A Balancing Act (Kero)

[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;)]Lance's first few words that broke the silence caused a brown eye to slide and consider his visage before looking forwards again. "Alright, understood," was all she answered back to his words as they continued to move through the city and onto an actual sidewalk and street again. About every minute or so, Nero found her gaze turning itself back to Lance mostly to see that he was still there, but oddly enough, she only seemed to come to the realization that he was a giant. Sure she was tall for a woman and was thankful for this height in that she could possibly just pass for a short male, but she was far from six feet. One could possibly just associate that she was still young and could have the possibility of growing or possibly blame it on some Asian genes that she was pretty aware she had. Mentally shaking her head, Nero made a turn and finally came to her apartment. Given that it was on the bottom floor, it was relatively easy to walk up to, and thus, she did just that. Pulling out a key and inserting it into the lock, Nero opened the door and pushed it inwards. The room that came forwards was an off-white color and very simplistic in all aspects. The floor was hardwood, something that the landlord had ordered to be put in to replace the old carpet as the new year rolled around. Stepping inside and listening to the creaking sounds of the boards, Nero breathed inwards and walked fully inside. "Make yourself at home," she mumbled more or less formally before making a gesture to a couch and a reclining chair that faced the couch. Rather than stop, Nero walked to the kitchen. The sounds of cabinets opening and closing could be heard followed then by rushing water and more cabinets being opened and closed again before Nero once more walked out. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] For the rest of the walk Lance was completely quiet. His eyes simply scanned the city as it wasn’t from sections he knew to sections he didn’t. Eventually he had began remembering landmarks in order to keep himself from getting lost. A corner store there, a flower shop here. Just small things but things he knew wouldn’t change within the few hours he was visiting Nero’s. Every now and then Lance felt eyes on him and would gaze back over to Nero. However it seemed each time he had just missed the man’s gaze and thus Lance found his eyes wondering again. When they made it to the apartment, Lance stood and waited for Nero to open the door only murmuring a “Thank you” when he walked in. Once again his eyes began to wonder, looking over everything he could see from where he stood at the front door. It wasn’t until Nero’s voice reached his ears that he finally looked back at the man. He gave a nod in reply before heading towards the couch and sitting down. A moment longer in silence passed as he listened to Nero entering the kitchen. Then finally he called out. “It’s very quant.” it was followed by a small clearing of his throat as his eyes once again began to wonder around the room. There wasn’t really much to see and the house its self didn’t look like it was used much. At least, in Lance’s opinion. “Looks like you could use some dusting though.” Yes, he was good at noticing those small details. Believe it or not, but if Lance was forced into having absolutely no maids or servants, He’d be a regular clean it up kind of guy. It wasn’t always the maids that kept his room clean, after all. [/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 slowly started to walk back to the reclining chair, Nero sat down in the chair and crossed her legs in front of herself rather than sitting what most would consider more normal. The first statement had more or less gone without response, but the second caused an eyebrow to raise itself slightly on Nero's head before slowly sinking down again. Brown eyes shuffled around the room a moment not really noticing too much out of order. "I guess," was all she answer back with before shrugging her shoulders slowly adding to the response in question. "I don't spend as much time at home as I used to considering my partner has-...." Nero broke off as her mind scanned over and tried to remember if she had made any indication previously that Rai hadn't been home in... forever.....She couldn't remember and thus remained quiet. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance looked up as Nero walked into the room and sat, his eyes following the man the entire time. As he spoke about not spending much time in the place but never finished the sentence, Lance blinked. “You have a partner?” was the first question that came out of his mouth even though it shouldn’t have been. For some reason that question out weighed the second. “What about them?” Maybe they abandoned ship. Died perhaps. After all, it didn’t look as if it the place was used often so Lance assumed that meant Nero ’s partner wasn’t around much either. Of course these were all guess’s and assumptions on his half. He couldn’t be sure of anything unless Nero answered the questions. [/scrolly] [bg=brown]

