Um...A little. [It didn't feel all that noticeable. He hadn't had a major growth spurt or anything, but at his age some growth was still expected.] I guess I fell asleep for a while, and woke up with a bunch of new memories.
[ Good memories? Bad memories? The latter seems to occur more often.
Pyra's smile fades a bit, her expression sobering as she nods in understanding. ]
...You-- 'went home', in a sense.
[ The next question she must absolutely ask him is obvious-- so much so that she laments not starting out with it in the first place-- ] Are you alright?
[It was strange, and he was having a hard time wrapping his head around it. A whole year condensed into a few days. What he remembers from just last week feels like ages ago.]
I... [How does he answer this honestly?] In some ways, I'm better. [He shakes his head.] But that's not why I asked you to meet me. I wanted to thank you. And...I probably owe you an apology as well.
[ Nico had always struck her as a youth that had seemed brooding, if not in pain from something weighing upon his mind. While she's gotten pieces of his life-- admiring a war as a child, only to become disillusioned as he grew-- he had still remained closed off, perhaps to protect himself. He is someone who had to grow up too quickly.
If she had seemed concerned before, now a bit of confusion passes through her expression. He wishes to thank her, he wishes to apologize for her?
It's clear that she doesn't understand any reason he would need to do either. Never has she felt slighted, and all that she'd done for him had been done freely. ]
[ She remains quiet as he explains, allowing him to finish. That he wasn’t in a good place is probably something that she could have been able to guess, given what she knows about him. Any frustrations would have been exacerbated by being here and without any means to return to his world.
Slightly taller, a bit longer hair, reaching out to her— calling her a friend. This is him wanting to do better, coming from someone who had once questioned why she had wanted to spend time with him, doubting that she would. ]
Nico...
[ He’ll find her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. To her, it’s only been months since she’s last given him one, but the embrace is familiar. Her arms find his upper back, and her smile can be heard in her voice, warm... and proud. ] You really have grown.
[ He went “away”, only to return like this...
So much must have happened, and a part of her fears the worst— that renewed appreciation stems from recent loss. While she hopes that isn’t the case, she holds him tenderly all the same. She is grateful that he’s here, and she’s also grateful to be considered a friend.
[There is still a short list of people who can get away with hugging him. But there is a list, and that is progress. Pyra is on that list, so he goes easily into her embrace, and readily returns it.]
Thank you. I'm...glad that you are my friend.
[At least he has one here. Going forward feels a little less daunting.]
[There's an even shorter list of people who are allowed to hold his hand. Pyra is on that one too.
He hesitates, but... He knows what friends do back home, but he's not sure that a bunch of demigod kids with a variety of powers in a survival camp is really comparable...]
In weather like this? [ --where it might be a bit too chilly for comfort even while she exudes an unnatural warmth-- ] We have hot chocolate together and see how many cookies we can eat!
[ She gives his hand a small tug. ] What do you say?
That's an actual, genuine smile. It seems fragile to her, just a bit, but it's genuine and true-- the first she's seen on him. She cannot help but stare for a few beats afterwards in silence. On many occasions, she would point out such a smile in delight, perhaps even tease, but this one is so delicate in its novelty, that instead she simply lets it be, and lets them be in the moment.
Then she promptly gives his hand a tug. ] My place is not too far away... I can whip up a quick cup of cocoa just for us.
How does a bit of cinnamon in it sound? Oh-- or perhaps you're a boy you likes a bit of chili pepper in it, instead?
[Smiles are a bit easier now, at least around people he trusts. He doesn't let his guard down around just anyone.
With the tug on his hand, he allows her to lead.]
I...don't think I have a preference. Camp just has the powder stuff that you put in hot water, with the stale little marshmallows? Though...
[Though briefly he thinks of thick, rich, dark chocolate, and a small café in an open plaza. The memory is gone as quickly as it comes.] Mm. Never mind.
[ What... sort of hot chocolate is that? She's never heard of it, at least, not in the banks of her recent memory. But she does comment, glancing at him with a skeptical look: ]
Powedered chocolate-- with hot water? That seems... not the best.
[ She sounds offended. ] Who would do such a thing to hot chocolate...
[Sometimes, that was good enough. The camp was temperature regulated, but it still got chilly in the colder months. And between wars, when he didn't stay at camp, but sometimes needed a place to escape that wasn't the Underworld or some back alley, a paper cup full of hot watery chocolate was heaven.]
