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atticsandwich · 13 days ago

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the matchmaker

Happy birthday Barney woooooo 💜

- You’re a matchmaker who works mostly with nobles, seeing as they’re the ones still rooted in traditions and such. Personally you believe in marrying for love, but this pays the bills so…

- You’re damn good at your job too. You know how to read your clients; you can suss out what kind of demons they really are underneath whatever front they put on for you. You can tell which personality traits are likely to work well together, and if you’ve had a hand in helping lesser demons from bad families escape to safer and more comfortable lives, they would never tell.

- One day this little demon no more than several centuries old walks into your office asking for a marriage partner.

- “Not for me, for my big brother!” He clarifies while you’re mentally cursing the noble families who still follow child bride practices.

- Said big brother barges in not two seconds later apologizing for his rudeness and trying unsuccessfully to stop his sibling from spilling his entire life story.

- You recognize Mephistopheles immediately. Not only is his family well-known in your network, but you’ve done business with many of his associates and one of his underlings had interviewed you for an article before.

- Apparently he’s under pressure from his family to marry, despite not being open to the idea at this time. You know how messy noble politics can be, so you don’t pry and instead get him started on the process. At the very least, you can match him with someone he won’t completely detest. Best case scenario, he finds an accomplice to fake a relationship with.

- (After a preliminary screening, it seems like Mephisto’s ideal partner is Lord Diavolo himself, but rumor has it he’s already infatuated with one of his students, so he’s off the table. Not that you’d go anywhere near the prince, especially with that butler of his constantly by his side.)

- You soon discover that Mephisto is one tough customer. He finds fault in every single match you send his way, even when you suggest that he pick someone just for show. He insists that even a fake partner has to check all his boxes, but you suspect he’s being overly selective on purpose to delay any potential marriages.

- But he’s never rude about it either. His matches tell you about how he’s always the perfect gentlemen on their dates, how he’s polite even when turning them down at the end of the day. He’s essentially wasting everybody’s time, going through the process for the sake of it while trying to change his family’s mind, but he’s still paying you for your efforts despite everything, so you continue to do your job.

- You tweak Mephisto’s matches with every feedback he gives you, and you start to wonder if there’s anyone he’d be willing take a chance on, even if it’s to play pretend and get his family off his back.

- His little brother tries to help out. The little demon often visits you behind Mephisto’s back, telling you stories and sharing every tidbit of information he can think of to better help you help his brother find happiness. He doesn’t quite understand why Mephisto doesn’t want a partner (he’s used to fairytales with happily ever afters), but he’s determined to make sure his older brother gets his happy ending too.

- One day one of your old clients visits you out of the blue, looking much healthier than when you first found her taking shelter in your office building. She warns you that there’s been unsavory characters loitering in the area recently. She recognizes some of them from her old circles and warns you to be careful.

- You’re no stranger to this. There’s a reason nobles have entourages of bodyguards with them wherever they go, and working so closely with them has put more than one target on your back over the centuries. You always make sure to keep magical wards in the area to warn you when demons with malicious intent have entered the premises, and stash a few teleportation talismans for a quick getaway if needed.

- It’s during one of the days Mephisto’s brother drops by to chat with you that your wards go off. You don’t hesitate to grab the little demon before activating your talismans, teleporting both of you to safety. You don’t reappear in front of your house, no; you don’t know if your own home has been compromised, so you told the frightened demon in your arms to picture the safest place he could think of—

- You land in a puddle of mud in the middle of a nondescript field, barely managing to catch him before he gets all dirtied as well. There’s a stable nearby, and the guards stationed there immediately notice your arrival and surround the two of you.

- Things happen quickly after that. Mephisto’s brother vouches for you even as he’s crying for his sibling, and after verifying your identity and giving a brief rundown of what happened, the two of you are escorted to the family manor.

- Mephisto finds you within the hour, throwing decorum out the window and bursting through the main doors to rush to you and his brother. Poor kid wouldn’t let go of him for the longest time, while you stand quietly in one corner to let them have their moment, not wanting to track mud over the pristine marble floor more than you already have.

- “You kept him safe…” Mephisto acknowledges you with an indescribable look in his eyes and, to your surprise, grabs you in a hug as well, muddied clothes be damned. “Thank you.”

- He promises to personally fund and oversee the repairs, your office having been thoroughly thrashed by the attempted kidnappers when they had trespassed in search of his brother. They’d been stalking him for weeks and knew he often snuck away from his bodyguards to see you, and they thought it’d be a golden opportunity to ransom him for a hefty amount of Grimm.

- Mephisto also prepares a security detail for you, despite you insisting you’re not high profile enough to warrant one. He decides that so long as you’ll be working closely with his family, he’ll make sure you’re protected too.

- Business goes on as usual after that. Mephisto still meets with you to go through his matches, still turns everyone down at the end of the day, but somehow you get the feeling he’s already made up his mind. Sometimes he doesn’t even look at the documents you give him before rejecting the candidate, which kind of annoys you given how much work you’d put in—

- And then his brother tells you that his parents already backed off the marriage idea weeks ago. Whatever phase they were in had passed, and now they were focused on the next big thing in noble society.

- …Oh. Well then.

- The next time Mephisto meets you in your office, you bring up the subject of payment for your services. He confirms that your fee is scheduled to be deposited into your account at the end of the month as usual, but you suggest he takes you out for dinner instead.

- Mephisto pulls at his tie and looks away, only mumbling something about picking you up at 6 before marching out of your office with steam coming out of his ears.

#obey me mephistopheles #op i owe u my life

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atticsandwich · 14 days ago

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In the RAD cafeteria…

MC: *halfway through their meal* Hey, can you help me buy a coffee please?

Mephisto: What do I look like, a sugar daddy?

MC: *rolls eyes and takes out wallet* You’ve already finished eating, plus I wasn’t asking you to pay for it. If you don’t want to, just say so.

Mephisto: Tch, I’m not your lapdog. *takes MC’s Grimm and queues for drinks anyway*

(A few minutes later)

Mephisto: *slams a can of the most expensive coffee in RAD on the table, along with the leftover Grimm* Here. I ought to keep the change as a service fee. Don’t ever ask me to do anything for you again. *walks off*

MC: Thank you! *picks up the money, only to find that Mephisto didn’t touch their Grimm at all*

MC: …Sugar daddy.

