expiationlogs | infinite nightmares [OPEN]

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infinite nightmares [OPEN]

Who: Vincent Valentine/Galian Beast & whoever wants to deal with that
Where: Just outside of town in the forest
What: Vincent has long since received his sentencing, yet a man who is determined to suffer in his sins would not so easily ask for forgiveness. And so, the Galian Beast finally emerges the longer Vincent has delayed.
Warnings: Lowkey body horror, will add as needed.

Notes: This probably takes place around the last week of October, so Happy Halloween have a pseudo werewolf I guess. Also feel free to wildcard if neither prompt works for you.

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[Ever since the strange and so very brief meeting with Jerry, Vincent has felt it itching under his skin. The way the beast recoils inside of him, making him angrier, more impatient, snapping -- the way a feral and cornered dog would. Today, it is particularly worse, with his head pounding and fangs in his mouth, left arm throbbing under the protective gauntlet.

It's when the street lights begin to flicker that he knows the timing is close.

He hasn't lost control in a long time that he doesn't quite know what to make of it. For as long as he has been mourning and dwelling, it can't simply be due to current events. The reboot, then?

Or was it the meeting? Like a threat, forcing him along? But why? What sense is there in asking for forgiveness when he doesn't even deserve it to begin with? If he'd been strong, more persistent, there is so much he could have spared others. Spared Lucrecia, spared Sephiroth.

Either way, he can't stay in Aldrip; it isn't safe for others if he transforms here, and he doesn't have the "luxury" of Hojo's absurd arenas to contain him. Gritting his teeth, Vincent turns sharply to take a swift exit.

It probably also means he rudely shoves people aside which potentially includes you, but hey, it's for your own good.]

< Wh-? Hey! >

[They had been so focused on the flickering of the street lamps that they hadn't registered the man coming their direction at first. And even then Dante had thought they were the one to get in his way until it registered that they weren't bumped, but shoved.

But as they turn to face the rude mystery individual, they find any words they were about to say disappearing as the sight of that all-too-familiar red cloak registers in their head.]

< Vincent? >

[This seems... out of character. And as they glance up at the streetlight once more, their intuition screams that something is going to go terribly wrong.

Still, they follow.]

< What's going on? Are you okay? >

[Oh, he hears the familiar ticking, Dante's "voice" as it were. He grimaces, his device translating the sounds for his ears.

Over his shoulder, he snaps in a deep snarl:]

Don't follow me!

[Because he can't guarantee Dante's safety, or anyone's. Whatever is forcing the Galian Beast out will not end well, and Vincent is determined to avoid as much destruction as he can.

Not that he can verbalize any of that beyond biting words.]

[This isn't like him. Or at least it doesn't seem like him. They can't say for certain, having known him for such a short time.

But... they feel as if they know enough to say that he's distressed. That something truly is wrong. That their intuition is correct. And after what Vincent's done to help them, no matter how small...

They keep up the pace, following behind.]

< Sorry, but I can't do that. >

[Fangs grit, a frustrated growl rumbling into his chest. Vincent doesn't slow down, but neither does Dante. Stubborn. A terrible time for heroics.

Vincent's head pounds, his body aching, and he trembles with effort trying to hold it back. For a brief moment, he whirls around to face Dante, gun in hand as he shoots at their feet. Not to actually do harm, but to slow them down for even a moment.

Anything to show that Vincent is serious about this.]

Turn back now!

[And off Vincent goes again, cape flapping in the wind.]

[For a moment, it works. The shot stops them in their tracks, and they wait for pain to blossom, only to realize Vincent hadn't hit them at all.

A warning shot. That's all it had been. Still, Dante hesitates.

They weren't there for whatever caused this desperation, and Vincent either won't or can't tell them what's going on. All they have on hand is a gun they only just started practicing with. If a fight broke out, they wouldn't win. Period.

But in that room of mirrors Yuri had said that people can come back when killed here. So... maybe the chance to find something that can help him is worth it. It wouldn't be the first time they'd felt the pain of death.

Once more, they follow. He'll notice--of that they have no doubt--but they remain silent, putting that moment off as long as they can, their gaze fixed on his back.]

[It's all he can do. If Vincent keeps pausing to snap at Dante and warn them off, it's more delays that he might not be able to handle. Time is running out, and he can feel it in the creak of his bones and the stretch of his skin.

Finally, he makes it just far enough to the outskirts of the city. Vincent stumbles forward and clutches his head.]

You fool.

[It's said almost fondly. For all that he's tried to keep Dante back, Vincent can still hear them running after. He can only hope that Dante will be smart enough to retreat once they see what's next.

Here, Vincent can finally feel the transformation begin to take place. Crimson mist seems to swirl around him, and he screams in genuine pain. Bones start to pop and snap in unnatural ways before he's abruptly changing from man to beast.

In a matter of seconds, the Galian Beast stands towering, letting out a ragged howl.]

[Dante starts forward when Vincent falls, and as skin stretches and bones pop they stumble back, only just managing to keep their footing.]

