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

— Kat —

“You know… it is technically a crime to keep pets locked up in such small cages,” Del offered to the wind.

“Look, I get that you’re never going to admit you trained the little bastard to steal from me. I’m not even asking for an apology this time because I know I’m not getting one. Want I WANT is some compensation. I caught the bastard this time, and I’m using it to demand compensation. Besides, I’d bet if we did take it to the judge I’d come out on top,” grumbled Daryl.

“Oh? YOU caught our little snookums? Not the lady standing next to you? Keeping Brux calm?” Del said.

Daryl glanced at Kat for a moment and she shrugged. No idea how she could tell though. Daryl turned back to Del and said, “It was a team effort.”

“Oh yes, I’m sure it was,” said Del as she reached forward to pat Daryl on the head like he was an unruly child. Daryl growled but notably didn’t slap her hand away, just letting her get away with it despite clearly not being happy about it.

“It doesn’t matter,” Daryl cut in after a few pats. “I’m here making my demands. I want payment in either goods, or just currency and then I’ll leave you alone. If it keeps happening? Well I’ll have to recoup my costs somehow. Might end up catching the bastard again,”

Del laughed, “I doubt you can catch Brux yourself if he doesn’t want you to,” Del’s mouth stretched into a familiar smile. Where do I know that look from? “Of course… if that’s something you’d like to put down in writing perhaps?”

“No way you bitch,” cursed Daryl. “You’ll make it into one of your ‘games’ where it’s perfectly acceptable for this little rat to go after me and then have it increase the frequency of attacks. If I complained you’d just say I agreed to things. At least for the moment the little shit only attacks me once every few weeks… just frequently enough to be annoying but not so bad it’s costing me enough money to go complain to the judge. I wonder why that might be?”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Del and Kat felt her eye twitch. The first real lie Del had told… and even that slight twitch was enough to have the elf focus fully on Kat for a second before glancing away.

“Yeah, yeah. Now, money or goods?” asked Daryl.

“I suppose for my darling’s precious pet I can spare a bit of something. A handful of orbs perhaps?” asked Del.

“A handful? What are you thinking? Five? That bag your rate tried to steal was easily worth twenty and because it was ordered specifically and in a rush I’m getting FIFTY for it. I’ll accept nothing less,” retorted Daryl.

“Come now Daryl. That’s far too expensive for simply returning what is ours, besides, from my understanding the goods weren’t damaged at all and you’re still getting that same pay…” Del started to say.

“Yeah and I’m bloody lucky that I am. The last three times I had such an expensive order the only reason I managed to get it done in time was because I had enough leftovers to fix things. The fact that only one person pays that much for me goods means that I NEED to get their orders correct and on time. Not with slobber on them,” insisted Daryl.

Del visibly winced but Kat got the feeling it was mostly for show. “Hmm… I suppose I had not fully realised what damage this little one was doing to your business,”

“Sure you didn’t” mumbled Daryl.

“Be that as it may…” Del began. “How about you come work for me? I can streamline your workflow and provide you a salary! I’ll even provide you a generous sign-up bonus as recompense for your troubles with Brux,”

Daryl clicked his tongue. “Sounds like an excuse to cut into my profits witch. I told you already. I don’t want this to be complicated. I’m past trying to get an apology. I want something REAL I can use to offset the losses your ‘pet’ causes me. Nothing more complicated then that,”

“Surely you don’t mean that. I have… many avenues of payment available we could discuss,” Del offered while showing off a bit of leg.

“I’m gay,” stated Daryl firmly, causing Kat’s eyebrow to… almost twitch? *What was that? It felt… weird. Like it should’ve been a lie but it wasn’t quite one? Does that mean he is gay? He’s Bisexual? He’s pretending to be gay while in character? I’ve… I haven’t been paying attention long but like… seriously what sort of a reaction was that? I can’t even tell if it counts as a lie.*

“I’m sure my husband would be willing to accommodate for that,” offered Del. Kat raised an eyebrow.

“No, no, no. Look… one last chance. I am not playing this game with you… and you know what? I’m not going to ask for shit. Money, or a I walk away, cage in hand,” insisted Daryl.

“You’re being a dreadful bore you know,” said Del.

Daryl turned around and started to walk away. Del sighed and waved at the ground and roots exploded out of the ground to block the way. They weren’t close to Daryl at all but it the message was clear. “Are you keeping me from walking away?” asked Daryl.

“I’m keeping you from stealing my property,” said Del.

“Oh? An issue with steeling you say? Funny how that works out isn’t it?” shot back Daryl.

Del glanced at the Daryl for a few moments then over to Kat and back to Daryl. “Fine. You’ll have your money. Don’t come back,”

“Oh I make no promises,” snickered Daryl. Del just glared in response and reached into the top of her outfit to pull a small bag from between her tits. She reached her arm in, all the way up to the elbow and then started to pull out orbs one at a time. Slowly. Reaching all the way in each time and then gently placing them down on the ground. Each ‘orb’ took about twenty seconds to go from bag to ground. Daryl had asked for fifty.

*Well… this is clearly going to take a while. Do I want to bother waiting around? No not at all… but if I leave is that going to lead to escalation? Del is clearly at least a bit worried about me. Perhaps what I represent instead of what I am in truth. Hmm… does she ‘know’ I’m a demon in character? She definitely knows outside of it.*

Del was really committing to the bit. Five minutes later and only fifteen orbs had been placed down on the ground. Daryl was trying to remain firm in his decision but he was clearly uncomfortable at this point. It didn’t help that the little kid Thyme was pretending to be was glaring at Daryl while this was going on. Not saying anything… just clinging to Del’s legs and glaring at him.

Another five minutes past and Kat could see Daryl was quite tempted to just be done with this… and one they got to forty orbs on the ground Daryl kneeled down, ready to open the cage… only to pause, stop what he was doing, and stand back up. Del audibly clicked her tongue when he did that but didn’t say anything else. Kat honestly wished she could leave with a clear conscience.

When the last orb hit the ground Daryl moved forward to pick up the orbs when Del cleared her throat. “The orbs are all there for the taking, don’t you think you should release Brux first?”

Daryl glared at her. “Yeah, I do think that. If you were reasonable people I might… but I have this strange feeling that as soon as I release the little rat, he’s going to run straight through that pile of orbs, scattering them all over the place and perhaps even destroying a few… then when I complain you’ll say it was all right there for the taking and that it was hardly YOUR fault that this happened. So I’m not going to tempt fate. I’m going to put this money away in my pouch THEN I’m opening the cage,”

Del shrugged her shoulders at the statement as Daryl bent down and started to pile the orbs in his own little pouch. Apparently they were common around town. *Might want to buy one of those. Seems like the best way to carry the orbs.* Just as about half the orbs were packed away, the kid dashed forward and headed straight for the cage Daryl had left a few steps behind him. Kat considered what to do for a moment. *Am I really going to do this?*

Just as the kid was about to open the lock Kat placed her hand down heavily on their head, ruffling their hair. “I get that you want your friend back… but you can wait a few more moments right?” it wasn’t a question.