Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Don't touch that! Oh dear..."

Mephistopheles (feedsmycontempt) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2010-07-25 18:12:00

Entry tags:

ariel, mephisto

Who: Mephisto and Ariel
What: Going through new acquisitions, discussing their usual affairs
Where: Ariel's shop, London
When: Shortly after Ariel's return
Warnings: Beware, there's a bird in here! Otherwise, no.

Mephisto had acquired some new abilities since the last time Ariel had seen him, but it wasn't going to be a night of rubbing new toys in the other kid's face. Though he did bring something unusual in with him this time when he entered the shop that was readily apparent - a grackle, fully mature stood on his shoulder as he walked through the wall and directly to Ariel's side.
"I assure you, she's quite tame in my presence," He started, the bird staring directly at Ariel. "Brown eyes. And you're less pale than I imagined you." He gave a tiny, smug smile. "Have you gone through the stack in the back room I've given to you?"

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 12:43 am UTC (link)

He hadn't expected the demon, per se, but he'd known it couldn't be long. Ever since Tortuga he'd been smiling without end, and even now it wasn't enough to knock the grin off his face.

At least not right away. As he saw the oddly beautiful bird, and processed the comment, his brows furrowed. "How - " He broke off, figuring he'd discover how in time. "No, I've been in here a grand total of seven minutes."

He left without another word to get the stack of books, temples pounding with the sudden onset of stress. How in the Hell can he see me? It's not possible! Well, clearly it is, but how? Was it a familiar? Something to do with what had gone on in London? The idea of a more powerful Mephistopheles was unsettling at any point in time.

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	feedsmycontempt 2010-07-26 12:46 am UTC (link)
	"Don't forget the scrolls as well," Mephisto mentioned lightly, before simply appearing them onto the countertop, and the bird hopped down from his shoulder and started examining the scroll he unrolled, running his fingers over the words. "How was your vacation? Enlightening, I hope." (Reply to this)

defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 12:51 am UTC (link)

"In some respects." There was no possible way he'd be discussing Princess in the demon's presence, but there were other ways that he'd perhaps gotten a new direction that were more appropriate. "I am not sure yet."

He came back to the counter, belatedly remembering that the demon had said he would separate the books and scrolls 'when he had sight,' and feeling a stab of excitement, rather in spite of himself. "I obviously have questions, but whatever you may have to tell me, please do so first."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 12:58 am UTC (link)

"I have many things to tell you, Ariel, too many to start right now. But I'm sure you're wondering." He plucked the bird back up from the counter, gentle as he'd ever been in Ariel's presence, putting her back on his shoulder. "She is my sight, currently. I would have a human do it, but they're cumbersome." He hadn't even considered naming the grackle, and it was likely going to remain unnamed.

"I absorbed a bit more than Asmodeus' fear. I don't have his gamut of powers, obviously, but a fair amount. Whatever I didn't take, I'm enjoying handing out to mortals. This scroll is demonic, do not use it." He rolled up the paper once more and tucked it back in its case.

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 01:04 am UTC (link)

He'd heard snips of what had happened from Petit and her family, and knew that the demon Asmodeus had been brought back from the Void and had been ripped apart, in utter likelihood by the being in front of him. In everything he'd ever encountered, Asmodeus had been a thoroughgoing bastard, even for a demon, so his destruction was likely a good thing. Nonetheless. One thing at a time.

It at least didn't take a fool to make a few leaps. "So you have acquired some form of sight, due to the destruction of the Lust demon. What do you mean by 'whatever you didn't take'? Documents, or powers?"

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 01:11 am UTC (link)

"Powers, clearly. And yes, I use the mind of the bird to see through her eyes. I refuse to use telepathic powers for anything more." He unrolled another scroll while he paused to consider his words. Telepathy was an awful power, he thought, as was the ability to plant thoughts and notions into the human mind. It was outright underhanded, even by demonic standards.

"It seems like cheating." A smile twitched on his lips briefly.

"But of course," Mephisto said, as the bird turned to Ariel from her perch, "I'm a creature of habit. I only wanted sight, if only for a moment, if even secondhand." He went back to inspecting the scroll. "I want only one thing more, and perhaps I will find some small measure of contentedness."

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	defectedfromgod 2010-07-26 01:22 am UTC (link)
	A telepathic Mephistopheles might just as well kill him now; he'd never be free of him. But for now, he simply nodded at the demon's last statement. "I know. And I have, at least, beginnings." He watched the bird, interested in spite of himself. It was really a beautiful creature, if dark and strangely colored. "Do you dream when you sleep? Some immortals do, some do not." (Reply to this)

feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 01:28 am UTC (link)

"I do not sleep," Mephisto stated simply, though it was for a reason. Whenever he managed to do it, he wound up only ever replaying his fall, and the tone of fear in Adam's voice and movements.

