Thunder rumbled loudly as the dark sky was lit up with lightning. Mikoto stood perched on the high building. A hand extended up towards the heavens as crackling was heard above the loud thunder.
A burst of white emitted betwixt black clouds. One enormous claw made of electric currents popped out, followed by a second. Next was a head: large protruding horns on its head, followed by a long body. Wings hardly were visible but were present. The lightning dragon brightened the sky as tendrils flickered around its body. It hovered behind the Uchiha, its wings flapping lazily to keep it suspended in the air.
More thunder roared as distinctive lightning flashed throughout the storm. The beast gave a warning growl, sparks bubbling from its mouth. Its tail swished and crashed into a nearby building. Rubble fell onto the ground below.
Mickey stood still, arm raised still with a current surrounding her.
“Not like t h a t ? What are we to you - a joke? After everything that happened to us and you still went against our word and got yourself hurt –”
Binary knew that know-it-all tone too well by now. It was Harvey, the big-shot District Attorney coming out to teach her a lesson - like a broken rib, getting drugged and tossed around like a ragdoll in the sewers hadn’t lectured her enough already. Her stoic glare had been staring them down as they paced over the floor to her den, the soft blue light from her monitors lighting them up like they were on a stage.
“--- We can’t believe you. The orders were clear as day, Binary. Don’t. Mess. With. Scarecrow.”
She’d seen better performances than this. And much more amusing ones too. She didn’t like it when shows included beating her like a dead horse where she was seated – the grip on the cigarette between her fingers trembling just enough to make the smoke dance back and forth in the air. Eye looking off far into the distance of the dark corners of her apartment but not quite focusing.
Lost.
“...Are you even listening to us?”
Her head snapped back when the twosome were back to getting in her face. Arms crossed, authority dripping all over her boss’s split visage. She didn’t let it scare her. She’d seen it all before.
“... -- Yeah, yeah. I know. Don’t go running around Scarecrow’s territory, blah blah. You said it like, what – Five times now?”
“Six to be precise. Which begs the question – Why? Why did you do it?”
…The hacker had a good answer to that - at least in her opinion it was. But trying to argue with Two-Face was pointless. He wouldn’t understand. Most people never did.
“Does it even matter? We both got our asses kicked. And if we keep acting like pathetic little wimps, sulking and crying about it – everyone’s going to start fucking us over. Is that what you want?”
Her stern and matter-of-fact voice caught both Harvey and Two-Face in an estranged stand-still. Falling quiet as they appeared to slowly back up before coming to a halt - sighing in frustration. Raising the white flag and calling it a day was obviously not something neither of them wanted. Not only was their reputation on thin ice, but Scarecrow had taken something precious to them. They needed it back.
“...--No-”
“I thought so. So I took the liberty of finally doing something about it – seeing as you’re on…a little bit of a hiatus choice-wise.”
It was clearly a little dig at her boss, but let’s be real. If he hadn’t had her there to steer up some kind of plan, then the both of them would just be sitting ducks, waiting things out. And that was time Binary couldn’t waste.
“Here’s my plan. We hit Scarecrow back where it really hurts,”
Where Binary would usually stand up and pace, she slid back closer to the desk in the office chair instead. Placing the cigarette in the ashtray next to the piles and piles of electronics that she had been messing about with right before Two-Face had come barging in.
“Without the toxin, he can’t do much else – right? He’s not some superhuman or a god, he’s just…a shitty human.”
Mumbling the last words, her eye focused back to the screen. Clicking up a window of a photograph containing the very same warehouse she had been scouting out when Scarecrow found her.
“From my understanding, Scarecrow keeps a bunch of these condemned warehouses as storage. If we can somehow get some of them - or even just one - to be demolished…”
It didn’t take long for Harvey to catch on. “...That means Scarecrow would have one less place to fetch his shit from.”
“...Right. So you’re going to pull some strings. You’re going to see what legal means we can use to get the city officials to do the dirty work for us. We will go unnoticed by the public – but those who know, they’ll know.”
“And most important - Scarecrow will know.”
“Bingo.”
Right away, Binary’s hands tapped rapidly on the keyboard. The pain pulsating in her rib didn’t even matter anymore – for now, she had another target to execute some revenge on. And judging by Harvey’s expression, they felt the same rush of collective schadenfreude.
“Gather what you can and have it sent over to us – We’ll get to work on our end. And Binary –”
Their signature dual-colored blazer was put back on before grabbing their trenchcoat - holding it wrapped around the good side of their arms as they stood in the doorway.
“...Yeah?” Her one eye met his two. A pause lingering between them until the ex-DA spoke again. His voice soft and sincere.
