Video

[hasadoctorsnote]

[Nico would prefer to just use the voice option and nothing else but he's not sure if people will recognize him by his voice alone, so he reluctantly uses the video option, looking none too pleased about... well, anything.]

I have a few things to say about recent events.

First, if anyone saw me playing or talking about a game called Mythomagic, it's a kids game and I don't play it anymore. I... used to [Reluctantly confesses] but I haven't for years so don't ask me if I have the cards or if I can teach you how to play because I don't and I can't.

Second, if I had any... personal conversations with you, I would appreciate it very much if you would please keep that information to yourself, thanks.

Third, who was responsible for that whole thing? [Because he would like to punch them in the face.] Having my memories messed with once before was already one time too many and I don't appreciate it happening again.

Last... I know it was completely fake but... I just... wanted to say thank you to the people I thought were my family... for being kind to me. So thank you. [That's just about the only good thing that happened, in his opinion. People were nice to him.

And now he's going to go do some tunnel exploring and let off some steam.]

Comments

[sonofacesius]

[Will knows you too well Nico. He's already got the bow and quiver Curufin made for him, as well as his ever present bag of medical supplies. And here is he headed? Toward you. Following the obvious trail of frost-killed grass and flowers. Feeling emotional Nico?]

Nico? Let me be your buddy?

[He kind of hoped being a giant dork and reminding him of home would help a little?]

The gods stink, we all know that. No matter where we go, it's the same thing. They're gods. Just all different flavors of ice cream, you know? Which flavor? This doesn't seem like Fear, Love or Sorrow. Rage and Delight are unreachable on some sort of mission. My bet is on either Hope, Tranquility or Confusion.

Nico?

[Will walked faster, worried about him.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

[Nico's been walking fast and with purpose because he feels so angry but standing still is just resulting in the ground cracking underneath him, so. Moving it is.

Until he hears Will's voice and heaves a sigh, reigning himself in a little bit and slowing his pace.]

They took them from me. [When Nico di Angelo gets truly angry, he gets quiet angry, and his voice is low and quivering with it right now.] My mother. My sister. I lost all my memories from before and it took years for even just some memories to come back. All I have left of them is memories and they just... they just took that away like it doesn't mean anything. Like they didn't mean anything.

[sonofacesius]

[Yeah, Will is really just hoping you don't cause an avalanche or something Nico. He knows what you can do when your angry or scared or hurt and it's really, really scary. Your dad gave you top shelf powers. And by top shelf, Will meant nuclear.]

I know they did. You don't deserve that, not again. I'm not going to pretend I know what that's like.

[He wished he could call up Hazel or Reyna or Jason, the only other people Will would trust who could really understand what Nico was going through, or understood Nico enough. But he couldn't. It was just him and Annabeth.]

You know the Gods. Most of the time, it doesn't mean anything. It's not personal. It's just....petty. These Gods seem a little more like some of the Titans. Cast a wide net, see who you hit, rather than the Olympians who use....smaller nets.

[hasadoctorsnote]

[Will might have some understanding, given that his memories were taken too. At least he got them all back... At least Nico hopes. Everything from after his dip in the Lethe is clear again so he doesn't think he's still forgetting things... but funny thing about losing your memory - you can't remember if you did forget something.

He gives a frustrated sigh.] I know. It just... makes me so angry how we get treated like we're ants most of the time. And having to deal with it here, while being unable to do half the things I used to be able to... [He trails off, because yeah, it's very frustrating.] I don't like feeling trapped and useless.

private video

[notimpervious]

[He asked for her and anyone else not to publish or share anything about him with anyone else, so Brennan opts for sending him a private video message.]

You were my student. [...and they spoke while she was wearing that costume for the Science Dude's TV show.

Yeeeah let's not talk about that.

She doesn't smile, but she still comes across open and relaxed. It had been fake, but she still remembers what he said to her, and now she understands why she was so excited to hear about his career plans. Now she just needs to know if those are his real plans.]

In my real life, before I was brought here, I am a forensic anthropologist. I teach graduate level courses, so I suppose that is what inspired my false life. But what I mean to ask is if you really have considered a career in forensic anthropology, and if you do know bones as precisely as you did in the false city.

[She has interns who are that intelligent when it comes to bones. Nico reminded her of them, reminded her of how much she misses her real job, her colleagues, her friends. If these are indeed Nico's interests, then he will make someone an excellent intern someday. She would certainly hire him if his application crossed her desk.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

[Well, at least now he knows why he felt like he was way behind the other kids - because he hasn't been to a proper school since he was in fifth grade.]

