"Wot?" Oh was she Bri'ish? Jasmine was having trouble placing her accent before but it was definitely something European at least.
"So I guess it isn't common knowledge, but the Djinn of the Ring is the one who, in the story at least, Alladin, or 'Alā' al-Din, or Aliyah-Din, etc, I can't remember the chinese name, is given by the Sorcerer to acquire the Djinn of the Lamp, and later is the one that helps him defeat the Sorcerer." Jasmine instantly began explaining the difference.
"I have never met an Aladdin in my life," Djinn said.
"...I know the story but that means, that is… Oh by the Great Satans, that is The Ring."
"Ye." Jasmine confirmed, holding out her hand to show off the Seal of Solomon.
"Oh… That hasn't been seen in 3000 years."
"Are you not High School age or is that a general statement and it's that recognizable?"
"General, I am actually seventeen," Rias answered. "I am of the house of Gremory. It is in my education that that ring was used to control my ancestors."
"Oh wait what? This is That Ring? Not just- oh. Oh. Ohhhhhh."
"Just a correction, that was just used as the Medium, that was all Sally. Dude was a genius after all."
"So this isn't The Key, this is 'just' The Ring, right?"
"That is actually a bit of a Devil Lore that can be talked about later, but so I guess you summoned me on her behest to teach you about the supernatural world you just entered?"
"And for me to beg for protection!" Jasmine said cheerily.
"From what?" Rias asked in genuine confusion.
She held up the ruined blouse. "So I found out about all this after being stabbed in the gut by what I've confirmed to be a Fallen Angel, who I'd been having a genuinely interesting discussion with up to that point before she, again, very rudely stabbed me."
"Excuse me, they did what?" Rias asked.
"She said she wanted my Sacrum or something?"
"Sacred Gear," Djinn said.
"Figured, if they don't think they could recruit, they kill and not something they were allowed when they requested permission to be in my territory." A genuine aura of malice briefly surrounded Rias's body before immediately dissipating as she calmed down. "Excuse me."
"No no, by all means, as long as you don't damage anything." Jasmine said, glad her suspicion had been confirmed- this was her territory making Rias a major player, if not a 'main character' of some sort.
"I will be having talks, but I'll happily give you protection Jasmine-chan, would you like to join my Peerage?" Rias asked.
"I don't know what that means so provisionally maybe!" Jasmine said with a relieved smile. Awesome, she'd made a good enough impression that she was being offered protection, though some part of her couldn't help but note she'd been attacked by angels and was seeking refuge with devils.
Sheesh.
"Well just means I use an Evil Piece on you to turn you into a Devil," Rias explained.
Djinn looked shocked at that.
"Uhhh… is that a requirement for your protection, or?" That sounded like a literal one way ticket to Hell.
"That is just the easiest, I can also hire you on as a contracted magician," Rias said.
"I'd have to look over the contract first but that sounds a lot better." Jasmine happily agreed. She would not get screwed over by a contract ever again.
"I would be disappointed if you didn't Master," Djinn said.
"Of course doing deals and contracts is literally in our blood," Rias said.
"So what's the pay? Are there benefits? Do you have dental? What's my insurance going to look like? Who do I report my earnings as coming from when filing my taxes? Do you offer holidays? For that matter, is it hourly? Salary? Per job basis? Is-"
"Uhhhhh," Rias verbally stalled as the girl looked a little flabbergasted. "I am gonna have to call my dad about that, but uh provincially we can make a small deal."
"Provisionally, and sure!" Jasmine corrected her pronunciation.
"Great so in exchange for giving you protection from the Grigori, you shall become a member of the ORC?" Rias suggested.
Jasmine couldn't help but stare at Rias in awe.
Was.
Was she stupid or just that kind?
No, wait, she was a devil, this was probably an expert manipulation tactic to get her guard down and guarantee Jasmine would join, thereby putting The Ring under her control. And at the very least gave her an excellent point to start bargaining from since Jasmine was both desperate and had already expressed interest in joining! Of course, it was genius!
Jasmine's opinion of Rias's cleverness grew significantly at that. She was sneaky, that was exactly the kind of person she needed right now. "Agreed!"
