#but also nico finding out that actually there are other easier medications he can get his hands on that would work WAY better

[jankwritten]

I had a shower thought the other day about how Nico is actually a massive stoner who has been self medicating with weed brownies/gummies since the lotus casino.

the lotus flowers never seemed to have as much of an affect on him and bianca, but there was this boy who had a room on the same floor as them who would bake all the time and share. bianca didn't like the taste but Nico found that it was SO much easier to sleep after he ate some, and he felt way more situated in his head and less like his thoughts were bouncing everywhere 24/7.

little 10 year old Nico di Angelo housing a plate of brownies before going to kick ass on the DDR floor.....

But then I also was thinking: Grover is also a pothead. He has a secret hidden part of the forest where he grows (Chiron and DIonysus absolutely know about it but they also know Grover will just Move Somewhere Else if they bring it up so they don't bother) and he likes to bake for the over-18 campers whenever they ask. I think this is also how he gets a lot of information from students when he's on the hunt for a demigod to protect - sell them some weed in return for information about any new kids that seem out of the norm.

Culminates into: Percy keeping a stash of Grover's Very Fucking Potent brownies around. Nico finds them (nose like a bloodhound for drugs of all sorts) and eats like three. Percy finds out and immediately begins to panic because Nico is Too Small to have that much and should by all accounts be losing his shit.

Meanwhile Nico is very peacefully cleaning his own cabin, attending to chores around camp, helping out with classes and seeming very sober for someone who consumed enough tainted baked goods to ground a pegasus.

Percy tracks Grover down and asks what the typical dosage for a full brownie is and Grover is like. "Uhm. Please don't tell me you ate a full one again?"

"No, but I think Nico ate three of them at once."

"???? UH????"

Cuts back to Nico knitting quietly in the corner of the infirmary, keeping an eye on the rowdier patients while Will deals with an emergency across camp.

I just find the idea of Nico self-medicating for so long VERY amusing, especially when combined with my headcanon that Jason likes pot for similar reasons (helps insomnia, mellows him out, makes life easier to maneuver).

I also have a headcanon that Leo CANNOT smoke or partake under any circumstances because he's the most anxious motherfucker alive. The same reason Annabeth can't either; anything that does ANYTHING to their mental capabilities scares the shit out of them to the point they have panic attacks and therefore the brainiacs are not allowed near the stash.

[happyk44]

Annabeth's ankle still being fucked up after the events of HoO because it never healed right so she just deals with constant aches all the time. Luckily Nico's joints are also shit so he gives her advice. He's not sure if it's because of trauma, stress, an actual medical condition, or if his body has simply remembered that he is over 100 and wants him to act like it

But he gives her advice on medication, how to avoid a flare-up, encourages her to use a cane more often. He jokes that she could hide a dagger in the top and all she'd have to do is pull out the handle and bingo bango, weapon at hand

They do physical therapy together as well - it's usually Nico dragging her away from whatever she's doing and forcing her to sit with him and do her exercises

Obviously he can't reset a bone that's already been healed and even if they rebroke for and him put it exactly where it needs to go, it would only add more stress on the joint. It's not like constant breaks a health thing

Besides the ankle is a bitchy kind of joint. He could sit there and seal her bone himself, feel it knit back together under her skin, healed as though it never broke in the first place. But there'd always been some kind of ache, some kind of pain left behind, even if only minimal

The ankle, he has discovered, is an ass like that and will take everything personally. For that reason, he also bullies her into getting better shoes and comfier insoles. And since strain on her ankle can screw with her knee, he adds that into her (forced) physical therapy exercises. It's a good thing too because the knee also takes everything personally and he would know because his knees suck

She does appreciate what he does for her though. That when her ankle is having a really bad time, he'll press on it with his hand and suddenly the pain allieved in a way she's never been able to achieve with pressure. She takes the pills he got her prescribed. She may complain and try to fight her way back to her desk when he pulls her away but she does the exercises

She did not like the cane suggestion, and refused it. It's not about embarrassment - she's been through too much to feel shame from strangers passing by. But she considers herself with one and grimaces. The pain she has it hurts, it aches, but it doesn't slow her down. It feels mocking to have one when she doesn't require it to survive

Still, when he shows up with a retractable cane that folds in and folds out with ease, she bites the bullet and takes it. He did, after all, go through effort of getting for it. She can't just throw it out. Not yet anyway

(The Annabeth gift policy is "I will keep it for three months on clear display, but if it continues to have no use and I still do not want it, I will sell, regift, donate or throw it away")

Three months goes by and she keeps it with her as promised. Her ankle hurts sharply from time to time but she ignores the pointed reminding thought of the item in her shoulder bag and carries on. Until she's on hour two of trying to find Percy after he wandered off during their slow survey of rhe newest exhibit at a museum. Usually he's at the gift store, trying to find something shiny for Estelle

But this time he's not, and he's not answering his monster proofed phone and she's wandered through the whole museum twice now, and did a brisk walk around the block in case he'd gone outside to get something from the food trucks

Her ankle hurts badly. The downside to slow tours is all the standing. At least walking removes the pressure for just a second

She's cursing Nico as she pulls out the cane. She curses Percy a few times too. She handles it like Nico showed her and breathes easier. It helps. She hadn't noticed the strain on her other leg. She kept so much weight on it to easy the pressure on the damaged one and now it's evened out

Begrudgingly she makes a mental note to send Nico a basket of chocolates or something sweet. She huddles back at the gift. Percy finally answers his phone. The story he gives, in hushed whispers so the cashier doesn't overheat and think they're insane, is plausible, if not irritating, and when she walks out the door to find him swaying from side to side at the bottom of the stairs, she whacks him with the cane

Maybe she'll send Nico two gift baskets of chocolate.

[lovingmyselfcore]

Chapter One

Skate Into My Heart -- Solangelo AU

It’s finally here!

In the prologue I said that sectionals came first- I’m sorry part of the internet lied to me. Regionals is first so that’s what’ll be happening here

Bryce was barreling towards him.

Clarisse attempted to take the puck and stop Bryce but today he was chock full of red-hot anger and elbowed her out of his way, swiping at her ankles with his stick.

She barely managed to skate out of his way and yelled, “Lawrence! What’s the matter with you!” 

It seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

He kept the puck close to him, keeping every other player away from him.

And he just kept his course straight to the goal. Straight to Will.

It was a practice game. Didn’t he know that? What was he doing? This wasn’t a big deal.

Bryce was still skating when he shot. It seemed like it was in slow-motion. The puck soared through the air, rising off the ice.

Will dove to block it from entering the goal - which was the wrong move. It hit him square in his chest, with enough force to make Will abruptly lose his breath.

Bryce came to a halt in front of him, spraying Will with ice shards.

“Lawrence, it seemed like that had quite the pent up aggression,” Connor said, while Will caught his breath.

Bryce rolled his eyes, taking off his helmet. “Just cause Solace and the rest of you are weak pussies.”

“Pussies’?” Travis came up behind Connor. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Clarisse only snarled her agreement.

“Guys,” Jason said. “Come on, it’s just Bryce being Bryce.”

Bryce turned to face Jason. “What is that supposed to mean, Grace.”

Jason crossed his arms, his eyes flashing. 

“Why was that the term you picked?” Clarisse asked, her voice low. Dangerous.

“This isn’t helping anything.” Will cut in. “Let’s just leave it. He’ll learn his lesson eventually. Someone will teach him.”

Jason seemed to steel himself, “Yeah. Let’s not fight.”

“Why?” Bryce taunted. “Are you both gay or something?” Will felt his hand twitch, almost curling itself into a fist. Surveying the team, everybody seemed to be holding themselves back.

Will was saved from answering Bryce’s (admittedly, most likely rhetorical, though it was doubtful he knew what that word meant) when he heard someone yell, “Will!”

It was Kayla standing at the edge of the rink. He skated over to her and came to a stop in front of her.

He jumped up to sit on the thick barrier and pull his skates off. “What?” He looked over to see Kayla looking at him with her arms crossed over her chest.

“I’ve been trying to get your attention for ages now. Your mom keeps calling your phone.”

Will went quiet, holding back a curse.

Kayla looked at him sympathetically despite him not saying anything.

“Alright. Thanks.” She patted him on the shoulder as he wove around her.

“Hey, mom,”

“William. Why haven’t you answered me?”

“I’ve been practicing, mom.”

“Practicing for anything in particular?” Her voice was high - too high - he knew this always meant she expected an answer he couldn’t give her.

“Hockey, mom.”

She sighed sadly and he got defensive.

“You know I’m only playing to try and somehow help me get through med school.”

“I know, honey. But still, it’s such a brutish sport, and locker rooms,” He could feel her shudder through the phone. “All the men.”

Will knew better than to probe about what that meant.

It would be easier to get through med school if you let me ask - or even talk - to dad. You and I both know he’d be willing. It is Medical School.

He didn’t say that though, it would only piss her off or make her sad and it just wouldn’t be a good situation. 

After an awkward silence, he saw Jason poke his head into the narrow corridor Will was in. Jason made some frantic, but quiet (ever polite) hand motions.

Will didn’t know if he should be feeling such intense relief, considering Jason’s face was pretty panicked.

“Mom, I’ve got to know. They need me.”

“Okay,” She said hesitantly. “Make sure to study tonight. You’ve got to keep everything fresh. Always.”

He wasn’t even in school yet. (He was trying though). And she wanted him to know everything.

Will didn’t know what he hated more. His mother’s expectations, or Bryce Lawerence. Really, it was a difficult choice.

She hung up before he could say anything.

He jogged over to where Jason was. “C’mon,” Jason said.

While they were walking Jason kept glancing at Will with a concerned expression. “What,” Will said finally, lips quirking into a smile.

“You alright, man? Your facial expressions during that call didn’t seem great.”

Will shrugged dismissively, “Just my mom. You know how that is.”

Jason laughed darkly, “Don’t I.”

“So what’s up,” Will asked, remembering how frantic he’d been.

“Oh, yeah. Um.”

Will grinned, “Spit it out, Grace. I’m a big boy. I can take it.”

Jason snorted. “I need someone to come with me to the figure skating Regionals tonight.”

Will tripped over his own feet but caught himself before he hit the ground.

Jason looked at him with brief worry then just burst out laughing.

“Leave me alone,” But Will was laughing too. “Why?”

“So you know, my sister Thalia,” Will nodded - everybody knew Thalia - “She’s best friends with this woman, Annabeth Chase. They’ve known each other since Annabeth was seven. Old history ya know.”

“So Annabeth’s a skater. She was going to be competing actually. But something awful happened with her boyfriend, he’s across the country. I’m unsure about the details. Thalia left to meet them earlier today, she’s also close with the boyfriend, I guess. So Thals needs me to go because apparently these tickets cost a lot and she doesn’t want them to go to waste.”

Jason’s voice got low like he was sharing a conspiracy nobody knew. “A little secret about me, I appreciate figure skaters.”

Will let out a surprised laugh and made his voice as low as Jason’s, “Me too.”

Jason smiled, “I figured. Which is why I’m inviting you. Thalia had two. One for her, and one for Grover Underwood.”

Will hummed his acknowledgment. “Yeah, dude. Of course, I’ll come. Just tell me time and place.”

Jason pumped his fist in the air.

~~~~~

Jason had told him he would pick him up, so here Will was. Waiting for Jason to arrive. He’d dressed nice (but not too nice) it was a competition after all, and despite how much he’d deny it his mother’s lessons in etiquette had stuck.

Will was texting, sitting on the couch up against the window in his small apartment. He was letting the dying sunlight filter in and light the space. The reds and oranges and yellows made Will look like some sort of deity. It haloed his hair and accentuated the sharp planes of his face. His feet were propped, knees bent, next to him. 

It was a groupchat with Austin, Kayla, and himself. The only way it could be summed up is: chaos.

Kayla: Sooooo

Austin: Yes?

Kayla: Not you

Austin: How dare you

Kayla: Go play your saxophone and feel better

Austin: I will

Austin: Not because you told me to

Kayla: Oh of course not

Will: So that ‘soooo’ was for me, then?

Kayla: Oh yeah

Kayla: Any cutes boys you’ve met recently?

Will: You know that you’d know if I met anybody

Austin: Is there anybody lgbt even at the rink

Will: Oh yeah but nobody I’ve noticed I like

Kayla: :(

Will was startled by a knock on the door. 

“It’s open!” He called, getting off the couch to meet Jason.

~~~ Nico

I slowly sank to a sitting position, feeling the rough brick scrape my back. I knew it would leave noticeable marks but right now, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

I had been stretching and messing around with the others but suddenly my chest had felt very tight.

Hazel had seen the pained expression on my face and made some excuse, letting me slip out the backdoor.

I couldn’t do this.

Saltwater. I tasted salt water.

I couldn’t.

It trickled down my neck.

I couldn’t.

I was so fucking weak.

For so, so many reasons.

I could feel the gradually growing serpent of my anxieties building in the back.

I hadn’t practiced for this enough, and I was going to let everyone down.

The judges were going to find out my most closely guarded secret and-

No. Forget the judges. Everyone was going to find out.

Everyone.

I was probably going to mess up and embarrass myself in one of the biggest competitions of my life.

I was going to let everyone down.

Again. 

I’d found a family and all because I was a fucking failure, I was going to lose them.

I knew I had enough cash in my bag to leave if I had to.

By bag I mean the one I always had:

A change of clothes

Cash for bus tickets

Bottled water and protein bars

A pocket knife.

But it wouldn’t be enough, would it?

I still wouldn’t be able to get away from the shame.

From any of the shame.

Why did I have to be this way? Why

I couldn’t breathe

I couldn’t fucking breathe.

The saltwater ran like a perverted caress down my face and neck and chest.

I shivered involuntarily

“Hey,” The voice was soft, and not familiar.

I turned so quickly half of my face scraped the wall.

We winced in sync.

