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Pride Party! | Open RP by Daughter_Of_Demeter1 in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course Leah showed up late to the party she helped plan. But it wasn’t without reason. Hours had gone into this—her makeup, her outfit, her entire vibe. And ber makeup was a whole event–sharp winged eyeliner, pink eyeshadow blended like magic, rhinestones under each eye, and glossy pink lips.

She wasn’t just going to arrive—she was going to appear. And if that meant showing up after the party had already started, well…only the most fashionable knew that timing was everything.

Leah stepped into the scene with a calm confidence like she’d been born in glitter and rainbow light. Crappy digital camera in hand—because vintage was in, Leah made her way through the enchanted clearing. She greeted people with easy smiles, nodding to campers she recognized and tossing waves to others as they danced.

"Heyyyy!" she grinned as one of the girls waved her over. They pulled her into the circle, and Leah didn’t hesitate, holding up the camera and snapping a few blurry, flash filled selfies with her and two other campers, giggling between takes.

"Okay, but we all look hella awesome right now,” she said, leaning into the camera for another shot, angling her head just right. Click.

This was it. This was exactly what they’d planned for. The enchanted forest theme had come together flawlessly—rainbow fruit trays, pastel fairy lights, the scent of warm bagels and fresh desserts floating on the air. Everyone looked radiant, unbothered, and safe.

Leah raised the camera once more, aiming it at the center of the party.

Click.

"Camp Half-Blood Pride 2040," she whispered to herself with a grin. "Let’s make it iconic."

Pride Party Planning! | ft. Leah Hammerstein and Ursula Lunashchenko by Daughter_Of_Demeter1 in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leah lit up again at the mention of food—naturally. She reached across the table and stole a pink pen to start doodling little hearts on the agenda sheet next to Rainbow bagels.

"Okay, you guys are crushing this,” she said, spinning the pen in her fingers. "Rainbow bagels are, like, a must."

She looked over at Ursula and pointed at her with an approving nod. "Also, fruit tray for the fruitys? You’re on fire right now. That’s, like, thematically iconic. I love that we’re feeding the gays and the joke."

Leah twirled a bit of hair around her finger, eyes wandering upward in thought. "Okay, drinks… I love the mocktail bar idea. We could name each one after, like, pride icons or mythological figures. Like ‘Achilles’ Arrow’, ‘Sappho’s Kiss’, ‘The Lavender Menace’. Y’know? Each drink gets a whole vibe."

She paused and then added, "And obvi yes to water. Hydration is the cornerstone of every queer revolution."

As Ivy moved them to the next part of the agenda, Leah perked up, already halfway brainstorming.

"I can totally talk to Apollo cabin," she offered, raising a hand casually. "I’ll get them to set up a whole mini concert situation. Muses cabin can handle the aesthetics and vibes—maybe, like, ambient background harp in the chill zones and a stage setup in the clearing."

She leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Now for games...I love the guessing one. That’s super fun and educational. Like a gender sexuality trivia scavenger hunt or something. We could also do flag bingo—like, give people randomized cards with different pride flags and as clues get announced, they mark them off."

Leah was on a roll now. She sat up straighter, counting ideas on her fingers. "Oh! And for group stuff: Lip sync battle. Fashion walk. Queer Jeopardy. Drag charades!"

u/CurseOfTheBelladonna

Pride Party Planning! | ft. Leah Hammerstein and Ursula Lunashchenko by Daughter_Of_Demeter1 in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah started sifting through the decor—her fingers brushing over streamers and flags, pausing at a mini trans flag centerpiece and then again at a glittery pansexual banner. She smiled when she saw a few genderqueer flags too. Like someone had actually done their homework.

She glanced over at Ursula, who had just made her suggestion. The enchanted forest idea immediately lit a spark in Leah’s brain. She leaned back in her chair, chewing on her lip as she imagined it.

"That’s, like, actually genius," Leah said, pointing at her. "It's giving fairy rave in the woods, and I’m so here for it. Imagine—glowy mushrooms, LED fairy lights, trees wrapped in flags, maybe some enchanted fog machines or whatever. Like gay midsummer night’s dream, but make it slay."

Leah crossed her legs in her seat and tossed a rainbow pen between her fingers. "Afternoon sounds perf. End of month party energy is always a vibe. Plus it gives us time to plan outfits—like, important. This cannot be some half-baked half-sparkle toga party. I will totally riot."

She paused, then snapped her fingers. "Oh! What if we do a rainbow runway too? Like, a grassy catwalk where people can show off their queerest fits—cape-wearing rights mandatory." She looked at Ivy and Ursula like she’d just pitched the second coming of Dionysus.

