★ Enemies/Dislikes | ★ Acquaintances/Neutral | ★ Family | ★ Trusts | ★ Likes

★ Dustin Graves

★ Dawn de la Vega

★ Krystal Rose, Axel Gauthier, Azrael Blackburn, Katie Rose

★ She is 5'3".

★ She has a collection of stuffed animals in her room. She used to have one in camp, but one of her siblings tore it apart. She beat them to a pulp.

★ Her Hogwarts house is Gryffindor.

★ She is born in the start of Lunar New Year.

★ Mandarin is her first language.

★ She doesn't like Scythian dracaena.

★ Her favorite Chinese actor is Yang Yang.

★ She can play the guzheng.

★ Her favorite video games are Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tekken 7, and Street Fighter V.

★ If she were to pick a fruit to represent her, it would be durian. Because it looks prickly on the outside, but in reality is actually quite sweet.

WIP.

#bd4444

Mei Lin was still fanning herself. It was not even hot - she just liked doing it. Observing as she lifted the katana off the wall, she was thrilled by her weapon of choice. It seemed like she shares her passion for blade work but perhaps only certain weapons can one really feel whole when fighting. Even for a daughter of Ares, she could think of a few that could give her that feeling but she didn't intend on going all out for today. "It is quite a beauty," she smiled, "Katanas are one of my favorite weapons. My master would not let me touch one until he thought I was trained enough. He finally let me after a year and a half." A soft chuckle parted her lips, followed by a nod. She was simply happy with her choice. "You have made a good decision."

She wasn't expecting to spar someone so soon but she hasn't seen her in combat. Recalling that she was Dustin's training partner, she wanted to see for herself when faring against another child of Ares. "I would be honored. I think the arena is free for another thirty minutes. We have until then to spar." Mei Lin held the two fans with one hand while gesturing her to come with as she stood by the shed's doorway.

The daughter of Ares continued her dance as she performed swift strikes and maneuvers that can be done with years of fundamental training. It was part of her master's teaching style to constantly get her to do the basics until they are of second nature. After that, everything else will feel like a piece cake but he never said they will be easy. And it was not. She remained calm the entire time because it should not be anger that drives her movements but a clear mind. It is true that emotions are the driving force for her ferocity but she will end up getting hurt if she goes overboard.

Mei Lin did not mind the one-man audience but she welcomed the company with a few words. Entering her routine into a close, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes to see a robust man but his face felt different from his body. Kind eyes and perhaps the same person has made difficult decisions in his life. If he told her that he became a soldier, she would believe it. After a moment of glance, she approached him with a cordial tone. "I appreciate you not interrupting me. If you did, I might actually attack you out of habit." An awkward chuckle parted her lips. She was still learning how to withhold her attacks at the split-second like those people in martial arts media.

Looking over to what he has set up so far, her eyebrows were raised for the moment. "Are you going to teach class here," She glanced over to the selection of weapons. "With those?"

"I'm doing great, thank you for asking. I didn't know you were here." Mei Lin did not intend on scaring her but she knew it was just a joke. She could not understand why she hasn't gotten to know more of her when Dustin talks about her in positive light but she decided that would change today. What was it about her that makes her cabin leader swoon? "I slept in so I am starting my training routine in the afternoon. I assume you are here for a similar purpose?" After all, who would go to the shed and stare at weapons all day? She did one time but she wouldn't do that again. Hopefully no one else knows that story.

"Hmm..." She pondered as she pored over through the armaments and a grin curled the corners of her lips as she found a pair she can use in her training. Iron fans. Grabbing the pair in her hands, she popped both of them open and fanned herself for the moment. "Feels really hot in here." She quipped with a smile. "It's not the best weapon against monsters, I know but I don't find them every day. More like people to me. Do you have a weapon that you align with?" Mei Lin was curious. Campers train to use a variety of weapons because their favorite isn't always going to show up in battle. 

