Hell Hath no Fury

[Glenn]

"I have a dagger for that." Deadpan. "I made a deal with a demoness for it. I killed her body, her unborn child, right here on this late." He had become more brazen in response to her attitude. She was trying to throw him off but she hadn't done it yet. That would come in a moment; instead, he tried to do the same to her. "I kill her and spare her unpleasantness. She would be reborn. The child would not. It all had to do with demon lords and what not. I earned myself a dagger out of though and it's the sort that snatches up souls. Those are the best for scratching ones back, and, if I'm not mistaken, for dealing with creatures like you." Then with a little smile, whether she could see it or not, pressed in as he was making herself. "I prefer other means, of course."

Then, of course, she threw him with the look, the words, the giddy expression. "Maybe you remind me of a corpse I once knew." He muttered, not sure what else to say.

Thankfully, business brought things back, even if it was a wicked sort of business. "She'll know what she has to. Your rewards will depend upon the tasks, I am sure. Some of them I dare think you might find their own reward. As for the rest, well, I am open to negotiation." Then finally. "As for the Whelp and her knight, well, I think this will balance that wonderfully, no?"

[Guppy]

He mentioned a demon and a child. Her hand rose from her side and moved to catch his free wrist. Tried to bring it to her belly, flat and toned muscle. "It will not be born again? How do you know that to be true? Do you ever think that it will come back to haunt you? Do you ever think that it might be born in another body? Come to find you and bring you ruin?," she asked, breath against his ear cold. This was no living thing, his senses would likely scream as much at him. That reptile brain struggling to come up with reasons, with explanations for this walking, talking corpse. "Demons lie." His threat made her chortle and she gave him another purr as she pulled back to gaze at him with dangerous affection. "Well, then. If I ever have to skin you, can I borrow it?," she asked, quite seriously. "I will give it back right after," she vowed, putting a hand upon her heart in solemn vow.

Lips parted and teeth were bared in a grin as she took note of his expression. She had won this round. "Perhaps," she agreed, nodding sagely and seeking to draw away from him. Their conversation turned to business, after all. "Maybe I am that child we speak of. Do you think?"

Arms crossed over her chest as she gazed at him with a passive expression. "Should I come and work for you," she began, ignoring the fact that she would actually be working for Rhaena. "I will not be ignored again. Should I wish your attention, you will make effort to give it to me as quickly as you are able. Allowing me in like this will give me access to your secrets, whether you know it or not. I will use it to my advantage, should my feelings be harmed once more." She pouted for effect. "Do we have an agreement?" Her hand was offered for him to shake. She knew that he had many things to do, that he would not drop everything to rush to her side. She simply wanted him to acknowledge her, because she had no one else that would. She would cling to him because he did not forget her, as the others did. He would not allow her to drift into obscurity in the wake of the whelp's ruffled dresses and boy-Knight attentions. The creature likely allowed a little of her vulnerability, however accidentally, show in her words.

[Glenn]

"I would rather not die by my dagger. I am very careful in my back scratching, yes?" He gave her a bit as a way to unnerve her and she turned it back upon him. He should be horrified but instead he was just aware. He witnessed too many stories lately. The laughter escaped his lips even as he returned her gaze. "Even a demoness baby would not be as saucy as you, Megera, but a very nice try."

Then she announces her terms and he nods to them, not pressing his advantage, not much. He knew she was waning. Maybe this was Rhaena's plan all along, to weaken her by strengthening the Whelp until she became pliable. Or maybe Rhaena knew nothing about this and he was using his freedom to bend her to his will. Or maybe he was honest and earnest about everything. Maybe he was fond. "Fine. You will be at my call and I will be at your beck. It seems fair. Would you like to know some of the tasks I have in mind?" This, in some ways, was his real reward to her. She'd get to dig her teeth into others and ultimately, as he knew, use it all to her own advantage.