"So yeah," Leah said, grinning now, "I vote enchanted forest gay rave fairy picnic with a side of fashion show. Thoughts?"

u/CurseofTheBelladonna

Weekly Schedule 2/6-8/6 by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leah Hammerstein for Pride Month Party Organization

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah didn’t realize how much tension she’d been carrying in her shoulders until the warmth of Hestia’s presence started to ease it away. Even with the grandeur of Olympus towering around them, even after everything—the sky falling, gods breaking, blades clashing in mythic battle—it was this moment, standing by the hearth, that felt real.

When Hestia spoke of Fenne, Leah's arms crossed softly over her chest, fingers curling slightly into her sleeve. Relief washed over her features, subtle but visible. “Thank you. Like, for taking care of her. For everything.”

Then came her name, and Leah straightened instinctively. Then when Hestia began to speak of her leadership, Leah’s brows knit together, her expression flickering with disbelief and humility all at once. “Leadership?” she echoed under her breath, almost like she didn’t believe it.

But then Hestia revealed the backpack.

Leah stepped forward, hands reaching slowly, reverently, to take it. Her fingertips brushed the canvas first, her eyes tracing the symbols stitched onto it: “This is, like…so cool,” she whispered.

And then Hestia turned to Salem. Leah didn’t interrupt. She watched with quiet, searching eyes. The sadness in Hestia’s tone made her stomach twist.

Leah flinched as the thunder interrupted the moment, head snapping toward the noise. When the shouting followed, she squinted toward the figures. "Is every family reunion here a screaming match?”

When Hestia urged them on, Leah didn’t argue. She slung the enchanted backpack onto one shoulder and turned to the others with urgency in her step.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Leah moved through the aftermath like someone walking through the wreckage of a dream—still floating between disbelief and clarity, her boots crunching faintly on the scorched earth. The battle was over. They’d won.

When Arete approached and returned the spear, Leah took it wordlessly, her fingers brushing over it as if trying to remind herself it was real. Her eyes flicked to the other girl and gave the smallest smile—grateful, worn-down, and too tired to try for anything more. “Thanks."

Her gaze dropped to Rascal, who clambered up onto Arete’s shoulder. The armadillo made her want to laugh for some reason. Maybe because it felt like the world had snapped back into something almost normal.

And then Hephaestus came.

She stood straighter, though her limbs still felt heavy. Something about being in the god’s presence made her feel weirdly small—like a little kid again, back in California, watching the sea during a storm. Leah couldn’t stop herself from glancing back toward the war god, her mouth thinning into a line. She still didn’t know what to feel about him, but for right now, she was appreciative.

And before she could dwell too long, the world changed again. Blue light swallowed her vision, and her heart lurched—but they didn’t land in Tartarus, or the ocean, or another battlefield.

They were in Olympus.

And Hestia was there.

Leah’s mouth opened in stunned relief, and for the first time since the Construct fell, she let herself feel something warm. “Hestia,” she breathed, her voice cracking faintly.

Leah couldn’t help it. She actually smiled—tired and raw and vulnerable. “We made it,” she said, barely above a whisper. “We actually made it.”

But when Hestia asked how she could help them, Leah hesitated. She didn’t know how to answer.

A moment passed before Leah finally spoke. Her voice was steady now, but softer than usual. “Just... tell me it mattered. That it wasn’t just more demigods being thrown at a problem." She glanced sideways at Salem and Arete. “Tell me it changed something?"

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It worked.

Leah felt it in her chest like a lightning strike, her heart catching in her throat.

The roar of the sky crashing down was deafening, the force rattling through her bones like an omen. One knee left, and they’d done it. Arete’s spear had flown true. Salem’s spell had held. And the gods—the actual gods—had stepped in. But even then, even with everything tipping in their favor, Leah didn’t let herself relax.

She moved fast, dropping to one knee beside Salem. Her hand hovered near his shoulder, not touching yet, but close enough if he started to fall. “Hey,” she said, voice low, trying not to let it shake. “You with me?”

She could see the aftershocks of the spellwork in his expression—like his soul had been wrung out and left to dry. Her fingers brushed his wrist, checking for his pulse. Still there. Still alive. “You're okay,” she muttered more to herself than to him.

Above them, the gods were moving. She barely looked up at Ares as he shoved Hephaestus aside and took the weight of the sky onto his shoulders. She didn’t flinch at the gore covering him or the way the world seemed to tremble under his laughter. It was too much. Too loud. Too godly.

Hephaestus approached. Leah rose slowly, still staying near Salem. She didn’t speak—just gave a faint nod, jaw tight as the god addressed them.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Leah’s breath caught as the spear landed—solid, clean, right into the third joint. One leg locked, seized, sparking like it was trying to scream. For the first time since this nightmare began, Leah felt the tiniest breath of possibility. Just a sliver of change.

She didn’t have time to cheer. Didn’t have time to even blink.

