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

[deathkid]

I can see them, hear them, and raise them.

[billyrocks]

You make it sound so simple.

[deathkid]

For me, it is.

[billyrocks]

You ought to hear some of the rituals I've heard of back home when passing through certain places. People go through a lot just for the hope of seeing someone again.

[His face grows slightly somber and the wry smile disappears.]

Do you ever get requests from the living to raise someone so they can talk to that person?

[deathkid]

[ upon registering the question, his gaze drops and his shoulders hunch. ]

Not really, but there was a time when I tried everything I could to talk to my mom or my sister again.

[billyrocks]

[Now that wasn't something he was expecting to hear.]

I'm sorry...

[And now he's stuck on what to say next. It wouldn't feel right if he tried to pry into something like this, especially since he's only just met this person.]

[deathkid]

[ still looking away, nico merely shrugs. ]

It's fine. I had my time to grieve, and now I'm better for it.

[billyrocks]

As painful as it is, grieving can help us get through the loss, even though the hurt never leaves completely.

[Sometimes the memory of his death (as well as that of Goodnight's) flashes into his mind when he looks at the flask with the silver fleur-de-lis sitting on his nightstand.]

As much as I miss my friends, though, I stand by what I said earlier. I'd rather stay here, at least for now. I'll have to see for myself if I change my mind in five years.

Still, it's refreshing not having to pretend being someone's manservant just to get by.

[deathkid]

[ nodding along with what billy says, nico makes a low noise of agreement. but then comes the last bit and he quirks a brow. ]

Why would you have to pretend to be someone's manservant?

[billyrocks]

In my world, most folks didn't like seeing an Asian man like me strutting about their towns like an equal. I had a friend who helped me navigate their prejudices, though. To the public, he was my "master," but behind closed doors we were partners who always split the money in equal shares.

It was 1879 in my world, though, and I understand that some people in the city come from before or after that time.

[deathkid]

I see. Yeah, that can be tough. But I know what you mean about hiding what you really are. It's good you had that friend who helped.

Personally, I was born in 1932, but it's now 2015 in my world. I get how weird it is getting used to new technology and stuff.

[billyrocks]

I just tried to take it in stride. This wasn't my first time being in an unfamiliar land full of things I didn't understand. At least I didn't have to learn a new language.

I have to wonder, though, what got Hades active again during the 1930s?

[deathkid]

That's a pretty good idea. And yeah, learning a new language can be tough. When I came to the states, I had to learn English. That was a long time ago, though.

That's easy to explain. World War Two. Germany, Japan, and Italy against France, England, the US, and Russia. Though the US hadn't gotten into the war yet by that time.

[billyrocks]

I had to learn English, too. Wasn't easy either. The sentence structure was so different from Korean.

[Upon hearing about the war, though, Billy furrows his brows.]

The whole world was at war? And you said "two," so it happened before? Why?

[deathkid]

At least it's not too far from Italian for me. So you're Korean? What brought you to the US?

[ a sad nod. both world wars could be blamed largely on demigods fighting, not that most mortals knew that. ]

In a sense. I wasn't alive for the first one, though. I heard it was just as bad. There was only about 25 years between them too.