PSL; [YOU MAY BURY MY BODY]

[makimavellian]

( me and the devil walkin' side by side )

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PREVIOUSLY ON…

[makimavellian]

👉 a murder wizard meets a horseman of the apocalypse.

also dog list (help):
-Margarita (female German Shepherd)
-Bubblegum (female Doberman Pinscher)
-Ribeye (male long-haired Chihuahua)

[makimavellian]

[First thing’s first: cleaning up. The blood swirls down the drain of the too-big shower in this too-big guest bathroom, and Makima closes her eyes, water sluicing over her form. This is nice, she thinks, plainly.

And when she’s done there, she dries off and dresses in the clothes provided for her. It’s a simple number, a nice blouse and a dark maxi skirt, less formal than her previous outfit — but her previous outfit could definitely use some help, now.

Generous as it is, should she consider it strange that Warren happens to have women’s clothes on hand? And even those that happen to fit her? It’s like something out of a thriller, or a slasher film building bodeful suspense.

She lets him know that once she’s dressed and presentable, meeting him in the living room. Her hair’s fully down, since she undid the braid to shower, and she won’t bother to plait it together again until it dries completely.]

You know. When a man just happens to have a girl’s size in clothes laying around in the movies, it’s never a good sign.

[She’s grinning, though, clearly in a pleasant mood post-shower.]

[spellbent]

[ Warren's already there by the time she arrives, freshly showered and changed himself. There's a bandage wrapped neatly around his injured hand, and in his other he has a tablet that he's idly scrolling through. What's he reading? Hard to tell as he flips the cover shut and sets it on the coffee table at her approach. ]

And if I told you they belonged to an ex-girlfriend?

[ Said in the tone of a man who knows he's lying and is not bothering to hide that fact. ]

[makimavellian]

Oh, in that case, what a loss on her part.

[Said in Makima's favorite timbre: the kind that sounds polite enough, certainly complimentary, but secondhand Mean Girl, too. Though clearly she's amused, if not totally buying the lie. It doesn't matter either way.

She steps closer, within reasonable conversational distance. There's still something formal about the way she stands, though, like she's not quite yet sloughed off the government-employee vibes that have layered over her like silt over the years.

She won't sit unless offered a seat. Manners!]

Are you ready to talk details, or am I interrupting some other... more important business of yours?

[spellbent]

[ Warren has been mentally cataloguing every detail about Makima since they met, doubly so since she dropped the guise of pretending to be human, and the way she carries herself now is no different. Formal. Politely distant. Her involvement in bureaucracy must not have been part of the lie. ]

You're not interrupting. I was waiting for you.

[ And, at last, he motions her to a nearby chair. ]

Have a seat.

[makimavellian]

[How polite of him. Makima nods and takes the offered seat, sitting primly enough with her hands folded neatly in her lap. She considers Warren for a beat of a moment before deciding on her verbiage. While this seems like a far less formal affair than her last dealings with producing a contract with a human, somehow, she still feels as though this man has a more critical eye to him than the Prime Minster. Like every word will be turned inside out and examined even more than a politician would bother to.

Best to just start... simply, then.]

So, I assume you've not changed your mind sometime in-between my shower and now? If that's the case, then we should talk about what I can actually offer you. And what would be expected of you, in turn.

Unless you'd rather talk about the why, first, before the nitty-gritty.

[Intention, she means. Does he wonder why she's so eager to make a contract? And maybe she wonders more about him? She's happy to skip over all of that, of course, and learn or reveal it in time, but again... He seems a thorough sort.]

[spellbent]

As eager as I am to get down to brass tacks— [ He leans forward, elbows rested on his knees and hands clasped loosely together. She's caught his interest and he has no reason to conceal that. His gaze lands squarely on her own, assessing in that way one might scrutinize the fine print of a contract. Fitting, given why they're here. ] —I'm very interested in the "why."

Why you suddenly changed your mind, for instance.

[ He clearly caught her interest just as much as she's now caught his. But how? Why? ]

[makimavellian]

[Makima certainly doesn't mind his assessing gaze. She has so very, very little to hide if they’re putting all of their cards on the table — and the parts that remain obscured are probably of little care to him, anyway. Pathos is irrelevant, and likely an uninteresting topic. So, easily enough:]

Well. What awaits me if I return home? If I’m still dead, then I return to Hell. [And that’s just. Not ideal, really.] And if I somehow return to life, then things are… complicated, and I may just end up the same way, anyhow.

