Alias: Nero
Characters you are Keeping: Zoren Panganiban, Luca Cassano, Elijah Quinn, Tristan Damaris, Mei Lin Su, Ibram Kendi
Characters you are Making Inactive: N/A
Characters you are Retiring: N/A

@ Katie Rose

Thank you for making fun of me at the part when I had to run through camp half nude because of some Hecate magic. I don't blame them, but at least you had a laugh out of it. I'll keep supporting you as always!

Beach activities aren't my thing... let's do some indoor ones next time. How about a game of mythomagic?

Zoren

@ Azrael Blackburn ,

It was really cool for you to hold that wooden dummy construction class. Everyone of any skill level can join in the effort of producing the dummies for training. I've been thinking of holding more advanced classes and I'd like you to partner up with me. What do you say?

Zoren

"What?" Zoren wound up lost in his own train of thought until it was halted by the man's voice. He had put much thought into how he would improve the schematics of the training dummies that he had not realized he was running is mouth off again. It was clear that the boy is dedicated to his craft and as such, this way became a splendid idea to lend his expertise and for certain lend a hand. He's no builder like the children of Hephaestus but he is versed with woodwork. "Oh, thank you. I just thought I'd lend my opinion on this. You're very kind." And no matter how many times someone is going to say it, he would feel flattered.

"Environmentally friendly way is the right way." He happily added. "The Demeter children will be happy to direct you to a center for recycled wood. It's were I get my materials too but there are other sources like local city building projects. You can talk to the contractor and see if you can get some old lumber off their hands. They may have plans to reuse them so it's always better to ask first. The last resort is actually paying for the reclaimed wood and none of us teens have income for that." He gave him a coy smile. "I have my ways. Being environmentally conscious is good for your health, or so I was told."

"Yeah, I don't mind. You go ahead and do that. I'm sure the kids over at the forge would be thrilled to use the extra metal for the dummies. In that case, I'll reach out to my contacts to procure the wood. It's going to be a little bit difficult considering the type of lumber we are using but I'll give it an attempt. We're all training here after all - hand to hand and weapons alike. When someone else does show up, I'll show them around, let them know what you want, and kick start this thing. Maybe even make it a class to teach them to care for the dummies. Everyone's going to use them." Zoren lost count on how many were torn apart and broken from all the training the campers had done over the years but he thought it's time to dive deep into it and make improvements. He did ponder on that... but he overlooked in what action to take.

"Oh yeah, after that incident. I have my beach clothes already prepared." Zoren helped himself to smile at his little sister and an idea came to him just when he grabbed the handle of his duffel bag. "Could you give me a couple more minutes? I'll meet you there soon, just gotta check up on something first." If they are going to the beach, they are going to need stuff for beach activities. He would not consider himself a beach person but he would enjoy it whenever he gets to hang around here with someone. Grabbing his tote bag, the both of them parted ways.

With two water guns in hand, Zoren arrived at the beach looking for Katie. He figured the two of them should kick things off with a water gun fight. For a spontaneous outing, he wasn't a great planner but sometimes things might end up being fun.

It was very much a good idea and it could turn out to be a thrill for his half siblings if they showed up as well.

"A solution I can think of is the padding itself. You want the dummies to deal melee and weapon strikes at the same period of time so I ought to give them protection while leaving room for your fists. Like wearing light armor to prevent limiting your mobility. The same can be applied to our dummies and we also want to focus our weapons towards the padding where the strike is fatal. It could be a hassle, but another idea is making the padding interchangeable. We face a lot of opponents and every one of them has different weakness. And even perhaps not in the shape of our constructs too but different beasts. You don't have to do this, but for other constructs is a challenge reserved for the ambitious and capable. With the dryads permission and the help of Demeter children, we can procure wood for our padding. Then there's the question of the type of wood... I would say red oak is the best material. It's often used for wooden weapons professionally but we can also explore other types for different attacks..." 

Zoren didn't know what the man had looked like until now and impression he had on him based on word of mouth had sunk in as he approached him. It felt odd but he could not help but smile. Definitely has years of experience under his belt when it comes to combat and perhaps a strategist in the making. An opponent to be reckoned with in Capture the Flag, it was a shame he did not get to meet him in battle. He isn't going to let his loss influence him. And even then, he was qualified to be a leader of his cabin- an achievement only a select few can do.

