Snakes on a Street

Once again, alot of yammering.  Lexi is apperantly trying to solve some mess of a love dodecahedron that was going on at the party.  She's trying to make Hera and Aphrodite happy, but the both of them want people to end up with different ones.  Trouble is, Hera's effectively got the spirit of Lexi's pop as a bargaining chip.  Giant Greek clusterfuck.  And Lexi's not willing to simply let it go...I can't really blame her, it's her father's spirit after all, but he's only there in the first place because he was an oathbreaker.  Ugh, what a headache.

So ultimately, we're all going to go have chats with different people involved here, see what we can sort out.  Then Cindy insulted my traditional breakfast.  I mean, like I said.  I had it for years and look how well I turned out.  Hrmph.  Oh well.  What she whipped up wasn't bad.  Pretty good, actually.  It's just not cocoa pebbles and whiskey.  Ah well.  We eventually opted to simply go out for a while before hunting down the folks we needed to talk to.

Of course, everything decided to choose that moment to go wrong.  Should've figured, but what can you do?  Nasty snake critters being lead around by their tenders...apperantly with the ability to burn people's eyes clean out of their heads.  Peachy.  And regenerative powers out the wazoo.  You know what?  I'm going to start investing in exploding bullets, I'm tired of perfect shots just glancing off.  At least we know taking out the brain will put them down for good, thanks Kenny.

Being called.  I'll finish the story later.  The short version is, there were guns, and snakes, and shootings.  And Cindy's axe.

Musings and Thoughts and Laser Beams

While Cin makes breakfast(traditional my foot.  Traditional Claire breakfast is Cocoa Pebbles with chocolate milk and a glass of whiskey.), thought I'd get some things down.  Views on the rest of these chumps I'm with after all this time, y'know?  Alright.

Family goes first, so Kennedy.  She's a damn fine shot.  Probably the only one really able to lead this band of misfits aside from Andrew or myself.  Girl needs to open up, though.  Well, ok, at least be more assertive when she isn't about to cap some fool.  I suppose that business with Hal didn't help much.

Guess that can take us to Andrew, next.  Only one of us from a pantheon outside of Europe.  Probably the only one of us with his head screwed on straight.  No real temper to speak of that we've seen, keeps his eye on the mission and not personal issues.  Probably needs to get laid though.

Which takes us to the prime candidate, Lexi.  One of our Greeks, and sweet as sugar.  Enough so that I'm pretty sure I'm going to get diabetes just from being near her.  I guess she's the morale officer of the group, always ready to talk and make nice, and she was sent out well equipped to do so.  But I guess being the kid of Aphrodite has its perks in that department, huh?

Next is Captain Douchenoodle.  No, I suppose his name is, technically, Hal.  As you can see, I'm not overly fond of the chap.  I'll be the first to admit I have temper issues, especially when it comes to loved ones in harms way, but this guy...wow.  He makes me look like Lexi by comparison.  It's not -all- bad, though, as much as he pisses me off most of the time.  He's got a warrior's spirit, and is probably the best all-around fighter we've got.  Not to take anything away from Cin.

Speaking of.  Cindy, Cindy, Cindy.  I could spend an inordinate amount of time on her(giggity), but I should probably try to be objective.  She's...frustrating, at times.  No regard for personal safety in the slightest(which does wonders for my blood pressure, really.), and...well, the next bit is -my- fault.  I vaguely recall something about it being my idea to use the stones to smash the chains on that stupid dragon, which got her into her current mess.  It's been...partly fixed, and hopefully this time in Greece will let us fix the rest.  But...damn.  Wait...that sounds way too much like there's nothing good about her.  There is, lots of stuff.  But thigns that are pertinant to the band...mmm.  Probably our 'Berserker'.  Doesn't worry about defense, but good god, don't get in her way in a battle.  Puts everyone else before herself too...if she didn't, Germany might've gone a bit different.  But it's endearing, too.  ....and her entry is already twice as long as the others, and I said I wouldn't do that.  I'm such a noob.

Party time. Excellent?

Well, it's the next morning.  I got my chance to talk to Artemis.  It wasn't her in Avalon, not really.  Likely it was an...after image, of the one time she'd been there to retrieve her deer after the Morrigan decided it'd be a good blood sacrifice.  I guess now I'm taking it upon myself to repair any damage between Artemis and my erstwhile sister-in-law.  I'd rather not have them fighting, as after a long night spent chatting with her, she's really quite nice.  Got her contact info in my phone and everything.  At least I didn't have to deal with Ares tonight, but this bloody festival is going on all week.  Ugh.

