Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol

Kuja Decks the Halls

2009-12-20T00:06:06Z

Thank you Stat for the sign
Thank you Dru for the brandy
Thank you Damien for the necklace and flask
♥♥♥

Sweet Potato

2009-12-14T12:17:03Z

Damien:
Slowly his eyes opened and he listened carefully to the strange sounds emitting from the other side of the room. As quietly as he could, he pulled the covers off of his head just enough to peek out. Eyes widened as he saw Vere, up against the door on the floor, crying so hard. Never had he seen the man cry before. He didn't even know it was possible. Vere always seemed so tough. Still being as quiet as he could, he slid out of bed and onto the floor before crawling over to Vere and wrapping his arms around him, kissing the top of his head before laying his own head down on top of it. He wouldn't ask what was wrong. Instead, he decided to wait for an explanation of Vere's own accord. Though he already knew it had something to do with his father.

Vere:
Vere fought back the urge to shove Damien away, knowing it was anger more than anything else that made the thought cross his mind. “It’s nothing… I couldn’t avenge either of us, not in the slightest” he said as he sniffed. “I thought you were meant to be asleep, not seeing me like this.” Vere rested his head on Damien’s shoulder in his moment of weakness. “I put the cuffs on him. It was all I could do, so at least that’s something.” Vere gave a long pause not hesitating on saying what he had to say. “He has to be fed, Damien. And I can’t face him again, not yet. Plus, you can’t let him go anyway, since I’ve got the key” he said patting his pocket. “Please go and check on him” he said sadly, looking away.

Damien:
He hugged Vere tightly and reached up to run his fingers through the others hair to try and comfort him. He never was very good with making people feel better, not even himself. Thats what cigarettes and brandy were for. He pulled away and ran his index finger down either side of Vere's face, wiping away the tears, "I'm glad you didn't get your revenge." Leaning forward he kissed Vere's cheek gently before pulling himself to his feet. He crossed the room and picked up the bottle of brandy, if they were going to get Kuja to eat, this would certainly help. He then returned to the door and held his hand down towards Vere for him to take, "Come on. I can't make him do things on my own. You have to help me."

Vere:
Vere reluctantly stood, unhappy about this situation. He took Damien by the hand and wiped his eyes with his other hand, leading the other to where he had left Kuja, yet Kuja was nowhere to be found. Finally, after a little searching, the two would find him in the most obvious of spots - a large ornate smoking room with billiard tables and lounges. Making his way into the room, Vere found Kuja passed out on one of the large comfortable lounges. He went to the bar, splashed a cup of water over the snoring mage’s face, slapping his face lightly to wake him up.

Kuja:
He only stirred after the slapping, finding it incredibly annoying before waking to realising his face was cold and wet and Vere was his entire view. He was a little confused at first before he remembered everything, yet still was unsure what to make of the situation, somewhat off guard before he saw Damien was in the room as well, which caused his mind to start comprehending and thinking further, which ultimately only brought on a headache. He groaned and wiped away at his face before placing his hands back down in his lap, deciding it best not to try and sit up yet and see what they wanted. “Has Santa come already?”

Damien:
Letting Vere lead him down the halls, he held his thumb over the opening of the brandy bottle so as not to spill any along the way. He made his way to stand by the couch his father was sleeping on as Vere threw the water on him and slapped him awake. He couldn't help but smile at Kuja's reaction, joking as if he wasn't bothered a bit, though Damien knew better. "Indeed he has," he answered, holding up the brandy bottle, "And he came baring gifts." He held the bottle out towards his father, waiting for him to take it as he continued on. "Vere thinks you need to eat," he said, glancing back towards his friend, "He's worried about you. Aren't you Vere?"

Vere:
Vere took the bottle from Damien’s hands with a scornful look and put it on a nearby table out of Kuja’s reach. “He’s likely to destroy his liver at this rate, without his powers.” Vere made his way over to the nearest bar and made something while he continued talking. “Well, Kuja, it seems for all you’ve done to us, we’re here to take care of you. Do you think you can handle some food? Or do we have to force it… down your throat?” Vere came back and handed Kuja the drink, making sure he didn’t drop it or knock it on purpose. “Drink this, it will help with the headache. I’ll have to go and get some food for him” he said to Damien, and if neither of them objected, he would leave Kuja and Damien momentarily while he made his way to the kitchen.

Kuja:
His expression wasn’t all too bright when he saw the brandy, his stomach sadly hurting, but his eyes were more on Damien who seemed like he really did have candy canes for all. His eyes followed Vere afterwards as the man seemed to have every ounce of anger and hatred shaken out of him, only a mild disgruntled aftertaste, very faint within the overwhelming amount of concern he was displaying. After a few moments of looking blankly into the others eyes, he moved to sit up a little and took the drink in both his cuffed hands. He inhaled it lightly, and it smelt awful. He was still in silence as Vere suggested he would go and get food. From what Kuja could figure his best course of action was, would be to allow himself to be pampered. Though he didn’t want to eat yet, he wouldn’t object to Vere leaving the room. “I’m a little picky.” He smiled softly at Vere, with thanks.

Damien:
Damien frowned as Vere took the bottle from him. Even if Kuja didn't want any, how did Vere know that he didn't? "Hn," he muttered, moving to sit next to Kuja as Vere made his concoction of whatever it was. He frowned as Kuja took the drink and he finally noticed the handcuffs. Were they really necessary with Drucilla's spell in effect? If anything, he assumed it would only make Kuja grumpier. After Vere had left the room, he stood and moved to rummaged through room. There was much he wished to say, now that they were alone and Kuja wasn't too busy running for his life to listen. But, giving his fathers mood, he remained quiet until he found a metal drink mixer and resumed his position on the couch. "Here," he said, reaching for Kuja's hands. He set to work at picking the lock, never letting his eyes leave his work as he spoke, "I used to have to do this alot. I'm pretty good at it. I can probably have you free in a minute if you hold still."

Kuja:
As Damien went about the room, Kuja placed his drink down on the side table before sitting side ways on the couch, one crossed leg in front of him, the other on the ground, while his head rested against the lounge as he let Damien set to work at trying to pick the locks. A faint smile was upon his lips as his eyes watched Damien’s. “I’ve already tried but I’ll be eternally grateful if you could.” Kuja no longer felt any threat and his greatest concern was to not feel sick. He seemed very much relaxed now. “So how’s he treating you?” Though in front of Damien, he could still smirk lightly, wryly as he made for the small talk, in case Vere was still listening in.

Damien:
He smiled lightly as Kuja spoke, turning the mixer this way and that trying to feel for the nudges inside the tiny lock, a few strands of hair falling in his face as he tried to concentrate. His smile faded to a frown at the last bit, but more out of the trouble he was having with the lock than Kuja's words. "He treats me just fine," he answered, blowing his hair from his face, "but if it bothers you, I can stay away from him." It came to his attention that these handcuffs had no nudges. In fact, the lock was completely empty. "God damnit!" he exclaimed, angry with his failed attempt. He threw the mixer on the table in front of them, roughly, before standing and moving to the brandy bottle. "I'm sorry," he apologized before taking a drink, "I can't do it. And, you can't either. These handcuffs aren't normal. There's something about them that..." his words trailed off as he thought, leaning back against the table that had been holding the bottle, "I think they're magic or something. But... I'll get you the key. I promise. It's not fair to have you this way when you're of no threat to anyone right now."

Vere:
Vere made his way out of the room, an angered expression on his face all the way out of the room from the moment they couldn’t see him any longer. He took a deep breath in the hall and couldn’t take it anymore, punching the wall loudly, hoping after that the hours couldn’t hear. He mopingly made his way to the kitchen and made a concoction of foods, sure that Kuja would at least eat something. With an angry, worried expression on his face he made his way back to the room, trying hard to look civilised, but he couldn’t hold it any longer. He wouldn’t notice Damien trying to pick the lock, unless he continued to do so once Vere was in the room, and after making his way to the others, he handed the food to Damien. “So, do you need us to hand feed you, mighty Kuja, or do you think you can manage yourself?” he said with a cold tone. Vere was seething now, having thought about everything while he was in the kitchen and not being able to control it any longer. “You’ll have to get used to this, since you won’t have your powers for quite some time” he said with a grin.

Kuja:
He continued to watch Damien concentrate, and didn’t seem to care right now as to Vere and Damien’s affairs or his own jealousy or bitterness, all the stress washed away made him overly calm in comparison. He didn’t reply to anything Damien said but his faint smile slowly began to fall away with Vere’s return of a darker demeanour. He drew both his knees up onto the couch, seeming worried and upset now. “Please stop, Vere. You have hurt me much…” all delicately, as if he wouldn’t be able to take anything more.

Damien:
His words stopped as Vere entered the room and he was handed the plate of food before he would take another drink from the bottle and set it back on the table behind him. It puzzled him why Vere would hand it to him instead of Kuja, but he decided it was Vere's anger taking over again. Quietly he moved to the couch and placed the food on the table as Kuja curled up with his arms around his knees. It made him sad, but so did Vere's anger. He was beginning to think it was a bad idea for him to be there. Maybe he should go now that he knew his father was alright. "It's ok now," he assured Kuja, leaning forward to brush a stray strand of hair behind Kuja's ear, "Do you want to eat?"

Vere:
“He has to eat” Vere interjected, “whether he likes it or not. It’s the only way he’s going to make it through Drucilla’s spell, given the amount of booze he’s drunk and the fact he hasn’t eaten for years” Vere said, quite puzzled by the words he had never spoken before. “You have to get used to this, Kuja, because as long as those cuffs remain on, you’ll have to eat and drink like the rest of us, and while I couldn’t bring myself to beat or rape you, the passive punishment of leaving you in those chains isn’t too much for me to bare. Now eat up, or starve to death, and if you’re good, you might get to drink some brandy after you’ve sobered up properly.”

Kuja:
He could only look pitiful as Damien comforted him, though as Vere stated his claim, he had to hold back so hard from scowling or kicking something, his nails digging into himself. But he could deal, Vere could be just as easy as the last time, though it was harder feigning in front of Damien, so right this second didn’t seem like a good time. “As you wish, Vere.” He submitted and looked to the plate, though he knew his body needed it, he also knew that he would not be able to handle it. It had been years, and he hoped he would have his powers back before he would have to go through the process of trying to adapt. He seemed even more upset now as he moved closer to Damien, his fingers coming to touch against the others shirt as he buried his face in Damien’s neck. “I can’t do this… it hurts so much. Please make him remember me and how I don’t deserve this, Vere doesn’t want this, I know it…”

Damien:
He wrapped his arm around his father as he moved close. It was a rare occasion and he genuinely wished he could stay that way forever. But, Kuja's words hurt him more than anything. He didn't want Vere to remember. Ever. At the same time, he knew his love for Kuja would make him do something to fuck things up with Vere anyways. The biggest part of him wanted to burst into tears from frustration. But, he would hold back his emotion as he cleared his throat and leaned over to kiss his father on the top of the head before picking up the plate and placing it gently in Kuja's lap. "I don't want you to hurt anymore," he whispered to Kuja, not really wanting Vere to listen in, though he knew it wasn't possible for him to not, "Eat for us, ok?"

Vere: (15/12/09)
Vere tried to calm down, but he decided that Kuja was merely playing games and not really as fragile as he let on. He took the plate off Kuja’s lap and lifted a small piece of Sweet potato off the plate, placing it at Kuja’s lips nicely for the other to take. The piece was tiny and if Kuja refused to eat it, Vere would grab him by the neck and push it into his mouth. If all else failed and Kuja still refused to eat the little amount of food, Vere would slap him angrily, then turn away before Damien could react or get in the way, moving to the billiard table in anger and picking up a cue in an ambiguous manner, letting on that he couldn’t decide whether to hit Kuja with it or play billiards. At this point he would make his way over to the lounge where the two sat, billiard stick in hand and make an obvious gesture to threaten the other, pushing Damien back onto the couch if he tried to intercede. Once Kuja finally ate the food (which Vere would force down his throat if the threat didn’t work), Vere’s anger would release slightly and he would pat Kuja’s hair gently, handing the plate back to Damien, with the instruction “Feed him again in ten minutes, if he doesn’t bring it back up… not that there’s enough to bring back up.”
If Kuja accepted the first on the first or second offering, Vere’s anger would release slightly and he would pat Kuja’s hair gently, handing the plate back to Damien, with the instruction “Feed him again in ten minutes, if he doesn’t bring it back up… not that there’s enough to bring back up” at which point Vere would once again move to the billiard table, this time, portraying a more gamely intent.

Kuja:
Damien sounded so genuinely concerned Kuja felt like things would be good, but all that was destroyed when he brought the food closer. He leant back, frowning worriedly as Vere brought something to his lips. “I can’t, Vere, it’s too soon.” He said seriously before being grabbed by the neck, and as soon as the other let go he spat it back out, his true anger starting to seep out a little, especially after the slap. He glowered, his head turned before wincing and closing his eyes, trying to look pitiful, helpless again, cowering at the threat before finally the damn food was forced down his throat as he struggled, more from outrage now than being afraid of what the food could do. He finally swallowed as Vere was relentless and wouldn’t let go until he did. It felt so foreign to him, it felt awful, as he held his face in his hand, leaning over the arm rest. Anything that wasn’t liquid, wasn’t brandy, his body’s self-defence worked against him and before the substance could run all the way down his oesophagus, the brandy he had previously drunk, along with the stomach acids that started to build, burnt his insides, his throat, as he threw it up onto the floor in much pain. “Ah, god! I hate you!” He couldn’t help himself, things burning before he realised the fatal error, instantly sounding more pitiful and distraught again. “Why do you hate me so much?”

Damien:
He realized Vere's temper was growing by the second as he handled Kuja so roughly, but he didn't interfere since he knew it was for Kuja's best interest. He scowled at Vere as he slapped his father so roughly and quickly moved to wrap his arms around Kuja to offer support, glaring at Vere the entire time. It was hard to believe this was the same man who was so gentle just hours ago. But then again, he was pretty angry and it was amazing that he had stuck around this long. As Vere moved closer with the billiard stick, Damien stood to take it from him before being pushed back onto the couch. All of this was really too much. He felt he was part of some crazy torture being dealt to Kuja, and though he had wished for it many times, he didn't want that right now as he genuinely felt bad for him. Standing again, he raised his hands to let Vere know he didn't intend on interfering before moving to stand by the table containing the brandy. He took a sip and set it down gently, resting his fingertips on the table as he watched the happenings behind him in a large mirror hanging above the table. Once Vere had the food down Kuja's throat, he returned to the couch, taking the plate as it was handed to him before setting it down after Kuja threw it back up. "This isn't going to work, Vere," he remarked, reaching forward to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Kuja's ear, "he can't just start eating solid foods after years of eating nothing." Looking about, he found a cloth of some sort and wiped the side of Kuja's mouth before seating himself beside him and reaching for a grape. He placed it gently against Kuja's lips and smiled weakly, "Chew it really good this time. Just eat a little and Vere might stop being so pushy."

Vere:
“I will” said Vere, who was still, and trying to, remain calm. He moved to the plate and mashed up the softest tiniest piece of potato before putting it onto the fork as if it were a spoon. “Just this and I’ll leave you for a while” he pleaded with Kuja. “Either that or you have to drink some milk, which I don’t think you’ll like the taste of” he said clearly. Vere calmed down and sat on the other side of Kuja, still holding the fork with the potato for the mage to eat. Vere sighed heavily and let some of the tension release. “I promise, I won’t force you again, but you have to have some food or some milk or you’re going to get sick” he added. Vere looked up past Kuja now and gave a sympathetic and heart felt “sorry” to Damien, who he knew was being put in the middle. “And to you, Kuja” he said as he made eye contact.

Kuja:
He didn’t like Damien seeing his face like this, tucking his hair away and he took the cloth from the others hands and wiped at his own lips, sitting back up, uncomfortably. He frowned at Damien as he brought the grape, quite bitterly, wishing Damien would reason with Vere instead of him. He was glad Vere’s anger wave seemed to be over, though still giving shifty eyes to the food he was mashing before finally the sorry. He winced a sigh. “I appreciate the concern, but let me eat in my own time. I never said I would never eat, I said it was too soon. I promise I’ll be eating giant meals in no time for all the strength and energy I need to overpower you as soon as possible.” He nudged Vere’s elbow playfully with an attempted smile.

Damien:
He smiled to Vere as his way of letting him know there were no hard feelings before sitting the grape back down on the plate. "Well..." he started, leaning back to pull his cigarettes out of his pocket and light one, blowing the smoke the opposite direction of everyone else, "That should be good enough, then. Hm, Vere?" He leaned back on the couch, resting against the arm rest. He was feeling too tired to continue the charade anyways, what with so many interruptions during his sleep. His thoughts wondered to Vere who must've felt utterly exhausted having not slept at all, and here it was morning already. No wonder he was cranky. But, he was glad for the others effort anyway. His fathers death was not something he wanted to experience any time soon. His eyes widened and moved to Kuja, wondering if that was Kuja's plan all along. "You'll eat today, though," he informed him, now suddenly intent on seeing that Kuja was well taken care of until he could regain his power, "You can join us for lunch. Or Vere can come get you."

Vere:
Vere smiled at the two of them as things returned to nicety, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of anger that he felt towards Kuja at the moment, because he hadn’t successfully avenged himself or Damien. Still, he patted Kuja’s hair when the other spoke of eating large meals, knowing it was a lie, and smiled to Damien who was enjoying the renewed civility of the conversation. Vere stood and made his way over to the billiard table, wanting rather to leave than to stay, but deciding Damien would be pleased if they all got along, even if they were pretending. “I need to go soon, I have jobs to perform for Drucilla but I will come back to feed you” he said. “Unless there is some reason to stay of course?” he asked as he hit the billiard balls solidly, “I think it’s probably better if I left, for everyone’s sake.”

Kuja:
“Yes, that would be lovely.” He replied sarcastically, but not harshly to Damien before Vere patted him and he watched the man wander around. Vere was so unreadable to him now that he didn’t want to take his eyes off him lest he miss something. “What kind of jobs?” He teased playfully, a small smile reminiscent of his prior to losing his powers self, since he was feeling good about his small victory, or really, just being let off the hook. “Will Damien be required as well or is he not quite man enough yet for the lady of the house’s midnight services.”

Damien:
He shrugged off his fathers sarcasm before frowning at Vere's words. Why? Why was he still playing that silly game with Drucilla? If he could get a few minutes free, he would go find Drucilla himself and demand she put an end to it. Letting his eyes fall to the floor, he sulked at his end of the couch for a moment or two, turning his head so nobody would notice, and taking a few hits off his cigarette. He winced at Kuja's words and turned to glare at him, "I will have no part of her services, thank you." How he wished Drucilla's spell would wear off so they could all go home, even if it were just himself that returned. His glance moved to Vere as he watched him play for a moment. "But you go ahead," he remarked, "I hope you have a wonderful time."

Vere:
Vere finished playing a few moments later and put the stick down, bowing slightly to the seated men. “Well, I have ‘jobs’ to finish, and I’m afraid, for all you want him to be involved, these are jobs specifically for me, Kuja” he answered sternly. "I could use you for a couple of jobs, though, Kuja… maybe picking the crumbs off the floor? Surely you could keep those down. Or maybe some liquid food would make you feel better” he said, making his way to the door without explaining his implication. “Don’t show such disrespect to my dear mistress” said Vere, bitterly to Damien. “It’s her house you’re enjoying, currently, and thus, her services you require.” Vere made his way to out the door, finally going to get some rest. “I’ll see you soon, for lunch.”

Kuja:
Kuja’s faint amused smile never faded as Damien retorted and Vere threatened. Though his lips parted, gasping silently, smile spreading with Vere’s response to Damien’s snide comment. He giggled lightly as Vere left. “Aww shame, I was hoping I could watch and be entertained by your little lovers spat.” He teased Damien. “Treats you well huh? You would leave him for me, huh? It sounds more like he doesn’t really…” He bit his bottom lip, still grinning, though deciding not to continue, it was in his best interest if Damien remained in Vere’s good books. “But that’s okay, men are pigs, aren’t they? He has a heart of gold deep down.”

Damien:
Vere's reprimand made him scowl once more. What a shitty thing to say when he himself was simply playing a game. "I'm not enjoying her house at all," he muttered as Vere made his way out the door, "I'm only here for you." He kept his head turned as Kuja spoke, refusing to look back at the smirk he knew his father would be wearing. It seemed everyone in the house was against him, currently. His anger was at it's peak and was suddenly feeling very hateful. "He doesn't have a heart at all, deep down," he continued muttered, pulling himself off the couch and retrieving the brandy bottle which he carried back to the couch with him this time. He pulled the cigarette from his lips and took a pull from the bottle before returning his cigarette. "You want this now?" he asked, holding the bottle out towards Kuja, but still refusing to look at him, "Or you gonna puke again?"

Kuja:
“Aww, poor baby.” Kuja mocked heartily as Damien acted so cut before placing a polite hand up to the offer of brandy. “No thank you, dear. I’m stuffed.” He groaned lightly like an old man would before managing to get to his feet, his arms coming up as he stretched his body out high, emitting more noises before stretching his arms out infront of him and looking back over his shoulder at Damien. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Damien. He just seems sleep deprived. I’m sure you two will be all lovely dovey on the morrow. Maybe you can take him some chocolates and champagne later? And show just how much better your services are” he winked, still playful, not intentionally trying to be mean.

Damien:
Pulling the bottle back with a shrug he took another drink from it, losing himself in thought as Kuja spoke. He was coming to realize he didn't understand Vere at all. The man had more mood swings than any woman he'd ever met. He had only seen the kind side of Vere before. This new Vere, without his memories of how things should be, was more than he could handle. He took the last hit off his cigarette and dropped it into the vase he had used earlier, finally raising his eyes to meet Kujas. "You know, I'm not feeling much like talking about it," he replied, giving a forced smile, "But, it seems I have free time now. Anything you would like to do? Or should I just go back to bed?" Another drink from the bottle, then. Even if Kuja requested Damien leave his presence, he more than likely wouldn't go back to bed. That was the last place he wanted to be, the first being drunk and locked in some room by himself until Drucilla's spell ended. "Have you slept enough? Bathed? Anything, since this damn spell took effect?"

Kuja:
Damien seemed absorbed in his own world so he continued to finish his stretches. The cuffs would most likely drive him insane soon enough if he wasn’t distracted enough, for the more he thought about them, the more he contemplated maybe pulling his own hands off later down the track and heal himself after, before a whole array of beautiful other things. But he was happy, on the whole, distracted from other things, and thoroughly enjoyed the idea of Damien and Vere being his pampering slaves, and this gaiety showed as he sat back down on the couch next to Damien. “You’re never really in the mood much for anything.” He commented, one leg crossed over the other, leaning in towards Damien. “I don’t really know much about your relationship with Vere. I guess you want to keep it that way? And I’m okay, I can look after myself.”

Damien:
“There is nothing to know," he said with a slight laugh and another drink. The brandy was strong. Drucilla must have been saving it especially for Kuja. After all, hadn't she complained about it being the only thing to drink back at home? At any rate, he was starting to feel it, and was very glad for that. A few more drinks and he should be all set to wait this out with the others. Though, the thought of being locked in the mansion with any of them still grated on his nerves. "I dunno," he said, skeptically at Kuja's final words before he would lean his head on the others shoulder, "I bet its going to be awfully hard to do, well, anything with those cuffs on. But... Vere has to sleep sometime. Shouldn't be too hard to get the key."

Kuja:
He was pleased at the others little laugh before Damien rested his head against him, and he shifted slightly to make himself a little more comfortable for the other. He pondered over the others words for a moment before deciding to think aloud. “If these are off and suppose we hid them, what do you think Vere would do?” He asked, wondering. “If he no longer trusts you or feels too betrayed by you, I fear that his promise to you will be reneged. I think I might perhaps just have to deal until the barrier around the whole manor falls away… though I have a feeling Drucilla is more than keen for it to all end herself, regarding a certain pool cleaner…”

Damien:
"I don't think it's going to matter if the barrier is up or not with those on," he remarked, balancing the bottle on his knee. He remembered when Vere dropped them into his hands the day before. Even though he wasn't wearing them, and the barrier was down, he still felt like his weakened powers were nearly completely depleted. Then there was the fact that Vere was so eager to get the cuffs on Kuja, and so pleased about it afterwards. He smiled lightly realizing his thoughts. Never in a million years did he ever think he would actually want to help his father get his powers back after they were stolen away. Funny how things had turned out. He chuckled at Kuja's last statement and took another drink. "Is that right?" he asked, placing the bottle back on his knee, still leaning on the other, "You believe Drucilla might have it for Siren?" He rasied his eyebrows at this. Maybe Kuja was right. After all, they were both death things. Why wouldn't she be drawn to him. After all, who better to understand her and the things she has been through? And what an advantage this would give him, assuming he ever needed one against her. "That's quite interesting," he remarked, "How do you know this?"

Kuja:
“Oh, no, I mean, it’s best to get them off when it will make a difference. And Drucilla is interested in any man who is interested in her at this point… and Siren seems quite interested…” he trailed off, he didn’t know the creature that well, only had had a couple of chances to read him, and with regards to Siren’s feelings for Drucilla, he couldn’t be sure of anything and it annoyed him greatly. “Hnn. Didn’t you notice Drucilla’s crinkled skirt when she first came into the room?” He would have winked to the other but didn’t for the obvious. “Maybe the barrier will wear off before your week of powers is through, and the keys will be no challenge then…” he trailed off again, he didn’t sound too excited or keen for the end of all this, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell Damien about Desora. Possibly ever. “Anyway, anyway” he moved his shoulder out from under Damien’s head, looking at him. “You seem tired. And I don’t think you’ve really been kicked out and forced to sleep on the couch. Besides, I already bagsed it.”

Damien:
Damien hadn't noticed anything about Drucilla. His mood was too bad for him to take much notice of the woman. Not that it mattered, for if Kuja was correct, she had all the attention she needed. Indeed, a part of him did wish the barrier would wear off before the week was up. Drunk or not, Vere's words, his actions, still angered him. His plan to drink it away had failed miserably. He fell back on the couch as Kuja shifted out from under him causing him to tilt the bottle enough to splash some out onto his shirt. Frowning at this, he grabbed hold of the back of the couch and pulled himself up. He stood and looked around the room before his eyes fell upon a folded blanket draped over the back of a chair. After grabbing it, he moved back to the couch and placed it over Kuja before leaning down to kiss his forhead. "Goodnight then, father," he spoke the words with his lips still pressed to the others forehead before he would pull away and make his way, albiet somewhat wobbly, to the door. Stepping out into the hall, he let his hand trail along the wall for support as he made his way back to his room. He opened the door and noticed, though with no surprise, that Vere hadn't went to do anything for Drucilla, but instead had retired for the rest of the morning. Frowning he slammed the door after entering the room, not bothering to look and see if he had successfully woken the other up before walking straight through the room and into the adjoining one, slamming that door as well. It wasn't much, but he was at least satisfied that Vere's sleep was going just as well as his own had went. Payback and all that, he thought as he locked the door behind him and slid down against it to finish his bottle.

Too Good

2009-12-12T12:08:27Z

Vere:
Slinking around, he heard the sound of footsteps and words and he knew, finally, where the other was. As he made his way through the shadows and to the noise, he saw Kuja slide out of the room gracefully, and he followed, ever so quietly. Finally, as Kuja looked around in a few cupboards in a more distant room, Vere gave in to the suspense and gave away his presence. “I don’t think you’ll fit in that one” he hissed, “at least, not unless you’re cut up a bit first” he said as a blade slid out of it’s small scabbard and the sound of grating steel filled the room. Vere smiled and walked forward towards Kuja. “I bet you’re feeling really sorry for yourself now” he said, rushing forward and grabbing Kuja by the scruff of the shirt. “Would you like to beg now, or wait a bit?”

Kuja:
His heart jumped into his throat as Vere was standing right there, with a horrible threat. As soon as the blade was drawn, Kuja was fleeing before being grabbed. “Wait, please wait, Vere! You don’t understand! I’m sorry for everything, I was only trying to protect Drucilla. Wouldn’t you have done the same in my position? I’m not really a bad person. I would never have hurt you if you hadn’t of hurt my friend, and I’m sorry, I’ll never cross you again.” He said it all really rushed, trying to fit it all in, looking pleading.

Vere:
Vere chuckled heartily as the other spilled his guts instantly. “You couldn’t even handle a little bit of punishment? It’s alright” he said, letting Kuja go and sliding the scabbard back into his coat, “Damien conned me into not getting even with you” said Vere as he brushed down Kuja’s coat a little. He smiled before landing a punch into Kuja’s stomach heavily, letting the other fall to the floor, most likely. “Well, I won’t get even, but I still owe you a few I think” he said with a laugh. Vere moved away from Kuja for a second and sat in a chair near the door to block the other’s escape. “I don’t see much of a way around this, except for you getting beaten up a bit. You should be very thankful to Damien, since he doesn’t want me to hurt you too much, you got lucky there. So tell me, why shouldn’t I have some fun, pummel you a little, since he doesn’t want me to rape you… or will you offer your services” he rolled off his tongue with innuendo, “to make up for what you did to me?” Vere knew Kuja wouldn’t service him in any way, since it would be too much of a blow to his ego, so Vere waited for his answer with a coy smile.

Kuja:
Though his heart never stopped racing, a white wash of relief ran over him as Vere said thanks to Damien he wouldn’t be hurt, for it was highly believable, but something wasn’t right with Vere smiling over it. He stumbled back a little at the blow he wasn’t prepared for and sunk to one knee, clutching his stomach. Did the other even hold back at all? He frowned at him as the other continued, though it was all rather good news. He could handle a small beating and he was very grateful to Damien at this point, if Vere was telling the truth now. He continued to try and appeal and play upon the others guilt, for he knew Vere well, or at least, he once did. He moved to be on both his knees, sitting as he kept eye contact with the other, seeming completely nobly humble. “You are right, I deserve much, for I am the one who put you all in such positions.” He said regrettably. “And I am still sorry. Whatever you do to me, I will not hold against you, but I’m afraid I cannot bring myself to offer you anything of a sexual nature, though perhaps I can offer something much more significant and meaningful to you…” He looked away sadly at this point. “You like my son, don’t you? I can… give you my blessing… and you two can leave peacefully. And of course anything else my powers could provide you with.”

Vere:
Vere listened and stood at the end of Kuja’s speech, making his way over to Kuja. The offer was enticing, he could see that, but he was still drawn to Kuja for some reason and for all Kuja had done, he didn’t want to leave him and the castle. He was next to Kuja again, smiling with the same smile so that Kuja knew what was going to happen. “I don’t need permission to leave peacefully and I don’t want your blessing” said Vere as he faked a punch at Kuja’s face to bring the other’s hands up, letting him land another punch to the other’s ribs this time. “Are you sure you can handle this beating? You’ve already pleaded and now you’re trying to play mind games… what tricks will you have left after the next punch?” he asked, looking down at Kuja.

Kuja:
It had failed, he saw, his worry unable to hide itself from his expression once more before he let out a small cry, clutching at his ribs, and he didn’t have many cards left to play as he slid sideways from the pain, intentionally not trying to hold it in as he rolled on to his back. His hands were over his face, as if to hide the shame, the sorrow with perhaps the tears, his knees in the air. “Just this. I will take what you do to me to heart. You want to know the real reason why I took your memories and sent you away? Though I believe people have already told you how much you loved me, but never how much I loved you… try to remember, Vere. I didn’t take them all away, merely deeply suppressed them.” His hands moved away from his face, wiping away some tears. “Will you kiss me, Vere? Just like old times…”

Vere: (13-12-09)
He stood there stunned by Kuja’s words. He had intended on beating the other for much longer than this, but it seemed he still had some dominating tricks, even without his powers. He began to speak but stopped, unsure of what to say. “Is this… Is this why I feel so drawn to the castle and to you?” he asked. “Because part of my memories still wants it to be how it was?” Vere’s shoulders relaxed for a moment as he thought about what he should do. He moved much closer to Kuja, as if intent on kissing him, but stopped. “No. I won’t. It might be old times for you, but for all I’m drawn to you, it’s not ‘just like old times’ for me.” He readied a fist but didn’t use it, instead lurching forward and pushing Kuja up against the wall by his collar. “Why would you do it?! Why would you take my memories if you loved me?” Vere shook him and pinned him hard against the wall. “You better have a good excuse, or I’m going to have to start hitting you again.”

Kuja:
Kuja started to offer his hand for the other when it seemed like Vere was giving in. He let out another little cry as he was grabbed and pinned against the wall. Vere’s grip was hurting as his fingers clutched onto the others wrists, protesting, pleading. “Because I was afraid of you, Vere…” He looked back into the others eyes, his hand now reaching to gently cup Vere’s cheek. “You are still drawn to me, Vere? After everything…” He took a bracing breath before continuing. “I tried so hard to send you away voluntarily but you refused to leave my side, saying how our love would be able to overcome everything, all your love would be strong enough to take away all my pain and troubles… but I didn’t want you to waste your life with your soul slowly being eaten up by me… so I sent you away to live. That is the truth… and I have missed you so much… I know you don’t really want to hurt me, Vere. That is why you loved me and being with me so much before… because you no longer had to continue your never ending bloody path of carrying out justice.” He’d lean in now, if the other would let him kiss his lips lovingly.

Vere:
Again, Vere was stunned by the other’s words as they clouded his judgement from the underlying sense of love he felt towards Kuja. He wouldn’t kiss the other, however, and backed away slightly to end the situation. “I think you’re wrong about one thing. I do want to hurt you, for what you did to me and what you did to Damien. Why would you do that to him? To me, I can understand it, but to him? All he wants is to please you.” Vere’s knuckles were clenched but he refrained from hitting Kuja again. “That bloody path of justice is what I leave to this world when I’m finally gone, Kuja. Can you say that you’ll leave anything of use to the world? Have you had a positive impact?” Vere knew he was using questions to cover for the fact he didn’t know what to do and was strangely attracted by Kuja. He took a step towards him again, cautiously, as if he would lean in and kiss him, but instead turned as if to flee. “I don’t want you, not when I could have Damien. He’s far kinder and far more respectful, and for all that I’m so unexplainably drawn to you, I could never be with so vile a creature.”