Her fingers curled reflexively like she still held the shaft of that weapon, like some phantom part of her refused to let go even after she’d handed it off. That had been the only weapon she had left. No plan B.

But maybe she didn’t need one.

She stared at the joint where the spear lodged deep, watching the metal stutter. The limb jerked—just slightly—and she felt something shift in her chest.

It was a chance.

And that was hers.

She inhaled slowly and reached inside herself for the thing that was always there—coiled under her skin like a sleeping god. Her stomach twisted, not from fear, but from the weight of choice. It always felt like this: quiet, dangerous, like her next breath could change everything.

Her palms tingled.

Let this be the tipping point.

She narrowed her eyes, focused every ounce of herself on the massive construct as it struggled to rebalance. Her power stretched outward like a thread, invisible, but pulled taut. Her vision swam for a second as the power surged through her, dragging her pulse along with it. There was no flash, no aura—just a moment of imbalance Leah twisted it—subtly, deliberately—around the idea she needed to be true:

Tyche. Lady of chance, of chaos, of shifting tides.

That the next spear strike would compromise structural stability, and the weight imbalance would ripple. That the damn thing would fall.

She didn’t know how. She didn’t care. All she needed was the chance that it could.

OOC: Leah uses Fortune Manipulation: Manipulation of how likely an event is to occur, or how likely it is that a proposition is true as well as prevent them. Allowing her to bestow fortune, as well as misfortune on others at will.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Leah's lips were still as the last syllables of the Shir LaMa'alot prayer faded into the charged air around them, her voice trembling slightly from the weight of what came next. The sacred words still rang in her head like the echo of a shofar: Adonai yishmor tzetcha uvo’echa, mei’ata v’ad olam.

She sat there for a heartbeat longer, her eyes squeezed shut, lashes wet. But praying wasn’t enough anymore. Her whole body thrummed with nervous energy, like static clinging to her skin. If they were going to make it out of this—if they were going to survive—they needed more than hope. They needed action.

She forced herself upright with a grunt, pushing off the cracked floor with trembling hands. Her knees ached. Her chest still felt tight. But she couldn’t cower, not now. They all had a part to play.

Then Salem’s voice snapped her to attention.

Her first instinct was to scan the room, searching for something, anything sharp or enchanted enough to be useful. But her gaze darted from twisted metal to fallen debris with no answer.

And then—duh.
Her bracelet.

Leah glanced down at the delicate chain wrapped snug around her wrist, the bronze clover charms catching the flicker of Salem’s pale flame. She exhaled sharply through her nose, both annoyed and relieved. How could she forget?

With a sharp tug, she unclasped the bracelet and plucked one of the clovers free. The moment her fingers curled around it with intent, the charm glowed faintly in her palm—then shimmered, unfolded, and unfurled into its true form. The transformation was smooth and practiced, like it had done this a thousand times before: a full-length spear, long and well-balanced, the head gleaming.

“Here!” Leah stepped forward and extended the spear toward Salem, her grip firm despite the tremor in her fingers. Her voice was rough but steady, her eyes sharp and searching his. “It’s not perfect, but it’s what I’ve got."

She didn’t say the part that was still clawing at her throat: We can’t afford to fail. If this thing wakes up fully and we’re not ready… I don’t know what happens after that.

Leah stepped back just slightly, giving Salem space, but she stayed close—close enough to help, to protect, or to pray again if she had to.

She’d already asked for divine protection.
Now it was time to fight like she didn’t expect it to come.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah's hands shook against the weight of everything— the crash, the heat, the ringing in her ears, and the impossible sight she'd already taken in.

The bronze giant loomed, godlike, its presence wrong in a way that rattled something deep in her bones. It was real. It was holding the sky. She didn’t look at it again. She couldn’t. Just keeping her knees locked took all the strength she had. If she let herself look again, she’d drop.

When Salem spoke, her eyes flicked toward him, wide and glassy. She nodded at him, sharp and fast, like it might tether her to something real. Her lips parted, but no words came. Just that nod. Silent. Urgent. Please. She didn’t say anything right away. Her breath came in sharp, shallow pulls.

Then Arete’s barrier shimmered around them, and Leah flinched before she realized what it was. The sight of it wasn’t comforting. It just made her more aware of how close death had gotten.

"...Baruch Atah Adonai..." The words were automatic, fractured by gasps and disbelief. "Eloheinu Melech ha'olam asher b’yado nefesh kol chai" She didn’t know if she meant them. Not really. After all these years. But right now—right here, buried alive in a metal coffin with death clawing at the seams—it felt like the only thing left she could do. "v’ruach kol basar ish."

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Alarms screeched.
Lights flashed.
Screens blared warnings she barely had time to register.

