#nico di amgelo x ticci toby

[angels-and-demons]

Idea bc I took a course in radio and I wanna talk about this thought.

Toby is a radio presenter with a pretty small, indie station. He plays kinda folk/rock music (so, like, lumineers and old fob, stuff that falls between those two genres).

Anyway, one day he starts playing music by this guy - "Ghost King". A musician that is only known by that name, that fits his station perfectly, with lyrics and melodies that mesh the genres perfectly.

Now, one day: Toby gets an email from the head of DOA records, saying that their artist, Ghost King, wants to be on his show.

And of course, Toby agrees.

Cue awkward meeting as Toby fills in this nervous mess of a singer - a gothic beauty in every sense - on what he can and cannot say on radio.

...anyway, yeah. Radio au Nicoby.

[angels-and-demons]

[Toby and Nico watching Lion King 2]

Toby: aw, man. I loved this movie as a kid.

Nico: Yeah?

Toby: Yeah. Watched it all the time. I really liked-!

[Kovu appears on screen. Toby looks from Kovu to Nico and back and forth a couple times]

Nico: ...babe?

Toby: ...yeah?

Nico: you liking the movie?

Toby: ...

Toby: ...let's just keep watching.

[angels-and-demons]

Incorrect quote!

Tw for mention of mental health and panic attacks

Nico: Toby, what are you doing here, and-! Who is this? What even is this place?!

Toby: Nico, if you could just-!

Mira: Tobias, it's okay. You're in a safe place here. And Nico? Stop pressuring him. He can't answer if you keep doing that.

[Nico closes his mouth and falls quiet. Mira nods]

Mira: thank you. Now, Toby?

[Toby takes a deep breath]

Toby: Nico, Doctor Baudelaire is my therapist. She helps me with my mental health.

Mira: Toby has been seeing me twice a month for the past few years. Sometimes more than that, but that's the baseline.

Nico: ...go on.

Toby: my normal appointment isn't for another week, but...

[Toby takes a deep breath. Nico puts a hand on his back to comfort him]

Toby: ...the other day, when I was on a job, I... had a panic attack. And... a pretty bad one, at that.

[He tries to laugh]

Toby: so... I had to see her for an emergency visit. Just to, you know, touch base and get myself sorted.

Mira: He's really quite good when it comes to our visits and his emotional regulation.

[Toby nods. Nico looks at him, concerned]

Nico: Toby... I'm so sorry. But why didn't you tell me? I could've helped you-!

[Toby groans. He rubs his face with his hand in frustration. He has a few jerk-like tics and makes a popping sound with his mouth]

Mira: Toby, remember: we use our words.

Toby: right, doc. Anyway...

[He turns to Nico]

Toby: Nico... babe, I didn't tell you because whenever I had one previously, you'd just... treat me with kid gloves.

Nico: what? No, I didn-!

[Mira holds a hand up]

Mira: Nico, this is Toby's time to talk. You’ll have your turn. Let him do so.

[Nico nods]

Nico: right, sorry. Go on, Tobes.

Toby: ...thank you. As I was saying... when I told you about them before, you'd just... act like I was fragile - as if I'd break if you even touched me wrong. And so... I just didn't.

[Toby sighs. He knows what he's done is kinda fucked up]

Toby: whenever I'd have one - and you weren't around? - I'd phone Mira and have a session. I'd just... bottle it up and not let you know.

[Nico's eyes well up. Toby looks shocked]

Toby: Oh, babe... no, I'm so sorry...

Nico: honey... I've been worried about you for months. I was terrified that you'd... started... again. Or if, you know, you were coming off of your meds for some reason. Or - whatever. I don't know. And it's been driving me crazy.

Toby: it has?

Nico: every night, Tobes.

Mira: Toby, now you talk.

[Toby takes a deep breath]

Toby: I understand that you have been... concerned about me. And I apologise for not telling you sooner...

[Mira nods. Toby goes on]

Toby: ...but, I cannot deal with you patronising me - or, or making me feel like I'll break if you say the wrong thing.

Nico: Okay. I'm sorry for... Well, for making you feel like that. I... I don't see you as this, this... breakable thing. I just... I love you, Toby. And I want to keep you safe.

Toby: I love you too, babe. But, I've had panic attacks before, and I'll very likely have them again.

[Toby takes another deep breath]

Toby: I don't need you to protect me from them. I just need you to help me feel present when I do have them. I need to feel heard, not just seen.

Mira: this is good. Really good. I feel like we've really started a dialogue here. Now, Mister Di Angelo, if you will: I, for one, would adore finishing my session with Toby.

[Nico looks at Toby. Toby grins nervously]

Toby: I won't be too long.

Nico: alright.

Mira: Oh, and if you just have a word with Cookie - up at the desk, I can try and squeeze the two of you in for a couple's session next week.

Nico: couples session? Like, counselling? Isn't that for, like, failing marriages?

