We Need To Talk [Sparda]

[Silver Eyes]

Another day, another vanishing will soon begin from Devil May Cry for the Silver Eyed Hunter. As usual, she felt it best to take her leave at a very unusual time to ensure none of them will follow-- it was at three o'clock in the morning when everyone was either out on a mission or fast asleep.

I'm bored and you're not doing anything fun. Why not do what I once did?

You're going to have to be specific.

Amoura grabbed her helmet from the rack sitting by the desk, her packed bag and headed out the door to find her motorcycle. Michael was kind enough to buy this for her as a "welcome home" gift so she could get out more. The hybrid never realized just how much she'd use it until months ago when she started leaving to travel abroad to get her mind off things.

Oh, you know: destroy cities, kill off a bunch of people that may not serve a purpose--the usual.

Amoura paused a few feet from her bike, recalling that awful time when her other self destroyed so much in a short period of time. All those people didn't need to die just for a stupid example of power.

You're a sick fuck.

To drown out Other Amoura, she fired up the motorcycle and started putting on her helm. Maybe this time she'll head for one of the forests a few days off.

[Sparda]

"...I knew it."

He'd known it for a while, but only now gotten round to testing his theory. Upon being told of the Downward Spiral and its nature by Miracle, it had occurred to Sparda that the very fact that he was here meant that somewhere within the colossal structure was a door leading into his world. He'd wandered its hallways for hours on end, searching tirelessly for anything that looked even slightly like Domino.

Here, looking up at the all too familiar pink neon sign that marked his youngest son's business, he had found what he was looking for. The rest of the city was as broken as he remembered, long after the strike of the Legion of the Abyss, but this building at least was a comforting sight.

What interested Sparda most at the moment, though, was the roar of a motorcycle engine right behind the shop... Unrestraining but the smallest sliver of his aura of power, enough only to inform anyone who recognised it that he was here, the Dark Knight stepped forth and laid a hand against one of the wooden front doors, pushing gently to test the lock.

[Silver Eyes]

Amoura was about to get on her bike and take off like she had been doing for the past seven months but something stopped her. That aura was so familiar; but should she bother to check it out?

The Legendary Dark Knight? I thought he was dead and gone.

Maybe in your world but he's alive and well in mine. That is, until all of this dimension collapsing took place.

Well, should you take off or just make sure that it's not playing tricks on us?

While she really didn't give much of a damn about this place, it still was where she crashed sometimes, and the last thing she wanted was to return to another demolished Devil May Cry with no place to sleep. Inns cost too much at times and most of her income was used to fuel her ride.

Fine, I'll go look.

Amoura turned off her bike, left her helmet hanging on one of the handlebars and walked through the wall to go inside just as Sparda was opening the door. In silence, she stood there and stared. No one from Devil May Cry had been around for seven months and here he was.

Amoura nodded, "'s been a while."

[Sparda]

He might have been in a building he considered home, but the Dark Knight was nothing if not prepared for any eventuality of danger. He caught a glimpse of movement in the periphery of his vision, the slightest whisper of noise against the far wall; and in a movement so fast as to look physically impossible, he had pulled Luce from her holster and brought her to bear against the intruder who had entered his sight...

But this was no intruder. In fact, the mere sight of her struck the devil dumb for a moment.

"...Amoura?"

Slowly, eyes widened, Sparda lowered his gun. "Is it really you...?"

[Silver Eyes]

Judging by your reaction I'd say you're the Sparda I knew from a long time ago. Amoura walked to the coat rack while sliding her long coat off her shoulders and placed it on one of the hooks closest to her. The furniture wobbled from the weight but eventually steadied itself--the poor-looking thing had seen better days.

The hybrid turned to Sparda only to briskly walk by to get a blood packet from the fridge. Amoura was never fond of the plastic taste that lingered but it was necessary to keep herself restrained. Her fingers tightly gripped one of the cool, smooth corners and ripped it open so she could greedily dump the contents into her mouth. Blood dribbled down her chin and smeared her teeth in red. While looking for a napkin to get rid of the mess she made, she resumed talking.

Here I thought the rest of you were dead and gone even though I was gone for twenty-five days, supposedly. Tajna made my return a little...troublesome.

Amoura tossed the empty packet into a biohazard container, snatched a paper towel from the nearby sink --it was recently installed--, turned on the water, dampened the towel and wiped her chin clean.

So where is everyone else? Missing, I take it? Amoura didn't even look bothered by that thought.

[Sparda]

Sparda took a step back and blinked. Part of this was the Amoura he remembered, but way back then, she hadn't been quite this cold...

"You speak as if our absence hasn't bothered you," he responded, turning to face her and holstering Luce. "Do you so desire to distance yourself from what's happened that you'd throw those bonds away? For one thing, aren't you worried at all about Ranka...?"

