Come With Me Now

Nico Daimen 23 Years Old Assistant at Pandora Group Home "They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, well I should be strong as fuck by now."

[nicowitch]

Even after three years in Pandora, Nico doesn’t consider it home. Home is an old brick house full of boys; it’s coming home to the smell of spaghetti, and the sound of people everywhere. Home is being scolded in Spanish, then wrapped in a warm hug to make up for it. Home is cheering on a niece in a hockey game, and being there for the birth of a new one. It’s the big pine tree in the backyard, and breaking his arm for the second time falling out of the tree house in it. It’s memories and family and everything he didn’t have, until he was given it.

And sometimes, he imagines a different home. One he hardly remembers, with Superman sheets on his bed, and a fireplace he had no fear of in the living room. It’s the neighbors down the street who told him they were sorry they couldn’t take him and his sister in, and a living room full of presents on Christmas.

[nicowitch]

kaden-summers:

“That’s really not a better answer, Nico.” Kaden said with a small chuckle before taking a sip of her coffee. “But it’s nice to meet you too. Have you lived in town long?”

“Well, it’s the best I’ve got. I mean, I do a lot of stupid shit, I’ll probably end up in the hospital at some point.” He grinned as he said it, cupping his coffee in his hands. “About three years now. You?”

[nicowitch]

andreaxemerson:

She liked his smile, it was infectious, causing her own smile to spread. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind then, although I expect it to be kind of hard to get used to anyway. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to be the new kid, so to speak,” she chuckled, though she was being honest. Trying to make friends was probably the one thing she was most worried about. “Nice to meet you, too, Nico! So uh, anything specific you recommend I try from here?”

“Yeah, and I’m sorry to say that you’ll be the new kid for awhile. There’s a lot of old-ass people here, think they’re special because they lived so long.” Nico informed her with a shrug. It was the truth, he had found far too many people who discounted him for his age. “I usually go for a caramel macchiato, extra shot of caramel. But I don’t really like to taste my coffee.”

[nicowitch]

calvinxgallagher:

“Can’t it be both?” he questioned with a wink and took in another pull, exhaled slowly. “I mean, who could pass up a stranger like you in an alleyway?”

Nico couldn’t help but laugh at that, taking a pull and releasing the smoke into the air. “I can’t really argue with that, can I? I’m pretty irresistible.”

[nicowitch]

number47grey:

Small nod, as Luca licked his lips slowly, a simple nod. “Wow—“ He grinned for the moment. “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything but—since you brought it up…” The pause was the hit he was joking, but given his usual unreadable demeanor, he grinned slightly. “I’m kidding. I’ve been here about six months—usually keep to myself. So—uh, what is it you do in town, Nico?” It was Luca’s poor shot at integrating himself into the public.

Nico was well aware that his humor took a lot to get used to, and was delighted when the other man seemed to roll with it. He’d had more than a little bit of practice when it came to realizing when someone was teasing, so he just smiled at the man’s words. “Hey, one man’s trash and all, right?” He said lightheartedly. “Oh, I help run the shelter in town. Probably why we haven’t met, I’m usually running around like a crazy person. What about you?”

[nicowitch]

sera-pembroke:

“Oh, totally,” Sera laughed lightly, “Well, anyway, if you’re lookin’ to kick the habit for good, I really hope you do. I’m sure whoever you’re kissin’ wouldn’t mind it either.”

Nico had to laugh at that one, shaking his head. “I’m afraid that there’s no one I’m kissing, so that’s not the best motivator.”

[nicowitch]

“When the Grim Reaper comes for you, you gotta look him in the eye and tell him to go fuck himself. At least then you can go out fighting.”

[nicowitch]

kendallxkane:

Oh, he was twenty-three. Kendall was practically in love by that point. Innocence reigned from the boy, and the vampire was utterly giddy at the idea. “Well honey, I’m sure you can make fun out of anything.” Tongue perched between her teeth, she turned, shrugging. “Me? Nine-hundred and fifty years old.” She allowed the silence to brew for a moment, but smiled. “But I betcha would’ve never guessed that, huh?”

“I mean, I do my best.” He said with a smile, inching forward with the line. He could usually keep track of people through magic, although it was anything but precise. Hence the fact that he’d bumped into her in the first place. He tilted his head when she revealed her age, the only hint of surprise in his posture. “Honestly, I stopped being surprised at people’s ages after about a year here. I no longer have expectations.”

[nicowitch]

andreaxemerson:

“I think I can handle that, even if it will take some getting used to.” A grin spread across her face at the thought. She was sure she would occasionally miss the hustle of the city, but things being slower would feel more like her childhood, something she looked forward to. “Oh nice, do you like it better than San Diego so far? I feel like the only thing I’m going to really miss is having any kind of food delivered to me at any and all hours,” the blonde added with a chuckle. “I’m Andrea by the way.”

