True Endings Are Never Sweet.

Greetings to you, newcomers or returning patrons! 

This is FeastOfCadavers, a Writing-Based AU Blog written by @/localhypnofruit!

This blog will contain blood, gore, insects, body horror, physical violence, mental/emotional/physical trauma, along with other graphic and sensitive aspects! Please take caution while reading!

This story is inspired by Darkest Dungeon’s Crimson Court and Yoshitoshi ABe’s Haibane Renmei, as well as various songs that can be found here and here.

There is also an OC included in this tale: Oreo Cheesecake Cookie, who belongs to @espresso-cookie.

We thank you for taking your time to observe this blog and the tale it inhabits, and we hope you enjoy all that you may find here!

[Click Here to Read the Tale Chronologically!]

This blog will remain open for questions and any other types of posts related to this blog/AU. Though Feast of Cadavers is over, the Crimson Curse AU will likely live on through other means through spin-offs and whatever else I'd like to do.

Along with the end of the story, I would like to provide you all with the guideline document that I wrote years ago and heavily deviated from as I was writing this. It may be a mess that doesn't accurately reflect the plotline, but I feel it should still be shared on account of it holding so much weight for referencing. I would also like to state I am working on a rewrite of the original story which you can read here, which has a lot less of me finding my footing now that I understand where the plot goes in its entirety.

“Sis… you’re so stressed over this… We’re gonna eat people still even if you do find something to fix this…” Vamp would sigh, flopping over to lay on the floor. “Besides, you’re gonna get in trouble… Y’know how that bastard loves overly excessive punishments…” Even with his warnings, and the warnings of the head of the manor, Alchemist would continue fussing about with research papers and whatever ingredients she could find from the outside.  Tattered wings flittering with irritation, the shorter of the siblings would take care not to step on Vamp as she walked by to her cauldron. “This is about more than us.” She’d snip, taking a stepping stool up to get over the top of one of the only things she took with her. “There’s only two of us, and how many are out there? Approximately fifty or so?” Vamp thought there was a lot more, but it’s not like he’d count. “At an exponential rate of growth, this world will be eaten away at in mere decades!” 

“A decade… Isn’t that a long time…?” The redhead would smile like a doofus when his sister looked back at him with scorn. “I’m just sayin’, I’d rather have someone else do what you’re doin’. There’s that Aloe person, maybe they could do it?”

“They are busy with their own difficulties.” Alch retorted, “If no one else can do it, I will. I don’t care if it risks my life if it means others don’t have to deal with the bullshit we do.” The swear made Vampire perk up, giving a small laugh, “Lil sis, you’re not supposed to say bad words!” “I’m in my twenties, batty, shut up.”  “Fine, fiiiine…”

…

Vampire would sigh, looking over to the very radio he had listened to what felt to be forever ago. Batteries were dead, unable to make another peep. He remembers the music too clearly, it being one of Mint’s many songs being played at the time. He would be lying if he said that the music didn’t hold a special place in his heart for both him and his sister… Though that didn’t matter too much now. There wouldn’t be any more music from Mint considering the physical state he was in. 

The drunkard took in a deep breath, exhaling as he laid back on the bed he’d been contemplatively staring at for who knows how long. Though as an irritating interruption to the relaxation he just started, there was a stir from across the room. Gaze falling to the singular chair of the room, Caramel was slowly coming to. Unfortunate, he was kind of hoping that he wouldn’t have to actually take care of anyone. 

Picking himself up and striding over, Vamp would give the weak one a pat on the cheek. “Heeeeey buddy, wake uuup.” Thankfully, the groan that the drunk received was a good enough response to prove he was alive and fine. “Where-...” The white-haired individual would slur, unable to fully see or process anything around him. “Huh…”  “Don’t worry tooooo much about what’s goin’ on, alriiiight?” Vamp would smile, trying to be at least a little polite. “Jus’ keeeeep resting, and I’m suuuure you’ll be fiiiine…” Even so, Vampire would be asked questions. Where are they? Who is he? Who am I? These would go answered, but barely. Short, few-word answers for the sake of brevity. Besides, there was something else on Vampire’s mind that kept him distracted. 

“I don’t feeeel… all that hungry…” He’d murmur to himself, ignoring the confused look Caramel gave him. Indeed, his stomach didn’t feel as empty as it normally would. The cravings that normally were in the back of his mind were dulled. He felt… lighter, in a way. Did those two truly do it…? That lightness in his body quickly became tense. Something didn’t sit right about this. 

Furrowing his brow, the drunkard took Caramel by the shoulders and slung him over his shoulders. The squeal and surprise that came from the apparent amnesiac was ignored as Vampire would practically run out of the room. “Where are we going?!” Cara would yelp, only to get the unsatisfactory answer of: “Somewhere verrrrry important. I neeeeed to check on someone suuuuuper important.” 

…

They’re not here. 

They’re not here. 

Where are they? 

Vampire searched with an uncharacteristically tireless energy through the room that smelt even more like rotten flesh and blood than usual. What was once pulsing and squishing beneath one’s feet was now hard and dry- with three distinct lumps of dried flesh of concerningly large size catching the redhead’s attention. He’d set Caramel down- who was rightfully horrified by whatever the sweet Hell was going on around here- and with reckless abandon, tried to claw at the mounds of flesh.

Even if he was leaving scratch marks on the surface, there was very little progress being made. Despite this, Vampire would continue to try digging into the dead flesh again and again. There wasn’t any telling if this was even the right thing to do- if Mint, and Aloe as an afterthought, would be in these. What else was he to do? There was nothing else here? 

“Uh… sir?” Caramel would whimper, “S-sir, above you…” Vampire would finally be pulled from his frantic scraping and look above the mounds. A bright red figure with little black horns standing atop of the dead skin was not the sight he expected to see. There was a startled scoff as he pulled back, bumping and knocking Caramel over without much care. “Who are you?!” He’d growl, immediately on guard as the figure just laughed at him. 

“The Devil.” They’d reply, snickering at the other’s fear. “I’m sure you don’t know that, though! It’s not like everyone thinks of The Devil as some big, horrible monster and not… me! Just a little thing!” “I don’t care what you are…” Vampire’s wings flared open. “What did you do to the ones that came down here? What did you do to Mint?” The idle humming that the redhead received was all the more irritating to hear. The shrug he received wasn’t anything better. “It’s more like what they did to themselves! What, do you think I made them kill themselves?” “THEY WHAT!?” Vampire darted forward, trying and failing to grab the little scoundrel who just flew out of his way. He would have flown, too, if it weren’t for the fact he wouldn’t be able to focus enough to actually catch them. “You’re spouting lies! There’s no way they’d-... They wouldn’t do that!”

“Oh, reaaaaally?” The Devil flew back down, getting right against Vampire’s face with the biggest, most shit-eating grin. “You’re saying they’re both too selfish to sacrifice themselves for the world? One life for the benefit of so many others?” 

“No, I’m not-! I’m-” Vampire would pause, taking just a moment to process what he’s been told as The Devil flew circles around him. “This is about more than us,” his sister’s voice echoed in his head, “I don’t care if it risks my life if it means others don’t have to deal with the bullshit we do.” Heart beating out of his chest, Vampire would find his will breaking down. Not him, too… Selfless sacrifice… What is wrong with them?!

Falling to his knees, the drunkard would attempt to stifle sobs, only to have that dam burst too easily. Screaming and wailing, Vampire would fall forward, punching against the dead flooring beneath him. “Not again!” He’d cry, “I don’t want to lose someone again! I can’t fucking take this!” Heartbroken, will broken, and with nothing else to lose… Vampire would press his head into the floor, and then begin bashing it in. “Why couldn’t I have been the one?! Not her,” his head hurt, “not him,” his heart hurt, “not either of them!” He felt as though he could fall apart at this moment, as if he hadn’t already. 

Heaving with the skin on his forehead broken open enough to bleed, Vampire would inevitably pick himself back up. Not to a stand, but to a kneel. “Devil.” He’d speak flatly, devoid of care. To his surprise, the little red runt would leave their little bit of picking on Caramel to fly in front of Vampire’s sight. “Yeaaa?”  “I’d like to make a deal.”  “Ooh, classic! We love deals with The Devil!” The snickering would be interrupted as Vampire would take the little thing by the neck, squeezing and bringing them close. “I want those precious to me back. I don’t care what it takes.”

“Well-” The Devil coughed, turning a bit more purple than red thanks to being choked. “Usually I need something precious- like a person or whatever-” Easily granted. Vampire would use his other hand and pull out the charm of his sweet, late sister. “Done.” Even so, the struggling creature in his hand didn’t take it. “Actually, I-I need a blood sacrifice! Yea! Like a person, a precious person-” The Devil was promptly slammed into the mound that still had lingering claw marks on its surface. “I don’t HAVE those because they’re already DEAD!!” Tears dripped from Vampire’s chin at the admittance. It was true, yes, but it was even harder to say. “Then-” The little thing struggled, but wasn’t given mercy. “-then I can’t do it!” “YES YOU CAN, YOU BASTARD.” Did this demon have bones? From the creaking sounds Vamp heard, it certainly seemed like it. “GIVE ME MY FAMILY BACK- GIVE ME MY LOVE BACK-” “He doesn’t e-even love you that much-” “SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP!” He’d take The Devil by both hands, raising them up and slamming them onto the floor, getting the miscreant to hoarsely scream in pain as their bones cracked against the hardened flesh beneath them. 

