so Nico had to lose his fucking voice to save his ass for him to finally notice him? Damn, Percy got them standards pretty high 😂😂😂😂
I'm joking, tho it's crazy how everything worked against them. Between Nico not accepting his feelings for the guy who let his sister die and avoiding him any chance he got and Percy thinking the boy hated him because of said accident, of course something big like in riverbed had to happen for them to finally communicate (which you made ironic by removing Nico's way of communication). Still gotta hand it to Percy to stick by his side while he thinks Nico legit can't see his face, boy got guts testing the son of Hades like that haha. I often ask myself why Nico loves him so much but I guess that's the answer right? "That guy won t give up on someone he believes hates him (and could potentialy seek revengeon him?) He must be mad.... that's pretty hot tho" 😂 They're idiots and they deserve each other 💘
Beautiful chapter as usual 😊
Thank you!
Yeah, I think what makes Nico's feelings for Percy work so well is show don't tell. We're told Nico's crush is just Hero worship, but what the narrative shows is that the pedestal was broken when Percy couldn't save Bianca. Nico has known Percy is flawed since nearly the beginning, but Percy never gives up on Nico. Ever. And that means a lot to a guy who people just... give up on all the time (from camp basically declaring him a lost cause after he runs away to Hades saying he wished Bianca had been the one to survive). And Nico responds that by being just as devoted.
The main hurdle is that Percy's devoted to Nico, but he doesn't know him, because Nico doesn't want anyone to know him, while Nico refuses to believe that Percy's devotion could ever be more than guilt. Hence, most of my serious plots being about forcing them into situations where Nico has no choice but to believe it and Percy having to confront knowing Nico more intimately and realizing how much he actually means to him.
I've only recently started to simp for the submas bosses. And now that I do I think about Pokemon battles every time I take the train home and how small of a space that is. And I just wanted to share with you some of my thoughts. I feel like if I think too much about how the battle trains would work it loses all sense. Is there a size limit to the Pokemon you can bring? If not like what if a trainer brought a wailord? Restrictions on moves? I feel like moves like Earthquake, self destruct, and almost any electric type moves might cause some safety concerns. I can see why there is such a focus on safety protocols cuz it's all just one giant hazard. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.
Sam and I actually thought a lot about how the Battle Subway works! Ingo and Emmet are confirmed to be very strict about safety rules, so it would be out of the question to have battles in the train. Instead, it would be similar to what the anime had: a special train separate from the main line that transports trainers to a special arena.
The only reason why so much promo artwork depicts battles taking place in the train is, well, to promote the Battle Subway and to entice trainers to participate. Of course, the brothers wouldn't like this one bit! It's false advertising AND would be a huge safety violation!!
I kinda feel bad for the pressure you may be put under for updating the Tomiyoka/kouchou family AU. People love your work. I hope you are taking it easy man 👌
Tbh it doesn’t really pressure me as I could separate IRL and online stuff (as in, when needed I could just back off from internet for a while). It’s more like my own disappointment for not holding up to my own update schedule lol o<-<
I’d love to update it as often as I could if I have more time, but most of the time I’m usually too tired from my full-time job. And sometimes when I got the time, another thing came up that I must prioritize first... life is full of unexpected things like that.
Thank you for your concern and understanding though! I’m glad that you enjoy it :’)
I got a prompt for you, one day during breakfast, Emmy can't help but ask her papa if he's in the Mafia? (Which makes Percy laugh and choke on his cereals). Why such a question you may ask? Well she's still a kid and had (secretly) watched some mob movies and since her papa's italian, goes on long dangerous missions, sometimes comes back a little worn out, knows very well that he can be serious and scary, sees all the expencive gifts he gives Percy ( yes, Percy the mob husband 😂) and well their overall lifestyle is pretty cushy, without knowing the full details of her papa's job, that's the thing her kid brain comes up with. I got the idea after rewatching that episode 's of the sopranos where the mob chief's daughter asks her dad if he's in the mafia. I thought it was hilarious 🤷♂️
You could hear a pin drop.
Not even Asher, toddler that he was, dared to make a sound.
The table was completely quiet as Emilia, just 5 years old, looked at her papa, waiting for his response.
The silence was broken by the girl's dad, Percy Jackson, laughing uncontrollably as he dropped the spoon, splattering his shirt with baby food.
Nico di Angelo, seemingly back from whatever haunted mindscape his daughter's question brought, glared briefly at his husband before turning back to his oldest.
"Emmy, where did you hear that word?" He asked as gently as he could.
Emilia frowned. She hated when her parents dodged her questions.
"Papa's from Italy," she said, trying to sound smart and mature. "I looked for movies from there."
"Set in there, Emmy," Percy corrected her. Struggling to breathe between laughs. "Most of those movies are American."
