Owner	Pose
Ares	Freeport, New York is one of the better suburbs of Manhattan. Far enough to the East and a long enough drive that it's just out of the range of the casual commuter, but close enough for the great city's skyline to be visible off in the distance. The neighborhood is almost idyllic at a glance. Old manor homes, turn of the century buildings, and a community that in some ways might seem straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.     But one thing about this part of the state that is always a bit more off than elsewhere is the weather. The weather systems roar in off the coast, heavy clouds hanging low that threaten a formidable rain shower in the offing rather soon. But right now, on the street that the man known as John Aaron calls home... it's merely overcast with that subtle feeling of potential in the air, paired with the faint chill of autumn.     Leaves blow across the street as John Aaron's visitor arrives, but he isn't the first person she might see. For out on the front yard of the three story home with the high fence that surrounds its lot... is a lone young man, sitting under the car port as he straddles a BMX bike, holding out his hand from beneath the shelter to feel the first droplets of the coming rain shower.
Cassie Sandsmark	Cassie, for her part, never quite liked the weather. Murmuring to herself as she keeps her jacket on against the cool weather, Cassie brings up a hand to push through her blonde hair, squinting up at the sight of the lone young man, waiting for the rain. "Hey there..." she calls out, her tone of voice immeadiately softening.     Even though ten was plenty old enough.     "Do you remember me?" she says, giving a wide grin, stepping forward towards the car port. "Well.. uh... I'm looking for your dad. Aren't you cold?" she asks, quirking her head to one side. The autumn was killing her, at any rate, godsblood or no.
Ares	The fence that would perhaps normally be closed was wide open, letting her make her advance up the cement ramp that leads to the tall old home. The yard itself was well landscaped though towards the back it looked like part of the property was more lost to the woods than anything tended to by human hands. Yet as she stepped closer, the young man straightened up, his forearms resting on the bike's cross-bar, the number 9 visible on its racing tag.     He's a cute child, perhaps to be handsome in the coming years. Unlike his father he has a short sharp shock of blonde hair, platinum and bright to match his blue eyes. Blue eyes that are openly appraising her with a thoughtful wariness as he seems to gauge her approach.     Then, over his shoulder he shouts, "DAAAAAAAD!"     There's a pause then he adds, "There's some girl here!"     But there's no answer at first even as she steps closer. The young boy holds up a hand in greeting and says quieter, "Heya. I'm Alex."
Cassie Sandsmark	There was a wince then as Alex kinda shouts like he does, Cassie bringing up her hand to exaggerate cleaning out her ear with a fingertip. "Wow, buddy - you have some lungs on you!" she enthuses, bringing up her hand to tap the number on his bike. "Number nine. That's a lucky number, you know," she says, letting a grin dance across her lips. "I'm uh..."     A beat, and her features twist. How to explain this?     "A friend of your dad's." Cassie takes a step back, though, and tucks her thumbs into the side pockets of her jeans. "Alex, right? That's a cool name. After Alexander the Great?" she says, giving a wide grin. "I'm Cassie. Short for Cassandra. Do you know who that is?"
Ares	She can see the suspicion in those eyes as he watches her, it's clear that he's not entirely sure what to make of this girl. And he's on that borderline age when a child might be almost self-aware... but not quite? Yet he seems to take her measure and smiles a bit, albeit hesitantly. "Is it? I just like it. And hey if I turn it upside down it's six. So it's like two signs for the price of one."     Very economical.     But then he rolls his eyes, "Yeah, like Alexander the great. Duh." But his smile appears after that, charming and bright... only for their back and forth to be interrupted by a deeper voice.     And then, emerging from behind the back of the house, walking around the corner in jeans and a red flannel shirt, is John Aaron. She's seen him before, at the construction site, in the city. But here, and now, carrying a large rake in one hand that still has leaves clinging to the tines... it's positively domestic.     "What is it, boy?" He asks as he rounds the corner even as his gaze falls heavily on Cassie. Surprisingly, the tall man smirks slightly and then greets her. "Sister," But after he says that he steps forwards to Alexander and snaps, "Off your bike, Alexander. This is your aunt Cassandra, greet her properly."     To which sees him /snapping/ to as he hops off his bike and kicks the kickstand into place, then steps forwards to offer his hand to her. "A pleasure to meet you, Aunt Cassandra."
