Krusnik Mission Log (CONTENT WARNINGS AHOY)

[kaisoumods]

Krusnik Mission Log

CONTENT WARNINGS: The following log will involve discussions of kidnapping, stalking, child abuse, and human experimentation. Proceed with caution.

So let's take a moment to recap: amongst the numerous groups connected to the paranormal, one of the more infamous ones is Krusnik. For years, Krusnik's name was synminonous with the darkest parts of the world. Known for taking children no one would miss and other such people to do God only knows what to them, they're a group that seemed more like a horror story than anything real. There's been many efforts to try to stamp them out, some more successful than others, but they always managed to slink away into the shadows and survive another day.

In the past, Krusnik didn't usually go stateside. Too much risk, was the theory. However something must have changed, as they've decided to try their luck in Kaisou. Perhaps it was the active Spirit Vein that led them here, or more possible... the otherworlders that no one would think twice about if they disappeared. Gaining their hands on some of those would be a great benefit to Krusnik. And if they happen to get their hands on one or two escaped prisoners in the process...well. So much the better.

Like hell they will.

Thanks to the combined work of many factions and people; the alarms have been sounded. Alba, the researcher who asked for help a few times, has been revealed to actually be Georg Weissmann - a high ranking member of Krusnik. Now it's time to gather the wagons, make sure those vulnerable are protected, and as for Krusnik itself? It's time to root out these demons wearing human-skin once and for all.

Within the City

While only one Krusnik member had been identified in July, it turns out there's a sizable crew of them within the city. There's several operatives scattered throughout the city. Alba himself is no where to be found in the city, but plenty of his lackeys are. They primarily target the young (or young looking), though it's possible they may go after some slightly older people if they have particularly strong magical energy. It's never very many of them at a time, usually only one to three, and they seem to be focused in areas with a high concentration of supernaturally inclined people (except, notably, the Zodiac apartments and Cathedral Hill). Usually they will attempt to strike when they think someone is alone or their guard is down, so staying in groups and making sure there's someone keeping constant watch is a good way to deter them.

Though the groups are small, they are dangerous in their own right. All of them have been trained for combat to an extreme amount. Not only that, but they have magical abilities in some form or another, some who may rival the Libra app users thanks to years of experiments done to their bodies. Their modus operandi leans towards using stealth tactics to get the jump on their target. Not wanting to make their presence too known while in the city, they will tend to flee if they're met with a confrontation that'll draw attention. These aren't people who can be reasoned with, as they are nothing short of fullblown fanatics to their cause. Though, if you wish to capture and get information about their operation in the city, certain interrogation methods aren't out of the question.

In Hyrule

Hyrule was a dangerous enough realm on its own, but the presence of Krusnik operatives have heightened that danger even further for some. Just like in Kaisou, they will try to strike potential targets when they see an opening in groups of one to three. Since they are away from the prying eyes of the city, these Krusnik members will be more willing to have more drawn out fights in order to obtain their targets. Most of them are more than willing to fight to the death for their cause and have the combat ability to back that up, so you best be prepared for a challenging fight.

However should you manage to capture some of them alive, it may be possible to obtain information about their operation using interrogation tactics. As it turns out the leader of their operation and the target of the Black Order, Weissman, is in Hyrule itself. He's set up camp at the Coliseum Ruins in the southeastern part of the Hyrule Fields. The Black Order has been ordered to kill him on sight, so that'll be their destination. If there's anyone looking to dissuade them from carrying out their mission, they're going to have a tough argument to sell.

When you arrive there, you'll find that the place is covered in a red sludge that is toxic and painful to the touch. You'll have to do your best to avoid contact with it as much as you can. Once you get into the coliseum itself, well, it turns out Weissmann knew you'd be coming for him. This isn't the first attempt to take him out, after all. So as soon as you step into Coliseum, Weissmann will call down to you from his ledge he's using as his vantage point. Before you can react, he'll cast a spell that conjures an evil-looking eye before everyone who looks upon is magically immobilized. Now that he has a captured audience, he'll go into a full villainous speech mode. From mocking the Black Order's shortcomings, to emphasizing that all Krusnik is doing is trying to unlock humanity's full potential. "You could have the power of gods," he says "But instead you hold yourselves back with pointless barriers you call morals". He'll even callously speak of the "progress" the former victims have made: first lamenting that Johan would give up the power of his possession after failing to control it - a true failed experiment. Subject Zero, he notes, has clearly allowed her growth to stagnant while in the outside world. Kohinata, on the other hand... well, the Water Spirit he possessed himself with was weaker than Weissman would like, but it was still some progress.

