[ As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible. ]

[kowase]

WHO: Vergil, Dante, and You.
WHERE: Libra app.
WHEN: Morning of May 10th.
WHAT: Wolfwood's gone and there's blood everywhere.
WARNINGS: tws for mild violence bc hoo boy.

[ why is it usually always the morning when Vergil addresses the network? It's like some sort of running Habit.
But this time it isn't some awkward text message or ask, some stuffily delivered lines with a reluctance to come out with what he's struggling with.

No.
It's a sort of painful to look at sight, as the video is a slow pan over the front of his antiques shop. The front window behind where the silver-haired bookish demon can usually be found has been smashed--outward, for the observant, which means whatever broke it came from inside.
On the sidewalk in front of said window, there's a splattering of blood. Bright crimson in some places, a brackish black in others.

a certain large Cross-Shaped gun is half-hanging out the window, seemingly left behind; dropped suddenly as its owner seems to have just... disappeared. ]

My CCTV cameras were all wrapped in strange paper. The video feed from them show nothing but a single dark, painted eye.
I hear voices on the feed, but most of them are muffled. I know for sure one is of my deliveryman. Nicholas D. Wolfwood.

There are bullets littering the inside of the shop. He broke open no less than three of the display cases.
I'm certain there's other things broken, but for now, that is not important.

[ there's a shout from behind the camera, one of a different demon--filled with a passionate, almost growling rage. What's important is one of those Order dickheads waltz onto our turf and took Nick!

Vergil sighs. ]

The ones behind this are getting sloppier. There's demonic blood everywhere. And I am most certain this is our 'fourth victim'.
I was there when we rescued Fugo. If the demon who did this is listening...

You will not walk away from this one with your life.
And it will not even be me who threatens it.

Comments

voice; un: silverrose

[fionnuisce]

Demonic, huh.

[Weird how incredibly calm he sounds about this.]

[kowase]

Both in my past life memory and in this one--I am familiar with the scent of demonic blood.
This is unmistakable, as such.

[fionnuisce]

...Say, Vittore. Do you remember what that initial message from the Order regarding the Dark Hour was?

'Let’s get together and finish this once and for all.'

voice, un: devilhunter

[advivo]

[ he is calm enough now that the store isn't in danger of catching on fire but some of the rage is still there, mixed together with frustration. ]

No, Verg won't be the one to threaten it. You shits were already pissing me off as it is and now? [ dante laughs bitterly. ] Now you've just gone and obliterated the line. Enough is enough, you want a fight? Come on then, I'm raring to go. You're not leaving this city alive.

private; un: fortuneclovers

[medicgunner]

[Shut the fuck up Friday only applies when Eunie wants it to.]

If what he's saying is right, I think the same guy that took him is one of the ones who took Fugo. If you're going in after him I'm going with you. And if you're gonna fuck someone up you know who to call.

private;

[advivo]

[ there is no stopping her, so he isn't going to even try. ]

Vergil's making me hold off until we get Nick back. Until then I'm gonna make as much noise as I can, maybe it'll give our local guys a chance to move about without being watched.

voice: UN: hotgoss

[bebest]

[Dante he loves you and he is not gonna get in the way of some well-deserved murder. For once, the pacifism is out of the window. ]

I'm honestly amazed they were stupid enough to do this. Like, geez, way to kick the biggest beehive in the city.

[But again, Dante he loves you and he needs you to please not get yourself killed on this one.]

Just PROMISE me you guys won't handle this alone, okay? Let's focus on getting Nick safe and then, IDK. Find a way to handle these assholes. Preferably in a group? Nothing crazy insane and on your own, okay? You don't need to do that.

[advivo]

They've got some balls I'll give them that, but the brain the size of a flea.

[ instructions unclear, proceeding to probably do something stupid and get himself badly hurt and/or killed. ]

Yeah, yeah I know. Verg's already given me the speal. We're getting Nick back first, but the moment he's safe there is a demon I gotta deal with.

private text on a personal line

[drewthetower]

you find him lemme know

fucking bastards need to get the fuck out of my city

[kowase]

You will be one of the first to know.

I had thought they would have stayed far from a clear devil's den, but now they have crossed the wrong people.

[drewthetower]

they kidnapped people

that alone proves they're dumb as fuck zio

Video: UN: hotgoss

[bebest]

[You know, it's already been a very stressful time with Rose. Having the sword of Damocles hanging over them, waiting for each new victim has been awful. Zulius knows a lot of the app users- it only stands to reason eventually he would be unlucky enough to find another friend nabbed.

He just didn't expect it to be Wolfwood. He can hear Dante yelling in the background and he's not surprised. Vash is probably a mess too. ]

Okay, well first off we are totes getting him back. They can keep doing this, but we're gonna keep getting our people back. There's ZERO question about that. And sure, Babe- they're gonna run out of luck eventually. And then they're super screwed. I think all the app wants them dead at this point.

