that-roman-arsonist

[that-roman-arsonist]

He gave an annoyed groan and a wave of the hand, as if wanting to dismiss the ghost or hit him.

Boo.

@jasonlightninggrace

The emperor looked at the... child? Yeah, child. "Commodus's part of the place is down the hall."

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Tour?" He scoffed, as if offended. If he wanted to blend in, he needed to pretend he knew his way around. "You dare imply I don't know where I am?"

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

That felt... odd. No child has ever clung to him with such trust, which was understandable. He wouldn't expect this to happen in his entire career, yet now he was faced with someone who'd love him as if he were their father, even if they knew what he'd done. Or so this kid claimed, but he really didn't believe it. He was aware just how bad he was to people, how horrible his rule likely was, even if he doesn't want to admit he messed up. How badly he messed up the children he's raised before. He was and still is a horrible influence, and trust him when he says he knows that.

"We'll see about that." He made sure she wouldn't fall, just- as an instinct. Something deep within him made him think of his first and only child he had while he was the emperor of Rome oh so long ago, his only daughter who died in infancy. Made him wonder what she'd be like if she'd grown up. Made him think about her blabbering and the way she'd grip at his fingers and try to put them in her mouth each time he got his hands near her. This... Lune was older than Claudia Augusta, by a lot, but it didn't stop him from wondering whether his first daughter would be like this, had she gotten to grow at least to the age this girl was.

He had no idea why he wasn't looking at children like they were objects anymore. Perhaps he'd just gotten used to the sight of smaller, younger people as Commodus took in more and more of them? He didn't know, and honestly he didn't quite care. While yes, he was curious about how he'd gone from disliking every child he saw to having one call him 'papa' willingly, hug him with no hesitation or look at him like he was the best person she'd ever met, he felt he didn't really want to know.

Instead of wondering, he started walking through the halls, passing by his office and telling the servant to leave the gifts there before walking into a room nearby. If this child insisted on having him as her father, the least he could do is prepare a room for her. It was what he did for the previous children he's adopted, anyway.

A little pitter patter of feet and sobs started to approach Nero, that’s when he saw a sobbing line turn the corner with arms full of gifts.

@pleasedonttouch-me

Well, the emperor certainly wasn't expecting to see a crying child carrying what looked like too many things for them to carry approach him. "Hello?"

[that-roman-arsonist]

Oh, so the child was pathetic on top of everything. Truly a stain on Rome's honor, on its good name- it was such a shame that this is what the emperor's legacy amounted to. Even if he didn't yet know this boy's family's roots, he just considered him his legacy because of calling himself a Roman.

"I do understand, legionnaire." He hoped he was using the correct terms- it would be pretty telling if he'd used the wrong title for Brutus, and he didn't want that.

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

The emperor grabbed a tissue from his desk and handed it to the child, he didn't need his suit ruined by snot. He sighed, like a tired man, because he was, he really was tired. Not of Zeno, no, but just in general. Of the way things turned out to be. He really didn't want to deal with the sobbing kid in his office. He looked at the small blonde that was clinging to him oh so desperately, the look behind his eyes betraying no emotion in particular.

"Shh..." He tried again, his voice monotonne, like he wasn't used to doing this. Because he wasn't. One hand held the child gently while the other went to rub Zeno's head- he's seen this behavior with Lucas at one point or another, so maybe it'll work. "I'm not mad at you, child. In fact, I'm trying to keep you from harm right now."

Nero would hear the sound of someone struggling to turn the doorknob for his door, eventually, they seemed to do it correctly. Maybe he couldn’t see the blonde Zeus spawn entering the room, or maybe he did- regardless, just moments later, he’d hear little tiny struggles of the child trying to reach the top of his desk, seeming to try and set down papers there. The little cloud Nero and cloud Jasper just leaned over the side to see their creator struggling to reach the desk.

