Game of Monsters - 182

What if I Make It Right?

Joshua looked forward, a smile on his face as he took in the shifting sight. Lights shone, shapes changed and moved, voices and sounds were heard and it all mixed into a show that was worth seeing. Maybe the story was simple, there wasn’t much of one at all, honestly, but there was enough substance to it that he felt proud and it showed in his expression.

And the seconds kept passing by and the show continued, which was even more impressive, because it was one thing for a few seconds of things to happen, but they were pushing on a minute by then. He really was impressed. The number of things happening at all times was nothing to scoff at. The level of detail was amazing, very thorough work was put into it all, he could tell.

Eventually though, it had to end, but he was impressed that even that had its own thing going for it. Instead of an abrupt cut off, there was a fade into it. The shapes still visible slowly turned into wispy figures, like they were vanishing into smoke. The voice that could still be heard losing volume as if the entire thing were moving away.

“... So… What do you think?” was the nervous question that followed the entire spectacle.

In response, Joshua just clapped slowly, grin widening even more as he approached her and brought her into a hug. One that ended up with him pulling her up into the air and drawing a giggle out. Wasn’t very hard to realize that he was pleased, after all. Still, he decided to go the extra mile because… well, why not, right?

“That was amazing. You’ve gotten so much better,” he praised, making Kunou beam at him so much he wondered if he should wear shades… or use some magic to protect his eyes. “It was beautiful.”

“I didn’t know what to make the show about though. Was it boring?” she asked, the nervousness breaking through her happiness and pride. He couldn’t have that, not at all.

“Storytelling isn’t for everyone. You can just take inspiration from other people’s tales and such. I do that a lot,” Joshua told her, not even having to lie. “But your illusion work was what we’re here to judge, isn’t it? And I say you did great, so, put a smile back on your face, would you? You look much cuter that way.”

“Daaad~” she whined, but her lips betrayed her, pulling up against her will. She could be overly serious still, even after all that time trying to make her act like a proper girl her age. They hadn’t quite gotten rid of those remnants yet, but he was very pleased to say that they had certainly made plenty of progress.

Yasaka and him were very happy to know that, that was for sure.

“Now, come on before Koneko eats all the sweets,” Joshua said, causing her to squeak and wiggle her way out of his arms. “We can talk while we snack on those,” he added, but he was only half heard, if that. Not that he blamed the girl. Yasaka’s servants had outdone themselves during those festive days.

“Hey, those are for everyone!” Kunou protested, but the reincarnated nekoshou clearly didn’t even think it was worth it to reply to her. Instead, she picked up another treat and brought it to her mouth. “Hey!”

“You should just eat while you can,” Ravel pointed out, eating some herself. She wasn’t quite devouring everything like Koneko was, but she was very obviously following her own advice. “That was very good work, Miss Davis,” the devil added.

Joshua once more noticed and pondered the little Phenex’s mastery of the art of using titles. If she called someone something, it was always very deliberately on her part, no matter what she used. She used Mr. Davis with him the most, because she liked to appear professional and wanted to be taken seriously. She used sir when she was feeling a little more nervous and wanted to be as cautious as possible. Most of the time, she called Kunou by her name, but she called her Miss Davis when she wanted to get on the little youkai’s good side.

His daughter did so love to be formally acknowledged as his daughter, it seemed.

It was why Yasaka and him had chosen the present they had for her.

Although, it was amusing that she hadn’t noticed they hadn’t gotten her a Christmas present that year, especially him.

“Thank you,” his daughter replied, a little shy when she was reminded of the show she’d just displayed for everyone to see. “I still have a lot to work on.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t take after your father in the humility department, Miss Davis,” Ravel doubled down, making Joshua wonder if she wanted to get something out of Kunou or if she was just feeling charitable… It was probably the former though. “Being humble is fine, being too humble, however, is not.”

“I… guess,” Kunou mumbled, looking down, but she was pleased and everyone could see that.

