Hi loves, this is yasmeinne (AKA AcrossEveryUniverse) and I hope you are all doing wonderful! I know I have been gone a while (months...about a few long months) and it has been a while since my last story or update. And while I have no excuse, life has had other plans for me: internship, work, need to put my creative hobbies/wants to the side, and a few frustrating obstacles.
Luckily summer is coming up so by around that time, I should have more than enough time to work on my stories and projects. ...If I can stop coming up with new ideas that is, hehe! Speaking of which, one of my friends told me about this game called Fear & Hunger. And it. Is. Brutal. I'm not joking.
I'm not going to go too much into detail because of how dark it is. I do like the unique gameplay, lore, and most of the characters. I was hooked after watching two Youtube videos explaining the story. Anyways, I won't take too much of your time. Without further ado, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the intellectual property for the Fear & Hunger games.
The streets were eerily silent and death hid behind every corner.
The newly moonscorched Pocketcat walked through said doomed streets with grace and silence. Gradually adjusting to his new form, attire, and overall body. As well as slowly accepting his fate to wander forever alone. (And yet, memories of his dear Elise still linger. There was a lingering feeling of void and emptiness that had not completely gone away yet. A pity that not all his emotions, attachments, or all his unwelcome memories have gone away yet.)
A rancid smell overwhelmed his new senses and he sneezed…rather loudly. The Pocketcat shook his head like…a cat before refocusing his new eyes in the dark.
Where, pray tell, was he going? Oh, that's right. He didn't care anymore. He had a new Master whom he is going to dedicate his whole life and purpose to now. His current goal: to find any of the Termina Festival participants and charm them into giving him any heads they have for rather precious items no one could obtain anymore.
…A new purpose given to him by his new Master. Something to live for, to look forward to, and to keep seeing the Earth change—be it for better or for worse. At least humans can entertain the Gods with their mindless braying and xenophobia.
If the Pocketcat had somehow gotten a hold of any of the heads, he would be more than pleased. Just thinking about it made him push his hand further into his pocket. Though a second later, he lifted his hand. Best not to get too excited yet, he'll save his energy for when it does happen. He can be patient.
The Pocketcat continued walking, his jacket swaying with the unforgiving night winds. He had walked past the church, orphanage, the main center of Prehevil…and so on. The ears on the so-called 'mask' picked up the faintest sounds of ragged, precarious breathing coming from all around. Looks like the remaining moonscorched folk were still trying to grasp their last strings of sanity.
Fooey. And here the Pocketcat hoped that there would be someone willing to barter with him. An ear flicked as he attempted to stretch his new senses before becoming overwhelmed again. The winds suddenly picked up as the clouds faintly unveiled the moon and its abominable light.
Go to the train. A voice that was not his own suddenly echoed in his mind. I will tell you how to get there.
"…Yes, Master." He purred in response. And so he continued his walk. Heels echoing around the town until it slowly faded.
His patience finally paid off as the Pocketcat followed his new nose. Metallic, coal, dust, aluminum, as well as the faint traces of linen and leather coated his scent glands. (So he was close-by. Who knew a simple train ride would lead to fourteen people in a rather unfortunate game of amusement for an Old God who was forgotten. What a pity. It seems like humanity was nothing but fodder for all gods alike.)
The Pocketcat buried the latest humane thought down as he quivered with excitement. He wondered how many people from the…(Termina Festival) were on the train. Were any of them dead? Are their heads still intact or was it already separated from their bodies? (Did any of them participate in the Gods-awful Festival after all and left some of them to rot? Never to be seen again or even properly buried?)
(Daan) The Pocketcat was about to step into the train when his foot bumped into something sturdy. He looked down to see a wheelchair and at this, he blinked slowly.
(Olivia must be nearby. Though if that were the case, where were Marcoh and Tanaka? The boxer had a huge heart despite his scary and big appearance. And while Tanaka had his own priorities, he too had a heart of gold and wouldn't just leave her behind as well. Unless they had gotten killed or Moonschorched.)
The Pocketcat ignored the growing humane frustration, dread, and terror bubbling up. Looks like some bits of his human-self still remained. …No matter, whatever remains of 'Daan' will soon be gone under Rher's gorgeous moonlight. It won't be too long now.
He stepped inside without a care and the first thing that greeted him was the sound of delicate yet ragged, shaky breathing. The Pocketcat deeply inhaled the air and his scent glands were met with a lavender, vanilla, and lilac aroma. (Looks like Olivia was here after all. …Did she even leave the train at all?)
It didn't take long to find the human woman after ducking through the rather small hallways. She was on one of the seating booths, laying on her side, sweating slightly and graveling in pain. Her short-style brown hair curled around her round face. Her pastel and dark-grayish attire were covered up by two huge jackets, green and brown; they were draped on her like blankets. It seemed like whoever else was here was thoughtful enough to leave their coats for her.
(...Oh no. Not you too.)
The Pocketcar quivered in ecstatic excitement. He could tell by the young woman's current that she had been blessed under Rher's moonlight in a consistent manner. Her transformation shouldn't be that far off! What will she reveal for all those to see?
The Pocketcat took a step forward and the floor creaked with his inhumane weight. Olivia slowly opened her eyes, though it was obvious doing so pained her greatly. She squeaked out. "D…Daan? Is that you?"
(Yes.) "...No."
Whether Olivia heard the Pocketcat or not didn't matter as she coughed. "Where…are…the others?"