“Eh— eh—“ the little child made struggling noises, the small one was clearly much too small to reach

( @minithunderbitch )

The faux brunette turned to see what was happening- not like he expected someone to essentially break into his office as he worked, and he was even more confused when he saw... no one enter the room. He shrugged it off at first, turning back to his desk and continuing on with his paperwork as if nothing happened. Hey, don't look at him like that, he'd come back even if it was an assassination attempt! He wouldn't be gone for long.

He glanced over at the little cloud versions of himself and Jasper, trying to figure out what they were looking at, befire hearing the little noises and looking down and- oh. It was just the small Jupiter spawn from before. He remembers that one, it was the one who made the clouds. He sighed and pulled Zeno up to his lap, not sure why he was doing that, just... an instinct of sorts. The child was polite, so why shouldn't he be civil to him? "Ah, hello, child."

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Most isn't all, boy." He let out a low growl, but quickly composed himself. "Don't you have patrol to do by the borders?"

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

Nero just sighed, looking at the little child in front of him. Not even he took in children this young- his general rule was no toddlers. He was... honestly he felt so done with raising children after the dozen or so before this. He'd have those children trained, make them grow up way too fast under threat of having everything they love and care about stripped from them, force them into obedience as if they were nothing but pawns, objects he could use to get to his end goal. He was aware that this was wrong, but hey, it worked, so he wasn't all that bothered about the moral side of things.

Now? Now he knew just how messed up this girl is. He was aware what happened to her was wrong, but... He had to admit, he wouldn't care about that if she were useful to him. If he was still raising children to do his bidding, he'd be happy hearing this, it would mean he'd essentially get a free pass to do whatever he wanted to her with no consequences, and he wouldn't even have to convince her that it wasn't him who did all those horrible things but The Beast. It would mean he'd have the perfect child, she'd probably be a favorite tool of his, had she been there when he was still in the whole doing evil business- before the Triumvirate changed. He'd have probably sent her instead of McCaffrey to get to Lester.

He didn't need her now, though, so he wasn't interested in raising her- she wasn't of any use to him. He never understood the whole parenting thing. He was never any good at it, he just needed an army of child soldiers because he sure as hell wasn't getting his hands dirty.

...leave. That's exactly what he'd do with the other children he's raised, drop them off with some germani caretakers or whatever workers he had under him and leave them there, he was never a present father in those kids' lives. Not unless they messed up and he had to strip something from them.

He sighed and put an arm around Lune, why? Because he knew she wouldn't leave him, and Commodus would likely have his head on a pike if something happened to a child under this roof. And if not Commodus, then Lucas. He yelled at a servant to pick up the gifts the little girl made for him before standing up, taking the child into his arms. "You'll regret this decision later in your life." That wasn't a threat or anything of the sort. It was a simple statement, it was going to come true.

A little pitter patter of feet and sobs started to approach Nero, that’s when he saw a sobbing line turn the corner with arms full of gifts.

@pleasedonttouch-me

Well, the emperor certainly wasn't expecting to see a crying child carrying what looked like too many things for them to carry approach him. "Hello?"

[that-roman-arsonist]

He sighed, he really needed to work on his.. planning. He was just bored, he wasn't expecting anyone to question him! Whatever. "I'm bored and taking a walk. Is that a crime? I'm just a retired legionnaire."

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

Ah, he messed up, hasn't he? He never liked admitting when he made mistakes, but he definitely wasn't as perfect as he'd like to think he is. It was a sad truth that he could only mask by his irritable, self-centered and overly confident persona. He's got to get himself out of this hole, but so far he's only been digging it deeper as if to bury himself in it or disappear off the face of the earth- at least for this little girl.

Did he care...? He had no clue. She's been nothing but polite the entire time. She's been a darling dare he say- yeah, it was... extremely out of character for him to think that. He didn't even know how he got to this point. It was so- so strange, to be able to look at a child and not see an object or a tool to get his business done. He hasn't thought about how he's started to view children ever since the Triumvirate's mission... kind of shifted, and now that he was forced to confront the fact that he still has a heart and feelings? That he's still somewhat human? It was awful. He wished he'd stayed cruel and just pushed the kid away when he had the chance.

