The Sound of Silence...

[Ruhe Krieger]

Ruhiger Krieger was a sweet girl. A charming personality on the surface. She sought to be a paragon of what a Vandenreich expects. Loyal, devout, eager to serve, diligent, proud but not to the point of hubris, and countless other little expectations and burdens. She followed what was expected of her. She performed well, and for a Quincy of her age, she displayed incredible talent and skill. However, she had often found herself depressed, especially when nearing "home". If one could even call it that.

Some part of her heart had desired to hate her family. To destroy them, and to show them what she'd become in such a short time. To take over their community. Another part wanted to melt into their arms, and to see a semblance of pride, and love, and praise from them. She found herself often staring into the moon, contemplating about trivial things such as the existence of God, or the Emperor, or if they were one and the same. About her life, and also more and more often about potential death.

Her cerulean orbs were soft as she rested along the rooftop of a charming place in Berlin. She took out her Viola, of which had a deeper, richer sound than that of the Violin, and she closed her eyes and played her feelings. It was a hobby she had developed when living in the ruins of Cochem, and it was one she honed for some time in the Vreich. An archer needed dexterous hands, and a good child needed to be skilled and enriched in all things. 

The sound was dark, and shrill, as if it was a cry, before becoming more somber, and restrained, as if to muffle, only to rise upwards again. A cry, a wail, a scream, before slowly closing short. Sometimes, Ruhe felt as if she wasn't meant to belong. There were those that would detest and try to kill her for what she was, and there were those that would kill and detest her if she didn't conform to what they wanted to be. She didn't revel in power, and authority, and violence, and any of those things. She desired to be loved, and truly loved. Not in a romantic or sexual way, but in an unconditional way.

That sometimes felt like something that not even a God could do. Lightly placing her Viola back into its case, she lovingly rests it along the wall, as she exhales, feeling the cool frost. It was bad for the strings. For her instrument. For her perhaps. However, she loved the Winter in its cold, unforgiving beauty. "...Emperor? If you're out there. Listening to me? I wonder. Am I loved? Truly? I feel so scared. So alone at times. Y-You know?" She couldn't help but curl her lips upwards, in a nervous sort of smile, as if perhaps expecting a response. Other than the whistle of cold wind blowing by.

[Alastor Caedes]

Another day, another night. Another target. Alastor was quite a busy devil, always conversing with interesting souls. Unless he was busy running Hell's day to day necessities. But this one was... Odd. Even for what Alastor knew and did on a daily basis. A powerful quincy, but a child none the less. Young, foolish, naive. It was enough to confuse him, but then again Quincy's weren't really known for loving, caring families. No their stupid ideals always force their way into their family life one way or another. Even Alastor felt somewhat bad as while he preyed upon the weak and vulnerable, children were... children were something else. 

The King personality had a more personal issue with making deals with children. It wasn't fun to trick them, nor was it fun to lie and make false promises. The Psycho didn't care, any and all would be food no matter what age or sex. Yet, niether of them were fully in the know of this specific child. Quincy's were a odd sort, some were easy to learn about through spies. Others? Well, others were difficult to even find out about. The Vandenreich was easy to learn about. Whisper a few lines about trying to find a family member that went missing and boom, Vandenreich information on somebody. 

You'd think a group of xenophobic Quincy's would cover their tracks better. 

Yet as Alastor stood on a roof of a building, Wearing his gigai. His red suit vibrant in the night sky, the top hat sitting on his head, and his white mask hiding his face. It was there he heard the sounds of a viola, a beautiful string instrument. It sounded at first like panic and wanting free, yet ended in a accepting and somber tone. The devil stood there out in the open, listening to such a somber tone. Recognizing the core of it. Sure, the tune itself was unique. Yet many sinners who had any form of musical talent would produce this for him at his request. 

A somber tone of regret, a somber tone of longing, a somber tone of a heart breaking. In a flash he essentially teleported onto a roof near the girl. Impressed with her talent with the viola. There he heard the words. "...Emperor? If you're out there. Listening to me? I wonder. Am I loved? Truly? I feel so scared. So alone at times. Y-You know?" Aaah... if only she knew the truth of the Emperor. He didn't care about her, what so ever. The Emperor and Alastor were alike in some ways, both would sacrifice anyone to achieve their goals. Both were immortal, in essence. " Unfortunately Child. The Emperor cares not for the likes of you, not in the way you are led to believe." Ranged out Alastor's voice as he once again teleported to be now in front of her. 

