ORIGIN - [M] Shhh, I know, I know

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(YEAH this takes place after all the fights, after Cayenne heals him and he is on his own for awhile living far away from others out of fear. He is basically back to 100% woot woot)

He had been alone for so long now, fed up with the torment from all other gembounds he came across. Was he so much a monster that they knew what he had done? He had led Clover to her death, he had let Vazi snatch her away for his own keeping...Then to accidentally start a bloody fight between Czernobog and the entirety of COR. Vicktor flinched, he could remember those wounds to this day.

But what really kicked him while he wa down...his sweet childhood friends, Booker and Diot...they too had attacked him rather than run, even with the warnings he had given. They even went so far as to act as if they hadn't known him! Hadn't recognized him! They stood there like statues! Perhaps his bone white ends were inherited by that of medusa...a snort escaped him, he could only wish. It would have been easier to live with that this.

But even after all that he had yet to find a decent home...at least Canis was fair enough to fill some joy. He had remembered it from his time with the Lore Keeper. Food was abundant, plenty of fat rats, decent water supply. Countless delectable bones, many of which were alien to the jaguar but tasty none the less. At least this room was fitting for who he was, what they all believed him to be. A failure...a monster...something misunderstood...yes he was just like this room. Misunderstood...or perhaps he welcome it? He had fought along to each and every single one of the battles. Relished in the fight even when he obtained but a drop of their ichor on his tongue...no no he was definitely misunderstood...

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Belladonna

She was there in Canis again, trying to get a grip over her other side. Clover had been...acting up, lately, taking control at the drop of the hat, and Belladonna just wanted her dead, wanted her memory an ademption and nothing more, but Clover was determined to live. It was infuriating. She'd gone to Cetus for some sort of grounding, hoping the death and decay would help in stomping her down, but she continued to fight. Now, Belladonna was standing among the bones and the wreckage and the silence, the dark slithering over her form restlessly, and there was this light in her throat.

Clover was trying to come up, but Belladonna swallowed her like a bitter pill, fighting the urge to throw up and expel the light there; she almost lost, almost gave over control, but she snarled instead, and slowly it sunk into her stomach and faded away. With a long sigh, she pulled at her tired magic and pulled it over her so tightly that her pure white fur was completely obscured, and she was nothing more than a completely dark smudge of hissing, grabbing shadows with two empty voids for eyes. Belladonna was the master of the dark, and she would be triumphant.

She wouldn't let Clover win.

Something caught her attention though, once she was settled and comfortable in the void. She turned to it, then reeled back in surprise - memories from Clover came to her unbidden, and she fought against the cages, rattling her, screaming, screaming for freedom, even harder than before, but she stood her ground, as shaky as it was. This was her cub that she'd loved, and Belladonna knew that.

They had grown! Belladonna viewed them with a slow and lazy smile, walking over to them. She saw the scars and the burn wounds and the hurt in their eyes, how the memory of their little happy smile jarring with the current sight of them now. They were older, and they were bitter. She heard the shadows hiss his pains to her and Belladonna shook her head. Ohh, the troubles they've seen! She would have such fun with this.

NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO Clover was screaming so loud that she blocked out all sound NO NO NO NO

But Belladonna blocked her out. She wasn't the one in control. Clover could cry all she wanted, this was her revenge for trying to throw her so desperately off her throne.

"Well hello, little one," She said, sly and sweet, as she walked closer to them. NO NO NO PLEASE NO NO She made sure that, once she came into view, nothing of Clover showed at all. "Running from something?"

"......."

Large onyx paws stepped over puddle after puddle. Until finally he sat, focused entirely on his own reflection. Unsheathing a claw barely he let the water ripple. His reflection distorting on top the tiny body of water. It wasnt until it calm to a calm that he observed his features. Long shimmering fangs, deep set eyes, white as the very bones he surrounded himself with. He looked, broken, lifeless and utterly disappointed. This is not what was promised to him as a cub, not by a long shot.

Darkness had been slowly creeping in, he didn't seem to mind. After all Canis was a strange room. He wasn't afraid of the darkness, he hid so well in it after all. Even in the cold abyss he stayed warm. Not to mention not many others would willingly follow him into such an environment, so darkness meant safety as far as he was concerned. It was just like the mist in Cetus, safe and his domain. At least so he thought, until something spoke.

"Well hello, little one"

It had startled Vicktor, more with the fact he had let his guard down. Allowed someone so close without realizing it! And who did they think they were, calling him little one, he was far larger than them...what ever they were...They had walked out into his view, pitch black as if a smudge in his vision.

"Running from something?"

"No but you should be...its not safe...you're not safe..." Narrowing his eyes he focused on them, he would remain clam, he would not panic. He knew what that would cause, another fight. He didn't desire another battle, at least not with something he couldn't quite make out...what ever it was, they weren't that large. Roughly the size of a deer...