When he's finished saying his rage-inducing, sociopathic piece - he'll decide that's time to finish you all off. Not by his hand, but rather the Silver Lynel he found living in these ruins. It's a massive centaur beast, wielding a claymore emitting flames. He'll release it from his spell, which it's now angry enough to charge and attack everyone who are nothing more than sitting ducks while under Weissman's Evil Eye spell.

Fortunately, for those who came prepared, there are ways to counteract the spell. Barrier spells will deflect the spell entirely, and extremely strong willpower stands a chance to make the spell's hold break. And if someone manages to break Weissman's concentration (by say, shooting him)- that'll break the spell entirely. Whatever ways you manage to free yourself from his magic chains, it's now up to you to fight off the Lynel and get to Weissmann. Weissmann himself, caught off guard by the surprise resistance, will use elemental magic to defend himself. How you deal with this man is up to you, but it's clear he'll be a threat as long as he keeps breathing.

The Base

Once Weissman and the Hyrule team are dealt with, there is only one more thing that needs to be dealt with: the demon's den that is their base of operations. You can find out information to its location either through interrogating captured agents, tailing their agents, or looking into a trail of breadcrumbs in the form of undertown gossip. Eventually, enough leads will bring you to a cluster of warehouses. Most seem to be just regular warehouses, filled with various stocks for businesses in town and for more illicit business ventures. In the middle of these stands a warehouse which outwardly doesn't seem any different from the others. By design, it is made to fit in, be inconspicuous. The inside, however, is a much different story.

You are not alone, first off. There are plenty of Krusnik goons to fight- who will quickly leap to defend their organization. They will fight back with weapons, elemental abilities, with everything they have. And they will fight tooth and nail. Worse still are other, younger members of Krusnik- former captives who have been beaten down and fully indoctrinated into Krusnik's cause. They will not listen to reason, and they will die for this. There's a couple among them that seem to no longer even have presence of self at all and act more like mindless weapons - results of Weissmann's handiwork, it'd seem. Some are exceptionally powerful- if you have the ability to sense them, you will quickly realize these people have been possessed by monsters and demons. There is no benevolence here. Mercy might not be an option.

The bottom floor of the warehouse is filled with rows upon rows of shipping containers. They all have padlocks and chains around them, but none are currently locked. Opening them, you will find a mattress in the back corner, with chains and shackles bolted to the side of the metal wall. Almost all of them, thankfully, are empty- but there's a few that house the three app users (Takame, Vergil, and Rose) who managed to get grabbed. All three of them are alive, though their harrowing physical and emotional states serve as a stark realization that the horror stories about what Krusnik does to victims are anything but stories.

The upper level of the warehouse has a few rudimentary lab setups. It's clear this isn't anything high-tech or powerful, but the remnants of something that once was. Mismatched equipment can be found everywhere, vials and medical equipment scuffed and cracked- things grabbed in a hurry from a crumbling coalition. It's not all scientific, of course. Ancient tomes line the walls, equally damaged and hodgepodge together. Pages are marked which indicate powerful deities, sheets of notebook paper pushed in amongst the pages, with scribbled theories on the best methods to give a "higher rate of spiritual contact". As any former Krusnik captive could tell you, and as is plane in front of you now, all of the methods are grizzly. Means of pushing a person to the brink of death, to try and induce a possession of a spirit. Ideally, of a god.

The furthest room on the top level is an office. Sitting in a chair is a well-put-together man. He's clearly heard the ruckus of all the fighting but hasn't stepped into the fight himself. He welcomes you with a smooth, relaxed voice, like you've dropped in for a cup of tea and not to root out an evil organization. If given the chance to talk (and oh boy, will he talk) he'll explain he is Philip, he's the second of command of this current operation, and you Libra users have it all wrong. Krusnik is trying to understand the Spirit World, the GODS, better. They are simply reaching out to touch the heavens, to bring this power down to mortal folk. He had memories of a previous life, where this was used to better another world. A lost world. That the touch of a god would give everyone an equal playing field, would rid the world of pain and suffering, why would anyone not want that? He does his best to make kidnapping children and forcing them to become vessels for powerful beings by bringing them to the brink of death a reasonable thing to do. Of course, it's not and you can deal with him as you see fit. Once he realizes you're on the attack, he will lash out- his arms turning into green goop - which he can mold into spikes or just straight-up try and suffocate you with it.

