Isobel Logan's Story

[Isobel Logan] - [#800020] - [Mood]

She was running for her life, breath coming in ragged gasps. Her muscles ached with over use and parts of her clothes were smoking where the fire had caught her. She could feel every fibre of her being shaking but whether from fear or adrenaline she couldn't be sure. The corridor was almost never-ending and unfamiliar, cold to the touch as her fingers brushed against the walls. They came away, wet and sticky with matted blood that oozed from the ceiling and dripped down the sides. Instead of simply running she began to stumble as she felt the blood soaking her clothes; gumming her hair and slowly her movements when her feet stuck. Unsure of where she was or where she was going she came to a sudden halt as something rose before her, foul smelling and burning as it lashed out towards her. Her vision became hazy as the flames engulfed her and the sounds of her family’s death knell.

---

She woke, adding her own cries to that of the fading nightmare while she clawed at her bedding; twisting violently and toppling forwards to land in a heap beside her bed. Drawing in great gulps of air she paused in her struggle to assess her current situation before calming long enough to disentangle herself from the duvet. Once reality had fully set in she was able to run through her surroundings and chide herself at being spooked by a simple dream. Though certainly a rather vivid one that was more reimaging of how she had arrived here a few of weeks earlier than a mere figment of her subconscious.

Since arriving at camp time had lost all meaning, it was little more than a rising and setting of the sun for her at the moment so her grasp of how long she had been holed up was lost on her. As she climbed back onto her bed she gingerly rubbed her palm against her lower arm where the skin still felt taut. Most of her skin was sore and ached though much of the damage had certainly healed. People had come when she first arrived and had fussed over her but she couldn’t remember faces or names; just the pain and screaming was all that came back to her. Since then she’d more or less remained locked in this cabin, venturing as far as the windows to peak out and strangers going about their business.

At first a woman had come in to see her several times, trying to get her to open up or speak about what had happened; even offering information to help fill in the blanks on why her home had been attacked. They’d suggested she go out and meet the others at the camp, the place her mother had demanded she go for her own safety. A command that had failed to fully explain what danger Isobel’s refusal had spelled for all she held dear. Even after the burns had more or less healed she had continued to hide, trapped both by her fear and shame. The nightmares were her penance, she supposed.

As much as she didn’t want to leave her self-imposed solitude she couldn’t deny that it wasn’t actually going to accomplish anything and so far all she’d really achieved was to seem like a pathetic child. Well she had her reasons for how she felt and how she was dealing with events but you could apply reason to anything. That didn’t mean that was the right course of action. Not sure if she was winning or losing a battle against herself, though did it matter which way it went since she’d emerge successfully on the other side anyways?

Back and forth she went as her internal discourse continued till at last hunger won out. Rubbing her hand against her forehead before letting it flop down her face she sighed and dragged herself away to shower and make an effort to be presentable. She’d been told that today was meant to be the first proper chance for the ‘campers’ to socialise outside of a structured schedule. She just wanted to leave this place and go home but whenever her mind lingered too much on where she’d grown up she felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest. She knew, though how she couldn’t be sure but she knew as well as she breathed that it was gone and she couldn’t go back.

It didn’t take her long to get ready once she’d showered; her hair was lightly towelled then brushed hurriedly so the rest would dry in the evening air. She didn’t care much to what she would wear since her selection was minimal save what the camp had provided her so she settled on loose fitting jeans and a light blue sweater over a white tank-top with a pair of brown boots. Slowly running her fingers through her still damp hair she smiled as it curled around just below her shoulders. Satisfied that she didn’t look a complete mess she left the sanctuary of her cabin and carefully made her way through the woods towards the beach where the others were surely gathering.

As she approached she could already here the rising sound of merriment over the crackle of burning wood. Edging nearer she could hear her blood pounding in her ears as she forced herself to relax. From what she could see most of those gathered had already broken off into pre-existing groups that she had no understanding of yet knew she wasn’t party to. As she reached the refreshments she quickly picked up a couple of bottles from the cooler while the boy manning the station was otherwise occupied and scooped up an empty plate onto which she pilled a couple of burgers.

With her trove in hand she scurried away, heading further down towards the beach in an attempt to distance herself from the others for a little. Maybe this had not been the best idea but she wasn’t ready to give up and run back for safety just yet. Taking a seat on the sand she sat cross-legged and gently placed the bottles down so they wouldn’t fall. With her plate resting on her lap she began to tuck into one of the burgers, sighing contentedly.

After demolishing the first couple she paused and looked around her little stretch of breach. Lifting a handful of sand up she slowed her breathing and started to shape a small castle at her feet. After a few minutes it had begun to expand outwards and formed a fortress encompassing her perch complete with moat and statuesque sentries which glared impassively at the world around her. She stared out at the lapping waves which now fed the moat and returned to what remained of her pilfered food.

[Isobel Logan] - [#800020] - [Mood]

When she'd first been sneaking down the beach she had spotted a few others engaged in their own activities and had made sure to edge away from them as best she could. Especially since once she'd begun to build her little castle, though it had by now expanded to cover a several feet in all directions, her main focus had become divided between that and her food. Even so she had caught glimpses of a commotion some distance, primarily due to the sound of people crying out as they fell or in the case of one girl being surrounded by water which promptly froze as another camper seemed to have intervened.

”I should have brought a book... if I had any to bring.” She muttered to herself, mouth half-full of bread before she rolled her eyes and lightly brushed her fingers over what remained on her plate. In moments it had expanded to a slightly more varied selection, including a haggis on a skewer and venison steaks in buns lathered in whisky sauce. There was also one or two jam donuts as she was craving something sweet to counteract the rather bland taste of the beer.

Deciding it was best to leave them be she changed her focus back towards the sea and smiled a little to herself as she listened to the gentle lapping of the waves. As relaxing as it most certainly was she couldn't help but feel somewhat antsy as if she should be doing something more, not entirely sure if that was in part due to having been cooped up for so long or because being out here felt exposed. Either way she started glancing around at the crunch of footsteps on the sand to her other side where another girl, clearly amused by something given the laughter she was barely trying to hide was settling down with her back towards the water. Isobel mused that she was sitting hopefully far enough back otherwise a repeat of earlier might end quite differently without another ice man to save her as he had the other demigod.

The thought puzzled her at first mainly because while it had been explained to her and she herself had felt entirely at ease drawing on her gifts down here by the beach it still felt strange to think that they were all like her, all different yet the same in a way. Perhaps she wasn't as alone as she thought even though it felt like it right now as she huddled behind her sand-castle walls. She glanced down and brushed her eyes, rubbing at them to stop herself from crying and taking a deep breath to centre herself.
As she looked around trying to stifle the rising tide of emotion she caught sight of another of their number approaching with the firelight of the bonfire casting him as silhouette without any real identity. Though, no, that wasn't quite true. He was easily identifying even if she didn't know who he was. The camp councillor had mentioned that even here wasn't entirely safe and that many of the other demigods had been through similar incidents as what had brought Isobel to them, and that some scars were more noticeable than others. The sight of this one armed figured cast against the flickering flame intrigued her and she wondered if he might be the one to save the other girl from the rising tide.

