paixaorpg | Gains and Losses [Active]

Entry tags:

Gains and Losses [Active]

Character(s): Laharl, Flonne, Luxord and at some point Vyers.
Content: Laharl hallucinates, Flonne gets kidnapped, Vyers joins in, and... yeah. 8D
Setting: Near Actua Are hotel (centerish one I think)
Time: Mid-day
Warnings: Pfft, donno yet.

The first time he thought he'd seen something, he'd shrugged it off.

The second time, he thought it strange, but still hadn't thought anything much of it.

The third time, however, when Laharl caught sight of her disappearing into a crowded street, he'd really started to wonder. He'd been pretty sure it had been her he'd seen, even if he'd only seen her from the back and only at a glance. Still, he knew his own mother, even if it had been so long since he'd really seen her.

Laharl had searched around a little and even asked Rosette to keep an eye out, but still he could not seem to find her. He couldn't contain the feeling that it hadn't just been his imagination, however. He knew, after all, people could arrive here before their death. It had happened, so the possibility she could appear was there. Larxene had used that once already to her advantage, but it had just been a trick.

He was worried now it could just be Larxene, playing another trick on him. Messing with his head. He wouldn't put it past her. Then again, however, she hadn't said anything. Nothing. If it was her, he'd have expected her to say something. She wouldn't remain quiet.

Or maybe it was just his imagination.

He sighed, staring out the window of the damaged hotel. It was starting to look really bad. He wasn't sure how much longer they could stay here the rate things were going.

Hell, he wasn't sure what to do now, other than try to pursue the Organization. Sure, there was the resistance, but he'd been distracted lately by Etna's disappearance to give it much thought. Damnit, that vassal of his better be back safe in the Netherworld. He didn't think the Org had been the cause of her disappearance, but there was still that concern.

As he thought about things, something caught his eye, or rather someone. Down on the cobble street, people had been passing by as usual, but a figure stood out, that instantly drew his attention.

Laharl drew in a breath, as he beheld the familiar figure. A white dress... brown hair... Was it her? He didn't dare move, afraid the vision would disappear, but she stayed there, and even seemed to glance up at the hotel as if getting the feeling she was being watched.

The full sight of her face sent the young demon's head spinning. It... was her, his mother. Still, he found himself frozen until she looked away and turned, beginning to walk down the street.

No! He was going to lose her again! There was no way he could let her get away! Not this time!

Stumbling back from the window, Laharl quickly left the hotel room without a word to Flonne, dashing down the staircase and diving out the front door.

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Vyers followed Laharl up the stairs and to the room, unlocking the door and opening it for Laharl and his wife to enter. He followed afterward, electing to stand for the moment.

"So where do we begin?"

She stepped into the room first and after a look around, her attention quickly returned to Vyers and Laharl. "Well..." she began, as she settled on a chair. "What exactly is this place?"

Laharl meanwhile just plopped himself onto the edge of the nearest bed. He pipped up first as he knew the answer to that one abundantly well. "Some weird human city on an Island in some other dimension that pulls people from anyplace... and time," he answered, easily.

Vyers nodded. "Did the people at the gate not give you that information?" He froned. He knew the people to be dim, but he didn't think them so rude.

But that didn't matter right now. "It's quite dangerous here."

"No information quite like that," she replied, a bit wide-eyed at the explantion. "I was told the name, but that doesn't really explain much."

Concern then filled her expression, "Dangerous? How so?"

Laharl spoke up again from his bed perch, "There's some big group called the Organization... and they're... trouble."

A fair point. Those pamphlets only told so much, and most of what he had learned he had learned by looking through the journals and message board.

"It would be best if you kept close to us," he added. "Just to be sure."

"Yeah," Laharl agreed, with a nod. "And avoid the journals too."

At this point making sure she avoided anything that might alert the Organization that she was here. If Larxene found out...

His mother nodded. "Alright."