Quickly breaking apart all forms of knowledge about the girl from her reiatsu alone, he learned quite a bit about her. Not everything, but enough to work on. "It is strange for me to be brought upon a child, but. You are a being, so tell me. What is it you are seeking? Respect? Fame? Recognition? Knowledge?" Alastor as he spoke, did not bend down to her height. Yet he did snap his fingers and throw some crystals out onto a flat part of the roof. The crystals would break and form a table with two chairs. "Come. Take a seat." This entire scenario would be far different from what Alastor knows. Children were fragile like glass, both in body and in mind. So he would have to take a different, less business approach. 

[Ruhe Krieger]

"I know." She responds to the voice in a dejected tone. However, when confronted by the devil, but when confronted by the mysterious entity before her, she could only give an honest response. "I wish someone could. Could love me like that." She responds, and when looking down upon the table, she thought longer about the answer. "Everyone desires to be loved." Or at least, she was sure of that for herself.

"Who are you?" She asks, uncertain on the individual in question. It was an innocent enough question, but she moved her way to the table, her posture straight, prim, and proper, and as she closed in, he might see that she looked very much like a sweet little thing. Almost a doll. Eyes shining so dull and glassy, her skin so pale and white, and her hair a shining blonde. Even her expression. No smile upon it.

If anything, perhaps a dull expression close to a frown. She did not seat herself initially. She was seemingly hesitant. However, after a while, she'd comply, seating herself. A shiver went down her spine, for the seat was cold. Though, she'd dare not relay her discomfort. "You sound confident, as if you are someone that can grant any of those things, or all of those things you mentioned." Being well, a child, one could of course say she was curious on why the figure approached her, but also who he was. He didn't seem like a Shinigami, and yet, he made furniture of crystal like those of the highers of the Vreich could do. Most curious. 

[Alastor Caedes]

The Devil observed his newfound target. Such a small and young girl with almost doll-like features. Something about this didn't sit right with Alastor's King Personality. Every aspect of her movement tells him of repeated mental teaching. Quincy she was, she didn't seem human at all. Especially when he heard her answer to his question. "To be loved." As Alastor moved to sit across from the child. That one wish made him understand her more than probably anyone else. It wasn't hard to pick apart the core of the wish. A lack of love from her own parents using her more like an asset than an actual daughter. Some part still left in him from the past hated this. 

"To be Loved. Id assume not in the typical fashion. From that it seems Quincy families have gotten even worse in all these years. How unfortunate." 

She asked who he was, like many he had met before. Many ask who they speak with, not knowing it was a devil who had murdered hundreds of thousands of lives if not millions. "You may call me Alastor. I am quite confident in my abilities to provide many things. However, yours is a bit.. Tricky." Sitting down in his seat. The Akki crossed his legs and put his hands together, weaving his fingers together while spinning his thumbs around each other. "To be loved... A sensation that even im not familiar with. Yet, i believe i can still aid you." Leaning forward in his seat, he took his mask off. Revealing a man in their late forties. Golden eyes, silver hair and tan skin that starting to wrinkle near the eyes. 

He looked at the young girl, every aspect of her sent parts of him into rage and others into feelings of pity. Strange as he hasn't felt this way for anything that didn't directly affect him at all. Her emotionless face. Her lifeless eyes. Her almost doll like mentality. Every part of it made him wonder if this was even a worthwhile target. Sure, she was vulnerable mentally, sure she was probably weak. Yet, making a deal with someone this mentally broken. The Akki wasn't certain she would even survive mentally the process of becoming a Saika. A Sinner who is unable to survive the process and become stronger, even if insane, is worthless to him and his allies. 

Yet, Alastor knew. That if this girl had this much actual power, this hidden potential. Then surely she isn't a lost cause just yet. All he needed to do, was give her a slight push. "What are you willing to sacrifice for the dream that you desire? To be surrounded by even one person to feel loved?" 

[Ruhe Krieger]

"How can you possibly give me something that you can't even understand?" She points out the fallacy there in his argument. However, she seems to pause for a moment. "I-I'm sorry..." She responds, before then looking upon the figure before her. "To not know what love is? I pity you." Perhaps that was the poorest potential wording that Ruhe could have used to the King. For a King? A King was not someone that was supposed to be pitied.

After all, a King was someone that all subjects should aspire to be. The King had to be the most audacious, the most greedy, and the most powerful, so that all of his subjects would fear him, admire him, aspire to be him in every way. To be a figure that all looked upon as the closest thing to perfection. However, Ruhe proceeded to seem emotionless as she spoke her woe to the man before him. After all, how was she supposed to know better? She was but a child, and she knew not of him and his cold heart.

