partyofthree | Caged Animal (Open)

Entry tags:

Caged Animal (Open)

Who: Sasha, anyone.
When: Day she arrives, mid-afternoon
Where: The edge of camp.
What: Staring down the outside world.
Warnings: Sasha will be a bit mouthy.

Sasha's first move after her tour of the camp, and the explanation of the situation? She was at the border, staring out into the rather unimpressive expanse of NOTHING. She was expecting a large fence and wolves or something big and melodramatic. Nope, just... grass, and a tree. Naturally she wanted to just defiantly stride out into this nothing but something told her there was more than a little danger at the edge of camp.

So she stood there, staring out, trying to determine if this was a better way to spend her day than talking about sex with Michelle. She honestly thinks the 'monsters' that may or may not be outside would be less bloody an affair than talking about sex with a former Vegas Showgirl. This wasn't fair, she was already far from her parents, now one of them claims custody without telling her who they are!? What sort of stupid system is that. If she's going to be here she'd at least like to know who her parent is.

"The only good news is that if 'the buzz' is true I can at least get something good in New York City. They wouldn't make a show about it if it didn't at least have nice clothes," Sasha mumbled, maybe she could go nap at a broadway show during the outing. That'd be a fun story to share back in Paradise. But for now... she'll stare down the border, until it blinks, because she won't.

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Worick had been equally unimpressed with the border of the camp after his arrival. After all, if all those terrible, man-eating creatures really were out there waiting to attack, you'd expect more protection around you. He'd gotten into the habit of walking by the border every day, trying to see if he could catch a glimpse of any of those monsters he'd been hearing about.

This was the first time he'd come across company. As he approached he overheard a bit of what she said. Enough that he could piece it all together.

"Man, I hope so. If I have to wear this stupid camp shirt the entire I'm here I just might go marching out of this camp, monsters or not."

Sasha wasn't expecting company, of course she shouldn't be too surprised. Nobody could honestly want to stay here, so watching the border should be more common. Still, she was shocked even if she shouldn't be, and turned to face the newcomer, look him in the eye and all that.

"What monsters, anyway? They can't all be capable of hiding. And if they are, they probably aren't very smart about it. I'm sure if I shout out there at them they'll fail the first rule of not being seen." Sasha was one to trust her eyes more than anything else. And her eyes said the other side was empty. "And who decided the best shirt color was orange? Nobody wears it, and if they do they are either very daring or very stupid."

Worick would have been in agreement with her about the monsters if Nicolas hadn't mention his encounter with some of the creatures that were out there. His partner is the one person whose word he trusts when it comes to certain dangers.

"You should give it a try and see what happens. If they're to be believed, we should be safe from whatever is out there as long as we stay inside the camp borders." He brings his hand halfway up to his mouth before remembering he didn't have a cigarette in his hand. With a sigh he stuffs his hand back into his pocket.

"Beats the hell out of me. I'd like five minutes in a room with them, that's for sure."

Sasha, never one to back down from any perceived challenge, stepped up to where she perceived the border. Spared her companion a single glance and turned to shout, clear and without any fear, "MONSTERS! Don't be shy, we don't bite. Just let us see you, unless you're too scared of just two half-gods to even show your ugly, fangy, monstery faces to us!"

She went through all the motions of waiting at the edge, turned back to Worick, and sashayed away from the edge of camp. Owning she just shouted at an empty field. "It's possible a God had a hand in this stupid shirt, still want five minutes with them?" It was worth asking, he did seem tough, but was that measured with any level of sense. Not that she showed much with her last bit of antics.

He hadn't been sure what to expect when he was encouraging her, but her response was nothing if not amusing. However, he figured she wouldn't be the kind inclined to agree so did his best to mask his smirk by looking away. Worick scanned the area past the borders feeling a little disappointed when nothing appeared.

Following a few feet behind her as she walked away, he barely gave her question any consideration before answering. "Why not? Who says gods couldn't use some constructive criticism just like the rest of us?"

"From what I know of Greek myths," which wasn't that much, but it was enough, "They don't take kindly to criticism, even if you word it very nicely." She did have a bit of respect, he didn't hesitate on that at all. She was sure she could say that to another camper, but probably not to one of the Gods themselves. She was ballsy, not suicidal.

"So... anything important to know about this place that was left off the tour? Where the booze is hidden? Places campers sneak off for some alone time? Any actual good things about this place?" Sasha needed to play a little nice if she was going to get home. What she'd need with her to cross that border and make her way back to California. "I'm Sasha, by the way."

"Something to keep in mind, I suppose. I can't always promise my words will come out nicely." And yet he's always careful about what he says, how much he gives away, how people will react. But where's the fun in giving that away. Better to pretend he's a tough guy with a suicidal streak.

