Firmament

---

>... I have a feeling you're trying to blackmail us.

---

Demon: Why would I blackmail you, when our interests are aligned? You have a problem, in that you don't seem able to incarnate normally. We have a Client, who wants something we Demons can't offer on our own. Each of our problems are the other party's solutions, aren't they?

Still, perhaps it was... unkind of me to leverage your own Oath against you. "Never cause, nor willingly allow, lasting harm to come to someone," correct? I simply thought you would appreciate an opportunity to follow through on it. After all, both Oaths and Contracts have power. They aren't things Spirits such as we should ever invoke lightly.

---

I'll be straight out the gate -- if there's two things I don't trust, it's demons, and the business-associated.
I feel like there's some part of this you're not telling us, something that, if mentioned, would be a potential dealbreaker. If something that important is held from us on the grounds of client confidentiality, I'd be inclined to believe you're trying to trick us.

---

Demon: These prejudices are unfortunate, but not within my power to change. Please, know that I have absolutely no interest in "tricking" you. Before entering a Contract, you'd have to know your role in it. A Contract made under false pretense is powerless. Doing otherwise would defeat the purpose, no?

Our Client, one Mr. Flynn, is a parent. His child is injured. Not only a physical wound, but also a wound to her Soul. As such, it hasn't healed as expected of common injuries. Instead, the young woman's Soul continues to wither away. And as it does, her health continues to suffer as well. Once the Soul is fully gone, well... one way or another, her body should begin to recover. However, the Client would prefer she retain her original Soul. He's sought many treatments for her condition, to no avail. Now, he's turned to petitioning Demons for help... but as I said earlier, this damage is beyond our power to truly heal.

If we turn him away? Were he to seek out a less scrupulous Demon? I'm afraid his desperate state may lead him into a far worse Contract. Another Demon might arrange to take the child's tattered Soul or Body for themselves. Perhaps they might put on a cruel little puppet show for the bereaved. Let them pretend she's well... that she's still the one in there. Give the man a pleasant lie to believe, at least for a time.

At worst, well... who can say?

It's my honest hope that, together, we may do something better. And so, whatever your preconceptions about me may be, 1599... I hope this makes the situation, and my stance on it, quite clear.

---

> What other details can you offer us? Why does the child need us? Why can't you ask another 'soul'?

---

Demon: As an Eidolon, you have an innate ability to bind and mend broken bits of Soul. Whatever spiritual glue binds those pieces of identity that make you up into a single entity. Please understand, this is not a trait typically seen among Spiritkind. So, if you have any means by which to extend this ability to others, or if there is another way you can help the Client's child to recover? If that is the case, we would like you to at least try.

This would be the extent of your role in the Contract. The rest would be between the Client, and myself.

---

>Are we going to become the child?

> What we do to child soul when cohabitate?

---

Demon:
Frankly, we're not even certain this will work. There are many unknowns. But, so long as her body has a Soul, and her original identity remains... how you go about this is up to you. Such is the nature of the Client's request. Were a spirit to displace her Soul and "become" the Client's child, this would normally violate the Contract. Given that you have the curious capacity to take on the memories of other Souls, however... perhaps not? In theory, you could take on her identity as your own, then displace her Soul. This may fall within the word of the contract, though it may violate the spirit.

Alternatively... hmm. So long as her damaged Soul remains, some manner of pact or cohabitation may be possible as well? You are a being of Spirit, and I see no reason you could not form a Contract of your own with the girl. It's hard to know what that would mean, as I'm no expert on all the capabilities an Eidolon may possess. You may well be able to come up with another option on your own. For better or worse, you are the foremost expert on your own abilities.

Now, with that all said... have you come to a decision?

---

>flee flee flee no no no no no no out out where is out, where are my teeth?!

So, we are simply a summoned beast, like in those games you play. Ever to be at your beck and call at your most desperate times.

>Accept

>As far as I'm concerned, this feels too complicated. Perhaps this have been a terribly bad idea.

>Caw! I want to be out. Limbo was much more... pleasant than here.

>It would be a pity if the child died before we could devour it. I accept the job.
>I'm also joking if you couldn't tell.

> That's.... quite the conundrum, isn't it? It'd be against most morals to reject the offer. Though in the end, it's our 'soul', so we can do what we want.

---

Demon: It... seems you could use more time to come to a consensus.

Please, feel free to discuss this among yourselves as necessary. Whether you will join us in this Contract, and even how you intend to fulfill it... these choices are ultimately yours to make. In the meantime, I should call the Client back, before they look elsewhere. Let me know when you've at least decided whether or not to join us.

---