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Belladonna

This was just too easy; there were so many ways to destroy this little cub who looked at her with fear already in their eyes. Clover was in her though, and she could feel her anger within the hateful sea.

She opened her mouth to speak, but instead of words, light vomited from her lips, and she choked and heaved, her throat filled with it. The light dripped onto the ground while she struggled to breathe, and she took two steps back. Her vision was filled with white, and she almost slipped from her already precarious perch on the throne. The citrine gem in the deer's eye flashed a golden color underneath the dark, suffused and murky, but there.

But when she called to her shadows for aid, they listened, and she took the deer till sh strangled her, throwing her against the walls of the inside of their mind, and she beat Clover back till she lay on the ground of her cage, bloody and bruised. The stupid deer just wouldn't let her win, wouldn't just give up and die, and it was driving Belladonna mad! NO, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T

But when silence ensued, and she could gain control again, she took slow, deep breaths, and she laughed, the eerie sound echoing off the walls of the dead room.

Beating her till she couldn't move was just all the more delicious, knowing she'd just get back up again. It was like having an eternal victim, a never-ending punching bag to practice on. And tasting the fresh taste of despair new every single time she pushed her back down was so addicting to her.

She looked at the cub now, with renewed determination to watch him suffer. NO NO NO NO NO NO

"I'm safer than you are, I should think," She said. "So many gems are chasing you, calling out for your death, aren't they? You've hurt them, you've burned and hit them with lightning, and they call out for your blood. It's so hard, isn't it? To keep going when even those you thought were friends drive you away? It's so hard to be alone."

She leaned in close, her voice full of sickly sweet fake sympathy. "But she's not here, is she? You've been looking for her for so long, the only one who loved you. Even your bird friend Ambrus is gone, abandoning you for others more important than you. How sad."

Belladonna whispered into the cubs ear, grinning ear to ear. "Clover's not here, Vicktor. She's dead, and you know it."

NO VICKTOR I'M RIGHT HERE, PLEASE DONT, DON'T LISTEN TO HER, PLEASE

"......."

The mysterious doe did nothing but purge up light as they attempted to speak. A twang of pain crashed over his heart, tugging at the raw and tender strings. Light reminded him of Clover, each reflection that bounced from the simplest of puddles to that of his own teeth. What reminded him more, was especially gembounds that used it. This deer was already infuriating, scratching at a scab by from their mere presence. Vicktor could only take a slight step back, watching, his pale eyes unmoving from their shadowy form.

They unleashed an eerie laugh, echoing around the walls of the dead room, he was in a perplexing situation. Tension seemed to be mounting, he could run now, run and be free of this mess. Yet something told him to stay, stand your ground. It seemed like an excellent and fair idea, until they opened their mouth again.

"I'm safer than you are, I should think"

What was that suppose to mean? Before he could curl his lips into a threatening display he froze. They began to spill sentence after sentence, knowledge of the trials he had faced. Were they really calling out for his death? Hadn't they thought he died? He was safe here wasn't he!? His eyes grew fearful, they were right. What had he done, he had spilled so much blood! They were surely still looking for him! Perhaps even long after the 'belief' of his death! They leaned closer, and he was all ears. Fearful and sorry for his past actions and what they meant for him today.

"But she's not here, is she?"

His eyes did not waver, his stare only hardened. No, they couldn't possibly be speaking about...no, there was no way they could know!? This had to be a cruel trick! They couldn't possibly be speaking of her.

"You've been looking for her for so long, the only one who loved you. Even your bird friend Ambrus is gone, abandoning you for others more important than you. How sad. Clover's not here, Vicktor. She's dead, and you know it."

Eyes unmoving he watched the shadow beast. He had been growing hot, but now his blood boiled. How DARE they speak about Clover. No, NO, NO!

He spat at the fiend, showing the full extent of his saber fangs. His tongue, his eyes, everything began to glow a blinding white. His coat rippling lightly with smoke, as he took a step towards them. Exhaling a deep hiss as flames billowed from his throat. He was beyond the point of boiling blood. He was on fire. This physical pain was nothing for him, at least not now. He had been hardened, if there was any discomfort it would only add fuel to his hate fire.

"You know NOTHING! LEAVE!"

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Belladonna

Belladonna saw the fire raging inside of the cub, snarling and breathing rage at her, and it tasted so delicious to her, his fury like a fine, aged wine, with the aroma of something rotting an long dead that she loved. If Belladonna could feel pride, she would be proud of this beast in front of her.

"What are you going to do, hm?" She laughed, such a harsh sound, and she tilted her head to stare at him. "Burn me? Electrocute me? Kill me? Add me to your collection of dying creatures behind you? Didn't she teach you better?"

STOP PLEASE, I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE

This is your punishment, Clover, just watch.

