Call Me Out - 2021

[mizu]

 

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[battling]

[In an AU where Bradley didn't die, he'll brush past Manwol in the dorm rooms, some time on Monday. Not aware yet, about what absolute nonsense this place is going to inflict upon them.

--

It's Bradley and Nero, outside of a castle. They seem to be right below a balcony, so other people can't really view them. Both of them are well aware of where to place themselves so they can't be seen. Centuries of doing just that don't disappear, even if Nero's not in the business anymore, and Bradley's been imprisoned.

It cuts in right in the middle of a conversation. "But there is one thing I want to ask you," Bradley's looking at Nero with his usual confident smile. Just a simple curiosity.

".....What?" Nero looks uncomfortable, despite the fact they're in an open space, he seems to be looking for an escape route.

"Where were you on the night I was captured? If you had been there, I never would've been caught." It's just a question. Curious. Wondering. Bradley had said he would always have Nero's back, all those years and years ago. Surely something must have stopped him. After all, Nero was the one who wanted to meet him there.

"..........." Nero looks like he wants to leave this conversation immediately. He's a child caught in a lie fully expecting a punishment to follow. Something is keeping him rooted to the spot? Is it fear?

"I'm not here to blame you or anything. But I always wanted to know what happened to you. Spit it out, Nero." Bradley's tone is still friendly, warm. He's not even accusatory.

"......I......" Nero's gaze shifts away, even more on edge.

"Ahaha! Hey, what's wrong? Don't look so serious! It's not like I got caught because of you. I just wanna hear the truth." His tone is exactly the same. He wants to fully believe Nero was just... caught up in something else. Surely he wasn't sent to prison because of Nero.

Right?

"..........." Nero cannot summon a single word.

"Nero.......?" Bradley's voice wavers. His expression falls. The silence is as good as confirmation. Nero was the reason he was imprisoned. Nero was the reason the wizards far worse than him used him as a scapegoat.

Good wizards will always stop bad wizards.

What a fucking lie that was, the first time he heard it.

--

Bradley in the present seems shaken.]

[lifeless]

[Honestly, by all accounts, this memory should be one of the tamer ones Manwol's about to see this week. No one is dying, no one is dead. No one is being ripped apart, and no one has to see their family and friends die in front of them.

Even so, something about this memory doesn't hurt any less -- actually, it hurts even more. Is it because she can feel Bradley's feelings? Is it because this is a conversation that seems as dangerous as a battle being fought in some war?

Is it because she knows the feeling of betrayal so well, that she instinctively tries to shy away even now?

Manwol's expression is shaken too, but she pulls herself together -- in that she crosses her arms and tries not to let herself dwell on the miserable tangled ball of shock and fear and crippling realizations that's still lingering over her -- ]

...What did he say?

[Did he even say anything? In the end? She knows people like Nero -- that or she's projecting, shaken by the similarities. either way, Manwol realizes that she does in fact -- want to know. it feels almost desperate.

did he say yes? did he apologize? did bradley leave because he already knew the truth?]

[battling]

[Bradley pulls himself together after a short moment. All this time of avoiding that memory, and it's just being thrown in his face again? It wouldn't be right to say he's made his peace with it.

The sinking realization of Nero betraying him like this, the heavy stone he had to swallow, and decided not to. Bradley can look away, Bradley can pretend Nero had nothing to do with it, if Nero never says anything about that day.

Doesn't it hurt less to ignore it? Pin the blame on some bad luck, and not the person Bradley would do anything for?]

Didn't have time to deal with it.

[And after that why would he ask again? They both know what happened there. But the silence is more comfortable than the truth. When it hurts just... pretend it's not there. That's better.]

Had a whole crisis with a bird and zombies.

Post Chasma

[perfectdistance]

[Directly after coming home from whatever the hell that was, Nero has to deal with Bradley disappearing on him. He's nowhere near the manor at this point, and right now he would be a terrible host in general, slowly fraying from the worry that maybe Bradley won't come back this time.

Eventually it all gets resolved, but it's a couple more days before he settles down, back into his usual routine.]