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atticsandwich · 14 days ago

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burnt toast, sunday

pairing: mephistopheles / gn!mc

slice of life, bonding with mephisto's younger brother, mephisto being a boyfail (endearingly) but he's also a really good older brother

"Don't you have royal babysitters for this kind of thing?"

"Yes and no, but I'd rather have someone I trust to look after my precious little brother."

"So you trust me?"

"Wh...?! Only because Lord Diavolo does!"

or: a babysitting favor-turned-impromptu sleepover party, accidental wingman-er, wingdemon little brother, and poor Mephisto having an internal crisis

[set in the OG timeline, pre-NB]

quick a/n: i cannot for the life of me think of a name for mephisto's brother, so watch how many variations of "little brother" i can use before u get sick of it <3 i like to picture him kinda like a Luke-sized version of Mephisto lol

a/n part 2: erm. i might've accidentally made this a full-fledged fic instead of a quick little drabble help

"So let me get this straight," you start, trying to process what the noble demon before you just proposed.

"You want me to babysit your little brother this weekend, because..."

"--Because I need to attend an event, and I have no one else to turn to but you, yes, that's the gist of it," he finishes, both arms on his hip as if he's recounted this to you 5 times over.

(He has.)

"What about your parents?" you inquire.

Sighing, he returns to his seat across from you, like the thought of them gave him a headache.

"Off to who-knows-where in an exclusive excursion. Last time I called they were somehow in Santorini."

"In the Human Realm?!"

"If you're wondering if there are any more demons masquerading as humans up there, no, there aren't. They'd need permission from Lord Diavolo first lest they get hunted down by Barbatos."

"Oh. That's assuring."

"It's a bad look for the Devildom if we leave our denizens unattended. Anyways, back to the topic at hand--"

"Don't you have, like, royal babysitters for that kind of thing?" you interject. "Like, you know, a personal butler?"

"Yes, and no," another sigh escapes him.

"While we do have butlers, they're more for tending to the estate. Plus, I doubt they could tend to my little brother's pasttime interests. I could very well simply hire a royal babysitter, as you would call it, but I'd rather have someone I trust look after my precious brother."

"So... you trust me?" you try to stop yourself from giving him a smug grin, but the chance was too perfect to miss.

"Wh...?! D-Don't twist my words, human! I only say that because Lord Diavolo does!" his face is flushed in embarrassment, clearly taken aback by the quip. He diverts his face away from looking at you, instead suddenly finding the Newspaper Clubroom's accent wall of interest.

Classic.

"Plus, considering your background experience with those brothers, I'd say you're more than qualified for the job."

You hold back from giggling - which he picks up on - much to his annoyance. But you find yourself curious about his home and his brother, who he's mentioned in many separate occasions. You have to admit, you'd also like to meet what kind of brother Mephisto has.

"Alright, I'll do it," you finally say, standing from your seat, fully decided.

"Wh-Really? Oh. Good. Perfect," he tries hiding the way his shoulders relax from stiffness, clearly relieved you finally agreed.

"...On one condition, though."

"Hm? Name your price."

"Ask me again, but this time, say 'pretty please?'"

(And if the students outside that room jumped from the doors suddenly bursting open, with a red-faced demon chasing a laughing human around, cane in hand, well, they'll just chalk it up as another normal day at R.A.D.)

"Whad'ya mean you won't be home the whole weekend?!" Mammon's whines fall on deaf ears as he watches you pack your overnight bag. You've already told him about the arrangement a few days prior, but it seems the information just processed now.

"It's not like I'm moving away, Mams."

"But what if you fall in love with his house and decide to stay there forever?!" he whines more, as you let out an amused giggle.

"I'll get you a little souvenir when I get back, okay? We can hang out then."

"Promise?"

"Promise. You won't even notice I'm gone!" you zip up your bag, finishing up your pack. As you do, a knock on your door grabs the attention of both of you.

"Yeah?"

"Um..." the door creaks open, revealing a groggy, half-awake Belphegor. "There's a guy waiting for you outside, I think he's one of Mephistopheles' drivers."

Giving the youngest demon a thumbs up, you stand, slinging your overnight bag on your shoulder. It's not too heavy, and after double checking if everything's in order, you make your way out of your room.

"Ride's here! See ya later Mams! Thanks Belphie!"

You walk past some of the brothers on your way out, bidding your goodbyes as you do, although not before taking a little extra bag full of snacks that Beel insisted you bring with you. Upon reaching the house's front gate, you're greeted by a tall demon, clad in formal wear. He introduces himself as your designated driver sent by Mephisto, and ushers you in the vehicle after you return the introduction.

The ride to Mephisto's estate is quiet, and you occupy your time by scrolling through your D.D.D, updating Lucifer that you just left the house, as he had to leave earlier to finish R.A.D-related paperwork. You also send updates in your group chat with the brothers, as well as the guys from Purgatory Hall - who insisted on getting updates, too.

Before long, the car pulls up to a giant, gilded gate - extravagant feels like an understatement, you think, the intricacy of its details almost reminding you of classic gothic architecture from the Human Realm. The mansion itself isn't something to scoff at either; you already knew Mephisto's family was filthy, stinkin' rich - Mammon's words, not yours - but seeing it yourself is an entirely different story.

The car slows down to a halt, stopping at the manor's front entrance. The driver quickly exits the vehicle to usher you out, before driving off to a separate part of the estate. Mephistopheles is standing by the front door, already dressed up for the event he mentioned.

"Lookin' good, Mephisto! That coat looks great on you," you tease and wave a greeting.

"You've arrived. I trust the drive was pleasant?" rolling his eyes, he pretends not to hear anything you just said.

"Definitely beats walking to here, that's for sure," you say as he opens the door for you, beckoning you inside

"Someone's being a gentleman today!"

"Tch," he furrows his brows in annoyance. "Only because you're a guest, so don't get used to it," You can't help but giggle at the treatment, saying a quick thanks as you walk in.

His manor is huge - the large, open foyer that greets you the second you step in is embellished in gold and marble pillars, with a chandelier befitting its grandeur. A portrait of two demons is its centerpiece, who you can assume are his parents. He leads you through an arched entryway leading to the living room, decorated with a large ornate rug and furniture that looks like it got taken directly from a rococo painting - not to mention the actual rococo-style paintings hanging on its walls.

