I don't own RWBY or Call of Cthulhu
Paris France, Louve October 21th 1925
AN: This is the last chapter before taking my summer break. I'll post the next chapter on October 15th I'm excited for the next chapter but I think I'll satisfy myself with Crimsons reaction at what comes next.
3rd POV
Nora had rushed to the museum with a sole focus of determination. She had no idea what had happened earlier in the night. Much less the weirdness of it all. All she knew or cared to think about was that these paintings somehow nearly killed her friend. And for that she will absolutely trash those paintings. First by smashing the legs that held them up before burning them. Arriving at an exceptional pace she came to the first problem… the door was locked.
Annoyed or not caring about the consequences she was about to smash the door when a voice called out behind her. "ATTENDEZ!" (WAIT!)
Turning around, she sees to her surprise Èlisa and Jobert running up behind. They nearly collapsed as they struggled to catch their breath. After a few huffs did Nora asked in a hushed tone. "Que faites-vous ici tous les deux?" (what are you two doing here?)
"Nous (Huff, Huff) ne voulions pas… (Huff, Huff) vouloir que vous (Huff, Huff) fassiez quelque chose (Huff, Huff) stupide. Sans plan (Huff, Huff) B." (We (Huff, Huff) didn't… (Huff, Huff) want you (Huff, Huff) to do something (Huff, Huff) dumb. Without a plan (Huff, Huff) B.) Jobert struggled to get out a word
"Eh bien, mon plan est simple. Cassez les pattes de ces tableaux et brûlez-les pour avoir blessé Hassan-ie." (well my plan is simple. Break the legs of these paintings and burn them for hurting Hassan-ie.) Nora said as she turns around ready to swing at the door when Èlisa stopped her.
"Et comment allez-vous faire cela quand vous êtes aussi délicat qu'un défilé d'ivrognes avec des trompettes?" (And how are you going to do that when you are as tactful as a drunken parade with trumpets?) Èlisa hisses as she stopped Nora from swinging that oversized mallet of hers. She then turns to the door and produces a hair clip from her head and silently jiggles the lock open. "Voilà, la porte est ouverte. Rapide facile et surtout silencieux." (Voila, door is open. Quick easy and above all quiet.)
Nora rolls her eyes. She was not one for stealth or fancy shenanigans but if it means she can get to these paintings undisturbed then fine. She walked past Èlisa and into the Louvre with Jobert and Èlisa following behind. Inside the louver Jobert followed up behind Nora.
"Femme intéressante que tu avais amenée à ma porte." (Interesting woman you had brought to my doorsteps.) Jobert whispered to Nora.
"Um ouais… Jobert à propos d'Élisa, elle est…" (Um yeah… Jobert about Èlisa she's…) Before Nora could finish Jobert interrupted her.
"Un rouge? Oui, je connais ses tendances politiques." (A Red? Yes I'm aware of her political leanings.) Jobert said as he cut her off. His voice turns serious from his usual demeanor. "Écoutez, je sais à quoi nous avons affaire, cela demande une certaine discrétion, mais vous n'amenez pas ce genre de personnes chez moi." (Look, I know what we are dealing with calls for some discretion but you do not bring those kinds of people into my home.)
"Mais je ne l'ai pas fait..." (But I didn't she…) before Nora could Jobert stops her.
"Non, nous en discuterons plus loin. Parmi tous les communistes les moins importants, vous en avez amené un dont je peux tolérer la présence. Mais jusqu'à ce que nous ayons ressenti cette folie, je n'en suis absolument pas ravi." (No. We'll discuss this further. Of all the communist least, you brought in one that I can tolerate being around. But until we have felt with this madness I am anything but thrilled about this.) Jobert said before walking off. Leaving Nora a bit chewed out from the unattended d consequences of Èlisa presence at the Manner. She was about to make a remark when a sudden and familiar noise came be heard.
"Est-ce… un violon?" (Is that… a violin?) Èlisa asked as she tilt her head up. Nora quickly recognizing the music covers her ears as she realized just what they are about to walk into.
"Cette musique… soyez prudent. Ça va te faire voir des choses folles." (That music… be careful. It's going to make you see some crazy things!) Nora shouts as she covered her ears and begin saying 'La, la, la, la, la, la!' as loudly as possible. Jobert however seemed concentrated on the music.
"Huh, non. Ce n'est pas un violon. Pour… vivre comme. C'est un insecte ou quelque chose comme ça, il y en a beaucoup." (Huh, no. That isn't a Violin. To… life like. Its an insect or something, a lot of them.) Jobert deduced. Pulling out his Ruby pistol he turns to Èlisa. "J'espère que tu sais comment te battre. Je n'en ai pas de rechange sur moi." (I hope you know how to fight. I don't have a spare on me.)
Play Alexey Voytenko "The music of Erich Zann" for violin solo (2009) for added horror
"Ne quittez jamais la maison sans ça." (Never leave home without this.) She remarks as she pulls a French made 1915 model of the American Savage 1907. "Ne vous inquiétez pas, j'ai un permis pour cela." (Don't worry I do have a permit for it.)
Jobert Rolled his eyes as they slowly moved deeper down into the Louve. As they entered the room full of marble, they were stopped after a gruesome sight. The Statues of the Winged Victory of Samothrace smeared in blood, Venus De Milo cleave was covered by the internal guts and the Diana of Versailles is seen holding the decapitated half eaten head of some poor fool. The sight was… gruesome to say the least.
"… Je pense que nous sommes proches." (… I think we are close.) Nora remarks as she slowly moved through this gruesome display of horror. The other two followed behind her, unaware that the statues seemingly are moving their head slowly following the three as they intrude.
As they made their way, to where the music was loudest, they found all eight paintings lined up perfectly in a half circle at the bottom of the grand staircase… no, correction not eight but nine. Nine paintings with that last one still being completed. A single man was standing before it painting the 9th using the corpse of a victim as an easel for his paint. As he paints the three took cover behind some pillars as they watched the man paint. Wherever this horrifying music is, it seemingly is coming from these paintings like they are speakers. Confused Nora whispers to Jobert. "Qui est le gars avec des vêtements bizarres?" (Who's the guy in the weird clothes?)
"Je crois que c'est Gérald LeBeau." (I believe that is Gérald LeBeau.) Jobert surmised as he eyed the painter. He was wearing rather outdated clothes of the late Georgian era. "La seule chose qui a du sens." (Only thing that makes sense.)
"Est-ce que quelque chose à ce sujet a du sens pour vous?!" (Does anything about this make sense to you?!) Èlisa hissed to the two as she readies her pistol. The two give a shrug. Honestly given everything that had happened their sense of normalcy might as well be a tea party with the mad hatter.
Rolling her eyes, Èlisa takes aim at the painter intending to wound the man when something grabs her pistol just as it goes off. Looking up she see's the Diana of Versailles holding her pistol. The hard marble stopping the bullet in it's hand. It raises the screaming Èlisa about to smack her to the ground hard when Nora quickly jumped up and smashed the statue back. This caused the statue to drop Èlisa which Jobert managed to grab before she hit the ground hard. As the statue of Diana of Versailles falls back it slowly pulls itself back slowly cracking in place. As it cracks it's marble neck in place, the Venus De Milo then emerged behind it, crawling on the walls despite missing hands. Using the guts like tendrils to hold itself to the wall as it moves crawls with exceeding skill up.
"Huh… est-ce de l'art moderne dont j'entends tant parler." (Huh… is this Modern art I hear so much about.) Nora remarks before the Venus De Milo lunges down at her. Nora dives back pushing the others to safety before lunging at the two statues.
She strikes at Diana of Versailles which was stopped by Venus De Milo which grabbed Magnhild mid flight and used the momentum to swing her back. As Nora flew back she flipped around mid air to fire off a shot from her weapon. The statues clearly were not prepared for a grenade launcher and barely avoided it. A loud puff of pinkish smoke emerged from the stairs that it hit. After a few moments nothing happened till suddenly the two statues leap forward at Nora. Taking some damage, chipping the marble and nearly destroying the statues. They then try to grab Nora, to at least rip her to shreds. But she moved around them. Rolling out of the way with ease. These large marbles of art were nothing like the grimm she fought against. Sluggish and slow, they were like a Geist possessed mass of earth. But slower… and more uncoordinated.
