My World of 1x1s discussion
Fantasy
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Pyry (Ji Mei and DD)
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DragonDreamer
(new)
Nov 06, 2019 12:32AM
After their talk, Niwanna excused herself to finish her chores. Niel's stomach was unsettled by the memory of the pure, malignant aura that had sent his skin crawling only minutes ago. It was such a chilling sensation of unmistakable anguish. He'd had to wretch once he was alone again and able to process what had just happened. He wasn't sure what had happened, but it felt demonic. Perhaps it had to do with the demon-induced illness he'd undergone? His mind was swimming and he remembered that Dixon was said to have settled at the villa as his reward for helping Niel. Perhaps he'd know more? Should he even bother with the man? Perhaps the demon was glad to be rid of the prince after meeting the terms of their agreement. After all, Niel had only seen him for a moment before falling unconscious.
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As he crested a hill, he noticed he was closer back to his estate. His brows furrowed in confusion. He closed his eyes a moment, sensing the air, then nodded to himself. Tucking his hands in his pockets, he meandered his way back, eyeing the mansion closely. He hadn't met all of his servants yet, but he was sure that he would have noticed if one of them was a demon. Still... Since the energy has died down, maybe this was something different. Finally he was at the end of the drive. He paused, frowning as he felt another...energy. One that was connected to him somehow. What was that?
((I've been okay. Had a little more downs than ups, but right now is during an up for me. What about you? I imagine school is crazy right now.))
((I'm sorry things have been a little rough for you. I don't know what is going on, but I hope the situation gets better soon. Remember to breathe and take time for yourself, ok? Don't work too hard. Yeah, school is a rocky road right now, but we are on break for a week and once we get back it is a non-stop finals fest for the next two weeks and when I finally finish, I'm going straight into a trip to thailand, which I am both excited and nervous for))
((I definitely will try to remember that. At least, I have my dog to cuddle to cheer me up. I would say the same to you! I hope you rest enough for school. Thailand sounds really fun though!! Is it your first time out of the country?))
The prince wasn't sure what had possessed him to stay. Perhaps he was simply fatigued from surviving a bout of sheer terror or perhaps he was hopeful that he and Dixon still had some salvageable relationship left that he could ask for a favor like explaining what had just happened an hour ago. Either way, the prince decided to wait for the demon. Mrs. Awanata was kind enough to bring him a glass of water while he waited.
((I kind of see her more as a laundry woman. She used to be a seamstress, so she's good with fabric.))
((Okay. I'm trying to imagine this house. How about the front door opens to a huge open hall, with stairs in front leading to the upper floor. This is a both the waiting area/lobby kind of place of the house.))
Dixon made his way up the drive lazily, meandering side to side a little as he idly wondered if he was getting a visit from one of the advisors demon minions. But then why did the demonic energy disappear? Can demons hide their energy from each other? He frowned as he thought. Then he shook his head. He didn't want to get a headache overthinking something like that. With a long sigh, he rubbed one hand up and down his face. He barely paid attention as he walked up the stairs and stepped through the doors opened by his servants. Waving at the butler waiting at the entrance, he said, "Get someone to fetch me some whiskey. Something strong, if we have it. I'm going to sulk somewhere. Probably the study."
“Yes, sir. Right away.” One of the servants nodded meekly. “Um, S-sir. You have an important visitor in the upstairs sitting room. Th-the P-prince.” The man clarified, hurrying to take his lord’s coat and pass along his messages.
Dixon halted in his steps, taking a couple moments to process what he heard. Looking to the servant with confused frown, he was about to ask whether he heard the man right. But seeing the man's rather nervous expression, Dixon let his question drop. Again, he waved the man off. "All right. Then bring the whiskey to the sitting room and fetch something for the prince as well. Sandwiches or something," he said before he walked off.
"Yes, milord. Right away, milord." The servant nodded and scurried away quickly to carry out his instructions. ~~~
Prince Niel was busy thinking of what he could possibly say to Dixon upon the demon's arrival. "Hello" seemed like a decent enough start, though he could hardly could fathom where to go beyond that. "You're a demon, would I be correct in assuming you're an expert in all things paranormal? Because I've got a story for you..." Yeah, probably not... Niel combed his fingers through his hair thoughtlessly and somehow his thoughts landed on Ivy again, recalling the times she'd comfort him when he was sick. His chest ached at the memory, but thankfully he was distracted by the door opening.