"As you can tell, this is the living room," he pauses for a bit before continuing. "Although we only really use it if my parents have guests over. Even then, they prefer having tea at the backyard."

"Dude, your house is like, a museum," words fail your thoughts.

"Don't be ridiculous, you've been to the Demon Lord's castle plenty of times for you to still be ogling at some gilded furniture."

"Yeah, but he's like - the prince - and I already expected that anyway since the word castle is in the name, y'know?"

He rolls his eyes, continuing the mini-tour.

"Past that hall is the kitchen, and the dining hall is opposite of it," he points out. "Don't worry about food, though. I've already informed the butlers of your staying. They'll call when food is ready. You can ask tea from them at any time, as well."

"Aw, really? I kinda wanted to try cooking at a fancy mansion..."

"Don't you already do enough cooking at the House of Lamentation?"

"Yeah, but I rather enjoy it - plus, my baking skills are a bonafide way to make any kid like me! Or at least, that's what Luke says..."

He rolls his eyes again, before sighing in resignation. "Knock yourself out then, I'll let the butlers know. They'll inform you where everything is if you ask."

"Heh, thanks Meph." he grimaces at the even-shortened nickname, but lets it slide anyways.

"For the main point of you staying here, my brother's room is upstairs," he leads you to a set of staircases at the end of the living room leading to a large hallway at the second floor. "Follow me to his room - I've made arrangements so the room next to his can be your quarters. There's an en suite bathroom, so you don't need to worry about that."

"Thanks, you've really thought of everything, huh?" he rolls his eyes again, but doesn't retort.

"My brother's quite shy, so it might take some time and a bit of coercion for him to warm up to you. He's never really had a proper babysitter before," he pauses, stopping at one of the doors, before giving a firm knock.

A soft "come in" can be heard from the inside, as Mephisto and you enter the room. The room itself is quite different from the overall feel of the mansion - it's a lot more casual and comfortable. It's still quite large, with a seating area and a multiple bookshelves, leading to a large bed. You see a young demon seated in a sofa, book in hand, as he stands to greet his brother. He's about the same size as Luke, although unmistakably of the same blood as Mephisto - similarly colored well-kept hair, green eyes... yeah this demon is definitely his brother.

"Big brother!" he greets enthusiastically. Just from that, you can tell how close they are. "-- and... um..."

"Hello there," you give the smaller demon a wave and your warmest smile. Embarrassed, he hides his face behind the book he's holding.

"No need to be shy, this is, er, my friend from RAD who I mentioned will be looking after you while I'm away," he explains. The younger demon peers at you from his book, before nodding to his brother.

"Hello..." he's too cute, you think, almost wanting to squeeze the life out of the boy. He continues looking at you, until it looks like something clicks in his head.

"Big brother, are they the human you keep telling me about?"

Oh? You had to stop yourself from spitting out a noise in surprise, although turning to Mephisto, who's suddenly beet-red from what his brother said, didn't help your cause, and unfortunately, just made you want to let out a louder laugh. His younger brother's eyes just sparkle even more.

"It is you! Big brother's told me about you before! You're even prettier in real life!" his enthusiasm is cut short when Mephisto covers his mouth to keep him from saying anything else, although he's conveniently looking everywhere but at you. For now, you spare him mercy and lean down to his younger brother's height.

"That's nice of you to say," you smile, Mephisto's hand finally releasing his brother's mouth. "Your big brother has also told me about how much of a wonderful little brother you are."

He's embarrassed again, returning to hiding his face behind his book. The moment is interrupted, however, when Mephisto's D.D.D starts beeping an alarm, and, upon seeing the time on the screen, turns it off and nods to the two of you.

"Ah, that means I must take my leave. I'll leave you to it then - and uh," he turns, looking at his younger brother. "Please don't embarrass your big brother..." he half-whispers to him, although you hear it quite clearly. "Give me a call if anything happens. I should be back by lunchtime tomorrow."

"See ya, Mephisto!"

"Take care, big brother!"

Looking after Mephisto's younger brother is a delight, you think. Although the demon was indeed, pretty shy at first, the moment he saw your Ruri-Hana keychain dangling from your D.D.D - gifted to you by Levi - his eyes started sparkling and all the icebreaker meekness got thrown out the window.

"I-I love Ruri-Hana! I watch all her shows!"

"Why don't we have a little watch party tonight? I'll bake some themed cookies, too!"

"R-Really? You'd do that?" his voice is clearly quivering from excitement at the prospect. You giggle and pat his head in response.

"Absolutely! If you want, you can help, too!"

The elated smile he gives in response is bright, and he pulls you across his room to show you the little corner where he keeps all his memorabilia. His enthusiasm is endearing, and you can't help but feel a sense of older-sibling duty, not too dissimilar as what you feel with Luke.

"Wow! That's a figure of that one time she dressed up as Santa-Devil for a Devilmas special!" all the bingewatching with Levi finally paid off, as you silently thank the third-born in your head for getting you into the franchise as well.

For a while he shows you his collection, until you have an idea and pull out your D.D.D. You show him pictures of a recent convention you went to with Levi, and all the pictures you took with Ruri-Hana franchise cosplayers. His eyes light up at each one, excitedly naming each character. Not long after, a butler knocks on the room, informing the both of you that lunch was to be served.

The dining hall, despite only having you and Mephisto's younger brother, is filled with chatter as you both eat. You learn that he also reads a ton of books, a sentiment that you share. He tells you his favorites, and expresses interest on reading Human Realm literature. You promise to bring over some the next time you're over, which excites the little demon.

After lunch, you start prepping for baking, and after being given a quick kitchen tour by a butler, you work on laying out everything you need. Mephisto's brother is on the other side of the counter on a step stool, so he can see the countertop, pencil and paper in hand, drawing cookie shape ideas to fit the theme.

By the time you both finish cutting and carving off shapes for the dough, it's already late afternoon and the butler comes by to offer you both tea and some light snacks. The younger demon suggests a tea break in the garden, and you go along with his suggestion. He leads you outside through a hallway past the kitchen, and you're greeted by a large expanse of lush flora, and even further, you spot a large clearing where multiple Devildom horses are grazing.

"That midnight one over there is the fastest, he's my big brother's favorite!" he points out, and you spot the horse in question. It's a gorgeous stallion, its fur seemingly glittering under the Devildom moon.