Work together to take this guy out. And make sure you do a thorough job doing it- there's always a chance he might reform if not eliminated completely.

Aftermath

Eventually, once Philip is defeated (be sure to be VERY thorough with taking him out) you can check around the office. There's a computer where the attempts to hack Libra originated from. From the scattered paperwork, they will find candid photos of the escaped Krusnik members- there are also candid photos of current otherworlders, especially the minors. All have scribbled notes, times, days, places- an attempt to work out a routine. The beginnings of a plan to try and capture them.

Further investigation will yield Weissmann's personal logs, as you can always count on the evil scientist types to write down their crimes. Amongst the various records of stomach-churning experiments, unhinged manifestos, and detailed crimes against humanity- they'll gain context to why Krusnik was here of all places. It would seem the previous attacks on Krusnik facilities, those carried out by Abel and Zero, were basically fatal blows to the organization. What is here in Kaisou is the splintered remains of the survivors, trying to start again. There are notes of smaller pocket cells out there in the world- but it's clear this was Krusnik's last attempt to get a foothold and gain power once more. With this crushed, they have no hope of truly resurfacing again.

The last thing in the office is the filing cabinet. Weissmann had the key, so unless you looted it off his body, you'll have to pick the lock. Once inside, you'll be rewards with a treasure trove of documents about the organization. Not just their heinous experiments, but information on who gives them funding, who would help them get new victims, and so on. Perhaps Alba was planning on relying on these contacts again, or was holding onto it for blackmail. Either way, it's a treasure trove of evidence to help pursue justice against those who helped Krusnik. And in the very back of the filing cabinet, there's also a notebook containing information on a glyph Krusnik developed to help conceal their presence throughout the years. Maybe this could come in handy...someday.

With everything explored and dealt with, there's only one left to do: figure out what to do about the warehouse. Maybe it'd be good to alert the proper authorities or the Black Order or Zodiac to figure out--

Oh what you want to burn it? Well... okay, that works too. You did just take out a nefarious cult so...yeah, you can burn this building, as a treat.

OOC Notes

This is the catch-all long for the Krusnik subplot! Should you post about this event outside this log, please remember to use relevant content warnings. The original OOC plotting post for this event can be found here.

Comments

[kowase]

[ he was listening, but the trouble with listening is that you start to lose the line between what's real and what's being fed to you when the only hands you can seem to remember ones are those belonging to monsters who want to reshape you. remake you.

there's a part of his brain waking up from that conditioned stupor, the persona he's forced himself into in order to at least try to protect the thing he cared about most in this world. when they'd called him Dante the first time, he realised--he knew. He'd never been a target.
Zulius can see right through the faked persona and while part of that is terrifying, if this is indeed an illusion cast by that monster who called him Caleb sometimes in his muttering madness, but...

There are hands on his face, and it's pushing his hair in a familiar way. With a motion he himself had done every morning since as far back as he could remember. Even before his hair turned silver, even before his eyes had stopped seeing a road where only he walked.

Zulius might be surprised. What with how hot it was in the container, mixed with how, unfortunately, greasy vergil's hair actually was due to lack of care and whatever the hell else he's been through, his hair actually does mostly stay, back in that style he usually keeps. Perhaps just a bit messier, with far more stray hairs, with some very much trying to flop back down over to look like a certain brother again.

Returning him to himself. Reminding him of who he was.
He didn't need to pretend anymore? Zulius wasn't in danger? --Wait how many others had shown up? He'd remembered the catlike girl and the dragon man, so surely others had come for those two as well, but...

He starts to laugh again as the zebra man assures him, in that fussy, self-assured way that Zulius always asserted things in that way that stated, firmly, that he wouldn't be argued with. It's so familiar, after hours and hours of absolutely nothing familiar--it makes the mania at the back of his skull swirl, and he almost brings his hands up over his face to try to take the pressure off his temples, where thoughts were swirling and

there are arms around him

the only time anything had grabbed him lately was with an intent to do harm, and while for a moment, he almost panics; the soft and all-encompassing hug that follows is... exactly what he needed, in the moment. his hands free thanks to zulius' bright thinking to take a key, it isn't instantaneous, but the moment it clicks in his head that he's being held by someone safe. Someone who would keep him from harm?