“...We’re sorry fo-”
“Don’t. It’s fine. Really. I get it - You were worried because you thought I had kicked the bucket or something. You don’t have to say you’re sorry.”
“But I want to.”
Silence, again.The adrenaline of their plan wearing off for a moment when they looked at each other with reasoning and understanding.
“...Fine. I accept your apology.”
Binary gave him only a shrug - but the second she turned her face away from his, a small smile appeared on her lips. Playing with her teeth on top of her bottom lip while she heard him leave - closing the door firmly behind him.
That's what they did. Always leaving words hanging, feelings in the air. One minute hot, the other cold. Up and down.
ooc; good morning dash, i’ve got this bit of lore drop for you today. zooming into the perspective of father charles, sen’s first ‘antagonist’ figure, set following the moments that scar of hers is given. lore files for charles and shepherds flame are still wip but i think you’ll get the gist. due to the nature of the scene, all has been stuffed below the cut. content warning: abu.se, religious themes, blood hinted, wounds, general dddne stuff.
» Case: #237005 - The Coyote» File: #0072» Lead Investigator: [!!!] >> REDACTED» Classification: Secret; Investigators Only
Investigators Notes: The following scene has been reconstructed based on evidence, records, and witness accounts. Any new details should be submitted to the lead investigator.
Location: Shepherd’s Guiding Hand Correctional Center, [!!!] >> REDACTED, Georgia
Est. Timeframe: Early to Mid 2000s
Dull blue eyes stared down at the limp body that lay across the metal table, a bright red line contrasting against pale skin. The teenage girl had passed out under the weight of the pain, shock and exhaustion overwhelming the fight she’d displayed while being dragged into the small room less than an hour before. Even unconscious, defiance etched the faint crease of her brow.
He’d make a note of that when he could, back in his private office.
Father Charles neither looked pleased nor disappointed, only considering as if the results of a test were not as expected. Long fingers pulled rubber gloves off with a snap, the tips smudged by the bloodied knife he’d used per tradition of the Church. His black cassock hung undisturbed, the gray cincture at his waist and white collar pristine despite what he’d just done. The middle-aged man was just starting to bald, brown hair turning salt and pepper on the fringes. Wire frame glasses had only one smudge in the bottom corner of the lens from where he pushed them back up the bridge of his nose.
Two women in habits, both hardened and detached, had held her down during the process. Now, they fussed over the young girl’s back, moving methodically as if practiced. The wound was freshly cut in the fashion the High Shepherd of the Church had taught him years ago after he had been initiated. With a heated metal rod, the Sisters cauterized the damage, pressing the pointed end against the worst of the cut with a brief and unpleasant hiss. The smell of smoldering flesh permeated through the small room, lit with dimmed overhead fluorescence, but no one seemed to flinch.
He had expected her to fold — plead for him to stop like the other ‘lost lambs’ had. As the overseer of the facility, knew this day would come since she had been admitted four or five years ago. It hadn’t taken long for her to make it on his list. Most of the other miscreants broke as the tip of the knife edged over the shoulder blade. A modest mark — the kind that showed humbling to the small religious community and not outright rebellion that could lead to ostracism. The remaining handful typically caved by the time he reached the spine…
Barbaric. But… Effective. On most, that is.
That gaze traced the carving that now ran from shoulder to hip. Regardless, the data was as useful as the sharp blade he still held.
“Father Charles?”
His head snapped up, a meek looking woman with black curls stood in the doorway, averting her gaze to the floor and avoiding the scene. Too young still to be numb to such a sight and understand the necessity of the matter, much less the importance of his work. But his project was still unfolding, and Isabel was just a piece still in motion.
Hands folded behind his back, expectant. There was no visible shame or embarrassment in his apparent actions. And he did not attempt to hide it.
“What is it, Sister Isabel?” The Father’s words were flat, wrapped with feigned warmth. The mask he wore to maintain some semblance of faith cloaking the ambitious researcher underneath.
At nearly a head shorter than the man, Isabel shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable under Charles’ gaze.
“The Keepers have cleared the campus.” The Sister’s voice was hushed, like one might appear if she spoke the title too loudly. “And they’re maintaining watch now, as you asked.”
At least something was still working as intended today. His loyal Keepers quieted most rooms they stepped into by presence alone. And sometimes by force.
Isabel cleared her throat then continued. “All of the children have been sent back to their beds. The injured are in medical care, including several staff members.” Fingers unconsciously fidgeted with the hem of her sleeves, a weak attempt to soothe herself. “The ones we believe helped the instigator—,” those doe eyes flicked up finally, eyeing the blonde child for no more than half a second, “—have been put in individual isolation holds.”
Charles considered the young woman for a moment. The headdress she wore did little to give her any semblance of age, much less wisdom. He wondered how far he’d have to twist the knife until she finally accepted her role in this unfortunate business.
