[ Having spent most of the last day writing up a journal and keeping everything intact, the Darkhunter spent a lot of time thinking about her next steps. She knows what needs to be done, and she knows what needs to happen, and worse off: she already feels terrible. Her gem had been cleansed before all of this started, and those bugs were going to make it harder for anybody to track down and fight a Nightmare.
Plus, with her mind the way it was... there was no way she was going to make it out of this, the same person she was going in. The same 'person'. The thought curdled in Bonnie's heart, that she could be anything less than that, and the more and more that she let that fester in her head, the more she felt she'd stumbled upon a note she didn't want.
She could do it herself. But no-- really, she couldn't. The idea of doing this herself felt worse than anything, and she wouldn't allow that. She had tried that already and it didn't work. Shiny wouldn't do it. That bastard at the library wouldn't. Madoka would ask her why. Which meant her options had dwindled down to one, and she had to swallow every single amount of pride she had to take that walk.
B.B. Hood stepped through the doors of Splendor Love, looking for the Darkstalker. It was best to do this now, in case something changed. On her is no basket, with Harry and her cape and hood left behind, changed out to her 'civilian' attire. She'd embarrassed herself in here before, and here she was-- dressed the same. ]
We need to talk. [ She says, voice as neutral as can be. Not jaunty, not vicious. Just... plain neutral. ]
[ Well, that wasn't the kind of customer Lilith expected. She had been cleaning up, preparing to close up shop for the night to start her second job: watching the incense shop for any signs of Kagaku Yamashita. Lilith was keeping her promise to Kakyoin, and had no intentions of actually killing Kagaku as of yet, but she couldn't wait an entire week to do anything.
Unfortunately, she had yet to see any results.
Lilith gives Bonnie a bemused smirk, and leans against the counter. ]
[ Was it even enough money? Lilith doesn't check, flitting off to a rather impressive display of chocolates to pick out a piece and place it on a small plate with ornate red detailing. The chocolate itself is a rich dark chocolate in the shape of bat wings, detailed with white chocolate. It's filled with, you guessed it, a deep burgundy berry filling.
[ Ugh. Really, she had never even bothered to try these damn things. Yes, she did like chocolate, but Lilith's? They probably tasted terrible. Hell, she was sure she still had a bag of chocolates in her basket from months ago. She should pawn those off on someone else-- though by now, they probably don't taste as good.
Either way, she picks up and glances over the chocolate before glancing right at Lilith and biting off one of the wings in one bite.
...It really isn't that bad. Better than she expected anyway. The filling was an... interesting touch, but it wasn't altogether horrible. Surprisingly. ]
They're tacky, but they aren't without their own charm.
[ Listen to her, a food critic all of a sudden. ]
Are we done wasting time now? Can you listen to me for a second?
The best part is, the dark chocolate hides the bitterness of rat poison until it's too late.
[ It's a completely deadpan response, the kind where you really can't be sure if it was meant to be a joke or is serious, and Lilith allows for a lengthy pause to hang in the air before continuing. ]
[ She can't hold back the dry laugh that escapes her lips. Lilith quirks a brow and closes the distance between her and Bonnie, finally kneeling down to stare directly into her eyes as if Bonnie were a child being admonished. ]
A favor? What could someone like you need that badly, that you resort to confronting a worthless, disgusting, pathetic monster to ask a favor?
[ And that's the point, isn't it? In her dried up blackened heart, all of that was true about Lilith-- even though back home, Lilith's head would be worth millions. A fraction of the strongest Darkstalker in Makai? Top dollar.
Back home, B.B. Hood was a fierce, powerful, terrifying human. And in Nyoi-cho, she's a shell.
'You know what I'm looking at? A shameful, pathetic shell of a Darkhunter.' ]
There's someone I want dead too. The one who's behind all of this in the first place. Help me find them, I'll help you find your girl.
So, you're telling me that I am somehow the opposite of pathetic to you, right now? I'm useful enough that you see no other option, in this entire town of Magi, to assist you?
[ Oh, of course she wasn't going to make this easy. The faintest amount of leverage, and she was using it.
The hunter decides to smile. ]
Everyone else is pathetic right now, you know. They don't know what to do.
