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[demigoth]

Display Name: Nico
Profile Photo: This
Notes: If your character is in or tangentially related to Nico's friends group and wants to take credit or partial credit for teaching the ghosts of the Hurl how to dance, go for it.

[ The video's showing a low angle of a room, like the phone is propped up on the seat of a chair. In the foreground, it's mostly Nico di Angelo and a pile of turned wood that might be the balusters of a staircase on the dusty, thin-board floor.

The further in the background, however, the more height the camera is picking up. And there's definitely... something happening back there. It's hard to see what it is, at first, because Nico's holding out a tri wing screw like a YouTuber holds up a skin cream, tucked into his palm to try to make the camera focus on this.

Not hard to hear what it is, though, because music is playing with a forced, tinny element that identifies the giant 1930s radio cabinet in the background is the source. It's not that loud in the video, but there's a sense from the tinniness and how loudly Nico's talking that the dial's cranked to 11. ]

Can anyone help me with this screw?

[ He puts his hand down and starts picking up various basic tools: a flathead screwdriver, a Philips screwdriver, two different hex keys, a hex screwdriver. ]

Tried this, this, both of these, whatever this is...

[ The song hits When I do my walk, walk and the movement in the background resolves. There's a floating broom, a dogeared grimoire, a porkpie hat, and a chiffon and maribou robe. There's a sense that the items are being held four astride. It's clear that the robe has an invisible body in it, and they're dancing. And... the other items move like the invisible hands that hold them are participating in the same choreography. It's like Tiktok Presents: the big fight scene from Bedknobs & Broomsticks. And they really go for it on the chorus. ]

I am trying to fix the stairs so that nobody breaks their neck climbing a rope that's tied to a poster bed. Please don't make me go to the hardware store. I'm already banned from 2 Home Depots.

[ The porkpie hat bobbles over and one of the balusters floats upward from the pile. As it bounces back over to the other haunted items, there's a thump and the radio starts playing the song from the top. ]

I really need to get this done.

Comments

UN: Jason Todd | Video

[robintohood]

[Wow. That's an impressive number the ghosts are doing]

You don't have the right screwdriver for it. Why are you banned from 2 Home Depots?

[demigoth]

[ An impressive number just makes it worse. ]

I know I’m using the wrong screwdriver! What’s the right screwdriver?

And we don’t talk about Home Depot.

[robintohood]

Ideally, you need to use a tri-wing screwdriver.

[Jason's still paying attention to Nico but he also watching the background]

Are you gonna be okay? Doesn't seem like your housemates are gonna stop anytime soon.

[demigoth]

You’re making that up.

[ A tri-wing what now? ]

There are only two kinds of screwdrivers. Everybody knows that.

[ He tries to adjust the camera so you can’t see what’s behind him. Fails. ]

Whatever. This whole town is weird. Only new people notice.

[robintohood]

You're free to think that but you still got a screw you can't put in. Why can't you go to another hardware store?

[demigoth]

Because the security guard said I’m on the corporate most wanted list.

[robintohood]

[Well that's a bit dramatic...]

Do you want me to give you one? Been doing a big construction project all month so I got a lot of tools lying around.

[demigoth]

[ To be fair, Nico did free climb the shelves. ]

I'll borrow it and give it back. Beware adults giving things.

[robintohood]

Naturally. Do your housemates need anything as well? Like a stage?

[demigoth]

[ Nico gives them a long look over his shoulder. ]

No, I think they're good. When can I pick up the screw driver?

[robintohood]

Whenever you want. I got other tools too if you need them.

[demigoth]

Do you have anything that fixes really old houses?

[robintohood]

That depends on what needs to be fixed.

[demigoth]

It... has walls?

[ Nico shrugs. ]

They said most of the big fixes get done every time someone buys the house, but the little things like railings and lattices and sweeping chimneys haven't been touched for decades.

[robintohood]

Hmm... do you want me to come over and help?

[demigoth]

not to make this weird but i'm gonna have to ask you what you think about women in the three Ps first. pants, paganism and power.

i don't know if that's a thing everywhere but it is here

[robintohood]

[Uh...]

Women are free to wear pants whenever they want. There's nothing wrong with them having power as long as they don't abuse it, which is the same standard as men with power. And it's okay for them to be pagans.

