The power of love is a curious thing [CLOSED]

[biscuit_powered]

Though Asmodia's first foray into the life of an adventurer-for-hire was a resounding success, she's struggled since then to find something to do with herself. Life is...easy here, in many ways. She has a small box apartment in which to live, a pleasant rooftop garden in which to celebrate the sunrise on those mornings when she doesn't fail her goddess by sleeping through it, and an allowance that trickles down to her from the supposedly angelic (she seriously doubts it, but she's still waiting for causes and evidence to dispute it) owner of the building. What's hard isn't providing for herself. What's hard is finding a reason to drag herself out of bed in the mornings (or the afternoon, or evening, or middle of the night -- her sleep patterns haven't become the slightest bit more regular than they were back in Absalom). So far as she can tell there's no way home, where she tries to convince herself she's needed, and the bustling city around her is so far out of step with what she knows that she doesn't know where to begin to pick up the pieces. It's been a long time since she just lived for the sake of living, and what felt like freedom a decade ago in Nirmathas feels like purgatory now that she's had a taste of life as part of something bigger.

There is something happening around the city, though. Lately she's heard rumors from the neighbors of 'monsters' coming through the rift, though she has her doubts about some of these people when she's heard at least one of them use the words 'monster' and 'demon' interchangeably. She doesn't have any leads on where these purported monsters might be found, but if they're coming through the rift, Central Park is a decent bet -- and today, at least, her logic has paid off. All one needs do is follow the sounds of screaming, right? Or more like go the opposite direction of the people running away yammering about a 'floating worm' swimming through the air somewhere near the Sheep Meadow.

When she gets there, she's surprised to find that it is, indeed, a floating worm. Or a floating...squirmy thing. It looks almost aquatic, and despite hanging in midair and possessing a mouth that looks like something out of the Abyssal Plane, it doesn't seem to actually be doing much of anything. She edges nearer, casting a quick spell so she can check its aura -- there's a hint of enchantment magic here, but she can't make out what -- and after a moment's thought, she preemptively lays a hex of retribution on it before stepping closer, reasoning that the hex will only hurt it if it hurts her first. Biscuit hangs back as his mistress steps nearer, chittering uneasily.

"It's alright," she assures him, eyes fixed on the...thing. "I don't think it's even doing anything, it's probably just an animal from one of the outer -- GAK!!"

She probably shouldn't have gotten so close to it. That's the thought that goes through her head as it suddenly squirms forward through the air with a hitherto unseen speed. Her next thought, as it latches onto her neck, is that this is a really lovely day and that she really ought to remind Biscuit that she loves him more often.

Comments

[wildmage_daine]

Daine gets word of the rift's little snit right before the screaming starts.

'Snit' might not be the right word for it, but she can't be pressed to pick something more flattering. Whatever it's done, it has folk in a panic. Whether that means there's any actual danger, she can't yet guess - the locals are always ignoring things that'd make her gawp and fussing over things that don't need it. She weaves against the tide of strangers hustling away from the Sheep Meadow until there's nothing before her but a stretch of empty grass and a pair of familiar figures.

"... Asmodia?" Daine takes a few steps forward, her steps slowed by bewilderment more than caution. Surely Biscuit wasn't enough to send folk running, and Asmodia looks normal enough. Nor does she look guilty, as if she accidentally let her disguise slip. "What--"

And then Daine catches sight of the thing on Asmodia's neck. Her brow furrows. It looks a little like a snake, or an eel, but it's not moving like she'd expect it to. It's as if it's lighter than it ought to be, or the air heavier. Whatever it is, it's no animal - or not enough of one for her magic to be much use. She can't hear it, or detect any spark of copper fire about it. "What happened?" she asks, lifting a hand as if to prod the thing, and then thinking better of it.

[biscuit_powered]

Why has she never stopped to appreciate how beautiful this place is? The air is crisp with the onset of autumn, the park is very attractive in its own way, tucked in amongst the gray spires of the city, and the rift brings such interesting things here --

Her thoughts are interrupted by the dulcet tones of -- of Daine! Asmodia turns to watch the other woman's approach, feeling her knees go weak. Is her disguise on? How does her hair look?! Oh gods, she's a mess and Daine's there and this is all so unexpected --

"...Hhi!" she squeaks, then blushes at the high sound of her own voice. That was terrible, she is the worst. She clears her throat, unseen tail wrapping shyly around her own ankle. "What brings you here!" she says, voice still much too high.