"If you have to ask what I would sacrifice, then you can't possibly know what it is that I want." That said, from her seat, the young blonde proceeds to vanish in thin air, reappearing far above the air, as the wind buffets her back with snow, travelling along the spirit path as her bow glows. Her hand was already pulled back along an arrow, and as she releases her hand, a large arrow comes flying towards him. The intensity behind the shot was evident as the size was enough to envelop both the crystal table and both chairs with its light.

Standing in the sky, she raises her right arm and hugs it to her neck, around the Cross she so treasured as it filled her with energy. Reiatsu. It took her a moment to think, to realize after listening to the man that he couldn't be a Quincy. It seemed at first that she might be there to fight him. What with the dull look in her eyes, looking down upon him from her high pedestal. However, she then proceeded to vanish yet again. Using another step to reach a farther off rooftop. Get a running vantage.

The young girl was headed east. 

[Alastor Caedes]

Once again. He provides the table and chairs necessary for a civil conversation and deal making. Then the target decides to get snarky. This was less insulting to be honest. Saying one pities another is the same as saying one is disgusting or horrific. It's also ironic giving the person who said it. "I know what Love is. Love is an emotion, opposing the emotion of hatred. But the love you are searching for is the one i am not familiar with." Moments after his table was once again, shattered so rudely. This time by an arrow, a moderately powerful one. Yet Alastor did not move from his spot, seemingly unamused by the attempt to intimidate. A slight tilt to his head suggesting him now looking upon where his table as destroyed instead of at Ruhe. Simply standing where his chair was, unscathed. 

Yet he knew that most likely this gigai was damaged, a quick look made that certain. Silence befell the King as he looked darted his hand in the direction she was heading. "...Running after destroying my property?" As the moment she attempted to use yet another step tech. She would find gravity itself pushing her down onto the ground with enough force to show the Kings temper. As Alastor's gravitational pressure was now fully focused onto the poor girl. Earning the Kings wrath by property damage. Alastor was quite fed up with these arrogant guests. First Luca calling his way of life sad, then Arcadus who tried to one up him. Now some depressed little girl. 

"I am so sick and tired of you mortals always getting so arrogant. I swear, it's like the commoners rule the world lately." The infernal echo in his voice as Alastor appeared before the reiatsu restrained girl. Seconds later the damaged gigai would fall into her line of view. As the stench of bloodshed quickly filled the area. " I have half a mind to kill you. So, you better, not aggravate me again. " Alastor's double Echo'd infernal voice rang out into the sky around the girl. The sounds of chains clang and clash against the roof. Entering into her view is the skinless, but otherwise handsome form of the Infernal King. Alastor's true form, complete with a bloodstained crown on his head. 

After taking a quick moment to cool off. Alastor refocused his attention back to that viola music. "... It would be a shame though if i did. Viola music... what a beautiful sound it is. As a lover of such classical music, I'd hate to waste such... Talent. So. Let's try this again. From the top. Your wish. To be loved unconditionally. Normally, i wouldn't waste my time on such a thing. But I'd hate to waste a chance like this so. I offer you the power to obtain unconditional love on your terms. All you need to do, is shake my hand. " 

Alastor, however, did not offer out his hand just yet. As he looked at the girl dead in the eyes. "You run one more time and you will lose out on this offer. I won't kill you, but I will let you continue to suffer in your own personal hell that is your current life." From that sentence on, the test began, and Alastor's gravitational pressure vanished. "Once in a lifetime offer. So take it or leave it and continue to be hunted by the Vandenreich." 

[Ruhe Krieger]

The definition he gave was textbook. However, he didn't really seem to show that he truly understood the feeling. More so understood what it was meant to be. However, when she stepped away, she could feel herself brought down to the ground by that overwhelming pressure. It was a feeling that she was familiar with. Often did her superiors exert their authority, their dominance, and their will over their subordinates just like this. Perhaps if he was in the Vreich, he would have liked the sensation. However...his energy. 

As it radiated, it seemed...Sinister. However, when it came down to the matter of arrogance? What did he expect? Children were some of the most arrogant people in the entire world. They believed in the notions of dreams, and believed they understood how the world worked through their narrow perceptions, and then felt as if their way of life was drastically changed when they were wrong. However, there was something that seemed wrong about this.

The monster that stood before her. Yet, he'd find that instead of releasing reiatsu to dispel his gravity, there was something that could be considered strange. Bizarre. Perhaps outright impossible. There, despite the weight of his will pressing down upon her, she had the strength to forcibly stand. He could see of course her body was strained. That much was evident, as if she were a magnet that was being propelled towards the earth. However, stand she did. Her breathing deep as she closed her eyes.