"I have a horse of my own too, but big brother says I'm still too young to race..."

"I'm sure you'll be at it soon!" you assure him. "I don't know much about horseback riding though, so you'll have to show me the ropes when the time comes."

"Oh! Maybe big brother can teach you! Then you'll be able to ride horses, too!"

You lightly laugh at his enthusiasm at the topic, although the image of Mephisto helping you on a saddle flashes in your mind. You hurriedly swallow down the thought - and the slight fluster - with some tea, before you can dwell too much on it.

"I doubt your brother likes me enough to teach me," you lightheartedly joke. The furrow in the young demon's brow slightly surprises you though, as he turns to face you.

"That's not true! Big brother likes you a lot!"

"He... does?" He does?

"Yeah! He's a bit weird about it sometimes, though. He says he's impressed by you and how you reign around the demon brothers, but then he'll also say how much he wants to squeeze the 'life out of your pretty face!'"

"Ah..." your cheeks are quickly turning red, but you try to shake off the imagery. You take another sip of tea to try calm your beating heart down.

"I don't know what he meant by that, though. I don't want him to crush your face!"

His childlike naivete reminds you of Luke, causing you to laugh. "Don't worry, I'm sure he didn't mean it literally," you assure him. You pause, in thought for a second. "So... what else has he said about me?"

"O-Oh! He says that you're such a hard worker. He's told me that not only are you a student council member, you're also a sorcerer's apprentice! That must be hard..."

"Well, it is, but I manage. I do enjoy being in the Devildom, after all."

"He...uh, he says he hopes you're getting enough rest though," the younger demon's voice pauses, a bit hesitant to continue, which you pick up on.

"Hm?" Interesting. "What do you mean?"

"Uh, um... sometimes he'll complain about finding you asleep around school and that now he has to make sure no one disturbs you... so he-ah--! I think I've said too much! Please don't let big brother know I told you!"

You're thankful he's hiding his face in shame because you're pretty sure your own face is also red from being flustered. In your head you're already teasing Mephisto with this information, but you can't deny that your heart fluttered upon learning he's been watching over you all this time - how typical of him, you think.

"How about I tell you a little secret too? Just between us," you offer, calming him down.

"Um... okay, I'm listening," his eyes are focused on you now, clearly all-ears in anticipation.

"I really like your big brother, too."

"R-Really?! You do?"

You nod your head in assurance. "Promise not to tell him though?"

"Yeah! I promise!"

"Alright then. How about you help me make the icing for the cookies now so we can decorate immediately after dinner?"

Before he can respond, however, your D.D.D. starts ringing from where you put it on the table. Looking at the caller I.D., you can't help but breathe out a little giggle. Speak of the devil.

"Meph? What's up?"

"I'm just checking in to see how everything's going. There hasn't been any problems, has there?"

"I-Is that big brother? I wanna talk to him!" again, this kid's enthusiasm is endearing.

"Here, why don't you talk to your brother?"

To say he's been restless the entire event is an understatement - Mephisto has been fidgeting and pacing back and forth the entire time. It's not that he doesn't trust the human to look after his beloved sibling, no, it's the dawning realization that his brother might start saying things. Suddenly, the countless R.A.D. stories he's told him that involved you became embarrassment fuel. He's tried distracting himself by socializing with the other nobles in the grounds, however all the attempts have been proven futile. Glugging down demonus didn't seem to be working either, having to be cautious that he wasn't drinking too much.

Checking the time, he infers that it should be fine to give a call - just to make sure, he assures himself, scrolling his contacts list until he spots your name.

Just one call, Mephistopheles, don't overthink it!

A few rings later, you pick up, and he lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding in.

"Meph? What's up?"

"I'm just checking in to see how everything's going. There hasn't been any problems, has there?" he's fidgeting the cuff of his sleeves, still restless.

"Is....brother? I wanna....talk....!" he recognizes the voice in the background as his little brother, although talk about poor reception - he'll need to speak with the venue coordinator later.

"Here... don't.... talk.... brother?" the reception sounds like it's getting worse, which is not helping his nerves at all - he can't decipher what either of you are trying to say.

"Brother.... help.... icing.... decorate.... watch.... bad guys....."

"H-Hello? Are you still there? Hey! What do you mean help?!" he's frantic now, trying not to jump to any conclusions - in any case though, he definitely heard his little brother say help and bad guys before the line got cut off from the poor reception... Right?

So like any responsible big brother would, he apologizes to the event host, citing an emergency, and hurriedly calls for his chauffeur to get him home as soon as possible.

"Hm? That's weird, the line got cut off..." you both stare at your phone screen, wondering what happened.

"Oh...."

"Don't worry," you try conforting the younger demon. "I'm sure he just had some business to attend to. Let's try calling him again later, yeah?"

"Okay! I wanna tell him about the Ruri-Hana cookies....!"

"Let's go prepare the icing then!"

Nodding, he excitedly gets up from his seat, taking your hand as he hurriedly leads you back to the kitchen. Upon arriving, you both immediately get to work, and he picks out food coloring combinations while you mix up the icing base, dividing it into multiple bowls. He's at first worried that there wouldn't be enough colors, until you remind him that he can mix for new ones, and he's back to excitedly listing down which colors correspond to which bowl.

You both finish prepping everything just in time for dinner; the little demon scarfing down his meal as fast as he could - almost reminding you of a certain ginger demon - and you laugh as you try to match his pace. Before long you're both back in the kitchen, watching the first batch of cookies turn a nice golden color before pulling them out of the oven to cool. You explain to him that the cookies need to rest first before decorating, and he resists the urge to take one cookie as a trial piece. Endeared, you give in and tell him he can get one cookie - as a treat for being such a good helper, you say.

"It's already so good!" he exclaims.

"Heh, I bake a lot with the brothers back at home, so I'm glad you like it!"

"I'm serious! These might be the best cookies ever! I can't wait to decorate!" you swear that if he wasn't restraining himself, he would've been bouncing up and down in excitement. To satiate his energy, you ask him to start preparing the Ruri-Hana CDs in his room, so the watch party can immediately proceed once the cookies are ready. He happily obliges, rushing off upstairs.

Giggling, you take out your D.D.D to pass the time while waiting. Recalling Mephisto's call earlier, you decide to contact him to give an update, as his call from a while ago got cut off. Surpisingly, he answers the moment the call beeps.

