abraxaslogs | september catch all

( he hasn't ever had a lot of visitors besides wanda just showing up in his horizon. so, to have it happen now jars him even if he had heard the door open and listened as someone stepped into fogwells.

the footsteps were unfamiliar, the sound of something being dragged along not one he'd heard before. he hadn't moved, letting whoever it was think that he hadn't realized.

and then the man speaks and he doesn't recognize the voice from any of his time in abraxas thus far. )

That right? Wow, and here I thought I'd just sit here in silence and imagine myself in that ring there.

( he says it dryly, no real snap in his voice as he moves to get up and come closer. )

I mean... kinda the point of this place, huh?

[Jeez, touchy. Now he sees why Wanda must be into him -- 'cause this is definitely the guy he saw her with in Nocwich. Not that he'd meant to, like, watch them together, just -- needed something to focus on that wasn't the party.

Besides, plenty of shit to do after.

(It was nice, seeing Wanda look a lil happy.)]

You were with Wanda, right? The lawyer? [He looks around, stepping towards the ring. He doesn't invite himself in, yet. Weird that it feels kind of home-y. Maybe he's really just missing the city.] I'm Nero. Live on the same farm as her. Didn't realize this was your place. You some kinda boxer on the side of all the... lawyering?

[Must've made it for a reason, after all.]

The lawyer, yeah.

( and he doesn't say anything about wanda but he doesn't deny it either which is pretty much all the answer that's needed. yeah, he'd been the one that was with him. he listens to nero get closer, approaching slowly, not with uncertainty, just with...idleness. )

I spent a lot of time in a place like this when I was a kid. Good memories.

( but yeah, he was kind of a boxer too. )

You fight?

[Luckily Nero's already convinced he's right, so it all works out!]

In a gym? [He takes it in again. Yeah? Yeah, actually. He could see it. Not anything like what he was raised around, but any place that's warm, got people you care about -- in the end, doesn't matter what it is, as long as you got a few good memories.] Explains it.

[He doesn't expound on what it explains, but what he means is that home-y feel. Nostalgia, even for something he doesn't have himself. Though it does give him a quick laugh, thinking of dragging Credo to a place like this. He would've hated it.

Taking the answer as invitation, Nero lifts a rope and steps in, taking the lawyer in. Yeah. Handsome. Sort of quiet. Calm energy. He can see why she likes him, at least on the outside.

Nero nods, realizes a second later, then adds out loud:] Oh, yeah. Anything that moves. I mean, not in a weird way. [He really didn't explain that well. But he's guessing he's right, because the lawyer doesn't exclaim, like everyone else, "whoa, you've got a tail?" Thank fuckin' god.] Wanna spar? Just a friendly lil' thing.

[Unfortunately he doesn't know a chill way to ask someone if they want to fight, so it might accidentally come off a little sinister.]

( matt raises an eyebrow but if he's had any sort of conversation with wanda then he has to know he's blind. but, maybe he knows a little more too or maybe he senses something different.

matt hasn't really done a lot of fighting in front of anyone but wanda without the mask but —

why not.

he gets to his feet and rolls into the ring, using the ropes to pull himself up. )

You sound pretty scary when you say that, you know.

[Maybe he can't see, but obviously he knows his way around the place. Which... makes sense, if it's his place. From childhood. Nero's only got about one brain cell rattling around at the moment, because he just thinks: look, there's a place to spar. Why not offer?

Guy's human, either way. And he's not here to tear Wanda's beau's arm off. (Not that he would anyone else's, but --)

Nero clears his throat, scratching the back of his neck. The tail thumps the floor.] Yeah, in retrospect, sounds like I'm pickin' a fight. It's just cool. Don't see many places to fight out here. Just... jacuzzis and shit.

[Okay, he hasn't actually seen a jacuzzi, but a hot spring he passed by in the van was close enough. Nero sizes him up, head to toe. Yeah, handsome, and a little quiet... but the little he knows about Vision was kind of like that, too.

He remembers what she said at Nocwich. A nice little dream to hold onto for a while. He's no matchmaker and he's the last guy to force anything, but... yeah. He hopes it works out.] Let's be real, Wanda'd kill me if I really came by to pick a fight. And it was an accident, anyway. Didn't know this was yours. [He moves in a little closer, bouncing from one foot to the other. Ooh. Springy.] The outside just reminded me a little of home.

