Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In a dark basement two college students were partaken in the age-old tradition of engaging in the mystique.

"Are you sure this will work?"

"Yeah, I even got the goat blood like the book said too."

"And this will give us powers?"

"Duh, obviously it requires a blood sacrifice ritual, what other way would there be to gain powers?"

"I don't know. Genetics?"

"Nah, its blood sacrifices trust me, the government just doesn't want people knowing about it. Bad for PR and all that"

"Anne, you're sounding a little crazy right now. Don't you think there's a better explanation for powers than this?"

"Shhh, It's time for the incantation. Can't fuck up now or the entire prep will be wasted."

"Jesus Christ! Your eyes! Did you take something?!"

"Don't care. Shut up. Need to finish this; I beseech thee, grant me thy power. Payment be my flesh, my soul, my everything."

The crimson pentagram, drawn on the floor with blood, ignited, flames bursting forth and the two young adults collapsed, like their bodies' strings had been cut.

A few moments later their bodies stirred, the girl being the first to get back up. But she was different, changed, her demeanor and mannerisms all wrong, all foreign to anyone who knew her. Not that this was surprising, Anne Barnes had offered everything in exchange for power after all. A derisive snort burst forth, the devil inhabiting her new vessel in slight disbelief of the girl's lacking mental faculties. Combing through her red hair, a familiar look, Makima smiled. She had gotten the girl's memories as well after all. And a lot of information on this new world she had no right knowing, a vision of a possible future, filled to the brim with the secrets of many.

"Oh, this will be quite fun."

"Ugh." The boy eventually followed suit in pushing himself up, albeit far more sluggishly. A baleful expression was cast at the red-haired vessel. Sam Martin, who had not denied the ritual, was in quite the similar state - hollowed out to his core, and filled back up with another one just like the devil before what used to be his body. It was Fami that spoke next; "I wanted the girl…"

The way his - hers, now - twisted into a pout looked odd on the young man. Even more unnatural were his eyes, now flooded with an unusual blood-red and staring at her sister petulantly. The slump in her shoulders portrayed about as much emotion as she could muster for the predicament.

"I fail to see the issue, if you truly despise your current body you can acquire a new one easily enough," Makima spoke, her face inviting, a small smile tugging at her lips, but her eyes cold, uncaring.

"That's… so much work," Fami sighed, deflating like a balloon. She grimaced faintly, looking down at her stolen body. Unable to resist the temptation, she checked her pants and let out another sigh, which earned a roll of the eyes from Makima. "Fine. What's next?"

"I for one plan to gather a fresh batch of allies. As my past contracts seem to be indisposed."

"We're not in Japan anymore," Fami reminded her, tilting her head. A hand came up to play with her own ear - if she kept this one, it would need to be pierced. Already, Fami missed her earrings.

"No shi- Apologies, my new vessel seems to be affecting me more than initially anticipated." An eyebrow quirked in response, before the boy's face rolled its eyes.

"I'll allow it. This one wasn't rude, but he was a creep. Too infatuated with your vessel," Fami shivered, letting a wave of disgust roll through her. Standing up, she looked around the room and dusted off her pants. "I'll need to find different clothes."

True to word, the boy had been wearing some garish t-shirt and uncomfortably tight jeans; so tight, in fact, that Fami was a little worried about getting them off. She turned her attention back towards her sister. Personally, Fami didn't see what the boy had seen in the girl, even with his memories.

"Go search the boy's room then, his parents shouldn't return for the next two hours." Makima advised, she needed time to consider, to plot her next move and her sister being in her vicinity would be detrimental to that end. Fami shrugged and toddled off, muttering quiet curses under her breath as she fiddled with the jeans upstairs, to a different room - the wrong way, of course, but Makima didn't particularly care if her sister got lost looking for clothes. That would just mean more time to think.

First she had to do some situational assessment, the vision had included a few dates pertaining to the stories more important events. January 4th, 2011, being among the first of those. A girl brought to her brink and beyond, left forever broken because of it. A gaggle of peers having systematically carved away at her till she couldn't handle it anymore. There was an unexpected connection there, the name Barnes, a shared surname of her vessel and one of the tormentors, a trail to follow perhaps, an angle to exploit.