As she fought the oversized behemoth of arts Jober pulls Èlisa aside. The two weaved and dodged through the battle between Nora and the living art. Barley being trampled or blown up. Diving down the stairs as the three fought behind them in an epic clash, they were pulling themselves up when they can see the painter before them. He seems to either ignore the battle raging behind them or truly didn't notice. Wasting no time, Èlisa pulls her pistol on the artist and was about to fire when the painter brushes the brush against the painting rather violently. As he does so, the music emulating from the paintings intensified to the point of rupturing the two's ear drums. Falling to the ground as they clutched their ears. They could do nothing as the artist turns to them and pulls out a knife.
"̶̡̨͕̻̫̤͚̬͎̗͔̻̑̃͑̇̉̀̒̀̾̅͌̋́̒͠͝͝I̴̡̥̖̠͕͕̾͋̉̽̎͌̒̽̚ļ̴͚͉͍̂̓̊̆͋͑̽͛̓̽͊̆̀̕͝ ̷̡̢̢̝̻͖̻̼͓̲̟̤͇͍̭̺̾͐͐̂̑̆͆͗̽͘͝ͅf̠̯̺̀͒̌̅̑͋̿̏͂͊͝͠ả̶̡͓͕̬̲͍͊̑̎̓̉̊͐͗͠͠ự̶̞͎̝͋̋́͌d̴̡̢̧̛̬̥̦͈͇͕̠̯̥͇̅̋̓̿͛̓͗̃͐͒͛̓̕͘͝ͅr̵̢̖͖͍̭̣̯̬̰͔͕͓͆̃̓͛͘ǎ̶̛̦̭̦̔̇͛͋̉͠i̴̡̬̫̜̤̣̳̹̠̣͇͋̎̎̾̃͂͆͆̚͘͠ͅt̴̛͖̳̤͇̘̩̅͌̐̅͋̔́͑̚͜ ̷̪̐u̷̢͓̘̱̩̞̘̿̂̂̋̅͜ͅǹ̜͖̻̱͙͈̗͇̭̥̩̱͊͋̆ ̶̨̡̣̲̦̱̜͙͇̄͒̍͆͑͐̈́͘͜͝p̴̢̡̛̬͍̫̰̣͎͉͍͍̭̼̊̇̔̈́̉̏̅͐̊̐̀͘̚̕͝͝e̴̟͕̫̺̗̥̦̜̦̰͖͎͇͇̔̏͒̌͐̂̓̉̊̆̎̚u̴̞̭͗̔̊̓̒̈́̌̈́̓͋̃̆̕͝ ̨̤̞͕̹̥̘̻͕̭͙͇͚̩̫̰̀̏̿̌͗̒̃́̽͝ͅp̵̨̼̓͊͊̐̓̂̽̏̑̎̑̐l̵̡̙̹͇̺̫̥̔̓͑̽̎̓̄̾̅̐̊͊̽̚͝͝u̴̜͔͓̖̫̻̞͕͖͛̏̑̕s̵͖̮͖͕̻̝̊̈̇̈̀̈̅̒̎͂̃͆̾̄̉̔͝ͅ ̷̨̛̛͈̹̩͈́̍͊̆̄͌͋́͑d̴̛͚̙̺̣̮̻̥̜̞̤̫̯͈̦̲̋͆̈́̆̋̄̾̆̽̂͝͝͝e̡̳͚̜͇̋̄̾͂͛͑̆̏̚ ̴̨̡̨͔̖̙̭̩̰͈̱̬͍̳̰̍̓̂͋ͅŗ̵̛͍̳͍̗͇͔̼͑̌̽̇̏ò̴̜͊̎̀̅̄̓̄͑͂͗͝ư̷̞͉̣͎̤̼̞͉̳͓͔̤͕̾͐̈́̃́͛̌̐͗̇́̅g̳͍͕̜̦͕͕̳͓̃̀̓̚͠e̴̢̢̡̨̳̮͇͎̠̤͈̼̲͖̓̋̔̿͗̓̇͗͒̊͌̕̚͝.̷̨̛̥͎͙͓̯̗̦̠̙̲̗̀"̵̱͚̣̼̻̙͚͕̞̝̻̦̟̞̥͚͒̎̀̅̔͛̆̕͝ͅ ̷̛̰̰̗̳̙͖͍̈́̎̀͛̄̽͝(̵̨̲͖̙͙̟̗̙̲̪͗͛͒̀̋̚N̵̨̮̜͍͚̮͇̍̌ě̛͋̑̍͊͆̾͌͐̏̃ͅę̷̨͕̯̻̳͕̤̘̫͖̺̉̐̈́̿̿̓͂͛͠d̵̡̜̭̣̞̟̝̦̩̔͋͑͋̂̐͛͘ş̵̫͍̞̲̼͌̃̑̄̈̆̑̉̈́̚ ̵̡̡̦͔̭̣̖̫̻̥̇͌̔́͒̅͑̍͛̀̎̀̀͒̐a̶̯̮̖͈̬̼͍̼̠̒̓̿̾͒̅̌̿̾̔ͅ ̷̡̡̛̛͕͍͎̖͇̖͔̦͛̌͒̍͊͆̓̃̈́͂͆̃͂͜͜͠b̵̡̰̥̦̘͉̌̃͛̑̾̋̈́͋̔̋͝͠ì̭̌̽̎̈́̈́̃̆̆̓̈́̋͝͝ţ̹͉͙̞̜̃̓̒̋͐͜͠ͅ ̶̨̠̳̻͍̤͙̠̹̈́̇̆̉̈́́̂̈́̀͐̓̽́̕͝m̷̨̡̠̥̫̤̱͍̫̅́̾̀̈̀͒̆͆̓͛͋̚̚͝͠͝o̴̧̙̟̯̭̮̥̮͖̜̙̪̣̎̊̀̒͆͐̍͊̕͠r̶̛̲̠̬̅͊̒̀̆͆̂͆̈́̿͘̕͘e̵̩̣͈̥͇̾ͅ ̴̫̙̺̼̘̃̈́̂̋̏̏̔̐͑͘r̶̟̱͔̹͍͇̯͍̲͙̎͊͜͝ͅe̵̞̰̫̋̊̅̓͗̀̌̈́̓̔̒͠d̻͎̟̞͓͉͇̞̟̱̪̦̯̀̈́̽̍̂́̆̽̅͆̅̐̚͜.̳͇̻̗̻͜)̧̺̣̣͓͍̝̥̠̱̞̹̋ He murmurs to himself in a strange inhuman voice as he pulls Èlisa up by her hair. She could get a better look at the man. He seemed waxy for a human. Till she realized the person was wearing a mask that was in the shape of a face. Made of wax she can see under the eyes and mouth something or many things moving about underneath. As it reaches down to slit her throat, a gun shot goes off. The bade falls out of his hand as the figure turns to Jobert. He had his pistol drawn and pointing it at the artist before firing another shot that hits him in the face.
Back with Nora, she dances around the organ tendrils of the Venus De Milo. Avoiding the strikes before finally leaping over. She twisted her hammer letting it slip from her hands as she rolled through the tentacle whips. In slow motion she slides through the tendrils before grabbing her hammer last moment to deliver a fatal and powerful blow to the statue. The Venus De Milo laid on the ground in pieces as Nora lands on her feet. Now if she was anybody else she would probably feel bad for destroying such an iconic piece of art. But as she looks over the remains of the marble statue, a large swarm of insects leapt out at her. They begin biting and tearing at her but her aura kept her safe. As she tries to swat them away, the statue of Diana of Versailles grabs her and throws her down the stairs. Rolling, over the stairs her mask nearly broke. Slowly she begins to pick herself up to see Jobert being held next to the unfinished painting. He screams in agony as his arm is being slashed and his blood used as paint. Seeing him in pain, she was about to get up when the statue of Diana of Versailles slams down on her pinning her to the ground. Looking up she calls to the figure.
"Pourquoi!? Pourquoi fais-tu ça, espèce de psychopathe!" (Why!? Why are you doing this you psychopath!) Nora screams as she struggles to pulls herself up.
The figure stops for a moment before stabbing Jobert through the arm, pinning him to where he is standing before it turned to Nora. To her horror she see's what was hidden beneath that waxen face. Thousands, if not tens of thousands of crawling insectoids crawled in mass, forming a human like face. Similar to the wax mold that was held up. He stares at her before speaking using the multiple insect noises to speak in that disembodied tone.
