Chapter Text
The death god hums in satisfaction, happy enough with the terms of their agreement. Not to mention the human addressed him correctly this time, so perhaps he finally knew his place. It was wonderful.
"Excellent, then you will lead the way. I will take your word for it when it comes to these... 'cops'."
He stays quiet for a while as they continue their walk, but he just can't help but to add to his previous statement. Nothing has ever scared him. How could an entity be more formidable than himself? Impossible!
"Although...I bet these 'cops' would still be no match for I, the man in red! I can demonstrate this at another date. I can feasibly do that before I take my leave from this realm...would you like that? It could be an entertaining display!" He begins to laugh maniacally again, picturing the event in his head in gruesome detail. He wanted to leave this place with a bang, so it was a tempting action.
"Anyway! How much longer will we traverse?"
*****
Cool relief eases the ebbing panic within the graduate student as the crowd dissipates at his sudden explanation. A fatigued sigh escapes him as he stands up his injured bike once again, and wordlessly leads the pair. He does not dare attempt to ride the bike with how easily agitated the deity seems when he peddles away.
Norton is actually content walking in silence for a moment, just guiding his bike forward by the handle with one hand. He had met this chaotic ball of havoc midday when he was supposed to attend class.
Now the sky is a deep orange and yellow with the setting of the sun. While breathtakingly beautiful with picturesque puffy clouds with hints of pink and burnt amber, this was actually a sign of New York’s abundant pollution.
The Hispanic’s brows knit in agitation when his peaceful silence is broken by the idea of his companion raising hell against a fleet of cops.
“Please remember our deal entails you not harming any humans before or after you regain your powers.”
He chastises while instinctively pulling Man in Red towards himself more protectively as they round a corner towards his flat, which was in a poorer neighborhood. The buildings in this area appear more dilapidated, and the sight of homeless people begging for money is rampant on most street corners.
Even in the break of twilight with light becoming more dim, the deity does not fail to cause more than a few heads to turn.
“Not much farther.”
Norton promises.
“I was meaning to ask though, how exactly do I know you’ll hold up your end of our deal before I take you inside my home? I mean, so we have to make some kind of blood pact or…oath?”
He seems a bit more uncertain, but continues to guide his pale companion by the shoulder with his free hand. In all honesty, the college student needs to limit any interactions with others until he can teach this death god to behave….If such a feat is possible.
*****
"Oh...right."
The human DID say not to harm anyone...well, that was hard. It was going to be real hard...
The protective arm around his shoulders was somehow comforting. Naib liked it a little too much and even pressed himself more into the human’s side.
As he scans their surroundings, he notices many pathetic humans on the sides of the streets, some looking sick even. Ah, this part of the realm was different from the original area he had been transported to. It was like night and day. This side was more dull, dirty, and decaying. Litter was everywhere. Structures were old and had moss (or was that mold?) growing into the eroded bricks. He almost felt at home! The man in red's lips curls into a smile.
"I like it here." He blurts out. This type of environment was something he was more used to. Though in his land, the people would beg for death rather than money (they were volunteering sacrifices). Maybe this human realm revolved more around money? It was interesting. His empire revolved around death and acceptance of the "end". Death was the ultimate gift. Life was an illusion where happiness was temporary. But here, money seemed to be of importance.
Naib's inner leader wanted to offer assistance to these poor souls. He wanted to give them closure...
"Norton— who is the ruler of this land? Do they do anything about...the state of their citizens? These people do not seem happy at all."
Then Norton raises questions about their deal.
"Ah, that. Well, you can take my word for it. I am quite serious about loyalty and keeping deals. There's no need for...blood pacts. But! If it makes you feel better, I can cast a sealing spell."
The sealing spell was...a lie. But how would Norton know anyway? He wanted the humans' trust and devotion. And he would make sure to get it.
At this point, his skin was beginning to fill in with color. His pale complexion darkened overtime, giving him a more human appearance.
Before Norton could answer, the man in red begins to chant something foreign anyway, clasping his hands together for a few seconds. The death lord then unclasps his hands and follows it with a few more odd hanging motions. Finally, he moves one palm facing up.
"Put your hand against mine."
When Norton does so, he chants a few more things, before ending it with a,
"The deal is sealed."
*****
Norton does not even realize the level of intimacy implied by his guiding protective arm around Man in Red until the deity leans into him. The sudden feeling of body heat radiating against his side makes goosebumps rise against his skin once more. A hint of red colors his swarthy complexion.
Was the death lord always this warm?
The sudden comment about how the god likes this area distracts him from the surge of self conscious inklings though, and he tilts his head to the side. He supposes this sadistic creature gets off on the amount of suffering in the area, but is taken aback by the apparent concern at the lack of happiness instead.
“There are many governmental leaders, but happiness is not one of their chief concerns—no.”
He answers after a slight pause.
“But, why would a death god like you care?”
Norton asks, not believing Man in Red genuinely cares for mortals for any purely selfless reason.
Eager to officially seal their deal, the human presses his hand against the other’s clawed one when asked, not missing how his skin is now more tawny. His attention is now fully rapt on how beautiful the god looks with a warmer complexion.
The brunet lifts his hand up in disbelief when he is told the deal is sealed. His brows furrow slightly. He certainly did not feel any different, and there was no physical manifestation of magic either.
