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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 14, 2019 18:58:15 GMT
Mozenrath kicked back on a couch, one leg crossed over the other, as he pulled back the cover on a sufficiently cursed-looking tome. No risk, no reward, after all.
Xerxes flitted overhead. "Other villains?"
"In time," Mozenrath said. "In fact, I'm taking this as an opportunity to take care of business before fraternizing."
"Book?"
"The book is certainly enlightening," Mozenrath related. "I wasn't aware you could use some of these crystals in rituals. I wasn't aware some of these crystals even existed. But it's also a cover. As I read, I can observe anyone else who enters the archive and decide whether they're worth my time."
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Post by Hades on Oct 14, 2019 22:03:13 GMT
After the assembly out in the courtyard, Hades found himself in need of relaxation, and nothing sounded better to him than a nice long soak in the hot tub. Maleficent had assured him that the hot tub would be practically boiling hot, just the way Hades liked it. Hades stripped down to his swim-trunks (which had little skulls on them), and threw open the doors to the pool house... Or at least, what he thought was the pool house. Hades's face fell when he found himself in the archives, a room lined with books rather than spa-like pleasures.
"Great, Malef, cute, really. Ya had to make this castle a labyrinth the navigate? Geez louise!"
Hades rubbed his temples in frustration until he noticed Mozenrath reading.
"Oh, hey there, didn't see you or your flying sushi tray there. This obviously isn't the right room, so, hey, I'll get out of your hair. If I was reading, I wouldn't want anyone in my hair... well, y'know, if they could get in there without getting a third degree, HA! Wait a sec... you, I recognize you, yeah, no, you're the one with the ebbing lifeforce, aren't ya?"
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 15, 2019 3:08:25 GMT
Oh.
Oh, well this was unexpected.
Mozenrath certainly hadn't expected one of the Five to walk in on him first thing. Least of all the one he would recognize anywhere. Even before he'd ever begun to travel worlds, he had read texts about the Greek pagan Lord of the Dead, and Hades was every bit what he'd imagined. No wonder Hades was able to see him...waning.
"I'm surprised you couldn't tell that the minute you walked in." His eyes were trained on his book. He didn't need the Lord of the Dead nagging at him, whether it be to encourage him to give it up or just die faster.
Not to say he didn't want the god's company around. Though he didn't show it, this was an honor and then some.
"What is it to you, anyway?" he asked, licking the bare index finger of his left hand and using it to swipe the page.
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Post by Hades on Oct 15, 2019 4:34:23 GMT
Hades sighed and fired a flicker of flames from his index finger, setting the pages of Mozenrath's book on fire.
"Here's the thing, kid. I've got a little problem with not having undivided attention. Ya got the concept? When you're talkin' to me, bring both eyes up here, front and center. Only people I don't require eye-contact from is the Fates because, well, y'know, eye-contact gets slimy with them. So let's take that from the top: 'Yes, Lord Hades, my liege, my king, my emperor, my oneness!' Now you try it."
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 15, 2019 4:36:32 GMT
Mozenrath met Hades' eyes with his own...after rolling them. In the driest voice he could muster: "Yes, Lord Hades, my liege, my king, my emperor, my one-ness."
His eyes flicked over Hades' current attire. "Nice bathing suit."
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Post by Hades on Oct 15, 2019 4:50:23 GMT
"Beats those blue sweat pants."
Hades snapped his fingers, and his gray and black chiton reappeared on his body, looking as though a cloud of smoke had just gathered there and taken solid form.
"You've got a sassy mouth, kid. Reminds me of a former associate of mine. Speaking of, I've got a vacancy for a cast member in my professional organization, and I thought you in particular might be interested in the application. Kind've an expensive entry fee, but, hey, as long as it doesn't cost an arm or a..."
Hades glanced at Mozenrath's gauntlet-covered hand and smirked.
"... leg, who cares about soul?"
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 15, 2019 4:59:07 GMT
Now this was what Mozenrath liked to hear. He stood up, approaching Hades at a reasonable distance. "What kind of position are you offering?" he asked. "Technical? Behind-the-scenes? Strategic? Or the front lines? As for my soul...well, it's not like it's in any condition to last anyway. Might as well put it to good use!"
Now he was the one who'd brought it up. Hades' fault. He'd been too charming.
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Post by Hades on Oct 15, 2019 5:12:48 GMT
Hades grinned. This was like shooting fish in a barrel. Mozenrath was eating out of the palm of his hand. He had planned on offering to repair Mozenrath's lifeforce, but, at this rate, Hades didn't even seem to need to attach the benefits package.
"Let's call it a public relations job. My little Nutmeg used to manage my recruitment drive and helped get all my harpies in a row, dot my i's, cross the t's, zero the heroes, etcetera etcetera. Basically be a version of my imps with a functioning brain cell and a pretty face to show up where I need one to be. Interested?"
