Things that go Vroooom! | Royce

[Virginia Grace]

"mmm...I think I could fall asleep just like this with you in my arms." Said Genie as she snuggled against cold, hard frame of the engine block she had her arms wrapped around. "The delicate curves, the beautiful melding of aluminum and true blue American steel..." Genie ran her fingers slowly, almost lovingly over the smooth chrome exhaust pipes as she came out of a haze of awe and wonder. "When I hook you up I bet you're going to purr like a lion on catnip."

Genie took another moment to gaze at her reflection in the shiny metal surface of the engine and then seemed to come back to herself as she stood up and began strapping the beauty she had just been snuggling into the harness so that she could hoist it into position. There was work to do and if she was going to have any hope of getting the Hephaestus cabin's chariot ready for the races she needed to stop drooling long enough to get this engine installed. "You just sit there and look pretty darlin. Momma will have you home in just a minute."

The process was simple. Use the lift to lower the engine into place at the front of the chariot, get everything hooked up and ready to go and then start her up and let her roar. The only problem was that Genie hadn't quite taken into account how much weight her modifications had added. A problem she was about to discover.

With the engine block secured Genie grabbed the chain to lift it into position and pulled. Nothing happened. She tried again grunting with strain. Nothing happened. Talking a deep breath and cracking her knuckles Genie let out a huge squeal of effort, succeeded in just barely getting the engine off the floor but ultimately no matter how strong the girl was from her hours in the forge this was simply a job for two people and she had to set the engine back down workout moving it anywhere.

Panting and trying to catch her breath Genie took a moment to mop sweat from her forward. This was a problem. She was going to need help but no one was around. "Where's one of my siblings when I need them?" She said wonderingly. "I guess you'll have to wait a little bit longer old girl. But don't worry. I'm going to fix this. I've just got to figure out how."

Royce Reynolds

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce was in her cabin, gazing at the pictures her mom sent her from home. The vast majority of them were of her and her mother on her prized sixteenth birthday present; a seventeen foot Wahoo power boat. "Oh, what I would do to have you here now..." The daughter of Poseidon held the picture frame in both hands, sadly staring at it. Her mother and step-father bought this thing as a piece of crap, for lack of a better word. The bottom was heavily scratched, cables were strewn about the boat, and the engine needed a tune-up. From her birthday in January to the summer, she worked feverishly on the Wahoo, patching fiberglass on the hull, installing hydraulic steering, replacing the gear shift, installing lights, refinishing the teak. The whole nine yards. Now, Royce couldn't even enjoy her little summer getaway.

Sighing at the reminiscence, she dragged herself out of the cabin, throwing on a pair of running shorts, a tank top, and work boots on her way out. Royce had heard of a place at camp called 'The Forge', where apparently campers built...well she didn't exactly know what, she had never been there. However since building was involved, and this place was still a little whacked in her eyes, she was curious to see what strange things people were working on there. Plus she missed using her hands and working on, well, anything.

In a few minutes, Royce was upon the Forge, and found it with ease for once as she was always getting lost. She saw one person there, a girl about her age from the looks of it too. She was grunting, trying to lift some heavy engine all by herself. Jogging over, Royce didn't want the girl to try again and throw out her back. She had her fair share of those experiences, and she would not wish that kind of discomfort on anyone. "Hey!" Royce hoped to catch her attention. "Do you need some help with that?" She stood at the entrance to the Forge, and gaped at the monstrous engine. It looked much bigger up close. "That's one hell of an engine you got there...Oh, by the way, my name is Royce." Smiling at the girl, she hoped she didn't think this was weird, some new girl just showing up. Oh well, Royce had to make friends somehow.

[Virginia Grace]

Well this was a predicament. How was she supposed to install her new supped up chariot engine if it was too big for her to lift? If she had someone else here it probably wouldn’t even be a problem but with her options kind of slim she was going to have to find another solution like using one of her automatons to provide a little mechanical muscle. Might take a little doing but you had to work with what you had and Genie had never been one to balk at putting in a little extra work to fix a problem.

