Some time later, Drim had been called by Deborah to meet with a prospective client or new member. There had been some confusion in that regard, but they’d asked to see him specifically.
“Victori? I didn’t think our paths would cross again so soon.” He greeted her gently as he stepped into the meeting room. “And… now you’re a Fiend…” It hadn’t been obvious at first since her golden hair had just turned a slightly starker yellow, but her new jade eyes couldn’t be missed.
Honestly, she didn’t look great—a similar state to when she first tried to dress herself. Her clothes were ragged, and she was wearing sweat pants that looked like they hadn’t been washed in several days. She looked exhausted, but somehow she didn’t look overwhelmed or scared by her situation.
“Well… go ahead and tell me then,” Drim sat down to try and process this, a little annoyed that there was another new Fiend that was likely due to his influence. Still, he was going to be as supportive as possible. “Was it your father or your brother?”
“Father,” Victori took a sip from the tea she’d been served by Deborah. It was clear she was surprised by the quality, most likely expecting something subpar. Her casualness meant she’d likely long come to terms with what she’d done and her situation. “My brother still lives for the time being, but he understands that can be changed if he doesn’t behave. Either way, he no longer has to worry about becoming the heir or producing more heirs for more reasons than one.”
“I have seized control of the Darquees name and assets, not that there are many assets left. Most of it is to be sold except for one of our mansions. That is where my brother will live out his life if he wishes with a small group of servants paid substantially to care for him. The rest have all been discharged with generous severances that will come from selling the rest of our possessions.”
Victori then told Drim about it all: their fathers stupid plan to marry them off to the Drazahs. She went into every detail, from the most basic schemes to the staged assassination attempts. While she was more brief with the specifics, the girl who’d now lost most of her life’s innocence explained how she’d murdered her father and what transpired after.
“You’ve been through a lot,” Drim gave her a half-hearted smile, “And you’ve grown a lot. However, you left out any details about what you plan to do. Why are you here, Victori?”
“What, I can’t come to visit a friend?” she attempted to make a joke, but then her face turned serious and worried. “This… Am I correct in understanding that this is a place that Fiends can go when they’ve lost their way?” the words pained her as they left her lips. “If it is, then I would like a job.”
Drim sat on her request for a while, thinking about what would be best for her. If she were to join, that would just be jumping from one insane life to the other. The chance of ever living normally would be all but closed off to her. But, he wasn’t going to turn a blind-eye to someone asking him for assistance, especially in their most vulnerable hour.
“Okay. I don’t know how much you’ve looked into us before coming here, but as you may know, we have an interview process. But, since I’ve gotten to know you pretty well, we can skip most of the formality. Why don’t you start by telling me about your Curse.”
“I was afraid you were going to ask me that,” Victori immediately looked away and started twiddling her fingers. “I haven’t used it very much, so I don’t know the best way to describe it.”
“Alright, but you did use it before. So why don’t you tell me what happened then?” Drim pulled from some of his old Curse training techniques.
“Okay, I spread a rumor among my staff,” she started to explain. “I didn’t actually tell it to them in person. I guess I knew I didn’t have to, but I did have to say it out loud. The rumor was that they would have better success following me instead of my brother. And it worked. When I approached them afterwards, they listened to my requests without complaint. It’s why I was able to grab my family’s power so easily.”
“Alright, let’s break that down then,” Drim worked backwards through the story in his head. “This sounds like a manipulation power at its core, though not as nasty as some others I’ve seen. It can be used remotely and on multiple people at the same time. Can it be used on anyone?”
“Yes, as far as I know,” Victori clearly wasn’t confident. “I do need to have a general idea of who I’m targeting. Like it could be a specific person or a group. I could say all active members of the Fiends For Hire, and it feels like it would work even if I don’t know them personally.”
“Alright, that’s helpful,” Drim applied those factors in his mind. “It doesn’t seem quite like brainwashing, more like planting an idea in their head. You can suggest something to them, and they’ll believe that suggestion. Does that sound about right?”
“Uhh, sort of, but I don’t think that’s quite it. I don’t think it’s quite that strong, or maybe I’m not that strong. There’s a feeling telling me that they have to somewhat believe the suggestion, or at least be capable of having that thought. Like, I couldn’t get people to think someone is dead when they’re standing right in front of them, but maybe I could get them to entertain the idea that they’re a body double or something.”
“Oh, and the rumors only work in regards to other people!” she was quick to add. “I can’t convince people that there are two moons or something like that.”
