A Lonely Road

“Hello there, little one”

Maybe Gittel should be startled in some way, even a little bit. But, she was more intrigued with the stranger than scared. After all, her parents always told her not to judge someone based off their appearances.

“Um, hi stranger.”

… those that I care for no longer exists within this city as of this moment.

Anger flared in the male’s eyes, how dare Archer make her sad! How dare anyone make the maiden sad and leave her behind! He gritted his teeth as he continued to listen to her. He would never do that to her! If she let him be beside her, he would bring her breakfast in bed, pamper her like she deserved and never let go of the one who took his heart.

“Jeanne…”

He held his book before the maiden as he began to move toward her, what was he doing? She cared not for him, she would never care for him and he was nothing to her? His book whispered into his ears all the madness that issued from her death, everything he had done for her was for naught. But his heart was set. His eyes trained on her as he began to speak maybe the only truth he felt to her. He was nothing more than a broken monster but so what, he loved her and if she rejected him over and over he could do nothing but love her and be loyal to her.

“Any man or woman who dare to leave you is an idiot. You are the one sole purpose I live for. I care not that you do not feel the same way toward me. I know that my sight is nothing more than repulsive to you and that my deeds are never going to be something you like. But know this, Jeanne daughter of Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Romée, neither heaven nor hell will stop me from loving you. Neither all the indifference you harvest toward me nor the man who is lucky to have gained your love will stop me from loving you. Nothing will stop me from loving you and know that even if I slip into madness and lose all control, I can never, ever harm you. I rather never gain my powers than to see you be sad. It breaks my heart to see you that way. And the knowledge that I can do nothing about it breaks my heart even more… know that I will never, ever, leave your side unless I am yanked away from this world by force. And even if that was the case I will still find a way to come back to you. I am not speaking to you as Gilles De Rais, the man who was under your command, but as Gilles De Rais, the man who was, is still and will forever be in love with you. Here is my book, you can destroy it if you see fit and I will do nothing… but you will have to either kill me or let me hug you, just once Jeanne. I merely wish that you may consent for these hands to merely wrap around you. I understand if you wish not for that… I will not pursue anything you do not consent to”

He was surprised how much he was talking. He was not himself, the madness was subsiding for a little bit. But that was Jeanne’s effect on him. Even when he was alive, those violet hues always calmed the beast within him. It almost cost him his life a few times but he never held a grudge against the saint. He continued to approach her. His eyes on the maiden as he looked to the book before him. Was he truly going to let her control him even till this very day? He was a pathetic excuse of a human being, reduced to nothing in front of the maiden with violet eyes. But that was both his blessing and curse. He loved her, even through the years and the millennia he loved her and ever cell in his body wanted her. He was more than ok to just be her friend, a comrade. But life was cruel to him, her god was cruel to him.

“I guess I am never going to get my powers again…. Heh, any other challenge… any other human being I would gladly kill and destroy for my power, but if your happiness is in stake… I can’t… I cannot bring myself to do it. I’m such a pathetic excuse of a monster aren’t I? I rather be dead then lay a hand that will harm you…”

The madman spoke in a mystical tone as he smiled and then gave him a little entertainers bow before he chuckled at the thought of the countless times the child before him might have done that to his own grimoire.

The jester had seen many ponies in this place, but no one stood out more than Pinkie Pie as he smiled to the pony that was asking for the other. He had been busy with his book on demonology, checking out the summons he can make if he just practiced enough while keeping an eye on the surrounding.

The new pony was indeed something to behold, looking through his book he would then tilt his head as he spoke to her:

“It is a book about demonology and mythical creatures. My handy guide to the mysteries in this world and city. But of course this is not enough of knowledge since not everything I have seen in this city is recorded in this book. You are more than welcome to borrow it if you want to. But that is…. Fascinating about the amalgamation of your kind. So I am guessing Pinkie Pie is an earth pony? And the status of alicorn is equivalent to the humans’ status of kind, the ruler of every person in that kingdom? Am I correct? And if so how do you rule over others?”

The questions where asking themselves and his analysis was still in process while he took the information she handed him and turned it over his head. With the little information she gave him, he began to draw a few patterns about how one ascends to royalty. Returning to the topic of Pinkie Pie.

“Mademoiselle… is something bothering you?”

He kept wary of the woman, his tome in his hand as he gave her a soft smile and began to move toward her. His jester coat covering him and warming him up as he spoke once more in kindness to her:

Doesn’t stop them making them, but y’know. That one kinda slipped out... but still, ‘mademoiselle’? Really? Part of them wanted to call him out on it ( first off all, that word is centuries old and second of all, that’s not even the start of it — ) but then, maybe that’s a bad idea, too right now.

Maybe it’s just the way he was just the way he looks — but something definitely was unsettling about him. It’s probably an even worse idea to make assumptions about people, especially ones you don’t know but hey, maybe — just maybe, appearances can be deceiving?

Taking off his jester cloak, the sleeveless robe beneath it would show not only the slightly muscular built beneath the hunched man’s cloak, but also the red veins and strange inklings on his arms. Gilles smiled to the woman as he places the robe over his arm and continued to watch her:

“It protects me from the oncoming attack if there is one. Call it my armor of sorts. Though, might I ask what is a young maiden like you doing in the blazing sun and this time of the day, are you not yourself hot?”

