004: Aftermath [Action/Video, Backdated to Darkness Event]

[beautifulmidboss]

[When Vyers finally regained consciousness, it took him a moment to remember where he was, what had happened. It was lucky he'd not been too badly burnt as the fire passed over where he lay.

Slowly, memories started coming back through the haze:

Lucifer. The hospital. His wings...

He had to get somewhere safe and make sure no one was hurt. If Lucifer's spell had worked, then those people would be...!

But every attempt to move was agonising - those gaping wounds in his side and across his back. His right arm and ribs heavy, sending stabbing pains through him, probably broken when he fell...

He couldn't get up.

Vyers lay there on the pavement for a little while - he needed to call for help, warn the others, work out what happened - but what could he do like this? That spell... The hospital could never have withstood a power like that.

Reluctantly, he reached for his videophone and - with great effort - managed to open a video feed. He would have locked certain people out the video, but right now it took almost all the energy he had to grasp onto it and get it working - the device had already been damaged by the long fall.]


[It was a few hours after the hospital's destruction when the shakey video comes on - distorted by a rather large crack across the screen - Vyers can be seen lying on blackened pavement, jacket torn and drenched in blood. The hand holding the device is shaking, so Vyers is only in the shot half the time.]

The hospital, I-- D-did those people-- a, anyone--

[Vyers' voice is raspy, delirious, talking through shaky breaths.]

Ergh...! Can't move… [coughs, his voice sounding more strained as he felt another twinge from his back.]

My-- my w-wings, he took--my--wings...

[A strangled sounding sob escaped him, the demon flinching as he did so. Everything hurt. Every little movement sending a flare of pain through his body.]

Thought I, could stop him...as--as I, did before… [coughs, blood running down his chin.]

That spell, it... The hospital…!

...Gods, help... them... p-please...

Comments

[ainoakuma]

Flonne had been busy healing those who had been in the crossfire. She couldn't do a lot of things, but at the very least she could heal those who had been hurt and take care of innocent bystanders. Coming across Vyers broken and beaten up the way he was was not something she was prepared to see. She hadn't even really seen the video, but she didn't need to see how hurt he had been.

Every fiber in her being wanted to rush over to him and instantly heal him, but she couldn't move. She was frozen in horror as she saw his condition. He had clearly been hurt badly and she hadn't seen wounds this bad. Not even while healing the others.

She finally snapped out of it and rushed over to his side, quickly summoning her staff to heal him. Fear. She felt fear. He wasn't Laharl, but he was still somebody from her world. She still cared deeply for Vyers, even without know the truth about who he really was. He was important to her.

His more basic injuries were slowly healing, but seeing his wings had been torn of was gruesome. Once his other injuries were healed a little at least, she tried to focus on his wings. Was there a way to save them? It didn't seem likely, but it seemed horrific to have that taken from him in that matter. The stench of the blood was disgusting and made her sick, but she just had to power through it.

Trying her best to keep from just crying that he had been hurt so badly, she had to stay composed. She had been tired as it was, but there was no way that she could just leave him in that state. Not when he'd had the worst injuries by far from who she'd already healed so far.

"Hang in there, okay?" Flonne finally said, her voice faint and weak.

[beautifulmidboss]

Vyers was moving, slightly - body twitching as he continued his hopeless attempts to get up - but this effort proved far too painful to keep up for long. It felt like the blast wound that burnt deep into his side, and the long cuts across his back were just ripping open further still.

He did not even realise Flonne was nearby at first, vision blurred as the bloodloss started to take hold. But he recognised that voice, small as it was. After all the time he had spent watching her, Laharl and Etna, how could he not?

"Fl, Flonne...?" his voice sounded as bad as he looked - a rasping, strangled sort of whisper. The bruising across his chest probably accounted for at least some of that.

As he finally felt her healing magic take ahold, Vyers sighed in relief, closing his eyes and letting it take it's effect. Part of him wanted to stop her, but he could not cope with that pain wreaking through him any longer.

His wings had fallen a little way from him, near ripped to shreds by the brutal attack, and then burnt further when the fire came through. The wounds on his back could be healed closed easily enough, but restoring his wings? ... Unlikely.

[ainoakuma]

Shaking her head as she continued to try to heal him, "Don't speak. Save your strength."

