*temp liedtoathena false *temp lovedad false *temp dancewith false *temp melancholic false *temp sanguine false *temp phlegmatic false *temp choleric false *temp sitwcal false *temp sitwgang false *temp dancealone false *temp danceaeson false *temp dancesaint false *temp dancecally false *temp danceadonis false *temp danceavery false *temp dancesage false *temp activity 0 *temp betdrach10 false *temp betdrach50 false *temp betdrach100 false *temp cutpalm false *set togglescenefade false *image http://i.imgur.com/gsv4EL8.png [b][i]You open your eyes.[/i][/b] *if withathena = true "$!{name}?" Athena asks. "What's wrong?" You are back in Asclepius Hospital, Athena staring at you with wide eyes. You grip the side of the hospital bed, your head spinning. [i]What the hell was that?[/i] you wonder. *if withathena = false You are back in Asclepius Hospital, you realize. You grip the side of the hospital bed, your head spinning. [i]What the hell was that?[/i] you wonder. [i]Who was that?[/i] *goto talkaboutit *set togglescenefade false *if withathena = true Aeson leans back onto his pillow. He looks just as dazed as you. Athena places a hand on your shoulder. "You should start getting more sleep," she says. "All this running around is doing nothing for your health." You stare blankly at her. "Or..." she begins, narrowing her eyes. "Or was it something else?" *goto lieortelltruth *set togglescenefade false *label lieortelltruth You glance at Aeson, who catches your gaze. You try hard not to look into his eyes, worried you'll get pulled into another sudden...dream? Flashback? Hallucination? You look back to Athena, who observes you intently, as always. *fake_choice #"It was nothing," you say. "You're right about the whole sleep deprivation thing." *set liedtoathena true *set Aeson +10 Athena still looks skeptical. "$!{name} is right, Athena," Aeson says, backing you up. "We're Demigods; it's just another occupational hazard." Athena looks between you two, then nods, mollified. "Well, we'll have to talk about that later. Could you imagine what would happen if you tried to go into the Trials half asleep? You need to take better care of yourself. I have some vitamins I gave to Aeson when he was younger, I could find--" The Goddesses voice seems to fade away. You are lost in your thoughts. *if gender1 = "male" [i]Leon Antoniou...[/i]The name echoes in the back of your mind. *if gender1 = "female" [i]Korrina Spiros...[/i]The name echoes in the back of your mind. *page_break "I'll leave you two alone for a moment," Athena says suddenly, pulling you out of your thoughts. *set togglescenefade false *goto talkaboutit #"I don't know..." you admit. "I think it was a vision." *set Aeson +20 *set togglescenefade false *set liedtoathena false Athena stares at you, blinking. "What ${name} means is," Aeson says, backing you up. "We just experienced one of the Essence's side effects." Athena looks between you two, then narrows her eyes. "What [i]kind[/i] of vision?" You glance at Aeson. "It was sensorial...about the past." Athena pauses, eyes examining your features. "This is...very interesting. I suppose you had a glimpse of the other bodies that you've inhabited. Or maybe it was a brief exposure to the power you unleashed...or maybe--" The Goddesses voice seems to fade away. You are lost in your thoughts. *if gender1 = "male" [i]Leon Antoniou...[/i]The name echoes in the back of your mind. *if gender1 = "female" [i]Korrina Spiros...[/i]The name echoes in the back of your mind. *page_break "I'll leave you two alone for a moment," Athena says suddenly, pulling you out of your thoughts. *goto talkaboutit *label talkaboutit *if withathena = false You look to your left and see Aeson glancing at you as well. You two observe each other in silence, both derailed by the vision. Aeson is the first to speak. *page_break "Gods, I hate that thing," Aeson says, gesturing to the beeping machine next to his bed. *set togglescenefade false *set Aeson +10 *goto nowwhataeson *if withathena = true "But I'll be back," she adds. "We still have much to do today, $!{name}." With that final reminder, the Goddess exits the room. *if liedtoathena = false "Why did you tell her the truth?" Aeson asks, looking at you. *goto whydidyou2 *if liedtoathena = true "Why did you lie to her?" Aeson asks, looking at you. *goto whydidyou *label whydidyou *fake_choice #"It was none of her business," I admit. Aeson nods. "I get that," he says. "It's just...I would have thought you'd tell her everything." "And why did [i]you[/i] lie to her?" "Because you did," he says simply, smiling as if it's answer enough. "Contradicting stories are always messy. The first rule of lying is to get your story straight." *page_break Neither of you speaks for a moment, the machine filling the silence. *goto nowwhataeson #"It was personal," I admit. Aeson nods. "I get that," he says. "It's just...I would have thought you'd tell her everything." "And why did [i]you[/i] lie to her?" "Because you did," he says simply, smiling as if it's answer enough. "Contradicting stories are always messy. The first rule of lying is to get your story straight." *page_break Neither of you speaks for a moment, the machine filling the silence. *goto nowwhataeson #"I honestly don't know," I admit. "I think it was a shock reflex." Aeson nods. "Shock? I get that," he says. "It's just...I would have thought you'd tell her everything." "And why did [i]you[/i] lie to her?" "Because you did," he says simply, smiling as if it's answer enough. "Contradicting stories are always messy. The first rule of lying is to get your story straight." *page_break Neither of you speaks for a moment, the machine filling the silence. *goto nowwhataeson *label whydidyou2 *fake_choice #"I trust her," I admit. Aeson looks at you, a question in his gaze. "You do?" You ignore his skeptism. "And why did [i]you[/i] tell her the truth?" "Because you did," he says simply, smiling as if it's answer enough. "Contradicting stories are always messy. It'd be weird if you said you had some sort of existential crisis and I said I just zoned out for a second." *page_break Neither of you speaks for a moment, the machine filling the silence. *goto nowwhataeson #"I honestly don't know," I admit. "I think it was a shock reflex." Aeson nods. "Shock? I get that," he says. "It's just...I would have thought you'd tell her everything." "And why did [i]you[/i] tell her the truth?" "Because you did," he says simply, smiling as if it's answer enough. "Contradicting stories are always messy. It'd be weird if you said you had some sort of existential crisis and I said I just zoned out for a second." *page_break Neither of you speaks for a moment, the machine filling the silence. *goto nowwhataeson #"I wanted to know if she'd know what was going on," I admit. "She seems to know everything." Aeson smiles. "That's what she says, anyway." "And why did [i]you[/i] tell her the truth?" "Because you did," he says simply, smiling as if it's answer enough. "Contradicting stories are always messy. It'd be weird if you said you had some sort of existential crisis and I said I just zoned out for a second." *page_break Neither of you speaks for a moment, the machine filling the silence. *goto nowwhataeson *label nowwhataeson *if withathena = true "Gods, I hate that thing," Aeson says, gesturing to the beeping contraption. You watch in alarm as he rips out his IV. He rests the needle on his lap, then reaches to take out the other one. "What are you doing?" you ask. "Don't you need that?" Aeson looks up at you, then continues to pull out the IV. "The Healers took care of me a while ago. They just keep this in to subdue me." He then shakes his arm, trying to regulate the blood flow. "It's basically a glorified version of laughing gas." You watch as he eases himself out of bed, only wincing slightly when he rests his foot on the cold linoleum. Aeson turns, looking at you. "What did you see?" Now that he is standing in front of you, you now see that he is a few inches taller than you. "It's not what I saw," you explain, "It's what I experienced." "Who were you?" *fake_choice #"Who were [i]you[/i]?" I ask. Aeson raises an eyebrow, but nods. "I was Paris of Troy. Go figure." *if loveparis = true [i]The Paris that I loved in the vision?[/i] *if gender1 = "female" "I was Korrina Spiros," you admit, the name sounding strange on your tongue. It feels ancient, and familiar all at once. *if gender1 = "male" "I was Leon Antoniou," you admit, the name sounding strange on your tongue. It feels ancient, and familiar all at once. *if loveparis = true You look to Aeson, but see no sign of recognition in his eyes. He must know, but is deciding to avoid the subject... "What do you think it was, exactly?" you ask. "Do you think anything we did altered the past?" Aeson pauses. "I don't think so," he says. "I think it was just a vision. Unless we go into the mortal world and find out that Troy never fell..." Your eyes widen. "Kidding. Kind of...maybe." *page_break Aeson stares at you. #"I was..." *if gender1 = "female" "I was Korrina Spiros," you admit, the name sounding strange on your tongue. It feels ancient, and familiar all at once. *if gender1 = "male" "I was Leon Antoniou," you admit, the name sounding strange on your tongue. It feels ancient, and familiar all at once. Aeson nods, his brows furrowing. "You were in my vision. You showed up a lot, actually." "Who were you?" you ask. Aeson glances at you. "I was Paris of Troy. Figures." *if loveparis = true [i]The Paris that I loved in the vision?[/i] You look to Aeson, but see no sign of recognition in his eyes. He must know, but is deciding to avoid the subject. "What do you think it was, exactly?" you ask. "Do you think anything we did altered the past?" Aeson pauses. "I don't think so," he says. "I think it was just a vision. Unless we go into the mortal world and find out that Troy never fell..." Your eyes widen. "Kidding. Kind of...maybe." *page_break Aeson stares at you. #I cross my arms. Aeson looks to you, weariness on his face. "Well, [i]I[/i] was Paris of Troy." *if loveparis = true [i]The Paris that I loved in the vision?[/i] "What do you think it was?" you ask. "Do you think anything we did altered the past?" Aeson pauses. "I don't think so," he says. "I think it was just a vision. Unless we go into the mortal world and find out that Troy never fell..." Your eyes widen. "Kidding. Kind of...maybe." *page_break Aeson stares at you. "What?" you ask. Aeson shakes his head. You realize now is the best time to ask him a few questions. *label aesonq *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"Where did the Gods send you?" "Lycia," Aeson answers. "Apparently, there was an invaluable artifact they need me to secure.It was hidden among the eggs of a mother Harpy. This is why I hate Mondays; something is always trying to kill me." You raise an eyebrow. "Why would they do that?" "They didn't want me around when they brought you to Olympus, ${name}." *goto aesonq *disable_reuse #"What was the artifact they sent you to get?" "It might as well have been a paperweight," Aeson says, running a hand through his hair. "I asked some of the locals what it was, and they told me it was just an old tooth from a Cyclopse. This is why I hate mondays." "So they lied." "Don't they always?" *goto aesonq *disable_reuse #"Did you know who I was when you saw me?" "Of course I did, subconsciously at least," he says. "I [i]felt[/i] it. You're kind of hard to ignore." *goto aesonq *disable_reuse #"Did you tell Saint not to tell me about the Seekers?" "I did." Aeson admits. "We can't just...tell anyone who wants to know what we actually have knowledge of." "But I'm not just anyone," you point out. "It was nothing personal, ${name}," Aeson says. "I didn't know if you'd have been okay to divulge any information to." "What do you mean?" "They have eyes everywhere," he says. "For all I knew, you could have been wrapped around their fingers." *goto aesonq *disable_reuse #"What was up with the Hero act?" Aeson smiles. "Who says it's an act?" *goto aesonq #You watch as Aeson peaks out the blinds briefly, then takes long strides over to the door. *goto afterq *label afterq He presses his face against it, listening. *if withathena = true You stare incredulously. "And...what are you doing?" "I can't believe she actually left," he says, smiling. He leans against the door in relief, sliding down until he sits on the cold floor. "Hey," you say, trying to get his attention. "[i]What[/i] is going on?" Aeson observes you, looking for something in your expression. Then, he speaks. *page_break "You can't trust them." he says, finally. *if withathena = false You stare incredulously. "And...what are you doing?" "I'm just...checking something." Aeson says. Then, he leans against the door in relief, sliding down until he sits on the cold floor. "Hey," you say, trying to get his attention. "[i]What[/i] is going on?" Aeson observes you, looking for something in your expression. Then, he speaks. *page_break "You can't trust them." he says, finally. "Trust who?" you say, walking over to where he leans against the door. "The Gods," he clarifies. You pause, prompting him to continue. "With Athena...it's complicated," Aeson grimaces. "Honestly, I don't know if she's trying to help me or lead me to an early grave." When you don't reply, he continues. "And my dad is...but besides him, they've all got some hidden agenda." "Why?" you ask finally. "Why don't you trust them?" *if lovegods = true "Why do [i]you[/i] trust them, ${name}?" *if hategods = true "The same reason you don't." *if maybegods = true "The same reason you don't completely trust them, ${name}." You stare at him for a moment, trying to read his expression. His face is mostly calm, but those striking eyes are sharp with caution. He moves away from the door, toward you. "Listen," he begins. "I don't know how much Saint, Calypso, Adonis or whoever it was has told you, but the Trials--" *page_break Athena enters the room, a swirl of warm air following. Aeson doesn't continue his sentence. His face takes on a believably bored expression. *if withathena = true Athena stares at Aeson, then you. "Sorry to interrupt," she says, not sounding sorry at all. "But your father requests your presence." You pause, turning fully to the Goddess. "My dad?" you ask, nearly breathless. "Now?" Athena smiles. "I told you there was more to today." *if withathena = false Athena doesn't seem surprised to find you in here, instead of in school, but she still raises an eyebrow at you, frowning. "I would be lying if I said I was surprised to find you here, ${name}," she says. "But never the less, we have more...pressing matters to attend to. Your father requests your presence." You pause, turning fully to the Goddess. "My dad?" you ask, nearly breathless. "Now?" Athena smiles. "The day has just begun, ${name}." You glance at Aeson, but he's already making his way back to his bed, a faint limp in his step that wasn't there a minute ago. Athena watches him, her eyes narrowed. He smiles his Hero smile at her, white teeth dazzling. Athena takes a hold of your hand, then lifts her own. *page_break The ground falls out from under you. You stand in the God's throne room, the same one you stood in during your summoning. You feel an absence of warmth, and see the Athena is nowhere to be found. You take a step forward on the false ground, the state of Texas staring back at you under a veil of clouds. Only one throne floats before you. Then, a white light shines from behind you. Slowly, you turn. *page_break "$!{name}," your father says. *if ((var2 = true) and (Wit > Strength)) and (Wit > Allure) *set dad1 true Hades stands before you, clad in a tailored black suit. *set dad "child of Hades" *goto heydad *if ((var2 = true) and (Allure > Strength)) and (Allure > Wit) *set dad3 true Zeus stands before you, clad in a regal chiton. *set dad "child of Zeus" *goto heydad *if (var2 = false) *set dad2 true Poseidon stands before you, clad in a casual chiton. *set dad "child of Poseidon" *goto heydad *label heydad You feel your heart begin to beat abnormally. "[i]You?[/i]" you ask, your voice edged. "It's you?" *if dad1 = true Hades grimaces, turning away. "Your voice could cut straight through a man, ${name}." You stare, not speaking. "I assume...I assume you have questions." he says. *if dad2 = true Poseidon glances at you then turns away. "Your voice could summon the largest waves, ${name}." You stare, not speaking. "I assume you have questions." he says. *if dad3 = true Zeus looks you straight in the eyes, his gaze unflinching. "Your voice could command the skies, ${name}." You stare, not speaking. "I assume you have questions." he says. *label dadq *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" *if dad1 = true Hades...[i]your father[/i], finally looks at you, his eyes dark as ever. "When we voted on who would conceive you, we swore to keep the identity a secret until the appropriate time." "So...you're my father, who pretended to be my uncle?" Hades, always in favor of dark humor, smiles at your observation. "In true Greek fashion." *if dad2 = true Poseidon...[i]your father[/i], finally looks at you, his eyes as green as ever. "When we voted on who would conceive you, we swore to keep the identity a secret until the appropriate time." "So you didn't tell me who you were because you pinky swore?" Poseidon, always in favor of light humor, smiles at your observation. "But of course." *if dad3 = true Zeus...[i]your father[/i], blinks look at you, his eyes as blue as ever. "When we voted on who would conceive you, we swore to keep the identity a secret until the appropriate time." "So you kept it a secret all this time?" Zeus nods. "If I of all people broke a promise...then what would keep all the others from breaking their promises?" *goto dadq *disable_reuse #"Who knew besides you and your brothers?" "No one...not even Athena could figure it out. Only my brothers, your mother, and a few trusted individuals knew." *goto dadq *disable_reuse #"My mother?" *if dad1 = true Hades pauses, a pained expression taking over his features. "Yes, your mother." He continues. "Your mother...Priscilla. I suppose we cannot avoid the inevitable." *if dad2 = true Poseidon smiles. "Yes, your mother, Priscilla. I suppose you'd like to know more about her." *if dad3 = true Zeus's face takes on an unreadable expression. "Yes, your mother, Priscilla." There is silence. "Is that all you have to say?" For the first time, Zeus glances away from your gaze. "No...there is much to say." *goto dadq *disable_reuse #"What was she like?" *if dad1 = true Hades glances at you. "If you ask different people, they will tell you different things with an extreme bias. Some will say that she was a plague, spreading quickly and violently. Some will say that she was the last ray of hope for humanity." "And you? What do you say?" you ask. "She is both." *if dad2 = true Poseidon's smile grows. "Do you know the sensation of wind blowing in your face on the beach front?" You nod. "She is that..but she is also the wind that creates a hurricane." *if dad3 = true Zeus pauses. "Priscilla Angelis is an enigma...I wouldn't be able to do her justice in describing her." "Could you try, at least?" "She was perfect." *goto dadq *disable_reuse #"You speak about her as if she's alive..." *if dad1 = true Hades smiles wryly. "I'm the God of the Underworld. No one is ever truly dead." Your eyes widen. "Is that where she is? The Underworld?" Hades pauses. "Yes. And that is where she should [i]stay[/i]." *if dad2 = true Poseidon's smile wavers. "In some way, she is." *if dad3 = true "Someone like her is never truly dead, ${name}," he pauses. "I wish you could see that." *goto dadq *disable_reuse #"Did you love her?" *if dad1 = true Hades closes his eyes. "Of course." You stare at the God and the evident pain on his face. "What about...what about Persephone?" Hades' eyes open. "I asked myself that same question." *if dad2 = true Poseidon looks at you in shock. "Of course, I loved your mother. That is one of the few things that have remained constant." *if dad3 = true Zeus smiles. "Yes." You stare at the God and the longing on his face. "What about...what about Hera?" The God does not respond. *goto dadq *disable_reuse #"What do you expect of me?" *if dad1 = true Hades takes a step toward you. "Nothing and everything, ${name}." "This is all so unexpected," you admit, closing your eyes. Exhaustion threatens to take over your body. Hades nods. "I know that. This entire situation, it's not what I wanted. A mountain of lies has been created, and I don't know how to fix it." *if dad2 = true Poseidon looks away. "Nothing, ${name}. I would not be surprised if you expected nothing of me as well." *if dad3 = true Zeus smiles. "Everything and more. You're capable of that much." "This is all so unexpected," you admit, closing your eyes. Exhaustion threatens to take over your body. The King of Gods nods. "As most things on Olympus are...but we cannot help that now. Just know that this was the best we could do under the circumstances." *goto dadq #You stare intently at your father. *goto hellodad *label hellodad You see a gleam of hope in his eyes. You take a deep breath. *fake_choice #"I want to...[i]try[/i] this." I say. "I am willing to give you a chance." *set lovedad true *if dad1 = true Hades smiles, ever hesitant to do so. He takes a step forward, placing a hand on your shoulder. "I will never rush you into accepting what has been laid before you," he begins. "But I am your father, and that will never change. I promise you that this is where the lies started and now end." *if dad2 = true Poseidon gapes at you, a surprised look on his face. Then he takes a hesitant step toward you. "I know this may not be what you wanted," he begins. "But I...I take pride in being your father. That will not change, ${name}." He places a hand on your shoulder. The gesture is awkward from the large God, but is still sweet due to his effort. *if dad3 = true Zeus closes his eyes for a moment, relief evident. Then, he opens then, a radiant smile on his face. "I am glad to hear you say that, ${name}," he begins. "I was afraid you would not..." The king pauses, shaking away the thought. *page_break A bright light shines on you two. *goto ohathena #"I just," I begin, searching for the right words. "I can't make a decision right now." *if dad1 = true Hades nods then takes a step toward you. "I will wait for as long as it takes," he begins. "But, just know that I am your father, and that will never change. I promise you that this is where the lies started and now end." *if dad2 = true Poseidon nods. Then he takes a hesitant step toward you. "I know this may not be what you wanted," he begins. "But I...I take pride in being your father. That will not change, ${name}, no matter what you decide." He places a hand on your shoulder. The gesture is awkward from the large God, but is still sweet due to his effort. *if dad3 = true Zeus closes his eyes for a moment. Then, he opens them, nodding. "I can understand why you feel the way you do, ${name}," he begins. "But please think this through. I want us to..." *page_break A bright light shines on you two. *goto ohathena #"I can't," I say. "I can't do this. I [i]won't[/i] do this." *if dad1 = true Hades stares at you silently. