#* dio: torture devil.

[spungolden]

starter for @shihaino

There's a strained silence as Dio stares at the woman in front of her. She had gotten an influx of contracts, and knowing Makima, she probably wouldn't be happy with the outcomes. "There's been many devil hunters signing contracts with me recently," Dio says simply. Red eyes lower to the coffee cup in front of her, nails tapping quietly against the side. "I just wanted to remind you that I'm not responsible for their fates."

[shoechoe]

YOU GET IT. a diavolo and pucci bible study would end up in them trying to mangle each other and still... Alluring

Haha yeah. I mean, it's not even just the obvious fact that Diavolo is a guy named "Devil" and mild thematic opposite to DIO while Pucci is a priest and one of DIO's closest confidants.

Like, "What would Diavolo even think about God" is a question I've pondered a lot in the past.

Diavolo does mention an "afterlife" for his enemies on occasion, but otherwise his real thoughts on it are unknown. (Hell he might not actually believe in an afterlife and he's just saying that to taunt his enemies dying). However he was raised by an Italian priest so we basically know for a fact that he has history with religion.

It's always been my personal headcanon that Diavolo has religious trauma- the fact that he has trauma is canonical yet unexplored, and his father seemed like the most obvious source of it. That could mean a lot of things. He might have resentment for the church after he got away from it or he might have developed an odd version of its teachings after all that time.

Considering his name is Devil, Diavolo's belief that he can surpass his own fate could be construed as his desire to "surpass" God in a way (to escape the punishments that his father made him feel like he was born deserving, maybe). At the same time, he also believes that he's chosen by "fate" to rule, creating an oddly self-contradicting worldview. (Then he's ultimately punished with the death loop, which disobeys his fate of death to torture him for eternity.)

Pucci's idea of fate is heavily intertwined with his religion, with his idea of "Heaven" being the ability to see your fate before it happens. Considering the common Christian belief that God predetermines what happens (which would make sense as a belief for Jojo since fate is a real, tangible force), Pucci probably believes that fate is God's will. So, his idea of "heaven" could be Pucci wanting to be close to God and understanding God's will (as much as it also ties to the tragedy that happened in his backstory, spawning his desire to accept what will happen in his life and thinking that's what's best for everyone).

At the same time, Pucci also states that only he is untied by fate in his ideal universe, which would logically be disobeying God's will, making him a bit unintentionally hypocritical. I mean, his entire "Heaven" plan is an attempt to usurp the set-in-stone laws of the Universe, which is also logically an act of disobeying God. Him obeying DIO and telling him things like "I love you as I love God" could easily be construed as idolatry. DIO heavily manipulated Pucci when he was young and used his religious beliefs to make him obey him, so his whole "Heaven" plan could very obviously be seen as an act of disobeying God despite Pucci's belief that it's what God wants. But I digress.

If it's like that, then we'd have a character who strays from God's will despite thinking he's a righteous man of God, and a character who intentionally desires to surpass fate, has a potentially tumultuous history with religion, and believes he "deserves" to rule despite cheating his way to the top. It's so interesting how similar they become when you think about it despite them being so dissimilar at first glance. They'd hate each other and the way they think despite how adjacent they really are. Like, man, if they interacted, let alone were somehow forced to sit down and talk to each other about their worldviews... I don't even know.

[eddiemunsonmash]

part two: Baby You’re a Haunted House

summary: In the summer of 1985, your life is turned upside down when your family moves into the newly renovated Creel House in Hawkins, Indiana.

warnings: foul language, drug use (the devil’s lettuce), mentions of parental death, and, as always, mentions of Satan, cults, etc. | WC: 2138

Eddie didn’t care to absorb any of Mrs. Jenkins's lessons; instead, he found himself unabashedly staring at you from a few rows away.

As the bell rang, Eddie nearly stumbled over his own feet in his eagerness to close the distance between him and you. Having not spoken to you since your meeting in the attic, he was eager to have another encounter with you. You turned, a playful smirk dancing on your lips.

“You weren’t listening to a word she said, were you?” You asked, arching an eyebrow in mock disapproval.

