Dezuel

Royal Rumble!

Galbrek

The half-demon was disguised as a wandering vendor in the audience, wearing some binoculars around his neck. Clad in a white and blue attire, with a white and blue cap closely to his eyes, making sure his enemies wouldn't spot his regal looks from a distance. With this he could easy make his way towards the vigilante team. Once that Wolf guy were on the field he could sneakily move up and hypnotize the pink haired girl to follow him.

The plan was so simple, but the simplicity of it made Galbrek fill with joy. How humiliating for them to fall to such a basic plan. But they were humans, and humans were beneath him. On his way to the vigilantes side of the audience he had almost bumped into someone wearing a sun bleached and worn out white hoodie.

These wretched humans. Filthy. Simply filthy.

Galbrek couldn't help but mutter under his breath and snarl when people kept ordering nuts and drinks from him.

I hope you choke on the nuts you conceited idiots. Intoxicated mongrels.

That's when he felt a tug at his shirt and he stared down at a young boy who pointed a finger at him. "Haha!" He said and made a facial expression, sticking his tongue at Galbrek. Galbrek's eyebrows furrowed before he leaned down and pointed to the Mephisto team. "Have you seen that fool over there?" The boy in curiousity, or simply as a reaction turned to look where the half-demon pointed.

Galbrek took one of the cold drink glasses and then grabbed hold of the boy's pants, pulling and leaving a big enough gap so he could pour the ice cold drink down his trousers before standing up. The boy squirmed, before he began to cry and move away, likely towards his parents located somewhere.

"Oh my bad. That fool was you." Galbrek said in a gloating tone and looked down towards the Vigilante's team.

Time to find that pink haired bitch... Galbrek also spotted Andras in his binoculars. There you are my brand new toy. I will have your power. Then when I do I shall dispose of both William and the idiotic snugglebitch half-traitor. Let see who else is here… Some idiots with William looking all cheery and as if they've won the entire thing. Bleh! Makes me sick just looking at them. Hm. That one actually dresses well for a human. He adjusted his zoom at Lise, whom shared a similar style of fashion as himself. But he didn't waste more time than necessary, he turned to look at the Mephisto team.

There's the entire group of useless minions, completely fucking useless every last one but Yuuto and Thobias. Vittorio and Celestine were about as useful as half of Adam. Where the fuck is Adam? I need him here right about now. Fegin better get him from where he is or I will have to do it myself. He turned the binoculars back to the Vigilantes. Andras, my little puppet. You will unleash all manner of evil into the world, and I shall make you pull the trigger...

"Hmm?" He changed his sights to the others present.

What a bunch of nobodies apart from her. No wonder my useless sister is with them. Fucking sad...

Royal Rumble!

The RP is still open to new players, if you are worried about the pages currently written there may be like a short recap in which people can learn of what has happened in the story so far.

Royal Rumble!

Vittorio

Having aqquired some clothes from a cetre where they gave free clothes to the homeless, some which had previously been owned, Vittorio ended up with some regular clothing. Such as a sun bleached white and blue hoodie, along a pair of pants, a brown jacket and some other clothing items. Such as a pair of sunglasses. Among the items were a black long raincoat reaching from top to toe.

He had his astral form don the raincoat, to give him a slightly less dubious look to avoid too many eyes his way. He first got up on the audience stands where he found a good seat for his physical form, he made sure that his physical form would remain in place, putting his feet together and placing his body so he wouldn't fall. This was his backup plan after all, would they somehow not reach the podium. He could easily move to his physical form and find Alto that way. One way or the other, there was no going back. There never were any way to go back to in any case as far as Vittorio saw it.

After having dumped his physical form at the audience stands he made his way down to his team which had gathered.

I am an angel of vengeance, come forth Alto and I will end your legend. This day you'll realize these wings on my back are not a dream. Bak... you cannot save everyone. I couldn't even save anyone at all...

He sat down on the Mephisto team bench in his black raincoat with hood, hiding as much as he could of his astral form. His wings tightly packed along the arms of the coat, and his arms being crossed hiding most of them. The ghostly young man threw glances to his teammates. He could see Celestine already preparing for the entire thing, telling them all to have fun.

Vittorio sighed, which echoed slightly out of his hood. "Fun.. yes.. It will be fun to get it overwith." Vittorio glanced over to what some might suspect to be the podium, but it wasn't that he was looking at. It was the sky in the background. He broke off his gaze of the sky and his gaze went through his fellow students until he got to Bak where he stopped at.

Bak. You who have struggled through life, who has that body causing you trouble. You are here fighting for everyone still. That makes you really beautiful. In another age, time and world. Maybe you would have been my... But it is useless to play such tricks on the mind. I am nothing but a spectre, I don't really have much of a future. I won't drag you down with me. I live in the real world, the real cruel world where there can be no happy ending for everyone.

This is what I've lived for. To end him. But even so I would have wanted to learn of your story Bak, to hear your tale before I leave this world. But I guess I won't be able to do that... what a shame. Vittorio looked up at the sky again.

I hate this world... but at the same time this is where I met all dear to me. And it is my love for them that has gotten me this far. Watch over me everyone, I will avenge you soon and then be with you. One way or the other this is were my story's ending will be. At long last I will be able to let go...

"I hope you win Bak. Don't give up." He said out loud so all in the Mephisto team could hear it. It was unusual to hear Vittorio trying to cheer up anymore, but it would have appeared Bak had caught something in him.

Royal Rumble!

((collab between Dezuel and Gentlemanvaultboy, pre tournament matter.))

A ghostly desire

Vittorio stood outside the room Bak was currently within, not wanting to speak to her in the company of anyone else as it could put them both on the glare list. "Bak." He said as he peeked his head through the wall as he had done earlier in the day, but without saying anything it was at least an improvement.

It had been maybe an hour long since the practice match and, though it couldn't be seen in the basement room where she made her home, the sun was likely already going down. Miss Suzume had already knocked off as much of the ice and frozen splatters of poison outside with a vigorous shaking and brought her back down to her room at the girls request. By all rights she should have gone to the showers and washed herself off thoroughly with warm water, but she had already had one uninvited guest in the wee hours of the morning and she wasn't about to risk it with so many people who would also be wanting showers right about now.
She had gone though the laborious trouble of changing out of her uniform, which even now was starting to soak through as they it strewn on the ground as the frost melted into it, and into her nightgown. She lay in her little sleeping corner wrapped up in a big heated blanket that she used to keep the chill from seeping from her metal into her core on the colder nights. She'd wondered before if having this hadn't softened her ability to resist the cold that constantly threatened to creep in back home and what it would feel like if she ever returned. That thought was pushed away when Vittorio poked his head through the wall. "Be more careful." She said playfully. "I would not be being so forgiving of second accident."

Vittorio looked to the left and right before slipping through the wall fully. "I am careful. That's why you only see my head first. You shower in this room too?" He said very directly, gazing around the room to make sure none else would be around. "I have questions for you. Why are you with this school, Bak? What is there to be had for you here?"

"Right to it then, hm." she said. She looked down, deep in thought. Bak wasn't an introspective person. She knew what she wanted to do, but she never really sat down and pondered on the why of it. For someone else she might have just said that that she was here because this is where she wanted to be, but for him that didn't seem right. She had promised, she she was going to do her best. She thought back, her face screwing up as she remembered the day she'd met the man that had come looking for a monster and how she'd felt when he'd found her. "I think..." she started slowly, haltingly, trying to find the correct words,"...that what I have here is...more. I did not have...there was nothing where I was. It was just....," She tugged the blanket, pulling it a little tighter around herself before lifting up her head and looking him in the eye. "It was cold." She said, miserable yet resolute. "It was too cold. So when a man appeared and said to me, 'Bak, please come to this city. Please come to be here,' I did not even think of whether it would be any better. I just knew I could not spend one more day in the place I was."

He wasn't ready for her answer as much as he would have thought he would be. She was replying in a manner which left him pondering further. During his two years here, all that he had been thinking of was his own situation and getting back to avenge the fallen. He wanted nothing more than be gone from the world, but not daring to see his friends and dear ones in the eye on the other side before he had done something. He was the only one remaining, the only one who could still do something. Now Bak was here, sharing her own past with him. Slowly but gradually at least. "It was cold... it is a valid answer..." He hummed softly as he floated abit closer. "Was this man Mephisto? The one who told you to come here. There has been places for me also where I have been unable to stay. I could not lie at a hospital and be kept alive in some machine, unable to leave or do anything. I left. And was led to this place... a haven where I could gather all my love for the fallen and make it into a weapon." He paused. "I too am cold. I died two years ago with the rest of my friends and family. My form as you see still bears that look, my wish to live is simply attached to my wish to do something for the fallen. After that is done and overwith. I will fade away into the other world, to the long rest beside my close ones. I do not fear it, I long for it. My stay in this world is what I fear. Being in this world for a very long time and unable to see them."
"It's a melody, I hear in my memory... the final requiem at my dying day, no longer a reason to stay. Until the evil 's been slain, to return to their side without... would be dying in vain." He hymned on a soft melody and it's text.
"Charlotte was one of them who died because of Alto. She enjoyed singing and living, yet her life was ended amongst others. Leaving me behind... like this." He pointed his tentacle wings to himself.

Bak just looked at him for a little bit. Bak had trouble dealing sorting through her own feelings, so when someone was conveying a lot of their own she had to be take a while to think about what they had just said. Things weren't urgent, and she was comfortable right now, and so she had that time to think. She did. She thought hard. Then, slowly, clumsily, she slipped the heated blanket from around herself and flung it over Vittorio's shoulders. She half expected it to just fall through him futilely fall through him and end up on the floor in a crumpled mess, but the surprise she felt when in alighted around him vanished quickly as she gently took one hand and clasped the corners together around his neck, making sure it was nice and snug like it had been on her.
"I think Mr. Mephisto has people all over the world looking for people like us." She said. "I am grateful too. I've manged to find so much warmth here. There are people that will talk with me. People who look at me without putting me from their mind. Rurik, Christine, Miss Celestine, Gilliam, Clara..." Bak paused for a moment, then her eyes went wide and she couldn't hep but let out a surprising girlish giggle "I do not know his name. Mr. Ninja. And you." She finished solemnly. "Vittorio, I think the place you plan to go after your revenge is very cold. Wouldn't your dear ones wish for you to seek warmth, like I do?"

