maskormenace | Video;

Who cares if it's cheating? If you want to go, go. It's all a farce anyway.

I kind of care?

Why do you say it's a farce, exactly?

Why? How is it any different than Legacy admissions, or people who only get in because they're rich, or good at sports? Plenty of people don't play by the rules, why should you?

Because college is about proving yourself to employers more than actually learning. Besides, do you think you'll be here long enough to go to college and graduate?

Because I don't have any of those exceptions back home. I have to jump through the hoops there.

I'd agree with that for most majors but...Medical can be a bit different up until you're in your residency. I really hope I'm not here long enough for all of that, but if I am--I should do it the right way.

So? We're not at home. If anything, it's just leveling the playing field since we didn't have access to the same curriculum and don't have any parental support.

Okay, you've got a point for doctors. I don't need them, but if I did I wouldn't want someone without college cutting me open.

I guess you have a point...Honestly, up until I got here, I was pretty much homeschooled. I can't exactly complain about the curriculum, but I guess I get how it's fairer than I think it is.

Exactly. I may have abilities that help me with the whole medical field thing, but even I know I have to get a doctorate if I'm serious about working as a doctor.

Yeah, there's special avenues because we literally can't do things the 'normal' way. It's more fair than 'my dad went here so now I get in'.

What are your powers?

Legacies are the worst. [Looking at some of the Roman Apollo legacies back home right now.]

Oh uh. I'm a son of Apollo, demigod. I came here with the same powers I got back home. I can stitch a limb back on and it will work like new? Decent at archery and the arts too.

Right?

Oh, cool! I can heal, but I'm shit at the other two, so you've got me beat!

You have no idea.

...So wait, is your healing something you can use on others or something that just works for you? Just curious.

How so?

Oh, just on me. So yours works on other people... duh.

[ Marco smacks himself in the forehead. ]

You said it'd help you doctor, of course it does. My dumb.

It's a bit complicated. Basically there was a descendent of my dad's that used his barely existent powers of prophecy to lead New Rome into a war with Camp Half-Blood--my camp. Old Greek-Roman rivalry shedding new blood because some Apollo legacy let ancient gods talk up his powers. It was a mess.

...Hey, no big. I just wanted to be clear before I start spouting nonsense at you. Healing is healing, right?

Yeah, that all sounds really complicated.

[ Marco doesn't know anything about Greek or Roman mythology. Sorry. ]

Also they seriously called it Camp Half-Blood? Jesus.

I appreciate that. Seriously.

Legacy nonsense wrapped up in family drama, essentially.

[That is literally the easiest way to summarize most events in his life, honestly.]

And yeah, Camp Half-Blood. It's not uh...the best name, I guess. But that's what you get for a camp full of demigods.

No problem. It's kind of cool to know someone has similar abilities, even if it's more of a self-healing deal.

I've got family drama, but no legacy nonsense, so you win that one!

[ He says it cheerfully. ]

Seriously, 'not the best name' is putting it mildly. I'm not a demigod, but if anybody tried to stick me in a 'Camp Half-Blood', I know what finger they'd get from me.

Right. We can heal injuries when we morph.

Joy. Dysfunctional family lottery, just what I always wanted to win.

[The sarcasm with this child.]

I'm pretty sure some of the campers have given that finger, several times over. Mostly because of the quests though, not the name. It at least looks cool on the camp shirts?

Morph? That is something I have to hear more about.

What, that wasn't your goal in life? I made you a trophy and everything! GOSH.

[ Yeah, Marco speaks fluent sarcasm. Thank you, Eva. ]

Quests? What quests? I don't know, the name still sounds like an insulting name for bi-racial people.

[ Which he happens to be. ]

Oh. I'm a shapeshifter. Or morpher. We call our shapes 'morphs', that's all.

Oh, well. Don't let me be one to turn down a trophy.

[Oh yeah, that brings a wince.]

Okay, never said the name didn't sound insulting as Hades. I'm honestly not surprised that hasn't been a reason some people have wanted to change it given how diverse our campers are...

Quests are given by prophecy. Tasks given by our parents, the gods, to complete to prove ourselves as heroes--worthy. Made a few of the campers really bitter...

Do you have a specific shape you take or can you like...choose?

And doesn't the trophy make it all worth it?

Okay, so why do you even do the quests? Who cares if they think you're worthy or not? Tell them to jump in a lake. Why couldn't they just leave?

I can morph anything with DNA as long as I acquire it first. I have to touch it for a couple of minutes. Then I'm good to go!

I'm from the generation of Participation Trophies. Of course it makes it all worth it.

Honestly? Because it tests me. I need to know I can make it--no matter what the gods say about the end result. But we can't all just leave camp. Demigods...we attract monsters, the camp is protected from them. Those of us that can't defend ourselves, or we are powerful enough to attract too many? We stay year-round.

Okay. On the record. That power sounds so cool.

So it's like climbing Mount Everest or something? Alright, I can get that.

[ He thinks it's dumb, but then again Marco was thrown into the deep end of things and has zero need or desire to prove himself to either himself or anyone else. ]

Which are you? Too powerful or not great at fighting?

It is cool. I could have done without the terrifying war part, but some morphs are amazing, I'm not going to lie.

A bit, yeah.

[Look. He knows it's dumb, but he's been given a lot of reasons to meet the challenge too.]

The talent with healing makes me a target, but I stay for the others. I'm head-medic at camp and the counselor for the Apollo cabin.

War is never really something we want. So...you got a favorite morph or what?

The Apollo cabin? So whoever this Apollo is, he's got a whole group of half-human kids?

That's weird.

