D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Kat really had no idea how things got so out of control. What with the fire in the corner, the broken desk, and the fact that she’d been juggling for the last twenty minutes. Perhaps though, that’s skipping a few things.

While Kamiko was enjoying the ability to vent about her families members to someone that she assumed would never care and will never meet them, Kat was still hanging out with Excalibur… except things were starting to get strange. After she’d finished explaining her lack of interest in her parents’ death, Excalibur had just sighed lightly put their face back down on the table as if it held the secrets of the universe, and one need only stare long enough to find them. 

As she was waiting for the next question. Three green rubber balls appeared in front of her face. Kat caught them easily. Her reflexes were good enough for something like this back when she was human, her demonic reflexes were fast enough to catch them before they even dropped past her chin.

So, Kat did what any reasonable demon in her place would do. She gave them a couple light squeezes to determine they were rubber balls with a bit of weight to them, and started to juggle. It wasn’t that hard. She’d been shown the motions during a special phys ed class once upon a time. Really though, it was a matter of abusing her increased speed of thought and extreme reflexes to make sure she caught them.

When Excalibur looked up, after preparing themself mentally, they did not expect Kat to be doing anything other than smiling at her obnoxiously, with that slight sneer, abusing her additional height to look down at them. ”Ok where did you get those” left their mouth before Excalibur could even think about the phrasing of the question or if they actually wanted to know.

”I’ve got no idea.” Said Kat, not really knowing how else to spin it. *I mean, they just appeared, and it’s not like I can mislead him to much all things consider. I don’t want to imply I hid them on me, because that’s just kinda weird, and I really don’t know how else I would.* 

”Do you have a pocket dimension ability, or hammerspace, or anything else of that nature?” asked Excalibur

*Well I guess that answers the ’how else’ question. Is… is that a common thing? Does demonic attire count?* ”Unless you count Demonic Attire then, no I don’t.” was the best Kat really had for this one. It’s not like there was much to mislead here, she was just as confused. Of course, Kat wasn’t going to use that as an excuse to stop smirking at the poor guy across from her.

Excalibur groaned, and Kat watched as their arms moved up and slight indentations appeared in their turban. *Probably trying to massage their temple? Yeah looks about the right spot. That is if they’re humanoid. I guess I’ve just been assuming because it looks like they are, but they could look like some horrifying monster when visible.* 

”This is my life now,” murmured Excalibur ”Apparently this is just how it’s going to be. I mean really, why couldn’t this be easy?”

Kat didn’t know how to answer him. Someone else did though as her hair promptly caught fire. *Well that’s weird. What is that even burning? My hair is fireproof so it’s not like it can burn that for fuel, and my skin is more than equipped to deal with a bit of fire. Seriously what’s the point?*

Excalibur slammed their head back into the desk and Kat decided, that might have in fact been the point. ”Right.” Said Excalibur. It clearly wasn’t right. Nothing about this was ’right’ for them. They didn’t even bother to sit up just letting their face rest on the desk.

”Are you taking any damage from the fire?” asked Excalibur

”No. Not sure if it’s real fire though, it isn’t like it can burn my hair for fuel.” Replied Kat

Excalibur noticeably stilled. Kat listened as their mouth opened and closed several times and could practically hear the gears turning inside their head as they realised the truth of Kat’s statement. ”That. That is an excellent point I hadn’t considered.”

  Apparently there was too much considering and not enough going on though, because Excalibur’s chair promptly caught fire. Excalibur leapt up and hurled it into the corner before picking up the desk and slamming that over the flaming pieces of chair and snapping it in half. Excalibur’s coat was thrown off onto the while and doused by the water there while Excalibur themselves took in deep breaths.

*Ok well… that seems a little excessive.* None the less, Kat just kept up her juggling. It was actually a good way to train her reflexes, and peripheral vision, even if she didn’t really have that anymore the same way she used to. Swapping to one hand Kat held the other one out as if asking for something. Her wish was granted in the form of a second set of balls. They were red this time.

Nice. ”Thanks” whispered Kat under her breath. Mostly so that Excalibur wouldn’t hear. Kat started with both hands at her side, juggling them in separate circles. As she got used to it and Excalibur continued their panic attack, Kat moved the balls closer to the centre until the started overlapping slightly. She worked hard to ensure that none of the balls would collide in mid-air, even in the space they shared in the centre.

This was actually harder then you’d think, as she needed to ensure that her hands never fell into the same rhythm. Left and right needed to be offset slightly, and Kat found herself always drifting slightly trying to line them up if her focus started to wander. *This isn’t good. If Excalibur asks me a question, I might not be able to answer while doing this.*

While Kat was focused on juggling Excalibur was trying to get their breathing under control. Unlike Kat’s experience, it was less then pleasant. They were not resistant to fire the same way Kat was and it BURNED. Still, Excalibur was a trained demon who’d been on plenty of missions, if ones lacking in fire.

So, they managed to calm themselves… mostly. Their breathing was steady and they weren’t being hounded anymore but there was no desire to continue the questioning. That was until a bucket of water got dunked on their head. That seemed answer enough for Excalibur to continue before something else happened, a warning shot.

”Fine. Fine, I see how this is going.” Growled Excalibur, no longer even trying to keep their voice down or the emotions hidden. ”Kat, tell me. How did you score during your schooling?”

”I’m afraid I’m going to need you to elaborate” replied Kat. *Because even if I wasn’t messing with you that was a bit vague.* 

”Scores. How highly did you score in school?” asked Excalibur

”Compared to what exactly? The rest of the school? The rest of the area I lived in? Are we talking general feel from how easy the coursework was or purely what was handed in?” asked Kat

”You know what? I don’t care. You tell me whatever you want!” responded Excalibur.

*That’s a bit broad mate. I guess I can lie then? I was told to tell him whatever I want, and I WANT to tell him I’m the best there ever was. Not sure I can get away with it though. It isn’t true. I’d have to say something like ’to answer you, I respond with…’ or something stupid to avoid the whole lying issue. 

I don’t think ’whatever I want to say’ is actually something I can run with too much. Perhaps I say ’some people were disappointed with my high scores’ because the bullies were certainly not happy when I scored better then them. Let it imply I have a bad relationship with Gramps? Maybe the teachers? That could work, because if they ask my opinion on him I can say honestly he’s the best!*

”Well, you know how it is. I scored well and there were a few people who weren’t happy with me because of that.” Explained Kat.

Excalibur was so out of it at this point they didn’t even pick up the manipulation. They just smiled, or well, Kat assumed that’s what happened as she listened to the muscle movements anyway. ”Great kid. You want to name any names of these people who were displeased?”

”No of course not. That would be terribly rude to them.” Said Kat in the most innocent cutesy voice she could manage. *That sounded horrible though. My vocal cords are not built for that, I can almost feel them healing from that stunt. Maybe I should have tried to sound like Sylvie. She’s cute but she doesn’t sound like she swallowed a squeaky toy.* 

”Isn’t it more rude to put you down for actually succeeding?” asked Excalibur

”It’s a matter of perspective really” replied Kat.