Xaltwind
Ryik
Renose
Joshua Tamashii
Azure Bubbles
Shazamrock
Savo
Tortoise
AtomicNut
Sigma(A collab post between @Crusader Lord and @BrokenPromise)
Adventures of the Demon Twins and Void Girl
Episode 1: The Bates Visit that Darkness Girl. Will Annabelle find True Love despite serving a Horror
What.
Was going.
On.
Regina had only been doing this magical girl thing for two or three months now, and she had learned to leave things like expectations at the door. Regardless of how simple something might have seemed, there was always something there to complicate it. The “squatter” turning out to be a magical girl was one of the more normal things to happen during her time as a magical girl. What was putting her on edge was how casually she announced she was into girls. Regina could hardly fathom why anyone would do that, even as a joke. Perhaps what was really irritating her was that Elroy had just been talking to her about hooking her up with a magical girl, and this one was not only into girls. Or was Regina simply reading too far into a taunt? Well, if she had thick skin, maybe they’d be able to get through this without a fight. While elroy didn’t mind being in danger, he was the least diplomatic of the two.
"You’re under arrest for disturbing the peace with that gaudy outfit!" Elroy was holding an invisible megaphone up to his mouth. "But your fashion woes can be left behind, because you now stand before Elroy Bates, the master of snazzy dressing! And apparently I have a cute tail too!" He extended a hand towards the dark woman. "And what do they call you in these parts?"
”Oh! Don’t taze me, officer! I swear i didn’t know i was wearing white after Labor Day!” Annabelle said in response, dramatically acting as if shot for a second, before looking back at the tailed boy, giving him a small wink, and letting out a giggle before speaking again, ”Haha, i’m Annabelle, Herald of Lord Soth. Just cute lustful, trustful, little magical girl looking to have some fun~ What you doin’ around these parts here? Looking to find some patron paying around here?”
Annabelle held out her hand to shake with Elroy, though being within Soth’s territory still it was a failsafe on her part. The boy was interesting, very much so~ But she wasn’t into guys, and didn’t mind saying things like that aloud. Her lord had told her something like “other magical girls might not react well to that”. Meh. She couldn’t really bother to care at that point. She was, as it were, herself, and nothing more or less as she was now. Couldn’t remember the old stuff before all this if she tried to anyways!
Though as she stood there and talked, the inky black orb of darkness began to look about the surroundings, as if….someone was using it to peer into the shadows, the buildings, the places about in case of another intruder. Or perhaps it was just Soth being curious. One could never know, really.
"I’m glad you asked, eyeball." Elroy’s grip definitely bordered on “too firm” for a handshake, and he continued to vigorously shake her hand as he explained things. "I’ve come out this way to scavenge for food for myself and the rest of my harem." He released Annabelle’s hand and folded his arms. "And that’s when I came across this place. I do find it interesting that you smell like hamburgers. This could be a good sign."
”Oh my, don’t you look like you are in the need of some tasty meat. You said you have a harem to feed? Oooh, there could perhaps be an arrangement for that, if you are willing~” Annabelle said, reaching out as she spoke, lips pursed as her fingers trailed under the boy’s chin, before pulling back and looking to the orb next to her, ”Mmm, Lord Soth, do you have use for some more hands? I promise i’ll be nice, especially if they have any cute girls~”
The orb by this point seemed to eventually land its unwavering, alien gaze on the location of Regina, as if it was starting into her very soul. The orb being a portal to Soth, the horror’s infinite gaze, a deep and eternal as the void to which all returned eventually, piercing as much as its was as cold as space itself. Most would get frightening chills down the back from such a direct and intense gaze from the horror, normal humans would flee as their instincts kicked in, but in Regina’s case Soth had no idea how she would react. Regardless, the orb turned toward Annabelle and Elroy, with the same cold, piercing, state being aimed at Elroy now from behind the inky black darkness of the orb and its portal to Soth in this case.