"̴̻̀̒̆̈́̌̈́͆̉̈̕ͅŢ̴̤̯͇̖̹̲̬͖͎̪̱̩̏͘ͅų̵̺̠͓̗̦̝̻͎̦̺̯̠͍̋̿̀̊̈̓̎̈́͘ ̴̧̼̩̠̻͉̝̻͓͕͌ȇ̵̡̧͈͔̠̜̭͓̦͖̙̮̭͍̎̎̐̅̌s̵̞̣̙̼͔̓̒̌́̾̄̚͝͝ ̵̖̹̹̆ć̶̢̧̦̪͙͕͚̪̹̏̋̈́̅̚o̶͍͖͒̀́͗̑̒͂̔̽́̚͜m̷̢͎̠̩̩̟̠̝̻̦̒̆̆̓̉̏̈̿̓͋̕̕͜͝m̨̖̤͙̮̦̞͍̻͕̠͍̭̉̍̐̊̉̏̌́̆̆͛̇́͝͝͠ë̴̘̯̖͙̖̞͈̙́̑̆͂̑͗͋̈́͘̕ͅ ̴̛̟͕̙̻̮͓̪̽́͑̇͛̃̇̄͊͝e̴̪̙̹͛l̴̪͚̲̭̣̲̹̜̬͎̅̽̅̉̂́̌̕l̹͈͖̹̀̄̈́̽͊̇̚͝ě̴̡̧̢̧̞͉͇͇̟̬͚̥͚̯̲̹͜͝…̢̡̤̜͇̼͓̭̂̉̈́̈́̈̐̌͜͝ͅͅ ̷̝̹̮͔̬͍̙̗̦͎͎̞̽p̴̮̳͍͖̥̳̖̤̝̹̭̜͕̂́̽͌̒̂̎͌͂̚l̵̘̝̗̈͊͑̅̅̔̒̅̒̈̃̂͒͋̈́͒̕ứ̴̡̛͓͉̮̬̰̩͚̦̱͚̖͍͑̆͂͌̌͑̑̏̓̽̓s͙̱̤̹̰̺̉͐̄̔̄̍̅͝ ̵̢̛̬̱̲̟͓͚̤̣̈̋̚͝f̵̛̹͇͕̼͙͔̯͔̱̮̬̟͓̼̒͋̍̓̋̍͛͆̑͌͆̔͒͗͜ą̲̘̻̮̖͔̘͔̉i̷̢̧̢͖̻̞̪̹̦͉̪̬̰̊͌̂̂̐̀̂̐̀̈́̓̈́́̔̓̕͜͠b̴̜̣̰̭͈͍̳̯̼̈́̀̈́̈̒̈́͜͜ḽ̷̢͈́͗̍̑́̃̂̈́̐͊̇̊̕͝͝͝ȩ̴̯̟̪̪̜̓͆̇̂̓̅̐́͒́̍͒̔̏̔͝͠,̷͈̺̝̹͕̩͋̇̎̉͋͐ͅ ̴̧̪̰̻͙̗̼̥̊̚b̵̫̱̠̦̜͕̞͔̗̝̺͓̞͈͓̦̋͐̆̈́̀͘é̷̢͇̜̺̜̮̦̙̰͉͇͉̈́͗̐͑͛̔͂̔̓̄̆͘̚̕͝͝ã̛͈̤͇̺̮̫̼̻̖̖̥̰͐̍̀̃͜͜͜͠ụ̧̹̪̳͍͉̝ͅc̛͕̼̣̝̯͓̦̻̮̥͈̜̋̒̋̂͂̀͜ͅȏ̵̦͎͉͓̬̣̮͚͇͔̞͔́̒̈́̾̉͑́̈́͑̎͜͝ǘ̵̧̯̭͙͚̰̻͇̱̑͑̃́̋͘p̴̣̙̗̟̜̺̋̕͜ ̢̢̻͔̝͔̬̯̘̤͇̯̦̞̌̐́̌̀̾͝͝ͅp̺̂̄̾̋l̷͕̤͓̺͉̯̄͌̈́̽͒̏͌̒̆̿̀̇͝ú̴̡̳̆̋̎͌̓̈̕͘s̶͇̤͍̀̊͂̓͊̇̈́͗͜ͅ ̴̡̜̹̳̫̖̆͊̎̇̓̔̑̑́͊̋͘f̴̧̨̨̥̞̱͔͇̞̱͍̮͔̜̣̬̑̇̓͑̿́͑̋̑̉͌͌̈̈͘a̴̧͕̖̻̜̗̬̦̘̦̠͎̦͓̼̹̐̊̃̃̃̍̿͗̃̔͗̀̀̽͜͝͝í̢̢̖̘̗̤̻͉͕͓b̴̛̤̘̖̭̜̱͓͍̭͙̈́̿̔̐̑͛̆̓̒͝͝ͅl̴̢̡͔͈̻͙͖̮͉̹̻͌̏̃͛e̢̖̦̺̘̝̺̣̹̩̋ͅ…̷̭̿͗͊̀̌͌͆̃ ̴̝̺͙͋̍͐́̀̀͝͝ͅẗ̷̛̼̘͚́̃͋͛̋̈́̂͘a̵̲͔͋́͝ ̵̨̢̣̦̘̤̻͇̟̼̠̤͖̭̉͛͐̋̀̈́ç͇̰͍̘̟͕͍̆͗͗͆̅̕͠ẖ̶̡̨̪͕̗̳̪̥̣͍͎͎͖̂̊́̓̊͂͜͝ͅá̷̡̡̢̩̩͙͇͓̟̥͖̣̰͔̄̔͒͒̍̈́̌̌͋̏̈́̕̚͜͝͝iŗ̵̧͎͉͇̯̦̞̫̹̘͔͖̟̇͐̔͂͂̈́̿̆͘͝ ̵̛̼̪̽͊́̔́̔̃͛͂͑͆̒͘͘n̵̳̝̯̘̥̱̹̫̹̹̫̙̪̲͖͇͐͐̊̍̋ͅe̶̛͍̖̅̇̀̈̓̄̍ ṣ̵̳̻̦͆̈́́̑̈́͠͝e̳͖̙̱ ̷̛̤̳̟̮͓̳͚͖͒̐͂̆͘͠p͔̯̂̆͌͑̒͝l̷̡̨̡̼͇͈̪̻͍͓͚̹͖̭͖̿̉̈ỉ̧̦̑̈́́̔́̀̈́̕̕͘͠͝͝ȩ̢͇̪̫̘̬̯̼̞̪̻̥ř̶̡̢̩͎͍͚͓̠͎̜̙̍̎̆̎͂̔́̀̅̃̍͜ą̢̧͕͓̳͖̭̭̘͉̙͍̉͆̈́̑̈́͊͝ì̷̞̜͛͐̈̚͘͝͠t̵͈̭̠̿͊͝ ̢̟̱͙̉͛̊̈̾̿́͐͠͠p̷̡̛̖̝̜̥̯̼̘̩̩͙͗͛͗̈́̀̂̏̋̍͂̏̂̚a̷̧̟̘͍̖̟̫͈̭̯͔̪̱̞̪͙̺͛́͛̅̽̃͠ş̵̧̛̳̜̺̻̜̹̻̘͑̿̋̾̽̿̏̅̄͗̕͝ ̡̧͔̉̊͒̆̀́͗̕̚͝f̴̢̛̬̘͙͋̏̾͌͑̏̆̈́̋̓̔́͛̐́͠a̶̧̢͇̰̤̳̖̤̞͚̮͋̽̓̓̒͜͝c̶̡̛̗̘͎͇̲͙̝̫̠̺̠̦͋͗̎̓͒̇́̐̀̀̒̿̍͝i̴̤̊͆̃̀̈l̴̢̛̦͛̂́̈́̈̓̔̒̓͝e̷̢͊͗͛̈̔̒̔̌̍͋͋̅͌͐̏ḿ̴̰̳̺̝̻̣̳̗͚͚͇͕͕͜e̴̠̤̗͎̣͍̝͆͂̅n̷̮̤̼̝̟̻̳͎̈́̓͒͗͌́͆̏̊̐͝͠͠t̵̢͎͛͑̆͌…̴̢̹̰͇̖̠͚̲̖̽̄͌̽̈́̈́͜ ̴̡͚̱̦̗̜̼̥̦͎̠̫͉̲̉̂́̆͒͜m̷̧͙̞̜̣̙͓̞̳͔̰̮͓̓̈́̀̅̔͜a̷̠̣̥̾̋̓͘ͅi̵̻͎͎̼͛̈̌̍̓̈́̂̏͌̏͐̅̒̚̕s̶̨͉̖̬̦̱̫͕͈̃̿̈̔͠͝ ̶̗͍͍̏̇̄̋̌̓͒̊́͜͜p̴̡̨̡̤͙͍̥͙̹̫̗͖̬̘̞̦͌͜r͚̘͚͎̖̮̂ͅo̶̡̹̫̠͎̪͔̽́̀͋̄̏͆͜v̖̉́́̇ö̷̧̟̠̫̖͔̯͉̪̦͇̉̅͆̃̂̇̂͒̈́́́̕͝q̴͇̪͕̭͍͔̖̭͔̼̙̳̣̼̘͈̃͜ư̵̫̙̓̈̓̀̀͘͜ḛ̶̡̰͓̪̥̹͔̘̼̩͇͔̱̙̘̈́̋̈́̒̇͋͂̓͂͒̿͝ͅr̵̳̲̗͎̆á̷̢̢̛̛̮̥͍͔̰̳̙̾̔̂͆̌̎̃́̃̎̋͘̚͘͜ͅì̶̧̛͕̯̮͂̋͜ṭ͖͔͚̈̓̅̿̊́̓̚͜ ̴̨̛͚̥̻̫̗͈̼͖̟̈́̌́̃̃͌̐̅͗͊̏̕͝͝ǔ̡̞̥̖͎̼̲̻̠͉̀̒̈́͌̍̅͗͊̎͒͒̆̐n̵̬̈͑͌͑̆͂̇̈̎̎̑͒͑́̑͝͝ẽ̶̢̛̤̟̝̲͕̹̙̘̝̟̟̝̦̘̈́̓̓̈̊̎̿̋̊͜ ̶͖̘̄̉̒̒̐̽͛͋̂̓̍̈́̒̚͠s̶̨̜͙̣͖̲̮̹̫̤̝̲̭̝͌̍͌̈͝i̷̘͚̖̠̘͈͎͖͕͙̇̂ ̳̞̮̜b̶̖̠̮͍͉̘̣̱͋̋͐ͅę̶̡̖̠̙̟̗̖͚̞̼͉̲̲͉̦̑͐̀̎̓̄̓̉̈́̓̋̈͑͝l̶̨̢̟̘̙̲̞̳̯̟͔̻̹̅̒̇l̶̹̯͇͓̠̰͙̣̜̝̬̈́́̊̐̉̈́̀͂̈́͑͜͝e̶̘̜̣͔̜̘̤̱͖̐͋͑̔̓́̈́ͅ ̷̮͇̘̘̔̔́̊̈́̃̋͌́̃d̶̛̯͉͔̳̦̤̏̓̒͜o̶̧̗̘͕̫͔͉͔͙̖̹̤̳̖̍̆̽͆̌̃̏̀̋̌̉̕̕͝ủ̴̢̧͕͍̘͈͖̩̘̝͍̳̼͌̎̾͆͛̋̀͑͗͐̈͂̏͠l̴̲͖̞͙̗̹̖̫̉̀̋͜͜e̵̡̧̼͇͓̟̺͍̥͕͉̦̗͕̙̥̐ͅṳ̶̢̣̜̲̝̝͔̤̮͌̏̋̓̅r̵̢̡̢̫̼̙̳̙̞̣̤̭̞̞͎͑̔͊̈̐̊̈́̈́̊͆̕͠͝͝.