Kuja:
His hands wrapped around his stomach tightly as he looked away, a faint ironic smirk with Vere’s words. Kuja had been using bits of the truth to manipulate the other, and even if it was the truth, it made no difference to the sadism he would play upon the other when he gained the upper hand of this situation that he planned on. However, Vere’s words stung, his rejection, just like the old days. Though he wanted to bring and leave Vere in a much sorrier state, he didn’t try to stop the other from leaving. Vere and Damien were lovers now, despite this being something he wanted, it hurt a lot. For all that he tried and all the pain he went through when he used to try and so wanted to be with the other, and all that Damien tried to convince him of his supportive and romantic love, it only took Damien and Vere a few days to sleep together. He was still looking away with that cynical and troubled smirk. “When I leave this world I intend on it to be very grateful.”

Vere:
Turning away for a moment, Vere pulled the cuffs from his pocket and looked down, questioning himself. He turned now and pinned Kuja against the wall, locking a cuff to his hand. “Your words are damning to everyone, but I won’t let them trick me any longer. I won’t hurt you” he said as he clipped one to Kuja’s hand, “but I won’t let you get off scott free either.” Vere forced the second cuff onto Kuja’s other hand and stood back. “I won’t hit you again, but that’s only while I decide what I should do with you.” Vere turned and made his way to the door, keeping an eye on Kuja who might attack him. “If you want to get out of those handcuffs, perhaps Damien, who you seem to despise so harshly, will let you out.” Vere looked at Kuja with sad eyes which were glazed over with hollow hate. “If you loved me so much, why didn’t you accept my love? Or Damien’s, or Drucilla’s? It seems everyone who loves you gets cut down senselessly. But we’re all still drawn to you. At least now, you won’t be able to do anything to them when they come thronging to your nectar and find they’re stuck in a web.” He closed the door, head down and made his way back to Damien, sitting against the closed door and sobbing quietly into his hands, not knowing why.

Kuja:
He cursed inwardly as the cuffs were brought out. His plan was to seduce Vere and cuff him to one of the bedposts. A last resort was the blade up his sleeve he was ready to draw, but if he slipped up he would only have brought more suffering upon himself, so he was a little relieved as Vere grabbed him first, though he resisted and strained. When let go he instantly tried to pull them off before his eyes were drawn to Vere’s sad ones. Vere, for the first time since his return, was sounding like the old Vere. He was rather impassive now as Vere closed the door and he remained staring, listening to the other wander away. He didn’t really want Vere to have his memories or his feelings for him back, it was only to save his own skin, all part of the ruse, even if, for perhaps one tiny second, he did want it. He moved to a table dresser, looking for anything to use to pick at the locks, destroying some wire jewellery before sitting down on the couch and picking away. Though he wanted to be distracted from it, his mind could not help but wonder over what his next moves could be to destroy these ever growing closer ties. All he really wanted to do was drink and party when he first came to Drucilla’s, and he didn’t actually realise before how selfish that was of him. He never realised how much Drucilla resented him for his actions against her, for he stopped craving and trying to beckon her hatred a very long time ago, which was ironic for all he tried to beckon Damien’s hatred and the boy wouldn’t budge. Such a contrary world. And of course Vere wouldn’t party with him in his current state. So now what? He threw the wire, completely frustrated and took to drinking instead, unintentionally passing out incredibly quickly on the nearest couch.

Try the Chimney

2009-12-12T10:52:23Z

Kuja:
Kuja found a large room that had a few doors to be the place he’d spend most of his time, just sitting on a couch, rather upright with his hands on his knees, staring blankly in the darkness and always listening to the silence to make sure it stayed that way. Though his mind was running wild with Drucilla’s words and the deal they had made. When this was all over would she really let him see Desora? But more plaguing, would he even want to see her? Before the last he heard from Drucilla’s messenger lips was that Desora hated him and all he had come to, hurting everyone. He couldn’t face her, he had fallen, betrayed and hurt her and her memory far too much, despite often falling to weaker moments where he would silently pray for her grace. On top was the always present fear of Vere bursting in and taking what he’s spent so long saving. Though Dru and he both knew, Balthameul wasn’t coming back, but still he must still hope, and if it was not hope, it had purely become something symbolic of his sorrow and apology to the man, the only thing he could think to do for him. Not that Balthameul would care, while he remembered old days with Vere, if he had given himself to Vere then things would be so much more different. His thoughts continued to rush through many this and that’s, what ifs and the situation at hand. He thought of killing himself but that would be so rude of him in Drucilla’s manor simply for the sake of his chastity to Bal, though most of it needed cleaning anyway, and what if no one could die here, he’d be most uncomfortable with a flopping head. Worse yet, he couldn’t have a drink.

Damien:
Damien sat upright quickly, breathing heavily, with sweat pouring off of him. It had been a long time since he had had a nightmare. And even longer since he had dreamt of his childhood. It was somewhat disturbing and his eyes scanned the room as if to make sure nobody had snuck in while he was incapacitated. After making sure there was nothing, he reached over to the other side of the bed and frowned. Vere was gone, like usual. But this time, he knew where the other had went. Flinging the blankets back, he gathered up his clothes and dressed himself quickly before patting down his pockets. “Shit,” he whispered, realizing Vere had taken the handcuffs. Though Kuja most certainly deserved what he believed Vere had in store for him, he wanted to do everything he could to prevent it. It would only destroy Kuja more and that wasn’t something Damien wanted. He quickly strode to the door and flung it open, running down the hall with his bare feet slapping against the wood floor. He stopped at the end of the hall and listened but heard nothing. There was only way to find him, and that was to check every room in the house. It would take forever, but he was willing to donate his time, this once. The first few rooms he checked were empty. No surprise, he knew he couldn’t be so lucky as to find Vere so quickly. He reached the room at the end of the hall, and just as with the others, he quietly, slowly turned the door knob and let it swing open. Immediately, his eyes fell upon his father, seeming to be in deep thought, but somewhat afraid. Turning back to the door, he closed it and locked it before making his way to lean down in front of Kuja. “You should come with me,” he informed the other, his voice low and worried, “Vere is looking for you, you know?”

Kuja:
He became so wound up in his thoughts that he only noticed Damien’s presence when the boy was closing the door. He instantly stood up and made his way behind the couch, that being enough for a safe barrier he considered as he didn’t run. He was afraid, but for once, he wanted to see the other, glad to be distracted from his own current company and to hear anything. “Come with you where?” His eyes glanced to the other doors before back to Damien, doubtful the other had any kind of helpful plan and probably brought Vere with him. “And I’m not surprised. What’s been happening?”

Damien:
Damien followed Kuja’s glance and smiled weakly before moving to lock the other doors. “For someone who is so afraid, you didn’t do a very good job of protecting yourself,” he remarked as he locked the final door. He made his way back to the couch and walked around to the back of it, hoping Kuja would stay put and not make him chase him like a child who doesn’t want to go to school. “He’s searching the house. You should come with me to my room. I doubt he’ll think to look for you there. At least… for a little bit.” He reached his hand out towards Kuja and waited for him to take it, “I’ll hide you if you want, until Drucilla’s spell wears off or until I can talk Vere out of hunting you.” He smiled and tilted his head to the side, “Besides, I bet you’d like a drink.”

Kuja:
“Stop…” He said as Damien proceeded to close off all the exists and the other would have to chase him as he always kept his distance, stepping back around the couch. Listening to the other he assumed Damien had been distracting Vere all this time and wouldn’t ask any more of it, though he wish he could know, like he normally did. He frowned slightly at Damien’s smile. “You’re such an idiot. I’m quite capable of hiding myself, and the longer you’re here or the more I see of you, I’d say they’re pretty definite chances of Vere finding me. And like I would trust you, even if not for the chance of you wanting to hurt me, I have seen you take deals as easily as a beggar takes money.”

Damien:
His eyes widened in shock as they followed Kuja around the room. After his outburst, Damien simply raised his hands in front of himself and backed away. He seated himself in a chair across the room and gave his father his space he so desperately needed. He felt so bad for him, it broke his heart to continue watching him. “I’ve seen you take deals just as easily,” he retorted, leaning back and searching his pockets for his cigarettes. Thankfully, Vere hadn’t taken them as well. He pulled one out and lit one before rubbing his eyes sleepily. This little vacation wasn’t turning out to be so great, starting with him not getting any sleep. “When all this started, wasn’t it I who pleaded with Vere to let you go while everyone else opposed you? Why would I hurt you now?” he began, his voice low and soft before he would inhale from his cigarette and continue, “And if you are so capable of taking care of yourself, why are you are sitting here in a room full of unlocked doors, staring into nothing? You’re lucky I wasn’t Vere. He would’ve had you handcuffed and bent over the couch before you even realized he was in the room. Or is that something you’re looking forward to?”

Kuja:
The more Damien spoke the less he was grateful to his presence and he made his way to one of the doors, though pausing in unlocking it. Vere probably knew where he was now, and probably waiting on the outside, how could he not know now? His best chance now was for Vere to pick the wrong door. He scoffed at the last words and paced back further in the room, rather antsy now, going back and forth. “That’s your fetish, Damien.” He said bitterly, frustrated more than anything. “And you plead a lot of things and never mean them. Open doors are so much easier to pass by, don’t you think? While I hear him coming down the corridor. His feet are heavier than yours.” He offered with more bitterness before he halted his pacing’s and faced the other. “And the more I think about it, this is all your fault. You owe me much. Much more than your own little brain can think of all by yourself.”

Damien:
He narrowed his eyes at Kuja’s words. It was absolutely baffling how his father could still be acting so coldly towards him when he was the only one in the house on his side. It angered him, but he would stick by what he believed and protect the bastard anyways. Placing his cigarette between his teeth, he stood and stormed over to his father, chasing him down if need be and grabbed him roughly by the wrist pulling him close. He leaned in with his face an inch away from Kuja’s, the smoke swirly between them, as he spoke, “I don’t owe you a god damn thing. Not. One. Thing.” He reached up and pulled the cigarette from between his teeth, and held it between his fingers, now, instead, “None of this is my fault, it is completely yours. And if you don’t want to get fucked before the night is out, then I suggest you start trusting me and let me help you.”

Kuja:
He fled and was encumbered by the locked door, naturally. But he didn’t do anything drastic while the smoke irritated him, amongst other things as he frowned at the other. He noticed something too, being this close to the other. He smelt of old sweat, his own and Vere’s. He tried a new approach instead of just making Damien angry enough to shove him up the fireplace for a hiding spot. Speaking and looking sadly to the other now, imploringly, his words hesitant. “If you have Vere now, why do you need me?”

Damien:
“You know how much I love you,” Damien answered simply, his anger slowly fading. He had his reasons for messing with Vere, and though they were quickly turning into other reasons, the same underlying one’s would always remain. But, he didn’t have any intentions of sharing them with Kuja, or anyone else, until the time came. He didn’t release his grip on Kuja’s wrist, but leaned in to kiss him softly on his cheek, before moving to whisper in his ear, “I’ll always need you.” Leaning back, he smiled weakly and nodded towards the door, “Will you please come with me? I don’t want him to find you.”

Kuja:
He drew back slightly, looking away with the soft kiss before he would study Damien’s face for a few moments. He was torn now, he wanted to be looked after and not have to worry by himself, and he was slowly realising this is kind of what he’s wanted from Damien for a while now. He had never looked to Damien before as someone he could depend upon, and now the moment was here he still could not feel assured enough, or trust him. “I… why, Damien? Surely he gives you everything you need, everything you’ve wanted. Now you’re just being cruel and selfish.”

Damien:
He lofted a brow at his fathers sudden change of heart and was worried by it. This had to be some sort of trick, but if it was, then it was Kuja who would be on the receiving end. There was no doubt in Damien’s mind that all he had to do was give the word and Vere would destroy him. But… it wasn’t what he wanted. “You’re all I ever wanted,” he answered quietly, this time leaning in to brush his lips against Kuja’s, “you know this.” He frowned suddenly, though sympathetically, remembering the situation at hand, “I don’t know why we are still standing here, talking about Vere of all things. If you really wish to discuss him, we should discuss how every second we stand here, he get’s closer to you.” He placed his cigarette between his lips and reached out to unlock the door and tug gently on Kuja’s wrist, “Let’s get going.”

Kuja:
This time he felt like he could let Damien kiss him. With that the others ideas must have brushed off him slightly as well as he was beginning to think he had no other choice, that this was his only way out. But it was so hard to give in as he stood, his body deciding for him as he remained unmoving. “I can’t. You go ahead though. Scream if you see anything.” He began to pull the others hand away. “We can continue our wonderful discussions when I next see you, which will be when I have my powers back, and…” He trailed off. Things would go back to normal, continue to go back to him resenting Damien so strongly. He hesitated, but if he gave Damien anything, like a sorry for doing to you what you’re trying to save me from, it would only encourage the other. And besides, he probably wouldn’t mean it anyway, but for this moment, he’d look into the others eyes and honestly say, “Thanks anyway.”

Damien:
“Fine,” he answered, releasing his grip on Kuja’s hand. He strolled over to the couch and laid down on his back, taking a few hits from his cigarette and blowing the smoke up into the air before he would continue. “Stay here, then. If it’s what you really want, where you really feel safe.” He rolled onto his side and reached above his head to drop the cigarette into a vase, in which it extinguished with a hissing sound. Rolling back over onto his back, he bent his knee and crossed his other leg over it before placing his hands behind his head, completely relaxed, now. “I guess I’ll just have to stay here with you. Although I do so miss that comfortable bed. And, I could really use a drink,” he hoped his words would somehow coax his father into changing his mind and coming with him. But, even if they didn’t, he had resolved to stay and make sure no harm would come to him.

Kuja:
Somewhere amidst all that while Damien wasn’t looking his way, he slipped out through the already unlocked door into the corridor, his heart racing. He could still hear Damien, which helped, if Vere was listening in against another door as he got further away. He associated Damien and Vere together, and Damien, or himself talking in general not a good thing. He would find another place to hide, probably a cupboard or wardrobe this time.

Damien:
Glancing back towards the door as no protest came, he frowned and sat up. He stared at the spot his father had been standing for some time, still unable to believe he would rather risk being raped than allow his own son to help him. “Well…” he began, rising from the couch and making his way towards the door, “You can’t say I didn’t try.” A part of him was angry at Kuja but for the most part, his feelings were quite hurt. Without glancing down the hall to see which way Kuja had run off, he simply turned and made his way back to Vere’s room, slamming the door behind him once he was inside. He picked up the bottle still sitting in the floor and took a few pulls from it, letting the alcohol warm him before he climbed back into the bed. All there was to do now was wait for Vere to return and the spell to wear off before they would all have to suffer. He pulled the blankets over his head and snuggled up against the pillow Vere had previously been using, inhaling deeply and closing his eyes.

Resurfacing Old Scars

2009-12-10T11:32:22Z

Kuja:
He turned down the first corridor, only then thinking about and being glad for not having a knife thrown into his leg, or a poison dart, Vere’s words echoing to him. He was so glad not to be chased, his chances were much more fantastic, he could hide, as long as possible until his powers returned. He wouldn’t stop running until he began to tire, which didn’t take too long actually, and he would cower in the darkness of some random room, behind a couch. A long time passed for his nerves to calm, it was so close. Vere almost had him, such a horrible and haunting idea. Finally he mustered up the courage, pressing his forehead to his knees for a moment, wincing, before very quietly getting up and creeping around. He had to find Dru… though if he felt a threat anywhere, he didn’t really –have- to see her. When he was sure and completely confident the others weren’t around and it was just Dru, he slid into her room and stealthily, from habit now, crept up behind her and cupped his hand over her mouth, speaking quietly. “How long, Dru?”

Drucilla:
*Raising an eyebrow, she bought her elbow back sharply into his ribs as she spoke behind the hand, her other hand holding onto a dress "I don't know that myself Kuja... now, since youre here, I have a deal for you." she whirled around, knowing hed be winded by the elbow, and gripping him by the hair, she held his head back " One that you'd be interested in..."*

Kuja:
With the pain he fell to one knee, one arm wrapped around his stomach, his other hand to his face, as if not wanting anyone to see him in pain before his head was yanked back and he spread his fingers. “Anything for you.” He replied dashingly from his spot.

Drucilla:
* Smirking at Kuja, she released him while speaking slowly as she folded her dress " I knew you would say that.... I believe you already knew about Siren, hmm?" she arched an eyebrow as she waited for him to confirm or deny it*

Kuja:
He got to his feet, his anxiety slowly subsiding, just being with Dru like this gave the fabricated feeling that things were normal and his interest slowly rose. “Siren… why yes, I believe I have had the pleasure of meeting his snake like and off-putting grace. Though I think you’ve received a little more pleasure from him than I have… for once.” A grin hinted.

Drucilla:
*Arching an eyebrow at Kuja she speaks slowly while shaking her head " Im sure you have, knowing you.... which is what I want to talk to you about.... I would like to give you a deal, a visit to Desora in exchange for no interference in my relationships with the.... young man..." she speaks the last two words carefully before nodding her head at kuja, her eyes turning blue slowly, as the spell on the manor lengthens*

Kuja:
He was silent for a long while, staring into her eyes, unable to read her more than what was shown, wondering what the blue was, but mostly, emotions were running through him, a whole array. Though all that showed when he spoke was bitterness. “Your betrayals to me are mounting, Drucilla. You would…” He had to control himself with every breath from lashing out, “deny me from seeing Desora all this time, all this time you had the power to take me to her, and now…” His hands had turned to fists by his side, “you would offer it to me… on the condition of me not tampering with the affairs of you and some stranger you don’t even know…”

Drucilla:
*folding her arms across her chest, she looked at Kuja quietly before she spoke " Exactly... because... I knew you always would use things to your advantage, even friendships... and relationships, interfering when you shouldn't interfere. I denied not for myself, but for the others, for her, until I was sure that you will follow this deal, and not break it, like how you’ve hurt people over the years for your own needs." she watched him grimly, before turning as a streak of brown appears in her hair*

Kuja:
His hand came up to strike her across the face with the back of his hand, but somehow, he didn’t know how, he managed to stop before it would descend. He winced, his eyes closed for a brief composing moment before he opened them, his hand slowly returning to his side. For all the pain he felt, the grievance and the situation he was in now because of her, he managed to make himself admit that it was not because of her, that he had brought it upon himself. “All right, Drucilla. Though not for me to see her, for I myself am uncertain whether I should have the audacity, but in respect of her… Even so, you could have tried asking nicely. And I wonder…” He leant in close to her ear, his words grating “don’t you think I would have been a different person if you had allowed me to see her in the beginning.”

Drucilla:
*Frowning, she speaks as she looked up, her hair slowly changing in colour " maybe.... or you’d be worse.... and Kuja... haven’t you learnt from experience that meddling with things would be the wrong thing to do? Remember Bal?" she raised an eyebrow as she turned around, kuja seeing the brunette, blue eyed drucilla of old "I will let you see Desora as much as you like if you would let me and Siren be...."*

Kuja:
She was striking all the wrong chords as he stared at her back before he stared down into those blue orbs that seemed so full of righteousness that made him sick. He couldn’t help himself now as he held her by the jaw line, a little tightly. “Yes, I remember him. Do you? Your fiancé who would go to the ends of the world for you. It’s not just because of me he shuts himself away from the rest of the world. First Asher, now this Siren… anyone who lavishes everything they have upon you, is that how your love works, Drucilla? Is that your understanding of love?”

Drucilla:
*Growling softly, she lashed out her right hand, backhanding kuja before she spoke " He was in love with you aswell if I may remind you, I do not wish to see another Bal in the progress with Siren, having to compete with you for someone, and as for Asher, he walked off and never came back after he slept his drunkenness off!" she then pushed him away before walking to the bed where the rest of her clothes were placed upon, ready for storage*

Kuja:
Bitter, so bitter as the slap stung his face, but he barely felt it thereafter as he seethed inside. But he continued, struggled to continue to refrain from hurting her, his eyes returning to following her movement. “I am changing the deal. Show me Desora and I will stop meddling with your affairs… though in my opinion, you should always belong to Balthameul. Despite whatever our relationship was, he ignored me and begged for you, at your feet, and you wouldn’t listen to him.” He was ready to leave, if she didn’t have anything worthy enough to defend herself with.

Drucilla:
*Narrowing her eyes, she silently folded a piece of something silky, small and silky before she spoke " Deal, Kuja, as soon as this spell lifts, I will send you on your way to Desora, and it is far too late for BaIthameul, and you know that as well as I do, Kuja, and I have to move on. I hated how he had feelings for you by the way." she then turned to put the things in their places*

Kuja:
He had turned and made his way to the door, his hand gripping for a moment before loosening, his head lowered. “You had no reason to… he loved you. We were never what I led you to believe… I’m sorry.” And he disappeared into the darkness.

Not quite so good as the billiard table...

2009-12-06T12:38:19Z

Kuja:
Kuja made his way back to Drucilla’s manor, appearing in one of the hallways. However Drucilla seemed to already be entertaining, and even though he could tell from a distance, he stepped up to the closed door and listened with his own ears as to the proceedings. He smirked and decided to leave it, he owed Drucilla so much, though how tempting it was, akin to the time he gate crashed Drucilla and Asher’s romantic dinner. Walking away and down the corridors he perused the home, where most still seemed to be covered in white sheets, dust and cobwebs. He eventually found the large dining room hall. His fingers held the corner of a large white sheet and with one movement he tugged and waved the sheet to dance in the air before it fell with ghost like grace to the wooden floors. His lips parted with a pleased grin before one foot climbed onto a chair and then the other onto the table to which he’d then proceed to slowly walk its lengths, his legs crossing over each other in an elaborate and stylish balancing act, his arms spread out a little while he hummed a melodic and eerie tune.

Vere:
Vere awoke after a nap and rose silently from his bed, hearing someone walk past the room. He followed the noise and made his way to a large dining room from which the slight creak of wood could be heard. He wondered if Drucilla was cleaning more, and was surprised to see Kuja striding around the table elegantly. “So, you’ve come back to us all, have you? The party just moves from house to house does it?” he asked interestedly as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “I don’t know if Dru will like you walking on the tables” said Vere from the door, where he stood with defensive body language, as if to show his distrust.

Kuja:
Kuja continued in the same manner, Vere’s presence making no difference to his objective, though he replied, watching the steps in front of himself. “Why, don’t be so modest, Vere. We all follow you to taunt and haunt, you are the party with your most fun and gay spirit.” He spoke randomly, absently before he reached the end of the table and turned on his heels, a hand wrapping around his stomach will fingers of the other held his own chin as he faced Vere, amused. “Drucilla wouldn’t mind me walking all over her, much less her tables. You should thank me for handing you over to her, as my slave, you would still be bleeding and dripping in the same room we last spent our beautiful moments together.” He smirked.

Vere:
As Kuja’s words progressed, Vere’s teeth gritted more and more, and he realised, trying to calm down. “Good to know I’m so pleasing for everyone” he said, moving into the room and sitting in one of the chairs in front of the table Kuja pranced around on. “Perhaps she would mind, but she doesn’t want to say anything, in case she hurts your poor little feelings? The few you have, anyway” he said with disdain. “You’re right though, I do have a lot to thank her for, especially after what I did to her… Not that you helped by creating the situation, but I’d hardly say you made me do it. Now stop dancing on her table, I’m the one who has to clean it. I won’t ask you again” he said imperatively.

Kuja:
He found Vere’s feelings and words highly entertaining, and it showed on his face, though he tilted his head a little to the side wondering if the other was being sarcastic or not as to his guilt. His boot slowly reached out to poise beneath the others chin, and stroked once from side to side since the other was already looking him in the eyes. “So you admit that you’re a crude and disrespecting perverted sadist.” He moved his foot back, not wanting the other to try and break his ankle. “And I like where I am, thank you very much. Or is it that you can’t handle how I’m still on top?” He winked.

Vere:
Vere’s nose twitched at the words. “Yes, well, I guess that makes two of us” he smiled. “You can be on top next time, again, but that just means it’ll go in deeper for you” said Vere, crudely. He stood and pulled on Kuja’s shoelace, undoing it to be as passive aggressive as he could. “I dunno if we can sleep together again, anyway, Kuja… Apart from the fact that Damien was, well… better endowed, the fact is that Dru is more feminine than you as well. So either way, you’ve lost out, I’m afraid, thanks anyway though” he said from next to Kuja’s untied boot. “Can I get you anything from the kitchen, or were you just leaving?”

Damien:
He was getting bored, loitering around an empty castle. In fact, as far back as he could remember, he had never been alone there and it felt a little creepy, especially with things lurking about, dragons and such. Picking up the compass, he turned it over and stared at the button. He wondered if there was some special trick to using it, thinking of where he wanted to go, or who he wanted to go to, maybe chanting some incantation. Siren had simply pressed the button, but he also had powers so… Deciding to give it a try, he simply looked down at it and wished to be near his father. Pressing the button, the room seemed to fall away as he was suddenly transported to the table, right behind Kuja. “Ah, but he doesn’t eat, remember?” he chimed in, poking his head out from behind his father, “And I’m crushed you’d consider sleeping with Drucilla.” He slipped his hand around Kuja’s waist from behind and lifted his hand as if they were to dance, “And what are you up to? Causing more trouble for poor Vere?”

Kuja:
His lips parted, almost an ongoing gasp with Vere’s words as the man undid his shoelace with those words. It had been such a long time since Vere had been so fun. He was about to reply before foreign words seemed to fill his mouth as Damien suddenly appeared, startling him as he twisted a little to see him before being held so, a perplexed expression befalling him. “Umm…” He didn’t know who was worse to turn his back to now, though he spun, as daintily as the situation expected to smile amusedly and curiously into Damien’s eyes, replying. “Vere was telling me that I’m not well endowed or pretty enough for him. You mustn’t have held back at all while you were doing him and besides, I wasn’t even hard when I did him.”

Vere:
Vere stood angrily and a dagger quickly appeared and embedded itself in the table. “Let’s get one thing straight; I don’t intend on being anybodies hole in the future and I still owe you big for what you did, so keep that in mind next time your powerless or weakened or hurt and look really hard in the shadows, cause I’ll be waiting there, ready to knock you to the floor and spend hours working you over” he said, furiously. It had taken away all the happiness of hearing Damien’s voice and seeing him as Vere stood with his hands apart, leaning forward on the table with the dagger between them both. “You’re right, he doesn’t eat… so he must be leaving.”

Damien:
His eyes widened at Vere’s outburst. He understood his anger, he felt it himself, but he didn’t think it best to try and intimidate a snake. Hoping maybe he could lighten the mood and keep the other out of more trouble, he let his eyes return to his fathers smiling face, seemingly ignoring Vere’s words. “Then, he must have high standards,” he complimented, gently cupping Kuja’s cheek. He smiled and leaned down to hop off the table and light a cigarette, the first he had had in awhile, though he had been in need of one for some time. After taking a hit and exhaling he pulled gently on Vere’s shoulder, pulling him back from the table lest he get kicked in the teeth. “Shouldn’t you let your madam decide if he should be here or not?” he asked, a slight emphasis on the last bit, implying Vere should be careful and stick to the game he was supposed to be playing, “Come have a seat. Let’s all have a drink.”

Kuja:
He couldn’t help but look over his shoulder to Vere’s scornful words, his smile never fading. Now was that over Damien? His son that was now being more familiar than Kuja would like, remembering the boys last determined sentiments, but he washed all that aside for the time being as the pair were both much too entertaining tonight. He would play upon Vere’s anger and Damien’s hope to keep the peace as lay down upon the table, sprawling out, his head next to Vere’s imbedded dagger, his arms as if in surrender by the sides of his head as he arched a little to smirk at them. “Come on, Vere. What’s holding you back? Your little champion there? Or are you trying to politely tell me that this is a dinner party where it only suits your two particular tastes? If that is so then you’re right, I’m on a low protein diet.”

Vere:
Vere quickly grabbed the dagger and would hold it to Kuja’s throat, assuming nothing would stop him, though he wouldn’t cut or pierce any flesh. “You like to take it too far, don’t you. Always too far” he said, very angry now. “I know what you’re trying to do” he said, removing the dagger, “and it won’t work.” Vere turned away and moved past Damien to calm himself down, the dagger still in his hand. “Perhaps you are right, though, Damien, I shouldn’t force him to leave without my mistress’ bidding. Perhaps I should make a room up for dear Kuja to stay, and you can keep him company” he said with jealousy “since you’re so intent on keeping your precious father safe.” Vere turned away from the two of them, deciding not to throw the knife, slowly slipping the knife back into his coat.

Damien:
He frowned at Kuja’s actions, always trying to upset Vere. It was something he would never understand. As Vere held the dagger to Kuja’s throat, he held tight to Vere’s shoulders, pleading with his grip for the other to stop. He watched Vere stroll past him without so much as a glance, and turned his head to look back at him. “It’s your safety I’m concerned about,” he muttered softly, turning his attention back to the table. Slipping his hands under Kuja’s shoulders he lifted, hoping his father would set up and stop his games, “Come on, you’ve won the game, Vere is angry.” Leaning over him, he forced a weak smile, “Conjure us up some brandy, eh?” He hoped the liquor would lighten the mood, as his presence certainly hadn’t.

Kuja: (7/12/09)
Kuja smirked, his body responding, inhaling under the knife as if in welcome of a lovers touch, his arms sliding up before chuckling lightly as Vere pulled away. Before Damien’s hands reached his shoulders, his hands gently held the boys whose eyes pleaded for peace. “But I haven’t even started yet.” He replied to the both of them, his eyes looking into Damiens, “There’s no such thing as too far for me, I have no limitations.” In a swift movement he sat up and swivelled around, his legs on either side of Damien’s and his hands reached for the back of the boys neck and front of his shirt, pulling him in for a brief though deep kiss, his tongue sliding over the others. He rested his arms over the Damien’s shoulders after he pulled away. “However that is not to say that I like to go over the top all the time.” He brushed Damien aside now to make his way to a chair on the side of the long table, conjuring up three full glasses of brandy and a bottle in the middle, his own glass already in his hand. “Come and join me, I believe you two have some catching up to do.” He quickly swalloed his sip before correcting, “with the drinking, that is.” He chuckled, sounding somewhat more wholesome.

Vere:
Vere took a step forward as Kuja grabbed and kissed Damien, but stopped in his tracks, unsure how to deal with the situation. With an angry look on his face, Vere watched before moving over to the table after Kuja had discarded Damien and prompted their seating. Vere casually tipped his glass forward onto the table to show his dissatisfaction at the situation. “So, Damien, what have you been up to?” he said sarcastically, “I wish you’d showed up sooner, without your father around. He can be quite a nuisance” said Vere, as if the other wasn’t there, before he turned to acknowledge him. “Perhaps instead of going over the top, you could go over the hill, and leave all of us in peace? Especially your poor son, who does nothing but love you, yet all you can do is see fit to use him as a pawn to make me angry. Poor Damien, such a piece of crap for a father” he said aggressively.

Damien:
His eyes widened in surprise of the kiss and as he felt that wet tongue brushing over his, he moved his hands to Kuja’s chest to push him back. He didn’t have the time however, as his father had quickly spun around, producing the brandy he had requested. Taking his own seat at the table beside Vere, Damien smiled and parted his lips to answer his friends question before Vere would continue. It seemed there wasn’t any way to bring peace even if only for a moment, with his father’s playfulness and Vere’s anger. His eyes shifted back and forth between the two, Kuja’s smug face meeting Vere’s scowl. Deciding he would give one last try, he inhaled from his cigarette and sighed as he exhaled before lifting his glass, “To a moment of peace in the dwelling of a friend.”

Kuja:
“Careful, Damien. Such a toast Vere might slap the glass out of your hand before trying to glass and rape me with the closest phallic object.” He inferred the brandy bottle as he smirked over his entwined fingers to Vere sitting opposite him before he leant more upon an armrest, open to the both of them. “So show me, Damien, if you’re so intent on changing the mood, what would you suggest? A game of cards, perhaps? Though I didn’t know you were aware of any other social activities other than servicing.” He sucked on the tip of his finger before letting it pop out.

Drucilla:
*At that action, the doors to the dining room slammed open, allowing the entrance of the white haired female, now properly clothed in a clean, dust free black shirt worn with a pair of black with red skull and crossbones embrodied corset, the outfit finished off with a set of black trousers worn with knee length boots. Sweeping a hand over her white shoulder length hair, she spoke curtly to Kuja " Are you done with belittling my butler, sir?" she then gave Damien a cool look as to say " See, your man is fine and untouched" while she leaned against the doorframe, arms folded*

Vere:
Vere stood as his lady entered the room, happier with her interruption than Damien’s attempts at peace making. He respected Damien’s point of view, but he and Kuja were quite apt to fight at the moment. “Madam” he said bowing to her as she glided elegantly into the room. “I asked him to leave, but he refused” he said, looking into her eyes. “He obviously has no manners. Would you like me to kick him out? Or merely kick him a bit?” Vere pleaded with her. He leant his hand into his leather jerkin with a flourish to accentuate the fact he was reaching for his dagger as he looked over to Kuja with a stoney gaze (he knew Kuja liked stoney gaze/gays). “Or perhaps his pointed wit deserves a point?” he asked her, gritting his teeth. He remembered Damien was there and how the other felt and softened slightly. “You also have Damien as a guest, as I’m sure you know. Shall I make his room up so that he can stay for a while?” said Vere, smiling to Damien.

Damien:
Kuja’s words were so frustrating. He hated the way his father always referred to him as if he were some whore. “That fishing trip is still driving you crazy, isn’t it?” he remarked before Drucilla stormed into the room. He didn’t bother to look back at her, simply listened to her words and kept his eyes on Vere. It was maddening watching him behave this way, his once so noble and brave friend now referred to as a butler. And acting like one, to boot! He was deep in thought at Vere’s threats to his father, but was pulled back with that smile before he would return it, adding a wink. “What ever happened to dear Siren?” he asked, his attention still on Vere though his words for Drucilla, “Do you have him cleaning your pool?”

