first complaint ♔ IM / ACTION

[scornfully]

[ All right, so this wasn't exactly how Arthur planned on spending his Christmas break, but with tensions running high between himself and his father he thought it for the best. Probably. ("You're seventeen, Arthur; a mere boy. What could you possibly think you know?") So, at least for the time being, this son of Aphrodite is back ...

And he's not feeling particularly Christmassy. Sorry, gang.]

For Christ's sake ...

[ Because his father's cussing has rubbed off on him despite his own exposure to other gods and goddesses. ]

Is all of this really necessary? Some of us have more than enough garish decor in our cabins all year round.

[ And this is the problem with Arthur Pendragon. He's charismatic and gorgeous, yes - he's a child of Aphrodite, how could he not be - but when he's in a bad mood? He becomes the most impossibly catty grouch. By 'this' he's of course referring to the festive spirit spreading throughout the camp: decorations and such like that he's certain everyone could live without. ]

Anyway. Since it seems I'm back here for the hols ... [ Arthur pinches the bridge of his nose for a moment. Right now he's the pictorial definition of a First World Problem - Chanel cardigan and all. ] ... Let's all try to be a bit more considerate of those who don't fancy snowball fights and sweets, shall we?

[ OOC: So! Since Arthur's new to the game but has been coming here since he was 13, I'm more than happy to go ahead with almost any and all assumed cr. This post is just him being a grump (nothing new), he'll be find in a few days (again, nothing new), so feel free to have your character just eye-roll and shove a gingerbread man in his mouth. Action tags are very welcome: he'll be hanging around the Aphrodite Cabin / loitering at the pegasi stables. Have at him! ]

Comments

IM

[willyouwalk]

Let's see, there are...what, twenty or so kids here, all forced away from their parents during the holidays and you want them not to decorate or celebrate?

[Tybalt gives this guy a Look. He's not particularly festive himself, but for Ra's sake. He doesn't say anything else, he just gives the guy a Look]

IM

[scornfully]

That's funny - I don't recall saying that at all.

[ Have a Look right back, Tybalt. ]

You could at least try not to twist my words.

IM

[willyouwalk]

[Sorry, Arthur. He's bored.]

You're complaining about the decorations and the sweets. I don't think I twisted anything.

IM

[scornfully]

And voicing distaste for something amounts to asking for it to be stopped all together, does it?

[ Pshaw, this might be just what he needs. ]

I'll keep that in mind the next time I have a problem with the cooking.

[toeverywhere]

Aren't you a charmer?

[Elizabeth is sitting on her bunk in Artemis cabin, munching on some sugar cookies from Charlie.]

Welcome back to camp, happy holidays. I get the part about no snowball fights, but no sweets? [she takes another bite of her cookie.] You are missing out.

[scornfully]

[ Arthur just scoffs - but not unkindly. He's in a Mood, yes, but he's not a dreadful person. Contrary to occasional belief. ]

I hardly think so. I never had much of a sweet tooth anyway.

[ Lies. Get him in while he's vulnerable and he'll do things to waffles you never thought possible. ]

[toeverywhere]

So no sugar in your tea, I'll take it. [It's a joke, if he plans on taking offense. Which he shouldn't, because Elizabeth is the coolest Hunter of them all.]

[scornfully]

[ No offence taken, don't worry, but a frown does wrinkle his brow. Ugh. Look at him. Being proven wrong already - by a joke! ]

Of course I have sugar in my tea.

[ Two lumps, to be precise - and they have to be lumps. Cubes, he takes three. ]

It's far too bitter without.

action

[busy]

[It's not that he's worried about being the new kid. Merlin isn't going out of his way to impress anyone, he doesn't give a fig who their parents are. It just feels like it's all still sinking in, and he needs a few hours to himself before he makes his camp debut like some southern belle debutante.

The stables seemed as good a place as any, at least until he realizes that they house pegasi instead of horses. Okay, now he's feeling it. Everything is surreal and overwhelming. Like, 'sitting in the corner with his head between his knees trying to breathe' overwhelming.]

action.

[scornfully]

[ Arthur's spent the afternoon exercising the pegasi - something he's always been inclined to do when he's feeling less like talking to people, and more like ... Well. Expending his energy somewhat productively. He's leading his third pegasus back to her stall after a lazy cool-down when he spots ...

Wait, who is that? ]

Oi!

[ Because a slacker is a slacker, and this kid is definitely slacking. Why anyone would come to the stables to curl up in a ball is beyond him. Still in his riding gear (and still a little sweaty), Arthur strides over and stands above him with a hand on his hip. ]

And what're you supposed to be doing - taking a nap?

[ And when he doesn't recognise him; ]

Who are you, anyway?

action.

[busy]

[Merlin's hands slide over his coal-black hair and cup the back of his neck as he looks up at Arthur. The other boy can't be much older than he is, and first impression? Merlin hates him already. Because he's blond and broad-shouldered and clearly bossy, the very type that gave him the hardest time at school.

