Code Realize: Van Helsing Chapters 10-13
Jan. 18th, 2019 01:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist of Code Realize posts
OK SO THAT WAS STRESSFUL. But I did enjoy it overall.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the portrayal of redemption after committing war crimes, and the whole "trauma leads to violence" thing is...not great. But it was emotionally affecting and did this sort of redemption arc better than most stories which try it. And it is an effectively angsty woobie tsundere romance.
Content note: Violence (including between romantic partners), genocide, suicide, mental illness and PTSD handled rather unfortunately
OK, CODE REALIZE, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. Even if there are apparently no kisses in this path. Victor got two, come on! There's a Van Helsing kiss in the DLC trailer so I at least know they get to touch eventually. Which is good, it would be a bit depressing if Victor!Cardia is the only one who gets cured when it's something she wants so desperately. (I'm all for disabled protagonists who remain uncured in principle, but she is MADE OF POISON)
Chapter 10: Vampire
Once free, Scotland Yard questions them. Van Helsing says Cardia should rest, and when she says she's fine he points out that her hands are shaking.
Leonhardt, managing to sound like a stiff-upper-lip Brit in Japanese: Since the Yard was covering this up, the Queen has assigned me to the case to prevent further casualties.
Me: Mmm, yeah, she wouldn't want anyone in London to die.
Van Helsing: You mean she wants to cover up the super-soldier program.
(It's actually called "Hidden Strength", but I think "super-soldier" is clearer so I'll stick to that)
Leonhardt gets very self righteous but doesn't deny it, then says the real danger is whatever powerful organisation broke Jack out of prison.
So! I know the real villain for this path is Aleister, and thus, presumably, Twilight. I also know some other things that I won't mention yet, and will try to keep the twists a surprise where I can without cutting out too many of my reactions.
Van Helsing tells Leonhardt he has info on Jack's boss he'll pass on...if Leonhardt passes back any relevant information about Azoth in return.
Leonhardt: Why?
Van Helsing, coolly: I'm just curious by nature.
Cardia: It's definitely NOT that the serial killings will continue until they get access to me. I don't know anything!
Leonhardt: You...YOU YOUNG PEOPLE THESE DAYS GIVE UP TOO EASILY.
Van Helsing: Why is everyone around me...so stupid...
Leonhardt: Van Helsing, we will fight side by side for JUSTICE.
Van Helsing: There is no justice in this world worth fighting for. I fight for myself.
Cardia doesn't want to go back to the mansion, because she'll cause the others trouble.
Van Helsing: They can decide that for themselves. And you should stay close to me. I need you...
Cardia: !?
Van Helsing: ...to help me catch Finis.
Cardia, not sure why she suddenly feels sad: Why must you kill him?
Van Helsing: It's none of your concern.
Cardia: YES IT IS. He's my connection to Father! And...aren't you my precious friend?
Van Helsing: ...no? We're just using each other.
Cardia: YES YOU ARE
Delly is "keeping Sisi company" while he waits for Cardia to come home. And then he tells Cardia not to get close to Van Helsing, because she was kind to Delly and he doesn't want to see her mourn when he kills Van Helsing.
The other guys are all more warmly affectionate and openly glad to see her than Van Helsing was lol. Like Nameless, I really enjoy the "previously very lonely girl with abandonment issues gets houseful of affectionate cute boys who take care of her" dynamic, and since this also has a Final Boy to tie everything together and am wondering if there'll be a similarly found family vibe at the end instead of the "MC and her boyfriend go off alone while everyone else DIES TRAGICALLY" endings in Hakuoki. Or at least the opportunity to headcanon it, as I absolutely am for the Victor and Saint-Germain ends (they just all left temporarily to do other things)
Victor says "Azoth" is another name for mercury and the philosopher's stone, and symbolises beginnings and endings. (Also, I discovered elsewhere, it was named by the real Aleister Crowley. SO WHY NOT JUST USE THAT COOL NAME AND NOT JIMMY)
We see a nobleman beaten to death by someone he says is doomed, wanting revenge for the war. Could be a vampire or a super-soldier, I'm guessing the latter.
The next morning there's a newspaper article about a viscount's whole household being mauled to death by "something like a bear", with AZOTH written in blood by his corpse.
Delly insists on coming along, but Van Helsing doesn't want him or Cardia seeing the dead bodies. Delly says that once you've buried your own household, murdered strangers are no problem.
Afterwards, Van Helsing takes Cardia and Delly to see Sholmes...but the guys grab her hands and pull her into an alley-way: they're being followed...by Aleister! Delly and Cardia see him as an enemy but Van Helsing says Aleister was also betrayed by Finis and can be trusted.
(this is where I stopped to play Saint Germain and the start of Impey because nnng)
Cardia: But he was going to let us die on the train with Finis??
Aleister: I was JUST ABOUT to help you escape! Honest! Anything for my favourite student and his friend ^_^
Van Helsing: He's been working against Twilight from within! And guiding me since university :)
Cardia: SORRY. NOT BUYING IT. BAD GUY.
Delly: SAME.
Aleister just chuckles, then says he's seen Finis alive and thinks the person they saw die was a body double "or something". But he's officially dead which makes it easier for Aleister to take "some measure of leadership", and Van Helsing should consider Twilight an ally.
Cardia notices the deep connection between them and has conflicting feelings: happiness that Van Helsing has a friend, but jealousy that he doesn't see her the same way.
Aleister: I should go, your little girlfriend is glaring daggers at me.
Cardia: I'm not glaring!
Not sure I want to headcanon Aleister as an ex, it's too creepy.
At this point Sholmes looks like a real name to me and his purple ponytail seems perfectly reasonable. Anyway. He's been investigating the recent spate of murders and has noticed that the victims have followed a list of military personnel who received commendations after the Vampire War. And Van Helsing is the second from the top of the names left alive. Delly mutters that these people deserve to die.
Sholmes: This Azoth seems to be in the government, and have the charisma to attract and control criminals. One might call him the Napoleon of Crime.
WAIT. UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. NAPOLEON OF CRIME. ALEISTER IS MORIARTY??
Van Helsing: It's Finis. He said things only Finis would know.
Me: Orrrr Aleisterrrrrrr
(I like to think I'd have figured it out on my own but if you've read this far you know I'm not always great at predicting twists)
Sholmes: Maybe. The Viscount was killed by a vampire.
Only Cardia reacts in surprise. Delly says the brutality was the distinctive style of his father's "highest subject", and Delly's combat trainer: Neuntöte (German for Ninekill)
Van Helsing is all I WILL FACE THIS ALONE but Cardia and the others insist on helping him because they're his friends whether he likes it or not. Delly wants to persuade Neuntöte to change his ways.
Van Helsing: No. When he sees you fighting alongside humans he will try to kill you. Can you fight one of your own? Can you fight to the death against your own master?
Foreshadowinnnnggg
New POV! AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS.
Mauchly (the next target?): Pfft who needs police protection when I have veterans from the Vampire War as bodyguards?
Interesting! Leonhardt's character name is now "Police official". The POV character thinks about how Mauchly believed vampire blood brought eternal life so drained the blood of POWs, and has flashbacks to watching vampires be killed in the war. It's Neuntöte! As he murders the bodyguards he thinks he will kill as many as it take to dampen the anger, hatred and sadness he feels, even if it kills him.
???: Hey, old vampire man! I feel you, but you won't go any further! Behold the stylish man stopping you! Impey Barbi-gah!
"The fool flies headfirst into a pile of trash. Hmm. Why isn't he dead?" HMMM I WONDER.
Meanwhile, Neuntöte can tell from one look that Saint-Germain is dangerous, and avoids him. And then he sees Van Helsing, the man who killed his beloved king, and is filled with unending rage.
Cardia POV.
She helps Mauchly escape while Van Helsing takes care of Neuntöte. She is silently pissed that Mauchly ignored the original plan, leading to unnecessary death.
Mauchly: Run though a SEWER?? I think not!
Cardia: Fine. I heard what you did to the vampires. If you want to stay here and die, I won't stop you.
Mauchly:: *runs into sewers*
Cardia: Ugh, I should follow hi- WAIT DID I JUST HEAR VAN HELSING CRY OUT IN PAIN? SCREW THIS JERK.
She finds Van Helsing injured, and a red eyed Neuntöte screaming with a single-minded rage she recognises...from Jack.
HUH! There was I trying to figure if the killer was a vampire or a super soldier and he's BOTH.
Van Helsing is thrown to the ground and shouts at Cardia to stay back, but she stands between him and Neuntöte and takes off her glove.
Cardia: I can't watch someone precious to me die! Not again!
And then, just before she and Neuntöte clash...there is a burst of wind as Delly appears and grabs both of their wrists, stopping them. Seeing Delly, Neuntöte regains some clarity.
Delly: You mustn't continue this way! Seeking revenge is my duty as leader! There is no reason for you to taint your hands!
Neuntöte: You're defending humans?
Delly: No! I'm stopping you from ruin! You are as close to me as a brother. Give up trying to fight them. Spend the rest of your life somewhere far away from humans!
Neuntöte: You want me to forgive them??
Delly: No! I don't want to lose any more of my people!
Ok, for this kind of plot, this isn't too bad. I guess. Also I like that the vampires really were entirely innocent scapegoats, unlike the mutants in X-men etc.
Neuntöte: HUMANS CANNOT BE FORGIVEN. IF YOU BETRAY YOUR RACE YOU ARE THE GREATEST SINNER!
He punches Delly but it seems to cause himself pain. And then Van Helsing drags himself to his feet.
Van Helsing: Hey! I'm the one you want!
Awww. I have the option to help him, but the correct choice is to help Delly.
Neuntöte throws himself towards Van Helsing, who stares at him then shouts "I CAN'T DIE YET" and moves with superhuman speed to dodge and shoot Neuntöte, who collapses. Cardia, seeing Van Helsing's strength, is reminded of super-soldiers.
Neuntöte: Did I lose? Then all I can hope for is that you fall to the depths of Hell.
Van Helsing: I'm pretty sure that's where I'm going. Perhaps I'll see you there.
Neuntöte, gently: Ha. I'm not looking forward to that...I feel like I've woken from a dream. Such screaming, making me feel guilty for surviving.
Delly: Come with us. We need you.
Neuntöte is about to take Delly's hand when he is overcome again by his supersoldier PTSD rage. He strikes at Delly, and there is a horrible crunching sound...as Van Helsing blocks the blow. He weakly tells the others to run, but then Neuntöte punches through his own chest.
A few days later, Cardia is sitting by Van Helsing's bedside, and is overjoyed when he finally wakes up.
(doesn't he look pretty with his glasses off?)
Cardia isn't exactly sure what she's feeling, but tries to get across how much she cares about his well being, even more than her own. Van Helsing stares at her for a moment then closes his eyes.
Van Helsing: When you tried to protect me...I probably felt the same way you do now. I don't know why, but it makes me so happy that you're still alive. Don't ever do that again, but...thank you. It makes me happy to know there's someone who cares about my life.
And then Delly comes in and demands Van Helsing explain why he saved Delly's life: does Van Helsing think this will make Delly hesitate to take revenge?
Van Helsing: No, your hatred is understandable.
Delly: Why did you do it? I can't believe someone like you would kill my people for no good reason!
Van Helsing: If I had a good reason, would that absolve me of my crimes? Once I've had my revenge, you can kill me. It's perfectly fine.
Cardia: Van Helsing...do you want to die?
But he doesn't reply.
Finis POV!! I GENUINELY THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD. (Well, he's described as ???, but it sure sounds like Finis)
???: Ah, this city my father created is beautiful. Fear and chaos are about to spread across it...interesting. I'll play along with this game you're hosting for a little while longer. I also want to see the truth that lies beyond the seas of blood...
Chapter 11: Dollface
HMMM. Sounds very gendered, but could be Finis!
