Narrative: Dirty Cheating Slut WHO: Open to Reactions from all, especially Pavel WHEN: February 26, after classes WHERE: Everywhere at the school—outdoors, indoors, hallways, dorms, etc.
The plans had been set in motion long before the deal had been made. Natália also wasn't breaking the term of her agreement either. She wasn't speaking about it to anyone, at least not anyone who didn't already know. Greed demons were good about finding loopholes and so when Cheyenne came over, Natália revealed her plan to the other girl. Not the entirety of it but enough to leave them laughing at what would happen when it was all said and done. Natália was in Sphinx house for a reason, and a carefully laid plan would unfold and there was no way to stop it. Not that she wanted to stop it. She loved seeing a good plan come to fruition. The mind games involved and only once did she ever regret something. Only once, and this definitely wasn't it.
Since arriving at the school, Natália had been building contacts and useful people. She did what she could to make it sound like the other person was benefitting more. They were late on a payment and their interest skyrocketing, but it was okay if they did her a couple of favors. She would give them more time, maybe even allieviate some of the debt. It's what made this plan work so well. Greed demons were greedy with not just money but with time and whatever else they found important enough to hoard. She didn't like calling in many favors because she was greedy about those too, but it was better to use those than money.
The anonymous texting had been easy enough to get. Say hello to Derrick and his loser friend in the hall. Let them get some popularity via association since she knew his name. Piece of cake. A witch, who was behind on payments after Christmas, used magic to take the viewpoint of a bird. The crow sat on a tree, staring down at the drop spot and watched as Pavel made the delivery and then headed off. It would circle back every once in a while during the day to make sure the envelope was there until the waiting period ended and the person Natália requested picked it up. Natália certainly wasn't stupid enough to go pick up the envelope herself or really, do any of this herself. Get others to do the work for her.
The only frustration was the wait. There was no way she was going to collect the money immediately. That was too easy. So she had to exercise patience, a virtue she had possibly more than most other demons. Now she was $1000 richer than before, and she liked that feeling. It was peas compared to what she could've asked for but she also knew how far she should push. A larger sum might have caused her prey to out himself to everyone, and a golden opportunity would end up wasted.
However, what Pavel didn't know was that he was damned no matter what he did.
The plan was always to destroy Pavel. It was just about how to do it and what she could get out of it. Natália had connections and influence, though most people just assumed it was typical high school popularity. Pavel put a big red target on himself when Davian brought her the news of his infidelity. Davian's anger toward him brought out a strange feeling of solidarity in Natália. Punish the people who fucked with her allies or friends or whatever they could be called. Davian's demonness drew more of that out of her than anyone else would have. So she would punish the bastards who messed with other demons, or those that the demons claimed for themselves. Natália had only intended to just blackmail the fairy, but Davian sought revenge, and Natália would pay him for his services with it. Not just the economics homework but public ruin. It made for a sweeter dessert. The cherry on the top.
It was after school on Monday when it happened.
A normal uneventful Monday.
No major holiday to celebrate.
A plain, boring Monday.
Pretty much the best circumstances that Natália could hope for as it meant that this would have a greater effect. Accentuated by the dullness of the every day. Most people might not care. Pavel had benefitted socially from dating Valentin than Valentin from Pavel. Valentin had elevated him, so to speak, and so more people would know his name more than they would have before. Frankly, had Pavel not cheated, Natália would've aligned him with the sort of student who was inconsequential to the social hierarchy of the school. She wondered how many people would react. He certainly would be boosted in visbility from this, but others would recognize him as a cheater. She doubted he had the savvy of a Kardashian to spin this around on his own.
The school day came to a close, and as students and staff emerged into the hallways, a gust of wind rushed through, carrying a whirlwind of what might be hundreds of flyers. Papers that littered the floors or got caught in lockers or stuck to walls. All of them with the same picture and message:
They were practically everywhere. It was nearly inescapable. Academy hallways and even in dorms and tossed around outside by winter winds. Pavel's own locker didn't have a poster but had the same accusation, crudely written in red and black sharpie: DIRTYCHEATINGSLUT.
Everyone could see it. Teachers, students, and other staff members. Those who saw the flyers each reacted differently—some threw the papers away or ignored it, others laughed, a few looked upset by it, and a number were shocked and looked uncomfortable by the statement. Teachers seemed to share a similar reaction of telling students to move along and to throw the papers away.
Davian had wanted Pavel to go down and this was the most effective way of doing it, and so Natália delivered on her part. Because now that everyone knew, they could decide how they were going to react about it. But the point was that everyone knew. Mission accomplished.
Natália picked up a piece of paper, observing it briefly and raising an eyebrow. She convincingly feigned some shock and surprise, and then made her way to her extracurricular activities. When she was sure no one was looking, her red-painted lips twisted into a smirk. Maybe it was a little over the top and maybe it was a bit gaudy, but Natália liked to think of herself as something of an artist.
Greed was good, especially when served with a nice side of vengeance.