[ open ] a thousand silhouettes dancing on my chest

[deathkid]

who: nico + you
what: memory share
when: oct 9th-23rd
where: various
warnings: violence, death, allusions to animal abuse, feels of the tl;dr nature.


𝙤𝙣𝙚...

[ it's dark. a cold, snowy night with the lights of an old building visible in the distance. but the scene isn't focused there. it's focused on four figures standing at the edge of a cliff. two boys and a girl in a floppy green hat. a quick look at the two toward the back shows that one of these figures looks like a younger version of nico, and indeed it is. the girl standing next to him, just a little taller, is a girl who shares a lot of his features. a sibling. but for some reason, neither nico nor the girl seem to be the main characters here in this vision. the focus is situated on another boy with equally dark, jet-black hair. this boy wields a sword, one that gleams in the dark, and stands tall against a freakish creature that snarls at the group. as nico and his sister stand at the cliff's edge, the boy with the sword swings it. there's seems to be a suffusion of light encasing him, as if there's something godly about him. a hero that has nico staring with open admiration. his savior. this boy, who'll later introduce himself as percy jackson, is everything that nico has dreamed of.

but the scene soon shifts. the monster is gone and now both nico and percy are standing under a pavilion, and something is clearly wrong. the boy percy looks apologetic, contrite, while nico looks torn between fury and heartbreak. ]

You promised you would protect her. [ nico is trembling a little, head bowed so that his dark hair covers his features. percy, meanwhile, looks even more guilty. ]

Nico, I tried. But Bianca gave herself up to save the rest of us. I told her not to. But she—

You promised!

[ nico shakes harder still because this is his worst nightmare. when he looks up at percy, his eyes are rimmed with red and he looks on the verge of tears. his hero... the one he had so much faith in... the boy who he was drawn to, who made butterflies flutter in his stomach. percy jackson had failed him. ]

I shouldn't have trusted you. You lied to me. My nightmares were right!

Wait. What nightmares?

[ but nico is too angry, too heartbroken to respond. the figurine that has been in his hands all this time is flung to the ground. a figurine of hades which clatters across the marble floor. ]

I hate you!

She might be alive. I don't know for sure—

She's dead. I should've known it earlier. She's in the Fields of Asphodel, standing before the judges right now, being evaluated. I can feel it.

[ to an outsider, it may seem like nico is trembling with rage, but this isn't quite true. he's trembling also due to his suppressing the urge to cry with sheer and utter disappointment. the boy he's fallen in love with has failed him. ]

𝙩𝙬𝙤...

[ the memory opens with a trio of demigods, one of which is nico di angelo. he's older, more world weary, and it's visible in his eyes as he glares at the boy across the field from him. the other boy, sallow and sneering, is bryce lawrence. a known traitor to the roman legion and someone currently an enemy. especially to the girl next to nico. despite the standoff, she is regal and poised. and clearly on nico's side as they are both facing the sneering bryce with stern and angry features.

this boy is a creep through and through. from his pond scum colored eyes ( so different from the vibrant emerald green of percy jackson ) to his sallow features, it's clear he's the kind of person who enjoys hurting others just for fun. he calls himself the son of the god orcus, god of traitors and oath breakers. but it's when he starts threatening the girl, reyna ramírez-arellano and all the secrets she's shared with nico in confidence, nico's rage explodes.

at first, all he does is scream. loud, rough, until his throat begins feeling raw, and even then, he keeps screaming. the air around him drops to freezing as the grass as his feet frosts over and dies. the earth itself bleeds black with shadows and nico unleashes wave after wave of darkness. shadows that are filled with all the secrets nico's ever kept. his love for percy and anguish that he'd never have him. the terror and fear he'd experienced in the deepest pits of the underworld. even his loss over losing his sister. but he doesn't stop there.

he strides forward toward the cruel boy. the boy who'd admitted to killing his superior. who got off to hurting animals. who found glee in others' pain. nico gives him pain and then some. blood begins to stream from bryce's nose and he stumbles backward while nico continues to advance. soon, the earth is opening up beneath the boy before nico and all the while, the son of hades speaks. ]

You took an oath to the legion.

