@ofstarsandskies / ofstarsandskies.tumblr.com
Bad End/Julius End Ludger Will Kresnik
Rules || About & Bio || Main Verses All Ludger’s AU List || Julius’ AU List || Victor & Lulu AU List
It would be so much easier if he could just ask for the truth and for the answers. Just... would Ludger turn on him? Threaten to kill if not just do it? If he had truly killed those people, all of this could be who Ludger was until he felt he needed to kill, and then turn into someone else entirely. Being open about the job with him could be dangerous, but also life threatening. Yuri wasn't the only one who lost out if he died on this job. Everyone who knew him would suffer that loss.
Yet somehow here he was, getting along fine otherwise with another CEO-type. People in positions of power seemed to either hate him or hold some fondness for him, with almost no in between. For all he knew though, Ludger could be the latter. Could hate him. Could be planning to kill him for all he knew. Ironic then, if nothing else. If they were both just... faking it to kill each other.
Otherwise, Yuri was confused. He hated feeling like this - so uncertain that his target was as heartless as all that. What was he supposed to do if there was more to it? If Ludger had killed in some blind rage? If emotions controlled him in the moment and he regretted it later? The person who sat here with him each day smiled like he was happy to be alive and was just a man full of joy. Was he...?
But turning the job into a positive... How? If Victor really wanted this guy dead but Ludger turned out to be... someone Yuri couldn't finish off... not only did he not get paid for his time on the job, but he'd also lose the trust of a potential client. For all Yuri knew, this could have been a family dispute all along and there may have been lies sneaked in. Maybe Ludger really did do it and was just hiding everything behind these... lying smiles.
Though he worried he might slip up on his job, he still accepted Ludger's offer, lazily pointing out his choice before dropping his head on the bar around folded arms for a minute. He wasn't exactly drunk, but he was very confused. Was there the possibility of skirting around it and not making it obvious that his target was Ludger? He shouldn't risk that...
"The more I think about it, the more I don't even know if it's safe to back out of." On either end, really. Would Ludger just up and kill him if he knew what Yuri knew? Would Victor decide he knows too much and want to get rid of someone who had doubts about everything? Really, the best thing he could do was swear to stay out of it if it came to that and he wasn't even certain that would work.
Yuri takes up his offer, although he can tell even there his head's somewhere else-- he didn't really choose besides whatever his finger landed on. But Ludger still kept to his word, and Yuri would get a fresh glass of Fennmont Midnight Bourbon. Sometimes job requests asked for bottles, so... he ordered a second glass for himself.
Once his drink came, Yuri spoke up. And what he said--
"It's dangerous?!" Ludger's hands slapping the table send a tremor through their empty glasses. "How come? Someone isn't threatening you or someone you know, are they--?!"
Ludger stopped the interrogation there; if Yuri's job was unsafe to leave, odds are he couldn't discuss it openly. Letting his emotions settle for a moment, he approached the issue like a proper professional.
"If you can't give any details, I understand; I don't want to make your situation worse. But if you need help, please contact Spirius however you can. We'll help you without whatever's forcing you into this finding out."
The military could handle crimes that didn't need secrecy, but anything where one wrong move's the last all trapped make? That's where Spirius' Agents come in. His year of being CEO didn't kill Ludger's bleeding heart-- he'd dedicate resources to a friend no questions asked.
"Um... Sorry for getting excited. My brother passed me his worry bug ever since he retired--or, well, I think he also got fired--from Spirius."
Oh. So that was what happened. Magilou grimaced a bit at the mental image of Julius taking the brunt of the injury. She'd... need to have words with Alvin later about using the dunk tank. Apparently it had done some good, but still! The damage was done.
"Well, at least you're alive," Magilou said. Oh, she had no idea what Julius had experienced during the Sharknado. Maybe it was better that way.