The symmetry of her sitting equally between two pairs of lovers, one of hottest flame and the other of coldest ice caused her to giggle a little at the absurdity of such poetic existence. ”If only life was as simple as stories" She mumbled before sighing at the thought and shifting to get a better look at the one-armed figure and the chuckling girl. Carefully lifting a pile of sand in front of her she shifted the walls of her castle aside as it began to reshape under her guiding touch. In moments a pair of glass statues roughly a third in scale of their counterparts danced across the battlements and over the moat for Isobels amusement. They seemed to be doing so with added flare, perhaps in defiance of the fact that they mirrored an event that would probably never happen given that the two figures stood almost half a beach apart if not more.

xxxxx T R I N I T Y xx W A L L A C E

xxxxxDaughter of Ares | Bathers | #461f4b

Trinity bumped her knee into Mason and bee-lined for another beer. But there was a new selection of bottles and plastic cups sitting on the bar. She looked around to see who would dive in and claim them as theirs and how she couldn't have any, etc. etc. but nobody did so she poured herself a shot, downed it, poured another and took it to go.

Someone grabbed her arm firmly enough to demand her attention and make her lose a step and bounce back, and frankly she wasn't in the mood to be touched or stopped. Trinity pulled herself up short of shoving them away when she saw it was Theo. The audacity of this guy.

"Hey, are you okay? And don't lie to me. I can see it. You know I've always been able to read it in your eyes." Yeah, it was probably those stupid cheat animal instincts. Internally, she groaned. It wasn't and she loved what Artemis and her children could do, especially the shapeshifting. It was her damn eyes. "Talk to me, Trin."

“A girl kisses you and you ask her what’s wrong?” she asked back to Theo half amused. She wasn't 'in' with dating and affectionate acts, but she felt that it was rough timing. “Kinda brutal.” 'Hey, are you okay because you can't really kiss if your life depended on it' But then her eyes searched his face with a moment's of genuine concern. She didn't bite him accidentally or grip him too hard did she? Trinity was upset with these hypothetical versions of the people she cared about but if she was going to hurt Theo, she best have done it right and deliberately.

After figuring that wasn't the case otherwise he probably would have said something about the kiss, not her well-being, she released a sigh. “I don't know Theo, it's stupid,” she confessed. It was unfair of her to be moody at him for something he hadn't done. He might do it but he certainly hadn't failed her yet. “Just...” her hands collapsed by her side, “would you save me? Cause I kinda have this image in my head that all my camp mates would sooner abandon me and let me bleed dry than you know...actually help me. I mean there's enough hate in the world so one less hateful person isn't exactly a big loss,” her gaze moved pass Theo and into blank space as she rambled, “and I'd probably live on purely out of spite anyway and take care of myself. But...” as her eyes shifted back to Theo, he was quite literally stolen away.

A dry laugh escaped her. “Am I being punked?” In what world was this shit okay. And when did Alex turn into a brunette bimbo. She was a bit flirty, adventurous, impulsive but Trinity didn't think that bad. Did Alex just have a thing for taking the guys Trinity liked. She spared a look to Wes then knocked back her second shot. She couldn't face him yet. Besides, wouldn't be long til some other person swept to Ken's side then probably started chatting him up.

As she moved to join Harley, some arms wrapped around her waist and seized her to their side. "I bet I could kiss you better."

“I bet you don’t and you don’t even try.” She threw her elbow into his ribs and kicked behind his knee cap in two fluid natural motions. He collapsed and yelled out a little louder than she would have liked and she hurriedly tried to quiet him. “Ssh. You're okay. Walk it off. Dick.”

She sighed out when she finally reached her darer, sitting by her, only facing the waves. “That was a disaster,” she concluded picking up Harley's drink and taking a sip. Trinity didn't even want to look back towards the party or see Wes because it'd probably tip her over the edge. Trinity had honestly rather had locked lips with her peers than talk to someone and fail at playing charming or just even talk to someone and lie that she tried. She sat there with a hand clutched roughly in her hair as that sunk in. Only you, Trinity. Only you. In her perfect world, the bottle span round and round, missed her until people called it a night or she could pretend to be tired and fatigued. But Lise blew that up in her face right off the bat. Trinity should have shifted to something more like an outer circle as if she was a mere spectator.

After some time of sitting by Harley and staring out into the vast water, Trinity stood up. “I'm going for a swim.” Maybe the waves could help erase the spin the bottle action and help her get a real sense of logic. The beach was such a carefree space after all. Well, the tide was. In there the only worries were whether she should go over or under a wave, if a wave was 'dumper', if she should try body surf it, and occasionally, in Australia, is there a shark in water as well? Even if the waves didn't serve the magical purposes Trinity was hoping for, they would cure the heat creeping across Trinity's skin and it looked inviting the entire time she was staring at it.

---

xxxxx H A R L E E N xx T H E O D O S

xxDaughter of Hermes | Outift | #51849C

Harley was doing some bad lip reading and voice overs of what topic people were talking about and how. She never failed to amuse herself when in need but Trinity giving some guy a swift beat down was much better making Harley erupt into laughter. Some people didn't pay attention to heritages and did just not know how to approach a lady.

Harley watched Trinity head for her and smiled when she parked her butt beside her. “That was a disaster.”

She tilted her head sympathetically. At least she had done it. “I don't think Lise and Theo thought so. Disaster isn't the word that springs to my mind either. In fact what disastrous thing could happen to you?” The question hung in the air between them and wasn't answered for a long while. Trinity's silence was taken as nothing, exactly what Harley gathered. When you were the queen of pain, what did you have to fear, what could be so disastrous?

“I'm going for a swim.”

Harley squinted. “But it's night and really not that hot.” Harley looked over her shoulder towards the waves. “Tide's coming in, isn't it?” When she turned back around she found Trinity's clothes dumped on her other side. Harleen did a 360 and found Trinity's shape, unless conveniently, somebody else decided to go for a swim in the dark at the same time and had blonde hair from what the last glimpse of firelight showed. “Don't go too far,” she mumbled as the figure steadily got further away from the light and party and deeper into the ocean. “You forgot a towel,” she cooed just as uselessly.

She couldn't help but hover for some time. It felt totally against Harley's nature too. Rather than enjoy a party she was trying to keep her eyes on the Queen of Pain. Harley had to remember to lock in that nickname for Trinity when she came back as well. Harley quickly scanned the party once more taking note of the location of the children of Poseidon in case hazards occurred. The likelihood was slim but just in case. Couldn't be too careful and all that.

Harley trudged back to the fire. She had caught glimpse of a girl alone making sand castles but she certainly didn't seem lonely, and more content in her world. Part of Harley wished sandcastles could be that fun for her too. So she chose not to intrude on that activity and keep walking, up to the logs and beside Raven. “Hello lady and gent,” she greeted the pair she instead chose to intrude upon and took a seat on Raven's other side. “Good to see you both make an appearance. Even if parties aren't our particular scene and we don't feel festive.” Most parties were about energy and drinking but those two were happily situated in the same place since she had last seen them. Personally Harley could never achieve such an act.

