thinking about aus for ocs is so funny. like i already put this guy in a situation but what if i put them in another totally different one

The demon reluctantly allowed the Engineer to retreat to his room for the night and soon headed to his own. He was loathe to admit it but by then he had found himself becoming quite sleepy as well. It did not take long for Marcel to fall asleep, curled up under a warm blanket, his head resting on a soft pillow.

Perhaps it had something to do with the conversation they had had that evening or maybe it was purely coincidental, still that night the demon did dream. Though by the time he awoke the next day he could could recall little more than vague visions of a warm smile and the sound of a decidedly southern voice.

Even through the drawn curtains he could tell that the sun outside was already up. As tempted as he was to stay in bed longer, he was also feeling a bit hungry, so he got up and threw on some clothes before heading downstairs to see if Dell had made any breakfast.

The demon considered for a moment how he could most clearly explain the answer to what was at once a very easy and very hard question.

“Hm…. Imagine this realm like a house. In the far past it was everyone’s house. Then ‘god’ decides that he doesn’t like beings like me being in that house so he forces us out and puts a lock on the door. He hands the key to you humans and leaves you to do with the house as you please. It is your house now. We have tried to break down the door or pick the metaphorical lock for ages, but with little to no success. Thus the only somewhat reliable way to gain access is for one of your kind to let us in. A summoning is like opening the door and inviting us in. And now that I am here I can stay until you or some other mortal figures out how to revoke that invitation and force me to leave.”

God wasn’t going to intervene, from Marcel’s experience he did not care all that much and he sure wasn’t paying the sort of constant attention the humans liked to ascribe to him.

“He don’t really care what we do in the house? Well that’s a relief.” Dell sighed closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. He had never liked church, once you’ve heard all the stories it gets a bit repetitive in his opinion. That and the whole anti gay stance.

Though, he was more relief to hear Marcy admit there was a way to kick him out without making a pact. He just had to find it… Opening his eyes he looked over at the demon, an odd feeling tickling his chest.

Might take a long time though, to find this eject button. He would have to bear the demons company no matter how long it took.

“Ya know what happens when a human leaves the house? They get locked out too?” As cozy as the house was he was awful curious what lands existed just outside the veil.

It was almost amusing to the demon to see Dell so oddly relieved to know that God did not care. “What? You thought your actions mattered to him and you still chose to kill for profit? I am no expert, but is murder not something most of your believe systems consider a major sin? Greed as well, no?”

“As for you getting locked out… I suppose this might be where the analogy fails. For one it is almost impossible for a living mortal to leave this realm without outside help. And once they have managed to enter another realm the issue is not being able to re-enter their own realm, it is leaving the one they went to.” he explained, before adding with a slight smile “I could safely take you to my realm and back, but if I chose to keep you, you would have a hard time finding a way to return here.”

“My motives for picking this line of work ain’t what matters here.” Dell huffed, not about to go down that rabbit hole with Marcy. Unlike scout Dell kept a tight lid on his daddy issues.

He was glad when the conversation moved on, listening intently to what the demon claim the rules of traversing otherworldly realms. He seemed to take great interest in the idea of seeing Marcy’s realm, but the tidbit at the end about essentially being trap made his lips curl down in disappointment. “If ya really could just take me back to your realm doesn’t that mean ya can just leave now? without me?” Dell asked, though he already knew that wouldn’t work, he was just fishing for information on how the pacts worked outside his realm, if he perhaps made a pact asking Marcy to show him his realm then take him back safe and alive, if the demon would be held to honor that deal once once in his own domain.

“Looking for a loophole, are we?” The demon gave a brief chuckle, then shook his head.

“You’re out of luck. The part of me that is here, would remain here.” Marcel gestured at his human body. “This vessel would go to sleep while I visit my realm and awake again when I return.”

“Physicality works somewhat differently for my kind than how it does for yours, but I still have a body of my own. When I posess a mortal I transfer part of myself, my consciousness into their body.” What the Engineer had seen in that cave had by no means been the demons actual form, rather a shadow of it.