"In the flesh." The young man moved to extend a hand to give a firm shake Azrael's out of pure respect. "I figured as much from the constructs. It's a good thing that you put out an ad instead of calling a specific cabin for help. Other people could get the impression that you favored one over the other- and that's not a good start for a newly appointed cabin leader, right?" He smiled once more. His voice was nothing but cordial. "Congratulations by the way. You earned it." And humble too.

Listening as he finally examined the area, he was sold on his intentions to supervise this volunteer work. It could even be a class should he turn it into one. Zoren walked around with his permission, lowering himself to place a finger or two on the materials, the constructs, and finally, some of the diagrams that were laid out on a separate table. There were several copies, each hand-drawn, just waiting to be passed out to more people who decided to spare their time. This work should be without difficulty for any cabin but he figured he could add in a child of Athena's touch.

"Honestly? I think this is impressive. Well stocked and all the right materials that match the specifications detailed in your diagrams. You can find straw anywhere. The cloth and padding could take some time, but it's nothing many could not handle. These are for bare handed combat, right? Any weapon could tear the cloth off. I would suggest adding hardwood to the padding if you wanted a more cheaper solution since the arena has Greek armor." Zoren grinned. "We train to fight monsters. We should be able to strike without hesitation. 

Zoren had been brushing up on his knowledge of Greek mythology with some reading in no thanks to his inherent ability to understand the Greek language. He wasn't exactly fluent in it but he could read it! At least, that is something he could find himself bringing it up a conversation with a stranger. The young man can be found at his mother's cabin sitting crossed legged with the book in hand while a portal gaming console sat on the nightstand. He was planning on playing a game after he finished reading a section but one of his siblings came by and brought up a new ad of sorts that was posted in the bulletin board in the Big House. It was Azrael asking for volunteers to help craft wooden dummies and their words etched a smile on his face. It's right up his alley and something he could gladly spare some time over his leisure. Zoren left the cabin to inspect the sheet of paper elaborating the ad in search for more details. "At the Arts and Crafts Center..." He spoke to himself- parading towards there in the next moment with a backpack of personally procured supplies.

It didn't take him long to arrive at the center and after a quick glance at the area, it seems like everything else is ready save for some preparations that was not yet done. All a camper needed to do was to start working upon given instruction. But first... Azrael. Dressed in skinny jeans, a regular ol' camp shirt, and a pair of sneakers, he approached the older Nemesis child. "I'm here to help! I could get to work right now but if you have any instructions you want to give since you made the ad... I'm all ears." 

=+=+=+=+=

All face claims and names are subjected to change.

In no particular order will be applied to the board - relies in author muse.

Will eventually pick one per god parent.

Zoren was looking forward to sitting next to his girlfriend under the fireworks. He was not exactly a beach person but he would be open to going upon being asked, but for McKayla- he would be more than happy to go if given prep time. Back at the Athena cabin, he was occupied with packing necessities to his beach bag which he had charmed with extra storage space temporarily for the event. Sunblock, blankets, towels, water, a film camera, and much more. He wanted to be prepared to make sure their experiences are pleasant. And with the summer coming to an end, he wanted to leave them a memory before he comes back to school.

Finally arriving at the north shore, he was sporting a short sleeved linen shirt and white denim pants. A bucket hat protected his head from being hit by the sun's rays while a pair of Ray Bans gave shade to his vision. He was smiling at the prospect of seeing McKayla's beach fit as he paraded through the sand. When he found her, she was linking an arm with another male camper. Zoren grew suspicious, letting this gut feeling walk briskly towards the group. Approaching the young man, he was looking straight at his face before shooting a glance towards their linked arms. No one else may have seen the latter as his head was anchored in his direction. "Scored yourself another set of ladies, eh Levi?" He was smiling but the expression was dripping with sarcasm. "Can you introduce me to your latest conquests?"

Zoren was busy dealing with the red team campers, most of which he was able to outsmart through combat. After seeing that they are leading, he was constantly finding holes in their defense so he can guide his teammates for them to break through. His strategies are good but they aren't a shortcut to victory which was why he and chosen specific campers to be leaders of their group. He can't communicate with every camper on the team while on the go so he has spoken with their leaders in order to get the best results. Finally reaching approaching towards the flag area, he noticed that one of the guards was knocked out unconscious - looks like someone must have knocked them down already. As he trudged closer, he noticed that a fight went to a standstill. With one blue camper seemingly immobile against the two reds.