Is that what you mean?

[demigoth]

[ The robe has come over to stand behind Nico - the way he’s tipping his head back, he’s listening to it. ]

She says you’ll do.

[ He looks a little unnerved saying that. ]

[robintohood]

O...kay. Should I be concerned? Is there anything else I should be aware of?

[demigoth]

[ Actually… ugh. Yeah. Talking. ]

I guess we have to talk. I’ll be there in a few minutes.

[robintohood]

Okay. I'll be waiting.

un: tompainesbones | text

[nogodsnoheroes]

For fuck's sake. Some people shouldn't do DIY.

Tri-wing. My advice? Get a ratchet with interchangeable bits, it saves a shitton of work and they're like ten bucks. But if you didn't check before you started and you don't have your own screws, the fuck are you even doing?

I mean, why would you think any of those would work? Look at screw head. Match screwdriver to screw. It's not rocket science.

text

[demigoth]

had enough advice and assistance from jerks for this life and nobody's making me put up with yours

[nogodsnoheroes]

Hey, jackass, do you know how the internet works?

[demigoth]

nope no internets here

but i think it looks bad when old ladies attack kids right?

[nogodsnoheroes]

The fuck are you talking about? Nobody's attacking anyone. You asked a question, I answered it. Get a tri-wing and a ratchet, or get a contractor.

[demigoth]

you didn't just answer the question

"get a contractor" do i look old enough to sign a contract

go bother someone else

[nogodsnoheroes]

I don't know how old you look. You look like a kid. So do a lot of 18-year-olds.

Apparently you're old enough to find time for two Home Depot bans. Kinda sounded like a "baby face but I'm actually 20" situation.

[This is the closest she's capable of coming to an apology.]

[demigoth]

so when I don’t want to go to school then i look like a kid

but when it’s convenient then i’m 20.

adults suck

[nogodsnoheroes]

People suck. You don't hit a magic line when you turn eighteen.

I didn't know you were that young, okay? I wouldn't have sworn as much. I was a bit distracted by the Invisible Man over there.

[demigoth]

I’ll let you know when I turn 18.

Also she identifies as a lady.

[nogodsnoheroes]

Okay, Invisible Woman, then. Still wild.

text

[codicies]

ok lemme see if I can nick Eddie's teleporter and bring the toolbox over, i gotta fix up some stuff in my room anyway

[demigoth]

ok good. jason said we can borrow his screwdriver if you don't have the right kind

[codicies]

ok yeah actually i don't think I have that kind, so that'll be good.

i've got the flathead & phillips kind, plus that star bit one with the six points. those are great since they don't slip in the power drill.

[demigoth]

That’s a stupid number of things that do the same job.

Also “Philips” isn’t name for a screwdriver!

un: Swordbasa | video

[delicatetouch]

Why is one of those in the stairs?

[ Tsubasa squints visibly. Her toolkit... she's pretty sure she's needed to worry about a screw like that. ]

[demigoth]

[ Nico huffs a breath of air. He’s not exasperated at her, but at the whole situation. ]

Because the house has hundreds of years of people repairing stuff with whatever they had around. I thought it was all going to be nails until I found this one.

[delicatetouch]

I suppose non-standard home repairs would be a bit chaotic. Have you had any luck finding someone with the appropriate screwdriver?

[ Tsubasa doesn't, like, know this guy, but she has a pretty kitted out set for working on her bikes and this is different, which gets her brain turning. ]

[demigoth]

Yeah, J- someone had one.

[ Nico doesn't particularly want to explain how he knows Jason Todd. ]

[delicatetouch]

[ Not like she knows this person from that person yet, but now she's filing away that there's a 'J-someone' that this guy knows. None of her business for now. ]

Now you won't need to get banned from a third Home Depot.

[ ...are there other chains, she doesn't even know. ]

UN: suns_and_roses | Video

[sol_annoyance]

[Will is trying very hard to not laugh. The idea for the ghosts dancing to that track while Nico figures out what needs repairing is infinitely more hilarious in practice.]

I was gonna ask how the assessment was going, but I think the background dancing and blasting music is answer enough.

[demigoth]

[ Will, why do you have to mix the two together? ]

It’s going fine. I’m not responsible for what the other residents do with their time.