halfbloodhill | IM/Can Be Action

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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.

[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?

[ 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.

[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.

I think finding someone with a really good family life is harder than finding someone here whose had a shitty time at home.

[ Mostly, she thinks of Leo, but there are others. She snickers softly. ] It's an honest question. I don't see why people would have such a problem with it, if you're not forcing them to think one way or the other.

[There's the tiniest of guilty smiles. Yeah, well...]

I know a few people who seem to get along with their families outside of camp. But that doesn't mean they should abandon their friends after being here for so long.

It's part of the often sucky nature of being a demigod. You have a foot in two different worlds and the gods will always pull you over to their side for one reason or another.

You have a blood bond, yeah, but you train here and you share meals with people here and get to know people in ways you didn't think you would before. [ She kicks at the dirt again. ]

You asked about values, anyway.

I know what I asked about, Nat. I'd just like to know why it is that some people don't realize just how valuable camp and everything we do here actually is. I've never quite understood the ones who go home during the school year. It almost seems...counterproductive, don't you think? [That's insensitive, she knows, but she's not sure how else to express it without dissolving into "Well Ron said..."]

When I used to go home, I thought - maybe I could pretend that I wasn't what I am, but it just made me feel even more like an outcast. I'm obviously in support of staying year round but some people need that real world feel.

No use writing off camp's importance, though, no.

Exactly my point. I've tried pretending everything was normal as well, but it's too different now. Everything's changed. I think some people think I'm awful for not contacting home more often than I do.

"Some people?" Ron?

[Whoops. She just gives her a nervous smile.] It's that obvious?

[ She just grins smugly. ] Come on, after living with and, uh, being related to you, I should know some things.

Should, and you do. [She can't help but roll her eyes even if Natalie's 100% correct.] Ron and I don't exactly see eye to eye on this whole...thing. Or on anything lately, actually.

I've kinda noticed, yeah. [ Which says a lot considering Natalie's subpar social observation skills. ]

How is it that he can get under your skin like that?

I've known him for far too long? [She laughs a little.] Honestly I've no idea. It's been like this since we were twelve.

[ It's a wonder Natalie hasn't tried hexing Ron for making her cry in the past but - well, Hermione's more than capable of doing one herself. ] What's changed about your disagreements? If you can, like, even put a finger on that kind of thing.

[And she probably has. Without a doubt.]

Honestly? I think it's just that emotions got in the way. [The most basic form of answer, she thinks. It's hard to dissect but it's pretty close to the truth.]

Feelings. [ Natalie scoffs. Bane of her existence. And she is the worst at masking her own. ]

Precisely. [See at least Natalie understands and that's what matters here.] And then there was the giant argument during the Apollo dance and it's just been a mess since then.

I figured, after I came back with you sitting in the dark. [ If memory serves her right. Her own evening had taken a different turn. ]

He better not make a mess on your birthday.

Edited 2013-09-27 16:27 (UTC)

[Ah yes, things that were vaguely discussed and acknowledged by half-sisters. She hadn't forgotten, though she was a little embarrassed to admit she had sort of been self-centered lately.]

He won't. [She sounds confident in that.] I know he won't, no matter how upset with me he is.

IM/Can Be Action

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject