[open] december catch-all

[birdflipping]

Who: Nero and you
What: Catch-all for December questing and misc threads
When: First two weeks of December
Where: Rent-A-Ride, in and around the Red Springs
Warnings: Nero's potty mouth, violence, character injury/mentions of injury

I. RENT-A-RIDE STABLES
Nero had taken up a job at the Rent-A-Ride, in the hopes that acquainting himself with horses might give him a better idea of how to interact with his familiar. (That, and some magic-related property destruction meant he had to work somewhere in order to pay off the damages.) Being a stablehand isn't a glamorous job, and tough work, but with everything that happened back home, he's gotten used to picking up less-than-fun jobs to get by. If it pays the bills and helps people, it's enough.

He's taken one of the larger draught horses out to groom it, but the horse is becoming increasingly agitated by his own familiar lurking behind Nero, watching him work. At first he expects his demon companion will get bored and leave, but when it doesn't, he holds onto the reins of the stable horse and looks impatiently over his shoulder.

"Geryon, will you stop staring and get out of here? You're making the horse nervous," Nero grouses. The reptilian horse bumps its scaled muzzle against his arm, and Nero has to tighten his grip on the reins to stop the stable horse shying away in fear. "Listen, I get that you're jealous, but I can't brush you! You don't have hair."


II. FOGUERIA
It wasn't hard to track down the Fogueria, given the scorched earth it left behind, or else the sight of smoke on the horizon. Following it to its source did, however, take longer than it otherwise could have, considering Geryon was still stubbornly refusing to let Nero ride it.

Still, they're able to make it in decent time on foot, and Nero and his questing partners crest a hill and spot a flaming lion prowling across the plains. Sporting a cocky grin, Nero reaches for the hilt of the blade on his back.

"There it is. It's not so different from a demon, so you can stand back and let me handle this one."


III. RED SPRINGS
Although successful, Nero's first real quest hadn't gone quite as smoothly as he'd hoped, so he decides to stay the night at the Red Springs inn. He reserves a room, then heads straight for the springs to relax and use its magical properties to heal off the worst of his injuries.

As he heads into the water, the injuries become obvious to anyone else who might be taking a soak-- he has some minor burns along his arms, and deep claw marks across his chest, which have at least been treated with healing magic but haven't yet healed all the way.

He sinks into the water, right up to his neck, with a wince a quiet, "Dammit," and closes his eyes to try and relax.

Comments

I (With a Side of Not!Starbucks)

[phoenixwiz]

While it is unusual for cafes to have their baristas to deliver drinks and food personally on the go, the cafe Harry works for at downtown does offer it. It does give him a chance to see other places in Avalon while bringing the food and drinks to the customers.

So there he is: bringing a grande size take-out cup of coffee, another take-out cup of the same size (with hot chocolate), and some sandwiches and pastries in a delivery bag. Rose is riding on his head, squeaking to the horses as they enter the stables. It is when he sees a flaming reptilian horse side-glancing at another horse and Nero trying to diffuse the situation that he walks to deliver the package.

“Hey, I thought it’ll be a good time for a break, so I brought some hot drinks and snacks,” Harry greets Nero as he puts down the bag at a nearby bench.

[birdflipping]

Nero looks over when he hears the voice, which fortunately distracts Geryon from menacing the poor horse as well.

"Oh, hey, thanks," he replies, tying the horse to the nearest post and setting down the brush for now. Nero moves over to join Harry at the bench. "How much do I owe you?"

[phoenixwiz]

A small chuckle comes out from Harry’s lips as he brings out the drinks and snacks from the bag and gives Nero the cup of coffee and some of the pastries and sandwiches. Things has been unusually calm for him since arriving at Avalon, though that could change at any moment.

“Just some gold, around (insert reasonable amount of RL money to Avalon gold conversion), that’s all,” he replies, “I am still learning a lot from being in this place, such as learning to control things with my mind. How’s working at the stables so far, Nero?”

[birdflipping]

Nero sits and takes the coffee in one hand, fishing in his pockets for gold with the other. Once he's handed over the money, he takes the food, helping himself to a sandwich first.

