Nero didn't know why he was there. He didn't know why he'd come so close to the godforsaken mountain where Asteria and Hiccup were likely talking shit about him. It wasn't like he cared. Not at all. Let them talk shit, and he'd pretend he wasn't looking for flowers to leave Asteria. Not that he has any idea where she would be living now, because he doubted she'd go back to the gang.. much like he wasn't. Nero sighed, plucking a stem of a bright red flower without a hint of enthusiasm. He didn't know what he wanted out of life anymore and he sure as shit didn't know why he was picking flowers. It wasn't like she'd ever see them. Still, he carried one around with him, limping through the field.

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She had been quite fond of the meadows when she had first passed through, but Emery hadn't taken any time to enjoy them. Today, she has opted for a more casual stroll, trying to keep in mind what Set had told her about slowing down and enjoying things. She doesn't always have to make herself so busy. As she meanders quietly through the flowerbeds, she becomes acutely aware of movement nearby. The grasses are tall, but she can still make out the top half of a pale child picking his way through them, plucking flowers from their stems. She takes note of his hitched gait with an idle quirk of her brows and offers a soft, "hello there." @Nero @Calypso

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she had been watching him for some time.

calypso was curious about the young boy and his pained limp. despite her usual distant manner she could not help but notice him - not only for his age and injury but for his actions. flowers?

she puzzled for a moment if he was a healer, and if he gathered herbs to help his pain, but it soon became apparent that that was not the case.

when another approached she took it as her cue to do the same and drew up near @Emery with her attention on the boy. "if yer lookin' for pain relief those won't help ye." perhaps he just needed a little... guidance?

table by sentinel / lion + beach

If looks could kill, there was every chance that @Emery and @Calypso would have already been on ice. He glowered at them as they approached in turn, one simply offering a hello and decidedly the one he hated the least. Nero bristled at the abrupt intrusion, ears swiveling this way and that as he listened for more arrivals. None that he could hear, fortunately.

He focused in on Calypso, her strange way of talking causing a frown to crease his lips. "Don't remember askin' for your help," he replied sharply. Adults were not trustworthy, especially not when they arrived in pairs. "Whaddya want? Spit it out." This was directed at both of them, eyes glancing between the two women in annoyance.

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She doesn't expect to see anyone else right away, let alone someone who is familiar. Small world. Emery watches @Calypso approach with a neutral gaze, flicking an ear towards her as the gruff lioness addresses the child. That's one way to go about it, she supposes, though she at first doesn't offer anything herself. She appraises @Nero quietly, taking notice of his sharp and distrusting tone. While she doesn't know anything about him, she can hardly blame him for his distrust; she has trust issues, too. "Well, I can't speak for her, but I was just planning on spending my afternoon here," she answers easily enough, offering the teenager a mild shrug. "Maybe you could help me?" Emery suggests with a tilt of her head. "I'm looking for a few plants in particular, and you seem to know your way around." Of course, she knows exactly where to find what she's looking for, but she's searching for an icebreaker that won't make him put on the breaks and run away with a hairpin trigger.

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A swing and a miss, for lack of a better word.

Calypso blinked in mild surprise, taken aback by the sharp tone of the youth. Thankfully she has too many years of experience to be bothered by it, she would not take his anger personally.

She shrugged and let @Emery speak. Clearly the other healer was much better at dealing with youth than she was, and the peach pirate had no desire to say much else at the moment. Sure she could claim the same intention (she was always seeking herbs after all) but felt certain any explanation would fall on deaf ears anyway. Or, more likely, just upset him more.

So for now she is silent and watchful - curious how he would respond to the gentler females words.

table by sentinel / lion + beach

What was it with all these adults thinking he wanted them to stick around? Nero frowned deeply, glancing between them while expecting them to merrily turn around and saunter off. He thought he'd made it relatively clear he wasn't interested in a conversation, but then @Emery went and made it known she wasn't about to leave.

He rolled his eyes.

"I don't know shit about this place. Or herbs. Dunno why you think I'd be any help, or better yet, why I'd want to. What the hell do I get out of it? A pat on the head for bein' a good boy?" Nero hmph'd loudly. "There's a plant, there's a plant, there's a different plant -- okay, I showed you some plants. Gimmie my good boy and go 'way."

@Calypso

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Well. He's charming, isn't he? As the teenager spouts off his annoyance at her suggestion, Emery is quiet, taking no offense to his spewing words. She idly finds herself wondering what has left him so innately distrustful, so angry. It's not her question to ask, however, and where some would likely get irritated at his rash verbiage, Emery maintains her neutral complexion. "No, I won't belittle you with a 'good boy,'" she hums, her gaze evenly meeting that of the pale teenager's. "I can fix your leg, though," the medic states, tilting her head ever so slightly and quirking a brow. If he doesn't want her help, she's not going to push it; the fix will not be an easy one and she has no interesting in torturing an un-consenting child. @Calypso @Nero

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It was the same thought she had had. Nonetheless she is surprised that the other healer is so quick to suggest it - the fix would be as painful as the original break, if not more so. Beyond that the risk of infection or death was high without proper care, and the child did not seem properly cared for. These concerns hid behind her carefully crafted mask, and she only quirked a brow momentarily @Emery before her features settled again. “I cen assist.” The three words would be all she contributed to the moment and they were directed primarily at Emery, clearly just as unbothered by @Nero ‘s outburst.

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Neither of them were bothered, it seemed, and the teenager was beginning to find their resistance infuriating. What was with all these punk-ass adults thinking they could help him? Fix him? He didn't need to be fixed, he just needed.. ah, fuck, he needed to be fixed. Nero glanced at his leg when @Emery indicated she could help fix it, and then this other @Calypso lady said she could assist. As stupid as he was, Nero didn't entirely trust two strangers when they waltzed up and offered him help.

Still, he was curious, and the angry boy facade dropped -- briefly.

"Like get it back to normal fixed? It doesn't straighten all the way anymore." Nero extended it, bent and busted as it was, to show the extent of the damage. "How can you fix it?" It didn't seem possible.

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