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xmoriartea · 1 year

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— Curse of Strahd: Barovian Currents

Now you may be wondering, how did we get here. Well, reading the last couple of these archives, I think that’s pretty clear. But the consequences part... ho boy. We can thank the DLC for that, but I’ll get there in a minute.

The morning after taking Strahd's hand off in a fight HE started, we knew things were going to be Not Great. We gave Ismark and Ireena some warning the night before and decided to take it as we could.

Tanner, ever the thoughtful artificer who just refuses to sleep, decided to craft a fancy gauntlet, using all number of stones and gems we’d collected to offer as a gift for Strahd. A way to make amends. “Sorry for taking the hand, but don’t touch what’s not yours.” A friendly gesture that he didn’t at all work some sort of cold mold bomb into. Not at all. Just an ordinary gift.

I sent a very casual Sending to Escher about wanting to borrow some poetry in hopes of Vibe Checking the Brides. He was a little distracted, but otherwise had Big Dumb Poet energy and we figured Strahd hadn't told them yet.

See. No fault. Escher wasn’t threatening me for behanding his beloved, so its finneee.

Tanner went off to join Ismark, Urwin, Wachter, and Kalina for a council meeting and spent the lunch debating where they should try to build a school. Deciding the recently burned down prison would be best rebuilt, they also agreed a temp house in Vallaki could be reclaimed

The gals, meanwhile, did some shopping times. Arabelle got ready for a cute date with Rowan the fire genasi baker we adopted and Alkali made Choices regarding spending her money on gifts for the future Widows of Strahd

Look I was personally keeping the town jewelsmith in business between emergency diamonds, custom mirrors, and wanting to give my beloveds lovely aquatic themed gifts made of silver and amber.

An octopus pendant for Ludmilla on a long chain where the body of the octopus was amber with a little amber skull in its tentacles

Tentacle ear cuffs for Volenta with an amber skull at the earring position

A tentacle choker with an amber skull grasped at the throat for Anastrasya

And for the poet, tentacled ring with little amber bits embedded and a little bit of celestial inscribed on the inner band: “Sever” referencing a poem she’d found and hoped he would take to heart when the time came

Totally normal moves to make in Barovia, I’m sure.

Tanner and Kalina rejoined us at the Inn and told us about the house they wanted to use as a temporary school. Family disappeared mysteriously, so like, obviously haunted. We told Arabelle to enjoy her date, and the rest of us went to explore the house

Tanner ofc pissed off the ghost we found in there and Alkali got her Big Grave Keeper Boots on to tell the ghost to cooperate with them and chat. It did, mostly, but then it got weird and disappeared into the ceiling. As we followed, it got wildly cold in the house. The ghost had mentioned a pact with Levictus and we were preparing for Something to still be here

We were not prepared to run into Lexx, the vampire courier we threatened after she stalked Arabelle the day prior / the vampire courier Tanner paid to DELIVER A PROSTHETIC HAND TO STRAHD

She also did not expect us. Apparently she'd been living in the abandoned house and hadn't noticed anything weird, keeping to her attic room. She scampered out the window to Ravenloft before we could really ask more, and we turned our attention to the Very Cold room down the hall

The ghost decided to do some Shit and when it started making weird summoning circles in ghost energy, we tried to Turn it - but no good it summoned an ice devil and we popped off

All things said, things could have gone better. We did put the devil out of commission for several rounds, but the ghost was an Asshole. It Finger of Death'd Tanner, but he's a tanky lad and withstood it.

Then it decided to possess Alkali which, OOC, prompted me to remind the DM all the ways I could fuck up my own party

IM HELPFUL

(LOOK. I have a brand. I am nothing if not consistent.)

But Mina Turned the boi and we took him out before focusing on the Devil. Kalina, who we've suspected of being angel blood, popped her wings for the first time ever in a fight, surprising herself and the devil who was Very Close to killing her Many Times. But we won, easy. Mostly.

We almost super died like five times and that would have been rough for Arabelle to figure out when she came back from Date Night, but we did it

[Heroic Trumpets Here]

Success enough to go back to the inn, celebrate, and possibly scar the two Wachter boys for life because... look even then I wasn’t sure why, but Tanner was up to something Tanner-like and again. No consequences.

Not for us anyway.

Until there are.

See, we were going to Divine Kalina's lineage, but alas, didn't have that spell. BUT. I had scrying. And it was night time, we were settling in. Now I could do what I had wanted to do since I woke up— I scry'd on Strahd

And look. I wanted him to be angry. I wanted him to be tearing apart his study, furious that he was not as untouchable as he believed.

But he was quiet, angrily working on something, while discussing plans with Rahadin. His study was filled with boxes, some weapons...some dirt

Rahadin said something about being ready to move in the morning, Strahd told him to see to it, and then Rahadin left. And Strahd stood. And walked towards a curtain in his room. And pulled it back. There was a barred tank...with a trapped Lake Zarovich merfolk inside

We have spent so much time in the lake. We rescued a merfae prince from an abolith. We rescued a village of merfolk enslaved by merrow and sahuagin. These are OUR FRIENDS

And Alkali had to watch as Strahd charmed and fed off of one of them with the horrible realization that this was not the first

APPARENTLY. Strahd took it as a personal offense that there were merfolk in the lake that he wasn’t actively making suffer. So after everything we went through, destroying aboleths, sahuagins, and merrow liches, Strahd decided to go for a fucking swim for the first time in 400 years and see what was down there for himself. And he and Rahadin took up fishing.

SUDDENLY. CONSEQUENCES. and Alkali and I were FURIOUS.

Panicking, she recounted this to the others, pulled her nails from the dents in the table she'd made, and started firing off sendings. First to Merrick, the fae prince, and then to Araxia, the elemental elder of the mer village. She told both of them that vampires were threatening the lake, that no one could leave or enter the sanctuaries anymore. Araxia readily agreed, but something was off with Merrick...

Mina sent to Nadia and Taron, our favorite twin merfolk with more fighting spirit than anyone else in the lake. Taron told them Merrick was lying— Nadia was missing and they hadn't found her yet. And Nadia didn't reply.

While Tanner and Mina ran to go get Arabelle from her date and warn Ismark about the lake and Strahd's fury, Alkali wrote a letter to her own twin. She prayed Umberlee would carry the letter to him, and apologized that if he didn't hear from her again, she was lost to the mists. She gave it to Denika, the innkeep, and asked her to send it when one day Alkali didn’t return.

Moving upstairs, Alkali scry'd again, this time on Rahadin. Unlike Strahd, he doesn't have a -21 penalty to her saves, but she got eyes on him regardless. Plans involving carriages, horses, and potentially a boat and crane, were related to an accountant to see they were done.

She watched him apologize to Volenta that Strahd was still busy, but never saying busy with what, and saw him retire to his own study where more merfolk were trapped in tanks. Muttering about wishing to drain the whole lake, he got to work at his desk as the vision faded.

Trying to decide what to do, they Communed with Umberlee. Vallaki was in immediate danger due to these actions, so an idea was formed...

Forbiddance. A spell that costs 1000gp in rubies — rubies like the 10k gp necklace Strahd had gifted Arabelle on her birthday.

So Kalina got to foreshadow-tool-gem crushing and we decided the last available scry was going to be grim, but we needed answers. I scry'd on Nadia.

I expected Ravenloft, a tank, a box— something she didn't deserve simply for being our friend. Instead, she was in the lake, swimming along the bed of it. She spoke with another mer, about finding someone lost and scared and helping them.

And for a minute, Alkali and I both wanted to hope. She swam into a little house, no resistance, and we thought maybe there was still time. Arabelle tried to warn her as I watched and she tilted her head once at the sending...before smiling again at the scared mer in the house.

And then he went still when he looked in her eyes, and Alkali broke the vision as she went for his throat.

And now the little aquatic safe haven we were trying to build for these merfolk suddenly looked like this:

But sending to Taron that he couldn't trust his twin because she was dead was...not a conversation anyone wanted to have. But he had to know. He had to know his sibling was gone.

Which is why, even after all of this, before bed...Alkali and Mina had a talk.

Remember when I said Mina and Alkali "met" when Mina stole a relic from one of the sunken ships Alkali's family guarded and that’s how they ended up in Barovia, Alkali hunting Mina down to get that relic back.

At the ball, Alkali found out there was another reason Mina had been the cleric to go after the relic. The ship it was in was the last known location of her brother 20 years ago. It was the first ship Alkali watched sink...with all of its crew, even a sea elf.

If they were getting ready for a showdown that could very well, at any point, be their last... Alkali needed Mina to know the truth, so they stepped outside and Alkali prepared herself to get absolutely fucking punched because she could only imagine the kind of grief that burned with rage.

She gave her the compass. She expected to be hit, to be screamed at, any of the rage she'd feel for losing her twin. But Mina just fell into wails of grief and the hits were weak, broken things.

Alkali held her and let her grieve how she needed to. Next door, Tanner wisely reminded everyone to ... Not mentioning the wailing, and just pretend they hadn't heard it. Eventually, the clerics rejoined the others and wards and alarms were set for the coming night.

But Mina and Alkali stayed close together, the smol triton protecting the tol sea elf as they both tried to sleep.

Because that night? It sucked.

But morning was going to be worse.

#dnd #curse of strahd #barovian currents #oh the difference 12 hours makes

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sethrine-writes · 3 years

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Daughter of a Devil, Ch. 27

Main Characters: Father!Dante & Daughter!Reader

Words: 1631

Warnings: Mild canon-typical violence, Angst (but definitely some bittersweet happiness)

Story Summary: Being a parent wasn’t easy, nor was there such thing as being perfect at it. Good news for Dante, seeing as how he doesn’t have the slightest idea in hell what to do with a child. Sometimes, he was certain that fighting off a horde of demons was a far better match than keeping up with his own daughter. Well, at least he wasn’t going down without a fight.

A/N: So close to the end of this series! And the end of the Vergil arch is here! Enjoy!

------

Chapter 27 - What He Never Could Have (1 yr.)

For Lady, the battle had just ended.

Lying before her, cold and lifeless to the world thanks to four shots from her own gun, was her father, Arkham. He was an evil man, one that had allowed a demon to corrupt his heart in hopes of obtaining Sparda’s power and becoming an all-powerful entity. He had killed her mother and countless other people just for this one goal, had ruined her life, and for that, he paid the ultimate price by her own hands.

A laugh escaped her lips as she looked up into the sky, the light sound soon turning into relieved sobs and cascading tears.

“Here I thought I wasn’t gonna cry.”

She stayed like that for several minutes, arms resting lethargically against her raised knees as her mismatched eyes stared into the grey sky above. It looked like morning was quickly approaching, but all that could be seen was the gloom of shadows and ashy colors. Still, it was better than the darkness that had taken over some hours ago, a sign of, hopefully, the end to a nightmare years in the making.

Something shifted strangely to the right, catching Lady’s attention almost immediately. Reflexively, she twisted her body until she was on one knee and in a position to attack, aiming her gun at the source of the movement. Instead of a rogue demon coming from the rubble as she had thought there would be, a passageway that had previously been sealed off had suddenly opened. Within, she could see a staircase leading down, and a sound that sounded like gurgling of some sort echoed from the chamber.

Lady stood and followed the path into a well-lit, open area. In the middle of the chamber stood a large bed-like structure with walls that came to her waist. Within, Lady was surprised to find a child lying within, her tiny arms wrapped around a stuffed animal.

“Well, hello. What are you doing here?”

You looked up at the new sound of a voice, eyes wide as you took in the curious face standing above you. You reached up after a moment and began to babble, surprising Lady even more at the ease of which you accepted her presence. With the slightest bit of hesitation, Lady reached forward and took hold of you, carefully lifting you from the makeshift playpen and cradling you in her arms.

From what she could tell, you looked unharmed and taken care of, unbothered by whatever destruction had been occurring all night. You couldn’t have been any more than a year, at most, a darling little girl with a striking feature Lady felt almost familiar with.

“That hair...”

”Oh, one more thing-”

Dante turned to look over his shoulder at Lady, her weapon she had allowed him to borrow, Kalina Ann, resting comfortably on the opposite side. His eyes were set, holding so much more seriousness than any of their previous interactions before, the light, carefree nature hidden within all but vanishing in that one moment of time.

“They took something from me, something I can’t live without. If you find it, keep it safe for me.”

He turned and continued on his way for possibly the final battle that would determine the fate of the world. Though she didn’t quite understand what he meant or what exactly he was talking about, she owed him that much to at least attempt to find whatever it was that had been stolen.

She would have been a fool not to try.

“Could you be what he was looking for?”

---

Dante was in the midst of fighting off Vergil, swords clashing and sparks flying through the air like lightning striking the night sky. He had not wanted things to come to this, yet in the end, he had expected it. Despite the outcome, Vergil was still family, still his brother. It was pointless, however, to make him see reason when he was so hell-bent on his own idea of power.

“Why did you take her away from me when you could have easily gotten my attention?” Dante asked after a brief separation from steel against steel. “Seems a little below you, even for your standards.”

Vergil paused for a moment himself, twisting his sword within his grasp for a few moments before darting forward once more with intent to kill.

“Nothing is below a man seeking power.”

More clashing of swords, even more sparks lighting the darkness around them. Vergil was becoming slower, and it was easy to tell that he wouldn’t be able to hold up much longer. Dante was faring a little better, but he, too, was becoming tired. The next blow would be the final blow.

“You know, you were always the smarter one of us both; you always had that “holier-than-thou” complex that just really pissed me off. Why the hell were you so envious of me? No…why are you still?”

Vergil panted heavily from a distance away, eyes narrowed and casting a venomous glare toward his twin counterpart.

“I never could understand you, Dante. No brains, but always well-liked by many. No need for power, yet stronger than ever. It unnerved me, not understanding how you were possibly better than me. It wasn’t until recently that I finally understood.”

Without warning, he came running forward; Dante had no other choice but to follow along. It was time to end it all.

---

Vergil had been defeated.

Dante’s will was strong enough to overcome the power his brother possessed and still continued to seek, all because he had set out to this place for one purpose. He would protect you and the world he would be raising you in until his final breath, even if it meant defeating his one and only brother.

“You…always had what I never could have. Strength beyond power, awareness beyond knowledge…it seems, in this instance, you were more powerful than I."

The portal was closing from above, the area around them crumbling from the closing of the gates. Vergil clutched at the amulet around his neck, the one their mother had given to each of them so many years ago.

“No one can have this, Dante... It's mine. It belongs to a son of Sparda. Leave me and go, if you don't want to be trapped into the demon world. I'm staying."

He looked around briefly, an air of finality about him set in stone.

"This place was our father's home; your daughter will have no place or sense of purpose with her father here.”

Dante gave a defeated look of his own, knowing he would not be able to convince Vergil otherwise. He couldn’t save his brother from himself; it was something even he had no influence over.

But he could still have his life with you.

---

“I need that back,” Lady stated with the slightest smile, pointing at her weapon, Kalina Ann, while carefully cradling you with her other arm.

Dante leaned against the large weapon resting upright on the ground, a small smile playing at his lips despite his worn appearance.

“Tell you what; I’ll trade you for that bundle of joy you’ve got there.”

Lady looked down at your suddenly gibbering form reaching out for Dante, eyes even brighter than before. She couldn’t stop the slight laugh that escaped her lips.

“Deal.”

Once Dante had you back in his arms, he held you close to him in a semi-tight embrace for several long moments despite your struggling at the end. It surprised him how much he had been affected by your absence, how much he really missed having you there with him, tugging at his hair and reaching for the amulet around his neck and nearly poking his eyes out when you got too excited.

He pulled you away to get a better look at your person, happy to find that you had not been harmed in any way. Vergil could have had anything done to you, could have killed you in the blink of an eye, yet he had kept you safe and sound, away from all the mess he had created.

Maybe there was some part of him that wasn’t so cold-blooded, after all.

“Are you crying?”

“It’s only the rain,” Dante responded, fully aware of the tears falling down his face. He was happy, and he was upset, two conflicting feelings that were wreaking havoc on his emotional state.

Lady looked up and around the area they had found themselves in. It was wet in some areas, if not a bit dusty from the rubble, and water was standing in puddles here and there, but it was no longer storming as it had been.

“But the rain already stopped.”

Dante smiled a bit then, a sad sort of smile that spoke volumes.

“Devils never cry.”

“I see.”

You suddenly gave a loud squeal of excitement as you reached forward to grab at Dante’s hair, taking hold of the strands in the front and trying to pull them back. You then became sidetracked by the shimmering red of the amulet around his neck and preoccupied yourself with the object shortly after. This forced a laugh from both Dante and Lady.

“Maybe somewhere out there even a devil may cry when he loses a loved one, or when he finds another. Don't you think?”

Dante smiled then, holding you steady with one hand under your bottom while the other came to run through your fluffy locks of hair.

This was something Vergil had been talking about, what he could never have. You were what made Dante stronger, what gave him power in his weakest moments, and what made him strive to become a better person and a better father.

There was nothing else Dante could ever ask for than to do right by you.

#devil may cry #dmc #devil may cry dante #dmc dante #reader #reader-insert #female reader #dmc lady #dmc vergil #dmc3 #Daughter of a Devil

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kristenbeeapples · 4 years

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@apple-scrumper‘s tags on this post about Zuko and Azula having the same vibes as Adaine and Aelwyn got me thinking about an a:tla au for fantasy high, and it spiralled out of control into this super long post. Enjoy!!

Adaine’s family are Fire Nation and are Important Advisors to the Fire Lord Kalvaxus. Adaine and Aelwyn have that sibling rivalry going HARD – Aelwyn has already mastered lightning-bending and Will Not Shut Up About It. Really, Adaine, it’s not that difficult, I don’t understand why you can’t do it? (Adaine punches her)

Adaine is invited to sit in on a war meeting and has a panic attack when she realises the evil things they’re all up to, embarrassing her parents. They send her on what they think is a futile quest to find the Avatar to regain her Honour. She is accompanied by Arthur Aguefort, another advisor to the Fire Lord but one who is... a problem, to say the least. Two birds with one stone for the Fire Nation!

Kristen is from the Northern Water Tribe and is a pretty powerful waterbender, with a focus on healing. Her parents are super involved in this weird bloodbending cult but she’s pretty sure it’s normal, right???

She also has some kind of connection to the Spirit World, which makes her extremely vulnerable to the weird end of days sacrifice Daybreak is doing to try and reopen the spirit world.

Fig lives in the Earth Kingdom in a town that’s been conquered by the Fire Nation and joins some other rebels pretty much as soon as she can walk. She’s sure she’s going to be an earthbender like her mom and kick some serious Fire Nation butt, but then it turns out she can firebend? Gilear’s not her dad? Her mom slept with someone from the Fire Nation??? How could she???

(It’s only when they visit the Fire Nation several shenanigans later and meet Ayda that she’s like.............okay I get it now.)

The Thistlesprings are metalbenders, and live in the same town as the Faeths. They adopted Gorgug from a village that was destroyed in a fire nation attack and aren’t super sure where his parents were from. Gorgug can’t bend, but he’s happy to be just a Guy with an axe helping out Fig and the other rebels.

