Deal With A Demon

<SFX for summoning>

It would appear that I have been called into the mortal realm again.

Worry not humans! For your wishes are mine to command...

Oh. Interesting...

You are not human. Forgive me for my offense. It is out of habit, after all.

It is rare to be summoned by anything but humans. It has been an exceptionally long time since something else has.

I'm sure you understand. Humanity always seeks to accomplish something larger than itself. Shame they usually need...guidance.

<Gets closer; possible whisper/ear-to-ear delivery>

You...fascinate me. Not an elf...not a sprite...

But a fae.

<Back to normal>

How exotic. I scarcely see your kind. You're not generally known to be the trusting sort.

I'll watch my tongue closely. Wordplay is second nature for you as much as it is for me. Maybe that just makes this interesting.

Praytell...what use does a fae have with making deals with demons? Surely most problems you face can be dealt with by your own strength.

Humanity should pose no difficulty for you, as they often do to themselves. Demons have been on their best behavior to my knowledge. There's no major land disputes to my knowledge.

So what draws in a pretty little thing like yourself?

Must be something quite large in order to summon a demon of my caliber...

{Pause}

It's not? Interesting...

Tell me, what is it that you seek?

{Pause, longer}

You wish to know the price of making a deal with me.

A fair enough request.

Well, for starters, almost all deals will involve your soul in some degree or another. The bigger the deal, the bigger the toll. Get too big and you'll need to offer me the souls of others in addition to your own.

But, maybe unlike other demons, I tend to offer smaller prices for smaller deals. It seems like a waste to fragment a soul over something silly or basic.

A dwarf once asked me for a new lantern. No enchantment, nothing special. Just one to help find his way out of the cave he was in.

Does that seem very soul-worthy to you? I certainly don't think so.

I merely took a finger and called it a day.

[Laugh] Maybe I'm just unconventional.

So, little fae. Now you know what it is I seek. Tell me, what is your one true wish~?

{Pause; it's a long ask so give it time}

Oh. Oh! Ohhh...now that is a very interesting request.

I don't think I've ever heard a wish such as that before. Very detailed. Very specific. You've put quite the thought into it, haven't you?

The wish to switch places with me once at a time of your choosing.

Lots of applications. Could lead to a lot of tricks.

Hm...

This could very well be a trap to kill me. Swap me around to whatever setup your believers have, and then pounce. I'm not particularly interested in losing my life. You understand my hesitance, yes?

You know...[chuckle]. I heard somewhere that your kind can't tell a lie. Is there any truth to that little parable?

<Lean in again>

That little fae like you can't lie to anybody~?

Riddle me this, then.

Do you plan to hurt me with this little exchange?

<Regular>

{Pause for answer}

Splendid. You don't. 

I figured as such, anyway. You're far too skittish for this to be some convoluted ploy.

There's no...heroic bravado, with you.

You tremble. You look around. You stutter. This is something small and personal, isn't it. 

Well, I won't pretend to understand it.

I'll need to adjust our terms somewhat. I don't fully trust you, and it feels like there's still some form of ulterior motive that I'm not seeing.

Think of it as...insurance.

You don't know what insurance is. Right. Not human. Consider this me taking safety precautions.

Happier with that?

Good.

I'll keep your original request mostly intact. At any point of your choosing, simply utter the phrase "hic usque illuc" {hick usk ill-uck} and the deed will be carried out. I will switch places with you, and you will switch places with me, be it through dimension or country.

As your conditions, though. You cannot use this trick as an opportunity to harm me. The spell will fail and the price will be paid immediately if it senses you seek to cause me physical damage in making the exchange.

Second: After this conversation concludes, you will be unable to mention our pact with anyone or anything. No spilling secrets. No writing it down, either. You'll be physically prevented from discussing it, be it intentional or not. Except for me, I suppose, though I'd expect that we likely will not encounter each other again. Is that clear?

Good.

As for the price...well, honestly, you've brought something to me today that is extremely hard to put a value on. On one hand, this could be just trying to get out of a meeting. On the other hand, this could be trying to start some war-causing diplomatic chaos. There's no way for me to know what horrible idea stirs away in that little mind of yours.

So I'll give you a choice. Three options of debatably equal value. This is a one-time offer, so listen up. Most people don't get this sort of choice in their lifetime.

I want half. Of something. I can either: Take the mobility of your legs, take half of your remaining lifespan, or take half of your soul. Choice is yours, though I'd say time is dwindling. The candles you used for this circle are melting very quickly.

Not that I encourage future demon summoning, but it's advised to use multiple candles per vertex for a reason. It's also nice if you give us more room than just standing in place. Though you wouldn't cheat on me, right~?

{Pause for thinking; answer}

Oh, how interesting. Admittedly, I didn't expect you to pick that one. Well, to each their own. The price is set. I'll collect when I need to after your wish is fulfilled.

Now, to sign the deal and give you your prize.

Most of the time, demons at this point say pucker up and prepare for a kiss to seal the deal. I find that practice barbaric and crude. We're professionals—let's act like it, hm?

Please hold out your left hand.

{Pause; there's hesitance}

Well? You're not going to cower away and back out now are you? Chop chop, let's get moving. Hand. Now.

<Hand is stuck out; fabric sounds?>

That's better. This will only hurt for a moment.

<The demon slices a finger of the fae; cutting sounds>

Oh don't wince like that. You're grown, you can handle a little pain. Now for myself. 

<The demon slices themself>

We must now mix our blood. Open your hand back up. It will almost certainly sting. 

<Optionally, magic sounds to indicate the bond is being made>

And with that...our deal is done. The wound will disappear by the end of the day tomorrow.

Please take great notice of your hand. See those three discolored lines around the finger I have cut? Think of those rings as "charges" of the power I am giving you. Remember how I said I was keeping most of your wish intact? I've decided to be generous and give you three uses of this power instead of just one. I would like to strongly encourage using one now so you understand exactly what will happen when you do it "for real", so to speak.

Once you use up an exchange, a marking on your finger will vanish. Obviously, once you run out...well, you're surely smart enough to figure it out.

Let's get the first exchange underway now. You remember what I told you to say, right? Hic usque illuc. Now you say it.

<Magical flash; they have swapped places>

There we go! Everything worked out. You're still in one piece. See how easy that was? You're down to two rings left. Please use them wisely. I hate when people squander their gifts out of stupidity or a lack of confidence.

I've got a good feeling about you, fae. You're interesting. I've a hunch you'll continue to impress me over the next few centuries to come.

Best of luck wherever the winds carry you~!

[Evil laugh into fadeout]

END.