Promises and Pledges
Aug. 24th, 2017 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Ace Attorney AU
Chapter Summary: Apollo and The Undying One get a little chat.
Word Count: 1072
Rating: K
Note: Apollo Justice spoilers. Probably spoilers for the rest of the series, too.
Ace Attorney AU
Chapter Summary: Apollo and The Undying One get a little chat.
Word Count: 1072
Rating: K
Note: Apollo Justice spoilers. Probably spoilers for the rest of the series, too.
The Undying One stays in a bad mood for most of their journey on the first day. Apollo briefly tries to talk to him, but when he gets nothing but a growl falls silent. He’s pretty certain that the devil isn’t trying to intimidate, but if anyone would have a temper, a devil would.
“I’m sorry,” the devil eventually says, and it’s a little shocking but it sounds genuine. But then, so much of what he says sounds that way. “Here I am as your guardian, but I don’t have to make the process painful for you.”
“I thought that’s what you devils were supposed to do,” Apollo replies with a little bite, and the smile he gets in return…
It promises dangerous things. It’s amused, and it makes Apollo think of things—of the temptations of the princesses Kristoph has brought. Of the glorious feeling after he finishes practicing his sword lessons. And even softer things—a mother’s kiss, the comfort of being tucked in for the night, the feeling of being safe.
“Oh, devils are—they are the world’s wild cards. Unpredictable, cruel, ja, but true to their nature. I may, as Kristoph told you, dance with you, lead you astray, but I would not, what is the word?” He snaps his fingers several times, with a rhythm that almost reminds Apollo of one of those traveling groups of troubadours, but he quickly moves on. “The loyalty of a devil is hard-won, Herr Stirn.” He attempts to speak, but is stopped, possibly because he’s going to lie. He swallows, briefly looks like he’s in pain, and then continues as if nothing had occurred. “Apparently I am unable to tell you of the exact circumstances. Suffice it to say that the entire essence of a devil is caught in the fact that we have no masters. I did not lie about my loyalty to the House of the Sun.” He pauses then laughs. “Of course, it is your choice to believe whether or not I lie now.”
While he might sound amused, he is anything but. There’s something angry, something sad, about his voice, but when he glances over, the look does not show on his face.
Apollo digests that information, but there’s something not quite right about it. “If everything in your nature is against having a master, then wouldn’t your first instinct be to get rid of that tie?”
That earns a genuine, delighted smile. He fiddles with the ear piercing, something that looks very foreign. “That would make sense, und yet.” He shrugs. “When it is earned, it is earned. Rare, und precious, ja?” He doesn’t wait for a response, half seems like he doesn’t even want one. “I owe nothing to Kristoph. He may also serve the House of the Sun, but he is not its representative. That is simply you.”
He realizes belatedly that he’s believing the devil’s words because the bracelet isn’t constricting his circulation.
“So you’d happily serve me, but would play your devil’s tricks on me. You’d happily kill Kristoph for daring to order you around.” He muses about it. It’s slightly nuts, but no one ever said that a devil’s morality would make any sense to a human. If only he’d paid more attention to his lessons!
The dark look that passes over the tanned face is enough to convince him that he is likely at least close to the truth with that one. Eventually, swallowing once more, he responds, “Not…happily, no. But I would tear his heart out.” He pauses at the look. “It is not as if he has not done the same to me, after all.”
“What has he done to you?” Apollo asks, wondering, because that’s more than just a devil’s glory in death, it’s a grudge, which if he had to guess is unusual in the least.
“Ach, nothing I can speak.” He shrugs easily, but the look in those blue eyes is broken.
“Would it have been necessary?” Apollo persists, now that the bracelet is strangling his wrist and he can voice his uneasiness about their first meeting.
“He…may enjoy disciplining me, it is true.” Klavier instantly winces and adds, “…But would I have served him otherwise? Not a chance. So, ja, it was necessary.”
“If you would serve my family…” Where you when Mom was killed? he wants to ask, but doesn’t dare finish the sentence.
“I was too late, as usual.” He’s…bitter now, sulking. “I was too late, und Kristoph did not…react too well.” He pauses, then adds, “…und of course, you were hardly of age to rule a kingdom, und given what happened the last time I was left to my own devices, I am sure the Sorceror decided it was in everyone’s best interest to keep me in the dungeons instead.”
“I’m sorry about your wings,” he says, and the bracelet doesn’t even shudder. Really, he hadn’t meant to say that. He doesn’t even know where it came from.
The devil’s completely silent, so he glances over to find the Undying One biting his lips hard enough to bleed, touched and a little bit annoyed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to fly. Devils don’t feel pain the same way you do, so your pity, while appreciated, is misplaced.” There’s a slight constriction at the last sentence. A slight lie. Probably, the thing about feeling pain, since he’d been there, seen the pain on the devil’s face, heard the pain in the devil’s voice. It’s odd that he’d try to protect Apollo from the truth, but he decides to take that, at least, at face value, since even Kristoph had stated that he could trust the devil to do his best where at least physical dangers were concerned. And Miss Skye, who’d apparently known him for a long time, also said the same thing. That it was personal.
