what am i a charity it's not like i'm lookin for kids to feed just that if this guy had a real whole kid id make them somethin nice for getting stuck in this weird place just basic decency is all
( okay... but what if it's... a little baby... a little googly goo... like it's still gonna die in a month but What If, brad...... )
whatever if it's a human kid it's basically powerless even if it's an "adult" human stake the kid out real quick and segue into staking out that lilia guy and you'll know what you're dealin with if you hassle the kid don't bother em too bad if they are just a little thing though they could die of shock
[ he's gonna arrive just a few minutes later, flying down his broom and entering the place almost too excited because he knows what's going on inside those doors: food! ]
( isn't the husband supposed to bring home the bacon... smh
Bradley is indeed greeted by the delicious scent of fresh food, Nero arranging their meals on plates - a process he wisely sped up so Brad wouldn't be tempted to sneak food from the pots. It's pork omelette, corn soup, and a few other smaller dishes with a little bit of this and that - all food reminiscent of the manors' youngests' favorites.
Nero, who didn't put all this together intending to torture himself with memories of the kids at the manor, looks up from his somewhat nostalgic arrangement of the plates to greet Brad, a grin curling his lips. Despite everything, nothing makes him happier than someone excited to eat food he made. )
's not like it's got legs to run away with. Sit, come on.
( He says as he takes up their plates and brings them to the table, then sets about bringing the rest of the meal dishes over to the table for additional helpings. )
[ dont ask what he was doing, he was probably dicking around up to no good somewhere.
either way, coming home to nero was heaven - for many reasons, and this was definitely one of them. the smell of a homecooked meal was something that could only be beat by its taste, after all. bradley's mouth was already salivating when he sits down on his chair, looking with a shine in his eye at all these perfectly cooked dishes... dishes that were... a little too familiar, really. ]
. . .
[ maybe nero didn't do it on purpose, but corn soup, omelette, and the little side dishes? he's definitely seen this before. he stabs into the omelette without saying anything, taking a bite. it's as good as ever. he swallows, looking at nero like he's about to praise his cooking as usual, but instead-- ]
( The question takes him off guard, his usual, soundless setting of the table marred by an unpleasant clink as his thumb slips from the bottom of the plate, and it's set down on the table.
His brows furrow slightly, and he casts his gaze across the table. Ah.
... He sighs. )
... That guy sent me another message. Said his kid's 18. That's about the age range everyone's in, just about.
( It's rough, not having Shino waking him up in the middle of the night for snacks, or Riquet's drawings hung up in the kitchen as he cooks. Not that he'd ever admit it. He definitely says it's whatever. But it's not whatever. )
( He finally takes a seat once he's set the drinks down on the table, and poured something for himself and Brad. Chef's habit to be fussed about serving. )
( Worse that Nero knows Brad's loathe to admit something like that - Nero too, honestly. He's not a fan of a certain group of those mentioned, and wouldn't trust 'em any further than he could throw 'em. But... it's true they'd keep the kids safe. )
... Yeah, they will be. ( He says, like he's convincing himself, too. ) Nothin' for it but to fix this world's problems and get back to our own. Who would've thought we'd be in such high demand as fixers, huh?
( Pls @ universe drop the demand he already has anxiety about fixing his own life, doing whatever for this world And the Calamity is too much... )
[ he snorts at nero's reply. he knows he's just trying to be funny to hide his real feelings, but then... he... thinks about it... taking another bite. ]
. . . What if we don't return?
[ not if they can't, but if they simply... don't. ]
. . . We gotta start thinkin' that we might not be able to go back. We don't know what the hell this place really is.
[ he's done with his plate, and is now licking his fingers idly. ]
And y'know, as fucked up as it is leavin' the Sage behind, the Southern brat, and the Central little guy, they don't exactly need us to survive. I miss 'em, but you and I both know they're fine. Also— [ .........well. he already said "also", he can't just back down. he can avert his gaze, though. ] I always knew it didn't matter where I was as long as you were with me. And now I know it's true.
