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Esouna no longer wanted to hang around in the pool, and injuries needed treating. The fairy hoped that all the nurses weren't still busy, since her stock of willpower was draining away from enduring the aftermath of so much blunt-force trauma in her fight.

The 2-foot-tall fairy staggered into the infirmary, wincing and grunting. Okay, seriously, there better be someone. In the previous GTB, the staff hadn't treated her with any respect, but after getting to Top 10, Esouna yearned .d glancing arounfor some real attention. Everyone else got it; why not her?

She tool a few more steps forward, searching for some sort of healer.

The nurses have now gotten Thurgood into the operating room furthest away from the main emergency reception area, and are now just waiting for a doctor to make the necessary surgical procedures.

Faustina narrowed her eyes first at the man with the ice cream and then the creepy doctor--a sight which admittedly made her uneasy but was thankfully relieved of her when he soon moved off and away to tend to his patients. She scowled after him, then turned back to Vince, mouth opening to repeat her question.

However, the question never came. As her eyes trailed back to Vince, another crossed her sight, and in that single instant she choked. Her tail wriggled, withdrawing to linger among her legs, and she bit her lip, unable to keep herself from staring at the young man seated upon a stretcher just a little further away. She hesitated, then returned her attentions but briefly to Vince, a slight fluster apparent in her manner. "Please consider my request, Vince, and find me when you've decided."

Excusing herself from his side, Faustina moved swiftly, skittering eyes looking to see if any more of the doctor-folk were going to come bother her. Precariously making her way through rolling stretchers and rushing nurses, Faustina came up behind a familiar young man with bright red hair, her pace slowing and her voice softening so as to not surprise him--her appearance had changed significantly since their last encounter, what with her transformation from a 16-year-old half-human half-Devil to a 20-year-old full-Devil, her body shedding any resemblance it once had to her mother save for that sparkling emerald eye. Her hair had grown long and wavey, clinging to a rich auburn hue, and her right eye was allowed to proclaim its garnet majesty. Her body was, for lack of a better word, perfect, as if carved from the Roman Masters themselves. In other words...beyond her emerald eye and spaded tail, she looked--and sounded, for that matter--hardly like she had back then.

It was hard to keep her nerves from proclaiming in loud excitement, but she somehow managed it, knowing full well how bad it would be for her, for the other patients...and for Snow.

"...Snow...It's been a while..."

Faustina's eyes trailed to Snow's chest, worry instantly seeping into her glistening eyes, but she didn't say anything about it--it was, after all, expected that Snow should be injured, given their surroundings. Instead, she put her efforts towards a small smile, forcing her gaze back to meet his eyes. "...I suppose it's quite a difference, huh?" She walked carefully around his stretcher so she could face him, watching to not knock over any equipment or knock into the stretcher itself.

She blushed slightly, her spaded tail swaying bashfully behind her legs, and replied with a light giggle, "It's me, Faustina! Dad's fighting in the tournament." Then, after a brief pause, she added on, "...I saw your fight earlier. I admit, I got a bit worried at times, but you did well, Snow."

Faustina left Vince in quiet then. The man closed his eyes and peacefully fell into a quiet slumber; not really a slumber, but instead, a wandering of the mind whilst behind darkened curtains. Moments before, Faustina had left Vince a question, an aching for the dragon's help. An aching for the help of a broken man, not even a sliver of the strength he had been days before. This mind-set disgruntled the dragon, pushing his mind farther back; of course, the mental strain sent a wave of pain coursing through Vince's body. He grunted in discomfort as his body jerked, his mind prying at the memories that it had instinctively shut away as it had been deprived of oxygen and of the sweet embrace of the dragon's life.

"No, y' shan't be allowed out t'day, m' dearest boy. Mama don' wan' nothin' to happen t' y', understand?"
Too early. The memories caused another jerk of the massive man's body, his grip tightening on the bed-rail that still existed, and the one that didn't, the hand instinctively grasped at the metal railing along the side of the bed, gripping it even as his muscles groaned in protest.

More memories, then. More speaking.
"M' boy... why.. why would you wrong me so..."
"Shut up, you useless wench."
There was a roar, not a scream, as massive fangs plunged into the long sinuous neck that held the wedge-shaped head at the end. With a vicious shaking of a monstrous neck and head, the giant green reptile ripped and shredded the scale and flesh beneath, eventually breaking the other creature's neck. That creature? A green dragon; the same as the creature that had slew it. The blood that the offender now carried in his mouth? His mothers. Did he know that, and did he care? Perhaps yes, perhaps no: It would be hundreds of years before he even remembered what had happened on that faithful day.

This time, Vince's body shook so violently that the bed trembled and his eyes snapped open, though they registered nothing. Pain coated his eyes, and in the few seconds that they were open, the dragon's gaze looked everywhere yet no where. Then, as soon as it had begun, the gaze snapped shut, and the shaking stopped. For a few more moments, Vince was once more at peace with himself, absolutely content with the fact that he had suffered terrible pain just then, but in doing so had recovered memories he may have lost.

