An Audience with the Prince

[samael]

Samael leaned against a wall outside of Ryota's quarters. He'd not had a minute to talk to the captain since the banquet, and his patience had finally worn out. Stick and Stones stood silently on either side of him, and when he snapped his fingers, Stones knocked on Ryota's door heavily.

"No time to be wasted, Prince Ryota," Samael said to himself, "I've other meetings to attend to if we're going to hold off this alien menace. Too many easy pigeons on Earth to give it up."

[Deleted]

Ryota sighed as he heard the knocking on his door, there were few on the ship who actually knocked when they wanted his attention with most knowing it was just easier to shout his name, 'Boss', or some variation of 'Captain' so he was not entirely surprised that when he opened the door he was faced with the tag-along he'd acquired after the Banquet. Ryota had managed to busy himself with Zach, general work, and some personal training and so he'd not gotten a chance to speak with the other Makaioshin yet.

When he opened the door to face the other man Ryota held a look of annoyance and barely contain anger at the man's presence. He just could not find within himself an ounce of trust for a man that he knew worked for his father. "It's Captain Ryota." he said leveling the man with an annoyed glare before stepping off to the side to allow Samael into his quarters. "Come in, the goons stay outside." He said with a tone that screamed 'no exceptions', any attempts for said 'goons' to enter would result in a fist impacted directly in there jaw likely knocking several teeth loose.

[samael]

Samael snapped and his men were gone like the wind. He stepped into the room and lit himself a cigarette without asking. He also took a seat, again without asking.

"No, Captain, I'm quite sure it's PRINCE Ryota. Thought I suppose you could be both - it's been done before, though rarely by the heir apparent. I wonder if they miss you down in hell."

Samael knew that technically hell was a construction of the human consciousness, and that the place Makaioshin came from was something a bit different, but he'd developed a habit of calling it hell in his time amongst mortals.

"Speaking of which...you need to go home. This Touketsuki character wasn't joking when he said he was going to wipe us out. I doubt he's even aware of where we come from, and I doubt even more he can GET there. Hell, I've been having trouble for the last few centuries. Seems I'm on the outs."

[Deleted]

Ryota almosted chuckled at just how ballsy this guy had to be to act the way he was, even a cursory sense at the man's power and Ryota knew he could easily take him on without even his Makaioken, there was even a chance he could out and out beat the man even if he had his aura active. Maybe the other demon was just so used to being to big dog that he just didn't care as it could simply just be the normal superiority complex found in most of there kind, heck even he wasn't immune to that part of there nature completely.

"He's aware enough, as for returning 'home'. I'd had every intention of doing so even without you suggesting it. I've already developed my own way back, the various bridges that I've been told used to exist between there and here have apparently closed more and more over the years from what I've heard." Ryota said while crossing his arms over his chest. "So why exactly are you here other than to try and get me to go back, if anything you say is to be believed you've probably not had much contact with him so I doubt he sent you. So spill it."Ryota said giving Samael an annoyed glare.

[samael]

Samael smiled and nodded. Yes, this boy was as smart as he remembered, and now he had claws to match. His power was staggering, too. So much growth in (relatively) so little time. Yes, this should work just fine.

"Ah hah, right to the ten million zenni question. I want you to go home because your father is doing a shit job at being King - and by that, I mean he's kicked me out, he's driven you away, and I don't see any other of our kind running around doing anything interesting. It seems like he's closing off the borders and that's a mistake and a half. I might not be a King's advisor anymore, but I know bad governance."

He took a drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out in rings.

"And that's just the tip of the iceberg, my boy."

[Deleted]

"I'm fairly certain that there's something... wrong.. with him. I may not have agreed with the means by which he did what he did as King but he always did everything with a 'purpose' and from what I know of his reign before my birth and for a time after I left he ran things very well. But everything just gone to shit, he's let the Realm fall apart under his watch." Ryota said having to for the most part agree with the man on the points he'd brought up.

"So what exactly is it that you want? I've already told you that I'm planning to return and.. 'sort things out' so why are you still around? I'm not particularly in the market for an adviser who's served my father even if he tossed you out." Ryota said hoping to get to the point of why they was having this conversation.

[samael]

"Oh I don't want to be your advisor, at least not until you think you have need of me. I just wanted to make sure you were willing, ready, and able..."

Samael polished off his smoke and put it out on the pad of this thumb.

