere from a couple weeks to a whole month, only his closest friends knew what he was up to, well, his closest friends and whoever shared his bed; he did love to brag if he thought it would impress a pretty girl or boy.

This particular time Theo found himself in his home turf of New Orleans attending a very fancy private party at a well known venue. Not as one of the VIPs, but as a simple waiter, unknown and lost in a crowd of people who all considered themselves more important than him. That was how Theo liked it, if they weren’t paying attention to him then they were not paying attention to his nimble fingers as he walked through the crowd offering drinks and horderves, but removing watches, bracelets and wallets as he went. Being a kleptomaniac these excursions are what he lived for and besides, these people weren’t going to miss their items, they were all wealthy enough to buy a dozen more.

Theo’s eyes darted their way over the crowd looking for his next mark when he spotted her. A stunning young brunette woman who looked like she was there for business, he couldn’t see her face as her back was turned to him but the piece of jewelry on her wrist was his focus. Making his way through he approached her from behind, she seemed distracted so this should be an easy grab. He would do his old routine of accidentally bumping into her and while she was shocked he would make his move. It was only when he ‘knocked’ into her and she turned around did he realize this was no ordinary mark, but someone he knew from camp; Asher!

@ Asher Harrington

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher didn't really know how to relax or how to do anything for fun. When she wasn't at camp, she was in New York and while her life in New York allowed her to do whatever she wanted at a moment's notice, it also meant she had real responsibilities and things she had to attend to that she couldn't neglect. So was the life of an heir and Asher took her role in her father's company seriously. After all, there were so many people that relied on her to keep things afloat and continue expanding the business. Besides, she still lacked the experience necessary and if she didn't start now, when would she ever? That being said, her current discussion was more than boring and despite her polite replies and fake engagement, she managed to excuse herself for a moment.

Just a moment to breathe. She didn't mind the work that came with her position but she could not stand boring interactions. Those just felt eternal and honestly, who had time for that? So taking a step away, Asher took a deep breath to clear her mind. She would much rather be elsewhere but she couldn't think of an excuse to leave. Before she could even think of that further, she felt someone bump into her in a way that almost felt intentional. Her first reaction was to turn around and when she did so, she looked at him in surprise. "Can I help you?" Naturally Asher had seen him before but for the life of hers, and taking into consideration she wasn't the most sociable being at camp, she could not remember his name.

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo grinned at the woman, he sensed she was having trouble remembering his name but he also wasn’t sure if maybe she was struggling to place him altogether. This didn’t surprise him as Asher was known for being reserved with a very small circle of friends at camp, when she even spent time there. The little he did know about her was that she ran some kind of family business but he couldn’t say what it was about. What Theo did know though was that this left him in a troubling predicament. If she figured out his identity she would know he didn’t belong here and was up to no good. At that point she could decide to expose him, ruining all his hard earned spoils from the night. Hmmm, he was at her mercy for now until he could gauge just how she’d react.

“Why pardon’ me miss” he apologized, his cajun accent sounding less out of the ordinary given their current surroundings. His eyes locked into hers as he tried to guess if she knew that he was Theo, camp thief and troublemaker, here to cause nothing but trouble and empty pockets. Uggggg Asher sure could keep a strict poker face, he thought. He couldn’t risk it anymore, his best play was to reveal himself in a setting of his choosing and hope he could persuade her to keep his secret. Grabbing her arm, “Follow me and please…don’t freak out” he whispered in a hushed tone. Guiding her away from the crowds of boring millionaires into the back area where there was an unoccupied “employees only” lounge that Theo knew would stay empty for quite some time. When the door closed he turned back to Asher. “It’s me, Theo from camp. What are you doing here? Can’t you see I’m ‘working’?” he said, his curiosity growing.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher had developed the subtle art of looking straight at someone and revealing nothing about her sentiments and thoughts. That often made people nervous and could be intimidating. She wasn't the type to answer their questions either. She was not an open book. If you asked her something point blank, she might choose not to answer. It all depended on her mood and what she deemed reasonable to share. For most things, it wasn't even that she cared about what she was saying but rather the principle of privacy. She wasn't ashamed or embarrassed of the things she chose not to share, but rather she simply felt it was well within her right not to share if only because she didn't feel like it.

