PSL; [YOU MAY BURY MY BODY]

[makimavellian]

( me and the devil walkin' side by side )

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[makimavellian]

[It says plenty. But maybe that's the exact kind of person she needs right now, so all the better for it. This contract will certainly be beneficial for both parties.

Tradition, though. This reminds her of something he mentioned before.]

And... traditionally, demons don't get along too well with wizards here, do they? Will this ["this" = this whole arrangement] be a problem in the future, you think?

[spellbent]

Oh, no. Let me make myself perfectly clear: I have no love for tradition. I operate on a level that is rather... above all of that, anyway.

[ The way he says it, it doesn't sound like he's bragging. It's a simple statement of fact. ]

[makimavellian]

[She chuckles again, amused.]

Oh, no. I don't mean for you. I think you wouldn't be agreeing to this so easily if it was going to be a problem.

[But he operates on a higher level? Makima knows what that means. It means he has enough clout to do nearly anything he likes and get away with it.]

I mean for the rest of the magical community. Unless you plan to keep me hidden away for the foreseeable future?

[spellbent]

[ Makima he just agreed to let you injure random people in the magical community do you really think he gives a fuck—

He quirks a brow. ]

On very, very rare occasions, demons have worked with wizards before. It wouldn't be unheard of. And neither community is tight-knit or strict enough to specifically have rules against it.

Besides, I promised you fear. Keeping you a secret would be counterproductive to that.

[makimavellian]

[Hey, better to double check than stumble across a complication in the future they could have avoided-]

That's true, it would be. Oh, now I'm excited to give everyone such a scare.

[It sounds like a joke... but it's not.]

Well, in that case. Should I continue to explain the rest of what I can do? You remember the rats and pigeons, of course. [And the flesh halo portal.]

[spellbent]

[ He chuckles a little. Despite Makima's greater designs for the world, they align enough in method that he thinks he's going to find some enjoyment in this partnership, too. ]

How could I forget the rats and the pigeon? And the thing that they came out of?

[makimavellian]

[Yes, they're going to be absolutely terrible together.]

That "thing" is something like a portal of mine. I don't usually use it to summon vermin, though. Often, it's better utilized for people and things previously killed or defeated. Old enemies, you could say, realigned to work with me.

[To be, once more, controlled.]

But I don't have any of those in this world. So I used my control over small animals instead to dump them in and give you a surprise. I bet you weren't expecting that.

[spellbent]

[ People and things previously killed or defeated. Just when he thinks he's starting to get the full, terrifying scope of her powers, she throws something else at him. More and more, he's starting to feel like he's getting the better end of this deal, if a few movies and a favor are all the price he has to pay. ]

I don't think anyone could have expected that.

[makimavellian]

[But wait, there's more!]

It wasn't ideal, but at least it caught you off-guard. [She sounds proud of that, in a it-was-kind-of-funny sort of way.

She continues-] Anyway, small animals might not seem useful normally, but if you ever need a reason to eavesdrop on someone, I can use them to listen in, as long as they have access to wherever they need to be.

This used to apply to anywhere in the world, but now... [Well. Same as before.] It probably doesn't extend past this state. That's just a rough estimate, though. I'd have to test it out sometime, too.

[spellbent]

Even then, the whole of New York is not insignificant.

[ The United States is VERY BIG. ]

I'm beginning to think it would have been easier to ask you what you can't do.

[ So, needless to say, he's very impressed, and very, very interested. ]

[makimavellian]

[Oh, good. It would be a shame if he didn't think this contract would be worth his time, in the end. (But Makima probably never thought that was going to be the case.)

She can also travel via a horde of rats, but!! Maybe she'll leave that part as a surprise, someday.]

I am a horseman, after all. We're all very impressive. But in the end, I have my limitations. Similar to what you said, a Devil... specializes. Since I'm a Devil of Control, that "theme" is where my powers begin and end.

[So, no, like. Elemental manipulation or anything utterly unrelated to what she presides over.]

[spellbent]

[ That will sure be one hell of a surprise!

But also, HOL UP A MINUTE. ]

"Horseman"?

