[OPEN] you bring the marshmallows

[demonass]

Who: Nero & Open!
When: Throughout July Juril
Where: The Wilde (Dorchacht) and the Northern Outpost (and maybe other places)
What: Quests & shenanigans
Warnings: Violence because, well, DMC. Will update if necessary

𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓⓿①-𝖆: Don't Make Waves

[ The fact that there's not going to be a quick departure from Geardagas is starting to sink in. As much as he doesn't like it--and boy is that an understatement--Nero isn't the type of person to sit idly for any length of time. So while he doesn't exactly feel beholden to the Coven for it's hospitality, he does figure he can spend some of his time being useful. At least get a better feel for whatever the hell this "Cwyld" infection may be.

He has suspicions, but who the hell knows.

Of course, he ends up agreeing to go to a Cwyld-free zone only a little too late. Ah well. Just wrap this up quickly and move on to the next job, right? It's a couple days out of the city and to the lake proper, which would be fine by him if he were alone, but he has company. And casual chit-chat that that doesn't revolve around (supposedly) witty banter isn't his forte.

But he does start to speak up more when their destination is within reach. It's midday, but the forest provides some ample shade. ]

So...this Cwyld energy's supposed to be the main issue around here, right? If that's not here, then this could just be your run-of-the-mill camping trip gone wrong.

𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓⓿①-𝖇: Making Waves

[ It's been a spectacularly boring day. As nice as a little lakeside retreat would be under normal circumstances, it's not at all what any of them are looking for right now. And their lack of progress makes Nero grow more and more impatient as the day turns into night. Managing to catch some fish had been a small victory, yes, but it offered absolutely nothing to the circumstances around these disappearances.

Unless the fish ended up giving them food poisoning or something. Indigestion in the wilderness is never a fun experience.

That said, other than growing irritation, he's fine. That's what leads Nero to standing at the lake's edge, skipping rocks until they stop catching the light of the fire and he has to rely on moonlight and sound to track their movements. He's trying to beat his record of seventeen when one rock suddenly disappears with a plop after skip eleven.

Nero frowns, raising a brow as he bends down to pick up another flat stone. He tosses it out again and this time it suddenly stops at skip nine.

Then something on the lake begins to glow and it's definitely not moonlight. ]

...Are you seeing this?

𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓⓿②: Branching Out

Weeding.

[ His flat tone is enough indication of about how exciting he finds that activity to be, but his unimpressed frown drives the point home. (While some may think that's just how his face looks most of the time, his frowns do have distinct differences, one just has to pay attention...and be willing to do so.)

Nero sucks in a sharp breath, lips forming a thin line. ]

We're here to do yard work?

[ Reaching behind him, he pulls the nearly man-sized sword off of his back and stabs the point into the ground beside him. ]

And I left my shears back in town. Guess we'll have to improvise.


[ OOC; Have questions or want to plot something in particular? You can PM this journal or add me on plurk at doggystyle ]

Comments

[sparkstrikes]

[She waits for just the right moment to swing her sword upwards, just as it re-materializes into its solid form, and the metal cuts right through it like a hot knife (literally) through butter. The fire spell doesn't last for long, and it's already dwindled away into nothing when she drops it into the snow.

It gives Nero the opportunity to land the killing blow now that it's significantly weakened, chopped in half, and on fire.]

Your turn!

[Slice and dice it, Nero!

Lightning, on the other hand, staggers to grab her weapon but falls to the ground when she feels her fingers burning hot, the magic scorching underneath her skin. God damn it...]

[demonass]

[ It's all about perfect timing, and as the fire burns it up, he sees his opening just before she tags him in. He jumps to his feet, grinning widely. ]

You know what they say.

[ Nero revs up the Red Queen as he charges forward, twisting the handle and running the motor until the blade is red hot once again. One stylish swing might do it, but a killing blow is way more fun when it's a series of slashes, so that's exactly what he delivers. ]

If you can't stand the heat--

[The elemental is weakened, trying to find it's "footing" after the fire spell, but Nero chops it into several pieces, all melting on contact. The combination is too hot and too quick to reform before the next assault. It's like butter, if butter were an assholish inhuman entity.

The storm around them dies down almost instantly to something more acceptable, if still frigid. ]

--then get outta the kitchen!

[ Not his best line, but it'll do.

He takes a deep breath and stabs the end of his sword into the ground, giving her a moment to cool off. Shifting his gaze over to Lightning, he does a double-take when he sees her on the ground. ]

...Hey. You got it over there?

[sparkstrikes]

[She's quick to get back up when his attention turns to her, shaking the snow from her hands and picking up her sword. It's still a little on the warm side, so she sheathes it away once she's sure that the elemental is taken care of. The wind slowly dies with it, leaving them in a soft, gentler snowfall.]

Yeah. I'm good.

[Except her steps are staggered, and she slides her hands into her pockets to hide the lightly glowing veins of magic under her skin. It's chilly, alright?

She kicks at the snow on the ground where the elemental once stood, and where it's started to melt the chunks of its icy remains away.]

You know what they say... Don't play with fire.

[That's a real Lightning Farron original victory line.]

Nice one. Thanks for having my back.