It was the boy I’d seen in the rink some time ago, the hockey player.

~~~~

Will

“Hey, Jason?”

He looked at me.

We were being jostled through the crowd. There were so many people. So many.

“I need some air. Can you text me our seat numbers?”

He paused and looked at me. At how my eyes flitted around the room and my flinch every time someone ran into me.

“Yeah, of course, dude.” He made shooing motions with his hands, making me snort. He grinned but kept staring at me until I turned around and started pushing my way through the crowd.

I knew I couldn’t go outside the front door, there would be even more people there. So I did something scandalous.

I pushed open the door marked Employees Only and was ejected outside the back of the building. 

I was walking along the wall when I saw movement a few feet away.

It was a boy, pressing himself against the wall like it was simultaneously all that was keeping him alive and like he wanted to fade into it.

“Hey,” I murmured like I was attempting to talk down a tiger.

He turned, scraping his face along the wall. But he didn’t seem to feel it.

He looked like some kind of ghoul, sitting there. The bad lighting from the street lamps washed out his ivory skin, making him look deathly.

Those dark eyes peered at me.

He’d look terrifying, except he appeared too small for his body.

He was shivering, tears running freely down his face.

At the angle he was sitting, it looked like his bones were almost poking out of his skin.

Some sense in me was screaming to help him, and though he looked like the opposite type to accept my help he hadn’t run away either.

I looked him up and down and saw with panic he seemed to be holding his breath, but he didn’t seem to realize it.

I didn’t know who this boy was, besides seeing him occasionally at the rink.

But we were both here and like hell was I going to leave him.

~~~~

Nico

He was looking at me with a look of sympathy. Not pity. Sympathy.

He reached out but I flinched away from him and he let his hand drop.

“Can you breathe?” His voice was serious but caring. I couldn’t really see him, the water in my eyes distorted him but I felt like he was some kind of god. He looked like pure sunlight.

I only shook my head, suddenly feeling the urge to take large gulping breaths.

“Put your head between your knees.”

He didn’t reach for me again, but his fingers twitched like he wanted to.

The surrounding world was a dull roar in my ears. The serpent, who’d been ready to devour me whole, angrily shrank back into the recesses of my brain until I could only see those slit-pupiled eyes. It was only lying in wait. Like always. When I lifted my head, my scowl was back.

Despite the rivulets of saltwater- not tears, I couldn’t call them that - I snarled at him, “Leave me alone. I didn’t ask for your help.”

He raised his hands in surrender, “I’m sorry. I’m not going to tell anyone what happened here, so you don’t have to worry about that. Nico, right?”

I just growled again but he didn’t seem to take the hint. He had a small backpack next to him and he rummaged through it and handed me some tissues and a water bottle.

I raised my eyebrows.

“I figured you wouldn’t want to cross through to go to the bathroom.”

I grudgingly accepted and started wiping at my face after dampening the tissues. He pulled out a small tube of ointment. “Put it on your face, okay? The scrape is not that bad. But it can’t hurt.”

I just stared blankly at him and he laid it next to me with a smile.

He waved, a little awkwardly, as he walked away.

As I stared at the ointment and the tissues and water I could only come up with one coherent thought:

