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There was a knock that sounded with a powerful echo in the hall of a smaller palace in a secluded spot in Makai, owned by her Ladyship Morrigan Aensland.
The ethereal, majestic beauty was splayed over a luxurious, dark red, velvet love-seat, looking like Titian’s Venus of Urbino, suddenly remembering that she ordered herself a midnight snack earlier that evening.
She lifted herself off effortlessly, biding her time to make her way to the door. As her feet touched the cold stone floor, bats flew over from the ceiling so high the light of the candelabras didn't reach it, and transformed on her into her leotard, gloves, tights and heels. Her heels clacked against the floor rhythmically and came to a halt before the door, as she absentmindedly twirled a strand of hair around her finger and pulled on the knocker, to see Demitri Maximoff’s figure dwarfing hers. He held a pizza box in his hand.
“Yes?” She raised her brow in a poorly faked surprise.
Of course she knew Demitri Maximoff had to take on a new job, a mortal, lowly job after he refused to pay the mortal people taxes, since he was owning land in the human world. It was no news to her. She was only surprised however, that Demitri, the proud man that he was, tried his hand at cultivating other, seemingly irrelevant to him, skills. Such being customer service. She asked him once “Why not do anything else?”, and to that he responded with something about defeating the one who dared to oppose him-- the tax office.
And Morrigan was bored and hungry, and reluctant to admit she was missing him, so she ordered a pizza and made sure she’d get her new favorite delivery man to bring it. Mortal foods couldn't feed her, unlike entertainment.
His eyes reflected the shine of the moonlight as his face raised ever so slightly.
“I’m here with your order.” His eyes held a glint of annoyance that she had a laugh at his expense. His lips however, stretched into a smirk. How foolish of Aensland to invite an enemy to her home like this. Not that he used to challenge her every other Wednesday.
“I do recall ordering a double pepperoni pizza earlier this evening… Ah yes, that would be my order indeed. However…” Morrigan leaned on the heavy door, her cheek touching the cold metal, as her lips formed a soft smile “I’m afraid I don’t have any money…”
Suspicion flashed over Demitri’s features. How strange. What game could the succubus be playing?
Could it be that she wants to exchange this thin pie, that surely has no worth to a being like herself, for the throne? Possibly to conceal her willingness to give away to him the power over Makai? No… No, Morrigan wouldn’t ever pass up the opportunity to clash with him in battle. Her blood was indeed of good quality too, all the more delightful when the taste of it was earned in the heat of combat… however that was unlikely to be the case as well.
“Surely, your majesty must have many other things to pay with, aside from mortal currency.” Demitri raised one brow.
“Hmm… I honestly have no idea…” She batted her eyes “But I suppose you’re right.”
The succubus cocked her head slightly, before she pushed the door further apart “Would you like to come in and wait while I find something suitable to pay you?” She then added “I permit you to do so.”
The vampire noted the remark and after a second he handed Morrigan the box “I do hope you’re aware that I’ll need no permission to enter your throne room.” he said, walking past her to the spacious interior. The corners of his mouth upturned.
Morrigan followed, setting aside the box as the doors closed behind her. She watched as the vampire sat on the red loveseat.
“I thought you’d notice the accomplishment of being allowed in my chambers.” She shifted her weight to the other leg as she watched Demitri sit on the red love-seat.
“I can hardly call this an accomplishment,” Demitri gestured. “I’d say that me having attained access to your private chambers would be more of an impressive feat than having the door opened to your little salon in this minor palace.” the vampire sat back comfortably.
“Technically this little salon is a private chamber of mine. It can even be the master bedroom if I want it to be.” Morrigan took a few steps toward him “Would you like me to give you a tour of my other palaces as a form of payment?”
“I’ll gladly let you show me around the castle grounds once I defeat you in a deciding and uninterrupted duel and win authority over the demon world.”
Morrigan sighed theatrically as her arms akimbo, “I figure that there’s nothing else left but to fight. Worth five dollars a hopefully uninterrupted duel. How about that, Demitri?”
The vampire grinned as if he waited for her to propose the idea.
“Hm, I suppose you're eagerness to show me around has gotten the better of you, Morrigan, so much so you're willing to propose a duel that you shall lose.” Demitri raised from the velvet loveseat. "I'd be a fool to reject such an invitation."
"Careful there, I'd hate to see you looking like a new carpet for the checkered floors after those words." Morrigan smirked taking a few steps towards him. “Oh- But, before we begin, Demi, darling, could you push that loveseat out of the way? I really wouldn’t like for it to suffer da- Thank you.”