However, the god’s face looked stoically serious enough. He guesses the spell may not have worked properly due to a lack of magic ability, but this should be good enough for now if Man in Red believes the spell actually worked at least.
“Good.”
He says with a brief nod.
“What would happen if our deal was broken by either party now that you’ve cast this spell?”
*****
"Then how are they able to rule this land with a significant amount of unhappy followers? A citizen's happiness results in loyalty. And loyalty is key to becoming a powerful status figure. How strange..." The overlord trails off.
"I was just curious. It's not everyday that I walk into another empire without malicious intentions. It's interesting to observe of the differences." Was all he says to Norton's next question.
What would happen if the deal was broken?... Ah, well, Naib didn't think that far. He assumed Norton would take his word for it.
"You sure like to yap. If someone breaks any deal, obviously something regrettable would happen. Why does it matter! If someone breaks this deal, though, since you're so curious...!--- They will remain in a state of paralysis for five years. Shall I extend the time to make this deal more tempting to abide by? I don't know about you, but I keep my promises. I sure hope you weren't considering to...backstab me?"
With a tilt to his head, the man in red shoots Norton a wicked smile, his eyes for a moment radiating a white glow, which dissipates gradually. This just proved that he still had some of his powers despite his appearance slowly becoming more human.
"I've had my fair share of backstabbers back in my kingdom. I'll discard of you quite nicely. Please do prove me wrong though!"
*****
A snort escapes the New Yorker at the thought of happiness being a driving factor for obedience in America.
“That’s a cute thought.”
Norton comments sourly.
“I wonder if your own people are really so happy though. There might just be another reason they decided to pledge loyalty to you.”
He hums, subtly hinting fear or intimidation are more likely candidates.
A sudden feeling of icy dread slithers down the brunet’s spine, causing him to shiver. There is a dangerous luminescent white aura shining about those haunting silver eyes, and he can feel a sinister darkness lurking behind the surface. In this one single threat, the temperature around the pair seems to momentarily dip.
Norton can feel the weight of his transaction now. Despite how childish the friend in front of him could be, he truly is a powerful deity in his own dimension even if his powers are presently fading here.
Perhaps the deal was actually sealed…? In any case, the human would not receive anything better than this demon’s word. He lets out a deep sigh, and begins walking once more.
A part of him still cannot believe the snarky threat. Despite knowing Man in Red for such a short time, he has a feeling he has the tendency to exaggerate the truth or fib entirely.
“I’m sorry you’ve been betrayed in the past, but I have no intention of breaking our promise.”
The Hispanic reassures the death god in a mollifying tone.
“But, if you are going to live with me for an extended period of time, I can’t just be callin’ you Man in Red or your highness in public.”
He decidedly changes the subject quickly.
“Hmmm….If you won’t give me your name, maybe I should ’conjure’ one up for you? Currently you’re a bit white passing…Maybe Chad….?”
His lips start tugging into a grin, becoming amused by his own tease.
“Or perhaps John…?”
The pair are finally drawing near a familiar street, which houses a large studio apartment complex. There are sporadic boarded up windows from erratic disrepair, and graffiti decorates the chipping bricks. Even the cement outside seems decimated with cracks and is covered in litter like broken beer bottles or cigarette butts.
He stops to look up at Man in Red , still grinning.
“I think I’ll call you Nathan if you really can’t give me your name.”
*****
The comment on his people's happiness struck a nerve. Naib's exposed eye twitched in irritation. He grit his teeth and clenched his fists.
"Many of them are happy! And those that aren't...well, they eventually reach a state where it doesn’t matter. There can be more to loyalty, yes. But..."
Norton did have a point and he couldn't argue. Fear was also a big driving force that he used excessively. He had been using this tactic more as of recent...which isn’t exactly great, since he wasn't there to inflict more fear into his people anymore. The people that needed it at least. If the troublesome-half of his citizens were to find out he was gone...for an unknown amount of time— that was bad. A pang of anxiety hit through his chest– and now the tables were turned. He was the vulnerable one. Was this how fear felt? He was beginning to feel restless.
Fortunately, Norton snapped him out of his horrid thoughts— by bringing another horrid thing to his attention. He wanted to address him with vile names! This would not fly!
"No no no no! I will have none of this! Chad?? Norton, that is plain foul! And John?? I knew a man named John, and he was the lunatic of my kingdom! He bathed in the chamber pots of waste houses! Also what do you mean 'white-passing?', I'm more red than anything! Do you not see??"
He motions with a hand to show his very over-the-top ensemble. As he is doing that, he starts feeling himself a little too much... vainly striking a few poses, albeit subtle ones, as if on runway. He was pretty proud of his looks and enjoyed hearing praise and compliments. He almost expected one from Norton.
But then he goes on again with another filthy name!
"Enough!!!"
He grabs Norton by the collar of his shirt again, pulling his face down to be eye level. He needed to assert his dominance.
"It's Naib." He says quickly and a little more calmly, shoving the man away now.
"Do NOT overuse it. You will not say my name in vain. And you must continue using the same honorifics as before. I only entrust this name to loyal subjects who have been with me for many years. My favorites. Do not make me regret my decision."
*****
Norton’s grin only widens at Man in Red’s increasingly apparent chagrin at the names thrown his way. He has to put a hand to his mouth to stifle a chuckle, but the story about some lunatic named John makes him double over in laughter.
