The "One Knight of Sin" Series by Null0trooper

Monday afternoon, June 18, 2007,
San Canaan, Utah.

Oof, woken up like that is just mean. Mason Goodwin, Shane Garret, Oscar, Jase, and Demi, mention camp cleanup, are they out camping? Wait, Jason, Mason, Peter, Hector, Ellie, Petey, and Demi, just how many kids did these people have!?! Cleaning up camping spots, oh boy. Migraines and everything that comes with them, don't tell me that part in italics earlier was telepathy of some sort.

Sidewinder Creek Campground.

Maintaining an out-of-the-way campsite like this sounds like a nightmare to me. Mase's shielding, definitely sounds like telepathy and the way they talked earlier it runs in the family, ouch. Ritual, what ritual and why do they need the cover story? They aren't some cult, are they?

Tuesday.
Troop 613, from Omaha, Nebraska.

A Scout Troop and Brother Jonathan along just in case he is needed, why do I get a bad feeling about this? Mason, no scaring the guests. Aunt Thea, and sounds like she is either very tough looking or a mutant from appearances alone. Brother Geoffrey, this is a church-based Scout Troop, isn't it. Hhm, trouble with machinery or just a dislike of it, I wonder.

Dalton Meier, never expect everything to be as you expected it to be. Latter-Day Saints, uh oh. That explains the number of kids, people who left their kids with 'Aunts', plus adopted kids.

Jason shrugged at that, "Parents are the folks that raise you.

Jason's got that right.

Wednesday morning.

Tracey Adkinson trying the story out on Geoffrey and Jonathan, neo-pagan. Fire circle, hhm.

"How many Boy Scouts have you known that weren't pyros?"

"See? You could do with a bloke like me watching out for stray sparks and mischief."

Hey, I resemble that remark. A snipe hunt will be fun.

Thursday afternoon,
Sidewinder Creek Campground.

Always be careful around sharp plants. The sarcasm is strong with young Mase. Tampering with the camp's water supply, they really want to keep what goes on at the fire circle secret. A truth compulsion, too far, Jonathan. What is the bluish lump Mase spit out? Dalton, have you been snooping where you shouldn't be? They went hiking without sunscreen and hats, a rookie mistake. And better hope it was just a prank, Jonathan.

Mason.

Just what is going on with Dalton, this seems much worse than heatstroke.

Brother Jonathan.

He thinks the people here are Luciferians, big jump to make coming to that conclusion. Dalton being a mutant and suffering from burnout makes more sense than anything else right now.

Mason.

Just who did Mason summon? The more he says the more curious I am about his identity. Jonathan is going to need all the healing he can get, foreshadowing of pain to come, eep.

Brother Jonathan.

Being watched by things that go bump in the night, it best not to stir up the hornet's nest. Thinking they will sacrifice firstborn sons, oh brother. This whole thing sounds more and more like a powder keg ready to go off.

Mason.

A Bowie knife for an athamé, is not smart if used in combat. Gah! Who gives a kid a middle name like that? A baptism, with some lines I never heard in one before. Interesting.

Brother Jonathan.

A Knight of the Church and not upset when Mason collapses after putting on the ring, just what are you up to here, Jonathan?

Mason.

Just where is Mason? That voice, is definitely not something human, but what? Taunting him about the cultists and going to Hell, whatever this voice is just lit a fire in Mason to keep going. A cauldron and this voice is very bossy, makes me want to smack the source.

The park ranger is dead, this voice is a monster, something ancient and twisted by how it reacts to death. How to save any of them without being destroyed himself? Defying the voice and going for the critical two, Mason won't just give up, too stubborn. Gah! This is one of the most brutal descriptions of injuries by a trap I've ever read. Yikes, even getting out of it and escaping is brutal.

"The name's Genesius — Saint Genesius of Rome if you want to get all high and mighty about it.

Now that is someone I've never heard of. It gets rough, that wasn't rough!?!

A hidden campsite, upstream of Sidewinder Creek Campground, on the Virgin River.

This coven is twisted. This is the act of monsters, burning someone alive to sacrifice to things not of this world.

Between the Scout troop campsites.

Jonathan talking to a plant spirit, interesting chat.