That should take care of things for now, right? If she asked they could just tell her all that they knew, but Vyers saw no reason to continue on such depressing matters for too long. This was supposed to be a happy reunion, was it not?

"Do you have any questions?" he asked her, deciding to let her decide for herself.

She managed to smile again, a little awkwardly. "Well, I have many questions, but I'm not quite sure where to start," she replied honestly.

"It seems I have much to catch up on..." she added quieter. Her gaze drifted back to her son, as she regarded him quietly for a moment. "How old are you now, Laharl?"

Caught off guard a bit, Laharl mumbled a reply of, "1313."

Her eyes widened a brief moment. "You've grown up," she finally said, smiling for him again. She then looked to Vyers, "...What about you? You've... changed so much. What happened?"

Vyers looked over at Laharl with a faint smile on his face, hesitating before fondly resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "That he has," he added, pride in his voice. "And he has grown up well."

And then she asked that question, the one he was dreading answering, the one wasn't sure how to answer.

His eyes drifted downward, and for a moment there was silence as he tried to figure out what he was going to say.

"Laharl is Overlord now," he finally stated.

Slowly the boy lifted his head, looking up at Vyers, wide-eye'd for a moment. Laharl really hadn't expected that. Even he detected the pride in his dad's voice. It was an odd feeling that bubbled up in his stomach. One he was not used to feeling, but it was... good.

"...Old Man..." Laharl murmured quietly, not sure what to say, but visably seemed to perk up, despite the subject change.

He wasn't sure how his old man was going to answer that, but once more that certainly hadn't been what he'd expected, but none-the-less, Laharl gave a nod, showing a bit of pride himself.

"Y-yeah, I am," he added, straightening up a bit. He was proud of the fact he was Overlord, and it did show.

"I see," she replied softly, as she usually did. Whether she really understood or not seemed up in the air, but for now she let it go.

Raising from the chair she moved over to the bed herself, settling down beside her son, facing him. "You've come so far... I'm very proud of you, Laharl," she told him as she then reached out and gently pulled him into a hug.

Edited 2008-11-29 23:48 (UTC)

Vyers waited to see whether or not more questions would come, but, to his relief, the subject was pressed no further. He hadn't expected to ever have to explain his death to her.

He turned his attention to his son once again, regarding the scene with a smile. This was what he had wanted to see. His son, the Overlord, grown up well (though, considering how well Vyers had done in raising him and how much Laharl had inherited from him, this shouldn't have been a surprise). His wife, his beloved, returned to him once again. A family... His family...

At first he stiffened up. He was still hardly used to hugs, but it was his mother. He wouldn't shove her off or something! Still, it left him feeling awkward at first.

And something else. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he vaguely sensed something... off. A.... darkness? Whatever. It didn't really matter right now, whatever it was, so Laharl shoved the odd feeling aside, ignoring it.

She did seem to sense he was uncomfortable, and eased the tightness of her embrace a little, brushing back his hair gently.

Eventually, he did start to relax (or maybe it was he suddenly noticed he was feeling kind of tired...) as well as find his voice once more. "M-mom... I... ...tch... I really missed you," he mumbled to her, with some added muffling by her shoulder making it only just intelligible.

She smiled sweetly, eyes closing as she once more tightened her embrace a bit. "I'm here now, that's what's important, yes?"

"Mmph..." was his rather simple reply.

Vyers simply stayed back, allowing the two the time they had missed. But after a moment, he noticed that his eyelids were beginning to feel rather heavy (so soon? Then again, it had been a busy day).

"I think," he yawned widely, "I could use some sleep."

Laharl's mother glanced up to Vyers and nodded a little as she released her son from her arms.

"Someone else seems tired too..." she noted.

"What? I'm n--" Laharl started but found himself yawning. Huh? Why the hell was he tired? Well, whatever.

"...Okay, maybe I am..." he muttered, as he hopped off the edge of the bed. "I guess I'll head to my room," he said, somewhat awkwardly. Leaving was hard when he was half worried he'd wake up and find it was a dream or something. That she might just disappear.

