IM from Aphrodite Cabin

[lefthandedgenius]

The colorful hues of the Iris message unfurl to reveal Alcuin and Lydia. The pair are holding hands in a display of unity and their expressions are quite serious. Alcuin's the one who speaks first.

"'I would like to say that I'm stepping down as counselor for Cabin Ten in favor of Lydia Martin. I have every confidence that she will be an excellent counselor, and I would like to thank my siblings for their support this winter."

Lydia gives Alcuin's hand a gentle squeeze and takes a breath before addressing everyone. "It's my plan to uphold all that's honorable and good that Alcuin has brought to Aphrodite's Children while he was counselor. The traditions we've chosen to continue - - and the traditions we've chosen NOT to continue - will remain the same. Please see me if you have any questions or concerns."

That seems to be all the pair have to say, and the message ends as they await any immediate responses.

Comments

[im]

[lastplaceigo]

Welcome to counselorhood, you're gonna have fun. [Margot actually loves it. Shhh.] Good luck, though. It can be tough at first, but it's totally cool.

[lefthandedgenius]

My cabin's pretty tight so I'm hoping it won't be quite as difficult as it might have been say, a few years ago.

[clearasil]

That means the heartbreaking rite of passage is still out, right? [ There was a lot Silena did for Aphrodite cabin, she realizes. Her own memories of the girl are complicated but she did start to change the face of an otherwise superficial cabin. It's good to see there are more honorable leaders in place, but she doesn't really say any of that because she's still a little annoyed about the whole unfulfilled crush thing. A sister has to worry, after all. ]

I mean.

I'll see you around at meetings, I guess.

[lefthandedgenius]

[There's a faint lift to Lydia's brow, but her expression remains amiable.]

Still out.

[clearasil]

Thinking about it now, I wonder if I should put some stupid rite of passage into place in my own cabin, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. [ Okay, Natalie, she doesn't need to hear about it. Thank you for your input. ]

I like being a counselor, though. I've never really been a leader. You're probably a natural.

[lefthandedgenius]

I think that depends entirely on how one defines leader. You've guided Hekate's kids pretty well.

I hope I do alright, but the point of any rite of passage should be to help unite, not split people apart and make them miserable. There's no point in promoting the downside of love, heartache will come easily enough to all of us at any given point in our lives.

[clearasil]

Oh. [ That's a surprise to her. She didn't think she'd done anything of note. It's not hard to help out siblings she loves, or will come to love. ]

Tell me about it. Love's complicated enough.

[pyrkagia]

[She's sad to see Alcuin have to give up the spot, after all, since he is her friend. But...if Lydia challenged him, as she assumes happened, there must have been a clear winner. There must have been a reason.]

I've no doubt you'll do a good job, Lydia.

[lefthandedgenius]

Thanks, Dany. I appreciate the support!

[pyrkagia]

You're welcome.

[Her voice gets quieter.]

If you don't mind me asking...what brought the challenge on?

/private

[lefthandedgenius]

To be entirely honest...Al wanted to wanted to lay down the burden and asked me to take it up.

[pyrkagia]

The...burden.

[There's a little nod, but she's not satisfied with that answer.]

How could leading be a burden?

[lefthandedgenius]

You'd have to ask him. His heart wasn't in it anymore.

[pyrkagia]

He didn't...he didn't explain to you why, then.

[She gets the feeling this wasn't an ordinary counselor challenge. Dany's lips visibly tighten.]

[lefthandedgenius]

That's not it. He's...going through some stuff. And I don't feel right going into it with anyone. [Not even you, Dany.] It's a private thing, but he didn't feel like he could be counselor anymore. I wouldn't have taken the position unless he assured me he thought it was the right thing and everyone in the cabin agreed.

[pyrkagia]

I see.

[She'll have to talk to him about it herself. See if maybe she can get some information out of him. She hasn't seen a counselorship change over - well, except for Leo - in a long time.]

Well, I trust you'll do a good job, Lydia. You lead well - even amongst people who aren't your siblings.

[Herself included.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia knows that look.]

If he wants to talk to you, I'd be glad for it. He really needs to talk to someone. Maybe an outside perspective, someone who's not a sibling would be better.

[She cocks her head.] But if you don't mind my asking, why are you so interested? I mean, is it something other than concern for Alcuin's well-being? Are you worried about how it was handled?

[pyrkagia]

I'd like that. It'd be good for him.

[She does nod a little, though. Lydia hit it right on the money.]

I wasn't sure how the counselor challenge went.

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia's brows remain raised.]

Did you think I'd arranged a coup or something?

[pyrkagia]

[She shakes her head.]

It's a believable mental image, though.

[lefthandedgenius]

[That draws Lydia up short.]

Excuse me?

[pyrkagia]

[That's not what she meant, and Dany sighs, running a hand through her hair.]

I simply meant that if there was an injustice in something, I could see you rising up against it. I didn't mean to say that there was one in this situation, Lydia.

[She'd meant it as a compliment.]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Lydia's lips press together tightly.]

I appreciate it, Dany. [She manages a smile. A lot of people have brought up the capacity Aphrodite's children have for manipulation lately, so she's a little defensive.]

[pyrkagia]

[She knows that look, though, because she gives it to people all the time, and she knows it on others' face as well. But she can't show weakness, even though she knows she's in the wrong. She's been showing weakness too much lately - she can't allow it to happen again. She isn't a pushover anymore - she got past that. This camp got her past that.]

What I said earlier still stands. You're going to do an excellent job - you provide counsel to even those who aren't your siblings. That's admirable.

[She means herself, of course. Because Dany wants to be a bit like Lydia, someday.]