”Arrangements…..could be made for a group...for a price. What are you both willing to pay for food and housing here within my domain in this part of the city?” the voice of Soth called out of the portal, deep, booming, horrific and guttural, yet in the minds of others it seemed to translate into the language they most easily understood upon perceiving it. In a sense it was almost like an echo, a reverberation from the void itself and the thum of indescribable power that had been “restrained” so very much to not affect the world itself in its wake.
Such was the nature of Lord Soth, Lord of the Eternal Abyss, it who was Void incarnate, the destroyer of worlds and horrors and gods and all things, that which returned all eventually to the void it once came from.
Elroy had been mostly unmoving while sloth scoped out the area. "Hmmm?" He raised an eyebrow. "I don’t believe I’ve said anything about paying, eyeball’s eyeball. My pockets are a bit empty anyway." He shrugged his shoulders with a toothy grin. "Honestly, there’s nothing really stopping me and my mega harem from rolling in here and taking what I want. So maybe the real question is-" Everyone could hear a strange pulsating sound as something flew through the air. Someone gifted with the ability to see magic would be able to see it was one of Regina’s Psychic bullets for the faintest of seconds before it hit Elroy in the side of the head. His head didn’t jerk from the impact, but he did stand there for a few seconds with his mouth hanging open, unable to finish his sentence. He closed his mouth "We’re mercenaries that don’t have a patron of our own. So maybe we can pay you through services. Besides, you guys are clearly new in town, and we’re aware of just about everything that goes down in Penrose. " He placed his hands on his hips. "I’m not sure how you feel about Beacon, but I don’t think they’d approve of your existence. You’re going to want some muscle if they show up."
A smile crept onto Annabelle's face after Elroy spoke. It was eeries, creepy…...no, utterly and purely sadistic, twisted, and bearing the innate nature of being “abnormal” and “not right” in such a distinct way that any normal human would recognize without having to think twice on the matter. It was a smile normally hidden behind the twisted psyche of one who had been mentally broken by a true horror, their power thrumming in her veins like lifeblood.
”Ah…...one of those, i see. Belief that an army, even of magical girls or other forces, could dare bring down my dominion. Or perhaps, you merely to stab a Patron in the back for benefit after getting pay? Haha, how foolish mortals never cease to amuse me!“
The inky black orb now seemed to expand into a large portal, even as an array of small tentacles beginning to emerge from within it, their physical space and air distorting greatly around them as if bent by natural forces far beyond this world’s comprehension. They slowly moved and crawled about in the air, surrounding Elroy like a snake coiling up about its prey. But they did not make contact with the magical boy. Rather, they sat there, hanging in the air, making the air stifling to even breathe even for Annabelle. Power beyond magical girls coursed about and through them, power beyond comprehension.
”Listen well, young one here, and the one who sits in the shadows as well for this. You who have only seen naught but a tiny fraction of what exists among the stars and underneath the darkness of all worlds. Even armies are naught in my wake, i have erased patrons and deities and worlds, armies and fleets, and even here my power is such that your ‘threats’ are naught but child’s play amidst the annals of eternity...”“
However, after these words he tentacles, extensions of a true cosmic horror that defied knowledge and reason, yet whose nature took place amongst the natural forces of the world, retracted back into the portal again as slowly as they had emerged. The portal then shrunk back into an inky black orb once more, as if nothing had happened, and Annabelle’s smile went back to a pleasant and rather friendly normal one. The horror’s voice then began to emanate from the orb once more, without pause as if nothing had happened.
…..This being said, your compatriot seems of a smarter sort, and has managed to get your lives spared. For this i shall reward them with the lodging you seek.
I am willing to indulge your group’s need for work and a base of operations here, as i have need of supplies and such things for my ends. The building to the right of this ‘school’, you may move into it with your companion and ‘mega harem’ and live there for the time being. I have claimed that territory now, however, and there i shall keep watch on you and protect you from threats that enter my territory. Similarly you shall help defend my territory from threats that attack it.
However, do not think to betray my trust, or sabotage me here. This is my one warning. My eyes are everywhere, my void all-consuming if i feel the need to unleash it upon traitors.
