Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Breadman]

Henderson had begun to tune out yet another argument breaking out. Hudson was the center of it again. Instead he thought a bit about the vehicle they were in. No doubt it had obvious military use and the local warlords already thought about all the ways it can be improved to mow down the enemy. He thought of something else, what about industry. They already carry people and equipment, just refit them a bit and you can carry tons of unrefined materials to factories back and forth. He wondered who would be the first entrepreneur to capitalize on this simple idea. Maybe one of the local greed demons is already licking its lips over it?

Hudson continued to rant and rave at their allies. Henderson glanced towards him and then to them. Is this idiot going to cost them their only help? Is Vincent that daft not to tell him to stop? Then their leader decided to drop the bomb. Some were shocked, he was indifferent. So he killed a loved one, he can join Theodore in a club where they can hunt vampires and refuse to move on together, along with any other inquisitor doing the same. Maybe they do have a widower club in the church? Would explain the large amount of angry men and women looking to take it out on the supernatural.

"I would advise you two to ignore our hardheaded workmate here." Henderson spoke to Tarium an Kass "In fact, it's surprising that you aren't prepared to deal with such an ungrateful bloke considering who we work for. Then again, she is also incompetent in her own way, so she probably expected us all to be polite and not cause problems. But, I digress. You don't need his approval, so don't seek it. So far you're doing good by us. Just keep at it."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

At this point, the nonsensical bickering between both Hudson and Inari only served to agitate Loque more as while Hudson would get himself killed, Inari would get them all killed with her blissful ignorance. Upsetting her more is how Vincent and Tariun are ignoring her pleas to be excused from this mission, and worse still is that Tariun understands why she doesn’t want to do this, or at the very least should. It all seems so hopeless, just as it did when they first arrived in the Abyss. Everything’s been steadily falling apart before the first step into this dreadful place to begin with, yet Loque seems to be falling apart faster. So much for the spoils, so much for the adventure. None of it is worth it anymore. Her servants were right, going along with this was a truly awful idea... but perhaps, this miraculous pause is her last chance to go back home? She backs away from the truck as the others are too busy to notice, and starts walking off in the direction they came. If those two are so content on ignoring her, then they’ll hopefully not notice she’s left.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato was glad to hear Tariun confirm his claims, as otherwise Inari would've continued diluting herself with her plan. Maybe she had some self-interest in conducting the plan, but he'd rather not be so presumptive. Soon after Tariun explained how Thelyra operated, Kassidy appeared out of the blue, seemingly under Tariun's command. Before he could make a comment, Hudson once more made his usual remarks.

While Takato understood why Hudson would make such comments, the fact that the man hadn't yet given up and accepted the direction of things would prove to be one of the group's downfalls, he believed. Kassidy and Tariun elaborated their side, though Hudson wouldn't relent. As the two sides spoke, Takato looked blue at the thought of being tempted magically by the topping and bottoming demons. To be subverted so easily, despite his years of faith... these demons are powerful. To think Inari would try to compare herself to them, only served to illustrate her delusions of self.

However, as Takato thought, and Loque begged, things went from bad to worse. Tariun's remark, that of being 'on your own', he did not like. If she wished not to provide assistance to Hudson, would that in turn not mean she would not provide assistance to all of them? They were a group, like it or not... is she no longer directly cooperating because of him? The thought made him grimace in worry. And then things got even worse, as Venextos failed to return the conversation back to its root, and Vincent escalated it further. The thought of having to kill a family member if they were possessed (though he hadn't seen one in years) hurt him deeply, but the thought of killing them just... so, turned his grimace sadder. And even with the purpose of the speech understood, it still failed to break through to Hudson, though Loque's reaction was worrisome.

And soon enough, it was over. Riberta's threat and Kassidy's plea allowed for the return to normalcy, but soon things were starting up once more, as Inari got herself involved. Something within him felt something when Hudson pointed out what she was... was this feeling his wish to say the same? No, no, he couldn't allow himself so... At least Riberta stepped in once more.

