Test drive vroom vroom

[selfpreservationist]

You know how it goes. Pick a scenario, reply to the post with the number in the subject line. Ping me at haeralis/dolphinsdontmoo or haeralis#8694 on discord if you have any questions or suggestions.

One. There you are, minding your own business, taking a nice stroll through town, when something catches your eye. At first, nothing seems unusual about him; he's just sitting on a park bench reading a book. The goth look is a little distinct, but other than that there's--oh it's the giant griffin sitting on his shoulder, that's the bit that probably has people staring at him. Well, he doesn't look too bothered about it, at least?

Two. A dark alley, a wrong turn. You can retrace the steps all you want but regardless, you've ended up cornered by a pack of nasty-looking demons, all weird fuzzy pincers and sticky tentacles. There's no way out. Just as you're contemplating your options, a figure appears in the distance. Are they friend or foe?

Three. Distantly, you hear the sound of someone wheezing and gasping for air. Leaning up against the side of a nearby building by the dumpsters is a pale-looking man collapsed on the ground, one hand clutching his cane and the other his chest. He, uh. He doesn't look too good...

Four. You know that scene in Ouran where Haruhi takes Kyouya to get a cheeseburger and he doesn't know what to do with it, this is basically the dirty hobo version of that

Five. Catch-all! YOU WRITE ME A PROMPT FOR A CHANGE.

Comments

Three

[gigadevilbreaker]

[y'know what I'm just making this as an AU where V runs into Nero before Urizen does]

[Fortuna went through some hard times after The Incident. Y'know, with half the city destroyed, tons of people dead and missing, all order breaking down in the now ironically named Order of the Sword. Kyrie had become a beacon of compassion and shelter for people, and by extension, Nero too. Though in a more background role to feeding and tending to the whole community.

There were always people to help, messes to clean up, even now - years after. So when he hears the sound of someone struggling, his instinct is to rush to their aid. Hopefully they wouldn't be too put off by a demonic right hand?]

Hey! You all right?

[selfpreservationist]

[slowly, v lifts his head to see who this newcomer is. another mugger? no, this one looks different, less hostile--and as soon as v realizes that, his eyes shoot immediately to nero's arm. the presence he feels isn't just demonic, although that's obviously a large part of it... there's something else, too. something familiar. despite himself, v feels his shaking hand reaching out for it--

and stops at the last second.]

... I've been better.

[finding that a little hard to believe, no offense or anything murmurs the voice of griffon in his head]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Hm. Well, surely that hand reaching out is 'cause he needs help standing up. The guy has a cane, for god's sake. So Nero offers his left hand, with a good-humoured smirk.]

No kidding. Here-- let's get you on your feet.

[selfpreservationist]

[nero's left hand gives v pause, but just for a moment. he takes it and gets to his feet, his legs giving him a bit of trouble but once he's upright he can lean against the building with nero's help]

Thank you.

[he does mean it, even though he's now staring openly at nero's devil arm]

I'm afraid I have little to give you in return.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Looks him up and down. This guy is thin as a rake, pale as a corpse and barely dressed?]

Yeah, I can tell. No offense.

[But the staring doesn't escape Nero's notice. The people of Fortuna gave him looks for it, even years after The Incident, so he's pretty attuned to the attention his Devil Bringer gets. It tingles in the back of his head, almost confused by the man's presence. It doesn't sense demons, but at the same time, it does??]

...Take a picture, it'll last longer.

[selfpreservationist]

[that quip gets a smirk out of v, who is starting to put the pieces together]

How did you come by such a thing?

[he nods at nero's arm. v's hair, currently a pale white, is starting to darken]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[...Nero takes a step back, on guard. His claw flexes, ready to defend himself even without Red Queen at hand.]

Why, lookin' to get one yourself?

[selfpreservationist]

[v takes no motion to move from where he is, his hair slowly returning to black]

No. It's... one of a kind, after all. I would just be wielding an imitation.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[...Hrmgh. Well, that doesn't put him completely at ease - not with that unfamiliar tingle in the back of his mind, but at least the guy knows he can't take him. Good.]

Riiight. Well, I couldn't tell you how I got it if I tried. Just happened one day.

[selfpreservationist]

I see.

[v has to practically force his eyes off of nero's arm, his own hand tingling]

And you know nothing of its former owner?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Giving this stranger the stinkeye (BUT ALSO GIVING DANTE THE STINKEYE, ALL THE WAY WHEREVER HE IS? THANKS FOR TELLING HIM NEXT TO NOTHING,,)]

You implyin' you know more?

[selfpreservationist]

Not at all.

[v tests his weight on his cane and hobbles a little, but manages to keep himself upright as he starts to slowly walk out of the alley]

It's just a curious thing to come by.

[gigadevilbreaker]

Real knack for the obvious, huh.

[Nero watches him go for a few steps, before his conscience catches up with him - he oughta at least make sure this cryptic weirdo could actually make it to wherever he was going. The guy was unsteady as shit.]

Hey, wait-- where are you going, anyway?

[selfpreservationist]

[it is at this moment that v's stomach lets out a really loud and obvious growl]

... to eat. Do you happen to know of a place to do so?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Ha. His stomach couldn't have timed it better. Nero's shoulders shake with a chuckle, and he jabs his thumb towards the main street.]

Luckily for you, I was headed there myself.

[selfpreservationist]

I shall follow your lead, then.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[All right. Walking at a slower pace than usual to make sure this guy could keep up, Nero makes conversation as they go.]

Soo, what brings you to Fortuna?

[selfpreservationist]

[v walks slowly, but keeps a steady pace]

A wrong turn. I was looking for something... but it seems it's no longer here.

[despite leaning on his cane, v twirls it a couple times while walking]

What brings you to a place like this?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[...Show off. He digs it, though. Nero looks amused, chuckling at this private joke of his.]

Well, it wasn't exactly by choice, lemme tell you that.

[selfpreservationist]

A native? I wouldn't have guessed.

[gigadevilbreaker]

Oh?

[Nero raises a brow, waiting for elaboration. Somehow the mystery goth in an alley could pick up that he'd never fit in here?]

[selfpreservationist]

[i mean, the white hair is kind of a dead giveaway]

You don't seem like the others who live here. For one, you stopped to help me.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[>:(]

Oh. Well, people 'round here tend t'be pretty wary of strangers.

[selfpreservationist]

With good reason. There are strange people about.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Smartass.]

Look who's talking.