What the fuck

~~~~ Will

His phone pinged with a message from Jason. After a few seconds of searching, he found it in his small backpack. He distractedly glanced over the text.

Jason: We’re in row A, seats 5 and 6. Thalia got us right up front.

Will: Sounds good

Will: I’ll head there now

He slipped his phone back into his bag.

He really hoped Nico was okay. He was a figure skater and most likely is competing tonight, and Will had never seen him in action but he was almost positive they would need him.

“Hey!” Jason waved to him from their seats and Will slid in next to him.

“You okay?” Jason asked after Will got settled. “You looked pretty uncomfortable.”

“Hmm? Oh. Yeah, I’m okay. I’m not normally like that but something about that environment.” He shuddered. “Anyway, everything’s good now.”

Jason nodded with a smile.

Will surveyed the rink. It was nicer than their rinks back at the studio which was saying something.

He spotted the judge's podium, on a small platform slightly above the rink. There were five judges, none of them looking like they entirely wanted to be here and all of them looking like they would throttle whoever came out.

Not only did the judges look unhappy, but about half of the crowd also did too. They were all shifting like they were here, but there was somewhere else they’d rather be. Why come then?

Will couldn’t imagine being one of the skaters in the locker rooms right now, he’d probably throw up.

“First up!” The booming voice of the announcer made Will jump slightly in his seat.

“The singles competition,” He drawled. “From Crescent City…”

Will tuned him out as he watched the woman glide out onto the ice. She was really good and kept most of the crowd entranced, but Will also had an eye on the judges. Only a few of them seemed impressed but only one seemed bored, which most likely was a good thing for her.

“From Olympus Ice,”

Jason and Will leaned forward at the same time.

“Nico Di Angelo!”

Will felt himself clapping as soon as his name was announced.

Nico seemed to magically appear on the ice, looking significantly more confident than the last time he’d seen him.

He appeared to take a deep breath and steel himself before beginning his routine. It was magic. Pure magic.

The way he flew made it look like he’d been born to do this.

It was elegant, but, in a way, suspenseful. Like he could do something unexpected at any moment.

Will was frozen, lips slightly parted as Nico made everyone believe he owned the rink.

He wove a story with his fluid movements, a story that held Will captive.

He attempted a move that never in Will’s wildest dreams could he do, everyone watched as he spun with bated breath and cheered when he landed but the skater in Will recognized that he hadn’t done it. He almost did, and he definitely caught himself, but he hadn’t done it.

And if those judges were worthy at all for their position, they would know too.

Nico finally slid to a stop in front of the judges, his arms crossed over his chest and his chin tilted upward, challenging them to mention the slip-up.

It was quite a scene. He looked almost ethereal and they were all sitting (or standing in Nico’s case) looked like something out of a painting.

Later, after the other singles and the partners and the ensembles, the audience was still, waiting for the announcement.

“The 1st place winner, and who will be going to Sectionals is…

Olympus Ice!” People burst into applause but Will was only staring at Nico who was standing with his team, a barely-there smile present on his face, but enough to make Will whisper, “Wow,”

Jason glanced at him, then at where he was staring. “Don’t do that, Will. No figure skaters. You know that.”

Will rolled his eyes and scoffed,  “I would never.”

Jason sighed and smiled, “Good.”

[solangelover]

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

Solangelo Week 2020 - god swap / body swap @solangeloweek 

Read on AO3 or FF.Net

A/N: (Ignore how late this fic is) I recently realized that I love the tag “crack treated seriously” and then I was like, wait is that what I write?? Oh well XD

“Ugh, I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Oh gods, what are we going to do??”

Will and Nico were behind the Hades cabin, but not for the reasons they’d like to be.

Currently, Will was looking at Nico and Nico was looking at Will, but they were also staring at themselves. Because they were in each other’s bodies. Because why not.

Nico pinched the bridge of his nose (Will’s nose?), sighing, “This is ridiculous.”

Will was a little more panicky than his boyfriend. “Oh my gods, how and why is this happening? We can’t be stuck like this! Can we be stuck like this? Oh my gods, what if we’re stuck like this???”

The boys had woken up from a nap together (a literal time of sleeping together) in the early afternoon, only to find that they weren’t quite themselves. They also found a note on the nightstand that said, “Don’t tell, or it’ll take longer to wear off!” signed with a simple red heart. The situation was pretty straight forward, but that didn’t make it any easier to handle.

“Solace, calm down. We’ll be fine. This is either a prank from the Aphrodite kids or Aphrodite herself. I don’t think any children of Aphrodite have ever had precise enough control of their power to extend the time of their curses, though I’ve also never heard of any body or mind swaps from them either…” Nico tapped his chin in thought.

“So you think this is directly from a goddess??” Will flailed his arms for emphasis. He had not been still since they woke up switched.

Nico held up his hands placatingly. “Will, I said to calm—”

“When has that ever made anyone calm??”

Nico’s eyes flicked to the ground behind Will, noticing some movement. He immediately recognized the shadows reacting to Will’s panic, swirling around his feet and slowly pulling upward like a barrier. Huh, so that’s what that looks like, Nico thought, finally seeing what other people saw. He could admit that it was slightly terrifying.

“Okay! Okay, Will, just, breathe with me. Remember, like you taught me?” Nico drew in a deep breath, emphasizing the movement with his hands. He exhaled loudly. “In 4, hold 3, out, like, 5. Right?”

“What, no, do you even listen to me? It’s in 4, hold 7, out 8. Like this,” and Will proceeded to do several slow breaths. Nico was grinning even as he copied Will. He also realized how different he looks when he’s not frowning while doing the exercise. He should probably pay attention to his facial expressions more.

After a few more breaths, Nico ventured, “Better?”

Will blinked a few times before letting out a chuckle. “Oh, I see what you did there. Sneaky Death Boy.” He smiled at Nico, which, again, was a very different sight to Nico. Not that he didn’t smile often, but for some reason, Will made his smile look brighter.

Instead of saying this, Nico replied with, “Well, actually I think you’re the Death Boy now, Sunshine.”

Will face palmed while Nico laughed. It was weird to hear Will’s laugh ringing in his own ears, knowing that Nico himself was the one laughing. Switching bodies was a real out-of-body experience.

Nico jolted and then groaned to himself. “Will, please tell me you don’t think in puns.”

Will immediately straightened up and asked desperately, “What was the pun? Please tell me, I haven’t thought of a single one this whole time.”

Nico sighed. “Just how this is a real out-of-body experience.”

Will burst into laughter immediately. “Oh, that’s a good one!” He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. “Yeah, puns just pop into my head. I don’t know if it’s a gift from Apollo or what, but I love it and already miss it.”

Nico rolled his eyes. “I hate you. Or me. I hate this body and brain. It’s stupid.”

Will hummed. “That’s not what you said last night.”

“Will, I swear to the gods, stop taking flirting tips from Cecil and Lou Ellen. They make no sense coming from you. I didn’t even see you yesterday!” Nico wrinkled his nose in disgust as he watched his boyfriend waggle his eyebrows suggestively with his body. “Also, don’t make me say or do dumb things. It’s wrong.”

Will’s face lit up, which really made Nico look his age instead of like the 80-something year old he truly was, and he proceeded spin around and flail his arms. Nico knew this to be Will’s version of dancing.

Will abruptly stopped and pouted at Nico. “No fair. I can literally feel your body being graceful even when I’m controlling the movements. I can’t make you dance badly if I tried!”

“Don’t test that theory,” Nico chuckled despite himself, glad to see that Will had calmed down and was actually having fun in this scenario. He’d hate to ruin the good mood, but, “How long do you think this will last?”

Will sobered up quickly, folding his arms in thought. “Hard to say. Like you said, we’ve never heard of this kind of prank being pulled before. So, if it really is from the goddess of love… then we just have to not make her mad so she lifts the curse, or at least, doesn’t extend it.” His eyebrows furrowed quizzically. “Why did she curse us in the first place?”

“I bet she was just bored,” Nico shrugged. “Anyway, her note also said that we can’t tell anyone, otherwise we’ll be stuck like this for longer. So…” he trailed off, unsure of where that left them.

“Basically, we have to be each other for however long, without telling anyone directly what’s happening.” Will swallowed.

The boys let that sink in. And then simultaneously groaned.

“I was supposed to teach a sword lesson in a few hours,” Nico grumbled, imagining just how much could go wrong with Will handling a sword. Granted, he’d be in Nico’s body, but still.

“And I have a shift at the infirmary through dinnertime,” Will ran a hand through his hair, distracted momentarily by the silky black locks he combed through instead of his normal wiry dirty blonde hair. At least Nico had helped in the infirmary enough to know what Will did and where things were. But he did not have the medical training and experience Will had. What might happen if a camper got seriously hurt?

They sat in silence for a bit as they thought this over. Could they pull it off?

“…”

“…”

“This is bad.”

“This is doable,” they said at the same time. Nico looked up in concern, thinking his boyfriend was overestimating his sword skills, while Will looked mildly offended as he thought Nico was doubting his own knowledge of the infirmary.

“Neeks! You can totally take a shift at the infirmary. My siblings will be there for anything major,” Will stated with his hands on his hips. He had to look up slightly since Nico was a few inches shorter than Will, which was definitely a new experience for Will.

“Okay,” Nico looked doubtful, but continued. “But I don’t think you can run a sword lesson. No offense,” he tacked on with an apologetic smile.

Will hummed in agreement. “Yeah, that’s probably true. We can cancel it, though, right? Or ask someone to take it over?”

“Ugh, I don’t know. I don’t want to cause suspicion or upset the love goddess for any reason,” Nico frowned. “… I think we might just have to… do this.”

They stared at each other for a moment more.

“Oh gods,” Will buried his face in his hands.

“Merda,” Nico glared at the sky, the bright blue like Aphrodite herself was mocking him. She probably was.

---

*At the arena*

“Okay, guys! Um, today we’re going to shake things up and have some fuuuuun!” Nico was absolutely going to kill Will for making him sound like an idiot, but he didn’t know what else to do. Six kids between eight to ten years old gazed up at him with varying levels of excitement and confusion. Will distractedly realized how much he’s sweating (though more from nerves than physical exhaustion) and understood why Nico did his usual training shirtless. But Will was highly unsure about being so close to his shirtless boyfriend’s body, regardless of who’s brain was controlling his movements. So, the shirt stayed.

“What are we doing that’s so great, Mr. Nico?” An eight-year-old Ares girl looked a little too excited about sword-fighting class for Will’s comfort.

“Um,” Will rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he spoke. He was reaching for any way to circumvent dangerously pointy weapons when an idea struck him. “Oh!” He smiled at the kids, who looked quite off-put by the expression. “Today, we’re going to discuss basic medical knowledge to know when you’re on the battlefield!”

The groans he received put a damper on what he thought was a very practical lesson that he’s immensely proud he came up with.

“But that’s what infirmary class is for! Mr. Will taught us!”

“Yeah, I wanna fight with swords!”

“Ah ah ah!” Will interrupted their grumblings before it got out of hand. “Mr. Will teaches what the medics do once you can leave a fight and be treated properly. This will be quick fixes while you’re still fighting. It’s important that you can quickly assess wounds and determine your next course of ac—”

“Ugh, you sound like Mr. Will!”

“Yeah, you never talk this much, Mr. Nico.”

“Maybe he’s not the real Mr. Nico.”

These kids were getting dangerously close to the truth, and Will almost wanted to tell them so they’d stop complaining. But no, couldn’t do that. Hm, how do I make them interested while sounding like Nico…

Will lit up when he finally realized what to do. Really, he should be better at this, he has so many little siblings. But he and Nico didn’t exactly behave in the same way. Nico didn’t like coddling kids in any way, especially not in his class. That’s probably why they loved him so much.

“Okay, okay,” Will said loudly, cutting off the students’ whispering as he sat down in front of them. “How about I tell you a story?”

Immediately, all the kids cheered and sat down as close to him as they could, stars shining in their eyes.

“Haven’t you fought werewolves?”

“Do you see ghosts?”

“You fought with Percy Jackson! Tell us about him!”

“What kind of powers do you have?”

“Oh, tell us about defeating the Titans!”

“Are zombies, like, super gross?”

Will laughed at how excited they all were. He almost forgot that Nico was a famous war hero instead of his dorky boyfriend. “Okay, listen closely. You may learn a thing or two from my heroic tales!” He puffed out his chest dramatically, drawing adorable giggles from everyone. He then launched into a story about one of Nico’s many battles, throwing in how he used his medical knowledge to patch himself up and continue fighting. Needless to say, everyone paid attention when Will brought out some bandage rolls for them to practice with.

---

*At the infirmary*

“Will, what in Hades are you doing?”

Nico jumped at Kayla’s voice sounding behind him. His head knocked into a shelf, spilling supplies on the floor. He was not hiding in the supply closet.

“Um,” he began eloquently. “Inventorying?”

Kayla rolled her eyes. “Bro, you did that yesterday. And we don’t have that many people coming in here, so I highly doubt we’re low on anything.” So maybe she was just exasperated with her brother and didn’t suspect anything weird was going on.

“Well, you know me,” was a phrase that Will never said and yet it’s all Nico could think of. He shrugged apologetically at Will’s sister.

“Whatever, come on, Cecil just came in with some burns on his arms. I’d say it was from the lava wall, but he probably exploded something in his face.” She led the way out of the supply closet and toward the front of the infirmary. Where Cecil, Will’s best friend, was waiting and would surely notice something off about Will.

“What are you going to do?” he asked Kayla.

She eyed him with some suspicion. “… What do you want me to do?”

“Oh, uh,” Nico was confused. “Um, nothing? Whatever you normally do?”

“… Huh.” (Will had definitely given her a task to do that morning.)

She was about to respond when Nico blurted out, “You can end early, if you want.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. That was not a common thing for the head medic to say, for sure.

“I mean,” Nico floundered for any sort of reasoning. “You’ve been working hard recently, and I just thought you might like a little extra free time.” He paused for a moment before adding, “And you’re taking the cabin to dinner tonight since I’m working, which is hard enough.”

At that, Kayla laughed and seemed to relax. “Yeah, no kidding. You want me gone? I’m gone, no problem.” Nico sighed with relief. Then he realized that if anyone came in majorly injured, he’d have no help. He thought about taking it back, but she was already out the door.

With another sigh, Nico headed toward the bed Cecil was currently lounging on, not concerned in the slightest about the mild burns on his forearms. He picked up his head as Nico approached.

“‘Sup, Will!”

Nico shook his head, feeling Will’s blond wisps tickle his face as he did so, and gave his friend an exasperated smile like he’d seen Will do a million times over. “Here again, Markowitz?”

Cecil threw his head back and laughed. “Markowitz? I thought Mr. Doom-and-Gloom was the only one who used last names like the old-timer he is?”

“Uh,” Nico fumbled. “Yeah, I was just… testing it out?”

“Okay, Doctor Solace,” Cecil rolled his eyes. “I just need the magic bandages and I’ll be on my way.”

Right, healing magic. Something Will should be able to do. But Nico doesn’t know if he can make his powers work properly. “Right, I’ll just… get some bandages.”

Cecil didn’t seem to notice or care about the healer’s apparent hesitation, simply leaning back on his bed. “Sure thing. So, how’s life, my friend?”

Nico scoffed, “Don’t we see each other every day? Multiple times?”

“That doesn’t mean I know how you’re doing. Is it so wrong I want to hear from my best friend, my buddy, my pal?” Cecil was so dramatic sometimes.

Nico just hummed in response as he came back with some bandages and burn ointment. Thank the gods he had helped out in the infirmary many times in the past. Will taught him the basics at least, and he’d taken care of minor injuries like this before. Hopefully, that was enough, and Cecil didn’t ask for any actual hymns.

“Soooo,” Cecil drawled. “How’s the boyfriend?”

Nico choked on air.

“Oh, come on, Will,” Cecil rolled his eyes. “You should be used to me asking by now. You know I’m nosy!”

“I, um,” Nico didn’t know what to say.

Luckily, Cecil continued. “Remember when you used to talk my ear off about Nico? I can’t say I miss those days, but it’s so much harder when I have to pry for information.”

Nico was suddenly much more interested in this conversation. “I didn’t used to talk that much… did I?”

“Oh,” Cecil sat up straight, jostling his arm that Nico was trying to wrap. “Don’t even give me that. You know you did. All I heard was Nico’s so cute and he’s so strong and did you know he used to play Mythomagic? That’s adorable!” He mocked Will’s voice and practically swooned at the end. Even while blushing furiously, Nico had to hold in his laughter. He’s not surprised that Will said those things, but hearing Cecil complain about it made it even funnier.

“I did not,” Nico said indignantly like he’d heard Will do so many times. He wasn’t a good liar.

“Yes, you totally did! Must I recount the many laments of Nico’s beauty and grace?”

Nico really hoped his smile didn’t come off as mischievously as he felt. “Oh, please do.”

---

Will came by the infirmary with a plate of food toward the end of Nico’s shift. The place was empty except for Nico sweeping the floor. Will had to pause in the doorway for a second, his mind still confused when he saw himself doing the sweeping. Is that what I usually look like? But, no, probably not. Because Nico was scowling hard at the floor as he worked, which was an odd look to see on the son of Apollo’s face.

