It's a Deal

"Come out, come out wherever you are.

...

Hellooooo, dark and powerful magical creatures. Where are you hiding?

...

I know you're out there. Here I am a young virgin girl, just ready to be eaten or whatever it is you do. I doubt you see a lot of my kind in your world, you might as well take this opportunity-"

"Hmph. You think us creatures of darkness are that easy to trap?"

"Aha it worked! But where is your voice coming from? Tell me where you're hiding."

"Where do you think I'm hiding, little one. I'm a shadow creature. I'm in the shadows."

"Come out into the light where I can see you."

"You're that anxious to see what I look like? I assure you once you see me, a human such as yourself won't be able to resist me. My beauty is nothing compared to mortal men."

"I heard your kind was full of yourselves, but I didn't think you'd be flirtatious right off the bat."

"You flatter me darling, why of course I'm always flirtatious with pretty things such as yourself. A young virgin as you called it? You know I'm able to tell when you're lying, right. You might be young but you're no virgin."

"And yet you still came when I called. Reveal yourself to me. Let me see the beast I lured."

"You're a rather demanding thing. You don't sound a bit afraid. And yet, you are, aren't you?"

"Enough banter. Are you going to show yourself to me or not?" 

"Why should I?"

"So you won't then?"

"Oh I didn't say that. I find this rather amusing, girl. But first. Tell me why you came to the border of our realms. What is it you want from me?"

"I know the stories about your kind, how you're cunning and cruel, dark and wicked. But I've also heard how even the shadows can be tamed, for a price."

"So you want to make a deal with me? I'm sure the stories you heard also told you how you should never make a bargain with my kind. And yet, you're willing to take the risk. What has you so desperate for a deal with the devil, darling?"

"I need revenge."

"Do tell me more."

"W-woah, you're coming out from the shadows now? O-oh you're so tall, and humanoid, and... shirtless? I wasn't expecting you to look like- H-hey, that's close enough."

"I thought you wanted to see me, little one. Are you not impressed? Do you not like what you see. Because I very much like what I see about you."

"N-not another step. D-dont make me use this on you."

"What are you going to do? Prick me with your toothpick of a dagger. Don't insult me, darling. You've no need to be afraid. I won't harm you. I only want to hear more about this... revenge you speak of."

"You say the word revenge like it's a wounded horse and you're a hungry lion."

"Tell me your need for revenge and we'll see just how hungry this lion can be."

"I was wronged."

"Aren't we all. Be more specific darling. Was it a lover?"

"How did you-"

"Ah I'm right aren't I? How I do love being right. You look like the sort to be wronged by a lover."

"And what do you mean by that exactly?"

"Now now, darling, no need to point that dagger at me. I just mean, well, look at you. You're dainty and soft. Like a tulip picked from a flower garden. You're the type to fall in love for the sake of falling in love. You could probably fall in love with a toad and convince yourself it's a prince."

"How dare you make assumptions of me. You don't know me."

"Oh I know enough. Just as you insinuated about my kind, darling, I've heard much more about your kind. Specifically the desperate girls who run off looking to make deals with monsters such as myself. You feel as if you have no other choice. Nowhere else to turn. You have nothing to lose. And that makes the deal all the more delicious for me."

"You've made deals with other girls?"

"Jealous?"

"Don't touch me!"

"Ah darling, don't pretend you aren't attracted to me. I can see it in your eyes darling, like tiny wildfires sparking. You want them to consume you."

"Don't mock me. I'm not that entranced by a large shirtless male."

"What about your desperation? Can I mock your desperation? Can I mock the way your eyes trailed down my shadowy form? Can I mock how your cheeks turned pretty pink when I caressed your face?"

"You make jest but I assure you I am not interested in you. I'm only interested in one person."

"Mm I see. And what a person they must be indeed to have you come crawling to me."

"He- He didn't do it on purpose. He did love me, he really did. He still does."

"Denial does not suit you, my pretty. So he was unfaithful?"

"Not in the way you're insinuating. I just misread him. Or perhaps I filled in the blanks of his pages with my own text."

"So I was correct. You saw him as empty paper and because you could so easily craft a story out of him with your ink, you thought it made a worthy story out of him."

"I- I didn't say that."

"You can't disagree can you. Tell me. What were the words you wrote on his blank pages?"

"That he saw the world the way I did. I thought he understood the magic in life. I thought the countless hours of paging through books together meant he believed in wonder the way I did."

"Just as I called it. A tulip among women you are. As dreadfully soft as you are pretty, and not to mention easy to tear."