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. "I will wait for as long as you want me to," he says finally. "Just know that, ${name}." *if dad2 = true Poseidon frowns, gaze set on you. "I understand, ${name}," he begins. "But I...I take pride in being your father. That will not change, ${name}. But I plead with you to reconsider." *if dad3 = true Zeus closes his eyes for a moment. Then, he opens them, his gaze set on you. "I had a feeling you'd feel this way, ${name}." he begins. "But please think this through. I want us to..." *page_break A bright light shines on you two. *goto ohathena *label ohathena You turn, just as Athena appears in the throne room.Her eyes widen when she takes in the scene. *if dad2 = true "I [i]knew[/i] it!" she exclaims, walking over to you and Poseidon. "I asked you a hundred and one times, and you lied--for seventeen years!" "And why would I tell you?" Poseidon taunts her. "Oh, I should have known better," Athena says, crossing her arms. Poseidon laughs, loud and clear. *if dad3 = true "I [i]knew[/i] it!" she exclaims, walking over to you and Zeus. "I asked you a hundred and one times, and you lied--for seventeen years!" "Calm down, child," Zeus says. Athena huffs. "I should have known better," she says, crossing her arms. Zeus raises and eyebrow. "The Goddess of wisdom, hm?" *if dad1 = true "Oh," she says softly. "I should have guessed." Hades does not say a word, but he takes a protective step toward you. Athena does not miss the movement. her eyes narrowing. There is insufferable silence as the Gods stare at one another, each now with an air of possessiveness toward you. "Never the less, it's time to escort ${name} back to the dorms." Athena says. "Back to my room?" you glance at your father; you still have so many questions. "Why?" "Because you need your rest," Athena states simply. She frowns. "Frankly...you look exhausted." You finally cast attention to your body; lately, you can't seem to go longer than a day without feeling exhausted and worn. But maybe, today, this weariness has something to do with the vision you had earlier. You feel a hand grip yours, and you know it's Athena's. *page_break You lie in your bed that evening, looking at your alarm clock. [b]6:58 PM[/b] [i]Really?[/i] you think. You would argue more, state your maturity, that you should be allowed to decide when you go to sleep, that you are not a child anymore... But you quickly succumb to your tried mind, body, and source. *page_break Once again that night, you do not dream. You are awakened by the sound of an alarm clock. You hear the sounds of Haris getting up and preparing for school in the small bathroom. After a long moment, you hear ${him} grabbing something heavy, then slamming the door behind ${him}. [i]Where does ${he} always go?[/i] you wonder, before getting out of your own bed. [i]Training is one thing, but this seems excessive.[/i] You take a quick shower, feeling much rested after your early bedtime, then consider what to wear. *fake_choice #I decide to wear the uniform with the skirt today. *set clothing "an Institute uniform" You pull the uniform off its hook and get dressed. *goto ceremonyday1 #I decide to wear the uniform with the pants today. *set clothing "an Institute uniform" You pull the uniform off its hook and get dressed. *goto ceremonyday1 *label ceremonyday1 On your way to school, you feel a subtle shift in the air. Although your mind still lingers on the events of yesterday, you note the subtle glances people give you. But it's not like before, when they were simply trying to get a look at you. Now it's as if they're trying to [i]understand[/i] you. As you make your way to chemistry, you get a few waves. And even a few smiles. [i]Interesting,[/i] you think...[i]or extremely unsettling.[/i] *page_break By the time you get to ${class1}, you're nearly bursting with questions. You haven't had Aeson in any of your classes, and you haven't seen Saint, Calypso or Adonis all day. Even more, the waves and smiles have kept coming, getting more frequent throughout the day. When you enter the classroom, Mr. Edris smiles at you. There are already some students preparing for class. "Well, if it isn't my star pupil, the very reason I wake up everyday to teach!" *fake_choice #"Where would you be without me, Mr. Edris?" I smirk. (Personality set: Choleric, meaning short-tempered and sarcastic) *set choleric true *set phlegmatic false *set sanguine false *set melancholic false *set personality "short-tempered and sarcastic" Mr. Edris gives you a wry smile. "A person after my own heart, I see. Take a seat, Angelis." *goto ceremonyday2 #"Hey, Mr. Edris," I nod to him. (Personality set: Phlegmatic, meaning relaxed and peaceful) *set choleric false *set phlegmatic true *set sanguine false *set melancholic false *set personality "relaxed and peaceful" Mr. Edris smiles. "Take a seat, Angelis." *goto ceremonyday2 #"Thanks, Mr. E," I say, smiling. (Personality set: Sanguine, meaning optimistic and social) *set choleric false *set phlegmatic false *set sanguine true *set melancholic false *set personality "optimistic and social" Mr. Edris smiles. "Take a seat, Angelis." *goto ceremonyday2 #I raise an eyebrow, staring at him.(Personality set: Melancholic, meaning analytical and quiet) *set choleric false *set phlegmatic false *set sanguine false *set melancholic true *set personality "analytical and quiet" Mr. Edris gestures toward the nearly empty classroom. "Take a seat, Angelis." *goto ceremonyday2 *label ceremonyday2 After settling into your seat, another random one in the classroom (Mr. Edris doesn't seem to have a reliable seating chart), you watch as students begin to file in, their voices excited and cheerful. Then, you spot Calypso. She has her hair in long, intricate cornrows today, trailing down her back. And, you note, she even has makeup on; her eyelashes more prominent, and her lips are blood red. You... *fake_choice #gesture for her to sit by me. *set sitwcal true *set Calypso +3 You watch as Calypso catches your eye, then smiles, making her way over to you. You smell faint perfume on her. Something rosey. You can't keep the smile off you face as she examines herself in the mirror, her gray eyes critical. "Whoever invented mascara wanted me to suffer," she says, throwing the mirror onto her desk so hard you wonder if it cracked. "Whats with the new look?" you ask her, curiosity getting the best of you. She pauses, considering her words carefully. "It's for the ceremony," she explains. "My dad made this whole big deal about it." *if lovecalypso = true You smile at her. "You look beautiful," you say. Calypso smiles, her cheeks reddening. "Thanks, ${name}." *page_break Mr. Edris signals for the beginning of class. #wait for her to pick where she sits. *set sitwcal true Calypso flops down into the empty seat next to you. You smell faint perfume on her. Something rosey. You can't keep the smile off your face as she examines herself in the mirror, her gray eyes critical. "Whoever invented mascara wanted me to suffer," she says, throwing the mirror onto her desk to hard you wonder if it cracked. "Whats with the new look?" you ask her, curiosity getting the best of you. She pauses, considering her words carefully. "It's for the ceremony," she explains. "My dad made this whole big deal about it." *if lovecalypso = true You smile at her. "You look beautiful," you say. Calypso smiles, her cheeks reddening. "Thanks, ${name}." *page_break Mr. Edris signals for the beginning of class. #turn away, hoping she won't sit by me. *set sitwcal false You watch as Calypso takes an empty seat near a purple-haired girl, who immediately tackles her into a bear hug. *page_break Mr. Edris signals for the beginning of class. "Now, I know you're all just buzzing with excitement over the ceremony tonight," he begins, picking up his glasses. "Ah, to be young and invincible." Most of the class laughs. "But, this is still a school day, and we have much to cover before the end of the term." Mr. Edris smiles as the class groans. "Now, don't be so dramatic. The subject we're covering today is most exciting!" You all watch as he makes his way over to his old-school blackboard, picking up a piece of chalk. You nearly jump out of your seat when you see what he's written there. [b][i]THE TROJAN WAR[/i][/b] "Where do I begin? Well, I suppose the best place to start is with who was involved in this glorious war," Mr. Edris continues, completely unaware of your panic. [b]The Gods:[/b] *line_break [i]-Eris[/i] *line_break [i]-Zeus[/i] *line_break [i]-Hera[/i] *line_break [i]-Athena[/i] *line_break [i]-Aphrodite[/i] *line_break [i]-Helen[/i] *line_break [i]-Apollo[/b] *line_break *line_break [b]The Mortals:[/b] *line_break [i]-King Priam of Troy [/i] *line_break [i]-Prince Hector and Prince Paris of Troy[/i] *line_break [i]-King Menelaus[/i] *line_break [i]-Prince Agamemnon[/i] *line_break *line_break [b]The Heroes:[/b] *line_break [i]-Odysseus[/i] *line_break [i]-Achilles[/i] *line_break [i]-Pheonix[/i] *line_break [i]-Telamonian Ajax[/i] *page_break "Now, how did it all begin?" Mr. Edris asks the class. A girl you've seen several times around campus raises her hand. "It all started when Helen was abducted by Paris." she answers. Mr. Edris nods. "Well, the stories vary based on who you ask; some say she was kidnapped by the prince, and others say she left of her own free will. But for classroom purposes, we'll say she was kidnapped." [i]Is this really happening?[/i] you wonder. "But that's not how it all started," Mr. Edris says. He points to Zeus's name on the blackboard. "That, ladies and gentlemen, is where it all began." "Because he helped make most of the people involved?" someone says, laughing. "No, but good guess. It's because Theos contrived the war" The laughter dies off, and is swiftly replaced by silence. *page_break "You see, Zeus had a problem...." "The problem is every one of you in this room; Demigods. There were far too many Demigods populating the earth, mostly due to the lack of rules and regulations that we have now. Zeus also was given a prophecy that any son that Thetis, the nymph he was infatuated with at the time, birthed would surpass his father in power and greatness. He could not very well have a child with Thetis knowing that that child would become more powerful than him." Mr. Edris pauses before continuing, ensuring that he has everyone's attention. "So, to solve one of his two problems, he ordered Thetis to marry a mortal king named Peleus." You hold your breath. "And to solve his second problem, he convinced Thetis and Peleus not to invite Eris to their wedding celebration." A red-haired girl raises her hand. "So he [i]wanted[/i] Eris to be angry? How could he have known that she would react the way she did...and that her actions would ultimately lead to a war?" Mr. Edris shrugs. "It was a gamble, mainly. Anyhow, because Eris was rightfully enraged by the snub, she--" *page_break "Threw the apple of discord at Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite!" a boy calls out, blowing a large, pink bubble. Mr. Edris smiles. "Maybe threw isn't the right word, but yes," he pauses. "Now, does anyone know what happens next?" The same red-haired girl from before raises her hand. "The three Goddesses fought over the apple, and Zeus couldn't decide who to give it to, unless he wanted two very angry Goddesses on his back, so he made Prince Paris of Troy the unbiased third party." "Correct. And who did he choose?" [i]Aphrodite, Aphrodite, Aphrodite[/i] you think. The class echoes your thoughts. *page_break "And that is, what many historians say, where it all started." "Each Goddess had something to promise the young prince--I believe he was only seventeen at the time, although many speculate he was as old as twenty--but Aphrodite promised him something he couldn't resist; Queen Helen of Sparta." "How can you just promise someone to someone else? Helen wasn't an object." A boy with a shaved head protests. "No, Erin, she was not. But keep in mind we are talking about another time period, one in which feminism did not exist," Erin sighs. "Anyhow, what Aphrodite did to ensure that Paris would want Helen more than anything was speculated long before Aphrodite finally admitted to it in the late 1200s. She ordered Eros to shoot Prince Paris with one of his arrows. "Now, we have never been clear as to what exactly happened when Helen was kidnapped, since neither Aphrodite or Helen will talk to any historians about it, but many say Paris disguised himself as an emissary in order to infiltrate the Spartan castle in order to sneak himself into her chambers." Mr. Edris pauses, looking at the class, who all stare at him with rapt attention. "Now, can anyone tell me what occurred next?" *fake_choice *if (visitqueen) #"Excuse me, but she wasn't kidnapped," I say. Mr. Edris and the rest of the class turn to you. "What do you mean, ${name}?" Mr. Edris asks, adjusting his glasses. "I mean, she wasn't taken against her will." you clarify. "And just how do you figure that, Angelis?" Before you can answer, Mr. Edris is already moving on to the next topic. *goto lesson2 #"King Menelaus declared war on Troy." I say. *Set Wit +2 Mr. Edris nods. "Right, and then, he sent his most trusted Heroes to search for Achilles; Thetis and Peleus's son." *goto lesson2 #I say nothing, listening. Calypso raises her hand. "King Menelaus sent out his most trusted Heroes to search for the lost Demigod Prince, Achilles. He knew he needed Achilles in order to win the war." Mr. Edris points to her, smiling. "Exactly." *goto lesson2 *label lesson2 Mr. Edris then goes on to detail the major points of the war. He talks about Calchas's prophecy, the death of Prince Hector, the countless battles fought on the Trojan's own land... *if yourtrojanhorse = true ...and then he briefly speaks about the Trojan horse. "Now, we have all been taught that Odysseus, Athena's Hero, was the one who devised The Trojan Horse plan," Mr. Edris begins. "But after decades of research, we have discovered that there might have been someone else who came up with the original idea." *line_break [b](You were the original mastermind behind the Trojan Horse.)[/b] [i]That person was me,[/i] you think. [i]I was the one who got laughed at for even bringing up the idea in the first place![/i] *if yourtrojanhorse = false "Now, we have all know that Odysseus, Theas Athena's Hero, was the one who devised The Trojan Horse plan," Mr. Edris begins. "But there seems to be another mastermind that was a part of the war. It's just that history seemed to have skip over that fine detail." Mr. Edris writes a new name on the chalkboard. *if gender1 = "female" [i]KORRINA SPIROS[/i] You feel your heart skip a beat. "Not much is known about this woman," Mr. Edris admits. "But many suggest that she had more influence than even the two Kings at the time. Some even say she is the [i]reason[/i] for the fall of Troy, not the Trojan Horse...but that is just speculation that has little to no evidence." *if gender1 = "male" [i]LEON ANTONIOU[/i] You feel your heart skip a beat. "Not much is known about this man," Mr. Edris admits. "But many suggest that he had more influence than even the two Kings at the time. Some even say he is the [i]reason[/i] for the fall of Troy, not the Trojan Horse...but that is just speculation that has little to no evidence." You nearly jump out of your seat when the bell rings. *if sitwcal = true Calypso places a hand on your arm. "You alright?" she asks. You nod, dazed. *if sitwcal = false You watch Calypso leave the room, her hair trailing behind her. You follow the crowd, dazed. *page_break Lunch is the same as ever.... ...with the exception of the chatter. It's louder than ever in the pavilion, people speaking animatedly about the ceremony. "I heard there's going to be a [i]dragon[/i]," a girl whispers to her boyfriend, gripping his arm. "Do you think you could get me one of its scales?" You sit... *fake_choice #by myself, at the table near the tree. You can barely allow yourself to care about the glances. The Trojan War runs circles in your mind. You note that Saint, Calypso, and Adonis keep glancing over at you, no doubt wondering why you're not sitting with them. You take a bite of your sandwich. After relfecting more on the vision, you have to admit... *goto opinion #with Saint, Calypso, and Adonis. *set sitwgang true *set Saint +3 *set Calypso +5 *set Adonis +3 You can barely follow the conversation. The Trojan War runs circles in your mind. Saint watches you with narrowed eyes. "Are you high?" he asks. "Gods, Saint," Adonis sighs. "No, I'm not high," you say, picking at your food. "I'm just...distracted." After relfecting more on the vision, you have to admit...' *goto opinion *label opinion *fake_choice #this has completely opened my eyes to all the things I don't know about myself. How many times have you been someone significant in history, with the potential to change outcomes of wars and global crises? You must have lived infinite lives in the span of billions upon billions of years... *page_break The chatter in the pavilion ceases as the thoughts form in your mind. *goto seethem #this entire situation has me in way over my head. How many times have you been someone significant in history, with the potential to change outcomes of wars and global crises? How many times have you destroyed lands and indirectly aided in the murder of thousands? *page_break The chatter in the pavilion ceases as the thoughts form in your mind. *goto seethem #this makes me feel somewhat [i]more[/i] important than I was led to believe. How many times have you been someone significant in history, with the potential to change outcomes of wars and global crises? How many times have you had that much power...just on the tip of your fingers? *page_break The chatter in the pavilion ceases as the thoughts form in your mind. *goto seethem #this makes me question the own signifigance of my current life. You lived that life to the fullest, and it ended so quickly, thousands of years ago. How many times have you been someone significant in history, with the potential to change outcomes of wars and global crises? How many more times will you live, only to have that life taken away from you? *page_break The chatter in the pavilion ceases as the thoughts form in your mind. *goto seethem *label seethem Heads turn as Aeson enters the open area. Then, cheersAeson looks better than yesterday, but as he stands there, he looks more than a little overwhelmed, if not tired. Then he blinks, and the Hero smile appears once more, acting as a mask for his fatigue. *if sitwgang = true As he makes his way over to where you, Saint, Calypso and Adonis sit, he is stopped every few seconds to talk to someone. He's polite about it, but you see the impatience in his eyes. *if sitwgang = false As he makes his way over to where Saint, Calypso and Adonis sit, he is stopped every few seconds to talk to someone. He's polite about it, but you see the impatience in his eyes. Saint stands as Aeson approaches. Aeson glares at him. "Don't say it," he says. Most people are watching, but trying to be discreet about it. "Don't say what?" Saint asks with false innocence. "That [i]I told you so[/i]?" Aeson groans, pulling at his hair. Saint ignores him, tackling him into a hug. You watch the scuffle, Aeson's head being trapped into the crook of Saint's arm. "At least you didn't lose an arm this time," Saint points out, a grin on his face. Adonis is the next one to greet Aeson after Saint releases him. Their greeting is tamer; they simply hug, their friendship contrasting the one Aeson shares with Saint. Aeson says something to Adonis that you can't hear, but Adonis nods, smiling. Calypso is last to approach him. They stand before each other, a good distance away. "Hey," Calypso says, her eyes narrowed. Aeson nods. "Hey, Cally." You look at them. Then, Calypso takes the first step. Her arms are around him in an instant, and he returns her hug after a moment of hesitation. *page_break Most of the crowd turns away, mollified by the reunion. *if sitwgang = true Aeson looks to you, "Got a second, ${name}?" He gestures to the large cherry blossom tree in the back of the pavilion, near the balcony overlooking the Institute. You follow. *if sitwgang = false Aeson glances at you. With a final word to his friends, he makes his over to you. "Got a second, ${name}?" He sits down next to you. "What did they tell you about the Trials?" he asks. "If I win I live, if I don't I die." He smiles. "Did Hera's eye twitch when she told you that?" Before you can answer, Aeson continues, words spilling from his mouth. "They want us to compete as one person," he says. "In their eyes, we're the same person. If you win the Trials, we both get to live. If you lose, we both die either way." "The whole thing with our lives being connected...what is that?" "When Cronus turned us into souls, he also intertwined us. That way, one of us couldn't go renegade with the Essence while in the mortal world." "Does it also work with injuries?" you ask. "If I get a papercut, will you get one too?" Aeson raises an eyebrow. "Did you feel like your guts were going to spill out two days ago?" You think for a moment, then shake your head. "Then no, because [i]my[/i] guts were spilling out." he pauses. "[i]Literally[/i]." *page_break For a moment, neither of you speaks. Then, Aeson lowers his voice. "Can you do anything?" he asks. "What do you mean?" you ask, lowering your own voice. "About your guts spilling out?" "No, no," Aeson says, a smile on his face. "I mean..." He raises a finger, gesturing to the cherry blossom tree behind you. With a whirl of wind, they fall. Some land in Aeson's hair, while others fall into your own, and onto the shoulders of your uniform. Most of them fly away through, landing on a group of Aphrodite's kids, who laugh, sticking them in their shining hair. You stare at Aeson, and he stares back, a question in his eyes. *fake_choice #"I can," you admit. *set Aeson +10 "Magic?" Aeson asks, raising an eyebrow. "It's not magic." You pause. "What do you mean?" "I mean, I guess you can call it magic," he says. "But that'd be like you're saying we're magicians." "If it's not magic then what is it?" you ask. "The Essence..." he searches for the right words. "Us." "But, I thought demigods had magic," you point out. "That's their source powers. Zeus's children have some control over lightning, just like Hephaestus's children can control fire, but that's apart of their source, the little amount of it they get from their Godly parent. There's never been a demigod magician before." *page_break You sit there, letting his words sink in. #I say nothing. Aeson raises an eyebrow. "I'm going to take that as a yes." You pause. "So you're a magician?" "I mean, I guess you can call me a magician," he says. "But that'd be like you're saying we can wield magic, and what we can do isn't magic." "If it's not magic then what is it?" you ask. "The Essence..." he searches for the right words. "Us." "But, I thought Demigods had magic," you point out. "Zeus's children have some control over lightning, just like Hephaestus's children can control fire, but that's apart of their source, the little amount of it they get from their Godly parent. There's never been a Demigod magician before." *page_break You sit there, letting his words sink in. After lunch, you had gone through the rest of your classes in a blur. That seemed to be happening a lot lately. Aeson was enrolled into your ${class2} class, but when the teacher called his name, he was nowhere to be found. Training was surprisingly uneventful. General Xene had pulled you aside for a fitness check-up. She ordered you to do a hundred jumping jacks, fifteen laps around the field and made you punch a dummy until your knuckles were sore. "You're pretty ${height} for a demigod, Angelis," she had remarked. You paused, raising an eyebrow. "Thanks?" *page_break When you got back to your dorm, you shouldn't have been surprised to see Athena there. The Goddess sat on your bed, watching Haris exhibit some forms with a plastic sword. "Very nice, Haris," the Goddess said. "But keep your knees bent." Haris nods, following her instructions. When Haris looks up and notices your entrance, ${he} smiles, then begins collecting ${his} belongings; the plastic sword, and heavy looking textbooks that must weigh double what Haris does. The door closing gently is the only sound in the room. Then, Athena turns to you, and you think of mentioning the information Aeson gave you. Why didn't she tell you earlier about your so-called "magic"? "The ceremony starts at sundown, ${name}," she says. "But, you have one final obstacle to overcome." You sigh, weariness tugging at your bones. [i]What else could happen today?