But his Old Man would be with her, so...

"So... Uh, later I guess...?" he mumbled as he backed to the door and was ready to slip out.

"One moment, Laharl, I'll see you to your room," his mother suddenly spoke up, as she also had risen from the bed and had moved to follow, but paused by Vyers to speak softly to him. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Laharl meanwhile hung about the door, a bit confused, but none-the-less waited, till his mother followed him out the door into the hallway and he led her down to his hotel room.

Vyers chuckled, it really had been a busy day, hadn't it? "Take as much time time with him as you need, my dear," he replied, smiling.

He yawned widely. "I think I will lay down for now."

It was a little odd when he noticed his room was unlocked, but he shrugged it off as he went inside. A vague sense that something... someone? else should be here hit him, but it quickly passed. If someone was meant to be here, they'd be here, right?

"Is everything alright?" his mother inquired, as she'd closed the door and was looking at him with concern.

"Huh? Oh it's nothing..." Laharl replied, as he clambered onto his bed, shoving the covers back.

He felt a soft tap on one of his shoes and looked over to his mother's amused smile.

"You're not sleeping with your shoes on, are you?"

"Uh..." Whoops. "N-no... of course not."

Laharl shoved off his shoes, depositing them to the bed side and slid under the covers, settling his head on the pillow. He found the covers being drawn up over over his shoulders and gently tucked around him.

"O-oi... I... I'm not a kid... Mom," he mumbled, a bit embarrassed.

"I know, but... just this once?" she asked from where she sat on the edge of the bed.

He glanced sleepily at her then heh'd softly. Laharl couldn't deny her for the life of him. "I... guess I don't mind."

She smiled down at him, and he returned it with a sleepy one of his own, before a toothy yawn and he curled onto his side, into his usual sleeping position. "Good night, Mom..." he murmured.

"Good night..." he heard her reply, as he felt himself starting to drift, only just noticing the sense of her lightly brushing his hair back.

"Sleep well, my son," followed, but sounded strange somehow.

As sleep began to take hold, a sense of darkness seemed to surround him. Drowning. He felt like he was drowning. He couldn't breath! Why couldn't he breath?!

His eyes snapped open, jerking out of what few moment's of sleep he'd had, and tried to take in a breath, but it's result was a strangled gasp. A hand was wrapped tightly around his throat. Horrified he found his mother's face staring down at him, but something was wrong. Her face's expression was frighteningly blank, but for the glimmer of gold in her eyes.

He choked, gasping again, trying to get what little air he could as he grabbed at his mother's arm desperately, his mind reeling. She was suffocating him!? Why was she trying to suffocate him?!?! What happened?!

Laharl didn't want to hurt her, but as he struggled the lack of air was making him dizzy and was threatening to make him black out. He finally used enough of his strength to break her grasp, lightly shoving her back from him long enough to stumble out of bed, gasping for precious air. He stumbled to his knees, and before he could get up, he found her bearing down on him, slamming him to the floor.

He'd only just managed to turn himself to his back in time to catch her wrists as she seemed poised to attack him.

"M-MOM!" he cried gruffly, his voice slightly hoarse. "W-what's wrong with you?! What are you doing?"

Laharl really didn't know what to do. While, yes, he could easily put this to an end, he didn't want to hurt her! He was hesitant to be even using THIS much force against her, but she was leaving him with no choice.

She struggling against his grasp, angrily, despite the blank look on her face. Whatever was driving her to attack him, didn't seem to be letting up.

Finally, Laharl did the first thing that came to mind.

"O-OI!" he shouted as he struggled to keep her subdued. "Old man! S-Something's wrong with Mom!"

Edited 2008-12-02 04:00 (UTC)

Vyers snapped awake with a hint of annoyance at the thud from the next room (he had just been about to fall asleep), but that immediately fell away as he heard Laharl shout.

