![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shionstear) wrote2020-11-28 08:20 pm
La danse macabre - Stage 1
La danse macabre
Episode 1 – Raising the curtain
Black.
???:
…O Tenshi. Are you ready?
Tenshi:
Yes.
???:
Please do show them a delighted expression. The people of Ark are looking forward to this very moment once every 4 years.
Tenshi:
Yes.
???:
Lord Tenshi, Lord Eternea. It is time. Please come.
Tenshi:
Yes.
Fade to white.
Tenshi:
…!
Inside a cathedral.
Believer:
Oh… It’s the Lord Tenshi… It’s Him.
Believer:
Lord Tenshi! Lord Tenshiii!!
Believer:
How beautiful… Too beautiful for words…
Tenshi:
…
Eternea:
You may raise a hand and wave. This sole action of yours shall save them.
Tenshi:
Yes…
Believer:
Oh… Lord Tenshi waved His hand in our direction…
Believer:
Lord Tenshi!! Here too!!
Eternea:
Yes, like that. You are the Church of Nerve’s symbol after all.
Tenshi:
…yes.
???:
Believers of the Church of Nerve. The festival which occurs once every 4 years has finally arrived.
Please feast upon this sight. Our Lord Tenshi.
Believers:
Ohhh…!
???:
And pray. For Ark’s prosperity.
We are the Church of Nerve’s… …!?
Glass breaks.
Tenshi:
!?
Believers:
Wah…!!
Believer:
Glass from above!?
???:
A-are you alright, Lord Eternea!?
Eternea:
Y-yes… I am fine. Did the glass window on the ceiling break or…?
???:
…yoink.
Tenshi:
Eh…
???:
So are you this Tenshi?
Tenshi:
Y-yes.
???:
Sorry.
I’ll be stealing you away.
Tenshi:
Eh…! Whoa!?
???:
Intruder! Release Lord Tenshi!
???:
…if you come any closer, I can’t guarantee your life. Don’t recommend it.
Eternea:
You, let go of Lord Tenshi. I don’t know what your goal is, but you’re committing an unforgivable sin.
???:
…I’m just borrowing him for a bit. I’ll give him back later.
Eternea:
…!
???:
…what, how blasphemous!
U-Unity Order! What are you doing!? Kill him!!
???:
Pull me up, Cura.
Tenshi:
Uwah!!
???:
Hey, don’t struggle, you’ll make it sway.
Unity Order Soldier:
Captain Reue! The intruder is going up to the ceiling with a wire while holding onto Lord Tenshi!!
Reue:
I know… I can see it without your explanation.
Unity Order Soldier:
Your permission to shooting!!
Reue:
Iiidiot, better not. If you screw up and hit Lord Tenshi you can’t take responsibility for it, can you?
???:
…
Reue:
Hello, Schau-kun, have you been listening? Why are you holding your gun?
Schau:
I have.
Reue:
Did you really? …well, if it’s you, you might hit your target.
Schau:
Of course.
Gunshot.
???:
…!
Sword clanging.
Tenshi:
…eek!
Schau:
Oh.
???:
Oh! He repelled the bullet with one arm while holding onto Lord Tenshi! Not bad!
Schau:
Why are you happy? …they’ll escape, is that okay?
Reue:
Hmm. Our opponent seems to be rather skilled. What do we do…?
Well, I knew they’d go for the rough so it’s gonna be okay. Let’s leave it to him.
???:
…we did it.
Cura:
Well done. Can’t believe it actually went well.
???:
As expected of Libel-san! …is that the Tenshi? Hm? Smaller than I thought.
Tenshi:
…
Libel:
Let’s talk later. We gotta descend to the ground before pursuers close in.
There was a guy that aimed at me while I was holding the Tenshi. As expected of Unity Order, the military force employed by the Church.
Cura:
Aight. Wire down to the ground is ready.
Libel:
…!
???:
Die!!
Swords clashing.
???:
Tch…
Libel:
…
???:
Nice one Libel-san! …no wait! Aren’t these guys too fast at catching up!?
Cura:
Hey there, assaulting us from behind is not very noble of the one and only Unity Order.