[makimavellian]

[Oh, right.]

…Ah, does that exist in this world? The concept of the Four Horsemen? It’s nothing relevant if they don’t.

[spellbent]

You can't possibly mean the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

[ That's a yes. Is he about to ally himself with one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? ]

[makimavellian]

[Sure seems like it!]

So you do know. Then yes, that’s me.

…Well, only one of them, obviously. I’m the Horseman of Conquest, too.

[Fear of conquest is basically a fear of being controlled, too. Same difference.]

…I don’t have a horse, though. I’m sorry if that’s disappointing.

[spellbent]

[ God. Just. Give him a moment to turn the sheer uptick in absurdity of this situation over in his head, because the more he thinks about it, the more absurd it is. And the more absurd it is, the more funny he finds it.

Entering a contract with the Horseman of the Apocalypse is such an insanely villainous move that it's comical. He's becoming a caricature of himself.

And yet, he can't also help but think, this is going to be fun. ]

No, I'm sure you'd much rather have a dog. [ He's grinning. Oh, is he grinning. ] I think I've heard everything I need to hear. Consider that favor yours.

[makimavellian]

[She can practically see this churning in his mind. How her reputation, even if it existed in an ancillary way in this world that wasn't hers, still pulls a little weight. Still has a little clout, simply by title alone.

Honestly, yes, it is a little comedic, isn't it? A little over-the-top villainous. But Makima has never considered herself much of a villain; she definitely has no desire to create an apocalypse. She wants to help the world, recreate it into something good and without pain, not destroy it.

But if this sweetens the pot, then that works, too.]

Oh? Maybe I should have started with that. We would have saved ourselves some time!

[She's kidding.]

[spellbent]

Not likely.

[ He’s thorough, remember? Though knowing that she’s a Horseman of the goddamned Apocalypse certainly changes a lot, he won’t deny that. ]

Is there anything else you care to add as terms?

[makimavellian]

[The smallest headtilt.]

No, I don't think so. Five items is enough. [Even if two of them were relatively minor, even silly. Domestic.] Oh, mentioning this is just a formality, because I'd want to do it anyway, but... As per our contract, if you require my help with anything at all, then you just have to call on me, and I'll be obligated to be at your side. That's agreeable, too, I assume?

[spellbent]

More than agreeable.

[ Though perhaps he'll have to make sure she has the basics anyway, like a phone and such, for those moments where he strictly doesn't need to "call on her". He's already making a mental list. ]

So, what happens now?

[makimavellian]

Now? Well...

[Well, some Devils are rather dramatic about how they seal a contract. But Makima? Makima is a straightforward kind of woman.]

Then we make it official. With you officially agreeing to my terms, in exchange for me being "your" contracted Devil... then. [She extends a hand. For a handshake!] We shake on it, and it's a done deal. Set in stone, Mr. West.

[spellbent]

[ That is rather straightforward. Warren's eyebrows tick up in some mild sort of surprise, but ultimately he's appreciative of this fact.

Well, point of no return, right? ]

Set in stone, then.

[ And he reaches out to shake her hand. ]

[makimavellian]

[Easy right? Her hand clasps around his, granting him a firm but not too forceful handshake.

This is the part where the atmosphere imperceptibly shifts, right? Where every shadow in the room grows longer and darker? That would be expected after striking a deal with a Devil, after all. But no, nothing of the sort. She releases his hand, and nothing changes.

(Well, except for maybe the slight tingling sensation of another tattoo being borne onto his skin, somewhere.)]

Then we're both bound in contract. I'm all yours, Warren.

[spellbent]

[ The lack of theatrics might have him thinking that this whole thing is a ruse, if not for the slight tingling on his right side, right over his ribcage. That must be the mark she mentioned. He'll have to take a look at that later. IT'S NOT A CHIHUAHUA JEN ]

I was fully expecting to have to sign something in blood.

[makimavellian]

[WHY NOT RAMEY!!!]

Hm. I thought about it. For old time's sake.

[But then she shrugs, and this last part is deadpan:]

But I'm just so tired of paperwork these days.