Code Realize: Lupin Chapters 11-13
Feb. 4th, 2019 12:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrMasterlist of Code Realize posts
And that's the end of the main game!
I liked it! Both as an overall game, and this path in particular. Lupin is a bit too well-adjusted to be entirely my type but it was still a sweet romance, and an AMAZING ridiculous rollercoaster of anime scifi tropes.
Also, being the Final Path it did a nice job of tying up all the other plots and giving everyone some closure.
Content note: WEIRD quasi-incestuous familial abuse, genocide, suicide
Chapter 11: Champion of Justice/A Hero
OMNIBUS/EVE POV!!!
She's pruning trees. One branch cut can increase the yield of ten more.
Guinevere comes with a report about London. "The Queen has been rescued by Lupin, one of the assorted people gathered by Saint-Germain. And by one of Isaac's cursed children."
Omnibus: Gather the apostles. Give, hmm...Saint-Germain command. Isaac is attempting to set foot in a sacred realm open only to God. He is about to repeat my mistake, and humanity faces what may be its greatest ever threat.
Cardia POV.
She looks at Victoria and Leonhardt sleeping next to each other and ships them a little bit. And then she looks at Lupin, and thinks about how much she cares for him. She wonders why he is so kind to her, and what he thinks of her. She tries to put her feelings into words.
Cardia: Lupin, my chest hurts when I think of you.
Lupin: ...
Cardia: I was happy you saved me, but I didn't like that you put yourself in danger, and I...uh...
She realises he's staring at her with an inquisitive expression, and gets flustered. And then he pulls her towards him and kisses the top of her head.
Me: :D :D :D
Cardia: !!!!!
Leonardt: Hey!! Are we there yet?
GOD DAMMIT LEONHARDT
BLAH BLAH THEY LAND THE AIRSHIP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PLANS. WHO CARES. WHAT ABOUT KISSES AND FEELINGSSSS???
*stops playing to get a nice screenshot of the CG via the menu and waits until I'm in a headspace to pay attention to the actual plot again*
Huh. I've only seen 6 of Lupin's 28 CGs o.O That includes minor variants, though, looks like I've seen 4/12 genuinely different ones. I also haven't seen some CGs for Victor and Van Helsing, presumably depressing bad end ones.
Side note: I've been wondering where Cardia's genetic material came from. If Issac is planning on taking over Finis's body, it seems plausible that Finis is an Isaac clone, especially since his bodies seem to be produced by some fast-working Finis-printer. Cardia has a similar face shape to Finis, but is brunette instead of blonde, so I don't think she's a direct clone as well, even asides from issues of gender. So who is she based on? Isaac's older sister would be enjoyably awful, and explain why Finis calls her "older sister", though since he's also a constructed being he may well be literally younger (eg 5 to her 6)
Oh cool: I had another look at the "Path of Genesis", which lets you replay played chapters, and for a bunch of them they've used that cute 19th century chapter heading style eg:
OK BACK TO THE PLOT. I GUESS.
Queen Victoria says that once all this done she'll give them both medals and Lupin says they're not the medal wearing type rather than reminding her that he is A FRENCHMAN. FROM FRANCE. See also: the way none of the non-English characters talk about how global war might affect THEIR OWN COUNTRIES rather than just England. France, specifically, is right there next door! And historically has had a tendency to get drawn in on one side or the other whenever England has a big war!
Anyway.
Queen Victoria has formed a provisional government and is gathering her remaining forces within London. Blah blah so inspiring, great queen *still hates her, even if she is interesting and hot*
Leonhardt thanks Cardia and Lupin for saving them and swears he will one day repay the favour, even if he feels weird about working with a thief. Lupin tanks him for having looked after Cardia.
Leonhardt: Oh, let me introduce someone who will be helping with the military operations: Herlock Sholmes.
Lupin: I HAVE TO WORK WITH HIM???
Sholmes: Just try not to get in my way, little cutpurse ^_^
Lupin: Same to you, you pathetic gendarme >:(
Cardia: Come on, Lupin, we're on the same side.
Lupin: FINE. I won't beat you up, just because she asked.
Sholmes: Lol, as if you could ^_^
Lupin: D:<
I love that Lupin is mostly very together but has these moments of flusteredness.
And then all their friends show up! Lupin makes sure he has an audience then talks up how competent and brave Cardia was.
Then he leads them to one of his hideouts, grumpily putting up with Sholmes tagging along.
The plan is for Victoria to cut off the head of the rebellion: Twilight. Meanwhile Lupin and Cardia will go under St Paul's using the confusion of the attack as cover.
Lupin says that after leaving without notice and worrying everyone, Cardia should tell them everything that's happened. She thanks them all for helping with "her personal issue" but they point out they have their own reasons for attacking Twilight/investigating all this (except Impey, who says he's a warrior of love doing it for her) Lupin goes down on one knee. "If you would accept our offer, please take my hand." She takes it, thinking about how his theatrical gestures are always filled with kindness and consideration.
Cardia can't sleep, and looks up at the calm, unchanging stars as they twinkle over a city at war. She wants to know the truth about herself, and remove her poison....but the truth also scares her, and part of her just wants to run away.
Saint-Germain comes out and says he's been looking for her. His smile seems melancholy, and I wonder if he's here to kill her. But no! He's here to introduce her to someone. As he leads her away (HMM) she notices his walk lacks its usual elegance.
Saint-Germain: Are you reading minds now? But yes, my heart is troubled for the first time in a long while. And it's your fault...
Me: :(
Oh god it's all too sad for me to write down. He talks about how humanity is constantly seeking forgiveness from God for it's original sin, and must be guided away from mistakes by Idea.
Saint-Germain: I am an apostle of Idea. And...they believe that you are a mistake that must be removed.
Guinevere and Omnibus appear, looking at Cardia with a blank expression and kind smile respectively.
Omnibus: It seems Saint-Germain stole most of our thunder. But I am Omnibus, leader of Idea. And I've come to kill you ^_^
She describes Cardia and Finis as Isaac Beckford's cursed children, who should not be allowed to exist.
Guinevere takes a step towards Cardia...but then Saint-Germain steps in front of her.
Omnibus: You're protecting her? Perhaps you have grown too attached.
Saint-Germain: I won't deny that. But more than that, I want to believe that even if her existence is a mistake, the path she walks upon cannot be one.
Saint-Germain ;_;
He and Guinevere draw their weapons, but Omnibus tells them to stop. They're both too important, and the situation is too dire.
Saint-Germain: You're letting her go?
Omnibus: I'm changing my approach. Cardia, here is some poison. If you fall into Isaac's hands, the world will be engulfed in the flames of never-ending war. This offers a painless alternative.
Cardia takes it, but reassures Saint-Germain that she'll only swallow it as a last resort. "Thank you for saving me, Saint-Germain."
He smiles sadly and says he hasn't saved her, because he hasn't been able to erase the things that cause her pain.
*is distracted by Saint-Germain/Cardia feels*
She stares at the poison Omnibus gave her as explosions boom in the distance. She realises she's shaking, that she is afraid to die.
Lupin shows up and scolds her for going out alone, then asks her what's wrong. When she refuses to admit to being sad he says that's ok, and sits next to her. She is overcome with self loathing, and thinks a wonderful man like him is the complete opposite of a monster like her.
Cardia: Why are you so kind to me?
Lupin: Because I'm a hero, isn't that good enough? :)
Cardia: But you might die! Why would you do that for me?!
Lupin: ...I have two reasons. First, it's my fight too. I suppose...I never told you...
In his youth, Lupin was an orphan pick-pocket in Paris. He only got caught once, when he was ten, by a man who said "You lack fundamental skills, but you have potential. I can teach you the real way to be a thief"
I love that Lupin's actually not a gentleman at all. I hope we get a baby Lupin CG.
Lupin's teacher was an "honourable thief" who stole from the dishonest and gave to the poor. After he'd been teaching Lupin for a long time, Lupin asked him why.
Teacher: I have done many dark deeds. I am atoning for my sins.
The only other thing he would say was "protect your own definition of justice and faith with your very life".
But then after several years of helping him steal, Lupin found out his teacher had stopped giving his money to the poor and had started a criminal organisation. Lupin felt betrayed by the closest thing he had to a father, and when he tried to persuade his teacher to stop, was cut out of his life entirely.
Lupin asked himself "What would the version of my teacher that lives in my heart do, if he found out that his money had been used to prey on the weak?". And the answer was "bring down the organisation, and open my teacher's eyes". Then they could be friends again!
But when Lupin brought the organisation down, the other criminals turned on the teacher.
...I guess i asked for that...
Lupin: It was raining. Bad things happen when it rains.
His teacher been tortured, but told Lupin he was glad to see him. And then he died.
Going through his things, Lupin found evidence that his teacher had been a high ranking member of Twilight. There was a note saying "I made my escape from Britain when I saw what Isaac Beckford's plan, 'Code: Realise', entailed. But the regret of not trying to stop it is eating away at my soul."
Lupin: And so I came to London. You know the rest.
He tries to act like it's all in his past but she can tell he's still sad about it, and thanks him for telling her.
Cardia: I understand why you're fighting now.
Lupin: But I'm not done. I said I have two reasons. Would you to guess that the other one is?
Me: ;D
Cardia: I don't know??
Lupin: Here's a hint: What's the difference between a monster and a human? Whether they're capable of love.
cardia: Oh! Lupin...I think I love you.
Lupin: o.O
cardia: And Victor and Van Helsing...Impey, Saint-Germain, Delly, and Sisi too...I enjoy being with you so much, and I feel at ease. Isn't that what love is?
Lupin: ...haha. That's nice and fun, but I mean...the kind of "I love you" you give to the one special person you care about most in the world. You'd gladly give up everything you have just to see them smile.
Cardia, realising she feels this way about Lupin: Is there anyone you feel that way about?
Lupin: Yes. I wouldn't think twice about giving my life for that person. That's the other reason I'm fighting.
Cardia: Oh :(
Lupin: She's a little timid, and cries a lot. I can't keep my eyes off her. She fearful when it comes to herself, but brave when it comes to others.
Cardia, internally: Wow I wish I was her :(
Lupin: ...and for some foolish reason she's convinced herself she's a monster.
Cardia: !!!
Lupin: I can't say for sure when I fell in love with her...but I'd do anything to make her happy. Do you understand, my beloved princess?
Cardia: ...I think she is probably already very happy, and she knows how much you love her. And Lupin...I realise now that I've been human for a long time.
Lupin: :D
Everyone prepares for battle. Delly says he'll join them.
Van Helsing: Why? It's human business.
Me: ALSO. HE IS TWELVE.
Delly: I can't stand by and do nothing when people are suffering. Those with power have the responsibility to do good. It's what my father would have done.
Delllllly <3 BEST DRACULA EVER
Van Helsing pats Delly on the back and thanks him, then leaves the room.
Victor: He said thank you?!
Impey: I didn't think he knew HOW.
St Paul's is the scene of a pitched battle, surrounded by fire and smoke. The Queen's forces are not doing well.
Cardia, seeing someone die: This is horrible :(
Victor: All war is horrible.
Soldier, seeing Delly bring down a whole troop of Twilight soldiers single-handed: Is that a vampire...child? On our side??
Soldier 2: Who cares, he's helping!