̷̛̺̳̮̜͔̥̗̯̉̋̓̋̑̾̽̕͝"̶̣̥̠̞̙̣̺͚̳̳̙̳̞̹̀͆̀͝ ̵̲̞̦̼͖̰͓̔̑(̵̨͚̝̪̺̟̘̠̯̜̱̭̑͗̈́̆̒͆͝Ỳ̷̧̛͚͍̬̠̘͕͈̪̻͓̰͑͑̀͛̀̍̒͌̅̕͘͜͜o̷̗̖̲̮̩̝̲͓̩͐̈́͆̿͐̀́͛̍͜ù̵̢̢̦̘̫̖̝̣̫͉͚̋̓̌̏̈͛̽̊̏͐̿̓̄̐͠ ̵̡̯̗̥̹͔̯̭̣̰́͊̔͆̕ͅḁ̵̢̪̣̮̅̈͒̀́̉̈̽͛̍͘͝͝͝r̵̦̯̱̜̤̉͋͊̆̎̾̈̈ė̵̢̻̥̺̞͜ ̷̨̧̡̡̥̖̣̼̺͖̮͚̽̽͑̆̐̕͜l̵͎͙̯̯͊̾̀̐̃͑͌̊̀̌̌̇̚̕͠͝i̷̩̔̽̾͒̌͒͜͜k̴̥͕͔̬̥̼̳͚̝̥̖͊̈̀ͅę̵̘̭̯̱̭̩̼̟̲̼̤̪̦̟͚̉̇̊ͅ ̴̘̲̦͎̹̀̅̂̈́̋̈́͌͐̽̌͊̕͘͠h̳͚̦̩͜ẻ̲̹̜̱̱̪̞̹͉̳͓̠̭̘͕̘͌͛̈́͆̐̍͊̀̽͊̾r̴̻͖̺̱͍͔̼̣̯̫͊̌̆͋͘͠…̷̫̖͓̦̱̦̜̘̹̘͉̞͓͔̂̓͑̓̒̽͆̿͝͠ ̦̜w̵̛͕̫̫̙̣̥͔̘̲̜̞͇͛͑͊̆̉̿̉͌̈͐͂̚̕e̴̢͓͍͈̜̣̩̲̙͔̙͙̗̰͈̫͆̄̈́̀̇a̶̡̟̦͚̲̗̫͔̫̹̥͌̿k̵̲̜̺̜͔̠̙̘̳̞̗̘̓͛͂̒̑͌̄̇͑ę̷̡̜̦̖̺̩̪̳̘̣̘̓̐́̽͋̃̒͜ͅr̵̡͖͎̜̮͑͒̏̅̈́̔͗̓̈́̈́͛̚͜,̶͍̞̘̺͇̘̓̇̍̆͌͆̏͛͊̑̆͂̍͝͝ ̶̡̛̪̲͓̪̠̲͎͕̻͐̎̂ṃ̨̧̬͕̻̱͙͈̗̱̙̲̌̌͛̔͆̔̿͠ű̢̡̝̰͉̯͈̯̼̏̓ç̴̧̤͉͖͙̰̤̪͔̠̥͎͓̼̳͑̉͛̐͋̅͂̏̇̈́͝ͅh̶̫̳̞̿̈́̍͗̓̀̽̅͛̐̓̈́̆̀͝͝ ̴̡̱̜̜̠̲̯̒́̽ͅẁ̴͉̗̣̯͎͓̇̔̚͜͝ȩ̷̨̩͎̞͙̟̠͔͍̮̤́͑̂̐͌̆̓̿̇͊̔͌̚̕͠a̶̝͓̮̎̿̾̉͆̄̊̆̆͆̚k̢͖̤̦̹̠̹̱̬̀̌̔ȩ̷̢̧̖̰̼̗̻͉̤͓͔̭͋̈̈́͒͛̌̈́̆͊̕͝r̢̡͎̠̲̺͕̙̲̘̹̭̳͉͓̺̀̈́͑̈̽̈́͛̓…̵̗͓̳̮̹̠̠̯̜̜͂̐͐̔́́̆͐́̍̈́̂͝͠͝ͅ ̴̮̖̘̪̩̗̟͉̘̳̺̺͕͊̈́̂̈́̔͋̈́̈́̔̓̕y̶̮̐͆̾̈̅̆̀͆̊̈́̈́̓̆ơ̵̲̖̥̙͈͍͓̲̙̅͛̒̔̅̒̒̓̃̒̑͛͘͠ű̷̙͇̀̆r̶̨̧̦̹̘̪̮͓̽ ̪̹̆̊̀̓̏̇f̣͔̜̟͎̥̠̟̫͉̌̔̿̈́̅͗̐̓͜͝͠͝l̷̻̙̝̙̠̆ē̵̲̟̟̤͚͛̀̆̏͝ͅs̴͙͕̭̣̳̮͉̈́̐̉̒̔̓͂̍͝͠͝͠ͅh ̷̨͇̹͙̩̫͉̠̻̠̖̪̩͇͌́͊̂̽̊̂͆̅͝͠w̷̲͇͖͑̈́̔̂̈̕o̷̢̜̫̼̟͎̝̐u̷̡̢̻̙͍͓͔̦̮̬̣̝̮̰͎̇̋͋̀̋̒ḻ̶̛̞̦̦̖͎̪̱̟͔̰̞͎̠͖͎̂̿͛̊̑͐͝ḑ̶̛̦̠̭̫͔̦̣̈́͆̈́͒̋̊̈͗͒͋̽͜͠ ̴̧̢̛̫̯͕͔͉͔͉͈͉̻̺̓́̄̕͠n̴͇̠̖̼̲͚̎̔̄̃̑͋̄̚ơ̴̜̟̪͍͎̥̪̭͍͇̭̠̻̞̲̏͐̇̓͘͘͠͝͝t̶͖͕̤͉̯̱̳͗̈̀̀̐͒̉͒́̌̓̚͘͜ ̨̢̡̹̀̉̿̆́̈́̒ȑ̵̨̺̩̟͔̲̲̙͈̩͓̂̀̓͗̈́̉͋͆̉̓̊̽́̕̚͝ê̷̹͓̘͕͇̘͈͋̓̈̀n̶̢̧̛̼̳̼̯̜̉̈̂̓̎̉̅̉͐͑̽̒͜͝ḍ̉̈́̂̆͆̒̚͠͝ ̵̝̤̰͈̗͎̠̺͙̬̜̖̹͇̾̀̊͋̐̏̿͑̿̋̓́̂̈́̎̚͝ḝ̷̨̮̠̜͎͇̟̰̥͇͕̭̜͕̋̌͒́͂͘a̴̟͇̞̥̹͎̟̠̽̓̈̌͒̈̄͒͜ś̴̖̬̲̀́̌̅̐i̴̢̧͕̯̝̻̘̩̺̮͙̲̟̙͆͆͌͂̀͊͒́̅̊̂̈̉̐͠͝l̷̘̊͌͆̂y̵̛̹̜̪͓̬̗̥̼͍̯̍̓͐͑̓̌͆̇͘͜͜͜͝͠…̵͕͌̈́ ̷̡̜͙͙͖̤͙̒̓͝bư̴̧̧̢̼͓̟͓͎̗͂͊͛̕͝ͅt̷̥̠̠̖̰͙̬̅̽͗ ̴͉̺̦͔̔̓͊̉̉͘͝͠w̴̝̔̀́̌̇̑̅͌̅̓͌́̌͠͠i̷̡̖̾́̈̋̈́̒̒̑̂́̔͘͝͠͝l̖̋̃̓͛̔͒̕l̷̨̼͉̯͎̭̫̳̭̪̂̈̈́̇̄͋̈́̆̕͘͜ ̷̢̻̲̺͙̼̤͚͉̣̟͂̀̓̑̂̇̈́͌͜m̷̘̯̗̟̩̘͓̭̔̒́̈́͒̈́ḁ̵͎͚̮̼̱̎́̈͗̑̌̊̈͗̀̑̽̂̒̃̚͜͝ͅͅķ̵̧̢̖̙͈̤̜͍̭͙̘̦͙̈̎͜ę̷͖̝̗̩̦͕͈͔̯͕̭̣͎̃̊͋̎̄̍͘ͅͅ ̶̡͚͇͔̟͔͙̗̄̃̊͒̎͗̂f̴̧̪̹̣̖̼̥̗̺̤͕̥̠̟̎͜͜ô̴̢̝͔͍̮̻̭̩͚̂͊̇̒ͅŗ̨̧̧̭̞̳̦̗̞͕͈̋͋̍͂̚ ̴̰̹̱̣̦̪̉͐͘͜͝s̷̢̨͇͎̮̜̖̺̪͇̲̈̈́̏͆̆̌̾̈́́̚͝u̷̼̟͍̙̼̘̺̖͆̈́̈́͂͋͊̃̾̄̿c̷̢̨̨̮̤͕̼̮̣̦̟̠̖̣̔̾̍̈́͛̄̇͊͂͘h̵̹̩̦͈̼̤͋̾̾̔̿̇̈̊͌ ̶̡̢͎͖̣͚͓͔̀̐̋͆͆̓͌̿̄̋̚͝á̵̘̦̰͉͓͈͈̖̮̮̗̙̲̳̖̅͐̓̿̉͒̿̀̑̊ ̷̛͔̺̹͇̠͗͆b̡̨̬̭̠̭͙͚̘̮̮̆ͅȩ̴̛̭͚̤́̀͂͊̑̑ä̴̢̧̮̟̰̼̳͔͍͖́̀̓́̎̀̅̿͆̒̌̉͐͜͠͝͝u̵̪̘̺͙̼̩̪͒͌̄̎̎͌́̚͘ͅt̵̼̼̫̲͙̅͑̅̒̄́̈̊̒͗̕̕͝͠͠i̵͎̺͔̥̣̅͜f̵̢͉̦̙̫͎̪̽̾͌́͠ͅu̶̝͉͍͚̩͙̖̖̰͈͔̞̲͔͜͠l̶̛͈͉͙͎͚͖͔̜̞̤̆͑̿̐̀̑̋̐̈́̕ͅͅ ̴͉̓͋̂̇͋̏̇̌̑̿̓̀̆̽̌̕͠p̷̨̥͙͎̖̺͚̤͈̞͔̪̝͕̈́̋͊̐͊̍̐͗͗̆̇̅ą̶̡̧͓̖͇͇̝̻͔͖̮̲̞̞͚̑͜͠i̡͇̫͎͓̹̣̱̦͉ͅn.̵̡̠̣͍͕̗͙̭̹̆̀͗̆̒̃̓̉͐̂̄̋͋͝͠ͅ)̰̈̌̊͆͌̇͑͂ ̶̡̹͔̠͙͗̈̾̀̈́͒̊̀ͅ He spoke cryptically as he begins pulling the mask of Nora's disfigured face. As that thing was about to remove Nora's mask. A loud scream came from the side before a puff of smoke hit the creature. It was… flour. Flour powder. Then a match was thrown and immediately the flour caught flame.
