PLAYER
Name:
Personal Journal:
Plurk:
Time Zone:
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Messenger:
Previous Characters:
Munhead/Musebox:
CHARACTER
Name: (If your character does not have a canon last name, please make one up or a last name will be provided for you.)
Canon:
Age: (There are no adults at Camp currently. Please keep this in mind as you decide how to age up/age down your characters. If you plan to age up your character, please expect to provide a more extensive AU history to justify this choice. Campers generally start camp around age 11, but can join as early as 8 if they are especially troubled in the real world. Campers leave at 18. If you are apping an older character, there are plots in the works to keep them around once the end of their stay has been reached.)
Demigod/Hunter/Satyr/Nymph/Magician: (Please choose one. If you have chosen demigod, please list your character's godly parent.)
Demigod abilities: (List all abilities your character has. You have a max of ONE ability in addition to the basics. For example, all children of Aphrodite have control over love and desire, but only some have the power of charmspeak or cursing others with bad makeup. If you wish to add another ability at a later time, be sure to clear this with the mods first. Your character need not have any special abilities outside of the norm.)
Personality: (An outstanding app would integrate how their personality relates to their godly parent. For example, Percy Jackson loves the water, and it puts him at ease, though initially he doesn't understand why. His father is Poseidon.)
AU History: (Useful information includes: dealing with ADHD/dyslexia, living in a single parent household and/or remarriages, how they discovered they were a demigod, what relationship they have with their godly parent, if any, and how they reacted to the news of being a demigod. Were they targeted? Or did it merely help them get ahead in school? Etc.)
Counselor: (Does your cabin have a counselor? If not, then feel free to take up the mantle here. If yes, you can still petition to become counselor only if your character is older than the existing counselor. Be sure to state your reasons and the mods will hear your case. A petition does not guarantee you will become a counselor as this is something that must be discussed with the existing counselor's player first.)
SAMPLES
Iris Message: All posts to the network are either Iris Messages (IMs), action spam, or bulletin posts. Provide an example of your character's IM/action spam to the main community.
Third Person Log: Provide an example of your character's post to the log community. You can link to an existing log for your character at another community/musebox, but an original sample is preferred.
Please e-mail your application to the Mod Email at halfbloodhillmods@gmail.com! Applications are processed every Saturday. If your application is returned with requested revisions attached, applicants have one week from the date the e-mail is sent to complete requests, or they will be declined and must go through the application process again. For an example of an application, please see the comments below. |
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halfbloodhillmods) wrote2013-03-11 01:37 pm
(SAMPLE) ISAAC LAHEY | TEEN WOLF | BY STEPH
Name: Isaac Lahey
Canon: Teen Wolf (MTV)
Age: 16
Demigod/Hunter/Satyr/Nymph: Son of Invidia, Roman Goddess of Balance, Justice, Vengeance and Retribution. Monster; werewolf.
Demigod abilities: Isaac has the basic demigod abilities among others. Being a Roman demigod, his brain is hardwired for Latin. He has keen senses and supernatural alertness that make surviving in battle a lot easier. He's trained and rather skilled in hand to hand combat despite how scrappy he is. Along with those abilities, being the son of Invidia has blessed him with an enhanced memory (which, in Isaac's case is more of an issue than a blessing, being able to recall his dad's abuse detail for detail).
He also has the abilities being a werewolf has granted him. His strength, speed, stamina, and basically everything are enhanced. Along with that, his senses are quite a lot stronger than the average person or demigod's. Like the werewolf that changed him, Derek, Isaac can shift, gaining fur, claws, and yellow eyes that signify that he is a beta. On the full moons Isaac risks succumbing to his natural instincts, "wolfing out" and/or attacking others. Despite his shaky control over his bloodlust (which is a strong trait for both children of Invidia and werewolves) Derek seems to have control over him, even going as far as to vouch for him.
Personality:
"I guess that makes me lucky cause uh, I don't have anyone."