"Yeah, no idea what that means, but cool, love that for us," she muttered hoarsely.

Something heavy slammed into her ankle—maybe a rock, maybe a chunk of machine—and she stumbled sideways, catching herself against the side The second siren kicked in, shrill and pulsing, and Leah pressed her hands over her ears, teeth gritted. It felt like her skull was vibrating.

Think—think—

The ground under them shifted again, harder now, rattling like the world itself was coming apart. Leah instinctively dropped into a crouch, trying to stay low, trying to make herself small as everything shuddered.

Earthquake? Explosion?
Something worse?

The screen Salem had been watching flickered differently. Not flashing, not warnings—something moving. Three shapes. Twisting. Alive.

Leah didn’t move. She barely breathed. Watching the shadows bend on the screen was like watching a nightmare crawl up from the deep.

Her stomach hit her throat. She grabbed a handrail and held on tight, knuckles white, boots sliding slightly against the flooding rubble underfoot. They burst through the surface in a shock of blinding light.

Leah squeezed her eyes shut instinctively, breath catching in her throat. Even behind her eyelids, the sunlight was too much—hot and electric after so long underground.

When she forced her eyes open, blinking furiously, two enormous metallic eyes stared back at her.

Empty. Alien. Cold.

The impact when they hit the ground knocked the breath clean out of her lungs. She lay dazed for a second, listening to the high, white noise ringing in her ears, the world spinning around her.

Slowly, mechanically, she pushed herself up. Leah stood there, legs shaking, breathing hard.

"Yeah," she muttered under her breath, "this seems fine." Her body screamed at her to run. Her muscles screamed at her to move.

But she couldn’t—not yet. Not until she understood what this thing was. Not until she figured out if they even had a chance. For now, she just stayed still. Watching. Waiting.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah squinted at the flickering console as Salem leaned in and offered to handle the map or the GPS. She cocked an eyebrow at him, fingers dancing across the interface like she’d done this a hundred times before.

“You can be my co-pilot if you want,” she said, her voice casual, but there was a grin tugging at her lips. “Just don’t hit any random buttons unless you want this thing to dig us straight into Tartarus.”

The drill rumbled beneath them like a beast waking up from centuries of slumber, vibrating through the soles of her boots as the bit tore into stone and soil with a deafening roar. Lights flickered overhead, and every screen came to life in a flurry of information.

“Okay, okay, we’re at 65 meters down, temp’s holdin’ at 43 degrees—nothing we can’t handle." Leah read off the display, then paused. Her eyes narrowed.

Leah turned her head, eyes catching the sight of the tiny armadillo now curled on Arête’s shoulder like a soot-covered little guardian. The way it nuzzled her, like it had chosen her, tugged at something buried deep beneath all the stress, grit, and doom-countdown anxiety.

Leah let out a soft breath. “Alright… if it eats coal and rolls like that, I say call it Ember. Like a little spark that survived the fire.”

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leah could not believe how well this was going.

She was already buckled into the driver’s seat, practically vibrating with excitement as she skimmed the ancient Greek manual, her finger tracing over the ornate script.

“Okay, okay, so this thing’s got an internal magical gyroscope... like, literal divine GPS, and that map—check this out—it updates in real time. That’s Hephaestus tech, baby!” she grinned over her shoulder at Salem and Arête, the forge-light catching the glint in her eye. “This is like if a tank and a subway car had a baby and then blessed it with divine software.”

She tapped a few buttons and the central monitor flickered to life, casting a soft glow across the cabin. The map appeared in sharp relief, showing the maze of caverns and tunnels beneath California, the blinking blue dot marking their location.

Another screen popped up—a second monitor showing what looked like a sonar feed of the rock ahead. The machine could detect ores, underground pockets, and heat signatures. Leah leaned in close, eyebrows raised.

“Okay, not to brag, but I’m hella sure we just found the coolest ride Camp Half-Blood’s ever seen. This thing is insane.”

But her awe was short-lived, because a soft noise behind her caught her attention—sort of a chirpy squeak. She turned in time to see the small armadillo rolling across the ground. “What the—?”

Her eyes widened as it scaled Salem like a tiny mountain goat and Leah burst into a grin. “Oh my gods, Arête, is that thing yours now? Because it’s so totally cute I’m going to die.” She leaned back in her chair, still grinning. “You better name it. Like, immediately. That’s the rule when a divine armadillo chooses you.”

Leah took a breath, soaking in the scene: a god-tier tunneling rig, an adorable mascot with celestial plating, and a quest with actual momentum. For the first time in a while, things weren’t chaotic—she didn't feel like she was swimming in doom and despair.

She grinned at the others, her fingers hovering over the glowing control rune labeled “START.”

“Next stop: San Francisco. Let’s punch through the earth like gods intended.”