The first thing Dixon noted was that the prince seemed to recover well from his illness. The color was back to his skin, and he didn't look feverish. But the man still had an air of exhaustion about him. Dixon spread out his arms, almost like an entertainer walking onto a stage as he walked up to the prince. When he was closer, he gave a bow, a welcoming smile on his face as he straightened back up. "Your Highness, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"Would you believe me if I said I happened to be in the neighborhood?" He found himself smirking. Dixon certainly was anything but dull. The prince shouldn't have been surprised by such a flair of an entrance, though it wasn't every day he received such a greeting. Especially not as of late. "I suppose I also never got the chance to properly thank you for nearly killing me, then saving my life. So, thank you, I appreciated your assistance." Niel scratched his head, wondering if he could wait any longer. "In truth, I didn't exactly plan on meeting you today, but something very strange happened and I have no idea who else I could speak to about it." The prince relented, finally. Not a moment later, a scrawny, nervous-looking servant scurried in with a few sandwiches and sliced fruit, along with a couple of glasses of whiskey. He bowed very deeply as he placed the tray on the coffee table and ran away. The man's actions struck Niel as somewhat odd... did the staff... know about Dixon? Or perhaps being in the presence of royalty simply made them nervous? The prince hadn't the faintest clue.
"And here I thought you came just to visit me." Dixon put on an air of disappointment, moving to take a seat with a flump. Waving his hand lazily, Dixon looked at the prince with a smile. "I've never had anything thank me for nearly killing them, but you're welcome." In the moment of silence, Dixon wondered what was on the prince's mind. He watched the servant's hurried movements, giving a small sigh once the man disappeared out the door. It's been a few weeks and they still act like he'll make them spontaneously combust if he so much as looked them in the eye. Swiping up a glass of whiskey, Dixon unceremoniously began eating up one of the sandwiches. After he made sure to sip some of whiskey, he turned to the prince. "So what strange thing happened?"
Niel's lips twitched at Dixon's comment, how was it that a demon could be so charismatic? It was hard to imagine that he was a man capable of destroying an entire village on a whim as Ivy had witnessed. It was an odd feeling, knowing he was sitting in a room with a man he knew was very capable of killing him and yet not feeling threatened in the least. Hell, he was sharing a sandwich and a drink with the man-er-demon."In truth, I had business with one of your employees. I came to deliver some-er-upsetting news but as soon as I tried I was filled with an unearthly amount of fear and dread and... well, I feel like I can hardly describe it properly. That intensity seemed to radiate from her. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced before. And now I'm here and I feel like my country is in worse condition than I left it. Hell, your staff seem to be somewhat aware of your abilities. I left my country, confident that I was going to be instrumental in a brilliant plan and now I feel like I've been blind to something deeper that's happening in Errebist. And Ivy- well, that doesn't matter now I suppose. I'm sorry I've come to you as a mess on your doorstep." He took a swig of the drink and started chowing down on the surprisingly delicious sandwich.
Dixon listened, his dark eyes glinting, whether from amusement or something else, it was hard to tell. The corner of his mouth twitched at the mention of fear and dread, but his face betrayed nothing else. After silence fell, Dixon looked down at his now empty glass of whiskey. Letting out a rather uncharacteristic, tired sigh, Dixon left his seat and poured more whiskey on his glass. He downed that glass before he began filling it again. With his back turned to Niel, Dixon commented, "That's many strange things you mentioned there. And I could give you some explanations." He turned to face Niel, the glass poised at his lips. He took a sip, considering the prince. Then he let out a shrug and returned to his seat. "I suppose for a friend, I could do it for free. Maybe ask in order, yes?"
"Fair enough," Niel allowed, nursing his whiskey as well. "Though, I'm honored to be considered a friend. I don't imagine many others are afforded the privilege. Anyways," He finished the rest of the whiskey before he could continue. "Start with your staff. Do they know... about... you?" The prince inquired, pouring himself another drink. On all accounts, he felt rather lost. He was grateful that Dixon was willing to humor him even if it was out of some flicker of friendship. Was it odd that Niel almost did consider the man a friend? He knew the man was capable of terrible things in theory and yet... he seemed so different than how Ivy had described him.
