first diamond ◆ action

[representswealth]

 [Random kids dropped in nearly everyday lately, and Hazel was no different. Well, maybe the way she took in her surroundings was. She'd been spending the time since New Rome fell traveling across country, but she'd also been awestruck by too many things. Once before when she'd returned she'd seen the modern U.S and had immediately went back to New Rome because it'd seemed more real to her then anything out there. And that's sort of why she had a bit more difficulty then other Romans to make her way across county.]

[She found it easy to tell which one was Pluto's--Hades'-- cabin. It was kind of obvious from standing at the Big House, really. No one else would want to deal that closely with death (well maybe Thantos kids but did Thantos have kids?). It looks almost like a summer camp except for the buildings that so obviously screamed demigod. But it was weird and foreign, too. Nothing like New Rome. Where was all the non-teenagers, after all?]

[So entering camp is one (1) thirteen-year-old daughter of Pluto looking more than a little beat up- -monster attacks, never a pretty thing. The sword at her side, distinctly not a gladius like most other Roman Soldiers, gripped firmly in hands. She was tiny, at least, in that she looked no more than thirteen, but well she might seem a little old, too. Just a bit. And curious, as she takes in the Greek camp with wide eyes and a slow, careful work as she made her way down to the cabin that felt like it called to her.]

[If she comes across anyone she'll stop with a polite "Excuse me?" and look like she wants to ask something, but she won't bother anyone for too long if they don't want to be, at least.]

Comments

[sometimesinsufferable]

That's a question to take up with them. Do you know where you're going?

[representswealth]

Yes-- [And she points to the low black cabin with a glance.] Plut--Hades.

[sometimesinsufferable]

--oh. [Well. That. Is great. And unexpected.] ...I can see why you have your reservations then.

[representswealth]

[Don't "oh" that makes it worse.] It's all right. I'm used to it. [Considering where she's from it's far less creepy, but.]

[sometimesinsufferable]

Were you at Camp Jupiter long then? [That's the only logical conclusion she can draw.]

[representswealth]

No, it was only a few months. [More like about two and a half, but.]

[sometimesinsufferable]

But what did you do before then?

[representswealth]

I went to school...? Why are you asking?

[sometimesinsufferable]

Curious. Is that a problem?

[representswealth]

[She shrugs.] I thought all of us went to school before finding out what we were.

[sometimesinsufferable]

Most of us, but not all of us. [She can think of a few people that spent their years in bad situations instead of in a school environment, but she won't elaborate.]

[representswealth]

[...Well, she did come from 70 years of being dead so she's trying out this whole trying to pretend she's from the present thing it doesn't work too well. And what's that at their feet? Is it a gold nugget? Indeed, but for a moment Hazel doesn't realize it a she contemplates it.]

I think once you find out what you are it separates into before and after, so it counts.

[sometimesinsufferable]

Fair enough. I suppose I don't often think of it that way since I was in school for nearly a year after I realized I was a demigod before I came to camp. [She notices it glinting in the corner of her eye, and she looks down.]

...erm. Sorry, is that yours? [She might be bending at the waist to get a closer look.]

[representswealth]

Some kids do that. Normally, we wait for Lupa to come find us. [Normally. She did. But that's when she sees the gold and her back tenses and she speaks abruptly.]

No! Don't touch it. [She swallows and it's such a practiced thing that she reaches down and grabs it quickly, stuffing it in her pocket. Nothing to see here, nope.]

[sometimesinsufferable]

Lupa? [It's a tone of recognition, but not familiarity. However that gets pushed aside immediately when Hazel reacts so strongly to the gold. She's not sure what to make of that.]

It's all right. We're not going to steal from you. [A beat.] Well, perhaps the kids in Hermes cabin but they're generally harmless if you know how to handle them.

[representswealth]

[Her hand stays clutched to the gold in her pocket as she tries to keep calm and look at ease, but it's difficult to in a way. It's such a practiced thing, but it's difficult.]

I don't think they'll want to steal for me. [Or the won't if something happens, but she focuses, diverting.]

Lupa's the she-wolf who raised Romulus and Remus. If you don't pass her test she'll never let you get to camp. [AKA, you die.]

[sometimesinsufferable]

You're a new camper. You're actually a prime target. [But she's mostly puzzling this out to try and see what Hazel's deal is.]

I wasn't aware she was the one who decided. [For as smart as she is, she didn't know a lot about the Romans in general, or Camp Jupiter.]

[representswealth]

Are you saying Greeks like Hades kids? [Because she's pretty sure that's universal. So stealing isn't really a thing when they're known to be cursed.]

Well, it's tradition. You're not really Roman if Lupa doesn't like you.

[sometimesinsufferable]

I'm saying that not everyone is completely biased against Hades kids. [Just...a lot of people. That's all.]

How can you guarantee that she'll like you?