the devil has a sharp tongue

[amant]

Characters: France and YOU.
Setting: Various
Format: Action, though I can match.
Summary: A thief in the night has Fran turning a different shade of devil.
Warnings: Manipulation, partially clothed demon!France, and other unsavory things. Gore. Bad behavior the longer the month drags out.

[ October 14th, evening ]

[ When France woke up dressed like a dashing devil, he'd thought to himself Well, it's better than last year! before getting out of bed and starting to collect candy. He could play games-- especially if the warning of 'or else' hung over his head so cheerfully. Collect candy, go about his day, look handsome... typical French routine come this time of year. With less scantily clad 'nurses', unfortunately.

The second message alerting residences that candy would be harder to come by came several days later. The 'or else' became a little more worrying in France's mind. He didn't LIKE what the tower did most of the time -- and that was on the good days where there weren't direct threats!

It's while he's sleeping on the 14th that something goes terribly awry and he's woken to being strangled by his vest. Checking the contents of his pumpkin, he realizes that half of his candy is gone. If you see him in the halls, be warned that he's a desperate man searching for over a dozen chocolates. He's not going to be all that pleasant. Deeply sorry. Care to help a man out, or is that impending doom keeping you tight-fisted?]

[ October 15th, post death ]

[ Whatever attempts France goes through on the evening of the 14th failed around the time he braved the forest. There'd been little he could find before his costume finally cinched the last breath out of him and when he wakes in the morning the situation is not a pleasant one.

It's not that he's died that bothers him the most. Not at all; he's grown a little accustomed to the idea in this place. He just..doesn't recall how he's gone from a glamorized demon to a more literal version, grotesque red skin, horns, and all. Maybe you'll spy him in the cafeteria, or roaming the halls. Maybe he's hiding away while trying to look for chocolates in hopes to cure his current ailment. He's not dangerous to stop and question yet. ]

[ Later in the month ]

[ Have a confession you need to let off your chest? A moral dilemma? Come to papa. He won't hurt you. Much. ]

 

(ooc: Playing it by ear here. He's not as social toward the beginning but expect that to change toward the end of month where he's set on manipulating those with weak conviction. Modest? What's that... )

Comments

[Later; somewhere a bit... secluded]

[faithstaynight]

[Jeanne didn't like to spend her time fretting about things. It just wasn't her style; if something was worrying her, she'd confront the issue head-on! But... it was hard to confront this particular issue. It was difficult to pinpoint where someone might be in a tower this large, so Jeanne was growing troubled the longer she spent without word from the people she knew. Were they all right? Had they suffered the consequences of not collecting enough candy? Did they fall prey to some monster while fighting it for a prize?

All these troubling thoughts were swirling about her mind like a maelstrom, and it almost caused her to walk right past a certain nation without noticing. But notice she does, and she stops short.]

Francis! Are you-- [She immediately stops that train of thought when she takes a good look at him. Her expression quickly turns to one of horror.] Dear God, what happened to you?!

come little children, i'll take thee away... :T

[amant]

[The longer the month wore on, the less like himself he became. At first he was consumed with how hideous he'd become and it had distracted from the niggling thoughts scratching at his skull; they told him to lead the sheep from the herd, thin out the flock... But then, he'd noticed it and had grown fearful, secluding himself when he could. Unfortunately, the path to hell was paved in good intentions.

What Jeanne came across was one of the Tower's playthings that sounded similar to France and looked like a macabre copy of him. Somewhere he was there, but only as a partial observer nine times out of ten. He'd taken to lurking in the halls and on some of the more colorful floors--fitting in too well for anyone's tastes really, so it's a surprise to see Jeanne of all people bumping into him.

Her question brings a smooth smile to his face which would have been appealing if his skin wasn't raw. This one was innocent. He liked that.]

What has God got to do with this? He's never been partial to me anyway, has he?

[Chuckling to himself, he drew in his cape in a fluid movement, watching her for a moment.]

It's just a game, ma petite. Aren't we having fun?

goddamnit now I've got that song stuck in my head >T

[faithstaynight]

[She frowns at that. She doesn't really like getting into arguments like that - as deeply faithful as she is, she knows when it's impossible to change someone's mind on such a topic. It only leads to frustration and headaches and she'd grudgingly keep her mouth shut in most cases... but this is different. This was France who was saying it.]

That's not true. If He was not partial to you, then He would not have send me to fight.

[And that's where she'll leave it at.] And you did not answer my question. You did not explain how you have become... disfigured like this!

I put a spell on you!