"Let's see...if there's booze hidden anywhere I have yet to find it, so odds are there isn't any. I wouldn't know about that next thing since I'm not exactly looking for a spot to ravish any underage teens, which this place is full of. However, the food isn't half bad and if you manage to be claimed by any god except for Hermes, you have a pretty decent place to sleep." Those things may not sound like much, but take it from someone who has lived on the streets before. "I'm Worick."

"Nice has never gotten anything to change," Nice was cool for keeping things the same, but when you wanted to make a better world, nice people were useless. Sasha's friends were 'nice' (not Mel), and that's why she was the one who pushed them around and things would get done.

This was by far the stupidest summer camp ever, she managed to find booze while she was at the Joffrey. Granted, ballerinas are a cutthroat lot, nobody really believes that. Sasha didn't drink anything there she didn't keep in her sights at all time. "I figured you'd know them to avoid them, not wanting to perv on any teen ravishing going on," he didn't seem the type to need to perv on anyone anyway. Thugs rarely were. "Food is good, I'm still stuck in the house of unwanted children so no luck on sleeping places. I take it there aren't any towns close enough to bother trying to get there and then out into the real world?"

"I don't know about that. Ever hear the saying 'you'll catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar'? People who are nice seem easier to trust." He stopped there, already feeling like he was giving too much away. It blames it on being around all these kids for days. Too many of them are so innocent and trusting. They remind him of Nina and, in some ways, of Alex. The only difference is these kids haven't experienced the cut-throat ways of Ergastulum.

He ignores the first two comments but responds to the last. At least that's something he has a response for. "Actually we're just a couple miles away from New York City. In fact the whole camp is going to be having a little field trip over there soon. Might be a good idea to get acquainted with some more people. They use the buddy system here."

"Blah blah blah, yes, but once you've been nice and gotten their attention what then? You sit around in a circle and talk about each other's feelings?" It was curious he was bringing the idea of being nice up, maybe he was playing her. Still... no matter what, eventually change came from drive. And drive didn't leave room for being nice to the end. Someone eventually destroys someone else to get ahead.

"A few miles isn't that close, but it'll do for a start. Especially if we don't have to worry about walking that distance," she was more thinking a Hogsmeade village arrangement. Somewhere to lose the Gods, the monsters, and everyone else. "Buddy system? What are we twelve?"

"No, you definitely don't seem the type to share feelings." What he doesn't tell her is that sharing feelings can lead to sharing weaknesses. You let someone in far enough, they'll know how to destroy you. Which is partly why his guard is always up. Even around kids. He's not willing to risk it.

"I'm pretty sure we do. Have to walk there I mean. The buddy system is both a way to keep people together and to make sure everyone has back-up once we leave the camp. You know...because of the monsters."

She was right there with him, weaknesses could be exploited. It's what she did, she didn't need to be subtle about it either. "Not if I can avoid it. Feel good bonding moments make me want to barf." She figured her position on sharing was, by and large, because her (assumed to be) dad was gay, and her (assumed to be) mom was a cold, heartless bitch. But honestly she was fine with the daughter they raised. She learned to do it all herself.

"Great, camp run by Gods and they haven't figured out vans," Sasha grumbled. At least the reasoning for the buddy system wasn't totally idiotic, but at the same time, "So I have to find someone competent in a fight, and knows how to put together sentences in... how long do we have? I guess I should work on beating up monsters too. This place certainly doesn't give a girl a chance to catch her breath..."

"Well we leave this coming Thursday sometime in the morning. So you have just under a week to pair up with at least two more people. Or you could always try tagging along with a group already paired up." Although from what he's seen of her so far, she doesn't seem like the tag along type. He almost offers to let her join up with his group. Between him and Nic they meet her requirements. He can talk and Nic can kick ass. But he figures that best left as a last resort. With Nic around who knows how much trouble they'll find themselves in.

"Oh, and about the monsters. Apparently you can't kill them unless you have special weapons made out of a certain...monster killing material. No idea what that is yet. But I'm looking into it."

"Great, a week to figure out how fight monsters, make competent friends," she paused to stretch a little. Which, given her skills at ballet, was more than a bit impressive. She at least wasn't out of shape by any means, "And learn how to do the splits in pants that don't have any give to them. Joy."

"Probably some special blessed material, or the body parts of other monsters," All the stories required monsters to either be killed by a unique weakness material like wood for vampires, silver for werewolves. Or you could use some aspect of another monster as a weapon. It was just kind of logical, monsters would be just as deadly to other monsters, right? "So without the right kind of weapon, no amount of prep would actually help me win? Keeps getting better."

"This is only a personal suggestion, but you might want to make those first two priority. There will be plenty of time to twist yourself into any position you want after you make it through the field trip. By then you might even have some better pants."