Satisfied he was indeed until words rang true.

"Daddy.. can we go to the forest? I want to see the bunnies today.. You promised that we could..."
Emerald eyes peered down upon a small boy with a mop of silver covering his tiny head. His pale features were so unlike Vince's, dark and muscular, well-tanned and looking completely foreign to the land that he inhabited. The little boy looked up at his giant of a father and flashed him a smile, then reached his hand out towards his father's. Vince's hand reached out--

Reached out to choke the life out of that same boy that had held out his hand many years before. Striker's pleas of mercy came as sweet music to Vince's unforgiving ears. His son, although he was adopted, had given his life to Vince and the greater good of the family, and by defending his lover whom had accusingly pointed a finger at the love of Vince's life.. He had sentenced himself to death, and death he would find indeed at the hands of his father.

Perhaps it was fate that saved the boy that day, though. Even though Vince's claws had burst forth from his hands and torn right through the stomach of his son. The massive man left his stunned lover, and his son's stunned lover, there to stare at the ruin he'd left in his wake. He walked off in grim satisfaction that the deed was done. He was indeed proud of the killing blow that had...

"Not offed me.. close.. but Dominique helped me. Why did you do it, Vince... What brought you to this?"
Vince had no answer.. no escape.. nothing would end him from this torment.. nothing at all..

"VINCEY! VINCEY! ... Please.. Vincey.. don't die on me... y' can't do this.. It's not fair..." The dragon had fallen. His wounds had cost him dearly, and as he stumbled through the snow, freezing, blood falling from the numerous wounds he carried, he could only think of one thing. A small girl with auburn locks that rolled from her head like an avalanche that was set ablaze. Vince smiled as he fell face-first into the frozen path, his goal so close yet so far.

Months later, Vince stood before the small girl and he looked down at her with a smile, noting that she wore the necklace he'd crafted for her. Made of the finest silken cord he could find, a necklace was laced around her neck; at the center of the necklace, Vince's gift on the day he'd thought he was done hung. A large tooth from a creature that looked akin to a bear but much larger hung from the necklace; that tooth was glowing slightly, enchanted by a protective magic that Vince had placed within it.

"Y' will be back soon, eh Vincey? I'll miss you!"
"Yes, my dearest Amie. I'll be back before the sun rises two weeks from now. I love you, and please, don't wander too far. Though, you've not much to fear with Striker looking over you." Vince bent down and kissed the top of the girl's head, smiling into her soft blanket of hair as he thought about what he was going to do. It was more than likely that he'd never return, but still.. something had to be done.

Back in reality, Vince swallowed hard, shaking his head at what he knew was coming. He knew the moment was surely around the corner, but he didn't want to face it. No, he didn't want to face it just yet. The dragon's eyes snapped open once again as he struggled against his mind, but as soon as they did, they snapped back shut, the dragon's thoughts immediately being taken over by the memories that were swarming him.

VINCE! NO!
The armored bear smashed the club into Vince's crossed sword, and despite the muscle and power that Vince possessed, the clang of metal and the sparks that flew clearly showed the bear's strength as superior. Vince grunted as he was thrown forward, towards what seemed the end of the marble hallway. Vince looked grimly at the bear and placed his sword out in-front of him in a two-handed grip. He began to rush forward when suddenly he was met head-on by a charge of the bear's accord.

The bear smashed into Vince, immediately halting his movement and swatting the sword aside with a simple slap of one of its massive legs. From there, the bear stood on two legs, and hefting Vince easily up into the air, soon began its death grip. Massive arms wrapped around the armored man, and soon he felt his fingers loosening in their relentless grip on the sword. Vince's eyes rolled into the back of his head as the grip continued, and then, he was jolted back to consciousness as they fell forward, smashing into ice cold water below the floor at the end of the hall-way.

Vince struggled, cast hand-signals which amplified his claws with electricity, and slashed away. The returning grip only intensified, but soon, Vince was tearing away at flesh and fur at a rapid rate, almost sure that the bear couldn't continue for much longer. There was absolutely no way that the bear could continue with its onslaught, seeing as how Vince was battering away at it. The girl who witnessed the plunge from above was sobbing, screaming Vince's name, completely unaware of the danger that was awaiting her.

Seconds later, Vince emerged, gasping for air, and pulled himself up from the water. He crawled towards the girl, trying to get air between the painful gasps he received from the broken ribs at the hands of the bear's powerful hug. A second later, Vince heard what sounded like a rush of the ocean, and water covered him again. The bear angrily smashed one of the supporting pillars, and it gave way, falling right towards the girl he loved.

Vince screamed in anger, hefting his sword up and engaging the bear once more. The battle raged on for a few more minutes, but then, the battle concluded tragically. Vince was impaled upon the bear's outstretched paws even as the sword slid through the bear's throat. They both gurgled, and with Vince's blood spilling onto the bear's fur, he died. At least, Vince would have died, but minutes later, the god resurrected the dragon and promised Vince that if he changed his ways and fulfilled a task, the dragon would be allowed to live.

