Belle hung back, studying the devil as he approached. Handsome, just as in game. Confident posture as he strolled toward them. This was a being who knew how & what to offer others; how to intrigue, ensnare, but he exuded the most malevolent aura she'd ever felt in her entire life, barring Brain's the other night.
In game, she'd loved Raphael. He was one of her most favourite characters. His voice acting was as superb as Astarion's (probably why she liked him so much). She'd even given him the crown in one of her playthroughs, fully expecting him to take over everything & not at all surprised when he revealed that exact intention. What did it matter to her he wanted all of creation? It wasn't her creation, so she could be gracious in handing it over.
But now? This creature, this devil, wasn't at all what she'd expected. She felt pure repulsion at his nearness. Raphael wasn't the nice devil she'd thought he was. Belle had to do some quick foot work in her own mind, reshuffling some plans she had half baked going on up there, so that nothing, absolutely nothing, relied on this … person.
He was currently waxing poetic with Gus, who obviously felt the same way, going by his guarded, defensive posture. The others in the group didn't look too sure what was going on or who this guy was based on their quizzical looks being thrown at each other. Lae'zel was the only other one to have her hackles up; she kept scenting the air & didn't like what she found there, judging by her screwed up face.
After chatting about his cats & foxes, Raphael lifted his hand, snapping his fingers together, & apparated them straight to his House of Hope. It was exactly how Harry Potter had described the sensation; like a fishhook just behind the navel, pulling you through a tiny hole where your extremities got spaghettified before 'pop', you arrived at your destination. Not a nice feeling, as it left her head ringing & her fingers & toes tingling as if they'd only just regained circulation.
The others were all shaking their heads as well, so it wasn't just her not used to shit like this.
Raphael faced them, his hands clasped behind his back as he welcomed them & invited them all to partake of the lavish feast he had prepared for their arrival.
The smell of roasts, dripping in gravy was thick in the air, permeated by sweet apple pie, cranberry sauce dips & fragrant soft cheeses. Her mouth watered. She hadn't seen a spread like this in quite a few years now. She inched over to the table as Astarion stood on her foot, halting her. She looked back at him. He shook his head, once. Her hand reached out behind her, not caring what it snatched from the table. He grabbed her other hand, hauling her away from the tempting food while Raphael started his temptation of Gus.
"Don't take anything from here!" he whispered at her fervently, eyes darting back up to the portrait above Raphael & back down at her.
But she was starving! His eyes pleaded with hers before she nodded, sulky at not being able to eat any of the nice food. He released her hand but stood by her, totally not ready to stop her should she lunge for the table at all. Regrettably, he was starting to know what she was like.
Raphael 'poofed' into his devil form, which was absolutely impressive and downright diabolical. His malevolency skyrocketed. He didn't care for them, they were simply tools to be used to get the crown, to be discarded when they'd fulfilled their use. Or enslaved like the others he kept here. She finally understood why Karlach had been so vehement in retrieving the pact she'd gleefully signed away that one time.
Gus handled the situation well, she saw. He didn't flinch at Raphael's transformation & looked thoughtful at the devils' words of being their saviour.
"Well, I thank you for your warning, devil –" he began.
"Please, call me Raphael, after all, you and I have a way to go. Why not on friendly terms?"
Gus hesitated.
"Raphael. You've given us much to consider. We'll indeed take your advice in looking for alternatives first, &, if the time comes, we may have another little chat."
"Excellent! I do so enjoy making new friends & allies! But, for now …" he lifted his fingers again, snapping them, sending them all away … except her.
Fuckin shit fuckin fuck balls!
"Um, I think you forgot me?" she put up her hand like she was back in Grade 3.
"I didn't forget you, little Earthling. Why don't you take a seat, have a bite to eat while you & I have a separate chat, all our own?"
"Oh, I'd love to, really, but I'm on a diet, you see, & all those calories & carbs …." She could heed advice when given to her. Especially from Astarion, & especially when he'd given her such a sincere plea, giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Tut tut, all that effort, gone to waste. Well, maybe next time," he swept his hand grandly, & the food just disappeared. Into thin air. Just like that. What a neat Jedi trick!
"But, please, take a seat. I have a proposal, just for you."
One of the chairs moved itself, flinging itself behind her, ramming into the back of her knees so she collapsed onto it.
"What the fuck, this isn't Ghostbusters!" she grunted, unable to pry her ass away from the seat of the chair.
"I don't know what that is" he waved away her reference. "No doubt some weird little Earth thing. Now. Down to business."
He clapped his hands together before rubbing them vigorously & leaning down so that his face was level with hers. His breath was hot like steam, smelling vaguely of the hot springs in New Zealand.
"You're going to ensure that the crown is delivered unto me. In exchange, I will send you back to Earth."
She gaped at him.
"You know I know?" she asked him the same question she'd tried to ask of Withers.
"Of course I know. It's my job to know. What do you say, hmmm? You know what you're doing, you're already guiding the others through dear old daddy. Just continue doing so, &, at the end, hand the crown to me. I promise I'll spare Earth once you do; they won't know a thing that goes on."
He chuckled.
"They haven't for a long time now, anyway. So, it'll be the same as it has been in forever."
Fuuuuck, think Belle, think! Right, there was a loophole.
"I want Gus sent back too."
He smiled, revealing every single sharp tooth lining his mouth. She shied back from that carrion look.
