I read Life by @bleedingcoffee42 over the course of the past week and it was so fun I had to draw something for it! It's an AU where they're detectives in Nixon, New Jersey, and trying to solve a murder that seems to be orchestrated specifically to twist everyone closer together (for what end, idk)
“Deliver me O Lord from the violent man! Preserve me from the violent man!” THAT HE MAY NOT RISE AGAIN by LINGUA IGNOTA
“I am the demon— the holy righteous axe of God.” THE CHOSEN ONE (MASTER) by LINGUA IGNOTA
“Oh, sinner, you’d better get ready. For the time is coming that the sinner must die.” All Bitches Die (All Bitches Die Here) by LINGUA IGNOTA
“I’m the butcher of the world, rise up and I’ll cut you down.” BUTCHER OF THE WORLD by LINGUA IGNOTA
“One is not enough, the heart of man is impossible to hold.” MAN IS LIKE A SPRING FLOWER by LINGUA IGNOTA
“In the dead silence, you can hear your departed mother sing a hymn in church, from 30 years ago. That’s what you get out of the silence.” THE ORDER OF SPIRITUAL VIRGINS by LINGUA IGNOTA
Oh I'm so excited for this chapter guys!! Hope everyone had an amazing New Year, WTH 2024 flew past r u kidding. Im ready for 2025 manifesting good vibes!!
It had been an awkward walk. Marleen was clearly still pissed at Sam and Sam, well she didn’t know how to relieve the tension. So they walked in silence, which was odd for the chatter-box that was Marleen. But every time she went to open her mouth to speak to Sam, she quickly snapped it shut, remembering the harsh words and new promise Sam had made to her the previous night.
The older girl’s words flashed through her head, ‘Mars, I think it’s best if we do find someone else to take you.’
‘There are better people to help you on your journey.’
‘I am sorry, Mars.’
Each time Sam’s voice echoed in her head the more she became angry all over again.
Mars grunted in frustration as she kicked a rock with force. It flung ahead and pelted into the tree in front of her. Her eyes followed the trajectory of the stone and saw movement.
Sam had noticed the same, signalling for the pair to stop. Even though she was angry, Mars still abided by the rules. Crouching down next to her taller so-called ‘friend’, they strained their eyes and ears to listen.
Marleen's eyes widened with shock. She sprung from her hiding spot and sprinted forward towards the familiar voice.
“Marleen!” Sam called out quietly. Mars had been too quick from her position; she didn’t even have time to lunge for her.
“For fucks sake.” Sam went against every fibre of her being and ran after the petite blonde woman.
The younger of the two couldn’t help the smile that plastered itself onto her face. She dove for her target, pelting him full force in the chest. The man who she now had in a bear hug, ‘oofed’ out at her sudden attack.
“Denver!” She squealed in so much delight. The man’s face went from shocked - to puzzled - to pure joy.
“Hands off!” Sam emerged from the bushes with her gun raised, she aimed it right between the big man’s eyes.
“You’ll have to tell her that.” The man’s southern tone quipped. He was right, it was Marleen who clung to him like a limpet.
“Mars, what the hell are you doing?” Sam questioned the younger girl, had she lost her damn mind all together or was she that pissed at Sam she was endangering her own life to get back at her.
“What happened? How did you get here? Did you get hurt? I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Do you know how happy I am to see you!” Marleen couldn’t shut up, her word vomit was like a broken dam; forever spilling from her lips.
“Woah, now hold up there, little lady. Take a breath before you faint.” Denver smiled down at his young neighbour, Mars had no idea how relieved he was to see her alive and well.
The built man pressed the young girl into his chest to hold her tightly. “My girl, I’ve missed you so much.” He pulled back with teary eyes.
“I missed you so so so so so so so-”
Denver cut her off with a soft kiss to her forehead, “So much.” He finished her sentence for her.
Marleen practically shook with delight, she couldn’t contain her excitement, “I could scream. I won’t, but I could.”