The thing lit up as it stammers back. Screaming as the bugs, and shirt caught fire. The statue of Diana of Versailles turns around to see Hassan standing before the group with an empty bag of flower. It raises it's hand to strike the young man, but the distraction gave enough time for Nora to break free from underneath the hand. Grabbing her weapon she swung it around and bashed the arm of Diana to pieces sending it to the ground where it struggles to stand. As it does, it only had a few minutes to look up to see Hassan punch it in the face. Causing a few cracks before he pulls back and held his hand in pain before being swatted away by the living stature. He flew back but was caught by Nora mid air.
"Que faites-vous ici?" (What were you doing here?) Nora asked as she set Hassan down.
"Je pensais que vous trois pourriez avoir besoin de mon aide." (I figured you three could use my help.) He replies as he shakes his hand in pain. "Tsk, Je pensais que cette apparence me donnait une super force?" (Tsk, I'd thought this semblance gave me super strength?)
"Ce n'est pas comme ça qu'aura… je t'expliquerai plus tard." (That's not how aura… I'll explain later.) Nora said as she shakes her head before rushing towards the statue that was getting up. Before she did, she instructs Hassan, "Aidez les autres. J'ai cette grande fille!" (Help the others. I got this big girl!)
Nora lets out a battle cry as she launches herself towards the statue of Diana of Versailles. As she fought the oversized statue, Hassan does as he was told and goes to help both Jobert and Èlisa. As he does, Èlisa screams for Hassan as the bug entity from before rushed him. Grabbing ahold of Hassan before pushing him into the painting. The two tried to help but the music kept them to the ground as it was nearly busting an ear drum. Hassan screams in agony as he was beside the painting that was emulating the noise but the reason, he was able to hold out was due to the newly unlocked aura. As he struggles, he felt something. In the corner of his eye, he can see the painting. It was moving. Something was trying to get out from behind the vail and plaster of blood and paint. It slithered like serpents, shifting and pushing. Just trying to break free from whatever prison it's in.
Back over with Nora, She just managed to smack her hammer right up skirt sending the head flying up into the ceiling. Smirking she shouted in triumph. "Fatality!"
Her moment of victory however was waylaid when she sees Hassan struggling while the two were still grasping their ears in agony. Quickly turning her weapon to grenade launcher mode, she takes aim and fires a dust round at the painting. Hitting it and igniting the painting in flames. Doing so, the creature lets go of Hassan as it rages in pain. The music as well seems to be quieter. Able to stand Jobert and Èlisa got to their feet before Nora screams to them.