You know exactly what needs to be done though. That's why I'm coming to you. Because you aren't hesitating. If there's something that needs to be done, you'll just go ahead and do it and if there's someone you want dead, in the end, you wouldn't think twice about killing them if you had the chance!
[ A sigh, and she shakes her head, before deciding to finally turn her back. ]
Aah, maybe I was wrong in coming here after all. You didn't listen to a thing I just said. What I want is what I want-- and what I want is the bastard that kidnapped Miki Morikawa and Hoshiko Ohka dead.
[ Naturally, not for the reason that Lilith or anyone else would. She shrugs her shoulders. ]
Hey, what if it turns out they're the same as Kagaku Yamashita? I suppose I'd have to kill her first. I wonder what Sachiko Hatsu would do if she learned that I saved Cyborg Xpress while you did nothing, since you hate me more than you care about them.
[ Locked in. Essentially meaning that Lilith's listening, but is still not convinced. If she would stop being so goddamn infuriating for just one second, she'd be able to speak, but it's hard to. The admission is hard to get off her chest, and she doesn't turn from the door, locked as it is. ]
I have intel on her. I've spoken to her before. I probably know where she's hiding.
[ It only made sense. The store was broken into so many times that by now... she has to be elsewhere. Not to mention, if she had seen that broadcast too, she probably would've fled. ]
Listen to me. I want your help killing this bastard. They've been toying with me for the longest time, and I'm sick of it. I want to see them suffer and beg for forgiveness before I crack their skull underneath my foot.
After that--
[ A bitter pill to swallow. ]
You. [ A slight pause, and a deep breath. She looks out that door, as if she's expecting it to open at any time, and someone would tell her that her assumption was wrong. But it wasn't coming.
[ Lilith stares deep into the back of Bonnie's head, eyes narrowed. In exchange for intel, a familiarity with Kagaku Yamashita herself, Bonnie wanted Lilith's assistance. It almost made her laugh, the ridiculousness of it all.
And then Bonnie continues. I want you to kill me. A request that should incite delight within Lilith's soul... but it only leaves her confused. What could Bonnie want, in dying? Sure, it wasn't the worst thing to happen to a Magi, but what purpose could it serve? ]
Ah--
[ She wanted to forget. How cute. ]
Two favors, then. You ask two favors of me. Repayment won't come cheap, darling... but I imagine you know that.
[ There was so much Lilith could ask for, and it was clear she had the upperhand. She could simply refuse Bonnie, and Bonnie would be left remembering. No one else in town would even consider killing another Magi like that, she would have nowhere else to turn. ]
What plagues your poor, innocent soul? What is it you want so badly to forget?
And, before I comply, I want to remember. I know you've done quite a number upon my mind... it is getting old. I do not even know why I should hate you as much as I do.
[ How observant. There wasn't anything wrong with her of course, she had gotten by injury free as of late and there otherwise wouldn't be any reason to die if, not to forget. It was a personal question, with an answer burrowing into her.
Even at that, Lilith gave her a second question to answer. Memories in exchange for memories. It was almost a sick joke and she did want to leave it alone, but... for the sake of herself, she had to speak. ]
It's because you're a Darkstalker and I'm a Darkhunter. [ Though as that escapes her lips, she shakes her head. ] No, that's not it.
I wanted your head. You attacked me first. I broke your arm. You shattered my knee. You let me drown. I shot you to death. You tortured me in front of everyone-- [ Her hands ball into fists for just a moment... but then go flat again. ] And well. You know what happened after that.
We do the exact same things, but you know what the difference is? They like you. They care about you. I didn't even take one life in August before they called me more of a monster than you. No matter what you did, how you did it-- they'd always treat me way worse. Even when I'm the one dying.
[ Deep breath. ]
You despise me because I threaten your existence, right? Well. I hate you because every time I look at you, I see my failures.
[ She turns around and unclips the barrette from her hair, turning it into a soul gem. ]
Darkstalker and Darkhunter. Demon and human. That's all a load of shit. We're the same.
[ She spits it out, hating that she has to admit that. ]
I just... want to forget what I was before I became a magi. I want to forget why I hate you-- then I'll probably be fine.