---

xxxxx E V E L Y N xx M A S T E R S

xxDaughter of Nemesis | Outift | #a10b6d

"Usually, people don't come to me at all. I don't have friends, so if anyone were to approach me, they would probably want something. Like you; you want to know how I would respond to your really forward advances, and maybe you might find me abnormal and wonder, 'who the fuck is this person?'" Even with it all supposedly figured out, the youngest demigod eyed her like an ill motive was lurking at heart. "If you wanted to know, I do indeed find you nosy."

Evelyn let the young and fiery demigod have her say without interruption, she was entitled to her voice and opinion no matter how abrupt, and Evelyn had asked for it and of course she hadn't expected a pleasant review to depart the blonde's mouth. But she had provided the truth and with that, throughout their interaction thus far, evidence to why she didn't have friends. Still, Eve wasn't completely repelled from her yet.

After a moment of eyeing the coolers, McKenna had her response. "I highly doubt that you have any rakija in there."

While luck could be as good as witchcraft and Evelyn had prompted for something from the daughter of Hephaestus's home, she hunched rakija wasn't exactly juice or water. Evelyn couldn't draw out her company's exact age, although the way she acted pitted against the world or the people in it she could almost fool people she was older, Evelyn knew she was youthful and considered a minor in majority of lands across the globe. Besides, even if Evelyn was compelled to give her an alcoholic beverage, she had a big protective brother with eyes like a hawk.

She sighed slightly when it was her turn to speak again, pulling out a bottle of water for herself then sliding away from the cooler with the smallest gesture for McKenna to help herself to an improved range of drinks. If luck befitted her maybe she would find rakija. “I do have a habit of testing people but I wasn't testing you. I was merely interested in why you are the way you are so I chose to ask questions, but in future I'll walk on eggshells around you.” Personally, Evelyn didn't like to waste time tip-toeing around matters, however, she supposed more subtlety could have been implemented. Likewise, she assumed McKenna wouldn't mind her forward advances, but maybe she had misjudged her. “I didn't think sweet, kind smiles and words would do much for you,” she said picking up from her train of thought. “I wanted answers and I got them,” she pointed out evenly.

Evelyn took a sip from her bottle. “I have a great deal of respect for the children of Hephaestus. Engineers and smiths have a role on camp and the world. They're smart.” While the stone-hearted girl nearby did possess such smarts and intelligence, she didn't have all aspects covered to longevity. “My advice would be to make some friends. You'll need someone in your corner. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day. And don't worry, I don't expect it to be me,” Eve stated beating her to the punchline.

After this encounter it was more likely she'd acquire a special distaste for Evelyn.

Duke watched the party from a distance, seeing Ajax take Andy away, the kisses exchanged in the spin the bottle circle, Trinity knock a guy down where he belonged, McKenna and Evelyn talk - if it could be called that, and Alex take Theo a few paces away pawing up and down his arm. Duke winced a little but let it be and averted his gaze. He wasn't her brother and she could make her own decisions.

When he looked forward, Duke found a girl sitting on her own by the shore. He had noticed her before, but to see her still in place and remain alone...Duke began to make his way over slowly, paying a final glance to McKenna while she was in peripheral then heading for the other red head who sat on the sand. Her hair wasn't red, he decided, it was less violent and fiery, it was a gentler shade. It might have been closer to what people counted as strawberry blonde but Duke wasn't a fan of that classification. Before he could make up his mind, he was a few steps away. "Hi there," he greeted as well as warned her to his presence. He slowly sunk to his knees beside her, at first his eyes on her offering a smile, then her structures of sand. "That's pretty impressive. Are you hoping to be an architect one day?" The question could have come off sarcastic, if not for the genuine quality of her creations, how effortless and careful they seemed at once.
Duke snapped himself out his trance and admiration for her work and dusted his hand off to the best of his ability and held it out towards her. "Sorry, I'm Duke. I like to think I have an eye for outstanding people and work." Duke smiled, hoping the girl wouldn't find him rude or intrusive. Even then he sounded like a salesman making fun of himself. "So are you not big on, uh, crowds?" He gestured back to the groups that were slowly dispersing from the game and fire. "Parties?" he guessed in general.

[Isobel Logan] - [#800020] - [Mood]

Isobel was somewhat lost in the dance of her statuesque figures and so didn't notice the flickering shadow that towered over her till a voice rang out in greeting. ”Hi, there.” The sudden sound caused her to jump a little before she offered up a slightly nervous smile in response to his own as the focus of her design carefully sank to one knee in the sand.

”That's pretty impressive. Are you hoping to be an architect one day?” She couldn't help but smile a little more broadly while her pale skin darkened as she blushed. ”Sorry, I'm Duke. I like to think I have an eye for outstanding people and work.” As he finished his introduction she reached out and clasped his hand in hers, doing her best to maintain a firm handshake. In doing so she had lent a little too far forward, causing her other hand to sink a little as he spoke. ”So are you not big on, uh, crowds? Parties?” She pulled her hand back while she made to answer just as her balance gave way and she toppled forward, barely managing to right herself in time but not before she collided somewhat with the Duke.

”Ah, sorry! Sands a smidge wetter than I thought there.” She mumbled as she pulled herself back into a more stable position, glancing down at where her stumble at broken one side of her castle and disrupted the dance of her statues. ”Thanks, I've always had a talent for sculpture. It's no so much the crowds, nor the parties ye ken. It's just been a lot to take in, lot to go through. And I divent know who people is.” She shrugged her shoulders and gave him a crooked smile before continuing. ”Given who we are. A suppose we've all lost stuff afore we come here, maybe that’s why we're sent here. Soes them we love don't find themselves in the crossfire.” She could feel herself starting to ramble, words tumbling out over eachother as if a dam inside her was starting to break.

”Ye must think I'm an idiot. A wee lass playing in the sand on 'er own.” She glanced around as the light from the fire behind Duke was becoming dull as it died down. ”Seems we're nearing the last still out, party must be coming to a close. Time for us to head back?”

"For a self proclaimed dick, you're quite the gentleman." Mason frowned. He never called or thought himself a dick directly. Sure he knew he was rough around the edges and other people thought he was a dick but... a thank you probably would have sufficed from Kalani. Maybe that one 'I hate everyone equally' comment had painted that picture. Andy and Trinity would have just laughed. Andy would probably bump him and tell him to lighten up and Trinity would nod and probably chime 'me too.' "Oh and by the way, I've never had that happen to me," she answered. "I'm pretty good at getting what I want." She winked and spun on her heel. Yes, the spoiled children of Aphrodite were. "See ya Mason."
"See ya, Ani."

His dialogue with Emery was no better, the small brunette turning into a mini sass queen. "My knight in shining armour. I'd be so terrified of what lurks in the dark forest if you weren't here." She giggled. This is what he got for being nice. "You don't have to if you don't want to, but a walk up the hill together would be nice." Mason fell in step with Emery as his answer. He wouldn't have risked offering if he didn't want to go a step further with the daughter of Artemis.

To his last question, she began to answer, "I didn't really have anyone in mind. Just joined for a bit of fun. Although if you know anyone that's interested in me you should let me know, I could have a little fun while I'm here at camp."
Mason grinned. "Is fun code for fling in this instance?" He guessed in her slightly more scrambled brain it was. "Don't worry, I'll let you know. I'm very 'in the loop'."

