Cloudsea - The Chronicle of Alice Van Vaugen

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Princeling. . .

Yes, My love?

How did you discover my weakness?

I can tell when someone is lying, remember? No amount of bravado or... anger... or forced hate can throw off my nose. I catch all untruths.

Even your own?

Sebastian leaned against a wall and looked up. The sky was dark, and the smell of rain was a gentle threat being blown about on the wind. He could hear rumbling in the distance, and was no longer sure if it was the sounds of thunder, or the sounds of fighting.

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Until recently, I had been... blind to my own failings. I think maybe we all have. It's really easy to get tangled up in your own head when you spend so much time alone with your dark thoughts.

Recently, Hm? How recently?

Quite recently. I could probably trace it back to a particular event, but I'm not sure if that's really-

A particular Event? This 'Alice von Vaugen', if that's who she actually is, you mean. Do you... like her?

. . .You noticed too, huh? Something off about her. Her story, it feels... rehearsed. But not by her. . .

You didn't answer my question, Princeling. Have you always been so good at dodging subjects? How long have you been deceiving your friends?

Katie watched Seb walk. He refused to let her help him- which was stupid for so many reasons- But she acquiesced. How could she not? She wondered if this would ever wear off, this feeling. She wondered if he had been worming his way into their minds and hearts this entire time, just for these cases.

She wondered if he would bleed out before they got to where they were headed. He was losing a great deal of it- but he was mumbling something about the pain keeping him 'real'. He was mumbling a lot of things. She wasn't sure if he knew how much he was saying in-between their conversations.

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I think we all like her. I think that is her skill. I don't think she knows it, but I believe it makes more sense than some of the alternatives I have considered.

>I< think you will find that I am not enamored with that young lady like some of you.

Well, Judy already was already a lost cause. That woman needs to... take a vacation. Some self care time. Earl, I must admit, is a bit surprising. The last time he took so much interest in someone- I think he's interested in her story. Maybe he'll start writing his own works again.

You still did not answer my question, Sebastian Merriweather. I can still shoot you at any time, you know.

Katherine... It does not matter how I feel about Miss Vaugen. There is only one truth regarding my heart, now.

Sebastian looked over his shoulder at Katie. He smiled, and leaned on his sword-made-cane as he continued to hobble towards to swirling tower of clouds that had engulfed a portion of town.

Katie calmly drew her pistol, and aimed at Sebastian. Her aim wavered. The barrel of her pistol slid away from him. She grabbed her wrist and twisted it painfully, hauling her arm back towards him. She gritted her beak, and waited for the crack of the gunshot to shake her flimsy bones...

But her heart would not allow her to fire. She could probably manipulate the trajectory with the help of her Greed. . .

But she could not. Her arms dropped. She spat on the ground in his direction, as she began to follow him again, holstering her weapon.

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What is the point in having your heart if you give it freely? Things only have meaning when you take them from another... And to top it all off, you managed to steal my heart as payment. Mark my words, Princeling- I -WILL- have my revenge before this is all over... Through hellfire or brimstone, I will make you surrender to me.

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Suit adjusted his tie. It didn't fit. Nothing fit. It was an annoying feeling, to always be uncomfortable in one's clothes. The shoulders were too small, the neck hung a little loosely if you looked too closely, the legs were a little long, and yet at the same time, adjusted incorrectly, making the lower half longer than the upper half...

And the clothes didn't fit well either. Heh.

His... 'opponents' lie before him, scattered and defeated. The dragon and the devil were tough, and clearly used to a life of fighting- but neither were prepared for him to actually fight for himself. He almost wasn't- He's been so used to using this Muse masquerading as a second skin...

Maybe he was getting old. Maybe he was letting his thoughts and feelings get in the way of his mission, but he lowered his arms. The blades of black energy dissolving and soaking into his 'skin'... He immediately turned his head and started to cough, black ichor pouring out of his mouth for a couple seconds.

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I don't suppose it's too much to ask that you could just fucking die already?