Lupin sneaks them to a hidden door leading below the cathedral. It once led to a crypt, but they are going even deeper, to a part of London even Saint-Germain didn't know about.
Finis shows up and is smugly cryptic so Van Helsing shoots him...only for another Finis to show up.
Saint-Germain, flatly: Wow. An immortal.
Van Helsing shoots Finis again and TWO MORE show up at ONCE. And then even more, until they're surrounded!! HUH. I'd assumed he just had the one single consciousness being transferred. So how does continuity of memory work?
The central Finis: My sister is a monster. Naturally I am too :) But I'm not a Homunculus. You came to learn Father's secret, right, Sister? Together...let us become part of Father...
The other Finises engage everyone in battle, so only Cardia and Lupin can follow the one leading the way.
The corridors are dark and creepy, but with Lupin holding her hand, Cardia feels safe, and loved. I wonder how much plot there can be left, yet we're only on Chapter 11. (EDIT: Lol)
They come to the room where we saw Finis come to life before: an impossibly huge space with a device in the centre:
Cardia: This device is Father's secret?
Finis: Not quite. This machine is Father himself, and also me, myself.
I KEPT THINKING THAT ALL THIS NEEDED TO BE THE FULL EVANGELION WAS ALIENS AND GIANT ROBOTS. A giant computer version of the protagonist's dead dad that is also her brother is definitely a step in the right direction :D
(also the glossary says Finis resembles Isaac's dead biological son, and thus craves a father's love, but that has not come up in the text??)
Lupin: Stop being cryptic. You said you'd tell her the truth >:(
Me: He also said he'd kill her and fuse with her to form a God, so...
Finis: Let me demonstrate. *shoots himself in the head*
Finis's voice, from the machine: The Finis you're used to is just a biological terminal, a puppet of flesh and blood. Isn't it funny that Van Helsing was so desperately breaking worthless dolls?
Me: So you're saying shoot the machine...
Cardia: You're a machine?!
Finis: Does it matter? You're a doll yourself. And this body is me, but also Father. I exist as a memory device to store Father's mind. This vessel contains the knowledge of this century's greatest genius...and is Code:Realize, the key to the creation of a new God.
Me: Yep....time to shoot the machine...
Cardia: You can't make a God!
Finis: I am his mechanical vessel, with an intellect far greater than any human's. And the Philosopher's Stone will power it. A body that will never decay and infinite capability of thought- it could bend the world to his will! What could you call that but a God? He is literally trying to become a deus ex machina!
corpse!Finis: Come with me Sister, so that I can be loved by Father...can become one with Father!
Cardia: D:
Lupin: Thank you for the explanation, but she's mine. Now what I have here is a powerful explosive designed by our foolish engineer...
Me: BLOWING UP THE MACHINE ALSO WORKS
Finis: How barbaric. I heard you didn't use violence.
Lupin: I don't condone violence. But if it's to protect the woman I love, I won't hesitate.
Me: You absolutely condone violence, Lupin, you just delegate because you're not very good at it.
Lupin: *brandishing a bomb* Tell me how to remove her poison!!
Finis: It will disappear on it's own...when she becomes one with Father. Of course, she'll be dead ^_^
A rumbling begins. HURRY UP AND BLOW UP THE MACHINE!!! The roof starts to cave in...and then stops!
Lupin: I can see the stars?! What happened to the roof? And why is the machine floating upwards???
Fucking Nemo: BEHOLD THE MIGHT OF THE GRAVITY ALLEVIATOR!!!
And then Finis shoots out METAL TENTACLES and wraps them around Cardia, bringing her up into the air towards his main body.
Finis points out that Lupin can't blow him up without killing Cardia (THAT'S WHY HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT EARLIER), and hits Lupin with another tentacle. Lupin leaps towards her, and is dragged upwards by the same antigravity, but before he can reach for her hand Finis cries "Sister is mine!" and Lupin falls heavily back to the ground.
Lupin: I swear I will save you! Wait for me, Cardia!
Cardia: I was able to become human because I love you! I believe in you!
Leonhardt POV. He looks up at the Nautilus in horror. All the soldiers on both sides have stopped to stare at the airborne fortress hanging impossibly in the sky. An orb (eg Finis and Cardia) floats up into it, and then a glowing blue object descends, emitting a beautiful and horribly familiar crystalline light.
Leonhardt: RUN!!!
The soldiers near the device begin to scream and die, as it emits the same Zicterium gas the British used against the vampires during the war. SUCKS TO BE YOU, BRITISH ARMY. (Ok, I do feel sorry for the individual soldiers. But not Leonhardt)
Nemo announces (IN SUMMARY THANK GOD) that the Nautilus is going to drag Britain, and eventually the whole world, into endless war. He declares it to be the seat of God, but Leonhardt considers it the throne of the Devil.
Chapter 12: Code Raalize
Cardia wakes to the sound of birdsong.
???: Wake up, Cardia.
Me: IS THAT. ISAAC?????!!!
Cardia can't see this person clearly, or remember who they are, but knows she cares for them deeply.
???: Always sleeping in...you should be more like Finis.
Me: >:O
Cardia's not wearing gloves, and nothing she touches melts, yet it feels entirely natural.
Cardia: This is me...but not me. I feel like I'm living the memories of some other person.
Finis whines to "Mother" about having to wait for breakfast. Isaac is shy but kind. Though Cardia smiles at them, tears stream down her eyes.
Cardia wakes for real and remembers that Twilight agents attached a device to her gem, and she passed out from pain. She's now tied to a chair in a new huge chamber, facing machine!Finis and wearing the same clothes she wore at the start.
human!Finis: These are just like the clothes Father made for you. Apparently your original was not a morning person :)
Did he have the same dream? Also does this mean an Englishman named his regular human kids Finis and Cardia and JUST HAPPENED to make weird monster versions of them later? Looking back I feel sure I did suspect them of being based on Isaac's dead kid(s), but I don't seem to have said so.
Finis says the device took energy from her gem to power the Nautilus. And then...he takes out the pendant D: He tears open her shirt and her gem glows and pulses with heat. She feels like her body is being rearranged from the inside. She screams, and the pendant shatters.
Finis: Now all we have to do is wait. Once your gem is extracted, my job will be done. We will be reunited as a family.
Cardia: That's not what I want!
Finis: It will be.
And then he cries out in pain and tears at his throat, all while smiling.
Finis: Ah! Look, Sister! Your energy has caused Father to stir! It's just as he predicted! He truly is amazing!
I...
Finis, falling to his knees: FATHER! MY BODY IS YOURS!
uh...
He screams for his father one more time, and goes silent. And then his mechanical body emits a strange light and the human body rises from the ground.
His voice is the same as Finis's (if a little deeper and more serious), but stirs long buried memories of Isaac. He smiles and touches her cheek, and his hand begins to melt. He moves his hand to the gem in her chest.
Isaac: It's a beautiful light. Thank you, Cardia.
Cardia: ...Father?
Isaac: Yes :) I created you and Finis. I will become the world's shepherd.
Cardia: Why?! I've seen so much death. I don't know anything about guiding humanity but a world war...there is no way this could be anything but evil!
Isaac: ...
Cardia: And if you love me, why did you create me, a monster who can't even touch? Just to use me as a catalyst?!
Isaac: You misunderstand. I love Cardia. But you aren't her. I love the image of my daughter, which has been recreated in you, a monster.
!!!!
I was worried it would be all "she really is a human girl after all" but nooooope.
Isaac: You're based on her genes, all that was left of her living cells after our house burned down.
I was going to say this is anachronistic, but genes were discovered in 1866! (And from that it's a short step to human cloning, obviously)
Isaac: They're only shadows, but you have you have her appearance, and some of her mannerisms. I'm glad I was able to see you again for a little while.
He smiles affectionately, but Cardia knows it's not her he's really seeing. And then he closes his eyes, and when they open again, he's Finis.
Cardia: Finis- Father is wrong! So many people are going to die, including us!
Finis: Father will love us. Isn't that enough? Or are you taking his love for granted? *twists her hair painfully* He despised me, you'll never understand how that feels!
Cardia: He doesn't love me! He loves his daughter!
Finis: So what if it's fake? He never even smiled at me!
Cardia realises that Finis has been more alone, and aware of himself as a doll, than Cardia has ever been. And then he strangles her through her shirt until she passes out.
Family, amirite?
Lupin POV! First person!
Queen Victoria is addressing her provisional government. The rebellion has largely been defeated, but Victoria is still in hiding, aware of the behemoth glaring down from the sky. Victor and Impey explain about their inventions, Zicterium and the Gravity Alleviator, now both being used for death.
Victoria announces an all out attack on the Nautilus in five days time, so her soldiers have time to rest. Afterwards, Lupin sits alone and angsts about Cardia: What is she going through as a result of his failure? He decides he can't wait five days to save her.
He stares at the ornithopter, the logical part of his brain saying a lone rescue isn't brave, it's reckless. But then he thinks back to the sound of the rain as he watched his mentor die as a result of his choices.
Van Helsing: Were you planning to go alone? Why the rush? Don't thieves need the patience to wait for the right opportunity?
Lupin: The woman I love is in danger! She could even be dead! How can I not be in a rush? She was finally able to smile...So don't try to stop me!
Van Helsing: Who's trying to stop you? I'm just saying don't go alone.
Lupin: ...oh. Ok :)
Impey: I've been searching for that thing all this time.
Victor: And we can't let them use Zicterium however they please.
Lupin's still anxious. But at least he has his friends.
Saint-Germain: I have a suggestion for how we can save her...
It's GUINEVERE AND OMNIBUS.
They go back to Victoria, who has heard tales of Idea passed down through the royal family. She has a smug-lady-off with Omnibus.Lupin isn't sure he likes this talk of destroying "Isaac's creations".
Victoria: You want us to attack tomorrow night? Impossible!
Saint-Germain: We'll put magic forcefields arounds your airships.
Victoria: Magic! Ha! But I was always fond of fairytales ^_^
Victor: MAGIC DOESN'T EXIST
Saint-Germain: ...which will act as a diversion while Lupin and the others enter the Nautilus covertly, and bring it down before Isaac can be revived.
Lupin: Saving the world is all well and good but FYI I am not down with you destroying Cardia.
Omnibus: ...all right. If we succeed, she will be left alone. According to my predictions, the fall of mankind has already been set in motion. If I'm wrong about that, what use are my other prophecies? ^_^
It's the next day. Civilians and even some rebel soldiers have joined the government forces, having seen the scale of the threat. But everyone is exhausted. Victoria offers a reward to anyone who helps, and soon sky pirates and criminals have joined nobles seeking glory, all bringing their airships. "Greed seems to be a stronger motivator than justice, but Victoria's determination turns them into patriots." LUPIN YOU ARE FRENCH STOP IT.
It turns out many alchemists and scientists already have a deep knowledge of magic, and they are recruited by Idea to work with Saint-Germain and Victor (who has presumably gotten his head around this whole magic thing). Van Helsing trains civilians. Impey prepares an airship. And Lupin plans, and wonders if Cardia is looking out at the same sky. He tells himself she is alright, but is terrified, and feels pitiful to have lost his confidence when everyone's relying on him.
Van Helsing: It's not pitiful. She's important to you.
Lupin: I've always been desperate for something: survival, justice...I won't say I've never been in love, but she and I are probably similar in that neither of us was ever fully human.