[ nico’s breath steams in the cold around him, his colorless eyes are alight with a fiery madness. ]

You broke its rules. You inflicted pain. You killed your own centurion.

[ bryce stutters, tries to deny it, but nico continues on. ]

You should’ve died for your crimes. That was the punishment. Instead you got exile. You should have stayed away. Your father Orcus may not approve of broken oaths. But my father Hades really doesn’t approve of those who escape punishment.

[ please! bryce begs as he's drawn into the chasm in the ground, trying to claw his way out. but nico doesn't let him. the earth continues to pull at the fallen boy. and nico... he doesn't understand the plea. ]

The Underworld has no mercy. Only justice. You’re already dead. You’re a ghost with no tongue, no memory. You won’t be sharing any secrets.

[ bryce's body begins to turn into a dark smoke, his body buried up to the chest now. he tries to assert who he is with a cry of his name, but nico shakes his head. ]

Who are you?

[ the only reply is a chattering whisper. the son of orcus' face is no indistinct and indistinguishable. a nameless spirit. nico tilts his chin up and gives an imperious wave of his hand. ]

Be gone.

[ and the spirit dissipates, the earth closes. ]

𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚...

[ the church nico stands in is an odd and creepy one. with walls covered in the skulls of deceased monks, nico actually feels at home. finds it a welcome change to the stress of the quest he's been on. it's among death that he so often finds peace, possibly because he knows what'll happen to him when his time comes. or maybe it's something else. whatever the case, nico is taking a moment to reflect when a voice interrupts his thoughts. ]

A beautiful room, isn't it?

[ nico turns to the figure speaking to him only to see his father, hades. god of the underworld himself. dressed in the manner of a franciscan monk, hades has the cowl pushed back to reveal his normally long, black hair shaved close to the scalp. his eyes, so much like nico's, glitter like oil slicks. ]

Getting some redecorating ideas? Maybe you could do your dining room in medieval monk skulls.

[ hades arches a dark brow. ]

I can never tell when you're joking.

[ sighing, nico glances around before looking back up at his father. ]

Why are you here, Father? How are you here?

[ since the war with gaea has begun, nico would've expected his father's personality to be split between his greek and roman incarnations, like all the other gods. hades, however, merely traces his fingers across a nearby column. ]

You’re a hard mortal to find, my son. For several days I’ve been searching. When the scepter of Diocletian exploded ...well, that got my attention.

Breaking the scepter wasn’t my fault. We were about to be overrun—

Oh, the sceptre isn’t important. A relic that old, I’m surprised you got two uses out of it. The explosion simply gave me some clarity. It allowed me to pinpoint your location. I was hoping to speak to you in Pompeii, but it is so... well, Roman. This chapel was the first place where my presence was strong enough that I could appear to you as myself – by which I mean Hades, god of the dead, not split with that other manifestation.

I am very drawn to this place. The remains of five thousand monks were used to build the Chapel of Bones. It serves as a reminder that life is short and death is eternal. I feel focused here. Even so, I only have a few moments.

[ story of our relationship. you only ever have a few minutes, nico thinks to himself. ]

So tell me, Father. What do you want?

[ hades clasps his hands together in the sleeves of his robe. ]

Can you entertain the notion that I might be here to help you, not simply because I want something?

[ nico almost laughs. ]

I can entertain the notion that you might be here for multiple reasons.

[ hades merely continues on, detailing nico on the giant stalking him and his friends as they continue on their quest. a warning for what's to come, which is a rare boon that the gods hardly ever give their children. nico's mind whirls as he tries to come up with a plan, but if his father is right, he won't have time to do anything but continue the quest as fast as possible.

but then hades informs him of something that makes nico tense. one of his friends will die. nico asks who, but hades shakes his head. ]

Even if I were certain, I could not say. I tell you this because you are my son. You know that some deaths cannot be prevented. Some deaths should not be prevented. When the time comes, you may need to act.