Drucilla:
*Narrowing her eyes at Damien for a second before she spoke to vere with a smile " You may do as you wish, dear butler, I know you will follow through the job nicely... and yes, make Damien a room, as near to you or as far as you wish..." she then stiffened her back while replying to damien " He has departed on some errands, I believe he went to see the Lord before he will look for you since you were so irresponsible.." She then stood up straight, stepping away from the door so to allow Vere room to kick Kuja out*

Kuja:
His eyes brightened significantly to Drucilla’s entrance, quite happy, his brows raising to Vere’s cocky humour and Damien’s comment wasn’t worth registering as he waited for a moment he could speak up, noticing how Drucilla had suddenly become their headmaster, or mistress. “But Druu, that’s not fair, I was here first. I’ve been waiting for your gracious company longer than these two incompetent and hopeless subjects. Surely Vere is too clumsy and gruff, and Damien is atrocious at cards, can’t I stay for the slumber party too?”

Vere:
Vere moved around to stand behind Kuja as Drucilla allowed him to carry out the orders he wanted. “You heard the lady, get out” he said, which was followed by Vere tipping the chair up to push Kuja out of the seat. Assuming the other didn’t teleport away or use any other power based effect, Vere would grab him and start pulling him towards the nearest door roughly. “You going to come easily, or does this have to get messy?” Vere said with a smile. “Damien, would you mind giving me a hand escorting Kuja out.” He knew this would put Damien in the middle again, but he hoped Kuja would see that he too could play petty games. “Or would you rather he stayed?” said Vere with a grin.

Damien:
He smirked as Vere’s great urge to get Kuja to leave was somewhat amusing. He would have stayed seated in his chair had it not been for Vere’s words. With a sigh, he stood and took the final hit off his cigarette before leaning across the table and dropping it down into Kuja’s drink. He didn’t wish to pick sides and hated that it seemed never ending that Vere ad Kuja would force him to choose. It was taxing. As he turned, he lofted a brow at Drucilla, pleading for her to stop what she had started between the two before making his way to the pair. “I guess it is her house,” he answered, moving to follow Vere as he pushed Kuja towards the door.

Drucilla:
*Sighing at Kuja and his son's reaction, she held up a hand "Wait. Butler. Actually we could arrange a room for the man..." she then whispered in Vere's ear as she smiled, gesturing towards the door before she turned to the twosome "So! You really want a room here, Kuja?" she arched an eyebrow at him, before carrying on, not waiting for an answer "My butler here will escort you... with a gift in tow... " she smiled as she handed Vere a black gift wrapped box adorned with red ribbon that she conjured up from no where*

Kuja: (8-12-09)
“Ah!” He was in the midst of steading himself before he was grabbed and pulled along, trying not to trip mostly. “Wait, wait!” The words more for Drucilla before the appeal was lodged to Damien where he waited before Ah!ing again in disbelief to this nonsense, about to speak his case some more before Drucilla stopped it. As soon as those words came he pulled himself free, stepping to the side and neatening his clothes, not appearing to notice the whisper, though how could he not, before standing with a hand on his hip, facing Drucilla, eyes alighting upon the mysterious gift. “Oh, you are too gracious.” He gave a small flourishingly frivolous bow with a wave and a smile. “Though there’s not much to be said for your slave. Would you like me to school him a little more during my stay? Also, if I can’t share your quarters, I want the room next to yours, and I expect my brandy served to me every hour on the hour. Around the clock.” He teased, glancing at Vere.

Vere:
Vere’s eyes closed together as Drucilla commanded him, showing his bitter hatred towards Kuja and his smirky smarmy fancy pants attitude. He took the wrapped gift from Kuja and bid Damien to come with him, as well as Kuja. “Come, fellows, I will show you to your rooms” he said bitterly, leading them to the door. “After that I will fix dinner for you, madam, and for Damien and myself, since his royal highness doesn’t eat.” Vere then led the two out of the room to the stairway and up, the wrapped gift in his hands.

Damien:
As Vere lead Kuja away, though he was summoned as well, he lagged behind momentarily. He waited until the two were out in the hall before crossing to Drucilla. “I don’t like this set up,” he informed her, leaning close so he could speak quietly, “Vere isn’t a servant and I’d like you to drop the façade as soon as possible. It’s humiliating and if you care even the slightest for him, you will stop this.” Without waiting for her to respond he turned and stomped towards the door before disappearing around the corner to catch up to the others. “Won’t this be fun,” he chimed in, popping his head between them, “It’ll be like a vacation!”

Drucilla:
*Narrowing her eyes at the retreating back of the boy, Drucilla muttered under her breath " you think I am enjoying this, boy? it won't be long until the facade is over and the real fun begins...." she then smirked as she folded her arms across her chest, before stepping over to the table as she eyed the footprints on it with distaste " He'll be finding himself in a decent room, that old drunk..."*

Kuja:
“I’m happy to drink and sit with you guys…” His voice would trail off from Drucilla, though he looked back over his shoulder, somewhat pouting over not having stayed with her longer, which he might of if Damien hadn’t stayed behind. He continued to walk beside Vere thinking he could go back to her after he was shown his room. “Well isn’t this awkward.” He smiled and said for the other as he was completely carefree. “You’re taking me to Drucilla’s room, right? I think this role really suits you, former General.” He chuckled before Damien stepped in, himself moving to the side giving the other room to walk with them. “Wow, you’re chipper. I don’t think I can share your enthusiasm right this moment, I was looking more forward to a vacation away from you. Don’t you have some brooding left to do in your room?”

Vere:
Vere moved up close to Kuja and said very quietly, “I wouldn’t be so aggressive in my insults, unless you think you can match up against the three of us” he said with a grin. “At least watching you try will be fun” he continued, hoping to put Kuja on edge. Damien made his way back and Vere smiled as he came over. “Some vacation” he said, “I’m the butler while you two have a laugh. Don’t get me wrong though, I’ll take care of you Damien, and I’ll ‘take care’ of Kuja too” he said coldly. Vere led them up the stairs before finally reaching the room that would be Kuja’s, the black present still in his hand. He opened the door and beckoned both of them in to have a look, standing with his arm holding the door open.

Damien:
He frowned at both of their responses, but it faded quickly as he met Vere’s smile. “Well, I think it will be nice, regardless of what you two think,” he continued chattering on as Vere led them, “It’s got a warm feeling to it. Your place is always so cold and dark, father. But, I guess that’s best considering the things you do there. It fits the situation.” He stopped talking as the door to the room opened and he peeked inside from around the corner. The room seemed nice, but he was leery of Vere hovering around the door still. As he walked by, he grabbed the other by his wrist and pulled him inside, as well, just to be safe, before letting go and turning to take in the surroundings of his father’s room.

Kuja:
He tilted his head a little away from the other with his threats, they were slightly off-putting. “I guess…” He replied to Damien’s comment before stopping once they reached the room, his amusement having faded. He was tempted not to go inside, but since Damien pulled Vere and himself in first, he made it to leaning against the door frame, having a quick enough glace around to say with a smirk, “You missed a spot.”

Vere:
After righting himself from being pulled into the room, Vere smiled at Kuja’s remark. He began unwrapping the gift and moved forward to stand next to Kuja. As quick as he could, he pulled out the handcuffs and did his best to slap them onto Kuja’s wrists, hoping Damien would make himself useful in the situation and do something to help him. If they made their way onto Kuja’s wrists they would leech his powers, just as Drucilla had told him in secret, and he hoped dearly that it worked, for he owed Kuja quite a lot of come uppance in all sense of the word.

Damien:
Damien lofted a brow at Kuja’s words. He didn’t get it, and didn’t have time to consider them as Vere was quickly upon his father, forcing the handcuffs onto him. “I doubt handcuffs are going to help, Vere,” he muttered, making his way to the pair. He slid behind Kuja and held his shoulders firmly, though not putting much effort into it as he assumed no matter what they tried, his father would break away one way or another before Vere could get them fastened. “So, is he to be some sort of prisoner here, then?” he asked in Vere’s direction, “I know you’re mad over what happened. Believe me, no one knows better than me. But if you have some sort of plans to… pay him back, so to speak, I’m not sure I can let you go through with it.” He was one hundred percent loyal to his friend, but when it came to rape, he would protect Kuja at all costs, considering it was such that caused so much trouble already between the two of them.

Drucilla:
*Idling in the hallways slowly, Drucilla listened to the converstation as she frowned, placing a hand on the corner of the wall, talking quietly to herself " Let's see if he behaves..." before glancing down the hallway, preparing herself silently, pressing her hand against the wall*

Kuja:
His brow furrowed as he realised the situation and just before the restraints could come all the way around he phased in and out, appearing against the wall in the hallway with his arms folded. If it was just Vere’s attempt and plan he would have laughed at him, however his gaze was upon Drucilla. “If you wanted me that much you could have just asked me, Drucilla.” He smirked lightly, though wanting to ask why. And he was, as Vere wanted him to be, on his toes, for he was very much adamant about not letting Vere in particular having the upper hand, despite Damien’s particular support.

Vere:
Vere dropped the Cuffs behind him to Damien as he rounded the corner and loosed two daggers in Kuja’s direction before dashing across the hall into another room, assuming the daggers would miss. Pulling the vial of poison out he made his way through the room to the adjacent room that would link his and Damiens bedrooms, sneaking around to surprise Kuja in the very near future. “Come on Dru” he whispered, “the two of you can overpower him, surely.” Vere hoped, anyway.

Damien:
He caught the handcuffs as they were dropped and stuffed them down in his pocket before sighing and heading out into the hallway where the others had disappeared. His eyes widened as Vere hurled his daggers and was thankful he missed. It made him wonder if the other had missed on purpose. Surely an assassin would have better aim than that. He caught up to Drucilla and Kuja and leaned against the wall with one hand beside them. “Vere ran off. Can you show me to my room instead, lady Death?” he asked in a gentle voice, “I would be most thankful.”

Drucilla:
*Blinking at Kuja, she winced before she finished something she was saying in a strange language, and as the silence chased her words, nothing seem to be happening until there were a brilliant flash, like as if there was a lightening storm occurring inside, and straightening her back, she spoke to Kuja " It was to give Vere his chance of vengeance, Kuja... and welcome to being a mere mortal." she sighed as she heard something miles away somewhere in the mansion click, the click echoing throughout merging with other clicks "and we can't leave."*

Kuja:
He dodged the daggers with ease, though a bit annoyed to be distracted from Drucilla’s incantations before the flash, and like Drucilla, Damien too, he would know, he would feel it, complete mortality, completely powerless. “You…” He could barely find his breath, a horrible sickly feeling running all over him as his heart panicked the most for not knowing where Vere was right his second. He didn’t hesitate long, the only thing he could do right now, picking up one of Vere’s thrown daggers he grabbed Drucilla and spun her around, holding the blade to throat, his own back pressed to the wall. “Why, Drucilla? You leave us all at his mercy. Do you know what he is going to do to me? Do you wish so much upon me? His vengeance is only the vengeance I dealt him for harming you.” His frown deepened as he addressed Vere. “It was only for what you did to her and you know it, and you’re also aware of the fact that whatever you do I will repay in far greater, more powerful measures.”

Vere: (10-12-09)
A laugh echoed from out of the room and then the sounds of running could be heard from a different place. “Well then surely, for what you did to me, I owe you something? If revenge is taken, only those involved can take retribution. All you’ve done is make the cycle bigger” said Vere from the doorway of the second room. “It makes even less sense to threaten Drucilla, if you intend to take that line of reasoning, I might add, and given how she’s just helped me, I think it would be best for you to drop the dagger, before I get angry.” He paused at this point, “now that I’m in charge, perhaps we will see some changes in your behaviour, Kuja” he said with a smirk. Vere turned to Damien now, disregarding Kuja. “Why shouldn’t I take from him what he owes me? Especially after the way he treats you, surely he deserves what he gets? Be his judge.”

Damien:
“You expect him to release her after you just threatened him?” Damien asked, lofting a brow at his friend. He could care less either way what happened. On one hand, Kuja did deserve whatever Vere had in store for him. But, on the other hand, he didn’t wish to see his father hurt. He casually strolled over to the pair, knowing Kuja wouldn’t see him as a threat, and wrapped his hand around the one Kuja was holding the knife with. He squeezed tightly on those frail fingers, enough to bring a bit of pain, and enough to tear Drucilla from his arms. After pulling her away, he let go of his fathers hand, letting him keep the dagger for peace of mind. “I want you to leave him be, Vere,” he answered, turning back to face the assassin, “At least for now. He’s already afraid. I agree that he has done terrible things, not just to me, but to everyone around him. But, if you were to hurt him, wouldn’t that make you just as bad as him? Let him go to his room and after everyone has calmed down a bit, we can all talk.”

Drucilla:
*Smirking at Kuja as he panicked, she gave a slight laugh while the press of the dagger against her skin caused her to bleed a bit " I have not left all of us to his mercy, only you to atone for your mistakes... even if it was for me." she arched an eyebrow as she reminded him " You told him to do it or have it done on him, so I find the punishment on him unnecessary." She had started to grab at his neck before Damien intrevened, tearing her from his grasp , speaking again slowly " Indeed that would be a very good idea, especially since I need to arrange Kuja and yours' rooms, Damien..."*

Kuja:
He frowned as Vere didn’t consider it a threat in the slightest, and as Damien came closer the knife did move deeper, but he’d let her be torn from him, his only defence, since he could go no further. Drucilla’s words stung a little, but he supposed it was for his satisfaction in the end anyway, he knew Drucilla didn’t particularly care and he was the one who wanted to avenge her, though it was his own fault too but anyway. Despite Damien standing up for him, it didn’t ease him in the least as he gripped the blade tightly by his side, looking mostly at Vere. “No, that won’t be necessary, Drucilla.” He said, completely composed for a dignified moment, standing proper, for at least a breath, before he turned tail and fled down the corridor.

Vere:
Vere watched as Damien closed in on them and the scuffle left Dru with a bloodied neck, but all he could do with smile. Dru had said the magic words; “I find the punishment on him unnecessary.” All he could do was chuckle as Kuja ended his magnanimous speech by fleeing. “Let him go, for now” he said quietly to the other two. “I’m coming for you, Kuja!” he yelled as the other escaped. “You can’t hide” he said with a grin. “So, what shall we do for a few minutes, before I let the hunt begin” he said viciously. He remembered Damien’s feelings on the matter and became slightly more respectful. “You want I should leave him? What about you, Dru?”

Damien:
Damien watched sadly as Kuja escaped down the corridor. He had never seen his father act this way before, like a frightened animal. After wincing at Vere’s shouting he made his way over to the man and placed his hand against his friends chest in hopes of keeping him where he stood as opposed to chasing after his frightened father. “Please don’t, Vere,” he asked softly, his eyes pleading up to the other, “I assure you what he did to you is nothing compared to what he did to me. You’re angry, ok. But you don’t want to do something you’ll regret. He can’t get out, just leave him be. Please do this for me?” He turned his head back to Drucilla and motioned for her, “Don’t let him hurt my father, Drucilla. Give him back his power or something. He won’t do anything while under your roof as he respects you too much.”

Drucilla:
*Chuckling at the sight of Kuja running for his life, the woman spoke slowly, rubbing at her neck " Eh, we will leave him be for now, until he tries something, the spell may not last long... and haven’t you been listening? I can't give him his powers back like that, as I have none either, no one can until the spell wears off." she spoke the word Can't in her odd, gravestone upon gravestone accent before she licked the blood off her hand as she walked towards the wing where her bedroom was.*

Vere:
Vere moved over and put a hand on Drucilla’s shoulder, turning her around to look at her neck. He released her, knowing she would be okay and turned to Damien. “What did he do to you, Damien? If it was half as bad as what he did to me, surely I owe him worse than I thought he did?” Vere said sympathetically, but with an angry tone. “But I will leave him for the moment if you two wish it, however, I may seek revenge at a later date. I haven’t decided yet.” Vere spoke to the two at large, “Shall we return to our rooms separately, or is there more to discuss?” he said, as he peered up the hall, as if to check on Kuja from afar.

Damien:
“I don’t want to talk about what he did to me,” Damien answered, giving a weak smile. His eyes followed Drucilla as she began to make her way off to some unknown, at least to himself, part of the house. “But, I don’t even know where my room is!” he protested, wondering if she’d stop or just ignore him. He sighed and turned back to Vere, “I want to stay with you… If that’s ok.” He lowered his eyes to the floor and frowned before continuing, “I don’t know what’s here. Magic or not, it might not matter. And though I stick up for him, and he doesn’t possess his power, I don’t exactly trust Kuja.”

Drucilla:
*Arching an eyebrow as she was stopped by Vere, she speaks slowly while eying Damien " Your room will be, again, next door to Vere, as you both would prefer the privacy and space of two rooms together I imagine... which is why I am taking my things out of my room before you inhabit it." she bowed slightly to both of them before walking away, hopefully for real, down into the shadows of the hallway*

Vere:
“Well, I guess that settles that then” he said, tiredly. “Shall we retire to our bedrooms and perhaps have a drink?” he said smiling as he questioned Damien. He grabbed the other by the hand as he dragged him towards where they had to go. “I still have to look for him later, you know. We can’t sleep unless we find him, that’s the rules” said Vere, smiling again. “Thank you, Drucilla” he called down the hall as she disappeared, “thank you very much.”

Damien:
He lifted his head and smiled at the mention of the drink, more than ready to get to that as his last drink was interrupted by chaos. Even worse for Vere, he thought, with his being dumped onto the table. He was somewhat surprised when Vere grabbed his hand and began leading him down the corridors, it was usually he who was leading Vere. But, he quickly increased his pace to catch up, leaving his hand wrapped in Vere’s. He nodded at Vere’s rules, slowly, not really wishing to go find Kuja, and hoping that perhaps the drinks would change his friends mind. But, for now, he would go along with it. “Alright,” he answered Vere, softly, before flicking a wave over his shoulder at Drucilla, whether she would see it or not and continuing to be led by Vere.

Vere:
Vere led them into the room and closed the door, letting Damien sit on the edge of the bed as he got the brandy and began pouring the two of them a glass each. He handed It to Damien and smiled. “You really care about him, don’t you? For all that he’s done, he’s still your father. Do you want me to make sure I don’t hurt him? I don’t know if I could keep that promise, especially after what he did to me, and whatever he did to you. Will you tell me, or do I have to find out some other way?”

Damien:
He made his way to the bed and seated himself, watching Vere pour the brandy. In a way he wished he had done it himself considering it gave the impression of the façade Vere had been trying to keep up. The thought of it angered him so much and though it was for Vere’s own good, he didn’t think he would ever be able to forgive Drucilla for going along with it. Reaching up, he took the glass from Vere’s hand and took a sip from it before flashing him a smile. The drink always helped. He supposed that was the one thing he had inherited from his father. Though, unlike his father, he knew when to quit. “I do really care about him,” he answered, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “even if he’s not that fond of me. I can’t really help how I feel. Good or bad, he’s all I have.” He paused for a moment, hoping to not answer Vere’s other question with anything but silence, albeit knowing Vere wouldn’t accept that. “I don’t wish to discuss what he did to me,” he answered quietly, “And I doubt there is any way you’re going to find out. Can you not just accept that it was something terrible and leave it at that?”

Vere:
Vere gently placed his glass on the ground and kissed Damien on the cheek, taking his glass too after he took another sip. He kissed Damien on the cheek again and grabbed his hand, moving closer. “Are you sure you can’t tell me? Absolutely sure?” he said, resting a hand on Damien’s crotch now. He kissed Damien’s neck and whispered into his ear “I need to know, so I can tell just how much revenge I need to take, so tell me, Damien” he hissed into the other’s ear.

Damien:
After everything his father had put him through earlier, he wasn’t sure if he could take anymore, even from Vere. It took so much not to just push his friend off and flee to his own room. But, that would only complicate things further, especially if he didn’t wish to share his secret with Vere. His eyes widened as Vere’s hand was suddenly between his legs and he felt a blush spread over his face, which he lowered to try and hide. His mind was so far away now, back with the darkness in Kuja’s castle. Vere’s words in his ear brought him back and he smiled weakly before entangling his fingers in Vere’s hair and directing him towards his lips. He ignored Vere’s question completely, letting his tongue slide into Vere’s mouth and search for his tongue. At least this way, with Vere’s lips occupied, there wouldn’t be anymore questions asked or answers in need of giving. “You don’t need to take revenge for me,” he whispered, breaking the kiss long enough to do so before resuming the attack on the others lips.

Vere:
Vere kissed back and enjoyed the others fingers through his hair, though he knew the other was trying to distract him. He kissed back, rubbing harder between Damien’s legs as their tongues intertwined. “If I don’t, who will, Damien?” he said between kisses. “I know you won’t, you’ll just let him tread all over you, but now is your only chance, and I’m the one who can do it for you” he said as he tugged at Damien’s pants. Vere wondered if Damien would give in once he had totally succumbed to him. “I just want to know that what he did doesn’t deserve to much revenge… tell me Damien” he said, kissing.

Damien:
He felt his body was betraying him as Vere’s hand quickly brought him to arousal. He couldn’t help but return those kisses even after they were broken for words and then replaced. He reached forward and took hold of Vere’s shirt, pulling him closer and leaning back so Vere was on top of him. “Unlike Kuja, we’re both men of our word, aren’t we, Vere?” he asked, letting his hands travel under the other shirt and over his chest, “And as such, I’m asking for your word that you won’t take revenge. That’s what lead to the whole mess in the first place. So, why keep it going?” Carefully he unfastened the buttons holding Vere’s shirt closed and pulled it open, leaning up to kiss gently along the others collar bone, “And in return, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Vere:
Vere hopped on top and leant down to undo Damien’s pants as his shirt was taken off. “I don’t know if I can make that promise, it sounds far too much like the deal goes against me” he smiled as he enjoyed the other’s body. “How about you tell me and then I’ll tell you whether or not I’m going to take revenge?” he said, smiling as he got Damien’s pants all the way off. He lifted Damien’s legs into the air forcefully. “Tell me, and we’ll see whether or not I can agree to your deal, Damien. That’s the best I can do for you” he said, kissing Damien forcefully.

Damien: (11-12-09)
His pants removed, just as easily as when the darkness had stripped him, he couldn’t help but be drawn back to it over and over again. It was beginning to worry him that every time he tried to be intimate with anyone, he would always be reminded of it. The feeling of it beneath his skin, inside him, running over every inch of his body, he couldn’t stand it and was beginning to think that maybe revenge would be the right path. He shook his head as his legs were forced into the air, but not at Vere’s actions, of his own thoughts. Revenge was never the right path, and he should know as well as anyone. As Vere’s lips were once again forcefully claiming his, he decided he couldn’t tell him, but he wouldn’t let Kuja destroy his chance to be close to the man either. He pulled his lips away and smirked. “I’ll tell you afterwards,” he teased, leaning up once more to kiss along the others soft flesh between his neck and shoulder as his hands ran down Vere’s chest to unfasten his pants. He had no idea what he was doing. Vere’s feelings, assuming he had any and wasn’t just trying to get information, weren’t for him, and he was well aware. But for some reason, it didn’t extinguish his own feelings. And he couldn’t help but play along as he resituated himself long enough to pull Vere’s pants off and discard them onto the floor before resuming his previous postion.

Vere:
Vere listened and continued kissing, but he felt that Damien would never tell him what had actually happened. “What he did to you was worse than what he did to me? Worse than being raped?” Vere knew he would seek revenge, knew he wouldn’t be able to help himself, even if he let Kuja off in the short term. “I will have to get some form of revenge” he said, pressing him self against Damien intimately. He groaned lightly from pleasure at the thought of what would happen soon. “I don’t want to do this unless you want it” he added. “I understand you’re in a tough position” he said as he kissed Damien’s chest tenderly. He held Damien’s legs with his hands and forearms now, pressed up against him but waiting for an answer before he began, knowing Kuja wouldn’t be anywhere near the room at the moment, or probably, until Dru’s spell dropped.

Damien:
“Mn,” Damien replied, pulling Vere down to ravish his lips. He had pushed everything out of his mind, now, except the present. With his arms around Vere’s neck he pulled his hips up to press himself against the other. “Do it,” he replied after pulling his lips away and moving to Vere’s ear. He ran his tongue along the lobe and smiled, “I’ve wanted this for a long time, but don’t let Kuja know. He’ll hurt you for it.” It was his hopes, that since Kuja didn’t have his power at the moment, he would never find out. There was no way he would actually come to Vere’s room. And he had no way of spying on this. This might well be his only chance to be the other and not face consequences for it. Also he couldn’t stop thinking about how much it would hurt with no lubricant whatsoever. But, he supposed Vere was worth it.

Vere:
Vere kissed back passionately and stood, pushing Damien’s legs to the side as he went to his bag nd produced a small glass bottle. He opened it, smiling to Damien as oil poured onto his hand and was then smeared onto his erect member. Moving back over to Damien and swirling a finger gently around the entry point with a smile, Vere put the bottle on the floor and grabbed Damien’s legs again, putting them in the air. He smiled again, pressed up against Damien as he slid his hand down between damien’s legs and let the remaining oil be well rubbed in as he slowly pushed himself in, groaning. Vere enjoyed Damien and made sure Damien enjoyed it too, leaving them both sweaty and resting on the bed next to one another. “Well, I hoped that’s livened the mood a little” he said with a puff. Vere smiled and put his arm around Damien, nuzzling the other’s head into his shoulder and kissing it, hoping the other would fall asleep quite soon, since he still needed to find Kuja. Vere sighed and let all the stress fall off him for a moment as he simply enjoyed Damien’s head resting on him.

Damien:
He let his head fall back onto the bed as Vere left him, and focused his attention on the ceiling to block out the creeping thoughts of earlier. It was surprising how quickly Vere had returned and he returned Vere’s smile as he was prepared and entered. With one hand he gripped onto Vere’s bicep and with the other he wadded up a fist full of the blanket, squeezing tightly. Vere’s touch was amazing and it didn’t long for him to be cumming with the other. Breathing heavily, he turned onto his side and nuzzled his head against Vere’s shoulder, smiling at every kissed placed upon him. He waited a few minutes, enjoying the silence, the peace he hadn’t experienced in such a long time, before speaking slowly, “What’s worse than being raped?” His words were slow as if he were asking the question of himself rather than restating the one that had been asked him moments ago. “being raped by your own father, for one,” he answered quietly, “And the thing he created to rape me, for two. It was very thorough, invading everything it possibly could. I can still feel it under my skin, inside me…” He shook his head to clear the thoughts and wrapped his arm around Vere’s waist, squeezing tightly, “Hours and hours… and all for revenge I thought I could take for you. Do you see how revenge gets you nowhere? All it gets you is more revenge brought on yourself. An endless cycle. So… why would you go after Kuja? Why would you bring more trouble for yourself, and probably me?”

Vere:
Vere listened and as Damien poured his heart out about what had happened, Vere hugged him tightly, kissing his head and cheek. “If you had gotten your revenge successfully, would you be speaking so ill of revenge?” he said seriously, being a proponent of revenge. “Speaking as someone who is usually on the good side of revenge, all I can do is extol its virtues, and especially” he said, getting angry, “after what you just told me, how can I not try and get revenge on him?” Vere gritted and ground his teeth at what Damien had told him and gently kissed Damien’s head, though his scowl let on how angry he was. “Go to sleep” he said as he kissed Damien’s head softly, holding back a tear.

Damien:
Damien didn’t care anymore whether Vere got revenge or not. Laying in his arms, feeling that someone actually cared and expected nothing in return, it was more than he could ask for. More than he deserved. It wouldn’t last forever, so he might as well enjoy it while it did last. “Be careful,” he whispered as he closed his eyes, letting himself fall asleep cuddled up next to Vere, though reluctantly as he knew, just as all the other times he had fallen asleep with the man, Vere would be gone when he woke up. A cold lonely bed was not something he was looking forward to, but just as he would momentarily forget that Vere’s love was not for him, he would also push the morning from his mind and fall asleep happy.

Vere:
Vere hugged the younger man as he fell asleep and stayed with him longer than he should of, unsure as to whether or not the spell would of worn off by now. He kissed Damien’s head one last time before making his way softly and quietly out of the bed, grabbing some things from the bag and making his way to the door, taking as well, the handcuffs from Damien’s pants. He stopped and looked back at Damien sleeping peacefully. He wished he could stay the night and decided he would try his best to get back to Damien before the other awoke. With a worried face he left the room, closing the door silently.

Special

2009-12-02T12:46:53Z

I am posting this conversation because i love it. I know it wouldn't look like much to anyone else, but it has made me very happy.

Kuja says:
I wrote a small thing recently
Kuja says:
Wanna read?
san+ says:
sure
Kuja says:
http://brandy-kuja.livejournal.com/151261.html
Kuja says:
Is that how Bal kinda is these days?
san+ says:
you more or less nailed it
Kuja says:
<333
Kuja says:
;_; Bal
Kuja says:
*gives you hugs*
san+ says:
but just for you, i've made a new one
Kuja says:
Oh my... really??
san+ says:
yes really
Kuja says:
*waits?*
san+ says:
you go first
san+ says:
set me a scene
Kuja says:
omg what?
Kuja says:
You're going to rp with me??
san+ says:
for the next half hour, yes
Kuja says:
._. i'm too overwhelmed, i can't do anything
san+ says:
DO IT!
Kuja says:
._.
Kuja says:
*Kuja sat out the front of Balthameul's palace, his tomb where the doors would not yeild to him and he spent his time drinking, his knees semi drawn up, a nearly empty bottle held loosely inbetween as he mourned his old friend*
san+ says:
(you'll have to forgive my rustiness)
san+ says:
*He stumbles across the threshold of the palace, not so much through the door as into it. He appears to be a gaunt young man, perhaps in his late 20s, wearing a crushed purple velvet tailcoat two sizes too large, a crumpled red top hat and a pair of green striped trousers, perhaps two sizes too small*
san+ says:
(c)
san+ says:
*straightening up, he adjusts his hat allowing it to rest at an alarming angle atop his short curly blonde hair, and raps on the door* "I dare say, anyone about?"
san+ says:
(all done )
Kuja says:
=D
Kuja says:
(Did he just walk into Bal's doors?)
san+ says:
(no, front door of the palace)
Kuja says:
*He was perhaps too consumed by his thoughts, or merely the bottle, to not notice this creature arriving sooner, but just in time to see him walk into the door. His eyes widened, sizing the fellow up before quirking a slight brow. With a little effort he gathered himself up, wearing a loose white shirt over black pants, and his arm would come upon the door, the distance between himself and (c)
Kuja says:
the other very small. His blue eyes showed some amusement, but on the whole, were very cold. "Who would like to know?"
san+ says:
*drawing himself up to his full height, before bowing grandly, hat in hand, the young man beamed in the others direction - a most charming and welcoming smile* "My name is Andopholous Reinald Worthington the third, but you may call me Andy or Rein. My mother used to call me Rein. Tempermental old bat, died of eating bad wheat, you know."
Kuja says:
(XD)
Kuja says:
*he remained fixed how he was at the gracious and grand display, though listening to the other ramble on caused a slightly amused smirk. "It's a pleasure, Andy... though i don't think you belong here. Someone so full of life and as vibrant as the freshest of blossoming flowers, should not be wandering around these ways. Unless you seek a remedy to the brightness of your colours..." Slender (c)
Kuja says:
fingers reached out, the backs to softly run down the material of the others purple suit*
Kuja says:
(brb, need to smoke)
san+ says:
"A remedy to... what?" *appearing confused for a moment he quickly regains his composure* "No no, nothing like that chap. you see I was on my way home from the tavern, you know the one at appolo junction and you see, well, facinating story, there i was wandering down the road and then all of a sudden here I was. Well, where ever here is anyway. In fact, would you be so good as to tell me where (c)
san+ says:
precisely this is and where infact I am in relation to the tavern. Funny story about that tavern, say, would you have a drink? I am terribly thristy." *The last said in a very quick rush followed by an imploring look*
Kuja says:
*His fingers lingered before slowly returning to his side as he listened to the facinating story. Different words to describe this location were already drifting through his mind when asked before he couldn't help but smile, though more to himself as the others flurrying words and imploring eyes. A bottle that was nearly empty was now full as he raised it a little higher, showing, though not (c)
Kuja says:
offering as it remained around his own waist. "This, my friend, a place you will find will add to the facination of your peculiar journey. Do you want to know what lies within these walls? I'll tell you anyway... something once as lively and perhaps beautiful as yourself, whom i crushed in my own hands... Now, for your drink, and perhaps your life, you will offer me something." The bottle idly (c)
Kuja says:
rolled against the bone of his hip as his eyes were playfully cruel.*
Kuja says:
(OMGEEE, Kuja's such a rapist these days, i'm sorry)
san+ says:

Kuja says:
XD
Kuja says:
Gotta go?
san+ says:
(just on the phone)
Kuja says:
I'm going to hit the sack hun
san+ says:
(sorry love)
Kuja says:
Thanks so much for playing with me <3333 Andy was charming
Kuja says:
lol you're okay, i'm happy
san+ says:
he was made for you
san+ says:
foppish and lovely and charming and just a little bit jaded
Kuja says:
XD I like him very much <3
Kuja says:
But i'd only end up destroying him too
san+ says:
we'll he's disposable i guess
Kuja says:
=(
san+ says:
and i'd like to see you try, he's appy to a fault
san+ says:
^happy
Kuja says:
:3 Just how i like them
Kuja says:
I'll go dream of him now then XD
Kuja says:
Goodnight lovely
san+ says:
<3

Kuja has a whinge (to Damien)

2009-12-01T01:44:15Z

I feel sad and felt like putting this up because i doubt the rp world will lead to this. I imagined it in Drucilla's manor as Damien, Vere, Dru gain the upper hand (which they never will XD).