They have more cute conversation. Lupin thinks about how motivated Van Helsing always is to help Cardia, and wonders how he feels about her, but decides to let the question lie.
The magically glowing airships look like a new galaxy of stars as they rise into the air.
Victoria gives an inspiring speech then says "I have to confess, I had considered a similar plan, thinking a large scale war would help Britain. But seeing what the Nautilus has done...I have finally come to realise that there is no point in repeating a history of slaughter."
Me: YOU COMMITTED GENOCIDE AGAINST AN ENTIRE SPECIES. YOU WATCHED YOUR FATHER MURDER COUNTLESS FOREIGNERS. AND YOU ONLY JUST REALISED DEATH IS BAD NOW IT'S ENGLISH HUMANS???
...I guess that does seem in character for the real Queen Victoria. Anyway.
As Lupin and the others prepare to board their airship, Sholmes says he wants to come as well. Lupin grudgingly agrees.
Delly comes to tell them that Cardia doesn't deserve to die...but neither should any of them. Including Van Helsing, which leaves him shaken.
Lupin: I suppose sometimes it's tougher to be forgiven than to go on being hated.
Van: I suppose so.
Since this engine is delicate (ie it's Lupin's path) Impey will be in the engine room while Lupin drives.
They enter the raging air battle around the Nautilus. Nothing the British soldiers do makes any difference. Unable to avoid the Nautilus's attacks, Lupin opts for a head-on collision, and everyone braces for impact.
Cardia POV. She is woken from sleep by the sound of distant explosions. Her gem glows, and she wonders what will happen when the transformation is complete. She sees her old clothes strewn around the room, and finds the poison she got from Omnibus. But Lupin told her to have faith. Another explosion causes her door to buckle, and she successfully kicks it open.
Her legs shake, and she's not sure if it's her or the ship. But the others are fighting outside, and maybe she can find a weak spot on the inside while she waits for Lupin to rescue her.
...but then Finis captures her, telling her to stop pretending to feel pain as a Twilight soldier stabs her in the leg.
Finis: There's no point trying to escape. Your gem activated the moment it came into contact with me. The heart wants a body and the body wants a heart, we're two halves of a whole. Your gem knows the body it belongs to is near, and is trying to cast aside it's useless fake vessel. It's trying to kill you, but since you're immune it just becomes more poisonous. Once that miraculous source of poison is released from it's restrictions, all life around you will die, including those annoying flies buzzing outside ^_^
Me: Also...everyone driving the ship?
Cardia: Wait...if Lupin rescues me, he'll die? D:
Finis: Despite your protestations, all you're good for is killing humans. So will you become a monster and destroy everyone you love? Or accept your fate and give father life as a Perfect God?
There's a choice about taking poison.
Cardia: I don't want to become a monster OR a God! I want to live, together with Lupin!
Finis, hitting her: You defect! If you can't decide, I'll do it for you. One drop of this liquid will turn you into a monster much faster. This is what you get for finding love!
A single drop falls onto her skin. Her gem emits a bright light, and she screams in pain, feeling like she's on fire. And then Finis laughs as his main body begins to glow even brighter.
human!Finis, his voice tinny and full of static: Ahahaha! Father is about to awaken!! It feels so good, so comforting! Father's essence is filling this vessel, eating away at my existence! Father!!
And then he falls, like a puppet whose string have been cut. Everything goes still, and Cardia's gem stops hurting.
Finis's human body rises, hair glowing, and greets her in Isaac's true voice: deep, gentle, and intimidating.
Isaac: At last my ideals will be realised. The world will continue to evolve under my guidance for ever. But for that to happen...
(nice job having the tentacles seem to be coming from the sprite, background artist!)
Isaac: We will destroy this worthless world and bring forth a new creation!
"Father is going to consume me. God is going to kill me."
Cardia: I want to live! Lupin, help!
Lupin, appearing in a burst of smoke: Got it ;)
Lupin: Don't fret, mademoiselle, I am here to rescue you from this machine, and with great style! Sorry I'm late <3
Cardia: :D :D <3 <3
Isaac: Who are you?
Lupin: Gentleman thief Arsène Lupin at your service. I'll be stealing her away from you, Dr Beckford.
Isaac: That's quite an entrance for a petty thief. Hand her over if you want to live. *attacks with tentacles*
Meeting the in-laws just never goes well for these guys...
Also I just noticed that Cardia has her clone number, 666, stitched into these clothes. SUCH A BAD DAD.
Lupin escapes with her out the door just in time. She thanks him, crying, and he says he just wants to see her smile.
Chapter 13: Warmth
An alarm sounds as Cardia tries to keep up with Lupin as they run. Her gem heats up and her vision starts to blur. Lupin looks at her with concern.
Cardia: I'm...*gasp*...fine...
Lupin: *picks her up and keeps running* Everyone's waiting. They have their own reasons for being here, but they're all worried about you.
Cardia feels a tiny warmth in the bottom of her heart.
Cardia: Lupin, thank you for saving me, it made me so happy to see you. But...I can't come with you.
I have the choice of "I can't tell him that reason" and "I can't let him know I'll become a monster" which seem equivalent to me?? But the second one is correct.
Cardia: I'm going to become a monster.
Me: That's the exact opposite of the choice I just...ah, never mind.
Lupin: I told you, you're not-
Cardia: My poison...it will become so strong everything around me will die! Not just nearby, but everyone fighting outside!
Lupin: ...
She can barely speak, overcome by longing, and thinks sadly to when she hoped he'd steal her away from her life, like before.
Cardia: I became human, thanks to you. Good bye, my thief.
Lupin: What do you think you're doing, making this decision on your own? "Goodbye"?! So what if there's poison, I love you! I'm going to do something about this if it costs me my life! *pulls her close* Trust me more, you doofus! I'm the magnificent Arsene Lupin, and I'm going to steal you no matter what!
And then there's a loud noise
and
he gets SHOT IN THE CHEST
???????!!!
D:
Finis: I've found you, Sister.
YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD BE DONE BEING SURPRISED THAT FINIS ISN'T DEAD BUT NO
Ahh...because "his power source got stolen", Isaac needs to rest again.
Cardia: I need to help Lupin!
Finis *shooting his body several more times*: No you don't ^_^
(at this point I remembered that Lupin has used fake bodies in the past)
"Just as Lupin is shot, right before Cardia's eyes, a different story is coming to it's conclusion..."
Wait that was really Lupin? Will she have to use the fully active Philosopher's Stone to save him?
It's Victor and Impey versus Nemo in the engine room! Can my love for Victor make up for the presence of Nemo...
Nemo: My two nemeses! Why don't we join forces and show this pathetic world the brilliance of science?
Victor: Science isn't for creating tragedy!
Impey: Yeah, it's for hopes and dreams! Let's show him what the two greatest minds in the world are capable of!
Meanwhile, Saint-Germain stands alone on the hull. He has his own enemy: Idea! I thought they were allies now?
He barely dodges Guinevere's giant sword.
Saint-Germain: You claim you will save her, then destroy everything in the chaos of battle...this has the stink of Omnibus all over it.
Guinevere: Yes. Do you intend to repeat your mistake with the Black Plague?
Saint-Germain: I don't believe Idea's decisions are absolute.
Guinevere: Then I envy you.
And then they begin to fight.
IS THAT THE AZOTH SOUND EFFECT D: It's this creepy sort of...soft, deep, slow up and down tone, with rattling noises or something over the top. Nnng. I don't have the soundtrack on so it's extra disquieting to hear this all of a sudden.
A panting, injured Van Helsing stares at an equally injured Aleister.
Aleister: I underestimated you ^_^
Van Helsing: Is it true? What you just said? It was you who took my family? Who's been manipulating me all this time? What do you want?!
Aleister: I suppose I want...someone who understands me. A companion.
Van Helsing: You made me kill the vampires for THAT?!
Aleister: Just kill me now. Not out of self defence, but out of pure hatred. Then you will understand my loneliness.
Van Helsing, softly: Just leave. I could never return to those who trust me if I dirtied my hands with your blood.
Aleister: Then I am alone :( *walks away slowly, as if saying "Come on, shoot me in the back, you know you want to!"*
Van Helsing's hand trembles, holding his gun, and he wonders if it can be right to choose those close to him over his revenge.
Van Helsing ;_;
The Azoth sound stops. We are in the head of someone heavily injured, noting the ongoing explosions.
Me: Lupin??
But no, it's Aleister! He thinks about how wonderfully evil Isaac's plan is.
Aleister: When the intruders are eliminated, I hope I can see it. The beautiful world filled with endless terror and chaos...
Sholmes: Evil and justice are two sides of the same coin, the definitions depend on context. But there are those who are absolute evil in the eyes of every society. Like you, Jimmy A. Aleister. Or should I call you...JAMES MORIARTY!
Aleister: Long time no see...SHERLOCK HOLMES!!
GASP
HERLOCK SHOLMES IS SHERLOCK HOLMES???!!!1111!!!???
(I had heard it was supposed to be a pseudonym and it's still. Just. SO SILLY)
Ha, even Aleister makes fun of his shitty "anagram". Holmes ignores him and says he's been authorised to use lethal force to bring Aleister to justice. But he admits that London will be less interesting without Aleister around. Aleister realises that pursuing darkness for so long has given Holmes a taste for it.
Aleister: Ha! And I thought I was all alone :) It's as you say. Evil and justice are two sides of the same coin. Being killed by you brings satisfaction.
Holmes: Setting aside the heinousness of your crimes...I did enjoy our exchanges more than anything, James.
Aleister: Thank you, Sherlock.
Holmes bows, and smiles. There is the sound of a gunshot.
Cardia POV. She is miserable, and regrets not killing herself when she had the chance. Her gem begins to pulsate wildly. Her body jerks back, and Finis shouts ecstatically. And then the pain stops. Her hair goes white, and she feels her gem become the Philosopher's Stone at last.
Isaac: Ah, so beautiful. You are worthy to become god's heart.
Cardia: Wait...my poison!
Isaac: My body absorbs it in this room. We still need the crew of the Nautilus for a little while yet...Your poison will soon grow too strong even for this body, but we'll end everything before it gets to that point :)
Cardia: D:
Isaac, looking at what used to be Finis's body: This doll was obnoxious to the end, always gadding about doing pointless things. I suppose he was a failure.
Cardia: Father...no, Isaac. Finis did everything for you, just wanting you to love him!
Isaac: It's only natural for a tool to carry out it's creator's orders.
Cardia: You're wrong! Finis and I might be artificial, but we are alive! We think, and we suffer, and you trample over us just to fulfil your own desires! You're more of a monster than either of us ever were!
Isaac: How do these annoying personalities develop? I'm done with you, time to extract the philosopher's stone. *extends tentacles* You wouldn't have to suffer like this if you'd given up and never yearned for anything. I'll put an end to your suffering.
My choices are Give up and Stay Strong.
LET ME THINK
Cardia: I won't give up on this life Lupin saved for me!
But Isaac draws her towards his machine body, saying "Let us become one". Somehow, she is swallowed by the surface of the sphere as if it is made of water.
