resumed | PC: ACE 💀

... I'm going to be honest, I don't know enough about gods to fully get all of that. [ if a guy fucks and has a kid he is the dad whatever name he goes by?????? sure ] But that means you can't see her that much, if she's in the other camp, then?

And I'm going to be honest, too. I have no idea how it works half the time myself. [ haha. ] It's a whole...visualization aspect thing, as far as I know. Our two camps didn't even know about each other for decades because it always ended in bloodshed.

But...my father sent me to pose as an ambassador for his Roman self and infiltrate the camp to try and help bring the two together. We needed both camps to join forces in order to stop Gaea. [ he nods though. ] That's right though. She's pretty far away right now. I could visit if I wanted, but we've all been really busy.

So you guys are working together now?

[ hmm ]

Even if you don't see each other, she's still your sister. You don't need to see her all the time for that. [ bonds and what have you ]

Were. Are? [ ... ] We're in a period of peace. The war ended last summer, and we just defeated the Nero and Python not that long ago. Or Apollo did, specifically, but it's always been on us to help the gods with things like this.

And so because it's a period of peace, Hazel's busy at her camp and Will and I just got back from something else. So we're hoping for a little bit of a break, too. [ there's a smile though. ] But you're right. Even though we only met recently, she's still family. I couldn't leave her behind even if I wanted to. I can still be in touch when I need to be.

Yeah, Will mentioned you guys were planning a vacation before ending up...

[ gestures. this is the worst vacation location. but the family talk makes him smile ]

That's family. Even if you're far apart, you're always linked. [ ace is saying that about his chosen family even though for nico it's blood family it's fine ]

Something like that. We were supposed to have the whole camp to ourselves because summer session's over. I'm still kind of mad we ended up here instead, but I know this place needs some help.

[ to be fair, hazel is also partially chosen family. as in nico found her in the underworld and chose to bring her back to the surface because he recognized her as a child of pluto. it's fine. ]

I can't say I disagree. I do worry less, at least, knowing she has people around here that will look out for her and know everything there is to know in case she's in trouble. It'd just be nice if she were less responsible. [ then they could both slack off. ]

Let's be honest, this place needs a lot of help.

[ and then, teasing; ]

Oh, so you're the slacker between both of you. I get it.

It's almost impressively bad here. [ almost serenely. also, yeah, he laughs at that. ]

That's not a wrong take, seeing how often I take off on my own to do other things besides my counselor duties. I'm sure she'd be very unhappy to hear it.

Doesn't that mean you leave the kids at camp behind?

[ chewing on a licorice whip. ]

...I mean up until about a year ago I didn't exactly have friends that cared if I stayed or went. So it didn't make a difference. But at least now it's only for maybe a week at a time, at most.

Seriously? Last year?

[ he would've thought it was earlier than that that nico got a whole friend. like. maybe two years?? ]

[ help. ]

Something like that? [ ...hm... ] Bianca died when I was ten, and I left camp around the same time to figure stuff out on my own. I kept in touch with some of the others because of the war with Kronos that was brewing. We had to work together to defend Olympus. That happened a few years later, and after we won the war I stayed at camp for a little while. And then...eventually, I wore out my welcome and I left again for a while. Prior to the end of the war, there wasn't even a cabin to honor my father. Usually, you stay in a cabin with your siblings and it's specifically to honor your godly parent. What was the purpose of staying when it was just for me and I wasn't wanted anyway?

So I went to the Underworld for a while. I met Hazel, and I escorted her to California and to her own camp. Father wanted me to pose as an ambassador and infiltrate, so I stayed there for a while. I didn't know why at first, but...[ he waves a hand like he's skipping details. ] Anyway a few months after all of that Gaea started stirring and we had another war on our hands. I met a lot of the others around that time, including Jason. We defeated her last summer, and...even in the last days of the battle I didn't think I was going to stay. I wasn't sure if I could really consider Jason a friend, and I didn't think anyone else would care if I left. No one else tried to stop me.

[ he realizes this sounds pathetic, actually. ]

...anyway you can kind of thank a combination of Jason and Will for getting it through my head that I could have a place there and actually stick around and make friends. Even if it was a long work in progress.

[ this is a lot. and it's not so much pathetic as a little sad, but not in a pity way, just in a. damn the kids AREN'T alright way. ]

Well... I'm glad they did. You probably wouldn't have given me the time of day otherwise, huh?

[ there's a very long pause. ]

I don't know. Sometimes talking to you feels like it did talking to Jason, so maybe. [ and maybe that's why he bothers talking to ace at all. ] Guess it's a good thing we don't have to guess, huh?

Yep. No point lingering on what ifs. [ laughs a bit ] You're already stuck with us now.

Incredibly tragic for me. What ever will I do.

[ offers a red vine. ]

[ doesn't even take it like a normal person just

chomps it when it's offered ]

[ hey!!! ]

You really could have just taken it, you know.

Yeah, but this is funnier.

[ also he has his hands full of other snacks wow ]

Maybe for you. What if I wanted to split it? Now I can't eat it because it's got your germs all over it. [ he says as someone who does not give a fuck about germs and instead is scouring through ace's own snacks to take. ]

[ he literally bought one of every single snack available at the theater nico can go nuts here ]

Are you actually bothered by that? [ shameless ]

[ popcorn it is. ]

Not in the slightest, it's a token protest. [ OKAY THANKS. ] Maybe I'm still learning how to share?

[ it is nice and buttered. i want popcorn now. im so sad. ]

Baby steps, huh? [ teasing ] Sharing food can be a pretty big deal for some people.

[ our popcorn :( soon...someday...perhaps. anyway gross that means it's greasy but he doesn't seem to care. ]

Yeah. I mean...I share with the Cocoa Puffs now, and Will usually does his best to make sure I'm eating something three times a day but it's still different.

[ he does not say it's partially because he spent a while just not having food and being hungry while wandering on his own. ]

[ they have napkins probably it's fine they can be gross boys. also he just assumes nico was poor instead of a worse (pjo) explanation, and if there is a worse one he doesn't want to prod at it. food insecurity real ]

Well, it's good Will's making sure you get fed. [ he hums in thought around a different red vine ] I guess I've kind of always had to share. I'd bring in food for the bandits to earn my keep, or just hunt together with my brothers. Though with Luffy, it's less sharing and more making sure he doesn't eat your portion. Every man for himself there.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject