[Action-park] The fate of love on this fair day...

[demonqueen]

[Anyone near the park today might see a woman sitting on one of the benches, humming to herself. That in itself is not strange, but there are shadowy hands sprouting from the ground and nearby trees all holding different flowers, and swaying in time to her melody. Occasionally, she is presented with one or more of the flowers for inspection. Those unlucky flowers are then shredded, and there is a growing carpet of petals at her feet. Sometimes her humming rises into actual lyrics.]

Petals fall and flowers wither,
Voices call 'Come now! Come hither...'



[OOC: Yep, this is choose your own terrible, terrible adventure. Pick any flower effect you like. Fair warning though, pitcher plant and hyacinth are likely to be dangerous choices. You have been warned...]

Comments

Re: [Action]

[demonqueen]

It is more often covered in blood and echoing with the despairing screams of it's victims.

[Kind of reminds her of home, really.]

Re: [Action]

[sinistralofdeath]

[Blood and despair…]

I expected as much. How’ve you survived thus far? You must be a capable warrior, then. I’m sure you are, what with these wonderous powers of yours. [As she says this, she gestures to the shadow hands.]

[And despite the woman’s chilling words, Erim smiles.]

Oh—I seem to have forgotten my manners. I am Erim.

Re: [Action]

[demonqueen]

I have been in many battles. Fought so many soldiers......

And yet everyone around me just kept... disappearing.

[The look in her eyes is faraway, and she can almost see those bloodstained battlefields even now.]

I am called Oichi.

[sinistralofdeath]

Oichi. Oichi, such a beautiful name. [Soldiers and battles… Yes, quite a capable warrior. Were Erim in any other state, she might ask an alliance.]

[For now all she can do is smile and nod and incline her head thoughtfully.]

[demonqueen]

But here the battles may be just as bloody, only they are far fewer.

I much prefer it that way....

[And thus far, no sign of Brother. Always a good thing.]

[sinistralofdeath]

[Wars. Fighting. Battles.]

[All things Erim had learned do loathe from the Doom Island Wars. Why oh why can she not feel anything other than happiness and warmth? Why is caring her first concern, weighing it even before sympathy or curiosity?]

Nnh… I’m… not usually like this.

Battles. Terrible things. They should not be fought at all…

[A whiff of the carnations, however, and this feeling spread away.]

You have been through a great number of harrowing events. So courageous.

[demonqueen]

I quite agree...

[She had never liked being forced to fight her Brother's battles. Had never liked watching everyone flee from her in terror.]

I am not courageous at all. I only did what Brother told me to...

[sinistralofdeath]

No. The mere fact that you could do it, even if you were unwilling, is testament that you can hold your own—and those with power have inborn courage.

Your battles were not your own, and I can see your disdain of the fight. But you must never lose heart, and the next time protect those you love.

[…Where in the world did that come from? Was it her, or this new-found compulsion?]

[demonqueen]

The next time...?

I have already failed twice. Will I be allowed another chance?

[sinistralofdeath]

I once thought the same.

But then a man and his companions taught me that as long as you have the spirit to do so, you have unlimited chances in this world. Your energy may falter, but its waves never will. Willpower is a thing that comes in those waves, yet it never falls completely unless you allow it.

Believe in yourself, Oichi.

[This is entirely unlike her, but Erim for some reason doesn’t mind this time.]

[demonqueen]

Such kind words....

Thank you.

[These are the same kinds of things Lord Happy was fond of saying. Perhaps they are true....]

You have truly known some valiant warriors.

[sinistralofdeath]

That I have. Maxim and Selan, the married couple, were so powerful and strong-minded. They saved the world I’m from with their lives, you know. Guy and Dekar weren’t very good at dungeon puzzles, but their strength and determination were remarkable. And Tia… She wasn’t physically strong or as mentally powerful as the others, but her attacks could be devastating.

[Each of them wonderful people, memories always and forever fond.]

[But reflection can be done later; Oichi is Erim’s top priority at the moment.]

The place you’re from, it’s not very friendly I take it?

[demonqueen]

It was at times....

But Brother never left it that way for very long....

[sinistralofdeath]

You’re a far greater person than any brothers I’ve ever known. [Including her own—well, not really brothers, but the four may as well have been siblings.]

Your own sounds like a terrible person.

[demonqueen]

You are so kind.....


Brother is... the Devil King of the sixth Heaven. I do not think that could be anything but terrible.

[sinistralofdeath]

Yes, it makes him hard to sound likable.

[Erim was curious at this point, which normally would’ve been repressed.]

And that makes you…?

[demonqueen]

.........

They called me the Demon Queen....

[But she was only ever a pawn for her brother's ambition. She knows that now.]

[sinistralofdeath]

The Demon Queen. [At once frightening and beautiful.]

It's a bit funny, though - the Goddess of Death conversing with the Demon Queen! Does it not sound like a children's book?

[Normally, warning sirens would've been set off in Erim's mind. She had decided there was no reason, upon waking up, for her to reveal her identity - at least not until she had managed to regain some of her powers.]

[But the carnations cloud that.]