devourthemfirst | Third Misfortune - [voice] - Backdated to Halloween night

[It’s Halloween night. Czes has never really been one to worry over celebrating Halloween, candy, dressing up in costumes, the works, but these past few days have been hectic and he needs some entertainment. Ghost stories is the best option he has though the story he has in mind is one he'd rather not discuss. But if he can get a few people scared from it, maybe it'll be worth it.

Not sure how people can't not be scared by it at least...

His voice is low, almost like he’s scared to speak too loudly in case the creature pops up behind him. Which he kinda is. It somehow wouldn’t be that big of a surprise to him if the Malnosso were that cruel to him]

Back in my world, there’s this legend. It’s of a red monster called the Rail Tracer. [The meaning of the word ‘monster’ is used to the fullest extent here.] It rides the rail tracks and follows trains in the shadows and they say that when anyone on board believes he’s real, he climbs on board and overtakes the train, murdering everyone on it.

[A beat] But I don’t think that last part is right. I think he just waits until the opportune moment… then [SMACK. His hands hit the table that the journal is resting on. He’s trying to focus on scaring others rather than himself] goes in for his kill.

The scariest part about this legend, is that it’s real. [No really, it’s real.] I didn’t think it was at first but then I saw the blood-covered monster with my own eyes once! [Saw him, was killed by him and was tortured by him. All in one night.]

I even saw him murdering the passengers. He would silently snatch them up from their cars and hold them over the tracks until they would get so close to the moving ground that their faces and limbs would be ripped right off! [His arm starts to tingle from the memory and he bites his lip for a moment. The memory is all too vivid, even after all this time. It haunts him still.

See, Czes is really telling his own story here. He was the one who got his hand and arm literally ripped off by that monster’s torture tactics. He isn’t entirely sure if anyone else got this treatment but it wouldn’t surprise him if anyone did.

He shudders] It was really scary…

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Well then he's a serial killer, not an omnipotent monster, right?

Nah, I didn't hear anything about it. When'd it happen, exactly?

[It doesn't click in Maiza's head that it might be the Flying Pussyfoot Express. Czes' answer about the time is too vague.]

Nuh-uh! It's a night to go get candy and dress up!! Everyone else SAID so!

Yes, it was.

[Nope.]

Or maybe you're just terrible at listening. [Because he's pretty sure everyone had at least heard about what happened either in the newspapers or by anyone who managed to survive the ordeal.]

Well, now you know.

We don't have anything like magic back home... [Half lie but only alchemists (which in the time he's in his world no one really knows or studies alchemy anymore) knows that kind of stuff. And even then it's not 'magic magic']

Not many people were able to see him since he'd drag them away and kill them really fast but when I was hiding and saw him walking around in one of the cars... it was really easy to tell it was a man. [A man soaked in blood but you know]

Whoaaa... scary. Really scary! Did they catch the monster?

That's only something kids do. Halloween is a holiday meant to celebrate the dead so telling scary stories about murder is more appropriate then going trick-or-treating.

[Nothing seems to actually phase this guy too much huh] They didn't! He vanished without a trace and the police never found him. I actually saw him once after I arrived in the city, he was out in plain view and no one knew it was him!

[Claire would say that he's omnipotent] Well yes, he's a serial killer [Thought that would've been obvious] but the things he does... he really is like a monster!

December 31st in 1931.

[So you have a point there]

Sherbet. [Instant answer but he moves on] But since that isn't something you bake, I guess we can make some pie.

..Czes, that's the day before I met you... are you talkin' about the Flying Pussyfoot?

Oh, c'mon-!

[He grits his teeth to hold back any further outburst. Now's not the time.]

Why're you bringin' this up over the journals?

[It's not the sort of cheery memory Firo'd expect Czes to want to dwell on. If he's suddenly talking about it, could something bad have happened to remind him?]

I see. I suppose there's very little we can do about it now... But would you be able to identify him if he showed up in Luceti?

I am a kid!

You started off with monster dude, stick with it! Keep up the monster story, don't devolve it into a serial killer! That's like taking Sadako and turning her into Jack! Freddy into Jason! It just ruins the whole vibe.

[It's a bit hard to get that freaked out! After all, it never happened to him or anyone he knew...]

Oh, scary, scary! Does the monster still kill people? That's awful! Trains should be safe for everyone, they're very important!

Oh, well if you want to just sit and have sherbet we can do that too!

Are you sure? [Czes sure isn't against it. His favorite dessert ought to cheer him up a little, right?]

Yes, I am.

...I'm afraid I don't understand, Mister. I don't know those people. [Except for Jack if it's Jack the Ripper but gotta elaborate on that further.]

Gee, I never would've guessed. [So much sarcasm in his voice]

Yes, unfortunately. Though I'd rather not... [Because. the thought of Claire coming to Luceti is just his worst nightmare right now]

Of course! I'd never say no to sherbet. [It isn't his favorite and it isn't ice cream but who cares?]

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Third Misfortune - [voice] - Backdated to Halloween night

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