"Great," Rias replied as she held out her hand, which Jasmine took without hesitation. "So I am going to be dealing with them, but are you okay Jasmine-chan?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine, I just got stabbed, no biggie."
"Master, that is usually a very traumatizing experience for humans."
"I agree with the Djinn." Rias added.
"Is it?" Jasmine asked. It really wasn't that big of a deal, right? She got healed afterwards, and she was fine now, so no biggie. She had cooler things to focus on! "I feel fine. Oh, but uh, Bouchou, you're not going to kill any of them right?"
"I am." Rias answered as a matter of fact.
"C…can you keep Kalawarna alive?" Jasmine asked tentatively.
"...Why?" Both Rias and Djinn asked.
"I wanna finish our conversation." Jasmine said. "She, again very rudely, interrupted it with the stabbing and such, and I wasn't finished."
"You are a very peculiar human," Rias said. "Well if they prostrate and apologize for it, I may leave them alive."
"That's… better, I guess." Jasmine admitted after a moment. "So what now? Do me and Djinn just stay here and you go deal wit- that doesn't feel right, what can we do to help?"
"Well I won't be doing it immediately, I need to talk with Sona first, and do it in such a way that isn't seen as a declaration of war." Rias amended. "Don't want to be known as the devil that broke the ceasefire."
"Ceasefire?" Jasmine and Djinn asked at the same time.
"The Three Biblical Factions as we are called, the Grigori, The Underworld, and Heaven are currently under a cease fire that has been going for 500 years now, ending the Great War." Rias explained.
"Ohhh, is that at all related to the Renaissance happening around then too and the subsequent advances, humans stopped getting caught as collateral as much?"
"Ah no Lucifer, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, and Leviathan all died."
"Big L's dead? What, did Michael get him?" Didn't that mean Revelations was already upon them?
"We don't actually know what happened that day, but you know that big lake in North America?" Rias asked.
"Lake Superior?"
"Yeah that wasn't there the day before."
"...Oh!" Jasmine said in surprise. Active and present angels and devils would mean an altered history from what she knew, that made sense but hadn't occurred to her yet. "Do you- do the Factions use memory alteration or something when it comes to that? That feels hard to hide."
"We all do to keep humans ignorant at large, lots of rewriting of history on all sides since everyone was kinda done with fighting and everyone had been badly wounded." Rias explained. "We have books in the ORC if you want to read those."
"I'd love to!" Jasmine said eagerly. "You can just teleport us there right? Djinn said everyone knows how to do that."
"I can, and she is right, it's baby's first spell." Rias said.
"So can you just teleport anywhere at any time?" Jasmine asked in surprise.
"If you know the location, and cast it properly, yes," Djinn answered.
"But any competent person with a modicum of power can block it," Rias added.
"Like, in a radius around you or as in permanent wards?"
"Wards." Rias answered.
"Got it… and the ORC isn't only warded like that, but is also pretty much the safest place in the city right now?"
"Pretty much, only people on a very short list are allowed," Rias answered as she moved her hand and the circle she had seen earlier appeared underneath them, and an instant later. Jasmine, Rias and Djinn were in a more Victorian style living room, with cozy lighting, sofas and chairs.
"Oh Rias you are back from- and you've brought guests," Another busty senpai(?) who had been sitting there said. This one had long black -no, very dark purple- hair and violet eyes and was wearing a very cute red dress with poofy white (pale pink? That looked more like washer bleed honestly) sleeves.
"Akeno, this Jasmine, and this her Sacred Gear," Rias answered.
"Independent type," The now-named Akeno said. "Is she going to join our Peerage?"
"Not at the moment," Rias said. "Just wanted protection since the Fallen Group broke the deal."
"Hmm, that should have been expected, they are fallen after all," Akeno said in a derisive tone.
"...Is interfactional racism a thing I have to worry about, or is that a you thing senpai?"
"We all hate each other, insults are expected, they call us bats, we call them crows and angels are pretty little doves." Akeno said.
"Awww, crows are cool though. They're such a pretty carrion bird. And so intelligent too… ooh, are familiars a thing?" Jasmine asked, distracted by her own knowledge of birds.
"Yes, you have to either summon one or pay for a trip to the Familiar Forest in the Underworld." Akeno said.
