Depression (Open or Mod)

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Depression. It took a hold of people at funny times though for Lance, it was a common feeling. He believed that if he had finally followed his dreams that he would happy. Though now that he was doing what he wanted it hadn’t been enough. So, he returned to Era with another goal, and though it was going well, he still couldn’t shake this inedible depression that continuously swept over him. Ferd. He was certain that his reappearance was a part of the depression that was setting in that night. His work and cigarettes were not filling his needs. Even the small glass of rum in front of him didn’t seem too be working. It would pass, he was certain. Sighing heavily, Lance bent his head back, gulping the rest of his drink before setting it back onto the table and standing up. He left his note books and paper work on the table he had been sitting as he swung his suit jacket over his shoulders and began to walk down the small path. He had rented a small motel room which to others would be considered rather fancy while to him it was nothing special. It was one large room, with a small bathroom, kitchen and a bed room attached to the sides. It had a small fence around it to keep ones privacy which he did enjoy. It was nothing like the large houses he was use to though. Lance had made it half way down the street from the motel before he finally stopped. He had no idea where he had been planning on walking off to, but the walking had helped a little. Sadly, he now no longer felt like walking and instead found himself leaning up against a lamp post. His dark blue eyes closed, and chin raised as he simply stood there, taking in the foresty air of the city. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]Nero walked through the streets of Evergreen city carrying what appeared to be a larger bag than her normal sack of things. She'd picked up a good number of supplies all through the east that had been in need, but also because of it, she was somewhat out of money now. No matter... Breathing inwards, Nero fished the cellphone out of her pocket and checked over the time and then messages. Lance had yet to give her any sort of assignment which could be both a good and bad thing... Oh well. Keeping her eyes down but her ears open, Nero continued to walk. Turning onto the street Lance was on, Nero looked up idly for a second onloy to catch sight of the man. Ah, so he was still alive then. However, from his expression and the like, Nero wondered if he wanted to truly be disturbed or not. After a moment, she finally decided to take a chance at least for now. Stepping down the street, she walked slowly over towards Lance. "Are you alright?" was the question. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance had not noticed her slow foot steps over the sounds of the city, nor noticed her approaching until she spoke. His eyes slowly flickered opened, head turning towards her for a moment. “A man can try for years to achieve a goal.” He began, not even bothering to answer her question, “Putting his every drop of sweat and piece of hard work into it just have another man come along and achieve the same goal effortlessly.” He complained before letting out a long sigh and raising a hand to his temple. At least by his complain the had indeed answered her question and bit a more. Something was indeed bothering him and the subject was partly obvious even without him explaining what he felt wasn’t fair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be dumping my issue onto you.” He finally shook his head and stood up straight. His dark blue pupils settled on her once more and his hand dropped to his side. “I thought you had business with a noble. Should I presume it‘s settled then?” He remembered during the first and only time they had met, Nero had been waiting to get rid of a pest who had made her life… a tad difficult. Her face had been placed on a wanted poster which could only prove to be a hassle for many reasons. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]At the answer, Nero was simply quiet until she was sure that Lance had finished speaking. Meanwhile, her mind worked over what he was saying. Maybe something in the business world had upset him? It was possible. Nero hadn't been keeping track of the economy. However, she had learned through the years that to press a being would only back them into a corner, and a backed into a corner animal bared fangs. As Lance asked about the stupid noble who had gotten under her skin, Nero's mind flickered over what had happened in the few-- had it already been a week or more? Well then. "Not yet, but I have come to peace for now," she answered back calmly. Indeed, having spent time in Tree-Top Town as well as meeting the--... the twins... or rather meet them face to face fully.. had set Nero's mind at an odd balanced peace. That also reminded her of the date she was going to be keeping, yes. The capital....It was somewhat of a dangerous place for her now, yet Nero cared little of it. "Your mind is not at peace though," Nero stated looking calmly back at Lance. "I was going to the park and going to make some hot green tea... would you like to come?" This thought had only occurred to Nero now, but why not, really? [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance found his eyes dropping the ground as Nero claimed she had come to peace with her issue for now. At least one of them was at peace, though he did wonder how she had done it. He had been certain the noble would have been eliminated by now which for Lance, well, that would have been one less for him to worry about in the future. Not that it matter too much right now. He had at least managed to have one noble family eliminated recently. Or, most of it anyway. Only after the attack on the family did he find out his chosen assassin refused to kill children. That child still lived and posed as another problem on Lance’s plate. Child… perhaps that was why Felis was so fast to forgive Ferd. He was still a child. But that still wasn’t fair. Damn, he was starting to hate children. Lance snapped out of his thought when Nero asked if he would like to join her for tea. For some reason the request felt a bit odd to Lance. The only human’s he had actually sat down to enjoy tea with were women or men he was hoping to do business with. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually sat down with… well… an acquaintance. Perhaps tea would be helpful though. The hard liquor and cigarettes hadn’t worked. It was worth a try. “You‘re right” he finally replied, “It would be greatly appreciated. ” [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]Nero nodded her head slowly and then made an indication for Lance to follow down the street. She had only been in the town a day but knew the streets well enough from previous visits. Though she was walking with someone else now, Nero didn't change her pace in the least. However, she didn't speak either and simply walked waiting for either Lance to say something or for them to get to the park. Turning a corner slowly, Nero watched as the park came into view... all the way down the next street. Simply continuing to walk, Nero said nothing. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] There walk had been pretty quiet most of the way to the park. He had once again fallen into deep though, tossing around his mind from the thoughts of Ferd to the thoughts of the other noble family. As the neared the park Lance finally let out a sigh before speaking a question on his mind. “What is your thoughts on children?” He asked. Though he hadn’t said it directly he had been implying her thoughts on her work involving children. He hadn’t even realized that he had thought the first half of the question was thought in his mind and not said aloud. It was not normal for him, but that was just how lost in thought he was. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]Thoughts on children? Was... he... had he learned that he was a father or something? Was that what the mood was about? No. Nero never jumped to conclusions, and for all she knew, it could be a thought of something completely else or a stray thought even. Nero was silent for a bit as she walked still and thought over an answer. A full minute passed before she came up with what she wanted to say on the matter. "They are beings without understanding," she finally answered back. "But innocent because of it." [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Ah yes, innocent. The exact reason the other assassin hadn’t killed the young girl. Lance knew better than that though. A child may appear innocent but they would grow. Every human being lies as child. Those lies only build on themselves as their innocents leave each and every year they grow. In Lance’s eyes it didn’t matter if you were young or old. A fool was still a fool even when a child. When he wanted a job done, he wanted it completely finished. Not partly finished like Mike had done. “Would you kill a child?” He asked, now realizing that his last question had been misleading. At least this time it had been straight forward leaving no hint to second guess what the question was. What if she said no? He would need to search for yet another assassin. One unafraid of killing even a new born. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]At the question, Nero was quiet but didn't stop walking all the same. "Depends," she finally answered back falling into silence again. Indeed, she had never been ordered to kill a child, but those that had been dragged into rival gangs had been rather young, some even nine years old or less, and she had taken them out for the sole understanding that what they would become in the future was far more dangerous in some fashion than as an adult. She'd spare their remaining innocence by destroying them while they had it. However, out of nowhere, she would not harm a child that posed no threat other than simply existing peacefully in the world and that might become a threat farther down the road. No, she'd let them enjoy their innocence for that was something she didn't have completely as a child. True, her childhood was full of questions and a lack of understanding, yet it was far from innocent in any sort of terms. Her mother had forced her to become an adult and to take on adult responsibilities years before she even understood what exactly her mother was doing. She may have only been nineteen here and now and considered a child but most standards seeing as she was not of the drinking age, yet if faced up against herself in some fashion, Nero would have no problems with trying to take her or maybe him out if given some sort of order on it. "Those that pose themselves as a threat in the present and in the future, I will kill. Those that have no other threat than existing in this world, I will not. I desire reason when killing a child not strict ordered actions for logic rules that area," she finally finished her previous thought explaining what she meant by the simple 'depends' that was so vague she was sure Lance was going to question it if she didn't fully explain. As she said this, Nero's eyes fully rose from where they had been aiming at the slap of sidewalk that was but fourteen inches ahead of her... no... thirteen and three quarters, and she noticed that the park was drawing ever closer in the sight line. However, she didn't seem to deviate from the conversation and kept her voice rather calm. Her mind, meanwhile, was taking in this information that Lance was somewhat spilling from his won words. Ah then, so it probably wasn't his child but maybe a child that had some sort of threat in some form or fashion. However, she couldn't truly asses what sort of threat a child could hold or could already have held unless given information on such a thing. Did she wish to wait and see what he would answer with this or take the question that was now posed on her lips and truly ask it. "Are you asking me to kill a child?" was finally questioned out into the air. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance’s mood didn’t seem to grow any happier with her replies. He’d respect her choice of whether or not she was willing to kill a child or not. Mostly because he knew he had no real way to pressure her into doing so. Yet it did frustrate him still. He had no idea what he girl Mike had left alive was like but he was certain she did not fit under the hopeless category. He also knew his young brother did not fit any that category either. Though he had no reason to kill the boy, his jealousy of him at the moment was surely sending his mind in that direction. In fact, it was probably best Nero said what she said. “No…” Lance finally answered her question, sounding a bit distant as he did, “I just wanted to… get a better understanding of what you’re willing to do for me.” He had no reason to explain his thoughts to her. If anything he felt he may cause her to look down on him. Lance knew very well that many of his thoughts, and my of his feelings were… unacceptable. He knew well enough to remind himself what others might think of him for them. Yet at the same time most of them gave him comfort knowing he could make them come real. Right now he was feeling trapped because he was unsure if he could. He hated that feeling. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]Nero was quiet for a bit as Lance answered and waited till he had finished before answering in turn. "I understand," she answered back with a calm slowness that matched her speed of walking. "You are very logical to do so, and it is respected," she finished before falling into silence again and walking for a good minute or so before finally coming to the actual entrance to the park. Stopping a moment, Nero found her eyes rising to the sign over the gate giving some sort of commemoration of some sort before looking down again and stepping inside. It was a rather nice park full of green trees and the like though they were shorter than the ones surrounding Evergreen. Finally catching sight of something that resembled a camp fire location, Nero made a motion over towards it before walking once more. Upon finally coming to it, the dark haired woman finally set her bag to one side of her, and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground 'thump'ed rather hard and vibrated for a few seconds before falling silent. Pulling out a pokeball, Nero released aSolrock. Please find some sticks and bark to start a fire here Nero's thoughts asked. Sol simply smiled deeply before spinning about and heading off rather easily. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] “I try to be…” He replied before falling silent again and pausing as Nero did. He found his eyes scanning over the tree’s and lush green which oddly helped sooth him. Something about fresh air and being away from the city it’s self was refreshing. He had no idea why but it had been that way since he could remember. Most likely something that was passed down by his parents and their parents as almost everyone in his family seemed to enjoy the outdoors and plant life. Flowers. Oh, something he rarely admitted to but made it partly obvious by the single rose that always sat in his pocket. He loved them. When they finally came upon the campfire like opening, Lance raised one of his eyebrows. He couldn’t recall the last time he had sat out in the opening by a campfire. It was odd feeling but one he would accept for the pure hope that a setting like this would clear his mind. It was starting to work already. After all his mind had been on the idea of camping out rather than his pervious thoughts. “Would I be correct to assume you camp out a lot?” He asked as he found himself a spot to sit upon an old log. Once he was comfortable (though he did look rather stiff with his back up right and knees pressed together) his dark blue eyes look up at Nero, waiting for a response. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]At the question of whether she camped out a lot or not, Nero looked a tad more thoughtful than usual and brought a finger up to her chin in thought. "When I'm traveling, yes, but when I'm not, I have an apartment with a friend," she answered back. Though said friend: Rai, was almost always out of the apartment anyways out doing whatever it was he did in the world when Nero wasn't around. He.. hadn't come home recently... and the entire gang seemed to be shifting awkwardly underfoot, though Nero wasn't about to state these things aloud not knowing how Lance would react to them and preferring not to even try to make the assumption of what would happen. Falling silent a moment, Nero closed her eyes and pictured where Sol was. It seemed that the Solrock was just a good half mile away now collecting a large amount of sticks and wood now. That's probably enough, really her thoughts mused towards Solaris who seemed to take the hint and started back the way he had come. After that, Nero opened her eyes again and looked at Lance calmly. "For all Era's worth, the land itself is of the most value," she stated aloud before leaning back ever so slightly. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] An apartment? He mildly wondered where exactly this apartment was located. Perhaps in her home town, or perhaps as far away from her home town as she could get. He didn’t bother asking though. Mostly because he was certain she wouldn’t answer anyway. She was an assassin and him knowing where she lived would give him a lot of power over her that she probably, and he hoped, she would be smart enough not to give him. Without his reply though, he found a silence fell over them and he began to look down at a random rock visible through the grass as he thought to himself. It wasn’t until she spoke again that he pulled himself from those thoughts and looked back up at Nero. “I can agree with that,” he stated, knowing very well that he would prefer the company of the trees and plants over the company of another human being. Yet… “People tend to yearn for the company of others even if it’s just being near someone.” it was true for some odd reason. He had discovered this through his people watching. Even the most isolated people tended to find a way to be around or have other human interaction. Even if that was over the computer and not actually near the other people, or sitting in a restaurant alone just watch others. Even he found himself demanding the attention and company of others. His brother was a good example of his yearning. He looked down on the boy so much yet for some reason he wanted Felis’s respect. He was even jealous of his other brothers attention he received from Felis. If he had of been upset… would Felis want chase after him and check if he was ok? For some reason he doubted he would. Damn it. He just understand why he couldn’t let this go. Yet it made him feel so… so depressed. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]Nero listened to Lance's words quietly and seemed to slowly look downwards. "You are lonely," she stated calmly before falling into silence again. Nero was almost never lonely. Her pokemon, whom she saw as equals, were her friends and family and were always with her. However, she knew of such feelings as what seemed, at least to Nero, to be coming from Lance. She'd been alone once, heh, too long ago to worry about it now, though. Sol was making his way back but had gotten distracted by something and seemed to be taking longer because of it. Meh, no matter. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance was rather shocked by Nero’s words and even sucked in a rather uncomfortable breath as he looked sideways out into the trees. For a moment he staid silent, thinking about her words before finally replying. “I think I’ve always have been,” He sighed, almost to himself than to Nero, “Just… never really thought about it.” Was he… being open with Nero? He hadn’t ever really been open with anyone before. Though that only supported his pervious comment. He had always been fighting with his parents. He had always been distant with his siblings even if he tried desperately at times to win their affection. Hence why he tried to be the first to give them their pokemon. He had plaid around and made love to many of the servants working in the castle before his parents caught him but he never been close to any of those women. By far the closest person he had ever been to was Rosa and she… well she was a child. She was… different. After the castle burned to the ground he was free to make friends and find attachments but he had chosen not to. That had been his own fault, really. He was too concerned with his obsession to change Era. To gain a different power and reach his goals. He had only planned that after his goals were met he could finally do what he wanted to do. Yet now… out of all the times, why was he feeling so… well as Nero put it. Lonely. It was Fred’s fault. He was certain of that. If the boy hadn’t shown up then… “Have you ever dealt with such a feeling?” He asked, finally turning to look back at her. She must have felt lonely before. He could not imagine an assassin with a perfect, love filled life. There always had to be a reason for getting into the profession. Then again, there were people… some like himself… who relished in the pain of others. He wasn’t sure why. It just felt so… good. Perhaps another reason he had never aloud himself to grow too close to anyone. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]At Lance's words, Nero said nothing but kept her eyes on target now with her sandals that could be seen only because of the way sh ehad crossed her legs while sitting. At the question, Nero half smiled. "Many times," was the only answer given back. Many times she had felt that feeling that she was alone in the world before she met her pokemon. Her mother was not the loving type of woman as far as Nero saw it, and she had grown up alone in that house... even if her mother happened to be there. Even when she had run away from home having finally dropped all her dreams of ever aspiring to meet her mother's demands, she had come to know solitude well enough in the time she ran alone. "The easiest way to cope is to realize you are not, in fact, alone," she finally continued her statement. Indeed, having Meteor, Sol, and Luna there when she needed them had been her coping mechanism. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance found himself frowning at her response. He didn’t understand at all and he hated not understanding things. The reply almost frustrated him and that was evident in what he said next. “And how exactly is one suppose to realize this?” He asked, sounding almost a tad snappy with his words “When the only person I can tell my woes to is my assassin I’ve met and spoken to only once before.“ He let out a sigh after this and found himself placing his head into hands. He greatly wished he could beat on someone at that moment. Wished he could release his anger upon them so that he may feel a moment of relief as he watched someone else in pain. But he couldn’t and he no desire to leave in search of someone. “I’m sorry, I didn’t attend to snap at you.” he finally breathed out again and let his hands drop from his face. [/scrolly] [bg=black]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/NeroText.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 teal none,b,Table][scrolly:h(216),w(251),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:242px;color:#3c6b72;)]Nero's face was expressionless as Lance snapped back at her. However, as he apologized, her face softened ever so slightly. "I'm sorry I cannot make it clearer," she finally answered back. "But I am here, if you need me." It was then that Sol came back with the wood carrying it psychically behind him. Nero turned her head slowly to him. Thank you. Set them there and use a small fire spin to get it going Nero's thoughts projected as she made a motion to the area that already appeared to be set up for such a fire. The psychic smiled to himself, nodded, and set some of the wood in the center and some off to the side to feed the fire later. Forming a light Fire Spin, the Solrock ignited the fire and set it growing and chewing at the wood. Is he alright? Sol's thoughts questioned in Nero's mind as the Solrock only partially eyed Lance. He will be....Thank you... Nero held up a pokeball after that and returned the Solrock before starting to go through her bag slowly before pulling out a very large metal canister of sorts. It had already been filled to the brim with water, and easy enough, Nero set it in the fire. [/scrolly]