“So when yer sleeping your back in your realm? Have you ever had a dream?” Dell was delighted to hear he had a time where he coul potentially examine the demon’s possesses form without his knowledge. It would be a great time to test if anything like garlic or holy water had an effect, though if it did and he awoke he imagined it wouldn’t go too well..

While still interested in what wonders the Demons Sea realm held, he wasn’t about to bypass a chance to learn about it in a safer, less trapped in sea hell for eternity option.

“Or would you say all dreaming is visiting a different realm?” If so his heart went out to alternate realm Dell who died encased in fruitcake and the Dell who went to school in his brief back in middle school.

Another chuckle. "No, that's not what I meant. I don't return to my realm every time I go to sleep. I only meant that when I do go, I am not giving up my possession of this body, it merely enters a state of unconsciousness. Perhaps calling it 'sleeping' wasn't the best choice of words."

As for the man's other question... "I... rarely dream." Most of the time, regardless of wether he was in a mortal body or his own, his sleep tended to be dreamless. However on the rare occasion that he did dream the experience was rarely pleasant, so the demon did not exactly feel like he was missing out.

The demon considered for a moment how he could most clearly explain the answer to what was at once a very easy and very hard question.

“Hm…. Imagine this realm like a house. In the far past it was everyone’s house. Then ‘god’ decides that he doesn’t like beings like me being in that house so he forces us out and puts a lock on the door. He hands the key to you humans and leaves you to do with the house as you please. It is your house now. We have tried to break down the door or pick the metaphorical lock for ages, but with little to no success. Thus the only somewhat reliable way to gain access is for one of your kind to let us in. A summoning is like opening the door and inviting us in. And now that I am here I can stay until you or some other mortal figures out how to revoke that invitation and force me to leave.”

God wasn’t going to intervene, from Marcel’s experience he did not care all that much and he sure wasn’t paying the sort of constant attention the humans liked to ascribe to him.

“He don’t really care what we do in the house? Well that’s a relief.” Dell sighed closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. He had never liked church, once you’ve heard all the stories it gets a bit repetitive in his opinion. That and the whole anti gay stance.

Though, he was more relief to hear Marcy admit there was a way to kick him out without making a pact. He just had to find it… Opening his eyes he looked over at the demon, an odd feeling tickling his chest.

Might take a long time though, to find this eject button. He would have to bear the demons company no matter how long it took.

“Ya know what happens when a human leaves the house? They get locked out too?” As cozy as the house was he was awful curious what lands existed just outside the veil.

It was almost amusing to the demon to see Dell so oddly relieved to know that God did not care. “What? You thought your actions mattered to him and you still chose to kill for profit? I am no expert, but is murder not something most of your believe systems consider a major sin? Greed as well, no?”

“As for you getting locked out… I suppose this might be where the analogy fails. For one it is almost impossible for a living mortal to leave this realm without outside help. And once they have managed to enter another realm the issue is not being able to re-enter their own realm, it is leaving the one they went to.” he explained, before adding with a slight smile “I could safely take you to my realm and back, but if I chose to keep you, you would have a hard time finding a way to return here.”

“My motives for picking this line of work ain’t what matters here.” Dell huffed, not about to go down that rabbit hole with Marcy. Unlike scout Dell kept a tight lid on his daddy issues.

He was glad when the conversation moved on, listening intently to what the demon claim the rules of traversing otherworldly realms. He seemed to take great interest in the idea of seeing Marcy’s realm, but the tidbit at the end about essentially being trap made his lips curl down in disappointment. “If ya really could just take me back to your realm doesn’t that mean ya can just leave now? without me?” Dell asked, though he already knew that wouldn’t work, he was just fishing for information on how the pacts worked outside his realm, if he perhaps made a pact asking Marcy to show him his realm then take him back safe and alive, if the demon would be held to honor that deal once once in his own domain.