“Knock knock!” Will called out, getting his boyfriend’s attention. Nico blinked a few times at Will, probably jarred in the same way Will was upon seeing himself.

Then he scowled again. “Don’t say that in my body—I look dumb.”

Will gasped in mock offense, then twirled around with his plate of food. “I think I make you look good, Sunshine.” He winked at Nico for good measure, who in turn groaned and dropped the broom where he was.

The boys settled down at Will’s desk, Nico taking Will’s usual seat in case anyone came in. They didn’t want any questions, no matter how innocent.

“So, do you think this body swap business is almost done?” Will asked as they started eating.

Nico could only shrug. “Hopefully. A day is the average length of a curse around here, but who knows?”

Will hummed in agreement. After a few more moments of silence, he asked, “How was the infirmary today? Everything went okay?”

Nico nodded. “Yeah, only Cecil came in with some burns.” He then smirked at his boyfriend. “He also told me some stories.”

“Oh no,” Will muttered as he buried his face in his hands. “About what?” He was afraid to know the answer.

“You know, just about you… and how you used to gush over me all the time.” Nico was fully grinning now. Will didn’t know he could look so evil.

“Ugh, whyyyyy,” he groaned loudly.

“I have so much blackmail material now.”

“I hate you.”

“Yeah.”

They lapsed into another brief silence before Nico piped up again. “So, did you kill anyone in my class?”

“Psh, I’ll have you know, I am an excellent teacher,” Will puffed up.

Nico raised an eyebrow at him. “Yes, but your sword skills aren’t exactly up to par.”

“Well then it’s a good thing we didn’t use swords today.” Nico’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but before he could say anything, Will leapt out of his chair and struck what he probably thought was a heroic pose. “I regaled your students with tales of your bravery,” he trumpeted in a deep, dramatic voice. “While also interjecting some medical advice and emphasizing the importance of field medical knowledge.”

A beat of silence, and then, “Please don’t tell me you said it like that.”

“Just like that,” Will replied, a cheeky grin on his face.

Now it was Nico’s turn to groan, cheeks flooding red with embarrassment. “Will! I have a reputation!”

“Which I have elevated, you’re welcome.” He bowed as he returned to his seat.

“I hate you.”

“I know.”

[ryqoshay]

How to Handle a Nico - Dinner at the Nishikino’s

Primary Pairing: NicoMaki Words: ~4.1k Rating: K Time Frame: Late in Maki’s 1st year and Nico’s 3rd year in college. Story Arc: Stand Alone

Author’s Note: This chapter was assembled from a patchwork of about a dozen instances I wanted to include and thus wrote each separately. And somewhere along the lines, MS Word decided not to sync between my PC and mobile devices, so I ended up with two, slightly differently edited versions. Thus, here’s hoping my self-purported prowess with prose was successful in stitching this scene into a sensible structure. Please forgive any unsightly seams.

Nico couldn’t remember the last time she had been this nervous. No, wait, just a few days ago, her first date with Maki. Well, first official date, not counting all of the not-actually-date-but-technically-were-dates from years prior. Unfortunately, that was quickly falling into second place as she approached the gate to the Nishikino home.

Perhaps the date had been easier because she knew Maki, knew Maki liked her, knew Maki liked spending time with her, knew Maki wanted to date her, and was fairly confident Maki was attracted to her. She had known all of these things even before they started dating officially. As such, looking back, she wasn’t sure why she had been so nervous for their first date, because with the exception of one little hiccup named Etsuko, it had all gone splendidly.

But the parental Nishikinos were more of an unknown. Nico had met both of Maki’s parents a handful of times throughout the years, but had never really gotten to know either. She was all but certain she would have little problems with Maki’s mother as she had apparently been talking behind the scenes with her mother about her and Maki’s developing relationship. And she had been quite supportive of Maki’s time as a school idol, so Nico didn’t think she would object to her intended career choice.

Maki’s father on the other hand… Nico remembered quite vividly when he almost made Maki quit being a school idol after her grades slipped the tiniest of bits; not even enough for her to drop from her position as top of her class. Umi had been the one to stand up to him, which made sense insofar as she understood having parents with high expectations. Still, looking back, Nico couldn’t help feeling a bit of regret that she hadn’t been the one to protect Maki. Sure, she had offered her support, but…

“Good evening, Yazawa-san.” A voice came over the speaker.

Nico jumped. Had she even pushed the button to announce her presence?

“Yes, good evening.” She replied as she recognized the voice of the Nishikino estate manager.

“Ojou-sama has informed me of pending arrival, though as always, you are most welcome here.”

“Thanks.” Nico replied as the buzzer sounded to indicate the gate was unlocked.

One gate down, literally. Nico thought as she made her way toward the front door. Though part of her wished Maki had been the one to answer the intercom, she was nonetheless thankful that it had been a member of the house staff with whom she got along well. At least it hadn’t been…

“D-Dr. Nishikino?” Nico sputtered as the door suddenly swung open to reveal a towering, bespectacled man who immediately fixed her with a cool and calculating gaze.

Damn. Why had she stuttered? This wasn’t the first time she had met Maki’s father, and if all went well tonight, it wouldn’t be the last. You can do this Nico! Sure it wasn’t the man she expected and she was caught a bit unaware, but… Gah! Stop being intimidated. You’re here for a reason! And that reason is Maki-chan!

“Yazawa-san.” Maki’s father stated flatly.

“Hi…” Nico cutoff by clearing her throat. “Good evening.” She corrected, offering a polite bow. “I’m…”

“I’m afraid my daughter will be unable to entertain your visit tonight.” Dr. Nishikino interrupted. “We are expecting an important guest who should be arriving presently.”

I’m an important guest? No, wait, of course I am! I’m Maki’s girlfriend now. So, buck up and tell him that.

“Yes, sir, that guest is me.” For emphasis, Nico indicated the stylish dress she had picked out specifically for the occasion. “I’m Maki’s date.”

“…” Dr. Nishikino raised an eyebrow but remained steadfast in his position.

“Nico-chan!” the voice of an angelic savior came from behind the barrier of the paternal Nishikino. “Papa, let her in.”

Dr. Nishikino stepped aside and…

Holy… Nico had to make a conscious effort to avoid letting her jaw hit the floor. Not that Nico, at any point, had forgotten that Maki was beautiful, but when the redhead went all out, it was all she could do not to stare. Though elegantly modest, the deep purple dress still managed to highlight Maki’s best features.

“You’re early.” Maki said, bringing Nico back to reality.

“I’m sorry, did I take you away from your precious piano?” Nico couldn’t help teasing a bit, figuring the younger girl had wanted to arrive at her parents’ home earlier for a few moments of nostalgia with the instrument she grew up playing.

“Yeah, actually.” Maki admitted as she glanced away sheepishly.

“Well maybe after dinner, you can continue your concert, but with an audience?” Nico pointed herself as if it wasn’t already obvious who she meant.

“I’d like that.”

“You look lovely, by the way. Purple always looks good on you, Maki-chan.”

“Thanks.” Maki replied as pink dusted her cheeks. “You look good too. I like when you leave your hair down. It makes you look more…” She trailed off.

“More?”

“Sorry, I meant…”

“More mature?” Nico completed what she believed to be her girlfriend’s thought.

“Uhm… yeah…”

“I’ll have you know Nico is always mature.” She squared her shoulders and placed her hands on her hips pridefully.

Maki raised an eyebrow in a way that left no question as to her linage.

“Anyway, I haven’t seen that dress before, is it new?”

Maki nodded. “Mama and I just got back a little while ago from picking it out.”

Huh… Mama and I were also just out shopping for my dress. Nico thought to herself. And, wait a minute… “We match.” Or at least they matched in the way their old idol costumes matched in overall theme and enough details to be an obvious set while maintaining enough individuality to be unique as well.

“We do?” Maki glanced down at herself before back at Nico. After half a second, she smiled. “Yeah, we do. What a nice coincidence.”

Nico found herself wondering if the coincidence was perchance planned by a pair of meddling mothers who meant well. She made a mental note to ask her mother about the issue later, if for no other reason than to thank her for the cute gesture.

“So, dinner isn’t for a little while yet” Maki continued “but they might have appetizers ready already so why don’t we head to the dining room and I’ll quick check?”

“Lead the way.” Nico decided not to bring up how she still got lost in the huge house, even after visiting frequently over the last few years.

“You coming, Papa?”

Nico realized she had all but forgotten the paternal Nishikino was still there. Stealing a quick side glance, she found him quietly observing the couple. If she was reading things correctly, his aura had warmed somewhat, though was no less calculating than before; gears were obviously grinding behind his stoic expression.

“Your mother and I will meet you at the table.” Dr. Nishikino stated. “I’ll go find her.”

As Maki took her hand to lead her through the house, Nico noticed her grip was tighter than normal. A lot tighter. Maki was more nervous than she was letting on. Just how worried was she about her father’s approval of their relationship? Nico already knew Maki’s mother was wholly supportive, as was her own, but the only things she really knew about Maki’s father were that he had high expectations for his daughter and was not particularly fond of idols.

“Wait, Maki-chan,” Nico said, stopping in the hallway before they reached their destination “hold up a moment.”

“Eh?” Maki uttered, not seeming to notice the change and almost yanking Nico’s arm out of the socket before being held to a halt. “Nico-chan?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Maki.” Nico fixed her girlfriend with a steady stare. The redhead returned the gaze, though was far more furtive, and when she began to fidget with her hair, Nico reached out and gently touched her hand. “What’s wrong?” She repeated.

Maki released a puff of air. “I’m nervous, alright? I… I just really want Papa to like you.”

“I’m nervous too.” Nico admitted, her thoughts racing through things she could say to calm them both down. “But you know, he didn’t turn me away at the door, so that’s gotta count for something, right?” She paused for a moment. “Well, technically, he did, but that was before he realized why I was here, but he still let me in, so that has to mean he’s willing to give me a chance, right?”

“I just… I know he’ll bring up idols, and…”

“Maki-chan.” Nico took a step in to close some of the distance between them. “Nico didn’t become the No. 1 Idol in the Universe without learning a thing or two about reading her audience.”

“…” Maki’s expression wasn’t one of disbelief but of continued concern.

“Look, I’m not going to lie to your father about my career of choice, but I’m also not going to try to convert him into a fan or convince him that idols are the most amazing thing ever, even if I believe that myself.”

“I know…”

“And I am attending college and aim to get a degree.” Nico continued. “Sure it won’t be a fancy medical degree like yours, but I’m getting it while still being an idol. So that’s also gotta count for something, right?”

“Papa does respect hard work.”

“And Nico is a hard worker.”

“I know.” Maki affirmed, dropping her hand before leaning her head into Nico’s hand. “Nico-chan is one of the hardest workers I know when it comes to working toward her goals. It’s always admired, and envied, about you.”

Nico scoffed. “You say that as if you don’t work hard as well, Maki-chan.”

“Mmm…” Maki hummed in a tone that implied she was paying attention to something other than the conversation at hand.

Hand… Maki closed her eyes and nuzzled her cheek against Nico’s hand, causing her to open her fingers to increase contact. It should be fine here, right? Nico moved in the rest of the way and tilted her chin up. Maki followed her hand as Nico guided her down. Their lips touched and…

“Oh dear…” A startled voice uttered, causing the couple to jolt away from each other. “I’m terribly sorry to interrupt, Ojou-sama.”

“I-It’s f-fine…” A blushing Maki stumbled through.

Nico recognized the woman one of the newer members of the Nishikino house staff. She was responsible for general assistance wherever needed.

“Welcome, Yazawa-san.” The woman said with a polite bow, but when she righted herself, her expression was thoughtful. “Although, now that you’re dating Ojou-sama, perhaps Yazawa-sama is more appropriate?”

“Just Nico is fine.” Nico assured.

“Right, anyway, I’m on my away to retrieve some bottles of Cloudy Bay at the behest of the master.”

“White?” Maki inquired.

The woman nodded. “We’ve prepared a delightful shrimp pasta for the main course.” She turned to Nico. “Ojou-sama has informed us of your talent in the kitchen, so we hope to meet your standards, Yazawa-sama.”

Guess the new title is going to stick. Nico thought to herself. “I’m sure it will be great.”

“The caprese salads should be ready if you wish to head to the dining room now.”

“Tomatoes, of course.” Nico couldn’t help commenting.

“Yes.” The staff member confirmed. “We have also been informed of one of your preferences, so for dessert, we will be serving traditional crepes with lemon and sugar.”

“Sounds delicious.”

The woman smiled before bowing again to excuse herself and hurrying down the hall.

“Is there anything wrong with your father requesting white wine?” Nico asked, trying to gauge her girlfriend’s reaction.

“I don’t believe so.” Maki shook her head. “White is better paired with seafood, after all.”

“Yes, but…?”

“No, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” Maki shook her head again. “Cloudy Bay is actually one of Papa’s favorites. He’s quite fond of the New Zealand area in general.”

“One of his favorites? That’s gotta be a good sign, right?”

“I hope so.”

Nico took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then released it slowly. “Well, the salad is apparently ready, so we may as well get to it.”

Maki nodded before taking Nico’s hand once more to complete their journey to the dining room. Nico noted, thankfully, that her girlfriend’s grip was far more relaxed this time around.

Upon arrival, the couple was greeted by the Nishikino estate manager who showed them to their seats. Shortly thereafter, Maki’s parents arrived and took their own seats. Next the chef and her assistant from before arrived with the first course. Finally, the first bottle of wine was uncorked and the meal was underway.

“So, Yazawa-san,” Dr. Nishikino stated, drawing Nico’s attention “you’ve known Maki since high school, am I correct?”

“Yes.” Nico affirmed. “It was Maki-chan’s first year and my third.”

“I see. And were you one of the girls who helped convince her to become an idol?”

Well, that didn’t take long for the subject to come up. Nico thought to herself. Straight to the point, I guess, unlike a certain dishonest daughter of his…

“Actually, it was the other way around.” Nico replied.

“Oh?”

“I was in a disillusioned and jaded state back then, after my first attempt at forming a group fell through.” Nico admitted. “And it was Honoka and Maki-chan and the others that pulled me out of my funk and helped me remember why I adored idols so much and wanted so desperately to be one.” She couldn’t help smiling as fond memories flooded her mind. “I really do owe them all a debt of gratitude for that.”

“I see. And you are still an idol now?”

“Part time.” Nico nodded. “I was able to find a small production company that was willing to work around my classes. It fills up my schedule and keeps me busy, but also lets me keep my foot in the door.”

“Because you intend to go full time even once you’ve earned a degree?”

Nico wasn’t particularly fond of the wording of the question and had to resist the urge to call it out; had it been Maki and they were in a more casual setting, she likely would have done so.

“I do.” She said aloud instead. “And once I retire from being an idol, the degree will help me find other employment.”

“And what type of employment might that be?”

“Something still in the industry, if possible.” Out of the corner of her eye, Nico caught a suppressed expression of surprise on her girlfriend’s face. Understandable, as it was news to Maki as well. “Choreographer, trainer, costume design, heck maybe even a producer, someday. Basically, I’d like to pay forward my debt by helping the next generations of idols.”

“And one is able to earn a living in such an industry?”

“Others have before me; I believe I can as well.” Nico gave another glance to the redhead beside her. “I may not have the skills to become a life-saving doctor like Maki, but I can still do my part to make the world a better place; one smile at a time.”

“Medicine, law, business, engineering,” Maki’s mother suddenly spoke up “these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” She smiled at Nico. “I believe Mr. Keating’s words hold true for many things. Music, painting, writing, really the arts as a whole are what make life worth living.”

“Mr. Keating?” Nico inquired.

“The lead character of Dead Poets Society.” Maki responded. “We should watch it sometime, Nico-chan; it’s really good.”

“And it is because the arts are so important” Dr. Nishikino continued “that my husband and I strive to support them as much as possible. In fact, we will be attending a performance of The Barber of Seville late next month and have not even started sending out invites to fill our box. You two are more than welcome to join us.”

At this, Maki’s eyes lit up. “Next month? When?”

“I’ll message you the dates later, but it’s a weekend so you should be able to work it into your study schedule.”

Maki turned to Nico with an expression rivaling the one she wore when December started. “Do you want to come with me?”

Nico smiled at her girlfriend’s excitement and word choice. “I’d love to. But where have I heard that title before?”

“From my playlist.”

“Tchaikovsky?” Nico made sure to pronounce the name as correctly as she could.

Maki shook her head. “Rossini.”

Nico racked her memory. “Cinderella?”

“Yes, different opera, same composer.”

“One smile at a time, you said?” Maki’s father suddenly stated.

“Oh, yeah.” Nico recalled her words from a few minutes ago.

The barest hint of something tugged at the edges of Dr. Nishikino’s lips. “Well, if nothing else, you have succeeded in making my daughter smile.” He nodded toward Maki, directing Nico’s attention back to the mentioned reaction. “And as my wife and I can attest, that is not always the easiest of tasks.”

“… P-Papa…” Maki offered a mild protest as pink dusted her cheeks and her mother chuckled.

Nico couldn’t help a smile of her own as she turned back to Maki’s father. “I think I’m up to the challenge.”

“Indeed.”

Wait… wasn’t this a bit hypocritical? Nico suddenly thought. Why claim to be a patron of the arts while simultaneously disallowing one’s daughter from being an artist?