Mei Lin absolutely loves the fall season and anyone can tell if they looked at her seasonal selection. But for now, just a set of warm, comfy clothing would do the trick. She did not need to dress to impress and there really is not anyone out there in particular she wanted to impress with her attire. When the nearby camper was making footsteps towards her, her ears could not pick it up. It was not that she was ignoring her but she was simply focused. It was the voice that pulled her out of the studious spell and she looked up to see where it came from. Giving the child what seemed to be more than a glance, she looked younger than her but not by much. She has not seen her around in this place... but that's mostly because she herself is usually out and about. Mei Lin placed the book upright for the moment for her to read the title which says:

The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

She can probably guess who is her god parent from the title but anyone could read this book if they're interested. For the daughter of Ares, she wanted to brush up on war strategy while learning some of the English terms. "Hey," She began. "This might be an odd sight to see. Most campers take their studies indoors now that it's a bit chilly out here but I enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. I don't mind if you want to hang around. What's your name?"

Many can observe that Mei Lin is dedicated to her craft (which is true), but even studious children like her need a break from time to time. Even if her mother is not here to supervise her, she was strict with herself just so she can say she accomplished something during her stay at camp and if possible, gather all the proof she needed. Pins, patches, badges, trophies... nothing could make happier than seeing her mother happy but at the same time she tends to do things in her own pace but even Dustin is more or less strict with her studies. The daughter of Ares nevertheless had a great weekend. She enjoyed the fun, chaotic energy at the beach, witnessed the drama between some campers, and even played some games. She knew some people here and there but she certainly had fun. To begin the week, she began with her training not before dawn but later in the afternoon since she decided to sleep in.

Mei Lin wound up in the weapons shed next to the Athena cabin. It holds a huge selection of armaments from various cultures made with a Greek mythological touch. Most of them are made with Celestial Bronze but there is a minority made with other magical metals or just those without magical properties. She absolutely loved looking at the display and she's pretty much most of them... or so she believed. Seeing that the door of the shed was already open, she could assume that either someone is still inside or it was left like that. When she peeked her head, it was the latter.

"Krystal. Hey!" She began with a cheerful tone as she entered the shelter. "How have you been? Any plans for the week?" Instead of asking her for anything weapons related, she asked for her well being. Mei Lin was more interested in getting to know her at the moment but she had no intention of involving herself with the drama between the her and her half-brother. She's watched too many c dramas to know.

Fall 2021

Upon finding out about those monthly cabin inspections, Mei Lin not only felt the obligation to keep her fellow cabin mates tidy but she also needed to follow through with the punishment they'd received for the previous month's inspection. A part of her was glad some other cabin also got a low score but she didn't want to clean the pegasus stables. Anything but the pegasus stables. She strongly preferred not to get her hands on equine manure, even if she was wearing sanitary gear. Arriving at the stables early in the morning alone, it seemed her other siblings didn't feel the same. They're so lucky she was already disciplined before she arrived to camp. 

Sighing, she tried to set aside her irritation and get to work. At least doing chores alone was something she was used to and mucking stalls was somewhat familiar. River Tuan had a small herd of horses, some cows and goats as well- and horse mess was the easiest to clean. The organization of the stables made finding the supplies she needed fairly simple, something she could probably thank Etham for. Loading up the wheelbarrow with a fine tine pitchfork, farm shovel and a bag of pine shavings, she made her way to the stables.

"Hey there, Jia Li," she smiled. The smell of the barn and the sound of hooves quickly eased the burning irritation in her chest. "Let's get you out of here," her voice took on a soothing tone as she hooked his bridle and led her to a tie post. "Sorry I didn't ride you the other day," she filled a bucket with a bit of grain for her, running her hand down her neck.

Making sure her rope was secure she returned to to the stall, shovel in hand, ready to get to work.