[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 hesitated a little and sat in silence there even after Lance had asked the second question with the first. It wasn't like she couldn't share the information. It was doubtful that it was going to get anyone in trouble, at least. Everyon was spaced out and dispersed now a days, and Lance had already made note that he wasn't on any sort of police officer side. The moment that he became one... well that changed things, and she would take him down without a moment's notice. Or at least... this was what Nero kept trying to assure herself of. "Most Yakuza members work in pairs," she answered though her eyes didn't meet Lance's and instead focused on the floor. "It's meant to... keep us inline and safe, I guess," she stated shrugging her shoulders ever so slightly. "My partner, Raiden, disappeared....about two years ago now," Nero's voice wavered for half a second before she managed to reassert control over it. "I'm ... sure he'll come home eventually," she sighed quietly after this. Meanwhile, a slight hissing sound could be heard as the water in the tea pot was beginning to boil. Nero made note of it but knew the water wouldn't be ready until it reached a full shouting pitch. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance nodded quietly as Nero spoke about how her gang kept in twos and how her own partner had disappeared… though two years? That seemed like a long time. In fact Lance would have considered him dead. He almost opened his mouth to suggest just that but stopped himself. He had a feeling Nero didn’t want to hear such things. He probably wouldn’t want Lance to suggest getting a new partner either. But perhaps Nero was right. Perhaps he would come back someday. Lance really didn’t know what the habits of the Yakuza members were like. “Perhaps he will,” Lance replied quietly, looking down at his lap as a small smirk formed on his lips, “I have a partner as well. Heh, but we probably don’t work near as well as you did with yours.” He or Jacob would probably kill one another if they ever had to live together. There partnership was strickly business and the occasional drink. [/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;)]A weird sort of choked half-laugh escaped from Nero, and a simple head-shake followed suit. What little there was of a smile had come and gone in less than a second or so. "I see," was the answer that finally came though the dark haired cross-dresser gave no indication of what exactly was so funny. For whatever reason, the thought of Lance having a partner had never come to mind, yet it made more sense to have one than not to considering one could divide up the work and distribute it when it was too much. "Rai and I fought occasionally, but it was mostly over trivial things," she explained after a moment. Those trivial matters were actually... far from trivial in some regards, but they seemed almost normal to Nero who had experienced them for so long while in the Yakuza. What one would have generally thought to be vicious and malicious instances had become normal. Arguing over who was supposed to be killed and what the boss meant in a mission was common. This even turning into violent hard-pressed fights where both used weapons was common. As long as nobody died, it was generally alright. "What's your partner's name?" was the question that was asked next. It wasn't meant to be prying, and considering she'd already stated Rai's name, even if he couldn't be harmed by this information being given out, she didn't think anything of asking. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance wasn’t sure why, but he smirked when Nero choked out a laugh. Though unlike Nero’s smile, Lance’s did not fade. He even let out a small, muffled chuckle as Nero claimed that he fought with partner at times as well. “For us it seems we are always trying to out smart one another.” He shook his head after saying that before stopping to look back up at Nero. His name? Well, surely it wouldn‘t harm to give Nero his name. After all, the assassin would likely meet Jacob sooner or later anyway. “Ah, Jacob Stone.” Lance replied without thinking further on it. “He acts as if he is king of the world and yet he would like to see them all burn to the ground.” After this claim Lance leaned in a bit, lowering his voice and smirking all the while. “I personally think he’s just jealous.” With that said, Lance sat up wearing a rather smug expression upon his face. It seemed he loved to pick on Jacob even when the man wasn’t around to defend himself. [/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;)]Out smart one another? Nero wasn't sure of what Lance meant, to be honest, but then again, the nature of partners was different in their situations. Nero assumed this partner was for the company work and thus ran with the assumption that this meant they were fighting predominantly over ... money? Or something...As the name was given, Nero simply nodded her head. It rang no bells, but she did put the name into the back of her mind for possible reference later. As Lance continued on, it only confirmed the assumption that this was over the company but also branched a little awkwardly into the views of the kingdom. "Jealous of kings?" Nero mumbled unsure of what to say about that. Fortunately, the high pitched squeals of steam was causing the kettle to shout, and thus, Nero rose up off the chair she had been sitting in. "I'll be right back," she reassured before disappearing back into the kitchen again. A few miscellaneious sounds here and there could be heard before Nero came back out again carrying a tray with two cups on it as well as the kettle itself. Setting it on the small coffee table, she poured out water into the two cups before taking one and retreating back to her chair again. "I wouldn't want to be king," was the statement that finally escaped Nero only after she had taken a sip of her tea. [/scrolly]

[Lady Leaf]

[scrolly:h(230),w(390),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:10px;margin-left:10px;)] Lance had enough time to shrug to Nero question before the sound of the kettle went off. He had managed to slip the word, “Nobles” out before Nero excused himself and left to attend to their tea. He watched the other man leave before looking around once more, his mind wondering for a moment. He felt comfortable being there. He wasn’t sure why. In all honesty, he should have felt out of place. After all, even his hotels had been larger than this apartment. Maybe it was something he needed. A small, cosy place. One he could take care of himself. That was just a dream though. At least for now. When Nero returned, Lance’s dark blue eyes slowly lifted up at the man. A small smile slipped onto his lips as the other man claimed he wouldn’t want to be King. “Nor would I.” Lance replied as he reached out to pick up his cup. “Many think if you are King you get to do whatever you want. They don’t realize the amount of work that’s in place. When you get too greedy… well you end up like our last King.” Dead was what he meant. He imagined being King would be more work than being Duke. People would expect even more from you. You be required to study day in and day out. Forced to deal with issues that don’t have thing to do with yourself. Of course, Lance knew his father would correct him on that. Every problem the commoners and other nobles had effected and related to ones self. Lance didn’t understand why they had to deal with other peoples problems though. If they starve, so be it. It was there fault for being poor in the first place. [/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;)]As Lance explained his own reasons for not wanting to be king, Nero sipped tea quietly but listened ever still. "True, I wouldn't want the lives of all those people in my hands," she stated quietly before taking another sip. "Nor would I wish to subject myself to public scrutiny," she sighed dryly before shaking her head a little. Becoming as public natured as the king would only invite someone to point out flaws and the like... However, a thought came shortly after that, and thus, she spoke it. "Or a noble for that matter," she stated before looking at Lance with an even stare. "An assassin isn't meant to be in any light.... which is why I enjoy my job," she stated before sipping her tea. This was only partial truth, but Nero couldn't figure out for herself what part was the lie when it came down to it. [/scrolly]