The Hephaestus girl was just pondering which of her little mechanical creations she could set to work to help her but as it turned out her consideration was unnecessary. No sooner had she turned her mind to finding a solution than one presented itself to her in the form of another girl joining her in the forge. Honestly Genie hadn’t been expecting company and distracted as she was by her problem it would have been easy to get jumpy but as an unfamiliar voice spoke up close by Genie turned to spot a new girl who was smiling and greeting her warmly. That was all the invitation Genie needed to be friendly and she fixed Royce with a smile of her own before replying.

“Hi there Royce. I’m Virginia but I usually go by Genie around here.” The new girl was offering her help and by the look of things Genie didn’t think she could get much better. Royce looked to be strong and muscularly built and that would work just nicely for helping tp get the engine installed. Genie didn’t know where this girl had come from but she was definitely welcome. Besides, Royce was complimenting Genie’s engine and that was a sure way to get on her good side.

“I’d appreciate the extra set of hands if you’re offering.” Genie said beaming brightly at the other girl. “She really is something isn’t she? Can’t say I’ve built anything like her before but she’s definitely something special.” She trailed off starting to get that glazed, dreamy look in her eyes again but quickly shook it off. There was work to do after all. “I’ve just got to get it installed if you think you can help me lift it into place.”

[Royce Reynolds]

“It’s nice to meet you, Genie,” Royce said nodding. She looked around the forge, in awe of how something so beautiful and familiar to Royce could be at a place like this. There were a few tools she didn’t recognize, but Royce just assumed they were something mythological that were actually real, and that she hoped to learn about soon. Genie seemed experienced around here, since she had built such a masterpiece. Other than some of the weird objects, the forge reminded Royce a lot of her engineering labs back at school. Cluttered but neat at the same time. Royce took in a deep breath to take it all in. “Of course I can give a hand, just as long as you show me what she can do.” Royce chuckled. This thing definitely wasn’t your run-of-the-mill engine if it was built at a place like Camp Half-Blood, where everything she didn’t think existed actually did.

Genie’s petite frame was surprising to Royce, as to how someone could try to lift such a monstrous engine. Beautiful she was, the engine, it would definitely give the two a challenge to put it into place, given Royce’s strength and Genie’s determination. “Alright, so just help you pull this chain to lift it into place?” Royce walked over around the engine, mesmerized for a moment, and came by Genie. She was eager to help, and really wanted to see how it would roar to life. It was much bigger than her boat’s engine, that was for sure. However, she’d gotten her hands on a model steam engine once, but hadn’t gotten far enough in the class to know much about it. The demigod was pulled from school early in the semester, so they had just started the class.

(Sorry this took so long! Virginia Grace)

[Virginia Grace]

Genie had unfortunately been cursed with noodle arms. No matter how often she was banging around in here or lifting heavy machinery it seemed like she wasn’t the type for building up muscle. She supposed it could be her tendency to spend more time daydreaming about cars and eating chocolate covered strawberries but then again everyone had their vices. Royce though definitely didn’t seem to share he problem. The girl looked strong, kind of like what she would expect out of a Heracles kid, but even if that wasn’t the case this girl who had stumbled into her work area could probably help out especially if they worked together. Fortunately she seemed pretty nice too which was all the better.

“Yeppers! It’ll be a big help.” Genie agreed enthusiastically as Royce seemed to get the idea. “The chain works like a pulley see and it lifts the engine block up, let’s you move it around and then set it where you want. Pretty nifty huh?” The girl’s positivity practically shone out of her. She was glad she had found a potential helper and was even more excited about the possibility of getting her chariot working. “Just get on the end of that chain and we can see if we can get it up. I’ll be on the front so I can get it just like I need it and then we can lower it in all nice and easy.” Picking up the chain Genie got ready herself to try the engine again. “Sound like a plan?” Stilling beaming the Hephaestus girl offered Royce the other end of the chain for her to take. “Count of three and we lift okay?”

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce followed Genie's descriptions, casting her eyes over the chain-fully wrapping around the engine. She understood everything the girl was saying. Just being in the little workshop-thing put Royce in a good mood, never mind the kind and passionate girl who came along with it. "Got it, let's do this," Royce agreed as she grabbed the chain Genie offered.  The only issue Royce could think of was not being strong enough to lift the beast. Together though, they should be able to do it, and Royce was determine to prove her worth to this girl, since she seemed experienced here and could possibly let her work here on her own projects.

