#get well soon kyrie

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Devil May Halloween - The Samhain Ritual - Dante's Path

Devil May Halloween 2023 - The Samhain Ritual, Dante's Path

Pairing: Dante x Reader Summary: It’s finally Halloween and, even if the demons are a lot more active this time of the year, that doesn’t stop you from going on hunts - the partying can be done later. Or… At least that was what you thought. Maybe Nero had pretty good reasons to worry about that job after all. Author's Notes: Fucking. Finally. It took forever, but here I have around 20 pages of a demon wanting to marry the reader and Dante going feral over it. Took me ALL THIS TIME to write and I do apologize, but SO MUCH has happened since October, I'm finally managing to get my life back on track. So heeeeeey, here we have Dante's part of the Halloween Special for 2023! Be sure to read the Prologue first to understand the road so far yes Supernatural fan right here and have fun!! But I do have to thank @furyeclipse - the idea came from an ask sent a thousand years ago and I've been reading her works on ao3 and that motivated™ me to write again! Be sure to check Fury's work over there!

Oh. And I highly recommend an AC/DC playlist while reading this. Just sayin'. We all know Dante is an AC/DC guy

Devil May Halloween 2023 – Dante’s Path

“You know, of all the things that could have happened to me as a hunter, getting into a forced marriage with a demon lord was the very last one I would’ve imagined.”

And you were definitely the only person in the world that could have made Kyrie laugh in a moment like that – at least, that was what she thought as she smiled for the first time since you both had stepped in that place.

It was desecrated ground, that was the reason why the demons chose such a place. An old cathedral, now turned into an abandoned set of ruins with a cemetery of forgotten souls in the back. Some stone walls still stood tall, but the roof was gone, along with some windows and part of its gothic architecture. The shroud of the darkest tones of night slowly crept over, having rows and sets of candles of all sizes as the only source of light beside the moon.

You and Kyrie were being kept in a secured room – the only with still four walls to hold you in, and a heavy set of crumbling wooden doors. You were handed wedding attires – white, as to demonstrate the purity of your human souls compared to demons – and shoved in there, forced to change before the ritual.

You tried to resist, but as soon as they threatened Kyrie, you had to abide. There was nothing you could do: you had promised Nero nothing would happen to her, and she was your weak spot that night.

“We will figure something out…” Kyrie murmured with a ghost of a smile on her soft lips, even if she didn’t carry too much hope in her heart. She knew that if you were alone, you would probably be fist-fighting demons with all your might to drag yourself out of that place, but with her by your side… She had never seen you so compliant.

“Hmmm. Yeah. I’m still trying to think of something.” You huffed, sitting by her side on a stone loveseat, having your elbows on your knees and your face cradled by your hands. “I feel naked without my stuff. So uncomfortable.”

Once again, Kyrie giggled. Indeed, it was probably the first time she ever saw you without your everyday clothes and specially without your weapons: be it your guns, your sword or even a pocketknife you carried around for emergency self-defense. She could only imagine how stripped you felt at that moment.

“Well, if it serves as consolation, this is definitely not my style.” She whispered in response, making you laugh immediately. Indeed, poor Kyrie looked like a princess covered in Chantilly. Too over-the-top for her, and you could say the same about your forced attire.

“Oh, what a mess we got ourselves into this time, huh…?” You still had that laugh in your lips, making Kyrie respond with a sad smile. “Though I bet Nero is going to die seeing you dressed as a bride.”

“He will never admit it.” Kyrie had to giggle with that mental image. She could almost see Nero standing in front of her, red as a tomato, stuttering while trying to maintain that nonchalant punk attitude he always tried to – even if Kyrie could easily see through all of that. “He does get all flustered whenever I’m wearing anything slightly bridal looking.”

“There you go. The hideous Chantilly wedding dress will have at least one good effect after all.” You sighed with a laugh, following Kyrie on her giggles as she blushed herself, happy to imagine that.

The moment wouldn’t last long, though, as you felt something shifting in the air. You immediately got up on your feet, keeping Kyrie safe and sound behind you. Her curious, scared eyes tried to pick up what was going on, but neither of you could see – you could just feel it.

With some fiery sparkles, one of the demons responsible for that mess materialized right in front of you.

“Well, well. It is good to see you are already prepared.” Horns and sharp features, but in the suit of a ruthless man – that was the best way you could describe the demon lords. They had the leathery wings, skin as rough as that of a lizard, eyes bright like flames in the dark – but something still carried the resemblance of a human being. They were tall – even taller than most doors – with sharp nails to be used as claws, fangs ready to tear throats apart. But they were built in the image of humans: something quite rare when it came to demons.

“Not out of our own free will – you shouldn’t be that pleased your minions managed to coerce us into these horrid things.” You pointed at your own attire, making Kyrie look up at you with tense eyes.

It was something she admired, to say the least. You could all look in the face of the most threatening of creatures and still manage to say something to taunt or belittle them. She wished she had that kind of courage.

“You do have a point, human.” The demon had a quick giggle in his voice, making you furrow your eyebrows slightly. It wasn’t every day one of those things would agree with your big mouth. “Come. I would very much like to speak with you.”

*

Oh. Demons and their teleportation shenanigans – to be quite honest, you hated it. Whenever you used any of their magic or even Vergil’s void thing from the Yamato, you always felt a little dizzy afterwards. It took you some quick seconds to make sense you were in what seemed to be the abandoned church’s library – in a room made of stones and rotten books, lit by decrepit candles and having just one usable table in a corner. The demon lords had clearly made that their own room for the day.

“It’s rare a demon wishes to talk.” You finally managed to say while the demon lord slowly walked towards his desk, having you in the middle of the room. Now Kyrie was alone and you had no idea what was going on with her – you had to play your cards well to see her alive again. “According to my experience, your kind prefers a bloodier approach.”

“I take it you haven’t met many demon lords then.” He had a nonchalant tone, waving his hand in disregard as he approached his desk and leaned into it, staring at you. “Nevertheless, that is more Orcus’ style.”

“Your little friend.”

“Al Pacino did play the devil once, didn’t he…?” The demon laughed in response and you did your best to cover up the shock that he understood your Scarface reference.

Movies and pop culture references with Dante were a given – the same way Vergil was an encyclopedia of forgotten and obscure texts, Dante was the go-to man when it came to movies, especially the classic ones. Making references and laughing with each other was something both of you cherished wholeheartedly – and you never thought a demon would get it.

Vergil never did – and he had to have spent some time with those guys in the last decades.

“Well, I don’t think you brought me down here just to talk about movies.” You crossed your arms, trying as much as you could to look tough in that attire. Which wasn’t going very well for you. “And it certainly wasn’t to properly ask for my hand in marriage.”

“Oh, no, no…” He answered with a laugh that crackled like fire – and you could easily see the amusement in his eyes. “I wanted to see what the son of Sparda saw in you… To bind himself to one of the weakest creatures known. Just like his father before him.”

“It’s not like Dante has married me, you know? We’re not like Eva and Sparda.” You raised one of your eyebrows. Something about that conversation was very… Weird. To put it mildly. “We’re not bonded like you want to do today. And on that note, I have to point out: marriages are quite religious. Aren’t you guys going to combust spontaneously trying to do something holy?”

“Oh, but you are bonded. He may not have chosen his father’s path, but his heart does not lie.” The demon had something quite mischievous in his eyes, and you were starting to notice the difference between him and Orcus: the second one was more of a brute, a lord of war so to speak – the one you were talking to, Erlach, was very cunning; but there was a glint of bloodthirstiness in the back of his eyes. That made him even more dangerous than you gave him credit for at first. “I shall never understand why Sparda did not wish to follow the ritual with his human. That would have made him so powerful, not even the most dangerous creatures in Hell would have dared to slaughter his family. A shame really.” He tossed aside a charred painting of Sparda and Eva: old, barely holding itself together, but still clearly depicting the couple holding hands and smiling to whoever decided to look upon them. “We do have our own rituals – and demons are no strangers to marriages. It has another name in Hell, though, it is a binding ritual: where souls connect and one can be made more from the other’s power.”

“Oh. So the other just accepts it’s going to be a puny little thing beside their partner? Sounds more like slavery to me.” You wouldn’t give the demon the benefit of the doubt nor make it all sound so wonderful. Anything related to devils always had a catch – and that had to be the catch to their own twisted version of a ‘marriage’.

And in all honesty, you weren’t looking forward to be made a slave to a demon lord.

“Some creatures enjoy that.” And the smile that covered Erlach’s lips could be only considered devilish. You did your best not to look like you were agreeing – even if you knew, deep down, that yes, some people did enjoy that. “Every con has its pro. With the binding and forfeit of power, comes protection and status. Few would want to desecrate the partner of a powerful demon – it could easily be the last thing they would do.”

“if I am bonded to Dante, then, I wonder why would someone like you decide to mess with the chosen partner of the son of Sparda.” Now you had a small smile hidden in the corner of your lips, slightly raising your head in hubris. You wouldn’t lie: the status you got from him among demons was always very welcome. “Not that I really need him to help me. If I had my weapons, you would all be laying on the floor in a pool of your own blood – and I’d be home celebrating Halloween with him.”

Erlach stared into your eyes for a good four seconds before opening a threatening smile with his sharp fangs. His own eyes burned like fire, but you never let his gaze go – it wasn’t in you to be scared by the likes of him. You had seen worse, you had fought worse… And only you knew how threatening Dante’s eyes could look when he was half asleep in a nightmare of his young years with you trying to wake him up so he could have some peace. That was worse than any demon you could ever face.

“Indeed, that is why I needed some leverage against you.” He waved his hand nonchalantly towards the door and you immediately understood he was talking about Kyrie. “It was never my intention to allow Orcus to bond to some creature as powerful as mine… But I did not knew the extent of your powers, so I needed something to keep you in line. Luckily, Sparda’s grandson is not as attuned to powerful partners as Sparda’s children.”

You furrowed your brows. Whenever you talked between the members of the crew, there was a tacit agreement Kyrie was indeed the most powerful of all – for her ability to love openly, to cry, to be vulnerable and to care with such an open heart.

But those abilities were inherently human – and appreciated in humans rather than demons. In the human point of view, Kyrie was stronger than all of you together, and no one could argue against that. But in the demonic point of view… You and Lady were top of the list when it came to being able to take demons in a fair fight.

But you… You had Dante’s heart.

“It was part of our bargain. But I would never allow Orcus to bind to the most powerful of partners, would I?” Again, that smile painted his lips. You remained in the middle of the room, holding his gaze, not even flinching as he approached you. “I must admit, though, I never thought you would have this… Fire.”

As Erlach stopped with a few inches from your own face, you didn’t recoil. You remained with your arms crossed, standing as tall as you could in front of that huge demon lord as his fiery eyes just stared deeply into yours – and you stared back.

But you sensed something… Different. In his words, in his gaze. You wanted to furrow your brows as you were slowly coming to realize something, but you did your best to remain as proud and emotionless as you could – and Erlach took note of that. A pleasurable note.

“I can see what the son of Sparda saw in you.” That devilish smile colored his lips once more as the demon took another step towards you. It took you a great amount of willpower not to step back. You would never step back. “When demons bind with demons, it is one sort of marriage. When demons bind with humans, on Samhein, with the correct ritual… Well, it is a very different thing. A kind of binding never seen before – and never attempted, not even by Sparda.” Erlach approached with another step, making you raise your head even higher. Every fiber of your being wanted to scream Dante’s name and watch your red devil storm inside that room and suplex Erlach face first on the floor – as he deserved. The demon lord, though, offered one hand to you, palm facing up. “At first, I targeted you for Dante would not take a weakling as a partner, but now… I am more than inclined to take you as mine. With me, you would have the protection and status of royalty in Hell. We can take over entire worlds. And they would all be mine and yours to rule.” You just kept staring at him as Erlach’s fiery eyes stared even more deeply into yours. “You just have to say yes.”

To say your head was spinning was an understatement. What a wild ride that night was becoming – and something inside you stirred, telling you it would become even wilder. Were you reading his words right…? His gestures…? Not that Erlach was being subtle about it, he was being as blunt as his kind could be, but… Were you going crazy? You were, probably. That was a more plausible explanation than what you had to admit yourself – than what you were living right at that moment.

“If you think I’d give up Dante for power, then you can see nothing he saw in me.” You spat back, still holding your head high. “You are just as clueless as the rest of your kind.”

Erlach laughed back – not a laugh of an evil demon as you were used to, but one of delight. He… Enjoyed your answer…?

“The more you speak, the more I see.” He finally chuckled, stepping back after one last stare. “And I will see you later.”

With a snap of his fingers, you were back to the cold, abandoned crypt you and Kyrie were being held hostages. As your dizziness faded and you came back to reality, you saw her holding one of your hands, checking if you were ok with one of her palms on your forehead. Even if you didn’t feel lightheaded anymore, your mind was still troubled – and you had to sit down on the stone loveseat you shared with Kyrie earlier.

“Are you ok, y/n? What happened?” She sat by your side, big hazelnut eyes staring at you with warmth and humanity – so much different from the fiery pit of Erlach’s eyes. So much more welcoming and cozier. So much more like home. You would’ve hugged her if you weren’t so disoriented. “Y/n. What did he do to you? What happened?!”

“I think…” You finally managed to put into words what just happened – even if you didn’t want to say what you thought out loud. It seemed that by saying it, a sort of magic would make it become true. “I think… A demon lord just fell in love with me.”

You and Kyrie just stared at each other in horror, not even knowing what to say.

“What the hell…?!”

And Kyrie finally managed to put into words what you had been thinking the whole time.

*

“Fuckin’ hell…”

Nico just stared at Lady as Dante growled while mounting on his bike.

To be fair, Nico wasn’t the safest person to be behind a wheel, even more in a dire situation like that with Nero by her side looking like he was about to bite ankles and throw punches – but something about Dante looking like he was about to burst into flames while viciously riding the Cavaliere and growling in a half-distorted demon voice was enough to get the gunsmith ever so slightly… Concerned.

“Everything ok there, Dante, or do we need to take you in the van?” Lady screamed out her window, while Nico hoped the bright red glint in Dante’s eyes was only her imagination. “You look like you wanna beat me in a race! We hunt demons to save humans, not run them over, you know?”

“Eh, demon spidey-sense is tinglin’, Lady! That’s no good!” Dante screamed back, doing his best to keep the demonic part of his voice repressed inside his chest. He would have more than enough opportunities to let that explode. “Y/n is unsafe. I can feel it. And I…” With that, Dante drove to the back of the van because of a narrowing road, only to come back a few seconds later. “Don’t…” Another interruption for Dante not to run over a citizen cluelessly crossing the street and almost being run over by Nico. “Like it!”

His last phrase couldn’t keep the distortion in anymore and it sounded like a deep roar that came out of his chest like fire. Trish could already see the fangs in his bared teeth: those demons were in for the fight of a lifetime, for everyone knew making Dante’s lover feel unsafe was one of the worst sins in the Sparda dictionary.

Nico opened her mouth to talk to Nero – because, maybe, he could beat some sense into his uncle’s head, given they had the very same heritage – but for the first time she just put the cigarette between her lips and decided to shut up.

She was still getting used to Nero’s new trigger, so the halfway-into-turning state was something Nico didn’t really know how to deal with. By this point, Nero’s nails were definitely claws and his fangs were very much similar to Dante’s. He was fidgeting everywhere, messing with Blue Rose, as if something was really wrong with the gun and he had to fix it – a thousand fucking times. Nico could also swear his eyes were starting to glow with an inhumane gold tinge and that was very alien to her.

“Hey, kid! What about your spidey-sense tingling? Anything new?” Luckily for Nico, she had Trish around – and that woman was a pure devil, so there were very few things she feared. They all knew Nero was getting used to his own new powers, so Trish always decided to stay around and lend a hand whenever Nero had to go through something emotionally heavy – she knew it herself that demon instinct always came crashing like a wild wave whenever emotions were running high.

“Eh, she’s not good too, Trish. Worried as heck, I can feel it.” Nero mumbled under his breath, fixing the barrels of the Blue Rose for the tenth time, probably – not even needing to mention he was talking about Kyrie. With a click, the gun cocked back to its original state and Nero turned his now slightly golden aquamarine eyes to the devil leaning on his seat. “And I don’t like it either. Not at fucking all.”

Nico had to say, it always sent shivers down her spine when Nero spoke with his demonic voice like that. She was used to him being her goofy sort of brother, bickering with her down the road and tossing over-the-top, smart mouthed taunts to demons. Hearing him like that was… Something else. And Nico didn’t like it that much as well.

*

The last time you felt unsafe seemed like a whole lifetime ago.