"Principessa," Nico said, bringing her attention back to him. "You know not every Italian belongs to the Mafia, right?"
"But it makes sense for you!" She insisted. "You sometimes leave, and, and, I don't see you for days! You come back beat up!"
Percy had tears coming out of his eyes as laughter bubbled up again.
"Sweetie, you know I monster hunt," he reminded her. It was awkward to actually explain he was sort of a cross between bounty hunter and gofer for gods, so 'Monster Hunter' had to suffice until his daughter was older.
"Because you work for the monster mafia!" There was no doubt in his daughter voice as she said it. "Dad says money doesn't come out of nowhere. The monsters pay you to take out other monsters!"
Nico winced. Emilia was not exactly wrong, but... that line of thinking would not amuse the gods as much as his husband, who was now being patted by a worried Asher, who was babbling at him.
"Yes, Emmy, I get paid to take out monsters, but the ones paying me are... people like your grandfather."
"Family business," she said in an Italian accent so bad Nico knew she was quoting one of those movies. "And you use the money to buy pretty things for dad!"
Percy's laughter died instantly as he looked at himself, probably realizing he was wearing the blue designer sweater Nico had bought him for Christmas last year.
"Emmy, is that what you thing of your dad?" He asked, pouting. "I work too, you know? I'm not a trophy husband."
"Erika worked too," she told him. "But it was Marco that bought her all the pretty and shiny stuff."
And maybe Nico and Percy had been part of this demigod world for far too long, because both turned to look at each other, doubting.
What they did when they were kids, what Nico did for a living... was pretty similar to what mafia movies were about. Rivalries within the family, violence and romance and drama... It was eerily similar.
To the movies, that is.
"Emmy, the Mafia are... bad guys. They hurt people. Do you think I'd do that?"
Emilia's eyes widened and she shook her head.
"Never! But... Marco is a good guy!" she said innocently. "He loves Erika a lot!"
"It's a movie, darling," Nico said. "In real life, those people don't care who they hurt as long as they get money."
"I... I didn't know that..."
"It's okay, but you might have hurt your papa by asking that," Percy said. "If you want to know more abiout Italy, just ask him next time."
"I'm sorry papa," she said, trying hard not to cry.
"As your dad said, it's okay," Nico said. "We'll go to Italy soon, okay, and you can learn and ask all you want."
His daughter sniffled and hugged him.
"O-okay."
"Now, let's get back to dinner, I think the chicken is getting cold." Asher bablled again. "And your brother was really liking his food too."
He looked at Percy expectantly, who obediently took the baby food and took a new spoonful. He would get back at him eventually for laughing at him.
His family was known for holding grudges, after all.
What do you think Percy and Nico think of Disney's Hercules ?
Oh, Percy loves it. I feel that whenever someone calls him out for liking it he has to start with a disclaimer that of course he knows the real Hercules is a dick, and that both gods and monsters are depicted in really inaccurate ways, but the movie was part of his childhood and he has a soft spot for it.
Nico is less forgiving. He's tired of Hades and the Underworld being Hollywood's go-to villain, and he didn't grow up with the movie, so he's ruthless. He still likes it ironically, though, often mocking the character design and dialogues when they watch it, and he feels uncomfortably represented by Megara ("He actually kills her in a bout of insanity" "You're just mad that her song is about you"). Also, he thinks Hercules is really hot (though he'll never admit it).
I propose the follwing prompt: Emmy and Ash already know their papa is super strong and scary but never got to see their dad's angry powerful side until he saves them one day from an attack (god/monster your choice really) without breaking so much as a sweat. At the end, Percy unable to look his children in the eyes fearing to see the dread from that side of him on their faces gets surprised as his kids are starstruck and just in awe of him 🤩 (just like a certain young child of Hades years ago hehe). Bonus points if it s from Percy's pov.
Also bonus points if happens on Halloween since we re at it 🎃
Percy felt his blood pumping as he ran towards the alleyway.
He had been against Emilia and Asher going Trick or Treating alone. Emmy was just 12, and they lived in Manhattan, but Nico had insisted that they would be fine.
Once they were out of earshot, his husband had told Percy to tail them to make sure they would be all right.
"I knew it!" Percy said triumphantly. "You're scared too!"
Nico had rolled his eyes and given him a kiss to shut him up.
"I trust Emilia to take care of herself and her brother... in normal mortal situations," Nico had said seriously. "But they are not mortals, and Halloween is teeming with monsters ready to gobble up any unsuspecting demigod or legacy."
"Emmy will have her sword and Ash his lance," Percy had pointed out. They had already agreed on Wonder Woman and some anime character Percy was not familiar with to make the weapons more inconspicuous. "But mortals... you can't trust them."
"Tell you what," Nico had said. "Keep an eye on them. We hope nothing happens, and Emmy's happy we are giving them more responsibility, deal?"