"Hello?! Is everything alright there?! Don't worry, I'm by the gates now so-"

"Uh... Mephisto? Are you okay?" he sounds panicked and in a rush, much to your confusion.

"Wh-?! The call earlier, I heard something about a bad guy and needing help?!"

Ah, it immediately clicks for you.

"By any chance, did we get cut off because of bad reception?"

"Well... uh... yeah?"

"Mephisto," you stifle a laugh, but can't help but let it out. The demon on the other side of the line sounds bewildered, urging for clarification. "I think you misheard what your little brother said, and jumped to conclusions."

The line is silent, almost eerily so. You try to stifle another laugh, to no avail.

"Meph, you do realize I'm a capable sorcerer and have seven demons on my beck and call if anything bad were to happen, right?"

"Listen--"

"Please don't tell me you panicked and left your event early."

"Don't rub it in!"

"Well... at least you're in time to help us decorate cookies?"

"Shut up."

You laugh again at the absurdity of the situation as he hangs up, just in time for his younger brother to come trotting down the stairs.

"The CDs are all ready! Can we decorate now?" his pleads, eyes sparkling.

"We can, but I think we have a surprise guest. Why don't we meet him out front?"

"Huh? Who else is coming?"

"You'll see. Come on!"

By the time the two of you reach the foyer, the front door is already opening, revealing a disheveled, clearly drained Mephistopheles. You stop yourself from laughing, again, while the younger demon next to you jumps in surprise.

"Big brother! You're back early!" he runs up to him to greet him into a hug, which Mephisto reciprocates, giving him a pat on the head, as well.

"Yes, yes. I was, uh... able to leave early due to some--" he turns his gaze at you, furrowing his brows, flustered. You let out a small huff of air, looking away. "--circumstance. I trust your day was well, my dear brother?"

The younger demon gives a vigorous nod of excitement. "The best! I love my babysitter, big brother! They're the coolest!"

"Really, now?" he raises a brow in interest, urging his brother to continue.

"Yeah, we were just about to decorate cookies for our Ruri-Hana watch party... Oh! You should come help us decorate, big brother!" he doesn't even let the elder respond, already dragging him towards the kitchen. You follow suit, entertained by the two brothers. Mephisto looks behind towards you, casting a questioning glance, and all you do is mouth you'll see.

At the kitchen, Mephisto is given a quick crash course by his little brother about which colors to use, and what to decorate, pulling out the drawings he did from a while ago. Being the doting older brother that he is, he can't say no, and instead tries to follow the instructions he's being given. You transfer the separated icing mixtures into piping bags and show the two brothers the trick to get icing out evenly with even pressure and a steady hand, and despite some mishaps - mostly on Mephisto's part - you finish decorating every cookie, now having a gorgeous Ruri-Hana themed spread. You make sure to take a quick photo to send to Levi later.

"My work here is done then," you proclaim, dusting off bits of flour from your arms. "I'm guessing you'll want me gone now since you came back early...?" you turn to Mephisto, waiting for a quip from him.

"Wha- No...!" his younger sibling is immediately at your side, grabbing ahold of your shirt. "You can't leave yet! We were gonna watch Ruri-Hana!" his voice cracks.

"Big brother, you won't let them leave yet, right...?" he gives Mephisto a pleading look. You glance at him as well, and he catches your gaze. Flustered, he looks away, huffing.

"W-Well... I suppose you already did make plans, so..."

"Did you hear that? You can stay...!" he jumps in excitement, still grabbing onto you. "You can watch with us, big brother! We'll tell you all about the show!"

"And he did help with cookies," you add.

You can tell he initially wanted to decline the offer, but one look at his brother's expectant eyes crumbles him down immediately, sighing in resignation.

"F-Fine. You can leave the cookies here, I'll bring them up after I change."

Giggling, the younger demon proceeds to urge you quickly up to his room, where the watch party is set up. You suggest building a pillow fort while waiting for Mephisto, and if you thought the little demon couldn't get even more excited, you were mistaken. He's immediately onboard the idea, taking all the blankets and sheets off his massive bed. You quickly stop by to what was supposed to be your room to grab additional pillows and blankets, bringing it back to the other room.

The fort is a little rough around the edges and haphazard, but the younger demon doesn't seem to care, smile never seeming to go down. Mephisto enters the room a little while later, tray of cookies in hand, looking more casual than usual.

"I've brought the cooki-- Er, what are you two doing?"

"Big brother, look! We made a pillow fort! We can watch Ruri-Hana even better now!"

"A... fort? I fail to see any sort of resemblance..."

"Just get in here," you urge him, taking the tray off of his hands, setting it at the center. Mephisto's brother has already found his spot near the side, hugging a large Azuki-tan plush close to himself.

"Oh! You can sit next to me! That way, I can tell you all my favorite parts! And big brother can sit next you!" he suggests. You comply, trying not to think much about the seating placement, or if the little devil had ulterior motives. After taking your place, Mephisto is still standing outside the fort, seemingly in conflict with himself, staring at the empty space next to you. You pat the spot with your hand, inviting him in. You hear him groan in contempt, mumbling an "I guess that works" to himself as he sits next to you. You giggle at his resignation, and he casts you a glare, although you could tell it had no bite.

The watch party starts off without a hitch - you and Mephisto's little brother gleefully react at all the exciting scenes, as if you've never seen the show before. Mephisto seemed confused half the time, although it's clear he was entertained enough to stay. You humour him every now and then by explaining some of the finer details, and he's surprisingly very attentive. It's not long before he brings his own commentary on the table on certain scenes, prompting discussions and lighthearted debates between the three of you.

Hours and a whole tray of cookies later, the younger demon next to you has drifted off to sleep, curling himself in, Azuki-tan plush by his side. Mephisto, although initially wanting to transfer him to his bed, eventually gives in to let him continue sleeping as is - it's a pillow fort, nothing's more cofortable! - you assure the usually snarky demon, who sighs in defeat.

"He's a really sweet kid," you tell him, placing a blanket over the young demon, who snuggles in comfortably. "--very much unlike his big brother," you add, teasing him.

"He's nice enough for the both of us," his reply is sarcastic, rolling his eyes in addition as a response. "But yes, he's the best brother I could ask for."

"Hah, just now, you kinda sounded like Lucifer when he gets drunk--"

"Do not compare me to that arrogant, self-absorbed, goat-horned jerk."