He stopped himself before his questioning turned into a rant, and sighed heavily. "So you know, you're the first familiar face I've found," he continued. "If our world has been plunged into this mess, it must mean the others are somewhere to be found. It's likely only a matter of time."

[Silver Eyes]

Amoura turned off the water and also threw the blood-splotched paper towel into the biohazard waste basket. Ranka served his purpose in my life, gave me a 'will and a means to survive' on my own as he put it the day he betrayed me. The female turned to face Sparda and leaned against the counter behind her. The Night Angel had indeed changed and it was evident in her eyes--they betrayed that she had seen far too much and it has taken its toll. If the numerous white strands in her hair weren't enough, it was definitely her outlook on everything.

So no, I'm not worried about him. If he's gone, he's gone; why should it concern me?

Oooh, that's cold. Weren't you madly in love with the guy? He is quite a catch!

Shut up! Amoura growled and had forgotten that she had company this time. The hybrid cleared her throat and crossed her arms Disregard that. I tend to talk to myself a lot. Been going senile.

Liar, Liar panties on fiiiiiiiiire.

It's pants.

Maybe if some things haven't come to pass, I'd consider helping but it's their problem--not mine. Amoura pushed herself from the counter and briskly walked to the desk that was clean of paperwork. There was a thin layer on it and the phone as well--it looks like Amoura wasn't doing anything other than paying the bills to keep the place running.

It is good to see you again, though. It didn't sound like she sincerely meant it, though.

[Sparda]

"...Served his purpose?"

At this, Sparda turned fully to face Amoura, azure eyes boring into her. "Ranka saved you from the depths of insanity, taught you to harness your vampiric abilities, gave you a reason to live - and this is all he is to you now? A means to an end?!"

As willingly as he'd holstered her, the demon drew Luce again, pointing her at the vampiress. "What happened to you, Amoura?!"

[Silver Eyes]

Amoura just shrugged at Sparda's outburst and kicked her legs up onto the desk after taking a seat. He served his purpose and he's probably doing something else out there if he's still alive. Props to him if he is. If he's dead, then he's dead. The hybrid stared at Luca, frowned and swung her legs off the desk. If he's going to fire a few shots at her, or perhaps more, she may as well be standing when it happens.

"What happened to you, Amoura?!"

That is none of your concern and must you react so violently? What is with everyone wanting to stab, scorch or shoot me lately? Amoura threw her hands up into the air, It's like everyone thinks I'm the bad guy when I'm not even drawing arms in turn.

[Sparda]

"If you're not, then you're doing a damn good job of looking like it!" the Dark Knight snarled in retort, his trigger finger squeezing Luce's trigger. Another half-pound of pressure and Amoura would find herself missing a sizeable portion of her torso.

"When did you stop caring, Amoura?" he growled after a moment of silence. His temper seemed to have simmered down, but in fact the initial flame of his anger had smoldered down to the dark heat with which he now glared at the vampiress. "When you gave up thinking we'd save you from whatever nightmare Tajna Rasha dragged you into?"

He allowed that question a moment to sink in, if only for dramatic effect. "Don't think for a second we didn't know. I certainly did. But when I found out Tajna was behind it, as much as it pained me to do so, I resigned myself to the fact that there was nothing I could do to help you. The only reason I survived my first encounter with him was because he allowed me to live - what could I have done to help you?"

[Silver Eyes]

Alright, first of all, your attitude is not going to get you anywhere. Amoura jabbed a finger in his direction and she was trying very hard to keep her composure, And neither will your acts of violence. I'll tell you what happened if it'll make you shut the hell up for a moment so I don't get a headache from all your yelling.

The vampire leaped and landed atop the desk, disturbing the dust and sat in a crouched position to tell her story.

So, as you well know, I was in hell for a while and managed to return to the surface to assist in the fight. You know who was waiting for me but I'll say his name: Tajna. He didn't throw me into a nightmare, Sparda. I was in another dimension where my father ruled, merged earth with hell and every day was a matter of survival

Amoura sat down Indian Style and resumed her story, Every single day I helped my sister in that world to defend what remained of the human race. You know what happened? I failed. A large population was wiped out and I didn't have the power to protect them. She rubbed the side of her head, I still remember their screams, the scent of blood and how I couldn't do anything to stop the slaughter. What made this truly worse was seeing myself in this realm too. I was a cold, heartless monster hell bent on destroying the human race and anyone who opposed Mundus.

Amoura paused her story. Recalling all of this was never easy, especially what she was going to speak of next. The vampire looked down at her hands, cleared her throat and continued: ...I watched her take out over half of the city and three bases where there were many survivors.