(...Probably…dead or Moonschorched.) Pocketcat attempted to speak in a gentlemanly manner, though Daan's human morals fiercely bubbled up again this time as he mercifully told her. "I don't know."
What she won't know, won't hurt her. Sulfur, even the other contestants didn't know each other that well; but some of them at least attempted to watch each other's backs.
"O…oh." And with that, Olivia attempted to breath again, her body shaking rapidly. She barely made another sound despite being in extreme pain. The Pocketcat had to give her credit: she certainly was a fighter. "Can..can we go look for them? Mar-Marcoh and…and Tanaka said they were…going to get medicine…but t…they haven't come back yet."
And there is a good chance that they may never.
It would be a terrible idea, and ungentlemanly, to simply leave a lady behind. An idea suddenly popped into Pocketcat's head. "Of course. There's a museum not too far from here. Word on the street says that there is a party to simply die for. Perhaps they are there."
"S-Sure…let's go."
Pocketcat had actually come to enjoy Olivia's company as he smoothly wheeled her to the museum. (Puny memories of the botanist excitedly and passionately talking about the different kinds of flora and their uses occupied his dwindling humanity. Admittingly, he had found it adorable. Shy little Olivia had opened up some after asking which plants could help, be eaten, and etcetera.
Why did he have to bear witness to this? What had he done to see another innocent person lose themself? Was the universe mocking him? Was this his punishment from the Gods due to his resistance in following Slyvian?
Daan didn't want to see another good person lost to the unforgiving hands of the Gods.)
Their rather 'peaceful' trip came to an end when the museum came into view. The Pocketcat kept his consistent pace, there was no need to rush. The party doesn't stop until the last of Rher's moonlight is gone.
They entered without another word. The Pocketcat then made a sharp right to park the wheelchair, so to speak. It would be better to leave it here and take the young lady somewhere else. She won't be needing it soon anyways. There were plenty of other guests roaming who left little to no room. Pocketcat would attempt to remind them of their manners but to no avail. They were too deep in their minds moon gazing.
Pocketcat gently scooped up Olivia in his arms bridal style and walked off. Said woman ended up nuzzling her head in the crook of his arm. A part of him wondered if she was trying to put on a brave face.
He wondered where to leave her. There were so many places, the Moonschorched process only happens once to a human being! And he was going to be witness to it! (Daan wailed in horror and anguish. Once again, history repeats itself: he was helpless to save someone.)
Aha, perfect! A window view all the way near the back. Simply the perfect spot to soak in Rher's moonlight before her transformation.
He had shifted to start walking again when Olivia suddenly grabbed his coat sleeve roughly, breathing haggardly and sweating profoundly. She looked at Pocketcat straight in the eyes. "D-Daan, I-I'm scared…s…stay…with me…please."
So Pocketcat amused So Daan gently held her closely. "Very well, my dear. …If I stay, may I have the honor of having this last dance?"
"Mhmm."
With her confirmation, Daan gently lowered Olivia's legs so they were practically hanging. He assisted Olivia as he fixed one arm around his neck with her face resting in his fluffy chest. The other arm holding her small, round-ish hands in a common dance routine. Her glazed eyes gained a flick of light back before dulling again.
Once he was sure Olivia was securely held, he began to twirl with her though albeit gently. The Pocketcat wouldn't be a gentleman if he didn't know how to treat a lady. He did some rather graceful yet simple ballroom dance steps. Her dress follows the flow and rhythm of said dance. Vague memories of dancing with her dad when she was younger came to mind.
It has been a while since someone danced with her. It was swell.
After some moments, Daan placed his head on top of Olivia as he let out a soothing purr. She let out what seemed like a sigh of relief and slowly closed her eyes. Surprisingly, his heartbeat also vibrated with a soothing resonance. His other last act of kindness.
And so they stayed like that, the ever dwindling traces of humanity left they had found comfort in each other's company.
(Oh how he wished he could have held his dear, precious Elise the same way in her dying moments. To at least know he was there for her, to comfort her, to soothe her, to tell her that everything was going to be okay. Even if it was a beautiful lie. …To ask her to wait for him in the afterlife, even if there was no other side.
But none of that mattered now, did it? In the end, he didn't get anywhere with finding out what happened to Elise. He only hoped that she was happy. …Wherever she is.
…Even if Daan couldn't be there for Elise, he could at least offer a sort of comfort for poor Olivia. She didn't deserve this.)
Olivia finally broke the silence after eternity. "Thank you, Daan."
Daan genuinely smiled. "You're welcome."
She then pressed her face closer to his chest for comfort. She let out one final shriek of pain and then Olivia was no more.
So that was my first Fear & Hunger fanfiction. I hope I captured the characters' personalities pretty well. It was nice to write a short one-shot for a more infamous indie gem, even if the ending wasn't happy.
What inspired me to write this scene was the lack of context the fans got when we see Pocketcat exiting the Museum with Olivia's wheelchair. Pretty much implying that he took her there so she can become Moonscorched. And my mind started to roll after that: what if it was Daan's Pocketcat form? What would happen? Etc.
Well, I hope you all enjoyed this one-shot. For my readers anticipating story updates, do not worry. I have been working on them, I have trying (more like struggling, lol) to find a more consistent work flow. So I greatly appreciate and thank all of you for your patience!
I hope you all have a wonderful day or night! See you soon!