On occasion, Maki had bemoaned being railroaded into the medical career while her dreams of being a professional pianist were dismissed as a passing fancy. Yet she hadn’t acknowledged the contradiction. Was she even aware of it? With the level of reverence Maki held for her parents, Nico could easily imagine her remaining oblivious; well, that and Maki’s overall naivete in many aspects of life.

Should she tell her? Was it even Nico’s place say such a thing? Nico was no stranger to speaking her mind when it came to her own interests, or those of her siblings. And she was dating Maki now, which meant defending her girlfriend’s best interests also shouldn’t surprise anyone. Or at least what she believed to be Maki’s best interests, as her parents obviously felt differently.

“On a related topic, Yazawa-san, Maki has told us much about your shared love of music.” Dr. Nishikino continued.

Nico derailed her own train of thought and refocused her attention on the conversation at hand. “It is one of our favorite subjects to discuss… or argue over.”

“And you often listen together while studying.”

“I believe music helps keep us in a good mood, which then helps us study.” Nico explained.

“I think we can all attest to the positive effects of music.” The Nishikino matriarch said.

“Indeed.” Her husband agreed.

“And Maki-chan has helped expand my appreciation of other genres of music.” Nico turned to her girlfriend. “And I’d like to think I’ve expanded hers as well.”

Maki nodded an affirmation with a smile.

“Maki also has told us that she often helps you study.”

“She does.” Nico confirmed. “Maki is incredibly smart. Even if she doesn’t know the answer to a problem, she is often able to logic things through and help guide me in the right direction. Honestly, if I didn’t already know she was going to be a doctor, I’d’ve suggested she become a teacher.”

“Now that would be an interesting career choice.” Maki’s mother said thoughtfully.

“Hrm…” Her father seemed less than convinced. “So, do you help her study in return?”

“Well…” Nico started.

“Nico-chan helps in other ways, Papa.” Maki offered. “Even if she isn’t able to help me with a given topic, she helps ensure I take regular breaks so I can come back with better focus. She makes sure I’m hydrated and helps track my nutrition and is quite insistent on keeping a decent sleep schedule. Honestly, she’s better at taking care of me than I am.” Her eyes widened as her admission registered in her mind.

“That’s right,” Her mother continued with the thoughtfulness from earlier, though Nico was sure she detected some teasing undertones “wasn’t it Nico that saved Maki from herself back on her birthday?”

“Mama…” Maki was losing a battle in trying to keep down another blush.

“Maki is very diligent in her studies.” Nico stated. “And I’m happy to help where I can.”

“Hmm… sounds like another couple we know, right Dear?” Dr. Nishikino sent a sly smile toward her husband, the teasing more obvious now.

“… Perhaps.” Maki’s father conceded.

Was it Nico’s imagination or did she just catch another glimpse into the source of some of Maki’s behavior? The Nishikino patriarch wasn’t the easiest to read behind his stoic mask, but his daughter wasn’t always straightforward with her emotions either and Nico had figured her out fairly well by this point.

As far as Nico was concerned, the rest of dinner went quite smoothly. Once Maki’s father got past his initial questions, he remained mostly quite. It ended up being Nico and Maki’s mother carrying the bulk of the conversations, which honestly didn’t really surprise Nico all that much. Maki’s mother inquired about Nico’s family, though Nico suspected she already knew most of the things anyway and it was more for Maki’s father’s sake. Still, Nico wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to brag about her amazing siblings and about how proud of them she was in taking care of the household and themselves in her absence.

After dinner, Maki’s parents excused themselves to finish up the day’s emails and paperwork. Nico couldn’t help but wonder if that would be something Maki would end up doing once she became more involved with the hospital administrative duties.

As for Nico herself, she joined Maki in the Nishikino music room for the previously promised private concert. There, she had happily settled into the best seat in the house, next her girlfriend on the bench. All in all, it was a wonderful conclusion to what she believed to be a wonderful night. However, as confident as she was, she still wanted to be sure, so she made a mental note to ask the one she believed would know best, or at least better than herself.

“So, how did I do?” Nico asked, once she was sure they were well beyond earshot of anyone even remotely associated with the Nishikino residence.

“You were perfect, Nico-chan.” Maki responded with a smile that sent a warm feeling through Nico’s chest. “I think Papa likes you and is fine with us dating, and we already know how Mama feels.”

Thank the gods… Nico thought with relief. And with that load off her mind, “Of course I was perfect,” she decided to get in some teasing of her own, after spending the evening watching Dr. Nishikino do so “Nico is always perfect.” She grinned and held up her signature gesture.

“Id…” Maki’s typical retort was interrupted by a yawn.

Nico laughed before continuing the tradition. “You love it.”

“… Maybe…” Maki managed to get out as her energy seemed to be leaving her rapidly.

Nico leaned her shoulder into her girlfriend. “Steady there, Maki-chan, you going to be alright getting back to your dormroom?”

“Eh? But, I thought…”

“You thought…?”

“I thought I was going to your place?”

“Well you can, obviously you’re always welcome, but…” Nico motioned to Maki’s outfit, taking the moment to enjoy the view as well “I figured since you don’t have a change of clothes, you wouldn’t want to put this back on in the morning.”

“It’s fine…” Maki stifled another yawn. “I just want to go home…” She blinked and shook her head. “I mean your home… Yours… yours and Nozomi’s, I mean… ueeehhh…”

Nico chuckled. “It’s your home too, Maki-chan.” By the gods did she want to kiss the redhead whose cheeks were now matching her hair, but even this late at night, there was a risk of being seen. Later. She promised herself. “Nozomi and my names may be on the lease,” she said instead “but that doesn’t make it any less home to you or Eli.”

“T-thank you…”

“You don’t have to thank me for that; that much is normal for couples, right? But you know, Eli does leave a lot of stuff in Nozomi’s room…” Nico thought aloud “perhaps I should clear out a drawer and make some room in the closet for you.”

“I’d like that.” Maki smiled. “I’ll be sure to bring some stuff over soon.”

“Good. For tonight, you can borrow your usual sleep shirt and we’ll figure out something else in the morning. I think the outfit I lent you the other day is clean, but if not, maybe Nozomi has something that will fit you.”

Maki nodded.

“Then it’s settled.” Nico took Maki’s hand as they boarded the train together. “Let’s go home.”

Author’s Note Continued in Followup Post

[flateshippingrates]

Always Yours

A/N: This idea was suggested by @nicohasahappymeal :) 

Ship: Solangelo

Words: 3095

Ao3

It was not common for Will to leave camp, but it did happen from time to time and, by the Gods, this week was one of those times until further notice. The Roman camp was short staffed and were in need of a healer to help teach others and work alongside in the infirmary. It was a good learning experience for everyone; Will could learn different techniques and they could share some knowledge the Greeks had as well. It was a win-win; well, it almost was except for the fact it meant he would have to leave Nico which was hard enough as is but was intensified when they learned the ghost king was being summoned to the Underworld. 

They weren’t sure if they would have any time to talk or if their schedules would match up at all. Nico tended to have no concept of time when he was in the Underworld for more than a few days, basing his time on how often he slept but that was, of course, a faulty system. It had been several days since their last Iris message and frankly Will was homesick. No one here seemed to understand when he was joking or when he was being serious or that some of his southern expressions were meant to be passive aggressive in the nicest way possible. It was like he was speaking Greek to them. 

He just wanted to go home. He just wanted to be with Nico.

That night the blond was left to flop down on the bed in a tired huff, overgrown hair flaring out like a halo, and knocking all the air out of him. He had his own room which was a nice change but going from being around people constantly to no-one at all was a little jarring. Blue eyes scanned the hardly lived in room to check the time (was 7 o’clock too early to go to bed?) and was surprised when he saw a letter on his nightstand. 

It was in a simple, white envelope, clearly labeled “Willow” in sharp handwriting and a ‘W’ substantially larger than all the other letters; it was typical of Nico to make the capital letters tower over the lowercase. Turning it over he found a black, wax seal with the helmet of Hades on it, and while he was curious how this got to him Will knew not to question Nico. Instead, he did his best to open it without destroying the seal completely. The letter read as follows:

Dear Willow,

I hope you don’t mind if I write to you, since (and I am sure this will not surprise you) I have lost track of time. I miss you terribly and, even if you cannot respond, I still want you to know I have thought of nothing but you since we were separated.

I am ragged and exhausted and want to take a break to be home or, at the very least, in your arms and to share a clementine with you. I would split it in half but if you said you were still hungry I would happily give you my part as well. I just want a bite so I can taste what you taste. I want us to have even more in common today, and the next, and for as long as time moves forward so that, for a moment, while loving each other, it feels like the same as loving ourselves and as if we are sharing a piece of citrus. 

I will write again tomorrow.

Always yours,

Nico

And that’s how it began, as simple as that: a letter came in once a day in an identical looking envelope and filled with sweet words that made being apart more bearable. Will looked forward to this but desperately wished he could write something back or give Nico some idea that he was actually reading them. Sometimes he would even reread the same notes over and over again--especially on the days when the infirmary took all his energy; some days it was all he had to look forward to. 

It was hard being at the Roman camp because their schedule was stricter and left little room for experimenting. They used more medicine based practices over Will’s preferred healing powers. He also found that their infirmary lacked any ambiance. Where were the sweet smelling oils, soft singing, and idle conversation between the doctor and patient? It felt more sterile and as if the goal was only to rush people in and out as fast as possible without reassuring them that they could come back with any questions or concerns. 

He tried to teach the new medics the power of human empathy but not everyone took to it. When he thought of all the fits he got from Greek campers compared to the well-oiled machine that was the Roman camp, he felt kind of silly for complaining about it. He supposed what he missed most of all was the personality of Camp Halfblood. The worst part of this situation being that he knew one day he would have to be in this camp, especially if he wanted to stay under some protection. He would have to learn to love it whether he wanted to or not and that is just what he tried to do. He decided he would try to keep on the sunny side as best he could when he was working.

There was also the matter of Nico’s friends here and how they often tried to make Will feel like he was part of their group. It felt awkward and forced at times though. He was not part of this original collective which lead to feelings of doubt; they were most likely hanging out with him because he was Nico’s boyfriend and not because they actually liked him. It wasn’t that Will had never been insecure before yet this felt different. He didn’t have Nico here to reassure him that everyone did like him or thought he was a vital part of the team. Instead, all he had were these letters and they could only make shots in the dark at what Will needed to hear at that moment. 

He went back to his room relatively early, picking at his food, and was eager to see if the note had arrived yet. There was a dissipating shadow as he entered the room, allowing Will to know how Nico was transporting the letters (it was so small he knew it would only be a hand traveling), as well as a sense of ease knowing he wouldn’t immediately be left alone with his thoughts. The blond sat on the bed, just as careful as always when he opened the letter, and read:

Dear Willow,

I met with Hypnos today; we sat in his field of poppies and, as I’m sure you know, we could not speak freely for no noise and no light can enter his grotto but he did allow me some knowledge for my quest and of you. He is a kind God and has agreed to give you deeper sleep tonight to calm your unease at the Roman camp. I was not aware you were feeling so out of place among our friends. 

You are the greatest ally we could ever ask for. That is why they asked you to go to their camp in the first place. If they seem stiff or awkward around you it is because they have never felt the embrace of your true laugh. We will be in our home before you know it, Will. I am sure of it. For now, make the best you can of the situation. I promise I will be there soon. 

I am sending this letter, but I wish it were me instead.

Always yours,

Nico

It was true that a good night’s rest could change your perception to the point you would not recognize yourself the next day. This attitude adjustment helped him ease back into work and look at the new work environment as refreshing rather than a burden. He did start to see certain swaps that could help his own infirmary; for example, the thorough documentation of everything that happened. It could be such a pain having to note it but when he wasn’t sure what treatment a patient was given he wasn’t finding himself running around to ask who treated them. It, also, was nice to know exactly how much someone was eating to see how the medicine was affecting them. 

He still missed Nico deeply, of course, but now he was finding it easier to focus on the daily tasks at hand. It wasn’t out of neglect or falling out of love; he just understood he was doing no one a favor by sulking and pining for his boyfriend. This was just one of the downsides of being in a relationship. The daily letters did help ease his mind which is exactly why when he didn’t get one that night he practically spiraled into a panic attack. 

It wasn’t like Nico to just <i>forget</i> Will like that! What if something happened to him? The blond was not sure if he should pack a bag and go to the Underworld himself! He was pacing around until almost midnight before decided to go to sleep and choose a plan of action in the morning. If Nico was in a fight Will wouldn’t be doing him any favors by messaging him. 

Sleep should come easy after a long day at work yet concern would not allow him a decent rest. He woke up every hour on the hour, no matter how hard he tried to stay asleep. Maybe Nico just forgot or fell asleep or lost track of time? Surely nothing happened, right? By 3AM and no word from his sunspot, Will tried to Iris message him but was immediately brushed away. This did nothing to soothe his anxiety in the least; Come morning he was so tired and worried that he was unable to work with a competent hands so he was sent back to rest for the day. 

He tried three more times in succession to Iris message Nico, always being immediately disconnected, until the Goddess eventually snapped, “Oh my Gods, you again? Give it a rest, buddy!”  

So now he had no way of contacting his boyfriend.

 He paced around the room for another hour, doing his best to formulate a solid plan to get Nico back from the Underworld like a modern day Orpheus. There would be plenty of people at the Roman camp who would be willing to help him, afterall. They knew his worth, not only for him being a friend, but as a great ally to have if another war comes. During all this frenzied planning and organizing, Will failed to notice a letter being placed onto the nightstand, along with a small bag of coins for Iris messaging, until he turned around to see a retracting shadow. 

Apollo may be the God of the sun, but in that moment Will would have bet he moved faster than the speed of light upon seeing that letter. He ripped it open like his life depended on it and skimmed the card so fast he didn’t process at first. The blond forced himself to take a few calming breaths, still shaking with anticipation and, much slower this time, read: 

Dear Willow,

I am fine. I was resting after a MINOR injury and forgot to ask my father to send my letter to you. It was not a good time for Iris messages either (I am really fine, this is not a cover up) so I have sent you a few coins to make up for all your calls. Don’t waste your money. 

My father told me yesterday that I should be coming home to you soon and I can’t think of any greater joy in life than to be with you undisturbed after so long. I love you and have woken up in the middle of the night to write this letter. I am ready to say nothing but “I love you, Will” for the next lifetime. 

I have missed drowning in your laughter and finding all the air I could ever need in the crook of your neck. I want to lie beside you and love you, fully and without apology. Would you let me love you? Would you come and love me? 

If I could walk into your room now, I swear, I would never long to be anywhere else; not even Olympus could offer me any home greater than the one I’ve made with you. The number of hours we have been together has not been long enough to satisfy me--they are sweet and so quick and the hours apart have doubled with bitterness. I want any excuse to be with you tonight. When I come back, I promise I will always linger behind you and forget my scarf in our home before work so I always have a reason to come back. I will always come back to you.

Always yours,

Nico

And it was true, in three days time Nico was stumbling through a shadow right into Will’s arms with the look of utter exhaustion written on his face. The Italian was roughed up with bruises and cuts, but he had definitely seen worse in his day. As much as he would have loved to immediately cuddle with the son of Hades though, Will knew he needed to wash the dry blood from his face and stop what looked like a still bleeding nose. When his tanned fingers ran through black hair it was matted, feeling greasy and crusty at the roots like he was unable to clean it for the last month; still, Will loved it. He loved all of it.

His pants were too big on Nico and had to be rolled up at the ends but with a belt he was able to wear them with no problem. The son of Hades was resting his head against Will in the evening after showering and finally feeling safe as his hair was tenderly brushed against with skillful, surgeon hands. It was the most peace either of them had gotten in the last month and, not ready to see the others yet, they hid in Will’s room. Their moods were mellow and they were happy, content, and enjoying it while they could, because they understood moments like these didn’t last forever; all they could do was try to memorize it for a later memory. How could they forget how their hands fit together so perfectly though? 