Not that Merlin didn't give as good as he got. At least he tried to.]

Oi.

[He repeats the word flatly, and it's clear from the look on his face that he's turning it over in his head, looking for a deeper meaning. Who says oi? It's not what the fox says. Merlin's eyes focus on the other boy's face again.]

Are you a punk rocker or something?

IM

[unstinting]

[Since Alcuin isn't at the cabin right now...]

There's very little to be done about the camp's incessant need for celebration.

[That was almost catty, Alcuin- usually the Aphrodite counselor is the sweetest boy in the world, but he's been having a rough time lately. The holidays aren't helping in the slightest. He obviously regrets it a moment later, because he continues.]

We might as well let everyone who enjoys it have their fun. At least the food is good.

IM

[scornfully]

I'm not asking for people to stop enjoying themselves, Alcuin, rather ...

[ But he sighs and rubs at his temple. It does realise it's unfair to take out his own bad mood on the rest of his camp-mates. ]

Rather they keep it to a confined space, between the hours of five and seven in the evening.

[ But a sarcastic roll of the eyes follows - of course, in this, he's not serious. He just has a slightly off sense of humour is all. ]

IM

[unstinting]

I think that's an entirely reasonable request. Why don't you take it up with Mr. D?

[Alcuin's sarcasm can be much harder to follow, but he's just teasing Arthur. He know he doesn't mean it seriously.]

[excusing]

[ You come by the strangest siblings here, don't you? Despite the blond and the light colored eyes, Heather would have laughed if you asked if she was related to this guy, this prince. ] Okay, Scrooge McDuck.

[ Heather calls over from where she's reading a music magazine. ] Does anything make your heart grow two sizes larger or are you like this all the time?

[ The perkiest Roman needs to know these things. ]

[scornfully]

That's Mister Scrooge McDuck, thanks.

[ Arthur tosses her a scathing smile before making his way over. He nudges her with his toes. ]

Anyway, sod off. We can't all be cheerful all the time.

[ But there's nothing mean in his tone - in fact, is that a wry smile? Rubbing his temple for a moment, Arthur throws himself down beside her to read over her shoulder. ]

What's this rubbish you're reading, then?

[excusing]

I can't sod off, [ Heather retorts sweetly, ] I'm American.

[ The dumb joke already gets her laughing before the sentence is even finished and she lazily keeps flicking through her magazine. Heather didn't grow up with any siblings, so it's fun to poke fu at and joke with all the older brothers she never had. ] And, this 'rubbish' is Rolling Stone, Mister Scrooge McDuck.

IM

[verticordia]

[Man. Why are all of her brothers hot. She'd take him, Chanel cardigans and all. She has always admired a man with a fashion sense.

But this daughter of Venus has been one of the people hanging up said decorations. She likes to get into the festive spirit.]

So you don't fancy mistletoe and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, either?

IM

[scornfully]

Mistletoe.

[ Arthur pulls a face. ]

Not here I don't - although I dare say the chestnuts might be nice.

[ But then he sighs and rubs at his temple. ]

But really. The false cheeriness of it all doesn't get on your nerves every now and then?

[lefthandedgenius]

Arthur!

[Lydia greets him with a huge smile and a hug that has very little - actually nothing to do with the holidays.]

Good, now I can perish the thought of having to make the rounds without you when the parties start.

[scornfully]

[ Oh, all right, it's impossible to remain in a bad mood when Lydia's greeting him like this. It's nice to feel missed - even nicer to feel appreciated. ]

All right, calm down, it's only me.

[ But he chuckles and hugs her back before scoffing at her glee. ]

Please - what makes you think I'm going to be attending any of these bloody parties?

[ Naw, he's frontin', he'll be there looking swish as ever for his right-hand woman. ]

[lefthandedgenius]

[A smacking kiss is pressed to his cheek. before she settles into sitting next to him.] Please. As if you could resist the urge to divide and conquer.

[anythingwithstrings]

No, but it's way more fun than not doing decorations. Besides, this isn't the mistletoebomb the camp was start of the month. That should make you happy at least, right?

*Maya tilts her head as he complains and pouts and is otherwise a pest.*

What have you got against sweets?

[scornfully]

More than you could possibly imagine.

[ Re: the mistletoebomb, although he supposes he wouldn't have minded that part so much. It's probably the sudden influx of festive cheer that'd have got under his skin the worst. ]

Let's see: they rot your teeth, they stick to my arse, they're stupidly overpriced at restaurants ...

[ But he's grasping. This is just how he gets when he sulks. ]

The usual, I suspect.

[anythingwithstrings]

So you're whining because you have nothing better to do with your day?

*Maya's decided, right now that either putting this guy in the same room with Enjolras is a bad idea for the camp, or a bad idea for the two of them surviving. One or the other.*

There are sugar-free sweets that don't suck, and you could just have a salad if you don't want that. And you should watch where you put your ass, or ask a girl to do that for you.

I'm sure one or two wouldn't mind.