“Wait, I am.” She pressed her face into the man’s big chest like he was a pillow and screeched with all her might.
“My goodness. Good to see that the end of the world hasn’t dimmed your sparkle, young lady.” The pair couldn’t tear their eyes away from each other, forgetting their surroundings completely.
Until a clearing of someone’s throat pulled them back down to earth.
“Well, that was quite a reunion.” The taller man that had been walking with Denver interrupted. Mars finally stepped back from her beloved neighbour.
She took in her surroundings. Sam still stood with a rigid posture, hands tightly gripped around her weapon. Mars was going to tell her to relax but the two men who stood with Denver captured her attention before she could do so.
“You going to introduce us, Bull?” The shortest man spoke. Mars couldn’t help but smile at him, his face was built with soft features and kind brown eyes. He looked familiar and inviting.
“I’m Marleen Finch. But you can call me Mars.” She didn’t wait for Denver to introduce her, she stuck out her hand for the man to shake. A smile broke onto his lips and she eagerly smiled back as he gently shook her hand.
“Darrell Powers, but everyone calls me Shifty.” He introduced himself to the young blonde.
After shaking his hand she turned to the taller leaner man, “Pleased to meet you.” She greeted everyone in her friendly manner.
“Carwood Lipton, call me Lip, ma’am.” The tall man politely spoke.
“You can lower your weapon miss, we mean no harm.” Denver's soft voice pulled Mars’ attention back to Sam.
“Bam, how do you know him?” Sam asked questioningly, still not shifting from her defensive stance. Mars forgot that Sam wasn’t as eagerly pleased to see other human life like she was.
“Oh, um. Sam, this is Denver. He is my neighbour. We were together at the start of the outbreak and then I lost him, we got split up by a hoard. I was by myself for a bit before you found me. But he saved my life. This was the nice neighbour I told you about.”
Mars had avoided talking about Denver, feeling too sad and guilty about losing him. She conveniently ‘forgot’ to tell Sam how she ended up in her predicament and Sam being Sam, she never asked.
“Denver, Lip and Shifty. This is my good friend Samantha-uh, Sam.” Mars paused, trying to recall her surname but came up blank. Sam hadn’t told her what her last name was. “She saved my life a couple of weeks ago.”
The men smiled at her cheerily, but unlike with Mars they kept their distance from Sam.
“Hi.” Sam’s retort was short, she wasn’t planning to stay long or get to know these men.
“Well, Mars. This looks like the group for you.” Sam tucked her gun back into the holster on her hip.
“You aren’t planning to stay?” Lipton asked.
“Mars and I thought it would be for the best if we split up. We were just looking for a safe group for her to join.” But during her explanation Mars huffed in displeasure.
“We? No, I never said we should split up. But old Sam here doesn’t think I am safe with her.” Mars’ turned to Bull to complain.
“Would you like to spend a few days with us? If you truly don’t want to stay, we won’t force you.” Denver offered a solution.
“Yes.”
“No.”
The girls both replied in tandem.
“Don’t listen to Sam. Yes, she will take that offer. Thank you Denver.”
“Marleen!” Sam tried to argue, but the younger girl held up her hand, in turn silencing Sam.
“Stay and make sure I’m safe. You promised.” Mars’ tone was firm, she didn’t fuck around with pinky promises.
“Fine.” The older girl sighed, rolling her eyes at the smug looking Mars.
After the awkward introduction and decision to stay as a group, everyone continued on in their journey.
“Where are you guys heading?” Mars asked as she walked alongside Denver, “And what’s with Bull?” She had caught the nickname that Lip had called the larger man.
“We are heading to a safe zone in Idaho.” Denver informed his smaller counterpart.
“And Bull got his name from when we first met.” Lip interrupted their conversation, he fell into step next to Denver.
“Do tell.” Mars pried, curious to know the reason for the odd nickname.