“Hey, Neeks,” Will said with a sweet smile, “I was thinking… wouldn’t it be cute if we brushed each other’s hair?” 

The son of Hades looked up--his attention definitely caught--and nodded slowly. This was one of those times where he was not sure if this was a normal thing that couples did or if it was exclusive to them. Will was the one who understood what was normal behavior in this time, or in general, and if his boyfriend was recommending it then surely it was not so strange. It did sound nice too; he couldn’t remember the last time he brushed his hair. Most of all though, he just wanted to touch Will and be touched back.

The brush went through Will’s hair easily and the curls spread in a frizzy mess at being parted by fine bristles. Strands of blond stuck in the teeth and the soft mess felt nice against Nico’s blistered fingers. 

It was quickly Will’s turn to do Nico’s and that was when problems started to arise. It would not be easy to part the somehow still greasy, clumped strands but he was determined to save anything he could. The blond started from the tips, careful not to pull hard, an apology escaping his mouth anytime his boyfriend whined. “Okay, okay...new approach… maybe a haircut?” 

“Do you even know how to do that?” Nico snapped, rubbing his hair to try and release the discomfort. He could feel the loose strands but there was still a rats nest in his hair. Even in his annoyance, he felt bad a snapping after he had been waiting to see Will for so long; it was just in his nature to be crabby. Nevertheless though, he mumbled, “Sorry, I am tired. I shouldn’t have snapped at you… But, seriously, Will, do you even know how to cut hair?”

The blond nodded confidently. “I do, habibi, and I can be as quick as shadow travel.” 

Nico snorted at the comparison and, although still skeptical, nodded. This must have been the plan all along because the blond was ready with scissors and a razor in no time. It wouldn’t surprise Nico if he had been waiting for this moment; generally his hair was too hard to manage during missions, being low on the list of priorities, and it took days for him to get it back to some symbolince of normal. It was not fun for either boy. 

 Will began cutting out chunks of black hair, at first being a bit careless, before realizing what he took he couldn’t get back without time. The last thing he ever wanted to do with Nico was rush. He slowed his movements, being as careful as he could be when he started shaving the boy’s neck. It was a bit of an awkward cut, an Aphrodite child would have done a better job, but with a #3 razor he was able to shorten the sides to an easy to care for length. The top was still as long as he could allow after chopping away the knots. It was not the best but a decided improvement. 

Nico ran his fingers through his hair, just glad the whole thing was over. “So, how does it look?”

“Like a million bucks,” Will stated as he leaned in to kiss a neck decorated with freshly cut hair, “And I get to be rich just by being close to you.”

“I’ve missed you so much, tesoro,” Nico mutter, twisting his body to look into his sky and felt sturdy arms wrap around him. When they kissed between a smile, the son of Hades noted, “You taste like clementines.”

“I do,” Will said, staring into the only forest meant for his arms, “I had one earlier--when you were showering. It was good, but… I much prefer the taste of you.” 

[abecampbell-archived-blog]

Anna Duport -- I probably respect Anna the most, for good reason. She is the one in charge, she calls the shots, I have been following her lead for years. However, this kind of fucks up my brain sometimes, and I overthink and embarrass myself in front of her. I haven’t grown out of it for some infuriating reason. I used to be a teacher’s pet, but now, as a grown-ass adult… It’s not a crush. It’d be easier if it was a crush actually. I can’t even say that she’s scary, we just don’t click. But I do love her, and I wouldn’t choose anyone else to lead us on this mission. I just… prefer having a buffer in the room instead of being alone with the captain. Maybe it’s the title that messes with me...

Anthony Keats -- The doctor’s great. I am more professional with him, and honestly try not to see him often just cause I want a clean bill of health. Besides, no one likes needles, right? But he is a good person, I trust him a lot, even look up to him. He sees all the nitty gritty, and with that god-awful virus, I was forced to open up to him. No one likes to be vulnerable, but a medical doctor sees it all. Maybe I’d say this about anyone in this position, but I really wouldn’t choose anyone else to be our doc.

Ellis Rutherford -- Ellis is one of my best friends on the mission. Ever since day one, us smiling cheekily at one another, we clicked. He’s so ridiculous, but we make each other laugh. We have similar non-work related interests, and he’s just an all around great guy to hang around with and talk to. His energy is very soothing to me. He listens to my conspiracy theories and chimes in, and even if I make something up he can spin anything to sound less bullshitted. Plus, he agrees with me on little green men.

Hal Pearson -- Hal and I don’t really work together--not that we’re unsymbiotic, but we physically aren’t nearby one another. I don’t dislike anyone on the mission, there’s no room in this environment for such negativity, but he’s a bit rough around the edges. I have sympathy for him. I’ve just never extended the olive branch, which I feel bad about. I know he is very good at his job, I mean we got here safely. And it might lessen the impact when I say this about everyone, but yeah, I respect him.

Heath Abernathy -- I miss Heath. We’ve had our heads down since touchdown, each doing our own thing, but we’re still good friends. We just… have such great conversations, he gets the creative juices in my brain flowing. I don’t ever feel like we tiptoe around one another. We don’t have to, as bad as this sounds, dumb down any of our terminology for one another. For example, in our free time we study the bioturbation on Remus. He’ll talk to me about fucking geoarchaeology. I am lucky to have him on the mission.

Ines Lundstrom -- I think of Ines as a comrade and coworker. They’re quiet, but I think I can forgive them for it more than some of the other crew members? I just value them on the team, and want them to know that I care about them, even though they prefer not to be touched. Ines is a very hard worker and works alongside Ellis, so I usually see them in passing. I think that’s all they can handle of me, to be honest. 

Jacob Campbell -- I love Jacob. He has helped improve my life in multiple ways, being my friend was only the beginning. His role is the communicator, and he has taught me verbal and nonverbal cues that, had I known decades ago, would have made my life a lot easier. We joke about being brothers since our common surnames are identical, but I really do see him as such. We are quite different, but he lets me be affectionate and in another world I’d see him as intimidating, but I do... Cherish our friendship. I can be myself around him. I don’t worry about embarrassing myself, and he takes me as I am.

Julian Ventura -- Julian’s abrasive. I can’t say I dislike him, I just never got to know the guy. I don’t even avoid him, he’s just usually off doing his own thing. I’m sure we’ve smiled at each other before… I just can’t pinpoint a single instance.

Nico Santana -- Okay, Nico’s a mixed bag. He’s quiet and snarky and??? A baby??? He’s actually just a year younger than Ellis. He’s also a teacher’s pet to Anna, it’s weird, I can’t really be in the same room as those two at the same time. Whatever. He’s fine. We can talk just fine. I think I see him as a younger brother, and given that I am the younger of two, it’s just not something I’m used to. After all these years. So I kind of push him away, which is uncharacteristic of me. I don’t know he’s just not my cup of tea. But I don’t hate him. I’m sure he hates me though.

Nikolai Fayiz -- Nikolai is--was--harder to get close to. Like Julian, he is bristly and not who I would have initially called a friend. I always made sure to smile around Nik, and I’m sure he hated being stuck in the same lab as me, but… by the end, I could tell that he had softened up a little. Especially because we could talk about work so freely, he finally warmed up to me. I miss him, which, if you’d have told me that five years ago, I’d have frowned and disbelieved.

Mhairi Walsh -- Mhairi’s an oddball, a ride, but she makes me smile. She’s so sincere and open and friendly, it’s nice because not everyone will tell you their life story. But she’ll talk to me when I’m feeling extroverted, and she has a childish quality that is very warming. I find her easy to talk to, about personal items and work-related topics.

Savannah Kinsley -- Thankfully, by the time we landed on Remus, Savannah and I were on better terms than the beginning. I’m sure when she first heard we’d be sharing a lab, she rolled her eyes, but I get her to smile sometimes now. It always sends a feeling of accomplishment, because, like many scientists, she is closed-off and keeps her head down. But by now, I can tell she likes me, and the crappy puns I make… on a daily basis. Savannah sleeps across the hall from me, and we work in the same lab, so we definitely see a lot of each other. 

Sienna Palmer -- Sienna is one of the people I like the most. She’s always been so open and kind, and even if she’s being my therapist, I always feel like she’s a friend, first and foremost. Maybe I’m being naive, but her smile definitely lights up the room. I feel like she’s non judgmental, and it helps to get close to her.

[justadadonthenet]

Loser’s Club as camp half blood kids hc

(These are terribly organized I’m so sorry, all under the cut)

Stan: deffo an Athena kid, look at that little logic man and tell me he’s not Athena. He would be extremely talented on the battle field but would rarely want to fight (besides, why do that when he could command his battalion in capture the flag) and he somehow befriended an owl in his third year at camp and it’ll do whatever he wants (including keeping richie in check)

Ben: also in the Athena cabin, but one of the softer of them. Always wins when they’re tasked with a building competition cause he actually reads up on what types of structures work best,,he would develop and design all of the Athena cabin weaponry and would specially design stuff for stanley. Their cabin is the coolest one because Ben is always reconstructing as needed, and it’s never too full because he has somehow developed a building that expands as needed, but only on the inside. This kid is fucking gifted.

Mike: Jesus imagine my boy mike as a Persephone kid that’s the cutest shit I’ve ever seen,,,persephone kids are almost as rare (if not more) than big three kids, so he lives in the Demeter cabin. the whole camp would adore him and the wood nymphs would love talking to this ~one~ boy because he has major respect for all parts of nature,, he would grow lil flowers to give to everyone and would make flower crowns for bev,,and although he is a little flower child he takes capture the flag VERY seriously if he’s up against his Losers. (The wood nymphs love doing favors for him such as tripping richie and taking bev’s sword right out of her hand)

Richie: holy fuck he would definitely end up head of the Hermes cabin (somehow) and he would be worse than the Stoll brothers combined,,,don’t ask how he managed to acquire a dildo tree or get a Trojan horse to camp without anyone noticing, he’s also ~conveniently~ part messenger god, which makes sending pranks to people even easier (also imagine the first time he tries to use the winged converse y i k e s there was definitely a face plant in there)

Bill: listen,,,,he would definitely be a Zeus kid if he wasn’t such an angery piece of shit,,, so you better believe he is one of the softest Hades kids to ever enter that camp,,,when he got bored he’d summon cool rocks and shit. As soon as he hears of Nico being able to summon the dead he pesters him into teaching him, learning extremely quickly how to summon spirits. Every once in a while the losers cant find bill, cause he’s sitting in a hidden cave he managed to create, talking to Georgie

Bev: listen my fiery girl would obviously be an Ares kid. She may be the nicest in the cabin, but you’re dead wrong if you think for a second she wouldn’t beat your ass if provoked. Her and Stan definitely have a friendly rivalry in capture the flag (or any battle-related activity, for that matter.) she loves her bf Ben but she can’t help but coaxing the latest Athena cabin weaponry plans out of him. Ben goes to mush as soon as Bev talks to him, and every thought he had of keeping the developments to the cabin goes out the door with one look into those eyes. Coincidentally, next week’s capture the flag battle is between Ares and Athena, and Ben is completely lost as to how the Ares cabin somehow had counter measures for all of their weaponry,, he’d been planning them for months, and had picked through all of the Ares cabin’s tactics previous to this, how did they know? Let’s just say stan was HEATED

Eddie: okay with an idiot of a boyfriend like richie (who constantly forgets where he sets up traps during capture the flag) eddie needs to be able to fix his boy. He may not seem like an Apollo boy other than the fact that he’s wicked good at being camp medic, but he’s getting pretty dialed in on his foresight (even though it only consistently reaches about an hour into the future.) still, this makes fixing up his idiots easier, as he knows exactly what to pack in his magic fanny pack (think Leo’s tool belt) before every capture the flag (even though he no longer needs it, after realizing that it wasn’t his drugs healing him but his own abilities). After LOTS of practice, Eds walks up to richie, touches his forehead, and richie fucking loses his shit because h o l y s h i t why is everything so blurry??? Before taking his glasses off and crying because everything is in focus

Also:

-bill and mike always help in developing the area for the capture the flag games and make sure it’s aesthetically pleasing, interesting, and different from the last time

-SHIT AND MIKE AND THE DEMETER CABIN MAKE CORN MAZE CAPTURE THE FLAG FOR FALL (complete with spooky scares from the grain nymphs)

-most of the hades kids come and go, so billiam is alone a lot in his cabin, making the hades cabin basically the loser’s cabin for sleepovers

-(bill also sleeps in the Athena cabin a lot cause of the immense space and his bf)

-Eds discovers his poetic abilities when sitting with Ben and trying to think of what to say to ask rich out

-Eds definitely also helps richie write songs

-richie is a large lanky boy but somehow kicks ass when they have track events (its one of the only places he doesn’t trip)

-his biggest threat? Billiam, aka lanky boy #2

-“it’s not fair, he can literally influence the track and make my lane turn into sand!” “S-step up your p-prank game, tozier”

-richie replaces bill’s shoes with some winged ones and Jesus Christ he’s never laughed as hard as he did when bill hit the side of the big house as soon as the race started

-eddie never really pursues his artistic abilities but one time rich has a bad night and sends Eds a message to meet him at the hades cabin (bill is with Stan) and he finds richie panicking over a nightmare so he starts singing to richie and holy shit richie was crying but not cause of his nightmare

-mike always brings flowers to the medics tent and brings some of each patients’ favorites to put at their bedside

-mr d cannot stand richies existence sometimes but all of that is forgotten when richie somehow gets him some ancient bottle of wine that d hasn’t seen in millennia

-whenever eddie sees richie’s laugh or smile the camp gets a lil brighter for a second

-sometimes mike goes and sits with bill while he’s talking to Georgie. He helped him with hiding bill’s little spot, can also (to an extent) contact the dead, and bill trusts him immensely. Bill loves the losers but most of the time he just wants to talk to Georgie alone. When he does invite the losers to come talk, they don’t go to bill’s spot

-I can’t help but imagining mike making all of the losers little flower crowns made of assorted flowers and all of them match the person

-richie has so many laurel wreaths from mike due to his immense list of track records

-they think bill was conceived while the gods were battling with their second self, because he was claimed by hades but has the ability to conjure metals and jewels like Pluto (which is super uncommon when you’re Greek)

-(of course he gets his bf’s cabin some of the best metals for weapons)

-richie somehow gets all of the Good Shit from the outside world into the camp. Nintendo switch? Stan buys it off of him the first day rich has it (along with all the Mario games that comes with it.) cigarettes? Him and Bev share those. Books from libraries across the world? Ben is still amazed as to how richie gets a hold of some of the Ancient Greek texts he sells him but he’s not complaining.

-Eds sometimes misses his boyfriends stupid glasses, so richie finds some hipster glasses and wears them sometimes

-sometimes Eds wishes he had better luck with curses bc sometimes his boyfriend needs to shut the fuck up

-richie and Bev live at camp year round, while bill and Ben often return home, eddie has to go home every break (no matter how short), and mike and stan only goes home on the really long ones

-mike also helps Eddie with finding certain medicinal herbs (richie of course finds the medical marijuana eddie is keeping hidden in his fanny pack)

-instead of “your mom” jokes richie now makes jokes relating to Percy (with only the occasional jokes about mrs k) because come on he’s now the camp mom

-“wait eddie this is so gross that we’re dating cause we’re related” “fuck off richie” “gives me more of a reason to date your mom”

-eddie always makes sure Bill gets enough sunlight,,,that kids depressed enough he needs some vitamin d

-Stan’s owl friend always watches the cabins during the night, and when he sees richie setting trip wires and such on the playing ground, alerts stan

-eddie teaches richie guitar, which he picks up on quickly. It’s one of the only things his Hermes dexterity applies to, and his lankiness gives him a little bit of an advantage

-reddie is the musical power couple that everyone loves during campfires, although Eddie objects every time until richie literally pulls him to the middle of the circle with Eddie on one knee and his guitar on the other

-they have WiFi thanks to richie

-richie sets up sensors on all the cabin doors on April first and the first door to be opened (bill’s) sets off speakers in all the cabins, blasting Africa by Toto at full bass and full volume

-let’s just say eddie didn’t talk to him for four days because WHY WOULD TOU DO TJAT RICHARD

-“wait bill can you have blue fire hair like hades in Hercules??” “Richie I s-swear to god”

-eddie purposely makes it sunny all the time cause he loves the way the sun shines in Rich’s hair and gives him lil freckles :,,,,)

-Ben appreciates the sun too because bev’s hair looks like fire and she gets so many freckles

-Percy stays at camp during breaks cause he knows how lonely it can get and it always helps for richie to have one more friend while most of his are gone

