[open] january catch-all

[birdflipping]

Who: Nero and you
What: New Year's celebrations and assorted quests
When: Throughout January
Where: Camelot, the Edge of Dusklight Woods
Warnings: Nero's potty mouth, prompt 3 will include mentions/depictions of character death

1. FIREWORKS
a (closed to Alice) - [Nero's not the type to get excited about fireworks, of all things, but he knows a certain someone who might appreciate the show, considering she's never seen a fireworks display before. So he takes Alice to the crowd gathering around Camelot's castle. Nearby, there's a board displaying the minutes and seconds left counting down until the new year.

He's keeping hold of her hand through the crowds so that they don't get separated, at least until he finds what seems to be a good spot to get ready for watching the display. Then he looks down at her, and grins.]

It'll be really loud, and it might seem scary at first, but I promise it'll be fun when you get used to it.

b (open) - [Feel free to spot Nero around! Perhaps you bump into him during the fireworks display, grabbing a midnight snack at a stall somewhere, or maybe once the crowds are starting to thin out and people are heading home.]


2. QUEST - SHADLIN SHOWDOWN
[It's quite the trek from the city to the edge of the woods, and Nero is yawning, bored already. He figures it'd be easy money, so he agreed to it, but he's not expecting much from how vague the description was.] This quest kinda seems like bullshit to me. Eyes watching people? Weird noises? Who the hell cares. There's probably all kinds of monsters hiding in there.

[Nero is already complaining to whoever his partner is for this quest, as they travel to reach the Edge of the Dusklight Woods. He has his blade and his (thankfully now enchanted to magically reload) gun in tow, but it's more of a precaution than anything. It's starting to get dark as they arrive, the sun dipping low below the horizon.]

Maybe if we ask 'em nicely, they'll mind their manners and stop staring.


3. MIRROR, MIRROR
["Brave of soul" is a trait Nero is confident enough in, so he agrees to help with at least this portion of the quest ("pure of heart"... not so much). He'll go right ahead and lead the way into the cave, cocky grin in place.]

Come on! Worst fears? Bring it!

[For all his bravado, he soon goes quiet when he hears a certain song begin to echo through the cave. He squints, looking around for the source; evidently the voice is deeper within.]

... You hearing this? [He mutters to his travelling companion. He's apprehensive, but he knows he doesn't have a choice but to press on ahead.]


4. WILDCARD
[Anything else you want to play out? Write your own starter! Feel free to shoot me a PM or PP over at moonsilver if you want to plot. I'll match brackets or prose if you have a preference.]

Comments

[birdflipping]

I've had some good people in my life. I'm just doing what they'd do.

[He doesn't think he's a particularly good person. He's just paying forward kindness he's received.]

Like I said before, even if you decide to accept, you can always leave whenever you want. It's your call.

[whatsamada]

And if I do accept?

[He said without a second thought. Now that he knew he could leave at any time he wanted, there seemed to be no real consequences for his actions. It seemed too good to pass up.

Should it take his leader's (and Junpei's) advice to take the opportunity when they get the chance instead of waiting?]

I don't know, maybe I am rushing into it.

[birdflipping]

No offence, but you look practically dead on your feet. At least if you accept some help for now, it'll ease things up for you so you can figure out what you wanna do in the longer term.

[Whereas if he delays, he's just going to burn himself out more trying to do too much.

While they talk, Nero continues to lead him away from the castle, leading him down one of the busy main streets and back towards the residential area of town.]

[whatsamada]

[Nero was right. He was overthinking this as he probably should get some rest. Once again, placing his hand over his head, he just shook his head.]

You're probably right, I really do need to get some rest and figure out what to do.

[He mumbled to himself before making his way toward a much quieter area. During that entire time, he was still thinking why he was making such a big deal over this. It really shouldn't be.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you about this.

[birdflipping]

Honestly, it's fine. You're giving yourself enough of a hard time without feeling bad on top of it.

[He smiles slightly.]

Did you at least enjoy the fireworks while they lasted?

[whatsamada]

[He really was and he knew it. There was just so much emotions running between how tired and burnt out he was. He kept on looking at the ground with his shoulder slumped downwards.

Maybe if Nero was so willing to take him in and provide information about himself, maybe he could slowly do the same?]

Yea, I did. [Pause] When I looked at them, it reminded of the fun times I had with my friends and how I use to watch it with my mom too.

[birdflipping]

Oh yeah? Your mom likes fireworks too?

[He didn't miss that Ken said used to, but that could mean multiple things. He doesn't want to assume.]

[whatsamada]

She did but that's okay.

[Did he want to take in a leap of faith? With that, he took a deep breath in.]

I know she can still enjoy it from up above. I hope she's watching it with me even if we're in different worlds now.

