Vergil's heart game r5

[idolpro]

You feel weak, your body won't move no matter how you try, and you are falling, away from everything you know and love. Away from everything you need to accomplish. If you could just reach out, maybe you could hold on to it, claw your way back. But it's a useless endeavour, you fall unconscious, and your mind goes blank except for poetry and a familiar voice.


O mother Enitharmon, wilt thou bring forth other sons?
To cause my name to vanish, that my place may not be found,
For I am faint with travail,
Like the dark cloud disburden'd in the day of dismal thunder.

My roots are brandish'd in the heavens, my fruits in earth beneath
Surge, foam and labour into life, first born and first consum'd!
Consumed and consuming!
Then why shouldst thou, accursed mother, bring me into life?

You wake on the ground in a cave, cold, wet, and sticky. It smells of rotting flesh. Your objective is clear, but you can't recall a name or face. Nothing else about your memory of him is changed, but for some reason the name "Vergil" just won't come to you, and you couldn't describe how he looks if your life depended on it. But at least your body starts to respond to your will, slowly regaining enough strength to carry on.

Comments

LIBRARY

[idolpro]

"Father, father, where are you going? O do not walk so fast! Speak, father, speak to your little boy, Or else I shall be lost." The night was dark, no father was there, The child was wet with dew; The mire was deep, and the child did weep, And away the vapour flew.

You come to a broken down library within the endless, gory cave system. It's just as dark here, but by now you've gotten used to the lack of light, haven't you? Hopefully so, because there are beams and shelves strewn across the floor. In fact if you want to actually get in, you'll need to climb over quite a bit of rubble and trod on the books that have fallen with them. You'll also have to contend with the roots and branches of demonic trees that have broken through the windows and the floor.

That which is still standing looks absolutely ancient. Books so worn down they might turn to dust if you even look at them. Even with the damage there's a great number of shelves though, and standing by one with the blue glow of an ethereal sword lighting the book in his hands is a young boy.

A mirror floats near the centre of the room, a statue by the doors carrying an hourglass, and another off to one side with lights glowing in its hands.

There's a door to the south, and the opening to the tunnels north.

Re: LIBRARY

[constellationprize]

[ she probably trips over a fallen shelf. can't lie.

but once she picks herself back up she climbs her way in, doing her best to avoid stepping on too many books, in as much as she can.

and once she gets over she's approaching the boy slowly, still trying to take the scenery in ]

Um - ... excuse me...

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

This child looks to be about 10, and doesn't actually seem out of place, he certainly looks like he's been living in this world for a while. Though he's covered in dried blood and there are tears in his clothes, he doesn't appear to have a single mark on his own flesh. There's a certain wild sort of look to him, and yet, his posture is perfect, his hair smoothed back without a strand out of place... It's an odd juxtaposition.

The boy glances at you as you approach, his expression utterly cold, ready to go right back to the book. But his eyes widen with recognition just for a moment.

"...Yes?"

Re: LIBRARY

[constellationprize]

[ ... That's odd. ]

Well - I don't really remember how I got here, but there's something that I'm supposed to be doing - ... there's a person that's really dear to me, I think, but I ended up getting a little lost . . . Um -

What are you reading...?

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

Gee who could it be you're talking about, he sure doesn't know. Honestly he's relieved, and that seems to relax him a bit. This is better.

"The most powerful demon that ever lived."

There's reverence in his voice, and he even ventures to show you the passage he's on.

The world was born of darkness. Unending darkness, a crucible of chaos. But even to that primordial existence there came a ray of light. The world was eventually separated into two. The darkness became the realm of demons, and the light became the domain of mortals. The two coexisted for what seemed an eternity.

However the lord of the dark world said, "These realms were once united, so let us rule them as one." From that day forward the dark fought to control the light, and the light struggled to escape the dark.

But the nature of man is weak and fragile. They had no hope to oppose the demonic powers of those from the world of darkness. So light was devoured by the depths of darkness. But at the very moment humanity was about to be extinguished, he appeared.

Sparda, though an inhabitant of the demon world he was one with a proud soul. Having no loyalty to his kind, he took up arms on behalf of the world of light. Wielding his sword for the sake of the weak, that sword destroyed even the demon king. Without its king the darkness lost its power.

Sparda feared for the return of darkness and so he sealed that world along with his own despicable dark powers and the wicked humans who sided with the demons. The survivors worshipped him as a hero who saved the human world, and began calling him The Legendary Dark Knight. He quietly reigned over the human world and continued to preserve harmony until he eventually disappeared.

But the nature of man is weak, their memories fleeting as morning mist. The hero who purchased their freedom with his own blood became but a legend and over time, the legend became nothing but a fairytale.

Re: LIBRARY

[constellationprize]

Ah ...

[ looking over the page with rapt attention, clearly interested ]

That's really amazing, isn't it...?

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

He nods, a bit absent, still thinking about it.

"It is. But people still don't even know he existed. ...And even he failed to protect the people who should actually matter to him. So maybe he wasn't all that amazing after all."

Re: LIBRARY

[constellationprize]

The people who should actually matter to him...?

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

"Mm. All these books say things like "Sparda awakened to justice" or "a human heart beat in Sparda's chest". But he just left his family to die. He cared about humans so much, but not his own family? Or maybe they just weren't good enough for him..."

Just as he starts to look a bit upset, he shrugs. "Whatever, it's a story. What do you want? I'm busy."