UNTIL one time in the heat of battle his axe is knocked away from him and there’s a Fire Nation soldier going for an injured Fig and he doesn’t think, just reacts on instinct and his axe flies through the air and knocks the guy tf out. So seems like he is a metalbender after all? Cool!

He’s not super great at it yet, so he sticks with his axe while he’s learning, and mostly uses it to enhance his attacks by bending the axe head to hit a target more accurately.

Fabian is technically Water Tribe through his dad and Air Nomad through his mom but Bill and Hallerial have spent the past twenty years being a scourge of the seas to all the nations indiscriminately so they might have disowned him. He thinks he’s a non-bender like his dad and gets by with his sword and athletic ability.

It’s not until later in their adventures, after his dad dies and he has a brutal encounter with some of his ex-crewmates, that he visits one of the Air Nomad temples (which aren’t as destroyed in this au I guess lol) where his grandfather is an airbending monk teacher (for teens, ofc). Telemine teaches him to dance and helps him figure out he can airbend like his mom!

Like Gorgug, he mostly uses it to enhance his swordfighting ability rather than being a primary bender, but starts using his sheet to glide and do other airbending stuff while fighting!

Riz and Sklonda live in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se, and both of them are earthbenders. Sklonda works for the earthbender guards but on the side she’s trying to work out what’s going on with the Dai Li, which Pok was investigating before he died. (Riz thinks his dad was killed by the Fire Nation.)

Riz begins investigating the same thing without his mom knowing when his best friend/babysitter Penny Luckstone goes missing, presumed captured by the Fire Nation. His bending is this very precise form where he uses little rocks to go at high speeds like bullets and just fucking obliterate people, since in the middle of a crowded city there aren’t a tonne of places to practise with big rocks.

The story begins properly when the rebels get word that very important people from the Fire Nation are visiting a nearby town. Fig and Gorgug lie in wait to ambush them and capture them for leverage.

Before they can attack, however, a pirate ship swings into the harbour, led by Bill and Fabian Seacaster, and opens fire. They don’t care about politics, they just want that fancy Fire Nation shit.

The rebels (read: Fig) decide, fuck it, we’ll attack with the pirates, and then the Fire Nation crew waiting on the shore go to fight them and it’s all extremely chaotic.

Adaine is having a Very Bad Time. She hasn’t found the Avatar, she’s no better at firebending, Arthur Aguefort is So Much All The Time, and now she’s being attacked by pirates??? Her life sucks.

Fig, Gorgug and Fabian all end up in a standoff against her in the lower decks of the ship. Because it’s Adaine, she’s not going down without a fight, and she goes to blast the pirate-y looking dude with fire.

Except it’s not fire that comes rushing out. It’s air.

Oh shit.

She’s the Avatar.

Whilst she’s panicking about that, the rebel crew and Fabian agree that they need to get her away from the Fire Nation, and take her to Gorgug’s parent’s boat. Arthur Aguefort blows up the Fire Nation ship to let them get away and everyone thinks he died (spoiler: he didn’t)

Cue a series of insane shenanigans as Fig and Gorgug decide to adopt Adaine and take her around the world to learn other types of bending so she can restore balance to the world and kill her piece-of-shit abusive father (the Fire Lord, too, but the Abernants Are A Priority once Adaine warms up enough to them to talk about her parents).

Fabian helps them escape but doesn’t join them straight away. They keep running into each other in weird places until eventually they’re like do you... just want to come with us?? Fabian: No. (Yes.)

They save Kristen from this weird sacrifice thing whilst visiting the Northern Water Tribe, and she agrees to teach Adaine waterbending. She also helps her out with the spiritual side of being the Avatar.

Riz becomes Adaine’s earthbending teacher when they meet him in Ba Sing Se and help him figure out what the fuck is up the Dai Li.

Once the Abernants and the Fire Lord hear what happened, they send Aelwyn after Adaine and the gang to finish what her sister started, not realising she’s the avatar. An epic sister/sister rivalry and eventually redemption on the levels of Azula and Zuko begins.

Stray thoughts

The entire point of this long-ass post was for me to say that Jawbone is Uncle Iroh in this au. He Just Is.

Tracker is a Kyoshi warrior. Kristen still has some weird internalised sexism going on from being raised in this cult and is like, women shouldn't fight!! They’re too soft and pretty!! Tracker helps her learn to let go of that, and then also kisses her and sends her into a gay panic.

Kalina is a bloodbender working with the Dai Li and is DEFINITELY involved in Pok’s death.

The Hangman as a Sky Bison! Boggy as Momo! (Adaine picks him up in the Swamp)

This au is inherently funny to me bc Aang is a pacificist and struggles so much with whether or not to kill the Fire Lord, but if Adaine was the Avatar she would have absolutely no such qualms. Murder? Sign me up!

The idea of Adaine, the avatar, with command over all four elements, bridge to the spirit world, still just decking someone when she gets mad is also really fucking funny.

So she learns waterbending from Kristen, earthbending from Riz, airbending from Telemine, and firebending from Ayda. I think she learns firebending properly last - it turns out the reason she struggled with it so much is because her parents taught her it comes from anger and hatred, and she needed to find and learn love before she could use it properly.

Fabian gets the Zuko eye scar from being attacked by a firebender (Dayne) instead of it getting cut out.

Gorthalax is a Fire Nation commander who rebelled and fled to the Earth Kingdom where he met Sandralynn. He got recaptured which is why he wasn’t around in Fig’s life, but they eventually find him in prison and set him free.

Gilear is the ‘my cabbages!’ guy, but he sells yoghurt.

#fantasy high #the bad kids #a:tla!au #this got..........very long lol #whoops!! i just think it's neat!!#fair warning i haven't watched atla in a while so i may be misremembering some key details #i should rewatch it tho......#i think probs the vibes of fantasy high would fit better with korra actually bc of technology #but the story fits better w the original series imo #my posts #also..................should i write this yay or nay #adaine #gorgug #riz #kristen #fabian #fig

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badolmen · 4 years

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Well, I originally wanted this piece to be the Botanist’s introduction to the Stranger, but the Wolfman had other ideas.

Aleks had finished most of their chores for the day, the rainwater bins emptied to glass jars and the traps prepared for another night. They had checked their plants, taken measurements, and recorded their data.

What little sanity they had left counted on those simple, repetitive, and menial tasks. Wake up. Water. Traps. Food plants. Research plants. Data recording. Rest. Repeat. Bad things always happened when they broke routine, when they left the familiar safety of their clearing – like the other day. The blood on their jacket didn’t wash out in the rainwater.

The botanist was content with their small circle of safety, their horizon that ended where the trees began. Even if their thoughts and fears traversed the dark forest beyond their cursed patch of land.

Today they convinced themselves it was sunny, though rarely was a spot of blue sky spotted these days. Even without the comforting expanse of sky, the warmth of the sun permeated the cloud cover. And the botanist decided it was a day of rest, although they had run out of calendars and lost track of individual days months ago.

They laid on the sandy soil – no helmet or face shield or earmuffs, no jacket, no chainsaw chaps. Just their bloodstained undershirt and trousers against the sun warmed soil. Aleks peered at the sky, squinting past the few dull flowerheads of the dying weeds that tried to survive the poisoned land. Maybe, if they looked hard enough and long enough, they could see blue.

“That one looks like a chicken,” Kalina said, not bothering to point as the two lay head to head in the field. She knew Aleks knew which cloud she was talking about. “And that one, it looks like a…a pram? Or maybe a bassinette…”

“I think it looks a bit like a broken umbrella,” They replied, although their eyes wandered to the bobbing heads of corn poppies around their head, eventually peering through the stalks to see if Kalina was watching them. She wasn’t; her dark eyes were trained on the brilliant and cloud scattered sky.

“Can I ask – ”

“I need to –”

“You go first,” Kalina conceded, a smile in her voice. Aleks swallowed back their inhibitions.

“I need to tell you that I’m leaving, come autumn.” Their own voice felt far away, the rehearsed lines not their own words after saying them so many times. “I got a scholarship – I, I won’t be back for a while…just, just until I finish my degree. Then I can get work out here, with the forest, and – and I’ll come back.”

“Oh,” Kalina’s voice was so small after the silence that preceded it, the rustle of the poppies almost drowning out her quiet sigh.

“Oh?” Aleks echoed, concern invading their every fiber. They couldn’t be sure, but it almost sounded like sorrow. Kalina rolled to her stomach, dark curls tickling the soon-to-be botanist’s nose as she smiled down at them.

“Oh, I’m so happy for you! You’ve always wanted to go to university – to the city. I’m sure you’ll be happy there,”

“Will you be? Happy – that is – while I’m gone?” Aleks too sat up, their hair tossed by the wind that swept over the field.

“Me?” Kalina laughed, shaking her head. “You are my dearest friend, but there is more to my happiness than one person. To live that way would be terrifying, I imagine.” Her smile faltered, grin bordering on grim. “Sorry, that’s not very romantic, is it?”

“No, I understand,” Aleks said, keeping their own false smile plastered. “Not putting your eggs in one basket,”

“More like having eggs, and sheep, and cattle, and the stray apple tree.” Kalina said with a chuckle. “You know what I mean – how you have your love of the trees, and love of rainy days, and love…for me. All love, just different kinds.”

Somewhere down in the village, a dinner bell rang. Kalina stood, dusting off her skirt and pulling Aleks to their feet.

“I’ll miss you,” She whispered, pulled them into a hug that lasted just a moment too long. With a sad smile, the girl began to trek through the poppies toward home.

“I’ll miss you, Kali,” Aleks called, finally finding their voice and forcing back the tears from their eyes. “I’ll bring you back something amazing – something beautiful!”

“Just come back Leksi,” Kalina called, her laughter damp with tears. “And come back soon!”

The botanist gasped awake, a swift kick to their bruised and battered torso jolting them from sleep. They groaned and rolled to their side, away from the unfortunately familiar figure that stood over them.

“You aren’t dead. Good.” The Wolfman growled, though his voice held a shine of cruel humor as the botanist crawled to their feet, still clutching their side.

“I’ve – I’ve got what you asked for,” They gasped between pained breaths, ribs aching as they stumbled towards their greenhouse, acutely aware of the Wolfman watching them with hungry eyes.

“Taking a midday nap? Keep that up and you’ll be a snack for the savages before I get a taste of you, Meat.” He snarled with a chuckle, the undercurrent of bloodlust in his joking tone made the botanist’s skin crawl. They ducked into their greenhouse, the shattered pane of glass still littering the dead ground around the entrance.

“I have it, here,” Aleks said, producing a sealed ceramic jar from their shelves and holding it out to the Wolfman. His nose twitched, lips curling at the bitter scent that wafted from the jar when he uncapped it. For a moment the botanist’s heart skipped a beat – was it not purified enough? Concentrated enough? Had they forgotten a step that he could smell better then they could see?

“Your services are always a delight, Meat. You might just live another night.” He finally said, capping the jar and producing a few tanks of gasoline. The botanist refrained from sighing in relief – the Wolfman didn’t take any sign of weakness lightly.

“Same to you, sir.” They said plainly, picking up two of the tanks to take to their generator. A pot clattered to the ground, shattering as the Wolfman shoulder through the doorway. An accident, probably.

“You might want to clean that up,” He grumbled without bothering to stop, walking away and eventually disappearing into the tree line.

The botanist sighed, setting down the gasoline and kneeling beside the shattered pot, carefully setting aside the sickly seedling it had housed. As they cleaned up the mess and set to filling their generator for the coming night, they let their mind wander.

Whatever did the Wolfman want with concentrated tannins?

Aleks didn’t want to find out.

#ra does shit #darkwood #darkwood fic #the wolfman #the botanist #its a beautiful day in the darkwood hellscape that drives its denizens to madness and you a horrible wolfman #im glad we all agree that the wolfman is a jerk and given the means and the confidence our ocs would all bully him #walfy does taxidermy and let me tell you tannins fucking suck. they stain everything and smell awful #idk how his wolfy nose handles it but it must since theres some fucked up taxidermy in the game by him #also yay some lore - just wait. it gets worse :D #gabz if you’re reading this: 98% of my writing process is pacing and beats. like music (??)#sentence length and structure go a long way in giving writing a better flow y’know?#like having longer notes and shorter notes in a song. then add in pitch and tone to give them momentum.#anyone can learn the mechanics of writing. all The Who what where and why and scene composition and all that.#the art of it comes in when you gotta make all those things move and come together. like directing a whole orchestra.#does that make sense?? if not feel free to message me lol

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jq37 · 4 years

Text

The Report Card – Fantasy High Sophomore Year Ep 17

Then Perish (in which the Plot is Happening No Matter How Many Nat 20’s you Roll Ally Beardsley)

Strap in my dudes. It’s a wild one.

Last ep, we’d just entered the forest of the nightmare king and things went sideways pretty quickly. All of the non-familiar NPCs have been poofed away and Kalina is currently fully killing Kristen. Riz, recently cured by Kristen (something that seemed to genuinely distress Kalina), can hear Tracker getting further and further away from them in wolf form. He gives Kristen his flare gun, tells her to run, and looks for the pollen they need to make the Kalina vaccine. Kalina disappears and in comes Sandra-Lynn with a weird mandrake-y plant for Kristen to bite. But, with a nat 20, she realizes that she’s seeing an illusion and Kalina is trying to get her to bite and reinfect Riz.

All of the Bad Kids try to find each other, using all the tricks at their disposal to move faster (Fly, Jump, Dashing, etc). Fabian gets the Hangman to meet them at the edge of the forest with Gilear. Kristen shoots up the flare (presumably to alert Gilear of her position?) and cures herself as she runs, trying to buy time. Kalina tries to make a deal with her so she and her friends will destroy the photo of her and their crystals but Kristen is not about that at all. She just tells everyone to run. Once Fig catches up with her, she does her one better and Dimension Doors with her almost all of the way out of the forest (after Fabian hits her with some Heroism which gives her regening temp HP to help combat the constant damage Kalina is doing). This cuts down the rounds needed to escape from 44 to a much more manageable 12. She manages to just get out alive after 24d6 of damage and Kalina is stuck at the edge of the forest with a threatening, “Get you next time.” The rest of the Bad Kids also make it out without too much trouble due to all their speed buffs.

After everyone takes a tight five to be like, “Welp, that sucked,” they head to the Tinkerer’s Hall to enlist help with making tinctures. Overnight (together with Riz--since Kristen has quarantined herself) they’re able to make six doses of the tincture. Meanwhile, Fig learns more about her bass and Gorgug gets a new Ax from the very grateful tinkerers. Fig’s bass does a lot to help her be effective while she’s being attacked by all sides but--most importantly (imo)--gives her a +5 to performance checks, something I think Brennan is gonna live to regret. Speaking of regret, Fig is beset by whispers of guilt for her “fault” in the disappearance of their friends. Let’s put a pin in that. Gorgug gets a choice between a sick lightning ax and a dope gravity ax. He picks the latter, which, among other things, gives him auto-crits on objects (which seems like a plot tease for sure). While this is going on, Adaine makes two days worth of progress on a spell for Ayda. Kristen, who is being understandably sad in the van, prays to “not knowing” and gets her spells back, clearly (to us at least) missing something as she rolls a Nat 1 perception check.

The gang cures Kristen with a dose of tincture then they upload the video of Kalina Riz took with his tie cam (which, btw, can scan for good and evil while recording and only pings Celestial magic from Tracker and Kristen, Kalina doesn’t ping as either). To my immediate delight, they post the video (respectfully clipped to not include Tracker) as sort of a fantasy version of The Dress, and it very quickly goes viral as people try to figure out why some people can see the tabaxi in it and some can’t.

Back to Fig for a bit, Fig realizes the whispers in her head berating her aren’t external. They’re internal. She says she’s better than being loud than quiet and attempts to drown them out rather than ignore them. Fig realizes that, now that she’s out of the forest, Ayda’s feather is glowing again. Using that connection, Adaine tries to Scry on Ayda and sees that she (along with Zathriel) are caught in a horrifying web with web going into all of their face holes. Ayda’s eyes are clear because the fire of her eyes burn out the webs but she's full on weeping. She’s also trying to use the bloody earring Fig gave her to teleport back to her (knew that was gonna come back, at least for flavor) but her restraints won’t allow it. This absolutely lights a fire under Fig’s ass and she is ready to go back into the forest immediately. Before they do, Gorgug gives his Van to the gnomes (since it was bought with KVX money) and Riz makes one of the potions into a tranq dart for Tracker.

The journey to the temple Adaine saw in her Scry is two days away which means a bunch of sleep and navigation checks (without the Van or Tracker there to cast a Moon Haven). They sleep in shifts with Kristen, Fabian, and Fig sleeping first. Kristen rolls and 19 and Fig gets a 17 with Adaine’s Portent. Fabian is the low man with a 10. Even though Fig seemingly made the check, we still get dream narration for her as she is met by a pre-horned, 13 y/o version of herself who berates her. But Fig (who has made the check and can leave the nightare at any time) says she’s so much happier now than she’s ever been and boom! She loses her College of Whispers subclass and becomes a College of Lore Bard (gaining the Cutting Words feature). Whispers banished, she finds she’s able to communicate with Gorthalax who tells her being a devil doesn’t just have to be about being “evil”. At its core, being a devil is about rebellion. It’s about flipping off the universe, something Fig can very much vibe with.

When Fabian wakes up, not having had a dream, he sees a familiar, tri-cornered hat a little ways away. As soon as he steps away from the group, he is possessed and starts attacking his friends--brutally as per DM’s orders. Luckily, Adaine has a low portent roll to give him, Riz has a net gun, and Gorgug now has a super heavy axe which he simply lays on Fabian, restraining him. They snap Fabian out of it and Adaine can tell it wasn’t an ambient effect of the forest. It’s something that was actively cast on Fabian (the same thing that was cast on Fig when she gem’d Gorthalax). However, it’s probably stronger in the forest. They also realize that when the Baron thing happened, Riz was attacked but not possessed and he also didn’t go to sleep. So, if they go through the forest not sleeping, they’ll be safe from possession at least. The next three are able to sleep without problem (even Riz who rolled a 7) but, in the morning, they don’t do so hot on their navigation checks. Instead of losing time, they decide to push through to the temple.

When they get there, they see that it’s basically surrounded by skeletons, like people just showed up to lay down and die. Something above the entrance has been moved and they also see (from much more recently) three sets of footsteps joined by a fourth set halfway (boots, not talons or paws). Adaine casts Locate Creature on her mom but doesn’t sense her within 1000 ft. Riz takes point and decides to scout the temple and report back. On a Nat 20 for a total of 30 Investigation, he fully cases the joint in less than ten minutes. He sees a brick of Dusk Moss and a bunch of spooky books which he realizes means a ritual happened to take the casters almost further into the forest in some kind of non-euclidean direction. He sees a skeleton of a unicorn filled with webs and egg sacs which died looking at a portrait of a woman in a black robe with black hair but the face is destroyed.