He was in trouble and more importantly, the flag was in there. If he could keep them distracted long enough then... Zoren decided to take the chance now. With a dagger in hand, he made his way closer through the bushes near the flag and made a quick appearance to grab the flag. 

Zoren was glad she brought her beach clothes to camp. On the one day he realized he had forgotten, a suggestion was made to him to ask one of the Hecate kids to transform his clothes into a fit more suitable for the beach. They did that and of course, Zoren had a good time but there was an uneasy feeling on the back of his mind that there was a catch to this cosmetic spell. So once he was done, he returned back to the cabin and asked the camper to change it back. He could not do it, simply because he could not remember what he had wore before he performed the spell. There was dissatisfaction on his face so he walked back to his cabin with only a pair of damp shorts. The walk was short but campers were looking at him. At least, it was undone the next day by another one of Hecate's kids.

"Maybe. There's a limitation to their magic, little sister. Some have timed effects, others is an unintended effect if a spell is mispronounced. Or some that cannot be undone. There's an endless record of the spells they can learn there so I suppose that particular spell they did think it through. They're all nice kids, trust me. Just sometimes, I get the impression that they are living in their own world." Zoren approached her to softly pat her head as he gave her an affectionate look. "Why don't you go on ahead? I've got some errands to do.I promise I won't take long."

McKayla's comment that played along with his solo concert joke brought upon a faint pink hue on his cheeks. It was one of the many things that enamored him about her. She always liked to play around with him but there are times when she has spoken something that he did not like so he made sure to put it down as soon as possible. To let her know that this wasn't something he'd like to hear from her. And it was okay and the same applied for her. No one likes to hear about anything and that is, he thought, what best defines their relationship by setting healthy boundaries. "That poster better be good. It should show my good side." Zoren did a little pose for the moment before chuckling at the thought. "Well... this groupie is about to have the time of her life. VIP access, backstage passes, meet and greets, dates, and the girlfriend status. I don't see any groupie that could pull this off." He continued to muse at their little artist and his fan charade but it certainly won't be the last time he'll play along. It's not every time that a song he sings is a happy one but she would be glad and patient enough to hear slow songs or even angry ones that began as a rant - another thing he absolutely loves about her.

Planning the picnic itself wasn't that hard as many would expect for a child of Athena but Zoren found himself to be indecisive about it. The food, the decor, and color schemes, the spot... he took hours choosing one by one but even then, he would take it back and ponder some more. He wanted their first date to be perfect and memorable so he could not stress enough now important it is. It was a good thing that he submitted his final choices to the Demeter child but even then, he was still worried whether she liked it or not. Once he was done, he followed up with napkins and plastic eating utensils for them to use. "I could not agree more. I trust them more than my own cooking." It was an ironic truth.

Zoren preferred being on the same team so he would not be pitted against his girlfriend but at the same time, he could work with the possibility of them being opponents. "I hope we are too. With the older campers coming, this may be one hell of a game. The veterans." He grinned. "Anything you're looking forward to doing? I can help you with that even if we're opposite."

It was pretty shocking to see that his lodging space is occupied by his half-siblings that were brought into this world by his mother - the same person. The thought made him grow doubtful of him whether or not she had actually loved his father but then it occurred to him that every other god that helped populate Camp Half-Blood is no better. Great. Either way, this is the only place everyone knows that will accept demigods and provides protection from monsters. Food and shelter, goblets that fill up with a favorite drink, it was almost like a child's paradise as long as you attend outdoor activities to prepare yourself for the unknown. Of course, there's also time for socials. When she brought up the beach, the suggestion surprised him. He was not exactly a beach person but he's willing to visit it just for her.

"Fireworks Beach. Been there several times." He spoke quite confidently. "There's actually no fireworks there right now but a lot of us campers like to bring the spark there." The boy flashed her a grin. "Did you bring beach clothes? Otherwise, you are going to have to ask one of the Hecate kids to transform your fit. I did it once but the guy could not remember the outfit I wore before I went so I had to walk back to the cabin half nude." 