Cardia finds herself in a bright forest, the visuals slightly grainy like old film. A woman approaches...and walks right through her. Cardia realises she can't feel her body: this is a memory of Isaac's, since she is literally inside his head. (I eventually gave up on trying to understand what was going on in the context of a human-ish body inside a cog based computer. SHE IS JUST LITERALLY INSIDE HIS HEAD)
The woman is talking to a man: a younger Isaac (no image, aw)
Isaac: I'm going to bring down the wall between science and magic! But...I'll be away for a while in London. Will you wait for me?
Woman: Haha. Ok :)
Cardia sees more of Isaac's memories. It's a cold, sad story.
Isaac found great success, but always remained kind, humble, hard-working, and pious. After his wife gave birth to twins, he semi-retired to a village, which he helped through a famine with science.
But when the famine got worse again, the villagers decided he was using the devil's tricks, and that this has brought down God's punishment. One day when he was out, they stabbed Isaac's wife near to death and badly burned his children?? When he begged for a horse to get them treatment, the villagers threw stones, and so he just had to watch them die.
(I was hoping his angsty backstory would be more interesting than "wife and kids gratuitously fridged by dumbass villagers he was only ever nice to", but never mind. Also, I'd just like to take this moment to apologise for my complete inability to pick a tense and stick to it. The best I can manage is trying to fix the times I, say, switch from past tense to present in the middle of a sentence, as I may or may not have done in the original draft of this flashback >.> )
After that, Isaac returns to London a changed man. He feels like everything he makes go to waste, because of the people who utilise it. He decides it's time to create a new world, leaving behind the God who has stood idly by.
But this is a forged goal, helping him look away from his true intentions.
Cardia wakes in her room in the Welsh mansion, feeling like she just had a sad dream.
Cardia: I should get up...but what's the point, I'll just be waiting here doing nothing. I should stay here and sleep, so I won't hurt anyone, and won't get hurt...
Somehow, there is a knock on the door.
Cardia: Please don't wake me. Please don't let me hurt you.
Lupin's voice: Are you sure that's what you want?
Cardia: Yes.
Lupin: Liar! Tell me the wish you really want fulfilled!
Cardia, remembering: ...Lupin! I want to see you! I want to touch you!
Lupin: Beautiful mademoiselle, your wish is my command! Take my hand!
And so she reaches for him, and there is a sound like bubbling liquid and she opens her eyes to see Lupin, holding her hand and pulling her from the liquid core of the machine.
Lupin: Unworthy as I am, I have come to take back my beloved princess who had been stolen from me.
Cardia: Lupin :D ...wait, didn't you get shot?!
Lupin: The secret to that trick is Impey's bullet-roof vest, complete with fake blood ;) I got knocked out, but I'm fine.
Cardia: Oh...but my poison! Run!
Lupin: If it had gone into overdrive, we'd both be dead. Your new hair looks good though ;)
Cardia: It's more proof I'm a monster :(
Lupin: You're beautiful, the greatest treasure I could ask for. Now it would be nice to end this on a romantic note, but the enemy is right there...
Isaac: I apologise for calling you a petty thief. That was quite the gamble.
Ok so. Lupin stayed hidden so Cardia's gem would become the Philosopher's Stone and have most of it's energy (and thus poisonousness) siphoned off by Isaac. Then he (somehow?) rescued her when she had just enough energy left to survive but was no longer poisonous.
Isaac: Actually, she'll still be a little poisonous for a while.
Lupin: Aw :(
Isaac: But more importantly...I AM A GOD :D :D
Lupin: With all due respect, Mr Bradford, you're a little arrogant. Cardia, hold tight to me, I'm going to put on quite a show!
He clicks his fingers and explosions go off all over the room. He used such old fashioned bombs that Isaac didn't detect them.
Lupin: Consider it an explosive dowry, my dear father-in-law! This is what happens when you let go of the ability to think like a human. I'll be walking on my own two feet, without a God to hold my hand.
Isaac: You can't stop me...the dead will rise. Family..together...never separated again...
And then what was Finis's human body falls to the ground, and the machine goes still.
There is an explosion. Without Isaac's mind using up the Philosopher's Stone's energy, the Nautilus is going to self destruct. And then...
human!Finis: HOW COULD YOU KILL FATHER?!
GODDAMMIT BOY YOU REALLY DON'T DIE DO YOU
The ship tilts. Lupin grabs onto Cardia but Finis (now trapped in this one remaining body) starts to fall towards a hole in the floor. Cardia promises Lupin she'll come back and runs to help Finis.
But it's too late. As Finis start to fall into the bottomless sky he says "Father...I'm sorry..."
And then she grabs him by the arm!
Finis: It's pointless! Without your gem you have no real strength.
Cardia: I'm going to save you!
Finis: Let me go. Father is dead. I'm a doll with no purpose, who was never loved by anyone, and just yearns to be human...
Cardia: I'll love you! Live, Finis!
Finis: Why?
Cardia, her arm going numb: You're my brother, the only family I have left. We've fought, and hurt each other, but it's not too late to start over!
Finis: You...really are a failure. Don't you see that you're going to fall too? I decline. I hate you!
He pulls away, and starts to fall. "Good bye, Sister. I've always hated you. But in the end, just a little bit-"
And then he falls out of sight.
As she's about to fall too, Lupin pulls her back. "You can mourn him later. But first you have to survive. Everything starts from that."
The ship is is collapsing around them and it seem impossible to get out safely, especially with Cardia weakened *pours out a glass for her super-strength*
Lupin: I guess this is the end of the great Lupin.
Cardia: Go ahead without me, I'll catch up later.
Lupin: Ouch! Oh no, the place Finis shot me is super sore...I don't think I can move! Dang, guess I'm staying with you ;)
Cardia: This is no time for jokes!
Lupin: This must be the sturdiest room in the ship. All we can do is hope to luck and wait together for judgement. But I'm sorry I didn't fulfil my promise and let you feel the warmth of another person.
Cardia: That's not true, I always feel warm when I'm with you. We've been connected for a long time <3
The floor collapses beneath them and they fall into the sky.
Lupin: Since this is the end, let me keep to our promise.
The poison is even in her hair now, but he strokes it, smiling though it burns away his glove and at his skin. (This would be a more powerful moment if I hadn't been waiting for it since the title screen and trailer) And then his hand stops burning: her poison is finally gone! They kiss.
Cardia: I'll love you all the way to the end of the world.
End Credits!
A happy dark haired (?) Cardia is doing gardening in Saint-Germain's mansion, happy but nervous about something happening tomorrow. She asks him if Saint-Germain's in trouble with Idea now, but he says that since he helped bring down Isaac, he was just punished with banishment and a limited lifespan- only 100 years.
Cardia, who I don't think ever found out he was immortal on this path: Isn't that normal?
Saint-Germain: Yes. But now I feel like part of the group :)
Aw.
That night Lupin bumps into her, still in the garden, and says the star of the show needs to get some rest.
Cardia: I feel like I'm too happy. Lupin, tell me this isn't a dream...
Six months earlier:
Cardia and Lupin, ready to die, land...softly, on top of an airship piloted by Impey.
For a while they all help London rebuild, but then everyone makes their own plans.
Saint-Germain plans to hang around London doing nothing in particular until he dies of old age and is very happy about it.
Victor returned to alchemical research, but also works as a social campaigner, successfully getting Victoria to change her views.
Impey is moving to America to work on his dreams to go to the moon.
Van Helsing has become a bodyguard to Renfield, meeting with vampires on behalf of Britain.
Now:
Lupin: If it is a dream I'll cross the bridge to reality and steal you back <3
Cardia: Haha, you would <3
The next day...they get married! Everyone is very cute about it and Leonhardt is there being bizarrely squeeful.
Lupin: Did we even invite him?
Cardia: I did invite one extra guest...
Sholmes: Congratulations! Your adorable sweetheart asked me to play a trick on you ^_^
Cardia: Are you surprised? :D
Lupin: ...damn it, you're too cute, I can't stay mad at you.
Impey: Give me one last embrace to sooth my broken heart...
Delly, trying to restrain him: HOW IS HE SO STRONG?
Van Helsing: *cocks gun*
Victor: NO SHOOTING AT THE WEDDING
Lupin: ...THAT'S IT I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS I AM SICK OF WAITING *kisses Cardia*
She's so into it she forgets to breath, haha. Her gem is still there, but has gone white.
Cardia: We haven't made our vows to God yet!
Lupin: I'm not the sort to make vows to God anyway. I choose to love you forever of my own free will.
Cardia: Troublemaker <3
So they swear vows to each other instead, to always love each other, and steal each other's hearts.
THE END
Awwwwww.
Extra scene!
Cardia has been living alone with Lupin (and Sisi) for a short time. She has no complaints, but she's very aware of being alone with him.
Me: Oh, is she lonely?
...Sometimes their eyes meet and she finds herself blushing.
Oh ho. I see.
Lupin is out in the rain and she's freaking out a little. Victor runs a clinic in the poor part of London and comes to visit a lot, and mentioned that a cold has been going around.
Cardia: I've never had a cold, are they bad?
Victor: They're common, but untreated colds have been known to kill.
So now she's worried Lupin will catch a cold and die. THANKS VICTOR. When she hears Lupin arrive home she runs in with a towel, stopping short when she sees him already half undressed, and dripping with water. "His skin is too beautiful to look at directly" aw.
Lupin: Why are you looking away? You brought me a towel, right? Hand it over, I'll catch a cold....wait, are you embarrassed? :D
Cardia's internal Lupin: Thieves must always remain calm.
Cardia's internal Lupin: *is also half naked*
Cardia: DAMMIT
Lupin: I noticed you've been avoiding me lately...I was getting worried something was wrong. I apologise for not realising I'd misunderstood a woman's heart, will my eternal devotion be enough to make it up to you?
Cardia: Maybe I should wait outside while you're changing...
Lupin: You could watch if you like ;) But you can turn around, I'm done.
When he finds out why she was so worried he laughs but is touched. Then he hugs her and says he felt a little rejected when she seemed to be ignoring him. He kisses her neck and says "I can do this now...I shall appear before you tonight to make you mine."
THE END
Gosh.
And now I am done with the main game!!
Even though Lupin was a bit well-adjusted for me, I do overall like their dynamic. They're both self sacrificing, optimistic romantics who care about each other deeply. And he's a theatrical extrovert who likes having an appreciative, deserving audience, while she's led a lonely, empty existence and is super into being treated like his romantic heroine.
My plan now is to pick a LI and do his bad ends, then cheer myself up with his happy Future Blessings DLC path, then repeat this with everyone. I was going start with Victor again but kinda feel like doing Lupin now since I'm in a Lupin headspace. The Future Blessings trailer made me expect a wedding, but they already did that, so who knows what it'll be!
But yeah, that was fun. HER BROTHER WAS REALLY A COMPUTER AND ALSO HER DAD. I LOVE IT.
It occurred to me I could look up Finis's age: unknown, bah. But he's 4'8" and his "mother"'s name was Rebecca, which never came up in the game. Cardia's 5'2", and looks a bit older, even though they're clones made around the same time from a pair of twins. I wonder if she's been growing up physically for the last few years and he hasn't. I wonder if he would age physically if he stayed in the same body for long enough, he says he has an "infinite store" but the practicalities aren't really explained.
I do feel sorry for Finis in the end. Every now and then I think about him meeting Kaoru from Hakuoki, who was a very similar character, but then I think about how Kaoru would react to finding out about Finis's complicity in the genocide of what are effectively his English brethren.
