#is this because she told Artemis to go to the school counselor? because that’s a normal response to have. just because Artemis didn’t

[fowlblue]

Potentially controversial AF thought but… where did the idea that Angeline is one of those ‘crystal moms’ come from?

Like… she lives in a world where she has regular (if usually indirect) contact with actual magic and more likely than not would not want that stuff anywhere near her home, given how little control she has over the actual magical creatures and procedures her family often goes through.

Also… didn’t she later go and pursue higher education specifically in regards to mental health (I think)? So she could better help herself and others?

[granolabird]

Summer days drifting away

My fic for Hournite week day 2: Summer Camp. I’ve been to a summer camp only twice, once as a camper, once as a counselor, but I’ve also played The Quarry a whole lot so most of my camp knowledge is from there, so if you see any similarities that’s why. Oops.

.

It’s finally over. Rick reclines on his bunk, taking a moment to breathe. He had never wanted to work at a summer camp. He hated being out in the sun, he hated bugs, and most importantly, he hated kids. They were loud, didn't respect boundaries, and he could never figure out what to do when they were crying. In retrospect it really seemed like the words ‘summer camp’ were really just a translated term for ‘hellscape’ to him. Yet here he was, in the ‘Grizzly Bear’ cabin of ’Star Light Summer Camp', at the end of a summer spent being a counsellor. 

Just outside of Blue Valley, apparently this was the go-to place for small town children to be sent for the summer. When Mrs. Woods told him that he should apply, and that it would be good for experience, Rick was sceptical.See the above reasons, obviously. But she was persuasive. That, and she said it paid relatively well. Rick needed to get some more parts for his car, and selling kegs wasn't cutting it. The pay, paired with the idea that he could miraculously escape his not-so-friendly Uncle Matt for an entire summer sold him on the idea. 

So, he went ahead and took the job. And all his worries be damned, he actually somehow managed to have a good time. Sure, there were a few incidents regarding homesick children, as well as Rick’s barely contained urge to strangle some of his fellow counsellors, but all in all it had been a good experience. He spent his days taking his cabin’s kids kayaking, hiking, and his personal favourite, rock climbing. The camp had become his own little paradise away from his hellish home life. He’d made some solid friendships too. Courtney was alright, even if she was a little too annoyingly chatty. And Yolanda had taught him some pretty solid rock climbing and boxing tips. He didn’t care much for Cameron, or Cindy, or Artemis… But that’s alright, he thinks he did pretty well to avoid them anyway. Then there was Beth. 

Rick knows Beth. Much like the rest of the other counsellors, they've gone to school together for years, and whenever he actually bothers to show up to the caf for lunch he always sits at her table. She spends her lunch breaks video chatting with her parents, and is by every definition of the word, a total nerd. Another (less important, in Rick's opinion) fact about Beth Chapel is that Rick has an embarrassingly large crush on her. He's not sure when it developed. Probably somewhere around the time she offered to lend him her English notes because he'd skipped class again, and when he offhandedly told her she'd made a small grammar mistake she called him her “new best friend!”

 Rick wasn't sure how many 'new best friends' Beth had, but he did know that as soon as she said that he felt a flutter in his chest that meant something bad. It meant he was feeling things, and the last thing he needed was to feel things. See, Beth is everything Rick isn't. She's sweet, and kind, and smart, and a goody two shoes. 

She's perfect. 

Which is why spending an entire summer with her wasn’t ideal. He couldn’t have Beth finding out how much of a self-proclaimed asshole he was when he wasn’t around her. Being around kids helped him reign in any temperamental issues, but he still worried that one misstep would lead to disaster. What if he accidentally swore around a kid, or broke a canoe paddle, or not-so-accidentally tripped Cindy when she was walking by his cabin… The list went on and on. Yeah, he was glad to be free of this place. 

Except, as per usual, there was another problem. Apparently he had been informed at the start of camp (he stands by the apparently because he had no memory of being told this) that there was an end-of-summer tradition. 

Yesterday evening Cameron marched into their shared cabin and said:

“Hey Rick, excited for the counsellor day tomorrow?” In that stupid deep monotonous voice of his, as if it made the most sense in the world. 

Of course, Rick had no idea what he was talking about. He said as much. Cameron stared at him for a few seconds, followed by,

“Don’t you remember from the debriefing? After the kids are gone  we get one day to ourselves to chill at the camp alone. They do it every year. It’s pretty dope.”

To Rick that really sounded the opposite of dope. Despite his enjoyment of the previous days of summer, this sounded like a nightmare. Rick didn’t like most of the other counsellors. He didn’t want to spend a day chilling with them. He wanted to take his newly earned cash, go home, fix his car, and go back to his life of avoiding Matt and skipping school. That was what sounded dope to Rick. 

Given the situation, Rick decided he had to take matters into his own hands. He absolutely would not be taking part in this ‘counsellor’ day, so he had to come up with a way to dodge it. He was relatively good at skipping school, so surely this would be a breeze. His solution to the problem was as follows: Simply stay inside all day until nightfall, and then go to sleep and in the morning he could wake up and this would all be over. The plan was foolproof, at least in Rick’s eyes. 

Unfortunately he didn’t account for the fact that every single person at camp knew where his cabin was. So, as he’s reclining in his bunk, taking that moment to breathe, he’s unceremoniously interrupted by a knock on the door. He jolts up, eyeing the window. It’s fine. As long as he stays quiet, they won’t know he’s in here.

Another knock, followed by the sound of Courtney’s voice yelling;

“Rick, we know you’re in there!”

Ah. Shit. 

“Leave me alone. I’m uh, napping.”

“It’s 12 P.M. You don’t need to nap. We know you’re avoiding us. Get out here!”

So much for a day of quiet avoidance and relaxation. 

Reluctantly Rick makes his way over to the door, opening it slowly to peer out at his assailants. Courtney, Yolanda, and Artemis all wait expectantly. Thankfully Beth isn’t present, so he doesn’t feel too bad about saying:

“Leave me alone. They said we had a day of camp to ourselves. I’ve selected my day as a day of relaxing alone away from everyone else. Is that too much to ask for?”

“Yes.” Courtney says, and Yolanda and Artemis both nod as if to further prove her point.

“C’mon Rick, don’t you wanna hang out with everyone? I mean we spent so much time with the kids we don’t even know each other! You don’t wanna join in on a bonding experience?” Yolanda offers.

“Respectfully, no.” Rick huffs, beginning to close the door.

Artemis chimes in, “We’re about to go on a group hike!”

“Sounds like a chance to get bitten by even more mosquitos.” 

The door closes a little more.

The girls all seem to debate for a moment, glancing at one another, before Courtney finally says, 

“There’s gonna be truth or dare at the campfire tonight. It could be your chance to finally kiss Beth!” 

Rick debates for a moment between slamming the door, ripping his eyes from his skull in utter embarrassment, or yelling at Courtney. He decides on the latter.

“I told you already, I don’t have a crush on her!” 

That just makes the opposing trio laugh, much to Rick’s annoyance.

“Everyone knows you two like each other, Rick. If me and Cam can get together over summer camp, why can’t you and Beth?” Courtney tries, gesturing to herself with a smile.

Yes it’s true. Apparently being counsellors together had kindled something between Cameron and Courtney, and by week three of camp they were the talk-of-the-camp couple. It was annoyingly sweet to see them taking care of campers hand in hand like parents of a very large crowd of unruly children. But that was them. Rick was a strictly no-relationship, live-alone-until-I-die kind of person. He didn’t do summer romance. He didn’t do romance at all. Which is why, instead of saying anything to Courtney, his next course of action was to close the door. 

“I’m staying inside. I’ve had enough camp activities over the last two months to last me a lifetime, so go off on your hike and leave me be.”

“You can’t stay in there forever you know!” Yolanda shouts, to which Rick responds

“Not forever! Just until tomorrow morning when the bus comes to take us home!” before flopping back onto his bunk with a contented sigh. 

Yes, he thinks to himself. I handled that perfectly.

For the majority of the rest of the day Rick is uninterrupted. He has no signal, so he spends his time playing stupid offline games on his phone, listening to music, and boredly colouring in a book that one of the campers left behind. Was his ideal day listening to The Black Keys while colouring in pictures of puppies and kittens? No, absolutely not, but it was better than social interaction. He had to do something to keep his mind busy or else it would wander. He’d wonder where Beth was, if she was having fun without him, if he was missing out on something important, or if anyone even noticed he was missing. He shakes his head and reaches for the box of pencil crayons. No, he was supposed to want to stay here alone and away from everyone else, and not have any stupid fear of missing out. They were fine without Rick, and he was fine with that because he’s a loner. Always has been. But then, as he sits, boredly scribbling orange onto a picture of a cartoon cat in a flower field, there’s another knock on the door. 

It seems the forces that be want to disprove Rick’s loner philosophy. He makes the executive decision that won’t let them win. 

“I already told you, I’m spending the day alone here Courtney. Let me colour in my Lisa Frank in peace!” He shouts, refusing to even bother opening the door.

There’s a long pause, and he thinks he’s scared Courtney off. Just as he settles in to return to his bored colouring, a voice pipes up.

“I’m sorry, what?”

It’s Beth.

It’s Beth.

Oh no.

Rick takes a moment to bury his head in his hands in complete and utter despair, as he realises what he’s just said. Slowly he stands, and like a walk of shame makes his way to the door. He opens it to see Beth standing there, smiling like today is the greatest day ever, which it clearly is not.

“Did you just say you were colouring in a Lisa Frank colouring book?” She asks, attempting to peer behind him to catch a glimpse of his colouring masterpiece. “If I say yes, will you promise not to say anything to Cindy? Because if she knows then the whole school will know when we get back and I’ll never live it down.”

“Why would I tell her? She likes me just about as much as she likes you, even though I’ve tried to be her friend a million times over.”

“Solid point.” 