If she did that, she’d make a fine Keeper herself. The quiet ones always did.
“Thank you, Isabel.” Charles’ head inclined ever so slightly, barely feigning the acceptance with a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll tend to the others as soon as I’m finished here.”
The words tasted like dogmatic ilk on his tongue.
With a brief but polite incline of his head: “You may go now.”
The young woman gripped the doorknob, as if her body was aware that something was wrong with the scene before her yet her mind was still convincing itself that it was normal. A standard response as part of the process; the body often took longer to convince than the mind. Then she nodded, disappearing behind the heavy door as it closed with a soft thud.
When he turned back to the table, the senior Sisters were dressing the wound, care given but absent of warmth. ‘Truly Enlightened’ some would whisper about them between the pews. An inconvenient concept as old as the Church itself — inefficient, outdated. One he intended to replace. Soon.
“Give the necessary care and see her to the infirmary with strict oversight. We don’t need another riot started in the medical wing lest we provoke the ire of the High Shepherd.” The Father’s instructions carried the weight of bored authority. “Only do what is necessary. God will dictate the rest.”
Both Sisters bowed their heads, a quiet “yes Father” issued in unison as they continued their work. It would be easier to complete the repair here before the girl woke — she would surely start struggling again.
With a final glance, Charles nodded his head and stepped out of the room. Steps clicked against the concrete floor as he headed towards his quarters, thoughts cycling as he considered the outcomes of this situation and collecting the thoughts he would jot down. As the old IBM terminal blinked on at his desk, the amber interface bloomed against the dark, he had his notes ready:
» Subject known as Kali refused entirely, collapsing instead.
» Observation will continue to monitor long term impact per thesis — pain alone isn’t always sufficient.
» This is not the first subject to display such tolerance, but she is one of few.
» Further data to be collected.
||The Misadventures of Phoenix and Shadow Chimera Sorcerer part 28: Another Contract Has Been Made! ||
Hi everyone! Happy spooky season! I hope everyone is enjoying their spooky season! This drabble is for my great friend, @the-silver-peahen-residence! Please read the previous series if you're interested!
----- Chapters of Adventure so far --------
||Previous chapters of Chapter 1-9||
||Previous chapters of Chapters 6-13||
||Previous chapters of Chapters 14-20||
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
((Your reading chapter 28 right now))
------ Drabble Summary -----
Daichi is on a mission with Miko, Yuria, Hana, and Megumi. They were investigating the disappearance and the increased amount of cursed energy. They happened to stumble upon a Special Grade, and during the fight, they were caught in a Domain Expansion.
Now racing against time, Daichi had a great idea, and one that he kept a secret from his friends. What is his ace in the hole?
----- Guest Star -----
A guest star from a series that is Helluva Boss. Stay tuned to find out!
________
Daichi never thought that this mission would take a turn for the worse. The curse is a Special Grade and is responsible for many disappearances and a spree of unprovoked attacks among the populace in a small city. This curse has brainwashed people with weak cursed energies and has them commit murders. Good thing Megumi has tracked the source since the curse left a mark on it.
The curse is described as a Beholder, a floating monster blob with one giant eye, and it has tendrils that hold each eye. His extended eyes are used to brainwash living things. The sorcerers can manage to resist it; however, the beholder took hold of other weaker beings, such as non-sorcerers and animals, turning them into its personal cursed corpses. Straight out of a Dungeons and Dragons book.
But the worst part? The Beholder can cast a Domain Expansion. Daichi managed to summon his own barrier, and Megumi quickly disrupted the effects of the Domain Expansion using his own incomplete domain. But he can't hold it for long. Daichi needs to think. He wasn't sure if he can cast his own domain expansion because he hadn't achieved that yet. Neither the girls. So the best thing he can to do is...
Actually..could that work? It could be a gamble, but why not! Better than not trying!
"Don't worry, guys! I have another way to do this!" Daichi said this with great confidence.
"If it's...a theme song I swear..." Megumi grits hist teeth.
"Nope. No Theme song! I got a better one! This is a good time to bring him out!"
"Him?!"
Megumi thought that if Daichi was talking about Raito, and wondered if this was a type of demon that could deal with a Special Grade and several shikigami he has at his own disposal n a huge swarm within this domain..
"Although..I'm going to be out of commission for a while!"
Miko didn't understand, "Daichi...Kisho...what do you mean?"
"Miko, summon Raito and use his power, okay? Don't worry, trust me!"
The sorcerers have no idea what Daichi is planning, but it's something risky. Daichi takes a breath before incanting a hymn that is in Latin. What the?! Then he bites down his hand and blood drops.
"Daichi? Kisho?!" Miko sees the bleeding from his hand.