But as Henderson spoke, Takato noted something else... Loque was leaving. He wouldn't be able to convince her by himself to stay, for whatever understandable reason she had for leaving, so he went to the front seat to alert Vincent.

 

[KRIY]

Wesley was just minding his business while the figureheads talk it out, Out of the corner of his eye. He sees Loque going at the opposite direction, fearing the worst. He sighs and materialize in front of her, he pulled down his hood as well as removing the metal mouthcover, to make him at least presentable.

".... Had enough of their bickering?"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

".... Had enough of their bickering?"

No words come from Loque as she breezes past him. If he thinks it’s just the bickering that’s getting to her, he’s woefully mistaken.

 

[KRIY]

Wesley sighs and runs his hand on his hair as Loque merely ignores him, "Not even a word, huh?" he turns around and places his left hand on her shoulder, trying to stop her in her tracks.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Loque’s upper body coils up like a snake, and one that’s ready to strike too the millisecond Wesley’s hand touched her. Again, she says nothing, though she growls angrily at him before continuing forward once more.

 

[KRIY]

Wesley pinched the bridge of his nose for Loque's continued resistance to giving a solid answer. This time, he materialized in front of her again. uit as close as he can be ao that she'd bump into him if she wasn't paying attention, He rather found that approach appealing, knowing that he has to lighten the mood and calm her down.

"Seriously.... If you got anything you want to angrily share. I'm here."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Seriously.... If you got anything you want to angrily share. I'm here."

He still doesn’t get that she isn’t interested in talking. She puts her hand over her holster and undoes the tie on it.

“Leave me alone.”

 

[KRIY]

"And what? Let you wander around without telling the others where you're going? You're just increasing the weight of the problems if thats the case." He then notices that Loque might be trying to go for her weapon.

"And what are you going to prove with showing me your piece? That you can kill a man? whose goals of protecting people from the creatures of the night been dashed by turning into one, thinking he can save another life in the process?"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"And what? Let you wander around without telling the others where you're going?"

“Oui.”

"And what are you going to prove with showing me your piece? That you can kill a man? whose goals of protecting people from the creatures of the night been dashed by turning into one, thinking he can save another life in the process?"

“Oui.”

Her handgun comes out finally, firmly held in her hands as she shoves him aside to keep waking away from the mess she’s leaving behind.

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos was more than displeased to see unity crumble so fast even after their successful venture in destroying the factories. And not only that, it seemed that Hudson had cost the group the gracious help they had been receiving in the first place. An uncharacteristic rage swelled up inside the wizard's chest, one that he hadn't felt in so, so many years. Was this really how it was all going to fall apart?
Was this all for naught? Why bother do this in the first place if this was their destiny? To fail? Venextos could not, no, would not accept this kind of outcome. He would not let Friedrich's death be in vain, nor the consequences of his meddling. He had to have something good come from all this misery. And so the wizard stood up and stood in front of Hudson, scowling at the hunter.

"You may have given up on yourself, hunter. But nobody else here has." he growled in a menacing tone, filled with spite and anger. "If you truly feel this undeserving, then go ahead and leave. Get yourself killed by whatever monstrosity lies around the corner. Just don't drag our venture down with your endless sorrow and self-pity, and certainly don't insult our only friend we have down here you little-minded, selfish little shit. My patience is at an end with you." Venextos finished, his last few words coming out in an unusually darkened tone.

 

[KRIY]

And thus, the gloves come off! Wesley gets pushed aside and is unable to uses his weapon, in fear of hurting Loque unintentionally. he can only shout at her as she goes off, but he follows her, but keeping a good distance away from her.

"So thats It?! Not even a kiss goodbye?! What a horrible date!" he shouted at her sarcastically.

