Man. And you had tried to skip out on all the excitement too. It would have been a perfect cover for you to slip out and have a bit of fun before being dragged back to jail! But no, here you are, being forced to introduce yourself to the new wizards. What a waste. It's not like you'll even need to see each other for another year anyway!
You need that time to figure out how to deal with this curse. The fact that you're covered in snow is proof of how out-of-control things have gotten.
"Tch...Northern wizard, Bradley."
The others in the room fall quiet as you step in, brushing some snow off of your shoulders. "Just when I thought I could finally kick back and get away from it all, I had to get dragged back into this fucking mess."
Once glance up is enough to drive away all of that irritation, though.
Most of the new wizards are indeed new to him. But this one Eastern wizard with blue hair, you know this one. You would recognize him anywhere. And oh, even with all the time they've been apart, you feel your chest flutter when you see that face again.
"Hey, Nero. It sure has been a while." You can't help but smile, just a little bit. "Did you have fun going clean and washing your hands of the bandit gang while I was stuck in jail?"
Clearly it's not the best way to say hello, because Nero's mood instantly turns sour. "......This has nothing to do with you."
You can't help but laugh at that reaction. Same old Nero. You remember getting on his nerves so many times in the past, only for him to get sullen in return. But somehow, those memories are fond to you. Like a treasure wrapped away in newspaper to keep it safe, those memories are held tightly in your heart. You had thought that 100 years apart would dull your feelings, but they ring as true as they did the last time you saw him. There's no mistaking the warmth and affection you feel for this man.
And then you notice something. "That crest! So you were chosen too, Nero!"
This is amazing. Now you have something to look forward to with this "Sage's wizard" business.
-----
[Okay actually that's a pretty nice memory, Bradley can live with that one being shared.]
[ It's a familiar memory, something that they both experienced... He never really got it from Bradley's point of view though. If it were him, wouldn't he be much angrier to see the person who tossed him in jail like it was nothing? Bradley is a much more positive person than Nero will ever be. But that's what it's like for an Eastern wizard, they're known to be gloomy for a reason.
You've been on the brink of death and somehow Bradley brought you back from the ledge. There's really something about him that makes his commands impossible to ignore. You're laying in bed, trying to heal from injuries that certainly would've taken your life if Bradley had arrived any later. It's guilt that keeps you alive, the specters of their past, and the weight of what you've done to people you could've called family.
Bradley's the person who deserves to take your life, after all the ways you've betrayed him and hurt him.
"Let's do it right now. You wanna deal with me, don't you? I get it. You've more than got the right to turn me to stone."
Bradley's silent, and even after all this time you can't quite read his face. For as expressive as he is, he knows how to keep his feelings hidden when he wants to.
"But... Can you wait until the Great Calamity hits? Once we're done beatin' it back, you can turn me to stone with your own hands." Finally... Finally you'll stop having to exist and bear the weight of all those lives lost, all the time Bradley's been locked away. You'll finally be a stone, and you'll have worth.
Bradley, doesn't believe you, and why should he? "You love sayin' whatever you want. But y'know what, Nero? You already ran away from me once. What makes you think I can trust what you say."
You're so tired. Living like this- despite what you said to Faust, you don't have all that much to live for. The least you can do is die to the person who deserves to kill you the most.
"I promise." With all the weight that entails of a wizard. You'll lose all your magic if you dare to run away this time. It's almost the same thing as being dead.
[Man, what a tone shift. It shows how different they see the world though. And it makes a strange look come over Bradley's face.
Quietly, Bradley finally says something:]
Why do you keep punishin' yourself like this?
[Nero can't claim ignorance anymore, he saw how Bradley feels about everything. He doesn't blame Nero for what happens, and he doesn't understand why Nero still blames himself.]
Because it ain't right. I already told you what your punishment is, and it's not "linger sadly until you die". Do you really think that's gonna make up for everyone who died?
[His heart feels like it's going to rip right out of his chest. This would be so much easier if he wasn't in love with this stupid Eastern wizard.]
[ Nero, who is an eastern wizard, and one of their worst flaws is simply never letting anything go looks at Bradley and thinks- "Why is it so much easier for you to accept me than for me to accept myself?" ]
I'll let you kill me when the time comes. You already knew that.
[He steps forward to place his hands on Nero's shoulders.]
But you promised to not run away, and that means your life is mine. So until that day when I decide to kill ya, you're gonna live the best fucking life you can.
But when we get home from this, we're gonna start livin'. You and I, together. You're gonna live a good life, and then you'll be able to die satisfied.
[Nero promised to not run away, so no running away from this. He has to stay, or lose his magic.]
's what you gotta do, to make it up to everyone. Live well, because they couldn't.
[ He won't run away. Nero's spent so much of his life running away, and this time he finally has an ending. This time, it's something he can accept. No more watching Bradley crawling home almost dead.
Nero's finally getting his peace. ]
You'll kill me once everything's finished?