Now that Niel mentioned it, he was right. Dixon had never considered that he was rather quite friendless before. Perhaps, he supposed, it was the nature of demons to not have friends. Even the demons he had come across in this new country didn't act friendly with each other. Dixon quickly set those thoughts aside, finding them rather... unsettling. And whatever Niel had to say probably was much more interesting. He smiled at the prince's careful words and nodded. "Ah, yes. That." He shifted so that he laid horizontally in his chair, his legs dangling over the armrests. "They know that I'm a demon. Sadly, they don't know my talent for storytelling, which is quite upsetting. They just don't appreciate art, do they?"
"I suppose not. It's difficult to appreciate the finer things when your life hangs in the balance..." He recalled his own experience of fighting to just keep breathing when he was ill. Hardly anything else seemed to matter. And then there were those brief moments when he was able to see an angel- "But I'm surprised, to say the least. I hadn't the faintest idea of even the existence of demons or angels prior to meeting you and yet now it seems the citizens have known for some time. How is that possible?" He took another drink, sulking at his own ignorance. He shook his head, "You must be terribly bored, then. My apologies. I suppose you might need a guide to show you some of the nicer parts of town."
Dixon flapped his head around, looking out towards the windows with a sulky look. "I've had time to explore the town. There's nothing nice about it," he sighed. Then he looked toward Niel, his serious expression at odds with his lax pose. "And from what I've seen, the common people have known demons for a while. The owner before me was a demon, did you know?" He gave a shake of his head. "Must be a royal court secret or something. I don't know how you humans do it."
Niel could hardly argue with Dixon about his comment, though it still stung the prince's heart some. He wished he could have been able to lead his country to better prosperity than the wrecked wasteland that it was. He wished his father had been more industrious and developed strong ties to potential allies and the land been more fertile as it had been in the past. Niel wished for a lot of things, but was used to the disappointment. Wishing did nothing for progress. Actions saved kingdoms. And so he'd taken action to war because he'd believed, truly, that this would save Errebist from absolute tragedy. And yet, he was so out of touch with his countrymen that demons could run amok without the royal family becoming aware? How was this possible?
"...Must be a royal court secret or something. I don't know how you humans do it." What did he say? Perhaps it had been the whiskey on a mostly empty stomach, but the phrase stuck with the prince.
"A royal court secret? What do you mean? The royal court would never have allowed something like this knowingly. Not without the King's or my knowledge..." Niel pinched his brow in thought, battling internally with the idea.
Subtly, Dixon snuck a glance at the prince, wondering if his bewilderment was an act or genuine. He took in the man's rather distressed face, and briefly he wondered if it would be better to just leave the man alone. Let him deal with whatever is going on his father's castle. Let him deal with his country. It was like the night where he spotted the angel. Dixon almost felt like static was tingling along his nerves. This might spell trouble for him.The demon looked down at his (again) empty whiskey glass. Everything seemed flavorless since he came to this town. His reward. His mouth turned down. Really, this was all he got?
He let out a huff, and slowly he shifted in his seat until his feet were flat on the floor and his elbows were on his knees, his face somehow cast in shadow as he gazed at the prince. "I'm not sure about the king or the court, but your advisor is a demon as well. I assume it was a secret from the royal court or maybe just from the lower members of the court." Dixon gave a small shake of his head in frustration. "I don't really know court politics."
Niel stared at Dixon, dumbfounded by the man's words."You must be joking..." He could feel his stomach begin to turn and churn uncomfortably. Could the prince really have been so blind all of these years? How was that even possible?
"How could you possibly-" His mind swam, wondering why Dixon would make such a statement and if he was speaking truthfully, what proof did he have? Part of the prince felt angry at Dixon for making him feel incompetent, but deep down he knew... he was angrier at himself. He buried his head in his hands, leaning forward.
"All this is giving me a headache. I can hardly piece it together." He groaned, pouring himself another drink simply to take the edge off. and he offered the demon another pour as well.
"Which advisor? How could he have gone so long without being noticed? Certainly... at some point... someone should have..." He cursed, standing up so he could pace and think.
