( Honestly? Nico hadn't expected Sephiroth to agree to help her out in the first place — and then when he did, she hadn't expected him to stay when he realised what kind of shop she's in the middle of renovating. While Nico isn't the type to use sex to humiliate people she couldn't help the idea of playing a little prank on the guy: she'd hoped to get at least a faint blush out of him, maybe even one of those intense stares, as payback for quite literally chasing her through the Wilde at sword-point.
Jerk. )
Actually, forget that, I reckon it looked best in that spot against the back wall.
( The decorating is coming along nicely. The floor is down, the wallpaper is hung, and the majority of the fiddly little jobs have been done, which means Nico's attention is now on redressing the store so it fits with her vision of Devil May Cry meets sex boutique. It turns out she has quite an eye for interior design: "tastefully erotic" is what Shareen had thought of Nico's plans, and with the dark wood, elegant furniture, and voluptuous bronze mannequins, she has to agree. She doesn't call herself a genius for nothing!
At the moment she has Sephiroth helping her decide on a spot for one of the more scandalous pieces of decoration. A gold-plated woman stands bent completely in two with her hands around her ankles; she's smaller than life-size, but she's large enough that Nico can't lift her by herself. So far she's had Sephiroth position her in three spots around the store — by the back wall, by the entrance, by the changing rooms — and is lazily lording from where she's seated on the polished wood of the cash desk.
C'mon, Sephiroth. She dares you to call her out for being a pain in the ass — and as much is evident in the shit-eating smirk that settles on her lips as she leans back on one hand. )
Heavy lifting is grunt work, and Sephiroth is not one for grunt work. He isn’t one for the lavish displays of a sex shop, either, or playing the part of heavy-lifter to lug voluptuous statues around to and fro. Should his pride take issue with the task delegated to him, flaring up beneath his expressionless exterior, he might find it in him to lodge a complaint her way. Nico, who looks so casual and comfortable, lording over the shop with her input, telling him where to put things as though he is the one used to taking orders. But he knows such a complaint would wither and die, might be turned against him in the next breath; after all, what is moving a few odd objects around for the length of a day, opposed to being chased through the Wilde at night, with steel and a Harpy’s gaze pinned to one’s back?
So. He couldn’t say no.
But Sephiroth certainly won’t give her the satisfaction of blushing, of being flustered, of stuttering or stammering in embarrassment — this might be a shop beyond his… ken, but it is nothing that fazes him in a way she might hope for. (Barring a gross ignorance of half the stock here.)]
Does it matter what I think?
[—comes the reply, the slender curve of the gleaming statue’s ass pressed snugly against the swan of his neck, while “her” torso and legs are kept balanced in a firm grip. He makes for quite a sight, silver strands falling in little rivers across the gold-plated curvatures, adding to the aesthetic while simultaneously looking quite ridiculous.]
Maybe you should visualize it in your head first, before the statue makes another roundtrip across the store.
[(Maybe he can lodge a complaint in his own subtle way, dulled by an even look in her direction.)]
( Fortunately, Sephiroth's comment only serves to tickle that part of Nico that enjoys winding people up. Sometimes she just can't help herself; Nero has clearly been far too tolerant of her puckish behaviour and fondness of button-pushing, but at least it never amounts to anything more than a bit of silly fun. In this instance she's of the opinion that he thoroughly deserves it. )
Seriously? You're gonna sass me in my own shop?
( It isn't her shop, for starters, and in truth she'd be disappointed if he didn't, and when she slips down from the counter anyone might think she might be about to reprimand him for his behaviour. Instead, she reaches for the soft leather of her satchel and pulls out an apple, crisp and pink, before leaning back against the wood and making a dismissive gesture with her free hand. )
Anyway, she likes to travel. You two actually make a pretty cute couple.
( Nico grins, her gaze lightly amused and fixed on Sephiroth as she bites into the apple. After a thoughtful moment of chewing, Nico swallows her mouthful and nods to the back wall: )
Just put her over there, I think that's as good as we're gonna get.
[Sephiroth doesn’t deign to respond, not until he’s placed the statue down as requested, making certain that it remains balanced as he straightens himself up, a hand on the sculpted-woman’s back to keep her steady. She remains bent over and hands clasped around her ankles, stalwart and faux-flexible as ever. The ex-SOLDIER is a paradigm of the opposite: the glance he gives Nico is humorless and his posture is as military straight as ever.]
It isn’t your shop.
[Calling her out! He might not have step foot in this establishment before its overhaul, but he was very aware of its existence thanks to a few advertisements over the network now and again.]