Van Helsing should still be convalescing but instead is off on some mysterious mission. Saint Germain thinks he's probably looking for Finis with Aleister.
Lupin: I just can't believe Finis could come back from the dead! That doesn't happen!
Saint-Germain: *cough* Anyway...
As with Neuntöte, all the perpetrators caught have committed suicide.
Oh god. It just occurred to me thatright now Aleister could be brainwashing Van Helsing to be the next Azoth killer D:
Delly: Oh, Van Helsing, you're back! Have you found any information? I want to take revenge on Azoth for Neuntöte.
Van Helsing: Stay out of it >:(
Aleister: Sup.
Everyone else: YOU LED THE LEADER OF TWILIGHT TO OUR HOUSE?!
Aleister says they're welcome to kill him if they don't like what he has to say: Three quarters of Twilight have suddenly vanished, and Finis is the only person (other than himself...) who could have done it.
(Side note: Looking at Aleister's full sprite I just realised there's basically no bee imagery at all, symbolic of his lack of loyalty to Queen Victoria and Isaac's vision)
Aleister asks Lupin where he learned his skills, having noticed some similarity between them and Twilight's techniques.
Lupin: Those who seek efficiency all end up on the same path ^_^
HMMM.
(I still have no freaking clue what's up with Lupin. As Final Boy he must be tied up with everything pretty significantly, but how?)
Van Helsing tells them it's too dangerous for the others to help with Azoth, and they're holding him back, and when Cardia argues he just leaves with Aleister. Cardia runs after him and he tells her to go have a normal happy life. Cardia tries to articulate what she's feeling...and then Leonhardt arrives!
A bunch of crazed super-soldiers attacked the Queen at court, shouted "Long live master Finis" and blew themselves up. A letter was found saying "I desire destruction and chaos. The truth does not lie within law and order. Death awaits you all. Now it's time to play a game."
Va Helsing grumpily lets Cardia and Delly come with him to visit Sholmes. Sholmes says he's found a number of Finis's political rivals amongst the Azoth victims.
Van Helsing: So it is Finis D:<
Sholmes: Or someone wants us to think that. And Finis's greatest opponent in the House of Lords still lives.
Van Helsing: Marquis Renfield! Leader of the Anti-Finis League!
ahahahahahaha
DID THEY PUT THE DRACULA CHARACTERS IN A HAT AND ASSIGN PERSONALITIES AT RANDOM
ANYWAY. FINE. THEY GO TO VISIT RENFIELD, THE POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURE AND OPPONENT OF THE VAMPIRE WAR.
Delly aka Dracula Delacroix II: Hmm, I like the sound of this Renfield...
As they arrive, they're attacked by Twilight soldiers...who fight like vampire super-soldiers.
Van Helsing: Cardia, Delacroix, retreat. I'll rip Azoth's throat out, trap and all!
Finis: No need for that. The one you seek is right here ^_^
Cardia stares at his "doll-like" face: it's definitely Finis.
Finis: What drives you Van Helsing? Anger? Fear? Whatever, you do you. I'm just here to provide encouragement to you hard workers. Bye! ^_^
wtf
Van Helsing shoots at Finis but one of the soldiers blocks it, and Finis gloats about being protected by vampires. One of them strikes Van Helsing as he chases after Finis, and it's as if Van Helsing doesn't even register the pain.
Delly: In the name of my father, the great king Delacroix...I shall save you.
I don't have high hopes for these guys, but I hope Delly gets to keep some other vampires in the end.
Delly: Cardia...I'll take over here. You can't leave that man alone. He's in the same state I was before, so caught up in revenge he's about to lose himself to the darkness. You must be his light and guide him, just like you did for me.
Delly ;_;
So she follows the trail of Van Helsing's blood to find him pointing his gun at Finis.
Van Helsing: Cardia?! Stay back, this will be over soon.
Finis: Hello sister! Isn't his attachment to me cringe inducing? ^_^
Finis says he's not Azoth, but finds him "intriguing". "What's about to begin is a nice simulation for the new world I'm planning." Van Helsing points out that killing Finis is a net win even if he isn't Azoth.
Finis, softly, with a knife to Cardia's neck: Sister, let's put an end to playtime. You belong to me, and to Father.
Van Helsing claims to be willing to shoot both of them to get to Finis.
Finis: I'm empty, you see, that's how I know what others are feeling. And you're holding back. This is just like that time two years ago, isn't it? When your family was killed, what was the decision you made?
Cardia stays quiet, thinking maybe it is better she be sacrificed to bring down Finis. Van Helsing looks conflicted, and then they are interrupted by a loud blast...from the direction of Buckingham Palace.
Finis laughs and makes his escape. "I've said this before, but I don't dislike you, Van Helsing. You're the only one who comes at me with such passion. Sister, Van Helsing... two of my beloved. I'll see you again."
Finis, stop trying to make Finis/Cardia/Van Helsing happen. Think of the problematic age gap! (Admittedly, I haven't looked up how old Finis is, but Cardia's like...6, and he calls her "older sister", so)
Delly 3rd person POV. Exhausted, he looks down at the two dead vampires at his feet. They killed themselves the moment he won the fight. He cries in frustration that he couldn't save them.
Delllllyyyyy ;_;
Delly: Wait, what are you doing here?
There is a sound of a strike and the screen goes red??? DELLY D: D:
Chapter 12: Waking Evil
I DON'T WANT A FLASHBACK I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DELLY
A bunch of VIPs died in the explosion. Queen Victoria declares war- on Finis? Eh, makes as much sense as declaring war on Drugs etc. Delly is still missing and Van Helsing ran off and hasn't been seen since. Cardia misses him, and feels sad that she doesn't seem to ever be able to help him.
And then one night she hears a pebble at at her window- Van Helsing! They both blame themselves for Delly's disappearance.
Cardia: But it's noone's fault. We just need to work together...
Van Helsing: No. I'm here to bid you farewell. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any attachment, but that's why I must go. I'm going down a path of no return, and you people don't need to accompany me. It's none of your business.
Cardia: Yes it is! I'm the key to understanding Finis!
Van Helsing: Circumstances have changed. I can unravel his secrets myself now, without you.
Ominous D: ("I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any attachment", though, aw)
Van Helsing: You wouldn't understand this dark feeling in my heart.
Cardia: BECAUSE YOU NEVER TELL ME ANYTHING. You can't just leave forever and not tell me why!
And so, finally, he explains, looking broodily into the distance.
The Vampire war was a brutal, one sided killing. He was sent to infiltrate the vampires undercover. At first he had no doubts, seeing them as enemies, vermin. But as he lived among them he realised they didn't pose a threat. The military ignored his reports suggesting an end to the war, and he prepared to desert. Except then Finis took his mother and brother hostage...so Van Helsing went back to the vampires and killed them all, hundreds of innocent people who'd only ever been kind to him.
Cardia: That must have been so painful for you ;_;
Me: Nice motive, still genocide >:/
And then Finis killed Van Helsing's family anyway.
Cardia feels like Van Helsing is trapped in a nightmare of anger and pain and can only wake if he kills Finis with his own hands. She insists on going with him, not wanting him to be alone.
Van Helsing: You have your own problems! And what good are you to me? Do you have what it takes to kill?
She takes a step back and he smiles kindly. "The days I spent here with you and Lupin were filled with warmth. I have to put it behind me before those warm day become more important to me than my revenge. But it was fun while it lasted. Good-bye, Cardia. I'm glad I met you."
And she has no choice but to watch sadly as he walks away into the darkness.
Van Helsing POV
Aleister: Are you sure this is what you want? Doesn't he love you, and you her?
Me: SCREW YOU ALEISTER
Van Helsing: You're imagining things.
Aleister says Finis has wiped out the remaining Twilight soldiers that were loyal to Aleister in order to gain control of St Paul's Cathedral, presumably to get access to something Isaac hid there.
Van Helsing looks out at London, "a beautiful beast that devours lives". We flash back to several years earlier when "Abraham" first arrived from his (English?) home town. He joined the army to support his bedridden mother and younger brother. Aleister spotted his talent right away and recruited him to Twilight: "A sword for peace and tranquility".
Vam Helsing, sounding young, enthusiastic, and a little shy: Peace and tranquility? Sounds great!!
(Twlight was run by Finis even then? How old was he??)
"Aleister is a skilled agent, but more than anything he is an educator" :/ Finding out that Van Helsing left school young, Aleister encourages him to learn more.
Van Helsing sends a happy letter back to his family in the country about it all. And then he experiences his first battle: stopping escaped super-soldiers from attacking London. Only Aleister and Van Helsing are left, cornered and outnumbered.
Van Helsing: I'll stay here and let you escape, Professor!
Aleister: It's no tragedy if a soldier dies. But we must put our lives in the line to save civilians. And when we escape, no more being so polite, we'll address each other as friends and equals.
And then he takes out a device and everything goes white: Aleister had planted bombs in various places as a trap.
"The 'Subrace Genocide' in Ireland, also known as the Vampire War, takes place". D:
Delly: Amazing! You're so strong for a human! :)
Van Helsing: I'm still no match for you father :)
Me: ;_;
The vampires place great value on fighting ability and welcome Van Helsing, not knowing his mission is to help the military bring them down.
Delly cheerfully says Van Helsing is as good as his teacher, Neuntöte, and makes him promise to help train Delly. But that night, Van Helsing returns to London.
Van Helsing: The government says the vampires have attacked human villages, but there's clearly been some sort of misunderstanding!
Aleister: I see. I'll try to talk to Finis.
Finis: That won't be necessary.
Aliester and Van Helsing go down on one knee, but Van Helsing stands his ground on the war not being justified.
Finis: Lol. No war has ever been justified. We just need an acceptable target to demonstrate our power. As for the human villages...sacrifices are necessary. Queen Victoria has consented to it all.
Finis, as the head of steampunk!MI5, you should maybe be more circumspect about your evil conspiracies.
He tries to get Aleister to bring Van Helsing in line, but Aleister says he objects as well.
Finis tells them it's a waste of time, and Van Helsing soon learns that poison gas has already been used to kill vampires en masse. The vampire king has gathered the surviving refugees at his fortress. *feels all my Jewish ancestors judging me for playing this game*
And so finally the vampires decide that if humans want a war, they'll get one.
Van Helsing is jailed for his objections. When gets out, he's sent to Delacroix's castle with Aleister, both accused of treason with their families held hostage.
The vampires call him a traitor and he tells them to run...his voice strained, his transformation to a human weapon complete.
Van Helsing finally defeats the vampire king Delacroix, and prays for his soul. Aleister says he killed the wife but couldn't find Delly.
Aleister: Delacroix was a great man, his loss will cause the vampires to fall apart. Looks like Britain has won this joke of a war.
Van Helsing is overcome by guilt and pain, to have slain such a kind, innocent man. And he cannot bring himself to seek out and kill the boy he befriended.
It switches from third person to first person mid-paragraph GUESS VAN HELSING IS IMMORTAL NOW.
Van Helsing: What are we? Why are we doing this?
Aleister: No battle is ever justified. Our job is to bring these incidents to an end as quickly as possible, with the fewest casualties.
Afterwards, Van Helsing is made a knight and treated as a war hero, but he resigns, telling Aleister "I can't find a reason to kill. I can't fight any more." He intends to lead a peaceful life with his family.
But then he finds their blood soaked corpses, and they remind him of all the innocent people he killed.
Aleister says the same thing happened to his family, and they trace the orders to Finis. Van Helsing vows to kill Finis in revenge: but when he does, Finis just comes back to life.
And following Finis's trail led him to "the ill-fated girl who has been called a monster".
Van Helsing looks forward to this all being over, so he can finally die, and end the nightmare that is his life :(
Cardia POV!