"Alright ready, one...two...three!" Royce squatted and pulled her arms towards her chest, letting a loud pfff with her mouth. She treated the chain just as she would a machine at the gym when she was maxing out her weight. Slowly, the engine was risen off the ground and into the air, hopefully high enough for Genie to adjust. Royce was confident she could hold it long enough. "Tell me when you've got it set." Royce let out another huff, her body close to the ground and knuckles turning white.

[Virginia Grace]

Genie was fairly used to these kinds of operations. She used to help her mom back at the garage all time and she was a lot stronger than she looked at least with things she was familiar with like carjacks and engine blocks. Pound for pound though she was definitely a lightweight and having the extra muscle wasn’t only needed but greatly appreciated. Fortunately with Royce’s help they got the engine lifted.

The daughter of Hephaestus wasted no time getting the monstrous engine into position. It was heavy and cumbersome but in Genie’s book that was just proof of how awesome it was going to be once they got it installed. Still, she knew that they couldn’t waste much time and as she pushed the big engine over the chariot she glanced back at Royce and gave the girl a nod. “Alright nice and slow. We’ll set her down nice and tender and then she’ll almost be ready.”

Sweat standing out on her forehead Genie carefully helped Royce guide the engine down. “Almost there…Almost…” She said as the engine settled into its housing and then as the great weight of it was finally not threatening to rip their arms off she breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew…Wow I would have never done that all by myself.” She said as she turned back to Royce with an even bigger grin on her face than usual. “Thanks a million hun. You’re a life saver let me tell you. I owe you one, big time.”

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce was no stranger to a workshop. She worked on her own boat in her moms garage constantly in the off season, adding cool things like lights, speakers, a radio, while also putting in hours of work on the engine to get higher RPMs. Lifting her engine off the back of her boat was definitely a lot easier than this. Watching Genie as she shifted the engine over the housing, Royce kept her grip tight. As soon as Genie gave her a nod, Royce slightly loosened up and brought the engine down slowly. Once the engine hit the housing, Royces arms went limp at her sides. "Whew, that's quite the beast." The girl whipped the sweat that had accumulated on her brow and brushed her hands off.

Looking up at Genie, Royce gave her a big smile. "Yeah no problem! I love this kind of stuff, I worked on engines pretty often back in my normal life..." She remembered the purr of her boat, the loud bangs and pops of the ship at her school. She missed it a bunch, but it wasn't safe for her there yet. One would think with it being on the water she would be protected by her father. Someday... Trying to brighten up a bit after her sad thought, Royce spoke up again. "If you ever need help I have no where better to be, I'd love to create something of my own in her sometime. That is, if this isn't like a cabin for just one of the Gods. I wouldn't want to intrude." Royce was rambling. Here she was not knowing this sweet girl asking if she could crash her party in the forge. She need to make friends, not scare them away... Although with Genie's attitude, she didn't think that would be a problem.

[Virginia Grace]

“You did huh?” Genie said with an impressed tone in her voice. She could appreciate a girl who knew her way around a shop and even better yet an engine. Oh sure she could get all gearhead with her siblings from the Hephaestus cabin, most of them anyways, but it was rare to meet any other campers who liked hanging around the forge as much as she did. In Royce’s case Genie thought this was turning into a fortunate little encounter that she had with the girl.

“I practically grew up in a shop too. My mom’s. She taught me everything I know and I helped her out around her shop fixing up cars. Nice to meet someone who kind of knows how that goes.” Genie grinned as Royce offered her help and nodded her agreement. She wouldn’t mind having a little extra help around the forge and she definitely wasn’t going to keep out a camper that had an interest in everything that went on here. “You can come around more if you want. There might be a few of my brothers or sisters who might say something but just tell them you’re with me. If they give you any trouble I’ll whip em into shape.” Genie giggled a little as she thought of having to scold one of her siblings. She didn’t have to do it often but they knew the forge was her domain to control. “Seriously though I’d like an extra pair of hands and if you want to work I could find you some tools of your own. We could even make em ourselves if you want. More fun that way.”