???:
Shut your mouth, scoundrel. I will have you return Lord Tenshi.
Tenshi:
Qual…
Libel:
Cura, Fuga. I’ll leave the Tenshi to you. Go ahead.
Fuga:
Leave it to me! Let’s go, Tenshi!
Qual:
Wait!
Swords clashing.
Qual:
…!
Libel:
The Tenshi is our only hope. We’ll be taking him.
Qual:
Don’t make me laugh! You’re mere bugs from the lesser world! Someone with filthy hands as you shouldn’t touch Him!
Libel:
Hah…
He’s necessary because you people are like this. We need him!
Qual:
Nonsense!
Swords clashing.
Libel:
You people from Ark are looking down on us on the ground…
Swords clashing.
Qual:
Ha, obviously! Looking down on beings crawling in dirt is the providence of nature!
Swords clashing.
Qual:
There are bugs on the lesser world as well, right? Are you seeing eye to eye with them?!
Libel:
…and so you let your guard down.
Shoving.
Qual:
…!!
Libel:
Bye. I don’t plan on hurting the Tenshi. No worries.
Qual:
Cough… cough… Wait!
Give back Lord Tenshi! Give Him back!!
Cut to the ground.
Libel:
Phew…
Cura:
Ah, he’s here. You good? That dude looked like the real deal.
Libel:
Strength-wise we were about the same. But the more self-conceited someone from above is, the stronger am I.
Cura:
Heh, as expected of our leader.
Fuga:
Hey, that went quite well. But, uhm, shouldn’t we like cut this wire?
Cura:
If we do the Tenshi will just fall down and he’ll be ground meat. And we don’t want that now do we?
Tenshi:
…!
Fuga:
Wah, it’s swaying!
Hey! You’re scaring the Tenshi! Please stop that, Cura-san!
Cura:
Sorry, my bad.
Libel:
Sorry to have dragged you into this. I won’t do anything to hurt you, so no worries.
Tenshi:
A-ah… That’s reassuring…
But… This is the ground…
How pretty…
Libel:
…
Cut to somewhere else on the ground.
???:
…
???:
Vida, what’s up? You seeing something in the sky?
???:
There’s no point looking up at Ark. Not like money’s gonna come raining down or anything.
Vida:
……no. It might have just now.
???:
Huh?
Vida:
Something interesting might happen soon.
Episode 2 – Rebellion (I+II)
The ground.
[Libel]:
The world is divided in two.
Ark, the city that floats in the sky, casting its dazzling light. It’s a paradise where only the chosen people are allowed to live.
On the opposite is The Ground, a place on its way to ruin. Infertile soil meets limited resources. The people living on the ground steal from and fight each other.
5 days prior to the Tenshi Kidnapping Incident at Rebellion.
Libel:
…
…how pretty.
Cut to Rebellion’s HQ.
Cura:
Damn it, they’re just looking down on us…
Fuga:
So the Ark guys are still ignoring us?
Cura:
…it’s useless. No matter how often we ask, they don’t even intend to listen to us.
Fuga:
Hah… they never change. Feeling all high and mighty up there.
Cura:
Well they have like no interest in the ground’s problems. Even if we starve and die by the roadside it’s not like it matters to them.
…I know there’s not point by now, but the difference between above and under is way too crooked.
Fuga:
You got that right. Just because you’re born in different places there’s such a huge difference. That’s weird, isn’t it?
Fuga:
There’s no end to skirmishes over the already limited resources of this devastated land. They take from each other. It's annoying...
…should we start fighting against Ark like some other resistance organizations?
Cura:
…our stance is merely that we want the Ark to help and support the ground.
We don’t want to drop them down or anything. That’s our leader’s intention, isn’t it?
Fuga:
…that’s right. If that’s what he says there’s nothing we can do.
Cura:
That being said, our actions have limits too. And it doesn’t seem like the fights amongst fellow ground dwellers will end anytime soon. Our leader should come up with something soon and…
Door opens.
Fuga:
Speaking of the devil. Libel-san, welcome back!
Libel:
…I got an idea.
Cura:
Huh?
Libel:
Let’s steal the Tenshi.