Victor is the only one who seems genuinely sad Van Helsing didn't say good bye to them too. Cardia feels like Van Helsing wants help, for all that he says otherwise, and regrets letting her fear of rejection stop her from insisting on going with him.
Cardia: I don't care if he hates me, I just want to help him. But I can't do anything on my own.
Everyone smiles and says she's changed, and is no longer like a doll.
Lupin: People become human when they discover love.
Me: *mutters about aromantic erasure in dating sims*
And then they all prepare to "Fulfil the precious wish of a lady in love". Everyone but Van Helsing himself seems to ship it, haha. The word "love" makes Cardia's heart feel warm.
Just as I'm wondering how they'll track him:
Gunshots lead them to the cathedral, which they find surrounded by unconscious Twilight agents. Saint-Germain and Victor take on the remaining agents at the door, and then Impey and Lupin hold off the ones inside. Cardia runs on alone towards the sound of gunshots.
She finds Van Helsing, Aleister and Finis in the centre of the beautiful cathedral, surrounded by Twilight and government soldiers, many unconscious but many more with guns drawn.
Van Helsing: Cardia?! Why do go out of your way to put yourself in danger?
I have the choices "You're important to me" and "I don't know". HMM.
Cardia: The kindness you've shown me, even though you always looked annoyed, made me happy. You took over my heart little by little. I love you!
Van Helsing: ...
Finis: Lol. As if you could love or be loved! Sister, you're a monster. You mean to reject Father, when all you are is a shallow container?
Van Helsing: Shut up, Finis!
Me: YOU TELL HIM, ABE!
Van Helsing: So what if she's a monster? I'm just here to kill you.
Me: SHUT UP ABE >:(
Finis gets bored and motions his men to stand down. "Give it your best shot, Van Helsing, and I'll show you the true meaning of despair."
Van Helsing shoots him in the leg and Finis just laughs and tells him not to hold back. Finis keeps laughing as he is hit by bullet after bullet, his blood flying into the air, and eventually he falls to the floor, dead.
...and then another Finis walks out from behind the soldiers.
Van Helsing: What are you?!
Finis: I'm Finis. That unfortunate fellow down there is Finis as well...and I believe it's my turn now ^_^
The soldiers raise their weapons. Knowing that Finis wants her alive, Cardia runs to stand in front of Van Helsing.
Cardia: I'll protect you, Van Helsing!
Finis: Lol. You think I can't kill you? You're worthless!
And then theres a loud beeping noise.
Finis: Aleister?
Aleister: That was a signal. The preparations to kill you are complete. Shall we move into the final chapter?
And then all the soldiers fire...on Finis.
Finis: Why are my own soldiers firing on me?
Aleister: They're not your men. They're mine :D
Finis, weakly: Hah. You've always been a charmer. *cough* Does this mean you're done hiding your identity...Azoth?
Aleister: You figured it out! I underestimated you. But now I'm going to kill you ^_^
Finis: Lol as if.
But then Aleister crouches by Finis's bleeding body and whispers something into his ear. Finis screams, and Aleister stabs him through the neck. At the same time, an explosion rocks the cathedral.
Aleister: Finis, you really were quite entertaining. I almost regret killing you.
Van Helsing: Uh???
Aleister: Congratulations. Finis is truly dead. Your ambitions- and my feigned ambitions- have been carried out.
Van Helsing: Yes but...the serial killer thing???
Aleister: I thought I'd connected your memories of the battlefield and your past...I guess she really did save you. To think you'd fight so abysmally...as your teacher, I was embarrassed.
Cardia: Why are you doing this?!
Aleister: It's part of a sort of hobby of mine. I believe the beauty of humanity lies in fear and anger. I want to see London and the rest of the world shine with humanity's beauty.
I like how much of a contrast Aleister's calm older gentleman vibe is to Finis...but also very much want to see him stabbed in the face.
Van Helsing: Jimmy, stop with these meaningless jokes :(
Aleister: I appreciate what a great job you did distracting Finis while I figured out how to kill him. And now I can pursue my ambition :)
Cardia: I thought that was to get revenge on Finis?
Aleister: Why? I was the one who killed my family, not him. Just like I killed yours, Van Helsing. You have always been my sword.
Van Helsing roars in anger and goes to shoot Aleister, but is shot in the arm by a soldier...who is a supersoldier. Aleister has always been in charge of the program, and while the early experiments failed these new supersoldiers are entirely obedient.
Van Helsing: I'LL KILL YOU
Aleister: Nice words, but I need you to hate me with all your heart and soul. I'll see you later at the Tower Bridge. Farewell ^_^
The soldiers move in and Van Helsing screams as he shoots and shoots. Finally only he and Cardia remain. All she can see is red.
Aleister POV. It's all coming to a close, but this is just the start. Azoth means beginnings and endings, after all.
Aleister: Abraham...I'll wait for you as long as it takes. This show is all for you.
NOPE NOPE NOPE
Chapter 13: Stand By Me
Unknown POV. "The end to everything begins under the light of the moon."
Leonhardt leads a group of cavalry down silent streets to Newgate prison, where there has been a mass breakout. The prisoners became extremely strong and started chanting AZOTH. And then reports come in of hundreds of violent crimes across the city.
Cardia POV. As they leave the cathedral they see smoke in the distance, and hear gunshots from multiple directions. A supersoldier in prisoner's clothes leaps at Van Helsing...and then falls for no apparent reason. Saint-Germain is the only one who saw Van Helsing strike, and he knows inhuman abilities when he sees them.
Van Helsing just tells them all to go home, and then runs. Cardia's about to run after him but is stopped by Impey...who gives her a highly anachronistic sounding tracking device(*), having put the emitter on Van Helsing. Lupin says the rest of them will help Scotland Yard deal with the violence, but they'll leave Van Helsing to Cardia. Victor tells her to take care of herself, and Saint-Germain says he'll escort her "in case things become unruly". Aw, these guys.
(The word nakama comes up a lot in this route: Van Helsing thinks he's not one, but he totally is)
Lupin POV! He explains things to Leonhardt: "Van Helsing and our princess are chasing after Aleister."
Sholmes arrives, having figured out Aleister's goal: to attack Buckingham Palace and bring down the government. Yet can he really be planning to do something so impossible?
Cardia POV. She watches in awe as Saint-Germain gracefully brings down super-soldier after super-soldier. It's rare for someone other the LI to get such focus and I'm wondering if it's foreshadowing for someone being even stronger than Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain: Don't worry, they're just knocked out. I know the colour of blood doesn't suit you ^_^
Just as I'm wondering how to reconcile all this with Saint-Germain's route...there is a clanking noise and "a giant man in a suit of armour" appears: Guinevere. Check your gender assumptions, Cardia!
Saint-Germain: I see :/ Cardia, please leave this to me and go ahead. It is a gentleman's duty to support a lady's happiness.
Cardia thanks him, and runs, ignoring the chaos around her, feeling sure somehow that if she doesn't catch up to Van Helsing he will fall to darkness.
When she finds him she can see in his eyes that he intends to cut her off. She glares back just as fiercely and says she's coming with him.
Van Helsing: What happens to me is no business of yours. What happens to you is no business of mine. That is all our relationship has ever been.
Lightning flashes against a dark sky as he steps close and tells her he doesn't need her.
Cardia: But I need you. Even if it costs me my life, I'm never going to leave you alone.
The two of them stare at each other for a while, then he draws his gun and shoots the wall behind her.
Van Helsing: Are you saying you'd be satisfied if you died here and now?
Cardia: If I leave you now it would be worse than dying. I love you.
He shoots again and again, and a heavy rain begins to fall.
Van Helsing: If you say you love me, why won't you listen to me? You're important to me! I don't want you to die!
His voice gets soft and he begs her to leave, saying that he doesn't deserve happiness. And when this fight is over, he will disappear for good.
Van Helsing, with a gentle smile: I owe you a great deal, Cardia. Thank you...for loving someone like me.
And then he knocks her out.
Van Helsing POV. He lays Cardia down in an abandoned house, and leaves for Tower Bridge. He thinks of his search for revenge, the murder of the vampires, and of Cardia. He doesn't know how to feel about any of them any more. He finally has the chance to truly avenge his family, and yet his anger is outweighed by his sorrow. Feeling the dark flames that have sustained him start to go out scares him more than anything.
Aleister: You're late.
Van Helsing draws his gun but Aleister just laughs and says it's not his time to die yet. And then a small figure steps out of the fog...
Me: Finis??? WAIT. NO. OH NO. NO NO NO.
Delly, his eyes blank: Abraham van Helsing...my enemy...cannot forgive...
D: D: D:
How did I forget Delly was missing D: D:
I had this DEEP SENSE OF FOREBODING about the end of this path uuuurrrghhhh /o\
Van Helsing does his best to dodge but Delly is even stronger than before.
As Delly cries out in pain for his dead parents, Van Helsing and I are QUITE ANGRY. I went into this scene all "Don't give into your hate, Van Helsing!" but now I just want to see Aleister die.
Aleister: Vampires are enemies of humanity, Abraham. You've killed plenty yourself. I'm going back to the cathedral. You can follow after you've dealt with this garbage.
>:O
FUCK YOOOOOOOU
Van Helsing: Do you think you can get away that easily?
Aleister: I'm not running. I've been waiting for the moment you are complete, my greatest work of art.
Van Helsing looks at Delly's eyes, burning with pain and sorrow, and thinks "This must be what I looked like to her."
Delly strikes, and everything goes black.
Cardia POV.
She wakes in a strange bed. The tracking device says Van Helsing is at Tower Bridge...and then flickers and says "Target Lost".(**) She runs.
Van Helsing POV. Delly wakes from being knocked out, and sniffles and says Van Helsing is very strong. But it was the memory of Cardia's voice that kept him going through the pain.
Delly smiles and says he understands. And then he asks Van Helsing to kill him ;_;
Delly: I'm so tired of this. The more I want to kill you, the more I can't hate you. The more I want to forgive you, the more I can't. But most of all, I want to be at my mother and father's sides.
Van Helsing, softly, cocking his gun: I don't even have the right to tell you I'm sorry.
nononononono
A gunshot rings through the night.
Cardia POV. It feels like all she ever does is run after Van Helsing. But she's not going to stop.
Tower Bridge is deserted except for one small, bloody figure.
Delly: He is truly...a cruel man. He left without granting my wish.
Me: OH THANK GOD
Cardia: You're injured!
Delly: The one you need to worry about is him. Aleister doesn't care about the government, or London. All he wants is Abraham Van Helsing.
Apparently Delly heard Aleister babbling as he slipped in and out of consciousness. Man, I really don't want to ship this, even one-sided, but nnng.
Delly: Your voice is the only one that can reach him. In his heart, he probably-
Cardia: Yes, I'll stop him.
Delly smiles. "Tell him I'm done with revenge, his and mine. I won't allow him to die. He has to live, for the sake of all the lives he took from my brethren."
And then Delly asks to rest for a while. In sleep, his face looks more peaceful that Cardia has ever seen it before.
Van Helsing POV. Ahead, he sees his teacher, his brother in arms...and the man who took everything from him. Clapping.
Van Helsing: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU
Aleister: I knew you'd make it ^_^ But, your eyes...did you not kill the vampire boy? Are you not ready to come over to this side? Ah, but I see the key I needed has made it's way here.
Van Helsing realises Cardia is here.
Cardia POV.
Van Helsing: Don't say it. I can't turn back. My life has been a path of blood and gunfire leading to this moment. If I don't get my revenge now, all of it will have been a waste.
She passes on Delly's message, and says his life won't go to waste.
Van Helsing: How cruel of him...but it doesn't matter who else forgives me. I will never forgive myself. So please, just go...
Aleister: Would you like me to make her go away? >:)
Van Helsing, pointing his gun at Aleister's head: Have you set a trap for us?
