Beyond Grim And Evil: The Alliance
(A/N: Last update until next weekend, probably. Unless my readers feel like having me update anywhere between the hours of four to eight, that is. I would have put up two today, but I don't have time.)
Manipulator
"Sweet Granny Grim!" Grim exclaimed.
"I am not fighting in the nude!" Nergal exclaimed in horror. Eris snapped her fingers, clothing him. He glared at her, saying, "I was hoping for a way out, Eris."
"They'll just come back if we don't deal with them here and now," Eris replied, grinning at The Undertakers. "Besides, I've been relishing a good fight."
"Great. I've got Boogey," Grim declared, making his scythe appear.
"I've got the lonely loser," Jack called, drawing his sack.
"We'll take on the goddess," Skarr growled, drawing his rapier as Pain took out his mace.
"Bring it on boys," Eris sang, tossing the Apple of Discord up and down.
Skarr made the first move, leaping into the air and flipping, bringing his rapier down at Eris. Eris scowled and blocked with her apple. Grim instantly leapt ahead, tackling Boogey to the ground viciously. The two enemies rolled across the grass screaming bloody murder at each other and other such Underworld insults. Lord Pain levitated in the air and swept towards Eris, teeth gritted. Eris threw Skarr and turned to block Pain's attack. He sent her flying, though, and the General leapt at her fully intending to run her through.
"What, no sudden attack, Mac?" Jack asked Nergal.
"After you," Nergal replied.
"I've already made my move," Jack replied. Nergal blinked and looked down at the ground. There below him was a pumpkin.
"Really?" Nergal incredulously asked, picking it up. "What's it going to do, blow up on me?"
"Not quite," Jack replied.
All at once it roared viciously, teeth flashing. Nergal blinked at it in horror, holding it away. All at once vines shot out wrapping tightly around him. He cried out in alarm as he tried to struggle free. It latched onto his head. It was trying to suck his brains? Where had Jack gotten this thing?! He screamed in fear and instantly reacted, forcing his tentacles out. They zapped viciously and the pumpkin shrieked in pain, dropping to the ground and writhing in agony. "Oh that's it!" he yelled viciously. All at once he leapt at Jack with a battle cry, tackling the laughing pumpkin head down. Jack didn't know what had hit him, but he was quick enough to recover and start to fight back.
GAoBaM
They all lay on the ground panting and gasping for breath. Skarr and Pain were leaning against each other, sitting down. Eris was sprawled on the ground trying to catch her breath. Grim and Boogey were fast asleep, snoring and curled up next to each other. They had been beyond caring at that point. The only two still going at it, if you could call it that, were Jack and Nergal, both of who were leaning on each other and 'hitting'-though it was more of tapping- one another. Finally they both gave in and just leaned on each other. They both fell to the ground side by side. Nergal turned around so they were both looking at the others.
"Well, this didn't go according to plan," Jack remarked, placing his head in his hand and tapping the ground with the other.
"Why can't we beat you? We're gods!" Nergal exclaimed.
"Not using your full powers, moron," Jack bit.
"You try dealing with all the rules and regulations around using our powers to the full against the likes of you. Not that we couldn't if we really wanted to, but who needs the hassle?" Nergal retorted.
"Sad," Jack sang.
"Not as sad as your rag tag bunch," Nergal retorted. "Four to three and you still can't win."
"Oh shut up," Jack growled, unimpressed. The two weakly rose and moved towards their friends. "Up and at 'em Boogeyman," Jack said, kicking Boogey lightly until he woke up.
"Five more minutes daddy," Boogey groaned, rising onto his arms and groggily looking around.
"Grim, get up," Nergal ordered the Reaper, grabbing him with his tentacles.
"What de…? Let me at 'em!" Grim shot. "Oh, Nergal mon, it's you."
"Don't bother with the wake up process, we're up," Skarr groaned as he and Pain got up with Eris. The two groups regrouped.
GAoBaM
There was silence. "Well, now what?" Pain questioned.
"I guess we go home and t'ink our next moves through," Grim replied.