"...I have a line on an anchor that just might suit your uprooted friend until a new one can be made or grown."

Why do I feel this spells bad news for Dalton? This whole thing is a mess and getting worse every time Jonathan talks, imo. The Rose, though, could this spirit be connected to the rose thorn crown that Jesus was forced to wear?

The Rose is in Mason, uh oh. He needs to stop collapsing already.

Elsewhere.

Wings to be cut off, did they murder an angel or something else?

Three seconds.

The Exile, the description of the place he is, sounds like the fall of Lucifer and his making the kingdom of Hell.

The description of the chair is borderline almost too far imo. And kicked out and told Mason to tell Jonathan they will be waiting, this is all kind of messed up.

Seven seconds.

Great, now Mason is doomed just like you, Jonathan, you manipulative prick.

Monday, June 25, 2007,
Nilsson-Garnett home, San Canaan, UT

Mason, Jason, Peter, and Demeter getting ready to go somewhere. Mason's right eye is a bloody mess, dang. Seeing Katryn's past and pain, a heavy burden. Going to see the optometrist, this is going to get complicated.

An interesting origin for Mason, though Jonathan's actions make me want to slug the guy. I thought they were just neopagans, but all of this going down, the sacrifices done, this is messed up. How long has this been going on unnoticed? And just what does having The Rose in him mean for Mason?

Fr. Geoffrey Bouchard's office, Omaha, Nebraska

Brother Geoffrey, you should have canceled the camping trip. Jonathan shows up to help since Geoffrey has a sprained ankle, but Geoffrey jumps to the wrong conclusions as to why he is there to help, oh brother.

Dalton Meier.

He has issues thinking turning out gay or a mutant has to suck. At least he wishes to eat healthy, though his Mom is a judgemental type.

Several days earlier,
Office of the Knight Commander, Rome.

Sent to babysit the kids, nice job you did there, Jonathan. And all because of midsummer rituals, guess their paranoia worked out this time.

Jonathan scowled at the object, "You cannot expect me to tap a child! Hasn't bloody near everything that's happened with Sister Petra been bad enough!"

Okay, I take back what I said about him in the 1st story, he was ordered to do all that against his own judgment.

Monday, June 18, 2007,
On the westbound trail Actually, U.S. Interstate 80 out of Omaha, NE.

Driving for hours and not being able to eat, is just wrong. Joey sleeping on Dalton's shoulder, and Dalton needs to stand up for himself. Taking a break on a road trip, oof. Jonathan!

A break that close to their destination, must have really needed to stretch their legs and hydrate. A casino nearby, I know I would be tempted to at least try to sneak inside at their age.

Tuesday,
Still on the road.

Nice road trip so far and lots of scenery. Dalton, don't stereotype other countries like that. And basing things on movie tropes can get you in trouble.

Evening in San Canaan.

Mason speaks what he thinks unless stopped by one of his siblings like Jason, doesn't he?

Nilsson-Garnett Home.

Good reasons for all the buildings to use the same floor plan. Dalton and Joey bunked with the boys, this will be a fun night. Jason and Mason sharing a bunch, wonder how often they've had to do that in the past.

Wednesday.

Nilsson-Garnett Home.

Dalton, you tell people when you aren't feeling well, especially when out in an isolated location like this.

Sidewinder Creek Campground

Brock needs an eye kept on so he doesn't get himself maimed or killed. Anything that blocks the sun's rays in a desert is a good thing.

Thursday,
Sidewinder Creek Campground.

Dalton that thirsty, greasy foods offputting, he needs to tell someone already. Not like it isn't obvious by Billy's response, at least Jonathan can keep an eye on him.

Everyone is in bad shape after the hike, Dalton sees them still asleep hours later and goes for help only to run into Jonathan and Mason. Same chat and off Dalton and Mason go to the river.

Not sunstroke, if only the signs of burnout weren't so similar to it.

Carried back to camp by Mason, put in different clothes, and into a sleeping bag to rest, Dalton is going to wake up to a nightmare.

Lodges of the Spirit People

Dalton on his own vision quest it seems,

"You climb to the top and ask to be rewoven. You do that or you fall apart. Simple."