"You're saying you can make it happen with the shake of a hand?..." She seems to find it so hard to believe. The power to make those love her unconditionally. It sounded like some sort of fairy tale, or perhaps some sort of dark nightmare that was teasing her into accepting, so that when she woke from her slumber, she would be Rip Van Winkle. Withered. Old. Alone. The crushing awareness that time was not generous and that devastation was there to claim her heart. Ruhe however, felt a sense of inner anxiety within her.

She was addicted. To the sorrow. When the buzz ends, by tomorrow. There was another rush of poison rushing into her brain. Giving her a dose of pleasure that was next to the pain. She was addicted. She was dependent. Feeling awesome. Feeling helpless. She wasn't sure if things would improve, only time would tell. All she knew was that she was stuck in this cycle of hell. He makes the offer, and her gaze drops to the floor, and for a moment, she proceeds to feel herself dropping into the snow. Seated, as she tucks her head into her knees. 

"I'm scared. To accept. Or deny. Because I don't know if that's what I even want. If it will make me happy. I-I don't know what will make me happy. I'm just...used to being so sad. I don't even know if you're real, or if I'm going crazy. Because that weight that's pressing down on me? It can't compare to how heavy my heart feels. I can't even cry." She responds in that moment as she holds her hands to her head. She was good at pretending, but there was always that glassy look in her eyes that never really seemed to show any sort of delightedness. No joy. 

"It sounds too good to be true." 

[Alastor Caedes]

Hearing the poor girl's words. He simply stared at the small girl. "You don't even?... Aaah. That makes sense then." Slowly kneeling down. He moved his clawed finger to harmlessly raise her chin. "Living in sadness. A thing I see quite often. Let your sadness not be the weight that restrains you, but the wings to free you. I can teach you how to harness your sadness in a way that no other being can. If you accept my deal, then even your sadness will be comparable to being loved unconditionally." Alastor gently moved the girl onto her feet. She felt alone, no matter what. He knew this sadness, for it wasn't sadness at all. It was far worse than anything many could dream of. 

Addicting Despair. 

"Your parents raised you this way. To be so lonely and sad, but if you take my deal. Then, you will be able to use that curse they laid upon you, and weaponize it. As well as if you choose to work for me, you will never be lonely again. That. My dear little quincy." Alastor looked the girl in the eyes so that she knew he was serious. "Is the truth. If your own race wants to exile you and treat you this way, then come join me. Shed the form that they mock and belittle. Shed the form that they make sad and lonely. Become a being, whose sadness is their strength and make them suffer for doing this to you." Alastor knew now how to get into her head. 

Most beings who suffer from sadness, will know the feeling of rage and wrath. To aid them in conquering that sadness and using it as a power, while giving them a place to belong. Even Alastor knew how to do that, he had done it for thousands before. He now saw through that little disguise of hers and knew how to pick it apart. "In fact, let's start with the very core of this sadness, shall we? Your parents still live correct? Why don't we correct that little mistake and show them just exactly their sins are." Alastor promised vengeance, but this was free of charge. If anyone loved to murder Quincy's then well, Alastor would offer up his power for that for free. "This one, this one i will do for free after all. You my dear little Quincy would benefit from my teachings. So, what do you say? In return for the death of your parents and the power to conquer your own sadness. Your soul will become mine, so... Do we have a deal?" 

After all. If they were willing to turn their own children against them naturally, then what good are they? Alastor put his hand out to Ruhe in a offering manner. This would be her chance to take revenge 

[Ruhe Krieger]

"H-H-Hch." The tears begin to drip from her blue eyes, as her chin is lifted, and she can feel herself burning from his touch. The touch of a sinner was something toxic to a Quincy such as her, and she could feel the sizzling along her flesh, as if acid had brushed her, in such a gentle touch. Weaponize a curse he said. To make herself feel better. He spoke confidently, the first step to a good business man, and she proceeded to feel herself curling into a ball in the snow. 

"Ahaaaagh! Haaaaagh!" She begins to cry out, in a bout of pain, both internal and lightly external, she feels her hands pulling on her hair, feeling a sense of inner chaos as he looked to push her to a brink of insanity that there was potentially no going back from. However, she began to battle inside of her heart. She began to question in her heart what she really wanted, and it was there she realized she wanted that.