Aleister: I think 'gospel' would be a better term for it ^_^ Abraham, you're far stronger than any ordinary man. Have you ever thought about why you're the 'Human Weapon'?
Me: IS HE DELLY'S SECRET BROTHER??
Aleister: Did you ever consider that perhaps you are literally a weapon, created by someone else?
Me: IS HE CARDIA'S SECRET BROTHER??
Aleister: When you joined the military, you had some rare talent, but still within the realm of humanity. Think back, when did you gain this power?
Ohhhh, ok, it's just that everything until now, from the trauma of the war to the Azoth killings, has been part of a long process of super-soldier conditioning. I kind of knew that already.
Aleister: You're a work of art. The beauty of humanity, seen in the midst of fear and chaos.
Van Helsing shouts in anger and tries to shoot Aleister...but he can't. He stands in visible agony, unable to pull the trigger, controlled by Aleister's conditioning. Cardia runs to try to at least stop Aleister saying any more commands, but he knocks her down.
Aleister: There's no need to rush. I'm not the one who's going to kill you. I'd like you to put on an excellent show for me, Cardia.
There is an eerie beating sound and Van Helsing cries out in pain, clutching his head.
Aleister: I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Van Helsing has collapsed to the ground.
Aleister: Now! We shall conduct the final movement of our symphony together.
Cardia approaches Van Helsing...and he hits her so hard she briefly blacks out. His eyes are clouded, and he doesn't seem to see her (his sprite's eyes are literally red, but I think that's artistic licence)
Aleister: Abraham. The girl lying before you is the object of your revenge. The one who made you kill the vampires, the one who murdered your family, it was all her.
"No sane person would believe it, but..."
Van Helsing steps on Cardia heavily so that she is trapped on the ground, in pain D:
Aleister: The demon born from the billowing smoke...that is true human beauty! If you can kill him, I'll let you live.
Lol. The literal forces of God tried that to no avail, you're out of luck, dude.
Cardia: You're just trying to get me to resist so he has to kill me. But we aren't your tools.
Aleister kicks her in the stomach. "It's quite sad that I have to raise my hand against a woman :("
FUCK YOU, ALEISTER.
Aleister: Blow off her legs, that might change her mind.
Cardia: Van Helsing! I don't want to see you like this!
Van Helsing stares at her, and flinches just enough that she can pull out from under his foot and run to grab Aleister. She pulls off her glove and puts her hand lightly to Aleister's neck. There is the sound of sizzling flesh :D :D :D
SQUEEZE HARD, CARDIA. MELT HIS SLIMY FACE OFF.
Cardia: Release Van Helsing from the conditioning!
Aleister: I can't ^_^ And unfortunately for you, my sense of pain has been deadened.
Cardia: I don't intend to hurt you. If you don't do as I say, I'll kill you!
Aleister: Ha, maybe that wouldn't be so bad. Long ago, my family was murdered in front of me. Ah, memories...
wtf
Aleister: I was moved to tears by the beauty of the despair and terror of death. I have killed many, striving to recreate that beauty.
Cardia: You're mad.
Aleister: Yes, quite insane ^_^ Even psychotic killers trembled in fear when they saw my inner darkness. I've been lonely, waiting for someone who had fallen so far they could appreciate the darkness with me. That...is what he is to me. I got sick of waiting, so I created someone who could understand me.
ALEISTER THAT IS NOT HOW YOU MAKE FRIENDS
Cardia: He's not like that! *clenches Aleister's melting neck in anger*
Aleister: I'm not alone any more. As long as I know that, death holds no fear in my heart. We shall celebrate your rebirth with my own blood, Abraham.
He looks to Van Helsing with kind, adoring eyes and then STABS HIMSELF IN THE CHEST.
D:
Aleister: Now, my masterpiece, my friend in the abyss! Step over my blood and go forth. It's time for my final order: Kill this girl. Only then will you understand me completely.
He falls to his knees and raises his arms to the light from above, as if receiving a blessing from God. Cardia watches him laugh and then fall dead, and feels only sadness.
Van Helsing grabs her, and shouts about all the things "she" did to him, but only flails at her with slow, sloppy swings. She ducks and knocks him to the wall, and he grabs her by the throat. She thinks about the nightmare he must be trapped in, and how when they first met she would have been too terrified to speak right now. She grabs his gun and pulls it over her heart. CARDIA NO.
Cardia: If killing me will help you...then shoot.
Van Helsing: I must kill you! This hate...these sins...
Cardia thinks of the nightmares about Elaine always at the back of her mind, and realises Van Helsing is reliving all the deaths on his conscience over and over again. What he wants is not revenge, but forgiveness.
Van Helsing, crying: I can never be forgiven! My life will forever be one of blood and pain, that's why I have to kill you!
Cardia: I know you are a kind and decent man. You will escape Aleister's curse. If it will release you from your pain, kill me now.
Van Helsing screams and lets her go, then slowly tumbles to the ground. And then he looks up at her with his usual, slightly annoyed expression.
Van Helsing: Cardia?
Cardia: I'm here!
Van Helsing: Yes, you've been here all along :(
And then he stabs himself in the chest D: He says he's doing it to protect her from himself :( Cardia bursts into tears and talks about how great it will be when they're all back at the mansion again.
Van Helsing: All I do is make you sad.
Cardia: Then make it up to me!
Van Helsing: Crying to get your way...*goes still*
Cardia: AAAAHHHHH D: D: D:
Van Helsing: You're hurting my ears >:(
Cardia: YOU'RE ALIVE *hugs*
Van Helsing: I'm sorry. I was prepared to die, but you made such a ruckus...you've always been getting in my way :)
Cardia: Would you rather be dead?
Van Helsing: No. For so long, I've been causing you pain...I couldn't just leave you here crying. Besides I haven't told you the most important thing. *he pulls her close* I will not forget my crimes, but I will never let them drag me down again. I want...to be with you.
And then he apologises for making her chase him for so long and tells her he loves her and it's VERY ROMANTIC.
Closing credits. I just noticed the name of the song is "Love brought me eternal petals", which is an interesting contrast to Hakuoki ("Fleeting demon blossoms")
Cardia: I miss Van Helsing, Sisi :(
Van Helsing: It's only been a few hours! And I have to work, even if I hate being social.
Cardia: Was it boring?
Van Helsing: Any place is boring when you aren't there.
AW
INTERESTING. Now it's Impey and Victor searching for a lost item, though Lupin is helping as well. Having played his route I am VERY CURIOUS to know what "important business in France" Saint-Germain is dealing with. And wtf happened with Guinevere!
Delly has been showing up to political events as an official representative of the vampires. Van Helsing has seen him during his work as...a bodyguard to Marquis Renfield, who acts as a mediating diplomat between the vampires and humans.
This truly is the most inaccurate adaptation of Dracula ever, and I love it.
Cardia: Will you take me next time? I'll learn the proper etiquette. I want to see Delly again. And I definitely wan to see you in your formal uniform ;)
He tells her she'd look too pretty in a fine gown and it would cause trouble, haha.
Van Helsing: Stop pouting. I'll contact that bratty king for you. But in the meantime, how about a party just for the two of us?
He takes her to the top of Buckingham Palace. There is the faint sound of music from the building below, and in front of them is a beautiful view. She's wearing a dress he got Victor to make special, aw.
Ahaha she says she's happy just being with him and he makes a veiled reference to wanting to have sex that totally goes over her head. But for now, they dance on the roof of the palace, and vow to stay by each other's sides forever, hoping that finding happiness while they remember the past will help them atone for the things that they've done.
THE END
AWWWWW Van Helsing's chibi is adorably grumpy.
Extra Scene:
Huh! So for a change, this is set several months after the final battle with Aleister. Cardia is setting the table...OH DEAR. I saw somewhere that Van Helsing is supposed to be an awful cook, and it hasn't really come up before now...
Huh, nope, Cardia made breakfast, just for the two of them. She used cooking gloves Victor made for her and a recipe from Impey but still had a few failures before making a breakfast she hopes Van Helsing will like. Except he is uncharacteristically late. TIME TO CHECK HIS BEDROOM I GUESS.
But first, a flashback!
Van Helsing: Since the others will be out tomorrow, I'll make you breakfast :)
Cardia: Yay <3
The other four stare in horror then protectively pull Cardia behind them, and whisper in urgent hushed tones that Van Helsing's cooking is Not To Be Eaten. Also, men like when women cook for them!
Cardia: Ah yes, heteronormativity, I have read of this in books...
Van Helsing's blush when she says she wants to cook for him as his girlfriend is pretty cute though.
So! Cardia gets to van Helsing's door and knocks gently, to no reply. Then she hears...a moan? And rushes in to make sure he's ok? UH.
SO IT TURNS OUT HE SLEEPS NAKED. Cardia is initially transfixed by the sight of his very nicely drawn butt and then gets embarrassed and doesn't know why.
Van Helsing, muzzily, reaching out his hand: Come over here.
Cardia: In the BED??? UH. THAT'S A BAD IDEA.
Van Helsing: I don't care. I want you in my arms.
Cardia: Unf. Um. Maybe if I lay really carefully...
Van Helsing finishes reaching for his glasses and sits up and Cardia quickly closes her eyes.
Van Helsing: Wait, what are you doing here?
Cardia: UH. BREAKFAST IS READY.
She opens his eyes and he's already dressed...and while he was half asleep at the time, he remembers their conversation.
Van Helsing: It was pretty adorable, the way you tip-toed over with your face all red. If you like, we can do the scene over ;)
Cardia: COME EAT YOUR BREAKFAST BEFORE IT GETS COLD.
Aw, even though it's a little burnt, he says he likes it more than Impey's cooking.
Cardia: I'm going to keep practicing cooking for you.
Van Helsing: Then that's one more thing to look forward to, living with you. As a sign of my appreciation, should we start sleeping in the same bed?
Cardia: YOU'D DIE??
Van Helsing: I see. I suppose it can wait ;)
THE END
Hee, that was pretty cute and sexy.
Anyway: overall I found the path QUITE STRESSFUL, which made it hard to play, but I did enjoy it.
So! The stuff I knew going in: Aleister brainwashed/manipulated Van Helsing in the past, and did again during this path. Also Van Helsing had a fridged "family" that made him get murderous during the Vampire War.
Knowing that Van Helsing was a super-soldier made me much happier about the "The right sort of trauma makes you a mindless killer" plot since I knew at least one of them would be able to move past it. And overall I did like that the super-soldiers were sympathetic and the real villain was very clearly Aleister.
But knowing did make the OMG VAN HELSING IS A SUPER-SOLDIER reveal a bit of a let-down. And I feel like I'd have probably have figured it out by then anyway, since they kept emphasising his inhuman abilities and he didn't seem to be a vampire.
Aleister's motivations were kind of...eh.
I can't decide how I feel about the whole "redemption from genocide" arc, which is a step up from most stories like this where I KNOW I hate it. Van Helsing genuinely atones and risks his life repeatedly for the people he wronged, and their anger is taken seriously, which is definitely something. And it's not clear how much he was in his right mind, so I don't have a problem with Van Helsing himself so much as the narrative.
Anyway, as a romance it worked pretty well. His pining was a little more understated than I tend to like but it felt in character, and he was very sweet in the end. I'm not a fan of the implication that Cardia just becomes a housewife in the end, I liked their whole brothers in arms vibe, but will happily headcanon it away.
And...it's so sad? He was this sweet, well meaning guy who got turned into a weapon little by little.
Here's all the CGs if you want to see the butt for yourself ;) Contains blood and violence!
Every now and then I'd remember he has the same voice actor as Victor from Yuri on Ice!!, it was surreal. I listened to some Victor dialogue on Youtube to remind myself and he sounds quite different, a lot higher for a start.
(*)It has a screen with a moving dot on it! THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY OR RADIO. IS IT USING CLOCKWORK AND CRYSTALS OR SOMETHING??