"I'll accept your apology and a new dunk tank," she concluded. "You could've told me, though! I had no idea this Sharknado thing even happened. So... throw in a meal from your stand and we've got a deal. But I'll still pay for the meal." As long as she got the new dunk tank.
"Bien????" No! His salvation!!
"That's partially true. I'm definitely alive now, but things were a bit complicated in the moment," Julius showed off his stamp book, a shark sticker with the caption 'I Died' stuck on the cover. "Other survivors got 'I Survived' stickers, so I believe I died at least for a minute."
As for the deal, no problems there. In fact, he had the perfect dunk tank replacement in mind-- one with a bit more flair and tricks to improve the experience. With a moment's focus, Julius' powers warped in a brand new dunk tank... with alterations!
This one's most obvious new feature: a glowing neon sign with speakers to advertise her brand from far and wide. The new tank also came with a remote he handed Magilou. What it did... oh several things.
"There we are, one dunk tank," Julius handed off the accompanying remote. "This has two functions. The Bienfu button is for automatically flipping the tank chair if you're bored or want a pity dunk. Where the door-like one, it'll open up a trap portal underneath whoever you'd like so you can drop them into the tank instead."
He had a feeling she'd want to use that feature on someone. Just a gut feeling. Nothing more.
"So... about that meal. What would you fancy?"
"Daisies?! C'mon, couldn't he have said we sprout out like sharks or... whatever kind of shark hides to stalk its prey?!"
"Isn't daisies a better expression than our real function: hyperacute mole cultists?"
"Even numb and emotionless, you still find a way to say the weirdest stuff with a straight face," Elle huffs, though in her heart, his in-tact sense of humor(?) is reassuring. "Oh, and Ludger's got dinner for you. Go eat it."
"Fine." And off the Ranker goes to eat since... ..... ....
.........
It didn't really matter.
"It's a catastrophe! A horrendous, horrible catastrophe!"
"My beloved dunk tank is no more! Ruined!" Indeed. Not only was it not in its usual spot, it also must have been broken by some thing. The joys of not being involved in the Sharknado.
"I swear, when I catch the primitive perpetrator of this positively preposterous profane crime, there will be words!"
A certain normin may or may not have been grateful for this development.
Oh, did nobody tell Magilou about the reason her dunk tank disappeared? He's happy to provide.
"It was destroyed in the Sharknado catastrophe," As proof, Julius would hold out his coat from that day, still full of holes and discolored spots from the glass shards raining into him. "Alvin suggested catching Mr. Elfman in the tank when he joined the Sharknado, and I teleported it there."
"Unfortunately the impact was too much for it, and the glass is completely shattered. Fortunately only I was injured by it, but as for your tank... at best I can commission a new one from another dimension."
Still, given he did destroy her old one, he offers a bow as forgiveness.
"I apologize for the inconvenience I've caused you."
"You haven't been eating that much grass anyway lately." (warmthofthehearthfire's Victor)
Whilst packing his snacks for their next abandoned house search, Victor's comment had him checking what he packed. Chicken on a stick, a sandwich, and a small bottled water... huh. Victor was right-- no grass or weeds in sight. Coupled with the regular proper meal schedule, he really hasn't reached for the usual for a while.
"So I haven't," Zig agrees. "Did you want me to? We've been going through a lot more food with Elle hanging ou--"
The harsh bonk on his head answers that question.
"Alright, I won't. But it'll be on the table if our supply starts running dry."
Victor's objecting with just a look. Zig notes his objections and promptly ignores them. Life in Cantalera (or what bits he remembered from it) taught him not to waste an ounce of food. If there's weeds nobody wants, it's proper respect to nature to use them instead of cutting them down and throwing them away.
City people call it disgusting. He calls it using his environment.
"So with my diet picked apart for the day, any ideas for a proper dinner tonight?"
As the Kresnik brothers left the beach, Ludger felt something. A fleeting voice in his head, and then it vanished.