Asher was known for giving straight answers and "no, I don't want to" was one of them. No further explanations, not sugarcoating things. No was a full sentence. She looked at this kid and she couldn't quite place him but when he grabbed her arm and told her to follow him, all alarms went off in the air. No woman ever had a happy story that followed a "don't freak out" and involuntary arm grabbing. She was about to smack him over the head when he lead them to the employees' only lounge and he spoke. "What was that?" She said, the first sign of any emotion being annoyance. And then he explained and his explanation wasn't all that better. "I knew you looked familiar. What do you want? This is not the sort of place you should be working at." Yes, she knew what he meant by that and she wasn't pleased.

"Look, I don't care who you are here to scheme, but if that is the case then I cannot be seen with you. You think this was a good idea? To corner me in a room with you as the only witness? I should have you escorted out."

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo liked to believe that trouble just seemed to follow him wherever he went, in reality it more often than not came down to a lack of planning. For Theo, the high came from the act of stealing, not the careful detailed oriented planning that was required for any successful heist. Important details like; would anyone he knew also be attending this event? Like any wild-child, when things started to inevitably go south he usually made up a plan on the fly; they rarely ended well. Such as how his current predicament was going. Theo didn’t stop to think that a random abduction might not be appreciated, nor how simply stating ‘don’t freak out’ might have the opposite effect. Asher’s annoyed expression and overall demeanor was quickly cluing him into that. Well, if she was going to identify him and threaten to have him kicked out at least he stood a better chance of explaining his case here than out there amongst the crowd.

The smart thing now would be to plead his case, unfortunately Theo had more looks than smarts. He was also annoyed now too that his fun had been ruined. “What do I want?? I want to be able to have my fun in peace without having to worry about being recognized! Aren’t there a dozen other parrites a rich girl like you could be at? Why’d ya have to go and pick mine?” He spoke as if somehow he belonged here and she didn’t. As if he expected Asher to somehow know he’d be here.

He didn’t know her very well, but he was about to get a crash course that this was not a girl you played chicken with. When she threatened to have him removed, his tone quickly changed tune. “Now now, there’s no need for that! I mean, it seemed like a good idea at the time? Do you really want to have this conversation out there in front of all those people? What if someone there recognized me and saw the two of us together hmmm? That certainly wouldn’t help your reputation as a business woman. I mean, I’m really doing you a favor here if you think about it right?” Theo knew better than to believe that, but was hoping he might be able to charm his way out of this mess; he could be very charming when he needed to be. “OK ok ok, you got me backed in a corner here. What do you want in order to keep this a secret? I’ll do anything here. Maybe you want one of these huh?” he offered, showing her the inside of his coat pocket stuffed with watches and other jewelry. He wasn’t sure what she liked, but rich people always seemed to want this kind of stuff, otherwise why would they all be wearing it for him to steal in the first place?

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher tilted her head to the side and chuckled. She actually looked at him like he was an amusing personality and she was about to captivate the attention of a child. Usually, when she was annoyed, she would just be direct. Say what she needed to say, how she felt it was important to say and have that be the end of it. But the situation was so ridiculous and his excuse so outrageous, not to mention patronizing, that she just couldn't think of how else to talk to him. "You are absolutely right. How could I have disregarded your attendance and priorities at this event? Next time, I will be sure to check the schedule for petty thieving going forward." 

Then her expression changed. Went back to her serious demeanor because the situation had stopped being funny. "Look, I do not care what kind of jewelry and watches you want to steal. But if I were you, I would not mess with my business and my reputation. There are very few things I care about but that is the most important," she said, getting close to him. "So, before you threaten me, I would think twice about it. Besides, there is not much I want in terms of physical things. What do you offer?"

