periphrasing | WE GOT DEMONS UP IN HERE

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demon summoner au

WE GOT DEMONS UP IN HERE

It’s around noon when Peridot performs the summoning. By all traditional, dramatic accounts, this might seem an unorthodox time of day to be cracking the barrier between realms and calling upon the infernal forces of hell itself, but, hey. She’s only human, after all; she has a job, a schedule to keep, a sleep pattern to maintain…

Frankly, if you ask her? Anyone who risks doing their demon summoning in the middle of the night while exhausted, just because of tradition or for the ambience or whatever, is probably a clod who deserves to get devoured by an incubus.

No. Peridot is much more pragmatic than that. That’s why she’d woken up this morning after a solid night’s sleep and decided that today, at last, would be the day to act. She’d had herself a sandwich, changed into her work clothes, made sure to hydrate properly AND gone to the bathroom AT LEAST three times before she had gotten settled in to start with her preparations, gleefully determined to put her plan into motion.
Soon enough, the pentagrams had been drawn out, the lines double and then triple checked for accuracy. Incense and candles were both lit, ceremonial items and offerings laid out in the proper arrangements according to all the books. And the whole time that she’s working, in spite of the preciseness of her measurements and the thoroughness of her research, Peridot is achingly aware of the riskiness of this endeavor she’s about to undertake. She’s confident in her theories, and in her own abilities as a summoner, but…

A double summoning. It’s a concept often muttered about among all the scientists at the extradimensional research department which Peridot is employed at, but it’s rarely ever attempted. Too risky, everyone always says. Too many variables, the spells too wordy and complex and the demons… to unpredictable. Managing just one is a struggle for many of those who delve into the dark arts.
But not for Peridot. What can she say, she’s always looking to push the limits of her field, and pulling off such an allegedly impossible feat seems like the biggest and most impressive limit to break of them all.

And all that ambition has led her, at last, to this point. Everything is ready. She seats herself across from the pentagrams, spell book laid open on the floor in front of her, a sticky note with the names of the demons she has selected for this experiment stuck to the edge of the relevant page. She’s practically shaking with excitement, has to take a breath to center herself, focus on the moment before she starts to read aloud.

Ancient words from a lengthy passage. Peridot pronounces every one of them clearly and accurately, and then calls forth through the void for them: Jasper and Lapis Lazuli.
She sits quiet, stock still, and waits for the response.

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Over the pentagrams, the void opens, first seeming to unzip like a seam in the air, and then coiling into a sort of nebulous, dark shape -- which slowly gains colour and weight and form, huge clawed hands and curling horns and a tremendous mane of hair.

As she solidifies into this plane, it becomes clear that Jasper is almost too big to fit into in the pentagram Peridot has drawn. This isn't really helped by the fact that she is wearing a floor length cape -- and nothing else, but the cape covers enough in front to be a little bit mysterious as well as imposing.

At least, she hopes so.

She draws herself up as her piercing yellow eyes fall on the human with the book, eyes narrowing, clearly unimpressed.

"This pathetic human whelp dares to summon me?" she snarls melodramatically.

Edited 2017-05-07 04:01 (UTC)

The space over the other pentagram zips open similarly to the first, though the shape that takes form from it is significantly smaller than the first. This demon drops from the space, landing neatly and gently into the middle of the pentagram with a clack of hooves hitting the floor.

This demon is significantly more nude, without even a cape to cover.

Lapis instead gives a small formal bow, unaware of the other demon's presence as the energy crackles and fades from her ears. She always dislikes the ringing it leaves, but she's not going to complain after going for so long without a summon.

"Greetings, Summoner." She looks up from her bow, tail flicking slightly and her expression falling from smug confidence to shock as it finally dawns on her there's...

Another demon in the room? What the fuck?

Going into this, Peridot had been hoping to maintain something of a professional attitude during the initial meeting. That's how she usually handles her summonings for work; cold, clinical, straight and to the point. But this is a personal experiment, and one that appears to be a resounding success to boot. There's no holding back the radiant grin that is taking over her features as she stares up at the results of her handiwork.

Her spell modifications worked. Two demons! AT ONCE!!!

"I did it!" Peridot yelps delightedly, springing to her feet at once. "I really did it!!! Nyyyeeeeeheheheh, stars, look at you both! You're both perfect!" Indeed, the young woman is appraising them both carefully now, and then points to them both in turn. "So I'm guessing you're Jasper, and you're Lapis Lazuli. Am I right?

Jasper blinks, clearly taken aback. She stares at Peridot... and then she turns to stare at Lapis... and then she raises a hand, expecting to find some easily exploitable weakness in the human's work, because summoning two demons simultaneously is an idiot move --

But there's nothing. Her claws clench on air, and she bares her fangs in disbelief.

"... Yes," she says to the human, but her eyes linger on Lapis Lazuli, trying to get the measure of her. Will she be able to outdo her? She'll have to, otherwise she'll leave this summoning completely, miserably empty-handed. The thought is an unpleasant one -- being transported across planes has a way of leaving a person hungry.

