Cottonmouth

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

"Surely, follow... moi" Nemo replied before leading her upstairs and over to the hall of rooms. "Here we are, take your pick of that one, or that one, or... even that one... maybe this one." He rambled as he began to point out uninhabited rooms, finally opening the door right next to him. "I'm sure there will be something to change into in the closet as well." He said as he pointed to it in the example room. "However beforehand you might fancy a shower, over there. Not sure if you remember showers though. Just turn the knob and water magically reigns down from above. Red for hot, blue for cold." Nemo explained.

"But that should be enough for now, try exploring the rest for yourself. Independence can be an exciting thing. In the meantime, I shall return downstairs." He finalized with a small bow.

Nemo made his way downstairs back to Raiya and Alya. He sat down at the other side of the sofa Raiya was at. "So... how do you like my jammies?" He joked. "I could make some for you too."

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo himself looked a bit confused for a few moments after her compliment. It was probably one of the few times anybody ever brought up his natural appearance in a good light. Nemo grinned, "Aw shucks, that's mighty kind of you, thank you. You've got quite an impressive head of hair yourself Zuri." He commented back.

"So you don't know who you are? How troublesome... Identity is a problem that plagues us all in ways. Who am I? What is my purpose? Or, where did I come from? Fear not, I'm sure the answers will come to you soon enough." Nemo said with his theatrical tone.

"My powers, huh?" Nemo started. "Yes, I do indeed have 'fancy powers' like Felix. However demonstrations of my talents will be most effective live, at a later date."

"Let's just say, I have a knack for making things both appear." Nemo waved his hands past each other, one of his revolvers suddenly appearing in his right hand after they passed by in a slight of hand action. Nemo spun the gun around in his hand, tossing it up into the air as it spun to catch it with his other hand. However once he caught it in his other hand, the ornate revolver vanished behind his hand just like it came out. "And disappear." Nemo finished as he held his empty hands out.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

"Sou ne." (I see) Nemo replied, a fairly pleased expression on his face after he managed to get a somewhat good reaction out of Raiya. However the arrival of the two newcomers had diverted Nemo's attention before he could respond.

So this is the source of those manawaves from before... how very interesting. After a few moments of thinking, Nemo got up from his chair and walked over to Alya and Zuri. "Salutations you two, my name is Nemo Smiley. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He said as he extending his arm out to Alya after taking a bow. In his sleepytime slippers Nemo didn't look all too threatening, but to someone like Alya, they very well could already know who he is, on top of already seeing him work earlier at Nevar's expense. Nemo turned to Zuri afterwards. "And who might you be?" He asked.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Not far off from Raiya's own seating, a mass of blankets laid on the chair Nemo had been sitting on earlier. Raiya's presence, along with the sudden arrival Felix seemed to cause a stir in the them. Nemo then emerged from the pile, apparently having slept on the chair the whole night, that, or he had been waiting.

"Ohayou Raiya-san!" Nemo greeted her with a pleasant voice. "Yoku neta?" (Did you sleep well?) He asked afterwards. Nemo had clearly remembered what Raiya had said earlier about liking to speak Japanese. For a perfectionist and notorious actor like Nemo, his pronunciation was good. However the extent of what he knew was up in the air.

Nemo fully moved the covers off him, he had clearly undergone a wardrobe change for the occasion some time earlier at night. He had on a collared black silk pajama shirt with white polkadots, thick white and black downward striped pajama pants, and a pair of comfy white night slippers. He seemed to also still retain his jewelry, along with his black glove.

Felix's comment seemed to perk Nemo's attention, however he said nothing yet.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo watched Raiya abandon the room through the door, his gaze still lingering even after she was gone. "I hope you're right." He spoke to himself after moments had passed.

Nemo turned back and adjusted his position in his seat. He now turned his gaze to the room, the smashed glass and liquor, his arm still firmly pinned to the table with blood oozing out. "What a mess." Nemo commented.

Grasping the handle of the knife in hand, Nemo pulled it out in one swift motion. His mana-threads immediately went to work at patching him up, repairing the impaled flesh and muscle. Within twenty seconds the procedure was nearly finished, as the threads faded the blood which leaked out earlier seemed to suck back up into the cut on his arm before it sealed up for good. Leaving a small scar only in the wooden table where his knife hit. He washed the excess blood off his blade in the sink before wiping it dry with a cloth and placing it back in the sheath.

