[Prologue, Tuesday: Nico]

[doublecrows]

[Akechi doesn't spend too much time mulling over the tapestries, but he is there long enough to read through each one more than once. which is a pretty good time to catch him for conversation, actually!]

['sup Nico, this detective kid is free to be approached at any time, even though he looks kind of distracted staring at his own profile]

Did they have to put it so. . . bluntly?

Comments

[resumed]

And incredibly unwilling to let anyone have a chance to overthrow them. [A quiet, cynical part of him says that everyone has something to hide but he doesn't bring it up. Akechi answered enough and Nico looks back at his own tapestry again.]

Does that mean I can come back to you again if I have further questions?

[doublecrows]

It does. So long as I can ask you questions in return, Di Angelo.

[quid pro quo! answers for answers]

[resumed]

[A h.]

...I guess so. But I'm not sure I'll have answers you're looking for, depending on the question. [Fire away, Akechi. He's not sure where this is going but he'll allow it should he choose.]

[doublecrows]

You have a Stygian iron sword.

[oh. straight for the good stuff]

How did you acquire such a unique weapon?

[resumed]

[Oh. The sword, huh? He's not entirely surprised and Riordan never friggin tells us but he shrugs a little.]

I picked it up in my travels a few years ago. [Mostly true.]

[doublecrows]

From the river Styx?

[he knows what Stygian means!!]

[resumed]

...yes. [Goddamnit. But sure, fine, so he knows that part.] It was easy enough.

[doublecrows]

That sounds like quite the journey. I'd be interested in hearing about it sometime, if you wouldn't mind retelling it.

You must be very impressive to have retrieved a weapon from a notoriously dangerous place.

[resumed]

[Haha he definitely minds, sorry Akechi. But he shrugs a little.]

It's not that dangerous for me. And it's not that dangerous if you know what to look for. It's not that impressive of a story to tell.

[doublecrows]

[sorry he's a nosy asshole!!]

It may not seem impressive to you, because you lived it. But to someone like me, who has never made a journey so dangerous, that's a completely different story.

[resumed]

[Give him a moment to think of how to angle this.]

Does that mean you believe it's true? That places like the Styx exist.

[doublecrows]

[another quirk of a brow]

It's less a matter of whether I believe in it or not and more a matter of knowing better than to deny what is right in front of me. Regardless of how it may interact with my personal beliefs.

[resumed]

[He'll mimic the look at least. Like. Yes, true, but he's met enough people who still can't quite wrap their heads around the things they see or hear. Mist or not, he's interested how this applies to the castle.]

You're the only person so far who's even asked about the sword and recognized where it would have come from. Interesting thing to pick up on, too. But you could see why I would be interested in your Persona then.

[doublecrows]

I can.

[smile smile smile]

Which may be part of the reason I answered honestly. One has to give something to get something, yes?

[resumed]

Like an equal trade? I think so. I'd like to believe people would be interested in balance but that's not always the case. [Thanks Dad.] Were there other reasons to answer honestly then?

[doublecrows]

I already gave you the other reason. I have nothing to hide, and I'm not ashamed of sharing my abilities.

[resumed]

[A contemplative look.]

Just curious. And just making sure. People are bound to keep some things to themselves, so the extra confirmation's nice. That's all.

[doublecrows]

[a head tilt]

That's true. Not every secret is worth sharing. Not every secret is something that can be shared. But mine are all out in the open, so feel free to ask anything.

[almost anything]

[Akechi talks more than he walks, after all]

[resumed]

I'll keep that in mind going forward. I think we're going to have a lot of time to get to know each other. All of us.

[doublecrows]

Indeed. Whether we like it or not.

[that sounds so ominous]

[resumed]

[...that. That does sound ominous, what the fuck Akechi. It's then that Nico takes the cue and nods, taking a step back.]

Right. I should go find Reyna...but we can talk later if you'd like.

[doublecrows]

I think I would like that, Di Angelo.

Until next time, then?

[resumed]

[A thin, uneasy smile.] Until next time.

[Al obviously I want new PCs in the future plz and thank you, but for now Nico's going to head off.]