Nico, Felix and Caius

[om_velikaia]

Caius has decided it is time for he, Nico and Felix to go adventuring in the city. This idea is met with varying levels of enthusiasm but no rejections.

Caius, having surprisingly arrived first to lunch that afternoon, commandeered a table and then proceeded to gather his fellows for an enjoyable repast. He spotted Nico entering the room and waved him over before the boy could get ideas to go elsewhere.

"I've saved a seat for you right here," he said, gesturing to the one right next to him even though the rest of the table was, so far, empty.

Nico looked up when he heard someone talking and saw Caius gesturing to a table gleefully. Well, he guessed he could eat lunch here today. A guy's gotta eat. "Hey Caius," he mumbled, sliding into his seat without much finesse.

Felix wasn't very far behind, bearing an aimless collection of different food items to which he'd paid very little attention. Caius and Nico's presence and the promise of interesting chatter was the real draw of the lunch hour. He drifted down to sit without invitation, with approving looks for his table-mates. "Just exactly who I hoped I'd have lunch with."

"Felix!" Caius beamed. He did love to be appreciated. "I'm so happy you could join us. I was just about to tell Nico that we all need to have an outing in the city. I do think it is high time we went adventuring together."

"The city?" Nico asked curiously, drinking his coke eagerly.

Aimlessly, Felix nudged at his lunch, and eventually decided to begin with the applesauce. "I do want to test Eames' disguises," he said conversationally, as if the other two knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Disguises?" asked Caius, now interested in not only where they would go in the city but what they would be wearing to be incognito when they did it. "Do tell."

Of course, Nico had no clue what he was talking about, so he sat in silence hoping someone would fill him in.

"Eames has some ideas about how I can be less memorable when I leave the school," Felix explained. "I don't really qualify for an image inducer, but I'm a bit too unusual out there. Sixteen-year-olds aren't supposed to have tattoos. I don't want a lot of people noticing me."

"Oh," was Nico's brilliant comment. He hadn't even really thought about that.

"Please tell me sunglasses and a baseball hat weren't on the list of ideas," said Caius with a wrinkle of his nose.

"Caius," Felix answered, gently reproving. "You know me better than that. He has some temporary hair-color and colored contact lenses. Oh, and probably false noses and makeup and things, if you fellows want to try out a new look. I should like to see what I look like with freckles."

Frowning, Nico asked, "Can't I just go like this?"

"If you'd like," said Caius. "Though I would love to see the effect a touch of liner would have on your eyes!" To Felix, "I think you'd be adorable with freckles. I might try some contacts. I wonder if Eames has purple."

With a touch of adoration that he couldn't fully quash, Felix answered, "Eames has everything. He's a master of disguise, it's just ever so much easier for her. You can go however you like, Nico. You're perfectly handsome just the way you are. As is Caius, of course, don't you think?"

Nico pulled a face at the mention of make-up but answered in between bites of his PB&J. "Well yeah--wouldn't purple eyes make you more memorable instead of less?"

"I'm memorable no matter what I wear," said Caius.

Felix flashed Caius a brief 'I tried' glance. Nico had so much to learn if he was going to be Caius' crush in a proper way. Though, perhaps his plain-spokenness was what Caius found so delightful about him. "He's right of course, but he's not the one concerned about it. I'd much rather be recalled as one of an interesting trio, than the red-haired tattooed mutant unleashed upon the city."

Nico shrugged and nodded before adding, "Yeah well, people usually don't remember me. Or if they do, it's cuz they thought I looked suspicious."

Caius acknowledged Felix's attempt with a smile to his friend. "You'll be safe from that with us my dear. One thing Felix and I never pull off is suspicious."

"Never," agreed Felix. "But that comes of behavior more than simple appearance. We can show you how not to look suspicious, if you want. I think between the three of us we could manage not to be noticed by anyone. Or by everyone." Felix didn't sound as if it made much difference to him, either way.

Nico once again shrugged. He was a leader at heart but a follower in reality. "So what are we gonna do?"

"Not knowing is part of the adventure," said Caius. "Though I suppose we could see a movie or stop in at a museum at some point. We'll make a day of it."

"Doesn't the Met have all sorts of Greek statues and things?" Felix asked, apparently addressing himself to Caius, even though it was a subject he hoped would spark Nico's interest. Not to mention remind Caius that he ought to do the same if he hoped to win Nico as his sweetheart.

At that, Nico perked up slightly. "What kinds of things do you think they have?"

"I'm sure they have statues," said Caius, "but I think they have all different kinds of art from historical Greece and also Rome. Unfortunately, the Greek Museum is not yet open but I'm sure the Met would be worth checking out. Would you like to go?" The last was directed at Nico.

Felix appeared to be very interested in his little bowl of salad just then, barely able to suppress a smile. He'd just known that would work.

"Oh, uh, sure, that'd be cool," Nico replied truthfully. "You guys wouldn't find that stuff boring?"

"I am very fond of not being bored," said Caius. "If I thought I would be, I wouldn't have suggested it."

With significantly lifted brows, Felix did his very best impression of Eames, and noted, "After all, most of them are unclothed."

Nico nearly choked on his Coke and sent himself to an early death (how ironic). "Well that's uh...you know, there's probably Greek god statues too." His attempt to change the subject was less than smooth.

Caius was very proud of himself for not laughing. "You'll join us then?" he asked Nico.

"You can tell us which ones are really gods, and which ones are just convenient naked people," Felix added, with a perfectly sweet smile.

Scowling, Nico replied, "You guys are really enjoying yourself with this aren't you?" A few seconds later, he added, "But yeah...I guess I'll go."

Caius grinned. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "We're going to have such a good time. We should find a Greek restaurant for dinner too to keep the theme going."

"Caius loves a good theme," Felix told Nico, pretending at confiding a great secret, even though Caius was right there to hear them. He was smiling, just a little one, inviting Nico to share the friendly tease.

"I didn't know days out could have themes," Nico admitted with a furrowed brow.

"Anything can have a theme my dear," said Caius. "It's all in how you plan it."

Someday, Felix was determined that Nico would relax enough with them to make a joke, or at least not frown quite so often. Perhaps a smile was aiming too high. "Caius also loves to plan things. Just leave it to us. All you need to do is come along and enjoy yourself."

Nico shrugged and nodded. That seemed easy enough. "Okay, just let me know when."

"How about this weekend?" asked Caius. "No sense in procrastinating more than necessary."

"I can't imagine any plans that could be more attractive than having an adventure with the two of you," Felix assured them both.

"Okay," Nico conceded. It was not like he had grand plans other than that anyways.

Caius beamed. He loved it when his plans went smoothly. "Splendid. I'll make an itinerary tonight. Any special requests?"

"Be sure to schedule some time for spontaneity," Felix teased.

Nico shrugged. "Whatever you guys want is fine."

"Of course!" Caius told Felix. "That is on the top of the list," he grinned.