winning over your lover's husband

[tom=http://i.imgur.com/m6DXegb.png, #6d229c]Nero hadn't done something this elaborate for a relationship in a while. Well, maybe you couldn't really call it 'elaborate', but the situation was still messy, and less casual than his usual. Not that it bothered him! No, no, he wasn't repulsed. Just a little out of practice. He'd almost thought it was nervousness, but Nero wasn't the type of guy to get jittery. Especially not over something this unthreatening. All he was doing was chatting up a pipsqueak nerd-- and he already had crewmates that fit that description. He was immune to their tantrums, and if this guy tried the same predictable munchkin strategy, he'd be just as immune to it. Nero wasn't nervous. He was restless. There was a significant difference here, because it wasn't based in insecurity, but eagerness, instead.

Afternoon, Manta Carlos City. Nero was paying a visit to Tobias 'Toby' York. He expected to eventually meet the man, even back when he'd only known the guy as Felix's close friend. The development to husband wasn't shocking, but sure had happened fast. A lot of change, right before his eyes. It was overwhelmingly for the better. Felix had pretty obviously been lonely, life heading towards further trainwreck, and he'd seemed to be missing someone like Nero was missing someone. Nero loved Felix. Felix loved Nero. But they weren't that person, to each other-- the one being missed and distracted from. Nero's blondie was dead, Felix had found and managed to keep his, and they understood that with each other. What they had remained important. There was something worthwhile, here, and Nero felt softly towards it.

So he was going to try to gain a comfortable dynamic with Felix's special person. And Nero had a nice, forceful personality, so he wasn't worried about a thing. He knocked on the door to the apartment above Smoke and Mirrors, a fancy shop owned by good ol' hubby, and waited for a response. He knew the little dude was in, 'cause… he'd watched him come home, honestly! If Toby ignored him, he was going to bang on the door louder. If Nero then broke it, well. He'd pay for that. Or, give them a new door, made from ship scrap! That'd be fun.[/tom]

[tom=http://i.imgur.com/ebBfgqX.png, #ffd265]Toby didn't miss the feeling of eyes on him. His home was meant to be his sanctuary, where everything he cared about was kept, someplace he could relax and unwind. Here, he shed the fake skin he clutched at, and lived without ulterior motive until it was time to venture out into the world again. Having people make surprise visits wasn't something he liked, and led to instant high alert. After going inside, he locked the door carefully and went down to his 'basement' original apartment, the floor under his and Felix's, above the shop. He turned on all of his security feeds, eyes big and attentive. Watching, waiting. He stayed like that until the opposing party made their move and approached. Then, he leaned forward, nose bumping against the screen.

He squinted and sat back. Checked his phone. He'd saved one of the selfies that had been posted by Nero the tentacled space pirate, for later reference. That was him, features matched completely. Felix had said the man was going to talk to him, but Toby had assumed that translated into a few stiff texts, then no contact whatsoever. A personal drop by was a whole other game. What was this jackass' deal? Toby didn't hate him, but was friendliness really a thing that they were doing? Was it necessary? Toby didn't advertise himself as a social butterfly, not even when behaving better.

That fucking banging. Toby ground his teeth like a frustrated rodent, and got up when it didn't stop through shunning. He wanted to snap at Nero when answering the door, but decided against the impulse. He'd probably think Toby was being jealous. He wasn't. Only offended about the lack of calling ahead. No way was he going to play perfect host for this occasion. Nah. And he could afford to be bratty, right? He was the husband, Nero was the lover. Toby felt an easy sense of superiority. He climbed back into the main apartment and skittered over to the door.

Nero was taller in person than on camera. Toby peered up at him, eyes suspicious but curiously round. He looked like a character from a classic adventure book, crossed with… well, something that should be trying to eat Ripley. It was overwhelming for a moment, tripped Toby up, pandering to his obsession with the best, biggest monsters. He stood his ground, refusing to swoon too quickly. You had to earn that. "…Yes. Can I help you?" Toby managed to grate out. It was horrifyingly awkward to begin with that, but it was also awkward to show up on someone's property at random, so they were both going to have to live with this.[/tom]

[tom=http://i.imgur.com/m6DXegb.png, #6d229c]Nero knocked louder and louder until Toby gave up on his hiding and opened the door for him. The space pirate waved and beamed! Little dude seemed to be checking him out. He could see the ferret resemblance, with his shifty, suspicious eyes and body type. Cat snake, Nero thought, snickering quietly. In return, he leaned closer, balancing himself with a hand at the doorframe, looming over Toby. He didn't reply to the question at first, distracted with this sizing each other up that was happening. Grouchiness or not, he was cute in that uh, thing you find at a thrift store way? The potential to be a gem, if a little smudged with dirt. Nero could say the same for dumpster treasure, and that might be more accurate, with this guy's hobbies. Felix had shared, a few times, and Nero had laughed a damn lot. He had a feisty vibe to him, too, that same bite Felix surprised people with.

"Yeah, bud! You're just the guy I was hoping to catch up with." Nero reached out and tapped Toby once on the nose. Then, he slid (or shoved, you might call it) his way past the man and into the apartment. "Can I come in? Thanks! Haven't been over here before, and-- Damn, fancy shit! Sweet ass decorations and snooty furniture, I love it, oozes that… Listen I dunno but, I feel like I can taste the money in the air, and as a pirate, I appreciate these things." Were they bonding yet? This was fantastic bonding.

"I'm off topic, didn't really answer your question, huh?" Nero asked, turning to wander back to Toby. He smiled as Mittens wound around his leg, making a friendly chirp noise at the cat. "I want to get to know you a lil', Mr. Husband, make sure there's no ill-will between us. Whatcha say?" He waggled his eyebrows.[/tom]