θ → ( 𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗈 ) un; ghostking

[deathkid]

[ it's late, but the stars are shining and the moon is big enough to reveal that nico is once again in the graveyard, sitting atop a gravestone as he munches some fries. his legs swing back and forth. with his mouth full, he pauses and regards the feed. ]

I've been doing a lot of thinking. Mostly about the future. So we're stuck here for five years, right? How many people are planning on staying after that? If so, why?

I mean... [ another bite of fries and he swallows this time before continuing. ] What do people miss the most about their original homes and is it enough to want to go back? If there was one thing about this place that could make you stay, what would it be?

I dunno. Anyway- Loki, I need to make sure I have Wednesday night off. And Jason, I need some advice. Also, Ed, I have a few questions about your alchemy.

Comments

[alchemyfreak]

[Not everybody wants to be who they are today because of the things that happened in their life, but he doesn't comment on that. But since Nico didn't seem inclined to share and Ed had learned not to push his luck with him, he let's the matter drop.]

I hear those memory canisters could- if you actually wanted to, that is.

[He's not an expert on the topic, but it was possible.]

[deathkid]

[ a sigh. ]

No, I've lost too many memories already after my father had me dipped in the Lethe. Even if it hurts, I suppose I'll have to tolerate it. I've done it before.

[alchemyfreak]

Losing memories you don't want to lose isn't easy. I guess it would make sense that you wouldn't want to give up the others you have, even if they are painful.

[deathkid]

It's even worse not really knowing who you are. I struggled with that for a while. And when the terrible things happened, it was hard knowing what to do. I became pretty impressionable.

[alchemyfreak]

Because you didn't know who you were?

[That sounded tough, Ed had definitely never been in that position, unless one counted de-aging events, which he wouldn't considering nothing really terrible happened to him at the time.]

What kind of things happened?

[deathkid]

Aside from getting attacked by monsters or being stuck in a casino for seventy years?

Understanding myself took a while. I let myself be led astray by a vengeful spirit.

[alchemyfreak]

Didn't realize those were related.

What kind of vengeful spirit?

[deathkid]

You'd be surprised.

The kind that wanted to be restored to life, regardless of the cost. He misled me, or tried. I sent him back to the Underworld in the end. And took his title of "King of Ghosts."

[alchemyfreak]

So you figured things out and got the upper hand in the end.

[deathkid]

I did, and banished him back to the Underworld.

[alchemyfreak]

I bet that was a lesson in underestimating you.

[deathkid]

[ his expression darkens and a smirk forms on his lips. ] Oh, most definitely. After that, people started taking notice of what I can do. Sure, most were frightened, but they didn't underestimate me anymore.

[ a pause and he looks up, the smirk disappearing to be replaced by a thoughtful look. ]

Except Percy. I was always surprising him.

[alchemyfreak]

[That sounds like a double edged sword for someone that wants to fit in, but Ed doesn't comment, ever watchful of crossing that line since the last time.]

Percy underestimated you?

[He didn't think they were opponents at any point, so....]

You mean he didn't think you could keep up?

[deathkid]

I think he always saw me as an annoying little kid. Bianca's little brother. Rarely did he look at me as anything else.

[alchemyfreak]

[Ouch, and Nico had a crush on him?]

That couldn't have been easy if he didn't see you as equals.

[deathkid]

I tried really hard to make him see me differently, but... [ a sigh. ] He never even realized I liked him until I admitted I had a crush and that I was over him. Granted, I didn't make things easy for him. I was usually pushing him away.

[alchemyfreak]

[Wait.]

How'd you think he was going to see you differently if you were pushing him away...? Why were you pushing him away?

[Ed knows Nico's bad at people, but pushing away your crush seemed counter productive.]

[deathkid]

Because. I didn't want to admit what I was. What I am. I'm already so different for being the son of Hades. Trust me, it doesn't garner me a lot of fans. But being... gay on top of that? That's why Cupid had to force it out of me, make me admit how I felt.

[alchemyfreak]

Being gay's kind of viewed differently in a lot of worlds, guess I keep forgetting how negative it is for you back home.

[Ed's been doing this multiverse thing for too long, gay relationships made up the majority of his friends.]

So, if being gay is so bad, why did you tell him at all? You were over him, you could have just left it alone.