MMR2: Nico

[darken_the_path]

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WEEK ONE

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[umbraportation]

[ He's really enjoying this whole texting thing. Demigods usually don't carry phones because it attracts monsters but here he doesn't have to worry about it. So it's Sunday night, the trial and execution is over and it doesn't matter if they're sitting side-by-side at the bonfire together or not. Akira is still getting a text. ]

twenty questions with a twist
you have to answer why
ill go first

favorite color

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[...???

Akira glances over at Nico, then looks back at his phone.]

Red I guess
I don't really have a reason

[umbraportation]

[ He shrugs, figuring that Akira may not be up to actually talking. But Nico doesn't want to not get to know him or let the other stew for too long with his feelings. So he's reaching out. ]

sucks that you cant wear it here then

your turn

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I don't care that much.

[He sends that and pauses for a moment, just.. staring... before finally, he types:]

What do you do to relax?

[umbraportation]

guess not

[ Doesn't seem all that important in the scheme of things. ]

that depends
i read books
history mostly
because i dont really remember stuff and i sort of missed out on seventy years worth of history

if im really wound up i find some monsters to fight
gets rid of pent up energy and tires me out

Week 2

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Wednesday - Post deathball

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[ To say today was one hell of a day was an understatement. What had started out as a relatively competitive but fun game of dodgeball had almost turned into a battle to the death. Nico is familiar with dangerous games happening at both Camps but people rarely die at them.

Most of all, he didn't want Akira to have to be the one to suffer that. Even if others think that Nobodies will be whole if you defeat them, he's not sure Akira would have felt that way.

So it's after they've been released that Nico is entering the house they've been staying in since last week, hands in his pockets. He crosses the room to where the other is on the bed, recovering. ]

Feeling any better?

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[Akira's lying on his back, his forearm draped across his face. He hasn't moved an inch from the bed since they got back. His whole body feels... heavy.

For awhile, he doesn't respond to Nico. When he does, his voice is soft and raspy.]

No.

[umbraportation]

[ Once at the bed, he sits gently before a hand reaches out to touch Akira's forehead. Checking to make sure he's not getting a fever or cold and clammy - either would be bad. ]

Yeah well, you took some pretty bad hits. Do you have a lot of experience wielding a sword-like weapon?

[ A curious question because Akira could have done worse in the fight. ]

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[A-ah... the touch to his forehead has his eyes widening and a blush rising to his cheeks, and he glances away with a soft breath.]

I've only ever used short blades, like daggers.

[He's actually had to work pretty hard to get to the point where he could hold his own against Lucas.]

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[ Honestly, at first, Nico doesn't think anything of the touch to Akira's head. More worried about his physical, emotional and mental state to let himself realize. Until the other looks away with his face red.

Gods, thanks for the reminder, Akira. His own face flushes in response and eyes dart away. ]

I could tell. Someone else I know typically uses a dagger to fight. Those who do have to be light and quick on their feet in order to step inside someone's longer strike range to attack.

[ Annabeth had been using a dagger since she was seven - he's seen her in battle. ]

When you're able, I'm absolutely training you with the Keyblades. [ Nico does not want to have to go through that again. ]

Thursday - post meeting

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[ So they agreed to talk later and then all that stuff with Yusuke and Eraqus went down, the whole meeting thing happened. Last week when they all piled in together, Nico had called them both over to House 2 because it was as far away from Akira's other location as possible. It might as well be their new place now even if Nico does go see Cecilia often.

He pokes the fire back to life and waits to make sure it catches. Nico always seems to do a damn good job lighting the thing. After he sits down in a chair. ]

Vanitas is... he didn't kill Mira. He just feels like it. Because the whole point of this whole is for all of us. Light and dark, Eraqus and Vanitas. Who lives and who dies is all to keep them alive.

It doesn't help that he liked her once a long time ago but let her go when Eraqus also did. She became like a sister to him afterwards. That's why he's upset.

