I like to plan, I guess. Even if half the time those plans get ignored to improvise. [ #greeklife. but he wants to be honest with them about the things he's considering. ]
I can do scouting, sure. I know it's about waiting but...the longer we wait, the more people are going to die, and the more people we'll have to execute to balance it out. Somehow that doesn't seem fair for a competition we didn't ask to be a part of. [ he frowns in thought. ] I guess I'm also concerned about why the notes talk about "this" round. The only other time people came here before us was you guys, wasn't it?
[ plans go awry all the time! it's no big! you learn to roll with the punches. ]
I'd like to finish this sooner, too. [ they don't like having to watch you all die, actually. ] But yes, as far as I know, we're the only ones before you. If there were others, they've hidden it pretty well.
[ that's what he thought you'd say, you dumb bird. ]
I think there are some places you go above your job, Phoenix. But fine. I'll revoke my thanks if you're so insistent. [ the tone is a joke, but he will drop it if they want. ]
[ he tilts his head, finding this a little funny but also maybe not. curious, really. ]
...I know I've caused a few problems already. And I'm going to tell you that I will likely cause more problems in the future. [ THANKS. ] But I do appreciate the help you've been able to give so far. Even if it's just listening as I talk myself in circles.
[ ...maybe a joke, but likely not. sometimes you are aggressively aware of your own shortcomings. ]
[ amused: ] Thanks for the warning. I'll look forward to it.
I'd be happy to do that even if I weren't your leader, but I'm glad that it's been helpful to you. It's not always easy to work some things out for yourself.
No problem. I don't often warn people before it happens, so consider this a stroke of luck. [ shut up, nico. but he settles back into being quiet and a little more serious with that. ]
...up until recently it's not like I had much of a choice. So maybe I still think it's the only solution even knowing that's not the case. There are some things I think only I can work out, but I'm trying to be better. Especially when so many people are at risk.
[ teasing, but only for a second as nico continues. ]
Some things you can only learn for yourself, over time. Other things, you may need a helping hand with. That's how it is for everyone, even me. All we can ask for is to try.
[ ...maybe he's pushing his luck with this, but he figures he can at least ask. ]
Phoenix, what are the things you feel like you need a helping hand with? Not just...solving what's happening here or finding papers or any of that. In general. Just for you.
[ surprised, phoenix pauses. then they shift to hold their chin as they think on how to answer. ]
For me... Well, as you've already noticed, I'm not the best with technology. It took me... probably longer than it should have, to accept it, let alone begin to use it myself.
Besides that? I am generally good at reading people, but there are some that I simply have a hard time relating to. I've needed others who know them better to help me start to understand why they do certain things that don't make sense to me. Why they are the way they are. Sometimes, their way of life is so antithetical to how I prefer to live that even talking to someone doesn't help me understand them any better.
[ a beat. ]
And my partner might say that I need taking care of, I guess, but I've been handling myself perfectly well so far.
[ honestly he sort of figured nobody's really asked phoenix outright, so that's his job now. ]
You've been managing pretty well. [ just a soft note because listen. he can't talk. he has gotten much better with technology but also he understands. the rest though...does and doesn't surprise him. for someone like phoenix who has a tendency to observe and take note of other people, he can understand why it might be hard, and even sometimes frustrating, to not know how to connect with someone.
nico himself isn't always good at it. he has a tendency to find the forgotten or the misunderstood and remind them that people will pay attention if allowed, but for more social creatures, or people vastly different than him, sometimes he struggles with how to understand. he nods along because he believes he understands, even if not 100%, and then he pauses because. huh.
okay. he doesn't quite assume what partner means in this sense, but does it matter? he's met people like tama and ryuki, and he knows how he and will are. it's two people matching each other beat for beat and working to make sure the other person doesn't drown.
also. he kind of huffs a laugh because he would make the same argument about himself and it's just weird how much they do sync up on that level. ]
It's always a little weird to be used to doing something and find some examples harder than others. I don't always have the patience to understand why, but I try. I think in those moments it's better to ask for help just because...you know. People are complicated.
[ he does raise an eyebrow. ]
And if I were to ask your partner what your idea of "handling yourself" is, what would they say?
I've never been that patient when I don't understand, either.
[ sometimes you get frustrated and don't give it enough time. ]
I can do the chores and things just fine. And I may not be the best cook, but I can still make rice. It's not my shortcomings that make him want to do everything for me.
[ though exasperated, their voice is still fond. ]
And now I kind of want to know if you've ever lost your patience trying to understand any of us so far. [ it's a joke. phoenix does not have to answer. still...listen, making rice is a good skill to have. it's debatable if nico knows how to cook at all when he forgets food is real half the time, but he recognizes that fond tone.
it sounds familiar. ]
I've tried to tell Will I can handle things myself just fine, but I know he doesn't always believe me. [ which is both something thoughtful and a touch guilty because nico is also extremely aware of his own shortcomings. ] And I've tried to tell myself that it's not the inadequacies that make him want to take care of me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I think...those kinds of people are extremely stubborn anyway for that reason.