“Nope.” Eddie flashed a goofy grin, his heart racing as you shook your head, a reluctant smile creeping onto your face.

“You cheering tonight?” He gestured toward your cheerleading uniform, watching as you seemed to fold inward, your expression a mix of annoyance and amusement.

“No,” you replied, rolling your eyes. “I just love looking like a busted Sprite can.”

Eddie laughed, weaving through the sea of students in the hallway, never breaking eye contact with you.

“I take it you’re not a fan of the uniform?” He asked as you pushed through the double doors, stepping into the refreshing embrace of the outside air.

“I did gymnastics for years, but Hawkins High doesn’t offer that, so here I am,” you shrugged, a hint of resignation in your tone. “Plus, cheerleading makes colleges think I’m friendly and outgoing.”

“Which is a total lie, isn’t it?” Eddie teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Yep,” you nodded, your laughter ringing like a bell as the both of you made your way toward the parking lot.

Riley bounded alongside you, reaching the passenger door of your car before pivoting to face Eddie. “You coming tonight?”

“Me?” Eddie pointed to his chest with exaggerated disbelief. “At a football game?”

Riley nodded eagerly.

“That’s the deal,” you chimed in, leaning against the driver’s side door with a mischievous grin. “I support Hellfire in my space, and Riley becomes the cheerleader’s cheerleader.” You shot a playful smile at your brother, who rolled his eyes in feigned exasperation.

Eddie discovered that the deal was a bit more nuanced than he’d anticipated, munching on concession stand popcorn with his hood pulled up, frizzy curls sticking out like a wild halo. Beside him, Riley stood by the concrete bleachers, his expression serious.

“Our mom works the night shift,” Riley explained, his voice earnest. “Honestly, I’d feel bad if no one was here to cheer her on.” There was a depth to his caring nature that surpassed that of a typical fifteen-year-old.

“Isn’t that a little redundant?” Eddie shot back, raising an eyebrow. “Cheering for a cheerleader?”

“‘Redundant’ is a big word for someone who rarely shows up to English class,” Riley teased, just as the band struck up Hawkins’ fight song, the sound reverberating through the crisp evening air.

In a dazzling swirl of yellow, white, and green, you and the rest of the squad cartwheeled and backflipped your way onto the field. Eddie watched intently, captivated by how effortlessly you turned on the charm, smiling and chanting as you pom-pommed your way up and down the sideline until halftime.

“This is ass,” you huffed as you sauntered over to them, snagging an unopened water bottle from your brother.

“Gymnastics was so much quieter and less sociopathic,” you added, chugging half the bottle in one go, your breath coming in quick bursts.

“Please, do not stay and watch this,” you urged, rolling your eyes. “I see now why it’s considered a form of torture.”

Eddie snorted, and Riley looked almost relieved at your words.

“I’ll see you at home then,” Riley waved, heading off toward where he had tossed his bike somewhere near the tree line.

“You staying for the torture?” You asked, a playful glint in your eyes as you turned back to Eddie.

“I am a sucker for pain,” he admitted, placing a hand dramatically over his heart, a grin spreading across his face.

_____________________________________________________

“You didn’t have to wait for me,” You said, striding up to Eddie, who was still rooted in the same spot where you had left him at halftime. The game had wrapped up nearly an hour ago, ending in a triumphant victory for Hawkins. You had quickly ditched your cheerleading uniform, emerging from the locker room in cozy sweats and a fitted tank top, your wet hair elegantly braided into two dutch braids.

Eddie glanced around the nearly deserted football field, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “What makes you think I was waiting for you?” he teased. “I’m actually here waiting for my friend, the, uh, quarterback.”

You hummed thoughtfully, a grin breaking across your face. “Right, of course. My mistake.”

As you walked together, the field lights flickered off, and the last few stragglers made their way toward the exit, the echoes of laughter fading into the night.

“They really shut the place down quickly, don’t they?” You observed, your brow raised.

Eddie stuffed his hands in his pockets, nodding. “If Hawkins wins, it’s like a stampede. They all rush out to Lover’s Lake for a massive bonfire—beer fest at one of the player’s parents’ lake house.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “That would explain why I was quite literally the last one left in the locker room.”