He was tall. And he was scary, that’s all Spike knew as he stopped in his tiny tracks once saw the man. Should he run? Hide? Did he see him?

“I have to admit, after seeing a talking pony, I am no longer surprised to see a talking dragon...”

Gilles did not notice the dragon until the dragon spoke. He was on his way to see where he wanted to buy his new house, if he can afford one. And so far most of the sectors had a threat for him and the house he lived in was beyond beautiful but not suitable for his... hobbies.

“Oooooooo, oooooleeeeander”

Smirking he watched the male, the custom truly consuming him as he felt himself even more flirtatious than normal. His eyes finally adjusting to the surrounding as he spoke to the male:

“the one you swore up and down I could not exist because past doesn’t just come alive…. But hooo hoo. Behold, history in the flesh…. “

He made a twirl and a bow before he spoke his name:

❝I never said that you couldn’t exist, here!❞ He snaps back, voice laced with venom. Immediately, the events that occurred during their past meeting come flooding back. ❝Didn’t know if you were the real deal. I still don’t.❞

Gilles could not help the chuckling, he was more...freer? Was that even that word he wanted to use. No, it was just that this was in its own messed up way a very fun experience to him. Oleander was just someone Gilles knew he can have fun with, as much as it annoyed the other surely.

“Don’t ruffle your feathers, little one, I am not in the mood to cause chaos yet. Plus, there are far more dangerous creatures then a low-level demon such as myself, should you not be worried about them?”

Gilles indeed understood his standing as of now, but soon, soon he will gain his whole arsenal and when he did.... the excitement of just the thought made him giggle like a maniac. He would give this city a run for its money, but he needed allies and he needed to make sure not to gain too much attention. Not yet anyways.

A sigh escaped him as he looked to the male with his bulging eyes. He could not help it as he looked to the sky once more:

“You are a strange man Gildarts, I see your point but in the end I will be on the other side and the sacrifices indeed were made and continue to be made”

He looked at his book as he took a deep breath, a smile caressing his face he would then look at him:

He could sense the others tone, even though the voice was calm, Gilles understood that tone all so well. And in another life, another time, Gilles would have agreed with him. Life showed him however just how much worth a child’s life was. He extended a clawed hand before him, his sound all too soft and all too nonchalant for a man who was talking about a serious subject.

“In my country, back in my days, they were nothing but pawns to progress a political agenda. You know why I was executed? Because I killed a priest, the child thing they tacked it to my name and called me a monster even though according to the evidence, apparently I have been murdering them for 7 years. that should tell you a bit about where I come from when 7 years of child murder is glanced over and I get executed for the priest’s head. hehehe...”

The maddness exuded from the man, but he cared not for what the other thought. If the other wanted to fight, Gilles would fight. But for now, Gilles merely wanted to show the other the true price of a human’s life. Nothing... absolutely nothing.

     Earnest are pale features framed by golden tresses, lavender swathed hues perusing the Eirei in turn as he finally reveals his person. Clawed digits wield the very book that his classification has become known for, wielding powers she was uncertain she wished to see in use. The other a mere lance, one she recollected from her time beside him on the battle, fingers instantly curling as if prepared to summon her own in case an unsettling intent was to surface. Never had he approached with such weaponry prior, instead keeping afar and unarmed for what reason he might have.

“for once in your life Jeanne, LISTEN TO ME! This is SERIOUS!”

Another deep breath and a look to the side and downwards. He was shivering, controlling his emotions. He was the strong one! He was the one who turned to these dark arts and therefore condemning himself to an eternity of damnation. He should have known better but he was hurt, he was in pain and it eased the pain.

“The scientists gave me a choice for unlocking my powers, Jeanne. You stand in my way to achieve it. If … If I wanted to kill you I would have all those times, but you… you know my feelings. I have two choices no third… Either out of mercy I end your life, or kill everything you love”

As he was speaking, the madness was returning, his voice peeking in excitement as the book in his hand gave off a slight red aura, as though the book was talking to the madman.

“I should destroy everything you love… shouldn’t I? Make you know how I felt when I lost everything! But… then I have truly become a monster, haven’t I?”

Where those tears in his eyes. Clawed fingers moved toward the lance as he was thinking. She already deemed him a monster, she already detested the very essence of his appearance, and even now, even now she was wary and believed that he, he of all people, was going to harm her! Abysmal black eyes watched the woman before him, even now she still holds to her God as though he would save her. Did she not see how much she had been forsaken? Perhaps, perhaps it was merciful to kill her, save her the agony of living in pain like he did. Then why? Why was he asking her to guide him once more?

“Jeanne, I only wanted to see you smile again and ride the meadows with you once more…I wanted to just …be friends…yet time and time again I know this will not happen. If I kill you, then I will kill my heart, what is left of it. If I kill everything you care for, you will feel my pain, but… I will lose you forever…either way I will lose you… either way I will lose what is left in my heart…I cannot undo the past, and I will not undo it. Every time you die I will lose to the madness…that is such our tragedy…at least I know… that if I know now how you…truly feel about me, whether I am there or not…it matters not”

Why was he genuine to her? Perhaps a part of him was still hoping that this would make her care for him, even as a measly friend. But it was far from over, there was nothing to do as he smiled and began to think, he would not harm her, but he would make sure she would kill him. At least that way it would truly sink into his every fiber that she really does not want him in her life. She was not the same saint from his time…how futile was his love…unrequited.

Abandoned again…