"THE FLAMING HEART BOILS MY BELLY"
He groaned as he stood up with a great effort. He felt like vomiting, luckily his stomach was empty. No fun drowning in your own puke right? Especially since he'd rather die than take off his mask.
You tried to fight a stranger with gun bracelets, you couldn't put it together she'd have an aura?
"THE SOUL SHIELD DECEIVES THE BLOOD SEEKERS!"
Yeah, too bad for you then.
"GOLDILOCKS STOLE THE PORRIGE AND IT'S POWER!"
That's not how it works, she probably used her semblance. And with weapons like those? My bet is she's a huntress.
"SHE POUNDS THE DARK IN DAWN'S LIGHT! I CRUSH THE BEAST IN IT'S DEN AND DANCE ON IT'S CARCASS!"
You say that, but you lost the fight.
"SNAKE EYES MASH THE GUT!"
Luck had nothing to do with it.
The fight he had with the girl certainly brought the fact that Krieg was not as powerful as he had been in his starting years to the front of his mind. So long without the bloodshed or near death combat had made him complacent, predictable... weak.
"THE BLADE IS BLUNT, IT'S VICTIMS ARE SPARED IT'S EDGE"
He grumbled to himself, picking up his beloved tool before heading off into the city. To say he didn't know where he was going was an understatement. Normally, he would walk around nature and hope to run into some GRIMM, or if he was lucky, bandits and white fang. Oh how their blood would paint his skin and axe, how their screams echoed in his ears as his blade tore into them with fury.
"THE DEATH KNELL BECKONS THE BLOOD LETTING"
He sighed happily to himself.
We need to get you a hobby.
"THE RIB TICKLING CEASES IT'S MERRIMENT?!"
That isn't a hobby, that's just sick. You're the only one laughing when you do it.
The psycho darkly chuckles to himself as he passes some late night walkers who looked a great deal disturbed at the sight of him. But the voice had a point, he needed a hobby. Something to do when he wasn't killing, torturing , evading authorities or other violent pass times. Some of which he could've been paid for, not that he'd considered it. But a hobby sounded nice. Something he enjoyed that didn't involve spilling someone's guts onto the ground. Something that kept him busy. Something that he would never get tired of. He would choose–
"ARMAGEDDON IS WITHOUT IT'S MASTER! THE BLAST RODS WEEP WITH NO SPARK!"
Remember the last time you wanted to try that? I don't think you and dust mix very well.
The memory of it was vague. He knew it involved some kind of nefarious plot by the one he was hired by. But he blew up sometime ago. Krieg is still not sure why, oh well, spilled milk and all that. With his mind made up, all he needed to do now was find a shop that sold good quality dust, only the best would do for the 'blast rods' that he had in mind to make. So, he wandered through the city. Making sure to take a good look at the buildings be passed along the way, knowing that any one of them could be the place he was looking for.
Well, since you're so dead set on getting this project of yours started, try the next right. I think I saw the place you're looking for.
"TRACKING AND CHASING IS LEFT TO THE HUNTER! THE PREY HIDES FROM HIS HUNGER!"
Fine, don't listen, it's not like I'm trying to help or anything.
Growling to himself, Krieg begrudgingly took the next right and to his surprise, there it was. A shop called 'From Dust Til Dawn' it was perfect for the supplying of his explosive materials.
"UNENDING CATASTROPHE!"
Krieg was overjoyed at this find and so made his way there without further delay. Flinging the door open, he took in the surroundings of the shop. It was a very clean shop, it was obviously well cared for by the owner. Speaking of who, ducked most of the way under the counter as soon as Krieg's large yet lanky frame fit through the door. He was an older man, in his later years. He had a very receding hairline, but the hair he did have was grey and bushy. Another feature about him was that he had yet to open his eyes, probably for the best given his company. Krieg very well might try to eat them. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Krieg began stuffing his pockets with all the dust they could hold, not even bothering to try and separate the elements regardless of consequences.
