Shadows Over Camp Darkness

Gideon was planning something that would either be phenomenally stupid or Machiavellian genius. She would train her kids to use their individual strength against a creature like herself; and yet not cross the line into abusive drill master.  That was going to be a task and a half. Furies are trained from a very young age that they live and die by their will, and their will alone. One of the hardest things that Gideon had ever done was learn to be alright on her own. Furies aren’t dependent on each other, but they are trained to always want to return to their ‘nest’ as it were, though Gideon always felt more catlike than bird, so the analogy had never fit her right. She was going to arm these little freaky darlings with skills they can use not just against her own kind, but other assailants too, and she was going to hit them with some hard truths. Gids wasn’t planning on checking in with Hasselberry or the Dragon either some would argue that it’s better to request forgiveness then beg permission, but Gideon was more pragmatic than that; doing it this way gave the Camp plausible deniability if the plan went epically awry. Strangely enough, it felt quite exhilarating to be on her own this way, able to help these kids see their fullest potential. Or are we just deluding ourselves into thinking we can control this? Gids asked herself honestly, rule one at its finest.

Intake One was standing in front of her, looking confused and expectant. They already knew well enough now to realize that Gideon was capable of some purely strange and most likely terrifying things. And right now she was sitting in front of the Intake House, simply staying quiet while her kids took in her appearance. Gideon wasn’t in her usual almost uniform of jeans and a t-shirt, she’d pulled out her real clothes and was wearing a grayish green pair of combat pants, and a shirt that looked super fitted but was a form of extremely light weight body armour.

“Alright Intake One, listen up. As you were party to yesterday, all I not well in Nottingham. Now I’m going to go a step further and let you all know the truth: there’s only so much we can do to make the Camp safe for you all. Something has gotten in and is causing a ruckus, and despite all the safeguards in place, we have no clue what it is skulking about.” Her words were plainly spoken and she watched comprehension and realization dawn on their faces. They weren’t 100% safe, and a couple of these kids KNEW what that could really mean. Time for the other shoe to drop. “So I am going to teach you all how best to use yourself. Step one: inside the House is a bag for each of you and a paper meant for your eyes only. Get inside the House, that’s the only task right now. One of you knows how to do this, figure it out.” Gideon stood smoothly, limbs loose and movements graceful. She stepped out of the way but none if the kids moved yet, as if needing more instructions. Virgil was standing idly by, not even trying to hide his presence while Gideon had her own fun this morning by giving up the ghost; she wasn’t hiding what she was any longer so her eyes were dead blackness, her voice dripped honeyed madness and her movements were hypnotic. For Gideon, it was akin to taking a full breath of pure, fresh air after spending the last year in a smoke filled room; she was seeing things deeper than eyes could offer, a more basic and pure reality of each life source.

Right now, none of her kids assumed that they could be the one with the skills needed to open the door. The vampire was in full withdrawal, hands spasm erratically and a sheen of sweat over his sunless skin. It seemed that Gids wasn’t the only one whom had noticed because she saw a ‘patch’ on the boy’s psyche to help hold off the worst symptoms of Faerie blood addiction withdrawal. Dilhil wasn’t the one Gids was talking about though and he knew it, so the vampire’s energy fluctuated with calming pulses and impatience. Teenagers. The High Elf was mentally reviewing all her skills and coming up with ideas to get around a locked door, but her poker face needed work. Gideon could read the doubt off the girl’s face; her fear of looking bad in front of others held her back from suggesting anything all because she didn’t want to be the first one wrong. Mardrom was staring at Gideon, all her energy blazing white hot because this was the same type outfit the Fury had worn when the strike occurred killing Mardrom’s family. The recall was messing with the Nightmare’s ability to focus and fear scented the air without a discernible source.  Angelspawn was staring at Gideon as well but his look was lost and confused not fearful, though there was an awareness now lurking in the half angel’s eyes and a fluctuation in his energy that revealed Omen’s presence under the surface. She hadn’t convinced the Nephilim to embrace his duality yet, but he was clearly listening. He had the Power to force the door open, but didn’t offer to do so yet because force wasn’t always the answer. Aglaope was frowning, knowing that if someone had been IN the house, she could Sing and have them unlock the door but her Magic needed a lure to call. The Goblin looked complacent waiting for one of the others to offer a solution, but this was the Goblin’s time to shine; once it occurred to the kids to think about their skills adaptability. Goblins are burrowers, their Magic works at opening up the path before them so if Hantu properly focused on the door, he could cajole it into opening. Gideon had left the hexes and wards off of the door just so that the kids could try this and not have to worry about backlash just yet.

