like song

madin • writing side blog • ao3 pjo, hxh, hq

[madin-writes]

a home in every haunting

fandom: percy jackson pairings: valdangelo words: 5.7k

chapter 1/5:

Everyone knows that after making a promise on the River Styx, you either do everything in your power to fulfill it or die trying. Leo Valdez is no exception to this rule—he had tried, gods know he tried his hardest. But he had also died in the process. And somehow, his spirit, his soul, has found its way back to Camp Half-Blood. Specifically, to Nico, possibly the only person left on earth who is able to see him in his current form.

Or: Nico di Angelo is being haunted.

read on ao3

[toskarin]

do you think insight can be gained about an author from the stories they write?

no. authors are like squids and can only be understood through spirited but ultimately futile combat

[rhinco]

i love you semicolon. no one look at my 80 word sentence

[madin-writes]

Chiron gathers all the winners together for a group photo to officially commemorate the end of this year’s chariot race. Before Nico even has a choice, Christopher grabs his wrist to pull him toward the center of the group. Nyssa falls into place on his other side, arm wrapping around Nico’s shoulder, and face pressed against his. The rest of the Hephaestus kids get into position as well, all of them accepting Nico as one of their own like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and warmth spreads throughout his body despite the chilly breeze that blows by.

How lucky, Nico thinks, that he gets to experience being claimed twice. First, by his godly parent, and now, by the family he’s chosen for himself.

When Chiron counts down for the picture, Nico smiles. He smiles like he can’t help it, like the celebration of victory is precious and the joy he feels from being part of a team and having his hard work pay off stretches his mouth open and spills out behind his teeth. Bright, yellow, contagious.

He has no doubt that he’s smiling the widest out of everyone there. Specifically, he’s smiling at Leo, who stands behind the camera with two thumbs up in the air, floating higher and higher as the excitement causes him to lose touch with gravity.

Maybe it’s not so bad, being haunted.

read on ao3

[twofoldzines]

@nlieco will be contributing as a lore writer!

[madin-writes]

Leo gets like this sometimes: eyes unfocused, expression carefully neutral, contemplative and wistful like he’s not really there. The stark contrast to his usual demeanor throws Nico off, but it also makes him curious enough to keep looking.

It makes him wonder: How much of himself does Leo keep hidden from the rest of the world? How many people have seen him, the real him, and how many people have even bothered to try? What does it mean, then, for him to lower his guard and allow Nico a glimpse inside, either subconsciously or otherwise?

Catching his gaze, Leo snaps out of it. His previous expression is gone, replaced by an easy smile, head tilted to the side in question. And Nico blinks, pressing his own lips together in an attempt to smile back, though he’s not quite sure how successful he is.

He closes his eyes. Recenters himself. Opens them again.

Leo is still looking at him.

This time, when Nico turns to look out at the world around them, at the bodies of their fellow campers moving about, at the collective effort to build a new sense of normalcy after the war, he sees everything through Leo’s eyes. The change in perspective is startling.

Because it’s one thing to die and leave everything you’ve ever known and loved behind. It’s another thing entirely to watch as the rest of the world moves on without you.

read on ao3

[skyrim-forever]

idk if this has been done but

[sadocanist]

I would be so good at haunting you after i die

[thebibliosphere]

Floating face down in a blank word document file, while not physically possible, is nevertheless a tangible authorial state.

[madin-writes]

Leo gets like this sometimes: eyes unfocused, expression carefully neutral, contemplative and wistful like he’s not really there. The stark contrast to his usual demeanor throws Nico off, but it also makes him curious enough to keep looking.

It makes him wonder: How much of himself does Leo keep hidden from the rest of the world? How many people have seen him, the real him, and how many people have even bothered to try? What does it mean, then, for him to lower his guard and allow Nico a glimpse inside, either subconsciously or otherwise?

Catching his gaze, Leo snaps out of it. His previous expression is gone, replaced by an easy smile, head tilted to the side in question. And Nico blinks, pressing his own lips together in an attempt to smile back, though he’s not quite sure how successful he is.

He closes his eyes. Recenters himself. Opens them again.

Leo is still looking at him.

This time, when Nico turns to look out at the world around them, at the bodies of their fellow campers moving about, at the collective effort to build a new sense of normalcy after the war, he sees everything through Leo’s eyes. The change in perspective is startling.

Because it’s one thing to die and leave everything you’ve ever known and loved behind. It’s another thing entirely to watch as the rest of the world moves on without you.

read on ao3

[24x81]

what they don't tell you about writing is that you're gonna spend way more time moving those guys across a room than you ever thought you would

[grunklebongrip]

When a fic doesn’t fit my head canons but it’s well-written

[signalfirefly]

#he wouldn't fucking say that but i'm getting kind of attached to the guy you invented who did say that

[geneeste]

@mrv3000 telling truths in the tags:

[unalivejournal]

Nobody knows if writing a story is possible

[madin-writes]

my computer almost fucking died last night while i was doing final edits for this fic. which is to say leo is not only haunting nico but also ME

anyway, we persist. my computer has fixed itself overnight, thank god. i will be posting in a few min!

[madin-writes]

Nico sighs. “My point is, you’re loud and obnoxious and fucking annoying at times,” he lists off the traits as easily as reciting a grocery list. And Leo pouts, opening his mouth like he’s about to protest, when Nico continues, “But you’re not replaceable, Valdez. Don’t ever think that.”

The words clearly surprise Leo, who blinks, taken aback. They surprise Nico too, when he realizes just how much he means them now that they’ve been spoken aloud. Heat rushes to his cheeks and he feels embarrassed suddenly, not knowing why, and turns away on instinct.

“Careful,” Leo says eventually, a slow grin spreading across his face. “If I didn’t know any better, that almost sounded like a confession.”

read on ao3

[madin-writes]

started a new job recently and adjusting to it is kicking my ass but i WILL post the haunting valdangelo fic soon even if it kills me

[lazybakerart]

please write what you want. please pick the tiniest detail of a character and exaggerate it into a 50k fic. please don’t let canon hold you back. please write whatever you want however you want. please.