There’s a moment of silence which Rick can’t quite decide is awkward, or if it’s just Beth being amused.

“So, uh, why are you here?” Rick breaks the silence, rocking on his heels. “Oh! Courtney told me that you were staying in here, which I totally get, a whole summer of interaction is a lot… But it’s getting late and I don’t know if you had lunch? They’re starting dinner on the campfire so I thought I should check in and see if you needed me to grab you something to eat. I didn’t want you to starve.”

Rick just about melts at Beth’s concern. She went out of her way to worry about him. He thinks his heart is about to explode.

“It’s alright, I guess I can head down there to go grab something. I don’t know if I’ll stay though.” Beth’s eyes light up instantly.

“Yeah! We should probably head down soon, you know how quickly Artemis can eat fire-roasted hotdogs. If she gets her hands on them there probably won’t be any left for us.”

Rick laughs at that, closing his door behind him. She’s right. When it comes to campfire food, Artemis is an unstoppable force, and he would really like to eat something. He hadn’t realised how hungry he’d been feeling until now. 

“We can go now, don’t worry. I’m sure Lisa Frank can wait.” He assures Beth, and she grins. With that they both head down the path towards the fire together, making a variety of stupid Lisa Frank enduced jokes as they go.

Rick hears the fire before he sees it, the dull chatter of his fellow counsellors paired with the crackling of burning wood giving away that it was just around the bend. As he and Beth turn the corner, the entire group looks at them. It really is just the counsellors. He had expected the camp leader, Sylvester, to be at least supervising them. Then again, he wasn’t the most responsible camp owner in the first place.

“Look who finally decided to show up!” Cindy crows from her spot beside Artemis.

Courtney and Yolanda wave, Cameron vaguely nods in their direction, and Artemis doesn’t look up from where she’s busy cooking hotdogs over the fire. Rick shoots them a vague peace sign instead of a wave, as he and Beth settle onto one of the log seats around the fire. He tells himself that he’s just going to stay for food and then leave, but he knows that’s not true. Beth is already chatting with Courtney excitedly, and he can’t help but listen and chime into the conversation where he can. It’s not because he enjoys being around these people, it’s just because he’s trying not to seem awkward. At least that’s what he keeps telling himself.

The evening wears on, and Rick keeps desperately searching for a reason to leave. Every time he tries, Beth starts a new conversation with him, or glances over to him in a way that makes his heart feel a way it has no right to feel. He knows that this is so stupid, that he should just go, but he can’t bring himself to. Instead he keeps chatting idly, eating hot dogs and marshmallows, and refusing to admit that he’s actually enjoying himself. The campfires with kids had been fun, but spending your time making sure campers didn’t throw themselves into a firepit is a completely different experience compared to being at a campfire with people you (mostly) actually enjoy. He’s onto his third marshmallow when Artemis yells over the group chatter to ask,

“You guys want me to tell a scary story?”

There’s a resounding chorus of No’s, nope’s, and no thank you’s. Artemis’ scary stories are notoriously bad, despite the fact that she seems to believe they’re the best thing since sliced bread. The one time Rick was put on Campfire duty with her and she told a story, it hadn’t been about ghosts, or ghouls, or monsters. It was about her losing a football game. Horrific to her, sure, but entirely boring for the rest of the camp who had been expecting something more supernatural in nature. 

“How about, instead of scary stories, we get around to that game of truth or dare?” Cindy asks, eyes alight with mischief. Cindy is Rick’s least favourite of all the other counsellors. He’s about 90% sure all the others, bar Artemis, feel the same way as he does. How she got a summer job dealing with children is truly beyond him. She’s self-centred, conniving, and all around just the worst person( (In his personal opinion at least). So, upon hearing her offer to start the game of truth or dare, Rick makes the executive decision to leave. He shuffles on the bench, getting ready to stand. Stupid party games were never his thing anyway, so he wouldn’t miss out on much. 

Then he looks over to Beth. She seems just as unsure, glancing around as if looking for an escape route. With a deep breath, he decides to act.

“You wanna head out? Truth or dare isn’t really my thing.” He asks Beth quietly, leaning over to her so that the others don’t hear. She looks over to him in surprise, but her features are laced with a look of gratitude.

“Yeah, I’m not the biggest fan of it either. I’d rather skip out.” She whispers back, and Rick nods at the confirmation.

“Right well, you guys go ahead with your games. Beth and I are going.” Rick tells the others, already standing, and offering Beth a hand to help her up.

“Oh c’mon! We’re just getting to the fun bit!” Courtney cries out.

Yolanda elbows her with a look Rick can’t quite decipher, but whatever it is, it shuts Courtney up as she returns to whatever quiet talk she’d been having with Cameron. Rick glares around the fire, looking for anyone else who might dispute, but nobody says a word. Artemis throws him a thumbs up, which worries him slightly, but otherwise the group seems preoccupied. Cindy shoots him a glance that looks somewhere between malice and almost… like she’s proud of him? But he shelves that for later as he leads Beth away from the fire.

As the noise from the campfire fades into the distance, Rick finds himself wondering what to do now. He’s alone with Beth, navigating a trail in the dimming light. It’s not fully dark yet, but it’s getting pretty close, so he grabs his phone and turns on the flashlight. 

“So where to?” He asks, and Beth glances over his way.

“I’m not sure, actually. I just didn’t feel like watching Artemis light herself on fire again.”

“Again?”

“Oh! I forgot you weren’t here last year. Last year, it was the same deal. We did truth or dare, and Artemis tried to jump the firepit. She tripped over a rock and lit her hair on fire.” Beth explains, glancing back nervously towards the fire.

“That explains that weird start of school haircut she got last year. I wish I was there to see that, it sounds like something else.” Rick chuckles to himself.

“Meh, it wasn’t as grand as it sounds. Just a lot of screaming and jumping into the lake. Funny looking back at it, but stressful in the moment.” Beth explains with a shrug.

They walk a little further, just sort of enjoying each other's company as the sounds of crickets fill the silence. 

“Do you wanna go to the Star Field? It’s kinda my favourite place to go, I’d like to visit one last time before we leave.” Beth blurts out suddenly, startling Rick a little. 

The Star Field is the place for stargazing at the camp. Campers get to bring out telescopes, set them up, and watch the constellations. It’s one of the more isolated and peaceful locations at camp, and Rick totally understands why Beth likes it so much.

“Yeah, sure. That sounds nice.” That sounds nice?? What kind of stupid answer is that?? Rick cringes at his response, but he tries his best not to show it. They chat idly the rest of the walk, as Rick tries desperately not to think too hard about the fact that he’s alone with Beth, going to what may possibly be the most romantic spot at camp.

It takes them a while, but finally they reach the top of the hill that leads them to the Star Field. Tonight the field is aglow with fireflies, flitting around the grass in the dim light. The telescope shed is locked, so the pair decide just to relax for a while. Neither of them are keen to lay on the grass, so Rick takes off his jacket and places it down like a blanket. It’s a small space so they have to lay close, arms pressed against each other as they stare at the night sky. 

“I don’t think I ever want to leave here.” Beth sighs, eyes scanning the stars.

“I wish I could say the same, but I think I’m ready to go home. Despite everything, I just want to eat a pizza pocket and sleep on a semi comfortable mattress. No offence.” Rick admits, his arms crossed across his chest in an attempt to stay warm in the cooling air.

“None taken, it’s alright, I totally get it. I haven’t had a pizza pocket in years though, so I don’t know about that one.”

“In years!? What kind of life have you been living Beth?” He gasps in feigned surprise.

“A healthy one.” Beth retorts and they both laugh, glancing at each other, their faces plastered with grins. Rick immediately notices how close they are, and he quickly returns to looking at the stars to avoid the awkwardness of the close proximity. 

“So, once you’re out of camp what’s the plan? I mean I know we go back to school in like a week, but is there anything else? Any big plans?” Beth asks as she points to the sky, tracking constellations with her fingers.

“Not really. I’m just using the money from camp to fix my car. That’s all I got.” Rick explains with as much of a shrug as he can give while laying down. Beth lowers her arms, and he sees her glance over at him from his peripheral vision.

“Your family doesn’t help you pay for that?” She asks as Rick bitterly laughs, shaking his head.

“I live with my uncle. He couldn’t care less about what happens to me, much less my car. I’m kinda on my own.”

“Is that why you took the job at the camp?”

“More or less. I get money and get away from him. It’s a win win.”

Beth goes quiet for a moment, then says;

“I’m sorry.”

Now it’s Rick’s turn to glance her way, shooting her a quizzical look.

“For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“I don’t know, not ever talking to you I guess. I mean, I know you from school but I never really got to know you. Being at camp with you has really let me understand you better. You’re a really good person. I’m just happy that this camp gave us the chance to get closer.” She admits.

“Oh.” Rick says, unable to muster anything else

“Oh?” Beth parrots back, tipping her head in a way that Rick thinks is absolutely too adorable.

“I don’t know. Nobody’s really ever said anything like that to me before. Oh is the best response I’ve got.” He explains, rubbing at his arms nervously.

That makes Beth laugh, and she rolls onto her side so she can face him. Rick takes a moment to debate before doing the same. 

They’re inches away from each other, eyes locked.

“I really like you, you know.” She admits.

“Yeah, I mean you kinda already said that, with the whole ‘you’re a good person’ thing”

He doesn’t want to assume.

“No I mean… Like you. Like, over the summer I’ve seen a side of you that I haven’t really seen before, and it made me fall a little bit in love.”

Love. That’s a big word.

“Oh.”

“Would you stop saying oh!” She pokes him playfully, but he can tell there’s worry in her eyes. Concern that he doesn’t feel the same. 

“I’m sorry! It’s just… are you sure? That you feel uh, that way about me, I mean.” He tries, but Beth immediately cuts off his train of self-doubt.