Riz reports back all of this to his friends and Adaine decides that she’ll shoulder full responsibility for looking at the potentially evil books, trusting her friends to snap her out of it if she gets possessed or something. Equally supportive in their own ways, Fig plays a countercharm for her off to the side and Riz points a gun at her. From reading the book, Adaine is able to piece together a lot about the mechanics of what’s going on. There is a tree in the center of the forest (the broom that was turned into a tree) which helps to boost all the illusions in the forest. Because of this, illusions are all more real. For example, illusory wings created with Disguise Self would actually grant you flight. The Dusk Moss used in the ritual was probably to give them some measure of control over the insane nightmares (as in, “I know this is a dream sorta, therefore I can’t be hurt”). Brennan says Adaine would probably be able to do the ritual with some time and study. Siobhan Galaxy Brains and scours her spell list for spells involving illusions for what she calls, “some fuckery” (“Give me the fuckery,” Brennan says, even the game DM). Adaine wants to use Illusory Script to write a spell that will allow her to do the ritual with the hope that it will become real. Brennan looks directly into the camera like it’s The Office and asks for a DC 30 Arcana check. She doesn’t get it but she does get the sense that the principle behind the idea is solid. Anyway, back to the other transubstantiations. The Familiar to a Plague is, as we all already knew, Kalina who is controlling the illusions in the forest. The Spellbook is the KVX coin and is (1) aligned with the Enchantment school of magic and (2) responsible for the possessions that have been happening (ie: Fig, Ragh, and Fabian this ep). The Sanctum to Cottage is aligned with the Abjuration school of magic and basically a trap for Celestials coming into the forest and also will prevent certain levels of spellcasting as they get progressively deeper. And now back to the tree (he doesn’t say the school of magic it is and also he says there are four when there are actually 8 so I’m not sure which school it’s supposed to represent--Divination maybe since that’s Adaine’s school?). The forest becomes alive the further in they go. The more safe they feel, the more the paths will move around. The only way to get they can get to the center is by feeling fear and uncertainty--which has got to be simultaneously great and terrible news for someone with major anxiety to get.

All of that is all going on in the main chamber. Meanwhile, Gorgug is in the hallway and Fabian is in the chapel with Kristen who is checking out the picture of the goddess. Kristen, on international DM’s day, rolls a nat 20 religion check because of course she does. She hears the goddesses’s voice in her head. “Why do you search for me?” Kristen says she’s really into the praise through doubt thing. Brennan makes her roll a Con check with disadvantage--13.

He says, “I’m gonna describe what Kristen sees and then I’m going to describe what Fabian saw,” instantly activating my Fight or Flight.

Kristen feels a wave of spite, rage, and betrayal from the goddess and then she feels blinding pain as the unicorn skeleton runs over and gores her through the heart from the back.

“What praise will you have in death?” the voice in her head says, as she collapses, fully lifeless.

The unicorn turns to a panicked Fabian (who is only not driven mad by his immunity to Fear) and says, “You should not have come here.”

In conclusion, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Detention

Brennan for Killing Kristen on a Nat 20

Using a Nat 20 to kill a player is such a power move and please do not let this placement make you think I don’t respect the unmitigated gall.

Honor Roll

Adaine for An Incredible Piece of Fuckery

The fact that it didn’t work doesn’t change the fact that this was a Galaxy Brain connection that she made instantly and will almost certainly end up saving their asses. Mark my words: Before the end of the season, some Looney Tunes-ass painting a black circle to make a real hole type nonsense is gonna happen.

Random Thoughts

Emily’s constant awe at Ally’s dice rolls is so funny to me. She’s like head parishioner at the church of Ally’s dice.

“Don’t bite the baby your mom gives you.”

Adaine taking pics of Fabian on Gorgug’s back while running out of the forest.

The teamwork shown during Kristen’s rescue? *chef’s kiss*

“It doesn’t protect you from losing all your friends in a forest.” Ow.

Emily going, “Thank you Brennan,” like a little kid when she got her new bass’s stats.

“All of our girlfriends are in there!”

Brennan, upon being denied a wisdom save from Emily: You have to! I asked.

Ice feast?????? Ally, what????

There is very much a world where the Bad Kids immediately leveraged Fig’s social media presence to get a better sample size on what was going on with Kalina. I wonder what would have happened if they’d gone viral with it much earlier.

Ayda was drawn to the cottage with Zathriel because she’s part Celestial apparently. Are Phoenixes Celestial? That’s news to me.

Also, on the topic, very Concerned about where the remaining NPCs are.

The fact that Ayda had Fig’s earring in her hand while bound and unable to move much or do a spell that would allow her to get it into her hand implies that her split second reaction when captured was to reach for it and that was the one thing she could do before she was incapacitated which is A Lot.

Kristen keeps asking Riz to hold the tranq gun because she wants to look out for Tracker, which is sweet but you have -3 Dex girl. The kindest thing you can do is never touch that gun and toss Riz some Bless.

The break they took between leaving the forest and going back Concerned me as it was happening. I was like, y’all literally anything could be happening right now. I had no sense on the amount of tie they realistically had to spare before something unreversable happened.

Lol at Brennan clearly trying to throw some levels of exhaustion at the party and them just rolling out of it, no problem.

I feel like Brennan knew Kristen was dying this episode no matter what and I gotta say: (1) I think it’s a great skill as a DM to keep our story on the tracks while also having the players actions matter and have meaningful consequences and (2) I wonder if she hadn’t gotten a Nat 1 when she got her spells back, if we’d get some information that could potentially contextualize what happened.

I do not remember what the unicorn’s deal is but I remember it was mentioned specifically at the top of the season and I don’t trust anything about it--separately from the fact that it gored our girl. Was it speaking independently or was the goddess speaking through it? Or was it just the unicorn the whole time and Brennan was lying--not for the first time that episode?

Fig being asked by her younger nightmare self what all the people in her life who had bad stuff happen to them have in common: Aguefort Advenuring Academy?

The image of an angel falling out of heaven and then rising up to flip off God and go, “F You,” is so cinematic that it makes me upset there aren’t animatics for this show.

I am dying to know whether Brennan thought about the implications of making a setting where illusions are hyper-real in a game where Emily Axford is lousy with illusion magic. Did he consider it? Is there a mechanic to limit this? Or, next week, is Emily gonna say, “I cast disguise self on myself and I disguise myself as a super buff version of me with sick devil wings and I also create a minor illusion of a tiny, fairy, cleric.” What could stop her? Minor Illusion is a cantrip, guys. It’s a CANTRIP. I feel like either Brennan wildly miscalculated and made himself a double edged sword which Emily and Siobhan are gonna use to make him eat his dice OR he’s about to throw some absolutely unfair nonsense at them that even he doesn’t know the way out of and he’s trusting them to harness the power of the fuckery to figure it out. Either way, there are only 3 episodes left so I guess there’s only so much they can break the game in 3 episodes (she said, fully expecting to be proved wrong).

“Crunch it up bro.”

When Brennan was talking about the ritual, he said, “Your parents and stuff” with regard to who did it, which makes me think Anguin was the fourth figure. But the “and stuff” is vague hedging language which makes me think we’re still being played. Brennan, tell me what’s going on in Abernant-Land, I’m begging you bro.

One thing I didn’t mention in the main recap because it was getting long is the 4 transubstantiations were done on 4 gifts from the 4 tribes who worshiped the goddess The cat was from the wood elves. The sanctum was holy to the centaurs. I think the sprite was the spellbook which would make the broom from the treents.

Partial credit to @camwritery for this: Brennan gave Gorgug a weapon that, among other effects, insta-crits on inanimate objects. Which is a random ability unless a future plot point involves destroying some items--a la the pylons they destroyed earlier in what feels like a tutorial level in retrospect. And camwritery is the one who pointed out, hey, isn’t there a super important tree in the middle of the forest? Magic axe? Magic tree? Feels connected y’all.

Everyone getting new gear and spells the past two eps has felt like that scene in Lion/Witch/Wardrobe where Santa shows up and is like, “Here are some weapons kids. Shit’s about to hit the fan!”

The fact that Riz escaped possession on a 7 seems to be explained by the fact that the cursed money is linked to possession and he gave all of his away. Which means Fabian and Adaine are still in danger, along with I think Fig since she kept her tour money which is likely infected.

Anyone else get Wrinkle in Time/The Boy Who Reversed Himself vibes from all the dream travel talk this ep?

OK, I guess we gotta talk about Kristen dying for the third time in her life. Poor girl. She’s just trying her best to be a good person and earnestly trying to find meaning in the world. And what has it gotten her? Killed three times. And yet she keeps trying! The fact that it’s her makes me kinda more and less worried at the same time, you know? Because she is currently the sole healer on the team which is BAD--if Fabian went down, it wouldn’t be as big of a deal because Kristen would presumably just need to make her fright check and then cast Revivify. K-girl doesn’t have anyone to heal her (barring some illusion shenanigans from Fig or Adaine). However, Kristen’s motto might as well, “Whatever does kill you makes you stronger.” She basically has an at least 1 death per season clause written into her contract. If anyone can face death with grit and come out singing (and prob with some sick new powers) it’d be her. What an absolutely brutal way to end the episode.

She was mentioned in this episode for a hot sec I think--that racist ranger from earlier in the season--I don’t trust her. She could just be a one off NPC but I feel like there’s more to her.

So I guessed correctly that the photos of Kalina would end up being a bargain chip potentially but somehow it didn’t occur to me that they could just...leave. Lol, I was like, “I guess they’re in it,” and they were like, “Yeah, bye.”

Kalina didn’t come after the gang in the forest the second time except maybe to possess Fabian if she did that directly. I wonder why that was. She had plenty of time.

I don’t like this spider motif. I don’t trust this spider motif. My spidey sense is going off re: this spider motif. I just want that on the record.

This episode, Adaine rolled 1 Nat 20, Riz got 2, and Kristen rolled 3 but one was cancelled out by disadvantage. Meanwhile, Fig, Kristen, and Gorgug each rolled one Nat 20 each.

#fantasy high #fantasy high live #dimension 20 #fantasy high spoilers #dimension 20 spoilers

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thedyingmoon · 5 years

Text

🖤 I See My Future Before Me 🖤

***

XXII

***

"Hello?"

"Kyrie, it's me."

"Nero! Oh, thank God, you're alright!"

"How are things there?"

"I've heard Fortuna's in complete ruins now because of the Dreadnought and its horde. But, we're safe here. You don't have to worry about us."

"Glad to hear that."

"Yes."

...

"Nero?"

"Hmm?"

"Is,... something bothering you?"

"Ah,... nothing."

"Hmm,..."

"Haha. It's nothing. Really."

"Nero, I can tell something's wrong, even if we're thousands of miles apart. I love you, and you know you can always tell me anything. I'm here for you."

...

"Kyrie,..."

"I'm listening."

"What will you do if,..."

"Hmm?"

"Well, let's say you confessed your,... ah,... feelings for me."

"Yes. And?"

"And,... ah,... I rejected you. Like, badly. Like, not even friendzone. What will you do?"

"Hmm, to tell you the truth, I can't imagine you doing that to me. But, if that happens, well,..."

"Well?"

"Of course, I would definitely get hurt. A lot. Nothing hurts more than a special someone, a loved one, pushing you away from their life. My heart would be shattered to pieces, and I would feel like my existence won't matter anymore."

"Whoa! The existence part is too much!"

"Ah, you don't understand, Nero. Girls' feelings are delicate. They may act tough but, deep inside, their heart is dying. No matter how much they struggle against the sadness, eventually it will come back and haunt them. It's like a sickness, being heartbroken. And it's very hard to heal."

"Oh. How do they, uh, cope? They can't stay like that forever, right?"

"Hmm, let's see. With company. With friends who would never leave them. Who would stay for them, eat ice cream with them, and watch romantic movies with them. With honest people who would tell them that the right man would come for them in the right time and everything would be just fine."

"The right man? So, they're just gonna make her forget that she loved - "

" - a man who hurt and rejected her? Well, of course! He hurt her, so he doesn't deserve her."

"Listen, Kyrie: what if he's the one? The one who rejected her?"

"...

... if he's the one, then he shouldn't have rejected her in the first place. It's just,... wrong,... and,... stupid."

"I see."

"Oh, don't tell me you're courting someone while I'm on the other side of the globe?"

"WHAT?! NO! I would never do that to you!"

"Hahaha! Of course, Nero. I know you would never do that to me. So, who's the sad girl?"

"..."

"Nero? Tell me."

"It's (Y/N). Do you know her?"

"Yes. Nico's always telling me about her. She sounds like a great person. Why? Who rejected her?"

"Ah, it's,..."

"Who?"

"I - it's a long story. You know what? Prepare the ice cream and the movies. We'll end this battle quick, because she needs your company. (Y/N) needs you. Us."

"Okay, Nero."

"Wait for us, Kyrie."

"I will wait for you, for as long as I live."

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you, too, sweetheart."

Nero hung up the phone, sighing as he did so. Ever since hearing about your dire situation ( meaning, everything ) from Nico, herself, he couldn't help but be sad and angry.

Sad for you, and angry at V.

What man could ever stomach doing that to a girl who clearly loved him?! Enough to follow him at death's door?!

The young Devil Hunter shook his head in disbelief. He could still remember the Artisan's words to him a few minutes prior.

"Go after (Y/N)! She's reckless right now, and she needs someone who could stop her from killing herself!"

"Seriously, V." Nero said to himself as he scratched his head in confusion, unable to envision himself rejecting his beloved Kyrie. "You are one stupid son of a bitch for doing that to (Y/N),..."

"Winter, spring, summer or fall,

You know all you have to do is call.

And I'll be there, yeah! You've got a frieeennnddd!"

"You sound terrible."

"Are ya kiddin'?! I sound angelic!"

"Right,..."

"(Y/N) and,... Griffon?" Nero uttered upon hearing the conversation not far from where he was. He left the last good phonebooth of the city and went to his vehicle,...

"Now, you do it." Griffon challenged you as you two made your way towards the Dreadnought.

You cleared your throat and opened your mouth, belting the lines that the bird just sang.

"Winter, spring, summer or fall,

You know all you have to do is call.

And I'll be there, yeah! You've got a frieeennnddd!"

"UGH! AND YA CALL THAT SINGING?! YE SOUND LIKE A CAT IN HEAT FALLING FROM THE TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER!"

"I TOLD YOU! I'M TONE DEAF!"

"Yeah, ya better stick to dancin', sweet pea. Haha! Haha! Ah, haha! Well, ah,... no offense. You really sound terrible."

"I know but, you don't have to rub it in,..."

"(Y/N)!" The two of you suddenly heard a voice behind you.

"Is that?" Griffon questioned as you two looked behind you,...

... to see Nero going full speed towards you in a sleek and sick - looking motorcycle that seemed to glow both blue and purple. He stopped just a few steps from you and proudly revved his new vehicle.

"Hey, (Y/N)! Need a ride?" The young Devil Hunter asked you with his signature, charmingly boyish smile.

"I thought Eleison's destroyed?" You asked as you glanced at the amazing vehicle in awe.

"Yeah. I saw it with ma own eyes." Griffon added.

Nero chuckled. "She is. But, you see, a few hours ago, I defeated this knight - Demon thing who wields electricity. When I fought it, its broken parts kinda merged with some vehicle gears. Long story short, I now have Kyrie Eleison!"

"And it has a name now! Right,..." the demonic bird sarcastically replied.

"Anyway, I'm going straight to that ugly ship to make it sink! Wanna tag along?"

"I don't know, Nero!" You answered. "I mean, can it even fly?"

The boy may not have mentioned it but, he can clearly see your red puffy eyes. Like you have been crying a lot. He chose to ignore this, planning to bring this up for after the battle, and spoke. "We'll see about that. Hop on!"

You awkwardly took a seat behind the boy, feeling a bit weak in the legs, and held tightly unto his wide shoulders for support. Griffon automatically positioned himself behind you, grabbing unto your hoodie with his talons.

Seeing that you're prepared and ready for a wild ride, Nero revved Kyrie Eleison and sped fast. He laughed so hard upon hearing your and Griffon's screams and made the vehicle even faster.

"NERO! CAN WE SLOW DOWN?!" You hysterically begged the boy.

"No! We're gonna fly, remember?!"

"AAAHHH!"

Meanwhile, Trish and Lady were still fighting against the Demon horde below when they heard your screams.

"What's that?" Lady asked as she fired her Kalina Ann, making one Demon's face blast into bloody pieces.

"It sounds like,..." Trish said as she slowly looked up.

And there, right above that hill, the two women saw you, Nero, and Griffon, riding a weird - looking motorcycle and actually flying towards the entrance to the Dreadnought.

"How in the world - ?!" Trish exclaimed in utter awe of the reckless feat.

"They will never make it!" Lady yelled as she prepared for the worst.

"WE'LL NEVER MAKE IT!" You screamed, terrified for what will happen next.

"WE'LL CRASH!" Griffon, who seemed to have forgotten that he could easily fly away from all of this, hysterically added, still clinging unto your hoodie for dear life.

"NOT TODAY!" Nero answered, growling like hell as he revved the motorcycle, willing for it to land safely inside the demonic ship.

All of a sudden, Kyrie Eleison glowed even brighter than ever before with electric currents running all throughout its mechanical body. Its light blinded the Demons below, giving Trish and Lady enough time and opportunity to murder more of them.

"GGGYYYAAARRRGGGHHH!"

"SSSQQQUUUAAAWWWKKK!"

"I WON'T LET YOU DDDIIIEEE!" Nero howled as the motorcycle came into contact with the light barrier that guarded the entrance.

You closed your eyes and wrapped your arms tightly around Nero, not wanting to see yourself crash,...

But, everything seemed normal as you finally landed. You opened your eyes, seeing your uninjured body, and glanced at Nero.

"Is this it? Are we safe now?" You asked, unable to believe that you just flew a motorcycle towards the monstrous - looking ship

"Seems like it." Nero answered you with a bashful smile.

"Look at this!" Griffon exclaimed in both awe and fear as he looked all over the place.

From the outside, Shinano Musashi looked like a huge hunk of demonic - looking metal with strange horns and protrusions. An impossibly huge mechanism that could float on the sky.

However, inside it was a different story, altogether. The Dreadnought may look robotic and lifeless on the outside but, its insides surely looked like the innards of a monster. Huge veins of both purple and red crawled all over the fleshy, bloody walls, and there was a distinct scent of sulfur wafting about the place. The floors were entirely filled with pools of a crimson - colored liquid that felt sticky when stepped on. Strange green crystals that provided some form of light protruded on the walls of flesh, and different moans of both pain and suffering could be heard echoing all over the place.

It was as if you entered a floating hell.

"What a putrid smell!" The demonic bird complained as he finally let go of your hoodie.

"I actually agree with you, little chicken." Nero answered as he merely dodged a sticky yellow substance that dripped from the pulsating ceiling.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?! YOU UNGRATEFUL, SON OF A - !"

"It's calling me."

