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❪⠀astrid blinks, her ears flushed slightly from that. oh. well.⠀❫⠀.͟.͟.⠀iㅡi again appreciate the concern, but still. i'll cherish the bouquet even more then.
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〘⠀stuttering softly. she sighs.⠀〙... i- it was just one night ... you know i'm not one to usually sacrifice rest, i just. wanted to make sure you were okay. i don't think i would've been able to rest if i didn't.
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❪⠀astrid steps closer with softened eyes, she laughs softly as she shakes her head.⠀❫⠀i'm completely ridiculous, but thank you, hiraya. they're beautiful⠀.͟.͟.⠀
❪⠀astrid held the bouquet, now more relaxed.⠀❫
i appreciate the sentiment, thank you.
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um. hey.
〘⠀she shuffles her feet.⠀〙finally uh, got the full context of what happened. i'd imagine you didn't feel great after so i ....
〘⠀lifting the little bouquet.⠀〙thought i'd do something. to help cheer you up. i dunno.
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﹙ percy lets out a breath, shaking his head. he hears the rustle, and his heart sinks. ﹚ no, no, not mad. i just— i feel sorry. not— not in a bad way, i'm just. i'm sorry i can't love you. i'm sorry i won't.
i'm sure you'll find someone you can give your entire being to.
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you'll find someone you won't hesitate to show your whole soul to, and who wouldn't be afraid to accept you entirely, no matter how broken you think you may be. but that isn't me, and won't be me.
you're a good friend astrid, and a good person.
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﹙ his head turns to look at the source of the rustling previously, then back at her. ﹚ but i'm not the one you want. i'm— i'm sorry, but i have to—
﹙ he was stepping, stumbling back. he had to find annabeth. he had to make it right— he didn't want to lose her. ﹚
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❪⠀astrid traces her eyes towards the waves below at her feet, she takes a deep breath. she heard rustling behind the bushes.⠀❫
.͟.͟.⠀you can be angry with me, but love is also unexplainable. even for a daughter of aphrodite, like me.
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❪⠀astrid nods, she seems to understand as the girl looks at him. it wounds her, but she knew it was coming. maybe in some sort of reflection she sees a past person as she blinks. gone.⠀❫
yeah, yeah i know⠀.͟.͟.⠀but, i just.
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﹙ percy shakes his head. first, there was anger—it was instinctive, something he and his father seemed to share,as reflected by the waves. but it dies down immediately and is replaced by other emotions. ﹚
you know— i don't— i don't want this. i don't want you.
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❪⠀astrid takes a deeper breath, as she looks away once more. she makes too many assumptions, too many thoughtful dreams.⠀❫
.͟.͟.⠀i don't. i admire you, andㅡ i just. it'll. ❪⠀she's speechless.⠀❫
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❪⠀astrid pulls away as well, almost in disgust of herself. she stayed quiet a she turns away against the waves, she doesn't approach any closer. astrid takes a deep breath.⠀❫
i'm sorry, percy. i don't know, what came over me. i'm completely fine with being your friend.
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﹙ percy's mind screeches to a halt when he feels lips against his own. he stops moving, stops breathing, as he stills against her hold. he doesn't lean close, doesn't try to seal the gap— he tries anything but.
this feels wrong. utterly and completely wrong. ﹚
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