“Yes Rick, I’m sure. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same but-”

“NO! No, I do! I do feel the same. I just don’t understand how someone like you, the perfect camp counsellor role model could like me, the guy who’s just here ‘cause he kinda has to be.” Rick says, running a hand through his hair.

Beth looks at him like she’s genuinely offended, wrinkling her nose and shaking her head.

“Rick, have you seen yourself at this camp? The kids loved you! You were the ‘cool guy’ counsellor. You have no idea how many of those kids wanted a male counsellor they could actually hold a conversation with. Cam is great but he’s also got the conversational ability of a wet sponge.”

“And I don’t?” Rick retorts, though he’s half joking.

“No! I didn't even know you didn’t want to be here. It was like watching you become an instant big brother to the entire camp. I’d never seen you like that before. Did you know Nathan wouldn’t even touch the high ropes course last year? The kid was terrified of heights as far as we could all tell.” Beth tells him, and Rick is genuinely shocked.

“Are we thinking of the same Nathan? Because the kid I’m thinking of was a whiz at rock climbing, and the high ropes.” He asks, just to make sure. “Yes, because you inspired him! He saw you teaching the other kids on the rock climbing wall, and decided he wanted to be as cool as you.”

“Well clearly he doesn’t know me. I’m not that cool.”

“Maybe you think that, but to everyone else you’re incredible, Rick.”

“Beth, I was hiding in a cabin colouring in pictures of small animals like, four hours ago. Your definition of incredible may be skewed.”

“I think that just gives you more character.” Beth counters.

Rick sighs, but he can’t help but smile. Beth really does see the best in everyone. 

There’s a pause as they lay there, faces close, both smiling softly. Rick can feel his heart beating in his throat as he looks at her, and at that moment he knows that she’s the most beautiful thing in the world. And then Beth’s hands are on his face, and she’s kissing him. It’s so careful, like she’s trying not to scare him away. She doesn’t know it, but she could never scare Rick, no matter how hard she tries.

They lay like that for a while. Under the stars, Beth snuggled into his side and his arm around her as she talks to him about what constellations they can see. Rick listens, taking in as much information as he can. The other half of his brain is completely in shock, however. Had he not gone to this camp, had he not tried his stupid cabin plan, had he not asked Beth if she wanted to leave the campfire, had he not done any of that, he wouldn’t be here. It was so viscerally strange to him, and yet it all made sense. It was like a puzzle all coming together in his mind to tell him yes, you took all the right steps, you made all the right choices, and now you get to be happy. You get to feel at home. 

Even when they hear the shouting from the campfire that indicates, yes indeed Artemis has set herself on fire again, Rick can’t stop smiling. He’s also rightfully concerned of course, but that’s not what’s important. What’s important is that he’s holding Beth’s hand as they try not to laugh, rushing down the trail to the fire to see what’s happened. 

He decides then, that if he gets to spend moments like this with the people he’s learning to care about, it’s all worth it. All the days spent with sunburn, the dealing with bugs, and the screaming, crying children, it’s all worth it. As they all head back to their cabins, Artemis now one-hoodie lighter, and the others all cheering that he and Beth finally did something about their massive crushes on eachother, he doesn’t feel mad. He actually couldn’t care less about all the jeering from his companions, not even the snide comments from Cindy. For the first time in a while he’s not upset, and he doesn’t want to be alone. In fact, here, holding hands with Beth, laughing at some stupid joke Courtney just made, the truth is becoming exceedingly clear to him. These are his friends. Maybe even one day, they’ll be close enough to be family. This is the most fun Rick has had in years, and he finally thinks the one thing he never thought he would. I can’t wait to come back to camp next year.

[kookie-doughs]

Y/N L/N AND THE HALFBLOODS

Percy Jackson X Reader

-Y/N L/N met Percy Jackson and everything is now ruined.

Chapter 22: Then It Ended

As soon as we came, Annabeth ang Grover tackled me. We were the first heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, so of course everybody treated us as if we'd won some reality-TV contest. According to camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honor, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we got to burn the burial shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.

Annabeth's shroud was so beautiful—gray silk with embroidered owls— Percy told her it seemed a shame not to bury her in it. She punched him and told him to shut up. Percy being the son of Poseidon, he didn't have any cabin mates, so the Ares cabin had volunteered to make his shroud. They'd taken an old bedsheet and painted smiley faces with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted really big in the middle.

As I was still unclaimed, Hermes cabin had made me one. (Just... IDK go crazy with your shroud IG) It was fun to burn. As Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores, Percy and I was surrounded by my Hermes cabinmates, Annabeth's friends from Athena, and Grover's satyr buddies, who were admiring the brand-new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past." The only ones not in a party mood were Clarisse and her cabinmates, whose poisonous looks told me they'd never forgive us for disgracing their dad. That was okay with me. Even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen my spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brats didn't get themselves killed and now they'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday...." Going back to the cabin I finally had time to talk to Luke. Who just expressed his relief of me being fine, and how he was scared when Annabeth told everyone about me. No wonder everyone was so shocked seeing me come back with Percy. On the Fourth of July, the whole camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin nine. Being Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions. They'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. According to Annabeth, who'd seen the show before, the blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a battle, then explode into a million colors. As Annabeth, Percy and I were spreading a picnic blanket, Grover showed up to tell us good-bye. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt and sneakers, but in the last few weeks he'd started to look older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker. He'd put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human. "I'm off," he said. "I just came to say ... well, you know." I tried to feel happy for him. After all, it wasn't every day a satyr got permission to go look for the great god Pan. But it was hard saying good-bye. I'd only known Grover a year, yet he was my oldest friend. Annabeth and I gave him a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on. I asked him where he was going to search first. "Kind of a secret," he said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan ..." "We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?" "Yeah." "And you remembered your reed pipes?" "Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat." But he didn't really sound annoyed. He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker you might see on an American highway. "Well," he said, "wish me luck." He gave Annabeth and I another hug. He clapped Percy on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes. Fireworks exploded to life overhead: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing the Delaware. "Hey, Grover," Percy called. He turned at the edge of the woods. "Wherever you're going—I hope they make good enchiladas." Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him. "We'll see him again," Annabeth said. July passed. I spent my daysplanning out strategies with Luke for capture-the-flag and making alliances with the other cabins to keep the banner out of Ares's hands. I got to the top of the climbing wall for the first time without getting scorched by lava. From time to time, Percy and I would walk past the Big House, he'd glance up at the attic windows, and think about the Oracle.

I tried to convince him that its prophecy had come to completion. "You shall go west, and face the god who has turned." "Been there, done that—even though the traitor god had turned out to be Ares rather than Hades." "You shall find what was stolen, and see it safe returned." "Check. One master bolt delivered. One helm of darkness back on Hades." "You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend." Percy recited. "Ares had pretended to be our friend, then betrayed us. That must be what the Oracle meant.... Or maybe Nereid?"

"And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end." He sighed. "I had failed to save my mom and lost you..."

"So why are you still uneasy?" The last night of the summer session came all too quickly. The campers had one last meal together. We burned part of our dinner for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads. Percy and I got our own leather necklace, and when I saw the bead for my first summer. The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the center.

"This is so beautiful..." I smiled to Percy. "The choice was unanimous," Luke announced. "This bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!" The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even Ares's cabin felt obliged to stand. Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause. I'm not sure I'd ever felt as happy or sad as I did at that moment. I'd finally found a family, people who cared about me and thought I'd done something right. And in the morning, most of them would be leaving for the year. * * * The next morning, Luke called me. He gave me a paper, telling me to fill it out, and asked me to meet him as soon as I could. I knew Dionysus must've filled it out, because he stubbornly insisted on getting my name wrong: Dear (WRONG NAME) , If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or died a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers. All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit. Have a nice day! Mr. D (Dionysus) Camp Director, Olympian Council #12 That's another thing about ADHD. Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face. Summer was over, and I still don't know what to do. I had no where to go to. The only option I had was Percy's or maybe Hades was not joking about inviting me back to the Underworld. Sighing I decided to just meet Luke before filling it for second opinions. The campgrounds were mostly deserted, shimmering in the August heat. All the campers were in their cabins packing up, or running around with brooms and mops, getting ready for final inspection. Argus was helping some of the Aphrodite kids haul their Gucci suitcases and makeup kits over the hill, where the camp's shuttle bus would be waiting to take them to the airport. I was walking around looking for Luke. I jumped when I felt someone tap me from behind. I instinctively unsheathed my knife and turned only to see Luke with his hands raised.

"Whoa! Calm down just me." He laughed.

"Kinda weird seeing someone laugh at a knife pointed at them." I smirked sheathing my knife.

"I only laugh since its you." He smiled and ruffled my hair. "Are you done with everything?"

"Not really. I don't know whether to leave or not yet. That's why I came. Help me?" I asked him.

He turned to me and to the forest. "How about you hear me out about something... important and private... then decide?" He gestured towards the forest.

"Not planning on killing me are you?" I squinted at him.

He gasped. "Not you. Never. I would never hurt you."

I let him lead me to a shrouded area of the forest.

"How serious is this thing that you can't let anyone see? I am blindly trusting you here Luke." I laughed nervously. But when he didn't reply I felt something was off. "Luke, okay this isn't cool. How deep into the forest do we have to go?"

"Y/N remember when you said... You want to be the person I trust...? How you promised to help me?"

"Luke?" He took my hand and pulled me sharply. I winced at how hard he pulled me. "That hurts! Let me go!"

He snapped back and let go of my wrist. "I-I'm sorry... Y/N..."

As much as I knew I had to leave, I couldn't I was worried about him. I reluctantly placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's happening?"

"I did it..." I said and sat on the ground. "I swear I didn't mean to get you hurt. But, I confess to everything. I  stole bolt and helm, I summoned the hound, I gave Percy the cursed shoes... And just now, I tried to kill Percy Jackson." He looked at me with empty eyes.

