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]

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.

[potensum]

[ he wipes his mouth with his thumb, licking away the crumbs of the bread lingering on his skin. ]

I didn't even say anything dirty this time. Besides, don't we have like an hour before anyone gets here?

[perfectdistance]

The kids are coming around ten, so cool it.

[ It's an hour before opening, but not an hour before the other workers might come in. ]

[potensum]

[ ugh. no longer feeling special. ]

...I see. How many underlings do you have?

[ yes, underlings again. ]

[perfectdistance]

[ Rolling his eyes again. Bradley is the only one who always gets breakfast, he can share a little. ]

They're employees. Counting you I have three lost souls.

[potensum]

Are they young kids?

[ as in, real kids, or just anyone under 50? ]

[perfectdistance]

Kate's a teenager. Sabo looks like an adult. Maybe early 20s.

[potensum]

[ so two babies. he squints. he knows nero has a protective streak, too. ]

...Bet you hired them without knowing if they'd be any good at it. You're a nice guy.

[perfectdistance]

[ IS he a nice person? There's something that always makes him feel uncomfortable when people declare that kind of thing about him. They don't know who he really is.

He can't use that with Bradley, but he wonders. ]

Kate was a waiter at a different joint before.

[ Sabo's new so he can't say the same for him. But with City of Rain's set up, there's not too much difficulty. Take the paper, give it to Nero, take the food, give it to the customer. ]

[potensum]

I see.

[ he shoves his empty plate across the table gently with his hand, thinking of the weird array of people he's encountered so far. ]

There's lots of kids here, though, aren't there?

[perfectdistance]

[ The plate is taken away so he can get the dishes washed before anybody actually walks in here for a meal. ]

Yeah. A weird amount, considering where we are.

[ Kids can certainly be terrible, but is getting sent to hell normal? ]

[potensum]

The ones I've encountered so far have good potential.

[ potential for what? it's a mystery. ]

I'm thinking of helping them adjust.

[ says, the newbie. ]

[perfectdistance]

Potential for what?

[ Bradley how many little gang members are you trying to gather right now!! ]

Have you adjusted? You're also new around here.

[potensum]

[ he's going to rebuild the bandit gang just you wait! ]

They're good kids. They'll be pretty cool one day.

[ he... ignores that second question and hopes nero drops it, too. ]

[perfectdistance]

[ No! ]

They are.

[ And then he waits for Brad to answer his second question. ]

[potensum]

Don't look at me like that.

[ he knows he's trying to get him to answer with his eyes! ]

[perfectdistance]

I wouldn't look at you like this if you answered my question.