"You're a monster, Vicktor." She said simply, sighing after her good laugh, amusement fading away. "She tried to teach you how to be good, and now that she's dead an gone, look at what you've done! You've terrorized a creature that had a family, scared two small, innocent creatures and hurt them even before they did anything to you. They saw the monster inside you, Vicktor, they knew who you are."

"Vazi told her what you were, and she didn't believe him, refused to believe him, and she tried to leave him to get back to you, did you know that? She called out to you, she cried for you, but you weren't there to save her. And oh, Vicktor, you should have heard her scream as she died! It was glorious!"

PLEASE, I DON'T WANT THIS FOR HIM, PLEASE, JUST STOP

Belladonna smiled. No.

"She didn't believe you were a monster, all Clover saw was this happy, grinning little carnivore, teeth shining, ready for ripping and tearing flesh; that's all you're made for, that's what you're good at. You're made for killing, Vicktor, and nothing more. You have nothing else to live for."

"......."

"What are you going to do, hm? Burn me? Electrocute me? Kill me? Add me to your collection of dying creatures behind you?"

A sick laughter erupted from his throat, flames billowing as the cackle began to mimic that of the crackling fire. "There are SO many choices...I think I'll do them all...in that. exact. order." He was losing himself, allowing the very shadows they spat towards him to creep deeper into his heart. He would make them pay for their words. Make them eat every last syllable partnered with a pint of their blood for good measure, that is if he left any. He only took one more step, his paw residing deep within the puddle before him. Bringing it to a rapid boil as he froze, listening to them, absolutely stunned. No...enraged...

"Didn't she teach you better? You're a monster, Vicktor."

Their words came out like velvet from their mouth, it was so easy for them to say. Yet it cut across him, each and every word was like a tusk through his abdomen. Like vines wrapping around his form, strangling him with a fear that rivaled his own. It was all those tear filled nights, were he would scream his throat hoarse, calling out for her. To only hear that she screamed for him as she died. For them to have the audacity, to stand there and spat out these vile words. To say it was GLORIOUS!?

" You're made for killing, Vicktor, and nothing more. You have nothing else to live for."

He paused, maw open as the flames licked his face. Hungry, begging to be fed, just. one. more. time. A smile cracked across his face like a porcelain mask. It was too late now. He would feast, Clover would most certainly forgive him, wouldn't she? Of course she would, she was certainly watching this unfold.

He. Would. Feast

Pushing up from the ground he was focused entirely on her, he could practically taste that vile ichor already! He would rip her fur, shred those lean muscles and crunch her bones! Any of that would have been great! Except, she had side stepped him!? His mind obviously too far gone in this fit rage he didn't have a fair grip on the current situation. Blindly throwing himself at her, only to throw himself into a pile of bones just behind where she stood. The hollow rattle of many bones echo'd and bounced from the dead walls. He was engulfed by the remnants of death.

Submerged within the pile he stayed there, steaming, boiling. He had to get it together!!

ROUND: 1/5
ATTEMPT: DEVOUR HER
DEFENSE: Nothing but rage baby
INJURIES: None

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Belladonna

She saw him digging into the ground, saw his muscles tense, and she knew he was letting his rage get the best of him; she knew the feeling, knew he was seeing red, and she knew what he would do. So when he pounced, she stepped to the side, laughing, watching him crash into a pile of bones behind her.

She moved into the darkness, letting her voice echo into the room, watching him come out of the pile of bones, shaking it off, letting the anger and the fire consume him. He was searching for her, and he had no idea where she was, and she decided it would be fun to play with him. The cub was just so pathetic, standing there, and she had no pity, no sympathy, no joy in seeing him like this. She knew that if he caught her, he would rip her apart, but she stayed for one reason only; to see him cry in pain and defeat. She thrived off of his pain, and she couldn't get enough of it. She needed more, always needed more, like a glutton, like the boiling sea inside her was always hungry for more of the same.

She would take as much as she could, squeeze it from them till the sweet taste of their misery bled completely dry, and then she would lead them to the calm waters of death and drown them - and then when she was done, she would find someone else to do the same to.

She reached for Clover's stupid magic she used when she told stories, the one that let her change and control her voice, and from all parts of the room came Clover's sweet voice calling out, "Vicktor! Please, please, help me!" She added the deer's shuddering breath, and then, then the sound surrounded the jaguar as the sound of harried breathing turned into a bloodcurdling SCREAM of pain and torment, sobbing, begging for the pain to stop.

"She wanted you to save her!" Belladonna called from the dark, laughing, tasting his misery and his hatred. "But you were lost in the mists, and you were too late! And now she's DEAD and it's all your fault!"

ROUND: 1/5
ATTEMPT: Rip his heart out with Clover's poor voice
DEFENSE: Hiding well in the dark
INJURIES: None

"......."

