Week Six

[letsplayamod]

You've survived, for lack of better wording, the latest week of trials and tribulations. This one had been more costly than most: Typhon's machinations have brought your group to nearly half the size it was when Athena first brought you to this island. Whether it ends with him or with you is still too soon to make out. One thing's for certain. Things cannot be allowed to continue as they are.

Speaking of continuing, the next floor has been revealed to you. Just how far down this island goes is a bit of a mystery, but you get the feeling that you're close to something important. Maybe that thing Athena wanted you to find before Typhon does. You can ruminate on that as you watch the waters below. Waves still lap at the cliffs, but it all seems lower than it did weeks ago. Like the ocean itself is shrinking...

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Quark's Bar

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cw: referenced animal death, body horror

[stringup]

[ She turns her head to see the new bad habit Ferdinand's picked up, and one hand reaches up to touch at the lip scar to try and get him to stop that. Don't open up a new wound there.

It takes her a while to continue. Both because she finds that she wants to stay in Ferdinand's arms a while longer and because she has to find the words for what she wants to tell. She's never actually expressed...any of what had happened that night. The incident came and passed, and she just kept all its dark details to herself. Surely no one would want to listen, and no one should have to be burdened by the knowledge.

(And privately a part of her also feared, what if after hearing it all, they would see her for the stupid, short-sighted and awful girl she was? Trading the world away from the sake of two people.) ]

...When I woke up, the fire had died out. I managed to drag myself out from underneath. I could...still walk, somehow, even if it hurt. Maybe they managed to survive, or...if nothing else, I could find their bodies. I heard Kogoro barking, so I thought at least he was safe, but...

Some of the mercenaries had stayed behind to loot through what was left. Of course he'd keep barking at them. He... They...

[ Her voice trails off. She doesn't want to recount that particular scene, but the silence probably says everything. ]

...You know, there's a particular necromancy spell. With a single syllable, you can brand someone and make their skeleton roil and writhe beneath their skin, until it tears itself out.

I did it to all of them.

[markofnobility]

[her hand stops his gnawing, the scar tissue and the skin around it already red and puffy from his efforts.

He tries to picture what that spell would look like. Worse, what it would feel like. His imagination is happy to supply some possibilities. Horror roils in his guts- of course it does, he is still human.

But he finds he can not muster much disgust at her doing so. The noble thing to do would be to sympathize but not condone such brutality. A noble kills when it's needed with clean efficiency and he certainly does not enjoy it.

Instead all that comes out of his chewed lips is:]

Good.

[ he's not a noble anymore, so to hell what they would find the proper responce]

1/2

[stringup]

[ Velvet watches Ferdinand's reaction with an expression that can only be called "complicated". In a way, it is a relief, for many reasons; in other ways, she can't help but worry that this tale will change him for the worse. That it is no different from the poison that will rot society from within. ]

...It had felt good back then, watching them struggle and scream. Like it sated some—terrible desire to hurt someone.

[ Eight years worth of enduring, enduring and enduring finally snapping apart like a toothpick and unleashing itself on deserving victims. ]

I started looking for my siblings after. Touya was...underneath some debris. If he wasn't crushed to death, the fire would have claimed him still.

[ That terrible moment when she realised he had suffered the same death she had just cheated. ]

cw: Child death, suicidal ideation

[stringup]

Mizuki was...

[ Despite pausing to try recomposong herself, to keep herself from shaking, her voice still ends up cracking as she speaks. ]

There was a burned husk curled up in the corner of her room. She...she was only eight. The last thing I remembered was her begging even my useless mother to come get her. I'm sure she thought Touya and I had abandoned her.

I-in the end, I didn't even bury them, or give them any last rites. I just...kept crying. Thinking I should have let myself die with them.

[ That maybe she could still make things right and join them then, if only she would stop being a coward. ]

cw: Child death, suicidal ideation

[markofnobility]

[ he rocks them both a bit as she talks. Soothing for her and him both, eyes prickling with that rage but also empathetic anguish. He never had siblings- at least none he knew, danm his rake of a father- so this degree of loss is unknown to him. But he can feel it baking off her in waves

His words once again come unbidden and unthought through]

Even so, I am glad you didn't.

[ same she said to him. Even if her choice wasn't selfish like his, he's blessed that she made it]

cw: suicidal ideation

[stringup]

[ Her breath catches in her throat at what Ferdinand says. Of course he would tell her this; has he not made it clear how much he adores her?

But ever since that night, Velvet has treated her survival as the result of a sin she cannot truly atone for, a decision that cannot ever be taken back. Even when she finally decided she no longer wanted to be miserable, she couldn't find it in herself to be happy she was alive. Not when her siblings who could have had brighter futures had returned to the earth, nor when being alive felt excruciating every step of the way. Any sensible person could see she is tainted and blighted, and even before that, there was nothing lovable about a dreary, gloomy girl who could only think about making it to the next day, next week, next month, and next cycle.