And I’m not an employee. Just someone who owes you a favor.
[Which is turning into him moving a statue here and there; stocking up items he has no idea what they could possibly be used for; flipping idly through the pages of books with… interesting illustrations as he slips them back on shelves, alphabetized by author’s last name; etc, etc.]
( Nico corrects him, wearing her amusement openly now. To his credit Sephiroth had been incredibly helpful so far: his complaints when levelled have been subtle enough that Nico doesn't feel obliged to ask him to stop, and he's yet to refuse any task that she's asked him to help out with. All in all she's getting through her To Do list much faster than she'd expected, which is in no small part thanks to Sephiroth and his stony expression. )
I feel kinda responsible for it, y'know? With Stiles gone I'm the only employee left, so if I don't give it my all ...
( She shrugs, a hint of mischief touching the corners of her lips as she bites into her apple again. )
... Alright, alright: Shareen said I can use the back as a workshop if I stay, which is a pretty huge perk.
( Nero will freak out if she starts bringing even more work home — especially if it's sex-related work. Not worth the hassle. )
Besides, this sorta thing's important! Check this out— ( Nico rummages in her bag for a moment before pulling out a few sheets of parchment, upon which the fees and topics covered by a couple of private educators have been detailed. She shows them to Sephiroth and points out the led seminars: ) A lot of people are gonna be dealing with some pretty big physical changes, so I suggested to Shareen that we start runnin' monthly sessions where people can learn about bein' intimate with their new bodies.
( If it drums up some extra sales? That's just a bonus! )
And I'm gonna offer a "bespoke service"; I made Nero a special hand for Kyrie after he lost his arm, so. Why not?
( Nico takes a deep breath before turning her hand palm up and offering it to Nero. This has to have been one of the strangest evenings of her entire life: they're standing in a magic circle surrounded by a Coven of witches, and she's about to commit to something that'll tie her to Nero in a far more meaningful way than "best friend and business partner". In truth, it's uncomfortably similar to the fake wedding ceremony she was roped into with Siegfried, but for the sake of her own conscience? She's going to do her best to box that away and think about it as little as possible. Stressing out about what Kyrie might say can come later. )
Okay, so ...
( She glances towards the Witch conducting the ceremony. )
I'm gonna go first.
( Sorry Nero, but Nico has decided she needs to get this said and done before she has the chance to make an idiot of herself. That she's out of her element is obvious: the easy confidence of her usual demeanour has receded to something a little awkward, for all she's supported the idea of forming a Bond ever since she found out what might happen if they didn't.
Perhaps it would be easier if Nero were a stranger. If he were, she wouldn't have to face all these strange little emotions gathering at the periphery of her mind; wouldn't have to worry about things getting weird between them, about Nero deciding to ditch her because he can't deal with it, or—
Fuck, just get a grip already!
Nico clears her throat, quashes down her concerns, and curls her fingers around his hand. )
Nero, you're my best friend in the world. All the worlds, probably, since it seems like there's a whole bunch of 'em there's still nowhere I'd rather be than here with you. I know this ain't ideal, an' I know neither of us really planned for anythin' like this, but—
( A frown creases her brow as Nico takes another breath. )
I'm always gonna take care of you, okay? I know, I know, you're the badass strong one, but — whenever you need help bein' a little stronger, I'm here. I'll always be here.
( She exhales softly, looking anywhere but directly at Nero. )
[ It's weird. It's super weird and it's something Nero has been giving the proverbial finger to since learning about it. To him, it sounded more like some sort of brain-washing ploy to get them to play along with whatever game is really behind this place. There's still a part of him that isn't fully on board that there won't be any weird repercussions from this, but after being in a right bitchy mood around the full moons and the shit that's gone on with his arm.
Well...
Something's gotta give. And apparently that's got to be Nero.
He just wishes this wasn't so...official and shit. Really the only thing that's making him not walk back and say "hell no" with the whole audience bullshit is the fact that Nico is also radiating nervous energy--only so much that he can tell, just because he's getting better at reading her bravado. At least they're in this together.
Unfortunately he also wants to get it over with--so when Nico says she's going to start, he gives something of a frown, but it's more one of his thinking frowns. Is she gonna set a precedent that he needs to follow or is she gonna make it weird?
Nero fidgets--never one who has been able to stand still, and she an probably feel the way he's not sure if he should be holding her hand back or not--as she speaks. And it's, well...nice? Actually. Their baseline is sharing (well-meaning) insults, so when it goes in the other direction...it is a little awkward, yep.
Definitely awkward. But not exactly bad.