[/i] Athena stands, and you take note of her exquist, creme colored gown. It is as simple as it is elegant, and she looks undoubtedly regal. She turns to you, eyes somber. *page_break "You have to choose what to wear." she says. You blink at the Goddess. Her pink lips twitch up in a smile, then raises her hand. You watch as rows and rows of clothing racks appear before your eyes, each more glinting and mesmerizing than the last. Athena sighs. "This brings back memories of the 80's with Aphrodite." You turn your attention to the racks, nothing the expensive, brand named items. "Well," Athena says. "Take a look. I don't think I've dressed you since you were nine and you finally put your foot down." *allow_reuse *label ceremonyattire *fake_choice #I walk over to the darker shades of clothing. Your fingers graze the fabrics, your brows furrowed. The first thing you notice is a glamorous gown the color of an inky sky, intricate lace cascading into a long train. You look closer and see that there are bits of what appear to be stardust in the fabric. There are dangerously high accompanying heels under the rack, the black shoes detailed with lace as well. Another outfit that catches your attention is a black, finely tailored suit. The material feels alarmingly soft under your fingertips, the silken black tie falling over your hand as you marvel at the diamond cuff links. They glint under the lights of your room, but they are not the only thing that catch your attention; lace lines the lapels, giving the suit a unique design. There are impressively maintained black dress shoes under the rack as well. *fake_choice #I select the black dress of stardust. *set clothing "a midnight dress of intricate lace and stardust" You take the outfit off the rack, then head to the bathroom, careful not to ruin the clothing. *goto clothingcheck #I select the inky dark suit. *set clothing "an inky dark suit with silken lapels and diamond details" You take the outfit off the rack, then head to the bathroom, careful not to ruin the clothing. *goto clothingcheck #I walk over to the neutral shades of clothing. You make your way toward the racks. Your eyes linger on a simple, but none the less lovely, dress the color of the sky at dusk. The neckline is sweeping, with pearls embedded into it, and a full skirt. The hem would reach just above your knees, you realize. You look down and assess the strappy sandals under the rack as well. You also note a finely tailored deep green suit. You smile at the silver tie, the material feeling smooth under your fingertips. You glance down and raise an eyebrow at the light brown, suede sneakers with gold-tipped laces. *fake_choice #I select the winsome dress with the lush, full skirt. *set clothing "a dress of glinting pearls and a full skirt" You take the outfit off the rack, then head to the bathroom, careful not to ruin the clothing. *goto clothingcheck #I select the richly colored suit with the moonlight silver tie. *set clothing "a richly green suit with a moonlight silver tie" You take the outfit off the rack, then head to the bathroom, careful not to ruin the clothing. *goto clothingcheck #I walk over to the lighter shades of clothing. You make your way toward the racks. It would be hard for anyone not to marvel at the pure white celestial-like dress on the first hanger. The initial neckline is a deep v-neck, but there is delicate lace that wraps around the exposed shoulders, creating a false high collar. The dress would most likely end at your ankles if not for the dissolving effect; the fabric seems to disappear with length, giving way to floating specks of glittering material. The shoes seem to be made of twinkling glass. You turn your attention to an equally eternal suit hanging right next to the dress. You raise an eyebrow when you come across the fine detail of the stitching in the white jacket; there is no tie, instead a shirt of finely crafted, pure and brilliant white linen. There are dangling cufflinks that must wrap around each hand in some strange fashion, made of the same material as the white dress. The shoes are white as well, but when you lift them, you see that the soles are made of transparent glass. *fake_choice #I select the celestial dress of glitter. *set clothing "an eternal dress deigned in glitter and made of the purest white" You take the outfit off the rack, then head to the bathroom, careful not to ruin the clothing. *goto clothingcheck #I select the equally celestial suit of the purest white. *set clothing "an eternal suit made of the purest material, with dangling cufflinks" You take the outfit off the rack, then head to the bathroom, careful not to ruin the clothing. *goto clothingcheck #I walk over to the large, magnificent armor. You nearly gasp when your gaze lands on the armor. The color is of burnished bronze, resembling Spartan shields. The armor itself is carved with intricate designs, and you feel the bumps underneath your palm. On each shoulder is a deep red epaulet, and crisscrossing straps of black silk mar the chest plate. There is a strap around the waist that leads to a priceless looking ornament shaped like a star; except instead of start tips and a glowing center, there are diamonds tips held together by a large, glinting ruby. Your mind cannot even grasp how much this armor must be worth in Drachmas, mortal currency, and historical significance. *fake_choice #I select the magnificent bronze armor. *set clothing "magnificent bronze armor with priceless, ancient adornments" You lift the heavy armor, and make your way to the bathroom, careful not to hit it on any corners. *goto clothingcheck #I review my other options. *goto ceremonyattire *label clothingcheck After changing, you address yourself in the mirror. *fake_choice #I change my mind; this isn't for me. *goto ceremonyattire #I smile at my reflection. *goto andnow *label andnow Athena turns to you when you emerge from the bathroom. She pauses. "I'm not used to seeing you like this, ${name}. You look like..." she considers her words carefully. "You look like an adult, and adults scarcely need their aunts for anything more than birthday checks." Before you can reply, Athena picks up a wooden box and presents it to you. You watch as the lifts the heavy lid. Sitting atop the plush red velvet interior of the box are three blades; one of black obsidian with gold vines snaking up the hilt, one of clear glass with silver stars embedded onto the hilt, and one of silver steel with a hilt made entirely of emerald. "These are ceremonial daggers," Athena explains. "During the ceremony, you will be expected to make an internal sacrifice to your father. It has been expected that most Demigods will opt to cut their palms and allow blood to fall into the offering bowl; it signifies your complete willingness to participate in the Trials." *fake_choice #I stare incredulously at the Goddess. "I think you more than I know that there is nothing [i]willing[/i] about my participation in the Trials." I state. Athena nods. "Of course. It's a simple tradition, ${name}," she pauses, eyeing you. "And I expect you to follow through with it; I would quickly assume that you've obtained enough common sense to know that teenage rebellion has no place in tonight's events." You open your mouth to protest, Athena sighs, bringing a hand to hear head, then speaks to you in a softer voice. "Please. It won't change anything to refuse, and you know that." You stare at the Goddess with narrowed eyes, and she lifts the box once more. *fake_choice #I select the blade of black obsidian with gold vines snaking up the hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger1 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully," she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school to--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingness to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I select the blade of clear glass with shining stars embedded into the hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger2 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully." she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school tod--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingess to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I select the blade silver steel with the emerald stone hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger3 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully." she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school tod--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingess to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I sigh. "So, you want me to put on a show?" Athena nods. "I want you to act well enough to be nominated for an Oscar. The ceremony is a simple tradition, ${name}," she pauses. "And I expect you to follow through with it; I would quickly assume that you've obtained enough common sense to know that teenage rebellion has no place in tonight's events." You stare at the Goddess, taken aback by her clipped tone. Athena sighs, bringing a hand to hear head, then speaks to you in a soft voice. "Please. It won't change anything to refuse, and you know that." You stare at the Goddess with narrowed eyes, and she lifts the box once more. *fake_choice #I select the blade of black obsidian with gold vines snaking up the hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger1 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully," she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school to--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingness to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I select the blade of clear glass with shining stars embedded into the hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger2 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully." she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school tod--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingess to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I select the blade silver steel with the emerald stone hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger3 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully." she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school tod--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingess to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I close my eyes. "I understand...but just know that I don't like it." Athena nods. "I know that, ${name}. But, the ceremony is a simple tradition," she pauses. "and I expect you to follow through with it; I would quickly assume that you've obtained enough common sense to know that teenage rebellion has no place in tonight's events." You stare at the Goddess, taken aback by her clipped tone. Athena sighs, bringing a hand to hear head, then speaks to you in a soft voice. "Please. It won't change anything to refuse, and you know that." You stare at the Goddess with narrowed eyes, and she lifts the box once more. *fake_choice #I select the blade of black obsidian with gold vines snaking up the hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger1 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully," she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school to--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingness to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I select the blade of clear glass with shining stars embedded into the hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger2 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully." she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school tod--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingess to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening #I select the blade silver steel with the emerald stone hilt. It suits me best. *set empty_inventory false *set dagger3 true Athena closes the box after you've made your selection, nodding in approval, then hands you a harness. You strap the dagger to your side. "There is one more matter to discuss, ${name}; listen very carefully." she says. "This is an important night." "I know," you say. "It's all anyone could talk about at school tod--" "I'm not talking about the ceremony itself," she says, interrupting you. "I mean what the ceremony represents." "And...what does it represent, besides my willingess to participate in the Trials?" "The beginning of everything," you stare at the Goddes, her words sinking in. "After tonight, the changes that follow will be things that I cannot protect you from any longer; you do not know this, but there are many things I have done to ensure--" the goddess stands, and stops midsentence. "Nevermind that. Just be prepared for anything." She holds out a hand to you. *page_break "Let's go, ${name}." *goto ceremonyopening *label ceremonyopening When the light fades, you stand in a large amphitheater. All of Olympus is here, you realize. The large space is circular, the burning sun looking down at you. There are rows and rows of seats, wrapping around the entire space, most empty and the citizens roam around. There are strings of floating lanterns around you, all adding to the warm, golden lighting. There are faeries floating around with wine glasses and appetizers, offering them to those they pass. An orchestra is positioned in the far left of the area; their trombones and violins and cello's being picked and tuned by expert fingers. Next to them is a small lake, the water reflecting the lights. There is a large stage in the middle of it all, with twelve large thrones occupying it. Near each throne is a bowl, floating directly in front of it. The stairs that lead to the stage are large, and you think if you had time to count, there would be at least fifty of them. You turn to Athena, but she's already gone. Again. You recognize some people from school, all dressed properly, their hair done up, their backs rigidly straight. [i]Gods,[/i] you think. [i]It's like prom.[/i] Someone taps on your shoulder. *page_break He does not wear a hood for once, instead donning an all white suit with an alarmingly red tie. His hair is combed back and he has a frown on his face. He pulls at the collar of his suit. "I think I'm going to pass out from Hypoxemia before I get up there," he nods to the stage. He glances at you, smiling. "At least [i]you[/i] seem comfortable." Before you can reply, the orchestra starts up. They begin to play an upbeat melody, something resembling early 1950s jazz. Saint smirks. "Zeus [i]loves[/i] jazz." *page_break "Not as much as he loves rock," a voice says. Calypso comes up behind Saint. She wears an elegant, red gown that hangs off one of her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Another one of her dangling gold headresses frame her face, casting golden shadows on her dark skin. "Remember when he tried to grow a mullet?" she asks, grinning. "I try to forget." Saint says, looking off into the distance, no doubt recollecting the image of Zeus with an immature, uneven mullet. Calypso turns her attention to you. "You look great, ${name}." "Where's AA?" Saint asks, craning his neck. He pulls again at his collar, rolling his eyes. Calypso shrugs, eyeing a passing faerie. As soon as it passes her, she grabs an hors d'oeuvre from the plate. Saint turns to you. "Are you nervous?" *fake_choice #"Not at all," I say, truthfully. *set Stress +2 Saint eyes you, then shrugs. "You're better off than I am, then." "There they are," Calypso says, finishing off the hors d'oeuvre. You turn and see that Aeson and Adonis are making their way over to where you three stand. *goto aa #"Not at all," I lie. Saint eyes you, then shrugs. "You're better off than I am, then." "There they are," Calypso says, finishing off the hors d'oeuvre. You turn and see that Aeson and Adonis are making their way over to where you three stand. *goto aa #"Yes," I say, truthfully. *set Stress +2 Saint nods. "It's understandable." "There they are," Calypso says, finishing off the hors d'oeuvre. You turn and see that Aeson and Adonis make their way over to where you three stand. *goto aa #"What kind of question is that?" I ask. "Of course I'm nervous." *set Stress +2 Saint raises an eyebrow. "It's understandable." "There they are," Calypso says, finishing off the hors d'oeuvre. You turn and see that Aeson and Adonis make their way over to where you three stand. *goto aa #"It's really none of your business," I say. Saint raises an eyebrow. "Tou-chy." "There they are," Calypso says, finishing off the hors d'oeuvre. You turn and see that Aeson and Adonis are making their way over to where you three stand. *goto aa *label aa Aeson and Adonis, or "AA" as Saint called them, attract stares. Aeson due his easy confidence and the sword at his side, and Adonis because of his striking looks. They both wear suits; Aeson's is deep charcol, with a gold tie, while Adonis's is a dark purple, with a white tie. Adonis is talking animatedly with Aeson, his brows drawn. Aeson glances at him every few seconds as if seriously considering him, but then rolls his eyes, grinning. They stop before you, and cease their conversation. The previous celebratory air of the even has changed. Calypso tenses, then casts a glance at Aeson, while Aeson glances at you. Adonis glances at Saint, then Saint narrows his eyes, staring at you all. "What is [i]going on[/i] today?" he asking, throwing his hands up. A deep bell rings off. Immediately, the majority of the citizens take their seats around the amphitheatre. Your group makes its way toward the large stage, and it is not until you stand in front of said stage that you notice that there are at least twenty other Demigods with you. Saint stands beside you, a good three feet apart, as you both gaze up at the stage. *page_break Zeus is the first to appear. He is clad in black robes, his hands folded before him. Then, the rest of the council and Hades appear, all dressed in similar fashion. They all take their seats, and no one dares to make a sound. "Let us begin," Zeus says, his voice booming. You watch as the first Demigod climbs up the stairs. The boy has a shock of golden hair, and he is incredibly tall. The entire climb is long, the boys legs shaking as he makes the trek. When he reaches the long line of thrones, he stands before the Gods. No God moves. And then, Demeter rises. "Dylan Parkou," the Goddes says. "I claim you as my own, with warmth and welcome, and pledge my will to your efforts." Dylan seems to sag in relief, making his way over to the Goddes, his back straight. He stops before her bowl, pulls out a blade, and slashes his hand. His blood trickles out slowly at first, his body already beginning to heal, then it splashes into the bowl. Mist rises from it. [i]Gods...[/i] you think. You watch as Demeter pulls Dylan into a hug. Then, he walks off the stage, descending down an opposite set of stairs. *page_break The process is slow, but the line moves quickly. *label cere *fake_choice *disable_reuse #Calypso. Calypso makes her way up the stairs, her stride confident. She pauses before the Gods, and without a seconds hesitation, Ares rises up. "Calypso Iman," Ares says, a grin on his face. "I claim you as my own in blood and victory, and pledge my will to your efforts." Calypso walks to Ares, a grin similar to his on her face. She stops just before the bowl and pulls out a red-hilted knife with a wicked edge. She holds Ares' gaze as she slashes her palm, slowly and deep. Blood trickles into the bowl, and again, mist rises from it. With a final smile to her father, she makes her way off the stage. *goto cere *disable_reuse #Adonis. Adonis is the next Demigod to climb the stairs. You watch him stand before the Gods. Then, Aphrodite rises, a vision in pink. She smiles serenely at him. "Adonis Amour," she says. "I claim you as my own in love and peace, and pledge my will to your efforts." Adonis walks over to his mother, a soft smile on both their faces. He pulls out a crystal dagger from his jacket pocket and slashes his palm. The cut is shallow, but it does the job, blood dripping into the bowl. Aphrodite places a slender hand on his cheek, smiling radiantly. Adonis makes his way off the stage. *goto cere *disable_reuse #Stranger #1. The stranger you saw from yesterday morning makes his way up the stairs. He stands before the Gods, a smirk on his face and air of indifference around him. You watch as Apollo rises, a grin on his face. "Santiago de Vera," he says. "I claim you as my own in health and prosperity, and pledge my will to your efforts." Santiago walks to his father. He uses a silver dagger to cut his palm. Apollo places a firm hand on his shoulder, his grin bright. Santiago makes his way off the stage. *goto cere *disable_reuse #Sage. You feel your heart beat faster as Sage makes her way up the stairs. She stands before the Gods for only a second before Hermes rises, pulling his helmet off his head. Sage's unruly curly red hair contrasts Hermes own head of blonde curls. "Sage Cosse," he says. "I claim you as my own in cunning and transition, and pledge my will to your efforts." Sage walks to her father. You watch as she pulls out a thin, long dagger. She slices her palm, the cut running deep. Hermes reaches over to ruffle her already wild hair. Sage makes her way off the stage. *goto cere *disable_reuse #Stranger #2. The other stranger from yesterday morning, with the pale pink hair, stands before the Gods. "Psyche Ilya," Demeter says. "I claim you as my own, with warmth and welcome, and pledge my will to your efforts." Again, after Psyche does the blood sacrifice, Demeter hugs her Demigod, her eyes pooling with tears. Psyche makes her way off stage. *goto cere *disable_reuse #Saint. Saint sighs before striding up the stairs, pressing a hand to his head. [i]Who could be his parent?