I shot up and looked at him in emotions I couldn't put in words. "W-Wh---" I wanted to leave and check on Percy. But once again, seeing him right now... I need to stay with him. "Why are you telling me this...?"

"Join me... please?" his voice was weak. He sounded vulnerable. "Let's serve my Lord together..."

"L-Luke... no. I-I can't do that!" I took his shoulder, "Y-You should stay with me instead. How about that, huh? L-Let's explain to Chiron and the others... come on please. I could help you!"

Nothing was working.

"Come with me..." He muttered.

"Luke, I won't join you. You have to change your mind. You can't do this."

"I can't change my mind."

"I can help you with that? How about you go with me huh? I could spend all my time doing this and that. Please, just change your mind."

He didn't reply for a while until he whispered, "Promise me."

"Promise you what?"

"You'll stay with me."

"What? Luke I wo--"

"You won't join... Just...don't stay here for the year... and stay with me."

"I-If I stay with you... what would that mean?"

"Yo-You... might change my mind."

"I'll go." I replied with no hesitation. "I'll leave camp for the year. And I'll find my parent to prove to you that Gods and Goddess aren't all bad. We'll find my parent together."

"I do my lord's bidding--"

"You can still do it. If you want to. But whatever happens... stays only between us. I'll stay with you until I change your mind. And I'll bring you back to camp."

"I would never do anything to ruin your trust in me." He knelt down. It was kinda awkward but hey... "I need you."

Worry not hero. We shall stay.

"Please..."

We'll meet again. Wait for us, we shall join you soon. Now leave.

I had no idea what happened since when I came to Luke was gone and there was no sign of him anywhere. How were we going to st---

We will meet him once we leave. Now go as our hero needs us.

I suddenly remembered Percy's state that Luke had told me about. So I ran. I ran to the Big House

***

Percy finally opened his eyes. He was propped up in bed in the sickroom of the Big House, his right hand bandaged like a club. Argus stood guard in the corner. Annabeth and I sat next to Percy, I was holding his nectar glass and she was dabbing a washcloth on his forehead.

"Here we are again," Percy said. "You idiot," Annabeth said, "You were green and turning gray when we found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing..." "Now, now," Chiron's voice said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit." He was sitting near the foot of the bed in human form. His lower half was magically compacted into the wheelchair, his upper half dressed in a coat and tie. He smiled, but his face looked weary and pale, the way it did when he'd been up all night grading Latin papers. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved." "Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened." Between sips of nectar, he told them the story.

I bit my lip trying to keep what happened between Luke and I private. It was a risky move that would not be approved by anyone after all. The room was quiet for a long time. "I can't believe that Luke..." Annabeth's voice faltered. Her expression turned angry and sad. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him.... He was never the same after his quest."

Percy was looking at me as if checking what was my reaction to his story. "This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron murmured. "I will go at once." "Luke is out there right now," Percy said. "I have to go after him." Chiron shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods—" "Won't even talk about Kronos," Percy snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed!" "Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready." "Chiron... your prophecy from the Oracle... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? Y/N? And Annabeth?" Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Percy, it isn't my place—" "You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?" His eyes were sympathetic, but sad. "You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you..." Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the windows. "All right!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!" He sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing." "We can't just sit back and do nothing," He said. "We will not sit back," Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled. He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come." "Assuming I live that long." Chiron put his hand on Percy's ankle. "You'll have to trust me, Percy. You will live. But first you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice...." I got the feeling that he had a very definite opinion, and it was taking all his willpower not to advise me. "But you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decision." "I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you." He glanced at Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear... whenever you're ready, they're here." "Who's here?" Percy asked. Nobody answered. Chiron rolled himself out of the room. I heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time. Annabeth studied the floor. "What's wrong?" Percy asked her. "Nothing. I ... just took your advice about something. You ... um ... need anything?" "Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside." "Percy, that isn't a good idea." Percy slid his legs out of bed. Annabeth and I caught him before he could crumple to the floor.

I said, "I told you ..." "I'm fine," He insisted.

He managed a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on me. Argus followed us outside, but he kept his distance. By the time we reached the porch, his face was beaded with sweat. But we had managed to make it all the way to the railing. It was dusk. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake. Beyond the woods and the strawberry fields, the Long Island Sound glittered in the last light of the sun. "What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked us. "I don't know." Percy replied. "I got the feeling Chiron wanted me to stay year-round, to put in more individual training time, but I'm not sure that's what I want. I also don't want to leave you both with Clarisse only." Annabeth pursed her lips, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, Percy." He stared at her. "You mean, to your dad's?" She pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree, at the very edge of the camp's magical boundaries, a family stood silhouetted—two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair. They seemed to be waiting. The man was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver. "I wrote him a letter when we got back," Annabeth said. "Just like you suggested. I told him... I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided... we'd give it another try." "That took guts." She pursed her lips. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least ... not without sending me an Iris-message? Both of you?" Percy managed a smile. "I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to."

"You already know my plans."

"When I get back next summer," she said, "we'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?" "Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena."

She held out her hand. Percy shook it. She gave me a hug. "Take care, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth told Percy. "Keep your eyes open."

"You too, Wise Girl."

Then turned to me, "Good luck on your own quest Droopy."

"Of course Peabody." We watched her walk up the hill and join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be lead over the crest and into the mortal world. "I made my decision." Percy said. "What's yours?"

"I'll be leaving camp... I'm going to look for my parent..." He looked at me in shock. "I'll be back next summer," I promised him. "I'll survive until then."

"Alone?"

I smiled at him.

"Don't you want to stay with us? Mom said---"

"I want to find my parent. I need to. I'll be fine Percy."

I helped Percy to his cabin so he could pack and went to mine. To my surprise I see a middle-aged man with an athletic figure slim and fit with salt-and-pepper hair, and a very familiar sly grin. He had bags at his foot.

"Delivery for Y/N L/N."

"Uhm..."

"Hermes." He said.

I froze and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Personally packed. As a thank you for what you're about to do." He smiled softly and handed me the bags.

"H-Huh...?"

"For helping Luke."

"I..."

Don't forget her mail!

Ooh! And tell her to bring us snacks next time we meet since it'll be often now!

No it wouldn't be often! She'll be with Luke!

"Both of you keep quiet." Pulling out a mail he handed it to me. "Luke... prayed to me telling me about your plan. He asked me to help you. I don't know what or why he did it. But I know he'll change thanks to you. So do guide him."

"Sorry you lost me at the talking air..." I blinked.

Hermes laughed and showed a caduceus. "It's just George and Martha."

"Hi?"

Hello!

Hi

"I just wanted to let you know. No god or goddess could see you. No matter how hard they tried. So your secrets.. are really secrets. Good luck on your travel."

Next time we meet you should have snacks.

Then he vanished.

Staring at the letter on my hand, I was stunned seeing it was from... my mom and dad.

Sweetie,

You've made quite a friend here.

-Mom and Dad.

I immediately knew where to look. I hurriedly took my bags not bothering to check the contents. I ran to Percy's cabin and helped him out so we could leave.

Percy got a cab and looked at me worriedly.

"I'll write you. Stay safe Arthur Curry." I ruffled his hair and watched him go.

I didn't know where to go so I just went to the first secluded area I saw.

"You have more stuffs than when you arrived." I heard someone behind me.

"You prayed to your dad. I hope he knows how to pack." I sighed turning to him. Turning around I barely made out Luke from the few days I last saw him. "You okay?"

"Do you know where to look first?"

Call upon our hound.

