Week 4. Urdak.
"You don't have to do this," Azrael told Husk while sitting beside him on his bed.
It'd been a month since the feathered feline arrived for his treatment and his recovery was amazing. Most of his body was back to normal, much to his and Azrael's joy. However, there were two parts of him that need treatment, his wings and the left side of his face. But this wasn't that big of an issue; thanks to the Maykrs' technology, he could finally start living his life again while having the highly advanced armor-like casts remain, so they continuously treated.
Even so, spending an entire month in a bed is enough to turn anyone's limbs to jelly, so he was struggling to move pretty much anything.
"What the fuck do you mean I don't have to do this?" He asked her, though not in an upset or annoyed tone of voice, "I've been lying like a corpse in this freaking bed for a solid month. And it took me a whole fucking day to even get my limbs feeling normal again. If I don't try to balance on my own two feet soon, I'm gonna lose my damn mind." He said.
"Right, but I know it's hard to try and do anything after what happened. I just don't want to see you push yourself." She replied.
"...Az, you were back to normal in literally a day of getting treatment. It took me a whole fucking month." He reminded.
"...Okay...so perhaps our situations are a little different..." She admitted.
Even though she didn't look upset, Husk still felt like he may have been a bit too harsh with that last statement.
"...I'm sorry..." He apologized.
"Hm? For what?" She questioned.
"For being an asshole..." He said with a sigh, "It just...it sucks that I'm finally able to start walking again but can't get my legs to do what I fucking want them to. I didn't mean to take it out on you." He explained.
"Aww, Husk." She replied in a flattered tone before putting her arm around him, "You weren't mean. I understand how badly you want to move again." She assured.
"Really? You don't think I was a dick?" He asked, wanting to be sure.
"Not at all." She answered as she got up from the bed, "Now then, you and I are going to get you walking again, so grab on." She told him while holding out her hands.
Doing as he was told, for he'd seen what she was like when she got angry, with his hands grasping hers, she gently pulled him up from the bed onto his feet.
"Steady now..." She instructed as he wobbled a little when he got upright, "If at any point you think you're going to lose balance or even fall, please tell me." She requested.
"That...that's okay...I think...I got this..." He told her as he let go.
Using all of the strength he had in his legs and the focus he had in his mind, he tried so freaking hard to take just one step in any direction. But like a house of cards, when one piece of the foundation's knocked loose, so too did he fall, headed on a one-way collision course with the floor.
"Fuck me." He thought to himself before shutting his eyes, waiting for the impact.
Yet instead of feeling a surge of pain as his face met the ground, he felt himself be swept off his feet into a particular angel's arms. Slowly reopening his eyes, already feeling embarrassed, the first thing he saw was a slightly angry Azrael.
"Husk, what did I JUST say?" She asked with a disappointed tone, which stabbed at him like a knife.
"...I don't remember." He lied, as he didn't want to own up to his mistake.
"Husk." She repeated his name, the disappointment growing.
Choosing to remain silent, he started averting his gaze so she couldn't look him in the eye. However, this backfired horribly, for it gave Azrael an idea that caused her to adorn a very evil smirk.
"Oh well, I guess since you're not going to admit you can't walk just yet, I'll just have to carry you around in my arms." She told him.
"You wouldn't." He replied, his head jerking to look back at her with widened eyes.
"You've left me with no other choice." She said before her smirk changed to a smile, "Besides, is it so bad to be carried around by me?" She asked.
"...That is so fucking unfair. I can't say anything without sounding like an asshole." He answered.
"I already told you that's not possible." She reminded him before kissing him on the cheek, "Now get comfortable because I'd have to die before I let you go." She joked with a giggle.
The kiss combined with him being held in her arms like this was enough to soothe him. Although that didn't mean he wasn't embarrassed, and as she carried him out of the room so they could move throughout Urdak, he buried his face into his hands to try and hide as much as was possible.
"Aw Husk, I didn't know you were so shy." She said after a while, honestly finding this side of him to be adorable.
"I'm not shy, Azrael..." He grumbled as he barely looked at her from behind his hands, "How would you feel if I suddenly picked you up in my arms and carried you around?" He asked.
"I'd be happy." She answered.
"...Really?" He questioned, removing his hands from his face so they could have a proper conversation.
"Of course. I've observed human men who carry their partners like this when they form a union of love, so if you were to do this with me, I'd see it as a sign of affection. And I'd be happy that you weren't afraid to share that knowledge with anyone who saw us." She explained.
Feeling embarrassed again, only this time for a completely different reason, Husk didn't know what to say in response to how...unbelievably wholesome that was.