In canon, Isaac's life is about balance, the ups and the downs, the control and lack-thereof throughout his life. His lack of control and hate for it, is what causes him in both canon and this au to accept the bite. He doesn't see it as a horrible thing, but instead a gift, the power to take control of his life. Of course, with that power it leads to many downfalls and problems for the teenager.
Now, onto the good stuff (I say good stuff like his life isn't suffering and pain).
Isaac Lahey wasn't always abused and at a helpless state. But when his dad started beating him and abusing him at a young age, it hit deep as most abusive relationships do. He became accustomed to cowering in fear and letting the world kick the crap out of him due to literally a lack of power. Lying about black eyes, busted lips and bloody noses to even the most concerned strangers. Of course, he never truly hated his father for it, even though rage might make him second guess that on occasion.
In canon when Isaac gains power from Derek via the bite he does exactly what one might expect out of a quite abused boy all except for going too far. He abuses the power, bullies those that bullied him first, and even people that didn't but never offered him the help he'd desperately needed. Lahey was shown to be a rather dangerous antagonist when he first got his powers, listening to Derek and seeming to have no issue with killing innocent people. Lydia was only suspected as the creature they were chasing and yet he went after her to kill her anyway, instead of giving her a chance.
Despite the abuse in power, he never does turn around and kill his dad, and he doesn't exactly go darkside either. Both are really good signs for him and foreshadow his eventual mellowing out. After a while he stops being a sort of arrogant jerk with superpowers and sort of lurks by the sidelines to help out when he can. He becomes one of the good guys. And later, in episodes of Season 3 he risks his own life for the greater good and to help others on an almost episode to episode basis.
The main thing anyone needs to know about Isaac is that he has a kind heart. That fact is the reason he becomes one of the "good guys." He seems to generally like fighting alongside the good guys even if he can be a tad snarky at times. This aspect of him is really shown in a scene where he takes away the pain from a dying dog and then proceeds to cry, just as Scott did. In this AU this could be related to his want for balance, giving the dog some deserved peace after all its suffering.
Even though he was abused and may have started out being a werewolf a little shaky and maybe on not so good terms he's good natured and seems to want to do the right thing. He even asks Scott for advice at one point, shocking both the watcher and Scott himself. When asked why he was going to Scott he says it's because Scott always seems to do the right thing. That in itself seemed to gain Isaac's trust and respect and shows just what kind of person Isaac is.
Not only is Isaac a generally good guy he is also reliable especially to those he cares about. He was there sticking by Derek's side and the rest of the pack when they were going after the Kanima. He also showed up at the La Crosse game that he was going to be absent for after he declared he was leaving to help Scott. And help he did, he got Scott who was benched because of his grades in the game by injuring other players and risking his life with the Kanima. And even later on in Season 3 after Derek betrays his trust with a low blow, Isaac still returns to protect and help him.
Loyalty, is a big thing to Isaac (another trait relating to Invidia children), if he deems you worthy of his alliance, he will do anything to help, even at the possible cost of his own life. This is a trait he shows in both Season 2 and Season 3, he continually assists Scott once he realizes that Scott is worth being loyal to and even Derek. From staying to help Scott with the Kanima, going with him to face the Alphas that could easily kill him, protecting Derek even after being betrayed, to trying to at first protect and then avenge the mysterious girl that rescued him.
To say Isaac is overprotective is an understatement, when he cares about someone, he protects them with every fiber of his being. In Season 3 when he hears that Scott is gravely injured and not healing, he goes after Ethan, Scott's attacker, and beats him up in front of the cross country team, not allowing anyone to stop him other than Scott himself. There are also multiple other times that he is shown protecting Scott, or having his back. This protectiveness is due to the fact that in his life, Isaac doesn't really have anyone and the people he had become attached to, are dead. This leads him to want to protect those people important to him.
