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

Sender: Erichthonios

[beshackled]

'Tis good to know you are well, Nico. However did you have so many little ones? Have you grown up?

i.

[foremother]

It's unfortunate that a girl who might not be able to appreciate these differences is invading his space, in truth. Still, the park is an easy place to wander around, to people watch— to see the Surface in its most natural state. Zelda, golden haired and elfin eared as she is, fits in as well as a black sheep does.

Then again, so does he, with that sigh. It gets her attention, her head rising from a flock of birds she's been idly feeding. She looks at him, a troubled sort of concern making it's way across her round and soft features, before easily deciding to bother him. After all, she remembers waking up and feeling lost not so long ago.

"Hey, there, stranger," she says to the actual stranger, a gentle familiarity peppering her tone, as if that'll make her sound friendly, her stride towards him confident despite the light snowfall crunching below her steps. There's confidence in her gait, like she's been here for centuries now. "You look a little lost out here alone." And cold, she muses silently, but she's no better in her white dress and sandals. "How's some company sound?"

[refantasma]

A goddess ripped them out of me. And nope. I'm still fifteen.

[refantasma]

"Hey," Nico said, turning to look at the woman greeting him. "I'm not lost. Just procrastinating."

He looks up at the barren trees. "But I'll welcome the company. I think I've seen you around before."

He squints at her. "You're one of Link's people, right?"

[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.

sender: percy jackson

[judoflipped]

there was so much going on in that text that concerns me i dont know where to start

[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.

[refantasma]

Start with what concerns you the most.

[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.

[foremother]

The mention of Link's name, her smile goes slack and Zelda blinks. Somehow, it doesn't surprise her that Link has become the anchor between them, but...

"Which one?" She's laughing now, hands on her hips as she beams. For a moment, she almost hopes he'll say the one with brown hair. "I'm Hylian, you have that right. If you're so sure that we've met before, then you can guess my name, right?"

Not that it's hard.

[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.

[refantasma]

"He was cute. Blond hair wore blue, had a ponytail going on."

Nico hadn't met the other Link, so he gave the woman a strange look. "Wait, there's more than one here? Are the same Link from different worlds, or just two guys both named Link?"

He knows, logically, the latter was more likely, but this place? Who the heck knew?

"I don't think we've been introduced but... it starts with a Z?"

[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.

[foremother]

She's laughing as she confirms that yes, her name starts with a Z. With a nod, she introduces herself, cheeks burning from the cold and laughter. "Yes, Z! My name is Zelda."

She does not answer his question about there being another guy named Link. He must know the Princess, after all, if he knows Link. And two Zeldas certainly means there's a likelihood of tw Links, doesn't it? "He has some sort of jewelry on the back of his hand, doesn't he?"

[azuresong]

[ Lyria just so happened to be walking her corgi puppy in the park when she spotted Nico. And although she has never really been able to speak with him, there is an instant sort of recognition that crosses her face, and that allows her to move closer to him.

He looks... different somehow, but she smiles sweetly in his direction when she gets a little closer. ]

... Nico, was it? Are you alright?

[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.

[refantasma]

Yeah...

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

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

[refantasma]

"I wasn't really paying attention to his hands," Nico said as he scratched the back of his head, his face turning a little pink. He had been much more distracted by how handsome Link's face was.

"But I helped him build a wall to stop... red slimy stuff."

[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... ]

[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]

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.