[ Lilith listens intently as Bonnie speaks, wordless. She tries to figure it all out, memories that sound familiar and yet distant all at once. How was she able to sort fact and fiction, coming from someone she hated so definitively? Bonnie really had no reason to speak truth, and Lilith realises this.
Parts of it seemed to fit, though. Demon and human, two sides of the same coin, each causing destruction and harm in their own ways.
But... ]
This is a cute story, dear... How do I know that you aren't just spinning a tale to captivate me?
[ How annoying. A pain in the ass, to the bitter end. Bonnie doesn't know what else to even do, what proof can she give that she's not making this up. All she really had to give to Lilith was her life--
...Her life.
Her eyes locks onto Lilith's for just a second, and she says one word. ]
Catch.
[ And she tosses her gem, right-- hopefully into Lilith's hands. Cavalier, feeling like she'd catch it easily. ]
[ It's not even a question of Lilith catching it; she snatches it out of the air with reflexes deserving the title of Darkstalker, holding the gem loosely in her hand. And then, she lets it dangle from her fingers, a light smile on her face. ]
I could drop it. I could crush it under my heel and there's nothing you could do. Should we test it's strength?
[ And yet, everything falls into place. The power to completely destroy Bonnie was literally in her hands.
It wasn't the first time.
No, it was far from the first, or even the second time. She remembers it now, fuzzy memories regaining their clarity. That first, fateful meeting. The searing pain Bonnie had inflicted upon her throughout the months, and Lilith's own retaliation. Time and time again, they had fought, destroyed each other fully, and yet they always sought out more.
For Lilith, their games were exhilarating. Painful, soul crushing, and it felt just right. ]
Mmmm... I see. Such a tiny little mouse like yourself was bound to bite off more than she could handle. You're tired of that, aren't you? Tired of knowing that you're just as welcomed in Makai as myself.
[ This is, just about what she expected. It was always a game, always just fun to Lilith. Hell, it was a hell of a lot of fun to Bonnie too in that respect. There was always something good about fighting Nightmares, and fighting Witches and Wraiths annoyed her. Fighting a Darkstalker was always a thrill above the rest.
Without flinching, not even watching what Lilith does with that soul gem, she keeps her eye on the succubus. ]
If you're going to do anything, then do it now.
[ Even now, everything she said pissed her off. ]
I don't give a damn about Makai. I don't give a damn about Darkstalkers or cashing in. But if that's going to weigh me down and keep me from living here, then I'll forget all of that.
[ A small pause, and she pulls her hood back. ]
Think about it this way. I'm not going to bother asking you to behave. I'm not going to ask us to form a truce or be friends. In fact, I'd be disappointed. But if you're going to kill anyone, you're going to need to team up with someone who doesn't care if you go all out, aren't you? Someone just as unhinged and as much of a monster as you.
[ And, she has that going for her. With a grin, she taps her chin. ] It's fun. Isn't it? So, you can give me back my soul gem and we'll make that bastard pay together, and then go back to making allllll of this fun again.
Or. [ She turns her back again. ] You can be rid of me forever. And be bored for the rest of your life.
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action - march 4th (nighttime)
Plus, with her mind the way it was... there was no way she was going to make it out of this, the same person she was going in. The same 'person'. The thought curdled in Bonnie's heart, that she could be anything less than that, and the more and more that she let that fester in her head, the more she felt she'd stumbled upon a note she didn't want.
She could do it herself. But no-- really, she couldn't. The idea of doing this herself felt worse than anything, and she wouldn't allow that. She had tried that already and it didn't work. Shiny wouldn't do it. That bastard at the library wouldn't. Madoka would ask her why. Which meant her options had dwindled down to one, and she had to swallow every single amount of pride she had to take that walk.
B.B. Hood stepped through the doors of Splendor Love, looking for the Darkstalker. It was best to do this now, in case something changed. On her is no basket, with Harry and her cape and hood left behind, changed out to her 'civilian' attire. She'd embarrassed herself in here before, and here she was-- dressed the same. ]
We need to talk. [ She says, voice as neutral as can be. Not jaunty, not vicious. Just... plain neutral. ]
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Unfortunately, she had yet to see any results.