Another one of the things everyone needs to know about the teenager is that he is a teenager. Not only with the battle of self-esteem in a high school environment he has bad self-esteem because of his home life. This leads to him being rather unsure with his choices, like how his loyalty flickers from Scott to Derek. He also has a moment of self conflict when he can't decide if he wants to stay with Derek or leave.
This unsure nature isn't only limited to himself though, he is generally seen to be timid with other people, even if he's putting on a show of arrogance. He also doesn't seem to trust anyone, with the exception of Scott and Derek ("Do you trust me?" "...Yeah."). Despite this unsure nature, he will try to overcompensate and act like he owns the place if he is intimidated or uncomfortable, of course his tell tale nervous habits give him away rather quickly, despite his quick wit and sarcasm.
Another thing that seems to be parallel to Isaac's age is how emotionally delicate he is. At a very young age his father began both physically and emotionally abusing him, it lead to emotional scars and triggers that one could relate to Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and in Season 3 is shown to have a few panic attacks. In an interview, Daniel Sharman (Isaac's actor) expresses that Isaac is close to a mental breakdown which only furthers the fact that he's emotionally delicate. Though, for someone so young witnessing so much death and misery, it's hardly surprising.
Isaac's caring heart, emotional side and his fierce protectiveness causes him to be somewhat hot-headed and quick to jump to action. He had no issue trying to force what they needed to know out of the Kanima. Then later on, in Season 3 he rushes into action multiples times going after the twin alphas that terrorize him and his friends. His heart is generally in the right place, even if he does tend to make some mistakes by jumping to land the first hit. This of course is due to his lack of any power throughout his life and also the fact that, yes, he is indeed a werewolf. The bite tends to enhance certain characteristics, aggression being one of them.
His aggression and shoot first, ask questions later attitude leads to another topic of his personality: his obvious bloodlust. Isaac is a werewolf, and there will always be a certain bloodlust around and during the full moons. In multiple situations he's always the one to suggest ending someone's life to solve a problem. While that may be due to a mixture of questionable morals (due to his father not really teaching him any better) and him thinking that he's comedic relief and simply stating what's on everyone's mind, he would still go through killing someone if his alpha asked, even if he knew them. Like when Derek says they need to kill Lydia because she "is the Kanima." Some form of bloodlust is a common trait amongst those spawned by Nemesis.
That all being said, Isaac is rather peaceful unless provoked, he takes pleasure in helping other people and animals even if he doesn't let others know. He'd be completely happy living an idyllic life without hurting others. And while most might not see it, he helps even in situations where one would probably be expected to say "wow, screw that noise." Such as keeping the fact that he saw Allison at the school at night to himself as she asks, and also protecting both Derek and Scott's mom when asked, (the latter of which isn't surprising since she took him in, but it still paints a good picture of how he likes to help others).
All in all, Isaac is a sweet good hearted boy, even if he does make mistakes sometimes.
AU History:
"What can I do? I can't fix this now. I can't fix this now! I can't fix it! I can't fix it..."
Isaac Lahey was the youngest and last born to his family, with only his brother Camden Lahey. His mother left after he was born and as he grew up he came to accept that whoever she was, she wasn't coming back to him, his father or his older brother. For years he wondered about this and gleaned no answers from his brother or his father. He lived a fairly normal life in Beacon Hills California, up until he turned ten.
After having a friend over, and that friend - unknowingly to Isaac - nearly died in the Lahey's pool, only surviving because his dad resuscitated him. The days after that became rougher for Isaac, his dad was harsher to him, everything that went wrong was always Isaac's fault.
At the ripe young age of eleven his world changed completely, Isaac learned who his mother was - the Roman Goddess Invidia, this information of course came at a price; the same week he learned the news, his older brother died in battle. It didn't end there though - the misfortune. Something seemed to snap in his father, he got more violent, the borderline abuse became more violent, more dangerous, more bloody.
Isaac learned to fear everything, especially chest freezers.
