awashlogs | Event Ten.

[ Now it's Nico's turn to sort of follow Sasuke around, though he only walks a couple steps behind and to the side. Don't think he didn't notice at least part of that smile. ]

There's forest around most of the town, it could be there's some dangerous stuff that lives in there. Or even in the water.

[ Things are going great until they hit the Flavo district... then Nico's eyes are assaulted by the most horrendous colors no one should have on their homes. Not even the cabins at camp are this terrible and some of them are pretty bad. ]

You're going to be blind half the time just from looking at these things. [ Now he has to wonder if people can paint their houses... especially when he spots a couple that aren't simply just yellow but also one's green and another's sort of orange-ish. ]

Don't worry. I have strong eyes.

[Nico isn't wrong?? The colors are atrocious the further into Flavo they go. A majority of the buildings are still colorless, but perhaps this makes the colors that exist worse.

But it works. Nico can see the edge of Sasuke's face grow slowly more reflective, a little pinched. He's not a fool and, yet, there's still a feeling boring into the pit of him anyway, replacing the knowing pull of whatever lead him to this district. Something... lonely. A memory. No...?

Something symbolic.

One of the houses stands at a corner much like the rest, and Sasuke comes to a stop in front of it, lifting his eyes from bottom edge to roof.] Naruto... [Sounds like a name, barely whispered. He doesn't bother getting the sword out this time. It's strangely comforting here.

He presses the tips of his fingers to the door and pushes it open to reveal the quiet shadows inside.]

[ The further in they go, the more grateful Nico is that he doesn't live here but at the same time it reminds him of a certain blond back home. If Will had ended up in this place it's very likely that he'd end up in this district. Hazard of being a kid of the sun god.

So instead of looking at the houses and letting his thoughts drift too far in the person he left behind - he focuses in on Sasuke's expression. The way it changes the longer they're here. Okay, that's not really much better because it's kind of like watching his own feelings changing.

Except Nico isn't comforted when they reach the house Sasuke is drawn to. It's more of a gut-wrenching feeling. Some mix between guilt and an ache. He'd told Will he would stay at Camp and even if it's not his fault he ended up here, he can't deny that he feels guilty for breaking his word. Since his stay at the clinic after the fight with Gaea, Will has been a near-constant presence at his side. A presence he's now sorely lacking.

Still, Sasuke seems to approve of his new residence so Nico stuffs his feelings down as far as they can go. The ninja even goes so far to not be on the alert when he enters the structure.

He feels strangely out-of-place and weird considering he hadn't felt anything but wary and suspicious after seeing his own place. The exact opposite of what it seems Sasuke is feeling now. Which is why he lingers in the street and doesn't say a word. ]

[For a long moment, Sasuke stands at the door without moving or speaking. The district feels very Naruto, or perhaps not exactly Naruto, what Naruto means to him. Some kind of ridiculous shining beacon in the darkness, a lighthouse to return to safely.

But the house is different, even here.

It's familiar in another way. Empty, gloomy. He barely remembers the house on the night he sped through it, but following the event, he had returned. In the rain, it had been the same if not more lonely. Empty.]

You don't have to stand outside if you don't want.

[And with that, the dimness of the front room swallows him in the black cloak as he steps inside. If not for his footsteps, he would disappear completely.]

[ While Sasuke found a lighthouse nearly half a lifetime ago, Nico's only had months. Without it he feels a bit lost like a moth searching for the light. It might be a familiar sensation but that doesn't mean he has to like it.

Still, he should be used to being alone. Nothing but darkness and the dead for company.

... Except Nico isn't alone and he's somewhat startled when Sasuke's voice calls out to him. Invites him inside in a roundabout way. For a long moment, he stares up at the ninja's back before the other slips into the shadows of the house.

All of the sudden, he's entirely reluctant to be alone so Nico makes quick work of following the man inside. Here's hoping the grass isn't dead where he'd been standing out in the street or questions might be asked later. (This is exactly why Nico has a doctor's note to not have to sit alone at dinner time whenever he's at Camp.) He only moves a couple of step into the house before stopping and looking around. ]

Doesn't look abandoned. Maybe you've got a roommate too.

[In the end, Nico isn't alone, it's true. Sasuke may not be as shiny as Will, as shiny as Naruto or Boruto, but he's there. More like a sturdy dark ship to sail on rather than a lighthouse.]

Mm. Seems like you're right.

[Once Nico is inside, Sasuke continues on at a leisurely pace, scouting the rooms of the house. Someone else is different rooming with him, too, but there isn't really enough for him to know whether or not they're familiar. Who they are. A laptop. He considers being nosy, but leaves it. The force draws him to a separate room, another laptop.

