[h3][color=C2B280]Fleo Plector[/color] and [color=D8BFD8]Nero[/color] -=- Guild Hall[/h3]

Jamie's words caused a drastic transformation to take place on Nero, not like those who normally dealt with, but one that struck all the closer to the heart for lack of magic.  His features fell, and while it was a foregone conclusion that his smile would remain, his liver-colored eyebrows adopted an upward slant, making the smile look forced and pained.  He stared at his flier for a minute, stolen for the second time in less than two minutes, projecting that any moment Jamie might rip it in half to consolidate Nero's dismissal.  The dark mage wanted to argue, to defend himself, and above all to curse, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.  A sideways glanced confirmed that Free had put as much distance between himself and Nero as possible.  Nero had hoped that a little time-out would teach Free an important lesson, but it looked like he was as truant as ever.

The sheer hostility in Nolan's tone made Nero instinctively step back.  At this distance, even if he were feeling up to it, he doubted he could rattle off a curse before this guy buried his sword in Nero's guts.  [color=D8BFD8]“I'll, uh,”[/color] he stammered, letting his hands, previously raised up, fall to his sides.  He glanced to see if there was any chance Trinity might stand up for him -which he substantially doubted, given the circumstances- but she was nowhere to be seen.  [color=D8BFD8]“Get..get going then, I guess.”[/color]

[color=C2B280]“Hey, wait a sec.”[/color]

Already halfway out the door, Nero looked over his shoulder.  Indeed, someone was speaking to him, someone without anger written on her face.  The woman crossed the bandages on her arms and tilted her head.  [color=C2B280]“I've never heard of you.  Sure, you look kinda weird, but who around here doesn't?  What would your spell even do anyway?”[/color]

It was like the sun came out from behind a cloud.  Nero grinned widely, winking through his broken glasses. [color=D8BFD8] “Thank you for not immediately dismissing me!  The spell in question is called the Law of Manifestation.  It's designed to take an aspect of someone's personality and mold it into a physical object.  It can be anything from your sense of humor to your, eh, color vision, to your sadness!”  He glanced at Nolan and Jamie, neither of whom seemed very impressed.  He wisely decided to stop talking about the spell.  [color=D8BFD8]“Uh...I needed help because at this level...well, never mind now.  If you guys want to shut me down 'cause of my reputation, that's, uh okay, but you should know, I do try to own up to my mistakes.”[/color]  His voice had turned upbeat again, as if he were giving a fond farewell.  Fleo, it seemed, had given him a second wind.  Nevertheless, he pushed his hand against the door and stepped outside, no longer on guild property.  [color=D8BFD8]“I came here because you guys have a reputation too.  Powerful, volatile, loads of property damage.  Both you lot and I have made some mischief, but have done lots of good stuff too.  We're not so different.   All I want is for people to be happy, really.  I thought ya might understand.”[/color]

After a brief pause Nero continued, speaking at a greatly accelerated pace.  [color=D8BFD8]“Itmight notbe anofficial jobbut myoffer stillstands onewish nostrings letme proveI canbe trusteddon't huntme downand killme pleaseI haveso littleto livefor thanksgoodbye!”[/color]  The dark mage spun around and sprinted off, laughing merrily all the way.

Fleo watched him go, befuddled but not unmoved.  Sure, letting someone test a spell on you seemed like an awful idea, but wizards did that sort of thing in sparring all the time.  At least, they had in her old guild.  With Phoenix Wing, she was not so sure. [color=C2B280] “What a strange person,”[/color] she remarked, wondering if his talk about wishes was true.  And removing a part of someone's?  It sounded laughable.

[color=C2B280]“Anyway, Nolan and I were gonna talk to you about a job, Master Jamie.  It's the Rogue Magician.  We thought that we might get a third person to help us, though.  Would that be okay?”[/color]