Maybe because no matter how much bravado he has, a little bit of confirmation and approval goes a long way. Even if he doesn't like to show it. So he's staring right at her even when she's trying to do the exact opposite. ]
...Thanks.
[ One of the coven witches clears her throat. That snaps Nero out of it to send a glare her way, before her nod makes it clear. ]
Oh--shit. My turn, uh...
[ He has to pull his hand back--only got one arm right now, after all, even if his right arm is now wrapped in heavy bandages as whatever the hell is growing out of it does it's thing--and reaches into his pocket.
Yes. Yes he actually wrote some shit out because even though he thinks this is stupid, he's still taking it seriously. Don't @ him.
Nero flips open a small piece of paper with his thumb and focuses on what he's scribbled down. That is decidedly easier than facing anyone in this room, even if he does keep glancing up to Nico to gauge her reaction. ]
"Nico..."
[ He clears his throat. ]
"I know I give you shit for the messes you make and how you drive me up the wall sometimes, but I'd rather be going crazy and have you at my back than have a clean kitchen table."
[ He flips open the paper further. ]
"You're the smartest person I know, you know how to run a business, and you're not as much of a hard ass as you say you are. I wouldnt've made it as far as I have if it weren't for you..."
[ Sappy. ]
"...so thanks for putting up with me. It's not really much of putting up with you when you're actually my friend."
[ Ugh. He shouldn't have written that, should he have? He glances up and crumbles the paper. ]
"Probably."
[ Saved it.
He shoves it back into his pocket where it will never again see the light of day. He'd eat it right now if he wasn't planning on destroying it later. ]
[A big favor, yes. He will not contest that, and so no such thing comes.
Besides, for what it’s worth, Sephiroth looks genuinely interested in her answer. This place might represent a void in the encyclopedia of his own personal knowledge (one may learn that there are many voids in that particular volume), yet he cannot help but be innately curious. He had always possessed something of an inquiring mind ever since he was a child, and such things are not so easily stamped out.
Which is why he approaches when she fans out the parchment, listening to her explanation all the while. One is plucked up and turned over in his hands, assessing the text.
Finally, green eyes lift back up to her.]
A “special hand”?
[Is that possibly what it sounds like— probably.]
Your engineering talent not gone to waste, then. How opportunistic.
( Nico just shrugs and opts to ignore Sephiroth's cool tease this time. Some people might think it pointless, or strange, or a waste of her talents, but she sees nothing wrong with offering her expertise when it comes to any kind of mechanical creation. Who's to say whether making instruments of death is somehow more worthy than making instruments of pleasure, huh? )
I mean I was makin' him arms — Devil Breakers — already, so I figured why not make one more suited to bein' a bit softer?
( A frown pinches her brow. )
I'm just ... I like to keep busy. Even if it's not my usual thing, this place is somewhere to go an' somethin' to do. An' I don't do things by half.
( Evidently, since it should be pretty obvious by now that she's the driving force behind the refurbishment, the seminars, the new bespoke options for the various magitech sex toys. Nico doesn't much care to think about why she always has to have a project on the go, and so she snips that potential thread of conversation off with a mischievous smile. )
You know ... if you see anythin' you like, I might even give you a discount.
( She nudges him with her elbow. )
Since you're bein' a good sport with helpin' me out.
( ... Oh man, he wrote it out? Nico has to bite her lip to keep herself from chuckling aloud, if only because there's something uniquely Nero about the way he's decided to approach this. It actually helps to make her feel a little more at ease: the situation might be bizarre, and they both might be uncomfortable about it, but as long as Nero's still committed to being a total jerk-dork then she might just get through it.
Each glance show's Nico's expression softening from amusement to something more fond. It's weird because they never really say this stuff to each other — their friendship is a deep thing that's never really required either one of them to address it. They've always just worked together — their personalities, their senses of humour, their shared single-minded focus — but right now?
It's just — nice. It's nice to be able to remind Nero he's valued, and it's nice to feel valued in return. )
Probably.
( She repeats, her smile turning cheeky. Even if she's feeling a bit sappy on the inside, there's only so much Nico's willing to let Nero see. )
Uh ... okay, so I think we're good?
( A quick nod at Nero, before she turns her gaze to the Witches surrounding them. The leader steps forwards and gives them an approving smile: )
( Nico likes spending time at the Forge. While it's true that she hasn't managed to get there as much as she'd like — things have been a little busy, what with kind of inheriting a shop on top of her studies — but now that she has a day to herself, she thinks she's long overdue a little self-indulgent welding time. She's brought along a few of her most recent pet projects and she's ready to get herself settled—
But then she spots Percy, and a warm smile brightens up her features. )
Hey!