The hollow rattle bounced across the room, countless bone falling to the cavern's floor as he emerged. Fire licking his lips as he breathed. Eyes a blinding white he could hear her. Only, she was everywhere, every wall bounced sound off from the last. He couldn't pin point the vile deer. Still he snarled, spat out fire and brimstone from his gut. He would find her, he would light this cave up, burn the very shadows they hid within like a coward. That was until she spoke.

"Vicktor! Please, please, help me!"

Anger fled into desperation, he scrambled through the darkness, screaming her name. She was alive!? She was being hurt! She was calling out to him! He wouldn't let her fade, no not again! "CLOVER! Where are you!?" His expression of hated had been pulled back to reveal the core of his psyche, fear. She was screaming, it had begun to grow, louder and louder until finally she had broken down into sobs. He couldn't find her, he couldn't locate her. Throwing himself haphazardly into the piles of bones as he checked each direction her fleeting voice had emerged.

She wasn't anywhere...

If not for the white hot fire that burned through his body he would be trailing tears. Each emerging droplet sizzled out by the flames. He was completely and utterly desperate.

""She wanted you to save her! But you were lost in the mists, and you were too late! And now she's DEAD and it's all your fault!"

No, NO, NO! Not again, he could save her! She couldn't be dead! He could hear her! She was here, she was so close! This vile shadow had her! They had to have! Right?

"NO! I hear her! Let her go! She's done nothing to you!" Sorrowful words ripped from his throat in desperation. Until finally he began to scream. Each word incomprehensible, rambling violently about saving her. How Clover couldn't be gone, he could hear her after all! Unsheathing his claws deep within the rocky floor below he rooted himself. Screaming, for Clover. He had promised her so long ago, he would keep her safe. Safe from the dragons, the evil kings and the monsters. Fire ravenously billowing, his coat bristled again just as it always did. The dancing light had began to grow, skipping across his fur. It was only for a few seconds before it disbursed into the atmosphere unleashing a chorus of crackles rivaling the fire's own.

He was numb, and he welcomed it.

ROUND: 2/5
ATTEMPT: Find the villain! Slow them down!?
DEFENSE: NOTHING
INJURIES: None

"Clover Speech"
"Belladonna Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

Her cold and callous laughter just got louder and louder, a wild sound - He still believed she was still alive! This was hilarious, this was pure gold! This stupid pup was so deluded that he would happily jump off a cliff if it meant finding her! But it was no use; she was right here, strangled by Belladonna, the shadows choking her voice till she couldn't protest anymore. This was just too easy! She hardly had to even try with this, he was breaking himself!

Belladonna started to feel something, deep within her gut, something that sparked and flared to life - pure, selfish, wondrous delight in his torment. She felt elated and high on watching him scream and call out for Clover, searching for her like a maniac, till his sentences didn't even make sense anymore. She was addicted to this taste, this sensation, this disgusting happiness, and she couldn't get enough of it. Her laugh changed, and she actually sounded amused for the very first time.

And when his fur crackled, Belladonna was laughing too hard, tears in her eyes, streaming down her inky, stained face, that she had no defense for the onslaught of static charge that went through every vein, every muscle, making her convulse and twitch. She fell to one knee, her eyes blind for a moment, and she couldn't think straight, couldn't remember what she was doing for a few seconds. Everything felt so numb and her nerves felt like they were being stabbed with millions of little needles, and Clover felt it too, stunned and drowning in the raging sea. Quickly the feeling faded, and though she couldn't control her limbs, she could call on her magic in retaliation.

"Suffer, as she suffered," She said, her voice hoarse from the spell.

She swarmed herself in the dark, the whole area she was in, till no light could puncture it, and she sent hideous claw-like arms towards Vicktor, letting the cold hands roil over his fur, staining him. They couldn't grab at him, but neither could he grab them and throw them off of him. And down below him, like a theatre on the broken, bone-covered ground, all around him in a circle, was the silhouette of Clover, screaming for him, the after effects of the mimicry spell seemingly coming from each and every shadow. They screamed for him to save him, please, do anything to make it stop, but inevitably they all fell together and their screams stopped abruptly, their bodies limp like rag dolls.

By the end of this display, she gained control of herself somewhat, and she could breathe. She flexed herself, shaking off the last remnants of the pins and needles, and she felt a renewed effort to make this stupid, broken pup suffer. No one had ever hurt Belladonna before, and she would make it so that no one could ever again.

"SUFFER, AS SHE SUFFERED," She yelled, the harsh, disgusting voice of hers like a banshee's shriek against the walls.

ROUND: 2/5
ATTEMPT: Hide so he can't find Clover, can't ever find her, and play with his emotions
DEFENSE: Already hiding in the dark
INJURIES: Shocked, slightly numb and mildly disoriented

"......."

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