"So far so good. Although I thought it might help me learn about the big guy," he points to Geryon, "but I'm pretty sure he just gets mad he's not getting all the attention. How's the barista life treating you?"

I - ISH but later

[tsukky]

[ He's emerging from one of the stables when Tsukuyo spots him. ]

Nero.

[ That's her idea of a friendly greeting. Of course he works here, of course. Him and his freaky demon horse that appears to be spooking every regular furry horse within the immediate vicinity. ]

I need to rent a horse please.

[ And she clearly doesn't want to discuss it cos... Does she look slightly out of her depth here? Because she is. She might have grown up in the Edo period (before the aliens took over and screwed all sense of normality up anyway) but she's been a city girl ever since she can remember and horses... Yeah, not really something she's been around much. ]

[birdflipping]

[He doesn't seem to mind the curtness of the greeting, pausing to look around when he's addressed.]

Oh, it's you. [And that's his friendly customer service greeting, go figure. At least she's not smoking this time... yet.] Planning a road trip?

[tsukky]

[ Yet. If she can find a way to smoke while on horseback then she probably would. ]

Somethin' like that. And horse seems to be one of the only ways to get anywhere long distance around here.

[ "Chibi" makes his presence known while she's speaking, nosing around the hay and the stable doors because apparently even demonic yokai cats like to chase rats and mice if they get the faintest inkling that one might be around. ]

[birdflipping]

Do you know how to ride one? If not, you're better off paying for a cart ride like the one when we got here.

[Nero's keeping an eye on Chibi, if only to make sure the demon cat isn't about to spook any horses when combined with extra spooky demon horse.]

II. FOGUERIA

[lucere]

While tracking down the fiend took less effort than he thought, Regis cannot help but gawk once he sees the famed beast prowling through the woods. If it weren't for its scorching flames, the Fogueria would look every bit like a lion. However, its grandiose thick mane is made out of flames rather than fur much like the rest of its body. It's a good thing that Regis decided to take this bounty, especially since anyone brandishing just a sword and shield wouldn't be able to quell this fiend. However, the young bounty hunter who just arrived seems determined to steal tackle it alone.

"Unless you're armed with magic, I would advise otherwise." The old king warns as he summons forth a flurry of ice with just the snap of his fingers. Since arriving here in Avalon, Regis took it upon himself to study the magic akin to this strange new realm. His fondness for magic remained prevalent over the years despite his age. Therefore, it didn't take much for Regis to comprehend how magic works here. It's just that he still has a bit of difficulty controlling it.

The Fogueria is briefly encased within a thick layer of ice, its entire form froze before it suddenly manages to break free by melting the ice with its impressive flames. Now enraged and alerted by its would-be hunters, the beast turns its sights towards the unlikely duo and charges. The air grows thick with ash as the flames around the Fogueria's form starts to engulf the surrounding trees. This beast is the literal embodiment of fire and its flames are red hot with fury.

[birdflipping]

"Magic or no magic, this guy's a small fry," Nero says. He beat the conqueror of the Fire Hell once, who cares about a flaming lion?

Still, Regis's magic proves enough to stop it-- at least for a moment. When it charges, Nero moves to intercept it, swinging Red Queen to block its powerful flaming jaws with his blade. Fortunately the blade is heat resistant, even if Nero is less so, gritting his teeth and holding his ground for the time being against the intense heat.

"--You think you can hit it with more ice?! Or water?"

[lucere]

It takes a moment for Regis to recover in between spellcasting, a weakness that he vows to remedy in the months to come. While he's nowhere near as powerful as he once was with the Crystal's might at his becking call, this level of sorcery takes more than just a few incantations. He takes a breath as the youth manages to hold the fiend back with just his sword. It's a miraculous feat to witness but Regis knows better than the dawdle while the entire forest is being engulfed in flames.

"Hold it still!" Regis warns before attempting to summon forth another barge of ice. Unlike in his realm of Eos, the magic of Avalon stems from the very land itself and not from a divine source. He manages to tap into this endless reservoir by siphoning the mana from the land itself. That's why the vibrant green foliage around them turn stark white as Regis summons forth another powerful torrent of ice towards the fiend. While he doesn't doubt that his companion could avoid the incoming barrage of ice, Regis makes certain to avoid striking his ally in favor of halting the fiery beast before them.

