Family issues.

About mid week Dave and I were studying on the quad when Dr. Lord rode up on Ix Chel and said he wanted to speak with Dave and I.  I got up on Ix Chel and Dave rode his bike as Dr. Lord took us to a clearing to meet Catherine.  They had some gym mats laid out that got me immediately suspicious.

Catherine gave me one of her big hugs and eye'd Dave.  He of course had forgotten who she was and I called him stubborn and hard headed to which he smacked my ass and Catherine did not look happy about that.  Dr. Lord invited Dave to spar and handed me his pint cup.  He seemed so confidant and I didn't understand that.  I mean Dr. Lord is a demigod...he could kick ALL our bands asses at once I'm sure.  Watching you could see Dr. Lord toying with him and when he got Dave in a lock I heard him tell Dave I was much more fragile than he knew and I felt myself bristle at that.  FRAGILE!?  I mean yeah I had been through a tremendous amount of stress and emotional trauma but hey I was still here right?  But then Catherine touched my shoulder and I felt the anger recede and be replaced by calm...I both hate and love when she does that...damn her.  The boys continued and Catherine assured me that none of this makes me weak.  I think that they are worried Dave and I are not right for each other and that one or both of us will be hurt when it ends.  I don't think like that though.  It seems too much like a self fulfilling prophecy.  Think too much about it and you WILL ruin what future you may have had.  When they finished Dr. Lord and Catherine took us back to the cabin for dinner and we had a more normal conversation.

A few days after that Liam came into the common room and tossed some papers on the table.  When I glanced at them I saw they were NYU brochures.  I sighed and saw where this was going so I started by apologizing for what happened at the factory.  Dave seemed to be able to brush it off as nothing and that disturbed me.  I murdered that girl and here he was treating it like I killed her in the heat of battle.  Fletch and Liam argued over whether or not what I did was right and I knew that fight could go on for a long time and it was getting to me so I patiently sat there and got a blade out to cut a little at my arms...well apparently Liam saw it cause he yanked it out of my hand.  The fight continued and I started to realize a big part of our problem was we had no clear leader.  We all had our own ideas and emotions guiding us but no one to step in and say ENOUGH.  Liam brought up how Dave acted then and Dave apologized but I don't think Liam sees it as sincere enough.  And Fletch promised to TRY to avoid killing when not necessary.  Right about then there was a rainbow flash and we were whisked away to a conference room that had Dr. Lord, Ix Chel and two men that made my heart drop at the sight of them.

One man was black and wearing a suit and top hat, Baron Samedi, and the other Latino in an Armani suit, Huitzilopitchli...the scions we killed's fathers.  Dr. Lord made the introductions and asked for us to be seated.  I sat by Dr. Lord as far from Huitzilopitchli as I could even though, really, if he wanted to he could kill me in an instant.  I found myself cutting immediately and Dr. Lord just healed me as I did.  Damn it.  Huitzilopitchli was first to broach the subject at hand by yelling that his daughter was dead and her sacrifice went to another god, and he wanted justice.  Dr. Lord asked for the Baron's thoughts and he seemed unconcerned since he was a death god and could continue to use his son.  Huitzilopitchli asked what happened finally and I knew it was time to step up.  I told him about Owen and how their children stole Dave's relic and were bargaining with Owen, the corrupted scion of Gaia (now.)  They interrupted asking about what the bargain was and I told them what their children told us.  Huitzilopitchli asked how we knew Owen was corrupted to which we told him of the screaming for Gaia, the dinosaur bones, and calling the gods fools.  Both he and the Baron finally agreed we were in the right...at least enough to not kill us, when Huitzilopitchli glared at Fletch and I and asked why his daughter's corpse was desecrated.  In my head I could hear Tepini pleading with me to defend myself...Fletch had told me I could have her and she had insulted me and my father...but I couldn't it felt too much like blaming things other than myself.  Finally with a bit of prodding from Tepini and reassurance from Dr. Lord I spoke up and explained that though I was not trying to pass blame she HAD insulted me and my father greatly and I told him her exact words.

The two gods finally let us off the hook and Dr. Lord dismissed us.  We exited to find ourselves in the American Natural History Museum in NYC which set me on edge immediately.  I can't be comfortable here in NYC anymore it seems.  We went for the elevators and out walked Owen.  I was so shocked and drained already that I just stood there like an idiot.  He spouted off more shit about the gods being inferior and Liam told him there were two gods upstairs at which point Owen fled.  Right then I had a freakshow moment and was reminded of how much it SUCKS to have Fate hit you in rapid succession like that without my nagual around.  I collapsed against the wall feeling like the wind had been kicked out of me.  I told them he was gone...deep in the earth and Zeus was his real father.

Liam was going to stay in the city for the weekend so I asked Dave to wait while I talked to him.  My rune was coming due and I could feel the palpable hunger of it and I needed to know if I needed to find another way.  He said so long as he was around I could count on him but said I should look for an alternative just in case.  We headed to the park and the only secluded place I knew and on the way he told me he was going to try to transfer out.  He wasn't happy with the groups morality as a whole and didn't want to impose his views on the group nor did he want to stay with things as they were.  I told him I understood and led him to some overgrown bushes, pushing them aside to reveal a small clearing and pond completely hidden by bushes.  I sat by the pond and dipped my feet in and told him I'd miss him if he left.  He and I have a lot of fun in Chem class and the group needs him.  I mean I am now ruled by my emotions, Dave by his fists, and Fletch by blood...Liam replied that he doesn't want to tell others what to do.  On top of that he didn't like the idea of having to confront Dave physically if need be.  I pointed out that GOOD leaders don't 'make all the decisions', they take in everyones ideas, make sure everyone is heard, and help organize it all and get the group to agree to a course of action.  I told him if Dave tried something stupid again I would be the one stepping in to stop him, and I pointed out that Alex seemed to have withdrawn a lot from the group since Jahi left.  He considered my words and conceded that I had a logical argument before getting that damned cute mischievous glint in his eye and pushing me into the pond.  I didn't even surface before willing the water to lash out and snag him, pulling him in as well.  When we got out I shook myself dry (it is SOOO nice to be able to control water now) and he removed his shirt so we could feed the damned rune.  I made him promise to slap me if I ever became jaded about how screwed up my pantheon is .  I told him to thank his mom for how he turned out before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and leaving...this city gives me the creeps now.