Everyone: DO NOT EVEN- Xie Lian: BUT?!!!

Wow. Don't get me started or I may write something about it. It's perfect!

Time Travel AU (again, I know. get over it) in which the Future Nico looked after his younger self in his homeless days and is the one who sent the dreams to the present Percy Jackson, informing him of what danger the present Nico's in.

I'm loving how I can almost wedge this Time Travel AU into the canon so effortlessly.

Writing a Believable Family: Information You Need

So today I thought I’d help out myself and anyone else who’s writing something where family plays a central role, seeing as a lot of people write about families but I barely see any posts about it!

Families are really fun to read about (imo), but often hard to write, as each family has a different dynamic that you really need to get a hold of. It’s easy to get discouraged because sometimes your fictional family might feel like strangers when they interact with each other. So without further ado, here are some questions and prompts to help you get to know your characters’ families.

Questions

Who is in this family? Are they all important characters?

How big of a role does this family play in the story? The theme of family in general?

Who looks the most like who? What general physical features do they all share?

Who is closest with each other? Who feels more distant?

What is a tradition this family has?

What holidays does this family celebrate? What religion do they practice?

What does this family always fight about?

Are all the relationships in this family healthy? If not, what makes them toxic?

Who is in charge or seems to have the most authority?

Is there a social hierarchy within the family? Who generally seems the coolest to the others?

Does this family travel a lot together? Where do they go?

What was/were the older generation(s) like before the younger generation(s) were born?

Has anyone in this family died? How did this impact the others?

Do members of the family have different politics? How does this affect the family’s relationship?

How much do your characters value their family?

What movies does this family watch on movie nights? What movies do they refuse to watch together?

What role does extended family play in this family’s life? (Ignore if the family you’re writing about is an extended family.)

Who argues the most?

What personality traits does the family share?

What makes this family unique?

What did/does the younger generation do for fun as little kids?

If this family had a vacation home, where would it be?

Who looks up to who?

Prompts

Write a conversation at the family’s dinner table.

What was the most disastrous family reunion/outing? Write it.

Try making a character web (shown in this post) for the family.

How does the rest of the family behave when one member graduates?

Write the script for everyone’s favorite old home video.

Draw a family tree. See how many generations you can go back.

Write each family member’s favorite family memory.

Describe how a family road would trip play out.

This family becomes the family fighting in Walmart. Describe how this happened.

The family is known for their top-notch annual ________ party. Write one such party.

Have a character from the family give your reader a “tour” of the family home.

Who got drunk at the last reunion? What ensued?

A character from the family is going through their favorite family photos. What are they? Why do they like them? What is the story behind them?

Imagine that this family has one huge family scandal in its history. What was it? How did people react when they found out?

A character has been hiding a secret for years, and their family finds out.

Hannibal (2013-2015)

3x03 - “Secondo”

Hannibal breaking the fourth wall

NÃO HÁ LUGAR COMO O LAR - PERCY/NICO AU COLEGIAL - A volta!

Oii, como vai? Consegui escrever algo antes do que eu esperava! Por isso hoje trago uma parte do próximo capítulo (o que eu consegui escrever hoje!)

Então... eu acabei não excluindo nada! Eu sei! Eu revisei tudo e meio que gostei do resultado? Não era sobre isso, mas acho que agora é? srrsrs Enfim, desculpa pela confusão. O importante é que ainda tenho algumas ideias interessante para a história. Conversamos mais nas notas finais, enquanto isso, fiquem com o capítulo de hoje.

Capítulos anteriores: CAPÍTULO I / CAPÍTULO II / CAPÍTULO III / CAPÍTULO IV / CAPÍTULO V / CAPÍTULO VI / CAPÍTULO VII / CAPÍTULO VIII / CAPÍTULO IX / CAPÍTULO X / CAPÍTULO XI / CAPÍTULO XII / CAPÍTULO XIII / CAPÍTULO XIV / CAPÍTULO XV / CAPÍTULO XVI / CAPÍTULO XVII / CAPÍTULO XVIII / CAPÍTULO XIX / CAPÍTULO XX / CAPÍTULO XXI

— Bom garoto. Tão obediente. — Nico fechou os olhos bem apertado e se negou a responder, sentindo seu corpo balançar com o efeito do orgasmo.  