“The little miss is so adorable~,” Kuroka cooed and Joshua readily agreed with a nod and a proud expression.

“Isn’t she?”

“Daaad!”

“Don’t upset her, Joshua,” Yasaka told him, shaking her head at him, but she was fooling no one. Not that she was trying very hard. “Especially before we give her present to her.”

“Present?” the little girl asked, her mind turning one-tracked immediately.

“Yeah, did you think we’d gotten you nothing?” Joshua answered with a raised eyebrow. Then, looking at Yasaka, who nodded, he nodded back before waving his hand and making a single piece of paper appear on the table, careful to avoid the food bits that were scattered here and there. Friday took care of those a moment later, just in case, dutiful and helpful was ever.

“What is this?” Kunou asked, evidently a little confused. When she picked it up though, and after taking a moment to read through the document, she stiffened. “... Really?” she mumbled, seemingly making an effort to keep her hands and her voice steady. She only succeeded on the former though.

“Yup,” Joshua answered casually. “We thought it was a good a moment to make my position as your father somewhat more official instead of just saying that I am. Guardianship isn’t quite the same, but it was a good enough first step, we felt,” he explained, smiling softly and trying to squash his nerves as best he could.

Was it enough? Was it too little? Was it too much? He was reasonably certain that the latter was not the case, but still. His brain was being unhelpful and he needed some reassurance. Yasaka had done plenty of that, but Kunou herself saying something would be greatly appreciated.

His answer came with his daughter throwing herself at him and hugging him like her life depended on it. Nothing was said as he wrapped his arms around her and held her. When he felt wet spots on his shirt, he remained silent. And he did too when he saw Yasaka give him a look that clearly transmitted an “I told you so” to him.

Not that he cared.

He was just happy.

[}-o-{]

[Penemue]

She was taking a risk, but she couldn’t afford to do nothing.

Joshua Davis was single-handedly doing more damage to Grigori than the other two of the three Biblical factions had done to it in quite a long time. Not because he was doing a lot of actual damage or killing any of their numbers. In actuality, he was strengthening them, even if they were sure he was doing so with their enemies a lot more.

No, what he was doing was undermining Azazel’s authority. The authority that only the Cadre had ever dared to question and speak up against in any considerable manner was now under doubt by even the lowest ranking fallen in their faction. They had questions, opinions, concerns, and they were right. Because the information of what Davis was doing for the devils and Heaven had leaked. Penemue was half sure Davis was behind that somehow, but that wasn’t relevant at the moment.

What was relevant was that their people were growing restless and all the blame was being directed at Azazel. Everyone knew he’d made a strong ally turn away from them and focus entirely on their eternal rivals. Not that they were wrong, but knowing that hardly made things any better for Penemue. If anything, it made it all worse.

They needed Davis on their side if they wanted to stand a chance of not being the weakest faction. Which was depressingly ironic, considering they had been the strongest before the human appeared. They had the numbers that Heaven and the devils didn’t have. They were weaker, yes, but they could easily win a war against any one side. The only reason they hadn’t wiped the other two out was because if Heaven and the devils allied against Grigori, it was mutually assured destruction and everyone knew that.

Now though, the devils were being cured of the growing concern that was the Sleep Disease, nevermind the fact that they had access to more healing power than they knew what to do with. Heaven, for their part, was growing stronger too, with their forces being literally upgraded for ones with more wings. Grigori was falling behind and not even Azazel’s increasingly more successful Sacred Gear projects could even the scales if things continued as they were going.

So, something had to be done.

The problem was that Azazel couldn’t do anything. If he capitulated to Davis’ accusations and tried to do something about the Vali situation, then he’d look weak, nevermind what could happen to the man that he considered his own son. If he didn’t though, Davis would continue to grow more hostile, and Penemue had no doubt about that. Because their leader’s attempt at spying on Khaos Brigade was not working.