So Dalton had a rough time of it as well. He is made of yarn here and unraveling, a snag while he is climbing and just keeps going. What are 'parents'? How could he forget that, please no identity death, please no.

"Come, come, child. I was asked to expect you," said a four-armed woman dressed in a black dress with silver and turquoise on her belt and all around her neck.

And four legs as well, a spider woman for a weaver, who is she? Who or what is she reweaving Dalton into being?

Friday morning.

Geoffrey is in on it now, decontamination is needed. And from the sounds of it both troops survived, a lie told to cover what actually happened. Details confidential for his own sake and that of the church, oh boy.

Monday evening, June 25, 2007,
Omaha, Nebraska.

Just how much did Dalton change? Jonathan going to be sent out on more jobs soon, seesh, give him a little time to rest and recover. I hope they catch up to the scum who attacked the kids before they can harm anyone else.

Wednesday morning, June 27, 2007,
Bakersfield, California

Richard Lemoore and it sounds like his apprentices were behind the attack. Elder Adkinson and Elder Hardin are there for a survey, ask some questions, and get invited inside by Richard. Glycon, worships that snake god, I hope he is caught.

Yup, caught and executed like the monster he is. A playroom and phone records that show the kind of stuff he was into. And they got the spider venom from Hector's girlfriend or Mason, dang. Those two women have their hands full with the kids.

It was nice to see the other side of the story, how Jonathan got involved with the Scout Troop, the boys' activities, how Dalton progressed through his burnout in the story and his own encounter in the spirit realm. This family is an interesting bunch and I hope we see more of them in the future.

Dreamer wrote:

Sidewinder Creek Campground.

Maintaining an out-of-the-way campsite like this sounds like a nightmare to me. Mase's shielding, definitely sounds like telepathy and the way they talked earlier it runs in the family, ouch. Ritual, what ritual and why do they need the cover story? They aren't some cult, are they?

Well, they do mention a "corn man" and June 21st is coming up real soon...

Dreamer wrote:

Latter-Day Saints, uh oh.

I did specify that the story takes place in Utah. Zion Canyon is in SW Utah, in fact. Having camped there once, it is as beautiful and spooky as it's reputed to be.

Dreamer wrote:

What is the bluish lump Mase spit out?

Psilocybe sp., which wasn't supposed to be where it turned up.

Dreamer wrote:

Mason.

Just who did Mason summon?

Revealed, not summoned. He hasn't gotten that far, yet. He hasn't even seen "Constantine" or "Dogma" yet, either. (Somehow, I don't think either movie played at the local cinemas.)

Dreamer wrote:

Mason.

A Bowie knife for an athamé, is not smart if used in combat. Gah! Who gives a kid a middle name like that? A baptism, with some lines I never heard in one before. Interesting.

I cribbed a lot from Renae's Merry and Petra stories. The Rite of Initiation is brutal, no two ways around it. Brother Jonathan's not even the most ruthlessly pragmatic of the Thorns, since the entire Order is on the frontlines of not just the War between Heaven and Hell, but a War for Existence.

"Don Pardo, would you please tell us who our next draftee will be?"

Dreamer wrote:

Gah! This is one of the most brutal descriptions of injuries by a trap I've ever read. Yikes, even getting out of it and escaping is brutal.

"The name's Genesius — Saint Genesius of Rome if you want to get all high and mighty about it.

Now that is someone I've never heard of. It gets rough, that wasn't rough!?!

He's the Patron Saint of actors, playwrites, clowns, comedians, comics, converts, dancers, musicians, stenographers, printers, lawyers, epileptics, thieves, and torture victims. Mase is at least two of those by now. For the Whateley Universe, and the third c. Roman Empire, there's no reason he can't have been born in Africa.

Dreamer wrote:

A hidden campsite, upstream of Sidewinder Creek Campground, on the Virgin River.

This coven is twisted. This is the act of monsters, burning someone alive to sacrifice to things not of this world.

Wannabe monsters, which is possibly the worst kind when you think about it.

Dreamer wrote:

The description of the chair is borderline almost too far imo. And kicked out and told Mason to tell Jonathan they will be waiting, this is all kind of messed up.

I was shooting for visceral horror here. Despite Mason's spiritual leanings, I see Hell as no place for mortal comfort.