[He pauses. He knows what it's like to have a staff member, someone who should be SAFE in this space, taken by these fuckers. He's pretty sure Vergil will just ignore whatever extra stress comes from that and push through until he gets his revenge for this and probably burn himself out in the process. Which is why Zulius is here to check in on him.]

You need anything, Vergil? [Vergil, this time, because it's a serious matter.] What can I do?

[kowase]

[ vash is absolutely a mess. he's in the building somewhere, being very quiet which is not... normal for vash, honestly. And as much as the tall noodle man annoys vergil, vergil almost feels bad for him currently.

He gives Zulius a tired look when the man joins the call, and he nods his head. ]

I just wonder how many more they plan on grabbing. Fugo, then the girl from your theatre. That silver-haired boy. Now Nicholas. How many until they are satisfied? If they think they will get a name from this...

[ He heaves out a soft growl. But hey, Zulius using his whole name does sort of soothe him some. Oddly. ]

Once I have this boarded up and cleaned up, I may ask to visit. For the first time in my life, I feel uneasy around my shop. There's something wrong with the air, here.

un: shroud | Voice

[whiteshroud]

[Fuck.]

How long ago did this happen? I can see if I can track their energy signatures.

[kowase]

I would say no longer than 20 minutes ago. I was out getting coffee; which is normally no more than a ten minute walk. When I returned, the blood was still fresh and the glass had not yet settled after being broken.

If you have such a power, I would ask you make haste.

voice | un: kni

[ornamentals]

[kni is doing his very best keeping his voice level when texting isn't an option, fingers trembling a little too much for him to appear coherent. he was at school and this happened--]

Wolfwood. He- He's missing?

[he's missing or worse, and there's really nothing he can do.]

[kowase]

[ ...kni. It makes his chest feel weird to hear the sound in Kni's voice, and the more instictual part of him merely wants to tell the child not to worry.

But. He knows how HE was at Kni's age. And such a dismissal would have offended. Enraged. So instead... ]

He is.
I do not know who stole him away, but they caught him off guard.

We will get him back. That, I promise.

voice; un: noxxed

[sassery]

Where the fuck do you want me.

[Him and Nick have shot the shit a ton, and he's one of Dante's husbands. There's nothing else to say, really.]

[kowase]

If this is exactly like what happened to Fugo, then in a few days, he will likewise be trapped in a dangerous labyrinth.
At which point, I ask you support your uncle and I to rescue him.

We will need your help, Nero.

voice, un: eve

[playtag]

[Upon seeing the message, Eve had excused herself to find a private place in school.]

[Her voice is quiet. Not wanting to be overheard or let it betray her.]

They took Nico?

[She was here a year ago when the Metaverse went wrong, gone to get Danny out. She had seen the other broadcasts show up one by one, knowing what they meant. But now this.]

[Her brain is buzzing with static as if unable to decide whether to freeze or move]

[kowase]

[ and there's the second child. He remembers well, the look of vexation on her face when they discussed vergil's kidnapping; how she wanted to help and was angry about being unable to help.

He takes a deep, quiet breath. And he nods his head. Much like with Kni, he was not going to soften the blow. ]

They did.
They were demons, by the scent of the blood left behind.

And I am certain he will wind up like the others stolen this month. Inside one of those memory labyrinths.
But we will get him back.

voice; un: captainkenway

[jackdawvision]

[in calm tones that nevertheless are just barely hiding the pure molten fucking fury Edward is feeling right now:]

I’ll come and help.

Then I’ll see if I can track them down for you. [Said as if he doesn’t plan to do some murders himself.] I’ve good vision, and I know who they are now.

[kowase]

If you can give any insights, I would appreciate it. Greatly.

I am keeping it thinly veiled but the amount of rage I am currently feeling is causing my hands to quake.

[ he has the vengance flaw and he really needs to hurt someone for this. ]

voice; un: freelancer; private;

[lapislazily]

... My condolences. Though I have been on their heels, the culprits have been difficult to track, even for me.

You will be looking for him, won't you? POKEGO has the technology to track down the gates so you have as much time as possible to get him out. I can put you in touch with Azalea.

[A pause.]

They have crossed you, and for that they deserve all the wrath you may bring upon them. But be careful. Even I would struggle against a Zealot in my current state. You must not go alone.

[kowase]

Of course I will go looking. I likely will not join in the fight until later, as I still feel lingering exhaustion from Fugo's dungeon, however, they have wronged me one time too many here and I am losing what little patience I have.

I will speak with the members of POKEGO. I appreciate your aid in that direction.

[ ....and maybe it's a good thing this is a voice call, so Zhongli doesn't have to see the oddly unsettling smile that moves over Vergil's face. ]

I will not go alone.
But nor will I hold back my irritation.
The Order has been little more than a thorn in my side since I arrived in the city. First with their Refusal to aid those taken by Krusnik, and now this.

I feel a vendetta forming.