It's... complicated why I know bones that well. It might sound crazy if I told you the truth.

I guess you could say I already have a career in dealing with bones and dead people... except I don't get paid for it.

[notimpervious]

[Well that's a vague answer if she ever heard one.]

So you have a volunteer position with... some sort of museum?

[hasadoctorsnote]

No, I'm... In my world, gods are real. If you're familiar at all with Greek mythology... I'm the son of Hades. I can speak with the dead, summon them and control them, and that includes controlling bones.

[Video -- Private]

[lifetothefullest]

[The event ending has definitely made things a little confusing and weird for most people, so the point of this post is completely understandable. As one of those people who Nico had personal conversations, with Lance feels he should probably reply and reassure him.]

I won't mention anything.

[Although, perhaps more importantly--]

But even though I'm not actually a teacher, I am a psychologist. So if you ever wanted to talk again, you can contact me at any time.

[Just because things are back to normal doesn't mean this part of things has changed; he's still willing to listen and help as much as possible, only he's even more qualified to do so now.]

[Video -- Private]

[hasadoctorsnote]

[Yeah, Lance is one of the two people he's most embarrassed about talking to.]

Well, at least you already know about me and Will. He's who I was talking about.

[The other stuff... That's a different, more personal story.]

[Video -- Private]

[lifetothefullest]

That's true, and now you don't have to worry about whether he likes you or not, right?

[He says it with a small smile, trying to make him feel a little less awkward.]

[Video -- Private]

[hasadoctorsnote]

[That does get a tiny little smile out of him in return.] Sometimes I still question his sanity because why but... yeah.

... Let's just say I have bad experiences about... that. Not Will, just... the whole... [He waves a hand in the air in a little circle as if that will perfectly explain he is thinking of the words 'being gay thing' here.]

[Video]

[yearrounder]

[It's not like she expects an honest answer here, but still.]

You okay? [No. The answer is no.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

I really don't like people messing with my memories.

[yearrounder]

I really do not blame you. [Sigh] At least say Will is with you?

[hasadoctorsnote]

He's on his way.

... So is thinking about Will as your brother weird now?

[text]

[readytobe]

What emotion do you feel most? I imagine that "god" is the one responsible. [Pretend that this is written very angrily, because it definitely is. So, you know, that's his guess.]

We are playthings to them. Perhaps they will offer platitudes, but they will be empty.

[hasadoctorsnote]

Right now? Anger.

I'm, unfortunately, used to gods looking at us like playthings. It's still frustrating when they just do whatever they want without us having any say in it.

[readytobe]

[oh, good, they're on the same page.]

I will not continue to be played with. They have underestimated me.

Rage - if we are to believe their words - is outside of the city now. Perhaps they are routing power to her to keep her strong.

( video )

[jocoeur]

( how do you even recover from something like that? during the time it was all going on, he could have sworn he knew nico his whole life. that they had all grown up together. but none of it was real, and yet...

he frowns, before finally answering. )

Sorry. That was... some pretty messed up stuff.

[hasadoctorsnote]

That's putting it mildly, but... yeah.

You don't need to apologize for anything, it wasn't your fault.

[He's only ever had two sisters so it feels weird having memories of a brother. Not... a bad feeling, entirely, but very weird.]

[jocoeur]

Maybe not, but... ( there's a slight tilt of his head, before akira finally offers a smile from over on his end. )

I wouldn't mind hanging out some time to get to know you. The real you, that is.
( not the brother he thought he had, at the time. )

video

[revelation]

I'm sorry, Nico. I... I really liked Mythomagic though, it looked like a lot of fun even though I didn't really get it.

( it was hard to put all of her feeling into words. she still remembers the brother she adored and fought so hard to protect in her own way. fourteen years of memories that were so vivid and bright and... they were all lies. it feels so strange to think on them now, think on everything that happened and talk to him now as they truly are.

absolute strangers. )

I know... I know what happened was terrible but I hope we can still be friends.

[hasadoctorsnote]

[He remembers the same and he can't help but feel the same sort of protectiveness he feels about Hazel, his actual sister, towards Madoka too. When he answers, his expression has softened into a more gentle one, and he sounds less angry too.]

I'd... like to still be friends too. ... It wasn't all terrible. [You weren't terrible. Having a family that cared about him and wasn't practically all dead wasn't terrible.]

[revelation]

Mm. We can still help one another out, and get to know one another... or least the real parts of ourselves.

[ A defeated sigh. ] You'd definitely be able to beat me in fencing now! I had never done something like that in my life before then.