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Are you calling me special? That's sweet of you, dude.

[And sweet of him not to pry. Hanna takes a few steps back to allow Nico space to come in and shoves his hands in his pockets, shrugging.]

I guess? My first baby sitter left prematurely, but man, people sure do have problems around here.

My pantry wasn't exactly prepared for how often I've needed to break out the Abuelitas around here. Or the alcohol.

[And on that note.] How old are you anyways? You look younger than hunter even, and he was a baby.

[Nico's about to say something about how a) he is not sweet and b) he is not a babysitter, but then the question comes up and frankly, the only think that surprises him about it is that Hanna's the first inmate who's asked it.]

Fifteen, [he says, dark eyes sharp and voice still matter-of-fact, if a bit more... darkly so.

Basically he's not asking So what?, but it's practically hanging in the air, anyway.]

[Oh, he doesn't think he's actually sweet, he was just being obnoxious, but the look makes him smile, just a little. Not at all bothered seeing as most people he met back home just existed as piss and vinegar flavored chips most of the time. He's used to it.]

Ooooh when's the sweet sixteen? Gotta plan that shit in advance or it's just gonna pass you by as another day.

[His own was kind of lost in the abyss of the shit storm that his life had become back then, but he tries not to think about it.] But, seeing as you've already had your quinceañera, I suppose that's old enough for the Admiral, right? No child labor laws in space prison.

I don't think birthdays really count here.

[Besides, him turning sixteen won't be a big deal, after Percy.

Or Jason.

Probably.]

The Admiral asked me on board, so he must not have a problem with it. Besides, so far this is a whole hell of a lot less crazy than my normal life. [Which is very not normal at all.

And now, he turns the question around. If Hanna won't explain what's happened to him, he can at least answer:] How old are you?

Edited 2024-07-22 02:52 (UTC)

Uh, sure they do? It's your fucking birthday. Not much else to really celebrate around here aside from people graduating from what I can tell. Just because time is weird here doesn't mean you're not experiencing the passage of time mentally. Take a win or some fun where you can get it.

[He had been expecting the question after asking it himself, since he knows how he looks, but at least he's a fucking adult.] Twenty-four, thanks. And if you have any further questions, I have my drivers license in my wallet to prove it.

[He walks further into the room and points to the fridge.] You want anything to drink by the way? I've been rationing the soda, but I figure you deserve one seeing as you're like, twelve.

[Nico doesn't look impressed by the idea of celebrating birthdays, any more than he looks impressed by the whole seeing as you're twelve thing.

He knows it's rising to the bait, and yet he can't keep from muttering,] Fifteen, [quietly, before he adds,] Sure. I'll have a soda.

[He's clearly not bothered by the mess, exactly, as he follows Hanna, though he does pause and pick up one of the pieces of paper with all the runes, studying it curiously. He kind of assumes if they were special and shouldn't be picked up, they wouldn't be lying literally everywhere.] Did you write all this?

[Hanna grins, not trying to be too much of an ass, but this kid is truly a kid, and he can't help but tease him a little. He grabs two RC Cola's from the fridge and walks back over to Nico, walking around him to check what he'd grabbed off the floor while handing him his soda.]

Oh, yeah. That one was a work in progress, but most of this shit is currently on hold. I should probably clean up, throw some of this stuff out. I mean, some of these are useless now, though I've gotta wonder if the protection shit would even work in here.

[Walking over to one of the sheets tacked to the wall he gives a sharp tug and rips it down, staring at it.] You know if seals or barriers would actually do anything if I put something up in here? Not that I'd think I might need it, but my place is kind of shit and wasn't much protection from anything that wanted to get in without it back home.

[Nico accepts the can, still squinting curiously at the page for a minute before he sets it back down again.]

I don't know, [he has to admit, finally popping the tab on the can.] I think as long as your door locks, it's pretty impenetrable, except by your warden, but I haven't exactly tested it. I haven't heard about a lot of break-ins, though, either.

[Of course, he doesn't know if a magical barrier would keep him from shadow traveling in. But that's neither here nor there, and hopefully won't become an issue anyway.]

You had a lot of things trying to get in back home then, huh?

I wouldn't mind stress testing that a little bit. [He pops the tab on his own soda and takes a sip, nodding his head at the mattress on the floor as he sits himself down on it, the TV and N64 set in front of it.]

Not a lot, but it was smart to be cautious. I'm an investigator, not a fucking hit man, but I'd be stupid if I wasn't making sure something couldn't follow me back home and in.

[Nico just hums; he can offer to help with that, sure, but in just a minute.]

Something, though, [he clarifies.] Not someone.

[Hanna pauses at the clarification, looking up. Well, he broke his own rule. That didn't happen often.]

