PSL; [YOU MAY BURY MY BODY]

[makimavellian]

( me and the devil walkin' side by side )

Comments

[spellbent]

It is. And the wizard it’s tied to reaps those benefits.

[ He rests an elbow on the arm of his chair, leaning the side of his face against his knuckles. ]

My dearly departed mentor took the secret of its summoning to the grave with him, and the beast itself made its way down his family line. It’s currently in the possession of his grandson.

But more relevant to the matter at hand: You want to control the world. Very well, I have no such ambitions. I want to control magic. If there’s room enough for that in this utopia of yours, then I see no reason why we can’t proceed.

[makimavellian]

That must irk you. To have that kind of magic beyond your possession...

[But it isn't said to needle under his skin. It's quiet, considering; one more nugget of information to take into account. His own goal, or perhaps just a critical piece of it. I want to control magic.]

...I told you, sometimes bad things need to be done for the good of the world. And sometimes... a girl needs to make concessions to do the same. You can have your magic, Mr. West. I am happy to let that be your realm of expertise, and while I'd happily help you in that same realm, I have no intention to be a hindrance, either.

[spellbent]

It does far more than "irk" me.

[ That anger has never really gone away. It just sleeps beneath the surface, ready to rise up at the slightest provocation. That, and he's made the pursuit of that power his life's work. He's obsessed with it.

So her assessment of him was very much correct. He'll do anything to get what he wants. Even make a deal with a Devil. ]

That seems agreeable enough to me. If we're to be drafting up terms, I would like to consider that the first.

[makimavellian]

Oh, the human is the first to start making terms? How unorthodox.

[But she laughs very softly, and it seems sincere. So, she holds up a hand, indicating a “one” with a finger.]

First term: I am not allowed to interfere with your plans to accrue more power in order to reach your ultimate goal of controlling all magic. But I can help you, since that is the overall point.

Sound good?

[spellbent]

Even by your standards, I have to think this situation is far from orthodox.

[ But he listens, and ultimately nods. ]

Yes, that sounds good.

[ Easy enough to start. He can only imagine how these things will evolve from heree. ]

[makimavellian]

Not really. It's not the first time I've made a contract with a human. I did say I worked for the government, right?

[But she leaves that nugget of information there, just for the sake of moving on.

And boy, wouldn't you like to know how they evolve from here, Warren.]

The next few items I have in mind are relatively small things. I'm sure you'll think nothing of them at all.

[spellbent]

I was referring to the part where you've died and come to another world, mostly.

[ (Chainsaw Man is now an isekai apparently.)

Warren does make a mental note to ask her more about her involvement with the government, since they're moving on already. He arches a brow. ]

And these relatively small things would be what, exactly?

[makimavellian]

[It sure is!! But credit where it's due: yes, that part is odd.

But back to the contract at hand, building it up as they go.]

The first is less a stipulation and more a small change. As proof of our contract, you'll have a small marking on you, somewhere, to indicate your being bound to me. I can't say how it'll manifest until it happens.

[in other words, ramey you can decide on that however you want]

The second is simple. You watch a movie with me, at least once a week, in that big fancy theater of yours. [Of course she was going to squeeze that in after Warren showed her the theater. :)] It can be anything either of us want to watch.

And third? Sometimes, you walk my dogs with me.

[What dogs, Makima.]

[spellbent]

What dogs?

[ He'll get to the rest in a minute. WHAT DOGS, MAKIMA. ]

[makimavellian]

[oh you wanna talk about DOGS more--]

I've decided that I want...

[Ticks them off by the finger, one by one.]

A German Shepherd, a Doberman, and a Chihuahua. To start with, anyway.

[spellbent]

[ He opens his mouth to remark that he wouldn't have taken her for a dog person, but no. It makes sense, actually. Dogs are loyal, obedient. Man's best friend.

Well, he's not about to tell her she can't have them. Lord knows he has the space. ]

So, movies and dog walking. That's awfully... domestic.

[makimavellian]

[Wow rude, what's this callout?]

...What's wrong with that? Maybe I just want company.

[Gosh. Anyway. She tilts her head a little.]

Don't worry. If you agree to those, the last two aren't so "domestic".

[So, does he agree to them?]

[spellbent]

[ Maybe I just want company. It probably says something that this is the thing that makes him hesitate, even if only for a fraction of a fraction of a second. He's a solitary creature by nature.