"Brûlez les tableaux! C'est comme casser un haut-parleur! Mais plus artistique!" (Burn the paintings! It's like breaking a speakerphone! But more artsy!) Nora shouts before tossing a fire-dust round to Jobert.
"QUOI!" (WHAT!) Èlisa screams as she still struggles to hear. That's when the fire dust landed in Jobert's hand, to which Nora screams back.
"Brûlez les tableaux! BRÛLEZ LES!" (Burn the Paintings! BURN THEM!) Nora screams before rushing to help Hassan.
Jobert looked at the strange ammunition, but could understand what it was meant to do. Turning to the other paintings, he quickly goes to grab Èlisa hair clip and then something hard to bash the trigger mechanism. Back over with Hassan, just because the creature was in agony didn't mean it would let up. Rather the burning of the painting had made it feral. More so than a bag full of bugs could be. It begin moving violently, slashing at Hassan with the knife that moved up and down it's arm thanks to the many insects. Though Hassan recovered from the few strikes as his Aura stopped the knife from slashing his skin. As he is being backed into a corner, Nora arrives and jumps down on the thing with her hammer. Smashing it where it stands. Reeling back the oversize bag of bugs rebuilt itself quickly from the remaining bugs. Changing tactics and attacking Nora instead. It was quicker now since it didn't had the clothes to restrain it. Moving irradicably made it difficult for Nora to hit it, as it slashes at her. As she was being pushed back Hassan grabbing a small statue smacked it across the back. The blunt force trauma seemed to have done more damage than usual, probably because the aura gave him more strength. Or the burning of the paintings had weakened the mass of bugs. Maybe both.
As the two fight, Jobert after struggling to find something hard resorted to his pistol. If something breaks he can fix it later. As he bashes the hair pin, he finally got the incendiary grenade to detonate. As it flashes with heat, Jobert tosses it towards the painting before he could burn his hand. Rushing back the grenade detonates, engulfing two of the paintings in flames. Loud inhuman screams can be heard as the paintings burn. As they burn the insectoid man begin to squirm in agony. His form begins to loose shape and he falls to it's knees. It struggles pull it's thousands of bugs to form a cohesive shape. As it does, Èlisa quickly using her beret to light the other paintings. As all nine burn the bugs begin to dissipate and to the four shock, a translucent figure emerges from the bugs. Raggedy in appearance he looked broken as if he suffered a horrible accident. Looking up it was clearly Gérald LeBeau.
As he stares, the last painting that wasn't completely charred begin to howl. Something beyond the art was calling, and raging. It terrified the spectral before a vortex begins to pull the spectral artesian in as he screams. Not willing to go alone, he grabs Èlisa and tried to drag her into the vortex. Her screams were covered by the sounds of the vortex. Quickly rushing, Jobert, Nora, and Hassan grabs Èlisa as she is being pulled in. As they hold onto her, they can see glimpses on the other side. A darkness that fills them with dread, strange large things that look like lights with flutes plaid horrible music. It was defending and sanity draining to listen to those accursed grotesque balls of putrid lights play their fleshy organs. One of these things was pulling the spirit in, who was screaming for time, as if he was trying to finish his 9th symphony. Thinking quickly, Nora pulls back with all her might before screaming at Jobert to smash the panel. Letting go of Èlisa he quickly shot at the wooden panels with Hassan letting go to take Èlisa gun and also help. Breaking it, caused the vortex to collapse in on itself Struggling to hold on, the spectral artist slipped and Èlisa lost a shoe as she collapsed on top of Nora.
That damned music had stopped. And with it came a blissful silence. Slowly pulling themselves up they looked on as the paintings burned. No one will ever see these monstrosities again. Nora now helped up by Jobert and Hassan looked at the painting that spectral painter was sucked into. It was of him screaming into an uncaring void of sorts. But the longer she looked, the more warped the painting became in the dimming light of the fire. The painting had changed, from the gruesome screams of Gérald LeBeau to something odd… It was of a man, a woman, and a child. The man held a rapier, like her friend Weiss would. Standing tall with a fleur-de-li pinned to his Georgian era clothes. To the side looked to be a sans-culotte by the look of her clothes and the cockade of France on her hat. Armed with a pike and seemed to have great experience with it. What was stranger then seeing a Royalist and a Revolutionary fighting side by side, was the little girl. She didn't look to be either of theirs as the Man had raven Black hair and the woman hazel brown hair. The little girl blonde almost strawberry blonde hair. What confused Nora the most was that despite being a little girl. She look a lot like the women from the oil painting.
Staring as the painting she didn't hear Èlisa words till she felt someone shaking her shoulder. Turning she see's Jobert shaking her. With some deafness she asked, "Pardon quoi?" (Sorry what?)
"Policières." (Police.) Jobert said as he seems to be fixing his hearing.
"Quoi?" (What?) Nora asked a little louder as her hearing started to come back.
"Ginger girl, nous avons cassé, l'art… nous devrions, COURIR." (Ginger girl, we broke, the art… we should, RUN.) Hassan shouted as loudly and slowly as he can as he points to the smashed and burned section of the Louve. It didn't take Nora to realize how much trouble they will be in if they stayed, so acting quickly she quickly collects her weapon before following Èlisa and Hassan who led them out of the Louve. She does take one look back before leaving.
As the four left, and the sound of police ambulance can be heard dauntingly in the background, the view pulls on the three in that portrait, the fires slowly consuming it before eventually. Overtaking the familiar looking girl as the scene cuts to black.
Play the Penniless optimist by Electric Swing Circus
The scene opens up on paintings inside the louvre. These Oil paintings seemed to be still till a number of painting begins to shift. Changing as it seems multiple bugs were moving across the wall, attempting to steal the artwork itself. As they moved the insects seemed to move with a rhythm… a rhythm that sounds like, music. It was as if these things were singing, while stealing the art. As they marched, they passed by the bloodied Statues of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a transparent head slowly manifests. Unfamiliar to any, she still appeared and after a few moments, the insects seemed to pick up the statue and carry it away. As they carried the famous statue away, the ghostly face opened her eyes and begin singing.
Ladies and gentlemen. I present to you a man. He has travelled far and wide. He might not have a shilling to his name. But he has a song in his heart, he is the penniless optimist!
Jute-bar-di-bi-dura-da-pa-pa-ri-pu-di-pa-pa!
Pu-di-pa-pa!
Got no carriage but he's got his song
Jute-bar-di-bi-dura-da-pa-pa-ri-pu-di-pa-pa
Got no silver but he's got his...
As they carried the statue by an oil painting of Èlisa and Hassan. Èlisa was in the pose of Joan arc burning at the stake, and Hassan as a self-portrait in a Van Gogh. They seem to be singing along as suddenly words appeared beneath the portraits reading as followed.
(Fred Toones as Hassan Detemple)
(Louise Lagrange as Èlisa Bensson)
Don't care, but he's at me. Don't want, answer me free! Got nothing but he's got his soul
Jute-bar-di-bi-dura-da-pa-pa-ri-pu-di-pa-pa
Di-pa-pa, Got no money but he's got his soul!
The view then pulls ahead to the smoldering remains of the portraits that were burned. Depicting the void, and the spirits flowing within the court of madness itself. As the charred remain of the painting. But despite it practically destroyed it seemed to hold some power. The ants seemed to pull the art into the paint, as if it were a portal. Before suddenly the view is pulled in.
Now, this is the part of the record! Where you go crazy! Cast aside your worries! Cast aside your problems, and dance.
Like you don't care!
*Trumpet Solo*
(Got no money but he's got his soul)
As the trumpet solo plays the reader is introduced to the horrors of the void. Hundreds of lights, dancing before a chaotic mess at the center of reality. Passing by one of these dancing lights, you could see the soul of the poor fool who saw the face of a god. Forever doomed to dance for it amongst the fleshy squids that played. As the trumpet solo continued past the dancing souls before stopping on two floating paintings. One was a version of the Mona Lisa with Audra on it, and a similar painting of the Desperate Mand with Jobert. As these two portraits float, words appeared beside them with the words spelling:
(Renee Adoree as Audra Carron)
(Marcel Dalio as Jobert Carron)
Got no carriage but he's got his song
Jute-bar-di-bi-dura-da-pa-pa-ri-pu-di-pa-pa
Di-pa-pa!
Got no silver but he's got his...
Don't have, but he's at me! Don't want, answer me free! Got no depots but he's got his song! Got no money but he's got his soul!