You tried to control your hands as they wanted to start shaking – but you kept telling yourself you needed to keep Kyrie safe. After all, you were the devil hunter, not her. Kyrie could kill every single one in the crew with kindness, but not those devils… Those had to be killed with blades and gunpowder.

Being with Dante had given you something you never really had before, and just now you noticed it was tied to your red devil: safety. Even if he wasn’t around physically, you could always count on the fact that Dante, son of Sparda, Crimson Slayer, would bend Hell itself around his will to keep you from any kind of harm. It had never downed on you because, up until that point, that was a given.

Today, Halloween of all days, was a little more complicated. Dante wasn’t around, the whole ritual was bound to have some heavy magic to keep him at bay, you were completely unarmed and the demons you were up against were another kind – not the stupid, belligerent type you handled almost on a daily basis; no, those were smart, cunning and dangerous.

To top all of that, you had Kyrie on your side. If you were alone, you’d probably already be trying some unhinged escape attempts, but they were so smart on deciding to kidnap her as well. She was your weak spot on that situation and the fact that you felt unsafe and couldn’t do your best to protect her, only highlighted the fear you started to feel creeping up at the base of your stomach.

Closing your eyes and taking a deep breath, the only thing that could at least try to calm your nerves was to imagine being back in Dante’s arms, at the Devil May Cry, the smell of warm pizza around and him humming some old tunes you both loved. That was home. That was your haven. Dante was your refuge, keeping you secure from every evil thing that could attack you in this world, and he wasn’t there.

For a split second, you wondered if he could feel how much your heart was aching – screaming with all its might in the hopes he would hear its call.

Suddenly, two demons entered the room you and Kyrie were being held. They didn’t have to say much: with swords pointed at both of you and the heavy doors wide open, you knew it was time. Knowing you had to calm your nerves so at least she could have a chance to escape, you got up and calmly walked in front of Kyrie – head high and staring those demons right back in their eyes.

“Everything will be ok.” You murmured back over your shoulder, knowing Kyrie would listen. “If you find a safe chance to run, do it and don’t look back. I can handle them better alone.”

You felt Kyrie’s soft hands brushing on one of yours, her voice nothing but a whisper. “Don’t put yourself in danger, y/n. I don’t wanna run without you.”

You closed your eyes, chuckling a little in silence. She was indeed an angel among so many demons – including all of you in the crew. “Oh, Kyrie. You have to learn… The whole crew would die for you, don’t you know that already…?” And even if your words weren’t the kindest, you had the sweetest tone in your voice – saying nothing but the truth. “You run. It’ll take more than a few demons to bring me down.”

Kyrie knew you were lying only to make her feel safer – there was a tinge of bitterness in your sweetness, a slight glint of sadness in your eyes. Those were more than a few demons, and both of you knew it.

She could only sigh in response and confirm with her head. You and Dante were bittersweetly so alike: always lying and pretending nothing was too serious, putting yourselves on the line for those you loved, trying to make them stop worrying while you were both ready to walk right into certain death. She had seen how angry you got every time he tried to pull something like that on you – and Kyrie had to smile even if a little bit upon realizing how similar you and your lover were, even if you hated when he did that.

Both of your thoughts had to be violently changed and brought back to the present moment when the time came to enter what one day was a beautiful, untarnished cathedral. The imposing gothic architecture was in shambles, the stars shining clearly in the deep night sky above your heads – the high peaks of the cathedral long gone. A long tapestry on the ground, torn apart and eaten by parasites, lead the way in a dirty blood red to the middle of the aisle, where a grandiose bonfire stood and lit none other than your groom.

That was definitely not the devil you had intended to marry if you ever walked down the aisle. Also, you always thought if you ever married Dante, the ceremony would be in the Devil May Cry: you would enter the shop, dressed in your best hunting clothes – maybe something leather, carefully picked by Trish to make you even more mesmerizing – watching Dante smiling at you, leaning on his desk, arms crossed and love pouring from his eyes.

That was the perfect marriage for you alright. And leaving for a quick honeymoon with your red devil, riding on the Cavaliere, a few cans tied to it with a “just married” sign on the back, waving at the crew at the door of the shop while Dante made the motorcycle burn the road with its demonic power? More than perfect.

“You shall enter first. The other human stays until your ritual is performed.” One of the demons held Kyrie hostage, pointing your way down the derelict aisle. Her eyes were filled with fear, and you couldn’t do anything but comply.

Holding your head high, you walked down the damned aisle. Not like a perfect fiancé, but like a wronged force of nature, just waiting for the right time to unleash your fury against all those demons. You were wearing those ridiculous clothes, on that ridiculous place, while demons started chanting and playing a song for the demonic ritual that had just started, stripped of your guns, blades and clothes.

To say you wanted to sucker punch Erlach on his face until his sharp teeth fell out was an understatement.

And yet, he had nothing but admiration and fire in his eyes for you. The more you approached, the more he smiled, offering you his hand as you were getting closer and closer – you refused to take it, standing in front of him just like you did when he first talked to you.

“You know, the kidnapping and taking my gear away, I could forgive. But these clothes…?” You pointed down at that hideous thing that was forced to you. “You could’ve done better. A lot better.”

“I judged you by all the mortals I’ve ever met – and now I realize I shouldn’t have done so. Do apologize, exquisite creature.” And Erlach answered your insult with a delighted distorted laugh. You just remained there, looking like you had just stuck a flip flop into a toaster, not knowing what to do. It seemed that the more you tried to repel him, the more Erlach liked you. “But rituals shouldn’t be taken lightly. One should wear the proper attire.”

“To think a demon would’ve dressed his counterpart a lot better and risqué than this…” You sighed, pushing all those ruffles away from your face as he, once more, tried to take your hand and guide you to approach the bonfire. “I thought this was going to be a dual wedding. Where’s your friend?”

“Orcus can try to pull off his ritual after I’m done with mine.” Erlach had a devilish smile pulling his lips up in a distorted line. It was a little… Unsettling. “We… Agreed such a powerful ritual should be done one at a time.”

“Huh. That’ll be before or after you kill him?” You had one eyebrow lifted and Erlach laughed with joy in his voice, now finally forcing you to walk with him towards the bonfire. “You got quite the silver tongue to convince him you’re gonna let him go through with his ritual with his head still on his shoulders.”

“Oh, my dear, you have no idea.” Erlach forced you to spin around and look deep into his eyes, holding you by both of your arms in an iron clasp you couldn’t break away easily without your weapons. “You are very welcome to discover soon enough. I am mesmerized with your cunning and wit – so much better than all those pitiful uninspired creatures I have to live with every day. We will be quite a pair, sweet temptation.”

That admiration was there, that fire burning in his eyes, and… Lust…?! You had to contain a shiver of pure terror thinking a creature like that lusted for you. It wasn’t necessarily his appearance – you did find Dante one hell of a piece of temptation in whatever form he was, be it human, Devil Trigger or even his Sin Devil Trigger – but his soul. Erlach lacked the very thing that made you fall madly and hopelessly for Dante: his golden heart, his gentle soul, his kind eyes and his unapologetic humanity.

That was why it didn’t matter how Dante looked like: you would always fall in love with him. Even if he was just a piece of rock with googly eyes laying on his desk, you would love that rock with all your heart.

“What if I refuse to be your pair?” You had one of your eyebrows raised, trying to hide the fear creeping at the base of your stomach. “As far as I know, all marriages require a resounding yes from both parts. What are you gonna do? Torture me?”

“As tempting as that sounds…” And even if you didn’t show it, your blood certainly froze in your veins for a second. “I fear you would take a very long time to break under such circumstances. The Son of Sparda chose you for your brave heart and hardened soul, I can see that now. Luckily for demonic rituals, the sacrifices don’t need to consent.”

“Oh. I thought I was more than just a disposable piece of meat. I’m hurt.” Masking your fear with jokes and taunts, you had learned that with the very best. Dante had all the blame for that.

“Don’t be, my creature.” Erlach’s words were laced with a laugh while he took a ceremonial dagger from an altar nearby. “That is how humans are usually named in our rituals. You will remain alive, or else, it doesn’t work. I do need your blood… A reasonable amount, but nothing lethal.”

His hand clasped your wrist with a tight grip you couldn’t break from. Your heart started beating faster and faster, as you looked around trying to find Kyrie – crossing her terrified eyes as she watched from the distance, close to the entrance where once was a door, fearing for your life. You wanted to mutter some soothing words for her, but not even you could lie that much: your survival instincts kicked in and your adrenaline spiked. It was now or never, but you had to escape.

Erlach held your arm above a bowl made of pure gold, now darkened with time and stained with all the sacrifices it contained. He spoke some words in demonic language, while the chanting got even more intense – some things you could understand, but the others were lost as your mind became hazy with trying to think what to do.

It was a surprise to all – you closed your free hand in a fist and did exactly what you wanted to do since you saw that hideous thing you were wearing: sucker punch that conceited demon right on his face.

Erlach was taken aback for a moment, looking back at you with confused eyes. Seizing his distraction, you disarmed him and took the ceremonial dagger to yourself, cutting his hand that held your wrist and demanding him to let you go. Erlach stumbled back in awe, while you took a fighting stance with the dagger in your hand, ready to kill – but not ready to get married.

And he smiled.

“Such fire…!” To say Erlach was ecstatic was an underestimation. “My creature… What are you going to do with that?” And he took a predator stance, as both of you studied your options in that fight.

If you could look back at Kyrie, you would see her smiling and supporting you as much as she could. To say she admired you, was to say you only liked Dante.

“I am going to kill every single demon in this cathedral… Including you.” Pointing the dagger at Erlach, it was your turn to allow a devilish smile to cover your lips. “Then, I’m taking my friend back home. Back into the arms of the only devil I will ever love. Back to Dante.”

As you spoke, you didn’t even hear a ragged guitar faintly playing in the background – and approaching ominously. The only thing you had in mind was a tunnel focus on Erlach, ready to tear him apart as soon as he got close to you.

“Oh, I will enjoy that, my creature. And I might even need to get rid of Dante myself.” As soon as he finished his sentence, though, you scoffed in a laughter of pure mockery.

“Now that, you would try. Dante is so much more than you will ever be – he will reduce you to ashes with a single stare. That’s how pitiful you are compared to him, Erlach.” As your words poured, you couldn’t stop laughing at how he looked slightly insulted. Fucking finally. “And I gotta say, that’s not the only thing Dante is really good at. He does burn like fire.”

“I will enjoy subduing you.” Erlach growled, baring his teeth. Now you managed to piss him off.

“I will enjoy watching you try.” You wouldn’t allow him too much time to think: spinning the blade in your hand for a better grip, you finally tried to stab him with a swift attack – but he easily dodged as you got even angrier at that ridiculous clothing you were wearing. Those frills and terrible fabric made your movement a lot debilitated.

You tried a few other attacks as Erlach dodged and started smiling again, enjoying every bit of it – starting to even try a few attacks, while you blocked with the dagger. It was all too fast… At the same pace of the guitar that now echoed loudly, with a very familiar song approaching the chorus.

“Now, my creature.” Erlach held your hand with the dagger when you tried another stab. Even if you were resisting, it was more entertaining than anything else: you needed your gear. He pulled you closer to him, even if you tried to stay away as much as you could. “It’s time to stop the fun. We can do this after the ritual.”

Before any of you could do anything else, the guitar finally arrived – with the screeching of what seemed a thousand tires, the smell of gasoline and the sound of a shot from a gun you knew so well.

Said shot hit the dagger, making it shatter into a thousand little pieces in your hand, causing Erlach to let go of you in a reflex – while AC/DC’s vocalist screamed he would shoot to thrill, play to kill.

“Well, I think we’re all ready for the afterparty, aren’t we, hot stuff?”

Dante had entered down the aisle with Cavaliere screeching, leaving a trail of fire behind him, stopping right in the middle to shoot that ceremonial dagger into oblivion. The smoke was still fresh on the barrel of his gun, while he had one foot on the ground, still mounted on his motorcycle, smirking at you with that gorgeous smile that, today, you wanted to kiss out of his mouth with so much passion the crew would probably have to throw a whole bucket of water on both of you to put out the fire.

And, right behind him, Nico crashed what was left of the cathedral’s door while blasting AC/DC’s Shoot to Thrill because she would be damned if she didn’t put a good soundtrack for that moment. You could see her smiling behind the wheel, supporting every single bit of Dante’s antics.

The smile that painted your lips – a broad one, mixed with thrill and relief – was everything Dante wanted to see. That was all the confirmation he needed to know that pull in his chest was actually your heart desperately calling for him to help.

“Ya know, I could forgive the kidnapping, you got one hell of a devil hunter in your hands to deal with…” Dante now let go of Cavaliere, leaving it in the middle of the cathedral, walking down the aisle with the sassy walk you always loved to see – moving his hips and opening his arms, taunting with a pretended carefree attitude. The distortion in his voice, sharp teeth and claws betrayed his words, though – and you couldn’t be happier. “But what’s the deal with those clothes?!”

“Exactly.” You smiled back, sighing as if someone there finally understood you. Erlach just looked at you and back at Dante trying to contain his surprise – it wasn’t possible you were synchronized in even that. “I can barely move, how am I supposed to kick his ass?”

“I can help ya with that, pretty eyes.” Dante’s voice now became darker, leaning even further into his Devil Trigger. For a split second, you could swear you saw his demonic form taking over before Dante appeared again. His eyes were almost entirely taken by red, his hand already gripping the hilt of Rebellion. “But I gotta deal with a few of these clowns first.”

“I’m not going anywhere, hot stuff.” You had the proudest of smiles on your lips as the demons started to approach, ready to fight your red devil. “Show them what a real party looks like.”

“Ya don’t have to ask twice!”

“What are you all waiting for?!” As soon as Erlach screamed, the demons ran towards Dante as a pack of rabid creatures, ready to take his blood. Erlach smiled with pride as they surrounded the Crimson Slayer, already pouncing to take a bite – there was no way a hybrid could take so many demons at once in a fight.

Looking at the crew’s van, you managed to see Lady leaning by the vehicle, watching it all with excitement but refusing to get into the fight. You almost laughed upon seeing Trish holding Nero’s jacket while he tried to let himself go from her iron tight grip, probably saying he should be in the fight too – but his eyes weren’t locked on Dante or the swarming demons: Nero was looking for Kyrie.

And you would’ve done the same, finally questioning yourself where they were keeping her after all that confusion took over the ritual. Nero could very well let himself go of Trish, but everyone knew he had his own priority – a priority you couldn’t find, and that fact started worrying you.

You would have given that a better thought if a sudden fiery explosion hadn’t sent demons flying around the cathedral like fireworks. Dante’s Devil Trigger was on, but not his normal one… It was his Sin Devil Trigger in all his demonic glory, with leathery wings hovering him from the floor and Devil Sword Dante burning like fire in his hands.

To say that would be a slaughter… Again, would be putting it lightly. With the masterfully chosen soundtrack by Nico blasting on the background, Dante single handedly slayed all the demons that decided to cross between you and him. You risked a side look to Erlach, only to find the demon astonished by Dante’s form and power – and you couldn’t resist. You leaned on the altar next to you, with a matter-of-fact look in your eyes.

“He usually has this effect on people… And demons.” You had to say it. You just couldn’t refrain from taunting and annoying that silly devil who forced you to wear those terrible wedding clothes.

With the Devil Sword Dante dripping blood, the son of Sparda approached as he slayed all the demons that tried to fight. Dante was a frightening powerhouse – usually terrifying, but today even more… After all, the human he loved most in all dimensions was kidnapped by a conceited demon who thought he would have the chance to bind his beloved in a marriage ritual without their consent. Dante was beyond angry.

“It will only be an obstacle, then.” Erlach turned his eyes back to you. “Don’t think for a second I gave up, my creature. If I have to kill the son of Sparda, I will do so – with the power you will grant me with your blood.”

Once again, the demon held your arm – but this time, digging the nails into your skin, making you scream with the sudden pain. That made Dante immediately turn to you, being hit as well and inundating the cathedral with the smell of the blood of Sparda. His fighting became sloppy as he tried to approach you even faster – but it also became even more vicious.

Erlach dragged you back to the sacrificial bowl, as you tried to get away. Even with your fighting, your limited movements weren’t helping too much. As he extended your arm above the bowl, you managed to see – behind him, in the distance, covered in shadows – Orcus holding Kyrie hostage, searching everywhere for a breech so he could finish his ritual before Erlach.

“Nero! Kyrie is over there! Go kick his ass, kid!” You screamed while fighting so Erlach couldn’t drip your blood into the bowl. Yes, he needed more than a few drops from the gashes from his claws – but he could make them bigger once you were in a decent position. And you didn’t want to give him that.