When they reached her cabin, Emery turned and leaned against the doorframe to face him. "Thanks for protecting me from lions, tigers, and bears, oh my," she said and Mason smiled sadly. He hoped she didn't feel the less pleasurable effects of alcohol in the morning. "You're a good egg," she concluded, throwing her hand lazily into his shoulder or something like that, and afterwards stumbling into her cabin. Mason lurched forward to help but she had enough composure to give a final, "Goodnight!" call and to shut the door behind her.

He let himself laugh quietly and headed back to his cabin. He must've sat up in bed for a couple more hours at least. Not doing anything really except waiting for his mind to go blank and sleep to take him. Mason didn't have nightmares anymore but he was afraid of them.

____________________________________________________________________

When he finally convinced himself to get up, the next conviction was much more of a press. That being to get out of his cabin and his stomach argued that point largely. He sighed out letting the need for food win again but not before getting changed. If throwing on the closest shirt and whatever slacks counted.

On his way to the hall, Mason spotted a girl on her own lapping up the sunshine and fresh air. He couldn’t recall her name regrettably but she was eye capturing without trying to be. She never made a scene of herself and he knew little about her, except that he was intrigued by her. Keep walking, keep walking, he told himself. Mason kept watching her. Then there was no mental tear about it as Kalani approached her instead. He'd have to high-five the girl or something at some stage for making the decision easier.

In the dining area, there were a few odd bodies already in place, including Emery, feigning interest on her phone, a clever avoidance technique from conversation, and Harley. He sighed out and found his own seat.

---

They shook hands firmly which gave the girl some brownie points with Duke. But just as easily, things took a turn. He jolted in attempt to catch her but the mini collision had already happened and been resolved just as quickly before he could respond.
”Ah, sorry! Sands a smidge wetter than I thought there.” He only smiled and shook his head to communicate no harm was done, unlike the effect on her castle and statues. Maybe he should have apologized. ”Thanks, I've always had a talent for sculpture. It's no so much the crowds, nor the parties ye ken. It's just been a lot to take in, lot to go through. And I divent know who people is.” He gave a nonchalant gesture as he found himself trying to repair and rebuild her castle wall. ”Given who we are. A suppose we've all lost stuff afore we come here, maybe that’s why we're sent here. Soes them we love don't find themselves in the crossfire.”

He sighed out. "I think the point of a party," he emphasized to keep their topics less soul bearing, but in no way ignoring the girl's observation of why half of them were there, "aside from an excuse to drink, is to meet people and, uh...what do people say? Let down their hair?" He furrowed his brows. All those snazzy expressions and lingos weren't his territory.

”Ye must think I'm an idiot. A wee lass playing in the sand on 'er own.” Duke laughed. Not in a cruel way though. He had to admit, many people of their demographic didn't play in the sand alone or at a party but he didn't think that made her an idiot. ”Seems we're nearing the last still out, party must be coming to a close. Time for us to head back?”

Duke glanced over his shoulder. And so the party was, but the dying fire and party couldn't hold his attention. "Different is good. And you can head back..." he begun, palming over a heap of sand to start his own castle "whenever you like." Duke raised his hand towards the bonfire, giving it new life and passion to light up the beach for them once again. He grinned towards fire then his company. "So for reference do I call you wee lass or do you have a real name?"

It took some time for Duke to project his vision on his castle, especially working with something as small and delicate as grains of sand that fell through his hand or off the sides, but he made it work eventually. Once his task was complete, he climbed to his feet and offered the girl a hand up and walked her to cabin, bid her goodnight then went to his cabin for the night.

____________________________________________

It had crossed his mind in the morning to knock on McKenna's door and ask her if she wanted to grab some breakfast together, but he thought it best to leave her be. She could have already been engaged and committed in an experiment, her work or simply enjoying a sleep-in.

Duke kept walking and stumbled upon no other than Alex. Doing a workout by the looks of things, using a limb of a tree to pull herself up. "You got to engage your core," he said and automatically held his as demonstration. "Don't pull up on momentum, pull up with these."

[Isobel Logan] - [#800020] - [Mood]

After making a complete fool of herself she'd been worried her new friend would thing less of her but if anything he'd only found her amusing. His attitude seemed friendly enough and given her current lack of stability it felt nice to have a connection to someone who had probably been through similar troubles. She'd become a little lost in her own thoughts so she almost missed what he said back to her but smiled as she took in his complement. ”Different is good. And you can head back... whenever you like.”

She glanced down to see what his hands were doing and cocked her head as she examined the structure, planning out in her head the most effective ways for it to develop. To Isobel it felt equally calming for them as she watched Duke's castle expand to bring life to his designs. ”So for reference do I call you wee lass or do you have a real name?” She laughed a little before answering, her lyrical voice tinged with giggles as she found the sound of his accent wrapped around the Scottish particularly amusing.

”It's as good a thing ta call me as any. Better than ma given name since I'm only called that if I'm in trouble, but most would call me Isobel.” As she admired Duke's work he stood carefully before leaning down and offering her a hand up. Clasping it firmly she half-pulled and was half-lifted to her feet by her muscular companion before the pair of them began to head towards their respective cabins.

As they walked back towards the fire she turned to him, glancing back to where the sea was beginning to creep further up the beach, and once they'd reached the doors of her cabin she turned to pose a somewhat rhetorical question. ”They say that you can tell a lot about a person by how they set about a task. You're methodical and creative, that's for certain. But I'd expect no less from, what I can only assume is a son of Hephaestos?” She raised her eyebrow slightly before dusting a little bit of lingering soot off his arm, which had been her primary clue before bidding him goodnight and disappearing inside.

---

As she woke to the sound of bird song from outside she tried to decide whether to remain in the safety and warmth of her bed or brave the cold of the world beyond. After some deliberation, during which her stomach made a rather compelling case she set about getting ready to face the rest of the campers in the race for food. Once ready, she grabbed her jacket and headed out into the chill warm morning air; finding it strange to venture out this early without bundling up as she would have often done at home. Turning back, she tossed her jacket onto the couch inside the cabin and instead headed out for food in just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Once at the mess-hall she quickly pilled a plate with a stack of bacon, a couple of waffles and some pancake before making a beeline for an empty table and little off to the side. Once her tray was down she went back for a mug of tea, as well as a little cluster of grapes and some toast which she used to make a couple of bacon sarnies with. Satisfied with her haul she slowly began to work her way through it, taking sips of her tea between mouthfuls.

xxxM C K E N N A x K O V A Č E V I Ćxxx• x #79A696 x •

---

"I do have a habit of testing people," Evelyn openly admitted, causing McKenna to raise an eyebrow, "but I wasn't testing you. I was merely interested in why you are the way you are so I chose to ask questions, but in future I'll walk on eggshells around you. I didn't think sweet, kind smiles and words would do much for you." At least she had common sense. "I wanted answers and I got them."

"I'd do that too, if I were you," McKenna commented indifferently, avoiding the alcohol. She had to admit that she and her company were similar in that sense.