He used Camp Jupiter as an escape from his dad but still would come back black and blue and worn thin each time he visited back home. Isaac was glad to be free of the daily abuse as a legionnaire of the Fourth Cohort. He did as he was told and sort of blended into the background, avoiding most people due to both shyness and the questions asked about his home life. Things weren't much better, but slightly so. That was until Derek caught his attention, or really, the other way around.
Derek found him during one of his panic attacks, spurred on by a simple mistake, yet the younger boy couldn't seem to calm his racing heart or catch his breath. Somehow Derek managed to both calm him down and earn his respect in one go. The other's random act of kindness caused Isaac to slowly gravitate towards the werewolf even if he was still hesitantly distant.
His new unlikely friend quickly noticed something was definitely wrong each time he came back from visiting his father. Derek never failed to watch after him and one day after coming back with a broken arm and a shiner, Derek finally put the offer of the bite on the table. At first, Isaac was scared and said he'd think about it. That only lasted until the next visit in which he ended up imploring Derek to bite him. Sick of being beaten to a bloody pulp and feeling so scared. It gave him balance, it gave him power and he gladly considered himself Derek's pack.
Isaac had time to learn to control himself for the most part, finding a shaky anchor for the full moon with Derek. Everything was smooth sailing for the most part, until of course, it wasn't. The next time he saw his dad, was the last. He didn't kill him - no, it was something else, what? He wasn't sure, but panicked, he ran to the only person he could think of: Derek. The man that took care of him, who treated him like a brother, who was pack and eventually lead him to the Greek Camp.
Counselor: N/A????
SAMPLES
Iris Message:
[Isaac stares into the rainbow he's made, blue eyes and pale face looking far, far from amused. If looks could kill, this one probably would have set off a nuclear bomb or something... Not that he'd ever do that, just let him sit in his cabin under a million blankets until the weather actually warms up.]
I enjoy getting to wear my scarves...
[UGH, excuse him, he just really doesn't like the cold, especially when he has to bundle up and look like a marshmallow... At least he'll look like one in style. Pink lips press into a pout, he doesn't want to be cold. This isn't fair.]
But, uh, now isn't really the time for scarf weather, wouldn't you think?
[He stares at the rainbow a moment longer before he waves his hand through it, ending his message. He mutters to himself, mocking his stereotypical Californian view of weather.]
What happened to "fun in the sun?"
Third Person Log: HERE IS A THING.
LEO VALDEZ | HEROES OF OLYMPUS | BY RAY
Name: Leo Valdez
Canon: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Age: 15
Demigod: Son of Hephaestus
Demigod abilities: Probably the most obvious skill he inherited from his father is technokinesis. Just like any other Hephaestus kid, he's an expert mechanic. Give Leo enough time, and he can build pretty much anything. If you don't give him enough time, well, it'll do the trick, though it might be missing a few cool features. And learning to operate machinery he's never used or even seen before, vehicles included? No problem. It might take some extra tries and tinkering, but he'll get there quicker than one might imagine. And to take it one step further, he can sense traps, hidden or not, and effectively disable them if necessary. Even for a son of Hephaestus, Leo's skill with machines is extraordinary.
Only slightly less obvious is the blessing of Hephaestus - pyrokinesis, the ability to create and control fire. It's this ability that makes him immune to heat and flames, though it might sting a little if it's hot enough. When in control, Leo can use pyrokinesis for little things - warming himself and others up, starting a fire, etc - but he's also not afraid to use it in battle. Fireballs and little blasts of flame can go a long way in a fight, and so can a defensive wall of flame. And if he concentrates hard enough, he can shoot a white-hot flames that can melt metal. To be fair, though, he isn't always in control. Leo's been known to spontaneously combust if excited, scared, or agitated. Give a demigod a break; he's still learning.
