Casper nods. “I guess he liked my coffee.”
“Where did you encounter him? Have you been inside his laboratory?” he asked, leaning closer.
Tag: deepblackdreaming
“Nothing outside of threaten me, drop all his unabashed hatred for humans on me, and talk down to me. He’s got a lot of problems with humans I’ve gathered.”
Aku knew of the hatred for humans part but that wasn’t what interested him.
“And you escaped with your soul untainted?”
“I’ve met both of them, you mean Doctor Gaster right? He’s something else…” Casper spoke in an agreeing tone. “I don’t know Azura well, but I would hate to see her fall victim to that creature anymore then she has.” Casper poured herself some tea now, taking a sip as she let the silence fall over them once more.
“Yes, that one.” Aku sat up a little and looked more alert. “You’ve encountered this creature as well? …Did it do anything to you?”
“Thanks.” she spoke honestly. “That’s a first but I appreciate it none the less.” she placed the kettle back down, watching Aku for a moment longer.
“Last question, and I’m not asking to be a jerk, but are you okay? Other then tired you seem kinda down. Did something happen?” Casper asked sincerely.
The evil overlord slouched even deeper into his seat and took his time answering the question.
“I have been preoccupied with thoughts of my personal assistant, Azura. A creature from another dimension has taken hold of her soul and tainted it.”
Though it was clear that this bothered him, Aku didn’t specify exactly how he felt about it in words. He couldn’t bring himself to admit how helpless he felt.
“A concept I haven’t thought of before, though my parents both seem human. You never can tell I guess from face value.” she picked up the tea kettle to offer more. “I should ask, how are you so okay with me right now, or aren’t you?” she asked.
As the tea kettle was lifted, Aku lowered his cup for more. His cup refilled, he brought it to his face and breathed in the steam as he considered the question.
“I am not fond of humankind, there is no question about that,” he said. “But I will not deny that for every problem they have caused me, they have created something I find useful and enjoyable.”
This tea for instance. There were certainly things that would not exist without humans. And a few of those things had become important to him.
“Unlike many of your kind, you do not seek to resist me or overthrow my rule of this planet. I see no reason to dispose of you.”
“Maybe. If I have a darkness, it must be subtle enough that I haven’t noticed. It could be growing if that’s the case.” she just couldn’t bring herself to care, she knew it was an issue, and while there were things she was against it was as if her mind had no energy to do anything about it.
Indifference was something she had grown used to over the years, despite it being something she knew would be a problem down the road.
“I’m comfortable around you, you’re right, I should be terrified. But I feel like the darkness and evil that resonates here is welcoming almost.” that felt gross to say no matter how true it was.
“Have you considered that you may be half demon?” Aku asked over his teacup. As unlikely as it might have seemed, he knew from personal experience that it wasn’t impossible.
“It happens more than you might think…” he added with a grumble and took a long sip.
“Don’t know.” she answered honestly. “Its been this way since I was a child. I’ve always had monsters around me, they tell me I know why but I haven’t a clue to be honest.” she sat down arms on her knees as she spoke, casual as ever. She didn’t appear afraid of Aku even the slightest even now.
“Maybe it’s something that draws them to me. Like an illness.” she tried. “A paranormal syndrome, maybe?”
“Hmmmm… perhaps there is darkness that resonates within you,” he mused, but it was only a guess. “For a mortal you seem unusually comfortable in the presence of supreme Evil.”
Even comfortable enough to serve it tea. It was strange. Even Azura had been leery of Aku at first and openly shared her dismay at the things he had done (which Aku largely ignored.) This human seemed to accept evil quite easily.
“Mm,” Casper thought about that, looking to the side. “One of them insists on talking to only me. The rest seem like they’re more driven to be my tormentors like its an instinct. I can’t really say much since I try my best to avoid them.” she answered, taking her sketchbook back.
“What is it that draws these creatures to you?” Aku eyed her as if he might be able to see the answer if he looked closer. She appeared to be an ordinary human to him, but his judgement of humans had been wrong in the past.
“Or perhaps it is you that is drawn to them.”
“Hm?” Casper leaned over to look. “Oh. These are my…demons? I guess. They haunt me, at home, or at work, one of them lives in the mirror.” she pointed out one with long limbs and gleaming eyes.
“I call him “The Horror” he lives in the ferris wheel.” she pointed to another with a mouth full of teeth and narrow eyes. “This is the mirror creature. He can talk, but it’s never a fun day when he does. The one here dwells in dark spaces in my home.” It had wide eyes and an open mouth, appearing to slither for movement. Casper leaned back to let him finish browsing, hoping that satisfied his curiosity about them.
“I can always bring one with better pictures.”
Hmph. Amateurs, he thought. Aku was much more frightening than these pitiful fools. They might, however, be useful as minions.
“And are these demons your friends?” It didn’t seem like they would be but Aku could be a bit tone-deaf at times. “Or do they torment you at every turn? Are they powerful?”
Casper perked up at the question and turned the sketchpad over letting him take it.
“Here, feel free to look. Most of it can be pretty mundane. Birds, locals from my town, landscapes in some.” and plenty of the farris wheel but she didn’t mention, more focused on some of the other drawings. The contorted monsters were what really stood out, each of them a sort of edrich that promised pain in their stances to all who approached them, even though they were just drawings.
Aku flipped through the drawings one at a time, somehow managing to avoid tearing the pages with his large claws. Most of the drawings seemed mundane… though he noticed the Ferris wheel seemed to appear over and over. What really caught his attention, of course, were the other monsters.
“Who are these creatures?” he asked, pointing to the pages.
The Shogun of Sorrow 