Cassie Sandsmark	Okay. Now she knew where he got it from. With that 'duh', Cassie kinda straightens up as if slapped, putting her hands on her hips. But there was a smile on her lips regardless. "Well hey," she says - she had a charming smile of her own, if she did not say so herself. "Two letters for the price of one? Not bad. Or kinda bad. When you gonna see that number upside down, right? When you're flying from crashing! POW!" she accents the pow with a slap of one hand against her thigh.     Right when Ares comes out. So strange to have a 'brother', even if it was only... step. And she was pretty sure he was adopted, anyways.     Cassie herself, if one ignores the brown leather heavy coat she wore, with fleece and everything - wore a dark t-shirt beneath all that, emblazoned with the WW insignia, jeans, and knee-high boots with more fleece seen at the top. She was getting cold.     "And a pleasure to meet you too," she says, casting Alex a brilliant grin. Stepping forward towards Ares, she kinda narrows her eyes, offering her hand to the man. "I'm not quite sure if it's nice to see you yet. You called?" she asks. "Monsters? Witches? Demons?"
Ares	The tall man steps forwards, towering over them both as he rests a hand upon Alexander's head, ruffling the youngster's hair affectionately as he affixes his gaze on Cassie even as Alexander draws his hand back even as John shifts his hand away from Alexander and extends it towards her, accepting the handshake by gripping her forearm and giving a firm squeeze akin to a warrior's greeting.     "Nothing so exciting I am afraid." He glances to the side and then gestures towards Alexander, "Off with you, boy. We have words to share that are not for your ears."     Alexander retreats a step and frowns slightly, almost petulantly. "Awww, man." But he rounds and starts to walk away, looking over his shoulder at both of them.     "Go rake the piles together in the back," Ares calls out and then almost negligently tosses the rake after the boy. And, to Alexander's credit, he catches it... spins it around, then breaks into a run towards the back yard.     The retired Olympian turns his attention back towards Cassie, "My time has become spoken for in part. I will be away at times. I could use someone worthy of trust to keep an eye on the boy."
Cassie Sandsmark	And Cassie spares no strength in her return of that warriors greeting, keeping her eyes locked on John's own, her jaw tight - except at the edges of her lips, lifting up with a little smile. "Don't worry," she calls after Alexander. "Look up Cassandra on wikipedia or something while you're..." A pause. He was raking the leaves. "Uh... do that later!"     "You called me here, to be..." A pause, and Cassie purses her lips, her earrings glittering in the light. "A superpowered babysitter?" she asks, crossing her arms over her front, and sticking out her lower jaw in thought.     "Are you /sure/ we're related, and this isn't just some scam to get free babysitting?" she gestures between herself and Ares.
Ares	A small smirk flickers into life over his features as he looks away from her, but then he gestures for her to follow him as he continues on the way, walking towards the front of the house. It's towards the front door that he leads her, climbing up the steps onto the wooden porch, then reaching the screen door he pulls it open with a creak and holds it for her.     "I'll pay you." He offers that easily, "And Alexander does have a guardian of sorts so you would not be on duty alone." He waits for her to precede him then steps up and into the foyer of the house and starts to walk across the hard wood floor hallway that heads towards the kitchen area. "But I would be more at ease if he had another individual with a more... modern outlook on life to see to his protection."     That said he saunters into the kitchen, strolling across the way and reaching the fridge. Once there he pulls open the door and reaches in, glass clinking faintly as he withdraws a beer and without asking tosses her one. The cap of his own is twisted off as he straightens up, closing the door behind him with a /fwumpf/. "But if you find the task daunting I will understand your denial of my request."
Cassie Sandsmark	Making an annoyed sound in the back of her throat, Cassie stands up to follow after the Olympian. Tucking her hands into the pockets of her coat, she glances back up towards the other. "Oh, good," she says, stepping into the home, but not before scraping her boots on the mat first. Taking a couple steps in, she unfastens her jacket in earnest once out of the autumn cold, showing off the double W in earnest.     "I do need money. As it turns out - superheroing doesn't really pay the bills. And my mom - well... you talked to her, right?" A beat - and she sighs, bringing up a hand to push through her own hair now.     Bringing up a hand to catch the beer, she looks bewildered a moment - and then, with a great grin, she tugs the cap off of it easily. "It's not daunting. I mean, he seems like a good kid - what does he like to do? What are his hobbies?" she asks, kinda leaning back against the counter, and breathing out a sigh.
