[center][color=d8bfd8][h3]Nero the Genie – Phoenix Wing Stands[/h3][/color]
[@Prince of Seraphs][@cirusarvennicus][@t2wave][/center]

Nero’s smile turned quizzical, teetering on the edge of derisive, as Trinity attempted to set him straight on something he’d apparently understood.  [color=d8bfd8]”Uh, what?  Runnin’ a little low on sense in there?  That’s nonsense.  A ‘soul’ is somethin’ invented by religious types to convince people to do stuff that doesn’t really help ‘em in life.  I’ve looked long and hard at all these stories of other worlds, dearie, and there’s nothin’ out there.  There’s two parts to a person: body and mind.  If some crazy spell stuck someone’s mind in someone else, or made ‘em wacko enough to think so, then that’s all there is to it.”[/color]  He crossed his arms, unaware that Elizabeth had started to move toward him.  

[color=d8bfd8]”I do actual miracles that you can see and touch, dearie,”[/color] he continued.  [color=d8bfd8]”If you want this friend of yours fixed, I’ll do it no problem.  If you wanna talk about souls, go to church.  A lotta people go their entire lives askin’ someone to make their wishes come true.  That’s not what religion’s a..[i]nagghh![/i]”[/color]

A five-fingered bludgeon careened into his face.  Instantly his glasses flew off, mercifully soaring clear of his skin rather than shattering and leaving bloody gashes across his features for the second time in two days.  Even as he cried out in pain, a curse soaked instantly through Elizabeth’s flesh, and around her the world started to get bigger.  Nero stumbled backward, off-balance, and barely managed to keep from falling into the laps of two surprised spectators in the seat below before his assailant advanced.  With her nails, the insane woman scratched red lines into his cheeks, but she did not get far.  With a frustrating swiftness, she found the face of the dark mage rising higher and higher beyond her reach.  Holding his face with both hands, Nero cracked open a slit between two fingers to glare balefully at the shrinking woman and spit out, [color=d8bfd8] “You vile bitch!  Why, I oughta--!  I oughta--!”[/color]  His breathing came fast and furious, but at the height of his rage it began to sputter out.  

He pushed his way out into the aisle and leaned on the center railing, gingerly bringing his hand away from his face.  The lack of blood calmed his nerves somewhat.  When he whirled around, a girl of five years stood where Elizabeth had moments ago.  [color=d8bfd8]”Well.  That wasn’t very nice.  I really, really want to hurt you, but I bet I’d regret if in a few minutes, even if it did end with a nice, painful death.  So enjoy your magic repression, you little twa...twerp.  Jeez!”[/color]  He cast an angry glance at Ariel and Trinity.  With a smile on his face, the Genie, though rather odd-looking, managed a certain charm, but in rare times of anger, when his black eyes were wide open, he was unsightly to behold.