A look of confusion fell across his face, but the demon sprang to his feet, rushing into the next room.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

What in the world was going on? What was she doing? He knew what it looked like, but at the same time... Why would she do such a thing?

He couldn't stop her, couldn't hurt her, but Laharl was obviously in danger--but why would he be in danger? Surely this couldn't be... It didn't make sense!

He looked on in horror. This couldn't possibly be his beloved. There was no way. It was impossible, impossible! Vyers could only stand in the doorway, eyes wide.

"Mom! MOM!" he continued to cry at her, desperation starting to seep into his voice, as he continued to try to hold her back from him. She was proving to be far stronger than he'd ever have guessed. "Damnit, snap out of it!"

"...P... please..." he then whispered, his gut twisting. What was going on. Everything had been perfect, why was it suddenly going all wrong.

Realizing his father was now standing there, he glanced up at him from his position sprawled on the floor, annoyed that he was just... standing there.

"Gah, what are you doing?! DO something! I don't want to risk hurting her."

He shook his head, hurrying over, and attempting to pull his wife away from his son. "What are you doing?! What's wrong?!" he asked her almost desperately. This had to be a mistake.

As he pulled at her, he noticed her blank face and the yellow glint in her eyes, and for a moment he lost his grip.

That... It couldn't be her. She didn't... But what if it was?

Vyers regained his grip. "Stop this!" He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back, and glanced over to Laharl, silently telling him to move.

This was wrong. She felt wrong. There was a darkness about her. What was going on?

Finally she was pulled off him and he panted there for a moment on the floor. His head was wheeling and his neck felt tight still from being almost choked to death.

His father's glance, however, got him into motion again, pulling himself to his feet, approaching cautiously. "Mom? Mom!"

Laharl's brows furrowed. Her face... why? "Come on! It's us!" but still, it didn't look like anything was getting through to her.

His glaze shifted to his father's. Even Laharl, at this point, was starting to panic. "What should we...?"

Vyers shook his head. He didn't know. He didn't know, and he hated not knowing. He glanced down at his wife, still struggling in his arms. She couldn't hear them; she wasn't herself.

"Did you" he paused to try and keep her still, "see anything before she...?"

Laharl shook his this time. "No, she was fine! I almost fell asleep, but woke up and she was... trying to strangle me."

It was so strange. It didn't make sense! Why was his mother like this suddenly? The only thing he'd noticed was... wait.

"The only thing I noticed was... darkness..." he said suddenly, blinking. His hand brushed his arm. He'd touched there before. The spot they'd injected him with... darkness. This felt the same. "It's... the same."

"The same?" Vyers echoed before he remembered what he'd been told before. Laharl had been forced into those experiments before, hadn't he? Then...

No, no they couldn't have. But...

He glanced down at her again. He had seen almost nothing of his wife in those eyes. He had to wonder if it was even her. But she had recognized them, hadn't she? She had known!

"Do you think she was taken?"

He almost started to explain, but then it seemed his father caught on to what he was talking about.

"I don't know... Geh, it's the same yet... Why was she acting normal? When they put it into me it started effecting me right away," he explained, watching his mother carefully.

"Why... is it only now..."

Laharl then growled in frustration. He had no idea what could be going on. Was this some kind of trap for him? Wait. Even when he was completely lost in it, he'd still managed to fight it.

"...You know, she SHOULD still be able to hear us, if they did something to her..."

He slowly came a little closer. "Mom? Oi, listen. You've got to fight it! Don't let it take you over," he spoke to her, hoping to get through.

Edited 2008-12-03 04:44 (UTC)

It was worth a shot, at least--whatever they could do to help her.

He waited expectantly to see if it would work, but as Laharl drew closer, she began to thrash more and more violently.

"You're stronger than this," he urged her. "Listen to him. You can overcome it!" He tightened his grip--enough to keep her in place but not enough to hurt her--but she continued to thrash about, and finally one arm broke free, and then the other.

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Gains and Losses [Active]

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