“Seriously, Damien? After all I’ve done for you? After the fact I’m living for you? You walk into my life with your demand for my love simply because you have my blood and resent me for not just giving it to you. You refuse to leave my presence, you refuse to let me leave, you take Vere as your lover, who you know my feelings for are strong, you win more favour from my old friend Drucilla than she bestows upon me, and now you usurp my powers? Here, have my castle, have my clothes, why don’t you go and give Balthameul a blowjob while you’re at it and wake him from his pitiful sleep which I’ve never been able to do. Bring back Desora too and ask for her hand in marriage since she loves you a thousand times more than she ever cared for me, visiting you whenever you cry while I beg and receive naught. So much you take from me, so much your existence hurts me, yet you don’t take what I most want you to, for all the hatred I stir in your heart, for all the cruelty I’ve bestowed upon you, you still have me to remain and suffer your petty childish and selfish wants. A father, you call for! Of all the preposterous things. I never wanted a child, and so I don’t consider you my son at all, I never have. I have no family, I have no friends, no lover, and that’s how I want it. How I have always wanted it. Yet people can’t seem to help themselves to burden and hurt my heart, no matter how much I try to close it off and resent you all. Tch… and here I am saying all this pathetic rubbish when I shouldn’t care at all. I don’t care. I’m just a fiend, and it’s about time you idiots gained the upper hand. I’m looking forward to receiving what you think you can hurt me with, all the more amusing for when I show you just how powerful I am and how cruel I can be, all that I’ve been holding back all these years.”

Damien sets the curtains on fire

2009-11-29T10:37:59Z

Damien:
Damiens eyes opened and he merely stared at the wall feeling somewhat cold despite the blanket wrapped up around him. He knew Vere wasn’t there, he could feel it. Just as much as he could feel his anger growing with each passing second. Flinging the blankets off he slid out of bed and emptied his pockets of the belongings he had acquired over the past week or so. He placed the photo of his mother under his pillow and the compass on the table beside his bed before quickly getting dressed and running his fingers through his hair. There was a chance Vere had simply went exploring, he told himself, maybe for food or toilet. Picking up the nearly empty bottle from the bedside table, he finished it off before slamming it down and lighting his morning cigarette. He pushed open the window and leaned on the frame while he smoked, hoping it would calm his nerves. But, with each hit it only became more apparent that his cigarettes weren’t doing the trick today. He flipped the cigarette out the window and stormed down to Kuja’s room before slamming the door open. “What the fuck have you done with him?” he demanded, glaring at Kuja from the doorway, his amethyst orbs dark.

Kuja:
Kuja had gone straight to bed after he got back and hadn’t slept much by the time Damien burst into his room, giving him a slight start, eyes opening. He hadn’t really thought about Damien’s reaction and it made him turn and sit up a little, perhaps mostly out of curiosity as he looked at his seething son. A little smile played as he replied. “He’s gone fishing.”

Damien:
“You expect me to believe that?” he asked, storming over to Kujas bed where he stood beside it and glared down at his father. “He told me he’d be here when I woke up. And he isn’t. So, you’ve done something to him. Why the fuck can’t you just leave him alone? Why do you want to hurt him so much?” His questions came quickly as he didn’t really expect an answer but was simply trying to vent his anger somehow. He leaned down an inch or so from Kuja’s face, staring into those cold blue eyes, “If you don’t bring him back right now, I’ll make you regret not doing so. I swear this to you, father.”

Kuja:
His light smile never faded as Damien continued on, and he didn’t move, hardly phased as Damien tried to stare him down. The boys threat made him even more delighted as he cupped his cheek in his hand and replied softly. “Always so selfish, Damien. He’s probably having the time of his life right now being pampered by Drucilla. I’m sure she could satisfy him much more than you ever could.” He patted his cheek now, almost a slap to get the boys face out of his. “So I take it you don’t share my taste in fun after all?”

Damien:
He narrowed his eyes at his fathers response. If Kujas goal was to make him angrier, he had surely succeeded, though Damien hadn’t thought it possible. He didn’t move as Kuja patted his cheek, but stood his ground, not feeling much like giving in to his fathers wishes this time. “Well, I don’t know, father, you didn’t give me much of a chance. But, don’t worry. I’m sure I can find my own fun elsewhere.” He grabbed Kuja’s collar and held it roughly before continuing on, “Why did you send him away? He wasn’t bothering you, he wasn’t even near you. So, why did you send him to Drucilla?”

Kuja:
“I don’t feel I have to explain my actions to you.” His smile had fallen away. “Especially not when you’re behaving like this.” His hands gently wrapped around the others wrists, trying to communicate he didn’t want to be hostile as he encouraged him to let go and he sighed. “And I’ve been having such a wonderful time, congratulations on bringing me down. Does this mean you don’t care about my happiness after all? Does this mean… you care more about Vere than your dear father?” He openly feigned with a light smirk.

Damien:
“And what did you expect me to behave like?” he demanded, letting go, but shoving Kuja back as he did so, “You –never- think about what effect your actions will have on me. You’re the selfish one!” He stood tall once more, turning his back to Kuja and huffing with his arms folded over his chest. “Yes it does,” he answered, not really thinking about the answer before giving it. Deep down he knew he loved his father more than life itself, but that love was all but forgotten in his current state, “If the key to your happiness is making Vere suffer, then you’re right. I don’t care about.” Turning now, he leaned back down, though keeping his distance this time, not for Kujas benefit but because it was his wish, “If you aren’t going to bring him back, then send me to him.”

Kuja:
He didn’t appreciate being shoved, nor was he feeling very amused by the boys words now as he lay on his side, Damien’s back in his view as his finger nails plucked at the lacings of his quilts, contemplating before seeming to give up. He ran his hand through his hair as he lay down, resting his cheek on his arm as he sighed. “I don’t like him around, Damien. It’s not that I’m trying to keep him from you because I simply couldn’t care less. If he means that much to you, why don’t you get him to adopt you?” He smiled to himself, closing his eyes.

Damien:
He frowned at Kuja’s lack of care. “Don’t disregard me and continue sleeping!” he shouted, slamming his fist on the side of the bed, “I hate when you do that!” He balled both of his hands into fists before extending his fingers and retracting them again. “I hate everything you do,” he added, folding his arms on the bed and laying his head on them. He was still tired from the past few days and it didn’t mix well with his anger. There wasn’t anything in the world he’d rather do right now than tear Kuja’s smug face off, but he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance against him. Raising his head to rest his chin on his arm instead, he watched Kuja lay there, eyes closed as if he were sleeping peacefully. He wondered how something so beautiful could be so cold and uncaring. “Please bring him back,” he whispered softly, “I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you.”

Kuja:
He didn’t respond to the tantrum. It was hard facing Damien like this when having Drucilla around made him so nostalgic, made him have to blink twice at the fact this was his life and how he chose to live it. Minus the fact having a son was never his intention. Why couldn’t it have been Drucilla and Balthameul who had babies instead of him? Damien would also be a small symbol and always something to remind and taunt him over the old days being dead. Damien’s birth, existence, a symbol of the end, and for that, Kuja would always reject him for the life he now hated. He hated Vere too, for all the misery and arguments, hot anger and violence, and that damn pride and all those pathetic lies. He simply did not respond and went back to sleep before he would let it consume him, the both of them knowing Damien could be stuck wandering around in a forest if he persisted.

Damien:
Damien waited, watching his father, but no answer ever came. He wanted his anger to subside, to climb into the bed with his father and cling to him tightly as he slept. He had fought so hard for his love. Harder than he had ever fought for anything in his entire life. To give up now seemed so stupid. But he had had enough. Everything was Kuja’s fault. His mother not being there, not having Braxton, hurting Rene, and now having Vere taken away. Never once had Kuja ever shown him anything but rejection and hatred and he was done. “You’ll always be lonely if you continue on this way,” he remarked coldly before storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Once he was in the hall he lit a cigarette and eyed the business card on the table. He picked it up and turned it over in his fingers, smiling as he read it. “Well, thank you very much, lady death,” he murmured before quickly making his way to his room. He gathered up Vere’s bag of tricks before placing his compass and the photo of his mother inside. After everything was together he strolled down the stairs and paused at the door long enough to flick his cigarette into the drapes, igniting then. “I’ll make you pay for everything you’ve done to us, father,” he promised before strolling out the door.

Goodbye to the Room

2009-11-27T12:05:28Z

Related:
-Pre The Room Play: Drucilla & Vere
-Pre The Room Play: Damien & Kuja
-The Room Play Part I
-Distraction (René & Kuja)
-The Room Play Part II
-Goodbye to the Room

Vere:
Vere was astounded at Damien’s dramatic outburst and taken back as he shoved Dru out the door, chuckling as he insulted her. “Well, you should of played with the candle more” he kept laughing. Truthfully, though, Vere felt bad for Drucilla. She obviously had her own issues, just like everybody else in the castle. He also felt guilt, because just like everybody else in the castle, he seemed to give everyone ELSE a hard time. It was a vicious circle as everyone tore at each other as Kuja schemed and turned each other against one another. Vere was sure it was Kuja himself who felt the most pain, though. “So, Damien. I’m very sorry.” He moved over to the other and outstretched his hand, before skipping the formality and hugging the other, nuzzling his head into Damien’s shoulder in a moment of pure weakness, Vere sighed heavily, not sure what to do. He remained there for as long as he could speaking from that position “Kuja will come get us out of here, eventually. I’m sure we’ll be made to embarrass ourselves further, though.” Vere held on comfortably to Damien, giving room for the other to speak.

Damien:
He heard the sound of the lock being turned into something of Drucilla’s magic’s will, but didn’t much care at this point. Rolling his eyes at her words, he was only thankful he would have a minute, at least, of peace. He lifted his head at Vere’s words before being pulled into the others embrace. Instantly he moved to return the embrace, wrapping his arms around Vere, laying his head on his friends. “I’m the one who’s sorry, Vere,” he whispered, letting one travel up to stroke his hair, “Nothing that happens in this castle is your fault.” He closed his eyes momentarily, thoughts running through his head. Funny how things turned out, what with all that the two had put each other through the past day… days… weeks? And yet here he was, the fault of it all, and Vere was apologizing to him. He pulled Vere as close to him as he possibly could before softly kissing his neck. “Whatever Kuja does, don’t let it get to you, if you can help it. Don’t let him win,” he replied, his lips still against Vere’s skin.

Vere:
Vere held the embrace and kissed the other in return as he listened. “Well, it seems to me he is quite good at playing people off against one another. Is everyone so willing to turn just to be in his good books?” Vere wondered how the other had become such a powerful mage, given his lack of serious study into the magical arts. “Is there somewhere he gets his power from? How did he become so powerful?” said Vere, more an aloud thought than an intention question. He slowly pulled away from the embrace and sat on the bed. “I think Dru will be a bit angry at me. You seemed quite angry at her at the mention of your mother… What happened to her? Was it Kuja?”

Damien:
Damien groaned and leaned back against the door as Vere pulled away, “Who cares if she’s upset. We’re still stuck here because of her.” His eyes scanned the room for anything that would help them escape but he didn’t really find anything useful. And though Vere’s strength had been proven to him time and time again, he didn’t believe the man strong enough to knock down the door. He pushed himself off the door and crossed the room to the bed where he crawled from end to top and rolled over on his back. “I don’t suppose you have a bottle of anything in that little bag of tricks do you?” he asked, moving his arms behind his head, “It might help me talk to you about my parents.”

Vere:
Vere felt sorry for the boy, who obviously depended on the booze to get by, along with the horrible life he’d had up till’ now. “Well, there’s probably a bottle left around the room somewhere.” Vere rummaged around for a while, finding an unopened bottle that had been discarded during all the kafuffle. He sat next to Damien who was sprawled out and handed him the bottle. “If there were a way to be Kuja, what would be the point of it? What would we do, if he were powerless? I want to know what you would do if Kuja and maybe Dru were powerless, Damien? Drink while you tell me, and then talk about your parents” he said, patting the boys hair softly.

Damien:
Propping himself up on his elbows, his eyes followed Vere around the room as he searched for the bottle. He was hoping Vere would return empty handed, possibly giving him a reason to skip the conversation completely, but no such luck. Still, he smiled up at Vere before taking the bottle from his hands and nuzzling against his hand. “Well for starters, I would throw the girl out,” he began, pulling the cork out of the bottle. He tossed it down towards the foot of the bed and took a big pull off the drink. Smiling as the warmth of the alcohol spread down to his stomach, he continued on, “I don’t care for her. But, it’s not out of selfishness I wish her gone. It’s for her own good. Friend or not, my father will end up hurting her, just as he hurts everyone. She should leave as soon as she can" He sat up, pulling away from Vere’s hand and taking another drink. Maybe it was out of selfishness, he thought. Jealousy because the woman was friends with his mother when he had never met her really. Or out of worry of losing his father or Vere. He smirked at his own thoughts, taking one more sip and laying his head on Vere’s shoulder. ‘It doesn’t matter the reason, only the outcome,’ he thought to himself. “Now Kuja…” he continued on after some time, “I never really thought about this one. I just assumed he’d always win. But, I’d have to say… If Kuja were powerless, I would try and force him to love me, much like he tries to force me to hate him.” He chuckled, “But, I guess if Drucilla is right and my father and I are alike, he would be too stubborn.”

Vere:
Vere listened intently, rubbing his hand over the other’s cheek and onto his shoulder as he listened, taking a swig of brandy himself as Damien continued. “You’re very right, but the girl’s power could be useful. No doubt she would be easier to bring around to our side then Kuja. As for Kuja, you wouldn’t want to take some revenge? To torture him, to make him love you through physical means? You wouldn’t embarrass him or degrade him as he seems to do to you?” Vere wondered whether Damien could be so kind as to not want revenge, for Vere himself would feel justified in wreaking a little havoc on Kuja. “I don’t think you’re too stubborn, Damien. Just stubborn enough, I think” Vere smiled, still resting his hand on and over the other. He looked down to Damien. “I’m glad to have met you, Damien. You make this place bearable” he said, leaning down to kiss Damien on the head. “Will you tell me of your parents, or would you like to drink some more?” he asked, his face only inches from Damien’s.

Damien:
As Vere’s hand explored his upper body he simply moved with the touch, letting the others gentleness take away any pain or hard feelings he had been having up until this point. “As I told you when I first came to this room, I’m not a monster,” he reminded Vere, his voice low and soft, “I’m not very good at hurting people. But… you know that yourself, now.” He laughed slightly at this to try and lighten the mood he felt he was beginning to weigh down. Vere’s compliments brought a genuine smile to his face, however, and he lifted his chin enough to brush his lips against the other before answering his questions as Damien was quite enjoying this game his friend seemed to be playing with him. “I’m sorry, Vere,” he began his answer, “I don’t really know much about them. I only just met Kuja a few years ago. He’s always had his powers as long as I’ve known him and he never told me where he got them. I’m sure you can tell we’re not as close as most father/sons are. And my mother, Kuja tells me is dead.” Slowly he reached up to wrap his arms around Vere’s neck, pulling him down on top of him before continuing, “But you told me you met her and that she is alive. So… I don’t know what to believe. She comes to me sometimes… I think. But, it’s never really her. More… a vision. And she is more beautiful and gentle than any woman I’ve ever met.”

Vere:
Vere was pulled down after listening to the other’s soft voice and became slightly more aroused as Damien knew how the game worked. Still, Vere’s mind couldn’t completely trust anyone at this point, and he subconsciously began to probe for weaknesses. Vere kissed Damien on the lips softly, waiting for Damien’s eyes to close and his hands to weaken their grip before Vere rolled him over onto his stomach in a sharp motion. He put the bottle on the floor gently as he now pinned Damien on his stomach, straddling him from behind and holding his wrists together above his head. He quickly brought his lips down to Damien’s ear to whisper teasingly. “Why would your mother be with such a man?” he would begin with, but he quickly got to the real question as his other hand moved down the front of Damien’s chest, slowly going south. “Does Kuja have any weaknesses, besides brandy and beauty?” Vere ended, slowly licking the edge of Damien’s ear as he held him down.

Drucilla:
The strong, firm, clicking steps echoing throughout the hall beyond the locked door could be vaugely heard, if both men had been paying attention to the door and not to what wicked ways they were doing, theyd have heard the steps and a string of whispered words, or even the click of the lock as the door opened, admitting Drucilla once more, a much more composed... and clothed Drucilla. Stepping into the room, she spoke briskly, eyes on the floor as she pointedly ignored both men , her white hair held back in a prim and proper bun as she wore a red shirt with an ivory scythes and hour glasses embroidered black corset, completed by black trousers and boots, her floor length, high necked victoran coat draped over her arm as she pushed in a trolley with two large covered dishes, coffee and several other drinks on another shelf of the trolley in. " Gentlemen, your meals, and by the way Kuja is not in residence." she then leaves the trolley beside the bed, eyes still not looking to the men as she took a sharp turn on her heel, hands moving to take her jacket off her arm and to start putting it on " And I won't bother you any longer."*

Damien:
Damien gasped as Vere turned him over so unexpectedly. With his wrists held tightly above his head he was somewhat worried until he felt Vere’s breath at his ear, continuing their conversation softly. He felt he would burst from his trousers as his friends hand travelled slowly down his body. “He has a few,” he began, moaning softly when Vere’s tongue slid over the edge of his ear, “there…” His words were cut off as Drucilla suddenly entered the room and for the first time in quite awhile he felt a blush spread over his face. Quickly, he simply turned his head, burying his face into the bed as she spoke, and hoped that Vere would take action for them both.

Vere:
Vere felt Damien’s pants shrink as his hand moved lower, though he kept on licking Damien’s ear as Drucilla entered. From the moment the door opened, he knew she was there, and rolling something in with here. Vere slid his hand down and groped at Damien to excite him before hopping off and standing tall to Drucilla. “Back so soon? It must feel good to have the powers back” he said genuinely, knowing how naked magical folk felt without their powers. “What have you brought us Drucilla, and where are you going in such a hurry, if Kuja isn’t around? Didn’t you come to the castle to see him?” Vere was quite interested in why Drucilla would come to the castle to see Kuja, whom she obviously disliked, and was sure there was more to the story than had been told so far. “Do you know where Kuja has gone?” Vere wondered whether he should give the same question he had given Damien, and whether it needed to be asked the same way. He made his way to stand next to Drucilla and lift one of the lids gently to see what was for dinner. He stood comfortably close to her now, and smiled.

Drucilla:
Pointedly ignoring at Vere, she gestured at the meals as her fingers worked over the delicate button fastenings, and if one looked closer, they could see the ebony buttons were shaped in the omega symbols, and that it starts from the base of the high neck before ending at the waist " I did what I could do with limited foods available, theres salads, roasted meat, potatoes, help yourselves to them as I understand, " mere mortals" like yourself," she used the qoutation marks as she spoke, her voice dripping with disdan for a moment there as she knew Vere were ribbing her about not being a normal woman " would need to eat at some point. And honsently, Id rather have a normal life over what I have, but duty is duty. As for Kuja I have no clue, probably seeing some other woman or the like..." she shrugged with a gesture as she kept her back to Vere and Damien, straightening her sleeves before she added " and why are you asking me where am I going since you don't care about me, or what I do?" she went slient, thinking as she recalled another question vere asked her " And as for why I came here, Kuja asked me, I came to try and find out what is it that he wanted of me, but since the.... suitation it seems to me that he only wants my powers and knowledge."*

Damien:
He slowly turned around to see Drucilla, her back turned towards them, and Vere acting as if nothing had happened. His friends actions were so amusing and then straight back to business. It made Damien lift the back of his hand to his lips to hide a smile as he sat up and down to once again take up the bottle of brandy. Though not much in their conversation seemed interesting enough to for him to bother listening to, the part about his father missing did. He blocked them out, taking a few pulls off the brandy bottle while he thought. There weren’t many places Kuja had to go, though that wasn’t to say he didn’t just pop into town randomly to buy some whore or cause some mischief at the local inn. There was no way he would bother with Braxton if Damien wasn’t there to see it, and so really the only other option that he could think of was the girl, Drucilla’s input deepening his suspicion. But he couldn’t figure out why Kuja would be bothered with her after all this time. Surely he had planned to just leave her forgotten and alone until the end of her days. As they lifted the lids off the meal Drucilla had prepared them, the smell drifted through the air and pulled Damien from his thoughts. Food wasn’t something he was generally concerned with since he was immortal, and he really only bothered with it to keep the feeling of starvation at bay. But, this smelled wonderful and he couldn’t help but glance towards it. His erection finally gone, he slid to the edge of the bed and looked over everything while Drucilla and Vere continued on. He sat the bottle beside him on the floor and gathered up a plate full of food before sampling a bit of each. Had it not been for the womans words just a few moments ago, he might have told her how amazing the meal actually was. But instead, he simply stayed quiet, enjoying the various foodstuffs, taking pulls off the bottle of brandy when needed before passing it to Vere.

Vere:
Vere accepted Drucilla’s stroppiness with a grain of salt and listened to her ramble before he interceded. “It’s not that I don’t care what you do, Lady Death, but that I care more about myself.” Vere found it interesting that Drucilla would perceive Kuja as off seeing another woman, and not another man. He felt that this was an underlying feeling of jealousy for Drucilla, and wondered whether she felt for Kuja, even subconsciously. “Actually, all I have in my life is duty, or at least, all I had. Now it seems all there is is horrible misdemeanours I perpetrate on others instead of them doing the same to me.” Vere sighed, moving close to Drucilla, who hadn’t accepted his first advances, standing behind her and speaking softly into her ear. “You want him don’t you? Kuja. Otherwise, why would you come, when you know all he wants is your powers and your knowledge?” Vere slithered his words into Dru’s ear now. “Wouldn’t you rather have his powers and knowledge? Wouldn’t you rather have him at your beck and call, rather than you dropping your universally important duties at the merest hint that Kuja might want you?” Vere moved back away as the last few words left his mouth, and though they had been spoken quietly, Damien could of strained his ears to hear them. Taking the bottle of brandy, Vere took a deep sniff of the food as his eyes grew. “This is served exquisitely.”

Drucilla:
*Narrowing her eyes, she listened to Vere before she spoke with her back stiffed before turning around her face impassive with an eyebrow raised " Why would I want someone who is only interested in what I am, not who am I, I am an old friend of the family Vere, Ive known Damien's mother for years, and him (Kuja). I only came to find out what does he want, and why, and then once I have had done that I'd leave to move on with my life. Why would I want his powers, Vere? " she frowned as she folded her arms across her chest before glancing at Damien wordlessly before speaking once more to Vere " I try to cook well."*

Vere:
“Well, it looks delicious to me” said Vere, charmingly as he dug into the food. After a minute of potatoes and roast, Vere looked back up to her, “and it tastes delicious too.” Vere wondered how to broach the subject since Dru was being non-committing. “Well, if you’ve been friends with Kuja so long, you must know a lot about him. Tell me, does he have any weaknesses, or is he as powerful as he conveys himself to be?” Vere knew she wouldn’t answer directly. “The way I see it, if you’ve known him for so long, and Damien is his son, the two of you should have enough knowledge to beat Kuja, or at least stop him from doing his kind of thing so often. So why is it you two seem to act as if what happened tonight wasn’t such a strange ordeal, as if it happens all the time? Vere handed some potatoes to Damien on a plate. “If she was such good friends with your mother, don’t you think you should be especially nice to her, so you can find out what happened, especially if the old me said she was still alive?”

Damien:
He continued eating in silence, listening to them, not really wishing to join in on the subject. He had finished his plate and was setting it down when Vere suddenly passed him another, full of potatoes. He didn’t think he would be able to eat it, but took it anyways as questions were turned on him. The interrogation made Damien somewhat uneasy. It was quite possible that Vere was simply trying to get answers from him a moment ago and was simply giving him what he wanted as a reward, like coxing a child with candy. After setting the plate down on the table, he leaned back on the bed and pulled a cigarette out from his pocket, placing it between his lips but not lighting it. “She doesn’t know anything,” he muttered, the white stick bouncing up and down as he spoke, “Whatever you saw, was in the past couple years, I’m sure. And she hasn’t been around at all the entire time I’ve been here.” He leaned his head up briefly to look to Drucilla, “And another thing, who’s to say she isn’t lying about that? Why would she be friends with Kuja –and- Desora?” Letting his head fall back on the bed he lit his cigarette finally answering Vere’s taxing questions, “I have what you need to beat him. I.. don’t think I can bring myself to do it, but I can give it to you if you really want. But, you,” he stopped, pulling the cigarette from his lips and pointing it at Drucilla, “I don’t trust quite yet. So, if the two of you don’t mind, I’ll just hold on to my little secret weapon for the time being.”

Drucilla:
frowning, she looked around the room before she stepped over to bed, and taking a seat next to Damien, she crossed her left leg over her right knee as she spoke, hands on her knees, the sterling silver omega symbol ring glinting on her right ring finger " Lets see. Kuja over the years...." she trailed off as she thinks back, to the days before Vere and Damien even existed within the group, thinking with her eyes closed "I know him yet I do not at the same time.... he has grown and changed over the years as have I, I can see hes developed some consence over time, maybe as a byproduct of Desora, for what he had done and will do in the future... his powers has grown a bit, but I haven't seen them for so long, that its difficult to fathom what weakness he has, and what strengths he has now. I would like to think that his weakness would be his family, his son in fact because I am sure he wants his boy to take after him, to be stronger, and because I think, he reminds Kuja of Desora.” As if on cue, she held up a finger at Damien before adding “ I knew you would say that…” she then turned slightly to her left, her right hand hitching the length of the coat up and aside before it rummaged in her pants’ back pockets, and delicately fishing out a picture, she handed it to Damien, the picture showing two women, and two men, Kuja clearly in it with Desora, and Drucilla with a tall silver haired male, all four looking much happier and younger. “ I think that would be sufficient proof would it not be, Damien?”*

Damien:
He parted his lips to interrupt Drucilla with his protests about him being Kujas weakness, about his father wanting him to follow in his footsteps, and other things, but closed his lips as she raised her finger. He sighed and continued puffing away at his cigarette before the picture was raised in his face. Setting up, he plucked it from her fingers and stared at it for some time. She was right, it was sufficient proof. But, he simply nodded as he continued to stare at the picture. His father was smiling, something he had seen rarely. And his mother, as beautiful as ever, and as perfect as in his visions, also looking quite happy. It made his heart ache for a time he deserved to be a part of and that would never occur again. “Can I… have this?” he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving the picture, though he did hold out his hand towards Vere for the bottle again, letting his hand hover in mid air until the other would hand it to him.

Vere:
Vere slowly handed the bottle over and took the picture from Damien’s hands slowly, so that he too could see what was so important. He realised that while Kuja was a sadist and a monster at times, the happiness on his face in this picture showed that deep down, he must be a guilt ridden mess. “You all look so happy” he said, handing the picture back to Damien. “What happened to him, to you, to the other man and to his wife?” Waving his hands as if to delete the question, Vere interjected, “No, no, don’t worry… I was just thinking aloud… I don’t have time to hear everyone’s life story. I want to see Kuja. How do we find him, Drucilla, or is it about waiting for when he wants to see us?” Vere stood apart from the two now, eating a potato as he thought over what had happened tonight and what would happen soon. He took the bottle from Damien and strolled around a little, before returning to the food and the table, handing the bottle to Drucilla.

Drucilla:
Nodding slowly, she whispered as she looked away, arms folded while straightening her back " You may. It holds little to me, as it reminds me of what was to be, and what I had back then." She then glanced at Vere, as if to say " What new accusations do you have now?" but her lips remained closed. Accepting the bottle, she spoke before skulling back an amount of brandy, not caring for manners " That man was my fiance. Before Kuja interfered." Keeping an straight face, she held the bottle to either one of the men as she spoke " I think it is a waiting game now, for Kuja to come home, as he did not leave any note.... obiviously he's probably thinking we're still locked in...." She gave a shrug " Not that it matters now."*

Vere:
Vere turned his back to them momentarily and slid the vial from his sleeve back into his pocket surreptitiously. Slowly walking over to Damien, who was know doubt seconds from passing out, Vere leaned in and apologised once again “It is the safest thing I can do, I’m sorry” he said, before turning to Dru. Coursing through their veins was the poison made from the blood of the god’s, or at least, that’s what Vere told everyone. He had much less left than he remembered, and assumed he had used it on Kuja in previous encounters when his memory was in tact. It would once again void Drucilla’s powers and knock her out, at least for a while, just as it had done Kuja. He was glad his information gathering had worked so well, and Drucilla had let him know she wasn’t as powerful as Kuja, and thus, susceptible to the poison. “We will talk shortly” he said to her, as she would be approaching blackness now.

“Was the silver haired man important to you, Drucilla?” asked Vere, interestedly. “Was he, ‘what was to be’… Did Kuja take him from you?” Vere was wondering if what drove Drucilla was pure jealousy, or if there was much more to her. “If he hurt you so bad, don’t you want revenge? Surely, after knowing him so long, there is something you know that could be used against Kuja?” What Vere really wanted was for Dru to leave so Damien could spill Kuja’s weaknesses, for Vere knew that Kuja would return soon to ruin all his well laid plans. But, Dru was talking about Damien’s mother, which was important to the boy, so he simply stood and watched and waited.

Drucilla:
Speaking carefully, she chose her words " He was what was not to be." she spoke the word not in a different voice, like gravestone upon gravestone, before she continued " I had wanted my revenge, for years I have wanted nothing but that, but now... he's nothing but a shell of a man, having made hisself so empty over the years, to hide his conscience over the things hes done... it's almost pathetic how he pushes us away, yet wants us back, for his own means, and not.... be truely sincere. " she glanced at Damien " If you want me to leave, just say so, but I do have more photos and things for you, from your mother, which I can send it to you, or you can visit me when I open up my home.... I've not been home for years."*

Damien:
How could I ask you to leave after you’ve given me something as valuable to me as this?” he asked, still looking down at the picture. He took a hit off his cigarette, blowing the smoke against the picture, watching it cloud up what once was before stuffing it down into his pants pocket. “No matter what I want,” he added. Nobody had ever given him anything as special and he had to add, “Thank you, Drucilla,” before scooting up to sit with his back against the headboard. “You’re a weakness, you know,” he offered to Vere, “among others, but you’re definitely up there. Do you know why you ended up here in the first place?”

Drucilla:
Arching an eyebrow, she watched Damien before nodding slowly while uncrossing her legs, she shifted slightly so she could sit further from the edge of the bed, cross legged with her coat flowing around her " It was to be yours anyways, Damien, your mother left it for you. Vere is a weakness for Kuja?" she blinked, clearly suprised, and raising another eyebrow, she looked to vere, hands on her thighs*

Vere:
“I find it hard to believe I’m a weakness… though maybe I used to be one.” Vere made his way slowly to the door. “While I’m enjoying this chit chat, I think perhaps it’s time to leave this room” said Vere, heading for the door. He would easily be the first one to the door and stood, guarding it momentarily. “You have no qualms with Damien and I leaving the room as well, do you Drucilla? I think I want to have a look around the castle and get a better feel for Kuja.”

Drucilla:
Shaking her head, she spoke slowly as she moved to get up from the bed " None whatsoever. I'm sure you have no qualms if I leave the castle..." she then smoothed her jacket's sleeves before she reached in its pockets, pulling out a pair of black gloves "Seeing that Damien here would probably be more of a better need for me." she gestured to the boy on the bed before looking to Vere*

Damien:
He watched as Vere made his way to the door and quickly slid off the bed, grabbing the brandy bottle off the dinner cart as he did so. Drucilla’s answer didn’t seem to mean much since Vere made it to the door first, but still, he waited for it before making his way to the door. He stood close to Vere waiting on him to either exit the room or move out of the way for everyone else to, though he would be sure to drag his friend with him. After all, he still had Kuja’s weakness to give him. He glanced back at Drucilla as she asked permission to leave and tilted his head, “Why do you want to leave? Don’t you want to wait for my father to come back?” He didn’t understand her last comment but assumed it was something about leaving with her. “I want to see my mother,” he confessed, smiling sincerely at her, “But for the time being… I’d like to stay with Vere. I have some business with him, but I’ll be sure to find you again soon.”

Drucilla:
Speaking slowly, she stiffened as she glanced at Damien, straightening her back " I wasn't asking for permission to leave, Damien, and why would I want to see him now though?" she then blinked, tilting her head slightly before she answered after a moments pause " I may be able to arrange that.....but in the meantime, go with Vere, do whatever as you please, not my business." she then turned, and reaching for a box on the bottom shelf, she pulled it up before opening it on the bed quietly*

Vere:
Vere opened the door for Damien to exit before turning back to Dru, who was making a deal out of the box. “What is it?” he asked curiously, holding the door open still. Vere decided he should also repay her hospitality. “Thank you for the food as well, Dru, and for being… lenient on me, after the candle ordeal.” Vere was quite thankful, and hoped the two could part on at least amiable terms. “Will you come back to the castle at some point, at least to check that Damien and I are still alive?” Vere hoped she would, and was glad that someone with some powers would at least be around eventually to check on them. Until then, Vere knew he would have to sort Kuja out himself, and it would be no easy task.

Drucilla:
*pulling out the mini tricorne hat, a black one adorned with crimson and black feathers, an omega symbol brooch set at base of the feathers, she walked to a mirror, and setting it on her head, she spoke as she secured it with a hat pin " A mini tricorne hat... something Ive had for years. And don't mention it, the living is not my jurdiscation, and I find that doubtful that I will return because I feel, the pair of you truly do not need me, nor does Kuja, so I think, it is time I returned home. But.... if one of you dies, or are at my doors, so to speak (Death's doors), I will return, but I find that doubtful as I do not foresee any deaths in your future." she then lowered her hands, sastified with how her hat sat before she approaches the door slowly, the coat acting as a dress of sorts.*

Damien:
As Vere moved, he bounced out the door, happy to be free. He was starting to feel claustrophobic and yearned for his seat by the fire in his own room. He paused halfway through Vere’s room and picked up the compass that he had tossed on the floor the day before, stuffing it into his pocket before turning back. Though he couldn’t hear their conversation, he knew Vere had stopped to speak with Drucilla and he leaned on the wall to wait for him. As time went on and Vere hadn’t moved he rolled his eyes and moved back to the doorway, grabbing Vere’s wrist and tugging it gently, though not enough to move him. “You better leave before you get trapped again,” he warned quietly enough for only Vere to hear.