To hear Ferdinand say she is glad she chose to live, even if she hadn't chosen the world—it is more than she deserves. It lets her think she is worth cherishing.

If he feels something wet against his chest, it's only because Velvet has heard something she desperately needed, even if she hadn't realised it. ]

[markofnobility]

[ and as he has always tended to do, he keeps talking]

I know you do not think so. That what happened made you unworthy of it. But I know in my heart that you are good. What unworthy person would risk their very soul to save their loved ones? And that goodness is still there, I have seen it- when you came to my aid, when you've fought alongside the others, when you made Misane's doll... even though it makes you bleed and the shadows reach for you. If you were not, why would that damned oath need to threaten you so?

[ he presses his face to her crown]

I have been blessed to know you.

[stringup]

[ She doesn't try to move from where she currently is, apparently content to just stay like this. ]

...Sometimes, I wonder if things would've been different if I had met you sooner.

[ Or someone like Ferdinand, but she finds herself reluctant to imagine anyone else, even hypothetically. ]

[markofnobility]

Different for us both.

[He silently prays, even though Sothis has never answered a single one before now. That Athena would show up tomorrow. That they would uncover the weapon randomly. That Typhon would choke on a chicken bone and die pissing himself. Something. Anything.]

[stringup]

[ But none of those were ever meant to be.

She tries to tilt her head up so she can nuzzle him, much like a kitten. ]

...I wish I could tell you that that night ended with some relief, after everything that had happened.

[markofnobility]

[He hums deep in his chest at the affection]

Stories like this rarely do.

[But he's listening, regardless. he does so adore his tragedies]

[stringup]

[ Suddenly, she wishes they were in their room instead, and not here. She really has become spoilt, wanting to keep giving and receiving affection like this. ]

Eventually, some people from town came to look for survivors. Or if nothing else, bodies to properly bury.

I'm sure...I looked like I was demon-possessed right then, covered in blood and all. And they had just survived a sacking. I don't blame them for being antsy and not wanting to take chances.

A girl I knew tried to kill me then and there. But for some reason, I fought back enough to run away instead of letting her end me.

[markofnobility]

[ yeah he can't blame them either]

Some part of you still wanted to live.

[ even if it was just the base animal part]

[stringup]

...Yes.

[ Back then, it felt shameful. ]

Afterwards...I was guided to the Lover's fortress. It wasn't as if I had anywhere else to go. I had to get far enough out of Realm territory before a colleague could retrieve me, so I walked for...I think nearly 2 weeks? Towards the northern shoreline. Long enough that I couldn't stand another moment of living with my legs back then.

[ Ferdinand can probably guess how this led to the prosthetics. ]

...So there you have it. My miserable story.

[markofnobility]

Two weeks...

[ of course he's marched for similar lengths. But on likely very damaged legs? No wonder she lost them.]

... thank you. For telling me.

[stringup]

I just thought...perhaps you should know.

[ Especially since he plans on being with her. ]

Could we go back to our room?

[markofnobility]

Of course, my dear.

['our'. Oh, that does something to him. Would normally make his heart sing. Now it feels like a blade- one he slid into his own breast.]

[stringup]

And...

[ Why's her face red?

Oh, being with Ferdinand has spoiled her, truly. ]

If...you wouldn't be against carrying me...

[markofnobility]

[His eyes brighten- it makes sense, she's been crying, it's been an emotional conversation. But the blush makes it clear this is indulgent too. He pulls away, standing up from the stage... and moves to scoop her up in a princess carry. Even though they are a similar height she is not heavy to him at all]

[stringup]

[ Despite having been the one who asked for it, she still startles a bit at how easily Ferdinand just picks her up, which probably speaks a lot about both his strength and her eating habits.

She isn't sure what she's supposed to do with her hands like this, and ends up wrapping her arms around Ferdinand's neck to steady herself. ]

[markofnobility]

[He grins at that, turning to walk off- they would need the lift; while he COULD probably manage the stairs up like this, he would be pretty tired by the end]

You know we will have to travel quite a bit like this?

[Everyone out and about will see. he doesn't mind it though]

[stringup]

[ Well, that's why this was a terribly self-indulgent request for her to make. ]

...I know.

[ But from how she isn't protesting, she doesn't seem to mind, either. ]

[markofnobility]

As long as you are aware!

[ and off we go! Struting down the hall like he owns it, and awkwardly calling the lift with his elbow]

[stringup]

[ If it gets too awkward, Velvet reaches with one hand to press the button for them instead. But she otherwise doesn't seem too flustered to be in Ferdinand's arms. Content, even. ]

[markofnobility]

[As soon as her hand raises to help he rushes to get it done, probably nicking his funny bone in the process]

A-owow- no, no none of that!! I have things well in hand!