Your pay for lodging, some concealment here, food and water even, and some protection shall be your services as i request them, whether it be for supplies or other things. Secondly, part of your payment shall be all the information about this city and area and Beacon that you and your group currently know of, which my minions shall record for my use as you ‘move in’ to your new lodging. Thirdly you shall communicate all such knowledge you gain in the future to me through my servants as soon as possible.
And finally, i shall forgive those ill-spoke words of yours, boy, should you and your companion accept my deal...
...What say you both to my offer?“
Elroy nodded along to the entity as it spoke, attempted to startle him, and did everything in it's power to appear intimidating and get its point across. But Elroy didn't flinch. Once it was all done, the incubus raised a hand and pointed at it."You said world twice. That's bad grammar."
The inky orb seemed to float there in place, silently, calmly. The comment did not really seem to phase the horror on the other end of the line. After a moment, Annabelle coughed and decided to speak up.
”Eh, he’s not one for human speak. Really, i think the boss just wants ya’ know your response to the offer right now, haha~” the magical girl said, rubbing the back of her head with one hand and giving a casual shrug.
"You're kidding me! Someone who can devour worlds is going to let me decide how this goes down?" He smacked his forehead. "Well! My mommy always told me that it wasn't a good idea to do sleepovers with people who could eat you. And since your eyeball here can eat worlds, I don't think we'll be lodging here anytime soon. I think Regina agrees with me." He looked over his shoulder. "What do you say, girl?" Another pulse struck Elroy, and he turned back to face Annabelle. "Yea, she says that's a no go to the mass sleep over. Maybe we can be friends? Meet each other halfway even?" He took a knee and extended a hand towards Annabelle.
”Fufufu~ I wouldn’t mind being friends. I don’t think the boss would mind, and maybe i could meet your ‘Regina’ friend, hmm? Sounds like a cute name~” Annabelle said, a small, more casual smirk on her face as she took the demon-looking boy’s hand daintily, giving a small wink as well.
"Oh, you want to meet her?" With Annabelle reaching for Elroy's hand, and the two of them having relatively normal reflexes, it was a simple matter for Elroy for Elroy to close his hand around hers. "Then let's gooooooooooo!" Regina had already charged up a few magical mortars, which bombarded the area between Elroy and the building Regina was standing in. The magical projectiles exploded into domes of darkness, obscuring a trail directly to Regina. But the idea of doing this was to enable Elroy to quickly shadow step with Anabelle to the window Regina was at. Most magical girls would need to wait for the domes to fade away to be able to see, but Annabelle was of the sort that she could see in virtually any darkness. By the time Elroy and her arrived, Regina was leaning up against a wall with her arms folded. Her eyes darted between Anabelle and a cracked tile on the floor.
"Oh, hello Annabelle." She looked at the new magical girl. "So, here I am."
”Oooh, so you are Regina! I like you! Cute horns, glowing eyes, cuter tail, nice chest,,…..and a cute butt~” Annabelle said observing the other girl without stepping closer, a glint in the darkness girl’s eyes that hinted at genuine admiration, ”Ah! My bad for getting a bit excited there. Been a while since i’ve seen a cute girl like you, so i kinda jumped the gun a bit. Haha, my bad!
Ah, but i did mean it when i said i wanted to be friends with you two. Elly’ here’s gotta tongue on him’, not something the boss likes best, but i don’t mind dealing with it. But you, i gotta say you impressed me trying to keep him in line, haha! Not sure many woulda’ noticed those bullets, but i like your style. Cool head, pretty smart.
I could always grab us some burgers from the base, or we could just nab something somewhere else. I have the cash for it even. We could always binge on some of the good stuff if you wanted.”
The void magical girl felt a bit infatuated upon seeing Regina, really. Sure there was the cute features, a thing Annabelle normally always enjoyed, but the cool look and such on her face and smart moves and such to her showed a bit of character. Intelligent, smart character. She quite liked that, and Regina seemed to cause her heart to skip a few beats. It was find funny, but even her usual persona had tightened up a little bit more due to those feelings in Regina’s presence.