What it wanted or why it spoke to him, he couldn't say. It's as if a lightning bolt struck, and it vanished within the cracking thunder. But still, he can't help wondering if he should tell anyone about it.
...Everyone's already worn out, He ultimately concluded as he walked back to the stand, side-by-side with his brother (and their two troublemakers). They don't need to worry about me. If there's anyone to worry about, it's Zig. Even Victor's saying things about him.
His brother nudges his shoulder, asking if he's hurt anywhere from during the Sharknado attack. Ludger forces a smile and assures he's fine; if anything, he's the least hurt out of everyone, thanks to him. The glass from the dunk tank would've hit them both if Julius hadn't dove after him.
Julius isn't convinced--he knows that slight droop in his big brother's eyebrows--yet he lets it go "for now"; they need to eat a warm meal and rest this whole affair off.
...When I was like that on the beach, were you scared of me? Ludger wants to ask, but he doesn't.
MUTTON! FRESH MUTTON!
Oh no. OH NOOOOOO.
At the sound of the Mutton Man, Ludger's already throwing his hands up in surrender, "I-I haven't said anything bad about your wares for years! No need to assume anything bad, I've even sent Zig to check your mutton out! R-Right Zig?"
"Sounds about right."
"S-See? So, um, don't worry-- your mutton is still the best in Rieze Maxia and Elympios!"
Would that be enough? He still remembers the other Ivar who got cleaved for disrespecting the Mutton Man's authority. No way does Ludger want to be next; he's content with life and his family now.
Victor's gaze hasn't left their 'grass keeper' since this morning. Elle pulled Victor aside last night to keep watch over him, as she wanted to keep the club going as to not disappoint the other members. He accepted, even if it meant babysitting that problem.
--Or at least, it would've been terrible if Zig was his usual self. The Zig he'd been watching today? Another story entirely.
When customers inevitably asked why the plucked grass went straight into his stomach, he didn't defend his actions at all. He'd just stop until whoever asked left the stand and then continue without a word. The Zig he endured would eat the weeds from his garden while he watched. This one... seemed so uncertain. Like he's following a script.
If he keeps acting like this, Elle's going to be miserable too. I hate doing this, but for her, I don't have a choice.
"Zig," Victor says once Julius' stand is free of customers waiting. Zig stops plucking to look back at him. "What's wrong with you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because..." Elle's upset you're acting like this, he holds his tongue to think of a better, 'caring' answer. "You've lost your liveliness ever since your forest adventure with Michan. Whenever you pick at my garden, you'll look me in the eye as you're doing it. Now, if one person comments you're eating grass, you stop; that isn't like you."
Zig lets out a low hum, "I see," As he's thinking, his left hand's flexing, yet the movement's too slow, too loose. Is whatever happened to his shoulder spreading? "It's better for the stand's image if I stop. That's all."
--And in his attempt to dismiss the issue, Zig's only shown he's definitely not the goat-human hybrid he's had the displeasure of entertaining. Zig Kraft doesn't need excuses: he does what he wants, gives his reasons, and either you deal with it or don't. Passive excuses aren't him.
"Preserving the shop's image didn't stop you days ago-- why is it stopping you now?"
"...I don't know," Somehow, that's the most sincere Zig's sounded all day.
If only... he knew how to handle delicate emotions. He can for his beloved partner, as being with her flips an invisible switch in his mind. But towards others, his heart's frozen over with no signs of thawing. Yet that frozen heart couldn't let Zig fall apart in good conscience.
Your happiness is too important to Elle. Otherwise I wouldn't... Or would I...?
"If you're hurting as much as it seems you are, I suggest talking to Ludger and seeing one of the Dr. Mathises around here," If he can't help, he'll direct Zig to the proper do-gooders. "Whatever you're doing now is making you worse. Don't sit around and burden those around you."