What's worse is, again, I was powerless. Other--that's what I call her--started hunting me down with a lot of her lackeys. I could barely sleep, eat or do anything to help me keep my strength up. For years I had to put up with that until I figured out ways to counterattack. I nearly lost my life countless times until I got sucked back here by a stroke of luck.

I was trapped there for twenty-five hellish years, Sparda. Twenty. Five. Years. You know what the irritating part of all of this is?! Amoura curled her fingers into a fist and started rapping herself on the head. Other. Is. In. Here. Every. Single. Damned. Day. Taunting. Me.

Pretty much. What was that one movie called with those kids playing baseball again? You seemed to have forgotten.

I don't know! If it's not in my memory then I forgot! I'll look it up later if you shut up for once! Amoura, again, realized she had screamed out lout and smacked her palm against her forehead.

[Sparda]

Okay. Long story short, Tajna trapped her in an alternate dimension - very probably an alternate timeline he had access to, knowing his abilities - which was basically everything Amoura very much didn't want to happen to the world.

The one word of hers that kept holding Sparda's attention, however, was powerless. Oh, how she lamented almost incessantly of her inability to change the pitch-black straits Tajna had left her in.

"...Powerless," he finally repeated, lowering Luce but not holstering her. "Is that what you thought you were? Powerless?" He turned fully to face her, taking a long stride towards her and leaning forwards to stare her in the face.

"...Are you still that weak, Amoura?"

[Silver Eyes]

Save it. You weren't there to see what came to pass. You've witnessed your own share of horrors and I have seen mine. Amoura turned from Sparda and hopped off the desk to avoid looking him straight in the eye. Had she become weak? Yes--she faced this fact months ago and wasn't ashamed of this any longer. It was better to be weak and pathetic than to become what Other is.

Don't you have something better to do than go pointing out other people's flaws? She bumped against the filing cabinet and one of the doors slid open. This thing was so rusted and worn down from years of use and lack of care. Maybe you should start looking for everyone else and just leave me in peace. Why did she open this thing again? Amoura hook kicked at the drawer and it slammed shut.

[Sparda]

"Leave you in peace?" Sparda scoffed. The fact that she'd avoided eye contact meant he must have struck some kind of chord. Good.

"You mean leave you to wallow in self-pity from behind your jade glasses," he snapped right back, turning to keep her in sight. "You still fear your abilities, Amoura. I can practically smell your reluctance to accept what you are and master your power. You're afraid you'll become some kind of monster, that the reality Tajna showed you may come to pass if you grow too powerful."

The demon chuckled to himself and holstered Luce. "Take my advice whether you want to or not, Amoura - right now, the only thing you need to grow is a pair. Afraid you'll lose control? Learn control. Master your inherent power to the furthest extent possible, so that you cannot ever lose control. You will not become the monster you so fear if you do not allow it."

He strode towards the door, seeing no further reason to be here. "Do not let Tajna break you, Amoura. Use what he has showed you to drive yourself. Learn mastery over your abilities, gain the power you desire, that you may be able to keep that nightmare from becoming reality."

Pulling one of the doors to, he stepped halfway across the threshold and turned to cast a final, almost pitying glance at the vampiress. "You have the ability to defy any foe that would challenge you, even the likes of Veran. Merely find some faith, and you will find power."

With those parting words, the Legendary Dark Knight disappeared from Amoura's sight. He would return to Aircano, where he would be staying for the foreseeable future, and learn of the world he found himself in.

[ ---EXIT--- ]

[Silver Eyes]

Damn him. Sparda always had a way of striking chords that have long since hardened. What's worse is he left her alone to digest everything he said and it was all right on the dot. If it wasn't Ranka, it was always him talking some sort of sense into her.

Afraid you'll lose control? Learn control.

Why do you always have to be right about almost every damned thing? Other, if you answer that, I swear I'll watch a porno.

...Eck. The mating rituals of humans are disgusting.

Thought so.

So, master it all. Amoura hadn't tapped into her demon form willingly for twenty five years. What if she does lose control? Or maybe something bad happens and it has devastating consequences.

Amoura clenched her fists tightly and closed her eyes. A burning sensation seeped through her veins and along her flesh as the seal began to release what had been kept back.

Wait, are you--?

Shut. Up!

Shadow didn't consume her, but instead her flesh was turning...blue? Scales sprouted where vitals resided, her silver eyes faded to an orange shade, her pupils slitted and her black locks turned a brilliant red.

Well, this is new. Amoura eyed her hands, flexed her fingers and her nails elongated and sharpened in the blink of an eye. This surprised the demon so much, she fell back and toppled over the chair with a surprised yelp.

...fuck. I'm gonna need help with this.

[end thread]