Though January 4th hadn't occurred yet. It was currently a few days before the event, New Year's Eve, she could still influence the events leading up to the girl's, so-called 'Trigger Event'. A freshly fractured mind was the easiest to influence and rebuild, half the work already having been done. Yes, Taylor Hebert had potential. But first she needed new pawns, and for that contracts and agreement would have to be made. Thankfully there was an abundance of the down-trodden and desperate in the fine city of Brockton Bay. It was time to make a few arrangements and gather leverage. Control wasn't acquired without the will to grasp it. And Makima felt quite motivated to stretch her legs again.

Fami's return was heralded by the thumping of her feet down the stairs, leading back into the basement. "His parents had awful taste in clothes."

Makima found herself drawn out of her train of careful consideration of the future by her sister's reappearance; this time, wearing a long, black skirt down to her ankles, and a simple button up. It did little to hide the boyish frame, but if it made Fami slightly happier, all the more power to her. His voice had been ever so faintly altered - higher, closer to her normal tone.

"I see you've found something passable, at the very least," Makima remarked.

"This vessel is ugly. And… a little smelly." And there she went again, complaining about nothing once more.

"As if this house wasn't equipped with a bathroom. If the body's odor is to your dislike, you have the ability to clean it now."

"I'd rather not see 'the body' naked for now; I'll hunt for a new vessel soon. When can we leave? I'm hungry."

As usual.

"Did the fridge hold nothing to your liking?" Makima asked, cocking her head. Fami offered a small smile and held up a small jar of cherries. It was almost empty, and had clearly been brought along for its portability.

"You were down here for a while, so I came to get you after I emptied it out," the Famine Devil explained in turn. "Do we have a place to go? I don't particularly feel like staying in this house."

"Not yet. Though, your disappearance might have the boy's parents call the authorities." Makima brought up a finger to her chin, seemingly in deep thought, "It would be advisable to wait for their return and ensure their silence, lest we face the consequences on a later date."

Fami scoffed, popping the jar once more and fishing out another cherry to chew on. Dismissing the very idea as a non-existent problem, she still didn't deny that it was likely a good idea.

"What of yours, 'Anne'? Will they cause us problems?" She offered, speaking around the food in her mouth.

"Unlikely, my vessel planned on staying the entirety of winter break here, at her mate's house. And she has her own apartment. Consequently her absence won't raise suspicion. At least, for the imminent future."

"Wanna watch TV?" Fami drawled.

"If that is what you wish I would be happy to keep you company during it," Makima acquiesced with a polite nod. Fami nodded back and tipped the remainder of the jar into her mouth, before hurling the nearly empty glass over her shoulder to dash across the floor beyond Makima.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Are we ever going to come back down here again?"

"Perhaps, the future is never clear, but I digress. It isn't proper to litter, that is all." She remarked. Fami opened her mouth to argue, before thinking better of it as they settled into the living room. Before they could sit on the obnoxiously colored cough, however, they were interrupted by a dog, the family's pet, a golden retriever, strolling into the living room. It froze for a moment when its eyes fell on the two of them. Then Makima spoke.

"Sit," she commanded, pointing down at the animal. It obeyed instantly, planting its butt on the ground.

Leisurely Makima wandered over to the dog - Rocket, she thinks he was called, and patted its head possessively. "Good boy."

"Don't make us take the dog," Fami groaned, collapsing into the couch. The blonde-haired dog stared up at Makima with a soft whine, clearly able to smell the difference between Anne and her.

"What speaks against doing so, sister?"

"Me. More competition for food," she sighed, already flipping through the channels. "I'll already have to share with you, and that's asking a lot."

Makima's nails scratched along the animal's head before sliding up under the ear, making him kick the floor excitedly with a high-pitched whine that almost drowned out the sound of his tail wagging rapidly.

"He's just a little boy. Look at how well-behaved he is," she smiled, enjoying making the animal melt into her touch. Rocket's tongue lulled out, and Makima let herself settle into the couch, where the retriever hesitantly joined her, head resting in her lap. Her expression shifted into something far less amused; "Really? The cooking channel? You're just making yourself hungrier."

"I like the angry cook," Famine mumbled defensively. The sound of censored swear-words and furious kitchen-ings filled the living room as Makima busied herself taking care of the dog instead. "They're terrible cooks, though. I hope the Asian one gets dismissed."