Vittorio stood still and watched as Bak began to move, she flung the blanket at him. What was she doing? He found the blanket now attached to his astral form. He had never worn or bothered carrying anything over a longer period of time using his astral form, apart from his own body or flinging enemies or objects at foes. "What are you doing? It won't do anything to me..." He said looking to the sides at the cloak he was now wearing. "Won't you be cold without it? The metal must be cold." He looked to Bak before continuing. "Mephisto's friends found me and led me here. The hospitality has been appreciated. Many of us are looked upon as monsters by the rest of the world aswell..." His thoughts fell on his dear ones. "They wanted me to seek warmth like you do... ?" He allowed a faint chuckle to escape his form, an uncommon thing indeed to see or even hear. Vittorio was never amused about anything. "With a blanket? You are no monster Bak that much I can see. I would in fact say that you are indeed truly beautiful. You don't let those metal parts of you hinder you but turn them into a strength... like you did in the practice. That makes you truly beautiful and someone to be admired." He said as he floated over to Bak, this time going through her, letting the blanket fall over Bak's form. "Think that blanket is more useful in your hands than mine. If you want to meet in person you know where I stay. "

Bak shuttered at the chill of Vittorio floating through her and leaned back as far as she was able before the blanket dropped over her and bathed her in warmth. She poked her head out from under it, shaking to get the shroud off, and it was unclear whether the red of her face was from the heat or embarrassment. She shifted her weight, and something buried deep in her bed pile let out short electronic "baaaaaaa." Well, that red was definitely from embarrassment. Still, she was smiling. "I promise to come visit." she said.

"Very well.... hm?" Vittorio looked as he heard the sound. 'Baaaaaa' What an odd sound. Was there something spying on them. A device made for recording or some animal. That Gabriel person was surely up to no good after losing the practice thing, perhaps it was something he had planted. Vittorio set his gaze at the bed pile then to Bak and back. "You are feeling ill? You appear to be abit red." He said before he floated closer to the bed pile. "Something is there... stand back.. I shall check what it is." He readied his tentacle like wings, ready to lift up all things in that pile of things to find the source of the sound.(edited)

Bak barely got out a "wa-" before cushions and sheep went flying. The strangest thing was there wasn't a single individual sheep in that pile that was a duplicate. Each one was different. Some white, some brown, some a rainbow of garish colors. Someone were filled with stuffing, some beans, a few with sand, and one big pillowey one stuffed with feathers. Most were stylized, some were anthropomorphic, and one was scarily realistic with beady black eyes that stared right into you soul and begged the question, "Whyyyyyyyy?"
There was one neglected goat buried deep in the pile.
Finally though Vittorio's tentacle wrapped around a small, nearly completely oval white sheep doll. It's legs were just nubby flat piece of clothes, it's eyes were black plastic beards. It looked cheap, more like a dog toy than anything meant to be played with by a human, and when his tentacle pressed down upon it there was a short click and the doll let out an electronic "Baaaaaaa."
Bak, beet red, just meekly said, "I like sheep."

"It may be something bad... " Vittorio was silent for a long time after his initial sentence, staring at the final plushed animal at the bottom. His expression indifferent or perhaps it was different, he appeared to raise an astral eyebrow to his find. And hearing Bak's defense that she like sheep. He only knew how to reply to it. "I think this may be a goat..." He turned his head to look at her red face. "You are more red than before..." He dropped the toy among the rest and reached out a tentacle to her forehead and then let out a echoing grunt. He couldn't feel her temperature like this. "You might have a fever. I cannot tell in this form. You will have to go to my true form for me to check. Also why do you like sheep? ...Oh...." He finally said as he realized what they were. "A gift from your family?"

"No, no, no, do not worry, I do not have fever. It is very hard to get me sick. It's..." She looked around at all the sheep now spread out around her. She hadn't actually realized how many she'd bought in the short time she'd been here. That scraping money from when she'd replace her guns went a long way when you got all your meals from the school cafeteria and didn't have to pay any taxes. "On my families farm I would watch our sheep." She said, and as she spoke a new look came onto her face. While before where she was talking about the cold of home it was pensive and sad, here the wispy look of nostalgia crept onto her face and into her voice. "That was my chore. I was very good at it! We had such a big herd! And there were many predators in forest. Bear. Dire Wolf. Nightingale. Not small bird you get here, huge! Big as car. And it would scream, and what it screamed at? Died! Stone dead. And there were witches, I never saw them but I heard them sneaking around in treeline, and when I did? BOOM! No more witches bothering Bak's sheep! They all left sheep alone because I was most terrifying thing in forest!"(edited)
Bak slowed down, letting the buildup of excitement flow out of her with a contented sigh, and continued. "They loved me for that. They did not at first. Then walked in big circles to avoid me, scattered at every explosion. I lost some because of that. But eventually, they were warmer to me than fath-" Bak stopped, and sniffed. "In a way you are right, they were gift from family. I still miss them. "