Não que ele fosse capaz no momento. Não, Nico acha que nunca tinha gozado com tanta força em sua vida, e ouvir Percy falar assim com ele, o fazia estremecer ainda mais. Nico achava que nem o próprio Percy sabia o que essas palavras faziam com ele, o tom de voz aveludado e agora o toque suave que o acalentava depois de algo tão intenso. Não era apenas isso, era a forma como Percy falava com ele, como se Percy realmente estivesse orgulhoso; era a forma que Percy olhava para ele, o analisando friamente dos pés à cabeça e, ao mesmo tempo, com aquela fome no olhar que o fazia querer obedecer a cada ordem. Ele não conseguia lidar com isso, então, era melhor apenas se sentir grato por esse momento estar acontecendo. 

— E, então? — Nico ouviu Percy dizer, o sentindo tocá-lo e massagear seus braços, chegando em seu pulso para enfim abrir a algema. Engraçado, para quem tinha medo de ser preso, ele nem hesitou quando Percy sugeriu. 

— Então, o quê? — Nico murmurou, ainda ligeiramente desorientado. Ele nem mesmo conseguiu levantar os braços, permitindo que Percy continuasse a massagear a pele avermelhada. 

— Foi bom ou ruim? 

— Hmm? 

— Você gostou do que eu fiz? 

Não era obvio? 

— Eu gozei duas vezes. 

— Não quer dizer que você tenha gostado. 

— E você, gostou? — Nico rebateu, tentando se mover, o que apenas o fez cair para trás feito uma jaca podre. 

Quando Percy não respondeu, Nico olhou para ele. Era bem claro o que acontecia, Percy e seu complexo de mártir. A verdade que é ele tinha gostado, ambos tinham, e isso parecia ser um problema para Percy. 

— Eu gostei, tá bom? Quer dizer, seu queixo ainda está molhado. 

Para provar a evidência do crime, Nico se esticou todo, gemendo de dor em seus músculos e passou os dedos no rosto de Percy, mostrando o líquido a Percy. 

— É, eu acho que sim. — Mas Percy ainda tinha aquela expressão analítica, quase rígida demais, como se estivesse se preparando para dar a próxima ordem, o que se tornou verdade no final. — Fique aqui. 

— Para onde eu iria? 

— Com você eu nunca sei. Só não… fuja. Tudo bem? 

— Eu disse que não vou fazer isso de novo. Até quando você vai me culpar por isso? 

— Eu sinto muito. — Percy tentou sorrir, e quando isso não funcionou, ele deu as costas a Nico, que caiu mais uma vez nos travesseiros.  

Parecia que Nico não era o único traumatizado pelo passado. O que ele podia fazer? Essa era a história deles, às vezes feliz, outras, problemáticas. Nico não trocaria o que viveram por nada nesse mundo. Onde ele estaria se não tivesse conhecido Percy em um banheiro público de escola? O que ele teria feito se Percy fosse igual aqueles garotos? Pelo menos, eles não estariam nesse impasse. Será que se… que se ele forçasse as coisas só um pouquinho, Percy veria que não havia motivo para tanta culpa? Afinal, Percy sempre gostou da verdade e de coisas bonitas… 

— Nico.  

Se assustando, Nico viu o rosto de Percy perto demais e segurou nos ombros de Percy, o afastando. 

— No que você anda pensando, hmm? Conheço bem essa carinha. 

— Não sei do que você está falando. 

— Você não está aprontando, está? Se comporte. 

— Eu sempre me comporto. — “A não ser quando eu preciso”, Nico pensou, colocando sua expressão mais inocente. 

— Vou acreditar em você.  

Percy se sentou a seu lado e começou a limpá-lo. Em seu peito, abdômen e então no meio das pernas, suavemente deslizando uma toalha umedecida, chegando em sua entrada. 