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce nodded proudly. She was surprised that Genie seemed to be impressed in her saying she had worked on engines before. Idly the daughter of Poseidon wondered if Genie’s godly parent was good with tools and engines of the sort. “I had a boat back at home and I was able to fix it up. I would also take a look at other people’s engines too. I dabbled with cars a bit too.” The girl thought for a moment. “I never got to spend the money I saved up for a nice car though. Guess I’ll use it if I ever get out of here…” The last part Royce said mostly to herself, trailing off in her thoughts.

Royce snapped back into focus when Genie began to tell her how she learned about everything. Smiling, Royce grinned. “My step dad did the same thing, except we just worked in our garage. He would help me with my boat and he’d teach me about his truck’s engine. Same to you, I didn’t think anyone here would be interested in this kind of stuff.” She became excited, knowing she wouldn’t completely lose the knowledge she gained at school. “Yeah I definitely will! Wait, is this place like only for you guys? Like, you all have the same parent?” Royce honestly had no clue how to put it, she was still rusty on her mythology and didn’t know if there was a certain god for this domain. The thought of even getting, never mind making her own tools captured the girl’s interest. “I’d love that, that’d be sick.” Beaming, Royce’s day was made right then and there.

[Virginia Grace]

"You're still pretty new at this demigod thing huh?" Genie asked in a genuinely curious tone. The daughter of Hephaestus had been around for a while and she had seen a lot of demigods come and go. Folks usually got used to their powers after a while but it didn't happen over night. Fortunately, Genie never minded helping them out where she could. "Hephaestus kids like me are usually in the forge. It's kinda out dad's thing so we help make the weapons and armor for everyone along with any other tools that might be needed. Course most of us like to tinker too so that's where this comes in."

Genie paused long enough to nod to the chariot before continuing. "I don't think there are any rules about other campers not being able to help out though so feel free to stop by whenever you want. Oh and don't worry too much about being stuck here either. It's not so bad and most get to go home pretty regularly." Unfortunately Genie was in the crowd that didn't get to go home much which was partly the reason she made her home in the forge most of the time. She didn't want to put a gloom over the moment though so she kept silent about that part. "As for that nice new car, you'll get to spend your money on one eventually. Just don't forget that sometimes the old girls are better than those new models they keep putting out. Just so long as you love em and treat em right."

[Royce Reynolds]

The demigod nodded, a her smile turning flat. “I got here a couple months ago, I’m still finding my way around here.” Royce was a little embarrassed at this fact. Here she was, 20 years old, surrounded by all these teenagers, and just getting used to their world that most of them had been in since they were very young. Royce listened to Genie explain the function of the forge. Hephaestus, huh… Royce had read the name somewhere. It all made sense now, the forge and all. Ever since arriving at camp, Royce had been busy studying up on the other deities. It gave her peace knowing she could at least have her knowledge. “Well, I hope our fathers don’t have anything against each other, because I need a shield and tools if I’m going to be helping you out.” Royce laughed innocently, she honestly had no idea of any o the relations between the Gods yet.

Royce scrunched her nose, thinking about Genies comment about going home. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to, I’ve read kids of the Big Three are more at risk than most demigods… I’d hope to go back to school at some point.” Sighing, Royce realized she had’t even told the girl about her lineage. “Oh, my father’s Poseidon by the way.” Royce rubbed the back of her neck nervously, waiting for Genie’s reaction. She didn’t exactly know her father’s reputation around here, as she never really met anyone to share the fact with.

Brightening back up at the talk of cars, Royce became excited. “Oh I can’t wait! I’ve always wanted to get my hands on an old Challenger and fully restore her.” Royce became as giddy as Genie with her engine. If one didn’t know who her godly parent was, one could probably mistake her for a Hephaestus kid.

[Virginia Grace]

So Royce was new. Kind of old to be called too considering Genie had come to camp pretty early herself. Of course that didn’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things but it was interesting nonetheless. It was easy to see now why Royce would have been so unfamiliar with the forge and why Genie had never met her either. That was fine but it did sound like Royce was having a bit of a rough time adjusting and that just wouldn’t do at all.

