D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Kamiko ---

They left the bunker soon after and they were all glad Meg didn't just bust down the doors. They even went so far as to pile up some more garbage around the door to make it a bit harder to get into. Once they were out they got back on the move.

Robots were still a regular occurrence but remained to be no real threat. One did explode… but not all that violently and as everyone was at least Rank 3 it didn't do more than get their clothes a bit dirty. It was when things got a bit turned around that Kamiko couldn't help but ask, "Are we still going the right way?"

"Yes?" said Meg confused. "What makes you think this isn't the correct way? Do you not trust my calibrations or is there some other reason?"

"We're walking on the ceiling…" answered Kamiko.

"Yes and? The space here is completely warped. The fact that we're walking on grass and yet it feels like we're upside down is honestly a minor complication. If it bothers you so much I can break the knot here keeping us upside down?" explained Meg.

"Wait you can do that?" asked Kamiko.

"Yes. If you've got enough strength you can destroy a lot of magical effects even if they're environmental ones. You do have to know where to strike but with my power that's the easiest part. So do you want me to fix the perspective or not?" asked Meg.

"Um… I want to say yes… but um… clearly you didn't just jump into it so like is there a reason?" asked Kamiko.

"Obviously there's a reason dumbass. The main one is that if I keep breaking them I might tear a hole in space. I could cut this one just fine… but the next one? And the one after that? At some point it would be a real problem so it's better to just get used to it now if I'm being honest," said Meg.

"And the other reasons?" asked Kamiko.

Enjoy more content from empire

"Hmm to explain or not to explain…" mumbled Meg.

"I will give you a headpat if you answer her," stated Hunter.

Meg froze in place and Kamiko smacked into her back, not prepared for the sudden stop, the others slowed down in response as Meg slowly turned her gaze to Hunter. "You mean that?" asked Meg.

Hunter sighed, "I do not properly understand spatial mechanics. I was unaware that you did, but ultimately I can only think of the single answer you already provided and I am trying to be… hmmm… I don't want to say I am trying to be nicer to you because we still have a lot of problems… but I think I am trying to find more compromises. This is a small thing,"

Meg opened her mouth to cheer but Hunter slid closer and slapped a hand over it. Meg of course proceeded to lick Hunter's had like she was a five year old but Hunter just glared back. "Look, I am trying very hard to give you a chance. Kat and Kamiko were not as quiet as they believed in some of their discussions and I do understand why they might wish we were friends…"

"Sorry," added Kamiko.

"We'll get to it later Kamiko. Anyway, I do understand their wish for us to be friends. I somewhat understand your wish to be friends but I just cannot support so many of your decisions and I feel as though maintaining a friendly relationship would be akin to supporting your ideals in some ways. That and you annoy me.

"But, you were nice enough to actually carry Kamiko for multiple days. You did not have to do that, and while you may excuse it as having done me a favour by helping out an acquaintance of mine I do understand that it was a nice thing to do and I am… trying to encourage you as nicely as possible.

"So here is a chance. A small one. Perhaps you will get more but do not fuck it up by saying something insensitive. Yes I saw it in your eyes, and yes you are easier to read then I let on sometimes because I have known you for decades. Now stop licking my hand your being silly,"

Meg thought about it for a few moments before stopping. "Good," continued Hunter "Now, are you willing to accept my terms? As I said I'm trying something here but if you go along with it and turn it into a big deal I will stop offering. Understood?" Meg nodded. "Ok, I am offering you some trust here. Do not abuse it,"

Meg nodded again as Hunter stepped back and freed her mouth and then started walking again. Without saying anything. After five minutes of silence Hunter asked, "Well? I do believe you accepted the deal?"

"Yes and I'm trying REALLY hard not to freak out about it Lil Sis. Like, really really hard. So just let me say nothing for a bit longer okay. I will get to it. I did agree it's just…" Meg slapped a hand over her mouth and then kept walking. Hunter gave her a bit of an odd look but didn't say anything else and Bower… well he started to walk a little further behind.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It took Meg a good half an hour, two robot fights and a flipped scenery where the group was on the ground again and the dome looked quite close. Kamiko was pretty sure they had quite a bit of walking left to do despite that, but it was nice to see some progress, especially when Meg sucked in a deep breath and spoke. "So… there isn't actually too many more things to say about cutting the space knots…

"I mean, you break them too many times and bad things happy and maybe you're closer to the limit then you think but it's also exhausting. Gotta chuck a whole lot of physical force at just the right spot alongside a good deal of demonic fire to really twist things around and you have to hold it there for a bit, maybe add in a few more punches.

It's a lot of effort and I wasn't all that interesting in putting it in or admitting it. There happy?"

Hunter slid over and gave Meg a few pats on the head. Meg smiled. That was a lot more than one pat and while it was a touch embarrassing to admit those facts Kamiko could see she was clearly happy with the exchange, even humming a bit under her breath.

Soo… that's a touch awkward. I didn't realise we were being overheard by Hunter… I wonder which parts she did hear or if she heard it all? I also don't know what to think about the fact she didn't tell us. I mean, I sort of get why she didn't just admit to hearing us at the time, perhaps tipping Meg off…

But did Meg hear us as well? It's still not clear just how strong she is comparatively but I wouldn't want to push things. Urgh. This is not what I wanted to learn… but Hunter is trying. And… is that a good thing? I mean… it's nice she heard our concerns and is acting on it but I just don't know how to deal with that information.

Not really.

Why does this have to be so hard? Meg was so happy with just that little be of acceptance from Hunter and I think that together they could do great things. I don't mean in the romantic sense, though I suppose that would be acceptable as well… just… I feel like together they could both be a lot happier. I think they'd make each other better people…

But it's not like I've ever been good at explaining that to other people. I was only able to say so much recently because I was talking to kat and I trust her to listen to me and respect my answers and not just laugh at me. So… do I meddle more? We're kinda on an important mission… urgh. Doing the right thing to help people who might be my friend now is a pain.

Then again… I'm the one who wanted friends and with Kat here I've never been more confident. I can actually talk to people. Sure it's not always the most graceful but I can hold full conversations with a lot more people now… and Hunter is nice. Meg is still an asshole but… maybe that can be worked on. And I do think everyone deserves friends.

I guess it's just a question of how much I want to risk here and how much courage I have.

Kamiko felt herself stumble, lost in thought as she was, when they hit a transition and suddenly everything was swirling. It was like looking into a moving kaleidoscope on acid. "Oh god what the heck!?" moaned Kamiko. And then suddenly everything looked normal again.

"Told you I could break it… and I was not willing to put up with that shit," grumbled Meg. Kamiko swallowed down her nausea and kept moving. That… didn't help sort her thoughts out. At all.