“If you won’t give them back… Then I’ll- I’ll just-...” Vampire bared his fangs, looking down at the feeble excuse for a demon in his hands. They were trembling, as if they were somehow powerless despite being The Devil. For something that seemed to be able to do so much, they certainly were doing so little. “I’ll take them back mysssself.” Throwing his head forward, the vampire would dig his teeth deep into The Devil’s flesh. It felt fizzy. Delicious. The taste nearly made him feel dizzy as he tore away the skin at The Devil’s neck. Uncaring for the spewing fluid that stained his face and his clothes, the vampire would continue to chomp and rend flesh from bone. There was a small touch to his shoulder, prompting the redhead to look behind him and hiss, the action splattering blood onto poor Caramel. With that amnesic annoyance too scared to do much else other than an attempt to run out- not that the bloodsucker would care- the feasting upon The Devil would continue. 

The Vampire’s skin felt hot as the blood that felt strangely carbonated would be lapped up and swallowed. No part of this creature’s body would be left unscathed. Knawing on bone, chewing through cartilage, devouring red meat with all the fervor of a starved animal. Biting was used as a method to dig deep into the newly stilled corpse- Tearing away innards and consuming whatever was haphazardly deemed edible. No muscle left untorn, no piece of bone left unbroken…  “This is… my ssstory…” The Vampire would speak breathlessly, having barely taken the time to inhale between severing organs with its mouth alone. “I’ll make thissss my… ending…” 

When the feeding was finally over, The Vampire would wobbly lift itself from the corpse it had created, looking around the room with a sharp gaze. “What will it take… for me to have you both back…?” It would murmur, eyes affixed on the dead flesh. “What ssssacrifice do I need to make…?” It took a deep breath, looking down at its bloodied hands, and its sister’s charm. “Do I need to ssstart it all over? Isss that what… will ssssave you?”

The cold, putrid-smelling air would become still as The Vampire stood. Swaying in place, contemplating. The compulsion of yearning, the obsession of hunger… Without that, where was it? “No devil to deal with… then, perhapsss…” The lost one would kneel in front of the mounds of flesh, finding it far too easy to tear them open. Wrong on two tries, and puzzled as to why there was an unrecognizable golden-colored corpse here, it would eventually find the half-eaten away body of what was one of its sole motivators for so long. “I’ll make a deal with myssself…” 

Dragging the green and white haired body out of the mound, The Vampire didn’t bat an eye at the exposed nerves and bones that were left to open air from the flesh that hadn’t yet devoured him fully. “You need a proper sssacrifice,” it told itself, “what will you do with the dead?” Such a question brought a laugh from itself as it knelt down and gave a gentle kiss to the partially decayed forehead of the violinist’s cold, unmoving body. 

“Until I can ssssave what belongssss to me…” Hands steady, the redhead would gently take a portion of Mint’s hair and tie it in a very awkward-looking ponytail with its sister’s charm. It… looked nice, all things considered. “I will treat this world as my rightful feasssst… for the cadaverssss of those I love… I will create as many more bodiesss as I need to have them back.” The Vampire would reach its hands gently beneath the body of the half-consumed, picking him up with all the gentle nature of a widow.

Aloe would hold Mint firmly, preventing him from falling, but also as a protective nature. Though monsters around here would not be particularly interested in either of them to their knowledge, it was better safe than sorry. Looking ahead with a flat scowl on their face, their voice would be rather soft. “So… how are you holding up? I understand it must be quite distressing… considering your condition.” It was almost uncharacteristically kind of them to ask, though the musician found it comforting more than anything else. “I’m… fine. I think.” The emerald-eyed person would give a weak laugh, almost sparking coughs. “I’m surprised that you aren’t still upset over… you know…” 

“I am.”

“...”

“Though I cannot let myself be controlled by my emotions when we still have a task at hand.” The researcher would look up to the ceiling, narrowing their compound eyes at the veins that grew so far from the room where all the flesh had grown. “Once all is done here, Coconut… will be able to rest easy. Rest… with more than just themself.” 

The implications of that made Mint tense, nearly causing the supported walking he was being aided with to destabilize. There was a hiss of pain as his wounds were irritated from the sudden movements. “Careful.” Aloe would scold, receiving a retort unrelated to it. “You can’t be saying things like that, you know! About them, you-... I know you miss them, but-...”

“My life is to be toted by my decisions, not yours.” 

The violinist’s lips pursed, unable to come up with a proper response to such a concerning statement. It made his heart beat in a way that discomforted the rest of him nearly as much as the pain did. Though Aloe took to changing the topic, it did not make the situation any better. 

“You used to be a musician, isn’t that right? You say you are alright, though after all of this is over… you cannot return to your life making music, can you?” Their inquiries sounded more like statements, flat intonations making them blunt and all the more like driving a stake into his heart. 

“I…” Mint hesitated, gaze falling to the warm ground that squished beneath the steps of both of them. “I will figure something out… Certainly, I… There will be something to continue on for.” Though there was doubt that made Mint’s heart heavy, what other choice was there? The consideration in Aloe’s mind was not one that he would dare humor himself with. Not now. Not after all the turmoil that has already been lasted through. The scientist remained silent, stepping through the doorway that has seen more activity today than it likely ever has.

The flesh seems to have grown over the corpses that were left in the room, obscuring the two that had been left there to rot. Assumedly, they were being digested. The scent of blood and decay was still ever-present, burning both of the two’s noses as they traveled into the room, pressing further and past the new masses in order to investigate the one that the leader of this very place had used as a platform not too long ago. 

“...Would you like to sit while I take a further look?” Aloe would shift their hold, holding Mint by the midriff so that he could place himself down. With a silent nod, the half-sighted fellow would rest in the morbidly soft flooring while the researcher did as their namesake entailed. 

Touching the writhing mess provoked no reaction, though it was soft enough to push into. There was a curiosity as to what would happen if one were to force themself fully into the flesh, but considering the corpses that were already covered behind them… that was something that more likely should stay in the back of one’s mind. The scientist gave an idle buzzing sound as they looked for something, anything, that would give more information about the thing that felt alive in their hands. 

As another push into the flesh was made, Aloe would spot something beginning to form at the top. It was… smooth. Shiny. Golden, though tinted with splotches of red. “What in the…” Aloe would mumble, continuing to push into the flesh and prompting the something- no, someone- to be pushed out of the mass. They’d blink, trying not to let the oddity of the situation disturb them as a head, shoulders, arms and the rest would be coaxed out- all coated in this redness that stained the clothing and had chunks of pulsing flesh left on the body. Once fully out, the individual would remain standing on top of the mass, slowly open their deep green eyes, and give a long yawn as their insect wings spread wide. 

“Mm… Oh, guests. I suppose I should have anticipated this.” The voice that came from the flesh-ridden person was familiarly warm. Mint stared up at the figure as they brushed themself off and did not actually remove any of the chunks before forcing themself back into the mass, only to come out the front of it. Aloe would take a few quick steps back, standing in front of Mint as the figure in front of them was easily recognizable once close. 

“Sp… Sparkling?” Mint would fumble over his words, unable to come up with anything to say to the bartender who stood before him. The blood-tinted blood would shrug, taking the situation nonchalantly. “You may call me that if you would like. That is what most call me beyond the family…”

Aloe would chitter, taking a step closer and examining the figure. Aside from the pulsing masses that seemed to be a part of his skin rather than lay atop of it, and the crimson tint that coated his entire body, he looked entirely like Sparkling… Albeit, there was a certain youthfulness that they couldn’t pin down a reason for. “And what of your family? What is the meaning of all of this?” For once, Aloe didn’t allow someone to answer before continuing their questioning. “Are you the true source of all of this?”

“Relax, relax…” Sparkling chuckled, reaching down into the flesh of the floor and dragging up a flesh-coated cocktail shaker, shaking it idly as he spoke. “Certainly, you wish to hear everything, don’t you? For me to dump all of my knowledge on you all at once for some form of satisfactory reward?”

The musician would gently nudge Aloe with his leg, getting their attention to get himself picked up by making a motion of grabby hands. As he was picked up, the disabled one would speak. “Well… Yes, if you could. We… We just want this to be over, but we also want to understand. Could you please explain- even if just a small bit?”

“Hm.” Sparkling’s expression would soften as if overcome by some nostalgic memory. “I suppose so…” The bartender would begin to pace, the sound of the ground squishing and squashing beneath his footsteps thankfully not a distraction. 

“There were these two dear adults who knew nothing of each other… With no home and barely a family to support them, their lives were shrouded in misery. Particularly for one, he only had two children who were unable to be cared for. Desperate for a change, they would seek any means to better their situation. This led them to meet one another… and seek a solution together.”

“One of these adults had found a devil that promised a happy life, at the expense of someone from their bloodline. Note how I stated ‘barely’ earlier?”

The blonde would pause, squeezing the shaker in his hands as he looked towards the two that hung on his words. “I was that individual. And even then, despite my forced sacrifice for my cousin, it… none of this promised, perfect life went as planned. This devil was not to be trusted, but that cheating cheese-named life stealer’s desperation threw me here anyway. Living through a fabrication of myself while my true self lays here, where the demon buried me… A twisted ‘prank’ it called all of this.” Clearly bitter, the bartender would continue shaking the item in his hands.

“I watched all of this Hell break loose… Every time the curse spread… Every life be ruined, every heart be broken, every arc start and end… And finally-” The tapper grinned, lightly tossing away his shaker for it to be absorbed back into the mass of flesh. “Finally, there are lives here to finish what those selfless turned selfish deeds have sewn. It is time to finally reap this curse and remove its crops from this world! Though, there is one issue…” 

“More than the issue of assuming that your explanation was satisfactory?” Aloe would scowl, garnering Sparkling’s attention. “You speak of all these past events, but what does that have to do with us? With the others that were dragged alongside us?”