Personality: As a general rule, Leo's a pretty positive, easygoing boy. With the good-natured disposition he inherited from his mother, he likes to believe the best in everyone around him, and takes great joy in making people smile, even if it means acting silly or completely ridiculous. Part of that manifests in cracking jokes (a few bad ones get past the filter from time to time) and a bit of friendly teasing, but that's how Leo shows he cares. Playing pranks (often on bullies) also qualifies. He's practically a Hermes kid in that way.
Upbeat and energetic, he doesn't allow much to phase him, brushing things off like they're no big deal and adjusting to his surroundings pretty rapidly, even through his skepticism. He's honest, and while he doesn't really expect that of others, Leo's more open to accepting the unordinary than most, thanks in no small part to his power over fire. That said, if it's too outlandish, he'll take what he's told with a grain of salt. As young as he is, the boy is highly intelligent when it comes to certain subjects (mechanics, math, problem solving, logic), and he'll weigh the more odd things with his personal experience and knowledge before coming to a conclusion. Since he's a quick thinker, though, it usually doesn't take much time. On the other hand, he doesn't always give himself that time to think before acting. That can get him into a world of trouble, but again, he's decent at rolling with the punches and moving on.
Though Leo's preference by far is to keep his happy, energetic front, he is fully capable of being serious (or angry) if he has to, or if something's triggered it. Life or death situations are nothing to sneeze at, for instance. He's not much of a fighter (though the fire powers help in that regard), but if he has the right tools, he can usually build something to help out in a snap.
The two negative emotions he's most acquainted with would be guilt and insecurity. He blames himself for his mother's death, for letting that dirt woman get to him, for breaking the promise he made by using the fire. As far as Leo's concerned, most of the bad things that happen around him are probably his fault, even in the smallest way; he's just bad luck. As a result, he's taken to running away - from his family, from foster homes, from the past, from mistakes... everything that hurt and brought him pain. It's why he keeps smiling in the worst sorts of situations, despite taking on more than his share of inner turmoil. Keep moving forward, he'd tell himself. Outrun the sadness. Keep going so it can never catch up.
Still, that doesn't stop the insecurity. Leo's got this thing where he compares himself to others, and he often underrates his own abilities. Strong? Hardly, he's pretty scrawny. Smart? When it comes to machines, maybe, but history or literature sure aren't his strong points. Cute? Well, okay, he's got that much going for him. But a guy's confidence can really take some damage when standing next to others who could do so much more. Leo is just the mechanic. Everyone else fills the other roles - strong, smart, persuasive, beautiful, that kind of stuff. All he does is fix things, and that's pretty unremarkable. Even so, he does his best with what he's got to make everything work out. The lowly mechanic has to prove himself, after all.
But in spite of everything, Leo is generally okay with his lot in life. The mechanic, the funny guy, sidekick - it's okay. He does his job well enough. As long as he can stay ahead of his past, there's no reason for him to be unhappy, especially after discovering his status as a demigod. Knowing why he's the way he is - ADHD, dyslexic, can't keep his hands still to save his life (not always a bad thing; it's pretty fun building little things or messing with the nearest gadgets) - and knowing that he has family that won't reject him makes a difference. Having something productive to set his mind and skill to makes it even better.
AU History: Born in Houston to single mother Esperanza Valdez, Leo was raised in a loving home. As a female mechanic, she had to work hard to keep their family afloat, and while she was away, an elderly woman called Tia Callida used to watch over him. The woman was a stark contrast to his mother: instead of being loving and kind, she often encouraged him to do dangerous things and even tried to kill him, because her "little hero" had to be strong, or something. Leo, being a young child at the time, never quite understood what she'd meant, and in looking back decided that he didn't want to know.