As the song continues it's suddenly sucked out of the void and back into the Louvre, where the view settles on a painting similar to the one of Napoleon crossing the Alps. Difference being that It was Nora Riding her Magnhild instead of a hoarse. As she holds the pose the insects are seen dragging the painting off the wall and into the portal with the Statues of the Winged Victory of Samothrace stilling singing. As she sings, words appeared beside the painting of Nora, reading as
(Clara Bow as Nora Valkyrie)
Jute-bar-di-bi-dura-da-pa-pa-ri-pu-di-pa-pa
Di-pa-pa!
Got no money but he's got his soul
Jute-bar-di-bi-dura-da-pa-pa-ri-pu-di-pa-pa
Di-pa-pa!
The painting and statue are then sucked into the void, as the camera eye view pulls in with it. As it slowly pulls away it is revealed to be Gérald LeBeau. Muttering to himself insanely as he dances in utter madness and torment amongst the hundred of thousands of souls that danced in the void at the center of reality. As the view pulls back the song slowly comes to an end and Gérald LeBeau soul became more of a whisps amongst the other unfortunate souls. As it pulls back the scene slowly goes black.
(Got no money but he's got his soul)
(Got no money but he's got his soul)
(Got no money but he's got his soul)
The scene opens up on the stage, where Wombag is seen playing the violin amongst the dead insects at his feet. Only pausing to address you the reader. "Aw, Hello everybody, Wombag1786 here. Well… this has been a very interesting conclusion to this story. Seems Monsieur LeBeau will not be finishing his 9th painting… like a symphony. Then again given who's music he is making it for that might be best. Paris was nearly destroyed by Him in the Gulf back during the height of the Terror. Don't think we want a repeat of that again. But beyond seeing the capacity of a dreamer we also see Hassan rising to the challenge. To be honest he's the first (Earth) human character in serries to receive an aura. Well receive one and remain in a sane capacity. I wonder how that will effect him going forward… perhaps we may already know how that leads, given the last Nora Arc. Then theirs Émily, I'm sure a communist knowing Nora's little secret will be interesting. And lastly the question about that Painting. I'm sure it's on some of your minds. Well don't worry you won't have to wait that long.
Now, let's get onto comments and questions.
From Crimsonweresloth: Like I said, fix point. No way around that. As for the first? Well… read the bottom and I'll say it will be your first.
Thanks for writing Crimsonweresloth.
From Blackwing8: Glad you enjoyed it. Not sure Hassan would agree least in terms of removing the bugs painlessly. Lol.
We will… eventually. This is just one of the many puzzle pieces that you will need to put together.
Thanks for writing Blackwing8.
From Dustinz117: Well… I guess she didn't destroy the whole building… just a some of the art inside. Well, that was more to describe how he was burning up from within. And that eh Semblance gave him a moment to cool off… before being shocked. But if you think it has something to do with wind/cold then that's cool.
No, Crimson knows a lot of things. I'd talk to him frequently on Discord about the project. Even had his hands in some OC's and ideas. This one was an idea for a reacuring antagonist that isn't a monster… or rather a human monster. Just ask him "Bonjour, enchanteur" I guarantee he will have a PTSD episode.
Thanks for writing Dustinz117.
Now with that done, I'll be honest… this next arc will be… well… Crimson. If your reading this part I'd recommend pulling out a Chasity belt and keeping your reactions as vague as possible for those who read the comments. I want them to learn to fear the phrase "Bonjour, Enchanté" They will be making their first appearance in the next arc and it's… well let's say it will be a highlight.
Now, please feel free to comment and question about the chapter. Fav and Fol the story would really help out as well. Now then I'm going to be learning to play this song, see you all on October 15th. This is wombag1786 signing off.
Back at the Grand Palais Inside the Pavilion of Polland
It's been a few days since the whole affair. Those haunting musical notes still echoed in the minds of the four. But thankfully no legal ramifications came from burning the paintings. Police did investigate and there was much spectacle and scandal with some iconic art destroyed and damaged. But after a thorough investigation, it was decided that simply someone angered over the deaths of the past security guards destroyed the paintings before fleeing, that being the only sound conclusion with evidence could be made. Though a loss their was truly nothing the police can do, thus this incident will be remembered as a sad day in art history. However, the destruction of famous art (Accidental or not) wasn't the only thing on Nora's mind. She is back at the Pavilion of Polland, talking with Hassan and Èlisa. Filling Èlisa in on her true nature while filling in Hassan on his new abilities and the semi exact science of aura and Semblance.
"Alors… je vais avoir des super pouvoirs?" (So… I'm going to get super powers?) Hassan asked as he looked at his hands.
"Une Semblance oui." (A Semblance yes.) Nora remarks with a nod.
"Comme quoi? Yeux laser, transmission instantanée, clairvoyance… des phéromones aphrodisiaques?" (Like what? Lazer eyes, instant transmission, clairvoyance… aphrodisiac pheromones?) He said that last one with a smirk as he imagined Èlisa and Nora wearing seductive underwear on his bed thanks to his hypothesis semblance. To which Èlisa popped that bubble thought.
"Plus précisément, comment avez-vous appris votre capacité?" (More particular how did you learn your ability?) Èlisa asked as he pulled Hassan away from his seductive dream.
"Oh, c'est facile, j'ai été frappé par la foudre… j'ai eu de la chance." (Oh, that's easy I got hit by lightning… lucky me.) Nora said with a cheeky smile causing the two to give a surprise look. "Si ce n'était pas mon apparence, j'aurais fait frire." (If not for my semblance, then I'd fried up)
"…Um, Je pense que je vais prendre mon temps pour apprendre cette nouvelle capacité. Le fait que je puisse prendre une raclée et continuer sans aucun problème est tout ce que j'ai besoin de savoir pour l'instant." (… Um, I think I'll take my time learning this new ability. The fact I can take a beating and keep on going without any problems is all I need to know for now.) Hassan said as he slumps down. Not wanting to imagine what kind of twisted hand fate will give him for his semblance.
"Ouais… cela peut prendre des mois, voire des années avant d'apprendre. Il a fallu à Jaune près de deux années entières pour apprendre son." (Yeah… it could take months, maybe years before you learn. Took Jaune nearly two whole years to learn his) Nora said with a smirk as she recalled those memories.
"Jaune?" (Yellow?) Èlisa asked with a raised brow.
"Oui, dans son petit monde, les gens donnent à leurs enfants le nom de la grande guerre. Ils se sont battus pour l'individualité et le droit de s'exprimer. Ou quelque chose de ce genre." (Yes, on her little world people name their children after the great war. Fought over individuality and the right to express themselves. Or something along those lines.) Hassan explains as he turns back to the painting.
"Hmm… vous savez, Carl Marx considérait la guerre comme un moyen permettant aux riches ou à l'État de se disputer avec les autres pour leur gain personnel… je ne sais pas trop quoi penser de votre grande guerre, mais elle semble plus juste et plus vertueuse que celle que nous avons eue il n'y a pas si longtemps." (Hmm… you know Carl Marx viewed war as a means of the rich or the state disputing with others for personal gain… not sure what to make of your great war but it sounds more just and righteous then the one we had not too long ago.) Èlisa says as she turns to the painting the other two were looking at.
The three continued to stare at the painting. The same one Gérald LeBeau spirit or whatever that thing was. The painting of the woman that has been nagging on Nora's mind for a since she first saw it. Why does the women in the painting look like the little girl in the painting's aftermath. Just what was that? After what felt like hours they hear a voice behind them. "Podziwiasz obraz?"
"Hmm?" Nora said as she turns to him.
"Désolé, mon français n'est pas très bon. Je t'ai demandé si tu aimais peindre." (Sorry, my French is not so good. I asked if you like painting?)
"Um, oui, je parle anglais si ça peut aider." (Um, yes, I speak English if it helps) Nora asks.
"Oh, it's much better than my French." He said in English, before reaching out his hand. "Jozef Czajkowski, I'm the architecture of the Pavilion."
"Aw… so you designed this whole building?" Nora asked.
"Why yes, are you interested in the decor of are nearly extinct culture? I'm happy to say that nearly two hundred years could not destroy our peoples pride and history." Jozef Czajkowski asked with a not-so-subtle hint of pride in his tone.
"Not really, most of this fancy stuff goes over my head but Madame of the house made me come here." Nora said with a shrug.