Daichi flicks the blood off his hand and places a bloody hand on his chest, and he let out a shout before a magic circle appeared, glowing bright red and orange before him. A bright light flashes, making the sorcerers and curse close their eyes, shielding themselves from the flash. What emerges from the circle is a tall demon walking on two legs, his head looks like a bird. A caw sound is heard.
"VASSAGO!"
"Ha? ¿Qué es esto?" The bird dons a red suit jacket with a gold-trimmed popped collar, black lapels with a star brooch pin above his chest. A small star on the back. He has coat tails that look like smoothed out feathers and wears black pants with high boot heels. He carries an air of nobility around him, but he looks like he came out of a fashion show wearing a light orange visor covering his red eyes.
"Daichi...what is that?" Megumi said. The Beholder flinches at the sight of the demon, and the effects of the domain expansion begin to dampen at the demon's own cursed energy, disrupting its domain further.
"I see...." The bird demon speaks before looking over to the boy, "Oh! It's you, again. Daichi-boy!"
Again?! The sorcerers were flabbergasted. What did Daichi meet this guy?!
"Sorry, Vassago. I need your help against this crowd; we're in the bit of a pickle. I did say I need your help later, and I hope I didn't interrupt anything so-"
Eito goes to explain the situation to Vassago in chirps and tweets, to which the demon bird understood with a nod, "Ah, of course...I see. Very well! I will grant your request! I need some stress relief anyway!" He chuckles before he flips his tail feathers and snaps his fingers.
"Not bad for a stage, I must say. Although the crowd seems to be rowdy." He said with a smile and narrowing his red eyes.
"Daichi...what is that?! Who is he?!" Megumi asked.
Daichi chuckles tiredly, "Hahaha...well...uh.. that's Vassago...another demon I made a contract with..." He trails off as his eyes roll back and he faints. Miko goes to catch Daichi in her arms while Megumi stares in disbelief. "HE'S THE ONE?!"
Daichi's mind went black due to the energy he used to cast the summoning.
"Daichi!?" Miko said. "Daichi!"
"Do not fret. The poor boy fainted from using too much of this cursed energy to summon me." Vassago addresses the other sorcerers. "It seems this place is another realm created by that thing...isn't it? Not to worry, this will be resolved by my hand!" Vassago vows.
----- Flashback -----
"You did...what?"
Daichi PheonX aka Kisho Hashimoto, is in the principal office giving his report. The principal had to rub his temples, "Daichi..."
"Look! I know how this sounds, but I took care of it!"
"By taking care of it, you mean by making another contract with a demon?!"
Gojo looks between him and Principal Yaga. Daichi held his hands out, explaining himself, "If I didn't do anything, they were going to bring destruction to Tokyo. I had to improvise using the book that Mephisto gave me. I thought it would ruin it and make the ritual incomplete and worthless or maybe have it backfire, but..."
"It summoned a different demon, got rid of the cultists."Gojo finished. Daichi nods, "Yes, but that's because the demon didn't like to be ordered around and he find out what they were planning to use him for"
"And the demon just saw you and made a contract with you, Just like that?!" Yaga asked.
"Sorta of..it was after...he wiped out the cultists.." Daichi said nervously, almost lowering his head within his popped collar.
"That is even WORSE!" Yaga sound.
"Okay, so what's the deal?" Gojo asked curiously. "Demons make deals when it comes to contracts, and it's different depending on the demon. And I know for sure you didn't become a demon like Ink and Jinx."
"The deal is....
Daichi explains the deal to the two.
"......." Silence from the adults, Yaga stares in disbelief and Gojo had to ask, "For real?"
"For real. That's the part of the deal when he heard it. He likes it and so....we made a deal over it. And oh! I take him to the best places in Japan."
Yaga can't believe this, so he needs to ask this, "Where's the mission report? Have you written it yet?"
"I have. Here it is."
------ Present ------
A star is conjured under the demon with a tap of his feet. The Special Grade growls, feeling threatened by this damn demon. The star becomes a levitating platform for Vassago to take his stage before he snaps his fingers, summoning AMPS surrounding him, before he begins his song.
Special Grade Curse Beholder screeches and sends his shikigami bats towards the demon, but as Vassago sang, his song amplified and obliterated the bat shikigami coming close. The song he plays is operatic with notes of rock and pop. Almost like the demon is an idol.
The sorcerers were captivated by this. Miko heard Raito spoke in her mind while Eito is in the air, flying around Vassago to support.
"What is that?" Yuria asked.
"Vassago. One of the Ars Goetia.." Raito notes. He didn't think it was possible, but no! He summoned a demon of not just nobility. "A prince."
"Wait...a prince! Daichi summoned a demon prince??" Miko asked, now surprised at what her firebird had summoned.