"TIME RACES FOR THE CATACLYSM!" He giggled to himself, once his pockets had all they could hold. He was about to head out when he caught sight of something red in one of the isles. Now, he knew red. He knew it very well, and nine times out of ten, red meant something great was about to happen. Upon reaching it, he saw the girl. The red one he fought with in the snow, he couldn't remember her face. But her eyes... they were a brilliant silver. He should talk to her, she fought well, although her attitude could use some work, she didn't seem to enjoy the battle as he did.
No! Don't say a thing, just turn around and walk away we don't need her getting caught in your insanity.
"KINDNESS FLOWS LIKE A MIDDAY STREAM! FLAPPING GUMS ARE ESSENTIAL!."
He protested to the voice.
I don't care if you think she's nice, SHE'LL think we're crazy... which we are.
Silence followed as Krieg breathed deeply.
Fine... but DO NOT, under any circumstance, scream something about blood, bone, skin, organs or what you want to do with blood, bone, skin and organs.
Good, the voice would stop its nagging. Krieg could swear that was all it was good for. Now onto the introduction. Walking up to the girl and clearing his throat, he initiated the conversation.
"TO THE REAPER BATHED IN BLOOD! DOES IT DRY THICK AT YOUR FEET!?"
The store owner once again ducked under the counter, but not for the raving lunatic in his shop, as he saw a gang of newcomers make themselves at home, surrounding the counter. The leader, a well dressed ginger in a white suit and black bowler cap stepped forward, his cane firmly in front of him.
"Do you know how hard it is to find a dust store open at this time of night?" He asked with a knowing tone.
That is not how you introduce yourself you idiot. Try again. This time, actually get her attention, it looks like she's listening to music. Try poking her shoulder.
He did as the voice said, as his calloused finger made contact with her shoulder, she turned around to see a man's bare chest, looking up she saw a strange mask with a singular eye hole in it. The eye itself was bloodshot and looked feral. Taking a moment to adjust to her new predicament, that of a very tall psychotic looking man towering over her with a saw bladed–
"OH. MY. GOSH!" She squealed in delight, staring at the Psycho's buzz axe. "That is so cool! Did you make it yourself!?"
"THE CORPSE PILE SHARES IT'S LOST LOOT!"
Taking a moment to calm down she took another look at the man in front of her, processing what had just been said to her. "Hang on a second. Have we met before?" She could've sworn she saw his face or rather mask before today. And the way he spoke, inane gibberish with a hint of sense to it.
Good, she started the conversation it was all downhill from here. All he had to do was introduce himself and–
"STRANGLED DARKNESS IN BRANCHES OF BARKING FEARS! FROZEN TEARS GLISTENED THEIR LIMBS AT THE MERRY SLAUGHTER OF THE SHADOW HOUNDS!"
Maybe not, he'd still need practice with this, but he'd get it... probably.
A look of confusion immediately found itself upon her face as her head tilted. "Say what now?"
Before Krieg could continue with his ramblings.A goon in a black and red suit with red tinted glasses called out to them.
"Hey, put your hands where I can see them and no sudden moves" he said, a pistol pointed at the two of them.
The red girl looked confused for a moment, tilting her head before asking "Are you... robbing us?"
"Yes!" The goon said perplexed as to the ignorance of this girl. Krieg on the other hand, could not have been happier! He got some dust to make his explosives AND he is going to play the necksnap song on some people he hadn't killed before. This has been his favourite night in a long time.
Don't you dare, not infront of her.
The voice is back to ruin his fun. What a surprise.
"THE MEAT HIDES FROM SIGHT, READY FOR THE TAKING! A BLOODY TREASURE BURIED DEEP IN THE VEINS!"
Krieg's internal struggle was interrupted by smashing glass. Looking up, one of the main shop windows had been shattered by the goon nearest to them. As it turns out, the 'Red Death' had already begun the fight. She had gotten started without him, quite rude, but at least she liked to fight. He followed her outside, leaping up to step along the neck of one of the goons, forcing his face into the remains of the broken window, a large shard of glass passing into his eye socket and through the brain, killing him. To the shop owner's dismay, the body stuck itself there. Krieg reached the streets to meet up with his new murder pal.