"Alright. Human. What do you want?"

Jasper isn't the only one immediately testing the boundaries of this humans magic work, but Lapis does it less obviously, grasping at any areas that might be weak, any loopholes that might be present or even just plain things that she might have forgotten to cover.

There's nothing. It's... Flawless work, honestly. Even humans who summon one demon at a time don't do this good. Oh, the reward of a soul is still there, but the problem is, souls can't exactly be shared.

Lapis levels another look at the other demon, appraising her in turn with slightly narrowed eyes. She's big, intimidating. Some kind of war demon? That might make sense to be summoned alongside, but with one human, one soul, there will undoubtedly be competition. Lapis turns her attention back to Peridot. There's none of the emotional energy that's coming off of her that matches anyone who usually summons her.

She's wary. Has she already been beaten?

"That's right. Lapis Lazuli, at your service." She puffs up a little, wings spreading to make her look slightly bigger, slightly more intimidating even if she knows there's no way she can actually match up to a demon of Jaspers' type.

As long as she can make a good impression, there's hope. "What do you need of me?"

Edited 2017-05-07 05:18 (UTC)

Already, having these two for side-by-side comparison is yielding fascinating results. In the back of the room, Peridot has a camcorder going, recording this entire exchange. EVERYTHING needs to be documented; never before has anyone successfully attempted to exploit the issue of soul ownership with a double summoning, and hinging on her continuing success, this could have incredibly useful applications for her entire field of research into the far future.

More importantly, at least in the immediate sense, she can tell that the two of them are already sizing each other up as potential rivals, which is exactly what she wants to take advantage of here.

It's now or never. With the summoning over, they're at the contract stage of the proceedings, the bread and butter of the whole operation. Devils love striking deals, after all. This time, however, Peridot's banking largely on these demon's natural egos and their desire to save face in front of one another to do most of the negotiating for her.

She straightens up a little, attempting to bring back that mask of professionalism. "Yes, your charges... What I require of you both is quite simple. I have summoned you to this plane for the simple purpose of gaining a better understanding of your kind, or in other words, research. So, all that I require of you is this: You will remain here on this plane for an indefinite amount of time, and for that duration you will obey all my orders as I convey them until I see fit to dismiss you both back to the infernal pit. Should I become displeased and choose to dismiss one of you before the other, that dismissal will NOT represent a breach in any part of the contract for the remaining demon, or otherwise nullify any part of this agreement. Furthermore--"

It goes on like this? For a good few minutes? Peridot is very thorough with her demands, closing loopholes and making sure there's absolutely zero room for misinterpretation on either demon's end, and in the end her proposal boils down to this: Lapis and Jasper are to stay here on Earth in her employ until such a time comes that she announces very clearly and adamantly that her scientific curiosity about them both has been satisfied. And though it's not said outright, it's clear that there's no soul waiting at the end of this for either of them; their best hope at that is to try and convince Peridot to use their services for the proper kind of contract, the sort which only a human soul can be considered sufficient payment for.

Jasper is bristling in impatient indignation by the time Peridot's explanation is finished. "I have razed armies to the ground," she snarls, "I have brought warlords to their knees. And you - you're telling me you've brought me here to – observe me?"

Not that there's anything she can do about it. Being sent back home hungry is an absolutely wretched prospect, and being dismissed implies failure in the eyes of other demons, no matter what excuses one might make... And she supposes this brazen little human might have some of the kind of fire in her that fuels her own powers.

She folds her arms, eyes narrowing. "I could do much more for you than that."

Peridot is right. With two demons, negotiations become a lot more finicky. Neither Jasper or Lapis can properly can work out a deal for fear that the other might undercut it.

Which means that when the other demon doesn't agree to the terms laid out right away, Lapis jumps on them, without really considering or thinking about it. She doesn't want to give Jasper a chance.

"I accept your terms." She states, letting the magic bind her to the human. "I think my powers could be used for grander things, but if that's what you want from me, so be it."

Jasper's eyes narrow, shooting a glare sideways at Lapis.

"Fine," she growls, one hand curling into a fist. "I accept."

"Excellent!" Peridot says happily, clapping her hands together. It's a gesture of excitement, but it also punctuates her releasing them both from their pentacles. "Believe me, I don't doubt that you're capable of much, much more. I mean," she snorts, rolling her eyes with amusement, "do you actually think I would summon two demons by name without reading up on your history first?"

Well, good. With all those formalities out of the way, Lapis takes a cautious step outside the pentagram, immediately testing the boundaries of her freedom. "If you read up about us, why us? Why not some sort of knowledge demon that'd be of more use to you?" Especially if Peridot wanted to find out more information on them.

Hubris, Jasper thinks as she watches the human's delighted face, is the answer to that question. She doesn't fully step outside the pentagram yet, but she relaxes a little, letting her stance shift a little past the circle's boundaries.