"Oh, that's a new one. I'll have to use that sometime," you laugh quietly, careful not to disturb your snoozing fortmate. You notice him trying to stifle his own laugh, more amused than he lets on.

A welcomed silence envelops the room, the lowered volume of a Ruri-Hana episode still playing in the background. You can't help but stare at his screen-illuminated face, engrossed in a fight scene between Ruri-chan and the epsiode's focused monster. It's not long before he catches you staring, however, but instead of a sneering quip, he instead gets flustered and turns his head back at the screen.

"So... uh," he starts, still trying to find what he wants to say, although his eyes are still glued to the screen, albeit unfocused.

"For... today. Thanks."

"If it's for looking after your brother, there's no need to thank me. It was fun."

"No, not only that. In truth, I was worried he wouldn't open up to you, and, well..." he breathes in, finally turning to face you. "I didn't like the idea of you two not getting along, I guess."

"Hey, I already told you, kids love me! ...I think," you say. It's light, but you hear a semblance of a laugh escaping him. "Plus, I got to learn a little bit more about you, too!"

"Hm? Like what?"

"Well... I got to meet your favorite horse - he's really pretty, by the way."

"Ah, so you've met Faust. Yes, he is a stunner, befitting only of someone such as myself," he huffs in pride.

"Speaking of, you should totally teach me how to horseback. Your little brother kinda got me intrigued."

He pauses for a moment, as if in thought. "I suppose that's not an... unfavorable idea. I'll consider it."

You're a little surprised, not expecting him to agree, but at the same time, you realize it was his own way of attempting to get closer to you. Recalling what his little brother said that afternoon, you decide to push your luck a little bit further.

"I uh... also learned that despite how you act, you're always looking out for me," it's your turn to avert your gaze, thankful that the room's dimness was enough to hide the pink tinge on your cheeks.

"Wha-ugh... He told you, didn't he..." the giggle you let out in response is light, almost inaudible with the show's ending song playing in the background.

"I think it's quite endearing," you assure him. "I mean, the brothers already try their best to make sure I'm always safe, so knowing you go out of your way to do so too, regardless... It's a nice feeling. Thanks, Mephisto."

"Y-Yeah..."

Silence envelops the two of you again, this time completely, as the screen in front of you fades to black, signifying the episode's end. Carefully, you shuffle yourself a little closer to him, and you take it as an invitation to go further when all he does is look at you quietly.

Wordlessly, you lean your head against his shoulder, softly breathing in the remnants of his perfume from earlier in the day; a comforting scent compounded with Mephisto's natural one. He stiffens at your action, but almost immediately relaxes himself, his hand finding yours under the sheets. His hand is chilly, you think, the demon obviously nervous, but you urge him to continue by letting out a gentle hum of assurance and giving his hand a quick squeeze.

"Hey, Meph?" you whisper, leaning yourself closer to him.

"Hm?" you can feel his head turn to look down on yours.

"I like you."

"Ah... I--" he's breathless, despite already seeing the confession coming. He's thankful the darkness is hiding his extremely flushed face, but he's unsure if you can hear how loud his heart is beating.

"I like you too."

You giggle lightly, squeezing his hand again, this time, a bit warmer. You feel him squeeze back, as you feel yourself starting to drift off to sleep.

"I know."

You're unaware of it, but as he hears your breathing relax and as your body naturally leans a bit more towards him, he's smiling at your form softly, planting a kiss on the crown of your head.

"Sleep tight."

Devilgram, the next morning

@ minimephisto : [img attached of you and mephisto sleeping, your head leaning against his chest, his head rested atop yours] my big brother and my favorite babysitter are so cute together! ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)♡

see all replies (20)

mammoney : hey! what the hell! get that bastard away from my human!

lucifer : language, mammon. mephistopheles, i will deal with you myself.

asmobaby : awwww! look at those lovebirds ♡

stn : you're not helping, asmo

thank you for reading! my asks are also open if anyone would like to request something. ofc, there's no guarantee that i'll do it (haha) but i'd love to hear suggestions :>

#obey me #obey me mephistopheles #obey me mephisto #happy birthday mephisto #still my most popular fic.... damn

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atticsandwich · 14 days ago

Text

more than they can say

pairing: mephistopheles / gn!mc

established relationship (with mephisto), implied poly!mc, mostly fluff [+ slightly suggestive themes (nothing explicit nor descriptive), with a touch of angst at the end]

seeing your skin decorated with the sigils of seven of the most powerful demons in the Devildom instills a bubbling array of emotions within him, and he finally gives in to fully showing his commitment for you.

[set in the OG timeline, pre-nightbringer]

a/n: a part of this mentions how many years it has been since the start of the exchange program, it's a rough estimate, so if you think i'm wrong pls just ignore it lol

btw, my requests are still open!

Mephistopheles' office in the newspaper club room is a quiet respite from the chaotic hallways of RAD, and usually he'd keep the peace for himself, too engrossed in his own work to care about Levi's yelling at Mammon to return his wallet, or the shriek of terror when Raphael rains down spears when he gets pissed. You hold a special exception, however, and use that privilege as often as you can, casually barging in during lunchtime - to annoy him again, as he would accuse - but never with any bite as to actually deter you from coming.

Despite stepping down from being club president some time ago, he's still very much active in the club, as shown by the multiple drafts and article proposals strewn across his desk. You'll often read some of them for him, and most of the time he'll roll his eyes, take the proposal from your hands, and crumple it before tossing it to the bin - his standards are high, as always.

It wasn't always like this though; you and Mephisto had a rough start on your... friendship, and it really wasn't until you became a member of the student council that he started warming up to you, before inevitably falling for your human charms, as Asmo would call it. Initially he took that phrase literally and seriously thought you cursed him with some infatuation spell, and it took Diavolo laughing at his face to realize that yeah, he was kinda stupid for thinking that - Satan's words, not his. You followed him when he stormed off the student council room that day, and you remember the flush of his cheeks when you confronted him at the gardens, how you implanted in your memory the very first time you felt his lips on yours, his hands desperately holding onto you as if the moment he'd let go, you'd run off elsewhere.