“They didn’t invite you?” Eddie asked, genuine curiosity glimmering in his eyes.

You sighed, your expression turning contemplative. “I’m only on the team because Veronica Miller broke her leg right before school started. The cheerleading coach reached out when she heard I was looking for a gymnastics studio in town. The girls are friendly enough, but I think they can tell my heart’s not in this, and honestly, I couldn’t care less.”

“Well, since you couldn’t care less and neither of us were invited to the bonfire…” Eddie grinned as he pulled a joint from his breast pocket. “How about we smoke this right here on the football field to celebrate your first night as a mindless, zombie cheerleader?”

You burst into laughter, the sound bright against the quiet night. “Do you just pull joints out of thin air?”

Eddie chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Would you still smoke it if I said yes?”

“Honestly,” you sighed, a playful glint in your eye as you nodded, “I absolutely would.”

You sank to the ground, letting your duffle bag slide off your shoulder with a soft thud. Eddie settled beside you. You laid back, crossing your ankles and lacing your fingers across your stomach. Eddie mirrored your pose, both gazing up at the star-studded August sky.

Your voice cut through the quiet. "Seriously, thanks for staying."

Eddie turned his head, catching you still fixated on the heavens. "Your brother mentioned your mom works nights. Said she can't really support after-school stuff."

A snort escaped you. "Some people choose those hours to dodge things like this. Riley's got a bleeding heart. Always trying to compensate for everyone else's shortcomings."

You rolled onto your side, meeting Eddie's gaze. "But that's a story for another time."

"Is it?" Eddie chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Because I've got nowhere to be and plenty of weed."

Your eyes sparkled with mischief as you leaned closer, a teasing grin spreading across your face. "So, you want to hang out with a member of the satanic cultist family that’s trying to open a portal to hell in the murder house?"

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head. “You want to hang out with the town freak willingly?” His laughter was dry, laced with self-deprecation.

“You’re not a freak,” you replied with a sigh, your tone firm. “It’s this backwards-ass town and their backwards way of thinking.” You crossed your arms defiantly. “In Indy, you’d fit right in. You’re just in the wrong place.”

Eddie pondered your words, his mind drifting to the life you must have left behind. He imagined the bustling streets of Indianapolis, the vibrant energy, and how starkly different it must feel compared to the sleepy, judgmental aura of Hawkins.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong,” you continued, your voice steady, “people can be dicks everywhere. But in a city that big, no one cares how you look or what kind of music you’re into.”

He watched as you sat up, crossing your legs, and quickly mirrored your stance.

“So, why’d you guys leave?” Eddie asked, curiosity piqued.

A heavy sigh escaped your lips. “My dad died, and my mom got this huge life insurance check. She’s from Hawkins originally and wanted to move back. She snagged the murder house for a steal and has these big plans to turn it into a bed and breakfast.”

“A portal to hell and a bed and breakfast?” Eddie raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

“Aren’t they one and the same?” You shot back, laughter bubbling up as you nudged him playfully.

“I had no clue about its history until two days before we moved,” you confessed, your voice dropping to a whisper. “I literally refused to leave. I tried to stay with my aunt; I unpacked all my boxes and stood my ground.”

“I’m guessing that didn’t work out, considering you’re here with me,” Eddie pointed out, watching as you plucked at the tufts of turf grass beneath you, your fingers absentmindedly tugging at the green blades.

“My mom repacked them while I was sleeping and really gave me no choice,” you shrugged, a hint of exasperation in your voice. “Plus, Riley and I stick together.”

Eddie's smile morphed into a mischievous smirk as he sat up, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Well, let me formally welcome you to Hawkins," he drawled, holding out the joint like an offering.

You leaned in, the joint nestled between you lips. The flame from Eddie's lighter danced, casting flickering shadows across your faces as you inhaled.

"Sometimes," you began, your voice taking on an airy, almost sing-song quality as you held in the smoke, "I lie on the floor and pretend to be a dead body." You exhaled, sending a plume of smoke swirling above Eddie's head. "Just to be an asshole and remind my mom that she moved us into a literal crime scene."