Nemo turned his attention to the broken drink now. He began to hum "La donna e mobile" to himself as he searched for the cleaning supplies. Instead of just using his magic Nemo seemed intent on doing things manually. After a few minutes Nemo finished picking up the broken glass and wiping the alcohol off the ground. He disposed of the trash and sullied towels. By the time his was finished the floor was spotless.

Sitting back down at his chair once again, Nemo continued what he was originally doing. He reloaded his revolvers and finished his soda, still humming. After placing them back in their holsters Nemo dispelled the case and brought all of his plates to the kitchen and binned the bottle.

Finally done, Nemo settled down on a chair. He didn't bother to turn on the television, simply letting his thoughts entertain him as he waited.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

"Another time then." Nemo suggested casually in response to Raiya's threat.

He let out a sigh and sunk back into his chair with a slight chuckle. "Well, at least around two of those things weren't completely psycho." He commented. "I was hoping you'd say something like:"

"I like gardening... I like to ride motorcycles, or maybe I like videogames." He said with his best impersonation of Raiya's voice. "Here are my favorite foods, what I want for Christmas." Nemo continued. But I'll take the cooking thing, that's a good start."

"I'm sure that sounds rich coming from a guy like me, but that's the point. Seems we do have a few things in common. You're saying things that somebody like me would say. And look how people view me? Monster, demon, crazy, freak, not very good... not very good at all." Nemo started to finish up all the food he took out. "I had 'social disadvantages' since the beginning, but I acknowledge it takes two to tango, things would not have gotten so out of hand had it not been for my own actions. There's always another path to take, but I chose this one because I felt it was all I had."

"I never got any closer to what I wanted, I simply just began to forget that I ever wanted it. When you choose the path of a murdering psychopath, there are consequences. Doesn't matter if you ever intend to stop one day. Everybody around you will forget you are a person, that you're human, and eventually you will too... And once that day comes, it's too late. There's no going back." Nemo explained as he finished rebuilding his gun, spinning the cylinder with his hand and then placing it on the table afterwards.

"And that, that is the sacrifice one will make to 'further their abilities' as a killer. To toss the things which are no longer needed. Cut away and amputate parts of themselves like a broken limb. Because they're only a hindrance to you now." Needless to say, Nemo's tone had become much less lighthearted at this point.

"How about a demonstration?" He asked as he unsheathed his wavy bladed kris knife from the back of his belt. Nemo placed his arm on the table, moving his items out of the way and looked to Raiya. "Mazel Tov!" He proclaimed before suddenly taking the knife and forcefully stabbing it into his forearm. A small thud was heard when the knife went through his arm and pinned it to the table.

Nemo, however, sat completely blank faced throughout the incident, as if he felt nothing. After a few moments he wiggled the fingers of the skewered arm at Raiya. "See?" He asked with a slight grin.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo seemed hesitant to respond at first, he ate another one of his snacks and then finally spoke. "Dr. Nemo "X's" Smiley, P-H-D of Read a Lot of Books About It university." He joked.

There was more Nemo could have said about the subject. However seeing that his words only seemed to result in Raiya drinking more, he figured later would be a better time. Nemo continued to clean his weapon as he spoke. "Got any hobbies? Y'know, what do you like to do? All work no play makes Raiya a dull girl, hmm?" Nemo inquired.

"What are the things you like?" He added, holding up his still mostly disassembled revolver. "I can make just about anything, made these myself. It's the least I can do to repay you for your service."

"Speaking of which, you know what I've always found does wonders for stress?" Nemo looked from side to side, almost as if he was checking to see if the coast was clear before telling a secret. "Massage." He suggested, nodding his head seriously.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

@Cottonmouth Got the latest update for Destiny? Pretty big one and adds a few new things too.

@ShiningSector

Is it the one with the Gjallerhorn?
I'll probably pick up that DLC and play for a bit once it comes out.

But no, as of late I haven't. Been waiting for Destiny 2 mostly.
Probably will end up playing it soon either way. League has been really irritating lately.