"I think the boy with glasses will fail. He's been struggling," Makima countered, yellow eyes focused on the television with her sister now.

And so they sat there, the three of them, waiting for their victims to arrive.

Chapter Text

"Were humans always this easy to control?" Makima asked, looking down at the two empty-eyed humans kneeling before her.

"You told them you'd kill them if they didn't agree. What did you expect exactly?" Fami shot her a dead-pan stare.

"Usually they last longer."

Makima squatted, taking a closer look at the still forms of Fami's… parents, so to speak. It wasn't that easy to categorize that, since, yes, they were the biological parents of Sam Martin, which was her sister's current vessel. But did that make them Fami's parents? Hardly. Interpersonal relationships and connections were an interesting concept for devils, due to their often changing forms.

'Though most don't swap bodies quite that often, or possess humans in the first place.'

She poked at the face of Sam's father, a considering expression on her face. Getting them under her control had been unfulfilling, she had expected more of a challenge. A mistake in hindsight. With a sigh escaping her lips she straightened herself and started to marginally loosen her hold on her puppets.

"Ben and Maya Martin- I will grant you bodily autonomy, in exchange you will obey me, Makima, the Conquest Devil, without question." She commanded, voice neutral.

There was no answer from Ben or Maya as the control over their bodies was returned to them, only the horror marking their faces proving that she had kept her end of the bargain.

Unperturbed by this, Makima stepped towards the house's front door, slightly ruffling Ben's hair when she walked past his still kneeling form. A quick beckoning gesture had Fami following her and a moment later they left the house. However, just before the door closed behind them, red, unfeeling eyes turned their gaze back, on to the ones left processing their new life.

"Act like I would want you to, you two. Have a nice rest of your day." A smile was on her lips, yet it didn't reach her eyes. Her order reached them, the string connecting them, the deal, feeding her all the confirmation she could need. She didn't need to elaborate, the deal held weight. It was more than capable of communicating more than words ever could.

"It's a cold day. You did dress warmly, didn't you?" Makima asked her sister while pulling the scarf she wore a little tighter. Being cold on this level was new to her, a human body being more sensitive than a devil's, even when altered through the possession process.

"Of course," Fami replied. The coat she'd stolen from Sam's mother was snug around the similarly stolen body. "She had nice skirts, and now I have a nice skirt."

"What an astute observation of you to make." A dry comment. It was then that Makima's stomach decided to make itself known and growl, which made her stare with annoyance in the direction of her sister. "I would appreciate you reigning your starvation aura in."

"Then perhaps you should feed me," the hungry devil replied with a faint smile. "It's hard to think on an empty stomach."

"You? Full?" Makima snorted. What a ridiculous notion. Just as Conquest would never be satisfied with controlling only a single person, Famine would never be satisfied with a single, satisfying meal. "After we eat, I have a pet I wish to acquire."

<><><>

With her sister at least temporarily stuffed full and not complaining about being hungry as a result, Makima had directed them towards her future pet's suspected location. The red brick building in front of them didn't stand out in any meaningful fashion. Yet the sign proclaiming it as a "Redmond Welding" factory was all the confirmation Makima needed, even if she hadn't had a few rats slip in earlier and assess the situation inside. Yes, they were at the right place and with all their targets gathered in one place as well.

'How fortuitous for the entire group to be present,' she appreciated her relative luck. It would save time and work in the long run, regardless of the fact that the upcoming confrontation first meeting would likely be complicated by the presence of certain individuals.

"What's the plan?" Makima turned to regard Famine, yellow eyes meeting red. The Devil's starvation aura had been heavily reigned in, which she found easier to do right after a meal.

"We go in and do what we do best; we take over, dear sister," Makima smiled coldly, staring up at a window. From the outside, the unassuming building gave nothing away. It must have been well-insulated, though considering it had been sponsored by Coil that wasn't all that unexpected. Now to find the door…

With her vision supported by multiple rats scurrying through the building's insides, it didn't take long to locate the entrance. Makima's shoes clicked on the sidewalk, approaching the already-opening door while it swung open. Up the stairs, quiet as a mouse, open the door-

One of them will say 'Who the fuck are you?'

"Who the fuck are you?" A boy demanded, even as Makima mouthed words in time with their yelling. Fami closed the door behind them, looking around the room curiously.