( She approaches him easily, giving him a friendly slap on the upper arm before taking a step back. )
[ He really should have seen it coming, but Percy still pauses for just a second to arch an eyebrow Nico's way at the slap. It does seem to be how she communicates, though, and he's back into motion a heartbeat later. ]
Fine, thank you. [ It's an instinctive response, ground in by years of etiquette lessons. But though he's seen evidence of other people in the forge besides himself and Hiccup, he hadn't managed to be there at the same time as Nico yet, and the return question is more than mere courtesy. ] And you? How are you finding things here?
[It's a bit like nudging a brick wall, and Sephiroth does little more than blink down at her.]
...Noted. But unlikely to be taken advantage of.
[Though perhaps he knows where he might find her if he needs to go looking. Nico seems like the type to keep busy, to make sure her hours don't become idle; he can tell just by how much work has already gone into this establishment, the plans that she already has for the place. He's a bit like that himself, too, with the exception that his manner of keeping his hands busy often entails keeping a sword grasped tightly in them.]
But... if you need the help in the future, you can ask. [There's a rare offer from Sephiroth, and not one given out of mere obligation. It is indeed a matter of keeping one's hands busy, though perhaps to move things about rather than man the shop.]
Not so bad. I haven't been able to get down here as much as I'd like, but ...
( She shrugs, rubbing at the back of her neck in a semi-bashful gesture. While she highly doubts Percy was waiting for her to show up, she did imply that her plan was to visit a fair bit the last time they spoke. )
Things got real busy. I kind of uh ... inherited a shop?
( She doesn't own it, or anything, but the couple who do are keen for Nico to keep applying her vision of the store's future. )
Has it been busy around here? I did make it down once or twice, but this is the first day in ages I've been able to work on a project.
[ Adding a full-sized bear to the dragons already in residence does tend to affect the space a bit, even if he's not exactly working the forge. The corner of Percy's mouth tips up a bit, a flicker of fond exasperation. ]
It's generally just myself and Hiccup, anyway. And Zewu-jun, on occasion.
[ The space is open, but the fact that very few have taken them up on it has never bothered him. On the other hand, having Nico here does mean he can watch a bit of whatever she's up to. ]
( Sephiroth's offer takes Nico by surprise, and as much is evident in the way her eyebrows bump up towards her hairline. He's a practical kind of person, that much is obvious, and doesn't seem the type to put himself into unnecessary situations; for all her offer of a discount, Nico hadn't actually expected to see him here again of his own volition. The fact that he's taken all her teasing on the chin and doesn't seem to mind the idea of coming back ... )
You sure about that?
( Pfft, like he'd have offered if he wasn't. Nico doesn't give him time to answer — rather, she laughs warmly and offers a lop-sided grin. )
I suppose that doesn't matter, 'cause I'm definitely gonna take you up on it now you've put it out into the world. No takesies-backsies.
( She moves back to the desk, placing the pieces of parchment in a shallow drawer built into the glossy wood. )
And ... thanks, y'know? I, uh—
( She wrinkles her nose just a little before dragging a hand through her hair. While Nico is a breezily genuine type of person it's also hard for her to speak from the heart; she even struggles with Nero, but then he's equally as emotionally constipated as she is. )
I really appreciate it. And I know, I know, you're just makin' up for the Full Moons, but ...
( But she's been doing this mostly alone, and it means a lot that Sephiroth is willing to step out of his comfort zone and help. Still, she doesn't want to risk coming across as sappy in any way, shape or form, so she clears her throat before turning her back to him to (ostensibly) rifle through some blue-prints. )
... A-And just so you know, I'm not gonna pay you! But if you do come help, I'll bring enough lunch for two.
[ As long as they're both in agreement that, despite any potential underlying sappy sentiments, they are never going to say them again. Especially not in front of other people.
Perfect. At least they're both emotionally constipated in the same ways.
Nero scratches the side of his nose and pointedly keeps his gaze on the officiant. ]
Yeah, let's...let's do it.
[ This is not how he imagined to "take the plunge", but...when the hell had anything in his life ever made sense? Well, for long, anyway.
The leader looks down at their hands, then back up at the pair. ]
Join hands again.
[ Nero's eyes widen. ]
Oh, uh...right.
[ He's only got one to work with right now, okay? He's doing his best. So he takes Nico's hand without asking. ]
[Sephiroth does not offer empty pleasantries, nor empty promises. He would not have offered at all if he didn't mean to put in the effort, to follow up on his word. However, there is an addendum to be added, one that he waits to speak until she's taken the time to rifle idly through blue prints strewn about.]