I don't feel very sorry for Isaac though. Screw that guy.
And that's the end of the main game!
I liked it! Both as an overall game, and this path in particular. Lupin is a bit too well-adjusted to be entirely my type but it was still a sweet romance, and an AMAZING ridiculous rollercoaster of anime scifi tropes.
Also, being the Final Path it did a nice job of tying up all the other plots and giving everyone some closure.
Content note: WEIRD quasi-incestuous familial abuse, genocide, suicide
Chapter 11: Champion of Justice/A Hero
OMNIBUS/EVE POV!!!
She's pruning trees. One branch cut can increase the yield of ten more.
Guinevere comes with a report about London. "The Queen has been rescued by Lupin, one of the assorted people gathered by Saint-Germain. And by one of Isaac's cursed children."
Omnibus: Gather the apostles. Give, hmm...Saint-Germain command. Isaac is attempting to set foot in a sacred realm open only to God. He is about to repeat my mistake, and humanity faces what may be its greatest ever threat.
Cardia POV.
She looks at Victoria and Leonhardt sleeping next to each other and ships them a little bit. And then she looks at Lupin, and thinks about how much she cares for him. She wonders why he is so kind to her, and what he thinks of her. She tries to put her feelings into words.
Cardia: Lupin, my chest hurts when I think of you.
Lupin: ...
Cardia: I was happy you saved me, but I didn't like that you put yourself in danger, and I...uh...
She realises he's staring at her with an inquisitive expression, and gets flustered. And then he pulls her towards him and kisses the top of her head.
Me: :D :D :D
Cardia: !!!!!
Leonardt: Hey!! Are we there yet?
GOD DAMMIT LEONHARDT
BLAH BLAH THEY LAND THE AIRSHIP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PLANS. WHO CARES. WHAT ABOUT KISSES AND FEELINGSSSS???
*stops playing to get a nice screenshot of the CG via the menu and waits until I'm in a headspace to pay attention to the actual plot again*
Huh. I've only seen 6 of Lupin's 28 CGs o.O That includes minor variants, though, looks like I've seen 4/12 genuinely different ones. I also haven't seen some CGs for Victor and Van Helsing, presumably depressing bad end ones.
Side note: I've been wondering where Cardia's genetic material came from. If Issac is planning on taking over Finis's body, it seems plausible that Finis is an Isaac clone, especially since his bodies seem to be produced by some fast-working Finis-printer. Cardia has a similar face shape to Finis, but is brunette instead of blonde, so I don't think she's a direct clone as well, even asides from issues of gender. So who is she based on? Isaac's older sister would be enjoyably awful, and explain why Finis calls her "older sister", though since he's also a constructed being he may well be literally younger (eg 5 to her 6)
Oh cool: I had another look at the "Path of Genesis", which lets you replay played chapters, and for a bunch of them they've used that cute 19th century chapter heading style eg:
OK BACK TO THE PLOT. I GUESS.
Queen Victoria says that once all this done she'll give them both medals and Lupin says they're not the medal wearing type rather than reminding her that he is A FRENCHMAN. FROM FRANCE. See also: the way none of the non-English characters talk about how global war might affect THEIR OWN COUNTRIES rather than just England. France, specifically, is right there next door! And historically has had a tendency to get drawn in on one side or the other whenever England has a big war!
Anyway.
Queen Victoria has formed a provisional government and is gathering her remaining forces within London. Blah blah so inspiring, great queen *still hates her, even if she is interesting and hot*
Leonhardt thanks Cardia and Lupin for saving them and swears he will one day repay the favour, even if he feels weird about working with a thief. Lupin tanks him for having looked after Cardia.
Leonhardt: Oh, let me introduce someone who will be helping with the military operations: Herlock Sholmes.
Lupin: I HAVE TO WORK WITH HIM???
Sholmes: Just try not to get in my way, little cutpurse ^_^
Lupin: Same to you, you pathetic gendarme >:(
Cardia: Come on, Lupin, we're on the same side.
Lupin: FINE. I won't beat you up, just because she asked.
Sholmes: Lol, as if you could ^_^
Lupin: D:<
I love that Lupin is mostly very together but has these moments of flusteredness.
And then all their friends show up! Lupin makes sure he has an audience then talks up how competent and brave Cardia was.
Then he leads them to one of his hideouts, grumpily putting up with Sholmes tagging along.
The plan is for Victoria to cut off the head of the rebellion: Twilight. Meanwhile Lupin and Cardia will go under St Paul's using the confusion of the attack as cover.
Lupin says that after leaving without notice and worrying everyone, Cardia should tell them everything that's happened. She thanks them all for helping with "her personal issue" but they point out they have their own reasons for attacking Twilight/investigating all this (except Impey, who says he's a warrior of love doing it for her) Lupin goes down on one knee. "If you would accept our offer, please take my hand." She takes it, thinking about how his theatrical gestures are always filled with kindness and consideration.
Cardia can't sleep, and looks up at the calm, unchanging stars as they twinkle over a city at war. She wants to know the truth about herself, and remove her poison....but the truth also scares her, and part of her just wants to run away.
Saint-Germain comes out and says he's been looking for her. His smile seems melancholy, and I wonder if he's here to kill her. But no! He's here to introduce her to someone. As he leads her away (HMM) she notices his walk lacks its usual elegance.
Saint-Germain: Are you reading minds now? But yes, my heart is troubled for the first time in a long while. And it's your fault...
Me: :(
Oh god it's all too sad for me to write down. He talks about how humanity is constantly seeking forgiveness from God for it's original sin, and must be guided away from mistakes by Idea.
Saint-Germain: I am an apostle of Idea. And...they believe that you are a mistake that must be removed.
Guinevere and Omnibus appear, looking at Cardia with a blank expression and kind smile respectively.
Omnibus: It seems Saint-Germain stole most of our thunder. But I am Omnibus, leader of Idea. And I've come to kill you ^_^
She describes Cardia and Finis as Isaac Beckford's cursed children, who should not be allowed to exist.
Guinevere takes a step towards Cardia...but then Saint-Germain steps in front of her.
Omnibus: You're protecting her? Perhaps you have grown too attached.
Saint-Germain: I won't deny that. But more than that, I want to believe that even if her existence is a mistake, the path she walks upon cannot be one.
Saint-Germain ;_;
He and Guinevere draw their weapons, but Omnibus tells them to stop. They're both too important, and the situation is too dire.
Saint-Germain: You're letting her go?
Omnibus: I'm changing my approach. Cardia, here is some poison. If you fall into Isaac's hands, the world will be engulfed in the flames of never-ending war. This offers a painless alternative.
Cardia takes it, but reassures Saint-Germain that she'll only swallow it as a last resort. "Thank you for saving me, Saint-Germain."
He smiles sadly and says he hasn't saved her, because he hasn't been able to erase the things that cause her pain.
*is distracted by Saint-Germain/Cardia feels*
She stares at the poison Omnibus gave her as explosions boom in the distance. She realises she's shaking, that she is afraid to die.
Lupin shows up and scolds her for going out alone, then asks her what's wrong. When she refuses to admit to being sad he says that's ok, and sits next to her. She is overcome with self loathing, and thinks a wonderful man like him is the complete opposite of a monster like her.
Cardia: Why are you so kind to me?
Lupin: Because I'm a hero, isn't that good enough? :)
Cardia: But you might die! Why would you do that for me?!
Lupin: ...I have two reasons. First, it's my fight too. I suppose...I never told you...
In his youth, Lupin was an orphan pick-pocket in Paris. He only got caught once, when he was ten, by a man who said "You lack fundamental skills, but you have potential. I can teach you the real way to be a thief"
I love that Lupin's actually not a gentleman at all. I hope we get a baby Lupin CG.
Lupin's teacher was an "honourable thief" who stole from the dishonest and gave to the poor. After he'd been teaching Lupin for a long time, Lupin asked him why.
Teacher: I have done many dark deeds. I am atoning for my sins.
The only other thing he would say was "protect your own definition of justice and faith with your very life".
But then after several years of helping him steal, Lupin found out his teacher had stopped giving his money to the poor and had started a criminal organisation. Lupin felt betrayed by the closest thing he had to a father, and when he tried to persuade his teacher to stop, was cut out of his life entirely.
Lupin asked himself "What would the version of my teacher that lives in my heart do, if he found out that his money had been used to prey on the weak?". And the answer was "bring down the organisation, and open my teacher's eyes". Then they could be friends again!
But when Lupin brought the organisation down, the other criminals turned on the teacher.
...I guess i asked for that...
Lupin: It was raining. Bad things happen when it rains.
His teacher been tortured, but told Lupin he was glad to see him. And then he died.
Going through his things, Lupin found evidence that his teacher had been a high ranking member of Twilight. There was a note saying "I made my escape from Britain when I saw what Isaac Beckford's plan, 'Code: Realise', entailed. But the regret of not trying to stop it is eating away at my soul."
Lupin: And so I came to London. You know the rest.
He tries to act like it's all in his past but she can tell he's still sad about it, and thanks him for telling her.
Cardia: I understand why you're fighting now.
Lupin: But I'm not done. I said I have two reasons. Would you to guess that the other one is?
Me: ;D
Cardia: I don't know??
Lupin: Here's a hint: What's the difference between a monster and a human? Whether they're capable of love.
cardia: Oh! Lupin...I think I love you.
Lupin: o.O
cardia: And Victor and Van Helsing...Impey, Saint-Germain, Delly, and Sisi too...I enjoy being with you so much, and I feel at ease. Isn't that what love is?
Lupin: ...haha. That's nice and fun, but I mean...the kind of "I love you" you give to the one special person you care about most in the world. You'd gladly give up everything you have just to see them smile.
Cardia, realising she feels this way about Lupin: Is there anyone you feel that way about?
Lupin: Yes. I wouldn't think twice about giving my life for that person. That's the other reason I'm fighting.
Cardia: Oh :(
Lupin: She's a little timid, and cries a lot. I can't keep my eyes off her. She fearful when it comes to herself, but brave when it comes to others.
Cardia, internally: Wow I wish I was her :(
Lupin: ...and for some foolish reason she's convinced herself she's a monster.
Cardia: !!!
Lupin: I can't say for sure when I fell in love with her...but I'd do anything to make her happy. Do you understand, my beloved princess?
Cardia: ...I think she is probably already very happy, and she knows how much you love her. And Lupin...I realise now that I've been human for a long time.
Lupin: :D
Everyone prepares for battle. Delly says he'll join them.
Van Helsing: Why? It's human business.
Me: ALSO. HE IS TWELVE.
Delly: I can't stand by and do nothing when people are suffering. Those with power have the responsibility to do good. It's what my father would have done.
Delllllly <3 BEST DRACULA EVER
Van Helsing pats Delly on the back and thanks him, then leaves the room.
Victor: He said thank you?!
Impey: I didn't think he knew HOW.
St Paul's is the scene of a pitched battle, surrounded by fire and smoke. The Queen's forces are not doing well.
Cardia, seeing someone die: This is horrible :(
Victor: All war is horrible.
Soldier, seeing Delly bring down a whole troop of Twilight soldiers single-handed: Is that a vampire...child? On our side??
Soldier 2: Who cares, he's helping!
Lupin sneaks them to a hidden door leading below the cathedral. It once led to a crypt, but they are going even deeper, to a part of London even Saint-Germain didn't know about.