'How did you get in here?' And then, someone else runs in.

A blonde girl and a brunette girl sprinted in, surrounded by dogs. The chains binding the three together were weak; not uncommon with those who shared space to save money. And then, one will try to attack me.

"Brutus, Judas, Angelica, attack!" The bulkier of the two girls yelled, pointing their way.

"How perfectly predictable," Conquest purred, her faint smile never leaving the stolen lips. She pointed at the dogs as they charged together, and let loose.

"Stop," she whispered, as loud as a gunshot. The dogs scrambled to stop, paws skidding across the carpet and stopping inches away from Makima's feet. "Sit."

As one, the pups planted their rear ends down, obeying her. She smiled a little wider, gracing one of them with a small caress along his jaw. The darling animal whined a little, not understanding who she was, but still knowing better than to disobey the biggest dog in the room. She looked back up, seeing that all three humans were also planted on the floor, looking confused at having obeyed the order.

Makima herself was surprised by their weak wills. Though as she looked closer and saw their translucent chains, the demons that bound them, she understood and her smile widened even further, growing predatory.

"W-wh- who?" the blonde child stuttered, horror writ upon her face. The boy and brunette seemed less scared, more defiant, but worried all the same. Now, it was Fami's turn.

"You can call me Fami," Famine spoke up first, crouching in front of the frightened one. "I suppose you could call us monsters. Demons, Devils, even."

Sweat ran down the girl's face, fear beginning to bloom. How interesting… what does she see?

"In my opinion those terms are hardly an apt descriptor for us, if not even demeaning." Makima lamented.

"What would you call it then?" Fami drawled, running her fingers along the petrified one's cheek. "What's your name? Tell me your secrets."

"No need to bully the poor girl. I can address the questions; firstly, I would call us more of a natural force made manifest. The spirit of humanity if you will. Secondly, the girl's name is Lisa Wilbourn. Though there was once another name she went by, it'd be rude for me to drag up a dead name. Isn't that right Tattletale?"

The girl visibly flinched away from her words.

'Cute.'

They were all so fascinating. Rarely did she see this amount of trauma in ones so young. The way their lives became even worse in some aspects after they gained powers at their supposed 'lowest' points. The way their powers only solved a few problems, never the whole issue, while at the same time throwing their lives out of order even more.

The information she had gained with her dimensional breach into this world and the new body, was invaluable, yet the way it had described Trigger's hadn't prepared her for seeing their effects on people in person. Naturally the Conquest devil would see all the little chips and breaks in their psyches, where trauma had left its marks. It was oh so interesting. It was beautiful. She wanted it.

Of course the last member of their group decided to barge in right then, it was about time for him to realize something was up and react.

That he instantly filled the room with a thick, dark fog was annoying though.

Tsk.

Makima felt a thump a second later, and the blinding mist cleared, revealing that he'd fallen to the floor, Fami's gaze having found him even in the darkness. He groaned, clutching at his stomach with a bone-deep gurgle.

"How rude," Fami remarked, dismissing the boy as soon as he was out of the fight.

"If that is all. I would like to explain the change in your work arrangement going forward."

"Those two are mine," Fami interjected, full-on holding Lisa's face now. The girl looked distinctly uncomfortable, shaking and sweating and still unable to move from the floor - Makima had not released her command, after all. "Lisa and… that idiot. I like their hunger."

"Very well, do be gentle with them though." Makima reminded her sister, her eyes slightly crinkling in the approximation of an eye-smile. "I trust you won't break them. Will you?"

Fami's smile made Lisa burst into tears, the girl sniveling in terror. "L-let's talk about this - "

"Okay. Let's," Famine agreed readily, eyes glowing.

Makima's eyes narrowed minutely at the lack of a proper sentence. Annoyed at her sister's vocal habits. Would it kill you to speak properly?

"Sooo, do I still get paid?" The lanky boy, Regent, piped up from his spot on the couch. His calmness was an act, but a good one. Makima could respect that.

"Payment can certainly be arranged. Though I find it would probably make things go over smoother if I mentioned that payment can be a rather broad term when it comes to our kind of deal, or rather bargains." She explained, striding over to where Regent was lounging on the couch. She sat down close to him, yet not too close, just the right distance between them that if one of them stretched out their arm they could touch the other.