"Good lord.." Megumi can't believe this. Daichi made another contract, and this time he made a contract with a demon prince.
-------- Flashback -------
"We have to scrap this report and remake it..." Yaga stated as Gojo is covering his mouth, trying his best not to laugh. Daichi blinks, "Wait, why?"
"Why???" Yaga asked Daichi, "Why?!" He raised his voice at Daichi before sitting back down on the chair, groaning, "Because nobody in the world would believe this, Hashimoto! Did you read it yourself and think this is acceptable?!"
"It's the truth, sir!" Daichi replied.
"That may be..but...GOJO! Can you stop laughing!" Yaga yelled at him
"But it's funny! The demon is a..oh gods! HAHAHAHA! Even I can't make something like that up!" Gojo is laughing while holding the report that Daichi wrote. "And this is the report that can make Megumi faint!"
"Pfft, but yeah..I agree with the principal, no way the Higher-Ups would believe this." Gojo laughs, making Daichi frown a little. "But think of this way, Kisho-kun! We can leave that part out and just say that you summoned the demon, and the demon made a contract with you after he killed the cultists. Just say...that he finds you acceptable and strong enough due to your cursed energy. That will keep those geezers from asking too many questions."
Daichi nods, "I understand, sir."
"Do we even have the demon's name?"
"I can't reveal that.." Daichi said. Yaga raised a brow at this, "Is that part of the contract?"
Daichi nods, "Yeah...and also out of respect, the demon is a high-ranking one." He tells him. Yaga sighs, "Very well.."
------- Present ----
Megumi watches the demon, Vassago kept on singing and dancing to his own tune, destroying the curses with his vocals and his conjured stars. The bird demon held his arms high and hit the high note, blowing the cursed corpses away.
It didn't feel like a battle anymore. It's like being in a concert and...is that demon speaking Spanish in some of the lyrics?! Megumi didn't know what to think. What's more, Hana and Yuria are going with it, much to his disbelief. Hana, being Hana, got glow sticks and hyping the performance, and Yuria just went along with it, finding it crazy.
But seriously...where the hell did they get the glowsticks?! Megumi thought to himself, seeing Hana and Yuria doing a dance with their glowsticks.
Miko stares wide-eyed as her eyes shine while cradling Daichi in her arms. "Daichi...this is amazing." She said while Daichi is resting.
"I might need a supporting backup DJ here!" Vassago calls. Miko nods, "Right! Raito!"
"Of course, I will aid you, prince," Raito speaks with the flap of his many wings. Eyes open on many of them and are now activated at Vassago's command.
"No need for the formalities! Vamos!" Vassago smirks before he continues singing with Raito, who is creating several flame eruptions from the ground in tune with Vassago's tempo and rhythm. Destroying several curses, burning them to a crisp. It is a musical. A choir.
The Beholder roars angrily and charges up an attack of cursed energy.
"SLIENCIO!" Vassago launches his conjured star towards the grotesque curse. It spins clockwise as it is launched. The curse sends out a curse beam, but the star is blocking and pushing through the beam.
The Beholder keeps on going, trying to push it back, but the star keeps spinning fast. "Megumi! You've got to cheer him on!" Hana said.
"WHAT?!"
"JUST DO IT! CHEER HIM ON!" Yuria shouted, throwing him a glowstick. Megumi grabs the glowstick and sighs inwardly, but starts waving, but doesn't feel that it is doing anything!
"RAITO SAYS THAT WE GOT TO GIVE OUR CURSED ENERGY SO HE CAN BEAT THIS THING!" Miko tells Megumi. This got Megumi to get the message clear, as he sees the barrier around them, conjured by the curse, begin to crack. Small rays of light peering through. This got Megumi to cheer the demon now, to get heck out of here. "COME ON!"
With his cursed energy being sapped into the demon, Vassago enlarges the star and charges it. Like a slingshot, it made contact with the Special Grade curse, and what happens next is complete sweet oblivion in the form of an explosion and crackling fireworks.
"And...thank you for being an honorable crowd!" Goetic Demon does a bow as the barrier is completely shattered now, bringing the sorcerers to the real world. Megumi never thought that he would be so grateful to be alive. Then he looked over to the demon and became startled when Vassago looked over to the sorcerers and walked towards the teens. Megumi prepared himself, and what happens next is surprising: "Is everyone alright?" Vassago asks them with genuine concern.
"Uh...yeah.." Megumi said, as he has no words but to say that. Vassago smiles, "Good..." He goes to kneel down and tap Daichi on the forehead, "Wake up, my boy! The battle has ended.."
Daichi groggily groans as he slowly opens his eyes, "D-did we win?"