[wildmage_daine]

"Um." Daine draws her hand back a little, then glances down at Biscuit, half-hoping the rodent might provide some explanation. "I heard the rift was acting up, so I came to see what the fuss was about." She trails off, watching the thing writhe around where it isn't firmly affixed to Asmodia's neck, and decides she really can't blame folk for running away. Her gaze flicks back to Asmodia's face, and she's surprised by how unconcerned the other woman seems to be. Is it mucking about with her mind, somehow?

Daine hesitates a beat, then points to the creature. "You have something on your neck," she says, watching both Asmodia and the mystery thing carefully. "Did you know?"

[biscuit_powered]

Asmodia titters -- honest-to-goddess titters -- and reaches up to brush the whatever-it-is, making it wriggle in the air like some kind of pennant. "Oh, this old thing?" she asks, chuffed that Daine noticed. Daine's so observant, isn't she? Would she take it as a compliment if Asmodia pointed it out? Maybe not, she might think Asmodia was making fun of her if it's really kind of obvious.

"It bit her!" objects Biscuit from where he's huddled down in the grass, apparently unable to decide whether he wants to go to his mistress for comfort and protection when she's attached to the thing they came here to investigate. "She was looking at it and it shot through the air and it bit her and now she's giggling and I don't understand!"

[wildmage_daine]

Aha. Now they're getting somewhere. We'll sort it out, Daine says, sending Biscuit a little thread of reassurance. Maybe she shouldn't be making promises like that, but at least Asmodia doesn't seem to be hurt. Just... a bit giddy, is all. That's not so bad, right? There are worse things it could be doing to her.

"D'you mind if I look at it?" Daine asks, gesturing towards the thing. How firm a grip does it have on her? Maybe it wouldn't be that hard to remove, though she can't say she relishes the thought of trying to keep a grip on the thing afterwards.

[biscuit_powered]

"Were you talking to Biscuit?" asks Asmodia when she feels the faint echo of that reassurance, utterly charmed by the way Daine gets along with her familiar. People can be so mean about the donkey rat thing, like it's something shameful to have a rodent for your spellbook, but Daine's always gotten along with him so well. "You have such a way with him," she gushes, hardly noticing that Daine is saying something, whoops, that was a question, wasn't it?

"Sorry," she says, letting out the most awkward of laughs. "What was that? Sorry."

Do something! squeaks Biscuit.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine shoots Asmodia a bewildered look - her ability to talk to Biscuit shouldn't be news, should it? - but then she gives her head a little shake and returns her attention to the weird creature on the other woman's neck. Whatever it is, it's making Asmodia act silly. The sooner they can get rid of it, the better.

"Hold still," she says sternly, though she doubts adopting a no-nonsense tone will be enough to counteract whatever this creature's doling out.

Then, fully aware that this might be a foolish idea, Daine reaches out and wraps both hands around the thing.

It doesn't even respond at first, though Daine grimaces at how oily it feels. When she tries giving it an experimental tug, that gets a reaction. The thing wriggles indignantly, sliding out from between her fingers. Daine grabs at it again, shifting her hands into a few different configurations, but it slides as easily away from talons or paws. "Curse it," she mutters as the thing slips from between her claws, the corners of her mouth turning down in a sharp frown.

[biscuit_powered]

"Yes'm," says Asmodia, only to blush furiously a moment later. Did she just yes'm Daine? Oh, goddess. Oh, how embarrassing. She's being way too forward and she's pretty sure she's making this really weird. She compulsively straightens her tunic, wiping her sweaty palms on its fabric while she's at it, and studiously bites her lip and holds still while Daine's doing...whatever it is she's doing. "What are you doing?" she asks, curiosity overpowering bashfulness as she tries to watch Daine's hands without shifting her head. "Whatever you're doing, it tickles."

[wildmage_daine]

"I was trying to get this thing off of you," Daine says, shifting her hands back to to their usual human configuration and giving her fingers an experimental wiggle, as if to check for damage. They feel normal enough. She doesn't think the thing has done her any sort of harm just by touching her. Maybe it's only when it's attached to someone that it gets to work.