He didn't want to. Not after the female he had come to love had died because of what that god had done. The god had set the bear upon Vince to rid the world of his supposed evil nature. The god had killed an innocent human girl and had revived that which he sought to destroy in repayment for the girl's poor soul. Vince hated that god with a passion, and he vowed to destroy him. With tears filling his emerald green eyes, Vince stumbled out of the cathedral, his fists clenched in anger and sadness, and then walked.

He walked his way into the Dark Tournament with a smile on his face with a sneer hidden beneath. The dragon's eyes darted around at all of the competitors, and he thought he'd have it easy. He knew for a fact that he'd have it easy. First round his team had pulled through. Second round his team blew through. In the semi-finals however, his fear and doubt of the god that had resurrected him overtook his fear. He was cut down mercifully by a woman that he had taken a liking to, but in the end, it was he who struck a telling blow. Vince's sword cut through her like warm butter and left her dying, while he clutched at the sword in his belly and stumbled away.

He had intended on leaving then, had intended on swearing all of this business off, but instead, a sign presented itself. The dragon's path led him later that evening to the infirmary where the girl he'd cleaved was dying. He cast all of his energy into his runic tattoo and sent the energy pulsing through her, collapsing in a heap on the floor. His deed to the god was done by seeing that the woman would indeed make it to the finals of the Dark Tournament.

In reality, Vince's mind was screaming at the blocked walls the memories were forming. It screamed for release and re-entry back into the realm of the living, and it would get its wish. Rudely, Vince's mind snapped back to reality, leaving him feeling as if he'd been smashed in the skull by a mace. He felt at his head but felt no blood. Nothing was there; no damage at all, yet.. he didn't feel right. Vince's eyes darted back and forth, and with a snarl, he ripped the IV's and all of the tubes from his arms. He stood up and dizzily stood, angrily flipping his bed in a fit of rage.

"The ******** out of my WAY!", the dragon roared in rage as a male nurse went to hold him down and subdue him. The nurse went to grab him and took a step no farther. Vince's claws burst from his hands and smashed into the man's rib-cage, ripping it out in an act of brutality. The dragon stamped on angrily, moving past everyone, throwing guards to the side, and making for the door.

Blood stained his gown that he wore, and his claws were dripping with the sweet crimson life-source of his latest victim. The door was inviting, and that's where he headed, a wild look in his eyes. Would anyone stop him? Time would tell.

The girl blushed under the swordsman's gaze, by no means used to such things, and found herself unsure of just how to react--some innate instinct told her to shy away, but she could not deny the sense of satisfaction and pride his captivated stare awarded her. Caught between the two opposed reactions, she was left to stand and watch his trailing eyes, her lips stretching into a shaky and awkward smile when it seemed he had at last taken in all he needed.

He began to speak, and Faustina found herself blushing perhaps even more intensely than before. "Um...sort of..." she replied, soon turning her head to look for some sort of chair she could pull up beside her. There wasn't a chair, but the area was prepped to serve a massive number of patients, so an empty stretcher was close at hand and would serve the purpose. Pulling it closer to Snow, Faustina slid back onto the mediocre mattress, her feet lifting off the floor to swing childishly, her hands gripping the edge and a smile set upon her youthful features. One hand soon let go, however, at it found its pointer finger lifting to point at the deep, rich garnet hue of her right eye. "I took my eye-patch off. I'm...not entirely sure why, but it turned my body into a full Devil. This is the physical age it chose to mold, I guess..."

She paused, a hesitant silence falling over her as she became wrapped in shy insecurity. "Is that...weird...?"

The stillness was quickly shattered, however, by the roars of rage booming from behind her. Her eyes widened and she gasped in fright, hopping off the stretcher and spinning around, "V-Vince...!"

The room was turning to chaos as the dragon raged among the patients and caretakers. Faustina flinched, uneased by the show of ferocity, and began to back up, moving closer to Snow. Frightened as she was, she swallowed and spread her arm slightly out, as if to protect the swordsman. Indeed, the backing had occurred of her own desire to find protection, but Snow was injured while she remained unscathed.

She felt the tenseness in the air around them, eyes trained warily on the man who made to impede Vince. It seemed some sense of order was struggling to contain the situation, but she remained poised in front of Snow, just in case. Still, to try and recover their conversation, she offered a half-laugh, and an only very distantly amused murmuring of, "...never gets boring on tournament grounds, huh?"

((If a bit of scramble-age occurs like in my last post, it's because of this damn seizure-prone touchpad.))

It appeared the infirmary was very understaffed, and certain people got special treatment. Esouna couldn't stay strong much longer. The fairy slowly took a seat on the floor, considering just going back to the pool, heading to the bar, and drinking enough to ignore all the bruises. That would at least alleviate it for the moment.

The fairy wondered if the nurses could free up enough to actually take care of her before the next round...assuming she made it there, anyway. Esouna sort of broke down near the end, so a loss seemed likely. Assuming she made it, though, she certainly couldn't win again in her current state.

Esouna closed her eyes, still dealing with the pain. A few tears leaked from her eyes.