He's never moved so quickly to hold onto it. Weak as his arms felt, tired as he was, body and mind.
He wasn't going to let go.

He couldn't even consider letting go, not on pain of death.

Here's hoping zulius doesn't mind too badly that his nails might dig in a bit. At the very least, his grip isn't very strong.]

"No bird soars too high. If he flies with his own wings..."

[ vergil chuckles, a little. If Zulius came here, on his own strength, fought through those who had been holding him here, then... why should he continue to distrust such a kind touch? Someone who'd finally granted his one wish. To be saved. To be protected. ] You walked through hell to find me. You foolish man. [ how is he supposed to thank him? will words ever be enough. ]

[bebest]

[The hair staying in place, even as haphazard as it is, does help a little. It makes him look more like Vergil again, instead of Vergil-Pretending-To-Be-Dante. It's grounding and gives Zulius a glimmer of hope that his friend can get out of this place he's been forced into- that he can put himself together again, even if it means all the people who care about him helping him find the pieces. The last thing he wants to think about is Vergil leaving his entire goddamn mind in this dank container. He's worth so much more than that.

He really isn't expecting Vergil to hug him back. He's expecting the guy to freeze up again. Maybe later, once he's evened out from the cocktail of adrenaline, fear and relief he'll take the time to process his feelings about that. For now, he'll just hug the other man tightly. He doesn't even mind the digging nails, really. Vergil has been through absolute hell, he can live with this- at least it shows the man is here and present. After a moment, Zulius rubs a hand on Vergil's back in a soothing circular motion. A memory of his old life sparks in the back of his mind and the words come flooding from there and right out of his mouth before he can have time to process them in-between.]

You're okay, you're alright.

[They're important, these words, he knows that much. Not so much a statement of fact as they are a promise. His memories tell him it's a big one. A melody pops into his head and he hums a few bars, nervous, unsettled. I'll never, ever leave your side. A promise that no matter how dark and dangerous the road ahead was, there could be at least one constant. This would help his loved ones in his past life, but can it help Vergil in this one? He just doesn't know. He hates that uncertainty. He's just doing his level best here to try and make Vergil feel safe. But then Vergil speaks and a tiny smile crosses the centaur's face.]

Hey, William Blake.

[He wasn't joking when he said he knew poetry, Sir! He does that little tongue click again, going back to the soothing back motions. He tries to keep his tone light, airy. Like he's just gone to the store to pick Vergil up some milk instead of facing down a hoard of psychotic zealots to save him from the hell they were putting him through. That it's fine, and he's fine and he absolutely wasn't terrified beyond reason that they might have killed him and Vergil would just be gone. He tries, but he fails. His words might be airy, but there's a waver in his tone that gives up the charade. ]

Obvi. What, you think I was just gonna leave you here? Not on your life.

[kowase]

[ it might take a while to put himself back perfectly. Maybe he won't be able to fully pull the pieces back together. he's sure something has changed about him, since he's gotten here--he's not sure what, but maybe that's just the mania and exhaustion talking. But that didn't matter: the truth of the matter was, he WAS getting out of here. Zulius had come all this way, after all--someone who Vergil would not have imagined throwing himself into danger in a thousand years, but he does remember the tiger. How Zulius held his own up until vergil had gotten there.

...Ha. Zulius had really come for him, just as Vergil had ran to the zebrataur's side as well. How foolish.
So this is what it meant to have a bond with someone.

He'll remain in the others' arms for what feels like ages; and yet, compared to the time he'd spent in this hot and uncomfortable prison, it didn't feel like any time at all.
He doesn't ... recognise the song the other starts to sing to him. He nearly felt bad about that, given Zulius recognised the line he'd used from The Proverbs of Hell, but that doesn't make the song feel any less real.