Vere:
Vere chuckled as his wrist was pulled and followed Damien to freedom. The night had been horrible, in hindsight, yet he felt a sense of relief and of no hard feelings between the three of them, which was a little odd. He bid Dru adieu once more before finally going with Damien. “What a strange night… I hope this doesn’t happen to frequently, I don’t know if I could handle much more of it. I hope Kuja doesn’t have any more friends who are likely to pop in… I don’t know if I could take it. At least she was soft on the eyes” said Vere, smiling to Damien as he looked him up and down and followed him wherever he would go.

Drucilla:
Frowning, she heard the men walk away as she folded her arms, surveying the scene with what seemed to be sadness in her eyes before she pulled out a little black business card with the silver embossed omega symbol on it, and moving to the side table in the room, she grabbed a silver inked pen from no where and writing some simple words on it, and exiting the room after the men had long been gone, she walked to the hallway, and then to the entrance, and placing the card on the table next to the door, it simply states " I am not needed." before she made her leave, disappearing into the deepening darkness outside the castle*

Damien: (28-11-09)
That’s the most dangerous kind,” Damien remarked, making his way back to his room without glancing back at Vere as he was well aware the other was following him. He took one last drink from the bottle before setting it down on the table in his room between their usual seats. “You want my fathers weakness, Vere?” he asked, falling back into his chair, “Why? Just to get revenge? It will just go back and forth between the two of you forever if that’s the case.”

Vere:
“Revenge isn’t my primary concern, Damien, but a soldier should always have a contingency plan. I need to know that there is a way to beat Kuja, and what it is, in case he needs to be stopped. Imagine if he were doing something horrible to you and I had no way of stopping him. What would I do then? Simply let him torture or kill you?” Vere sat on a nearby chair, relaxing somewhat after the long night. “What is it, tell me how to beat him, in case it is needed.”

Damien:
He listened to Vere’s words but still has his doubts that Vere wanted anything other than revenge. Though, he supposed the man did deserve it. And he did owe Vere for quite a bit. Maybe he could settle his tab for a bit and give Vere what he wanted. “Nothing you do or say can change the way he feels,” he began, his eyes sad as he knew his first words to be such a cold truth, “but, you can beat him if you take his powers away. I’m sure you have poisons for it, you did before. But, poison wears off so quickly.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the gold ring that Siren had given him to weaken his fathers powers. He supposed Kuja had never taken it from him because he knew that Damien would never use it. Not that it really mattered if he did or not considering he didn’t want to beat Kuja, simply make him love him. Powers or not, you can’t force that. “So, here you go,” he continued, holding the ring out to Vere in the palm of his hand.

Vere:
Vere took the ring slowly out of Damien’s hand, looking it over before slipping it onto a finger. “What does it do? Where did you get it? Does he even know it exists?” Vere was taken back by how real Damien’s weapon was. Surely, things wouldn’t be so simple. He kissed Damien’s hand and smiled. “Life in this castle is so hard. I don’t want to hurt him, not just because he is your father, but because of what you say of my memories… as well…” Vere broke off. “There’s just something about him that makes you want to like him. I promise, I won’t use this unless I have to Damien, so don’t fret too much for your dear father.” Vere smiled, turning the ring on his finger, enjoying the knowledge that he now had some sway in the castle… at least he hoped.

Damien:
A smile claimed the boys face as Vere asked so many questions at once as if truly excited. It was amusing to see. He cupped Vere’s cheek in his hand briefly after the kiss was given, pulling back as the other began speaking again. His smile weakened and he leaned back against the back of his chair, crossing one of his legs over the other. Kuja getting hurt wasn’t really one of his biggest concerns. Damien loved him and wanted his fathers love in return, and would always fight for it, but he had his own reasons for revenge. However, he decided to let Vere have the benefit of the doubt with this one. He wasn’t sure what he would do if Kuja were ever in serious danger. “It weakens his powers, I got it from a demon, and I’m sure knows about it,” Damien answered Vere’s questions in order. He placed his elbow on the arm of the chair and rested his head on his hand, new thoughts playing in his mind. Vere getting his memories back, now that was something to be concerned about. Damien bit his bottom lip, deep in thought for some time before resituating himself to sit sideways in the chair, facing Vere. “If… when you get your memories back, do you think you will hate me?” he asked, his amethyst orbs peering deep into Vere’s eyes, “My father seems to think so… but, I’m not sure.”

Vere:
Vere leaned in close to Damien. “How could I hate you? You’re the one thing that has kept me sane in this strange place. Vere rested a hand on Damien’s hand and looked into those purple orbs. Were they hiding something? He wondered… “I can’t think of any reason that I would hate you, though you’re right, I won’t know until I have my memories. I wonder how it will change things” said vere in a more worried tone. “Especially since you all claim I have such strong feelings for Kuja.” Vere’s eyes drifted around the room with a worried look. “Was your life easier before this? When I first got here, I thought it was like a holiday. No wars, no killing… now I’m not sure which is worse, and which I want.” Vere leanedback in the chair, relaxing and holding Damien’s hand a little longer.

Damien:
He squeezed Vere’s hand tightly, finding little comfort in his words. But, he supposed that’s all either of them could do, wait and see what happened. He looked away, not letting go of Vere’s hand, though, “If you’re referring to when you first came here, I guess I was happy. It’s the closest I ever got to my father in my entire life. He was my everything, and I think… or rather I like to think, that for that brief moment, I was his.” Reaching over to grab the nearly empty bottle off the table, he took what would have been the last drink usually, saving a bit this time, though, for Vere. The past few pulls off the bottle were starting to catch up to him and eased his thoughts somewhat. It didn’t matter what Vere would feel, he decided. Now was all that mattered. Sliding from his chair he moved to sit in the floor in front of the others chair and lay his head in Vere’s lap. “Life was never easy here, Vere,” he continued, closing his eyes as he was beginning to feel very tired, “And it never will be. But, no matter what, don’t give in or run away. Stay here for me.”

Vere:
Vere brushed Damien’s hair with his hand and smiled as he looked down at him. “Maybe one day, he will love you like he should, but until then, I will stay with you, Damien, and make sure you’re okay” he said, continuing the brush through the hair. Vere took the bottle and gently rested it on the bedside table, not wanting to take any more booze. Vere felt very comfortable in the others presence and wished the nights in the castle were all like things were just now, and not how they were hours earlier, still he decided to try and relax, closing his eyes and enjoying Damien’s company. “Goodnight Damien. Dream of your mother, and tell her I said hello” he said quietly, still patting the boys head. “I’ll see you in the morning” he said reassuringly as his own eyes closed.

Love & Death

2009-11-27T05:55:29Z

25/11/09

(Sorry if you read this, Des. It's a bit mean)

“Where is it you go? What do you do?” Nicholas asked Kuja somewhat sad and distraught having spent a long time in the room Kuja had given him, alone, waiting and wanting to be with him. Kuja’s expression remained impassive as he was silently regarding the others feelings. He had never been missed before, or told that he was.

“I avoid you, Nicki, that is what I do so you will miss me even more.” Kuja eventually teased.

“That’s not fair. Why won’t you tell me?”

It’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t want to. Kuja knew the other was fragile, delicate, unstable. That is why he brought him to the castle, he would rather Nicki sat alone in his castle than alone, unmoving and unfeeling in his own dark quarters.

The scene changed and Kuja found himself walking down a dark, black and empty void, his own loneliness starting to ring more prominent with each step. Eventually he saw something in the void and knew instantly that it was Balthameul, lying on a cold stone slab with his eyes closed. However Kuja was still a while away when iron bars slowly came into vision before him. He stood behind the barricade that Balthameul’s heart defended himself with, looking on impassively.

When Kuja’s eyes adjusted a little more he noticed that Balthameul was completely submerged underwater. A white streak of panic cut across Kuja’s heart, reminiscent of a time he frantically pulled the other from sinking to the depths of a pool. Now dark shadows in the water began to slowly rise and wisp in murky tendrils around Balthameul, reaching higher and higher up the stone to consume his friend. Kuja’s hands were gripping the bars now. “No, please.” Kuja called to the other. “Please don’t feel that way…” He couldn’t bend or break the bars and his arm ran through, a desperate hand reaching. “Please let me in, Balthameul. Please let me help you. Please trust me again…” Kuja slid to his knees, a hand to his crying face.

The darkness consumed Balthameul until he was no longer visible in the haze, a god that could not die slumbered instead for eternity if he could. “I was your reason once before, please let me be your reason again. Why won’t you believe me?”

“I’m sick of your games! Why do you do this? Why do you to these things? Why do you play and hurt me like this?” Nicholas had completely trashed his room, his fists trembling with anxiety by his side while Kuja sat in his chair.

“You’re pathetic.”

The chair was now a thrown as Kuja sat with one leg crossed over the other, a regal disposition with his hands over the arm rests, his expression just as firm as Nicholas’ blood from slitting his own throat ran over the stone and under Kuja’s feet. Vere, Damien and others who have also attempted to kill themselves because of him, and others who have been victim to his cruelty lined and decorated the long and large chamber in their unconscious, near death like states, strung in spidery chains.

“All this time I yearned to fall at your feet.” Kuja said to innocence, looking over and above his shoulder to the angelic statue of Desora, her wings folded, her hands entwined at her chest, the beautiful monument raised in a place of worship. “For all the regret and self-loathing in my heart, for all my mistakes and wicked deeds” He climbed up onto the high pillar, making his way to the statue whose expression seemed to grow sadder and sadder as the colour of life started to appear. “A thousand deaths I would have died for all the grief I have done to you.” His hand stroked through the strands of soft blond hair and as green tearful eyes slowly opened, he gently yet forcefully pulled her head back. “But time has taken its toll and now I curse you for all the misery you have put me through. For opening up my heart which has taken me so long to undo. I will torture you the most until the end of my days. And I will revel.”

Happy Birthday Des! From Damien & Kuja

2009-11-26T10:03:23Z

[original image/pose credit: Wenquing Yan, yuumei @ deviant]

Model Music Video - Bleeding Love

2009-11-22T10:26:24Z

Model - Bleeding Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShT1_lx_j54

Damien Cosplay Trial

2009-11-21T06:43:56Z

Argh, i'm so stupid! I should of whacked a cigarette in there too! ARGH!! I can't be bothered doing all that again *stomps and goes to smoke, all Damien like*

Oh! And the necklace was a present from my darling René who sent it to me, a replica of a necklace Kuja once gave to Damien.

Pre The Room Play: Damien & Kuja

2009-11-12T11:38:30Z

Related:
-Pre The Room Play: Drucilla & Vere
-Pre The Room Play: Damien & Kuja
-The Room Play Part I
-Distraction (René & Kuja)
-The Room Play Part II
-Goodbye to the Room

Damien:
With the help of the compass siren had given him, he managed to find Vere’s hiding spot. Or… at least the general area. He stood in front of the empty wall and frowned. “There’s nothing here!” he shouted down at the round piece of metal in his hands. Moving from side to side, he followed the arrow with his eyes as it never stopped pointing at the same place on the wall. “Whatever!” he shouted, frustrated as he threw the compass against the wall. He took the final pull off the bottle of brandy in his hand before tossing it as well. For awhile, he simply paced back and forth in Vere’s room, every so often trailing his fingers over the wall to see if there were any hidden switches. He found none, but, this had to be the place. The projection he had seen was an exact replica of his friends room. There was only one thing to do and that was destroy the room until he found any clues. He began with the dresser, pulling out each drawer and examining it before tossing it across the room and moving to the next. After that he moved on to the book case, pulling out each book individually and shaking it upside down to see if anything would fall out. After a bit, he pulled a book that didn’t seem like a book at all besides its appearance. His eyes widened as the wall turned into some sort of portal, rippling as if it were water, a pool on the wall. Climbing down from the bookshelf he was hanging on, he slowly moved to stand in front of it. He could see them, but he couldn’t hear them. His hand moved to reach out before stopping right as it would touch. “It can’t be that easy,” he whispered, dragging a chair over and placing in front of the portal. He sat in the chair and watched the pair, mostly bickering over things. His thoughts weren’t with the two, though, they were with his father. Why would the man wish to imprison them in the first place? And for what? To lay in his bed and giggle about it? He must be truly lonely. It made him feel bad for him. Bad that he couldn’t help him, that nobody could, at least not until Kuja would allow it.

With the help of the compass siren had given him, he managed to find Vere’s hiding spot. Or… at least the general area. He stood in front of the empty wall and frowned. “There’s nothing here!” he shouted down at the round piece of metal in his hands. Moving from side to side, he followed the arrow with his eyes as it never stopped pointing at the same place on the wall. “Whatever!” he shouted, frustrated as he threw the compass against the wall. He took the final pull off the bottle of brandy in his hand before tossing it as well. For awhile, he simply paced back and forth in Vere’s room, every so often trailing his fingers over the wall to see if there were any hidden switches. He found none, but, this had to be the place. The projection he had seen was an exact replica of his friends room.
There was only one thing to do and that was destroy the room until he found any clues. He began with the dresser, pulling out each drawer and examining it before tossing it across the room and moving to the next. After that he moved on to the book case, pulling out each book individually and shaking it upside down to see if anything would fall out. After a bit of destroying the room, his fingers happened upon a book that seemed.. fixed somehow. He smiled as he realized it must be the switch to let the other out, but… they did seem to be having a good time. He missed his friend, but realized from past experience with him, Vere would simply abandon him in the end. Maybe.. it was best to leave them where they were. It wasn’t clear, even to himself, if what he felt was his true feelings or something produced by the alcohol, but either way, his mind was quickly made up. Climbing down from the bookshelf, he found his way back to Kuja’s room. Whether he wanted him to be or not, Kuja had always been there in the end. And so it was him that Damien had decided to latch on to, if only for the time being. He decided it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. Without knocking, he entered his fathers room and fell back onto the couch again, his eyes wondering to his fathers, “What do you do… when you are lonely?”

Kuja:
Kuja covered up his leaks once more and moved back to watching Drucilla and Vere, his legs swishing idly against each other in the air, enjoying himself with the delightful entertainment. He couldn’t wait to see what they would eventually do, and the longer they held back, the sooner he would be there to spice things up. He grinned to himself, starting to think of things to make things more entertaining before Damien wandered into the room, reclaiming what seemed to be his couch. “Hmm? Lonely? Why, if I was lonely, I would go and find a delightful date. Or make myself feel better by simply sodomising you, or one of your dates.” He grinned.

Damien:
“In that case,” Damien started, turning away from Kuja’s projection to better fix his attention on his father, “I should sodomize you?” He winked and fumbled around his pockets for his cigarettes. Finding a fresh pack, he pulled it out and lit one. “I found them, you know?” he informed Kuja, not sure if the other would care, and not caring if he did, “But… “ His words trailed off as he wasn’t entirely sure why he had left them. Maybe he was angry, maybe his feelings were hurt, or maybe… he just wanted to please his father for once and found this to be an easy chance for him to do so. “Have you trapped them there to have them all for yourself? Because… you’re lonely too? It can’t be entirely for your entertainment.”

Kuja:
He quirked an eyebrow to Damien’s wink before waiting and listening to the boys attempt over small talk. He could not help but scrutinize, with Damien’s caring, not caring then caring again, which feelings he thought were about the others locked away along with Damien’s own sadness. He turned the question around, sounding amused. “Does my son truly not know how to have a good time in life? Have you never found something simply fun?”

Damien:
“I guess not,” he answered without bothering to think about it. There were probably only a small handful of times that he had actually had fun. But none of them had anything to do with tormenting people. Damien stood and crossed the room before seating himself on the edge of Kuja’s bed to stare at the projection of the pair with him. He sighed and inhaled from his cigarette, leaning back to rest himself on his elbows, “So show me a good time, then.” A smile crept over his face and he shook his head. It wasn’t like his father to give in to his demands. Or even take suggestions for that matter. And for that reason, he decided to add, “Yeah, I’ll pay you back somehow eventually. You don’t have to do it for free.”

Kuja:
He waited on the others words, and it brought an intrigued and interested expression, mostly appearing sly as he leaned a little towards the others direction as he looked back. The way the boy said it made it seem like a challenge. “Oh, this is free of charge.” Kuja replied, smirking as he looked back to the screen, chin on entwined fingers and the volume turned up. He couldn’t see how anyone wouldn’t find this site amusing as Drucilla and Vere went about their stuck position, their quarrels and insults, forced to do things they wouldn’t normally also all while not knowing they were being watched. “I can’t believe they’re in the bathroom together! Would you like me to zoom in? I bet you miss it, dying to taste it again.” He laughed before being all ears when they began talking about himself. “I’m not really like that, am I, Damien? I wouldn’t go back on a deal.” He snickered, “And as if I need to –try- to gain control of this situation.”

Damien:
Frowning, his eyes rolled over to his father, watching his every move. There was something disturbing about the man’s extreme enjoyment from it all, but, at the same time, Damien had never seen Kuja so happy and excited before, which brought a smile to his own face, regardless of his fathers insult. “I’m sure you know as well as me it’s nothing that could really be missed,” he answered, letting his eyes move back to the projection. He took a few hits off his cigarette, listening, watching, waiting, before Kuja’s words came again. “I don’t know about going back on a deal, but you’d definitely make the outcome suit only you. But… I guess that’s part of the fun, too, hm?” Deciding that if he was going to try he should give his all, he gave a half smile as it was all he could manage for now at Drucilla’s intentions, “He’s not even picking up on her advances. You’d think a man so obsessed with love would have gotten it by now. And is this really something you are going to be able to watch? You seemed awfully upset about that fishing trip. Do you want me to cover your eyes?” He gave Kuja a playful nudge before sitting upright on the bed to snuff out his cigarette in an empty candleholder, “Would you like me to find us something to drink?

Kuja:
He barely paid attention to Damien now as the pair seemed to get more fired up at each other with each word and he knew something great was bound to happen. As Damien nudged him he considered and retorted to the boys words. “As if, Damien! Like your libidos offend me, if anything I’m glad you did it for the day Vere might perhaps get his memories back and shake his head at having had you touch him.” He conjured a drink in his hand, ready to pass it along in a minute. “Though even if he’ll never remember, I’ll enjoy it enough for the both of us!” He laughed before taking a pull of his drink, which didn’t sit for very long as when Drucilla suddenly stood up, her chest fully exposed, Kuja spat his drink out and laughed again. “Shall I cover your eyes now, Damien? Seeing as you prefer flatter chests.” He couldn’t help himself, it was in his nature, though he was being more playful as opposed to really trying to attack the other.

When the pair started talking about their options and trying to come to a decision once more, Kuja returned to looking smug and sly, ankles rubbing against each other in anticipation, an eager cat ready to pounce upon an opportunity. He sighed, though still with a smile. “The misunderstandings never cease to follow me.” He commented as Drucilla and Vere seemed to have forgotten what he had offered, blown it out of the water even, which he didn’t blame them for. But still… it was slightly annoying as it destroyed the game he had originally set up and made for a different theme. “Oh well.” He said, sitting up as they were calling for him. “But I guess I should have already known she wasn’t interested in having some fun with me.” He was sad about that before a thought entered and he tilted his head towards Damien. “And what about you? Is this fun?”

Damien:
He paid no attention to Kuja’s words and simply sat quietly watching as the show went on His eyes widened as Drucilla stood and he lowered his eyes to the floor. It was that shameless action that made him fully decide he didn’t much care for the girl. He was leery in the first place, but the fact that this woman seemed to only have one thing on her mind at all times made up his mind for him. It would either be Vere or his father. One of the two, he knew she would take away from him. And he wasn’t ready to give up either. Rolling his amethyst orbs back to Kuja, he simply stared at the man’s excitement. He wasn’t sure what to do, which side to choose, and so was fine simply observing. However, he knew that look, and well. Kuja wasn’t going to just let him sit back and watch. “I suppose…” Damien began, pausing briefly to consider his answer. On one hand, his friend was on the receiving end of Kuja’s game. But, he wasn’t really in any danger that Damien could see, aside from the woman he was trapped with. And on the other hand, there was a chance he could bridge the gap between him and his father. “I suppose it could be,” he went on, “if not for your snide remarks.” He leaned forward on the side of the bed and stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. Looking back over his shoulder at his father he gave a weak smile, “What do you have in mind for them?"

Projections

2009-11-10T11:10:31Z

Kuja:
Kuja was lying on his bed, his chin upon his fists as he lay on his stomach, his feet in the air behind him, absently rubbing together as his eyes looked to the wall where a projection of certain events was being played out. For most he held a huge grin and other times he would burst into laughter. “Are you suggesting we have a naked wrestling match to death or rather near death?” Drucilla narrowed her eyes at Vere and Kuja laughed again. “I don’t see bodies piled up or hidden, only people drawn to a depraved sadist.” Kuja hollered back to Vere’s projection, “Always so obsessed with death!” Kuja laughed. “The only way we are going to have the upper hand here is to do something exactly the opposite of his expectations, something he’d never think of…” Drucilla trailed off and Kuja smirked. “But you don’t even know what it is I expect of you, dearest Drucilla…” He giggled and kicked his feet together.

Damien:
How long was he going to have to wait? Damien was beginning to wonder if Kuja was just messing with him when he made his deal. It had been how many days now? And still no word from him? It also bothered him that he hadn't seen that girl in a few days. He thought he'd at least catch her snooping in one of the rooms again, but no. Not that he cared, he just wondered what was up. He was tired of waiting for Kuja to come to him and so decided to go to him instead. After grabbing a bottle of brandy from the kitchen as a peace offering, he climbed the stairs to his fathers room and knocked on the door. No answer came and he frowned, pressing his ear to the door only to be met with the sound of laughter. He pushed open the door and stood there in the doorway, staring at Kuja with a confused look on his face before his eyes would travel to the projection. "Are you having a good time?" he asked, closing the door behind him and moving to sit on the couch. He set the bottle of brandy down on the table in front of him before motioning towards it. "Would you like a drink to accompany your festivities?" he asked, his eyes still glued to the projection.

Kuja:
He stopped laughing when Damien came into the room, the projection faltering for a moment or so, but the boys innocent face made him think it harmless to have it still running and he grinned as Damien stared at it. Drucilla and Vere stuck arguing in a room together, that looked pretty much the same as Vere’s normal room void of windows. “No we need something else… something that’d get word to Damien somehow…” Drucilla said. Kuja shuffled his feet once more and grinned. “What do you think, Damien? I’ll wager he won’t need your services for much longer” he chuckled. “And how about that, they think you, of all people, can help them! I’ll tell them later that you’ve been too busy screwing other boys and crying in your room.”

Damien:
He frowned at his fathers words. How hateful. Reaching forward he upturned a clean glass setting on Kuja's table and poured himself a drink. After setting the bottle back down, he took a sip and leaned back, slouching against the back of the couch. "But, I am going to help them. Because we have a deal," he reminded, "And though it's been days, you still haven't come to me with any demands. Am I to assume you haven't any and therefore Vere can just come back gratis?" He stared down into his glass of brandy, swirling it around and watching it spin before he took another drink. His mind couldn't help but wonder to Drucilla. Had Kuja brought her there to drive a wedge between himself and Vere? Or for his own entertainment? Or maybe she was something else all together. She had mentioned being his fathers friend. Who's to say that she wasn't there to help Kuja hurt Vere. "Why is that woman here?" he asked after a few seconds of silent thought, "She says you invited her."

Kuja:
Drucilla and Vere now sat on opposite ends of the room and were looking ready to go to sleep, the conversation dying out, and as Damien didn’t give much of a reaction he pouted slightly and leant his head heavily against one hand, the other down on the bed as he looked at the back of Damien. “You’re so arrogant, Damien. Do you really think i put Vere in these situations just for you?” He grinned, fingers playing with the lace at the end of the bed sheets. “Oh, so you met Lady Death? What did you think of her?” He asked, very interested as the projection of the two sleeping changed to a close up of Damien’s current face.

Damien:
Damien rolled his eyes as the projection changed and turned around to lean his forearms on the back of the couch, his glass dangling from his fingertips. His eyes followed Kujas fingers as they moved as he thought about his answer. "I suppose I don't have an opinion of her yet," he answered, the womans words about not judging one by their friends echoing in his head. He decided not to mention his worries, if only to not give his father the satisfaction, "She seems to really like you, though. What do -you- think of her? And why did you bring her here?"

Kuja:
He watched Damien’s lips on the big screen with that disappointing undecided answer before looking to Damien’s true eyes. The other seemed a little harder to read tonight, or perhaps he was empty from recent events. Either way, Kuja didn’t really take an interest to his motives being questioned as he looked down at his own fingers now and the lacings. He was divided, between keeping Damien on his toes and sharing his joy for his son meeting his old friend. “Hmm, I wouldn’t use the word ‘like’ personally. You should know anyone who knows the real me doesn’t particularly ‘like’ me.” He chuckled. “But I suppose the old me used to be liked a little by people…” He smiled lightly to himself before looking back to Damien, seeing if his words explained the relationship enough.

Damien:
"Then why would you imprison her, as well?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. He sighed and turned back around, settling back down into the cushion, "Nevermind, I don't care why she is here or what you plan on doing with her." Not to mention the fact that he was more distrustful of her now than ever. He stared at the projection still zoomed in on his face and frowned, "Turn it off." Letting his eyes drop to the table in front of him, he leaned forward and flipped over another glass, filling it with the dark liquid as well, "Come have a drink with me."

Kuja:
“Heh…” He smiled to himself again with the others response before asking, “Why would I want to share a drink with you and over what? It is obvious we don’t share the same tastes.” The projection of Damien stopped mirroring him, but the star didn’t change and turned into a different scene of Damien moaning over Braxton, pounding away, the sounds amplified.

Damien:
Damien winced at the scene before finishing his drink in one swallow and slamming the empty glass down on the table next to the one he had poured for Kuja. He stood, grabbing the bottle as he did so and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Once in the hall, he leaned against the wall taking pull after pull from the bottle. How extremely distasteful of his father. And how angry it had made him. He imagined the other was probably back to giggling between the sheets like a school girl, wholeheartedly enjoying the anger he had caused. Damien smirked and shook his head. He didn't want to let his father win. One more drink and he entered the room again, grabbing a chair as he walked by it and dragging it over in front of his fathers bed. He turned it away from the projection and seated himself in it, staring down at Kuja and that self-satisfied expression on his face, "You claim to live for me. But, I think you live to torment me." He held the bottle out to his father, his fingers wrapped around he neck, "We'll drink to the only thing we both love, then. To my mother."

Kuja:
He burst into laughter as the other stormed out, rolling on to his back with his hands over his ecstatic chest. He called out for the other to hear marching angrily down the corridor, “But you’re missing the best bit! And there are still so many more scenes to come! If you know what I mean?” He continued to laugh to himself, before rolling back as Damien re-entered, looking at him intrigued and amused. All up until the mention of Desora. His lips stretched thinly as he looked at the bottle before back to Damien, cheek back in his hand. “I don’t particularly think that works for us either. It’s not very fair when I have so many more stories to contribute than you.” He stirred now, stretching a little as he moved to sit up with his legs crossed, finally taking the drink and having a pull. “But I guess I’ll show you some any way. I’ve been wanting to see this again for some time.” He said, a rather uncaring expression as he looked to the screen again, the bottle on his knee, as he watched Desora being raped by a man Damien wouldn’t know, but even if Damien didn’t care to turn to see he would understand by the sounds.

Damien:
He grit his teeth as the screen switched to the scene of his mother. Furrowing his brow, his eyes never left his fathers, the screen reflecting in those cold blue eyes. "That never happened," he said in a voice barely above a whisper, "And if it did, then you are bigger bastard than I originally thought. The fact that you can stare at such a vulgar scene only goes to prove that you never loved her, and that is the reason she won't come back. Because you are a cruel uncaring piece of shit." The sound of his mother being raped was almost too much for him to stay fixed to the chair, but he was too angry to give in. Reaching in his pocket he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, leaning back in his chair and glaring at the other.

Kuja:
He stared at the scene as Damien spoke to him. It had been so long and he didn’t care to remember it much and no longer knew what were lies and truths of the images in his head anymore, but he knew this happened, whether he was there, told or shown. He winced at Damien’s further words before bringing the palm of his hand to his own eye as he looked down. He hoped he would laugh further at Damien’s anger, which would inevitably prove to himself more than anything that he no longer cared. “You know, Damien…” All the projections stopped and returned to being a normal wall, “You say you want me to stay, but you don’t know why. Even Vere, before I sent him away, told me that he just wanted to see me happy, but you don’t even want that. You say I am only living to torment you, and if that is the case, it is because it is your will.” He sighed deeply, steadying his breath, though he shed no tears and took another pull from the drink.

Damien:
"Nothing you say ever makes any sense to me, old man," he muttered, stealing the bottle back and taking a drink for himself. He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve before continuing, "And incidentally, I do know why I want you. -And- I do want you to be happy. You have no idea how bad I wish for that." He took a hit off his cigarette while placing the bottle back in his father’s hand, "But, I do not want for you to torment me." Exhaling his smoke, he hooked his foot under the bottom of the bed and leaned back in his chair, now on only two of its four legs, "I came here to see when Vere would be returned, so... what's the answer?"

Kuja:
He stared at the edge of the bed with all of the others words before shaking his head sadly. “I am only happy when I torment. You know this, and you are never happy when I am. Stop… trying to drag this out any longer… if you don’t want me to hurt you anymore and others anymore, and if you wish for my happiness, then let me go…”

Damien:
He sighed heavily, letting his chair fall forward. Kuja obviously wasn't going to speak with him about Vere at all tonight. "I hate when you do this," he groaned. His fathers depression was so.... depressing. It was probably the worst torture Kuja was capable of. For Damien, anyways. It always made him feel bad, feel sad, for Kuja. And that was something he didn't want to do right now. He stood, leaning down afterwards to lift his fathers chin enough to place a kiss on those thin lips. "Go back to your tormenting, then," he whispered, plucking the brandy bottle of his of hands and replacing it with his cigarette. With that, he quietly left the room and began searching the castle for his friend. It would be a long night, he decided, but at least he would have the bottle to keep him company.

Kuja:
Damien’s lips were so familiar and it woke him up a little, but then he remembered how fleeting they were too. Those whispered words should mean a lot, but they weren’t true, merely a temporary fix for the situation and he came to staring blankly at the cigarettes in his hand before Damien left. He winced again and crushed the packet in his hand before the crumbled ball hit the floor. It wasn’t enough. Even if Damien was just a boy, he was responsible for his own actions, which had inevitably led him to being responsible for Kuja’s will. Though he couldn’t see that, or doesn’t care, and Kuja didn’t know how else to tell him. He would sit on the floor, leaning against the bed, drinking and waiting for the feelings to go die down again.

The Room with Dru & Vere

2009-11-08T04:30:58Z

Vere:
As his eyes slowly opened, Vere remembered where he was and sighed. He looked around groggily, rubbing his eyes before seeing Drucilla in one of the other corners of the room. “Good morning, Lady Death” he said sarcastically. “What shall we do today, sit around in our tomb perhaps?” Vere stretched a little and stood, deciding to let go of his bitterness. “So, we may as well work out how we’re going to get out of here, or at least, how we’re going to get on in here. Maybe you should start by telling me a little about yourself?”

Drucilla:
Speaking from the ensuite, Drucilla popped her head out of the doorway in the direction of the slumbering male " I think it'd be evening by now Vere.... and why would you want to know more about myself? You've already decided that I am Kuja's whore." she reappeared, folding her arms across her chest, her outfit still the same except the corset still remained on the ground where she left it, with sleeves rolled up, the doctor martens boots also next to the corset in her corner, ankles crossed as she leaned against the doorframe, hair tied back in a simple ponytail, very different from the usual neat and polished Drucilla that the residents of the castle were used to seeing.*

Vere:
“It may have been… rash to have called you a whore” he said earnestly, “but you were willing to hear him out and possibly accept his deal in spite of what it would amount to for Damien and I. But. No matter, if you don’t want to tell me who or what you are, fair enough.” Vere stretched some more and drank some water that had been left in a pitcher. “Shall we get down to business? The only way out of here is for you to accept Kuja’s deal, and that would make you his whore, doubtlessly. However, if you were to accept his deal so that you could at least let Damien know where I was, then perhaps fate would forgive your misgivings.”

Drucilla:
*Smirking, she shook her head as she wandered over to the nearest table and chair that wasnt occupied by Vere, sitting there with her feet propped on the edge of the table " Hmm I'm a bit out of Fates' reach...." she smirked before she folded her arms, slouching in the seat " and I refuse to let the....." she struggles to word kuja in a less lewd, ruder way before resigning to a very tame name "Man have me back in his bed..... but there must be a way we can make the deal to our advantage and not his own.... I was willing to hear both sides out first, not giving him the full advantage of the suitation." she then closed her eyes, waiting for Vere's response*

Vere:
This woman was becoming stranger and stranger as she divulged more information about herself. She was immortal? She was death? Weirdest of all, she had shared a bed with Kuja? Vere wondered what it was about the man that seemed to attract such skilled and powerful lunatics before remembering that he too, was supposedly one of them. “Why did you come to the castle, if not to see Kuja?” Vere was sure there was something amiss and still wasn’t convinced by Drucilla’s wish to hear both ‘sides.’ “There is no sides to this ‘argument’, I’m merely being held here against my will. If you’re so powerful, why can’t you just get us out of here?”

Drucilla:
*Pointing at the air above her, she spoke slowly " Listen, kid, I'd get us out of here if it was not for the anti magic thing... you think I can't feel that dampening what powers I have? I came here to find out why Kuja wanted me to live here.... and possibly get my vengeance, if I can. Besides as Death I am meant to be standing back, listening to both sides before jumping even against or for
a man with a god complex and addiction to brandies." with that, she sat up straight before standing up from her seat, arms folded as she watched Vere " so any ideas on how we can get out, without any magical means?"*

Vere:
Vere shook his head. “I have no idea about what ‘magical field’ you’re talking about. I don’t work with tricks, I use cold hard steel and skill… something not so respected around these parts.” Vere paced a little, thinking of how to get them out of here. “It would take far too long to dig our way out. You say you’re ‘Death’ or a death? If something were going to happen to you, would someone come to save you?”