"Fair enough," Boogey agreed, wavering unsteadily. "Carry me?" he whimpered to Lord Pain. Lord Pain face palmed and shook his head at his already almost asleep friend. Skarr blinked blankly at Boogey then frowned. He pulled out a pill and shoved it into Boogey's mouth. Boogey cried out in alarm, leaping up. Landing he shot, "Wow, what did you do to me? I feel one-hundred percent. I could run a marathon, I can boat around the Underworld, I can…"
"Shut up?" Jack finished, holding his mouth shut. Boogey innocently shrugged.
"One of Ghastly's inventions," Skarr explained. "Wake's one up without the bother of making coffee, or using lamer means, cough, cough, drugs. No buzz crash either. Come on, let's go."
"Grimmy poo, carry me," Eris pouted, looking up at Grim. Grim twitched. She was flirting, he knew. She expected him to be flustered, to blush, it was her own personal comedy. Well, he wouldn't be that predictable. Instead he frowned and scooped her up. She gasped in shock and stared at him in disbelief. He wasn't blushing or awkward?!
"Let's go. We've gotta find a way ta help Atrocia and Malaria," he simply ordered an equally stunned Nergal.
"Um, lets," Nergal agreed, following in amazement. Eris kept looking at Grim in disbelief. Finally she shrugged. Well, she wouldn't let it go to waste. She yawned and leaned her head against his chest, quickly dozing off. Unfortunately for her, by sleeping she also missed the reaction she'd wanted to see in the first place. Grim immediately began to look more panicked and nervous.
GAoBaM
The Immortal Triad watched the Undertakers enter Jack's home from a hill across the moor, Eris resting against a rock as Grim and Nergal stood. "Just a thought, Reaper, but what if this Atrocia and this Malaria choose not to leave?" Eris asked.
"Don't t'ink I haven't t'ought of dat," Grim replied glumly.
"If they have, then at least we'll know we need to step things up a notch. They have quite the alliance going on for them already," Nergal declared. "Luckily for us, many of them are mortal."
"But de ones dat aren't are powerful," Grim warned.
"Quite. Two Nix's and a minion of the boogeyman. Creeper isn't one to be underestimated," Eris warned.
"Dere's got ta be some way ta divide dem up a bit," Grim remarked.
"Hmm," Nergal mused, making a portal appear and peering inside of it. There they saw Creeper and Eleanor grinning at each other and laughing. The three blinked and exchanged looks. They smiled cruelly. "There, my friends, is our answer," Nergal declared coldly, clenching his fist.
"Creeper literally means stalker," Grim said.
"So much for a fairy tale romance," Eris taunted. "Leave this to me. I always have liked spiting Aphrodite so."
"Go for it girl. Meanwhile, I got a one way ticket for Pinface. Right back to de Underworld. Dat cube must have been undone for him to escape from down dere in de first place. Probably Creeper's doing. Dem two is best friends," Grim said. "I fix it, dat'll be one less ally to worry about. Or two, depending on Sorella's reaction."
"I still say we should be working on tearing the main four apart," Nergal protested.
"Because that worked so well last time," Eris replied.
"Perhaps you're right," he finally relented with a sigh. "Maybe, with this divide, it will tear the allies and main group apart. Go on. I'll stay here," he declared.
"Right," Grim said.
"Actually, darling, you can manipulate people just fine. How about you have a go at one of the two?" Eris asked.
Grim's eyes lit up on seeing Eris' challenging look. He smirked and added, "Yeah Nergal, let's see if ya still got your touch."
Nergal frowned, unimpressed with the challenge. "Very well, game on, but you're playing your own part in this. Prove yourself to your king, reaper," he declared. Grim scowled viciously at the hint but said nothing. Instantly the three poofed away.
GAoBaM
"Stop it Creeper," Eleanor said through giggles, playfully slapping his arm.
"Every word is true," he defended, leaning over the 'bar' Boogey had poofed up. He juggled around some ingredients and pulled off some fancy moves. In a moment he'd handed her over a complicated mix.
"Who knew you were so good at mixing drinks," she said, grinning and taking it.
"It's a talent. Besides, Boogey couldn't sucker any other crew member into becoming the ship's juice mixer," Creeper replied.
"First mate, right hand, top scarer, stalker, charmer, drink mixer extraordinaire, and inventor. Creeper, you're a creature of many talents," she complimented. "I'm afraid I don't have that much to boast about."