The Fogueria lets out an agonized howl once its limbs start to freeze over. In just a manner of seconds, the fiery beast is encased within another sheet of thick ice as the forest continues to burn. The Fogueria's dying embers start to subside but the fire spreading throughout the woods doesn't cease. Instead, they spread further until eventually taking shape into miniature versions of the fiery beast. These smaller lions start to gather a few feet away upon the brittle branches of the nearby trees, hellbent in forming into another form of this magical fiend.

[birdflipping]

The flames become too intense even for Nero, and he's engulfed in a flash of blue light as he assumes his devil form. It doesn't have the power it once did, much to his chagrin, but at least the thicker demon hide can help him handle the flames long enough for Regis to finish the beast off.

Or so he thought, but it turns out the smaller lions might be just as much of a problem. Nero reacts quickly, using his kinetic magic to tear the branches from the trees and pull them down to the forest floor, hacking at the smaller lions with his blade. Striking them might not be as effective as magic, but he can at least try to keep them all contained long enough for Regis to conjure more ice.

II Fogueria

[sealingpower]

As much as Zelda wanted to be there in the midst of the battle she knew there wasn't much she could actually do in said battle. Just like at home, she wasn't a fighter, but she had chosen to accompany Nero none the less. She had seen his recklessness before in their previous meeting and wanted to at least be there in case he did actually injure himself.

Not that she wanted that to happen, but should it, she could at least do something with her healing magic to help in that situation.

So the princess stood back and gave a plea for his safety.

"Do be careful. Even though you took my words as a lecture before, they are quite applicable now. 'There is a fine line between courage and recklessness.' take care to stay on the former side." As much as it was a repeat lecture, she really did hope for Nero's safety and offered him a warm encouraging smile as she sent him off.

[birdflipping]

"Yeah, yeah. I got this," Nero says with a smile and a dismissive wave over his shoulder. It's not that he doesn't appreciate Zelda's concern -- he does, of course -- but he's also faced a lot more tougher enemies than just a flaming lion. Berial, for instance.

Of course, the situations aren't really comparable when he doesn't have any of his usual power, but Nero isn't about to let that stop him. He descends the hill to approach the Fogueria, and he has to resist the urge to rev his sword and ignite the blade. Red Queen's flames are the last thing in this situation that needs, habitual though it is.

"Hey, hot stuff!" he calls to the creature cheerfully, unfazed by the fact he's now making himself a clear target for the monster. "How about you and me go out on a little date?"

[sealingpower]

Zelda may worry a bit about her companion but at the same time, his antics sort of amused her.

She's used to rash behavior from her knight, but for someone to be so nonchalant about it really was sort of funny.

But then he literally called out to the beast instead of performing a sneak attack.

The princess put a hand to her forehead and frowned. She knew he was a capable fighter based on their previous meeting, but why would he do such a thing? She could only watch and hope he was prepared and didn't do anything else stupid.

If it came down to it though, she may be the one doing the stupid thing, as she was full ready to run in there to heal any wounds he may receive.

[birdflipping]

The Fogueria charges at Nero, who dodges aside to avoid it. The first thing he notices is that it's a little too close for comfort, as if his reflexes are somehow dulled. An effect of this place, probably, and something he hasn't improved his kinetic magic enough to work on yet.

He pulls out Blue Rose, and fires a gunshot, but the twin bullets pass harmlessly through the flames without making a scratch. So the gun is quickly returned to its holster and Nero draws his blade, the flaming lion turning to pounce at him. He manages to swing Red Queen in time to block its open jaws, and holds his ground as the creature's flames intensify.

If he couldn't find a way to deal with the heat, this could be a problem.

I

[whatsamada]

Meanwhile, here Ken was looking at his surroundings. He was still so new to everything, he rather take his time exploring what this world had to offer. Between finding out what his familiar was and his new powers, it was a lot to take in. Looking down at his own familiar, he mumbled to himself. It was so strange to talk to something other than his own Persona. He really didn't know how to talk with such a cheerful looking snowman.

