And then there was a Rule 63 AU?

[falseidentity]

[So. You've played detective, run away from home with the queen of your country and married her, oh, and of course, killed the demon duke who kidnapped hundreds of women. An then you wake up not in your house in a small town in Elphegort, but some big city that doesn't seem to even resemble anything you've ever seen. Naturally, you'd probably be panicked or afraid or even desperate to get home?

Kachessa Crim? Is just plain tired of all this magic bullshit.

So currently, there is a woman of about 27 sitting on a bench, just staring straight ahead with the most linefacy, deadpan face. She is so done, she just wants to get done with this magic stuff and get on with her happy life with her wife and child. That's it. Nothing more.]

...I really need a different job.

Comments

[falseidentity]

...What?

[...Well-played, Gallerian, because it hits on a certain, panicky instinct that comes with love.]

Th-That's impossible, I saw her just this morning!

Damnit maintenance

[onlyconsideration]

Then you must not be very familiar with where you find yourself.

The doppelgangers you see walking the streets have been taken from different worlds, their only similarities being faces and occasionally names. It is admittedly rare that one might meet someone from the world they call home. However, if this place is not bound by reality itself, I doubt something as insignificant as time holds much sway.

This place can do amazing things, Ches Crim.

[falseidentity]

...Ah. I suppose that makes sense...

[It quells her worried.]

...So you would be from eight hundred years after Yufina, then? ...Ha. How... Amusing.

[...She has an idea of who he is now. A hunch. Given his blue hair, and her lack of other relatives? There's but one possibility she can think of.]

...Tell me, Your Honor. How common is blue hair in your time?

[onlyconsideration]

[He smiles, but it's far too self-assured to be polite or comforting.] Not terribly common. More often than not it is a sign of royal Marlon lineage.

[falseidentity]

I see. i'm afraid I've been a very rude person. I owe you an apology, and perhaps a few answers.

[She'll bear up and then bow again--far more regal, someone of noble blood.]

Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Kachessa Crim, daughter of Marquess Alexander Strahl and Marchioness Mariella Strahl from Lasaland, Asmodean, former wife of Count Salvatore Crim of Marlon, and current 'husband' of Her Majesty Yufina Marlon. I apologize for the lie.

[onlyconsideration]

[He had an inkling of a guess, and it was good to have it confirmed...but something's wrong. Something is terribly wrong here. That smug smirk falters with a hint of confusion.]

...I beg your pardon, your highness, but I was under the impression that Kachess Crim was a man.

[falseidentity]

...I can see why people would be confused, especially from the Asmodean area. To avoid becoming a target myself, I masqueraded as a man when investigating the disappearances. Though I used the name of Kendal Warwick then. And since I currently am disguised as a man still in Elphegort.. I can easily see how legends would be confused by your time.

[Interesting, how tales evolve over time. Besides, she doubts history would tell of a woman slaying the Demon Duke of Asmodean.]

...Of course, I am sure you've realize this means you are not, by blood, related to Yufina Marlon. Though she is, for all the effort she's put into caring for our son, his mother.

[onlyconsideration]

[That's. Huh. It's not the first bit of history he's learned wasn't quite how it was told, but this one was a lot more...personal. Even if it was only a pinprick of a blow to his ego, he had a keen interest in his ancestors.]

That begs the question of whose blood flows through me, then. Unless you had the child with the Count.

[falseidentity]

...I was married to that monster for ten years, and never bore him a child. I'm sorry to say but the blood of the Demon Duke of Asmodean runs through your veins.

[The proof had been her son's eyes. A beautiful, beautiful purple she'd only seen in one place. But she... Looks so very ashamed.]

/3

[onlyconsideration]

[That strikes him silent for a few moments. He's visibly shocked for only an instant, however, quickly being overtaken by a faint, thoughtful smile.]

[onlyconsideration]

[And soon, a quiet chuckle rumbles from the back of his throat...]

[onlyconsideration]

[...Which erupts into loud, uproarious laughter.]

So sin flows through my very blood, does it?

How very excellent...!

[falseidentity]

[Color her surprised at that reaction and most... Unsettled. She is now worrying that she broke you with this information.]

Most would be quite unhappy at being descended from him. Why is it you are glad?

[onlyconsideration]

[He needs a minute to calm down from the laughter, and even when he's ready to speak again that smile almost isn't human.]

I am not a good man, your highness. This place plucked me from the fiery pits of hell, an afterlife I can assure you I wholly deserved.

I committed sin in search of sin, and the fact that it is a piece of my very being...well, a number of things become quite clear.

[falseidentity]

...Then you are indeed descended from Sateriajis Venomania, it would seem. Doomed to commit atrocities just like him.

[...Which isn't good news. Not at all. And she is... Blaming herself for being weak and not careful and getting caught so she had to go to bed with a demon.]

[onlyconsideration]

Ah, but that makes my task far simpler. You see, in life I was in search of the seven Vessels of Sin, one of which belonged to the Duke. It came to me merely by chance, as if it were meant to be.

And perhaps it was.

...Meanwhile, Fem!Gammon muse is going, "BY CHANCE MY ASS."

[falseidentity]

...Vessels of Sin?

[Poor woman hasn't heard of those. Even though she killed the man with one. How ironic.]

AHAHAHAHAHA SUCK IT

[onlyconsideration]

Indeed. The Vessel of Lust, the Venom Sword, is what gave the Duke his power.

Combined with the powers of the other six...one could achieve anything they so wished.

YOU KILLED MY BROTHER HELL NO (She is still nursing a grudge)

[falseidentity]

...Is that so? ...Any wish born from Sin would be twisted beyond recognition. I would not think it worth it.

[But those are her thoughts after seeing Sateriajis.]

PROPERTY OF THE COURT NEENER NEENER

[onlyconsideration]

You may not, perhaps, but I do. More than anything in this world.

[For a moment his expression softens considerably, almost as if he isn't the same man who was laughing his head off like a maniac just a moment ago.]

YEAH WELL NOW SHE HAS THE SMUG SATISFACTION OF YOU BEING CURSED TOO

[falseidentity]

...What are your reasons for this?

[Oh, she notices. She's a detective. She'd better notice.]

NOT MUCH A CURSE CAN DO WHEN HE'S /ALREADY BURNING IN HELL/

[onlyconsideration]

[You're already getting a lot out of him he wouldn't tell to just anybody. Perhaps death has made his tongue loose, or perhaps even incredibly distant family is valuable.]

...My daughter was crippled in an accident that took my wife's life. My wish is to create a world where she and I can live happily together once again.

You're probably there because you're cursed. :V It probably started everything.

[falseidentity]

...Ah. That's unfortunate.

[...She can't imagine how she would react to Rook being crippled and Yufina dying. Much the same way, she supposes.]

...Are there no sorceresses who could heal her?

...M-maybe. Yeah.

[onlyconsideration]

None that I have found in my search.

I am not so foolish as to lay all my hopes in one course of action, however. I raised as much money as I possibly could to afford her the finest medical attention.

Ha. :V Welcome to the family, Gallerian. Sucks, doesn't it?

[falseidentity]

...And what good would that money do her without her father, I wonder?

[Ugh, this is terrible. It really is. She wishes she could help him.]