[Theodore Thatcher]

This job had seemed like a good idea at the time, easy pickings from snubby people while he could get a good laugh in as he stole sampled whatever caught his eye. The last several minutes had gone downhill quickly as he scrambled to figure his way out of this mess. He’d never encountered a woman quite as serious and direct as this one and he realized she wasn’t the type of person to be intimidated. Once again only realizing his mistake after the fact. He had pulled her into this empty room to question her yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the one under interrogation.

Taking in a breath, his mind scrambled to figure out how he should address the situation. Finally he just laughed a little, not at Asher, but just at the futility of the situation as a whole. He started to wonder if this night would indeed end with him being roughly escorted out of here and straight to jail; Mr. D would NOT be pleased about that. “Look” he started, cautiously as he actually tried to pick his words carefully this time. “I think we may have got off on the wrong foot here. Now, I don’t have any actual intentions of ruining anyones reputation. And I’ll most certainly be double checking the guest list next time I go to work. You seem to be immune to these” he gestured towards the trinkets in his pocket “so what can I offer or do for you in order to be on my way?”

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Being a woman and being a young woman at that, Asher had learned how to stand her ground. how to be direct and ensure no one around her could underestimate her. It wasn't easy. Most older businessmen looked at her and assumed that she was an heiress trying to make sense of her father's business. That was not the case. She had learned, observed and was incredibly bright. That being said, he had learned that perhaps the best leverage was being owed a favor. There was nothing that Theodore could give her that she couldn't acquire herself but the fact that he owed her, that was priceless. "I will not reveal your secret or what you are up to. In fact, you can keep your little souvenirs for all I care, but in return, all I ask is that when I require a favor, you comply." She was about to add, no questions asked, but that felt like she would be opening herself to more questions and she didn't want to continue down that road. "What is your job anyway? Do you sell these just to make a profit? Or do you do it because it is fun?"

[Theodore Thatcher]

How had he been at camp this long without having any meaningful interactions with this girl Theo thought. She was a total mystery that he was now quickly trying to piece together in their brief encounter. He made a mental note to categorize his fellow campers better when he got back to camp. If he ever got in a situation like this again he’d rather know who he was up against. In Asher’s case this seemed like a woman who knew what she wanted in life and knew how to get it. He gathered there had been many businessmen who learned this the hard way in underestimating her. He might not be a businessman himself, but he had underestimated Asher, and now he owed her..a favor? “Hmmmm, a favor huh? I do have several skills, many of which I’m sure you could find a use for should you require them” he flashed her a grin. “Deal!” sticking his hand out, he figured these business types liked to shake on these kinds of things.

Her next question made him pause, not even his other half-siblings had ever bothered to ask him that. “Well” he started, finding his words “I have sold a few, just enough to make ends meet. The rest? I don’t even know where most of them end up to be honest. Scattered around my room or snatched up by one of my siblings. The Hermes cabin is an interesting scene, nothing ever stays in one place for long” he laughed. “So, if I may ask. What are you doing here? You run a business, can't you get someone to attend this for you? I’m having fun working, but I can’t stand these people for more than a few minutes. I can’t imagine it’s that pleasant keeping their company. What do you do for fun or to unwind?” he was curious what her answer would be.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher simply chuckled. He certainly had a very precise set of skills and while she didn't have use for him now, the same couldn't be said for the future. It was good to have an array of favors to cash in. While she never used them for harm, at times she had found those favors to prove handy and do provide a certain advantage in different situations. As she shook his hand, the conversation trailed to a different topic and she raised her eyebrow at his answer. Not an answer that she expected but she wasn't surprised. When she saw what he had gathered with those light fingers of his, it seemed it was going in a very obvious direction. "This may sound obvious, but why not just get a job? Seems it would bring you less trouble going forward." She shrugged thinking the answer there was pretty clear but then again, she had learned nothing was truly what it seemed. "Well, as you may know there are times when you have to be present if you want things to go your way. Besides, most of these people are double my age. If I want to set myself up correctly in this world I have to be present. I don't want anyone to just think of me as a rich heiress and that requires certain interactions." She shrugged. "Besides, I enjoy it. I grew up in this world. It feels familiar." She stopped for a second because it seemed that was a question everyone kept asking her lately. What did she do for fun? She never knew how to answer that so she might as well be honest. "I don't really have time for that. Everything I do has a purpose and a reason behind it. I guess, I have no idea."