Both Nero and Griffon looked at you as you got off of Kyrie Eleison and started walking deeper towards the cavern of the Dreadnought.

"Who is calling you?" The bird questioned as he flew towards you.

"I,... don't know,..." You answered. You, then, turned and glanced back at your two companions, your eyes looking heavy and empty as if in a trance. "It's calling my name. Can't you hear it?"

"No!" The young Devil Hunter and the demonic familiar simultaneously answered.

"There it is. I'm,... coming,..." You said monotonously as you looked away from them and continued walking.

"(Y/N), don't go there alone!" The boy called after you, then clicked his tongue in annoyance. He dismounted and went after you together with the bird.

A few hours of endless walking and various turns deep inside the Dreadnought led you to a slightly different room with less wet flesh and pulsating veins.

You stopped walking as soon as you noticed the quiet and much darker atmosphere. You looked up, wondering who called you there and noticed a subtle glow of light right in front of you in the form of a floating orb.

As soon as Nero saw this orb, he protectively pulled you away as he took out his Blue Rose and pointed at it.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, (Y/N) but, I don't trust this fairy dust." The boy said as he faced the suspicious - looking orb.

"I don't think it wants a conversation with you right now, kid." Griffon told him as he perched at your right arm.

All of a sudden, the orb grew bigger, casting numerous malicious - looking shadows on the walls. Nero took a step away from it, shielding his eyes from the blinding light until it imploded, leaving the whole room in darkness.

"What happened?!" Griffon squawked as he looked around for potential danger.

"I don't know but, I have a bad feeling about this,..." the boy answered as he drew The Red Queen in preparation for a battle.

A few moments later, all three of you heard a noise coming from the far end of the room. Your heart suddenly became heavier as a black mass went towards you.

Nero revved his Red Queen, ready to attack the enemy, when, suddenly,...

"Kyrie?" Nero uttered, bewildered to find the woman he loved standing in front of him. "Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"

Your eyes widened as you noticed the sinister smile on Kyrie's face.

Something was off!

"Nero! Wait - !"

When he was about to reach out to his lover, a strange kind of light in the form of multiple dark whips emanated from her, throwing the boy towards the other end of the room.

"Griffon, please!" You asked the familiar as you took out your rapier and shield.

"No need to tell me!" The bird answered as it gathered its power for an attack -

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Nero screamed as he finally stood up.

"Can't ya see, kid?! This chick's not yer fling! She - SSSQQQUUUAAAWWWKKK!"

"GRIFFON!" You yelled as one of the whips of dark light coming from the creature impersonating Kyrie grabbed one of the demonic avian's talons and practically threw him away with much force. The bird landed on the ground beside Nero, which left you as the last fighter standing.

You drew your weapon and carefully walked towards the enemy when it suddenly looked at you with its sinister eyes and evil smile. It engulfed itself with its dark light once more, and when it subsided, you saw, in horror, the poet standing before you.

"WHAT IN THE SCHTICK?!" Griffon swore, his golden eyes wide with both humor and fear.

"V?!" Nero muttered in confusion. "(Y/N), look out!"

Before you could even attack, the man strode towards you, raised his hand with the metal cane, and brought it swiftly down on your face, wounding you and making you stumble to the ground.

Your hand automatically went up your cheek and felt something moist from it. You looked at your fingers - blood.

"GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU CHEAP V RIP - OFF FROM HELL!" Griffon shrieked as he flew towards the creature. He released a strong electric attack with the full intention of killing the enemy.

However, the "cheap V rip - off" simply dodged it, flawlessly jumping in mid - air and hitting Griffon with his cane with unbelievable strength. The bird landed on the ground with an ugly thud.

"Nobody told me he's not sissy like his real counterpart!" Griffon quipped as he tried to get up from the ground. But then, the enemy stepped on him and drove his cane deep into his flesh, instantly making him enter his stalemate state.

"Griffon!" You quickly stood up and ran towards the familiar but the enemy whacked you with his cane once more, this time, straight on your back.

"FUCK YOU!" Nero swore as he charged towards the fake V. The enemy noticed this and changed back to Kyrie. The boy did a mistake of stopping in his tracks, making the enemy attack him once more with its dark whips. He came flying towards the other end of the room, feeling fresh wounds and multiple injuries all over his body.

"TAKE THIS!" You screamed at the top of your lungs as you whacked your shield on Kyrie's back, making it stumble. Then, you hastily went to Nero's side, helping him on his feet.

"We can't attack it like this!" Nero thundered as he stood up, giving the enemy an angry look for taking the form of a person as pure and as angelic as Kyrie.

You looked at him, knowing exactly what the enemy's weakness was. "Nero, listen to me. That is not Kyrie - "

"I know! You don't have to tell me!"

"But, just now, you hesitated to attack her!"

Nero punched the ground in frustration. You grabbed his arm and made him look up at you.

"We'll attack it together! Come on, Nero! We have to do this!"

A few minutes later of quick strategizing, the two of you came charging towards the enemy. You took turns attacking it, Nero with his Red Queen and you with your rapier. However, the enemy also switched from Kyrie to V, confusing you and unintentionally opening yourselves for its deadly attacks.

Nero, on the other hand, had enough and slashed the enemy's torso the moment it turned back to V. It drew back in shock, clutching its wounded stomach, then turned to you two with murder and malice in its now red eyes. It dropped its cane on the ground and changed back to Kyrie, extending one of its whips and pinned Nero to the wall, fatally wounding him.

Just when you were about to attack it, it rapidly went back to V, waved its arms, and summoned mulitple blades of blue light that rapidly went down on you like bullets.

Nero watched helplessly as the enemy rained its blades of light down upon you, wounding you to the point that you could no longer get up. He wanted to retaliate but, when he tried to even move a muscle, the shape - shifting creature only pinned him to the wall again with its dark whip of light, injuring him even more.

You looked up at Nero, feeling the endless lashes on your battered body. You reached a single hand towards him, wanting to help him despite your torture. Bloody and torn, he also reached out to you,...

That's when you saw it.

His Breaker suddenly disintegrated and turned into ashes. The boy was engulfed in a warm kind of blue light that instantly healed all of his wounds and injuries. Slowly and like a true miracle, the blue light that engulfed his right arm took form, morphing into something more solid,...

... turning into real flesh,...

His eyes widened at the sight. He forcefully grabbed the dark whip that imprisoned him using his newly formed right arm and almost melted it with the sheer light and warmth it radiated.

The enemy took notice of this and abruptly halted its attack on you, turning into Kyrie once more but, this time, more evil and seductive - looking than ever. And with more dark whips that surrounded its whole body like numerous tails.

"Your tricks are getting too old, you bitch." Nero quipped as he motioned for the enemy to come closer. "I'll make you pay for this!"

With wide eyes filled with wonder, you watched as the youth fought the enemy with ease, wounding it, tearing it apart with his bare hands, and exposing it for what it really was. The beating went on for three unbearable minutes, and when it finally went down to the ground helpless and dying, he went towards you to help you stand.

Grabbing his warm right arm, you spoke, "This is a miracle!"

"I know." Nero answered as he supported you.

You turned towards the dark, beaten, writhing mass on the ground that was the remnants of Kyrie and limped your way to it with Nero still on your heel.

"Who called me here?" You asked it, foolishly believing that it could somehow shed light to the mystery of the Dreadnought and the voice that was calling you.

However, it made one last dying effort to morph once more into V to confuse you. But, the V this time never had the chance to even lay its fingers on you as it remained on the ground beaten and broken.

You felt a pang of guilt as you looked at it and realized that it was only making you feel that way to defeat you.

With one last sigh of apathy towards the enemy, you took Nero's Red Queen from him, held it above your head, and plunged it to V's heart, making it writhe and wriggle even more with pain. Feeling your tears pour out of your tired eyes for this unspeakable creature for exposing your true emotions, you plunged the hot sword even deeper, skewering its heart and reducing the enemy down to its true form - a short and wrinkled creature, about four feet in height, with long twisted claws, sharp red eyes, green skin, and skinny legs. You took the sword out of its body and slashed its head, decapitating it and finally putting an end to it once and for all. The remains of the despicable creature caught on fire and slowly turned into ashes.

You gave the sword back to Nero as you collapsed on the ground.

"So, that's how Mina felt when she decapitated Dracula." You sighed as you settled on the ground to make yourself comfortable. "Oh, that's wrong. That's no Dracula,..."

"Why Kyrie? Why not somebody else?" The youth asked as he watched the creature's ashes get flown by the wind.

You sighed, feeling the massive weight on your heart and shoulders. "It only reflects how much you love a person. The enemy used it against you because it knew it would be your biggest weakness."

Nero looked at you in dismay. "So, you still love him,... V?"

You blinked twice, not sure if your heart could take any more pain. You, then, let out a long sigh of depression. "After all this time. Yes." You answered, wincing in pain as you touched one bloody wound on your arm.

"Hey, you should fall back now, you can't fight like this!" The boy pleaded as you let him support you.

However, the moment your skin made contact with his new arm once again, a new set of visions flashed through your mind about him. It was rapid, and yet,...

You only shook your head in disagreement. "Don't mind me. I'll be fine."

"You'll be fine?! What are you - ?"

Nero's sentence was cut off as he saw, with his own two eyes, how the wounds on your body miraculously healed. He watched the phenomenon in total shock, and when your last wound closed, he could only laugh in disbelief.

"Don't tell me you're immortal?!" Nero questioned you.

"And what does that make you?" You asked him as you gave a knowing look on his new right arm.

"Come on, (Y/N). I'm serious here! How did you - ?"

"You never asked how Griffon came to be my familiar." You cut him off. "And you never asked why my eyes are red. I know Nico told you everything. But, the question is,..." You said, giving him a questioning look as you raised an eyebrow. "... how much do you know?"

The youth could only gulp down in nervousness, his sweat running cold in the process. "Everything."

"Oh."

"FUCK YEAH! What? Hey, what did I miss?" Griffon, who was just fully healed and revived, asked as he flew down towards the two of you.

"Nero pulled a rabbit out of his sleeve." You answered without so much as a fuss.

"Really? Oh, wait. You're being sarcastic - !"

"Which brings me to my next agenda." You said as you held up a hand to silence Griffon. "Nero,..."

"What is it, (Y/N)?"

You looked into the youth's sincere eyes, deciding whether to tell him what you just saw or not, then shook your head.

"Forget I said anything." You quietly answered as you stood up.

"I know you saw something about me. Tell me!"

You narrowed your eyes at the boy.

Well,...

He had the right to know!

"Listen: do you know Luke Skywalker? The Jedi?" You asked him as you removed your shredded parka, letting Nero take a glimpse of the contract markings on your right arm.

"Luke,... Skywalker? I'm not sure I could follow,..."

"Yeah, the woman likes movies, ya know?" Griffon added as he perched on your arm.

"So, what does this Luke have to do with me?" Nero inquired as he followed you out of the dark and depressing room.

"Hmm, I don't know. Could you say, that's impossible!"

"That's impossible! There, I said it."

"You'll say that again later."

"What do you mean by that? Hey, (Y/N)!"

You turned to glance at the boy. Taking pity on him, you spoke, "You know, you are very fortunate."

"Uh, thank you, I guess?" Nero replied, scratching his temple in confusion.

"Thank you for everything, Nero."

"Nah, it's nothing."

"Tell Kyrie I said hi."

"Sure thing."

"This will be the last time. You'll never see me again."

"Okay. WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

But, you were already gone before he could even ask you that last bit that Nico never told him,...

***

~ A V X Reader set in an Alternate Universe where cheap rip - offs are way stronger than the originals. 🤔

~ This chapter is dedicated to @micaelagua , @vergils-daughter , @yepps and @sofia-micaela . 🖤

~ Tagging @heaven-on-a-landslide , @lessy86 , @krazy06 , @simmy-ships , @boundbysoul , @ehrzeth , @ceruleanworld , @gxthghoulfriend , and @diabeticsugarush . 🖤

***

In silence and total darkness, V waited for you to arrive. And during those tense moments, he could only think of Fleminger's words to him.

"I know it is power you seek, my Lord. She has that power you're searching for - the power to make yourself invulnerable. The power - to put you back to your former self. Deep within the Dreadnought lies her true heart. But, piercing it would do you no good. Pierce,...

... her body first, then make her power mine. Only then can I defeat the Dreadnought." V uttered as Shadow morphed into an indistinguishable form before him. "Only then,... can I truly become,...

... whole. Once more."

At those final words, something huge behind him pulsated, splashing the suffocating room with its sickly crimson glow and casting unearthly shadows before the poet.

V looked down on his hands. His crumbling flesh. His time,... was coming to an end.

And so, he shall soon receive the power,...

"Come to me, my love." He called for the third time, knowing that you would come to him right away without hesitation,...

***

🖤🖤🖤

***

~ 15 ~

***

#devil may cry 5 #v #i see my future before me #v x reader #v x you #devil may cry nero #devil may cry kyrie #devil may cry nico #devil may cry trish #devil may cry lady #devil may cry griffon #devil may cry shadow #you've got a friend #carole king #chapter 22

28 notes · View notes

etlunainmorte · 5 years

Text

💙 I See My Future Before Me 💙

***

“Hello?”

“Kyrie, it’s me.”

“Nero! Oh, thank God, you’re alright!”

“How are things there?”

“I’ve heard Fortuna’s in complete ruins now because of the Dreadnought and its horde. But, we’re safe here. You don’t have to worry about us.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“Yes.”

…

“Nero?”

“Hmm?”

“Is,… something bothering you?”

“Ah,… nothing.”

“Hmm,…”

“Haha. It’s nothing. Really.”

“Nero, I can tell something’s wrong, even if we’re thousands of miles apart. I love you, and you know you can always tell me anything. I’m here for you.”

…

“Kyrie,…”

“I’m listening.”

“What will you do if,…”

“Hmm?”

“Well, let’s say you confessed your,… ah,… feelings for me.”

“Yes. And?”

“And,… ah,… I rejected you. Like, badly. Like, not even friend zone. What will you do?”

“Hmm, to tell you the truth, I can’t imagine you doing that to me. But, if that happens, well,…”

“Well?”

“Of course, I would definitely get hurt. A lot. Nothing hurts more than a special someone, a loved one, pushing you away from their life. My heart would be shattered to pieces, and I would feel like my existence won’t matter anymore.”

“Whoa! The existence part is too much!”

“Ah, you don’t understand, Nero. Girls’ feelings are delicate. They may act tough but, deep inside, their heart is dying. No matter how much they struggle against the sadness, eventually it will come back and haunt them. It’s like a sickness, being heartbroken. And it’s very hard to heal.”

“Oh. How do they, uh, cope? They can’t stay like that forever, right?”

“Hmm, let’s see. With company. With friends who would never leave them. Who would stay for them, eat ice cream with them, and watch romantic movies with them. With honest people who would tell them that the right man would come for them in the right time and everything would be just fine.”

“The right man? So, they’re just gonna make her forget that she loved - ”

“ - a man who hurt and rejected her? Well, of course! He hurt her, so he doesn’t deserve her.”

“Listen, Kyrie: what if he’s the one? The one who rejected her?”

“…

… if he’s the one, then he shouldn’t have rejected her in the first place. It’s just,… wrong,… and,… stupid.”

“I see.”

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re courting someone while I’m on the other side of the globe?”

“WHAT?! NO! I would never do that to you!”

“Hahaha! Of course, Nero. I know you would never do that to me. So, who’s the sad girl?”

“…”

“Nero? Tell me.”

“It’s (Y/N). Do you know her?”

“Yes. Nico’s always telling me about her. She sounds like a great person. Why? Who rejected her?”

“Ah, it’s,…”

“Who?”

“I - it’s a long story. You know what? Prepare the ice cream and the movies. We’ll end this battle quick, because she needs your company. (Y/N) needs you. Us.”

“Okay, Nero.”

“Wait for us, Kyrie.”

“I will wait for you, for as long as I live.”

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.”

Nero hung up the phone, sighing as he did so. Ever since hearing about your dire situation ( meaning, everything ) from Nico, herself, he couldn’t help but be sad and angry.

Sad for you, and angry at V.

What man could ever stomach doing that to a girl who clearly loved him?! Enough to follow him at death’s door?!

The young Devil Hunter shook his head in disbelief. He could still remember the Artisan’s words to him a few minutes prior.

“Go after (Y/N)! She’s reckless right now, and she needs someone who could stop her from killing herself!”

“Seriously, V.” Nero said to himself as he scratched his head in confusion, unable to envision himself rejecting his beloved Kyrie. “You are one stupid son of a bitch for doing that to (Y/N),…”

“Winter, spring, summer or fall,

You know all you have to do is call.

And I’ll be there, yeah! You’ve got a frieeennnddd!”

“You sound terrible.”

“Are ya kiddin’?! I sound angelic!”

“Right,…”

“(Y/N) and,… Griffon?” Nero uttered upon hearing the conversation not far from where he was. He left the last good phone booth of the city and went to his vehicle,…

“Now, you do it.” Griffon challenged you as you two made your way towards the Dreadnought.

You cleared your throat and opened your mouth, belting the lines that the bird just sang.

“Winter, spring, summer or fall,

You know all you have to do is call.

And I’ll be there, yeah! You’ve got a frieeennnddd!”

“UGH! AND YA CALL THAT SINGING?! YE SOUND LIKE A CAT IN HEAT FALLING FROM THE TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER!”

“I TOLD YOU! I’M TONE DEAF!”

“Yeah, ya better stick to dancin’, sweet pea. Haha! Haha! Ah, haha! Well, ah,… no offense. You really sound terrible.”

“I know but, you don’t have to rub it in,…”

“(Y/N)!” The two of you suddenly heard a voice behind you.

“Is that?” Griffon questioned as you two looked behind you,…

… to see Nero going full speed towards you in a sleek and sick - looking motorcycle that seemed to glow both blue and purple. He stopped just a few steps from you and proudly revved his new vehicle.

“Hey, (Y/N)! Need a ride?” The young Devil Hunter asked you with his signature, charmingly boyish smile.

“I thought Eleison’s destroyed?” You asked as you glanced at the amazing vehicle in awe.

“Yeah. I saw it with ma own eyes.” Griffon added.

Nero chuckled. “She is. But, you see, a few hours ago, I defeated this knight - Demon thing who wields electricity. When I fought it, its broken parts kinda merged with some vehicle gears. Long story short, I now have Kyrie Eleison!”

“And it has a name now! Right,…” the demonic bird sarcastically replied.

“Anyway, I’m going straight to that ugly ship to make it sink! Wanna tag along?”

“I don’t know, Nero!” You answered. “I mean, can it even fly?”

Seeing that you’re prepared and ready for a wild ride, Nero revved Kyrie Eleison and sped fast. He laughed so hard upon hearing your and Griffon’s screams and made the vehicle even faster.

“NERO! CAN WE SLOW DOWN?!” You hysterically begged the boy.

“No! We’re gonna fly, remember?!”

“AAAHHH!”

Meanwhile, Trish and Lady were still fighting against the Demon horde below when they heard your screams.