Finis shows up and is smugly cryptic so Van Helsing shoots him...only for another Finis to show up.
Saint-Germain, flatly: Wow. An immortal.
Van Helsing shoots Finis again and TWO MORE show up at ONCE. And then even more, until they're surrounded!! HUH. I'd assumed he just had the one single consciousness being transferred. So how does continuity of memory work?
The central Finis: My sister is a monster. Naturally I am too :) But I'm not a Homunculus. You came to learn Father's secret, right, Sister? Together...let us become part of Father...
The other Finises engage everyone in battle, so only Cardia and Lupin can follow the one leading the way.
The corridors are dark and creepy, but with Lupin holding her hand, Cardia feels safe, and loved. I wonder how much plot there can be left, yet we're only on Chapter 11. (EDIT: Lol)
They come to the room where we saw Finis come to life before: an impossibly huge space with a device in the centre:
Cardia: This device is Father's secret?
Finis: Not quite. This machine is Father himself, and also me, myself.
I KEPT THINKING THAT ALL THIS NEEDED TO BE THE FULL EVANGELION WAS ALIENS AND GIANT ROBOTS. A giant computer version of the protagonist's dead dad that is also her brother is definitely a step in the right direction :D
(also the glossary says Finis resembles Isaac's dead biological son, and thus craves a father's love, but that has not come up in the text??)
Lupin: Stop being cryptic. You said you'd tell her the truth >:(
Me: He also said he'd kill her and fuse with her to form a God, so...
Finis: Let me demonstrate. *shoots himself in the head*
Finis's voice, from the machine: The Finis you're used to is just a biological terminal, a puppet of flesh and blood. Isn't it funny that Van Helsing was so desperately breaking worthless dolls?
Me: So you're saying shoot the machine...
Cardia: You're a machine?!
Finis: Does it matter? You're a doll yourself. And this body is me, but also Father. I exist as a memory device to store Father's mind. This vessel contains the knowledge of this century's greatest genius...and is Code:Realize, the key to the creation of a new God.
Me: Yep....time to shoot the machine...
Cardia: You can't make a God!
Finis: I am his mechanical vessel, with an intellect far greater than any human's. And the Philosopher's Stone will power it. A body that will never decay and infinite capability of thought- it could bend the world to his will! What could you call that but a God? He is literally trying to become a deus ex machina!
corpse!Finis: Come with me Sister, so that I can be loved by Father...can become one with Father!
Cardia: D:
Lupin: Thank you for the explanation, but she's mine. Now what I have here is a powerful explosive designed by our foolish engineer...
Me: BLOWING UP THE MACHINE ALSO WORKS
Finis: How barbaric. I heard you didn't use violence.
Lupin: I don't condone violence. But if it's to protect the woman I love, I won't hesitate.
Me: You absolutely condone violence, Lupin, you just delegate because you're not very good at it.
Lupin: *brandishing a bomb* Tell me how to remove her poison!!
Finis: It will disappear on it's own...when she becomes one with Father. Of course, she'll be dead ^_^
A rumbling begins. HURRY UP AND BLOW UP THE MACHINE!!! The roof starts to cave in...and then stops!
Lupin: I can see the stars?! What happened to the roof? And why is the machine floating upwards???
Fucking Nemo: BEHOLD THE MIGHT OF THE GRAVITY ALLEVIATOR!!!
And then Finis shoots out METAL TENTACLES and wraps them around Cardia, bringing her up into the air towards his main body.
Finis points out that Lupin can't blow him up without killing Cardia (THAT'S WHY HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT EARLIER), and hits Lupin with another tentacle. Lupin leaps towards her, and is dragged upwards by the same antigravity, but before he can reach for her hand Finis cries "Sister is mine!" and Lupin falls heavily back to the ground.
Lupin: I swear I will save you! Wait for me, Cardia!
Cardia: I was able to become human because I love you! I believe in you!
Leonhardt POV. He looks up at the Nautilus in horror. All the soldiers on both sides have stopped to stare at the airborne fortress hanging impossibly in the sky. An orb (eg Finis and Cardia) floats up into it, and then a glowing blue object descends, emitting a beautiful and horribly familiar crystalline light.
Leonhardt: RUN!!!
The soldiers near the device begin to scream and die, as it emits the same Zicterium gas the British used against the vampires during the war. SUCKS TO BE YOU, BRITISH ARMY. (Ok, I do feel sorry for the individual soldiers. But not Leonhardt)
Nemo announces (IN SUMMARY THANK GOD) that the Nautilus is going to drag Britain, and eventually the whole world, into endless war. He declares it to be the seat of God, but Leonhardt considers it the throne of the Devil.
Chapter 12: Code Raalize
Cardia wakes to the sound of birdsong.
???: Wake up, Cardia.
Me: IS THAT. ISAAC?????!!!
Cardia can't see this person clearly, or remember who they are, but knows she cares for them deeply.
???: Always sleeping in...you should be more like Finis.
Me: >:O
Cardia's not wearing gloves, and nothing she touches melts, yet it feels entirely natural.
Cardia: This is me...but not me. I feel like I'm living the memories of some other person.
Finis whines to "Mother" about having to wait for breakfast. Isaac is shy but kind. Though Cardia smiles at them, tears stream down her eyes.
Cardia wakes for real and remembers that Twilight agents attached a device to her gem, and she passed out from pain. She's now tied to a chair in a new huge chamber, facing machine!Finis and wearing the same clothes she wore at the start.
human!Finis: These are just like the clothes Father made for you. Apparently your original was not a morning person :)
Did he have the same dream? Also does this mean an Englishman named his regular human kids Finis and Cardia and JUST HAPPENED to make weird monster versions of them later? Looking back I feel sure I did suspect them of being based on Isaac's dead kid(s), but I don't seem to have said so.
Finis says the device took energy from her gem to power the Nautilus. And then...he takes out the pendant D: He tears open her shirt and her gem glows and pulses with heat. She feels like her body is being rearranged from the inside. She screams, and the pendant shatters.
Finis: Now all we have to do is wait. Once your gem is extracted, my job will be done. We will be reunited as a family.
Cardia: That's not what I want!
Finis: It will be.
And then he cries out in pain and tears at his throat, all while smiling.
Finis: Ah! Look, Sister! Your energy has caused Father to stir! It's just as he predicted! He truly is amazing!
I...
Finis, falling to his knees: FATHER! MY BODY IS YOURS!
uh...
He screams for his father one more time, and goes silent. And then his mechanical body emits a strange light and the human body rises from the ground.
His voice is the same as Finis's (if a little deeper and more serious), but stirs long buried memories of Isaac. He smiles and touches her cheek, and his hand begins to melt. He moves his hand to the gem in her chest.
Isaac: It's a beautiful light. Thank you, Cardia.
Cardia: ...Father?
Isaac: Yes :) I created you and Finis. I will become the world's shepherd.
Cardia: Why?! I've seen so much death. I don't know anything about guiding humanity but a world war...there is no way this could be anything but evil!
Isaac: ...
Cardia: And if you love me, why did you create me, a monster who can't even touch? Just to use me as a catalyst?!
Isaac: You misunderstand. I love Cardia. But you aren't her. I love the image of my daughter, which has been recreated in you, a monster.
!!!!
I was worried it would be all "she really is a human girl after all" but nooooope.
Isaac: You're based on her genes, all that was left of her living cells after our house burned down.
I was going to say this is anachronistic, but genes were discovered in 1866! (And from that it's a short step to human cloning, obviously)
Isaac: They're only shadows, but you have you have her appearance, and some of her mannerisms. I'm glad I was able to see you again for a little while.
He smiles affectionately, but Cardia knows it's not her he's really seeing. And then he closes his eyes, and when they open again, he's Finis.
Cardia: Finis- Father is wrong! So many people are going to die, including us!
Finis: Father will love us. Isn't that enough? Or are you taking his love for granted? *twists her hair painfully* He despised me, you'll never understand how that feels!
Cardia: He doesn't love me! He loves his daughter!
Finis: So what if it's fake? He never even smiled at me!
Cardia realises that Finis has been more alone, and aware of himself as a doll, than Cardia has ever been. And then he strangles her through her shirt until she passes out.
Family, amirite?
Lupin POV! First person!
Queen Victoria is addressing her provisional government. The rebellion has largely been defeated, but Victoria is still in hiding, aware of the behemoth glaring down from the sky. Victor and Impey explain about their inventions, Zicterium and the Gravity Alleviator, now both being used for death.
Victoria announces an all out attack on the Nautilus in five days time, so her soldiers have time to rest. Afterwards, Lupin sits alone and angsts about Cardia: What is she going through as a result of his failure? He decides he can't wait five days to save her.
He stares at the ornithopter, the logical part of his brain saying a lone rescue isn't brave, it's reckless. But then he thinks back to the sound of the rain as he watched his mentor die as a result of his choices.
Van Helsing: Were you planning to go alone? Why the rush? Don't thieves need the patience to wait for the right opportunity?
Lupin: The woman I love is in danger! She could even be dead! How can I not be in a rush? She was finally able to smile...So don't try to stop me!
Van Helsing: Who's trying to stop you? I'm just saying don't go alone.
Lupin: ...oh. Ok :)
Impey: I've been searching for that thing all this time.
Victor: And we can't let them use Zicterium however they please.
Lupin's still anxious. But at least he has his friends.
Saint-Germain: I have a suggestion for how we can save her...
It's GUINEVERE AND OMNIBUS.
They go back to Victoria, who has heard tales of Idea passed down through the royal family. She has a smug-lady-off with Omnibus.Lupin isn't sure he likes this talk of destroying "Isaac's creations".
Victoria: You want us to attack tomorrow night? Impossible!
Saint-Germain: We'll put magic forcefields arounds your airships.
Victoria: Magic! Ha! But I was always fond of fairytales ^_^
Victor: MAGIC DOESN'T EXIST
Saint-Germain: ...which will act as a diversion while Lupin and the others enter the Nautilus covertly, and bring it down before Isaac can be revived.
Lupin: Saving the world is all well and good but FYI I am not down with you destroying Cardia.
Omnibus: ...all right. If we succeed, she will be left alone. According to my predictions, the fall of mankind has already been set in motion. If I'm wrong about that, what use are my other prophecies? ^_^
It's the next day. Civilians and even some rebel soldiers have joined the government forces, having seen the scale of the threat. But everyone is exhausted. Victoria offers a reward to anyone who helps, and soon sky pirates and criminals have joined nobles seeking glory, all bringing their airships. "Greed seems to be a stronger motivator than justice, but Victoria's determination turns them into patriots." LUPIN YOU ARE FRENCH STOP IT.
It turns out many alchemists and scientists already have a deep knowledge of magic, and they are recruited by Idea to work with Saint-Germain and Victor (who has presumably gotten his head around this whole magic thing). Van Helsing trains civilians. Impey prepares an airship. And Lupin plans, and wonders if Cardia is looking out at the same sky. He tells himself she is alright, but is terrified, and feels pitiful to have lost his confidence when everyone's relying on him.
Van Helsing: It's not pitiful. She's important to you.
Lupin: I've always been desperate for something: survival, justice...I won't say I've never been in love, but she and I are probably similar in that neither of us was ever fully human.
