#nico can NOT be normal after that. just conceptually there's no way. you took out his emotions and made them little guys

[aroaceleovaldez]

(based on your recent post about Nico) what do we think about. Nico going on a sort of quest for healing with the cacodemons. something something they are outside of him so that he can more thoroughly analyze his issues and once he has processed them and learned how to accept them and move on, they reabsorb into him. but in a way that he like. Can't Feel Grief until he learns how to respect that emotion, etc etc. do you see my vision

(yes I know your post was not about healing but in fact making him worse. however: you have sparked the most canon-compliant thought I've had about tsats since. well one year ago today when I read tsats.)

god. mood @ that second half.

I love that idea though - let's have Nico grapple with some consequences of having a literal aspect of him be physically separated and turned into an immortal being. That's kind of A Lot and should really have some side-effects when you think about it. Together we can make it Weirder.

I've also been consistently rotating in my brain ever since I read TSATS - cause I thought while reading it that it was the route they were gonna go with the cacodaemon stuff - the concept of instead of the cacodaemons being separate and not how cacodaemons work in mythology, Nico himself is turned into a cacodaemon that's a personification of his own suffering and it's like. a whole metaphor about "you are not your trauma" and Will having an arc about seeing Nico past the ways he's been hurt and separating being Nico's doctor from being Nico's boyfriend. Cause cacodaemons are specifically negative embodiment of some thing (and also humanoid and shapeshifters. that's a very notable important part for me and part of why i dislike the TSATS cacodaemons). And it's like a whole once Nico calms down he goes from being a shapeshifting monstrous cacodaemon to being just a normal daemon, cause daemons are neutral and if they embody a negative thing it can also be like, the inverse of that thing or reprieve/protection from that thing, so Nico being a cacodaemon of his own trauma then goes to Nico being a daemon of reprieve from suffering. Also fun bonus part of "whoops Nico's a little immortal now. dont worry about it"

There are interesting theme potentials with the cacodaemons we just gotta excavate them. And ignore large chunks of TSATS. Possibly all of it. I'm working on it. I have a shovel. We'll get there eventually.

[onceuponaloonatic]

Au au based on your post. Sai and Tzu just drinking soju and being friends. It's strange for Tzuyu because she's sort of raised this girl to become her closest friend. She was young when Mina and Sana conceived her, so in a way she grew up while raising her. And it's strange for Sai because she is seeing her mama as a mom to an accidental newborn and she's been just 'mama' for so long that it's weird to see her best friend and 3rd mama actually being mom to a newborn. 🦄

“Good night Tzuyu-ya.” Sana kissed Tzuyu’s forehead. After the triplets all went to bed the adults and Sai had moved to the dining room to sit and chat for a bit. It was rare Sai was at home, so all time spent with their oldest was precious. Mina had tapped out a long time ago, tired from her long workday and ready for a long nap. Sana was next to tap out, saying her goodnight to Tzuyu and Sai. “Night sweetie.” Sana kissed Sai’s hairline. 

“Night mom.” Sai waved. 

“Goodnight Sana.” Tzuyu looked at her wife.

“Don’t stay up too late, it’s your turn to watch the baby tonight.” Sana informed, dropping the baby monitor on the table by Tzuyu. 

“I know, have a good rest.” Tzuyu nodded, watching as Sana left. “So you're on baby duty tonight?” “Well, she’s finally been cleared to have bottles, so we’re giving your mom a break for a bit.” Tzuyu explained, taking a sip of her water. 

“Want something stronger?” Sai asked, looking at their two cups of water. 

“What did you have in mind?” Tzuyu swirled her water around in her cup. 

“I saw we have some beer.” Sai leaned back in her chair a bit. 

“Sure.” It was still a bit weird for Tzuyu to think about Sai not being a minor, but she was nineteen, she wasn’t a minor anymore. And Tzuyu could really use a drink right now. Tzuyu watched as Sai got up, tearing her attention away when she heard some crying over the baby monitor. “Crap, I’ll be right back.” “Okay.” Tzuyu got up and took the baby monitor with her, walking up to Nico’s room quickie to not wake Sana and Mina. Tzuyu quickly grabbed Nico, doing the usual checklist. She didn’t need a diaper change, she had her stuffed animals, and scenting wasn’t calming her down. She was hungry, Tzuyu deduced. She carried Nico downstairs, bouncing her as she walked. Nico quieted a bit at her sire’s warmth, her tiny red cheek resting against Tzuyu’s chest. 

