makima (マキマ) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
makimavellian) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
finalflight2023-03-24 06:21 pm
makimavellian) wrote in finalflight2023-03-24 06:21 pm
Entry tags:
[Yeah, though she plays at obliviousness, she also knows when she… simply does not know.
Hm. Maybe their scuffle didn’t skew the way. She’d like to believe she’s pretty observant in general, even amid a fight. Especially amid a fight.]
…Well. I have to admit, I’m not sure what the other two could be.
Hm. Maybe their scuffle didn’t skew the way. She’d like to believe she’s pretty observant in general, even amid a fight. Especially amid a fight.]
…Well. I have to admit, I’m not sure what the other two could be.
[ Again, Warren doesn't usually like to give things away, so being so forthcoming is a bit strange for him but... well, they're bound by a contract, aren't they? She's already explained her abilities to him. He can at least return the favor. ]
Enhancements to my strength and durability. I make it a point to be difficult to kill.
Enhancements to my strength and durability. I make it a point to be difficult to kill.
Oh, that would make sense. Something to go hand-in-hand with your speed, too.
[She’s still floating along. One of her dogs paddles by.]
No defenses for your mind, though?
[ :) ]
[She’s still floating along. One of her dogs paddles by.]
No defenses for your mind, though?
[ :) ]
[That earns a short, sweet(?) laugh from her.]
Far from that. I don’t pretend to know you all that well at all. If anything, my excursion into your head only made me even more curious.
And besides, I’m allowed a little satisfaction. It was a small victory — I still lost, in the end.
Far from that. I don’t pretend to know you all that well at all. If anything, my excursion into your head only made me even more curious.
And besides, I’m allowed a little satisfaction. It was a small victory — I still lost, in the end.
[ He can’t help but think that had they continued to brawl, she would have beaten him handily. That’s not a problem he needs to worry about now, per the terms of their contract, but it doesn’t sit well with him either. If she’s going to keep regaining her strength, he’s going to have to get stronger, as well.
Well, at least he’s never shied away from a bit of motivation. ]
You’ll have plenty of other chances for victory. Just not against me.
[ He lists back into the water to lazily float his way to the end of the pool where his chair and book still sit. ]
If I recall, there’s a demon on the docket next.
Well, at least he’s never shied away from a bit of motivation. ]
You’ll have plenty of other chances for victory. Just not against me.
[ He lists back into the water to lazily float his way to the end of the pool where his chair and book still sit. ]
If I recall, there’s a demon on the docket next.
[You'll flatter a girl, Warren. Makima isn't so certain, herself. Perhaps it could have gone either way; without her ability to heal (or rather, pass on injury to some other poor soul), she's difficult to kill, but it's still quite possible. Especially against a destructive force like this wizard's magic.
Still, she shrugs, wholly unbothered on the outside, watching him drift away, too.]
We're a team now. The last thing on my mind is fighting you.
[She uses him, he uses her. No need to muddy that up over something like pride, a character flaw that actually so rarely applies to her.]
I'm looking forward to dealing with this world's version of a demon, actually. Have you thought about how we're going to approach that?
[is this a 'spill the blood of an innocent virgin to summon a demon' kind of world or what]
Still, she shrugs, wholly unbothered on the outside, watching him drift away, too.]
We're a team now. The last thing on my mind is fighting you.
[She uses him, he uses her. No need to muddy that up over something like pride, a character flaw that actually so rarely applies to her.]
I'm looking forward to dealing with this world's version of a demon, actually. Have you thought about how we're going to approach that?
[is this a 'spill the blood of an innocent virgin to summon a demon' kind of world or what]
[ There's a measure of comfort in knowing just where they stand with each other. Use, and be used. There's nothing more than that, no ulterior motives. Their goals have been clearly stated and contracted around and that's that. ]
I've been doing a bit of digging. The means to summon one shouldn't be difficult to manage. It's the killing it part that's going to be tricky, though that's assuming you'll be just as disadvantaged as I will be.
I've been doing a bit of digging. The means to summon one shouldn't be difficult to manage. It's the killing it part that's going to be tricky, though that's assuming you'll be just as disadvantaged as I will be.
["Disadvantaged" against another demon or devil. What a thought. Not many made her fit that bill back home, so this might require a bit of creativity on her part... Possibly. She'd probably do well to garner a few more details before they dive in head-first into demon-killing. Preparation is key!]
That depends. Just what are we talking about when it comes to what a demon can do in this world? Or are they that varied, and we won't know until we summon it?