I don't expect payment, and you're right -- part of my offer is recompense for my actions. But the rest is simple willingness.
[Willingness which is an implication on its own: a sort of friendless that seems so difficult to wrench free from the man, an easy desire to make himself useful and especially to those whose company he doesn't mind. It would seem that Nico fits the bill.]
Just don't station me at the register and I won't complain either way.
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SUPERSOLDIER.
no subject
( Honestly? Nico hadn't expected Sephiroth to agree to help her out in the first place — and then when he did, she hadn't expected him to stay when he realised what kind of shop she's in the middle of renovating. While Nico isn't the type to use sex to humiliate people she couldn't help the idea of playing a little prank on the guy: she'd hoped to get at least a faint blush out of him, maybe even one of those intense stares, as payback for quite literally chasing her through the Wilde at sword-point.
Jerk. )
Actually, forget that, I reckon it looked best in that spot against the back wall.
( The decorating is coming along nicely. The floor is down, the wallpaper is hung, and the majority of the fiddly little jobs have been done, which means Nico's attention is now on redressing the store so it fits with her vision of Devil May Cry meets sex boutique. It turns out she has quite an eye for interior design: "tastefully erotic" is what Shareen had thought of Nico's plans, and with the dark wood, elegant furniture, and voluptuous bronze mannequins, she has to agree. She doesn't call herself a genius for nothing!
At the moment she has Sephiroth helping her decide on a spot for one of the more scandalous pieces of decoration. A gold-plated woman stands bent completely in two with her hands around her ankles; she's smaller than life-size, but she's large enough that Nico can't lift her by herself. So far she's had Sephiroth position her in three spots around the store — by the back wall, by the entrance, by the changing rooms — and is lazily lording from where she's seated on the polished wood of the cash desk.
C'mon, Sephiroth. She dares you to call her out for being a pain in the ass — and as much is evident in the shit-eating smirk that settles on her lips as she leans back on one hand. )
Whaddya think?
no subject
Heavy lifting is grunt work, and Sephiroth is not one for grunt work. He isn’t one for the lavish displays of a sex shop, either, or playing the part of heavy-lifter to lug voluptuous statues around to and fro. Should his pride take issue with the task delegated to him, flaring up beneath his expressionless exterior, he might find it in him to lodge a complaint her way. Nico, who looks so casual and comfortable, lording over the shop with her input, telling him where to put things as though he is the one used to taking orders. But he knows such a complaint would wither and die, might be turned against him in the next breath; after all, what is moving a few odd objects around for the length of a day, opposed to being chased through the Wilde at night, with steel and a Harpy’s gaze pinned to one’s back?
So. He couldn’t say no.
But Sephiroth certainly won’t give her the satisfaction of blushing, of being flustered, of stuttering or stammering in embarrassment — this might be a shop beyond his… ken, but it is nothing that fazes him in a way she might hope for. (Barring a gross ignorance of half the stock here.)]
Does it matter what I think?
[—comes the reply, the slender curve of the gleaming statue’s ass pressed snugly against the swan of his neck, while “her” torso and legs are kept balanced in a firm grip. He makes for quite a sight, silver strands falling in little rivers across the gold-plated curvatures, adding to the aesthetic while simultaneously looking quite ridiculous.]
Maybe you should visualize it in your head first, before the statue makes another roundtrip across the store.
[(Maybe he can lodge a complaint in his own subtle way, dulled by an even look in her direction.)]
no subject
( Fortunately, Sephiroth's comment only serves to tickle that part of Nico that enjoys winding people up. Sometimes she just can't help herself; Nero has clearly been far too tolerant of her puckish behaviour and fondness of button-pushing, but at least it never amounts to anything more than a bit of silly fun. In this instance she's of the opinion that he thoroughly deserves it. )
Seriously? You're gonna sass me in my own shop?
( It isn't her shop, for starters, and in truth she'd be disappointed if he didn't, and when she slips down from the counter anyone might think she might be about to reprimand him for his behaviour. Instead, she reaches for the soft leather of her satchel and pulls out an apple, crisp and pink, before leaning back against the wood and making a dismissive gesture with her free hand. )
Anyway, she likes to travel. You two actually make a pretty cute couple.
( Nico grins, her gaze lightly amused and fixed on Sephiroth as she bites into the apple. After a thoughtful moment of chewing, Nico swallows her mouthful and nods to the back wall: )
Just put her over there, I think that's as good as we're gonna get.
no subject
It isn’t your shop.
[Calling her out! He might not have step foot in this establishment before its overhaul, but he was very aware of its existence thanks to a few advertisements over the network now and again.]