At least he was feeling a little better. Part of her knew that it wasn't likely that she would be able to save his wings, but she could't stop. She knew how much he loved his wings and having wings herself (even if her angel wings were traded in for devil wings), she knew how much it must have hurt. Having something that was of flesh and bone ripped off of you seemed very cruel and painful.

"Everything will be okay."

[dragonform]

Vyers!

[It's official, if Ryu ever gets a shot at Lucifer? That's a fight that isn't stopping until one of them is dead.]

Hold on! I can help you!

Action?

[beautifulmidboss]

[Vyers stirred as he heard Ryu's voice, but right now the pain was overwhelming his capacity to think logically.

He did not know how long he had been unconscious for, but right now he did know that the hospital was in grave danger.]

T, the hospital, they-- they need--help--

He's going to...!

[Coughs, flinching as the action jolts his injuries.]

[dragonform]

Don't try to talk right now! I'm coming to find you!

[It didn't take him long to change. His Warrior form would suffice with agility being its greatest strength. He recognized the area Vyers had fallen, and was already on his way to tend to the man.]

Once you're okay, then I'll see to the monster that did this.

[melodyoftheabyss]

You require assistance. Will you let me know your location?

[ There's a dead serious look on her face when she saw how injured this person was but she would at least assure them that they were able to save many. ]

I have secured several floors to safety with my companions. They are still working to fix the issue, however there is no way we can save the hospital as it is. It will collapse.

[beautifulmidboss]

[Truth be told, Vyers had been in such a rush to find Lucifer, that he had not taken note of exactly where he ended up. He tried to look around to find some sort of indication, but Gods movement hurt right now.]

I... Maple... S, street, probably...or... Juniper...?

Near the--bay--! [Vyers began to cough again, sending fresh waves of pain through him.]

[He did not recognise this woman, but her assurance of their efforts seemed to bring him some welcome relief, if that pained smile was anything to go by.]

...T-thank you...

[melodyoftheabyss]

[ Tear nodded her head. She was tired but she wouldn't stop to save the rest of the people, especially someone who had been severely injured. ]

Please hold on. I will make my way to the location stated. I apologize in advance if I am late in any way.

[ She replied nodding her head and finally getting a good enough description she makes her way to him. ]

You're welcome. Please refrain from moving or speaking too much. Do not close your eyes. If you do, I'm afraid it will be difficult to assist.

[VIDEO]

[beareroflight]

Behold.

The reason for all those innocent deaths.

[Video]

[beautifulmidboss]

…!

[He, foolishly, had not been expecting Lucifer to 'humour' him with a response. Vyers froze, fear stopping his voice before it could leave his mouth.]

[Video] -> [PRIVATE]

[beareroflight]

[It doesn't take long before Lucifer turns the feed into a more private unhackable line.]

How does it feel?

Have you heard what people said about the hospital?

[Video - Placeholder because whooooa so behind!]

[solar_flare]

You need me to come get you, or to beat the stuffing out of whoever did this?

[Judging by how quickly the scenery is zipping past her mass of flaming hair, it's safe to assume Yang is on her bike heading his way.]

[Video - No worries, placeholders are good ^^ ]

[beautifulmidboss]

[Vyers was a little surprised to see Yang respond to this, but was rather relieved that she was unharmed. Still…he had no wish to see her fight Lucifer. Not after what he'd already done to him.]

P, please…don't fight…him…too powerful…!

[Video]

[solar_flare]

I'm not exactly a pushover myself.

[But she kind of doubts she's going to find the man of the hour just because she really wants to.]

Where are you resting up? I'll drop off some things so you don't get too bored while you recover.

[Accidental Video]

[forever_prince]

[A while after Flonne arrives on the scene, another video feed will open on Vyers' device, with only two things in view. One being a limp arm, and the other a long red scarf. It shouldn't be to worrysome though, as occasionally snoring could be heard and the arm does move from time to time.]

[Laharl just slept through the apocalypse. Want to wake him up?]

[Video]; Threadjacking?

[ainoakuma]

[Flonne was much too busy trying to heal Vyers. She was so worried that he wasn't going to make it. And then seeing Laharl's accidental video was enough to make her even more emotional than she was before. She had been doing her best to stay calm and she didn't need this..]