When I saw your library, it became apparent to me that you’re a man in pursuit of knowledge and power. And after we fought— [after she got a glimpse into his head] —then it became apparent that you’d do anything to obtain it, too. Correct me if I’m wrong, of course.

I need to use someone like that to set me back on track. To regain my full power again, what I've lost since I arrived here. I don’t mind admitting that, because it would be a mutual arrangement.

[spellbent]

[ She's not wrong on either count, though a slight upturn of one corner of his mouth is all the indication he gives. He is what he is, and that has never bothered him. So, since there's no need to correct her, he lets her continue. ]

I was wondering how much of your power you brought to bear against me.

[ Damn, and she's not even at full strength. What would it be like if she were? ]

I'm not keen on being used either, so we'll have to see how mutual this arrangement really is. Before that, though, when you get to full power again, what will you do? You said you were the Control Devil, but what does that mean?

dog time

[makimavellian]

[As promised, she's let loose into the city the next day, free to gather up whatever else she might need for a new life in a new world. Given that she already has a fully furnished home in which to stay (read: Warren's house), there's really not much on the list. Clothes make up the most of it; casual outfits, formal outfits, outfits for every occasion and just about every kind of weather. And despite her freedom to buy as she pleases, Makima doesn't splurge. She picks out what she likes, but really no more than what she needs. The clothes aren't the exciting part, anyhow.

The dogs are!

Later in the afternoon, Makima returns from this extended shopping trip with several large bags hung at the crook of her shoulder. But more importantly, on a pair of three leashes are three dogs, which walk in front of her, tails in the air and tongues lolling (well, for the most part, one seems particularly grumpy), simply excited to be here!]

Warren!

[She calls out, smiling. WHERE YOU AT, MEET HER NEW DOGS]

[spellbent]

[ In the time that Makima has been gone, racking up who knows what kind of charges on his credit card, Warren has been busy on his own. His wards are set to trigger every time someone – or something – inhuman tresspasses on his property. He needs to make sure that Makima isn’t included in that. It wouldn’t do to have his new partner snapped up in a magical cage for the mere crime of existing.

Suffice it to say, he manages it well before she gets back, so she and her new friends are in no danger when they arrive.

Beyond that, there’s the matter of figuring out how – and where – best to summon a lesser demon, and how to fight the thing. Destruction isn’t completely useless in the face of hellfire, if one knows how to use it right, and Warren certainly does. A Spiritualist would suit their needs better, but no one in that particular school of magic has anything kind to say to Warren, let alone any desire to help him. They’ll be largely on their own.

By the time Makima and her canine companions arrive back at the house, Warren is holed up in his library, though he seems to be aware of her presence in the house proper and steps out to meet her in the main living area. ]

… You weren’t kidding.

[ Three dogs. Just like she said she wanted. ]

[makimavellian]

[Yes, please don't ensnare her in a cage when she walks onto the premises. I mean, she'd probably find it mildly amusing, but it could give the dogs a fright.

At any rate, she's already set her numerous bags onto the floor, and has crouched down to unhook each canine from their leash, one at a time. They crowd around her, and the German Shepherd gives her face a lick.]

Margarita! I know you're excited, but be on your best behavior, okay?

[Margarita gives a happy little dog-noise, but otherwise waits patiently to be free from her leash! Finally, Makima's finishes and rises to a stand again, neatly folding the leashes into her palm. All three dogs turn around almost simultaneously and look at Warren curiously.]

Why would I joke about something like this?

[Her dogs are serious business, sir.]

Come closer and say hello. I want to introduce you.

[spellbent]

[ He already caught Knives in a cage why not Makima

It's a little surreal to watch her with the dogs, knowing that they obey her so eagerly because of what she is. Do the dogs resent that, he wonders? Or are they simply happy enough to be loved and cared for?

Not that he cares one way or another, but it's interesting to ponder. ]

I honestly don't know you well enough to say.

