[center][h3][color=D8BFD8]Nero – Guild Hall[/color][/h3][/center]

[color=D8BFD8]“Guhk!”[/color]

Nero gargled, the result of a gasp in surprise uttered halfway through a chuckle.  Be it over-dramatization or real shock, he stood paralyzed for a second, affixed by the twin infernos searing within Ariel's eyes.  Though unversed in the ways of young love, Nero was pretty sure that none of the star-crossed loves in the stories began with a death glare—at least, not one harsh enough to liquify ice.  Hearing her request only deepened his disillusionment, and in the moments after Nero had to try especially hard to keep a straight face.  He gave sharp sigh, just shy of a grunt, and breathed in deeply.  

He had been foolish, foolish to think that there might be someone out there who'd have an interest for him.  Though he had mentioned his looks to Trinity earlier as a self-detrimental joke, the words rang with a cutting truth, one only dulled through laughter.  Nobody could look at him and see anything but a creep, and nobody would look at him if he didn't command their attention with his powers.  This was why, Nero reflected, he preferred dealing with children.  Aside from having easier wishes -to be taller, to be skinnier, to be better at magic for an upcoming stunt- they also tended to appreciate him more.  Ayame brought out genuine joy in Nero by treating him with wonder; adults tended to treat him with disdain, even after receiving wishes.  This was, Nero supposed, the fate of a dark mage.  [i]Oh well.[/i]  If Ariel wanted to think of him as a monster, he might as well play the part.

Nero crossed his arms, his smile baring all of his teeth.  [color=D8BFD8]“Tehee, I would like nothing better to try it!  Thing is, Jamie kinda had a point.  My magic's a lot like an orange without a peel...no, a sword without a handle.  It's tough to grasp, and tough to use.  Jamie's shadow was not the first time I tested the Law of Manifestation.  Fourth, actually.  Do you know how hard it is to make something [i]inside[/i] you appear [i]outside[/i] you?  Pretty tough!  And it gets harder the more complicated the thingie is.  On my second test I stepped a little too far—tried to manifest a dude's courage.  Turns out courage is a bright red, cloth headband.  Who knew?”[/color]  Nero laughed through his teeth.  [color=D8BFD8]“Point is, that weak part of you probably represents a lot.  If you cut a hundred things in half, you get fifty and fifty, if my Strychnine arithmetic serves me right, heehee.  What's everything fire isn't?  Supportive, trustworthy, intelligent, tactful...get the point?  If you still want me to grant your wish, I'll do it but you've gotta get outta this guild for a minute.  Jamie would try to stop me, the idealist.”[/color]  Though on the brink of telling Ariel that trying to remove half of her personality would probably obliterate both halves, Nero bit his tongue.  A genie seldom told people that his magic wasn't the answer they were looking for; that was something that wishers had to learn afterward.  All wishes came with a price, whether Nero meant them to or not.  The price for clothes had been the shape of a soul.  The price for humiliating your foes was humiliation.  The price for giving up so much of oneself was one's life, should the magic fail.  These memories ran through Nero's mind.  [i]It's not about good or evil.  Each action has an equal and opposite reaction.  It's that easy.[/i]