The Reality Vortex: The Black Rose

“…If that’s the case, then I’m not too worried!” Clark let out a huge relief. “I remember seeing Vegetto flat out calling Spina as someone beneath him, as bad as that sounds. So even if Zamasu tried to pull a fast one, Vegetto’s quick on the uptake!”

“… But wouldn’t that make Mr. Vegetto vulnerable to being trick then…?” Daiman spoke softly.

“…. I’m sure Vegetto can see past—” Clark paused for a second, remembering that Mooli tripped him moments ago. “Hm. You might want to catch up to them… I’m sure you’re a sharper tool of checking out if things go south.” He told Mooli. “We got the dishes and the cleanup.”

===

Edge of Beach City

Spina watched Bernkastel sit next to him, but his expression hardly changed. “I cannot stand being in a room with a lot of people, so I went to get some air. How far I walk shouldn’t be any of your business.” He spoke generally and not anyone in particular.

“I sense a level of distrust brimming through.” Brutality spoke.

“I don’t mind you…” Spina told to Bernkastel, but his eyes trailed to the others, giving an intense glare at Vegetto specifically. “But why are you here. Got something to say?”
 
Vegetto kept his arms crossed, the glare from the older Saiyan immediately prompting his own eyes to narrow in retaliation. The hostile approach triggered the Potara Fusion's defensive instincts, the words almost a challenge given how little Spina trusted anything that Vegetto might say or do.

He paused briefly, and rather than attempt to defuse the situation or speak in a manner to appease Spina's wrath, Vegetto spoke firm and plainly in the usual, boorish attempt to make Spina see his point of view.

"There's something wrong with you. You need help."
 
“That word…” Spina clenched his fists and small flickers of black aura flashed across his body. That was the last thing he wanted to hear. “One damn walk and suddenly there’s something wrong with me?”

The older Saiyan approached the Potara fusion, and their faces were mere inches apart. His eyes narrowed, locking onto Vegetto’s as his rage was building up at a rapid pace.

“Look at his eyes… there’s a level of distrust he sees in you, Spina. Help… that’s the word he chose… I bet he thinks you’re weak!”

“Tell me, what do I need help in? Especially from you of all people.”
 
Vegetto's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise as Spina approached, and despite his awareness of Spina's frustration, he was still caught off guard by his approach to help once again failing. Yet once Spina spoke out his threatening request, Vegetto narrowed his eyes and matched the intensity. He briefly considered the team's goal to speak with Spina, to uncover the mystery of what was impacting Spina so aggressively.

However, once more, Vegetto felt bitter and spurned for his attempt at helping despite his approach warranting it. His own anger rose in tandem as Spina's influence did little to put the man at ease; a natural flair to embrace conflict and challenge over pacifying the issue rising in the Potara fusion's blood. Vegetto stood his ground at the intense gesture, scoffing audibly at the question and immediately jumping to the conclusion he had for Spina's problem without knowing the facts or even sensing any sort of presence within Spina's mind.

"Look at yourself. You have strange marks all over your body. Your eye is gone. I can tell someone is in your head; I know what mind control looks like."

His scowl deepened, side-eyeing Bernkastel briefly but avoiding an outright obvious public gesture to her. An effort, at the very minimum, to conceal how he truly felt about the witch before his eyes locked back onto Spina.

"At least I'm not spending so much time trying to pick the perfect words to say to manipulate you, like whoever is in your head. But if this is the thanks I get for trying to help...then let's do this."

Vegetto kept his scowl, tensing up immediately in preparation for a fight.

"Be a good slave for your new master, and show me how weak you are."

With the challenge issued, Cayde sighed to himself, rubbing his metal temple and instinctively taking a step back from the group near Vegetto.
 
"... Yeah. I'll check things out just in case. Lock up and don't go anywhere unless absolutely necessary." Mooli made her way to the double doors and gave Daiman and Clark a smile. "Detective Mooli's on the case! Not a bad ring to it." She took off to the skies on that lighthearted note, but immediately began sailing through the air with her arms crossed and a stern gaze as she followed the dreadful pressure emanating from the one point across the city. She had a sinking feeling she'll be gone for longer than just a few minutes, but Mooli hoped the most that would happen was intruding on an unrelated conversation.