As if following an unspoken agreement, Rachel and her dog's followed Makima, a step behind her. While the dogs laid down around her feet, Rachel sat down next to the devil, her eyes seemingly searching for something as they watched the Conquest devil.

"Alright this is getting weird." Regent or rather, Alec, commented dryly. His gaze flicked back and forth from Rachel and Makima, searching for an explanation for his teammates' behavior. "Also, care to elaborate how payment can be a broad thing?"

Makima absentmindedly guided Rachel's head to her lap, fingers combing through the girl's hair and massaging her scalp. She turned her head fully towards Alec, her red, unnerving eyes staring into his.

"Simply put, I meant to convey the flexible nature of payment. With it not needing to be in a monetary form, if you wish for something else. Be it help with a task or other alternative forms of payment. You'll find I'm quite open to requests. Name your price and we can negotiate a deal." She spoke softly, with an amicable smile that rang false to Alec's senses. He had seen those empty expressions that pretended way too often already after all, his upbringing having taught him to see through the masks, the lies.

This didn't change that he was out of other options in his position. He couldn't sense the red haired woman with his power and his teammates were either incapacitated and lying on the floor, bargaining frantically or behaving like a lap dog. But Alec had learned to adapt, and if what the woman said was true, he might even benefit from this.

Matching her fake smile with one of his own, Alec braced himself for a likely tense and exhausting conversation. And right when he was in the middle of a match too. He couldn't exactly pause an online game! He had been winning god damn it! Still, for all his feigned apathy and irresponsible behavior, he knew when he had to take his losses, even if it hurt his stats.

Yet the woman seemingly sensed his thoughts. She had probably seen him eyeing the TV, now that he thought about it.

"Go on, I can wait. It wouldn't do to have an important conversation when you are distracted by another matter."

He didn't have to be told twice, he grabbed his controller from where it had fallen to the ground when he was forced to sit down earlier by her command and continued to play, fingers flying over the controller.

"What's your name, great red one?" He drawled after a few seconds.

"You may refer to me as Makima, Alec."

He hid his reaction to her calling out his name expertly, at least she wasn't aware of his past name.

"I usually respect if an individual wishes to leave their past behind, but I fear it would be improper of me to pretend to be unaware in your case, Jean-Paul."

Fuck.

This time he was unable to hide his reaction, visibly tensing.

"Did my dad send you?" He asked, dreading the answer.

He was startled when the woman snorted.

"Oh no, I wouldn't associate with someone as pathetic as him."

The side-eye Alec gave her did not go unnoticed.

Chapter Text

Makima stared as her sister negotiated the contracts with her new slaves pawns. It had been for the best that she hadn't been present during such moments before- Fami was rather uncivilized; in her humble opinion. Though she could have seen this coming, the Famine devil wasn't known to be skilled in the intellectual arts.

"How's about seventy percent?" Fami tried. To anyone else, it would have seemed like she was being intentionally dense - demanding 70% of Brian Laborn and Lisa Wilbourn's nutritional intake as part of her contracts with them was simply unfeasible. The pair would need to eat three times as much just to stay alive. Fami would both taste and absorb the nutrients in said deal, but Makima knew that the food itself wasn't the actual thing she was after; it was to push their boundaries, see how far they would budge on something she wanted so she could see what the limits were when it came time for them to take back.

"Fifteen!" Lisa shrieked, literally pulling her hair. Makima allowed a small smirk to grace her lips. "You get fifteen percent! Fifteen percent and I'll even let you take control of my body from time to time! I need to live, you crazy bitch!"

But watching her drive people mad was still entertaining, even if it was loud and obnoxious. Fami pondered it before shaking her head with a defeated sigh and an even more defeated-looking shrug. "Fine, I guess that works. I'll allow that. You, though - I don't want your body. You're far too muscular."

A muffled snort rang out from Alec's corner of the couch at Fami's words.

The second half of the statement was directed at Brian, who hesitated before looking down at himself. "What's wrong with my muscles?'