Mephisto is a prideful demon - proud of his status, his strength, his influence, his family; he takes great care in cultivating and maintaining his public image, only acting beyond what is needed during pressing matters. It's why he thinks the concept of pacts goes directly against his values, and for that reason, deems it sacrilege; maybe it's the thought of someone having complete dominion over you should they choose to act as such, or the thought of being bound to another until their souls gets harvested by the reapers - either way, he's never given it a passing thought, even when some high level witch or sorcerer called upon his name using some rudimentary summoning circle.

You asked him about it once, from before you established a relationship with him.

"Pacts? Let me tell you this ahead, human. Those brothers may have willingly given themselves to you, but do not view me the same way you do them."

You've never brought it up again, respecting his feelings on the matter.

"Hey," your thoughts come back to the present with sound of his voice. Turning to him, you cast a questioning glance.

"Yeah? Did something come up?"

"No, nothing like that," he rises from his table, piece of paper in hand. He hands it over to you, signalling you to read it. You eyes quickly scan through the paper, an article proposal of some sort.

"Hm?" you raise your brows in interest. "An interview about having pacts with the demon brothers?"

"Initially, I wanted to toss it aside, but considering that ever since the exchange program, more and more demons have been interested with pacts and such," he explains, although you sense hesitancy in his voice.

"So I assume this interview would be about me?" you inquire.

"Well, yes. Solomon does have a pact with one of the brothers, but I think the student body is more interested about the human who has pacts with all seven of them."

You pause, giving the idea some thought. On one hand, it could prove to be helpful in helping other students understand how pacts function, at least in your case. On the other hand, pacts in general seem to be a very touchy subject for some demons, having polarizing opinions across the board.

"Of course, you are in no obligation to accept. Don't feel like you have to do it," he assures, giving your head a little pat.

You shake your head, a decision already formed. "No, no. I'll do it. I think the pros outweigh the cons enough."

He quirks an eyebrow up, intrigued. "Well, if you're sure about it, then..." he pauses for a while, hesitant. "...I'll have your interview scheduled. I'll text you the details tonight."

It isn't long after you return home to the House of Lamentation that your D.D.D. lights up with Mephisto's name on the screen, a detailed text sent about the interview.

Friday, after class, newspaper club room. Interviewer: Mephistopheles

You send back a quick reply, thanking him for the information, although you have to wonder if he pulled some strings to be the one interviewing you. It'll be a more personal confrontation, so you wouldn't be surprised if the noble demon insisted he be the one to record everything, despite the proposal not being his in the first place. Regardless, you don't dwell on the thought for long, and go on with the rest of your day.

When Friday comes, Mephisto shoots you another text, reminding you about the interview. You assure him that you'll be there, although a bit later than expected as Lord Diavolo asked you to help you sort through some files in the student council room. He puts up no complaints and urges you to finish as fast as you can, to get this over with, as he says in the text.

"I've heard from Mephisto that you'll be interviewed today regarding your pacts?" Diavolo inquires while the two of you go through some documents. Barbatos is somewhere in the corner, arranging some more files for Lucifer to go through at a later time.

"Yeah, I thought it wouldn't hurt to do," you answer. "Plus, there's been a lot of interest lately regarding my relationship with the brothers lately, so I thought it'd be better to go for it now rather than have some random rumor go around."

"Hm, you do have a point," he takes a sip of tea from a cup right next to him, thoughts elsewhere rather than the stack of papers in front of him. "I must admit, even I'm curious about how you went through with it. I only know of Lucifer's since I asked."

"Nothing special, for the most part, really. Although funnily enough, Lucifer helped me out with Mammon's," you laughed, recalling the entire Goldie-in-the-freezer debacle.

"Hah, it sounds like a good story. I'll be looking forward to reading the interview!"

The newspaper club room is empty, save for a lone demon steeping a select brew of tea. The smell indicates that it's your favorite, and a smile graces your lips as you approach the demon from behind, careful not to alert him of your arrival. You feel him freeze for a second the moment you wrap your arms around him from his back, but he immediately relaxes once he realizes who the perpetrator is.

"You're late," he chastises, but there's no bite to his voice. You release him from your hug and approach his side, eager for the tea he's brewing. He catches on fairly quick.

"Go take a seat, I'll bring the tea over once it's done, then we can start the interview."

You hum in acknowledgment, shuffling your way to one of the room's lounge couches. It's rare that the club's main room is this quiet, as usually there's always someone else typing away at their keyboard, or cursing at the printer for not working. Mephisto follows not long after, placing the tea set at the table, pouring you a cup before he does for himself, and takes his seat on a chair in front of you. He stations a recorder in the middle, taking a notebook and flipping through its pages, landing on what you assume to be the pre-prepared questions.

"Whenever you're ready," you signal to him. Nodding his head, he clicks the record button on the recorder, clearing his throat to start.

The start of the interview goes without a hitch - Mephisto introduces himself and you, and he asks fairly simple questions to start. You answer all of them in stride as he jots down any important details in his notes. A little while later is when the heavier questions come in.

"Since you've joined the transfer program roughly three years ago, you've made your own mark on the Devildom. Among such achievements was gaining pacts with all seven avatars of sin. Can you tell us how you went about it?"

"Well," you pause, in thought. "My very first pact was with Mammon, who was assigned to take care of me when I first arrived. Truthfully, I gained his pact in more or less a bargain involving a credit card. It's a long story," you take another pause to laugh at the memory. "Next was Leviathan, who made a pact with me after I beat him in a TSL trivia contest."

You then recount how you made pacts with all the brothers as accurately as you could, refraining from going off topic, as much as you wanted to tell the story of how Satan and Lucifer switched bodies.

"Finally, Lucifer made a pact with me on the last day of the exchange program," you end with the eldest, softly reminiscing that night in his study. "It was... a night I would never forget."

"I see..." Mephisto doesn't miss the tone change of your voice when you say that, and it took all of his willpower to prevent his emotions from showing on his face - keep it professional, he chastises himself in his head, but the more stories you recount of how you got your pacts, each one just as significant as the last, the more emotions start to bubble in his gut. He swallows it all down, pretending to be unaffected, and proceeds with the interview.

"How very... insightful," you notice the slightest bit of bitterness in his voice, although you chalk it up to your hearing, unaware of the mental turmoil going through Mephisto's head. He breathes in, clearing his throat to compose himself.

"Was there any particular reason why you wanted to have pacts with them?"

"Hm..." another pause. You're aware you have to be careful on how you answer this, as the incident with Belphegor has never left the walls of the house.