"Looking for a loophole, are we?" The demon gave a brief chuckle, then shook his head.

"You're out of luck. The part of me that is here, would remain here." Marcel gestured at his human body. "This vessel would go to sleep while I visit my realm and awake again when I return."

"Physicality works somewhat differently for my kind than how it does for yours, but I still have a body of my own. When I posess a mortal I transfer part of myself, my consciousness into their body." What the Engineer had seen in that cave had by no means been the demons actual form, rather a shadow of it.

@marcy-the-tentaspy

Assuming that the girl was asking if he had been injured Marcel shook his head. "Don't worry, I'm not hurt." he reassured her. "But we should take a look at your injuries."

Since she had wrapped her arms around him and was still more or less clinging to him he added "If you'll let me I can help you out of the water. There should be a first aid kit in the storage closet here."

If he could help it he would like to continue to keep his secret from her, but that was bound to be difficult, if not impossible. For one how was he supposed to justify staying in the water? And she was bound to get a look at his hands, the blue skin, the claws and the webbing between his fingers were hardly normal or easily explained.

The demon considered for a moment how he could most clearly explain the answer to what was at once a very easy and very hard question.

“Hm…. Imagine this realm like a house. In the far past it was everyone’s house. Then ‘god’ decides that he doesn’t like beings like me being in that house so he forces us out and puts a lock on the door. He hands the key to you humans and leaves you to do with the house as you please. It is your house now. We have tried to break down the door or pick the metaphorical lock for ages, but with little to no success. Thus the only somewhat reliable way to gain access is for one of your kind to let us in. A summoning is like opening the door and inviting us in. And now that I am here I can stay until you or some other mortal figures out how to revoke that invitation and force me to leave.”

God wasn’t going to intervene, from Marcel’s experience he did not care all that much and he sure wasn’t paying the sort of constant attention the humans liked to ascribe to him.

“He don’t really care what we do in the house? Well that’s a relief.” Dell sighed closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. He had never liked church, once you’ve heard all the stories it gets a bit repetitive in his opinion. That and the whole anti gay stance.

Though, he was more relief to hear Marcy admit there was a way to kick him out without making a pact. He just had to find it… Opening his eyes he looked over at the demon, an odd feeling tickling his chest.

Might take a long time though, to find this eject button. He would have to bear the demons company no matter how long it took.

“Ya know what happens when a human leaves the house? They get locked out too?” As cozy as the house was he was awful curious what lands existed just outside the veil.

It was almost amusing to the demon to see Dell so oddly relieved to know that God did not care. "What? You thought your actions mattered to him and you still chose to kill for profit? I am no expert, but is murder not something most of your believe systems consider a major sin? Greed as well, no?"

"As for you getting locked out... I suppose this might be where the analogy fails. For one it is almost impossible for a living mortal to leave this realm without outside help. And once they have managed to enter another realm the issue is not being able to re-enter their own realm, it is leaving the one they went to." he explained, before adding with a slight smile "I could safely take you to my realm and back, but if I chose to keep you, you would have a hard time finding a way to return here."

The demon considered for a moment how he could most clearly explain the answer to what was at once a very easy and very hard question.

"Hm.... Imagine this realm like a house. In the far past it was everyone's house. Then 'god' decides that he doesn't like beings like me being in that house so he forces us out and puts a lock on the door. He hands the key to you humans and leaves you to do with the house as you please. It is your house now. We have tried to break down the door or pick the metaphorical lock for ages, but with little to no success. Thus the only somewhat reliable way to gain access is for one of your kind to let us in. A summoning is like opening the door and inviting us in. And now that I am here I can stay until you or some other mortal figures out how to revoke that invitation and force me to leave."

God wasn't going to intervene, from Marcel's experience he did not care all that much and he sure wasn't paying the sort of constant attention the humans liked to ascribe to him.

@marcy-the-tentaspy

Merde

The time for gentle attempts to gain her cooperation was over. He had to leave, either with or without the girl.