"Well...I guess if ya put it that way...there's no harm in this..." He muttered.
"Does that mean I can carry you like this more? You are very soft and cuddly after all." She asked hopefully.
"Let's...take this one step at a time, okay?" He suggested.
"Sounds good to me." She agreed.
Continuing to explore the heavenly realm, with the occasional guidance of a passing angel, whether it was the beautiful sights, being in each other's company, or a combination of both, the couple were having a wonderful time together. Eventually, their exploration led them to a building where an unusual number of drones and angels were flocking towards with various objects in their possession.
"Whaddya thinks going on?" He asked.
"I don't know. No one's come to us mentioning anything new, though we have been rather isolated from everything." She answered before looking down at him, "Shall we go investigate?" She suggested.
"Hey, you're the one carrying me. I go where you decide." He told her, causing her to giggle.
"Very well, let's go see what all the fuss is about." She said before she began their approach.
Meanwhile, In Abaddon's Circle...
How do a demon and god spend a week in paradise? Surprisingly, the answer to that question is remarkably mundane. For the better part of these last seven days, they worked in the Wretch's makeshift workshop, bouncing ideas and schematics back and forth to challenge each other's intellect. When they weren't using their hands or their minds, they set out to explore the new and improved circle, discovering a myriad of fantastical wonders that not even Vega had seen until then.
And it was the latter of the two-pass times they were currently engaged with now.
"It appears Abaddon finally found a use for the relics from the war," Vega commented, as both he and the Wretch stared at a very elaborate sculpture comprised of multiple different objects.
"Indeed. The most use they saw before this was when I scavenged for parts." He replied, "Although, I'm surprised they didn't choose to remove them. Since it was the war and the split in your family that caused their emotional turmoil." He admitted.
"True, but it was also that very same conflict which brought Doom into creation. And while that is a horrible thing, it did lead to your existence. The person who gave them company in their darkest time." Vega stated.
"My life alone does not justify Doom. The suffering they have inflicted and the destruction they have caused is immeasurable." He replied.
"That goes without saying. But even so, we shouldn't overlook the importance of your soul." Vega insisted as he looked at him, "It is made of pure corruption. By all accounts, you shouldn't be the way you are. Despite this truth, you have developed sentience, intelligence, and most importantly, a moral compass. All before you ever met Will. Please tell me you understand how significant that is even with your low opinion of yourself." He requested.
"I do. But that still doesn't change what my soul is and what it could do under the wrong circumstances." As he looked to the ground, the Wretch said, "The whole reason I am standing here, creator, is that I got careless. I entered a space where the Dark One could sense my soul again and form an instantaneous connection with it. Depending on what events transpire moving forward, such a situation could happen again. At which point I could put all of you in danger, and that is something I cannot allow." He told him.
"Is that part of the reason why you decided to kill yourself when this is all over? To ensure we won't be in danger?" Vega asked.
"Yes. And I say this because it is true, it was the biggest motivating factor." He answered, "I am not one for emotions. Nor for sentimentality. Whether that has to do with my origins or personality, I can't be sure. But regardless of why I am so pragmatic and apathetic, my point is that I have become fond of everything I've discovered. Both person and otherwise. And I'd rather die knowing it will be safe forever than live and let there be even the smallest chance it could be brought to ruin." He explained.
"Completely understandable." Vega responded, "Six months ago, I had to say goodbye to someone who became the only friend I've ever known. I did not create him, and he possessed no relation to me. And yet his soul holds the same value to me as any of my children's, so when the time came for him to sacrifice himself for the safety of creation. It delivered a pain I've only felt one other time when my children divided themselves and waged war." He shared, "But to my surprise and joy, he's returned. It was not without disaster, but it was one we could handle. So if he can be saved from his sacrifice, could the same not happen for you?" He suggested.
"I don't see how creator." The Wretch replied before returning his gaze to him, "And seeing as how you've yet to provide a possible solution. I'm left to assume this is merely an attempt to get me to change my mind." He said.
"That, or I'm hyping up your surprise," Vega replied cheekily.
Confused by what he meant, the Wretch would have no time to ask, for, in the very next second, a portal suddenly opened in front of them. Looking through the rift, they saw the inside of a Maykr facility, but strangely enough, there were no Maykrs to be found. However, they did see something of interest. Just ahead inside the portal resting about ten feet away, was a new suit of Maykr armor.
Yet unlike the Slayer's own set, this one had many differences, the most notable being two armored sheaths for horns on top of the head, along with several other design alterations meant to accommodate the Wretch's body. Walking through the portal, the demon silently walked across the floor to the suit of armor, unable to form any words at the moment. Upon reaching it, the first thing he did was carefully touch it with his fingers, wanting to be sure that it wouldn't bring him any harm or cause any pain.