“Well, Shifty and I watched this behemoth of a man tip a whole car onto an oncoming hoard. He was like a bull on steroids. Hence the name.” Lip clapped his friend on the shoulder as he grinned widely.
“The car was already half tipped.” Denver ever so modestly clarified. But Lip only laughed and squeezed the man’s shoulder.
“So, what’s up with your friend?” Bull leant in to whisper to Mars, his eyes cast forward on the lone walking woman ahead of them.
“Well, when I lost you I thought I could try and find you in Albany. So I did my very best and made my way there. Unfortunately, I didn’t find you, but a group of unfriendly men did. Sam had arrived just as things were getting hairy and saved my ass. I have been superglued to her side ever since.” Mars explained the nature of their meeting.
“She’s not much of a talker.” The young blonde started and stopped when Bull started to laugh.
“What?” She asked, tilting her head in confusion.
“Marleen, you aren’t one to be quiet. Poor girl, you must’ve chatted her ear off.” Denver teased the young woman.
Mars chuckled and nodded her head in confirmation.
“So, where’s she from?” Bull naturally enquired about Marleen’s friend.
“Uh-“ she started, searching her brain for the information, “I’m not sure.” The young blonde shrugged, but Denver’s brows furrowed together.
“What did she do?” He asked another basic question, one that Mars would surely know.
“I- I don’t know.” Mars shyly replied.
“Where is she going?” Bull continued in his line of questioning. She surely had to know something about the girl.
“I-uh. Um.” The young girl stalled before she sighed, “She didn’t tell me. But in hindsight I can’t remember asking.”
“Marleen, how long have you known Sam?” Denver questioned his young friend.
“Like two weeks.” Mars replied meekly, ducking her head out of view. “I told you she isn’t chatty!”
Bull laughed and swung his arm around the young girl's shoulders and squeezed her in tightly. He had so dearly missed Mars, and was thanking his lucky stars that she had found someone, however mysterious, to keep her safe and well.
—--------------------------------
Sam walked ahead of the group, she could hear them chatting behind her. Mars seemed thrilled to be reunited with her neighbour, but Sam felt on edge.
This was now more people she didn’t know and quite frankly didn’t really want to try and get to know. She had gone against everything in her being to befriend the young blonde but now there were three new people.
“SR-25.” The young man fell into step with Sam.
“Yeah, government issued.” The tall woman glanced over her shoulder to her army rifle that was slung over her back.
“Army?” Shifty asked.
“Three years.” Sam confirmed with a nod. “I am, was, a specialist.”
“You served?” She queried, the man seemed to know his rifles.
“No. But I do enjoy hunting. My father loved to hunt and shoot, taught me everything he knew.” The young man seemed to beam with pride speaking of his father. He appeared to take him in high regard.
“You must be a good shot.” Sam hummed in agreement.
“No, no. I’m not a good shot. Now Dad, he was an excellent shot- excellent, I declare. He could shoot the wings off a fly.”
“Don’t listen to Shifty, Sam.” Lip caught up with the pair as Bull and Mars were hot on his heels, “That boy is the best sharp shooter I’ve ever met. He can toss a coin in the air and hit it with his rifle. Hits it dead centre every time.” The taller man boasted about his shorter friend who blushed.
“Ah, I’m not that good.” Shifty smiled widely up at the taller man.
“Shifty, you’re too modest.” Bull chimed in, patting the man on his shoulder.
Mars smiled along the line that fell into step with Sam and Shifty. Even though she had only known the two men for a couple of hours she could tell they had the same nature as her neighbour.
The group had made camp in a clearing in the woods. The men had their own tents, and equipment, so Sam and Mars kept their sleeping arrangement.
Mars quickly set up the tent a couple of metres away from the firepit as Sam searched for wood to burn. She laid flat their sleeping bags and slotted their bags into the opening of the shelter before she zipped it up.
