[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.
[ 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?
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.]
[FIIINE. Himeka's obviously got something, Wanda's not backing down, and Nero's not really in the business in refusing them, anyway. With a click of his tongue he opens the door wider, standing behind it as they come in.]
I'm surprised you didn't just blow the door off. Which I totally appreciate. [It's only a little jab at Wanda.] So what's up?
[ Himeka only smiles more when he finally relents, waltzing in with little restraint. She makes a point to keep her front facing Nero to keep further raise the sense of suspense, which is important in any surprise.
Might as well start laying the groundwork, right? A tagteam with Wanda will do. ]
It's been a little while, but we know you had a rough time back on that cruise.
wanda shuffles to nero's other side, so they're standing suspiciously with him in the middle. no room for escape like this. does wanda also pull out a small piece of paper to read from? it's — so cheesy, it hurts her to memorize the lines.]
And we know that even though you are pretty strong, you can still bruise.
[Nero tenses up, crossing his arms over his chest like he's prepping for a physical blow.
That might as well have been one. He looks between them, white brows drawing together, eyes narrowed with a growing suspicion. This. This is what they interrupted his super busy day for.
The ugh he makes is audible.]
So you guys just came here to torture me? That's it?
[ Nero should absolutely feel the love and affection pouring out of this entire display. They aren't some cheap knockoff demon hunter with a penchant for bad one-liners and misquoting movies. They worked on this themselves.
And she is not going to interrupt their poem just because he's going to be cranky about it! It's what they anticipated, anyway. ]
And though most wounds can heal with a little booze...
[ She's bouncing on the balls of her feet. What she's holding behind her probably isn't a bottle of alcohol though, right? They would readily share that with Nero without an occasion. ]
wanda pays attention to himeka, keeps track of the cadence she uses to say her part of their little 'rhyming' scheme, and draws some air to say her next and final part.]
...there's nothing better than some TLC to cure your blues.
[that said, wanda motions over at himeka to show nero the card that she's so earnestly holding behind her. once it's presented for all to see, nero will find that it's a 'get better soon!' card, made from scratch by wanda and himeka; their art isn't as good as nero's, but it's decent enough. it sure has a lot of blues—the ship, the ocean, the sky, nero falling over. inside the card, is the poem they've just recited, and then both wanda and himeka's signature.]
[They did not answer his question, but considering they are continuing to rhyme, the answer is definitely yes. Yeah, yeah, Himeka's hiding something, and though he could easily peer around her to take a peek, some part of him is feeling a little. Trepidation.
Maybe.
What he gets is not anything like what he expected.
It's a picture of him (terribly drawn) falling from the deck of a ship. And it should make him annoyed, to see it brought up again. (He didn't know the whole damn ship was gonna stop!) But something softens the furrowed brows. For a moment (and may they enjoy it forever), Nero is stunned into silence.
He takes the card and takes in all of that blue. Opens it. The same terrible poem, but at least it's written nicely.
Unfortunately, he was not raised to have defenses against this sort of thing.] You guys wrote me a card?
[With the tone of a teenager with a still-living sense of wonder asking, you bought me a car?
It may have become shockingly clear that Nero has never received a card in his entire life.]
[ There is definitely some childlike excitement and anticipation when it's finally time in their little presentation to show Nero the card. Himeka's tail is waving behind her expectantly as Nero takes his time reviewing his gift. Her gaze flicks eagerly back and forth between Wanda and Nero.
He's not calling it stupid. That is a good sign, isn't it? ]
We did! Though we painted it first.
[ Obviously. ]
It worked out well because the ocean looks blue and you also seem to enjoy the color.
[ She clasps her hands behind her back. ]
What do you think? Does it help, even a little belatedly?
We worked really hard on it, so you better not just throw it out.
[as most people do with get well cards: there for a moment, a week later finding a home in the trash. it's not so much for wanda's sake as it is for himeka's—clearly this is all too new to their favorite lizard person, and she's taken it all in stride.]
[He's genuinely not sure what to say. He keeps looking at the little drawing, and terrible as it is, the very clear symbol of what is Nero, tail and all, falling off a ship into the ocean. As if he'd simply tripped and not done it for a laugh.
He jerks his gaze up to Wanda.] Why would I throw it out? [He doesn't have a clue that's what people do 'cause he's never had one before. Certainly never one someone, like, drew. And painted. Kyrie's not a card girl, she's a 3-boxes-of-fresh-cookies girl.
Nero's tail lashes back and forth at the tip.]
Yeah. It helps. [Somewhere out there, Nico's asking, you gonna cry?] Thanks. [He looks between them.] Really. And though it's none of your business what I do with it... maybe I will hang it up. Place could use a little fine art.
[ She knows well the tell-tale tail-twitch of unbridled emotion. Well, somewhat bridled. Slightly bridled. He's holding it in, but he's clearly moved by it to some degree. Her own tail waves back and forth in wide, pleased swishes. ]
I agree, I think it would brighten the place up a bit. If you want more art, I'm sure Wanda and I would be up to the challenge too.
