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]

Depends on the day. Scrambled or poached are pretty good.

[divisors]

[A light nod, and then a sip of the tea. It's light, and soothing. Like summer.]

....When made you want to get into cooking?

[perfectdistance]

Where I grew up there wasn't a lot of good food. [Whatever food grew in the north wasn't the most delicious, or the easiest to work with.] Made me want to do as much as I could with what I had.

i meant WHAT not when. god

[divisors]

In adversity grows strength.

[That's typically how it is.]

Are you happy? Doing what you do now?

[perfectdistance]

[I got you!]

Yeah. I like cooking for people.

[Nobody has to be close to him, or rely on him for anything important. This is perfect, thank you.]

[divisors]

...

[Awkwardly trying to find out what to say to that. People finding what works for them...]

Good for you.

[perfectdistance]

[Nero just accepts it. There's satisfaction in finding a spot in the world he can fill.]

Thanks.

[Nero will continue prepping for the beginning of actual service.]

[divisors]

[He actually lingers as Nero moves on. Not saying anything, but he sips at his tea in silence, pulling out a pen to start writing on the napkin next to him.]

[Just numbers upon numbers. Equations upon equations. He's lost in thought as he pores over it, before raising his head to look over at Nero.]

What's your name, again?

[perfectdistance]

Nero.

[It's on the app, an on some of the internal rosters. It's not as though that name means too much to anybody here. He assumes.]

[divisors]

The name of a grand emperor of Rome, who supposedly played the violin as his great city burned.

[He says it matter-of-factly.]

A big name for a quiet chef.

[perfectdistance]

[Hey what the fuck is "Rome". An emperor?]

...? This is the first time I've heard about a Rome.

[divisors]

Oh? I suppose people come from worlds that are far from Earth...but it used to be the capital of a grand empire. That empire no longer exists.

[perfectdistance]

Huh... Weird to share a name with somebody like that.

[It would be nice! To be normal! To be a local restaurant npc!]

[divisors]

I suppose so. Ah, but there are worse people to share the same name with. At least its memorable.

[A lift of his cup, like a toast.]

Emperor Nero of the neat little cafe.

[perfectdistance]

[Ack. He hates it.]

I'm not an emperor and I'm not plannin' on anything like it.

[divisors]

Haha.

[He's grinning a little.]

You're really not one for the spotlight, are you?

[perfectdistance]

There's a lotta people who prefer it more than I ever will.

[His ex, for example.]

[divisors]

I get that.

[And a little pause, eyes flitting to the napkin covered in equations.]

Sometimes you have to, though.

[perfectdistance]

I try to lead a life where I don't.

[He sighs a little to himself.]

I know that.

[divisors]

It's...an odd feeling. Stepping into a position like that...

[He sighs.]

So yes. Keep on it, if you know what's good for you.

[perfectdistance]

Sounds like you prefer stayin' in the shadows too.

[He will be attempting to stay out of the spotlight, thank you.]

[divisors]

Well, yes. A spider sits in the center of a web and pulls strings. He's hardly getting to know every little bug out there.

[That's a way to put it!]

[perfectdistance]

[Wow. This guy should talk to Owen.]

Don't hear people referring to themselves as spiders that often.

[divisors]

I'm an arbiter. As what I am, I have to overlook all the deeds of heroes and evildoers alike.

As I am a butterfly, I am also a spider. It's how I work.

[perfectdistance]

[This is so dramatic for right before service at a small restaurant.]

What part makes you a butterfly?