Aha-*COUGH*-Ha ha... It's not, really. But I'm afraid I have to decline. I have things that I must do before I am done existing. It is for those reasons that I am not going to finish you off, as much as I would like to... Your muses would look much better on me, I think.

Hssss... What ARE you...?

I think that is a question better suited to your friend, is it not? She invites destruction everywhere she goes. Her life is chaos. Those close to her keep getting hurt... and she's being hunted.

. . .By whom, sir?

Qhen!

Hmmm...? Figured out that snarling won't get you anywhere?

At first, I thought you were egotistical. The way you stand, the way you look at us- the way you look DOWN on us... But that's just not how it is. Sure, you don't view us as equals, but not on a personal level... More like how we look at bugs. But unlike bugs, we are capable of learning, and asking questions... And you would just love to help us understand how little we know, wouldn't you?

Suit adjusted his tie again. He walks over to the devil, lying in a pool of their own blood, infused with the energies of the muse they were infected with. The dragon burned with a self-contained heat that kept the infection contained... but for how long?

He adjusted his tie again, and then grabbed his face and pulled at his skin, adjusting it on his bones, tightening it up, reforming his face to how it used to be. The look on these two's faces.

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Once upon a time, there was a young girl.

Alice Von Vaugen.

And one day, she died. It's not like we don't know this story-

Ah- Let me finish. Do you know why she died?

. . .

One of those beasts of yours killed her, right? When her home was destroyed. . .

Aha- Haha. My beasts? Those are not my beasts. I am merely borrowing them.

The dragon picked herself up, leaning on the devil. She clung to them closely. She was afraid. Not that he would harm either of them, but afraid for their safety all the same. She was trying to protect them. Suit made a note of that. He could use that against her later.

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Whose beasts are those then...?

...Mmm. No. I don't think I'll tell you that. The answer will be so much more satisfying to me when you hear it straight from her own lips.

Her...? But-

Suit reached out with a finger, and pressed it to the dragon's mouth. She went silent, and Suit noted the sudden surge of killing intent he detected from the devil. Fascinating. Cute. So willing to die for the other, but so unwilling to share their hearts. He smudged some blood off of the dragon's cheek, and watched as the thumb of his glove caught fire. He stood up and watched as it burned through to the skin, then kept on going, slowly engulfing his hand. He didn't really care for this muse anyway. He would get another one from his employer. Maybe another gender? Something not human? He considered his options absentmindedly.

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If she ever wakes up, that is. I'd say she's finally given up on this world. Maybe this is the last time we ever meet... but if she does awaken- let her know that she has a week. Then her debt shall be collected, once and for all.

The devil's face took on a complexion that made suit pause for a fraction of a moment. If they were to strike right now, with all of their might- they might actually kill him. He had exhausted this muse, and it was dying. One good blow would probably punch right through and shatter what was left of his body. Luckily for him, the dragon was clutching the devil so closely that there was no chance of that happening. Suit smiled at them, reached up to run his burning fingers along the brim of an invisible hat, bowed gently...

And vanished from reality.

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Empty?

Yes, Alice?

Why is all of this happening? I thought the world was so. . .

Boring?

. . .

Alice wasn't here anymore. She was miles away, and years ago, on the edge of her island. Her home. She was young again, and the world was so big, and nothing was trying to eat her... or fight her... or... get to know her...

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I liked my books- I LOVED my books. They were a window into a world I'd never get to experience. Full of danger and action and fear and love and sadness and-

Alice.

Don't tell me to calm down.

I wouldn't dream of it. I'm just trying to let you know that I'm here.

Empty sat on the edge of the island. They reached out and tapped Alice on the back of the hand.

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I am here. I am not going anywhere, you are not going anywhere. Just- Talk, and I shall listen.

. . .You promise?

I promise.

You promise never to leave?

. . .That's not how things work Alice. You know that. Besides- One day, you won't need me anymore.

N-No...