"Oh okay… wait, so is it The Underworld because technically the word 'Hell' is derived from the Norse Hela and her realm and is a human thing and you guys are devils so you call it the proper name or is it something else?"
"She is a curious one," Akeno said.
"Was gonna let her loose in the library while Sona and I dealt with the Fallen," Rias said.
"And to answer your question Master, no hell is a thing, it is just a place in the Underworld." Djinn answered. "It is part of the underbelly of reality where it rubs against other afterlife realms such as Hades and Kur."
Jasmine's face scrunched up at that. "How could…? Oh wait, Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me, duh, got it."
"Ah we found a good little christian girl, Ara ara," Akeno said in a teasing tone, clearly taking delight in the chill it sent up Jasmine's spine.
"Lord give me strength." Jasmine quietly but genuinely prayed under her breath as she tried to smother… whatever that reaction was.
At that, both Rias and Akeno flinched in pain slightly. "Please do not invoke the biblical god like that, Jasmine-chan. Also bad Akeno, no horny."
"Aww but she is so cute."
"Awawawau." Jasmine said intelligently, master wordsmith she was. Was she cute?
"Well you go and do that my King, I will try and educate our new friend here," Akeno said, which Rias nodded at as she went and exited the room, leaving just Djinn, Akeno and Jasmine.
"P-please take good care of me, Senpai." Jasmine said on autopilot with a bow.
"Kukuku, I will be sure to treat you right my Kouhai," Akeno said. "Now have you gotten breakfast?"
Jasmine blinked. "Oh, right it's morning isn't it? My continuity of memory was still telling me it was yesterday night. Did you make my stomach full when you remade it?" She asked Djinn.
"No you are probably very hungry."
"Remade it?" Akeno asked.
"I got stabbed, but it's fine I got better." She pulled up the edge of her hoodie, showing her recently healed flesh. "See?"
Akeno gave her a look for a moment before she spoke. "Well I guess I know why Rias looked so angry, well we need to get you some food first, tea, coffee?"
"Just water for now, I'm not really a morning tea person… oh shoot I left the kettle plugged in!" Jasmine realized. "Djinn can you?"
"Master…"
"Wha? Oh do you need more specific instruction?"
"Jasmine dear, kettles turn off automatically." Akeno said.
Jasmine blinked in surprise. "They do? I was always told to unplug it when you were done though."
"Well that was an issue with older models, if I remember correctly." Akeno said.
"Ohhhhh, okay." Jasmine said before blinking and looking down at herself, realizing she hadn't thought this through at all. "Hey Djinn, can you make mundane clothes on a permanent basis? Like, maybe make a thing that makes it I guess?"
"No."
"Awww… so what can you do on a permanent basis other than healing?"
"Knowledge."
"Speaking of knowledge," Akeno cut in. "You are brand new to the supernatural?"
"Yes, completely and utterly!" Jasmine said cheerily. Finally, an exposition dump! "I have been aware for a little bit over an hour of being conscious."
"Ah, well let's get some breakfast set up and I can try and answer any and all questions you might have," Akeno said.
"And I will try to add if you want me to Master, because there is nothing more powerful than Knowledge in the world." Djinn said.
"Okay! …Wait, since the stuff you make isn't permanent, does that mean you can make food that doesn't make you fat because it'll stop existing?"
"I can't make food." Djinn said. "Well correction, I won't make food wholesale like that, because if you ate it, it would then be a part of you and if it became undone… not pretty."
"So you can turn proper ingredients into a full meal, like with a wish not just cooking it, and that would stick?"
"Yeah I can transform things, that is rather easy and within my magical purview." Djinn said.
"What an excellent servant you got from this," Akeno said. "That would make making breakfast much easier and quicker."
"You guys have a kitchen here? Wait, where even is here?"
"This is the ORC, it's located in the Old School House, we basically live here with the rest of the peerage," Akeno said.
"Cool. Can you explain what a 'Peerage' is while leading us there? Rias mentioned briefly earlier about turning me into a devil, which uh. Means I wouldn't go to heaven when I die, right?"
"Highly unlikely, I believe we go to purgatory."
