But sometimes, well. You know how the wavelength of devils tend to be off the walls, so strange that humans can't really understand her a lot of the time? The experience in Hell was that too, but almost in reverse -- an experience so horrifying for the devils that they'd rather ask permission to their human handlers to kill themselves than have to face whatever was coming, while the humans left confused but not quite traumatised beyond belief for days.
As for Power? Well, she just completely lost all sense and semblance of confidence for a few days. Even just the reminder is enough to make her falter. ]
'Tis only a memory! Just a memory... I have long since defeated the Devil of Darkness...
[ So she says!! You know, instead of experiencing momentary death or something. ]
[ SHE'S FINE. PROBABLY! But congratulations Spike on discovering maybe the only fear this girl has, ever -- and it's really strong. This is the light version, actually, by a long shot. ]
No! I am fine!
[ ...She sniffles and looks aside. Then back at Spike and just thrusts her arms out at him. ]
[ Covers him in snot. No I'm kidding. But despite everything she clings like a koala here, Pochita keychain plushie squished between them. A slight brush of her injured horn on Spike, though just because I want the Slight emotionshare component of this which --
Spike will feel a fleeting sense of fear, very light for him but evident that it goes quite deep, but not just the fear of the dark. Fear of being hated, fear of being alone, too. It's fleeting and not something that's usually present with Power, but -- however briefly it was, it is a real fear, too. ]
[Vampires have certain feelings that just grow when they lose their souls. Fear, for Spike, was one of them. Not his fear of other people, that was replaced by a cold hunger that allowed him to pillage his way through Europe without a shred of compassion for the lot of them.
But he understands the fear of being left in the dark. The fear of being hated and being alone. He understands it so well, blisteringly well, to the point where all his cruelties and slaughters and massacres were just a way to outrun that deep terror. So he just gently rubs circles in Power's back and holds her close.]
I've got your back, yeah? Doesn't matter what you need, you just gotta say the word. Just hope you know that.
Mhm. [ She says that through a sniff. She doesn't feel embarrassed or anything, probably one of the still few good things about being a devil -- showing weakness is unfavourable, obviously, but it's strictly for ego and survival reasons. She's not embarrassed, though; the one thing about Power is that she has, and as far as anyone knows, will always be truly and genuinely her. ]
'Tis not so scary. 'Tis still bright out. And it was a while ago.
[ Time heals all wounds? Most wounds? Eh. She pulls at his sleeve anyway, enough of the cold outside. ]
[He nods, gently. Keep being you, Power, it's what he likes most about you. Canonically, he likes it when people are just their horrible little selves with no filter.]
Yes, that does make her feel a bit better. She's immediately going to just crawl over him like the creature she is until she can kind of crawl her way on his back. ]
Inside, then. We shall have some hot chocolate and niceties before we leave this city for good.
Precisely, there will be nothing left but a smear and a memory.
[ Why are they like this? But yes, having a warm cocoa, possibly some snacks or meat (ignoring how heinous chocolate and meat as a combo is), and forget about this nonsense for a while. She's gonna be squishing the chainsaw dog plushie for a long while at it, too. Sorry her ability to answer questions about Hell is, well, kind of limited. ]
2/2
Oh. ]
Y-you went to...
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The humour leaves him too, though when he sees the fear in her face. And he nods.]
Yeah. Wherever that is.
...It was pretty horrific. [He gives a sympathetic look.] We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.
cw suicide implication/mention
But sometimes, well. You know how the wavelength of devils tend to be off the walls, so strange that humans can't really understand her a lot of the time? The experience in Hell was that too, but almost in reverse -- an experience so horrifying for the devils that they'd rather ask permission to their human handlers to kill themselves than have to face whatever was coming, while the humans left confused but not quite traumatised beyond belief for days.
As for Power? Well, she just completely lost all sense and semblance of confidence for a few days. Even just the reminder is enough to make her falter. ]
'Tis only a memory! Just a memory... I have long since defeated the Devil of Darkness...
[ So she says!! You know, instead of experiencing momentary death or something. ]
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...Yeah. Nothing that's gonna hurt you here, love.
[If it was, he would kill it or die trying.]
I can offer a hug, if you can point me to where it's bleeding so I don't risk triggering that shared memory?
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No! I am fine!
[ ...She sniffles and looks aside. Then back at Spike and just thrusts her arms out at him. ]
Okay, yes.
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Spike will feel a fleeting sense of fear, very light for him but evident that it goes quite deep, but not just the fear of the dark. Fear of being hated, fear of being alone, too. It's fleeting and not something that's usually present with Power, but -- however briefly it was, it is a real fear, too. ]
no subject
But he understands the fear of being left in the dark. The fear of being hated and being alone. He understands it so well, blisteringly well, to the point where all his cruelties and slaughters and massacres were just a way to outrun that deep terror. So he just gently rubs circles in Power's back and holds her close.]
I've got your back, yeah? Doesn't matter what you need, you just gotta say the word. Just hope you know that.
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'Tis not so scary. 'Tis still bright out. And it was a while ago.
[ Time heals all wounds? Most wounds? Eh. She pulls at his sleeve anyway, enough of the cold outside. ]
I would like to go somewhere warm.
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Let's go inside then.
I can give you a piggyback ride, if you want it.
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Yes, that does make her feel a bit better. She's immediately going to just crawl over him like the creature she is until she can kind of crawl her way on his back. ]
Inside, then. We shall have some hot chocolate and niceties before we leave this city for good.
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And we'll make a smoking crater of anyone foolish enough to try and stop us.
[It's time to make the treck to the kitchens to go see about making Power a hot chocolate and perhaps stealing some meat.]
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[ Why are they like this? But yes, having a warm cocoa, possibly some snacks or meat (ignoring how heinous chocolate and meat as a combo is), and forget about this nonsense for a while. She's gonna be squishing the chainsaw dog plushie for a long while at it, too. Sorry her ability to answer questions about Hell is, well, kind of limited. ]