Objectives 1-4-5 all have to do with the connections between people, and the impact we can have on someone; objective 3 is also somewhat related, but I'm saving it for the right time.
6. Frayed bonds, part 1
Simon a little stressed, though he's also awake right in time for sundown, and has stopped ignoring his hunger, so you know, baby steps. The thing is, it's not the vampire stuff that's stressing him, but it is related.
Not that he can really complain, considering the state of his roommate, but Leo had given him a very specific kind of stare through the eye bags and the small pile of metal in front of him; and Simon slips into the chair, and his tongue gets ahead of him.
"You've ever heard the whole if you fall for two people chose the second and what not?"
Leo scoffs, and his voice sounds dry as he does, Simon wonders when he last had water, or food, or rest.
"It's bullshit"
Simon blinks.
"What?"
Leo makes an exaggerated eye roll, hands slowly moving, turning the mountain of metal into something else.
"Like, I'm no child of Aphrodite, but it completely disregards the possibility of the person being polyamorous, or polysexual, or some other third thing"
Simon frowns, confused, which he doesn't hide very well if Leo's tired sigh is any indicator.
"It's the twenty-first century, you can look those up on the internet"
He watches him shiver visibly, and then collapse into the table; he very carefully picks him up and carries him to his bedroom; it's not the first time this has happened, so Simon's prepared for the unnatural heat of Leo's skin, something to do with his fire powers apparently.
He doesn't bother tucking Leo in, nor closing the door all the way through, and when he goes back to the kitchen to check for blood, he makes triple sure not to disturb anything in the table; he's gonna have to get more blood soon, which isn't something he looks forwards to.
A sound outside catches his attention, and when he goes check he sees the last person he expected.
"Raphael?"
.-.. . - / .-.. . - / ... .-.. . . .-. / ..- -.- ..- -
Nico did not have the patience for Iris Messages anymore, because he already knew who was calling; he knew because Hazel had finally gotten the hang of crow-messages, and Reyna often asked Hazel to send her own messages too, so it wasn't his sisters. There was the slight chance this was something important though, and that was why, even though he knew the result, he answered every time.
Piper appears in the image as always, and Nico leans into the wall of yet another alleyway he's hidden in; he's almost in Brooklyn, he knows because he's crossed paths with a decent amount of monsters in his way, all headed there.
"Where are you?"
He doesn't answer her, still bitter, he doesn't think he'll ever stop being bitter with her, not even if she finally opens her eyes.
"Nico"
He's tired, annoyed, and so close to his goal, he doesn't need to look to know Piper's frowning at him.
"How can you forgive him?"
The annoyance is quick to turn to anger, with her it always is, and he has to remind himself not scream and her; not to give her any leeway. He still scoffs loudly, still not looking at her, eye-contact, he's found, is an integral part of charmspeak; he's not telling her anything.
"He chose to run"
Nico closes his shaking hands into fists, and knows there's dark energy coiling around him.
"What would you do if the people you considered friends turned on you for nothing but the words of a near-stranger?"
He doesn't bother hiding the anger, if he can't glare at her then he wants his words to hurt.
"He hurt her!"
Nico scoffs again.
"Did he actually? Because I have no reason to believe it"
She groans like she's dealing with a particularly stubborn child, Nico pays her no mind, knowing she's trying to goad him.
"If this is about the clock again-"
Nico lets out a growl, eyes still firmly at the side, it does its work of making her shut up.
"The clock was meant to go to the person he loved most, and it appeared right in front of her"
The clock gets slightly warmer in his pocket, and Nico brings a hand to it instinctually, letting his unnatural cold seep into the metal.
"He loved her enough to trust her with his very life, and he almost died for it without knowing"
Piper scoffs, and Nico thinks she mutters something about burns, but he's more focused on the way the light flickers where it's reflected in the wall; and knowing she has only seconds, he finally turns to look at her, pouring all the bitterness he feels into his gaze.
"You were supposed to be his best friend Piper, and you chose to believe her without thinking twice"
He stomps on the ground, a stone flying through the mirage, successfully severing the connection; he takes a moment to compose himself, and keeps going.