❀ nero turner

[cranelike]

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week 1, sunday (post-execution)

[cranelike]

(It's later in the evening when Tsurumaru seeks out Nero! In the kitchen? By the bubble? It doesn't matter where. All that matters is Tsurumaru is going to find him. Or rather, Kiku is who lets out a squeak (or however you describe otter sounds....) and starts to bound over towards him.)

Ah, we found you.

[perfectdistance]

[ He's out in the courtyard, Disce in her mole form and hidden away in a pocket.]

You were lookin'?

[cranelike]

Of course, I haven't finished telling you about the castle.

[perfectdistance]

There was more?

[cranelike]

Do you remember the part about the little house and the treasures?

[perfectdistance]

Yeah.

[cranelike]

There was one item for each of us plus two more: A whisk and a ring.

After my flower disappeared, I reached for the other two before it was too late. It seemed important.

(Why else would they be there.....)

[perfectdistance]

Did those disappear too?

[cranelike]

They did after I grabbed them.

Do you know what they were? The whisk was small and pink... and the ring had a dark stone.

[perfectdistance]

[Fun Fact: Nero was never in the room with the little candy house]

Uh... The whisk was Sarkara's heart, from what I heard.

[He looks away when he asks about the ring.]

[cranelike]

I said the other night what happened when I grabbed the flower.

(Even if he skirted the details when they were all in the kitchen. It was personal and he didn't want to reveal himself to everyone so easily,)

But what I didn't explain in full.

(He brings his hands in front of him, lacing his fingers together neatly,)

Do you know what "tsuru" means, Nero-kun?

[perfectdistance]

[He nods... He wasn't going to press, because if it's personal Tsurumaru doesn't need to spill.]

... No.

[cranelike]

"Tsuru" means "crane." Where I'm from, it's an important symbol, meant to bring peace, long life, and good fortune to others. When I was named, it was to invoke these same qualities.

(Peace, long life, and good fortune.)

And yet, would you be surprised if I told... many of my masters never knew any of those?

[perfectdistance]

[Is that why he told Nero about the crane wife story?

But also, what do you mean by "masters"?

He won't ask.]

I don't think it's your fault. Sometimes... stuff happens that's outta your control.

[cranelike]

(There's a reason why it's one of his favorites.)

Regardless, my masters have rarely known peace. They dreamed and worked but never knew it. Even to the very end, they were troubled by constant fighting and less-than-ideal heirs.

(He speaks plainly as if he's speaking about water being wet. There's little emotion in his voice, even if he wears an amused sort of smile. Perhaps he's amused at his own expense.)

Perhaps that's why I'm obsessed with surprises. If no one can live peacefully, then I'll embrace the surprises instead.

This is what I thought when I held that flower.

[perfectdistance]

[He lets Tsurumaru speak, it sounds like maybe... he's okay with it? Or at least he's settled with the situation.

It would be nice to settle himself with his past, but it's simply not in his own nature.]

Embracin' them...

Hey... when you say masters, what do you mean? Are you okay?

[cranelike]

(Tsurumaru Kuninaga hasn't been okay in a thousand years Nero....................)

Hm? Are you worried? (He lets out a laugh,) I've had many masters. Why, I've been passed down so many times, I've lost count of how many I've had. I suppose they weren't that interesting.

[perfectdistance]

[Nero Turner hasn't been okay in, hm, about 100?]

A little? This kinda makes you sound like a slave?

[cranelike]

Eh... it's nothing like that.

(He waves a hand in the air,)

It's my nature to serve humans.

[perfectdistance]

If ya say so.

[He'd probably be more depressed if it was slavery?]

[cranelike]

(He nods,)

I say so.

(Still just... waving at the air like he's trying to clear it of whatever is hanging there.)

But there's a reason why I'm telling you this. I didn't wake up and decide, "Ah, I think I'll reveal myself to Nero-kun for fun!"

(He huffs and places both hands on his waist,)

It's only fair after what I felt when I grabbed those other items. One of which is yours, correct?

[perfectdistance]

That would be a surprise. [A weak joke]

...

[He's right, but Nero doesn't really want to admit to that.]

[cranelike]

If I had known it was yours, I would have left it alone. A person's heart is a private thing.

[perfectdistance]

's not like you could've.

[Nero doesn't wear a ring.]

[cranelike]

Would you like to know what I felt?