Stage II
New Beginnings
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Act II
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“Heh, heh heh,” came the chuckle of the smoker holding William by the hair, “What have we here?”
Almec stood there, a red aura shunting around him from both his wrists and ankles. His coattails flapped, his hair bobbing as if in a breeze. His hands as fists, legs bent, ready to fist forward by the look of him quite honestly. A punching man, ready to unleash.
“Hell! I like this one,” the smoker laughed.
In a brief instant his arm flew back and with it went William. The crash echoed out, some strands of hair falling from the man’s hand as he gazed onward at Almec. Back behind rested William under a clutter of tablecloth and various dishes and silverware.
“Virgil Gorgon,” Almec grumbled as he looked upon the ringleader.
“I do not believe we’ve met,” Virgil replied so coldly.
Next Almec looked across to the smoker man, “Vox.”
“Hoh hoh, so you know me? Very nice,” the smoker, Vox, called back.
“Rather hard to forget the face of one of the Tatara commanders after two major wars; though from what I remember, you weren’t ranked very high on that list.”
“Heh… suppose not, yet I am the survivor of our council. Allow me to refresh your memory pleb. I’m Tatara Number Thirteen, Captain Vox Tatara, and if you do recall… if one was to take on the Twelve Lords, they first had to best me.”
“And yet all of them are dead. Satanas, Ticci, Mal, Dawn… that one I don’t know,” Almec grumbled now looking at the masked man.
“Ah ‘im? Adam Nirox, not that you’ll really be needing it if you attack us,” Vox chuckled stepping forward.
Almec looked from Vox back to Virgil, a scowl crawling across him as he did. By this point the club had grown dead silent, some people having actually departed and others… others just remained there, watching. The looks across the board, the blank stares of humanoids and goblinoids and various different races from bird like people to demons and more.
“Come on Almec,” Vox rambled on, “Ya really gonna start a scene here of all places? And with us?”
“Tch-”
“My friend my friend,” Gustave grumbled behind Almec, “It is not worth it. Do not no- do not go against the Gorgon.”
“He’s right you know,” Virgil spoke, “Almec was it? I should really consider eliminating you just for thinking about baring your teeth at us… but perhaps this is good fortune.”
As he spoke he once more formed the Earth Seal, and once more Danielle flipped out. She squirmed, she screamed, the searing burn beneath her garb and the roll of the electricity once more covering her. Her screams as she spat up into the air switching and smoking. Almec reached forward though quickly backed his step as Vox appeared before him a couple feet away.
Seconds later the smoldering pain ceased with Virgil glaring right at Almec, “You seem like you would be particularly strong. One look at you and I can sense the great power you no doubt hold.”
He glanced down to Danielle after he spoke, looking the sprawled out young teen over.
“This one… truly does not hold a candle to what she once was. You though might be a proper substitute.”
“D-don’t,” Danielle choked, “He… he won’t… he won’t keep me-”
“You be quiet there,” Vox chirped.
“What makes you think I care about what happens to these kids?” Almec questioned, “A favor is a favor, little else.”
“True enough… Vox, eliminate him,” Virgil muttered.
“Heh, right,” Vox chuckled with his grin widening.
“Dammit,” Almec growled, now switching stances.
Both Vox and Almex stared one another down while around them the crowd broke away immediately. People pushed and backed away, some fumbling and tripping over one another. The Tatara’s eyes full of fire, his hand flexing and scrunching into a fist. Almec in turn simply sweat.
“Lets have at it!” Vox called out, leaning forward and taking a single step-
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“Are you sure you want to do that here, Tatara?”
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-and with that step he halted. A simple blink. All involved in that scenario shifted their attention away from one another and instead looked on up. Right up there, up the pillars and up the overhanging balcony nearby.
Virgil’s glare, Vox’s confused rendering, Adam’s furious stare, the sweated expression of Almec, the shocked looks of Gustave and his people, the pained radiance of Danielle and William- even the crowd’s attention. Right up top, right up there, a figure overhanging. Sat atop the balcony railing, their back to the pillar, and their magenta eyes aglow angled downward.
The drift of white, the man in the light patterned with the red spades. He sat atop the railing simply overlooking the entire performance down on the ground with the most casual of blank expressions. It held nothing, it could not be read, just… empty?
His orbs wandered, first upon Vox and then to Adam, circling up to William and back down to Almec and Raven, finally resting on Virgil and Danielle. The locking of their gazes, Virgil’s being much more of a glare backed by his own scowl at that point, a fierce fire behind his reach. And then for the spade man, the coldest of returned glares that almost did not appear to be a glare. Almec stumbled back with his own color now draining as he looked up, even as Vox himself had begun to sweat a little.
“Well now… that ain’t good,” Vox grumbled.
“It can’t be-” Almec grumbled.