Evelyn lifted her bottle to her lips, taking a sip. "I have a great deal of respect for the children of Hephaestus. Engineers and smiths have a role on camp and the world. They're smart. My advice would be to make some friends. You'll need someone in your corner. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day. And don't worry, I don't expect it to be me,” the redhead stated, almost reading McKenna's mind. McKenna would never admit it, but she was mildly impressed. Evelyn knew just how to act around her and did just that. It wasn't everyday that something like that happened.

"I'll keep that in mind," McKenna replied neutrally. "I'm going back to the cabins; parties aren't my thing." McKenna started to saunter off to the Hephaestus cabin, before pausing and offering a "bye," - rather out of character, but McKenna supposed she could try out pleasantries.

-----

McKenna quietly walked towards her blacksmithing workshop, squinting as she attempted to actually see which way she was going. This was a regular thing for her; it wasn't even dawn, but metalworking was arduous work, and McKenna wanted to get a head start every morning.

Usually, McKenna's morning hours were occupied with sorting through her scrap pile and figuring out what the heck she could do with the stuff she threw in there. Today was no different. After all, she wanted to be productive, but at the same time, it was too early for intensive projects.

McKenna sat down at her desk, turning on the light so she could actually see her hands. She sighed, reaching into her scrap pile and picking up the massive and utterly deformed chuck of metal with a large number four labeled on it. McKenna always went in chronological order from the oldest fuckup to the newest; once a piece of metal was figured out, she would reuse the numbers, but that didn't mean she would go in number order.

McKenna flipped through her notebook, eyes scanning the clearly rushed but surprisingly neat Serbian scrawl. At last, she found the correct page, peering at the extensive list she at made.

Sterling silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper), McKenna began reciting in her mind, titanium, cast iron (4% carbon), zinc, cobalt, tungsten. The metals McKenna used in this particular piece were rather common and relatively easy to work with, especially in comparison to some other metals she had tried to put to good use. The metals weren't fully combined yet; she could still salvage some of the pure tungsten, along with the titanium and a bit of cobalt.

As the sun rose, McKenna melted a line between the salvageable metals and the swirled mess she couldn't identify. She successfully separated a large chuck of tungsten, melting it into one of her molds to later examine for its purity before saving it for later. She did the same to her titanium and cobalt, continuing the process with some of her other failed projects, throwing the metal chunks back into her scrap pile after the easy-to-extract pure metals were removed and melted.

Finally, McKenna took a deep breath, already used to the bad air of her workshop. She glanced at the clock in the corner of the room - she'd best be heading over to the mess hall by now.

By the time McKenna headed over for breakfast, most of the campers were already up and socializing with each other. She grabbed a plate, stacking on a slice of bread along with butter and jam, eggs, and sausages. She definitely wasn't looking forward to capture-the-flag; sure, McKenna knew that as a daughter of Hephaestus, her strength was something to be admired despite her small stature, but nonetheless, McKenna wasn't all too well-versed in combat. She preferred to work behind the scenes, using her inventions and wit to win her battles instead of physical combat.

xxxK E U N x S E U N G - M I Nxxx• x #149f96 x •

---

Seung-min woke up to Exo's "Monster" - the Chinese version, not the Korean one - blaring through his ears. He himself was a bigger fan of Big Bang, if Seung-min were to be completely honest, but Exo wasn't bad at all. Besides, "Monster" (specifically the Chinese version) was the one song he and Lois consistently played during their few months of brooding.

Seung-min groaned, wildly slapping his hand around in attempt to stop the alarm. He constantly tried to get up earlier, but it was easier said than done. Seung-min really admired those people who could get up before dawn and be able to work; unfortunately, he was not one of them.

Seung-min yawned; he had finally managed to stop his alarm, but by that point, he spent so much time flailing that he had woken himself up too much to fall back asleep again. He muttered under his breath, attempting to get out of bed, only to have his legs tangled in the sheets and he tumbled to the ground.

"Ow..." he groaned, slamming a hand against his forehead. Seung-min attempted to wriggle out of his blankets, but only managed to get himself more tangled up. Damn. Seung-min was probably the only person on Earth who had so much trouble with his sheets.

To make things easier for himself, Seung-min teleported himself out of the tangled mess, grabbing his blanket and tossing it back on the bed. He paused for a few moments, before fixing up the blanket to make it neater before skipping towards his closet. He selected a casual outfit, finishing it off with one of his beloved bandanas.

Seung-min headed to the mess hall, piling on food on his plate, wolfing some of it down in the process. He made sure to grab an Cappuccino. Seung-min looked around the mess hall, before his eyes finally landed on a petite redhead. With his typical bright smile, he approached the woman and the table she was sitting at.

"Hey!" he greeted amicably, offering his boxy grin. "Mind if I join you?"

[Isobel Logan] - [#800020] - [Mood]

”Hey! Mind if I join you?” The sound of a rather loud greeting just above her caused her to stare up at the newcomer with a somewhat perplexed expression and a mouthful of food. ”Um, sure?” Her voice was muffled as she did her best to talk around the remains of a slice of a bacon before swallowing it down with a hastily gulpped swig of tea.

Now that she wasn't impaired she was much better positioned to welcome her fellow table occupier ”Hey, I'm Isobel. Kinda new and pretty lost round here. What's your name? I heard people talking about there being some sorta team-building thing-a-ma-jig today?” Her accent tinged each word causing the R's and O's to elongate a little as if they were being sung rather than spoken. While she waited for a response she decided to take a slightly more dignified sip of tea and contemplated going back for a refill.

xxxK E U N x S E U N G - M I Nxxx• x #149f96 x •

---

"Um, sure?" the redhead's perplexed tone was slightly muddled by the food in her mouth. Seung-min grinned as she took a swig of her tea, sliding into the seat across from the redhead.

"Hey, I'm Isobel," the redhead introduced, now that she wasn't busy eating. Seung-min nodded in acknowledgement, giving Isobel his full attention. "Kinda new and pretty lost round here. What's your name? I heard people talking about there being some sorta team-building thing-a-ma-jig today?”

"Hey, Isobel!" Seung-min greeted cheerfully. "Mind if I call you Izzy? If you don't like nicknames, that's totally fine, but I always give my friends nicknames - 'cause full names can be a bit formal, you know? Anyway, I'm Seung-min Keun, and as of now, I'm seventeen!" Seung-min took a swig of his coffee before continuing. "If you'd like, you can call be Seung, but I'm not terribly fond of that nickname. Sometimes, people call me Seung-minnie 'cause they think it's cute - to be honest, though, it kinda is. I'm from South Korea, by the way - Daegu, to be exact. I think my English is pretty good, but sometimes I can have a Korean accent. Speaking of accents, yours is really cool! Where are you from?" Seung-min quickly swallowed a piece of bacon, putting a pause in his long spiel. "I can be a bit talkative, I admit, but I'm really interested about new people! But answering your question about the team building thing, I'm not completely sure, but I think it's something about capture-the-flag? Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be a blast!" The Korean boy sipped at his coffee, chewing some of his bacon before speaking up once more. "Oh, I almost forgot!" Seung-min stuffed a bit more food in his mouth, making sure to swallow before he continued once again. "I'm Hermes' kid! Who's your godly parent?"