It wasn’t working at all.

“You wanted to talk to me,” was the first thing Penemue heard when she teleported, breaking her out of her concerned mind. “I have to say, I was not expecting this,” Davis added, looking unconcerned as one could be. “Now, be quick, will you? This week is one I wanna spend with family and friends,” he told her.

Penemue wondered if he’d deliberately said that to remind her that she was not a friend at the moment. She pushed that thought away with the same steely determination that she ignored the Phenex girl sitting beside the man. She couldn’t afford to mess up.

“I’m here to discuss the current standing of our faction with you, Mr. Davis,” she started, deciding to do as he asked and get to the point. If she knew one thing about the man, it was that he cared not for the usual empty words of political speech. He wasn’t a politician and treating him as one wouldn’t earn her any favors.

“That’s Lord Davis to you,” the Phenex girl said and it was obvious to Penemue that it was her that wanted to smack her down with that and not Davis. The man didn’t say anything though, so she guessed the devil was allowed at least that much power in the room.

Just perfect.

All the same…

“Lord Davis,” she corrected calmly, pushing down any annoyance she felt. She needed to do this right and this was far from the first time she’d had to put up with something like that. Being a secretary, even if it was for Grigori’s Governor, wasn’t something that often put her in a position of power over those she interacted with, after all.

“I’m listening,” he said and she nodded.

“I know why things are as they are and I can’t take back what our faction did to you and yours,” she started with, because it was no use trying to say anything other than that on the matter. “I can only say that I’m sorry that it all came to this,” she added and she didn’t even have to lie about that. “And offer an olive branch, if you’ll accept it.”

The man looked towards the Phenex girl, but she didn’t so much as twitch from where she sat facing Penemue. After a second, Davis turned back towards her too, unreadable blue eyes locking on hers once more. For someone that wasn’t a politician, he sure could hold his poker face well when it came to it.

She didn’t think she’d ever gotten nothing from his expression.

As if to prove that he wasn’t to be underestimated, he straightened the smallest bit more and then unleashed the full might of his presence on her, as if he were flicking a switch. For the first time, Penemue faced that overwhelming weight on her own instead of accompanied by Azazel. Furthermore, all that force was directed at her when it had never been before either.

“As I said,” the man said slowly, each word feeling like even more weight was dropped on her shoulders. “I’m listening.” ‘Don’t waste my time,’ he didn’t say, but Penemue was sure that was implied. She nodded, gulping down her fear and unease. Davis was angry at her faction, but he wasn’t unreasonable if he wasn’t pushed. He wanted to get the meeting over with, but he wouldn’t actually do anything to her so long as she didn’t actively antagonize him.

“These,” Penemue forced through her lips before a pair of bracelets appeared on the coffee table between her and the Egyptian’s Pharaoh. They looked rather simple, but they were anything but and she was sure that he could tell that much with a simple glance. He might be known for his defensive prowess, but Joshua Davis was aware of everything under the eyes of his spells. Or, at least, it was better to work under the assumption that he was, as far as Penemue was concerned. “Are my olive branch,” she finished, straightening.

She had to appear sure of what she was saying, even if she wasn’t. Not that she thought the offering was inappropriate, but it was never good to assume. Azazel and Penemue herself had run into their fair share of trouble thinking for sure that they’d brought enough to pay a price or a good enough gift. Sometimes, perspectives were everything, but Penemue was confident that she’d gotten a good enough read on Davis to make a good decision in this matter.

“One of your so-called artificial Sacred Gears?” he guessed immediately, the pressure easing the smallest bit. It was still there, of course, but Penemue no longer found it hard to breathe as the man regarded what she’d brought. He tilted his head and reached for it, taking it and inspecting it like a jewel seller would a diamond. All the while, the Phenex still stared at her.

Penemue would have assumed she was a statue, if it weren’t for the occasional blinking.