Lilith gives Bonnie a bemused smirk, and leans against the counter. ]
I won't turn down a paying customer.
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I don't suppose you have coffee yet, do you?
[ Fine. She reaches into a pocket and slams some money onto the counter. ]
I'll take whatever your best chocolate is. Hold the venom, please.
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[ Was it even enough money? Lilith doesn't check, flitting off to a rather impressive display of chocolates to pick out a piece and place it on a small plate with ornate red detailing. The chocolate itself is a rich dark chocolate in the shape of bat wings, detailed with white chocolate. It's filled with, you guessed it, a deep burgundy berry filling.
And she waits expectantly for Bonnie to try it. ]
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Either way, she picks up and glances over the chocolate before glancing right at Lilith and biting off one of the wings in one bite.
...It really isn't that bad. Better than she expected anyway. The filling was an... interesting touch, but it wasn't altogether horrible. Surprisingly. ]
They're tacky, but they aren't without their own charm.
[ Listen to her, a food critic all of a sudden. ]
Are we done wasting time now? Can you listen to me for a second?
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[ It's a completely deadpan response, the kind where you really can't be sure if it was meant to be a joke or is serious, and Lilith allows for a lengthy pause to hang in the air before continuing. ]
I'm listening.
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[ As far as she knows. She steps away from the counter a bit, folding her arms and her eyes not moving away from Lilith. Just in case. ]
You want to find Kagaku Yamashita. Right?
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[ you know what this is ]
I do not want to find her. I want to kill her.
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It's a little hard to kill her without finding her. [ She understands completely, but man, does it make her sound dumb. ]
My point is. I'm willing to help you find her. Whatever you want to do after that is none of my business. All I'm asking for is a favor from you.
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A favor? What could someone like you need that badly, that you resort to confronting a worthless, disgusting, pathetic monster to ask a favor?
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Back home, B.B. Hood was a fierce, powerful, terrifying human. And in Nyoi-cho, she's a shell.
'You know what I'm looking at? A shameful, pathetic shell of a Darkhunter.' ]
There's someone I want dead too. The one who's behind all of this in the first place. Help me find them, I'll help you find your girl.
There'll be a bonus in it for you too.
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And I'm supposed to believe you, aren't I.
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The hunter decides to smile. ]
Everyone else is pathetic right now, you know. They don't know what to do.
You know exactly what needs to be done though. That's why I'm coming to you. Because you aren't hesitating. If there's something that needs to be done, you'll just go ahead and do it and if there's someone you want dead, in the end, you wouldn't think twice about killing them if you had the chance!
Right?
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Your flattery is boring me. [ Spoken like a true Aensland. Lilith stands back up and stretches her wings, letting out a yawn to hammer in the point. ]
What is it you need from me?
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Aah, maybe I was wrong in coming here after all. You didn't listen to a thing I just said. What I want is what I want-- and what I want is the bastard that kidnapped Miki Morikawa and Hoshiko Ohka dead.
[ Naturally, not for the reason that Lilith or anyone else would. She shrugs her shoulders. ]
Hey, what if it turns out they're the same as Kagaku Yamashita? I suppose I'd have to kill her first. I wonder what Sachiko Hatsu would do if she learned that I saved Cyborg Xpress while you did nothing, since you hate me more than you care about them.
What a shame, what a shame.
[ Maybe it's time for her to get going then. ]
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Kagaku Yamashita is my target, dear. I won't allow you to take that from me.
But I am confident in my own abilities. I do not need your assistance to locate her.
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I have intel on her. I've spoken to her before. I probably know where she's hiding.
[ It only made sense. The store was broken into so many times that by now... she has to be elsewhere. Not to mention, if she had seen that broadcast too, she probably would've fled. ]
Listen to me. I want your help killing this bastard. They've been toying with me for the longest time, and I'm sick of it. I want to see them suffer and beg for forgiveness before I crack their skull underneath my foot.
After that--
[ A bitter pill to swallow. ]
You. [ A slight pause, and a deep breath. She looks out that door, as if she's expecting it to open at any time, and someone would tell her that her assumption was wrong. But it wasn't coming.
She says, clear as day. ] I want you to kill me.
