i.m. (to action) ☁ sept. 13

[clearasil]

Hey, camp.

[ Not that she holds any superstitions relating to the day itself, but the Hecate counselor can't help a grin from where she sits on the steps of her cabin after breakfast. Is that ... thunder and lightning in her Iris Message or are your eyes deceiving you? ]

Since Friday the Thirteenth is upon us --

[ There's a witchy cackle in the background and she stifles a snicker. ]

-- Sorry, couldn't help it. Anyway.

[ With a wave of her hand, the thundering stops, though it still looks like she's somehow wandered onto the set of Sleepy Hollow. ]

We don't have any experts on dream interpretation, would we? No, it's, uh nothing serious. Now that I'm getting sleep - not that you care - it's been weird.

But enough about me. [ An unusually impish smile forms on her lips. ] I just wanted to warn you all to beware the black cats in camp, that's all. [ It isn't often that Natalie pulls pranks, but when she does, she goes all out. Besides, something funny should help lighten the mood. Even she will play a part in lifting some spirits and since Hebe was so kind to have dropped a bunch of animals on the place...

Letting a black cat cross your path will either a) put a full rain cloud over your head b) leave you a little ... tongue tied (did you mean to ask questions in another language?) c) give you actual butter fingers. The effects don't last any longer than a couple of hours. ]

Sorry in advance. I'm just practicing.

[ In a clap of thunder, the feed ends. ]

Comments

[IM]

[lastplaceigo]

That totally would have been cool to know like, an hour ago.

[Says the grumpy looking kid with a rain cloud ruining her hair.]

[IM]

[clearasil]

I thought morning was sufficient. [ She can't help the satisfied twitch of her mouth because that's one success as far as campwide spells go. It's a start, even if they're just a dumb series of pranks. ]

Sorry. It'll wear off soon, I swear. If not, then you're more than free to accost me.

[lastplaceigo]

[Margot would actually find this more hilarious if it weren't happening to her. She just wanted to pet the kitty, man.]

Ooh, I'll take you up on that. This is so dumb.

[clearasil]

There is a heatwave on the East Coast. I thought it would help. Anyway, I've never done anything like this without actually seeing the other person but -

[ Natalie bites her lip because she doesn't really want to piss her off. She fiddles with the amulets around her neck, concentrating until they glow green. ]

How's that?

[lastplaceigo]

I'd just go sit in the shade if I were too warm. And you did a good job, I guess. [Credit where credit is due and it is kind of cool.

She raises an eyebrow at the amulet.]

It's... better?

[It's less of a downpour, more of a light drizzle.]

[angeliaforos]

[It is Friday the 13th, okay, and this is Gabriel we're talking about. He cannot resist pulling this sort of shit.

He's coming up behind Natalie, brandishing his knife like it's a machete and wearing a hockey mask - which is weird, because hockey isn't even played at Camp Half Blood.

Thank you, arts and crafts cabin.

He tries to mimic a reverb effect with his voice.]

Chh chh chh...ahh ahh ahh...

[clearasil]

[ Natalie hardly bats am eye before she dead pans: ]

Do anything to me and I will hex that mask onto your face like in that Goosebumps novel.

[angeliaforos]

[Gabriel hisses loudly, covering his ears.]

Ahh, spoilers, kid! I haven't read that one!

[He moves to sit down next to Natalie on her steps, leaning back. He refuses to take off the mask, so his speaking's a little muffled.]

Weird dreams again?

[He's a demigod, it's a Thing. He gets it.]

[clearasil]

I can't believe you haven't read that one. They made a TV version for the Goosebumps show.

[ She rolls her eyes before her expression hardens somewhat. ]

And - yes, to answer your question.

[angeliaforos]

I was always more into Are You Afraid Of The Dark?, to be honest.

[he pushes the mask to have it sit cockeyed on his face.]

What about, if you don't mind me asking?

[IM]

[lavenderglasses]

Dream interpretation isn't quite one of my abilities, but I could take a shot at it.

[clearasil]

R-really?

That would be - great. I mean, I'm not looking forward to it, but. Thank you. I think I need help.

[lavenderglasses]

What's wrong? You make it sound a bit worse than just "weird".

[clearasil]

... It's kind of an ominous dream like I'm some secondary Shakespearean character or something.

[lavenderglasses]

"Ominous"? Do you normally find Shakespeare so unsettling?

[he smirks, attempting to keep the mood at least a little light, but yeah that's kind of a weird thing to have reoccurring dreams about.]

[IM]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo's almost proud of her - it's not like Nat to prank people, but he always thought it's fun. But as soon as a black cat waltzes by unnoticed, he suddenly has to scramble to try and keep hold of his tools. He's a little put out that it's affecting him, too, but he can laugh about it for once. It's not like his project for today is that important anyhow. ]

You finally decide to be funny, and this is how you do it.

[ He shakes his head, but he's smiling. ]

Remind me never to get on your bad side.

[clearasil]

[ A slow, sinister grin spreads across her face when he appears on the other side of the Iris Message and she laughs. ]

I guess you can call that a warning, or something, though I'm mostly just happy that it has actually worked out.

[ Pause. ] Which one affected you?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ If he didn't know better, he'd be scared. As if to demonstrate his particular curse, he drops the screwdriver he's been trying to put away after a failed attempt at catching it before it hits the ground. ]

It's like I'm playing a solo version of hot potato. And I always lose.

[clearasil]

[ With her mouth against the heel of her hand, she snorts against her fingers. It's a little like watching an old comedy bit from the black and white movies. ]

It'll wear off soon, I swear. You weren't doing anything, uh, too important, were you?

[IM]

[moointhedark]

...Why shouldn't we go near the cats? ...Are they monsters in the disguise of cats?

[clearasil]

No! Uh.

Well, you know that whole superstition that letting a black cat pass you means you'll have bad luck? I kind of ... invented a curse that pranks people when the cats pass them.

[moointhedark]

[Charlie's eyes go wide.] YOU DID?! That's so cool! What kind of pranks?

[clearasil]

[ She smiles smugly with a lift of her chin. ] Speaking in other languages, butter fingers, and you might be lucky to get a rain cloud over your head.

Iris Message

[worldabouttodawn]

Natalie...

[Enjolras does not look very pleased in the rainbow.

He's also soaking wet.]

Would you please remove this rain cloud?

Iris Message

[serenesuccessor]

[Naomi blinks into the rainbow, a mewing black cat in her arms.]

... So what happens if you pick 'em up first?

[Because Naomi hadn't even waited for the cat to cross her path, she'd skipped on over, scooped it up and has been snuggling it ever since.]