“Kyrie! I’m coming for you!” And finally, after his aquamarine eyes found Kyrie’s plea for help, Nero did let go of Trish with ease – and the she-devil didn’t even try to hold him back. With just a smile on her face, the woman looked back at Lady and they knew it was time to intervene now that both of you were located and they wouldn’t risk any of your lives.

Amidst all that, with Dante literally burning his way towards you while being held back by three demons, a few invisible cuts made them fall apart and gush blood all over the floor. Vergil entered the cathedral, while carrying an old book you saw at Erlach’s office earlier that night – the book with all the ancient, and most forbidden, devilish incantations.

“Go on, Dante. I’ll take it from here.” Vergil barely looked at the demons he was fighting with: holding the book with one hand and being assisted by summoned swords, he only needed a few well placed judgement cuts to get rid of all those nuisances.

Dante didn’t even think twice after hearing his brother’s words. Marching down the aisle, he approached you and Erlach like a death omen – his demonic form in his ultimate Devil Trigger was enough to inspire respect even in the upper echelon of Hell.

And you had to say, you were proud of that.

“Let y/n go, Erlach.” As Dante commanded, you couldn’t fail to notice his voice was slightly… Different. The more he approached, the more his voice sounded less distorted and more human. “Ya know, for a demon with such a pretentious plan, you’d think you’d put up more of a difficult fight.” And when Dante stopped right in front of the altar between you both, he was completely human – looking at you with the sky blue eyes you loved so much. “I’m barely breakin’ a sweat.”

If Erlach’s claws weren’t deep into your skin, you would’ve locked your arms around his neck already, taking in his scent and calming down your heart. Yes, Dante would be smelling of gunpowder, blood and sweat, but that was still his scent. It was enough to make you feel secure again.

“Indeed. I underestimated you.” Erlach’s claws dug out of your skin, making you retreat quickly. You managed to see a little commotion where Kyrie and Nero were before, but with everything that was happening, you couldn’t quite make the moment where Orcus was nowhere to be seen – all you could be sure was that Kyrie was safe, back into Nero’s arms. And that was enough. “It seems like the blood of Sparda still thrives to this day.”

“Yeah, yeah, daddy’s blood and all that…” Dante rolled his eyes, shooting near Erlach’s feet. The demon jumped back, farther away from you – and that made you smile. “Spit it out, spook. How did you find out ‘bout the ritual? Where did ya get that book?”

“Apparently you never heard of a library. On that aspect, I win, my creature.” Erlach still had that weird admiration in his eyes for you, making you wince. You never gave him a single reason to like you. Demons had to be masochist creatures.

“Oh, I heard about those alright. It just so happens my brother here has spent a very long vacation time in Hell and lemme tell ya…” With those words, Dante finally took Erlach by his neck, leaning the demon over the sacrificial bowl and touching the blade of Rebellion on his neck. Dante usually didn’t get that feral… But Erlach had tried him a little bit too much that night. “He doesn’t have very nice words about you and your little friends. Those rituals aren’t well known in detail. Something gave you that book. Who?”

It wasn’t a side of Dante you liked to see, but, when dealing with those kinds of demons, it was a necessary one. Erlach, as far as you could tell, wasn’t just your dumb daily demon – he was in the upper echelon. And said echelon only became worse the higher the rank.

“You would love to know, wouldn’t you?” Erlach laughed even if the sword already started to nick some blood out of his thick demonic skin. “You will have to let me go to get your answer. If you don’t, no deal.”

You closed your eyes, sighing. Erlach was the deal kind of demon. And it was always a slippery slope with those silver tongue devils.

Dante knew that as well. His heart screamed at him to kill Erlach and let his blood run over the floor of the cathedral – to take you home safely and let you know that threat would never loom over you again.

But they needed answers. Only very high rank demons would have access to that kind of book – to those kinds of rituals. Demons like Sparda… Like Mundus. And that was something none of them wanted as a threat. The single thought of the possibility of Mundus being alive made him shiver and his blood boil. His house burned in his childhood, his family slaughtered like animals, his past stained in blood and sulfur. He didn’t want that to happen again. He wouldn’t let that happen again. Not to anyone in the crew, not to his nephew, not to his brother… Not to you.

Dante let Erlach go. The demon cracked his neck, gaining his posture once again. You stood by Dante’s side, ready to suplex Erlach into oblivion if he tried anything funny.

“The two of you already have what you need to know the answer.” Erlach pointed at the book in Vergil’s hands, moving his gaze back to you soon after. “I will have you as mine, y/n. You have my word, sweet creature.”

Before you could do anything in response, Erlach set himself ablaze in flames that kept burning for a few seconds while he disappeared back to where he came from – probably Hell, if you had to guess.

“Eh. We should’ve known he would leave without giving us a decent answer.” You sighed, feeling your shoulders relax for the first time that night, knowing all demons were dead and you were around safe people again.

“And even shamelessly flirtin’ with ya, what’s up with that…?”

“No idea, red devil. I did my best for him to hate me; apparently it backfired tremendously.”

You finally turned to look at each other. Both of you looked tired, completely out of energy – you, from your human body; Dante from the toll all that fiery explosion of anger and demonic heritage could take on him. His eyes, though… Those sky blue eyes, looked at you with the human kindness you always longed for – with the admiration and fire of a lover, but the gentleness of a soul who was not only your mate, but your home.

You felt safe again. All that insecurity, that fear, that horror of being alone and having to fight on your own – to survive on your own – it washed away in that infinite blue sky. He was your home, and you were safe. Nothing bad would ever happen to you, for Dante was there to catch you and hold you in his arms until you felt you could walk with certainty again.

“I heard you, pretty eyes…” Dante murmured, taking a strand of hair out of your dirty face, watching with amusement as you furrowed your brows. He took one of his hands over his heart, eyes looking into yours. “I heard you here.”

A gradual smile lit up your face as you understood what he had said. That pull, that thing you did, of closing your eyes and praying he would find you… It worked. Of course it worked. And you couldn’t be happier, with all that pouring like a golden fountain from your heart, making your eyes laminate with a few tears and threaten to overflow.

“I’m glad you did, cowboy.” You approached him, cradling his face with your hands and leaning him down so his forehead could touch yours. “I’m glad you did. I prayed so loud for you.”

With that, you took his hand to touch your heart, in the hopes he would once again listen – but this time hear the golden tunes it sang along the overflow. The frills of the ridiculous attire didn’t allow him to find your beat, though.

“Well, I told ya I’d get rid of that, right?” Dante sighed, staring down at that horrid attire – although he would argue you could never look bad. Even with that thing on. “Ei! All of ya, look away! I’m puttin’ y/n out of their misery!”

“What…?”

Before you could finish asking, though, Dante masterfully moved Rebellion around you – while everyone turned away or closed their eyes. Lady and Trish, though, just kept staring at that goof of a man you called your lover. Within a few seconds, those terrifying wedding clothes tore apart, pooling around your feet on the floor while you just stared back at your red devil – the chilly air of the night all around your bare skin.

“That was hot.” You had to say it while Dante quickly checked you out like the masterpiece he always thought you were.

“Not as hot as you, babe.” With a wink, Dante took off his red coat, wrapping it around you and making you warm again.

You loved wearing Dante’s coat. It was definitely too big for you, but it was always warm – that night, you could almost say it seemed like it was enveloped in flames. But it had his scent all over it and it fit like a huge cape you could almost drag on the ground. You couldn’t have asked for a better attire for that evening.

“Hey.” As you called for his attention, those blue eyes rested on you again, little by little settling all that restlessness that whole ordeal had set in your soul. And, since words weren’t enough, you once again cradled his face with your hands, this time placing a well-deserved kiss on your lover’s lips.

Dante giggled between your lips, wrapping his strong arms around your waist to lift you off the floor – making it easier for you to kiss him unapologetically. You never saw yourself as a damsel in distress, and you would have killed every demon in that room with a dagger and your teeth if it was necessary, but it wasn’t. And that was so new: you could always count on Dante to be there for you, to protect you and to be a place for you to fall whenever you lost your balance.

Your heart stopped screaming and Dante’s soul found peace again.

*

“Ah, I see Nero stole Dante’s idea.”

As you saw Kyrie leaving the van’s bathroom wearing nothing but Nero’s coat, she smiled happily back at you while showing it off as soon as you pointed that out. You were sitting in the van, still in the red coat – Dante would know only later that decision would cost him his sanity while trying to get his coat back from you. A few chases and him gripping you tight to get his coat back was in store for the rest of that night.

“It was a very good idea.” Kyrie had a mischievous smile on her lips, blushing a little bit while grabbing the collar of Nero’s coat and taking in the scent. “It smells like him. It feels like he’s always around.”

“I know what you mean.” You smiled proudly as an answer, barely noticing Nico staring at both of you while Lady and Trish giggled.

“Ya know what she means…? That coat is nasty!” Nico pointed at the blue coat enveloping the crew’s little angel, making you laugh a little bit more. “And yours?! If Nero’s coat is bad, Dante’s even worse! Looks like he just blasted from the insides of a frog demon or somethin’! And you say it has his scent?!” The gunsmith couldn’t be more revolted at yours and Kyrie’s antics.

“That’s Dante’s scent for ya...” You sighed, leaning back on the van’s seat – something quite red devilish like. “Gunpowder, demon’s blood and sweat. When he’s clean, though, it’s more of a woody and musky with a hint of pizza kind of scent. Sometimes strawberries.”

“Apparently, love doesn’t make us only blind, it makes our sense of smell completely absent.” Trish strutted her way towards the seat she always took in the van, across from you, having a complacent smile on her devil lips.

“It makes us more tolerant.” Kyrie sat by your side, completely happy to be wearing Nero’s clothes and safe and sound with the crew again. “That is a thing most people need to learn more about.”

“As always, angel Kyrie is right.” Lady sighed, taking her spot inside the van – after lightly elbowing Nico just to tease the gunsmith. “Just like we tolerate the smell of your cigarettes.”

“Hey, at least I’m not turning into a fuming creature blasting demon viscera everywhere!” Nico pointed at Lady with her cigarette between her fingers, making all of you laugh. “Must take days to get those things off your hair!”

“Sometimes, it takes even weeks!” Dante’s voice added from outside of the van, entering soon after to take his seat right by your side. To say Dante would be hovering around you for months, overly protecting you over anything and everything, was a very mild way to describe his behavior after that evening.

“Ya know, once I found a piece of liver hidden right behind my ear…?” Nero approached Nico as she just glared at him with pure disgust. “Took me days to find it.”

“You’re nasty, demon boy.” Nico lightly shoved Nero out of the way, dismissing all that conversation to go back to the stirring wheel. Nero laughed back, making his way to Kyrie and sitting by her side, cradling her with one of his arms while she rested her head on his chest.

“We couldn’t find more on the origin of their knowledge…” Vergil was the last one to board, closing the van’s door behind him. As soon as he did, Nico started driving back home – and he showed you a few things he had in his hands. “But we did find your gear. I will keep it in a safe place until we get back to the shop.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Verge!” You had genuine relief in your voice, watching as he carefully placed your sword next to him. “I thought I’d never see those things again. Thanks for finding them.”

As always, Vergil didn’t answer, just bowed his head as the perfect gentleman he was. Soon, Dante’s arm found its way around your shoulders, pulling you closer to him.

“Huh, so much thankfulness for Vergil, while I was the one who saved your ass from that demon lord. I’m feeling a little ignored.” Of course, you knew Dante was only joking – never in all your time together you picked up any sign of jealousy he could have of you and Vergil. Dante was very secure about your relationship, knowing quite well where your heart rested – he would be insecure, sometimes, when it came to other humans.

“Oh, c’mon. How can I not be thankful when it’s my gear we’re talking about?” You raised one eyebrow, teasing him back – which only made Dante smile. “Now being a little more serious, it was rough being stripped of everything. Even with that hideous frilly attire, I felt completely naked. There’s no way for me to defend myself without all my stuff; I don’t have demonic blood running through my veins to go into a rampage and kill every single living thing in front of me.”

“Well, lucky for you, I got that goin’ for me.” Dante brought you even closer, tightening his half hug around you.

“Hmmm…” You took some time to take in his scent, this time directly from his neck, right in front of you. Yes, all those things you mentioned before, but you could always find the woody and musky Dante scent underneath all of that. And maybe it was that which made you feel so comfortable and secure. “I was scared. I was running out of options when you showed up.”

“Shhh, don’cha think ‘bout that, pretty eyes.” Whenever you voiced how uncomfortable you were with something, Dante immediately started caressing you just to at least make you feel physically comfortable again. And you had to say, it always worked.

“I know, I know… It’s just… I know I can always count on you to appear at the direst of moments, no matter where I am.” With those words, you placed one of your hands above his heart, making those sky blue eyes look back into yours. “I know you can hear me call, no matter what.”

“It’s part of the demon thing, babe.” Even though he was happy with that, Dante had a bittersweet smile on his lips.

“Yeah, maybe… But demons don’t show up to save desperate souls who are praying for them when all other options have failed.” You brushed aside some strands of dirty hair that insisted on covering those beautiful eyes – now looking at you with curiosity and admiration. “Do you know who do?”

“Hmmm…?”

“Angels do.” Your answer was but a murmur, even quieter than the engines of the van. “You are my very own guardian angel, Dante.”

Lady once said that, somewhere out there, even a devil may cry when he loses a loved one – but you would dare to add that devils did cry when they were loved back.

Your red devil was living proof of that on that Halloween night.

[simlit]

Chosen of the Sun | | dawn // fifty-one

| @catamano | @keibea | @izayoiri | @thesimperiuscurse | @maladi777 | @poisonedsimmer | @amuhav | @sani-sims | @mangopysims | @rollingsim

next / previous / beginning

TALILA: What’s going on? This all seems very official… EVE: And worrisome. Kyrie, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. KYRIE: I’m just upset… No, I’m passed upset. EVE: It’ll be alright. We’ll get through it, whatever it is, but first you need to calm down. KYRIE: I’m trying. EVE: Deep breaths. KYRIE: Right. ÅSE: Enough of this. Stop smacking around tree. What is going to be done! TALILA: Has something happened? KYRIE: Please, everyone, sit down. KYRIE: I made a promise to you all to be honest. Admittedly, I don’t know all the details myself, but the truth is… I’m alone in this. I expect some of you still see me as part of this system, and I can’t fault you for it. But with things getting so difficult, I don’t know who else to turn to but the ten of you. I trust all of you more than anyone else. SARAYN: And him? Shouldn’t we be introduced to our mysterious twelfth? KYRIE: Everyone, this is Elion. He’s been assigned to my protection, and I can go nowhere without him. You see, before you all arrived here, my sister, Lady Alphanei Loren, was taken hostage by a vigilante group known as the Knights of Dawn. They are ransoming her life in return for the disbanding of the trials. A plan that won’t work for them while I still live. They’ve already made one attempt on my life. If Lord Tev’us hadn’t been with me that night, surely I’d already be dead. ÅSE: Mm… TALILA: How awful! But… how are we just now hearing of it? Why wouldn’t they want us to know? THERION: I expect they don’t want anyone to know. Stirring up confusion and fear makes for panic. Panic is hard to control. INDRYR: And they are all about control. EIRA: So what? If we sit here with our thumbs up our asses, they’ll just send more people to kill you. Does your Priestess think she can lock you— and us— up forever? KYRIE: Lucien is dead. This isn’t something they can contain. The entire city will be in chaos soon enough. EVE: Lucien is dead? But why? Who would kill him? INDRYR: That is the question. Considering everything, it would be naïve to think the two matters were not connected. ÅSE: He is innocent child! What cares he about knights and dawn? It is absurd! INDRYR: Yes, the child was almost certainly innocent. I expect it is more what he represented. ASTER: Well, don’t speak in riddles! Not all of us grew up in libraries, you know! KYRIE: Represents… Of course. EVE: Oh… Lucien’s mother… KYRIE: The Aravae offer enormous financial support to the church. Aside from the Eveydan Crown, they’re the main source of funding. Unbelievable. The Queen of Kera was the leading supporter for the Selenehelion’s reformation… SARAYN: Then they are not at all interested in compromise. Bloodsport or not, it seems they will stop at nothing to bring the ceremony down entirely. I expect they have very good reason. EIRA: Being angry about how a ceremony was conducted centuries ago doesn’t make a great case for slaughtering children. SARAYN: But it was not centuries ago. Those that have been robbed by these trials still live. To lose a love, a purpose… a King. No, I doubt they have forgotten. And I doubt less they shall forgive.

