SITUATION POST: JULY 21, 2013 (APHRODISIA)

[greekchorus]

[Today, a single rose has been placed at the feet of the statue of Aphrodite in accordance with the laws for celebrating Aphrodisia.

When you ate your breakfast this morning, you might have noticed it was delicious, even better than usual. Maybe the nymphs and harpies took extra care, or maybe there was a little Love Potion No. 9 in it.

Who knows?

OOC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT CAN BE FOUND HERE.]

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

[ They just got back last night, and Leo's decided to take it easy today. When he's not exploring Bunker 9 (that qualifies as taking it easy!), he's wandering around the forges and mostly just hanging out by the beach and tinkering with little things. That's where he is now, with a surprisingly calm little bird automaton at his side in lieu of a dragon. ]

[anythingwithstrings]

That thing's cool. Little small though, isn't it?

*She's talking about your bird. She's got an acoustic guitar slung over her shoulder.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He looks up, raises his eyebrows, and nods at the guitar on her back. ]

Little big for you, isn't it?

[ Is that all the obvious things, or can they point out more? ]

[anythingwithstrings]

My cello's bigger.

*Maybe we are, maybe we aren't.*

So that a camp project, or something from home?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Shrug. ]

I built him here, so I guess he's a camp project. Usually the little pain in the butt stays in the cabin.

[ He gives said pain in the butt a pointed look - apparently it snuck out today. Caelum trills at him in reply and flies up to land on Maya's head, chirping and trying to itself comfortable in her hair. ]

Hey! Will you cut that out?!

[anythingwithstrings]

He doesn't seem so bad.

*She glances up toward the little thing on her head. It certainly does nothing for her status as 'cute.'*

Unless he's dangerous. ...Is he?

[commandertoolbelt]

He shoots toothpicks and breathes fire.

[ No, he doesn't. But Hephaestus cabin has done worse things, and Leo says it so casually, as if it's a well-known fact. ]

[mesmerism]

[By the time Piper figures out what's going one with her mother's little interference, there's nothing she can do but try to warn people. She finds Leo on the beach and quickly drops down beside him.]

Hey. Don't say my name because there's a curse going around, courtesy of my mother.

[Her eyes dart around like people are going to jump out of no where.]

Whenever you say someone's name today, you fall in love with them.

[Though she still doesn't know that it's connected with eating breakfast, or how long it lasts, or how to reverse it, or anything really useful.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Piper's surprised Leo, and he's just kind of staring at her in confusion, mouth still open from when he'd almost greeted her. When she's finished, he takes a moment to process what all that means... and groans in annoyance. ]

Seriously? I can't have one day?

[ Gods, this is so unfair! ]

[mesmerism]

No one can, apparently. So just watch who you're talking to and spread the word, okay?

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, yeah, I got this.

[ He fishes out a small pad of paper, a pencil, and a rubber band from his tool belt, scribbling a note on it. Then, ripping the note out, he rolls it up and ties it to Caelum's leg with the rubber band, the bird chirping wildly the entire time. When he finally lets go, it takes off toward the dining pavilion and Leo grins at Piper. ]

Caelum will help, too.

[ The question is if anyone can catch that stupid bird. ]

[mesmerism]

That bird's pretty handy.

[She watches Caelum depart for a moment before sighing and turning back to Leo.]

I wish my mother was a little more self aware. The campers here aren't dying to be played with like dolls.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Nope, not telling Piper what he really wrote on that note ever. Instead, he smiles and shakes his head at her. ]

Really? Had me fooled. I honestly thought we were just souped up Barbies and Kens.

[clearasil]

Hi.

[ The withy girl of Cabin 20 has emerged from her magic cave. She pulls on a pair of purple shades and folds her arms, standing behind him and trying not to say much. For seem reason, she felt a need to head to the beach and here she is, rather pleased to have found a friend. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He hears her voice and gets up quickly, turning to face her with a grin. ]

Hey--!

[ Aaaaaand he almost says her name, but Piper's warning rings through his head again, and Leo manages to stop himself. ]

Hey, I need you to do me a favor, okay?

[clearasil]

Yeah, sure.

[ She says that a little eagerly, though she doesn't mind doing him any favors. Mostly, Natalie's happy that he's safe and in one piece, even if she doesn't express any sappy sentiment, ]

Today's weird, isn't it?

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, it is! Which is kind of why I need you to not say my name.

[ This request is normal and does not add to the weirdness of today, of that he is certain. ]

[clearasil]

Yeah. Okay.

[ That's acceptable. It can't be any weirder than waking up as a dog or a salamander, so. ]

What have you heard? This is an Aphrodite thing, right? I could sense something this morning.

[commandertoolbelt]

A little birdie told me she put a spell on the camp. Say someone's name, fall in love.

[ He shrugs. He's been on the receiving end of it once already, and if it always happens like that, he's not sure he wants to do it again. ]

[finesthour]

[ Millie's really happy to have Leo back at camp, and since he's also one of the first people she sees this morning, she hurries over to see what he's working on. She's grinning widely. ]

Hey! Leo!

[commandertoolbelt]

[ ...Oh, crap. Has Piper found a way to reverse this yet? Leo turns to wave at Millie with a smile. It's not like it'll hurt anything, right? As long as he doesn't get brainwashed by the spell, too. ]

Hey, it's been a while!

[ It's been like three days, Leo. ]

[finesthour]

[ It's odd, but was Leo always this handsome? She can't help but notice the very particular set of his chin, his warm eyes, his... everything. She shakes her head. ]

How have you been?

[ She may have started to edge closer toward him, wanting his warmth. Is she developing a crush? She hasn't had a crush in ages. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

Good. Not dead. Which is good.

[ He may have backed up just a tiny little bit. This is so not cool, Aphrodite, so not cool. ]

Hey, there's something you should probably know...

[finesthour]

[ She just leans forward more. ]

Mmhmmm?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He has to admit, Millie is very petty, and if it weren't for the circumstances, he might not mind the attention he's getting. Unfortunately, it's just the spell, and this isn't really Millie. It comes out in a jumble: ]

So Aphrodite's the goddess of love, right? She put a spell on the camp so that if you say someone's name, you fall in love with them.

[ Did that get through? ]