But that was more the last half of the night.  First...oh, Rhodey, you are going to get an asskicking as soon as I figure out a way to wreak my vengeance properly.  Maybe sister-in-law will have some advice.  Maybe talk to pops, too.  Mannanan and the old man.  Ought to call mom and the old man, too.  Been a while.  Probably would want to hear about the Avalon thing.  Anyway.  Rhodey used some kind of mind-screw to make us all think we were his best bloody friend.  I'm really getting tired of that sort of nonsense...anyway.  So, we're all mingling, me and Cindy are talking to Harmonia, and Rhodey-boy pulls a gun.  Now...you might be surprised to find out I didn't just take a shot at him.  First was that mind-screw.  Two...y'know, I'm not really a violent maniac.  I've actually calmed down quite a bit, especially since Avalon.  Even if, as I said, I still feel like shooting alot of people.  I don't really imagine it now.  Progress, right?

We didn't get to start a proper fight, though.  Me and Rhodes followed the sound of shouting to a bunch of centaurs having Lexi and Andrew cornered.  Well, Lexi cornered, Andrew got chucked into a bush.  Aside from a bunch of centaurs being assholes, I think I missed something while dealing with Donny.  Kenny did interfere a bit...probably more of that mojo people keep throwing around. Enough to interrupt whatever Rhodey said Lexi was using, anyway.  Let's just say the whole situation was messed up and leave it at that, continuing to think about it just brings up unpleasant images.

Cindy's up, sounds like she wants to go get breakfast.  Guess I should eat something before the madness starts back up.

Man, and I thought my extended family was weird.  If me and Cindy ever get hitched, half of these people aren't getting invited.

Ding! Grats!

Well...Ding.

We came home from Avalon with that power boost.  While the others were off tending their own business before the ceremony we had been invited to, I stayed at Pops' place.  The rifle was shot, but I was able to modify it into a neat little pistol.  Should pack more of a punch then anything else I could easily get my hands on short of a vehicle-mounted M2 or a tank cannon or something.  I was able to talk to Brigid, too.  Nice lass, I think I'm going to get along with her real well.  We had a nice chat, and she did...something to the pieces of the pistol while I was working on them with her.  Found out among other things I can just call the weapon to my hand regardless of where it happens to be.  No more leaving it behind in goddamn Germany.

Oh, right.  Had a little chat with Lugh, too.  He was happy as a clam about how I won him that bet with Pops.  I think he zapped that gadget I picked up in Alaska.  I'm not exactly sure how yet, but I'll figure it out when the time comes.  There's...an awful lot of that sort of thing in this line of work.  Flying half-blind all the time is not exactly pleasant, but...fate tends to be a special bitch to people who try to buck that trend.  And I've got enough issues with that.

The ritual was....well, what it was.  I don't particularly feel like going into it.  Just one of those things.

Got told we had a few months after that before we'd -have- to do anything.  So me and Cindy went on a little tour/vacation/series of dates that didn't involve violence.  It's a nice change of pace from our usual nights on the town, hopefully we can keep that up.  Spent some time trying to help rebuild MIST.  I spent most of my time helping get the armory back in order and up to function.  Might as well make it my personal playground while I have the chance, eh?  Also dragged her out to a few places in the Caribbean and the States.  Banked on our newfound celebrity status in the divine circles a few times, too.  Now -that- is strange, finding out you're a household name.

Met Cin's family, too.  I think I'm going to get along with them, too.  Indigo seems to approve of my tinkering...and I think Kyria will too, if I can build her a heavy enough set of weights or some other way to test her strength.  I guess Cin gets her single minded side from her.  I guess, otherwise, things were pretty quiet.  Haven't had time to relax since this 'Hey, you're the kid of a god' business kicked off, and I get the feeling the times are going to be few and far between.  Enjoy it while you can, and all that.

We all apperantly got invitations as the hot new demigods in town to some wedding between a couple of Greek children.  The big names are going to be there from the pantheon...oh, meeting Ares is going to be awkward.  At least the chance to talk to Arty should come up.  Last thing from Avalon to settle, really.

Well, we're at the party.  Guess I should pay attention instead of mentally blogging.  Which is pretty cool, now nobody's going to yell at me for blogging during a mission when they don't know I'm doing it.  Chumps!

Prison Break

Cindy made it through the gate ok.  From what we could figure, a good chunk of the Titan influence had been burned away.  There was some left, but it was far less.  Probably what explains the fact that she's just as tall as she was before she walked through the gate.  Admittedly, I am kind of dissapointed.  I'm a terrible person, but I liked being able to use the top of her head as an armrest.  Ah well, what can I do?  Well, I could hack her off at the knees and build awesome little robotic feet to nail to her knees, but I don't think she'd let me.  Call it a hunch.

