closed

[perfectdistance]

Who ⬤ Bradley and Nero
What ⬤ Bottom's Up
When ⬤ Training days, pre bombing
Where ⬤ City of Rain
Content Warnings ⬤ Sexual content


[ It's been a long day of training, but he does have a few weapons, seals and talismans to his person now. He can't say if he's going to actually use them, but sometimes it's better to have and not need than to need them and not have them about.

He's in the middle of closing up City of Rain for the night, yawning. Everything's coming to ahead and he can't really do anything about the stress of it all. ]

Comments

[potensum]

[ bradley, now being a normal upstanding citizen with a job thanks to nero, bought one of those little "drink supplements" the tamamo were selling - one that promises to help you relax 100% no joke you will be so well-rested!!!!! or something like that.

the problem is bradley took the wrong one by mistake and was confused by the knowing look the salesperson gave him. anyway.......

he comes back to visit nero as usual, to make sure everything's in order. he sees him about to close shop and waves at him from the street. ]

Hey. Heading home?

[perfectdistance]

[ Who knows what's up with those bottles, the manufacturing was a rush job. Even if it was marketed as stress relief it could've been "stress relief" instead.

There's the final click of the lock as Nero pulls away from the shop front. ]

Yeah. What about you? Ready to head home?

[ He wonders where Brad is living now, but it doesn't seem like the type of thing he could ask about. Not without opening himself up to the same sort of prying. ]

[potensum]

I was gonna walk you home.

[perfectdistance]

[ The longest pause. ]

You're not.

[potensum]

Worth a shot!

[ wraps an arm around his shoulder, lifts his other hand carrying a small plastic bag. ]

I got you something. It's some sort of drink that's supposed to take away your anxiety for awhile.

[perfectdistance]

[ It's late enough at night that he doesn't immediately shove his arm off. ]

Where'd you get that from?

[ Sounds like a potion to him. ]

[potensum]

Some store. You're always stressed, so I had to get it for you.

[ your husband cares u... ]

[perfectdistance]

[ It's actually kind of sweet that Bradley pays that much attention to him. ]

Thanks. Don't think I've ever seen you stressed.

[ What's it like living life that way? ]

[potensum]

What's there to be stressed about? If anything nasty comes my way, I'll just have to take care of it.

[ he dangles the bag a little. ]

You're supposed to mix it with something else 'cause it has no flavor. Do you wanna take it home? Wanna go grab a drink, first? Or maybe just go back in and chug it quickly?

[perfectdistance]

It's that simple for you. [ He's pretty sure Bradley doesn't have his magic back. Or his gun, but it shouldn't be too hard to find something like it in hell. ]

Let's get a drink.

[ He's keeping his apartment free of everybody for the time being, thank you. If he falls asleep at a bar, oh well. The Tamamo establishments usually have back rooms for rent. ]

[potensum]

[ oh he's beaming!! ]

Yeah! I knew you'd say that! There's lots of bars around here, huh? None as good as— [ ........... ] ...the ones back home, but, they're pretty good!

[perfectdistance]

[ Bradley is so cute when he smiles other that. Though Nero's sure he'd be insisting on being called cool.

He'll politely not point out that odd pause. ]

Been trying the different bars? Why don't you pick one.

[potensum]

Yeah, sometimes during deliveries I need a drink or two, so I got to know the area.

[ yes he drinks during work. it's fine, he doesn't get drunk. ]

There's one at the corner of the block that has good hard stuff, but they also serve some food. Not nearly as good as yours, but that means they must serve normal stuff, too.

[ so you can mix the potion with it! ]

[perfectdistance]

[ He knows Bradley can handle his liquor, and it's the only reason he doesn't start chewing him out. Unprofessional! ]

Are you eating on the job too?

[ He makes that popcorn chicken special, just so Bradley doesn't go chowing down on somebody else's order. ]

Let's check it out.

[ He'll allow Bradley to lead him to the bar. ]

[potensum]

I can't help it, I run out of chicken by the first hour!

[ and if he's not supposed to eat the food he's delivering then what choice does he have??? also he's just a glutton so if he sees food he will eat it (then complain it's not good enough).

he'll bring him to the bar he mentioned - gaudy but not classy, low-lit with only a few patrons sitting on some of its tables. it has some nice private booths on the corners, and that's where bradley points nero to. ]

You should go sit. I'll get us our drinks.

[perfectdistance]

How do you even manage to eat this much? [ Where is it all going? A real mystery for the ages.

It's not the kind of bar Nero would choose to go to, but it's definitely something in Bradley's style. He can't really be surprised about anything in here.

So he'll take up one of the smaller booths and wait for Bradley to come back. ]

[potensum]

[ he comes back soon enough with their drinks, something hard for himself, and a virgin cocktail for nero. not because he thinks nero can't drink, but because he doesn't want him to get drunk. it's a work night! and nero cares about that shit or something. ]

Here.

[ he sits down, places the drinks on the table, then takes out the potion and hands it to nero. ]

You gotta pour the whole thing in, the shopkeep said.

[perfectdistance]

[ He looks at the potion for a moment. If nothing else, he does trust Bradley to make some kind of effort.

So he dumps it all in at once. ]

Do I need to chug this?

[ That feels like a wasted drink. ]

[potensum]

I don't think so, but you gotta drink the whole thing for it to work, I think.

[ listen he didn't ask too many questions... ]

[perfectdistance]

[ He can guess Bradley didn't think about it that hard when he bought it. So he'll take his first sip of the stuff. ]

[potensum]

Hey!

[ he stops him, lifting his own drink. you didn't say cheers! ]

[perfectdistance]

[ That draws out a laugh from him despite everything that's been happening so far. His glass gets lightly clinking his glass against Brad's. ]

Cheers.

[potensum]

Cheers!

[ okay, happy again. he takes a big gulp of his drink cheerfully. ]

It's not the worst I've had, I guess.

[perfectdistance]

[ Nero only takes small, measured sips. No reason to rush it all down now. ]

You're so picky.

[ Bradley's tastes are always so expensive. Good think he steals most of it, or he'd be bankrupt. ]

[potensum]

You can't talk when you judge everything you eat that you didn't cook.