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Oh, yeah. I'm not exactly a storyteller. Speakin' from experience.
Your arm. You mentioned it had been
removed.
Are you saying it was fed to a demon? That Solvunnites worship?
removed.
Are you saying it was fed to a demon? That Solvunnites worship?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I wouldn't say "fed." Fed implies it was, uh, on purpose.
[He's probably not helping himself sound much more competent, huh?]
And, I mean, it might not technically be a demon, but I don't really have a better word for it.
[He's probably not helping himself sound much more competent, huh?]
And, I mean, it might not technically be a demon, but I don't really have a better word for it.
Thought you said you didn't misplace it.
What happened?
What happened?
[There's some time before Nero answers this which speaks to a sense of hesitance.
Like he knows his answer is gonna be taken, uh, not well.
But it doesn't really occur to him to lie, either.]
Buddy cut it off. It was a whole miscommunication thing. It happens.
Like he knows his answer is gonna be taken, uh, not well.
But it doesn't really occur to him to lie, either.]
Buddy cut it off. It was a whole miscommunication thing. It happens.
Oh, yeah. Sure. All the time.
So you actually saw the demon, or whatever sort of creature it was, eat your arm?
So you actually saw the demon, or whatever sort of creature it was, eat your arm?
Look, if I knew you were gonna be so judgemental about it --
[He's kidding.]
Er. Not exactly. The shrine ate it. Or. It was on the shrine, and all the meaty bits disappeared. Which is not super fun to watch when you're passing out from blood loss, by the way. [Just so she knows how fucking cool he is.] Then the guy popped out of the shrine. Pointed into the forest. Further into the forest. It's leadin' somewhere, but we haven't checked what yet. Had some... stuff come up.
[He's kidding.]
Er. Not exactly. The shrine ate it. Or. It was on the shrine, and all the meaty bits disappeared. Which is not super fun to watch when you're passing out from blood loss, by the way. [Just so she knows how fucking cool he is.] Then the guy popped out of the shrine. Pointed into the forest. Further into the forest. It's leadin' somewhere, but we haven't checked what yet. Had some... stuff come up.
What, the scrawny kid with the hairflip? I know him. He seriously wants to learn how to fight? I know you're not askin' me to babysit.
[Nero mulls that over for a second. Either Geralt must trust him, or he really likes the kid. Nero does too, as much as he's been around him, only 'cause he didn't freeze up when the time called for it. They'd gotten those seeds watered together.]
Yeah, I'm not opposed. Man, come on though, you think I'm gonna hurt a kid? I got kids! I know how to help 'em.
Can't promise I won't scare him.
Yeah, I'm not opposed. Man, come on though, you think I'm gonna hurt a kid? I got kids! I know how to help 'em.
Can't promise I won't scare him.
Edited 2022-11-15 19:24 (UTC)
No.
I did think you'd try to scare him.
[ It's a combination. He does trust Nero, and he likes Steve well enough. He also knows Nero is bored as fuck in Solvunn. Wouldn't hurt to give him something to hit. ]
I'll owe you a drink.
[ Other things he knows about Nero: perpetually without coin. Not that Nero will have any opportunity to collect soon. Nocwich's doors are closed again. ]
I did think you'd try to scare him.
[ It's a combination. He does trust Nero, and he likes Steve well enough. He also knows Nero is bored as fuck in Solvunn. Wouldn't hurt to give him something to hit. ]
I'll owe you a drink.
[ Other things he knows about Nero: perpetually without coin. Not that Nero will have any opportunity to collect soon. Nocwich's doors are closed again. ]
[Damn. Geralt's got him all figured out, huh?]
Don't deny me my fun.
Hmm. Not a drink guy. Make it lunch and I'll take you up on it.
Don't deny me my fun.
Hmm. Not a drink guy. Make it lunch and I'll take you up on it.
Says the guy askin' me for a favor!
Anyway, I guess. Yeah. Not mine. Adopted. Back home, we run a sort of orphanage. Better than them runnin' around on the streets. One of the reasons I gotta get the fuck outta here, but... no luck so far.