"Ah, yeah, I'm keen on reuniting with my family one day so yeah, no." Jasmine said. "I am part of ORC now though with a contract to be a Mage in Bouchou's employ in the near future."
"Makes sense she would go for that if you don't want to be reincarnated as a Devil," Akeno said as they entered the kitchen where Djinn started working with Akeno keeping a watchful eye as this seemed like her territory. "Would want to keep you as an ally."
"I definitely don't want you guys as enemies, I like Koneko too much for that."
"Ah so you are that Jasmine," Akeno said. "Wasn't quite sure, but you've definitely wormed your way into the heart of our kitten quickly, it took me weeks."
"Well, yeah but you're pretty and have big boobs, which she seems to hate."
"She is just jealous, there is a reason she eats a lot of food," Jasmine had seen Koneko's lunch. Girl seemed to eat her weight in food. "She thinks that is gonna make her breasts get nice and bubbly but that is just a matter of age."
"Oh… hey can you promote physical growth? I'm thinking more for muscles and stuff."
"I can enhance your body's natural regeneration rate," She answered.
"So you can Buff one thing and as long as that's the only thing you're doing, it's okay if that One Thing does Many Things, like that example?"
"Now you are getting it Master."
"Djinn's are as broken as the stories say," Akeno said. "But back on topic, a Devil's Peerage?"
"Yeah, so, whazzat? What's an 'Evil Piece'? Piece of soul, piece of Satan?"
"Let me show you," Akeno said as she held out her hand before her chest and on it appeared a holographic image of a White Chess Piece, specifically a Queen. "When a Devil achieves the Rank of High-Class they are given a set of Evil Pieces magical items made by Satan Beelzebub."
"Waait, Bouchou said Beezlebub died though?"
"The old one did, new Satans picked up their names after the Devil Civil War ended." Akeno said, which almost made Djinn stumble. "That is a topic for later, let's keep on track, as you can see mine is made in the image of a Queen Piece from chess."
"So you're her second in command, presumably?"
"I am Rias' Queen and she is my King, there are fifteen Evil Pieces all based on chess pieces." Akeno said. "They are used to reincarnate non-devils into Devils, with only a few beings being unable to be converted. This is a means of repopulation as due to the Great War and the Civil War the Devil population was critically low."
"Do the non-devils in question need to be dead first, and if so how long can they be dead?"
"They don't need to be dead, but do you know how long the brain can go without oxygen?" Akeno asked.
"Ignoring specialists like freedivers, like 3 minutes without brain damage I think?" Or was 3 minutes without air just breathable air in general? She couldn't remember at the moment.
"Basically until brain death sets in as the brain is actually what binds the soul to the body," Akeno said. "And so you basically have that long until it passes on and reincarnation becomes impossible."
"Good to know, good to know." Jasmine said. "So going off her name, Sitri-taichou is another 'real' Devil, or King I guess?"
"All reincarnated Devils are real Devils, Bouchou is what you call a Pillar Devil, one who carries the blood of one of the original 72." Akeno explained.
"Like I said, one of Runeas' spawn," Djinn said.
"Yes, I've met Great Runeas once, she is quite the Devil."
"Well if anybody of the original would survive it's that slothful woman, haven't seen anyone that lazy outside of Belphegor," Djinn commented.
"Yes, she does have a tendency to sleep for decades at a time." Akeno said with a chuckle.
"So Sitri-taichou is a natural Devil then?" Jasmine tried again.
"She is," Akeno said. "Heir to the Sitri House, like Bouchou is to the Gremory house."
"Mhm. But this is Bouchou's turf?"
"They got permission to share it," Akeno said.
"Ah. In that case, going back to the pieces, I'm assuming there's a hierarchy based on the Chess part? Queen's are most important, Pawns are more disposable?"
"Nothing like that, the King is in charge, while the Queen is second in command for the most part, while each piece have different values, a Queen is equal to nine pawns, to reincarnate depending the strength and potential of the one the pieces are used on it can cost more or less Pieces to do so, and it also relates to the strength of the Devil doing so."
"So since you're a Queen you're really strong?"
"I am known as the Lightning Queen, but not necessarily, she gave it to me because I am her best friend," Akeno answered. "I was worth a Bishop at that point in time."
"Okay. Lemme guess: Koneko is a Rook?"