"If I wanted your body, I'd have asked," Fami pointed out, rather dismissively while playing with Lisa's hair. The thinker froze, still absolutely terrifying by any and all contact from the Devil's. Fami may have been inhabiting a human body, but her mannerisms gave the game away to someone with a superpower that was basically a cheat sheet for reading people. It took a second, but the thinker slapped Fami's hand away with a scowl, retreating from the couch. "Lisa is more my speed. Younger than I'd like, but her hair is almost identical to my last vessel's. Even if it's not full time."

A wistful sigh escaped Fami before red-eyes turned back towards Brian, and Lisa managed to calm her heart a little. That wasn't to say Brian was any more comfortable than her with the attention, especially when Fami leaned over him, hands in his lap and noses almost touching.

"And you? I take the same amount and give a portion of my power to you, but what do you want?" she demanded, a faint red light illuminating his dark skin. The rest of the room watched, although to say it was with bated breath would be a lie. There was simple anticipation now.

"I - want my sister," he breathed, leaning back into the couch to avoid Fami's dire need to invade others' personal space.

"I hope you don't mean carnally. I can do that, but I'd think a little lesser of you for it," Fami smirked, tilting her head up to look down her nose at him.

"I wouldn't," Makima chimed in, looking all too eager with her faintly devilish smile.

"NO!" Brian protested. "No, what the fuck? Why would I want that?"

Fami bared her teeth. "Would you like to know the things I have been asked to give?"

Brian gulped, before shaking his head with obvious trepidation.

"You'd be amazed at the depths people would go for a bite of food," Fami clarified anyway, poking his chest. His skin tingled through his shirt, reminding Grue of the agonizing, gnawing ache in his belly when the monster wearing a human like a coat had brought him to his knees without so much as a raised finger. "What would someone do for a girl they think they deserve, hmm? A promotion? How's about revenge?"

To say that she smiled wouldn't do the wolfish expression justice. It was exposed teeth and hunger, nothing more and nothing less

"You've stooped so low for your sister. What's to say you won't take a few more steps down? Where's your shovel, Brian Laborn?" Fami tilted her head, and Brian's face scrunched up as he realized she was holding it in cold, clammy hands. "You want your sister? How do you want her? Intact, I assume? Why should I?"

"I- I-"

His weak stammers were all that could be heard in the room, everyone's attention focused on the horrific reveal. People were willing to go to terrible lengths for their loved ones, but to hear it laid out so bare, so simple, made it seem so awful. What would he do for Aisha?

"Give me a body. Give me a feast. Give me something you can't live without. What about Aisha herself?" Fami hummed, tapping her chin and pretending to consider it. "I can give you Aisha - any which way you want her, but just the body. I'll take her soul, eat it right up, and inhabit her corpse. I'll be your new little sister. Doesn't that sound fun? Exciting? I'll even do whatever you ask of me after that - after all, it's not her you're hurting, is -"

Fami was cut off as Brian shoved her off of the couch with a crash, landing on the loft floor with a thump, causing the dogs and Rachel to growl in annoyance. Her laughter, a strange mix of girly and boyish, as she lay on her back, filled the otherwise silent room. The corpse of a boy long-dead stared up at Grue with a taunting smile.

"So. What are you willing to give for Aisha?" Fami purred, as his fist slowly raised to shut her up.

"My mother," he gasped, eyes wide and horrified. "You can - you can have my mother!"

"Playing with other people's lives?" Makima hummed, still watching the television. Her fingers continued to preen Rachel's hair. "How rude, Mr. Laborn."

"I accept. She's the cause of most of your problems anyway, isn't she?" Fami hummed, clambering back to her feet lazily. "Sounds like a win-win to me - you get your sister, and she's out of the picture? I even get a new body to control."

Fami turned her gaze back on Lisa, who shrunk away. Now, the negotiating for stolen food and sustenance seemed like such a silly, worthless addition.

Choosing the small pause in conversation following the completed deal between Fami and Brian, Makima spoke up.

"I wonder, would it change matters if you knew your sister was able to trigger as well?" She commented, curiously. Her eyes boring into Brian, gauging his reaction.

"She can? No, no - I don't care, she's still my sister. I have to protect her," Brian insisted, shaking his head. Fami's lips curled again.

"Would you like to know the things people have done to their own-?"

"No! Stop talking!" Brian demanded, pointing a finger at Famine. "That's enough out of you!"