Dreamer wrote:

Mason, Jason, Peter, and Demeter getting ready to go somewhere.

Sunday School!

Don't worry, though. I really don't have any great ideas for how that goes. Suffice it to say that the folks in the next towns over would not approve.

Dreamer wrote:

An interesting origin for Mason, though Jonathan's actions make me want to slug the guy. I thought they were just neopagans, but all of this going down, the sacrifices done, this is messed up. How long has this been going on unnoticed? And just what does having The Rose in him mean for Mason?

The intended sacrifice was to have been a life-sized effigy made of corn and other harvest crops. Cue every juvenile joke about Mason sleeping with it

What the cultists intended was a human sacrifice, because, power. What they got was a wicker man filled with sedated rattlesnakes, which are sacred to Yig, a GOO who is most powerful in the American SW.

Tuesday morning, August 28, 2007,
McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Well, isn't Mason looking dapper. Aww, they don't have anything to worry about, Mase will come back just as weird as he left, if not weirder.

Baggage claim, Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts.

Bugs warning Mase about the classes dedicated to punking what he did, what did he do? Aww, we didn't get the see the act he did to mess with the pedo. And Fey better be ready for Bugs.

Train Station, Dunwich, New Hampshire.

Gah! The ring provides Mase that kind of information, I hope he can keep his sanity after having that ring for a while. Father Rico and the Order are too used to the messed up stuff they use and deal with. I don't like the fact Mase wouldn't have been given a choice to join the Knights.

Wednesday morning,
Office of the Headmistress, Whateley Academy, NH.

Oh boy, Mrs. Carson knows the ring and mark of that order and is upset about a student being enrolled who has them. So they are spinning it that if Jonathan hadn't intervened that Mason would be dead right now, oh brother. And Mrs. Carson lays down the law with Mase, good.

"Like most of his community, the boy firmly believes he belongs to and in Hell. However – and this is conjecture on my part – the ordeal required each time he uses the Ring to heal may serve more as a penance against heresy than a warning against Pride."

"How does four seconds of Hell and three of Heaven count toward that?"

"I won't ask where you heard that but assume they had good reasons to discuss the matter with you. For Mason, the order is Heaven before Hell. He refuses to say more beyond wanting to go back."

Crud, Mason meant he wants to go back to Hell, that is all kinds of messed up. This whole situation is cruel and messed up beyond belief, some might see death as a mercy at this point. I just hope Mrs. Carson can steer Mase on the right path.

Office of the Assistant Headmistress.

Animal, what is this about an animal that Mase has?

Hubris wrestled with Diligence before Mase's eyes. "It presents as a dog, so it will be treated like a dog," smirked Hartford.

Have to agree with Hartford on that one.

Twain Cottage.

Room 209 and who is his roommate? Dang, Mase has one crass sense of humor. Dalton is there already. Dredz aka Charles Zander is giving the tour, this will be...an experience. Sowersby Drake is Mase's roommate, Jackal-based GSD, cool. Yellow-flag day is a rarity for a tour.

Schuster Hall.

Orc, if you have the look might as well lean into it. Ribbit, a frog-hosting avatar, cute. Cornhusker, nice getting ahead of that, Dalton. Empath, but he seems to pick up full thoughts, I thought he was a telepath. Healing will be only if Mason is the only one available or desperate enough.

Twain Cottage.

Yeah, you have to be careful about getting lost in those workshop tunnels. Yikes, abandoned mine memories would make me avoid any dark places forever. Pookie, he named a literal hellhound Pookie. Bwahahaha.

Careful with those hellhound flames, I wonder what the burnt hair off Sowersby's hand smells like. And its lick can heal wounds for Mason, that is one scary entity.

Thursday morning, August 30, 2007,
Office of the Department of Mystic Arts Chair, Kirby Hall.

Circe did a reading and made a call, wanting to give Jonathan a swift kick in the ass. He deserves so much more.

That was as far as observation got before his brain got slammed with the Library's files on the woman. His Sight scribbled three millennia of sins, both real and imagined, across her image.

Stupid ring! Are you trying to overload the poor boy on his first day in class? Circe, don't make him crack up like that when he is bleeding already.

He has a fragment of THAT in him, what the heck was the order thinking!?!