“What’s that?” Lady asked as she fired her Kalina Ann, making one Demon’s face blast into bloody pieces.

“It sounds like,…” Trish said as she slowly looked up.

And there, right above that hill, the two women saw you, Nero, and Griffon, riding a weird - looking motorcycle and actually flying towards the entrance to the Dreadnought.

“How in the world - ?!” Trish exclaimed in utter awe of the reckless feat.

“They will never make it!” Lady yelled as she prepared for the worst.

“WE’LL NEVER MAKE IT!” You screamed, terrified for what will happen next.

“WE’LL CRASH!” Griffon, who seemed to have forgotten that he could easily fly away from all of this, hysterically added, still clinging unto your hoodie for dear life.

“NOT TODAY!” Nero answered, growling like hell as he revved the motorcycle, willing for it to land safely inside the demonic ship.

“GGGYYYAAARRRGGGHHH!”

“SSSQQQUUUAAAWWWKKK!”

“I WON’T LET YOU DDDIIIEEE!” Nero howled as the motorcycle came into contact with the light barrier that guarded the entrance.

You closed your eyes and wrapped your arms tightly around Nero, not wanting to see yourself crash,…

But, everything seemed normal as you finally landed. You opened your eyes, seeing your uninjured body, and glanced at Nero.

“Is this it? Are we safe now?” You asked, unable to believe that you just flew a motorcycle towards the monstrous - looking ship

“Seems like it.” Nero answered you with a bashful smile.

“Look at this!” Griffon exclaimed in both awe and fear as he looked all over the place.

From the outside, Shinano Musashi looked like a huge hunk of demonic - looking metal with strange horns and protrusions. An impossibly huge mechanism that could float on the sky.

It was as if you entered a floating hell.

“What a putrid smell!” The demonic bird complained as he finally let go of your hoodie.

“I actually agree with you, little chicken.” Nero answered as he merely dodged a sticky yellow substance that dripped from the pulsating ceiling.

“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?! YOU UNGRATEFUL, SON OF A - !”

“It’s calling me.”

Both Nero and Griffon looked at you as you got off of Kyrie Eleison and started walking deeper towards the cavern of the Dreadnought.

“Who is calling you?” The bird questioned as he flew towards you.

“I,… don’t know,…” You answered. You, then, turned and glanced back at your two companions, your eyes looking heavy and empty as if in a trance. “It’s calling my name. Can’t you hear it?”

“No!” The young Devil Hunter and the demonic familiar simultaneously answered.

“There it is. I’m,… coming,…” You said monotonously as you looked away from them and continued walking.

“(Y/N), don’t go there alone!” The boy called after you, then clicked his tongue in annoyance. He dismounted and went after you together with the bird.

A few hours of endless walking and various turns deep inside the Dreadnought led you to a slightly different room with less wet flesh and pulsating veins.

As soon as Nero saw this orb, he protectively pulled you away as he took out his Blue Rose and pointed at it.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, (Y/N) but, I don’t trust this fairy dust.” The boy said as he faced the suspicious - looking orb.

“I don’t think it wants a conversation with you right now, kid.” Griffon told him as he perched at your right arm.

“What happened?!” Griffon squawked as he looked around for potential danger.

“I don’t know but, I have a bad feeling about this,…” the boy answered as he drew The Red Queen in preparation for a battle.

A few moments later, all three of you heard a noise coming from the far end of the room. Your heart suddenly became heavier as a black mass went towards you.

Nero revved his Red Queen, ready to attack the enemy, when, suddenly,…

“Kyrie?” Nero uttered, bewildered to find the woman he loved standing in front of him. “Sweetheart, what are you doing here?”

Your eyes widened as you noticed the sinister smile on Kyrie’s face.

Something was off!

“Nero! Wait - !”

When he was about to reach out to his lover, a strange kind of light in the form of multiple dark whips emanated from her, throwing the boy towards the other end of the room.

“Griffon, please!” You asked the familiar as you took out your rapier and shield.

“No need to tell me!” The bird answered as it gathered its power for an attack -

“Don’t you dare hurt her!” Nero screamed as he finally stood up.

“Can’t ya see, kid?! This chick’s not yer fling! She - SSSQQQUUUAAAWWWKKK!”

“GRIFFON!” You yelled as one of the whips of dark light coming from the creature impersonating Kyrie grabbed one of the demonic avian’s talons and practically threw him away with much force. The bird landed on the ground beside Nero, which left you as the last fighter standing.

“WHAT IN THE SCHTICK?!” Griffon swore, his golden eyes wide with both humor and fear.

“V?!” Nero muttered in confusion. “(Y/N), look out!”

Before you could even attack, the man strode towards you, raised his hand with the metal cane, and brought it swiftly down on your face, wounding you and making you stumble to the ground.

Your hand automatically went up your cheek and felt something moist from it. You looked at your fingers - blood.

“GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU CHEAP V RIP - OFF FROM HELL!” Griffon shrieked as he flew towards the creature. He released a strong electric attack with the full intention of killing the enemy.

However, the “cheap V rip - off” simply dodged it, flawlessly jumping in mid - air and hitting Griffon with his cane with unbelievable strength. The bird landed on the ground with an ugly thud.

“Nobody told me he’s not sissy like his real counterpart!” Griffon quipped as he tried to get up from the ground. But then, the enemy stepped on him and drove his cane deep into his flesh, instantly making him enter his stalemate state.

“Griffon!” You quickly stood up and ran towards the familiar but the enemy whacked you with his cane once more, this time, straight on your back.

“FUCK YOU!” Nero swore as he charged towards the fake V. The enemy noticed this and changed back to Kyrie. The boy did a mistake of stopping in his tracks, making the enemy attack him once more with its dark whips. He came flying towards the other end of the room, feeling fresh wounds and multiple injuries all over his body.

“TAKE THIS!” You screamed at the top of your lungs as you whacked your shield on Kyrie’s back, making it stumble. Then, you hastily went to Nero’s side, helping him on his feet.

“We can’t attack it like this!” Nero thundered as he stood up, giving the enemy an angry look for taking the form of a person as pure and as angelic as Kyrie.

You looked at him, knowing exactly what the enemy’s weakness was. “Nero, listen to me. That is not Kyrie - ”

“I know! You don’t have to tell me!”

“But, just now, you hesitated to attack her!”

Nero punched the ground in frustration. You grabbed his arm and made him look up at you.

“We’ll attack it together! Come on, Nero! We have to do this!”

Nero, on the other hand, had enough and slashed the enemy’s torso the moment it turned back to V. It drew back in shock, clutching its wounded stomach, then turned to you two with murder and malice in its now red eyes. It dropped its cane on the ground and changed back to Kyrie, extending one of its whips and pinned Nero to the wall, fatally wounding him.

Just when you were about to attack it, it rapidly went back to V, waved its arms, and summoned multiple blades of blue light that rapidly went down on you like bullets.

That’s when you saw it.

… turning into real flesh,…

His eyes widened at the sight. He forcefully grabbed the dark whip that imprisoned him using his newly formed right arm and almost melted it with the sheer light and warmth it radiated.

“Your tricks are getting too old, you bitch.” Nero quipped as he motioned for the enemy to come closer. “I’ll make you pay for this!”

Grabbing his warm right arm, you spoke, “This is a miracle!”

“I know.” Nero answered as he supported you.

You turned towards the dark, beaten, writhing mass on the ground that was the remnants of Kyrie and limped your way to it with Nero still on your heel.

“Who called me here?” You asked it, foolishly believing that it could somehow shed light to the mystery of the Dreadnought and the voice that was calling you.

You felt a pang of guilt as you looked at it and realized that it was only making you feel that way to defeat you.

With one last sigh of apathy towards the enemy, you took Nero’s Red Queen from him, held it above your head, and plunged it to V’s heart, making it writhe and wriggle even more with pain. Feeling your tears pour out of your tired eyes for this unspeakable creature for exposing your true emotions, you plunged the hot sword even deeper, skewering its heart and reducing the enemy down to its true form - a short and wrinkled creature, about four feet in height, with long twisted claws, sharp red eyes, green skin, and skinny legs. You took the sword out of its body and slashed its head, decapitating it and finally putting an end to it once and for all. The remains of the despicable creature caught on fire and slowly turned into ashes.

You gave the sword back to Nero as you collapsed on the ground.

“So, that’s how Mina felt when she decapitated Dracula.” You sighed as you settled on the ground to make yourself comfortable. “Oh, that’s wrong. That’s no Dracula,…”

“Why Kyrie? Why not somebody else?” The youth asked as he watched the creature’s ashes get flown by the wind.

You sighed, feeling the massive weight on your heart and shoulders. “It only reflects how much you love a person. The enemy used it against you because it knew it would be your biggest weakness.”

Nero looked at you in dismay. “So, you still love him,… V?”

You blinked twice, not sure if your heart could take any more pain. You, then, let out a long sigh of depression. “After all this time. Yes.” You answered, wincing in pain as you touched one bloody wound on your arm.

“Hey, you should fall back now, you can’t fight like this!” The boy pleaded as you let him support you.

However, the moment your skin made contact with his new arm once again, a new set of visions flashed through your mind about him. It was rapid, and yet,…

You only shook your head in disagreement. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ll be fine?! What are you - ?”

Nero’s sentence was cut off as he saw, with his own two eyes, how the wounds on your body miraculously healed. He watched the phenomenon in total shock, and when your last wound closed, he could only laugh in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me you’re immortal?!” Nero questioned you.

“And what does that make you?” You asked him as you gave a knowing look on his new right arm.

“Come on, (Y/N). I’m serious here! How did you - ?”

“You never asked how Griffon came to be my familiar.” You cut him off. “And you never asked why my eyes are red. I know Nico told you everything. But, the question is,…” You said, giving him a questioning look as you raised an eyebrow. “… how much do you know?”

The youth could only gulp down in nervousness, his sweat running cold in the process. “Everything.”

“Oh.”

“FUCK YEAH! What? Hey, what did I miss?” Griffon, who was just fully healed and revived, asked as he flew down towards the two of you.

“Nero pulled a rabbit out of his sleeve.” You answered without so much as a fuss.

“Really? Oh, wait. You’re being sarcastic - !”

“Which brings me to my next agenda.” You said as you held up a hand to silence Griffon. “Nero,…”

“What is it, (Y/N)?”

You looked into the youth’s sincere eyes, deciding whether to tell him what you just saw or not, then shook your head.

“Forget I said anything.” You quietly answered as you stood up.

“I know you saw something about me. Tell me!”

You narrowed your eyes at the boy.

Well,…

He had the right to know!

“Listen: do you know Luke Skywalker? The Jedi?” You asked him as you removed your shredded parka, letting Nero take a glimpse of the contract markings on your right arm.

“Luke,… Skywalker? I’m not sure I could follow,…”

“Yeah, the woman likes movies, ya know?” Griffon added as he perched on your arm.

“So, what does this Luke have to do with me?” Nero inquired as he followed you out of the dark and depressing room.

“Hmm, I don’t know. Could you say, that’s impossible!”

“That’s impossible! There, I said it.”

“You’ll say that again later.”

“What do you mean by that? Hey, (Y/N)!”

You turned to glance at the boy. Taking pity on him, you spoke, “You know, you are very fortunate.”

“Uh, thank you, I guess?” Nero replied, scratching his temple in confusion.

“Thank you for everything, Nero.”

“Nah, it’s nothing.”

“Tell Kyrie I said hi.”

“Sure thing.”

“This will be the last time. You’ll never see me again.”

“Okay. WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!”

But, you were already gone before he could even ask you that last bit that Nico never told him,…

***

XXII

***

In silence and total darkness, V waited for you to arrive. And during those tense moments, he could only think of Fleminger’s words to him.

“I know it is power you seek, my Lord. She has that power you’re searching for - the power to make yourself invulnerable. The power - to put you back to your former self. Deep within the Dreadnought lies her true heart. But, piercing it would do you no good. Pierce,…

… her body first, then make her power mine. Only then can I defeat the Dreadnought.” V uttered as Shadow morphed into an indistinguishable form before him. “Only then,… can I truly become,…

… whole. Once more.”

At those final words, something huge behind him pulsated, splashing the suffocating room with its sickly crimson glow and casting unearthly shadows before the poet.

V looked down on his hands. His crumbling flesh. His time,… was coming to an end.

And so, he shall soon receive the power,…

“Come to me, my love.” He called for the third time, knowing that you would come to him right away without hesitation,…

***

💙💙💙

***

#devil may cry 5 #nero sparda #i see my future before me #v x reader #v x you #chapter 22 #he who fights #revised

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villainqueen · 5 years

Text

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell - Chapter 6

V X Fem!Reader fanfiction, set after the events of Devil may Cry 5.

Prologue / Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5

Ao3 [Link]

Chapter 6

Lives in eternity's sun rise

August 1st 14:20 pm

"Where do you want to search next?" V asked you as he stepped back into the corridor, where you already waited for him to join you.

"Tis could be anywhere. Pardon my impudence to lead thee on such a search. I did not intent to waste thine precious time." you answered him, at the exact moment both of you could hear loud rumbling from the other side of the hallway. It took only a few seconds for you to notice Griffon flying around the corner straight towards you.

"Are you done scouting? Have you found anything?"

"No time for that V, just run!" Griffon crowd in a panic. The reason for that was close behind him. He was followed by a demon. It had the upper body of a beautiful woman however, everything downwards her bellybutton was a completely different story. A whole pack of dogs grew out of her, loud growling with foam coming from their snouts.

"(Y/N), move!" V commanded and dragged you after him. Both of you began to run in the opposite direction and Griffon soon caught up to you; "That is Scylla, not an enemy that is easy to deal with. So, let's get outta here!"

"Oh, how wonderful! Looks like I found the one, before Abigor did, Master will be pleased!" giggled the demon with a voice of a young girl. "And there is such a handsome man too. Why don't you come to me so we can play~?"

"Yo Shakespeare, she is talkin' to ya! But word of advice here, doubt ya both have the same understanding when talkin' about playin', okay, try avoid that!"

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind!" V answered soberly. This was not the time for joking around, Scylla was a famous demon and that also meant a dangerous one. A fight against her could be lethal, especially without being able to summon Nightmare yet. V had you by his side as well, but it was hard to tell how strong you actually were, you showed some magic attack before but you had no weapon with you. Was it enough to help him defeat such an imposing demon? Much more time to think about a strategy was not granted as the corridor came to an end you soon approached the big staircase that would lead down to the main hall.

"Got you!" Scylla laughed, now close enough behind you that you could smell the pack of dogs.

"Sir V, I propose we jump!" you yelled as the Scylla tried to tackle both of you. V without a second thought jumped over the railing, where Griffon picked him up. This caused the Scylla to crush down back to the ground floor. You also jumped and materialized projectiles made from pure light to fire towards the falling Scylla. One floor wasn't a big fall, so you safely landed back on your feet, with V coming down, right next to you.

"Looks like we have to fight this demon." V said, not amused by that prospect.

"Owie, that hurt! That is not the game I wanted to play. I'll make you pay for that!" the Scylla cried out as she got back on her several paws. This was the command for you to get in position as V summoned Shadow to join him while he recited: "The apple tree never asks the beech how he shall grow, nor the lion, the horse, how he shall take his prey."

Nevertheless, before the fight could really start, you could hear more noises coming from behind you as both of you had only seconds to avoid getting hit by a demon that broke through the wall behind you. But this was not a deliberate attack by a demon, as you figured out quickly, since Nero came through the hole in the wall right after it, to join you in the main hall. It was the devil hunter who threw the demon through the wall almost hitting you both in the process.

"Hey kiddo, be more careful where ya throw demons in the future. Imagine you hit V with that, he would've been crushed. I mean look at him, basically everything could break his bones!" Griffon lectured Nero even though it sounded more like the demon bird was throwing shade at his own master. However, both enemy demons were not dead yet and in a much less playful mood now.

"So, three against two, at least the odds are our favor." V remarked just to be scolded by Griffon; "Didn't ya mean five? Hey big kitty, did ya hear that, we do the dirty work and never get any credit. I say we form a union!"

Nero, who just catched up to you, handed you the spear he found and said: "Think that is yours. You can go all out now, I know what you are, there is no point in hiding it anymore!" With a shocked expression on your face you received your weapon back. A silent "M-my thanks…" was all you could muster. How did he figured out your true identity? Was it bluff or perhaps someone told him? Impossible, the only one who knew of it was long gone... Anyhow, you had no time to think it over, as your enemies started to attack all of you enraged.

August 1st 15:00 pm

Loud chattering from outside of his office awoke Dante from his nap. He sat at his desk, feet placed on the table and a dirty magazine covering his face. His plan was to collect his thoughts about his current investigation, but the intimidation of clerics made him tired. His planned rest should end abruptly, as the door of his office flew open and the loud talking now took place right in front of him.

"Really, prices for cabs nowadays are extortionate!" a woman complains. This was Lady a fellow Devil hunter and old friend of Dante, known as "The Walking Arsenal", due to her usage of lots of different guns, with her favorite; her rocket launcher Kalina Ann.

"Would you have rather taken a bus? Do you know what kind of people ride a bus? I’ve known demons who smell better!" answered the other person. This was Trish, a beautiful woman with the looks of Dante's mother, and a demon herself.

"Look who his finally back, my two favorite girls!" Dante murmured with no intention of removing the magazine of his face.

"Talking about bad smell…" remarked Trish while Lady just commented with an unemotional; "Oh, you're back from hell, I see." before they returned to their conversation.

"I've been through hell and no one seems to be surprised I'm back. I don't really know how I should deal with such cold heartedness!" Dante now taking the magazine off his face and started to fake sob. Which had Trish just rolling her eyes; "Dante how often did you get trapped in hell now? Four times, at least? Don't pretend like it's a big deal for you!"

"It's not like you would die or anything. You are like, like a cockroach in that regard!" Lady chimed in, leaving a compliment that sounded more like an insult in Dante's ears

"Why do you always team up against me? By the way, what were you doing with the suitcases and shopping bags?" Dante pointed now at the luggage both women were carrying into the office. Dante knew now something was up, just by the look on their faces.

"You know Dante, after we both got trapped inside some demons by YOUR BROTHER, we thought we deserve some time relaxing, you know…" Lady began speaking up.

"And you mean what, by it?"

“We just went on a wellness vacation after the last job, to a wonderful spa, you would have loved it there! The seafood buffet was to die for" Trish continued.

"And of course, we both needed some new clothes to go with it, so we went spending a bit." spoke Lady again this time in a tiny voice as if she could avoid him hearing the truth this way.

"So, just to get it right, while I'm stuck in hell you both went on vacation?" after Dante expressed his disbelief, he had a sudden revelation. He knew Trish had a habit for spending and had an expensive taste but Lady? She was one of the stingiest people he knew, why would she spend so much money, unless of course…. "Please tell me I didn't pay for any of that stuff!" Silence. Both women avoided his eye contact. Till Lady started again; "You know we were in a pretty shitty position because of what your brother did to us…"

"No, forget it, you ain't gonna get out of it that easy, guilt tripping me won't work this time!"