Tia Callida was a scary lady. When Leo was two, she had put him in a blazing fireplace for a nap. Luckily for him, he'd inherited pyrokinesis from his father that made him fireproof. He vaguely remembered being comfortable in the bed of bricks, dozing off to Tia singing a lullaby in a language he didn't quite recognize, until his mother came back and snatched him from the fire in terror. At the time, he'd only thought he'd been taken from a nice, warm bed, but he would realize the truth later. Next, he was three, and Tia let him to play with knives. How he'd managed not to hurt himself was a mystery. At age four, Tia Callida had found a snake outside - a rattlesnake - and encouraged Leo to poke it with a stick. She'd coaxed him on, but the snake hadn't done anything to deserve it, and Leo didn't want to hurt it or be bitten. He'd refused to do it, and the snake had gotten away.
About a year later, Leo was drawing with the crayons and paper she'd brought him at the apartment complex's picnic table. He remembered the drawing perfectly: a flying ship with sails and oars and a dragon's head as a masthead. To his five year old brain, it was the most amazing drawing he could have produced, but the wind had stolen it from him seconds after he decided it was done, leaving him feeling upset and ready to cry. Tia Callida had offered reassurance and said something about destiny, and asked him to make her a fire to warm her up. His mother found him soon after in a blazing fire, paper and crayons burned to ashes and wax, hand prints burning into the table. That was the last time Leo saw Tia Callida, and he didn't miss her. After that, Esperanza made him promise not to use the fire until he met his father. It was dangerous, she'd said, and his dad would explain everything to him. Years passed without fire, Tia Callida, or his father, and while they were happy during that time, life was uneventful. Leo spent the time dreaming of his lost ship drawing, wondering if he'd imagined all the strange things that had happened early on. Without someone to babysit him, he spent most of his free time with his mother at the workshop, learning to work the machines, measure, solve mechanical problems that many adults couldn't figure out. Helping his mother while she worked became a cheerful hobby.
When he was eight, however, everything changed. They were at the workshop, staying late to work on a project Esperanza wanted to patent, one with the potential to change their lives for the better. After finishing up, she had noticed something missing and went to retrieve it, Leo staying to wait. Moments after she'd gone, the doors slammed shut and locked. He'd felt a surge of worry, and suddenly there was a woman talking to him - a sleeping woman with clothes made of dirt - threatening him and his mother. In an attempt to protect her, Leo used his fire, but he lost control, and the next thing he knew, it was over. Esperanza Valdez was dead, and he, the only survivor of the burning workshop, was blamed. Now without a guardian, none of his family would take him in. Aunt Rosa left a particularly bitter taste in his mouth, calling him a diablo. That was when he was sent to the first foster home... and he ran away. A second foster home took him in, and the cycle kept repeating. Leo always ran away.
The sixth time it happened, he was caught by the authorities and finally sent to the nearest correctional facility, which happened to be the Wilderness School in Nevada, "where kids are the animals." A few months after starting there, the class took a trip to the Grand Canyon. Before Leo could even start on the worksheet (not that he had it anymore; he'd been hoping his partner did), a fierce storm rolled in and he found himself getting attacked... by what, he didn't know for sure. It wasn't much of a fight. He'd been knocked silly by his classmate - apparently a monster? Leo never liked him, anyway - and by the time he came to, Gleeson Hedge, the coach for this lovely outing, was swinging a bat at the wind. Logic said it should never have worked, but it did well enough. An extraction squad appeared shortly after the storm spirits were defeated to take the two of them to Camp Half Blood, and an (awful) explanation was given along the way. Leo was a demigod, they'd said. His missing father was a god. It was hard to swallow, but the camp, the supposed safe haven, was sure there, and given everything that had happened to him that day (the coach had goat legs), he found himself accepting the explanation. Being claimed by Hephaestus almost as soon as he'd stepped foot inside the camp sure helped.
Counselor: Daenerys. Though the Cabins page says she'll step down if an older demigod appears, and Leo is older. Might have to talk to Daenerys' mun about it.
SAMPLES
Iris Message: You guys throw one heck of a welcome party. This place is amazing! Much better than the Wilderness School.
[ He'll have to go back and visit those girls in the water again sometime. They're gorgeous, and totally not in his league. Mythology's not his strong point. ]
Pointer for next time, though? Seeing the satyr drop his pants is not the best introduction to your heritage. Just sayin'.