And I’m not an employee. Just someone who owes you a favor.
[Which is turning into him moving a statue here and there; stocking up items he has no idea what they could possibly be used for; flipping idly through the pages of books with… interesting illustrations as he slips them back on shelves, alphabetized by author’s last name; etc, etc.]
Why did you agree to all of this?
no subject
A really big favour.
( Nico corrects him, wearing her amusement openly now. To his credit Sephiroth had been incredibly helpful so far: his complaints when levelled have been subtle enough that Nico doesn't feel obliged to ask him to stop, and he's yet to refuse any task that she's asked him to help out with. All in all she's getting through her To Do list much faster than she'd expected, which is in no small part thanks to Sephiroth and his stony expression. )
I feel kinda responsible for it, y'know? With Stiles gone I'm the only employee left, so if I don't give it my all ...
( She shrugs, a hint of mischief touching the corners of her lips as she bites into her apple again. )
... Alright, alright: Shareen said I can use the back as a workshop if I stay, which is a pretty huge perk.
( Nero will freak out if she starts bringing even more work home — especially if it's sex-related work. Not worth the hassle. )
Besides, this sorta thing's important! Check this out— ( Nico rummages in her bag for a moment before pulling out a few sheets of parchment, upon which the fees and topics covered by a couple of private educators have been detailed. She shows them to Sephiroth and points out the led seminars: ) A lot of people are gonna be dealing with some pretty big physical changes, so I suggested to Shareen that we start runnin' monthly sessions where people can learn about bein' intimate with their new bodies.
( If it drums up some extra sales? That's just a bonus! )
And I'm gonna offer a "bespoke service"; I made Nero a special hand for Kyrie after he lost his arm, so. Why not?
DEMONASS.
no subject
( Nico takes a deep breath before turning her hand palm up and offering it to Nero. This has to have been one of the strangest evenings of her entire life: they're standing in a magic circle surrounded by a Coven of witches, and she's about to commit to something that'll tie her to Nero in a far more meaningful way than "best friend and business partner". In truth, it's uncomfortably similar to the fake wedding ceremony she was roped into with Siegfried, but for the sake of her own conscience? She's going to do her best to box that away and think about it as little as possible. Stressing out about what Kyrie might say can come later. )
Okay, so ...
( She glances towards the Witch conducting the ceremony. )
I'm gonna go first.
( Sorry Nero, but Nico has decided she needs to get this said and done before she has the chance to make an idiot of herself. That she's out of her element is obvious: the easy confidence of her usual demeanour has receded to something a little awkward, for all she's supported the idea of forming a Bond ever since she found out what might happen if they didn't.
Perhaps it would be easier if Nero were a stranger. If he were, she wouldn't have to face all these strange little emotions gathering at the periphery of her mind; wouldn't have to worry about things getting weird between them, about Nero deciding to ditch her because he can't deal with it, or—
Fuck, just get a grip already!
Nico clears her throat, quashes down her concerns, and curls her fingers around his hand. )
Nero, you're my best friend in the world. All the worlds, probably, since it seems like there's a whole bunch of 'em there's still nowhere I'd rather be than here with you. I know this ain't ideal, an' I know neither of us really planned for anythin' like this, but—
( A frown creases her brow as Nico takes another breath. )
I'm always gonna take care of you, okay? I know, I know, you're the badass strong one, but — whenever you need help bein' a little stronger, I'm here. I'll always be here.
( She exhales softly, looking anywhere but directly at Nero. )
Shit, there. I said it.
no subject
Well...
Something's gotta give. And apparently that's got to be Nero.
He just wishes this wasn't so...official and shit. Really the only thing that's making him not walk back and say "hell no" with the whole audience bullshit is the fact that Nico is also radiating nervous energy--only so much that he can tell, just because he's getting better at reading her bravado. At least they're in this together.
Unfortunately he also wants to get it over with--so when Nico says she's going to start, he gives something of a frown, but it's more one of his thinking frowns. Is she gonna set a precedent that he needs to follow or is she gonna make it weird?
Nero fidgets--never one who has been able to stand still, and she an probably feel the way he's not sure if he should be holding her hand back or not--as she speaks. And it's, well...nice? Actually. Their baseline is sharing (well-meaning) insults, so when it goes in the other direction...it is a little awkward, yep.
Definitely awkward. But not exactly bad.
Maybe because no matter how much bravado he has, a little bit of confirmation and approval goes a long way. Even if he doesn't like to show it. So he's staring right at her even when she's trying to do the exact opposite. ]
...Thanks.