“Who is that Almec?” Raven murmured.
Virgil turned a quarter step once more, staring right up at the figure the entire time, “… Alexander… Blackheart.”
“Blackheart?!” Raven choked.
As she did so both Danielle and William had now begun to look up, the piss still having been taken right out of them. Alexander remained in place with his focus solely on Virgil now. Down below the crowd had still continued to fan out; however now some were staying behind. At the same time down under Will was being helped up from the table by a few of Gustave’s own men.
Gustave himself, why he was also sweating bullets, “Oi oi oi now, that, that does not look good no sir no it does not-”
“Is he related to Zero?” Raven questioned to herself, turning her head and looking over to the stunned pained look of Dani.
“What are you doing here Alexander?” Virgil questioned aloud.
“Dunno. Vibing I guess. I mean this IS a public club after all… what about you there fellah? Causing a scene?” Alex called back.
“This doesn’t involve you Blackheart-” Adam growled, finally speaking with a low hiss.
“Actually I’m feeling pretty involved right now. If you guys do this here then I’m kinda in the splash zone.”
The masked man took a single step forward, pulling both hands from his pockets. Alex’s eyes flickering over to Adam in that moment. The same cold gaze remained as sights were set upon the masked foe.
“You gonna actually try and fight me Nirox? That really didn’t go well for you last time, just saying,” Alex called out.
“Bastard-” Adam growled.
“Adam, I wouldn’t,” Vox chuckled aloud as he pulled from his coat pocket another cigarette, lighting it with his free hand using magic, “Alex there can go toe to toe with me on my best day. You’d just die an ugly death.”
“Bleh-” Adam grunted.
“So,” Virgil cut in, “Is it your intent to interject yourself, Lord Blackheart?”
“Pfft- Virgil lets get one thing straight here.”
Merely a flicker of movement followed, like black whiskers gliding through the air. Following such movement the young Blackheart stood before Virgil, both of his hands placed into his pants pockets. The tails of his coat flapped and began to fall. Across the way from both Virgil and Alex, the two muscle grunts readied up.
The cigarette held by Vox fell to the ground and upon a sudden a massive ax had appeared in his right hand at his side. A long wood handle, the blade itself covered in gold etched runes. Black mist streamed from Adam’s coat and hands, the man taking stance as if ready to draw pistols from holsters despite the lack of such weapons. The crowd, they all backed out even further with murmurs of shock filling the air.
Almec himself stepped back, his arm thrown out in front of Raven. In fact his own expression became one of teeth gritting and sharp focused eyes, a glare latched onto Alexander. Right away with puffs of white smoke there came a black aura that swiftly swallowed his fists and channeled itself up his arms. Like some sort of paint or liquid, his skin and sleeves became coated, slight sparks of red radiating off.
Virgil was the only one to not bat an eye at the sudden shift. He remained stationary as the pressure from the sudden high speed movement began to flow around him and catch his fabrics and hair.
“I couldn’t detect his movements,” Raven murmured.
“Sonido eh?” Vox mumbled, “As much of a Hollow Bastard as ever. Heh, well shit~”
Alexander looked into Virgil’s eyes, retaining his cold heartless disposition as he did so, “… I am not here looking for a fight Virgil. You should know better than any other that I could kill you in an instant and take on both of your guards… but- that wouldn’t really be good for me if I did.”
“Hmph. And of course, it wouldn’t really be in my best interest to try and take you out here and now, would it? Lest I risk incurring the wrath of the already temperamental Blackheart Family-” Virgil commented returning with a glare of his own.
“We have an accord then,” Alex replied, shifting his focus passed Virgil, “Besides… I’m rather curious about that one on the ground. How about you leave her to me and we call this even. I believe you owe me one anyway, don’t you?”
“Heh- have it your way,” Virgil grumbled shutting his eyes with a sigh, stepping aside then after.
“No- if you’re planning to get revenge on the girl you’ll have to face me first!” Almec spat out.
“My my you’re as temperamental as Virgil thinks my family is. Come on, even after all of this time… Raikor?” Alex questioned turning his attention back around with a look at the butler man.
“I don’t care if you are HIS brother, I will fucking end you!”
“Oh… I doubt that highly,” Alex replied, all at once appearing behind Almec with yet another Sonido, “I harbor no ill-will towards her. You should calm yourself, seriously. For someone who doesn’t care what happens to the kids you sure are doing a lot of overreacting.”
“…”
“Raikor just back down. Everything will make sense… eventually.”
“R-Raikor?” Raven murmured, glancing over to Almec, “Almec?”
“Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh hehhhh…” Vox chuckled, “Interesting. So the young Blackheart wishes to make friends with the trash. Well then-”
With a single swing of his arm, his ax came to rest out in front of him. Pointed straight across the floor at Alexander, his grin returning.
