Random OC Events

The Central Fewer

Edward stared at John's empty seat. His brother had left months ago to avenge Jackson, and had not yet returned. When Vincent noticed, he groaned.

"Edward, brother, I think we should start looking for...replacements."

Edward slowly turned to Vincent, his permanent grin seemingly turning annoyed. "And where, pray tell, would we find replacements for our dear brothers?"

Suddenly the pair heard a scream in their city, turning their heads to see what was going on. In the market, they saw people fleeing from someone who had collapsed on the ground. No, they hadn't collapsed, they were...

Edward frowned. "And now they've started eating each other. Have they no pride anymore?"

Vincent pulled out his glasses and put them on, squinting to try and see what was going on. "Brother, it would appear Seeker is the one consuming that citizen."

Edward raised an eyebrow. "Seeker? Really?" Edward pushed himself off of his throne and free fell into the puddle of black goo at the foot of his throne, rising up covered in the stuff as he began running off towards the market to try and see what was going on.

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Hunger. That's all the Devourer had felt for the longest time. Ben had done this to them, made them insatiable, made them hungry. And when they'd been trapped in that box, they were starving. But when John let them out, trying to resurrect his brother, he had let them loose to feed.

And as their corrupted Veil melted down the poor citizen beneath them to be consumed, all the Devourer could do was looking around for who they'd eat next. Perhaps that pretty girl behind the stall, or the beast sleeping within the building next to them. Oh, so many choices, a veritable buffet!

Then they felt a swift kick to the jaw, being knocked back as they looked at who would DARE strike them while they were feeding! But then, when they saw the eyes, they felt fear.

Edward had come knocking.

They got up and tried to flee, but then they felt their False Shroud freeze up, trapping them in place as Edward walked in front of them whistling.

"My my, someone's been naughty. First you vanish off of the face of the Basement, then the first thing you do when you come back is eat someone. Buddy, that just doesn't look great!"

The Devourer coughed up black goo, trying their best to smile. "Edward, my Lord, I can explain!"

Edward put a finger to the Devourer's mouth, shushing them. "Shhh, shut up. I'm talking. Got it?"

The Devourer nodded.

"Good. Now, here's what's going to happen. Vincent is going to dissect you, painfully, and figure out what happened to you. If you survive, well, maybe I'll have a use for you. Maybe I won't. We'll see, though, won't we?" Edward giggled manically.

The Devourer looked around, trying to find a way out. "I can tell you what happened! T-then you could let me leave! I'll never come back, I swear! I'll- AGHHH!" Their body contorted painfully as Edward twisted his hand, causing their False Shroud to contort.

"I said shut up!" He forced them to kneel, his hand moving like controlling a marionette puppet. "You forget your place, Seeker. I give orders, you follow." He tilted his head, a wicked grin on his face. "And now, I order you to walk all the way to Vincent and beg him to cut you open, find what makes you tick, and make it painful. Do I make myself clear?"

The Devourer felt their body nod slowly, before getting up of its own volition and marching through town, all the way to Vincent with Edward hot on its tail.

And now? Faced with this torment, this hell, the Devourer thought only one thing.

It missed the box.

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John walked out of the Faded nest, his Shroud refreshed and reenergized. He threw up his hood and started walking towards the Ruined City. He'd abandoned his more extravagant clothing in favor of a more inconspicuous outfit.

Walking into the Ruined City, he immediately ventured into the market to restock on supplies. Get in, get out. He doesn't need to be recognized.

When he finished bartering, he took his supplies and walked out of the city. He couldn't stand moving so slowly, but it was best to avoid too much attention. If Edward caught wind of where he was...

When he got back to his refuge, he stared out at the scene before him. In that tiny slice of field, out of sight from the rest of the Basement, he had found an Alternate Loop. One where Jackson had lived.

He watched as Jackson fought against the skeleton and his friend, over and over, the scene resetting every time Jackson won, never to be permanent. Never to be released.

John would sit with Jackson in the short time between resets, not that Jackson would acknowledge him. But it was good to see his brother smiling. Today was no different. When Jackson managed to defeat the skeleton, John sat next to him, enjoying his company, and then leaving when the Loop was about to reset.

John then moved on from Jackson's Loop to go to bed, wishing he could just talk to his brother one last time.