He knows he's evil. Believe him, he knows. He's aware of it and he's fine with it- it was normal, at that point. It was just how he is. It didn't matter to him how people viewed him, as long as he was treated with respect, whether it be through force or not wasn't important. But this... display- this child wanted to desperately to have an adult figure that would care about her.

...it almost made him feel pity for her. "You could try Commodus, little one, he's got plenty of children, I hear they're happy. Everyone who came from my care came out scarred."

A little pitter patter of feet and sobs started to approach Nero, that’s when he saw a sobbing line turn the corner with arms full of gifts.

@pleasedonttouch-me

Well, the emperor certainly wasn't expecting to see a crying child carrying what looked like too many things for them to carry approach him. "Hello?"

[that-roman-arsonist]

Oh gods, what was happening now? Look, he may not be the first person, but he has some common sense, which was telling him that upsetting a child with no control over her abilities which were... unpredictable, to say the least, was not the best idea. And clearly he'd upset said child.

He had no clue how he'd gotten himself into this mess, or how to dig himself out, which was rare for him. To be so clueless meant to be a failure when he was alive- when he ruled Rome. He couldn't let himself make mistakes back then, he can't let himself make mistakes now.

"I'm not upset." Don't look at him like that, he had to say something. Might as well try to calm the child. However stupid that may sound. He didn't want her destroying the property or worse- injuring people. Yeah, his workers couldn’t permanently die, but it would still be annoying to lose them for a moment.

He sat down on the ground, not even caring about the way his suit would get dirty at the moment- out of character for him as that may sound, he had more important matters right now. "I just need you to understand that I am not a good man. Trust me, you wouldn't like having me as a father. This is more for your own good than anything else."

Was he really just protecting this poor child, or did he simply not want her around because he didn't need her? Who knows, at this point.

A little pitter patter of feet and sobs started to approach Nero, that’s when he saw a sobbing line turn the corner with arms full of gifts.

@pleasedonttouch-me

Well, the emperor certainly wasn't expecting to see a crying child carrying what looked like too many things for them to carry approach him. "Hello?"

[that-roman-arsonist]

He glared at Brutus. This insolent little brat thinks he can just insult him with no consequence. He was so close to actually ripping off the costume he was wearing in order to seem like just some retired camper- but no, he must resist. "I'm not disguising myself, child."

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Shh." He shushed him, not exactly knowing what else to do. Little thing was panicking, the emperor wasn't the best equipped person to deal with this kind of stuff. Just... picking him up from his lap and bringing him closer to his face. "Hush, now. You did nothing wrong. I'm trying to tell you I'm not a good father. I won't be good father, and I know that. This is for your own safety. I am not a good man."

Nero would hear the sound of someone struggling to turn the doorknob for his door, eventually, they seemed to do it correctly. Maybe he couldn’t see the blonde Zeus spawn entering the room, or maybe he did- regardless, just moments later, he’d hear little tiny struggles of the child trying to reach the top of his desk, seeming to try and set down papers there. The little cloud Nero and cloud Jasper just leaned over the side to see their creator struggling to reach the desk.

“Eh— eh—“ the little child made struggling noises, the small one was clearly much too small to reach

( @minithunderbitch )

The faux brunette turned to see what was happening- not like he expected someone to essentially break into his office as he worked, and he was even more confused when he saw... no one enter the room. He shrugged it off at first, turning back to his desk and continuing on with his paperwork as if nothing happened. Hey, don't look at him like that, he'd come back even if it was an assassination attempt! He wouldn't be gone for long.

He glanced over at the little cloud versions of himself and Jasper, trying to figure out what they were looking at, befire hearing the little noises and looking down and- oh. It was just the small Jupiter spawn from before. He remembers that one, it was the one who made the clouds. He sighed and pulled Zeno up to his lap, not sure why he was doing that, just... an instinct of sorts. The child was polite, so why shouldn't he be civil to him? "Ah, hello, child."

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Oh you little-" He had to resist the urge to grab this child by the collar of his shirt or whatever he was wearing and shaking him violently. Him, Greek?! No, there was no way- how could someone mistake him for a Greek?! "I'm not one of those pathetic cowards."

