poisonedblood | (no subject)

[ ... Ah... he's...

How long has it been, since he began this farce? Over twenty years. Over twenty years of uncontrollable madness he couldn't possibly hope to curb. No one to stop him. Kachess had... been taken out of the picture. The key, he'd thought, was no longer a problem. How wrong he'd been. Surely, no one else would know to kill him, nor want to...

... He'd stolen a lot of women. He'd defiled so many women, all of them undeserving of the crime he inflicted upon them, yet so happy to receive it, because that was what Lust did. Lust...

Are you really going to just die? Don't you deserve a chance to be loved, too?

.... Loved... yes, he was... so very loved, now, wasn't he? And he had so many beautiful children, though so many he could not keep, like the wives he'd come to cherish with an almost fervent belief that this was how it was meant to be. It was everyone else who couldn't hope to understand his concept of "love"... he had been treated so poorly, and so, he simply desired to treat everyone else... better... yes, better than any husband or parent or friend would have treated them, right?

He's a monster, he's aware. A beautiful monster, however, that can be seen, loved. He'd done much for Asmodean... he'd made it such a successful country, and they were well on their way to, he thinks, possible separation from Beelzenia. As Duke, the economy had flourished. He had worked so hard for their relationships with other territories and countries, as well... he'd done good, right? So it was okay he did what he did, wasn't it?

... And then the light of his life... his most precious daughter. She was the only child he had like that. The only one. She was... so special... he'd been so careful with her, guarded her so closely, wanting her only to be happy and not suffer as he did. He made sure everything she could want she had. But he had to protect her from the truth, as well... yet he'd failed, somehow. She'd found out--she must have, for she'd disappeared. What he'd hoped was originally mere rebellion ended in... betrayal. Lies. Pain.

Ah, but do lies not beget more lies? Does pain not beget more pain? He is... at war with himself.

He has always been at war with himself, since the moment he was told--

Just leave everything to me...

Was he... was he not a good enough husband? He only wanted... to be loved... he wanted what his brother had. His brother, who would have killed him. They... all... hated... him... and, his love, who would have hated "Cherubim," surely, was happily wed now to "Sateriajis"... was his daughter not the evidence of how he loved her so? Born a monster... what other choice did he have?! This was... this was... it was fine, right? He's fine, right...? And he isn't sure if it's rage or pain that skews his features, as he feels the pain of being stabbed in the heart, in more ways than one. ]

... But... Tria... why?

[ Anguish. Confusion. A long tormented sort of gaze is what he levels at her, shaky though it is. He... loves her so much... why, why can't she see...? ]

I...

[There are tears. She takes a few shaky steps back. She looks... Horrified. Did she... Really do that? To her own father? She'd... She couldn't have, she... he looks so betrayed. Confused.]

I... I had no choice, I--

[No. She'd always had a choice. It was just easier to think she didn't have one, wasn't it? But now she's facing the consequences. She's... Her father, her beloved father, is dying. He's a monster and probably deserves it but he's dying and it's her fault. His blood is literally on her hands.]

I-I'm... I'm sorry.

[ Ah... being a demon means he's going to be... dying for longer than he'd like to be... Bloody, broken, he will... fall to his knees, and let out a bit of laughter, or a cough, or perhaps both. He must sound quite mad. ]

There was... always a choice. But there also wasn't, because you're my daughter... my beautiful... little girl... you could do no wrong. You did what was... right. ... Right...?

[ He... loves her so much. He does. Ah, he does... he's so sorry, he's... ]

I'll... tell you a story, Tria. ... Remember, when you were younger? You always asked me to read to you... got it from your mother, I'm sure... ah, she's... not going to handle this well...

[ Maybe... mm, yes, the sword, he can... he'll fix it later... he won't let his mistakes kill her, too. Or his daughter. ]

[she's sobbing now. It's all hitting her at once. she really did this. She's... ahahahaha. She's going to come kneel before him and hold him. And sob into his chest. She doesn't care that she'll be covered in blood. What had she done, what had she done?]

I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry

[ ... He will bring her close to him and brush a hand over her hair, gaze gentle and affectionate--a father's, despite it all. ]

... Shh. It's okay. Be... a good girl. Just listen.

[ He loves her, so very much. And then, voice a quiet sort of whisper, he will begin his little story: ]

Once upon a time... there was a very powerful dog. The dog wanted a strong son to continue his legacy. He and his lovely wife, a beautiful bird, had a child. But... their child wasn't what the dog expected... he was a small little monster with two heads. The bird flew away, leaving the child behind... she couldn't bear what she had brought into the world.

The dog, blaming the monster for simply being a monster, punished it. He refused to give it a name, and so he began locking it in the same room... but, the monster didn't mind. It was a monster, after all. And a monster is still a monster, even if it's nice...