"My jokes are a lot funnier," Dixon commented drily, watching the prince's reaction steadily, a vague flicker of amusement passing through the demon. Taking up on the offer gratefully, Dixon didn't have to search his memory for very long. The advisor's cold face and demeanor wasn't something easy to forget. "His name was Saza, I think. Seemed kinda important."
"Sa...za?" Niel knew all of his father's advisors, so why did that name...? The prince was familiar with the man of course, but every time he tried to recall the man's face, the image was hazy and made him sleepy, or was that the whiskey? "Ugh..." Niel groaned, raking his fingers through his hair. "It's like I know who you're talking about, but the details are so... fuzzy... fuck, what is happening in my country? I just came here to tell Una's mom that she's not coming back and I end up having to question everything. If there's a demon advising my father... who knows how deeply this goes. This whole damn war could be... fuck." His hands are trembling as he sifts through the memories he had before he left for Pyry. He remembered he'd been to meetings with his father and the advisors. Saza definitely would have been there. He'd met with his father privately as well to discuss his own role in starting the war and it had been just them... right? He'd known this was was important. It was going to bring a better life for all of their kind. Some memories were fuzzier than others and it had never bothered the prince much until now. Had he nearly thrown his life away because of a demon? Was his country on the brink of war because of that demon?
"He probably used illusions around you to avoid suspicion." Dixon closed his eyes, trying to recall more about the unsettling advisor. Slowly that conversation came to mind. Only now that Dixon focused on it, he noticed there was a slight fuzz in how he viewed events. Did that bastard mess with his memories somehow? Frowning, Dixon downed his drink, slammed his glass down on the side table, and stood. Striding over to the prince, he stopped the man's pacing, clapping his hands on the man's shoulders. "I might have a vague idea. But frantic speculation doesn't help you, my friend. Maybe you should take some time to rest and I'll explain what I know later, yeah?"
"I just- I-" Niel struggled to form the words through his worry. There was anger and disbelief and doubt and other emotions seemed to swirl uncomfortably in his stomach. He'd nearly given up everything. His entire life, his people, his dreams of happiness for the hope that a war with Pyry would finally bring an era of prosperity to his suffering country. Just the idea that he'd been playing into the hands of some demented demon with heavens knows what intentions was enough to make the prince think all his passion and efforts and hopes were a lie all this time..."I might have a vague idea. But frantic speculation doesn't help you, my friend. Maybe you should take some time to rest and I'll explain what I know later, yeah?"
These weren't the words Niel wanted to hear, but he knew the man didn't have any ill intent (or at least he hoped so). "Dixon, I don't know if you can understand this. My life was almost just thrown away like it were nothing. All my aspirations, hopes, dreams. Anything I cared about - gone. For an unknown cause that could potentially go against everything I have ever stood for. And the people I was trying to protect, my people. The ones shuffling around in fear and squalor every day are now in even more danger. Because of what I did." The prince could feel his hand trembling, so he clenched it tightly. "I need to see, for myself, if your 'vague idea' is correct in any capacity. The future of my people depends on it."
Dixon agreed with Niel. He didn't really understand. Lifting his hands up in surrender, Dixon gave a small shrug to himself. Humans were always in a rush to do things, weren't they? Always want a story told quicker, their reward sooner, their leaving faster. "All right. All right," he said placatingly. He gestured for Niel to take his seat again as Dixon returned to his. He didn't bother to wait for Niel to start his flurry of questions as he began. "Advisor Saza called it a 'sanctuary" for demons. From what I gathered, whatever angels that were here in Errebist were eradicated and demons get to roam free in exchange for their loyalty to Saza. Saza mentioned war was coming, which I thought was because of our actions at the banquet, but maybe he was referring to something else." Dixon's face grew dark as he pondered for a moment. "You know, he also mentioned spawn rates. Both in the military and with the famine." He vaguely gestured to the direction he felt the evil aura before. "It seems we almost witnessed the spawning of a new demon ourselves. Again, something to add to the ranks of demons here."
