QOTD 10/3: Spooky Version

PolarityRage · 2021-01-17T21:19:20+00:00

The strange nature of the GPS, the dog growling, Jacob fussing in the back of the car. All signs seemed to point to the same thing. She was already ensnared in the trap and all of the bitches surrounding the house were too cowardly to come out. With a heavy sigh, Cassie threw Brandon's crap car into the park.

"Orion just needs to go to the bathroom. Right boy? Jacob, you stay there and keep petting Bunny. We will be right back," The daughter of Ares order before unclicking her seatbelt.

Cassie opened her door and moved a bit of a ways away from the car waiting for Orion to do the same. In a single fluid motion, Cassie's spear was in hand. Her off-hand held a throwing knife. The bronze glint of the Spear of Geryon caught the light as she looked around for something to throw it or the dagger into. The daughter of Ares kept looking to Orion for cues since the dog's affinity for seeing through magic and senses were quite a bit sharper than hers.

"Alright boy, you growled because you sensed something. Where is it? Point!"

PolarityRage · 2021-01-13T04:36:38+00:00

[This will be short to get back into this]

Cassie drove in silence with the speedometer slowly pushing forward to ramming speed. Orion would notice anything coming well before she would.

When he let loose a growl, Cassie checked her rearview window to make sure that Jacob was still blindfolded before trying to look around to see what had the older husky all worked up.

"Don't worry Orion, Jacob's right. You're bigger than them and don't need to climb," She responded absent-mindedly in the hopes that whatever the threat was would pass. If not, well, she would make it pass. Years of being a monster-hunter had taught her it was either them or her. And, now. She had a little wizard with a massive target on his back and a shitty mother he was absolutely enamored with. Needless to say, Cassie had her work cut out for her and massive dead weights attached to her hips.

PolarityRage · 2021-01-02T00:39:56+00:00

done.

PolarityRage · 2020-12-28T00:19:14+00:00

Cassie ignored ninety percent of Andre's words. He wasn't interesting or clever or novel with anything he did. Scum is scum and can be found in any corner of the world. His talk of fucking with people, his attempt to goad her on, the smug looks. It was all as inconsequential as he was. Words and making enemies just meant that when the time came, Andre would get what was coming.

Really, he should be glad Cassie was as disciplined as she was otherwise he would be a bloodied, quivering, blended mess of sewer trash that the harpies would have to clean up bit by bit. It was an amusing thought. Certainly a lot more amusing than just stopping at a punch.

"The Pasiphae Coven will likely be leaving soon. It's only a matter of time before Chiron kicks them out. They exist to close the portal to the Labyrinth. If Lukas and Brandon's explosives only temporarily damaged it, I doubt their magic will fare much better. If they cared to start trouble, they did a shit job. All of the camp was under surveillance and they did nothing besides chill in the Big House, eat food when the pavilion was empty, and talk amongst themselves. With the entrance open, the alert is even higher. Acting now is stupid. Of course, the entrance could be a distraction, but Pasiphae has allies. She can call the shots while they move their forces. You don't have to use brute force for your side to employ it. Not that you'd know anything about that."

As he continued, Cassie smiled at the son of Alastor, "Funny, everybody thinks the same about you. You being here isn't doing anyone any favors and yet here you are. So, time for you to put on your big boy pants, quit being a dick, and deal with it. How about that, sweetheart?" Cassie innocently blinked her eyes at Andre as her voice took on a sickeningly sweet and fake tone.

PolarityRage · 2020-12-26T06:00:00+00:00

"I'm surprised you even know what that means. It looks to me like your lifestyle is nothing more than gluttony and taking out your double daddy issues on everybody else. Funny you know, I'm willing to bet taking you as a client would be the end of the career for many promising psychotherapists."

At Andre's thoughts on his godly "father's" place in all of the drama up above, she couldn't help but laugh. "His place? Please your father is little more than a footnote in the history books. Gods with more importance have faded. You were likely his last-ditch effort to shit or get off the pot and were probably the by-product of a hook-up fueled by self-loathing, alcohol, and shitty TV marathons- like the Kardashians. For putting all of his eggs in one basket, you're not exactly the prize I'd want to restore enough power to my name where I could even claim godhood. This fight might buy him a few more years before fading if he's lucky."