"We did!" Miko hugs Daichi tightly as she has never been so happy, "And it's all thanks to you and Vassago for helping us!" Miko said. Yuria and Hana nodded with smiles on their faces.
"I thought we were goners, but if it weren't for this guy here," Yuria said. Hana nods her head, "We would be in big trouble, thanks a bunch, Vass-san!"
"Vass-san!" Vassago chirped and pressed a hand on his chest with a smile, "I am honored to have such a title, dear!" He said as Daichi smiles and looks over to Fushiguro, "Yeah...and thanks, Fushiguro!"
This got Meugmi blinking. "Huh? For what?" He asked, looking confused.
"For trusting me..." Daichi smiles to which Megumi sighs as he scratches his head with his eyes closed "Yeah, well...thanks, but you got some explaining to do when we get back. But for now, rest up."
"Right.." He closes his eyes, to which Vassago thanks the sorcerers for a wonderful time before heading back to the demon world. Megumi can't believe this just happened. There is going to be a lot of questions regarding this. And he has to write a report about this.
---- Back at school ----
"A prince of..." Yuji widened his eyes.
"Of hell?" Nobara's jaw dropped.
"Yep!" Hana smiles, telling the rest of the sorcerers before Miko reliterates, "More like one of the princes but more of Ars Goetia."
"You have to got to be kidding..." Sukuna grumbled as a mouth appeared on Yuji's cheek "That brat made a contract with a demon of nobility?! How?!"
"That's what Raito says.." Megumi answered them. Taz couldn't believe it either. "Wait..what's the Ars Goetia?" Taz asked. Kinie Ger can't believe this. How did someone like Kisho, this reckless child, end up contracted to a high-ranking demon? ANOTHER DEMON in fact. This is getting absurd...
Miko goes on to explain, "Raito says that Ars Goetia is a class of noble demons. They're higher than demons and are pretty strong. They can beat a Special Grade!"
"But summoning one takes a high amount of cursed energy, the reason why Daichi is resting," Megumi said, crossing his arms. "Doctor Mi-Sun said it's going to take him a few days to recover." He said as he went out. "Right now, he's in his room."
"Where are you going, Fushiguro?" Yuji said. Megumi answers, "To see how Kisho is doing."
----- Kisho's Dorm -------
Kisho yawns as he has Eito on his chest, "Man..who knew summoning Vassago could take a lot out of him." He made a sleepy face while he was lying on his bed. He's okay, just a little drowsy. Eito chirps. "Yeah...Vassago is happy, so now I've got to treat him sometime next week." He said. "Never thought it worked. Good thing we made a contract with Vassago, huh?"
"Good to see that you're doing okay."
Kisho jolted when he saw Megumi at the door of his room. Kisho grins, "Hey Fushiguro! What's up?"
"Okay, thanks to you," Megumi said with his eyes closed. "To be honest, I never thought I would live after that." He said. Kisho chuckles, "But we live, didn't we? You managed to buy me some time thanks to the incomplete domain.."
"Hm..." Megumi nods his head.
"So! What brings you here?"
Megumi opens his eyes and asks, "I want to ask you something. When are you going to tell me that you made another contract with a demon?" This time, the voice is a bit serious. Kisho blinks dumbfounded and laughs a little, "Oh uh...I was about to tell you but-"
"When?"
"When I got back from investigating a solo mission with Ino Takuma." He stated. "Hahaha..but I forgot?"
"You forgot...huh?" Megumi said it slowly, making Kisho a little scared, "BUT! I can explain! Because...long story short? I messed with a bunch of satanic cultists' summoning circle..."
"You what?"
"So uh....I changed the symbols and sigils on the circle because they were summoning a big bad demon, and I thought it would make the circle useless and not..."
Megumi quickly put it together. "Summoning a different demon, and you ended up making a contract with Vassago as your second contracted demon?"
"Yep..." Kisho answered, smiling nervously. Megumi had to facepalm, "Kisho...what the hell???"
"I didn't have a choice!" Kisho replied quickly.
"You didn't have a choice?!" Megumi doesn't believe it. "Seriously???"
"But it worked out!" Kisho assures him. Megumi asks, "How did Vassago agree to this? If he's a high-ranking demon, he needs something in return. So what was it?" He hopes it isn't serious. Demons do want something in exchange.
"Music, food, and a vacation," Kisho say it.
A pause. Megumi shakes his head, trying to make sure he heard it right.
"The what?" Megumi narrows his green eyes at him. Kisho chuckles, "Yeah...so what happened was ...actually..the report might help if you read!"
"Just tell me!" Megumi demanded. Kisho raises his hands up, "Okay, okay, okay! So I was about to apologize to him for wasting his time because..eer..he like to wipe the cultists off like...nothing! To dust! He is ticked off when he finds out what they were using him for when they didn't get the demon they wanted. Then my phone dropped and my playlist...started to play."