The young man stormed off, deeper into the hideout and slammed his door hard enough to make the dogs whine. When Fami looked back at Lisa, the blonde girl paled noticeably, but managed a shaky smile, ready to try and bluff her way out of whatever she could. Makima looked over at Alec with a hum, reaching out to run her nails along his cheek. "What about you, little puppet-master? Can I have yours, too?"

He didn't outwardly react to her touch at all, only giving her a dead-pan stare.

"If you don't mind making a trip up to Canada, sure." He drawled, though his eyes revealed that he was anything but apathetic to the topic.

"I'm sure a travel opportunity will present itself soon enough. I always collect what's mine, eventually-" Makima was cut of by Rachel fidgeting in her lap. Without a reaction showing on her face, she removed her hand from where it rested in the girl's hair and wrapped it around the back of neck, pressing down slightly. This successfully conveyed her message as Rachel settled down again, earning a possessive pat on her head as a reward.

Alec didn't miss the byplay in the slightest, yet chose to not comment on it. Instead continuing the conversation about the deal.

"So what's in it for me? Your friend mentioned that anything's fair game, but is it really?"

The red-eyed devil let herself sink deeper into the couch, her expression turning thoughtful.

"I'm fully aware of your hedonistic tendencies and confident I can fulfill any wishes you might have, one way or another. So, name your price."

"So if I asked you for head, right now on this couch, while I'm gaming, you'd give it to me?" Alec probed, raising his eyebrow. Lisa loudly protested this before Fami drew her back into a quiet discussion about their future contract. Makima raised her hand to her lips, looking like a noblewoman preparing to titter at a young child.

"I suppose I could, but you'd really ask for something so banal off the cuff?" Came her reply, her own eyebrow raised in turn. Alec worked his jaw quietly, staring at her before looking back at the screen.

"Mm. No, I wouldn't. Just trying to see how you'd react. What if I asked you to kill my dad for me? You said you two can take bodies, would giving you his corpse to take over be enough payment?"

"I'd ask a little more. You make him sound oh so very scary," Makima hummed, swirling a finger around Rachel's ear before scratching it carefully. "What would be in it for me? If I fought your father, I could simply take his body without you handing it over to me through our deal. It would take a negligible amount of additional effort, but considering a certain sister of yours is far more interesting to me than your father anyways… The deal is quite lacking either way, isn't it?"

Lisa, from watching from her spot across the room, found herself surprised that Alec was putting any sort of foresight into a decision… and wondered how the hell the redhead knew all of this.

"Soo… what if I asked you to ride me, then?"

"Just one round? I'd steal your powers for a day, I think," Makima hummed, thinking about it. "Or I'd make you do something for me."

"A whole day?" He squinted.

"I'm very experienced," Makima smiled mysteriously. She could see Regent very clearly considering it.

"You know what? Before I make a big one like they did, let's try that," he asked, "One round."

"Okay," Makima agreed easily, smiling at him. He eyed her suspiciously.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. Top or bottom - I'll let you pick."

"Uhh… bottom?"

Makima patted her pup's head. "Up, girl. Don't watch, pets shouldn't see this, okay?"

"Watch what?" Lisa piped up, watching in confusion, before her eyes widened in horror. Rachel made to argue before Makima's hand came down on her head, silencing any noises the girl might've made.

"No talking, silly. Why don't you go sit in the kitchen for a bit?" Makima suggested, in a way that wasn't really a suggestion. Rachel and the actual dogs grumbled at being kicked out, but obediently got up to move. And then, Makima started stripping, dropping her clothes at her feet.

"OH MY FUCKING GOD-"

Lisa stormed out of the room, covering her red face so she wouldn't see the naked woman now standing in their living room - the naked woman who'd barged in and overturned their lives.

"Really?" Fami grumbled, rolling her eyes. "I was talking to her."

In a pique of childishness, Makima glanced over and stuck a tongue out at Fami, which was responded to with an eye-roll. She chuckled quietly, Alec staring in mild surprise.

"Right here is acceptable for you, right?" She asked with a smile.

"I guess so," he agreed, shimmying his pants down as Makima straddled his hips. Her current vessel wasn't a virgin, which would make this less painful or irritating; she did hate having to break in a new body. His hands rested on her hips before she started to grind - can't run a car without oil, and you can't have sex without lube. Or well, you could, but not very well.

"You seem surprised."