He headed to the hall with a large bag over his shoulder prompting the camp attendees outside to follow him as he passed so he could make the announcement. Other staff patrolled the camp rounding the strays up or those that chose to slumber in their cabins.

Once he was burrowed in towards the back of the hall, he begun. "Excuse me." He cleared his throat. "Excuse me." Having little success to gain their focus that way, he whistled loudly, its sound easily carrying through the hall.
"Great. Now, it has come to my attention that the camp has been making ill on its promises to help harness and flourish your powers and provide exciting activity. So today, we play an extreme capture the flag. And yes it's mandatory that you participate. As elementary as that may sound, you need it. Welcome to camp. The teams will be split up in two.."

He cleared his throat and read from his list. "The Red Spartans: Alexandria, Andromeda, Dominick, McKenna, Ji-hyun, Sloane, Theo, Harleen, Finley, Atticus, Adrianna, Kalani, Elias, Nikoloas, Lise, Mason."

He looked up from his list expecting the groans to roll in but protesting would get them nowhere.

"The Blue Trojans: Ajax, Gwendolyn, Trinity, Wesley, Sylas, Annie, Seung-min, Emery, Dimitri, Duke, Keith, Isobel, Mateo, Areum, Raven and Evelyn."

"You die, you lose. You tap out, you lose. You get your color taken from you, you lose and come back to the hall and watch." He dropped his bag with a grunt on a nearby table with a clatter. "Your colors are at your base. These are your weapons. You do not have to use a weapon, they will not be given to you. You can use your powers." He smirked a little. "Welcome to the Hunger Games." The reference to the gripping YA book probably went over at least half the camp attendants heads. Most didn't give reading the time of day, and those that did read probably didn't concern themselves with something so modernized, their noses either stuck in the air or buried in work of literature and ancient tales instead.
Alaric was mostly referring to the cornucopia aspect. The weapons would be scattered among the woods and there’s for the taking, most of which were right at the center of the woods, gleaming and beckoning to be taken in the crossfire.
The camp attendees could figure out for themselves that the pain they could experience would be no more than a phantom pain via the weapons, traps and beasts that the very gods themselves, and some demigods designed and helped set up.

It would be best to see them treat it as real as possible.

"Do not go for fatal blows on each other," he warned as the final and only rule. A demigod turning on another demigod that way was vicious and cruel, and Alaric as well as other staff had no tolerance for it. It had no place in their camp.
"There are currently some hostile beasts prowling the woods," he assured in case anyone was disheartened by the idea of no-fatality experience. However, their very jaws and beings were enchanted so when they clamped down on a demigod fatally, they'd be warped straight to the hall. "You have two minutes to get to the woods, get your colors on, hide your flag within these perimeters," he pointed to the map's red and blue colored area on opposite ends of each other -AKA their bases, "devise a plan and create a universal safe word if you have to."

"I hope you're all awake, because time starts now."

---

"No offense taken. But with similar respect, the same could be said of a Hades child."
It was refreshing to come across someone so wise and Mason nodded with the statement to show, likewise, no offense was taken. "But, you can rest assured when I give someone my word, I follow through," Sylas added taking another grape from his bowl. "And I don't scare easily. I'm not frightened of a little bit of lightening."
Mason found himself nodding again and shrugging. Many would claim so. Jenn wasn't scared of lightening but the psycho bitch cut her head off. If you weren't scared of lightening and submissive to the spawns of Zeus they were particularly hostile because you didn't spoon-feed their massive egos.

"I think allies would be a more appropriate term. Friends aren't really in my wheel house. And no, I don't expect you to just trust me. Trust and friendship is earned... Not freely given."
"That it is." Giving Sylas another look over Mason guessed they wouldn't evolve to such a stage. Keeping things business or as strictly allies would fit them both best. Worry of each other likely wouldn't come into the picture until after the Valises were gone. But who knew what the future held.

"Well, I mean we could simply just corner one of them... Stab stab. Job's done." Thankfully his lack of enthusiasm demonstrated that was among the most plain ideas and not a real one. "That lacks... Creativity, for lack of a better term. Sure, death is the end goal but we don't want it to be swift and merciful. It's more satisfying destroying someone, breaking them down and ruining them, root and stem."
What did he think Mason was doing? In addition to waiting for the right moment to present itself, he was trying some behind the scenes works.But he liked that Sylas liked the slower route. It was a bit more of a gamble but if it was a job done right, it would be most rewarding.
"I don't know how devious you are... But, I liked the idea of turning everyone they love against them."
Mason actually threw his hands up in the air and gestured to the hall. "Thank you! Finally someone gets it! I know I'm pretty but I haven't been spending my time doing my hair and flossing my teeth and solely thinking of ways to kill them." Mason hadn't exactly been targeting people they love to turn against them either, for the sheer fact that he couldn't even stand to be in radius of a Valis worshiper and they were harder to convert.
Actually, Mason was doing little in truth. He was just being a bit more social and charming and Alex already did the murdering. Mason did have one good asset though, however that was more an ace up the sleeve for him.

After a long moment in thought with his tongue pressed to his cheek, he spoke again. "I wouldn't mind dying to make a point. Providing old Pops brings me back." The camp needed to see the monsters under the surface. That it wasn't a one off thing. Like Sylas he wanted to ruin and bury their reputations and ruin the trust fellow demigods mistakenly placed in them. And sure, just to make it really burn, make their world collapse, turn the people they love against them.

Then, a staff member paced through the hall capturing Mason's attention. As he could have guessed, he was on a mission. Once he gathered everybody's attention, he laid out the task ahead.

It was in moments like so where Mason really had to reflect on his life choices, or certainly the choice of returning to camp and not killing Zeus's kids. Now he was teamed up with the one he despised most of all. At first he was consumed in hatred and distaste but eventually it evolved to a glimpse of opportunity. Extreme capture the flag meant full contact. In this case, it meant letting the demigods run wild like animals. Mason glanced back to Sylas. "Is the boy next door facade still staying on in the heat of competition?" He smirked and got up. Now was the time to see what those twins were made of that so easily slipped under the radar.

His legs carried him there automatically and he was in another head space entirely, even as he wrapped the band around his arm. Except when he had to tune in on the team speech, Mason supposed that might have been important. Important to feign attention in anyway as winning or losing didn't really matter to him. How many rematches could happen down the track, and what did winning really prove? That you had a good team and the right players? That they were lucky? Mason crossed his arms and waited for any outgoing brains to take initiative.

---

Two minutes!? Duke paced off to what was temporarily known as the Blue Trojan's base. He wasn't going to hide the flag, leaving that duty instead to the likes of Ajax or better, Seung-min. He pulled a blue bandanna and wrapped it around his forearm.

