wickedlyxenvy

[wickedlyxenvy]

Oh, no, your own big brothers don't recognize you, why is life so hard? Death and lessons do make me feel better, though. You smell just like him...my predecessor.

You know you would be on that list, right? Death and lessons don't bring back memories that people don't have.

[wickedlyxenvy]

I'm not searching for any other me coming to join the party, this body's mine and they can tear it from my cold dead hands. You do not hold the resentment my children do, Odessa, and you clearly carry a close bond with your Envy. Every King requires an heir who can lead in their legacy. I know, I know, you're technically Greed's, but he isn't ruling Hell where I'm from.

So, not only are you from a different reality, but you're possibly not the only one who could cross over to cohabitate the body of this Envy. Still begs the question of why you think I'll fit a mold that others could not?

[wickedlyxenvy]

Envy knew the moment he revealed what's been done to Gianna, there would be absolutely nothing preventing his son from taking action. The twins, through the years, grew a little too lax by the comfort he would never harm their mother, instead using her as leverage to receive the best reaction. Now that Gianna's life ended at his hands alone, the dam's walls containing the lengths he would travel against his own flesh and blood crumbled. Envy couldn't prepare himself for the surprise tackle, feeling his back slam into the ground with a loud groan from his lips. Ulric's punches landed hard, wreaking pain throughout the King's body no matter where they made contact, the sound of bones screaming with protest. He could taste the iron tinge of blood the moment his nose snapped, streaming the liquid over his mouth. Even as Ric wrapped his hands around his throat and applied pressure, Envy did nothing but barrel through a barrage of manic laughter, the choked noise moving past his lips relentlessly. "You can stab me with a thousand swords, kiddo, but I will die happy knowing I took my children down with me." Envy's fingers wrapped around one of Ulric's forearms and rotated his hand to the side sharply as hard as he could, the movement's resistance working against Ric's grip on his throat, the demon grinning maliciously as he heard a sickening snap. Taking advantage of the moment, Envy kneed him aggressively in the stomach and switched their positions, prying Ulric's other hand from his neck. "I gave you and Estella everything. A home, a title those who kneel at our feet would murder for, yet you spoiled brats take advantage of my kindness by conspiring with my brother." Envy growled, pinning the wrist of his son's uninjured arm above his head. His free hand wrapped around and removed a dagger that was not his own from the waistband of his pants, "You need to be reminded of what you are every day, Ric." Envy pushed himself slightly up and pressed the tip of the dagger into the inside of Ulric's arm, holding the limb down as firmly as he could while he began carving letter by letter. The borders were jagged, the flesh fraying and streaking blood, but he cared not for perfect. Traitor. The demon unleashed a devilish sneer once he finished the word, dismounting and pushing himself to his feet. "Once I clean this mess you and your sister have made, perhaps I will find Hell two deserving heirs worthy of their crowns." At the last word, Envy sent a hard kick to the young man's side. "And you, Ulric, will be nothing. A forgotten footnote in my reign."

The movement was too fast for Ulric to dodge, or perhaps the prince honestly wasn't expecting it; the slap left a lasting sting and a resulting impact that rang uncomfortably in his ear. For all he'd been through, Ric never had to worry about physical retaliation from his father, but it seemed the moment he and Stell crossed the line to plan Envy's murder, nothing was stopping him. Ulric's focus shifted back to his father, trying to listen past the momentary daze, but his father did what he was best at: keeping Ric disarmed – unable to guess his next moves until they'd already transpired. The prince's knees met the ground just as many people before who would soon lose their heads to his father, but it wasn't until the topic turned to his mother that he gained the clarity he needed. His father not only crossed a line against him, but also against his mother. Oh, his beautiful mother, full of kindness and love. Truly a gentle soul amidst Hell. Wiped out so cruelly, dying in her confinement that he and Estella promised to break her free from. "No," Ulric whined mournfully, the sheer shock of seeing the severed limb that could have belonged to anyone overriding any need to purge himself of the contents of his stomach. He knew his father wouldn't have bluffed. The stench of decay was pungent from the one small digit, but the gold ring was unmistakable as he held the severed finger in his hand. Ric looked up at his father from where he knelt, the melancholy warring with the pure rage that was flooding his system. His father had already killed the love of his life once; now, his mother. Nothing was stopping him from going after him or his sister, and Envy all but admitted to going after Rinn again– he had nothing to lose. The rage won. He didn't say anything outside of an anguished yell as he launched himself at his father, tackling them both to the ground. Giving Envy no time to retaliate, Ulric rained down punch after punch on every inch of exposed skin, as hard as he could, only stopping when his knuckles began to split and his chest was heaving with the exertion. The prince knew there would be no death claiming his father without his dagger, but he would bring the demon as close as he could. Ric moved his hands to wrap around his father's throat, "I can't kill you now, but I'll make you a promise. You won't hurt anyone else before I find your dagger and gut you like the pig you are." The prince squeezed his hands with emphasis, words dripping from his lips in a savage snarl. "I won't stop until I carve out your heart and show it to you."