"Hold your breath." he said urgently, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her flush against his chest. He did not give her a lot of time to do as told before he dragged her underwater. Hopefully she would not only hold her breath, but also wind up closing her eyes.

If there was once advantage to having a full set of tentacles in place of two human legs, than it had to be how quickly and easily they allowed him to move underwater. It took Marcel less than a minute to clear the passage he had mentioned, and soon enough his and her head were breaching the surface again.

The last few krakens and giant squids I saw in any media had entirely soft suckers like an octopus so now I'm wondering something. Giant squid generally have "tooth lined" suckers, and the colossal squid's two longer tentacles have suckers that evolved into full blown claws all over them.

COOL ocean facts!! Humboldt squid (up two two meters in length) are known to attack people who are diving among them at night! In one of the two most thoroughly documented cases a nature photographer Alex Kerstitch was attacked by multiple humboldts at once who started rapidly pulling him downward, dragging him almost 30 meters deeper into the ocean in just minutes! They were able to tear off some of his equipment but thankfully not his mask, which would have definitely killed him, and they left him covered in bloody cuts!

An even nastier case was ONE OF the times they ganged up on Scott Cassell, a former sniper assassin and underwater combat specialist who now apparently hunts down wildlife poachers (holy shit???), aside from being a sea warrior he is like a lead expert on specifically these squid but his underwater powers and love for them did not stop them from dragging him down so hard they dislocated his shoulder and the pressure change ruptured his eardrum!

This is his own webpage about squids repeatedly beating the ever loving shit out of him and how they will do it to you, too:

Something else I'm not sure if people know or not, unless of course you've ever eaten them, is that cephalopod tentacles are pure solid muscle tissue. When they're outstretched they're more noodly of course but squids can contract them like short fingers as you might have noticed!

Think about how dense and tough that must be! A bunch of them all clenched together in one tight cone! Scott says they will ram into you with this at full speed

......."A large squid moved to within two feet and flashed again. Mesmerized by the strobe effect, I didn’t see that another squid was rushing in from my left. Bam! It hit me with a tentacular strike that felt like being hit with a baseball bat square in the ribs. Shocked by the power of the strike and unable to breathe because of a cramp in my chest, I turned to see what had hit me and saw four more squid headed toward me"

Anyway I wish squid weren't just in the ocean but could fly, I think that would be exciting!

“Yes, I’m quite sure I’m happy with it.” She assured with a soft chuckle, getting comfortable on the roll as she waited for him.

She’s not sure if it’s the novelty of someone so well versed in bloodshed and espionage being flustered or simple charm of his own, but there’s something endearing in the way he blushes. She wouldn’t dare say it aloud though.

“I imagine there was quite a difference in choosing to be alone and being forced to be alone.” She said quietly. “Neither of us will have to be lonely now, though, and I’m glad for that.”

Neither of us will have to be lonely now Gods, was it ever so tempting to read into those words...

"Even though my profession mostly kept me from forming any friendships or long lasting relationships, I was still able to be among people and that was enough for the most part." Now he had eight reasons to avoid other people like his life depended on it, because it very well might.

@marcy-the-tentaspy

Alright, so far she was not freaking out and judging by her question genuinely considering his offer of help. "There is an opening underwater. I can take you through it, you would only have to hold your breath and close your eyes. It leads to a room that is connected to the maintanance area of this place. The... mercenaries do not have access to it." And even the staff never went down all the way down there, because all that room really had was an access to the water from the canal and the metal grate meant to keep lost body parts and other battle debris from winding up in the river.

"I promise you will be fine. There should even be a first aid kit there, we'll be able to treat your injuries before you loose even more blood."

Johanna was content to sit quietly. Enjoying the simplicity of the warmth of the fire and company. It had certainly been much lonelier on her journey by herself.

