the_campus | 001: Rooftop Refugee

[Nero, like most others, was not happy to be here. Upon finding the dorms a few days ago and realizing that they lacked any real sense of privacy, he took it upon himself to use his Devil Bringer to haul a mattress and sheets up to the roof. Nero tucked this bed away in a corner behind one of the entrances to the roof and decidedly called this his temporary "room".

"Home" wasn't a word he'd allow himself to use, but it was here he retreated after the last few fights he'd been in and here that he sat curled up in the sheets thinking of Kyrie back home.

It was pathetic, when he thought about it, but he'd already gone through the whole building. Even his Devil Bringer failed to break down the walls, and there was some sort of invisible barrier keeping him from simply leaping off the roof.

So as Nero lays on his side on the bare mattress, he stared intently at his Devil Bringer. There was a sick churn in his gut as he wondered that maybe this was for the better. After all, if Kyrie and the rest of the Order found out about his arm...they'd likely exile him. Dealing with this place was better than dealing with the pain of what might happen if he went back home, but that didn't mean he didn't want to try...for Kyrie.

Or maybe just himself.]

((ooc: so basically Nero is sulking, oh no! made this post because I have some thread plans, but anybody is free to find him and tag o/ ))

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[Furrowing her brow.] ...I'm just trying to get to know you....

[And you're not exactly making it easy.] I think it's nice.

~~[Also it's reassuring to know that you really are capable of caring about other people]~~

[Nero grimaces and then turns to walk back towards his bed.]

Well who said I wanted to share? And what's nice? Is this your idea of nice? [He holds up his arm to make a point, fingers tense and emphasizing their claw-like nature.]

Because it sure as hell isn't mine. [He throws his arm back down.]

Well I... I think sharing is how you make friends after all...

[Pyrrha goes to follow him as he walks off.]

[Hesitantly, Pyrrha tries again.] ...Does she know about it..?

-What you are, I mean?

I'm not here to make friends.

[Nero keeps walking, hoping that maybe Pyrrha will get the message and stop following him. After all, he hadn't agreed to be her friend. It was weird to even ask in the first place!]

... [Her next question makes him stop dead in his tracks, his Devil Bringer balling up into a tight fist.]

No. [He reaches his mattress and heavily drops down to take a seat, back still turned to Pyrrha.]

[Pyrrha frowns slightly; getting increasingly tired of being blown off. He's really not the easiest person to like... But still, she is determined.]

[The girl follows; sitting down next to the mattress. She continues to speak, even despite his back being to her.]

Don't you think... making friends could help make things a little less... lonely, for you?

I know that you may not like me very much, but... I am one of few people who actually knows how you feel in this building. Doesn't that count for anything...?

[Nero hears her sit nearby and shakes his head, teeth grinding. She just didn't give up, did she?]

I don't need friends. [He turns to her now, sneering, both his hands placed flat on the mattress.]

I just need to get out of here. I don't need your sympathy, got it?!

[She may have been right, but Nero wasn't ready to admit it. Not to her, and not to himself.]

[Pyrrha looks down at her lap now; furrowing her brow and idly playing with the lace trim of her skirt.] I'm sorry... I've already decided.

[She'll admit; these constant rejections don't exactly make her feel very good. Usually the rejections in themselves would be enough to completely dishearten the young woman to the point of feeling depressed. But... in an odd way- the fact that she doesn't care as much about what Nero thinks of her anymore does help to quell her worries. She'd like it if Nero could like her back... But she'll take his begrudging acceptance at least, even if that's all she will ever get out of this relationship.]

I can't help you leave, but... maybe... I can help you feel a little less miserable while you're here?

...And even if I can't... [Pyrrha lifts her head to return his stare now.] I'll be here for you, from now on.

[Nero's taken aback by her words, knitting his brow and suddenly, almost bashfully turning his face away from her.

Why the hell would she say something like that to him? She barely even knew him!

And yet, as much as Nero tried to resist, he couldn't entirely ignore the warm, almost painful sensation in his chest that her words caused. It wasn't just the kindness in them, but the fact he'd never, never had somebody say something like that to him. Not when he was like this, with this arm of his completely out in the open.]

[Nero has nothing to say to her save for silent acceptance.]

....

[Pyrrha listens for another biting response... But when one isn't offered, the girl quietly exhales in relief. Okay. Silence is... progress, at least? It's better than the outright rudeness she was getting before.]

[-No, she doesn't blame him for still being angry. After all, she HAD impaled him before. And in all honesty, she herself is still a bit scared of Nero- especially after their fierce battle. But... now that they've gone through possibly the worst encounter you could possibly have with someone- things can only improve from here on.... Right?]

Right. [Now content, Pyrrha settles in; remaining at Nero's side as she looks out across the roof. She decides to remain for the moment; staying nearby regardless of whether decides to speak further or simply ignore her presence.]

[Nero was not nearly as fortunate. He was feeling far from content--"conflicted" was a better word for it as he wrestls with his thoughts towards Pyrrha and the conversation they just had.]

[He eventually decides to ignore her, once again turning his back to her as he stares down with loathing at his Devil Bringer.

After a few minutes he wills out his phantom arm, stretching it several feet above his head. The blue glow from both his Devil Bringer and its projection were enough to give an eerie cast to the roof around them.

Nero held his hand there, wondering if maybe Pyrrha would get frightened and leave.]

[No, actually, it doesn't bother her at all.]

[-Mostly because she's too asleep to notice. Maybe it was the slight relief of being able to finally deal with the nagging guilt and tenseness that had been plaguing her for the last few days, which caused her to finally feel relaxed enough to get some sleep... But whatever the case may be, she has had much restlessness recently- which caused her to grow much more weary than she had even realized.]

[But she's certainly in a deep sleep now; her body curled up as she lays upon the cold floor of the roof.]

[When Nero doesn't hear anything from Pyrrha for awhile he chances a glance back at her...only to see she had fallen asleep.

A small frown tugs at his lips. Did she seriously fall asleep that fast? And around him? He really didn't understand this girl.]

[As an added bonus, she was sleeping on the floor. Nero couldn't just leave her like that, so he turned around and knelt down to gently pick her up in his arms. He carefully sets her down on the mattress and then haphazardly covers her body with his blanket.

Getting to his feet again, Nero grumbles and heads for the exit.]

001: Rooftop Refugee

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