[ One of the coven witches clears her throat. That snaps Nero out of it to send a glare her way, before her nod makes it clear. ]
Oh--shit. My turn, uh...
[ He has to pull his hand back--only got one arm right now, after all, even if his right arm is now wrapped in heavy bandages as whatever the hell is growing out of it does it's thing--and reaches into his pocket.
Yes. Yes he actually wrote some shit out because even though he thinks this is stupid, he's still taking it seriously. Don't @ him.
Nero flips open a small piece of paper with his thumb and focuses on what he's scribbled down. That is decidedly easier than facing anyone in this room, even if he does keep glancing up to Nico to gauge her reaction. ]
"Nico..."
[ He clears his throat. ]
"I know I give you shit for the messes you make and how you drive me up the wall sometimes, but I'd rather be going crazy and have you at my back than have a clean kitchen table."
[ He flips open the paper further. ]
"You're the smartest person I know, you know how to run a business, and you're not as much of a hard ass as you say you are. I wouldnt've made it as far as I have if it weren't for you..."
[ Sappy. ]
"...so thanks for putting up with me. It's not really much of putting up with you when you're actually my friend."
[ Ugh. He shouldn't have written that, should he have? He glances up and crumbles the paper. ]
"Probably."
[ Saved it.
He shoves it back into his pocket where it will never again see the light of day. He'd eat it right now if he wasn't planning on destroying it later. ]
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Besides, for what it’s worth, Sephiroth looks genuinely interested in her answer. This place might represent a void in the encyclopedia of his own personal knowledge (one may learn that there are many voids in that particular volume), yet he cannot help but be innately curious. He had always possessed something of an inquiring mind ever since he was a child, and such things are not so easily stamped out.
Which is why he approaches when she fans out the parchment, listening to her explanation all the while. One is plucked up and turned over in his hands, assessing the text.
Finally, green eyes lift back up to her.]
A “special hand”?
[Is that possibly what it sounds like— probably.]
Your engineering talent not gone to waste, then. How opportunistic.
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( Nico just shrugs and opts to ignore Sephiroth's cool tease this time. Some people might think it pointless, or strange, or a waste of her talents, but she sees nothing wrong with offering her expertise when it comes to any kind of mechanical creation. Who's to say whether making instruments of death is somehow more worthy than making instruments of pleasure, huh? )
I mean I was makin' him arms — Devil Breakers — already, so I figured why not make one more suited to bein' a bit softer?
( A frown pinches her brow. )
I'm just ... I like to keep busy. Even if it's not my usual thing, this place is somewhere to go an' somethin' to do. An' I don't do things by half.
( Evidently, since it should be pretty obvious by now that she's the driving force behind the refurbishment, the seminars, the new bespoke options for the various magitech sex toys. Nico doesn't much care to think about why she always has to have a project on the go, and so she snips that potential thread of conversation off with a mischievous smile. )
You know ... if you see anythin' you like, I might even give you a discount.
( She nudges him with her elbow. )
Since you're bein' a good sport with helpin' me out.
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( ... Oh man, he wrote it out? Nico has to bite her lip to keep herself from chuckling aloud, if only because there's something uniquely Nero about the way he's decided to approach this. It actually helps to make her feel a little more at ease: the situation might be bizarre, and they both might be uncomfortable about it, but as long as Nero's still committed to being a total jerk-dork then she might just get through it.
Each glance show's Nico's expression softening from amusement to something more fond. It's weird because they never really say this stuff to each other — their friendship is a deep thing that's never really required either one of them to address it. They've always just worked together — their personalities, their senses of humour, their shared single-minded focus — but right now?
It's just — nice. It's nice to be able to remind Nero he's valued, and it's nice to feel valued in return. )
Probably.
( She repeats, her smile turning cheeky. Even if she's feeling a bit sappy on the inside, there's only so much Nico's willing to let Nero see. )
Uh ... okay, so I think we're good?
( A quick nod at Nero, before she turns her gaze to the Witches surrounding them. The leader steps forwards and gives them an approving smile: )
Nico. Nero. Are you ready to complete the ritual?
FOR GUNSMITHED.
( Nico likes spending time at the Forge. While it's true that she hasn't managed to get there as much as she'd like — things have been a little busy, what with kind of inheriting a shop on top of her studies — but now that she has a day to herself, she thinks she's long overdue a little self-indulgent welding time. She's brought along a few of her most recent pet projects and she's ready to get herself settled—
But then she spots Percy, and a warm smile brightens up her features. )
Hey!