[batbeato]

My partner keeps telling me to go on Tumblr whenever I launch one of my 20-10000 minute ramble-rants about Umineko at them so here I am AGAIN

Something that a lot of people love about Umineko (and I do too!) is how much Umineko centers its female characters: Umineko focuses a lot on the rich inner lives and emotions of these women, all of whom have been negatively impacted by ideals of submissive feminism and the needs of the patriarchy.

In general, in Umineko, there's this phenomenon that I don't often see elsewhere, where male characters' emotions and feelings are treated as less important, less interesting, etc. than female characters' are. This is interesting to me, and I think it makes sense - in many spaces and works, female characters are treated as caricatures - they are tragic dead mothers, loving wives, sexy girlbosses who secretly have a soft spot for the protagonist, etc. It's only par for the course that in a work where female characters are so celebrated and explored, it is male characters who suffer the fate of being reduced to more base qualities and have their feelings and emotions brushed off or waved over.

Umineko takes the concept of the absent dead wife, mother, lover and turns them into these complex, unknown ghosts who haunt the story: Kinzo's wife, Bice, Kuwatrice, Asumu. These are all female characters central to various plot points and aspects of the story, including thematic ones, but these women are very rarely, if at all, given space to truly express their inner thoughts. This is in contrast to the Ushiromiya women (Eva, Kyrie, Rosa, Natsuhi) who are so often able to express their innermost thoughts in these long, emotional sequences. Umineko doesn't allow space for these women to be caricatures, but instead seems to make space for them to be characters we simply don't have enough information on.

I think Asumu is the best example of this: she is a character with very little actual voice in the main story. Rudolf theorizes that she knew about Battler's true parentage and raised him with love regardless, but also worries that her death was due to his lies and infidelity. Her cause of death is never revealed. Kyrie talks about Asumu as a smart woman who played dumb and innocent to steal Rudolf from her, and there is the distinct concept that if Asumu hadn't died of Cause X, Kyrie would have killed her soon after. Battler sees Asumu as an uncomplicated, loving mother. And then, when Ryukishi released Last Note, we saw this different side of Asumu - an arrogant, jealous woman who took pride in her skill at puzzles and believed that she could have saved everyone, but also still a loving mother who loves her son, and even accepts her son's half-sister, Ange, in the end. Never a caricature, always cast in shadow, but with depths beneath.

But back to what I mentioned before - male characters being treated as those flanderized, flatter caricatures, with their feelings brushed off. It's very interesting to me, because it's not even just a case of male characters simply not having the screentime - they do. Battler and Kinzo get the most of it, but George also receives plenty of discussion as well.

Battler and George, however, are the male characters who I see the most flanderization of. Battler is a pathetic crying malewife twink bottom. George is a child predator who grooms Shannon.

George is a man who was raised by a hovering, overprotective mother with ridiculous expectations of him. She made him study every day and tried to instill values befitting of the power and status she hoped he would someday have into him. However, he saw how Battler, who was meant to be 'inferior' to him, getting along better with girls - even the one he liked - and grew jealous. His relationship with Shannon began because of this, but it also helped him to understand his own flaws, and he tried to change himself. Coming from a place of privilege, this is a difficult task. He also truly loved Shannon, even though he sometimes had a patronizing view of her due to his own instilled biases, and was even willing to go against his family for her. He isn't a perfect person, but he was attempting to change and grow.

Battler is a man with a deep empathy for others and is overly emotional at times - a trait I think is unfairly made fun of, given how men showing emotion is often portrayed as unmasculine, feminine, and shameful. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and though clumsy and foolish at times, does his best to help others. He was raised by his grandparents for 6 years, so he is somewhat divorced from the privilege he now once again holds as a member of the Ushiromiya family, and makes mistakes because of that. He makes a lot of sexual jokes, but it's implied that this is due to being socially awkward after reuniting with the family he hasn't seen in six years. It's very difficult for him to truly despise someone, but once his trust is broken, even if he still loves them, it can be very hard to earn that trust back.

...I don't think the fandom needs to focus more on the male characters, per say. No one should be told they need to focus more on X than Y because enjoying X is more ethical, progressive, fair, etc. etc. But I would like to see people at least acknowledging the complexity of the male characters in Umineko more. The malewife Battler jokes are funny, I admit, but I'm tired of the child predator George jokes. Can we please leave people who ship Shannon and George alone? At this point, I'm beginning to worry about if they're alright... seeing a lot of hate for something they love can't be pleasant.

It's a general trend I see - liking a male character means you need to prioritize female characters more. Liking a het ship means you need to make it gay, or appreciate gay ships more. If a bisexual character dates someone of the opposite sex, this is bi erasure or erasing queer representation. But it's alright to like male characters, het ships, bisexual characters in het relationships, and so on. What isn't alright are the biases that are keeping queer media from receiving as much publicity, as much funding. What isn't alright are the biases that give male characters much more complex writing than female characters in many pieces of media. We as consumers can examine these things in the production and text of the works we enjoy, but I think there is too much focus on this ethical consumption of media.

...And that's how we end up making child predator George jokes - to reconcile the existence of a flawed, nuanced male character (who can and should be criticized of course) with the fact that Umineko is such a woman-central media. Umineko needs to be one of the 'good ones', the 'ethical ones'. So the male characters must be reduced to jokes, to one-liners. It is an overcorrection on a fandom level to reconcile with a society level issue, one that can harm fans of those characters and introduce toxicity to a place that should be about sharing love for a small universe we all enjoy.

(Whoops. This is why my partner told me to go on tumblr, huh?)

[stvharrngton]

ahoy kyrie sounds like you’re in need of some soft Steve tonight yes? well good I have just the thing ☺️🫶 (I got carried away sorry in advance!!!)

Moving into a home with Steve. A real home. It’s small and the shutters need replacing and the roof probably could use a few extra shingles and there’s a creak every other step because it’s the most you both could afford on low incomes but my GOD is it a HOME. Steve just being so overjoyed to fill the space with everything precious to him- framed photos of you and him, that Polaroid of you laughing that he adores, knick knacks from your travels together, a painting gifted to him from Will.

You’d spend a weekend painting the spare bedroom, squealing when Steve flicks paint at your overalls, lugging thrifted furniture into the space to set up a comfortable little hideaway. Steve and you have an open-door policy with the kids- Max needs a night away from her mom? Key’s under the mat. Dustin having bad dreams again? You got a nightlight just for him. Pizza parties with Robin, smoke seshes with Eddie- Steve basking in the glow of a real home, one that he never got to have, a space so unlike the cold and quiet interior of the Harrington estate.

And best of all, you. Your perfume bottles and shampoo nestled against his in the bathroom, your Chucks toed off by the front door, your chipped flowered plates stacked in the cupboard. Steve, coming home after a long shift, leaning wearily on the doorframe, and there you are- reading a book on the couch you bought together, in the soft light of a lamp Robin and Vickie gave you both as a housewarming present. He sinks to the floor beside your spot on the couch, lays his head in your lap, and you smooth your fingers through his hair. He’s home.

i’m always in need of soft steve ☹️😔

i genuinely can’t add anything on to this it’s literally already so perfect. like. it’s so soft i’m crying at the train station rn 😭 hed just love having your own space together. something to call your own. no matter how small it was or how much work it needed. he’d be moving out of his parents house as soon as he could cause that’s exactly what it was. his parents house. it was never a home so when you both got the chance to get your own place you were outta there as soon as possible :(

i need him so bad fr

[ginsakatoki]

Got covid 😔✊ so I humbly request Dante taking care of a sick s/o

Hope you get better soon! Your humble request has been accepted my liege, hope t’is puts a smile on thy face.

Dante Taking Care of a Sick S/O

Dante is not used to sickness since he’s half demon so when you got home telling him you didn’t feel so well, he immediately thought you’re going to die.

You had to tell him you were not going to die or he would have annoyed you and everyone around you.

It took him a while to understand but when he did he tried to help you out however he could.

And that means, by messing up big time.

It is common knowledge that sick people should eat warm food, preferably soups, and rest. So he tried to make a soup for you.

It was so salty you could feel your soul leave your body to take a sip of the sweet waters of the ocean and come back.

There was nothing you could do except eat it as Dante was staring at you, very proud of his work.

You got food poisoning.

He remembered that sick people should always stay warm so he bought extra blankets, an heating pad and put them all on you.

You became too hot, started sweating and developed a fever as the difference in temperature between the bed and the rest of the room was too much.

He ended up calling Kyrie to help you out.

The man was so afraid he would end up killing you, not your sickness.

He’s a bit of an idiot, but he’s got the right spirit.

From that time on, he decided to call Kyrie to take care of you when you’re sick but you can rest assured he will always sit by your bed, hold your hand and talk your ears off until you get better. 

[jangmo-othewarrior]

DMC Questions Anon here!

Halloween is upon us. How do you think the characters would celebrate? Who enjoys Halloween the most? What would they dress up as?

HALLOWEEN TIME BOIS 🎃

okey so, the squad would probably have just a small get together where they splurge on candy and having a drawing for what Halloween movies they are going to watch.

Patty is easily the most excited about this, and always goes full force as soon as September ends. She's the one who does the most decorating, although she does drag Dante into decorating the office with her as well.

Costumes are usually not needed, but since this is Vergil's first Halloween with them Patty insists they all wear costumes. Morrison (who never wears a costume, he's too old for this shit) was elected as the judge.

Dante thought it would be funny to pair up with Vergil; he insisted they go as Jason and Freddy Kruger respectively, even though Vergil has not seen any of the movies. The costumes are handmade and kinda shitty, but the highlight was Dante tapping kitchen knives to Vergil's fingers.

Patty wanted to match their theme so she went as Ghostface. Over the course of the party every single person in the office was called by her at least once.

Nero heard about the 'scary' theme through osmosis and it went completely over his head. He was dressed as Scooby-Doo. Kyrie took pity on him and showed up dressed as Daphne an hour after the party started. The kids though he looked great tho.

Nico is the reason Nero got the theme wrong. She dressed as Velma but thought it would be funny if it was specifically a slutty Velma. Dante thought that the entire situation was fuckign hilarious.

Trish and Lady actually coordinated (they always do) and went as Holmes and Watson. The difference being that Watson had a lot more guns than usual.

Lady and Trish tied with Patty for winning the coveted plastic trophy Kyrie had picked up on the way over. Vergil sliced it straight down the middle before their argument devolved into a fistfight.

[whenthechickencry]

Umineko Ch1. Replay 4

The fact she calls out to her mom when she is the one person who isn't gonna figure out a calm way to deal with this hurts, ouch. Even amongst all the hatred she has for her mom she still trusts her.

This line always stuck with me because of how insane it reads on the outside. She's 9! A whole 9! She's an infant what do you mean old! I guess it shows her toxic environment meant she was never allowed to act like a child and is bitter about it.

Hurts to read this. Clearly, they want to stop Rosa's abuse but don't know how. It's easy to judge them as cowards but realistically what can they do? Yell at Rosa who will then take it out on Maria more?

Honestly living on that island seems like abuser heaven so at least Jessica's parents aren't the worst, comparatively speaking. She has very limited contact with the outside world and every exit is very tightly controlled.

Setting up the "who gave Maria the umbrella" mystery I see Kanon!

It's really hard to not read Maria as autistic me, with her taking orders very literally, her word repetition, and her hyper fixation on magic stuff. Just makes the way Rosa blames her for getting bullied and not having friends even more horrific.

Kumasawa laughing at the prank she helped pull, lol

idk battler It could be the worst day of my life but if I'm getting a 5-star meal I'm mowing that down happily

It's a bit sad how clearly Battler holds Kyrie in high regard and obviously does kind of consider her family even if he denies it considering that Kyrie fucking hates him

I am using the Umineko Project version of Umineko, and you know, the console sprites for Umineko are a lot more varied than the 07th mod would led you to believe (not that I am criticizing them, I am sure there were technical reasons as to why they had to be removed) there are some with Eva holding her unfolded fan that I didn't screen earlier too)

Nanjo going along with the script and getting jumped on by everyone lol

Wow, way to talk about your child Rosa

Oh here is the portrait I was talking about earlier, also everyone's tune immediately flip flops about the letter when they realized its beneficial to getting money lmfao

It's kinda cute how much Jessica tries to prove she really is the one who hates her parents the most when she probably has the best relationship with her parents out of the cousins

Yeah yaeh you are so mature and understanding than your cousins George, not like you are the one most willing to cut off your parents when their money or status obsession gets in the way of your goals or anything

Doesn't work as well for a game where the opponent isn't really trying to win and doesn't always do the most logical moves, does it?

Kyrie's correct though, if they had simply asked her on her terms who Beatrice is from the start (Something along the lines of who was Beatrice possessing) she probably would have answered!

Well, it's more like she realized you were the best one to get the information she wanted, but you do love her too much to consider that.

He's so fucking scared of Kyrie and he should be, to be honest! Though it's partly your fault she's like this.

This is also probably R07's way of telling you to look at the heart and not just the murder mystery!

Obviously, Natsuhi doesn't believe this because she knows Kinzo is dead, though I wonder if she thinks this was s will he left to the servants or something?

i wanna punt this man

I think Natsuhi and Jessica is probably the only parent/child relationship in the game that probably would heal itself with time... they both understand what is going wrong but aren't sure how to fix it, and I think with Jessica going out of her parent's house soon she probably would have been able to understand her mother more and makeup once they saw each other again... it makes me a bit sad to think about how the tragedy made it impossible for that to happen.

I'm already crying fuck. They are both extending their hand to the other. They are making steps towards repairing their relationship! And it's all getting destroyed!

I wonder how many times conversations like this happened in reality. Genji trying to convince Yasu to allow themselves to live their life normally but Yasu thinking that they aren't worthy of that, and feeling deeply guilty when they did interact with others...

I wonder if George has ever really tried to engage with Shannon's own interests, knowledge, and likes, instead of just assuming because she is a servant that everything he tells her is new and exciting to her

[raeygina-george]

ghost and mask for the not-so nice OC ask game? I don’t mind either OC, they are all chill :)

ghost: who or what haunts your oc? what happened? how do they live with their ghosts?

i was gonna try to answer these with some azure but OHOHOHHO I HAVE THE PERFECT LITTLE GUY FOR THIS.

this boy's name is oliver and he is being haunted by a mental manifestation of his dead little sibling. lol

tw for suicide and abuse but long story only kind of short, oliver & his 3 younger siblings grew up in an abusive household. as soon as he turned 18 oliver reported his parents, adopted his siblings, and moved out. but like. that's not the Best financial situation yk? so he was working 40 hours a day 8 days a week at his shitty little post-highschool job and very obviously Not Handling It Well. kye (2nd youngest, about 13 at the time, so not enough to get a legal job) noticed that and was like 'stop being so goddamn self-sacrificial. is there anything i can do to help'. this escalated into a full blown argument in which oliver admitted that kye was a burden (one he was willing to carry, of course, but the fact remains that he called them a burden).

the next morning, oliver discovered kye's dead body along with a note telling him to sell their possessions so oliver could take a couple days off. oliver was obviously fucking distraught; in his eyes, he'd just murdered someone that he loved more than himself. now bc of the nature of the afterlife system in this story, oliver and kye never get to meet again. after they die, kye is able to more or less move on, but oliver doesn't get the catharsis of knowing that it was entirely kye's decision and not his fault specifically. so like. fuck him i guess lmao??? he gets married and has kids and heals from the trauma though so it all works out in the end

mask: does your oc wear a mask, literally or figuratively? what goes on beneath it? is there anyone in their life who gets to see who they are under the mask?

kye's probably the best example of this i can think of, so we're forgetting about oliver now and talking about Kye From The Afterlife Yay.

kye's just a silly goofy little guy! just the silliest guy. annoying as fuck. absolutely terrified of emotional vulnerability. their trademark Sillyguy Attitude is their real personality, yes, but no one actually knows the Depth of their character.... except kyrie. (yes they're both named kyrie dont worry about it ok)

kye and kyrie's dyamic is 'symbiotic gym bros'. kye is teaching kyrie how to rollerskate, kyrie is teaching kye how to backflip, and they're both working towards the goal of being able to do a backflip on rollerskates. but their relationship goes a lot deeper! they're the only people [in the friend group, at least] who know how each other died. cause kyrie's whole thing is that she forgored how she died, and kye is, again, scared of emotional vulnerability. kye learns about kyrie's death from a stranger who went to her school; after A Situation takes place kye opens up about their death & then finally tells kyrie about hers. since they know each other's worst traumas and kyrie has actually seen kye upset, im pretty comfortable with saying kyrie 100% knows the True Kye

[deoxygenated]

finished legend of the golden witch

so far i really like umineko

its hard to gather all of my first impressions at this point, i'd have to check my notebook i've been keeping

but the dynamics of the ushiromiyas remind me a lot of my family (lol)

especially when we go to my tias house during the winter holidays. at least we don't have the stress of a giant inheritance looming over us. it is really scary how i can go this character is just like x person i know though... well with less rich person bluster.

i think maria, battler, kyrie, kanon, and chiyo are my favourites so far.

disliked george off the bat, who doesnt hate krauss, and genji is perhaps ikea's bestseller

the character i dithered the most over was eva because at some points i did really like her and at others she turned up the ushiromiya bloodline ability of being a huge bitch way too high

the narration style is really interesting, sometimes it feels like an omniscient other, sometimes it felt like battlers thoughts. makes me wonder how much is stated that is true.