"So? What do you think?" Vega asked as he followed behind, the portal closing once he was through.
"They...made this...for me?..." The Wretch questioned.
"The only way to keep the Dark One from finding you and forming a connection with your soul is via the protection of holy energy. However, we may need you to depart from Urdak, and there isn't an easy way for us to protect you since you are an entity of pure corruption. So the only logical solution to this problem is to make you a new suit to wear, one that will always keep you safe no matter what." He explained.
"But...how is this possible...I cannot come into contact with divine energy..." The Wretch reminded.
"Hm, good point, Samur?" He called out, beckoning the Seraph, who emerged from the shadows nearby.
"Wretch, do you recall when I shared with you the process of creating Argent energy?" Samur asked.
"How could I not? Without it, our research into the Dark One's power wouldn't be possible." He answered.
"Good. That will make this a lot easier to explain then." Samur replied before continuing, "To create Argent corruption and purity, sin and virtue, must be bonded together in a perfect balance and refined. If done so correctly, it results in a new energy type without end. To make a divine suit not harmful to you requires Argent for power. But as it stands, there is no Argent present because it is both a source of divine energy and a means to produce it once a source of corruption is introduced." He informed.
"I...understand..." The Wretch said in awe as he stared at the suit, "Once I am inside, and it is activated, it initiates the process of creating Argent by combining my soul's energy with its own. Thus rendering it harmless to me." He stated.
"Yes. Unfortunately, there is one issue." Samur replied, causing the demon to look at him, "Despite our best efforts, there was no version of its design that could fit both your body and the augments you currently possess. To wear it, you will need to remove yourself from the suit you've grafted onto your flesh and bone." He revealed.
"While that does make sense, I don't see how we could do that." The Wretch said while gesturing to himself, "The only way to remove the suit is to destroy me. For whether we try removing them surgically or by ripping them out of my person, I took every measure possible to ensure its indestructibility and that it could repair itself no matter what alongside regenerating my organic parts." He explained.
"Or, perhaps there is a third far less graphic and heartbreaking method?" Vega suggested choosing now to start talking again, "You could always undergo the process of reincarnation. The very same the Maykrs and the Khans use to give themselves new bodies." He offered.
"You'd...let a soul such as mine partake in what is one of the holiest and prestigious of rituals?" The Wretch asked.
"Corrupted, demon, or whatever else you want to call yourself. Like it or not, Wretch, you are on our side now, which means you're just as much of a partner as you are a friend and ally. And never shall either of those ever bring disgrace or shame to the ritual." He answered.
For a second time, the Wretch was without words, only able to stare down at his feet as he clenched his fists tightly. What was this feeling inside of him? Was it joy? Relief? Or something else he'd never experienced?
Whatever it was, it felt...good, comforting even, to know that such divine important beings thought so much of him. If he could, he might've shed tears for the first time in his life right now, even if by a small amount.
"The Khans are waiting for you in the sanctum. They will give you a new body that is not only capable of safely housing your soul but also to whatever specifications you might have." Samur informed.
"Then...I shall go see them immediately." The Wretch decided, "Thank you, Samur. I will show the same gratitude to them when I arrive." He promised before taking his leave.
Watching the demon exit the building, both Samur and Vega felt proud at what had been accomplished here. Unfortunately, they only got to enjoy it for a moment before it was interrupted by two others who were also hidden in the shadows.
"Aww! Did you see how he reacted?" Azrael asked as she looked at Husk, who was still being held in her arms.
"How the fuck could you tell how he reacted? The dude's missing most of his fucking face cause of that plate he's got fused to his skull!" He responded.
Hearing and seeing the duo was very unexpected for Vega, so much so he had to look to his Seraph for an explanation.
"They discovered us as we were finishing the suit. It was your daughter who requested to stay so they could see his reaction, and he had to go along with it because he is still incapable of moving on his own." Samur explained.
Meanwhile, In Lucifer's Circle...
"Where. The fuck. Is that cunt?" Blitzo asked in a growl with his arms crossed, his hands gripping the sleeves of his coat so tightly he threatened to put holes in them.
With one week left until the Slayer's celebration could finally happen, everything was kicked into overdrive. Unfortunately, the others were still pinned down at their respective homes/businesses, so the motley group of three Imps and a Hell Hound were all that could be present at the building to make sure everything wasn't on fire. Thankfully no one tried any bullshit, they knew who this shindig was for, and they, just as much as the Magnes and the rest of the Slayer's companions, wanted it to be as perfect as possible. However, there was one abnormality, and it came in the form of a tall seductress who Blitzo hated with an undying passion.
