Sprace: Nero

[perfectpower]

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[perfectpower]

Not sure.

[Luke's decommission page is up right now. He probably knows what the words 'decommissioned' though, given what happened right before the current sage appeared, so when he sees that pop up he grimaces.]

Oh. Someone died.

[The message is scrolling, it will get to Luke's final message shortly.]

[perfectdistance]

And they're writing it like that? [ It's so detached. Then again, that's how it works in a business, isn't it? ] That's Luke?

[perfectpower]

Looks like it, those pictures look like him-

[But then that death message pops up and Brad draws in a sharp breath.]

What?

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[ Nero mirrors the noise. Bad.

Two? Dahut and Luke?

What happened?

It's not like this is the first time they've lost somebody, but they usually know what caused it. ]

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[He can't even stand to hear Dahut's message. He quickly dismisses it partway through. Then he looks to Nero.

What happened last night?]

An accident?

[perfectdistance]

What else would it be?

[ A strong sense of unease. Is it really just that? Or did something else happen? ]

[perfectpower]

[The unease is mirrored here. It can't be as simple as an accident, they would have said something.]

Maybe they're gonna take care of the hazard first. And then they'll talk to us about it, so that accident doesn't happen again. There's lots of sharp stuff in the galley, I could see an accident happening there.

[But fuck. Those two didn't deserve this.]

[perfectdistance]

You really think those two are that clumsy?

[ That doesn't feel right to him. ]

[perfectpower]

I dunno. ...Tiny Baker should've known his way around a kitchen.

[perfectdistance]

[There's a weird feeling, where he wants to go and look at the kitchen, but he also doesn't want to go and look at the body either.]

We cooked together, that shouldn't have been an issue.

[perfectpower]

It shouldn't have been, no.

[A pause, and he considers Nero's vibes.]

I can go check first, and make sure it doesn't look too awful.

[perfectdistance]

[ A sigh, no. He shouldn't just send Brad out on a scouting mission alone. On the off chance it was something else then... ]

I'll come with.

[perfectpower]

Okay.

[He actually feels relieved to have Nero come along. Two sets of eyes are better than one.

...how do they get out of bed though. It's too comfy.]

[perfectdistance]

[ Nero will pull him out of the bed if he has to.

It's investigation time. (It's not.) ]

[perfectdistance]

Even after last time?

[perfectpower]

[Welp. Pushed out of bed he is.]

Fine, I'm up!

[perfectpower]

Even after last time.

[This is how much he trusts Nero. Feel the trust.]

[perfectdistance]

[A sigh.

The worst thing Bradley has ever given him. Nero's betrayed him so severely already, and yet. Here he is, putting himself back in Nero's hands all over again.

At least this time, Nero's life is fully under Bradley's possession, through his unprovoked promise.]

... Stay quiet.

[As he hooks his finger into the ring around his choker, pulling him into another kiss.]

[perfectdistance]

Get goin'.

[To check the galley. Nero shrugs his outer shirt back on before starting to head out.]

[perfectpower]

[Unfortunately Bradley cares far too much about Nero to be chased away by something like 'betrayal'. Nero is stuck with him for the rest of his days.

Which is to say, he's just smiling like a fool and going along with Nero, giving a quick nod but staying quiet. No protests has he's pulled in by his choker, and no sounds from him other than a soft sigh as their lips meet.

100 years ago, this is where he would have gotten handsy with Nero. The urge is still there, even after all this time. But rebuilding their connection is a slow process, and he doesn't want to undo all the work he's done in the last year, so his hand grips the edge of the table instead.]

[perfectpower]

[Ah, yeah. Clothes. Bradley is quick to pick up his discarded jacket and slip his shoes back on before heading out with Nero.]

It might be closed off.

[perfectdistance]

Ain't that suspicious on its own?

[perfectpower]

Kinda? They'd need an hour or two to clean it up if it's an accident. But we can still sneak past a 'do not enter' sign anyway.

Week 0: Sunday

[perfectdistance]

[ He's getting walked back to Nero's room. The vibrating buzzing anxiety that is always right there, under the surface is only getting more obvious.

Where does he even start? Puppeteer? So anybody could get puppeted? ]

... Let's plan.

[perfectpower]

...yeah.

[This sucks. This fucking sucks.]

When we get to that planet tomorrow, stay with me. I'm gonna try teleporting home.