"Exactly," Akeno said. "Each piece gives special benefits that can work as multipliers to your base stats, conceptually enhancing them, Rook gives strength and durability, Knight increases speed and mobility, and Bishop enhances magical potential. Let's call it a 3 times multiplier with them."
"So what, Pawns get 1.5 across the board and Queens get 2 or 2.5 for the same?"
"About so, but Pawns have a special ability, can you guess it?"
"Oh, they can actually Rank Up not just get used as fuel like you said earlier?"
"Under special conditions they can promote and gain an even greater boost than what the original pieces would give, you can also castle with Rooks."
Jasmine blinked a few times, having trouble processing that one. "Pawns can switch places with Rooks, or… huh? Elaborate?"
"The King can with accompanying pieces switch places with the Rook, an advanced strategy used in High Tier Rating games."
"So real people 'chess' is involved in this, that makes sense."
"Lord Beelzebub is good at what he does, a magical genius without peer," Akeno said. "It would be a sin if they couldn't operate like actual chess pieces."
"Wait, so sins aren't a good-huh?" Jasmine's brain actually short circuited there.
"What?"
"You are devil, but Sin still bad in your book?"
"Different kinds of sin, Devils are more likely to indulge in desires and wants, but there is still a thing as too much."
"Okay." Jasmine said, interested as to how that worked but knowing she didn't have the mental energy to do so right now.
Which was when Djinn finished magicking the food together.
"Breakfast is ready, I hope it is to your liking," Djinn said as she placed down what looked like a British breakfast.
"Thank you for the food!" Jasmine said, eager to eat, but still deciding to test something as she said a prayer for the meal mentally while her hands were pressed together, which did not elicit the reaction from earlier, which was good.
And with that, all talking ceased, as the breakfast while average in quality (not bad but she'd had better) was large in quantity, which was good as she was only now realizing how ravenous she was feeling.
Once she was done, she blinked in surprise at the fact Koneko had shown up at some point without her notice. Had she been summoned by the food? There was also a blonde pretty-boy, but she was less important than the one person here she could reasonably call 'friend'.
"Uh. Hi?" Jasmine said.
"Sup."
"Hello, Jasmine-san, Akeno explained to us the situation while you ate, I am sorry what happened to you, such a thing should not have occurred on our watch." Pretty Boy said, seeming rather sincere too.
"Oh, uh, it's not your fault. You guys couldn't have known I would get stabbed."
"And I am gonna kick them in the cunt for that," Koneko said.
"Language Koneko," Pretty Boy said. "The name is Kiba Yuuto, Knight of Rias."
"I am Doumon Jasmine, it's nice to meet you." Jasmine said on autopilot. "And this is Djinn."
"Hello, I am her Sacred Gear, well part of it," Djinn said.
"Doumon?" Akeno asked. "Are you…"
"No, no, don't worry it's just a name." Jasmine said fairly confidently while mentally deciding to check later.
"I see, just thought for a moment." Akeno said. "Anyway I was in the middle of introducing Jasmine-chan to the world she has just entered."
"Right, she had just finished explaining Pieces." Jasmine said. "I'm assuming Peerage is somewhere between the King's inner circle and minions then, or is that specifically the ones who had Pieces used?"
"It's for the ones who have pieces," Kiba answered. "Though like how there are many different types of humans, there are many different types of devils."
"And not all of them treat their Peerage properly," Akeno continued. "So can sometimes result in Piece retaliating against their King, and now while there are ways to handle such issues sometimes things go too far and they kill their King or run away becoming a Stray Devil."
"Though most of the time it's just the piece getting drunk on power and turning criminal," Koneko added.
"And if they are recently reincarnated it can result in their newly required demonic energy going haywire and imparring mental abilities." Kiba further added.
"And since Devils possess innate shapeshifting abilities, which is how we hide our wings, it can result in the body mutating heavily," Akeno said. "And then they just become monsters and have to be put out of their misery."
"Oh." Jasmine said succinctly. "Is that what a demon is or is that different?"
"They are called as such, by humans, but Demons are just creatures native to the Underworld, such as Hellhounds." Akeno explained.
"I see… so to the other main topic, how common are Sacred Gears? I know they must be valuable because otherwise, wow."
