towerofanimus | the devil has a sharp tongue

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... )

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[Hesitating, she tucks the candy back into her apron and grips his hand firmly.]

... D'accord, let's go kill some pests.

[As they got to the stairs, she paused, biting her lip and taking a piece of candy from her pouch, staring at it intently.]

I think... [She quickly turns and puts it to Francis' lips.] Eat it, I'm certain it will help. For a while at least.

[He isn't giving up yet, even when moving too fast causes dots of light to scatter across his vision. Shutting them tightly for a brief moment, he didn't see the candy coming toward his face until it touched his lips, making a surprised grunt, giving her a look. Somehow he's managed to pull off 'offended' however quick]

I am doing this to humor you, alright?

[He took the offered candy with a grimace, glancing away from her. The vest of his costume let up enough to let him breathe comfortably--but for how long. Francis let out a breath and grabbed for her hand again, shaking his head]

We need to hurry. Nothing the tower gives us will give us help for long.

[Seeing his breathing was back to normal, she smiled with relief, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.]

Very well, we can do this.

[Quickly tugs him along to the forest floor, scanning the hallways for stray candy along the way.]

[Stray candy in the halls... it was a pipe dream, but one he tried for as well. He didn't know how long he had or what would happen after. Watching her from the corner of his eyes, he turned thoughtful]

I want you to have what is left of my candy if I cannot find enough. It is not up for debate, ma chere. One of us must last to the end of the month if both cannot.

[It's one of those moments where he's not sure if it was in his head or for all to hear, but his intent has been made nonetheless. He's not excited about the forest but it's likely to be their best best]

It has been months since I visited the forest. I wonder if it's changed...

[Lips thinning she tightens her grip on his hand, wanting to cry out 'don't say that' or 'that won't be necessary' but... In the end, she knew that there was sound logic in what Francis was saying, no matter how much she despaired at the thought of him dying.]

I will.

[She glances around warily, dagger held at the ready as they descended the stairs and entered the forest.]

I haven't been here since it first appeared... I'm not very comfortable here but, whatever is necessary.

[She toes off her stilettos, able to balance more solidly on her stockinged feet.]

[He gave her a tired smile but he's grateful. Pulling her closer, he remained silent as they approached the forest. The first and only time he was there had been for leisure and he'd ended up being chased deep into the forest by some creature. It seems a little fuzzy by now, but he remembered that following water in the forest was much like following water back home: important]

Neither am I, though by now I'm sure many other places have been torn apart looking for bonbons and chocolates...

[Noticing she toed off her shoes, he leaned down to grab one with a smile that echoed any sense of mischief he usually held close, winking]

Weapon enough!

[She chuckles when he takes up her stiletto, admitting that the steel heel could prove lethal when used properly.]

Absolutely.

[Devious creatures, women. Lightly pulling at her he did something he hadn't wanted to in a very long time. Into the forest. Making sure to keep his voice hushed, he tried to discuss some sort of plan]

Unless you follow suit you will not be able to go over the larger beasts. Any ideas?

I planned on going under them and cutting their bellies open actually. Messier, but effective, ouais?

[Like a grotesque pinata? Sometimes he worries about where your mind goes, even if he agrees.]

Are you going to be able to do that? Maybe you should eat a candy before you are stuck like me?

[Puts a hand to her abdomen, pausing a moment to feel and consider how much she'll be able to move, and shakes her head.]

Non, it's still quite loose but perhaps that's because I have more candy than you... I'll be fine, but let's move quickly, d'accord?

[Stubborn, he cast her a worried look. It wasn't just for her, no. Francis knew he was operating on borrowed time and the tower's clock always ran deceptively fast. He has a lot of chocolate to gather in order to survive and it's a daunting task. But, he's France, and he's been through many daunting tasks so... He takes a deep breath and does his best to not believe it's one of his last.]

Stay close to the stream. We might have better luck that way.

[Nods and takes his hand, moving quickly but silently along the stream, keeping the knife covered under her apron in case of the reflected light scaring off the animals.]

the devil has a sharp tongue

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