Re: The Jaded/The Disaffected
Nicky followed. He wasn't a follower, but he followed when it suited him. Mostly. Right now, it suited him. Did he dress in a similar way to a lot of typical scene kids? Yes, but. Didn't do it to be something he was or wasn't. Comfort, with a little vanity mixed in. His hair was a naturally-curly mess. When he dressed this way, styled his hair, applied the eyeliner, he liked what he saw staring back in the mirror. Liked it better, anyway. But was he really like any of them? Not by a long shot.
Inevitably, Nicky was himself.
He would've laughed - genuinely - if he could read Emil's mind. All wrong. So, so wrong. But that's fine, he didn't give a damn what people thought about him. Went along with his father because there was simply no other choice. The only time following didn't suit but he did it anyway. He'd try to fight back, sometimes, but things always went his father's way. Imbalance of power, on a divine scale. Nicky had a piece of that - the ring - but it was nothing compared to what the old man could do.
But again, not really a man. And Nicky Sherwood, by definition, was half "not really."
"Nicky," he returned. "Don't you ever shut up?" Quips again. Little needles. Knew the guy - Emil - probably wouldn't rise to the bait, but Nicky enjoyed it.