[/i] you wonder. Saint stands before the Gods longer than anyone else, mostly because he lingers on the platform. Then, he takes a step forward. You watch, transfixed, as Zeus rises. *if dad3 = true [i]Saint is a son of Zeus? Did Zeus tell Saint I was his child, too?[/i] "Saint Augustine," Zeus says. "I claim you as my own, in power and glory, and pledge my will to your efforts." Saint hesitates before pulling out a blade and running it over his palm. He casts glances at Zeus, who stares at him in turn, something flickering in his eyes. Saint makes his way off the stage. *goto cere #You are the next Demigod to make your way up the stairs. *goto yourturn *label yourturn The stairs seem large and daunting to you, but with each step you take, you get closer. When you reach the top, you stand there before the Gods, trying to keep your posture straight. *if dad1 = true Hades rises from his black marble throne, shadows swirling around him. "${name} Angelis," he says, his eyes fixed on you. "I claim you as my own in acumen and prowess, and pledge my will to your efforts." You stand before the bowl. It is made of the same black marble as Hades' throne. *if dad2 = true Poseidon rises from his throne. "${name} Angelis," he says, his eyes fixed on you. "I claim you as my own in strength of mind and body, and pledge my will to your efforts." You stand before the bowl. It is made of a white shell material. *if dad3 = true Zeus rises from his throne, and briefly, you wonder what Saint is thinking. "${name} Angelis," he says, his eyes fixed on you. "I claim you as my own, in power and glory, and pledge my will to your efforts." You stand before the bowl. It is made of a clear glass. Your father looks at you expectantly. Athena's words echo in your mind. Your hand lingers on your dagger's hilt. *fake_choice #There is no way I'm doing this. You let go of your hilt, then step away from the bowl. You hear sudden gasps from the audience, and Demeter's own polite one muffled behind her hand. "No," you say. "I can't do this." *if dad1 = true Hades closes his eyes, his shoulders tensing. *if dad2 = true Poseidon lets out a heavy sigh that you have a feeling isn't dramatized. *if dad3 = true Zeus simply blinks at you, as if somehow expecting this...but you note the disappointment in his eyes. Your father then turns to look at the Council, or, more specifically, Athena. The Goddess has been silent all night, similar to Hestia and Artemis, who too have no children due to their eternal vows of chastity. But now, there is a smile on the Goddess's face. "What?" she asks. "Don't look at me; if you for one second think you can force ${him} to do anything...you have much to learn about teenagers." *if dad1 = true When Hades' gaze does not leave Athena's, she sighs. "It's an internal sacrifice...I'm sure there are more imaginative internal aspects than simply blood." *if dad2 = true When Poseidon's gaze does not leave Athena's, she sighs. "It's an internal sacrifice...I'm sure there are more imaginative internal aspects than simply blood." *if dad3 = true When Zeus's gaze does not leave Athena's, she sighs. "It's an internal sacrifice...I'm sure there are more imaginative internal aspects than simply blood." You look back at the bowl. *fake_choice #I collect all the saliva in my mouth, bend over the bowl, and spit. You feel as if all of Olympus is watching in rapt attention as you spit into the bowl during one of the most sacred traditions to the Gods. When you raise your head once more, you glance at your father. *if dad1 = true Hades is attempting to hide a smile and failing. You turn and see that Athena openly lets out an abrupt laugh, turning her head away. *if dad2 = true Poseidon's eyebrows nearly disappear into his salt-and-pepper hair, shock written into his features. You turn and see that Athena openly lets out an abrupt laugh, turning her head away. *if dad3 = true Zeus simply stares at you, but with a now amused glint in his blue eyes. Then, he nods. "Well played." You turn and see that Athena openly lets out an abrupt laugh, turning her head away. You make your way off stage, a wide smile on your face. *page_break Aeson is the last one to climb the stairs. *goto aesonsacrifice #I attempt to think of something truly sad, forcing tears to pool into my eyes. You feel as if all of Olympus is watching you as you widen your eyes to the suffocating air of the ampetheater and think of sad thoughts; which isn't as hard as one would imagine, considering your life so far. Soon enough,you have tears sliding down your cheeks. You bend over and allow them to drop onto into the bowl. When you raise your head once more, you glance at your father. *if dad1 = true Hades is attempting to hide an appreciative smile and failing. You turn and see that Athena openly lets out an abrupt laugh, turning her head away. *if dad2 = true Poseidon's eyebrows nearly disappear into his salt-and-pepper hair, confusion written into his features. You turn and see that Athena openly lets out an abrupt laugh, turning her head away. *if dad3 = true Zeus simply stares at you, but with a now amused glint in his blue eyes. Then, he nods. "Well played." You turn and see that Athena openly lets out an abrupt laugh, turning her head away. You make your way off stage, a wide smile on your face and tear stains on your cheek. *page_break Aeson is the last one to climb the stairs. *goto aesonsacrifice #Never mind, I'll just cut my damn palm. *set cutpalm true It feels as if all of Olympus is watching as you slowly unsheath your dagger, and pose it over your palm. Your father watches you, eyes trained on your face rather than your hand. Then, with a quick swipe, you slice your palm, and raise it, allowing the red liquid to fall into the bowl. You watch for a moment as the blood dissipates into smoke, then make your way off the stage. *page_break Aeson is the last one to climb the stairs. *goto aesonsacrifice #I really have to do this, don't I? *set cutpalm true It feels as if all of Olympus is watching as you slowly unsheath your dagger, and pose it over your palm. Your father watches you, eyes trained on your face rather than your hand. Then, with a quick swipe, you slice your palm, and raise it, allowing the red liquid to fall into the bowl. You watch for a moment as the blood dissipates into smoke, then make your way off the stage. *page_break Aeson is the last one to climb the stairs. *goto aesonsacrifice *label aesonsacrifice When he reaches the top of the stage, many of the Gods smiled at him, their gazes proud. Aeson seems to be at home a top the stage, surrounded by the Gods in all their immortal power. For a moment, none of the Gods rise, even though you think they'd all jump at the chance to claim him. But it is only one God that can do that. *page_break "Aeson Thantos," Hades says. "I claim you as my own in acumen and prowess, and pledge my will to your efforts." *if dad1 = true [i]Hades...he took a part in both our conceptions?[/i] *if dad1 = false [i]Uncle Henry...he's the Bestower's father?[/i] There is a grin on Hades face, one so rare that even you have seldom seen it. Aeson stands before his father's sacrifice bowl. Everyone watches in awe as he pulls out the sword on his side, a magnificent longblade with a golden hilt, and uses it to slash his palm. He positions his hand over the bowl, and the mist steams out, dispersing into the air. Hades smiles softly at Aeson, who returns his affection, a wide grin on his face. Then, Aeson turns to the crowd. "And I claim you, every single citizen of Olympus, as my personal responsibility. I pledge my will to you; I will be your shield, and I will be your sword." At first, there is silence. Then, loud cheers, the sacred mood of the ceremony forgotten. *page_break Moments later. The true party, it seems, started after the Gods disappeared in a ray of light. You had gotten lost in the celebration of the crowd, dragged away from the stage and toward the source of the celebration. The nervous energy was left behind as the band kicked into another upbeat song, this one the instrumentals to "When Doves Cry." You feel... *fake_choice #completely overwhelmed. *set Stress +5 This entire experience has left you worn yet bundeled with nervous energy. The line up, the oaths, the blood sacrifices, the revelations... It's a wonder how your head hasn't blown up. *page_break *goto andthen #pissed, to say the least. This entire experience has left you on edge. The line up, the oaths, the blood sacrifices, the revelations... It's a wonder how you've kept your composure. *page_break *goto andthen #calm, surprisingly. *set Stress -6 This entire experience has left you at strangely at ease. The line up, the oaths, the blood sacrifices...there was something utterly peacful about the process, and the meaning behind it. Somehow, you haven't completely lost it. *page_break *goto andthen *label andthen You follow the line of Demigods walking toward a few medic stations near the stage. There are medical supplies littered over the sterile looking tables, and Healers hunched over Demigod's hands. You spot a familiar head of golden hair hunched over Santiago's hand. Avery is stitching Santiago's palm with deft precision as he leans back in his chair chatting animatedly to her. She doesn't look up from her work, but nods every few seconds, her lips moving to reply. *if cutpalm = true You look down at your own stinging palm, red, dried up blood covering your skin. You grimace at the new flow of blood begins to appear, heading toward Avery's station. *fake_choice #I want to chat with Avery and need my palm healed, so I make my way over to her station. *set Avery +2 *set MetSanti true *goto averychat #I want to chat with Santiago and need my palm healed, so I make my way over to her station. *set MetSanti true *goto santichat #I'll just do something about my cut later; I want to join the party. *goto helloactivities *if cutpalm = false You look down at your own uncut palm. *fake_choice #But, I want to chat with Avery, so I make my way over to her station. *set Avery +2 *set MetSanti true *goto averychat #But, I want to chat with Santiago, so I make my way over to her station. *set MetSanti true *goto santichat #Since I don't need any medical attention, I walk past the medic station, toward the center of the party. *goto helloactivities *label santichat You approach Avery's station just as she lets out a soft laugh at something Santiago says. She is pressing a bandaid over his palm. You note the strawberry pattern on them. "Are you sure there aren't anymore Barbie ones?" Santiago asks. "I just saw a kid go by with one." Avery smiles, shaking her head. "First come, first serve." she looks up then, a smile on her face. "${name}!" Santiago angles his head over the chair's back so that he can look at you, albeit upside down. "Mother Mary, do my eyes decieve me?" he says with false shock, his hazel eyes widening. "Am I finally meeting [i]the Chosen one[/i]?" "That's Harry Potter, Santiago." You watch as Avery finishes methodically wrapping a white bandage around Santiago's palm. *if cutpalm = true Avery's large eyes land on your bleeding palm. "Oh, come over here, ${name}," she says. "I'll take care of that." *if cutpalm = false Avery's large eyes land on you. "I saw what happened up there, ${name}," she says. "We all almost killed ourselves laughing." Santiago asseses you from head to toe. Finding what he was looking for, he raises his gaze back to you. *if Strength <=50 "You look like you can barely lift a pencil, let alone hold the weight of the world on your shoulders." he pauses, furrowing his brows. "But, then again, who could ever do that?" *if Strength >50 "You don't look like you can hold the weight of the world on your shoulders." he pauses, furrowing his brows. "But, then again, who could ever do that?" You take a seat in front of Avery, who throws away bloody, discarded cotton balls. She takes a hold of your palm, inspecting the cut. You see Santiago's tall frame in your peripheral vision, leaning against your chair. [i]How did he know I wanted to talk to him?[/i] When Avery finishes tending to your hand, she places a bright pink Barbie bandaid over the wound. Santiago lets out an incredulous noise, and Avery looks up at him innocently. As another Demigod approaches Avery's station, Santiago catches your eye. "Walk with me ${sir}," he says. "You're the most interesting person here." *page_break *goto santichat2 *label averychat You approach Avery's station just as she lets out a soft laugh at something Santiago says. She is pressing a bandaid over his palm. You note the strawberry pattern on them. You can't exactly tell what Avery is wearing, her dress partially hidden by another white lab coat, but you see hints of pink lace tracing her neckline. "Are you sure there aren't anymore Barbie ones?" Santiago asks with suspiscion. "I just saw a kid go by with one." Avery smiles, shaking her head. "First come, first serve." she looks up then, a smile on her face. "${name}." Santiago angles his head over the chair's back so that he can look at you, albeit upside down. "Holy Hera, do my eyes decieve me?" he says with false shock, his hazel eyes widening. "Am I finally meeting [i]the Chosen one[/i]?" "That's Harry Potter, Santiago." You watch as Avery methodically wraps a white wrap around Santiago's palm. *if cutpalm = true Avery's large eyes land on your bleeding palm. "Oh, come over here, ${name}," she says. "I'll take care of that." *if cutpalm = false Avery's large eyes land on you. "I saw what happened up there, ${name}," she says. "We all almost killed ourselves laughing." Santiago raises from his seat, regarding you with true curiosity. "So, you're going to save the world?" "Cut it out, Santiago," Avery protests from behind him. Santiago asseses you from head to toe. Finding what he was looking for, he raises a thick eyebrow. *if Strength <=50 "You look like you can barely lift a pencil, let alone hold the weight of the world on your shoulders." he pauses, furrowing his brows. "But, then again, who could ever do that?" *if Strength >50 "You don't look like you can hold the weight of the world on your shoulders." he pauses, furrowing his brows. "But, then again, who could ever do that?" *fake_choice #"Who do you think you're talking to?" I ask. Rhetorically, of course. *set Santiago +10 Santiago looks behind you, to his left, then to his right. "Who else here is expected to do something like that? Unless I'm mistaken, you're the only one who may have even the slightest capability to do so." You open your mouth to protest, anger overtaking you...when the boy brings up a hand to his temple, saluting you goodbye. "Good luck, ${sir}." *if Stress >50 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] *if Stress >60 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking, and you've got this whole wide-eyed paranoid look going on; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] With those final words, he turns to leave. #"You must have me mistaken for someone who willingly puts up with blatant disrespect." *set Santiago +10 Santiago grins at your retort. "No. I didn't; I'd be more disappointed if you did. But it's not disrespect; I'm just pointing out that no one can have that much pressure placed on them without some serious reperccussions." "You can't tell me what I can and cannot find offensive," you point out. "you don't have the right to." Santiago pauses, then nods, a hint of respect glinting in his eyes. He turns to leave, and you are relieved that the tense exchange is over, when you hear his voice once more. *if Stress >50 Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] *if Stress >60 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking, and you've got this whole wide-eyed paranoid look going on; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] With those final words, he turns to leave. #"And you can?" I ask. *set Santiago +10 "No," Santiago answers honestly. "That's the point. [i]No one[/i] can." You open your mouth to reply when the boy brings up a hand to his temple, saluting you goodbye. "Good luck, ${sir}." *if Stress >50 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] *if Stress >60 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking. Also you've got this whole wide-eyed paranoid look going on; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] With those final words, he turns to leave. #"Well, I can. I'm stronger than I look." I say. *set Santiago +10 "Maybe. But, I wasn't solely speaking in regards to physical capabilities." Santiago clarifies. "Someone who has gone through what you've gone through probably isn't the most stable in regards to mental health," Santiago pauses. "But then again, what the hell do I know?" You open your mouth to reply, the words on the tip of your tongue, when the boy speaks again. *if Stress >50 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] *if Stress >60 You assume the conversation is over, but Santiago turn to face you once more, picking at his wrappings. "By the way," he says. "Your hands are shaking. Also you've got this whole wide-eyed paranoid look going on; I don't blame you, really. But, it kind of leads to the disillusionment of that whole "All Powerful Master of the Universe" persona people have of you in their minds." [i]Stress check[/i] With those final words, he turns to leave. #I say nothing, staring him down. Santiago returns your glare, his gaze unnerving. *page_break *goto averychat2 *label averychat2 "Don't worry," Avery assures you. "He's like that with everyone...I think it's the Apollo Complex." "The Apollo Complex?" you ask, taking a seat. Avery nods, throwing away bloody napkins in a near by trash bin. "There was a study on it in the mortal world in the late 1980's. It's technically the Apollo Archetype, which relates to an emotional distance, problems with social communication, a lack of intimacy, inability to have faith in others......" Avery pauses, thinking. "Oh, and obvious self aggrandizing." "Are all of Apollo's children like that?" you ask. Avery shakes her head. "It's just a stereotype. Most of Apollo's kids are totally sweet." *if cutpalm = true Avery raises your palm, attempting to see how deep the cut is. Then, she soaks a cotton ball in a clear liquid. "It's not as deep as other's, ${name}. We just need to disinfect it and slap on a bandaid." *if cutpalm = false Avery glances at you. "What did you need, ${name}?" "I wanted to talk to you is all," you say. Avery blinks at you for a moment. "Oh. Alright." *label averyconvo *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"Who is your Godly parent?" Avery's cheeks turn pink. "I'm not a Demigod, ${name}." You can't help but seem a little shocked. Avery smiles, holding your gaze. "My mother was a Mage turned Healer, though, so I'm not fully mortal either. She was one of the best; working along side Hygieia and all that. When she retired, the Gods allowed me to attend classes at the Institute to thank her for her years of service. When I graduated, I become Hygieia's nurse." "How old are you?" you ask. "Nineteen. Twenty this winter. I have a half brother who's about your age; he's the cutest thing...though he's compltetely mortal. My father remarried after my parents got divorced." *goto averyconvo *disable_reuse #"What was life in the mortal world like before coming to the Institute?" "It was mundane," Avery admits. "Or in others words, completely and totally boring. I would watch my mother do all these amazing things with magic and interact with a world completely off-limits to me...she lived in the world of Gods and monsters while I lived in a two story townhouse in West Virginia." You can't help but hear the bitterness in her tone. Avery must realize this, because her sweet smile is back in full force. "So you prefer this world to the mortal world?" you ask. "It's more interesting, that's for sure." *goto averyconvo *disable_reuse #"What abilities do you have?" "I have about half the capacity of magic expected of me. I can cast basic spells...but not with as much power as a full fledged Mage could. I suppose that's why I'm focusing on the mortal aspects of medicine." Avery looks down at the discarded bloody wipes at her feet. "Cuts has been sterlized and patched up, but illness from a poison spell given to you by a ruthless witch can't. You'd need a Healer for that." *goto averyconvo *disable_reuse #"Who are the Healers, exactly?" "They're mage's who reside on Olympus until they retire. We have doctors and nurses for mundance injuries, while the Healers are used for magical related injuries." "Are you going to be a Healer?" "I'm not sure I'd want to make that sacrifice...or if I even could." "What sacrifice?" you ask. "You know, besides the whole 'devoting your life to helping others' thing." "Healers work in myserious ways...but I know that in order to heal others, they take energy from themselves." "How?" "I'm not entirely sure since I'm not a Healer, and the full extent of their methods are kept between them and the Gods." Avery pauses, biting her lip in contemplation. "My mother never allowed me to see her while she worked. But, after healing someone, she'd always look worse than before...as if something was taken from her. If I had to guess, I'd say Healers use their source to heal others. From what I've seen...it's very dangerous work." Avery looks down at her hands. "I'm not that selfless." *goto averyconvo *disable_reuse #"Do you plan on being on Olympus long?" "Oh, maybe," Avery answers flippantly. "I've only been here six years, and I've already assimilated myself into the culture; I'm worried that the mortal world will be too different for me if I decide to return." Avery rolls her eyes. "It's hard to admit sometimes, but, the world [i]does[/i] move on even when you're gone." *goto averyconvo *disable_reuse #"What'll you be doing during the Trials?" "Besides hoping none of you die?" Avery says in mock seriousness. "I'll be a medic, naturally." Avery seems to backpedal, clarifying. "I mean, like, not a medic in the magical sense; those injuries will be handeled by Healers. Basicaly, if you get shot by Cupid's arrow, I probably won't be assigned to you, but you get shot by a regular arrow? I'm your girl." *goto averyconvo *disable_reuse #"Why did Santiago need his hand healed if he's a child of Apollo?" Avery laughs loudly, throwing her head back. "The God of healing's son needs medical attention. Honestly, he just wanted the conversation, really." *goto averyconvo #Avery leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. *if cutpalm = true You were listening so intently to Avery speak that you didn't notice that she had already healed your hand. You look at the Barbie bandaid placed over your palm. Avery smiles knowingly. *goto averychat3 *label averychat3 You look behind you and see that the other stations are currently overtaken with Demigods with bleeding palms. Avery glances behind you. "Can I ask you something, ${name}?" You nod. She turns her attention back to you. "I know Santiago was probably just trying to get a reaction out of you, but I have to ask; can you [i]really[/i] handle this? All of it?" *fake_choice #"I'll try to," I say. "No one's perfect, but I'll try my best." *set Avery +5 Avery grins. "That's what my mom says," she pauses. "I know I can't say I understand how you feel; I dont, and never will. But, I do know that in order to succeed you can't count yourself out before you've even tried. I'm glad you're looking on the bright side." #"I'm not sure," I admit. "I don't know what'll happen, so I can't say." Avery nods. "Well, I'm sure you can do it," she pauses. "Whatever [i]it[/i] is. I'm not really well informed on the War." #"Of course I can," I say proudly. "I know what I'm capable of, and nothing can stop me from getting what I want." *set Avery +3 Avery smiles. "That's a really good attitude to have." she pauses. "I hope it's true, ${name}." #"No," I admit. "I have no idea what challenges I'll be presented with, but I know I'm not ready for any of them." Avery grimaces. "That's probably not the best attitude to have." she pauses. "I know I can't say I understand how you feel; I dont, and never will. But, I do know that in order to succeed you can't count yourself out before you've even tried." You both turn your attention from eachother when someone clears their throat. A boy stands behind your chair, clutching his bleeding palm. Avery smiles, then turn to you. "I'll see you around, $!