I whistled, I don't know why. But when I did, D/N came out of the blue. Luke looked at me and my dear dog, who was probably bigger than the hound he'd summon back then. "How do feel about L.A?" I said riding on D/N and making space behind me for Luke.

~~~END OF BOOK 1~~~

Previous | Book 1 Masterlist | Series Masterlist

END OF BOOK ONE!!! THANK YOU FOR READING YLATHB I HOPE YOU ENJOY!! I'LL PUBLISH BOOK 2 WHEN I'M DONE OR EVEN AT LEAST HAVE WRITTEN 5 CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK 2 ;))

I HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!!

Taglist?

@gayer-than-the-gayest-gay @the-natureofme @booknerd-3000 @katara720 @ynfics

[minervamoon66]

Changes to Artemis Fowl

 1. The movie opens with the press swarming Fowl Manor due to A. Fowl Sr.’s recent disappearance and witness accounts of the LEPRecon siege of Fowl Manor.

 2. Mulch Diggums (a dwarf with apparently a birth defect that makes him giant by dwarf standards) is arrested by HUMAN police and taken to a secure M16 facility for interrogation.  There he proceeds to narrate the movie.

 3. Artemis likes to surf, loves the outdoors, and is bored in school.  The scene between him and his counselor at school is the ONLY time you get the Artemis Fowl from the books.

 4. HIS MOTHER IS DEAD!!!  Come the F*CK on, Disney!  Why does every mother have to die?!

 5. Artemis Jr. and Sr. bond over Sr. telling his son fairy stories, like all the time.

 6. Artemis Jr. has no idea about his family’s criminal background.  He doesn’t find out until his father goes missing and he hears it over the television. (In this scene Butler drags Artemis away from the television and out of the room instead of just turning the blasted thing off.)

 7. Opal Konboi is in this.  She’s kidnapped Artemis Sr. and is demanding Jr. give her a magic macguffin in return for Sr.’s safe return.

 8. Butler goes by Dom.  Like, the whole movie. Edit: and he's black. I didn't add that at first since it was obvious from the trailer.

 9. Juliet is his NIECE! And also twelve.

10. The secret door to Artemis Sr.’s hidden room is ridiculously easy to find.  There’s a “key” hanging out in like an umbrella stand that fits a weird spot on the floor.  ANY child, not just a super-smart one, would have figured this out ages ago, because children are curious.

11. There is no fairy book.  The scene that alludes to tracking it down has been cut.  Instead we’re treated to Artemis Sr.’s only a bad guy because he’s stealing fairy artifacts that fell into human hands.

12. Neither of the Artemis’s are very smart.  The secret door is one example, but also where Sr. hides his journal about fairies is relatively easy to find.  We’re constantly told by Mulch’s narration how smart Artemis Jr. is, but I just didn’t see it. Since there’s no book, there’s no deciphering it.  No concocting a plan. He’s just following what Sr. put in his journal.

13. Mulch introduces the fairy city like you’re walking into it, not like he’s reciting events to the cops.  Serious fourth wall break.

14. Commander Root is a woman.  I wouldn’t mind this change if it weren’t for the fact that it completely ruins Holly’s arc.

15. Holly’s arc is now she wants to clear her father’s name.  (He’s the one that stole the macguffin, to protect it.) Edit: and she's white instead of nut brown.

16. I did not like Foaly’s animation much.  He felt too slow when he was supposed to be running, and it looked like he was skipping when he did so.

17. The whole troll in Italy thing is actually fairly close to how it was in the book that I can remember. Edit: I was wrong. Upon relistening to this part there are several differences, the most obvious being an introduction to the Time Freeze in a very Checkov's gun way.

18. Holly is not out of magic.  That’s not even a thing.  Holly straight up goes AWOL after the troll incident to clear her father’s name.

19. I repeat, HOLLY IS NOT OUT OF MAGIC FOR THE ENTIRE MOVIE! And yet Artemis is STILL able to keep her captive.  The only thing Holly tries to do to escape is rattle her cell a little (no magic use that I noticed) and tried to hypnotize Juliet and Artemis a few times.  They had reflective sunglasses on, so it didn’t work.

20. Right after the fairies set up the Time Freeze, Butler hit it with an energy arrow (Holly’s shape-shifting weapon) and broke it.  So they only have 30 mins instead of hours and hours.

21. Artemis wants them to send Mulch in because his dwarven instincts will lead him to the macguffin which Artemis is sure is hidden in the manor somewhere. This isn’t the stupidest thing, except for the fact Mulch isn’t attracted to magic, but to treasure.  Mulch could have been drawn to ANYTHING expensive in that house, but the plan works because the movie needed it to.

22. Mulch’s hair has some Sedusa-like properties instead of the “turns into lock-picks” thing from the books.  It still picks locks and cracks safes, but not in the way you were expecting.

23. Artemis and Holly have a heart-to-heart about their daddies and suddenly Artemis trusts her enough to take off his glasses and let her go so she can help.  Since in this she wants to clear her father’s name, so she’s kinda on his side.  She does punch him for the whole kidnapping thing, so I’ll give them that.

24. Somehow LEPRecon can “scramble” a fairy’s magic, so Holly can’t use hers because she’s been labeled a traitor.

25. The LEPRecon sends in the troll, but Butler doesn’t go mano-y-trollo with it.  It’s a “team” effort.  Basically everyone scrambles around screaming until the troll is knocked out.  Holly was stuck in a chandelier for over half the fight.  Juliet is entirely useless.

26. Butler dies (crushed by falling troll), but then the LEPRecon have a “do the right thing” moment outside and turn Holly’s magic back on and she brings him back to life.  I guess you could say she did a magic defibrillator.  It’s all forced drama.

27. Mulch, who swallowed the macguffin to keep it safe (actually the CGI for him unhinging his jaw while creepy was one of the better bits of special effects.).  He pulls it out of his mouth and Holly uses it to bring Artemis Sr. back from near death at the hands of Opal and teleport him back to Fowl Manor.  Leaving Opal around for shenanigans later.

28. Sometime around now there’s an overly long scene of the Time Freeze collapsing.  There’s no bio bomb, no super clever way out.   The LEPRecon just give up because they’re out of time.  (at least that’s what I got from it.)

29. Artemis Sr. gives Holly a list of names her dad had of corrupt fairies, and she takes that and the macguffin back underground.

30. The movie ends with Artemis Jr. rescuing Mulch from M16 custody. Not a memory wipe in sight.  So, now M16 knows about fairies?  I’m sure that’ll be fine.

There’s probably more I’m forgetting, but that’s the major things I can think of.

Edit:

31. Invitations work differently than I remember. Here if a fairy accepts an invitation, they have to obey you. But, it's never stated whether they lose their magic if they come in uninvited. The troll fight in Italy is outdoors, so that offers no explanation.

[star-chlld]

Second Chances

A crossover with Danny Phantom and Young Justice

Dick Grayson, aka Robin, walked solemnly through Amity Park. It had been a week since the explosion, but signs of destruction were everywhere. Especially at the Nasty Burger. Robin wondered why anybody would want to eat at a place called Nasty Burger. Amity park was giving him an uneasy feeling. It was quiet, and Robin hadn't seen anybody since he got here. As he passed the Nasty Burger, something caught his eye. Six silhouettes of people against a metal tank. Robin could only imagine their fate. 

Trying to push the disturbing images out of his mind, Robin reviewed the address that Batman gave him . It turned out that he didn't need an address, because a brightly colored sign hung on the roof. It was a tall, red brick building labeled Fenton Works. Robin knocked on the door, and almost immediately a girl with bright red hair, black pants and a teal shirt answered. “Who are you and what do you want?” She demanded. Robin was taken aback at the rude remark. “I’m here to speak with Danny Fenton.” The girl eyed him suspiciously. “Why? Are you a ghost?” Robin found that question even weirder than the introduction. “No I'm not a ghost. The Batman wants to talk to him.”

“Who’s the Batman? Nevermind, I'll just get Danny.” The girl ran upstairs and a moment later a boy with black, shaggy, too long hair and a t-shirt and shorts. “Yes?” He said. “I have a friend who needs to talk to you.” Robin responded. He had a feeling that nobody around here knew who Batman was, so he didn't bother mentioning the name. “Where is he?” Danny asked.

“California, I could get you there and back in a hour.”

“I'll be right back.” Danny said, before disappearing out of sight. Robin could deduce two things; that both siblings (the girl was nowhere near old enough to be his mom) where mourning, and that the sister was very protective of Danny. He heard a muffled argument inside the house. “It's not safe, and your getting worse.”

“I'll be fine, he said an hour.”

“You need to see Frostbite.”

“I'll make you a deal. I get to go, I'll go see Frostbite.” There was a silence, then the girl said, “fine” The door opened and Danny came out, this time clad in a red and white coat. Robin led him to the bio-ship. Miss Martian had lent him it. Danny stopped and stared at the bio-ship. “What is that?!” He cried. “The bio-ship” Robin answered, and since he didn't explain more Danny didn't ask more. But Danny couldn't stay depressed forever, and he was amazed at the bio-ship and amazed when Mount Justice opened up, revealing a hanger. Danny gaped as he was led through the mountain, until they reached a meeting room. “Wait here,” Robin instructed, “Ill go get Batman.” Batman? Danny thought. Who the heck is Batman? Danny was just beginning to regret this, when Batman walked in. Then he really regretted it. “Danny Fenton, also known as Danny Phantom. Born and grew up in Amity Park, Illinois. All family and friends killed in an explosion a week ago. Excluding you and your sister, Jasmine.”  Who was this guy? “How do you know that?” Danny demanded. “Research and observation” was all Batman said. “All that aside, I have a proposal for you. There is a group of superpowered teens, your age. I want you to join the team. You and your sister would live in Mount Justice. After the tragedy you've faced you need friends and guidance.” Danny didn't like the word “guidance”. After the accident the school tried to give him a counselor, which turned out to be Spectra. Danny firmly believed that counseling and therapy was crap. But the rest of the offer sounded good, great even, do he decided to consider it. “I need to talk to Jazz. How can I contact you?”

“Just be at the Nasty Burger by noon,” Batman left, and Robin escorted him back to the bio-ship. They flew home in silence; Danny was too busy thinking about the super powered teenagers. A team of kids like him? It sounded almost too good to be true. When he arrived at his house, He told Jazz everything that had happened. “This is a big decision.” She said. “It would mean leaving Amity Park and moving to Happy Harbor.”

“What else is here, Jazz? It's just bad memories and bad ghosts.” Jazz was silent for a minute.”You're right. It's time for a change of scenery.” They packed until late into the night. They decided to only take their clothes and several precious items. Danny took the infinity map, wrapped up in a red cloth. He added a picture of him, Tucker, and Sam. Next he packed a picture of him and his family, and one of Mr. Lancer. I still felt unbelievable almost he cared about was gone. Excluding Jazz, who had survived by a miracle. Since she had been in the Fenton Peeler at the time, it absorbed most of the shock and heat, saving his sister. Danny wiped away tears, and threw in his favorite book on space, the Fenton Thermos, an ecto-gun, and all of his money. Danny carried him box downstairs and found that Jazz had already finished, and gone to bed. Danny was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Danny and Jazz didn't have to wait long before Robin appeared, and led the siblings to the bio-ship. “You guys packed light.” He commented. Robin and Jazz struck up a conversation, leaving Danny with his thoughts. He wondered what the rest of the team was like, and as it turned out he didn't have to wait long. The moment they stepped off the bio-ship, Danny and Jazz were mobbed by heroes.