"Hard to get sick? I guess there is not a lack of iron at least..." He said in a low voice. "A shepherd? I am certain you were good at it. I never saw any of those animals, I never left the city. All I ever wanted were in here. Or that's how it used to be... at least." He sighed softly. "Nightingale... big as a car...it could scream and those it sceamed at... died..." Vittorio's face grew still as he just stood there, reminded of the shrouded monster which had killed his dear ones. The mysterious form which had no face, just that voice accompanying it, was it male or female? His many nightmares had contorted the voice in time, by now he didn't know how the voice sounded. Who or what it belonged to. "This.. nightingale creature sounds dreadful. And witches? Why would they bother sheep?" He couldn't make the connection as he tried to think of a reason, but why would Bak make something up. "How did you know they loved you? Did they have a very distinct...." He grimaces with his face as it bothered him to say it so he said it in a low tone. "Baaaaa....?" He collected himself from that moment if sillyness. "You lost some.. I see..." He was suddenly reminded of Bak's ability to react very instrictively to trouble with her weapons. "Your father... what happened to him?" He patiently waited for Bak's reply

Bak couldn't help but giggle again at his impression. "Witches are strange." She said, rolling her head from side to side as of to say 'who even knows?' Luckily she had picked up a few stories. "They want the blood on the oldest males so to to cast spells on entire family line, or the bones of a young that they can throw and read the future in how they come out. You lose even one sheep to a witch and your entire family could suffer for it. Sheep stay around me because they know I can keep them safe from things like that, and they do not even jump when I shoot at something, and they all cluster up to keep me warm. I was like one of them."
"As for father," She said, her voice growing somber again. "He is fine. Bak Tsar is a very strong man. He guarded sheep before I did. So is my mother. She is schoolmaster. They are both...very strong. I would never be able to shoulder the burden they did."

"I wish someone could have read my future years ago. Then perhaps I could have done more to stop things." He sighed softly but kept listening to Bak's story, not wanting to interupt her. Whilst he didn't reply to everything she said, he made strong notes of it. "Why aren't you with your family now, Bak? Is your burden not also a great one?" It is good you have been able to protect those sheep, I couldn't even protect my friends or parents. "That's why I want to be strong. That's why I think power matters. Without it... I would be nothing at all. Not even worth killing for the monster who did them in." He came to ponder on something and on the words Bak has spoken of which made him think of something he wanted to get for her. Though it would have to wait until her story was over.

They waited. They waited a while. An entire awkward silence passed before either of them realized the story was over. Bak broke it first. "I do not think that is true at all. You have something besides power. I know you do, what is it? " It was a dodge. It was a blatant, clumsy, obvious dodge that even the greenest of rookies would be able to punish and she knew it. It was obvious as soon as she'd said it that she knew it, and she had to look away. "I am sorry. I promised, but..." She took three big, deep breaths and steadied herself. "It was cold in that house. I could not stay one more day in that place. It is better that I left and took the burden with me. I am sorry. Please, do not ask what the burden is. I will tell you, but I do not wish to say it."

The ghostly young man stood eerily silent for awhile. "A box." He said without any finesse or hesitation, his facial expression serious but honest. "What is your burden?" He asked as if he had not heard her last words at all, before giving his own question an answer. "Too much heat consumption in shower?" It was direct, it was uttered bluntly but no doubt was it close to the truth or so he'd imagined. "If you tell me I will give you something. It will not be sheep."

A look of shocked hurt flashed across Bak's face when he asked anyway, immediately followed by the sort of relief show by men rescued from the gallows. She shook her head, still sadly. "No, that is not it. It is...I am..." she growled, the kind of growl someone lets out when they're pulling a heavy weight, trying to force herself to form the words. Not because she wanted whatever gift he had, but because this was a promise to a friend. "I am....I....am......sorry." She had to take a moment, let the beating of her heart settle. "I am not strong enough. Maybe someday I will be able to look it in the face, but I can not now."

"I see... some other time then." It appeared like Bak was not going to tell Vittorio more about her past, but that was fine. He decided already to give her something. As it only pained him to have it, she would surely find more joy in it than him. "I wish to give you the box anyways. Go to my room, I will wait there. And thank you for the story." Vittorio nodded to Bak and for once has a slightly eased expression on his face where his mouth was not a reversed U, but more like a line. It wasn't a smile, but it was at least something. "Whatever it is... telling others about it will easen the burden for you. Take it from someone who has very little left."
Vittorio attempted to fly through Bak's room and towards where his own room was, gliding through a couple of other rooms in the process.

Bak waited for a bit, feeling bad for bringing down the mood at the end. But even as open as all that had been the wound that Vittorio had started scraping up against was so tender that just getting he to talk about how she didn't want to talk about it had been a small miracle. Finally, through, curiosity got the best of her and she winched herself up, made sure her gown was securely fashioned and the blanket was switched off, and picked her way carefully across the floor to make sure she didn't step on any of the scattered cushions with her giant clawed chicken feet. She stopped at the door and peeked out to make sure no one was in the room, then snuck across the way and knocked on Vittorio's door.

"You may... enter..." A voice answered from inside. It was Vittorio's voice, but without the echoing to it and it sounded raspier, if abit dry. He was lying down on his bed, covered by a think blanket and the hospital gown attire he worn. He had a few of them, thinking them to be the easiest to remove when cleaning and so forth. His medical contraptions would hang around the bed, the walls decorated by scratchmarks and the occasional burnt part, as if Vittorio had several times lunged out with those wings of his at the walls themselves. From nightmares or from a combination of rage and sorrow. The room was not lit by much, apart from a lamp on a shelf. There were also smaller lights connected to his medical equipment flashing every now and then. "Hello... Bak..." Vittorio said, half-sitting up in his bed with his hair long down below his upper chest in length. He did seem older than how his astral form made him appear, he also seemed taller, thinner and with dark rings under his eyes. He was however not as bad as he used to be, or could had been due to all the medical assistance. "Come closer..."