The young girl perched on the log next to Sam as she started the fire. She watched the girl lean over and spark the flint. Mars sighed in content resting her head on the older girl’s back as she worked.
“You allgood, Bam?” Sam checked in, cursing slightly when the wind blew out her small fire.
“Just happy we are altogether.” The blonde let her heavy eyes close as she listened to her friend's steady breathing.
Mars seemed to be more exhausted than normal. After Sam had successfully started her fire and sat up straight the younger girl let out a groan of complaint. Samantha didn’t think much of what she was doing as she pulled the petite blonde’s torso into her lap. Mars’ head laid on her legs as she snuggled in getting comfortable.
“Sleepy?” Sam questioned the quiet girl. She nodded, her eyes still closed. “Must’ve been all that excitement. Huh, Bam?” Sam ran her fingers through the girl's hair.
It was oddly second nature and unlike before it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Sam felt as if she had a small kitten nestled into her lap.
Mars mumbled incoherently. Sam craned her head down to hear her better.
“What?” She whispered not wanting to disturb the settled girl.
“Stay.” Mars said sleepily, her breathing quickly turned even as she fell asleep.
“She’s tuckered out.” Bull said as he took a seat next to Sam.
The tall blonde nodded her head looking down at the now peaceful girl on her lap.
“I wanted to say thank you.” Bull started, making Sam look up.
“For what?” Her brows furrowed, she had done nothing to this man for him to give thanks.
“Looking after Marleen. You don’t really seem like the type of person to take kindly to strangers.” Bull had made a quick assumption about the girl, but he wasn’t wrong.
“And I’ll be the first to say she can be quite a handful.” The bulky man jested, attempting to lighten the mood and extend an olive branch. Sam smirked, she knew exactly what he meant.
“So, where are you from Sam?” Shifty asked as he sat across from the pair on the log they had placed on the other side of the fire.
“Massachusetts.” Sam replied politely, it seemed like Mars had rubbed off on her. “Where are you all from?”
“I lived above Mars in New York but I’m originally from Arkansas.” Sam could tell that Bull was a country boy from the thick twang of his accent.
“I’m from Virginia and Lip is from West Virginia.” Shifty answered for his friend who settled beside him with a smile.
“We met up when we were both trying to flee the state.” Lip added. “We both appeared to be heading in the same direction, so we stuck together. And then we found Bull wandering on his lonesome, so we had to pick him up.”
“Yeah, the boys found me just in time.” Bull replied with his head down. The two other men shared a sad smile.
“Did something happen?” Sam finally caved and asked the group.
“A group had found me prior to these two, took everything I had and roughed me up a bit. Bastards left me for dead.” The larger man frowned in displeasure at the memory.
“When we found him he hadn’t eaten or drunk in days and had some serious blood loss.” Shifty noted. “Didn’t seem fair ten against one.”
Sam’s brows raised in shock. It was sick how people thought they could get away with anything during this time. But then her own actions flooded through her head, the way she had killed that man was nothing but brutal. However, Sam would never leave someone half dead and struggling. She always finished her jobs.
“It’s been crazy out there.” Sam stated as the rest of the group nodded.
“Yeah, people have kinda lost their minds.” Lip agreed.
They spent the rest of the night sharing stories around the campfire, it was mostly the men who talked amongst themselves while Sam listened. Mars by the end of the evening was still sleeping soundly in the older girl’s lap.
“Would you like some help?” Bull asked as Sam looked down at Mars trying to figure out how to get the both of them back into bed without waking her.
“Oh, yes please.” The tall girl lent back as Denver scooped the small girl from her lap and into his arms. He seemed to lift her with ease, the girl snuggled into his warmth as she buried her face into his chest.
Bull and Sam walked to their tent, Sam opened the sleeping bag for the large man to carefully place Mars. Once she had been sufficiently tucked in, Bull ran his hand over the sleeping girl’s hair.