“Oh, well… Your tales just so happened to line up well enough to lead to a satisfying end goal. I wished not to strain myself guiding what would go on, not that I could do more than some simple projection… So consider it ‘circumstance’.”

“So you… You led us through all of these hoops?”

“Ah, no, wrong. Only him,” Spark pointed to Mint, who blinked in surprise, “the rest of you merely fell into place, some by sheer accident. Though considering how your life could have gone… I consider this a better ending for you.”

“Ending? My life ends when I say it does.”

“Then perhaps you will enjoy your choice here.”

The scientist would hold Mint tighter, nearly causing the musician to wince as they stared down the flesh-covered blond that waltzed past them and back to the huge mass of flesh. Sparkling would dig his hands into the flesh, prying it apart to reveal some sort of mutated heart. Veins and arteries extruded, pulsing with arrhythmia. 

“I have been waiting for this moment for what feels to be eons… I know you both wish to rid the world of the curse, and this is your chance. Though considering the curse does not wish to dissipate, no matter how much I wish for it to… It wishes to take something with it. That being, well, our lives.” 

“You can’t be serious!” Mint would whine, voice raised at the alarming predicament. “You- We need to give up our lives to get rid of the curse? Both of us? But-”

“I have been unable to come up with any other solution. You want all this suffering to stop, don’t you?”

“Well- Yes! Of course I do! But- but I can’t just-...”

“I will do so.”

Mint’s heart sank, looking up to Aloe with tearful eyes as they continued, “What else is there to lose? If it is more beneficial than to life, then I see no reason to-”

“STOP IT!” Making their vocal cords sore from the volume, Mint would cry. Sob. “We’ve made it this far, and now we just have to throw everything away? All because of this stupid curse? Why can’t we find another way, where we- where we don’t have to die? Where everything can just return to normal without THAT? I don’t want to leave everything behind! Not the people I met- not Vampire, Caramel, Lemon- not you! Not… Not O-Orie, either… How could we-...” 

The buggy researcher would give a gentle sigh, wiping away some of Mint’s tears, though they would continue to flow. “It is tough. Though my mind has been made up, the decision is not easy.” Ah, Aloe… it seems the display got them to become tearful as well. “Look at it this way: There will be plenty more lives saved than not. Perhaps, in some way… you are saving that one person’s life- Oreo, I believe- by getting rid of this curse for good. Do you understand?”

The sobbing one would nod, using his only working arm to wipe at his face. Sniffling, he’d look to Sparkling, who gazed back with a look of sympathy. “I have already resigned to becoming a part of the solution. If you do not wish to, I can always seek someone else to…” 

Though his heart is heavy and his mind is being stretched by the information and the situation set before him, Mint sniffles and takes a deep breath. “I… I made a promise, but… I think… I think I-I would rather keep everyone else from having to go through what we have…”

“Are you certain?” Sparkling would prompt, stepping closer to the heart and setting a hand on its disturbed flesh. He seemed hesitant to continue speaking. “If so, then… I need you both to set your hands on here, and pull as hard as you can. Understood?” The other two would nod, one carrying the other over as they would follow Sparkling’s instructions. 

“I do not know what will happen to our bodies from here on,” the bartender admitted, “so… before we pull, as cheesy as this may be… any last words?”

There was a silence over the three, though Mint would be the first to speak between snivels. “I… I’m gonna miss everyone… but hey, at least my music will continue to touch people even after I’m gone, right?” The two around him would nod, leaving the silence in the air as Aloe thought about what to say. As they always were, they were contemplative on what to make their send-off.

“...There was something that always fascinated me about death. If there was a way to defy it, more specifically. And though I was unable to do that in my research… at the very least, I suppose this will make a difference in someone’s life. And if not? I will get to see Co again… I hope they are smiling when I see them.” 

Sparkling would give a small laugh. “Quite wordy, aren’t you?” The scientist would scowl, then… smile. Laugh, even. “I suppose so. I always have been. Now, what about you?” 

“Hmm… I only hope that those two who started this whole thing get their just desserts. Or, at the very least, the happy life they wanted.” 

For such a dreadful scene, for all the wounds that had accumulated, for the death that was forthcoming… the three of them were smiling. Even with the heaviness in their chests, the fear of death was barely felt between the trio. Sparkling would grip the flesh in his hands tight, giving it a tug. “Alright. On the count of three, and we tear this thing apart, got it?”

“Mhm.”

“Understood.” 

“Alright… One…” 

The flesh is warm. Fragile. Living in an unnatural state that is so easy to break apart.

“Two…”

To kill this would be to kill off something far worse than a parasite. A curse that expanded further than it should have.

“Three-!”

All at once, the heart would be torn open. Deep, dark red fluid would pour from the holes made by the trio. The vision the three had would become blurred beyond recognition as the heart would race, beating hard enough to make the floor beneath them quake. Mint would hold tight to Aloe, breath quickening with panic as the scientist would watch with horror as Sparkling would get flooded by the blood and disappear into the flesh that pulsed and coated the room. The floor swelled, keeping the scientist in place as they held Mint as if he were a lifeline. They both held each other as if the other was a lifeline. 

As the shaking of the ground, the flood that coated the floor, and the flesh that kept the duo stuck began to subside, the senses of the two remaining would dull. Vision darkened into inky blackness, touch becoming cold and numbing… And the only sound capable of registering was the muffled thud of the two collapsing. As the heart itself stopped beating, so would the bodies of the lives given to it…

my life has improved significantly because Lemon cookie is confirmed to be dead I am the happiest person alive the absolute elation in my soul knows no match. Thank you so much for killing off that yellow sourpuss tarty asshole, I cannot verbally express my gratitude, therefore, I have made an extremely detailed piece of fanart to show just how happy I am that he is dead

Ah, thank you for expression your happiness of loss through this piece! It certainly gave me a laugh, even in the midst of the chaos and strangeness going on within this tale.

Ugh… Vampire shook his head as he stepped into his sister's room, gently setting the various bodies down. Lemon set behind a cauldron, dead as a doornail, Aloe set against a wall next to one of her stuffed-to-the-brim bookshelves, Caramel on a semi-comfortable cushioned and wooden chair… and Mint, with priority, laid upon the actual bed. Where someone is meant to rest. 

Looking over the violinist, it seems like he passed out along the way. Feeling the neck for a pulse, Vampire let out a sigh of relief knowing that there was still a pulse. Slow, but that's to be expected. Yawning, the drunkard wondered if he, too, should take a nap… but for once ignored his sleepiness in favor of at least patching up everyone else. It's what Mint would want, anyways.  ...though Lemon was left as is the minute he figured out there was no pulse- as if the sharp angle of his neck wasn't an indicator of his demise. Eugh. For someone that hated him and the rest of those stuck with this condition, seeing him like this was morbid. It struck Vampire in a way he didn't like. A reminder of mortality that even those like him had. At least he could distract himself by checking the others. Caramel, alive. Probably has some kind of brain damage considering the impact and the visible bruising, though he's not enough of a doctor to know that.  Grey would…  He'd know…  The redhead shook himself off of his thoughts, stepping over to Aloe to check if they were alive. It was a lot more debatable, considering how rough of a scrap they'd gotten into. But… alive. A pulse, though slow, and hard to hear through their newly mutated exoskeleton, was present. Good. Glad to know if Aloe wasn't gone mentally, they'd be here physically. 

With a moment of silence passing through the room, Vampire would look across the group that he wound up with. Even with all of this, the carnage and oppressive atmosphere that surrounded all of them, the curse… he could still feel it. A hand behind him felt around his wings, still distorted with veins. The hunger in him, though dulled by his equal thirst for alcohol, had not faded. Ugh… all this, and it's still not over? What else could be done? Vampire filed through his thoughts as he wandered and sat himself down on Mint's bed. Stone, but covered by blankets, left mostly unused. "You guys will think of something… right?" The drunkard murmured. "I'm not… thaaaat good at using my brain." 

…

Hazy vision brought forth a sight bright enough that one would think Heaven is nearby. Mint, not feeling a hint of drowsiness or pain, would slowly find his consciousness and take in what is around him. Golden lights from above illuminated a seemingly endless hallway full of portraits. Not having faces to stare at him, but something about them felt… heavily judgemental. The violinist would find himself staring at each of the paintings, feeling a sense of worry well in him as his legs carried him down the hallway.

Truly, this place would feel endless. And despite this, the paintings wouldn't repeat. Each unrecognizable yet still feeling pressured despite not having any means of proving that they were. A chill would run through Mint's spine as his legs picked up the pace. The golden lights would flicker, such heavenly lighting tinting cooler the further the hallway continued.

Continuing to travel down this path gave no difference other than the coloration around him becoming a familiar turquoise. Such a sight was certainly unnerving, as basic as it was. It gave enough fear in Mint's mind to turn back around- go back to that comfortable and warm golden hall. And yet, behind him… laid a wall of nothing but desecrated corpses. A sharp gasp nearly made the violinist's lungs ache as the disgusting sight nearly made him retch. Shaking his head and turning right back around, his pace would pick up to a sprint. 