Worick isn't very familiar with monster myths. He knows the basics but in his world there is a much more prevalent and dangerous form of 'monster'. A human kind of monster. Against them no one has much times to concern themselves with vampires and werewolves. "I have a few ideas on how to get the information. I just haven't made it that far, yet. But from what I've been told, go in armed. At least you injure or distract it enough to give you an opening to run away."

"I'll probably need some of my flexibility to fight monsters," He had a point, fighting monsters and finding allies did seem the priority, at the same time being able to twist into any position could be useful.

"So this place can't just come with an instruction manual, great." There was a bite to her words. Her annoyance that none of this was simple was more than justified. Now she had to learn a weapon in a week, at least enough to not hurt herself with it, and hope that it can actually help her with a monster. "You wouldn't happen to have a book on Swordplay for Dummies do you? Cover all the steps after 'stick 'em with the pointy end'?"

"You should focus more on being able to run away. Speed trumps all when you're going to have to run for your life." While he wass not discounting flexibility and its usefulness, the only things he was used to counting on in a fight is strength and speed.

"That's what I said when I got here." He had phrased it differently but it was generally the same concept. "Maybe we should start writing one." His tone is light and joking. While not a bad idea, he wasn't sure he would want to commit to that kind of project. Besides, why should they make it easier for people coming in after them?

"Real heroic..." Not that he was wrong, it just felt wrong, deep down. She tried running from her problems before, and it was better to stare them in the eye. If they had eyes, usually it was just... standing up to whatever it was. "I'll take it under advisement."

"Hah, they can suffer like we had to," at least until the questions got annoying. For now she was very much for the 'we had to do it, so can they' school of learning. She'd consider it for her friends, but the only ones that were likely born of parents that they didn't know of were Melanie and Michelle. And that's just because Michelle could have been the Lindbergh baby for all Sasha knew... barring that age thing. "So what's there to do for fun here, other than learn to stab things?"

"There's nothing heroic about getting yourself killed." He shrugs it off. He was not concerned about her thinking of him as a coward. He knew what he was capable of handling and what he wasn't. And man-eating monsters were never his forte.

Ah, now that was a question he wasn't sure how to answer. What he spent most of his time doing was keep an ear out over the network, wander the camp, and read whatever looks interesting in the library inside Athena's cabin. "I think I saw some people doing crafts yesterday..."

"Especially if it's shot in the back running away from a fight," It wasn't a bad idea to run away sometimes, but she was pretty sure playing tag with monsters wasn't terribly safer. She have to hope the game is hide and seek, she could manage slipping away in a crowd or a maze... maybe. "Or... whatever happens when a monster catches you from behind."

And now she'll just stare at him like he grew another head. Crafts was the best he had to offer, was the best this place had to offer? A camp of demi-gods, who should have some level of save the world power and they were doing crafts? "...We have got to find a way to get some booze in here."

"That's why you make sure they're properly distracted or too injured to run after you first." Honestly he can understand why they tell you to stay in groups. It's easier to break down the creature's concentration if they're being attacked from multiple sides.

He grins innocently and shrugs. "Wait until we go on that field trip. We'll probably be able to find plenty of booze in the city."

"...Or be faster than whoever I'm with?" Well that was a cheery thought wasn't it. The whole not needing to outrun the dragon joke was no longer as funny as it was.

"Not too long a wait, that's good I guess. Don't really have a fake ID though..." not that she was opposed to stealing, she was just opposed to more trouble than she needed. "You can buy."

"You're just always thinking on the bright side, aren't you?" He shook his head. Even he wouldn't be so cold as to leave someone in his dust to be gobbled up by a monster.

He seemed to consider this idea for a long moment. "I could..." His lips twitched into a smile. "But I don't have an ID either. Left them in my other pants." Pants that happened to be back at home. Not that he really needed an ID in a city where his face was recognized by locals.

"One of my many talents," Yeah, this was depressing, to be fair the world wasn't much better. Still, it was a talent she was proud of, even if it was only good for cutting down others.

"Please, anyone carding you has to be blind or hitting on you," Even if she couldn't put an exact age on him, it was over 21. Heck, he acted old when she talked about things. "And there have to be plenty of people in New York who don't care, right?"

Ouch. Way to hit a guy creeping up on middle-aged in the gut. If only his actions matched up to his age because now he was going into full on pout mode.

"You really shouldn't insult the guy you're asking a favor from, you know?" Luckily, Worick isn't the type to hold grudges. At least...not over something as little as this.

"Oh don't pout, it's unbecoming. I was only saying you don't look like a lost little high school boy," Really, pouting? She could tell you to act your age but that's kinda how this mess started.

"And right now, it's really useful, since your ID is in your other pants."

Of course his response is to stick his tongue out at her. Act his own age? Yeah right. This is so much more fun though.

"Alright, alright, I'll see what I can do. Do you got a preferred brand of beer that you would like, princess?"

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Caged Animal (Open)

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