"Stop complaining Dante, we got you something too!" said Trish as she pulled the gaudiest looking Hawaiian shirt out of one of her shopping bags. Dante wanted to stay angry however, he kind of liked the souvenir as it fitted his taste surprisingly well, so he decided to go easy on them. Not that there was much he could do now anyway. After all he was the one owning Lady money most of the time and Trish didn't really care for what he had to say anyway, like usual.

"Okay forget it! But there is something I might need you both for. A new job but a now I guess an unpaid one."

"Unpaid work? Did the latest trip to the demon world changed you so much, you became a good Samaritan now, Dante?" Trish joked not willing to do much without payment but after their excessive maxing out of Dante's credit card, she knew that she owned him at least that.

"Nah, not really, especially not since we might have to kick some holy asses. I'll fill you in to all the details later but first I've got to call Nero. The kid is currently doing something for me, together with V and there is something I found out he might need to know."

"Wait Dante, did you say V? What's going on?" Trish asked while taking a seat on his desk.

"Later, just let me make a call first!"

August 1st 14:30 PM

Once you hold your spear Sunrise in your hands for a moment, a melancholy feeling overwhelmed you. It's been so long since you felt anything that was related to your home and even through it was impossible for you to ever return, it was a welcomed feeling, despite being a somewhat sad one. Your attention went back to the current situation, now that Nero declared to know what you truly are, there was little reason to hold back and with Sunrise in your hand, you had the means to go all out. The times imprisoned in the human world might took a toll on you, but it should suffice to assist in fighting those enemies.

“Demons, I seek not your deaths! Hurry back to your world and your lives will be spared, otherwise this will end here!” you calmly declared as you got ready for the fight.

"Spare them and miss out on giving them a good beating? I don't think so!" Nero laughed; he was not one to give demons so obviously evil the gift of mercy.

"Little girl, don't be scared, I'll only eat the guys, you'll be spared for now, Master Caim wants you alive!" Abigor answered as he moved his olive colored long limps in a convulsive fashion. Abigor was a truly disgusting demons as he resembled the human form in a weird twisted way, with limbs longer than they should be which led him to move on all fours. His head was hairless, and only had the big mouth with visible sharp tooth and little black eyes that only consisted of pupils.

"If this is thou wishest, I will grant thee this much decency."

"Quit ya chatting, Princess! Let's get to the meat and potatoes here!" crowed Griffon and started his assault on the Scylla. No one wasted any more time, so Griffon and Shadow went to deal several attacks at the demons, under the supervision of V himself. Nero, who had his fun beating up Abigor before, was quick to pick up where he left and tried to slice it limps right off with his sword. Abigor had over plans and went back into his black hole just to come out behind him for a surprise attack.

"Oh child, it won't be that easy!" it laughed.

You decided to join the fight and went in close to fight Scylla. You had not as much raw strength Nero had, but you were fast and agile, perfect to use a spear and your technique was proof that you knew how to handle it. With precise thrusts and quick changes of stances you gave Scylla a taste of what you’re capable of and together with V’s familiars you stood your ground.

"This is no fun! Stupid animals! Stupid bitch! I want to play with those handsome men, not you!" Scylla cried out as the dogs charged at you three. They couldn't reach Griffon that far in the air, yet Shadow was surrounded and in a less ideal position.

"Griffon, attack from above and I'll put some of them down!" V said as he appeared near Shadow and pierced his cane in a dog head which had a weird lilac color to it, just to bring a distant between them once again by almost teleporting a few feet back.

"Thanks V, and here I was just about to challenge her to a boxing match!" his demon familiar scoffed sarcastically. And it didn't take much for V to notice that the demons would just grow back the dog heads out of her body once one was killed.

"(Y/N) we should try a different approach. This is going nowhere!" V said to you as you summoned a light circle around yourself, that held the dogs at a distant as it would cut them as soon as came near you.

"I see, I welcome any advice you offer." you answered him as you dealt with the rabies infected dog pack. This made V think for a short moment as he observed. The dogs would grow back so how could they kill of the Scylla for good. And then it struck him, if they could attack the human shaped body at the top, it might work. Nevertheless, it would take a much stronger attack than he could offer, without Nightmare he didn't have enough raw power. Griffon and Shadow already struggled with the sheer number of dogs at the lower end of the demon.

"We should try to attack her upper body."

"So be it!" you answered V and tried to focus your attack at the woman on top. Yet, even with your fast speed, each time you came close to her a new dog would grow shielding her from your stabbing. If this was to continue you and V, with his familiars, would end up exhausted and an easy target to be finished off. Raw strength could be what you needed right at this moment. But without Nero, who was currently occupied with Abigor behind you, pummeling it through the air, you couldn’t rely on his strength to win this fight and V had no means to fill this spot either.

"Hehehe, you little bitch can't even scratch me, my puppies will tear you apart!" Scylla mocked you, which lead you to make a decision. You turned to V and spoke in an apologetic tone: "I must apologize for what thine eyes will witness, Sir V. Yet please bear with it for I have no other option left." Now you're ready to pull out your trump card. Nero already knew about you and there was no point in risking defeat now, just to keep a secret that was already discovered. With that said, you activated your own trigger, much like Nero's devil trigger you saw before, yet a devil you were not. Your skin now had a light grey color to it and your body was almost naked. On, your now taller body, you had adornments that covered all intimate areas and other places like shoulders or the sides of your body as if it would function as armor, while it still being a part of the stone like skin. Around your hand and feet, you had rings of pure light and your face was motionless. Eyes bright but without any movement, a mouth that would not open even as you spoke. However, the most outstanding feature was the six white wings that came out of your back. This form had an eerie feeling to it, not monstrous but definitively not human. Beautiful and unsettling at the same time.

V stared at you, he had a vast knowledge of demons, but you were non he could recognize. Your form did somewhat resemble one of what humans would imagine an angel to actual look like. However, much more foreign than just a human with a pair of wings.

"Sir V, pray assist me and together we shall strike down this foe!" you said with your voice distorted. This pulled V right out of his thoughts and back to the task at hand. He nodded in agreement and so you jumped and stayed in the air, as your wings now gave you the ability to fly. As Shadow and Griffon, launched another assault, distracting most of the dogs and making a path for your attack. With force your spear came down onto the main body of the Scylla, piercing through two more dog heads she grew to protect herself from the attack. This didn't work out for her and you impaled the dogs and human body with one strike.

"Impossible! Master will punish you for that!" the Scylla cried out with her last breath as you reached your hand inside her, pulling out her soul.

“You've finally shown yourself! Seems like Scylla was at least of some use!" Abigor snickered as he watched this fellow demon die.

"Hey ugly shitface, better pay attention!" said Nero using the momentum to cut off one of Abigor's long limps. It screamed out in agony as he holds its bleeding stomp there once was its arm. But before Nero could finish it off, it opened another portal to escape the situation, avoiding death.

"Next time you will be my meal, mark my words!" the demon hissed at Nero before he fled the scene.

"What a coward!" Nero growled in return and put his sword onto his back. The fight was over but it always annoyed Nero to leave without a clear-cut win.

"Yo missy, not that I wanna be noisy or anything but care to explain what’s going' on with ya? This new look freaks me out!" Griffon asked as he took a seat on your shoulder, while you went down from the fading corpse of the Scylla.

"I, this is also a form of mine..." you started to explain as you tried to avoid the eyes of the two men in fear of seeing disgust or worse on their faces.

"Guess that means, it's true what these letters claimed." Nero interrupted you by pulling out the papers from is pocket and handed them V while continuing: "You're an angel for real!"

#devil may cry #DMC #dmc vitale #V #Vitale #fanfiction #fanfic #writing #chapter 6 #dmc 5 #V x Reader #DMC V

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noisilyeclecticmilkshake · 5 years

Text

The Consequence of Friends

I gasp at the page titled “Ivelle District Leaders” as I see my name listed for repair. That’s so close to the bottom I almost faint from the injustice, but instead of arguing I head to pick up my boots and repair toolkit. Afterward, I head to lunch, I really shouldn’t have to waste time waiting for everyone else in the breakfast line, but it does gives Zavian, my best friend, a chance to catch up to me. There was a lot of complaining about her cutting in line, but I can’t blame them, I’d want to be next to me too.

“I am so annoyed, they put me on repair again. It’s insane this is the fifth time, I work harder than anyone else, I can’t believe I’m not a commander.” When she doesn’t confirm this I ask “Well, don’t you think so?”

“Yeah, definitely.” She says distractedly playing with her food.

“So, where are you working?” Usually I wouldn’t ask, but today she’s acting weird.

“Ah, it doesn’t matter. How’s your food? Mine tastes like mush.” She pushes her plate away.

I look down at my plate which consists of noodles with a side of rice. “It tastes fine.” I find it odd she avoided the topic so much. “So where did Kalina put you?”

She gives me a frustrated sigh “Oh my gosh, it doesn’t matter. Stop asking.” she grabs her plate and gets up. “You haven’t cared before, so why do you care now?” She throws her food in the trash like it insulted her mom and rushes off to somewhere. I can’t believe she could just walk away from someone as awesome as me, she must be working janitorial. I sigh, finish my food, and head to my room to get ready for my job.

Half an hour later I have on a bulky suit built so we don’t die from exposure to the hurricane level winds. Lucky me, though because the worst outfit ever comes with the heaviest shoes known to mankind, supposedly it’s to keep everyone from flying away but I think it’s so people can’t run away from this windy hell. It’s 4506 if they were for anything else they would be lighter by now. I put on my nametag and head to repair the mills.

Ivelle is the wind district, although “district” isn’t really a good name for it, since there are multiple wind districts around the world. We learned about this stuff in history, climate change caused things to go awry, it was small at first, but it escalated quickly with fires 15 miles wide and 50 stories high. The number of homes and families destroyed by volcanoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis reached record breaking highs. Earthquakes got rid of half of California and practically made another continent. Populations dropped and everyone worked together so future generations could exist. The world leaders wrote a treaty, splitting countries into five districts. Calor, geothermal, Suri, solar, Udens, hydropower, Ledus, this district gets and makes ice and ensure the world temperatures don’t get extreme. And of course, Ivelle District, windy energy.

I start repairing the mills closest to the building and work my way to the outer perimeter where there’s more trees, flowers and life in general due to it being near one of the Udens Districts. The water makes it easier for trees and plants to grow. While I’m working on a repair I see something out of the corner of my eye. I hope to see a bunny or fox, although it’s more likely to see a deer. The bunnies, with their huge feet and unproportionately small ears are my favorite animal, I’ve seen them more times than most since they gravitate towards my greatness. I go back to work after nothing shows up. It happens a couple more times before I head over to see if there is a trapped animal. I almost jump out of my skin when I see a box of matches. Matches stopped being made centuries ago, but getting caught with one was like a death sentence, it was like ignoring all the work that went into fixing the world, I grab the matches anyway

I skip lunch and head straight to my room, stepping inside my closet only taking out the matchbox after I change my outfit completely. I don’t know why, but something about the matches makes me feel like I need to change, like nothing will ever be the same. I turn the box around in my hand, examining it. Its old, or it should be, matchboxes went out of commission centuries ago, yet the box looks new, like it was made yesterday. I turn it over and see the words “Strike Anywhere”, despite this the box has a sandpaper side. I open the box, there’s a lot of matches in it and my hands shake as I reach to take one out. I drag the match along the side of the box but nothing happens. I try against the floor, maybe the side is misleading and it means to strike anywhere but there, nothing happens. I try scratching the side of the box, shaking the box, shaking the match, nothing works. Out of frustration I push the match as hard as I can against the box and pull down faster than wind on a bad day. Apparently that was also the wrong thing to do because it snapped in half and I stared, as best I could in my pitch black closet, at the bottom half of a match. I did see a spark before it broke so I tried it again, this time with less pressure, dropping it as it explodes. I yell as the fire reaches my fingers. The makeshift light burns out and the smell hits me with full force, but I keep lighting match after match until it gets hard to breathe. I turn on the light and look down to see burnt matches have smudged the floor. It only gets worse as I try to pick them up, crumbling into microscopic pieces and staining my hands. I walk to the hallway leaving my closet and room door open, hopefully it’ll air out. For now, though, I am heading to talk to Zavian.

“Hey,” I say knocking on her already open door. “I see you got that job I always wanted.”

“Yeah and I’m proud of it.” Her words were coming through bared teeth as if she didn’t want to apologize to me. “And if you worked harder and were less self-centered you would-”

“I found matches!” There is a silence as I realize what I said.

“What?” She turned around at that, although she didn’t seem surprised.

Too late to lie “I said I found matches, a whole box of them actually.”

“What did you do with them?” She sends me a questioning glance that turns to a mixture of worry and something I can’t quite recognize as she sees my soot covered hands. “You lit them didn’t you?” I didn’t have a chance to confirm this as she rushed past me.

“Where are you going?” I asked although I knew the answer . She was going to my room to get the matches so she could protect me. “Wait!” I reached out to stop her but she slipped out of my grasp easily, and I lost sight as she rushed ahead. When I finally caught up with her she was standing in my closet looking down at the black smudges and covering her mouth with her arm, I guess the smell hadn’t completely dissipated yet. Jeez, I just wanted her to know I’m better.

“Where?” Is all she said when she turned to look at me through the light fog left over from my impulsive match-lighting episode.

“You don’t need to know that.” Before I had even finished my sentence she was looking through my drawers. I felt a spark of anger in my chest, I didn’t have to explain anything to her. She’s the one that hid something from me in the first place and she had no right to just rummage through my stuff, still, I didn’t stop her. Instead, I leaned on the door frame “You’re never gonna find it. I hid it-”

“Really?” She pulled out a smug smile along with the matchbox. “I know you Kova, and I know where you hide things just because you’re so sure no one's gonna look in the compartment in your dresser that I helped you make, by the way. And now, like the good friend I am, I’m going to turn these in before you get in trouble.”

Damn, I forgot she helped me build that. “You can’t,” I didn’t know what that would do because she could, and would but I had to try. “You can’t turn them in because... ” I looked around my room for a reason, but couldn’t find one. I sigh “Look, I know they were the cause of a lot of destruction, but there just so warm and bright.” I get an idea and step inside the closet, snatching the matches from her hands and closing the door behind us.

“What are y-”

“Just watch.” I lit the match illuminating both of our faces and enjoying the warmth on my face and hand. It was short lived as Zavian blew it out making more smoke fill the room.

“You’re insane.” She turned on the light in the closet, grabbed the matches and headed out faster than I could react.

“Wait! There’s something you’re not taking into consideration.”

“And what’s that?”

“I love him.” I thought it was funny, but she gave me a frustrated look and continued heading down the hall, taking away the only warm thing in my life.

Five days pass with no incident except not seeing Zavian, this is odd but I assume she’s hiding from me since she still hasn’t apologized for rushing away from me. On the fifth day I see the same bush shaking and don’t hesitate to head over. I gasp as I’m pulled into the bush and fall farther than I should. The next thing I see is a too-close-for-comfort face.

“What did you do with the matches?”

“What?” I ask back, confused.

“You picked up the matches didn’t you?” The dude looks way too annoyed that a person he dragged under a bush is confused.

“Um, no.” I don’t know this person or why he knows that I had matches but it surely isn’t his business what I did with them.

“Damn, wrong person.” he stands up and points what looks like a pistol at my face. I would be worried except that those went out with the matches. “You didn’t take the matches, so you can’t know we exist.” That’s when I put things together, and realize the gun does work, just like the matches.

“Wait!” I yell, putting my hands up as if the suit I’m wearing will stop a bullet. “I did take the matches.” I figure I said the right thing when I don’t hear the gun go off.

His face lights up as he replaces the gun with his hand. “Well, why didn’t you just say that? Did you light them?”

I give him a look “A strange person grabbed my arm and pulled me under a bush, yeah my first thought is to tell him something that could get me killed, and yes I lit the matches.” I get up accepting the help.

“Well, we’re the Past Resurgence Organization. The matches are a test and you passed. Using the matches shows initiative and curiosity, traits we look for in a leader. Don’t you think you’re better suited to be running a district than working in one?” He held his arm out again “I’m Ulric by the way.”

I shake his hand, glad that someone finally get it. “Yes, I’ve been telling people that for years. I’m glad someone sees it.”

A couple of hours later I am back in my room with a mission, it would take months to years, but I agreed since the path I am on right now isn’t getting me anywhere. I am to work my way up the ladder and find blueprints from the Old World. I told them that shouldn’t be too hard except no one appreciates my talent and work. Luckily they knew the tricks to move up through command. Following these steps still took five years, I worry about Zavian though, I haven’t seen her once in five years, she could be dead and it would be my fault. I told myself that I shouldn’t worry about her there’s nothing I can do now.

I found the blueprints for coal plants while sneaking in Kalani’s office. I headed to the Tunnels, stopped at my door; taking a minute to look at the picture of Zavian on my wall, I won’t forget her. I put a sign on my door that I would be too sick to answer. When everything was set I put the blueprints in my shoulder bag, grab my old wind suit, and head back to the bush, stomping on the ground to let them know I was here. The ground gave way beneath my feet and I landed in the same spot I did five years ago. I triumphantly held up my shoulder bag “I got them.”

“Good, now we need to take out the leader so we can control this district.” He took the blueprints out of the bag and used a thumbtack to stick them to the wall. “You’re going to have the main role in that so, you got an ideas?”

I knew this day was coming and I had thought of a lot of ideas, any of them would work but the most recent one would be the most viable. “Yeah, I’m thinking we get someone to kill her, let everyone grieve for a few days, then I show up with the killer. Everyone will see me as their hero, which, let’s face it, I am.” There were a few chuckles and some nods of agreement, we know this will lead to a better future for everyone. “Because I’m so high in the chain of command the people will already have put me on the ballet, and bringing Kalani’s killer to justice will ensure my spot as leader.” I look at Ulric, who has his hand on his chin like he’s mulling over my plan, looking up after a minute or two.

“Yeah, that should work.” With that, we get to work, working out the details in our plan. Ulric says he already has the killer, but won’t tell anyone since he wants it to be a surprise. I am going to wait three days before I “find” the killer and bring them back, humbly accepting the leadership position I was always meant to have. I take the sign off my door, collecting the fruit basket someone left outside.

A week passes before our plan goes into motion so as not to raise suspicion, and my heart is pumping with anticipation as I sit with the other commanders and wait for the news that Kalani has been killed. Jack runs into the lunchroom, right before the shift change, and yells “HELP! Kalani’s dead!” I act surprised, running with everyone else to her office, seeing her pale face that matches her white hair. After a bit, I walk toward the center of the room, standing on a chair so everyone can see me.

“A terrible thing has happened today, and I swear I will find Kalani’s killer.” I get off the chair and for my room. When I walk in I see a file, it has the killer’s information inside. I feel the floor beneath me sway as I open the file, and grab my dresser to steady myself. I stare in disbelief at the name and picture I didn’t think I would ever see again.

Mayla, Zavian. I have to kill my best friend.