"The exact number is unknown, but there are probably several thousands of them," Kiba said.
"So overall pretty rare but not impossible to come across?"
"Exactly, I've got one myself," Kiba stated.
"Do you turn into a wolf."
"No, the dog is in college like I said," Koneko stated.
"...Is there a literal werewolf in the college portion of this school? I'm not as fluent in Nya-hongo as I want to be."
"Half-werewolf," Akeno corrected. "Garou-san is a first year college student and part of Sona's Peerage."
"My apologies senpai, I underestimated how obvious such a thing would be." Jasmine said. "Koneko may have set the bar too low."
"What because I am short?"
"I am 95% certain you are a literal cat who got turned into a person." Jasmine said. "And that was before I found out that that could be literal."
That caused both Akeno and Kiba to giggle. "You are pretty close to the mark on that Jasmine-san, but that is up for Koneko to fully tell." Kiba said.
While Koneko just gave Jasmine a flat look. Nay, a flatter look. If she were any flatter she would become two dimensional.
"...Did I mention that my genie might be able to help with physical growth?" Jasmine asked after a moment of the impromptu staring contest.
Koneko perked up at that. "Your Sacred Gear is one of boob growth?"
Jasmine snapped, and thankfully Djinn picked up on what she wanted, as her chest grew three sizes instantly.
All three of them looked at Jasmine's chest with shock.
"This level is just temporary, though." Jasmine said, doing a 'stop' motion with her hand and causing it to end. "Though apparently if we get stronger we could do more? Djinn, you're pretty much stuck at Level 1 right now and Sally was at Level 10, right?"
"Basically."
"Sacred Gears grow with their user as they respond to their emotions," Kiba said. "Some even being able to obtain what is known as a Balance Breaker."
"Balance Breaker?" Jasmine repeated. "That sounds awesome. Is it called that because it 'breaks the balance' of the world or just of the Gear's limitations?"
"The gear's limitation, though with the Longinuses you could apply the former," Kiba said.
"Right, the 13 super duper gears, assumedly named after the Real One? True Longinus I suppose?" Which meant they were technically named after the roman soldier who wielded the spear, technically.
"Correct," Kiba said. "And because they can give the humans that have them the ability to kill gods."
"Ah, that makes sense." Jasmine said with a nod. "I'm assuming you don't have one of those?"
"Mine is Sword Birth, and there exists many kinds of it," Kiba explained.
"That sounds painful."
Akeno laughed at that, Koneko grinned (win!), while Kiba just… yeah that was a face to remember. "Not literally it-" He held out his hand as a sword appeared in it.
"Oooh, Unlimited Blade Warks!"
"Yes, Destiny/At Day has been a big source of inspiration to help me better visualize my swords better, Sword Birth allows me to create any Demonic Swords that I can visualize, of course the better I know what I want the better the result."
"And they're permanent?" Jasmine asked excitedly.
"If I want them too." Kiba replied.
"How much do you charge for swords? I like swords. I really like swords." Jasmine said. "Can you make non-demonic swords? Ooh, do you mostly make temporary ones so you don't need to maintain them? Or do you have a special demonic sword polish? If you don't I have recommendations you could find for non-demonic sword polish."
"Guess you have a fellow sword enthusiast, Kiba-kun," Akeno stated.
"To answer no, and yes."
"And what do you charge for commissions?"
"I… don't do commissions, I haven't done that…"
"I have a genie. What do you want as payment?" Jasmine asked. She needed some permanent tools and weapons to go with her temporary powers, obviously! It was just common sense!
"We can talk about that later," Kiba said, sounding very whelmed.
"I'll keep you to that." Jasmine said as she sat back down (when did she stand up? Wow she got more excited than she thought). "Anyway, so what do you guys do around here, other than the gang behavior?"
"It's not…"
"Oh it totally is," Koneko cut Kiba off. "But we mostly hang out and train an hour once a week."
"You… you guys only train once a week?" Jasmine repeated incredulously.
"Yeah…?" They said, sounding very confused.
"Have any of you done sports before?"
"Jasmine-chan," Akeno spoke up. "We are Devils."
"You're reincarnated devils." She countered. "I don't know how long you've been Devils."