“Night, you two.” He whispered waving Sam goodbye as he made his way back over to where the other men had set up their tents.
The taller girl got into her own sleeping bag and laid her head on her makeshift pillow, which was just t-shirts she hadn’t used yet scrunched into a ball.
Mars lay facing towards her, her features were at rest. At that moment Sam didn’t think she had anyone look so at peace. The older girl reached over to her sleeping friend and brushed the stray hair away from her face.
“I’ll stay.” Sam whispered before she turned over and fell asleep herself.
WHOOP WHOOP Bull is alive and well and we have more BOB men joining us the party is really heating up now! We love Shifty and Lip what cuties, of course they would find each other in the middle of the end of the world, our cute little country men!
Hey all! Mod Rosie here with a new au that I’ve had bubbling away in the back of my head for ages now and have finally shared with everyone! I’ve spent a ton of time ruminating over it, and I’m excited to have finally written it down for everybody to see.
There’s still some stuff I haven’t figured out, but I’m sure my fellow mods (and anyone who sends asks) can help me find an answer for it. Also, this is very long, so there’s a Read More for folks on mobile.
First off: This fic starts with Henry being dead!
Henry died by accident, with a curse placed on him by Joey being partially to blame for causing it. He’d laid a minor Bad Luck curse on Henry that hit/triggered at a terrible time.
(Stumbling or tripping him at the worst possible moment and him getting hit by something lethal. Joey had just wanted to inconvenience Henry for quitting/leaving the studio, but he'd had no idea that the curse could potentially cost Henry his life.)
He ends up wandering/following after his still-living family and trying to look out for them as best he can. When his sister falls deathly ill, he's desperate to find some way to help her. By pure chance, a demon happens to be nearby and senses the terrified/frantic ghost calling for help and appears before him.
The demon is, in fact, a super high-ranking guy (like, King/”Royal Court” type). He's “retired” from tormenting humans, because he's realized that he just- doesn't care about the whole “Heaven Vs Hell” thing anymore. He's been doing it for so long and sustaining the rage/hate for it for so long that he just doesn't have the energy for it anymore. So he's been looking to do something new, that isn't dragging souls into hell. And he's settled on a casino that he’s called the “Preening Aces Casino”, that's run based on karma instead of being rigged, to let his fellow demons unwind and occasionally see how humans do if they actually have the chance to win for once. (And how humans who are terrible can lose it all).
(Basically, he's decided that the only side he wants to play for is his own. Just because he didn't feel like torturing humans anymore didn't mean he wanted to get all buddy-buddy with angels.)
Anyways, he picks up on Henry being desperate enough to make Deal and shows up to make it (and to test run some of his stuff).
He's surprised/impressed that Henry isn't trying to make a deal for himself, and decides he kinda likes the guy. (Since Henry stays polite, and doesn't turn demanding when he shows up.) It's not often he's faced with a ghost trying to save their still-living family and not trying to get revenge or be brought back to life. It's a nice change of pace.
He brings Henry in and learns that Henry's got really good Karma. Like, way too good for how early he's died.
So he checks, sees the remains of the curse, and decides “Hey, maybe I can do something with this.”
He makes Henry an offer, going “Look, you died young. You had a lot of good stuff ahead of you, and now it's gone. I'm feeling generous, so let me cut you a deal. Keeping your family safe while dead ain't easy, so how about I make you... Less dead? I'll make it so you mess around in the living world again, even make it so people won't think to question how you're around. But. You work for me. I got a bit of a project going on, and it would be easier if I had some extra hands to keep it running smoothly. Do the job for long enough and clear your debt with me, and I'll even cut you loose to do whatever you want without being one of mine. What do you think?”
Henry hesitates, thinking it over, then he finally accepts.
The Demon, who tells Henry to just call him “Boss”, then makes Henry into a demon. (Or a Nephelim? Basically a half-demon, half-angel.)