Niel tried to set his anxieties aside to focus on what Dixon was saying. Frankly his head was already swimming, but now it seemed that what he had witness with Una's mother was less of a coincidence than previously suspected. "Certainly sounds Demonic. Why be happy with what you have, when you could lust after total control across all the lands?" He shook his head. "It almost makes too much sense. The growing poverty despite what we believed was our government's best efforts, the famines, the people here being so broken their soul shatters. If Saza and his demons could remove the angels protecting the people here, what's to stop them from slowly expanding their territory elsewhere?" Niel let out a long, somber sigh. "Now there's the question. What can be done? I may be a prince, but even my life is negligible in the eyes of a demon. I can't make a difference with my power... His fish clenched angrily. "It's bullshit, all of this."
Nodding slowly, Dixon frowned. "...As much as I didn't like the angel at the banquet, at least it was interesting living in Pyry. The people were a lot more entertaining than here." Then he gave a shrug and waved both of his hands. "It really is bullshit. This whole country has gone to hell, literally. But," Dixon slapped his thighs and leaned forward, looking at Niel disapprovingly, "you're telling me, a man who was willing to die from a demon's sickness is going to give up?"
"I-" Niel wanted to argue, he really did, but he could hardly see the light amongst the overwhelming odds. "I was willing to die to bring some amount of relief to my country. Maybe my country is boring to you, but I used to see so much hope and promise. Despite the overwhelming odds, many people here fight on for life. How could I have turned my back on them? But now... I'm just one man. The second I try anything with Saza..." Memories of choking on his own blood, his lungs screaming for air, and the splitting headache that would make him vomit, sent a shiver down the prince's spine. "He's a demon. I can't kill him. I'll be dead long before I can make any sort of difference." He remembered the absolute misery that he experienced fighting Dixon's disease and then amongst that, there were cool hands against his face like the relief of rain after a long drought. There was the silvery, pale glow of an angel's face amongst the pain in the dark night. There was beauty even in times like those. Would he still be able to keep those memories in death?
"Demon, huh..." Damon closed his eyes in thought as he leaned back, his head tilted backwards as he looked up at the ceiling. He noticed a few cracks and a cobweb in a corner that was somehow overlooked in the room's cleaning. "Demon..." he repeated more slowly, enunciating the word. The memory of the night of the banquet floated up to the surface. The glowing lights, the royals, the angel. Maybe... Dixon let out a laugh and straightened up, shaking his head. He looked at his hands, then laughed even louder, bordering on uncontrollable. Grinning with a wild look in his eye, Dixon leaned closer to Niel. "You know, there's only one thing that truly can match a demon, right?"
Niel combed his fingers through his hair, trying to remember. Dixon had been startled by that one angel at the ball, "That Angel in Pyry? You think they would help me after what I did?" He cocked his head to the side. It wasn't much, sure, but Dixon was right, it wasn't as though Demons were impervious to everything. Another thought occurred to him, wondering why the demon was insisting on pointing out the positive. Perhaps they weren't all so bad after all. "I suppose if there is any hope for my kingdom, it would lie with the angels. I'm sure they wouldn't be too happy to hear that some hot shot demon is looking to overthrow the three kingdoms."
Overthrowing a kingdom, even one ruled by a demon like himself, was quite appealing. Dixon remembered what it was like to wipe out the village he was born in. At the time, it felt like justice to him. There was something thrilling about it. Though, of course wiping out everyone left him quite bored since there was no one to talk with or lie with. Do angels have that same feeling? Do those goody-two-shoes experience a thrill when they save people? Do they seek out people to save like Dixon sought people for fun experiences? Dixon's grin turned thoughtful. "To be fair, you have to wonder why angels haven't been able to stop Saza before," Dixon said before he shook his head and shrugged. "If angels were so great, why have they turned a blind eye to Errebist?"
Niel shook his head, "I'm hardly the person to ask about the workings of mythical creatures. Until I met you, I hadn't the faintest idea that demons or angels even existed. Of course, I'd heard stories, but it was more so in the context of believing the Old Religion was naive and ridiculous and that Pyry citizens were foolish. Either way, it does seem odd. I suppose if we wanted to find out, we'd have to speak with an angel. The last time you saw one was at Pyry's royal palace. If they're still there..." The prince's fist clenched and relaxed as his mind worked. He didn't even know what he wanted to do. He was cornered between his duty and a powerful demon. Would anyone even notice if he left? If they did, how long would it take to be hunted and killed like an animal? And in the end, die alone, gasping for breath. His spine shivered. Could he really run headfirst into that again?