Drucilla:
*watching him pace around, she smirked as she spoke mirthlessly " I am one of the grim reapers, yes, and no, the someone won't come to save my backside in this suitation because this is my jurdiscation, and if I am in my area, it does not mean I am missing or need assistance. Stupid I know." she crosses her arms behind her back as she walked around slowly, looking around the room*

Vere:
Vere scowled. He had hoped he could bring the other to near death so that someone would come to her aid, but it seemed that would not be the case. “Perhaps, then, your only option is to accept Kuja’s proposal? There really is no other way I can see. It is impossible that I could get out of here while he is playing his game, so it makes sense that if you have a way out, you take it.” Vere paced some more wracking his brain for a way out. The only other option is when he comes back in, you fight him… unless of course the grim reaper is powerless in the face of the skinny wretch Kuja? Or perhaps, too scared?”

Drucilla:
rowling at the last words, she stormed over to vere with suprisingly quick speed for a person who's known for her magical talents, and slamming him against the wall with hands on his shirt collars, she spoke slowly, growling her words out " I am not powerless nor scared of that fool! Now, be nice and I might find us a way out, give him a deal that gets you out of here somehow." she released him
adruptly before she stepped back from him, arms folded*

Vere:
Vere laughed as she slammed him against the wall a huge grin on his face. “There’s never been any mortal, any three mortals who could face me. I hunt mages and vampires and despots and slay armies” Vere stood more proudly and got louder “without powers, what would you possibly do to me?” Vere’s face turned more serious now, as he realised what was happening. “Kuja is playing us off against each other. He knows we’re both arrogant, he knows you don’t stand a chance against me without your powers and he knows I don’t have much of a chance against you when you do have them… so if we fight, we’re playing into his girly hands.” Vere bumped Drucilla’s shoulder as he moved past her to pace some more. “He won’t let me out of here, he wants to torment Damien, since the boy and I are friends. The only option is that you fight him when the field goes down, or that you accept the lunatics deal, whatever it may be.”

Drucilla:
*Scowling, she let him bump her to the side as she placed her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed while she watched him pace " Extactly... I reckon the only way we are going to have the upper hand here is to do something extactly the opposite of his expectations, something he'd never think of.... " she trailed off, rubbing at her chin as she pondered, brows furrowed in concentration " But what?"*

Vere:
Vere looked at her and thought of the unexpected thing he had done with Damien. “I can only think of a few unexpected things, and it seems you didn’t like when I tried that previously. We either have to get on REALLY well” he said, turning to look her up and down before meeting her eyes “or one of us has to very nearly die, and I fancy if it comes to the latter, I prefer my experience with keeping victims alive to your experience with showing up once they’re already dead.”

Drucilla:
Arching an eyebrow, she eyed him as she spoke slowly " what did you try previously on me that I didn't like? Are you suggesting we have to have a naked wrestling match to death or rather near death? " she narrowed her eyes at him, waiting for a clear concise answer although she already knew what he was talking about*

Vere:
Vere laughed at Dru’s comment. “If we wrestle naked, it would be to die a little death” said Vere. “I assumed, however, from your earlier words that you didn’t take a shining to my previous flirtations, before I lost my memories. I can’t see why, though. The point still stands that either we get very close or we fight until Kuja has no choice but to break us up or let one of us die. If what you all tell me about my past memories is true, I don’t think he’ll let any of us die.”

Drucilla:
*frowning, she spoke to him as she tilted her head, her words carefully chosen " You really have forgotten.... and no... you never flirted with me as far as I know... just had a very bad habit in regards to people's privancy....." she smirked as she walked closer to Vere, tapping at his chest " That is what I did not take a shine to. And no, he would never let you die indeed. never."*

Vere:
“And what about you? Are you and he friends enough that if you were to die at my hands, he would interfere and save you? For all that Kuja seems cruel, he doesn’t seem to kill often. I don’t see bodies piled up or hidden, only people drawn to a depraved sadist.” Vere felt strange to know that he was important enough not to be kill-able, but while he wished he could understand his old memories, he felt he wouldn’t want them once he had them.”

Drucilla:
*Speaking slowly, she shrugged as she looked up into Vere's eyes " Me? honsently I'm the friend hed love to kill, but wants to keep close.... I'm sure he'd want me dead if I nearly kill you...." she smirked slightly before speaking in afterthought " actually... you do have a point.... for all he is, he never had any bodies hidden in some wardrobe..."*

Vere:
Vere laughed again. It seemed death had quite a sense of humour. “Well, shall we work this plan out then? Are you to take me to the brink of death, or shall I do it to you?” Vere didn’t like the sound of this plan either way, since it would no doubt involve a lot of pain for one of them. “Unless we can come up with another way out of this, I don’t know what we’re going to do, Drucilla… this is going to hurt for one of us.”

Drucilla:
*Smirking, she shook her head as she spoke " No, That plan of nearly killing each other won't work, He may not be watching us or listening or really care what we do with each other.... in the meantime... we'll have to think of something else, and at least he didn't leave us tied up." she gestured at the discared manacles and bindings*

Vere:
Vere growled at the situation and the fact that Kuja could be watching them both this very moment. “Well you’re the one who knows him, whose shared his bed. Haven’t you got any ideas about how we can possibly get out of here? I don’t like the idea of being stuck in this one room for the rest of my time, and, no offence, being stuck with you only has two highlights, from what I’ve seen so far” he said, laughing to himself. I think our best bet is for you to simply accept his deal, Drucilla. At least then you’ll be free and I’ll be alone. That works for both of us, I think. More to the point, once you’re out, you can get me out.”

Drucilla:
*holding a finger up, she spoke slowly with a frown " I never shared his bed, he raped me, probably same thing but I beg to differ.. No, I'm not about to leave you here to his enjoyment, what if he gags me from telling Damien, hmm? or wipe my memory? No we need something else.... something thatd get word to damien somehow. and what were those two highlights?" she raised both eyebrows*

Vere:
Vere laughed at the last question as his eyes averted down to the other’s cleavage before returning. “You’re right, I’ve seen better” he laughed. Vere curled back into his corner, unsure of what to do. “I think we need to go with one of my three proposals; either you get your clothes off, go off with Kuja or shuffle off this mortal coil temporarily, but no matter what, I can’t see any way out of this for us.” Vere took another sip of water and closed his eyes once more. “Wake me up if you think of a better idea, or if you can’t keep your hands off me” was the last thing he would say, with a smile on his face.

Drucilla:
*She could only stare at him open mouthed for a moment before she closed her mouth, refraining the urge to retort back that she was sure he wasn't even well endowed down there before he spoke, the desire to retort dying quickly as she heard his ideas. Folding her arms across her chest, she spoke after a while " Very well, I'll let you have your sleep before I reveal my decision." she then retreats to her corner, to settle down in that corner*

All That I'm Living For

2009-11-08T02:50:59Z

Kuja wandered with a bottle in one hand and a sheathed sword in the other, the tip dragging along the grainy pathway through the gardens. He was quite drunk and ended up deep into the gardens where he felt there were no eyes from the castle to oversee. He sat upon the base of a marble statue and continued to drink. After a period of staring blankly he let out a sigh before turning to the statue, and with his sword, even sheathed, he swung the blade through the air diagonally down to the ground, and within the second, the marble statue would crack and shatter, raining to the pebbles below. He did this to many of the statues, if not at all of them, obliterating them in different ways and the last he used his unsheathed sword, clanging at the statue not much bigger than himself. Before his sword could break, the marble gave in like the rest.

Exhausted he began to make his way back, but he found with each step he took, his powers would weaken. It was like loosing ones sense of hearing, sight and feeling, ones sense of the world but he wasn’t afraid and did not care as he knew who it was that stood in wait for him with that nullifying ability. Damien stood, puffing away on a cigarette, having been waiting for Kuja in the gardens at the back of the castle, though as he didn’t say anything, Kuja was not in the mood to either and moved to walk past him. Damien’s hand held on to Kuja’s wrist with the sword as they stood side by side.

“Beating up my mother?” Damien said, his head lowered and Kuja looked back to regard him.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I know for a fact that all the statues are of angels.” Damien replied, forcing his words. Kuja wasn’t interested and he moved to pull his wrist free, but Damien’s hand slid lower and took the sword from Kuja’s hand before stepping in front and making Kuja step back as he held the unsheathed sword pointed at Kuja’s chest.

“What do you want, Damien?” Kuja asked, tired.

Damien always hated when his father asked him that question, but this time he knew, despite how his hands shook with old and new tears upon his upset cheeks. “Kneel, Kuja. Get on your knees.” Kuja quirked an eyebrow. “I refuse.” He replied and Damien used the sword to cut across the others face, however the blade was blunt and drew no blood, Kuja’s head turning as if he had been slapped by a little girl. Kuja sighed lightly and moved to his knees before looking up into Damien’s eyes, waiting and half already expecting Damien to not know what more to do. Kuja spoke for him.

“I know you’re upset but this is not what you want. Put the sword down and I’ll come to you tomorrow when I have more energy to help ease the pain by giving you more.”

“How generous of you.” Damien frowned at him before adding, “You’re absurd.”

“You’re a masochist, Damien, and it’s about time you admit it.”

“How am I a masochist?! I don’t ask for any of the things you do to me! The things you put me and others through! My life is a misery because of you and you’re saying I want that?”

“Yes.” Kuja replied simply to which Damien shook his head. “I’ve only asked for your love, Kuja. But I know I will never receive it. But this…” Damien didn’t know how to put his feelings across, the betrayal and pain he felt, the idea of Kuja no longer caring about his mother, “… but this is too much.”

“You love it, Damien.” Kuja said, still on the other topic. “You beckon for it with every word, every movement, every action. It’s all you live for, it’s all you want, for me to torture and hurt you. Without that, you are empty.”

“If that’s how you’re basing it, then you’re a masochist too. Everything you do you’re asking for trouble.”

“Perhaps I am a masochist, but the difference between you and I, is that I enjoy feeling I’m getting what I deserve, and I don’t deserve anything from the likes of you.” Kuja’s tone started to become angry and his hand grabbed the sword in his face. It cut his skin a little, but wasn’t sharp enough to slice his fingers off, and Damien’s grip on the blade weakened in fear of hurting the other. “You just don’t get it, do you? You don’t get it, or you just don’t care or choose to remain blissfully ignorant.”

“What… what are you talking about?” Damien frowned and Kuja grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to the ground with him. “I am living for you, Damien. For you and you alone. Yet you destroy me because you don’t even remember, and always, always you remain criticising and unyielding without grace, holding contempt for everything I do, yet you’re the one who brought me back knowing all that I am. Either admit what you want of me, admit you’re a masochist, show you want me, or let me perish.” He threw the boy out of his hands, disgusted and stood up to walk back inside.

Damien’s grip on the sword tightened after having been so tossed away, his brow furrowed. “I want you to bring back my mother! That’s the only reason why I want you around.” He jumped up, not feeling like telling Kuja anything else, wanting to hurt him for always making him feel this way, he could always try making it up to him later in one way or another. “Why would anyone want or be interested in a creature like you? All you do is brood and drink and remain in your self pity whilst making sure everyone else is as miserable as you. You’re the pathetic one, not me, and if you don’t give my mother back to me, I will kill you!”

Kuja laughed. “I would love to bring your mother back, so that the both of us can abandon you. Do you think I enjoy being stuck with you and all your childish attitudes? A stupid child who does absolutely nothing and believes everything is owed to him. It is not that I do not want to bring her back, it is that, as I have told you before, she does not want to come back. I do not blame her. I didn’t want to come back to you either.” Kuja’s back was already turned and he began walking away.

“So get lost then!” Damien shouted and ran the sword through his back. Kuja’s lips parted and his eyes widened before he smirked and managed to say, “Ah… Now that I deserved.” It hurt quite a bit and he didn’t move until those trembling hands let go of the sword, then with careful effort, moved back down to his knees.

“Shit.” Damien said, angered that his father had actually manipulated him into doing this, but despite what his father may think of him, he was stronger than that, all this, whatever Kuja would give to him, he would take the harsh pain and the harsh words and eat it, whether or not the man would appreciate it because he was better than that. Even if Kuja couldn’t understand, and assumed it was only some masochists dream, Damien wanted to be there to the end, because he loved him. His fingers frantically moved to get the ring off his finger that made most of Kuja’s powers redundant, throwing it to the ground before he knelt by his father, letting him rest against him. “You have your powers back, so heal already!”

“What for, Damien?”

“How much more do you want me to prove I want you around? You’ve put me through hell and back, and all the while, isn’t that me proving how much I want you?”

“But… what do I have to want, Damien?”

“What do you want, Kuja?”

“Nothing, Damien. I could never have it anyway.” Kuja’s eyes began to close, his body falling limper.

“Tell me and I’ll do it! Anything you want, it’s yours.”

“It’s not something that can ever be forced or even asked for…” Kuja began to cry. “Let’s just forget this night. Maybe I’ll have more will for you tomorrow. To give you the pain you desire and expect of me. To live our lives.” His hand came to his face, his other to the ground as he wept, the sword clattering to the ground and his wound healed as Damien was sent back to his room, with no memory of broken statues. It hurt so much, how Damien could never seem to understand or do anything, and all the pain Kuja had to endure since being brought back, was for the boy.

The Offer

2009-11-07T06:34:12Z

Drucilla:
Moving onto the next room after her encounter with Damien, Drucilla did not seem to be shaken up by being caught snooping around by the son of Kuja, just treated it as what it was, an distraction, her white eyes flickering over several items until she stared at a bookshelf, noticing a book was out of order, not so clear to anyone else but she has the uncanny knack of detecting if something was odd. Swiftly moving to the shelves, she reached up to the book in question, but within seconds of such an action, it revealed the book was not so willing to simply just come away. Growling softly in frustration, she looked around before she reached with both hands, giving the book a furious tug, the book finally giving a bit, and a clicking sound filled the room from behind her. Turning around sharply, she spoke before her eyes fell on the changing wall " Did Kuja just leave a cam......" she broke off, taking swift steps towards the passage way, grabbing a spare book on her way, and placing the spare book against the entrance way as to block the door from closing properly once she entered, she made her way into the next room, a frown playing on her features.*

Vere:
Vere wasn’t sure if he was hearing someone coming or imagining it as he sat with his back to the wall, manacled by the magical leather straps. It had seemed like days that he sat, hearing noises and sounds in a nightmarish hysteria. He had no idea how he had got here or where here was, since his eyes and mouth were gagged and blinded. Vere curled up into as much of a ball as his holdings would allow him to try and protect himself from whoever was coming his way, the person he could only assume, was Kuja.

Drucilla:
The footsteps continued to fill his ears, soft and faint until a feminine voice filled his ears, his mind " Ah so that's where he was....", a smirk can be heard within the words. Something gripped his shoulders, bringing him forwards, and with deft movements of fingers, the binding over his eyes soon was bought down, giving him the vision of Drucilla, leaning back with her shoulder length hair pushed behind her ears, her eyes on his face as a smirk played on her lips. " Hello Vere." she spoke, and with that, as if on cue, his mouthpiece fell off.*

Vere:
Vere cringed as the echo of footsteps came closer, the magic coursing through his body making everything seem like he had been poisoned. He heard garbled words delivered with a mocking tone before the eye and then mouth coverings were removed. Before Vere stood an elegant and beautiful lady with pure white, one he had never seen before. Suddenly, the feeling of being drugged or poisoned began to fade, but only slightly. His hands still manacled, Vere looked up at this wonder and smiled. “To whom do I address my most heart felt thanks?” said Vere, happy to have been rescued and hoping this was indeed, a rescuing.

Drucilla:
*Arching an eyebrow at his words, she stood up straight, straightening her skirt while speaking " Vere.... you don't remember me, do you?" she gazed down at him, her mind ticking over , trying to think of any moment anyone had told her anything about Vere's memory loss, before she smiled as she knelt down, not caring if the fishnets were being ripped in the process, her fingers working on his hands' manacles " Name's Drucilla. Drucilla Death."*

Vere:
Vere listened as the other made mention of the memories that he had lost. “I’m afraid I’ve lost a bit of my past, even the good bits” Vere smiled as much as he could at her, obviously happy to have been saved. “The second name takes a bit of getting used to” he said, as he rubbed his sore wrists. The fishnets distracted him momentarily before his composure was regained and the sinking feeling of the magical poison left him some more. “Were we friends, Drucilla?”

Drucilla:
*frowning as she worked on his feet, she used the position to hide her face as her fingers also made quick work of the manacles around his ankles, her legs crossed in its kneeling position, with him getting a good eyeful of the skull patterned doctor martens " It depends on how you'd look at it.... but I suppose we was friends." she looked over her shoulder and gave him a slight smirk before she moved to stand up, adding " Now, let's get you up and going, give those old muscles a work out..."*

Kuja:
Walking through the glimmering wall, he stood one pace into the chamber with a hand on his hip, smirking at the pair. “What kind of workout were you inferring there, Drucilla? It’s not very decent of you going around taking other peoples toys, or is it that you are here to take his place?”

Drucilla:
*Raising an eyebrow, she turned around to look at Kuja, frowning " I meant to help him up, to stand up because muscles do go weak after you've been on the ground for hours on end. Is this how you treat your toys?" she smirked at Kuja, arms folded across her chest*

Vere:
Vere stood with the help of his new friend as he saw Kuja make his way into the room. “Who else would of done something so harsh” he said, shaking off the effects of the poison as much as he could. Vere felt like strangling the other, but still didn’t have a good gauge of how powerful he was. “Is Drucilla a friend of yours Kuja, or is she some cosmically powerful police entity who comes around every few months to let all your captives out?” Vere kept a hand on Dru’s shoulder as he steadied himself and leant on her lightly as he scowled at the master of the house.

Kuja:
He paused for a contemplative moment, looking upon one then the other as this scene was interesting with Vere hating him, like he once first did, but Drucilla here as she was now, made it all very different. Kuja had grown tired of the same old things and so would venture to try something different to what would be his usual perverse forcefulness, generally of a sexual nature when there were two or so people and a bed near by. “Well, that depends.” He replied to Vere before his eyes looked to Drucilla with his question and new proposal, “If Lady Death would be more interested in having Damien do whatever she wants, for as long as Damien is afraid for Vere and does not know where he is, he is a slave. And when we get bored of the boy, we can start thinking of ways to torture you.” He had much anticipation for the response, though seeming mostly indifferent as his eyes never left Drucilla’s.

Drucilla:
*Glancing between Vere and Kuja, she patted Vere on his hand before she spoke slowly and smoothly, a smirk playing on her pale lips " So are you saying I must claim Damien as my slave, or rather, servant and keep him from Vere......? or something like that?" she raised an eyebrow, her right hand resting on her hip*

Kuja:
He smiled lightly. “You do not have to claim anyone, dear Drucilla. It is all completely your own choice on whatever your heart desires, depending on how innocent or thirsty your blacker heart you claim truly is. If you leave Vere here so his whereabouts to Damien remain a mystery, Damien will do whatever I say to get him back, which would in turn be whatever we say. I suppose, I am asking if you would like to be…” He failed with what word to use, and even struggled saying it, “… my ally.”

Drucilla:
*Staring at Kuja, she gave a soft chuckle, shaking her head before she slipped her shoulder from Vere's hand, to walk over to stand on the side between the two men " This from Kuja... asking me to be your Ally....." she tapped a finger at her lips, musing slowly " I want to know what is in for me, from either side, if I choose either side..... so gentlemen... do you best speech." she grinned, leaning against something*

Vere:
Vere took a quizzical look at Drucilla as she asked them to make their best speeches. “Are you serious?” said Vere with a scowl to the lady Death. “You come to rescue me and then instead, you think about taking his deal so that he can torment poor Damien more?” Vere took his hand off Drucilla and uprighted himself, now over most of what the magical bonds had to give. “I see, you are just like him.” Vere thought of sliding the dagger from his pocket, but decided he couldn’t do anything against either of them. “You may as well of just left me here to rot, since you’re obviously Kuja’s whore.”

Kuja:
“Come now, Vere, anyone in their right mind would choose to be on my side rather than the receiving end of my delight, for truly Vere, though you may not remember it all, I can assure you, under my boot, you have been the biggest and only whore. Well, you and Damien. And now Drucilla has the opportunity to enjoy bringing humiliation and disgrace to all those she wishes, perhaps all men in general to repay all the misery they have done to you?” He offered his hand.

Drucilla:
*shaking her head, she smirked as she regarded the two man before speaking " Gentlemen, I am not taking sides, nor am I his whore, Vere. I am just saying, you both have to convince me on who would be the best side. I am Death, I remain on the sidelines. Gentlemen. I leave you to your bickerings, and prepare to convice me." with that, she gave them a graceful bow before she walked away from the scene, disappearing behind the glimmering wall*

Kuja:
Kuja’s brow furrowed lightly as he grabbed her by the arm before she could make her way past him. “I’m afraid it’s not that easy. I already laid out my argument, join me and share my sadism, or remain on the receiving end like the rest…” He wanted her to want to join him, but it was apparent that she was not that interested or had other ideas and he pushed her further back into the room towards Vere. “I’ll let you spend your time with this charming oaf which will make you regret delaying in taking my offer. You will have to convince me, Drucilla, whether or not I should offer you again.” He smirked and left the room, the wall going solid once more, and all use of magic in the room was now nullified.

Vere:
Vere was angered by the falsity of Drucilla’s argument. He was about to assert that by choosing either argument, she was definitively not staying on the sidelines, but Kuja, like an agent of fate intervened, sealing them in the room. Vere began to chuckle loudly. “If you try to make deals with the devil, you’re sure to get burned, madam” he laughed. Vere sat back in the corner. “So what are you going to do now? Will you leave me here to rot and punish Damien for being born, or fight against that wretch’s cruelty?”

Drucilla:
*Scowling, she kicked at the wall before stifling a curse word as she noted it was definetly solid, no joke, and hobbling over to a corner, she slid down to sit on the floor, folding her arms across her chest " I was hoping to fish myself out of that suitation where I don't get tricked either way by that man." she leaned her head back and closes her eyes, sighing wearily " I don't know, I am tempted to let you rot here for the times youve treated me wrong, but then again I don't want him to win again... " she shrugged before she moved into a kneeling position, fingers working over her underbust corset, unfastening it*

Vere:
Vere was first taken back by the comment that he had wronged her, but was even more confused as she began to undo her corset. “What are you doing?! And what did I ever do to you? Not that I remember, but surely, I never did anything too bad?” Vere kicked the ground a little too from his spot and looked over to her. “You better think hard about whether you’ll leave me here to rot, since without magic to protect you, I could easily take off more than just your corset. How are we going to get out of here?”

Drucilla:
*Tugging the corset off her frame, she sighed in relief before she put it aside, sitting down once again " That's better..... and don't worry, I don't intend to rape you...." she smirked at him before she closed her eyes, slient for a few moments, then speaking slowly, she crosses her ankles as she glances at him " Lets see.... theres the invasion of privacy..... as you’ve certainly seen alot more of me than you do remember... amongst other things... And that's a good question, Sherlock, how are we going to get out of a magic proof room.... there’s no windows.... and I bet it's also soundproof." she shrugged before adding " I think we better get some sleep then, it's going to be a long day."*

Seductive Games After Breakfast

2009-11-05T12:34:57Z

Drucilla:
* Whistling as she placed plates on the long antique table of the dining room, Drucilla paused, checking the placemats of each person she knew lived in the castle, fiddling here and there whilst servants entered with big trays of plates covered in metal lids, placing them on the sidetable near the big table. The whistling soon stopped as she looked to the clock, frowning as she noted it was late morning, and smoothing down her black corset with red roses and ivory skulls embroidery over her black shirt, she wandered over to the covered plates, and picking up a plate, she shrugged to herself as she spoke quietly " well they'll miss out on breakfast..." before she helped herself to the contents, and getting a cup of coffee, she seated herself at the table, napkin on her lap, the only things different about the scene was that she was alone in Kuja's dining room.... and her white hair, once back length, was now a shoulder length bob.*

Kuja:
Kuja appeared at the head of the table, sitting back relaxed in his chair, an ankle over a knee with his fingers entwined loosely over his stomach. He had a rather amused expression as he smirked lightly looking at Drucilla. “This is wonderful. I doubt many can boast having a princess as their maid. And you look different. Did you change your makeup?” He teased playfully.

Drucilla:
*Giving Kuja a sarcastic look, Drucilla replied, the blood red stone glinting on her tongue as she spoke, standing up to receive him his cup of coffee with brandy in it, revealing the rest of her outfit, instead of a pair of trousers, she was wearing a black above the knee skirt with fishnets and a pair of doctor martens boots, the boots bearing a pattern of skulls " Ha ha very funny. And for your information, former queen." she pours the contents into the cup before she added " Breakfast?" her fingers hovered over the plate next to the buffet, the black nail polish glinting on her nails.*

Kuja:
He shifted slightly, very slightly, as his eyes moved along Drucilla’s body, especially those legs. He could not recall a time she had ever worn a rather short skirt, but he snapped out of it as she served him a drink. He sat up a little to peer at the contents, it’s colour way off to be anything remotely close to what he would generally have for breakfast. “Trying to poison me already.” He said, sitting back in his seat as she then proceeded to continue serving him. He tilted his head a little to the side before looking at all the other neatly placed dining ware. “It must be the inbuilt female desire to please, I can only assume… You’re making my castle seem homely for the first time ever, this could be quite dangerous. Guests are supposed to be miserable, fear coming here… unless you’re to be my new partner in crime and this is how we lure them in.” He smirked lightly again, eyes softly upon her.

Drucilla:
*Speaking as she served up a plate of scrambled eggs on toast and a side bowl of fruit salad, she moved back to her own plate " In your cup there’s brandy and coffee.... and no, not poison you because that wouldn’t work.... unfortunately." she takes a bite of her own toast before she spoke in an afterthought " Well if you want that, it could work...." Trailing off with a smirk, she resumed to her meal*

Kuja:
He grinned at her dismay over poison, sitting forward now with his elbows on the table, chin over entwined fingers, rather intrigued with the other. “And who would you pray upon, Drucilla? What kind of victims would you be after? Surely, the same old Drucilla I know is still under there who just wants to bake me biscuits for the rest of our lives.”

Drucilla:
*Smirking, she lowered her knife and fork, only to pick up her cup as she spoke " Well I would prey upon the clueless young men.... who think I'm just some cookie making, housewife..." she grinned at him before she sipped on her coffee, silent for the time being.*

Kuja:
He laughed at that, quite loud and amused, it had been so long since he had laughed at someone else’s joke opposed to their expense. “Ahh, Drucilla.” He smiled, his chuckles quieting as he looked down to his drink, though he had no intention of even trying it. “I appreciate the effort, but I’m sorry to say that I’m on a diet. Of brandy. Anything else could make me normal.”

Drucilla:
*Smirking, she started to chuckle down before she frowned, speaking " So you can't have anything but brandy, correct,....?" she raised an eyebrow as she looked at him, then to his untouched meal and back, before she added, while she remembered " Is this the same for everyone else in this castle?"*

Kuja:
He laughed again at that, even slapping the table and falling back in his seat, his hand covering his lips as he tried to distill himself. “I… I, no. It’s just me who chooses this. I’m sure other people would die for this meal, but I’m afraid they’re either unaware or incapacitated… tied to beds, their legs spread, aching bodies shivering in torment and lust for more…” His little finger played around the edge of his lips as he smirked at her.

Drucilla:
*Smirking at him, she finishes her breakfast before she stared at him, studying the edge of his lips, noting his smirk while she tilted her head as she spoke after a few moments of smirking silence " lust for what?" she raised an eyebrow, fingers playing with the rim of her coffee cup, her eyes not leaving his own before she stood up, collecting the dishes off the table, her body moving with quiet grace*

Kuja:
As she turned away, his fingers ran over his own lips, in anticipation of the sensuality to come, and he had one goal on his mind as he stood up and made his way up behind her, but he would not touch her, though they were close enough for each others warmth to reach each other, their perfumes mixing as he leant a little to whisper closer to her ear. “Something that burns one with desire, where passion flows and pours all over, melting the soul and releasing all that hinders ones… satisfaction.”

Drucilla:
* Pausing as she placed the dishes on the side table, she spoke, raising an eyebrow as her pale lips curved into a smile, and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she spoke, her words barely reaching his ears " Hmm Say Kuja.... are you trying to pick me up at this hour while the rest is in deep slumber... or as you said, writhing in their beds?" she turned around slowly, to side sideways facing him.*

Kuja:
The smile didn’t fade, his hands behind his back as he looked away for a purposeful contemplating moment before back to her eyes. “Why don’t you say, you and me, Exiled Queen, go upstairs and I’ll show you what no king, general or servant alike in your old deprived kingdom could ever pleasure you with… put your arms around me, say you want me and I promise you it will be like no other time you’ve had before.”

Drucilla:
*Arching an eyebrow, Drucilla only could stare at him sideways for a moment before she turned around completely, to face him as she crossed her arms in front of her. her back pressed against the side table as her eyes trailed from his feet, up over his knees, thighs, the crotch, to chest and then lastly to his eyes before she spoke " Hmm.... Funny.... last night... you wanted me on that table in the hotel.... then as soon as I showed some backbone... you changed your mind...." she trailed off, raising another eyebrow before she leaned forwards, flickering her tongue piercing over his lips, speaking slowly, only for his ears " I'm not the same Drucilla, who once would've put her arms around you and let you take her...." she smirked before she wiggled past him, using that as a tactic to tease his body with her own as she headed for the door*

Kuja:
He held his place the same, asserting his arrogance or confidence over his amazing in bed self as she sized him up. The tongue piercing over his lips was a huge tease and his lips parted slightly as she whispered in his ear, though they were words that dismayed him, yet again, in another round. As she brushed passed him he smiled and lowered his head, turning to lean against the table with his arms folded loosely across his chest. “I am not one to chase, Drucilla. And it won’t be long until you will be begging me for it.” He grinned to himself as she made her exit.

Drucilla:
*Grinning as she paused, leaning backwards against the wall near the door, having heard him before she spoke slowly " That would remain to be seen if I'd chase you...." she grinned before looking around as she moved off the wall, walking casually along the hallway, her hips swaying with each step as she made her way not to her suite... but to a certain bedroom, whilst pretending to be heading for her own suite, since she knew him, and she knew that he wouldn't be following her just yet, content to go to his room to browse around while he's distracted, to find out any little secrets on why he really, really wanted her back, since she knew he had everything he could possibly wanted, but she did not know what really happened between him and vere, only that she remembered he were with Vere, and once married to Desora.*

Thrown in the Forest

2009-11-03T11:57:39Z

Damien:
Damien had been pacing outside the door to his fathers quarters for some time now. There was no doubt that Kuja was aware of his presence but he wasn't ready to face the other yet. He hated the way he thought of his father, missed him and all that. Hated the way Kuja could all but destroy him and he would still want to go back. It was proof enough to him that it didn't take a pill to make a son love his father. But even still, he would always hate the things his father did. And after awakening to find Vere missing, he knew Kuja had something to do with it. He just didn't know how to confront him about it. With a defeated sigh he finally entered his fathers room, moving directly to the couch where he seated himself and stared at the other. For some time he said nothing, waiting to see if his father would speak first but quickly deciding that maybe he didn't want him to. "Where is he?" he asked simply, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees.

Kuja:
Kuja returned to the castle with mixed feelings, uncertain if he had truly gained anything, but he certainly hadn’t lost anything. He hoped bringing Drucilla back would change his perspectives, or at least distract him, but she had changed a lot and so the future was uncertain. He just couldn’t understand how Damien and Vere failed to see how much they hurt him, their pain, the pain he would always give to them, he considered nothing or simply didn’t care when compared against his own. Kuja had fallen to his bed and slept, almost soundly for as long as he could but his mind would stir once more as he became aware of his son approaching his room and pacing for so long that he grew tired of waiting and left it with wishful thinking that the boy would just turn around and leave. The last time he had seen Damien (more prominent memories), he was still the devotee, thus making it even harder for Kuja to face him. And when he thought of Damien and Vere’s little fishing trip, a hand would grip tightly upon the pillow beside him, his face scrunching up. Damien should know that Vere would be missing, but Kuja underestimated how strong their current bond was for Damien to know so soon. “The man…” Kuja replied, though not moving nor having stirred, assuming Damien would storm off after his words, “without any memories at all who aimlessly wanders the world? That even if he were to feel drawn to something, his first and second homes, all his homes, are so far away that he would die before he ever reached them? Is this the man you’re referring to?” He spoke gently almost as if he were inlove before his tone instantly dropped. “Go away, Damien. You should have known what to expect from your little adventure. And if I do not manage to fall back asleep, I’ll turn your mind to dribble.”

Damien: (4/11/09)
He continued staring at his father, now in disbelief, as his question was answered. It had never occurred to him that Kuja would send Vere away. He figured if his father were going to do such a thing, he would have done it long ago. He scoffed at Kuja’s last sentence, “So that’s it? I’m to accept your shady answer and be gone at your threat?” Damien shook his head and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it before going any further. He intended on staying at least until he had finished it. “No, I want him back. Why must you take everything I care about?” he continued, his own words making him rethink Kujas reasoning, “Or is it just that this is some sort of punishment? He’s done nothing wrong, and assuming you weren’t lying about your feelings for him, I haven’t either.” He stood and crossed to Kuja’s bed, leaning down with a smirk, “Is that it, father? Were you lying all those times you told me you cared nothing for him?”

Kuja:
He couldn’t believe the nerve Damien had, lighting up the cigarette the most annoying, though he remained the same, as if he were still sleeping, deaf to any annoying bird with an ugly song. He was sure he would regret opening his eyes but he did so anyway and looked right into Damien’s smug face. “Don’t be so confident you have nothing left to lose, son. Being reckless with me will only make you suffer more. Or am I to take it that you enjoyed being a mindless servant?”

Damien:
His eyes never left Kujas as he searched them for some sign as to whether or not the man’s threat was genuine. Straightening back up he inhaled deeply from his cigarette and went back to his previous seat on the couch. “You never answered my question,” he said softly, exhaling his smoke. He assumed he was right in that his father did indeed have some sort of feelings for Vere. However minuscule they may be. “Get up. I’m not going to let you lay there and sleep while he is off somewhere possibly suffering.”