“As I recall, I owe you Blackhearts some well deserved payback for what you lot did during the war, that Zero especially. SO Alexander, will you be handling it today? After all- I owe you for that kick you gave me the last time we met.”
“… fucks sake,” Alexander grumbled side stepping and turning around to look back at Vox, “You really wanna go there? Didn’t I just get done saying I’m not interested? Like at all?”
“Shit, yeah you might’ve but that doesn’t mean jack to me. Virgil just pays me to guard him. If I kick your ass, I’d say I’m not breaking any rules.”
“Brrruuuuuuuuh… I’d rather not you know like… this is still a pretty populated club, in like- a decently populated city? Would rather not have to pay for all of that collateral.”
“Actually Vox, I think I’d like to pay you to NOT do that,” Virgil spoke up while looking back at his comrade, “You two are pretty even. A fight like that would level several buildings. I’d rather not have that coming back on us. It’s bad for business.”
“Blehhh… fine, whatever,” Vox said with a disgruntled sigh, his ax disappearing and his stance relaxing.
“Much appreciated Virgil. I’ll be sure to remember that some other time… anyways, uhhhhhh. Yeah, Raikor or Almec? Whatever you go by now. You should grab your cadets and come with me.”
Alex turned back around full and moved onward towards the crowd. A few steps were taken, only a few until he stopped yet again and this time looked right at Gustave.
“Oh heyyyyyy Gus. You’re here with him right? Yeah you can come too. Why not,” he concluded, again moving on.
“Nrrrgh………….. consider yourself fortunate Mersella,” Virgil grumbled moving away, “But should we meet again I can assure you that it will not go well for you.”
The crowd parted, allowing Virgil to move through followed soon after by Vox and then Adam. As they went on the crowd closed, the trio disappearing, likely heading to the back. This left Almec now without his glow standing there with Raven. Without word Raven tore off over towards Danielle, whilst William found himself helped up by the people who aided him earlier.
Raven pulled Danielle, hoisting her up. Dazed, eyes spinning, almost looking sick as Will stumbled over. Almec himself turned, looking into the direction that Alexander went, still holding a mild bit of glare.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLtJcRlCLK
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*Plop*
Gustave flopped himself back into a nice big leather recliner with his head thrown back, the biggest of big yawns escaping him. Across the way sat Alexander, leaned back into his chair with a leg crossed over. Almec stood near Gustave, whilst the young ones all sat around another table nearby with a couple of chairs. A few goons stood near the children, one of whom was actively wrapping up William’s right arm with bandages and applying some cloth to his right eye.
“Raikor Regnada. Have to say I really wasn’t expecting to see you ever again,” Alex spoke aloud, leaning his own head back now against the chair’s rest.
“Alexander,” Almec, or rather Raikor, growled, “How are you even still alive?”
“Pffft- what, you thought I died in the Terminator Wars? Nah, I’ve been in exile; though gonna be honest, sometimes I wish someone would’ve killed me back then. Meh, oh well. Like actually though, I could probably say the same thing to you. Pretty sure the rest of the Taoreta died in that conflict. You though, new name, new look. Hiding away?”
“… I don’t owe you an explanation for my actions. You and your infernal brother have really set the world up to burn.”
“Mmmmm………… yeah, fair response I guess,” he murmured shutting his eyes, pausing for a few moments, “If I had known what would’ve happened I would’ve blown us both up… no matter. Raikor-”
“It’s Almec now.”
“Whatever, Almec. Look you guys have done something incredibly stupid like, really, REALLY stupid.”
“Yeah, so we kicked a hornet’s nest. We’re aware,” Almec muttered.
“Yeeeeeaaaaaaah ‘cept, it’s a bit more than that uh… Virgil Gorgon, he’s not just some mobster gang banger. The guy is an actual threat now. Ever since the Demonic Arms lost Zero he’s done a lot to claim DA resources and uh- he’s kinda become one of the War Lords of this side of Flore Lunae. Like the dude is kinda stacked if I’m being honest.”
“So that’s why you won’t touch him,” Danielle murmured from the other side of the room.
“Yeeeah. Your old boss has gotten a lot more dangerous. Frankly, he’s more vile than my brother ever was-”
“-so why not kill him then?!” William spat out.
“Will be quiet!” Almec snapped.
Alexander’s eyes opened, his posture changing as to look over now to the trio of youngsters, “You ever kill a Lord before? If you’ve been paying attention to the reports of that Great War going on across the realms you should know.”
“Tch-”
“My father’s death, and the deaths of my brothers… albeit the Great War is a bit more extreme than it would be if Virgil dropped dead, it’s not too far off. Plus the man has a certain reputation, the kind where you don’t openly fuck with ‘em even if you kill ‘em. Consider it mutually assured destruction, plus a lot of collateral to anyone in proximity.”
