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Mammon lay on his back, frowning, face red. Gah, why is this so hard? This isn’t the FIRST first date ya’ve been on…
For about the hundredth time, he picked up his DDD and stared at the message.
- I would love to.
Such simple words. Words that made his heart and thoughts race.
In an act of sheer impulsiveness, Mammon had messaged:
- Hey, ya wanna do somethin’ with me, sometime? I mean, somethin’ outside the house? With, uh, just me. None of my dumb brothers hangin’ around us?
And then immediately he had tried to delete it, hands shaking, but it was too late, not daring to pick up the phone to check when he heard the response chime a few minutes later. Finally, with eyes scrunched shut, the Demon Lord picked up the phone and forced one eye open to peek at the screen.
And there was his answer. Then, another response:
- What would you like to do? Where would you like to go?
Those were the questions he was struggling with. He had a feeling that the places he took demons on first dates would not be the right places for this special first date. So, there he was, flopped on his bed, dressed in a motley selection from his closet, trying to figure out where to take the Human who was stealing his heart.
The Pit of Despair? Demons loved looking down into the pit and seeing the souls in torment. It always gave him an uneasy feeling, but when they asked to go, he would take them. It made them happy, although he sure did not understand why. Something tells him that the Human would not appreciate that view, however.
The Devildom Stock Exchange? Now, this was more like it! The Avatar of Greed loved the sounds of the trade floor, the flash of the ticker, the feeling of so much money being made in one place. His sin fed on the greed given off by others, and there were so many greedy people there. But…the last time he brought someone there, they had pouted and sighed and finally said they were going to the bathroom and never came back. If that happened with the Human…he didn’t want to think about it.
The Demonio show floor? Nothing like sitting in one of the cars, smelling the new leather, imagining that it could be his, until the impatient tap on the glass by the salesman telling him he’d worn out his welcome. But this doesn’t seem right either. The Second Born knows he’s a masochist, and he doesn’t mind self-torture on outings, but he doesn’t want the Human to suffer. They probably wouldn’t understand his wanting to be there, anyway.
Mammon was so happy that no one could see him right now, lying there clutching his DDD, surrounded by clothing he had tried and discarded. Nothing seemed to be quite the right item or combination.
Tch . He hauled himself up and shuffled back over to his closet, rifling through it again, tossing out sweaters and socks and a pair of gold lamé boxers. There’s gotta be somethin’ in here…the Great Mammon is NOT goin’ out in public with ‘em lookin’ like…
His hands closed on a t-shirt and a memory stirred:
That looks good on you, Mammon.
A casual thing said over the breakfast table that he had never forgotten. Yeah, this’ll work . Soon, he stood in that t-shirt and jeans and shoes. Nothing special, except perhaps to the Human.
OK, one problem solved. But back to where to take them…
The Casino…? The Fall…?
Safe choices, he thought. But…it would be so loud. The slot machines, other gamblers screaming because they won or lost. The deafening music, even in the VIP section. Why does that bother me so much? It’s not like I wanna talk to ‘em that much or anythin’...but…
But Mammon admitted that he wanted to listen to them, wanted to hear that teasing voice that always asks the questions that make him stammer and blush and say things he doesn’t mean. He wanted to smell their scent, unlike anything else in the Devildom. He wanted…he could barely admit this to himself…to touch their hands, their face, their lips. He didn’t know if he would be able to accomplish this, but the chance is what matters.
And with no distractions, no one else coming between him and them, no brothers, no nobodies.
All to himself, that’s what he wants. But where?
His DDD chimed again. Probably one of his dumb brothers asking an equally dumb question.
- How about we go for a walk tonight? It really is beautiful outside. We can go anywhere; that’s fine by me.
Anywhere. Anywhere is special, as long as it’s with them. The perfect solution, and it came from the Human. Grinning, Mammon texted back:
- Yeah, lemme know when you’re ready. Don’t take too long! I’m a busy demon, I don’t have all night ya know.
A pause, then.
- I’m lookin’ forward to it.
Sent before his mind can catch up with his heart.