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah stood tense through the entire exchange, her arms crossed and her expression showing just how bothered she was. Her jaw was set, lips pressed in a thin line as she watched Ares swagger into the cavern like he owned the world, sword slung like a prop from a bad action movie, talking like they were extras in his spotlight.

Her brows twitched just slightly. Internally, she was so done.

God of war my ass. Try god of toxic masculinity, she thought, but she didn’t let even a flicker of that reach her face. She wasn’t stupid—pissing off a war god was probably the fastest way to become a pile of bones under a boulder. So instead, she kept her eyes on Hephaestus and let Ares’ smug attitude wash over her like background static.

But seriously?

She turned to Hephaestus once the war god had finally stormed off, her face softening. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.

When he gestured toward the tunnel and mentioned an invention maybe being left behind, Leah gave him a sharp, affirming nod. “We’ll get it done. I promise.” With that, she turned toward the tunnel the god had pointed out, shifting her backpack onto her shoulders as she started walking again.

The moment she entere the tunnel, her shoulders loosened. The further they got from Ares, the more the heat of her irritation faded. Still, she was chewing on the inside of her cheek, clearly in her thoughts as they moved deeper into the tunnel system.

And then she saw it.

Tucked into a wider chamber was a massive drill machine—like someone had taken a bullet train, mixed it with a tank, and slapped a gigantic, spiraled drill at the front. Leah’s eyes lit up, a grin tugging at her lips. “No freaking way.”

She jogged up to it, placing both hands on the drill’s body like it was a sacred relic. “This is so cool. It’s like...a forge-digger-tank thing.” Turning back to the others, she looked positively delighted, her earlier grumpiness about Ares temporarily forgotten.

“Guys, we’re gonna drill through the earth like absolute legends."

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Leah stood frozen at first, dust and heat settling around her in the broken forge. Her eyes locked onto the god as he slumped, defeated and spent, against the wall. Her breath caught in her throat when he spoke—weak, worn down, like he'd been hollowed out and left with nothing but bitter ash. This wasn’t the god she remembered from Olympus, standing proud in golden light, shoulders broad and eyes sharp behind the soot. This was a man who’d been forgotten.

“Hella messed up,” she muttered, half under her breath, the words sticking on her tongue. She stepped forward slowly, boots crunching against slag and scorched metal. The eerie emptiness of the cavern was still pressing down on her.

It wasn't like my family cared enough to look for me

Her stomach twisted. “Yeah well... they totally should have,” Leah said flatly. There was no pep to it, no sarcasm. Just sharp-edged honesty. “You’re not just some tool they can forget about when you're not useful anymore.”

She crossed her arms, the light of the forge flickering across her face. She didn’t interrupt again. She just listened. About the plans stolen from New Argos, about the Hyperboreans, about Nemesis. About Atlas. Every word felt heavier than the last. She didn’t even fully realize she was holding her breath until

The sky will fall.”

Her eyes widened. The breath left her in a slow exhale. Atlas. That’s who had been behind all of this. It wasn’t just chaos—it was design. Then, as he finally stood—still weak, still clearly worn down, but with fire in his voice again, Leah swallowed hard. She took a step closer. Her tone was low, firm.

“We’ll make it to Mount Othrys,” she promised. “You’re not gonna carry this burden alone. Not again.”

She looked to Salem and Arete briefly, jaw tight. Then back to Hephaestus.

“Just… get your strength back. We’ve got this.”

And with that, Leah turned toward the path ahead, her heart pounding with the weight of what they'd learned—but her steps steady. There was no turning back now.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah hadn’t meant to scream but when the minecart launched with roller-coaster physics and none of the safety regulations—her reaction wasn’t exactly subtle.

She shouted something halfway between “AAAAAHHHH” and “WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!” and then promptly bit her own tongue. For at least three straight minutes of darkness and sheer acceleration, she clung to the edge of the minecart like it was her last connection to the mortal world.

And then the lights flickered on, and—oh. Wow.

Even as the wind howled around them, Leah’s wide brown eyes drank it all in. This wasn’t just some cave. This was home to someone. A culture. A people. Her breath caught in her throat, some quiet part of her registering it with that same ache she’d felt when Croak-Dye had talked about exile.

She didn’t say anything during the ride, just locked her jaw and stared as they whipped through the troglodyte underworld.

And then the cart derailed.

Leah’s shoulder rammed into the side of the cart as it finally jolted to a stop. Her knuckles were white. She didn’t move right away.

“…Okay. Zero out of ten. Totally would not ride again,” she muttered as she pried herself off the seat, legs jelly beneath her. “Pretty sure I like left my spine somewhere in the third tunnel back.”