How could he possibly take this deity seriously in moments like this? He might as well be some Cheshire Cat with the expression those constant hyperbolic anecdotes cause. Tears even doting to his eyes, and he suddenly coughs from laughing too heartily.
His smile becomes more genuine at seeing the god practically preen and pose as if he was an exotic model in a fashion shoot rather than on the steps to his crummy apartment complex.
Feeling increasingly confident about his own safety after their arrangement, he does not even flinch when his shirt is grasped and he is violently pulled forward. If anything, he actually appears smug.
He does stumble slightly when he gets shoved though, but puts a hand to his chin in thought.
“Naib, huh? That’s a much nicer name than just Man in Red.”
Norton offers a small compliment, sensing the god seems to be fishing for one.
“Well, just don’t forget, Naib: I am also one of the humans you can no longer harm due to our arrangement.”
He chastises a bit playfully, and bends down to bolt his bike to a nearby rack. Then he stands back up, and motions for the other to follow him inside the building.
“Alright, so let me show you this real cool magical invention that even my building has.”
Norton announces with a bit of bravado, leading him towards the elevator, which slides open once he presses the up button. He beckons for the deity to join him.
“This is called an elevator and it’ll take us to my floor.”
He explains, pressing the number 13 once Naib enters the elevator with him.
******
Naib blinks a few times, gawking at the metal transportation device that opens before them.
"I...go...inside?"
The man in red takes a few cautious steps towards the open elevator, peeking his head in to examine the interior. Dissatisfied with how cramped it looked inside, he came to a grand conclusion— this was a trap!
"I'm not falling for this. What do you take me as? Some fool? This is a cage! There is barely any space inside!"
He feels so conflicted. Why would Norton trap him though? After making the deal? Well... If it was a trap...he could always kill him. Hesitating, he grabs the human by the hand and first shoves him inside. He follows behind. He couldn't let fear win. He was the one who had to be feared! And he had to be the one in control! Not the other way around. Naib couldn't let his confidence falter. Sure, he was weaker, but he was still the great and powerful man in red!
The metal doors suddenly close, locking them in, after Norton presses "13".
Naib narrows his eyes and almost jolts when he feels the metal compartment suddenly accelerate in motion. It was moving?? How?? He clutches the metal handles that pertruded the walls like his life depended on it, holding onto dear mercy.
"What is happening?! Are we going to the 13th dimension?! Ive always heard of tales about time machines....but I never thought I would ever encounter someone who had one! Or is this a teleportation device?"
As he finishes the sentence, the doors slowly open, and Naib rushes out, almost stumbling over the gap that was between the floors of the elevator and the apartment. He was a mess.
"What year is it now? 13 B.C.E? "
*****
The way Man in Red expresses such extreme caution starts reminding Norton of the stray cat he had taken in a few months ago. His brows furrowed in disapproval at getting shoved inside the elevator, but he lets this action slide seeing how genuine fear is radiating off from the death incarnate beside him.
Norton covers his face with a hand to keep his amusement less obvious. If Naib is horrified by just the gentle speed of an elevator, he starts wondering how he would fare at an amusement park…
The question about the year throws him off guard as he follows his newfound homeless stray. He shakes his head, barely stifling a chuckle with great effort.
“Nah, still modern day New York, 2024, anno domini.”
If he had access to time travel, the mistakes he would erase though….
He beckons Naib to follow him, and leaves him to a door labeled “13”. The chances of getting the unluckiest room on the unluckiest floor speaks volumes to the type of luck he has had throughout his life.
With a reluctant sigh, he unlocks the door slowly, trying to bar his companion from walking in freely until he has had a chance to lay down some ground rules.
“Okay, so don’t touch anything yet!”
Norton preemptively demands.
The studio apartment is not particularly spacious. On the left hand side is a separate room housing a small bathroom. To the immediate right of the bathroom is a modest living room setting with a cheap couch, a scuffed coffee table, and a small media center. Behind the living room is a full mattress with plaid bedding. He has a dresser near the bed for additional storage of clothes outside of his small closet. To the far right is the kitchen.
His most prized possessions are the various gems he has housed in a glass display behind a small dining room table. He has an assortment of geodes, tumbled stones, and rocks that he has found or polished himself. Of course, there were a few exceedingly rare gems that were more costly on the top self.
Before he can say much else, a blur of white starts meowing and rubbing against Norton’s legs. This more friendly greeting quickly becomes one of agitation as an angry paw is directed in Man in Red’s direction accompanied by a hiss.
“ Diamond, no !”
The geologist student quickly chastises, scooping up the white bundle of fur in fear his guest might actually reciprocate the attack. There are tinges of brown on the fluffy cat’s ears and tail, which is why Norton originally called him his little diamond in the rough when he found him scrounging through trash outside the complex one day. He sighs a little, and rubs the furball’s head, which earns him a begrudging trill.
*****
What Norton reveals to him— is.... underwhelming, to put it as nicely as possible. Though his expectations were rather low anyway. You can assume a lot from a man based on how he dresses. And this man dressed a little foolishly.
Was he showing him his favorite room? Or was this...it? Certainly it couldn't be the latter. He saw so many doors in the previous hallway he was in!