[birdflipping]

Ken...

[Nero trails off, expression softening in sympathy. Well, that explains a few things.]

Yeah, I bet she is.

[whatsamada]

[In return, Ken had to chuckle. He should have known he would be met with sympathy after that line.]

It's fine, I'm use to it by now. I haven't seen her in 6 years but I know I'll get by somehow.

[Pause] It's not that I have much of a choice now that I'm here.

[birdflipping]

[Nero nods.] I... kinda know how that feels. Never knew my mom, but Credo's parents took me in when I was little. They passed away when I was still a kid, too.

[It's not the same, not exactly. But they're the closest things to parents that he had growing up.]

[whatsamada]

[Did Ken make the right choice in trusting him after all? That's when his gaze finally met up with Nero's before giving him a concerned look.]

I'm sorry to hear about that, I didn't realize you didn't have parents either. I'm guessing it must have been difficult for you too when Credo-san's parents weren't really your own.

[Which is to say it was the same for him when it came to his group of friends. They weren't related but he viewed all of him as his adopted older siblings.]

[birdflipping]

It was tough, but I felt lucky, in a way. They were the kindest people I ever knew.

[Hence why Nero would want to follow their example, and help others the way he was helped back then.]

After they passed away, it was Credo who really picked up the slack. He may seem all serious and stern, but he'd look out for you, too.

[whatsamada]

["He'd look out for you, too." Those words kept ringing in his mind as he kept looking at him. He just arrived here and the people whom he met were already so kind.

If they only knew what kind of person he really was...]

The way you're describing it sounds like you're already making me part of a family. [Pause] Between you, Alice-san, Credo-san, and your uncle? You're being really kind to someone you just met.

[birdflipping]

Hey, my family's getting bigger all the time. You might not believe this, but I didn't know Dante was my uncle until a few months ago.

[He throws up his arms in an exaggerated shrug and grins.] At this point I'm just thinking -- screw it, the more the merrier. Weird stuff like that just keeps happening to me anyway.

[whatsamada]

[Why were there so many people who are kind of him. There was his leader and then his teammates, the people in Inaba, and now him too? He really can't grasp his head around it.

He didn't say anything and kept his gaze on the floor. He stopped walking and gripped his fist.]

You know one day, there will be people who take advantage of that. You really need to be careful of what you do.

[birdflipping]

[Nero pauses and looks Ken up and down, frowning.]

I'm not naive, or stupid. Hell, I'm not even a people person -- I'm a huge asshole. But I like to think that makes me a decent judge of character. And I'm pretty sure a little punk like you isn't gonna do anything to screw me over.

[He tilts his head, a slight grin creeping into his expression again as he teases him.] Are you?

[whatsamada]

Of course, I won't. I wouldn't ever do that to someone who taken me in!

[That got Ken out of his thoughts before looking back up him. With a small huff, he thought carefully about what to say next.]

I just don't know how to repay that kindness, I don't want to take advantage of it.

[birdflipping]

You really wanna repay me that badly? Get good at your magic. We're all gonna need to work together if we want to save our worlds, and you're not gonna accomplish jack shit if you're struggling just to get by.

[Maybe Ken would understand reasoning where they both stand to benefit, if he wasn't going to be comfortable with someone just being kind to him for nothing.]

[whatsamada]

[That was the reaction he was use to. So much so he stared at him before he bursted out into laughter. If only Shinjiro or Akihiko could see him now...

Suddenly, whatever somber mood he was in seemed to disappear]

Then I fully expect to do so! Just know if I am going to get better, your house might be overrun with animals.

[birdflipping]

[Nero just looks at him for a second, aghast. That was what Ken needed to hear?

In this case, it seems like he can catch more flies with vinegar than with honey.]

Yeah, yeah. But if they crap everywhere and scratch up the furniture, that's on you. Deal?

[whatsamada]

[If this was going where Ken think this was going, maybe just maybe he could see Nero as someone he could look up to. He didn't want to get his hopes up yet but he was trying to be optimistic.]

Doesn't sound any different from what I dealt with back home. [He said before giving his hand out. However, there was a moment of hesitation before he fully extended it to him.]

But that's a deal to me.

[birdflipping]

All right. Nice doing business with you. [He grins and returns the handshake. Welcome to the world of sort-of adulthood, Ken.

...At least, until Nero says:]

My place is about ten minutes from here. Think you can make it? Still not gonna carry you if you pass out.

[whatsamada]

I've stayed up past midnight plenty of times and even a day without sleep. I can handle it.

[As he let go of his hand, he gave a small frown before looking up and down Nero.]

Please don't tell me that you were if I did.

[birdflipping]

Nah, I'd just ditch you in the street.

[Nero grins and carries on walking.] I'd carry your familiar though. He's cute.