It has access to the same forum, looks the same as Nico's. He leaves it on the bed. The room, for now, is bare and simple, though he doesn't seem to mind.

The rest of the house checks out about like Nico's own; a roommate who isn't currently present, no traps, no intruders. A bare-boned thing stuck in a yellow section of town. Guess he should settle. Six months, he doesn't know quite yet. He might be here a while.

Carefully, he reaches up and unfastens the cloak at the collar buttons, pulling it off and dropping it across the bed. He's less intimidating with it on, slimmer. The outfit beneath seems... business casual? The left sleeve really doesn't have an arm in it, and he has frustratingly not bothered to pin it up.]

[ Ship... why is it a ship? He's had enough of ships for a while but Nico supposes it's better than drowning.

As Sasuke explores the house, he'll have one teen trailing after him and peering into each room after the man is done with it. Yeah, Nico is absolutely exploring this house far more than he had with the one he's supposed to live in - there will be time for that when he goes back to it later.

Even though the building is devoid of people beyond the two of them at the moment, the space is clean and tidy. Eventually they explore nearly space and end up in a bedroom that the ninja is apparently claiming as his own.

So Nico shuffles in just passed the doorframe and settles on the floor close to the nearest outlet so he can plug in his laptop later. ]

Not a feather or scorch mark in sight. I suppose that makes up a little for the coloring of the houses in the area.

[Unfortunately for Nico, he'll be tiredly shadow-stepping right into a house with two dads barring whether or not Shiro decides to abandon this said ship for the other Voltron babies. Sasuke actually wouldn't judge Shiro for it.

But Nico's comment gets a small smile out of him anyway, or maybe it's simply the fact Nico is getting comfortable in the claimed room.]

Are you very opposed to the color yellow?

[Only one window is present, but it's enough for Sasuke, even lacking a curtain. He may put one up later when he finds bits of extra cloth. For now, he stands by it and peers out, surveying the view. Flavo doesn't seem to have as many gathered houses as Ruga.

Space. A lot of land. Hm... Sasuke squints gently at something outside, and then he turns to lean back on the sill of the window, gaze lowering to Nico.]

[ Two dads is one too many at a time, Shiro can be more like a big brother instead if he sticks around this place. Though why Shiro would want two Keiths is a mystery.

He shrugs as he puts his laptop on the floor next to him, then digs around his pockets. There's clearly a few somethings in them and Nico doesn't remember having all of it. ]

I guess not. It's okay in small doses. [ A hesitant pause where Nico stops moving around. ] Mostly it reminds me of someone who's... probably not here.

[ The way he says it is with mixed emotions, as if likes said person but doesn't want to admit that much out loud. As Sasuke is taking in the view Nico is unloading his pockets and placing objects on top of the closed laptop lid.

First up is what looks to be a small worn figurine, then a battered scroll. Last is about a dozen dark red seeds - pomegrante seeds which Nico stares down at for the longest time. These can't possibly be... seeds from his stepmother's garden, can they? ]

Hey, did you end up with something you shouldn't have? As in, you were no where near it but it ended up in your pocket.

[ Though he probably shouldn't have them in the sense that these could be pretty bad for him. ]

[Ah... Sasuke's face softens oddly when Nico admits the yellow is a reminder of someone. It feels as if the boy took words right out of his mouth, and, for a moment, he wonders if it's some kind of trick. Maybe the boy actually read his mind, how he felt.

But his mouth closes before he can say anything, and his gaze falls down to the things Nico is putting on top of the laptop.] I don't think so. I am actually missing some things I should have. [Pushing off the window, he wanders over and stops a foot or so from Nico to watch.

Pomegranate seeds?] You came with a supply.

Do they mean anything to you?

[ Being able to pick up on other people's thoughts and feelings is the last ability Nico needs. He already has enough emotional baggage of his own to carry around without adding other people's to it.

The figurine is of a man in a robe and the scroll looks worn as if Nico's looked at it a lot - which he has because he wanted to be mad at Leo when the other demigod came back to Camp. But neither of those items seem to be of surprise to the teen. It's surprising that Sasuke is missing items whereas Nico has gained one. Was there a limit to how many things could come with them?

A frown. ] If these are what I think they are, then they're from my stepmother's garden. They're... special. Eating one will put me in sort of hibernation state - meaning I'll sleep for an entire day, not needing food, water or even a lot of oxygen. It's called Death Trance because it's pretty deathlike, I was told only kids of my father could eat them and survive.

[ Nico has the childish urge to throw them away but if he has them, maybe it means he'll need it. Not a pleasant thought and he shudders visibly. ] I lasted about a week surviving on only these things when some goons put me in an air-tight jar.