Bak, looking around the room for the first time, felt a pang of pity before forcing that from her mind. No way, she knew what it felt like to have people think your were pitiful. He'd gotten enough of that already, surely. So she decided to come in brightly as she stomped her way across the dark room to his bedside. Vittorio seemed like the sort of person that would enjoy candles. She made a note of that.

He looked over Bak from top to toe as he took something out from under his pillow, his legs sliding to the side of the bed, he stood up. Despite having been made healthier, his musculature was still lacking alot. His stance abit unsteady. "Aren't you abit.. short to be Bak? Seeing you with my own eyes is different..." He coughed into his left arm as he finished the sentence, befoe stretching out his right hand holding a small box which could be opened. The box seems to have been well used but not in a reckless manner, upon opening it. The box would begin to play a melody, with a mirror in the lid making the person opening see their own reflection. Then in the middle of the box sat a ring with a ruby red gem in it. "I... I'd like you to have it. It is no sheep... but It would be of more happiness to you than me." He paused briefly. "I was originally... meant to give it to a girl but she was killed before I had the chance to do it. I would hate throwing something like it away, but keeping it will just remind me of my moment of failure. Please take it as a gift from one outcast to another..."

"No, I have always been this small." She said, smiling before he started coughing. She started to reach out only to realize that she'd left her gloves laying in a wet pie on the ground and pulled back. There was no telling what kind of rot her touch would put in the heart of so sickly a boy, so she could do nothing but sit anxiously and wait for it to subside. Then he brought at the box, and as he opened it up her eyes went as wide as saucer plates and and a cacophony of thoughts racing through her head joined with the sad melody that coiled out of the thing. She stared down at that ring and actually started to tremble as she waited for his next words.
The feeling of relief that washed over her when he explained the history of it was enough to fill up the entire room as she let out a breath that she hadn't even realized she'd started holding. She reached out and gingerly took the box, cradling it as though it were the worlds most valuable egg. "Oh it is beautiful." she said, the awe of the thing not the least bit diminished by her relief. "Thank you. I will be sure to keep this safe. And if you ever think you need it again, it will be right across the hall."(edited)

"Like a little sister almost..." Vittorio offered a slight nod, now somewhat more at ease, he said the words as an obvious attempt at jesting. Some strands of hair falling over his eyes. "I'm sure you will keep it safe Bak. You look after it for me when I'm gone?" He asked but didn't wait for an answer, he continued talking. "If you need help to wash your back sometime, I have plenty of extra appendages to lend. Must be really hard to reach with all the metal. But without all the metal you wouldn't be Bak.. would you?" He asked, not even taking into consideration for a moment how his words possibly could Bak-fire.

"Nononono no no," Bak said quickly, forcing down the red that was creeping up on her ears again. She actually took a step back, and the jerk of her hand caused the lid on the box to snap shut."Is not necessary. I am actually very proud of how I learned to do it on my own. It is...freeing to do so. To be able to do such things myself feels wonderful. But thank you." She stood there, metaphorically twiddling her thumbs, before deciding on what she wanted to say. "And even after all that happened, you are still sweet boy."(edited)

He stood there, his hair slightly obscuring his eyes from Bak's view. "Hah..." He said in a unbelieving manner to Bak's words, as if she had told him something he didn't believe in. He had a flashback appear before him of Charlotte. "Thanks for waiting for me, Vittorio. It was very sweet of you." Whereof Charlotte would have smiled, tilted her head to the side with closed eyes. Vittorio quickly snapped back to look at Bak."Give me a break..." A small upturn at the corner of his mouth, revealing his teeth. Just visible slightly in the dimmed light, his hair still hanging over his eyes, but he lifted his gaze abit causing some of the strands to fall back, revealing his eyes to Bak again. "You should be proud for each step you make... the stronger you become, the easier can you shape the world around you. To prevent those dear to you from dying..." A lone tear slid down his left eye. "The past is a cruel teacher... but a powerful one." He began to move over closer to Bak, he walked forwards on bare feel, his gown reaching down to around his kneecaps. One hand against the wall, using it to lean on. Before he reached over with his free hand to try lift up and look at Bak's hand, seeking to place his hand against hers , palm against palm. "My heart beats similar to yours. Even if our pasts be far apart. Let's see what the tomorrow will bring ,a final requiem for our struggle...."

Sadly, the only thing his hand finds as he reaches out is hard plaster. The entirety of Bak's free arm, the one that wasn't cradling the precious box, was all done up in white gauze. Courtesy of Celestine, a cocoon to protect the gun that was even now gestating underneath.
Then Bak's other hand closed over the top of his and gave a gentle squeeze.

She regretted it immediately. She'd promised herself she wouldn't let something like this happen.What was she supposed to do, though? What could she do when faced with this sort of sheer exhaustive effort? Not acknowledging that was unthinkable. Soon enough he could feel it. Dry, slightly cold, and crackly at fist. Then something deeper. Something wrong coming to the surface. It felt like he felt. As though everything that was sick and broken about him was now curling around his hand like a thick, meaty slug. She held on for only so long. Long enough for a heartbeat to pass between them. Long enough to say "Let us see. Tomorrow may be better, and that is all that matters." Then she let go, not bothering to look for any signs of what he'd felt. Another thing that she wasn't strong enough to talk about. She reached out to support him, stepping forward to help steady him so he wouldn't have to lean so heavily on the wall. "There. If you were to get hurt right now, Miss Celestine and Tovarish I do not think would ever forgive me."