Oddly enough though, no blood had been spilled despite the size and nature of the gargantuan scythe.
"REAP THE SOULS BUT NO BLOOD FLOWS!"
She's using the blunt of her weapon genius. That's how she hasn't killed anyone yet.
"SPARE THE CHILD AND SPOIL THE BLADE!"
He roared, taking off into a sprint toward the nearest of the goons before introducing the spinning blade of his axe to the side of his knee bringing the goon down with a haunting scream. The pain was agonizing as the spinning axe head did not stop at the bone, rather, it kept up its assault as the psycho tore it back out before throwing a haymaker right into the goons jaw before stomping the neck with a sickening crack.
Turning to the others, they stepped back at his feral gaze. Looking over them, trying to find which would bleed the most, his eyes stopped at the man in white. Where had he seen this one before? Oh well, he supposed it didn't really matter in the end.
"Well... Get them." The ginger ordered the goons with a tone of annoyance at their stillness and much to their dismay, they obeyed. Charging Krieg and the girl, the majority of them went for her. Understandably, seeing as what the Psycho had just done to one of their associates. In total, another three of them came for him, weapons bared.
"A WARM UP FOR THE BLOOD CHUGGING!
Sprinting like a bat out of hell, Krieg met the goons head on... as in he rammed his head into the gut of the nearest like a raging bull, flinging him into the air before swinging up with his buzz axe, his head a clear target. Soon he would see it again. The red nectar that would hide so frequently within the veins of his enemies.
"BATTER UP!"
Up went his axe which found itself buried deep within the face and skull of the goon, needing Krieg to force his face off of his favourite utensil by kicking the corpse in the head. Upon the mangled head hitting the floor in a bloody and crumpled mess, the corpse leaked blood from the now gaping hole in his face.
Looking to the other dark suited men, whose weapons were now shaking within their grasp. The Psycho was displeased by this. He liked when they could fight back, the blood flowed much quicker that way.
"GRAPPLE YOURSELVES AND PREPARE FOR THE MEAT FEST!"
Both goons dropped their weapons and ran.
"You were worth every cent, truly you were." The white suited man said in disappointment toward the unconscious and fleeing guards.
"Well, red and... psycho. I think we can all say it's been eventful evening and as much as I'd love to stick around. I'm afraid this is where we part ways." Finishing his ever boring talking, seriously, why do the garbage people always talk so much when they started the fight. It never made sense to Krieg. The strange guy in the suit aimed his cane at them.
Ok, this guy's got to be more bat shit than we are if-
The bottom of the cane flicks up, revealing a crosshairs.
Is that a God's damned-
"PAIN STICK!"
The cane shot forth an explosive round at the pair. The red reaper leapt into the air while Krieg found himself blasted onto his back. While the girl landed with grace into a crouching position, Krieg found himself sluggish as he stood back up.
Note to self: everything is a gun
Looking around, the girl noticed the soon to be dead man, climbing a ladder to the top of a building.
Turning to the store owner, she failed to notice her sudden partner take off after him.
Maybe we should've waited for her to help with-
"GIVE CHASE! HE FLEES MY BLOOD LUST, I'LL SCRAPE HIS FACE RAW!"
Reaching the top, the Psycho took notice that the girl was already there.
She's quick.
Krieg silently agreed, as he took notice of another figure on the roof, currently dealing with one of those bullheads he rode on. Gawking at her display of power, Krieg couldn't help but notice this blonde woman's strange ability. Sure, he had seen semblances galore in his time, and killed more than enough of their users. But what this woman was doing. It just didn't seem right to him. Glyph's, strange flowing blasts, summoning ice storms, none of it made sense to him. But that lady on the bulkhead she is using... she's using fire. THAT Krieg knew like the back of his hand. He'd fight fire with fire.
"IF THE FUSE ISN'T LIT IN 3 SECONDS OR LESS... YOU'RE DEAD!"
Throwing a stick of dynamite at the bullhead cockpit was enough to convince the pilot, which Krieg had to assume was the dead man, to get out while they still could.
