I am not. [a pause.] Hmm... perhaps, then, something you fear. The loss of whatever humanity you have left. The loss of your family. Those are things that could be prevented, should you offer me what I want.
No, no. I've plenty of those. [amused.] I want... misery. A new misery. What I want is to be given is something that you know you would not want to lose.
I mean, I really regretted sellin' that ball before...now that I got both back wouldn't wanna lose it, ya know? It hurt like hell for a long time and was definitely extra miserable.
[also, with his free hand, he just...reaches out and takes one of hers?]
[he looks back for a while, then in a slightly more considered, serious tone]
Appreciate the offer, but think I'm gonna have to pass.
Don't think makin' more contracts is gonna do anything for my humanity anymore, and if Miss Makima can't save us from Hell, not sure if your extra power'd be enough to get us out safe.
Oh, I thought like, you were trappin' me here and we'd have to fight or whatever. [please ignore the spiritual chainsaw that had started floating into the doorframe behind him, it floats back away out of view]
[he gives her a grin, the kind only an overconfident youth with no reason to fear death can, but he shrugs and heads towards the door]
Well, in that case thanks for the chat, Swamp Devil. Better luck next time.
[but he...stops just short of the door, lingering]
Do you....know about the place we came from? Big school you can't leave filled with weekly scheduled murders?
What if I wanted to get everyone outta there? Even ones who disappeared and got put somewhere else. Send 'em all home. What would that cost? More than a ball, I'm guessin'.
I do. [...] It would take misery of an equal amount. If you have something that would match the agonies of a few dozen people, I would be willing to listen.
[he scratches his head] Dunno if I got anything as important as all that, but...
What about future misery? Say I have a few dozen really crappy things happen to me? Equal agony debt I gotta pay off.
[what's another lifelong debt, another string of miserable blows from an indifferent world—would it really hurt so much to go back to having nothing? less than nothing? hadn't he been greedy in these weeks here having everyone be so good to him without knowing the harm he's caused?]
[he sets the axe down, holding both hands to his head to wrack his stupid brain for something that might work, because now that this dumb noble idea has crossed his brain he can't just let it go without trying—he should've just left when he had the chance (or seen if she would take a ball for it, damn, he's bad at negotiating)
a light bulb goes off, and he finally turns around]
The vacation. The one with Miss Makima and Powie and Aki. I'll give it up. If all these people that're trapped with me in that school can all go home, I'll give it up.
[and Denji understands, somehow in that part of his brain that intuits and survives on instinctual perception instead of studied knowledge, that this would mean the vacation will never happen, that somehow it means that none will]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Yeah, and what if I do? You a travel agent?
no subject
Perhaps. Is that something you want? [...] To be loved? To have someone find purpose in you?
no subject
no subject
I am not. [a pause.] Hmm... perhaps, then, something you fear. The loss of whatever humanity you have left. The loss of your family. Those are things that could be prevented, should you offer me what I want.
no subject
he scratches at another spot and taps the axe head (it's covered in gore) on his chin thoughtfully]
Say I had...a family or whatever that I wanted to save from...somewhere bad. What kinda thing are you wanting? Some skin or an eyeball or somethin'?
no subject
No, no. I've plenty of those. [amused.] I want... misery. A new misery. What I want is to be given is something that you know you would not want to lose.
no subject
[also, with his free hand, he just...reaches out and takes one of hers?]
no subject
If it is something you would be miserable to lose. [she says, dryly.]
no subject
Hmm...maybe...
What kinda power ya got, anyway? And how d'ya know all that stuff about me?
no subject
It is unimportant to the matter at hand.
no subject
Ah, see but I gotta know whether or not you can actually give me whatever it is you're promisin'.
This kinda thing doesn't come free, ya know?
no subject
You will just have to take the risk. [she's. gonna take her hand back? let go.]
no subject
You seem to know a lot of stuff: do ya think you need both balls in order to do it?
no subject
she just. gives him a long look. like, really long.]
no subject
Appreciate the offer, but think I'm gonna have to pass.
Don't think makin' more contracts is gonna do anything for my humanity anymore, and if Miss Makima can't save us from Hell, not sure if your extra power'd be enough to get us out safe.
no subject
That is your decision to make. [...] Go, then. And do not come back.
no subject
no subject
No. You would not be any sort of challenge, regardless.
no subject
Well, in that case thanks for the chat, Swamp Devil. Better luck next time.
[but he...stops just short of the door, lingering]
Do you....know about the place we came from? Big school you can't leave filled with weekly scheduled murders?
What if I wanted to get everyone outta there? Even ones who disappeared and got put somewhere else. Send 'em all home. What would that cost? More than a ball, I'm guessin'.
no subject
I do. [...] It would take misery of an equal amount. If you have something that would match the agonies of a few dozen people, I would be willing to listen.
no subject
What about future misery? Say I have a few dozen really crappy things happen to me? Equal agony debt I gotta pay off.
[what's another lifelong debt, another string of miserable blows from an indifferent world—would it really hurt so much to go back to having nothing? less than nothing? hadn't he been greedy in these weeks here having everyone be so good to him without knowing the harm he's caused?]
no subject
[she tilts her head.] It would not be a case of it happening to you. It would have to be given, willingly. Something that you would give me.
This is not a barter system where you hand me a terrible memory and you get a prize, Denji. It is a new misery. Something you lose, and hand to me.
no subject
[he sets the axe down, holding both hands to his head to wrack his stupid brain for something that might work, because now that this dumb noble idea has crossed his brain he can't just let it go without trying—he should've just left when he had the chance (or seen if she would take a ball for it, damn, he's bad at negotiating)
a light bulb goes off, and he finally turns around]
The vacation. The one with Miss Makima and Powie and Aki. I'll give it up. If all these people that're trapped with me in that school can all go home, I'll give it up.
[and Denji understands, somehow in that part of his brain that intuits and survives on instinctual perception instead of studied knowledge, that this would mean the vacation will never happen, that somehow it means that none will]
no subject
she tilts her head a little, and leans forward.]
I would find that acceptable.
no subject
Then it's a contract.
If you're not full of shit, you make it so that everyone goes home. And if they don't, I get my vacation back.
Deal?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)