"And who are you?" she says, fixing Peridot with an intense look.

“Peridot: Senior Researcher from the experimental summoning division of the International Center for Demonic Studies.” Then she turns to Lapis. “And to answer your question: It’s because I’m far less likely to be tempted by a war or a vengeance demon than I would be by a knowledge demon,” Peridot smirks knowingly. “Besides, the records showed that you guys haven’t been summoned in what, decades?” she points at Jasper, “and centuries,” she points at Lapis, “So. My logic was this: If I was going to go through the effort of inflicting my scientific observations on any demons, I should probably at least do it on someone who’s probably been itching for a chance to get out of the hellscape again for a while. So in other words, you’re welcome!”

Alright, even Lapis can admit that it's... smart. That doesn't mean she likes it though.

She likes being a charity case even less, and she can't help but frown at her summoner, eyes narrowing just slightly. There isn't much she can do about it though, and any sort of back talking could land her with repercussions.

"Thanks, I guess."

Jasper, eyes narrowed, does not thank her. "I guess at least you aren't being secretive about it. I hate when they're secretive." She folds her huge arms under her cape. "But you still haven't told us what you want us to do now."

"For right this second? I figured we could get to know each other a little, since we'll be working together for a while." She says this with complete sincerity, like it's perfectly normal to play icebreaker games with your supernatural employees from another realm. "As I said, I've read your service records but, the accounts don't give much more than a list of your notable accomplishments. I want to know more. Oh, and also--!"

She pauses and lifts her shirt up a little at the waist, revealing her SCIENTIST'S TOOL BELT, which is full of pencils and empty sample bottles with stoppers and other tools of the trade. From it, she produces a measuring tape, which she pulls the tab for out a few inches. "I'd like to take down some measurements and statistics from you as well."

Peridot lets the tab go, and the automatic retraction device sucks the tape back in with a snap.

Lapis quite honestly has no idea what she's looking at when it comes to the tool belt. She doesn't even know what a pencil is, for crying out loud, let alone the measuring tape.

Which means when it snaps back, Lapis jumps in surprise.

Please give her a break. She's old as hell and all this fancy new tech is frightening. "Uh. Measurements?"

This, lamentably, gives Jasper reason to look faintly smug over the fact that she's seen a measuring tape before... but she still has no idea what Peridot is suggesting with any of this.

"Get... to know each other," she repeats, squinting.

Peridot glances between them both, eyebrows lifted slightly. Demons. Honestly.

"Yeah. Like... I know what your first recorded summoning is, Jasper, but that doesn't mean it's the first one you ever experienced. Tell me more about that, while I take a look at Lapis over here." She gestures the smaller demon over, rather than going to her.

Well, understandably Lapis isn't going to say no to Peridot when she's being motioned over, but she doesn't have to like being ordered around like this. Lapis takes a few shaky steps when she notices a fatal flaw in Peridots' whole planning thing.

The floors are super smooth. She's used to the gritty stone floors or rough wood floors when it comes to walking.

It's likely that Peridot has never seen a demon pull a feet like this before. And that feet is slipping, sliding, and ultimately-

Yelping as she's forced into doing the splits. Which, for the record, her legs aren't made for.

"What kind of a floor is this!?" It clearly has anti-demon properties.

Jasper looks put off for a second by Peridot's question -- and then Lapis slips, and she lets out a sharp bark of laughter. She takes her own, more assured step forward. Toe beans. No problem.

"It's lionel-um," she says authoritatively.

Peridot reels back a little in surprise, eyes as wide as dinner plates because in all her years of demon research, she's never seen anything quite like this?

"It's linoleum," Peridot corrects her, "and crud, you need more traction-- Hold still!" she barks, holding her hands out, trying to get Lapis to calm down. "Just stay there, I have an idea--"

The human skitters out of the room and returns a few seconds later with a huge towel, which she throws down on the floor in front of Lapis. "There, step on that instead."

Lapis hisses, outright seethes as the other demon laughs at her, and her tail lashes back and forth in agitation as she waits for the human to grab- something? She's not sure what this linoleum flooring is, but she immediately dislikes it.

Once the towel is down, it's easier for her to stand up, thankfully. She glares daggers at Jasper. How humiliating, to be taken down by a floor? "What's the purpose of flooring this smooth?" Seriously. It's gotta be a hazard to everyone, not just her?

"Lionorlem, that's what I said," says Jasper dismissively. "It works for humans because humans don't have hooves."

As long as they stay on this subject she doesn't have to answer invasive questions.

"It's not usually this smooth," Peridot explains irritably, straightening up and pushing her glasses back up her nose. "This linoleum--" her eyes flick over to the war demon briefly, LISTEN TO HOW SHE'S SAYING IT, JASPER-- "is super old because my stupid landlord won't pay to replace it. Usually it's textured, but that feature has been worn away over time by friction. Other parts of the house are at least carpeted, so you shouldn't have any problems there."

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