They have more cute conversation. Lupin thinks about how motivated Van Helsing always is to help Cardia, and wonders how he feels about her, but decides to let the question lie.
The magically glowing airships look like a new galaxy of stars as they rise into the air.
Victoria gives an inspiring speech then says "I have to confess, I had considered a similar plan, thinking a large scale war would help Britain. But seeing what the Nautilus has done...I have finally come to realise that there is no point in repeating a history of slaughter."
Me: YOU COMMITTED GENOCIDE AGAINST AN ENTIRE SPECIES. YOU WATCHED YOUR FATHER MURDER COUNTLESS FOREIGNERS. AND YOU ONLY JUST REALISED DEATH IS BAD NOW IT'S ENGLISH HUMANS???
...I guess that does seem in character for the real Queen Victoria. Anyway.
As Lupin and the others prepare to board their airship, Sholmes says he wants to come as well. Lupin grudgingly agrees.
Delly comes to tell them that Cardia doesn't deserve to die...but neither should any of them. Including Van Helsing, which leaves him shaken.
Lupin: I suppose sometimes it's tougher to be forgiven than to go on being hated.
Van: I suppose so.
Since this engine is delicate (ie it's Lupin's path) Impey will be in the engine room while Lupin drives.
They enter the raging air battle around the Nautilus. Nothing the British soldiers do makes any difference. Unable to avoid the Nautilus's attacks, Lupin opts for a head-on collision, and everyone braces for impact.
Cardia POV. She is woken from sleep by the sound of distant explosions. Her gem glows, and she wonders what will happen when the transformation is complete. She sees her old clothes strewn around the room, and finds the poison she got from Omnibus. But Lupin told her to have faith. Another explosion causes her door to buckle, and she successfully kicks it open.
Her legs shake, and she's not sure if it's her or the ship. But the others are fighting outside, and maybe she can find a weak spot on the inside while she waits for Lupin to rescue her.
...but then Finis captures her, telling her to stop pretending to feel pain as a Twilight soldier stabs her in the leg.
Finis: There's no point trying to escape. Your gem activated the moment it came into contact with me. The heart wants a body and the body wants a heart, we're two halves of a whole. Your gem knows the body it belongs to is near, and is trying to cast aside it's useless fake vessel. It's trying to kill you, but since you're immune it just becomes more poisonous. Once that miraculous source of poison is released from it's restrictions, all life around you will die, including those annoying flies buzzing outside ^_^
Me: Also...everyone driving the ship?
Cardia: Wait...if Lupin rescues me, he'll die? D:
Finis: Despite your protestations, all you're good for is killing humans. So will you become a monster and destroy everyone you love? Or accept your fate and give father life as a Perfect God?
There's a choice about taking poison.
Cardia: I don't want to become a monster OR a God! I want to live, together with Lupin!
Finis, hitting her: You defect! If you can't decide, I'll do it for you. One drop of this liquid will turn you into a monster much faster. This is what you get for finding love!
A single drop falls onto her skin. Her gem emits a bright light, and she screams in pain, feeling like she's on fire. And then Finis laughs as his main body begins to glow even brighter.
human!Finis, his voice tinny and full of static: Ahahaha! Father is about to awaken!! It feels so good, so comforting! Father's essence is filling this vessel, eating away at my existence! Father!!
And then he falls, like a puppet whose string have been cut. Everything goes still, and Cardia's gem stops hurting.
Finis's human body rises, hair glowing, and greets her in Isaac's true voice: deep, gentle, and intimidating.
Isaac: At last my ideals will be realised. The world will continue to evolve under my guidance for ever. But for that to happen...
(nice job having the tentacles seem to be coming from the sprite, background artist!)
Isaac: We will destroy this worthless world and bring forth a new creation!
"Father is going to consume me. God is going to kill me."
Cardia: I want to live! Lupin, help!
Lupin, appearing in a burst of smoke: Got it ;)
Lupin: Don't fret, mademoiselle, I am here to rescue you from this machine, and with great style! Sorry I'm late <3
Cardia: :D :D <3 <3
Isaac: Who are you?
Lupin: Gentleman thief Arsène Lupin at your service. I'll be stealing her away from you, Dr Beckford.
Isaac: That's quite an entrance for a petty thief. Hand her over if you want to live. *attacks with tentacles*
Meeting the in-laws just never goes well for these guys...
Also I just noticed that Cardia has her clone number, 666, stitched into these clothes. SUCH A BAD DAD.
Lupin escapes with her out the door just in time. She thanks him, crying, and he says he just wants to see her smile.
Chapter 13: Warmth
An alarm sounds as Cardia tries to keep up with Lupin as they run. Her gem heats up and her vision starts to blur. Lupin looks at her with concern.
Cardia: I'm...*gasp*...fine...
Lupin: *picks her up and keeps running* Everyone's waiting. They have their own reasons for being here, but they're all worried about you.
Cardia feels a tiny warmth in the bottom of her heart.
Cardia: Lupin, thank you for saving me, it made me so happy to see you. But...I can't come with you.
I have the choice of "I can't tell him that reason" and "I can't let him know I'll become a monster" which seem equivalent to me?? But the second one is correct.
Cardia: I'm going to become a monster.
Me: That's the exact opposite of the choice I just...ah, never mind.
Lupin: I told you, you're not-
Cardia: My poison...it will become so strong everything around me will die! Not just nearby, but everyone fighting outside!
Lupin: ...
She can barely speak, overcome by longing, and thinks sadly to when she hoped he'd steal her away from her life, like before.
Cardia: I became human, thanks to you. Good bye, my thief.
Lupin: What do you think you're doing, making this decision on your own? "Goodbye"?! So what if there's poison, I love you! I'm going to do something about this if it costs me my life! *pulls her close* Trust me more, you doofus! I'm the magnificent Arsene Lupin, and I'm going to steal you no matter what!
And then there's a loud noise
and
he gets SHOT IN THE CHEST
???????!!!
D:
Finis: I've found you, Sister.
YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD BE DONE BEING SURPRISED THAT FINIS ISN'T DEAD BUT NO
Ahh...because "his power source got stolen", Isaac needs to rest again.
Cardia: I need to help Lupin!
Finis *shooting his body several more times*: No you don't ^_^
(at this point I remembered that Lupin has used fake bodies in the past)
"Just as Lupin is shot, right before Cardia's eyes, a different story is coming to it's conclusion..."
Wait that was really Lupin? Will she have to use the fully active Philosopher's Stone to save him?
It's Victor and Impey versus Nemo in the engine room! Can my love for Victor make up for the presence of Nemo...
Nemo: My two nemeses! Why don't we join forces and show this pathetic world the brilliance of science?
Victor: Science isn't for creating tragedy!
Impey: Yeah, it's for hopes and dreams! Let's show him what the two greatest minds in the world are capable of!
Meanwhile, Saint-Germain stands alone on the hull. He has his own enemy: Idea! I thought they were allies now?
He barely dodges Guinevere's giant sword.
Saint-Germain: You claim you will save her, then destroy everything in the chaos of battle...this has the stink of Omnibus all over it.
Guinevere: Yes. Do you intend to repeat your mistake with the Black Plague?
Saint-Germain: I don't believe Idea's decisions are absolute.
Guinevere: Then I envy you.
And then they begin to fight.
IS THAT THE AZOTH SOUND EFFECT D: It's this creepy sort of...soft, deep, slow up and down tone, with rattling noises or something over the top. Nnng. I don't have the soundtrack on so it's extra disquieting to hear this all of a sudden.
A panting, injured Van Helsing stares at an equally injured Aleister.
Aleister: I underestimated you ^_^
Van Helsing: Is it true? What you just said? It was you who took my family? Who's been manipulating me all this time? What do you want?!
Aleister: I suppose I want...someone who understands me. A companion.
Van Helsing: You made me kill the vampires for THAT?!
Aleister: Just kill me now. Not out of self defence, but out of pure hatred. Then you will understand my loneliness.
Van Helsing, softly: Just leave. I could never return to those who trust me if I dirtied my hands with your blood.
Aleister: Then I am alone :( *walks away slowly, as if saying "Come on, shoot me in the back, you know you want to!"*
Van Helsing's hand trembles, holding his gun, and he wonders if it can be right to choose those close to him over his revenge.
Van Helsing ;_;
The Azoth sound stops. We are in the head of someone heavily injured, noting the ongoing explosions.
Me: Lupin??
But no, it's Aleister! He thinks about how wonderfully evil Isaac's plan is.
Aleister: When the intruders are eliminated, I hope I can see it. The beautiful world filled with endless terror and chaos...
Sholmes: Evil and justice are two sides of the same coin, the definitions depend on context. But there are those who are absolute evil in the eyes of every society. Like you, Jimmy A. Aleister. Or should I call you...JAMES MORIARTY!
Aleister: Long time no see...SHERLOCK HOLMES!!
GASP
HERLOCK SHOLMES IS SHERLOCK HOLMES???!!!1111!!!???
(I had heard it was supposed to be a pseudonym and it's still. Just. SO SILLY)
Ha, even Aleister makes fun of his shitty "anagram". Holmes ignores him and says he's been authorised to use lethal force to bring Aleister to justice. But he admits that London will be less interesting without Aleister around. Aleister realises that pursuing darkness for so long has given Holmes a taste for it.
Aleister: Ha! And I thought I was all alone :) It's as you say. Evil and justice are two sides of the same coin. Being killed by you brings satisfaction.
Holmes: Setting aside the heinousness of your crimes...I did enjoy our exchanges more than anything, James.
Aleister: Thank you, Sherlock.
Holmes bows, and smiles. There is the sound of a gunshot.
Cardia POV. She is miserable, and regrets not killing herself when she had the chance. Her gem begins to pulsate wildly. Her body jerks back, and Finis shouts ecstatically. And then the pain stops. Her hair goes white, and she feels her gem become the Philosopher's Stone at last.
Isaac: Ah, so beautiful. You are worthy to become god's heart.
Cardia: Wait...my poison!
Isaac: My body absorbs it in this room. We still need the crew of the Nautilus for a little while yet...Your poison will soon grow too strong even for this body, but we'll end everything before it gets to that point :)
Cardia: D:
Isaac, looking at what used to be Finis's body: This doll was obnoxious to the end, always gadding about doing pointless things. I suppose he was a failure.
Cardia: Father...no, Isaac. Finis did everything for you, just wanting you to love him!
Isaac: It's only natural for a tool to carry out it's creator's orders.
Cardia: You're wrong! Finis and I might be artificial, but we are alive! We think, and we suffer, and you trample over us just to fulfil your own desires! You're more of a monster than either of us ever were!
Isaac: How do these annoying personalities develop? I'm done with you, time to extract the philosopher's stone. *extends tentacles* You wouldn't have to suffer like this if you'd given up and never yearned for anything. I'll put an end to your suffering.
My choices are Give up and Stay Strong.
LET ME THINK
Cardia: I won't give up on this life Lupin saved for me!
But Isaac draws her towards his machine body, saying "Let us become one". Somehow, she is swallowed by the surface of the sphere as if it is made of water.
Cardia finds herself in a bright forest, the visuals slightly grainy like old film. A woman approaches...and walks right through her. Cardia realises she can't feel her body: this is a memory of Isaac's, since she is literally inside his head. (I eventually gave up on trying to understand what was going on in the context of a human-ish body inside a cog based computer. SHE IS JUST LITERALLY INSIDE HIS HEAD)
The woman is talking to a man: a younger Isaac (no image, aw)
Isaac: I'm going to bring down the wall between science and magic! But...I'll be away for a while in London. Will you wait for me?
