[There wasn't much that Nico could think of that would shake up Annabeth, so he already had an uneasy feeling when he got her message.
He doesn't respond, instead he makes his way to the well. Shadow traveling meant that he got there a little under half an hour, and he watches to see if he can catch sight of Annabeth.
When he finds her, he twists his ring as he approaches.]
You wanted to see me?
[He keeps his voice even (for now), but he might look a little bit anxious. Her tone...and the suddenness of her calling him actually has him more on edge than he's letting on.]
( she's already waiting there, wrapped up in a dark coat. it's only for the weather that she went and found it before contacting anyone; she hasn't even changed out of her bloody, ruined clothes. she hadn't intended for it, but the coat at least hides whatever ambrosia hasn't been able to mend yet, but what it can't hide is how pale she is, or how she's been crying recently, or the stiff way she holds her head to keep from starting again. )
[Seeing her expression doesn't help anything at all. It makes him even more nervous, and makes him wonder that the feeling he had earlier of death would become more relevant now.
( she breathes out, sharp, and gets straight to the point too. )
It's Percy.
( nico and the rest of them may have had their differences, their space, but the fact of the matter is that she and percy — and gods, gods, it almost hurts too much to think of him, let alone say his name — have known nico a long time, since he was a chatterbox little kid who still had a big sister. there are other demigods from the argo ii annabeth may know better than him, but none longer. she knows that for the same reason it's going to be a blow for him too. )
[Even though he'd almost been expecting it, it still felt like the wind was knocked out of him when she said Percy's name.]
What happened?
[He wants to hear it, even though he's pretty sure he knows already. There's an edge to his voice that--when it's confirmed, might very well break. It's not that he's upset at Annabeth, but at the news she's bringing.
( it's par to course for demigods to die young, especially at the hands of monsters; it's the kind of death she expects of herself, and she wouldn't expect otherwise for percy, especially with his tendency to get into trouble. except percy'd had plans for them, ideas for their future in new rome, and the memory feels like a stab worse than anything pyramid head dealt her.
she makes herself meet nico's eyes, to act as though she isn't seeing double — percy (luke) facing an unkillable enemy, the look of luke's (percy's) blood spilling out, too much of it, and her (both times) unable to do anything. )
[Even though he'd already known, he takes a step back when he hears the news. The ground underneath them began shaking, and he stumbled, his knees feeling like they'd suddenly become jello. Annabeth became blurry as his eyes stung with tears, and he closed them in an attempt to not let her see them.]
No...No!
[There was a small, rational part of him that said that it wasn't permanent. Death wasn't permanent here, but death was also something that he hadn't wanted Percy to experience. Ever. He himself had never experienced it, but being the son of Hades made him more familiar with death than he'd ever thought he would be.
There was also a part of him that wanted to scream at her, to tell her that she should've done something, but besides being a case of dejavu, when he looked at her again he didn't have the heart to. This was different than losing Bianca. Even though he loved Percy...Annabeth did, too. To scream at her that it was all her fault would be unfair, especially since he could have been at the scene himself. Maybe he could've prevented it if he was there, himself.]
I...I have to go.
[His voice is thick and hoarse as he keeps trying to keep those emotions in check. He doesn't want to hurt Annabeth, and he's worried that he will if he stays here. What else would he do?
Well, he'll attempt to do what he does best -- remove himself from the situation. Better known as trying to run away.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voicemail; backdated to friday evening
( she sounds exhausted, and when she pulls in a sharp breath, it shakes. )
Meet me by the well, okay? In half an hour.
( and after leaving that, she'll set off to be waiting for him there. )
action; gets my tissues
He doesn't respond, instead he makes his way to the well. Shadow traveling meant that he got there a little under half an hour, and he watches to see if he can catch sight of Annabeth.
When he finds her, he twists his ring as he approaches.]
You wanted to see me?
[He keeps his voice even (for now), but he might look a little bit anxious. Her tone...and the suddenness of her calling him actually has him more on edge than he's letting on.]
DOES TOO
Yeah, I did.
quietly sobbing
That thought only makes him more nervous.]
What happened?
[Straight to the point.]
;~~~;
It's Percy.
( nico and the rest of them may have had their differences, their space, but the fact of the matter is that she and percy — and gods, gods, it almost hurts too much to think of him, let alone say his name — have known nico a long time, since he was a chatterbox little kid who still had a big sister. there are other demigods from the argo ii annabeth may know better than him, but none longer. she knows that for the same reason it's going to be a blow for him too. )
no subject
What happened?
[He wants to hear it, even though he's pretty sure he knows already. There's an edge to his voice that--when it's confirmed, might very well break. It's not that he's upset at Annabeth, but at the news she's bringing.
This time, there's a difference.]
no subject
she makes herself meet nico's eyes, to act as though she isn't seeing double — percy (luke) facing an unkillable enemy, the look of luke's (percy's) blood spilling out, too much of it, and her (both times) unable to do anything. )
He's — he's dead. Pyramid Head killed him.
( her voice, and her eyes, burn. )
OH GOD IT'S SO LONG I AM SO SORRY
No...No!
[There was a small, rational part of him that said that it wasn't permanent. Death wasn't permanent here, but death was also something that he hadn't wanted Percy to experience. Ever. He himself had never experienced it, but being the son of Hades made him more familiar with death than he'd ever thought he would be.
There was also a part of him that wanted to scream at her, to tell her that she should've done something, but besides being a case of dejavu, when he looked at her again he didn't have the heart to. This was different than losing Bianca. Even though he loved Percy...Annabeth did, too. To scream at her that it was all her fault would be unfair, especially since he could have been at the scene himself. Maybe he could've prevented it if he was there, himself.]
I...I have to go.
[His voice is thick and hoarse as he keeps trying to keep those emotions in check. He doesn't want to hurt Annabeth, and he's worried that he will if he stays here. What else would he do?
Well, he'll attempt to do what he does best -- remove himself from the situation. Better known as trying to run away.]