The words something that brings him down from wherever his mind had scattered, a few pieces fitting together a little more from the winds from which they'd blew.
he curls in a little more. a little tighter, his forehead moving to press in against the others' shoulder as he fights the surge of emotions that rise in his throat like bile--and he doesn't even let an anxiety-muddled laugh escape him this time. Silent, save for a shuddering breath as it becomes clear that he's ... probably trying very hard not to do something pathetic like sob into the others' embrace. ]

If I am honest. No, I always kept a hope that someone would find me. [ but it was only ever Dante that he expected. For Zulius and... who else was here? he couldn't imagine, who would walk through literal hell to find him. it's making him realise something--some very pointed somethings he's never even considered until this moment.

I'll never, ever leave, your side.

He'd been the fool. it was him, all along. ] My world had been closed as tight as this stuffy container, it turns out.

[ ...speaking of which. ]

I want to get out of this thing. I may need your aid.

[bebest]

[Zulius absolutely came to save him, and he would every single damn time- though he really does hope this is the only time they have to do this. It was a horrifying enough experience being on the rescuing side of things, he hates to think how awful it's been for Vergil- for Takame and Rose- while they were trapped here. Nope. Nothing like this again, please and thank you.

As for putting the pieces back together, well, Zulius will be around for that too. However long it takes to do it. And if the other man ends up with empty spaces, missing pieces that could not be found again, Zulius will just help him make new pieces to fill in the gaps left behind. Find different ways to bring him back together. Or as close as they can get it.

He doesn't mind the clinging. They can stay here as long as Vergil needs to regroup himself. He's pretty sure the vast majority of the danger upstairs has passed by now. So the man can cling. Zulius wouldn't even blame him if he did sob - he's been through the worst of the worst, that much is clear. Anyone would be entitled to the damn breaking after something like this. He catches the shuddering breath, though, and one of his hands to the back of Vergil's head, fingers brushing through the still messy hair at the nape of his neck, to try and soothe him. And there he'll stay until Vergil speaks again. ]

Not a single damn thing would have stopped me from coming to find you.

[He says that firmly. Like it's the most obvious thing in the world. He feels a sharp twist in his chest at the honesty, trying to tap that down. Stop it. Not doing THAT. He sucks in a breath, nodding, because hey, at least Vergil is ready to get the hell out of this thing. He can focus on that. He lets go of the hug, but doesn't move too far away, giving Vergil a reassuring arm pat. ]

Sure thing, Verg. ["Verg" is back, at least. And then, to add a little levity to this mess:] C'mon, you can lean on me. I mean, you're totes welcome to ride on my back, but your tall-ass legs'll probably drag on the ground a bit.

[Look, he didn't even make that into an innuendo or anything!!]

[kowase]

[ it'll be something to etch into his journal when he gets home. the absolute disbelief that the man who was afraid to go outside and get wet in the rain was willing to come into a death labratory filled with monsters in man's skin to save someone.

it said a lot about zulius' mettle as a person. And Vergil won't forget it--that the zebra is far more dimensional than he'd known five minutes ago. And that was saying a lot, given he'd gotten to know Zulius Bunter halfway well in this last dozen weeks.

He'll eventually let his grip fall away from the zebrataur. Even if he doesn't WANT to, he knows he must--there's a desparation to get the hell out of here that's starting to wake up the old fires of his mind. Long burned down to embers by the repeated interrupted sleep and barely-what-you-could-call-food rations.

He now understands some of those old war journals he has at home, telling that sometimes the starvation is worse than the enemy's gunfire. ]

I would look a fool if I were to clamber upon your back.
Even if I have no doubts you could carry me, I feel I may have burdened you enough.

Give me your arm, it shall be enough.

[ Does that mean the six-foot-tall+ man is going to basically put one arm around Zulius' shoulder until they're out of here? Yes. It's fine. ]

[bebest]

[Zulius would expect it to be known there's a big difference between hating being rained on and wanting to save your dearest friends from a psychotic cult! Regardless, he is a deeply faceted if monumentally confusing and often contradictory man and Vergil is now getting to learn this for himself first hand.

Will he ever truly understand Zulius completely? Probably not! That's exactly how Zulius likes it.]

It's not a burden, Dummy. That's how friendship works. You don't call them burdens with friends.

[Still, he offers his arm. It's going to look ridiculous but it's fine. Zulius it at least a good shoulder-leaning height at 5'5. Plus he definitely has the solid centre of gravity to take some of Vergil's weight. Thanks, four legs! He'll start walking slowly up as they move.]