[wickedlyxenvy]

Slip of the tongue, I suppose, wires are crossed when a different version of me sneaks through. My brothers where I'm from all turned against me. Some didn't fit my vision of a perfect kingdom, but you just might.

It didn't just resurrect the dead, my darling sweet Odie, it's weakened the defenses of the more vulnerable of minds like your beloved uncle here. Pining for his now vile ex-wife, destroyed by his own flesh of blood, a broken man. But you...you are smarter than most.

Odie. You called me that in my timeline as well. You make it sound like you and your brothers don't get along. I can assure you that you are loved in the family.

I figured something must have happened outside my own time to cause such a disruption.

[wickedlyxenvy]

I have come to recently learn you don't always need family, they disappoint you in the end. I'd kill them, but that doesn't teach the lesson properly.

I'm doing about as well as anyone can when their closest friends and family don't know who they are.

[wickedlyxenvy]

"Now, where has this freely loquacious son of mine been? Your time away loosened your tongue, Ulric, but we can easily remedy that." Envy raised a hand and smacked the boy across the face as harshly as he could, hard enough that it left the back of his palm stinging. "Would you care to know what you and this disgusting, sniveling version of me have in common, my boy?" The demon King's hands shot out again, gripping the fabric of Ric's shirt and yanking him to the ground. Envy never once shown physical violence toward his own children, but when the twins conspired against him, punishments were called for. "I have taken your mother from you." Envy reached into his jacket pocket and produced a severed appendage, yellowed in color and a grotesque collection of dried blood at the stump. Wrapped around the finger still was Gianna's golden wedding band. "I warned you and Estella both of what would happen if my expectations were not met." He shoved the finger in Ulric's face before carelessly dropping it to the ground. "Your mother's blood is on your hands, Ulric, just as Nyrinn's. And believe me, I will find that one when I'm finished and bring his head to you."

Enjoy is a word I wouldn't say since we still had to deal with a version of you, but I guess we stabbed him in the back by taking away our mother from him.

[wickedlyxenvy]

My little disappointment.

Did you and Estella enjoy your reprieve while I was gone? Or were you planning on more ways to stab me in the back?

Father.

[wickedlyxenvy]

Hell's bells, the me in this timeline was getting real fucking whiny.

Freedom...finally.

[wickedlyxenvy]

I'm surprised you're even still here, kid. Please don't tell me you witnessed all of that.

We don't have to talk about anything, but I don't think that you should be alone.

[wickedlyxenvy]

Sorry he started turning himself into a human wrecking ball and breaking your shit. Then you know what a pain in the ass it is resisting temptation of taking the easy road by sticking with the same destructive patterns we know. Yeah, well, your twin has never looked at me with anything else but dismissive eye rolls and gossipy little judgement. Worst-case scenarios and sarcasm are the only two things I have anymore. Maybe Lysander if he doesn't regret living with me. And you now, I guess, why is that?

Like a man who just witnessed not only his brother falling apart but his sister, and then started demolishing my house when I wouldn't let him out to go after your head. That wasn't me condemning you – we can all go destructive, but I also know you've worked hard to not be that. Hey, easy– I don't necessarily agree with what he's thinking right now, but that's still my twin. I'll help where I can. Okay– just for once, try not to jump to worst-case scenarios. It's not exactly helping your mindset.

[wickedlyxenvy]

Yeah, well, I prefer not to fix it.

You don't pull out your compulsive persuasion abilities often, he must've been losing his fucking mind like a psycho. And this is the problem with our family, Gluttony, that the thought of me becoming toxically nuclear is in the realm of possibility despite my best efforts at redemption just makes me want to prove our brothers right at this point. Shocker...Lust once again being so cock-whipped that he follows someone else's lead like the good little minion he's always been born to be. I only gave Wrath what he wanted back and now our brothers coming for my throat will cause a problem in his kingly duties. He'll just grow annoyed by me again.

By your own choice, Envy, and you can still find a way to fix it.

I know how they get plenty, I had to compel Azriel to prevent him from fucking with my head. Surprisingly, I wasn't thinking that you'd automatically go full-on crazy train, but I also know it's not out of the question, especially when you feel as though people are pushing you that way. I'm not going to lie and say that Lust isn't leaning towards the Envy hate wagon; Azriel's own stance on the subject isn't helping the issue. I know it doesn't really help, but you were doing something nice for Wrath, and he's not a part of that list.

[wickedlyxenvy]

I really have nothing to live for. Why not have one?