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos didn't even give Hudson the chance to respond as he immediately went after Loque to try to bring her back, swiftly walking his way towards her and following her footsteps before eventually catching up to her. "Madame Loque, I implore you to stop. Tell me what is on your mind, please."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"So thats It?! Not even a kiss goodbye?! What a horrible date!"

“Enough of this shit-“

Loque flinches in frustration. She’s had enough of this nuisance and raised her gun to shoot him when suddenly-

"Madame Loque, I implore you to stop. Tell me what is on your mind, please."

Wesley was being annoying, sure, but Venextos was a countryman... sort of. Either way, unlike Wesley, he’s not earned her ire yet. She puts her gun away before stopping to face him.

“... I cannot do this mission. I will not.”

 

[joshuadim]

"Why?"

 

[Damian0358]

Takato turned away from Vincent, looking over at Venextos, and then over towards Loque, where he noted that Wesley was seemingly trying to stop her, likely to no avail. Before he could raise his voice in regards to what was going on, Venextos had seemed to have noted that Loque had departed too, and had gone after her. Things were moving too quickly, and too negatively too. Loque had nearly raised his gun at Wesley before Venextos arrived to stop her.

"...when the nest is overturned, no egg is left unbroken..." Takato, still by the front of the truck, could be heard saying, at least loud enough that Tariun could hear it too.

 

[KRIY]

Wesley was prepared to materialize in front of her as soon as he saw the gleam of the gun. But, She was finally stopped as Venextos arrives to ease her.

"Thanks for getting here. I was stalling her so she wouldn't get too far.... Although, I might have to watch my back when I'm around her next time.."

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos gave a vicious glare towards Wesley under the darkness of his hood as if to silence him before returning his attention back to Loque.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Why?"

Loque’s hand slaps the side of her helmet, taken with surprise by Venextos’ seemingly rhetorical question.

“Wh-... Is it not obvious?! I am being forced to march into a city full of fucking disgusting predators alongside a rabble full of bastards and idiots being led by a f-fucking murderer I can’t b-believe I actually admired!“ The more she speaks, the more it’s clear that tears are forming around her eyes. “I’m not doing this stupid mission! I’m not going in that city to become someone’s meat-toy! I’m not doing any more of Tariun’s nonsense with you people! I just want to go home!”

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos was quiet for the moment as he listened to Loque's response. Obviously, her concerns had truth to them but the wizard couldn't let her just leave like this. So he opted for another path. "Walk with me then, there are some nice boulders over there." Venextos pointed towards the rocks in the near distance. "Help an old man out will you?"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Help an old man out will you?"

Loque slumps over to Venextos and puts one of his arms around her neck to help him walk better.

 

[joshuadim]

As the two approached the boulders after a few minutes, Venextos took a seat at the base of one of them and sighed as he placed his staff done in front of him. He then gently tapped the area next to him as to motion Loque to sit with him.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

He then gently tapped the area next to him as to motion Loque to sit with him.

And she does sit, though unaware of whatever it is he’s trying to do here. In the meantime however, she fishes around her bag for another carton of smokes.

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos would take out his own pipe, lighting it with the snap of his fingers at the end of it and taking a puff from it, savoring the flavor before letting out the smoke from his mouth gently. "I know that all this seems... fruitless. Hopeless. Without any purpose, to you. And believe me when I say that I would not be here as well if I had any other choice. But with what's at stake, we can't fall apart. Not like this." he then spoke as he stared into the bleak sky above, lost in thought. "Many things are... complicated. Vincent is guilty of murdering his own wife, yes. A vile and egregious act that ranks among the most base of crimes one could commit. Yet, he is still here trying to do the right thing. Because he realized that atonement is possible for all, even the most criminal of offenders."

He then turned his head to Loque, looking at her. "I too am guilty. Guilty of causing the death of my own apprentice. Sending him off on a mission I knew he was not ready for because of my own pride and belief that I alone could avert the looming crisis. And I am also guilty of something else... existing."