Two Ghosts | IRIS MESSAGE

[brokethecycle]

[It takes a minute for Norman to even make the IM. He's never been good at talking to people, and he's usually fine to just keep to himself, but.]

[Well. He has something important to say and, given everything he's learned this week, it wouldn't be right to leave people in the dark about what happened in the forest. People deserved to know.]

[He's nervous for another reason, though. He's worried that people will actually treat him differently because of who his Godly parent is, and he had actually begun to feel like he was happy here. You know, around a bunch of other kids with weird powers that couldn't fit in anywhere else.]

[Well. Better get it over with, Babcock.]

[The IM begins with one awkward looking eleven-year-old. He's sitting on a bunk in the Hades cabin, rather than Hermes. He's quiet at first, but then he takes a deep breath and nods.]

Um. If ...I can get everyone's attention for a minute. I've got something important to tell you all.

...Last month a lot of people saw ghosts out in the woods. I just wanted to let everyone know that me and another camper named Nico found out what was behind all the sudden hauntings. It was a Goddess named Melinoe, Goddess of ghosts and the restless dead. She brought out the ghosts of a lot of campers' loved ones to ...do a bunch of things that wasn't very nice. So ...I'm really sorry.

[Right he just kind of apologized for her. Great. Ugh.]

She's um. She's also my mom, I guess.

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Goddess of ghosts and the restless dead? Does that mean mom is...?

Leo shakes his head, and when he finally finds his voice, it comes out more hostile than intended. He's really not blaming you, Norman, but it still upset him. ]

Okay, but why'd she do it? Is that her idea of a fun Halloween joke? Getting into the spirit of the occasion?

[brokethecycle]

[It's okay. He's pretty used to people being hostile towards him. He doesn't actually flinch all that much. His frown gets a little deeper, though.]

Maybe. I mean- I'm not sure if she just timed it that way because she likes scaring people, or because that was just the same month I got here. She said it was because of me. She wanted to show me what she could do. [And what he could do, if he wanted, apparently.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Frowns. ]

That's a dumb reason. None of the other gods bother.

[brokethecycle]

[He shrugs.]

I know. I think she also just likes tormenting people.

[commandertoolbelt]

...No offense, but I don't really like your mom.

[ How is that not offensive. ]

[brokethecycle]

[Norman wouldn't have made this post unless he was prepared to hear stuff like that. Honestly, he's not really sure what to think of her, either. He has great luck with family, really.]

She makes that impression a lot, I think.

[commandertoolbelt]

It's funny, though. Where I come from, showing people's loved ones die again right in front of them is the best way to make friends. Weird that it didn't work here.

[brokethecycle]

I don't think I want to know where you came from, if that's the case.

[commandertoolbelt]

Texas.

[ He says it with an amused look. Kid's never heard of sarcasm? ]

[brokethecycle]

That explains everything.

[Yes, he has actually.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Shrug. ] Go big or go home.

[ But if Melinoe does that again, he will find a way to hurt a god. Still, there's one more thing Leo needs to ask... ]

So were they really... who we thought they were? Or was it, like, some illusion? Trick of the Mist or whatever?

[brokethecycle]

[He's quiet for a moment. Then he nods.]

I'm pretty sure. Yeah.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Oh, man, so mom actually... That was really her? She really said that to him? Is she... a "restless soul," whatever that means?

It's almost worse, knowing that. ]

What happened - when she... when they died?

[ The horrible image of Esperanza Valdez burning alive (sort of) is never going to leave him. He did that. ]

[brokethecycle]

[Norman frowns a little.]

I don't. That I don't know. I'm sorry.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo shakes his head, disappointed but relieved at the same time. It's probably better he doesn't know. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ Pause. ]

So, she's gone?

[brokethecycle]

[Norman nods.]

I think so.