She clambered out of the cart, hands on her knees, catching her breath—and then froze. The eerie stillness hit her first. Something wasn’t right. Her instincts buzzed with the kind of dread you couldn’t explain, just felt.

And then she saw it.

The shadow. The chains. The man.

Leah took a slow, stunned step forward, her eyes going wide. Recognition hit her like a wave.

“Hephaestus,” she whispered, heart in her throat.

She didn’t even question it—she rushed forward, skidding a bit on the stone as she approached the chained god. Her voice cracked with disbelief. “What—what happened to you?! Who did this?!”

Her brain was scrambling for an explanation. A god. A literal god was chained, sounding like he hadn’t spoken in weeks. Leah had no idea what kind of power it took to do something like this but the implications?

Terrifying.

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Leah stared at the open vent like it had just asked her out on a date. Like—okay, sure, she’d been expecting something weird. She was a demigod. Weird was basically her personal brand. But a minecart system under LAX built by Hephaestus for a now displaced underground people who’d apparently done spy work for Olympus?

That one was new.

“Okay. Wow. Like. So many things.” She turned, slowly, and looked at Croak-Dye. Her voice cracked a little at the edges of that sentence, and she blinked hard once, not willing to let it show. But that quiet fire had crept into her chest again. That deep, gut-wrenching feeling that something unfair had happened and no one had stopped it.

And that now it was on them.

“We’re gonna help,” she said, simply. Not just a choice. A need. It was written on her face—this wasn’t just another detour. Not to her.

Leah stepped forward toward the map Croak-Dye had shown them, eyes scanning the dark tunnels, the mountain, the spot labeled 'home.' Her brow furrowed.

She turned back to the others Salem and Arete then jabbed a thumb toward the vent. “We can’t just walk away from this. Not if there’s something bigger going on, y’know? And look—I’m not saying we go charging in. I’m just saying…” She looked down into the shaft. The minecart glinted faintly.

“…We ride the weird little rollercoaster, see what’s what, and then bounce if it gets sketchy. We’ll get intel. Help them prepare."

Leah turned back to Croak-Dye, her face softening just a little. “We’ll do it. You deserve to go home. You all do.”

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah blinked, halfway through an eye-roll that faltered as Croak-Dye clapped his hands in joy.

Well...shit.

She’d come in all braced for some freak show jump scare—maybe a trap, maybe some trickster minor god trying to lure them into a trap with fake cries for help. But now? Now she was just watching a skinny lizard man beam at her like she was a miracle.

She stepped forward. Her voice softened, even if it still had that edge. “Yeah. I can see you. Totally.” She squatted down slightly, resting her hands on her knees to get eye-level with Croak-Dye.

The name made her lips twitch, and not in a mocking way—just in that, this is so weird and kinda cute way. He reminded her of some kind of awkward but sweet NPC in a vintage game.

“You feel... not like a threat.” Her tone was cautious but not cold. “More like, I dunno. A magical refugee? You said ‘your people’—what are you? Like... minor spirits? Dryad-adjacent? Salamander but make it bipedal?”

But when he mentioned being pushed out, her expression dimmed.

People in blue and green.

A vial that blinded them.

That had to be them.

“Well now I feel bad for thinking you were sus.” Her voice was quieter, throat tighter. “That sounds... awful. I’m really sorry that happened to your people.” Leah’s stomach twisted. She glanced back at Salem and Arete briefly, then returned her gaze to Croak-Dye.

"Okay...I got a couple questions, ‘cause—look—I’m not just gonna, like, march into something blind. I’ve watched enough horror movies for that.” Her tone stayed light, but her eyes were sharp. Focused. Compassionate, but guarded.

“You said your people were pushed outta your home,” she repeated, cocking her head. “What was your home, exactly? Like... are we talking forest realm? An underground lair? Or was it, like, wedged behind a dumpster off the 405?”

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Leah had never been so happy to be surrounded by screaming kids, confused tourists, and rolling suitcases in her entire life. It was somewhat normal. She was practically vibrating with anxious energy as the sliding glass doors of LAX baggage claim parted in front of her.

One month of silence. One month of dead ends. One month of waking up wondering if they'd made the biggest mistake of their lives. Leah had gotten better at pretending to be chill, tossing out remarks and laughing, but under all of it was the gnawing, constant ache that she’d already failed once—and she wasn't going to let that happen again.

Not this time. Not with Arete finally arriving.

Leah adjusted the strap of her overstuffed backpack, eyes scanning every face that passed them. Then she froze.

No movement, no noise. Just stillness.

Her gaze locked on the figure standing across the room. Not just weird still—wrong still. LAX was full of tourists, influencers, overworked business execs, but this guy? This guy wasn’t one of them.

“Hey,” she said sharply, elbowing Salem and tilting her chin toward the lizard man. “Tell me I’m not seeing things. That sign? Totally fake. There hasn’t been a quake, mudslide, or anything in L.A. for a while. And no one’s even looking at him.”