Henry gets wings and horns and has tattoos that look like thorn-chains appear on his arms. His wings have piano-key patterns on the primary flight feathers and his horns form a halo shape. (Because his Deal was to benefit someone else.)
The chains show that he's contracted/serving a demon, and lets Boss have a certain level of power/”control” over him and reminds him that he can't just take off or try to skip out on his end of the Deal. They can turn into actual chains if the demon chooses/needs to.
Boss doesn't do that, but the reminder/threat is there.
Henry normally works in the food areas (and occasionally some of the tables) of the casino in the levels reserved for ghosts/humans, and usually keeps away from the “Demon Only” areas of the place.
Boss has him do that since he's the least terrifying/unsettling to them. He doesn't need to administer anything but food and conversation, though he does occasionally need to kick people out/remind them of WHERE they are. Some of the human-neutral/friendly demons that stop by like chatting with him or having him draw stuff for them.
(The Casino is mostly run by “puppets” brought to life by Boss. He's willing to cater to his fellow demons but doesn't feel like employing any. Most demons know to not cause trouble for someone like him.)
Henry finds the job isn't as bad as he'd thought it would be (though he suddenly had a ton of info about his new position/boss get dumped in his head) and he has a lot more freedom of movement than he'd expected. It's surprisingly tolerable. It's not his ideal job, but it's not a bad one either.
Then, somehow, Joey gets a letter to Henry's PO Box, despite them not having spoken to each other in years. Henry waffles on what to do for a bit, then finally goes to the Boss and asks for a couple days off to look into whatever his old pal has for him. Boss lets him, and Henry heads off to the old studio.
(Henry, due to his new not-human nature, automatically has an illusion/glamour that appears that makes him look his “proper” age. It only comes off if he actively removes it/reveals himself.)
Henry gets to the studio and he instantly knows something is wrong but has no idea what. Thanks to being around demons/being a demon for so long, he's gained a sense for when something demonic is present/working in a place. He goes in and plays along for a while, then the machine turns one and everything goes sideways.
Things stay closer to script for the game, though Henry keeps using his powers in small amounts to try and make things easier/less dangerous for him. Upon meeting the wolf, and getting to the safe house, he confirms that Joey is in the studio with Boris. Though the wolf tells him that Joey is deep in the studio. Henry resolves that he's going to speak with Joey before this is over. And by “talk” he means some thing much more frightening/violent for his old “pal”.
But, around chapter 4, Henry goes “F*ck this Noise” and starts openly using his powers to steamroll his way through to rescue Boris. And also scare the shit out of Malice while he's at it. (This change in tactics also alerts Boss that something is wrong through the chain-connection, because he can feel Henry using his powers in larger/more active amounts than before.)
Not sure how the stuff with Malice goes right now, but at the end, Henry is so peeved off that he decides he's not going to keep delaying anymore.
He's going to hunt Joey down, NOW, and they are going to talk.
When he finds him (Admin offices, no village or river. Those get skipped, or at least glazed over.) Henry is pissed, and ready to take a chunk out of Joey.
(His eyes might be glowing a bit from rage, and anyone with him is able to see his horns and wings from the corner of their eyes.)
Joey tries to butter Henry up (he is unaware of the havoc Henry wroth on his way down) and convince him of how wonderful/amazing what he's achieved is. He was trading the souls of his workers for fame and fortune and bringing the toons to life. He needed EVERYONE from the studio to complete the deal, which was why he needed Henry to come back. But Henry shuts him down, telling him that he DOESN'T CARE what Joey was trying to do. Just that it was ruining the people he SHOULD have been trying to help. So Joey brings in the demon he made a Deal with to try to force Henry to their side.
Henry feels something try to latch on to him, but it fails horribly.
Because the chains from Henry’s contract/Deal blaze to life (bringing him to his knees because holy shit that's a lot of power being shoved through him) and Boss materializes there, royally pissed that someone tried to poach HIS servant and ready to open a can whoop-ass on the one responsible.