[ Though it is abundantly clear that she is quite enamored with these dogs, so maybe it's no joking matter for her. With a shrug, he moves closer, still half-ready for the dogs to find him unsettling. ]

So, who do we have here?

[makimavellian]

[The dogs seem happy enough. In fact, there are moments—and will be moments—where their happiness appears to border on delirium, and that’s definitely chalked up to what Makima is. But this is fine, clearly, because for now, the dogs watch Warren as he approaches, falling into a sit.

They don’t seem to find the wizard unsettling at all. Two of them are bright-eyed, the other smaller one is… Well. Intense. But not wary.

Makima pets the head of each one as she begins her introductions.]

This one… is Margarita. She’s a German Shepherd. And this one is Bubblegum. She’s a Doberman!

[Big, strong dogs. The sort that one might expect Warren to keep if he was a dog person.

But Makima moves over to the next one, the one that seems rather intense, looking up at Warren with a critical gaze.

It’s a Chihuahua.]

And this one here is Ribeye. He’s… a very passionate Chihuahua, aren’t you?

[Rrrruuff, Ribeye grunts.]

[spellbent]

[ Even with the Chihuahua staring at him with a strange sort of intensity, Warren can safely say this is the first time that he’s been able to approach a group of canines without them backing off or snapping at him since… oh, probably since he was a boy. Before James Randall got his claws into him and twisted him into something unrecognizable. ]

Do you give all your pets food names?

[ Said with an arched brow. He knows this is a woman who wants to try and eat a demon. Do these dogs double as rations?? Ma’am???

(Also, he notably hasn’t tried to pet any of them. Why should he?) ]

[makimavellian]

Yes.

[Simply, like duh. But the implication of what Warren might be wondering is clear enough, especially since they've only just recently spoken about her gobbling up a demon. Ah, she should clarify, shouldn't she?]

I don't intend to ever eat them if that's what you're wondering. What do you think I am, a monster?

[Don't answer that. But she clasps her hands behind her back and tilts her head, smiling as always.]

You can pet them. [pET THeM] They won't bite. I promise.

[spellbent]

[ Oh, he just gives her the flattest look. She is literally a horseman of the apocalypse and a demon. If he doesn’t think she’s a monster, what the hell else would she be?

That look somehow gets even more unamused when she insists he pet the dogs, but fine. He’ll have to have some hand in their caretaking, as a part of their agreement anyway. ]

If you say so.

[ He assesses his options one at a time, and eventually reaches out to pet Margarita first. Just a pat on the head to start. ]

demons and devils

[spellbent]

[ In the days that follow, Warren works to help get Makima settled. And by “works”, he mostly calls on some contacts to establish her with an identity and furnish her with a phone. He also brings in another wizard – an Illusionist with whom Warren works a lot – to take care of the matter of her eyes. She’ll have her choice of mundane color for outward appearances, but the glamour is such that she can dismiss and reestablish it on her own. Warren is of the mind that her golden gaze would be something intimidating and otherworldly, too useful for her to lose it altogether.

In any case, the point here is that Warren outsources a lot. He has people for anything and everything. But there are instances where he prefers to do the legwork himself, such as delving into the matter of summoning a demon.

As far as rituals go, there are plenty to choose from, and while Warren usually doesn’t mind spilling some blood to get what he wants, he would much rather keep Makima’s existence a secret until she gets a bit more power back. So, no sacrifices this time. The next best thing was to find a place where the barrier between this plane of existence and hell was exceptionally weak and to perform a bloodless version of a summoning there. And places like that, thanks to the way they make even mundane people feel uneasy and impart distinct feelings of dread and being watched, are very usually abandoned.

In this case, there’s an old, hollowed out house in one of the more rural areas of New York that fits the bill perfectly. Ironically, it was once built as a movie set, but the influence of hell there made filming an alleged nightmare. Whatever movie it was supposed to have produced never came to be, and it remains a point of curiosity for urban explorers and collectors of lost media alike. Neither group stays to look around long, though. Hellmouth and all.