Kuja:
Kuja grunted softly and stirred a little now, getting comfier before stilling once more. He wasn’t thinking too logically right now, and he didn’t want to confront any of his feelings. But it was interesting how Damien first assumed he had no feelings for Vere, which probably meant that Damien also felt the same way about himself. He chuckled lightly, about to say something, but he decided to leave whatever taunts and simply teleported Damien out of the room into the middle of a large forest two towns away. Kuja smiled to himself as he nestled further into his pillows.

Damien:
Damien landed on the ground with a thump, the couch he was once sitting on completely gone and replaced by the forest floor. “God damnit!” he shouted, standing up and kicking a tree, “I hate when you do these things!” Brushing his hair back from his eyes, he quickly finished his cigarette, staring at the butt momentarily before flicking it off between some trees. “I should burn this forest to the ground,” he muttered as he began stomping in the direction he hoped would lead him home. It would at least lead him to some nearby town where he could possibly get some directions.

Kuja:
Giggles and laughter ran through his head, of his own, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep now, or perhaps, he thought as he sat up with a light smile on his face, he didn’t want to sleep anymore. He stretched and slid out of bed, dressing himself this time to add more time to Damien wandering around as angry as he was. He would appear, leaning against a tree Damien had passed a few paces back. “You’re going the wrong way. It’s a pity you didn’t accept Vere’s offered lessons on surviving in the wilderness.” He half smiled and smirked before his gaze wandered to the scenery above, little rays of light glistening through the trees as he went back over Damien’s questions with a fresher mind. “I won’t tell you Vere’s whereabouts, it would make no difference, you would not be able to help him. He’s not in any danger. Not from anything I have done, anyway. As for punishment…” His cold blue eyes returned to Damien’s, sinister and playful. “You know that you are always to suffer for your existence. But what intrigues me the most, is that you went so far with him while you know nobody can love you, for who you are, and for who your father is.”

Damien:
He would have been startled by Kujas sudden appearance if he weren’t so angry. He stopped midstride and listened to the others words. Maybe Kuja was right on that one. He should have listened to Vere. But how could he have possibly anticipated being teleported to the middle of a forest? Spinning around, he began walking towards the other, a frown on his face. “Then what are you so worried about?” he demanded, “If nobody is going to love me then why must you take them away? Although, I guess you’re right. I never should have even thought of him as a friend considering the fact that you would ruin it.” Finally reaching Kuja, he raised his arm and slapped the other harshly across the face, “You are a selfish, cruel, old man.”

Kuja:
His hand caught the other’s wrist before he could administer the slap. Though what everything he had said before amused Kuja greatly, the last words seeped into his conscience a little. Those words more often than not he would take pride to, but not this time as he crushed painfully on the others wrist. “You are not one I would take a chiding from.” He said in all seriousness, placing his hand over Damien’s face and shoving him harshly back to stumble and fall. He sighed before softly brightening up once more and asking, “Is it the fact that the only person who could maybe have accepted you has been taken from you, or that it’s finally sinking into you what manner of man I am and will always be, or perhaps it is your own incompetence and pathetic helplessness that you are most mad at?”

Damien:
Damien winced as his wrist was grabbed and painfully squeezed. He had to grit his teeth to avoid making a sound, but was proud of himself in succeeding. Moving his arms back quickly, he avoided hitting the ground too harshly after Kujas shove. No matter, though, as the pain that shot through his wrist on impact was quite intense. Still, he managed to only emit an inward hiss before glaring back up at his father. He pulled himself up and dusted the dirt off his clothes, “I’ve always been well aware as to what sort of man you are. Perhaps you’re right about the helplessness, though. What I wouldn’t give to have your power and put you through all the pain you’ve put me through ten fold.”

Kuja:
He smirked at those words, arms folded across his chest as his gaze looked more skyward again. There were things he wanted to say to Damien, but saying them would only put them in a position they had already been in with no resolve, a constant cycle, as life seemed to be. That left him empty and silent, but right now, this moment, he didn’t want to give up with the other. He spoke more gently, though not looking at him as his head rested back against the tree. “You say this now, but whenever you gain the upper hand or have opportunity, or even, if I were in trouble, you come running to my aid. You try and father me more than I do you, as if to tell me how’s it done. Or maybe it’s just love? I don’t know.” He pressed off the tree and stood up properly now as he looked at Damien. He wanted to tell him things, many things and ideas about the other, Vere, and himself before deciding again that it was pointless. Although he never got what he wanted from Damien, he always got a lot more that he was beginning to realise maybe he should be thankful for. Just maybe. “If I were to bring Vere back… well, tell me first, why do you want him back?”

Damien:
His eyes never left the forest floor as his father spoke. He hated how painfully true Kuja could be. Almost as much as he hated the fact that he loved him so. So much that, no matter what, Damien would always be there, without a second thought, whenever Kuja needed him. In that way, he supposed he would always be his fathers servant. His thoughts were interrupted as Kuja moved and his eyes quickly jumped to watch him, mostly out of distrust. There were many reasons he wanted Vere back, The man seemed to help keep the peace, or at least tried his best. Then, there was the way he always seemed to be there to pick up the broken pieces after Kuja had went on one of his rampages. But, the strongest was this: “I want him back for you,” he answered simply. “Even without his memories, I know he still loves you. He wants to make you happy.” He pulled his cigarettes out of his pocket and lit one before moving to lean against a tree opposite his father, “And he wants to stay. Memories or not, he wants to be a part of our lives, yours in particular.”

Kuja:
Kuja decided to give the other the courtesy of not reading his mind over this and waited for the actual words. The first words instantly surprised him and the rest made him frown, diverting his eyes with pain, anger and confusion. “And you would approve…?” He wanted to ask if Damien approved of them being together, while Desora was his mother, and more confused how Damien would be so intimate with the other then seem to want to discard it, but he altered the question instead as he looked back to the other, coldly. “Approve of another lost soul committing themselves to be torn apart by me? Anyone who has ever loved or had feelings for me are dead or destroyed, and for you it’s just a matter of time as well. I’ve tried much to deter you, but now I no longer care and further enjoy watching you suffer guiltlessly. Sending Vere away the first and second time, is something you’ll one day wish you were so fortunate for.” He turned slightly, indicating he would depart lest Damien had something to keep him.

Damien:
“Please give him back,” he pleaded, moving to grab the others wrist, holding him in place, “I need him; you need him. And regardless of whether or not I approve, it’s what he wishes.” Without bothering to finish, he dropped his cigarette and smashed it out with his boot before letting his other hand also wrap around his fathers wrist. He sighed and moved to his knees in front of the other, his eyes as well as his words, pleading up to Kuja, “Whatever you want, it’s done. Do you want me to stay away from him; to keep my distance? Fine, you’ll have it. He doesn’t even have his memories! Whatever you’ve done with him, he won’t understand. Please, father, bring him back.”

Kuja:
More surprise as Damien got down on his knees and begged, though Kuja’s brow knitted even further at this site. With the last of his words, Kuja tore his wrist free from the grasp before raising his voice at him. “What for? Why do you care so much?” His hand was around Damien’s neck next, trying to strangle in or out some sense. “I’m telling you it will be the ruin of him! Unless you’re begging for no other reason than you don’t want to go down alone?” He shoved the other back down to the ground. “I hate the both of you so much. But, I’ll tell you what…” He said, anger easing off slightly as an idea played, “do everything I say for the next few days, give or take, and I’ll bring him back… however you want him.” He smirked lightly, now moving to offer his hand.

Damien:
He grabbed Kujas wrist, trying to pull it away from him as he struggled for breath. It was beginning to seem that he would never have his friend back. And deep down, maybe there was a part of him that didn’t want to go down alone. But, he doubted that was the case. Once again he looked up at Kuja, listening to his words, taking them in and weighing his options. Though, he supposed there wasn’t really any options. It was do it or risk never seeing Vere. However, he did so hate the idea of being Kuja’s lacky. Defeated, he reached up and took his father hand, pulling himself up as he did so. “It’s done,” he answered quietly, once again dusting the dirt off his clothes, “whatever you want.”

[maybe end post later.]

Reap What You Sow

2009-10-29T12:00:08Z

So what if you can see the darker side of me, no one will ever change this animal i have become.

28/10/09

A man, nearing middle age, wandered down one of his usual trails down a forest pathway. It was not often that he found time to himself, but he appreciated it as much as he appreciated being in company. He was a tribe leader of a race that wandered and always sought to greener the world, to nourish and heal where pain was given. This particular forest they had been in for quite sometime, several years and it was nearly ready to thrive on its own. It would be one of the last times he would wander down this path, he smiled mixed with sorrow and gladness.

Kuja had been heavily drinking, though that’s not to say he wasn’t in complete control as he whaled at the top of his lungs, random things, mainly the same word “useless” to nothing in particular as he stumbled his way to a creek, the same creek he knew another particular man was going. He smirked to himself, a stick in hand, hitting against every tree he passed incase his shouting wasn’t enough to spark an interest.

The Tribe Elder stared at this sight in almost stupor. It seemed like a city pub-crawler had really crawled a long way. Only when the strange man started hitting the trees the elder called and ran after him. Unfortunately the alarm had the drunk jump out of his skin before falling over with a loud cry.

“Owww, my fooooot!” Kuja whined on the ground, rocking back and forth. “I think it’s broken! Not that I can actually feel it.” He burst into laughter at that.

“Oh, young man, I’m very sorry!” The Elder hurried over and knelt to the other. “Stop flinging it around, be gentle, I’ll help you with it, but what’s a young man like you doing all the way out here?”

“Swimming.” Kuja replied, patting the man’s shoulder quite roughly, unintentionally. “I want to go swimming. I was so close too… those damn frogs are teasing me… will you carry me?”

“Oh. Of course… though I don’t think you should be swimming in your current state.”

“You’re on their side, then!”

“Oh, umm…”

“Never mind, just get to work.” Kuja ordered and chuckled as the stronger man scooped him up in his arms with a little effort. The Elder glanced to notice how the others foot and ankle seemed perfectly normal, but he wouldn’t mention it. “Yeah, that’s right, you better run.” Kuja spoke to the creek dwellers before shifting. “Here! Just here!” He hopped down from the others arms, on his own two feet before his blue eyes would stare excitedly into the others. “My magic medicine cures anything, even injuries that have not yet happened. Drink some, and I won’t kill myself here and now.”

“W-what? How does that make sense? What’s going on here? I must have eaten a bad berry this morning.” Though the magic medicine bottle was shoved in his hands and he looked up to see the strange man holding a knife to his own throat with a big smirk. The Elder really wasn’t sure what to do, the substance was most likely poison and it wouldn’t matter what he did, this insane man would most likely kill him in a matter of moments one way or another. “I’d really rather not.” The Elder eventually replied.

“Oh. I’d really like it if you did. It would mean… so much to me, if you were to drink that before the end.”

The Elder looked to the bottle and cautiously pulled the cork. He gave a tentative sniff and as far as he could tell, from all his experience with plants, it wasn’t poisoned with anything he knew but distilled fermented grapes. “Brandy?”

“Yes, bravo! But you took too long so I’m going to go now. However, it gives me comfort to know that you’re familiar with it.”

“Go?? No, please…”

“Why, swimming, of course!” Kuja laughed and ran into the water, when it was deep enough he’d slide in and turn on to his back to face the other. “You must be the one who’s insane, not me. Why would you beg a madman, a murderer, to not kill themselves?”

The Elder sighed, this was all a bit much for his old heart that was not used to much more drama than someone planting a seed in the wrong area. Though when he looked up again his heart was to begin racing once more as he could see no sign of the young man. “Oh no…” He dropped the bottle and instantly made his way out into the water, giving the other the name of “Young Man!” and calling it often as he searched, waded, rummaged and dived through the water. He eventually and miraculously found him and swam him back to shore. “Why? Why would you? Unless you really are demented.” There was no breathing, no pulse or heartbeat. Mouth to mouth managed to get some water out of those lungs, but there was still no life. Defeated the Elder slumped before his hand fell upon the bottle of brandy. He figured it wouldn’t hurt, but was he to make the young man drink it or himself? He would try the young man first and was glad nobody could watch him trying to make a dead man drink. When nothing happened he winced as he brought the drink to his own lips. Clenched his eyes shut but before even a taste he nearly had a heart attack, nearly broke his ankle as Kuja’s hand grabbed his wrist.

“Oh my god!” The Elder said, he could have died. Kuja stared at him very seriously.

“What if it’s poisoned? Why would you drink it risking your own life for the chance of a dead man rising? A deranged one at that? Whom you don’t even know.”

“Oh. Wow. Oh my, it doesn’t matter, what’s important is that you’re alive!”

“Why would you celebrate that? Is life truly so important to you that even mass murderers get the best of birthdays?” Kuja sat up, swiping his drink and taking a long pull, no longer seeming so energetic. The Elder regarded him for a moment.

“I don’t think you are deranged or mad. I don’t think you’re a murderer either. But I could be wrong. Either way, I don’t feel it was your time to die. And yes, I appreciate all life. It is not something that is owed to us, nor the things in it, and we all choose to live it and see it differently. Perhaps those who feel beaten down by it merely need to see things in a different light.”

Kuja stared at him while he spoke, however not seeming terribly inspired or impressed. He already understood the others values, views, it was all why he was here already. “Ahh, but you see, old man, I am the one who beats life and thrashes it. I enjoy it, and in turn, the ultimate satisfaction should be to kill myself, though I am so torn for I will not be able to appreciate it for long.”

“One truly so destructive I don’t think would be having this conversation with me right now. I’m not old either.”

Kuja laughed and offered his drink to the other and this time the Elder drank it. He smiled and continued to look out towards the water before speaking to answer all the others questions, even the ones he hadn’t thought of yet. “No, I am not a water, forest or other elemental spirit come to test you. I mean no harm to you or your people, as of yet anyway. I am merely a man, a mortal even, with a ridiculous amount of power. I don’t like to tamper much with the balance and nature of things, and I use such powers only to… things you don’t want to know. But I like you and what you do, what you have done, and I do not offer but give you my protection.” He flicked the Elder a small smooth and flat stone, a rich and deep purple. “Don’t sell that for fertilizer. As I said, I’m not immortal, when that stone turns black know that I won’t be able to protect you.”

“I don’t think it would sell for much more than a pinch.” The Elder winked. “But that’s great, for all the times armies rally up to put a stop to us tree huggers.”

“Hey, I don’t trust the world! Bandits, thugs, anything.”

“To steal some pots? Wow, you’re a brave man, really sticking your neck out for us.” The Elder laughed at Kuja’s depressed face before patting him reassuringly on the back. “I think it’s wonderful, I am honoured, young man.” He smiled brightly.

“Hmph. It’s not much, I know. But… I wanted to start somewhere.”

“No, truly. I can see it means a lot to you, so it means a lot to me. And I was teasing, we have had troubles in the past, some bad brush ins. We have little to defend ourselves and well, hard times. So thank you..."

"Young Man? My name is Kuja. It's a pleasure, Etternoch." He held out his hand to the other.

"Etternoch? Please, call me Old Man." They chuckled and shook hands. "So what's next? Now that you've had your swim. Are you hungry? Why don't you come to our camp and maybe we can find you some dry clothes."

Kuja smiled and held his hand up. "Thanks Etternoch but i'd rather not. I do not eat and our clothes are now dry. But perhaps you need to be getting back, i will see you again perhaps."

"No, i would love for you to come!" Etternoch stood, pulling Kuja up with him. "Hey, wow! They are dry!" He patted himself with one hand before linking on tightly to Kuja's arm and dragging him back down the pathway.

"I'd really rather..."

"Oh, you'll love it. A pale lad like you, it seems you're in dire need of some sun and socialising, perhaps a little fun too."

What did that mean? Kuja wondered as he was dragged along, a worried expression. He wasn’t sure he was up to being around a lot of people right now, or ever again really, but Etternoch’s enthusiasm made it hard to resist. He spoke of different kinds of plants, trees, animals, flowers and bugs while they walked, all with such passion and knowledge, though he focused heavily on his own personal excitement of how he’s been fortunate enough to see rare creatures shining light on rare flowers to make them bloom. Kuja didn’t think it was too appropriate to share his own personal excitements and particular enthusiasms. Kuja also liked the pride Etternoch held for all those he loved.

“Everyone gather, I want you all to meet Lord Kuja.” Etternoch chorused happily.

“What’s a Lord? Is that his name?” One of the little ones asked curious and excited as she hurried over, like the rest of the youths, while others in a close enough proximity gathered around. Kuja felt like a line was drawn and felt very put on the spot when even Etternoch crossed it and everyone was looking at him. He faltered for a moment, it resurfaced a bad memory but he managed to push it back and bowed courteously and respectfully. “I am enchanted to be here.”

“He bows funny, daddy.” The same little girl said, tugging on the end of Etternoch’s sleeve, which didn’t chisel any of the worry Kuja was feeling away. Etternoch laughed and scooped the girl up into his arms. “Lord Kuja is a very important person, he has become our protector for whenever we are in need or in danger. So long as this stone shines, we can know we are safe. Or at least know our odds are a little better than without.” He winked, placing the pulled out stone into the little girl’s hands. Many of the children homed in, wanting to see. Etternoch placed her down on the ground and they all marvelled. The line was broken then as people shook Kuja’s hand and he received pats on the shoulder and back. He could not help but smile a little bashfully and relieved.

Suddenly there was a lot of commotion between the children. “Stop it, you’re hurting me, let go, you’ll break it! Tilsiun!” Kuja was intrigued as the boy named Tilsiun fell to the ground, clutching the small stone to his chest and kicked his closest pursuer, which so happened to be Etternoch’s daughter. She cried in utmost misery, tears streaming and Etternoch quickly picked and cuddled her up, making sure that she was alright before he shouted angrily at Tilsiun. “What were you thinking, Tilsiun? You knew you could see the stone just like everyone else if you just waited. And you don’t go around kicking people! Ever!”

Tilsiun merely frowned bitterly and guilty at the ground, his fingers of the one hand subconsciously stroking over the stone. He felt bad, he wanted to give her the stone back personally but as the girls crying got louder, he knew it wasn’t because her pain was getting stronger, how could it? He knew that she was only crying louder to get more sympathy, to get him further in trouble. He threw the stone at one of the other children’s smug heads and shouted back. “They never would have let me seen! You didn’t see! They pushed me back to the edge and wouldn’t let me get close!”

“Don’t throw things!” Etternoch had to tell him off again as now another boy was crying. Kuja’s eyes had been wide, fascinated, and now he had to hold his hand over his own lips to cover himself from smirking. Tilsiun and his eyes met then, the boy seemed to freeze for a moment. He wanted to see the stone more than anyone there, he knew it. Lord Kuja was an outsider and Tilsiun had always considered himself an outcast. But as more of the elders came to berate him he scampered to his feet and ran off.

“It seems like you have quite a black little seed.” Kuja remarked, eyes following the boy until he was lost amongst the trees. Etternoch regarded Kuja a moment and understood the interest. “I hate him.” Etternoch’s daughter said, wiping away the last of her tears. Etternoch kissed her cheek before placing her down on the ground with her friends. He sighed and stood by Kuja.

“I have tried for him, many of us have, but he won’t listen. He gets more and more violent and out of control, I am not sure what to do.”

“His parents?” Kuja asked.

“I don’t know what happened. We found him when he was very young, all alone. I do vaguely suspect that he was left intentionally for us to find him. It’s the only comfort I can give him, that his parents cared enough for him to be with us while they were somehow unable to look after him.”

“How gentle of you.” Kuja didn’t bother to hide his smirk this time. “I’d like to try.” He said before he would make his way down the exact routes he knew the boy had gone.

“How can you trust him, Etternoch?” One of his friends asked. “A man with a smirk like that…” Etternoch merely smiled and said “Trust our Lord.”

Kuja found the boy sitting alone with his back to a tree, breaking sticks.

“I thought you all had great respect for nature.” Kuja said, announcing his presence to which the boy instantly stood up and turned to face him, his brow furrowed.

“The sticks are already dead.” Tilsiun replied, still frowning.

“So then is it okay for someone to break the bones of a human corpse?” Kuja smirked, Tilsiun almost aghast. He continued. “Did you know I enjoy carving into the soft flesh of young trees?”

“What? Why would you do that?”

“Oh, I’m not alone. Many people enjoy it. They make the helpless trees scream merely to carve their name and forget all about it the next day.”

“I’ve killed weeds before, Lord. I’m not like the others, it’s not like a care.” Tilsiun smirked in return.

“On the contrary, I know you consider them to be your only friends.”

“You don’t know anything! What do you want? Leave me alone before I make mulch out of you!”

Kuja laughed which only made the boy angrier. Tilsiun picked up a sharp long stick and ran at Kuja then but vines that grew from nowhere suddenly shot out from the trees, roped around him and drew him back to be tied sitting to one. Kuja decided not to use the actual trees against him. It was so tempting and it would be so easy to break this little boy but he was here for the opposite reason, something he had never done before.

“Now, do you feel ready to be lectured?” Kuja picked up the boys dropped weapon and tested its malleableness before slapping it into an open palm with a smirk.

“I’ve heard it all before.” The boy glared whilst trying to struggle before the vines got even tighter, threatening to make him lose his breath. “You… you don’t know anything.”

“Wrong answer.” Kuja smacked him on the thigh with the stick and the boy hissed a thin breath between his teeth at the sting. Kuja’s lips twitched, realising this wasn’t what he should be doing and he tossed the stick aside. “You just want people to like and play with you, Tilsiun.” He spoke matter of factly. “The only reason they bully you is because you provoke it. Don’t insult, bully, harass or provoke because at the end of the day the destruction is only upon yourself. What do they care what you do when whatever small or large amount of damage will be mended by the copious amounts of support from the friends they have?” Tilsiun stared at Kuja now, the frown disappearing and he was at a loss for words. Kuja continued. “Do you know why you do it? Do you know why you try and ascertain their hatred? Do you know that hatred can be just as fleeting as love?”

“I don’t try and do anything.” Tilsiun replied, more confused than angry now. “I just hate them. I don’t care what they think.”

“You hate them because they hurt you. Because they exclude you because you’re a horrible and nasty self-centred brat.”

“I’m not a brat! How dare you insult my feelings like that!” Tilsiun began kicking at the ground, struggling anew, trying to stand, pull away, tears starting to spring from his eyes.

(tree throne scene? Many scrap that’s? It wasn’t cheating)

“Oh… I went too far. Scrap that.” Kuja said and went ahead and erased his last words from the boys mind, leaving him confused as to the tears and why his heart ached so much. This was harder than Kuja thought. He somewhat gave up and knelt to the boy, the vines disappearing as he placed his hands on his shoulders, but the boy hit them away and would not tolerate being still for much longer. “I have an idea.” Kuja said and produced a small smooth crystal from his pocket. “Do you know what this is?” Tilsiun just stared, empty. “It will project any kind of plant, animal or species you collect. Here… just give it a name. Collect.” Kuja commanded and a beam shone from the crystal. He ran the light over a stick and said the word “stick”. The light disappeared and he handed it back to the boy. The boy sighed deeply and wiped the last of his tears away before he held the crystal and said “stick” and to his amazement, the exact stick that was on the ground, was now mirrored in a beautiful light in the air.

“Go ahead.” Kuja smiled and stood up as Tilsiun looked for something else. He shone the light at the biggest tree and marvelled, the biggest brightest smile with the word “Whoa!” as a giant tree radiated from within the palm of his hands, shooting above the original by that small fraction. Kuja smiled patiently before speaking again. “Now go play with your little friends. It’s not to gloat, it’s to share, they’ll love you for it, go share the experience.”

Tilsiun smiled and nodded, beaming happily, discovering that cupping his hands over the crystal made the projection stop. “Thank you.” He said and ran off.

Kuja sighed. Maybe it was so simple. Words couldn’t cut it, they never cut him when he was younger, however, every lecture he received, when looked back upon gave him his little drops of faith and perhaps love for people. He cursed them because if people never had cared enough to attempt to lecture him in the past, he would not be here now trying to lecture this little boy. He wouldn’t tell the boy there was happiness in going the other way for what was the point? Kuja had no motive for creating a monster and his conscience was still currently intact, and who could fling their heart so far away except death himself or his cold embrace.

29/10/09
Kuja made his way back to find Etternoch and Etternoch was delighted as he made Kuja work with some others, planting small seeds. Kuja didn’t object, he somewhat enjoyed it, he only regretted that he would not use his powers to help the forest grow. He would have liked to have given at least a staff to Etternoch, but he could not trust people and their greed or even need. Tilsiun for one would be sure to cause trouble, though Kuja had a feeling that he might not stick around in this community for many more years. Tilsiun and Kuja were quite different, though Kuja could not remember being as young as the boy. Kuja’s memory started when he was perhaps thirteen or fourteen, if that was even his true age, and he wondered if his feelings prior were the same as Tilsiun’s. The main difference was that Kuja never admitted any interest or care for people until he met Desora, but this boy so obviously and desperately longed to belong.

Night began to descend before Kuja knew it, time had gone by so fast and he was somewhat proud of all the work he had done. Something felt amiss however. He expected the boy to come running back to him, perhaps even with his friends, all happy and showing off, but there was nothing. He heard no sounds of children’s laughter anywhere within the forest.

“You look like a troubled father, Kuja.” Etternoch smiled softly, having come to stand by him and suddenly the sombre mood was disrupted with Kuja laughing almost beyond control.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, ahhhh.” Kuja wiped away a tear. “Number one, yes I am troubled, and I am a father, but I don’t know if the two have anything to do with each other, and I’m sorry but there is no way I shall be adopting Tilsiun from you.”

“You didn’t really strike me as the father type earlier today, but now I kind of see it.”

“Is that so? I care nothing for children, much less my own.”

“You keep reminding me that you’re self-centred, but your actions seem to suggest otherwise.”

Kuja sighed. "While i may leech off your happiness here, my own family constantly suffers.” He decided to instantly change the subject. “So how are the children going?”

“Out and about, playing, the usual of preferring to muck around as opposed to helping out.” He smiled, though Kuja noticed a thin line of worry in his brow. “Tilsiun didn’t come to eat with the others tonight. And he normally does, even if he sits branched away.”

“Thanks.” Kuja said and he wandered off to find the boy. He became more aware now, used his powers, and the air became darker and darker as he got closer. He leant over the entrance to a hollowed out tree. “I take it sharing wasn’t your speciality.”

“Get lost.” Tilsiun retorted before a little sniff.

“You should come out and… I’ll give you a present.”

“I said get lost! Go away you stupid thick head!” Tilsiun shouted and Kuja wasn’t going to reason with him as dead leaves filled the trunk, filling it up and pushing Tilsiun out. “What’s your problem!?” Tilsiun shouted, glaring at him angrily from the ground before his head sunk low, ashamed of the prior beatings and humiliation. He wanted to fight the other now but he couldn’t find the energy and quickly wiped at tears that wouldn’t stop leaking.

“Just be nice to them and they will be nice to you.” Kuja said plainly.

“As if! They’re all jerks. I hate them so much! I wish they’d all just disappear!”

“All of them?”

“Yes!”

“Including Etternoch?”

“Him especially! I hate him so much, more than anyone!”

“But he cares for you very much. Probably more than anyone else. I would say you are like a son to him.”

“No, he hates me! He does nothing but tell me off, and he already has kids.”

“That’s most likely because you did something to deserve it, and I would say a lot of the times he tells you off is because he cares.” Kuja crouched down to him. “If he didn’t care, I don’t think you would still be in this community now. I think he does a lot for you, but you are too miserable to realise that. Don’t think about what you don’t have, appreciate what you do. You have so much opportunity here, you have much more than other people in the world…”

“Shut up! I don’t care, you’re all the same! I have nothing and I don’t want anything! Leave me alone!” He tried to run but Kuja grabbed his arm before his further efforts made them topple to the ground, Kuja pinning him on his stomach. “Stop it! Stop it! Just leave me alone!”

“And what will you do? Where will you go?”

“I don’t know! Anywhere but here!”

“But everything you need is right here.”

“There’s nothing here, I hate everything here, I hate everyone and everything and I hate myself the most!” The boy burst into deeper cries, tears streaming as he sobbed into the ground. Kuja’s hand tentatively left the others back, he felt so sad for the other.

“Tilsiun… I’m so sorry.” Kuja eventually said. “I can’t help you. I’m sorry.” Nothing he could say could help the boy, and he could not befriend or comfort him, Kuja wasn’t willing to go so far out of his own way for the child. If he continued, if he were to make the boy feel some kind of happiness, some kind of light, he would have to be the boy’s Desora or Balthameul, but surely he would inevitably end up being the boy’s biggest betrayal. “Sleep now, Tilsiun. You can cry again when I’m not here.”

A gentle spell made the boy slowly close his eyes and drift into sleep. Kuja sighed and would not linger, picking the boy up in his arms and carried him back to the camp. All the other children were sleeping by this stage and Etternoch held nothing but a father’s worry as he carefully took Tilsiun from Kuja’s arms and placed him in his bed.

“Children can be so frighteningly real.” Etternoch said sadly and as if he had been with them the whole time. He understood Tilsiun and the matter at hand well enough, but he could not help him either. “Will you stay the night, Kuja? So you can say goodbye to him…”

“I will.” Kuja replied and Etternoch smiled and nodded before they retired.

Kuja somehow managed to sleep in longer than everyone else. He woke to the sound of people talking, chatting, laughing, small fires going, meals being cooked, people wandering this way and that. There were not that many people, a number below a hundred, but it was more than Kuja was used to. And what rang and resonated the loudest in his ears was the sound of children’s laughter, and one particular laugh he had never heard before.

Submerging from quarters far less comfortable than his usual giant bed and with far less fetching wallpaper, he stood infront of his tent to see Tilsiun running around with all the other children with a bright face and happy laughter. Tilsiun abruptly stopped when he saw Kuja’s eyes staring at him and he stared back, a couple of kids bumping into him and then they were all staring at Kuja. Kuja was almost ready to flip out but Tilsiun’s smile suddenly reappeared, brighter than before before he ran to Kuja, all the others running with him, while Kuja had to control himself from running too, away from them all. There was suddenly so much noise all around him of excited voices he still had no idea what was going on.

“Could you maybe possibly speak one at a time?” Kuja said and they all hushed and the little girl, Etternoch’s daughter, standing next to Tilsiun spoke first.

“Look, look, Lord! We made Tilsiun the honorary keeper and protector of the stone!” Tilsiun himself beamed and lifted in both hands above him the stone, the stone Kuja had given Etternoch, or all of them really, the symbol of his life and protection over them. Did his existence truly mean so much to these children? Kuja was very happy for Tilsiun regardless, and was honoured that he could still play a part in the boy’s reconnection with other people.

“Why, that’s wonderful.” Kuja replied, ruffling up the boy’s hair with a smile.

“Yeah, we are very sorry for yesterday, Tilsiun. We didn’t mean to go so far, and then we tried looking for you to say sorry but… but we couldn’t find you. We’re very sorry.”

“That’s okay, I’m fine. I’m… sorry too, for all the mean things...”

This was rather cute, Kuja thought as he stared down at them all. One of them suddenly called out last one to something or other was a rotten slug and they all ran off, Kuja standing wondering with no evidence whether they were ever there. He searched for Etternoch then, he should at least get to say goodbye to him as he wasn’t going to wait around for a moment alone with Tilsiun. When he found the man, even Etternoch seemed brighter than what he was before.

“Kuja! Come quick, come look at this!” He hollered before turning back to something on a tree. Kuja hurried over as Etternoch then placed a finger to his lips, “shhh” never mind the fact he had previously just shouted. Etternoch’s finger pointed to a tiny creature upon the tree’s bark. It flapped its wings twice before flying away. “Look, look!” Etternoch held his breath as a tiny little sprout grew where the winged creature once was. “They’re fortune tellers.” Etternoch informed the other as the sprout continued to grow, “And with both of us witnessing, it will tell our mixed futures.” A flower blossomed, a colourful and delicate hand of nature that held within it a small seed. “You see, they’re not born from a seed, but produce it, not the next generation but themselves.” As Etternoch’s hand moved closer, petals gently moved aside to let human hands take it. “Amazing…” Etternoch breathed though Kuja had stopped looking at the flower a while ago and was looking at Etternoch.

“How do you remain so enthusiastic, Etternoch? A life of repetition until the inevitable. Surely this is not the first you have seen one of these nor will it be the last.”

“Well, it’s a passion of mine, Kuja.” Etternoch tried his best to explain to the others coldly growing cynicism.

“I have passions too.”

“And are they not worth living for?” Etternoch gently questioned to which Kuja had to pause for a moment.

“Well… suppose, Etternoch, that if your life was divided between your passion for nature and your love for your family. You would have to give up one or the other, and either way you choose, could you truly enjoy the path you have chosen?”

“That would be difficult.” Etternoch agreed. “But I suppose it really depends on the situations, hence why I wouldn’t be able to say which path I would choose.”

“Surely you would choose your family.”

“Why would you say that?” Etternoch smiled, almost cheekily, Kuja feeling like an open book. “As I said, it would depend on many things, just as simply as the different moments leading to choosing a favourite flower. What’s yours, by the way?”

“I don’t think I have one.”

“Then how about you choose this one? For the events that lead to it. Do you not treasure its beauty more now?” Etternoch encouraged, though before Kuja knew what compelled him, his hand slapped against the flower and he squished it.

“There’s no point in treasuring these sorts of things. They whither and die in a heartbeat.”

Etternoch smiled, a little sadly and shrugged and showed he still had the seed, though not too openly lest Kuja try to smite it with his epic finger nails. “All the more for me to treasure then. I think I’ll plant it here. As much as I would like to, I cannot bring the scenery with me. Are you sure you do not wish to grow this in your garden?”

“What for, Etternoch? It would only plague me. Wasn’t what we had enough?”

“You cannot endure being around people for so long? Because of your other passions?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe you are wrong. Maybe there’s somewhere where things can meet. Or perhaps you have chosen the wrong path, if you so long for the end.”