[Special pomegranate seeds. Interesting. Nico seems to have quite the wild ride already, being so young. It reminds him of himself, of course. Again.]

Keep them. If you want to hide them, you can hide them here. You don't have to tell me where. I'll make sure no one is being nosy around the house.

[His eye shifts from the figurine to the seeds. Nico has an assortment of things. Sasuke... has shurikens and his sword. But he's missing his scrolls, missing the wire he typically ties to the shurikens for the purpose of surprise.]

What do you mean, "jar"? Literally?

[ There's a moment of debate as he considers Sasuke's offer before he heaves a weary sigh. ]

No, I'll keep them. Trust me when I say that eating these things are the last thing I want to do but there must be a reason these are here.

[ He doesn't want to need them but Nico would rather have them at hand if he does need them than to not. Maybe Nico has these things still because they aren't really useful, mostly just sentimental. The seeds go back in his coat pocket. ]

Literally, a jar. Not one that could just be smashed either.

Edited 2018-09-19 20:25 (UTC)

I see.

[Literally a fucking jar. Who the hell stuck Nico in a jar? Why did they stick Nico in a jar? Sasuke has so many questions, but he's unsure if he really wants to know the likely ridiculous answer to any of them.]

You'll have to tell me that story sometime. [He tips his head in a nod down at the other things Nico had squirreled away in the pockets.] Who is that?

[The figure, he means.]

[ His first reaction is to shoot that down - to not want to tell the story of how he ended up in the jar or even just give Sasuke the Cliff Notes. After all, who wants to talk about the time they walked through the lowest levels of hell. Also literal.

But Nico can clearly recall the words he said to Reyna about being halfway to Asphodel if you don't use your voice. ] Sure. Sometime.

[ Now he looks down at the other things and picks up the figurine, then turning it around so Sasuke can see it. ] It's supposed to be my dad, Hades. Doesn't really look like him though.

Edited 2018-09-20 00:29 (UTC)

[Maybe it's why Sasuke offered Nico the opportunity to tell him the tale at his own pace. It's easier that way. He knows.

Carefully, Sasuke reaches out and down to open his palm at Nico and the figurine, wondering if the boy will allow him to hold it and inspect it. If so, his gaze is simply scrutinizing for the details, nothing more.] Hm.

It reminds me of something at home. [It makes him think of Hokage Rock. The faces of all the former Hokage and current Hokage carved into the stone overlooking the village.]

What does he look like?

[ Before he encouraged Reyna, Nico had been content to not talk about it with anyone. He doesn't want to have said that to her and not follow his own advice.

It shows just how much he trusts Sasuke already that he places the figurine in the man's hand. This is the only physical object he has left of Bianca - something she was never able to deliver herself. ]

Home? You have figures of important people? [ Technically this is part of a game Nico used to play... that he collected.

The question has the teen looking up at Sasuke and he hums quietly. ] A little bit like you, I guess.

[ Huh, maybe that's why Nico seems to trust him so much already. ]

[While turning the figurine gently over in his fingers, his eye skips across to Nico at the comparison. There's a curious, strange look in his eyes, as if he wants Nico to elaborate--physically? in personality?--but he actually doesn't ask anything about why or how.

Finished, he lowers his hand again and offers the figurine cradled in his palm back to Nico for safe keeping. Just an idol, it seemed like really, but holding it, the weight of it.

Perhaps something with enough memento it's mystical.]

Hokage Rock. The leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, the Hokage. It's an esteemed position. All of the Hokage have their face carved into the mountain which overlooks our village, starting with the first.

There's seven now. [A pause.

Sasuke's voice is surprisingly gentle. Maybe it's the previous wanting to ask without asking.] Do you dislike him? Your father.

[ If asked, he'd just say both. Though Sasuke might have that vibe of being deadly, it isn't quite to the extent as his father. Hades wants to appear powerful and dangerous where as it's more subtle with the ninja. Then Hades has black hair and eyes, pale skin, wears dark clothing - though some of the details are a bit different. He's like walking death.

Once the tiny statue is back in his hands, he tucks it into his coat pocket where he usually keeps it. Not exactly the safest place but this way it's with him.

He listens as Sasuke describes his world's version of Mount Rushmore... only it sounds more crowded. ]

Seven faces and they haven't run out of mountain yet? Must be a big mountain. [ A slight joke. ] So is the Hokage position passed down from parent to child?

[ Some cultures do things that way but not all of them so he's curious.