( She approaches him easily, giving him a friendly slap on the upper arm before taking a step back. )
It's been a minute, huh? How're you keepin'?
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Fine, thank you. [ It's an instinctive response, ground in by years of etiquette lessons. But though he's seen evidence of other people in the forge besides himself and Hiccup, he hadn't managed to be there at the same time as Nico yet, and the return question is more than mere courtesy. ] And you? How are you finding things here?
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...Noted. But unlikely to be taken advantage of.
[Though perhaps he knows where he might find her if he needs to go looking. Nico seems like the type to keep busy, to make sure her hours don't become idle; he can tell just by how much work has already gone into this establishment, the plans that she already has for the place. He's a bit like that himself, too, with the exception that his manner of keeping his hands busy often entails keeping a sword grasped tightly in them.]
But... if you need the help in the future, you can ask. [There's a rare offer from Sephiroth, and not one given out of mere obligation. It is indeed a matter of keeping one's hands busy, though perhaps to move things about rather than man the shop.]
I might can spare the time.
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Not so bad. I haven't been able to get down here as much as I'd like, but ...
( She shrugs, rubbing at the back of her neck in a semi-bashful gesture. While she highly doubts Percy was waiting for her to show up, she did imply that her plan was to visit a fair bit the last time they spoke. )
Things got real busy. I kind of uh ... inherited a shop?
( She doesn't own it, or anything, but the couple who do are keen for Nico to keep applying her vision of the store's future. )
Has it been busy around here? I did make it down once or twice, but this is the first day in ages I've been able to work on a project.
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[ Adding a full-sized bear to the dragons already in residence does tend to affect the space a bit, even if he's not exactly working the forge. The corner of Percy's mouth tips up a bit, a flicker of fond exasperation. ]
It's generally just myself and Hiccup, anyway. And Zewu-jun, on occasion.
[ The space is open, but the fact that very few have taken them up on it has never bothered him. On the other hand, having Nico here does mean he can watch a bit of whatever she's up to. ]
What shop have you inherited, then?
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( Sephiroth's offer takes Nico by surprise, and as much is evident in the way her eyebrows bump up towards her hairline. He's a practical kind of person, that much is obvious, and doesn't seem the type to put himself into unnecessary situations; for all her offer of a discount, Nico hadn't actually expected to see him here again of his own volition. The fact that he's taken all her teasing on the chin and doesn't seem to mind the idea of coming back ... )
You sure about that?
( Pfft, like he'd have offered if he wasn't. Nico doesn't give him time to answer — rather, she laughs warmly and offers a lop-sided grin. )
I suppose that doesn't matter, 'cause I'm definitely gonna take you up on it now you've put it out into the world. No takesies-backsies.
( She moves back to the desk, placing the pieces of parchment in a shallow drawer built into the glossy wood. )
And ... thanks, y'know? I, uh—
( She wrinkles her nose just a little before dragging a hand through her hair. While Nico is a breezily genuine type of person it's also hard for her to speak from the heart; she even struggles with Nero, but then he's equally as emotionally constipated as she is. )
I really appreciate it. And I know, I know, you're just makin' up for the Full Moons, but ...
( But she's been doing this mostly alone, and it means a lot that Sephiroth is willing to step out of his comfort zone and help. Still, she doesn't want to risk coming across as sappy in any way, shape or form, so she clears her throat before turning her back to him to (ostensibly) rifle through some blue-prints. )
... A-And just so you know, I'm not gonna pay you! But if you do come help, I'll bring enough lunch for two.
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Perfect. At least they're both emotionally constipated in the same ways.
Nero scratches the side of his nose and pointedly keeps his gaze on the officiant. ]
Yeah, let's...let's do it.
[ This is not how he imagined to "take the plunge", but...when the hell had anything in his life ever made sense? Well, for long, anyway.
The leader looks down at their hands, then back up at the pair. ]
Join hands again.
[ Nero's eyes widen. ]
Oh, uh...right.
[ He's only got one to work with right now, okay? He's doing his best. So he takes Nico's hand without asking. ]
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[Sephiroth does not offer empty pleasantries, nor empty promises. He would not have offered at all if he didn't mean to put in the effort, to follow up on his word. However, there is an addendum to be added, one that he waits to speak until she's taken the time to rifle idly through blue prints strewn about.]
I don't expect payment, and you're right -- part of my offer is recompense for my actions. But the rest is simple willingness.
[Willingness which is an implication on its own: a sort of friendless that seems so difficult to wrench free from the man, an easy desire to make himself useful and especially to those whose company he doesn't mind. It would seem that Nico fits the bill.]
Just don't station me at the register and I won't complain either way.