-he adopts richie cause he sees a little bit of himself in that little shithead (and he may use him to long-distance pester Jason with letters rigged to spew water at him as soon as he opens the envelope before pulling out a soggy piece of blue paper that says “hope you’re not missing us too much in California”)

-Annabeth ADORES Ben and Stanley, she basically adopts them as her kids cause Ben is an intelligent little softie and stan is equally intelligent (although in battle strategy rather than crafting)

-Ben loves it when annabeth visits cause he has someone to show his architectural plans to and help him revise them

-Ben gets SUPER good at architecture, so good in fact that he’s literally hired at age sixteen to help in construction in Olympus

-Hermes learned from his mistakes of neglecting his kids, and is sure as hell to visit and talk to richie and the others as often as he can, especially Richie because of his family history

-after the Athena cabin’s plan backfire, stan gets richie’s assistance in payback (he gets the Hephaestus cabin to create weapons that look exactly like the Ares cabins’, but turn into a mini metal figurine of richie doing finger guns as soon as the capture the flag buzzers go off)

-Bev has a rage in her eyes that hasn’t been seen since they defeated IT, and sweet sweet Ben has to hold her back and (try) to calm her down until bill can come in and make her pass out

-she wakes up kicking and screaming with her entire cabin giving up at blocking her from the door and parting like the Red Sea as soon as they see a red glow surrounding her

-this is the one time bill allows a third loser into his cave hiding place, as nobody knows where it is (he made richie pass out as well before taking him into the cave to protect him from the Wrath of Beverly)

-Bev finally calms down (eddie may have put that medical marijuana to use in some special tea he’s formulated)

-mike sometimes just goes and sits in the forest if he can’t sleep. He loves how it looks at night, and how many odd creatures are roaming around

-he meets Grover one night, and they instantly become great friends

-Grover figures out that one of the wood nymphs has a crush on mike, and plays match maker

-the losers notice mike going to the forest more frequently, and while walking back into camp, little patches of flowers grow in his footprints

-when they start dating, mike likes to make his girlfriend’s tree bloom, and changes the color and type of flower each time

-they’re adorable and everyone loves them

-he protects her tree with all costs, as its life is tied to hers

-mr d has definitely found richie in his underwear and a camp Jupiter shirt passed out on the steps of the big house at 6 in the morning, with Richie holding a bottle of fireball

-richie was put on pegasus shit duty for a week, and Eddie refused to rid him of his immense hangover

-somehow richie gets a cat into the camp, its the camp pet and rich always brings it into the med tent to cheer up injured and sickly kids

-the cat mainly lives there, but it goes to bill’s cabin a lot for peace and quiet

-listen,,, the cat would totally have some horrible name that richie makes up like mr noodles and mr d would be so confused as to who mr noodles could be

-Ben my sweet boy and Stanley sometimes sit with mike in the forest during the day. Mike and stan watch the birds, and Ben reads more of the books rich has smuggled in

-richie tozier makes it his goal to get as many aphrodite kids after him as possible (eddie acts like he hates it but knows his idiot would never leave him)

-literally half the Aphrodite cabin is in love with him, and the other half isn’t interested in guys

-richie gets mike to give him assortments of flowers, and brings them to Eddie in the medics tent every morning

-it’s basically like an alarm cause every day, without fail, the sun will shine a little too brightly at 8 am

If you took the time to read all this you’re a Saint and I appreciate you

[storiessomeoneshouldwrite]

percy jackson prompts for will falling for nico im the infirmary ?

(I’m sorry, look. I’ll obviously see what I can come up with, but I snorted. It’s just really funny because I probably read about thirty of those fics after the last book came out. Not that that’s a bad thing, of course. Most of them were discernibly different, I can’t imagine it will be too hard to turn my (admittedly generic) prompts into something interesting.)

There are a few ways Nico’s 3-day infirmary stay can go.

Considering Nico agreed to go, and willingly followed Will after talking to Percy and Annabeth, he could be perfectly fine with sitting around waiting for himself to heal, albeit a little uncomfortable because there are a lot of people there who are wary of him. He makes people nervous and that makes him nervous.   If you go that way, a lot of Will’s interactions with Nico, along with daily checkups, could be assuring him that, given time, people will realize and accept that Nico belongs just as much as everyone else. Nico starts trusting Will more and more as time goes on, and lets himself be a little more open with him. It makes Will happy to see that Nico is more comfortable around him, and oh, is he cute? I totally didn’t realize (he did).   Blah, blah, big crushes develop, realistically it probably takes longer than three days for them to actually start dating, but at the end of the three days, maybe one of them invites the other to hang out with them. Even if it’s just casually, they’re both blushing pretty hard.

OR, Nico could go to the infirmary, and quickly realize that he regrets this decision with every fiber of his being. Everything Will says to (or even around) him is met with a snarky response and closed-off body language (i.e., arms crossed over his chest, not looking anyone in the eye, staying hunched over most of the time).   Despite all that, Will is determined to make Nico see that he’s worth having around, because he knows Nico has been in a “nobody wants the Ghost King around” mindset for around four years, ever since the events in The Titan’s Curse. Maybe he acts extra-goofy when he interacts with Nico, cracking bad medical jokes and putting on weird accents when he’s doing Nico’s examinations, trying to make him laugh, or at least smile. A “gods, you’re freaking weird” smirk would be acceptable, too.   At some point, he actually does manage to make Nico laugh, and gets one of those “his smile is amazing” moments, and down the “falling for Nico” rabbit hole he goes.

It could also be kind of fun if Will had Nico helping him out, doing some odd jobs around the infirmary to keep him busy, since he has to be there anyway and the bite of his arm and the no-shadow-traveling thing don’t really require bed rest. Nothing with the patients of course; Nico is adamant about not wanting to make anything worse by trying to help, although Will insists he wouldn’t.   While they’re doing something around the infirmary together, Will attempts to make conversation. Nico questions him, and Will’s response could be something along the lines of “I want to know what you’re so worried about, so I can make it easier for you to want to be here.” It takes a while to get Nico to open up, after being closed-off for so long, but when he finally does, Will promises that he’ll always have a friend at camp, no matter what.   “Who?”   “Me.”(Boom, feelings, whaddup. I’m actually really bad at writing romance.)

I think three should be enough, they’re all more like plot synopses than prompts. Anyway, I hope you can find something in there that will be useful! - Mod Kylee

[sissearchkittpu-blog]

Grand theft auto 4 dating michelle

Was I supposed to date michelle? (spoilers) How do you prepare for a date, and what are some of the things to keep an eye out for while on a date and perhaps most importantly after the date has concluded? Each friend and three of the girlfriends provide special unlockable abilities in return for maintaining good relationships with them.  Deal only This is the second time Niko kills someone by turning a pistol around to their face counterclockwise, the first being Truck Hustle.  Girlfriend Profiles There are five different girls which Niko can date, two of which are unlocked automatically during the storyline, and the rest of which are available via the in-game internet.  Though the Grand Theft Auto series is often mired in controversy, critics praise the games.  Carmen and Alex do this because they think they're sexy and want to arouse Niko, while Kiki usually does this because she's jealous.  A Washington or Marbella found around Algonquin do nicely.  Darts, Pool, Drinking at the Steinway Beer Garden and the Pool again.

Dating: Dating kate gta 4 Roman will compliment Niko's suit, then he will go inside the church.  It's even a good idea to keep a good car that you find in your Safehouse parking space.  Due to the revelations in The Snow Storm, Michelle actually cannot be dumped and will not dump Niko.  This saves time in finding one later on and will keep date maintenance easier.  Tangible Benefit: Health Boost - This ability allows Nico to call Carmen for medical advice and a quick health boost.  Special abilities Dating women from the internet has it's advantages.  Niko instead is seen waking up in the Bohan Safehouse in the end of the mission.

Was I supposed to date michelle? (spoilers) Despite this, the player is still given the option to try and join Kate inside.  She'll usually just picture her face the first time, but the second time it's a photo of her slip or behind.  You meet her when you're set up on a blind date by your cousin Roman and his girlfriend Mallorie.  Go to any Internet cafe or the computer in your.  First Question: I don't think Michelle is actually.  To have a successful date Niko must cater to the women's tastes in three areas; , , and how fancy the date is.  Her favorite activities are eating, bowling, darts, and pool.

Grand Theft Auto IV And since you're almost certainly going to pick up a date in a stolen car, why not make sure that car is as fancy and well-taken care of as possible? Vehicle Preference: Carmen also prefers expensive Luxury cars.  Packie McReary and Dwayne Forge are the only friends of Niko who do not appear in this mission, as both have no association with Roman.  Damageproofing Vehicles A glitch in the game can make any vehicle damage proof by scaring Niko's date right when she gets in the car however these properties can randomly disappear at any time.  Kate most notably will never invite you into her house because she is allegedly saving herself for marriage.  You must change into a suit from a safehouse.  However, this ability does not work on all missions and at higher wanted levels she will tell you that the cops are serious and there's nothing she can do.  When her opinion of a specific place falls below 25, she refuses to go there anymore.

Dating: Dating kate gta 4 That way your 'like stat' isn't affected.  You can date as many girls as you like at once and there seem to be no punishments for doing so.  Vehicle Preference: Kiki prefers a good mid range nice car.  After this you can call her to set up a date.  If Niko arrives at the wedding with no suit, he will be instructed to get one.  She prefers expensive restaurants, shows strip clubs included , darts, bowling and pool.

Was I supposed to date michelle? (spoilers) If you screw up too many dates for example, and your 'Like'-percentage drops below 60%, your girlfriend will call you to end the relationship.  If Niko Bellic has a bad date or does not ask to come inside, the girl dumps Niko.  She seems reasonable and normal although she always seems to be suspicious of you, constantly asking if you're involved with criminals.  Take your girlfriend to an activity that she likes left and then afterwards try your luck right In order to get the maximum success out of a date, therefore, you should refer to the initial opinions of all the activities listed in the table below, and try to vary the activities from date-to-date.  However, there's a lot of fun to be had by partaking in the Liberty City singles scene.

Dating Dating these girls is not a requirement to attain the 100% game completion stat, however each has a special ability that is unlocked once they like you enough.  Little Jacob and Roman attempt to calm Niko before telling him to leave the scene.  As the game doesn't meniotn Craplist as a potential resource for dates only Love-Meet.  Though not as picky as Carmen, it's still good to stick to a good car.  Roman tells Niko to call an ambulance, but Niko, knowing that Kate's been killed, shouts out that she is dead.  For example, if you visit the Cluckin' Bell in Star Junction her opinion of it drops by 5, while her opinion of all other Cluckin' Bells in the city drops by 1.  Later, Packie will phone, in tears, and says that Kate should not been killed and that it was the male McRearys who were sinners.

Dating Clearing Your Wanted Level Once you get to about 80% likeness with Kiki she will call you and let you know that she has some influence with judges.  On the way, she says that she wants Niko to abandon his criminal activities and violent lifestyle, and Niko happily agrees.  If Kate is killed before the wedding, the mission will fail.  This is evident later in the story.  Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, released for the PlayStation 2 console in 2002, gives you the chance to roam freely around a.  In extreme contrast to all his sons, Mr.  The first type of relationship is any that Niko has with various females he encounters.

Michelle « gta4onlineguide Each girl has an 'initial opinion' of each activity that is available, and each time you take her to a specific place her opinion of it drops by 5, while her opinion of all similar places drops by 1.  The mission consists purely of a cutscene depicting the wedding of Roman to Mallorie Bardas -- the end of the scene, however, depends on Niko's above mentioned decision.  Mallorie tells Niko to call her again as a result.  This guide will help you set up the fastest and easiest way to impress the women and raise their fondness level to the point at which it will unlock their special ability.  Kiki Kiki can be dated via the Lovemeet website.  Venues ---------- Venues can also be broken up into categories; A.  She works at the community center in Dukes.

[wayoutrp-blog]

“I WANT TO KNOW MY FATE IF I KEEP UP THIS WAY...” - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

☆ KNOWN AS ☆ Mason McCarthy ☆ YEARS OLD ☆ Twenty-Five ☆ HAILS FROM ☆ Scottsdale, Arizona ☆ KNOWN FOR ☆ Playing guitar, bas, synth && backing vocals for Reflective Smoke live shows. ☆ SUGGESTED FCS ☆ Nico Tortorella, Beau Mirchoff. ☆ VOICE CLAIM ☆ Josh Ramsay

☆ Mason always had dreams of being a big star. While he’s not quite sure he made the mark there, he did manage to book a pretty sweet gig. He’s happy to help Jake perform live, even if he’s somewhat bitter about it not being his own project. ☆ Mason has his own side project named TBA, but most people don’t know very much about this project. Mason has also been a part of another lesser known project featuring Madison McCarthy called, TBA. ☆ Mason is known as the party animal on the label, and yes, it has gotten him into trouble. ☆ Mason and his twin sister, Madison, were incredibly close until a few years ago. The two had a small, lesser known band together. The band ended on a very bitter note. When the band fell apart over music rights Mason and Madison took opposite sides, and haven’t spoken since. Mason is none too excited to be seeing her on tour. ❤ Mason’s life has largely been about trying to be seen, heard, and understood, in that order. The seeing proved to be the easiest to accomplish; he started getting tattoos when he was fifteen, thanks to a badly-faked ID, a boat-load of charm and a less-than-above-board tattoo parlor back in Scottsdale. Between the pierced ears, painted nails and body art, plenty of people saw him, plenty of people took notice, but getting them to listen to his innermost thoughts proved more difficult, because it turned out once you make yourself visible, there’s a lot of people who won’t want to do anything but look. He really, really wants something concrete that’s his and his alone, but he’s not sure he’s got the chops or the fanbase for it, and it’s this self-doubt that leads to acting out and over-compensation. ❤ He turned to music early, having come from a musical family, as a way to make himself heard and understood - he’s pretty sure the failure of the latter is the reason nobody did the former. He’s never felt particularly understood by anyone but Madison, and even that - well, he guesses that’s not even true nowadays. He’s trying to work on himself, trying to make the parts of him below the surface more understandable, but he’s also leery of becoming too understood, too open; people can be terrible, and after his own sister gave up on him (or so he thinks, anyway), he’s not exactly left with a lot of hope in the human race. As such, he’s constantly swinging between desperation for understanding & belonging and disinterest in getting close enough for anyone to even try. It’s much, much easier to take the path of least resistance and be only exactly what people expect him to be, and to hide the rest - it just also gets kind of lonely sometimes, and Mason has never dealt particularly well with being lonely. It makes him do stupid things. ❤ Stupid things are sort of Mason’s specialty, next to the variety of instruments he plays and the music he writes and the ladies (and gentlemen) he charms. Not to get too AWOLNation about it, but he blames his AD(H)D. He was undiagnosed for most of his life, but it definitely explains some things. He’s medicated for it now, in theory, but he’s bad at remembering to take his medicine, and more than that, he’s not sure he makes art as well when he’s on it. When he uses it properly, it makes him focused and at least a little more rational, a little slower and a little less likely to wind up on the roof of the hotel at three in the morning because his mind won’t slow down enough to actually let him sleep, but it also makes him, in his words, ‘boring’. It’s an ongoing issue for him, trying to find the right balance while also trying to make sure his career doesn’t die at the hands of the pharmaceutical industry, but sometimes he can’t help but think that if he gets his life together, having a celebrity - if you can call the backup vocals and sometimes-writer of a band that doesn’t even belong to him a ‘celebrity’ - with ADHD be vocal about it might be a really good thing. He’s just not sure if he’s ready for that, nevermind what the label might think…

☆ Connection #1 ☆ MADISON MCCARTHY is Mason’s Twin Sister. The two were two peas in a pod, until they were torn apart due to band drama of the past. The tour is going to be their first time seeing each other...or avoiding each other. ☆ Connection #2 ☆ JAKE PUCKERMAN is Mason’s best friend, party buddy, and wingman. Mason and Jake write songs together. Even though Jake rarely writes with others, he feels most comfortable working with Mason. ☆ Connection #3 ☆ KITTY WILDE and Mason have an infrequent friends with benefits relationship, that Kitty Wilde continuously tries (and fails) to end. The two are magnetically drawn to one another. ☆ Connection #4 ☆ RYDER LYNN and Mason are old college friends, though they haven’t spoken in years. When Ryder dropped out the two naturally drifted, but they’re excited to be on tour together and catch up again.

[godsandvillainsrpg-blog]

Congratulations ABI! You have been accepted as ZAINE CHAMBERS.