That being said, he heard the sound of someone shouting nearby. As he looked up, he couldn't help but be impressed at the familiar. "Wouldn't it hurt too? I don't know if the scales would make it worse."

[birdflipping]

Nero looks around at the voice, not expecting to be addressed. He also doesn't know what to make of the strange little familiar (but maybe Dante would know...) so he focuses on the kid instead.

"Dunno if it'd hurt it, it's got a pretty tough hide. Maybe I can just... wash you like a dog or something? How does that sound?" he looks up at Geryon and slaps the demon horse on its scaly flank, and it paws the ground with a hoof, which... could mean any number of things. He shrugs and looks back at Ken. "I'll take that as a good reaction."

[whatsamada]

Based on how Nero interacted with his familiar, it was still odd. While they weren't the same, he might as well be a Persona user talking to their Persona. To think there would be a world out there where this was seen as so casual...

Either way, the boy couldn't help but chuckle a little. "As long as your uh...familiar is okay with it! I'm surprised the both of you seem to get along really well." He said as he stared at the cute snowman waving them a hello!

iii -- a heart to heart in the only way that makes sense in dmc world

[honorkept]

It is strange to hear a softly spoken swear and immediately recognize the voice. He sits upright in the springs and twists his head around to look toward the source.

Credo is uncertain what emotion that he's feeling upon seeing Nero. He feels a sense of relief in seeing him alive and well. That feeling only grows in seeing that the young man is older than he saw him -- which means that the Son of Sparda did honor his last request. But there is also an aching feeling of guilt and regret in this half-meeting.

An apology comes to mind, but he pushes it away.

Those are not the words that he should speak in their first greetings. Instead, he settles into something that is more like "himself." "I see that you've retained that mouth of yours. I would have thought it'd have cleared up by now, but ah well..."

Does his tone sound casual? He wonders if it does not sound a little strained. He did not know how to properly speak to Nero, and so decided on something like how he used to speak to him -- stern and serious; carefully correcting him as he did before everything happened.

Did he hope to return to how things were? Did he hope to wipe away the past so easily? Credo knew he was not that kind of person. He wasn't the sort to lean into platitudes, but he did want to protect Nero. He wanted to protect whatever hurt or upset that Nero might have, and so opts to act as though nothing is wrong in order to ease them both into their awkward and painful present.

[birdflipping]

Nero figures at first he must be spacing out and dozing off while he relaxes, because he's sure he just heard... No, it couldn't be. He's just tired, and Kyrie's never far from his thoughts, so it stands to reason his imagination would stray to her brother sometimes too. Figures that even in his daydreams Credo would still be scolding him.

Still, he cracks open an eye just to make sure someone isn't actually talking to him, and what he sees makes him blink and sit up in the water, staring.

"The hell?" he looks around to see if anyone else can see what he's seeing, and he's not a crazy person talking to thin air. He was told the springs had magical properties, after all.

Then he leans forwards, addressing him directly: "Credo?"

[honorkept]

"Nero."

He inclines his head slightly in greeting.

Taking a deep breath in, he lets out a long sigh. "It is good to see that you're still doing well." A slight pause follows. "Strange that we should meet again like this, but at least, it is to help preserve Kyrie's and your present."

Yes, even if he is fated to die as soon as time restarts, he will still continue to fight and protect the future of Kyrie and Nero. It doesn't matter to him if he's not part of it. He's not so selfish or narrow-minded as to think that the only reason that he should fight is a chance to live with them.

No, he gave up that chance as soon as he turned a blind eye to the corruption of the Order. What he does now -- he considers it to be something like repentance, and he thanks the Savior for this chance of redemption.

I

[donovan_deegan]

The man in pink had been passing through, a sword on his hip, a guitar against his back. He stopped to watch and chuckled. "Ah, but perhaps a rub down if it is safe?" he offered with a smile. "Otherwise you might be arguing until you're both horse."

[birdflipping]

Nero looks over his shoulder to see the source of the terrible pun, and he rolls his eyes in an exaggerated gesture.

"I'll, uh, keep the suggestion in mind, thanks."

[donovan_deegan]

Oh good! He loved a proper audience. He grinned a bit. "Always good to be able to recognize when you've had a brush with genuine wisdom. Need a hand?"