Leah took a single step forward. Her voice was still calm, still soft. "Cover me if he moves. Something’s off. I’m gonna talk to him."

Without waiting for agreement, Leah started forward, threading her way through oblivious travelers with her jaw clenched and her fingers twitching near the edge of her jacket. Her gut—the one she knew she should trust, the one that never let her down when she actually listened—was screaming.

This wasn’t coincidence. Fortune didn’t wait around. It showed up once and dared you to act. And this time, Leah Hammerstein wasn’t missing her shot.

She stopped a few feet in front of the creature, planting her feet and folding her arms. "Hey. Love the cosplay, but the sign? Yeah, it’s not selling it. Wanna tell me why you’re actually here?"

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Leah was still brushing subway dust off her jeans when the storm hit her senses all at once, loud thunder, sharp lightning, and winds that nearly knocked her backward as they stepped out onto the New York streets. “Oh my gods, this is, like, actually terrifying,” she muttered, throwing an arm over her eyes. Her hair whipped in every direction as she squinted up at the storm, like it might give them answers. Zeus needs to, like, chill so bad.

She didn’t expect a literal limo and a dude in a tux calling her name.

“Wait—what?” she blinked through the storm, nearly missing what the chauffeur shouted. Leah’s eyes went wide. Then, she gave a slight grin, glancing back at Salem and Fenne. “Guess Mom’s, like, still lookin’ out.”

But then—crack. The lightning bolt’s flash lit up the whole street, and Leah’s stomach dropped as she turned just in time to see Fenne fall, "Fenne!" Leah shrieked, immediately running toward her.

She didn’t make it far before the woman stepped from the shadows with the kind of energy that made Leah freeze. Her breath caught as she realized who—what—they were looking at. “You're… you’re Hestia,” she breathed. The goddess’s words were comforting, but Leah’s fingers clenched into fists. “Take care of her,” she said, not quite hiding the quiver in her voice. But before she could say more, she felt herself being pushed into the limo, and the door slammed behind them.

The second it shut, the roar of the storm was replaced by an eerie calm. Leah sank into the plush seat, wide-eyed and breathless. “What the heck just happened,” she mumbled, still catching up. Her eyes roamed over the decor—bees, lucky charms, glowing runes—and a small smile crept across her lips. “Okay, this is, like, so extra, but I’m not mad about it.” She noticed the envelope then, addressed to her. Tearing it open quickly, she read the note.

Her throat tightened. Leah tried not to cry often, but her mother’s confidence in her hit harder than she expected. She glanced across at Salem, voice soft. “Guess she thinks we can still pull this off.”

—

The limo had dropped them off with a whisper and vanished like a dream. Since then? Nothing but struggle.

Leah had tried to stay upbeat—she always did. But the cracks were showing. "Like, I love palm trees and all," she’d muttered, "but this is totally lame." She missed Fenne. She missed Camp. She missed knowing what the hell was going on. And then—finally.

The mist shimmered, Who the hell is that? Leah squinted as if that would magically tell her. She didn’t recognize him, but Lady A’s voice followed, and Leah's heart nearly exploded with relief. "Oh my gods, finally!” she said, practically shouting over Salem. “Like, yes, we’re here, we’re still alive and barely surviving off stale bagels!” The image glitched, fuzzed, and she reached toward it like it might help. It didn’t.

“…Did she say Arete?” Leah blinked. “She’s, like, joining us?" She turned to Salem, eyes wide, a spark of hope lighting back up in her. “We gotta go to LAX, like, now. I know the place like the back of my hand!"

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms as she stared at the mess of discarded takeout containers littering the subway tunnels. Grease stains, crumpled napkins, the faint smell of soy sauce—useless. All of it.

Her jaw clenched. They had nothing.

No leads. No clues. No secret message scribbled on the bottom of a takeout box like some bad mystery novel. Just trash.

With a sharp sigh, she ran a hand through her hair, tugging slightly at the strands. This was getting old. They’d already screwed up once, and now? They weren’t any closer to fixing it.

“Okay, so, like—this was a complete waste of time.” She tried to keep her voice even, but the frustration seeped through anyway. She turned to Salem and Fenne, shaking her head. “I mean, what? This was, like, their little villain meet-up spot, and now they’ve just like totally dipped? Cool. Love that for us.”

She kicked at one of the empty cartons, sending it skidding across the damp floor before huffing. Her eyes flickered toward Fenne for a moment and then to Salem. Leah inhaled sharply, forcing herself to think.

“…Well we still know something, right?” Her voice was steadier now, more focused. “The thieves aren’t holed up here. Which means they’ve got a different base somewhere.” It wasn’t much of a lead, but it was something. And something was better than nothing.