Note from Admin Hannah: So I knew when I wrote Zaine that he was a sympathetic character with a tinge of sadness to him...but you just amped up both factors beyond reason. I am still emotional after reading your app, I feel like I need a box of tissues. You captured Zaine’s goodness and his sadness exactly as I would have hoped - actually, even better. I wanted a tragic character, and you gave it to me. Your interpretation was everything I envisioned and more. From your character explanation, to his motivations and plot ideas, all the way to the sample and extras not only was I hooked, but I knew that you understood this character just as well if not better than I do.  I literally cannot wait to see Zaine on the dash and see what plays out for his future.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Name: Abi Age: 21 Preferred Pronouns: She/Her Timezone: EST Activity Level: 7/10 - I work a lot but I should be around for a few hours most evenings!! Triggers: REMOVED Anything Else? nope! thanks for reading my app (:

IN CHARACTER

Desired Character: Zaine Chambers

Describe this character in your own words:

—– ZAINE’S AESTHETIC !! a calm & misty day at the beach ; loose tea leaves in the bottom of your mug ; that smell right before it rains ; a cozy jumper with a hole in the sleeve just big enough for your thumb ; soft dirt underneath your feet ; water rings on antique end tables ; freshly baked bread ; wringing hands ; a desk full of messy papers and smudged ink

—– CHARACTER STRENGTHS !! 1. empathetic ;; “showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another. ” ***** In another life, Zaine would have been a writer. People fascinate him. And not in a distant, creepy sort of way; in an up close and personal sort of way that makes everyone he meets feel like they can share their deepest and darkest with him, just because he listens and he understands. Or, if he doesn’t understand, Zaine has always tried his very best to see things from that person’s point of view. It’s a talent, really, how good he is at it. Maybe it’s his own virtuous spin on his mother’s ability to read people. The irony in that being that his mother constitutes as one of the few souls out there where his kindness has no effect, but that’s only a reason for Zaine to try harder. There’s not a single person on the planet Zaine doesn’t want to know and the idea that most of those people are one’s he’s related to bothers him. 2. dedicated ;; “ devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity. ” ***** Zaine’s entire life is dedicated to the well-being of others. Whether that be playing mediator to his family or studying for his entrance exams to medical school, Zaine has never found it hard to put his mind to something. Maybe that’s another positive spin on one of his parent’s traits ( maybe he’s more like them than either side wants to think ) and Zaine certainly isn’t complaining. The dedication he feels towards his family is more of a struggle than other aspects of his life, but Zaine figures soon enough he’ll reach his tipping point. Soon enough Zaine will find the linchpin holding together whatever monstrous wall separates himself from the rest of his family and they’ll all get their happily ever after. Or, at least, that’s what his optimistic nature has him holding out for. 3. passionate ;; “ showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief. ” ***** At first, most people would think passion and dedication go hand in hand. Zaine thought the same thing until he started studying medicine. He’s never been so passionate about anything before and feels like, for the first time, he actually understands what that word means. He truly has found his calling and Zaine thinks he’d do anything to keep it. Though it seems like his life has been overtaken with passion lately; ever since Salvatore’s made an appearance in Zaine’s life. The physical side of things was where the passion started, but eventually that passion evolved into something more for Zaine. And just like with medical school, he’s never felt this way about anything. Or anyone. The only caveat to that is sometimes Zaine thinks that maybe Sal doesn’t feel the same way.

—– CHARACTER FLAWS !! 1. co-dependent ;; “ excessive emotional or psychological reliance. typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction. ” ***** For all the things that Zaine is, the one thing he certainly isn’t is dependent. It started with a dependency on his family that Zaine has still yet to break. He looks to them for money, food, shelter… but most of all, attention and love; scraps he only gets thrown his way every once in awhile. As he’s grown up, that constant need for validation from his family has become easier to conceal, but harder to swallow and some days Zaine feels like one wrong word could break him. // His co-dependency only worsened when he started looking for that validation outside his own home and within the hearts of others. Liam wasn’t the first boy to bear the brunt of Zaine’s neediness, nor was he the last, but he was the most important. He was the one who finally woke Zaine up to what he was doing. Even though Zaine wasn’t one to complain or talk about any negative feelings he may be having, he would make up for it by smothering the people who showed him any kindness. Which is why he’s so reluctant to push Salvatore into anything permanent when some days he knows all Sal wants to do is push him away. He can’t risk having his heart broken again so soon even if it means starving his co-dependency. 2. reserved ;; “ slow to reveal emotion or opinions. ” ***** Zaine is one of those people most others have a hard time cracking. The kindness he grew up with ( and still does have ) has molded into a selfdefense mechanism. Now Zaine is always nice. He’s always kind. He’s always someone you can count on. The only problem is Zaine’s always been hard-pressed to find someone willing to be that person for him. Those that he’s opened up to have either not understood or outright rejected him for it, so if Zaine’s not talking someone else through their problems, he’s probably not saying much. It’s not in his innate nature and it’s definitely not how he wants to be, but showing how your really feeling is a scary thing. Especially when, over the years, you’ve been shown it might be even scarier for you and you’re situation. 3. vulnerable ;; “ needs special care, support, or protection due to age, disability, or risk of abuse/neglect. ” ***** Due to Zaine’s general goodness, he’s been left vulnerable to other people. He’s been used and abused throughout the years by family members, classmates, friends, and significant others all because he’s never learned how to say no. He’s done twelve page reports over night, played sports he had no interest in, and gone too far, too soon with people he probably wouldn’t have done that with if they hadn’t asked him to. He’s never been one to be taken for a fool, but Zaine also never been one to refuse a stranger the shirt off his back. It’s a dangerous road to walk down and Zaine’s sister, Kiah, sometimes seems like the only one making sure he doesn’t get hit by traffic.

What are this character’s motives? What drives this character? What are their goals?

—– ZAINE’S MOTIVATIONS !!

1. a desperate need for acceptance and love 2. a fear of never being good enough 3. dreading the idea of being / ending up alone 4. wanting to better other’s lives 5. to make the world a better place, one step at a time

—– ZAINE’S GOALS !! 1. make his family proud ;; Zaine has, from a young age, always had a desperate need for his family to love and accept him. Of course, this need wasn’t so desperate he was willing to commit any sort of dirty, evil, or unlawful act that might change his family’s perception of him. His good heart is the only thing Zaine can see that keeps him from being truly relatable with his family, but it’s also the one thing he’s not willing to give up. So, instead of taking the low road he knows would be easy (as being good, he’s learned, has always been the harder choice), Zaine’s determined to win his family over with kindness. If he can just prove to them that violence and cheating and breaking the law isn’t always the way to go then maybe he can finally have the family he’s always wanted to be apart of. 2. convince salvatore he’s worth loving & get over liam ;; After Liam, Zaine has taken on a bit of a notion that maybe, just maybe, Zaine isn’t worth loving. That that’s the reason his parents and family all shun him. Of course he knows, logically, that’s not true. Or he sort of knows that… Either way, Zaine is determined to get Sal to say the words eventually. The first problem being Zaine’s not entirely sure how to get to that point yet. The second, he might still be a little in love with Liam. It’s been less than a year since they broke up and his feelings for the boy were strong, despite how things ended. Zaine’s sure his feelings for Sal have to potential to ( maybe even have ) surpassed what he had with Liam, but he can’t bring himself to let his heart forget the first boy he ever really gave a part of himself to. 3. bring valencia and nico together ;; Nothing would make Zaine happier than to see Val and her estranged half-brother, Nico, be a proper family. He’s come up with a plan but he’s worried it might end up backfiring on him and he’ll be forced to pick between them. Zaine’s never been good with things like that and he’s worried he’ll lose them both. However, the drive to see the closest thing he has to a friend in his family happy with herfamily is strong enough to work past those nagging thoughts. 4. extend kindness & love to killian ;; Zaine has always been good at picking up on the people who need a friend the most and, recently, Killian’s been at the top of his list. Everyone needs a friend, a shoulder when times get tough, and Zaine is determined to become just that for Killian. They’ve had a rough life, Zaine’s sure of that much at the very least. So Zaine’s been jumping at Killian any chance he can get, trying to get them to show even the slightest interest in being friends with Zaine. It’s one of the toughest shells he’s had to break in a long time, but he’s sure they’ll crack eventually. 5.develop his kinship with kiah ;; The few hints towards an underlying relationship between himself and his sister have been sprouting up more and more often lately. At first, Zaine was convinced they were coincidences; it was only happening because it was in Kiah’s best interest. Now, he’s not so sure. So Zaine’s been pushing the boundaries a bit lately to see what he can get away with. If there’s anyone in his immediate family he wants a relationship the most with, it’s Kiah. These revelations have only fueled the burning fire Zaine has when it comes to building bridges with his family. 6. finish medical school / become a pediatrician ;; This goal is at the top of Zaine’s list. Or, it is for now. I have a feeling Zaine is going to let his compassion walk all over him, to the point where he fails out of medical school. Having a passion for something isn’t enough; especially when you’re not already gifted in that particular field and your mind is constantly on other people’s problems. However, for now, this is Zaine’s first and most important goal. Graduating from medical school will give him means to stop using his parents’ blood money, to potentially make them proud of him, and, most importantly, Zaine will be following his passion and doing what he does best: taking care of others.

What potential plots do you foresee for this character?

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Would you be open to this character’s death?

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PARA SAMPLE

“ I just can’t do this anymore, Zaine. When you’re with me, you’re never really with me. All you do is talk and talk and talk about your family’s problems and how your best friend keeps going back to her ex and how do I get her to stop, Liam? How do I save her? Because… ” Liam paused, running a hand through the shaved hair, “ That’s all you do. You go around saving the world from evil and then you come here and it’s like I’m all that’s keeping you together. That’s not healthy. This relationship isn’t healthy and I can’t… I’m sorry, Z, but we have to be done. This has to stop. ”

Zaine closed his eyes, as a thousand metaphorical knives were thrown into his chest. This hadn’t been what he’d wanted. He’d only been in the door five minutes. He’d only asked if Liam could come with him to a friend’s fundraiser. Granted it was their anniversary night, but Lorena needed him. How was he suppose to say no? He thought Liam would understand. Liam always understood, “ I can fix this, I promise. I’ll do whatever you want, Liam…. I’ll be whatever you want me to be, just please… Don’t. Please. We don’t have to go. ”

Liam looked as if Zaine had pointed a remote at him and hit pause for a second, before seemingly catching his breath, “ I’m sorry…. God, I’m so sorry. But you’re never around. You’re always at your parents house or helping a cat stuck up in a tree or whatever and that was endearing at first, Zaine, it was, I promise. But now it’s horrible. I just want you here. Except, I don’t want you here when you’re here, because it’s never about us, is it? It’s always about you and what’s going on in your life and your friends and family’s lives. I’m not your personal diary, here for you to pick up only when you need love and support and an ear to bend. That’s not how a relationship works. ” Liam stood up from his side of the bed and took a few steps towards Zaine, his hands clenched into fists by his sides, “ Well, no, actually it is but it’s got to be two sided. I’m done being you’re entire support system. Go find someone else to lean on. ”

The knives seemed to have dug deeper into his chest as now it felt like his entire heart was being sliced open. Liam was everything; his entire world stood right there in front of him telling him he wasn’t good enough. And of course Liam deserved better. Liam deserved everything. Zaine had always known he wouldn’t be able to give him that, but he figured the day Liam realized was far off in their future. Years down the road, even. But then again, Zaine had always had a tendency to latch on to the boys he dated, didn’t he? He’d have their entire life planned out before they’d even gone on a second date. It was just how Zaine worked and he always ended up taking that life for fact; certain all those dreams were going to come true every single time.

Tears welled up in his eyes, making it hard to see, but that was a blessing. Zaine didn’t want Liam’s angry eyes focused on him anymore. He blinked the tears away anyway, “ So that’s it then. You’re just… giving up on me? I thought we had a future together. A happily ever after. That’s what you were suppose to be. ”

“ Yeah. I thought that too. ” The hard edge to Liam’s tone softened, “ I really am sorry, love. I’ve, uh, packed up all the stuff you’ve left here. It’s in the box on the kitchen counter. You can pick it up on your way out. ”

And that was that, wasn’t it? All Zaine could do was nod and turn around, forcing his feet to walk out of the bedroom. Forcing his hands to pick up a box that felt like it was full of lead. Forcing himself into his car. Forcing himself down one street. Then the next street. Then the next and the next and the next until he was home. Not his parents’ home, mind. The apartment he’d gotten for himself. He’d never really liked living on his own and the flat reflected that. There weren’t many pictures or decorations or even food in the fridge, but Zaine didn’t mind. For once in his life, he craved being on his own.

The couch was the closest soft thing to the front door, though his bed would have been more comfortable. Stumbling face first into the cushions, Zaine finally let himself give way to the sobs he’d held onto for the past twenty or so minutes. In fact, he let himself cry so hard and for so long that when he eventually rolled over there was a face shaped puddle imprinted into the fabric. The shadows on the walls were long and Zaine pulled out his phone to check the time. It’d been nearly four hours since his heart had last been in his chest and Zaine figured he must have fallen asleep somewhere in between all the crying.

There wasn’t anywhere in particular he had to be, given his parents weren’t all that interested in where he was and his friends all thought he’d be with Liam, so Zaine took this infrequent down time to just stare at the walls; contemplating just where, exactly, he’d gone wrong with Liam. Maybe his boyfriend ( ex-boyfriend ) was right. Maybe he hadbeen leaning on Liam to often. It just wasn’t every day he found someone willing to actually listen to him just ramble on. In fact, it had been nearly impossible his whole life. And then there Liam was, almost as kind and gentle as himself, with a shoulder to lean on and an ear to chat with.

Somewhere, he supposed, lines had been blurred and that was all Liam had become. Zaine couldn’t even remember the last time they’d been intimate, something that had been integral to the beginning on their relationship when they just couldn’t keep their hands off each other. A new cold rushed through him and he pulled a blanket off the back of the couch. It didn’t do much to help with the chill, but he pulled it up tight to his chin and closed his eyes, hoping to shield himself from the world ( and the truth ) for just a little while longer.

EXTRAS

m o c k b l o g ——- [[ link ]]

h e a d c a n o n s —

INFJ-T ;;

The Advocate personality type is very rare, making up less than one percent of the population, but they nonetheless leave their mark on the world. As members of the Diplomat Role group, Advocates have an inborn sense of idealism and morality, but what sets them apart is that they are not idle dreamers, but people capable of taking concrete steps to realize their goals and make a lasting positive impact.

Advocates indeed share a unique combination of traits: though soft-spoken, they have very strong opinions and will fight tirelessly for an idea they believe in. They are decisive and strong-willed, but will rarely use that energy for personal gain – Advocates will act with creativity, imagination, conviction and sensitivity not to create advantage, but to create balance. Egalitarianism and karma are very attractive ideas to Advocates, and they tend to believe that nothing would help the world so much as using love and compassion to soften the hearts of tyrants.

Advocates find it easy to make connections with others, and have a talent for warm, sensitive language, speaking in human terms, rather than with pure logic and fact. It makes sense that their friends and colleagues will come to think of them as quiet Extraverted types, but they would all do well to remember that Advocates need time alone to decompress and recharge, and to not become too alarmed when they suddenly withdraw. Advocates take great care of other’s feelings, and they expect the favor to be returned – sometimes that means giving them the space they need for a few days.

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O-negative ;; the “Universal Donor”

He gives and gives and gives but rarely receives. The only help he can get is from others just like him; anyone else just wouldn’t match up.

Hufflepuff ;;

Dedication. Patience. Loyalty. All of these traits are characteristics of a Hufflepuff nature and even though Zaine has never truly thought about it ( he’s just never really gotten into Harry Potter, okay? he’s honestly sorry. ) it’s the house I’m sure the Sorting Hat would pick for him. This is the house with the least rivalries, the most hard-working students, and those who are most insistent on fair play and modesty. All of which are spectacular examples of traits people see in Zaine every day.