“Where are you going to be sleeping?

“What can you do?”

“Do you want cookies?”

“Nobody wants burnt cookies M'gann.”

“I'll take one, babe”

The siblings were pounded with question after question, and eventually there were introductions. There was Miss Martian, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Artemis, Superboy, and of course Robin. Superboy and Miss Martian lived here like he and Jazz would, but the rest lived elsewhere.

“C’mon,” Superboy beckoned, “Me and Miss M will show you your rooms.” Jazz and Danny followed. “So what are your guys’ powers?” Jazz asked. “I’m a Kryptonian.” Superboy began, “So I can jump really far, I have super strength, infrared vision, and super hearing. I also have invulnerability.”

“Wait, Superboy, if you’re from another planet, does that mean you’ve been to space?” Danny asked excitedly. Superboy slouched a little, but answered, “Not really. I’ve been to the watchtower, but I’m a clone of superman. And you can call me Conner.” Danny smiled, he could tell he was going to like it here. “I’m from Mars. I can shapeshift, and I’m a telepath. I can fly, camouflage myself, and I have telekinesis. Sometimes I can density shift. Also, you can call me M’gann”  

“So have you been to space?” Danny asked hopefully. “Yes. I flew here in my bio-ship, with my uncle. The Martian Manhunter?”

“Your uncle is the Martian Manhunter? That’s so cool!” Jazz cried. They stopped at a pair of doors. “These are your rooms. Me and Connor are the next two. Dinner's at six, so you can unpack, explore, or do whatever until then.” M’gann instructed. Danny opened the door, and dropped his box on his bed. Yep, Danny was definitely going to like it here.

[bakugou-ou]

Ik I'm anon and all, but I don't wanna get off it because the embarrassment would probably make it worse. I'm just tired of life… mines is pretty useless if you ask me, and according to everyone else who if ever met, I'm ugly too, I wouldn't kill myself because I'm too much of a coward to do that, but I don't know what I wanna do with my life and I can never be happy without someone ruining it That's why you and other creators' story helps me, it makes me think about my dram life I'll never get

Listen, friendo, whoever you are, you’re not ugly, and not useless. You don’t need to come off anon if you don’t want to, I get it. This is gonna get v personal here in a sec, so I’m putting the rest of this down under a cut in case no one gives a shit about my personal life and doesn’t wanna see my tragic anime backstory, but I’m sharing it with you because you said that you like my writing. This is the story of how I ended up running this blog, it’s got lots of talk about suicide, mentions of rape. It’s not pretty, so read at your own risk. Also, it’s long.

When I was four years old, I tried to jump off the balcony of my apartment, I wanted to die. It wasn’t a kid doing a stupid thing, I literally thought if I fall from this height and hit my head on the ground, I will die and then went for it. I fell onto a 7ft tall cinder block mailbox on the way down, four feet below my balcony, crawled off of it, and walked back upstairs to my parents like nothing had happened. 

What was wrong that someone barely past toddlerhood wanted to kill themselves over? I don’t know, maybe it was just that my parents were fighting all the time and hated each other, maybe it was because I have the genes for it. More on that last bit later.

When I was six, I tried to throw myself in front of a car, thinking that if a small child like myself got hit by a car going 25+ mph, I’d die. The driver hit the brakes, I played it off like I’d tripped into the road, no one knew how I really felt. When I’d told my parents I wanted to die, they thought I was being dramatic, they didn’t think a kid my age even knew what that meant, the finality of it. But I knew, and I craved it.

When I was eight, I tried to hang myself in my older sister’s bedroom with her sheets. She found me, took me down before I blacked out, and we never spoke about it again after that night. I was pissed with my sister for saving me, I cried and punched her as she held onto me.

When I was twelve, I tried to eat a bottle of Xanax, thinking it would kill me. It didn’t, it just made me really, really fucking sick. Not sick enough to go to the hospital, but very sick. I had no lasting organ damage, but I still wanted to die.

When I was fourteen, my boyfriend dumped me over the phone on a day he was supposed to come to my house, and ignored me while I cried. He had me on speaker phone, actually, and his friends were laughing about it and I could hear them. I could hear him laughing along with them. So, I decided to eat a bottle of asprin for dinner a couple of weeks later. I was stupid, it didn’t work, and I was hospitalized in the mental ward for 2 weeks.

When I was seventeen, I had just left an abusive relationship, graduated high school, and my mom told me that my ex raping me repeatedly for 9 months was my fault and that I was asking for it by continuing to date him the whole time. I was too scared to leave, I had been told by a counselor at school that no one would believe me. I tried to eat all of my antidepressants. I was hospitalized for 3 weeks in the mental ward.

When I was eighteen, I tried to do that same thing again, in conjunction to another thing my mom said about my abuser. My cousin had been raped while studying abroad, and she was talking about poor cousin, your poor cousin, it’s so traumatic, but when I mentioned that I’d been abused for three quarters of a year and no one batted an eye, she told me I was being selfish, and that my time for being the victim was over. How dare I detract from my cousin. So, again, I tried to eat a bottle of pills. I was hospitalized for one week in the psych ward.

Earlier this year, at the age of twenty, I was hospitalized because I felt like I was going to slit my wrists if I stayed home. So I checked myself into the hospital. I was there for a week while my doctor tried to find better meds for me because clearly mine weren’t working. My mom had told me that she was ashamed of my sexuality and my gender identity, and the rape issue came up again, with her saying I wanted it, that I let it happen.

I have bipolar II, borderline personality disorder, OCD, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and selective eating disorder. A lot is messed up with me. I get the anxiety from my mother, and the bipolar II from my father. The PTSD was a gift from my ex boyfriend, and the rest I just ended up with.

When I was a little kid, I loved books; my father read all sorts of books to me, all the time. Artemis Fowl was the first series we read, then Harry Potter, then my mother read me the Chronicles of Narnia, then my father read me A Series of Unfortunate Events. We also read other books, things that weren’t series. I loved reading, and I wanted to write things that made people feel the way I felt about the stuff I read. 

Both of my parents are naturally talented writers. At the age of six, I began to write fan fiction for Harry Potter. I was way too young to be on the internet, but I was online writing fanfics on snitchseeker. Some of the only validation I found in my life was from random strangers on the internet, encouraging me to continue writing and complimenting my plot lines, even if my grammar and spelling were atrocious; on the internet, no one knows you’re a little kid writing Drarry fanfic.

I was a really athletic kid, so I didn’t spend all my time writing, but a good chunk of my free time was spent writing if I wasn’t surfing, playing soccer, or skateboarding. I didn’t have a lot of friends, I wasn’t likable, apparently, and I had a really hard time in school. I got into a lot of fights because people picked on me, but I was always the one who got in trouble for defending myself. It pissed me off. I developed issues with authority. I wrote in composition books to escape all the crap around me.

By the time I turned 11, writing was my life. I had just moved to California from Hawaii, my life was basically turned upside down, and I was miserable. So, I made a myspace account, wrote fanfic on there, and threw myself headlong into it. I have a fanfiction.net account I’ve long since forgotten my username and password for, but it’s out there with dramione fanfic, sasusaku, things that I liked at the time. I need to escape everything happening around me. My dad, my best friend, wasn’t anywhere near me, my mom was a bitch, and my demented grandmother moved in with us. It was miserable.

By the time I was 15, the only hobby I had outside of practicing for orchestra, was writing. I laid in bed on days off and just sat on my laptop, writing. I stopped publishing things after I got a mean comment once, my first one ever. It bruised the ego I didn’t even have so badly that I refused to publish anything for three years.

When I was 18, I published my first fanfic in 4 years. It was a Criminal Minds fanfic, featuring an OC and Spencer Reid. I was so fucking proud of it, and while lots of people loved it, a lot of people said mean shit. So, I posted Loki fanfic, which got infinitely more love, and then I did an alternate version of my Criminal Minds fic, that one got even more hate than the original. Then I published a Wallander fanfic. I haven’t touched them in 3 years, despite people asking me for more.

Up until this time last month, I never showed my writing to anyone. I kept everything to myself, hidden, I was ashamed of it. It is my only coping mechanism, but I couldn’t share it with anyone. My parents had my computer passwords up until I was about 16, sometimes they’d look through my text files and come to me later and tell me how amazing my writing was, and encourage me to publish it. But I never believed them.

On a whim, I started this blog; I love Boku no Hero Academia, it has given me something to look forward to every week. I live Chapter to Chapter, episode to episode, I track my time with it, it’s a coping mechanism. I saw that there was a decently active fandom on here, and I wanted to be a part of it. I hesitated on making the blog for a few weeks, thinking that no one would want to read my writing.

A month later, there are nearly 600 people here, constantly asking me to write scenarios and headcanons for them, telling me they love my writing, and think I’m a nice person, and that they’re glad I’m here. Every time I get a message like that, I cry. I never thought anyone would ever care about my writing, let alone write it. When I got a single follower that wasn’t a friend I know in real life, I cried. I was so excited. When I got my first request, I was so, so excited. When people began sending more stuff in, when people started talking to me and wanting to be friends, I cried. I’ve made a dozen friends on here as a direct result of their writing, and my writing.

I love running this blog, and I love writing for everyone. I have felt useless and like a waste of space my entire life, I’ve been told that my entire life, I’m made to feel like that every day of my life even now by the people around me, save for my friends, but when I log on here, I’m reminded that hey, maybe I’m not useless. If I manage to make even one person happy with what I do, that’s all I want.

So, you saying that my writing helps you, helps me. All I’ve ever wanted in life is to make other people happy, to please them, and my writing is apparently doing that. I’m really, really lucky to be in this position.