The sound of bones crunching and guts squelching as the bodies were pushed forward would send a shot of fear through his system. He complains in his head about how he feels like he's had enough, but such a thought only made things worse as he tripped over himself and fell forward. Squeaking and trying to pick himself up, the musician would find his leg unable to be moved. Looking behind him, the wall had grabbed his leg, and was quickly advancing to swallow him whole. Tears welled in Mint's eyes as he clawed at the cold, tiled flooring beneath him- desperate to keep himself alive. Yet… to no avail. The darkness made by the densely packed bodies would easily overwhelm and cover his vision. Stuck inside this disgusting place full of decaying people… 

…and yet, the darkness would give way to floating in nothingness. It felt like a void, nothing but darkness. Is this death? Is this what the end is like? A sudden, relaxed stillness overtook the composer's form as he took in everything that is the nothingness.  It's… not so bad. Even as he could feel his injuries fade into his form, this… this was peaceful. Lack of sight didn't matter, his nerves weren't screaming at him from his wounds… he could get used to this. 

"Perhaps this is what will become of you…" A voice nearly startled the musician out of his relaxed state, but it was momentary at best. Rotating himself around in the blackness, the musician would be met with a gilded light above a familiar figure. Red hair glistening from the heavenly light, eyes oddly shining green… It was a comforting sight. "You… your self-importance… it does not exist, does it? After all this, that spurred bravery of your's… " The words weighed heavy in the air, like stones on Mint's back. 

"No worries… It merely means that everything is going smoothly…" The redhead approached, taking steps on the ground that didn't exist. "It's as easy as '3, 2, 1, 2', isn't it?" That… didn't make sense. Mint would speak, but his voice seemed to dry up when faced with what felt like an angel. The familiar being smiled down at him, taking his chin and lifting it up so that they were face to face. Too close, Mint thought, way too close. "I will give your broken spirit a place to rest properly in the end, I promise you that." The being drew ever closer, and Mint would draw back, only to be stripped of his sight, and-

…

Mint would jolt awake, immediately met with the horrific pain his body still had to offer. A yelp would turn into a whimper as the composer used his still functioning arm to hold the stump that was the lack of the other. Trembling from the dream he just had- only vaguely remembering it despite being in his mind only moments ago. 

"Heyyy… you good?" The emerald-eyed musician blinked and lifted himself up as much as his back could on its own to look at the voice. Vampire. Ah. His eyes were purple… why did he think they were-? "Uh, um, w-well… as good as I could be, considering u-uh…" Mint would vaguely motion at himself, looking downward. When had he been patched up like this? "Yeahhh… sorry about that, agaaaain…"  "It's… it's o-okay… everything got a little, uh, o-out of hand…" Mint would try to slow his breathing. The shock is still fresh in his system, as much as he wished that his injuries were just a part of some twisted dream. "How's… everyone else…?" 

Vampire would audibly yawn, looking at the various spots he kept the others. "Uhh… well, Lemon is definitely dead. Bad news, I gueeeeess." The redhead is trying not to look at Mint to see his despair of knowing someone else is dead. Trying. "Aloe's fiiiine, and the other one? Uhhh… I dunno. Probably alive. Juuuuust some brain damage."  "...I… don't know what I expected…" Mint would murmur, giving a heavy sigh and letting his aching body stay where it was. Vampire would stay by Mint's side, standing over him. "Do youuuu… neeeed anything?" The little hum of disagreement was all Vampire needed, though he wished he could do more. 

Everything felt… terribly silent. The air was heavy from tension and anticipation as to if the others would ever wake up. The only thing that would break the silence is the sound of breathing. A gasp followed by a hiss, that is. Vampire would quirk his head, looking to Aloe- the one that had given such a reaction. "Hmmm… good moooorniiiing."  "Shut it."  "Hehe… juuuuust feel lucky you're aliiiive."  "Ugh… I do not wish to… nevermind." Aloe would shake their head, trying to parse out everything around them considering their terrible vision. Where had their glasses gone? "What is… everyone's status?" Aloe's voice seemed gritted, trying to keep the pain- physical and otherwise- from getting through their voice.

"I'm okay…!" Mint would chime, raising an arm to wave wherever in hopes Aloe saw. Vampire sighed, giving a stretch. "Welllll, you're good, Mint's good, Lemon's dead," the small 'hmph' Aloe gave meant nothing to Vampire, "and the other guy uhhhh… is proooobably good." 

The researcher simply nodded, trying to test their muscles and see what worked and what didn't- and what did and just hurt to, of course. "We need to go back down there." They stated bluntly, prompting both of those awake to gawk at them. Even Mint lifted himself up, as much as it hurt. They couldn't see the other's expressions, but they assumed it was disbelief. Perhaps worry, for the one who cared. "Something is… not right. The hunger… still exists." 

As much as Mint didn't want to admit it… past the pain, yes, there was still that craving. Being reminded of it made him whimper, which wasn't really helped by the petting in his messy hair that Vampire gave. "I wouldn't knoooow, I've aaaalways been hungry like that. But… you reaaaaally want to go back? After I dragged you aaaaall the way here?" 

"I will carry myself." Aloe would state with a grunt as they attempted to pick themself up, leaning against the bookshelf they were laid against. "I am… used to this." Vampire would hum, shrugging before hearing Mint shuffling and trying to pick himself up. "Dooon't tell me you're trying to-"  "I-I don't want them going alone…!" Mint would practically whine, "Besides, I… I want to figure out what's… what's going on… I don't want anyone else to be hungry like us." The selflessness. Ugh, the redhead couldn't just say how endearing it was, considering how injured Mint was. "Then I'll come with you twoooo… sooomeone has to tend to the wounded." 

"No." Vampire had to hold back a growl from the denial that Aloe had given him. So stern. So ignorant to the care Mint needed. Even so, the scientist continued; "Someone needs to keep watch over what the creatures around here would see as a perfect meal. I do not care if he winds up being dead from a brain injury, if Lemon is dead, then someone would need to look after him. And that someone will be you." 

"Then why can't I tag along with Mint while you stay back? Or better yet, have Mint just stay here?"  "I am the one that knows what to look for. I am mandatory for the trip. And if Mint were to stay here, I would wind up traveling alone. Never a wise idea. And having you travel with me would mean that no one capable of defending would be left here… though I am assuming you would not wish to travel with me either way."  The redhead would try to come up with a retort, but was left with no words to say. He huffed, eyes darting away from the one that gave too good of a reasoning. "...no woooonder blondie never wished to cooperate with you until it mattered." 

Disregarding the comment, Aloe would stand themself straight and step to the bed Mint was laid upon. "Your bias is palpable." They'd mumble low enough for only Vampire to hear as they started to help Mint out of bed, trying to ignore the small sounds of pain that came from the movement. "So long as your legs work, it will be fine… I will carry you, if need be." 

Mint, unaware of the tension between the two and simply assuming that the situation itself was what made everything feel off. That, along with the lingering sensation of the dream in his body. "L-let's figure this out soon… I don't want t-to wind up too hungry and… well…" No need to finish that. Everyone knew and understood the consequences. Exertion really does bring out the hunger in someone… Mint felt his stomach churn as his weight was laid upon Aloe- realizing just how empty he felt. At least there were no pangs like he's experienced before. 

"Sooo… what, you're just going to leaaaave?"  "That's the plan." Aloe would give a short breath, adjusting themself so that Mint could wrap his arm around the taller one and not have to worry about much else but walking.  "Um-" Mint would perk up, one eye shutting at the perking shooting a spark of pain through him. "Actually, can I… do something real quick…? I-I think I owe it… and now would be… I- I think one of the only times it'll be fitting anymore…" The musician made a motion to get turned around, and the researcher would oblige, turning him around to the drunkard. "Could you… lean forward?" 

Vampire took a moment to process, blinking and eyes going wide as he practically threw himself forward. No way. Absolutely no way he's finally…  Mint would give a soft laugh, finding humor in Vamp's eagerness. "Goodness… o-okay, okay… Look, it's not that big of a deal! It's just… a small thank y-you…" And though it was highly anticipated, something wished for so long… just a small peck on the cheek was given. It was enough to flush the drunkard more than the hardest of drinks. "You're… you're weeeeelcooooome!" The two laughed, Aloe rolling their many eyes in the meantime. 

"Hehe… I'll… I'll be back, o-okay?" Mint would find just a bit of joy in this dark world seeing Vampire so alight. Not from him specifically, but… just from seeing someone so happy. Satisfaction from making someone smile. It's been so long… he missed this feeling… but it's not something that will last very long. Aloe would tug him along, and he'd have to go back to being walked by the other.

The joy the drunkard had still flourished, though was easily tainted by anxiety. His chest grew tight as he watched Mint get led away… but he had to have some trust. If Mint said he'd be back, he'll be back. It's a promise. Sitting himself on the now empty bed, he waved as the two left. The bed is still warm…

Ah, the first is a mystery to be solved, is it not? Truly, their efforts were in vain, but it was at least entertaining to watch, correct? If one's life were to end, it should at least hold a purpose, if not a spectacle. Perhaps both.

Then again... There is not much purpose they hold any longer. They did as what was wished by desires held long ago. Desires no longer welcomed, thanks to a... Shift in the ladder. A jostle, if you will, that has knocked over shelf after shelf...

out of all seriousness, though your writing is absolutely beautiful, I love the way you write foreshadowing and the way you build up tension so much. As someone who struggles a lot with reading tone through text, I could tell exactly what was going on and what each character was feeling throughout the scenes, I've literally never felt so immersed in a story before I'm going to EXPLODE/POS your details are.AAAAAAAAAAAAAA your work is so cool Anywyas woogooo KILL THAT CITRON WOOHOO

Ah, it seems your bias against the citrus one has bore fruit! Seething through the tale in hopes for one's unfortunate fate... I can relate to such. Mine has, too, come to fruition. Not all of it, though... Not yet.

