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The Hermes cabin was its usual disaster zone — clothes everywhere, prank supplies on every surface, and a suspiciously humming shoebox perched on Luke’s bunk.
Luke stepped inside, took one look at the box, and sighed.
“Alright,” he said, “which one of you put the vibrating shoebox on my bed?”
Travis didn’t look up from the deck of cards he was shuffling.
“Define ‘put.’”
Connor, sitting cross‑legged on the floor, raised a hand.
“Define ‘shoebox.’”
Luke stared at them.
The box buzzed louder.
“Guys.”
Travis groaned. “Fine. It’s a prototype.”
“A prototype for what?” Luke asked.
Connor grinned. “A self‑walking prank delivery system.”
Luke blinked. “A what.”
Travis tapped the box. “It follows people. Like a puppy. But with glitter.”
Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. “And you put it on my bunk because…?”
“We needed a test subject,” Connor said.
“A brave test subject,” Travis added.
“A test subject who wouldn’t scream,” Connor finished.
Luke gave them a flat look. “You two are unbelievable.”
Travis beamed. “Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
The box suddenly hopped — actually hopped — and skittered across the mattress, leaving a faint trail of gold dust.
Luke lunged and grabbed it before it could escape.
“Okay, no. Absolutely not. Whatever this is, it’s banned.”
Travis gasped. “You can’t ban innovation.”
Luke held up his glitter‑coated hand.
“I can when innovation ruins my bedsheets.”
And then — without another word —
Luke turned toward the door.
“Chiron’s going to love this,” he said, already walking out. “He’s been asking about your… projects.”
Both Stolls froze.
Then:
“NO—!”
“LUKE, WAIT—!”
They launched themselves at him in perfect, chaotic unison.
Luke laughed as they collided with him — finally dropping the head‑counselor tone — and lifted the box high above his head, keeping it out of reach even as they clung to him like koalas.
“Oh, now you care,” he teased, twisting away as they tried to climb him.
“Don’t give it to Chiron!” Travis yelled, half‑laughing, half‑panicked.
“He’ll make us do safety training again!” Connor added, grabbing for Luke’s arm.
Luke grinned, backing up a step, keeping the box just out of reach.
“Maybe I shouldn’t give it to Chiron,” he mused. “Maybe I should just throw it in the lake instead.”
“LUKE!” they shouted, still laughing as they tried to grab it.
He leaned back, holding it higher.
“You two really need to think through the consequences of your inventions.”
“We are!” Connor said, laughing as he nearly slipped.
“We’re thinking so hard right now!” Travis added.
And then — in a burst of chaotic sibling teamwork —
they both shoved at the same time.
Luke toppled backward onto the cabin floor with a very undignified “oof.”
The Stolls pounced.
Connor snatched the box.
Travis grabbed his brother’s wrist.
And together they bolted for the door.
Luke scrambled up, brushing glitter off his shirt.
“Oh, you’re dead!” he shouted, already laughing as he sprinted after them.
The Stolls’ laughter echoed across camp as they tore past the cabins, Luke right behind them, yelling threats he absolutely wasn’t going to follow through on.
Just another normal afternoon in the Hermes cabin.