[ nico isn't sure how to take that. his stomach rolls and he swallows hard. and then, to his everlasting surprises, hades continues in an almost gentle tone of voice. ]

My son. Whatever happens, you have earned my respect. You brought honor to our house when we stood together against Kronos in Manhattan. You risked my wrath to help the Jackson boy – guiding him to the River Styx, freeing him from my prison, pleading with me to raise the armies of Erebos to assist him. Never before have I been so harassed by one of my sons. Percy this and Percy that. I nearly blasted you to cinders.

[ sucking in a shallow breath, nico feels the chapel tremble under his feet. ]

I didn’t do all that just for him. I did it because the whole world was in danger.

[ the faintest of smiles forms on hades' lips and there is nothing cruel in the god's eyes. ]

I can entertain the possibility that you acted for multiple reasons. My point is this: you and I rose to the aid of Olympus because you convinced me to let go of my anger. I would encourage you to do likewise. My children are so rarely happy. I... I would like to see you be an exception.

[ nico is left staring, surprise in his features because tender words from the lord of the dead? it seems so strange. he listens with a mildly dazed expression as hades goes on to warn him that the task he is undertaking may very well kill him. brutal honesty, but there's something comforting in that. ]

I will see you again. I will prepare a room for you at the palace in case you do not survive. Perhaps your chambers would look good decorated with the skulls of monks.

Now I can’t tell if you’re joking.

[ Hades’ eyes glitter as he begins to fade. ]

Then perhaps we are alike in some important ways.

[ and with that, the god vanishes. ]

Comments

one

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Memories were personal... and yet here he was watching it play out before his eyes. The three being the focus. He could tell the hero of the group right away, given the number of heroes he's known. Seeing the scene play out before his eyes, he stood aside like a specter watching it.

His heart ached a little for Nico as the scene played out, he knew that kind of look. That pure heartbreak. The loss echoed to. ]

Did you ever forgive him? [ He asked unsure if Nico would even hear him.]

[deathkid]

[ nico's throat is a little tight as he regards jason. and though he swallows hard, the lump in his throat doesn't go away. he misses her so much, like there's an empty hole in his chest, but he knows he'll never see her again.

and then there's percy. the one he'd fallen in love with. the one he'd both hated and adored, as he hated himself. licking his lips, he swallows again and keeps his gaze trained on his converse. ]

Yeah. I... heh, I couldn't really hate him for what happened. I was too in love with him to truly hate him. I hated myself more.

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Jason stood quietly, always a little more awkward when it came out other's emotions. His eyes traveled down to Nico, watching the way he sat. It was so odd to think this young looking boy was older than even Alfred. Here he was dealing with normal teenage issues, that Jason would never really grasp due to the fast forward his life had taken.

He takes a breath. ]

Your a good guy, Nic, He'd only be so lucky to have you. I don't really know anything else to say.

[deathkid]

[ he'd only be so lucky to have you. oh, how that hurts. he's over percy by now, over him and no longer loves him, or so he tells himself, but the familiar ache is still lodged in his chest, unlikely to ever fade. does one ever forget their first love? ]

It doesn't matter. I don't feel that way about him anymore. And he's got a girlfriend I'm pretty sure he'll marry someday, so... [ he shrugs unevenly before pushing himself and dusting himself off. ]

I'm not sure I like whatever's causing this. There's some things a guy should be able to keep to himself.

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Jason makes a noise to show he's listening, feeling a little bad for the kid. ]

I agree, I'm sorry if it helps. I wouldn't have chosen to stumble in on this, but, if you need someone to talk to sometime... I kind of understand.

[ Not the times he tried to kill Dick or Tim, but, Dick's murder... and helping Tim and Bruce carry Damian's coffin, fighting with the family to get his little brother back... all the while not knowing Dick was alive, then to lose Tim to a tragically heroic sacrifice. Robin's die. Even when their not really dead.]