“What does it do?” Davis asked, but she was fairly sure that if he didn’t know already, he suspected. She was of the opinion that if he wasn’t an equal to Azazel and Ajuka Beelzebub and other such minds, then he was the closest thing. And wasn’t that terrifying, for someone that had been in their world for less than two years?

On top of that, he was also unbothered by politics, unlike the two aforementioned examples.

A free, unfathomable mind.

“Defense,” she said, almost choking out the words. It wouldn’t do to freeze up, she reminded herself, pushing aside thoughts of how frightening the man across from her was. It was easy to forget, considering his general demeanor, but she couldn’t afford to. She couldn’t let that affect her, however. “The user can create barriers up to a certain distance from themselves. Barriers strong enough to stop a Longinus Balance Breaker if necessary. That was tested,” she explained simply.

“Tested by Divine Dividing?” Davis asked her, an ice-cold smile on his face and no belief in her words whatsoever in his voice. “I guess you’re not stupid enough to come to my house and lie to my face though,” he added, his expression relaxing as he looked back at the bracelets. “Why’d you choose them?”

“Because the reason you have a problem with us is that we put your loved ones in danger,” she said, almost wanting to blurt it all out as fast as possible. Reminding him of that couldn’t be good, but she needed to do it anyway. Azazel better be grateful, if her idea worked. “So, maybe we can make up for it the smallest bit by giving you something to help protect them… or help them protect themselves,” Penemue explained and she really didn’t like the way the man stared at her after she said that.

Once more, he was giving her nothing at all to work with. Not only that, but Penemue was also under what felt like the whole scrutiny of an entire pantheon and more. Davis’ spells and Egypt itself were looking at her and she could only hope that she wouldn’t be found wanting. Because she knew that if he decided to do so, he could have her dead and not just because she was in his home by herself.

Few people in the world could say they were safe when faced with a man as skilled as Joshua Davis. After all, everyone relied on defenses to form their power bases. But those same power bases were what Davis could take, twist and ultimately turn against one. The one place where everyone was supposed to be at their strongest, Davis could transform in the place where one was at their weakest.

“I commend the initiative,” Davis told her, slowly letting the pressure go and going back to being “just a man”. Not that Penemue would ever let herself be fooled by that, but it certainly helped ease her nerves. “And I appreciate the gift.”

“But…” she said warily, because that was implied in the way he spoke.

“But I have to tell you, if this comes with a string in the shape of Vali Lucifer’s safety, then I won’t accept it,” Davis told her flatly and she almost deflated. That was not ideal, at all. Vali was Azazel’s son in all but name. Alas…

“It does not,” Penemue reassured the man.

Because if it came to a choice between Vali Lucifer and Grigori, she knew what she’d pick, whether Azazel liked it or not.

[}-o-{]

[Joshua Davis]

“Do you like it?” he asked, looking at the barriers Kunou was setting up to test her new Sacred Gear. The thing was much safer than Incinerate Anthem, that was for sure. Nothing against the flame artifact, but it was a little too destructive despite how “innocently” it acted. Besides, this time it didn’t have any potentially problematic politics in place. As it was, Heaven and the Church were a bit iffy with Raynare, but since she was officially part of “his faction” then it was much better than giving Incinerate Anthem to a leader or heir of some other faction like the Youkai. These new little artifact was much less problematic to give away, fortunately.

“It’s fun,” Kunou answered, which was kind of funny on its own, because she did so with the most reluctant tone ever. “I wonder if I can use this with illusions. Make some illusions feel solid by placing a barrier under them. Maybe that’ll confuse people?” the girl continued then and Joshua had hardly ever been that proud of her, because that was kind of the first thought that crossed his mind when he’d come up with the idea of giving her the artificial Sacred Gear.

“You’re your father’s daughter alright,” Kuroka commented somewhere between her usual playful voice and some more wry.