1/2
And then Bonnie continues. I want you to kill me. A request that should incite delight within Lilith's soul... but it only leaves her confused. What could Bonnie want, in dying? Sure, it wasn't the worst thing to happen to a Magi, but what purpose could it serve? ]
Ah--
[ She wanted to forget. How cute. ]
Two favors, then. You ask two favors of me. Repayment won't come cheap, darling... but I imagine you know that.
2/2
Two things.
[ There was so much Lilith could ask for, and it was clear she had the upperhand. She could simply refuse Bonnie, and Bonnie would be left remembering. No one else in town would even consider killing another Magi like that, she would have nowhere else to turn. ]
What plagues your poor, innocent soul? What is it you want so badly to forget?
And, before I comply, I want to remember. I know you've done quite a number upon my mind... it is getting old. I do not even know why I should hate you as much as I do.
Answer me suitably, and consider it a deal.
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Even at that, Lilith gave her a second question to answer. Memories in exchange for memories. It was almost a sick joke and she did want to leave it alone, but... for the sake of herself, she had to speak. ]
It's because you're a Darkstalker and I'm a Darkhunter. [ Though as that escapes her lips, she shakes her head. ] No, that's not it.
I wanted your head. You attacked me first. I broke your arm. You shattered my knee. You let me drown. I shot you to death. You tortured me in front of everyone-- [ Her hands ball into fists for just a moment... but then go flat again. ] And well. You know what happened after that.
We do the exact same things, but you know what the difference is? They like you. They care about you. I didn't even take one life in August before they called me more of a monster than you. No matter what you did, how you did it-- they'd always treat me way worse. Even when I'm the one dying.
[ Deep breath. ]
You despise me because I threaten your existence, right? Well. I hate you because every time I look at you, I see my failures.
[ She turns around and unclips the barrette from her hair, turning it into a soul gem. ]
Darkstalker and Darkhunter. Demon and human. That's all a load of shit. We're the same.
[ She spits it out, hating that she has to admit that. ]
I just... want to forget what I was before I became a magi. I want to forget why I hate you-- then I'll probably be fine.
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Parts of it seemed to fit, though. Demon and human, two sides of the same coin, each causing destruction and harm in their own ways.
But... ]
This is a cute story, dear... How do I know that you aren't just spinning a tale to captivate me?
[ She wants more. ]
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...Her life.
Her eyes locks onto Lilith's for just a second, and she says one word. ]
Catch.
[ And she tosses her gem, right-- hopefully into Lilith's hands. Cavalier, feeling like she'd catch it easily. ]
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I could drop it. I could crush it under my heel and there's nothing you could do. Should we test it's strength?
[ Infuriating taunting, as per usual. ]
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It wasn't the first time.
No, it was far from the first, or even the second time. She remembers it now, fuzzy memories regaining their clarity. That first, fateful meeting. The searing pain Bonnie had inflicted upon her throughout the months, and Lilith's own retaliation. Time and time again, they had fought, destroyed each other fully, and yet they always sought out more.
For Lilith, their games were exhilarating. Painful, soul crushing, and it felt just right. ]
Mmmm... I see. Such a tiny little mouse like yourself was bound to bite off more than she could handle. You're tired of that, aren't you? Tired of knowing that you're just as welcomed in Makai as myself.
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Without flinching, not even watching what Lilith does with that soul gem, she keeps her eye on the succubus. ]
If you're going to do anything, then do it now.
[ Even now, everything she said pissed her off. ]
I don't give a damn about Makai. I don't give a damn about Darkstalkers or cashing in. But if that's going to weigh me down and keep me from living here, then I'll forget all of that.
[ A small pause, and she pulls her hood back. ]
Think about it this way. I'm not going to bother asking you to behave. I'm not going to ask us to form a truce or be friends. In fact, I'd be disappointed. But if you're going to kill anyone, you're going to need to team up with someone who doesn't care if you go all out, aren't you? Someone just as unhinged and as much of a monster as you.
[ And, she has that going for her. With a grin, she taps her chin. ] It's fun. Isn't it? So, you can give me back my soul gem and we'll make that bastard pay together, and then go back to making allllll of this fun again.
Or. [ She turns her back again. ] You can be rid of me forever. And be bored for the rest of your life.
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