Laharl-san! Wake up already!

[It was clear that she was exhausted right now, but she wasn't giving up. She was too determined to heal Vyers back to health.]

[Video]

[forever_prince]

[The hand on the screen jerks a bit and retracts as feet come into view and eventually Laharl picks up his device from where it fell.]

Yeah yeah, what'dya wa--

[As soon as he saw what was going on, any trace of sarcasm and sleepiness vanished in an instant. For a fraction of a second, something could be seen in his eyes. Fear? Rage? Regret? Murderous intent? All of the above could be the safest bet. When he spoke again though, his voice was extremely calm... more so than when he was bored, but almost strained at once. Like the calm before the storm.]

What happened?

[Video]

[beautifulmidboss]

[Although Flonne's healing was having an effect, it was still hard to focus through the pain. Everything hurt, and-- The video feed came on.

That arm. That scarf.

Through the haze, that was all he could register for the time being. He didn't realise that he had slept through the apocalypse. Was his son hurt? Dead? Had Lucifer attacked him, too?]

Laha--!

[He jolted slightly as he tried - and failed - to get up, hissing in pain as he did so.]

[Video]

[greenmagick]

[Terra's face broke it's usual composer as she turned on her screen. She knows a thing or two about wounds and he didn't look like he is in good shape. She moves from the tents where she was working, healing those who escaped the destruction, and started to head back towards the ruins.

Her voice is still soft but worry seeps through as she speaks.]

Where are you?

[Video]

[beautifulmidboss]

[Soft as her voice is, Vyers still recognizes it through the haze of pain and bloodloss. With all the destruction, he was still worried about her, despite the fact that he'd been reduced to a bloody heap on the floor.]

T, Terra--are you--alright--?

[He winced at the question, trying to glance around for some sign of where exactly he fell. Prior to that, he had been so fixated on finding Lucifer that he did not take note of where he ended up. He hadn't planned for it to go like this.]

Maple, or...Juniper street, perhaps...I cannot, be certain, but...n-near the bay...

[Video]

[greenmagick]

[She took note of his location and adjusted her path. He is close and she soon finds him laying in a tangled mess on the ground. Her face doesn't betray her horror at the sight of him. She has been through war and it is something she was used too but this was a friend. She sat by his side and gently moves him so that she could see all of his wounds.

Her eyes quickly search for the areas that are in the worst shape and starts to heal. Her hand glows as tiny silver sparks dance from her hand, into his wounds. Terra is focusing intently on her work but she answers all of his questions. Her voice gentle but firm.]

I'm fine. I was helping heal the wounded. We are still looking for others but it seems we got everyone to safety.

Hold still.

[She continues to work in silence a moment before meeting his eyes with her own.]

What were you doing?

[Video]

[never_go_back]

[Who even knows where Kodachi was while all of this was going down, but for whatever reason she didn't receive the feed until Vyers had already been tended to.

Needless to say that once she sees it the gymnast panics; it would really be a cruel twist of fate of Vyers died so soon before meeting. Well perhaps it is a stretch to assume that demons die once their wings are clipped but..]

Are you there?? Please answer!

[Audio]

[beautifulmidboss]

[Since he had been tended to - and escaped safely to Fayren - Vyers had been trying to rest and regain his strength.

He felt terrible. Both for the people who had been hurt when the hospital was destroyed, and for himself at his own crushing defeat.

Hearing Kodachi's voice was a small comfort, though. Awoken from a light sleep by her appearing on the videophone, he knew he needed to reply to her quickly and put her mind at rest. Thank goodness, she looked unhurt.

He could not bring himself to reply with a video as he normally would. His pride was too badly wounded and he did not want his surrogate daughter to see him in such a state. Instead, she would hear his tired sounding voice from the other end of the feed.]

Yes, I am here, Kodachi…are you alright?

[Audio]

[never_go_back]

Oh thank goodness.. Thank goodness!

[Kodachi's shoulders and voice trembles, but there's such a wave of relief that washes over her it actually makes her feel light-headed for a moment.

It takes several seconds for her to pull herself together but eventualy,]

I.. Yes. I was on my way to Attleton, actually.

[It was all fun and games until her possessions got caught in the mess.]

What in the world happened!