[ He will--wince a bit, but, no, she should know this... ]

[She'd hear this story so often as a child. It was such a sad story, but she had liked it. She remembers that. He'd... Stopped telling her, a long time ago. She will just continue to sob into him, not knowing what to do. Listen, he said. So listen she does, because she can't even find words anymore.]

[ It's a little different than she may remember. As a kid, he'd said that the dog eventually realized the error of his ways and apologized, and in the end, the monster found a lovely cat, and they lived happily ever after, having a beautiful child... this is different. ]

That doesn't ever change, Tria. When a monster is born, its only purpose in life is to be a monster. And you know, this one spent so long in that room, because the dog hated him. One day, the dog's servants decided to give the monster a name. Because he had two heads, they thought it would be an amusing joke, if they named him "Cherubim". Angel. Angels with several faces...

[ He'll close his eyes, here, smiling a bit sadly. ]

But he liked the name. Because it was a name, and it wasn't just "monster" or "demon". And one day, the dog had a new wife and a new son and his new son was a beautiful thing... a happy one... even though they were brothers, the monster was never allowed to see anyone. Anything. But he got lucky. The little dog became curious. His brother helped him... convinced his father to let him become a servant.

[ It's hard. It's hard to continue. But she should know the truth... ]

And one day they met a cat together. But the cat and the little dog were supposed to be married... well. The monster loved her, but she didn't like him very much. One day she decided she hated him, in fact... and... the little dog began to resent his brother... they turned against each other, jealous over the cat. In the end, the little dog wanted to kill the monster.

... The monster spent most of his life being a monster, being hated just for existing... it was his fault, after all, so much was wrong for the older dog, wasn't it?

[ He'll... laugh a bit. Cough. ]

You know, Tria... he didn't really get a happy ending. The monster finally decided that, if everyone wanted him to be a monster, truly, he'd show them one... so he killed them all. Every last servant, every last person... even his brother... and he was going to finish with himself, you know. "Cherubim"... "angel"... a fallen angel... who'd spilled blood, now... but something... happened...

[ Obviously, she should guess WHAT, while he inhales sharply. ... Was his blood always that venomous purple? ]

[She listens, and there is something so very wrong. The red had changed into a terrible purple. Ha... Isn't that what his favorite color had been? She's... Starting to understand. And it just makes it worse.]

...S-So he was found or... Or given something and... And he took the little dog's place.

[She understands now. And it hurts. She can feel her heart tearing itself to shreds. She'd made a mistake. A terrible mistake. And she can't fix it now. All the little pieces that had been obscured are becoming clear, and she's realizing: no one wins. This wasn't her silly, childish stories where there's good and evil and the former always wins and everyone is happy. They're just words. When her father is found out, she'll... She'll lose everything. Will her mother even know who she is? And the other women, who have lived so long in a daze, under his spell... what of them?]

... He was offered a sword... and the demon that lived in that sword... pitied him enough to offer him power, in exchange for his soul. The ability to... be loved... to be that little dog. All he had to do was give it something... he figured he didn't even have.

[ After all, why would a terrible monster need a soul? It hurts so much, but he doesn't care. He will say what must be said... he will do what must be done. He cannot die yet. He is not allowed... to die yet... ]

... I love you, but... there's nothing you could have done any differently. Because no matter what you do to the outside... a monster is still a monster, and it will always be a monster, no matter how it behaves... to try and act any differently is foolish. The only thing he could do is trick everyone... maybe even himself. To tell himself, even briefly, maybe even something... as hideous as... he was... could be loved...

You're wrong, you're wrong!

[She's saying it without thinking, holding him tighter. Maybe, maybe, if she holds him tight enough, he won't die. He'll live and things can go back to how they were and that terrible woman won't ever bother her again.]

You are loved! You are! Because I love you because you're my father and-- And--

[And I made a horrible mistake. I want to take it back, I want it to have never happened.]

[ .... He'll... run a hand through her beautiful hair, smiling. ]

You love me due to obligation. You love me because I made sure you would. ... But, even though I am a demon, I do love you, and your mother, you know... you're... the only good thing I brought into this world, with my horrible gift. I... won't let you suffer because of me... somehow, a monster gave the world an angel... and I don't want to see her wings torn away.

[ He will... remove the sword from his belt. It's all he has left, at this point. He will make sure she's separated from him, then... he'll take it and, one last time, plunge it into his body.

... It hurts, yes. This time... this time won't be like last time... purple spilling all over. He will... take one hand and reach out to her, brush her cheek with it... and the colors of her eyes will change to a beautiful brilliant blue, instead. Her hair is green... she could pass as someone else easily enough. The women... won't remember her being his. He still has power enough to make sure of that. And they ARE connected to him until it's all gone, so he can do that. And he can make sure her mother... remembers having her, with someone else... so she... won't be alone...

