After the long, slow explanation of ‘The Big Three’ Elli finally managed to turn off Nico’s life story. Part of her wanted to hear more but other part didn’t know if she could handle more. When it came to mortals she didn’t spend much time in crowds. She reminded herself of Sherlock Holmes in a way, every person she saw had a story and every part of her wanted to know the truth that they tried to hide. She’d see everything lay out before her and she had yet to learn how to turn it off. That’s why she stayed within the department. At least at the station if she didn’t want to see anyone she could go to a cot and start knitting only seeing the officers, detectives, and agents on occasions.
Being antisocial wasn’t one quality Elli thought she was but after hearing Nico’s story based off of a few people and tasting the truths and half-truths that he spoke, she began to think that being antisocial might not be so bad. After all, Nico wasn’t social himself, but he still had a story to tell. Maybe that’s what she had to do, be around less people who went on these ‘quest’. But turns out, Tucker was the closest one and he had so much build up inside him as well.
Elli didn’t know that being a farmhand could be so dark. She shrugged, well if you’re a demigod she guessed any of the stories could be dark. Looking at hers alone and the few people she met, Annabeth and that horrible place she went to, Elli couldn’t figure out where but she didn’t want to know, all she knew was that Annabeth went somewhere that tore her apart but built her to be who she was.
“Maybe a dark story makes a person stronger.” Elli said to herself. Nico leaned his back against the arena and waited for Elli to get out of her analyzing face. He didn’t like seeing her in ‘Truth or Lie’ mode but anything he said, or didn’t say affected her. He couldn’t imagine having that kind of ability.
“That’s how people work.” Nico commented, catching Elli’s attention.
Elli shook her head, realizing that Nico had been waiting for her so they could enter the Arena.
“S-sorry.” She said with a sigh.
Nico shook his head. “You hack into people’s lives with every word they tell you.” He shrugged. “I can’t say I’d handle it any better.”
Elli smirked. “You meant that.”
Nico nodded. “I would have told you that one.”
Elli smiled. “Let me run it one more time through my head and then you can help me out at this Arena.” Gestured at the entrance. “Deal?”
Nico smirked. “I won’t go easy on you.”
Elli shook her head. “I’ve been slipping into your life story. I don’t think I deserve anything easier than that.”
Nico grinned. “You’ll regret saying that.”
“And you honestly believe that.” She said sticking her tongue out and sitting next to him. Nico shrugged and sat down too. Apparently, Elli meant what she said.
The Big Three consisted of Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Nico being the only son of Hades, Percy Jackson being the only son of Poseidon, and Jason Grace being the only son of Zeus. Jason Grace was out making shrines from the last prophecy quest that these three were on. Percy Jackson was somewhere in the camp and Nico was her tour guide for the day. Nico had a sister, and has a half-sister who is Roman. According to Nico, until recently the Greeks and the Romans didn’t get along which made Elli curious about her own mother. Nico talked about how the battle against Gaea, mother nature herself, caused ‘hell’ to rise but in this case ‘Tartarus’ which was the place where monsters went when they died. The truth picks no side, the truth is the truth, and lies are lies. Elli looked at Nico like her head was about to explode.
“What is it detective?” Nico smirked.
Elli looked at him with a surprised expression. “Detective, seriously?”
“It’s better than lie detector.” Nico shrugged. “But anyway, you’re looking at me with fear in your eyes. What are you thinking?”
Elli sighed. “You said Romans and Greeks didn’t get along until recently.”
Nico nodded. “Yes, that’s why we have the field now.”
“But my mother shouldn’t have been split like Zeus and Poseidon, you said your own father had a problem.”
“What makes you think that your mother wouldn’t try to lie detect herself to death?” Nico raised an eyebrow.
Elli couldn’t believe she was seriously talking to Nico about this.
“The truth has no side.” Elli shrugged. “What is a lie is a lie and what is true is true. The only difference is how people perceive the truth and my mother was the Goddess of Truth meaning she could only see Truth. Truth isn’t Roman or Greek. Truth is simply truth.”
Nico nodded in understanding. “That. Took more effort for you to think about and say than it should have.” Nico smirked.
“Well…” Elli shrugged. “Not everyone believes in the same truth. For example, a color blind person can look at the color red and say that it’s blue and they honestly believe it’s blue because that’s what they see but someone who sees normally looks at red as red which is also true. To the color blind person the object is blue but to everyone else the object is red and no one can change that.”
Nico looked at the Elli in amusement. “Now… if you put it that way.”
“See?” She groaned. “So I don’t know if I’m Greek or Roman.”
“If you end up with a SPQR burned into your skin you’re Roman. If not, your mom will do something to show you that you’re Greek. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Matter of time for a late birthday present.” Elli rolled her eyes and groaned again.
“Birthday present?” Nico faced Elli. “It’s your birthday?.”
“Elli smirked. “Yep, Libra.” She sighed. “Go figure, I’m the one smybol in the zodiac that’s not an animal but a scale.”
Nico shrugged. “That’s not too bad. I mean, that means balance, all the more to represent your mother.”
“Like I want to.” Elli winced. “Whoa, I lied to myself. Who knew I could do that she said making a face at the acquired taste.
“I thought you said you could tell lies?” Nico questioned.
“I can!” Elli nodded. “But honestly thought I didn’t care about my mom, I guess I do deep down inside despite the horrible parenting skills.”
Nico shrugged. “Only recently have the Gods and Goddesses spoken to their children. It’s a surprise there are some missions even. There aren’t any huge quest going out since Gaea but I think we can all take a break from quest like saving the world for another year or two.”
Elli shook her head. “You don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Nico nodded. “As always, you’re right detective.”
Elli laughed. “Stop calling me that.”
Nico shook his head. “No,I think I like that name for you.” He smiled.
“Now, how about we try seeing how well you do in the Arena so we can show Tucker that you’ve used your time wisely.”
Elli nodded, even though Nico’s character opened up faster than she had intended, Elli was glad that she had found another friend here at Camp Half Blood. After all, she didn’t know how many truths she could take from these dark storied demigods. All of them had something to say whether they said it to her or not and she didn’t plan on hearing them all out.
No comments:
Post a Comment