— Você não precisa fazer isso. 

— Eu quero fazer. — Percy murmurou, o beijando no rosto. — Você tinha razão. Eu estava ausente, prometo que vou te recompensar. 

— Que tal começando agora. Me deixa te chupar? 

— Como isso pode ser uma recompensa para você? — O importante nisso tudo é que finalmente Percy tinha sorrido, acariciando seus cabelos. 

— Isso é um sim ou um não? 

— É um talvez depois. Agora, está na hora do bebê tirar uma soneca. 

— Eu não sou um bebê. 

— Então por que você está bocejando no meio da tarde? 

Era uma boa pergunta.  

Nico só deixou que Percy o cobrisse porque ele tinha se deitado a seu lado e o abraçado bem forte, também entrando debaixo das cobertas junto com ele. 

*** 

Por algum motivo, Percy se sentia exausto. Ele se permitiu relaxar no travesseiro contra as costas de Nico e fechar os olhos, apenas por um momento, apenas o suficiente para sentir o peso sair de suas costas. Era um peso metafórico, é claro, um peso que ele nem sabia estar ali. Percy nunca imaginou que a culpa poderia drenar alguém a ponto de afetá-lo fisicamente. As coisas também eram assim no passado? Percy não conseguia se lembrar. Esse era um mal hábito que ele tinha desenvolvido, outra muleta psicológica, ele sabia. Percy se esquecia e guardava a sete chaves no fundo da mente tudo o que fosse traumático ou frustrante. 

Quer saber? Ele tinha decidido não pensar no que fosse ruim ou bom, bem ou mal, e se concentraria no que fosse o certo para eles. Eles estavam confortáveis com isso? Ótimo! Parecia divertido? O fazia se sentir bem? Então, seria o que eles fariam. O que adiantava fazer o que era considerado como “normal” se isso causava tanta dor, e não do tipo que Nico parecia gostar? Era melhor se ele falasse com a mãe, só para tranquilizá-la, Percy sabia melhor do que ninguém que Sally o perturbaria até que ele falasse com ela. 

Se sentindo cansado mais uma vez, Percy saiu debaixo das cobertas, tentando não acordar Nico e viu algo caindo no chão. Ele deu a volta na cama e ali no meio do caminho estava o diário que ele tinha dado a Nico. O diário estava aberto no início das primeiras folhas e tinha uma caneta presa, marcando a página.  

Ele também já tinha se esquecido disso. Felizmente, parecia que mesmo ele sendo uma pessoa horrível, Nico ainda era o mesmo doce garotinho, sempre o obediente. Sim, Percy pôde ver que Nico já tinha escrito algumas palavras e tinha personalizado a contracapa: 

DIARIO DO NICO  Se perdido, devolver para o Percy! 

Percy teve que rir, já se sentindo leve. Tinha até uns desenhos bonitinhos de corações, anjinhos e diabinhos ao redor das letras. Entretanto, o que realmente chamou sua atenção foi a página em que a caneta estava presa.  

“Eu adoro aquele tipo de espaço mental em que eu quase flutuo, quase delirante, sabe? Minha cabeça fica leve e eu não faço ideia do que quero fazer, só quero fazer o que você quiser que eu faça. Na maioria das vezes, tudo o que sei é que quero ser fodido com tanta força que eu mal consiga falar e tudo o que eu consiga fazer seja pequenos gemidos quando você me perguntar alguma coisa.”  

“Eu quero o tipo de sexo que deixa marcas nos meus quadris e a forma das suas mãos na minha pele. O tipo de sexo que deixa o meu peito coberto de mordidas e as suas costas cheias de arranhões. Quero o tipo de sexo que faz o meu corpo doer e pulsar e que me faça te sentir entre as minhas pernas no dia seguinte.” 

Esse era um trecho que parecia se destacar das outras páginas, algo escrito às pressas, em garranchos despreocupados, á tinta preta e sem decorações ao redor, como se Nico não quisesse passar muito tempo com aqueles pensamentos e só precisasse despejá-los no papel. Esse foi o real motivo que o fez encarar aquelas palavras por longos momentos, estático, parado no meio do quarto com Nico ainda dormindo tranquilamente, sem nenhuma preocupação.  