[Theodore Thatcher]

“You ask a lot of questions I’ve never thought to come up with answers to” he crooked an eyebrow in amusement, pausing to consider his next words. “I’d grown up in the foster care system and well, my foster parents cared more about the paycheck they collected from the system than in making sure I got an education with prospects. All that to say, any jobs I could or would be offered were boring and never really lasted. And besides, people work jobs for money, I don’t really care about that. For me, pilfering isn’t about making money, it’s about the feeling of excitement, the adrenaline that courses through you when executing a plan, the unpredictable feeling of danger when the unexpected happens. Such as bumping into you” he winked playfully. “You never know what will happen next, it’s a high I can constantly chase and it keeps me busy. It’s when things slow down that the depression tries to creep back in, but I find if I can always be chasing something, a heist or a pretty face, then I can outrun it.”

Theo paused again, a look passing briefly over his face. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever really mentioned any of that to anyone before….” he tailed off as he allowed Asher to answer the questions he asked. “Maybe that’s the problem? Maybe you need to make some time, don’t let this corporate world snuff out all your joy. Not everything in life needs to have purpose and a reason behind it. Like, right now, what’s one thing you want to do that has no purpose behind it other than you can just do it? Break your rules for just a moment” he encountered her.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher was left speechless when Theodore spoke but she naturally didn't let that show on her features. She knew she as extremely lucky and privileged. Anyone in her position would have made that remark a long time ago but it was when she heard about other people's lives that she truly understood what it entailed to be her. After all, she had grown up on a fancy townhouse on the Upper East Side. She had gone to private school, she had a trust fund and she had been loved. She had some of the best education in the country, if not the world and there was nothing she needed that she couldn't get. She didn't have her dad anymore but she had never been anywhere close to the foster system. She couldn't even start to imagine what that was like.

She kept thinking about his words and an idea sparked in her mind. Certainly someone with his particular skills could be useful. "You suffer from depression?" She asked, surprised herself that that was what she chose to ask him. "The corporate life has not snuff out my joy. I like doing what I'm doing but you are right, it is all I've ever known so I guess how would I really know there aren't other things I like doing if I don't try them." She shrugged, though she knew that was easier said than done. "Break the rules how? What do you have in mind?"

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo watched her after he finished speaking, he could tell Asher was processing what he had just spoken, but as for what effect it might have had was hidden behind her straight faced features. He made a mental note to stay away from any poker games he ever saw her at. Now that the threat of being kicked out seemed like it had been extinguished he had a chance to study Asher, she was a rather attractive looking brunette. She seemed less upset now and Theo was still surprised at how much personal information he had poured out about himself. For some reason though he felt like he could trust her with it.

Her next question pulled him out of his own thoughts, “Well I guess I never looked at it as suffering from depression, more like I’m always racing depression. If I can keep myself busy I can stay ahead of it, if I slow down…well it’s pretty fast too. I manage well enough though, guess my dad’s gifts came in handy” he chuckled. “Well it’s good you enjoy what you do I suppose, but in order to be good at it it seems like you’ve had to build up quite an impenetrable wall. You’re a very stoic woman and I’m sure that allows you to dominate the business world but I imagine if you don’t find some ways to blow off some steam it’ll be quite a crushing weight to carry around. Maybe that’s where some of my ‘particular skills’ can help?” He flashed her a grin, as he moved a loose strand of her hair out of her face. Asher still had him backed against the wall and there was not much space between the two demigods.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher didn't think of herself as a newcomer to mental illness. She had witnessed it with her father and how he slowly deteriorated over time. It wasn't that he had let himself go or he was reckless in his behavior but she could see that he wasn't happy and over time, the weight of his grief over losing her mother was too much for him. She always wanted him to find someone that would provide him with that same love and assurance that she assumed her mother had provided but he never did. He was always in her shadow, which was ironic and Asher never quite had the heart to ask him what it was about her mother that hade made her so special. Why he couldn't just let her go?