Duke pressed his tongue to his cheek on his little over-eager team. The hype was good, but they needed a strategy implemented, especially when the opposing team had the likes of Lise and McKenna. "We need defenders, attackers and maybe a mid-field. We also need to consider our biggest threats. Harleen, she's quick, she's deft, you dont want your band taken off you without knowing you've even been touched. Likewise, Andy, military brat and witch, she'll be more confrontational and physical, keep your wits about you. Kalani can seduce you, stay focused. Adrianna, I've never seen her competitive side but I can guess she has one, and not to underestimate her." He gestured to Mateo because the very same applied to him. Then again who wasn't a threat? He gave up. "Take out the Spartans brains, healers and manipulators first, then deal with the brutes. They probably think we're a confrontational side too, that we're going in with guns blazing, but let's try to be a little more subtle. Travel in pairs if you can. Not attached at the hip though." If there was an ambush, he’d prefer one teammate to go down and not a collective of them.
"Wes, Raven, Dimitri, Isobel cover the middle, please." Together the four made a disarming pair, and a protective one too if they accessed the right emotions and triggers, and powers of course.
"Emery, Seung-min, Sylas and Evelyn, you're our secret weapons. Aim for the Spartan's flag. Avoid the heat of the battle if you can, use evasive or defensive techniques." The four could get creative. Their gifts and applications were always a surprise and they weren't the type that urged an immediate threat. "Ajax, Trinity; they'll be expecting us. Let's not disappoint." They were probably the renowned biggest war-heads. Without them near the front line of battle, the opposition would get suspicious about their presence.
"Daniel -uh, Keith, stay as a line of defense. Gwendolyn, I think you'd make a strong offense but it depends where you want to go, you'd know where you're best kept. Annie, I think we need you to press forward too. Look after our assault team and stun some opponents. If that makes you uncomfortable, stay back with Keith."
Duke looked between the remainder of Areum and Mateo. The demigods whose attitude he most struggled to grasp. Daniel needed some help in defense, but he felt their usefulness could be better spent elsewhere. In the middle as both offensive and defensive forces.

Then he caught himself, swept up in heat of the moment. "That's my suggestion anyway," he said so the more sensitive didn't kick up a fuss about him taking lead on a strategy or 'ordering them around'. After all, he was no child of Athena or son of Zeus. "Anybody else got an idea?"

---

Keith tried not to be so evaluating and calculating of the new state of camp. It seemed to bustle with a few more energetic bodies than last year and definitely a few more brooding faces and vibes. He felt his heart sink in the knowledge that it'd be hard to make friends. There seemed so little room for the socially awkward and everybody else already had established their "clique".

Sometimes the camp could be exceptionally boring and dull, but that was something he simply had to endure like everyone else and hope the next day would be more rewarding. His degree of boredom would just be more though. His lips pressed in a line and he plucked out his earphones and shuffled through his phone for a tune that could ignite his soul. Keith smiled slightly when he found it. Some would argue it was a little too swaggerish for him but part of him really liked it and had a guilty pleasure listening to JT.

The son of Hecate traveled through camp territory for another year of learning and fighting evil, having to suppress the urge to walk in rhythmic bounces and pull some Michael Jackson move. He made his way to hall, typically the central congregation point of people, new and regular. That, plus some staff waved him over to and pointed to it.

Some larger species of male had bumped him. "Daniel," they said casually, but he was bowing to the ground to retrieve his glasses that were knocked down on impact. He carefully placed them back on the bridge of his nose, surprised to see the brute had actually taken to stop and staring. For a round two, he prayed not.
Keith slowly rose and for some time it seemed they just stared at each other. "I'm sorry," Keith said finally and spun on his heel to take an extended detour. It wasn't worth getting his teeth knocked out and he didn't want to cause any trouble. Keith had spent some time in the gym on his holidays and become a bit more solid in build, but it was nothing that girls would second look or enough to engage in a fist-fight confidently. The hall would still be there too. He wasn't missing anything.

When he slid into the hall an announcement was happening, and he shrunk into the wall then nestled into a corner and slowly pulled out his earplugs. An extreme mandatory capture the flag...what could go wrong. Inside, Keith wanted to die there and then or dissolve into a puddle. It was like high school P.E class and the untalented still had to participate even when no one really wanted them on the team, and they didn't really want to participate, and the teachers were the only ones that thought it was a good idea in the entire universe. He sighed out and was the first to exit the hall and make his way to blue base.

Duke started rattling off a plan, and while he was smart and confident and that was semi-contagious when it came to his plan, Keith was super insecure about being the last line of defense by guarding the base especially by his lonesome. That was enough pressure for him to develop a twitch and have a nervous breakdown. But externally, there was no more displayed than light levels of anxiety.

xxxx T R I N I T Y xx W A L L A C E

xx Trojans | Ares | Outfit | #461f4b

"You know, it's not like we're attached at the hip," Andy remarked quite sassily. And while they weren't, they did look to be having certain fun last night so she just especially figured..."It's complicated. I'll tell you about it after training."

Uh-oh. Trinity nodded understandingly.

"Sorry to interrupt. I've just got a quick question for you Trinity. You up for a run tomorrow morning? We're both here, and well just doesn't seem right to not know anything about my half sister, ya know?"

Part of her was compelled to jump right out of her seat and stand to attention for her half-brother but that might have been weird. “Hundred per cent,” Trinity assured with a nod and just as she was about to gesture for him to sit, a staff member strode into the Hall.

The more Alaric spoke, the more she was enthused. In days like so, Trinity admired camp for its lively and challenging nature. It had been what felt like forever since there was some ultimate challenge. And a team one at that. Something that tested them physically and mentally.

"Looks like I'll be seeing you all on the battle field."

"Yeah, she's stuck with me. Hell of a trade."

Trinity bumped her elbow into him and smiled. Then Andy snapped her fingers and was in battle gear. "Oh, shoot... You guys don't have armor. That sucks. Good luck guys. I hope, for your sakes, I don't come across you all on the battlefield."

Once she was out of sight and ear range, Trinity scowled. “Bloody witches.” Then her gaze flickered back to Elias. “Hope you bring your A game, champ. I honestly look forward to seeing what you can do.” Maybe Elias could mirror her own potential.

_______________________________________________________________

Trinity was so immersed in the plan of action by Duke, she felt his logic made sense providing you drew the lines and reasoning together for yourself. Granted, half of it probably would be improvised.

"Looks like I won't be your burden today Blondie. You're on offense... And I'm... Whatever the middle is." He gave her a nudge and chuckled.

She rolled her eyes playfully and bumped him back. “I'm bait, Wesley Preston and the middle is good.” Trinity spoke Duke's language. The middle could be offensive and defensive forces.

Also due to being immersed in all things war and winning, Daniel’s existence didn’t hit her radar until Wes appeared in her ear. "Uhhh... When did this happen? Does Andy know?"

Trinity looked around then saw the source and cocked her head. How subdued he was, the glasses…but that face! She couldn’t help but frown and stare. “He would have mentioned something if he had a twin, right?” Trinity glanced up to Wes questioningly then back to this Keith.

Slowly she tore her eyes away from him and back to the group as Sylas piped up. That's why he wants you behind the scenes, she rebutted in her head with a scowl. Then Ajax with the most disarming of statements. "I'll hang back, just in case any stragglers get through."

She waited for his change of heart but it didn't come. Trinity's eyes darted back to Duke, almost feeling guilty to announce her views now. “I'm happy to push forward as my primary role, and I will do it, but I'd also like to be a spare. Go where I'm needed you know.” Trinity gestured towards Wes with her head and grinned, immediately patting him on the back.