[ Just gifting a series of poorly done recreations of Nero's mishaps throughout Abraxas. With love. ]
[fine art, he calls it, and wanda can't help but smile at that. honestly, things seem to be going relatively okay in their lives—despite all the trouble that brews here and there within the factions.
surely she won't come to scold herself for such positive thinking in the future.
wanda smiles.]
Do you want a hug?
[it sounds like she's teasing, but she earnestly means it.]
[ Hugs! Himeka likes hugs very much, thank you, so she doesn't waste a second when Nero relents to Wanda's teasing question. One arm wraps right around Nero while the other waits for Wanda to come into the fold.
[despite her teasing and her more closed-off attitude, wanda makes her way into the hug between both himeka and nero. she wraps her arms around their middles, happy to be crushed by one annoying nero.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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.
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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?
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[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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I'm not wakin' up smelling like a petting zoo.
[FIIINE. Himeka's obviously got something, Wanda's not backing down, and Nero's not really in the business in refusing them, anyway. With a click of his tongue he opens the door wider, standing behind it as they come in.]
I'm surprised you didn't just blow the door off. Which I totally appreciate. [It's only a little jab at Wanda.] So what's up?
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Might as well start laying the groundwork, right? A tagteam with Wanda will do. ]
It's been a little while, but we know you had a rough time back on that cruise.
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wanda shuffles to nero's other side, so they're standing suspiciously with him in the middle. no room for escape like this. does wanda also pull out a small piece of paper to read from? it's — so cheesy, it hurts her to memorize the lines.]
And we know that even though you are pretty strong, you can still bruise.
[it's a rhyming scheme, hell yeah.]
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That might as well have been one. He looks between them, white brows drawing together, eyes narrowed with a growing suspicion. This. This is what they interrupted his super busy day for.
The ugh he makes is audible.]
So you guys just came here to torture me? That's it?
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And she is not going to interrupt their poem just because he's going to be cranky about it! It's what they anticipated, anyway. ]
And though most wounds can heal with a little booze...
[ She's bouncing on the balls of her feet. What she's holding behind her probably isn't a bottle of alcohol though, right? They would readily share that with Nero without an occasion. ]
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wanda pays attention to himeka, keeps track of the cadence she uses to say her part of their little 'rhyming' scheme, and draws some air to say her next and final part.]
...there's nothing better than some TLC to cure your blues.
[that said, wanda motions over at himeka to show nero the card that she's so earnestly holding behind her. once it's presented for all to see, nero will find that it's a 'get better soon!' card, made from scratch by wanda and himeka; their art isn't as good as nero's, but it's decent enough. it sure has a lot of blues—the ship, the ocean, the sky, nero falling over. inside the card, is the poem they've just recited, and then both wanda and himeka's signature.]
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Maybe.
What he gets is not anything like what he expected.
It's a picture of him (terribly drawn) falling from the deck of a ship. And it should make him annoyed, to see it brought up again. (He didn't know the whole damn ship was gonna stop!) But something softens the furrowed brows. For a moment (and may they enjoy it forever), Nero is stunned into silence.
He takes the card and takes in all of that blue. Opens it. The same terrible poem, but at least it's written nicely.
Unfortunately, he was not raised to have defenses against this sort of thing.] You guys wrote me a card?
[With the tone of a teenager with a still-living sense of wonder asking, you bought me a car?
It may have become shockingly clear that Nero has never received a card in his entire life.]
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He's not calling it stupid. That is a good sign, isn't it? ]
We did! Though we painted it first.
[ Obviously. ]
It worked out well because the ocean looks blue and you also seem to enjoy the color.
[ She clasps her hands behind her back. ]
What do you think? Does it help, even a little belatedly?
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[as most people do with get well cards: there for a moment, a week later finding a home in the trash. it's not so much for wanda's sake as it is for himeka's—clearly this is all too new to their favorite lizard person, and she's taken it all in stride.]
Hang it on your wall.
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He jerks his gaze up to Wanda.] Why would I throw it out? [He doesn't have a clue that's what people do 'cause he's never had one before. Certainly never one someone, like, drew. And painted. Kyrie's not a card girl, she's a 3-boxes-of-fresh-cookies girl.
Nero's tail lashes back and forth at the tip.]
Yeah. It helps. [Somewhere out there, Nico's asking, you gonna cry?] Thanks. [He looks between them.] Really. And though it's none of your business what I do with it... maybe I will hang it up. Place could use a little fine art.
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I agree, I think it would brighten the place up a bit. If you want more art, I'm sure Wanda and I would be up to the challenge too.
[ Just gifting a series of poorly done recreations of Nero's mishaps throughout Abraxas. With love. ]
But we're glad you're okay now.
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surely she won't come to scold herself for such positive thinking in the future.
wanda smiles.]
Do you want a hug?
[it sounds like she's teasing, but she earnestly means it.]
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Huh.]
I never was not okay. You know that, right? [Or this is more poking at him, which he sniffs at.]
Yeah. Sure. [Nero opens his arms, and now his whole tail swishes.] Come'ere.
[Hope you're both ready to be crushed.]
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What's better than one hug? A group hug. ]
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she really loves them both, much like family.
wanda even smiles.]