[h3][u][color=D8BFD8]Nero -=- Outside Phoenix Wing[/color][/u][/h3]


While Ayame stood, considering, Nero was only too happy to explain more about the Law of Manifestation to Ariel.  His left eye, the one beneath the lens still intact, blinked open for a second, swept across her charming features, and then closed once again.  Now in his element, one where he was given attention, the dark mage's smile was full of warmth, and now he fixed it on Ariel.  [color=D8BFD8]“My spell effectively takes something from you, something that normally can't be touched.  When an aspect is converted into an object, it no longer influences the person's behavior.  Did you see the shapeshifter's shadow vanish when I cast the Law?  Well, it works with other things.  If you were to let me remove, oh, your Fear of Spiders, say, then I'd have a little ball made of spiders or something and you would no longer be afraid!  If...and I'm just spitballin' here...you were to find a super-sweet dude who wanted nothing more than to make you into the happiest girl in the world, but were too shy to own up to it, I could remove your Restraint, we'd get a little bronze collar or something and you'd be able to confess to the love of your life!  Isn't it wonderful?”[/color]

Joy raced through Nero as Ayame then volunteered for a test.  Not only did he have another guinea pig to hone his new spell on, but she had also proved his theory about preference for self-reliance!  The words [i]'alright, now what would you like me to get rid of?'[/i] were on the tip of his tongue when Jamie cut in.  No amount of water could have more suddenly extinguished Nero's fire.  As he listened to Jamie, his hands slipped into his pockets, and his wide smile dimmed to a dry grin, not showing any teeth.  The instant that the guild master's furious tirade was over marked the start of Nero's own.

[color=D8BFD8]“Maybe someone's having a bad memory day.  I very much know 'qhat' I'm doing, and I just proved it.  I'm no psychotherapist, but it sounds to me like you're arguing with yourself.  What a silly thing to do!  Demand, appeal to courage, appeal to laziness, and top it off with a tasty frosting of 'doesn't mean I don't think you can look after yourself'.  You know, I don't have a home either, or a lot of money, or food all the time, but I didn't come begging for any of that and you didn't offer any of it.  Little dearie here and I are peas in a pod—we want to figure our deal out for ourselves!  That is how people become stronger!”[/color]  Now Nero's smile was returning, though it hardly seemed like a fool's dopey grin this time.  [color=D8BFD8]“People thinkin' they know what's best for other people is rotten.  Your attitude's rough enough to wear down even the sunniest disposition, you know that?  I wish I had a spell to help my own power of persuasion, but all I have is rockin' stripy shorts, so here's the deal: I'd love it if dearie wants to be my friend.”[/color]  Nero took a few steps back.  Between him and Jamie now stood Ariel and Ayame both.  [color=D8BFD8]“You can't tell dearie or me what to do, boss, we're not in your guild.  Hell, I bet I've still got Strychnine marks on me somewhere.  Two people here can tell the coppers that what I'm doing is harmless, so you can't force me like [i]'oh, evil dark mage, cursing people, imma get 'im'[/i].”[/color]  His hands rose, palms to the sky, to signal that no evidence against him could be found in all the heavens.  [color=D8BFD8]“Innocent 'til proven guilty.  So, girls, anyone wanna take a chance and walk with me?”[/color]