Your praise is taken with appreciation and grace. As one who had to analyze others in order to properly understand their emotions and how specific individuals would interact with specific events, it is very comforting to know that such attentiveness has brought about an effective means of portraying emotion and tonal indication without being obvious. Subtlety is always key in matters such as these...

Roguefort would stare down with a sinister grin, looking upon the group before them as bugs. "So, it appears you have followed that troublemaker the whole way here?" They motioned to Vampire with a dramatic flair in their arm. "It's a wonder he knows… Then again, you were going to wind up here eventually. Regardless of our actions." Lemon would growl at the being so far above them, sparking for a second before stopping immediately hearing Caramel yip. Shit, right. 

"Ah, it is no matter… This blessing we hold in most of us has run its course." Roguefort would continue, taking hold of their cape and covering their body with it- almost wrapping themself up like a cocoon. "I say blessing, yes, though it seems that to us it has become nothing but a curse… a fleeting wish… what we gained has long since been lost, or in some way…" Roguefort's gaze would drop, looking down at the chef that hasn't moved from his position, as told. "...beyond repair." Sensitive ears picked up a whimper from the one they gazed upon. With their expression darkening, Roguefort threw themself down from the mass they stood upon, swiftly dropping to the floor that squished beneath him. Grey was obscured as the leader of the manor would rise, throwing open their cape. "Well then! It seems that this sweet dream of ours is going to finally stop rolling down this destructive hill! Let the passage of fate take the wheel as we commit to it and act as the pre–" 

"Could you beeeeee any more dramaaatic?" Vampire would interrupt, not taking the scene seriously whatsoever. He could hear the three beneath him's gazes. Surprise, anger, disappointment. Whatever. "Looook, if you're gonna fiiiight, then doooo it. Shut up and dooo something!" 

The leader would blink slowly, eyes narrowing at Vampire. "Little rat-bat. Fine then! Have at you all!" The sound of sprinting on the moist flooring would ring out as they would begin to sprint at the group. 

Vampire flew upward swiftly, leaving the group to their own devices. Aloe would scowl, looking to Lemon and Caramel, which the blonde also seemed plenty fired up. "I understand your rage, but protect Caramel above all else. I'll take the brunt this time."  "What?! But I could set them flat in-"  "We don't have time to argue! Just get out of the way!" Aloe would yell, a sound sudden and rare enough to finally spur Lemon without question as they would rush ahead, colliding with Roguefort head-to-head and beginning a hand-to-hand skirmish. 

Mint would be still, peeking behind Roguefort and the ensuing battle to look upon Grey. He remained unmoving, just as Mint himself was. The musician would take a step forward, then lean to the side, then into a sprint. Was this other fellow okay? Ah, but Aloe, but Lemon, but-... Augh! With a quick breath out, he'd run past Rogue and Aloe, though that mistake would cost him as he heard Aloe grunt behind him as they were shoved to the ground and he was grabbed by the arm. Dragged back, he was met with compound eyes staring back. Mint would flail for a moment, taking the knife he'd equipped what felt like ages ago and ramming it into Roguefort's body wherever he could reach. Their leg would be the target, but it seemed like it wasn't enough, getting nothing more than a grunt. "Ungrateful." Rogue would growl out, gripping Mint's arm tight enough to hear bones creak. "I ought you leave you how you left your servant. You had a choice to deny fate, yet here you are-" Interrupted with a shout of pain, Rogue would let Mint out of their grip. 

Aloe would jump at Rogue's back, clawed hands scratching at the leader's neck as they attempted to get into a choking position. Deep red marks would form, though drawn blood would be minimal due to not having a good enough grip. "What are you doing?!" The researcher would shout, wings droning as they struggled. "Stay away from the conflict! You are not fit to-" Aloe would be thrown back, colliding with the floor with a wretched squelch of the surface below. Such an impact also threw out the doll of Co that they'd held so close, along with their blade that they would have to abandon by this point. With an immediate panic unlike themself, Aloe would give a feeble 'no-' as they turned their stomach to the floor and reached out, yelping as Roguefort stomped into their back. 

"What is this? Are you still attached to them? Ha. I knew you would take your closeness far, but going so far as to visit her? How pathetic…" An irony only Rogue knew was not lost on them. They'd force their heel down, receiving a satisfying crunch of ribs and tainted organs. Not quite killing them, it would take far more than that, but still leaving them in agony. They'd twist, receiving more of those sickeningly sweet sounds and forcing Aloe to yowl. As Rogue would step past, looking back to see Mint frozen still, they'd pick up the poor doll, using one leg to press against Aloe's face to ensure they wouldn't do anything as they inspected the handiwork. 

…the doll squirmed in their hand, almost seeming to shake as it was gripped tight. "Sad." They'd state simply, closing their eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath… Then they would grin wide as they felt another hand grab at their's- at the doll- and immediately begin pulling. Mint was predictable, even in fearful irrationality. "Stop this!" The musician would cry, tugging at the doll with all of his strength. Roguefort would do the same, gripping the body with both hands while Mint gripped the head. The emerald-eyed fellow had half a thought on how this likely hurt Co… but would only have his heart sink as he heard the fabric tear. Aloe could feel the blood pulsing through their head, their ears, their heart, as they had to watch.

And with both opposing forces no longer held together, Mint would fall on his hind end, and Rogue would only mildly stumble. The leader looked to Aloe, who stared with their mouth agape and their compound eyes wide. They shook, watching stuffing fall from the decapitated doll. Was it capable of being stitched back together? Perhaps. But Co… perceived by them, has been killed once again. 

"You- you BASTARD!" Attempting to pick themself up, holding their ribs, their other bones crunched as their more insectoid traits would morph their body. Wings buzzing, chest heaving, more legs appearing beneath their cloak… Rogue would snicker, lurching forward and snagging up Mint to use him as a human shield as Aloe would lash out. "YOU WILL BURN IN HELL, AND I'LL STOKE YOUR COALS!" They'd snarl, voice distorted by rage and incessant buzzing as the violinist would hold his arms out, refusing to use his blade against an ally, and plead Aloe to stop. To think for a moment. To STOP, PLEASE, STOP- Perceiving an enemy and nothing more, Mint was the one that took the brunt- being chomped on just below his shoulder as an insectoid claw aimed for his face. It wasn't a clean cut, but the blood that leaked from the wound was certainly… 

Ah.  He couldn't.  Couldn't feel his arm. Or see very well. Huh?

A small 'thunk' of a limb and 'shnk' of a dropped blade had a moment of silence pass before Mint wound up screaming. Breaking his vocal chords as he was dropped to the ground, one arm holding his eye… as it was the only one he had. The ear-splitting shrieking didn't deter Aloe, who had simply moved past him in order to further attempt to assault the crimson leader. Sounds of conflict would continue to resound, but the violinist couldn't process it. Body violently trembling, the only comfort- that he winced to receiving- would be arms wrapping around his waist to lift him up. Confused, Mint would attempt to look above him through agonizingly blurred and half-working vision. Vampire… was carrying him. Huh. This felt… familiar. 

"Ughhhh…" The red-head groaned, not out of struggling to carry, but rather annoyance and a smidge of guilt. "I'm nooooot forgiving your friends for letting this happen to youuuu…" There wasn't much that the musician could say. "But heyyyyy… You'll be safer over heeeere…" The warmth of the living ground was not a welcome sensation. Slowly, Mint would realize that Caramel was sitting next to him. Terrified. Caramel would ask what happened, but the words died in his throat out of the shock of it all.

"Where's…" Mint's words were near silent. The terror and earlier yawp certainly killed his voice. Caramel was here, he could barely make that out, but that yellow streak… "Where's Lemon…?" Caramel would point ahead, and though barely capable of making out the shapes and colors, Mint was able to figure out the three of them were fighting together. Light from sparks flew, which definitely was evidence of Lemon giving it his all. Both of them wished they could do more, one as a hero and one just to not seem useless… but it seems neither of them were in the state to do much of anything.

Mint's eyes drooped with exhaustion, barely recognizing Vampire sitting over his slumped body. "He's, uh, fiiiiighting. Yeahhhh…" He's not going to mention how much of a struggle there was from the outsider's perspective. No. Not right now. Instead, he'd sift through his clothes and whatever pockets they had. "Shiiiit…" He'd curse, pulling out a vial similar to what Mint had been given. Originally his sister's, which was cracked and empty. Vampire's eyes would grow wide, though looking to his side, he'd look at Caramel. He looked nearly… feral. 

Narrowing his gaze at the nerd that stared back at him, the drunkard would reach his hand out and grab the smaller. "You. Blood. Now." Caramel would squeak, shaking his head and trying to thrash. With a tight enough grip, Vampire would simply ignore the flailing and bare his fangs, sinking them into Caramel as he cried out and begged to be let go. "N-not again! Not again, p-please! Stop! Stop it!" There was no sympathy. Not for this one. Vampire would continue to drain the poor victim before simply letting him go and tossing him to the wall, keeping his mouth open as he approached the violinist once more. 

Praying to himself, Vampire would far more easily bite down on Mint's shoulder and do the exact opposite of what he'd just done. Ignoring the panic he had induced in Caramel, and how he was holding himself for a desperate sensation of comfort, he'd fill Mint with the blood that he'd taken. Be enough. For Tree's sake, be enough! 

Rogue was… struggling. Electricity wasn't a good match-up for such intricate workings like that of an insect. From both sides, the leader- for the first time in a long time- struggled to defend themself. Barely fending off Aloe, and electricity flaring at them- it gave them the horrible feeling that fate certainly was carved in stone for them. Though it felt fruitless, they continue to push themself to their limit and beyond. It was a strange mixture of accepting what was to occur whilst still having half a mind to resist.