The next few days are hell, and I’m not eager to leave. I’m not heading back until lunchtime, so I spend most of my time making sure everything is in place. I head straight to the main room when lunchtimes comes around. When Ulric walks in, I see Zavian behind him and feel guilt rise up. She wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t told her about the matches.

“Is this where you’ve been?” She looks really bad, her hair is messy and her clothes are dirty and roughed up.

“Yeah, I didn’t think you noticed.” There’s a pause, and she must see the way I’m looking at her. “Don’t worry I only look this way for the part of ‘been on the run for a couple of days’.” That does make me feel better.

“Of course I noticed. I’ve known you almost my whole life.” There was a silence. “Hey, why didn’t you just tell me where you were working all those years ago?”

She sighs “Because I knew how you’d react. Talking about how is isn’t fair and you deserve it more than anyone else.”

“Oh…” Looking back I guess I really was that stuck-up “sorry.”

“Yeah, well it’s all in the past now.” She smiles and I feel like I’m the one dying. She just had to be nice.

We climb the ladder and before I know it we are across the field, walking into the building. I declare that I’ve found the killer. I point the gun at Zavian; it feels like a hundred pounds to pull the trigger, and I hear a gunshot but it’s not mine. I see something red on my shirt, and a smile on Zavian’s face as she catches me, apparently I was falling. “I’m glad you picked up the matches all those years ago. It gave me the chance to get rid of you.”

#Original #short story #dystopian

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ramajmedia · 5 years

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90 Day Fiance: 10 Most Shocking Couples | ScreenRant

This has to be one of the best series that TLC has shown us, and it is filled to the brim with shocking moments in every episode. It’s why we love it. As soon as we think we have the couples figured out, a surprise hits us right in the face. This list is full of them, ranging from some behind the scene antics that makes the show run, to which couples are doing fine, and how the ones that fell out ended up where they are.

Below, you’ll find 10 reasons we’re shocked about the couples of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After from Season 6.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: 10 Things To Expect For The Chantel Family

10 What’s Up With Colt and Larissa?

Colt and Larissa had undoubtedly the most toxic relationship we’ve ever seen in the show, and that is in no way an exaggeration. Every single time the couple showed up on screen it took maybe three or four sentences before the yelling came in. Oh, dear lord at the amount of yelling coming from both sides, as well as Colt’s mother that lived with the two throughout the process.

They split up before the Tell-All where Colt emotionally proclaimed his love, moments before Larissa’s new boyfriend popped up to talk with the rest of the cast. Of course, Colt didn’t take this well, and the two shot off choice words at each other.

9 What Happened With Jay and Ashley?

This is far from your picture-perfect relationship. Ashley was in our prayers when Jay was cheating on her with multiple women while the show was filming, and even after that. It’s not just on his side though, his soon to be ex-wife has stated on Instagram that the two were getting a divorce, and, when she dropped the motion, she blamed it on her medication for lupus for affecting her thought process. So, why is she still on the show? Because the drama between the two of them makes for some very good TV, and fans can’t help but wonder what’s next for the two.

8 Jorge and Ansifa

Honest question here; where do we even start with these two? Do we start off by mentioning that Jorge actually met Ansifa on a cam girl site? Or that he was cheating on his wife with a somewhat famous YouTube podcaster Stevie Ryan? What about Jorge’s felony charges that he received when he was caught with close to 300 lbs. of marijuana in his car?

Do you see what we mean? This couple is insane, and, shockingly enough, Ansifa decided to stay with Jorge while he served his time in jail. She wanted to keep her life private but spilled the news on Instagram, shocking many regarding her decision.

7 What's With Azan and Nicole?

Azan’s disappointment at Nicole’s weight was a shared gut punch between her and the fans. She spoke highly of him, and the two seemed like they were really in love. The problems between them flared up since the first day they met, with problems on Azan’s end encompassing his girlfriends' weight and how she yelled at him in public.

The relationship went into a steady decrease, and we were really hoping the two would have sorted things out before the Tell-All, but they didn’t, and Nicole told everyone that she hasn’t seen Azan in well over a year. He decided that staying in his homeland was a better choice than flying out to meet them. Another tidbit? He even asked for Ansifa’s number and was ratted out by TLC themselves via twitter.

RELATED: 10 Best Superhero Couples In Movies And TV

6 Steven and Olga

Can we take a second to applaud a couple coming out on top from the show? After so many failed relationships falling apart and being televised from start to finish, it's nice to see a couple make it through all the problems they faced. Yes, the couple did have their moments on the show, but it came nowhere near as dramatic as the other couples.

Steven did lie to Olga when he told her he sent in all the required information for her visa, and we were shocked to learn that he lied to her. His reasoning was that he wanted to make sure she was the right one before making that commitment. She forgave him, and the two are now new parents.

RELATED: 10 Best Sitcom Couples First Kisses

5 Kalina and Asuelu

Let's keep the happy couple streak up for a little bit. These two were nothing but sweet to each other with their time on screen. Kalani meets Asuleu while she was staying at a resort during her vacation. Fans were shocked to find out that Asuleu was the first person that Kalani was intimate with, and when he moved to California with her, her family couldn’t help but be suspicious at his motives.

Fans were surprised to know that not only did the couple marry, but Kalani was pregnant with their second child while they were getting married. The couple had their second child together, named Kennedy, in April 2019.

4 Eric and Leida

Many would consider the age difference between these two to be shocking. There's a good 11-year gap dividing the lovers, and some fans think Eric is somewhat creepy for dating someone that far from his age. That also makes it hard to have a lot in common.

Eric was a long-time U.S. Marine, while Leida a talented model and singer with a work history surrounding teaching and coming from a wealthy family. Fans were shocked when she decided to leave her home for Eric, and his family shared the feelings. Even more disturbing? Cops were called in to settle a domestic violence dispute between the two of them.

3 Johnathan and Fernanda

The 13-year age gap between these two had fans raising their eyebrows for a bit. Not just the age though, but how little the two actually had in common, despite Johnathan’s hollow words that they would be fine.

They weren’t, which isn’t shocking. What is though, however, is how quickly this relationship burned and how critical the couple got towards one another. The couple announced they were separating in January of 2019 after not speaking to each other in over a month. To make things just a little worse, Johnathan stated that he canceled his ex-wife's green card paperwork, essentially denying her the option to stay in the U.S.

2 The Tell-All

The Tell-All is the best place to see the tea between all the couples being spilled. It’s a hostile group therapy where everyone gets to dig into each other with personal opinions that leave scars. The couples constantly fire at each other with boyfriends getting pitted against boyfriend as their significant others are insulted.

Colt has been the center of many fights in the Tell-All with couples badgering him over his over-affection for his mother. It didn’t end there; Colt had another bout with Larissa’s new beau. Larissa was really enjoying herself at the site, and we were left shocked at just how spiteful the behavior of the cast could be.

1 Scripted Scenes?

Can we really be shocked that the producers may have scripted some of the most dramatic and cringe-worthy scenes in the series? Could we even blame them? Many fans are glued to the TV when the couples come on, and trying to pick out which scenes could be faked is becoming part of the fun.

Take the Thai massage scene from season 3, for example. That was fake, which explains why the cast was so casual about the entire thing. They’ve been known to stoke the fires throughout the show, though, from ratting out Azan to even letting Larissa bring her new boyfriend on screen. We are sometimes seriously shocked at the length that TLC will go to in order to nab and retain new viewers.

NEXT: 90 Day Fiance: 10 Things TLC Tries To Keep On The Downlow

source https://screenrant.com/ninety-day-fiance-most-shocking-couples/

#screenrant

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thenickelportrust · 6 years

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Informant Fluff

... or it was meant to be.

@dae-kalina wrote an absolutely fantastic fluff piece for Aelius (one of the ROs from her superb game, Son of Satan: The Mortal Coil- the tumblr for which you can find at @sosthemortalcoil) in return for breaking my heart with some equally fantastic angst pieces, and I wanted to show appreciation by returning the favor.

‘Wanted’ being the key word there.

I am sorry.

The rain lashed at your skin, cutting jagged scars of water over your arms and legs, the howling cry of the wind nipped at your feet. You could feel their grip against the slick rooftop failing you, skidding back and forth, turning what was already a flailing run for your life into even more of a chaotic mess of limbs- each diving through the air in an uncoordinated wildness, but the edge never got any closer. If you could just make it over to the next rooftop you could escape- you could get out of there- but the slick, water-logged roof refuses to let you go, keeping you firmly planted on the spot. Your hands reach out and drag your nails through the air, as if somehow you could find purchase in the unforgiving winds to drag yourself forward. But you’re still not moving. You’re not moving. It’s so far away. You can hear the clang of the metal rooftop door slapping the wall, flung open with ferocious force. You don’t dare a glance backwards, the phantoms already growing in your peripheral. Your legs burn with effort, and if you were to stop you would surely fall. Off the edge of the roof, plummet to the ground below. You can hear the footsteps approaching- heavy thuds in time with your thumping heart. Icy fingertips press into the nap of your neck, claws that dig into the skin around your throat-

You suck in a deep breath, eyes snapping open. Shivering despite the blankets wrapped around you, you pull yourself deeper into them, squeezing a fist around the fabric of the bed as you force your eyes to squeeze closed once more, the sound of your skipping heart fluttering around your ears drains out everything but the sensation of cold sweat soaked into your back. With a sigh, you unfurl your fingers and force your eyes open again. Staring directly into the crack that’s run from your apartment’s floor to its ceiling for as long as you can remember, you manage to dredge the last of your consciousness away from the nightmare. Collecting yourself in the comfort that it isn’t real.

At least not anymore.

Ok, maybe not quite as comforting as you thought. It’s too hot and too cold all at once- you kick the blankets aside and roll to the side of the bed, pressing into the scratchy carpet. Damn, you really need to get a new mattress. Everything hurts- you roll your shoulder, wincing when it cracks as soon as you stretch it out.

The walls creak as you move, and your head snaps to where shadows dart away from your line of vision as your eyes adjust to the dark. The silence seems to whisper, creeping thoughts clinging to the nightmare pressing against your brain with cruel grins that gleam in dark corners. With fumbling hands, you scour the wall for the lightswitch, filling the room with a dull orange glow as the bulb buzzes and flickers to life. The hiss of the faulty electrical system seeps from the walls, and the shadows cast by the light seem to shrink back whenever you dare to look towards them, only to creep up in your peripheral.

No. No you’re fine. You just need to stand- maybe splash some water on your face. Yeah, that will work. Then you can go back to bed and sleep and everything will be fine, right? After all, it was all just a nightmare and who has the same nightmare twice in a row, right? Right. So it’ll be even better if you just… go back to bed.

The shadow from your dresser peeks seems to peek around its edge, the black hand of a spectre crawling out just behind where you can’t see and as soon as you turn to look it slips back into the void.

Just wash off the paranoia first.

The cold medicinally clear white light of the bathroom glints off the stained tiles and semi-opaque glass of the shower. The sink sputters before bursting to life, a steady stream of cold water runs between your palms. Technically, the landlord has warned you to let it run for a minute or two before actually using it, but at this point you don’t care anymore, and bend down past the mirror to rub the cold water over your face- wake up to shed the last threads of the dream before going back to sleep.

The mirror fills with the face you refused to look back at on the rooftop, grinning too wide, one hand reaching towards the back of your nightshirt-

Your head snaps up, eyes darting wide and wild to the mirror but there’s nothing behind you. Of course there’s nothing behind you. Why wouldn’t there be nothing behind you?

The skin around your knuckles stretches into a paler shade as you grip the edge of the sink. With too much force, you shut the water off and shake out your hands, rubbing your wrists. Stepping out of the bathroom you take another longing glance at the bed but by now it’s become eerily clear that you’re not getting any sleep tonight. Not if your own brain won’t let you rest.

You need to- you need to- you need to move. To do something. Just keep yourself distracted. Throw on your coat, go outside, just for a tiny bit. It’s dark but…

Before you even have the time to consider anything else you’re already buttoning up your jacket and heading for the door. Blink, and you’re pushing open the apartment building’s entrance, taking a deep breath of crisp, cold night air. There’s no stars above when your head cranes back, not even rolling clouds turned a sickly yellowish by city lights- it’s just a blank, black canvas stretched seemingly just inches over the spiking buildings. Dark felt tugged taut across the sky where stars and the milky way should have been.

Your feet hit the pavement in a steady, fast-paced rhythm. There’s no real direction that you guide them in, just walking for the sake of walking. For the purpose of hearing that rhythm- unhurried, laid-back, alone.

Alone until it’s broken up by a second step- then a third- echoing one another, chasing yours. Your shoulders rise and you whirl around, gaze skittering about the street- where a young couple crosses across the path, arm in arm, laughing to themself with unconcerned grins. Neither of them are even aware of your existence as they cross in and out of your vision.

Deep breath, exhale, you’re fine. A tad bit paranoid, but fine.

There’s more footsteps, and your eyes continue to play pranks on your brain, putting phantasmal figures just beyond the edge of your sight, circling your brain with the haunting memory of rain against skin and slick shoes slipping over the edge- a jump not quite enough with flailing arms, fingers skimming the very edge of safety before slipping undone and-

You suck in a breath and look up- how far have you been walking? The pads of your feet have started to ache ever so slightly- where are you? You just tried to walk off everything that was still haunting your tired mind, but where did you end up?

Your head swivels until you manage to find a street sign, squinting to read it underneath the harsh glow of a bright streetlamp. Oh you… why did you end up here? Because if you’re here then that means…

There, the red brick building that’s begun to look familiar even shrouded in the dull dark blue hue of night. Your eyes trail up to the window with flowers- lilacs- you’d yet to meet the old lady that grows them but the first time he pointed out his neighbor’s window when you commented on the same flower he kept in a vase he’d mentioned that she was an extraordinarily kind woman, taking in most everyone on the floor as if they were all her grandchild. Receiving flowers on random occasions was just one example of how she cared for everyone.

The memory brings a smile to your face and, before you know it, you’re stepping up to the front buzzer. But- wait- it’s so late, he’s probably not even up. What are you doing? Just go home. You already feel better, so everything should be fine now. You don’t need to bother him by waking him and-

And you’re pressing the buzzer. Guilt gnaws at your stomach when you shove your hand back into the pocket but… You can’t say you’re particularly eager to head back out either. And, hey, maybe he really is asleep and you won’t wake him up so you’ll just turn around and head back home or perhaps call a cab. Might be better not to walk alone at night… even if you… walked alone at night all the way here.

“Hello…?” Fuck, he’s awake. Or he is now. Even through the robotic filter of the buzzer you can hear his voice is heavy and slurred with sleep. Damn, now you feel even more guilty. But it’s too late to turn back now.

“Hey, uh…” What does it say about the two of you that you know where he lives but not his name…? “It’s me. Sorry for waking you up.”

There’s a small pause before you hear the entrance’s lock click open, a quiet “Come on up.” following before the buzzer dies off.

You push open the door and, unlike your apartment which always greets you with the smell of musk and mold, find yourself wrapped in a fading, warm smell- roast chicken? You can see, down the first floor’s hallway past the lobby, light and muffled sound seeping out from the crack beneath one of the doors- sounds like a dinner party. The last shreds of darkness clinging to your coat are quickly cast away as you head for the stairs, those hissing remnants of the nightmare that woke you up already seem like a long lost memory.

Which, of course, means that by the time you actually get to his door, you feel positively foolish for having come here. You really did just need to walk it off, you’re fine, why did you wake him up again?

You try to knock lightly- maybe he passed out again and you should just turn around and leave. You certainly wouldn’t blame him for doing so. What time is it, anyway? One, two in the morning? The sun definitely hasn’t risen yet- is that good or bad?

The door swings open and your thoughts pass through blanky- filtering out in a single moment to be replaced with the twitching beginnings of a smile and a snicker as you look at him- “It’s pitch black outside, do you just sleep with those on?”

The Informant, in just a plain white t-shirt and boxer shorts, reaches up to his face and touches the edge of the sunglasses that, by the way his eyebrows rise in shock, he forgot were there. “I heard the buzzer.”

“And you thought sunglasses first, pants later?” You bite your lip to keep from laughing aloud and waking up everyone on the floor, “Good to know you’ve got your priorities straight.”

He moves to the side, and you step inside, taking in a deep breath and finding the tension that had propped your shoulders up quickly collapses, letting them fall down easily as you exhale. Cinnamon and pine- you should ask him what it is that makes this place smell of that, it’s such a nice smell, might help if you found some way to bring it to your own home.

You hear the Informant, unsuccessfully, stifle a yawn behind you as the door clicks closed. It feels funny to see him without the normally put-together look. Hair disheveled from sleep, dressed so casually, padding slowly to the kitchen- a far cry from the man you met what feels like so long ago now, a dark figure in the corner of a dimly lit bar selling you precious information. Now he just opens up the cabinet, pulling down a little container to wordlessly offer you some tea. “What kind?”

“Cinnamon.”

Well, that explains the smell. “Sure.”

You turn your back and look around the apartment- it’s all relatively plain. A long ruby red couch facing a simple television- the dust on the screen makes you think it’s not used very much. The coffee table in front of it is piled with different books- despite the fact that you can already easily spot two smaller bookshelves filled as well. That’s, perhaps, the one outstanding thing about this room, and something that stood out to you before as well. You walk around the couch, trailing the edge of the blanket folded over its back with your fingers, before stooping down to look at the book on the top of the coffee-table pile. “Their Eyes Were Watching God?”

“Zora Neale Hurston,” The Informant affirms with a slow nod, “You read it?”

“In high school,” You tap the book to your palm, “Usually I find that people tend to stray away from the ‘classics’ once they realize they’re no longer going to have to write an essay… Actually, even then, usually people tend to stray away from the ‘classics’ and just read a synopsis that analyze it all for them.”

You see the edge of his lips quirk up, “Which is why I’m reading it now.”

“No,” You gasp holding the book in front of your mouth in shock, “Don’t tell me that out of all the people you were someone who never did your reading assignments.”

He shrugs loosely, pouring steaming water into two cups.

“Here I would’ve bet that they had to create a whole curriculum for you.” You set the book to the side as he walks over and passes you one of the mugs. You wrap your fingers around it- savoring the feeling of warmth returning to your night-chilled fingertips. Taking a whiff of the tea you’re assured once more that this must be where the smell of the apartment comes from.

Cinnamon.

“I wasn’t the most obedient kid,” He admits, leaning back against the couch, you follow suit, letting your gaze roam over the rest of the books on the table as you take a long, slow sip from the cup- letting the sweet spice tea chase away the last of the cold in your bones. “But I found a couple of them in a bookstore recently and I thought it was a shame I never gave any of them a chance.”

“Look at you,” You purr with a grin, “You’re almost a mature adult- if it weren’t for your priorities.” The Informant turns to you with a quirked brow, to which you just point up to your eyes- the glasses. He snorts, hiding his smirk from behind the cup.