Percy had smiled.
"Everybody wins."
"Except the guy stuck giving out candy," Nico had said as he pointed at himself.
But Nico had been wrong.
His children had been dragged away on their trip before he could notice, and he was not as good a tracker as his husband.
"Excuse me, did you see a snake woman and a cyclops dragging Wonder Woman and a boy with blue hair?" He asked a group of kids.
Gods, he loved that this type of question wasn't seen as demented on this holiday.
A boy dressed as Flash pointed at arusty door down the pier.
"Thanks!" He said quickly.
Before he took off, he heard one of the kids shout, "Cool Roman armor!"
"Actually, it's Greek!" He shouted back, grinning.
He rushed through the opened door, and the first thing he saw was three monsters sorrounding his kids. Emilia had her sword raised as she covered Asher with her body, the boy holding his lance horizontally and covering his sister's back.
"Why bring us here and not just eat us in the open?" Emilia said. Percy smiled. Good, she was making time, just like he taught her.
"Becausse you are the bait!" The dracaena hissed. "Lure for our prey!"
"And like, you can also be the starter once the main course gets here!" The third figure drawled, and Percy's blood ran cold. "I want to see him screaming in despair!"
Kelli.
"'s good marinade," the cyclops grunted, but Percy ignored his words, stuck on the Empousa.
They had cornered, kidnapped, and threatening his children to get to him.
Percy saw red.
He jumped, using Riptide to stab the cyclops in the heart and immediately after cut off the dracaena's head. Both turned into dust before Kelli turned, eyes wide.
Percy didn't stop, he slashed low, cutting off her bronze leg and making her stumble, and then willed all the moisture around the empousa to condense around her head, making a water bubble.
Kelli screamed, but only bubbles came out of her.
"Get close to my family again, and I'll make sure you don't reform," Percy said in a cold voice. "I'll take almost all the fluids from your body, leaving you with just enough to keep you alive, eternally living as a desecated hag."
Kelli shook her head, eyes wide with terror. Percy stabbed again, this time on her chest, turning the monstrous cheerleader into dust like her lackeys.
He turned to look at his kids, who were staring at him, wide-eyed.
Percy cursed. This couldn't be happening.
"Hey, Emmy, Ash," he said, too afraid to step towards them. "Are you okay?"
Asher nodded slightly. He tried moving towards him, but Emilia held him back.
Crap.
"Look, about what you saw, it was—"
"Oh no!" Emilia stomped her foot, angry. Percy blinked. "You were following us, mister! You don't trust us!"
Percy felt his brain stop working. What?
"Uh..."
"And don't think that I'll forget it just because you did the coolest thing ever!" She continued, crossing her arms.
"You... you thought it was cool?" He asked, confused. Emilia huffed.
"So cool, dad!" Asher said, eyes bright. "Can I do that? Ooh, can Emmy do that?"
"Ash, we're angry with him!" his sister whispered, but it was loud enough that Percy heard. "But... I'd like to know too..."
Percy sighed in relief and smiled apologetically.
"Maybe when you're older," he said. Emilia nodded, satisfied. "I'm sorry, I just can't help but worry about you."
"It's not even the first time we've been attacked by monsters who want to get you or papa," Emilia said. Percy's eyes widened.
"Yeah, they're small fry compared to uncle Crusty!" Asher added.
"He doesn't deserve to be called uncle," Emilia chastised her brother, who just pouted.
"But he sends me toys every year for my birthday," he protested. "He's just mean in person."
"Those are torture devices," Emilia said, exasperated. "He's threatening you!"
"It's not... the first time?" Was all Percy managed to say. Emilia rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"We're your children, dad," she said like that explained everything. "We know how to handle ourselves."
And Percy smiled and hugged them.
"I know that now," he said. "But I think that's enough for the night. How about we go home and watch a movie with papa. I'm sure he missed us."
Emilia looked at her candy bag, probably pondering how full it was, before nodding.
"Only if you teach me that water trick."
"We'll see next weekend," he promised.
As they walked home, Percy made a mental note to go "visit" Procrustes with Nico soon.
Let's say Nico and Percy are already a couple and they both fall in Tartarus together instead of what happened in canon, how would Nico handle Percy poison bending and attempting to kill akhlys? Would he be scared of Percy too or impressed or even more attracted to him?
I feel like, on one hand, Nico wouldn't be afraid of what Percy is capable of doing, because he also has a lot of abilities that people consider creepy. If anything, Nico would be more worried for how Percy would feel about being able to do these things. He stops him from killing Akhlys not because he believes it would turn Percy into a monster, but because he knows Percy would feel terrible in the aftermath. He just doesn't know how to properly convey that to his boyfriend.
On the other hand, boyfriend even stronger and with even cooler powers than he thought makes Nico's brain go brrrrr.
