Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

" Every once in a while, when I feel like it. I don't really need anything in return, and I like when people are happy. I'd have done it more often if I could, but if I'd do so everyone would volunteer themselves and it'd become bothersome, and I'm doing huge amounts of charity works that mean a lot to me, so I fear even I can't afford to invite too many as much as I'd like. If you ask me if I need anything in return, I do not. More happiness in the world is just the thing I savour out of the whole deal. But if I'd absolutely have to think of more than that to wish for, let's see, actually... " he looked at guard thoughtfully. " There may be something. If you like not taking free things, how about changing a little favour for it? Oh, fear not, it's nothing illegal, for I am not a man of violence. If it's anything, it's the barely petty thing that'd be little to no effort, I believe. " he grinned a little innocently, as he watched the innkeeper bring food and drinks to his companions" Would you hear me out, please? "

[Mirach]

"Do continue," the guard said with a carefully neutral expression.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide in meantime peeled another egg and brought it to his shoulder to feed the little snake nestled there.
" That man in the yellow coat... He was the one that turned me in, wasn't he? " the demon asked directly, but more quietly. " It had to be him, he run out as if look upon my little angel set him on fire. I dislike people like that. Judgy, cold, unthinking... They are selfish and don't think of consequences. What if someone panicked and my snake ended up injured or worse? " he spoke up while feeding his little pet gently. " I am not for violence, but I like some poetic justice. One when someone ruins your day, you return the favour. If you have any additional suggestion, I'd be happy to hear, but I was thinking about something simple and petty for a start. I give you a hell of a great time and shower you with gifts and nice things as my dear quests. When you come back, you just make sure he finds out you had a terrific time at my expense, and make sure it sticks to his nose just how obscenely wealthy I am, and how I reward those nice to me and frown upon those that were unkind? I am not absolutely sure I will sue him, but I might if I learn more bad things about him. But that's still a possibility I'll have to consult with my lawyer of. If he advises me not to... " he just smiled innocently. " Well, I just like when people eat themselves for playing their cards wrong. Sweat and worry a little. Perhaps it'll be a good lesson he can learn something from, and if not, at least it'll be deserved. "

[Mirach]

"I see," the man said, standing up. "Please don't think I would otherwise accept. I never intended to, just wanted to hear your reason. Yes, he turned you in, and he can be a prick sometimes, but that snake could actually be poisonous. Sometimes he is right and actually does some good in turning people in. I don't want any fancy trip for the sake of your personal quarrel. And I don't want any fancy trip for the sake of your charity, either. If you are that wealthy and influencefull, then it would be nice if you could assure higher pay for guards in the villages and more free days, so I could afford the trip myself, without depeding on anyone's charity. Thank you, have a nice day. And if I see the snake crawling around or find out it actually is poisonous, I will not be that lenient anymore."

[VisAnastasis]

" Harsh notes... but I get it. I haven't really passed through this village for quite a few years, and last time I did was more of an emergency than a journey, so I didn't really have time to think about those things. Okay, I'll see what I can do. " Tide just focused on the part that seemed interesting to him, adding appeasingly, a little bit more in his genuine self and less of a nonchalant nobleman self. " I don't know when I'll come around again, days, years, or who knows - I do not, for sure. But if you happen to come to the Third city in the next couple years, do say hi if you feel like it then. Just ask for Tide Over, everyone will know where I live. It'd be nice to see you again. "

[Mirach]

The man nodded. "If I'm in the city, I may pay you a visit," he said tentatively.

[VisAnastasis]

" May it be a happier meeting in happier times..." Tide replied kindly, waving bye to them.

[Mirach]

The guard just nodded instead of greeting, and left them alone.

[VisAnastasis]

Only when guards left out of the inn, Death could feel a quiet suppressed sign of relief, and demon very slowly grew less tense.
" Well, at least that's settled... " he chuckled a little nervously, all the pent up feelings slowly finding a way out now that it felt safe. He appeared embarrassed through. " I'm sorry. I'm not that good actor. Seine would have pulled off the snobby wealthy nobleman much better... "

[Mirach]

"I guess a pet snake wasn't a best idea either..." Death murmured. "Someone who knows a bit about snakes can recognize a poisonous one..." 

[VisAnastasis]

"   I was so scared they'd figure it out..." He whispered. " But don't worry... I recall Sage had to get all kinds of permits for exotic animals. Llyr has became a very good lawyer. It may take some convincing because it's you, but he knows all those stuff, I am sure he can get us a owning permit. " He smiled a little more widely, hopefully." It has to exist - I can't be the first nobleman that thought of owning a poisonous snake  It probably comes with some stuff like, that we have to carry a vial or two of antidote, but we would have made some anyway, right? Now we had no permit, but next time, we will make sure to register you properly, so we can travel around without fear... You won't be injured or taken from me, and I won't end in prison or fined... I mean, why would we have to sacrifice our happiness for the sake of pricks? We won't..."

[Mirach]

"I kind of hoped I would be able to walk around openly once..." Death murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded. Slowly, he raised his finger a little bit, and just lightly, he caressed the tiny snake's cheek.
" You will," he promised, with a simple firm and solemn conviction, more a promise than a statement. " But don't you like this? I'm enjoying it pretty much so far... " he admitted quietly. " I was thinking. You are right... What would give you a better excuse to be with me than a deal of protection? I protect you and give you asylum in my kingdom, for exchange of reborning demons and Spirits of my kingdom as themselves. Even among those that hate you, none would dare touch you as long as you keep your side of the deal. You'd be something everyone would feel obliged to protect, for the sake of people they love... May it start as an obligation and grow more with time. Once it's official and everyone knows about it, you may walk at my side... but would you always wish to walk? I am strong and I can walk for both, and this is actually quite... quite nice... "

[Mirach]

