Fic: Diaphilus
Fic: Diaphilus
Author: megkips
Rating: PG
Characters: Roderich
Warnings: None
Summary: Roderich is a certain sort of devil in the 13th century.
Roderich is, by his own estimation, a proper demon. Which isn’t to say that there is a wrong way to be responsible for dragging man kind to hell, there is simply a more correct way to do so, and he has the monopoly on that market. He does not sit and pick at souls, as Gilbert does, nor does he wait for a soul to arrive before inflicting torment, as Elizabeta does. Rather, he scoops souls up while they are alive and reminds them of the threat that awaits them after death.
Roderich is a deal maker.
Gilbert scoffs at it, of course, but Gilbert sees little merit in anything that he himself doesn’t do. It’s an act of servitude to humans - mud monkeys - that any demon with an ounce of self respect shouldn’t even bother, in his opinion. An opinion which he gives freely every time discussion turns to work.
Roderich does not bother to explain why he answers the summons of humans. Gilbert is an idiot and incapable of understanding things like subtle irony. Besides, he’s a servant of Pride. He has no need to understand how Greed works.
It is simple, really. Humans want things, because they are selfish worms. Often times, if they want it bad enough, they will make foolish offerings. Sometimes they will offer themselves.
Roderich likes those offerings.
Humans that can conquer demons with small magics are usually powerful things indeed, capable of great good or great evil. They are valuable little things, and Roderich understands their value. Moreover, it is so much less work to gather them. He does not have to wait years and years for the assurance of the soul. His deals are verbal contracts - instant and eternally binding.
Today, Roderich answers a summons in Switzerland.
He doesn’t grow his horns out or appear in a flash of smoke. He simply wills himself into the binding circle, perfectly poised and smiling. Confronting the desperate with a thin veneer of pride is always a touching contrast to the understanding of what demons look like, and that is why he does it.
Roderich is not surprised that the person summoning him today is a child. Well. Perhaps not a child, but of tender years, and the minute Roderich looks at him, he knows this soul is his. The young man has a look of desperation in his eyes, and that is what Roderich likes to see. Selfishness disguised as selflessness.
The young man explains his situation - the only remaining member of his family is dying of the plague (he himself has not caught it, and he considers himself all ready damned) - and he cannot bear to have her leave as well. He speaks until he is choked up with tears, and in that moment, Roderich weighs his option. He cannot assess the sister, but any more time on the Earth is a chance for another soul to fall into the grips of the Below, and this young man would be heaven bound if he did nothing.
Roderich smiles, cruel and compassion-less.
“What are you willing to offer me?”
“The payment is usually a soul, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
“Then that’s what I offer.”
There is no wavering in the boy’s voice. Roderich likes that.
“You understand that upon agreeing to this, at your death I will personally come and collect your soul and bind it to me in Hell, so that whenever I call upon you, you will serve as I wish?”
This time, the man stops to pause. Roderich lets him. He looks to be a good boy, and he and Elizaveta have been looking for a new servant. This one looks suitable enough, and he has an air of faith about him that they both love destroying dearly.
“Y.....yes.”
“Then we have an agreement,” Roderich says, smiling. “Your sister will be well in three days. Call it a miracle, if you wish - everyone else will.”
“Isn’t there a contract or--”
Roderich sneers ever so slightly. “Unless you can read and write, I see no reason for it. You will be held to your word.”
The boy opens his mouth to release the demon, but he is all ready gone, needing no human say so to dismiss him.
Roderich does not return to check on the boy as he waits for the soul to come to him. To remind him of their contract takes away from the young man’s all ready growing guilt complex - the one that lets the young man remember that he has given his soul for a few more years with his sister, rather than let her die according to God’s plan.
It is enough.
Author: megkips
Rating: PG
Characters: Roderich
Warnings: None
Summary: Roderich is a certain sort of devil in the 13th century.
Roderich is, by his own estimation, a proper demon. Which isn’t to say that there is a wrong way to be responsible for dragging man kind to hell, there is simply a more correct way to do so, and he has the monopoly on that market. He does not sit and pick at souls, as Gilbert does, nor does he wait for a soul to arrive before inflicting torment, as Elizabeta does. Rather, he scoops souls up while they are alive and reminds them of the threat that awaits them after death.
Roderich is a deal maker.
Gilbert scoffs at it, of course, but Gilbert sees little merit in anything that he himself doesn’t do. It’s an act of servitude to humans - mud monkeys - that any demon with an ounce of self respect shouldn’t even bother, in his opinion. An opinion which he gives freely every time discussion turns to work.
Roderich does not bother to explain why he answers the summons of humans. Gilbert is an idiot and incapable of understanding things like subtle irony. Besides, he’s a servant of Pride. He has no need to understand how Greed works.
It is simple, really. Humans want things, because they are selfish worms. Often times, if they want it bad enough, they will make foolish offerings. Sometimes they will offer themselves.
Roderich likes those offerings.
Humans that can conquer demons with small magics are usually powerful things indeed, capable of great good or great evil. They are valuable little things, and Roderich understands their value. Moreover, it is so much less work to gather them. He does not have to wait years and years for the assurance of the soul. His deals are verbal contracts - instant and eternally binding.
Today, Roderich answers a summons in Switzerland.
He doesn’t grow his horns out or appear in a flash of smoke. He simply wills himself into the binding circle, perfectly poised and smiling. Confronting the desperate with a thin veneer of pride is always a touching contrast to the understanding of what demons look like, and that is why he does it.
Roderich is not surprised that the person summoning him today is a child. Well. Perhaps not a child, but of tender years, and the minute Roderich looks at him, he knows this soul is his. The young man has a look of desperation in his eyes, and that is what Roderich likes to see. Selfishness disguised as selflessness.
The young man explains his situation - the only remaining member of his family is dying of the plague (he himself has not caught it, and he considers himself all ready damned) - and he cannot bear to have her leave as well. He speaks until he is choked up with tears, and in that moment, Roderich weighs his option. He cannot assess the sister, but any more time on the Earth is a chance for another soul to fall into the grips of the Below, and this young man would be heaven bound if he did nothing.
Roderich smiles, cruel and compassion-less.
“What are you willing to offer me?”
“The payment is usually a soul, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
“Then that’s what I offer.”
There is no wavering in the boy’s voice. Roderich likes that.
“You understand that upon agreeing to this, at your death I will personally come and collect your soul and bind it to me in Hell, so that whenever I call upon you, you will serve as I wish?”
This time, the man stops to pause. Roderich lets him. He looks to be a good boy, and he and Elizaveta have been looking for a new servant. This one looks suitable enough, and he has an air of faith about him that they both love destroying dearly.
“Y.....yes.”
“Then we have an agreement,” Roderich says, smiling. “Your sister will be well in three days. Call it a miracle, if you wish - everyone else will.”
“Isn’t there a contract or--”
Roderich sneers ever so slightly. “Unless you can read and write, I see no reason for it. You will be held to your word.”
The boy opens his mouth to release the demon, but he is all ready gone, needing no human say so to dismiss him.
Roderich does not return to check on the boy as he waits for the soul to come to him. To remind him of their contract takes away from the young man’s all ready growing guilt complex - the one that lets the young man remember that he has given his soul for a few more years with his sister, rather than let her die according to God’s plan.
It is enough.