Fuga:
Tenshi? You mean, like, the one the guys above revere?
Libel:
Yes. We’ll steal that.
Cura:
Aaand there you go again…
Libel:
We take the Tenshi hostage and demand a talk from Nerve.
Fuga:
Hostage!?
Libel:
Yes, the Tenshi is their symbol of faith. If we steal it, they won’t be able to ignore us anymore and have to accept our existence.
That should open the table for negotiations with them.
Cura:
…!
Fuga:
Whoa, as expected of Libel-san! Your thinking is on another dimension!
Cura:
…you’re right, if we succeed, they might be open to negotiations. But…
Listen, Libel. I’ve got 3 things to say about your plan.
Fuga:
Oh, Cura-san is about so say something advisor-like.
Cura:
Shut up!
Cura:
First. How are we getting up to Ark? Dunno if you noticed but it’s floating in the sky.
The elevator that connects the ground to Ark is severely guarded. We don’t have the numbers nor the weapons to gain control over it.
Libel:
We’ll take a balloon. We take cover in the clouds at night. If it’s just us 3 one balloon is enough.
Fuga:
Ah! It’ll be a first for me! How exciting!
Cura:
…Secondly. Ark is being protected by the Unity Order. If we steal the Tenshi we can’t avoid fighting them. They’re a military with money. Their weapons are in different leagues of our own.
Fuga:
I’ll answer that one. Even if our opponent is Unity Order, there’s no way Libel-san would lose, right?!
Libel:
…what he said.
Cura:
You damn Libel believer. Then thirdly!
[TL note: Might I suggest the nickname Beliebel for Fanboy-Fuga?]
Cura:
Do you know where the essential Tenshi is? It’s the cathedral of the Church of Nerve. He’s obviously gonna be locked away somewhere deep inside.
Libel:
…I know. He’ll appear in the cathedral 5 days from today.
Cura:
In 5 days…?
…The festival!!
Fuga:
What’s that?
Cura:
It’s kinda like a party for the Church of Nerve. Once every 4 years the Tenshi appears before the people. …so that happens in 5 days.
Fuga:
They sure are devote if they can only see it once every 4 years. As expected, the people from above are a weird bunch.
Libel:
The night before the festival we get on Ark, hide ourselves and wait for it to start. And once the Tenshi appears…
We’ll take him.
Fuga:
Nice, sounds fun!
Libel:
Right.
Cura:
W-wait, Libel! Don’t talk as if it’s set in stone!
Libel:
Why not? I answered your 3 questions, didn’t I?
Fuga:
Yeah. If we dawdle around things will only keep on worsening and it’ll be game over soon.
Cura:
There’s a mountain of other problems! Considering we’d need about 3 days to get there; we don’t have enough time to prepare for everything!
Libel:
We can’t help it, I just thought of it.
Cura:
Don’t fight back! We’re supposed to operate a balloon without light so that the guards won’t notice us! You intend to just go at it without tests!?
And after that, when we have the Tenshi, how do we get back down in the commotion!?
Libel:
…
…
…I’ll leave that to you,
Cura:
Huuuh!?!
Libel:
Counting on you.
Cura:
Wait, Libel! You have the bad habit of pushing off the most crucial details onto me!
Fuga:
Isn’t that proof that you’re being trusted! Right, Libel-san?
Libel:
Yes, I trust you.
Cura:
No you’re not gonna fool me. Though I’ve been going alongside you for like 10 years since we were kids!
The plan’s too big this time! If we mess up all of Ark will come after us! It’ll be the end!
Fuga:
But those huge plans are the good things about him. Right, Libel-san?
Libel:
Yes, that they are.
Cura:
Don’t incite him, Fuga!
Libel:
Fuga. Let’s go practice so we don’t get in Cura’s way.
Fuga:
Aye! I’ll follow you!
Cura:
…seriously?
Episode 3 – Arme (I+II)
The ground.
Cura:
Hah… hah…!
Fuga:
C-can we stop already? No one’s following us either!
Cura:
Not yet! Keep running! At least until we can take shelter somewhere!
Fuga:
A-aye! Should we change Tenshi-carrying, Libel-san?
