#but you'd think adult Nero would have SOME other sentiment to express to his younger self other than fuck you

[dirkxcaliborn]

Continuing where my tags left off bc I decided I didn't want to put an essay there lol

It's so weird I think bc it's not like I disliked Nero in any way???? Like he was an asshole tbf but even if I didn't like him that much for a while, he didn't really deserve the narrative he got stuck with...

Like Pheonix was very antisocial. He didn't really get along with people and I think a big part of it was his own self-hatred making him isolate himself. That said, he did have one friend and they were pretty close even though they didn't really understand each other for a while. Nero also didn't get along with people and hated himself, but while Pheonix had a very apathetic approach, Nero was very aggressive and antagonist. He lashed out a lot and would target people in jealousy, and Pheonix's best friend ended up his primary target. (Looking back now a line could probably be drawn between Nero recognizing himself in Pheonix and attacking something Pheonix had that Nero didn't, a friend).

Moving on, both of them ended up dating someone they had an extremely antagonistic relationship with as kids. Pheonix started dating his best friend's brother, who he'd basically been mortal enemies with since 1st grade. They had a lot of issues to work through, obviously, but they faced a lot of them head on and were really determined to go about things seriously. They got married and they love each other sooooooo so so much it probably makes ppl sick lol.

Nero on the other hand ended up dating Pheonix's best friend?? And to make things messier that's also his sister's ex??? which there was like this whole body swap thing that lead to that and probably really shouldn't have. Their relationship was always pretty rocky and they broke up before college... but for some reason years later they got back together??? and at this point Nero was really fixated on Alex (Pheonix's best friend) and had basically pleaded with him to get back together with him. A lot of their relationship from then on is kind of just... Alex indulging Nero, and Nero doing what he has to to stay with him. Nero actually proposed to Alex at one point and got turned down!! And at this point, Alex is like hmm the more I think about it, I think this relationship is really harmful to Nero and he's forced to sacrifice a lot to be with me and I just don't feel the same way as him. And Nero's just like No it's Fine I am Begging you please stay with me ok it's my choice if I want to put myself through this so please.

And that's not even getting into the fact that Alex is aro and Nero is ace. Like..... bro. Don't ask me why dude I don't know I really do not know.

Pheonix was allowed to go through a whole arc where he learned to accept himself while surrounded by so much support and love... while Nero's still just doing the most self destructive shit.

I'm still not entirely sure how to dig him out of that hole. He and Alex definitely need to break up but idk how to bring that about when he's so adamantly clingy and Alex is such a push over. I don't think Pheonix and Ren would interfere... they haven't so far and as of yet there's not a catalyst to do so. Pheonix also isn't really the type to interfere in other people's business, and Ren has long hated Nero so him suggesting they break up wouldn't be anything new. I absolutely refuse to have an infidelity plot line... while I think there is the possibility of Alex being convinced to break up with Nero, that doesn't really address Nero's issues and there's nothing really stopping him from again, turning up Alex's doorstop and pleading with him until he takes him back.