But, if this means that what she can do is at his disposal, then it's certainly worth a few hours every week. (Famous last words of a man about to be dragged into a Lord of the Rings marathon.) ]

Alright. At least a movie a week and sometimes dog walking. I agree. What are the rest?

[makimavellian]

[Makima is, too. Even amongst Devils, she has her own agenda. Has no connection to those that would normally be considered closest to her by association alone -- the other horsemen. War. Famine. Death. In fact, she thinks the world we be so, so much better without them.

But there's a part of her that still yearns for, yes, just company. He's very lucky she's wise enough not to ask for more. Sorry, Warren. This means you have to deal with the LotR extended editions.]

Great.

[She's pleased.]

The next item... It would ensure my resilience in a fight. No more need to drink your blood to heal me. It's similar to an agreement in my last contract.

[She folds her hands in her lap again.]

Any injury I obtain, whether it be purposeful or accidental, will be transferred to someone... random in the magical community. [Since that is the community that Warren can "represent", much like the Prime Minister represented the people of Japan.] It could be someone you know, or a complete stranger. Anything from a small cut to a decapitation; I will always heal from it, always return from it, because someone else will bear the burden of it. Unwittingly, yes, but that's just how it goes.

[spellbent]

[ Oh, well now. That's an interesting way to ensure one's, how did she put it? One's resilience. No wonder she had been so difficult to kill in her world.

He doesn't even have to think about this one. ]

That's fine by me.

[makimavellian]

[Sure makes you wonder how it got circumvented, huh!]

Really? [She actually does seem surprised by how quickly he agrees.] You don't have any fellow wizards that you'd be sorry to lose?

[None at all? Even the Prime Minister had to give this a little thought.]

[spellbent]

None that can't be replaced.

[ Mildly. He really could not care less about the rest of wizarding society. Even his most valued contacts are not unique in the services they provide. Not even in their lack of morals. ]

[makimavellian]

Ha. Goodness. Then I better make myself irreplaceable to you, too, right?

[She's certain she can manage it. How many demons are willing to work with wizards, anyway?]

[spellbent]

I think you can manage it.

[ They're of the same mind where that's concerned, but it also makes clear that Warren doesn't mind discarding people or things that are no longer of use to him. ]

[makimavellian]

Mm. I think so, too.

[Hums contentedly. She thought that would be a harder sell, but look at them! Already agreeing. This is going more smoothly than she thought.]

In that case, that brings me to my final item. I want to request that I am owed... one single favor from you. To be determined at any point, big or small. Though there are stipulations, of course. I wouldn't dare be unfair. I can't ask for anything that would bring actual harm to you, or fall under the category of the first item in our contract.

[spellbent]

[ Ah, now she's given him something more to ponder. Warren is used to dealing in favors, and while handy, they're not something he hands out lightly. Now, he wants to make sure this is worthwhile. ]

Before I say anything one way or another, I'd like to know what I can expect from you in this little endeavor. You've promised me some vague notion of help, but what else?

[makimavellian]

[That's fair, she thinks.]

You mean you want to know what my actual power can do for you? The applications of it?

[spellbent]

Yes. I hope that's agreeable.

[makimavellian]

It is. It only makes sense.

[But where to begin?]

The main thing: I'm able to control anyone that I believe to be inferior than me. If that inferiority comes into question? I can defeat them in a fight and settle it that way. However, I think this is one ability that is... not as potent as it was. We can test it sometime, but until I've regained more of my power, consider it a... weaker version of what it was before.

[She lets that settle, before moving on.]

You saw my ability to, ah, shoot things. [She smiles again, amused. Clearly, this is like, her favorite thing to do.] But it's representative of my general ability to break items. And people. Crush them into nothing. Even from long distances, with the right resources, I can obliterate anyone I have the name of.

That's a little weaker, too, but I'm confident it'll return to me at full power with time. With your help!

There's more [of course there's more, surely he remembers the RATS], but... Do you have any questions so far?

[spellbent]

[ Even if her abilities are significantly weaker than they were in her own world, they’re nothing to sneeze at. Any degree of control over anyone would be a boon he didn’t have before, and the more of a reputation she gains, the more that power will grow.

The rest… well, he just finds it amusing. He got a taste for how similar their abilities are during their little scrap in the yard, but it seems they’re more alike than even he thought. ]

I’d like more detail eventually – what sort of resources you’d need, for example – but for now the broad strokes are fine.

Your powers of destruction have a lot in common with my own.