[amant]

[It's not that France has no faith-- he does, but granted the situation he's more brutal in his opinion than he would have been. Being a demon was the removal of a few well-placed filters he'd grown to accept. He didn't hate God; he was just feeling particularly spiteful.]

Ah yes. He did send you to fight. [Stop looking so pleased, France.] He sent you to Hell like He did me; I merely look the part now. I died, Jeanne. I've died more here than I did in the Great Wars.

[France slid closer, giving her a curious frown; thoughtful] Some God, ouais? Merciful Creator. Oh, I'm getting off-topic are I not? Some little bastard snuck in my room at night and stole over half of my candy and I was unable to find enough.

[That frown melts back into something more neutral and he lays a scabbed hand on her shoulder; nonchalantly continuing]

At first I was ashamed of how I looked but I think I'm growing to like it. A little revealing, perhaps mais... Who cares?

.... and now I want to watch the entire movie again. *SHAKES FIST*

[faithstaynight]

[He... died? Jeanne can't stop the pained look from crossing her face at that. He died, and there was nothing she could have done to help. Maybe you could have spent more energy making sure he and the others were well off instead of thinking of yourself, a small part of her mind scolded her. And... maybe it was right. She could have worked to help Francis - and Francisca, and Zelda, and her roommates and others she had met - make sure they had more than enough candy for the day. She had been selfish...

Her expression grows even more pained as he talks of God in that way again. To see another friend fall in such away...

No. No, this had to be a trick of the tower. Jeanne refused to believe his words were true.]

You must be lying... [She eyes the raw patches of the skin on the hand resting on her shoulder, before turning her gaze up to look at the foul horns protruding from his head.] You do not need to hide your pain from me. I want to help you, however I can.

mission accomplished

[amant]

[Maybe he catches that flicker of uncertainty in her eyes... call it an enhanced knack. If he were himself it'd pain him to see that look on her face and know that he will feel horrible if he remembers what happens after all has been said and done. Until then, he's stuck giving her a questioning look, guilt being the last thing on his mind.]

Lying about what? Ma chere, I find that I have no reason to lie, especially not to someone who has been lied to their whole life. So, let me tell you something.

You can do nothing. Eventually this place takes us all.

X( X( X(

[faithstaynight]

Lied to...? [It's shock that replaces the hurt look now.] You... You truly believe I've been deluded most of my life?

[And that's what makes her sure he's not really himself right now. It still hurts to hear him talk this way, but she can reassure herself a little that this is because of some outside influence. And she'll put a stop to it, definitely.]

"I can do nothing"? [She huffs, now looking quite determined.] You should know that words like that will not sway me. If anything, they will make me even more determined to help.

14th

[champagnedelis]

[Clad in a maid's outfit Francisca is likewise searching for candy, needing just a couple more though struggling a bit with searching comfortably since the skimpy dress is tight and making it difficult to concentrate. She pauses when she sees the handsome devil and approaches with a worried face.]

Mon cher, are you alright??

[amant]

[He didn't know how long he had but he knew it wasn't long. Perhaps it had something to do with only having half the quota of candy he was meant to have that made the costume constrict even faster. France wouldn't put it past the anxiety of knowing things could and would go very wrong if he didn't pull though. Her voice catches him off-guard and he has to steady himself, free hand going to the vest making intimate friends with his ribs, brows furrowing in question]

Francisca... ye-- no. [He forces in a slow breath, lips drawing tight in dissatisfaction] I was woken up with a shrinking costume and half of my candies gone. A little thief is in our midst. I would be careful if I were you.

[champagnedelis]

[Almost automatically she began to take the candy she'd found so far from her apron to give to Francis - she seemed to have more time than him to survive at this rate anyway.]

Here, take them, quickly now.

[amant]

[He could tell what she was trying to do before she spoke, shaking his head before grabbing her wrist to keep the candy away. It would be a lie if he said it wasn't tempting. He doesn't remember if they ever said there was only so many times you could die here before being done for good. In the end it's that lack of certainty that seals the deal]

You put those in your basket and do not let it out of your sight!

[France wouldn't have a hand in adding another tally against her.]

How many do you need? Perhaps there is still some well-hidden. I no longer have weapons good enough to take down the creatures here...

[Hand to hand is problematic considering he's wearing a makeshift corset right now. Offering a small smile, he let her wrist go to lean in and give her a chaste kiss on the cheek]

You look better than I do and I'd like to keep it that way.

[champagnedelis]

[She frowned and struggled against his grip, eyes pleading.]