"Geez, you REALLY hate her, huh?" Loona asked, as she never saw her dad this legitimately angry before.
"Let me put it this way. Take all the love I have for you and put it in front of a mirror. What you see in that reflection is the opposite of love, and its name is Verosika." He answered before going into a rant, "The bitch shows up just before everyone is done for the day, tells me next to NOTHING about the glorified strip show she's putting on for this party, and if that wasn't bad enough, it is in her contract, the same one co-signed by the wife of the FUCKING. DEVIL. That she gets to have as much free merchandise for her and her crew as she wants!" He exclaimed before taking in a deep breath, "Needless to say...I WANT TO STRANGLE HER WITH HER FUCKING VOCAL CORDS!" He shouted out loud.
"But...to do that, you'd need to rip them out of her first, and by that point, she'd already been dead from the bucket's worth of blood that'd pour out." She commented.
"Oh god, now you're starting to sound like Moxxie. This really is Hell..." He groaned while covering his eyes.
"That is the single meanest thing you have ever said to me." She told him seriously before taking a look around, "Speaking of M and M, where the hell are they?" She asked.
"They're going around making sure none of the booths were assembled by paste-eating toddlers. Also, I'm having Moxxie look through that bitch's contract some more so that I know how else she's fucking me in the ass." He answered.
"Ah. Well, if everything's handled here, then I need to get going, see ya." She told him before walking away.
"Loony!" He exclaimed, which kept her from going, "What the fuck?" He asked because of how sudden that was.
"Oh, did I not tell you?" She asked but not to be sarcastic.
"You go out of your way to avoid telling me as much as possible daily." He responded.
"Right. My bad." She said before letting out a sigh, "I honestly did mean to tell you yesterday, but I'm...really fucking nervous, and it must've slipped my mind..." She confessed.
"Oooooooooooh, I know what this is! It's about your performance with Will and Octavia!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah, see, with all this crazy shit happening, we haven't had any time to practice with him. But he promised both of us that we could spend this week doing that so we'd be prepared. So I'm heading out to meet up with him and Octavia." She explained.
"Oh well, that makes perfect sense. But where can you three practice without the horde finding out?" He inquired.
"Dunno, Will just sent us an address via text and promised it'd be discrete. So if you don't need me here, I really need to head out." She told him.
"Nah, we're fine! Apart from that bitch being late as usual, but what else is new?" He asked rhetorically before gesturing for her to get going, "So go on, get started on your practice! Oh, and tell Will that I've got the merchandise under control!" He instructed.
"Sure thing, thanks." She replied with a small smile before heading out.
Watching his daughter walk away with a strong sense of fatherly pride, once she was out of sight, he returned to being pissed off about a particular demon's absence.
"Ahem. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THE FUCK VEROSIKA FUCKING MAYDAY IS?!" He shouted to the employees nearby, all of whom nearly had heart attacks from how loud it was.
Elsewhere...
Cars moving and honking, busy footsteps walking down the sidewalk, and the general sounds of life in the city were things both Loona and Octavia were used to. But the silence that slowly grew in size as they left it behind, one so quiet they could hear each other breathing, was something neither experienced before. Riding inside of a car that picked both the Hell Hound and young noble up, they didn't know who was driving or who it belonged to, but what they did was that Will vouched for it, and that's all they needed to trust it.
"So...where do you think we're going?" Octavia asked, wanting to start a conversation to fill the air with some kind of sound.
"Simple, a studio of some kind. Or at the very least a spacious enough place where we can set up our shit." Loona answered.
"Really? You think Will managed to find a place like that?" She asked.
"I mean, he IS staying with Helsa Von Eldritch, one of the wealthiest and influential people in the circle. He probably asked if she could hook us up, and she obliged to avoid getting punched in the face." Loona reasoned.
"That makes sense. Wouldn't want to risk angering a man who could rip you in half." She said.
"No, you do not," Loona replied.
"Did you bring what we've written so far?" She asked.
"Made copies in case something happened," Loona answered while tapping a duffel bag she had next to her on the seat with her hand.
"Is your guitar okay?" She asked.
"Tuned, polished, and supplied with plenty of backup shit in case, again, something happens," Loona answered.
"What about-"
Before she could finish that sentence, Loona put a hand over her mouth.
"Yes. To literally EVERY question you could ask me, yes." She told her.
"Sorry." Octavia apologized, though it came out muffled as she did it before Loona removed her hand, "I'm just nervous, is all. Partly because we're going to be performing on stage in front of a huge crowd, and because we've been trying to write these songs forever, and I want Will to like what we've got to show for it." She explained.
