Calling all Demigods! discussion

Sounds of laughter and music float through the air. Even birds crowd around to hear the melodious voices of the campers who enjoy the vocal arts. Classical music, rock, modern, all are welcome. A special alcove is reserved for poetry or literature. Whether attending to perform, listen to other artists, or just to please the ear, all are welcome here. The Gazebo is whitewashed with a detailed wooden roof: intricate designs of plants intertwined with the nine Muses. It is large to accomodate bigger groups of musical instruments, and white wooden chairs face it for concerts.

Sulking all the way down to the gazebo, her good mood quite dissipated, Myra plopped herself down on the seat of the magnificent grand piano, dark mahogony with a thick glossy finish. Her father had given her lessons when she was younger, and Myra had had a taste for classical music-- what she lacked in skill, she made up for in heart. Sadly she only remembered two of her favourite songs: Bessame Mucho and a sad unnamed masterpiece.
She let her fingers trail over the cool ivory keys and turned away to face Holly in a huff. "The nerve of that stupid Aphrodite!"

Holly shook her head disapprovingly, in agreement. "They're all the same," she said. "It's best to forget her for now." She sat down next to Myra, experimentally hitting a high-pitched key. She couldn't play an instrument, she never had much interest with those kind of things.

"Forget--" Myra spluttered, then slumped with a sigh. "Is she right, though, Holly?"

"Of course not!" Holly exclaimed with a slight gasp, then snorted. "Don't listen to her, she probably doesn't even know how to spell her own name."

An unwilling giggle escaped Myra's lips and after a moment of trying to constrain laughter, she collapsed on the piano keyboard in a magnificent cacaphony of clashing notes, shoulders shaking in laughter.

Holly's annoyed expression melted into a wide grin, letting out a small laugh. "I hope that made you feel better."

"Kind of," Myra said, her beaming grin fading to another half smile. "They just really annoy me, all of those stupid Aphrodites. Carter's the only one I could sort of stand, and he's--" She bit her lip and changed the subject, a rare display of tact. "What do you want to do today?"

Holly raised a brow, holding back her curiosity. She wouldn't ask now, Myra was already annoyed enough. "I don't really want to do anything much," she said with a shrug. Her day had been tiring, and she was worried about the heroes(mainly Caspar).

Myra sighed in relief. That had been a close one; she'd nearly reminded Holly of the quest again, unknowing that it was on her mind 24/7 anyway.
"I kind of want to lie in the sun on the beach," Myra said, examining her thighs for non-existant tan lines. "I want to get darker before my dad forces me to go to eleventh grade."

Holly smiled faintly. "That sounds great," she said with a nod. "The beach it is. I'll meet you there later? I've got to change." Sitting in the sun would be relaxing, and maybe, just maybe, she might get the Iris message she had been waiting for.

((Not with Caspar bleeding his guts out. ;) Although... *thinks* *lightbulb* IDEA!))

"Sweet," Myra said with a smile, prancing up. "I'll dry my hair off and get my speakers." She got up from the piano, closing the lid with care, and walked to her cabin with agile fluidity.

((I just read your post. IDEA OF WHIM'S?! *curiosity*))

Holly stood up and left at a steady sprint for the Athena cabin, glad that Myra had gotten over the problem with Bikini Girl.

Alauda walked up, eyeing the gazebo. She pulled the piano open and poked at the keys a bit. At the harsh-sounding notes, she quickly pulled the lid back over, curiosity abated. She definitely did not have any musical talent. She picked up her notebook and tapped her pencil on her leg, sitting near the edge of the gazebo. What to write?

Serapis strolled up to the gazebo, climbing the steps slowly. He nodded hello to Alauda though he didn't smile; he didn't feel like he could ever smile again.

Boing. Hayley's brow was furrowed in concentration, strumming the incredibly large cello that leaned against her legs. "I hate strumming," she remarked with a sigh, swearing as another unpleasant sound vibrated from the strings.

Alauda looked up. "Hello, Serapis." She frowned at his blank face. "Something wrong?" She asked, tapping her pencil absentmindedly.

"No," Serapis said vaguely, twisting his lips in a forced smile. "I don't know." He drifted to watch the small girl playing the cello, and he frowned at her technique. He wasn't a maestro or anything, but there was something wrong about her playing. "Maybe you should ask Alauda for help?"