"Good lord..." Megumi groans, "You didn't play the-"
"And he likes it!" Daichi answers.
"What?" Megumi questions.
"Yeah! So apparently, he told me that he is the leader of the music industry in the demon world! He talks about how some of his family are jerks and he needed to be away from them, so he wants to visit the human world whenever I summon him. So he can use that as an excuse!" He tells him. "But hey! In exchange, he wants the lyrics I made and....he wants a food tour and wants to go to visit vinyl record shops."
Megumi had to take a pause because he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Because it sounds like bullshit!
"Are you serious?" Megumi wonders if Kisho is lying or has lost his mind. No, knowing Kisho. He is not good at lying, and whatever he says is the truth because, sure...he exaggerates his experiences, but Kisho isn't known for lying about stuff like this!
"Yep."
"......."
"Oh! I can speak Latin and Spanish!"
"How is that any better, Kisho?!" Megumi twitched an eye. Kisho chuckles, "Oh well..you know, just in case! I love to be multilingual here!"
Megumi takes a deep breath now. Inhale and exhale, "You're so lucky that I won't punish you with my rabbits. Because I found out about it earlier...I will beat you up for doing something stupid.."
Kisho gulps, hearing that.
"But...you did it because if you didn't make a contract with the demon, we would be dead right now so....yeah." Megumi crossed his arms with a huff, making Kisho widen his eyes, then he smiled, "Awwww...Fushiguro! You're so nice!" He teases. "Thanks!"
"Don't push it. If I find out you make another third contract, I'll hit you!" Megumi tells him, and he wasn't kidding about that.
"Don't worry, I won't! Promise!" Kisho grins. Megumi shakes his head, "So did they know about this? What did you tell the Higher-Ups-"
"Oh. Yaga and Gojo gave the Higher-Ups a revised version thanks to Reigen's editing skills! So they didn't know about the last part about the demon being a leader of the music industry."
"Good! Because even they wouldn't believe it and think you're lying!"
"Trust me..What I wrote in the report made Ichiji faint." Kisho thinks, "And you know...making a contract with a demon isn't so bad...you should try it, and — what are you doing??"
Megumi raised his hands, forming some kind of shadow puppet, "I'm sorry...I didn't hear what that last part? Can you repeat that?"
"That making a contract with a demon-"
"What? I can't hear you..." Megumi smiles a little thinner now.
Kisho gulps, "N-nothing..."
"Good." He lowers his hands, "Now.." Megumi goes to leave, "Just rest and...again, thanks for saving us, Kisho."
Kisho sighs, he lowers his eyelids and smiles, "You're welcome."
But before Megumi really leaves...
"AND NO MORE MAKING CONTRACTS WITH DEMONS!" Megumi shouted.
"OKAY, I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!" Kisho shouted back.
And with that, Megumi leaves the room with a small smile and sees the entire first-year class, making him scowl. "What are you guys doing here???"
"NOTHING!" All of them scrambled to their rooms after eavesdropping on their conversation. Seems like Kisho isn't going to get punished today, and Megumi thanked Kisho! This is something that hasn't been done before.
Megumi rolls his eyes before chuckling a little, "Idiots." He said before going to his own dorm room."
It had been a decision mulled over for months. It was hard to keep it a secret but Lilia was the first to find out, as Silver couldn’t keep anything from his father. After explaining, the older Diasomnia member agreed and sent the younger on his way.
Clad in the uniform representing the fairy the dorm is based on, the knight went in search of the older Arendelle Queen. It wasn’t too hard to find her. Elsa was by the well in the courtyard, deserted aside from various critters.
“Elsa.” Silver announced his presence. He gazed upon the blonde, who turned her attention onto him. There’s surprise before a smile fades it away.
“Silver.. hello,” she greeted quietly. Elsa stood up from her hunched over spot. She’d been thinking of a wish to send to the well, after much talk from a wishing well from Snow White. “You sought me out.. why?” She questioned as she peered over at her boyfriend. Hands clasped in front of her, she waited patiently for an answer. Faint snowflakes clouded her like a veil and sunlike caught the flakes, which only made the Queen more ethereal.
Silver paused. His heart raced. His palms grew sweaty. He soon found his voice. “I have.. a wish.” He answered though the tone betrayed the uncertainty. Before a question could be asked, he continued. He bowed his head first, then he bowed.
“I wish to serve as your knight, Queen Elsa.”
The Queen was taken aback at the request. She was silent a few moments, then she spoke. “What of your commitment to Malleus, Silver? You are sworn to protect him.”