They'd give a glance back, seeing Grey staring with empty eyes. He knew. He knew, too, what was going to happen here. Roguefort would grunt as they tossed Aloe away from them, only to be shanked in the back with an electrically charged knife, afflicting them with a temporary paralysis. And it's with wide, frozen vision and a jolting body that they would be forced to witness Aloe's reckless nature fixated on a different target. 

Grey.  Not him. Not him, please.  Anyone but him. Anyone! Please.

Jittering and struggling to fight against their muscles stillness, they'd watch Grey gain a light smile and close his eyes. He'd raise his hand to wave, pitifully giving a silent 'goodbye' as Aloe would easily take his body and slam it into the meat-coated ground, jaw detaching and expanding to encapsulate Grey's head as claws would dig into his abdominal. An agonized silence as his organs would be dug and clawed out of him is all the peace he would be allotted before the freak of nature above him would close their mouth around his head. The sound of bone and flesh being flayed and masticated hung in the air as one being's grief-stricken loss of self would quickly turn to two. 

Because of them. Because of him.  Because of It. 

Growling inhumanly and thorax pulsing, the shock would subside through adrenaline and pure hatred, and they'd whip around and grab Lemon, hoisting him into the air by his neck. They'd ignore the attempts to stab at them, some working and some not, but all non-fatal. "Spirits always disappear by accident in my hands, so why…" Rogue grips tight enough to cause the choking electrical hazard to hold their hand to, at the very least, prevent his neck from snapping. "Why can't I be the one to extinguish it when it matterz mozt?!"  Their insectoid nature afflicting their speech, it would penetrate their thoughts for a moment as they would flail Lemon's body wildly. Crashing against the floor, ivory pillars, the cracking and snapping of bones reverberating as their composure finally snapped. Within the flailing, Lemon would grunt and shout as his body would be gripped by thin, hooked appendages that would aid in tearing at and tossing his body around. 

Many cuts, gashes, lacerations- the injuries would pile on top of each other. His sparking didn't seem to work on someone so rabid. And, finally, when a slam to the ground hits at the back of Lemon's spine- the sparking comes to a sudden stop as a satisfying SNAP hangs in the air. Chest heaving and brusque breaths would fill the time between flailing- corrupted blood flowing down and staining their hands, their clothes, their soul- dripping from the various wounds from the now limp body… Without a true thought running through their head, they'd take the corpse in their clawed hands and throw it away with all the force they could muster from themself. The thud heard from afar did not matter to them.

Becoming short in thought, the leader wouldn't pause before going directly to the scent of blood. Beloved. Blood. Beloved. The sensation was far too familiar and it nearly made them wretch from their distorted stomach- their thorax twitching with disgust at themself. The scent was enough to drive them mad. Nothing left. There's nothing left here.  With some form of buzzing snarl, the lost leader would take their tarsus and slam Aloe into the floor- inadvertently both causing more of a mess by sending their face into Grey's mangled, bloody spillage of sundered guts and dissevered bones. The splatters that stained both of the insectoid's bodies gave very differentiated reactions. One, none, as it seems that the researcher had been knocked out. The other… With just a moment of peace, if one could fall such a decrepit sight that… Rogue would refocus. Not to bring themself back, no, but to change target. 

Sifting through memories with the small amount of recollection they could muster, their compound gaze would settle upon the distant colors of mint green, yellow, and red. That green… the end started with that, didn't it? That trickster they sought after- the catalyst- it was not the pulsing masses that spoke to them, no, it was… it was him. That bastard. They'll kill him.

Kill him.  Destroy him.  Eat him, if they have to. 

On the other end of Rogue's Blurry vision of color, those 'colors' were having quite a time on their own. The resounding 'thud' that should have been a 'slorp' due to the softness of the walls had come from a limp body slamming into another body. Mint stared with tearing eyes- well, eye- at the sight before him, Caramel seemingly dead while the corpse of Lemon simply laid on top of him. Vampire would huff as he would check Caramel over. He's certainly not scared, death has been around him for quite a long time now, but he was… irritated. Irritated at how much effort this was taking, irritated at how this crew seemed to be falling apart under pressure, irritated at the possibility that before he got his kiss, Mint could…  "He's fiiiiine…" The drunkard would state with a roll of his eyes, taking his hands off of Caramel's neck and wrist. "He's juuuuuust asleep. Impact proooobablyyyy just knocked him ooooout." With a sense of ease, Vampire would then pick out Lemon's corpse and unceremoniously drop him to the side, ignoring the blood that would get on his hands. He'd simply wipe it off and come back to Mint, distracting him from the hell going on in the distance. 

With his deep apathy finally disturbed by Mint's horror, the redhead acknowledges to himself how he probably should've been there for him more during all of this. During times where he was in distress, in danger, and… well, at least now was a time he could help him. If he wanted that kiss, that love, that adoration from another… he'd have to earn it, huh? "Mm… heyyyy…" Vamp would quirk perhaps the only smile that's occurred through this entire endeavor as he gently wraps his arms beneath Mint's shoulders. Poor violinist was shaking, but definitely held on with his only remaining arm. "I'm nooooot gonna let you die heeeere, gotcha?" 

"Y-you… you can't just s-say that…" Doubt? Reasonable. The musician did lose an arm and an eye, one of his acquaintances passed out, the other dead, and who the hell knows what's going on with Aloe by this point? Vamp would blink, peering behind him that Grey, too, was very likely dead. It… that filled him with dread more than anything. If that fucker Roguefort was willing to let him die of all people, then…

"I…" the drunkard's voice would trail off, a tenseness in his chest that he accidentally let spread to his arms. "I mean it. I won't let you die. That's… that's a prooomise." The redhead would lean forward, touching foreheads with the violinist in the gentlest way that he could muster. Vampire could feel the way the other would barely be able to loosen up, let alone stop the terror from making him tremble. 

Such gentleness would be interrupted as the horrid, grating sound of bug-based whirring would catch on his ear. Quickly drawing closer, becoming louder, and Vampire was not having it. 

Letting go of Mint and swiftly turning himself around with abnormal grace, the giant predator would be stopped in their tracks as Vampire gripped them by the face. Well, if one could even call that a face. With multiple eyes, giant proboscis, empty thorax, and- "Hah." 

You know what? No. He's not even humoring the thought. No sense of humanity was left in this thing, was there? So why treat them like one? It's with a grin that Vampire would let his wings flare, hand gripping Rogue's face and ignoring their squirming as the display of bug-textured bat wings would become that of an intimidation tactic… and to shield Mint. 

"You're pathetic, you know that?" Vampire would hiss, taking his other arm and socking whatever was left of Roguefort in the 'face'. Nearly snapping that thing of a 'mouth', he'd continue to throw punches, noticing how Rogue wasn't even attempting to attack back. Instead, they were trying to get around him. Trying to get to Mint. "Really, reaaaaaally pathetic! Worse than me!"  Fisticuffs with a giant insectoid monster would normally end in the worst way, but… the focus not being on him, it was quite easy to push them back until he could grab something else. Ah, right, like… one of those knives. Out of the corner of his vision, Vamp could see the stained and glinting metal, next to the unpleasant reminder that is Mint's severed arm. "Soooo desperate for your own little woooorld… Guess what!" Vamp would laugh, knocking Roguefort back with a kick to their chest so that he could grab a knife and deal more damage. "You ruined it! You went tooooooo far! And now you're gonna- Oh shit." 

Too much gloating! Roguefort got in front of him! Ugh, what a fucking mess. At least without working wings and a limp, this thing was easier to catch up to. It's with a gruff huff that Vampire would give a beat of his wings to fly himself above Rogue… and crash-land onto their back, forcing them to the ground. There was still a distance between the two of them and Mint, a few feet or so, but it was still far too close for Vampire's liking. No struggling could knock him off. This was the end, and he's taking it for himself. For once. Like a mosquito latched on for draining blood, he'd do exactly that. Well… in a way that only a non-mosquito could. With his bare hands. 

Legs gripping the body beneath him, Vamp would spare a glance up to Mint before glowering down at the creature beneath him, gripping the knife with both hands.  "This is for everything you've done to me!" Vampire would stab down into the center of Rogue's back, digging into the other's spine. Not the first, nor the last.  "This is for letting Grey die!" Further up, another sound of a blade 'shink'-ing into the flesh of a monster, small cracks and creaks from bone and other hardened material hanging in the air.  "This!" Vampire would breathe deeply, "Is for what you've done to Mint!" Another stab, further up. Set just below the neck. Or, well, whatever there was left of one. 

Vampire would shift the blade in his hand, standing on top of the crippled, bleeding monster that was once some leader. Unrecognizable other than the clothes that were torn apart and screwn across the dying body's dysfunctional limbs. "And this? Come oooon, you know what this one iiiiiis…" Almost sadistically, the drunk would draw the blade across the feeble thing's back, gently slicing the skin open and watching the corroded blood seep out. He'd raise the blade up, eyes flaring with hatred as he cried out and swung down. "THIS IS FOR MY SISTER, YOU BEAST!" 