"I see," she said, not knowing how else to add to the conversation because regardless of having witnessed such behavior, Asher was never good at dealing with it. It wasn't that she walked away when things got tough. On the contrary, she was the type of person that would hang on even when it proved detrimental to herself. She just never knew how to be loving and compassionate though she displayed it in her actions with little details that seemed almost irrelevant. Before she could even figure out what to add though, Theo continued and she almost sighed in relief. "I never thought about it as a wall. It is just the way I am."

She shrugged and frowned for a moment. It wasn't the first time someone had told her she looked at the world in black and white and it certainly wasn't the first time someone had made the observation that she was in fact, unapproachable but she never thought of it as a bad thing. She had always been this way but maybe now she was beginning to question whether this was truly who she was or did she learn it? "I am going to regret asking, but what skills? What do you even suggest? Do you really think that I need your assistance?" Perhaps she did but that was a little too much to admit, even to a stranger and perhaps more so to him. 

[Theodore Thatcher]

“You are a woman of few words aren't you Asher?” Theo teased as once again he had tried in vain to gauge Asher’s mood as she processed everything he had just said. “Though, I suppose in your line of work, keeping your cards held close to your chest is a smart strategy.” Theo had never had the kind of long-term attention span required to lead or plan any sort of business venture beyond a scheme or prank. He’d always seemed to have a half dozen unfinished ideas that sounded good in the moment but ones he quickly grew bored of. However he always respected the tenacity needed.

“A wall, weight, barrier, the metaphor doesn’t really matter. Point is, if you don’t find some ways to let go of it all once in a while then I imagine you’re going to grow up feeling drained. Sure, sure, responsibility is good and all, but so is having fun. And sometimes the best fun comes from being irresponsible. Now, you’re in luck because I happen to be an expert in irresponsible fun. When it comes to blowing off steam I find there are two effective activities. If you'd like, I can take you to either. One option involves a baseball bat and several broken appliances. It’s a lot of fun and you’ll work up a sweat. The other option is also a lot of fun and works up a sweat but it requires a lot less clothes if you catch my drift” he winked playfully. “Which would you prefer?”

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher chuckled. Being a person that didn't say much had become part of her reputation. She was observant, she listened and when she said something, it mattered. Besides, people couldn't often read her so they didn't know what she was thinking until she shared her thoughts. That had given her an advantage in many ways and that was how she preferred it. "When you speak your words can be used against you. I prefer to listen and talk whenever it is important." She took the same advice from politicians in that matter. She never wrote or said something she didn't want displayed on the front page of the news and besides, being who she was meant she could be in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. 

She was not irresponsible. At least, not in a way that had ever drawn attention to herself. Asher knew how to party and she knew how to get herself lost in the moment, but those instances were very well contained and they were few and far in between. She knew how she could get so keeping herself centered had always made her feel in control. She never wanted to see how far off the edge she could go because she knew there were few things that would stop her. But what Theo suggested did intrigue her and she looked at him for a moment, weighing her options until finally she sighed. 

"I know exactly what you mean but I am not one to take off my clothes for anyone, so if you want me to hold a baseball bat and not break your face with it, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself and stick with your first option."

