The small room that they decided to be their meeting place seemed to grow smaller at each minute. The plain wooden walls and wooden ground clashed with his aura of nobility. But it was convenient and there was a small chance of anyone overhearing them. And if anyone just happened to hear anything, they could kill them without an outburst. But each second in this room made Pyro itch with annoyance. Everything was plain and wooden. From the tables and chairs to the cabinet and the "couch" with a few pillows. Maybe it was from his living style, but touching any surface, even with gloves on, made him want to scrub the skin off his fingertips.
After standing for at least forty-five minutes, Pyro finally watched as the black smoke approached him and started to take form, the figure straightened their scarf as their red eyes flicked up to meet his. A wide grin spread across the demon's face as their red eyes flickered.
"I've done as you asked, Pyro. And I have discovered that though you hoped to annihilate her emotions, you've seemed to only traumatize her. She holds a deep sense of fear. And her regret is endless. Not to mention, most of her anger is at herself." As he spoke the thin red figure from the corner approached, its clawed hands carefully holding a goblet; its small wings tightly tucked into their body and their face always cast downwards, the black strands of hair neatly tucked back into a braid.
"I see. That is indeed an issue." Pyro watched as the Aeshma carefully dropped to one knee and held out the goblet to his partner. "Any idea how we can remedy this, Sonneillon?"
Sonneillon took the goblet and hissed for the lesser demon to flee, which it promptly did. After taking a small sip of the deep crimson drink, undoubtedly blood, he returned his attention back to Pyro, "Not a clue"
Pyro tsked and walked to the other side of the room towards the window, careful to avoid touching anything, lest he wanted to burn his clothes once he arrives home. "I see."
Sonneillon downed his goblet and set it on the wooden table before he weaved around the furniture to stand behind Pyro. His usual smile was lost. "We could try battle-hardening."
Pyro tilted his head and thought about it for a short moment before shaking his head, "I doubt that would work. Shobek is rather protective. He won't let anything near her."
After a moment of silence, Sonneillon responded, "but if we downed him first, she might actually stand to defend him. Don't you think?"
Pyro turned towards him with a doubtful look, "neither of us can touch that bastard. How can we possibly damage him enough to keep him down long enough for her to gain any experience?" Shaking his head he sighed. "No. It's not possible."
The two fell silent both gazes watching outside the ratty tavern they stood in. Their private room was rented out for another hour. And the marketplace was slowly getting busier and busier as noon was slowly approaching and more people woke up.
Pyro sighed, "is this a fruitless venture?"
Sonneillon remained silent, watching the profile of his one friend in hell. Each decade the hopelessness would grow more and more apparent on him. Unlike Sonneillon, Pyro was watched more closely and therefore couldn't move freely in his day-to-day living. It put a strain on his friend, and he could only watch. Though he had a sense of loyalty to the prince of lies, he also had a bit of distrust. After all, he wasn't the prince of lies for nothing.
After another moment, he finally responded, "It's possible. But so is the chance of her succeeding."
Pyro turned towards him again, doubt clearly written on his face, but he gave a small smile and nod. "Perhaps."
After looking over Sonneillon and his serious expression, Pyro nodded more seriously again, "yes, perhaps you are right. Besides, we have another hour here. Perhaps a plan can be created."
After watching Pyro's hope reignite, Sonneillon's easy smile came back into play, "Certainly."
Shobek rocked Kasey until her sobs finally dissolved and her body was relaxed again. Whatever happened was still a mystery, but from the extra pair of footprints in the mud that he noticed, someone was definitely here. The sooner they get away, the better.
"Do you want to tell me what happened now, or later?" Shobek asked softly.
Kasey didn't respond, she simply shook her head as she pulled away and wiped her eyes on Shobek's dress shirt which she still wore. Shobek nodded and slowly stood, the new pants he just bought now drenched in the mud. Hopefully, since they are brown pants, no one will look too closely and comment.
"How bout you go ahead and get some warmer clothes on?" He picked up the bag he had bought, and though the bottom was also muddied, the outer layer didn't let anything soak through to ruin her new clothes.
Kasey nodded and took Shobek's hand so he could pull her to her feet. After a moment of holding her hand, to the point where she looked at him, he cleared his throat and let go, handing her the bag. "I'll go check the perimeter while you get-" He froze for a second when Kasey unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing, HIS shirt. A dirty thought later and he quickly turned away, his hand covering his face as a blush bloomed onto his face. "Dressed." He managed to croak out the last word as he moved away. A sudden pull on his new T-shirt made him pause.
"Don't go far..." Her voice was hollow and weak. Her fingers trembled as they held onto his shirt. His heart was swelling and aching at the same time.
He responded softly, "I won't.."
She hesitantly let go, his eyes glancing back at her as he began to move away again. She stared emptily in the distance, his dress shirt in her hand, one sleeve of it dipping in the mud. His heart squeezed for her. This was all happening because of him. And that thought alone made him swear to fix this. It was his mistake. Whether it be from the past, it was still his burden to bear, and his to try and fix.