robinnest | Truth meme

[ And Zeus is even less inclined to look kindly on his brothers' children — Jason has finished his meal and stands, ready to walk with Nico. As always, he waits for Nico to initiate before he knows to reinforce or rebuff in response. ]

Can you really imagine that happening?

[With a snort, he shakes his head, not needing any sort of honesty spell to answer that. In reality he knows he's being hypocritical given where he is and what he's doing, but he's trying to be better and being better means not shutting himself in his room until this whole thing goes away. That doesn't mean he isn't going to point out the obvious solution though.

Anyway, there's a reason he's with Jason and ignoring everyone else. They've been through this before, really. At least one sided. Jason has already seen Nico's most secretive truths forcefully dragged from his lips and that makes it a lot easier to be around his friend.]

'least I didn't have to get shot this time. [He mumbles loudly enough for Jason to hear and with enough wryness to know it's an (admittedly somewhat dark) joke rather than anything with true malice or despair.]

[ Except with demigods, there's never really an obvious solution. Ask everyone to wait in their cabins until this is over? He knows better than to try: they'd never sit still. ]

Yeah, I'm liking that too.

[ He hasn't reflected on that day much, thought too hard about the possibilities, what if Nico got a faceful of Jason's insecurities instead? His deep, dark secrets? How, as light as he is, as high as he soars, sometimes he feels deeply weighed down. He's not scared of admitting that to Nico, but... he'd rather not, if he could. Nico has enough to deal with. ]

No chance this can wear off by itself...

[In answer to Jason's implied question, Nico merely shrugs. It remains to be seen if a counter curse will be necessary or not but if a child of Apollo really is the cause of it, he doubts it. More than likely Jason is correct and they'll simply have to wait it out, not unlike the other curses various cabins were known for doling out. (Though he has a strong suspicion that intentional or not, this curse wasn't intended to be as far reaching as it turned out to be.]

Even if it does, I have a feeling it's going to take a while. If it was going to wear off quickly, it would have done it by now. [Without realizing Nico has instinctively begun to lead Jason in the direction of the infirmary (his most walked path) and he quickly adjust his steps to head to the lake instead.]

Is it...[He pauses, rewording.] If you'd rather not talk right now, I'd get it. I'm bored is all. No big deal. [Bored is one word for it. Nico still hasn't exactly learned how to ask someone for their company. 'I didn't feel like being alone' isn't something he knows how to say.]

[ Maybe it wasn't, but Jason can't help but think it's a good thing, and that's why it's as far reaching as it was. He wouldn't put it past anyone to have done it as a prank, but after all this, things might be easier. ]

No, it's better that you're here.

[ Jason has always known how to ask for his company, but it's never been presented so directly. Always, want to do this together? or other polite lies, to let someone wriggle out of it if they don't want to. He doesn't want to be one more thing at camp that makes things difficult for Nico. ]

I don't usually come down to the lake. Do you have a favourite spot?

['It's better that you're here.' Nico looks away from Jason to hide the color in his cheeks. Embarrassing. Jason's so embarrassing and Nico can't even call bullshit when they're under a truth spell. Ugh.]

...sure, over here. [A couple hundred feet from the dock where the canoes are tied, he leads Jason to a small grassy knoll only a dozen feet from the gently lapping shore. For the most part he's silent as they walk, but the longer they walk, the more clear it becomes that there's something he wants to say. Eventually whether born of truth spell compulsion or simply the need to speak his piece, he stops in place and turns to Jason.]

It's weird. All of this but I mean...I keep having this moment where I think, Gods, what am I going to do if I say something and everyone finds out my secret? [His brow furrows and he shakes his head, rolling his eyes at himself.]

It takes a few seconds to remember it's not a secret anymore. It's like some stupid afterimage of...of all that mess.

[ Jason follows him, hands tucked into his pockets. He doesn't make himself small, but he's not standing tall and blazing the way, head councillor, Pontifex Maximus. Just Jason with his brother. He looks at Nico a few times, trying to figure out how to encourage him to talk, but eventually just leaves it alone. Nico hasn't lied to him. He can't — but he also doesn't. ]

You've kept it close to your chest for a really long time. And besides... Cupid was cruel to you about it.

[ It's hard for him to believe this was the same force that Piper was about, she spread beauty where she went, and Cupid had been... monstrous. Horrifying. He supposes it makes sense of a son of Mars, but still. ]

He could've asked me, but I wasn't conflicted.

You weren't living a lie. [He corrects quietly. If any of the others had gone, he isn't sure what Eros would have demanded or if he would have complied at all. The others knew who they were and who they loved. They understood themselves on the same fundamental level that Nico had been denying himself. He hadn't chosen Nico at random, he had targeted him from the very beginning, probably even before Zephyrus set eyes on him.]

I hate him. I don't think I'll ever not hate him for that. It should have been my choice, where and when. [And to who.]

[He's quiet for another few seconds and then he snorts, some of the tension draining out of him.]

And then you with your noble words and encouragement...[Despite what might have been a mocking tone, there's a lightness to Nico's voice that borders on affection.] I think that was the first real conversation we had.

Yes, it should have.

[ But that's not how it played out. Jason turns towards him. ]

Is it weird, I'm glad it was me? I'd been trying to understand you.

[ Jason's always worked as part of a team, even when they push him forward. Romans, side by side, moving together as a machine of many parts. Nico hadn't fit anything he was familiar with, even with time spent among the Greeks. ]

[He's glad it was Jason too but he manages to keep that much in. Nico turns his head to look at Jason then, seemingly searching him for something. An answer to a question that hasn't been voiced maybe.]

Why? [He forgets about the curse then and about being careful with his words. His curiosity overpowers his better sense.]