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... yeah. [Akira's voice is quiet, and he shakes his head.] There's still so much I'm out of the loop on this damn game. I'm used to seeing the twisted underbelly of politics and people, not figuring things out puzzles with most of the pieces missing.

[He scrubs his hair... then looks to Nico.]

How do you know it wasn't him?

[umbraportation]

Heh, it's a lot to take in for sure. I'm still trying to figure out how it all comes together. This whole situation is just what I do back home. Hanging out with gods, two sides that would sooner fight each other than work together - getting both sides to trust me enough to tell me important things.

[ Nico is skilled at working himself into places where he generally shouldn't be. ]

But if you're feeling up for it, I have a "date" with Nobody to go see some potentially creepy stuff on Monday. I was gonna go alone in case something happened and it became a fight but you can come if you want.

The same way I knew it wasn't you last week. He's blaming himself for it. Because of what's required to keep him existing. To keep them existing.

Sunday Morning

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[Akira can't help but be tense...

It was enough to disturb his sleep, for sure, so... he ended up heading outside to watch the sun rise. His legs are drawn up, his arms loosely draped around them...

His expression is utterly exhausted.]

[umbraportation]

[ By now Akira has realized that Nico is not an early riser at all, yet today there's no one in bed when he reached out. It was enough to get him to haul his ass out of it and go in search - trying not to panic at the thought that both Akira and Vanitas are gone.

He stumbles out of bed, barely remembering to pull on his coat and after a quick sweep inside to make sure neither are there first, leaves. Nico pauses when he sees what Akira is doing, a strangled sound escaping him before he even manages to get within reach. ]

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[There's a blink, and he's looking over even before he hears that sound of Nico's throat...]

Nico...

[His heartstrings tug. He looks absolutely awful.]

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[ A hand reaches out to grab hold of Akira when he does get close. His voice comes out quietly, pained. ]

This was... it was the last thing she saw...

[ At this point, it's obvious who he's talking about. ]

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[... ah.

Heh. It makes sense. Too much sense...

There's a moment where he holds a blink and swallows. And then... he reaches up, gently tugging Nico down to sit next to him.]

C'mere...

[His voice is quiet as he draws the other dark-haired boy into his arms.]

WEEK THREE

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SATURDAY

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[There's a perk to the bathhouses. Granted, Akira is... not the most comfortable with them being public, but he's managed to go in, for the most part, when no one else was around. Given his issues with being nude, it was a necessity.

So, it's late at night when he's going— when he figures he has the best chance of not having anyone intrude...]

[umbraportation]

[ All day Nico has been trying to get the red stuff scrubbed from his skin. No amount of washing helps (even if his boyfriends help). The lingering effects aren't all bad when it comes to spending most of the day inside house two with his boyfriends. Waking up between them both had certainly been an experience he wouldn't mind repeating at all.

One last attempt. Before bed. Before crawling back and placing himself between them and potentially not sleeping happens. He's avoided the one bath where Vanitas can go this time. Nico is already in there stripped down completely with the water up to his chin when Akira comes in. ]

Oh... Aki. [ His face is very much red despite what's already happened but he's also smiling at his boyfriend. ]

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[There's a pause when Akira sees there's someone already here, but he relaxes considerably when he sees just who it is. His gaze softens immediately when he's smiled at; just... knowing that his mere presence could make him smile... he can't help but smile a little in return.]

Hey, Neeks.

[He's putting his towel to the side.]

Getting out anytime soon?

[umbraportation]

[ He shifts over to the edge of the bath closer to Akira, both arms coming out of the water to rest on the lip. Dark eyes never leave the other the whole time and the smile stays.

And oh... yes. Nice. No towel. ]

Maybe not now that you're here. [ Welp, that sure did pop out without permission. ] I was going to try one more time to get this stuff off before we went to bed but...

[ He shrugs. ] Something more important just happened.