“…”
“… just like with the Demonic Arms time and time again,” Almec grumbled before shaking his head.
“So- you said you weren’t interested in Dani for revenge before,” Raven chimed in, “What exactly..?”
“Hmm? She never mentioned? Eh no biggie. See, awhile back my brother tried to sacrifice Danielle there to save his own skin. And then not long after he bit the dust, according to New Genesis’s Public Reports anyways, she targeted the Demonic Arms and took out several of their big guns. Several leaders, several of the elite warriors, even challenged the DA’s heir directly and won.”
Danielle looked away, saying nothing as Alex spoke.
“Look, Danielle, I really don’t give a fuck. My brother turned into a twisted psychopath after the Terminator Wars. I would’ve killed him myself if I physically could but, until recently I couldn’t have. In fact I’ve actually been targeting the Demonic Arms whenever I get the chance as of late.”
“… so they’re still around.”
“Sort of, yeah. Last I heard the new leader was Eduard Salazar.”
“Eduard?” Almec questioned.
“Yup. Last of the council from back in the day. Not exactly well liked but he has Kuro’s backing so-”
“Kuro?!” Danielle spat, shooting right up and looking right over.
“Uh… yeah. What you didn’t- no, I guess not. Yeah so, I will say, you DID kill Sato but like, obviously you know that since the twins are here with you. Kuro, yeah she got away. Reise did too but eh, that’s been taken care of.”
“D-dammit!” Danielle spat slamming her right fist down.
“I’m still working on that one but uh, yeah… but ya know that isn’t the point of all of this.”
“Yeah… we really have business to get back to, right Gustave?” Almec retorted.
“Hmph… I can only guess what it is that you want Almec if you’re asking Gus of all people for help,” Alex muttered, “If you’re looking to hide away here in the Demon World then I’m sorry but- that’s no longer an option for you.”
“How’s that?”
“Ripples of the war are going to make their way down here soon. Sure, you could go and hide but eventually- especially with Virgil aware of you lot, you’re going to get caught up in the nonsense.”
“So what would YOU propose we do then, do nothing?” Almec growled.
“So hostile. Like so so very hostile, Al, I really don’t appreciate it. Anyways, I actually have some place in mind that’s away from all of this if you’re willing to trust me.”
“Give me a reason to.”
“Mmm… yeah no I’m not gonna do that you can just decide for yourselves. Consider this bit of information a gift. There’s a new realm that got discovered……… what, nine years ago? Ten? Not important cuz anyways- it might be of interest to you. Place is kinda on the down low right now and uh, there’s also this settlement called New Edo that a bunch of Homeling made.”
“Homeling?” Almec murmured.
“Yeeeeeeeeeup. There are a couple settlements on the new continent of Waconia. New Edo is one of those settlements. Not gonna lie, I’ve been there for a little while and it’s, it’s kinda nice not gonna lie uh, yeah. No war, no gangs. I mean sure you have to worry about nature trying to kill you but like it really isn’t that bad all things considered. Uhhhhh… if you really want to know more though you can always try and reach out to Aura Ringo, she’s set up shop there.”
“Aura… so, this is real then.”
“As real as can be. And I’m telling you this because I feel like I owe it to your group. For everything my brother did. I know it makes up for nothing but I figure it’s the least I can do. You people can go and live out the next many years in peace with any luck.”
“And that’s it?” Almec questioned, “No tricks, no favors, just telling us this and letting us go?”
“Pft- what do you want me do? Do you expect me to reveal some diabolical plan three or four years from now that hinges on this moment? Cuz I’ve got nothing.”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoavEmbxPyU
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The splash of salty sea air, the brushing of the waves. Crashing against an iron hull, crawling up many feet before slipping back down. The sailing ship, the deck littered with people. Atop it, the four once more: Almec, Danielle, William, and Raven.
“Like I said, this is more or less a gift, some repayment.”
Almec looked out, stern as ever. Both Will and Raven stared in awe, their mouths gaping as the large mass of land came into view. Danielle herself with her arms hugging her own vessel, sorrow filled yet as she stared. The mass of land in front of them coming off of the horizon, the beautiful pink of cherry blossoms littering the landscape.
“For what my family has put you through in one way or another, I’d like to offer you a place where you might just know peace.”
A river far far up carved into the forest of blossoms. Deer visible and running back within the brush. Children on the coast rushing out onto the sandy shores all waving, likely smiling with joy as the large iron ship came in.
“But I have to warn you, this offer isn’t a certainty. People are people after all, and conflict never erodes away. In time you may find battle on your doorstep once more; but until then…”
Forward Danielle stepped, at last pulling her arms from herself. Both of her hands put ahead, resting on the railing. Her sights set ahead, the rich skies and lands ahead captivating so very clearly.
“Welcome to Aether, welcome to Waconia.”
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