Era impossível não comparar os dois estilos tipográficos. De um lado da folha, vinhas e arvores que pareciam se entrelaçar até os céus, acompanhados por linhas de poemas, simples e bonitas, do outro, uma prosa desajeitada e vulgar, permitindo a Percy ver os dois lados de Nico que ele raramente via juntos. Tinham outros desenhos, é claro. Um demônio e um anjo que ocupavam uma página inteira, descrições de personalidade e características físicas, algumas poucas linhas de narração que na página seguinte eram interrompidas por mais garranchos com pensamentos soltos. 

“Quero que você me abrace e me toque,   quero que você me faça sentir seguro e pequeno,   feito o bebê que eu nego ser.   Quero que você me diga quando ninguém estiver vendo "Como está o meu garoto? Ele se comportou?"   Quero ter regras e ter que pedir autorização.   Quero ser disciplinado quando não faço o que você me mandar.” 

Percy teve que parar de folear o diário e olhar para Nico dormindo cama. 

Ele... porra! Ele queria fazer tudo isso, queria fazer todos os desejos de Nico se realizarem. E sabe por quê? Eram os mesmos que os seus. Cada palavra e confissão parecendo ser algo que ele faria se culpa não o tivesse impedido até aquele momento. Será que essas fantasias realmente eram de Nico. Ou será que era algo que Nico tinha escrito para se vingar dele? Ou, pior ainda, era o que ele tinha levado Nico a acreditar que ambos queriam? Mas, ao mesmo tempo, Percy conseguia reconhecer Nico em cada linha, seja desajeitada ou elegante, misturado a influência que ele tinha sobre Nico e outras coisas em que ele não esteve presente para moldá-lo. 

Sinceramente? Percy estava aliviado. Saber que Nico tinha tido outras experiencias e conhecidos outras pessoas e que mesmo depois de tudo isso ainda revolver voltar para ele, tirava mais uma parte do peso que ele nem sabia que levava. Entretanto, a questão importante era: Como ele poderia fazer... tudo isso sem passar dos limites? Como ele poderia se certificar que Nico não sairia disso o odiando de verdade? 

Ele... Percy precisava de ajuda. E de algumas coisas, também. Algo que fizesse Nico entender a seriedade da situação, do quanto ele desejava que Nico permanecesse seguro e feliz. Parece que esse era o momento de agir. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Então, para os próximos meses pretendo terminar essa história. Eu estava pensando no que fazer. Será que eu devia entender um pouco as coisas e desenvolver bem a relação D/s deles ou dar uma resumida? Eu tenho o fim do enredo, agora só preciso escrever srsr Seria melhor algo até umas 100 mil palavras ou estender para além disso com uns 120 a 150 mil? Gostaria muito de saber sua opinião, já que são muitassss palavras.

Te vejo na semana que vem com uma surpresinha. Alguém consegue advinhar?

Logo retomaremos a versão em inglês.

I loved this! Realllyyyyy! Thanks for tagging me @haiseiscute333!

@yonemurishiroku @language-of-blueberries

Got tagged in this post by @kamikazequail! It was getting long, though, so I made my own💜 Thanks for the tag, friend

Picrew

☆ friend maker ★ by Rowan

PLEASE READ: — — — — — — tip jar: cashapp ($foxtrqt) or https://tr.ee/2O_BuExK_X ! hi there:) if you enjoy my work in this picrew, an

If I could be an elf with blue hair and piercings...

Tagging: @sithmonarch, @scar-queen-owl, @peachyprawnss, @backwardshirt, and @voxofthevoid

This was meant for Nico’s bd (i did this months ago w my old art style 😭

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER XXIII

Hi, how are you? Things are going well, aren't they? I've decided to set a day for posting this story, (at least for the next few weeks) starting on Tuesdays from next week. Sometimes I don't have much energy at the beginning of the week, so just to be sure, we'll meet on Tuesdays. Oh, and if you can, give me a helping hand on:

Tapas - (Original version) and on AO3 for a cleaner version.

