dev 2 - igniting the spark

While normally others could've reacted entirely different, Nathan simply approaches the babline-shaped Demon from behind, and calls out to it; the voice is clearly plain and calm too.

"Heard you were getting searched for all over by some people. Something something, you being lost and never returning home."

"Is that true?"

There's no chance he could just drag this Demon off by force. So... maybe he was up to something else.
(Nathan Cruor)

Unacceptable.

Inconceivable.

Darkness which spewed outwards, sickening malice and taint that threatened even this boy as he stood close. Those pale white eyes peering back in silence as not more than a few seconds would dare to tick by.

"Does my appearance make me seem like a pet to you, human? Does my power make me look like some play thing of small, fragile humans?" That thick, heavy voice booming in the mind of Nathan immediately.

"I've heard of what they speak. Humans who saw me roaming and sought to claim me as their own. I serve no human, I am certainly no pet."

One, dark tendril snapped and cracked against the open air as that voice continued to boom.

"You'd be wise not to confuse me for one. Those who do seem to always find themselves broken, or having vanished all together."

The demonic being didn't seem to find that notion, the act of being called a pet amusing in the slightest.
(Mortiphasm)

The young Cruor was one to pick his words carefully.

And so, rather than jumping to assumptions that this Demon is indeed a pet, he sought to ask it first. Besides, appearances can be deceiving, and while it may appear as a babline, it certainly looked fairly aggressive in general... so when that telepathy reaches the corners of his mind, the answer is clear to him.

That's a no.

"Of course not. I figured it would be a ridiculous claim anyhow." While there's a pause, Nathan tries to quickly devise a plan about it. Truth be told, he did need that money...

And while he cannot win this by brawn, maybe smarts can get him somewhere.

"They're fairly pesky, aren't they? Must be pretty annoying to call you that."

"I think I know a way you can get back at them." Maybe that would intrigue the Demon, maybe not. He was making bet on having its pride touched by such claim... and giving it opportunity to lash out back at the others.

While also making some profit.

"Hear me out..."

"I could pretend to deliver you to these people, as I know where they are, and we could set them up away from publicity that way." There's a pause, and soon he continues.

"Then... once they provide the money, you could appear and beat them up for mocking you by making such claims."

"In the end, we can split up the money, five thousand each." A tiny smile appears. Nathan may be a child, but his mischief was certainly up to no good...

"We both get the money, they're left as fools, and they get humiliated by being deceived like that - plus you beat them up."

"What do you think?"
(Nathan Cruor)

Occultism swelled.

Attention soon changing as it drifted back towards these snow covered grounds atop the mountain. There came mentions of riches and money which could be so easily obtained, all by willingly walking back into the arms of such a group.

Willingly walking back into those children which had each stood before this blackened babline.

"I have little need for material wealth, nor do I care for any plans to assault those children." Much like a snake that had finished releasing their venom into a meal, what voices lingering in the mind of Nathan would gradually be unwound.

"Will deal with them with Crow and Saul. If small human believes, if small human thinks can devise a better plan than they?"

One tendril of darkness snapped outwards, motioning towards Saul.

"Are free to speak with them."

The creature spoke once more, that heavy and imposing voice now having long since been replaced.

With what seemed a high pitched, barely audible tone.
(Mortiphasm)

A single rejection wasn't enough to get him off.

Not until he felt that pushing his luck any further would be detrimental, so where the Demon refers to riches being absolutely useless, the young Cruor idly taps at his chin, thinking of what else he should think about. While dealing with these children would certainly be a fun spectacle...

There's no benefit in just seeing them get beat up like that.

And he did need to gather resources; while his background allowed him vast access already, he never felt as if he should be freeloader or someone who taps into such thing with excess. It feels better when you earn something on your own, you know?

"I can see your point that money and resources aren't everything."

"But I urge you look at this from different perspective. You've heard of upper markets of Agartha, and perhaps saw what rare trinkets people at times sell, yes?"

"All of those are related to money. Surely, it is possible to obtain such things in a different way, whether it's through cunning or force, but... why not ensure that you can always have more?"

"Why not tap into material possession, as one of the opportunities to amass greater chance of success as a whole?"

Persuasion was his bet here. Now, whether it would actually work or not, that's entirely different matter. Perhaps, he was already pushing his luck far when he was referred to Saul once... or maybe, he would be able to shift Demon's opinion just a little.

"I'm sure having extra opportunities wouldn't be bad, right?"

Still, a glance to Saul. Already he began of thinking about something else.

"But, uh... if that's still an adamant no, then I suppose I'll think of something else."

And yet, he waited. Maybe there'd be a shift...
(Nathan Cruor)

One second would pass.

Then two, as every word was allowed to hang amidst the air.

Three seconds, as the visible appearance of blackened flesh beginning to bubble and steam would soon follow.

"Do you think this one so stupid, they do not mean what they say?" Would be all this small creature spoke as a familiar and haunting feeling slammed inwards. Coiling and wrapping itself around the mind of Nathan as those pale white eyes soon refocused, looking entirely upon this young boy.

Heavy and harsh, flooding out all other thoughts as this creature spoke.