Eddie snorted, accepting the joint back. "You're sick and twisted," he said, his tone a mix of admiration and disbelief.

Your laughter bubbled up from deep in your belly, genuine and infectious.

"You know," you admitted, your voice softening, "I was happy to see you in English class that first day. Happy to see someone real, not some cookie-cutter version of a person from a Sears catalog.”

“And I’m glad you waited for me tonight.” You admitted quietly. “It’s nice to have someone on my level to talk to.”

Eddie let the words settle, savoring them like the smoke in his lungs. Of all the things he'd been called, 'normal' had never made the list. Your confession made him feel almost vulnerable, and he wasn’t sure if he was feeling the vulnerability wafting off of you or a form of his own softness trying to seep out.

"I think your idea of normal is a little... off," he said, his eyes comically wide as he emphasized the word 'off'.

"Maybe you're right," you shrugged, accepting the joint. You took a long, thoughtful drag before continuing. "But at least you're brave enough to be yourself."

Your gaze grew distant, unfocused. "I've found myself turning into a chameleon since moving here," you confessed. "Keeping to myself, not letting anyone close enough to figure out that maybe I'm a freak too." Your eyes widened briefly, mirroring Eddie's earlier expression. "Though, moving into a murder house hasn't exactly helped my reputation. Wearing a stupid uniform and yelling in riddles has at least kept the pitchforks at bay."

You locked eyes as you passed the joint back, a silent understanding passing between the two of you.

The joint flickered, more paper than herb now. With a casual flick, Eddie tossed it behind him. The absurdity of the gesture broke through the moment, and your laughter rang out, Eddie's own chuckles joining in harmony.

His laugh echoed in the empty field as he stood, extending his hand to you. "Let's get the zombie cheerleader home before she starts eating my brain," he teased, pulling you to your feet.

Your eyes glinted with humor. "I don't think I'd eat your brain," you quipped as the two of you ambled towards the parking lot. "There's not much in it, so I can't imagine it would be very filling."

Eddie clutched his chest in mock offense before dissolving into laughter alongside you.

As you hung off the driver's side door, you glanced at Eddie, a hint of hope in your voice. "I guess I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah," Eddie smiled, his eyes soft in the dim light. "Monday."

[soupbabe]

I got tagged by @rottent33th, @devil-doll13, and @the-pinstriped-hood to shuffle my music and list the first ten songs ♡

Tagging: anyone who wants to do this!

Nine in the Afternoon by Panic! At the Disco

Nocturnal Me by Ghost

Safe Socks by Jack Stauber

Worldwide Torture by Jazmin Bean

Your Name by Shea Couleé

Cannibal by Tally Hall

Kiss Off by Violent Femmes

Tia Tamera by Doja Cat (ft. Rico Nasty)

Sugar Pills by I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

Con Clavi Con Dio by Ghost

[number1villainstan]

episode 35! the previews last time said touga was gonna show up again--and that Akio was gonna ride up literally on a white horse, manipulator extraordinaire that he is. (definitely did not have to go back and rewatch the previews)

in the previews: "still, why's touga trying to get so close to me all of a sudden?" cuz he's pissed that you might break the narrative

the episode is called "the love that blossomed in wintertime" i don't think roses bloom in wintertime. are there flowers that blossom in winter? which ones are they?

storybook sequence again. except then it loses the frame and cuts straight to the sheer awfulness of utena seeing anthy being pinned and tortured by the swords of hate. and the narration switches from the old narrator (a shadow girl?) straight to dios. including dios' shit sexism.

anyways i don't think anthy's "who are you?" last episode was some amnesia shit like i first thought (lol). i think it's her finally recognizing that oh shit utena looks a whole lot like that girl who visited me

who will bring revolution to the world? will it be utena, the outsider who doesn't fit into the dichotomies of ohtori, or will it be touga, who is exactly the kind of person that those dichotomies serve?