"Maybe later." Zig's stubborn streak is still intact, but it couldn't pick a more convenient time? Though a tiny, hopeful spark lights in him when Zig stands up. "I'm going to try and get another stamp. If Elle asks why I'm not there for the club, tell her I'm sick."
Victor doesn't stop him from walking away. Hunting for those things would do more than his words ever hoped to.
But still... why can't he stop worrying?
"That's right, looked totally off." Never mind that Alvin hadn't been wearing the uniform when the vendor insisted he take the mask. It didn't go with the uniform, either.
He laughed. "For one, Jude's shorter than you, and there're at least two of 'em floating around here that I've seen, so you've got some advantage. I'm pretty sure Ivar is too, though he'd probably try to out-cool you anyway, if anything dragged him out of the petting zoo."
He tilted his head, less joking, more focused. "I'd say he's off anyway, but I get what you mean. Something not right, yeah? You might wanna check in with Sunny or Mana and find out if they know what's out there, before you go running towards trouble."
Ah, a good point-- in this world, several Judes was still alive. Though he never noticed his height advantage over Ivar; somehow, his larger-than-life attitude made him feel taller at all times. "It wouldn't affect someone as sincere as Ivar. But Jude... worth a try!"
Normally he'd defend Zig's honor against a jab as his friend. In Zig's current case, the truth is the problem, "That's the thing-- normally he's happy to try Elle's new crazy idea. But now, he just follows orders in silence. That's not the Zig we know."
Hell, Victor noticed Zig's not 'his stupid self' anymore. When Victor's concerned, there's a problem.
"I-I don't want to cause a fuss when someone's working," Blame the martyr do-gooder in him, despite his sins. "And I don't want Canary to get... angry? Upset? One of those when he finds out his friend's not doing well." It might get worse than a ban from the bar if he found a new thing to hate.
"Don't worry, I'll bring my brother! But if you've got some recommendations for help, I'm happy to hear them!"
"Yeah, I got one. Didn't go with what I was wearing, though. Figured I'd keep it as a souvenir." Alvin was still a bit unsettled that no matter what angle he'd taken, he couldn't see the vendor's eyes.
Ludger looked happy though, if a bit anxious about his decisions.
"Definitely cool. If you master that glinting-eyeglasses trick, you might look just as dangerous, too," he teased. "I think you could use that glow as a flashlight. Might be useful for wandering around the island at night, as long as no one in security thinks you're the actual oni deal."
"Heh, I get it-- unless you got a shark mask, it wouldn't fit your club uniform."
Really? He was cool?! Whether that was lip service or genuine, he'd take that compliment to the bank! "Believe me, I've been trying to master the glint! Though, um, I found it's all in the height difference, and..." Ludger's measuring hand couldn't reach past Alvin's neck. "I don't know one guy shorter than me..."
Still, Alvin's suggestion of using his mask as a flashlight tied well into his idea, "No, you bring up a good point-- I might need it for checking the north forest," His good cheer melted away, "Zig said a monster that turns everything dark the closer it is to you almost ate him there. And since then, he's been... kinda off."
"So instead of waiting around and making things worse like last year, I'm going to help no matter what!"
@broadswordandpistol to balance out your lowkey sad mask post--
Hm, people were giving him (or rather, his mask) some odd looks ever since he swapped with Julius. He'd admit, the glow effect was unique, but ignore that and it looked kinda similar to the others.
Still, for the time being, he'd prop his mask off to the side so he wasn't fumbling around thanks to the ant-sized eye holes.
"Oh, Alvin! Did you pick up a mask earlier?" He couldn't see one on him, but maybe he tucked it away for now. "I picked a Lulu one, but I traded with Nii-san while he's working the stand. We had a few customers spot the glow from the kitchen and get creeped out..."
However the reason, he happily showed off his black-and-yellow glowing horned oni mask. "Does mine make me look cool and dangerous like my brother?"
Eager glee flickered in Mieu's eyes as Zig approached. Soon, the cheagle's head was bobbing up and down in a quick little nod. He hadn't known what the stamp booklets were for, but he sure did want to stamp people's booklets!