"I live.. for the tomorrow..." He said and was about to return to his bed, when he had some aid from Bak catching him by surprise. "You.. don't have to..." He bit his teeth together, it was little use to argue now and it wasn't long to the bed. "Watch yourself... Celestine is not who you think to be..." He arranged himself at the bed upon reaching it, nodding thankingly to Bak. "She may very well not be a she at all. Always wearing masks, physical or otherwise... to cover up a weakness of the past. Hiding all that hate for others... I hate only three things in this world." He took a deep breath. "The monster who killed those dear to me. Alto whom led the creature to them. And myself for being unable to save even a friend..." His head sunk down into the pillow. "Celestine... is playing roles because the one he began with got him hurt... be careful around him, what he does is in his own interest and that of Mephisto. I am just another subject just like he is. Knowingly or not..." He sighed softly, trying to beckon Bak closer. "After the tournament... Bak..." Vittorio said in a tired voice now. "Take Rurik... Gilliam... Christine...and join with St.Laurels. A shadow will someday come.. and you'll be needed to fight as one. Alto won't be there...." Now he was breathing heavily as if in some pain. "Promise me that you leave this place behind... go to the light smiling as I will...." Vittorio pointed towards the doorway before letting his hand fall back down. "It is ill to betray others... but even worse to betray yourself..." He shut his eyes and was about to pass out.

Bak couldn't answer. Not right away. Like always, it took her a little time to process. So she stood there watching, waiting for his breathing to fall into the steady rhythm of deep sleep, and thinking. She took his bedding and tucked him in nice a snug, then leaned down as close to his ear as she was comfortable and whispered, hoping he was already sleeping, "If I go I am taking all of you." Then, as quietly as her form was able, Bak left the room. She lingered in the hallway, to unsure to even find her way back to her room. Idly she fished out the small box she had stored in one of her gowns pockets and opened it up. She stared at the pretty little stone. "Silly girl," She said with a sad little smile. "What is it you were thinking, eh?" She'd keep that ring safe and, eventually, Vittorio would come calling for it when he found the girl he wanted to give it to.
It was common knowledge among people that raised sheep, the difference between a good herder and a great one. The good sheep herder was one that had hundreds of sheep. But the great sheep herder? They were the ones willing to fight tooth and nail for a single one.(edited)

Dez's bio and character dump

R.A.V

"Are you sure about this? Fighting them with these weapons?"

"They are not humans. They are monsters."

"Aren't we creating the same here?"

"No. These do not possess the superhuman powers. This is science and human achievements, through gene manipulation and correction."

"So.. was Faerzen- I mean subject nine a success?"

"No. The results came back negative, the strain on the body and the brain turned that one into a bloody mess."

"But that means we'll have to create more of them?"

"Yes, unless..."

"Unless?"

"Rozenfeldt."

"Are you insane?! We cannot let that thing pilot it! Rozenfeldt is too unstable, it will be beyond our reach if that one is doing the piloting. Remember what happened last time?"

"I know that! But we are running out of funds and our sponsors want some results right now. If this keeps up we'll have to start applying for work elsewhere or go pick up dinner from trash bins."

"I hear you... I still don't like the idea of letting that thing pilot it."

"Rozenfeldt has been the only one of them able to survive an entire simulation and past it. We'll just have to make sure we can control what happens."

The scientists conversation was swiftly cut short by a alarm going off.

"Problems!" A man came running into the room the two scientists stood discussing, sweat dripping down his face. "We are under attack! Enemy is unknown! Possibly government agents. Multiple hostiles spotted by main entrance."

"Get the blast doors closed! Activate all the sentries not yet activated! Deploy the mobile drones now!" He screamed into a nearby microphone connected throughout the laboratory.

"Oh.. we are not going to make it. I knew I should have stayed at home."

"Pull yourself together! We are going to blow up the damn facility and make for our escape, our sponsors will understand the worth of secrecy. That way we can get new funding for more test subjects, and without any proof of what we've done here we cannot be sued."

A security guard came running into the room now aswell with a gun drawn. "Sir! Rozenfeldt has escaped from the containment cell block!"

"What?! Capture him at all costs! And get the prototype out of here now!" The guard nodded and ran out a door.

A walkie talkie at the security chief's belt beeped with incoming transmission. "Chief! Come in chief!" followed by some static sounds.

"Report!" The security guard yelled into the walkie talkie with a voice of authority.

"It's Rozenfeldt! Tzzzzzt... in.... the hangar....we cannot..." Alot of screaming in the background made the incoming transmission hard to hear, followed by gunfire from large machineguns and grenade shells. "...tzzz We need reinforcement- GAAAAH!" The signal ended as the security chief looked up at the three scientists present.

"Pack up all you can and take the hidden exit tunnel out, there will be an armored transport there! Hurry up people we are pulling out now!"

The walkie talkie at the belt of the chief began to signal something again which stopped the men in their tracks.

