irismessaging | first ♫ video/action;

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[There's a new face appearing across the camp necklaces today. She's sitting on a patch of grass somewhere between cabins 5 and 6 - the paint on both of them is just visible in the background - and she is not happy. The redhead's features are really quite cute, but...]

What the hell is this nonsense? I'm needed in America, in Olympus, because one of my parents is actually some god or goddess that hasn't bothered to show their face my entire life?

That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard! I'm needed back in Japan! There are still two days of fighting Septentriones left! The world's going to end if I'm not back there fighting, and some idiot little girl tells me I had to be yanked out of that fight to come here instead? How stupid is that?! My team needs me, you idiot!

[Her yelling isn't.

Airi shakes with anger, and those might be tears forming at the corner of her eyes.]

And - whoever the hell my 'mom' or 'dad' is, you sure as hell did a bang-up job. You left us in the lurch even before this. Like I'm supposed to accept it, especially when you pulled me out of a fight! I kicked that Indian god Kama's ass after he disrespected me, and, I'll kick yours too! You better show me who you are so I know who I have to go after!

[...she really did kick Kama's ass. Only she had backup, when she did that, and Kama had kind of been weakened already. She's not mentioning those parts.

Also, nobody's told her exactly how dangerous it is to challenge one of the Greek gods or goddesses.

Still. Somewhere up there, her dad is laughing. There's no sound, but suddenly there's a clear picture of a boar floating right in front of her.]

Eh? What the -- hey, I've seen this...

[And she whips her head around. Claim and connection, made.]

...my dad's the war god?!

[And she cuts the connection really fast.]

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[A little later, after some of the shock has worn off and after she's put her things away in cabin 5, Airi's wandered down to the training arena to blow off some steam. She's found a sword and some armor, and is currently taking out her frustration on a practice dummy. It might be best to approach with a bit of caution, but she's trying her best not to take a living person's head off.]

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See? Someone's gotta watch out for them!

[Airi finally laughs, just a little bit, and puts the sword down. She offers a hand a minute later.]

I'm Airi.

[And Akane'll shake enthusiastically.] I'm in the cabin with the smokestacks. You?

[Meaning oh daddy of mine, don't smite me for not being able to pronounce your name still.]

My, uh...wow. Does it ever not get weird to go 'my dad's the war god with the badly painted red cabin'?

Because that is seriously weird.

Mine looks like a factory. Smells like one too, so I guess we're even. I can't even pronounce my 'dad's' name.

I guess we are even. And I guess nobody's 'parents' would appreciate it if they didn't get called by their full names, huh? So you can't just say the part you can pronounce with an honorific...

Yeah no doubt. I mean, I haven't gotten into trouble yet, but I have so much trouble with English, let alone Ancient Greek, it's a wonder I can pronounce any of this stuff.

You and me both. I guess this place translates for us, but I'm only a freshman in high school! English is definitely not my first language, and Ancient Greek...well, I'm just lucky my dad's name is only two syllables, or else I'd really be in trouble.

...not that I'm not in trouble already. I kind of somehow knew what to do with a sword once I picked one up, and what kind would work for me, but I'm starting to get the feeling challenging Ares to a fight was a bad idea.

High school? You're older than I am. I'm only in middle school. [Which was junior high but hey.] English I have the worst grades, and I once lost a, er, language battle with someone over English.

I've tried using the swords, but I'm thinking I need something more... bludgeony. I'm used to combat but in a sort of punching and kicking sort of way.

Really? I figured we were about the same age. I guess I'm just used to being the youngest one on the team. Well, my English grades are decent, but I just never got much of a chance to practice it outside of school. And, well...my school's not exactly open anymore. But one day it will be again!

[She's determined that it will be.]

Hmm. The Romans had the aklys - and don't ask me how I know all of this, it has to be coming straight from Ares, which is weird - which was a short spear that was attached to your wrist by a leather strap, so it would always come back to your hand. I wonder if you could just make something like that using one of the javelins here...

I've been studying harder since midterms and all, so it seems like my grades are improving somewhat. I'm still dealing with the result of it though.

That's a neat weapon... I was also thinking some kind of loaded gauntlet to build. I dunno how I came up with it, but maybe some kind of compression impact weapon.

It'll be okay. You're working hard, and that kind of thing always pays off.

[Airi gives a nod. She's always had to work for her stuff. It's pretty well ingrained in her.]

That would be awesome! Go for it, Akane. I want to see it, when you do.

Thanks. I try to think of myself as a hardworker.

Really? I dunno where the idea came from to be honest. It just sort of popped up.

It definitely shows.

If you've got the materials, the space to make them, and the idea? You said yourself that you're used to a more physical fighting style, so I really don't see why it wouldn't work!

Well I've been getting all these weird ideas and I have no idea where they're coming from. Is that, I dunno, normal for a god kid or something?

Might be. I sure didn't know all that stuff about weapons back home, so...maybe both those things are normal.

[She shrugs.]

It doesn't change everything about you, though, does it? You still like the same things and all. If your friends got here, you'd be happy and want to see them. So the little weird things? I'd just shrug them off. It'd be dumb to let them get you down too far.

Yeah that's true. I like volleyball and okonomiyaki, and I like flowers and letters and traveling and having friends. I guess it hasn't changed anything about me, except for having a change in abilities.

Exactly. I still like playing piano, and chawanmushi - though I like okonomiyaki, too - and cats, and the color white is still my favorite color, and I like wearing flowers in my hair sometimes.

[Airi grins.]

See? You're still you, I'm still me. And - friends?

I like a lot of those things, though I haven't played the piano and all.

Definitely friends. Airi! I'm glad we're friends.

I should see about finding a piano or a keyboard or something around here. Maybe we could start a music club or something...and we definitely have to figure out where to go eat. I mean, New York City's right there! There has to be a place in the city that makes the foods we like. I'm from Nagoya, so it might taste a little bit different, but it'll be close enough, right?

So am I, Akane!

Hmm, music huh. I'm not too good but I can probably find some kind of instrument. And yeah, I grew up in Osaka before moving to my home so I know the feeling.

Great!

We'll have to organize a volleyball game, too, sometime! I'm sure you're not the only one who'd want to play, and it'd be a nice break from training and stuff all the time. Isn't there a place by the lake? Or even here, if we cleared some space...

I heard there's a court that we can use. It shouldn't be too hard to find and getting some volleyball games set up would be a lot of fun!

Then it sounds like we definitely have some plans! This is going to be fantastic.

Great! This is going to be fun, and a nice break from training all the time.

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