Open/Closed Prompts

[perfectdistance]

Who ⬤ Nero and you
What ⬤ Open and closed starters
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Various
Content Warnings ⬤ Sex in at least one thread


I. Substory #3 Drifter Grifter

[He looks tiredly at the list of crimes of this grifter and for a moment he wonders if Bradley's out there stealing again? He's probably stealing, but is this specifically Bradley or just some idiot he doesn't have to care about?]

Okay, so what did this guy look like? Did he even have any information or was he just dining and dashing?

[Are there, for some reason, giant windows in your bathrooms? How is this guy getting out so easily?]

II. City of Rain, before hours
[Now more than Ever Nero's grateful to have his shop. An oasis of calm in the middle of the din of Jigokuchou. Of course, the quiet rule doesn't come into effect until the shop actually opens. Sometimes it is nice to be able to talk to his employees without having to write everything down on paper.

He has been cooking a little earlier than usual, but that might be because of the new hire. Bradley? Just somebody from home. At least it's very normal for Nero not to say much about himself.

He does send out a text to everyone who works there.]

Breakfast on Friday at 10 if you want to come early.

Tell me what you want.

III. Wildcard
[Give me another prompt or contact me via discord or PM.]

Comments

[perfectdistance]

[Oof, so loud.

He points at the dish of carrots and celery.]

That first.

[He is WINNING his arguments today. Or at least the Bradley ones.]

[potensum]

[ he approaches the dish, leaning it to see what's inside. ]

What's this? Food for rabbits? Blegh!

[ he jerks back, immediately lifts the plate and motions to throw the contents on the floor. ]

[perfectdistance]

No egg or chicken if you throw that on the floor.

[He raises up a knife like a threat.]

[potensum]

What!?

[ but FINE! he doesn't throw it away. for now. ]

So no egg if I don't eat it, but no egg and and no chicken if I throw it away?

[perfectdistance]

It's the punishment for making a mess.

[You Big Baby.]

Just eat it so you can have the rest of your meals.

[potensum]

Then maybe I don't want the egg anymore.

[perfectdistance]

How old are you? Six? If you don't eat it now I'll sneak it into the rest of your food.

[potensum]

It's too early for that crap.

Give it to me at dinner, then. I'm gonna hurl if I eat that first thing in the morning.

[perfectdistance]

So you will eat it during dinner? I'm holding you to that.

[potensum]

...

Maybe.

[perfectdistance]

Eat one carrot and one celery right now.

[potensum]

I'll eat them in the evening! I will!

[perfectdistance]

You will? You're not lying to me?

[potensum]

Of course not!

I really am queasy lookin' at them right now! If you chop them up on the sauce or whatever later on I probably won't even notice 'em.

[perfectdistance]

I can't believe you're still a toddler about vegetables.

[Fine he'll take these away, and crack an egg, waiting for it to get crispy around the edges.]

[potensum]

[ oh, he's so happy right now. he walks over to the counter to watch him work, resting his chin on his palm. he doesn't go bother him and steal food this time - only because there's nothing to steal yet, and because… well. he missed watching him cook. ]

…Haha.

[ no context for his laugh whatsoever. ]

[perfectdistance]

You sound happy.

[It can't be because of him, right?

Bradley gets to watch Nero cut a thick slice of bread to put the egg onto now that it's crisped.]

[potensum]

Yeah?

[ fuck yeah. cut that freshly baked bread, nero. just slice it real nice. ]

It's been awhile since I woke up to this smell.

[perfectdistance]

[Delicious "home"made bread, there's really nothing like it.

Nero won't say anything to that. What could he say that wouldn't just be reopening old wounds? Better to let some things lie, leave them alone.

The egg gets gently placed on top of that thick slice, and he hands it over.]

Enjoy.

[potensum]

Looks good! Thanks!

[ perfectly crisp on the edge, perfect shape, evenly spread over the bread... and the taste is the same as always. ]

Oho. So the ingredients here are as good as back home, huh. Or maybe it's all you?

[perfectdistance]

You're welcome.

[Delicious eggy goodness for his former boss.]

Could be both, y'know.

[potensum]

Haha.

This is the only thing you ever talk proudly about.

[perfectdistance]

It's what I'm good at.

[And publicly, the only thing he's good at. You think he's going to go around telling people he loves theft, b&e, and grave robbing?]

[potensum]

It's not all you're good at, though, is it?

[ bradley will never let him forget his true self, not even now. ]

[perfectdistance]

[He huffs and turns away, tenseness returning to his shoulders. That was a past life, and something he has clearly left behind.

Theoretically.

Being proud of his cooking is much less stressful than declaring himself the best thief in the city. And besides, if he ever does want to steal, better to be an unexpected factor.]

Shut up before the kids get here.