[ Soft, ]

You're family.

[ Jason sits, patting the space next to him for Nico to join him. He doesn't add anything for a few beats, looking at the water lapping the shore. ]

I always had the Fifth Cohort, but... sometimes it felt like they all saw my dad standing behind me with his thunderbolt. You know.

[ Being singled out. ]

And I thought sometimes, if there's me, why aren't there others? Nothing was stopping Neptune or Pluto.

[He hesitates and then takes a seat beside Jason, making himself comfortable. For a second, Nico doesn't get what Jason is saying. It's not the first time Jason has implied or outright stated that he sees Nico as a brother, but back then he hadn't. They hadn't known each other.

So it takes Nico a little longer to understand he means it in the literal sense. It's honestly something he forgets half of the time what with how insane blood relations got in their world.]

That's...I never think about it like that. That we're cousins. [Another pause.] You were really set apart, weren't you?

[Not like Nico, not out of fear, malice, and old grudges, but being set apart was being set apart. It hurt.]

[ They hadn't, and Nico was Greek, but they'd still been family. Even if they were technically cousins. He'd been on instant bro terms with Percy, a son of Neptune, so why couldn't it extend to Nico too? ]

I'm a son of Jupiter.

[ It's to be expected, he means. ]

It's not that different at the Greek camp. I eat all my meals alone.

[ It's stark to him, and why he always finishes his meals quickly and goes to join others. There's no joy sitting at a table by yourself, and Dad wouldn't look kindly on someone else presuming to sit in a place he'd reserved for his own children. Thalia has table eight when she visits, although she does sometimes join him. ]

[His eyes narrow and he shakes his head, frustration lacing his words. He knows the rule well.]

It's a stupid rule. [Hades isn't as strict on it as Zeus is, but he has to tamp down the immediate impulse to ask Jason to join him. A child of Athena or Ares, maybe. A child of Zeus at his table was asking for trouble.

Their parents were petty children.]

...you aren't like that anymore though. I mean, set apart. I don't care if you're a son of Jupiter, we're friends. [It's the first time he's vocalized it to Jason even though they both know it. It isn't as hard as he'd thought it would be.]

Do you still feel that way?

[ He doesn't think Pluto would mind all that much, someone taking an interest in his son, but Hades might. Even if they are both his uncle. ]

It's hard to shake.

[ And it gets harder when people only talk to him because they want advice, or he has to fix something. Jason enjoys responsibility, but it can get heavy. ]

But I've made friends here, like you.

[Nico nods to the first part because he gets it. Those feelings don't go away overnight. Then he ducks his head, smiling.]

Yeah, and I do what I can to keep those other kids from making your head too big. [Grinning, his tone teasing.] Like kicking your ass at capture the flag next Friday...not that your head is actually big.

[Nico groans out loud at the correction to his not an actual lie that apparently wasn't close enough to the truth to stand alone.]

...you'll notice the curse didn't correct that I'm going to totally win at capture the flag. [The grin is back, wider than before.]

Edited 2019-01-15 01:46 (UTC)

[ Jason laughs softly. ]

You think you'll win at Capture the Flag. Well, if you're on my team.

[ Nothing corrects him. Jason grins, wide. ]

Putting us on the same team would probably be breaking some ancient rule.

[He smirks, leaning back on his hands.]

Sorry Grace, we're simply destined to be enemi—...enem—...[The word will not form in his mouth and Nico gives up, throwing his hands in the air with a slight flush to his face.]

Seriously?

Edited 2019-01-15 21:55 (UTC)

[ Jason laughs again. ]

I'm glad you're my friend.

[ He doesn't need the truth spell to say that. And, ]

I wouldn't want you for an enemy.

Edited 2019-01-16 00:47 (UTC)

[Fighting down a smile, he groans and rolls his eyes.]

I guess I am too. Actually I don't have to guess about that at all. [He slaps a hand over his mouth and makes a huffing sound.]

Fine, whatever. I like you and I'm glad you're my friend, are you happy Apollo or whoever? I don't want you for an enemy either. I think I've wanted you for a friend from the moment you offered.

[He glares at Jason but it lacks conviction and the pink in his cheeks gives him away anyway.]

This is embarrassing. Is friendship always this embarrassing?

[ What do you know, this is the best curse ever. He's not going to condemn the Apollo cabin too hard. Jason curls an arm around his shoulders and settles his cheek on Nico's hair, protectively. It's something he couldn't give Nico freely in front of Cupid, but he can do it now. The truth doesn't hurt, it helps, it should feel safe. ]

You'd think so.

Edited 2019-01-16 04:43 (UTC)

[Oh.

The scowl melts away, replaced momentarily by a look of panic (because he's still learning what to do in these situations) and then landing on touched, his brow furrowed and gaze soft. It doesn't matter, Jason can't see him. Nico lets his eyes close, shifting his weight to rest against him. He loves Jason. He's sure of it. Like he loves Hazel and Reyna, he loves him. Maybe it's for the best right now that he doesn't know how to say it because this conversation has already been embarrassing enough, and the truth of it buries itself in his bones, making him feel lighter.]

Sap. You're a giant sap. [He pretends that his voice doesn't shake and that he doesn't stutter over the words, swallowing over a lump in his throat. Stupid Jason. Stupid friendship.]

Yeah.

[ All too agreeably. The low rumble of amusement rolls through his body like a thunderclap, and he ruffles Nico's hair playfully before sitting up a bit — he doesn't let go. ]

[And...Nico is content to remain sitting there in companionable silence, his body half tucked into Jason's. Friendship is exhausting and weird and he isn't sure he'll ever really understand it, but if getting to sit with Jason like this is a part of it, he thinks it'll be worth it.]

Truth meme

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