Re: LIBRARY

[weenwoon]

[Why did you say "south is for vergils"

Anyway! Levity does make his way into the library, somehow. Maybe being tall helps with climbing? We can but hope so. He tries not to step on the books much, though, that's rude.

He takes in the scene within the library itself with interest, but! There's a person! Is it possible to consult the painting to see if the ｢ＢＯＹ｣ looks like anyone in it.]

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

Look at you, smartypants!! The boy looks exactly like the two kids, in fact. Being identical, it's all the same, but most specifically given his hair style, the one on the left side sure fits...

But he's a little bit older than the painting. This child looks to be about 10, and doesn't actually seem out of place in Hell, he certainly looks like he's been living in this world for a while. Though he's covered in dried blood and there are tears in his clothes, he doesn't appear to have a single mark on his own flesh. There's a certain wild sort of look to him, and yet, his posture is perfect, his hair smoothed back without a strand out of place... It's an odd juxtaposition.

Re: LIBRARY

[weenwoon]

[Hmmm! Some ideas are starting to form, and would form quicker if a good part of Levity's brain wasn't still busy processing the fact that he got murdered by grass. He finds himself eyeing the shelves warily - what if... one falls...

Levity shakes his head, trying to chase away the thought, and tries to approach the child.]

Hello?

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

Touch grass, or uh, maybe do not actually! The shelves look pretty sturdy, but then there are a bunch on the floor after all....

The boy glances at you as you approach, his expression utterly cold, ready to go right back to the book. But his eyes widen with recognition, and suddenly he looks almost frightened.

"Levity--"

Re: LIBRARY

[weenwoon]

[Yeah no thanks he's off touching grass for a while. Heart games are gonna reduce him to only licking rocks now. :(

Wow though, that's an unexpected reaction. Levity stops, his expression shocked.]

You know me?..

[(Un)fortunately, in his book that must mean that the baby = friend (though not necessarily ［ДРУГ］). But it does mean there's no need to be scared! He comes closer, giving the child a wave.]

Quite the library! Shame about the mess, however.

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

He tries to steel himself, and finally turns back to his book, just mumbling.

"It doesn't matter, demons come through and tear it all up. But eventually Machiavelli or someone will fix it."

Re: LIBRARY

[weenwoon]

[Sorry Vergil the baby is here in your heart. Wandering around. Getting murdered by grass. A Good Time.]

Is Machiavelli a friend of yours?

[He's gonna crouch down next to the kid. Too tall otherwise, but also he's kind of tired and needs to rest his old man legs.]

Re: LIBRARY

[auguryofinnocence]

A friend.

The boy shivers, and as if the same tremor moves through the shelf, a pair of books just...fall right off the shelf.

"...No. He's a famous demon scientist. You don't want to meet him. You...should probably stay in here. It's the safest area, at least right now."

[failedsafe]

She's not doing great there might be trauma to address later but she's supposed to be a survivor so she's careful not to let anything weigh on her features about dying as she looks for Vivi.

[weenwoon]

[Though he waits for a time, Lily doesn't come. Levity frets and paces around the heart room, before finally deciding to head to the library again. He really can't bring him to go back to the field - even if he wants to just see Lily again and hold her and tell her thank you and just, be safe together. And maybe bring some of that safety and comfort to Vergil, too - insofar as that's possible here. There does seem to be a lot of danger around, and Levity has to wonder how they can help him.

He looks around carefully as he enters the library - Vergil is still here, but Levity is... well, not wary or worried to approach him, but he knows that if he does--well, he knows how that would end. He doesn't mind, but he does need to hurry and find Lily.

Thankfully, with how few people there are around, she's not hard to spot at all. Levity gasps at the sight of her and rushes over to scoop her into a hug.]

Lily!

[failedsafe]

[He's scooping her into a hug but she's holding his face, checking him over for wounds or scratches or anything.]

Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you? You're okay?

[weenwoon]

[He laughs, relieved--for about three seconds before the tears come through. He loves Lily and he was so worried and it was terrible to leave her there, alone against those creatures because he's just that useless in a fight.]

I'm fine! You saved me, Lily...

[Levity is just going to hug her very tight (though not Vergil levels of hug thank god) and gently cry into her touch.]

I... I'm so glad you're safe, too...

[failedsafe]

Yeah, I'm okay.

[It's not entirely a lie. After dying you know, she's reset. It's fine. It's fine.

But her expression darkens moments after his relief and his assertion.]

No...I put you in danger in the first place. I put those demons there, I didn't think anyone would be there. I didn't think and I nearly got you killed!

[She thought she was being clever and resourceful but it was short-sighted and dangerous.]

[weenwoon]

[He looks startled at that--but then frowns, taking Lily's face in his hands gently.]

Lily, you didn't know I was there. I was not aware you were here, too. I could have done something stupid to endanger you, as well.

[...]

...I'm sorry. You must have been really scared. I did not think before wandering off, too...

[failedsafe]

That's a cold comfort. Yeah, sorry for getting you killed, I just didn't know. You still would have been dead and it would have been my ignorance that caused it!

[She looks him in the eye to try and drive the point home before looking away, ashamed.]

If anything happened to you...if I did anything to you...

[It's easy to defy in the heat of the moment, but maybe she really is just weak and pathetic. Even now. Even after everything, she still can't--]

[auguryofinnocence]

Without power you can't protect anything, let alone yourself... Certainly not anyone you love, who are meant to be able to depend on you.

The more you think about all of that, the stronger the feeling is. It makes the air itself heavy.