"You're willing, clearly, and you're powerful for sure. You've got a crew and a ship and a very fancy coat...but I'm not quite sure you're ready or able."

He leaned forward, reached into his pocket and placed his demon razor on a nearby end table.

"If you show up without an army, it'd be like me trying to fight you with this. I could win, if I didn't kill you to your face. You need a good plan. If you need help coming up with a plan I can either help you...or give you what you'd need to plan it yourself."

[Deleted]

Ryota raised an eyebrow at the demon as mentioned being able to give him what he'd 'need' to create a proper plan of attack for when he went to the Demon Realm however it was the way he'd said it that threw Ryota off a bit. Regardless Ryota wasn't particularly sure he wanted the Makaioshin's aid. He had an idea of how he intended to go about things in the initial 'attack' and he was certain that between himself and his crew they could stave off any attacks by those unwilling to accept him.

"I think you underestimate my abilities but what exactly do you mean by being able to give me the ability?" Ryota asked as regardless of how he felt about his ability to get the job done he couldn't help but feel a bit interested in what the demon was offering.

[samael]

Samael smiled wide, and stood up. He stepped around Ryota to stand behind him, and placed his hands gingerly on the man's shoulders.

"Well, I use the term 'give' loosely, but your father kept me around for as long as he did not just for my good looks, but for my uncanny ability to leverage a deal. All of us Makaioshin have special techniques, unique to each of us. You're no doubt aware of this. Mine is the ability to grant wishes."

He stepped back around Ryota and looked him in the eye.

"Well, to an extent. I can't bring back the dead or kill someone, but there are things that I can grant - incredible power, the love of a woman or a man if you prefer, or a particular skill, unmatched by anyone. In your case, I feel you might benefit from peerless skill as a tactician. The ultimate leader and general. Though, if there's anything else you might want that I can offer, then by all means I will offer it."

He smiled and sat back down, putting his razor back into his pocket from where he'd placed it earlier.

"There's just a small matter of price to discuss."

[Deleted]

Ryota was slightly surprised when the man revealed that he had actually been rather literal in his claim that he would 'give' Ryota the ability to be a far greater tactician then he was. The ability to grant 'wishes' as the man had put it was beyond rare amongst there kind as a natural ability, tales of Makaioshin with the ability to do so were fairly common but because it was so uncommon most just passed it off as myth. Evidently it was not.

The other options presented were also rather tempting, he could in effect be the 'best' at whatever he wanted, or even make himself more powerful those two things were incredibly tempting however Ryota knew full well exactly what he was dealing with and was none too surprised when the other man mentioned a price.

"And what exactly would the price on a 'wish' be." Ryota asked, he was rather certain that the 'price' would involve something far MORE than just money, however Ryota wasn't entirely sure exactly what the price might be, he had a few ideas simply based off of the few stories he'd heard of things such as this but for all he knew those could simply be embellishment or outright false.

[samael]

Samael crossed his legs and folded his hands over his lap. There was a certain sparkle in his eyes, a certain curl to the ends of his lips that were almost imperceptible, but were clear indicators that he loved what he did.

"The price is simple, really. You have two options: you can pay with your eternal soul, or with a favor. Both prices are collected at a later date, to allow you some worry-free time to enjoy your new gifts. The favor is determined by myself, and can be anything from bringing me a sandwich to killing someone I need dead to...well really just about anything. If, by chance, you refuse to deliver on the favor or are found incapable of delivering on the favor, the payment defaults to your soul."

Samael produced a cigarette and put it in his mouth, but did not light it.

"Though for you, I'll make a one-time very special offer. I'll offer you a binding clause in this contract that your favor will be absolutely on the up-and-up. No asking you to kill your friends, no asking you to do something that would get you killed, no funny business whatsoever. Your favor, when I decide to call it in, will be absolutely straightforward. I don't guarantee you'll love it, or even be eager to do it, but I guarantee that I won't screw you out of your soul."

[Deleted]

Ryota took in every word that Samael spoke he took his time thinking over everything that the man said trying to find the 'trick' to what he was planning because Ryota had no doubt that he would try something. However as Samael finished explaining the deal and the 'special' offer he was making for him Ryota realized that while yes he was probably hiding something, the man was putting up front pretty much all of the negatives of the deal. Ryota had no real say in what the favor would be and while Samael offered to exclude several deal breaking options it only made Ryota more questioning of the deal. It meant that Samael had something VERY specific in mind which was almost more dangerous than if the man was just holding off because he might need something later.