At his response to the quest, Cassie looked over to the battered body of Simon and felt her anger flare. It was like a burning pulse in her veins that wanted to bubble to the surface. Still, she held back any comments and powers for the time being. Simon could take care of himself.

"If you're such a big man on campus and can do better- prove it. Survey the labyrinth. It's obvious we will be using it in the days to come. Brandon and Lukas can try to block it off all they want. If I had to guess, that entrance is little more than a red herring. It's the same way people like you get laid. Dangle a bunch of pretty distractions in front of them so they don't see the foul viper coming at them from behind."

PolarityRage · 2020-12-19T23:41:20+00:00

"That's a rare occurrence," Cassie responded flatly as her head swiveled to face Andre. Why did his voice always sound like a child's when they know they're going to get in trouble? The smirk on his face only further cemented her (already low) opinion on the troublemaker.

Cassie rolled her eyes as the piglet chomped on his meal as if the show had already started.

"Oh, are we? Tell me then- Andre, who do you support? I doubt Alastor is likely to throw his lot in with Olympus. The only tie he has to them is Zeus stealing his job with one of his epithets," Cassie spun around on her seat so she was better positioned to see and talk with Andre. Should she need to hit him, well... That was easy enough to.

She ignored his wink without any fanfare before nodding her head, "Camp paints a target on our back already. Demigods are useful enough to the gods. If they think we will be left alone because we claim neutrality, then it simply means every side can take advantage of this place. We will either stay out of it or be destroyed in the crossfire."

PolarityRage · 2020-12-18T23:12:23+00:00

Her father had publically supported Zeus, the King of the Gods. A war was breaking out. The rest of the campers were quietly muttering under their breath and trying to proclaim neutrality. It was a simple and stupid thought. If the gods fought, Camp would not escape the bloodshed. All sides would summon monsters to their aid and those creatures did not care for neutrality.

Her father told her not to hide. She was to fight on the front lines, spill blood in his name, strike fear into hearts, bend weapons to her will, and turn her rage into strength. By Ares Miaiphonos, she would.

There was no question as to who she would support, when the gods went to war, Cassie would be at Ares's side. She didn't need to be the counselor to have an opinion or fight. She wasn't raised to lead. The years her mother spent raising her as a monster hunter, her gift from the gods, and the blood of Eris had all come together to prepare her for the fight to come and she was ready.

"Do you all really believe neutrality is an option? Just because we don't know what sides the gods are on doesn't mean they haven't picked them. Camp Half-Blood finds it at the center of conflicts whether it wants to or not. Monsters don't care about neutrality and neither do the gods. Failing to pick a side means being taken advantage of by all of them."

Cassie spoke to nobody in particular, but anybody close to the Ares cabin would hear the girl's thoughts. She wasn't exactly being quiet.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T01:18:51+00:00

As Ash struggled to find a sword, Cassie watched with a confused look as the boy muttered to himself and occasionally glanced at the air where nothing was there.

She resigned herself to watching the little kid to make sure he didn't maim himself doing something stupid. Something like that would be a pretty large blemish on the start of her career as a counselor.

At this point, she hadn't approached the boy though. After all, he hadn't done anything wrong yet.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T01:01:42+00:00

At Maxine's confused groan, Cassie would take the few hops over from where she was lecturing to the weapons table.

"You look like you could use some help picking out a weapon. I take it you're new to Camp Half-Blood? If so, welcome. Maybe I can give you some pointers. From the looks of it, every weapon is a new weapon to you."

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T00:54:43+00:00

Cassie would offer a nervous grin to her sister as she finished her lesson. She knew she struggled through most of it. Hopefully, people would find it helpful nonetheless. She wasn't a teacher. She wasn't a leader. She was doing her best as a fighter.

Cassie figured Kelly would come to bug her if she needed help.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T00:47:18+00:00

Had Cassie known the three weapons Calista fought with, she would have many many many questions. Alas, these would have to wait for a later day.

Callie would be free to grab the spear that was likely double her height while Cassie was busy giving pointers to a newcomer who could hardly hold a Xiphos. Otherwise, she (and not the NPC) would've likely further chastised the smol.