(Demons can sense if a person is already bound/contracted to another demon, especially if that demon is more powerful than them. And Boss is WAY more powerful than Joey's demon. Also, Boss is a Pride demon, while Joey's is a Greed demon. It's partially a personal trait, partially what they're most commonly summoned for.)
Henry is spooked because Boss is also flexing his power to tell the Greed Demon just how badly they've fucked up, but he's also relieved to have the demon there to help.
GD tries to regain control, but quickly figures out they've screwed up and now their Deal can't be finished. Which also means they're going to lose all the souls they'd gotten thus far. (Also, they've pissed off someone that outranks them and that's gonna be a problem.)
And now it’s also going to lose its thrall over Joey to make him gather souls for it.
(It's similar to the Vamp Henry scenario, where Joey came from a well-meaning place at the start but then the magic and demon intentionally twisted him/his mind so it could use him to do horrible-shit.)
Boss, pissed off and able to sense how unhappy Henry is about all this, decides he's gonna twist the knife a bit on this guy before his deal implodes and tells him just how late he is grab Henry. And how shoddy/stupid his deal was to be tied to having ALL the souls before it could be completed. Because now he can't complete it since HE'S the one who's got the last soul instead. (Also, the deal would have also fallen through if Henry had been straight-up dead too.)
The demon vanishes, and Joey finally comes back to his senses. And promptly freaks out about what he's done. Boss lets him for a few minutes, then steps up to make his own Deal.
He sends Henry back to the casino telling him to clean up and make something. (And to keep him from being there to know/influence the Deal. He cares about the people involved, which means he could accidentally skew the choices that get made.)
Boss basically gets Joey to gamble his chances at fixing everything. Since, if they let everything that happened go unchanged, everyone in the studio would be dead and Joey would be serving SEVERAL life sentences. But, if he's willing to put his possibilities/future on the line, Boss could mend as much as he could. (Joey doesn't have much else to give for it.)
Joey agrees.
(Boss also goes to the other souls and gives them the chance to play for their lives/freedom back, if they're willing to risk it.)
Everyone (or at least most employees) gets a scenario similar to Henry at the end, they're alive again but now they work at the casino to pay off being brought back and (to those it applies to) to clear up their bad karma from anything they may have done/been doing while trapped at the studio.
Henry shifts from being just the restaurant/bar guy to being the employee-manager on top of that. It's definitely an unexpected promotion, but he's also strong enough to keep all of them in line so he's not opposed to it. (Since Boss' idea of an employee bonus was a boost in power/expanding abilities.) Also, it's nice to have his old friends around again.
And that's as far as I thought about the whole thing.
Well-
Aside from envisioning/fantasizing about either Boss or Henry having a go at Malice about how she's a shit angel, but an exemplary demon.
No plans for Real/living Toons in this au, but it could be something that gets talked about later by us later.
I know it's been a while since you talked about the Daemon AU, but I'm curious about something overly specific pertaining to the relationship between Web and Annabelle - what was Annabelle's reaction to Janovec's death?
the dæmon au anon is talking about can be found here. this might get heavy so I put TWs in the appropriate places.
Ooooohhhhhh Janovec dies after the mountain top, right?
So I rhink it entirely depends on whether or not Web allows Annabelle to go to town on that Nazi's dæmon, or whether or not he stops her from doing so.
Ok so like... I've discussed this with Nathan before (tho I have a feeling *squints eyes* Nathan is that you HAHAHAHA) but in the dæmon au, Web and his raven dæmon Annabelle are forever at odds (I've got lore here and here and here and here and here for them (and if you aren't familiar with this fucked up human/dæmon pair I suggest reading them all from the order of left to right before proceeding)), bc Web is afraid of his own anger and unchecked emotions, while Annabelle forever resents Web for his constant repression.