I only need a couple more, please, just take some- Like you say, I'm faring better at the moment and I still have my bodice knife, I can kill a monster or two.

[amant]

I would be no better than the thief that took mine. Get what you need and then we shall see what else we can do for me. [It was getting harder to breathe the longer they stood trying to debate on whom got candy, but he hides it in favor of steering her toward the staircase]

The forest. It has more places for things to hide. [and creatures to kill] We will be okay, I promise.

15th

[puppy_lancer]

Woah.

[Lancer cocks his head at the red-skinned man.]

Pretty realistic costume there.

[amant]

[He's got a headache and the strong urge to flash what's 'elaborate' about his costume under the cape, but lucky for Lancer, he's more appalled by his appearance than his counterpart]

I liked it before I died and this happened.

[This NOT being a costume. He's just too hot to handle. Bam.]

[puppy_lancer]

Oh.

[A pause.]

Sorry.

[So somehow your costume ended up warped if you died in it and then came back.]

[amant]

...What are you anyway? An emotional were-boy?

[He looks like a burn victim (a naked one), and you're wearing ears. Maybe he's just a bit sour.]

Keep finding candy. Do not let it out of your sight. While you're not threatening now I'm sure that will change.

[puppy_lancer]

I'm at the point that I would prefer that.

[Anything to stop looking "cute" in a baby-ish way.]

What if I wanna look threatening?

[amant]

[Did he really just hear that?]

I'm sorry? Did you just suggest you'd like to suffocate, die, and come back as something hideous? These horns hurt, I will have you know. They're embedded in my skull and ache constantly and that is just the start of my problems.

I doubt the intent of the administrators is to soothe your aching ego, you know.

Let's make it the 15th.

[mostremaining]

[Gilbert was going about the tower looking for candy to distribute to those who needed it, when he spotted a familiar face...]

F-France? Is that you?! [He runs up to the devil-man, shocked and full of questions.] Holy Hell, what happened to you?! Did you survive the destruction of our world too, or something? Did the destruction do this to you? What happened?!

oh I'm late aslkd

[amant]

[He's still himself the day after. Sinister looking, but himself. At Prussia's approach there are a few things going through his mind. For one, there's the innate thought that he could take advantage of this man's confusion (thanks, Tower) which he quickly pushes aside for his own confusion.]

Where have you been?! It's been months since I last saw you!

[He'd always wondered where Prussia had gone, but here you have to keep on your toes and not reflect. Which France only listens to part of the time.]

... You don't remember, do you? The tower's administrators did this to me. [mutter] I'd rather be home, destroyed or not, than here mon ami.

[NO HE'S NOT CONTEMPLATING WHY HIS FRIEND CAN'T REMEMBER SHIT.]

It's okay!

[mostremaining]

Wh-what? Months?! How is that possible?! It's only been... what, a few days since I came here, and before that the world was totally okay! How could the destruction of the world have happened "months" ago if I just received a notice that it was a few days ago?

[Hel-lo, now Gilbert is totally confused. How could he have been away for months if he just arrived a few days ago?]

Um... what's there to remember? I heard that some weird shit was going on with the costumes people were being forced into, but I never really expected anything like this. You're in freakishly bad shape, man.

<333

[amant]

[His friend does get a sour look at that, which might be pretty scary considering he looks like he's a lobster crossed with a burn victim.]

A word of the wise. You do not trust anybody that can do this to a person without remorse. We had costumes that were innocent enough; I looked handsome. However, if one does not collect the quota of candy they die and come back as a gruesome version of their costume. As you eloquently put it, in freakishly bad shape.

[Not like it's an exaggeration, either. Maybe he'll just sigh.]

You were here before, months ago. I didn't know where you went, but one day you just vanished. Clearly our world still exists.

[mostremaining]

Oh, believe me, I've heard enough stuff to not trust the guys running the tower. They're forcing people into costumes AND they did this to you. If I were to meet any of them, I'd run the hell away.

If I was here before, then those guys must have wiped my memory, because I don't remember a thing. That's great. [All the sarcasm in the world, there.] So let me see if I can get this straight: our world was destroyed much longer ago than I thought, and somehow I was here before. Huh.

[amant]

They say it was destroyed. I say they're liars. Obviously I am biased by now, but my original mindset remains. If our world was destroyed we wouldn't exist.

Francisca was sent back 'home' before-- there was many unpleasant things but sometimes I think they just locked her away and fed her more lies. Not that I told her...

[You know. A lady that claims she's France, and for all parts is. Nodding at the last part]

We shared drinks and cursed our new home. [Ah, memories.]