I did have a lot of trouble though when something happened and then the narration is like slo-mo woah this thing happened. here is bit 1, 2,3 and 4 of what already happened. they couldn't believe this happened! here on rokkenjima with the ushiromiyas it happened!

dutifully i did pay attention because theres a mystery to be solved but i really got all the information as it happened and didnt much need the recaps.

the story is excellent i love the character dynamics its so fun to get the drips of their pasts as we move throughout

definitely a few things that didn't get resolved in the legend but im hoping i'll perhaps get more information in the turn

music is great, spotify showed me goldenslaughterer in my recommendations and then i had to purposely avoid the rest of the soundtrack just in case but i was hyped when it played

disliked the tea party bonus scene greatly for being as previously mentioned very ff.net arguing in the authors comment

im also desperate to know more about beatrice. i came into this not knowing much and i don't think its because of prior bias but this beatrice i saw at the end here doesn't quite feel like beatrice to me?

anyways excited to start turn of the golden witch tonight or sometime soon

[polarisbibliotheque]

Devil May Halloween 2022 - The Horror Amusement Park, Dante's Path

Happy Halloween everyone!! Hope you enjoy this one! Vergil's Path will be posted soon ;)

Pairing: Dante x Reader

Summary: After Nico solved the apple puzzle box, you and Dante entered what was called the Carnival of the Damned. Following a devil clown around, you would soon notice things are not quite what they seem - Happy Halloween!

(I think this is quite a long one too, I lost count of words/pages)

WARNINGS: Demonic clowns. I hate clowns, and I figured I'd better warn you, this one is filled with clowns - and cursing, and violence, and blood... You know. A typical Devil May Cry episode.

Author's note: A little bit delayed, but here it is!! I have to say, one of the scenes is inspired by the Ghost Rider movie, because I simply ADORED it when I was a teen (yep, that one with Nicolas Cage. It's wonderful and I don't care how campy it looks xD). It took me a while to post, because a sudden freelance opportunity appeared and I didn't have a professional portfolio - had to finish around 12 drawings in two days to get it all set up and delay writing a little bit. I do hope you guys understand "^^

I hope you all have a great Halloween, and to all my witches out there, happy Samhein ;)

(Also, I used witch as a word for everyone, because I do believe you don't have to be a woman to be called 'witch')

Devil May Halloween 2022 - Dante's Path

You found yourself in complete darkness.

When you admitted to Kyrie you were afraid of the dark as well, it wasn’t just to make her feel better. You really didn’t like it, but there was something a little more unnerving than just darkness in that room…

It was silence.

You heard nothing. Suddenly, everyone was gone, and you had the terrifying realization that you were completely alone.

Alone in a place you had no idea where it was, after a hellish puzzle box sent you there.

“Damn you Hellraiser…” You murmured to yourself, too silently for whatever else that could be there to listen.

“Y/n? Babe? Hey! Are you there?!” But Dante’s voice made itself heard above all that dark. You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling, even if nervously.

“Dante?! You’re here too?! Where are you?!” Waving your arms around, trying to grope anything that wasn’t air, you searched for your red devil. You had to admit, few times in your life you felt so happy upon hearing his voice – it was like a light in that pitch black dark.

“Yeah, I am! Anyone else with you, babe?” You could hear him walking around and trying to find you as well – so you decided to use your ears: closing your eyes, you only followed the sound of his voice.

“Nope, I’m here alone! How about you?”

“Well, I’m here with ya, wouldn’t call that alone, hot stuff.” As he giggled in the dark, you were certain of his position. With a nervous laugh alongside him, you ran towards Dante, finally able to wrap your arms around him. “Hey! Hello there, pretty! It’s alright!”

“Seriously, why did it have to be dark?” You muttered with your forehead resting on his chest, feeling his hands playing with your hair while you both laughed. “C’mon. Why do demonic things never do something out in the sun? No one ever watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre?”

“I don’t think they have, but you got a point there. Don’t have to be in the dark to be scared, right?” He let his hands rest on your hips as you turned your head upwards as if trying to see him. You couldn’t see anything, but you were close enough for Dante to see you perfectly – and, honestly, he would never get tired of having you in his arms like that.

“Exactly. Everyday, I fear Vergil is gonna stab you with a thousand summoned swords.”

Your words were enough to make him break down in laughs and bring you back to the situation at hand. Even if you liked when Dante played with your hair and embraced you, it wasn’t really the place to have a moment.

“Gotta say, that I fear too!” He finally let you go, but you were adamant in holding one of his hands. Dante didn’t seem to care, though. “Ok. We gotta find a way outta here.”

“And find everyone else. Where do you think we are?” You glanced back at him, a little hesitant about your next words. “Hell…?”

“Nah. There are a few dark spots like this in ol’ daddy Sparda’s home, but we aren’t there, pretty eyes.” He sighed, taking a look around. You couldn’t see it, but everything Dante was able to make out was nothing. It was as if you both were trapped in a void. “It’d be different. And trust me, there would be one hell of a reception to my old man’s blood.”

You furrowed your brows as soon as you felt Dante’s hand slightly tensing in yours, holding you a little tighter. He didn’t talk a lot about Hell – he certainly talked about it more than Vergil, but still, it wasn’t much – so you couldn’t help but notice that instinctive reaction from him and mark in your mind as important. Dante tensed over very few things and you never thought the mention of Hell and his time there alongside Vergil would be one of those things.

“Hmmm… Ok. So… You think this is demonic? I mean… You’re the Son of Sparda, where’s the usual reception of soured demons over your dad’s ‘betrayal’…?” As you asked, Dante couldn’t help himself but to snort a laugh in disdain. It was a running joke between you two: demons would always taunt him over his blood, his father’s legacy, the so-called betrayal of Sparda. It was starting to get old, really.

“And you got another point there, babe. No idea.” Dante shrugged, starting to walk around aimlessly while you just followed – never letting go of his hand. “Kinda feeling a little ignored here!” He raised his voice, as if complaining with whatever trapped you in there. You had to giggle a little bit. “But yeah, it’s demonic. You saw Trish’s face. I don’t know what kind of thing that box was, but I’m pretty sure she knew and tried to warn us.”

“Hmmm…” You remembered the look on Trish’s face as she glanced at the shiny red box in Nico’s hands. She did everything she could to reach out on time but failed. “So… You think we can expect cenobites?” As soon as you asked, Dante stopped on his tracks and burst out in a fit of laughter. “I mean, I’m pretty sure you can kick Pinhead’s ass with ease, babe, but they take the pain is pleasure thing a little too far for me, it’s a big no-no.”

Even if you couldn’t actually see Dante, you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling caringly at him. He had the best of laughs: bright as the sun, loud and sincere – it would always make your heart warm hearing him having so much genuine fun. You could crack unexpected jokes the whole night just to have him happy like that. Dante deserved it.

“Oh, but they have such sights to show you!” Of course, he had to joke with one of the lines from the movie, opening his free arm while still laughing at your question. Dante would never say it, but he thought you were adorable when you said things like that – there was something of innocent about using pop culture references to ask what was true or not about Hell. It was an innocence he prayed you’d never lose, for Dante would always do his absolute best to keep you from experiencing that place with your own soul.

“Right now, I can’t see anything. They are clearly failing on that.” You kept your voice as monotone as Vergil when he was complaining, making Dante find it all even more endearing. “If we find the cenobite travel department, I’m speaking to their manager about this. It’s unacceptable.”

Amidst Dante’s laughs – almost to the brink of tears you couldn’t see – your words were followed by a door lighting up in the distance. That made your red devil recompose himself by your side, both of you turning serious for a moment.

“Do you have any of your weapons with ya, babe?”

“What? Of course not!” If you could see him, you would have turned at Dante with the most baffled expression – not that he couldn’t see that in the dark. “Only Vergil brings weapons to an amusement park, but he has issues, Dante.”

“Well, we all have then. Here.” Before you could say anything else, you felt Dante placing one of his heavy guns in your free hand. It was Ebony or Ivory for sure, you knew how they felt even with your eyes closed. “If things go south, you gotta protect yourself too.”

“Where did you put this thing…?” You whispered as you approached the door, trying to remember everything from the night prior to that moment but failing to find where Dante had put his guns.

“Hey, I got my tricks too. Verge isn’t the only one with issues.” And with that comment, Dante finally opened the door.

As you crossed to the other side, a sudden brightness made you both close your eyes – only to open them and find yourselves in the middle of what looked like a cursed circus: bloody tents, half broken luminous signs, abandoned attractions and distorted circus music.

“Ooooh you gotta be kidding me…” Yes, you were in pain. If there was something you hated more than darkness, that was… “Killer clowns. Why does it always have to be killer clowns…?”

Dante did his best not to laugh – you were suffering enough already with just the idea of being hunted by a demonic clown of sorts.

“Hey, don’cha worry, babe! I’m here with ya, remember?” He started walking around, opening his arms while you followed him after a deep sigh. “Nothin’s gonna touch you – and that, is a promise.” With those words, he playfully tapped the point of your nose with his index finger, making you smile. Even if you didn’t want to.

“So…” You sighed again, hands inside the pockets of your black leather pants. “A carnival. A demonic one. I’ve never heard of this sort of demons before.”

“Me neither, but I did kill a few clown-looking spooks back when I was younger…” Dante mused while walking around and trying to find something that could tell you what the hell was going on in that place. “Lady’s ol’ man was the most annoying.”

“Oh, I had forgotten that! His demonic form was… Jester, right?” As you asked, Dante confirmed with his head, smiling back at you. “Can you imagine. You sacrifice everything in your human life to have the powers of a demon and Hell turns you into a clown. He should’ve gotten the clue.”

This time, Dante couldn’t stop himself from laughing. A lot.

“Ya know, you should tell Lady that! She’ll appreciate the thought, really!”

But before you could answer him, you sensed something wasn’t right by your side. As soon as you noticed it, though, the thing was faster than you and suddenly a clown with sharp teeth and bloody sparkly clothes jumped right in front of you, screaming as he did so.

Of course, you screamed as well and instinctively grabbed Dante’s arm, almost hiding behind your red devil. He wouldn’t admit it, but Dante actually liked when you used him to protect yourself – after all, he believed that was the use of his cursed blood.

“Ooooh, maaaan…” You groaned, resting your forehead on his back – Dante couldn’t help but giggle. “I hate clowns…”

“Well, well, little thing! Your reaction is the best I’ve ever seen! You are surely going to be popular here at the… Carnival of the Damned!” The clown spun around, having its arms open, showing that carnival of horrors to you. As soon as it spoke, the music got louder and there were sounds as if attractions had finally been turned on - as well as screams mixed in the wind.

“Great. It sounds great.” You couldn’t be more bitter.

“Hey, spook! What the hell is this?” Dante finally decided to grab the demon’s attention; the clown, though, looked a little shocked.

“Oh. You’re the smart one of the couple, right little thing?” The jester asked, sarcasm dripping from its words. “I can see he’s not the brightest.”

“Ei! Have some respect!” And no one could deny you were a couple, since you and Dante spoke in unison.

“Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? I’ve been to Hell, and this is not it. I’d remember somethin’ as stupid soundin’ as ‘Carnival of the Damned’ and a sorry excuse for a demon like you.” Dante grabbed his other gun, Ebony, resting it on his shoulder. You did the same with Ivory, knowing very well how your lover liked to intimidate demons. “That box brought us here, we wanna get out. Either you start explainin’, or else you’ll be dancin’ as we shoot, capisce?”

“My, my, quite a temper on this one, huh?”

“I do call him my red devil.” You shrugged, hiding a proud smile on the corner of your lips. “You should see him when he actually loses his temper.”

“Ooooooh, he is scawy, is he?” The clown pretended to be scared, using an ominous but jokester tone, laughing like a maniac right at the ending of the phrase. It was surely having fun while taunting Dante. You wondered if it knew who your red devil was.

“He’s hot, actually.” You answered in a matter-of-fact voice, making Dante turn at you with a huge, proud smile plastered on his red-hot lips. Of course, he wouldn’t be much of a rockstar if he hadn’t makeup on.

“Ya think I’m hot when I’m mad, huh?” Dante planted one of his hands on his hips, making you giggle.

“Of course. I think you’re hot whenever.” You winked back at him, making the demonic clown in front of you completely disgusted.

“BLERGH! I can see sugar dripping from you both, it is hideous!” And once again, Dante just sighed looking back at that thing. You were having a moment, he hated when demons got in the way – something quite usual. “She told me you would be like that. So, I got a little game for you, happy couple.”

“She? Who is she…?”

“A-ha! As always, the smart one, my dear!” The clown bowed to you – and you didn’t know if you should take that as a compliment or as an insult to your lover. “Why don’t you find out? Here! Catch!”

Before any of you could think, the demon threw something at Dante and he instinctively caught what seemed to be a metal ball that glowed in red.

“Oh… Fuck..!” Dante sighed, having to anchor himself on the floor with one of his knees, seeming to lose his strength. You had never seen him like that before. “Not again…”

“Aaaaah, I knew you were not normal! It seems like you have encountered one of those before.” The demon pointed at the metal ball Dante held.

“What’s going on? Dante, let it go…!” You tried to take it from his hands, but Dante refused to give it to you.

“It might kill ya, y/n. Stay back.” And he sounded unusually serious.

“Not to worry, little thing. He will survive… If you return my little friend…” The demon pointed at the ball again. “To its proper place in time! Try to catch me!”

With those words, the demon started running, entering a tent right in front of you.

“Dante, what’s wrong?”

“This thing, it sort of sucks my life. I’m half-demon, so it makes me weaker, and it takes a while to actually kill me.” He explained such a daring situation a little too calmly for his own sake – even slightly smiling at the end.

“What if you trigger, then…?”

“Well… It might take even more time.” Dante winked back at you, getting back on his feet with some difficulty. “Ok, then, hot stuff! Time to hunt down that clown!”

And in a bright, flaming red light, Dante triggered, and you could clearly see your red devil standing in front of you – fangs and claws ready to kill anything that decided to threaten you both.

“I’ll be right behind you, red devil.” It was your turn to wink at him – and you knew Dante was entertained by the way his distorted voice giggled behind his teeth.

“If ya have a hard time to catch up, scream! I’ll be right there with ya!” You just nodded, getting ready to run. It was a fact: Dante’s speed when he triggered was a lot faster than yours – and you hoped it would be to your advantage; after all, he could kill all demonic clowns along the way before you even got there.

*

You never thought you would catch yourself thinking about something like that, but seeing the trail of dead, clown looking demons and blood your lover left behind actually made you happy that night. Just the thought of not having to deal with those jesters already made you less prone to nightmares with those things, you were sure of that.

You had a lot to thank Dante later.

The tent, just like Mary Poppins’ bag, was bigger on the inside. As you entered and crossed a room filled with creepy circus props and what looked like victims laying around, you crossed another opening right on the other side and, to your surprise, you didn’t end up outside: you were in another room.

You did double back to make sure you weren’t running in circles inside an infinite loop – it had happened to you and Nero once and it took you both quite a while to find out what was going on and that it was supposed to be a hellish puzzle – but it was a different room: a place to house a knife thrower and their assistant.

That kept on for quite a while. Crossing tents decorated as the most gruesome of haunts, following the trail of dead demons. You could hear Dante in the distance – the more he ran, the more tired he sounded. It wasn’t something usual and you had to worry if your lover was alright.

“Dante! Can you see that creep anywhere?!” You decided to ask at some point. You had been running for so long, you lost count how many rooms you crossed.

If, by some chance, you were trapped inside the box, it was one hell of a big box.

After all, you had been trapped in a cursed top hat in a previous Halloween alongside Dante. Being with him was a box filled with surprises.