I can teleport now, so I can get you home if you want it- buuuut I figured you'd want to see this place trashed first because people are for SURE trashing it.

[kowase]

[ there are so many far worse things in your hair right now zulius that's all he's sayin. not that he's gonna point it out--there's no point in insulting the man you feel like you owe part of your life to.

...Ha, a burden isn't something between friends. Right, he's heard this before. From a dragonlike man who he would meet up with later. ]

That's, ...right. Friends do not count favors. So I will not begin to count anything like that with you. [ a beat, as he lets free a manic little laugh as they begin to leave the container.

Once out, there's a light hissing sound as Vergil's healing factor finally kicks in--bruises and cuts along his cheeks and arms slowly starting to steam and heal. Bit by bit. ] After all, we are most certainly friends.

[ yeah he's still the same cringefail guy, sorry zules. ]

Teleporting may be 'better' for me.
[ but. ]
However, I would be quite upset if I could not at least see the mess you all have made of it.

[ ...and. ]

I need to find Yamato.

[bebest]

[Absolutely do not point out what's in his hair, sir. You will be on the business end of a hissy fit. He is getting through this by actively pretending that everything is fine and he looks amazing as always. Instead of like he's been pulled through a hedge backwards while being hit with several bricks which is definitely closer to the truth.

He does cast a worried look at Vergil's hiss- but hey at least he's healing up. Zulius makes a mental note to get some of that for himself, later. He didn't come out of this unscathed, after all. But not yet. He told Vergil he wasn't going to leave him and he meant it. He'll live. Regardless, he does get that tongue click again- because Vergil definitely said something stupid. ]

Finally figured that one out, huh? Only took you a few months.

[Which is to say he considered Vergil his friend MUCH sooner along than maybe Vergil himself realised. God, he really is SO cringefail. ]

Figured. It might be like, cathartic? I dunno. Give you at least a little closure. [Give him the peace of mind this place and the people who ran it are GONE and won't be coming back. He cants his head. ] Your sword? Okay, it's probs higher up, they've got an office up there.

[kowase]

[ it's fine, he's not gonna' mention it. He's having a hard enough time looking at ANYTHING right now, thanks to how something's affecting his vision, things are a little blurry close-up. And he has no idea how bright every magic source is suddenly gonna amp up once they're out of the faculty for good.

That included Zulius. ]

Better eventually than never, would one not agree. [ he could stubbornly stay in his opinion, you know!!! but there's no time to be a contrarian, he's desperate to get out of this pit. And with Zulius helping, he gets a good look of what the room looks like. Instead of being too distracted with being bodily grabbed and dragged somewhere else for whatever the hell experiments they were doing on that day.

...there are dozens of containers like the one he'd been kept in, and it makes him inhale a little sharply. ]

...How many of us were kept. Was it more than just myself, the girl with cat ears, and the dragonlike fellow.

...I did not get a chance to catch their names.

[bebest]

[He is so glad for this mercy on his dignity. He needs it right now. And sorry, buddy, even at the power levels he has now, this Zebrataur is chock full of magic. Vergil is really gonna need those cheap-ass sunglasses later.]

I guess I can give you that one. [He'll give Vergil a teeny tiny win. Because he deserves one right now. He catches the sharp inhale and reaches out with his free hand to pat Vergil's arm reassuringly.]

No, just you three. I mean, that was more than enough. But still. [It could have been so much worse. He sucks in a breath.] Rose and Takame.

[He says their names with an uncharacteristic quietness. He needs to remind himself that they're out. They're safe. Much like Vergil, he doubts that they're okay- he honestly doubts any of them would be okay for a while. But they ARE out.]

They both work at the Vogue. That's how I found out you were all...gone. Looking around for those guys when they didn't show up for their shifts. I was chasing up with Vash if he'd seen either of them and that's how I found out about you.

[kowase]

[ he's gonna need those sunglasses for a WHILE. ]

...Rose and Takame. [ He repeats the names. As if to commit them to memory. Nodding his head. ] I am worried about the girl. If you found her already--she got possessed by some... beast, while they threw us into a confusing labyrinth to survive in.

[ he'd tried to fight it off her, but then they got separated. ]

They stole away your two employees and ... your friend, as well.

What a cruelty, on the month of your birthday, as well.