As they took off, the new woman took a final glance at them before looking back at the pair of wannabe heroes.
The red reaper looked to the woman in awe,"You're a huntress... can I have your autograph?" Hope evident in her voice. Her question was not answered so another came to be asked.
Where did you even get a stick of dynamite?
"THE TOYBOX IS EMPTY! CAN WE GET MORE ON THE WAY HOME?!"
Both little red and the woman looked toward the masked man, one with a look of confusion, the other of caution.
He was unsure of how it happened, but he and the girl had managed to find their way stuck in a dark, cold room with only a small light above them. Sitting beside each other at a metal table. Their weapons missing. The lady took them. Krieg decided he did not like this lady, she would get the sharp end of his spoon as soon as he got it back. But a question lingered in his mind why he was stuck in some boring room? Seriously, the one who ever designed it must have been very dull.
It's an interrogation room
Krieg took a moment to process what this meant as the lady from earlier continued her ranting, Krieg hadn't been listening for quite a bit, as far as he was concerned this woman needed to liven up. From what she was getting at was that him and this girl did was a bad thing. Stopping the garbage people is bad? This woman wasn't the brightest.
The sound of a sharp slapping followed by a yelp rang out in the room. The woman had struck the table with her riding crop. What the hell did he miss?
"THE STEED FLEES FASTER WHEN THE RIDER'S CORPSE FALLS!"
He yelled out, trying to stand to emphasise his point. Forgetting the copious amount of chains upon his person, holding him to the chair. Attention being called to him the moment his voice range out. Neither knew what he was talking about, but the woman could take an educated guess, not like their was a place to educate you on the ramblings of a mad man. Red riding hood on the other hand was more than a little disturbed by her new... friend's? Choice of words.
"But... there is someone here who would like to meet you."
Stepping aside of the door Krieg did not take notice of, an older man walks through the door. His hair was greying, he wore glasses Krieg believed were too small. They didn't even cover his eyes.
Does he really need them?
Accompanied by a black blazer with an emerald green sweater beneath with a pair of matching black trousers. This guy looked like a snore fest to the resident Psycho. But what DID catch his attention was the plate of cookies and the glasses of milk he brought it.
Dude, how long has it been since we've had one of those?
"ETERNAL DAMNATION LEAVES NO ROOM FOR DESIRE!"
The man stopped for a moment, before smirking at the psycho. Then returning his attention to Krieg's newest slaughter buddy, she just needed a bit more practice on the whole slaughtering part.
"Ruby Rose" he began
So that's her name. At least it fits I guess
Ruby Rose... a very pretty name. Krieg liked this girl, she was wild, fast and very good with that blade. She'd be perfect if she just cut loose a little more, seriously, why is it no one seems to share his love of gory combat?
"You have silver eyes" the man leaned in for that part, it didn't take a genius to know that it made Ruby uncomfortable with the man's proximity. So, like the good friend he is, Krieg voiced his opinion on the matter.
"YOU KNOCKED OVER THE CHUM! YOU'LL PAY WITH YOUR SKIN!"
Again, the stranger turned his gaze to the bound madman and eyed him with curiosity. The woman, looked ready to strike and Ruby... didn't look so great as her face took on a shade of green.
Looking back to the girl in question the woman brought up a recording of their fight. Or, more specifically, Ruby's.
Krieg began to tune out their conversation again, staring at the screen before him. He was unable to see her fight fully before, but now? She has a destructive grace he had scarcely seen replicated by any other he has fought. It was a beautiful blade ballet.
His attention was brought back at the sight of the freshly baked goods resting on the table, Ruby happily gorging on them.
Where is she even putting them all?
Krieg didn't care, he just wanted one.
"MY GULLET BURNS FOR THE SWEET TREATS!"
Getting Ruby's attention, she handed him a cookie which he happily accepted, turning around so none could see his consumption of the item.
Strange, despite him eating it, the mask never seemed to shift even slightly.