Still bowed, he answered curtly. “Yes, but he still has Sebek at his side, along with fa- I mean, Lilia. Please, allow me to protect you.”
More silence greeted the knight until his ears picked up delicate footsteps. From his bent position, he caught sparkles, sun reflections from the frost and snowflakes that coated the Queen. It’s not until he felt something cold press against the top of his shoulder did he dare to lift his gaze.
And what he saw was a crystallised sword in Elsa’s hand, another demonstration of her ice powers. “On that account.. I accept your offer, Silver. My knight. Now rise.. please.”
She finds herself having to lie down after a particularly long shift that day. But mostly after having been inundated by the overwhelming amount of TVL commercialism present online, around every corner and billboard, and mentioned from the mouths of even several of her colleagues earlier on. Especially since more than several recent nighttime hospital admissions had been of various TVL concert and event goers who'd so graciously donated generous amounts their crimson life force for the fang flaunting, abdomen-baring, and leather pants wearing Greater Cause who'd managed to enthrall them all. Pallid, swooning fans who still mustered enough energy to eagerly text their "bffs and besties" and livestream from the ED on Instagram and TikTok of their experience with their lionized idol as they received their respective transfusions, images of his half-clad form plastered upon their phone screens.
Even if she were to close her eyes, she would still have His image engraved in her mind's eye from the sheer amount of times she'd been exposed to it that day, there would be no escape even in the realm of rest it seemed. Lovely.
The Soul of the First Man was never supposed to be a fighter or a killer. His purpose in creation was to grow, first plants and animals, then humans. His family.
How far must one fall to reach the lows he has gotten himself into? Exterminations. Slaying Sinners, cleaving heads from shoulders and painting it all as a gift of final rest to those who didn’t deserve peace. The mask he wore would shield him from red blood yet he finds that with each year he could taste more and more of it. Such an iron, such a bitter and hopeless taste that rots his tongue. Maybe that’s why he opted to scream and yell, anything to project his voice, to get that poison out of his maw…
In the end, regardless of how much he participated in the fight, there was at least one thing to look forward to. The day after sporting a rather large party for him and the girls to indulge in. They too were infected with something far greater than judgment to be cast into Hell. A sickness that Heaven refuses to speak upon, such bloodthirsty warriors conditioned to feel nothing but rage as that was the greatest piety they could offer their lord above.
These parties, as hypocritical as they were, began to simmer down year after year. The music began to fade, the drinks piled up untouched and merely forgotten about and the mood for such a celebration dwindled to just embers as opposed to it being such a bright fire.
For the Exorcists, they had no one but themselves. Such radical war machines that prided their service to the Lord above in unconventional ways. However they weren’t immune to the snide eyes and standoffish tones of their peers. Being looked at as abominations created by a failed experiment. They weren’t seen as equals, merely barbarians that had no sense of self, no real moral authority and no place in Heaven.
For The First Man… the days after the exterminations, once the thrill of the highlife had finally began to mean nothing to him, thats when his conscious caught and spoke of reparations and deep wounding cuts.
Adam would always find himself alone those days after now, surrounded by broken furniture, glass and anything he could get his hands on. Of course in Heaven, nothing was truly broken, everything he was dead set on destroying would slowly put itself back together, to which he would break it again and again and again. Spite, anger, jealousy. How can Heaven put back together a simple chair but refuse to fix his own mind?
It was almost like a cruel joke. This place showing him that it can but it won’t.
Adam would repeat this as many times as his hands would allow, screaming, clutching items as hard as he could, throwing an item at the wall and when that neglected to show any signs of damage he would throw himself into it. A wave of fists doing their damndest to break this cage he was in.
Punch
Punch
Punch
Snap-
His chest heaved, slowly up and down, stopping his movements when looking at the minor crack of the wall he got. But that too would soon recover, an upward arch of a crack that seemed to smile at him until it disappeared completely leaving him with golden bloody knuckles that stained his robes.
That too would disappear as he’s seen many times before.
Even the sweat that dripped from his back and cooled his skin when pressed against the wall would eventually disappear and make the fabric perfect once more. Adam finds himself sliding down the wall until he ends up in a sitting position. When looking back to his home, all he saw was everything back to its rightful spot. Repaired, new, untouched.
There wasn’t any use, why even try. It was easier to give up, give in. Slowly his body would slump over, one of his large golden wings flopped loosely over his upper body and stayed there like a blanket.
Tomorrow will be the same day, get up, go to work, be reprimanded by Sera, piss off Lute, look through the files of new Sinners, look at atrocities committed by the very people he started, blame himself, be blamed for it all, be yelled at for killing and he would do it all with a lousy indifference as if nothing could hurt him.
But today, the one day after too many, Adam would let himself grieve. For himself, for his kin and for what could have been.