She found herself glancing at her arm, studying the spiral of soft, circular marks trailing up them. They’d done well to help sell their rouse, and for all the scraps and bruises she’d acquired in her life none were like this. They’d already faded a touch, she’d noted. He’d been quite gentle about it though so it’s not too surprising.

She catches his gaze when she turns to speak to him. Unaware she’s been the subject to his own study, offering a small smile. “We covered some decent ground today, didn’t we. Might’ve covered more If I could’ve swam the rivers current like you.”

“Mh.. Or if we did not need to follow the river at all….” he replied, looking away and off into the growing darkness.

They had made progress, at least as far as getting some distance between the lake, the village and themselves. Still he had his doubts that their little trip would lead anywhere other than disappointment. Johanna had been so optimistic when she offered her help, he simply could not help but be infected by that optimism of hers, causing him to go along with it.

Now though? It had only been a day and he already found himself wondering what in the hells he had been thinking.

“Perhaps, but we do.” She said quietly, a hand reaching over to settle on his arm. Feeling the rough blanket that covered him under her fingers. “So we just have to make the best of it.”

“Maybe the going might be slower at times, when it’ll be harder to keep to the water or the current might go against us. But neither of us will have to go it alone.” The hand on his arm gave a small squeeze as she spoke. “And we might get to see a lot of things we might not have, if we were simply hurrying on.”

“Ah, You’d said you were tired, didn’t you. Perhaps we ought to turn in early, then.” Johanna said, rising to her feet. Motioning for him to follow after her.

‘make the best of it’ had, for the last year, taken the shape of simply surviving to the best of his abilities. However at least the thought that he was not going to be alone for a while was somewhat comforting. He would continue to go along with this, if nothing else than simply because he did not feel ready to leave Johanna’s side and return to self-pity and isolation.

Following her example he rose from where he had been sitting, but then paused. “We?” he questioned, slightly bewildered by her wanting him to follow her. As far as sleeping arrangements went he had planned on simply curling up under his blanket near the fire.

Johanna readied herself and the sleeping roll, spreading it out. pausing at the question and the uncertain tone of it. She looked over at him, her own brow raised in questioning.

“I assumed so.” She replied, hands working to twist her hair into a braid lest she smother him with it or it end up entangled from tossing and turning in her sleep. “We’ve slept together these past two nights. I suppose I assumed it would be easier to keep sharing. Warmer with two bodies and two blankets, after all. Plus, I’ve only got the one sleeping roll, one of us would have to sleep on the ground if we don’t.” It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but it wouldn’t be comfortable.

“But if you’d prefer we be separate, I understand.”

“Oh. I thought you..” …wouldn’t want to sleep cuddled up to a magically created monstrosity. Sure, they had shared a bed back in his hideout, but then it had felt almost necessary in order for both of them to be at least somewhat comfortable and warm.

“No, I don’t mind! Not at all. I simply did not want to… make you uncomfortable.” Embaressed by the whole situation he found himself actually blushing for the first time since he had been a boy, a slight blue hue coloring his cheeks.

“Ah, that’s sweet of you. But don’t worry, you’re an unusual bedmate, but idea of continuing to share doesn’t bother me.” It had been something of necessity the nights in his cave, but aside from the unusual feeling of the skin of his more fishy side and the tight space of two people sharing one small bed, it had actually been a decent enough experience. There was something that felt safe in having someone else there beside her, and she’d slept, despite her strange circumstances, surprisingly well. Seeing the blue tinge rise to his face is a curious thing. Did that mean his blood was blue? It’s a curiosity, but she decides against asking him, he seemed flustered enough he probably wouldn’t care for her pointing that out.

“It was kinda nice to have someone there, actually.” She said, giving the spread out bedroll and her blanket one last adjustment to ensure there would be as much space for the both of them as she could make. “Before I set out, I was always surrounded by other people. I don’t mind being alone, but it got kinda lonely after a while.”

"Ah... If you are sure, then.. I don't mind continuing our prior sleeping arrangements." In fact he was quite happy to. The feeling of another living person close to him, their warm skin and steady breathing, it was far more comforting than he had expected.

