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“I can't decide whether you should live or die”
“Oh, you'll probably go to Heaven”
“Please don't hang your head and cry”
“No wonder why my heart feels dead inside”
“It's cold and hard and petrified”
“Lock the doors and close the blinds”
“We're going for a ride”
~~~~
“Can’t we-”
Slash.
“Just-”
Slash.
“Talk about-”
Slash
“This!”
Slash.
“Won’t you just SHUT UP ALREADY AND DIE!” 1x1x1x1 screamed at Builderman, sending a sword straight through his gut. The small form of the CEO quickly crumpled, dying in the process and finally shutting up for a bit. Until the next Round, of course, where he’d try to “talk things out” with them again.
He’d been insistent, ever since their confrontation. Desperate to try and “make things up to them”, like they were some sort of fool who’d ever believe such a claim.
Builderman had never helped her before, why would he start now? Was it because he was finally facing the consequences of his actions?
Most likely, that was the reason. Alongside her idiot brother’s influence, no doubt. Shedletsky was another piece in the puzzle that was her hatred, from the way he hadn’t helped her, hadn’t visited her, had let his lovers walk all over her like she was some sort of doormat.
He would feel 1x’s wrath as well, in due time. First, he must extinguish the yapping dog that was Builderman’s presence.
Upon returning to the Killer’s Camp, 1x stalked off to the campfire outside of the cabin to think. He perched on a log, watching the crackling flames with narrowed eyes, before closing one. He tried to focus on his domains, on the shining Moon overhead, but….
Nothing. Either their power had been suppressed (Most likely), or that wasn’t the real Moon overhead. Normally, 1x could watch through the lens that was their domain over the celestial body, but in this place? Nothing.
The humidity in this Realm was obnoxious as well. Damp and moist, the air was thick and heavy, most likely due to proximity to the lake that, supposedly, separated the two camps. It weighed on their feathers, making preening a real bitch.
“Someone looks grumpy out here.” A familiar voice, low and suave as always, echoed from the cabin’s porch. 1x glanced over, seeing the tall form of Mafioso, seated calmly on his rabbit half’s haunches with his arms crossed. 1x rolled her eyes at the sight, growling lowly.
“Leave me be, rabbit. You should know better than to poke a resting raptor.” She hissed, glaring daggers at the Rabbitaur, who merely put his hands up innocently.
“I didn’t say nothin’. Just commenting. You don’t usually brood out here.” He was, unfortunately, correct. Normally when 1x wanted to think, he’d retreat to his room and his nest, somewhere nice and comfortable. Not sit outside, in the cold damp air, watching an unending fire burn.
“It’s nothing of your concern.” He huffed, turning his gaze back to the fire. He wasn’t worried about being attacked unprovoked, Mafioso knew better than that.
“It’s probably not, but if you wanted to talk about it….” Mafioso offered, and 1x scoffed.
“Like you would be open to talking. I saw your Round with that Gambler.” The Don merely hummed at that, finally walking closer and curling up next to the fire a safe distance away from 1x. They preferred their personal space, so it was usually safer to keep your distance if you needed to be near them.
“If you want to hear, I don’t mind telling my story.” Mafioso was practically dangling an olive branch in front of them, and it confused them greatly.
1x had been nothing but harsh to the others since arriving, what was the point of spreading pointless niceties with them of all people, the literal Adversary?
“The hell is wrong with you? Trying to bond with me of all people?” 1x growled, eyes narrowed. Mafioso merely shrugged, a hand coming up to adjust his hat.
“We’re a team, aren’t we? We need everyone on board if we’re ever going to get out of this place. And I know a thing or two about building a bond between teammates.” He inclined his head in the direction of the cabin, where his men were spending their free time. 1x had to give it to him, he had a point.
“How do you know I even want to leave?” 1x challenged, being met with a hum.