Maybe she ought to be grateful she couldn't remove it. It would've been off like a shot, and then Mithros only knows who it would've stuck to, next.

Daine sighs, then scrapes a hand back through her hair. "We'll have to try another way of getting it off. Maybe Aziraphale can take a look at it." She gives Asmodia a considering look, but there doesn't seem to be anything physically amiss. She's looking flushed, is all. A fever?

"How do you feel?" she asks, lifting a hand and pressing the back of her palm to Asmodia's forehead.

[biscuit_powered]

"Oh, that old thing?" asks Asmodia again, as though she's forgotten what's on her neck until Daine points it out again. It's not so much that she can't see it, just that she's so used to it being there -- she's had it so long, after all, she hardly notices it, like when you have a scarf you wear every day, or a tattoo you never look at. She brushes it again like she's adjusting the way it hangs (or rather, floats).

"...Oh," she says, flushing even deeper red, betrayed by a human disguise that shows what her dark skin normally doesn't. Daine is touching her! "Um...good. I feel good."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine hums dubiously, but Asmodia doesn't feel as if she's running a fever, so she supposes there's no use arguing the point. Whatever it's doing to her, it's probably safe to say things will only get worse the longer it's attached to Asmodia's neck. If Daine can't remove it, best get her to someone who can, and quick.

"All right," Daine says, drawing her hand back and eyeing Asmodia's reddening cheeks with equal parts concern and bewilderment. "Why don't we go back to the apartments? I'd like Aziraphale to--see it." Asmodia didn't seem to mind her attempt to remove the thing, but then again, she hadn't understood what Daine was doing until after the fact. It might be best not to let on that she wants Aziraphale to get the thing off of her, at least not until they're in the building and it'd be harder to lose her if she bolted.

[biscuit_powered]

"Aziraphale? You mean the guy who's supposed to be an angel?" As interesting as a maybe-angel is (or even a fake angel, which she suspects he must be if he's managing an apartment building), Asmodia's not particularly keen on the idea. "Couldn't we just...go somewhere together?" she asks. "Just the, um, two of us. If you'd be into that."

Biscuit barks, and Asmodia winces. "And Biscuit. I guess."

[wildmage_daine]

Wait, what? For a moment, Daine just thinks it was a mistake to mention Aziraphale. That thing on her neck is making her act strange; it might just as well convince her she doesn't really want it removed. But... no, that's not it.

"You want to go somewhere else?" she repeats slowly, brow furrowed. "With...?"

... Oh. So that's what it's doing to her.

"Um." Daine blinks, her cheeks prickling with embarrassment. Oh, Goddess. Her first instinct is to try and let Asmodia down gently, but then it occurs to her that if she does that, Asmodia just might run off in a pet, and it'd be that much harder to coax her to the apartments. But the only alternative is leading her on in more ways that one, and that seems cruel.

It's for her own good, though. The sooner Daine can get her to Aziraphale - and the easier the journey - the better, right? And once that thing is off of her and she's back to normal, they can just pretend this never happened.

Daine's blush deepens. She hates lying, and she's not much good at it unless it's a fib she's had time to practice. "Why don't we go back to the apartments?" she suggests gently. "We could go up to the roof - it's nice up there."

[biscuit_powered]

Daine is looking at her like she just grew another head (or another neck-thing; she seems really fixated on the neck-thing). Asmodia crosses her arms across her belly, ripping her own torso tightly as her tail lashes from side to side, accidentally smacking Biscuit. "I mean --!" she says, turning the brightest, deepest red yet. Oh gods. Oh goddesses. Daine doesn't like her like that, because of course she doesn't like her like that, what is she thinking, she's way too old for this precious human girl and also way, way too awkward and demonic --

She's about to blurt out the most unconvincing haha, fooled you of all time when Daine...takes her up on it. Asmodia's heart flutters and her mouth stretches into a giddy grin as Biscuit stalks moodily out of range of her tail. "Really?!" she asks, then coughs loudly as she forces herself to at least try to sound a little calmer, though she can't keep herself from fidgeting and reaching up to shove a stray lock of hair between her ear and her horn. "Uh, I mean -- yeah! Yeah, that'd be great! The roof is really nice, I do, um, my morning...stuff up there."