A hiss catches his attention, coming from the floor. So this guy also fancied felines. Green flag! The people of his kingdom also were kind to cats and strays. Neighboring kingdoms hunted them down or had ill feelings towards them, however, so this view was not a popular one. They were regarded as a symbol of paganism and witchcraft-- also tied to the devil in some scenarios. In his kingdom though, that was embraced!
"What a darling this one is~" The man in red coos, kneeling down at the seemingly displeased cat.
The cat swatted at him, but Naib was unbothered, instead standing back up to give the cute thing space.
"She doesn't like strangers I presume. That's fine. I hope she can warm up to me eventually. This is her room?" He then gestures to the entire apartment. He also had few rooms dedicated to his pets, so it made sense in his head.
"I get you probably want to show her off, but which room is the gem room?"
The deity twists the doorknob of the front door they just came from, peering back into the hallway.
*****
Norton blinks slowly at the unexpected gentle coo coming from
Man in Red.
Perhaps the deathly deity had some sort of soft spot for felines? The creatures had been revered throughout history in different religions.
Diamond seems pleased enough with the respect her swat earns though, even regally puffing her chest out from where she sits in her owner’s arms.
“Her room…?”
The human parrots, his head tilting in disbelief. He chuckles at the idea of gifting his cat an entire apartment.
“No,I’m afraid this is it.
This
is my entire apartment.”
He lets the cat fall from his arms, and walks towards the kitchen’s pantry to retrieve a can of wet food since the bundle of fur at his feet keeps insistently meowing for dinner. Sighing, he first pops open the can with the metal tab at the top before addressing the second question.
“The gems are in the glass display behind the dining room table, but don’t touch anything just yet.”
Norton instructs as he dumps the food into a pet bowl on the floor.
“Gems are very hard to come by, so you can’t just have all of mine. Do you even know what you need to make a portal to get back home?”
*****
This was it? This was what he lived in?
"Oh...I'm sorry." he let's out a little awkwardly.
But then Norton provides him with the information he needs! The gems were in the glass display case. Wasting no time, the deity looks around and spots the piece of furniture in the back. Hastily, he makes his way over there.
There was an assortment of both colorful and dull-looking clusters of rocks and gemstones. The arrangement was impressive for someone like Norton.
"You have a fine collection. I must say, you have proved me wrong in some assumptions."
Not all of the stones were of use, but a good handful were. As Norton was preoccupied with the feline, Naib opened the glass door and took out the specimen of the calcite crystals. This mineral was brittle and fragile in some segments. He careful breaks the tip of one of the extended branches and places the rest of the rock back.
He needed to test out if magic was possible in this realm. If he had any magic energy left that is...the spell he used on the human earlier was a level nine spell-- the most complex and highest level of spells. And that clearly failed to work and made him look like a fool. Perhaps he is only able to use lower level spells. He would take that over not being able to use any at all. Anxious, Naib decided to settle on a simple cantrip spell for now.
"Oh Norton...may I please use this piece of calcite that chipped off by itself? My portal requires...some experimenting. But I am quite confident that something could work given the wide arrangement of gems you have."
*****
“‘Chipped off by itself’?”
Norton repeats in irritable disbelief. His right eye twitches at the utter disregard to his instructions not to touch any of his belongings, completely miffed and exasperated.
Yet that sweet saccharine tone cushions his initial anger. From what he has observed of Man in Red’s mannerisms, he has no habit of seeking permission, so asking before simply using the broken gem fragment is still progress for the deity in the grand scheme of things.
Additionally, calcite crystals are a more abundant mineral and not intrinsically valuable. Interestingly, the value of this gem comes only from the skill of how precisely it is cut due to the difficulty of creating the perfect cleavage in three directions. His sample unfortunately was not cut in such a way.
What is more interesting to him is why this stone is chosen over much rarer options. Unable to temper his excitement, he rushes to Naib’s side, and finally drops the backpack slung over his shoulder onto the dining room table.
Norton fishes out a notebook and pencil, and quickly turns to a clean page.
“Alright, you can have the piece you broke off. But, I want more information. Why’d you choose the calcite crystal over more valuable gems? Do certain stones have some type of energy you can actually feel or do certain spells require specific materials?”
The geologist student puts the tip of his eraser to his mouth in thought. His entire life he thought people who believed stones had magical properties were as mental as he believed Man in Red to be upon first meeting, but…Could there be truth to them?
“And in your kingdom, do gems actually have magical properties? For instance, some believe rose quartz will give the wearer some type of enhancement as far as love is concerned, but that’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”
His eyes are practically lit with inquisitive curiosity as he seems prepared to actually take notes.
*****
"I just thought it would be more polite to start off with something of lesser value. You don't seem to be very well off, so I thought maybe you would appreciate this gesture. I guess not! Do you by chance have any diamonds? Gold? Painite? Jadeite?"
Naib places the calcite onto the dining table and hovers back over to his collection, as if examining his next expensive choice of stone.
"Since you insist on me choosing a more valuable stone..." he pauses, expecting Norton to stop him. There's a smirk on his face because he is only doing this to provoke the man and make jest of the matter.
He might be a death God, but that doesn't mean he doesn't like toying with people. He needs his dosage of fun too.
"T'was just a jest! The true reason was because I'm simply testing my powers. Since I will be using a lower level spell— it requires a low-quality material of less rarity. I want to test my limits. Additionally, since I'm attempting to use magic that is basically child's play, i don't want to waste the good materials that I could be using for more important spells. I want to leave the excellent grade materials for my experimental portal."