"Yes, sir!" Mieu's answer was as enthusiastic as anything. "I'll give your book a stamp after you've won. It's pretty easy. You get a handful of rings, and all you have to do is toss them! If one of them lands on one of the pegs, you get a prize," Mieu explained. A simple enough game in concept. Especially for a cheagle.
"It's just twenty-five gald for five rings. Are you ready?"
Little guy, you had him at stamps. Though his excitement for someone trying his game would've melted his will by itself. He played something similar back home with horseshoes, so this shouldn't be too hard (besides the self-imposed challenge to always aim for the farthest one).
"Alright, I'll give it a go," Zig kneels down to hand his payment to those cute paws, then lasers in on his target. Wind's not strong, ring's not bottom weighted, just gotta control my strength--
His thoughts betray him with the first ring, which flies like a frisbee long past every single peg. "...I'll go get that after," He offers mid-attempt #2, which just grazes the target. "How many people have tried your game so far?"
"C'moooon, pick a mask with more flair! It won't be fun if you're the odd man out in the family!"
Like usual, Elle isn't shy about goading him into her latest and greatest idea. This time: with one of the staff(?) passing out masks, she wanted the whole family to pick the cutest options. Ludger and Victor (though he refused to wear his) both followed through while Julius opted for his version of 'cute', so that left him.
Normally he'd be fine following the trend, but one of the masks kept drawing his eye: a somewhat plain red and black that almost reminded him of Victor's. Once he picked it from the pile, he just knew it was meant for him.
"I like this one," Zig says, clipping the mask to his coat's collar for the time being.
"...Okay, I'll let you off the hook as thanks for putting up with my crazy ideas for this year," Elle pats him on the shoulder-... or does she? He sees her do it, but he can't feel her hand at all.
As they walk back to Julius shop, Zig unbuttons his coat enough to expose his left shoulder and squeeze it with his hand. Again, nothing. He tries reaching through his shirt, pressing harder than he ought to against his bare skin. No doubts anymore-- his shoulder's numb.
He should be concerned, and yet...
"Zig?" He's gone and walked ahead of Elle without realizing it. From the droop in her eyes and frown, she must've seen part of what he was doing. "Are you hurt? If you need a break from the club, you can tell me!"
"I'm fine. My shoulder just felt stiff for a second; if it gets worse, I'll sit out for tomorrow. Fair?"
Elle gives him the dreaded stink eye for a moment, but she eventually launches back into what new activities they ought to try for the sake of summoning the Lake Entity. He picks out the occasional word or two, but he can't stop fiddling with his left shoulder to figure out why it's gone numb.
"Magilou says I'm supposed to tell you guys that..."
"The Sorcerer's Ring Toss is back! I'm really excited to have you guys play this year! I got some new prizes!" Well. More accurately, he'd had some help from Ion. The flower crowns he'd made the previous year had made a return, but the new prizes were little cheagle plushes and even a couple of liger plushes! Ion had helped him pick them out before they and Jade had arrived at the festival.
Now that Ludger was safely working at the stand (and the forest didn't kill him, somehow), Zig could actually give some of these stands another try.
"You wouldn't happen to have a stamp for winning, would you?" He's become a stamp-hunting fiend in such a short time; Last Rankers never settle for second! "I'll still give it a go if not. Elle's been wanting the club room to look cute."
"'Went to get plants at the forest. Tell Elle will be late to this morning's meeting. Thought I should get the dangerous ones done first'...." Ludger's reading a note taped to the side of the stall. If the handwriting wasn't obvious, the second it mentioned plants? Had to be Zig-- he loves his weeds....
Still, the FOREST? That couldn't be good--
"You should've at least asked someone to go before you run off!" Ludger gives Victor a short look of 'please man this for the day', and he actually gets a less scary stare. Seems like a yes.