The man's suggested 'offer' the imparting of master of strategy wasn't exactly what Ryota would deem 'worth it' to him. He felt confident enough in his plans and more often than not they worked out in the end. And really always having the 'perfect' strategy would get rather boring. No Ryota needed something else. "I don't like anything about this, especially the idea of putting my soul on the line without even knowing specifically what I'll have to do to get it out of danger..." Ryota said taking a moment to pause just to see how the man would respond, as it stood he'd all but declined the offer. If the man offered a better 'deal' or at the very least a bit more information on what his favor would be then so be it.

However assuming the man did not attempt such a thing Ryota was already prepared to continue with. "However... I think I'll make the gamble. Assuming you can legitimately increase my power in a significant way beyond its current level and it stays that way. We have a deal."

[samael]

Samael nodded slowly, steepling his fingers in front of his chest, almost as if he were in prayer. Ryota was a lot smarter than he'd thought, and certainly smarter than he looked. Most customers never bothered to ask about the favor. Perhaps he'd given too much - guaranteeing certain things were off the table had clearly given Ryota the idea that he was in a position to bargain.

"Hm...how about this, then? I won't tell you flat out what I'll ask of you, but I'll give you an idea of what I ask for. See, the favors I call in are usually fairly simple - get me into this club or meeting, bring me this item, find this person, kill that person. Things that suit my purposes. I'll admit, however, that I save IMPORTANT favors for important clients. Clients with real power. I save those favors until something worthwhile comes up. Say if there's someone powerful on my ass, I call it in for backup. Sometimes I even have to use it to save my own bacon - several powerful clients have attempted to kill me after dealing, and thus the favor is for them to -not- kill me. Hilariously enough, half the time those customers end up defaulting. Silly, no?"

He shook his head as if shaking off a bad joke.

"So while I won't tell you the exact nature of what I have in mind, I will say that I find it pricelessly valuable to have the future Demon King owe me a favor of any kind."

And then the Prince went for it. He took the bait.

"I can increase your power, absolutely I can. What I can give you is similar to that extra little 'oomph' all of us Makaioshin have - our ugly, black aura. Only mine...mine is a decent bit better, a little extra rocket fuel to fan the flames - and it's far more pleasant on the eyes and ears. If you're still interested..."

He took his razor back out and nicked his palm. Blood welled up in the cut, and he held the razor out, scales-first, to Ryota. Another fake ritual. He didn't think Ryota needed the ritual to BELIEVE in the power, but he also didn't want to let on that it was as simple as willing the effect into existence. Best to play every hand as close to the chest as possible.

"Then we only need to shake hands with a little blood."

[Deleted]

Ryota let out a sigh as Samael pretty much confirmed just what he'd been expected, however the benefit of gaining power beyond his aura was simply something he could not pass up with people like Touketsuki running around and of course his plans for the Demon Realm. Even if his father hadn't trained a day since Ryota had last seen him Ryota still remembered the man being far beyond most others in terms of power even without his aura active.

Ryota raised an eyebrow as Samael cut his palm and then explained that it was apart of the process of sealing the deal. Ryota had no way of knowing if this was actaully true or not though and considering how little he knew on such subjects he wasn't exactly in a position to argue the merits of such a thing. However he had no intention of using Samael's blade. The blade was small and innocuous enough that it actually made Ryota more likely to consider it a threat. So when Samael offered the blade Ryota simply drew his own and ran the blade across his palm cutting just deep enough to draw blood.

"I'd rather use my own blade." Ryota said pausing for a moment just to give Samael a chance to mention if there would be anything 'wrong' with doing so, assuming there was not Ryota would then shake hands and seal his 'deal with the devil'

[samael]

Samael had no problem with Ryota using his own sword, and as such he watched as the Prince cut himself and the two shook hands. He noted that Ryota's handshake was firm and strong, and he did his best to return in kind. Just before the handshake released, he reached out through Ryota's arm with his ki, injecting that little something special into Ryota.

"A pleasure doing business with you, boss. I wish you all the best in your conquering of our home. If you need me again, here's my number..."

He wrote down a cell number and nodded to the man before turning and leaving without another word. Once the door was closed behind him, neither him not his men could be found on the Galleon.

((CONGRATS, RYOTA! You've gained the Crossroads Blues power. Enjoy it! Also, leaving thread, pl plox)