The man in red wasn't expecting Norton to be so curious, however. It was endearing.
"How cute. Rose quartz for love? Yes, that is ridiculous. Vanadinite, maybe. I've used that one for charm enhancements. Though you're not only limited to vanadinite. To be frank, spells that pertain to rocks are a small portion of what's out there. I don't fancy relying on stones. There are usually better options for the spells that require physical materials. But when it comes to decor and fashion...oh my, it's hard to say no. Anywho...where was I-"
He turns around and picks up the chipped piece of calcite again. Naib holds it in his palms, contemplating which spell to go with.
"Whats with all the questions anyway..." Naib begins to quiz the human himself, curious.
"Why ask? Thinking of conjuring up your own love spell?" He flashes the latter a smug look with raised brows, as if suggesting he knew exactly what was on Norton's mind. He didn't know. He only made guesses and assumptions. But he wanted to prod and mess with the man. To elicit a nice reaction...
"Or perhaps you were looking for a quick fix on your lack of charisma..." He then teases, letting out a snicker.
*****
“Wait, no—of course not!”
Norton shouts in a panic, quickly chasing after the wouldbe gem thief. He reaches out to grasp Naib’s arm in a panic, only to be met with a toothy smirk.
Realizing the deity is now toying with him, his face starts to heat with an annoyed chagrin.
Nevertheless, he lifts his notebook, purposely shielding his face as he jots down some quick notes regarding gem rarity equating to higher level spells. As expected, the magical properties spiritualists attached to gems have no standing even in a world filled with magic. He still finds what gems can be used as materials for certain spells fascinating.
A vein starts pulsing in the graduate student’s forehead at the smug tease regarding his need for a love spell or boost to his charisma though. This deity is once again becoming much too egotistical for his liking. He slams his notebook down with a sigh.
“I’m just curious about the properties of gems in your realm. And I don’t need any help with my love or social life, thank you very much!”
He states a bit too defensively, and turns on his heel to grab a pair of plaid Ivory Tower pants that had been torn in several places due to overuse from his closet. Wordlessly, he trots back towards the dining room table and places the clothing onto the table.
“Instead of makin’ jabs, how about you do somethin’ useful and mend this pair of pants? That should be simple enough.”
The irritable host recommends, crossing his arms as he looks down at his guest expectantly.
*****
Naib snickers. Someone was getting a little too defensive. But then... the latter has the audacity to command HIM? Him of all people.
"Excuse you?" The man in red responds with a raised brow. Suddenly he had a spell in mind.
"Have you forgotten who i am? What I am? You better watch that pretty mouth of yours. I warned you once. This is now a second warning."
Naib clutches the fragile fragment of the rock in one hand. He breaks the brittle mineral more into his fist, then muttering a few foreign words.
"Flagello vero"
Before Norton has a chance to make it back towards him with the pants in hand, a dark, spiny vine launches at him, wrapping around his waist and middle of his torso like a serpant. The human is then pulled in towards the death deity at a rather forecful speed.
"Submit to me! You had manners earlier, what changed?"
Maybe...just maybe if he apologized, he would consider fixing those pathetic pants for him. At least he now knew his magic worked as well. And having visible proof to show Norton may give him another advantage at having power over him.
*****
At the mention of a low level spell, the human hardly expects such a sudden forceful display of magic. He barely hears the uttered Latin phrase before a vine is whipping around his waist and pulling him towards the deity as if he was just some mere yo-yo getting tugged by a string.
An embarrassing yelp of fright escapes him, but the icy feeling of fear quickly dissolves into a boiling indignant temper by the demands strewn his way once he is finally brought in front of Man in Red.
Norton had been far more willing to coddle the death deity when he felt like his own life could be at risk, but the two now had an arrangement.
“You sure are talkin’ big for someone who isn’t allowed to hurt me, or any other human in this realm for that matter.”
Norton reminds the death god bluntly, not hiding his ire in the slightest.
“I’ve got no problem showing you respect, but that’s a two way street as far as us humans are concerned.”
He continues to actually chastise, and tries ripping the vine off of himself.
“Now get this thing off me!”
*****
Oh...and yet again, Naib had forgotten about the specifics of that deal. His smile faded into more of a neutral expression. Even if that deal wasn't technically sealed with magic, he needed the human's trust.
Irritated, Naib folded his arms and began to take a few steps away from Norton.
"No." he responded simply.
"Why don't you give me a reason to let you go?"
If he can't hurt Norton physically, then some psychological torture couldn't hurt...Or he'll just simply try to get on his nerves enough to get him to give in.
"The way you demanded me to fix your beastly pants wasn't very 'respectful;' either. So I say this tomfoolery is of your doing! You didn't respect me. I did not need to respect you!"
The childish response makes a more prominent vein in the geologist’s head pulse once again. His face becomes scarlet with how volatile his own temper could be, and he clenches his jaw to keep from lashing out at the deity once more.
Perhaps the way in which he went about asking for his favor was borderline brutish given how defensive he became. If he was to expect Naib to grow some semblance of human decency, he supposes he would have to allow him some small wins.
Norton deflates with a begrudging sigh after a minute of contemplation.
“I’m sorry for my lack of respect when asking you to mend my pants. But, I would also appreciate it if you’d keep from making jabs at my expense.”