"I was... trying to help a friend out, initially," you construct a reason while also trying to be truthful. "But eventually it went from that to my pacts being a symbol of who I am to them, and them to me."

"Could you elaborate further?" he presses.

"The brothers are important to me, and I to them. Having pacts with them means that even if we're realms apart, we are always connected. At least, that's how I view it," you smile softly. "I can't control how other humans use their pacts, but to me, it transcends having a demon on your beck and call. It's a two-way street grounded in communication and mutual understanding."

"I... I see."

The air is silent for a moment, the quiet ticking of the recorder being the only backdrop. You glance questioningly at Mephisto, who seemed to be deep in a daze.

"Mephisto?"

"Ah- Sorry," he composes himself, fixing his posture. "I got lost in thought for a second, I apologize."

"It's okay," you assure him. "Do you have anymore questions?"

"Y-Yes," he drifts his eyes back to his notebook. "Your... uh, pact marks, do you keep them visible?"

"Some of them are pretty easy to hide," you start pointing at different areas of your body. "But they're pretty easy to hide with magic. Solomon taught me how to."

"Is there... a specific reasoning for the placements?"

"For the most part, yes. Although... when I made my pact with Mammon, it was a bit haphazard, so we didn't really get to think it through."

The demon across you nods, his eyes fixed on yours. As if in a trance, you hold the gaze along.

"Last question."

He inhales.

"If... If another demon were to ask for a pact with you, how would you respond?"

"Well..." you start, formulating a thought. It's an odd question, and you can't help but think there was some underlying meaning to it. "...It depends. Unlike Solomon, I'd rather only have pacts with demons I... hold with personal importance."

He nods silently, although you don't miss the way his shoulders release from tension, almost in relief. He reaches over and clicks stop on the recorder, signifying the end of the interview.

"Thank you for your time. It was... an insightful interview," he stands up, patting his school coat down.

"Is there... something else you wanted, Mephisto?" you inquire, noticing the way he keeps glancing and looking away from you, sensing hesitancy in his person. He responds with a sharp inhale, walking over to stand in front of you, kneeling down to your level.

"Mephisto...?" flustered and confused, you allow him to take your hand, his temperature chilly. You can tell he's nervous about something.

"May I... May I see your pact marks?"

You didn't expect the question, and for a moment you stare at him in surprise. His eyes though, are transfixed to yours, sincere in his request.

"I... I don't mind, but may I ask why...?"

"It's simply... out of curiosity. I won't push you if you're uncomfortable with it."

"No, no, it's fine," you assure him again. Slowly, you start unbuttoning your school coat before he assists you in taking it off, folding it neatly to the side, all still while kneeling in front of you. You roll the sleeves of your inner shirt, unbuttoning the first few buttons, unsure if you should continue. You look at him, his face flustered, as he mumbles a soft "you don't need to take it all off." Laughing lightly, you take his hand, chanting the spell to undo the concealment of your pacts. One by one, they appear across your skin, as he glances upon each one as they show.

The marks span scattered across your entire body, from your arms, to your chest, to your back. Mephisto takes his finger and traces around them, being particular about not touching them. He furrows his brows when he comes across a prominent mark - Lucifer's, easy to tell with its commanding presence on your skin. You shudder when he encircles its perimeter, still careful not to actually touch any of it. He stops when he reaches your wrist, grasping it lightly with both of his hands, before bringing it to his face as he plants a kiss where your pulse is. If your face wasn't already red - your entire body is now, too.

"Mephisto...?" you whisper, yet his eyes still linger on the space where he planted a kiss.

"Would you... would you laugh at me if I asked you to make a pact with me?" his voice quivers, hesitant, yet clear. He raises his head to meet your eyes, and you chalk it up to your imagination when his looks fiercely verdant, even more so than usual.

You take your free hand, cupping his cheek. He leans into your touch, but his eyes don't waver, anticipating an answer.

"Why would I laugh?" you finally respond.

"I've told you before why I deemed pacts unnecessary... Yet, when you speak about yours, I can't help but long for a stronger connection with you. I fear it's... quite unbecoming of me to feel this way," he breathes out, as if he's been holding it in his entire life. Leaning forward, you kiss the space between his eyes, and he hums in gratuity.

"Mephisto..." his eyes return to you, as the grip on your hand becomes firmer.

"Would you like to make a pact with me?"

His response is wordless, taking your wrist he's been holding this entire time. Bringing it close to his face once again, he closes his eyes, as you feel the familiar surge of magic seep into you when a pact is formed.

"From now, until the end of our days," he whispers, setting your hand down. A new sigil on the wrist pulse where he kissed makes itself known to you, his fingers mindlessly tracing it like a familiar memory.

"I am yours," he finishes.

When you lean down to meet his lips in a desperate kiss, you feel him smile, and he tastes the tears that run down your face from his bold profession.

Mephisto is, as usual, at his desk in the newspaper club room. It's one of those nights that demanded his full attention, deadlines fast approaching, so he works overtime, going through and proofreading every article before gaining his final stamp of approval.

He stands up stretching, eager to take a break from his workload. Noticing the empty teapot on his table, he takes it to brew another batch of tea. He scans his options until he lands on a familiar brew - your favorite. Smiling to himself, he takes said brew, preparing to steep it to accompany him on the final leg of his work.

That is, until a sharp jolt passes through his chest, prompting him to drop the pot into countless pieces as he keels over in searing pain. It's unlike anything he's experienced before, almost as if something is being ripped off of him.

It's then that he finally notices.

Initially thinking of it as a trick of light, he hurriedly rips off his gloves, to where his pact mark with you was etched - on his wrist, the same space where he gave you his mark.

It's gone.

It's gone, and he can't feel you.

Scrambling to his feet, he races back to his desk, uncaring of the mess he's making, throwing the documents across the room to finally, finally get to his D.D.D.

Before he can even open the thing and dial for your contact, the screen lights up.

Lucifer's calling.

He's thankful that the hallways of RAD are completely empty at this hour, as the moment he hangs up on his call with the demon of pride, he lets out the most anguished, distressed scream the academy's walls will ever know, your name buried in echoes.

a/n: after rereading i realize the ending might imply you died, but no i promise it's just a cheeky little way to connect to your disappearance in nightbringer help

#obey me #obey me mephistopheles #obey me mephisto #happy birthday mephisto

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