Ares	Against the kitchen island, John leans back with his legs crossing at the ankles, his arms folding over his chest though he at times will take a sip of his beer as the conversation meanders along. "I have not talked to your mother, if that is at issue then I shall." He answers that easily as well.     But then she asks of Alexander's interests and he waves his bottle slightly to punctuate his words, "He has the interests of any normal mortal child." He offers and then elaborates after a sip, "He awakens before dawn and completes the thirty seven drills of the master of swords, exercising until completion and then prepares himself for school. He returns home and does his homework, familiarizes himself with the firearm that he is tasked with for that week, then he has X-Box time."     A nod comes from the man as he takes another sip. Then there's a furrow to his brow, "He also likes Pokemon."
Cassie Sandsmark	"Well, no... it's probably... uh... better if you didn't."     Cassie clears her throat at that. Nodding her head along with what Ares says, she takes a swig of the beer - expecting a bit of a punch to come with it, but instead... the godsblood or otherwise prevented the alcoholic punch. It just tasted like... bitterly flavored water.     Cassie crinkles her nose, taking a sniff of the alcohol after. Well, she has it anyways, might as well use it to gesture at John. Which she does, saying, "There's worse things to like. Jeez - I remember liking Pokemon as a kid. Kinda weird to hear it's still around," she says with a grin. "Thirty seven sword drills. Here I thought I was lucky to just get one or two," she says. Another moment.     "Alright, so - I think I can help you out. Do you have any kinda schedule you want me coming over on, or is it a on-call kinda thing?"
Ares	Pushing off of the island he tilts his bottle back and downs the rest of the beer with a few swallows, then pulls open the refuse bin and tosses the empty inside. That's right. The God of War doesn't recycle. He looks back towards her and lifts a hand slightly. "On call, ideally. Though over this coming month it will likely be more busy than normal."     The tall man steps towards the back door and pushes it open, holding it for her to take a gander outside as well. It's just enough of a reveal so she can look out onto the back deck and further on the back yard where she'll see Alexander pointedly not raking leaves.     Instead he's /running/ at a mad tilt away from a huge black dog the size of a great dane that lopes after him almost clumsily as it chuffs and snurfles while it runs. There's the laughter of a child, the occasional short bark, even as he dives into some of the piles and then emerges with a splash of brown fluttering leaves all around him.     John tells her sideong, "That is Pluto, his Guardian Spirit. He will obey you when you come by. He's strong, loyal, and was a great warrior when he lived."     Then, to her. "I will not give you the lie, Cassandra. Matters may be dangerous over time. Our family has its enemies. I would understand if you do not wish to extend of yourself so."
Cassie Sandsmark	Cassie finishes the beer herself, wincing a bit at the taste more than the bite - before tossing it as well towards that dreaded dustbin. A beat, and she starts stepping forward, her lips pursing ever more in thought. Of course she looks towards the back as that portion of the home is revealed, the young woman nodding her head at the dog.     "I know I haven't done a whole lot yet - but I've faced a few scary things. I think I have a fighting chance against anything that may come after your son," she says, casting a wink up at the Olympian. "Plus, the whole Amazon thing. That helps sometimes, right?"     Bringing up her hand to brush through her short hair again, she turns, putting her back to the counter. "Alright, John," she says, offering her hand again. "You've got a deal. No one shall touch a hair on your child's head while I still live - while he's under my care." Cassie had a casual way around her, but on this - she sounded very serious.
Ares	The tall man smirks at her and holds up a hand, waggling it slightly back and forth at her mention about the Amazons and then tells her succinctly, "Ehn." But then he gives her a nod at the rest of the words she murmurs. "Very well, then we are at an agreement." And with that he'll take her forearm again to give a firm squeeze and a shake before he releases her.     Turning to the side he calls out, louder now, "Those leaves had better be raked before you come back into this house, boy!"     The response, however, is chipper. "Yes, sir!" He waves jauntily, and then shifts that wave over towards Cassie so she'll know it's for her too. But then it's back to playing with the dog.     He gives her a nod and then tilts his head slightly, "Come, I will show you the lay out of the house so you can make what plans are needed." And with that he will set to this task, knowing it may well make a difference down the line.
Cassie Sandsmark	Cassie Sandsmark says, "My goodness, Ares. I doth thinketh you are behaving in a manner ill fitting for one of thine station. Verily do submit your apologies to this man."
Ares	Ares sets Lara's treadmill to olympic level super sprint up mountains1