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo rolled back his head and laughed lightheartedly at Asher’s response to his question. “I’m beginning to like you, even if I think you can be a little rough ‘round the edges. Point taken! I much prefer my charming face the way it is, no need for you to re’range it now. Option one it is!” Throwing off the dress jacket that marked him as a part of the waitstaff he discarded it on the couch. “Follow me” he said, offering his arm to Asher in a gentlemanly fashion. Leading his fellow camper out of the stuffy event venue and into the inviting New Orleans fresh air as they walked down the street.

“Ahhhh, much better” Theo sighed, tossing one of the watches he’d stolen into the cup of a homeless man begging on the street. It took him a few turns and one double-back but Theo eventually led them through an alleyway back to an area behind several brick buildings. Already set up on a long wooden table was an old TV, a blender and an espresso machine all of which looked used, their better days long behind them. Behind that set several crates of discarded appliances and machines.

“Here, put these on'' Theo said as he threw a pair of safety goggles at Asher, “Just in case.” Putting on a pair himself he went over and picked up a baseball bat that had been leaning against the table. “I had planned on coming here after the heist to blow off some steam and get out all of the pent up excitement. Hadn’t planned on bringing a guest but I can share.” He held out the bat for her to take, “Ladies first! Pick a target and let loose” he smirked. “Money can’t buy therapy as enjoyable as this.”

 

Edited March 9, 2023 by Theodore Thatcher

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher looked at Theo with intrigue. No one had ever called her rough around the edges. In fact, no one besides her family had ever pointed out her hard demeanor. It was like they preferred to be on her good side. There were very few people that wanted to tell her what she wanted to hear and while it was hard to hear the truth some times, she didn't want advisers or people around her that were deceitful. If she didn't know how she was acting, how did anyone expect her to change? She watched him grab a dress jacket and raised an eyebrow. It was clear it wasn't his but she didn't say anything else. She didn't stop to think who that probably belonged to and simply allowed herself to be amused by the situation unfolding. 

She grabbed his arm, albeit reluctant at first and followed him out into the nice New Orleans air. She wondered if people would notice or miss her presence but she was young and certainly no one could expect a young woman like her to stick around in such a boring setting. As she walked by his side, she noticed he was taking her to places she wasn't familiar with and when they reached an alleyway, all alarms went off in her head. A man leading a woman into a deserted alley never ended well. She let go of his arm, keeping a small distance between them as she narrowed her eyes. 

But Theo didn't stop. He simply went inside the building and so Asher, filled with curiosity, followed him. She wasn't sure what she was expecting but surely not what she found. She grabbed the pair of safety goggles he gave her and put them on despite her instincts letting her know to be cautious. "You know, for a moment I thought you might live here. You are certainly not what I expected in. In fact, it is almost charming that I don't know what to expect with you." She grabbed the bat he handed her and smiled. She walked over to an old television and smashed the screen with one swift swoop. The adrenaline that came across her was amazing and she giggled, doing it again, putting more strength behind each swing. "You are right. This is almost as fun as going to a shooting range."

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo was thrilled that Asher had seemed willing to leave the party unceremoniously. He knew some of those types had to make such a grand show of their exit, but his theory about her was correct, she didn’t appear to be bothered by those sorts of things. He had been a tad bit apprehensive when she followed him into the opening. The area certainly was not filthy, he’d done his best to keep it clean, but it wasn’t exactly the type of location someone of her financial status would probably hangout in. Theo was counting on her curiosity at experiencing something new to keep her, despite the area’s appearance.