Good reading!

CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII / CHAPTER VIII / CHAPTER IX / CHAPTER X / CHAPTER XI / CHAPTER XII / CHAPTER XIII / CHAPTER XIV / CHAPTER XV / CHAPTER XVI / CHAPTER XVII / CHAPTER XVIII / CHAPTER XIX / CHAPTER XX / CHAPTER XXI / CHAPTER XXII

Percy felt like a criminal. He was fully aware that he shouldn't have gone to see Apollo and Vanessa without his parents' permission. After all, technically, he was still 17 and wouldn't be considered an adult for another two months. His only option was to sneak around the house. He hid in the servants' entrance and only moved when he saw no one around. He passed through the kitchen and then ran upstairs, hearing his mother's voice and Nico's in the living room. It was a shame. If Nico was still asleep, he could finally do what he had to do before his mother convinced him against it.

Honestly? Sally was right. They shouldn't mess around with certain things, especially since they were too young and because, according to the law, they wouldn't be responsible if something went wrong. But... if Nico had already practiced this kind of dynamic with other people and he too was up to his neck in it, what was wrong with rushing things? Just a little? It would be just enough to reassure Nico who was determined to drive him crazy.

Really, Percy had no choice. It was the worst kind of feeling to see Nico begging for attention as if Percy was ignoring him on purpose; and if that was what Nico wanted, at least Percy would do it the right way. Like, he had already given Nico a journal and they had the safe words too, even if Nico hadn't realized what they really were. So maybe it was the best alternative. That way, they could finally clear things up once and for all.

Giving up, Percy walked to his room, placed the box on the bed and left the room quickly. Percy didn't want Nico to think he had abandoned him just as they had reconciled. It was his own fault, of course. How could Percy give Nico what he wanted when Percy knew the responsibility of dominating someone? Most of the time it wouldn't just be obedience and fun. It was the expectation behind the word, of what it really meant to dominate someone's life. The care, the concern, making sure that Nico would be safe and happy even in the midst of pain and frustration. It was the real responsibility of having someone's complete surrender and the trust, to the point that Nico would take every word or order to the letter. And from what Percy had seen, some submissives expected the dominant to make all the decisions for them, and in that, Percy didn't know if he would be able to consent. That was the real reason he was so hesitant, if only it were just Nico's fantasies, the expectation would always be heavier than anything they could do.

"Percy? I thought I saw you come in. I think we need to have a talk."

The worst he feared happened, someone had really caught him off guard. It was his mother, furious and with her arms crossed. Percy didn't even have time to go downstairs, at least he had closed the bedroom door, preventing her from seeing the logo on the box's packaging.

"Look, it's not what you think."

"I know everything. Nico told me."

"Everything?" What would that all be?”

“Don't try to fool me.”

Percy paused for a moment, realizing that his mother was bluffing. If she knew anything, Sally would already be raging in a much more specific way. At most, she must have seen something on Nico's shoulders or neck. But... should he hide these things from his mother? It was always better to have a backup plan in case he messed up.

“Fine. We had sex, okay?” Percy raised his hand before Sally could continue, seeing her face deepen in fury, like a mother lioness defending her cub. “I know I promised, I tried to do it your way and look what happened! Nico thought I didn't want to be with him. I found out that he…”

“He what?”

“You know…”

“No, I don't.’

“Nico thinks I'm rejecting him if I don't... touch him.”

“Oh.” Sally sighed and leaned against the wall, looking defeated.

“I'm going to do things the right way this time.”

“Percy, what are you saying? Nico isn't like that. He's kind and calm and…”

“Super obedient? Likes to please everyone around him?”

“Percy, I forbid you to--”

“He's a submissive, Mom. What do you want me to do? Why do you think I've distanced myself from him? Is that what you want?”

“I decide what happens in this house and that's not going to happen.”

“It's too late, don't you see? I didn't start this.”

“What?”

“That's right. Nico has been having fun without me in Italy. And if I found a place and was welcomed, I'm sure he did too.”