{name}. Duty calls." You say your goodbye to Avery and make your way toward the center of the celebration. *goto helloactivities *label santichat2 You and Santiago find yourselves sitting in chairs set up next to a large bonfire. [i]Demigods and fire?[/i] you think. [i]Probably not the best idea.[/i] Santiago hands you a branch with a marshmellow speared onto it. You aim the branch toward the licking flames, thinking of a camping trip you and Athena took when you were far too young to appreciate technology. "I'm surprised you didn't take what I said to heart, Angelis." Santiago says suddenly. *fake_choice #"You should work on your delivery. Someone might think you're...I don't know, an asshole?" *set Santiago +5 "It keeps the weak away." Santiago jokes flippantly, blowing on his flaming marshmellow. The treat looks picture perfect to you, but Santiago throws it into a nearby bin, apparently dissatisfied. "If you can't handle petty critisicm, how will you handle a war?" "When people are going through a stressful time, criticism isn't something most can handle." you point out, thinking of your current predicament. Santiago, sensing a shift in tone, changes the subject. "How do you really feel about all of this?" *label santiasksu *fake_choice #"I don't feel anything," you say. "I'm too numb to process it all." "I don't know whether to envy you or pity you." Santiago says. "On one hand, if you're too numb to care, you can see different viewpoints of the same situation. On the other hand, if you're too detatched from the situation, you can walk into a big, steaming pile of sh-" A girl lands near the log you're occupying, apologizing as she retrives a football, throwing swears at her friends. "See?" Santiago says. Surprised by Santiago's questions, you didn't notice the flames that began to consume your marshmellow. You look down and see it burned to a black crisp, an unpleasant smell of burned sugar filling the air. You throw it into the bin. *page_break *goto santichat3 #"Defeated," you answer. "In the end, I'll most likely be dead. Whether from the Trials, Cronus, or my own powers." You watch as Santiago stabs another marshmellow, and aims it precarisously into the fire. "I'm not going to pretend to know everything about your situation...but from my experience, it's better to try when you [i]think[/i] it's hopeless than to not try at all. Could you really forgive yourself if you never even gave yourself a chance?" Surprised by Santiago's sudden philosiphical reply, you didn't notice the flames that began to consume your marshmellow. You look down and see it burned to a black crisp, an unpleasant smell of burned sugar filling the air. You throw it into the bin. *page_break *goto santichat3 #"I'm pissed, mostly," you say. "There's too much being hidden from me; too much I can't do." Santiago raises an eyebrow. "Like shove the Gods off the edge of Tartarus and tell Ares to go fu-" A girl lands near the log you're occupying, apologizing as she retrives a football, throwing swears at her friends. "You get the point." Santiago says. "Anyway, I won't try to tell you I know how you feel, but I might have a semblance. Given that; you probably shouldn't act on your feelings yet, though." "And why is that?" you ask, watching him throw away another perfectly roasted marshmellow. "You need them," he replies matter-of-factly. "Maybe not later, when you've got your big bad powers...but you need them now. Who's going to have your back when Cronus decides to stop sitting around and actually make a move?" Surprised by Santiago's questions, you didn't notice the flames that began to consume your marshmellow. You look down and see it burned to a black crisp, an unpleasant smell of burned sugar filling the air. You throw it into the bin. *page_break *goto santichat3 #"I'm optimistic," you say. "It's a lot to handle, but I think I have a pretty good chance." "Some would say that's bloodlust, Angelis." Santiago says, throwing away another perfectly roasted marshmellow. "I'm surprised you feel that way, honestly." "Why?" "It doesn't seem like the Gods, or anyone, tells you anything. Going into a war blind doesn't really nispire optimism. When you don't know where you're going, you-" A girl lands near the log you're occupying, apologizing as she retrives a football, throwing swears at her friends. "Exactly." Santiago says. Surprised by Santiago's questions, you didn't notice the flames that began to consume your marshmellow. You look down and see it burned to a black crisp, an unpleasant smell of burned sugar filling the air. You throw it into the bin. *page_break *goto santichat3 #I say nothing. Why should I have to answer? "Silence," Santiago says, nodding. "Smart." A girl lands near the log you're occupying, apologizing as she retrives a football, throwing swears at her friends. With the commotion, you didn't notice the flames that began to consume your marshmellow. You look down and see it burned to a black crisp, an unpleasant smell of burned sugar filling the air. You throw it into the bin. *page_break *goto santichat3 #"I knew you were just trying to get a rise out of me." *set Santiago +3 "It keeps the weak away." Santiago jokes flippantly, blowing on his flaming marshmellow. The treat looks picture perfect to you, but Santiago throws it into a nearby bin, apparently dissatisfied. "If you can't handle petty critisicm, how will you handle a war?" "When people are going through a stressful time, critisism isn't something most can handle." you point out, thinking of your current predicament. Santiago, sensing a shift in tone, changes the subject. "How do you really feel about all of this?" *goto santiasksu #"I wasn't going to let you have the satisfaction of getting to me." *set Santiago +7 "Stuff like that keeps certain people away." Santiago says flippantly, blowing on his flaming marshmellow. The treat looks picture perfect to you, but Santiago throws it into a nearby bin, apparently dissatisfied. "If you can't handle petty critisicm, how will you handle a war?" "When people are going through a stressful time, critisism isn't something most can handle." you point out, thinking of your current predicament. Santiago, sensing a shift in tone, changes the subject. "How do you really feel about all of this?" *goto santiasksu #"You kind of had a point, anyway." Santiago shrugs, blowing on his flaming marshmellow. The treat looks picture perfect to you, but Santiago throws it into a nearby bin, apparently dissatisfied. "If you can't handle petty critisicm, how will you handle a war?" "When people are going through a stressful time, critisism isn't something most can handle." you point out, thinking of your current predicament. Santiago, sensing a shift in tone, changes the subject. "How do you really feel about all of this?" *goto santiasksu #I say nothing, ignoring his remark. *set Santiago +7 Santiago blows on his flaming marshmellow. The treat looks picture perfect to you, but Santiago throws it into a nearby bin, apparently dissatisfied. "The point was, if you can't handle petty critisism, how will you handle a war?" "When people are going through a stressful time, critisism isn't something most can handle." you point out, thinking of your current predicament. Santiago, sensing a shift in tone, changes the subject. "How do you really feel about all of this?" *goto santiasksu *label santichat3 It takes a while for the smell of burned marshmellows to leave the area, but as you and Santiago chat, it eventually blows away with the wind. Santiago has given away five more marshmellows in that time to passing strangers, deciding that throwing them away was a waste. When you asked about the marshmellows, he said that none of them were perfect enough. Once, you saw the evidence of a scar that cuts across his upper lip when he turned to hand off another marshmellow. You consider grilling him with a question or two. *fake_choice #"What powers do you have?" As soon as the words leave your mouth, Santiago stands up with a stretch. "I've got to go," he says abruptly. "Sorry to cut the Q and A short." [i]Oh, come on,[/i] you think. "Good luck tomorrow, Angelis." Santiago says with a grin. "And remember; don't accept drinks from strangers." *page_break *goto activities #"What was Apollo like during your childhood?" As soon as the words leave your mouth, Santiago stands up with a stretch. "I've got to go," he says abruptly. "Sorry to cut the Q and A short." [i]Oh, come on,[/i] you think. "Good luck tomorrow, Angelis." Santiago says with a grin. "And remember; don't accept drinks from strangers." *page_break *goto activities #"Do you want to win the Trials?" As soon as the words leave your mouth, Santiago stands up with a stretch. "I've got to go," he says abruptly. "Sorry to cut the Q and A short." [i]Oh, come on,[/i] you think. "Good luck tomorrow, Angelis." Santiago says with a grin. "And remember; don't accept drinks from strangers." *page_break *goto activities #"How do you know Saint?" As soon as the words leave your mouth, Santiago stands up with a stretch. "I've got to go," he says abruptly. "Sorry to cut the Q and A short." [i]Oh, come on,[/i] you think. "Good luck tomorrow, Angelis." Santiago says with a grin. "And remember; don't accept drinks from strangers." *page_break *goto activities #"Why are you such a smartass?" As soon as the words leave your mouth, Santiago stands up with a stretch. "I've got to go," he says abruptly. "Sorry to cut the Q and A short." [i]Oh, come on,[/i] you think. "Good luck tomorrow, Angelis." Santiago says with a grin. "And remember; don't accept drinks from strangers." *page_break *goto activities *label helloactivities You lost track of the gang after the ceremony, the crowd too thick to catch a sight of anyone. Most people are dancing, and you spot a row of tables laden with food, and even a group of Demigods playing a game of poker. *label activities The night air is somewhat chilly, but the light from the floating lanterns make the atmosphere seem even warmer than it actually is. You... *fake_choice *selectable_if (dancewith = false) #consider the dance floor. *set dancewith true *set activity +1 The dance floor seems inviting and lively. You see people trying to organize a wave, others dance by theirselves, and some couples enjoying one another's company. You... *fake_choice #decide to dance by myself. *set Stress -10 *set dancealone true *goto dance *selectable_if (danceaeson = false) #ask Aeson to dance. *set Aeson +10 *set danceaeson true *page_break *goto dance *selectable_if (dancesaint = false) #ask Saint to dance. *set Saint +8 *set dancesaint true *page_break *goto dance *selectable_if (dancecally = false) #ask Calypso to dance. *set Calypso +8 *set dancecally true *page_break *goto dance *selectable_if (danceadonis = false) #ask Adonis to dance. *set Adonis +8 *set danceadonis true *page_break *goto dance *selectable_if (dancesage = false) #ask Sage to dance. *set dancesage true *page_break *goto dance *selectable_if (activity <2) #make my way over to the tables of food. *set activity +1 The rows and rows or delectable gourmet have been calling to you since you've arrived, and it is now time to answer the call. You can smell the food from here, and your stomach grumbles at the thought of it. You make your way over to the rows of food. *page_break *goto food *selectable_if (activity <2) #make my way over to the Demigods playing cards. *set activity +1 The robust laughter from the young Demigods had been slightly muted due to the loud music, but you still hear it every once in a while. They're seated at a round table, completely engrossed in their game. You make your way toward them. *page_break *goto poker #walk over to the lake at the edge of the party. *goto aphrodite *label aphrodite Exhausted, you walk over to the lake, hopeful for a moment of peace. Near the lake, to your far left, there is a roaring bonfire some Demigods have set up. You crouch down, closer to the water. You look at yourself in the reflection, noting the tiredness under your eyes. Then, a faint pink light appears next to you. You turn around, slightly startled, and see Aphrodite in all her eternal beauty. She wears a gown made of soft pink roses, their petals alive, as if never cut off to make such finery. There is a deep blush to her alabaster cheeks, and her big eyes shine, reflecting the light. Her hair flows down her back in soft, black waves, glinting with pearls. As she walks toward you, flowers spring up from her footsteps, and dove circle her. You wonder if you'll ever be unaffected by her beauty. *page_break "${name}," the Goddess says in greeting, her voice a melody. You stare at her, and she stares back, tilting her head. *if Allure <40 "Well, it seems I did not bless you enough, child," the Goddess says. Her smile widens for a moment as she appraises you. "Too late now, I suppose. I hope you can live with being slightly above average." *if (Allure >40) and (Wit <40) "You'd think the doves came out just for you, young Hero." the Goddess says, her voice full of false indifference. "I suppose this is what I get for blessing you so generously." *if (Allure >=55) and (Wit >=40) "Don't stand too close to the lake, child," the Goddess says. "Did Athena not tell you of the story of Narcissus? The poor fool fell in love with his own reflection, and when he came to his senses and realized it was just a reflection, he lost his will to live. He stared into that lake until the day he died." The Goddess pauses, then smiles at you, her knowing eyes brightening. "You have remarkable beauty...but you're far too smart to do such a thing, aren't you?" You open your mouth to speak, but the Goddess cuts you off. "Anyhow, I simply came to stop by and see how you were doing. We haven't spoken much, have we?" [i]Since you made it clear you wanted me dead? No, not much.[/i] Aphrodite gives you a knowing smile, as if reading your thoughts, and you briefly wonder who the real Goddess of wisdom is. "You mustn't be so sensitive, really," she says, smiling mischievously. "It's nothing personal. I'm simply thinking of the Universe and all aspects that threaten it, and that just happens to include you. You can't doubt that the power you have upsets the natural balance of things. It's enough to make anyone a little nervous." She pauses, then sighs, placing a warm hand on your shoulder. Her hair seems to sparkle under the moonlight. It's unnaturally enchanting. "It's not that I want you dead. Death is not my forte; I'm the Goddess of love, after all. You see, if I had a choice, you'd be very much alive for a very long time--or just enough time to live your life without the hassles of the Essence's power. I nean, the things you have to worry about; just the sheer amount of stress on your shoulders...no one should have to live with that. That's all I want, ${name}." You open your mouth to speak, but you are interrupted. *page_break *if (danceadonis = false) "I mean, I even stopped myself from interfering tonight," she admits. "With all the possibilities of young love and what not...does that not show tolerance?" *if (danceadonis = true) and (romanceadonis = true) "I mean, if I were truly miffed with you, I would never have allowed you to dance with my darling son," she says, looking at her nails. "And I didn't even [i]blink[/i] when you kissed him. Does that not show tolerance?" *if (danceadonis = true) and (romanceadonis = false) "I mean, if I were truly miffed with you, I would never have allowed you to dance with my darling son," she says, looking at her nails. "Does that not show tolerance?" You try to speak again, but you are interrupted once more. "Well, like I said; I just wanted to check in on you," she says, even though she hasn't let you utter one word. "I'll be off now. I hope to see you soon." Before she leaves, you... *label aphroditequestions *fake_choice *disable_reuse #Ask her about the Trojan War. "Wait, Aphrodite," you call out to her. She turns. "Yes?" "About the war," you begin. "I have a few questions." "What questions could you possibly have?" she pauses, smiling. "Is this about some history assignment or what not? That Edris man has been trying to interview me for years, so you--" "No, Aphrodite," you say. "It's not because of a project...I was [i]in[/i] the Trojan war. In one of my past lives, I took part in it." Now you truly have the Goddess's attention. She smiles brightly, clapping her hands. "I was wondering if our paths ever crossed! Tell me, who were you?" *if gender1 = "male" "Leon Antoniou," you answer. The Goddess stops clapping, her smile faltering. *if gender1 = "female" "Korrina Spiors," you answer. The Goddess stops clapping, her smile faltering. *page_break "Oh." she says. "That was [i]you[/i]?" *goto aphroditeq *disable_reuse #Ask her about Ares' hatred for you. "Why does Ares have it out for me?" you ask bluntly. "I know your reasoning is not his own." The Goddess smiles, her features softening. "If I could for one second understand Ares' heart, I would be able to tell you." *if dad3 = true "Also, it probably doesn't help that you're both children of Zeus," Aphrodite says with a laugh. *if dad1 = true "Also, it probably doesn't help that you're a child of Hades," Aphrodite says with a laugh. *goto aphroditequestions *disable_reuse #Ask her about the War. "Can you tell me anything? Aphrodite's face goes blank. "Do you want those nightmares in your mind, child?" she asks, tilting her head. "I think it's best you wait until you can be trusted with such information. I rather not be dropped from the top of Olympus simply because I have a big mouth..." She stops speaking, then smiles. "The prophecy. Read the prophecy until you have it scorched onto your mind." *goto aphroditequestions #The Goddess smiles at you, waving her hand around her. You stand and watch as the pink light forms once again, and the Goddess disappears. You sigh, getting up to stand away from the lake. *page_break Another bright light takes over your senses. *goto persephone *label aphroditeq *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"Why did you do it?" The Goddess frowns. "Do what? I did so much, child. Too much." "Why did you make Paris and Helen fall in love; why did you even promise her to him?" The Goddess sighs. "I was young and competitive. Honestly...that is so old news. I simply wanted the apple, and I was the one willing to fight the hardest for it. Helen was just..." "Your sister." you point out. "I was doing her a favor; what is a life without love?" the Goddess says defensively. "That husband of hers...Marvin, or whatever his name was...he didn't make her happy. Her heart didn't beat for him. But Paris? Paris was exactly what she needed; fun, young, caring and above all else, handsome. Did you see that king's unplucked nose hairs?" the Goddess shivers. She frowns. "Pity it didn't last. Death always gets in the way of love." *goto aphroditeq *disable_reuse #"How is Helen?" "I suppose I last spoke to her...in the 1960s. We went to Woodstock together. Not that long ago." *if (queentrust = true) and (lovehelen = true) "Of course, she mourned you--for [i]far[/i] too long if you ask me; nearly a hundred years! She had this tiny painting and everything. Oh, and she wouldn't talk to me for centuries. She insisted that [i]I[/i] kept her away from true love. Me! That girl is far too dramatic." You feel your heart flutter. *if (queentrust = true) and (lovehelen = false) "Of course, she mourned you--for [i]far[/i] too long if you ask me; nearly 60 years! Oh, and she wouldn't talk to me for centuries. She insisted that it was [i]my[/i] fault. Me! That girl is far too dramatic." You feel your eyes prickle. *if (queentrust = false) "She was rather disappointed about your death, but don't worry, she only mourned you for all of a week before hanging up her veil." "But all of that was so long ago," Aphrodite continues. "You were a different person. It's best to leave the past in the past, and the people you once knew in the past as well." The Goddes pauses, then stares at you. "I will not have a repeat of the Trojan war, ${name}." *goto aphroditeq *disable_reuse #"What about Prince Paris?" "Hm, Prince Paris. He was bored out of his mind. He was a slave to his brother, who was a slave to their father, who was a slave to his crown and his land. He would never have had the guts to be free." The Goddess smiles triumphantly. "I'm a Saint, really." *goto aphroditeq #The Goddess stares at you with eyes of stardust. *goto aphroditequestions *label poker When you approach the group, they are no longer laughing. Instead, they are leaned over the table, watching a dark-haired boy in a mask shuffle the cards. "Alright, Jonah," an Asian boy says, "this one is for my sword." Jonah, a red-haired boy, laughs. "You mean the sword you gave up because you [i]swore[/i] Fortuna was on your side?" The Asian boy rolls his eyes, taking a sip of water. "Let's make this a quick one; I promised Maddie I'd give her one more dance." "Alright, then, Isaiah," Jonah says, leaning back in his chair. "An easy one; Blackjack." The people around them groan, rolling their eyes. One of them, a girl with curly blonde hair calls out, "You might as well play Go Fish!" Isaiah holds up a hand, silencing them. "Sure. We need one more player, though." It's then that you step forward, taking a seat opposite the guys. "I'll play." you say. *page_break They gape at you, eyes wide. *goto poker1 *label poker1 "Well..." Jonah begins. "You see--" Isaiah interrupts him. *if gender = "female" "Sure, Na Lavei. You can play." *if gender = "male" "Sure, Ne Lavei. You can play." *if gender = "they" "Sure, Ni Lavei. You can play." The boy who had been shuffling the cards holds them in his hand, looking at each of you in turn. Then, he decks out two cards each to you, Isaiah, and Jonah. Jonah frowns slightly at his cards, breaking his poker face. Isaiah's face is expressionless. You look down at your cards; two 3s. "Make your bets," the dealer says. You... *fake_choice #bet 10 Drachmas. *set betdrach10 true Isaiah smiles. "That's nothing. But, it's fine, I guess. Jonah's betting my sword, so I'll just match you." *goto poker2 *selectable_if (Drachmas >=50) #bet 50 Drachmas. *set betdrach50 true Isaiah smiles. "Jonah's betting my sword, so I'll just match you." *goto poker2 *selectable_if (Drachmas >=100) #bet 100 Drachmas. *set betdrach100 true Isaiah's eyes widen. "Wow, alright. Well, Jonah's betting my sword, so I'll just match you." *goto poker2 *label poker2 "I'll start," Jonah says. "Hit," The dealer hands Jonah a card, and he tucks it into his stack. "Hit," Isaiah says, accepting the card the dealer hands him. You look down at your stack again, the two 3s staring up at you. *fake_choice #"Hit," I say. The dealer hands you a card; a nine of hearts. [i]I have 15 now,[/i] you think. [i]If I get anything more than six, I'm out.