Woman: Haha. Ok :)
Cardia sees more of Isaac's memories. It's a cold, sad story.
Isaac found great success, but always remained kind, humble, hard-working, and pious. After his wife gave birth to twins, he semi-retired to a village, which he helped through a famine with science.
But when the famine got worse again, the villagers decided he was using the devil's tricks, and that this has brought down God's punishment. One day when he was out, they stabbed Isaac's wife near to death and badly burned his children?? When he begged for a horse to get them treatment, the villagers threw stones, and so he just had to watch them die.
(I was hoping his angsty backstory would be more interesting than "wife and kids gratuitously fridged by dumbass villagers he was only ever nice to", but never mind. Also, I'd just like to take this moment to apologise for my complete inability to pick a tense and stick to it. The best I can manage is trying to fix the times I, say, switch from past tense to present in the middle of a sentence, as I may or may not have done in the original draft of this flashback >.> )
After that, Isaac returns to London a changed man. He feels like everything he makes go to waste, because of the people who utilise it. He decides it's time to create a new world, leaving behind the God who has stood idly by.
But this is a forged goal, helping him look away from his true intentions.
Cardia wakes in her room in the Welsh mansion, feeling like she just had a sad dream.
Cardia: I should get up...but what's the point, I'll just be waiting here doing nothing. I should stay here and sleep, so I won't hurt anyone, and won't get hurt...
Somehow, there is a knock on the door.
Cardia: Please don't wake me. Please don't let me hurt you.
Lupin's voice: Are you sure that's what you want?
Cardia: Yes.
Lupin: Liar! Tell me the wish you really want fulfilled!
Cardia, remembering: ...Lupin! I want to see you! I want to touch you!
Lupin: Beautiful mademoiselle, your wish is my command! Take my hand!
And so she reaches for him, and there is a sound like bubbling liquid and she opens her eyes to see Lupin, holding her hand and pulling her from the liquid core of the machine.
Lupin: Unworthy as I am, I have come to take back my beloved princess who had been stolen from me.
Cardia: Lupin :D ...wait, didn't you get shot?!
Lupin: The secret to that trick is Impey's bullet-roof vest, complete with fake blood ;) I got knocked out, but I'm fine.
Cardia: Oh...but my poison! Run!
Lupin: If it had gone into overdrive, we'd both be dead. Your new hair looks good though ;)
Cardia: It's more proof I'm a monster :(
Lupin: You're beautiful, the greatest treasure I could ask for. Now it would be nice to end this on a romantic note, but the enemy is right there...
Isaac: I apologise for calling you a petty thief. That was quite the gamble.
Ok so. Lupin stayed hidden so Cardia's gem would become the Philosopher's Stone and have most of it's energy (and thus poisonousness) siphoned off by Isaac. Then he (somehow?) rescued her when she had just enough energy left to survive but was no longer poisonous.
Isaac: Actually, she'll still be a little poisonous for a while.
Lupin: Aw :(
Isaac: But more importantly...I AM A GOD :D :D
Lupin: With all due respect, Mr Bradford, you're a little arrogant. Cardia, hold tight to me, I'm going to put on quite a show!
He clicks his fingers and explosions go off all over the room. He used such old fashioned bombs that Isaac didn't detect them.
Lupin: Consider it an explosive dowry, my dear father-in-law! This is what happens when you let go of the ability to think like a human. I'll be walking on my own two feet, without a God to hold my hand.
Isaac: You can't stop me...the dead will rise. Family..together...never separated again...
And then what was Finis's human body falls to the ground, and the machine goes still.
There is an explosion. Without Isaac's mind using up the Philosopher's Stone's energy, the Nautilus is going to self destruct. And then...
human!Finis: HOW COULD YOU KILL FATHER?!
GODDAMMIT BOY YOU REALLY DON'T DIE DO YOU
The ship tilts. Lupin grabs onto Cardia but Finis (now trapped in this one remaining body) starts to fall towards a hole in the floor. Cardia promises Lupin she'll come back and runs to help Finis.
But it's too late. As Finis start to fall into the bottomless sky he says "Father...I'm sorry..."
And then she grabs him by the arm!
Finis: It's pointless! Without your gem you have no real strength.
Cardia: I'm going to save you!
Finis: Let me go. Father is dead. I'm a doll with no purpose, who was never loved by anyone, and just yearns to be human...
Cardia: I'll love you! Live, Finis!
Finis: Why?
Cardia, her arm going numb: You're my brother, the only family I have left. We've fought, and hurt each other, but it's not too late to start over!
Finis: You...really are a failure. Don't you see that you're going to fall too? I decline. I hate you!
He pulls away, and starts to fall. "Good bye, Sister. I've always hated you. But in the end, just a little bit-"
And then he falls out of sight.
As she's about to fall too, Lupin pulls her back. "You can mourn him later. But first you have to survive. Everything starts from that."
The ship is is collapsing around them and it seem impossible to get out safely, especially with Cardia weakened *pours out a glass for her super-strength*
Lupin: I guess this is the end of the great Lupin.
Cardia: Go ahead without me, I'll catch up later.
Lupin: Ouch! Oh no, the place Finis shot me is super sore...I don't think I can move! Dang, guess I'm staying with you ;)
Cardia: This is no time for jokes!
Lupin: This must be the sturdiest room in the ship. All we can do is hope to luck and wait together for judgement. But I'm sorry I didn't fulfil my promise and let you feel the warmth of another person.
Cardia: That's not true, I always feel warm when I'm with you. We've been connected for a long time <3
The floor collapses beneath them and they fall into the sky.
Lupin: Since this is the end, let me keep to our promise.
The poison is even in her hair now, but he strokes it, smiling though it burns away his glove and at his skin. (This would be a more powerful moment if I hadn't been waiting for it since the title screen and trailer) And then his hand stops burning: her poison is finally gone! They kiss.
Cardia: I'll love you all the way to the end of the world.
End Credits!
A happy dark haired (?) Cardia is doing gardening in Saint-Germain's mansion, happy but nervous about something happening tomorrow. She asks him if Saint-Germain's in trouble with Idea now, but he says that since he helped bring down Isaac, he was just punished with banishment and a limited lifespan- only 100 years.
Cardia, who I don't think ever found out he was immortal on this path: Isn't that normal?
Saint-Germain: Yes. But now I feel like part of the group :)
Aw.
That night Lupin bumps into her, still in the garden, and says the star of the show needs to get some rest.
Cardia: I feel like I'm too happy. Lupin, tell me this isn't a dream...
Six months earlier:
Cardia and Lupin, ready to die, land...softly, on top of an airship piloted by Impey.
For a while they all help London rebuild, but then everyone makes their own plans.
Saint-Germain plans to hang around London doing nothing in particular until he dies of old age and is very happy about it.
Victor returned to alchemical research, but also works as a social campaigner, successfully getting Victoria to change her views.
Impey is moving to America to work on his dreams to go to the moon.
Van Helsing has become a bodyguard to Renfield, meeting with vampires on behalf of Britain.
Now:
Lupin: If it is a dream I'll cross the bridge to reality and steal you back <3
Cardia: Haha, you would <3
The next day...they get married! Everyone is very cute about it and Leonhardt is there being bizarrely squeeful.
Lupin: Did we even invite him?
Cardia: I did invite one extra guest...
Sholmes: Congratulations! Your adorable sweetheart asked me to play a trick on you ^_^
Cardia: Are you surprised? :D
Lupin: ...damn it, you're too cute, I can't stay mad at you.
Impey: Give me one last embrace to sooth my broken heart...
Delly, trying to restrain him: HOW IS HE SO STRONG?
Van Helsing: *cocks gun*
Victor: NO SHOOTING AT THE WEDDING
Lupin: ...THAT'S IT I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS I AM SICK OF WAITING *kisses Cardia*
She's so into it she forgets to breath, haha. Her gem is still there, but has gone white.
Cardia: We haven't made our vows to God yet!
Lupin: I'm not the sort to make vows to God anyway. I choose to love you forever of my own free will.
Cardia: Troublemaker <3
So they swear vows to each other instead, to always love each other, and steal each other's hearts.
THE END
Awwwwww.
Extra scene!
Cardia has been living alone with Lupin (and Sisi) for a short time. She has no complaints, but she's very aware of being alone with him.
Me: Oh, is she lonely?
...Sometimes their eyes meet and she finds herself blushing.
Oh ho. I see.
Lupin is out in the rain and she's freaking out a little. Victor runs a clinic in the poor part of London and comes to visit a lot, and mentioned that a cold has been going around.
Cardia: I've never had a cold, are they bad?
Victor: They're common, but untreated colds have been known to kill.
So now she's worried Lupin will catch a cold and die. THANKS VICTOR. When she hears Lupin arrive home she runs in with a towel, stopping short when she sees him already half undressed, and dripping with water. "His skin is too beautiful to look at directly" aw.
Lupin: Why are you looking away? You brought me a towel, right? Hand it over, I'll catch a cold....wait, are you embarrassed? :D
Cardia's internal Lupin: Thieves must always remain calm.
Cardia's internal Lupin: *is also half naked*
Cardia: DAMMIT
Lupin: I noticed you've been avoiding me lately...I was getting worried something was wrong. I apologise for not realising I'd misunderstood a woman's heart, will my eternal devotion be enough to make it up to you?
Cardia: Maybe I should wait outside while you're changing...
Lupin: You could watch if you like ;) But you can turn around, I'm done.
When he finds out why she was so worried he laughs but is touched. Then he hugs her and says he felt a little rejected when she seemed to be ignoring him. He kisses her neck and says "I can do this now...I shall appear before you tonight to make you mine."
THE END
Gosh.
And now I am done with the main game!!
Even though Lupin was a bit well-adjusted for me, I do overall like their dynamic. They're both self sacrificing, optimistic romantics who care about each other deeply. And he's a theatrical extrovert who likes having an appreciative, deserving audience, while she's led a lonely, empty existence and is super into being treated like his romantic heroine.
My plan now is to pick a LI and do his bad ends, then cheer myself up with his happy Future Blessings DLC path, then repeat this with everyone. I was going start with Victor again but kinda feel like doing Lupin now since I'm in a Lupin headspace. The Future Blessings trailer made me expect a wedding, but they already did that, so who knows what it'll be!
But yeah, that was fun. HER BROTHER WAS REALLY A COMPUTER AND ALSO HER DAD. I LOVE IT.
It occurred to me I could look up Finis's age: unknown, bah. But he's 4'8" and his "mother"'s name was Rebecca, which never came up in the game. Cardia's 5'2", and looks a bit older, even though they're clones made around the same time from a pair of twins. I wonder if she's been growing up physically for the last few years and he hasn't. I wonder if he would age physically if he stayed in the same body for long enough, he says he has an "infinite store" but the practicalities aren't really explained.
I do feel sorry for Finis in the end. Every now and then I think about him meeting Kaoru from Hakuoki, who was a very similar character, but then I think about how Kaoru would react to finding out about Finis's complicity in the genocide of what are effectively his English brethren.
I don't feel very sorry for Isaac though. Screw that guy.