A clean slice. In silence, the body would collapse, Vampire standing atop as he watched the head of the 'mastermind' hit the floor and roll pathetically. With heavy breaths, Vampire would hop down from the corpse, looking to the blade that was bloodied from the beast… and giving it a lick, causing his face to immediately scrunch up. "Eugh… moldy…"  Regaining his composure one step at a time, he'd approach a still terrified Mint and kneel before him, ignoring the splatters that littered his clothes. "Heyyyy…" he'd speak softly, keeping his crimson eyes affixed on the other's emerald ones. "Let's… get out of here, okaaaay? I got youuuu… and everyone else… let's get somewhere saaaafe and comfy…" 

No clean clothes. No rags. They'd have to make due. Aloe would glance between the other two that were holding Caramel to keep him, ah, as stable as one could be in such horrors. Seeing a shadow come over them, Aloe looked up to see Vampire simply looking down with a bit of drool going down his cheek, though he appeared more curious than anything else.

"Huuuuh…" The drunkard would look the 'medic' dead in the eyes, smiling. "Whaaaat? I got noooothin' to do with this." His words were met with a quiet grunt as Aloe took hold of his cloak. "I require this. If the wound cannot be cauterized or sanitized, I can at least attempt to tie the wound off and cover the opening…" 

Wiping at his mouth, Vampire would shrug and shed his cloak, handing it to Aloe and watching them curiously as they'd tear it to bits. "Gooood thing I have spaaares…" He'd mumble, trying to keep his saliva within himself. 

Aloe promptly went to work, eying the dimensions of the fabric to try and accurately tear it in ways that would aid this whole predicament. Finding it difficult to focus, they'd fall back on something it feels like they haven't done in forever. 

"If I can stop one heart from breaking," they began, speaking beneath the sound of ripping cloth. They'd lean in, lifting what was left of Caramel's leg and pressing past the broken cries that fell from their touch. 

"I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching," the researcher continued, though they could feel the daggers of Lemon's glare on them. It's protective, they know. They understand.

"Or cool one pain," their breath was held as they pressed a portion of cloth around the wound, pulling it up so that it acts as a form of casing.

"Or help one fainting robin unto his nest again," wrapping another cloth around the first and pulling it tight to cut any circulation from the wound. Without belief in any entity, they'd pray this would at least staunch the bleeding.

"I shall not live in vain." 

A deep breath is taken, and though the researcher is still reeling and burning from the toxic scents in the air, they force themself to stand. "That is the most I can do on short notice." They say flatly, as if all emotion has been drained out of them… even more than usual. Aloe glances towards the blonde, who's still aggressively stanced and glaring. "The only thing I could have recommended was applying electricity for cauterizing, but… power of your caliber could accidentally cause major damage- or even heart failure. Certainly, you understand the risks." Lemon would blink, surprisingly softening and looking to Caramel with nothing more than a grumble. "Yeah, sure, I get it…" 

Though giving a slight wobble, Aloe would go by Mint's side and motion for him to stand up. The musician would look between them and the poor body he was holding onto, but decided to follow once Lemon started to reach his arms under to start carrying Caramel. "What… what do we do w-with him…? We can't- we can't leave h-him here…" Mint would whimper, fearing the consequences of keeping Caramel around. Eyes wide, he'd look to Aloe for an answer, though wouldn't receive anything clear. "We can bring him with us, as much as it would be a detriment-" 

"Fuck you." Lemon growled, pulling Caramel closer to himself. He'd be murmuring to the victim otherwise, trying to be kind to the only one that mattered.

"I only speak the truth." Aloe would huff, shaking their head. "Either that, or we could lead him out… though that puts all of us at far greater risk. It takes longer than if we were to finish this with him… despite his condition." 

"Ooooh weeeell." Vampire would butt into the conversation, laying down on the very air he floated on. "Looook, are we committing a murder ooooor are we gonna be heeeere being sitting duuuucks?" As much as the crew weren't much of a fan, with Lemon sparking momentarily, the redhead would move ahead and motion for everyone else to follow. Reluctantly, the group would do so. There was nowhere else to go. 

The cold stone began to crack the further the five would delve. Breaks in the chilling atmosphere would bring forth a different form of 'chills'. Flesh would wind its way deep into the crevices, pulsing and squishing as it would soon take over the walls more and more… until the atmosphere became this humid, horrid, red-tinted cave of flesh. "What… is all this…?" Mint would speak softly, as if the walls had ears among the slabs of seemingly living meat. "I dunnooooo…" Vampire answered simply, nothing about the location bothering him. "Nobody's been down here 'cept meeee, you guuuuys, and thoooose two." And motioning with the end of his sentence, the drunkard would motion towards a grand set of doors. 

To avoid the silence, Aloe would be the one to speak up. "Vampire," they began, only continuing once they received a glance back by the drunkard bending his entire body in an arch to do so. "These creatures… Why have they been released? You seem to know more about the situation than any of us."  Lemon growled, attempting to interject. "Because he's as suspicious as all Hel-"  "I dunnoooo. If you guys aaaare gonna kill them, and since things haaave been off with my cooking buddy, maaaaaybe they know? Last ditch-eeeeffort?" Vampire would shrug, returning to a normal position with a small hum. "Everybody's been told toooo shelter and to not come out aaaall day." 

"I see…" The researcher would lower their gaze, feeling Mint's arm wrap around their own as a form of reassurance. "At least there were not many in the first place. They cannibalize each other, as much as it only harms their numbers…" Ah, perhaps they shouldn't have spoken that. They could feel the violinist shiver at the thought. 

The group would continue down the cold, drab halls for only a moment longer before the sound of skittering rang through the halls. Aloe would rudely push ahead of even Vampire, looking into the neighboring holes in the walls, hearing a loud thump against the cold stone. Pebbles fell and cracks lined the walls, indicating this creature has been doing such for quite some time… and with a heavy amount of force. "Ah… so it is within the walls." Not a comforting realization. 

Vamp would shrug and continue walking on. "Whateeeeverrr… These guys never bothered me anyways." The rest of the group was untrusting of the dismissal, but would try to follow the drunkard regardless, only to have the thumping sound follow them. Lemon would shift his position closer to the wall, attempting to obscure Caramel from harm's way… and Mint would stick by Cara- figuring it'd be a form of wordless support.  "It didn't bother YOU, maybe…" Lemon would growl, "but these things are out for our blood!"  Vampire would look back, puzzled, ignoring the growing cracks in the wall beside the group. "'Our'? But there's only oooone of us who-" 

Breaking to bits, the colorless wall would burst open- rocks and debris flying every which direction as the group was startled. Lemon would react by shooting a bolt at whatever had bursted from the wall, but the dust within the air caused it to scatter, creating more of a flashbang than anything else. With the group blinded, it was Caramel's shrill screaming that would alert the group as to the beast's location. 

The group would then take to stabbing the beast- with the dust settling in the skirmish to show that the thing that had emerged from the wall beheld large mandibles. Large legs lined with throbbing veins and abnormally grown flesh, a thorax that pulsed and shifted with movement similar to a writhing stomach, and an outer shell who's wounds bled with inky black bile at the stab wounds it received. Though the sight was a horror in and of itself, even worse was the position Caramel wound up in. 

"GET OFF OF HIM!" Lemon would scream with all the vindication he could muster, throwing himself onto the beast's back and tearing into whatever outer protection it had and jabbing the knife in wherever he could. The monster would thrash, but it wouldn't stop its assault on the one beneath it.  The mandibles would clamp down, narrowly missing Caramel's neck, shoulder, wherever it was attempting to aim. The 'shield' he was given wasn't of much help other than to try and bash at the face of the thing. The victim cried and squirmed, trying to find a way out, only to freeze in place as he felt a piercing sensation in his leg. The bug had aimed downward, and… 

…He felt the blood drain from his face, his stomach turning as his throat wretched out a blood-curdling scream. The group around him yelled and seemed to be shouting at one another, but it all went unheard as the agony coursed through Caramel's leg- well… what was left of it as the horror above him crunched and tore into its meal.

His vision went black for a moment as the fuzzily felt the thing that had so horribly wounded him spurt bile and his own blood on him, caused by Lemon finally being able to get a clean stab on the creature's brain. There was an unprocessed clamor as this weight he felt over his body was lifted, and the heated red that poured out of his gaping wound began to pool around his leg. Caramel kept his eyes closed, voice continuing to cry out as the sheer pain of it all absolutely destroyed his mental fortitude. Heart pounding, chest incapable of holding breath, head feeling numbed from the blood loss and pure fear… Between wails, babblings of mortality would slip out. "I'm dying- I'm- I'm dy… I can't, I'm- I'm dying, dead, I'm-" His rambles would continue, though he could hear a quiet shushing sound while his head was gently petted and his shaking hand was held. 

More affection would be received, though it would take far more and far longer than a few moments of softness to solve his ordeal. Sobs would claw their way out of Caramel's throat, hands held and even gripped when he could feel his wound being messed with- treated, more accurately. The sheer amount of fear coursing through his system was enough to make him retch. And though his stomach was mostly empty, acidic bile and small chunks would force their way out, unfortunately landing on one of his hands. Fortunately, the one who held him didn't seem to mind. And… at least he could get a sickened laugh out of the soft ones that held him. 

…

Hearing the beasts walk out of their cage, observing their different patterns of movement… Some limped, some decided flying was better, some simply crawled due to lack of limbs in the first place. A mess of flesh and insectoid properties, pulsing in an attempt to seek food. Seek blood. As much as Grey would normally find himself petrified, none of the creatures ever locked into him, and he found an odd sense of safety in letting them out. He… he really can't explain why, so- so he just won't. 

The task was tedious, though the cook found the more menial tasks as something to be enjoyed. Though, enjoying this? That was something he wasn't sure if he could do. As safe as these beasts helped him feel, there was still the purpose behind doing all of this. His mind went to this being a defense against whoever was coming in. Walking back from the containments, Grey could feel his vision being seen from behind his own eyes. He was looking, but not seeing, as his mind wandered and his legs carried him without a thought. 