(**)SERIOUSLY? IT HAS TEXT NOW??
OK SO THAT WAS STRESSFUL. But I did enjoy it overall.
I'm still not sure how I feel about the portrayal of redemption after committing war crimes, and the whole "trauma leads to violence" thing is...not great. But it was emotionally affecting and did this sort of redemption arc better than most stories which try it. And it is an effectively angsty woobie tsundere romance.
Content note: Violence (including between romantic partners), genocide, suicide, mental illness and PTSD handled rather unfortunately
OK, CODE REALIZE, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. Even if there are apparently no kisses in this path. Victor got two, come on! There's a Van Helsing kiss in the DLC trailer so I at least know they get to touch eventually. Which is good, it would be a bit depressing if Victor!Cardia is the only one who gets cured when it's something she wants so desperately. (I'm all for disabled protagonists who remain uncured in principle, but she is MADE OF POISON)
Chapter 10: Vampire
Once free, Scotland Yard questions them. Van Helsing says Cardia should rest, and when she says she's fine he points out that her hands are shaking.
Leonhardt, managing to sound like a stiff-upper-lip Brit in Japanese: Since the Yard was covering this up, the Queen has assigned me to the case to prevent further casualties.
Me: Mmm, yeah, she wouldn't want anyone in London to die.
Van Helsing: You mean she wants to cover up the super-soldier program.
(It's actually called "Hidden Strength", but I think "super-soldier" is clearer so I'll stick to that)
Leonhardt gets very self righteous but doesn't deny it, then says the real danger is whatever powerful organisation broke Jack out of prison.
So! I know the real villain for this path is Aleister, and thus, presumably, Twilight. I also know some other things that I won't mention yet, and will try to keep the twists a surprise where I can without cutting out too many of my reactions.
Van Helsing tells Leonhardt he has info on Jack's boss he'll pass on...if Leonhardt passes back any relevant information about Azoth in return.
Leonhardt: Why?
Van Helsing, coolly: I'm just curious by nature.
Cardia: It's definitely NOT that the serial killings will continue until they get access to me. I don't know anything!
Leonhardt: You...YOU YOUNG PEOPLE THESE DAYS GIVE UP TOO EASILY.
Van Helsing: Why is everyone around me...so stupid...
Leonhardt: Van Helsing, we will fight side by side for JUSTICE.
Van Helsing: There is no justice in this world worth fighting for. I fight for myself.
Cardia doesn't want to go back to the mansion, because she'll cause the others trouble.
Van Helsing: They can decide that for themselves. And you should stay close to me. I need you...
Cardia: !?
Van Helsing: ...to help me catch Finis.
Cardia, not sure why she suddenly feels sad: Why must you kill him?
Van Helsing: It's none of your concern.
Cardia: YES IT IS. He's my connection to Father! And...aren't you my precious friend?
Van Helsing: ...no? We're just using each other.
Cardia: YES YOU ARE
Delly is "keeping Sisi company" while he waits for Cardia to come home. And then he tells Cardia not to get close to Van Helsing, because she was kind to Delly and he doesn't want to see her mourn when he kills Van Helsing.
The other guys are all more warmly affectionate and openly glad to see her than Van Helsing was lol. Like Nameless, I really enjoy the "previously very lonely girl with abandonment issues gets houseful of affectionate cute boys who take care of her" dynamic, and since this also has a Final Boy to tie everything together and am wondering if there'll be a similarly found family vibe at the end instead of the "MC and her boyfriend go off alone while everyone else DIES TRAGICALLY" endings in Hakuoki. Or at least the opportunity to headcanon it, as I absolutely am for the Victor and Saint-Germain ends (they just all left temporarily to do other things)
Victor says "Azoth" is another name for mercury and the philosopher's stone, and symbolises beginnings and endings. (Also, I discovered elsewhere, it was named by the real Aleister Crowley. SO WHY NOT JUST USE THAT COOL NAME AND NOT JIMMY)
We see a nobleman beaten to death by someone he says is doomed, wanting revenge for the war. Could be a vampire or a super-soldier, I'm guessing the latter.
The next morning there's a newspaper article about a viscount's whole household being mauled to death by "something like a bear", with AZOTH written in blood by his corpse.
Delly insists on coming along, but Van Helsing doesn't want him or Cardia seeing the dead bodies. Delly says that once you've buried your own household, murdered strangers are no problem.
Afterwards, Van Helsing takes Cardia and Delly to see Sholmes...but the guys grab her hands and pull her into an alley-way: they're being followed...by Aleister! Delly and Cardia see him as an enemy but Van Helsing says Aleister was also betrayed by Finis and can be trusted.
(this is where I stopped to play Saint Germain and the start of Impey because nnng)
Cardia: But he was going to let us die on the train with Finis??
Aleister: I was JUST ABOUT to help you escape! Honest! Anything for my favourite student and his friend ^_^
Van Helsing: He's been working against Twilight from within! And guiding me since university :)
Cardia: SORRY. NOT BUYING IT. BAD GUY.
Delly: SAME.
Aleister just chuckles, then says he's seen Finis alive and thinks the person they saw die was a body double "or something". But he's officially dead which makes it easier for Aleister to take "some measure of leadership", and Van Helsing should consider Twilight an ally.
Cardia notices the deep connection between them and has conflicting feelings: happiness that Van Helsing has a friend, but jealousy that he doesn't see her the same way.
Aleister: I should go, your little girlfriend is glaring daggers at me.
Cardia: I'm not glaring!
Not sure I want to headcanon Aleister as an ex, it's too creepy.
At this point Sholmes looks like a real name to me and his purple ponytail seems perfectly reasonable. Anyway. He's been investigating the recent spate of murders and has noticed that the victims have followed a list of military personnel who received commendations after the Vampire War. And Van Helsing is the second from the top of the names left alive. Delly mutters that these people deserve to die.
Sholmes: This Azoth seems to be in the government, and have the charisma to attract and control criminals. One might call him the Napoleon of Crime.
WAIT. UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. NAPOLEON OF CRIME. ALEISTER IS MORIARTY??
Van Helsing: It's Finis. He said things only Finis would know.
Me: Orrrr Aleisterrrrrrr
(I like to think I'd have figured it out on my own but if you've read this far you know I'm not always great at predicting twists)
Sholmes: Maybe. The Viscount was killed by a vampire.
Only Cardia reacts in surprise. Delly says the brutality was the distinctive style of his father's "highest subject", and Delly's combat trainer: Neuntöte (German for Ninekill)
Van Helsing is all I WILL FACE THIS ALONE but Cardia and the others insist on helping him because they're his friends whether he likes it or not. Delly wants to persuade Neuntöte to change his ways.
Van Helsing: No. When he sees you fighting alongside humans he will try to kill you. Can you fight one of your own? Can you fight to the death against your own master?
Foreshadowinnnnggg
New POV! AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS.
Mauchly (the next target?): Pfft who needs police protection when I have veterans from the Vampire War as bodyguards?
Interesting! Leonhardt's character name is now "Police official". The POV character thinks about how Mauchly believed vampire blood brought eternal life so drained the blood of POWs, and has flashbacks to watching vampires be killed in the war. It's Neuntöte! As he murders the bodyguards he thinks he will kill as many as it take to dampen the anger, hatred and sadness he feels, even if it kills him.
???: Hey, old vampire man! I feel you, but you won't go any further! Behold the stylish man stopping you! Impey Barbi-gah!
"The fool flies headfirst into a pile of trash. Hmm. Why isn't he dead?" HMMM I WONDER.
Meanwhile, Neuntöte can tell from one look that Saint-Germain is dangerous, and avoids him. And then he sees Van Helsing, the man who killed his beloved king, and is filled with unending rage.
Cardia POV.
She helps Mauchly escape while Van Helsing takes care of Neuntöte. She is silently pissed that Mauchly ignored the original plan, leading to unnecessary death.
Mauchly: Run though a SEWER?? I think not!
Cardia: Fine. I heard what you did to the vampires. If you want to stay here and die, I won't stop you.
Mauchly:: *runs into sewers*
Cardia: Ugh, I should follow hi- WAIT DID I JUST HEAR VAN HELSING CRY OUT IN PAIN? SCREW THIS JERK.
She finds Van Helsing injured, and a red eyed Neuntöte screaming with a single-minded rage she recognises...from Jack.
HUH! There was I trying to figure if the killer was a vampire or a super soldier and he's BOTH.
Van Helsing is thrown to the ground and shouts at Cardia to stay back, but she stands between him and Neuntöte and takes off her glove.
Cardia: I can't watch someone precious to me die! Not again!
And then, just before she and Neuntöte clash...there is a burst of wind as Delly appears and grabs both of their wrists, stopping them. Seeing Delly, Neuntöte regains some clarity.
Delly: You mustn't continue this way! Seeking revenge is my duty as leader! There is no reason for you to taint your hands!
Neuntöte: You're defending humans?
Delly: No! I'm stopping you from ruin! You are as close to me as a brother. Give up trying to fight them. Spend the rest of your life somewhere far away from humans!
Neuntöte: You want me to forgive them??
Delly: No! I don't want to lose any more of my people!
Ok, for this kind of plot, this isn't too bad. I guess. Also I like that the vampires really were entirely innocent scapegoats, unlike the mutants in X-men etc.
Neuntöte: HUMANS CANNOT BE FORGIVEN. IF YOU BETRAY YOUR RACE YOU ARE THE GREATEST SINNER!
He punches Delly but it seems to cause himself pain. And then Van Helsing drags himself to his feet.
Van Helsing: Hey! I'm the one you want!
Awww. I have the option to help him, but the correct choice is to help Delly.
Neuntöte throws himself towards Van Helsing, who stares at him then shouts "I CAN'T DIE YET" and moves with superhuman speed to dodge and shoot Neuntöte, who collapses. Cardia, seeing Van Helsing's strength, is reminded of super-soldiers.
Neuntöte: Did I lose? Then all I can hope for is that you fall to the depths of Hell.
Van Helsing: I'm pretty sure that's where I'm going. Perhaps I'll see you there.
Neuntöte, gently: Ha. I'm not looking forward to that...I feel like I've woken from a dream. Such screaming, making me feel guilty for surviving.
Delly: Come with us. We need you.
Neuntöte is about to take Delly's hand when he is overcome again by his supersoldier PTSD rage. He strikes at Delly, and there is a horrible crunching sound...as Van Helsing blocks the blow. He weakly tells the others to run, but then Neuntöte punches through his own chest.
A few days later, Cardia is sitting by Van Helsing's bedside, and is overjoyed when he finally wakes up.
(doesn't he look pretty with his glasses off?)
Cardia isn't exactly sure what she's feeling, but tries to get across how much she cares about his well being, even more than her own. Van Helsing stares at her for a moment then closes his eyes.
Van Helsing: When you tried to protect me...I probably felt the same way you do now. I don't know why, but it makes me so happy that you're still alive. Don't ever do that again, but...thank you. It makes me happy to know there's someone who cares about my life.
And then Delly comes in and demands Van Helsing explain why he saved Delly's life: does Van Helsing think this will make Delly hesitate to take revenge?
Van Helsing: No, your hatred is understandable.
Delly: Why did you do it? I can't believe someone like you would kill my people for no good reason!
Van Helsing: If I had a good reason, would that absolve me of my crimes? Once I've had my revenge, you can kill me. It's perfectly fine.
Cardia: Van Helsing...do you want to die?
But he doesn't reply.
Finis POV!! I GENUINELY THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD. (Well, he's described as ???, but it sure sounds like Finis)
???: Ah, this city my father created is beautiful. Fear and chaos are about to spread across it...interesting. I'll play along with this game you're hosting for a little while longer. I also want to see the truth that lies beyond the seas of blood...
Chapter 11: Dollface
HMMM. Sounds very gendered, but could be Finis!