It’s almost too perfect, considering Makima’s love of film. The irony alone makes it ideal, and Warren seems to be radiating amusement already (in that subtle way of his) when he calls her into his library to lay it out for her. ]

[makimavellian]

[It's certainly not the first time she's been set up with a legitimate "identity" in order to function within human society, though it is a funny thing that it's happening again. Makima deals with any paperwork required, plus the new phone (interesting; no buttons?), without a fuss. Though she rather likes the color of her eyes, and it is a shame to cover them up with a color more mundane, she understands the logic behind that, too. (Green. She chooses green because what else would suit her orange-red hair better?)

In the time between then and now, she's a good housemate. Her dogs are, too. She strikes up conversation with her wizard contract-companion on the regular, of course, though if he has work to do, she happily leaves him to it. Takes to exploring the city, instead. Shops a bit more. Dines a little more. Passes by a few theaters with their big movie posters plastered across their facades, and pauses, wondering what's good these days.

She has faith that Warren is working on the demon summoning issue and all its particulars, so one day, when she's asked into his library, she wonders if he's gotten it all settled. Makima isn't sure she expected to see him looking so amused though (at least, yes, in his own subtle way), and so she glances at him a bit questioningly as she wanders in.]

You look pleased with yourself.

[spellbent]

[ Even after only a few days of knowing each other, it’s a bit strange to see green-eyed Makima wandering into his space, though the color is indeed a good choice for her. ]

Oh, I just found something kind of funny, is all.

[ As ever, when she finds him working in the library, he’s got an array of books spread out over the desk, in the midst of which sits a tablet. He offers the latter over to her, and she’ll find an old newspaper clipping displayed on the screen. The grainy picture of a gothic-style manor nestled in some trees is a bit hard to make out, gone dark with age before the newspaper was even scanned into a digital format.

The article itself touches on the troubled nature of the film shoot that was supposed to take place there, and how the structure has been left to sit in the woods to be eventually demolished by the studio. No such thing ever happened, of course. ]

That house sits on top of a gateway to hell. Lucky us.

[makimavellian]

Kind of funny? So you do have a sense of humor.

[She teases, though, as she takes the tablet from him only after briefly noting the display of books spread over the desk. Yes, it's only been a few days, but it's a sight she's grown to expect by now.

But then she begins to read the article, scans at the picture. Oh, it's not just a gothic-style house, but it's an old abandoned movie set. Her (green) eyes light up once she's done, and she glances over at him with a smile that isn't quite devious, but nearly there. Definitely amused.]

Oh. Is it. So this is where we might find ourselves a little demon to eat?

[Well. A demon for her to eat.]

You really do spoil me.

[spellbent]

It's in there somewhere.

[ Again, usually at other people's expense, or, apparently, when it comes to little twists of fate. ]

Helping you only helps me. If that's the case, I don't mind spoiling you some.

[ Or like. A lot, considering all he has let her do and have. His usual network of contacts and allies have never gotten access to his bank account, after all. ]

Unless you have some extra preparations to make, I'd like to leave this evening.

[makimavellian]

[Humor in there somewhere, brought out by irony. In this case, at least.]

That's what they call a symbiotic relationship.

[Yes, spoil her all you like. She knows she's going to be worth it, the power that she can grant him over time a fairly useful tool to be utilized against anyone who might stand in his way. Dipping into his bank account is a small price to pay, right?

She hands him back the tablet.]

Oh, just a change of clothes, really. [She wears a blouse and a skirt now, but she'd approach "work" in more utilitarian garb, far more reminiscent of her uniform back in Japan.] But all I need is myself. Are there any preparations that you need me to help you with, instead?

[spellbent]

[ He takes the tablet back from her, setting it back amongst the books. (If she were to glance at them, they mostly cover methods for summoning demons. There’s a lot of blood involved. You know, usually.) ]

Not particularly, I’ve already arranged for transportation. Though I suppose I should ask, once we kill the demon, just what are we going to do with it?

[ Like, is she going to eat the whole thing or is Warren going to be keeping demon burger patties in his freezer for the foreseeable future? ]

[makimavellian]

[Yeah, she's noticed all these myriad ways of summoning demons. Lots of blood involved! That speaks to her, too, on a primal level. But in a curious way, really; she's hardly one of those blood-starved Devils, more animalistic than anything particularly dignified.

Well, anyhow, Warren's question is a good one. She says, quite plainly:]

Well... I unhinge my jaw and eat it whole.

[(She is joking.)]