Zoren gave him a sincere look. "Hmm... I'm sure she will come around. It's not like she is going to leave camp just for that. You two have been friends for as long as I remember. She won't let it get in the way." That was his attempt at reassuring him but he does not know what he is really thinking. Saying that it was a date might have struck a nerve on some male campers but seeing him chuckle made him think he can take a joke. He had his reservations about Dustin at first but their meeting had just begun and he seemed like a decent guy. He looked like the type of guy who would have those hobbies but he can work with that since McKayla had spoke of him before. "Of course." He began to walk in the direction of the dining pavilion and maintained a steady pace so they can talk on the way there though he won't admit that the food has his attention than his acquaintance at the moment.

"So how did you get acquainted with McKayla?" Zoren began with an open-ended question but he figured it's about time to know their history since he was not part of it. 

"Yeah?" His lips curled into a smile upon the flattery. He already knew that she had always loved him singing to her but the praise never gets old. He could never consider himself as good as the children of Apollo but that does not mean he can't sing, right? Many sing songs to express their emotions to an audience or to a person. To express how happy or sad they are. McKayla is someone who has heard him singing often so she would know how he felt depending on the song. "Does not mean I will hold private concerts for you." He chuckled at the tease but soon gave her a sincere gaze the following moment as he approached her. "I know. I love to sing to you. You're the only one I can trust that you won't say I suck at it." Zoren knows he isn't a great singer but who is to stop him from doing it? It's part of having a gift of remembering what he has heard so he can always practice the song or remember a track based on the lyrics.

When their lips parted, he took the moment to look down and exhale. A swimming giddiness spun him round and round as the kiss left him delighted when his eyes returned to meet hers. "You too, Kayla... You too." He licked his lips once more as thoughts of their picnic food resurged his mind. Their prolonged intimate moment was keeping them waiting so more of it can wait. "Um, yeah- Of course." Zoren knelt on a pillow and opened the picnic basket before setting up the food on the circular low table that sat one corner of the blanket. "We have healthy sandwiches, fruit, and Greek yogurt. Just enough for the two of us." Placing the speaker on the table, he lowered the volume so it's enough for the both of them to have a chat over brunch. "The Demeter child made the sandwiches. I managed to secure the fruit and the yogurt."

"So I heard Capture the Flag is coming up. No one knows if it is happening or not but I'm pretty stoked. Think we'll be the same team?"

He nodded at the compliment. "Thank you. The pendant is a gift from my father on my eleventh birthday. He took me out, ate good food, even got rolled ice cream. When we got back home, a present lay on my desk. I didn't see it the morning before we left for the outing so I figured my dad put it there. I asked him and he said 'It's a secret'," Zoren could not help but chuckle at the memory as a thumb brushed over the beak. "I opened it and them I see this. I did not know what it meant until I got claimed. That my, no- our mother is Athena." Placing it back down on his workbench, he continued. "I just thought it was a cute looking pendant so I wore it." 

Zoren narrowed his eyes as he smiled at her. "That is why I am here. I just wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out. It's your first summer here and it's my last. We should make the most of it right? So what sort of activities have gotten your attention? Any sports?" As her older half-brother, he wanted to spend some time getting to know her any way he can. Even though she does have a brother by blood, he still considers the Athena cabin members his family.

Zoren knew that Katie would be away to take care of her grandfather but he did not know she would be back already. "How is your grandfather? Is he doing well?" He did not know much about their situation but he sought to know so he could help them in anyway. "Ahh, yeah. My head has been all over the place lately but I'm still accepting the fact that this will be my last summer here at camp. I will visit of course but it may feel different visiting when I am older compared to now. I guess with all the things happening right now..." He paused and shook his head with a soft chuckle. "I don't want to think about it." Taking a moment to glance around the cabin, he appreciated how neat and organized it look so it seems like their half-siblings are keeping it clean - which proved to be a beneficial. A thought crossed his mind as grabbed a mythomagic figurine of Athena from his pocket and placed it in his workbench above the desk mat. "My lucky charm. Well- my pendant too but I bring this to battle." Hopping onto a vacant couch, he laid back against the cushion while having a leg cross over the other. Her half-brother was setting an inquisitive gaze.

