Ideal World Endgame

[idolpro]

Who: Beautiful dreamers
Where: The Game Tower
When: Day 271, morning

[When you wake, the folding chairs and divans from before have all been cleared away. You're lying asleep on the floor, healed of all injury.]

[You remember the events of the worlds you've visited as though visions seen in a dream -- though for those of you torn from your perfect existence, there is an ache inside you which will not fade for some days... the pain of something precious that has been lost.]

[Out beyond the windows of the tower, the sky is no longer a perfect blue; the vegetation is no longer as lush and inviting.]

[The view is of Tokyo-F, exactly as it's always been.]

[Near the far wall, there is an open book on a pedestal. The pages are empty. It is titled GUEST BOOK, and a pen waits nearby.]

GUEST BOOK | SOUVENIRS | WINNERS

Comments

[auguryofinnocence]

[He braces himself to at least not smack his head on the floor, not that it's all that much better with the bullets in him. It does spray a good amount of blood from his (lack of) ear and mouth though, that probably gets Lahabrea, oops.]

You know I can lift him. I thought I was saving him - from whatever happened to Elidibus, and to you. You can hate me as much as you want, but take my help.

1/2

[firstworldproblem]

[He gets a slight pause because what happened to Elidibus.....?]

[firstworldproblem]

[Ah, but don't worry. He has enough anger to continue.]

That simply makes you a fool. A hero who acts without thinking. Never stopping to understand the consequences of your misguided actions.

We will not take your help, Vergil. Go skitter back to whence you came.

[auguryofinnocence]

[What did happen to Elidibus, he still doesn't understand entirely! But it was bad and it definitely had to do with Zodiark being corrupted and it freaked Vergil right the fuck out.]

A fool yes, but certainly not a hero. It doesn't change anything but there wasn't time to understand anything, who could make sense of any of that.

[firstworldproblem]

You all seemed to jump to a similar conclusion. Was it you that struck me in the back. Or were you too busy trying to carve up Lahabrea's soul?

[auguryofinnocence]

Why would I attack you, no. I left Elidibus with Paloma because he was...oozing and thought the same must be happening to you two but everyone was there standing around with no idea what was happening and you just disappeared, so they started attacking Lahabrea and I just -- I thought it was too late to stop anything but the same thing would happen to him if he was still connected to Zodiark. I didn't even realise you weren't dead until I heard your voice and everything was crumbling --

[Is his voice cracking? Sure is.]

-- I made the worst mistake, Emet-Selch, I know it. I was afraid, and weak, and an idiot. I'll go once he's safe.

1/2

[firstworldproblem]

[Vergil, you poor man. You tried your best. Someone just has a really bad temper.]

Ah, excuses. I'm quite sure those who summoned Hydaelyn would have profusely apologized for shattering the star had they been alive to witness their mistake, of course.

[firstworldproblem]

But do not worry. I will ease your fears. Then you have naught to worry about. I will make sure he is safe. Now, get out of my sight!

[auguryofinnocence]

Don't think it an excuse, I'll face your ire for what I've done. But I refuse to let you believe I care any less for either of you, or that I never did.

[And he isn't leaving. Partly because all his energy is going into having this conversation when he's about to pass out from blood loss so how is he going to manage to go anywhere. Mostly because he's stubborn.]

...You can make him forget the pain, can't you? With Baritones' powers.

[firstworldproblem]

[Vergil is just striking out today apparently. Buddy. At the mention of that ability ---- the one he refuses to get because he hastes it that much --- he grabs his sword and he picks up again by the hair and simply begins to drag him to the other side of the room.]

[auguryofinnocence]

[How is he supposed to know, geez!!

He grimaces at the pain, grabbing Emet-Selch's wrist to relieve some of the pressure, but he's much too dizzy and weak to actually fight it. Once he's deposited he'll probably pass out.]

[firstworldproblem]

[That's fine. Aware or not, he's going to stab him through with his sword to keep him in place, but at least not somewhere vital. .... Not that it helps considering.]

Stay.

[Hope someone comes to clean him up because he's heading back to Lahabrea.]

[auguryofinnocence]

[Does it really make a difference at this point.....

He's definitely staying though, that'll do it!]

[failedsafe]

[DOESN'T SEE THE STABS BUT IS LIKE HOLY SHIT]

Vergil!

[auguryofinnocence]

[Ah... shit. He just looks at her and sighs, using what little strength he has to at least take the sword out and sheathe it.]

It's fine.

[failedsafe]

Did--did you get shot, too?!

[WHAT THE FUCK, MAN!!1]

[auguryofinnocence]

[He shrugs!

It's probably obvious yes, those are definitely bullet wounds, some of which still have bullets in them.]

Don't worry about it.

[failedsafe]

Are you missing--[WHERE IS YOUR EAR?!]

What happened to you?! Should I get someone from SensitIV?

[despite her questions she's not full-blown PANICKING but she is definitely VERY CONCERNED.

wait he pulled the sword out IS HE JUST BLEEDING OUT NOW SHOULD SHE KEEP PRESSURE?!]

I can't--nothing I have can help except making you drunk to numb the pain until someone else can take care of the rest.

[auguryofinnocence]

[It's fine he was already bleeding out!]

I said it's fine. Noah is coming. Do not make me drunk.

[timelines, whatever,

His voice is as firm as he can make it at the moment. If he's drunk he might run his mouth.]

[failedsafe]

[she raises her hands reassuringly.]

I won't do it, don't worry.

[at the mention of Noah, though, she relaxes a little and calms herself but she is still very clearly concerned.]

That's good.

[but she thinks a sword and a gun. Those...those would be common, wouldn't they? People like guns and swords. So the worst case might not be.]

...Who or what did this to you?

[auguryofinnocence]

That's between us.

[failedsafe]

Fine.

[not telling though feels a bit telling considering what someone else also pointedly didn't say and she is not liking this picture at all.

but she won't pry.]

I won't ask about it.

[she'll just tear a sleeve off her clothes and try to keep pressure on that stab wound until Noah gets here.

timelines etc.]

[auguryofinnocence]

[He's quiet for a while. Except for his laboured breathing, which is probably just from the wounds, right? Yeah. It has nothing at all to do with having emotions, particularly sad or fearful ones!

It's still hard to shake the vision of fear Amaurot gave him. That isn't helping any of this either. Particularly when it's coming partly to fruition right now.]

...Can you let me know how Lahabrea is doing, later?

[failedsafe]

[Even as her own hands get bloody with his, her hands are firm and steady. She is clearly very worried, but she's not letting it get in the way of what she needs to do until help gets here.

...Meanwhile, she doesn't like the implications of that statement whatsoever. Lahabrea is in an extremely bad way. Why does Vergil need her to find that out? Unless he couldn't find that out. Unless...

She can't help but think about how his name was pointedly missing from the list once more and questions form in her mind. Questions she won't ask him. She already said she wouldn't and now is really not the time.

She thinks of all that in an instant, doesn't miss a beat to answer with gentle and sincere compassion:]

Of course, Verge.

[auguryofinnocence]

...Thank you, Lily.

[He puts his hand over hers and squeezes, head drooping.]