“Charming huh? Careful now, you flatter me too much, it'll all just go straight to my head. I feed my own ego well enough” he teased playfully. She seemed eager to take the goggles and bat from him and he had barely just finished explaining the process to her before she took her first swing at the television set. Hearing the giggles that came out of the girl was all the proof Theo needed that she was enjoying herself. In fact as she continued swinging, laughing in between hits, Theo felt this was the most relaxed he’d seen Asher this whole evening. “Yes that’s it!” he encouraged. “Show that TV who’s boss! Don’t worry about any noise, I do this sort of thing here all the time. It’s just more noise in an already loud city. No one should be complaining.” As he said this he grabbed his own bat and walked over to the blender, with a single vertical slice he shattered the casing. “Glad to see you’re a natural at this.” In the corner of the room lay several more appliances and other fun breakable objects just waiting to be selected.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher was not oblivious to the ancient trope of dating below someone's means. She had seen it amongst her friends at school and during the summers. Girls that would go off on vacation and date townies and guys from the wrong side of the track, and fall head over heels over their rough edges and the fact they behaved and acted opposite of what was expected of them. It was something they enjoyed but they seldom stuck with it, opting with time to date whoever their parents deemed appropriate and embark in the even more ancient trope of arranged marriages and dating. Asher, however, did not have this pressure bestowed upon her because she had enough money on her own to do whatever she wanted and not have to worry about continuing a family legacy. Though she had never asked her father, she liked to think that he would be okay with her marrying whoever she wanted, regardless of convenience.

So now, hanging out in a place that she would deemed sketchy, she understood the allure of the bad boy with the mysterious smile and piercing blue eyes. She hadn't even bothered to think about the noise when he reassured her if was fine if she made a lot of it. All she was focused on was to destroy this appliance and feel the adrenaline rush course through her veins. "A natural at destroying things? That hardly seems like a compliment." She chuckled, this time allowing her emotion to display naturally. "Tell me, how did you end up settling in here? I want to know more about you. In turn, you can ask me anything."

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo felt himself relax a bit more as he took another swing at the blender, shattering what remained. He walked over to the corner to grab another broken appliance, he found that blenders seldom lasted more than two hits. It seemed Theo was past any danger of Asher reporting him to the authorities, though he still owed her a favor, what that might end up being was a total mystery to him. As they took turns swinging their bats he found himself feeling satisfied with the way events had unfolded as they had. Sure he had missed out on a lot of stolen loot, but hanging out with Asher was proving to be a fun time, now that he had gotten past the rough exterior she could put up. He assumed that was a needed tool to survive in the cut throat business world, but it was nice to experience this other side of her too.

“A natural at kicking back and having fun!” he teased back. “Oh, I simply know the shop owner" he answered her question before continuing. "The business we passed by when we entered the alleyway, it’s a butcher’s shop. The last family I stayed with in the fostercare system, right before Camp, we came often. The family was shit, but the butcher was always kind. Anyways growing up, when I wasn’t at camp during Summer I’d try and return to the city. The butcher would let me stay in the spare room in exchange for running errands and deliveries. Fast forward to the present, he still allows me to hang around so long as I don’t cause too much trouble. He’s out of town this week so technically I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on the shop, but that party was going on tonight and I couldn’t resist dropping in.” Theo paused to replace a smashed appliance. “So what about you? I don’t really know your story. How did you wind up an heiress to a vast fortune? Do you enjoy being in the business world?” Theo's curiosity was peaking now that Asher was offering to open up more. “Personally I think I would find it suffocating,” he admitted.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

The more Asher hung out with other demigods, the more she realized that most of then had had a really tough childhood. Some of then, including some of her half siblings, had had a very difficult family life and childhood. She was beginning to notice a pattern between demigods and foster homes and it wasn't precisely a pattern that she was happy about. In fact, it was quite angering. "I see," Asher said, never really knowing what to say to these kinds of things. She could be empathetic but at times she truly had no idea what to say. Besides, deep conversations that regarded personal details about oneself always made her nervous. 

"My dad died when I was a teenager," Asher said. "They said he had problems with his heart but I think he died of a broken one. He loved my mother deeply and when she left, he never recovered. He was a good dad though, managed to set my brother and me for life but I miss him. Anyway, when he died we inherited his money and his business. My brother was never good at business and he is very irresponsible, so my dad made me head of his empire. I guess I just do it because that was what he wanted for me. What he expected. I suppose it is the same as when someone inherits the crown. You just do it out of duty." 