"Angels do seem like a lazy sort. I'm sure if the angel wanted to, it could have tracked me down." Dixon thought back to the banquet again. It was unmistakable that the angel noticed him, just as it was impossible for Dixon to not notice the angel. Would it be wise to risk himself, attract the angel's attention, just to help with a human friend's troubled kingdom? Perhaps it would be better to leave Errebist and return to Pyry and resume travelling on the road. Though, as appealing as that idea was, Dixon felt a small itch at the back of his mind that his departure wouldn't go unnoticed by the advisor. Saza wouldn't have gotten to where he was without having a network that could sense the movement of demons and angels.Slowly, a thought began to occur to him. His gaze slid over to Niel and then his eyes narrowed. "You know, your plan of sacrifice... was that your plan or was it Saza's?"
Niel didn't answer Dixon for a moment, unsure what to say. He'd felt so clear and resolute at the time, determined even. He'd been convinced that getting killed in Pyry was the best option for his kingdom. With the new information coming to light, he was unsure if he even knew the answer and less sure if he wanted to know. He remembered seeing himself as a soldier on the front lines, a man ready to lead his people into battle and die serving his country... And yet, after everything he went through, he clung to life so desperately. He'd wished for more time and even dared to humor himself with delusions of... either way, none of it mattered now. "I don't know anymore," Niel admitted, averting his gaze. He sighed, combing his fingers through his hair. "Powerless or not, I am still this country's prince. I owe it to my people to do all that I can to protect them." He stood from his chair, "Even if that means stupidly opposing a powerful demon." He smirked despite himself. "I suppose I should go test my abilities. With any luck, I'll give you a good story tell. Worst case scenario being you speak tales of the foolish prince who overestimated himself. Let's hope for the former; the latter sounds terribly depressing." He chuckled, despite himself. He felt he had begun to overstay his welcome. If he was going to oppose the demons, he probably shouldn't start relying on one too much. Was he starting to miss Shell? The near-death experience really must have changed him after all.
Dixon's face scrunched up in confusion. "You don't know? How can you not know if you're the one to plan your own death?" he managed to ask before the prince continued. Tilting his head to the side, Dixon looked the prince up and down, thoughtful, before shaking his head, holding up one hand in a stopping gesture. "Gallantly stupid, princely things don't make a good story. At least, those stories bore me to death, if that was possible. And why would you test your abilities against another demon when you barely could handle me?" Dixon shook his head. "Sounds pretty suicidal. Do you like death that much that you keep seeking it? Don't most humans avoid?"
"I-I don't know. A lot of my memories are fuzzy and obviously, we had to discuss the plan with the council and the king prior to the actual execution of the plan..." Niel shook his head. "It would seem that death is my destiny one way or another. There is so little within my power at this point." He sighed. "The war will begin in a matter of weeks once we finished coordinating our military forces, they'll want to move on Pyry immediately. If I return to Pyry to speak with an angel, assuming they are still there and willing to help, it may still be too late. I have no one I can trust. Ivy and Shell are gone. The castle is apparently crawling with demons, and even if I could enlist your help, I doubt the royal treasury would pay for services working against the council.
Dixon fell silent. He wanted to point out he could get to Pyry faster by himself just to be contrary. Still, risking his neck to chat up with an angel might not work. While it seemed the angel could have hunted him down but for some reason didn't, Dixon thought tempting fate wasn't a good idea. "...So you're saying the only way to solve this would be to assassinate the advisor with just the two of us to avoid disaster?"
Niel furrowed his brow in confusion. Had the demon just offered his help? Certainly, the prince had never fathomed that Dixon would be interested in helping him when there was no promise of a reward and a very strong likelihood of danger for him, should he even come across an angel."I had only thought of my own capabilities," Niel admitted, "Are you saying you would assist me if I tried to... attempt to prevent this war?" The prince eyed the demon with a curious surprise. He hadn't even considered the demon would help willingly. After all, didn't demons revel in human misery? Of course, growing up in Errebist's godless environment, demons and angels were still an unfamiliar realm of information to the prince.