Regina reached up for her neckline, as if to pull on her shirt collar out of nervousness. But since she wasn't wearing a shirt, so her fingers just curled over her collar bones. Her face was noticeably deepening in color. "I see you're one to say what's on your mind." She folded her arms."I don't really want to be a bother. I wouldn't say no to some burgers. Eating out might not be the best thing to do right now." She glanced at Elroy momentarily. "We're laying low at the moment, and we ate not long ago. It's really just everyone else that we're getting food for."
"Regina! You have a girlfriend now!" He pointed at Anabelle. "When someone call you cute, you can get them to do anything you want!"
"Burgers." Regina repeated without looking at anyone. "And then maybe we can make some arrangements that are beneficial to you and your patron." She pushed herself off of the wall and looked at Anabelle. "He said he needed resources? Information? We can provide it."
”Yeah, ol’ Soth likes having all his ducks in a row, resources and such things. Even if you two aren’t staying around on his turf, he’ll be willing to negotiate something mutually beneficial. So don’t worry about it too hard, at least.”
Annabelle gave a small wink to Regina before continuing.
”But ya know, i can make the food situation a bit easier, to make ya’ more comfortable. I can have our three burgers delivered here, eh? Throw in a thousand dollars to feed ya’ army while i’m at it, after we eat and talk about things.
Besides, i’d like to talk to you more too, Regina. Whadda’ you say?”
The smile that came to the void-touched girl’s face was rather genuine, actually, more genuine than she’d been able to put out in a while. Caring a bit, even, based on the feelings she was reading from Regina personally. Regardless, after speaking she held out a hand towards Regina, not walking a step closer but instead trying to make a sincere offering. She didn’t want to offend the cute girl, just...get to know her more, genuinely. Not how Elly’ there, as she called Elroy, might phrase it based on his own banter...but still.
Regina's eyes locked onto Anabelle's hand, and took a step back. She held out a hand in front of herself, not to shake, but almost like she was trying to protect herself from the hand. But then Elroy took hold of her wrist.
"Come on Regina! We've been through this before." He took hold of Anabelle's hand as well. "Now shake."
Elroy extended his pinky and pulled their hands together, causing Regina to stumble slightly. Regina's handshake wasn't very firm, and trembled as it brushed against Anabelle's. Though she soon gripped the new magical girl's hand and gave one of the meekest handshakes Annabelle had ever experienced. As soon as Elroy loosened his grip on their wrists, Regina pulled her hand away and rubbed it with her opposing hand. "Um." Regina snorted. "I guess we'll just wait up here for you to return then." She looked away from Annabelle. "Thank you."
Annabelle gave a soft smile, having in the end gently shook Regina’s hand despite Elroy’s attempts to help. Such soft skin, and yet she could feel the social tension a mile away as well as the tremble under her skin. Ah. Perhaps this girl had...been through some things, if the behavior hadn’t already been a dead giveaway. She had seen in her travels magical girls who had been “odd” due to past traumas. As much as she herself was very casual, without the worry of her past life ever being able to be recalled…..well…..it was an odd topic to think on.
”Ah, not so good on physical contact? Haha, that’s no problem. We’ll have plenty of time to talk, at least. I’ll make sure to bring good burgers, a few sides, if ya got a favorite drink i can go back for it. I know a good chef back at the school!
But….you don’t have to worry. No physical contact unless you want it, ok? I promise.”
Regina looked away with a groan.
Her last words to Regina in mind, and leaving the other girl with a tender smile, Annabelle decided to make a hasty exit so she could get the food soon. The sooner they got comfortable to talk and such, the better it would be. And, hopefully….she could get to better know Regina. The sky flower with a tremble in her touch. Ah.
Half-thinking, Annabelle jumped out of the nearby window as she cast a spell, her magic catching her and carrying her towards the school again-
...Wait, THE WINDOW?!
Will things go woefully wrong?
Tune in next time figure out, during the next exciting episode of-
Dragon Ball ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
