Sisters' Welcome

Drew breathed a breath of fresh air the instant she walked into the Aphrodite Cabin. Unlike the slovenly and claustrophobic mess called the Hermes Cabin, this cabin was actually spacious and clean. The bunks matched the windows (a soft green and grey theme). Everyone actually took the time to clean their bed and spaces. The boys and girls were properly separated. Girls on one side and boys on the other, with a curtain designed to separate the two. There was even an in-bunk spa-level bathroom. Drew had nearly forgotten how it felt not to have to rely on a public toilet or shower house.

Best of all, everyone in the Aphrodite cabin was an absolute darling. The instant the pink glow started fading, Drew and Aimi's new siblings had charged in a wave into the Hermes Cabin to help their sisters move their stuff. Alynna had helped Aimi unpack and sort her clothes. Arlynne had in turn volunteered to help Drew settle in. She was such a sweetie that when she'd asked Drew if she could see what their mother had included in Drew's purse, Drew had agreed immediately.

"Oh my," Arlynne cooed. "Mother left you some of her perfume. She almost never does that."

"Really?" Drew asked. "Whyever not hon? What did mother leave for you?"

Arlynne sighed. "Mother doesn't tend to leave us gifts at our claiming. At least, outside our glow-ups and the free fabric. The last person to get something special was Silena. Her hairclip turns into a sword."

"That seems… unfair."

"Oh, it's fair. I found embroidery supplies in the chest by my bed, so I wouldn't say I got nothing. Mom likes to pamper us, she just rarely does it so openly at the claiming."

"Of course." That makes sense. "So does mother pamper us often?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Arlynne teased. "But, for my last birthday, mother finally got me the hair straightener I wanted. We're her darlings. I'd imagine it makes her happy to see us using her gifts."

"Ooh! Are we talking about gifts?" one of Drew's brothers plopped on a nearby bed. "Hi! I'm Terry!"

Terry smiled. He had brown hair and eyes. He also had so much acne that Drew wondered if he'd been cursed. Surely acne didn't run in the family, did it?

"Drew," Drew introduced herself.

"Drew?" Terry asked.

"Leave our darling new sister alone," Arlynne rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't want to scare her off."

"I'm not scaring anyone off," Terry rolled his eyes. "I just wanted to see if there was any new makeup I could mooch."

"Oh uh…" Drew wasn't sure how to respond. Her new family seemed wonderful, but she wasn't sure she was quite ready to suddenly start handing out her makeup. Particularly, since she wanted to try it on herself first.

"Drew just arrived, give her a few days before you start bugging her for anything. Besides your skin tones are totally different." Arlynne poked Terry. "You know what? You should really ask Bria. You know she would be overjoyed to lend you some concealer."

"Yeah, but then she'll bug me to wash my face," Terry complained.

"Well, you should."

"I do wash my face. It just doesn't help. That's why I need concealer!"

"You wouldn't need concealer if you just washed your face more like- "

"-You want me to spend three hours at the sink?! It never works. Neither does all the acne medication you get me. Face it, I'm the ugly duckling of the cabin without makeup until I outgrow all this." He gestured to the speckling of red dots all across his face and sighed like life was a tragedy.

"We can only dream of that day. Now stop being melodramatic and go bug Bria."

"Fine, but only because I want to. Alright, I'm going!"

Terry dodged Arlynne's kick. Then he suddenly dipped into a deep bow towards Drew.

"For what it's worth, welcome to cabin ten. Let me know if you need anything."

He went off with a wink. Drew felt herself smile before realizing it.

Everyone in this cabin was such a darling. Still, seeing his face reminded Drew of the upcoming puberty she had to look forward to.

"Do I need to be worried about?" she gestured nervously toward her own face.

Arlynne laughed. "Nah, our faces tend to be more on the clear side so long as we wash it. Terrence, he's a dear, but he's more love and war than beauty. Honestly, if he just left his face alone without for like- a day- it would be ages better. But no… he's just got to coat it in concealer and make it worse."

"He just made it seem…"

"Yeah, that's Terrence for you. Acne isn't then end of the world. It happens to everyone. Sure, we're expected to look pretty with it, because gods forbid, we remind everyone that Mom isn't just about vanity. It's not like she's also a war goddess." Arlynne sighed. "Not everyone is gonna represent her beauty side just like not everyone represents her love side, but that doesn't make them any less family, does it?"

"Terrence seemed like he was a darling."

Arlynne smiled. "He really is. He's one of the most genuine kids in our cabin. Even if he is overdramatic to the moon and back. Remind me one day to tell you about the time he gave us a heart attack because of a stupid twisted ankle."

Drew nodded and filed that away.

"Anyway, we got swimming soon, which unlike dueling practice Chiron hasn't given up on getting us to attend. Please tell me you have a cute bathing suit!"

Drew froze. Her bathing suit had mysteriously vanished on her first day. She was pretty sure she knew which Hermes kid to blame.

"Oh," Arlynne took in Drew's reactions. "Well, in that case it's a good thing you got sorted here. We have hundreds to spare. I think Alina will be our mostly likely bet to find one for you. Her mother works at a swimsuit factory, so she brings us tons to choose from each summer."

Arlynne leaned in closer. "Just a bunk secret, but if you need anything everyone here is pretty chill about sharing. Just ask before taking. So how would you like to go swimsuit 'shopping' with me?"

"Hon, I would love that more than anything."

Drew never felt more at home than she did with her new family.

A/N: Voice was a bit challenging for this chapter. Any feedback on that would be greatly appreciated.

Anyhow, welcome to Cabin 10! They're all my darlings here.