[/i] The dealer turns his attention to Jonah, who shakes his head. "Stay." Isaiah mimics your decision. "Hit." "Nervous, Jonah?" Isaiah asks him, raising an eyebrow. "I hope you've taken care of my sword for me." "[i]Your[/i] sword?" Jonah asks, laughing. "Hasn't been yours since you bet it on a whim." It is your turn once again. *fake_choice #"Stay," I say. "Hit," Jonah says, clearing his throat. You notice how tightly he grips the cards. "Hit," Isaiah says with an easy confidence. You briefly wonder how he ever lost to Jonah. *fake_choice #"Hit," I say. The dealer hands you a three of diamonds. You smile to yourself, noting that one of your original cards was a 3 as well. You wait until the guys make their calls, then, when it's your turn, you lean back onto your chair, smiling. "Double up," you say, pointing to the 3. The dealer does, and you smile. "Twenty-one!" The crowd the has formed around you cheers, and Jonah and Isaiah throw down their cards. *page_break *goto payup #"Stay," I say. Jonah stays as well, and when it comes down to Isaiah, he sighs. "Hit me." You all watch as the dealer hands Isaiah a card. Then, Isaiah smiles, shooting up out of his chair. "Twenty-one!" The crowd the has formed around you cheers, and you and Jonah throw down your cards. *page_break *goto payup1 #"Hit," I say again. The dealer hands you a King of Spades. You groan, throwing down your cards. You went over 21. Your total was [i]25[/i]. "You're out?" Jonah asks, wiping his brow. You notice how tightly he grips the cards. "That didn't take long," Isaiah remarks with a confident smile. You briefly wonder how he ever lost to Jonah. When Jonah's turn comes one again, he says "Hit," and you all hold your breath... "Crap!" he exclaims, throwing down his cards. Isaiah shoots up out of his chair. "I win!" *page_break *goto payup1 #"Stay," I say. The dealer nods, glancing at Jonah. Jonah bites his lip, then nods. "Hit," Isaiah mimics Jonah, his voice confident. [i]I still have six,[/i] you think. [i]I need no more than 15 to win.[/i] "Nervous, Jonah?" Isaiah asks him, raising an eyebrow. "I hope you've taken care of my sword for me." "[i]Your[/i] sword?" Jonah asks, laughing. "Hasn't been yours since you bet it on a whim." It is your turn once again. *fake_choice #"Stay," I say again. "Hit," Jonah says, clearing his throat. You notice how tightly he grips the cards. when he gets his card, he throws them down, burying his face in his hands. "Hit," Isaiah says with an easy confidence. You briefly wonder how he ever lost to Jonah.... Until his face crumbles, and he throws down his cards as well. "I won?" you wonder, the crowd that formed to watch cheering behind you. *page_break *goto payup #"Hit," I say. The dealer hands you a King of Spades. [i]I have 16 now,[/i] you think. [i]I need no more than 5 to win, or I'm out.[/i] "Hit me," Jonah says, glancing at Isaiah, who smiles sweetly at him. Isaiah then stays, for once. *fake_choice #"Hit," I say. The dealer hands you a five of diamonds. You grin. "Twenty-one!" The crowd that has formed around you cheers, and Jonah and Isaiah throw down their cards. *page_break *goto payup #"Stay," I say. Jonah stays as well, and when it comes down to Isaiah, he sighs. "Hit me." You all watch as the dealer hands Isaiah a card. Then, Isaiah smiles, shooting up out of his chair. "Twenty-one!" The crowd that has formed around you cheers, and you and Jonah throw down your cards. *page_break *goto payup1 *label payup1 *if betdrach10 = true *set Drachmas -10 "Not much of a loss, is it?" Isaiah asks you, swinging his sword in the air. Jonah watches him, eyes narrowed. "Next time, I'm getting that sword back," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Isaiah laughs. "Like I'm ever betting this beauty up again!" You bid the guys goodbye, your pockets slightly lighter than before. *page_break *goto activities *if betdrach50 = true *set Drachmas -50 "Kind of a loss, huh?" Isaiah asks you, swinging his sword in the air. Jonah watches him, eyes narrowed. "Next time, I'm getting that sword back," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Isaiah laughs. "Like I'm ever betting this beauty up again!" You bid the guys goodbye, your pockets lighter than before. *page_break *goto activities *if betdrach100 = true *set Drachmas -100 "That's a big loss, huh?" Isaiah asks you, swinging his sword in the air. Jonah watches him, eyes narrowed. "Next time, I'm getting that sword back," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Isaiah laughs. "Like I'm ever betting this beauty up again!" You bid the guys goodbye, your pockets drastically lighter than before. *page_break *goto activities *label payup *if betdrach10 = true *set Drachmas +10 "Not much of a win, is it?" Isaiah asks you, swinging his sword in the air. Jonah watches him, eyes narrowed. "Next time, I'm getting that sword back," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Isaiah laughs. "Like I'm ever betting this beauty up again!" You bid the guys goodbye, your pockets slightly heavier than before. *page_break *goto activities *if betdrach50 = true *set Drachmas +50 "A nice win, huh?" Isaiah asks you, swinging his sword in the air. Jonah watches him, eyes narrowed. "Next time, I'm getting that sword back," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Isaiah laughs. "Like I'm ever betting this beauty up again!" You bid the guys goodbye, your pockets heavier than before. *page_break *goto activities *if betdrach100 = true *set Drachmas +100 "That's a big win, huh?" Isaiah asks you, swinging his sword in the air. Jonah watches him, eyes narrowed. "Next time, I'm getting that sword back," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Isaiah laughs. "Like I'm ever betting this beauty up again!" You bid the guys goodbye, your pockets much heavier than before. *page_break *goto activities *label food There seems to be an endless amount of food. There are desserts and meats and entree's that look like they could be served to royalty. Then, one of the chefs, a man in a white coat, brings forth a platter of goods. "[i]Bonsoir[/i]," he says, his accent thick. "May I interest you in sampling one of my world famous delicacies?" You nod, excitement on your face. He lifts the silver covering on all the platters, and one by one, you are presented with an array of choices, each one more mouthwatering than the last. "I can assure you that each has its own benefits," the Chef says with a deep laugh. "In addition to the flavor, of course!" *fake_choice #I point to the chocolate cake dripping in hot fudge. *set Allure +4 "[i]Bon choix,[/i]" the Chef says. He carefully cuts out a slice of the cake, the inside of it filled with rich, dark chocolate. He places the slice on a plate for you, bowing before attending to another party goer. You look around, savoring the cake as it melts in your mouth. You smile to yourself. *page_break *goto activities #I point to the crème brûlée topped off with thick whipped cream. *set Wit +4 "[i]Bon choix,[/i]" the Chef says. He carefully picks up the white bowl, the whipped cream slightly melting atop the warm surface of the crème brûlée. He hands you a tiny, round spoon, then bows before attending to another party goer. You look around, savoring the sweetness as it melts in your mouth. You smile to yourself. *page_break *goto activities #I point to the delicate looking tiramisu. *set Stress -20 "[i]Bon choix,[/i]" the Chef says. He carefully cuts out a slice of the cake, the coffee crumbling onto the white place he sets it atop of. He hands you the plate, then bows before attending to another party goer. You look around, savoring the bitter sweetness as it melts in your mouth. You smile to yourself. *page_break *goto activities *label dance *if dancealone = true It takes quite a bit of effort to get past all the people on the dance floor. It's a mass of bodies and thumping music, no longer coming from the band. You can tell it's a popular song, nearly everyone singing along to the words. You aren't sure how you got swept up into a large conga line, but for a moment, you savor it. No one stares at you. No one points. No one whispers behind their hands. You hold onto the waist of the person in front of you while someone holds onto your waist from behind. You yell out when everyone else does, keep in sync with the 1-2-3 step, and smile brightly. *if danceaeson = true You find Aeson chatting with the gang, which is no surprise, but you also see that the pink-haired girl, Psyche, is with them. Saint sees your approach and waves you over, his drink sloshing over the edge and landing on Adonis's shoes. Calypso pats Adonis's shoulder sympathetically. "Where've you been?" Saint asks. You explain getting lost in the crowd. You catch snippets of Aeson and Psyche's conversation. You furrow your brows, and only when you hear the strange words do you realize they're not speaking English. "[i]Frustra esset. Non etiam summae,[/i]" Psyche says, shaking her head. "I spent hours studying. [i]Quid perditio tempore![/i]" Aeson smiles, then replies too quickly for you to follow along. When he sees you staring, he switches to English. "Psyche, this is ${name}," he says, gesturing to you. "${name}, Psyche." Psyche cocks her head, furrowing her brows. "I expected you to be younger, for some strange reason." She shakes her head, frowning. "Nice to make your acquaintance. I'm sure I'll be seeing much over you over the school year." Adonis joins the conversation. "She can't just say 'It's nice to meet you,'" he mocks. "She has to insult you, then act like you're in a business meeting." Psyche cuts a glare at him, raising an eyebrow. "[i]Quid autem derident me?[/i]" "I don't speak Latin," Adonis says, giving her a dazzling smile. She rolls her eyes. Laughter sounds off from the dance floor, reminding you of why you're here. You... *fake_choice #simply ask Aeson if he wants to dance with me. *set Aeson +3 Psyche throws more Latin phrases at Adonis, who smiles, nodding as if he can understand. It isn't until you hear another loud laugh from the dance floor that you turn to Aeson, who watches Saint try to coerce Calypso into a dance with a smile on his face. "Aeson, do you want to dance?" you ask. It's at that moment that there is a pause in the music that was just playing a second ago, and a silence in the conversations of everyone around you. Most eyes are on you. You glance at Calypso, who blinks at you. Saint raises his eyebrows, and Psyche smiles to herself. *if loveadonis = true You notice the aggravated look on Adonis's face. *if loveadonis = false Adonis simply glances between you two. It's Aeson who breaks the silence. He grins. "Of course." *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto aeson1 #try to be discreet, asking everyone if they'd like to dance. "Do you guys want to dance?" you ask, careful not to keep your gaze focused on one person. Calypso laughs. "Do you really want to make everyone suffer through watching Saint's dance move?" Saint raises an eyebrow, mocking offense. "What are you trying to say?" *if lovecalypso = true Calypso laughs, grabbing his hand. You watch their figures retreat toward the dance floor, Saint complaining the entire way. You frown, jealousy tugging at your heart. *if lovecalypso = false Calypso laughs, grabbing his hand. You watch their figures retreat toward the dance floor, Saint complaining the entire way. Psyche smiles at them then turns to Adonis. She doesn't even have a chance to speak before Adonis grabs her hand, and they make their way to the dance floor. *if loveadonis = true You can't help the tug at your heart at the sight. You and Aeson stand together, watching them. Then, you ask, "Do you want to dance?" Aeson opens his mouth as if to say something, then closes it, slightly caught off guard by your question. "Did you want to dance with me the entire time?" Hesitantly, you nod. He smiles. "You should have just asked, ${name}. I would have said yes." *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto aeson1 #catch Aeson's eye. Over the chatter of those around you, you manage to catch Aeson's gaze. He nods when you gesture to the mass of dancing people. As you walk, you are conscious of the stares from those around you. Aeson follows beside you, not saying a word. *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto aeson1 *if dancesaint = true You find Saint chatting with the gang, which is no surprise, but you also see that the pink-haired girl, Psyche, is with them. Saint sees your approach and waves you over, his drink sloshing over the edge and landing on Adonis's shoes. Calypso pats Adonis's shoulder sympathetically. "Where've you been?" Saint asks. You explain getting lost in the crowd. You catch snippets of Aeson and Psyche's conversation. You furrow your brows, and only when you hear the strange words do you realize they're not speaking English. "[i]Frustra esset. Non etiam summae,[/i]" Psyche says, shaking her head. "I spent hours studying. [i]Quid perditio tempore![/i]" Aeson smiles, then replies too quickly for you to follow along. When he sees you staring, he switches to English. "Psyche, this is ${name}," he says, gesturing to you. "${name}, Psyche." Psyche cocks her head, furrowing her brows. "I expected you to be younger, for some strange reason." She shakes her head, frowning. "Nice to make your acquaintance. I'm sure I'll be seeing much over you over the school year." Adonis joins the conversation. "She can't just say 'It's nice to meet you,'" he mocks. "She has to insult you, then act like you're in a business meeting." Psyche cuts a glare at him, raising an eyebrow. "[i]Quid autem derident me?[/i]" "I don't speak Latin," Adonis says, giving her a dazzling smile. She rolls her eyes. Laughter sounds off from the dance floor, reminding you of why you're here. *page_break "Saint," you begin. "Do you want to dance?" Calypso laughs, covering her mouth. "Sure you wanna do that, ${name}?" she asks you. "You really want to unleash Saint onto the world?" Saint lowers his brows. "And what, exactly, are you trying to say?" Calypso laughs again, turning away. "Nothing, nothing." *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto saint1 *if dancecally = true You find Calypso chatting with the gang, which is no surprise, but you also see that the pink-haired girl, Psyche, is with them. Saint sees your approach and waves you over, his drink sloshing over the edge and landing on Adonis's shoes. Calypso pats Adonis's shoulder sympathetically. "Where've you been?" Saint asks. You explain getting lost in the crowd. You catch snippets of Aeson and Psyche's conversation. You furrow your brows, and only when you hear the strange words do you realize they're not speaking English. "[i]Frustra esset. Non etiam summae,[/i]" Psyche says, shaking her head. "I spent hours studying. [i]Quid perditio tempore![/i]" Aeson smiles, then replies too quickly for you to follow along. When he sees you staring, he switches to English. "Psyche, this is ${name}," he says, gesturing to you. "${name}, Psyche." Psyche cocks her head, furrowing her brows. "I expected you to be younger, for some strange reason." She shakes her head, frowning. "Nice to make your acquaintance. I'm sure I'll be seeing much over you over the school year." Adonis joins the conversation. "She can't just say 'It's nice to meet you,'" he mocks. "She has to insult you, then act like you're in a business meeting." Psyche cuts a glare at him, raising an eyebrow. "[i]Quid autem derident me?[/i]" "I don't speak Latin," Adonis says, giving her a dazzling smile. She rolls her eyes. Laughter sounds off from the dance floor, reminding you of why you're here. You... *fake_choice #simply ask Calypso if she wants to dance with me. *set Calypso +6 Psyche throws more Latin phrases at Adonis, who smiles, nodding as if he can understand. It isn't until you hear another loud laugh from the dance floor that you turn to Calypso, who raises an eyebrow at something Saint is saying. "Calypso, do you want to dance?" you ask. It's at that moment that there is a pause in the music that was just playing a second ago, and a silence in the conversations of everyone around you. Most eyes are on you. You glance at Aeson, who blinks at you. Saint raises his eyebrows, and Psyche smiles to herself. *if loveadonis = true You notice the aggravated look on Adonis's face. *if loveadonis = false Adonis simply glances between you two. It seems like forever before Calypso replies. She grins. "I would [i]love[/i] to." *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto cally1 #try to be discreet, asking everyone if they'd like to dance. "Do you guys want to dance?" you ask, careful not to keep your gaze focused on one person. Calypso laughs. "Do you really want to make everyone suffer through watching Saint's dance move?" Saint raises an eyebrow, mocking offense. "What are you trying to say?" he asks. "I'm the best dancer Olympus has ever seen. You know what?" Just as a blue haired girl walks by, Saint gently touches her hand, leading her to the dance floor. She looks mildly surprised but makes no protests, grinning widely. Psyche smiles at them then turns to Adonis. She doesn't even have a chance to speak before Adonis takes her hand, and they make their way to the dance floor. *if loveadonis = true You can't help the tug at your heart at the sight. Aeson had been swept away by a group of Demigods a moment ago, so now just you and Calypso stand together, watching the party goers. Then, you ask, "Do you want to dance?" Calypso stares at you for a moment, furrowing her brows. Then, understanding takes over her features. "You're kind of sneaky." Not sure what to say, you simply smile. She grins widely. "I would [i]love[/i] to, ${name}." *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto cally1 #catch Calypso's eye. Over the chatter of those around you, you manage to catch Calypso's gaze. She nods when you gesture to the mass of dancing people. As you walk, you are conscious of the stares from those around you. Calypso walks beside you, a small smile on her face. *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto cally1 *if danceadonis = true You find Adonis chatting with the gang, which is no surprise, but you also see that the pink-haired girl, Psyche, is with them. Saint sees your approach and waves you over, his drink sloshing over the edge and landing on Adonis's shoes. Calypso pats Adonis's shoulder sympathetically. "Where've you been?" Saint asks. You explain getting lost in the crowd. You catch snippets of Aeson and Psyche's conversation. You furrow your brows, and only when you hear the strange words do you realize they're not speaking English. "[i]Frustra esset. Non etiam summae,[/i]" Psyche says, shaking her head. "I spent hours studying. [i]Quid perditio tempore![/i]" Aeson smiles, then replies too quickly for you to follow along. When he sees you staring, he switches to English. "Psyche, this is ${name}," he says, gesturing to you. "${name}, Psyche." Psyche cocks her head, furrowing her brows. "I expected you to be younger, for some strange reason." She shakes her head, frowning. "Nice to make your acquaintance. I'm sure I'll be seeing much over you over the school year." Adonis joins the conversation. "She can't just say 'It's nice to meet you,'" he mocks. "She has to insult you, then act like you're in a business meeting." Psyche cuts a glare at him, raising an eyebrow. "[i]Quid autem derident me?