Asher shrugged. She had always taken her role in her family very seriously and she had worked tirelessly to keep it together. She had dealt with the exploits of her older brother and managed to expand their business to ensure it would survive past a few generations. No one had told her if she had wanted to do it but she also never thought of doing anything else. It was just her role in life and looking at life from a logical point of view, that was just the way things were.

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo listened attentively to Asher's story, realizing that there was a lot more to her than just being a wealthy heiress. He could hear the sadness in her voice as she talked about her father's death and the weight of responsibility she carried in managing her family's business. As she spoke, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for her strength and resilience. "It sounds like you've had a lot of pressure on your shoulders," he said sympathetically, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "But it's impressive that you've been able to handle it all and even expand the business. I can see why your dad had faith in you."

He paused, considering his next words carefully. "I think it's important to do what we believe is right, but it's also okay to question why we do what we do. If you ever feel like you're just doing something out of duty and not because it truly makes you happy, it's okay to reevaluate and make changes." Theo knew from experience that sometimes it was hard to break away from expectations and obligations, but he also knew that living a life that felt true to oneself was worth the effort. He was beginning to feel a connection to Asher that went beyond their shared experiences in the alleyway. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something about her that drew him in. "You know," he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, "I think we make a pretty good team. If broken appliances ever rise up against humanity I think we can take them on” he teased.

As he withdrew his hand, Theo couldn't help but wonder if Asher had felt the same spark that he had. He knew it was too soon to tell, but he couldn't help feeling hopeful. For now, he was content to continue swinging his bat alongside her, enjoying the thrill of breaking things and the company of this fascinating, complex woman.

[Asher Harrington Rare Rare]

Asher oftentimes felt like she carried the weight of the world in her shoulders and in a sense she did. For instance, she had had to keep her father's business going and it was up to her to continue that legacy that allowed many people to continue having the life they lead. She was responsible for their well being and then the well being of her own household. While her aunt was self-sufficient and she worked in her father's company, she still had Arsen to think about and keeping her twin brother on the right path had proven at times difficult, if not impossible. She was the youngest one after all but it seemed that had not mattered.

She realized then that she missed having someone to take care of her and be there for her for whatever she needed. She wanted someone to put her needs and wants first and make sure that no matter what happened, she was okay. It was exhausting to be brave and strong for everyone but alas that was just the way things were and Asher had learned to live with it. "I've always done things out of duty," she said, meeting his gaze. "If I don't, no one else would but I understand what you are saying. There is just a lot to take into consideration and my brother isn't exactly the more reliable person." To put it mildly, she thought and chuckled for a moment.

"Yeah, I think we do make a good team. I had fun today, despite the way things started. Who would have thought?" Asher chuckled and she turned to look at him with a smile that was genuine. "I am not quite ready to go home yet so are there other things you can come up with? I want to see all your tricks."

 

[Theodore Thatcher]

Theo smiled at Asher's response, happy to have connected with her on a deeper level. He could see the exhaustion and burden she carried, but admired her strength in facing it all head on. He reflected on just how much the evening had improved considering where it began. “Indeed, and to think for a while there I was worried I’d be spending it in a jail cell! I’m not certain, but I think Mr. D. is done paying my bail” he laughed, thinking back to the last time he’d gotten in trouble. "And don't worry about your brother," he added reassuringly. “I’m sure you’ll be capable of managing both business and family.”

Theo was eager to explore this new connection with Asher, to see where it would take them and what sort of experiences they might share this night together. "Tricks huh? Of course, I have plenty more tricks up my sleeve," he said with a grin. “I'm up for anything that puts a smile on your face. In fact I think I have an idea. Had things gone according to plan tonight I was planning on taking my ill gotten gains to this penthouse suite I had acquired. It has what I think is the best view of the whole city. I’d love to show it to you, I’m sure it's stocked with wine, we could toast our new friendship and take in the view. What do you say?” he asked, offering his arm for her to take Theo couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the thought of spending more time with Asher, getting to know her better and maybe even helping her find some relief from the weight she carried on her shoulders.