He says a bit curtly, and again tries wrenching the vines off himself.
“Can you please take these off, Man in Red? I’d like full use of my arms to make us dinner unless you don’t need to eat in your current human state?”
A brow rises in challenge. Norton is curious just how human the death deity’s needs have become at this point, but he assumes he should be hungry.
*****
The man in red rolled his eyes then snapped his fingers, the vines suddenly vanish and turn into white moths instead. The moths too, eventually fade away into a blur.
"You're welcome." Naib responds dryly.
"I'm not some pathetic mortal who needs to eat to function. But I can eat for my own pleasure. If you're a great cook, I'll consider consuming whatever it is you choose to concoct."
The death God makes his way towards the cheap couch with a few scratched up areas, he presumed the cat he had was the cause of the damage. He inspected the couch in disgust, noticing cat hair all over the seat as well. Well, he can't complain too much as he'd be stuck here for a while. Might as well suck it up. He takes a seat and crosses his legs as he observes the human in the kitchen area.
"You know, if you do end up being a really good cook...perhaps I'll think about mending your pants."
*****
Norton jumps at the sensation of his restraints becoming a tickle of feathery light moth wings brushing against his skin before dissipating into nothingness. The fleeting sight was breathtaking.
Feeling scandalized, he lightly squeezes his sides as if expecting some type of rash from the greenery.
The human has to roll his eyes at the demon’s condescending attitude.
“ Of course, my liege. How gracious of you.”
He answers sarcastically as he makes his way to the kitchen. A part of him actually wants to pleasantly surprise the death deity with his cooking skills due to his own pride though.
With a quick scan of the fridge, he concludes he would make barbacoa tacos since he had just slow cooked this beef yesterday. Within a few minutes he lightly fries some fresh corn tortillas in a pan filled with oil and a spritz of salt.
While these tortillas lightly fry, he heats the meat in another pan. He cuts open an avocado, neatly slicing the vegetable. Next he chops up half an onion.
Once he has finished all his prep work, he makes the pair a plate with three tacos each. He applies a generous amount of meat, avocado, onions, and a small amount of cheese. He sets the plates down onto the dining room table along with a napkin and a glass of water for each of them before taking a seat.
“Food is ready. Do you like spicy sauces?”
The Hispanic asks curiously as he spoons on some verde salsa onto his own tacos from a glass mason jar.
*****
Norton's sarcastic answer actually elicits a smug chuckle from Naib.
"Keep talking. There's finally something good coming out of that putrid hole you call a mouth."
The death God leans back and makes himself comfortable on the sofa as much as he could. As bad as the couch looked physically...it was actually seemingly comfortable. The material was soft and the cushions had great support and the perfect amount of firmness. It was comparable to a lot of the seating he had back at his castle...though his actually looked pleasing to the eye at least.
As he's lounging away, he observes Norton get to work. He moved swiftly from one task to another. It reminded him of the many skilled cooks and maids he had back in his realm. He almost felt at home.
When Norton finally calls up that food is ready, he gets up and saunters over to the dining table.
"Thank you, dear~ Of course I enjoy some spice in my food. What do you take me as? Someone who enjoys bland food?"
The smell of the dish is pleasant-- unlike anything he has smelt before back in his kingdom. He could tell the food was well seasoned, and now he was...salivating? What the... and his stomach felt odd. These feelings were foreign. And the way his body was reacting was something he had never experienced.
"What is...what are you doing to me?! Is there some spell in this aroma?!"
Being a death God and all...he had never experienced the feeling of hunger. There was no reason to eat as a supernatural entity. But now that he was becoming more human as time went on, he finally had a taste of what mortals go through.
*****
The hungry college student takes a big bite of a taco as his house guest approaches him, only to choke on his food at the unexpected pet name. This was done only in jest surely, but was still far more domestically intimate than he is accustomed to.
Recovering quickly with a cough, he puts a small amount of sauce on one of Naib’s tacos.
“Ahem, you’re welcome. Try this verde sauce on just one taco first. I don’t think your kingdom have these types of spices, so it can be overwhelming at first.”
A chuckle escapes him at the notion he has cast some type of spell using the aroma. From the sound Man in Red’s stomach just made, it is more than evident that hunger has seized him after all.
“What you’re experiencing is hunger. You’ll feel better once you eat.”
Norton hums, and takes another bite of his taco.
“You’re sadly becoming a mere mortal just like me. How does it feel?”
He asks curiously, raising a brow.
*****
Naib notices how caught off guard the pet name makes Norton, and he lets out a small laugh whilst covering his mouth as if that was enough to hide his amusement. Oh he is taking notes...
Norton then explains this 'green sauce' to him. Naib's eyes narrow as he examines the dish, the sauce specifically. It was indeed green. A puke green...it looked interesting. He was also quite offended at the hint Norton dropped pertaining to him not being able to handle the sauce. What kind of death god would he be if he couldn't handle some green spice juice!
"Norton my dear. I think you're underestimating me a little much right now...what am I? Some mouse? I demand all THREE of my tacos be sauced! Tsk..."
He let out a huff, not touching his plate until Norton was finished saucing the last two tacos. When he was finished, he takes a bite out of the first one, remaining speechless for a good minute. In this time, he finishes the first taco and is now onto his second, which is being chowed down on just as fast.
