[Log - Who's there?]

[lastnightmare]

Angelo closed his eyes and concentrated as the magic bloomed and wove it's way from his concentration into reality. His bookshelves often became damaged by the heavy volumes containing memories of nightmares which had habit of sinking into the wood. Library maintenance was not his favourite thing, in fact it was exasperating and exhausting both but that was the last of it over with. He sighed as the cool breeze from the night outdoors blew in through the window and tussled his hair and blew out several of his candles. It felt like somebody was in the room along with that breeze but the Memory Keeper didn't look around. He was calmer these days about intruders, being that it was usually the Reaper. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Comments

[to_the_pain]

"Do not be so fool as to think that the Reaper is omnipresent as it is implied," Pain informed Angelo with narrowing eyes. "Even he can be delayed."

Pain knew that only too well. Far too vivid was the memory of his own near death from Evil's hands, and in the end even the Reaper arriving on the scene had done little to protect him.

Never again did he wish to be put in that position, and he knew somehow that the danger was coming. The Lesser Evil wasn't clockwork, but he was consistent in losing control.

"Trust me, Angelo," Pain spoke the Memory Keeper's name so rarely that it rung out in the air, "few know him so well as I. It is in your best interests as well as my own."

[lastnightmare]

Angelo thought about it. Only his concern for his daughter made him consider it and as always there was truth in Pain's words. Everything apart from that truth drove him to his answer. He did not trust Pain, he did not care about him, nor did he doubt his lover or himself when it came to protecting their daughter.

"No Pain." Angelo shook his head, his library creaking angrily in protest of the Forces very presence there. Outside a storm was boiling in the sky, threatening to break.

"There will be no deal between us."

[to_the_pain]

Pain was generally a cool customer, it was rare he could not control his expression and appear how he wished. He lost control of his face for a moment then though. His eyebrows twitched and his lips and nostrils tightened. He turned his face from Angelo, lest his pupils dilate momentarily.

Fear was terribly difficult to control at times.

Pain kept his face to one side, but when he felt in more control of his expression he slid his eyes back to the Memory Keeper.

"So be it."

[lastnightmare]

Angelo instantly felt relief, knowing he had made the right decision. He also felt more in control than he had ever been before when faced with Force Pain. All he had to do now was wait for the Force to leave.

[to_the_pain]

Of course Pain couldn't just leave, if he lost in one aspect he had to win in another.

He turned, his long lilac hair swirling like a cape. "Let us hope that your daughter does not have to regret that choice," he told Angelo with a catty certainty.

[lastnightmare]

"She wont." Angelo answered back with the very same certainty. "Now leave. Before I make you leave. Don't think I've forgotten what you did to my father's husband and the trouble you caused with Charon. Give me the excuse Pain and I'll bring you closer to death than even I've been."

[to_the_pain]

"How poetic," Pain remarked, taking his leave with slow purposeful steps.

He didn't clench his fists until he was out of the library's bounds. He did so hate losing out on a deal - especially one he could foresee as being very important.

However, perhaps things could be turned eventually. Pain released a slow breath. Not even Ti'lan himself could predict Evil, after all. He had to hold out hope.

[END]

[lastnightmare]