"Hn hn... I remember you told us that we should hate the supernaturals because they act all high and mighty with their accursed power... how is that any different from how you have treated us? It's not... "

The security chief and those present in the room heard the walkie talkie on the other end being dropped before cutting out. The chief yelled quickly to the scientists. "Get down now!" He had just managed to finish his order as a beam of pure energy sliced it's way through the entire complex, slicing it up from the side as one would simply slice a piece of bread. The men threw themselves to the ground, feeling the immense heat of the beam just a little bit above them slicing through the walls as if they were made of paper. Cutting out the electricity and lights in a single go, explosions could be heard throughout the entire complex. The main generator exploding, the computer systems in control of the drones and sentries getting shredded into bits.

The once thick and massive hangar main door crashed down to the ravine below as the mechanical suit propelled itself forwards, like a reaper of the dead, a creation of nightmares. Flames surrounding it's pilot looked out through the large hole the hangar door had been.

The black and grey mechanical suit began to lift from the ground, by means of two large jet thrusters on it's back. Making it appear like a demon or a fallen angel. The pilot, a blonde with shoulderlong hair with bangs hanging out slightly over the black visor with a red line across it.

"Fight or flight, why not both. Rozenfeldt... Rhean Armanent Variable, Taking off!" The pilot gave a pleased grin before taking flight at high speed to whom knows where. Leaving the blazing inferno behind. Knocking some equipment over by the raw force of the thrusters.

Royal Rumble!

Andreim

Having changed his attire at his home, the young man gave himself a last look in the large mirror placed in the room. There he stood with his black and red training attire, it was time to train fiercely for the upcoming tournament. He had practiced much in preparation for the day it would begin.

The entire rank thing wasn't what really interested him or getting a prize which he could show around or gloat at others with. It was the fame, the respect he would attain by winning it, from his allies, enemies and most importantly lady Lise.

Having pondered on the possible teams, he had thought Katherine to be a powerful ally to have at the side, but she was fond of her fire using friend Cassius. Meaning they were likely to team up, he couldn't team up with them because that would leave Lise without a team or forced to team up with weaklings.

That was something he would hate, seeing Lise struggle in the tournament against sadistic mephisto bastards. No, he had decided that Lise was an obvious choice for him to team up with, both to show her his ability to protect her, but also having her near would raise his own awareness and motivation. She was however also a weakness, that he would have to ward off from attacks.

He considered who was going to be the third member of their team. Foxboy? No. He was too unreliable. William? Yes, there was also William. He had seen the broadcast about him on the TV which had all his powers. Andreim had quickly made notes about it, not mainly as something to use would he ever have to fight him but also find ways to make use of it.

William had a fine gathering of abilities, Andreim admitted. More than he had first considered, his powers would however be not very useful with someone like Samoth. Well or Lady Lise who Andreim didn't consider a close range fighter type. Thinking about it however, he had never seen Lise fight physically. Well, he had seen her physically. That was close enough for now.

William was likely best put to use with both the fire users, to give them a solid support and empowerment. It would make them a wellrounded and powerful team able to challenge anything the Mephisto school would be able to send against them. There was also Meredith, who he had never actually spoken with. She usually hang around people like foxboy. Andreim shook his head.

No.. she's likely too unreliant like foxboy. We need someone reliable and strong. Samoth.

He was both physically adept and a good thinker, a threat to his own ascension would Samoth have had more charisma than a stone that is. Despite his flaws, like most people have more or less. He was a reliable and valid choice. Even for the upcoming renewal of the world, Samoth could likely be a good bodyguard.

If nothing else his anti-magic properties could be salvaged to forge anti-magic weaponry and armoring. His mind was set up. His teammates was going to be Lady Liselotte de Castellan Valois-Saint-Remy and Samoth. He headed out of his place, locking the door and went to his training grounds.

Some time later... in the outskirts of the city.

The training grounds were empty as usual, he stood there in the open dry terrain, a plain field with the occasional rock formations. He closed his eyes to himself, taking a few breaths. He was reminded of his training under his parents tutoring, they were relentless up until the point he would bleed in a major way where they would stop.

Mostly for their own concern as his blood was poisonous, it had first began to manifest when he was young. His control of water also came early, from it he began to learn to control the particles within it, turning his own body heat up and down the scale was one thing, doing it on the water another, but he was able to do it.

His parents yelling and pushing him to try harder was always there, they were unforgiving to any sign of physicaly weakness. Fight until you are on the verge of becoming weaker then you would stop. How he despised them and their egoistical ambitions to have him be their 'savior' due to their own failure to wring the school from Mephisto's hands and it later falling into his daughter's hands.

Their dream of attaining grandeur through him beating up Clara and seizing the school from Mephisto. Now he could do little but to pity them for their small scale ambitions. Opening his eyes he began to manifest a spinning vortex of water in his left hand, a much larger one appearing just around his feet, causing him to be lifted up abit by it. Any dust, sand or dirt caught up by the vortexes would could be flung out of it if he so wished, but right now it was fine.

The vortex under his feet began to move forwards at his call, before gradually beginning to speed up at a high speed, travelling on the surface under it violently, causing various debris to get thrown up into it and spinning around and around. He smirked and caused three spinning slices of water, the size of frisbees to losen from his vortex in his hand, he held out his other hand to cause them to turn into ice as they flew away. Like sawblades they sliced into the tree in the distance.

