#I don't know if it's bc it tends to be more unapologetically self-indulgent...

[essenceofarda]

Once i had a fic idea (that I still wanna get back to writing one day) that was the REVERSE* of the "Girl falls into middle Earth" trope, so instead it was "Prince Eldarion of Gondor falls into modern day Earth", and lives for a very confused time in modern day America, where he falls in love with a modern-day woman who he ends up taking back with him to Middle Earth when he Does manage to return, and so the fic would cover two timelines so to speak, or more...

take dual place in both like,,, modern day Earth where he's grappling with the craziness that is technology and modern day... everything, and then also in Middle Earth where she is grappling with "holy shit he was telling the TRUTH about where he came from????????" etc and it was... yeah sure, ridiculous, cliche, and probably something no one would be interested in reading, LOL, but it would satisfy that itch of mine to write a SUPER Self-Indulgent lotr fic 🤣🤔

[yonemurishiroku]

What do you think about Asclepius/Nico and malcolm/nico?

hmm. this is kinda hard to say.

With Malcolm, tbh I... don't have any special impression of him in canon LOL. A side character, yes he is. It doesn't change much in fanfic either, ngl. I guess it's because Malcolm is less likely to pop up in Nico-centric fanfics and I make a point of not reading Percabeth, on principle. It's different from Michael Yew or Lee Fletcher, who are Will's brothers and thus have more chances to appear.

With that being said, my image of Malcolm Pace is actually quite a remarkable thing. I tend to think of him as more mature than his age, hence a somewhat cold, stoic repertoire (i honestly don't know why...). And I can't tell if this is just me or something I once read, but I always think Malcolm would be compared a lot to Annabeth - his talented, heroic leader of a sister, which results in a bit of bitterness and a surpassing urge to prove himself.

Integrating him with Nico though, then I must be better than everyone might be a fascinating contrast/ parallel to Nico. Why, you ask? Because as far as my takes on Nico go, he is a selfless but also resentful little thing, who thinks he himself is nothing good so he tries to be good anyway. It might be a good mix with Malcolm's envy of a motto.

It wouldn't be too far off to picture a scenario in which Nico starts talking back to Malcolm for trying too hard to idk, govern everything? Athena's children's fatal flaw is hubris, yeah? Nico is a self-deprecating thing, with a poisonous mouth to boost. He is hard to intimidate and quick to burst. If Nico can sass Hades to battle, can you imagine how he'd throw Malcolm's hubris back to his face?

In another scenario, however, I would love to indulge in Malcolm's calmness and maturity. Idk I just think a calm and hard-to-shake one might be good for Nico? Since the little shit is too unstable already? Imma be honest: I always have a bias for those with good emotional regulation.

And frankly? It would absolutely be funny when people think Nico has a crush on Annabeth and then realizes it's her sister ajshdajksdhak.

As for Asclepius, I suppose my impression remains the same with Solangelo, I guess? Since, you know, it's kinda the same dynamic? Healer x Death Eater?

The most noticeable difference I'd say is that Asclepius is, well, dead LMAO. Which is a sign for fun when it comes to Nico in my books. Well he's the son of Hades. He has the right to get an immortal/ghost boyfriend. I believe nothing else.

What got my attention is that Asclepius is famous for bringing people back to death. Now, I headcanon Nico as a faithful believer in death and decay and the like, so I think it should be intriguing to picture them trying to understand each other and then growing closer as a result. As a nature-defying healer and the young lord of the dead, that is.

Because as much as I like Nico as Underworld's favorite child, I do think he values life, so he wouldn't... you know, fault Asclepius for it. Likewise, Asclepius doesn't seem to hate death as it is. A healer, more than anyone, understands its weight. They're both troubled by the other's actions however, and that right there spells good interactions too me. And I'm all for parallels and people from two worlds.

In the fortunate event that you're saying Asclepius as in a ghost (without the subsequent godhood), then I'm quite interested in picturing him as Nico's health assistant instead. In my Nico healing in the Underworld AU, yeah? It sounds kinda fitting to me. Now I'm invested LOL (and no, I don't care about dependence. Hell I'd make Nico depend on Asclepius if it has to come to it. I'm an unapologetic creator)

The meet-the-parent would probably funny tho bc well. Hades was the indirect reason for Asclepius' death. That alone right there is comedy material.

Just imagine Hades, who has been pleasantly under the impression that his son has gotten himself a nice one in their own House, has his eyes bugged out as Nico warily pulls Asclepius through the door. adjkhasdkjashk

Nico being like: "Don't you dare kill my boyfriend again, dad" pls I'M WHEEZING

And Apollo. Omg Apollo. The poor guy watched his son die, took revenge for it, suffered because of said revenge, and now has to sit at the same table with the one who contributed to that death as a father-in-law IM---ASHDSJKAHDK.

I don't think he would be against them together, per se, I just think there would be a lot of materials to work on.

This is everything I can think of atm I guess. I'm quite interested to know how come you're so invested in these two particular ships though. Bc I'm aware there's at least one Asclepius/Nico fic out there. 👀

There was something that caught your eye, perhaps? Would you be so kind to share? 👀👀👀