"You can't just insult me because my heart is soft and my mind is wonder-filled."

"It's no insult, darling. Don't you know beasts such as myself are enamoured by beauties like you."

"What does a creature like you want from me exactly? Don't put your claws on me again."

"Fine, I won't touch you. Yet. I do not wish to harm you if that's what you imply."

"Then what do you wish from me?"

"Exactly what you do, darling. Ha, I see your cheeks turning red. I wasn't talking about lust darling, though that can be arranged. What I seek is vengeance."

"On whom?"

"On everyone."

"Well, that's melodramatic."

"On the fairy tales that warn others away that keep me lonely. On the world that I am bound to and the world that rejects me. On whatever force of nature it is that cursed me to be this monster."

"Is this some speech that makes human girls lower their guard so you can lure them to bed, and then ultimately their deaths?"

"Darling, if I wanted you dead I'd do it already. And as far as my bed, well it's much more fun when you want it for yourself, not for me to just take it."

"Your pity speech is real then? How do you plan to get your revenge? Especially when it's so- broad."

"By getting yours, darling. Once you make your deal with me. We will be bound together until one of us dies. And because of that bond, I will be able to move freely to your world whenever I please. And I can rewrite those damned archaic stories painting us as monsters and beasts."

"Are the stories wrong?"

"No- but they aren't right either. Yes some of us creatures of darkness have been, well, dark. But not all of us are monstrous. We just want some fun is all. Make the deal with me, darling. I'll kill your silly human boyfriend and I can be free to do as I please."

"Kill? No, no don't misinterpret my desire for revenge. I don't want death."

"Then how shall you get your revenge on this dull storybook of a man you describe?"

"I want him to see me with another, someone who does not belittle the fairytales I believe in. I want him to see what it looks like to be respected by someone."

"Then what, he'll go crawling back to you? That's what you think isn't it. Well, darling, I'll have you know, I can't create a being to know and love you, I can only-"

"Pretend to be that lover yourself. He'll get jealous, I know he will."

"And you aren't afraid he won't be the only one to get jealous?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Me, my little tulip. I would get very jealous watching you pine over such a dull man, while all of this is right here."

"But you're not after true love. I am."

"Nothing about what you spoke of that love is true. But, if that's the bargain you want, I won't say no. But I did warn you."

"How kind of you."

"Don't be sarcastic with me. That's my bit."

"How do we make the deal?"

"Of all the stories you've heard and you don't know? Come closer, darling. Even closer. Just like that."

"Hmm, hey! You kissed me!"

"Don't push me away and pretend like you didn't enjoy it."

"H-hey what's happening? I feel... Strange. Weaker yet somehow- stronger."

"That's the bond, little one. You and I are now tied together. Come along now. Let's get that revenge. You'll show the boy you love the type of love you really deserve. And I'll show the world I'm not some feral beast with no self control."

"Yeah, you're a feral beast with a little self control."

"Exactly. Thank you.

...

 That was sarcasm again wasn't it."

"Here we are, my home town."

"Hm I see. There's a lot of lights here aren't there. Nothing like the forests of shadows in my realm. And these clothes you gave me are so itchy."

"It's called jeans and a sweater. You'll live. You can't exactly walk into the bookstore in your shirtless shadow-y form."

"Why not? Afraid you'll get too flustered in front of your human boy?"

"No, more like afraid you'll have us kicked out for nudity."

"I'd be fine with that. You and I can ditch this whole operation and go somewhere private."

"Focus, please. Come on let's go in. Oh there he is, on the other side of the store." 

"You fell for him? A rather frail boy isn't he. He looks like he's on his deathbed."

"Just put your hand in mine and pretend you're enamored with me."

"Darling, I'm insulted. You think I need to be told how to be a good lover."

"I said take my hand, not my whole waist."

"What you don't like it? This is how I am when I'm enamored."

"Clingy and insufferable?"

"Precisely."

"Just don't go over the top okay. The goal is he'll-"

"Be jealous?"

"Believe I'm a capable woman without him."

"And then he'll want you back?"

"I uh- He sees us. He's coming over. Act normal."

"You're the one who's not acting normal, darling."

"Ellie, hey, I haven't seen you here in a while."

"Drew. Hi. Yeah I've been pretty occupied with the books I was reading."

"You finally finished that stack of old fairy tales?"

"Um, yeah, now I'm back for another one."

"Tell me, did any of them come true? They didn't did they. Otherwise you wouldn't be here to tell the tale."

