[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]

Guess it is pretty late. [Though something tells Nero there's more to it than just the fact it's past midnight. Still, he keeps a lighthearted grin on his face.]

If you're gonna fall asleep standing up, I'm not gonna be the one to carry you home, you know.

[whatsamada]

I wouldn't be surprised if you did, you're much taller than me.

[Especially when being compared to his tiny 5'1" self! However, he gave a small sigh before placing his hand over his head.

This conversation was already making him feel homesick.] I know who to call for should I pass out.

[birdflipping]

Just because my familiar's a horse doesn't mean I'm your personal pack horse, short stuff.

[Reaching down to ruffle Ken's hair just for that!]

Seriously though, if you're this tired, you should go get some rest.

[whatsamada]

[With the ruffle of his hair, the boy couldn't help but give a grumble or two. He just had to go there, didn't he?]

It's not my fault I'm growing! I'll get taller soon!

[However, he just looked back at the giant the elder with a frown. Should he tell him? He wasn't sure but he refuses to lie either.]

I'm not tired, I've just been thinking a lot. I never thought I would see fireworks here.

[birdflipping]

[He soon relents with the ruffling, at least.]

All the crazy stuff here and it's fireworks that surprise you...?

[whatsamada]

It’s not everyday you get to see fireworks in a modern medieval setting!

[He said with a small puff! In the fit of his childish behavior, he didn’t realize what he blurted out.]

It just reminded me of home!

[birdflipping]

[Nero scratches the back of his head, expression becoming more serious as he realises what Ken is getting at.]

You homesick?

[whatsamada]

[It seems he couldn’t get himself out of this conversation. Try as he might, whatever ways to divert this seemed to be fruitless.]

Can you blame me? I’ve only been here for a month, it’s kind of sad I’m already missing my friends.

[birdflipping]

I don't think it's sad. I get it. I've got someone back home I'm thinking about all the time. [And while having family here that he otherwise wouldn't have, it's still not the same without her.]

Even if you make new friends here, you can't replace them. Uh... you are making friends, right?

[He doesn't want to think Ken is lonely, but maybe he is.]

[whatsamada]

I think so? I hope Harry-san, Alice-san, Claire-san, and Sokka-san think of me as their friend.

[He said before scratching the side of his chin. While he didn't have any problem befriending people, he didn't really know how to explain it to Nero but...]

I know the friends back home can't be replaced, it's more that the friends are kind of my caretakers. [He said trailing off a little]

[birdflipping]

[Nero knows all those names bar Sokka, so it's reassuring that he's at least finding people to get along with. Still...]

If you're having a rough time, my offer from before still stands. I can help you out with anything you need.

[whatsamada]

[He had to make a choice. On the one hand, he want to present yourself as a responsible teenager who can handle things on his own. However, after a month's worth of school, work, and quests, it can be a little difficult to manage without some help.

What will he do?

>"Sure."
>"Hell no!"
> "..."

He needed to think about this. Whatever he choose can have a serious impact for future events.

>"Sure."
>"Hell no!"
> "..."]


[For a moment, Ken didn't answer him. It was clear there was a lot of thoughts running through his mind. Without the help of Mitsuru and the others, he was having a hard time adapting to a strange environment. He needed a support system but he didn't know where to get it. He could easily befriend people but there was only so much they could do.

They weren't his caregiver.

However, Nero was offering him some help. Could he really trust him?]

If I said yes, what would you do?

[birdflipping]

I'd show you my place and you could decide if you were happy to move in? It's... uh, a little on the cozy side right now, I'll be honest. There's me, Credo, my uncle, and now Alice, too, but I'm working on it.

[Getting somewhere bigger, that is. In the meantime, much like everyone else, he's trying to make do with what he can.]

You can go to school and just focus on improving your magic and learning about this place, like Alice is. [And focus on being a normal teenager, instead of one trying to grow up way too quickly.]

[whatsamada]

[It didn't take much for Ken to be speechless and this was one of those moments. He kept on staring at Nero with dumbfounded eyes wondering how did he put himself into this predicament. He had no problem living with a bunch of people before, he done it many times.

However, this was different. He was living with adults and another child. Was this what it was like to live in as a family? He couldn't deny the implications behind his suggestion as he was trying to figure out what to say. This wasn't any different from how he lived when he was with his friends all those years ago.

It was almost nostalgic as he wanted to agree to what Nero was saying. The problem was could he really trust him?

After a long pause, he finally had to speak up.]

I think I'll go look at your place for now. But don't you think it's weird? I'm just not use to people offering me a place to stay.

[birdflipping]

Honestly, it's not that weird for me. But my life back home isn't exactly "normal"...

[He shrugs, motioning for him to follow as he leads the way back.]

A few years back, me and my girlfriend took in three kids with nowhere to go. One of them's about your age now -- he's called Julio, and he's a trouble magnet. [He grins. Just who does he take after, Nero...] After everything everyone's been through in that town, helping each other is pretty much the one thing keeping everyone going. We just do what we can.

[And while the situation isn't quite so dire in Avalon, there are still people who need help, so Nero's approach is just business as usual. He doesn't expect Ken to believe him, and it's not like he can earn trust through words alone, but all he can offer is the truth.]

[whatsamada]

[There were a lot of thoughts running through his mind. There wasn't any reason behind why Nero would lie about this. As Ken crossed his arms, he was debating his options still.

He really did want to join in for the sake of feeling as if there was a place to belong. After being transported to a strange new world, he just wanted to know there was something he could fall back on. However, would that be taking advantage of his kindness? He wasn't sure.

This really wasn't any different from how he felt when he lived with his friends in the dorms, was it?]

That's very admirable of you, Nero, I honestly didn't know you would be the kind to let people live with you. [Pause] To be honest, I'm not sure how to react to the offer.

[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.