“Also, as a bit of a forewarning, some of the reds are equipped with light armor but even through armor there's weakness,” she assured her team. “And I know from experience a few of them like to take vantage points so it should go without saying but be mindful where you are.”

Trinity wrapped her color around her like a buckle then held another blue out for Wes. “Where do you want it?” As she tied it around him, Trinity spoke. “Seriously though, Wes, use your powers and be an ass because people won't give you the same mercy.” Trinity felt defeated even telling him that. He could be a stubborn one even when his moral code had no place on the battlefield. “If they're in red, they're the enemy,” she muttered aloud her own logic that probably did nothing to likes of Wes. She grabbed his chin. “Don't make me have to give you rage,” she teased. She just wanted him to look after himself to the best of his ability.

Before Trinity headed her separate ways from the team, Trinity grabbed Ajax’s shoulder but looked beyond him, painting the picture that they were talking no more than battle strategy or casual. “You okay, you seem kind of out of it?” She asked lowly.

Evidently something was the matter but it just came down to whether he wanted to share or not. Trinity looked longingly to her calling of the vast vegetation that she had to travel to get to the Spartans base. “I got to go but...stand strong.” Trinity rose a fist mid air then started covering the ground she lost.

---

xxxxx H A R L E E N xx T H E O D O S

xxSpartans | Hermes | Outift | #51849C

An announcement had never filled her with such joy. Normally they were long winded, boring, or on the topic of an incident or welcoming speech but it was capture the flag along with the teams and guidelines.

“See ya on the flip side.” She saluted to Mateo beaming, and without losing a beat headed to the Spartans base.

Once there, it was Theo that took the reins when she expected a plan to come from Alex or Lise. But the Son of Artemis..it was a nice curveball especially when he spoke such strategy and edge. Harley saluted when he gave her her role. She could definitely make heads spin. Now she was just itching to put that plan in effect alongside her teammates.

When they were all on the same page, Harley didn't waste time darting off and neither did Alex which she assumed would be her complementing pair. Harley had lost the brunette regrettably but no matter, Harley was quite capable of being an independent scout and she could always speed back and forth to tell their defensive line how things were looking or if she found that blue flag. Just then her foot landed on something and before the rope could seize her by the ankle she skipped out of it just in time.

Handsome director Alaric neglected to mention there were traps laying about. But Harley found it all the more exciting. She grinned wickedly and sped off to see what else she could find.

---

xxxxx E V E L Y N xx M A S T E R S

xxTrojans | Nemesis | Outift | #aa237b

After smugly enjoying her specially made breakfast, a higher member of camp entered the hall and took over the show. Unfortunately a dreadful announcement came from such a handsome face. However, it did spike her intrigue.

_____________________________________________________________

Any feeling of content, peace, even the mundane and boredom was erased in seconds as she lay eyes on a particular male with glasses. Evelyn felt like time stopped around her, there was no air, no space, everything seemed to drop, including her heart. It wasn't because he was good looking, though he was a fine specimen, but it was her instincts that plummeted and knotted at the same time.

Evelyn restrained herself from approaching him however, it was too hard to identify what her instincts were alerting her to. It wasn't bad like when she locked eyes with Eris's son and Hades child, but it was unsettling. Evelyn would remain at distance to observe him some more for now, who he mingled with or who approached him and gain more of a sense from there. She wasn't dumb enough to walk into the void of the unknowing. Besides, the game required her attention and Duke wanted her as a secret weapon. To become and serve as a shadow player. So that is what she would do.

Only after she voiced her own idea for an edge. “Can we join hands for a moment or touch? It’s not to pray, I promise you.”

Evelyn touched the closest team members on their upper arms. Those that did link up were so rewarded with heightened senses aside from touch and taste. She found when those senses were manipulated it made people paranoid or in a state of awe, it served as only a distraction and presently they needed focus. With their hearing, sight and smell peaked they could be more attuned to danger. Building on what Trinity informed them to - the armor and vantage points, it seemed they could use it.

“I don’t know much about war strategy but I think we have a strong team to use misdirection to our advantage.” Evelyn wasn't exactly sure what she could do yet, but in the moment, she had a feeling she'd know how to tip the scales in the blues favor.

Once the meeting of sorts was adjourned she trudged her way out wide.

xxxM C K E N N A x K O V A Č E V I Ćxxx• x #79A696 x •

---

McKenna raised an eyebrow when the names of the people on her team were listed off, but didn't comment on it. The blonde sighed softly, standing up and heading to where the rest of the so-called "Spartans" were grouping up.

A man with dirty blonde hair took charge, speaking up as soon as the team were outside of the other team's earshot. "Okay, so here is what I am thinking. We have the shore on our side. Finley, you know that rock formation out by the cabin with the crevice surrounded by the taller rocks? I think we could hide the flag there. You could pull the tide out the the formation to make it even more complicated to search around there. After the flag is hidden, we need attackers and defenders. . . . Andy, Alex, McKenna, Harleen, Elias, Mason, Lise, and myself would probably be best as attackers. I think we should probably go in pairs too. Think about who could complement you well. Elias, I think I'd like to pair with you. I can go from high place to high place covering your back as you control things in close range on the ground. We should all spread out and canvas the area, looking for the flag, and trying to knock out their defenders."

McKenna herself didn't care too much for teamwork, or this game in general, but she supposed she could make some effort and not act like a useless piece of jello. At first thought, McKenna decided to go solo; however, she wasn't exactly the best combatant, despite her fire powers.

"Hey," she called out to Lise insouciantly. "Wanna pair up?"

xxxK E U N x S E U N G - M I Nxxx• x #149f96 x •

---

Before the redhead could respond, the bustling conversations were interrupted by a loud whistle. After the announcement, Seung-min turned back to Isobel, grinning sheepishly.

"Guess we gotta go do this capture-the-flag thing," he said cheerfully, getting up from his seat. "C'mon, let's go."

Seung-min, with the typical bounce to his step, approached where the other Trojans were gathering as Duke began to speak. "We need defenders, attackers and maybe a mid-field. We also need to consider our biggest threats . . . Take out the Spartans brains, healers and manipulators first, then deal with the brutes. They probably think we're a confrontational side too, that we're going in with guns blazing, but let's try to be a little more subtle. Travel in pairs if you can. Not attached at the hip though . . . Emery, Seung-min, Sylas and Evelyn, you're our secret weapons. Aim for the Spartan's flag. Avoid the heat of the battle if you can, use evasive or defensive techniques."

Seung-min grinned; he saw no problem with the plan, and his role would definitely play to his strengths. Sylas and Evelyn left on their own, leaving behind the Korean boy and Emery behind. "Do you want to pair up?" the brunette proposed, taking the words right out of Seung-min's mouth. "If you can transport people we could move fairly quickly - and I'm good with a weapon so I could cover you. Provided we find any weapons. Well. Even if I can't get one, I can heal and I'm good at tracking. It might not be hard to find their flag if we can look at how they're defending and find the center. And be fast, of course."

She began heading towards the woods, walking backwards so she was still facing Seung-min. "So what say you and I get out of this place and go defeat some demigods?"

Seung-min grinned his usual boxy grin. "You got it," he cheered, following his partner. "Let's go kick some Spartan ass."