Libel:
It’s okay. He’s lighter than I thought.
Tenshi:
…
Libel:
…you’re not going to resist, huh?
Tenshi:
Eh?
Libel:
I just thought, from your perspective you’re suddenly being taken away by a mysterious organization yet you’re not resisting.
Tenshi:
Y-yes… Even if I tried to, I probably wouldn’t stand a chance against you…
Cura:
Heh… Well, that way we have it easier, so, thanks.
Fuga:
Huh, you’re just giving up? You lack spirit. Spirit!
Cura:
What are you talking about...
Tenshi:
Fu, fufu…
Libel:
…?
Tenshi:
…you’re very amusing people, aren’t you?
Short cut.
Cura:
Phew… We should be good for now.
Fuga:
Hah… hah… But… it’s weird there’s no pursuers, right…?
Cura:
I guess the bomb I set off is doing its work and getting in their way.
Fuga:
A bomb? When!?
Cura:
Yeah, I thought it might take more time than expected so I set it to explode by timer.
Fuga:
…if people get hurt by that won’t that be a disadvantage during negotiations?
Cura:
Idiot. There was only enough gunpowder so it could serve as an intimidation. I wouldn’t make a blunder like that.
Fuga:
Heh, as expected of someone who gets things done.
Tenshi:
…
Libel:
…it’s gonna take at least another 2 days until our hideout. Please be patient until then and let me carry you.
Tenshi:
Ah, yes…
Uhm…
Libel:
What?
Tenshi:
P-please let me down.
Libel:
That’s…
Tenshi:
If you let me down, I’ll walk on my own.
Libel:
What?
Tenshi:
I won’t resist. How do I put it… I would rather walk on my own during my kidnapping.
Libel:
…
Cura:
This kid sure says the strangest things.
Fuga:
Hey, you, hostage! You know the situation you’re in!?
It’s obvious that you’re just trying to run away the second we---
Libel:
Here, take care of where you put your feet.
Tenshi:
Thank you.
Fuga:
Libel-san!?
Tenshi:
…oh.
…this… is the lesser world. The feeling of touching earth, huh?
Fuga:
Hey… don’t call it lesser world. It’s like you’re looking down on us, it irritates me.
Tenshi:
…! I-I see… Yes.
Libel:
…
Tenshi:
But… fufu… this is… this is…
Fuga:
What are you grinning about so creepily?
Tenshi:
Ah, uhm, sorry. You see… it’s the first time I’m outside.
And it’s the first I walked on my own outside of the church…
Fuga:
Huh? Are you for real…?
Cura:
What do you do in the time between showing yourself once every 4 years?
Tenshi:
Nothing.
Fuga:
Like, nothing nothing?!
Tenshi:
I’m always inside my room. So when I left for the festival today, it was the 4th time I left my room, I think.
Cura:
…o-only 4 times in your entire life!?
Fuga:
S-so you’ve seen the outside of the cathedral for the first time today?
Tenshi:
Exactly. That’s why…
Ouch…
Cura:
H-hey! You good?! We can’t have you hurt yourself!
Libel:
…he just stepped on a stone. Are you okay?
Tenshi:
Haha… …so this is the pain of stepping on a stone. Not bad.
Cura:
…
Fuga:
What, you grinning again? Do the people above enjoy pain?
Tenshi:
Ah, I’m sorry. I probably should be more alert, but everything I see is so refreshing.
Pain I had never felt, odours I had never smelled. People I had never talked to. And above everything else…
I heard about it, but… I never would’ve thought that the ground was this beautiful.
Libel:
…I see.
Fuga:
…the hell…
What the hell is that supposed to mean. What’s beautiful about this devasted land…
Libel:
Hey, what’s your name?
Tenshi:
Eh?
Libel:
Just calling you Tenshi all the time is stupid. Or do you not have names?
Tenshi:
…! I… have a name!
Arme:
Arme.
My name is Arme!
Libel:
…I see. My name’s Libel. Looking forward to our journey, Arme.
Arme:
Yes… Yes, me too! Libel!
Libel:
Haha…
Cura:
How rare for him to make such an expression.