[ he thought about this endlessly in prison, then felt guilty for wanting nero with him. ]
( that brings a little red to his cheeks, even though he doesn't want it to - that's?? how could he?? there's no way that's how it is for brad. nero ain't that great. he doesn't get the attachment. and, look, they sorta talked (and banged) their way through that conversation, but - still.
nero guesses it's half his fault, though. he ... was the one who took away the thing that mattered most to brad - his gang. is it his fault, that he made brad like this? (nero is stupid.) and - could nero really say the same? that all he needs is brad? no way. not possible. but if he sees a life without everything he had before - his team, his friends, the kids - and a life without brad... comparin' em - he wants them both. but it's... not comparable.
he hates this about himself, too. the dependent part, that needs brad more than anything.
he's quiet for awhile. )
... I ain't commitin' to nothin' yet. Not settin' up shop, puttin' down roots. This place is... weird, and I don't got a run of it yet, but...
( ... )
... Don't you go anywhere. Don't you go dyin' on me... okay?
( Because he really will go with you, if it comes to that again. )
[ for all their quiet and distaste for engaging with others, eastern wizards sure were easy to read; they could never hide their real feelings from showing on their face, and nero was no exception. brad snorts, reaching over to lift his chin a little brusquely. ]
I already told you I ain't. Look me in the eye and see if I'm lyin' to you. I'd never leave you behind.
[ and because he knows those words will make nero think of his own betrayal, he adds immediately. ]
And I don't give a fuck what you did before. You promised you'd belong to me from that moment on, and I expect you to honor that.
( Always, always, Brad disrupts his rhythm and pulls him into his own. He hates that about him, how he won't let Nero muddle, grow stagnant, grow swampish. Let him rot here, let him die alone.
Nero always argues for it, but he's always afraid of his loneliness becoming truth. Brad's steady grip and steady gaze keeps him still - from crumpling like the weak thing he knows he is. )
... Like I'm stupid enough to break a promise.
( He mutters this as an excuse, gaze averting, pushing at Brad's wrist - but not forcefully. He really had thought of his betrayal, and he feels like Brad caught him red-handed. )
So if you're here, I gotta be here too.
( Because it's true - he promised he'd belonged to him; that he'd always be with him. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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there aint any kids here for you to feed
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what am i a charity
it's not like i'm lookin for kids to feed
just that if this guy had a real whole kid id make them somethin nice for getting stuck in this weird place
just basic decency is all
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so it doesn't matter, does it
we aint gonna waste time associating with em
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whatever
if it's a human kid it's basically powerless
even if it's an "adult" human
stake the kid out real quick and segue into staking out that lilia guy and you'll know what you're dealin with if you hassle the kid
don't bother em too bad if they are just a little thing though
they could die of shock
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but YOU should know that tellin me not to do something aint a good idea
[ he won't mess with the kid, though, but, he just wanted to get the last word in because northern pride. ]
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yeah yeah
just tell me when
( he's not saying he'd come along okay, he could just want to know so he'll know where tf brad is if he's gone way too long, but, )
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i'm heading home now
what's for dinner
kinda want pork today if you havent made anything yet
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i started making eggs on an impulse
but i can fit pork into it easy
maybe some soup on the side
( mitile-riquet neurons activating... )
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fuck yeah
really cram it in there
don't let it get cold okay i'm almost there
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see you
action;
Hey, Nero! Where's my pork!?
[ where's the bacon!!!!!!!! ]
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Bradley is indeed greeted by the delicious scent of fresh food, Nero arranging their meals on plates - a process he wisely sped up so Brad wouldn't be tempted to sneak food from the pots. It's pork omelette, corn soup, and a few other smaller dishes with a little bit of this and that - all food reminiscent of the manors' youngests' favorites.
Nero, who didn't put all this together intending to torture himself with memories of the kids at the manor, looks up from his somewhat nostalgic arrangement of the plates to greet Brad, a grin curling his lips. Despite everything, nothing makes him happier than someone excited to eat food he made. )
's not like it's got legs to run away with. Sit, come on.