Mira: Oh, heavens, no. Look, couples therapy and couples counselling can help you both keep on top of your mental healths. It provides you with a safe space to discuss your feelings, and a third party to allow for any outside opinions. Even my husband and I have our own counsellor. It just... helps make sure you're both on the same page, alright?

Toby: alright, Doctor B!

[Nico nods]

Nico: Yeah, alright.

[Toby pecks Nico on the cheek]

Nico: see you in... half an hour?

Toby: maybe even less.

[angels-and-demons]

Toby, at his anniversary party: five years ago, I married my best friend.

Toby: Nico still gets pissed off about it sometimes, but Carson and I were really drunk and thought it would be funny.

[angels-and-demons]

Because "person from cold climate x person from warm climate" is a perfect ship concept, here it is:

Nico when it's a little bit chilly

vs

Toby when the heat turns up slightly.

[angels-and-demons]

This headcanon may seem slightly cursed, but hey. It's my blog and I get to decide what goes on it.

Toby is definitely the kind of person to have had a crush on Kovu from The Lion King 2 as a kid.

And he only really remembers it once he starts dating Nico.

Like, he watches the movie one day as a "Oh yeah, watched this as a kid, you might like it" type of thing.

...and then, it all comes flooding back.

And now he realises...

...his boyfriend is the human version of that lion.

And he doesn't know if he's always had this type, or if it's just a coincidence, but he's taking this secret to his GRAVE.

Bonus: Nico totally saw Toby piecing it together in his head, but didn't want to call him out for it.

[angels-and-demons]

Alright! Have some Dilf era Nicoby hcs.

(As in, when they're fathers/older).

Now, firstly! Nico grows out some stubble. He likes how it looks on him. He likes the scruff. Makes him feel more confident. 

Toby, however, keeps his face pretty smooth. But, because Toby twitches and he can't feel pain, he's worried about cutting himself.

So, it leads to a lot of sweet moments where Nico shaves Toby's face. Very soft, 10/10.

They're the kind of parents that are so soft and mushy that you're in awe of it. Like, with them, it's so effortless even after ten years and three kids and you're just like "????"

But I digress.

Nico is the parent that winds up working (tending to ghosts, helping his father) more. So, Toby is usually the one with the kids.

However, there are times where Toby has to go on missions for Slender for up to six weeks at a time, and so Nico will usually handle tasks he can do easier from home.

Now, onto the fun stuff like holidays!

Nico grew up in a proper Italian Catholic family (attending Mass and all that), so Christmas is a pretty big deal on that side.

They go the FUCK out.

Like, Nico tries to put on as big a show as possible.

There are lights.

He has nearly gotten into fights with neighbours over it.

...Nico is now, justifiably, no longer forklift certified.

Toby's side of the family also celebrates Hannukah this time of year.

And so, usually, they try and get some family over for a night or two (usually Toby's mom).

When Connie comes over, Nico is banned from the kitchen. Because "Grandma and Papa are in charge here".

Of course, Nico is more than willing to take a seat back and chill with some mulled wine as the kids all watch some cheesy holiday movie.

Now, a tradition for the holidays in their family is around Hannukah, you watch star wars, while the three days surrounding Christmas are for Back to the Future.

It started when Connie was young, and she'd watch them with her dad.

Then, she continued it with Toby and Lyra.

Nico found Toby sadly watching The Phantom Menace one night, and asked what was up. When Toby explained what was wrong, he sat with him and they watched the rest of the saga.

Then, when Christmas rolled around, Toby continued the tradition.

And now, it is up to them and their kids.

And they will do so for the rest of their days.

Alright. Now to talk about the go-to babysitters for the kids.

(The kids are Teddy, Cedar, and Lilith, btw!)

The sort of default sitter for if there's an emergency or if Toby and Nico have a date night planned are Hazel and Frank.

Because Hazel can handle the... peculiarities of her niblings.

And Frank is the kids favourite source of entertainment (he just has to turn into an animal, and they're happy).

And they honestly love watching the kids. They're such a delight - a breath of fresh air when compared to a roman legion, or some unruly ghosts.

Connie is another go-to sitter. That's right! Grandma time, baybee!

Connie is so fun! She has pictures of their papa from when he was a kid!

Pictures of Toby that he thought would never see the light of day again.

...Cedar will definitely save the one of him dressed as the Scarecrow.

Another dependable sitter is Leo. While he finds it harder to babysit three kids himself, he can definitely handle it. He has a bunch of old tinker toys he made for them to play with.

...okay, technically, they're for him, but as long as they're really gentle, the kids can play with them!

Their final babysitter is Aunt Natalie! She's so fun. She lets them paint!

And she has a big dog for them to play with!

She let's them hang out in the woods! She's so fun!

...she's pretty lonely, though.

...and so is Leo...

...Toby should probably play matchmaker.