Van Helsing should still be convalescing but instead is off on some mysterious mission. Saint Germain thinks he's probably looking for Finis with Aleister.
Lupin: I just can't believe Finis could come back from the dead! That doesn't happen!
Saint-Germain: *cough* Anyway...
As with Neuntöte, all the perpetrators caught have committed suicide.
Oh god. It just occurred to me that
Delly: Oh, Van Helsing, you're back! Have you found any information? I want to take revenge on Azoth for Neuntöte.
Van Helsing: Stay out of it >:(
Aleister: Sup.
Everyone else: YOU LED THE LEADER OF TWILIGHT TO OUR HOUSE?!
Aleister says they're welcome to kill him if they don't like what he has to say: Three quarters of Twilight have suddenly vanished, and Finis is the only person (other than himself...) who could have done it.
(Side note: Looking at Aleister's full sprite I just realised there's basically no bee imagery at all, symbolic of his lack of loyalty to Queen Victoria and Isaac's vision)
Aleister asks Lupin where he learned his skills, having noticed some similarity between them and Twilight's techniques.
Lupin: Those who seek efficiency all end up on the same path ^_^
HMMM.
(I still have no freaking clue what's up with Lupin. As Final Boy he must be tied up with everything pretty significantly, but how?)
Van Helsing tells them it's too dangerous for the others to help with Azoth, and they're holding him back, and when Cardia argues he just leaves with Aleister. Cardia runs after him and he tells her to go have a normal happy life. Cardia tries to articulate what she's feeling...and then Leonhardt arrives!
A bunch of crazed super-soldiers attacked the Queen at court, shouted "Long live master Finis" and blew themselves up. A letter was found saying "I desire destruction and chaos. The truth does not lie within law and order. Death awaits you all. Now it's time to play a game."
Va Helsing grumpily lets Cardia and Delly come with him to visit Sholmes. Sholmes says he's found a number of Finis's political rivals amongst the Azoth victims.
Van Helsing: So it is Finis D:<
Sholmes: Or someone wants us to think that. And Finis's greatest opponent in the House of Lords still lives.
Van Helsing: Marquis Renfield! Leader of the Anti-Finis League!
ahahahahahaha
DID THEY PUT THE DRACULA CHARACTERS IN A HAT AND ASSIGN PERSONALITIES AT RANDOM
ANYWAY. FINE. THEY GO TO VISIT RENFIELD, THE POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURE AND OPPONENT OF THE VAMPIRE WAR.
Delly aka Dracula Delacroix II: Hmm, I like the sound of this Renfield...
As they arrive, they're attacked by Twilight soldiers...who fight like vampire super-soldiers.
Van Helsing: Cardia, Delacroix, retreat. I'll rip Azoth's throat out, trap and all!
Finis: No need for that. The one you seek is right here ^_^
Cardia stares at his "doll-like" face: it's definitely Finis.
Finis: What drives you Van Helsing? Anger? Fear? Whatever, you do you. I'm just here to provide encouragement to you hard workers. Bye! ^_^
wtf
Van Helsing shoots at Finis but one of the soldiers blocks it, and Finis gloats about being protected by vampires. One of them strikes Van Helsing as he chases after Finis, and it's as if Van Helsing doesn't even register the pain.
Delly: In the name of my father, the great king Delacroix...I shall save you.
I don't have high hopes for these guys, but I hope Delly gets to keep some other vampires in the end.
Delly: Cardia...I'll take over here. You can't leave that man alone. He's in the same state I was before, so caught up in revenge he's about to lose himself to the darkness. You must be his light and guide him, just like you did for me.
Delly ;_;
So she follows the trail of Van Helsing's blood to find him pointing his gun at Finis.
Van Helsing: Cardia?! Stay back, this will be over soon.
Finis: Hello sister! Isn't his attachment to me cringe inducing? ^_^
Finis says he's not Azoth, but finds him "intriguing". "What's about to begin is a nice simulation for the new world I'm planning." Van Helsing points out that killing Finis is a net win even if he isn't Azoth.
Finis, softly, with a knife to Cardia's neck: Sister, let's put an end to playtime. You belong to me, and to Father.
Van Helsing claims to be willing to shoot both of them to get to Finis.
Finis: I'm empty, you see, that's how I know what others are feeling. And you're holding back. This is just like that time two years ago, isn't it? When your family was killed, what was the decision you made?
Cardia stays quiet, thinking maybe it is better she be sacrificed to bring down Finis. Van Helsing looks conflicted, and then they are interrupted by a loud blast...from the direction of Buckingham Palace.
Finis laughs and makes his escape. "I've said this before, but I don't dislike you, Van Helsing. You're the only one who comes at me with such passion. Sister, Van Helsing... two of my beloved. I'll see you again."
Finis, stop trying to make Finis/Cardia/Van Helsing happen. Think of the problematic age gap! (Admittedly, I haven't looked up how old Finis is, but Cardia's like...6, and he calls her "older sister", so)
Delly 3rd person POV. Exhausted, he looks down at the two dead vampires at his feet. They killed themselves the moment he won the fight. He cries in frustration that he couldn't save them.
Delllllyyyyy ;_;
Delly: Wait, what are you doing here?
There is a sound of a strike and the screen goes red??? DELLY D: D:
Chapter 12: Waking Evil
I DON'T WANT A FLASHBACK I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DELLY
A bunch of VIPs died in the explosion. Queen Victoria declares war- on Finis? Eh, makes as much sense as declaring war on Drugs etc. Delly is still missing and Van Helsing ran off and hasn't been seen since. Cardia misses him, and feels sad that she doesn't seem to ever be able to help him.
And then one night she hears a pebble at at her window- Van Helsing! They both blame themselves for Delly's disappearance.
Cardia: But it's noone's fault. We just need to work together...
Van Helsing: No. I'm here to bid you farewell. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any attachment, but that's why I must go. I'm going down a path of no return, and you people don't need to accompany me. It's none of your business.
Cardia: Yes it is! I'm the key to understanding Finis!
Van Helsing: Circumstances have changed. I can unravel his secrets myself now, without you.
Ominous D: ("I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any attachment", though, aw)
Van Helsing: You wouldn't understand this dark feeling in my heart.
Cardia: BECAUSE YOU NEVER TELL ME ANYTHING. You can't just leave forever and not tell me why!
And so, finally, he explains, looking broodily into the distance.
The Vampire war was a brutal, one sided killing. He was sent to infiltrate the vampires undercover. At first he had no doubts, seeing them as enemies, vermin. But as he lived among them he realised they didn't pose a threat. The military ignored his reports suggesting an end to the war, and he prepared to desert. Except then Finis took his mother and brother hostage...so Van Helsing went back to the vampires and killed them all, hundreds of innocent people who'd only ever been kind to him.
Cardia: That must have been so painful for you ;_;
Me: Nice motive, still genocide >:/
And then Finis killed Van Helsing's family anyway.
Cardia feels like Van Helsing is trapped in a nightmare of anger and pain and can only wake if he kills Finis with his own hands. She insists on going with him, not wanting him to be alone.
Van Helsing: You have your own problems! And what good are you to me? Do you have what it takes to kill?
She takes a step back and he smiles kindly. "The days I spent here with you and Lupin were filled with warmth. I have to put it behind me before those warm day become more important to me than my revenge. But it was fun while it lasted. Good-bye, Cardia. I'm glad I met you."
And she has no choice but to watch sadly as he walks away into the darkness.
Van Helsing POV
Aleister: Are you sure this is what you want? Doesn't he love you, and you her?
Me: SCREW YOU ALEISTER
Van Helsing: You're imagining things.
Aleister says Finis has wiped out the remaining Twilight soldiers that were loyal to Aleister in order to gain control of St Paul's Cathedral, presumably to get access to something Isaac hid there.
Van Helsing looks out at London, "a beautiful beast that devours lives". We flash back to several years earlier when "Abraham" first arrived from his (English?) home town. He joined the army to support his bedridden mother and younger brother. Aleister spotted his talent right away and recruited him to Twilight: "A sword for peace and tranquility".
Vam Helsing, sounding young, enthusiastic, and a little shy: Peace and tranquility? Sounds great!!
(Twlight was run by Finis even then? How old was he??)
"Aleister is a skilled agent, but more than anything he is an educator" :/ Finding out that Van Helsing left school young, Aleister encourages him to learn more.
Van Helsing sends a happy letter back to his family in the country about it all. And then he experiences his first battle: stopping escaped super-soldiers from attacking London. Only Aleister and Van Helsing are left, cornered and outnumbered.
Van Helsing: I'll stay here and let you escape, Professor!
Aleister: It's no tragedy if a soldier dies. But we must put our lives in the line to save civilians. And when we escape, no more being so polite, we'll address each other as friends and equals.
And then he takes out a device and everything goes white: Aleister had planted bombs in various places as a trap.
"The 'Subrace Genocide' in Ireland, also known as the Vampire War, takes place". D:
Delly: Amazing! You're so strong for a human! :)
Van Helsing: I'm still no match for you father :)
Me: ;_;
The vampires place great value on fighting ability and welcome Van Helsing, not knowing his mission is to help the military bring them down.
Delly cheerfully says Van Helsing is as good as his teacher, Neuntöte, and makes him promise to help train Delly. But that night, Van Helsing returns to London.
Van Helsing: The government says the vampires have attacked human villages, but there's clearly been some sort of misunderstanding!
Aleister: I see. I'll try to talk to Finis.
Finis: That won't be necessary.
Aliester and Van Helsing go down on one knee, but Van Helsing stands his ground on the war not being justified.
Finis: Lol. No war has ever been justified. We just need an acceptable target to demonstrate our power. As for the human villages...sacrifices are necessary. Queen Victoria has consented to it all.
Finis, as the head of steampunk!MI5, you should maybe be more circumspect about your evil conspiracies.
He tries to get Aleister to bring Van Helsing in line, but Aleister says he objects as well.
Finis tells them it's a waste of time, and Van Helsing soon learns that poison gas has already been used to kill vampires en masse. The vampire king has gathered the surviving refugees at his fortress. *feels all my Jewish ancestors judging me for playing this game*
And so finally the vampires decide that if humans want a war, they'll get one.
Van Helsing is jailed for his objections. When gets out, he's sent to Delacroix's castle with Aleister, both accused of treason with their families held hostage.
The vampires call him a traitor and he tells them to run...his voice strained, his transformation to a human weapon complete.
Van Helsing finally defeats the vampire king Delacroix, and prays for his soul. Aleister says he killed the wife but couldn't find Delly.
Aleister: Delacroix was a great man, his loss will cause the vampires to fall apart. Looks like Britain has won this joke of a war.
Van Helsing is overcome by guilt and pain, to have slain such a kind, innocent man. And he cannot bring himself to seek out and kill the boy he befriended.
It switches from third person to first person mid-paragraph GUESS VAN HELSING IS IMMORTAL NOW.
Van Helsing: What are we? Why are we doing this?
Aleister: No battle is ever justified. Our job is to bring these incidents to an end as quickly as possible, with the fewest casualties.
Afterwards, Van Helsing is made a knight and treated as a war hero, but he resigns, telling Aleister "I can't find a reason to kill. I can't fight any more." He intends to lead a peaceful life with his family.
But then he finds their blood soaked corpses, and they remind him of all the innocent people he killed.
Aleister says the same thing happened to his family, and they trace the orders to Finis. Van Helsing vows to kill Finis in revenge: but when he does, Finis just comes back to life.
And following Finis's trail led him to "the ill-fated girl who has been called a monster".
Van Helsing looks forward to this all being over, so he can finally die, and end the nightmare that is his life :(
Cardia POV!
Victor is the only one who seems genuinely sad Van Helsing didn't say good bye to them too. Cardia feels like Van Helsing wants help, for all that he says otherwise, and regrets letting her fear of rejection stop her from insisting on going with him.
