Prompts:
61. Accuracy
62: Irregular Orbit
63: Cold Embrace
64: Frost
65: A Moment in Time
The key to being a believable doppelganger was meticulous accuracy. Learning the way a person moved in their body was necessaryin not raising suspicion while wearing another's likeness. Cagnazzo had watched the fisherman on the shore for weeks before attempting to take his shape.
But Cagnazzo still didn't know how to fill this strange shape, skin bulging in all the wrong places. There was only one way to truly learn a container: by filling it himself.
The fisherman gurgled his last breath as Cagnazzo flowed into his lungs.
Too easy, Cagnazzo thought,Whose shape shall I learn next?
Cagnazzo stood with a group of petitioners in Baron's throne room, waiting and watching.
"But Your Majesty," the astronomer, Corio, protested. "If the moon's irregular orbit continues, it might affect our planet. It could change the tides—"
"Baron commands the skies," King Odin interrupted. "Let the sea do what it will."
"Sire, this needs more research—" Corio started.
"If you had Mysidia's Water Crystal, you could command bothsky and sea," Cagnazzo said. "Baron would be unstoppable."
There was a sudden greedy glint in Odin's eyes as he looked over Cagnazzo. "Tell me more."
With his borrowed mouth, Cagnazzo smiled.
Cagnazzo would never admit to the other fiends how taxingit was to be Odin. As a public figure, it was difficult for Cagnazzo to have privacy to be himself, as himself.
Rubicant would remind Cagnazzo that only hewas "given" a kingdom, and to focus on the next mission.
Barbariccia would tease Cagnazzoabout the limitations of stinking human flesh and make a crass joke.
Scarmiglione wouldn't say anything, only give Cagnazzo a baleful look, maggots wriggling from his sockets.
Only theocean knew the trueCagnazzo and loved him anyway; its cold embrace accepted him as he was.
When Cagnazzo found the wreckage, the survivors had been in the icy water long enough to have frost on their lashes. Cagnazzo brought themto Baron, then threw them ashore.
At first, they were treated kindly, given food and warm clothing, beds to rest in. Then, the interrogations began – had they been transporting Cecil Harvey? To where and for what purpose? They all feigned ignorance; they all lied.
Except the monk, Yang, who had been unconscious for days until he awoke with no memory.
"Help Baron, and we'll help you," Cagnazzo-as-Odin promised, then pressed a key into Yang'seager hand.
For a moment in time, Cagnazzo believed he could win against Cecil Harvey. Combat made Cagnazzo feel alive, finally showing who he was and what he could do. No cunning or deception, Cagnazzo would win by skill alone. Golbez and the other Archfiends would finally have to acknowledge Cagnazzo was more than a convincing liar.
With two children and a fragile old man among Cecil's allies, Cagnazzo reasoned this would be an easy win. Ultimately, it was the old man who defeated Cagnazzo, with a Thundaga strike cracking his shell in half.
Cagnazzo was relieved; at least he died as himself.