OOC: You're welcome to join her as she cleans or have a conversation. The more, the merrier! (And the faster this can get done. )

Axel's joke bought upon a chuckle on her lips. Such weapon, she couldn't agree more, are typically used to fight larger beasts. Horses, for example, their legs can be cut off and the blade can take the life of the rider. Or so her master has told her. Going by that logic, it made sense to her but she wasn't going monster hunting as she had intended to perform a form of it was taught by her martial arts discipline. To the outside observer, it may seem like a dance routine but she did not mind the classification. Seeing him give it a spin and offering her the non-pointy end, she was grateful at the way it was given to her. If it was the other way, she could pass it off as an accident. "Chiron wouldn't appreciate that." She quipped as she grabbed her guandao. 

The daughter of Ares gave the ginger-haired boy a coy smile.

She already knew that every camper gets training to work around the night with their five senses. She didn't know exactly what was their true purpose but she had a gut feeling they aren't just up after hours just for target practice. She had no intention of revealing their secret anyway, not being one to tattle. "I'm already in trouble by being here but I've gone out a couple times like this. It's nothing new but a monster hunt does sound enticing... I'm in. We'll just find a monster and kill it. Easy." Though what caught her attention was the argument he had made to her when she caught him in here. What sort of thing could convince her, an older camper, to get herself in trouble for him? She wondered about it but decided to let it go for now.

"Come on. We've got monster to hack."

Reading.

It is perhaps an odd hobby for someone with dyslexia but she is the one of many demigods who share the hobby. Since she was diagnosed at an early age, her mother had taken steps to help her combat against it. The both of them never expected it and Mei Lin thought her vision felt weird whenever her eyes were on an excerpt. She had a tutor and granted special attention at school to help her learn and score the same as her classmates without any setbacks. Some made fun of her but what scared her the most is her mother's disappointment. Mei still likes to read and a dictionary can be found next to her as well as a flash card to record every word she was not familiar with and look it up in the dictionary as soon as she was done reading. The daughter of Ares sat at a picnic table in a semi-open field with a book and the rest of her reading materials in front of her. Her comfy attire kept her warm from the fall weather consisting of a sweater, sweatpants, and a pair of white sneakers. @ Katie Rose

A certain daughter of Ares was looking forward to this event. A fireworks show at the beach, marking the beginning of the fall season. She knew it was going to get colder from now on so she was glad to have her fall clothes ready which made today could be the last day to enjoy the beach without feeling like you are freezing after a brisk breeze. The rest of her siblings had gone off ready so she was pleased to have the privacy of packing up for the beach. She was looking forward to meeting her friends who had also went ahead to the beach but she simply needed some time to prepare herself for such a big event. "Oh that won't be needed." She commented as she grabbed a dagger out of her tote bag and instead placed the necessities.

It didn't take her long to head to the beach with several other campers heading in the same direction as her. When she arrived, many had gathered into groups already so she began eyeing on the first individual she's familiar with and paraded towards him and apparently her other siblings who were wresting. "Guys..." She gave them a Really? look but she wasn't surprised at their behavior. "At least don't bother other people. We all want to enjoy this event, right?" After they exchanged nods, they were focused on Dustin and so was she. Among the enabling, she wanted to support him - knowing that you've loved someone for the longest time only to break up. Getting back together won't be an easy task but it'll be worth it once more.

Sporting a white tee shirt in which the rims are tied into a bun from the back and denim shorts, she adjusted her tote bag to her shoulder and paraded towards Dustin. His half-sister gave him a light slap to the back of his shoulder. "Hey brother- Oh." She acted shocked upon the eye contact as she covered her mouth. "Krystal. Um, sorry. You guys pretend I wasn't here." Walking a bit away from them, she turned around. "I was never here!" She shouted happily. It was her little attempt to lighten their situation. 

