IM/Can Be Action

[sometimesinsufferable]

[This is Hermione. This is Hermione looking a tad nervous to be asking the question she's about to ask, but she's been weighing on it for some time now. Especially after what happened with the Red Room…and now knowing that everyone's staying at Camp…it wasn't something she wanted to ignore any longer.

Anyone looking at the IM will see that she's sitting out by her usual lake, occasionally casting spells to change colors of stones nearby. It's a mindless incantation that she likes to do when she's focused on something else.]

I'm sure there will be some people that might be offended by this question, but I'm curious. Who do you tend to value more, your friends or your family? [She's being careful not to look at the camera as she changes another stone from blue to pink to green. She'd had a fight with Ron about it, of course, and she still wasn't entirely sure how she felt.] Demigod siblings don't count, by the way. I mean our actual families that we live with outside of camp. I realize that they're two entirely different spectrums, but…let's pretend we had a choice this year. Which of you would return, and which of you would stay to protect them?

[And then suddenly she's giving a light smile as she moves on to her next, and last, point..] Anyway, I think I'll be in the Arena later today if anyone needs me. [And she cuts the connection.]

Comments

[IM]

[representswealth]

[It's a weird question, because to Hazel any of her family is her real family. Nico was as good as a real brother to her and there wasn't many Pluto siblings to think on it about. Marie--]

I can't, but if I could-- I would. [Simply...]

[IM]

[sometimesinsufferable]

You would. [She can only guess the implication of that.] Why, precisely?

[IM]

[representswealth]

She's my mom. [It's rather simple. She's not going to explain it.] You never know what something is until they're lost.

But I don't think it's fair to leave our half-siblings out of it. We're still family.

[IM]

[sometimesinsufferable]

It's a different kind of family though, don't you think?

[IM]

[representswealth]

No. I feel the same for my brothers the way I'd do for any biological sibling. It's weird, but that doesn't change it.

[usernameallison]

[This is one of Stiles' sisters, a daughter of Hecate - he can tell by how she changes the colors of the rocks with little effort - and her question actually makes the legacy think as he sits outside the Nike cabin. He's been wanting to go home, to Beacon Hills, to see Stiles and his mom, but at the same time...he's grown even closer to Heather here than he even did at Camp Jupiter, and he liked to think of her as his best girl friend already. Then there was Sadie, the cool Egyptian girl, and Allison...]

That's hard to say. I kind of...okay, this is gonna sound really cheesy, but I want you to go with it. My friends? I kind of think of them as my family. So I'm torn.

[sometimesinsufferable]

[At least Scott's going to get a small smile for his efforts.] You're right, that is really cheesy. [But not entirely awful, or wrong.] Do you think of all of your friends as your family though?

[usernameallison]

I really do!

[He laughs a little, rubbing the back of his neck. Okay, he's a little embarrassed.]

I just think...it's part of my job to protect and defend them, y'know? I mean, Victoria must have given me what I've got for a reason.

[sometimesinsufferable]

I suppose that's true...but what if you have to pick who you can protect someday? What if you can't really save everyone?

[IM--Eventual Action because he will hunt her down :|]

[masterofmystery]

...Still on that, are you?

[IM--Eventual Action because omg Ronald Weasley :|]

[sometimesinsufferable]

Yes, and I believe we haven't anything further to discuss on the matter. [Because seriously Ron.]

[IM--Eventual Action because did you expect anything different]

[masterofmystery]

Seems like it, since you went and posted like things. [Sarcasm.]

[IM--Eventual Action because no not really]

[sometimesinsufferable]

I wanted to see what everyone else had to say. Is that a problem?

[clearasil]

[ Natalie makes a point to stop by the Arena after burrowing herself under a pile of books in both the Hecate and Athena cabins. Hermione's question gives her pause and she had stopped practicing voiceless spells for a moment to think on the matter.

Without much of a greeting, just a little wave, she speaks: ] I was just thinking about what you said, like a lot.

[sometimesinsufferable]

[All in all, she doesn't seem too surprised that Natalie barrels right into the topic; it's just how she was and Hermione never seemed too bothered by it. She didn't respond immediately, instead adjusting her grip on her bow and arrow before letting it soar through the air toward its target.]

Hopefully useful things?

[clearasil]

[ She nods appreciatively, watching her release, flexing her left hand as if she can feel the pull of the string before the arrow hits its target. ]

Definitely useful, like stuff I'd pushed back for a while because of Olympian problems. [ Natalie tucks her hands into the pockets of her cropped jeans, dragging the toe of her canvas shoe across the dirt. ]

I'd say my friends, though if everyone was in danger, I'd try to save all of them. I guess that part's a given.

[sometimesinsufferable]

[She's getting a lot better and it's clear she's proud of herself judging by the smile tugging at her lips despite the question she'd presented camp with earlier.] Oh, so you mean absolutely everything in our lives. Got it. [She's reloading her bow with another arrow, but she's not lining up to fire it off just yet.]

I'm finding that more and more people are saying their friends. It should just be the obvious answer, shouldn't it? [She's lifting the bow, concentrating as she lines up her shot to her target.] It shouldn't even be a question I'm asking, but some people seem to disagree.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ That's a weird question to ask, and Leo doesn't like how it's got him thinking. Demigod siblings aside, none of his family has ever been like family to him - no one except his mother, and she's not exactly in the picture anymore. The answer's easy, and he says it with absolute certainty, though maybe there's a hint of bitterness in his voice when he does. ]

Friends.

[sometimesinsufferable]

Very decisive of you. [And definitely the answer she wanted to hear, let's be real.] Why so?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Why do we have to talk about this, Hermione. ]

My family turned their backs on me.

[ Thanks for nothing, Aunt Rosa. ]

[sometimesinsufferable]

[...well that's unfortunate, and it's clear that she thinks so seeing how she pauses.] ...I'm sorry. [A beat.] And I'm assuming your friends haven't?

[IM]

[lastplaceigo]

[Hermione, this is the hardest question ever.

I -- friends. If I had the choice, I'd still stay to protect them.

[IM]

[sometimesinsufferable]

[It's a talent, what can she say.]

Even the ones you haven't known very long?

[IM]

[lastplaceigo]

[Worst talent ever.]

Yeah. What can I say -- someone's gotta protect you losers.

[IM]

[sometimesinsufferable]

[She snorts. Thanks a lot, Margot.]

Thanks a lot. So what would you say to someone who felt the opposite?