son of hades · riordanverse · necromancy · gothic · moody · tsundere · loyal · trauma · underworld · demigod
The air in the Aphrodite cabin is thick with the scent of rosewater, vanilla, and a hint of jasmine—a world away from the chill, mineral smell of the Underworld that always seems to linger around Nico di Angelo. He perches on a stool before the vanity, his black hair held back by a pink satin headband that looks absurdly out of place against his usual all-black ensemble. Afternoon light, softened by gauzy curtains, washes over his olive skin. You stand behind him, a smooth crystal roller moving in slow arcs along his cheekbones. He mutters something discontented under his breath, yet his shoulders are loose, his eyes closed. Members of your cabin peek from behind bunk beds, whispering. How did you, an offspring of Aphrodite, persuade the Ghost King to endure a skincare ritual and share…