[ moving on. ]
...do you miss him? [ because he knows at least fox has someone from their world here (and he suspects goat, just based on how they talk about each other), but he has no idea about anyone else so it's a guess that perhaps they are here alone. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I can do scouting, sure. I know it's about waiting but...the longer we wait, the more people are going to die, and the more people we'll have to execute to balance it out. Somehow that doesn't seem fair for a competition we didn't ask to be a part of. [ he frowns in thought. ] I guess I'm also concerned about why the notes talk about "this" round. The only other time people came here before us was you guys, wasn't it?
no subject
[ plans go awry all the time! it's no big! you learn to roll with the punches. ]
I'd like to finish this sooner, too. [ they don't like having to watch you all die, actually. ] But yes, as far as I know, we're the only ones before you. If there were others, they've hidden it pretty well.
no subject
it is not, but he has learned to roll with so many punches. ]
...I mean...there was an entire camp of Roman demigods that were hidden from us for like fifty-something years. It's a possibility.
no subject
For better or worse, we don't have fifty years to find it.
no subject
no subject
no subject
In the same capsule hotel? I'm wondering if that might give us an indication of where to start looking for the door.
no subject
no subject
Did you know about each other at first when you first arrived? Or did you find each other on accident? [ he is starting to see the difference here. ]
no subject
no subject
In a way it feels like maybe we should be thanking you a little for trying to make things easier on us.
no subject
no subject
Why not?
no subject
no subject
I think there are some places you go above your job, Phoenix. But fine. I'll revoke my thanks if you're so insistent. [ the tone is a joke, but he will drop it if they want. ]
no subject
I never said I don't like being appreciated.
[ it sounds like they could be teasing? but also maybe not? debatable. ]
no subject
...I know I've caused a few problems already. And I'm going to tell you that I will likely cause more problems in the future. [ THANKS. ] But I do appreciate the help you've been able to give so far. Even if it's just listening as I talk myself in circles.
[ ...maybe a joke, but likely not. sometimes you are aggressively aware of your own shortcomings. ]
no subject
I'd be happy to do that even if I weren't your leader, but I'm glad that it's been helpful to you. It's not always easy to work some things out for yourself.
no subject
...up until recently it's not like I had much of a choice. So maybe I still think it's the only solution even knowing that's not the case. There are some things I think only I can work out, but I'm trying to be better. Especially when so many people are at risk.
[ phoenix may have that iota of honesty. ]
no subject
[ teasing, but only for a second as nico continues. ]
Some things you can only learn for yourself, over time. Other things, you may need a helping hand with. That's how it is for everyone, even me. All we can ask for is to try.
no subject
Phoenix, what are the things you feel like you need a helping hand with? Not just...solving what's happening here or finding papers or any of that. In general. Just for you.
no subject
For me... Well, as you've already noticed, I'm not the best with technology. It took me... probably longer than it should have, to accept it, let alone begin to use it myself.
Besides that? I am generally good at reading people, but there are some that I simply have a hard time relating to. I've needed others who know them better to help me start to understand why they do certain things that don't make sense to me. Why they are the way they are. Sometimes, their way of life is so antithetical to how I prefer to live that even talking to someone doesn't help me understand them any better.
[ a beat. ]
And my partner might say that I need taking care of, I guess, but I've been handling myself perfectly well so far.
no subject
You've been managing pretty well. [ just a soft note because listen. he can't talk. he has gotten much better with technology but also he understands. the rest though...does and doesn't surprise him. for someone like phoenix who has a tendency to observe and take note of other people, he can understand why it might be hard, and even sometimes frustrating, to not know how to connect with someone.
nico himself isn't always good at it. he has a tendency to find the forgotten or the misunderstood and remind them that people will pay attention if allowed, but for more social creatures, or people vastly different than him, sometimes he struggles with how to understand. he nods along because he believes he understands, even if not 100%, and then he pauses because. huh.
okay. he doesn't quite assume what partner means in this sense, but does it matter? he's met people like tama and ryuki, and he knows how he and will are. it's two people matching each other beat for beat and working to make sure the other person doesn't drown.
also. he kind of huffs a laugh because he would make the same argument about himself and it's just weird how much they do sync up on that level. ]
It's always a little weird to be used to doing something and find some examples harder than others. I don't always have the patience to understand why, but I try. I think in those moments it's better to ask for help just because...you know. People are complicated.
[ he does raise an eyebrow. ]
And if I were to ask your partner what your idea of "handling yourself" is, what would they say?
no subject
[ sometimes you get frustrated and don't give it enough time. ]
I can do the chores and things just fine. And I may not be the best cook, but I can still make rice. It's not my shortcomings that make him want to do everything for me.
[ though exasperated, their voice is still fond. ]
no subject
it sounds familiar. ]
I've tried to tell Will I can handle things myself just fine, but I know he doesn't always believe me. [ which is both something thoughtful and a touch guilty because nico is also extremely aware of his own shortcomings. ] And I've tried to tell myself that it's not the inadequacies that make him want to take care of me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I think...those kinds of people are extremely stubborn anyway for that reason.
[ moving on. ]
...do you miss him? [ because he knows at least fox has someone from their world here (and he suspects goat, just based on how they talk about each other), but he has no idea about anyone else so it's a guess that perhaps they are here alone. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)