He finally speaks after eating the second taco.
"This is...a satisfactory dish."
Holy cythulu it was good.
"How did you create such a meal? It has so many flavors and components. Who would have thought to shred meat like this! And oh the sauce...Are you a chef?"
He trails off, a bit flustered at how much he was complimenting this human's cooking. He didn't just throw out compliments like that. Especially that much in a short period of time.
And then Norton jabs him with the comment about becoming human. Suddenly he feels disgusted. He wishes he had forgotten about those changes in his physical body.
"I'm NOT becoming a mortal." Naib was quick to correct Norton.
"My powers are just limited right now. These physical changes are just side effects to that...I believe. I'm still the lord of death, so you will continue to treat me as such."
*****
“You better not waste any food.”
Norton warns in response to the bullheaded stubbornness, but sauces the last two tacos as requested. He had not even been attempting to challenge the deity, but did not want him throwing a tantrum or tossing away good food if the dish became unpalatable.
He watches with bated breath as the death lord silently devours two tacos, and his lips start to tug into a smug grin.
After getting underestimated left and right, the outright or implied compliments that came from Naib was a welcome change in pace, even bolstering his ego to a degree. Not everyone could say their culinary skills could impress an actual god.
The reaction to his question about becoming mortal makes him chuckle.
“ Sure, oh great death lord. ”
Norton teases appeasingly with another sarcastic remark.
“Being mortal ain’t all bad though. Maybe I should teach you some things. Might even help you understand the people in your kingdom better...”
He offers before taking another bite of his taco.
“Some viajitas in my neighborhood helped me learn how to cook since I was mostly raising myself when I was younger, but I’m no chef.” (Translation: old ladies)
The human shrugs a bit, not wanting to make a detour into talking about his depressing childhood.
“So, you think the food is good enough to mend those pants for me after all?”
*****
Naib was quick to finish the final taco as Norton spoke and gave a little lore about his past.
"So you were an orphan?" the death god asks, deadpan, unaware that this could be a sensitive topic.
"Well, you could be my chef...you know. If you wanted to." he then continues before Norton could answer his first question.
"You can come back home with me! I guarantee you my kingdom is one of the best there is. It's way more marvelous than this place...you call...uh what was it? New Yerp? Eugh...just the name makes me repulsed."
The man in red then stands up, pushing his chair in. He clasps his hands together as if ready to announce something of importance.
"Bring me those pants. I would also need another fabric to use for the spell. The spell transfers the threads of one fabric to fill the space of the other. I suggest the fabrics be of similar color. Unless you want to continue looking like a fool."
*****
The Hispanic had always found pity loathsome, so for once, the insensitivity is refreshing.
Luckily the deity did not actually care for the answer as to whether he was an orphan or not, and the subject is callously changed to a much lighter topic.
“Heh. That might be a step up from McDonald's. I just don’t know if I fancy working for an employer who might just kill me if I get their order wrong though.”
Norton jokes with a chuckle, not taking this job offering to heart. He cannot help how his eyes light up with excitement at the opportunity to witness a much more practical spell though.
Leaving his plate with one unfinished taco, the graduate student retrieves the fraying pants along with an older worn out uniform tie that he had not yet thrown out.
“Would this old tie work?”
He asks, laying the materials in front of Man in Red.
*****
"Hey, death isn't always a bad thing." Naib shoots back, confident that would ease the Human's worry.
"Humans make a big deal out of death, when it is just a natural thing and what keeps new life thriving. For example, a rotting tomato creates a bed for life. Its seeds ground itself into the dirt, while the tomato's flesh supplies it with food. Just like the tomato, you too, continue the cycle of life when you die. Your body decomposes, and from that nutrients seep out into the earth. Trees, plants, insects, many life forms...they all recycle your energy. You should embrace it. In my kingdom we celebrate it. It is something joyous. Just like one's birth-- one's death holds as much significance and meaning. And it is why my people are so happy! They have nothing to fear. Why fear something as beautiful as death!"
The death God is now grinning from ear to ear. Finally they are talking about something that he's passionate about and has much knowledge on.
"And...if you choose to be my personal sacrifice...I promise you an afterlife full of joy and prosperity. If you're interested, do let me know! We hold rituals every full moon."
The more he thought about Norton in his kingdom, the more he just wanted to drag him along (even by force...I mean what?). Perhaps he can eventually convince him to come along...if only he knew how to get back without needing to experiment with spells!
Realizing he's getting carried away with all the death talk, Naib grabs the tie and pants from Norton. He nods, pleased with the material of both. The colors matched well too.
"Yes, this could work."
He lays out the pants on the side of the table with more space. He then slides the tie over the spot that needed patching. With his palms spread out, he strokes the material firmly, muttering one foreign word.
"emendo."
After saying the word once, He continues to flatten out the tie over the pants, pressing hard. After about a full minute, he removes the tie, and beneath it the pants are like new, patched. There are no signs of the fabric breaking in that one spot he fixed. It is a seamless job.
"eius fieri!" The man in red shouts, being proud with his work.
"Is it adequate enough for you?"
*****
Hearing the death god talk about his own subject matter was actually deeply intriguing. Serving such a higher being could be profitable in the afterlife if he truly has control of such a thing, but Norton still has his doubts.
Of course he believes Man in Red to be a powerful entity, but not even a god of death necessarily controls where a soul wanders off to in the afterlife.