Realizing his slip of tongue, Dixon scoffed and waved his hand flippantly. "What? No..." He silently puzzled over why he included himself in the prince's plot. Suicide missions was not his thing. "I only meant that I might be implicated in your scheme to stop this war. After all, you sent me here to get a reward and now you've visited me. My friendship with you might put me in a precarious position and I'll have to work to prevent that. I don't give a damn about your war." Well, mostly. Dixon suddenly felt he was trying to convince himself for his reasons and it left a bad taste in his mouth. He looked to the decanter, realizing he was drinking the whiskey like a man dying of thirst. Whatever. He got up to refill his glass. It's not like he could die from too much whiskey.
"Well, if you are offering, then I won't be so foolish as to deny your assistance. We could travel to Pyry and warn the Kingdom at the very least... if they even believe me. Or... if you get me back to Pyry, I could try to appeal to the angel you spoke of, assuming it is still there." Niel mused aloud, ceasing his pacing and returning to nurse his drink pensively.
"That is a lot of 'ifs.'" Dixon shook his head. "That doesn't instill much confidence." He fell into a thoughtful silence. Compared to Pyry, his time in Errebist was quite short and he hadn't developed an attachment to the country. But he really didn't want to risk death meeting that angel. Was it really so bad to just things as is and let more demons roam around? Dixon looked over the room again, the darkness that seeped from the walls, as if the presence of the demon before him cursed the place. He never had a home before, but he had visited many houses that never made him rather sleep outside. He tried to imagine that feeling, but in every part of the country of Errebist. A similar feeling to when he was first created rose up in his gut.
His mouth pressed into a line. Setting down his glass, Dixon clasped his hands together and leaned forward slightly. "As a friend, I can help you get back to Pyry. But to help find an angel... I'm not the suicidal type like you."
Niel chuckled ironically at the demon's words. "I suppose I'll take what I can get." He sighed, "I suppose a chance at saving the world is better than nothing, even if it is just me." He sighed, what a mess he found himself in. First, he'd started the war to save his country, and now he's about to send the whole continent into chaos."We should leave at first light tomorrow. I should return to the castle to put my affairs in place. I may be a fool of a prince, but even I know gold helps in every situation." He rose from the chair, slightly wobbly, but managing.
Dixon stood up as well, his hands held up slightly as if he could steady the prince from where he stood. Then feeling ridiculous, he let his hands drop to his sides as he shook his head. "Maybe you should rest for a little while. Get some sleep. Returning to the castle looking as if you've been run over by a wagon might not look befitting a prince," he said, his tone light and teasing as he eyed the man's wavering stance.
"M'fine..." The prince argued, but after another stumble he relented. "Very well, I shall rest here. The prince returned to his chair, slouching in fatigue and drunkenness. Why had he been so quick to drink so much? He was wasting time again and again. Always the one being waited on. He could practically hear Ivy's voice scolding him in the back of his mind. It was funny. No one had so unconsciously commanded his attention or consumed his thoughts the way that woman had. It's not that she was special. She was common, ordinary, and yet...Niel sighed. How could his mind keep wandering to unimportant things? If he was going to save his country, he couldn't get caught up in thoughts about women. Was it a spell? Had he been bewitched?
"Say, Dixon, tell me. Have you ever been so delusional, that even when the world is falling apart around you, you can't help but imagine impossible things?" Niel lolled his head to the side, looking out the moonlit window. The prince longed for cold fingers pressed impossibly tenderly against his burning cheeks to chase away his fever and madness while at the same time inspiring a different kind of madness that would stir his chest painfully.
Looking at the man collapsed in the chair, Dixon gave a small shrug to himself. Getting someone to wrestle the man back up and to a bed would just be troublesome, or at least, he'd probably hear the prince complain the whole time. At least he can avoid that now. Walking over to the couch instead, Dixon flopped down, stretching his legs out. "Delusional? World falling apart? I don't think that's possible for a demon such as myself. What impossible things are you trying to imagine, my friend?" Then he grinned. "Other than saving your kingdom that is."
"Mmm..." The prince hummed, humoring his imagination, "Like if I could survive the first time, maybe I can survive again. And if two miracles can happen, can a third be possible? Could I see someone again even if they hate me? Could I be forgiven when I far from deserve it?" The prince's head lolled and he closed his eyes to fight the dizziness. "I keep missing her..." He recalled the time they had tumbled down a hill together. They'd pushed each other away, but what if they hadn't? "I want to turn back time." He groaned sadly.
