Voicemail

[nice_pipes]

Hey, you've reached Piper McLean. I can't take your call right now, but leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks!

Comments

[nice_pipes]

[Piper's starting to get used to this, but she still jumps when there's a voice that sounds like Nico in her head. The nervousness is immediately apparent.]

Hey, Nico. What's up?

[Concerned? A little, but since Nico's not freaking out, she's not going to freak out, either.]

[zombiedude]

I need... help. With something. Uh... I'd... I'd ask Masaki but she's away for a few days.

[nice_pipes]

[Well. Piper seriously doubts that this is girl trouble, but she'll keep her mind open. She won't rule out some girl forming a crush on Nico and him not knowing how to let her down. Or if she's persistent, how to get her to stop.]

I've got free time. You wanna talk about it like this or do you want me to go find you?

[zombiedude]

It doesn't matter. [So so hesitant.] I just. Wanted to ask about. Uhm. ... Clothes.

[nice_pipes]

[Definitely not what she's expecting. Piper blinks and considers that.]

Okay. What kind of occasion is it for? Or what specifically do you want my help with?

[zombiedude]

A... [Okay, Nico, you can say the word, it's okay, it's not going to kill you.] A date? [He sounds a little strangled.]

I have a really nice suit that Masaki made me get for the masquerade and my regular clothes but - I don't - I've never been to a club before, what do you wear to a club?

[Oh my gods, why is he talking about what he's going to wear, what is happening to his life, why does he even care about what to wear, it's just a simple date, Nico, Edmund probably doesn't even care what he wears, and Nico really has to resist the urge to start tearing his hair out.]

[nice_pipes]

[OH NO THIS IS ADORABLE. SHE NEVER THOUGHT NICO WOULD BE ADORABLE, BUT HERE HE IS. BEING ADORABLE. ALL UP IN HER FACE HEAD.

Nico has gained the full Jason-Piper set as a friendship. Congratulations!]

Um....

[Yeah, in all seriousness, she thinks about it.]

Mostly casual clothes work. Since you're going to a club, I'd wear a short sleeve shirt and no jacket. It's going to get hot in there since there's typically a lotta people and dancing going on.

[Okay, she's only been in one once and not again. It's not a good feeling to get kicked out by bouncers and have her dad called to pick her up.]

For what's comfortable for you, I'd guess skinny jeans, black shirt, no jacket. The skull ring would still work, if you've got that. I can help you look for other accessories to give it more personality.

[zombiedude]

[Oh. Right. Dancing. Dancing happens at clubs. Does that mean Edmund is going to want to dance with him?! He doesn't really know how to do much besides the basic of ballroom dances. Why did he agree to go to a club?!]

So... basically what I wear every day...? [His tone is questioning, like he's asking 'are you sure?' without actually asking it.]

[nice_pipes]

Yep. It's super casual 'cause it's a good way to hang out. Honestly, you could get away with wearing very little in some of them, but most people are over eighteen when they go.

[Nico stop being cute.]

So, who's the lucky guy? Does he know you're a demigod?

[zombiedude]

... If you say so. [He's trusting you know more about this than he does, Piper, even though he's pretty sure that people dress up nicely when they go on dates. He's just not sure how nice.]

Uh... His name is Edmund. And... yeah. [He makes no mention of Narnia because he promised Edmund he wouldn't say anything about it.]

[nice_pipes]

Trust me, I've been in one once. [Also, beautiful people never lie, Nico.]

Oh, good! Then we probably won't have to tiptoe around the elephant in the room. [It's almost a good thing that Nico can't see the grin on Piper's face.] You know we'll all have to meet him if anybody hasn't already, right?

[zombiedude]

[Wait, what.]

Meet him? Why do you have to meet him?

[nice_pipes]

Because I want to get a good idea of who he is. It'd be nice to be friends with your date. And so that we can expect him over at Leo's mansion more often.

[She is not going to tell him it's because she and Jason are also somewhat overprotective and will probably act like Big Sister/Brother to Edmund.]

[zombiedude]

It's just one date. [Protests with a flustered grumble.] Please tell me you're not going to demand I bring all the people I know here over just so you can meet them.

[nice_pipes]

Oh, no, just your potential boyfriends.

[A flustered Nico is an adorable Nico. Also casually throwing the word around.]

What's he like?

[zombiedude]

[That gets him to start sputtering.] What? No, he's not - we're not - it's not like that! We're just - I only met him three days ago! Are you crazy?

[nice_pipes]

[Piper is unimpressed.]

I fell in love with Jason the day we first met. It's not so farfetched. Besides, you seem to like him enough to agree to date him after three days of knowing each other.

[zombiedude]

I'm not in love with him. We're just getting to know each other.

[nice_pipes]

The point, di Angelo, is that it's perfectly normal to want to go on a date with someone you just met. It's kind of what dates are typically for.

[zombiedude]

I know. That still doesn't mean he's my - that we're -

[nice_pipes]

A couple?

[He can most likely hear the raised eyebrow.]

[zombiedude]

Yes. I mean, yes, we're not a couple.

[nice_pipes]

Okay, then, if you say so. But if you two do become one, I'm sure you will make the most adorable couple ever.

[Piper is actually backing off from the issue. She doesn't want to push him, or tease him, too far.]

[zombiedude]

Oh my gods.

[He's just going to cover his face with his hands and grumble into them.]

I don't... think that would be a good idea.

[nice_pipes]

[Piper has to resist the giggle that threatens to break loose.]

Look, Nico, it's whenever you're ready for that, okay? You do deserve nice things.