Then Sasuke asks about Nico's feelings on his father. ] Not really, mostly he just frustrates me sometimes. And he helps me out in his own way. Most of the gods and goddesses don't interact with their kids whereas mine keeps a room for me in his palace whenever I visit.

[The joke gets the first bit of a smile out of him.] It is a big mountain. [Admitted in a way he knows Nico was pulling his leg, but he wanted to clarify it was, in fact, large enough for seven faces.

The second smile is... kinder, fainter, and it comes when Nico talks about his father. It's enough for Sasuke to know Hades is probably not Literally The Worst, and... well, Sasuke can appreciate that, being who he is, what kind of father he's been.

An understanding between dads who try their best the best they can.] Fathers can be frustrating. [He is, too.]

A Hokage is chosen by the retiring Hokage, and they are usually a student. If something has happened to the existing Hokage before a successor is chosen, then a successor is selected by the daimyo of our country. This choice goes through many councils for approval.

The Hokage is someone who is both the strongest ninja and the one who understands how to protect our village. The one who knows what it truly means to be a ninja.

Sometimes, people in the same family can become Hokage at different times. The current Hokage, Naruto--his father was the Fourth Hokage.

[ Idly he wonders what they intend to do when they run out of room on the mountain. Will new one have to move to the backside? That would be unfair. He kind of wants to complain that having those faces look down at them all of the time must be weird but knows from experience that the gods do watch them sometimes.

There are some things that Nico has a hard time accepting about his father such as they way he washed away their memories five years ago leaving him with hardly any memories of his mother or how Hades tried to lock him away when everyone else was getting ready for war. (Forget the fact that Nico was about Sarada's age at the time.) But he can at least accept that it was his father's way of protecting him. Nico figures he's allowed to disagree or dislike it - that he's not alone in feeling that way sometimes.

Breathes out a sigh. ] I wish he was less frustrating about some things.

[ As Sasuke talks, he listens quietly to the explanation. It's definitely an interesting way of doing things but understanable. For a village of ninja, picking the strongest and one who understands seems like the way to go. Also makes sense that some bloodlines might be stronger than others.

But there's something more interesting than the way Hokage are chosen. ]

Naruto... You said that name earlier. [ Spoken with curiosity but Nico doesn't outright ask who that person is to Sasuke. ]

[Having not spent much time in the village over the last ten years, much less spent time with Sarada, Sasuke wonders if she thinks the same thing about him. This isn't the first (or the last) time he'll consider her and their relationship.

Does she wish he would be less frustrating? "Papa, you're too strict. Papa, are you leaving again?"] Yes. Naruto, the loser. Usuratonkachi.

Always a thorn in my side. [He looks away, back toward the window, but whether or not he's avoiding Nico's gaze or reminiscing about Naruto, it's uncertain. Maybe both.] ...And my one true friend. [He's not sure if he's ever said this to anyone, not since the day he swore neither of them would leave the Valley.]

It was his dream to become Hokage ever since he was a boy. He finally did, that stupid halfwit.

[ According to Nico and every other person he knows (which mostly includes demigods, gods and the even more powerful titans) the answer is yes. Though the quantity of frustration varies with each family, along with what kids do about it.

As Sasuke describes this Naruto person, to Nico the man sounds both fond and yet exhasperated. A feeling he can relate to. He also sort of figures that Sasuke probably doesn't want this spread around town which Nico can and will honor. ]

The guy attached himself to you and wouldn't give up on being your friend. [ Nico sounds very certain about this. Even though the ninja calls Naruto all sorts of names, he might not approve of others doing the same and the teen is filing that information away in case he ever meets the guy. ]

He's not here?

[The lack of answer to the first comment is very telling on Sasuke's part. An unspoken agreement; Naruto was a leech, always attached. Even after Sasuke tried so hard to get them to hate him... and most did, even Sakura more than likely, a little, in her own way.

But Naruto? Naruto had been an idiot, never giving up on him. On their friendship. He won't ever be able to repay such a debt. In the end, he is more hurt because he knows he never deserved that sort of kindness.

Not after the things he did.] He's not.

It isn't good for a Hokage to leave the people of the village unexpectedly. He should be there, for everyone and for our families.

[ Nico was one of those kids who felt unwanted at camp and therefore pushed everyone away until one day some guy just told him he was wrong. Who said he wanted Nico around. It may have taken four years and a lot of heartache but he found a place he wanted to be.

So he gets it. Having someone attach themselves, who kept following him or going out of their way to find him - Nico's pretty sure it saved his life.

A bit of a scoff. ]

Should be doesn't always mean he will be. It's not like I asked to be kidnapped by a well. Somehow I doubt whatever brought us here cares about where we should be.

Event Ten.

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