Andreim reached out with both his hands causing the vortex to form into a wall around him, he turned it into ice then shot himself up over it's somewhat obscuring shape, using one hand to create a strong jet of water to lift him up, then with his other hand shoot a spear of water turning into ice midflight towards a nearby stump of a tree. Then he reshaped the jet pushing him up, causing it to take a spiral shape, turning it into an ice slide down to the middle of the icy cage he previously made.

He'd suddenly attuned to heat instead, causing the ice to instantly melt and produce a nice mist around him, he quickly attuned to cold to turn it into fog. Before activating his thermal vision to see through it. There was obviously no heat signals of anyone near. He called forth water in his left hand, then drew a large portion of it out with his right, turning it into a blade of ice, he dashed out of the fog now with his thermal vision, the water in his left hand, held like a fireball, he aimed it towards a nearby stone. Before turning the water into ice and then heatening it up in an instant causing it to shatter violently, sending shards of ice towards the rock. He swung his sword towards some of the shards ricochetting back at him. Then targetting another rock with his free hand, shooting a powerful jet of water at it to make him fly towards the right, then midflight he targetted another rock to shoot himself slightly forwards to the left. Until he got close enough to give a slice across a nearby tree using his ice sword, he flung it over his shoulder after the cut, causing it to get nailed into the bark. He swiftly finalized his movement by holdin out both his hands towards the ground below, pressing down at it with jets of water from both his hands.

Letting him land softly.

He panted heavily. "Haah... hah... ehhh...Nnn...haah..." He rolled up his sleeve to look at the watch. "Still can improve on the time..."

The young man took his both hands to his legs and stretched them abit, then his back and arms.

There are so many different opponents I will come to face, I should have a tool ready for just about anyone. Even if I have to use underhanded fighting methods to win, a win is still a win. If I can use my cunning to win over another person then the victory is rightfully mine. Ice swords aren't as strong as regular metal swords or magical ones, but it can do in a pinch against raw flesh. That or handing all of Lise's shadows swords like that will likely make them alot better at causing damage to the enemy team.

Mobility is important. It doesn't matter how strong a beam or ball of fire is if it cannot hit you. I'm sure Alto aswell as Cassius knows about this well, I may not be as quick as them, but I make it up with my own little tricks. Water can help me just flow with it, saving my body the strain of running or dodging, when I can just control my vortex of water to evade it for me.

Hmm... as for melee combatants. Staying clear of them I can do quite well, be it using jet pressure to make me jump or dodge in rare occassions, but more commonly I'll use it to just press myself at a higher elevation where they cannot really reach me physically. Would they walk close enough to my water shields, I have a nasty surprise for them. Ice shards moving inside of the quick current of water is going to tear them to shreds unless armored.

Ranged? Creating mist which they cannot see me standing in or using walls, or barriers of ice is my best option for defense, but for attack. I can throw spear like projectiles towards any enemy.

I can also shoot out large amounts of water and turn it into ice to make it rain shards of ice. Lastly, but very effectively. I like to create water to fill an entire field, much like this one. Just a little bit up to the heels, that will allow me to sense where anyone is walking, but I can also create jagged spikes of ice from where I feel it or encase someone in a tomb of ice.

Only ones who can get away from that one is those who fly. Gives me a perfect board where I can guide my enemies into a trap or location I'd like. Preferably into Samoth's arms.

But it is still not enough... I have to become stronger and stronger still.

Andreim went out in the middle of the field and spread his arms apart summoning water on each side of him, placing himself inside of the water itself, he separated a small bubble of air inside of it for him to breathe as he attempted to build up a tall wall of water.

He then sneezed which caused him to partly lose concentration, causing the water to come crashing down. "Ah.. damn.." He gathered some of the water around him in a ball like shape before causing it to shoot out large jagged spikes of ice in all directions, still attached to it's shape. The young man finalized it by placing both his hands on either side of the ball of ice he was now within, sending shards flying all over the field. I need to get this right in the tournament if I have to use it. My final card when all other things fail. My tidal wave.

I need to get it high enough so none can jump over it, forcing them to take it head-on. This move is going to be exhausting but if it will allow me victory. I shall have this wave wash away the competition. There are some it just won't work against though. People like King, Christine and Brutus. Who can interupt me easily enough, hinder or avoid being hit by it.

But anyone else will be in for a rough surprise.

On the tournament grounds at the day of the tournament...

Andreim had waited until all participants of St.Laurel's had gathered before he made his move. Stepping up in front of all of them.

"Fellow students of St.Laurels, I know I am just a 1st year, but I have some words for each and everyone of you! I want all of you to give your all in this tournament. For your school, for your families, your friends, the future that is on the horizon and for your own sakes in that future! Give it all you've got! Fight with all ounce of might in your body and soul, fight with all of your skill empowered by your will! Put faith in your comerades, but more so in yourselves! We of St.Laurels must fight, we shall compete and we will win! In honor of champions of the past, the champions with us at the present and the ones that will be in the future! Vic-tor-y! Vic-tor-y!"

He raised his right arm with a tightened fist in a cheering manner, while holding out his left for the others to place theirs on as a team gesture. This will be remembered in the storybooks as that fateful day. When we took the first steps on the stairway up to the stars. This is a good moment to also look for potential allies within the Mephisto school. Surely not everyone among them are vile and wicked, I shall find the oppressed and guide them to the brand new world that is to come.