[ He doesn't need Bradley to promise him in return, but he wants him to at least say it. ]
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timeasmymeasure
Week 3, Tuesday
Date: 2024-03-20 02:04 am (UTC)---
Man. And you had tried to skip out on all the excitement too. It would have been a perfect cover for you to slip out and have a bit of fun before being dragged back to jail! But no, here you are, being forced to introduce yourself to the new wizards. What a waste. It's not like you'll even need to see each other for another year anyway!
You need that time to figure out how to deal with this curse. The fact that you're covered in snow is proof of how out-of-control things have gotten.
"Tch...Northern wizard, Bradley."
The others in the room fall quiet as you step in, brushing some snow off of your shoulders. "Just when I thought I could finally kick back and get away from it all, I had to get dragged back into this fucking mess."
Once glance up is enough to drive away all of that irritation, though.
Most of the new wizards are indeed new to him. But this one Eastern wizard with blue hair, you know this one. You would recognize him anywhere. And oh, even with all the time they've been apart, you feel your chest flutter when you see that face again.
"Hey, Nero. It sure has been a while." You can't help but smile, just a little bit. "Did you have fun going clean and washing your hands of the bandit gang while I was stuck in jail?"
Clearly it's not the best way to say hello, because Nero's mood instantly turns sour. "......This has nothing to do with you."
You can't help but laugh at that reaction. Same old Nero. You remember getting on his nerves so many times in the past, only for him to get sullen in return. But somehow, those memories are fond to you. Like a treasure wrapped away in newspaper to keep it safe, those memories are held tightly in your heart. You had thought that 100 years apart would dull your feelings, but they ring as true as they did the last time you saw him. There's no mistaking the warmth and affection you feel for this man.
And then you notice something. "That crest! So you were chosen too, Nero!"
This is amazing. Now you have something to look forward to with this "Sage's wizard" business.
-----
[Okay actually that's a pretty nice memory, Bradley can live with that one being shared.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-20 02:16 am (UTC)You've been on the brink of death and somehow Bradley brought you back from the ledge. There's really something about him that makes his commands impossible to ignore. You're laying in bed, trying to heal from injuries that certainly would've taken your life if Bradley had arrived any later. It's guilt that keeps you alive, the specters of their past, and the weight of what you've done to people you could've called family.
Bradley's the person who deserves to take your life, after all the ways you've betrayed him and hurt him.
"Let's do it right now. You wanna deal with me, don't you? I get it. You've more than got the right to turn me to stone."
Bradley's silent, and even after all this time you can't quite read his face. For as expressive as he is, he knows how to keep his feelings hidden when he wants to.
"But... Can you wait until the Great Calamity hits? Once we're done beatin' it back, you can turn me to stone with your own hands." Finally... Finally you'll stop having to exist and bear the weight of all those lives lost, all the time Bradley's been locked away. You'll finally be a stone, and you'll have worth.
Bradley, doesn't believe you, and why should he? "You love sayin' whatever you want. But y'know what, Nero? You already ran away from me once. What makes you think I can trust what you say."
You're so tired. Living like this- despite what you said to Faust, you don't have all that much to live for. The least you can do is die to the person who deserves to kill you the most.
"I promise." With all the weight that entails of a wizard. You'll lose all your magic if you dare to run away this time. It's almost the same thing as being dead.
It's worth it to make Bradley believe you.
There's no reason to run anymore. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-20 02:38 am (UTC)Quietly, Bradley finally says something:]
Why do you keep punishin' yourself like this?
[Nero can't claim ignorance anymore, he saw how Bradley feels about everything. He doesn't blame Nero for what happens, and he doesn't understand why Nero still blames himself.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-20 02:47 am (UTC)[ It's not just about Bradley. It's about all the other bandits that he turned to stone through one action.
He knew that the only thing keeping them all bound together was Bradley, and he still turned tail. He still betrayed him. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-20 02:55 am (UTC)[His heart feels like it's going to rip right out of his chest. This would be so much easier if he wasn't in love with this stupid Eastern wizard.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-20 02:14 pm (UTC)I'll let you kill me when the time comes. You already knew that.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-20 03:28 pm (UTC)[He steps forward to place his hands on Nero's shoulders.]
But you promised to not run away, and that means your life is mine. So until that day when I decide to kill ya, you're gonna live the best fucking life you can.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-21 02:14 pm (UTC)[You can lead an East to a good life, but god can you not make them live it.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-21 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-22 12:29 am (UTC)That's how it is.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-22 03:33 am (UTC)But when we get home from this, we're gonna start livin'. You and I, together. You're gonna live a good life, and then you'll be able to die satisfied.
[Nero promised to not run away, so no running away from this. He has to stay, or lose his magic.]
's what you gotta do, to make it up to everyone. Live well, because they couldn't.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-22 03:43 am (UTC)Nero's finally getting his peace. ]
You'll kill me once everything's finished?
[ He doesn't need Bradley to promise him in return, but he wants him to at least say it. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-22 03:54 am (UTC)[He's agreeing to this now, but he's hoping that, in time, Nero will find reasons to live.]
no subject
Date: 2024-03-22 03:59 am (UTC)There's a small sigh, the slightest bit of relief- Nero drops his head on Bradley's shoulder.
It might not be anytime soon, but Bradley deserves to kill him. ]