[Okay, it's the second Roman that tips him off. Well. He understood Roman the first time, but actually, the man who Jason had been infiltrating--Black Mask--his given name is Roman. So it isn't until the second mention of it that he's starting to put a little together.
He holds up a hand.]
Wait. Wait, hold on a second. Back up. First of all, your dad is an ass. Second of all, Roman as in... capital city Roman, or... antiquity Roman?
Yeah. It's definitely my dad's fault for that. [ thanks to LOCKING HIM IN A HOTEL FOR SAFETY (?)]
It wasn't just me. There was a whole prophecy involving some Greek and some Roman demigods, and I was helping both sides because we needed to bring them together before Gaea destroyed the world. That was last summer.
...it was like six months after we fought and beat Gaea the first time I ended up in a game like this. And then I went home and it's been about six months since then before we got here. We had to worry about what Apollo was doing and trying to stop Nero and get Apollo's immortality back.
[he says "had" like he means he wasn't really given a huge amount of freedom in the choice.]
[Listen. He is mildly concerned about Lup being stuck in games for almost a year, so he was worried about Nico following a similar path. But it's fine.]
It sounds like you've got a lot on your plate for a scrawny little squirt who really needs some sleep.
[It's fond. And not, like, judgmental in worried you-can't-do-it.]
For now. [evenly.] ...I'm leaving again probably as soon as I get back. I was supposed to be preparing to go somewhere.
[but. in the long run, yes. he's back home.]
I can't think of many half-bloods who actually have an easy life. [just matter-of-fact.] But I can think of a few who would agree with you anyway. But I'll sleep when I'm dead, or when things finally settle down. Whichever comes first. This was just a little bit of a detour.
[He snorts somewhat at this old man of an answer. He reaches up to squeeze Nico’s shoulder gently.]
Not sure where you get all this don’t stop energy. [He cannot talk.] It’s not that I’m thinking the worse—I am—but I don’t know how much I’ll get to see you between now and the end. I don’t know what’s going to happen. So, just in case:
Spite, mostly. And...there are things that are important. So I have to keep going. [there's a frown at what he says though because he'd obviously thought about the fact they may not see each other again after tonight for a bit.]
I can handle myself fine. It's you guys I'm worried about so...don't let me down, okay?
["take care of yourself. i want to be able to see you again once you bring everyone back."]
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He holds up a hand.]
Wait. Wait, hold on a second. Back up. First of all, your dad is an ass. Second of all, Roman as in... capital city Roman, or... antiquity Roman?
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Kind of the latter. Camp Jupiter's in California. It's where all of the Roman demigods train. Camp Half-Blood's in New York. It's for the Greeks.
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You're... like Diana. She's an Amazon, but her mom is Hippolyta. [But this leaves a sour taste in his mouth because he LOOKS at all of Nico.] Oh no.
Your ass of a dad is Hades.
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Very reassuring. [DONT JUST SAY OH NO?] What gave it away? [now is not the time to be sarcastic but he figures it is very obvious by now.]
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Definitely the aesthetic and the vibe. Especially when you sound like a tired old man.
[Nico is an old man, but it's fine.]
So that was it? You brought the sides together? For a reason, though, right? What's your dad looking to do with Greeks and Romans banding together?
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It wasn't just me. There was a whole prophecy involving some Greek and some Roman demigods, and I was helping both sides because we needed to bring them together before Gaea destroyed the world. That was last summer.
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Ah. Good old prophecies and world destroying. Sounds like home. [He peers at Nico.] You been back home since last summer...?
[From the MGs.]
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...it was like six months after we fought and beat Gaea the first time I ended up in a game like this. And then I went home and it's been about six months since then before we got here. We had to worry about what Apollo was doing and trying to stop Nero and get Apollo's immortality back.
[he says "had" like he means he wasn't really given a huge amount of freedom in the choice.]
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[Listen. He is mildly concerned about Lup being stuck in games for almost a year, so he was worried about Nico following a similar path. But it's fine.]
It sounds like you've got a lot on your plate for a scrawny little squirt who really needs some sleep.
[It's fond. And not, like, judgmental in worried you-can't-do-it.]
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[but. in the long run, yes. he's back home.]
I can't think of many half-bloods who actually have an easy life. [just matter-of-fact.] But I can think of a few who would agree with you anyway. But I'll sleep when I'm dead, or when things finally settle down. Whichever comes first. This was just a little bit of a detour.
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Not sure where you get all this don’t stop energy. [He cannot talk.] It’s not that I’m thinking the worse—I am—but I don’t know how much I’ll get to see you between now and the end. I don’t know what’s going to happen. So, just in case:
Take care of yourself, Nico.
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Spite, mostly. And...there are things that are important. So I have to keep going. [there's a frown at what he says though because he'd obviously thought about the fact they may not see each other again after tonight for a bit.]
I can handle myself fine. It's you guys I'm worried about so...don't let me down, okay?
["take care of yourself. i want to be able to see you again once you bring everyone back."]