Circe's eyes narrowed, "What about their power?"

"That depends on what owns whom, doesn't it?"

"More often than even I care to dwell on."[/quoe] That is a scary thought to dwell on.

Oh boy, Circe gets to meet Pookie. Hehehe, so cute to see Circe talk to Pookie, and Pookie understands her completely.

Only through an Exercise of Will did Circe banish the image of the boy playing fetch with the guardian nightgaunts.

Whoever does suggest that to him will be in for a detention bordering on the epic.

Rats and it would have been so fun to watch. =P Good reason to place him in that Martial Arts class, though as a healer maybe you should tell her the full details of what happens when you use it, Mason.

Gah! That is some scary stuff, causing that kind of damage without spilling a drop of blood. Ah, she forgot about the Knight's Burden, please don't forget again. Counseling for post-traumatic stress, that Order deals with some messed up shit.

Señor Schmidt

I forgot about the vampire teacher, been so long since he was mentioned.

Nevertheless, I'd like you to take Miss Grimes's third-period 'Introduction to Magical Arts'."

"That sounds like we get fingerpaints?"

"Mason? Exactly how well did that midsummer observance go for you?"

"Fingerpainting for Dummies it is!"

Christine is going to enjoy that fingerpainting comment.

If Mase has a lick of sense he won't say it to Ms. Grimes' face. Time off for good behavior, Mase, you goof.

Saturday morning, September 1, 2007,
Picnic Lunch, The Quad, Whateley Academy.

A hike around here, just don't go into the Grove. He must like his burgers spicy. All those clubs yet Mase doesn't fit in any of them, aww. Ah, good, he isn't an idiot who thinks your parents dictate what you are automatic. Oof, he overheard what Tansy said to Danny. Ugh, he needs better shielding so he will stop invading other people's minds.

Dalton chatting up a blonde by the Christian Fellowship table, I wonder who she could be. Oh no, not her! Boy, Mase got a good read on her fast. And the ring knows what she did. Fanatic doesn't start to cover that girl. Sowersby at the Third Faction meeting, just great, he is in trouble as well.

Late Saturday afternoon, September 1, 2007,
Twain Cottage, Whateley Academy.

What the, those idiots called Sowersby too pretty and gave him dirty looks. Third Faction has gotten worse. Evening meals and vespers at St. George, Mase has been roped into torture. He has a point, I would make holy water part of the student's basic kit for Whateley. And Buffy was rarely religious despite the tools she used.

Tuesday morning, September 4, 2007,
First Period, Basic Martial Arts, Laird Hall.

Ah, the rules of the Whateley Academy dojo. 3/4th of this class is female, dang. All those cold shoulders to Mason and Dalton, what is these girls' problem? Abigail Newgrange aka Jenny Sorrow, is dangerously close there to a DC character, girl.

They don't like each other because of who they remind each other of, Mase reminds her of the Anti-Paladin, why? He can heal those kinds of wounds that fast, the price may be high, but it is worth it to save a life.

Third Period, Introduction to Magical Arts, Kirby Hall.

Powers Theory is boring, this class is far from it, Mase. Her brain is still numb from Powers Theory, poor girl, after a semester of that she is going to need coffee to jolt her brain back to working order. Good grief, is it pick on Mase day today? Circe told Grimes about Mase's comment, rats.

I like the magic classes, so fun to follow along. Learning so much new stuff with this class.

"None of you are known to have Sidhe, Faerie, or Great Old One bloodlines, so there is no point in dwelling on sorceries that are incompatible with your very existence. As a result of how students conducted themselves in last winter's class on the ethics of Necromancy, it will be a very long time before I return to that topic. Furthermore, we will not be risking Whateley Academy's neutrality over theurgical arguments. Worship your own deities at your own risk."

I knew that class on Necromancy would cause trouble, teens with access to those kinds of spells just can't help but cause mischief or worse.

Afternoon.

His empathy, with the amount of detail it picks up, seems like the power testing wonks would classify him as a PSI with telepathy to me the more I see him use it. No using Tennyo for English class!

Twain Cottage.

Sowersby worried about Mason getting food to eat and getting Pookie's help to find him, so adorable. Dalton has another half, interesting.

