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A Familiar Cat
chapter 59: Devil's Advocate.

chapter 59: Devil's Advocate.

The Devil strolled down the street towards the meeting house for his introduction to the Council of Virtuous Moderation, and he was plotting to raise some Cain. There was always something he liked about moralists, if you knew how to talk with them, you could get them so wound up they'd do anything for they're precious Morals. the hard part was getting them to trust you enough to play with them.

Finding the leader wouldn't be hard, but organizations like this always had a habit of surprising people. This would be interesting if nothing else, nothing more than a fun distraction to occupy his time. But, there might still be some money made from it, pins for declaring of rank and devotion. Memberships fee's and demands of increasing sacrifice to the "Good Cause" It was like smelling roses after a hash rain.

And nothing would take that from him. Because Humans had a nasty habit of blaming each other, while still running headlong into tree's. One they're oldest and most comedic traits. Even back to the Garden, all the way to present.

Good Causes were dime a dozen, and with the skies full of smog and the water barely drinkable, There were good enough causes to go around. Several of them worthy causes, but still having the same telltale cigar smoke and room full of harrumphing old men and loud talkative youth with no plans. That's what this devil found in the meeting halls of the Council of Virtuous Moderation, which shared its halls with the illustrious Society of Gentlemen for Clean Streets, the Clarity of Newspapers and Anti-Corruption in Reporting Society, and several other dodgy or simple well meaning gentlemen and country rube societies rallying against the forces of the City planners and mayoral princes.

What an intoxicating smell. Total impotency. From the door greeter with the bored long face, to the several gentlemen playing cards with each other, to the well dressed fat man trying to give a preach to the snoring choirs. Giving no pause he sat down with the gentlemen and engrossed himself in the stack of untouched pamphlets sitting on each table and flipped through they with casual fare.

"And What we do here will benefit out Children and our Children's Children. We Stand against all the scum and tyranny of the bankers and aristocracy, the foreign workman, and the factory owners dumping they're filth in the rivers! We will recapture the hearts of these lost souls and build our way to paradise! The Humble and Meek shall triumph, this age of Metal wheels and debauchery will pass and History shall not remember it, no more than a man remembers his dreams upon waking from slumber! So swears this Brotherhood of against Corruption and Indecency!"

There was a mild applause from the three gentlemen seated in the front few chairs, the Devil clapped as well, for only a truly dedicated man would spend such time, to say so little, as to nothing at all. The sound of his voice filling the room was like listening to a persistent cricket in the middle of the night or a cicada in summer. Loud and droning, serving a purpose of signaling equally annoying insects to gather and make more of themselves heard. Much to everyone's sheer displeasure towards such a gathering.

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It couldn't have been more degrading to sit and listen too. He sat there for a good hour listening to bad speech's, stammering bumpkins mad at the new factories, and the general call to arms against modernity. Yet, what caught his attention was the young lady and her friends, sitting off in the corner, discussing things amidst themselves. And it didn't sound like the idle gossip one would expect of such creatures. He smelled the sweet coarse aroma of Indignation.

"Ahh," he muttered to himself "I have it all now." Were he a sensible lad, he would've taken the easy route, spared himself suffering and introduced himself to the ladies and make a play at looking interesting. Instead he turned to the portly gentlemen wadding through the crowd of tepid supporters.

Joining the small crowd of supporters he inserted himself between two of them and tried to smile as much as possible. "Good showing sir," he declared. The large man wheeled in surprise to the new voice among his flock and and was prepared to give a dignified response, only for some one else to interrupt "Yes Sir, grand showing!" some scrawny whip of a young man next to him cried out, trying to crowd him out. That would not do.

So he pushed the young whelp aside, and threw some Cold Pneuma in for good measure. He'd feel the urge to sit down for a while and shut up while the devil made introductions. "Pardon me sir, Darwin Van Helmut, May I have a Word?"

That announcement put so many people on edge, it was comical. Music stopped conversations dropped dead like flies in the cold. A slight cough echoed in the background as the point of attention shifted. "Ah, yes." the round man exclaimed "what, can I do for you sir." as they stepped away the round man hissed in his ear "What are you doing here? the dark magician of Long Street was supposed to be a happy little myth, and certainly not someone to to admit to this esteemed organization. " to this the devil grinned "Well, you see, I wanted to get more involved in the movement, and my own business has turned up, lets say poorly." voice tinged with implication "Being the dark shadow of so many street corners doesn't pay as it did, not with all the street lamps about."

The man gave a huff "That I'd bet on. those men from the Bishop's Order must be doing their jobs well if your ilk is out of work." The devil smiled at his boast "Well I'm not totally out of work, but if you'll indulge me, I've taken a keen interest in the clean waters movement."

"No." the devil glared him down with a smile as the gasped words left his hosts lips, "Yes, I'm hoping to join the movement, and get a profit of it as well. Interested?" he said, extending a hand "You might find my proposition, useful." the Devil purposed. "Should the greater good not come with great benefits to all that share it?" The man looked around nervously for a moment, then took his hand "Alright, lets here what you have in mind, sorcerer."

And like that, the board was set and the game, truly began.