andaisq | aesthetically displeasing

Mortimer Halliwell, warlock extraordinaire and small-time crook, is having a remarkably bad day. First he runs out of the good coffee and has to use Folgers. Then the demon he summons to rob a bank for him only speaks Egyptian, which is hell on his throat. Then the demon gets discorporated and tracked back to his lair/duplex, the door of which is currently being battered down by some cheerful blonde madman.

He needs to summon another demon, and he needs to do it fast. He whips out the Black Book, flips desperately through its pages, and arranges the offerings around the iron circle set into the floor of his basement. A phonebook, a pile of dust, a miniature casket, a oh my god he got in screw it he'll do it without the rest!

He forces an immense amount of energy through his body into the summoning. The dust whirls into the air. He screams as his skin crackles and snaps with static. "I summon thee! I summon thee! I summon thee, K-Kh-"

It is possibly the most regrettable sneeze in Mortimer Halliwell's life.

There is a plume of red flame, and there is someone in his circle.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It has been about ten seconds now since Ari made his request.

The administrator speaks to him again. Her voice sounds noticeably annoyed.

"I have found your mother," she says. "In the process, I learned some things about her which I expect will distress you."

"How d'you mean?"

Rather than attempt to answer in words, she just provides him with Belinda's memory of planning the ritual and then telling him about his darling surprise.

"If you would still like me to retrieve her, I can, but I would rather not."

"Don't. I... Don't."

"I won't, then."

"Was she always like that?"

"Yes. I dislike her."

Ari does not respond.

Ari does not consciously respond. The link between them lets through an echo of wracking sobs. This is unlikely to be Ari's intention.

This situation is totally alien to the administrator's experience and she has no idea what to do.

For sheer lack of better ideas, she instantiates a soft blanket next to him. Many people find those comforting.

There is no audible indication that Ari has taken or noticed the blanket! There is no counterindication, either. Ari is not talking, he is too busy crying.

Yes. That was reasonably predictable.

She just... waits. She's good at that.

Ari does not contact her for a few days.

After a few days, he contacts her.

"Hey."

"Hello."

"Sorry for, uh, bugging out on you. The other day."

"I do not like it that you were distressed, but you do not need to apologize."

"Thanks. But I should've called when I was... able to. But I didn't feel up to it. Should've anyway."

"I do not mind. I am very patient."

"That much I know."

A pause.

"So, how about those Mets, huh?"

"You continue to be inexplicably charming."

"So I've been told! It's better to be inexplicably charming than inexplicably irritating, at any rate. The people I've met who have that problem usually aren't pleased with it."

"It is likely to be inconvenient for them," she agrees.

"It is! People don't like them much, and I'll bet they'd never be able to make friends with charming death goddesses such as yourself. Which would be a real shame."

"I believe you are the only person who has ever described me as charming."

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