The conversation continued for a bit but Krieg had other thoughts to ponder
"Why aren't my fingers in someone's eye sockets right now?" He mumbled to himself repeatedly, earing a glare from the woman who held her riding crop all the tighter. This muttering continued until the old man finally gave an introduction.
"Do you know who I am?" He asked, more to Ruby than to Krieg.
"You're professor Ozpin, the Headmaster at Beacon/ SHIVERED SPINES OF THE ANCIENT!
Both Ruby and Krieg spoke. Though, Krieg knew he was right, Ruby gave it a good try though. Looking to each other, Ruby giggled at Krieg's attempt at speech, she thought it was kind of funny when he wasn't screaming about gore. And Krieg... made her laugh? He liked that. Making her laugh made him feel good, a warm feeling in his belly. He'd try it again later.
"Hello" the now named Ozpin continued.
"Nice to meet you", was Ruby's reply leaving Krieg to try this again.
"LICK THE WOMBAT!"
Ruby's laugh rang out again. This. What was this feeling? It's not the bloodlust or the battle burn he gets in his belly. He didn't know what it was, but he liked it.
"You want to come to my school?"
"More than anything"
Looking to his assistant, she did not approve but relented.
"Well, all right then" Ruby couldn't have looked happier, that made Krieg happy.
Allowing her to leave, escorted by the nasty axe stealer. Krieg was left alone with this... Ozpin.
Pulling up several pieces of footage of the Psycho, some of them during a fight that turned bloody against humans or faunus, others against GRIMM or robots. Some of them just as he sauntered along, yelling to himself.
"There have been many reports of you throughout the world, you know? Many people see you, but few live long enough to tell of it, and your methods are... off putting. So, now that I have you here, I would like to ask. What is it that you are fighting for?"
Ha! That's an easy one, he was fighting for... for... huh. He didn't know why, he just fought.
"A HOLLOWED SKULL!" Frustrated with his inability to answer the question that should have been dead simple for him.
"I see. Then tell me, what would you LIKE to fight for?"
"DARKNESS BLEEDS FROM THE SHADOWS! THE NECK SNAP SONG DRIVES THEM BACK!"
"You certainly have a way with words Mr...?"
"WAR IN THE BLOOD WITHIN AND WITHOUT!"
Pondering this for a moment, combing every last word of the Psycho's statement. Ozpin came to the conclusion that made the most sense to him.
"War in the blood you say? Then how about... Krieg?"
"NEVER ENDING SLAUGHTER FEST!" was the happy reply.
"Very well then, Krieg. I must be frank with you. For the crimes you've committed in your time you should be put to the sword without further delay. However, I can tell there is some sense to your madness. Even if just a little bit. So, I ask this of you, your seeming talent for all things aggression and destruction have a chance to be put to good use, to help those who need your strength when their's falter, who need an axe when their shield fails them. So, will you join me? Help me end the people's nightmares and in your words, sing the neck snap song to push back the bleeding darkness?"
Krieg would need to think long and hard about this, teaming up with someone was NOT something he did regularly, it would need to take some serious deliberation on his part.
"STAY YOUR COURSE AND SLAKE THE BLOODTHIRST!"
"Well then, Krieg. I shall see you on initiation day." He began to leave, before turning back the chained Psycho "Oh, and before I forget. I believe this belongs to you."
"THE MEAT SHANK RETURNS!" Raising up with all his strength to reunite with his beloved axe, the chains that bound him finally gave way to this burst of psychotic might, snapping and leaving him free to reclaim what was taken from him.
Well, I hope this doesn't come back to bite us in the ass
END OF CHAPTER!
Hello! I hope you enjoyed reading, because I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to leave comments with suggestions, criticism (preferably constructive) or some stuff I might have forgotten or got wrong so I can do better in the future.
ALSO! If anyone can point me in the direction of a tutorial on how the Borderlands team wrote dialogue for Krieg (like their method and how they used it, I read it somewhere that it was essentially violent word salad, but a tutorial nor an example of how they did it was ever given, so if you know anything about that, please let me know) because I feel that I'm missing the madness to the madman and would like to get better at learning and writing in Krieg's language. The help would be appreciated.