[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.

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[lastnightmare]

Angelo grunted, yanking his scythe out of the magical shield and swinging back into fighting stance.

"What are you talking about? Tell me quickly before I have my library swallow you."

[to_the_pain]

Pain dispelled the magic, brushing his hair out of his face. He watched Angelo, tasting his hatred and curiosity.

"The Original Evil, of course."

[lastnightmare]

That did stop him in his tracks. His grip on his weapon loosened and his eyes lost some of their passion at the mention of Worse Half Evil.

"A mutual enemy does not make us... Anything."

[to_the_pain]

"It makes us nothing, no."

Pain lifted a brow carefully, looking Angelo in the eye, well aware he more than had his attention.

"However, I feel it best to inform you that you and I can help each other."

[lastnightmare]

Angelo wanted very much to hear what Pain had to say, despite everything he believed about the Force. Everything he did was for himself, he lied, he was malicious and he was calculated. At least two of those things Angelo knew in himself as well, which was what made him even more bitter toward him.

"You would not help me and I do not want to help you... Ever." He shook his head. he still wanted to know.

"Humour me."

[to_the_pain]

Pain smiled tightly. "As you wish."

He stepped back lightly, as if observing the scenery of the library. There was no way he was moving away from Angelo's ire, it didn't threaten him in the slightest after all. The distance was more for Pain's own distaste at having to share something personal with someone like Angelo.

If he was going to have to be close to the man, he wanted to have some control on the closeness.

"The Original Evil has been quiet a good long time, as I'm sure you are aware being that you spend so much time with Their Keeper." Pain reflected a moment, then sighed, closing his eyes. "The longer He is quiet, the more dangerous it becomes for certain individuals."

Pain looked back at Angelo, pointedly, "I am obviously one of those people, but let me tell you now Nightmare Keeper, when Evil finds out that the Reaper has bred, she will become a prime target.

"And that is why I am proposing to you, a truce of sorts."

[lastnightmare]

Angelo stared with silent rage as Pain spoke but at the mention of his daughter his whole presence changed. He felt himself overheat, like he was standing on hot sand.

He almost let himself consider Pain offer. A truce would be best, because to keep enemies was never a good thing. This was Force Pain however, logic did not apply here. There was no way, no way in the eighty realms that he would ever work with Pain.

"You have just said in the same proposal why I should not accept it." Angelo gave an almost smug yet bitter smile.

"The Reaper is her father. If she needs protection, she will get it from him and you will get none from me."

[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]