PC CATCHALL WITH NERO

[greatdeduction]

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w2: Monday

[perfectdistance]

[Sometimes you do want to go poking around the city, the rubble here and there.

A particular shard catches the light and draws him over. Picking it up:

You walk into your boss's quarters. This warm space in a cave, cozy and safe, is all his. It's not the first time you've been here, and it's not going to be the last. He's sitting in the middle of the room, going over maps and plans.

You start saying something and he cuts you off, sharp, familiar grin on his features. He reaches out, gently takes your chin in his hand and lightly shakes you by it. It's embarrassing, but you don't pull away.

Slowly you respond back, "Br... Brad..."

He laughs at you, familiar and comforting, ruffling your hair.

Your face is going red, the heat there is obvious. But there's a warmth in your chest, an intense feeling of affection and belonging. You desperately want to be worthy of him.

The present Nero lets go of the shard and covers his face in pure embarrassment.]

[greatdeduction]

...

[Ah.]

[Well, then. Its funny that they don't have an emotional bond, but he's able to feel that embarrassment all the way from here. He smiles lightly.]

Oh, what a special someone you have. How sweet.

[perfectdistance]

[aaaAAAAAAAA]

Shut up! Shut up! Ya never saw shit!

[greatdeduction]

Eh? Is it really that embarrassing? The look of you was quite adorable...

[perfectdistance]

[He picks up the shard and chucks it at him, face bright red.]

I dunno that guy!

[Just who is he trying to convince here??]

[greatdeduction]

Goodness, you're really quite-

[He lets out a yelp and manages to almost dodge the shard, but...]

[A set of memories comes to light. And the casual smile on Sholmes's face turns........sullen.]

[perfectdistance]

[Nero goes quiet at the memory. To be left behind, to have someone to care about. He shouldn't be allowed to have this side of it. Not with what he's done. This is Sholmes's memory, the happiness of having a partner, of somebody to rely on. Maybe it's Nero's own memories turning them bitter.

There's only so long it can last before something happens. Partnership can't continue.

"Forever" doesn't exist.

Not even to a wizard.

But who's fault was that in the end?]

[greatdeduction]

...

[He folds his arms, sighing.]

How awfully bittersweet. [A frown.] Even though we still communicate often...ah. There will never be anything like that time.

[perfectdistance]

[Nero's gaze lands on the pile of shards as he goes still.]

... Sometimes you gotta take the bitter with the sweet.

[Or you throw the entire relationship far, far away and pretend it didn't exist. Don't have to acknowledge the bitter or the sweet if it simply never existed.]

[greatdeduction]

[He's silent for a moment.]

What happened to your...."Brad"?

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He's not mine.

[How could he ever say that with what Nero did?]

[greatdeduction]

...Were you his?

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...

[He looks away.

A long time ago, he would've said yes with no hesitation.

It's funny what 100 years can do.]

[greatdeduction]

[He reaches up a hand to brush through his hair, oddly pensive.]

What happened, Mr. Turner...? Did he betray you?

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[ It's odd, the way that question makes him bristle. How could anybody accuse Brad of that? ]

It doesn't have anything to do with ya.

[greatdeduction]

[Ah, he bristles. So not that.]

Is he another wizard?

[perfectdistance]

[ ...

He starts trying to leave. ]

[greatdeduction]

[Sorry, he's striding up to catch him by the shoulder.]

Running away from one's problems is no way to deal with them, my dear fellow. And I know that from experience.

[perfectdistance]

[Maybe he doesn't want to deal with them! Running away works great if your response to situations is to never see them again!

Nero shrugs his hand off.]

I didn't ask for advice.

[greatdeduction]

It's not advice. It's me telling you to stay.

[And he glances away.]

...Do you want to get a drink, Mr. Turner?

[perfectdistance]

[It would be nice to drink it away.

There's a long pause, but eventually he nods.]

[greatdeduction]

I have some liquor I procured earlier. Let us find a place to sit.

[GET! DRUNK! TIME]

[perfectdistance]

[He'll head whichever direction Sholmes starts going.]

Where'd you find it?

[greatdeduction]

Around! I've been breaking into houses and the like. You can always find good things to....well, borrow.

[perfectdistance]

[snorts]

Really gonna put that back when you're done with it?