If she called, James is also a cabin leader. It takes qualified individuals to be made one plus having a big heart for this place. She knew he doesn't express it much but he does deserve such a role when he was patient with her English oratory skills. A little strict with their little tutoring sessions but it's nothing she could not handle. After all, she's dealt with her mother and her master. "I'm sure James will be more than happy to stay in his post. The man loves his campers." She didn't know James that well but the word of mouth contributed to her growing positive impression of him. It's a shame she has yet met to meet him. "I was just finishing up here so I can unwind back at the cabin." Eyebrows momentarily raising upon the request, it had been some time since they last trained together. She was okay with them training separately as she knew this was his peace time just like her's.

"Yeah, of course. Why not?" She replied eagerly with a soft smile. She could pick up a bit of hesitation from the way he ran a hand to his hair but she could be reading into it too much. After all, Dustin wasn't really the expressive type. "Come." Mei Lin led him to the side where it is open with no obstructions. Perfect for their spontaneous sparring session. Another breeze blew over them as she stood a few feet from him. Putting her ponytail over her shoulder, her body formed a leopard stance and increased her awareness knowing full well he is a proficient fighter. It was for the moment when the air around her relaxed. "Breakfast after?" 

"You could say that."

Mei Lin knew very well that campers shouldn't be out this late when everyone else is asleep. It was for their own safety but she had been out like this a couple times since her inception. Going to the shed like this wouldn't be her first rodeo. As for those two, she was a bit curious on why they are out here as well. She could assume that they are also getting in the extra practice but she knew very well campers preferred to stick their practices during the day. Video games was also an option but exposing her eyes to such stimuli would take her to a groggy next morning. The boy didn't look that much older but more so younger than her. Was this the same boy who was claimed by Nike? It would probably be rude to ask at the moment when she intruded in their conversation.

She knew Krystal because of her half-brother. The two of them hasn't talked much - just exchanged words here and there. "I'm good with any weapon but I do have a bias with blades." Like many campers, she felt empowered once she gets her hand on a weapon. She believed that any weapon she wields is an extension of herself, helping her to reach several more inches or feet than her arms could. Her master also showed that he could turn certain everyday objects into weapons too but she hasn't gotten near that area of study yet. She could get in some practice with a bow for that long range... but she simply felt more comfortable with a short range at this time of day. "Then could you get me umm..." Her eyes began poring over to the weapons of all shapes and sizes. They all certainly look manageable but there was one that looked like could fit her craving of sorts. She was about to mention its name in her language but she held back knowing they wouldn't know so she pointed at it instead. "That thing over there."

"So you wanted to practice with a bow... during the dark? How can you see that target? I'd stick with a weapon that you align with the most though I applaud you getting out of your comfort zone in such an odd way." The more she thought about it, the more it didn't sit well with her. It was kind of amusing. "If you tell me what really brings you two here, then your secret is safe with me." 

Mei Lin was up writing her weekly letters to her friends and family. The rest of her half siblings were all fast asleep so a little lamp light was not going to wake them up. Each letter was done with fine penmanship and decorative ornaments with a personalized finished for every recipient while she included copies of the letter written in her native language for her mother and grandmother. It was one of the ways to get around her dyslexia and her friends from back home would expect spelling mistakes. A dictionary can be found right on top of a short pile of paper for her use if she was going to practice her writing again. She thought of every word and even read the letters over again as if she is the recipient. It was obvious that English wasn't her first language but she was surprised that some campers helped her out and taught her in Clover's stead. Once she was settled on her pronunciations, any further attempt to sleep had failed. Perhaps she took a nap earlier in the day and had some warm tea after dinner but she felt the energy that was brewing within.

And what better way to unwind with a weapon form? It didn't have to be swift and strong but elegant and graceful - qualities that made her stand out as a competitor. Dressed in a Rilakkuma sweater and matching gray sweatpants, it may be somewhat hard to spot her if she didn't have a light. The young lass made her way to the shed only to hear voices from the inside. One... no. Two campers are already here? Mei Lin was rather surprised. It's rare she'd find presence at this time of the night. Knocking by the entrance, she appeared from the torso up - a cordial smile curling the corners of her lips. "Hey! I'll just pick up a weapon and I'll be out." She wasn't too familiar with the ginger haired boy as opposed to the older Nike child. "Dustin's... friend, right? ... Krystal?" She made a full appearance as she went inside when the name finally came to mind. Shooting a glance over to the boy, she continued. "Apologies for barging in your little conversation. I suppose you guys can't sleep either."