( He says as he takes up their plates and brings them to the table, then sets about bringing the rest of the meal dishes over to the table for additional helpings. )
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[ dont ask what he was doing, he was probably dicking around up to no good somewhere.
either way, coming home to nero was heaven - for many reasons, and this was definitely one of them. the smell of a homecooked meal was something that could only be beat by its taste, after all. bradley's mouth was already salivating when he sits down on his chair, looking with a shine in his eye at all these perfectly cooked dishes... dishes that were... a little too familiar, really. ]
. . .
[ maybe nero didn't do it on purpose, but corn soup, omelette, and the little side dishes? he's definitely seen this before. he stabs into the omelette without saying anything, taking a bite. it's as good as ever. he swallows, looking at nero like he's about to praise his cooking as usual, but instead-- ]
You're thinkin' of them, aren't you?
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His brows furrow slightly, and he casts his gaze across the table. Ah.
... He sighs. )
... That guy sent me another message. Said his kid's 18. That's about the age range everyone's in, just about.
( It's rough, not having Shino waking him up in the middle of the night for snacks, or Riquet's drawings hung up in the kitchen as he cooks. Not that he'd ever admit it. He definitely says it's whatever. But it's not whatever. )
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he sighs, taking another bite before speaking. ]
It's not a sin to admit you miss them.
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... Just got used to 'em, is all.
( He finally takes a seat once he's set the drinks down on the table, and poured something for himself and Brad. Chef's habit to be fussed about serving. )
But I guess we're gonna be here for awhile.
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I'm sure they're fine. They've got Oz and Mithra there. Figaro and the twins, too.
[ which, for the record, was not easy to admit at all, but to appease his babygirl's anxiety? anything. ]
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... Yeah, they will be. ( He says, like he's convincing himself, too. ) Nothin' for it but to fix this world's problems and get back to our own. Who would've thought we'd be in such high demand as fixers, huh?
( Pls @ universe drop the demand he already has anxiety about fixing his own life, doing whatever for this world And the Calamity is too much... )
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. . . What if we don't return?
[ not if they can't, but if they simply... don't. ]
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His lips purse, gaze falling to his plate - catching Brad's implication. )
... What, and start a new life here? Without 'em?
( His childrens... )
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[ he's done with his plate, and is now licking his fingers idly. ]
And y'know, as fucked up as it is leavin' the Sage behind, the Southern brat, and the Central little guy, they don't exactly need us to survive. I miss 'em, but you and I both know they're fine. Also— [ .........well. he already said "also", he can't just back down. he can avert his gaze, though. ] I always knew it didn't matter where I was as long as you were with me. And now I know it's true.
[ he thought about this endlessly in prison, then felt guilty for wanting nero with him. ]
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nero guesses it's half his fault, though. he ... was the one who took away the thing that mattered most to brad - his gang. is it his fault, that he made brad like this? (nero is stupid.) and - could nero really say the same? that all he needs is brad? no way. not possible. but if he sees a life without everything he had before - his team, his friends, the kids - and a life without brad... comparin' em - he wants them both. but it's... not comparable.
he hates this about himself, too. the dependent part, that needs brad more than anything.
he's quiet for awhile. )
... I ain't commitin' to nothin' yet. Not settin' up shop, puttin' down roots. This place is... weird, and I don't got a run of it yet, but...
( ... )
... Don't you go anywhere. Don't you go dyin' on me... okay?
( Because he really will go with you, if it comes to that again. )
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I already told you I ain't. Look me in the eye and see if I'm lyin' to you. I'd never leave you behind.
[ and because he knows those words will make nero think of his own betrayal, he adds immediately. ]
And I don't give a fuck what you did before. You promised you'd belong to me from that moment on, and I expect you to honor that.
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Nero always argues for it, but he's always afraid of his loneliness becoming truth. Brad's steady grip and steady gaze keeps him still - from crumpling like the weak thing he knows he is. )
... Like I'm stupid enough to break a promise.
( He mutters this as an excuse, gaze averting, pushing at Brad's wrist - but not forcefully. He really had thought of his betrayal, and he feels like Brad caught him red-handed. )
So if you're here, I gotta be here too.
( Because it's true - he promised he'd belonged to him; that he'd always be with him. )
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Good. And you gotta admit, a world where there's just the two of us ain't half bad, is it?
[ eventually he'd want to steal some babies but, all in due time. ]
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