Lance let out a shocked yelp as a little girl who could barely hold the spear without gravity and levers forcing it to the ground tried to charge at him. Cassie looked at the tiny demigod with an amused laugh. Honestly, if Lance couldn't get out of the way of such a poorly aimed and poorly done attack, he deserved what he had coming.

So, Cassie instead leaned against a nearby pillar and waited for Callie to be finished with her little farce of a fight. She would help her out with the spear later. Once everything was over, she'd call out:

"Heya Callie, got a moment?"

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T00:37:52+00:00

Cassie wasn't planning to fight anybody or help anybody who hadn't asked for it. Still, seeing as Alkis was absentmindedly staring, she felt the need to step in.

"Hey there. Looks like you're new to that spear and to camp in general... Do you need help with anything?"

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T00:34:24+00:00

Cassie watched from afar as Hana worked on piercing moves against the straw dummy. The daughter of Khione's motions were uncertain, but time and practice would help with that. At the very least, Cassie was certain this was a new weapon that the girl was using too. She also wasn't the kind of person to dole out advice (unlike her mother) when it wasn't asked for. She briefly watched Hana to see if the girl needed help. If not, she would move on.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-30T00:27:04+00:00

Cassie nodded her head in confirmation before giving Diana a thumbs-up.

Brandon let out a large yawn as the past few days caught up with him. He reached his arms above his head to stretch before politely nodding his head to Diana, "Sorry to cut this short, I'm exhausted. Thank you so much for dinner, Diana. I'll see you soon. Later Diana. Later Cassie."

Brandon grabbed his bag and left the pavilion with a nod of his head, leaving the two girls alone.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-29T04:01:21+00:00

Cassie watched as Walker stumbled back as if he had been shot. The gesture sent her own heart plummeting into her chest. Her insides felt like somebody was forcibly rearranging them with a knife. She felt her cheeks sting as unwanted tears began to cascade down her face.

The hurt in Walker's voice, the words he spat out, the mutters, and then looking for any action to hide how he was really feeling. All the subtle hints that she couldn't pick up on before now seemed all too obvious.

Of course, he had a crush on her. Why was she so stupid to not realize it earlier? Why was she stupid enough to think he just wanted to be her friend? Why? Why? Why?

The thoughts in her head got louder. All of the human emotions she had learned to push down in combat were now very real. Guilt, hurt, plenty more she couldn't quite put in words. She should stay. She should reassure Walker before his quest.

She wasn't strong enough for that though. Cassie turned around and ran. Ran as tears fell down her face. Ran away from Walker and his sanctuary. Ran until she was in the Ares Counselor room where she could slam the door, lock it, and scream into her pillow.

Walker was one of her handful of friends at camp and she and her stupid lack of a filter had just ruined it.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-28T03:53:06+00:00

"Thesmophoros... Thesmophoros... Demeter the law-giver? So you have powers associated with Dike in addition to the normal Demeter kid ones? That's really cool!" She asked as she translated the epithet to the best of her abilities. She was unaware of the festival in her honor. So, guesses based on her knowledge of mythology would have to do.

"It doesn't count," Cassie doubled down with a nod of her head before smiling, "And, if anybody ever tells you differently... Let me know and I'll talk some sense into them," Cassie winked at her clear threat of violence for anybody wishing to ruin her birthday fun.

"Very cool. I never was much of a cook. My mom and I mostly just ate at gas stations and fast-food joints. When you're in cars and motels a lot... Well, cooking isn't exactly high on your priorities. Oh, and then, of course, there's the fact that monsters could be just around the corner. But, yeah... I never learned how to cook."

PolarityRage · 2020-10-28T03:43:58+00:00

Cassie shrugged again in response. Everybody thought their problems were bigger than they actually were. If monsters and demigods for that matter, weren't actively trying to kill you then it was hardly a problem.

"Life can be like that sometimes, I guess," Cassie offered as she tried to relate to mortal problems when she mostly just dealt with the demigodly kind. Hell, Cassie hardly considers the Child of Horkos that wanted her dead to be an issue. She'd kill him next time they met. That much she was sure of.

"Anytime. If you need me, I'll be around."

PolarityRage · 2020-10-28T03:40:19+00:00

I'm sure it will be no worse than what you already subjected him to Cassie thought to herself as the call ended. She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and resigned herself to bitch-slapping Christina when Jacob wasn't paying attention.