He nodded to the bird. "By all means, Ariel, she won't snap at you, if you're so curious." He knew that Ariel would be. And the bird seemed almost as outwardly curious about Ariel as Ariel was about her. But then she went into preening Mephisto's hair, and the demon just sighed, his lips pulled tight.

"That's quite enough," he directed at her after a moment.

"Beginnings, you say?" He asked, because obviously, that was more interesting than the bird, dreams, or his newfound sense.

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 01:42 am UTC (link)

Ariel nodded at the first statement, though it would have been the simplest way to investigate the true level of corruption. The other might get him slapped; it depended on the mood.

He was going to say something about the bird, but closed his mouth when it began to preen. It was almost amusing, though the bird had to be a special sort if she could coexist with the devil for any length of time. He simply ignored it, instead answering the question asked. "Very beginnings. As in, I have no idea if the spell I encountered can even be performed nowadays."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 01:50 am UTC (link)

"Go on," Mephisto said, having to forcibly move his hair out of the bird's beak and the bird off his shoulder, still gentle with her. She continued to examine the scroll as he faced Ariel. "Anything is worth trying, Ariel." His tone was dire and grim. It meant so much to him to return to something lighter, something less corrupt. He felt like a marble sculpture that cracked with age, and weathered the years, becoming rough to the touch instead of smooth like before.

He couldn't stand it. It irritated him more than any human ever could. And while he knew there was nothing but his vanity and pride to blame, he simply couldn't bring himself to feel guilty. After spending this long with the mortals, it only solidified the knowledge that he was right in not loving them and bowing to them as God wished.

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 01:57 am UTC (link)

"The extremely short version centres around nao sha." Ariel pronounced. "I believe it's called sal ammoniac in the West." He'd learned about its properties in China, and seen some of its literal transformations. "It's a central component of non-theoretical alchemy - when sublimated, it breaks into ammonia and hydrochloric acid." Which, of course, were corrosive, and often succeeded in at least purifying metal.

He swallowed; it was hard to keep both the excitement and the fear from his voice. "I found a spell in a Chinese journal which alleges to convert the physical abilities of nao sha into a more magical, elemental form."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 02:04 am UTC (link)

It was a few moments as Mephisto considered what Ariel just suggested. The bird hopped off the counter and strutted around the floor, obviously not currently being used for her purpose, but still keeping within the line of sight of the old fallen angel.

He faced Ariel after a minute or two, and so did the bird, from her place on the floor. "It sounds like all it would do is put a pretty facade on a corroded inner core."

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 02:10 am UTC (link)

Ariel shook his head. "Hydrochloric acid burns, and not only on something's surface. I once got a drop of literal hydrochloric acid on my hand, and it ate through three layers of skin. I do not suggest using it literally, of course," he added pre-emptively. "But the spell harnesses the properties of such a potent acid. I think it worth exploring its feasibility." Obviously not on Mephisto himself, but a suitable subject could be found.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 02:22 am UTC (link)

The bird chattered briefly as she walked back up to Mephisto and flew back up to perch on the edge of the counter. She tilted her head up to focus one white eye on Ariel, and then jumped up onto the demon's shoulder again. While she did that, Mephisto listened to Ariel and then shook his head, "My saliva's more caustic than that, but it's worth exploring, you're correct. I have a town of sinners at your disposal for whatever you need in doing this, Ariel. If this doesn't work, I urge you to keep looking."

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 02:30 am UTC (link)

That landed like a punch in the gut, the idea of an entire town sacrificed. He was no judge. He was no murderer.

No, he'd have to find another way. "I need to research further before I do anything tangible." He knew he'd likely be laughed at, but he'd never really had to affect another person before. It was a heavy burden. Yet he'd wanted this, and now he had it.

Perhaps he still wasn't entirely sane.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 02:39 am UTC (link)

"Shame," the demon said in a dismissive tone. "If it worked, you could help all those damned souls in my kingdom." Not that he particularly cared about the mortals, it was just that he didn't want to trust human magic until he was satisfied in its results. He continued working on sorting the scrolls. Soon, he had two piles - inexcusable for any human to use, and safe for Ariel's reading and use. The former was slightly smaller than the latter pile, and he tapped the counter with one claw.

"These would be safe for you to use, those are fool's folly and should probably be destroyed."

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 02:46 am UTC (link)

"If you're going to manipulate me, at least have the bloody decency to be subtle." He was suddenly weary and more than a bit irritated, and instead of speaking further he simply turned to get a matchbox, ready to destroy the scrolls. He didn't care for their contents; he loathed the damned things on sight.