“What’s up?” Sai was waiting for her at the table, a can of beer in front of her. 

“She needs a bottle, can you hold her while I go prepare one?” “Sure.” Sai took Nico, bouncing her baby sister to keep her quiet. Sai watched as Nico cuddled up to her, it was still a bit weird for her. Being nineteen and having a newborn as a sister. They had a huge age gap, but to be fair Sai was born when her parents were really young. Her mama was technically a teen mom, as she turned twenty the day after Sai was born. That really messed with her head sometimes. She was the same age now as her mama was when she was born. 

Tzuyu quickly heated up Nico’s milk and formula. Nico had a sensitive tummy, so she drank rice milk instead of regular milk. Tzuyu made sure to not make the mistake of giving Nico normal milk, the last thing she needed was baby vomit all over her shirt. Sai had the same problem as a baby. 

“Hey mama?” Sai asked, still swaying Nico. “Yes?” “What was I like as a baby?” Sai asked, staring at her baby sister's tiny face. “Was I like her?” 

“No… You were way fussier.” Tzuyu giggled as she stirred the milk. “But someone was almost always awake to take care of you. Mina and I pulled a lot of all-nighters in college.” 

“I alway forget you had me in college....” Sai trailed off. “It’s crazy for me to think about, being in college myself now.” “Yeah it was crazy at the time too, but we wanted you. So we kept you.” Tzuyu turned the heat off and grabbed a bottle for Nico. “Thanks… I’m sure it was difficult.” “It wasn’t that bad.” Tzuyu nodded, bringing the warm bottle and a rag over to the table. She put them down before grabbing Nico. Nico had been pretty fussy about using bottles, especially because it was only her second day with a bottle, but tonight she didn’t seem to have much of an issue, easily accepting the bottle and drinking it. “Can you open my drink for me?” “Oh sure.” Sai nodded, grabbing her mama’s beer and opening it for her. “Are you sure you should be drinking if you're on baby duty?” “Screw that, I need it.” Ever since Sai became an adult, her mama had been a lot more forward with her. Arguably the most of her parents. Her and her mama had quickly become best friends. “Work is killing me.” Sai didn’t miss the way her mama eyed Nico. 

“She’s been stressful too, hasn’t she?” “You have no idea.” Tzuyu sighed. “I thought things would be fine because she’s our fifth child, but hell I think it’s actually harder.” Tzuyu would never say this stuff to Sana and Mina. But she could be honest with Sai, it was their relationship. It was a bit weird, she raised this kid, and here she was being completely honest with her in a way she wasn’t even honest with her wives. But it felt comfortable. Natural. Sai was her best friend and her daughter. “Between work, getting your sisters to keep up with school, your mom’s postpartum depression, and her, I don’t even have time to think anymore.” “I can imagine…” Sai watched as Nico finished up her bottle. Tzuyu set the half finished bottle down and put Nico on her shoulder, gently burping her. It was so weird for Sai to see her mama like this. As a parent to a newborn. She was so used to seeing her mama with older kids. She barely remembered when the triplets were little, so Sai had never really seen Tzuyu with a baby. It was weird, really weird for her. And it made her conceptualize a lot about her parents' lives.They were so young when they had her. Insanely young. And Tzuyu wasn’t even related to her by blood, she had no obligation to stay and raise Sai. But she did, she stayed and was the best mama Sai could ever ask for. ONce Nico was done Tzuyu let her lay on her lap as she took a sip of beer. 

“Thanks for suggesting this Sai.” Tzuyu said after her first dip of beer. “I needed this.” “No problem.” Sai took a sip of her own drink. “Hey mama… Be honest with me… Did you want to have Nico?” “God no.” Tzuyu took another sip of her drink. “But I’m happy we did, even if I’m stressed out. I don’t know if I can do this whole parenting thing again, but I’m willing to try for her. As annoyed as I sound I really love her with my whole heart.” “That’s cute.” Sai giggled. “I bet you felt that same way about me.” “I did, and you turned out great.” Tzuyu joked. “I love all you kids, it’s just, a bit scary sometimes… You’ll get it when you become a parent.” “That won’t be for a long time.” Sai laughed. “But you know what, I think I’m glad you guys had her too.” Sai watched her little sister wiggle on their mama’s lap. 

“Yeah… Me too.” Tzuyu smiled at the baby. “Don’t tell your mother anything I just said.” “I know.” Sai laughed. “I wouldn’t want you to sleep on the couch.” “Thanks Sai… And thanks for being such a good kid and listening to me.” “Anytime Mama.”