“This is sad. None of you are even trying. Are you so scared of looking a little foolish? There is something in the Camp that can mean you harm, you don’t have time on your side. Try. Go ahead and fail while the consequences are so easy. Get in any way you can think of, just don’t stand there giving up in meek compliance. You are worth fighting for, not matter how pitiful you feel your life is. If you believe in a reward in some kind of afterlife, then earn it in this one now.” Gideon coerced, trying to spur them on. Of course, she had to pick the kid that was least likely to look to himself as the solution. But the other kids had taken the prompting to heart; Cala headed to the windows and started to try and open them, Omen watched Gids intently slowly sharing space with his innocent angel half without realizing it. He was sizing up the Intake, watching them with a natural ability to assess skill, but lacking the experience to anticipate, and the intuition to jump ahead. Virgil was glaring at the boy, all jealous possessiveness which would quickly become irritating if Gideon let him continue thinking he had control over her potential interactions.

“Be smart. I set this task knowing all of you better than anyone else ever has. I know the strengths you doubt, the weaknesses you fear, and the raw potential you all have. Talk to each other if you doubt it’s within you, because the one who can do it might be doubting themselves too.” These were untrained civilians, Gideon had to give them their foundations and build them up from there. Learning to trust yourself, body and instinct, as well as planning things out, was not easy to do as a teenager. Adults seemed to forget how hard it was to work through challenged when their bodies were determined to pack as many changes into a short period of time as possible, all the while there are adults telling you how stupid you are and how selfish as well. Gideon was still on the finishing leg of that journey herself though, still young enough that the kids accepted her as one of them, but now definitely at the ‘she counts as an adult right?’ stage.

“Oh.” Agla suddenly exclaimed, and then did something truly spectacular, she surprised even Gideon. The Siren tilted her face upwards and gently fluted out a song, the tune lilting and jolly. Gideon laughed a full, rich cackle as she realized what the young, brilliant girl was doing. Aglaope was Singing to have someone get the door open, and pitching the call in such a way to focus on her Intake only. It would cause the five others to try their best attempt to get the door open, revealing the one who can do it even to themselves. Hantu was the second person to try, after the very susceptible Dilhil failed to answer Agla’s Song, and the Goblin used his magic in the quick but easily overlooked manner of the Litchen class of Portentums. He spat on his gnarled palm and slapped the gobby mess to the door. The click of the lock turning itself was almost cartoonishly audible as everyone held their breath in anticipation.

“I did it. I DID IT!” Hantu’s surprise was wonderful, a shading of unexpected price. The obese Goblin wiggled with glee as he hugged Agla in elation.

Gideon applauded, setting off the others to clapping too, offering celebratory words to their fellow Intake. Virgil in the distance looked pleasant in his begrudging surprise, he hadn’t understood how this was supposed to help the kids. She hadn’t considered the Siren’s ability to manipulate her peers, but Gideon had known that the first thing she had to do was help these kids feel worth as they are right now. They weren’t unloved simply because they had some issues in their lives, Gideon was doing this because she knew they were worth the effort. That was the counterbalance to her Fury life lesson; harsh truth tempered by empathetic consideration.

“Go get your gear Intake One, your afternoon lesson is only just beginning.” She reminded and they quickly disappeared inside. Despite their current level of teamwork, they still weren’t going off site on their day off. It was punishment for Mardrom’s attempt against Gideon, and doubled as part of the lure to draw the awaiting watcher out. But Gideon suspected that it would take something more now; the first parlay was over and each side now sat back to plan.

“You would think after living through your process myself that I would learn how you do this, but I swear it’s a kind of magic with you.” Virgil finally came closer as the kids vanished indoors. Gideon’s mouth twisted as she fought to keep the smug grin off of her face, eyes spotting a tell tale bruise on Virgil that had nothing to do with the day’s current events. “How had you known it could play out like this? Hell, how do you know so MUCH about all the Portentums?” he didn’t sound disgusted or disturbed, instead the Loki sounded enraptured, fascinated that Gideon played her kids like a skilled cellist strikes a chord.

“I didn’t know, Virgil, I had hope. As for my knack with details, that’s a much longer 온라인카지노게임.” She deflected, letting him catch her staring at the bite mark revealed by his collar to help derail his questioning.

“Pervert.” The Trickster teased her, jerking his shirt collar higher.

“Reprobate.” Gideon felt satisfied that he was distracted as the kids came back out, frowning at her. She’d left each of them a page that listed the strengths and weaknesses they possessed, both as an individual and as part of their Portentum type. A straightforward list so that there was no hiding from the truth of their behaviours; Gideon had also listed their personal issue. Cala had already been called out on her egocentric, self destructive habits, but Dilhil had never been flat out told that his addiction was a form of suicide ideation as he sought to escape feeling like a purposeless burden to his vast family. The Siren was confronted with the knowledge that her crime was nothing more than that shared by many women; being blamed for the crime despite being the victim. The Nephilim was once again reminded that he has the power to choose for himself, while Mardrom looked furious at her page accusing her death wish as an inability to allow herself to grieve. Hantu looked thoughtful as he considered both his success and his hoarding or bingeing habits in new light. He felt directionless, cut adrift and needed to find a driving passion. The hits would just keep on coming, Gideon planned to teach them some hand to hand next.