She says she loves me.  I probably should have given her more then the Han response, and I think I will once this nonsense is over with.  Maybe Artemis(or my self-doubt.  Still think it was Arty-kins.) was wrong.  Well...hell.  Even if she ends up right in the end, I'd rather enjoy myself with someone I do love for a while, even if things fall apart, then to sit around being a mopey little twit all the time.  I made enough crappy computer games under that kind of mindset that I still owe the Internet a few apologies.

In any case, we got into the temple.  In proper sneaking mission fashion, we also managed to find what we came for.  Unfortunately, there was a rather annoying Boss Monster inside, in the form of the god Tishtrya.  Hal had wanted to use the possibility he would be taken alive to distract it on a merry chase, but...

Oh, damn you to hell, Cin.  You're going to give me a heart attack, you know that?  She volunteered.  The taint made her a better candidate, as much as I hate to admit.  And damn me if it didn't work.  The god took off after her and the rest of us slipped into the chamber to find Andrew's father...sealed into a cage by a number of pillars with runes on them.  Guess we've all got one to deal with.  Runes and stuff ain't really my thing, regardless of how much I might know -about- them, I Don't know squat about disabling them.  So...brute force it is, however it works out.

King-Bearer

Well, that was...something.

Not really much to write about.  The path we needed to take to reach this Temple we need to find...well.  I'm not sure what all the others saw.  Ain't my place to ask, and if they want to talk, they will.  I met someone.  Claimed they were Artemis.  Yeah, that one.  Whether it was or just an odd expression of my self doubt, I couldn't exactly say, but I'm inclined to think it was.  I'll just ask if I ever get the chance.

Claimed Cindy was going to go running off with Bryn.  I didn't particularly believe it, mind, it just didn't seem to fit.  It still does't, I don't think she's the type to just flake off without bothering to actually end things.  But...damn.  The ring business Arty showed me....meh.  Like I said to her, it doesn't matter.  Shit like this has happened before, and I've no reason to expect the world to change that now, aside from my own faith in Cindy.  It'll be enough.

Besides, we'd a job to do, like I told Arty.  Whether Cin brushes me off for some Viking ho-bag,  if it was really Arty, or some twist of what the Yazata had done, that job still needed doing.  My love life will attend to itself.

In the meantime, the King is going home, and gods help whoever gets in the way of that.

It's Only a Model (Shh!)

Well, we know our job for pops to help cover for what happened in Germany.  At least the first one.

We're taking King Arthur's ship to Avalon.

Yeah, that's right.  He was a Scion too, apparently.  Makes sense, really, when you think on it.  I'm looking out the window at the drydock it's in now.  Poor girl needs a lot of work, but I think between the lot of us we'll manage.  Turns out that his last journey never finished like the stories said, that his ship sank on it's way.  Causing Avalon to fade into the mist.  Yeah.  So you can guess where HQ is.  Whoever named it that needs to be shot in the face with a Death Star Superlaser.

Dad took us to where the ship had rested before bringing it all back.  Interesting view on the bottom of the ocean.  In any case, I think we can do this.  We've got a second mission too, once we hit Avalon.  It turns out the Yazata(Who are, in fact, playing their own game based on their own outlook, rather then...implicitly aiding the Titans.  Still might be hope for them if we can swing Altair to the cause.  We'll see) are hiding Andrew's father.  Yeah, that's where Andrew ran off too.  We can get Arthur back home, but...

I don't know.  Assaulting Avalon?  We're going to need to be prepared.  Crazy prepared.  I'd love to have my armor, but I doubt it'd be ready in time even with the help of the Irish smith-gods.  Who I still haven't gotten in touch with.  Always something when I go to make the call, y'know?   Plus, the weapons.  I'd rather it didn't come to a battle, but I don't expect it.  Barring the weapon I'm working on...a Browning M2 or an M249 would be nice.  I'd -prefer- to have Caladbolg...Excalibur, rather.  The sword, y'know?  Pops say it's lost to time and fate, the stories say it was returned to the Lady of the Lake.  Doesn't seem like, in the kind of world we're in, that anyone would let it out of their sight.  Even Arthur.  There might be some clue on the ship.  Going to look for it when I have the time.

Not sure what else to put down now.  Got a few plans to go over with Kenny.  For now...going to go see what I can do to help put that ship back into one piece.  I'm not big on the whole 'life and death and souls to the afterlife' routine, but...Arthur's soul is still on the ocean floor, or bound to the ship until it reaches Avalon.  He earned his rest centuries ago, it's long past time he got it.