"Talk"
'Thought'
"It's kind of funny watching Sam and Boon playing a board game together."
There was a room, built like some kind of board game, judging by the floor acting like a game set with colorful pads, as well as two statues that looked similar to a certain Hellhound and living shadow that acted like game pieces, and of course, what stood out the most in confirming the idea of this being a game room, was the giant six-sided dice that was at the center of the room, which was where both Sammy and Boon was.
"I mean, a board game that has deadly laser traps and demons, but a board game nonetheless."
As both Sammy and Boon analyze the dice and the room, another two figures could also be seen in the game room. Technically, they were definitely inside the room, but they were trapped behind a magical wall and had no choice but to watch the Desolate One and the female shade. Those two were, of course, Nero Belladonna Sparda, who was currently commenting about what was going on, and Bianca Eva Xiao Long, who watched what was going on with curiosity while listening to her older cousin.
"I mean, look at this, how the hell is your Hellhound getting all the perfect roles, while my Shadow Nanny only gets Nat 1s!"
And just like how Nero described, both him and his young cousin were currently watching Sammy and Boon play the game they were forced to be a part of. The Hellhound seemed to be doing quite well when playing the game, not only was his roll in the dice perfect, but his character piece would always move to the spot he needed, which he was rewarded with either an extra move or red and green orbs that just came raining down. Sadly, the same could not be said for the living shadow. Not only did she suck at rolling the dice, always getting a 1 in each turn, but each time she moved her character to the next spot, she would always be rewarded with something terrible, like either moving back a space or two, summoning a few demonic enemies she had to fight, or simply running from lasers that came shooting down at her and started chasing her. It was clear who was winning and having fun, and who was not. Much to the amusement of both the Grandson and Princess of Sparda.
"Sammy always did have aptitudes for board games."
Bianca started to explain the reason for how Sammy was great at gaming, all the while rooting for her said pet to win.
"Like this one time, my friend Klarion challenged Sammy to a sport of checkers, and regardless of how many rounds they performed, Klarion could not even beat my pet once, hehe~"
Bianca even recalled a specific memory of how good Sammy was, so much so in being able to defeat a certain friend of hers, which caught her older cousin's attention and made him look at her as she giggled from such a memory.
"Although afterwards, he took out his frustration by separating a large continent referred to as Pangea, I believe."
Bianca even mentioned something so insane as if it was a causal thing, which did make the Grandson of Sparda raise an eyebrow.
"Hm."
Nero then lets out a hum as he crosses his arms, debating with himself on whether or not he should say what was in his mind.
"Well, we talked about Rachel earlier, might as well bring up your other friend."
But, with nothing better to do, Nero decided to just ask, so with a sigh, he brought up a familiar topic, specifically about his young cousin's friends.
"Though in all honesty, I use that word loosely."
Specifically, Nero brought up some concerns about the type of friends her cousin has.
"Hey! I don't appreciate such negativity towards my friend!"
Which immediately made Bianca get very defensive.
"Why are you even friends with him in the first place? From all I heard from Dante, Yang, Weiss, Ruby and even YOU, he doesn't strike me as someone who would be a good influence for you."
Nero gave her his full attention, pressing forward and was genuinely curious and worried for his cousin's choice of friends.
"I have you know that Witch Boy has been nothing but a sweetheart towards me, hmph!"
Bianca huffs and crosses her own arms, trying to explain how her friends were fine, which only made her old cousin tilt his head.
"Doesn't he try to kill you all the time?"
"It's because he believes in my skills as a Devil Huntress!"
"Didn't he also try to kill your family?"
"It was self bulwark!"
"What about him kidnapping you that one time?"
"He introduced me back! I just wanted a spoil from my overbearing daddy and mommy, it is all…"
No matter how many times Nero tried to point out all the flaws, and even how terrible this "Witch Boy" friend was, Bianca would just continue to endlessly defend him, as if her friend did nothing wrong, which just made the Son of Belladonna pinch the bridge of his nose in response.
"... You're just like her…"
Nero just shakes his head, his thoughts almost wandering to a certain cat faunus woman.
"E-Excuse me?"
Bianca was confused and seemingly offended at what he might be implying.
"Look, I'm not gonna question your friend's sense of morality and whether or not you should hang out with them, I know enough to trust them."
Nero looks back at the game room, watching Boon getting frustrated as she rolls another 1 on her dice and gets a shadow pie to the face, while Sammy somehow wins a brand new car after rolling another six.
"But why do YOU hang out with those kinds of people in the first place? I know you're smarter than that, smarter than me even."
Nero sighs and lets his head drop.
"So, so just why? Why be around people like Klarion and Rachel?"
