Yue

 21st November

11:24 GMT -5

"We need someone to run Limbo, preferably while pretending to be Satanus. And when we say 'run', we mean-."

"Be your puppet."

"Not.. puppet, no. Like a normal demonic contract, we will agree to certain terms, and nudge each other every so often to make sure that the other party isn't cheating."

"Your soul would be an interesting-."

"Hah!" I shake my head. "You could try fighting the Ophidian for my soul… But I don't think you'd win."

"The Ophid-? Hrh. No. You may be right there."

"And in any case, that's not what I'm offering. You will take the form of Satanus, and appear to drive us off. You will then continue his reforms: remaking Limbo-."

"I know what he was doing. He enjoyed taunting me with the concept."

"And?"

"I prefer high-volume low-risk investments. Trying to take over Hell is high-risk single-unit. I use avarice. I'm not blinded by it myself."

Jade raises the Ace again. "The other option is we destroy you with the Ace of Winchesters."

"Do so. I've made arrangements. It will take time and pain, but I will eventually recover at a remote location far from here."

Jade glances at Ambrose for confirmation and gets a shallow nod. "It's possible. A lot of demons aren't cautious enough to bother. Or they can't spare the power it would take."

Mammon manages a semi-grin. "But I'm the patient sort."

"Nergal has a similar arrangement. A small part of the body left in a remote or concealed location."

"Nergal? Oh, I'll look forward to seeing him again, then. It's always nice when the competition aren't quite as clever as you are."

"I'm not seeing the risk here. Satanus already has everything set up."

"And he was working with allies who know his character and will probably notice if I replace him. And then there's the chance of him coming back. I already lost to him head to head once."

"Our holding facilities are quite good. And we'll certainly be able to warn you in advance of him returning."

"The anticipation won't make me any less fucked."

"It's in our interest that you remain in position. We won't just leave you flapping in the wind; we'd come to assist you."

"And? If he comes back even for a moment I'd lose control of his followers."

"Which would make it an unpleasant fight, but wouldn't stop you carrying on the work after we win. And I doubt that their personal loyalty is particularly strong."

"So I have to take risks to do something you want me to do in order to get something I don't want. Sounds like a bum deal to me." He's.. actually smirking. "Unless you can sweeten the pot."

"Yes, let me think about that for a moment." I stretch out my arms towards him. "No. Last chance."

"Yes, please kill me with something other than the Ace. That will cut down my regeneration time con-"

"Brand."

"-sideraaaaagh!"

Thirty interwoven orange cords erupt from each of my rings, leaping for every part of his body. About a third wind their way into his mutilated chest cavity, plugging themselves into exposed veins, arteries and broken organs. Others connect to the holes Satanus made in his arms and legs, while a couple more thrust themselves into his eyes, ears and mouth.

A couple, I… Try to ignore where they're going.

Jade glances at me. "Do we have time for this?"

As a demon, I don't really have to worry about making alterations. I read about Mammon in the Grimoire Verum and he's certainly no innocent. Really, the best thing you can say about him is that his deals are more or less honest and open and he'll occasionally let the client off if he can use them to trade up.

"John, how long would evacuating us take?"

"I can get myself home in about five seconds. Transporting the rest of you? That would take a few minutes."

"Ambrose, Mister Blood. Do you have anything to contribute at this point?"

"Not a lot." / "Not unless you want to risk asking Etrigan's help."

Orange lights are flickering under Mammon's skin. "John, take them back right away, then return for the rest of us."

"That will reduce the time per journey, but the total time-."

"I know. Go."

A glowing ankh flares behind me as a glowing brand begins to appear on Mammon's forehead. Now, let's see here… Self interest is fine, but I need to alter some of the surroundings so that he's not just interested in… Sticking souls in jars to expand his collection? Really? Yes, switch that out almost entirely in favour of the gradual and safe acquisition of political power, with a side order of believing that a broad base of popular support is the best way to achieve that.

Desire to defy the Silver City… Hm, he barely thinks about them at all. But there are a few memories I can link to create a desire for political defiance. Shame, really: if I hadn't committed to my course Satanus really would have been better for this. Acquisition… Switch away from 'special' souls and towards equipment and technology… Mm, I can't make him trust us, but a few more tweaks and I can… Make the project sufficiently important that he'll usually be prepared to risk asking us for help if things become really unmanageable. Make sure that the whole network isn't so strongly reinforced that it clouds out his rationality.

There. That should do it.

Jade stares as the brand evaporates and the orange tendrils connecting me to Mammon fade. "What have you.. done to him?"

"Reconfigured his desires so that he'll see things our way."

"How long does it last?"

"He's technically capable of reconsidering them, but it would take a massive life-changing experience. So Mammon?! How about it? Interested in ruling Limbo now?"

"Hm. I suppose asking for further concessions would be unrealistic." He tries to rise, and stumbles as he tries to move. "I'm going to need you to patch me up."

"Can do." I knit what's still there back together, and make reasonable guesses about what's been removed. Mmmm… He's probably more than a little drained by his experiences. Ring, transfuse ten percent power into him.

Compliance.

The door rattles and deforms as the soldiers outside begin their assault.

"Alright. Jade, Euanthe, we need to make this look good."