[ He shudders. That's an image that will be forever burned into Leo's mind, one he could have gone without just fine, thanks. But, true to form, he recovers quickly, flashing a grin with a mischievous glint in his eyes. ]
So, if you've been unfortunate enough to not meet me yet, try not to be too amazed by my greatness. [ Someone shut him up. ] The name's Leo Valdez, Cabin Nine, at your service. [ Did he really just give a salute with a screwdriver? ] You need anything fixed, I'm your guy.
[ And if you need a little prank while you're at it... Leo's glad to help where he can. He won't say that outright, of course - but the thing he's been tinkering with this whole time might clue you in, assuming you know what the landmines from around the Ares cabin look like. What's his plan for it? They'll find out soon enough, though that grin is pretty telling. ]
Uh... The rainbow's fading. I guess I've got a lot of cool stuff to check out, anyway. Valdez, out.
Third Person Log: Late at night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Leo was still awake in his bunk. Well, not exactly in the bunk, but that was his entrance to the private room below, and he technically wasn't leaving the cabin after curfew, so it totally counted. It wasn't his fault he couldn't sleep. For one, he had to explore his sweet new digs, and man was he liking it. Sure, they had a great setup up in the main level and at the forges, but this was Leo's personal space, and it was the best he could have asked for.
Notepads, rulers? Plenty to sketch out his designs blueprints. Bits and bobs? More than he could shake a stick at; there were so many nuts, bolts, pipe cleaners, paper clips and the like that he was practically shaking in excitement. Tools? Only the best. There were buttons everywhere, and when Leo pressed one, he found it opened into one of those tunnels he'd heard about (there were a few unfinished maps lying around, too). Exploring that could wait, he decided after taking a few curious steps in. Instead, his hands grew a mind of their own and started little bits and pieces of things, working them all together as he thought.
So, Hephaestus was his dad? He snorted. Big deal. God or not, who the guy was didn't matter - he'd still never bothered to talk to Leo, ever. And it was his fault that Leo had power over fire. That had never done him any favors, and it was - apparently - a curse to Cabin Nine. It was a dangerous power. Nothing good ever came from it, and Leo felt he knew that better than most.
He paused, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Stop that, Valdez, he chided himself. We've got a good thing here. No more Wilderness School. Good workshop, decent people, safe from homicidal breezes. Keep going.
Leo's hands started moving again. Thoughts kept whirling through his head so fast he could barely keep up, mostly about the crazy day he'd had. One thing in particular jumped out at him - not literally, thank the gods - the so-called dragon problem. The other Hephaestus kids said the automaton had gone haywire a while ago, destroying things and generally wreaking havoc in the woods, and no one could get near it because it breathed fire. He'd asked about their resistance to flames (it seemed logical to him; he couldn't be the only one), but that was when they'd told him about kids like him, kids who could use fire. And they'd assured him that it wouldn't factor in anyway, not with the dragon's claws and teeth. The only option was to put it down.
It wasn't fair.
It brought back memories of the rattlesnake Tia Callida had wanted him to prod with a stick. Neither of them - the dragon or the snake - could control what was going on. They were innocent. There had to be something more going on that they didn't know about.
His hands stopped, and Leo looked down at his creation in surprise. It was a miniature bronze rattlesnake, an inanimate automaton waiting for a chance to move. He looked down at it thoughtfully, after a moment pushing himself up and leaving it on the worktable.
"Sorry, little guy, I don't have a hard drive for you yet. I'll find one tomorrow, I promise."
That's what Leo did. He wasn't a fighter; he fixed things. Maybe he couldn't fix his past, but as long as it stayed behind him, that didn't matter. He had stuff to make, and it kept him looking forward. Leo turned off the lights, giving the rattlesnake a brief smile before retreating back to his bed for some much-needed sleep.