"We have all been Devils for a little over five years," Akeno said. "And what I mean is Devils can live until we are killed, we grow stronger by just living."
"Okay, cool, I'm not. I'm human. I'm gonna be training multiple times a week at minimum." Jasmine said. Plus, she'd done sports teams before. You did not get good by only practicing a little bit.
"Sure." Koneko said. "But to put into perspective, in comparison to other Devils we are training freaks."
"...Wow, I never thought I'd be a bastion of perseverance, but here we are."
"When you can get from low-class to High-Class just by eating and sleeping in the span of a thousand years, a hundred if you do basic exercises once a month…" Akeno trailed off.
"Ah, so that's why humans are still dominant despite all that. Lack of work ethic."
"Also birth rates," Akeno said.
"There is a five hundred year difference between Bouchou and her brother." Koneko said.
Jasmine whistled. "Does that affect you guys too? You have super devil heat?"
"No, just super devil infertility," Akeno corrected.
"Ah… hey Djinn can increase the success rate of something like that by buffing the sperm?"
They just looked at her. "Like I told you this girl has no filter."
"I can see," Akeno said. "And to think Sona had her eyes on her, they are so incompatible."
"I'm just wondering! Infertility sounds like a big deal if they're willing to turn non-devils into devils, maybe I could get some money doing that or just help out some of Bouchou's family friends."
"If that actually worked you would both gain many friends and also enemies really fast that would want you dead." Akeno said in a warning tone.
"If you are willing to use a wish for that long," Djinn said. "Going off my Knowledge it would be a month straight to get a viable fetus."
Akeno did look a little shocked at that. "Djinn's are bullshit."
"Why do you think most of my kin is dead or sealed away?"
"Good point," Akeno said. "So moving on from that, do you have other things you want to ask about at the moment, Jasmine-chan?"
"I have. So many things." Jasmine said, her mind awash with questions. "Okay so first off, how often do you guys actually have to do the Gang Stuff? Is this whole situation a rare occurrence?"
"This is a first actually," Kiba said. "We mostly deal with Stray Devils that go through here before they can rampage."
"And I do work as a Miko to exorcise lingering spirits, and Youkai causing trouble." Akeno added.
"And Koneko punches things?"
"I run the protection racket."
"Koneko."
"What?" The white haired girl responded. "Outside of Gasper I have the highest amount of contracts going and we get paid for it."
"You get yours in sweets."
"And?"
"Gasper?" Jasmine parroted.
"Other Peerage member, he lives in the basement."
"He is a severe agoraphobe and so has become a shut-in, does work over the internet," Akeno explained.
"Oh, the Digital Devil is real?" Someone had discovered the wonders of the internet! And she had a demon controlling ring? She could have her own COMP in no time!
"Devils run the supernatural side of it," Akeno said.
"And he is also there because he can't control his Sacred Gear," Koneko added.
"And Rias is not strong enough to resist its effects," Kiba said. "And he gets really upset every time he freezes us when we come down to say hi."
"Does he have Medusa's Eyes or something?"
"Balor's."
"...Balor. 'Kill you by looking at you' Balor. That Balor?"
"At their current level of power, no. They just stop time."
"...Ah." Undead Unluck Unmove style, got it. "Hey Djinn, you can enhance people's traits right, can you enhance someone's control over their own specific ability?"
"No, but I can seal it away."
"Oh okay, that could work too, right guys?" Jasmine said, looking back at the others.
They just looked at Jasmine like she had grown a third head.
Not even a second one, just skipped straight to three out of nowhere.
"IIIII'm assuming that's not something people can do, normally."
"No," Kiba said. "From what I know, interacting with a gear is rather difficult, the Grigori might have something as their leader Azazel is famous for researching them. Wanting to surpass his Father."
"Ah." Jasmine said. "Soooo… which way to the basement? I'm certain Gasper would appreciate being able to look at people and have them look back again, right?"
"I… guess we can go and do that, you have the key for the seal Akeno?" Kiba asked.
"I have a copy of it, and I think Rias would appreciate it while she handles the situation," Akeno said.
"Fuck it let's do it," Koneko said. "Gaspy needs to get out of his box."