The Demon of Lust is amused by his desire. Sure, why not? In the end, Venomania himself knows he's not going anywhere, not when his soul is already in the hands of Lust itself. And... that's it. He can't recover from this, the sword will only help him a little. His power is leaving him completely with that blood, red and purple mixing together. Poison... nothing but poison...

And, just like that, his visage is broken, like his enchantments; he can't pretend to even remotely look like his brother anymore, though he'll at least let his hair down so the awful... mark of his being a monster isn't visible. He will choke and cough, but smile. He's... this was all that could have happened. It had to happen... ]

[No. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no he can't be doing this he can't be dying he can't be leaving her. Even as he changes her eyes to a beautiful blue, she will... Hold him close, sobbing as she does so. She... Doesn't care what he looks like. He's wrong. It's not obligation. Not because she has to. He was... So good to her.]

Don't leave me. Please.

[ ... He's... not got long, no. That key is... impossible to be rid of. It's--the only thing that could kill a demon, a Vessel of Sin. Hah... how clever... to get it again... ]

... Demetria. Your mother is going to... need your help... shouldn't you go make sure she's okay?

[ He doesn't really want her to see him die, ahahaha. It's... he's so tired. Maybe that awful, insatiable feeling will finally leave, with this. ]

She... needs... you.

I need you.

[It's not fair it's that horrible woman's fault it's all her fault. But Tria refuses to leave. She wants to be with him until the end because she... He doesn't deserve to be alone, at the very least. He at least deserves to know someone loved him enough to be there.]

...I don't know what I'll do now. I... I always had you guiding me.

[ ...... He will sigh. ]

You... have to do things on your own. I manipulated you, Tria. I did it on purpose. You need me like you need a hole in your head.

[ He does love her, he does, but he wants her not to dwell on him... ]

B... esides... it would've just... kept... happening...

[ Because he... can't stop. He couldn't ever hope to stop... he's... so tired. Most of his blood must be on the floor by now, rather than in him. He's barely breathing. Every word is a struggle, enunciated poorly, a sort of half-whisper. Being stabbed in the heart does that, and he only deepened the wound, really, when he used the blade, but it would inject enough Bloodlust back into him temporarily so he could... do what he needed to, for her... ]

Be your... own woman. Take... care of... your mother...

[ ... He can't do anything anymore. The last thing he does is... make sure he's falling downward, so that no one can see his face. No one... can know... that the monster on the inside... matched the outside, too. ]

[She screams her throat raw after he's gone. And she sobs for a long time. It's... Really only luck no one finds her. Her mother must be looking for her. It takes a little bit, but finally, finally, she's able to leave him. But he doesn't leave her, not entirely. He never will, and his death will haunt her. Weeks, years even. She and her mother will "return" the Elphegort. They will live there and eventually, things will settle. Gumina will marry. She will have a younger sibling. But nothing erases or truly eases the pain. She spends a lot of time alone and being quiet, in places where, if she needs to, she can just break down and cry. Because even as she gets better, even as she comes to function afterwards... It's still her biggest regret.

Demetria will never truly recover from the events that took place in her old home that night.]

[ ... He might be dead, but he watches. He can do that. She... has bloodlust in her... so, someone like him can... at least do that much.

There are little things he can do. Tiny, tiny things. Try his best to make sure she's at least able to recover... and oh, he tries. He does try.

And, one day, she might find a purple rose on her bed. In fact, every week, she might find some kind of purple flower somewhere nearby. It's really not much, but... he forgives her. Really... he does... but it's hard to even find the dreams of someone so deeply affected as she was. If he can't get there, he can't hope to help her...

The best chance he has is on the anniversary of the event itself; that's all he can do. And finally, finally, he is able to find her dreams--it is certainly exhausting. For someone without a soul, projecting like this is... well, hard, but he has to... for her. It's a simple thing, holding a purple flower for her, but... she should know. He can't exactly think of where to begin, this is all his fault... ]

[She didn't expect him. But here he is, offering her a flower. She quietly takes it, and already the tears are starting. She just doesn't realize it yet.]

...Father.

[ ... He has to do something. He has to... she can't live like this. ]

... You can't go on living like this... just because of me. You deserve better than what you're doing, Demetria.

...I'm lost without you. I don't... Know what to do anymore.

[And it hurts. She wants to scream. Why does no one else miss him? All she hears is how terrible he was, how he was a demon, a monster, but no... she has so many memories of him that are good. Like when she was little and there was a big storm, he'd bring her to sleep between him and her mother so they could protect her. Or the time he took care of a scraped knee. Or how he bought her new books every birthday and pressed a flower between the pages--a new one every year, and then he'd tell her about it and they'd sit under a tree or by a window if it was raining, just the two of them.]

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Ending Path 1

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Ending Path 2

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