jigokulogs | (no subject)

[ Mumble mumble grumble,] Why is it death threats? Why can't people threaten to break my damn nose or arm first before saying they'll kill me, getting real sick of... [ Mumble mumble grumble, ]

[ But eventually he just sighs once he's got that out of his system. ]

I'm not gonna tell anyone else, but... [ He vaguely gestures at both Bradley and Nero. ] What exactly is...going on, I guess? [ Because you don't need maxed out social stats to see that only one of them is particularly invested in trying to hide this...relationship? ]

[ "nero's my right-hand man, the smartest guy i know, the best second-in-command a thief boss could ever ask for, the best damn cook in the entire world, the only one that trusts me enough to take my power-up bullets straight at the chest, the only person i'd rather be with, the best lay you could ever ask for, the one with the best smile, the scariest motherfucker ever, the one i'd do anything for, the only one who could ever get me to work a job, the best kisser, the one whose praise i care about above all, the most important person in my life, the one i lo--"

he looks excited for a second, then, deflates, clicking his tongue.

he can't say any of that because nero doesn't want him to. ]

...Yeah, Nero. What is going on?

Edited (missed the d (haha)) 2022-09-28 19:40 (UTC)

[ "Bradley was my former boss, the person I owe my life to, the person I trust more than anyone else, the person who's safety I would do anything to protect, the person who makes me sick with worry, the person I have betrayed so deeply and so personally I don't think I can ever be forgiven, why won't he kill me?"

What he actually says is, ]

Nothing you need to worry about. He's somebody I know from home.

[ So what Lark actually gets from all this is that the answer is complicated. He just needs to look at the way they're reacting. ]

...I kind of already figured all the wizards know each other.

Back home, we don't know all the wizards that exist. But there's four of us per country that were chosen to fight something, so we know each other. Nero and I go way back before then, though.

[ yeah he said it, nero!! our child deserves to know!! it's this or brand yourself as someone that just kisses his employees, so, you're welcome. ]

So yeah, we have history. I don't think it matters if anyone here knows, but this dumbass is a ball of anxiety and everything bothers him for no reason. It's fucking annoying.

Shut up.

[Delivered with a whack of his hand against Bradley's arm. It's not that hard, as he sighs and resigns himself to talking about himself. Just a little bit.]

That's all true. I don't like people knowing stuff about me.

The moon, right? [ Thanks, Cain. ] And all the wizards who are in this city know each other.

...I see. If you really don't want anyone else to know, then I promise I won't tell anyone else, Mr. Nero.

[ wow imagine saying "i promise" like it's nothing. fuck you kid, flexing like that.

it does break his heart a little that lark is willing to listen to nero, though. he knows it's not the kid's fault, but he sort of wanted someone that would spread the bradnero gospel around.

if anything, there's something he does have to ask lark, though. ]

...Hey, kid. Are the people you're stayin' with treatin' you right?

[ are they feeding you???????????? ]

["I promise" has always held so much more weight to a wizard than anyone else. It also doesn't mean nearly as much from somebody who isn't a wizard, but he'll accept this. For now.

Realistically there's not that much of a problem if people here know they're involved. The problem is what if they remember it when they go home?]

You do look a bit skinny. [Your arms!] Ask me for a meal to take home if you need one.

[ When the person saying it has absolutely no idea what a promise means to a wizard...

...And then they're fussing over him now? Huh? Huh??? ]

They're treating me perfectly fine, and I'm eating fine too. ...In fact I usually end up making dinner if I'm not working the evening shift...

[ oh?? this kid cooks???? ]

Yeah? You can cook?

[ he wraps an arm around lark's shoulders, lowering to his level! ]

Do you think you could cook better than Nero? I'll give you a hint: nobody can! But hey, if you know how to make fried chicken, I'll try it out.

He works here as a cook, y'know. I've been teaching him my recipes.

[Actually, maybe Brad doesn't know since he takes the deliveries out and only hangs around after and before work.]

[ Skylark would not be surprised if Brad didn't know he was a cook, he's only seen him around occasionally himself. He has resigned himself to Bradley just doing this to him, he guesses. ]

I mean...I don't think I could ever beat Mr. Nero in terms of experience, but I can try to make fried chicken for you if you really want some...? And Mr. Nero's a good teacher.

[ gasps... FRIED CHICKEN!!!! and also he called nero a good teacher!?

brad grins, letting go of lark and wraps an arm around nero's shoulders instead! ]

You hear that, boss? You're a good teacher! [ you could overtake faust and teach the eastern babies magic and crime 101 instead! ] Your underling here definitely respects you, so how 'bout it? Think you could teach him how to make fried chicken just like yours!?

Only when it comes to this sorta stuff. [ And thievery. He can't be a good magic teacher, he just zones out of every single lecture. Please understand Nero is very lazy sometimes. ]

We were moving into the entrees. Fried chicken isn't gonna go away. You ready to learn tomorrow?

[ Skylark just...watches the two of them, and even putting aside the incident that started this whole mess, they act so familiar with each other that Lark has to wonder a few things. Something to file away for later. ]

Of course. [ He wouldn't take this job if he wasn't ready to learn! ] Though, uh...Mr. Bradley, why do you make this sound like a gang?

[ while nero's talking, all through while skylark is talking as well, brad has been annoyingly pressing his head against nero's, giddy as can be. not since their gang days has he been able to be this open with skinship towards nero in front of other people. purr purr goes the feral cat. ]

I told ya, I'm the boss of a deadly [ forcefully disbanded ] gang. If I'm working for Nero, that makes him my boss during the day, which makes us both his underlings.

[ but only during the day :) ]

[ He would normally be pushing Brad away, because this makes it very obvious that something is going on between them. But Lark caught them making out, so it's not like this is worse, even if his face is slowly starting to heat up. ]

The restaurant isn't part of a gang, it just a normal restaurant.

[ ...Why does this scene seem familiar...

(It's not like Crane didn't sometimes drape on him like some kind of feral cat when they're alone, her head against his shoulder, or he held her hand when they were out and about together, or he came home to find that she'd already claim his hammock so all he could do is squeeze in with her and they'd snuggle up—

Hm. Let's put this thought aside. Pursuing it any further feels dangerous. Even smack his own face a little bit so he focuses. ) ]

Oh, is that why you told me to call you Boss? [ He means Bradley. Sir why did you threaten him to basically join your gang in the first conversation. ] And...well, Mr Nero is my boss, but I wouldn't call him toa-kor.

Edited 2022-09-29 06:54 (UTC)

[ still rubbing his face on nero, arm wrapped around his shoulder. ]

Toa what?

[Okay, that is enough of this. Now it's just embarrassing. He'll take a small step away. Stop that.]

What did you say?

[ Oh, he just used that without thinking and forgot most people here probably wouldn't understand it. Shit.

(He feels a little sorry for Nero if only because it's obvious he finds it embarrassing.) ]

Toa-kor. It's what we call bosses in a gang where I'm from. Uhm...kind of like how some people in Shuten call the higher-ups "aniki", I guess?

[ no more nero time 8(

but he listens to lark, crossing his arms. ]

If it's something like that for you, you can call Nero that.

No. You can just call me boss. I'm not running a gang.

[Despite Bradley's insistence.]

I already said I wouldn't.

[ This isn't a gang, ]