first ♫ video/action;

[nonavelgazing]

video;

[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.]

action;

[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.]

Comments

[nonavelgazing]

Just because I don't want to risk someone else's life to get back there doesn't make me weak or stupid. If you can't handle a fight, it's better that you don't see it at all.

I'm willing to put myself out there for other people who I know can handle a fight. My team needs me, and that's why I want to get back to them. I'm limited in how I can do that without putting people who shouldn't be involved in harm's way.

That's pretty much exactly the point you just made, Princess. You want to go back to your friends, and your life, and that's fine. By all means, go for it. You don't want to be put in harm's way, either, though, and so you won't be.

I'll do this on my own, and if I have to challenge the gods to do it? So be it. It's not like I haven't done it before.

Oh, and I'll remember your name, Sasha, but Princess suits you better.

[ohcaptainmycaptain]

I may want to get home to my apartment, my friends, and my boyfriend. I definitely want to get home to shirts that aren't orange. But it isn't like I need to right away, I don't have to rush, and there's nothing big going on they need me for. So we aren't the same, as soon as I need to get home, I will and I won't waste time making excuses.

And just a bit of advice, loudmouth? You should come up with a plan B in case your genius plan of challenging the Gods doesn't get you killed. But I'm glad you seem to notice I should be in charge, thank you.

[nonavelgazing]

Go on, keep talking, Princess. You have a perfect life and you want to get back to it. But in the end, you don't actually want to fight to get there. You'll keep sitting here because you don't want to get back to your perfect life enough to fight for it.

And you know what? That's crap. If I had a life like the one you're describing? I'd be first in line to fight for it. But I didn't and don't have that kind of life waiting for me. I don't know what's out there, besides the possibility I could either help save the world or die trying. That's definite.

I'm still willing to fight to get back there because I have people that I care about and that care about me. I'm not gonna turn my back on them when they need me there.

Oh, and I don't agree that you ought to be in charge of anything except getting a different color shirt for these uniforms, because orange clashes with my hair color. If you were in charge of anything in a fight, you'd go 'Oh. Something's attacking. Better let everyone else handle it, because I can't deal.'

[ohcaptainmycaptain]

All I'm hearing from you is a lot of talking, not a lot of fighting. And just because I'm not stupidly mouthing off until Daddy claims me so I shut up, doesn't mean I don't plan to fight for what I want. I just don't have to go about it in such an idiotic way. I'm not going to rely on the Gods, or anyone else, and if you think just because I wasn't born in a war zone you can write me off it'll be you that suffers for that miscalculation!

Every time you open your mouth you simply prove how ignorant you are. It'll be your undoing, as you cry to daddy to come save you! I might not be able to fight like you right now, but I'll learn. And I'll learn fast, and before you know it you'll be forgotten. As I make you eat every last thing you've said today.

And I'll have gotten myself back to my friends before you've taken a single step toward Japan, as you wait for the Gods to save you!

[nonavelgazing]

You know what? Fine.

[Airi wants to tear up at this point, but she wills those tears to stay in - and they do. She gets up and starts walking in the direction of the training arena, and the message flicks off for a few minutes.

When it comes on again, it's showing Airi in full battle armor, and she looks like she was born to wear it. She's fast as she strikes down a series of training dummies - faster than any normal human should be - and she's good with the sword she's chosen.

And then she's climbing up the lava wall with that same speed, barely even breathing hard at the top.]

Try that out. Also? You've never even seen a god with your own eyes. I have. Lived to tell the tale, too.

So yeah, I'm not crying to anyone. I can back myself up.

Oh it's on now. Action.

[ohcaptainmycaptain]

*Sasha arrives shortly after that display. Her only armor was grieves, and her sword's blade was barely over a foot long. Her expression still smug although her arm didn't look quite so steady with that blade in it.*

*Of course... once she started through the dummies she only used the blade to block, badly. It didn't seem to slow her down as she danced through the training dummies like they weren't there. Using her speed and grace to move through them without slowing, her sword and grieves to help protect her but she mostly she avoided strikes.*

*The lack of weight made the following climb easier, stamina she didn't know she had, and speed that was more than she was used to as she pushed through and moved around the wall like a spider monkey. The lava hardly was an issue as once it started she was out of the way in moments. A mix of excitement and fear ran through her at the top, making her hand shake a little.*

I'm not you, I haven't been fighting monsters, gods, and whatever else you want to claim you've done. I'm just a girl, from California, who dances. But thanks for wasting both our time climbing a wall, when you could have taken that armor, and that weapon, and marched out of camp.

The only reason I don't do that is I want to make sure it's the right call, and I have all I need to make the trip.

And FYI, we've all seen a God, we met one when we arrived in Mount Olympus! The home of the Gods. And the only reason I believe any of this is real.

*Sasha made her way back down the wall with a similar grace, calling back behind her.*

I'm going to find more productive uses of my time!

oh *hell* yes.

[nonavelgazing]

[Airi watches Sasha, and...damn, if she's not impressed. The first things that are out of her mouth, though, once they're both at the top:]

You suck with a sword. You're barely even striking with it, and your blocks really suck.

[...but they're damn near even on speed. And Airi can't move with that kind of grace - she's fast, yes, but Sasha flows. The dance training's obvious.]

You need something even lighter - hell, maybe even a knife or a dagger. It's obvious that you dance, moving like that - I'm fast, yeah, and I know fighting, but you've got the advantage of knowing how to move your body. Learn to work with it and you could be untouchable.

[...what is all this figuring out how to arm her? Dammit, Dad. Stop that.]

Yeah. You're not me. And yeah, I could've just marched right out of here, but I wasn't gonna do it without trying to prove myself first. I'm not just some weak, dumb kid.

And yeah, we all saw the little girl goddess. I should've said 'done it twice'.

[Airi's just as fast climbing back down the wall, though she jumps the last couple of feet off of it, landing safely on both her feet. And despite herself, she calls after Sasha.]

Don't sell yourself short, Sasha! You're actually pretty good, you know, for 'just a dancer from California', and you could be even better. You'd really be an idiot if you didn't realize that and take advantage of it.

[ohcaptainmycaptain]

I wasn't striking at all with it, never used one before.

*Sasha's not actually expecting praise from the Ares daughter, so it put her to better comfort that it all started with an insult.*

I'm pretty sure I'll be fine with any sort of weapon as long as I can lift it, and it doesn't slow me down. This sword should be fine if I actually warm up with it before I do something stupid like this. I'd rather have a crowbar or a tire iron.

*Sasha is off to figure out how to get home. She realizes that Airi is probably right about the weapon use. She does need to know something to defend herself if the monsters are actually real. Still...*

Not an idiot, I'mm aware of what I can do. Also I never accused you of being weak. *No mention of accusing Airi of being stupid.*

[nonavelgazing]

That much is obvious. You really suck.

[But she means the rest of it.]

They don't make crowbars or tire irons out of Celestial bronze. You're out of luck, there.

I still think with the way you move, you're better trying a dagger, though, or something else suited to quick and precise movements that don't look nearly as quick and precise as they actually are. Your movement flows, and blunt strikes don't suit the way you move.

That sword's about the right size, if you warm up, but you need to train a lot more with it. I don't know that you'd need so much training with something smaller. You're absolutely right that you don't need to be slowed down, though.

[Airi just laughs.]

Good to see that you recognize that.

[No mention of that, either, and Airi turns in the other direction. The battle armor isn't the camp uniform, but she likes it. It doesn't clash with her hair.]