it's a brave new world from the last to the first; [debut]

[fatalpride]

There is nothing Annabeth likes more than seeing a plan come into fruition, but being a daughter of the Goddess of War also means that she’s been given the wisdom to know when they will fall apart.

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[defected]

Bryce Larkin was frustrated.

Having wandered into the rec room when it was, by the island's standards, relatively empty, he had seized an opportunity to do some reading. The bookshelf, with its sparkling sense of humor, had given him a vast succession of James Bond novels, and after fighting with it for the better of an hour, Bryce had yet to get anywhere.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and reached yet again. In his hands rested a tattered copy of Casino Royale.

"You're kidding me."

[fatalpride]

Annabeth, on the other hand, has gotten the hang of the bookshelf, or so she thinks. She's already finished the other books requisitioned from the magic item, and now she's back for more, returning the other two.

Now it's only a question of what to request.

"...Homer's Iliad, please." and sure enough the next book she pulls out of the bookshelf is the requested title- but in English. She puts it back and decides to try her luck again.

"In Greek."

[defected]

It isn't easy to catch someone like Bryce by surprise. Spies don't have the luxury of making mistakes; if they do and are lucky enough to survive, they make damn sure to learn from them. Years of experience have taught Bryce to steel himself against the element of surprise - it's an advantage you make for yourself and keep from the enemy at all cost.

Which is why, when a girl no older than fifteen manages to manipulate the bookshelf into handing her precisely what she's looking for - in Greek, no less - he's instantly on his toes, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Her accent is doubtlessly American, and last he checked Greek wasn't a choice elective in most American high schools. Not to mention, the choice itself - what kind of teenager reads Homer by choice?

"That's an interesting choice," he says, only now making eye contact.

[fatalpride]

Half bloods don't make mistakes if they can help it, but they also have rotten luck and Annabeth knows that even the most meticulously laid plans can go awry with a lowered guard. As such, she's trained herself to be automatically wary and slightly distustful of new people and this man's curiosity and words are not simply of idle interest. So when she replies her voice is wary and cautious, but her words are planned to be purposefully casual.

"Not really. I thought I'd give it a try."

[defected]

"You thought you'd give Homer a try? In Greek?" His demeanor is one similarly designed to appear casual - the espionage game is one in which the best strategy is to blend in, and there's no better way to blend than to match your opponent. If need be, he's an expert at thinking on his feet, at concocting a believable alibi in the time it takes a man to blink. The thing about an alias is you can always make it up as you go along.

[fatalpride]

"Homer is a master storyteller, and my mom is Greek." she replies, gray eyes studying him, analyzing - and it's impossible for her to hide that fact. Annabeth looks down at the book he was holding. "What were you looking for?"

[defected]

"Of course," he nods, hazarding a glance back down at the novel in his hands. "Not this, I can tell you that much."

Bryce returns the book to the shelf and pauses, weighing the pros and cons of trying again. He wouldn't give it much though, were it not for the girl watching over his shoulder, but now he's all too aware that anything he pulls from the shelf could be a possible tip off.

"So how'd you get it to pay attention?"

[fatalpride]

"I don't know. Ask it politely?" Annabeth had heard stories of volatile magical objects that were only looking for a please and a thank you from its owners, as ridiculous as that sounded. "Go on. Try asking it."

[defected]

He didn't subscribe to same theories of magical kidnap and possession that so many others seemed to, and so Bryce had to raise an eyebrow at the suggestion. Still, he had to assume that there was something or someone controlling the bookshelf, and the worst case scenario he'd find himself with another Bond novel. There were worse fates.

"Alright," he said, staring intently at the shelf. "How about... Into the Wild. I think that's Jon Krakauer. Please."

He made a grab for the nearest book. Ask and ye shall receive... an outdated copy of The MLA Handbook.

[fatalpride]

"...Into the Wild, please." she states after Bryce's attempt failed, partially as a way to satisfy her curiosity. There had to be a reason why it was working for her and not for him, some sort of recognizable pattern.

Annabeth reaches into the bookshelf and pulls out...The Holy Bible, King James Version. She has to bite back a snort.

[defected]

"Looks like your luck's run its course," he remarks, eyeing the volume she's just retrieved. Few things get past Bryce; Annabeth's reaction is not among them.

"Not a fan?"

[fatalpride]

"Maybe it sensed I was asking it on your behalf." she says shrewdly, offering him the book just in case. Or perhaps the bookshelf sensed the irony that arose from handing the bible to a daughter of Athena.

"I've never given it much thought."

[defected]

"I'm not exactly what you'd call religious," Bryce admits, handing the volume back to the bookshelf, "but thanks anyway."

That laugh, however, is not the laugh of someone who's never given the Bible much thought. It was more like a scoff, in fact, and he was curious as to the reason. "Even so, it's a pretty popular book."