Apple of Discord: Chapter 2
Cat really seemed to want you to get some new knock knock jokes from Joe B AND she did just save your life, so...
You’ve heard that name before. Child of Apollo. One of the nicest guys around. Sunny, bright, super encouraging, smart, AND he can heal with his words. At least that’s what Lauren, one of Charlie Beckendorf’s cabin mates had said years ago.
“He’s the slam poetry champion for Camp Half-Blood. Like the greatest of all time. I heard he once competed in a flighting with Loki, Norse god of mischief. Would have won too were it not for the accident.” She giggled. “It was like the biggest verbal cut-down contest on the planet!”
“Accident?” you asked.
After some consideration Lauren began again, “Something to do with speaking truth, casting light on… things. A lost pencil. Hey, ever hear the saying ‘don’t blow sunshine up my butt’?”
You nodded silently, wondering where this could possibly be heading.
“Well, Joe B. found out what it meant the hard way. Apparently it was a frost giant that took offense. Things got icy. Quick exits were required. You can ask him about it if you ever run into him. Great guy. Gotta go. Byeeeee.” Lauren finished, before running off.
You make a mental note not to bring up the accident and to hold on to your pencil, just in case.
You speak the words, “Show me Joe B.”
<initiating BELCH>
The BELCH opens and momentarily you flash back to the image of Pontifex standing over you. “The markers have been placed.”
It gives you a cold chill, as you feel the burning in your chest intensify for a second. For a moment you wonder if you can do this. It gives way to thoughts of what was I thinking? I’m not cut out for this. This is big picture stuff. The whole world is affected. What can I do? You feel so alone.
Then, you see Joe B resolve in the BELCH, sitting at his work desk. He looks focused and intense today, but also reassuring. It’s going to be okay.
You feel a lot better after getting that out.
Words have a great way of changing things, almost as if they alter reality somehow.
They refocus or confuse.
They unite or tear things down.
They inspire hope, love and kindness or sow fear and hopelessness.
Sometimes the act of writing things down clears the garbage that’s weighing you down. It’s a strange kind of magic.
“You look well!” Grey chirps happily.
“I feel better. Joe’s pretty cool!” You smile, then turn your mind toward more serious things. “What do you know about Pontifex? How come I haven’t heard of him?”
“Hmmm. <Accessing data>" Grey chirps pleasantly.
“He’s only recently come up on our radar. Former priest of Apollo during Nero’s reign in old Rome. It appears as though he was cast out of the temple of Apollo.
No mention as to why. There is a lone poetic reference to a “Pontifex” being chained to Mount Tam as punishment. Might be him, but there’s no way of telling for sure.”
Grey rotates his head 360 degrees. “He’s working for Nero now and apparently has a crew of monsters at his command and likes to play Sisters of Mercy songs on his Ukelele. That’s all I’ve got. We are still piecing it all together.”
“Well, that part about being chained to a mountain tracks, actually. The Pontifex I met is wearing shackles with a bit of chain hanging from each wrist,” you say, thinking back to the unpleasant encounter.
The feelings of hopelessness bubble up again. “He mentioned ‘markers’ being placed? Ring any bells?”
“Ian, Seamus, Sam, and Ryan mentioned seeing black pillars or posts around town, recently. I’d take that with a grain of salt if I were you.
They are just as likely to argue about whether birds are real as they are to be paying attention to anything of consequence,” Grey chirps.
“I’ve been told that Ian has already tried to sell the pillars to Ryan.”
You’ve heard of these guys too. Ian, Seamus, and Sam are Camp Half-Blood Austin icons.
They bought the Austin branch camp store from the Stoll brothers before selling it off to the other camp icons—Ryan, Shai, and One-Chain (The Dino Bros.).
It’s like they all can charmspark whenever the camp store crew are around. Whether it’s the former owner’s or the new.
They are total jokesters, all of them, and they could convince you to buy just about anything. Despite that, or maybe because of it, you’d want them on your side when you’re in a pinch.
They always have the most hilarious and unexpected solutions to problems.
“In fact, I have a message from Ryan, son of Zeus, that may or may not shed some light on this. Topher has asked the boys to help.
Again, I wouldn’t expect much. Would you like to see it?” Grey asks, shaking his head.
“Couldn’t hurt,” you reply.
“Oh. It’s so sweet that you think that,” Grey chuckles.
“Show me Ryan, son of Zeus,” you incant.
<initiating BELCH>
The BELCH swirls before resolving into an outdoor setting with Ryan, son of Zeus, waiting for you.
He manages to look both confused and oddly very sure of himself.
“Okay, that was kind of painful actually.”
You shake your head, wondering what it was you just watched.
"I tried to warn you.” Grey tuts softly.
“Ryan isn’t quite right,” you say. Despite that, a smile creeps onto your face.
“If I have to endure one more, ‘Bird’s aren’t real, it’s a conspiracy the likes of which you’ve never seen,’ comment, there will be horrible consequences.” Grey manages a growl. “Those boys drive me absolutely…”
“You have some strong feelings about this, I can tell,” you say, clearing your throat and trying hard not to smile.
“Me? Perish the thought.” Grey sniffs. “Perhaps if there were a way to divine the truth of these black pillars, we could make some actual progress?”
You nod your head in agreement. Black markers, you think to yourself.
“Did you have your lesson with Adele yet?” Grey asks.
“I hear Adele, daughter of Hecate, is willing to teach you the basics of Tarot. This could be a wonderful new tool you could add to your repertoire of useful skills, demigod. Best head that way next.”
You’ve always wondered about Tarot card readings. Having another way to gain clarity and divine answers, to gain control of a situation, sounds like a pretty good idea to you.
“If Adele has already clued you in, it’s time to get hand-to-hand with Cat!"
<initiating BELCH>
Show me Adele
Show me Cat