"Like you need it," he replied.
"I'll take that as a compliment," she replied, smirking.
"This is pathetic," Pinface complained to Sorella.
"Love is complicated," Sorella replied.
"She's mortal," Pinface argued.
"Have you seen the way Boogey and Atrocia flirt it up? These two are tame compared to them, and they're actually in love," Sorella said.
"Are they now?" Eris purred from above, watching the scene. "Well, it's time to put love to a little test." The mortal woman would be easiest to sway. Mortals were too weak for their own good.
"Let's get on with it already," Nergal insisted.
"Let's," Grim stated.
GAoBaM
Creeper smiled gently at her, eyes soft as he watched her sip. "Hey, finish that up and let's take a walk outside," he said after a moment.
She smirked seductively at him and answered, "Let's." Quickly she finished it off and rose from the stool. Creeper leapt nimbly over the counter and the two linked arms, walking out. As they walked through the yard they looked around. "It's beautiful out tonight," Eleanor remarked.
"It pales compared to what I'm standing next to," he answered. She blinked and blushed deeply, grinning.
"I walked right into that one," she admitted.
"You did," he replied, smirking. Just then they heard something rustle in the bush and froze, gasping and turning quickly to it. Eleanor frowned, unimpressed. Creeper scowled. "Boogey, unless this is important get lost. I'm busy here," Creeper bit. There was a cold feminine laugh and the two exchanged looks.
"Something tells me that's not the boogeyman," Eleanor said.
"I know that laugh," Creeper stated. "Eris."
"Bravo darling," a voice said from behind. The two cried out in alarm and spun around to face the goddess who was slowly clapping, eyes lit up with mischief.
GAoBaM
"Eris, whatever you're trying we're not buying, get lost or fight," Creeper warned.
"Creeper you wound me. I'm just checking up on you two love birds. A favor I owe Aphrodite, unfortunately," Eris said.
"We're fine, leave," Eleanor nipped testily, holding Creeper's arm tighter and pulling him away. Eris quickly got in front, though. The two stopped.
"You're pushing your luck sweetheart," Creeper growled in warning.
"Loose with the pet names, aren't you Creeper?" Eris remarked. "What with calling Sorella Baby-cakes, me sweetheart, what names do you have for the other ladies in the cabin, hmm? Quite the lucky one, aren't we?" she asked, nudging him playfully. Eleanor's grip tightened on his arm as she scowled at Eris. Creeper blinked blankly at the goddess. What was her game? Was she planning something? Was she trying to get under his skin, and Eleanor's? He was betting yes.
"I am," he finally replied. "I have her," he added, slipping his arm around Eleanor's waist. Eleanor smirked triumphantly at Eris.
"Who is her?" Eris asked. "I'd have thought you'd at least say her name."
"It was self-explanatory!" the two yelled together.
"Look honey, I know what game you're playing so get lost!" Creeper shot.
"You know all my games, love," she replied, eyes lighting up. He stiffened and gasped, paling. She wouldn't dare! "Ooh, you do remember. I knew my talents would pay off one day."
"Remember what?" Eleanor asked, looking uncertainly at Creeper.
"It was nothing," he quickly replied.
"Nothing. Darling, I'm hurt. Anyone who has had a fling with a goddess doesn't call it nothing," Eris said. "Remember all the fun we had?"
"We weren't even dating!" he yelled. "They were harmless flirtations, that's all."
"So you see flirtations as meaningless, do you?" she sang. "And dinner dates, and looking up at the stars, and comparing my beauty to them." He cringed on hearing Eleanor sharply inhale. Oh this wasn't good. She was mortal. There were differences between the way the mortal and the immortal mind worked; and more often than not the mortal minds were easier to mold, smarter than even he was or not.
"Don't listen to her, she's playing manipulator," Creeper warned.
"I know," Eleanor replied. "Let's go."
Eris watched them walk off and smirked. "Go if you will, but the seeds have been laid. Before tonight is over, love won't even be a word in your dictionaries," she said aloud to herself. After all, new romances weren't the most stable things around, love at first sight or love that slowly had grown. "Oh Grim, Nergal, game on," she sang. Grim darkly chuckled, Nergal smirked icily.