And of course there was the fact that Johanna saying she liked sleeping next to him, inexplicably caused his heartbeat to quicken. If he had not been already, he now would have been blushing for sure.

"I can understand that. I used to be alone a lot, it never bothered me then... But back at that lake I felt.. quite lonely." There was, as he had found, a world of difference between being alone by choice and being forced into solitude. Now finally following her over to where she had spread out her bedroll he sat down next to her, his blanket still around his shoulders. Marcel's naked chest would have looked perfectly human if not for the three thin lines in his skin located on either side, right between his ribs. Where the tentacles connected to the rest of his body blue skin faded into a more human color just below his navel.

@marcy-the-tentaspy

Her not screaming really had been a vain hope and when she inevitably did he flinched. The scream might not have been loud enough to attract attention, at least thanks to the well timed explosion occuring above, still having someone essentially scream in your face was unpleasant to say the least. Not that he could fault her for doing it...

"I... I am someone who is also hiding from them" He gave a nod upwards to the continuing sounds of battle. "If you can just trust me, I'll take you somewhere safer and help you with your injuries." Marcel knew that he was asking quite a lot by requesting that she trust him, especially since he did not exactly scream 'trustworthy'. Still he hoped that his gentle and sincere tone would sway her to take that chance, for if she didn't he would be faced with the difficult decesion of either taking her to safety by force or leaving her to her fate.

Johanna was content to sit quietly. Enjoying the simplicity of the warmth of the fire and company. It had certainly been much lonelier on her journey by herself.

She found herself glancing at her arm, studying the spiral of soft, circular marks trailing up them. They’d done well to help sell their rouse, and for all the scraps and bruises she’d acquired in her life none were like this. They’d already faded a touch, she’d noted. He’d been quite gentle about it though so it’s not too surprising.

She catches his gaze when she turns to speak to him. Unaware she’s been the subject to his own study, offering a small smile. “We covered some decent ground today, didn’t we. Might’ve covered more If I could’ve swam the rivers current like you.”

“Mh.. Or if we did not need to follow the river at all….” he replied, looking away and off into the growing darkness.

They had made progress, at least as far as getting some distance between the lake, the village and themselves. Still he had his doubts that their little trip would lead anywhere other than disappointment. Johanna had been so optimistic when she offered her help, he simply could not help but be infected by that optimism of hers, causing him to go along with it.

Now though? It had only been a day and he already found himself wondering what in the hells he had been thinking.

“Perhaps, but we do.” She said quietly, a hand reaching over to settle on his arm. Feeling the rough blanket that covered him under her fingers. “So we just have to make the best of it.”

“Maybe the going might be slower at times, when it’ll be harder to keep to the water or the current might go against us. But neither of us will have to go it alone.” The hand on his arm gave a small squeeze as she spoke. “And we might get to see a lot of things we might not have, if we were simply hurrying on.”

“Ah, You’d said you were tired, didn’t you. Perhaps we ought to turn in early, then.” Johanna said, rising to her feet. Motioning for him to follow after her.

‘make the best of it’ had, for the last year, taken the shape of simply surviving to the best of his abilities. However at least the thought that he was not going to be alone for a while was somewhat comforting. He would continue to go along with this, if nothing else than simply because he did not feel ready to leave Johanna’s side and return to self-pity and isolation.

Following her example he rose from where he had been sitting, but then paused. “We?” he questioned, slightly bewildered by her wanting him to follow her. As far as sleeping arrangements went he had planned on simply curling up under his blanket near the fire.

Johanna readied herself and the sleeping roll, spreading it out. pausing at the question and the uncertain tone of it. She looked over at him, her own brow raised in questioning.

