video

[abandon_hope]

[ The video on this is slanted sideways - and not showing anyone in particular at first. Only after some shuffling and mild cursing (in Greek? is that Greek?) does the video focus on a rather sallow boy with a mess of dark hair. He looks like he hasn't slept in a month. And there's a faint, dingy quality to his outline in spots, like he's not entirely solid.

He also looks suspiciously like he's never used a cell phone in his life. That's because he hasn't. ]

Why isn’t this … I haven’t messed up this badly for ages. [ His voice drops to a mutter for a moment: ] Did it break me? Are my powers broken? I need to know where I am. The people at that machine weren’t at all helpful. Babbling something about heroes and … I don’t know what else.

Do they mean that line about wanting superheroes? From everyone? I've read enough comics to know that superheroes don't like hanging out with dead people.

[ And Nico knows that offers of help - however well-intentioned - often come with a catch. ]




OOC: If you have a character who's died in MoM or canon, please see Nico's permission post here!

Comments

[abandon_hope]

Why? Why do you want to?

[amadaman]

I don't have any ulterior motives, if that's what you're wondering. You're new, and Nonah's a big city, and I'm next door with free time on my hands. Besides, even if it's just by a few years most people here are older than me, and probably you too, so.

[abandon_hope]

... I'm eighty-three, actually.

But I guess it wouldn't hurt.

[amadaman]

[A pause. Then he grins.]

My roommate's eighty-one. He doesn't even look thirty yet, so you're doing better than him. Do you mind dogs?

[abandon_hope]

[ Huh. Now he's curious to meet this other guy. But mostly he brightens at the mention of the dog. ]

-- No, not at all. I like them.

[amadaman]

Great. I'll be outside with him in just a minute if you're ready.

[abandon_hope]

Okay. Uh. I'll be waiting, I guess.

[amadaman]

[He gets another grin, a little wave, and Ken will cut the feed. But he and Koromaru will arrive next door in a matter of seconds -- he just had to put on his shoes.]

[abandon_hope]

[ Nico looks up immediately when they get close - he can feel Koromaru a hundred feet out due to that Persona of his. In fact, he kind of ignores Ken at first to go straight for the dog. ]

You're something special, aren't you.

[amadaman]

[Ken's caught by surprise, but he doesn't speak up. Koromaru is a special dog, and this world is perhaps full of people who can sense that. Nico just happens to have done it immediately, and he lets Koromaru wander over, tail curled up and ears perked, cocking his head to the side inquiringly.]

[abandon_hope]

[ He gently reaches out to scritch Koromaru behind his ears. Goodness, that definitely feels like Cerberus. He wonders idly if it's possible to have a half-blood dog if the divine parent is Cerberus. ]

I used to have a dog just like you back home.

[amadaman]

[Koromaru waits patiently for the touch, then he tilts his head into it, tail swishing a little faster. This kid is different from the rest. He can sense that, but the affection is all the same. Dead or alive, a soul's just a soul to ol' Koromaru and he woofs gently in response.]

[abandon_hope]

[ Good boy. Such a good boy.

... He finally turns towards Ken. ]

Hi.

[amadaman]

[Ken's standing just a few feet away. He smiles a little when Nico finally speaks up.]

Hi. His name's Koromaru.

[abandon_hope]

Koromaru, huh. He seems like a nice dog.

[amadaman]

I think you already know the answer to that. He seems pretty happy to find a new friend, too.

[abandon_hope]

Yeah ... I think so. [ A pause. ] Is he yours?

[amadaman]

Not really. He lives with me, but I'm not his owner. Koromaru makes his own decisions about who to be with.

[abandon_hope]

I bet ... He almost feels like he could be a half-blood.

[amadaman]

... I take it you don't mean his breed. Half-blood?

[abandon_hope]

Half divine. He feels a lot like Cerberus.

[amadaman]

[Ken looks at Nico. Then at Koromaru. Then at Nico, then turns again to the dog and says mostly to himself,] So it really is just suppressed.

You wouldn't be wrong... mostly.

[abandon_hope]

... What do you mean?

[amadaman]

[Ken finally steps the rest of the way over so he's standing by Nico, then crouches, giving Koromaru scritches under his chin.]

We have these, um, powers back in my world. Summoning creatures that're manifestations of our minds. Koromaru's is called Cerberus.

[abandon_hope]

Manifestations? How'd his end up as Cerberus then?