Behind the Scenes: Conrad's Arm

"Are you willing to give up everything, to create the world Yuuri desires most?"

Conrad wasn't a masochist, but he didn't think his own life and goals were above Yuuri's in the slightest. He was willing to do anything for Yuuri- however, he really had to ask-

"Of course, I am willing... However- what's with the arm?"

Conrad tilted his head at the disembodied, floating arm next to Shinou, who stood within a circle of light in a sea of darkness.

"This? It's your new arm."

"New?" Conrad raised his eyebrows. "Is that not the arm that I just lost-"

"Nope." The dead king smiled down at Conrart as he approached the man. "This is an arm I've had lying around for a long time now-"

"H-how long exactly?" Conrad asked, his face contorting with disgust as the arm floated closer and closer to his face.

"Like 800 years or so."

"Is it..." Conrad never thought he'd ever have a conversation like this, "Your arm or- did you grow this arm? I'm- I don't understand. Where did it come from?"

"Oh no, nothing like that, you see-" he knelt so he was at eye-level with the fallen soldier. "Your great-great-something-or-other cut his arm off and threw it in the ocean- because his arm was a key that opens one of those awful boxes, see?"

"Uhuh..." Conrad said as the arm floated between them.

"He wanted me to have it, so I was like, 'alright sure, whatever'- I didn't think I'd ever need it but you know- I can be sort of a hoarder which is why the castle is so full of shit. Anyway, I kept it and lo and behold almost 1,000 years later you come along and some Dai Cimaron jerks lopped your arm off- which, by the way, is also a key- so I figured hey, why not give him this one?"

"Wouldn't..." Conrad narrowed his eyes at Shinou, "Wouldn't that be a bad thing? If you give me that arm there would be two keys in the world- which would mean there'd be more potential for that box being opened... I can live without a left arm- so can't I just return without accepting the arm?"

"No."

"Why not?" Conrad was stunned by the dead kings blunt response, making a face.

"Because you'll look all lopsided and stuff, I can't have that."

"I really don't mind- or can't I just have my left arm back?"

"No."

"But why?"

"You ask too many damn questions." Shinou sighed, looking annoyed. "I'm sending you to Dai Cimaron and you're gunna tell them you want to work for them so you can betray them and gather the boxes- see? They won't accept you if you don't have an arm because they'll be all like: 'he doesn't have an arm so he's useless, he can't open the boxes'-" Shinou said in a mocking voice.

"You just said Dai Cimaron stole my arm, why would they care if I didn't have one? They know I don't have one because they cut it off of me-"

"Listen- either choose the arm or die."

"If I die will Yuuri's vision be fulfilled?"

"No- and your mom will re-marry to a fat old man with a foot fetish- now pick the damn arm, Weller."

Conrad didn't like how this was turning out- but he decided it would be for the best if he chose the arm. It probably wasn't going to be as bad as he thought anyway...

At least he felt that way until Shinou grabbed the floating arm and started forcing it up against his bloody stump.

"What the- what are you doing!?" Conrad tried not to shriek-

"Hold still, I'm attaching it-"

"ATTACHING IT HOW-?!" He fought back, struggling against Shinou's oppressive hold.

"Stop it! Just hold still!"

"IT BURNS-! WHAT ARE YOU DOING-!? OH MY FUCK- IS IT MELTING!? MY BONES ARE MELTING-"

"Did I say this was going to be easy? No. I have to weld it onto your body using majutsu- of course it's gunna sting a little-"

Conrad didn't answer- he'd finally passed out from the pain.

"Jeeze, they don't make Wellers like they use to." Shinou tsk'd as he finished attaching Conrad's 'new' arm,

"Oh well, at least I found a use for this dusty old thing- now he can go collect the boxes so Soshou can be released- he's an awful room mate and I'm tried of sharing my soul with him."

Shinou/Soshou giggled, "Whoops - spoiler alert! Ahahaha well- no matter- ya'll should already know anything that's older than 1,000 years old is pure evil- it's just common sense."

With that the evil dead ghost vanished, teleporting Conrad to Dai Cimaron so he could begin his reign of angst.

-fin-