“Can’t see, but I can smell that garbage and hear it laughing!” His distorted voice echoed in front of you, reverberating through the tents. It always seemed to escape Dante how powerful he was – but it never escaped you.

As you were almost answering him you hoped that whole chase would end soon, you could actually hear Dante’s footsteps ending its frenetic run. After crossing two more rooms, you found your red devil staring at the demon who danced like a fool around a woman standing in the middle of a circus ring, surrounded by blood and demons who seemed to be dismembering each other.

“Ok. That’s new.” You had to point it out. It wasn’t the first time demons would be fighting their own, but it was the first time you were seeing it.

For Dante, though, it was something common to see in Hell.

“Hey, asshole! Care to take your little thing back?” Dante tossed the ball between his claws, grabbing the attention of the woman.

Although… As soon as she looked at you, her eyes seemed to lose all its will and suddenly that witch was nothing but a child. She couldn’t be older than fifteen, at least in your eyes.

“Who… Who are you?” And she looked a little frightened, even if she didn’t want to let it show. She tried to keep the pose, but it was clearly not working.

Like the demon said, Dante could be pretty scary when triggered. You were used to it, though.

“Oh. They don’t know.” You put your free hand on your waist, resting the gun on your shoulder. The girl’s eyes widened, as if she had never seen a gun so close in her life. “You guys aren’t joking, are you…?”

“You brought the wrong people! It isn’t them!” The girl complained with the demon clown, who stopped dancing around and laughing. All the chaos with the demons around seemed to come to a halt and that made you and Dante extra wary.

“They were the ones brought by the box! A couple, just like you said, little witch.” The clown didn’t look too happy – even though it was smiling. There was some sort of hatred permeating its words.

“But… They are the wrong couple! I don’t know them!” She pointed back at you. “One of them isn’t even human! You brought another witch over here!”

“Do I look like a witch…?” You turned back at Dante. “I was supposed to be The Crow.”

“I’m guessin’ she never watched the movie.” He shrugged back at you. “You look great, hot stuff.”

“I did what you told me to do!” The clown now looked positively threatening. You and Dante had your guns ready and fingers on the triggers: even if that girl was responsible for all of that, she was still a human and she had to do a lot of explaining. “Don’t go thinking you are the one in charge here! We are bound to the Carnival and you are just a parasite. A means to an end.”

“What…?!” Now the girl did her best not to stutter. You were starting to pity her. “That… That wasn’t the deal! I control you…!”

“No pitiful human controls us! Your magic was just to set us free, your little petty revenge as a blood sacrifice! Don’t go thinking for a second that you are more powerful than us, that you can bind us in servitude…!”

Furrowing your brows, you realized you heard those words before. Long ago, when Vergil was teaching you some obscure arcane arts, he taught you about binding and deals. For any being to be able to bind a demon in servitude, it was necessary to be a lot more powerful than said demon – that was how, long ago, when Vergil was a lot younger and foolish, Mundus was the only one able to bind him in his Nelo Angelo form.

It was a lesson for you to be careful: even though you were strong and powerful, you still had a long road to run in order to achieve the same level as the blood of Sparda, for instance. You should always know when you could tackle an enemy and when it was too much – it was a logic call that could cost your life. Vergil always reminded you of that.

“Hey! I was talkin’ to ya, I’m feelin’ ignored over here!” Dante finally made you two be noticed by the demon and the witch once again, giving her time to carefully put some distance between her and the jester she thought was under her control. “Where do I put this thing? Or else, I’m gonna feed it to ya!”

“Ooooh someone is getting nervous…!” Of course, the clown had to start dancing.

It was a bad call. Dante was already out of his patience and, seeing there was a human girl in possible danger, he wouldn’t take much of that any longer. After all, it looked like she was close to Patty’s age, and Dante would never deny protection to Patty.

“You know what?” Dante threw the metal ball in the air and, as it floated above your heads, he pointed Ebony at it and shot it right in the middle. The metal ball broke in a burst of energy and red sparkles filled the circus ring. “I’m tired of this shit. C’mon, spook. You’re next.”

With those words, the other demons started to surround you. Holding the gun with both hands, you were ready to fight.

“Babe. Get her and take her out of the way, ok?” He murmured to you before anything else started. You agreed with a nod.

As the red glow of the sin devil trigger took the ring, you started running towards the witch, shooting and punching anything in your way. You could hear Dante’s wings flapping and the sharp sound of something being impaled – he had summoned Devil Sword Dante and you knew things would get too ugly for that clueless girl who just screamed in horror.

“Hey! Witch! Over here!” You waved at her, kicking a demon right by your side and shooting it in the head. “I got you!”

She ran towards you, holding your hand as you tried to find a safe place to keep her and defend your position while Dante let all hell break loose.

“Are you insane?! Trying to control a demon is just for powerful witches! It requires a lot of experience!” You looked over your shoulder to see if the girl was fine behind you, shooting at the demons who tried to catch you without even looking.

“Are you a witch?!” Her eyes seemed to glow in admiration. “Can you stop this?!”

“I don’t even know what’s going on, kid!” With that, you punched the nearest evil clown, giving it a kick before unleashing Ivory on it. “Dante over there, he can handle a lot of stuff! But a Hellraiser magic box is new to even us!”

“It’s just that, a puzzle box!” The girl cried, kneeling behind you to protect herself as you shot another demon. Looking over your legs, she saw Dante, still in his full sin devil trigger form, slicing demons with a heavy flaming sword – while the clown she once thought was under her control commanded all the other demons to kill all of you. “We… We enchanted it! We found a book, a spell, to enchant and control demons! To create realities! To punish our enemies!”

“What kind of enemies a kid has that deserves all of this?!”

“They bully us every day! We’re tired of it!”

You finally halted, looking back at the girl kneeling behind you. Her eyes were filled with tears and horror – and you couldn’t help but to see yourself, a long ago, scared and brimming with rage, trying to claim a little bit of power to fight for yourself. To protect your own pride.

After all, that was how you met Dante.

“What’s your name, kid?” You shot Ivory once more, kneeling beside her, helping to hide both of you behind a couple of chairs.

“Amanda. I’m Amanda…” She kept on crying, holding your hands and trying to explain herself as if you were her parent. “I… We’re not evil, I swear to you. We were just trying, you know…? We wanted them to be scared, to see us as powerful and leave us alone! I swear, we didn’t… The demons were supposed to scare. They said it would only be a scare. We set rules, they weren’t supposed to kill anyone! We didn’t… We don’t want to… We aren’t murderers…!”

“Hey, hey, Amanda, take a deep breath, ok?” You caressed her hair, trying to calm her down. As always, humans were so difficult: they weren’t black and white as demons. Not all of them did evil for evil’s sake – some of them just made mistakes. “Like I said, demons are powerful. You’re a beginner in the occult and there’s a lot of stuff out there on the internet that doesn’t come with the needed warnings. We’re going to take care of it. Can you take us out of here?”

“Yeah… I just… That demon, it has a puzzle box to open the portal to go back.” Amanda pointed at the demon who challenged her previously – and now was fighting Dante. “It is the main demon in this reality, even if I created all this. It said it was going to keep the box safe for me, his master.”

“Wait, you did all of this?” You raised one eyebrow while she just nodded as an answer. “Not bad. You’re more powerful than I thought.”

“This smell… Ha, look what we have here!” The voice of the clown echoed in joy, drawing your attention back to the fight. You could see Dante with a scratch on his leg – something you thought was impossible given his thick skin – while the demon licked his apple red blood. “It’s that vile blood…! What a joy! What a fight! We have a Sparda for the sacrifice tonight!”

“Well, I was wonderin’ how long it would take for the ‘scumbag blood of Sparda’ to start!” Dante rested his weight on his sword, barely bothered by the scratch. That seemed to make the demon even angrier, now with eyes glowing red. “I think this one was the slowest to notice, right, hot stuff?”

“Well, I do think he isn’t the brightest of demons, babe. Give it a break.” You shrugged as you raised from your hiding spot – Amanda carefully placed behind you, admiring how you both bantered in the face of danger.

“Haha! That, you are right! Not the brightest in the slightest!” Dante answered in a sing song tone, delightful even if distorted by his demon form.

“Oh, you shall see, son of Sparda! I will make you suffer endlessly!” The demon summoned others to attack Dante alongside it and even Amanda could see the legendary devil hunter was outnumbered.

“I’d like to see you try that.” Dante’s answer came in a growl from his chest, while he grabbed Devil Sword Dante and prepared a drive move, making it glow like flames when unleashing on the demons.

“Ok, Amanda. You wanna see what real magic looks like…?”

The girl furrowed her eyebrows as you asked, ready to inquire what you meant by that. You didn’t have to do much explaining: simply walking as she followed you in awe, the air around you quickly filled with golden swords – attacking the demons in the blink of an eye, allowing Dante to only care about the main demon attacking him. You were decimating everyone else with the summoned swords Vergil had taught you so well how to use – something Dante never really learned.

“Wow… You gotta be the most powerful witch I’ve ever seen!” Amanda was breathless as you kept fighting without even looking at all the preys. “This is so cool! That’s why you can control a demon!”

“What?” Even though you turned back at her, your golden summoned swords kept doing their job. Again, something well taught by Vergil – bless the day he blindfolded you and pulled an Obi-Wan Kenobi teaching Luke how to sense the enemies around you and attack them. “I can’t control demons.”

“But… What about him? How do you control him?” Amanda pointed at Dante, his fangs showing while he tried to hack the clown in half – missing it by only a heartbeat.

“I don’t…”

You were about to explain when you saw in the corner of your eye a demon ready to grab Amanda. Pushing her away, the demon caught you instead, lifting your feet from the floor as it choked you.

Vergil never taught you how to use summoned swords when you were so unfocused – differently than him, you couldn’t multitask everything you did with energy. It required so much of you, even for the swords, and you still had a lot to learn. You tried to shoot the demon, but it was to no avail: all your shots were lost in its decrepit body.

“Y/n!” Of course, Dante’s attention immediately turned to you.

“Time to say goodbye to your little human! What a shame, I really enjoyed the smart one!” The clown laughed sadistically while the demon that grabbed you prepared a blade to cross your heart.

Your eyes met Dante’s flaming ones. If it was your time to go, at least you wanted him to be the last thing you saw – in whatever form he was. You still tried to struggle, but it was too hard to free yourself; after all, most of your energy was gone with the summoned swords.

You never heard Dante growl the way he did that night. Holding Devil Sword Dante with both of his hands, his feet moved at the speed of light – one you had only seen Vergil moving before. The demon who tried to kill you died before the blade could even touch your chest – making you fall to the ground while Dante ran back to the clown and quickly chopped its head off. Too fast even for it to notice it was dead.

With the same speed, he ended the few demons that were left in that place, while Amanda ran to the clown to find the box inside its clothes. Your legs were shaking as you got up, trying to catch a glimpse of Dante in his frenzy – it was rare, but you knew a threat to your life could trigger that inside him.

“I found it!” Amanda celebrated, showing the red box to you – but immediately stopped smiling as Dante stood in front of her, Devil Sword Dante in his hands, ready to kill.

“No! Dante! Stop!” You forgot how unstable your legs were, running towards them as quickly as possible. His red eyes focused on you, his demon acting almost mindlessly. “Dante! She’s only a child! Stop! She isn’t evil!”

As you reached him, Amanda winced as you gently touched his arm holding the sword. Still looking into his eyes, you eased Dante’s arm down, making him face you. With a few deep breaths, you placed one of your hands on his hardened face, gently caressing him – and, pulling him down, you finally gave Dante a kiss.

That, you would argue, was your greatest magic. Demon Dante was slowly gone, flaming red sparks glistening all over the place while your kind devil turned back into a man – your very own rockstar for the night. You felt as his sharp teeth transformed back into his soft lips, the ones you loved so much – as his leathery skin became his soft cheek under your fingers once more.

Parting your kiss and opening your eyes, you met Dante’s tired but gentle sky-blue eyes looking back into yours.

“Thank you.” He murmured back to you, taking a string of hair away from your face – hands so gentle, one could say they never even held a sword.

“Welcome back, babe.” You smiled in return, as he ran the back of his fingers on your cheek.

Dante always turned a little too soft hearted when he came down from a frenzy like that.

“Wait. He’s a guy? And you two are, like, a couple?” Amanda gestured frenetically while trying to understand what she had just seen. “Wow. You gotta be the most powerful witch. That’s so metal.”

“Wait until I tell you his father rebelled against his own kind and locked demons in Hell, while Dante here killed the king of Hell years later.” You had to boast, at least a little bit. It wasn’t every day you could flex on how your lover defeated the king of Hell, his father locked all demons in there, his brother took over that damned place and his mother was a stupidly powerful witch.

At least you had that in common with Eva: both of you had the hearts of the most powerful demons of their time, you didn’t need to control them.

“What?! You are so cool!”

“Ok, kid. Y/n here said you’re not evil, I’m willin’ to believe in it. Show me wha’cha got.” Dante sighed, making Devil Sword Dante disappear in flames as he always did. Amanda still observed you both in awe and you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling – it did feel like you were dating a rockstar.

“The box, it’s a portal. This is all a spell – this demon was bound to it, and I… We… Thought we had it all under control. I need to help my friends, they’re in trouble too – if this is happening to them...” Amanda stumbled a little upon her words, but her fingers quickly worked on the puzzle box. “We didn’t mean it…”

“If your friends found any of our friends, they’re not gonna need our help.” You winked at her, watching as the box started to glow – now in the form of an apple. “Trust me. His brother is scarier. A lot scarier.”

“He has a brother?!” Amanda couldn’t stop smiling – just like Nico before, she looked like a child during Christmas. “Who are you guys?!”

You and Dante just exchanged a knowing look, smiling at each other. For once, it was nice to be seen as something more than all the usual cursed bloodline.

*

“Oh, my! You are fine!”

As you walked out of the haunted house, back in the horror park, Kyrie immediately smiled as soon as she saw you, Dante and Amanda. Running towards you, she wrapped her arms around your neck and it seemed like she would never let go.

“I was so worried!” She sighed as you hugged her back, laughing how it seemed like she was about to cry. “I thought you wouldn’t be able to leave…!”

“It’s ok, angel!” You giggled back, trying to calm her down. Dante just laughed while walking towards Lady, Trish and another girl dressed as a witch – obviously the one in charge for the haunting on their group. “I’m happy you ended up with Lady and Trish, though!”

“Oh, yes! They helped to keep me alive!” Kyrie giggled back, finally letting go of you – but keeping a tight grip in one of your hands. “Lady gave me a gun so I could defend myself too, but they did all the work.”

“Oh, right. Sometimes I forget Nero teaches you his craft.” You answered in a solemn demeanor as you both approached the group. “I thought he would end up with you, though.”

“I am praying he ended up with Nico. She is good, but even if she doesn’t admit it, she needs someone to protect her too in all this… Mess.”

“I’d say mess is too kind of a word for all of this.” Trish sighed, leaning on the guardrail alongside Dante. “It’s never good when humans try to mess with demonic things they don’t fully understand.”

“At least we knew what we were looking for.” Lady seemed tired, leaning by Dante’s other side. “That puzzle box is a binding spell thing apparently. You never saw any of those before?”

“Nah. Not in boxes, at least.” Dante shrugged, glaring Lady right after. “There was that demon in a mask that granted people’s wishes once, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. The one I almost made melt you, right?” She giggled while Dante just rolled his eyes – even though you could see him smiling.

“I swear they are best friends.” You felt the need to clarify all that to Amanda and her friend.

“So, he’s a half demon...?” The other girl asked while pointing at Dante. Kyrie immediately agreed. “Wow. I still can’t believe Trish is a demon and Lady is a devil hunter. And you?”

“Devil hunter as well, 100% human.”

“Not just that. Y/n is a witch like us, but super powerful! And not only that, y/n and Dante are a couple. Literally dating a half demon, Abby.” It seemed like Amanda was telling her fried about the coolest person to walk on earth. You had to smile.

“Wow, really?!” Abby looked at you in awe while you only agreed once again. Kyrie just giggled by herself. “Dude. That’s metal.”

“Well, I’m not the only one attracted to half demons.” You looked at Kyrie, making the girls just stare at her as if they couldn’t believe your words. “Nero, Dante’s nephew. She completely owns his heart.”

“You guys are so cool!”

“Kyrie!”

Before you could say anything else, though, Nero’s voice emerged from the house.

“See, airhead?! She’s fine! Told ya!” Nico pointed at the group, being followed by another young witch.

“Nero! You’re fine!” Kyrie ran to his arms, holding him as soon as they touched. Nero grabbed her by the waist spinning Kyrie around as she laughed, and he placed kisses all over her face. “You’re alright!”