“I don’t, not for certain, but I doubt anyone wants to stay in a place like this, where there’s no control over anything…. Except for Noli, maybe, that decaying bastard mentioned he came here willingly.” Mafioso was undoubtedly glaring at the air from underneath the shade of his fedora, and 1x could respect the distaste for the other Deity.
Noli was…. Certainly a character. He treated everything like one big game, like their lives hadn’t been so rudely interrupted by their captures. Like the rest of them were merely actors on a stage.
It was, in short, infuriating.
“I suppose you have a point.” She responded, turning her gaze away to the forest surrounding their campsite.
“So? Do you wanna talk about it?” Mafioso pressed again, and 1x groaned loudly. He reminded her far too much of Shedletsky when he thought she needed company. How sickening.
“Fine! If it’ll make you shut up. That wretched CEO, Builderman, is trying to “make amends” or some other lie he made up. It’s disgusting, watching him attempt to “apologize” to me! As if he could ever repent for what he’s done!” 1x snarled, shaking out his wings in a furious rattle. Mafioso hummed pensively, clearly considering his words.
“Sounds rough. What’s he trying to do, exactly?” The Don questioned, and 1x snorted.
“Well, probably nothing! He just yaps and yaps the whole Round until I kill him!”
“Have you tried hearing him out?” Mafioso managed to stand strong at the glare 1x shot his way.
“Seriously, you never know. Besides, if what he has to say is so bad, you can rub it in his grimy little face afterwards.” The Rabbitaur shot 1x a cruel grin, which was returned with a slow nod.
“....Not a completely terrible idea, I suppose.” He hummed, looking back at the crackling flames of the campfire. Despite running out of fuel multiple times since the cabin was established, the fire never went out. It was odd, but passed off as another strange quirk of the place the group was trapped in.
“Now leave me be! Your presence has overstayed its welcome!” They growled at Mafioso, who put his hands up innocently.
“I heard ya, I heard ya, I’m going.” He reassured, standing up to his full height and walking away, back to the cabin. 1x settled back down.
Hearing Builderman out. What a joke of an idea.
Couldn’t hurt to try it, at least.
~~~~
“I have graciously decided to let you plead your case.” 1x growled, pinning Builderman underneath a foot nearly bigger than the man beneath it.
“Can’t- Breathe-” Builderman huffed out, and 1x finally allowed the CEO to breathe, as she was gracious and kind to all, clearly.
“Plead. And if it is not satisfactory, your flesh will meet my blades.” Another growl, and she allowed the Admin to stand under his own power, still panting quickly after being pinned.
“Alright, alright, I just-” He froze for a second, and 1x glared. He put his hands up defensively, palms out as if trying to calm them.
“I wanted to, most importantly, apologize to you.”
“I’m listening.” This ought to be good.
“I’ve been terrible to you. I thought I was helpin’ the situation, but I just made it worse. And my lack of oversight on the Banlands…. I should have been better. I have to be better. So, 1x, if you promise not to go on another rampage when we get out, I want you to be my advisor. Someone who’d have all the authority in the world to yell at me for being an idiot. I can’t fix things if I don’t know what to fix, and I thought….” He trailed off for a moment, looking up at her hopefully.
“I thought you’d be right for the job. You’re smart, scarily observant, and have zero respect for authority anyway. So…. What’dya think?”
They had to process this.
What an offer…. If he was lying, this would be the cruelest trick he’d ever had pulled on him.
“How do I know you’re not lying?” He asked, eyes narrowed and hands on the hilts of his Daemonshanks.
“I don’t know how to prove it to you, the only thing I have right now is my word.” Builderman shrugged helplessly, gesturing widely to the situation around them. He was, unfortunately, right. There was nothing he could do to prove his truth, and nothing 1x could really do to prove a lie.
“....I need to think about this. Go, and leave me. I will spare you this day, but no other!” With the whip of her tail, Builderman was sent flying away, screaming. She didn’t need to do that, necessarily, but it was criminally funny.
A pause.
“....I know you’re there, Shedletsky.” She sighed, rolling her eyes as her idiot brother tumbled out of hiding. She knew he’d be eavesdropping.