"I don't think I've ever had someone agree to bang so easily-"

"Is it really so surprising? A little work, a little time, and I've got a satisfied pawn willing to do anything I want," Makima laughed. The sound was as rich as it was mocking, accentuated by the light slapping of flesh on flesh as she started bouncing.

"You're a little bit of a puzzle to me Alec. Do you limit yourself and your power out of fear or perhaps even- guilt?"

Alec, who certainly had not expected the devilish woman riding him to spark up a conversation, looked adorably confused. When he didn't respond, her motions slowed down to a grind of their hips, and his expression twinged with a faint bit of annoyance at being forced to answer.

"Just don't feel like using them. Masters get a bad rep, the heat's annoying," he huffed, his face a little flush. How cute. Makima reached up, rubbing at her own warming cheeks with a gentle sigh before starting to ride him properly again. Sex wasn't something she indulged in too often, but it was enjoyable with those who weren't unattractive. It was enjoyable for its simplicity and sensation; half the time she didn't have to even do anything, just let them sake their lust on her body. Up, down, wiggle a little. Simple, pleasing. She let out a breathy sigh while enjoying the most primal of human pleasures, staring down at the young man brave enough to ask for it. Or was he stupid? No, he simply didn't care enough about the risks. Fascinating.

She wondered how he would react when probed further. A considering hum escaped her throat, as she re-locked her gaze with his.

"And if there was no 'heat', no tangible risk so to speak, associated with controlling humans? Would you still hold back? What if I empowered your power with mine, made it more convenient, easy, what then?" She drawled, curling her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts in close and resting her forehead against his. The exertion had her panting faintly, but that pleasant smile never left her lips, she didn't let it. Alec's hands on her hips had ever so subtly drifted until they wrapped her waist, palming her rear end. Yellow eyes met blue, but Makima didn't close the distance, wanting to see what her slave would do.

Would the damaged young man reach out for companionship? Reject her?

There was a brief flicker of consideration on the master's face, before it was hidden away again. Naturally Makima didn't miss it, yet still chose to not comment on it, waiting for him to put together an answer. When he took a little too long for her taste to do so, she started to slow the movements of her hips again. This time, having learned from the first time and being closer, more sensitive, Alec was quicker on the up-take.

"Bite me, but I find it hard to believe that there would be no risk." He bit out between clenched teeth and labored breaths.

Makima leaned in closer, right next to his ear, to whisper into it.

"I have my ways," she hummed, before pressing her lips over his ear. Her teeth grazed the helix before she clamped down gently and twisted her head, making Alec huff at the faint pain. She let go, leaving the ear covered in a faint sheen of spit before talking again, never once slowing her hips - he had answered this time, after all. Even Makima had to admit, she was starting to enjoy herself a little. Sex and controlling someone, wearing down their inhibitions until they were putty under her hands? She couldn't think of a better combination. "Do I seem like someone who'd jump in without a plan?"

Makima paused for a second, taking a deep breath, before changing the angle of their hips - she let out a satisfied huff when she sped up, grinding her sensitive clit down his groin while she pumped him deep into her belly. She could feel him intimately, in more than just the physical sense. Jean-Paul was damaged - but chains could still find purchase in his broken psyche. They'd just take a little extra work.

With one final slam, Makima drove him over the edge with a gasp from the boy - and then she kept grinding, milking him, determined to finish herself when she was this close anyway.

"No - my name is 'Conquest," Makima told him, pulling Alec's face into her bosom before dropping her hips one last time as her own orgasm rolled over with a bone-deep groan of satisfaction and release. Nothing good 'came' without some effort. Her hands tugged on his, pulling them up her sides to rest on the breasts cushioning his face, a satisfied grin gracing her perfect lips. Outwardly, the only clue that she herself had even finished would be the tight vaginal walls spasming around his member as she rolled her hips, making sure every last drop of his seed made it inside. Nothing made a boy quite as eager to listen as emptying them into yourself, after all. His fingers sank into her breasts, and he stared up at her with an odd look in his eyes. Holding onto her. She could practically hear the chains clinking as she smirked. "Pledge yourself to me. And I'll make sure your dead heart will feel happiness again, Alec."

She settled herself onto his hips, getting comfortable. She didn't feel like moving, and the young man had a lot to process.