< Distortion...? >

[The word slips out of them before they can even think to hold it back, and yet even as its said they realize that that sensation accompanying a Distortion isn't present. Whatever this thing is--whatever Vincent has become--it's something else entirely.

And if it's not a Distortion... Can Vincent even hear them in there?

They hang back, hand drifting to where their handgun is holstered.]

[Gone is the falsehood of a man, and present is nothing but a mindless monster, towering with excessive tangled mane whipping in the wind. The screams from Vincent have degraded into bones snapping and the shifting into roars as the Galian Beast prowls the woods.

Trees are smashed along the way, as if the monster is infuriated that they dare to be in his way. What does it seek, precisely?

Well, when it sees you, the beast snarls and begins its charge. There is no soothing it, no words reaching the man inside.

It wants a rampage.]

[Richard was just about to finish his training at the woods when he heard the loud thundering sound from the distance. At firs he assumed it to be from a clash of the local monster, who were to settling territorial disputes. Funny that though. As Richard always made sure not to wander too far off into the woods, staying away from the areas where he knew the monster resided. So, why would they come all of the sudden so close to the city.

But then there's the sound again. Though, this time Richard could make more out of it -- it was not two monsters, but one. The air was filled with birds, fleeing the scene with their cries echoing in the sky. Packing his weapons, three blades and bow and arrow, Richard leaves his training ground and moves towards the sound. It's not particularly difficult to spot, that's for sure. The falling trees were a dead giveaway.

It doesn't take long for him to spot the beast. Without making a sound he draws an arrow and points it at his target. However, he had learned the hard way that not all of The Chosen took human appearances, and that he shouldn't judge the book by its cover. Thank Dara for that.

So, he waits and watches, only speaking when the Beast turns to look his way.] Are you one of The Chosen? [He asks, voice stern and clear. Despite of the monstrous, a demonic look of the Beast Richard doesn't waver. He's fully focused.

Which! You know, is a good thing because the moment their eyes meet the Beast charges forward. It's fast and dangerous. But so is Richard. He swiftly releases the arrow, aiming it right between its eyes.]

[Though he's never managed to speak in this transformed body, nonetheless Vincent would at least have been able to respond in some fashion if he still had any control over the Galian Beast. As it is, he's nothing but a territorial fiend now, a monster molded by demented hands.

As the Galian Beast charges, the arrow flies. Alas, the arrow means nothing to him, and he smacks it away with a horn as it gets close. Richard is quick, but Vincent is a killer in all respects, be it as a man or a monster.

The beast launches himself into the air, roaring as he attempts to pounce Richard with all of his weight.]

[ Sometimes, a man needs to just kill something. And if he can earn some coin by culling the local forest's monster population while at it, then it's a win for everyone. At least, that's the assumption Ragna entered the woods with, so he's not surprised nor alarmed in the slightest when he notices a rampaging beast moving towards him. He dodges the attack easily enough, jumping to the side and immediately reaching for his sword. ]

Hm?

[ His hand still on the hilt, the man watches the beast carefully. As far as he can tell, its soul feels... different from other beings he's encountered here; more defined, perhaps? The monsters he usually kills here seem more empty, or artificial, or... well, devouring their souls feels more like eating junk food, for the lack of better comparison. This one, on the other hand, is nothing like those; no, if anything, it's closer to the other Chosen than anything. ]

... You're not one of the monsters from here. What... [ He stops mid-sentence as the realization hits him, and causes him to reconsider his words; after a second of hesitation, he starts over: ] Who the hell are you?

[Who.

It almost echoes inside of him. Who is he, what is he. There are names Vincent Chaos monster that float, but then its gone, leaving behind a ferocious instinct.

Sadly, the Galian Beast does not debate for more than a hesitating second. There is not thinking right now beyond burning rage, an uncontrollable fiend. For Ragna's efforts, the beast opens his maw and a blast of fire emerges, aimed right for him.]

[ For a brief moment, it seems like his words have reached the beast, and he might actually get an answer. Maybe, just maybe... this monster isn't like him. Maybe it can be talked down, reasoned with and, with some luck, changed back to... whoever it truly is.

His hopes for that get dashed almost immediately, and the answer he gets threatens to set him on fire. ]

Shit─!

[ Ragna raises his arm in front of him, and a silvery blue magical circle lights up in front of him, narrowly shielding him from the attack. The barrier holds well enough, but he'd rather not test how long it will last. ]

You idiot! Why can't you just listen?!

[ Deep down, Ragna can already tell there's no point in trying to talk to it; everything points to this being the same as when he turns into the Black Beast... there is nothing that can be said or done to convince it to stop the rampage, as its only purpose is to destroy everything. But perhaps having a personal experience with it is exactly the reason why he struggles to accept that reality.

For now, all he can do is fight.

The man raises his free hand, causing a dark-red shadow in the shape of a beast's head to appear. It charges towards the monster, baring its fangs at the enemy. ]

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infinite nightmares [OPEN]

A | basic basement dweller behavior

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B | the galian beast joins the hunt

let's dance baby

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