Anyway, I guess. Yeah. Not mine. Adopted. Back home, we run a sort of orphanage. Better than them runnin' around on the streets. One of the reasons I gotta get the fuck outta here, but... no luck so far.
Lucky thing my girl must still be takin' care of them. Better than I did, I bet.
Yeah, yeah, but they're good kids. Just feels like there's gettin' to be more of them every day.
Yeah, yeah, but they're good kids. Just feels like there's gettin' to be more of them every day.
Edited 2022-11-27 02:19 (UTC)
[ Absolutely not a present—he would never give Nero such sentimental considerations—but around late December, Nero will step into the Horizon to find a raptor-like feathered reptile waiting politely for him in front of the monster-fighting arena Nero built.
In its claws is a small hourglass that measures precisely thirty seconds. No note accompanies this delivery, but the challenge is clear. ]
In its claws is a small hourglass that measures precisely thirty seconds. No note accompanies this delivery, but the challenge is clear. ]
[This is the coolest fucking thing he's ever gotten in his life. Nero might not ever directly thank Geralt for it -- 'cause who else would be insane enough to do this -- but a few weeks later he might find a still-bloodied claw hanging from one of the doorways in Kaer Morhen. It's got a flower native to Fortuna attached so it doesn't come off too creepy.]
[it's not that they had forgotten: there was just so much going on, and nero had been back to his usual shenanigans in no time. wanda lets himeka do the honors of carrying the card early one morning, before the three of them head off into their farm chores for the day.
as for wanda, she knocks on the barn's door that leads into nero's little room.]
Nero. We have something important to tell you.
as for wanda, she knocks on the barn's door that leads into nero's little room.]
Nero. We have something important to tell you.
[Nero is totally not working especially hard on a new pamphlet when the knock comes. He shoos away one of the lizards sticking to his wall (they've gotten particularly bold after he chased them out from under the farmhouse a couple of times and then promptly given up getting rid of them) and hops from his loft bed to the floor.
Only after tucking the pamphlet under his pillow. It's still in process.
Nero opens the door with a rather questionable look between Wanda and Himeka. Both of them coming to his door is... suspicious.]
Yeah? Must be important if you both suddenly found free time in your day.
Only after tucking the pamphlet under his pillow. It's still in process.
Nero opens the door with a rather questionable look between Wanda and Himeka. Both of them coming to his door is... suspicious.]
Yeah? Must be important if you both suddenly found free time in your day.
[ Himeka holds the painting behind her back for the whole surprise effect. Granted, it's not a tiny "card" so it's very obvious that even behind her mass of hair, there is something "hiding".
There's nothing to be afraid of. Just two red-headed witches standing innocently at his door with no context and looking a little too expectant. It's fine. ]
Oh come on, we always have time for you.
[ It's said as if it's obvious. Is it a joke? Hard to tell since she's so honest about it. Himeka glances at Wanda with a smile before turning her attention back to Nero. ]
Are you going to invite us in or do we need to wait for Agatha to do so?
There's nothing to be afraid of. Just two red-headed witches standing innocently at his door with no context and looking a little too expectant. It's fine. ]
Oh come on, we always have time for you.
[ It's said as if it's obvious. Is it a joke? Hard to tell since she's so honest about it. Himeka glances at Wanda with a smile before turning her attention back to Nero. ]
Are you going to invite us in or do we need to wait for Agatha to do so?
—I think he kicked out Agatha.
[casually.
nero being cagey with them is not unusual, but both himeka and wanda are pretty much experts at deflecting his efforts by now. her eyes turn back to nero, catching on to those 'suspicious' thoughts he's got in the forefront of his mind.]
I won't take long.
[yes, she will wait to get invited in because himeka expects it so.]
[casually.
nero being cagey with them is not unusual, but both himeka and wanda are pretty much experts at deflecting his efforts by now. her eyes turn back to nero, catching on to those 'suspicious' thoughts he's got in the forefront of his mind.]
I won't take long.
[yes, she will wait to get invited in because himeka expects it so.]
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