"let me see your face" oh. oh shit. utena's beginning to See anthy. to See the truth of the situation--maybe? possibly? akio's still got his hooks in her, but--

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. literally in akio's case. he has a talent for interrupting just when things are about to spill over

the shot is of anthy with her eyes closed. i think she's trying to disguise her disgust/hatred of this situation with that

went straight from her happy mask to her Depressed Face (i think. i'm not super great at reading faces, since i'm Autistic(TM), it could also be an angry face?)

"after all, we're friends" is utena referring to herself and anthy or herself and akio? does the og japanese make a distinction?

red poppy! that showed up in the previews, next to touga--i couldn't remember what it was, but i thought it looked almost like a discount/budget rose--but a poppy? as in the plant you get opium from???

"In flower language, they represent..." what? what do they represent??

okay so according to Wikipedia they often represent sleep (because opium), death (because of the color), and peace; Greek and Roman mythology used them as offerings to the dead, or takes the bright red to mean a promise of resurrection after death, rather than eternal sleep. They're also used to commemorate those who died in war, especially being worn on November 11, Remembrance Day, which I think is Armistice Day? The anniversary of the end of WW1? On the other hand, this seems like a very Western perspective--what would the poppy have meant to RGU's intended Japanese audience?

they're standing in a dead end of a flower maze, surrounded by flowers that represent death--utena get out of there--

and the fucking akio sex car is parked in another dead end. this one surrounded by orange flowers (that are indistinct thanks to the distance of the camera. but who took the picture? i think it's touga, and that he's in the car

oh, no, this is a flashback, and the "just what are you playing at?" was from akio during the photoshoot

the poses change and akio's shirt opens at the click sound. not in preparation, as if the camera flash itself was changing reality (what is observed might not be real, what is real might not be observed, the act of observing itself might change the nature of reality--hold on, when was wave-particle duality discovered?)

"you're the natural playboy" says akio, who probably groomed touga into being the playboy. plus touga looks straight up offended at that before the "you must be good at choosing presents"

(and of course akio being weird and overly sexual the whole time. in kind of an oddly feminine way? he was caressing his own boob during those lines, and arching his back as if to show them off. almost as if he's showing off his own ability to be a bottom? except for the fact that akio would never ever bottom--)

and how he's mocking utena for wearing the rose crest ring. ffs.

eating a poppy, huh? i hope the ensuing high fucks him up

touga running errands for akio...pinning any potential failure on him. although it was also at akio's command. so.

utena hanging with wakaba lets us know that this is still a regular occurrence. that utena and wakaba are still best friends. that wakaba's still around, even if the camera never shows her. so shouldn't she have an effect on the story? what is her effect on the story? or has she simply been relegated to background character?

...why is touga holding a carrot? it's nearly the same color as his hair--

(is it cuz carrots are supposed to be good for your eyes? represents vision? or is it "healthy as a horse" type deal? man idfk)

"don't be alone with him in the dark" "what do you mean?" utena do you not remember episode 33

utena hasn't ridden a horse, despite horses being part of the image of a prince. another instance of her not fitting the dichotomy?

akio on a white horse. actively attempting to be Utena's Prince(TM) and apparently doing it better than touga, who tried back in the first arc. the question is, will it work?

...i think this is the start of touga's heel-face turn

oh shit. touga on the black horse, akio on the white. more color symbolism--

she (nameless Unspecial student) gave him a letter and a poppy. and he let both fall to the ground--

"arrogant, pompous, full of treacherous confidence" interesting how saionji uses the word treacherous here. as if touga's confidence will betray him.

shadow girl play time!

about a Casanova, huh? i know "casanova" is slang for playboy/"guy who gets all the girls", this is gonna fun--and definitely targeted right at touga--

"every fish in the world exists for me to exploit!" damn. and the "miss" has glasses--like anthy? the same round glasses--

a koi, huh? and the note says that 'koi' can mean both 'carp' and 'love'--but he knew about koi! and--oh. oh. it's not koi, it's love that he can't control.

anthy's in bed, but where's utena? they keep ending up separated--even with last episode, them chatting in bed, they keep getting separated--

touga with the red rose. akio with the purple? and they've both got their shirts unbuttoned, and akio's surrounded by cacti.