“Most folks can go back out when camp is over and if you’re a Big Three girl that means you’ll be super strong too. Give yourself some time and I’m sure you’ll be back to normal. At least as normal as it gets for us.” Genie continued to smile but her tone lost a little bit of its cheerful edge as she continued. “But hey if you can’t it’s not so bad either. The weather’s always nice and the food’s good too. There’s not many of us that stick around but I’m always here so the forge is always open.”

Finding out that Royce’s dad was Poseidon was a happy distraction from thinking about her own situation. Genie thought about it for a moment before giving a shrug. “I don’t think our dads have any beef with each other but it’d okay if they did. They’re, them and we’re, us so that kind of stuff doesn’t matter much to me. You just worry about what kind of equipment you want and we’ll get you fixed up”

By the time the talk got back around the cars Genie’s happy nature was back in full force. Royce had barely mentioned the car she wanted before the daughter of Hephaestus was beaming with excitement. “OOooooooooooooooooooh I love a good muscle car. If you do get one you have to show it to me. The roar of the engine, pistons poundin out a steady beat as you rev her up.” She sighed contentedly. “It’s enough to get the blood pumpin every time.”

[Royce Reynolds]

Royce hadn’t realized how much more weird her situation was until she had actually arrived at camp only to see most of the campers were significantly younger than her. While it felt odd at first to befriend so many people who were years younger than her, she realized that many of them were mature for their years, having to grow up quickly to become independent fighters.

What would Royce have done without Genie’s cheerful demeanor? Just talking to the girl about anything made the demigod feel better. She listened intently as Genie explained the going home situations and gained a bit of hope at her words. Once she had become powerful enough, she might be able to resume normal life, or at least that was the goal. And if it got too dangerous out there for her, she would always have a safe and welcoming place to fall back on. Nodding, Royce gave her a small smile. “It’s good to hear I’ll have options. I guess that means I’ll just have to work extra hard in training and harnessing my powers.” Giggling, she continued. “As long as you’re here, we can tinker away and we’ll never be bored.” Everything didn’t seem so bad now, even if Genie did talk with a bit more seriousness in the event that she couldn’t leave.

Royce was happy she’d found someone so real and true to herself she could hang out with. Lately, Royce hadn’t been feeling herself, because it had been taken away from her. Just hearing Genie speak of how their fathers’ relationship didn’t matter clued Royce in. It only made it that much better when the Hephaestus girl got excited over Royce’s choice of a future car. “If I ever get that car you know I’ll be sure to let you help me work on her! You know you’re way around an engine that’s for sure. No one ever expects a girl to want a big muscle car.” Royce reminisced in the time she had gotten to rev the engine of a V8. “Mmm, I know what you mean there. The whole car shakes and you feel like nothing can stop you.”

[Virginia Grace]

“Now you’re talkin my language Royce.” She said as she nodded towards the corner of the forge she had claimed for herself where among the brightly colored flowers pictures and Genie’s name painted in bubbly letters on the wall sat many toys and doodads and thingamabobs in various stages of completion. “Tinkerin is my love language I think and if you don’t want to be bored I’ve always got projects to work on even if it’s not as big as this chariot here. There’s just so much to make and not enough to time make it.”

Staying busy was one of Genie’s primary solutions for staying happy and positive. It was awfully hard to start focusing on not getting to see her mom or leave camp because she couldn’t / wouldn’t fight when you kept your hands moving and your brain thinking up new ideas. It was also one of the main reasons why she spent so much time in the forge, well, aside from the whole having it all to herself thing. That was pretty cool in and of itself.

Royce seemed to be interested in letting Genie work on the potential car that they were talking about though and, for the moment at least, that was the thing holding her attention. She said something about most people not expecting a girl to want a muscle car but that was where Genie had to step in. “Well that shows what they know. I happen to think a fast car is just what ever girl needs.” She said with a confident nod as her voice took on a distant dreamy tone. “We can like big…hard…heavy hittin…engines just same as any guy can.” The Hephaestus girl sighed contentedly as she came back to the present and turned her attention back towards Royce. “Don’t you worry. I’ll make sure you are drivin in style.”