Winter's Coming.

[refantasma]

Who: Nico and You!
Which: Open Log + Post. Backdated to December 1st.
Where: The park
What: Nico's come back from waking.
Warnings:Spoilers for Trials of Apollo and The Sun and The Star



I. Quando il gatto non c’è i topi ballano
Nico had been gone for a month here but almost a year in the real world. He's a little taller than he had been, and he has new scars, especially noticeable are the ones on his face.

He looked around the park, sighing, reaching up, and lightly touching the scars on his face, checking that they were still there. He wears them with pride.

Those who know him could see he was a bit more settled into himself, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

There is sorrow in his eyes. Being back here... and no Jason. And all the memories that he had forgotten while back in the waking world. That's something he'll think about later. He needs to go to the apartment he shared with Jason, go to Leo's, and find another place to live if he's back here. But he's in no hurry to do either.

II. Ciao di nuovo

Hey. Nico here.

I've been gone for a bit. It looks like I was in the real world longer than I was gone from here. Since Halloween just ended when I left, and it looks like Christmas is coming up. Weird. Percy, do you remember we went to Italy to get a present for Annabeth?

So, what did I miss here? You all missed out on me becoming a father. Maybe some of my kids, I have fifteen of them, will show up here. I hope they do; they're really cute.

Comments

[beshackled]

[Erichthonios has to read that... a few times.

HOW? What is even going on here?]

I do not think I understand.

You are well, though? And they are well?

[refantasma]

I'm good. They're good. They spend all their time crawling over my room.

[beshackled]

So many little ones at such a tender, young age...

I daresay I would not have your confidence in dealing with such a situation.

Have they names yet?

[refantasma]

Nyx, the goddess who ripped them out of me, named them.

Despair, Isolation, Guilt, Contempt, Sadness, Shame, Grief, Fear, Gloom, Jealousy, Envy, Bitterness, Stress, Rage, and Disgust.

[beshackled]

[Sweet merciful star he has never read such terrible names in all his life. Why?]

Somehow I get the feeling she isn't a very nice goddess.

[refantasma]

No, she's not.

I call the kids my Cocoa Puffs.

[beshackled]

Though I know not what Cocoa Puffs are, it sounds at least a term of endearment.

'Tis fortunate that they are in your care.

[He's definitely the better parent. But still! So young! A baby with babies!]

Would that I could give you advice... but I am entirely inexperienced in the matter.

[refantasma]

Theyre a type of chocolate flavored cereal. I call them that because they're cacodemons, and they kinda look like little balls of puff.

[Nico draws what looks like a cat head made of soot with big eyes. 'Shame' is written under it.]

so you dont gotta worry 'bout them too much. they mostly just roll around and eat socks.

[beshackled]

[Cacodemon... Kakodaimon? Erichthonios frowns, worrying anyway. Ah, but they are drawn out of Nico, who is not a bad boy. Surely they cannot be so bad.]

Socks are those cloth sleeves people here wear on their feet, yes? I shall tuck some away, just in case.

[refantasma]

[Kakodaimon would be the non-anglicized spelling.]

Yup.

They're not here. I hope Will's taking care of them while I'm sleeping.

[beshackled]

You sound as though you shall make a fine father.

[So cute, fussing over his little ones...]

I do not believe you have spoken of this Will to me before. Is he another demigod?

[He's noticed how the demigods tend to flock together in quite a few situations.]

[refantasma]

thanks.

yeah. he's my boyfriend. He's the son of Apollo, god of music, light, healing, plauge and a bunch of other things.

[beshackled]

[It takes a moment for the terminology to click, but having spent some few moons in this place, he has picked up on one or two things.]

'Twould seem as though congratulations are due on multiple matters!

And, though I know not if it will assuage your fears, if this Will was good enough to have your approval for yourself, I am confident that all will be well when your consciousness returns.