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? ]
[ She's... been trying to speak about herself. Some cirucmstances have forced her hand to be more open, reveal a little more of her power-- and the danger that has come with it. For those that know more of her, they haven't... shunned her. Or blamed her, for what harm she's caused her loved one.
She has to start being more open. ] It was so long ago that I hardly remember. [ She says at last, looking forward, pausing, then looking back at him. ]
It... doesn't bother you? That I-- [ A pause. Another pause. It helps, too, that he is the son of a god. That's a start, that he's familiar with such beings on a personal level, or so she assumes. ] that I'm something bygone.
[It doesn't surprise him, that she wouldn't remember. Hades had admitted to forgetting various things he found unimportant, and he was not nearly as old.
His response is immediate.] Of course not.
[That she has to ask at all gives him pause, though. He hadn't thought of her as someone who would need reassurances. Not from him. But then, he hadn't really bothered to learn much about her before. A problem he hoped to fix.
Smiling, he adds,] You're the nicest something bygone I've met so far. And...probably the smallest. Unless this isn't your true form?
[ ...Ah. Maybe that's the thing with speaking with someone who is the son of a god, that they can guess that another deity-like being would have other forms. He's guessing all too easily at this.]
... Nico. [ A small playful, but fond nudge with her elbow. ] When did you become so clever?
[ --Or maybe he always was, and she hadn't noticed beneath the frown.
...But. It's nice. She feels just a little safer here, with him. Safe enough to basically confirm that, yes, this is not her true form. ]
[ She sees that little smirk, and instead of looking offended, she exhales shortly, softly through her nose. Indeed, she underestimated him. (A thing that, perhaps, she does too often with others-- what a bad habit.) ] Aah, then... Let's see.
[ Her hand swings with his as they walk, and she looks forward. ] This form... It's a construct. And... You've guessed right. Mm, I'm quite a bit old.
[ "I was here at the beginning. And I will proclaim the end."
It's just a bit scary, to think about.
Her hand tightens around his. ]
But if you still will accept this friendship... I'll treasure it into the future, or until the end of time.
[A construct. Gods of his world can change size, and some shape. The primordial gods, those who were very old and very immense, could project or create a smaller version of themselves - like Tartarus whose very body served as the deepest pit of the Underworld. But even his smaller version was terrifying to behold. He's not sure in what manner she is a construct, or what that really means, but it doesn't much matter to him.]
I've already accepted it. [It's not something he takes lightly.] But that's a long time. Are you sure you won't forget about me before then?
[That would be okay. He may be half god, but he has a mortal lifespan, and it's doubtful he'll even reach the end of that. The end of time is a long time to hold on to a memory.]
[ At that, she stops again in their walk and turns to him, her hand tugging at his to get him to do the same.
To forget those here, to forget those she knows in her own world, all of whom she's come to both influence her as she's loved them-- she would never want to forget them. She could have been an entity removed from the world, she could have been dormant, a mere observer until the world would end and another would begin. Instead, she had been imprinted with humanity...
And she's been given the opportunity to know those like him.
She has a complicated past, and the internal struggle of being who she is today and what she once was continues, but to say that she's grateful for knowing people like him is an understatement.
Taking a step forward, her arms wrap around him around him for an embrace. Quietly, her voice humbled, she makes a promise: ]
If it's within my power... never.
[ She doesn't want to forget those like him, and for as much as she's been immortal-- that she could forget him should she leave here, the idea of a loss like that makes her feel all the more mortal. ]
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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?
1/2
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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I've been called a child before.... Does that count?
[ She's been called many, many names. Child. Heavenly. Princess. Lady. Aegis. Simpleton. Holy Grail. Blade. Weapon. Divine. ]
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He shrugs.] I guess that's up to you. I can't fathom how long ago it might have been, but you had to have had a beginning, right?
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She has to start being more open. ] It was so long ago that I hardly remember. [ She says at last, looking forward, pausing, then looking back at him. ]
It... doesn't bother you? That I-- [ A pause. Another pause. It helps, too, that he is the son of a god. That's a start, that he's familiar with such beings on a personal level, or so she assumes. ] that I'm something bygone.
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His response is immediate.] Of course not.
[That she has to ask at all gives him pause, though. He hadn't thought of her as someone who would need reassurances. Not from him. But then, he hadn't really bothered to learn much about her before. A problem he hoped to fix.
Smiling, he adds,] You're the nicest something bygone I've met so far. And...probably the smallest. Unless this isn't your true form?
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... Nico. [ A small playful, but fond nudge with her elbow. ] When did you become so clever?
[ --Or maybe he always was, and she hadn't noticed beneath the frown.
...But. It's nice. She feels just a little safer here, with him. Safe enough to basically confirm that, yes, this is not her true form. ]
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[He'll admit to being observant. It's a large part of how he's managed to stay alive. But he'd never thought of himself as particularly clever.
He smirks.] Always have been. Getting everyone to underestimate me is how I've gotten so far ahead.
[He'd grown so used to his peers fearing him, he would feel honored to know she felt safe with him.]
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[ Her hand swings with his as they walk, and she looks forward. ] This form... It's a construct. And... You've guessed right. Mm, I'm quite a bit old.
[ "I was here at the beginning. And I will proclaim the end."
It's just a bit scary, to think about.
Her hand tightens around his. ]
But if you still will accept this friendship... I'll treasure it into the future, or until the end of time.
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I've already accepted it. [It's not something he takes lightly.] But that's a long time. Are you sure you won't forget about me before then?
[That would be okay. He may be half god, but he has a mortal lifespan, and it's doubtful he'll even reach the end of that. The end of time is a long time to hold on to a memory.]
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To forget those here, to forget those she knows in her own world, all of whom she's come to both influence her as she's loved them-- she would never want to forget them. She could have been an entity removed from the world, she could have been dormant, a mere observer until the world would end and another would begin. Instead, she had been imprinted with humanity...
And she's been given the opportunity to know those like him.
She has a complicated past, and the internal struggle of being who she is today and what she once was continues, but to say that she's grateful for knowing people like him is an understatement.
Taking a step forward, her arms wrap around him around him for an embrace. Quietly, her voice humbled, she makes a promise: ]
If it's within my power... never.
[ She doesn't want to forget those like him, and for as much as she's been immortal-- that she could forget him should she leave here, the idea of a loss like that makes her feel all the more mortal. ]
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He's already lost all his memories once. Hades would never do that to him again. Probably. But one can never be certain where gods are concerned.
He sighs into the embrace.]
If I can help it, I won't forget you either.