“I uh…. Didn’t expect him to go that angle, if I’m honest.” The other Avian rubbed the back of his neck, the other hand holding his Linked Sword’s hilt tightly. Nervous, as he should be from his tendency to kill his brother first.
“What do you want.” He growled, glaring daggers at the other Shard.
“To…. Apologize? For, not being a good brother?”
“Was that a question, or a statement? Choose wisely.” One of her hands jerked a Daemonshank forward, sending the Avian squawking backwards.
“Sorry, sorry! Statement! It’s a statement! I’m sorry for not being a good brother, I’m sorry for not listening to you, I’m sorry I let things get so bad and never stood up for you!” Shedletsky cried, looking up at her with sincere eyes.
1x1x1x1 had spent a long time learning how to read her siblings. From the way SonOfSevenless used modern lingo to try and throw anyone off of her feelings, to the way EarlGrey tensed up when needing some quiet time, 1x was pretty confident in reading her siblings.
But he couldn’t be right. Shedletsky had to be lying. He was the unrepentant liar who had sent her to the Banlands with his own blade.
“....And how am I supposed to believe you?” He asked, slowly. “After everything you did? Do you really believe an apology is enough?”
“It’s not, no.” Shedletsky shook his head. “But, if you’ll allow it, I want to make it up to you. Anything you want from me, anything at all.”
“Even if I told you to turn against your teammates?” 1x growled, and Shedletsky paled.
“I…. Yes. They’d understand.” He said in a confident voice, but 1x could see the doubt. Regardless, they laughed, a cruel and mocking noise.
“You’re pathetic. Fine. I’ll let you try to make it up to me. Maybe one day I’ll even forgive you! Hah!”
It was with those final words did the Round end, with Shedletsky’s hopeful expression staring up at them.
How pathetic. She should have struck him down where he stood, but instead, she had heard him out. That pathetic rabbit, he had gotten into her damned head!
It’s not like she’d ever forgive Shedletsky. Or Builderman. But, perhaps, she could use this to her advantage, in some way….
He just had to figure that part out first, once he shoved his aching heart aside.
~~~~
The next Round 1x had with Builderman and Shedletsky, the two approached her together.
“Before you uh, maul everyone, we wanted to give you something!” Shedletsky chirped, holding something behind his back. Builderman nodded his agreement.
“We got ‘em from Two Time, but we remembered how much you liked gardenin’, so we sorta….” Builderman trailed off, and sighed, bringing his hands out of his hoodie pockets. He was holding a small collection of little bags, each rattling with something small inside. In sync, Shedletsky also revealed a bouquet of flowers that he had been hiding.
“Oh….” 1x trailed off, unsure at what to say as Shedletsky pressed the bouquet into her hands.
It wasn’t just a regular bouquet, that wouldn’t have meant a thing to 1x. No, it was a bouquet made of deadly, poisonous flowers. Her favorite kinds of flowers. And in a ring surrounding the Daffodils, the Bittersweet Nightshades, the Larkspur and more, were her very favorite flowers. Lily of the Valley.
“I….” She trailed off, holding the bouquet close.
“We also got you the seeds.” Builderman explained, offering the bags he carried to 1x. Hesitantly, he took them.
“You don’t gotta say nothin’, alright? This was a gift.” Builderman insisted, before backing away slowly with Shedletsky. He barely noticed, eyes trained on the flowers and bags in hand.
This was…. Unexpected. Carefully, they put the bags of seeds into their feathered ruff, where they’d stay safe and sound. For the bouquet, they decided they’d just maul the survivors with one-armed swordsmanship today.
Yeah. A little mauling would make their heart stop hurting.
Stupid Shedletsky, stupid Builderman. How dare they be thoughtful and kind. 1x should rip their heads from their bodies for the insult.
Silently, she wiped away a tear before it could fall on the flowers below.
Those bastards. How dare they remember things about her. How dare they.