Sunday, September 9, 2007,
Saint George's Parish, Dunwich, NH.

Bad Father Rico, no encouraging Mason's bad habits. Write up a report for class, Grimes has definitely got him busy. So his familiar and other well-behaved guests can be summoned on consecrated ground, good to know. Can tell when someone is concentrating on magic, very useful ability.

Saturday morning, September 15, 2007,
Coös County Humane Society, Berlin, NH.

All that paperwork to get to go into Berlin, Mason is right, it is the work of the Devil. Or at least thought up by Hartford. Pookie, no! Terror is right, never mistake Pookie for a purse dog again. All those vaccinations for Pookie, not even a hellhound deserves that.

Mason overheated from Pookie getting shots, ouch. But them curled up together, I want drawings!

Sunday afternoon, September 16, 2007,
Walkway to Twain Cottage, Whateley Academy.

Yikes! Don't tell me Mason is linked to Pookie that strongly and got sick from the vaccines, that sucks. And dropped off at Doyle, he is lucky he was found before it was too late.

Monday morning, September 17, 2007,
Basic Martial Arts, Laird Hall.

What the hell is Jenny Sorrow doing using her powers on the whole class like that? Poor Pookie is in that bad of shape, if she tried to kill him I hope she gets in trouble. At least Mason can heal Pookie, JS needs to learn not to mess with fellow students or their familiars like this.

I always wondered why more sensitives on campus had no trouble with what happens in the Martial Arts classes, psi screens make a lot of sense.

"Miss Newgrange, please do not attempt to banish the Church Knight's Hellhound in class again. We cannot risk putting you through what he's just been through. However, we can make disregarding this most reasonable of requests a memorable occasion."

Self-righteous bitch tried to banish Pookie! Abigal needs to learn not everything is black and white as it seems.

Men's locker room: Mason.

Every time he heals he has to go through that, for a good deed he gets tortured, I never liked that. A boy his age shouldn't have to go through this.

Men's locker room: Dalton.

Jonathan, telling Dalton all the details of what was meant to be for him, is cruel. Grandmother Spider is who reknit Dalton, whoa. Jonathan told Dalton what Mason is now, and it is a huge secret, oh boy. Tough love for Mason right now if Dalton has to force him to change his clothes, he will.

Twain Cottage.

Mason could almost imagine some poor soul walking up to the Presence and announcing, 'You don't exist!' It would be even funnier if that were all it took to beat the Enemy!

That only works with fairies, not entities on the level of the Presence and the Enemy. Injured soul, yikes. Just let Mason sleep and Pookie watch over him, lest you upset the guardian hellhound.

Tuesday morning, September 18, 2007,
Mason and Dalton.

Yeah, sometimes you have to reduce the dose of pain meds just to function, the good stuff can knock you for a loop. Half a pill instead of 2, never reduce more than half to start off with or the pain might be too much to take. And Grandmother Spider doesn't like Jenny Sorrow either, that girl is major league bad news.

Abigail.

Kit and Haruko need to stop being rude to the other freshmen in their Martial Arts class. Mason that sedated, yikes. And excused from class, Abigail needs some counseling and to learn how to deal with others better.

Friday, September 21, 2007,
Reverend Darren Englund's office, Schuster Hall.

Crud, Abigail told Englund about Mason, this is very bad. He knows about Mason being an empath, how does he know this? Oh no, he is trying to set Abigail and Mason up from the sounds of it, this is the worst possible scenario.

Sunday, September 30, 2007,
Saint George's Parish.

Oh boy, goes to see Mason at church and gets sidelined by a woman who wishes to talk to her away from Mason. Mrs. Maguli is sneaky. This conversation is just leaving Abigail worried she is being matched up with Mason.

Saint Jerome, yikes. Heh, nice little debate they have going.

"Er, well. They say that I'm some kind of avatar. What energies I use are granted to me by my guardian angel. I've got these angelic bursts that usually bliss people out, n-not h-hurt them. They've always been completely safe other than the mental effects!"

Oh...she had no idea they would do that to Pookie or Mason, dang, I'm sorry I was so harsh to her earlier. Mason is too drugged out to really accept an apology right now, rats. Uh oh, seeing Mason like a cowboy, might Abigail be getting a crush on Mason?