That finally put an end to the argument. Sally looked devastated to a point Percy hadn't seen before, not even when she found out Percy was suicidal.

“What could have happened to make Nico want these things? He must have learned it from someone.”

It was a good question. For a little boy who avoided even the mention of sex to become a submissive, it was a big step.

“Maybe what he told us about Hades is worse than we thought?”

“Percy! I don’t want to think about that possibility.” Sally put her hand to her face, refusing to believe that Hades would be capable of sexually abusing such a defenseless little boy. When she looked back at Percy, Sally had a strange glint in her eyes. “It seems like we have more work to do.”

“Mom, no! Nico didn’t say anything about it. I don’t want him to feel pressured.”

“Honey, of course he didn’t say anything about it. Would you? That’s what abusers do. They manipulate people who are more fragile than they are and make them believe that no one will believe them. Nico needs a little push in the right direction.”

“I don’t know. We’ll talk to him, if that’s the case—”

“Leave it to me.” Hades Di Ângelo doesn't know who he's messed with!

***

Percy's life was a big ball of tiredness, because that's how he felt. A small thing that seemed unimportant, from one moment to the next, grew and grew, and before he knew it, the small signs of danger became a whirlwind of problems. He wasn't complaining, it was better to know what was going on than to be caught off guard later. The first of them was his mother always getting involved in things she shouldn't. They went down the stairs and he knew right away; as soon as they got downstairs, he saw Sally straighten her spine, as if she was getting ready to go to war.

Luckily, the three people present hadn't noticed their presence. Nico was sitting in front of the dining table, looking irritated by something Tyson was saying to him, while Grover just laughed, stretched out in the chair where he sat. Then, before anything could happen, Percy grabbed her shoulder, smiled and leaned down towards his mother, whispering:

“Mom, we talked about this.”

“I need to--”

“No, I'll talk to him when the time is right.”

“Per--”

“Promise me. I'm serious.”

“Perseus Jackson!”

That finally caught Nico's attention. Percy ignored his mother's glare at him and walked towards Nico. Sally could get all annoyed, today was not the right day to discuss these things; today, he would put Nico on a pretty leash and do things the right way.

That is, Percy would do that if Nico would let him. Because that was his second problem of the day. It was even funny if Percy was honest with himself. Nico glanced in his direction for a brief moment and, just like that, ignored him. Nico went back to looking at the plate in front of him, moving the food with his fork from side to side, not seeming interested in eating.

“Looks like someone didn't have a very good night.” Tyson continued, chewing as he spoke. It was kind of disgusting. What could Percy do? When his brother was in this kind of mood, nothing could stop him. Except when Nico was in an even worse mood.

In slow motion, Percy saw Nico pick up a still-warm bagel, stare at it for a moment and then Nico threw the bagel in Tyson's face, ending his brother's laughter, but making Grover laugh out loud, who almost fell backwards from laughing so hard.

“Now, who's not having a good day? Hm?” A victorious smile appeared on Nico's face and in the greatest display of childishness, Tyson stuck his tongue out at Nico, picking up the roll that had fallen on his plate and taking a big bite of it.

“Thrown food tastes even better. Let's see who wins?”

It was clear that immaturity had won this round. Percy saw no other alternative but to play the adult. Just as Nico was about to throw another piece of bread, Percy stopped beside Nico and touched the back of his neck. He didn't even hold him, just placed his hand on Nico's neck. The effect was immediate. Nico stopped with his hand raised and looked up, his face a mischievous boyish expression. 

"Behave yourself." Those words seemed to have an even more powerful effect. 

Slowly, Nico lowered his arm, put the bread on his own plate and looked down, all embarrassed. Percy hadn't even scolded him or told him to stop, but it was as if he had. It was... intoxicating. If Percy gave Nico any order, would he obey? 

"Eat," Percy said and waited to see what would happen. For a moment, no one moved. Nico remained huddled against the seat of the chair, fidgeting uncomfortably. Not even the sound of his mother's heels approaching seemed to wake Nico from his bubble of shame. Nico remained like that for a few more moments and finally picked up the fork again, this time cutting a piece of the pancake and bringing it to his lips, looking like he was going to burst into tears at any moment.