Yeah?

( matt can't not laugh at the thought of him putting in a jacuzzi or something equally as luxurious. it's not really his style even if he thinks one of those might do wonders on his aching muscles.

but, he much prefers fogwells to work off tension and he's somewhat pleased to hear that someone else likes it. )

My, uh, dad used to do a lot of boxing here when I was a kid. Spent a lot of time around it, doing homework and wondering if I'd ever get a chance to fight.

[Nero's not impressed by jacuzzis or luxurious stuff like that, so it only kind of annoys him. That's why he ended up in that one guy's weird caves. Just... things that remind him of home, in their own weird ways. Redgrave City's not home like Fortuna, but he was there so long that... it sort of found its way in him.

Nero cracks his knuckles, tail whipping around him as he warms up. The guy didn't say no, after all...]

Better than my old man. [It almost feels like a taunt when people bring up fathers, but -- not like this guy has a clue. He'd trust Wanda would never. But he can't completely hide that side of sour bitterness to his tone.] Not because of him, but I grew up fighting. S'about all I know.

[Putting it lightly. He never really had a choice when he was adopted into the Order, but then... he never really fought it, either.] Did you get your chance?

In a way.

( it's fairly vague but he doesn't choose to elaborate either. he shrugs a shoulder and moves to lean against the ropes, bouncing a few times. )

It's not something I do on a daily basis since not being able to see is a hinderance even if I can figure out other ways. But —

( he shrugs. )

I can fight in other ways.

[Yeah, yeah. A dime a dozen, these mysterious answers from the other Summoned. He's gotten used to it. Not everyone can be an open book (look at him.) He asks questions, but isn't interested in prying. It's just...

Seein' some people actually had childhoods, maybe.]

Guessed as much. [Still interesting he chose a gym, though. Does he know what it really looks like? Does it matter? Even Nero doesn't have all the details of the van right, and he lived in the damn thing for months. It's not how it looks. It's... a feeling.

And the ash of those the feelings leave behind.]

Like a gun? A few bombs? [He grins, even if Matt can't see it, stretching both arms and his tail. Guess he's not inviting this guy over to the demon arena, huh?] No, wait, let me guess. [Feels too easy if he guesses what Wanda might like in a dude.] You're gonna say words. The pen is mightier and all that.

Don't get me wrong, I can defend myself with my hands if I wanted to. Having a dad as a boxer meant I kind of picked some stuff up.

( his dad hadn't really wanted to teach him that but he'd learned anyway from watching and then listening once he'd lost his sight.

after that, there'd been stick and that extensive training but he doesn't want to talk about that. )

But yeah, I like to say I can fight with words. A legal brief, a court cause, a subpoena, that kind of thing.

[A boxer, huh. Can't even imagine for a moment what it's like to have your dad teach you to fight, but -- you know. Sounds nice. Even if the guy hates you.

Not that he knows. Matt himself is pretty... normal. So far. Maybe one of the most normal he's met. Being a lawyer is about as plain Jane as one can get in his world.

Plenty of those. Probably. Just not his kinda crowd.]

Yeah, that definitely seems like Wanda's sort of thing. [His tail whips around as he walks across the ring.] You know, I was thinkin' of something similar. A fighting ring sort of thing. Not just punching bags and shit. [Not that there's anything wrong with those. Just... they're a bit too still.] You tried making something to fight? Like a sparring partner?

Not yet, no.

( if he's honest, he hasn't even really considered that though he knows that somewhat living things can be made here. there's a dog running around somewhere in his horizon, created by wanda, that proves that. )

Still kind of getting the hang of things like this. That I can create something like that on my own. Magic isn't really a strong suit.

[Oh, buddy, you got no idea. Wait until your subconscious traumas follow you around in the form of an animal.

Which, you know, she's still doing. Luckily Matt can't see that there's a black panther with her face pressed against one of the gym's windows, but he might be able to hear the gentle press of paw and claw on glass.

Really fuckin' annoying how she makes sure she's acknowledged the moment he even drops a thought about her.]