“I assumed so.” She replied, hands working to twist her hair into a braid lest she smother him with it or it end up entangled from tossing and turning in her sleep. “We’ve slept together these past two nights. I suppose I assumed it would be easier to keep sharing. Warmer with two bodies and two blankets, after all. Plus, I’ve only got the one sleeping roll, one of us would have to sleep on the ground if we don’t.” It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but it wouldn’t be comfortable.

“But if you’d prefer we be separate, I understand.”

"Oh. I thought you.." ...wouldn't want to sleep cuddled up to a magically created monstrosity. Sure, they had shared a bed back in his hideout, but then it had felt almost necessary in order for both of them to be at least somewhat comfortable and warm.

"No, I don't mind! Not at all. I simply did not want to... make you uncomfortable." Embaressed by the whole situation he found himself actually blushing for the first time since he had been a boy, a slight blue hue coloring his cheeks.

“Vanilla is alright, it’s just… a little plain?” He gave a brief shrug.

Anything else he hadn’t tried in a while? Or maybe at all? The demon considered the question for a moment before asking “Could we get some wine? Or any kind of alcohol really?”

Alcohol had no effect on demons since their physical manifestations did not work the same way as a humans body did. But since he was currently in possession of a human body… Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to find out why the mortals were so obsessed with a substance that was downright bad for them.

“Sure we could get some wine.” Dell was also curious what alcohols effects could have on the demon. They said wine was the blood of Jesus so perhaps that could work as an allergen. Boys were getting crunk tomorrow night.

“For now though if that’s all I think it’s time I hit the sack.” Or rather returned to his studies, he would sleep after he’s packed a bit more demon info into his skull.

“Ya should head to bed too, Humans need at least 8 hours a night.” Though if the demon tended to sleep lots it would get on Dell’s nerves. If he was going to be here he might as well provide a little company.

The demon frowned, looking rather disappointed, at the the man declaring his intention to retire to his room. “Going to bed already? Don’t tell me you find my company to be this tiring.”

Human body or not, he wasn’t feeling like calling it a night just yet, especially when the two of them had been getting on rather well for the moment.

Getting up and stepping closer to the Engineer he asked “Can’t I tempt you to talk with me a bit longer?” Again putting on a charming smile. “I offered to answer any question that isn’t about demonic weaknesses and you aren’t going to take advantage of that? I have seen all the books you brought, clearly you are looking for information.” And without a doubt a hellish Prince of Sin would be a much better source than some dusty books, many of which were written by mortals who did not actually know anything.

“Humans get tired, nothing personal, the longer your in that body the more you’ll understand.” And since he was still fairly certain he wasn’t about to make any deals the demon just might stick around long enough to get it.

Taking as some light teasing Dell dismissed his objection fairly easily, but as Marcy continued to push Dell did pause and look back at that devilish smile, his cheeks lightening every so slightly as he analyzed that expression, looking for some sign of nefarious intent. When he didn’t find anything other than the usual evil aura, he hesitantly came back and took a seat.

“Well I guess I might be able to snag something useful from ya, already managed to wrangle your weakness for strawberry ice cream.” He teased, doing his best to keep face but he felt a little nervous around Marcy now, not the nervous of knowing he’s a hellish fiend that perhaps was lying for some reason about not being able to kill him, but some other weird nervousness. He wished he had beer.

“So… yer some kind of sea creature?” He started off, itching the scruff that was starting to form after a day or two of not shaving. He would have to add razors to the grocery list, or maybe they stop by a barber if they have one.

Of course he knew that humans get tired and require sleep, the point was that he wasn’t tired yet and frankly did not feel like sitting alone in his room. As such Marcel was quite pleased to have convinced the Engineer into staying with him a bit longer.

He grabbed the back of his chair, bringing it around the side of the table to be closer to Dell, before sitting down again.

“That would be the most understate thing you could possibly call me, but… you aren’t entirely wrong I suppose.” ‘some kind of sea creature’, not what he would have described himself as. “Water is in fact my elemental aspect and in the past I used to consider your realms oceans my domain.”