2

[somakemelaugh]

[This scene speaks to him more and more the longer he watches it unfold. The reasons behind it and the reasons behind him are much different, the motivations not quite the same, but he can understand the boy's position. There's more than a little envy in him, more than a little fascination in witnessing the powers the demigod can unleash on his foes, but he keeps it buried. There is more going on here than just watching the ground eat someone alive.]

[His attention shifts back to the boy and the girl standing with him.]

Was it for loyalty or honor?

[deathkid]

[ the sound of a voice that is neither reyna's nor coach hedge's makes nico jerk around, hand on his sword as though preparing for an attack. but what he sees is a familiar patchwork face instead and immediately relaxes. the undertaker. but why is he here, he wonders? is he dreaming and accidentally pulled the undertaker in with him? it's not out of the realm of possibility... ]

Neither. [ it's only partially a lie. though he didn't know either hedge or reyna for long at this point, they'd been through enough to justify protecting them. but there was an ulterior motive to the way he'd banished bryce lawrence. ] It was for justice.

[somakemelaugh]

[He's far enough away that he doesn't try to ward off that attack, though he's glad when it never comes. He'd really rather not have a throw down right here, even in the middle of a dream.] Yes. Must've done something terrible to earn what happened to him.

[He's not asking what it was, simply making an observation. He looks back at the memory as it continues.] Terrible indeed. In all my years, I've not seen a death quite like that. Is it even a death?

[deathkid]

[ still a little wary by how this all is coming about, nico is slow to respond. when he does, it's with a shrug. ]

He's gone on to the Underworld because he no longer has a life. But there will be no crossing the Styx for him, no payment to Charon, the boat tender. I sent him straight to the Fields of Punishment. [ a pause as he looks down at his feet for a few seconds before lifting his chin. ] He wouldn't even get judged. There was only one outcome of him coming here.

[somakemelaugh]

[Very Greek indeed. He had expected something like that from the son of Hades.] Payment only seems to work when coins are left with the body, isn't that right? Hard to pay the boat man when there's nothing left to hold what you owe.

three

[tempredmental]

[Keith watched the exchange quietly. It had been a few days now, but he was pretty sure he had at least a basic idea of what was going on, so he knew this would eventually play out. As Hades disappeared, Keith looked at Nico.]

So... that was that your dad.

[What else did someone say to that?]

[deathkid]

[ this not being the first time it's happened to him, nico is almost prepared to hear a voice not of the original memory popping up and interrupting the scene. so he's not surprised when he hears keith's voice, turning to address the older boy. ]

Yeah. [ he shoves his hands into his pockets and shrugs. ] That's him. Hades, God of the Underworld. One of the rare times he ever came up topside.

[tempredmental]

[Keith had his arms crossed.]

Were you on your own a lot?

[For a moment, his tone sounded sympathetic. Keith was someone who knew what it was to be alone.]

[deathkid]

Yeah... [ nico's own tone sobers quite a bit more than it'd already been and he shifts his gaze to his shoes. he scuffs one toe against the floor and then sighs. ] Since my sister died. That was like... 6 years ago.

[tempredmental]

[Keith lowered his gaze a bit.]

Sorry.

Two

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ A few days later the same figure appears, this time though in a simple black shirt and black jeans. He watches it all as something akin to pride crosses his features. Good.

He's proud. He never really thought beyond what Nico's told him, what he saw nights ago but seeing the boys power used like that makes him feel something inside that makes the beast within stir. The part of him that craves justice even when tap dancing past Bruce's lines.]

I'm proud of you. [ Jason speaks up without promping.] That fucker needed to die.

[deathkid]

[ used to the interruptions by now, nico doesn't even look up from where bryce lawrence had disappeared. his features are set in a blank expression and he shows no emotion as he steps on some of the skeletal soldiers that bryce had tried to raise. the other boy's power had allowed him to call on the dead who had broken oaths, but nico's power had trumped his in the end.

and though nico doesn't regret it, it still leaves a knot in his stomach. eventually, he turns to jason, features still blank. ]

Whether or not he needed to die... Ultimately, that shouldn't have been my decision. We are all judged when death comes for us, it is not my place to decide before then. Still... I couldn't let him make good on his threats.