Yeah, me either. [He scratches the back of his neck. He might not be totally human, but throwing spells around like the sorcerer's apprentice isn't exactly second nature.] I mean, I made an elk once, I guess? Out of magic? But then it bit me.

[Nero retells that story with zero humor. It definitely just bit him and walked away.]

It bit you?

( he tries not to laugh but — look, that's exactly what would happen to matt if matt tried to make an animal and he knows it. but it hadn't happened to him so he laughs a bit. )

The elk still exist or did you get rid of it because of the whole biting thing?

[At least Nero’s got pretty good humor about it. Besides, everyone else laughed, too. Of course any critter popping out of his subconscious was a total dick.

And those teeth were pretty sharp for something that eats… leaves…? (What do elks eat?)]

I mean. Yeah. Wasn’t a touchy kind of guy, I guess.

[He’s pretty sure it was a guy. Had the big horns. And you know what, he’ll take being bitten over being gored.] I guess? It sort of lingered and went away, but it’s like – it just sort of happens. I mean. Out of those world, too. Popped up in the woods once and spooked the shit out of everything around.

[Totally not him, though. He’s gotten used to shit popping out of the woods now.] Guess it’s some sort of manifestation of magic or somethin’, but I’m not exactly a wizard.

Yeah, neither am I. Far from it so knowing that I created this?

( he gestures around at the gym and then shrugs. it's still kind of heady to know. there's a lot of things that he's forgotten since he'd gone blind when it comes to how things look but fogwells?

no, he can't forget that one and he won't. )

Wanda created a dog in one of my other spots. I guess she stays there but it's the friendliest dog you've ever seen. Hasn't bitten me yet.

[Nero grins.] What, you're not a wizard lawyer? Could've been a cool novel.

[Like one of those dime store ones. Still, he's seen perfectly human people do, uh, a lot of magic. People like Sam, who sort of slip into it like it's a second skin. People used to freaky shit, maybe, but it's not just that.

Might just be a mind over matter. Will versus... uh. Not will.]

Oh, yeah, she just does that. Makin' stuff. Actually she made some lizards, too. A goat. A dragon. That one bit me, but honestly I think she just finds it funny. [His light tone says he didn't really mind.] Hey, you're lucky. Maybe she just likes you more.

Yeah, I heard about the lizards. She was trying to catch one when I talked to her a little while ago. It got under the barn or something?

( he'd been amused by the whole thing but hadn't really gotten the entire story because there'd been other things to talk about. )

Did she make these animals just to...bite you? Or are you just that unlucky?

It got under the -- what? Man. That thing's gonna crawl up right into my room at this rate.

[Little does he know that's exactly what will happen in time. For now, he can just be slightly annoyed there's a magic lizard living underneath where he sleeps.

He prefers the dragon, thanks.]

It's probably an either/or. The dragon was just for fun, and the farm can get a little boring. Never really considered myself particularly lucky or not. The old adage, you know. "Shit happens."

I sometimes wonder what it might have been like if I ended up there instead of in the Free Cities and then I realize I would have...gone crazy.

( maybe not literally but he is not meant for farm life. )

I like a lot of people you guys have out there but I've never not lived in a city. I wouldn't know what to do if I couldn't just step outside and go get a coffee.

Solvunn? I guess. It pretty much sucked the first few weeks. After long enough, you get used to it.

[Nero gives a shrug, relaxing against the ropes of the ring. If he's not gonna fight, might as well settle in. (Still thinking of fighting his own dummy, though. Guy's not really made for surprise demons.)

Funny how they make it sound like Solvunn's hell. It's weird and small and in the middle of fuckin' nothing, but it's... in a way, feels like home. Not like it's anything like Fortuna, but the people. The people are.] Yeah, well, me either. But my city was old-fashioned, I guess. Lot of favors for favors instead of money. Solvunn's the same. Everyone watchin' out for everyone else. Expecting you to pull your weight. Definitely not as cushy living as those in Thorne. No free rooms.

I've heard some things about Thorne, yeah.

( again, definitely not a place he can see himself. and with some of the things he's heard about the place, it sounds like it's a powder keg that might go off and just tip the other regions.

but, it's fine now. he shrugs. )

My city was a lot bigger than this. Huge. Lots of buildings, lots of smog, dirt, trash. Cadens is a farm compared to it.

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