right, the present was metal rosebud earrings--which...kinda makes sense?

and touga's holding a cactus with a yellow flower on its top--but he's not surrounded by them like akio--and it suddenly blooms--does it symbolize nanami?

we haven't been on this balcony for a while. and now it's saionji and touga on it, no juri or miki or nanami to be seen. and it's a press conference too.

and now touga and saionji are unbuttoning their shirts--"why do you serve him?" "because he saved her" but he didn't save her! and he's posing a danger to her now! and even if he did, saionji's got a point--just because someone did something good once doesn't mean they're worthy of service. and besides, you really shouldn't serve people or organizations--you should serve causes, even if you're working under or with people or organizations to do it

saionji implicitly rejects the power of the chairman--and a camera falls over. akio's eyes, akio's hold, are breaking.

damn. their shirts are completely off? and saionji was the one to drop the line about everyone being stuck in their coffins, I'd heard of that metaphor before but i didn't expect saionji to be the one to drop it--

the dissonant version of sunlit garden playing--and utena with the earrings again--she actually put them on this time? the slow, evil, forced feminization of utena

anthy doesn't like those earrings. or the fact that utena is wearing them

utena saw the swords of hate in anthy--she's beginning to remember--

i think the whole trumpets-and-jazz thing that plays with some of the Akio Sex Car rides was happening in that scene. symbolizing akio's influence?

"to be continued" god i hope utena remembers. and punches akio in the face.

Oh also, along with writing the December 2023 Monthly Short Piece today, I finally watched the first episode of Revolutionary Girl Utena after days of seeing a moot post about it and--

"I am the Rose Bride. From this day forward, I belong to you."

i am going to murder everyone in this damn school for anthy

[spungolden]

[ HOLD ] for dio

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐆𝐎 👀. // @shihaino

Dio was quiet for once, whether it be because of Makima or the people they followed. The moment of hesitation of surprise before she returns the action. Her slender fingers slid into place, as if they were meant just for her. Maybe they were after all this time. It only took hundreds, maybe thousands of years for them to happen. She looks over at the devil before back to the men in front of them. It had to be bad for Makima to not be leading the way. Either that or Makima wants to be next to her or it wasn't even that important. Regardless, Dio gently squeezes her hand, as if a reminder that she was there. Just in case.

[spungolden]

❝  i’m taking care of you because no one else does.  ❞ for Dioooo

@shihaino asked // dio

There's no reaction to Makima's words, or at least outwardly. Red eyes stayed pinned to the sunset, not daring to look at her. One simple sentence sent the devil internally spiraling. After spending hundreds of years alone, she finally found someone to spend time with. Of course, that person may be holding her leash, but she didn't mind. "You take care of me more than I've taken care of myself since the start of my existence," she admits quietly. She hopes that Makima wasn't doing this out of pity. Eventually she adds on, sighing lightly. "I hope getting you out of the office is a good enough return."

[spungolden]

The teasing smile only grew at her name, even if it did come with a warning. "Because I assumed a heads up on a possibility would be considerate," she says simply. Considerate. Something a word she didn't use often. It was more of a human word in her opinion.

She leans back to rest against her chair, a hand raising to drink from her coffee again. An eyebrow arches at the devil's words, her smile fading. "Free rein to do what kind? Make more deals? Do you have any on my schedule in those papers of yours?" She looked at the papers again, then to Makima. "Maybe my work is to give you a small break."

The devil's only response comes as she raises her brows, chin resting on her folded fingers. "Don't get overzealous, Dio," she comments on the last part first. There's a certain melody to the way she pronounces the other's chosen name, something that wasn't there moments before, that might suggest it's her way of agreeing with the other's notion.

Maybe.

"However," the devil picks up again after a small pause, "If your contract's nothing to be concerned of, why are you involving me?" An easy question. But will answering it be as easy as asking? "You've got free rein to work, as far as I'm aware."