Saturday morning, October 27, 2007,
Office of the Headmistress, Schuster Hall.

A vehicle operations waiver for a bicycle, Mason, this better not be an attempt at a loophole to drive a car with that. Request denied and the name tag has to go, she warned him.

Front entrance, Schuster Hall.

Parents Day and Aunt Thea and Jason are coming to see Mason, who is in a lot of pain. Hans Meier, Mandy, Steff, Drew, Chris, and Dusty, along with Mama Sophie Meier. Thea and she have been talking, eep, find a place to hide, Mason! Introduce Pookie to Drew, Dalton, that is just cruel...to Pookie. Visiting for Christmas, oh boy, this is going to be an interesting Christmas.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007,
Twain Cottage.

Mason, get help with your Halloween costume, please.

Monday morning, November 12, 2007,
Basic Martial Arts, Laird Hall.

Lexi and Gráinne from the description and how the redhead reacts to the thought of sparring with males. At least they got out in front of potential trouble.

Wednesday evening, November 21, 2007,
San Canaan, UT.

Stepping foot into the kitchen when holiday cooking is going on, you could lose a limb that way! Hector should know better, at least Pavati Cook dragged him out of the way, now drill some common sense into him. Dang, all those girls in that MA class and not one Mason has a chance with.

Wait, it wasn't just the one student murdered last year? Harry the Wonder Llama, now I want to know about this. Noooo! Do not introduce Petey to Wondercute, we want Whateley to remain intact.

Thursday morning, November 22, 2007.

Active after eating a Thanksgiving meal, how are they still that awake?

"Heck Nilsson and Mase Goodwin are still the same dumbasses they always were. Can't blame mutant genes for that. Being congenitally dense in the head? That comes with the Y chromosome."

I like them, they're silly.

Sunday afternoon, November 25, 2007,
Twain Cottage, Whateley Academy.

Dalton has been moved to bunk with Mason because of special grow lights he needs due to seasonal affective disorder. And Mason is considered GSD for the pair, heh. At least Pookie will like Dalton being there.

A fun story with a lot happening in just a few months. Mason has it brutal due to the Knight's Burden and learning to be a true Knight, I hope he can survive all this with his sanity intact. Especially with the girls of his MA class either disliking him or not interested, having caught the attention of Englund, dealing with Abigail, and so much more. His family is great though, even when they tease him.

Dalton has a big family too, when they get together I wonder how they feed everyone. And so far we know Dalton was changed, but not what his powers are. I can't wait to find out. I hope there are more stories about these two and their families in the future.

Dreamer wrote:

Baggage claim, Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts.

Bugs warning Mase about the classes dedicated to punking what he did, what did he do? Aww, we didn't get the see the act he did to mess with the pedo. And Fey better be ready for Bugs.

Hypnotic suggestion, like the two San Canaan "elders" used on Lemoore in "Off the Books". Bugs has to have seen every kind of act two times over. Plus, she has a year of Whateley training under her belt. The original newbies are growing into old hands.

Dreamer wrote:

Train Station, Dunwich, New Hampshire.

Gah! The ring provides Mase that kind of information, I hope he can keep his sanity after having that ring for a while. Father Rico and the Order are too used to the messed up stuff they use and deal with. I don't like the fact Mase wouldn't have been given a choice to join the Knights.

Most folks would never consider a Luciferian initiate for any position in the Church. It's generally a conflict of interest.

Dreamer wrote:

Twain Cottage.

Yeah, you have to be careful about getting lost in those workshop tunnels. Yikes, abandoned mine memories would make me avoid any dark places forever. Pookie, he named a literal hellhound Pookie. Bwahahaha.

And Pookie is a Very Good Boy!

Dreamer wrote:

He has a fragment of THAT in him, what the heck was the order thinking!?!

Not the Ring, but Mason himself sees others' sins just like poor Kai. Think of it as Hell's little surprise gift to the newly-minted Knight.

Dreamer wrote:

Nevertheless, I'd like you to take Miss Grimes's third-period 'Introduction to Magical Arts'."

"That sounds like we get fingerpaints?"

"Mason? Exactly how well did that midsummer observance go for you?"

"Fingerpainting for Dummies it is!"