Cardia: I don't care if he hates me, I just want to help him. But I can't do anything on my own.
Everyone smiles and says she's changed, and is no longer like a doll.
Lupin: People become human when they discover love.
Me: *mutters about aromantic erasure in dating sims*
And then they all prepare to "Fulfil the precious wish of a lady in love". Everyone but Van Helsing himself seems to ship it, haha. The word "love" makes Cardia's heart feel warm.
Just as I'm wondering how they'll track him:
Gunshots lead them to the cathedral, which they find surrounded by unconscious Twilight agents. Saint-Germain and Victor take on the remaining agents at the door, and then Impey and Lupin hold off the ones inside. Cardia runs on alone towards the sound of gunshots.
She finds Van Helsing, Aleister and Finis in the centre of the beautiful cathedral, surrounded by Twilight and government soldiers, many unconscious but many more with guns drawn.
Van Helsing: Cardia?! Why do go out of your way to put yourself in danger?
I have the choices "You're important to me" and "I don't know". HMM.
Cardia: The kindness you've shown me, even though you always looked annoyed, made me happy. You took over my heart little by little. I love you!
Van Helsing: ...
Finis: Lol. As if you could love or be loved! Sister, you're a monster. You mean to reject Father, when all you are is a shallow container?
Van Helsing: Shut up, Finis!
Me: YOU TELL HIM, ABE!
Van Helsing: So what if she's a monster? I'm just here to kill you.
Me: SHUT UP ABE >:(
Finis gets bored and motions his men to stand down. "Give it your best shot, Van Helsing, and I'll show you the true meaning of despair."
Van Helsing shoots him in the leg and Finis just laughs and tells him not to hold back. Finis keeps laughing as he is hit by bullet after bullet, his blood flying into the air, and eventually he falls to the floor, dead.
...and then another Finis walks out from behind the soldiers.
Van Helsing: What are you?!
Finis: I'm Finis. That unfortunate fellow down there is Finis as well...and I believe it's my turn now ^_^
The soldiers raise their weapons. Knowing that Finis wants her alive, Cardia runs to stand in front of Van Helsing.
Cardia: I'll protect you, Van Helsing!
Finis: Lol. You think I can't kill you? You're worthless!
And then theres a loud beeping noise.
Finis: Aleister?
Aleister: That was a signal. The preparations to kill you are complete. Shall we move into the final chapter?
And then all the soldiers fire...on Finis.
Finis: Why are my own soldiers firing on me?
Aleister: They're not your men. They're mine :D
Finis, weakly: Hah. You've always been a charmer. *cough* Does this mean you're done hiding your identity...Azoth?
Aleister: You figured it out! I underestimated you. But now I'm going to kill you ^_^
Finis: Lol as if.
But then Aleister crouches by Finis's bleeding body and whispers something into his ear. Finis screams, and Aleister stabs him through the neck. At the same time, an explosion rocks the cathedral.
Aleister: Finis, you really were quite entertaining. I almost regret killing you.
Van Helsing: Uh???
Aleister: Congratulations. Finis is truly dead. Your ambitions- and my feigned ambitions- have been carried out.
Van Helsing: Yes but...the serial killer thing???
Aleister: I thought I'd connected your memories of the battlefield and your past...I guess she really did save you. To think you'd fight so abysmally...as your teacher, I was embarrassed.
Cardia: Why are you doing this?!
Aleister: It's part of a sort of hobby of mine. I believe the beauty of humanity lies in fear and anger. I want to see London and the rest of the world shine with humanity's beauty.
I like how much of a contrast Aleister's calm older gentleman vibe is to Finis...but also very much want to see him stabbed in the face.
Van Helsing: Jimmy, stop with these meaningless jokes :(
Aleister: I appreciate what a great job you did distracting Finis while I figured out how to kill him. And now I can pursue my ambition :)
Cardia: I thought that was to get revenge on Finis?
Aleister: Why? I was the one who killed my family, not him. Just like I killed yours, Van Helsing. You have always been my sword.
Van Helsing roars in anger and goes to shoot Aleister, but is shot in the arm by a soldier...who is a supersoldier. Aleister has always been in charge of the program, and while the early experiments failed these new supersoldiers are entirely obedient.
Van Helsing: I'LL KILL YOU
Aleister: Nice words, but I need you to hate me with all your heart and soul. I'll see you later at the Tower Bridge. Farewell ^_^
The soldiers move in and Van Helsing screams as he shoots and shoots. Finally only he and Cardia remain. All she can see is red.
Aleister POV. It's all coming to a close, but this is just the start. Azoth means beginnings and endings, after all.
Aleister: Abraham...I'll wait for you as long as it takes. This show is all for you.
NOPE NOPE NOPE
Chapter 13: Stand By Me
Unknown POV. "The end to everything begins under the light of the moon."
Leonhardt leads a group of cavalry down silent streets to Newgate prison, where there has been a mass breakout. The prisoners became extremely strong and started chanting AZOTH. And then reports come in of hundreds of violent crimes across the city.
Cardia POV. As they leave the cathedral they see smoke in the distance, and hear gunshots from multiple directions. A supersoldier in prisoner's clothes leaps at Van Helsing...and then falls for no apparent reason. Saint-Germain is the only one who saw Van Helsing strike, and he knows inhuman abilities when he sees them.
Van Helsing just tells them all to go home, and then runs. Cardia's about to run after him but is stopped by Impey...who gives her a highly anachronistic sounding tracking device(*), having put the emitter on Van Helsing. Lupin says the rest of them will help Scotland Yard deal with the violence, but they'll leave Van Helsing to Cardia. Victor tells her to take care of herself, and Saint-Germain says he'll escort her "in case things become unruly". Aw, these guys.
(The word nakama comes up a lot in this route: Van Helsing thinks he's not one, but he totally is)
Lupin POV! He explains things to Leonhardt: "Van Helsing and our princess are chasing after Aleister."
Sholmes arrives, having figured out Aleister's goal: to attack Buckingham Palace and bring down the government. Yet can he really be planning to do something so impossible?
Cardia POV. She watches in awe as Saint-Germain gracefully brings down super-soldier after super-soldier. It's rare for someone other the LI to get such focus and I'm wondering if it's foreshadowing for someone being even stronger than Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain: Don't worry, they're just knocked out. I know the colour of blood doesn't suit you ^_^
Just as I'm wondering how to reconcile all this with Saint-Germain's route...there is a clanking noise and "a giant man in a suit of armour" appears: Guinevere. Check your gender assumptions, Cardia!
Saint-Germain: I see :/ Cardia, please leave this to me and go ahead. It is a gentleman's duty to support a lady's happiness.
Cardia thanks him, and runs, ignoring the chaos around her, feeling sure somehow that if she doesn't catch up to Van Helsing he will fall to darkness.
When she finds him she can see in his eyes that he intends to cut her off. She glares back just as fiercely and says she's coming with him.
Van Helsing: What happens to me is no business of yours. What happens to you is no business of mine. That is all our relationship has ever been.
Lightning flashes against a dark sky as he steps close and tells her he doesn't need her.
Cardia: But I need you. Even if it costs me my life, I'm never going to leave you alone.
The two of them stare at each other for a while, then he draws his gun and shoots the wall behind her.
Van Helsing: Are you saying you'd be satisfied if you died here and now?
Cardia: If I leave you now it would be worse than dying. I love you.
He shoots again and again, and a heavy rain begins to fall.
Van Helsing: If you say you love me, why won't you listen to me? You're important to me! I don't want you to die!
His voice gets soft and he begs her to leave, saying that he doesn't deserve happiness. And when this fight is over, he will disappear for good.
Van Helsing, with a gentle smile: I owe you a great deal, Cardia. Thank you...for loving someone like me.
And then he knocks her out.
Van Helsing POV. He lays Cardia down in an abandoned house, and leaves for Tower Bridge. He thinks of his search for revenge, the murder of the vampires, and of Cardia. He doesn't know how to feel about any of them any more. He finally has the chance to truly avenge his family, and yet his anger is outweighed by his sorrow. Feeling the dark flames that have sustained him start to go out scares him more than anything.
Aleister: You're late.
Van Helsing draws his gun but Aleister just laughs and says it's not his time to die yet. And then a small figure steps out of the fog...
Me: Finis??? WAIT. NO. OH NO. NO NO NO.
Delly, his eyes blank: Abraham van Helsing...my enemy...cannot forgive...
D: D: D:
How did I forget Delly was missing D: D:
I had this DEEP SENSE OF FOREBODING about the end of this path uuuurrrghhhh /o\
Van Helsing does his best to dodge but Delly is even stronger than before.
As Delly cries out in pain for his dead parents, Van Helsing and I are QUITE ANGRY. I went into this scene all "Don't give into your hate, Van Helsing!" but now I just want to see Aleister die.
Aleister: Vampires are enemies of humanity, Abraham. You've killed plenty yourself. I'm going back to the cathedral. You can follow after you've dealt with this garbage.
>:O
FUCK YOOOOOOOU
Van Helsing: Do you think you can get away that easily?
Aleister: I'm not running. I've been waiting for the moment you are complete, my greatest work of art.
Van Helsing looks at Delly's eyes, burning with pain and sorrow, and thinks "This must be what I looked like to her."
Delly strikes, and everything goes black.
Cardia POV.
She wakes in a strange bed. The tracking device says Van Helsing is at Tower Bridge...and then flickers and says "Target Lost".(**) She runs.
Van Helsing POV. Delly wakes from being knocked out, and sniffles and says Van Helsing is very strong. But it was the memory of Cardia's voice that kept him going through the pain.
Delly smiles and says he understands. And then he asks Van Helsing to kill him ;_;
Delly: I'm so tired of this. The more I want to kill you, the more I can't hate you. The more I want to forgive you, the more I can't. But most of all, I want to be at my mother and father's sides.
Van Helsing, softly, cocking his gun: I don't even have the right to tell you I'm sorry.
nononononono
A gunshot rings through the night.
Cardia POV. It feels like all she ever does is run after Van Helsing. But she's not going to stop.
Tower Bridge is deserted except for one small, bloody figure.
Delly: He is truly...a cruel man. He left without granting my wish.
Me: OH THANK GOD
Cardia: You're injured!
Delly: The one you need to worry about is him. Aleister doesn't care about the government, or London. All he wants is Abraham Van Helsing.
Apparently Delly heard Aleister babbling as he slipped in and out of consciousness. Man, I really don't want to ship this, even one-sided, but nnng.
Delly: Your voice is the only one that can reach him. In his heart, he probably-
Cardia: Yes, I'll stop him.
Delly smiles. "Tell him I'm done with revenge, his and mine. I won't allow him to die. He has to live, for the sake of all the lives he took from my brethren."
And then Delly asks to rest for a while. In sleep, his face looks more peaceful that Cardia has ever seen it before.
Van Helsing POV. Ahead, he sees his teacher, his brother in arms...and the man who took everything from him. Clapping.
Van Helsing: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU
Aleister: I knew you'd make it ^_^ But, your eyes...did you not kill the vampire boy? Are you not ready to come over to this side? Ah, but I see the key I needed has made it's way here.
Van Helsing realises Cardia is here.
Cardia POV.
Van Helsing: Don't say it. I can't turn back. My life has been a path of blood and gunfire leading to this moment. If I don't get my revenge now, all of it will have been a waste.
She passes on Delly's message, and says his life won't go to waste.
Van Helsing: How cruel of him...but it doesn't matter who else forgives me. I will never forgive myself. So please, just go...
Aleister: Would you like me to make her go away? >:)
Van Helsing, pointing his gun at Aleister's head: Have you set a trap for us?
Aleister: I think 'gospel' would be a better term for it ^_^ Abraham, you're far stronger than any ordinary man. Have you ever thought about why you're the 'Human Weapon'?