Now, the Nazi on the mountain top could go both ways: they are both very angry and very very dangerous in that moment. And the one time Web and Annabelle DO act like a cohesive unit is when Web allows Annabelle to act on her anger through violence. That's when they're on the same page. They did it in the bakery, when Web pulled a gun on that baker and Annabelle had pinned the baker's chipmunk dæmon down and began pecking at her with her beak ("Please!" the baker had begged in german, writhing in pain under Web's hands. "Please! You're hurting us!"). And in one scenario for the mountain top, they do it again.
When Joe shouts at him to shoot the man, Web lets Annabelle pick the Nazi's snake dæmon up and go to town. Dæmon on dæmon violence isn't unheard of, of course, but it IS pretty barbaric. And this scenario isn't any different. Annabelle is picking at this dæmon's eyes, her lithe body, as the commandant falls to the ground and writhes, reaching out for his dæmon in the clutches of this relentless raven, watching her twist and turn to no avail. He begs, just like the baker: "Please! You're hurting us!" but Web just lets Annabelle do her thing, until the dæmon hisses her last and disappears in a cloud of dust.
Personally, I think in this scenario, Web and Annabelle come to an understanding: violence feels good, but its consequences won't ever leave you. Annabelle flies back to Web's side, and they find comfort in finally seeing things from each other's perspective. Annabelle mellows out, and Web learns to let go.
Joe and Chaya and Skinny and his own dæmon (lmao I still haven't decided what kind of dæmon he has I'm sorry) are absolutely horrified, but for once Web doesn't care about appearances, which makes Annabelle very happy. They drive back to base with Annabelle in Web's lap, his fingers running through her feathers. Cuddling, perhaps, for the first time in a long, long time. Finally at peace.
In this scenario, I think Janovec's death might actually bring them closer together. Now that they understand each other, Annabelle is more open to holding more emotions for them other than just anger. And Janovec's death is more grief than anger, tbh. There's nothing else to rage at. Nothing to hurt or take revenge on. Only the senselessness. Only the absurdity of it all. They lean on each other for the first time ever, and Web lets himself feel it. The enormity of his grief. Annabelle doesn't fly away this time. Because she knows that she's wanted. She can stay. They mourn together. It's probably the longest they've ever been glued to each other's side.
(TW: implied self harm ahead)
The second scenario, is Web stops Annabelle before she can take the commandant's dæmon and kill her. He just grabs her from the air, swift as anything, and strangles her with his hands as Joe and Skinny and their dæmons look on, horrified. Annabelle's a bitch, yeah, but what the fuck? Don't do that! Don't hurt her! Especially when you consider how a dæmon is literally YOUR SOUL and Web is trying to kill it.
The thing is, no matter how hard Annabelle has pushed and pushed Web before, hurt him even if it meant she's hurting herself, Web has never retaliated. He's never done anything more than be dismissive or ignore it. This is the first time he's actually put his hands on her. And it will be the last.
Skinny shoots the commandant and his snake dæmon goes up in Dust. Web lets go and Annabelle flies away, and continues to fly away. Farther than their bond has ever allowed them.
And Web feels nothing.
No pain, no burning sensation, no urge to run after Annabelle if only to cut the distance between them in some hope for relief. Nothing.
Web's severed their bond. Whatever strained thread that has kept them together has finally snapped. And there's no going back.
The drive back to base is unnerving and silent. Joe and Chaya are worried. Skinny and his dæmon are terrified of Web. Nobody says anything.
Annabelle comes back, of course. She has no where else to go. But she never settles or perches on Web again. She's always just somewhere a few feet away. She never hurts Web again, but she never loves him, too. That's it. They're done for.
Janovec's death lands a blow on them both, but it drives them apart even more. Annabelle blames David-- she never says, but he can feel it. Even through their severed bond. David blames himself and carries it with him wherever he goes. He's tired. He's so tired. And so numb. The apathy has finally turned into self-harm, and now nothing can move him. He's truly and utterly alone.