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Jason moves towards him as his outfit seems to change some, just enough for the bright red bat to be displayed on his chest. He looked to Nico and he can see it, Nico is a good kid even with his power. Someone more like Grayson, someone Jason Todd could never truly be like. ]

No, no, while you have a good outlook, and you do. Sometimes the trash has to be taken out for the greater good. If this monster had lived how many more would he have hurt? Taking him out saved lives. While maybe we shouldn't judge someone should always be there to take out the trash. It's what good soldiers do.

[deathkid]

I'm not a soldier. [ the words are hissed as nico tenses and he glares for a few seconds before remembering that he had fought in two wards and in essence was a soldier. he just didn't like to think of himself that way. didn't like thinking that he was beholden to someone's orders. he made his own decisions for whether to fight or not. ]

Sorry, I just. I don't think I'm a soldier. The things I do... they've always been for selfish reasons, whether it was protecting Percy or my friends. I never cared about a greater good.

[ but even as he says that, he thinks about octavian and how he'd stepped aside to let the crazed boy mistakenly kill himself, figuring it was better than letting the roman hurt any more people at camp. maybe he was a bit like jason said. ]

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Jason shifted and sat down on the ground looking at the layout of the place around them. Despite being well read, he was never the best with words.]

Nothing wrong with that, Nico, fuck, that's better honestly. When I say solider I don't mean the military type, I mean like myself. Someone who fight's to protect what they beleive in, to protect those that can't. Most would call it another word, but that is where we differ. You fight for your beliefs and your friends, you killed for them even. I kill for my city, my home and those that can't fight. If I had been in your shoes, I would have killed this guy in a heart beat.

[ he got a little lost in his explanation and rambled. ]

Two

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar knows that Nico has powers far beyond that of mortal men. But this is something else entirely. This is power in its most raw form, the kind that is effortlessly used by those who wield it. It is the kind of thing that Ivar himself craves and strives for in his own life, being able to make those around fear him just by his mere presence.

He watches the scene play out in all its grisliness as he gives out a low whistle, turning to Nico, standing there in the dreamworld like he's never been able to in life.]

Remind me of this if I ever decide to piss you off.

[deathkid]

[ turning, nico doesn't startle when he sees ivar standing. navigating dreams is something he's done in the past and he knows their ins and outs. sleep is not too different from death, after all, and as a result, nico is as intimately familiar with dreams as he is with his father's purvey. so instead of reacting, he allows his brows to beetle and he shakes his head. ]

You'd have to do something really, truly evil for me to do that to you, Ivar. And I don't think you're capable of that kind of evil.

[ragnarsson]

[He shakes his head, doubt clouding his features.]

I don't know.

[Ivar has done some dastardly things over the course of his life. He blood-eagled a man, for starters, suffering him the worst death that Vikings had ever devised. He'd go on to do worse things when he eventually got home like kill his own brother and start a civil war between the rest of them. Some people might call what the Viking would do evil, though he's always seen his actions as necessary.]

[deathkid]

Whatever you've done in the past is in the past. I cannot judge that. And really, you're kinda under the purvey of a different pantheon, so I don't think I'd ever have the right to judge you. That's up to the Norse gods, or whoever decides for you guys.

[ a shrug. he's not all that familiar with the norse. ]

[ragnarsson]

[It is a bit relieving to know that he won't have to suffer a fate like that, scattered to the winds after a painful end.]

That would be Forseti, the god of judgement. He sits in his golden hall and judges those who have not followed the laws in life.

[It didn't necessarily mean one would be punished by not going to Valhalla, just that it might take a little longer to get there. Ivar wasn't too worried. For him, all that he has done over the course of his life was necessary at the time. Cruelty and wickedness all had their place to get what he wanted.]