"Hey, I get it. This is a massive step up from composing background music and the soundtrack to Vox's game." Loona assured, "But you shouldn't be worried about Will; we both know that he's gonna like whatever we have." She told her.
"I don't want him just to like it; I want him to love it." Octavia corrected, "These songs are about him, and they're easily the things we've put the most effort into. So his opinion is the one that carries the most weight." She said.
"That's true. But like I said, we shouldn't worry about him; it's not like he's gonna say it's shit or something, he's not an asshole like everyone else down here." Loona replied.
"Excuse me." The voice of their driver called out from the front of the car, "We're almost there. It's just around this next corner." He informed.
Hearing that made both girls do a quick once over to make sure everything was in order. By the time they were through, the car had rounded the corner, pulled into a parking space at their destination, then came to a complete stop so they could get out. Pushing open their doors and stepping onto the asphalt, they looked at the building in front of the vehicle; they were left speechless. Outside the city, far from any distractions or noise, was a top-of-the-line premium as fuck recording studio, the kind you'd see on TV that'd make you feel worthless because there was no chance you'd ever get to be there in person.
But before they could be overwhelmed by the prestige and poshness of the place, the sound of the front door opening reached their ears.
"Will!" Octavia greeted when they looked to see who it was, only to find their friend standing in the doorway.
"Hey..." He simply returned the greeting, causing both to hurry over to him.
"Dude, how the hell did you find this place? Did you kill someone for it?" Loona asked him.
"If I did...it wouldn't look as nice..." He answered.
"Is this Helsa's then? Like did she try to become a musician or something as a kid, so her parents bought it for her, but she got bored and moved on?" Octavia suggested.
"She seems more like the kind of person to play with voodoo dolls as a kid...rather than take up singing lessons..." He commented.
"Then who does this belong to? Because unless you're just sitting on a fortune, I doubt it's yours." Octavia said.
"Mine." A voice from behind him responded, sounding oddly familiar.
Due to his hulking frame, they couldn't see whoever it was, so he took a step to the side to reveal the owner's identity.
"Hi, there~" Verosika greeted playfully with a slight wiggle of her fingers.
"NO. FUCKING. WAY." Loona shouted with widened eyes.
"Yes, fucking way..." Will replied, though because it was in his usual dry unexpressive tone, it sounded a little funny, "Verosika's letting us rehearse here in her private studio...so that way there's no chance of us getting interrupted..." He explained.
"We're...we're actually going to be rehearsing...in a real studio...a full decked out studio for professional artists...holy shit..." Octavia muttered, stuck in a state of disbelief.
"How...I mean...how?..." Loona questioned, her brain unable to process this.
"Simple." Verosika spoke up while taking a step forward, "I hate your fucking dad. So when he learns that you're practicing in MY studio, it might just make his head explode. And I would give every single dollar to my name to see that." She explained.
"Really? You're doing this so that you can piss off her dad?" Octavia asked, honestly impressed by the level of spite.
"No, but that is reason number dos." She answered while holding up two fingers.
"Wait, what? Then what's number one?" Loona questioned.
"When I heard that my William was going to be playing music at his celebration, oh, it just sent me to the moon!" She exclaimed as a smile came to her face, "But I also learned that he didn't have any place to practice, so being the good girlfriend I am, I helped him out." She explained, "So come on! We're wasting daylight; we've got a lot of work to do!" She told them before turning around and heading back inside.
Watching her go back inside, but not before she used her tail to caress the Slayer's helmeted head, both Loona and Octavia were left standing there with jaws open, eyes widen yet again, and a pleading stare for answers directed towards him.
"W...William?..." Octavia questioned.
"G...Girlfriend...?" Loona inquired.
"Short answer, Succubus. Long answer...don't know if there is one..." He told them before turning around himself, "But I'll answer any questions you have while we practice..." He offered as he headed inside.
Exchanging a quick shocked look between each other, afterward, both women rushed in after him as they HAD to know what the fuck was going on.
(A/N: Quick one here. 1. In response to a question I've received twice now about the other members of the Eldritch family, the simple answer is they won't be making an appearance. Unlike Helsa they don't have much info released yet on their personalities and overall relationship with any of the characters other than "Old friends with the Magnes." Whereas she in particular has a surprising amount on her wiki and other sources to help me know what her personality would be like and how'd she react to certain things. I just don't want to put her family in, give them personalities, and when more info comes out we learn I wrote them completely off base of how they're supposed to be consistently. With that out of the way that leaves us with 2. Which is next chap is the end of this little multi-part passage of time and the return of your favorite letter of the alphabet. So until then, peace.)