[Guppy]

He spoke of the care he took in his back-scratching and she smiled. She reached around him, seeking to press a hand to his back. Fingers curled into claws and she moved to gently rake her blunt nails down his clothed spine. Her eyes searched his own, that tingle of acquaintance at the back of his mind, most likely. She smiled. "And I as well. I'm known to be a bit rough from time to time, of course." Of course. The creature wore the cloak of seduction easily. She seemed pleased as he laughed, as he teased her, if her smile was any indication. "I'm glad that you approve."

Her terms were accepted by the man and she gave a nod. She struggled to hide her relief. They would need to seal their arrangement in some manner, she decided. None seemed forthcoming from the Man in White. Lifting shoulders in a shrug, she moved to lean forward to seal her mouth over his. This would be their handshake, their blood oath, their scrawled signatures. Exchanged saliva. Exchanged affection. Her hand would lift to dab at the corners of her lips if she'd managed to snare his lips, when the moment ended and she pulled away. If she did not manage, she would give him a disappointed roll of her eyes. He asked if she wanted knowledge of her upcoming tasks and those eyes, devoid of color, searched his face again. "I care not." But she did. "It doesn't matter." But it did.

She waited.

[Glenn]

It tried so hard and made it seemed so natural. It was occasionally a caricature but done with so little effort and such earnestness that even Giuseppe wasn't sure what to think. How could something seem both so natural and unnatural at the same time. There were little cracks that he saw here and there the closer he looked, but that familiarity was what threw him the most, not her behavior.

The kiss was real enough and Giuseppe was many things, some of them full of restraint some of them full of experience, but none of them were the sort to refuse a kiss from a beautiful woman. If anything he was surprised she didn't bite. He returned it but did not prolong it. He could imagine when and how her magic might be most potent.

"I can think of four tasks immediately. This will give you a sample, perhaps. There is Councilor Berdini. He voted against Rhaena's wishes at the meeting. Against his own interests. I would know why, whether you find out through magic, intimidation, or outright violence. There is the fae Zilliah, powerful and dangerous. Rhaena had him cowed and he has disappeared from her grasp. I would have you find out why and how and if he is a danger to others. There is Catch, of course, and he has his horn making him dangerous indeed. I would have you take it somehow without putting yourself at too much risk." His voice quieted somewhat. "And then there is Agnieszka. She has tasted death too, Megera. She has come back from it. To touch her is to feel darkness, literally. I would have you understand it. Rhaena may or may not be able to influence her but perhaps you can. Or worse."

[Guppy]

The kiss was heated and it was the most honest thing she had ever said to him. No pretense, no masks. Raw and unrestrained, in her case. She managed to keep her teeth from him, but only just. She pulled away from him and those half-lidded eyes kept watch of his face. The creature relaxed for the first time since he had set foot to path to approach her.

The tasks were set in front of her and she considered them. She recalled Berdini, the man who had thrown that party when she and the whelp first arrived. Zilliah was not one that she was familiar with, but the fact that he was fae was interesting, at least. Her features went sullen and jaw clenched when he mentioned Catch, but she did not think to interrupt. Not yet. The one she found most fascinating was the task involving Agnie, of course. Likely as he expected. "It will be nice to shake hands with another of the dead. We will have so many things to speak of," she mused. Her gaze drifted, then, sobering quickly. "I make no promises with Catch, of course. I will attend to that last, once I've thought on it." He knew of It's affection for the addled man. Perhaps she was the best one for the job, though. Perhaps she found her affection returned.

Maybe Giuseppe would not find her beaten form gasping for air through blood-smeared teeth as he had the last sent to reclaim the horn.

She smiled at him. "I think I am going to like having you at hand. Oh the things we will get into together," she remarked, clearly enjoying herself.

[Glenn]

Sensation sent a wave through him. His mind was optimized in order to deal with the curse upon him. Usually it was exactly what he needed but in a time of additional stimuli it became too. She drew away and watched him, watched his eyes dart this way and that as the world seemed to slow down around him. It was just for a moment though and soon after he had listened his demands and she had listed hers.

She agreed to the tasks, even found flourish in one, maybe more. Giuseppe just smiled. "If you succeed, i'm sure your rewards will be enjoyable. Do try not to fail then, Megera."