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 15, 2019 5:29:23 GMT
"Hmm." Mozenrath pondered it. (Not even realizing the opportunity he'd missed.) "Recruitment drive? Sounds doable. Organization? A skill of mine. Eliminate the enemy? Who says you can't have fun on the job? Pretty face..." He scowled. "Now, I'm well aware I have one, but you had better not be making SEDUCTION part of the job description."
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Post by Hades on Oct 15, 2019 6:15:15 GMT
"Fine, scratch seduction. Pretty sure I know a succubus or twelve who, when I say jump, would reply 'On who?' HA! No, really."
Hades scratched his chin. The kid still hadn't asked about what was in it for him. That was unusual dealing with mortals. Usually they were all about "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Mozenrath seemed to be drawn to the idea of working for Hades for the SAKE of working for Hades. That wasn't something the Lord of the Dead would ever have expected. Maybe there was more to this Mozenrath than a smirk and a sassy remark. It made Hades want to do something he'd never done before: ante up perks without loopholes.
"Oh, and I don't believe we ever got to the subject of signing bonuses. See, here's the thing, I know about your little time limit from gettin' too handsy with that gauntlet of yours. And, hey, if you're gonna work for me, I can't have you droppin' on the job to join the consumer pool. The paperwork ALONE, oy, forget about it! You throw in your lot with me for all eternity, and I give you an inexhaustible lifeforce to feed to that gauntlet. Heh? What'cha say? Pretty sweet deal, huh?"
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 15, 2019 19:05:32 GMT
Mozenrath, at first, had a hard time responding to this. It seemed his heart had stopped.
Inexhaustible lifeforce...no need, as he'd always done, to accept his own fate (up until it came close, at which point, he would begin to panic)...no going out in a blaze of glory; no going out at all...
Finally, he found words.
"I think you have yourself a new assistant. On one condition: don't call me 'nutmeg.'"
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Post by Hades on Oct 15, 2019 19:42:19 GMT
"I Moz-definitely won't call ya Nutmeg."
Hades snapped his fingers, and a contract appeared in his hand with the terms and fine print laid out to the letter, even including the provision "Hades shall not call Mozenrath Nutmeg" laid out in black and white.
"Sign on the line, and the gig is yours."
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 15, 2019 20:27:51 GMT
"Moz-definitely." The sorcerer was actually amused. "Clever. Now let me see that."
He knew far better than to sign a contract without reading every word. He seized the parchment from Hades, beginning to scan the lengthy document.
It wasn't that he didn't care what was in it for him. It was that he knew Hades was already on his page. How many mortals could claim being herald to a god? The god of the dead, no less? And one of the Five! It was the closest you could come to being one of the Five yourself.
All the things Mozenrath wanted - conquest, glory, power, destruction - they were part and parcel of this vocation (as the contract was outlining). He didn't have to ask for anything. It was all here, spelled out. They would know him. They would fear him. And he would learn divine secrets the likes of which mortals were never truly privy to. It was almost too good to be true.
And this time, he was working for someone who could respect him, who could praise him, who could give him what he deserved -
(Who wouldn't be so easy to kill, this time, if things went sour. Playing with fire, as always. Perhaps that was just what Mozenrath liked about the arrangement.)
After finding no ill wording, Mozenrath conjured himself a quill pen. "Lord Hades, you have yourself a sorcerer."
He signed his name in elegant script. Then proceeded to add "and Xerxes."
"Xerxes not agree to contract," the eel muttered.
"And I don't ca-are," Mozenrath replied, somewhat singsong. Then, to Hades again: "Whoever reneged on this position last time must've been too much of a fool to realize what they had."
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Post by Hades on Oct 16, 2019 0:05:16 GMT
"So true," Hades said as the scroll vanished. "Welcome aboard, Mozzie. And now for your benefits package."
Hades summoned a ball of blue fire to each hand.
"Badda BING!"
Hades unleashed the first directly into Mozenrath.
"Badda BOOM!"
He let the second fly. The fires took root inside of Mozenrath, pumping him full of power and lifeforce energy, causing a feeling of strength and invigoration to wash over him. Hades grinned devilishly as he admired his handiwork.
"HA! Look at how good I am! I'm always the man! All the single Hades, all the single Hades. All the single Hades, a-put your hands up!"
Hades threw his arms up in the air and waved them about.
"Wuh-uh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-OH!"
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 16, 2019 0:34:04 GMT
It felt like nothing Mozenrath had ever experienced before. He'd thought the first time he'd donned the gauntlet would be the pinnacle of magical catharsis, but this was the exact opposite of that. The gauntlet had begun to drain him immediately, feeling like a hollowing-out in exchange for his power. This...this was euphoria. Surging throughout his very being. He could feel the flesh of his right hand reforming itself, covering his skeletal fingertips. So warm.
Mozenrath began to laugh from sheer joy - though it sounded like a laugh of malice rather than mirth. It doubled in volume, and he cast his upper body back to let it out, echoing off the library roof.
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