Still, the positive outlook is not unlike how death is celebrated on día de los muertos. He can appreciate the renewal and rebirth of life. Ultimately, death is an inescapable reality of life for every lifeform on the planet aside from perhaps the gods themselves.
“You’re almost as bad as the Catholics selling indulgences , the idea you can just pay your way to heaven.”
A soft laugh escapes him as he shakes his head, and he puts a finger to his lips in thought.
“But, I do wonder: Can you truly make promises regarding the afterlife? La Muerte is the goddess reigning over death in my culture. Día de los muertos, a celebration of life, also pays respect to her. But, not even she controls the souls of those who perish.”
He tilts his head.
“While your kingdom might celebrate death as a great sacrifice or relief from life’s harsh cruelties, this holiday is about remembering those who died and celebrating the life they lived. After fighting for so long to get to where I am, I’m not surrendering my life anytime soon. I want a life worth celebrating.”
Naib’s spell quickly draws his attention and he excitedly scurries to his side. Seeing magic performed so seamlessly in front of himself is an actual miracle he never thought to behold in his lifetime.
Though he would never admit this to the egotistical god beside him, he truly was awestruck at the displays of magic interrupting the monotony of his previously much more mundane life.
He lets out an impressed whistle as he curiously touches and pats at the spots where holes had once been.
“These look brand new!”
Norton exclaims, turning the fabric over in his hands a few times. Deciding he’d stroke the deity’s ego a tad by giving him a genuine compliment, he finally looks down at him.
“This is perfect. Thank you, Naib. I really appreciate you taking the time to perform a useful spell like this for me.”
*****
Oh...this one was a smart one. Naib's expression changed rapidly to one of annoyance.
"You dare doubt my abilities? I see you're back to behaving like a fool. Is this some play for you where you take breaks in between intermissions? You confuse me!"
The questions that Norton was throwing at him were clever ones, and Naib was not expecting to be interrogated so much at once. Yes, it was an empty promise that he gave to his people, but it's what was needed to gain control over them. And it wasn't like they could check to rat him out! Once you perish, you're gone for good. You become food for his beloved garden beds!
"Those death Gods- I haven't ever heard of them. They must be fake. Or wannabes. Did you grab their names from a mythology book? I'm the true god of death!" Naib huffs and puts his hands on his hips.
While Norton disagreed with his offer to be a sacrifice, he did prove himself to have quite the worth. It was respectable to want a life worth celebrating and also working hard towards it. He will leave him alone then when it comes to his luring of sacrifices.
The conversation about death quickly ends though, when Norton's attention is now on the newly mended pants. Norton strokes his ego... a little too much. The first few comments were appreciated. But then Norton kept going...almost sounding sincere with his last overly- soft compliment. Naib's face began to slightly redden. This was too...mushy. He felt flustered at this different treatment from the human. So Norton was grateful... all because Naib used a silly cantrip on some cheap pants! But he could do better as a death god! Of all the things he could be praised about, why this!
The man in red clears his throat and avoids the humans gaze.
"Ah...Well, It was my pleasure, darling. I would like to make it clear though-- I can do much more impressive things."
He turns away completely now, his body was beginning to feel heavy. He felt jaded somehow. Was this also a symptom of losing some of his powers? A nap almost sounded too good right about now...or what time even was it? The apartment's lack of windows suddenly pissed him off.
"Where are your bloody windows!?" The death god shouts out of nowhere.
"How can you live in a place without windows! Unbelievable! I would like to know when I should get my beauty rest. Looking this good does not come for free!"
*****
Norton does not miss the sudden hint of heat in those pale cheeks. He cannot help how his lips draw into a smug grin until another name of endearment is thrown at him.
Darling.
The word held a connotation of a romantic intimacy that is clearly lost on this demonic creature!
Did the death deity toy with all humans in such a way?
The graduate student turns away when he starts to feel his own face rising in temperature.
“If you’re gonna be livin’ with me, you should stop calling me things like ‘darling’ or ‘dear’. People are gonna think we sound like some married couple! And, you don’t want people to think you’re dating some mere mortal, right?”
Norton presses, and punctuates his sentence by placing a hand on his chest at the end. He feels the need to create some distance from his alluring houseguest. The last thing he wants is to start forming some type of attachment for some being out of his league, so he feels the need to start setting some boundaries before becoming too comfortable.
“And honestly, I know you can probably do loads of way cooler stuff, but I just think a powerful god choosing to do a small favor that doesn’t benefit them in any way is more impressive. Most wouldn't entertain the idea, so it means more to me.”
He shakes his head at the rant regarding the sudden lack of windows. Another small amused chuckle escapes him.
“Sorry, there’s a reason rent is cheapest for this apartment. It’s missin’ a lot of amenities, but most people do have things like windows.”
A brow raises a bit more playfully now.
“Why? Is the big bad death lord up past his bedtime?”
He teases, and then checks his watch curiously.
11:47 PM.
There is still some homework he has not touched, but he supposes he can set up a place for Man in Red to sleep.
He gets up to grab some extra blankets from the linen closet located in the bathroom, and starts placing some blankets and a pillow on the floor next to his bed. This is how his friends typically slept on the rare occasions one or two spent the night.
Norton sits down on the edge of his bed, and gestures towards the floor.
“Is this setup alright for you?”