You sigh heavily, leaning back into the couch, your eyes start to flutter closed- the lids growing heavier, you feel yourself sliding slowly to the side. Your hands go loose in your lap- but just before the cup can tip over it’s snatched up, and you manage to shake yourself awake just enough to see the Informant brush aside some of his books and make room for the mugs on the table.

“Sorry I- damn- and here I thought I wasn’t going to be able to sleep again.”

He pauses at that, shooting you a questioning glance that you choose not to meet. Suddenly, the far window enraptured you just enough that you don’t have to meet the question that lies behind his glasses. “You know I was thinking about how weird it is that I still don’t know your name… I mean, I know where you live, I know that you were a surprisingly rebellious kid, I know that you love cinnamon tea and read more books than anybody else I know but I still don’t even know what to call you.”

He clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably on the couch, “Well it wasn’t exactly either your choice or mine that you ended up knowing where I live…” He trails off, “We didn’t exactly know where else to bring you- you were bleeding out and we couldn’t exactly leave you there to wait for an ambulance…”

You grit your jaw, squeezing your fingers into the palm of your hand- as if you could squeeze away the feeling of the concrete edge of the next roof slipping just beyond your grasp.

Still you force a laugh- dry and fake, not even a enough to convince yourself, “You’re telling me. I’m the one still waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat over it all before somehow ending up in front of your door even though I really didn’t mean to come here I just wanted to go somewhere safe and my home wasn’t really feelin’ it but then again I’m fairly sure that my landlord’s backup plan is to start reaching out to movie producer’s to advertize it for horror movie films so big surprise there, yeah?”

You fold your arms over yourself, digging your teeth into the side of your cheek until it stings and you’re about half sure you draw some blood. You feel the couch dip down when the Informant moves towards you, but you’re head is kept down and away, focused on not shaking like some… ridiculous child and maintaining whatever dignity it is you have left. If any.

Still, all that washes away when his hands brush over your cheeks, gently nudging your head up to meet his gaze. You lean into the touch, your jaw relaxing- though your fluttering heart doesn’t slow, it feels calmer than before, not quite so violent against your ribcage. You manage to detangle your hands from around yourself, instead you reach forward- and with just the slightest tug against his shirt the Informant pulls you into a tight embrace. You bury your face into his neck and tangle your hands around his still-mussed-up hair, breathing deeply to steady yourself.

Cinnamon.

“You’re safe.”

Two words. Two words and you feel like crying. Or laughing. Or just… just…

You end up doing a mix of both, hiding it all in the crook of his neck. The Informant doesn’t let you go until you’re done, rubbing little circles into the small of your back with the pad of his thumb. Even by the time you finish, he doesn’t let go- and neither do you, glad that he seems, at the very least, willing to let you hold on for just a moment longer.

Just a moment.

You just need a moment.

He pulls back first, your hands only reluctantly sliding from his back to his shoulders, still unwilling to let go completely- lucky for you, he simply moves to hold your face again, brushing aside streaks of tears with the back of his hand. Even past the dark glasses you can spot his eyes roaming around your face. The smile comes easier this time, much more natural. “I’m okay, now.” It feels true. A long breath out as the weight lifts from your chest.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” You let yourself lean into his touch again- you don’t bother to suppress the joy when he doesn’t pull away, you don’t even bother to try and question it. It just… feels natural, the right thing to do. “I know I woke you up when I came here and I should apologize but… Selfish as it may sound, I’m actually really not all that sorry.”

“I’m glad you did.” It’s hard to say why either of your voices drop into a whisper- the moment feels… fragile, as if the slightest word said too-loud or misplaced breath could break it. And perhaps it’s because of that feeling that you wish your heart were quieter, too, thumping heavily in your chest. Though it’s not like before, it’s nothing like before.

You reach over to the corner of his sunglasses- ridiculous sunglasses- and gently pull them away from his face. The Informant does move when you place them to the side, unable to school the small smile from your face when you can finally see his full face. His look mirrors your own, and you reach over- brushing the edge of your fingers underneath his uncovered eyes, over the curve of his ear, down to his jaw, along the bottom line of his lips. Your thumb hesitates there, eyes flicking up to meet his eyes again as you give his lower lip a little tug with the pad of your finger. He curls his hands around the curve of your jaw, and soon the both of you press forward- brushing your lips against his as you loop your arms around his neck.

The night may have started in a cold sweat, flailing and frantic, but this was slow, soft, the gentle brush of your lips before you pulled away- eyes still closed, to breathe in deeply through your nose. Your eyes fluttered open slowly, mouth curving into a smile.

He tastes like cinnamon.

#shorts #the informant #model citizens unmasked #i cant write fluff #apparently #w h o o p s

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careycuprisin · 3 years

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Bear 100 🐻 Race Report: You Have to Run the Downhills

The past isn’t made of facts, not really, just stories people tell to make themselves feel better.

— Joe Abercrombie, The Wisdom of Crowds

Dear Reader: why are you reading this race report?

If you’re a runner looking to do this race and want info, read sections II, III, VI

If you’re wanting a narrative story about the day, read II, III

If you want to know whether my drop was righteous or wimpy, read III, IV, VII

If you want information about my kit and equipment, read VI

If you’re a geeked-out nerd person, or a strategy junkie whose idea of ‘fun’ is destroying Logic Men on Twitter, or an aspiring ‘life coach,’ read I

I. META-STUFF ABOUT RACE REPORTS: When you finish a race like the Bear 100 (by which I mean wrapping up the weekend, whether your efforts got you an official finish or a drop somewhere along the course), you are left with an enormous heap of impressions and recollections and thoughts and analyses and excuses and explanations. Most of these are true, but they are not all necessarily coherent when combined with all the rest, and (more importantly) they are not always helpful. The job of writing a race report like this involves sorting through all of these thoughts and selecting a coherent narrative that makes sense.

That’s the easy part. A lot of possible, true, narratives make sense. How to choose among them? If you plan to enter races like this one in the future (as I do), the narrative that you construct in your race report will be also be useful to you later, guiding you to make better decisions for future races based on your experiences in this one. This process will inevitably favor some impressions and analyses over others, and as the memories of the race fade, the race report will harden into the Narrative Story of My Race, which will be coherent, true, and (if I do it right) helpful to me in future races.

As an example of the difference between helpful and unhelpful stories, an unhelpful story might be, “I didn’t do as well in this race as I’d hoped because I have no natural talent” or “the aid stations stocked Heed and Heed is disgusting.” These might both be true, but if that’s your story, how do you fix it? You can’t, so it’s not helpful. Heed is ubiquitous at aid stations in races all over the country. A helpful story, in contrast, might be something like, “I didn’t eat enough” or “I started too fast” or “I wore the wrong shoes” or “I didn’t do enough weekly mileage to prepare for this race.” All of these things are something you can act upon to get better results at the next race.

II. THE UNFOLDING OF THE RACE: I got out of bed at 0350 and was full of coffee and on the start line by 0600. It was still dark. Chilly but not cold. I was unfortunately wearing the New Balance Minimus shoes that I’d driven to Logan in, because I’d forgotten to pack the actual Salomon S-Lab Sense 8s that I wanted to use for the first twenty mile section. Making do!

I was somewhere in the middle of the pack when we finished the three or four blocks of residential street and funneled into the single track trail headed up Logan Dry Canyon. The conga line wasn’t too annoying, except for the guy ahead of me who was one of those guys who like to play music on speakers during a race so everyone around him can share his obvious love for Rob Zombie. The view of Logan as we got higher and the sun rose was spectacular. (Most people are still pretty energetic during this section so you’ll find videos of this aplenty on YouTube if you search for “Bear 100.”)

I should mention the hornets. There were a lot of them along the course all day and they were stinging people left and right. I’m used to living a charmed life, so I was not too surprised when the hornets spared me. Thank you, hornets.

After the initial long climb there are some rollers and I ran them easily. My downhill pace was much faster than most of the crowd I’d been with on the way up. A Utah resident named Kalina ran with me for a while and kept me from doubting my judgment that I was going downhill at a reasonable pace. Alas! This was the last time I’d pass a significant number of people (this is called ‘foreshadowing’).

Near the end of the rolling section Kalina dropped me and everyone else around her like a sack of potatoes on some short uphills and I never saw her again. She ended up finishing in around 27 hours (maybe I should have doubted my judgment). We meandered over to the big downhill into Leatham Hollow and I am sad to report that halfway down this beautiful descent I was losing the ability to run downhill. Basically leg and knee and foot pain with everything tightening up. And so it had begun — people passing me. So it would continue.

I got out of the the Leatham Hollow aid station with 5:04 elapsed, which was pretty much on my best-case-scenario pace for the overall race. I had my first drop bag there with beefier shoes, so I put them on, ditched the long shirt I wore at the start in favor of a tank top, and moved on.

Next was a flat-ish dirt road over to the Richards Hollow aid station, about three miles away (23-ish race miles total). It was mid-day and it was now hot in the sun but still cool in the shade. I tried the trick of running the shady parts and hiking the sunny parts. After the aid station the course settles into the classic Bear 100 pattern: low aid station, then big climb and descent to the next aid station. This climb was sunny and hot and I got up ok, but the next downhill was a mess. I couldn’t PAY people to not pass me. That’s what happens when you’re not running the downhills! I came into Cowley Canyon aid station knowing that a 30-hour finish was unlikely but, hey, a finish of any kind is still fabulous. I took a little longer in the aid station then I’d like on a good day, but then was off.

The Bear 100 pattern of up-down continued through the Right Hand Fork and Temple Fork aid stations. The little creek going into Right Hand Fork had some of the most beautiful beaver ponds I’ve ever seen: clear water that let you see right to the bottom with bright green plants floating on top. Another thing about Right Hand Fork — there was a pickup truck in the parking lot with big white lettering on the windows: Search Dog, Do Not Disturb. I looked closely at the truck but couldn’t see the search dog. Needless to say I was mildly disappointed (this is another example of foreshadowing).

I had pretty much been suffering ever since Richards Hollow but I started to feel a little bit better coming into Temple Fork just before it got dark. This was probably just a function of it not being hot any more. I was off pace but dealing with it. Physically feeling generally weak and miserable but mentally very sharp, and emotionally pretty stable. I got my headlamp out of my drop bag, put on a long-sleeve shirt, a light hat, and a wind jacket for the chill that set in immediately when the sun went down, and headed uphill again.

III. THE DROP: Climbing up to the Twin Creek aid station at the about the 50-mile mark (the Tony Grove substitute aid station for 2021) it was predictably dark and, thanks to the dry air, quickly getting colder and colder. The good vibes quickly fell away. I wasn’t able to eat anything because of nausea, so progress was reasonably slow up the climb. Some runners about twenty feet ahead of me startled a beaver and I heard its tail slap against the water of its pond. (And, since I remember it clearly now, at least I must not have been completely delirious then.) So long as I was climbing I was warm enough, but the nausea was getting worse and worse, and if I tried to fight the nausea by taking my foot off the gas a bit, I quickly got too cold and started shivering. I was stuck between my GI tract requiring that I decrease my physical exertion so it could start to function again, and a dependence on continued exertion to generate enough heat. A catch-22 that most people who’ve run a 100-mile race will probably recognize.

When I got into the aid station at Twin Creek, I went into the warmed tent with the intention of relaxing for fifteen minutes to half an hour to give my stomach an opportunity to wake up. (Was that a mistake?) The plan was to eat and drink some things, put on some warmer clothes from my drop bag, and get out. Depending on who I talked to, it was somewhere between 12 and 14 miles to the next aid station at Franklin basin. This was the longest distance between any two aid stations in the race. I still had plenty of time before the cutoff.

Sadly, fifteen and then thirty minutes came and went and I was not recovering. The nausea wouldn’t go away and I was still shivering vigorously even in the warming tent after I’d put on warmer clothes and gotten under a reflective space blanket. The cutoff time got closer, and the decision became more and more about whether I should set off for another 12 (let’s be optimistic) miles without any food in the stomach, to try to get to the next aid station before I got hypothermic. It was unlikely that I’d get to Franklin Basin by 2 am, which is the time I figured I had to be there to have a reasonable chance of finishing the whole race in 36 hours. Ultimately I decided that the risks weren’t worth the increasingly unlikely reward. So I dropped. Nothing too unusual here, just weighing probabilities and applying my own risk tolerance to various decisions. This is probably what most people do when they DNF a race.

Grrr. Very mad. Many F-bombs.

IV. WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? I think this is a mandatory question after a DNF, because I HATE drops and it’s not worth protecting my ego if it means I overlook mistakes and fail to handle the next similar situation in a better way. With the caveat that this is all in retrospect, and that my current comfort might be obscuring an accurate recollection of how feeble I was at the time, here is what I would do:

I would still wait in the aid station to give the shivering and nausea a chance to go away, but when they did not stop, before I dropped, I’d get up, put some snacks into a little bag I could take with me, and continue out of the aid station with the intention of going a half-mile down the trail to see what happened. If things were still shitty the whole way, then I could turn around and head back and I’d only have a half-mile return trip to safety.

V. THE SEARCH DOG, or, AFTER THE DROP: After two or three hours of lying on the cot in the Twin Creek aid station with a few other people and their pacers who had dropped, a guy named Rob arrived in an ATV and four of us piled in. Rob drove us down to Franklin Basin with full-bright headlights lighting up the rough two-track and the cold wind blowing in our faces. It was my first ride in an ATV! After we’d arrived at Franklin, I made sure to compliment him on his driving (he was obviously, even to an ATV virgin like me, very good at it). I immediately went into the warming tent at Franklin and settled in until I could find a ride, ideally back to my car at the Logan start line, but willing to simply be shuttled along to further aid stations if that were necessary.

Most of the people arriving to Franklin were in bad shape, and either dropped there or struggled out just ahead of the generous (in my opinion) cutoff time of 4 am. Like I said before, I doubted there was much chance of making the overall race cutoff of 6pm if you weren’t out of Franklin by 2 am, absent a resurgence of speed later in the night or when the sun came up. (There is an objective way to check if I’m wrong or not, but I haven’t done it because at this point, I don’t want to look at the results!) Anyway, most of the people leaving Franklin were leaving with their crews on the way to Beaver Creek lodge. I kept waiting for someone who could give me a ride to Logan, and the odds looked slimmer and slimmer. Well after the 4 am cutoff time, a woman walked in with a four-month-old golden retriever puppy who I immediately made friends with because the puppy wanted to chew on my hand and I let him. He wasn’t biting hard! Turns out the puppy’s owner was crewing someone who came in with her pacer around 6 am after having taken about six hours to make the trip from Twin Creek. This runner’s dad was also crewing; he asked if I needed a ride and was happy to take me back to Logan. So I struggled out of the warming tent and whoa! Remember back at Right Hand Fork aid station where I’d seen that pickup truck with ‘Search Dog, Do Not Disturb’ on the window? That was his truck, and the golden retriever puppy was his Search Dog! Turns out, he had two full-grown trained search dogs and this puppy was going to follow along after them when he grew up. So, happily, I got to ride back to my car in Logan with a very nice family and a very nice little pup.

The Search Dog!

Inside the Search Dog truck

VI. THE KIT: The most notable thing about my gear was that I wore the new High Capacity Running Vest from Naked Sports Innovations. It’s an extremely tight running vest with a front zipper. I like to call it a Sports Bra for Men. I thought it worked pretty well and I will probably wear it again. The advantages are that it’s very lightweight, you can pack a lot of shit into it if you have to, and because it’s so tight, there is zero bouncing of your water bottles or other gear when you’re running. The disadvantages are also related to its being so tight. There were times when my chest felt kind of sore, and I wondered if the vest was compressing my ribs a little too much. The other problem is that zipping it up in front can be difficult if your vest is fully loaded because, again, it’s very tight. Also, when you add layers for the night section, you have to add them on top of the vest or risk it being even tighter if you bulk up your chest with extra layers under the vest. My solution will probably be to buy another vest one size bigger for long races or when I plan to be wearing layers. It costs a lot of money, but so do other vests, and at least I’m not a triathlete so all my gear compared to that sport is CHEAP.

In addition to the vest, I also wore a Naked running band. Both the vest and the belt have good mechanisms for stashing folded-up poles. I had poles, which were very useful after thirty miles for both climbs and descents. I wore the Salomon Ultra Glide shoes for everything after the 20-mile aid station, and they worked great. Because I forgot to pack the Salomon S-Lab Sense 8 shoes that I had planned to wear at the start, I was forced to wear my New Balance Minimus shoes from the start to 20 miles, which did cause some plantar irritation and ankle soreness on the long downhill into Leatham Hollow. I think these shoes are great but only for distances less than ten miles (and never for gravelly surfaces with inch-wide rocks that can dig into your feet).

I used SkratchLabs and Ultima electrolyte mix in order to avoid the aid-station Heed (which is disgusting), and carried Spring Energy gels. I had the cheapest salt tabs I could find at REI. Goodr sunglasses and wool socks which I changed a few times. I had no blisters, no sunburn, and no injuries!

The obligatory pre-race kit photo

VII. THE AFTERMATH AND THE ANALYSIS: It’s never fun or satisfying to have to drop from a race. The good news is that this DNF wasn’t entirely surprising in retrospect. It was exactly what I deserved! Looking back on this summer, I basically just fucked around and did way too little preparation for this race. I had only one training run of greater than 20 miles and hadn’t raced at all this summer. I never really got out into the mountains and didn’t go up any fourteeners this year. The covid withdrawal from the world was probably part of this; I was just waiting stuff out. I had signed up for the Bear a year ago and frankly, wasn’t excited about it until about a month before the race. There were two or three weeks where I went back and forth about starting, and by the time I’d firmly decided to do it, there wasn’t enough time to actually train for it.

Another bit of good news is that unlike the Bighorn 100 where I felt I *had* to keep coming back every year until I finished that race, I do not think that way at all about the Bear 100 (probably because I’ve already finished one 100M race and I’m comfortable with not being a super-fan of 100s.) I enjoy this race and will likely come back to try it again, but I don’t feel *obliged* to.

The third bit of somewhat good news is that this failure at the Bear rekindled a bit of enthusiasm for actually preparing myself to do well at a race. On the drive home from Utah I was thinking about how I’d structure my season in order to do well at the Bear, and I think that’s a pretty good sign!

VIII. SO, HOW WOULD YOU STRUCTURE YOUR SEASON? Whatever it takes to be able to run the downhills after twenty miles! More specifically I suspect the best preparation for me for a fall 100 would be one or two 50 milers earlier in the summer. For the Bear, I would do the Pikes Peak Ultra 50M in July and maybe an earlier-season 50 like Quad Rock or Behind the Rocks. I’d probably tune up with something like the Telluride Mountain Run in August. In addition, I’d do a few more longer runs during the summer like Gold Hills or a Doug Loops or Morrison Triples, and I would do some above-treeline tundra adventures. All of this just to build a bit of endurance and let me RUN THE DOWNHILLS at the Bear. 🐻

Links

Strava GPS record for my race

Bear 100 website

Bear 100 Facebook group

Bear 100 YouTube videos

#bear 100 #trailrunning #rockymountainrunners

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