The Midnight Sun

"Ah." Ashley cocked his head and gave a devious grin. "The clients I entertain do not speak ill of my trade, because they are want for... the spirit?" It was a bit of a reach. "To complain?" He nodded. "Yes, the spirit to complain. I think this sounds most true. But, if you were desirous to watch, I would think it be left up to the discretion of the customer." He giggled. "They are not all keen to shed secrets in the dark. Even less so, when another pair of eyes are watching."

He stood and wrapped his gloved hand around hers, closing her fingers over the key and gently pushing her hand back to her chest. "Mistress, you are too kind, and far too eager. And I think..." The demon held her hand like that, still and quiet for a moment, eyes cast off in thought, before he finally nodded and returned his gaze to her. He had to look up; He was shorter. And it was an odd, almost chivalrous gesture, his words, and his deed. His gentle touch. The way his clothes flared at his proud, defiant stance. "I thought," he continued, "That I would sooner see a dark room and my own ruminations before I allowed us to speak at length. To any degree," he pursed his lips momentarily. "But I tell you," Ash continued, "You are far too sweet for the bitter work I do. I don't know if you should be so ready... to have a fiend take a look into your soul. It is very private work. And you would not be quite the same afterward. So, I implore you, perish the thought? Miss...?" he paused, waiting for her to reveal her name.

"Ah. I am A-" The demon froze. His glove had kept him from noticing her skin. But her eyes. It was only as he stared into her eyes that he began to realize his mistake. He could damn a weak soul with a mere touch. But Skarlet? She was speaking, and he had ears to hear.

He felt compelled to answer.

"Oh, you know how it is, humans, mortals," he shrugged, "Weaker ones..." His head swayed drunkenly a little, as if he were trying to look away. "I will take them upstairs, sate their desire by draining it. It gets smaller, you see, so it feels as though it's been filled. They never notice, really." He shook his head, or was that him trying to pull away? "N-not... really..." Ash twitched.

He wanted to be let go.

Ashley was completely spellbound. Behind the mortal fool, there was a demon, wise on the fat of the souls it had consumed. It was held back. Made less-than by its human counterpart. Somewhere inside, it mocked him endlessly for this carelessness. Ashley's eyes teared up, either from guilt, or perhaps because he thought he had reached the end of his life. "I... I only did it for... there were very good reasons... good ones..." He tried to look away. "I will die... I will die..." he chanted quietly, over and over again.

Ashley pulled away from her and fell back into the booth, wiping his eyes on his sleeves. "You dishonor me!" he whimpered. "You would pry secrets from me!" He seemed something of a hypocrite. Or maybe, he saw a genuine difference in what he did, compared to other things like him. Ash sniffled and looked up at Skarlet, adjusting his skirt and brushing his hair from his eyes. "I do what I must. But I've not killed..." He squirmed a little in his seat. "Anyone! I've killed no one!" he insisted. "Are there more?" he begged. "How many of you are there? Have I set foot into a den of beasts?!" Ash looked about frantically. He seemed very rattled by the experience. The demon was used to being hurt. Forced by muscle and steel. Not by a few kind words and a gentle stare.

The demon continued to preen and adjust himself, as if everything about him was out of place after that experience. His hair a bit this way. His sleeves. His cuffs. "Ashley," he murmured, scooting aside and freeing up space for her. "Ashley Gremuire. Will I..." He looked up at her. "Will I not have a room, then?" he asked uncertainly. "I stand by what I say, Miss Skarlet. I would not kill anyone. It would... it would not be good for business. I sell... nothing different than what you sell," he explained.

And just as he spoke, Lamina arrived to where Skarlet was meeting with Ashley Gremuire. He seemed an interesting fellow, light pink hair, fair skin, red eyes, and bat wings out of his skull, and Lamina still felt somewhat glowing from her bout of luck following the Avalon. She joined them with a smile. "Hey."

Ash was happy enough to smile at that. It was a real smile. Not the one he put on when he'd entered. If anyone had seen him before, a cold, and distant creature, stalking the streets in search of another place. Always another place. He nodded eagerly. "Yes!" he chirped. "I would like that very much!" He sat up and reached out, grasping her hands and encasing them in his. "You won't regret this, Miss Skarlet! I vow to be the greatest consort of mortal desire the Midnight Sun has ever seen!"

Ash turned and nearly bumped into the table, being wedged behind a booth. He stood, or tried to at least, and after a quick bout of struggling to get up, bowed his head suddenly to Lamina. "Miss Manira! Pleasure to meet you! I-ah!?" He reached out to shake her hand, then decided the table was much too in his way for his arm to reach across, and, perhaps still shaken by the events, scuttled out from the booth and approached Lami from the opposite side. With a clack of his heels, he bowed his head and greeted her properly. "A pleasure."

"I still have to change, I'll be right back." Starlet walked to the back room, anyone could look over to watch her walking. It would take a few minutes for Skarlet to change into her regular clothes, and she walked back to the booth.