[center][h3][color=D8BFD8]Nero the Genie – Dragon Fang Hotel[/color][/h3][/center]

From the start, Nero was dead set on exposing the Time Lord as a fraud or at least an idiot.  In his eyes there was no other option: either the man was deliberately misleading Eve, or he had accidentally harmed her through ignorance of her condition.  Of course, the dark mage had expected the Time Lord to retort with an assault against Nero's character -as people often did when standing atop indefensible positions- but he had not quite expected the other man's response to be so impactful.  The nonsense about genies and conclusions did not affect Nero, given that they were straws reached for to try and demonize him.  What came after, however, caused him to freeze, still smiling.  For a split second before the word 'pretending' sank in, he was indignant and ready to interrupt, as patronizingly and annoyingly as he could.  Then it hit him.  [i]Oh...dear,[/i] he thought, slowly.  [i]He got me.  He figured me out.  I do care about what everyone thinks, a whole lot, but since I don't know how to make them think well up me, I play up being worse than I actually am.  People like to think that their per-judgments are right, after all.  But how did he find out!?  It must be magic![/i]

Nero didn't move as the Time Lord spoke on, soft and menacing.  A bead of sweat began to form on his forehead.  [i]He's got some kind of insight.  There's no way he could have figured it out otherwise.  My facade is too good.  And how does he have knowledge of my doings?  Sure, the Genie's kind of famous, but I've always tried to keep it on the down-low.  This...poltroon is trying to make me out to be some pathetic kid who thinks he's bad because he doesn't know how to be good.  Well, you're in for a rude awakening.”[/i]  For a moment he forgot about Ayame and Eve, and the air began to grow tense with a rising power.  Nothing, however, came of that.  Instead, he fixated on the Time Lord himself, who had turned his back on Nero.  Apparently the egotistical swine was so convinced of his righteousness that he didn't even think Nero could challenge him.  And he was trying to attach himself to Eve!  Nero seethed; he couldn't do anything decisive now that the Time Lord had involved his friends.  [i]He's a cunning dickweed, I'll give him that.[/i]  After hesitating for a moment, Nero reached out with a gloved hand and took hold of the Time Lord's shoulder.  He had hatched a plan.  [color=D8BFD8]”Hey, don't be so quick to push me away.  If you think I'm not a bad man, I'd be overjoyed to prove you wrong.  But with these girls I'm different.  Anyone who doesn't think the worst of me is worth my good side.  It'd be a lie to say I want to cooperate with you, but...maybe we're wrong about each other.  We're actually a lot alike.  Both fugitives from the magic council, both wantin' to help Eve, so on.  And hey, maybe you're her son from the future and not just another guy tryin' to take advantage of someone with issues.  As someone with issues, and who's been taken advantage of, I know the type.  If you'll respect me...maybe you'll be worth it too.”[/color]  

Nero's smile now was slight, barely a curve of the mouth and with no teeth exposed.  A twinge of sadness had affected him, one not originating from his own heart, but the vacuous marble of melancholy in his pouch.  [color=D8BFD8]”Whether we like one another or not, Eve likes us both, and we can't keep hatin' one another with her in the middle.  It'll only cause her problems.  What you need is to wish for a truce.  If you wish it, I will grant it.”[/color]  He held out a gloved hand, presumably to shake.  [color=D8BFD8]"If not...well, you don't want to be the guy who decided to choose petty conflict when it's a [i]dark mage[/i] offerin' compromise, do ya?"[/color]