deut32_35 | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ The ritual, the sigil, the blood— all of it was ultimately unnecessary. All it took was Asmodeus's name being expelled from his lungs into the air and time, it feels, crystallizes around the moment. 99 and Anubis are still there, but they're so much less immediate than the feeling of eyes on your back. Someone watching you, waiting for you to turn around. ]

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[ Now that he's feeling more sensible— tractable, Asmodeus claps him on the back. ]

That's the spirit. Any requests for the road?

[hums a bit, clearly considering it for a moment. in no rush now that he knows things will resolve themselves--because he'll resolve them.]

--so is there actually a Heaven and a Hell divide here? Or is that one side feeding us a ton of bullshit?

Though I can't say I'd be that happy with Heaven over this, either.

Oh, the divide is real. It's just Heaven that's not.

That could be just as much of a lie.

Why're you in such a rush to get more demons, then? Conquering Hell?

Surprisingly off the mark.

[ His voice is surprisingly laissez faire for someone who only recently demonstrated a very obvious tendency towards force, seething beneath the surface. ]

Strike one, I'll call it. Half-credit for your first swing.

Dare I ask what happens at strike three?

[said kind of dryly because fully expecting some kind of demon bullshit torture or just booting him out without intel.]

... are you just lonely?

You need to be sent home at some point. You're no good to me here.

[ He laughs: a sort of chuffing noise, amusement-surprise that Boss would chance it. He does not give him a strike. ]

The Damned are a waste. That's what our whole game between us is based on— you've got enough knowledge sitting in your head now. You ought to be able to guess at why a whole faction would pose as working for a dead god. As for me, if the rest of hell thinks humans are beneath their notice and attention that's all the more for my taking.

[ Which doesn't quite sound in line with vengeance, but. ]

[mulls this over a bit, lifting a hand to chew on the pad of a finger...]

... so. Are you trying to see if the damned can be reverse-engineered into humans? And from there... into demons? For yourself?

You'd have quite the numbers if that worked out.

Doing it is simple, if you have the patience for one at a time. It was fine as a pleasant diversion.

[ the corner of his mouth lifts in some private thought. If he's spent time doing this one at a time, he's probably thinking of someone in particular. ]

But that's no model for business.

Edited 2018-12-04 04:14 (UTC)

[don't you have a sympathetic backstory, i'm still wanting to murder you, you asshole.]

So this whole arrangement isn't your design.

Who designed it?

[ Assuming it's sympathetic is certainly an assumption. ]

Strike two.

[well, ok. still plenty of murder feels, then.]

Is there actually an option to get out of this place without signing up with a demon?

The terms of graduation are this: a wish for whatever your heart desires and agreement to become a demon, or you leave in the good graces of the Liar's imaginary heaven.

They have nothing to offer you but if you don't take the terms willingly, neither do I.

In other words, no graduation option without a catch of some kind.

... were we all Damned before we woke up here? Or did you bring us down here from where we come from?

Asking if you're dead? Some of you.

So we're a mixed bag.

... are you likely to answer a call from me again or am I not entertaining enough for you? And if you do answer... are you expecting something from me?

Let's call them hopes. Expectations goes a shade too far.

[ He drops his hands into his pocket, and continues. ]

In the future, if you want an audience you'll have to pander. Can't count on a crisis with a whole batch of you on the line.

[ Not as in the Damned, but an audience with him. ]

So... offerings? Are we talking stabbing someone and offering the blood or are you hoping for something more solid?

[you want bodies or body parts or something?]

You're the Revengers of Wickedness type, right?

Vengeance victorious, these are the glorious days.

[ He says, dryly. He really doesn't seem like a showtunes kind of guy, but he must have picked up the phrase somewhere. ]

I prefer you mean it.

[in other words, when he's "on the mark"...?]

Why this group? What dictates who ends up getting pulled in? Is it just completely random? Or is there something tying us together?

I know you're all about wanting us to fight it out among the units, but part of figuring out divisiveness is finding out where the similarities begin and end, right?

Mostly by chance. The game is best played if we maintain the illusion of an equal playing field. If we need specific representatives, we reserve the right to hand-pick.

[ He rolls his shoulders— the bespoke suit is tailored for his movements and doesn't bunch or pull when he does— and he checks his watch. ]

You'll notice those.

[cutting it close yeah, so:]

What about ones like me and Mars--Warden. That just a coincidence?

... do you even keep track of the idols, actually?

If it's not, Pythia chose a very trivial point to break terms on.

[ Raises an eyebrow ]

Are you feeling neglected?

So neglected, my face just stopped feeling like it was getting shoved into the wall.

[sarcastic as fuck]

I was just asking because I doubt demons recognize the differences between one idol over another, let alone bother with names. Since we're basically just commodities to you.

Edited 2018-12-05 03:10 (UTC)

I could happily reintroduce the two, if you were feeling lonely.

[ Smooth, as if it was an actual offer ]

For most, you'd be correct. But once you catch my eye, the trick isn't keeping it.

Should I ask who has caught your eye so far?

You've seen him around.

[YOU'RE NOT FUNNY]

... is there any advantages to catching your eye before graduation is an option, is the real question.

I'm willing to make it worth the while.

[huffs at that]

Vague. Too soon to ask for a phone number?

Quality as your drunk texts must be, I'm not in the habit.

[rolls his eyes]

Guess I'm still not quite on the mark to think of anything myself.

Any final words of wisdom?

Strike three.

[ you must have been expecting that, really.

and there's a boot on Boss's backside, kicking him out the door that's materialized in the wall ]

Edited 2018-12-05 05:10 (UTC)

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