[/i]" "I don't speak Latin," Adonis says, giving her a dazzling smile. She rolls her eyes. Laughter sounds off from the dance floor, reminding you of why you're here. You... *fake_choice #simply ask Adonis if he wants to dance with me. *set Adonis +6 Psyche throws more Latin phrases at Adonis, who smiles, nodding as if he can understand. It isn't until you hear another loud laugh from the dance floor that you interrupt their conversation. "Adonis, do you want to dance?" you ask. It's at that moment that there is a pause in the music that was just playing a second ago, and a silence in the conversations of everyone around you. Most eyes are on you. You glance at Aeson, who blinks at you. Saint raises his eyebrows, and Psyche smiles to herself. *if lovecalypso = true You notice the aggravated look on Calypso's face. *if loveadonis = false Calypso simply glances between you two. It seems like forever before Adonis replies. He nods. "Yes, I do." *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto adonis1 #try to be discreet, asking everyone if they'd like to dance. "Do you guys want to dance?" you ask, careful not to keep your gaze focused on one person. Calypso laughs. "Do you really want to make everyone suffer through watching Saint's dance move?" Saint gapes at her, mocking offense. "What are you trying to say?" he asks. "I'm the best dancer Olympus has ever seen. You know what?" Just as a blue haired girl walks by, Saint gently touches her hand, leading her to the dance floor. She looks mildly surprised but makes no protests. Calypso sighs, then trails after them, calling Saint's name. Psyche smiled at the spectacle, then shakes her head, walking away as a group of Demigods call to her. Aeson had been swept away by another group a moment ago, so now just you and Adonis stand together, watching the party goers. Then, you ask, "Do you want to dance?" Adonis raises an eyebrow at you. Then, he smirks. "Very clever, ${name}." You simply smile. He smiles. "Shall we?" *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto adonis1 #catch Adonis's eye. Over the chatter of those around you, you manage to catch Adonis's gaze. He nods when you gesture to the mass of dancing people. As you walk, you are conscious of the stares from those around you. Adonis walks beside you, a sly smile on his face. *page_break The dance floor is packed. *goto adonis1 *if dancesage = true The red-head had disappeared shortly after the ceremony, so it takes you a while to track her down. What you're doing is strange, you realize. She's made it clear that she would more than likely kill you if presented with the chance. But, if you're being honest, you... *fake_choice #need to get on her good side before this whole thing blows out of proportion. I'd like to limit the amount of enemies I have. With the Trials fast approaching, you can't have so many people out to get you. You already have half the pantheon, a blood-thirsty Titan, and some very strange Seekers after your neck; so why add one more person into the mix? #need to confront her in a non-aggressive manner. I have some questions that need to be answered. *if var2 = true Did she know that you had to kill Saxon? He had been possessed by...something. If she knew, maybe she wouldn't be too harsh. If anything, you [i]saved[/i] him from a life serving some twisted master that had full control of him. *if var2 = false If you didn't kill Saxon, then who did? You had watched him jump off that building, and you had assumed he got away... Maybe his master--whoever it was that was controlling him--killed him because he didn't kill you. You have to clear your name. #find myself intrigued by her. *if var2 = true Yes, you killed her brother. But at that point, he was not her brother. He was something else--a puppet to be controlled by someone else... *if var2 = false You didn't kill her brother. He was being controlled by something otherworldly, something that sent him to kill you. Surely, if you can convince her... Despite the dilemma, you do find yourself interested in her. Maybe it's her fire or her fierce protectiveness, but she's caught your attention. *goto sage1 *label sage1 You finally find Sage sitting with a dark haired boy. She wears a light pink gown, with a large skirt and crystals sewn into the shoulders. The boy places a hand on her arm as you approach. It's only when you see the look on her face do you realize it's not to protect her, but to protect [i]you[/i] from her. Sage's once pretty face is now contorted into a barely withheld rage. She narrows her arresting blue eyes and grips the edges of the table, her knuckles turning white. "What. Do. You. Want." she spits out. "Do you want to murder him, too?" The boy stares at you incredulously, his brown eyes large and innocent. He must think you're crazy. *fake_choice #"Do you want to dance?" Sage's eyes widen for a moment, her brows furrowing. It's only a second later until she's in front of you, her face inches away from yours. [i]She moved so fast,[/i] you think. [i]This must be the source power Herme's children have; speed.[/i] Her nails dig into your arm, the pain spreading from the source to your bicep. "You wanna dance?" she asks, her voice low. She uses her heel to step onto your feet. You reach down instinctively, and Sage takes this opportunity to push your head back. "What's wrong? Don't you want to dance?" The boy she was with grabs her arm and manages to snatch Sage away, pulling her toward the party. "Stay away from me!" you hear her yell, her voice fading away. *page_break *goto activities #"We need to talk." Sage lets out a mirthless laugh. She glances at the boy, then at you. "Sure," she says. "Let's talk." She leans back in her chair as if she has all the time in the world and wants nothing more than to make you quiver. "Let's talk about how I will never see my brother again. Let's talk about how, the last thing I said to him was a promise, and now, I will [i]never[/i] get to keep that promise. And it's because of you. In fact, let us talk about how you can stand there, blood on your hands, and have the audacity to ask [i]anything[/i] of me." Sage pauses, then smiles. "The time for talking ended when you killed my brother. Now, it's time for action." She gives you a final glare, her eyes unforgiving and cold. Then, she gets up and leaves, the boy trailing behind her. *page_break *goto activities *label adonis1 The next song is one that you don't know, but you can recognize the heavy Greek accent in the singer's voice. She had appeared out of nowhere atop the stage, wearing a long white gown with daisies sewn on to the hem. The melody is soothing, nearly sedative, and her voice is deep and breathy. The language itself consists of soft, flowing vowels and prominent r's. You and Adonis... *fake_choice #dance separately, as far away as possible. The music begins to pick up, the passion in the singer's voice rising. #dance separately, a good distance apart. With Adonis an arms length away from you, you both stay in your respective personal bubbles, dancing together, but not [i]together[/i]. #dance closely. Adonis's arms are wrapped around your waist, and you place your hands on his chest. The crowd nearly envelopes you both, their swaying and rhythmic movements in sync with one another. *label adonisq1 *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"What is she singing?" "Our lives, basically," Adonis answers you. "She's detailing the events of a tragic, twenty-year war." "About this war..." you begin. Adonis smiles. "We don't know much. The only information we have is that Cronus is a part of it." "So that must mean Cronus is leading it." Adonis shrugs. "That seems like the most obvious conclusion." "So he's just out there, wreaking havoc?" you ask. "His body is trapped in Tartarus, but his mind," Adonis taps his skull. "His mind is somewhat free; and so is his influence." *goto adonisq1 *disable_reuse #"What do you think about the war?" "It's a necessary evil," he answers honestly. "The Gods knew that they'd have to face their creator--not you--at some point." *goto adonisq1 *disable_reuse #"You didn't mention Aphrodite is your mother." Adonis smiles. "It's apparent, ${name}. Haven't you heard? I'm the poster child for the Aphrodite clan." He says this lightly, but you can hear the strained in his voice. *goto adonisq1 *disable_reuse #"Are you and Aphrodite close?" "We are," he says. "I'm her decided favorite of the century. I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse." "Why would it be a bad thing?" "There's a competitive and jealous streak among Aphrodite's children. I'd rather not be private enemy number one." *goto adonisq1 *disable_reuse #"Tell me about your childhood." "I lived in Paris with my dad and my little sister, Venus." You raise an eyebrow. "Yes, I know." he says, smiling. "Did Aphrodite and your dad stay together?" you ask. "Not really; she came by when she felt like it. She was around more when I was a baby." he pauses. "I don't resent her for it. I just wish she didn't try so hard when she knew she wouldn't...wouldn't be around. I rather have had no parent than half of one." *goto adonisq1 *disable_reuse #"How did you meet everyone?" "Because of Aeson," Adonis says. "We were thirteen, I thin. I remember it was my first month at the Institute, and I was on my way to the forging room when this guy knocked me down. He came out of nowhere, really. I was already in a pretty bad mood because Lia Williams just--never mind. The point is, I was about ready to explode at that point." "And then?" "I did explode; we fought for a while until both of us were sporting shiny black eyes and busted lips. He kept apologizing, but I could tell he was in a rush. Then I saw his sword." he says. "It was beautiful; this glinting steel with an engraved hilt. No doubt a gift from Hades. The only problem was that it was badly weighed for a twelve-year-old. Way too heavy. So I made him a deal; let me take your sword, and I'll forgive you." "I had the most fun working on it..." Adonis says, smiling at the memory. "It was so easy to weld. The perfect way to test my new technique." "What happened then?" you ask. "I gave it back to him. He seemed kind of shocked, really. He was sitting with Saint and Calypso; Calypso kept looking at me strangely, and Saint was pissed cause I dropped the sword on his fries." "Anyway, Aeson asked me to sit with them, and I said yes." he pauses. "That's how it all started, I guess." *goto adonisq1 #The woman stops singing, then bows before making her way off the stage. *page_break *goto adonis2 *label adonis2 Adonis claps along with the crowd, a serene smile on his face. The moonlight seems to shine on him, and only him. You wonder if that is a blessing from his mother. It is then that you... *fake_choice #ask why Aphrodite has it out for me. "Adonis," you ask. "Why exactly does Aphrodite hate me?" He laughs. "She isn't capable of an emotion that deep, ${name}," he explains. "She probably only wants Ares to think that she's on his side." That seems to be all he has to say on the matter. It's then that the group Psyche had disappeared with now approach you two. Psyche gestures to Adonis, waving her arm, as the girls behind her giggle. He turns to you. "I had a nice time, ${name}," he says. "I'll see you later, alright?" With that goodbye, he leaves, walking toward the group. *page_break *goto activities #ask how his latest creation is going. "So," you begin. "How's that retractable sword going?" An excited gleam fills his eyes. "I've almost got it. It's amazing; I found a way to ease the reaction time so it doesn't throw the user off balance. I'd need some time to test it, but I'm sure once I give it a formal trial the results will lead me to-- It's then that the group Psyche had disappeared with now approach you two. Psyche gestures to Adonis, as the girls behind her giggle. He turns to you. "I had a nice time, ${name}," he says. "I'll see you later, alright?" With that goodbye, he leaves, walking toward the group. *page_break *goto activities #lean in toward him. *set romanceadonis true Adonis glances around the open area, his eyes lingering on the glowing lights. They reflect onto his alarmingly faultless face, the sharp lines of his cheeks and the soft dip of his lips suddenly emphasized. You hesitantly take his hand, and he turns his gaze onto you, his green eyes searching. There is an uncertainty in his gaze. You don't hesitate before leaning in. The feeling of the warmth of his lips on your own consumes your senses. His hand is warm on your cheek. When you finally pull away, Adonis stares at you, brows drawn. "I--" he begins. "Excuse me, ${name}." *page_break *goto activities *label cally2 Calypso claps along with the crowd, echoing others in an [i]"Encore, Encore!"[/i] chant. It is then that you... *fake_choice *label cally1 The next song is one that you don't know, but you can recognize the heavy Greek accent in the singer's voice. She had appeared out of nowhere atop the stage, wearing a long white gown with daisies sewn on to the hem. The melody is soothing, nearly sedative, and her voice is deep and breathy. The language itself consists of soft, flowing vowels and prominent r's. You and Calypso... *fake_choice #dance separately, as far away as possible. The music begins to pick up, the passion in the singer's voice rising. #dance separately, a good distance apart. With Calypso an arms length away from you, you both stay in your respective personal bubbles, dancing together, but not [i]together[/i]. #dance closely. Calypso's arms are draped over your shoulders, and you place yours around her waist. The crowd nearly envelopes you both, their swaying and rhythmic movements in sync with one another. *label callyq1 *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"What is she singing?" "A very melodramatic piece about war and death," Calypso answers you. "It's beautiful." "About this war..." you begin. Calypso grins. "I want to know as much about it as you do, but it's the one thing we can't get information on. No one talks about it around here; it's classified information. The only bit of intel we have is that Cronus is a part of it." "So that must mean Cronus is leading it." "Well, that's one theory; probably the most accurate one, too." "So he's just out there, wreaking havoc?" you ask. "Possibly. He may be in Tartarus, but his mind can still influence vulnerable people. That may be how he's getting involved." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"You don't seem bothered by the idea of war." She smiles softly. "I'm not. It's a part of life, and it always has been. If you think about it, there are three things mankind has been consistently doing since the beginning of time; fighting, breeding and dying." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"You didn't mention Ares was your father." She laughs, loudly and unapologetically. "I think it was obvious. What more could I have done? Write [i]ARES' KID[/i] on my forehead in blood?" She smiles at the thought. "Actually, that'd be kind of cool." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"Are you and Ares close?" "Closer than most Demigods are to their Godly parents. He lived with my family and I in our home country. He was like a mortal father in every way; he taught me how to read, how to ride a bike, how to swim..." You watch as Calypso loses herself in the memory. "My first word was dad." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"Tell me about your family." "Every weekend I send messages. It's just my mother and my two little brothers; Ariam and Aram. They're still in Eritrea, and it'd be easier if they lived closer to Olympus...but they love it there. I can't ask them to do that simply for my convenience. I used to be able to go summers with Ares, but things have changed. There are too many things keeping him and me away from them. Too many obstacles." "Do you miss Eritrea?" you ask. Calypso pauses before answering. "I do. I really do." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"How did you meet Saint?" Calypso grins, her white teeth bared. "I met Saint when I first arrived at the Institute. Ares introduced us. Say what you want about him, but Ares knows how to read people, ${name}. Somehow, he knew Saint was the friend I needed. I thought he was crazy; Saint was the kind of kid who had trouble written all over his face. It's not that he was trouble, it's just that he was capable of it. I was skeptical, at best." "So, what happened?" you ask her. "I got too cocky after getting my first bow. I thought I could go out into the woods and hunt something, even a small squirrel to show Ares. I was only in there for half an hour before I nearly got stung to death by these wasps. I'm not allergic, but it hurt like hell. I couldn't see where I was going when I was running away from the swarm, so I tripped over this branch and landed on my arm. I knew it was broken even before I gained consciousness. I'm not sure how long I laid there. Then I heard footsteps. I thought it was Ares, so I called out." "But it wasn't Ares, was it?" She smiles sadly. "It was Saint. He saw me go into the woods hours ago and came in after me. He carried me back to the Institute; mind you that we were only eight years old at the time. He stayed with me in the infirmary for days." "And then you were friends?" you wonder. "No," she laughs. "We weren't friends until he drew a wasp on my cast. Then, I knew I couldn't let him go. He's my best friend." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"How did you meet Aeson?" "Aeson had just arrived on Olympus. He was...he was pretty depressed for a ten-year-old. There was too much darkness around him, and it had nothing to do with being a child of Hades. He didn't talk to anyone, and everyone was too caught off guard to talk to him. I wanted to say something, anything, but I couldn't do it." "Then, one day, I saw Saint trying to trade swords with him. It wouldn't have been a problem if Saint's was a rubber prop he found in the theater room. I had to save him, naturally. Not because Saint was being unfair--that's just how Saint is--but because Aeson had this look in his eyes; like he was going to do something to Saint." "I made Saint back off, and then, when Aeson tried to leave, I saw something in his eyes other than that strange power," she laughs. "The guy was lonely. Really, really lonely. So, I asked him a very important question that determined the fate of our friendship; what's more important, how you win, or if you win?" "What did he say?" you ask. She smiles. "How you win. I didn't agree; I think it's if you win. There is no point in being honorable if you lose the whole god damn war, ${name}." *goto callyq1 *disable_reuse #"How did you meet Adonis?" "We were thirteen when Adonis dropped Aeson's sword onto our lunch table. Saint was kind of pissed; it landed on his french fries. They had some deal worked out that they never explained. Aeson asked Adonis if he'd sit with us, and the Aphrodite kids just--" she laughs, covering her hand with her mouth. "they looked like they were plotting to [i]kill us[/i]." *goto callyq1 #The woman stops singing, then bows before making her way off the stage. *page_break *goto cally3 *label cally3 Calypso claps along with the crowd, echoing others in an [i]"Encore, Encore!"[/i] chant. *label callysquestions It is now that you... *fake_choice *disable_reuse #ask why Ares has it out for me. "Calypso," you ask. "Why exactly does Ares hate me?" She ceases her chanting, glancing at you. "He doesn't hate you." You stare at her, eyes wide. "He wants to [i]kill me[/i]." She sighs, shaking her head. "He doesn't hate you, ${name}. I promise." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter. *goto callysquestions #ask how the initiation with Artemis's Hunters is going. "Calypso," you ask. "How is the initiation going?" She ceases her chanting, glancing at you. "It's not. It's been put on hold until the Trials are underway. I guess I should be grateful; I'll have more time to train and perfect my technique." "Why do you want it so bad?" you ask bluntly. Calypso looks thoughtful. "If I'm being honest..." she begins. Then, she purses her lips. "I just do." *goto callysquestions #lean in toward her. *set romancecalypso true Calypso continues chanting in sync with the rest of the crowd, her smile wide. The closer you get, the more noticeable the light sprinkling of freckles over her cheeks become. Her gray eyes don't seem as daring up close; they capture the warm lighting of the lights, igniting her iris's with a warm gold glow. She turns just as you place a hand on her bare shoulder, and boldly meets your gaze. There is a dare in her eyes. You only hesitate slightly before you place a kiss on her cheek. Calypso's gaze becomes soft, and she leans in... Then you both turn around when you hear a loud bang from the rows of tables behind you. Half the crowd turns to see Saint looking irrevocably guilty as a chocolate fountain lies broken next to him, chocolate on his white suit. Calypso laughs, hand on her chest. "Duty calls, I guess!" she exclaims, turning to you. "Thank you for the dance, ${name}." With a soft squeeze of your hand, she leaves, bounded toward Saint. *page_break *goto activities #thank her for the dance. "Thanks for the dance, Calypso," you say. She grins. "No, thank [i]you[/i] for the dance. It was interesting to talk about myself for once." she stares inquisitively at you for a moment, then opens her mouth to speak...when a loud bang interrupts her. You both turn around toward the rows of tables behind you. Half the crowd turns to see Saint looking irrevocably guilty as a chocolate fountain lies broken next to him, chocolate on his white suit. Calypso laughs, hand on her chest. "Duty calls, I guess!" she exclaims, turning to you. "Thanks again for the dance, ${name}." With a soft squeeze of your hand, she leaves, bounded toward Saint. *page_break *goto activities *label saint1 The next song is one that you don't know, but you can recognize the heavy Greek accent in the singer's voice. She had appeared out of nowhere atop the stage, wearing a long white gown with daisies sewn on to the hem. The melody is soothing, nearly sedative, and her voice is deep and breathy. The language itself consists of soft, flowing vowels and prominent r's. Saint doesn't dance with you so much as dances...near you. If you can even call what he's doing dancing. He hops on alternate legs, shooting his arms toward the sky in a rythmic beat. Most people seem to be used to this, as they've cleared a small circle around you two. *label saintq1 *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"What is she singing?" "Something about goats or war," Saint answers you. "Pretty weird, right?" "I think we'll go with the latter. But, about this war..." you begin. Saint stops dancing. "I--I mean, we--don't know much about it. We keep our ears open for new information...but everyone is so tight lipped about it. The only thing we know is that it has to do with Cronus." "So Cronus is leading it?" "Of course, he is; the Big Bad Titan himself." "So he's just out there, wreaking havoc?" you ask. "The thing is, his body and part of his source may be condemned to Tartarus, but that doesn't mean he can't reach out and try to influence people." *goto saintq1 *disable_reuse #"How do you speak so casually