It's also really cheap. Even when it's just us year-rounders left in the winter, that's still a lot of kids to feed.
[ From his words, she appears puzzled. It seems as if she's not quite able to pick up his context. ]
Year... rounders? Such as school? [ It doesn't sound as if it is just school-- most boarding schools she's heard of would provide children with food-- which is why she asks to clarify. ]
No. [He shakes his head] Most campers only come in the summer. They leave in the fall to return to school and their families, and come back the following summer.
[If they survived. Not all demigods were powerful enough to attract monsters, but that didn't make them immune. There were always one or two or a few who didn't make it back.]
But for some, it's too dangerous to go home, or too unstable. And for others, well, not all of us have homes or families to go back to. [Hades keeps a room for him in the Underworld, but all parties concerned for his health have determined he's better off living above ground.] So we stay all year. This would be my first full year with the camp...if I weren't here.
[Come to think of it...] I haven't been to school in years.
[ The expression on his face seems... wistful, almost. She wonders if his last comment is due to him missing school, or him coming to realize that he doesn't miss it because of those he knows at this camp.
Whatever the case, she's glad for this sort of expression. It hadn't occurred to her until now, just how pained he had seemed back then. ]
How... old are you, Nico? If you don't mind me asking.
Well. You still have lots of time ahead of you, if you wish to return to school. Or not. [ She's not the boss of him, and she's certainly not his parent. ] But, I believe that whatever you put your mind to, you'll be able to do it.
[ She glances at him. ] It's just a feeling I have.
[ If he can smile after all that he may have gone through... then, surely, there's nothing he cannot accomplish. ]
Thank you. But I don't think school in the cards for me. I'm... [Too different. Too messed up.] Too much has happened.
[A bit of a frown.] Anyway, it's been so long, it would be really hard to catch up. I'm too tired to waste that kind of energy. [He would rather use his energy stores on more important things, like staying alive and defending his people.]
....You know. I never went went through any schooling.
[ And while curious about it-- from seeing nobles' children attend, or knowing the benefits that it'd give to others-- this is something of which she can relate to Nico. Just barely, though. ]
War... it sort of does that, doesn't it? Takes away opportunity for others to learn in peace.
[War is all he's ever really known. He was born between two world wars. All his memories are of running from, planning for, or fighting in wars. Even without the wars, there's always a battle waiting somewhere. The fighting never really stops. Not for long.
He's not surprised she hadn't gone to school. She feels....old. Very, very old.]
[ The question makes her pause as she walks. Here she is, falling back onto old habits of asking about others, when she knows... a good amount of him. He, a demigod. He, son of the god of the dead of his world. He, who had a sister. He, had once dreams of being a warrior and being strong, being a hero. He, who then lost so much. It doesn't feel quite right to talk about herself, in light of all of that, and not when he's so freshly re-awakened from his world.
She glances at him from the corner of her eyes, watching his expression. A doubt emerges: does he really want to know the answer? ]
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...Nico! [ She repeats a far more happily. ] Look at you. You've grown taller, haven't you?
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Pyra's smile fades a bit, her expression sobering as she nods in understanding. ]
...You-- 'went home', in a sense.
[ The next question she must absolutely ask him is obvious-- so much so that she laments not starting out with it in the first place-- ] Are you alright?
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[It was strange, and he was having a hard time wrapping his head around it. A whole year condensed into a few days. What he remembers from just last week feels like ages ago.]
I... [How does he answer this honestly?] In some ways, I'm better. [He shakes his head.] But that's not why I asked you to meet me. I wanted to thank you. And...I probably owe you an apology as well.
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If she had seemed concerned before, now a bit of confusion passes through her expression. He wishes to thank her, he wishes to apologize for her?
It's clear that she doesn't understand any reason he would need to do either. Never has she felt slighted, and all that she'd done for him had been done freely. ]
A...apologize and... thank me?
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I wasn't in a good place when I arrived here. I wasn't interested in getting close to anyone, or helping out.
But, you've always been kind. And... [He pauses a second, turns to look at her.] ...a friend. I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have.
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Slightly taller, a bit longer hair, reaching out to her— calling her a friend. This is him wanting to do better, coming from someone who had once questioned why she had wanted to spend time with him, doubting that she would. ]
Nico...
[ He’ll find her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. To her, it’s only been months since she’s last given him one, but the embrace is familiar. Her arms find his upper back, and her smile can be heard in her voice, warm... and proud. ] You really have grown.