I tried giving her the truth and you know how fucking stubborn a Foxwood can be, she wasn't budging unless I tore her apart. I'm not planning on going back out there and picking up the same game of slaughter, if that's what you're thinking. Knowing Gianna's safe, I'm done doing anything nice for anybody else in a family who hates me. Mom, Hope, Estella and Ulric, Blair, I'm sure I've even added Lust to that list.

You really have that much of a death wish?

For the love of– I must admit, you have a way of hurting people with words that I could never master, Envy, and you've accomplished what you set out to do. So, now what? You just... sit here and wallow in your misery? Become what people fear you to be?

[wickedlyxenvy]

Okay, then let him come at me for emotionally destroying his sister. I don't give a fuck anymore.

I told her I didn't love her anymore. I told her that...I was only using her for my own gain to save the fate of Hell on my own and now that we have what we wanted, I was done with her. No more marriage, no more her being my Queen, whatever I had to say for her to leave.

Oh, he will be. Just because you wash your hands of one Foxwood doesn't mean you're done.

I know that you let her go, I'm not stupid. She appeared on my doorstep, Envy, and would say nothing but fucking cry. What I need to know is exactly what you said to her, so I can figure out how to help her feel better before Azriel goes off the deep end. More off the deep end.

[wickedlyxenvy]

Well, raging Robocop witch isn't my problem anymore.

I lost her, Gluttony. I allowed the words of my children and your daughter into my head and I let Gianna go.

And I wasn't in the mood to get into a fight with a raging Robocop witch, yet it happened. So, mind telling me what the Hell happened?

[wickedlyxenvy]

Envy couldn't breathe. He just hoped and prayed to any goddess above that Gianna would turn around, walk through the front door, and disappear so he would not continue suffering drilling a hole in his chest where his heart at one point used to remain. Now, there was nothing but a growing darkness covering every inch of his nonexistent soul, Gianna's absence certainly leaving behind a would that will never heal. None of this is real, Gianna, I love you. He just needed to speak those words and take back the harsh reality of losing his Queen. His wife, his Gianna. "And yet, you gave me nothing." Envy pressed his lips tightly together to keep his expression from holding any softness. Gi was hesitating and he couldn't break now. "The only reason I let your brothers live was to get what I wanted from you. And now that I singlehandedly saved Hell from destruction, you're no longer of value." The Prince took a couple steps back and waved a hand toward the door, "You can see yourself out now, Sugarplum, I don't want you here anymore." The anger within himself rose to the surface, forcing the next word from his lips harshly in a higher volume. "Go."

Gianna bit the inside of her cheek so hard she could taste blood on her tongue, all to keep the tears that threatened to spill from actually doing so; watching as Envy turned from her. The witch knew what he was doing, yet it was hard to keep standing up against the words he kept saying. The Prince was too good at the verbal jabs, throwing everything he could at her to get her to leave. The only thing she could do was stare as he spoke his supposed truths, only moving to shake her head fervently the moment Envy began to remove his ring. "Don't," Gianna started to say, closing her eyes at the image of Envy shattering the only tie he had to her and flinching the moment the ring hit the ground. Her knees almost gave out as her eyes found the ring– thrown away and rapidly growing cold, just like her and her heart that was shattering in her chest. "I gave you everything," the witch replied after a time, her voice breaking as the first tear fell, "I gave you my heart, my soul. I strained my relationship with my brothers to be with you." She crouched to pick up the ring, closing it within her hands to press it into her chest. The reality of the situation was plain and simple: Envy was a liar. So many wires were crossed that it was hard to discern what was right and wrong. However, the fact of the matter was that he was throwing her to the wolves when they should stay strong together. Leaving her to deal with breaking the timelines all by herself, and it was terrifying. "I broke the universe for you."

[wickedlyxenvy]

I'm not really in the mood for company. Just leave me alone.

[wickedlyxenvy]

"That is the point I'm making, what sane person would stand by a demon over and over again when he has selfishly used you for his own gain?" Envy aggressively turned on his heel and spent a moment with his back facing the woman, knowing what he must do if his pleading will not work. He needed to become the very personality his children believed him to be. The demon finally spun around calmly, maintaining a neutral expression. "They were right, our twins were right. Any obsession I had with you, Gianna, it's passed now and I'm bored. Making you my Queen was the biggest mistake of my eternity." Envy took a moment to remove the matching ring he made from his finger as he met the witch where she was standing, dropping the piece between them. "I don't love you. I never loved you."

I didn't have a choice at first, but you gave me that choice when the King died, unless you've forgotten that fact. I chose to stand by you. I've chosen you, over and over again. I know what our children must have said to you, how you must have felt hearing about this other timeline, but you can't look me in the face and say that you've never loved me. You're lying.