The gravity of it all was setting in. All of the horrors of the past creeping up on him. The promise they'd made, what happened to the twins… god, what happened to them was an omen, wasn't it? Grey held his hands up to his chest feebly, gaze to the ground. A happy life that was wished for, ha, what a joke it seemed like now. At this rate, he'll be losing more. With what was spoken to him, Rogue… agh, he just can't let that happen! But what could he do? He's not a strong one. Words? No, those… that's what got them all here in the first place. He- he doesn't know what to do, but- he'll find something. He has to. 

This wasn't a nightmare. The chef would hold himself as his mind faintly registered the sounds of squishing flesh beneath his feet- signaling he had already returned to where he needed to be. It was with a deep breath that he'd return his hands behind his back. Standing tall even though his mind was full of stressed fuzziness.

This wasn't a nightmare. He raised his empty mind to look towards Rogue, who beheld themself in front of a vague mass of red that he didn't have the capacity to process. Something was spoken to him, which he gave a default response to, and that seemed to be enough to get concern off of him. 

This wasn't a nightmare. Surrounded by flesh, someone precious who knew that they were going to die here, and the horrors of what the world had in store for the both of them. The heat of the room was soothing, but it was not enough to bring his mind back from its spacy state. 

This wasn't a nightmare. This was all too real.

Oddly… entirely empty. Not a single soul was wandering around here. Aloe would hum in thought, leading the crew through turn after turn. "The fact that there is not a single soul out… it's suspicious." 

"Like they're expecting us?" Lemon said sharply, not shifting from his readied stance. Prepared to kill at a moment's notice. "Are they planning a sneak attack? Crowding up to give us the jump?" 

Aloe shook their head, though they couldn't help but be the slightest bit entertained by the prospect. "Never. Their amount of coordination couldn't take down a sitting target, let alone four whole moving targets. You've never seen what they're like when they're let out to find food… but it's like toddlers stumbling over one another." There was a light sigh from the researcher as they peeked around the next turn. "Long story short… everyone is likely in hiding to remain as such. Hidden from us." 

Mint would wave his hand to silently get Aloe's attention. Once their many eyes were on him, he'd stammer, idly toying with the weapon in his hands. "Uh, where… Where are we going, exactly? Is there a, um, a master bedroom or something we're going to find Roguefort in?" 

The many-eyed creature would look out into the next hall again, then look back as stolid as usual. "We are going into the deeper depths. I am certain they would want to be dramatic if they're not actively seeking us out and were preparing for our arrival. There is the stony prison you're familiar with, but… there is a way to go deeper. No one has ever been permitted in there, so… I see no reason why they wouldn't hide in there for theatrics." 

Lemon would groan, having a few small sparks coming from him. "That's so stupid. Who the fuck cares about how much flaire they'll have? They're gonna die either way." Caramel would give a soft laugh, "I-I mean… it's like- it's like a f-final boss in a video game… I guess th-they want it to be very… final? Last s-stand-ish?" 

"Nerd." Lemon huffed, rustling Caramel's hair. Not smiling, but clearly happy to hear him.

"H-hey! It's not like y-you didn't make an entire outfit for h-hunting and–" 

"Sh! Shh." Lemon would swiftly put a hand just above Caramel's mouth, trying to hush him. "There's a reason for that. Look, let's just… let's just get going." 

Aloe and Mint both looked upon the two's interaction, the musician winding up smiling before the group would continue to press on. Empty hall after empty hall, alight with shining candles on the walls, the deep turquoise becoming a bit of a grating color to look at through every similar looking hall. It was only when the coldness of stone met against the edge of the blue-green carpeting that there was freedom from the cool colors of the mansion… only to be met with no color at all. 

Chilling stone steps, colorless rocky walls, the dull metal bars meant for captives to be stuck behind… and dust visibly in the air from lack of care, too, gave the whole place an atmosphere of despair. Caramel couldn't help but latch onto Lemon's arm, too familiar with the state of being behind those bars. It was almost as if he could feel the blood being drained from him again, a shiver going over him. 

…being behind the other two, Lemon didn't mind pausing to give the other a hug and a gentle pet on the head, eyes averted to ensure his bout of affection wasn't seen. "You'll be fine. I promise." He murmured, pulling away and offering his arm for Caramel to properly hold, being held firmly by the nerd with a nervous smile… though it wouldn't be held for long. 

Loud skittering would be heard from one of the cells, a sudden sound that seemed to shake even Aloe. "Get back!" They ordered, holding their arms out as buzzing resounded and insectoid legs started to exit the containment in front of them. Mint would dart back, joining Caramel behind Lemon as the blonde would raise his knife to where the enemy was emerging from. 

From broken wings that flittered to a bent proboscis, the monster that emerged was massive in scale. Merely standing with its flesh-costed torso and vein-covered insectoid limbs boasted a height tall enough to nearly press against the ceiling. It hissed out some grotesque noise as it would face Aloe, swiftly attempting to stab at it with its broken piece. Though with such clunky movement, Aloe easily ducked out of the way, taking the commanding lead. "Lemon! Above the proboscis!" 

"The what?!" The electrical hunter said, surprisingly hesitating for once… and nearly letting Aloe get hit as the creature approached and continued to try and brutally jab at the researcher. 

"The head! Is that not obvious?! Destroy it, or it just might destroy us!" 

Lemon would let out a grunt, instinctively reaching back to grab Mint's blood vial that he's kept on his wrist, yanking it with little thought to the yelp that Mint gave as he chucked it against the ceiling. Praise be to whatever diety there may be, the creature that's entire body convulsed with any small movement would lift its attention to the blood splatter, connection between the head and torso exposed. 

With a running start, Lem would jump and grab onto the creature's strange chest fuzz. holding tight to avoid being thrown off by its thrashing, before promptly climbing through the mess of what felt like unnaturally and sporadically grown hair mixed with insect-like fur. It would take him seconds before he made it to the opening, slashing open what he assumed to be the creature's 'throat' and promptly letting himself drop to the floor afterward, scrambling away and grabbing Aloe to drag back with him while the creature sprayed out blackened blood. It's limbs reached up, distorted chittering coming from the creature as it seemed to try and cover its own wound… before stumbling to what might be considered a 'kneel', and promptly falling to the ground. Not dead, but still dying. 

"Fuck…" Lemon would heave, rubbing off some of the blood that had gotten on his face during the process. The blackened parts were like splotches… oddly thick and hardened. "The hell is that thing?" 

No answer would be given at that moment, letting a terrored silence fall over the group. Aloe would hold Co tight to their chest, letting the quiet pass before saying anything. Hesitantly, they spoke. "That is… one of my experiments." Attention focused on Aloe, shocked expressions gouging into them, they kept their gaze averted in shame. "I have made many horrific creatures, to… to try and cure what I thought was within my capabilities." They remember back to Roguefort, telling them that there was no way to cure this plague brought up on Co and themself… how their efforts were fruitless. "I… had thought they were locked away in the deepest depths of the manor, never to be released… but it seems that Roguefort had other plans. How troublesome…" 

"Well, hey, think of it this way-" Mint would interject, trying to shake off the fear that was still running through his system. "If this one went down so easily, then um… we sure can take on the rest! That and, uh… maybe… maybe the other people that became monsters like this will go back to normal? Maybe-..." As weak of an attempt that it was, Aloe was still able to raise their gaze. They weren't smiling, but it was better than being in despair. "Fixing my mistakes, one could call it. Fair enough." The plant person straightened up, looking ahead. "I do not expect anyone to forgive me, but to at least repent in this way… I will accept it." 

Mint smiled and nodded, approaching Aloe and looking up at them with a twinkle in his eye. "Yes! We, uh, none of us really asked for this, so- even if you did do th-" 

SQUEAK! 

The sound of a small animal caught the group off-guard. Instinctively, Lemon rushed in front of everyone, brandishing his knife and unknowingly hissing. He stood at-arms, prepared to attack whatever was there… only to see a little bat fly into the view of the group lazily. It would look at the group, smiling before twirling itself around and having its cape reveal the flirtatious redhead. 

"Uhh… meowwww?" Vampire slurred, as if he hadn't startled the four of them. "What's uuup? I thought you guys wanted out of here… couldn't get enough of me, huuuh?" 

Caramel cocked a brow, mouth pursed. "I don't even know you…"

"Not yeeeet you don't. I'm sure we could over a few drinks aaand-" The knife that was pointed at his bat form was promptly placed closer to his neck. Lemon wasn't having any flirting go on here, it seems. "Oh, huh. Saaad… still though, this knife isn't telling me why you're aaaaall back here." 

"Um," Mint butted in, gently setting a hand on Lemon's arm to put the weapon down. "We're going to, uh… kill Roguefort. That's- that's the plan, at least." 

Vampire let his mouth fall agape, cartoonishly surprised. He'd then chuckle, chortle, absolutely start having a laughing fit. "And here I thought no one would ever even try! Sure, I'll humor you guys. I'm sure you guys will do just fine in taking them down." 

The blonde would growl, finally fully letting down his weapon to cross his arms defiantly. "You say no one would ever try. Why didn't you?" 

Vamp would pause, one of his hands going down to fidget with a pocket as his gaze averted. "Reasons…" 

"Whatever…" Lem waved the excuse off, not bothering to even look at the drunkard. "How are you even going to help us? What, do you know their exact location and can take us there?" 

"Uhhhh… yeaaa? Why wouldn't I?" 

"...okay, sure, then fucking get to it, beast."