"What? No, I don't need any help, I've been playing for years," Hayley said, frowning back at him in confusion. "Strumming isn't supposed to sound nice, until you get it right, of course," she explained, tightening another string.

Alauda laughed, a nice, trilling chuckle. "Me? Help with music? I'm not sure that's a good idea..."

Serapis shook his head, disoriented. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'm completely out of it today. You have a nice cello at any rate," he told the girl. Child of Apollo, probably.

Alauda shrugged. "It's OK. Daughter of Calliope, didn't seem to get any talent from my aunts..."

"It's brand new," Hayley said proudly, stroking the glossy wood finish. "That's why I have to strum it." She grinned at Alauda tilting her head. "You must be Alauda, then. And you are..." She moved her gaze from Alauda and onto Serapis, curiosity brightening her eyes.

"Serapis," he said, a smile twitching his lips at the girl's avid curiousity.

"That's an interesting name...I'm Hayley, Daughter of Apollo if you haven't already guessed." Hayley's grin broadened triumphantly as she set the last string, reaching for her bow. "Dooooo..." she sang out her scales, running the bow along the strings and creating a low sound.

"I have," Serapis said simply with an admiring glance at the bow. He preferred to stick with words himself, but he did enjoy to hear good music.

Alauda smiled. "You're very good. I wish I could play music... all I do is write."

"Hey! I'm a man of words myself," Serapis said, though his smile didn't quite reach his amber eyes.

Alauda smiled, too. "Words do have a power."

"Fear my wordly power," Serapis said, drawing himself up to his full, ridiculous, six feet four-and-a-half inches. "Roar!"

"Re. Mi." Hayley continued, closing her eyes contently at the tingles on her fingers the vibrations of a the strings sent. "Most people guess right." She opened her eyes a fraction, studying him curiously. "Who's your immortal parent?"

"Polyhymnia," Serapis answered, not expecting the girl to know who he meant. "Muse."

Alauda laughed at the friendly banter. "Choral poetry? I didn't know that."

Hayley giggled at their exchange, nodding to Serapis. "I see you are a fellow roar-er. I roar before I murder, strawberries, that is."

"Oh dear," Serapis mused (pun intended). "Are you a strawberry killer as well? Seems like we're going to drive this camp to bankruptcy."

"I live in the fields, until the harpies come out at night and I have to go," Hayley said with a sigh, shaking her head mockingly. "Jink likes strawberries too."

Alauda shook her head. "There are some satyrs I know who'll not like the sound of that!"

"Who's Jink?" Serapis asked, pursing his lips in puzzlement.

Alauda thought. "Is he that ferret you have?"

"Oh, that's right. You haven't met my obese companion," Hayley thought aloud. "Let me introduce you to the one, the only..." She played a dramatic entrance for her ferret-And now could you obverse the true skill she had over the cello, fingers running across the strings. "Jink." True to his spectacular entrance, the ferret lumbered out from behind her shoulder, tilting a sleepy head at Serapis.

Alauda smiled. "He's sooo cute!" she reached out and scratched the plump ferret behind the ears.

"He's so fat," Serapis said with a chuckle. "And he looks kind of misleading. Cute, but dangerous."

Alauda trilled a laugh. "Ferocious."

"He needs to exercise, but nothing motivates him," Hayley complained, smiling at Alauda. "Thank you, he gets that a lot. And yes, Serapis, he's quite dangerous." Jink laid his ears back again his head, narrowing beady eyes at Alauda, but relaxed when he saw no threat.

"Can I hold him?" Serapis said, widening his eyes so he looked like a four-year old; albeit a very tall one.

"Sure," Hayley said, removing the ferret from her shoulder, whom made a weak attempt at escape. "Hold out your hands and he'll...just sit there, I guess."

Serapis took the ferret from Hayley and smiled softly at the furry, fat animal. "Hi," he murmured to the creature.

Alauda smiled and started to sketch a picture of the ferret in Serapis's hand. She stuck her tongue between her teeth- she wasn't a terribly accomplished artist.

Jink blinked and shook his furry head to wake up, peering curiously at Serapis. As if to say hi, he gave Serapis' nose a tiny lick. Hayley smiled at the sight, bobbing her head to the low music she still played.

Serapis chuckled in amusement, kissing the tip of Jink's nose. "Mwah," he said, looking into the ferret's beady black little eyes.