Christine is going to enjoy that fingerpainting comment.

If Mase has a lick of sense he won't say it to Ms. Grimes' face. Time off for good behavior, Mase, you goof.

I would not be surprised if that's exactly how she refers to the basic course behind closed doors.

Dreamer wrote:

Afternoon.

His empathy, with the amount of detail it picks up, seems like the power testing wonks would classify him as a PSI with telepathy to me the more I see him use it. No using Tennyo for English class!

I use unquoted italics for literal internal dialog. Telepathy would be quoted, like a telephony transmission.

Dreamer wrote:

All those vaccinations for Pookie, not even a hellhound deserves that.

Mason overheated from Pookie getting shots, ouch.

Actually, Mase got a full series of immunizations too. The Yellow Fever vaccine is right up there with the shingles vaccine for being rough on the patient.

Dreamer wrote:

What the hell is Jenny Sorrow doing using her powers on the whole class like that? Poor Pookie is in that bad of shape, if she tried to kill him I hope she gets in trouble. At least Mason can heal Pookie, JS needs to learn not to mess with fellow students or their familiars like this.

Her powers have effects similar to Seraphim's. So, I decided that a blast of positive-aligned energy should bliss the bystanders out long enough for Sensei Tolman to assert emergency crowd control.

Dreamer wrote:

Kit and Haruko need to stop being rude to the other freshmen in their Martial Arts class. Mason that sedated, yikes. And excused from class, Abigail needs some counseling and to learn how to deal with others better.

They're all young teens. People skills don't come automatic with all mutations. Imagine how much the school could save in construction costs if they did!

Dreamer wrote:

He knows about Mason being an empath, how does he know this? Oh no, he is trying to set Abigail and Mason up from the sounds of it, this is the worst possible scenario.

Mason is enrolled as a student and the powers testers in SLC couldn't miss his empathy power (which kept him out of school for a year). That was just some of the information that was included with his application.

Dreamer wrote:

Saint Jerome, yikes. Heh, nice little debate they have going.

"Er, well. They say that I'm some kind of avatar. What energies I use are granted to me by my guardian angel. I've got these angelic bursts that usually bliss people out, n-not h-hurt them. They've always been completely safe other than the mental effects!"

Oh...she had no idea they would do that to Pookie or Mason, dang, I'm sorry I was so harsh to her earlier. Mason is too drugged out to really accept an apology right now, rats.

He wasn't drugged out before, but after being reminded, he is now.

Dreamer wrote:

Office of the Headmistress, Schuster Hall.

A vehicle operations waiver for a bicycle, Mason, this better not be an attempt at a loophole to drive a car with that. Request denied and the name tag has to go, she warned him.

Mason thoroughly enjoys trolling people by impersonating a missionary, among other ways.

Dreamer wrote:

Front entrance, Schuster Hall.

Parents Day and Aunt Thea and Jason are coming to see Mason, who is in a lot of pain. Hans Meier, Mandy, Steff, Drew, Chris, and Dusty, along with Mama Sophie Meier. Thea and she have been talking, eep, find a place to hide, Mason! Introduce Pookie to Drew, Dalton, that is just cruel...to Pookie. Visiting for Christmas, oh boy, this is going to be an interesting Christmas.

Dreamer wrote:

Wait, it wasn't just the one student murdered last year?

Apathy and Heyoka.

Dreamer wrote:

Dalton has a big family too, when they get together I wonder how they feed everyone. And so far we know Dalton was changed, but not what his powers are. I can't wait to find out. I hope there are more stories about these two and their families in the future.

The Meiers aren't hurting for income. Having a young hockey player and a lacrosse player to feed, they need it.

Dreamer wrote:

A fun story with a lot happening in just a few months. Mason has it brutal due to the Knight's Burden and learning to be a true Knight, I hope he can survive all this with his sanity intact. Especially with the girls of his MA class either disliking him or not interested, having caught the attention of Englund, dealing with Abigail, and so much more. His family is great though, even when they tease him.

I'm glad you were able to enjoy the story despite the rough patches! I've been wanting to spring Pookie on folks I actually see Mason as an anti-villain with a well-developed set of principles to follow. But, he's also a youngster with some growing to do despite knowing how terrible some people can be.