"Of course she could be. Not all those who encounter fairy tales die at their hands. Somebody had to live in order to tell the stories."

"Ellie, who's your friend?"

"I'm close with our dear- Ellie. She and I have bonded quite a bit over our shared belief of fairytales. She captured my attention with her beauty but captured my heart with her love for fantasy."

"Aren't you above the age to believe in fairytales. I know Ellie is too but she's always been kind of childish like that. She's spent her whole life's work on fables. It's pathetic really."

"I'd have to disagree. I find it rather inspiring. And what have you spent your life's work on, boy?"

"Something much more practical-"

"He's a barista. A barista at a bookstore."

"I'm studying law, you know that, Ellie."

"That explains why you're so disagreeable."

"You can't tell me you actually believe the stories Ellie reads?"

"Of course I do. Is that so hard to believe?"

"I mean look at you. You're some tall brutish Godzilla type man. You look like you play guitar in a metal band. You must be pretending to believe Ellie to get closer to her. I know that's that I did."

"What did you just say to me boy?"

"That you're like Godzilla? You look like you're in a metal band?"

"I meant about pretending to be what Ellie wants to get closer to her. You lied to her. And then you left her."

"Wow, you look like you're actually angry. You're serious about believing in the folklore aren't you. How pathetic."

"The only thing pathetic, boy, is that you think fairytales are less reliable then your human tongue. But the difference between human boys like you and the creatures of Ellie's fairytales is that they can't lie."

"God, you're delusional. Anyway, it was nice to see you guys but I gotta get back to work in the real world."

"Put your claws away, big guy. Don't go after him. Hurting him was not in the contract."

"What was it I promised you, darling?"

"That I would be seen with someone showing me the love I deserve."

"Exactly. I never promised I wouldn't harm him."

"Please don't. Remember what was promised you. You'd have an opportunity to rewrite the history of your people."

"I can start that after I tear him limb from limb."

"If you hurt him now you'll just be confirming that you're a monster."

"Me? The monster? He's the one who said he pretended to be interested in you to get you. He's the real monster. He deserves to be punished."

"It's just like you said. He's a toad. I just pretended he was a prince. He's not worth your time. Or mine either."

"Oh little tulip, don't cry. I know what would make you feel better. If I rip off his-"

"Go on say it. Say you were right. I know how you like to be right."

"Darling, I don't need to gloat to be right."

"I- I need to get out of here."

"Here, we're outside the bookstore now. Let's sit on this park bench."

"He just laughed at me. And told me right to my face he lied to me. He basically admitted I meant nothing to him. While he had meant so much to me."

"Hush now, darling. Think on that toad no longer. Your big scary monster man is here."

"Hm so much for getting revenge."

"Whether it feels like victory or not, he still saw you with someone who believes in you, darling, your childlike wonder and all. And the best part is, I didn't have to pretend."

"But I still feel so bad."

"Because he didn't change his mind on fairytales?"

"No, that's not it."

"Because he didn't change his mind on you?"

"No, it's not that either. It's because I wasted time on him. Time he didn't deserve."

"Ah well such is the way with toad men."

"And now because of him I've made a deal, a deal that can't be broken."

"Come here, little one. Let your shadow creature male hold you. It's can't be all bad. You have me now."

"Great."

"I mean it. That Drew guy was willing to lie and cheat to get you. He had no problem hurting you and leaving you in your own. But I physically can't lie. Nor can I leave you because we're bonded together. You're stuck with me now."

"What would I even do being stuck with you."

"Well, I can think of a few things."

"I'm serious."

"Me too. Remember my side of the deal. You and I, little tulip, we can rewrite the history of folklore."

"You really mean it?"

"Of course. And we can still do those other things- hey don't smack me."

"Suppose I agree to this, if we're going to be stuck with eachother for a long time, what should I call you?"

"You can call me yours."

"Geez. What name can I call you, big guy?"

"I like what the scrawny boy referred to me as, Godzilla."

"I am not calling you Godzilla. Do you have an actual name?"

"Yes, but you wouldn't be able to pronounce it. What would you name me, little one?"

"How about- Vex."

"Why Vex? Because you're so vexed at how charming and goodlooking I am?"

"Hm you'd like to think that wouldn't you. More like how vexing and frustrating you are."

"I make you frustrated do I darling? Shall we find some ways to ease the frustration?"

"My point exactly. Vex it is."

"Then I shall be your Vex and you shall be my Tulip."

"I like the sound of that. It's a deal."

"It's a deal."