It was finally ti to seal the deal...
Thankfully, Greed had a way of stitching his clothes back together. It wasn’t perfect, but he had his pants and Under Where back and intact.
The two still sat in Xina’s room, sitting on comfortable chairs Greed had summoned.
About twenty minutes had passed since ’that’ wrapped up.
Greed’s hair was disheveled. Her powers suppressed. Instead of her usual dress, she wore her crop-top and jeans.
She leaned back in her chair and summoned an ottoman; she placed her bare feet on it.
"Well, then. Juniper should be here any mont with Pykon, so let’s wrap this up."
Vale smiled.
"Of course."
After adjusting his pants and socks, Vale said:
"I know you may not like this, but let’s ignore the Aether. Now that I know why you let get it and the subsequent repercussions, I don’t feel too inclined to let you have it."
Greed rested her hand on her fist.
"Ah, bumr."
Then she added:
"But I expected as much. Go on."
"As for reasonable favors... I’ll offer three. And the option to borrow a Champion of mine at two instances I am able to lend them without jeopardizing my safety."
Greed offered a faint, knowing smile.
"So, the skeleton of your previous offer..."
Vale laughed.
"Add onto that three tis you get to call upon for."
Vale nodded his head toward the bed.
A gesture at which Greed nearly cackled .
"Did you forget what I told you in the heat of the mont? That holds no weight. Don’t even bother throwing it in the deal."
Vale’s gaze sharpened, his pupils dilating just a touch.
"Soone’s being shy now that the crystal’s not around."
A gleeful, self-satisfied grin spread across Greed’s face.
"Shy? Not even close. I simply know that if I wanted, I could call upon you and you’d co running regardless of a promise."
Vale’s head moved in a slight, dismissive motion.
"That confident, are you?"
Greed stretched and leaned back, letting Vale get a slight peek under her shirt. As she pulled on her arm, she said:
"Just as you can take advantage of my Aspect, I can do so of yours..."
A sinister smile crept onto her lips as she arched her back, giving Vale a slightly better view of the fleshy mounds.
"Lust is greed. Greed is lust. I can sense your desire just as much as you could sense mine."
Vale looked down, a heavy sigh of defeat escaping his lips.
"I see."
He poked his extended sword, trying to re-sheath it. But it wouldn’t go down naturally. He eventually had to use shapeshifting.
After that, all Vale could say was.
"Touche."
Greed smiled, but then an odd look appeared on her face.
"Valentin, I don’t know why I’m asking this when you won’t understand. But, are you French or sothing? Terra’s version of it. Your full na, your accent, and well, you’re Lust."
"What’s a french?"
Greed laughed lightly.
"You, apparently."
Vale rolled his eyes, then said:
"Back on topic... My last addition to the deal will be the revelation of whatever I learn about the Akkuron-Celestia war and I will actively seek such information."
Greed sighed.
"Very well, I accept."
Then she added:
"You played quite well again, even without the snack. Anchoring the deal with the promise of nearly everything, then stripping it all away with the truth. Well done, Vale. Well done."
A flicker of curiosity caused Vale’s eyebrow to lift.
"Oh? It’s Vale now? Are you the one trying to be chummy with now?"
Greed’s eyes crinkled at the corners as a smile spread across its face.
"Take it as a sign of respect and the possibility of a genuine friendship in the future. I won’t lie, you’re cunning has ticked off, but it also showed I wouldn’t want to be your future enemy. So, how about future friends?"
Vale laughed at the vain joke.
"You and I, friends? After all that you’ve pulled? And why not ’now’ friends? Why ’future’?"
Greed blinked slowly.
"Future... because friends don’t make deals with one another. We can be nothing more than business partners until you pay your debts and the favors are cashed."
Vale nearly laughed again.
"How hypocritical... Weren’t you the one who said there’s no such thing as friends, only business partners?"
Greed chuckled.
"Oh, co on, Vale. People change."
’In two weeks?’
Vale shrugged.
"What an odd thing for ’Greed’ to say." Vale scratched his chin, then added, "But, sure. Future friends, it is."
A mont later, another soul contract appeared before Vale.
He read it over carefully, searching for any fine print. But, like before, there was no sche to be seen hiding on the docunt.
However, the last condition thrown in was quite an odd one.
Party A and Party B are to be future friends (with benefits).
Vale smiled, then breathed a sigh of relief. He may never have to go through this situation with Greed again. Then, he placed his hand upon the paper and signed the contract.
Sadly, it was likely Akkuron would try sothing similar quite soon.
Greed also smiled as she signed as well. Then, she said in a solemn tone:
"You’re a an one Vale..."
Vale’s eyes narrowed as he studied her face. Greed looked away.
"You made re-realize my humanity."
Greed looked back at Vale, an odd spaarkle in the corner of her eye.
"But thank you. Even if not on purpose, thank you for helping keep grounded. It’s a little frightening to think about, but until before this, I felt like I’d beco soone else. Your help allowed to reclaim a part of myself from Earth that I had lost.
Greed walked forward, her outfit shifting and simring before exploding and forming into a golden dress.
"That’s another reason I wanted to be future friends. When our powers grow and chain our minds. Let’s keep each other human."
Vale stayed quiet for a mont.
The issue Greed brought up was the one he’d been dealing with since the mont he’d woken up here. And just now, he’d heard the confirmation of his worst fear.
Sylvia claid to have lost her past self to Greed. Only reawakening through their carnal connection.
"I quite like the sound of that. Perhaps that’s the first fair deal you’ve ever made."
Sylvia dispelled the golden blockade, and the two made their way toward the entrance.
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