[ the small laugh he makes isn't an amused one. ]

I do not regret doing what I did, however. Poor as it was to get caught, the alternative was... bad.

[bebest]

[Truly, his life is suffering. Zulius's brow furrows at the mention of Rose and her monster.]

Yeah. I saw that thing. What they did to her. All of you.

[There's genuine anger in his tone. Krusnik is gone, they're absolutely dead, but he's still fuming that they did this in the first place. That they stole his people and hurt them. He doesn't really know how to help them now, but he knows he wants to. ]

I'll make sure she and Takame have paid time off while they deal with this everything. Send them some care packages, y'know? Whatever they need.

[He's not going to make them come into work while they're falling to pieces. HELL no. They need some healing time, and if the best he can do is pay for them to do that and send them whatever they need to help that along. Well, that's what he'll do. ]

It's SUPER rude. Having people I care about kidnapped on my birthday month is WAY not Gucci!

[It's not Gucci ANY month, but ESPECIALLY his BIRTHDAY month!! Still, he heaves out a sigh, patting Vergil on the arm.]

I know. You saved a bunch of kids, Verg- that's a big deal. Bona-fide hero stuff right there. I'm totes impressed.

[He really is, he's not saying it to be flippant. ]

[kowase]

...Good of you. To do that for them. [ he... has people working for him as well. and while they weren't kidnapped, one of them did risk his neck to come down here too, he'll later learn. The other is probably freaking out, back at home.

His eyebrows furrow a little. ]

I may close the Auguries for a while, following this.
Perhaps I will follow your example and do the same for my employees.

[ small distractions, think of something normal as he feels his joints ache and fix, warmly settling back in place after having been forcibly turned off via whatever concoctions had been used in his water for days.

his expression furrows a little more. ]

I am sure the city will find some way to make it up to you. [ he's going to ... start aimlessly heading towards the stairs. He's been dragged up them often enough to know where they are, but. He's still leaning on Zulius as he goes, expecting the other to come along with him in case he loses his footing. He's not got a ton of energy right now--healing is working, but it hardly heals the hunger deep in his guts. ]

...Ha.
Do not call me a hero.
That's a title that barely suits me.
Today, I believe that is your title. And I am not taking it from you.

[bebest]

Natch. You all seriously need time to decompress after all this and honestly the only way I can get Takame to take any self-care time is if I actually force him to- SO!

[Paid time off! He casts Vergil a pointed look. ]

And it'd be good for you, too. Give yourself some time to like, process all of this. Sure they'd appreciate it, though. You might win boss of the year yet!

[It's a light teasing, but if Vergil is busy being exasperated by Zulius' bullshit, it means he's focusing on something other than...everything. He sticks with the other man as he heads up the stairs, he has to drop back a little, so they can both fit, but he's still as close as he can be, to keep Vergil upright. He's still casting the man worried glances- he doesn't feel the worry is gonna go for a while yet. It's just hanging around like a really tacky shroud. ]

I think the literal children you saved would think otherwise, Verg. And you saved me from that tiger once, so I think it suits you just fine. [He's using that TONE he has when he's making it clear he shall not be argued with and trying to do so is a complete waste of breath. Zulius has spoken. He pats Vergil on the arm.] We can both have the title. Doesn't have to be an either-or thing, big guy.

[kowase]

[ ...ha.
If nothing else would have convinced him that this, was, in fact, the real zulius who had come to save him? this was the one thing that could have. The man's quick-snap to scold him and lay down a truth that he was a bit too cynical to consider until it was put on his metaphorical plate.

It might make him press a little closer, just by an inch. Nothing at all noticeable, the idea that he's starting to finally believe he's safe.

That he's going to get out. That he's going to be allowed to go home. ]

...Ha.

Is that right. Forgive my foolishness then. I merely thought that perhaps, today, you deserved the entire stage.

[bebest]

[If nothing else, Zulius can be counted upon to deliver a catty yet ceaselessly supportive pep talk that says exactly what a person needs to hear even if it's in a manner that suggests they've been smacked upside the head with a metaphorical slipper.

He doesn't notice Vergil getting a little closer, but he would be correct in that assumption. He's absolutely safe. At this point, Zulius would straight-up cave someone's skull in with his bare hooves if they tried to take Vergil away again. He's absolutely not letting that happen. ]

Babe, I always deserve the entire stage. [So modest.] But I can sometimes share it. On special occasions.