Me: IS HE DELLY'S SECRET BROTHER??
Aleister: Did you ever consider that perhaps you are literally a weapon, created by someone else?
Me: IS HE CARDIA'S SECRET BROTHER??
Aleister: When you joined the military, you had some rare talent, but still within the realm of humanity. Think back, when did you gain this power?
Ohhhh, ok, it's just that everything until now, from the trauma of the war to the Azoth killings, has been part of a long process of super-soldier conditioning. I kind of knew that already.
Aleister: You're a work of art. The beauty of humanity, seen in the midst of fear and chaos.
Van Helsing shouts in anger and tries to shoot Aleister...but he can't. He stands in visible agony, unable to pull the trigger, controlled by Aleister's conditioning. Cardia runs to try to at least stop Aleister saying any more commands, but he knocks her down.
Aleister: There's no need to rush. I'm not the one who's going to kill you. I'd like you to put on an excellent show for me, Cardia.
There is an eerie beating sound and Van Helsing cries out in pain, clutching his head.
Aleister: I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Van Helsing has collapsed to the ground.
Aleister: Now! We shall conduct the final movement of our symphony together.
Cardia approaches Van Helsing...and he hits her so hard she briefly blacks out. His eyes are clouded, and he doesn't seem to see her (his sprite's eyes are literally red, but I think that's artistic licence)
Aleister: Abraham. The girl lying before you is the object of your revenge. The one who made you kill the vampires, the one who murdered your family, it was all her.
"No sane person would believe it, but..."
Van Helsing steps on Cardia heavily so that she is trapped on the ground, in pain D:
Aleister: The demon born from the billowing smoke...that is true human beauty! If you can kill him, I'll let you live.
Lol. The literal forces of God tried that to no avail, you're out of luck, dude.
Cardia: You're just trying to get me to resist so he has to kill me. But we aren't your tools.
Aleister kicks her in the stomach. "It's quite sad that I have to raise my hand against a woman :("
FUCK YOU, ALEISTER.
Aleister: Blow off her legs, that might change her mind.
Cardia: Van Helsing! I don't want to see you like this!
Van Helsing stares at her, and flinches just enough that she can pull out from under his foot and run to grab Aleister. She pulls off her glove and puts her hand lightly to Aleister's neck. There is the sound of sizzling flesh :D :D :D
SQUEEZE HARD, CARDIA. MELT HIS SLIMY FACE OFF.
Cardia: Release Van Helsing from the conditioning!
Aleister: I can't ^_^ And unfortunately for you, my sense of pain has been deadened.
Cardia: I don't intend to hurt you. If you don't do as I say, I'll kill you!
Aleister: Ha, maybe that wouldn't be so bad. Long ago, my family was murdered in front of me. Ah, memories...
wtf
Aleister: I was moved to tears by the beauty of the despair and terror of death. I have killed many, striving to recreate that beauty.
Cardia: You're mad.
Aleister: Yes, quite insane ^_^ Even psychotic killers trembled in fear when they saw my inner darkness. I've been lonely, waiting for someone who had fallen so far they could appreciate the darkness with me. That...is what he is to me. I got sick of waiting, so I created someone who could understand me.
ALEISTER THAT IS NOT HOW YOU MAKE FRIENDS
Cardia: He's not like that! *clenches Aleister's melting neck in anger*
Aleister: I'm not alone any more. As long as I know that, death holds no fear in my heart. We shall celebrate your rebirth with my own blood, Abraham.
He looks to Van Helsing with kind, adoring eyes and then STABS HIMSELF IN THE CHEST.
D:
Aleister: Now, my masterpiece, my friend in the abyss! Step over my blood and go forth. It's time for my final order: Kill this girl. Only then will you understand me completely.
He falls to his knees and raises his arms to the light from above, as if receiving a blessing from God. Cardia watches him laugh and then fall dead, and feels only sadness.
Van Helsing grabs her, and shouts about all the things "she" did to him, but only flails at her with slow, sloppy swings. She ducks and knocks him to the wall, and he grabs her by the throat. She thinks about the nightmare he must be trapped in, and how when they first met she would have been too terrified to speak right now. She grabs his gun and pulls it over her heart. CARDIA NO.
Cardia: If killing me will help you...then shoot.
Van Helsing: I must kill you! This hate...these sins...
Cardia thinks of the nightmares about Elaine always at the back of her mind, and realises Van Helsing is reliving all the deaths on his conscience over and over again. What he wants is not revenge, but forgiveness.
Van Helsing, crying: I can never be forgiven! My life will forever be one of blood and pain, that's why I have to kill you!
Cardia: I know you are a kind and decent man. You will escape Aleister's curse. If it will release you from your pain, kill me now.
Van Helsing screams and lets her go, then slowly tumbles to the ground. And then he looks up at her with his usual, slightly annoyed expression.
Van Helsing: Cardia?
Cardia: I'm here!
Van Helsing: Yes, you've been here all along :(
And then he stabs himself in the chest D: He says he's doing it to protect her from himself :( Cardia bursts into tears and talks about how great it will be when they're all back at the mansion again.
Van Helsing: All I do is make you sad.
Cardia: Then make it up to me!
Van Helsing: Crying to get your way...*goes still*
Cardia: AAAAHHHHH D: D: D:
Van Helsing: You're hurting my ears >:(
Cardia: YOU'RE ALIVE *hugs*
Van Helsing: I'm sorry. I was prepared to die, but you made such a ruckus...you've always been getting in my way :)
Cardia: Would you rather be dead?
Van Helsing: No. For so long, I've been causing you pain...I couldn't just leave you here crying. Besides I haven't told you the most important thing. *he pulls her close* I will not forget my crimes, but I will never let them drag me down again. I want...to be with you.
And then he apologises for making her chase him for so long and tells her he loves her and it's VERY ROMANTIC.
Closing credits. I just noticed the name of the song is "Love brought me eternal petals", which is an interesting contrast to Hakuoki ("Fleeting demon blossoms")
Cardia: I miss Van Helsing, Sisi :(
Van Helsing: It's only been a few hours! And I have to work, even if I hate being social.
Cardia: Was it boring?
Van Helsing: Any place is boring when you aren't there.
AW
INTERESTING. Now it's Impey and Victor searching for a lost item, though Lupin is helping as well. Having played his route I am VERY CURIOUS to know what "important business in France" Saint-Germain is dealing with. And wtf happened with Guinevere!
Delly has been showing up to political events as an official representative of the vampires. Van Helsing has seen him during his work as...a bodyguard to Marquis Renfield, who acts as a mediating diplomat between the vampires and humans.
This truly is the most inaccurate adaptation of Dracula ever, and I love it.
Cardia: Will you take me next time? I'll learn the proper etiquette. I want to see Delly again. And I definitely wan to see you in your formal uniform ;)
He tells her she'd look too pretty in a fine gown and it would cause trouble, haha.
Van Helsing: Stop pouting. I'll contact that bratty king for you. But in the meantime, how about a party just for the two of us?
He takes her to the top of Buckingham Palace. There is the faint sound of music from the building below, and in front of them is a beautiful view. She's wearing a dress he got Victor to make special, aw.
Ahaha she says she's happy just being with him and he makes a veiled reference to wanting to have sex that totally goes over her head. But for now, they dance on the roof of the palace, and vow to stay by each other's sides forever, hoping that finding happiness while they remember the past will help them atone for the things that they've done.
THE END
AWWWWW Van Helsing's chibi is adorably grumpy.
Extra Scene:
Huh! So for a change, this is set several months after the final battle with Aleister. Cardia is setting the table...OH DEAR. I saw somewhere that Van Helsing is supposed to be an awful cook, and it hasn't really come up before now...
Huh, nope, Cardia made breakfast, just for the two of them. She used cooking gloves Victor made for her and a recipe from Impey but still had a few failures before making a breakfast she hopes Van Helsing will like. Except he is uncharacteristically late. TIME TO CHECK HIS BEDROOM I GUESS.
But first, a flashback!
Van Helsing: Since the others will be out tomorrow, I'll make you breakfast :)
Cardia: Yay <3
The other four stare in horror then protectively pull Cardia behind them, and whisper in urgent hushed tones that Van Helsing's cooking is Not To Be Eaten. Also, men like when women cook for them!
Cardia: Ah yes, heteronormativity, I have read of this in books...
Van Helsing's blush when she says she wants to cook for him as his girlfriend is pretty cute though.
So! Cardia gets to van Helsing's door and knocks gently, to no reply. Then she hears...a moan? And rushes in to make sure he's ok? UH.
SO IT TURNS OUT HE SLEEPS NAKED. Cardia is initially transfixed by the sight of his very nicely drawn butt and then gets embarrassed and doesn't know why.
Van Helsing, muzzily, reaching out his hand: Come over here.
Cardia: In the BED??? UH. THAT'S A BAD IDEA.
Van Helsing: I don't care. I want you in my arms.
Cardia: Unf. Um. Maybe if I lay really carefully...
Van Helsing finishes reaching for his glasses and sits up and Cardia quickly closes her eyes.
Van Helsing: Wait, what are you doing here?
Cardia: UH. BREAKFAST IS READY.
She opens his eyes and he's already dressed...and while he was half asleep at the time, he remembers their conversation.
Van Helsing: It was pretty adorable, the way you tip-toed over with your face all red. If you like, we can do the scene over ;)
Cardia: COME EAT YOUR BREAKFAST BEFORE IT GETS COLD.
Aw, even though it's a little burnt, he says he likes it more than Impey's cooking.
Cardia: I'm going to keep practicing cooking for you.
Van Helsing: Then that's one more thing to look forward to, living with you. As a sign of my appreciation, should we start sleeping in the same bed?
Cardia: YOU'D DIE??
Van Helsing: I see. I suppose it can wait ;)
THE END
Hee, that was pretty cute and sexy.
Anyway: overall I found the path QUITE STRESSFUL, which made it hard to play, but I did enjoy it.
So! The stuff I knew going in: Aleister brainwashed/manipulated Van Helsing in the past, and did again during this path. Also Van Helsing had a fridged "family" that made him get murderous during the Vampire War.
Knowing that Van Helsing was a super-soldier made me much happier about the "The right sort of trauma makes you a mindless killer" plot since I knew at least one of them would be able to move past it. And overall I did like that the super-soldiers were sympathetic and the real villain was very clearly Aleister.
But knowing did make the OMG VAN HELSING IS A SUPER-SOLDIER reveal a bit of a let-down. And I feel like I'd have probably have figured it out by then anyway, since they kept emphasising his inhuman abilities and he didn't seem to be a vampire.
Aleister's motivations were kind of...eh.
I can't decide how I feel about the whole "redemption from genocide" arc, which is a step up from most stories like this where I KNOW I hate it. Van Helsing genuinely atones and risks his life repeatedly for the people he wronged, and their anger is taken seriously, which is definitely something. And it's not clear how much he was in his right mind, so I don't have a problem with Van Helsing himself so much as the narrative.
Anyway, as a romance it worked pretty well. His pining was a little more understated than I tend to like but it felt in character, and he was very sweet in the end. I'm not a fan of the implication that Cardia just becomes a housewife in the end, I liked their whole brothers in arms vibe, but will happily headcanon it away.
And...it's so sad? He was this sweet, well meaning guy who got turned into a weapon little by little.
Here's all the CGs if you want to see the butt for yourself ;) Contains blood and violence!
Every now and then I'd remember he has the same voice actor as Victor from Yuri on Ice!!, it was surreal. I listened to some Victor dialogue on Youtube to remind myself and he sounds quite different, a lot higher for a start.
(*)It has a screen with a moving dot on it! THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY OR RADIO. IS IT USING CLOCKWORK AND CRYSTALS OR SOMETHING??
(**)SERIOUSLY? IT HAS TEXT NOW??
