WEEK FIVE

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (5)

monday - thursday (33) survivors It had been merely a week since the last trial, but you find yourself faced with a new week on The Pygmalion. When you awaken, you will find the handcuff around your wrist gone. The robot in the cafeteria has prepared another breakfast of various foods. (OOC: Please submit your murder proposals by 9 PM EST Tuesday.) taken list profiles private conversations setting rulebook murder proposals ENTER COMMAND_

Comments

[chiseler]

[A short laugh.] What, you're not tired of my stories yet? [When in doubt, deflect the subject for a bit.]

[antietam]

[ Adam can definitely see that deflection. It makes him smile. ] Not really. You have a more interesting life than most.

But I get wanting to keep some things to yourself. We can move on to something lighter?

[chiseler]

[It's unfortunate that that sort of thing appeals to Luke's ego. There's a half-smirk before he sighs like it's really a big deal. (It is, but probably not for the reasons Adam would assume.)]

Nah...it's not like the book's ever gonna turn up here, so an explanation can't hurt too much. 'sides, like I said it came from the same guy the dagger did. His name was Hal...son of Apollo. Thalia and I met him in Richmond after we followed this sacred goat or whatever. Amaltheia. The goat had been leading Thalia somewhere special even if we didn't understand why at the time. Ended up being Hal's house. [He frowns lightly then.] Hal was cursed by his dad and ended up having to be bound to his mansion for years. The guy was ancient, at least in his sixties. Demigods are considered lucky if they live past their twenties. Anyway...Hal had a curse placed on him. He no longer had his own voice, he was bound to his house, and he had to share it with a couple of monsters called leucrotae. These monsters can mimic any kind of human voice, but they also needed to be fed at a certain time...Hal's curse involved luring kids like me and Thalia to the house for the leucrotae to feed.

To make a really long and kind of weird story short, we came up with a way to beat the leucrotae but it also involved Hal sacrificing himself. Before we put the plan into action, he gave me his dagger that had been a present from someone and he gave me his diary. As a son of Apollo he had the gift of prophecy. His whole journal has notes and theories about the future and ideas of what he might have done wrong in his life. He was hoping I wouldn't make his mistakes and he made me promise to keep up with the diary.

If we're talking about important, valuable things? That's probably up there with Annabeth's knife.

[antietam]

[ Luke you're too easy... But Adam is being honest, Luke's life is particularly interesting. He nods especially at the mention of Amaltheia, thanks Ovid.

But the story just kind of gets more horrifying as Luke goes along, so Adam goes still. ] That's... But you're in your twenties, right? So you're doing pretty well...

Sorry, that just sounds like a real awful way to live. Curses and monsters, and there's no way to escape?

[chiseler]

[The grin is a little more strained at that. Yeah. He sure is doing well for being in his twenties...] Guess you could say that. But no. It's our destiny as heroes for monsters to go after us. Like I said, it's even worse if you're a kid of one of the Big Three like Thalia is.

[He could tell Adam a lot of stories to terrify him, really.] But we're figuring it out. Being at home probably prepped me for this.

[antietam]

That's one way to look at it. Didn't know you were so optimistic. [ He sounds sympathetic, but not pitying. He knows better than to give anyone pity for their circumstances. ]

Is it better or worse here? At least you know what's coming every week.

[chiseler]

Who said anything about being optimistic? [Luke gave up on optimism ages ago when he realized he was pretty much on his own. But the lack of pity automatically wins Adam points. Pity drives him crazy, and he had enough people pity him after what happened when he earned his facial scar.]

It's more being realistic than anything. …can't say if this is better or worse. I know what's coming every week, I have my own space, I know where my meals are mostly coming from, we have new areas to explore…but at the same time I'm not used to being trapped, and at least with monsters I know how to fight efficiently. [There's a slight grin.] Here's something the profiles don't tell you. I was the best swordsman Camp's seen for the last three-hundred years. There's a reason I was the one teaching all of the younger kids. Doesn't mean that's going to help when we have…space guns or magic-growing hammers or eleven-foot snakes that can disappear out of nowhere or whatever.

[antietam]

[ Adam gives a light chuckle along with a nod because that's something he can understand: the luxury of having three meals a day, a room to himself, not having to work every single day. Not that he wouldn't give all of that away to leave, but. ]

I wouldn't knock that experience. Being a great swordsman isn't so bad compared to, what, being able to read cards? Guns don't always shoot and they're loud and obvious, so is a snake that can only strangle or bite. Plus, you don't have to worry this week. [ He pauses. ]

Do you think you could teach me how to use a blade? At least for defense.

[chiseler]

Hey, who knows. You could always learn to throw your cards to stun people. [Unfortunately he's mostly mocking him but there's enough respect there that he'll let up just a little. Besides, that…seems pretty normal. And he could stand for some more normalcy.]

Those are good points…and I don't see why not. [He has zero idea what kind of strength or agility Adam has, and he knows his own athletic ability's boosted by nature of being a halfling, but that doesn't mean a lot.] I spar with Strider sometimes anyway. Don't see why it'd be a big deal to teach you the basics. Just don't make me regret it, huh?

[antietam]

[ It makes him laugh anyway. The self-deprecation quickly turns into an appreciative smile, anyway. ]

Thanks, man. The most I'd be able to do is use a kitchen knife anyway. [ Now time for a more awkward pause. ] I kind of... Just defense, you know? I'm not really big on sparring.

[chiseler]

[He nods back to Annabeth's knife.] I trained Annabeth with something that small. A kitchen knife shouldn't be that big of a deal and between you and me? For a while I was using a golf club as a weapon. This should be easy. Name a day and a time and I'll make it work.

[antietam]

[ He does look pretty impressed. ] How's your schedule looking tomorrow? Maybe after lunch. I've heard swordfighting is better on a full stomach.

[chiseler]

Whoever told you that may or may not have been lying to you. [But he's amused nevertheless.] I think I can fit you in between staring blankly at these cases and entertaining myself with guessing who these things might belong to. After lunch in the gym then? We'll find something more blunt to start you out with than a real blade.

[antietam]

Aw, dude, nice of you to fit me in. Is there anything I can do in return? [ He sounds pretty serious about that. ]

[chiseler]

[For a brief moment, he's seriously considering that. Collecting favors seems to be his new goal on the ship.] If you're serious about that? Just wait. I'm sure I'll think of something sooner or later.

[antietam]

[ Adam nods, looking much happier with this arrangement now that he's offering something back. ] No problem. I'll see you tomorrow then.