==============================
"....Help? Is that what you call this? Throwing your weight around and insulting people to goad them into proving you right or wrong?" Bernkastel was already standing at Spina's side opposite to Cayde, floating at Vegetto's eye level with an incensed glare, her face barely containing it beyond her eyes as she hissed out the enunciated vowels. "Why are you even here if all you're going to do is pull stunts like this? Why am I even surprised?" She shoved at Vegetto to try and break up the proximity to Spina before things could escalate even further. "You reject the very idea that this group can get along, yet you meddle anyway when it suits you to throw on some phony idea of leadership! I was just supposed to talk to Spina, and you throw it right out the window for your own self-satisfaction! What's your problem?" She shoved him again, the last question having an unspoken accusation that he was doing this out of spite to undermine her.

"If you just didn't like me that'd be one thing, but I'm fed up with your insinuations toward my efforts-- or manipulations, lies, brainwashings, call it whatever you want if it makes you feel superior-- but people like me and people like you have to be careful about the way we say things because it matters. Maybe not to you, but it matters to me because Spina's my friend and he deserves better than what I could give Cuki and Gogeta. When's it going to sink in that there are more important things than just being right?" The Witch glowered, sounding exasperated at the end of her lecture towards the fusion.
 
Victor thinks as he summons a little purple octopus "This little guy should help resolve any mind control and prevent anyone else form falling to it. It may take a little time."

Victor says, "my little friend could help if your concerned with mind control." as he points to the little purple octopus. The little purple octopus seems ready to help out if needed or requested.
 
[Sorry for my long lack of posting. Crochet and work is taking up most of my time. I’m going to skip ahead and have my boys in the area, so we don’t have to waste time and get right to it!]


As Avalon sat on the paper bird he rode on, he was curious and supportive of Bernkastel’s plan. Helping Spina could never backfire, right? He knew that Spina was close to Bernkastel, so maybe the witch had a chance to reason with him compared to the others. However, his eyes widen upon hearing Vegetto butt into the conversation that had hardly sprung up between Spina and Bernkastel.

What? Is… Is Vegetto serious right now? What the hell is he doing?!

Avalon knew it was going to get messy, but what irritated him was that it did not have to go this way. All they wanted to do was simply help Spina and see what was wrong.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Avalon barked at Vegetto. “We’re trying to help Spina. Are you delusional? Have you lost your mind?”

Avalon was utterly in shock.

“Bernkastel is right! Why are you even here, man? We’re just trying to see if Spina needs help, and you always make it about yourself! You talk about how bad this Zamasu guy is, how are we so sure you’re not Zamasu?! You have been hindering us time and time again! How can we be so sure you’re not playing tricks on us?”


Zenta let out a sigh as he gently landed on the top of the building that Spina was on. He kept his distance but made sure to stay aware of what was being said. He shook his head in disappointment with Vegetto’s words, already knowing that things would not go according to plan. He noticed Bernkastel shoving Vegetto and he instantly grew tense. While he knew Bernkastel could handle herself, he was worried about Vegetto lashing out and striking her. He silently took a step forward, carefully gauging the distance between him and the two.

One thing he would not let happen is let Bernkastel get hurt, not when she is trying to take the appropriate steps to better herself.

I suppose this was not going to be as easy as just talking to Spina, hm? I guess we better prepare for the worst, as usual…


Asher flew on his Kinto’un, arriving at the building where the group was located at. As he heard the words from Vegetto’s mouth, he furrowed his brow, not exactly thrilled to hear them from someone he thought was cool.

“Hey! She was only trying to help, man!” Asher said, floating by Bernkastel’s side. “What’s your deal, pineapple head?”

Upon hearing Asher’s voice, Zenta’s ears immediately perked.
 
Brachi, Bara and Dielec were watching this as they had arrived with the others. They were worried that if things were keeping up like this, Spina and Vegetto might come to blows.

"I certainly hope things can't get any worse, but aren't we going to add any oil to the fire?" Brachi thought.
 
Coella simply floated a short distance away on her broom behind the group, watching the Breakers begin to fall into a mess. Slowly she floated down as everyone shot their venom at each other, her broom gently hovering next to Bernkastel and Spina.

"Now now, let's not spiral into ruin just yet. This peaceful resolution can be saved. You all are just concerned for poor Spinny's wellbeing, right? So there's no need to be upset at the delivery. Let's forcus on the one you're all up in arms about."

Her broom turned to Spina and the witch gently cupped his his face into her hands,

"So, Spinny, dear, how are you feeling? Your friends feel that you've been concerningly distant... why is that?"
 
"Does he even notice us or see us as friends? Or does he prefer to fight alone like a real Saiyan would? Or are we just a means to an end for him?" Dielec muttered as she watched Coella approach and address Spina in kind.
 
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