“No. No matter what path, as long as I am aware of what I leave behind, I will never feel full contentment. But thank you, Etternoch. I am grateful to you, especially for believing in me. Without that, the Fortune Flower would not be my favourite.”

Etternoch smiled at that and bowed, to which Kuja would return. Though he was wise Etternoch seemed so young, so lively and youthful, so much more than himself, Kuja thought. He decided to tell the man just before he left. Kuja began to believe that perhaps people didn’t really grow up or old at all, everyone was always fundamentally the same, it was just a matter of how much life beats you down. “Stay young, Etternoch. I hope you forever stay young.”

“What will you do? Where will you go?” Etternoch asked as Kuja began to walk away. Kuja smirked as those had been his words to Tilsiun not that long ago.

“I don’t know. Anywhere but here.” He smirked back at Etternoch, saluted and disappeared.

Catching Up

2009-10-28T01:36:36Z

Vere:
Vere made his way out the great oaken front door of the castle and walked his way around the great high walls. Was everything Damien had said true, or only parts of it? Vere sat on a large stone that jutted out from the wet soil. The rain had eased, but the weather was still very undecided, much like Vere. He wished he could just leave, but to do that to Damien, to do it to anyone would be unfair, beside the fact Vere had just tortured him.

He decided to think it all out, what he knew was true, and what could still be false. Yes, Kuja was his father, and yes, he was a mage. But was Damien really a murderer? Or had he had a shady background? Vere found it all hard to believe, now that he knew the truth about the other things. The conviction with which Damien had tried to plead with him during the torture, and yet Vere had continued, sure that pain would bring out the truth.

He threw a stone at the distant wall, falling short as he sighed at what he had done. The important question was the one he didn’t want to confront. The question, had Vere been here before? Was he actually friends with Damien, was he Kuja’s lover or was he courting Kuja? These things seemed absurd. He wasn’t attracted to men even remotely, even though he would admit to himself that he was drawn to the castle and to Kuja. Damien’s truths would also explain why this Lord had no servants and no community. He was a self proclaimed lord, a wizard who used his powers evilly.

Another stone made its way closer to the wall now, as Vere’s anger rose. Were the two of them playing him for a fool, perhaps? Wounds such as Damien’s wouldn’t matter if they could be quickly healed, and Vere’s cynical mind thought over the possibility that he had stumbled into some cruel, depraved trap. ‘Well’ he thought… ‘it will be a nasty surprise for them when they see how painful I can be.’ Still, the main goal was too determine if Damien wanted to escape this place and what the truth was behind it all. Surely, if it were all true, Damien would flee with him. He wasn’t sure how he would deal with Kuja, since he wasn’t quite sure how powerful the mage was.

Another thing struck Vere as odd. Why would Kuja give him maps and try to get rid of him if the depraved trap was his idea? Vere rubbed his head, confused at the situation. His life hadn’t been easy up until now and yet it seemed it would just get harder from here on in.

Standing, Vere made his way around one side of the castle after a while and found a small garden with roses. He knelt and smelt one, sitting beside the small patch of kept garden and sitting idly by to waste the time while he thought. He hoped he wouldn’t have to kill anyone here, since he liked them, for all that they may be depraved. Vere wondered how he would get out of this situation, and sat thinking over and over about all the possibilities, his rage rising, boiling over until he stood and kicked and stomped a rose, then drew his sword, which he had taken to carrying again. With a few elegant slices, he laid the roses to their final resting places, the roses Damien had said he tended too.

Surely it was a pack of lies. He didn’t love a man, Damien and him never knew each other, and this wasn’t his garden. Angry, he sat again, hating the mood he was in and the thoughts that kept running through his mind, but he knew what he had to do.

Slowly, he made his way back up through the castle to Damien’s room, to where Damien was barely conscious and sat by his bedside. He waited for six or seven hours, reading and watching and eventually, as Damien’s eyes flittered open, Vere smiled. ~~“Is it time for us to leave, Damien? Shall I take us both away from here, from him?”~~ “So, Damien. Are you feeling better? When you can I would like for you to tell me everything you believe you know with regards to you, Kuja and myself.”

Damien:
His eyes had barely had time to focus when he heard Vere’s words, causing him to wince. At least his friend had asked how he was feeling, first, as opposed to just jumping in to the interrogation. With what was probably more effort than what it was worth, he pushed himself up to lean his back against the headboard before leaning his head back, “I’m not feeling my best, “ he answered softly, “He could have healed me, you know? Not that he would have, but it would have been nice.” Vere’s expression troubled Damien. Even though Kuja had told the man himself, there was no doubting that Vere didn’t completely believe him about his father, their friendship, or any connection he may have to them. “You still think I’m insane, don’t you, Vere?” he said, sighing, “I tell you what. Bring me a cigarette and a bottle of brandy, and I will tell you anything you wish to know.” He truly did want for these things, but not because he hadn’t had either in some time. It was more that he missed the visits he used to have with the other and wished to be there like that again.

Vere:
Vere came back soon after the other spoke with some brandy and a cigarette. “I don’t know if I want to know the truth, Damien. Some of it just seems so hard to believe. Could I really love someone like Kuja? That is what I find hardest to believe.” Vere sighed and leant back into his chair, taking a sip of brandy he had poured into a glass. Vere sat silently for a while and simply stared blankly across the room. “How long have I been here, Damien? And if you and I are such good friends, why didn’t you say anything when I first arrived? Why would you stay here and help Kuja and do what he says when he so obviously despises, it seems, everyone?” Vere looked angry and tired. “Explain Kuja to me.”

Damien:
"Wonderful," he remarked as the items he had requested were placed within his hands. It had felt like an eternity and so he lost no time reaching over to a small table beside his bed and drawing back his lighter. After taking a pull on the bottle, he lit his cigarette and smiled, leaning back to listen to Vere's plethera of questions. Even without his memories, the man still spoke of love, first thing. And that made Damiens smile widen. "Same old Vere," he mumbled, blowing smoke in the direction opposite the other. "You have quite a list of questions there. Are you sure we're going to have time for them all tonight?" he asked playfully before becoming more serious. "I cannot explain Kuja to you. I haven't really figured him out myself. But you love him. Even without your memories, you must still feel something, otherwise you wouldn't've started out with the topic. As for you, you have been here years I think. At least around. Something to do with some mirror. I never really understood. I said nothing when you first arrived, because I too was under his influence. Though, nothing quite as strong as what he's done to you, apparently. I recognized you, but that was as far as it went."

Vere:
Vere squirmed awkwardly in his seat at the mention of loving another man again. “It’s just so hard to believe, Damien! I thought all my feelings for this place, the feelings I couldn’t explain were merely tiredness. A wish to stop travelling, but you want me to believe it’s something else entirely?” Vere sipped his brandy again. “So we were friends then… I can believe that, you’re a likeable enough guy, Damien. But the story in general is still so confusing. I don’t feel any older than I was before. I remember previous things, memories as if they were only in the last few months, but you’re telling me they were years ago. I don’t understand why Kuja would do this! What kind of a man is he, to enjoy the misery of others and go so far as to cause that misery? Is there no way through to his rational self? Am I to believe he is not kind in any way?"

Damien:
He searched the table beside him, as Vere spoke, for anything he could flip his ashes in. Finding nothing, he slowly pulled himself out of bed and moved to the table next to Vere. There was an empty bottle setting there where he flipped his ashes carefully. After which he placed his nearly full bottle next to before making his way to his armoir. "I don't know why it's like that for you, Vere. I really have no idea what he has done to you. Though, I have to say I am impressed," Damien began while pulling out a button up shirt and carefully pulling it on. He left it unbuttoned as the wounds the other had given him were still quite sore and closed up his armoir before making his way to slide into the chair opposite Veres. "My father is a strange man, Vere," he explained, taking another hit off his cigarette, "Maybe he caused the misery to you because you had already caused misery to him. Or maybe he did it because he was afraid you -would- cause it to him. Or -maybe- he just did it out of boredom." Damien smiled and waited for Vere's expression before continuing, "You'd really have to ask him. I,myself, have only known him a few years. And I wouldn't want to go explaining things that I don't know to be true."

Vere:
Vere moved over to Damien as the other spoke and grabbed the other’s arm softly, checking the bandages and the wound. He gently ran his fingers down Damien’s forearm towards his wrist. “You’ve only known your father for a few years? And he would do something like that out of boredom?” Vere looked exasperated. “The hardest part to believe is that I would fall in love, not just with a man” said Vere, brushing open Damien’s shirt to reveal his chest, an errant hand moving over the other’s chest plate “since that really doesn’t do it for me. But to fall in love with someone so wretched? It’s hard to believe someone like that could even exist.” Vere sat again, sipping at his brandy and thinking over things Kuja had said. “Is he a murderer? Is that why he told me you were one, was he simply talking about himself?”

Damien:
Pulling his cigarette out from between his teeth, he took one last hit off it before dropping it down in the bottle as Vere examined him. He was quite surprised at how comfortable he was with the other. Vere had never hurt him in any way of his own accord, and he obviously didn't have to worry about Kuja taking the other away since he kept coming back. And so he didn't feel the need to protect himself physically or mentally from the other. Though, as Vere brushed aside his shirt to examine him further, Damien held his breath, tensing in just the slightest. Once the other was back in his seat, he exhaled quietly and went back to answering questions. "You were in love with the man my father keeps locked away inside, I think," he explained, "He won't let it out for anyone anymore. And yet, you persisted. Which I think is what brought you to your current state." Leaning back slowly in his chair, he slid down in his seat to relax, "He isn't a murderer. You made that quite clear to me weeks ago. But he is selfish, sadistic, a terrible liar, and most importantly, a broken man."

Vere:
"Well, he must be some man, deep down” Vere laughed. “From what you say, really deep down” he laughed again. “It seems like I like to fight losing battles, and this one seems to be a particularly uphill one.” Vere took another sip, not sure if he liked the taste, but deciding he was used to it. “You don’t want to leave this place, Damien? I’m sure we could both escape, you’d never have to put up with the sadism, the selfishness? You seem like such a decent, nice young man… such a waste of life to sit here and be tormented by him, let your life drift away in booze and smoke. If we both left, I could teach you everything to get by. How to hunt, how to fight, how to enjoy killing” he laughed. Vere looked slightly depressed as he said the last one and drank some more. “I don’t know how long I can stay here, once you’re better, Damien. But I don’t think I could leave you here alone, friend or no friend. Tell me, what do you think I should do?”

Damien:
Damien lofted a brow at Vere's sad expression when he spoke of killing. As long as he'd known the man, it always seemed it bothered him. He wondered why, in fact, he decided to be an assassin in the first place, but didn't go any further than wondering as he figured if Vere wished to get into that, he would do so on his own. There wasn't a time he could remember, however, that the man ever had. He thought over Vere's words for a bit while rubbing his forefinger around the opening of the bottle. If he ever were to leave, it would probably be Vere he would want to leave with. The man seemed like he knew quite a deal about making it on his own. But, his will to stay was stronger. "If I left, what would he have?" he asked, his eyes travelling to meet Veres, "And what would I have? He is all I know, Vere. I don't know where the rest of my family is. My sister... though I'm told I have two, he has never mentioned unless to let me know they exist. I've never met my mother. But, you have. He stopped you from telling me anything about her, though. And you, my only friend, wish to be here with him as well." He was quiet for a moment or two and was greatful for the moment Vere had given him to finish, "I hate him, but I don't want to be without him. And though he doesn't want for me, I do not wish to leave him alone, either."

Vere:
Vere was puzzled by Damien’s answer. “If you only met him in the last few years, why is he all you have? Didn’t you have parents who raised you, a proper family?” Vere wasn’t sure if Damien was staying for the right reasons. “Wouldn’t you want to find your sisters… it doesn’t sound like that difficult a task?” Vere tried to stay away from mentioning Damien’s mother, which was obviously a sore spot for the young man. “A break from him wouldn’t help? It just seems that you put up with an awful lot for absolutely nothing. You don’t get anything out of the relationship, except for the occasional beating. I understand he is your father, but what about the family that raised you? Surely that is your real father, and Kuja, merely a tyrant you happen to be related to?” Vere ended his tyrade in a huff, not sure what he would do given that Damien wanted so badly to stay in the castle. “How could I love him…”

Damien:
"If you wish to know you loved him, perhaps you should ask him for your memories back?" Damien suggested before taking another sip of his brandy, "I'm sure he'll give them to you, though there will definately be a price." He winked and sat the brandy bottle down between them before continuing, "I worked very hard to get here, Vere. And I'll be damned if I walk out that door with nothing. Though it seems impossible given my real father, but I belive I hate my foster father more than any other person I've ever met. Now my foster mother..." He let the words trail off as he realized he hardly ever thought of her anymore. She had been the only person who had ever really loved and cared for him. He had never spoken openly of her to any other person, and wasn't sure he would ever be ready to. "Well, she's gone now," he finished. Clearing his throat, he lit another cigarette, trying to ease the tension he felt he had built up, at least for himself. "You'll stay here with me, right? At least until you get your memories back?" he asked, knowing full well that after Vere had his memories returned, he wouldn't want to leave.

Vere:
Vere smiled as Damien asked him to stay. “Of course, Damien, though you make it sound like getting my memories back is a horrible mistake. Now I’m not sure I want them back” Vere laughed, unsure of himself. He was slightly toasted now, and not sure how to continue. “It’s sad about your foster mother, Damien. She sounds lovely, and it’s a shame that any father you have seems to treat you with disdain. It’s been so long since I thought of my parents. They did their best, and they weren’t happy when I joined the army, but it was the only option. The only way to beat injustice and tyranny is to fight against it, not simply let it stomp all over you.” Vere realised exactly what he was saying, and it what it meant for them both, and for Kuja. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, which he now had strapped to him constantly. “I need to go and talk to Kuja, Damien. To have a little talk with him about his actions” Vere smiled.

Damien:
"Be my guest," Damien chimed with a smile. "But you'll need more than that sword to keep you safe. And I wouldn't suggest pulling it on him." He supposed this was one way to find out if Vere really felt the way towards his father that the man claimed. It was something he had always wondered as Kuja was so adamantly set on denying it. But, at the same time it wouldn't really be fair to his friend who would have no idea, at the moment, how powerful Kuja really was. He stood and placed his hands gently on Vere's wrist, pulling his hand away from its sword, "Vere..." he stopped as he realized Vere wasn't going to stay if Damien told him it was for his own safety. The man was too proud for that. He decided that though it was somewhat humiliating, he did need the other to stay. "I would be very greatful if you would stay and help me for now. Kuja will be there, whether you go now or next week, with the same answers." He let his hands slowly fall from the others wrist and reseated himself before looking up to Vere, "Please."

Vere:
Vere looked down to the other’s hand resting on his wrist. He wasn’t at all repulsed by the touch of the other, even given how emotional the touch was and he curled his fingers around Damien’s hand gently as the other’s hand fell away. “Of course” Vere said, smiling, as he sat in the chair next to Damien. Vere wasn’t sure how powerful Kuja was, and thought maybe gauging his powers through discussion with Damien would be a good idea, in the long run. Was Damien trying to save him, by keeping him here? Could Kuja really be that powerful? “What kind of powers does he have, Damien? Not that it will matter, as I said, the only way to beat it is to stand up to it, or sometimes, sneak up behind it. Though, from what you say, he may like the second option” Vere laughed, again. Vere seemed distant for a moment, then looked to Damien. “How long have we been friends Damien? Are you my best friend? I do feel strangely comfortable around you, not like with others, men or women. There’s something special about you, Damien, but I can’t tell what it is.”

Damien:
"You can't win. Even when you knew things about him, you couldn't win. Maybe thats what led you to stay in the first place." he answered simply, laying his head back before rolling his eyes over to watch Vere. He considered the others last questions and smiled weakly before continuing on, "I don't know if I can answer your questions for sure or not, Vere. In truth, I've known you less than a year. But you are the closest thing I've ever had to a friend. You've helped me numerous times, and I will always be greatful. I'd like, even, to think one day I can return the favor. And so, you are in fact my best friend. Though, I have no idea if I am yours, or if you even have others." He finished his smoke and let it fizzle out in the empty bottle with the other, "If I had to make a guess, though, I'd say you don't."

Vere:
Vere laughed heartily at Damien’s last words. “So you know me that well, Damien” he followed with another chuckle. “I had many… acquaintances in my own lands. People who looked up to me, people who I got on with and who got on with me, but not many friends, it’s true.” Vere looked disheartened, however. “He’s unbeatable? That powerful that I would have, have never had a chance? I find it hard to believe I’ve never come up with some way to beat him in all the time I’ve spent here. Well, I’m glad we’re friends, Damien, glad that we’ve had this chance to chat with each other. You should rest up though, and I’ll redo your bandages to make sure you don’t get an infection.”

Damien:
He hated Vere having to mother over him so. Not that he wasn't appreciative, he just felt so helpless. It had been so long since he had had to actually heal on his own time as opposed to Kuja's. Though he knew he was putting his hope in the wrong place, he kept waiting for his father to appear in his room and heal him. In the end, he supposed, he should have known better. He imagined Kuja would say, "Your wounds are not my responsibility." After all, he hadn't inflicted them. He chuckled slightly at the thought, realizing he had been quiet again for some time. He rose from his chair and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "If I rest," he began, turning his attention back to Vere, "you won't leave, will you?"

Vere:
Vere began to undo damien’s bandages and fix the new ones as the other sat on the bed. “I will stay by the side of your bed all night, Damien. For all that you say I’m useless against him, I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you while I wasn’t here, and me not doing anything to even try and help.” Vere applied an ointment to the wound softly, rubbing his fingers over Damien’s delicate skin before redoing the bandage. “Does he scare you? Do you worry for your physical self, or do you take comfort in the fact you can’t die? I can imagine, from what you say about how cruel he is that he has done some horrible things to you. I don’t know how you cope, Damien, I just cannot fathom why you would stay here, even if he is your father. At least, once I have my memories back, perhaps I’ll understand that.” Vere finished bandaging and smiled at Damien.

Damien:
Damien's eyes stayed fixed on Vere's as the other changed his bandages. He hoped the man meant what he said and would stay there all night. It was him who couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Vere since he was more or less defensless without his memories. There wasn't any way Vere could expect what things Kuja might do. And there wasn't much Damien could do if Kuja meant harm to the other, but he could, at least, protect him by keeping him away from his father for as long as he could. After all, Vere was here taking care of him, yet again, even without his memories. It was the least he could give in return. When his bandages were fixed, he leaned forward and hugged Vere gently. "Don't leave this room," he warned before pulling back and carefully laying back on his bed, leaving all Vere's questions unanswered in hopes he would stay til morning, if only to hear the answers.

Vere:
Vere smiled at Damien’s fear of the other. He must have been too tired to answer more questions, Vere decided, since he had hoped for more insight. That was fair enough though, since the other had endured a fair bit of pain in the last few days. “I won’t leave the room, Damien. I will watch you all night, I promise.” Vere watched the other slide into bed and shortly fall asleep. Vere watched for a while and eventually moved onto the edge of the bed, falling asleep by Damien’s feet after being exhausted himself.

Vere Tortures Damien

2009-10-25T10:56:19Z

Vere:
Vere clambered down the steps to the dungeon with the large old key in his hand, clinking it against each cell as he got to Damien’s. “As far as Kuja is concerned, your ‘truths’ are all lies. So the only thing to do is to try and make you better.” Vere turned the key and entered the cell, moving around the cell cautiously and picking up any stray tools that had fallen from the bag he left in the cell. He watched Damien carefully, unsure if the other had armed himself, but generally hoping he would try something, for Vere had found in his life that violence generally made people talk. “Have you come to your senses, or do you still think that we’ve known each other, and that Kuja is your father and a wizard?”

Damien:
Nothing his father had ever put him through had ever been this boring. He had sat in his cell for three days now with nothing to do, no companions to converse with, nothing but himself. And the more he sat there and thought about it, the more he hated Kuja. He hadn't moved much since the last time Vere had visted. Only rolled from one side to the other as it was beginning to make him anxious staring at the cold stone wall. Better to stare out the barred door into the other cells, he decided. He pulled himself into a sitting position as he heard the key clinking against the other cells. And though he never thought he would want for him, he found himself hoping it was his father. His eyes fell to the floor in disappointment as he heard Vere's voice, though they moved to follow him around the room as he gathered up his stray tools. Damien put his hands up in front of him to show Vere he was hiding nothing, "If I were going to grab them, I would have done so when they fell out of your bag." He let his head fall back against the wall and sighed, "He is my father. There are plenty of people you can ask if you don't believe me. And he is a mage, and you... are my friend. And of course he told you I'm lying. Why wouldn't he? He set all this up. Because I am the one in the cell, you take his word above mine?"

Vere:
Vere listened and believed that Damien didn’t have any weapons. “It is more from experience that I don’t trust the man in the cell as much as the man on the throne.” Vere put the bag down, now that it was full. “It’s also much easier to believe someone who hasn’t been accused of a crime. But you may be right, it may just be that he’s lying, and you’ve been unfairly imprisoned, but how can you show me that, Damien? What would you do if I let you go right now? Where would you go, what would you do?”

Damien:
"I would have a cigarette," he answered simply. He hadn't realized how strongly he depended on the tiny white sticks until these past couple days. It was nearly maddening. "I would have a cigarette," he repeated, "and go for a walk in the garden. It's very beautiful. You probably don't remember, but I'm told the roses belong to you." He tilted his head up to meet Vere's eyes with his own, "I bet you expected me to say I would go after Kuja, didn't you?" He smiled and shook his head, "There wouldn't be much point. He can do things that I can't. I would never win that fight. And though right now I can't stand the thought of him, he will always be my father. And I could never really hurt him."

Vere:
Vere hadn’t thought Damien would go after Kuja, but was still interested in the answer. “No, I didn’t think that. I think if you had answered that, you would have been lying to me, or else deranged.” The truth behind Damien’s answer was interesting. A guilty person would of chosen to flee, a true lunatic, as Vere had said, would go after people, but Damien would stay? From Vere’s point of view, this showed that Damien was very clever, very sick or very innocent. The next step was to try and work out which, but this was not an easy task. Vere sighed aloud, and looked to Damien. “What am I going to do with you?” he said, taking a knife from the bag. He hoped Damien was either sick or innocent and not clever, since he would give in to pain more easily. Vere stepped forward, dagger in hand and slashed at Damien, easy enough for the other to dodge. “Will you defend yourself?”

Damien:
His eyes widened as Vere pulled out the dagger. Had he answered incorrectly? Was there an "incorrectly" when it came to speaking with a man who knew nothing of what he was talking about? Damien rolled out of the way of the others knife and was quickly on his feet, though still in much pain from the day before. He backed into the other corner, not moving towards the cell door for fear of losing what slight change he might have acquired at receiving his friends trust. "No, I'm not going to defend myself!" he nearly shouted, "Even in self defense I would never hurt my friend." A thought occurred to him, and he slowly raised his arms, extending them on either side, "Kill me, Vere. Because of my fathers "magic", I cannot die. It will prove to you I'm not lying." He took a deep breath and smiled weakly, "But, I can still feel pain, so please don't drag it out, trying to succeed over and over again."

Vere:
Vere was still confused about whether to think of Damien as super intelligent, deranged or telling the truth. He angrily closed in, not wishing to risk killing Damien, but perhaps he could scare it out of him. He rushed forward, punching Damien in the gut and pushing him into the corner hard, bringing the knife up to his neck. He put his face right next to Damien’s, with his mouth to the other’s ear. He whispered gently, “But I only enjoy it when it drags out, when they beg, on their knees.” Vere pressed the knife up hard to Damien’s neck, pressing the blade gently so as not to cut him, hoping he could finally scare Damien into a truth. “I’m going to cut you too pieces, Damien, take your fingers off, your skin off, your eyes out” he whispered gently into his ear. “I’m going to love it” Vere tensed his muscles hard, keeping his hold on Damien very tight. “And then you’ll die and I’ll go upstairs and finish off your father, just the same.”

Damien:
He gasped loudly as all the air was forced from his body with Vere's punch. It doubled him over, forcing him to grab onto Vere's sleeves for balance as he was pushed hard against the wall. He would have screamed when his back hit if it didn't require breathing. Wincing, he looked away as the knife pressed against his throat. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. This wasn't the friend he knew. This was an entirely different man, all-together. Maybe this was how Vere used to be? He hoped for his sake that it wasn't as he slowly got his breath back. Chuckling lightly, he released his grip on Vere's sleeves, letting his hands fall limply to his sides, "You won't do that to me. Not until you have proof that I have done something deserving of it. I've known you longer than you think, and I know that isn't the person you are. As for my father, he can take care of himself." His eyes rolled to the side to examine Vere's expression before continuing, "So, c'mon. Kill me already. I'm sick of this game."

Vere:
Vere punched Damien again after his snide remarks and his insight into how Vere really was. “No, you know what I like even more? Watching” Vere laughed as he backed away and threw the knife to Damien’s feet. Do it yourself, if it’s the truth, and stop wasting our time if it isn’t.” Vere wasn’t sure what would happen next, but he was leaning towards the belief that Damien was insane, or at least unhinged. Vere hoped he wouldn’t pick up the dagger and do it, but at the same time, Damien’s strange story would answer all the questions adequately. “Go ahead Damien, do it.”

Damien:
Damien fell to knees as Vere punched him again. At least one thing had come of this so far, he finally realized Vere's strength. He stared at the knife now laying in front of him and slowly reached out to pick it up, suddenly remember the last time Vere had tossed a knife down in front of him. "Kuja is so much better at this than you are," he grumbled as he shifted to sit on the floor and lean back painfully against the wall. "You didn't have the guts to kill him either, you know," Damien commented, wincing as held out his arm and cut deeply across his left wrist. He didn't bother to cut the other one as he knew he no longer felt anything in his left hand. Laying the knife down beside him, he leaned back and waited for the blood to drain from his body, "You actually asked -me- to do it."

Vere:
Vere rushed forward, pulling a cloth from the bag and compressing it to Damien’s wrist. “You are seriously deranged, Damien.” He held the bandage on tightly to stop the blood from flowing out too much. “How could you believe you would be okay?” Vere was angry now for letting him do it, though it did tell him that the other was definitely confused about what was happening. “I’m going to have to tell Kuja about this… there’s nothing I can do for him, or for you. I’m sorry, Damien.” Vere felt bad about the whole ordeal and not only for himself, but for Kuja, who he felt truly cared for Damien. Vere held the bandage on tightly, intending to keep it there until he had time to go and get more first aid equipment. “It’s okay, Damien. I’ll take care of you.”

Damien:
"Will you stop and just listen to me!" Damien shouted, pushing the other off with everything he had and ripping off the wonderful bandage job Vere had just applied. He grabbed the knife in his hand and held it out in front of him, though having no intention of using it against the other. "Why won't you give me a chance to prove myself? I thought it's what you wanted! Proof!" he continued on as the blood poured from his wrist once more. He was beginning to feel lightheaded and closed his eyes to try and gather enough strength to hold on just a little longer before passing out, "What proof has Kuja given you? You just take his word for everything? Where is his proof that I have done anything to deserve this? Where as I am literally killing myself to prove my innocence." The knife slipped from his hand and fell to the floor. Everything was starting to spin and Damien knew from his many sessions with his father that it wouldn't be too much longer, "You can keep me here if you want. But, please be careful around my father. He's going to hurt you. I know he will."

Vere:
Vere kicked the knife away and re applied the bandage, forcing his own way through brute strength if Damien tried to retaliate. “Because what he says is more believable then what you say, Damien. You’re such a fool, you’ve cut yourself badly.” Vere held the bandage on tightly, hoping to keep Damien alive, but he needed to go get some medicines soon. “I sure can pick the places to stay, I couldn’t of just settled for an inn.” Vere would hold the bandages on until he thought it was safe to go and get the medicines, at which point he would die the bandage on as tightly as he could, then remove all the tools and the bag from the cell and make his way out of the dungeon to go and find some help. He hoped Kuja wouldn’t be too angry with him, but at least he knew that what Kuja had said was the truth, no matter how strangely believable Damien’s answers had been. and lift Damien, putting the other’s arm of his shoulder and walking him up the stairs to find Kuja. Vere would leave him on a comfortable looking chair, propped up against a table as he sought out Kuja. He would make his way into the small room he had found his host in a few nights prior entering with blood over his clothes. “Damien is quite… deranged. He’s cut himself badly and I need bandages to take care of him. Are there any in the castle, Kuja? Vere was pressed for time, hoping to take good care of the other and make sure he wouldn’t die, but he knew Kuja would have questions about what had happened.

Kuja:
It was all highly entertaining, watching the two from where he was in the study as he sipped on his glass of brandy, laughing to himself here and there. As Vere began to make his way to him, as Kuja knew, he would be standing by the fireplace, his arm rested over the mantle, concerned and restless. He’d look over the blood upon Vere, worried before making his way over to the other. “Yes, of course. I’m sure there’s some somewhere…” He’d leave the room with Vere, for some cupboard supply in another room. “Is he… alright?”

Vere:
Vere nodded and affirmed Damien’s stability as he followed Kuja to bandages and the like. “He’s got very deep problems, Kuja. He thinks he’s your son, that you’re a mage and that he’s unkillable. He refuses to admit he’s ever had any shady past. To tell you the truth, I don’t think I can help him, I don’t think anyone can. It seems harsh to lock him up forever, but he does seem to want to stay here with you. I’m so sorry this has happened, Kuja, though it was the only way I could prove to myself that he was deranged was to let him hurt himself.”

Kuja:
Kuja was crouched down, pulling out the bandages and tonics from the cupboard and could not help but smirk while the other couldn’t see. He gave no real indication as to whether or not he was absorbing the others words and looked up, many things scooped into his lap for he should have no idea how much the other needed. “Is this enough?” He asked, as if he had no idea about wounds and the like. He placed them all onto a white towel and wrapped them up, clutching them to his chest, though he longed to drop the façade and laugh in the others face.

Vere:
“Yes, bring those” said Vere, taking some of the things Kuja had and leaving him with others to carry. “Damien’s just in the hall nearby, passed out in a chair. The quicker we can get some of these tonics on him and get him to comfortable rest, the quicker he will recover.” Vere made his way through the hall to Damien and began applying a new bandage and some cream from one of the jars to his wounds. “Poor Damien, he’s so confused, so sick. He’ll have to stay out of the cell for at least a few days, Kuja, and after that, if he stays out, he’ll need someone to watch over him, to make sure he doesn’t do this kind of thing again.”

Kuja:
He followed Vere to see with his own eyes the tragic and pitiful site. Vere’s back to him, he stifled a laugh, his fingers pressed to his lips and when he walked over to the others, he no longer really carried the concerned and somewhat frightened gait. He was so smug over Damien, he hoped he was still partially conscious as he stood on the other side of the chair to Vere, looking down at him, his eyes amused. He did not really have any thought as to what to do with Vere or Damien, he wanted to give Vere back his memories so the joke could be shared, but he did not want what else bringing Vere’s memories back would also entail. Atleast a little of the cat could slide out of the bag. “I suppose so… he can stay out of the cell for a while” He said, an arm rested casually over the side of the back of the chair as he looked at Vere, no longer pretending. “But he can do this sort of thing as much as he likes. Despite how deranged my son is, he is right about not being able to die. Nobody needs to keep an eye out for him.”

Damien:
Things faded in and out as Vere carried him to the chair which felt like heaven compared to his comfortableness from the past three days. The bandage was doing its job well and Damien was amazed at the fact that he was still conscious. Though, he certainly couldn't move anymore. His many attempts to relocate himself before Vere could return were met only with more fuzziness and he eventually gave up to simply waiting for what was to come. How frustrating it was when he realized his father was standing right across the table, and yet there wasn't any way he could muster the strength to strangle him. However, Kuja's words did seem to ease a bit of the frustration. At least Vere would know the truth, if only he would believe it.

Vere:
Vere gasped as Kuja spoke, and looked to Damien directly to see the knowing look in his eyes. “You mean, Damien was telling the truth about it all? That you’re his father and a mage? If this is the truth, Kuja, why did you do this to him?” Vere continued applying the new bandage to Damien’s arm, making sure to keep an eye on Kuja at the same time. “Or is it that parts of what he said was true, while other parts were mistaken? Will you come clean with me, Kuja, and let me understand what is happening, or am I too just flounder in a pool of half truths created by you and your ‘son?’ Vere was annoyed at being played for a fool and wondered now whether both were playing him for some kind of bizarre prank, or something worse.

Kuja:
He grinned broadly at the others words before laughing. It was fun, this was fun, Vere’s confusion and slowly rising anger over his assumed humiliation. But there was no real point to playing, to pulling the others anger further, Kuja knew the outcome. But for old times sake, he closed the distance between himself and Vere, a hand delicately upon the other mans cheek. “I’m afraid, dear guest, you are to wander a little longer, if not forever until the end of your days.” He smirked lightly, seeming ready to kiss him but his hand removed itself and he would get ready to depart. “I thank you for your services, I appreciate all you have done for us. Do you still wish to remain my dear guest?”

Vere:
Vere looked from Kuja to Damien, keeping his rising anger in check and feeling quite uncomfortable as to the closeness of Kuja. He took a step towards Damien, making the atmosphere a little more comfortable for himself. “Suddenly, it seems that perhaps Damien’s words were true, Kuja. I would still like to stay in your castle, if for no other reason than to help take care of Damien, who you’ve tricked me into helping hurt.” He put a hand on Damien’s shoulder. “May I take Damien to a bed now, where he can rest? Or do you wish to torture us both some more?”

Kuja:
He smiled lightly at the others composure over this before the last words. “Ahh, dear Vere. I have seen it all before.” He waved a nonchalant hand in the air as he turned to leave. Even without his memories, he had allied himself with the boy, cared for him. It was in Vere’s nature and Kuja should have seen it coming and suddenly the hype of the night was gone. “Though I can tell you one thing I haven’t lied about so far and that is I prefer my solitude. You and Damien can share whatever bed you like.”

Damien, Vere, Kuja Portrait

2009-10-24T07:21:29Z

Original image by Yuki Kaori