Nero then glances back at his cousin, noticing her lack of response, which suddenly made him suspect of something that made him frown.
"... Are you planning to become a villain?"
As soon as Nero questioned her role of good and evil, the Masked Imp got defensive and more offended.
"I WOULD NEVER! Not only was I raised to be morally good, I couldn't even bare the cerebration of committing such nonessential evil!"
Yet, even though Bianca made it clear she could never be considered a villain, even if she wanted to, she couldn't help but still feel conflicted and uncertain about something else.
"But with that verbalized, I just can't avail but venerate my friends, albeit I know they're a lamentable influence."
Bianca grumbles as she rests her chin in her arms, also looking back at Sammy and Boon, her pet sitting on a throne of red and green orbs, while her aunt's shadow had just lost negative orbs and was in crippling orb depth from the games.
"Klarion, as a Chaos Lord, has the efficiency to escape with a lot, at the same time as Rachel, despite being just a human, has the self assurance to do whatever she wishes."
While obviously Bianca cares a lot about her friends, it was clear she had some envy and jealousy towards them as well.
"It's additionally the same reason why I'm jealous yet still revere you too."
A feeling that was also aimed at Bianca's cousin, much to his surprise.
"Huh? Why would you feel that way about me?"
Nero was now curious about what she meant from what she just said.
"Because you are something that I am not, and feature something I do not."
Bianca looks away as she replies softly, almost not wanting to admit anything.
"Which is?"
Nero tried prompting her to continue, which made her sigh in defeat and finally said what was on her mind.
"Liberation to be or do whatever you want…"
Though the type of answer Bianca gave made the Grandson of Sparda frown.
"You know that's not true-"
"Don't give me that, I am plenarily cognizant what you are capable of, in fact, you have so much liberation to do whatever you optate that you decided to utilize such a privilege to indulge me and avail me with my mission, in lieu of sending me back home or asking my parents assistant."
Nero was about to deny the idea of what Bianca thought of him, but was immediately cut off by her ranting on the type of privileges he has, so much so on how he is able to get away with helping her instead of just sending her back home.
"If you wanna verbalize about deplorable influences, well, what does that make you?"
Bianca crossed her arms, and while she was wearing a mask, her glare could be felt and aimed towards the older cousin, who just narrowed his eyes back in response.
"... You're such a spoiled brat, you know that?"
"I'm 7, what's your exculpation?"
"I hope Yang spanks your ass with her Satanic Celica."
"And I optate Aunty Blake to give you an auditory perceiver full with all four of your auditory perceivers."
Nero and Bianca were now budding heads and basically showed negative thoughts and feelings for one another, not exactly hate, but it was clear both were annoyed with each other and they couldn't help but make sure they knew that.
'It's so fucking hard to have a comeback if I don't even know what's she's saying, Goddammit Weiss…'
But before Nero and Eva Xiao Long could say or do more, the magical walls that blocked access to the game room finally lifted, catching the Grandson and Princess of Sparda's attention. Both looked and saw that the game was over; the obvious winner was Sammy, while Boon just lay on the floor in defeat.
"Looks like the game is finally over."
Both Nero and his young cousin rushed into the game room and met up with their respective loved ones.
"Excellent job in victoriously triumphing the game Sammy, I kenned you could do it~"
Bianca wasted no time hugging and praising Sammy for his victory, petting his head and nuzzling his cheeks.
"Better luck next time Boon."
As for Nero, all he could do was comfort and reassure Boon, who huffed in response and just went back into his shadow to rest. He sighed and shook his head, walking back to the Cambion Hunter.
"Did you earn any prizes Sammy after your victory?"
By the time the Son of Belladonna walks up to Bianca, Sammy opens his mouth and drops a piece of paper into her hand, which she takes with curiosity as she then reads out loud what was on the paper.
"Enjoy the Cutlass?"
Though what the paper said immediately confused Bianca and her older cousin.
"The hell is a Cutlass?"
But before Nero and Bianca could question what they read, the sounds of cutting and slicing could be heard. Both turned around and saw the exit door suddenly torn apart. Bladed fins were poking out of the floor and came rushing towards them. Before they could react, the fins jumped out of the ground and pounced towards the group with the obvious intent to kill.
"This game room sucks."
"Agreed."
I was thinking about having both Nero and Bianca play the game level in DMC 4, but then I thought it would be to boring, so I decided to use this chapter to have another "Chill Moments" between the characters, have a chance to catch their breath and just talk to one another, you know, before facing another boss fight.
(ALSO! Gives me a chance to explore some lore of Bianca Eva Xiao Long, hehehe~ as fanart will be found in DeviantArt)