“Of course I am! Had to check how my girl was doin’!” You could all swear he would never stop kissing her. “I’m so glad you’re ok, angel. I really am. I was so worried.”

“And I was worried about you…!”

“They are the worst, Sandy.” Nico confided with the witch who had them trapped before. “it’s from that to even more cheap romance.”

Before any of you could answer, Nero held Kyrie’s face for a long kiss, while flipping Nico with his other hand. A classic.

As you watched the crew getting back together, you saw how the coven of young witches was so starstruck with all of you. Remembering Amanda’s words, you understood where her search for power to protect herself came from – how it looked like they just wanted to have a group where they could live peacefully without having to worry about being hurt.

“Hey, Amanda, you said you girls did all of this because of bullying, right?” You finally brought the topic up, drawing Dante’s attention.

“Yeah… There’s this group of people at school who just won’t let us be. They always make fun of us for being witches and such, we wanted to teach them a lesson.”

“We didn’t mean to hurt anyone!” Sandy immediately jumped in the conversation. “We just wanted to scare them so they’d leave us alone, you know?”

“It seemed like a good idea when we found the spell… We didn’t know how much power we needed to actually make it work.” Abby sighed, looking ashamed after all that happened.

“Hmmm… I have an idea to help you.”

“Really?” Dante leaned towards you, interested in what was going on in that head of yours. “What’s it, babe?”

“Well… Vergil isn’t back yet, right…?” You side eyed Dante, a shadow of a smile hidden in your lips. “I think we can put the Dark Slayer to good use today.”

Dante didn’t even have to hear the rest of your words. Using Vergil to scare a couple of teens? That was already entertaining enough to him.

*

The house was dark and ominous. The group of teenagers found themselves locked in a room that looked like a torture chamber, needing to complete a puzzle to get out. Some of them made fun of the ones who were too scared, others were unbothered and just wanted to leave.

It took them some time, but the key was found in a cubic puzzle box, freeing them from that room. Soon, they were in another room that looked like a mortuary – filled with dead bodies and screams in the dark.

“Oh, c’mon! This is so lame!” A girl pointed at one of the props, laughing at one of the scared boys. “You can’t be scared by this!”

“I just don’t like looking at it!” The boy rolled his eyes, ignoring as she played with the props. “It doesn’t do well for your mental health!”

“Ooooh, he’s a scaredy cat…!” She patronized him, making others join the choir of shame.

“Yeah, make fun of me. I’m gonna laugh when something scares the shit out of you, guys.”

As soon as he said that, one of the other boys jumped back while trying to cross a door.

“Dude, shit! Don’t do that!” He kept one of his hands over his heart, slowly walking back as the ominous figure entered the room.

Vergil stared back at the group of teenagers with the cold look in his silvery eyes – which was enough to freeze them in place and dare not ask him anything. Looking regal and threatening as always, he didn’t say a word while just staring. Menacingly.

“Ok, you’re a good actor, we get it!” The girl who swore she wasn’t scared of nothing still tried to play it cool. “Cut it out!”

Vergil still didn’t say a word – just glanced back at her. That made her, and the whole group, understand they were in actual danger. He wasn’t just an actor.

“Let’s leave. Now. C’mon.” One of the guys started to shove the group to the door, slowly leaving while still staring at Vergil.

“Hey, you jerk! It’s just Halloween, you don’t have to get like that!” Another girl of the group was too scared to leave without saying something. “Go to hell!”

“I have been there…” Vergil’s words weren’t loud but were enough to cut their soul like the sharp blade of Yamato. Glancing back at the group of teens, Vergil’s eyes suddenly lit up in blue, a pair of fangs appearing in his mouth while his fingers turned into claws – voice now distorted by his demonic heritage. “Maybe it is time to take you for a visit and teach you all a lesson.”

“Dude, what…?!”

Before any of them could finish speaking, though, Vergil’s doppelganger appeared behind him – a phantasmagoric image in blue, while the man in the room slowly unsheathed his sword; it was too sharp and bright not to be real.

The group screamed and horror and started running in panic, screaming at every jumpscare meant to get them by surprise while touring the house. Vergil just walked after them, his doppelganger calmly following his footsteps.

“Help! Someone help us!”

“What the hell! Help!”

“Where’s the exit?! He’s getting close!”

As the group ran desperately to exit the house, they almost stumbled into each other when they saw the door that would get them out of there. Screaming while leaving, they looked back only to see Vergil still followed them relentlessly – his doppelganger as an ominous aura.

“C’mon, dude! Leave us alone!” Now one of the girls cried, while it seemed Vergil would never stop – and was more than ready to use his blade.

“There he is! Don’t let him go!” Amanda pointed at Vergil, as the other witches from the coven held hands and chanted something in Latin. “It is time to send you back to Hell, demon!”

“You?! What?!”

“You guys need our help or not?!” Abby asked the boy who tried to argue with them. “He’s possessed! Do you know how to deal with it?!”

“No! It… It isn’t… Real…?”

With those words from another girl, Vergil growled, getting in position for a judgement cut – his doppelganger following him.

“He’s pretty real! Help us, please!” The boy who was previously scared was the first one to say something.

“Don’t worry. We can deal with him.”

The coven moved their hands while chanting their Latin words at Vergil. He seemed to resist for a while, struggling before finally bowing his head and taking a deep breath. The girls didn’t stop the incantation until he straightened his back, the doppelganger disappearing behind him.

As Vergil opened his eyes, their silvery colors were back – claws and fangs gone: a perfectly normal human.

“Thank you for ridding me of that demon.” He slightly bowed his head as you appeared running towards him from behind the coven.

“Vergil! You're alright!” You sighed, holding one of his hands while he just smiled back at you. “I was so worried… Thank you, witches. He wouldn’t be ok if it wasn’t for you.”

“It’s ok. If something else happens, give us a call, ok?” Sandy smiled as you both just thanked once more and left – their bullies watching everything in awe.

“Wow… Really? That’s… That’s all true…?” One of the guys asked while watching you leaving, still scared of Vergil.

“Thanks, really… You guys kinda saved us.” The bravest of the girls admitted, finally feeling remorse for mistreating them for so long.

“It’s fine. Just don’t ever mess with us again, capisce?” Amanda asked back, one of her hands on her waist – just like you used to do in that mess inside the Carnival. “Or else, we’ll turn you into frogs.”

“Ha, you can’t do that!” A boy from the group laughed as quickly as he looked back at them with fear. “Can you…?”

And they did the right thing: didn’t answer – just left the group of bullies with questions and fear, while heading towards a candied apples booth to celebrate their newly acquired power.

“That was one hell of a good idea, babe.” You heard Dante’s voice behind you, right by your ear as you all watched the coven’s victory over their bullies. “Gotta admit. Those bullies will never mess with ‘em again.”

“Hope so. They deserve some peace.” You looked back at Dante, placing a quick kiss on his lips. “You deserve it too, Dante.”

“Hmmm. I already have you.” His arms wrapped around your waist while you two watched the girls celebrating in the distance. “Got all the peace I need.”

“I’m happy to hear that.” You giggled in return. “You know, I felt like dating a rockstar for real tonight.”

“I can be your rockstar any time you want, babe.” With those words, Dante muffled another one of your giggles with a kiss.

“See? Told ya they’re worse than us!”

And of course, Nero’s voice had to interrupt you. Holding Dante’s hand, you two got back to the group, following the crew around the park and continuing your Halloween fun – you both deserved it.

Before entering the next attraction, though, you held Dante by his coat’s collar, pulling him closer to you until your lips were almost touching.

“Just one thing you got wrong, cowboy…” As he would question what the hell was all that, you kissed him once more. “You’re always my rockstar.”

Dante couldn’t stop himself from smiling in return. Entering the haunt with one of his arms around your shoulders, that was already the best Halloween ever for him. It was nice to be recognized as a hero for a change – but to be your rockstar?

Well, that was priceless.

[simlit]

Chosen of the Sun | | forest // seventy-four

| @sani-sims | @maladi777

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EVE: Your Grace! KYRIE: Mm, I thought we were on a first name basis. EVE: laughs What a terrible time to joke. KYRIE: I think it’s the best time. What happened? EVE: You collapsed. I’d thought the curse had overcome you. KYRIE: No, at least, not yet. It was my fault, getting all worked up over… Indryr warned me it’d get worse before it got better. EVE: An admission like Taiyo’s would be hard for anyone to hear. Even without what you’d done for him figuring into the equation. He’s only just left now, I can go and fetch him— KYRIE: Don’t trouble yourself. If he wants to come in his own time, that’s for him to decide. EVE: I would rather you rest comfortably, but I feel it’d be wrong for me not tell you— HIGH PRIESTESS: Kyrie. KYRIE: Well, if it isn’t the other shoe. HIGH PRIESTESS: You told me you’d alert me as soon as he was conscious. That was our arrangement. EVE: He’s only just awoke. At least give him a moment to think, if not breathe. HIGH PRIESTESS: Yes, well, he is awake now. You’re free to leave. EVE: I’d rather stay to make certain he’s well— HIGH PRIESTESS: I can make certain myself, or will you not allow me a moment with my son? KYRIE: laughs Oh, stars above. The gods are full of jokes these days. If I’m alive at all, it’s because of Eve’s consideration and skill. You could do her the honor of showing at least a modicum of respect. HIGH PRIESTESS: I am endlessly grateful for your contributions, My Lady. Now, please. A moment. EVE: scoffs Very well. KYRIE: Is this the sort of behavior you would show to one of your precious Chosen? It’s incredible you can’t even fake civility in the face of this ceremony you profess to care so much about. HIGH PRIESTESS: Don’t patronize me, Kyrie. While you lay here like some negligent child. You asked me to trust you once again, and here we are. The sheer scope of your irresponsibility is truly astounding. KYRIE: Why should I have to live long enough to hear you lecture me a thousandth time? If I had one wish at all its that this curse would kill me quicker. HIGH PRIESTESS: Do not speak so recklessly. KYRIE: I’ll speak as I wish, if only because my voice is the one part of me you can’t control. HIGH PRIESTESS: And what will your sister say when she returns? KYRIE: Don’t threaten me with my own sister! For all you know, Alphanei is dead. And maybe you do know it, Gods be certain you’d never tell me the truth. There must be a reason she’s beyond my sight. And maybe I’m glad of it. If the last month has taught me anything, it’s that being Chosen of the Moon is nothing but a prison. If this is how you treated her all these years and I stood idly by, oblivious to what she endured, then I wish you would have neither of us. HIGH PRIESTESS: Your sickness has made you delusional. You’ve grown up inside these very walls. Tell me what have you wanted for? Nothing. I have done everything in my power to protect you both. To keep you safe— even from yourselves. But you have always been the troublesome one. Ever since you were a child. Caught in your own head, selfish and stubborn. HIGH PRIESTESS: Do you know how many mages I have sent north? How many elven knights have traveled out to retrieve Her Grace? Do you know how many have died in that pursuit? No, Kyrie. I spared you those details so you did not have to live with guilt of just how important you really are. KYRIE: As tools. But not as people. Regardless, now that too is on my conscience. We never asked for this role. We never had that choice. And because of this city’s insistence on a corrupt ritual, hundreds have been subjected to needless slaughter. If I could end it all by forfeit of my life, I would not wait a moment longer. HIGH PRIESTESS: Always a fool. I’ll send for the King’s clerics. And after you are cured of this, we will a find more suitable way to proceed. ASTER: Your Grace, heard you were awa— Oh. Am I interrupting something? KYRIE: Not at all. Mother was just leaving. HIGH PRIESTESS: Hmph.

[kob131]

Okay...let’s try doing this dance with Beatrice one last time.

Tagging @avalonblue12​ and @goethefaustworld​

So I’m guessing that in his travels, Kinzo finds a woman who looks a lot like the Beatrice he knows (maybe a family member) and, probably through some kind of human rights violation, gets her locked up in the hidden mansion as a kind of prisoner-mistress. So he comes around, pretending that she’s the same person that he knows, because he’s crazy. And this Beatrice keeps trying to escape. Until one day, little Rosa comes by discovers her. Rosa leads her out of her prison and accidentally gets her killed. Which should logically be the end of this story.

... Except, if we were to take Battler’s journey with his Beatrice as a parallel with Kinzo and his own tale (given Battler’s resemblance to Kinzo in both appearence and personality)- then it’s very likely that the Beatrice who died had a child whom Kinzo took. How did she have a child? Well, I’m not entirely certain but, spoiler, I would believe this child would be the Beatrice we know in the game for the most part. And that Beatrice became the head of the Ushiromiya family in the games that she was allowed focus. And knowing Kinzo, he would probably insist on a blood relative take over. ... And I don’t think he cares about consent.

So this child (who for reasons I’ll explain soon, i assume is named Sayo Yoshiya) is brought in by Kinzo and is raised by the servants of the household in secret. I do not think the hidden mansion is in use at this time due to the boat captain in Ange’s time revealing that the shipments he brought to the home stopped about 19-20 years before the events of Umineko. And because of this, they posed AS one of the servants using a pseudonym. Or rather, posing as TWO servants- one as a girl (Shannon) and one as a boy (Kanon). 

I state this because Shannon and Kanon are said to not be full people on their own in Episode 6, with a heavy implication that they are in fact one person with two aliases (because of Zepar and Furur’s talk of how one cannot date a person with a husband/wife. As if the pairings of Shannon/George and Kanon/Jessica form a three way rather than two pairs). It’s also why I assume the child’s name is Sayo Yoshiya- Shannon’s ‘name’ is Sayo and Kanon’s ‘name’ is Yoshiya. And admittedly, I feel like ‘Yoshiya’ is a last name rather than a first name.

And so, acting as ‘Shannon’, George falls in love with her and as Kanon, Jessica falls for them as well. ... But the child, Sayo Yoshiya, instead falls for Battler. I say this because of the 18 people on the island, the ONLY one Battler has ever indicated attraction to one- Shannon. And Battler’s interactions grow rather romantic with Beatrice as time goes on, becoming especially so in the sixth game AFTER he finds the ‘truth’ of the game. And on Beatrice’s side- her actions are all but explictly romantic in nature with Battler between the framing of their scenes, the growing vulnerability she has about him, the obsession with his focus on her, her desire for his sympathy. And become explictly romantic as she is reborn as her original self, one minus the events that made her so cruel and vindictive. And it’s also here where her voice, pitch and even manner of speaking seem to resemble Shannon.

There’s also Beatrice’s red truth in the fourth game- how the events that she wants Battler to remember wasn’t between Battler and ‘Beatrice’. Implying that her name, Beatrice, is the weasel word she used to indirectly lie to Battler. Shannon and Kanon’s names are also important and integral aspects of their characters.

At this point in time- Sayo and Battler have bonded. But around the beginning of the six year gap, Battler’s mom Asumu dies and Rudolf remarries to Kyrie. Enraged, Battler abandons the family. And in turn, seemingly abandons and does forget about Sayo. And so, deeply hurt by his absence, Sayo nurses a grudge against the Ushiromiya family for causing him to leave. And so, she begins to plan on killing the family around the time Battler returns, having also become the family head by Kinzo upon his death. And so, by using the name ‘Beatrice’ to create the illusion of an outsider, she uses her supposed ‘death’ in each game as a cover for her crimes and kills off the family, leaving Battler as the sole survivor throughout the four games she was in charge of. Each time, trying to jog his memory and have him remember her to try and justify her actions.

Other elements I couldn’t find a natural way of including-

-Shannon, Kanon and young Beatrice are all the participants who lose their forms in the sixth game, symbolizing which aspect of ‘Sayo’ wins in that game.

-Beatrice uses ‘warara’ as her pronoun, a pronoun that is considered arrogant and haughty....but was used by SERVANTS in the past. Furthermore, in her thoughts during Episode 4′s Tea Party- Beatrice briefly switches to ‘watashi’, a very informal, shy and understated pronoun. A pronoun I believe Shannon uses t refer to herself. Likely showing that Beatrice’s core personality is basically just Shannon.

-Shannon and Kanon refers their father in their duel, whose design is to kill them all. Which is awfully similar to Kinzo’s desire to kill off everyone for the ritual of reviving Beatrice.

-Beatrice focuses especially hard on Shannon and Kanon, especially Shannon as she asserts her humanity and love. Both of which would be sore subjects for Sayo, especially coming from what is essentially herself.

-In a flashback, we see an image of a young Battler describing his ideal woman: a blonde, blue eyed, big breasted woman who is vulgar and casual. AKA Beatrice. This is backed by an unheard person telling the young Beatrice that she would inherit her love for Battler in exchange for being his ideal woman. Which matches well with Shannon’s own shy and insecure personality before loving Geroge. As well as how her appearence nor personality match Battler’s description.