"Done" he purred, no bartering, no cajoling. He must really want that crown something bad!
"I won't promise anything just yet; it's early days. Things might change between now & then, circumstances etc. Plus, I might die. I have it on good authority I can't be bought back."
"And I have it on good authority that fate won't let that happen. So, what'll it be, little Earthling?"
What was so damn important that the very gods & fate itself had promised her to see this thing through without her kicking the bucket? She was guessing it was some sort of perverted, cosmic entertainment to them, like an episode of Seinfeld.
"I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request. For now. When you contact dad again, I'll let you know if I've changed my mind."
She expected his smile to drop from his face like a hot potato. Instead, if anything, it widened.
"I always did enjoy the tougher clientele. It makes it that much sweeter when they finally do accept my deal."
She opened her mouth once more, only he clicked his fingers in her face, sending her reeling backward, through space & time, to land on her butt, back on the road where everyone rushed over to her when she finally reappeared.
"Belle!" Gus threw his arms around her, bear hugging her. His scent, the scent of dad, of safety, of authority, surrounded her, & she wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his shoulder. Her heart was pounding crazily, because she'd just told a devil 'No'. She'd always had trouble with confrontation; not a good thing to have when dealing with the public, & now she couldn't understand how she'd been terrified of Karens, but an actual, live fucking devil she'd been able to turn down? What the fuck was wrong with her?
"What happened, what did he want?"
He pulled her away to look at her face, his thumbs running over her cheeks.
"He wanted a separate deal, one that, if I fulfilled, he'd send me, us, back home afterward."
"Back to Earth?" Wyll clarified. She nodded, looking up at him.
"What was it?" Gus asked.
"I can't' – it was confidential. He did something where I can't mention it." God, she was sick to death of lying.
"Alright, ok, well, it's just another thing to add to our growing list of 'deal with later."
He stood, helping her up.
"For now, I think we break early for camp. There's lots to discuss. It might take the rest of the day. In the morning, we'll deal with that." He nodded at the broken bridge.
Heading off the road a way, they found a likely spot & began resetting back up camp for the night. Belle struggled in trying to push aside Raphaels' deal. It was so tempting – but that was what a deal with a devil was all about, wasn't it? She was in no way excited to take him up on it. Plus, she still had Ethel by the short and curlies as a backup plan.
"You didn't eat anything, did you?" came Astarion's voice as she was on all fours, half in & half out of her tent, spreading out her bedroll.
"No, Astarion, I was a good girl." She sighed.
He knelt by her as she crawled out.
"A tempting offer. To go home, I mean." He continued, reaching such levels of sincerity she had to wonder if this was a shape changer already.
"I know. But not one I'm likely to take. Once upon a time, I would've. Not now." Yeah, like three playthroughs ago.
Something shifted in his expression, like a shadow disappearing from his countenance.
"If you don't mind me saying, I'm glad to hear that."
"Really? I thought you couldn't wait to get rid of me!"
"Please, I volunteered to look after your beastie self in the mornings. I certainly wouldn't have if I didn't think something of you."
Oh woooow, where the fuck was this coming from? Not that she was complaining, in fact, her shoulder devil was making kissy faces at him right now. Was it the blood offer? It had to be; she couldn't think of anything else she'd done to warrant this turn around.
"That's morning Belle" she flapped it away.
"It has a name?" he asked, his eyes starting to look more mischievous as they bantered.
"It does, but it won't respond to it. Say, does Faerun have coffee?"
"What's coffee?"
She stared at him, horrified. She'd been holding out on the hope it existed here.
"Uh, never mind. I think returning to Earth may be in my best interest." No fucking wake up juice? Not on your nelly would she stay in a place without it!
She noticed the shadow return to his face.
"Are you alright?" she had to ask, because something was clearly bothering him.
"I've been thinking –"
She gasped, hands clapping to her mouth, eyes rounding.
"Oh, ha-ha, very funny" he drawled.
"I know. I've been waiting for it, you left yourself wiiiide open, my friend."
He paused when she said that.
"Is that what you think we are? Friends?"
"You are really starting to frighten me. Where's all this …whatever this is…. coming from?"
"Well, if, in a few days, we rescue this Halsin, our time travelling together will come to an end. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that. You're quite the ally to know, after all…"
Christ, things were out of order. And, honestly, shouldn't he be targeting someone else? Someone more powerful? Like durge (perish the thought!), or, even, ugh yucko, her dad? Rubbing her head, she interrupted him.
"Do you honestly think a druid is going to be able to cure a tadpole that is no way a normal one that easily?"
"I – do you mean he can't'? Why are we bothering to rescue him, then?"
"Because he's been studying them. He'll know something more about them than we do. Ergo, we rescue him to see what he knows."
"Oh. I see. Well then, never mind what I just said."
He went to stand up.
"Astarion." She stopped him, plucking at his sleeve.
"What is it?" he paused.
"I'll be hanging around a while yet; getting back to Earth is not going to be that easy, I'm afraid."
"…. good. I mean, not for you, but … still. I was hoping we could continue awhile longer together."
She nodded at him. He nodded back.
"You!" came Lae'zels' sibilant hiss. How could she make vowels sound sibilant?
"What?"
Astarion left quickly as the gith approached.
"You know stuff you're not letting on. I demand to know what you do!"
Oh shit, couldn't she get a break?