“Isn’t she great?” Joshua said, ignoring the fact that she hadn’t quite meant it as a compliment, at least not entirely. Kunou and him took it as such though and he was very happy to see that. “You can work on that from now on, then. New project after your last one, huh?” he asked with a grin that Kunou matched. “You’ll have to remember to be nice to the Fallen if you see them when they come for a meeting though.”

“... Do I have to though?” she asked, giving him a pouting, pleading look that almost made him fold like a cheap suit. Unfortunately for her, he was getting used to her kit fox eyes. That and this was something he couldn’t quite budge on if he didn’t want to annoy important people, mainly Yasaka though.

‘They’ve almost got me thinking politically already. These people are a terrible influence,’ he thought to himself, lamenting the fact that he was probably going to fall to the political side of the Force. Maybe they had cookies too?

“At least polite and at least with Penemue. Azazel’s an asshole anyway.”

“Joshua!” Yasaka hissed at him, but he grinned unrepentantly. He’d fight against politics tooth and nail, even if the world was intent on turning him. And he’d be damned if he left Kunou alone with the political sharks either. He loved his daughter too much to let her face that fate. “Why must you be so…?”

“It’s part of my charm.”

“It’s really not,” the youkai leader told him, sighing wearily. All the same though, she gave him a smile a moment later. “Although, I guess I have to love that part of you too, don’t I?”

“Sorry, you really have only yourself to blame. Should have realized it was a bad idea when you saw how oblivious I was,” Joshua told her with a very mock sympathetic expression. “Now you’re stuck with me for the foreseeable future.”

“If I must,” she mock lamented and he grinned at her, getting a fondly exasperated smile back. “Try not to corrupt my daughter too much with your unsophisticated ways, will you?”

“No promises,” he replied without hesitation. “I’m contractually obligated to make sure she’s happy and I can’t let her give up having fun if I want that to happen.”

“She can have fun without causing interfaction incidents, Joshua.”

“Can she though? Can she really?” he asked, acting like he very much doubted that. Not that it was much of a lie really. People were so stiff with that nonsense.

How the tables turned though, because he could easily remember a time in which he’d had to put up with much of that same nonsense. He’d been too weak, without the power, connections and knowledge he had by then. Joshua was no longer that man trying not to be noticed. Now he was much freer and he could afford to be comfortable. He’d really rather not have to go back to those days, if at all possible.

Kunou’s giggle was all that he needed to know that he was doing well.

Yasaka’s smile too, for that matter. She wasn’t happy with his methods, but she was happy that Kunou was happy. That was all that either of them could wish for, really. Still though, he guessed it wouldn’t do for Kunou to put herself in danger, but she knew when to be Joshua-like and when to be Yasaka-like.

Although…

“Besides, on the off chance that I teach her too much of the wrong stuff, I’m sure Ravel will steer her back to the path she needs to tread.”

“Have fun, but properly?” the little devil asked, looking up from where she’d been scowling at the notepad in her hands. Apparently, there was some scheduling issue she had to wrack her demonic brain through. “I can do that, Mr. Davis.”

“Are you ever going to call me Joshua?”

“Maybe, Mr. Davis, maybe.”

“I’m alone in a sea of stuffy people. What did I ever do to deserve this?”

“Hey!” Serafall protested and he hadn’t thought she could hear him all the way across the room where she’d actually been having a calm conversation with her sister for once. Apparently, the festivities were miraculous enough to prevent Sona from being teased… much.

“Except you, Sera!”

“That’s not nearly as good a save as you think it is, Josh!”

[} Chapter End {]

Hey guys! How’s it going?

Grigori is finally trying to get out of the dog house, apparently. Or Penemue is trying to get it out, at least. We shall see how successful she is with Azazel doing Azazel things in the meantime.

We also get some more festivities out of the way, of course.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Discord Link: discord.gg/UTDransjJZ

Random Question: How was your weekend? Mine was… better than the last one, but still kind of exhausting.

See you.