Even if you don’t have something like this, you’re not useless. You should be here. I know you said you’d never kill yourself because you’re too cowardly, but I’ve never seen suicide as cowardly, but that’s probably because I’ve tried to do it so many times. I’ve made a total of 8 attempts in 21 years. I don’t think I’ll be trying it again, though. It’s taken me 21 years to find something that I’m kind of maybe a little good at, that makes me even a tiny bit happy, and that does some good for other people, too.

Shit sucks, life is really awful, and I completely understand the plethora of reasons any given person would feel like wanting to die. I’ve never thought it unreasonable or dramatic to feel that way, it’s just how some people feel. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life until 3 years ago, and even now I’m unsure if it’s really what I want to do with my life. I’ve got a lot going on behind the scenes that makes me feel like shite, and a lot of the time, the people around me try to ruin what little I have that I enjoy and that makes me happy…

Even with all that happening, somehow, I’m still here, and I’m writing this. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I get your feelings, I hear you, they’re valid, and I love you, stranger. Because I feel the same way as you all the time. This blog is my escape from that. It’s really the only thing I have keeping me from my intrusive thoughts.

If you never come off anon, that’s fine, but if you need to talk about things, I’m here for you, or anyone else who needs it. Really, if I can even try to help, I’ll do my damnedest to help. I hate seeing other people feeling as junk as I do on a daily basis, I want to try and make it better. If being a friend, even if I don’t know who you are, helps, I want to help. If writing things helps, I want to do it. But, for me, it’s not just helping other people, it’s helping myself. You coming into the box helped me. So, you’re not useless. You’re keeping me here, too.

[strivingscribe]

Salt of the Earth ~ Ch 009

Salt of the Earth by MsMoon

Chapter 9 ~ The Elephant & Ram in the Room

Chapters: 9/?

Chapter Navigation: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,

Fandom: Young Justice

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Feelings? Violence?

Relationships: Nope.

Summary: After responding to an incident, members of the team are saved by an unknown metahuman. But no protocols are in place to deal with the series of unfortunate events that assail Anitia Moore. What exactly should the team do when a someone with powers needs training but doesn’t want to be a member of the team?

Author’s Notes: Happy New Year!

It was a Monday...which meant the house was pretty clean. Certain maintenance chores were done every day, but the weekends were when big-ticket items were taken care of. Anita clung to this every time she remembered that strangers in masks were in her home.

They were downstairs. The Vigilantes.

...on a gorram Monday.

It was still early, and though Mom had been informed of something happening.. Anita suspected that she hadn’t been informed of everything that had happened. She couldn’t imagine Mom not dropping everything and racing home if she knew what went down.

Anita took a fortifying breath. This was her home. She would not cower up in her bedroom, fretting about things like laundry in the boys’ rooms. She reached out and carefully took the carvings of the little purple elephant and the tiny green ram. Her fingers ran over the stones and her shoulder blades relaxed just a touch.

She closed her eyes, took another deep breath, listening to her own sounds as she tried to ground herself. She put the ram in her right pocket and the elephant in her left, shimmying her shoulders in an effort to loosen up. Then she opened the door, and descended downstairs.

She didn’t make eye contact as she went into the kitchen, but she was still aware of them. Periphery vision was a thing, after all.

She counted four of them, plus Superboy. ...fantastic.

She really wanted to stay as close to normal as she could, but she wasn’t sure how to do that other than ignoring them.

She opened the fridge, trying to keep as close to routine as possible…. that meant thinking about a meal of some sort. They had left-over spaghetti...but Travis could be so finicky about leftovers.

“Anita?”

She started, jumping away from the cover the fridge door provided and into the corner cabinet. When the fridge door closed, a very repentant Nightwing was standing there with both hands up.

“Sorry.” he said, his voice smooth.

“I uh…” Anita shook her head. “I didn’t hear you.”

“You were pretty focused.” he allowed, an easy smile on his face. “Plus, I’m fairly well trained in sneaking up on people.”

Now that she wasn’t intent on ignoring them, her eyes pinged to Robin standing just behind him. Great… Gotham Sleuths were in her house. She ground her back teeth together, her throat flexing before she asked, “Does anyone want coffee?”

“Yes.” Robin said, causing Artemis to scoff at him. “What?”

“You drink too much coffee as it is.” she muttered. “It’s already screwed up your sleep schedule, and it’ll stunt your growth.”

Anita didn’t bother examining this interaction too much as she was already focusing on making coffee. A full pot. She wasn’t sure why, but she wanted some for herself… probably just for something to stir and stare at. Also, it tasted pretty good.

...of course, now that everything was set in motion, they were just waiting for the coffee to filter through. She took a deep breath. “I don’t… I don’t really know if there’s a procedure, or…” she shrugged.

“I don’t think there are regulations for this situation.” Nightwing allowed. It was then that Anita met his eyes… or his mask. Whatever. She allowed herself to look at them, and she counted Nightwing, Robin, Superboy, Artemis, and Miss Martian in her kitchen.

Almost on instinct, her hand slipped into her pocket, and she brought out the little green ram.

“What’s that?” Superboy asked.

She shook her head. “Just Amun.”

“But...what stone is that?”

“Huh?” she looked up and realized that it was Robin who had asked. “Oh. Serpentine.” she reached into her other pocket and pulled out the purple elephant. “This one’s Ganesha. He’s made of Amethyst.”

“What are they for?”

She blinked, regarding him with slow apathy. “...they make me feel better.” perhaps more spite leaked into her tone than she’d intended.

“How?”

“I don’t know.” Anita snapped. “I hold them, and I feel better.” Anita felt irritation gnaw at her neck, her shoulder hunching up slightly. Coping mechanisms were coping mechanisms, and she hated that he was pointing out that she needed them in order to… well… Cope!

“I think Robin’s just curious as to your process. Specifically which stones do what.” Miss Martian confided.

Oh. Right.

“I ...I mean, I get that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m curious too.” she shrugged. “But I’m a little on edge right now, and I don’t have a lot of answers anyway.” Admitting that took a bit of the wind out of her. Or fire… whichever.

“You… you don’t know?” it sounded so accusatory, even the team was staring at Robin with that ‘you know what you’ve done’ expression.

Anita took another deep breath. “Those bugs of yours, are they working now?”

“They should be.”

“Should be?” Anita’s tone matched his from earlier.

“They are.” Robin said, voice more firm now. “If our comms are working, then the listening devices are as well.”

“Good.” Anita grunted. “Listen, about this...this Luthor thing?” they all seemed to stand up a touch straighter. “I think I should get this out as soon as I can.”

“I could scan your memories and set up a mental link so that we could see the memories directly.” Miss Martian offered.

Anita stared at her. “I…..ok, so. It’s nothing personal, or anything,” Anita held out a placating hand that was also a motion for every part of that idea to stop. “but I’d rather chew aluminum than do that. If it’s all the same to you.”

“Oh.” Miss Martian looked away, shrinking from the foreground of the conversation. Was that why she was here? To do...mental things?

“Does aluminum do something for you too?” Superboy asked with a smirk.

Anita regarded him with confusion before she grinned. “... I mean, yeah.”

“It does?” Artemis chuckled, surprised.

“Yes, assholes.” Anita laughed. “It does. A lot of things do.”

“What does Aluminum do?” Robin asked.

Anita shook her head. “I mean, it’s not super useful...and it’s not like I can get anything from the minuta of tin foil or anything, but… aluminum brings a sort of...kind of… like a metal sense, I guess?” she struggled to name it as it wasn’t something she really gave much thought to. “I can tell what metals are around me.” she shook her head. “It’s not super useful or anything.”

“But still cool.” Artemis announced.

“True.” Nightwing murmured. “And you are correct. We should record your account of the events that occurred with Luthor as soon as possible.”

Those words brought such somberness back into the kitchen.

Anita nodded. “I’d seen him earlier today at school.” she said. “He made a few vague threats towards my family before one of the teachers intervened.” she swallowed, remembering how Superboy came into her walk home like a wrecking ball. They probably knew that much, though. Maybe they even knew that he’d been at her school. It was hard to tell what was viable.

“Do you recall what he said?” Nightwing asked.

“Uh, he was offering me—well, Lexcorp was going to offer—but, I mean, he was there to discuss scholarship options.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “It got really weird when he managed to convince Mr. Davis to leave his own office so that he could talk to me.” she let out a long breath that she’d been breathing at an accelerated pace. “He said something about my family, saying that I couldn't rely on them forever and my mother wouldn’t be able to support me, and… that I’d want to keep them safe.” she didn’t miss the looks they exchanged, though she couldn’t decipher what they meant. “That’s when we were interrupted. I don’t think I’ve ever really sat and talked with Ms. McGuire, but I could’ve hugged her.”

“Who is she?”

“The school’s guidance counselor.” Anita said with a grin. “She just barged in there and told Luthor it was inappropriate to meet privately with a ‘female student’, and it was the school’s responsibility to guard even the ‘perceived safety’ of their students.”

Artemis’s hands settled on her hips as she leaned back slightly. “I think I like this teacher.”

“Um. When I got home, he was just here.” she jutted her chin out to the doorway between the kitchen and living room. “Strolled on over like he’d been waiting for me. I told him to say what he was going to say, because it was obvious he wasn’t going to just go away.”

Anita set Ganesha down on the counter, holding him upright and placing a single finger on the carving’s back. “He said he’d knocked communications out. I played to his ego, tried to stall.  It didn’t make sense, it still doesn't.” she tried to focus on specifics without being too comprehensive.

They didn’t need to know how he held himself, or more importantly how she felt in response to his presence.

“He said an associate of his was interested in me, and he was doing damage control. Seeing if he needed to get involved.” her eyes darted back and forth rapidly.

“What is it?”

“I don’t….No. He didn’t.” she blinked. “He never used a pronoun when he referred to his associate.”  she squinted. “I don’t know if it’s because this associate wanted anonymity, or if he just wanted to dick around.”

“Was that it?”

Her eyes darted to Superboy and away again. “Nothing of note. He just wanted to...I don’t know.. See what was so special about me and…”

“What?” Superboy’s query made her lose her train of thought.

“He said… ‘especially after yesterday’. I asked if he knew the man in the masks, and he said at first ‘he’s with me’ and then later that he knew him or was aware of him via associates.” Anita blinked. “I mean, Luthor’s a big fish, so the likelihood of ‘the associate’ that’s interested in me being the same one who knows the man in the masks is… probably low.”

“What exactly did Luthor say?” Nightwing asked.

“I asked if the asshole in the masks was with him, and he said yes, and then he elaborated that he was aware of him through, but he started looking for a word and I suggested the term ‘associates’ and he agreed that he knew him via associates.”