[spungolden]

Dio doesn't answer immediately, instead taking a sip of her coffee. She had always been a perfect mix of secrets and blunt honesty. It was a hundred years of habit by now. "Blake Farris," she answers, setting her cup down slowly. Fingers rubbed absent mindedly against the ceramic as she thinks. "As you know, people sign contracts with me because they want to get rid of pain, which they think will make them unstoppable. Or they want their suffering to end without dying. Selfish reasons, really."

Although her eyes were pinned on the woman in front of her, she seemed to look right through her. "This one though... He just wants power. He had no reason to sign besides that. No fear about pain or suffering." She pauses to take a slow breath in, attempting to bring herself back to the present. "I believe he wants power to keep other people safe, but I think he has the potential to accidentally cause more harm than good. That's why we need to keep an eye on him." As much as she wants to volunteer to take him out if called for, she knows she would get in trouble for it. "At least I have a sense of responsibility."

Anomalies are always… something. What this one is, is still to be determined, but the same instinct that whisperer into Makima’s ear before, suggests she may find this case interesting. Much more so than the closed ones she’s to review today.

“Does he have a name?” The woman asks with raised eyebrows. Is there a reason for this secrecy? her expression seems to add, filling in whatever blanks there may be. “Anything else you’d want to share with me, I don’t know… something more definite, or more details perhaps?” Ominous stories, however interesting, are one thing, but if Dio wants Makima’s help, she’s going to have to provide more than just that.

[spungolden]

"His job," she answers. That was it. He wasn't going awol, not going overboard... He was simply doing what he signed up to do. He was protecting. Makima was right: Dio was keeping tabs on him. It wasn't the first time she had kept tabs on someone. If they piqued her interest, she'd simply watch until they died, which seemed all too quick. Humans had such little time to make themselves useful. "Nothing to be concerned of currently. I will keep you updated."

She takes a small sip of her coffee, her eyes wandering over to Makima's work pile. It was funny to her how one of the horsemen was doing paperwork. "Your work must have been rather boring today for you to give me attention, or the potential problem was interesting." A strand of green hair falls slightly into her face as her head tilts, a teasing smile on her face. "I might go as far to say you like my company."

"When you remove pain, you remove fear." Truisms, but sometimes even those things have to be said out loud, and fear is a wide enough umbrella.

But, it looks like it's not big enough.

Makima leans forward, chin resting on intertwined fingers as she listens to the rest of it without any more comments. If Dio is right about this man, he could be salvaged. Made useful, if they play the cards right, and for that, she turns a blind eye to the obvious misconception of them both being responsible for watching the man. No, it's not Makima's job, never has been, but she might entertain it.

"What is he doing with it now then?" She asks. "Since, I'm assuming, you're keeping tabs on him already."

[spungolden]

"There's nothing to clean up, yet," she replies with a soft sigh. She leans back in her chair, her eyes raising to look at Makima as the binder closes. Work must be rather boring to give Dio full attention. "They'll serve their purpose. Their suffering was too nice for them not to," she says, lips curling into a slight smile. "I give them anywhere from three to six months. Except one, which is an anomaly." Sure, she isn't the future devil, but she can still tell when someone's going to not die when they're supposed to. "He might be the one you- or we," she corrects, "might have to clean up after. Other people that sign contracts with me do it so they don't focus on pain when fighting- but this one..." Her eyebrows furrow in thought. Despite hundreds of years under her belt, she was still at a loss of words. She doesn't think she made a mistake, but she was unsure.

"I suggest we keep an eye on him is all."

The corners of her lips quirk up into a smile that grows wider the more she hears, but instead of saying anything, Makima only shakes her head.

"Straightforward as always," she hums as she leafs through the paperwork in front of her. Nothing too urgent, at least judging by the fact she isn't paying it any more attention than what's absolutely necessary, eyes trained to catch only the most important key phrases. After another moment, the woman closes the binder and looks up at Dio, ready to bestow her undivided attention to the other.

"You're not responsible for the circumstance that all of them will eventually meet, however... what you are accountable for is making sure they serve our country to their fullest until that happens." The country, Makima... it's almost the same thing at this point.

"So, what mess needs cleaning up?"