“Good boy.” Percy said once more, testing to see what Nico would do. 

He stroked the hair there and felt Nico immediately relax, chewing slowly under his attentive gaze and blushing discreetly. The real question was whether things had always been like this or if it was something new. 

Percy looked at his family who now seemed as well-behaved as Nico, although he saw how Tyson and Grover looked at him with a strange smile on their faces or how his mother disapproved of him, still with her arms crossed, now sitting in her chair. The important thing here was that no one had found the scene strange. It was true that sometimes he had to break up arguments like this, without importance. The question there was, had Nico always reacted to him this way? Percy hated what his brain did to him, erasing this type of information and then making him question if it was real or if it was just his fertile imagination inventing fantasy scenarios. 

“Where did you…” Nico began to say, still looking at his own plate. “You weren't in bed when I woke up... did something happen?”

“I had to leave really fast. It's a surprise.”

“Surprise? I’m gonna like this?”

What Percy heard was a "will it be fun?"

“I promise you will.”

“I just... don't like waking up alone.”

Hm. Percy understood, he really did. But since Nico wanted to go down that path, Percy had an obligation to be responsible.

“This won't happen again. I had a good reason.”

“And that is...?”

“You'll find out. Soon.”

Percy had spoken with a tone of finality that he usually didn't like to use. See, he was the dominant one here, right? So, he would act like one. And Nico seemed to be aware of that, even if they hadn't had a serious and definitive conversation. Percy knew this because Nico looked away from his own plate and looked at him curiously, and instead of arguing, Nico pouted, going back to eating, taking a forkful of scrambled eggs.

“Do you want some?” Nico took another bite and offered it to Percy, who accepted it only to see a smile appear on Nico's face.

Well, what could he do? Percy pulled a chair closer and let Nico feed him in intervals, where things returned to normal; his family resumed talking and Nico remained quiet, accepting whatever Percy put on his plate.

***

Nico picked up his bag from the floor and accepted it when Percy offered him his hand, hearing the bell ring. It was Friday and that was usually Nico's favorite day, a day with few classes and the whole weekend to rest. Or so it used to be. Since he had come back, every day had been full of ups and downs, little moments that Nico treasured, hoping they would last the rest of his life. He just... he just didn't expect that after so many misunderstandings, things would become so easy. Unpredictable? Yes. But never forced, even when something happened that made his head spin.

Fortunately, this was one of the good times. Since he had woken up that morning, his head had been... empty. Nico couldn't worry about his problems, like the upcoming exams or Annabeth who kept hovering over them. Not even when Percy scolded him at breakfast, taking control of the situation, like he hadn't seen anyone do in a long time, not when it came to him, the "innocent and delicate Nico". Things just seemed to be in the right place again, as if he had never left, however, they seemed to be even better, feeling like they had taken an important step towards the future he had always dreamed of.

“Baby? Are you okay?”

“Hm. Just tired.”

“We're almost there.”

“Okay.”

They really were. Nico had barely noticed the moment they had gotten into Percy's car, he didn't remember putting on his seatbelt or when they had arrived in the neighborhood where they lived. Nico stared out the window, not registering anything, letting his mind wander, empty, Nico feeling so calm and at peace like he had never felt before. Had it been the sex last night? Or was it just Percy's presence? And where did all this peace of mind come from? It didn't matter, he got out of the car when Percy opened the door for him, accepted the hand Percy offered him once again and went upstairs while Percy guided him. Hm... maybe that was it. Things had always been like that for him, hadn't they? The absence of duties and obligations? Not always and not everything, just a little bit. It was okay if Nico allowed himself to not make any decisions for a few hours, right?

"Beautiful. Lift your leg."

"Oh." He did, lifting one leg and then the other, allowing Percy to take off his sneakers, socks and pants.

When had they entered the house and gone to Percy's room?

"Arms."

Nico lifted them too, Percy exchanging his shirt for a comfortable t-shirt.