“Ah! There’s a Gasthaus! We will stop there for the night, ja? There’s no point to wear out our horses this early in the journey, und highwaymen operate more often at night. Not,” he continues with a conspiratorial grin that promises danger, “…that I would not welcome another fight, especially with Zerstörungschwertlied once again at my side, but I have another I must keep in shape, und you are not as resilient as a devil.”
“You’re the expert here,” Apollo agrees with a small smile that seems to cheer Klavier up.
“I’m sorry,” the devil eventually says, and it’s a little shocking but it sounds genuine. But then, so much of what he says sounds that way. “Here I am as your guardian, but I don’t have to make the process painful for you.”
“I thought that’s what you devils were supposed to do,” Apollo replies with a little bite, and the smile he gets in return…
It promises dangerous things. It’s amused, and it makes Apollo think of things—of the temptations of the princesses Kristoph has brought. Of the glorious feeling after he finishes practicing his sword lessons. And even softer things—a mother’s kiss, the comfort of being tucked in for the night, the feeling of being safe.
“Oh, devils are—they are the world’s wild cards. Unpredictable, cruel, ja, but true to their nature. I may, as Kristoph told you, dance with you, lead you astray, but I would not, what is the word?” He snaps his fingers several times, with a rhythm that almost reminds Apollo of one of those traveling groups of troubadours, but he quickly moves on. “The loyalty of a devil is hard-won, Herr Stirn.” He attempts to speak, but is stopped, possibly because he’s going to lie. He swallows, briefly looks like he’s in pain, and then continues as if nothing had occurred. “Apparently I am unable to tell you of the exact circumstances. Suffice it to say that the entire essence of a devil is caught in the fact that we have no masters. I did not lie about my loyalty to the House of the Sun.” He pauses then laughs. “Of course, it is your choice to believe whether or not I lie now.”
While he might sound amused, he is anything but. There’s something angry, something sad, about his voice, but when he glances over, the look does not show on his face.
Apollo digests that information, but there’s something not quite right about it. “If everything in your nature is against having a master, then wouldn’t your first instinct be to get rid of that tie?”
That earns a genuine, delighted smile. He fiddles with the ear piercing, something that looks very foreign. “That would make sense, und yet.” He shrugs. “When it is earned, it is earned. Rare, und precious, ja?” He doesn’t wait for a response, half seems like he doesn’t even want one. “I owe nothing to Kristoph. He may also serve the House of the Sun, but he is not its representative. That is simply you.”
He realizes belatedly that he’s believing the devil’s words because the bracelet isn’t constricting his circulation.
“So you’d happily serve me, but would play your devil’s tricks on me. You’d happily kill Kristoph for daring to order you around.” He muses about it. It’s slightly nuts, but no one ever said that a devil’s morality would make any sense to a human. If only he’d paid more attention to his lessons!
The dark look that passes over the tanned face is enough to convince him that he is likely at least close to the truth with that one. Eventually, swallowing once more, he responds, “Not…happily, no. But I would tear his heart out.” He pauses at the look. “It is not as if he has not done the same to me, after all.”
“What has he done to you?” Apollo asks, wondering, because that’s more than just a devil’s glory in death, it’s a grudge, which if he had to guess is unusual in the least.
“Ach, nothing I can speak.” He shrugs easily, but the look in those blue eyes is broken.
“Would it have been necessary?” Apollo persists, now that the bracelet is strangling his wrist and he can voice his uneasiness about their first meeting.
“He…may enjoy disciplining me, it is true.” Klavier instantly winces and adds, “…But would I have served him otherwise? Not a chance. So, ja, it was necessary.”
“If you would serve my family…” Where you when Mom was killed? he wants to ask, but doesn’t dare finish the sentence.
“I was too late, as usual.” He’s…bitter now, sulking. “I was too late, und Kristoph did not…react too well.” He pauses, then adds, “…und of course, you were hardly of age to rule a kingdom, und given what happened the last time I was left to my own devices, I am sure the Sorceror decided it was in everyone’s best interest to keep me in the dungeons instead.”
“I’m sorry about your wings,” he says, and the bracelet doesn’t even shudder. Really, he hadn’t meant to say that. He doesn’t even know where it came from.
The devil’s completely silent, so he glances over to find the Undying One biting his lips hard enough to bleed, touched and a little bit annoyed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to fly. Devils don’t feel pain the same way you do, so your pity, while appreciated, is misplaced.” There’s a slight constriction at the last sentence. A slight lie. Probably, the thing about feeling pain, since he’d been there, seen the pain on the devil’s face, heard the pain in the devil’s voice. It’s odd that he’d try to protect Apollo from the truth, but he decides to take that, at least, at face value, since even Kristoph had stated that he could trust the devil to do his best where at least physical dangers were concerned. And Miss Skye, who’d apparently known him for a long time, also said the same thing. That it was personal.
“Ah! There’s a Gasthaus! We will stop there for the night, ja? There’s no point to wear out our horses this early in the journey, und highwaymen operate more often at night. Not,” he continues with a conspiratorial grin that promises danger, “…that I would not welcome another fight, especially with Zerstörungschwertlied once again at my side, but I have another I must keep in shape, und you are not as resilient as a devil.”
“You’re the expert here,” Apollo agrees with a small smile that seems to cheer Klavier up.