“It takes a lot of getting used to after a big city, trust me.” He told her with a smile of his own. It took adjusting, but he liked it now. He liked knowing most of the people he bumped into on the street. “I don’t know that I like it better, but it’s definitely good.” He told her with a shrug. “I’m Nico, good to meet you.”

[nicowitch]

calvinxgallagher:

“I’m easy to please.” Tucking the cigarette into a corner of his mouth, Calvin offered his hand. “Good to meet, man. Calvin.”

“Calvin, good to meet you.” Nico nodded, shaking a new cigarette out of the box and putting it between his lips before he lit it with his fingered, a practiced motion. “So do you often walk down alleyways, or were you just drawn in by me?”

[nicowitch]

sera-pembroke:

“Well, good for you,” She reached out, clapping a hand to his shoulder, “I’d rather you smoke a cigarette then do some other heinous drug to whisk away your troubles.” She shrugged, “Makes my life a little easier.”

He was pretty sure he mostly hid the jolt when her hand landed on his shoulder without him expecting it. “I mean, I considered meth, but I also like my teeth, so it’s a tough call, you know?”

[nicowitch]

selenaxgarcia:

The Blue Moon wasn’t her first choice in town for employment, but it was the first one that paid well enough to call it home for the time being. Not that she had a choice in the matter. It was quickly made aware as much as it was with the notion of her world. She worried if she hated or loved it. It always resided on a line she wasn’t aware of. Exhausted, in dire need of a lot of food, she moved to enter the town’s infamous Speedy’s diner for a tuna melt. Sliding into the nearest seat, as a throat cleared, and she jumped out of the seat. “Is this someone’s seat?” Selena asked the nearest person.

Nico was a terrible cook. He had been before he went blind, and it only got worse when he couldn’t see something to keep his attention. Everything was burned or undercooked, never in between. So he tended to eat out a lot, and Speedy’s was the easiest place. He was slowly working his way through their menu, and was about halfway through. He did jump, just a bit, when someone spoke right next to him. “Uh, no. Sorry. I don’t think so.”

[nicowitch]

andreaxemerson:

“That’s what I was told,” she said with a smile. Her head tipped to the side as she pondered his question, her teeth nibbling at her lower lip. “It’s really different so far…so much slower, which, to be honest I really like so far.” It was nice, being able to wake up and actually have silence for a little while. Of course, being in a smaller, slower town meant it would be harder to fit in and make friends, but she figured she could get there eventually… “What about you? I mean, have you lived here long?”

“It’s a lot slower than the city. Everyone doesn’t seem to mind so much when things don’t get done right away.” That had been one of the hardest adjustments for him to make, being willing to wait a day or two for anything. In the end though, it was one of the things he liked most, because it gave time to stop and talk. “I’ve been here about three years, but I was in San Diego before now, so I understand the transition.”

[nicowitch]

calvinxgallagher:

Blowing out smoke, Calvin just smiled for a moment. “Oh man. You just made my week so much nicer,” he sighed in agreement.

Nico couldn’t help but chuckle at that, shaking his head. “I think it’d have to be something stronger to make the whole week better, but whatever you say, man.”

[nicowitch]

number47grey:

Letting out a laugh, head lightly thrown back as he snickered. Luca didn’t find time, nor patience, to speak to the people around town—his job did that enough now more than it had been. But the kid seemed innocent enough to speak to him. “Well, as long as you got something goin’ for you, I can’t argue that.” Sipping the coffee—wishing he doused it with a shot of whiskey—eyes fell to his hand. “You too—Luca Grey. You been here long?” Ah, socializing. What a difference six months makes in a man.

Nico grinned when the man laughed, feeling a bit of satisfaction in that. He’d decided when he was much younger that the least he could do was try to make people smile, instead of frown when they saw him. It usually worked, too. “I do try. I mean, I assume my good looks are still there, or else people feel too sorry for me to say otherwise.” He said with a shrug, hands still in his pockets. He tended to miss social cues far too often, leading to some potential offense, but he could usually make up for it. “About three years now. How about you?” 

[nicowitch]

sera-pembroke:

“Keep your money,” Sera said, eyeing the still lit cigarette butt on the ground, “It’s a nasty habit but once I’ve yet to kick myself. Secret’s safe with me, kid.”

“I’ve got it mostly kicked.” Nico protested lightly. “Just sometimes, I hit a rough week.”

[nicowitch]

professorxblack:

“I suppose it isn’t so bad—though if you’re looking for suggestions, cutting it out all together might be the best option.” He threw his hands up as a plea for surrender. “I mean, I’m not your parent, but as a teacher, it’s my professional duty to say that out loud. What you do afterwords is your decision.” The grin matched his. “On a totally unrelated subject, got one to spare?”

“I’ve got it mostly cut out, just have a hard week every now and then and it helps me relax.” Nico gave a light shrug, not taking any offense to the advice. “I think I’m a bit past having to listen to my teachers, which I’m sure everyone is grateful for.” He laughed and pulled out the box, holding it in the direction of the man’s voice. “You need a light?”