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo shoveled a cookie into his mouth as Raiya arrived, halfway done disassembling his second revolver. Despite only resulting in a glance at first, Raiya's actions did succeed in distracting Nemo eventually. He slowed down at first, then began to nervously tap his fingers on the table. This lasted a few moments before he stopped altogether and looked to Raiya. "Why do you do that?" He asked, leaning back into his chair pointing to her glass after a moment. "Why do you drink so much?"

While normal people might have left the question at that, Nemo was always somebody who loved to talk. "Now... I'm the kinda guy who likes to indulge in things," He said as he shoved another treat into his mouth. "but from my perspective you don't seem to be doing it for the indulgence of satisfying your taste buds with a fine spirit. Some might go out to a party and get a little tipsy with their pals for fun, but this isn't a party, and you don't seem to be having any fun either." He explained.

Nemo leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and lowering his voice, no longer putting it in Travis or Felix's earshot. Clearly he was intent on going all the way with this topic. "To me that leaves us with only one option. You are oh so nefariously using alcohol for it's effects as a drug. Tsk tsk, a very self-destructive and, dare I say, possibly fatal action." He stated. "But don't mind me, I'm no square, no sir, I've seen my fair share of drugs." Nemo added with a grin.

"The difference between us is that alcohol is a depressant, while I prefer stimulants. I seek to enhance my senses, while you hope to dull them." Nemo paused for a moment before continuing. "You know what, I've changed my question... Are you in pain?" He asked, his tone shifting and his head cocking to the side. "Because in order for you to seek the need to medicate yourself with all that booze, you must be hurt."

"That's what you looked like to me when I first saw you at that club, when ya woke up. You look like someone who's bleeding out. Pain isn't always physical... stress, depression, loneliness, all extensions, hands of pain. My skills require that I know these things well." Nemo explained. "So what was it, huh? The ole' church kickin' ya out, Felix boy here turnin' his back on ya? Or is there something I missed? Keep in mind the deal from earlier still stands, for every question you answer, I will answer one of yours."

Paragon's End [Modern/Fantasy/Anime/Adventure]

Nemo was about to step through the portal when it suddenly rippled due to a disturbance, causing him to hesitate. Nemo's manalysis made picking up the source an easy task. He twisted his body to look back where it was coming from despite only being able to the wall. He was clearly thinking about investigating, however after letting out a small scoff he turned back.

Those peculiar manawaves sure seem delicious, but I've had enough excitement for tonight. That churchgoer might have her work cut out for her today. Till next time. Nemo thought as he entered the portal, taking him back to the base.

Nemo didn't say anything about the incident, figuring Travis might if he didn't. Nemo removed his down jacket and scarf, returning them to his inventory as he shed them from his body. He then un-tucked his shirt and made his way to the kitchen, passing up Felix and Raiya without a word. By himself Nemo opened the fridge, looking around for a moment before grabbing a glass bottle of soda, not bothering to check at the flavor before opening it and downing the whole thing in one sitting. He tossed the bottle into the trash before grabbing another, this time raiding the kitchen for other items.

Nemo ended up adding a whole apple, chocolate bar, doughnut, bowl of assorted small fruit, and some small pastries or cookies he could find. Nemo's actual hunger was a frequently overlooked aspect of him in lieu of his mana habits. He also had a extreme sweet tooth, anybody who wanted to actually catch Nemo would just have to settle down in a good pastry shop and wait.

Nemo sipped on his second soda bottle and made his way over to a empty table. He sat down with his food, facing out the window but with his back turned to the group. This did however put him back into earshot, placing him into a state of "not bothering but still listening."

Using his left hand to eat, Nemo used his right to remove his pistols from their holsters and place them on the tablecloth and called fourth a black leather case from his inventory. He unfastened the gold latches and opened the case, revealing a home for the revolvers, as well as tools to clean them and extra ammunition. Nemo picked up one of the guns, opened the loading gate and pointed the barrel upwards. He rolled the cylinder, causing the bullets to fall out one by one into the case. Nemo continued to manually turn the cylinder with his finger, holding the gun up to his ear as he carefully examined the clicks it made as it turned.

Nemo then disassembled the firearm entirely, using the tools he had to clean it. By this point Nemo was well into devouring his food. He had eaten the apple whole, core and seeds in all. Nemo continued on, barely humming a soft tune by himself as he adeptly reassembled the gun before moving on to the other one.