"Oh… well. Carry on." He said as he turns to leave. As he was about to leave Nora then got a notion.
"Um, excuse me sir?" Nora said as she gets up to speak with the architect. "Just, what is that painting of? The um… Baron-owi Gelu Sucksonii?"
"Baronowa Gelu Saksonii, or in English, Baroness Gelu of Saxony. She's well a rather unique character in the history of Europe. With the revisal of Polish arts we had recently uncovered this piece long since thought to have been sacked or destroyed by Prussian's during the Third Partition of Poland. However during the signing of the treaty of Versailles, two Gentlemen, I think brothers by the Surname Owt. approached the delegation and handed this to Roman Dmowski. It was brought out of the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow. To be presented for all to see." Jozef explains to Nora as the two walked back into the room to review the painting in more finer detail.
"Oh… never heard of this Baroness, but I feel like I seen her… maybe someone who looks like her?" Nora remarks as she looked at the painting.
"Hmm, odd. Not many people know the Legend of the Witch Baroness." Jozef said as he rubs his chin.
"Witch Baroness?" Nora asked with a raised brow.
"One of the more polite names passed down the centuries. But she was from what many sources state to be an intelligent woman. Far more so than the average peasant of the era. However historical documents are sketchy at best, thus many had to rely on the legends, ballets, and poems of the dark ages to paint a picture of her." Jozef continued explaining before remarking, "I think the only reference was in that book released not so long ago. 'Margaret Alice Murray, Witch-Cult in Western Europe?'"
"Hmm, might have to take another read… I slept on it more times than I read it." Nora said earning a chuckle from Jozef. "Um, can you give me a water down version of her story?"
"First mention of her was in 1390 when a group of mercenaries returning from the Lithuanian Civil war was hired by the local priest to investigate a rumor of the De La Poer family and their castle of Exham Priory in what is Modern day Lancashire county. A rather dark place to begin our story but it supposedly went that the lord must have pitied the child as it so was a dark place. I think the last descendant of that family went mad shortly restoring the castle, screaming about Rats in the wall. After her rescue, she would travel with these mercenaries learning from them as they got entangled in many adventures that are outlandish at best, and fictional at worse. Eventually after coming of age in 1411, she left to wander most of Western Europe as a sell sword of sort. Her biggest achievement was in 1420 when she supposedly saved the sole of France as well as Christianity from the devil as he emerged beneath the streets of Paris itself. For her deed she was made a Baroness despite her Anglo origins she was award the title of Saxony."
"Huh… sounds like a woman who can break legs. What happened after?" Nora asked imaging in her mind a child growing up to be an utter badass, fighting bandits, mythological monsters and pancakes.
"Well her downfall came during the last few decades of the hundred year war. She had become close friends with Joan Arc, to which the British begin to spread false rumors of her. Many sadly caught on. She nearly lost her child to small pox but caught it herself. Dying in 1433. Her son Ozias could not attend his mothers funeral as the whole family had to flee when the church raided her castle. It's said nobody visited her grave, not even those paid to put her coffin into the ground. But some eye witness accounts claimed two brothers had visited and kindly put her body in the ground. Paying their respects to a sadly discredit women." Jozef concludes with a sadden note.
"Oh… how horrible." Nora said as she turned back to the painting.
"Yes, quite. If it's any constellation, her family line didn't end with her son. They fled East, incorporating themselves in the land before eventually become the core bloodline of Polish Nobility. Which this painting became a gift to King Sigismund II Augustus from his third wife who bought it from twins who were on their way to Russia from Paris. Her story was something many in the artistical and poet societies of Poland are revitalizing as we know what's it like to be trampled underfoot and swept to the back end of history." Jozef said reinvigorating his proud and prideful tone.
"Huh… I'll have to look into her history." Nora remarks as she found the story intriguing, it still does not answer the question of why this women looks so familiar to her. Jozef gives a nod before looking at his watch. He wish her well before leaving to attend to some other business. Nora returns to sit between Hassan and Èlisa. Looking on at the painting as the scene slowly shifts to the side cutting to black before opening up in a village that had sank into swamp.
The Back swamps of Tampa Bay Florida, half a year later prior
In the Back Swamps an isolated patch of land, lies what remains of a village. It was an early Spanish colony, or from what little that remains standing. Most had sunk into the swamp with massive amount foliage and vines groping to the decaying structure that one could mistake it for an amazonian jungle temple. As the local wild life of Barking tree frogs, Anhinga, and the groans of American Alligators in the background, voices followed by the disturbance of oars can be heard in the distance. Three boats paddled to the shoreline of the sunken village. With them came ashore men of Italian and Spanish origins.
"Huh, to think this was out here all this time." One spoke with a hard Italian accent.
"The two crazed nitty's knew their stuff. This place is much better then just setting up out right in this humid armpit of this swamp." Another with an equally thick Italian accent said as he takes a bite from an apple.
"Or the many naval blockades out of Cuba… speaking of the greasers." He then turned to the men in the boats who were trying to pull a makeshift still from the boat. "Easy with that! After your last raids we are down to our last still."
One of the Hispanic men looked up with a glair, responding with a stiff tone: "And we wouldn't had to if your leader didn't sick your policia on our brothels wop perra."
The Italian with the apple, threw it down in a rage but was stopped by his associate. He seemed more level head for a cut throat. Reaching out his hand he remarks, "Your right, blood was spilled on both sides here. The Don and your Jefe want this operation up and running as soon as we can. A symbol of our future cooperation between the Don Trafficante, and Jefe Lopez."
The two stared daggers at one another before finally relenting. For the past three years the Mafia though one Don Santo Trafficante had been working up and down the eastern side of Florida, only branching into Tampa recently due to a number of maritime boats cutting into their smuggling operations of Rum row and Cuba. There they came to heads with one Jefe Joseph Lopez a mobster from Havanna who had establish a connection from Cuba to Florida. A bloody conflict between the two gangsters ended after the Federals came in droves. Thankfully an incident in New Orleans involving the death of Klan members drew their attention away. With some breathing space the two talked and by last month a new arrangement was made. With the last still they heard tales of a lost colony deep in the swamp, perfect to make moonshine, rum, or if times were desperate Bathtub gin. Along with the seclusion, the village lied deep in the swamp, giving way to multiple waterways both used and unused. A system can be put in place where this illegal shine could be skidded across the evergreens and to the wider area of Florida. It was all too perfect… though as they slowly dragged the still ashore, they couldn't help but feel that they were somewhere they should not belong.
Moving deeper, one of the mobsters who had taken a moment to catch their breath noticed something in the corner of his eye. It looked to be someone moving into the house. Pulling out his gun, he goes to investigate. Slowly entering only to find the remains of a slave hut. Giving a grunt he holster his piece before turning. Just as he does he was suddenly jumped by a strange effigy. It moved on the remains of the door hinges and nearly scared the man, as it was made of wood, bone, and cloth forming a horrifying totem to some dark heathenistic entity.
His screams were noticed by the other mobsters who came running to check on him. They expected a greedy alligator, or maybe a derange swamp folk, but to see him freaking out over a set of sticks… the group could not help but mock the gangster. While laughing one of the young ones who was left holding the still. As he was about to join, he noticed something in the corner of his eye. A large theater at the center of town. The doors were wide open allowing for him to enter. As he does he walks toward a stage where a strange tree grew from the center. At the center was mask that the tree itself had grown around.
"¿Qué carajo es esto?" He said in a hushed tone as he found himself walking towards the mask. It was like nothing he had seen before. Made from some unknown material, that was smooth to the touch. As he stroke the strange Pallid Mask the whole tree begin to split, revealing someone within. Looking up, he saw a face that left him shrieking in terror as the doors slammed with a loud thud. His screams echo on through the village as an unnatural fog descends upon the village… followed by more screams.
Play "Dark & Moody Spanish Guitar Music" By AI Marconi on youtube
In a dark place, a comic book lands on the previous issue. It seemed to be a naked woman, covered in blood and mud. Tied up to an effigy in a praying motion. A rotting deer skull covered her face. From the antlers hanged a multitude of voodoo artifacts, including Schmidts Iconic Knife, Yang's robotic arm. To the side is four bubbles with the main title at the very top, reading;
RWBY NOIR
The King in the Swamp
STARING:
Yang 'Iron Arm' Xiao Long: The girl with no past.
Jacob Schmidt: Capone's top Bootlegger.
Davis "Butch" McCollin: Scottish Brute.
Su Zhen Fang: Tong Assassin