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

[refantasma]

Yeah...

[Nico looks up at the sky, then back to the girl talking to him.]

Ah, sorry, you're Leo's friend, right?

[azuresong]

[ ...!! Oh! To be honest he seemed so lost in his world world she never quite expected him to respond.

But she'll step forward, wildly nodding her head. ]

Yes, I am! M- more than a friend, I think! [ They... did kiss. What did that make them, exactly? ]

I know you are friends with Leo, too. I hope you're not hurt.

[ Because... those scars... ]

[refantasma]

Oh.

[Leo and Calypso didn't work out. He remembered learning that here now. When she asks if he's hurt, he absently touches the ones on his face]

These aren't so bad. I've had worse.

[He touched his shoulder, where the werewolf king once got him]

I got some here from the first werewolf. Claw marks, so thankfully, I wouldn't turn.

[azuresong]

[ She'll want a further inspection, just to be sure! So hopefully Nico won't mind Lyria settling down beside him on the bench, leaning a bit closer to note the scars in question. ]

Heh. You are very brave, then! And probably very strong, too.

[ To have seen so many battles! Leo's friends were very interesting. ]

I heard that people think scars are very cool.

[refantasma]

I don't know about 'cool' but they are badges of honor. Of survival.

[He shrugged, not really sure what else to say to that.]

I have to be strong to survive.

[azuresong]

[ Compliments don't seem to phase him, oh no! That's alright, Lyria will try a different approach. ]

Mmm. I understand that— being "strong to survive" thing. I may not look like it, but I'm pretty strong, too!

[ She'll even attempt to flex one of her arms. Something is here, she promises! ]

Ehehee. Probably not as strong enough to take on a werewolf, though.

[refantasma]

[Nico is not used to compliments. Surely Leo told her that, right?

Nico scares Leo. And is one of the few people Nico enjoys scaring because Leo's kind of a dick.]

A lot of people, girls in particular, are stronger than they think they are.