<strong>Location: </strong>The motherfucking boat<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>JD<br/><br/>Working the boat wasn't overly difficult if one was stubborn and determined enough to just keep fighting with it and force it to work.  There wasn't a lot that she had to worry about crashing into at sea while going through trial and error.  Soon it was up and running at speed.<br/><br/>Herakles just smiled at her hatred for her father, understanding completely.  "Oh,<em>believe</em>me that I'm not going to convince you otherwise.  It's just time for you to know who he is."  He gave a nod, then gestured to a particular button.  "That's the autopilot.  Hit that and it'll drive itself; we have the better part of an hour before we reach your destination."  With that, he moved off elsewhere to go fetch something.<br/><br/>Chiron, for his part, just smiled.  There was wisdom the way the Theoi traditionally envisioned it; Athena was renowned for her wisdom, even though she was vicious enough to curse someone for beating her in a weaving contest.  Chiron was beyond such things.  He showed understanding through compassion and kindness, a far more rare and precious commodity.  Damien had that on his good days; this centaur was born to it as innately as JD was a natural leader.  "First, let me give condolences on behalf of Damien.  He wants to be here, but boats and islands are not his forte.  If you like, I can pass on a message for him, unless you'd rather just call him later.  You can call upon me by calling to my constellation."<br/><br/>The storm rocked the boat all the more at speed, but having four legs made it that much easier to stay steady.  "Let me tell you about your father, then.  His own father wanted to eat him, and all his mother could do was keep him safe and let his father believe that the task had been completed.  He was forced to raise himself, and it hardened him in ways that most people can't understand.  I think the common American saying is 'one tough motherfucker.'"<br/><br/>A lightning bolt got a little too close, momentarily distracting him, and he frowned as he continued the explanation.  "Most people see him as a sort of deadbeat dad, who falls in love at the drop of a hat and doesn't stick around."  Sympathy showed in his eyes.  "I like to think the reality is that there's just too much love in his heart to stay on any one person.  We understand polyamory now in a way that wasn't always as well known, and the married the woman he did to spare her the shame, because he loved her so badly, even though it ended up making both of them miserable."<br/><br/>Based on the look in his eyes, he felt that at least a few of those qualities belonged to JD as well.  "When you've been forced to fend for yourself for so long, it can be hard to open up.  It can be hard to understand and recognize that the pain of others can't be as easily dismissed by others as you've learned to do over so much time.  It's something that one can learn to do: help others push through their own trauma."<br/><br/>Herakles had been back for a bit with a bag, but he gave the other two some chance to discuss before interrupting the conversation.  "I have a couple things for you," he said, first offering her a vest, and then the shotgun that Sarge had taken.  "Now, first thing you need to know: Sarge is<em>pissed</em>," he explained.  "She wanted to take this away.  Circumstances require you to have it, as you come into your own, as you prove that you're able to step up and forge your own path in ways you never have before.  As much as she understands that, she's not happy that you get to show you need it and have that be that.  My suggestion would be to try to make recompense, because she'll find other ways to make your life miserable."  It was his own turn to show sympathy.  "Sarge is Chosen by Athena, and even if it's not a blood relation, the two certainly take after each other."<br/><br/>Then he gave a bow, “Oh, but where are my manners?  I’m Herakles, and a pleasure to meet you.  If you haven’t heard of me, you’ve heard of my father, Zeus.”