Alice suddenly hurled herself at Empty. Luckily there was no danger of either of them actually falling- but Empty still instinctively caught Alice and held her tightly. Empty thought of the things they had done. The things they've said. The lies they've told. Would now be a good time to tell Alice? That- monster. The Suit. The one who wears muses like people wear clothing... Surely They were none too far away... But-

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I don't know how to deal with these feelings. I don't know how to deal with people. I don't know how...

. . .

I don't know what to tell Viss. I- I think I like her? But how can I tell? What are these feelings? What if I'm just getting swept up in her excitement? What if I'm just feeling something because I've never felt this way before? What do I say to Qhen? How do I get them to understand how I feel? I don't just want to be someone they protect because it's an obligation... And these new people- Sebastian seems like something is bothering him- and Earl is... Earl... and Katie scares me a little but she also seems like she's a really good friend to the others and... Uh... Judith. She sure is... interesting and- Are you laughing at me, Empty?

Ah- I... Yes. I just- That's what you're worried about? Your weird love triangle with Viss and Qhen, these new people you've met that seem to gravitate towards you? I thought you'd be worried about the monsters... Or how you've been knocked unconscious. Or that you're having some sort of episode.

...

Empty felt Alice squeeze tighter. Empty lifted an arm and gently- experimentally, began to pet Alice on the head. She sniffed quietly to herself. Empty watched her, silently, for a small eternity. Does she not understand? Does she not remember? She wasn't MEANT to remember but- Empty felt a twinge of regret. Perhaps things were unavoidable after all. Something would have to be done. Even if pain is forgotten, it cannot be erased. Eventually, things would need to be settled-

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. . .Was saving me a mistake? Am I causing others trouble? Am I the source of their pain? Their strife? Their sadness and hate? Have I caused them harm by being here?

Alice...

You always sound so sad. So distant...

Alice- Truly, even if you feel that way, I cannot say-

But this is the first time... I've FELT it.

I-. . .

You're not here. You're not... ACTUALLY listening. You hear me, and you can comprehend it, and you can respond- and in a meaningful manner... But you're not here- and it hurts. Just like it hurts when Viss and Qhen don't pay attention to what I'm trying to say... Just like it hurts when I think about how much Qhen and Viss hurt themselves and each other... I don't like to feel like this- because I don't want you to think I'm being greedy or... something like that but- You said you would be here for me.

. . .

Please.

Empty turned, and pulled Alice into their arms. They sat there, and held them, and Alice just sat there, silently. Objectively, an eon passed. Alice sat there, and Empty listened. She didn't say anything anymore, but she didn't need to. They slowly settled against each other, until they were practically Empty Alice again- Empty could make out her feelings, her worries and thoughts, by listening to her breathe. Alice sat there until she began to calm down...

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So the monsters are hunting me- but they clearly will not hesitate to harm anything or anybody else around me. Especially that one- Suit. But they are not the source of the monsters...

Alice sat up. She was back on the ship, in her cabin. She was- surrounded. Viss was laying beside her, Qhen was sitting on the other side of the bed, with their back turned to her. Katie... Seb, Judy and Earl were arranged around as well as they could be. She was thankful that this room was bigger than her room back home- Alice thought of home for a moment, and wondered how things were going there. Wondered if there would be anything to return to.

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You're the source of the monsters- Or rather, your darkness, split away from you- is the source of these monsters. Correct?

...Yes. I- I don't remember what happened, but I wronged them- my darkness... I did something to them- so they tried to kill me. Then Empty saved me. Somehow.

. . .We set sail as soon as we could get everybody back to the ship. Seemed we couldn't leave without some people forcing their way on board, however.

Aw- Don't be like that. We're concerned for Alice, you know? And you two, too. You're real interesting. It would be a shame if something happened to you before we really got to know each other.

. . .

What concerns me, is how we're going to get out of this. You know? You know? That 'thing' said that Alice had only week- and it's already been a few days.

. . .What does Aliss think we should do?

What do I think? . . .

[ ] "I think we fight."
[ ] "I think we run."
[ ] "Who said anything about we...?"
[ ] "I don't know. . ."
[ ] ". . ."

(minor edit: spellchecking is like, my 4th to 5th priority, to be fair. ' <';)