Wanted that love and affection. The feeling of being able to curl up into someone's arms as they promise to keep you safe. The feeling of someone caressing you so gingerly to make you feel safe in the world, that you were wanted. In a sense, it was a love that Ruhe wanted. "...H-H-Hnnh." She never noticed that she had scratched herself, or had yanked out several strands of those precious locks as she falls onto her knees.

She looks upon herself, her frantic state, and she in a sense had legitimately lost composure, felt her mask break, the facade, the girl that she was supposed to be. The paragon of virtue, the soldier, the obedient child, the good picture of what a Vandenreich Quincy child should be. She felt a burning pain in her eyes that was intense, as if they were on fire, stung by the bitterness of the cold, and it was there that she struggled to even breath in her cries. However, at the end of it, she wasn't sure what this monster was. Or if in a sense if Alastor even existed. 

Or if he was a figment of her imagination manifest. "G-God...p-p-p-pulease. H-Hnnh! I-I don't know." She shakes her head, and she finds herself resting herself deep in the snow. In this frantic and panicked state, she begins to move out into the street, and it was there through brief headlights, that she finds herself slammed into, sent practically flying, and then flipping over the car as she skids along the ground, rolling, and then laying still with a thud. Blood oozing out onto the snow as the driver steps out, rushing forward, and before long...

An ambulance was called. 

[Alastor Caedes]

As the poor girl started to break down in front of him. All Alastor was waiting for was the magic phrase. The single phrase that would seal this poor girl's fate for eternity. Yet, he saw her break down entirely. So intensely all he got out of her was a simple "God... Please..." Which for normal sinners wouldn't really work, but for Alastor? Alastor was God in many ways. A tempter, a tester, a being who ruled over others and aided in their growth when called upon. So, in a sense of his own twisted ego, he truly was a god. One that would make sure that he snagged the prey that he hunted. He watched the girl walk off and then get flung across the road by a vehicle. 

I know children are fragile, but I wonder if Quincy children are more fragile? Well, she isn't dead, so I will take it as a yes. Alastor only rolled his eyes as the Psycho personality spoke up. You know im right. That bag of flesh and bones would make a good snack to munch on while we wait for her soul to go somewhere. The King personality only mentally sighed. You know we can't do that, this little one is on our list of valuable souls to claim. Consuming her body would only be a waste of time. She wouldn't even grant much of a benefit as a snack. This retort caused the Psycho to just roar out in annoyance and boredom. Come on King! Let me feast on this worthless peasant! 

No! Anyone else is fine, but the girl is a priority target. The King certainly put his foot down on this specific topic, as it had been a while since the Psycho fed. " Chamiel!" Alastor yelled out. Moments later a slight silhouette of colors formed and manifested as a chameleon Hason.  The Hason's chameleon faces split open down the center showing a blood-soaked genderless face. "Yes Sire? " Alastor took a moment to collect and retrain his control over the body before taking a deep breath and exhaling. "Kill all the humans in the area. Make it look like a serial killer was living among them. Im taking the girl to Hell if shes unconscious." The Hason immediately bowed slightly. " And if she isn't?" 

Alastor whipped his face back to the Hason, his eyes all slits except one. "DO NOT-" Catching himself, he took a breath. His pupils returning to the normal round pupils. "If she isn't then oh well. We will simply wait and see what she will do. Now. Go." The Hason bowed before turning into a array of colors then seemingly disappearing. In truth, he went back into his personal ability's stealth mode. Concealing even his reiatsu from detection. Alastor moved himself over to where Ruhe was. Grinning from the blood that was unavoidingly flowing down her face. Alastor watched as people begun to gather and one by one, he would point which humans for Chamiel to kill. 

Yet the poor girl would soon find herself saved by an Ambulance. Alastor only growled to himself as he had to chase down his own unconscious prey. " Cursed Humans and their advanced technology.... How this world has fallen so low..." Alastor hated the modern world, sure their wine and pleasures were fantastic. Yet everything else was so... self-reliant. Humans used to worship him and rely on him for everything, EVERYTHING!! Now? Now they rely on the technology that they designed after abandoning the old ways. This made the king furious with the way things were, its why he agreed to the birth of the Sanctus. Its why he has done his role for three thousand plus years. 

To reset it all. 

But as the time passed Alastor waited for Ruhe to wake up. Now in a new gigai of a woman. Long silver hair, with a red suit that exposed a good amount of bust. He waited in that gigai for Ruhe to wake, so that he could continue this plan. To break the poor girls mind and heart, in order to let the sinful flower in her soul bloom.

[Deleted]

46 paragraphs counted, so that'll be 230 TP for both participants!