—
"Ahh I don't wanna go outside, it's scary!" Came the voice from the literal box as in a cardboard box as it was quickly slammed shut from the inside by the person who had, at shocking speed, dove into it.
"You don't have to, but hi! I'm new, I'm Doumon Jasmine, newest recruit to ORC, and currently cancelling your Sacred Gear." Jasmine introduced herself, now feeling rather confident.
"Gasper Vladi and huh?" Came the sound of confusion from within. Also, Vladi? Vampire or Dhampir, 1000%.
"Yeah, so I have a Sacred Gear that can, apparently, seal other people's, and she's doing that right now." Jasmine said as she crouched down near the box.
"Made lenses that are blocking the effect." Djinn said.
"Huh… wait I do have lenses? When did you do that?" Gasper asked a head wearing a brown bag popped out of the box.
"As soon as we opened the door." Jasmine explained, waving at him and doing her best not to laugh at the literal paper bag. "Hi~!"
"It's okay Gasper, you are not going to be able to hurt us right now," Akeno said gently as she sat down next to the box.
"R-really?" He asked.
"Really." Jasmine confirmed. "Here, none of them are behind me, so just take off the bag and see for yourself."
"Okay," at that he lifted up his bag revealing-
"Cute!" Someone said at the sight of the adorable red eyed, pointy eared blond's nervous face. Jasmine took a moment to realize it was her.
Shit, her filter really had turned off at some point hadn't it?
"C-c-cute?"
Jasmine decided to double down, and nodded sagely. "Very cute."
"Hmm," He went back into the box.
"Oh, uh, sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable?" Jasmine asked as much as said.
"The nerd is just shy," Koneko said.
"Koneko-chan is a meanie~"
"I will carry you outside."
"AHHH!"
"Ignore her, she's apparently incapable of sheathing her claws." Jasmine said, unimpressed.
"Gaooo," She replied as she made clawing motions. Jasmine immediately pulled out her phone and took a picture, much to Koneko's confusion.
For… reasons.
"But would you like to go outside Gasper?" Kiba asked.
"Hmm, not now…" He replied.
"That is fine, but if you need to we now have a method to do so," Kiba said.
"And when you do, I think Bouchou would be really happy," Akeno added.
"Also, I need to see if I can beat you in Smash and/or Haremon, whichever is your preferred poison."
"You game?" Gasper asked as he popped back out.
"Yeah I game." Jasmine confirmed, internally rolling her eyes. Right, 2008 culture. Whatever. "I only have a DS right now because I'm living off the government but if you hand me a controller? I can play anything."
"I got a set up," Gasper said as he got out of the box fully (wow, he was a crazy good contortionist, he was small but not as small as that box) and over to the large tv and sofa.
And revealed that he was in fact wearing a Kuoh uniform.
The girl's uniform.
Cute!
"Sick, whatcha got? Polystation? Ybox?" Jasmine said, hopping on the couch without another thought.
"I've got a Ybox with Master Chief 3," Gasper answered, already setting it up.
"Oh that is that American game with John Halo?" Kiba asked.
Jasmine cringed internally that that was actually true here. She was just happy that, going off the boxart and her own memories, the only real difference was Cortana- sorry, Kartana- was closer in proportions to fanart versions, so the gameplay shouldn't be all that different.
She'd actually played the first one a bit on the family Ybox (the first one, not the 361 in front of them) before her mother had said it was too violent for her… She miss-
Nope! Not thinking about it!
"Yes." She said simply.
"Here you go Jasmine-chan," Gasper said as he handed her the controller.
And then they… played Halo Multiplayer, pretty much.
The Japanese servers were a lot more polite. Probably because they weren't very big, these kinds of games weren't that big over here.
So Koneko was verbally owning all of them.
It was fun.
Definitely something she'd be doing again in the future.
Plan: Join A Club To Get Friends seemed to have gone off without a hitch!
Xxx
A/N: If you like this or any other of my stories, you can donate to my SubscribeStar. Adult /StreamingViking or my Pa Tre on at pa tre on. com (slash)StreamingViking776 and read commissioned stories and chapters before they are released publicly for only 3$ a month or if you just wanna support me. I also have a link to my discord in the first pinned post.