[They get to the top of the stairs and the place is a MESS. Zulius' ears flick back a little, unsettled. It's clear more of the fight came up here if the littered bodies are anything to go by.]

Okay, let's see if we can find your sword up here. They've got to have put it somewhere, right?

[kowase]

[ vergil isn't looking at the litter of bodies right now. He doesn't need to see it--he can smell it. his senses feel sharp, almost to a point of discomfort right now--and while there is most certainly a sense of catharsis seeing the men who'd manhandled him for days on the floor. Soaking up their own blood.

It makes a quiet part of his senses feel satisfied--but it's the same voice that's braying out for his sword. The blade, that part of his soul that he'd finally gotten back after--

He gives his head a shake. ]

I do not even know what day of the week that it is. But I will keep in mind that it is a special occasion.

[ but that aside. ]

It was one of the first thing I remembered. When I woke up here. They took everything we owned, and threw it into some crates in this crowded looking closet.

[bebest]

[Zulius could absolutely understand getting catharsis out of this. He's not a violent man at all, but even he knew this had to be done. That these people absolutely had to be destroyed, and allowing them to keep existing was not an option.

But seeing a pile of bodies was...settling. It's drifting in with his memories of his past life, seeing a battlefield littered with minotaur, human and centaur corpses alike. He doesn't like it. He might be leaning a little closer to Vergil- a mix of seeking comfort and wanting to be near the other man to protect him in case one of these fuckers ends up NOT dead. ]

It's Tuesday, Babe.

[Helpful!!!]

Tch, philistines . They obviously didn't know what they were dealing with. SO, we've gotta find a closet. Ironic for me, but can do.

[kowase]

...

You went for a raid into a secret bunker deep underground with a bunch of armed magical individuals on a Tuesday.

[ maybe it's just the dizziness or the headache, but for some reason, this sentence was deeply funny to him, Zulius.
And with the comment about closets, there's no controlling it.
His shoulders are doing their best not to shake--and maybe because the other pressed a little closer, he's able to reign it in.

But he's clearly still laughing, even if silently. ]

I'm sure you can just kick all the doors down.
I have heard a kick from a zebra can be deadly.

A door to a closet stands no chance.

[bebest]

[He does catch that, he has a moment of concern because he's not sure if Vergil is ha-ha laughing or having a mental breakdown laughing. Jury's still out, really, but he grins, giving the other man a little nudge with his shoulder. ]

Can't even be a Friday so we can have a weekend. Rude.

[He lets out a hum. He definitely kicked a couple of those goons and they definitely didn't get up again. Don't think about it, it had to be done. ]

Oh yeah, I've got some heckin' high kicks. P.sure I can get into it for you. Though, again, not that way. Because that closet got like, obliterated decades ago.

[kowase]

[ maybe its a bit from column A, a bit from column B. don't worry about it too much. probably. ]

I would insist you give yourself a weekend anyhow. [ wednesday could be a friday if you focused hard enough.

he's not even sure what he's gonna do about work himself--maybe he should close the auguries for a while...

his head is turning when the other makes a joke. ...Normally he'd roll his eyes at such a low-hanging fruit being knocked free, but.
This time he does laugh.

And this time it's NOT a laugh that sounds like he's going mad. A low hacking sound in his lungs. ]

I am sure there is no closet in this world or the next that could hold you in it.
I believe you will have no problem with the one holding my things.

[ Yamato, his clothes--the bracelet that matched Dante's. His cellphone--which is definitely blown up with dozens of emails and texts from... god. his dad's probably called at least twice. great. ]

[bebest]

I might just yet. Have myself a weekend-long siesta in the middle of the week!

[Vergil should absolutely close the auguries for a while. He needs to give himself some breathing and healing space. Zulius would be sure to budge him that way, there are some good excuses to close your business for a short time and being kidnapped by a cult is definitely one of those things.

Oh, good, that's a hah-hah laugh. He'll take it! ]

Damn straight! Or not, as the case is here.

[Oh, the jokes. He's never done a straight thing in his entire life. He starts peeking through some doorways.]

Sure, Babe, I'll kick the shit out of it for you. Hmmm, there's one in there? Think it's big enough?