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Ah, shit-" He cursed under his breath, he honestly.. didn't expect anything out of this. Lune's been such a polite child over the time they've interacted, so skiddish, too. He didn't even know when he'd started noticing these things. He set the gifts down on the floor to free his arms. She thought he was mad a lot... which was understandable, he truly was mad a lot- but he wasn't, at least right now. "I'm not mad."

A little pitter patter of feet and sobs started to approach Nero, that’s when he saw a sobbing line turn the corner with arms full of gifts.

@pleasedonttouch-me

Well, the emperor certainly wasn't expecting to see a crying child carrying what looked like too many things for them to carry approach him. "Hello?"

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Poor?! You call-" He took a deep breath. He had to calm down. He was an adult. "I'm no amateur, boy. This isn't a disguise, what is so hard to understand?"

Nero didn't know why he was even in the camp, he just... He was bored, okay? He was very bored and travelled to California for fun. Who's going to stop him? Certainly not Commodus or any of the workers. He wore a disguise, of course he did, but he still entered Camp Jupiter like he owned the place. He was currently walking the streets of New Rome and looking at the architecture... And what's become of his empire.

@that-roman-arsonist

Brutus immeadiately realized something was up.

He doesn't like new people- especially strangers in obvious disguises.

Brutus had followed the strange man around- his hand firm on his dagger. He was already on edge, having a friend. He had someone to protect now.

Once he's certain nobody can see him, he confronts the man. "Who are you, and why are you endangering my home."

[that-roman-arsonist]

"Child, you-" He didn't even know how he got to this point. She didn't say anything wrong, why was she panicking. "Stop that."

A little pitter patter of feet and sobs started to approach Nero, that’s when he saw a sobbing line turn the corner with arms full of gifts.

@pleasedonttouch-me

Well, the emperor certainly wasn't expecting to see a crying child carrying what looked like too many things for them to carry approach him. "Hello?"

[that-roman-arsonist]

"I'm not nice." The statement came out flat, with no room for discussion. Nero wasn't a good person. He never was and never will be. He knew that. He didn't understand why Zeno wouldn't get it. What does he have to do for this child to stay away from him? He'd end up abusing the boy like he did with all the others.

Ah fuck, so it was like that huh? Stubborn little guy, really- he didn't feel like being mean to that, seems Zeno's just never had a proper parental figure... maybe he can drop him off with Commodus? Actually, no, fuck that, he's not letting that asshole think he's superior to him in any way- he just sighed as he looked at the small child.

What was he to do with him? Clingy Jupiter spawn, doesn't want to accept the fact Nero wouldn't be a good dad- but what does he even say? "You need to understand that I'm not a good parental figure. I never have been."

Nero would hear the sound of someone struggling to turn the doorknob for his door, eventually, they seemed to do it correctly. Maybe he couldn’t see the blonde Zeus spawn entering the room, or maybe he did- regardless, just moments later, he’d hear little tiny struggles of the child trying to reach the top of his desk, seeming to try and set down papers there. The little cloud Nero and cloud Jasper just leaned over the side to see their creator struggling to reach the desk.

“Eh— eh—“ the little child made struggling noises, the small one was clearly much too small to reach

( @minithunderbitch )

The faux brunette turned to see what was happening- not like he expected someone to essentially break into his office as he worked, and he was even more confused when he saw... no one enter the room. He shrugged it off at first, turning back to his desk and continuing on with his paperwork as if nothing happened. Hey, don't look at him like that, he'd come back even if it was an assassination attempt! He wouldn't be gone for long.

He glanced over at the little cloud versions of himself and Jasper, trying to figure out what they were looking at, befire hearing the little noises and looking down and- oh. It was just the small Jupiter spawn from before. He remembers that one, it was the one who made the clouds. He sighed and pulled Zeno up to his lap, not sure why he was doing that, just... an instinct of sorts. The child was polite, so why shouldn't he be civil to him? "Ah, hello, child."