-The same image of a young Battler is used during George’s confession of his past, referencing how he admired Shannon and yet it seemed she admired someone else. Heavily implying that person is Battler.

-Shannon during the first game was surprisingly willing to let Battler grope her, shocking for someone who is already so much in love with George...unless she had feelings for him in the past.

-The first person we see try to help and reach out to Kanon is Battler.

-Kinzo is said to have acted more open around Kanon when others weren’t around. Almost like he were talking to someone he cared about.

-During their final confrontation with Erika, as she introduces herself as the 18th person, Battler and Beatrice correct her as the 17th. Implying that two of the people in the group are in fact one person. Much like how Shannon and Kanon are treated.

-I don’t think that in whatever the original murder was- Sayo was the killer. In the character tab of Episode 6- you can kill off ‘Erika’ and get a message saying that her body wasn’t found after the ‘Rokkejimia Explosion Incident’. Implying that something made the island explode.

Or Tl;Dr-

I feel like an insane man piecing together pieces in the dark and I still don’t feel like I did a good job. 

[kyriat-stories]

- Mother, it might not be such a bad idea, Prince Heraklis whispered.

- You can’t mean that, Herakli! I want to slow down your brother’s libido, not kill him!

- I know mother, but this way he can get some real experience, it will do him good, and he don’t have to fight in the battles directly, he can just lead from a distance. And he will come back as a hero.

- Is it something you believe your brother would consider doing voluntarily? The Queen asked, after some thought.

- Yes, I believe so. Ifiklis is well aware that he is not very popular amongst the public, and the limitations that poses to the way he can rule. A chance to be perceived like a hero, I think he would grab it with both hands.

- Then you talk with him Herakli. Preferably in a way that makes him believe it is his own idea. If he leaves, it will buy us some time. If he stays, we will implement the law at the next esembly.

Prince Heraklis didn’t waste any time, and brought up the issue as soon as King Ifiklis was back from his visit to the soldier camp. He had brought Captain Tryptis with him to underline the military facts.

- ... and the army will need some real leadership, he emphasized while counting the swords in the armory, and it would be a true heroic action for Manthos and our future!

- I was thinking to volunteer myself, Heraklis said, I mean, the thought of returning like a true war hero is very alluring. But then I thought I would have to ask you first, just in case you wanted to take charge yourself. I mean, you are the King after all and I wouldn’t stand in your way.

- Hmm. Good thinking. I actually think that I, as the King, should do that. I also have more experience than you, so it is evident really. It will be hard convincing mother and Memilia but...

- I will help you with mother, if you convince your wife.

- Thank you for your support, brother!

A few days later the big buzz at the Agora was that the King himself would go to lead the troops in new battles.

- That was a solution I didn’t see coming, Simadhne said. Can you imagine! Sending your own son to a war...!

- Maybe she felt that she didn’t have a choice? Kyria Figaleía asked rhetorically. It would seem easier just to implement a law, but I don’t know. I can’t figure out how these people think, to be honest.

- What worries me, Sapfo said, is that this doesn’t solve anything for the future. One day he will be back.

- I for my part hope he never comes back. I’m sorry, but that’s honestly how I feel. Noor said with intensity. And now excuse me kyries, I’m going to have a chat with sister, whom I never see anymore.

- Noor, my dear! It’s so good to see you!

- Finally! It’s been too long! I hope you have time for a long chat, because I have so much to tell you!

- Actually I don’t. I’m so sorry! Teterius needs this text by tomorrow you see, and my mother in law is not well, and I just have too much to do! We will catch up later I promise!

.

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[fevredayz]

June of Doom: Day 1 "You don't want to do that" -locked door

Each step echoed against the cool cobble concrete walls of the dungeon. Kyrie clutched her necklace tighter the deeper she went, walking past empty cells on both sides. 

It was chaos less than a day ago. Nero had gifted Kyrie the necklace after her performance for the ceremony then his arm flashed blue and a man in red fell from the ceiling. Said man killed Pope Sanctus and some of the guards only to be halted by Nero's intervention. The man in Red escaped while Nero… was detained.

Why, she wondered as she turned into a darker hallway. 

Nero committed no crime save for some property damage which,  given the already dire situation, was of little matter. It was not Credo that ordered for Nero's arrest but his colleague: Agnus. 

What was that blue flash, she thought, Why did the man in Red look so much like Nero?

Kyrie demanded  that Credo tell her where Nero was held and what crime he commited for such treatment. Her usually stern and eloquent brother stuttered while answering as if he was also shocked. The dungeons at Fortuna Castle,  he said, Agnus said that no visitors are allowed.  

Like that would stop me,  Kyrie thought bitterly.  Nero was really rubbing off on her. 

She heard the rattle of chains at the furthest cell in the dimly lit hallway. Picking up her pace she walked towards the cell and peered inside only to see Nero, blindfolded, shackled, and collared to the floor of what it seems to be a pentagram glowing an amber colour. When she called his name, Nero perked up his head to the direction of where she was standing outside his locked cell. 

"Kyr-" he started, only for him to suddenly jolt and convulse on the floor, opening his mouth as if to scream but with no sound coming out. 

"You don't want to do that," came a distant voice. Kyrie turned her head to see Sanctus, alive and well. She held in her shock as he strolled up beside her, watching Nero wither in pain for the following minute. To Kyrie, it felt like hours. 

"Young Nero is unwell, " Sanctus explained as he watched Nero take in his breaths, "his fight against Dante cursed him to have that arm. "

Krie knew that was a lie. Nero's arm had been in a cast for the past weeks. Dante is a recent development.  With a poker face,  she asked,  "Then why the chains and collar? Nero is no dog or criminal,  he's a human."

Sanctus turned to her and smiled. Something that she once knew to be warm felt cold and evil. "Nero is possessed by Dante's demonic minions. All those… accessories are merely for Nero and our safety." 

Lies.

"Agnus will cure him soon." She needed to get Nero out of there. 

"For Nero's health, " he turned and started walking down the hallway,  gesturing for Kyrie to follow, "let us go upstairs and pray to the Saviour."

She glanced at Nero,  all chained and sweaty, and silently promised to come back for him after figuring out a plan quickly following after the old man. She heard the chains shake but if Nero said something,  she was too far away to hear it. 

She saw,  however, a flash of Red quickly pass one of the dungeon windows. 

[devilmayfamily]

Healing Nero

April 30th 5:45 pm

I stood at the doorway of the garage as I watched Nico and Nero work on the van. The late spring heat was setting in, Nico having pulled the garage door up a quarter of the way to let some cool air in.

The van was coming along nicely. Sure it still had some issues but it was drivable and that's what mattered.

The smell of Kyrie's cooking soon filled the doorway, the girl herself calling out for everyone.

"Come in you guys! Dinner is ready!"

"In a bit!", Nero yells back.

Nico rolls out from under the car, sitting up on the scooter. "Better hurry. I might save you some, probably won't though", she tells Nero. "Come on sista, let's get in here," she says, tapping my shoulder as she passes me.

I laugh as she skips in past me, shaking my head in amusement. I look over at Nero again, finally stepping out of the doorway and over to him.

"You should go eat", he says.

"I'll be fine. Besides mister, you can't sit out here the entire time either", I reply.

Nero rolled his eyes, trying to hide the smile spreading across his face.

"Is it almost ready?", I ask, gesturing to the van.

"Almost, but not quite", he replies.

A shadow crept up behind us as it was cast on the van. Slow footsteps and slight growled breathing followed as we both turned to the garage door to see a hooded figure standing just beyond it.

"You need something?", Nero asked it.

There was no real reply besides the growls and heavy breathing that continued.

"What is it, you hungry? Well, you're in luck pal. Foods ready and Kyrie always makes too much", Nero says, stepping down from the stool and kneeling to put the tools he was holding back in Nico's box.

The figure, still not speaking only stepped closer to Nero. I stepped closer to him as well, nerves of the figure as it approached.

"Hope you like loud talkers too 'cause we've got two of them", Nero continues, unaware of the figure's presence creeping closer to him.

I tugged on Nero's sleeve, trying to get him to stand up. He looked up at me before standing to finally face the mysterious figure. Slowly, Nero stood in front of me, pushing me behind him.

"You see something you like?", Nero asked.

I was holding onto his arm, noticing the blue glow emitting from it now that the figure was closer. Nero looked down at his forearm as well, confused.

"What the hell?" He quickly looked back up at the figure. "You a demon?"

"Nero! The food's getting cold! What's going on you two?", Kyrie yelled out to us.

"Kyrie get back inside, now! Both of you go!", Nero yelled, pushing me towards the garage door leading inside.

In one quick movement, I watched at the figure grabbed Nero by the arm and flung him across the garage, Nero hitting one of the racks and falling to the ground.

"Nero!", I yelled, running over to him.

"No, get inside", he croaked.

"I'm taking this back", the figure said, holding out Nero's arm.

As Nero looked down at where his forearm once was, he cried out in pain as blood began to gush out of the severed appendage. I grabbed a nearby cloth, holding Nero still as he could be as I tried to wrap his arm.

We watched as the figure left through a portal, Nero screaming out at the figure. His screaming was no use however as the figure left.

Blood pooled around both of us as Nero began to lose consciousness from the blood loss.

"Stay with me Nero, you're going to be ok, I promise", I said, tying off the makeshift bandage.

Nero started to go limp in my lap as Nico and Kyrie ran in.

"Nero!"

"I leave you guys alone for two minutes, what that hell happened!?", Nico asked.

Nero however takes one more breath before his eyes close and he goes unconscious. I leaned down to hear for his breathing, which thankfully he still was.

"We need to get him inside, help me", I say.

Without another word, Nico kneels down and helps me pick up Nero, carefully carrying him inside the house. We set him in the bathtub, Kyrie running and bringing back proper bandages and medicine to cover up and clean his wound.

With shaky hands, I did my best to clean and dress the wound, closing it up and wrapping bandages around it. We'll need to get him to a proper hospital someday but my basic stitch skills would do for now.

As I finished, I felt tears begin to roll down my face, a quiet sob following.

"Hey now, why are we crying?"

I looked over to see Nero's eyes only slightly open, the boy groaning as he tried to sit up.

"Oh thank god you're alive", I say, most of my nerves subsiding. "Lay back down, you need to rest." I gently push him back down.

"In the tub?", Nero asked.

"Unless you want to bleed out on the couch", I reply.

He and I both chuckled, glad to be able to find some light-heartedness within the chaos that just happened.

Nero reached out with his left hand, cupping the side of my face and wiping away a tear that fell.

"Come one sweets, get me to the couch and we can figure out what the hell just happened", Nero said.

"How about I get you to bed so you can rest first?", I ask.

Nero rolled his eyes but nodded.

I help him out of the tub and into his room. On the way, Kyrie gave us trays, dinner, and some pain meds for Nero.

"I'll be ok, you don't have to hover", Nero jokes, as I sit next to him on his bed. We'd finished eating and I gave him some meds for his arm.

"I care about you too much not to", I reply.

Nero smiled, slowly closing his eyes. "I think I'll rest for a bit. Don't stay too long. I'm sure Kyrie will need you at some point", he says.

"I won't, I promise", I reply. I lean over, placing a kiss on his forehead. "Rest easy bud, we'll get him when the time is right."

[awkwardgtace]

prompt 84

ty anon! I did more melody and Kyrie. the two still sort of adjusting after he grew so much. Prompt List

Honest Fear

Melody hadn’t actually spent much time with Kyrie since everything happened. Before she could kind of ignore it, but now he was so big. The idea of him actually holding her up by his face made her panic. She’d never mentioned her fear before, it didn’t seem worthwhile. Now he isn’t comfortable most of the ways she could stay on land.

She sucked in a deep breath before heading outside. She had to face him eventually. It wasn’t fair to avoid him, not after how close she’d come to hurting him too. She started to fidget with the cuffs on her hoodie, she didn’t want to do this. She walked to the edge of the cliff, sitting down and waiting. He’d be showing up soon enough.

Just as she expected his head appeared slipping just above the water. His eyes were just visible above it, but she could tell when he saw her. He lifted himself up more, already hovering high above land. As he came closer she just imagined him picking her up, holding her close, and how far from the ground she would be. His shadow cooled the air around her before he finally stopped approaching.

“Melody!” he smiled. 

He was hiding his teeth still, she wasn’t exactly unhappy about that. A smile up at him before his huge face lowered. He pressed his nose against her knees. She missed being close to him, even when he terrified her. Even when she terrified him, she couldn’t believe she didn’t. What her voice could do was terrifying.

“Hey,” she whispered. 

He chirped, sending the vibrations through her. It was nice and familiar. He chirped a few more times before his hand appeared near her. She could do this, she could let him near her. He brought his fingers close, setting them against her back. She leaned back, showing a bit of trust in him. He made a noise not quite like a purr before putting some pressure behind his fingers. She was held against his face.

Melody didn’t make a move to free herself. She could do this. She could let him hold her, dozens of feet off the ground. The only thing beneath her his hand… That was safe, she would be safe. She could feel the pressure increase as he started to lift his face up. It would be fine, she would be fine. As soon as her body started to leave the ground she lost her composure.

“Stop! Stop!” she shouted. Kyrie chirped around her, but let her go. She was panting on the ground staring up at him as he shuffled lower. She could see the guilt on his face, he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Sorry… I’m still too scary?” he whispered. She couldn’t make words work. The idea of him holding her with how high his face was seconds ago just overwhelmed her. She needed this to stop. “I can leave… Another day I’ll come back.”

He started shifting. It wasn’t an easy process to leave from the cliff anymore. She knew how much effort he put into being near her. She could do this, he wouldn’t hurt her… He wouldn’t drop her.

“N-No… I’m sorry,” she said. He froze, the huge blue eyes staring at her. Sometimes she hated how hard they were to read. Other times they were more clear than a puppy’s. He looked almost too excited that she stopped him. “You’re just… big and… and really high up.”

Kyrie chirped his curious chirp and came close again. She tried not to move too much as he rested his face near her. She’d never felt this small in her life. A part of her liked it. Liked not feeling like she was too much. It just hurt that she couldn’t just be normal. She had a weird voice that could control people, a family she barely spoke to, a history of nightmares sadly starring the people around her, and worst of all.. A fear of heights.

“Just too fast?” He sounded excited. Sadly she had to shake her head, she couldn’t get away hiding it anymore.

“No that wasn’t it. Well it sort of was, but not entirely,” she mumbled. She started to chastise herself, she just had to tell him. Spit out the words and deal with it. “I’m just.. Oh fuck it. I’m scared of heights!”

Her voice seemed to echo despite the open air around them. Kyrie didn’t make a sound, he didn’t move. All she could do was wait as those solid eyes stared down at her. She considered running back inside, waiting until he realized what she said and laughed at her. She sat at the edge of a cliff most of the time, but she was afraid of heights. Eventually he nudged her with one of his fingers.

“Heights… like too tall? Am I too big?” She stared at him with wide eyes. He looked like a kicked puppy this time. She didn’t know how to tell him things. It was her fault, she was the one who treated him like a monster.

“No… sort of. Just being up with how high you go now it’s… I’m scared. I can’t explain it, just being that far from the ground is terrifying.”

“Oh…” 

He pulled away from her. The presence she did want around was disappearing and she couldn’t stop it. All she could do was watch as he pushed himself with all his strength back into the water. She hugged herself, annoyed that she fucked up again. She always seemed to make things worse.

“Good job, I couldn’t just tough it out…” she complained.

Melody climbed to her feet, making a promise not to go near the cliff again. It just wasn’t possible for her to stop messing up. She didn’t take more than a step before a loud splash sounded. Kyrie had come back, but came out full speed from the water. She ran down towards the beach where he set his arms on the sand. He rested his head on them and smiled a big toothy grin down at her. It made her heart skip.

“This is better right? Not high up anymore!” he said. Silence settled as she realized exactly what he meant. He’d rather lie on the beach to spend time with her even when they both knew it wasn’t that comfortable for him anymore. She started to laugh. He was too nice, too kind to her.

“Yes, this is a lot better… Thank you Kyrie.” she said. 

He chirped the happy ones she’d started to miss. She made her way to sit across from his eyes, something she couldn’t do before. There was enough of an incline she could now with his new height. He reached out a hand, carefully wrapping huge fingers around her. They were covered in cold water, but his skin was warm. She leaned into his touch, using the bits of water to draw shapes on his fingers with her own. They spent the day just enjoying being near each other, getting used to the differences they had to face between them now.