[greatdeduction]

[THIS IS TERRIBLE MIRA I'M SAD]

[Either way, a friend is coming! The door opens, and someone merrily dances through, spinning, and then posing.]

My dear friend! It is I! The world-renowned great detective, at your door! [And now just walking up.] Long time, no see!

[perfectdistance]

[IT'S FINE BRADLEY IS ALIVE AND WELL.

This is so funny he should've gotten stopped at like the front door by Cock Robin and like a proper formal introduction, I guess there was a portal right outside of the kitchen.

Nero is apparently preparing a whole bunch of snack items? And also... a lot of fried chicken.]

Haha, you been busy?

[greatdeduction]

[Sometimes great detectives appear where they want to. Also, he's leaning over the fried chicken. Hmm!]

But of course. A detective's work is never done. Just as a chef's work is never done too, hm?

[perfectdistance]

[He gently moves him away from the chicken.]

I got 20 somethin' mouths to deal with. There's a lot t' deal with in the kitchen.

[Though this pile of chicken is almost definitely for a specific wizard.]

[greatdeduction]

[chicken :(]

Twenty mouths? Goodness. What are you hosting for, a party of wizards?

[perfectdistance]

A little more than twenty. 's just everybody who lives in the manor.

Stayin' for dinner or what?

[greatdeduction]

I don't see why not! After all, any meal by you is a gift and a half!

[perfectdistance]

[The North wizards are here but that is what the snacks are for. Is that tiramisu? It is. Are there like six of them? Don't worry about it.]

Kay, then wash yer hands and help me get these t' the table.

[greatdeduction]

Very well! Will do.

[And he has to take off his gloves and shove his sleeves up to do so, but he's back after a few minutes. Hands clean!]

How long did it take you to make all this?

[perfectdistance]

Ehh, wasn't that long, had plenty of space to work with.

[It was just an hour or so.]

Thanks.

Adnodus Omnis.

[Nero can absolutely "carry" all of this on his own with magic, except what Sholmes is going to move.

Most of it gets floated over to the dining table.]

Post Chasma

[battling]

[Sometimes Nero's the one who's out and busy and dealing with missions. If Nero's out, then usually Bradley's the one who's in. He's sprawled out on one of his bedrooms three couches (there are absolutely no beds to be seen here).

There are some beautiful rifles, locked away in glass containers, and shelves and shelves of high class booze.

What a nice and calm day he's having, Owen hasn't started shit, he got a nice delicious breakfast. All is well in the world.

Until...?]

[sponsoredby]

[ Until some absolute idiot comes through a window. He was meaning to visit Nero and did happen to get the right place.

Or so he thinks. He pauses and waves with a small grin. ]

Hey?

[battling]

[Bradley stares at Kotetsu for a long moment.

And then squints at the window he just opened.]

The hell d'ya think you're doin'?

[sponsoredby]

[ Don't mind as he temporarily closes that window behind him. Best not leave things open right now. Old habits die hard.

It also seems like Finley has stayed at home, so his tiger companion is not with him! ]

I was coming to visit Nero.

[battling]

He made friends?

[This is not an insult, this is genuine and honest confusion.

Nero has friends he doesn't know about???]

What happened?

[sponsoredby]

[ There's a slow tilt of his head. Hm. ]

He did make friends. Granted, I'm not as close to him as Sholmes is.

[ A pause. ]

Did he not say anything?

[battling]

I dunno how much ya talked to him, but he ain't the talkin' type.

[Nero: I will keep all of my s e c r e t s right here, and then one day I'll die.

Bradley on the other hand,]

C'mon, sit. I wanna hear about it.

[sponsoredby]

[ He will take him up on the offer to sit. ]

I shouldn't tell you too much about what happened to him personally... But I can tell you about the worlds we visited.

Somehow it seems like time didn't pass while we were gone, but it was a two month long ordeal.

/2

[battling]

You drink?

[Because he's definitely floating over some whiskey and at least one glass.]

[battling]

Had the world stop... Huh? What's this world thing about?

[sponsoredby]

[ Getting used to things like this is still a bit strange, but he does take the whiskey and glass with a thanks. ]

Uh. You promise not to lock me up if I sound insane?