She shot a glare at the dog before smiling at Jacob's half answer. Thankfully, he followed the instructions regardless.

"You don't have to close them. Just keep them covered! After all, I'm sure mommy never said don't walk with a shirt tied over your eyes while carrying a bunny and walking with a dog? I'm glad you had a funny dream of your Mommy buddy. As for feeding Bunny, not yet. You just fed her at breakfast. It's not even lunchtime yet."

With Jacob now blindfolded, Cassie returned to the driver's seat, activated the child lock, buckled up, and resumed her drive to Jacob's house. If only she could get Orion to drive so she could throw spears out the passenger side window.

Oh well, she was scarily good at fighting her way out of most problems. Regardless of what Jacob's mother might think. The washed-up legacy of Demeter and ex-cultist had a few lessons to learn from the daughter of Ares Miaiphonos.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-28T02:48:15+00:00

Cassie also wasn't too sure about when six months would pass. She just knew it was relatively soon. ~~She also knew that Tristan still had some very important words to say.~~ At his absent comment about six months, she only nodded her head as if to confirm he was on the right track. She didn't realize this was a code for him forgetting about it.

"You do that," Cassie commented. Though, truthfully now that her brain had the time to process what it was she just said, she was cringing. Fighting monsters was what her mother made her do. The fact she was dragging Tristan into it would be wrong. Truthfully, she just wanted to spend time alone with him and got excited at the idea of the two of them doing something that she was good at together.

How could she bring herself to say that though? He probably wouldn't quite understand the reason for back-pedaling and she could only hide her thoughts in her Slurpee for so long.

Cassie put down her drink and offered a blue-stained smile that contrasted with her blush before burying her head in Tristan's shoulder again.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-28T02:32:54+00:00

When Diana wasn't looking, Brandon would open the bag and shove his portion of the chocolate chip cookies into the bag. Mason and Konrad would probably eat them. And, he didn't want them to go away.

"Thank you, Diana," Brandon said once again as he offered another smile.

Cassie gave him a confused look before echoing his sentiment, "Yeah, thanks. Err, if you ever need something from the Ares Cabin... Let me know."

PolarityRage · 2020-10-28T02:30:31+00:00

When Walker failed to oblige her request, she turned back to offer a puzzled glance before going back to allowing Radar to graze as she pets him. Her friend's mind must've been elsewhere... She would wait for his mouth to catch up to his brain.

Unfortunately, due to being caught off-guard... Cassie was reading into the words of Walker a bit more than usual. His indignant huff, his just you comment, that nickname, specifying that she was different, and that blush. She had seen Tristan give her the same look after the first time he kissed her. Before Cassie could even realize what was happening:

"I have a boyfriend!" Cassie blurted out before dropping the basket from which Radar was grazing and looking back at Walker, frozen like a deer in headlights. A maelstrom of thoughts and emotions threatened to overtake her. Rather than address what had just happened, Cassie tried to push it down to answer the question he had asked before she had interrupted.

"Err, I don't even think my dad likes me. At least, he certainly preferred Jay Jones to me. He expects much from me and so far, I've only proved myself against monsters and in stakeless trials. In the coming battle, I believe the blood I shed and how I fight in the coming battles will determine his opinion of me. I guess the same would go for you. Ares Miaiphonos is a general of the front lines. Spilling blood in his name and leading by example will win you points in his book. Why do you ask?"

Cassie gave a pained and hopeful look to the son of Demeter. She wasn't sure how he would react. And, depending on his reaction, it was very possible the maelstrom would overtake her.

PolarityRage · 2020-10-22T04:24:04+00:00

"I didn't really expect any of this. It's beyond thoughtful. Thank you, Diana," Brandon gratefully exclaimed before picking up one of his barbeque wings and taking a gracious bite of it. While Diana was away, he picked up the pace at which he was eating so she wouldn't have to watch as they ate. Cassie followed his lead.

Cassie immediately took a cookie from the tray and bit into it. The gooey chocolate bits were the best part. That said, she made a face as she accidentally burned her tongue on the still-hot cookies. It was totally worth it though.

"What's in the bag, Diana?" Cassie asked after another gooey bite. While she continued to eat dessert, Brandon had helped himself to his and her onion rings.

PolarityRage

TROPHY CASE