"Yes... I guess in places where you would go masked for a nobleman, I could go as the nobleman's pet..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It's not just about masks... It's about freedom. " Tide murmured quietly. " It's about... Being able to do what we choose. We have to keep low and not start any rumours, but once, soon, when we announce our deal and I give you asylum, we won't have to hide all that much. We'll just be, as we want to be. I don't hide that much whenever I feel I can afford to. I like to normalize appearances of Beings among the people whenever I can, so I appear masked, but I don't hide what I am. We technically live in the human kingdom, so we'll need human permit not to fall in trouble - but once we take necessary precautions, why wouldn't we just go around freely as we choose? " he asked quietly. " When you feel like walking, you should walk, when you feel like hanging around my neck, you should hang around. As long as we respect human laws like everyone else, we are protected citizens. I mean, at least I am right now, I am written into the Third city as a resident, so I don't count as a foreigner and have more rights, but if you'd like to, I'm sure if we fill you in proper information like birth date and address of residence, with king's blessing, we could give you immediate citizenship. You like to be a snake, and hold on for warmth and pleasure, don't you? It's nice. So why won't just do it? Don't you... get it? Once we take care of any possible legal troubles, we can just *be*.   "

[Mirach]

Death sighed. "It's still hard to believe... that I could do that. It would be..."

But in that moment, the guard appeared again right behind Tide. It seemed he returned quietly so he could follow them. "So it *is* talking..." he said, trying to sound menacing, but sounding actually more puzzled.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide turned head lightly in his direction.
" Hmmm... Excuse me? " he said, where before he was afraid of being found out, this time, he was actually irritated, as he felt he had almost made a breakthrough that was so important to him, and was cut short by reality. This time, he did not speak nonchalantly, like a pretence nobleman, but directly." We are having a moment here. I was just about to convince my friend this whole thing was nothing and he'll be welcome here, and here you are, again. " it was hard to discern if he appeared bewildered or disappointed, but the man felt his intent stare was deep, as if right into his soul. " What's with you people today? Did everyone eat rude mushrooms or something? "

[Mirach]

"I have to ask you sir, who are you really, and what is that snake?" the guard said firmly. "Is it poisonous or not?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I AM Tide Over. " Demon repeated what he had told him before, this time a touch more firmly. " And this snake is my dear companion. Look, man... I am trying really hard to be polite at this point, and I hate confrontation... But I will have to warn you if you lay a finger on it, I'm probably panic and bite your hand off. What do you care if it's poisonous or not? It's not even a snake." he asked, not being able to help betray a hint of desperation in his voice, as he tried to figure out how to explain why it couldn't be taken from him, why this was absurd to him. " It's a person clothed in a snake's body, that's all. You can't take it from me because it's not mine, but its own, just like you and me are our own. Last time I checked the law, you can't own a person, that's illegal for the last 300 years here, thankfully, so if you'd try to take it, it'd not be repossessing properly, it'd be kidnapping. "

[Mirach]

"And I am just doing my job of protecting the people in this village," the guard said firmly. 

"Look, I'm not going to bite anyone, okay?" Death sighed. "I am not a mindless animal that can be provoked by instinct. Carrying a weapon is still allowed, isn't it? I might have poisonous teeth, but as long as I don't use them, I don't break the law, do I?"

The guard watched him for a moment, taken aback. "I guess not... uh... I don't think there is any law about a person in animal form... just about dangerous pets..."

[VisAnastasis]

" He's not a pet, though, so no problems, right? " Tide asked hopefully. " Besides, it's not like he's even carrying a sword and if he cuts someone it can be unmendable. He knows how to make an antidote to his poison, so even in the worst case, we'd be able to make amends before you'd arrest or fine us, right? It's even safer than wielding a sword in that. Besides... " he added, a little more quietly, asking. " Do you really think, if we actually desired to hurt people here, that we would take these forms of travellers, and just sit here and order food and eat by ourselves? That'd be absurd, young fellow. We have been interrupted and harassed repeatedly, yet we only came to relax and eat, for goodness's sake...  "

[Mirach]

The man still looked uncertain about what he should do with a talking snake. "Very well," he said finally. "I think you're not breaking any laws, so I'm sorry for interrupting you. It does look like you are breaking one though, so I don't apologize. And now excuse me, someone might be actually needing me while I'm here talking to you."

[VisAnastasis]

" You said before that you are often bored, though. Was that truth or did you just not wish to alarm the strangers? " Tide frown a little - his curiousity not being able to help but shine through now that he wasn't afraid." When I passed through here ten or fifteen years ago, it didn't seem that bad, did the crime rate raise since it began expanding recently? If it's for any consolation, blood has strong scent, so if someone was hurt around those couple of houses around us, I'd probably know, so you can rest assured we didn't steal your time from more serious crime. I do think one cook cut his index finger in some rush, probably a couple minutes ago, though.." he said a bit distractedly as he focused on smelling." So he may need a painkiller for that... But other than two cats that fought and some scrapped child's knees behind the inn, I think that's that."

[Mirach]

"So what if nothing is going on right now?" the man said a bit defensively. "I am a guard here. I need to be ready before something happens, not after it..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Nothing, nothing. I'm just saying, you know, you don't have to be afraid you've missed something important because of us. That has to be a good thing, right? " he asked appeasingly. " Besides, you're putting too much pressure on yourself. You can't read minds, so you can't possibly be ready for everything - but that doesn't mean you're not doing a good job. " he retorted with a gentler tone. " As long as you're as ready as you can be, it's alright. You did pester us, sure, but you were just doing your job. If you expect yourself to always be ready before something happens, though, you'll just always be stressed out. Such things can play hell on your nerves, always thinking something horrible is going to happen if you're not always alert... You need to relax a bit and take care of yourself, too. "