He set the matches down on the counter. "Obliged for separating out the piles. Is there a procedure for destroying such things, or can they simply be burnt?" Scrolls were touch and go, though bound books generally had to be corrupted before they could be disposed of.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 02:53 am UTC (link)

"I'm not trying to manipulate you, jackass," Mephisto grumbled, "I'm pointing out that you're worried about the lives of people already hellbound, when your spell supposedly saps corruption out of them. You're too intelligent to be so fucking stupid." He faced the pile of what should be destroyed and he took one up in his hand, and it combusted in a quick puff of flame and smoke, and ash came out of his hand once he opened it. "They can be burnt, but with me around only. They won't dare harm a living being if I'm around." He was oddly persuasive over inanimate objects.

"... I gave your Princess a ward." He mentioned offhand as he picked up another scroll and destroyed it.

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 03:00 am UTC (link)

"I have talent, not infallibility, and forgive me if I tend to balk at hastening death." Ariel shot back, but fell silent by the neat destruction of the scrolls and books. Much more convenient to handle -

The shot of utter fury was so sudden he gripped the counter to stay upright, but only for a moment. The anger itself held him up. "When did you ever speak to her." It wasn't a question. He could not harm her directly - she had no soul, nothing of interest for him - but the thought still sent his heart into his throat, set his hands to shaking. "What did you give her? Why did you go near her?"

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 03:09 am UTC (link)

Mephisto was unfazed by Ariel's anger. It was, at most, a rare treat. "It was only a week or two ago at the most," He said, still casually burning the scrolls one by one. "She wanted to know where her father wound up. I told her the truth, that he spent time in purgatory for his creating false relics of the son of Mary, and then he ascended. I gave her a ward of protection far stronger than any of the ones here. I gave them to her because I sincerely don't want anything to do with your personal life outside of what we discuss. You want freedom from me, Ariel, and I you, and that helps us both. The ward will keep all but God from entering an area around it, it will keep prying eyes from spying. And it will keep me from walking in on you and her fucking. You do have sex still, don't you? You didn't leave your dick in the 19th century?"

He finished up that chore and started on the books.

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 03:34 am UTC (link)

It took a few moments before Ariel felt well enough to speak, and with it came a bit of tempering. He knew she had no soul. He knew Princess was almost as skilled in his arts as he was. He knew she was old and smarter than most. So why did the spectre terrify him?

He took a breath and simply watched the books go up, taking a hold of the other, smaller pile of "acceptable" texts. He began to peruse the first.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 03:41 am UTC (link)

Mephisto was silent again, for another minute or two, slipping his fingers over the pages of the book. "That was uncalled for. But she has no fear of me, nor should you have fear of my having spoken to her. I don't wish to bring fear to you when it comes to her. She is very enigmatic, and loves you deeply." His tone was even and his words were slow, but sincere.

"This can be sold, it has nothing you would need." That said, he went on to the next book. "It occurs to me that this new power over minds could be used to your benefit. You lost much of your memory, or so you've said. In exchange for helping me, I could potentially find those memories. You may have forgotten, Ariel, but the mortal mind never lets go of the knowledge it stores. It's simply locked away."

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 03:59 am UTC (link)

That might have been the first sincere apology he'd ever heard from the demon, and he wasn't insensible of it. He wasn't insensible of what the demon was saying, either, and he knew it was true. He had no idea if he loved Princess, but his reaction spoke in favor of it, and he knew it.

"I have several gaps in my memory. This is true." Most of it could be explained by opium, but not his early life. To remember his parents and more of her. A blessing and a curse. "Minds lock away such knowledge for several reasons, even."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-07-26 04:07 am UTC (link)

It may have been the first sincere apology he'd uttered in centuries. He'd been trying to give Ariel no reason to be so rigidly terrified of him, no reason to be so hesitant. "Yes, that's true. But oh, what you have lost." He shook his head as the bird hopped from page to page and read where his fingers ran over lines of text and symbols, and she inspected each illustration he found. "If you don't want that, I'll think of another thing to trade for your... help."

He tipped his head back up and over to face Ariel. "Unless you can think of something."

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defectedfromgod
2010-07-26 04:25 am UTC (link)

He sighed. "I promise that I will consider. You have my word. But it's premature to talk of subjects and rewards when I may be unable to find the ingredients to even try the thing." He shook his head. "I will investigate this to the best of my ability, but if I am not satisfied with it, I will scrap it and start over again. Not of a desire to annoy you, but because we've both witnessed what happens when occultists and occultism go wrong."

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