"Better? Some water?"

Nico didn't hesitate, took the glass of water from Percy's hand and drank it in one breath, feeling better immediately.

Could something have happened during the day to make him feel this way?

"Good boy." Percy said and kissed his face, holding him by the back of the neck, practically cradling him in his lap.

Something ignited in his brain, pleasure radiating through his body for no reason.

Oh, so that was it? That must be the reason he was feeling so light and content. It shouldn't be normal to feel like that for so long, right? He had woken up in a bad mood, but soon that feeling of doing the right thing and being in the right place filled him, making him forget that he should be mad at Percy.

“I... don't talk to me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like that... with that voice... touching me like that…”

“I've always done that. What’s changed now?”

“I…” Nico was starting to not care if Percy did that on purpose. Was it normal to hear someone's voice and immediately feel all those things?

Nico heard Percy laugh and a shiver ran down his spine. It was a low, deep sound near his ear, making him realize that Percy was, in fact, doing that on purpose. Maybe he had groaned and clung to Percy's neck, Percy nibbling on his shoulder, moving up until he found his earlobe once more.

"Okay, I admit it," Percy murmured. "You've been very susceptible to... suggestions. Is it me or is it something general?"

"Just you," Nico found himself saying, realizing it was the truth. "I think... I trust you."

"I feel honored," Percy said without any irony, his low, velvety tone giving way to something more normal. "I was afraid this would happen. I will never abuse the trust you put on me."

"I know that. I’ve never doubted that."

"That's why I have to talk to you about something."

Oh, no. Was he in trouble?

Thank you for joining me on this journey. See you next time.

So I have read several people complaining that they can't be expected to know the "unwritten rules" of fandom. So here's what I wish people knew:

Fanfiction is fiction.

Fictional people are not real.

Fictional people do not have rights.

Fictional people cannot be abused.

Reading or writing about something does not mean the desire to do or support it in the real world.

If I find art upsetting/triggering/disgusting/outraging/unpleasant/squicky/distressing/offensive, it is on me not to read it, not the creators and hosts to remove it.

Curate your own experience. The back buttons exist for a reason.

If you don't trust yourself to do that, get someone you trust to do it for you.

Fandom is an adult space. Adults create and own and host fandom spaces. If minors want to participate, then the onus is on them and their parents/guardians/trusted adults to ensure they participate appropriately, not on strange adults to stop being adults.

You often don't know the assault status or mental health status or neurotype or race or nationality or religion or gender or sexuality or age of a creator or consumer, and they do not have to disclose to you to justify their fantasy.

AO3 is not a safe space. It is not intended to be a safe space. Proceed accordingly.

Just because you don't like something or find it offensive doesn't mean it is a "problem" that "has to be dealt with".

Most characters in anime are not white.

There is no onus on you to reblog or share anything.

Everyone makes mistakes in fandom and is less than their best self sometimes.

Persistent pseudonyms encourage long term relationships.

Ship wars are stupid.

Someone else enjoying things does not impact on your own enjoyment of other things.

Tagging and warning is a courtesy, not a requirement. Assume any fic might contain untagged content.

Rating is an imprecise art, not a science.

Don't hassle IP creators.

Most people who are in fandom are hoping to make connections based on a shared passion.

Trying to profit from transformative fanworks puts us all at risk.

No one is obligated to share your head canon or fanon.

Being kind rarely fails to pay off.

It is okay to block and remove people who make your experience unpleasant. You don't have to placate them. (Learn from my mistakes).

Britpicking is a good thing.

You don't have to justify why you like a canon/pairing/trope/kink. Sometimes navel gazing is fun, but you don't have an obligation to explain yourself, especially to strangers. I share the overwhelming desire to refute an unfair accusation, but the people accusing you are rarely doing so in good faith, so you're batting a losing wicket.

I'm not your Mum. (Well, okay, a very few of you can call me Mum or Mom, but if you are one of them you already know who you are ❤️)

If you aren't mature enough to take responsibility for your online experiences, you aren't mature enough to be in fandom spaces.