[ He went “away”, only to return like this...
So much must have happened, and a part of her fears the worst— that renewed appreciation stems from recent loss. While she hopes that isn’t the case, she holds him tenderly all the same. She is grateful that he’s here, and she’s also grateful to be considered a friend.
Quietly, ]
You’ll always find a friend in me.
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Thank you. I'm...glad that you are my friend.
[At least he has one here. Going forward feels a little less daunting.]
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A part of her wants to ask what he went through, or what might be on his mind or in his heart... But perhaps that's not what he needs right now? So--]
...So.
Do you know what friends do?
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He hesitates, but... He knows what friends do back home, but he's not sure that a bunch of demigod kids with a variety of powers in a survival camp is really comparable...]
I'm going to let you tell me.
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[ She gives his hand a small tug. ] What do you say?
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Sounds good to me.
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That's an actual, genuine smile. It seems fragile to her, just a bit, but it's genuine and true-- the first she's seen on him. She cannot help but stare for a few beats afterwards in silence. On many occasions, she would point out such a smile in delight, perhaps even tease, but this one is so delicate in its novelty, that instead she simply lets it be, and lets them be in the moment.
Then she promptly gives his hand a tug. ] My place is not too far away... I can whip up a quick cup of cocoa just for us.
How does a bit of cinnamon in it sound? Oh-- or perhaps you're a boy you likes a bit of chili pepper in it, instead?
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With the tug on his hand, he allows her to lead.]
I...don't think I have a preference. Camp just has the powder stuff that you put in hot water, with the stale little marshmallows? Though...
[Though briefly he thinks of thick, rich, dark chocolate, and a small café in an open plaza. The memory is gone as quickly as it comes.] Mm. Never mind.
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Powedered chocolate-- with hot water? That seems... not the best.
[ She sounds offended. ] Who would do such a thing to hot chocolate...
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[Sometimes, that was good enough. The camp was temperature regulated, but it still got chilly in the colder months. And between wars, when he didn't stay at camp, but sometimes needed a place to escape that wasn't the Underworld or some back alley, a paper cup full of hot watery chocolate was heaven.]
It's also really cheap. Even when it's just us year-rounders left in the winter, that's still a lot of kids to feed.
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Year... rounders? Such as school? [ It doesn't sound as if it is just school-- most boarding schools she's heard of would provide children with food-- which is why she asks to clarify. ]
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[If they survived. Not all demigods were powerful enough to attract monsters, but that didn't make them immune. There were always one or two or a few who didn't make it back.]
But for some, it's too dangerous to go home, or too unstable. And for others, well, not all of us have homes or families to go back to. [Hades keeps a room for him in the Underworld, but all parties concerned for his health have determined he's better off living above ground.] So we stay all year. This would be my first full year with the camp...if I weren't here.
[Come to think of it...] I haven't been to school in years.
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Whatever the case, she's glad for this sort of expression. It hadn't occurred to her until now, just how pained he had seemed back then. ]
How... old are you, Nico? If you don't mind me asking.
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Fifteen. Pretty sure. At least that's what we determined after a lot of math.
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[ She repeats, pensive. ]
Well. You still have lots of time ahead of you, if you wish to return to school. Or not. [ She's not the boss of him, and she's certainly not his parent. ] But, I believe that whatever you put your mind to, you'll be able to do it.
[ She glances at him. ] It's just a feeling I have.
[ If he can smile after all that he may have gone through... then, surely, there's nothing he cannot accomplish. ]
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[A bit of a frown.] Anyway, it's been so long, it would be really hard to catch up. I'm too tired to waste that kind of energy. [He would rather use his energy stores on more important things, like staying alive and defending his people.]
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....You know. I never went went through any schooling.
[ And while curious about it-- from seeing nobles' children attend, or knowing the benefits that it'd give to others-- this is something of which she can relate to Nico. Just barely, though. ]
War... it sort of does that, doesn't it? Takes away opportunity for others to learn in peace.
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[War is all he's ever really known. He was born between two world wars. All his memories are of running from, planning for, or fighting in wars. Even without the wars, there's always a battle waiting somewhere. The fighting never really stops. Not for long.
He's not surprised she hadn't gone to school. She feels....old. Very, very old.]
Were you ever a kid?
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She glances at him from the corner of her eyes, watching his expression. A doubt emerges: does he really want to know the answer? ]
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