dreamcrystals | Journal 📚 Cats & Volunteers 🐈

Sender: Satan
To: Everyone
Subject: Cats & Volunteers

[ In a handwriting that balances on a fine line between neat and messy, the following is written: ]

Hello.

I have two distinctly separate requests, and I urge you to remember that these are separate when you read this.

Firstly, I am looking for a cat. One with a particularly charming button nose, splendid toe beans, and a mewl that could pawsitively melt any heart. While I understand that describes virtually all felines, I thought I'd see if anyone had seen such a cat around.

Secondly—and separately—I am looking for volunteers to participate in a research study. An exceptional candidate would be sturdy and healthy, even better if the candidate has experience overcoming various poisons and toxins. There are risks, such as loss of life, but ideally my research and my own magic-slash-dreamotion energy would prevent death. So ultimately, the risk is minimal. Most likely. Please let me know if you'd be willing to volunteer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Up until now, the only things Zelda had heard about Lord Diavolo were his fickle moods and his penchant for using his magic to toy with his subjects for his own amusement. Despite the unflinching respect Lucifer showed for Diavolo when the former was briefly in Songerein, Zelda's image of the devil prince was one of a spoiled royal with too much time and power for his own good. This is the first she's heard of him doing something just and selfless. ]

I must admit, I've heard more about you and your brothers suffering his whims than about his accomplishments as a leader. Lucifer spoke highly of him when we chanced to meet earlier this spring, but I've been doubtful of whether Lord Diavolo is genuinely worthy of such praise.

[ Zelda laughs aloud when she reads Satan's jest. It says something about how well she's come to understand him that she knew immediately that he was teasing her. ] That would be most wicked of you! Are all demons so impulsive that they would undermine the authority of a royal speech simply to make a joke?

[ She's not going to call attention to her joke. :) Does the Avatar of Wrath take jokes as well as he makes them? ]

Lucifer spoke highly of him because Lucifer is

[ ...He probably shouldn't have started that sentence. There are a lot of ways he'd like to end it. Here is the opportunity to ruin Lucifer's reputation should he ever return, and even though Satan is positive it would make him happy to say all the things he is... ]

indebted to Lord Diavolo. Despite being a demon, he had been quite kind to the angels in the Celestial Realm. When the war was over, Lord Diavolo granted shelter to everyone, myself included. There was one other thing he did that I dare not share through the journal, but maybe one day I'll tell you in person. So, as often as my brothers may complain that we're just his play things, we owe him our lives.

[ Satan likes to tell himself that he'd kill Lucifer if he had a chance; that he would absolutely ruin his life in any way he could if given the opportunity. Despite this, he refuses to write something so personal to Lucifer in a place that could be seen. He trusts Zelda, so he would tell her, but not here in the journal. ]

We might just be. Besides, royal speeches can be awfully boring. We demons might need a joke or two at the royal person's expense just to stay awake. But for me, I like the expression you make when I tease you.

[ When they're in-person, anyway. Through the journal he just has to hope he's not crossing the line. ]

Plus, as the Avatar of Wrath, it's in my nature to push someone's buttons until they get a little annoyed.

[ Zelda weighs Satan's response in her mind. So there is more to Diavolo than power and fickle moods. But it's hard to rationalize that with the information Satan is sharing with her now, especially the part that Satan is intentionally leaving out. She would usually be inclined to think kindly of a leader who gave sanctuary to refugees of war, but there's little niggling suspicion she can't dismiss Diavolo's motivations were less altruistic and more in pursuit of seven life-debts.

But she'll leave these thoughts unwritten. This is probably more sensitive than ought to be discussed so openly in the journals. She makes a mental note to continue this conversation with Satan in person sometime soon. There's a missing piece to this whole story; she can feel it.

Besides, the words "I like the expression you make when I tease you" makes her whole face flush with heat and any critiques of the Devildom's ruler evaporate. ]

I suppose you would be a poor Avatar of Wrath if you didn't know just how to push someone's buttons. You would certainly succeed at frustrating me in that situation! Royal speeches must be much more entertaining in the Devildom if demons are wont to act like a peanut gallery in audience. Would you do that to Lord Diavolo as well, or am I just lucky?

Journal 📚 Cats & Volunteers 🐈

i think teasing is satan's love language

it absolutely is 😼

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