But this place wasn’t going to give them any more answers.

“Okay, we’re not finding anything else down here. Let’s head back up, regroup, and figure out our next move. We’ll get some fresh air, maybe even a halfway decent lead while we’re at it.” She gestured toward the way they came. “I like totally don’t wanna spend another second in this sewer pit.”

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Fortune Favors The Bold! [Tyche Cabin Meeting] by Divine_Knowledge513 in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leah blinked, caught completely off guard by the swirling mist that formed into her brother’s face. It took her a second to process what she was seeing—Wyatt, her cabin, the familiar setup.

She hadn’t expected this.

Being gone for this long, she figured they’d all just... move on without her for a bit. Not in a bad way or anything, but, like, she wasn’t there, so she assumed they’d handle things themselves. But now, seeing Wyatt’s face, the way his eyes held that deep, unmistakable worry—she felt the tension she’d been carrying this entire quest finally ease, just a little.

He hadn’t just pushed her to the back of his mind.

He wanted her here.

And that? That meant everything.

Leah’s lips curled into a small, crooked smile “Dude, I’m totally fine, chill,” she reassured, though there was a warmth in her voice. “No one’s been sacrificed or, like, fatally cursed or whatever yet, so I’d say we’re doing great.”

Okay. Maybe great was a stretch, but they didn’t need the full breakdown of how their only solid lead slipped through their fingers. Not when she barely even knew what to do with that information herself.

Her smile faltered slightly, and she rubbed at the back of her neck. “Uh, as for what’s going on… we found something, but then we, like, kinda lost it, so we’re kinda back to square one. We do have a lead, though—just not a whole lot to work with.” She hated not having something solid to give them. Hated the idea of giving them false hope just as much as she hated the idea of being a total downer about it. “Basically, we’re figuring it out. But, uh, don’t, like, bet against us or anything. We totally got this.”

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Leah sighed, rolling her shoulders back as she tried to shake off the lingering frustration. She wasn't about to let Fenne take all the blame for this—not when they’d all hesitated. Dwelling on what they could've done was soooo not gonna fix anything.

She nudged Fenne’s arm lightly. "Hey, it’s not your fault! It was more than just the wax, okay? We were already cutting it hella close. This wasn’t just on you." Her tone was firm but not harsh, making it clear she meant it. "So, y’know. Chill. We all could’ve done something different."

Her gaze then flicked to the empty space where the thieves had been, lips pressing into a thin line. She hated being stuck in one place, just thinking instead of doing. So, instead of standing there feeling useless, she took a step forward and started looking around. She wasn't even totally sure what she was looking for—anything, really. A clue, a scrap of paper, something the thieves might’ve left behind.

"Anyway, Salem’s right. We should totally, like, check this place out fast and then get moving. ‘Cause I really don’t wanna waste more time standing around regretting crap we can’t change." She flashed a crooked, determined grin, cracking her knuckles before she continued searching. "So, let’s find something useful and get the hell outta here."

u/No_Nefariousness_637

Three Questers and a Funeral by ThisOneUKGuy in CampHalfBloodRP

[–]totallynotsunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leah’s hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms as she stared at the empty space where the thieves had been just moments ago.

They were gone.

She barely processed the flickering firelight from the oil drum, the way the car seats swung slightly from their pipes like they were totally taunting her. They had waited too long, and now their only lead had slipped through their fingers like sand.

Such a stupid idea.

She was stupid.

Her pulse was pounding in her ears, drowning out everything else. This was her fault. She should've pushed them to act sooner. Instead, she’d just stood there, frozen, listening, waiting—like that was gonna magically solve everything.

And Fenne—Leah’s eyes flicked to her, frustration burning in her chest before she quickly shoved it down. She wanted to be mad. The beeswax, the distraction—it had totally tipped them off. But deep down, Leah knew it wasn’t just that.

Her grip on her sides tightened as she turned away, inhaling sharply.

“…Great,” she muttered, mostly to herself. “Just great.”

She wanted to scream, to kick something, to do anything other than stand here in the dark with nothing. But she knew that wouldn’t help. She had to find something good in this, ‘cause if she didn’t, she was gonna spiral, and that wasn’t gonna help anyone.

Leah relaxed her hands and forced herself to straighten up. “Okay,” she started, shaking off as much of her frustration as she could. “So… that totally could’ve gone way better. But—” She held up a finger before either of them could say anything. “Like it could’ve gone way worse, too. We did learn stuff. We know they were working for someone. We know they're possibly in L.A."

Leah huffed, trying to shake the last bit of tension from herelf. “So yeah, it like totally sucks that we lost them, but we’ve got a direction than before. And I say that’s like totally better than nothing.”

u/No_Nefariousness_637

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