"So what about you? How are you doing? If you're available, we can take a stroll or do something together."

Zoren's first week back at camp has been a wild turn of events. Although it is his last summer here in camp, he has resolved to make it as memorable as he could while trying not to leave without a grudge. Often, these can be made during games of any nature but he is a modest player. No shoving in his opponents faces, but he remained humble and expressed good sportsmanship. One such game is mythomagic. The child of Athena is currently playing a game with one of the campers in the Big House's rec room - the same room where Chiron holds meetings with the cabin leaders around the ping-pong table. On the times that there is no staff meeting, campers use it to engage in tabletop games and table sports. Countless board games line up on the shelves where one can use to play on one of the many vacant tables. He wondered how they got their hands on those but figured it is more of a camp contribution. Zoren left the room as a victor and shook hands with his opponent on the way out.

Heading back to Athena's cabin, he made plans to do some reading as he was in a middle of a Japanese comic book that he started last night. Though once he opened the door, he found one of his half-siblings already inside. "Hey @ Katie Rose . How are you feeling? Been some time since you came to camp."

He gave her an inquisitive look. "I don't know. Do I?" He paused with a smile but soon turned back towards the direction they are walking with a nod. "Yes... I do know. Please look forward to it. I want to try it with you, Kayla." Zoren gave her hand a soft squeeze. It was not until he was exposed to adult material at a young age of thirteen and from there it was like a roller coaster. He found himself finding new things to be... excited about but kept them to himself since he knew such topic can be lightly discussed. It also brought him to see women in a different light but remained a disciplined boy that kept his thoughts to a minimum. So when he thought about doing it with his girlfriend, it felt somewhat odd since he did not think the day would come. He had to set the romantic mood and let it settle. Eat and keep distractions to a minimum. The rest of the day would just be about... them so they can hang out with others later. 

Zoren loved singing but not openly. Whenever he was in the mood, whenever he thought only his friends could hear it, or when he was alone. Sometimes when he was in a call with McKayla, he would sing to her whenever he felt like it or when she asked simply because he liked singing. It made his heart light and content, filled with a variety of emotions depending on the song. For this song, it was obvious to both of them how he was feeling - even more so when she kissed him on the cheek.

"Well... You always look nice to me. You are pretty in my eyes, Kayla." He spoke as her thumb rubbed against his cheek. "I've always thought you are pretty. Even when you had a thing for Dustin." Zoren licked his lips. With his face being close to her's, it was difficult to resist kissing her lips but he decided to indulge in it. The young man leaned in without notice to press his lips against hers briefly, eyes closing to feel the texture. Once their lips parted, he could not help but smile. "Of course. I'm not the best boyfriend but I want to be the best one you have."

"I love you, Kayla. Now come on. We should eat up." 

Alias: Nero
Characters you are Keeping: Zoren Panganiban, Joaquín de León, Luca Cassano, Shadow Moore, Elijah Quinn, Stefan Köhler
Characters you are Making Inactive: None
Characters you are Retiring: None

"Well I don't know. What ending did you want to happen?" Zoren twisted her words to tease her but he was certain that what was going to happen... the both of them will like it. He was not even sure if it could happen but the thought crossed his mind ever they began snuggling on his bed or her bed. He brushed his thoughts away and nodded his head, directing his attention to finding the pear tree that became the point of interest for their little picnic spot. After all, he did not want both of them to get lost in the forest.

Watching her finger brush on the iPod's screen, he was eagerly waiting for her to pick a song - knowing full well the lyrics to each and every one of them. After a pause, the song started playing on the speakers and he knew what it was within the first few seconds.

I got your picture, I'm coming with you
Dear McKayla, count me in
There's a story at the bottom of this bottle
And I'm the pen.

Zoren sang intro of the song while changing the name the song it supposedly addressed to his significant other. Once he was finished, he was giggling and his earlobe grew warm. "Good choice. Well- every song there is good. I would have sung their intros anyways." He followed with another giggle, giving his heart partial control to his emotions moving forward. He had never been on a date so far and it seems like it's going well. "And um, I like your dress. I'm not unhappy but you look nice. That I can say."

"I actually did not know what sort of food you like or your allergies so I tried to put together food that people are least likely to get allergic."