Anita stared at them as they all looked between each other. Of course, what she didn't know is that Miss Martian was facilitating a mental conversation between them, one that she was not privy to.

“Uh.” she cleared her throat, looking at Superboy. “You said someone was going to be… uh, telling my mom what was going on.”

Of course, that wasn’t true. Superboy hadn’t told her anything, she’d overheard Robin say it over the comms to Superboy. She also heard that it was Kid Flash who was doing this...which meant, it should’ve been done quickly.

“I said that.” Robin corrected, and a part of her felt relieved. Not that he was correcting her, but that he was willing to be truthful about the situation. “Kid Flash went to explain the situation to your mother, but Superman was already there talking with her.”

“Huh…” Anita murmured, somewhat amused by Superboy’s shift.

He scratched his nose trying to hide his smirk. ‘Like father, like son’ was the first thing that came to Anita’s mind.

“Is something the matter?”

“Uh… Well. I mean, that was… at least, it feels like that was a while ago, and I guess I expected something in the way of response… Considering it was Kid Flash that was getting it done… I guess I thought it’d be a quick response.”

That got quite a few grins.

“Not for lack of trying.” Miss Martian muttered. “Unfortunately, Superman has him pinned there.” she said. “The adults are talking, but they want him to run messages when they finally make a decision.”

Anita’s expression slid into neutral as she absorbed this. She wasn’t sure why, but she had expected something else. This was… anticlimactic?

“Hm.” was all she said in response. Did she even need to fix dinner, or was this just another waste of energy? It didn’t matter what she decided to do if the adults were the ones making the decisions.

“Hey, are you ok?” Artemis’s question snapped her attention back into the here and now.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” she said with a shrug. She took a deep breath. “I think I’m...just gonna watch Netflix or something.” she murmured, pouring out some coffee for herself. “Help yourselves to coffee.” she said, leaving the cabinet that held the coffee mugs open. The cream and sugar were in there too, so it wasn’t like they’d need further direction.

[acuppellarp]

Welcome (again) to A Cup-pella, Joanna! We’re excited to have you and Hunter Clarington in the game! Please go through the checklist to make sure you’re ready to go and send in your account within the next 24 hours. 

OOC INFO

Name + pronouns: Joanna + she Age: 26 Timezone: EST Ships: Chemistry Anti-Ships: None

IC INFO

Full Name: Hunter Artemis Clarington Face Claim: Emmy Rossum Age/Birthday: 26 / December 15th Occupation: Party Promoter / Bar Owner Personality: Curious, Confident, Vengeful, Blunt, Competitive Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Bio:  Hunter Atticus Clarington was a private school overprivileged brat. Madeline Tanner was a Chicago street rat. Their worlds were complete opposites, but that didn’t keep them from running into each other in a twist of faith. Both teens had a habit of playing 21 and getting into clubs. It was at a club in Chicago where Atticus first laid eyes on Maddy. He found her magnetic and approached her quickly. The two spent an alcohol and drug filled night together, and from that moment on you couldn’t pry them apart with a crowbar. When Atticus found out that Maddy was pregnant, he quickly went to his parents. He was surprised to see that the Claringtons kicked their son out of the house. The Claringtons refused to have their name sullied with their troublesome son’s reputation or a bastard child.

Born on a hell of a snowy and icy blizzard night, Hunter Artemis Clarington’s birth set the tone for the rest of her life. Atticus and Maddy didn’t give up their party life styles. They moved to one of the poorest areas of Chicago and managed to ‘support’ the family by conning others and holding down dead end jobs for a few months at a time. It was a hectic lifestyle and Hunter was often left to fend for herself. Her friends’ families knew of her situation and helped out as much as they could, but they had their own money struggles. Hunter learned early on that she had to look out for herself because no one else would. Hunter’s little sister, Harper, was born just 8 years after her own birth, and she might as well been her own child. Yet again failing in the parenting arena, Hunter took care of her sister and made sure everything was covered while her parents went on weeklong binges. It was a tough life, but she would be damned if she didn’t watch out for that little kid.

One of Hunter’s middle school teachers saw a lot of potential in the dirty little girl with ripped clothing. She knew Hunter was smart and that there were external factors getting in the way of her education. She could see the young girl easily falling down the wrong path without support from someone else. Mrs. Redmon encouraged Hunter to apply for the Airforce Academy High School in the Chicago area. She would still be able to come home and watch Harper, but she would receive a better education and a better chance at going to a good college. Mrs. Redmon even offered to watch Harper after Hunter got off from school, so she could participate in clubs and sports.

Hunter got a scholarship to attend and really thrived at the academy. She loved the curriculum and loved showing up the uppity spoiled brats that attended the academy. It brought her joy to be the street rat that outshone her wealthier classmates. It was her middle finger to society. She was captain of her choir team and played sports (soccer and volleyball). Aside from school, the academy provided Hunter a way to make some extra money. Hunter was always great with technology and school, so she charged her classmates to fix their laptops, sold test answers, and sold essays. It wasn’t the most upstanding way to live, but she still had to make sure that Harper and she survived.

By the time graduation came around, NYU had offered Hunter an athletic scholarship for soccer and financial aid for the rest of her tuition. Harper was only 10 at the time and she already knew her sister was thinking about turning everything down to stay with her. She was always mature for her age and gave Hunter permission to accept. She was reluctant, but she did. Hunter left at Chicago and went to New York.

Hunter was only three months into her first semester when Harper showed up at her dorm room. Their parents had disappeared on another bender and left Harper alone for a week. That was it. Hunter needed to make sure that Harper was never in their care. The only problem was that she needed to prove she could take care of the child and broke college student didn’t really coincide with that image. Hunter dropped out of college and started waitressing at several restaurants to prove that she could take care of Harper.

Hunter’s parents signed over their parental rights and Harper was soon under her official guardianship. It put a stop to college, but the girl was worth it. It became obvious that Hunter wasn’t making enough money for her liking, so she had to come up with a new plan. If there was anything that the south sider could do, it was plan a party. Hunter got a local club owner to take a chance on her as a party promoter and things took off from there.

A few years of being a party promoter, Hunter is now 26 years old and finally has gathered enough money to do something she has always wanted: open up a bar. Harper is 18 years old now and off at NYU herself, which makes Hunter very proud. Harper being off at college means that it is the perfect time for Hunter to take a risk.

Hunter purchased a small gritty little corner of Greenwich to make the speakeasy of her dreams. It pays homage to the prohibition era, which is something that Hunter has always been interested in. Club goers enter through a faux library front and are given a password to enter into the club. She keeps live smooth music on a nightly basis, and often reaches out to April to see if she knows any local talent that Hunter should know about. The club just started but is off to a good start.

It isn’t a modern day party scene, but people constantly come in dressed to impressed or dressed to the times.  The Library is where secrets go to flourish and stay. They are known for their dealer’s choice drinks, where the bartender talks to you for a bit before making a drink just for you. There is a small stage that Hunter loves to frequent with small town acts that have true musical gifts. No auto tune here. If you’re lucky enough, you may even get to see Hunter get on the stage or behind the bar. If it’s too early to be at the club, she is often at A Cup-pella. Hunter loves April’s seldom sober demeanor and, at this point, she is one of the only people who can tell her to calm down the asshole act. The last thing she wants is to get kicked out of A Cup-pella.

Pets: Mr. Puss is Hunter’s cat. He has a pure white coat and is very fickle. Mr. Puss will either love you or scratch you up. Consider him more of a decoration to a room rather than an animal to pet. Hunter is convinced the animal is more of a roommate than a pet. Mr. Puss was originally just a street cat, but kept sneaking in to the loft above the club through the fire escape. Hunter has warmed up to him since then but still often deals with Mr. Puss’ attitude and terrorist-like claw threats.

Relationships: 

APRIL RHODES: Hunter met April after one of her conquests took her to The Library. It was an open mic night and April wowed the crowd after a few drinks. Hunter introduce herself and told the woman she could come in anytime to ‘make love to that stage.’ She finds April entertaining and manages to heed the woman’s advice. April invited Hunter to A Cup-pella and she hasn’t stopped going since. She always tells April to send talent her way since she holds the woman’s taste in such high regard. Hunter is quick to tell her patrons that coming down from a hangover is best done with coffee from A Cup-pella.

ROISIN FLANAGAN: Harper showed an interest in being an elementary school teacher since she was a young kid, so her high school counselor encouraged her to shadow someone at a local school. Roisin let Harper into her classroom and the girl solidified her choice. Harper came home that day more excited than ever. Hunter extended an invite to Roisin to come by the club and refused to let the girl pay for a single drink. Often calling her “Teach” or “Red,” Roisin is one of the few people that always manages to get the nicer side of Hunter.

JESSI ST. JAMES: Hunter has the ability to read people, and she often uses it to her advantage. Seeing The Warblettes perform at A Cup-pella instantly brought Jessi to her attention. Jessi looked confident, bordering on cocky, and appeared to own the stage. One night, Hunter was on stage at his club and asked Jessi to join in on an impromptu performance in front of the patrons. His competitive nature got the best of her and Jessi showed her up that night. She won’t admit it but having someone challenge her like that definitely got her attention. Since then, Hunter finds it amusing to try to get a rise out of Jessi in a playful way and enjoys the moments she manages to get her flustered.

EXTRA INFO

Hunter A. Clarington / @huntingclarity / Club Owner. Old soul trapped in the cyber age. Music lover. Consider me a “librarian” of sorts. You can take the girl out of the south side but you can’t take the south side out of the girl.

Five latest tweets:

@huntingclarity: Come on down to @TheLibrary to see some new talent tonite #manicmondays

@huntingclarity:  It’s Tuesday night which means #DealersChoice drinks tonite! What alcohol are you? #alwayswhiskey

@huntingclarity: April’s Showersplaying tonight which means I’ll be heckling the other team from the stands #playbyplaybullying

@huntingclarity: No one likes desperate, ladies #thirstisrealtoday

@huntingclarity: It’s Wednesday and you know what that means! #humpday #squatday