"Should I desire something, I will have it. Should I seek something, it will become mine. Material wealth is not what I seek, my body burns for only power." Those words continued to pile atop one another deep inside this childs mind. These very grounds beginning to shake, to tremble all the very same.

"Mayhaps you didn't listen the first time. Should you seek to pursue a goal, you need not convince I. For why should I, why should a being so far above you heed the words of a fragile human?"

One blackened tendril soon shot outwards, aiming to slam and smack this young boy right across the face.

"You are to speak with Crow or Saul upon your trivial matters of claiming my bounty. Speak upon this subject to me again without first consulting my trusted allies?"

Well.

That angered look in its gaze spoke it all.

"I will break and feast upon your bones."

He was quite angry.
(Mortiphasm)

That's where he knows it's his cue to not push his luck any further.

While the feeling of having one's telepathy wrapped around his mind like that wasn't pleasant at all, he steeled himself through it, all for the purpose of hearing out what else the Demon had to say- though, the more he listens in the more he begins understanding a simple fact.

It's futile to try and convince this one.

Not that Nathan was lying. In fact, material possession did garner plenty of people some opportunities; it allowed to get hold on rare trinkets and much more, and simply being able to afford things was definitely a good thing. It's just this one wasn't interested about it...

"Alright. I get it." An attempt at de-escalation. Though, when he hears the Demon become more and more displeased while it spoke, there's an instinctive step backward- which is probably the only thing that really stopped him from getting smacked pretty bad.

And resulted in something akin to a slap instead.

Although with a frown, he doesn't do anything about it. What can he do, anyway? He's just a child. Getting into fight with this Demon right now is basically suicide - and he isn't an idiot like that. Instead, his eyes turn to Crow nearby...

"...So, you're that one?"
(Nathan Cruor)

The demon seems to huff ever so slightly!

And...

As Crow makes their appearance?

Promptly turns right back around, that occultic aura fading.
(Mortiphasm)

The Arch Fiend would look down upon the boy- his eyes showing tiredness and sheer un-amusement. The pipe within his mouth was swished to the other side, a hand raised to scratch upon his horn. And the other to be placed on the kids head.


A low fog came from his nostrils, his usually toxins spurring out of his figure.


"Kid, you still have so much to learn and its killing me." The patting turned into a full grab of hair then a smash into his head with a wiggle ruffling his hair like if he was his own.

"When someone says no to something and if they are your elder even if you disagree with them, until you give them a reason to accept other wise its best to respect their wishes. He wasn't saying no to your idea but at the same time he doesn't know you like that. It's called building trust."

His hand went from the boys head to hover in front of his face. With a finger pulled back into his palm and another one to hold it down to create maximum friction.

Crow would flick the kids nose...

once....

twice....

Three times...

"Who is raising you anyway? You need to learn some manners and common curtesy."

Again another flick..

Twice even...
(Crow)

The amounts of abuse becomes clearly an experience of displeasure.

Where there's a hand that lands upon his head, there's a grab upon the forearm that intends to carefully put it away- and when he gets flicked over his nose once, the later ones are intercepted the moment he learns of what Crow intends to do. Although it's clear he's being bothered and annoyed by it, at most, there's only a discernible frown. He may not do much about this now, but...

Nathan will remember this.

And instead of clear physical retaliation, he bids his time for a long-term game. As much as he tries to intercept some of it, parts definitely reach him anyhow, followed with a verbal response.

"...Stop it." It isn't threatening, but it's definitely firm in its stance. Not that he'd allow his dignity to just be walked upon like that.

"I find nothing about this being unmannered, unlike physical abuse you seek to inflict." The gaze darkens, and the frown deepens. None of this was liked, for obvious reasons.

"A proposal is a proposal. A conversation is a conversation. An argument is an argument to present the idea - that is called speech and persuasion. Perhaps, it would be beneficial if you try it."

Yet, he steps away anyhow. The garments are steadily adjusted, and so is his hair and the rest.

"Simply saying 'no' a second time after the rest of argument was unfolded is enough. Really."
(Nathan Cruor)

Crow says, "And when you deal with a demon.. Are you dealing with maybes? Ifs... Or absolutions.."
[18:40] Crow steps forward.
(Crow)

Nathan Cruor says, "..."
[18:41] Nathan takes a single step back, equivalent in distance to Crow's step forward.
(Nathan Cruor)

Nathan Cruor says, "Be mindful of personal space. I'd appreciate that."
[18:41] Crow says, "Do you see the problem now?.. When you push on glass."
[18:41] Crow says, "It's bound to break."
[18:42] Crow says, "A no is a no.. That's the only absolute there is."

Such attempt at argument made by Crow is made with a purse of lips. Nathan wasn't convinced.

"You compare a proposal of benefactor to an actual physical abuse. Do you not understand the difference?"

"It would be the same as if any overpowering magi were to suddenly seek to harm you, just because they disagree with what you do. Not very pleasant, is it?"

"I'd ask you quit trying to do that to me."

Steadily, he crosses his arms. For now, he stands where he is.

"Regardless, those two things aren't comparable. We can end it on that."
(Nathan Cruor)