Excuse me, that was rude. Someone.

[Nico just gives him a look that silently says uh-huh in the least impressed way possible. It's a very eloquent look.

Then he sighs, and says,] There are monsters. Where I'm from. A lot of them. And they tend to come after certain types of people.

Like me.

[So: If this is a similar situation - it can't be the same, but maybe similar? - he's trying to say he understands.]

[Hanna takes a decent sip of soda, pretty sure that there was a miscommunication here that he'll have to clarify.]

Monster isn't a term I like to fuck around with. I work with the paranormal, but they're not monsters. They're people, no matter what they look like. They aren't things, they have feelings, and sometimes they get pissed off and eat people.

That's just how it goes. I try and prevent that, but my apartment isn't exactly a Fortress of Solitude. So, I try and keep them out when I can because sometimes I piss them off in trying to fix things.

[He takes another sip of his soda and pats the mattress next to him.] That clear it up a little?

[In this case, maybe not so much miscommunication as - different contexts. But the explanation does at least make things a little more clear.]

Oh. Yeah, the things where I'm from are generally actual monsters. Sorry.

[Well, some have feelings. Some are intelligent. But not all, and they definitely work differently than humans.]

But if you're worried about that here, you probably don't need to be.

[Frankly, he gets it - he's still constantly looking over his shoulder, expecting to be attacked.

Even so,] I get wanting to protect your place. You could ask the Admiral. He does answer questions. Even from inmates, he's said. He just won't grant inmate requests, but if you're just looking for answers, he should have them.

I'm not going to correct you, though I still think don't think it's the nicest thing to call someone, scary creature or no.

[What makes a monster, Nico? He's still not sure he likes the term.]

I never said I was worried, just want to know how secure the door is. Pretty sure Eric murdered a bunch of people right before I showed up and that seems to happen often, so making sure I know where I can go so I don't get dead again is kind of important, seal or no seal.

[He makes a face at the suggestion of talking to the Admiral about it, but resources were resources he supposed. If he had to, he would.] Captain Jackass stole my bathroom, my stove and my magic, he's not really on my list of people I'd like to talk to. Though, making a request through you or who ever I'm stuck with some how makes it a little better, don't ask me how that works, it just makes sense in my head.

[Admittedly the classical definitions that govern most of Nico's life do not always allow for a lot of nuance. But while he sees Hanna's point, it's just what they're called, and he's not about to argue semantics right now.]

Right, yeah. [Nico makes a face.] There really are a lot of murders around here. [And he can tell every single time one happens.] Your cabin should be safe. The only other locking doors are places you'd need a warden to get you in in the first place, but I guess if somebody's chasing you and you have time, you can call me.

[He hesitates, then adds:] I can get into any public space on the ship faster than most anyone else.

And if you need me to request anything from the Admiral, I will.

[Picking his soda back up he shifts, pulling his leg under the other to get comfy.] Oooh, that sounds cool, how do you do that?

[Because learning about what people can do is one of his favorites. He shakes his head, waving off Nico's offer.] Naw, I mean yes, i've got one or two, but tell me about your shit first. And then maybe we can play game or two. There's a very serious order of operation we've gotta follow here from most interesting to least.

[Nico hesitates for a second - he knows he's the one who brought it up, but there's just this niggling voice in the back of his head that says he's not supposed to really talk about it, all the same.

He's been trying to ignore it, because the rules are different here, and Hanna's his inmate, anyway, and he probably should know.]

It's called shadow travel. You can probably work out how it works, [he adds, with a twist of his lips before he takes a sip.] I can get into any public space and also my current inmate's cabin, even if the door won't open. I just need there to be a shadow, somewhere. Size doesn't much matter, but bigger is better.

But I don't think it'll work after next month. Kinda like, uh, special permission from the Admiral while you're my temp, I guess.

Edited 2024-07-27 20:06 (UTC)

You'll be a big fan of shadow link if we made it to the water temple then, dude. Though he's not using it for the good of what ever.

[He's quiet for a second before he speaks again.] You'd uh, knock first if it wasn't like an emergency right? Also there shouldn't be an emergency that you'd have to get into here for, but just making sure you're not going to just creep on in here when I'm sleeping or something, which I'd really hope not since you told me about it and that'd make you a terrible stalker.

[Nico has the urge to roll his eyes, but he doesn't. Privacy is serious.]

I would knock first, [he confirms.] The only reason I'd ever use it is if you couldn't get to the door. I'd try calling and knocking and just plain forcing the door first.

Also, if you were dead, but I'd know that already and could ask the Admiral to bring you back.

[Which chafes, just a little, for several reasons, but that's neither here nor there.]

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