Fuga:
You’re right…
Arme:
Arme…
Yes, I am Arme…
Episode 4 – Unity Order (I+II)
Ark.
[Qual]:
The world is divided in two. Ark, the city that floats in the sky, casting its dazzling light. It’s a paradise where only the chosen people are allowed to live.
The Church of Nerve controls Ark. The military force Unity Order is the shield that protects the church and Ark.
Unity Order briefing room.
Qual:
I’m sorry, Captain Reue…
Reue:
I see, the intruders got away…
Oh well, couldn’t be helped. If Qual-kun was no match for them then it was probably impossible.
???:
Yes, don’t let it get to you! Though I wouldn’t have let them escape if it were me! Wahahaha!
Qual:
…!
Schau:
Leiden, read the room.
Leiden:
…so, did you find out who it was? They seemed to be quite skilled.
I can’t believe people of that level are swarming about in the lesser world…
Unity Order Soldier:
The intruders seem to be part of Rebellion.
Reue:
…Rebe…llion? Hmm, I kiiinda think I heard of it before. What was it again.
Unity Order Soldier:
It’s one of the resistance organizations from the lesser world. They count about 50 members. There are records of past attempts at negotiating with Ark.
Reue:
…negotiation?
Hah, negotiations they say. How ridiculous. As if there’d be any way of that working. Ark wouldn’t gain anything from it.
Qual:
Rebellion…
What is the name of that silver-haired man…?
Unity Order Soldier:
Yes, the silver-haired main offender seems to be Rebellion’s leader. His name is Libel.
According to the people at our base down there, he is quite famous and known for his strength and skill.
His birthplace is unknown. Also, reliable information from the lesser world is…
Reue:
Impossible, I guess. There are no regulations or records about birth or residency either way.
Qual:
It’s alright… As long as I know his name. I burned his figure into my eyes…
Libel… So that’s the bastard’s name…
…Captain Reue. I shall immediately retrieve Lord Tenshi. Please allow me to descend!
Reue:
Meeeh…
Stop, Qual-kun. We received an official notice from the Church of Nerve, you see.
“Don’t chase after Lord Tenshi” is what it says.
Qual:
Eh…
Reue:
We’ll just say that you returned Lord Tenshi. He only appears before people once every 4 years. There’s no way for them to know anyways.
Leiden:
I see. That’s true.
Reue:
We can’t spare military force to the lesser world. It’s more important to deal with Ark’s and its citizens’ confusion first.
Qual:
Wha…!? That must be some kind of mistake…
Reue:
I have mistaken the orders from above? How long do you think I've been working as the midway manager?
Schau:
Heh. That’s unexpected. How come? It’s the church’s symbol, isn’t it? Is it okay for it to be stolen?
Leiden:
Indeed. It feels like something that unbearable blond man would go on about. “What blasphemy, what blasphemy!”
Reue:
Dunno. I can’t tell what those in charge are thinking. But if we don’t need to chase after them, then isn’t that alright? We’ve got sooo much other work to do already…
Qual:
I-impossible…
Schau:
I guess that’s true.
Rebellion, huh? The bomb they set also damaged the city. Those people have no self-control.
Leiden:
Either way, we have to tighten the security, so no one gets inside the city.
Qual:
What are you all so casual about this!? We are to silently watch and observe while the vermin from the lesser world has kidnapped our Lord Tenshi!?
Reue:
Damn son, no need to be so agitated, Qual-kuuun. We can’t help it.
We can’t move without the church’s orders. They’re basically letting us live here.
Schau:
Well, our salary and food come from the church. We can’t really complain.
Qual:
…!
Captain… Please let me talk directly to the church. For the sake of Unity Order’s pride and to take back my honour…
And, above anything else… For the sake of our Lord Tenshi who must be shivering in fear in the clutches of those scoundrels! Allow me to descend…!
Reue:
Hey there, slow down! Skipping me and going directly to the top to talk is like the most taboo of taboos.
Could you maybe not increase my work while we’re this busy? Stop to think about the midway manager’s feelings for a sec, would you? Being between top and down makes my tummy hurt each day!