Mei Lin was writing to her master about an upcoming competition she will be competing in a couple months from now. Not only she was demonstrating her skillset, but also to represent her school. It was her initial concern that the campers aren't familiar with the weapons her martial arts use but to her surprise, some of the Hephaestus children decided to take up on the challenge to provide for her what she needed on the condition that it stays on the armory. She had no problem with that and made visits to the metal shed whenever she wanted to practice on a specific weapon for the competition. There are other students who could use the same weapon or her classmate couldn't show up, she'd be there to demonstrate. Her master knew she can pick up weapons quick but he'd set aside his biases when chosen to be a judge. Either way, she wanted to see how much she has improved. Once she finished with her letter, she left her cabin for her usual routine at the arena - her mind at ease knowing that she has it to herself for the next hour. After picking up a double broadsword from the armory, she paraded towards her destination. It was an amphitheater with a somewhat calm presence if it weren't for those currently vacant dummies that bear Greek armor and other dummies that serve combat purposes.

The student chose to spot before examining the wide area she could occupy for her form. Once she took a deep breath, she closed her eyes for the moment. In the next, she began. (For your imagination, except a bit more slower.) @ Azrael Blackburn

As she stood still on one of the poles. she was lost in thought. Thinking about her mother back home and how she cared for her all this time only for her to leave on a short notice. Neither of them knew it would come to this but they had no other choice. Since the encounter with that Scythian dracaena... it was her first real battle with a  monster that made those hellhounds like easy picks. She imagined herself battling it over and over again as it seemed like it was the only way to ease the discomfort that arises from the reminiscence of short. She felt powerless against it but she hasn't seen it since. Until then, she'll be ready to take it on again- whether it is the same one or different. A familiar voice interrupted her rancor train of thought, bringing herself to open her eyes. She was still standing onto the pole with a light breeze swaying past her. It was none other than Dustin, her half-brother. Mei Lin flipped backwards and stuck the landing with a smile. "I don't know. I was lost in thought. Sorry for making you look at the sun." It was a trivial thing, but she still felt the need to apologize.

Dustin would find her training around the same time since the two of them get up earlier than most which led them to become close with the spare time they had. She considered him to be a brother she never had and was surprised at his patience with her English speaking skills when they first met.  If Clover was here, he'd probably thank him. Or he probably knew already. "So what brings you here? Heading to the Big House, cabin leader?" 

The past two years staying in camp had been quite the experience. With Clover out and about, Mei Lin had to take up her English lessons on her own and eventually with some help from other campers. Her dyslexia plays a role in her having difficulty writing, but her speaking skills have improved tremendously since she met Clover. She had been practicing her writing by sending letters to her family and friends and they in turn would send back their replies plus the mistakes she had made in her original matter along with revisions. On the bright side, she can watch her c dramas without needing subtitles to which she can argue that more shows she can count have seldom mistranslations, a small pet peeve of hers. Mei Lin can be found leaving her cabin before she could go further, she turned around to examine the exterior. She still could not get used to how it looked. Barbed wire? Boar head? It's entirely reminded her of those places with a 'no trespassing' sign like... jails. But who is she to judge her own father's cabin?

She wasn't wearing the usual camp attire but instead, a sleeveless black kung fu outfit with a red outline. She had been training under the tutelage of an esteemed master for years and soon became a prized student. He was like a father to her, a role he could perform better than her actual god parent. Not that she cared. Hair wrapped in a ponytail, she can be found standing one of the tall, thick wooden poles with one leg, often switching with the other to demonstrate balance with a crane form... @ Dustin Graves