[ Again, Greek mythology is not Marco's area of... well, of knowing anything. ]

Guess it could be worse, though.

Favorite is dog, but the one I've used the most is gorilla.

There's the Apollo Cabin, the Hermes Cabin, the Hephaestus Cabin, the Demeter Cabin, the Aphrodite Cabin, the Ares Cabin...Point is the gods have cabins. A few are honorary with no kids but...yeah demigods aren't exactly a rarity where I'm from.

[Welcome to Greek Family Hour, Marcus. If he was to tell you everything you'd be here for days.]

Is there a particular reason you've used that one the most?

Hopefully your gods are less fucked up than our gods were.

[ Yeah, he might not know anything about Greek or Roman mythology, but he 100% went through an Aztec phase. ]

It's my battle morph. So for fighting, mostly.

They're kind of a mess.

[He knows next to nothing about Aztecs, so they're even.]

Oh. Makes sense to fall back on something like that in a fight.

And when humans think you're a mess, you know they're fucked up!

Yeah. My battle morph was handy because it was the only one with... well, hands. And fingers. Ever try driving as a gorilla? It's weird.

I took the boards? Took a couple of CME classes, just in case?

[ honestly, the only reason he did was because Aegis made him, but look. He's official now. ]

If you really want to go straight to college, though... I don't think there's much harm in giving that a shot the imPort-way.

Wow. When did you take those?

[Look. You're impressing the kid.]

I guess it's not, just feels a bit...weird? I don't even know how I'll go about the whole school thing if I make it that far back home. [Because, you know, demigods don't last long in the real world--very few hit the point of considering careers and college. Sorry for the reminder, Dad.]

A... while? I want to say it was back when I was doing Doctors without Borders, since they wanted certification.

[ at that reminder, he swallows, his expression falling. He can't blame Will. He absolutely, positively can't - because the old him wouldn't have remembered this either. ]

You're going to have me. Okay? Even if I forget this world, I - I know I'm not going to leave you or Kayla or Austin again.

Family dinner to celebrate the whole...being official thing?

[But then the tone shifts to that more serious avenue. And it's a promise he wants to believe because if anything, their time here has proven that it's one that can be kept if he's given the chance to.]

I know. And I'll be holding you to that, even if I forget this place too.

Yeah. You pick where this time - it'll be on me.

[ He's trying to always make it on him. That's what good fathers do. As far as he's concerned, Will pays for nothing in his presence. ]

Good. [ he grins, trying to lighten the mood - ] I've attended a few frat parties, so I'm what, an automatic expert now?

Uh-nope. Celebrating you and your certification means it's on me.

[He's going to be insistent on that one. He has a feeling he knows why he's always the one being treated, but it's hardly fair to have Lester pay for his own celebration dinner. If he has to swipe the check, he will.]

--Frat parties? Seriously?

[ Good Dads don't let their sons pay, right?? What did his last book say about that, esp in regards to teenage sons?

Ah, well. He can worry about that at their actual dinner. In the meantime: ] Seriously. The drinks were eh, and the company was mixed, but you'd be surprised at where musical or creative talent could flourish.

[You're in for quite the fight with that whole "paying" thing this go-around. Just saying.] Honestly, I am not surprised. I mean look at what some of the cabin was able to cook up sometimes, right?

Exactly! I wish I'd gotten to watch Austin's Youtube videos before I got ported in - he was quite the sax player.

[ Did he know about said videos beforehand? Doubtful, honestly. Future-Apollo, if he remembers this world, is going to make them his number one priority. Like, subscribe, make every video his favorite, the works!! ]

He'd take the internet by storm if he ever showed up here. I...really need to get out of camp more to check that kind of thing out.

[It didn't help that demigods and tech didn't really mesh too well in most circumstances.]

Hey, once I'm done on my quest... we'll make it a point to get you out and around the city. [ beat ] I'd volunteer Percy as tribute, but I don't think he'd like it very much.

Or I'll end up pulled into the quest again. [There's no reason to believe anyone is safe from being drawn into the mess that is his father's quest.] But I wouldn't be so sure Percy's the one you should worry about--Annabeth would have our heads for that one.

[ his face immediately loses all its color at the mere mention of her name, as one might envision his soul leaving the mortal coil then and there, ]

Yeah. She actually would– and I'm mortal right now.

I mean, there is a part of me that is genuinely considering going back to school if my time might allow it, but I definitely understand the concern.

The way open to us definitely feels like cheating. When you work that hard for something and prove yourself worthy, and people just wave it aside? It's beyond frustrating.

[The grimace of the man sitting at his desk definitely agrees with that part. Even when he didn't have his powers back home, people too his 'genius' for granted and ignored how hard he had to work to maintain his cutting edge skills.]

Honestly? I suggest applying legitimately. You deserve to know if you can make it in on your own. More so if you're looking into a field where personal aptitude can affect lives.

I think you're the first to understand why I want to apply legitimately. I think, despite all of the advice otherwise, I'm going to go that route. I need to know if I'm really cut out for it outside of the abilities I have.

I want the work to really...count for something.

I have what you might consider a unique perspective on the situation that many other people might lack.

I definitely understand where you're coming from, though. I wish you a ton of luck.

Yeah? [Okay that caught his interest a little bit. And he wants to prod, but the comment has him feeling like maybe he shouldn't.]

But...thanks. I appreciate that.

I'm a professor at one of the universities, if you need some help. I can get the forms, maybe set up a meeting with a counselor.

[She doesn't know the exact process, but she is a connection.]

Are you serious? Because that...would be kind of amazing. Which university?

Absolutely serious. Byers University. I work as a part time professor and researcher at their applied physics lab.

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