Qual:
…that’s… that’s just…
Reue:
Also, we’re not even blamed for it so isn’t that great for us? Doing unnecessary things will just increase our problems.
Schau:
True.
Qual:
…!!
Reue:
Eh, what!? Violence is a no no!
Qual:
…! …please excuse me.
Door closes.
Leiden:
Wahaha! He doesn’t agree, does he!? I could see it in his face!
Schau:
…I think it’s weird too. That we don’t have to go after Lord Tenshi.
Even though they’re always so noisy about it.
Well, not like I care either way.
Reue:
…you’re right. I was confused too, so I asked several times. But then Lord Misericorde said the following:
“He’ll come back eventually.”
Episode 5 – Kokujoh Yako (I+II)
The ground.
[Vida]:
The world is divided in two.
Different races and powers took limited resources from each other and The Ground became a barren land.
Even among all of the devastated land, this 12th district of The Ground is closest to its ruin. The soil is infertile, crops are no more.
But… it’s precisely on this dead land that evil spirits live.
Peddler:
…w-wait. I’ll give you my luggage… Please, just spare my life…
???:
Hmm…
Peddler:
I-I didn’t know this was Kokujoh Yako’s turf! I won’t come close again, so…
???:
…hm… …you rich?
Peddler:
…y-yes, that’s right. I’ll give you my money too… so please…!
???:
Say. You eat lots and lots every day? You sleep in a pretty place?
Peddler:
…? W-well, yes…
Sword swing.
Peddler:
…! Ah… ahhh…! Blood…! Blood is…!
???:
Hah…
Ah… sooorry. I’m jealous after all, so it annoyed me. Please diiie.
Peddler:
Eek…!
???:
But, if you’ve had it fun so far, isn’t that great? Pass away with aaall your money…
Peddler:
…h-help m---
Sword swing.
???:
Hehe, impossible. …I dunno how to treat wounds.
Haaah… Now I feel better.
[Vida:]
Kokujoh Yako. A gang of thieves made up of habitants from the 12 th district. They are feared as they “steal everything that they touch.”
Short cut.
???:
Oh, got a rat!
Nom.
Ugh, terrible.
???:
…hey, Vida. Seems what you saw wasn’t wrong after all. I heard from the information broker.
Apparently, the guys from Rebellion kidnapped Ark’s Tenshi. That’s probably the thing you saw.
Their leader… Libel, was it? Sure does crazy stuff.
Vida:
…
As expected. This might get interesting.
…how much?
???:
Thought you’d say that, so I made an estimate. Lookie here.
Vida:
…hahaha. Sure makes you laugh. Never saw that many digits.
???:
Right? And we’re not even stealing from Ark, but from Rebellion.
Quite the easy money, isn’t it? Way too good.
Vida:
…how many days can we live with this?
???:
…hmm, ‘bout 10 years, I guess?
Vida:
Then it’s decided.
???:
I’m back.
???:
Ah, welcome back.
???:
Look, I brought a lot of stuff back. I’ll distribute the food among everyone.
???:
Heh, not bad. …hm? This smell. Did you kill that peddler?
???:
Sure did.
???:
Hah, you dumbass. You could just threaten him and then steal from him regularly…
???:
Eh, whatever, what a bother. Being annoyed won over the profits.
???:
Say… Do you get the situation we’re in?
???:
…yes, I dooo. But’s weird that we’re the only ones unhappy.
Aren’t we pitiful. To be living in such a dirty place. We’ve been living while thinking of dying.
So I have to make the happy people unhappy, right? So it’s all balanced out.
???:
…then just steal from ‘em. Killing won’t fill your stomach.
???:
No! It’s unfair!
???:
Are you a child or what?! Come on, say something too, Vida.
Vida:
Pff… hahaha!
I don’t care. Do what you want. Soon we’ll have more than enough money.
???:
Eh? Really?
Vida:
Yeah, no problem. If there’s profit, we’re the strongest.
Horca, go gather some guys that can fight with this money. Small fry’s better than nothing too.
Horca:
Got it.
???:
What’ll we do? What’s gonna happen?
Vida:
A festival.
…we’ll steal. Everything.
To be continued…