“So an old sea creature?” Dell asked, figuring the man was more than not being dramatic about how understated his description was. The demon seemed to have it in his head he was more on par with a god than any demon. Heck perhaps he was certainly seemed powerdul enough, but Dell respected a humble god far more than he did an uppity one.

“Any reason why ya left our domain?” Dell usually wasn’t to pry into another man’s past but learning about the demon was the while point of this. Still it made him a little uncomfortable.

"Hah, you're just calling me 'old' because you are jealous that I have all the time in the world while you have only about thirty more years to live." The sharp-toothed grin he flashed the human was confident and proud. But despite it and the teasing tone, the demon secretly longed for any sign of confirmation that Dell envied him for his immortality, even if just a little.

Either way the grin faltered quickly at the question regarding why he no longer called the mortal realm his home. "Believe me, it was not by choice." His expression had now taken on a hint of lingering resentment and bitterness. "I suppose he" Marcel gave a nod towards the ceiling to indicate who he was referring to. "decided that you're his toys and only he gets to break them."

Johanna was content to sit quietly. Enjoying the simplicity of the warmth of the fire and company. It had certainly been much lonelier on her journey by herself.

She found herself glancing at her arm, studying the spiral of soft, circular marks trailing up them. They’d done well to help sell their rouse, and for all the scraps and bruises she’d acquired in her life none were like this. They’d already faded a touch, she’d noted. He’d been quite gentle about it though so it’s not too surprising.

She catches his gaze when she turns to speak to him. Unaware she’s been the subject to his own study, offering a small smile. “We covered some decent ground today, didn’t we. Might’ve covered more If I could’ve swam the rivers current like you.”

“Mh.. Or if we did not need to follow the river at all….” he replied, looking away and off into the growing darkness.

They had made progress, at least as far as getting some distance between the lake, the village and themselves. Still he had his doubts that their little trip would lead anywhere other than disappointment. Johanna had been so optimistic when she offered her help, he simply could not help but be infected by that optimism of hers, causing him to go along with it.

Now though? It had only been a day and he already found himself wondering what in the hells he had been thinking.

“Perhaps, but we do.” She said quietly, a hand reaching over to settle on his arm. Feeling the rough blanket that covered him under her fingers. “So we just have to make the best of it.”

“Maybe the going might be slower at times, when it’ll be harder to keep to the water or the current might go against us. But neither of us will have to go it alone.” The hand on his arm gave a small squeeze as she spoke. “And we might get to see a lot of things we might not have, if we were simply hurrying on.”

“Ah, You’d said you were tired, didn’t you. Perhaps we ought to turn in early, then.” Johanna said, rising to her feet. Motioning for him to follow after her.

'make the best of it' had, for the last year, taken the shape of simply surviving to the best of his abilities. However at least the thought that he was not going to be alone for a while was somewhat comforting. He would continue to go along with this, if nothing else than simply because he did not feel ready to leave Johanna's side and return to self-pity and isolation.

Following her example he rose from where he had been sitting, but then paused. "We?" he questioned, slightly bewildered by her wanting him to follow her. As far as sleeping arrangements went he had planned on simply curling up under his blanket near the fire.

@marcy-the-tentaspy

Marcel had been correct, this was definetly no mercenary. A young woman, soaked, hurt, scared and hiding from someone, someone other than him.

She seemed to not have seen him yet, he could still duck back underwater and leave quietly, perserving the secrecy he used to protect himself. But... leaving her there, like that... It didn't feel right at all. This, it seemed, was one of those moments he would likely regret for years to come if he simply left the girl to her own devices.

He sighed softly, covered his ears with strands of his wet hair as best as he was able. Then he wiped any trace of blood from his mouth and proceeded to carefully swim closer to the terrified girl.

"Mademoiselle.. Do not be scared." he said quietly, calmly. "I do not know who you are hiding from, but... I want to help you." He did his best to sound reassuring and was careful not to let her see his teeth. Considering how scared she already was it seemed best to hide his inhuman features.