about war?" "Because it's inevitable," Aeson says, confidence in his voice. "Me, Aeson, Calypso, Adonis, and anyone else who knows that the Gods can't pull this off on their own, so it [i]will[/i] happen." *goto saintq1 *disable_reuse #"You didn't say anything about Zeus being your father." "That's not something...I'd boast about." "Why not?" you ask. "We don't get along. That's all there's to it, really." *if dad3 = true "So, now that you know that we're both children of Zeus," you begin. "What do you think?" "There are a lot of children of Zeus, and half of them want to tear each other's heads off. I just hope we aren't like that." *goto saintq1 *disable_reuse #"What's your family like?" "I don't know," Saint says softly. "My mother gave me to Zeus as soon as I was born." *goto saintq1 *disable_reuse #"How did you meet Calypso and Adonis?" "You want to know how I turned my life around?" Saint laughs. "I met Calypso on her first day at the Institute when we were eight. I helped her when she was...injured one time, and then we just became friends. We're some of the kids that have been here since the very beginning, so we've had time to get used to each other. She pretends to laugh at my jokes and accomplice me in my schemes, and I let her use me as a punching bag during sparring. She's my best friend." "So, how'd you meet Adonis?" you ask. "Well, we met him when we were thirteen after we met Aeson. We only really got to meet him because of Aeson, actually. I mean, I saw him around; total Aphrodite guy. Not exactly, someone, I'd jump at the chance at befriending. Anyway, one day he showed up at the table we were all sitting at with these Aphrodite girls trailing after him, and dropped Aeson's sword on the table." "It was some weird arrangement they never explained to us. But, anyway, he tricked it out. Then, Aeson invited him to sit with us...and that was that." Saint grins before continuing. "The Aphrodite kids [i]hate[/i] us. They think we corrupted him." *goto saintq1 *disable_reuse #"And Aeson?" "Calypso and I met him on his first day at the Institute; word had just spread that Ne Díneis had come of age...that was the day I found this rubber sword in the art department. I saw Aeson, sitting alone, all 'woe is me' when I offered him a fair trade; his sword for mine." "...The rubber sword." you clarify. Saint nods, laughing. "He'll try to tell you I was trying to con him, but that sword had been a part of the Institute for generations...it was a gem, really." "What happened then?" you ask. "Calypso busted me. She made me back off. I was ready to go, leave him to all his 'infinite power' and what not, but when I turned around, they were talking. She was asking him weird questions. Stuff like, 'What's more important; how you win or if you win?' He looked terrified, and I can't blame him. Even at eleven Calypso was a force of nature. But, then she smiled this strange kind of smile, and said to him, 'You're with us now.' And the rest is history." "What did Aeson answer?" you ask. "How you win, or if you win?" Saint pauses before answering your question. "How you win." *goto saintq1 #The woman stops singing, then bows before making her way off the stage. *page_break *goto saint2 *label saint2 "I'm going to get something to eat," Saint says, pointing to the rows of tables. "I'll get you something if I don't pass out by then." With a pat on your shoulder, he leaves. *goto activities *label aeson1 The next song is one that you don't know, but you can recognize the heavy Greek accent in the singer's voice. She had appeared out of nowhere atop the stage, wearing a long white gown with daisies sewn on to the hem. The melody is soothing, nearly sedative, and her voice is deep and breathy. The language itself consists of soft, flowing vowels and prominent r's. You and Aeson... *fake_choice #dance separately, as far away as possible. The music begins to pick up, the passion in the singer's voice rising. #dance separately, a good distance apart. With Aeson an arms length away from you, you both stay in your respective personal bubbles, dancing together, but not [i]together[/i]. #dance closely. Aeson's arms are around your waist, and you place your hands on his shoulders. The crowd nearly envelopes you both, their swaying and rhythmic movements in sync with one another. *label aesonq1 *fake_choice *disable_reuse #"What is she singing?" "She's singing about war," Aeson answers you. "The irony isn't lost on me." "About this war..." you begin. Aeson shakes his head, sighing. "That's the one thing we can't get information on. It's the most guarded secret on Olympus right now. The only thing I know is that it has to do with Cronus." *goto aesonq1 "So Cronus is leading it?" "That's the most logical explanation. The Gods have always been tight-lipped about Cronus." "So he's just out there, wreaking havoc?" you ask. "His body is still in Tartarus...but it's not like they can hold him there forever. His mind can stretch out for thousands of miles, even from Tartarus." *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"How do you speak so casually about war?" "Because we're going to stop him." Aeson says, confidence in his voice. "Me, Saint, Calypso, Adonis, and anyone else who knows that the Gods can't pull this off on their own," he says, glancing at you. "And you, if you want." "You sound like it's a definite thing." "That's the only way to talk about things you aren't sure about; like you've already tried it and succeeded." *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"You didn't say anything about Hades being your father." "I'm used to everyone knowing. Plus, I thought Athena or someone would have told you." "You don't seem like a child of Hades." you say. "Should I start wearing an obscene amount of black?" Aeson teases. "Maybe I should start writing poetry on my arm and stay away from the sun. That's a sure way to convince you." *if dad1 = true "You only just found out about Hades today, didn't you?" he asks, his tone turning serious. You nod. "I'm sorry," he says. "I know it's hard." *if dad1 = false "You only just found out who your dad was today, didn't you?" he asks, his tone turning serious. You nod. "I'm sorry," he says. "Really." *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"Are you and Hades close?" Aeson nods. "Yeah, we are." "How, though?" you wonder. "He spent most of my childhood with me as my Uncle Henry." Aeson frowns. "I always did wonder how he did it, you know. How he was in both our lives. I'm guessing when he wasn't with you and Athena, he was with me and my mother." The parallels in that sentence are evident. *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"What's your mother like?" "Not my birth mother; I mean Persephone." Aeson clarifies. "You two must be close as well if you call her mom," you state. "But wasn't it awkward?" Aeson smiles. "At first, yeah. I didn't meet Persephone until I was eight. Before that, I knew she was my dad's wife, but she wasn't in my life, so I was able to act like she wasn't real. My dad introduced us when I came to Olympus. She was...distant at first. But, eventually, she warmed up to me. Since then, I've always seen her as my mother." *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"How did Persephone really feel about you?" "She never told me, exactly," Aeson admits. "But I always knew she had a hard time looking at me for a while. I think she saw my birth mother when she did." "So she and Hades are still together?" you ask. "Yes...I don't think anything can change that." he says carefully. Athena's face pops up in your mind. *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"Tell me about your childhood." "There wasn't much of a childhood, ${name}," he says, trying to smile. "But the parts of it I consider a childhood were spent in California. I lived near Venice with my mom." "Until you moved to Olympus," you clarify. Aeson shakes his head. "Until she got sick. Hades decided to send me to the Institute after she died. I didn't have any other relatives to look after me, and me going to Olympus was pretty inevitable." He's silent for a moment. *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"How did you meet Saint and Calypso?" "Sometimes I forget that we haven't always known each other," Aeson pauses before continuing. "We met on my first day when we were eleven. I was kind of a mess. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so no one talked to me. But by then, word had spread about who I was, so it's not like I had many options. I was alright with being alone, at least at first." "So, what happened?" "Saint was trying to cheat me out of my sword, talking about something like a 'fair trade,' with this ridiculous rubber one, when Calypso showed up. She made him apologize and looked at me straight in the eyes for a moment." He pauses. "She asked me which was more important; how you won or if you won. I was confused out of my mind." "What did you answer?" you ask, curious. "How you win, of course." Aeson continues his story. "I must have answered right because she decided that we were going to be best friends. She said it in a way no one can really argue with." Aeson smiles. "You should have seen them back then. They were exactly what they're like now, but tinier. Saint was all long limbs and buck teeth, he could never stay still...and Cally had this look on her face that made me scared of her for two years straight." *goto aesonq1 *disable_reuse #"And Adonis?" "I met him later. He came to Olympus when we were thirteen; he had been living with his father and sister in Paris. I met him his second week here, but only because I was going to leave for my first odyssey. I was in such a rush that I bumped into him and we both fell onto the ground. I took one look at him and thought he was going to murder me." "But he didn't, right? Or you wouldn't be friends now?" Aeson grins, shaking his head. "No, we fought. I don't think we would be friends now if we hadn't. I can't even say [i]why[/i] we fought over something so irrelevant, but I'd blame it on the fact that we were thirteen-year-old boys. Afterward, I started saying sorry, but I couldn't stay long enough to give him a proper apology. He said I owed him, and I agreed. It wasn't until the next day that he collected on my debt; he asked me for my sword. I said no at first, but then he kept saying he would give it back. I gave it to him, and didn't see him for a solid week." "What happened then?" you ask. "He came up to Saint, Calypso and I at lunch with these Aphrodite kids trailing behind him, and gave me my sword back. He had done something I couldn't make out at first; I just knew that it fit in my hand better than before, and the blade seemed lighter and sharper than ever. "After I thanked him, we invited him to sit with us. The rest is history...but I can say that the Aphrodite kids have a grudge against us; we stole him, really." He pauses before continuing. "But I'd take their wrath. He's my best friend." *goto aesonq1 #The woman stops singing, then bows before making her way off the stage. *page_break *goto aeson2 *label aeson2 You and Aeson clap along with the rest of the crowd, and some people even chant [i]"Encore, Encore!"[/i] at the woman. Then, someone taps on Aeson's shoulder and high fives him in greeting. More people seem to notice the both of you. You know you only have a moment to speak before your time is over. *label trojanvq *fake_choice *disable_reuse #Talk about Queen Helen. You can't get her out of your mind. "What happened after you two ran away?" you ask Aeson. He pauses. "We went back to Troy." he begins. "But before that, we went to this island...I can't remember the name; Helen picked it out anyway. She said it was a place where Zeus had favored for centuries. She said it'd be safe." *goto trojanvq *disable_reuse #Talk about your deaths. "What was it like for you?" you begin. "When you died?" "I felt pain before anything else," Aeson admits. "That was all I could focus on for a moment; the arrow in my chest. Then, there was warmth. I felt it travel from my core to every part of my body. I swear I was being lifted up from the ground...then I saw these visions." You recall your own experience. "Was it like seeing the Universe being created right before your eyes?" Aeson nods, an excited glint in his eyes. "Exactly. I saw planets being formed with my own hands and stars smiling at me." He pauses. "Did you wonder where we went? After we passed on?" "I'm not sure, honestly." you admit. *goto trojanvq *disable_reuse #Ask about his powers. The revelation of your "magic" had been nagging you all day, and it'd be nice to confide in him about it. "How long have you been doing magi--I mean, using your powers?" you ask. "As long as I can remember," Aeson says to you. "I found out about them when I was six, and I accidentally flew my babysitter onto the ceiling." You try to imagine a six-year-old Aeson, flinging his babysitter toward the ceiling, being shocked or amused at the outcome of the situation. You smile. "When did you find out?" he asks you, pulling you away from the amusing vision. "When I was twelve," you say. "I injured this one bully at my old Prep school." Aeson nods. "It probably had something to do with your emotions, then." His eyes widen as if he's had an epiphany. Maybe he has. "Actually, now that I think about it, my powers are strongest when my emotions are." *goto trojanvq *disable_reuse #Talk about Prince Paris. *if (loveparis = true) and (kissparis = true) You had wondered if he recalled the feelings you had during the war, but never got the chance to speak to him about it. "We never got a chance to really talk about what happened," you begin. "during the war and all." Aeson turns his attention back to you. "I know. It was kind of hectic, wasn't it?" You nod, then hesitate before speaking. "You must know what happened then?" Aeson pauses. "You mean between us?" "Why didn't you mention it?" you ask, wary of knowing the answer. Aeson sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Because you didn't mention it, so I thought it would be weird to bring it up." "Why would it be weird?" "${name}, it was us, but it wasn't really [i]us[/i]," he says. "It was the people that we were a long time ago...besides, we just met. I thought it'd be strange to bring up being in love thousands of years ago. I didn't want you to be uncomfortable." You nod. "I get that, but don't you think--" *goto trojanvq *if (loveparis = true) and (kissparis = false) "We never got a chance to really talk about what happened," you begin. "during the war and all." Aeson turns his attention back to you. "I know, it was kind of hectic, wasn't it?" You nod, then hesitate before asking. "Did Paris--I mean [i]you[/i]--love anyone back then?" Aeson considers his words. "I only remember loving Helen, but that was because of Eros's arrows. It was like having someone take over your thoughts in the most subtle way. Every time I began to think of someone besides Helen, my mind would automatically redirect me to something about her; her eyes, her lips, her voice. I couldn't get her out of my mind. But, my body knew something was wrong. When I saw her, my heart didn't flutter or anything like that. So, it wasn't true love. Why do you ask?" "Because I was in love with you," you admit. "Back then, I mean." Aeson pauses. "Oh," he says. "I didn't know, ${name}." You two stand there, observing one another. Then, Aeson speaks. "But, I think if I did know, then I'd--" *goto trojanvq *if (loveparis = false) You had wondered about what he felt like when he was Prince Paris, under Eros's control and then responsible for the death of one of the greatest Heroes to ever live. "What did it feel like," you begin. "when Eros had you under the control of his arrow?" Aeson considers his words. "It was like having someone take over your thoughts in the most subtle way. Every time I began to think of someone besides Helen, my mind would automatically redirect me to something about her; her eyes, her lips, her voice. I couldn't get her out of my mind. But, my body knew something was wrong. When I saw her, my heart didn't flutter or anything like that." "Do you remember what it was like to kill Achilles? On the battlefield?" "There was this warm light next to me...I guess now we know it was Apollo. He told me not to aim for his heart because that wouldn't be what killed him. He told me to hit his heel. At that point, I didn't have anything to lose, so I fired. I could hear his death, ${name}. I swear I could. It felt terrible." You stand there mulling over his words until he speaks again. "The only other thing I can recall was when I--" *goto trojanvq #Your conversation is soon interrupted by a Demigod. He call Aeson's name, then slaps him on the back, and a group of Demigods come toward you. Aeson casts an apologetic glance at you before being whisked away by the large group. *page_break *goto activities *label persephone When you vision returns, you feel your eyes widen. A woman as pale as white marble stands before the party, her lips blood red. Her inky black hair falls down her back in silky waves. Her eyes are a vivid green. Her gown in black lace, exposing milky skin near her chest and arms. The fabric of her gown trails behind her as she walks. Her aura is black, swirling around her, but there is sunshine radiating from her face. Even more strange are the flowers that seem to spring up in her step, just like they had for Aphrodite. "Oh," she begins, placing a ringed finger next to her blood-red lips. "Do [i]not[/i] tell me I missed the entire thing!" No one speaks. You all stare at her as if she's an apparition. The women gathers up the bottom of her gown, frowning. "I get less than zero reception down there, you know. [i]You[/i] try making it on time every day. And no one ever tells me anything!" She walks down the path that has been cleared for her, craning her long neck. She walks right by you, having found what she was searching for. You turn, and see her stand before Aeson, their considerable heights matched. "Hello, darling," she says to Aeson, who meets her gaze. "I truly am sorry. I didn't mean to make such a big [i]scene[/i]." Aeson smiles at the woman. "Hello, mother." *page_break Suddenly, the woman turns, eyes trained on you. "Oh," she says. "Where are my manners?" You watch, transfixed, as she strides over to you, the train of her dress trailing behind her. "${name}, was it?" she asks, studying your face. You note how breathtaking her features are. "I suppose I missed your big night as well." She smiles widely, dimples appearing on her cheeks. She takes your hands, and hers are pleasantly warm as if touched by the sun... *if dad1 = true Her identity finally hits you; this is Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. Then, another realization hits you; [i]I'm a child of Hades.[/i] You brace yourself... Persephone looks into your ${eyecolor} eyes, then sighs. "You look very much like her, you know. It's remarkable, really!" she says with a strained laugh. *if dad1 = false Her identity finally hits you; this is Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. She looks into your ${eyecolor} eyes, then laughs. "You look very much like your mother, you know. It's remarkable, really!" *page_break "You knew my mother?" you ask incredulously. Persephone nods, her hair cascading around her face. "I knew her, I hated her, I loved her. She was a real riot." Before you can reply, Persephone turns back to where Aeson stands, now accompanied by Saint, Calypso, and Adonis. Psyche is nowhere to be found, but there is a crowd forming. Persephone stares at Aeson, who stands, hands in his trouser pockets, looking back at her. "A toast, then!" she exclaims. There is another flash of light, and suddenly a glass is in your hand as if one in all those around you. "Non-alcoholic, of course." Persephone adds. You sniff the glass, smelling sweet vanilla and crisp apples. It is only when you notice Persephone looking intently at you do you bring your nose away from the glass. "${name}, why don't you make the toast?" She doesn't ask so much as declare. You look among the Demigods. The same Demigods you'll have to face tomorrow. One of them you'll have to kill in order to save your own life. *fake_choice #"To all of us," I begin. "And our success in the Trials." *set Citizens +3 Your toast is simple, but good hearted. You hear glasses being clinked together and raised toward the moon. Persephone raises her glass toward you, smiling. You smile as well when you taste the bubbly, sugary sweet drink on your tongue. But your smile is fleeting. *page_break You feel your legs go weak, your head spin, and your vision dim. *set togglescenefade true *set scenecolor "#FFFFFF" *set scenecolor2 "#000000" *finish #"To the Gods," I begin. "[i]An oi Theoí na evlogoún[/i]!" *set Citizens +5 The Demigods cheer, and the sky rumbles above you. You hear glasses being clinked together and raised toward the moon. Persephone raises her glass toward you, smiling. You smile as well when you taste the bubbly, sugary sweet drink on your tongue. But your smile is fleeting. *page_break You feel your legs go weak, your head spin, and your vision dim. *set togglescenefade true *set scenecolor "#FFFFFF" *set scenecolor2 "#000000" *finish #"To Cronus's destruction," I begin. "May his blood mar our streets!" *set Citizens +3 The Demigods cheer loudly, and the sky rumbles angrily above you. You hear glasses being clinked together and raised toward the moon. Persephone raises her glass toward you, smiling. You smile as well when you taste the bubbly, sugary sweet drink on your tongue. But your smile is fleeting. *page_break You feel your legs go weak, your head spin, and your vision dim. *set togglescenefade true *set scenecolor "#FFFFFF" *set scenecolor2 "#000000" *finish #"To the glory of Olympus!" I exclaim. *set Citizens +3 The Demigods cheer loudly, and the sky rumbles angrily above you. You hear glasses being clinked together and raised toward the moon. Persephone raises her glass toward you, smiling. You smile as well when you taste the bubbly, sugary sweet drink on your tongue. But your smile is fleeting. *page_break You feel your legs go weak, your head spin, and your vision dim. *set togglescenefade true *set scenecolor "#FFFFFF" *set scenecolor2 "#000000" *finish #I silently raise my glass to the sky, allowing my eyes to speak for me. *set Citizens +3 The sky rumbles angrily above you. You hear glasses being clinked together and raised toward the moon. Persephone raises her glass toward you, smiling. You smile as well when you taste the bubbly, sugary sweet drink on your tongue. But your smile is fleeting. *page_break You feel your legs go weak, your head spin, and your vision dim. *set togglescenefade true *set scenecolor "#FFFFFF" *set scenecolor2 "#000000" *finish