That depends. Just what are we talking about when it comes to what a demon can do in this world? Or are they that varied, and we won't know until we summon it?
Depends on the demon. Lesser demons are more animalistic. They hunt, they eat, they survive. You won't find anything terribly complicated there. And ideally, that's where we start.
[ The implication here being that if this does go well, they can work their way up to more powerful quarry. Whatever might sate her. ]
I've yet to see a demon who looks as human as you do, but the more powerful ones are definitely more humanoid, in look and intelligence.
But in either case, it's the hellfire that will be the problem.
[ The implication here being that if this does go well, they can work their way up to more powerful quarry. Whatever might sate her. ]
I've yet to see a demon who looks as human as you do, but the more powerful ones are definitely more humanoid, in look and intelligence.
But in either case, it's the hellfire that will be the problem.
[She’s drifted so far that she hits the edge of the pool gently with her floatie, and Makima pushes herself away from it with a hand.]
I’m going to assume that a demon that’s no more than an animal will be easily dealt with, as long as you have me to help you.
But I guess I should ask anyway: is “hellfire” exactly what it sounds like?
I’m going to assume that a demon that’s no more than an animal will be easily dealt with, as long as you have me to help you.
But I guess I should ask anyway: is “hellfire” exactly what it sounds like?
Don’t discount yourself too much. A distraction might just be what I need.
[Hm.]
You could act as bait and I just get the jump on them. That’s the power of teamwork, you know.
[Hm.]
You could act as bait and I just get the jump on them. That’s the power of teamwork, you know.
[ He drifts toward a ladder at the edge of the pool, reaching out to take hold of it and haul himself out of the water. He barks a laugh as he does. ]
It’s not often that I get to be the distraction.
[ He’s the heavy-hitter, usually. In matters of clout and power both. ]
It’s not often that I get to be the distraction.
[ He’s the heavy-hitter, usually. In matters of clout and power both. ]
[And out he goes. What a nice view! (If she squints, at least. Humans look so much the same--)]
It'll be fun to try something different for a change.
[She cranes her head up to appreciate the expanse of the sky above.]
Back to reading for you, then?
It'll be fun to try something different for a change.
[She cranes her head up to appreciate the expanse of the sky above.]
Back to reading for you, then?
Yes, fun. That thing that people like to have, sometimes.
[One day, she will make Warren... have fun.]
No objections. I did say that I'd leave you alone now. Unless you've changed your mind and decided that yes, you'll let me shoot you once with my water gun...?
[One day, she will make Warren... have fun.]
No objections. I did say that I'd leave you alone now. Unless you've changed your mind and decided that yes, you'll let me shoot you once with my water gun...?
[Oh? Her brows raise, and far be it from her to not take advantage of this opportunity. Could it be... Warren is not so allergic to fun and whimsy?
The problem being that her water gun has floated so, so far off to the other side of the pool, bumping up against its corner uselessly. She'd have to get out, swim over, then shoot him. Half of the fun is being quick about it, and she purses her lips.
Instead, she just makes fingerguns just below where Warren stands, the side of the pool, and-]
The problem being that her water gun has floated so, so far off to the other side of the pool, bumping up against its corner uselessly. She'd have to get out, swim over, then shoot him. Half of the fun is being quick about it, and she purses her lips.
Instead, she just makes fingerguns just below where Warren stands, the side of the pool, and-]
Bang.
[Water displaces and splashes! Up really high! Hopefully splashing the wizard! Thankfully, she has some mode of self-control (ha) and this is really all she accomplishes, not opting to blow a hole in the side of the pool or anything like that.]
[Water displaces and splashes! Up really high! Hopefully splashing the wizard! Thankfully, she has some mode of self-control (ha) and this is really all she accomplishes, not opting to blow a hole in the side of the pool or anything like that.]
[ Makima his pOOL. At first he thinks that she's legitimately trying to take the ground out from underneath him, but that's not what happens at all. The invisible force slams into the water and sends it spraying up at him...
Only for it to harmlessly wash over his shield.
He arches a brow at her. ]
It seems neither of us play fair.
Only for it to harmlessly wash over his shield.
He arches a brow at her. ]
It seems neither of us play fair.
[Oh my god. He had his shield up anyway. FUDDY-DUDDY!!!!
She lowers her hand, dipping it into the water disappointedly.]
I should have known better, I suppose.
[Mr. No Fun Allowed.]
She lowers her hand, dipping it into the water disappointedly.]
I should have known better, I suppose.
[Mr. No Fun Allowed.]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[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.
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.
Page 9 of 14