“Okay, so let me summarize,” Drim felt he had a good grasp on it now. “You can spread a rumor to anyone about another person. As long as it’s something they could believe, they will be inclined to sway that way.”
“Yes, that’s it! I’m just really good at spreading believable rumors,” she seemed relieved now that she had an easier way to explain it. “I don’t think the effect is permanent or anything either, since people's opinions change all the time, but I get the feeling it will last longer the stronger I get.”
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“Do you mind if I test it?” Victori was amenable to Drim’s request. He wrote down something on a notecard and slid it over to her. “Please speak this rumor to my sister.”
Victori read over the card and nodded. “Mallea Dulip is an invaluable member of the Fiends For Hire. Without her, the organization would fall apart.” It was clear Victori had no idea who the card was referring to, but that shouldn’t matter if her Curse worked how he thought it did.
Drim called Phon who picked up immediately. “You busy, Phon? I know you’re out on a mission, and it sounds like there’s people around?”
“Nah, it’s fine. Just beating up some guys like the good old days. What’s up?” she answered, completely undistracted by her surroundings.
“So, I was doing some impromptu performance reviews,” Drim told a tall tale. “How do you think Mallea’s been doing lately?
There was a pause of silence besides the groans in the background and then a long sigh. “I hate to say it, but I think she’s been doing a pretty good job. We would have been lost without her during the baby incident, and she’s been keeping all the staff in line. I guess we can keep her around for a while longer.”
“Thanks, Phon, I appreciate it. Talk to you when you get back,” Drim hung up and then his lips scrunched up a little, impressed at what he’d just heard. “My sister is halfway across the world and would never say that of her own volition. There’s no doubting your Curse’s power. So let’s move on with a few more questions.”
Really, Drim should do everything he could to recruit her at this point. Victori’s Curse was incredible. And while he was opposed to the idea of manipulating people to get his way, he’d be stupid to ignore its potential.
On the contrary as well, Victori could single-handedly ruin all of his plans. He doubted that she’d ever be strong enough to use her Curse on the entire world. But if she could, or even told the exact wrong group of people that the Fiends For Hire couldn’t be trusted, it would be near impossible to recover from.
If he was a different person, he’d tell her whatever she wanted to hear, give her whatever she asked—anything to get on her good side and recruit her. But that wouldn’t make him any better than how she’d been trying to manipulate him just recently. And he simply wasn’t that person, or so he told himself.
“I’ll be blunt,” Drim told her after asking everything he could think of. “I don’t think you’re suited for our line of work as a member of our group. Killing monsters and rescuing people from burning buildings just wouldn’t suit you.” He wasn’t going to lie to her and just give her what she wanted. That wouldn’t be doing a favor for either of them.
“However… I do think there is another role you could fill. We have another Fiend in our employ. They’re a famous actor, so you may have actually heard of them. They’ve started a PR department by force, but I believe you could be an invaluable asset to assist them.”
“If you like, I can have you meet with Chorus so you can get a better idea of the kind of work you’d be doing. If that doesn’t sound good, you’re still welcome to live here as a resident while you figure out what you want to do with your life. And you don’t have to answer right away. We can provide you accommodations while you come to a decision.”
“No, I’d love to meet them. Spreading rumors and talking zjik behind others backs has basically been my entire life. If there’s a way I can turn that into something useful, then I should at least give it a try.”
“Alright, Victori, wait here while I retrieve them. And it’s been great to see you again, my friend.”
◆◆◆
Over the coming years, Victori Darquees would go through several different epithets given to her by the community at large; The Devious Defamer and The Likeable Liar to name a few. But the one that finally stuck above all the others was The Kitschy Kingmaker.
Fiends For Hire Job Report
Job No. 004859
Status:
Completed
Date Received:
1/30/2078
Date Accepted:
1/33/2078
Date Completed:
2/8/2078
Client: Earl Earl Darquees
Reward: The return of several Drazah nuclear bombs
Original Request: Good day, Lord and Lady Drazah. I, Earl Darquees, humbly request your assistance. My family is being targeted by an assassination plot, and I am requesting that you safeguard my children for a few days while my staff secures a new safehouse for us. We would need you to start on the Bipriber 6th and stay for approximately two days.
I believe the reward I am offering is something substantial towards your interests for the service, and I would appreciate return contact either way.
This request is only for Drim and Phon Drazah. We will not accept service from any other members.
Requirements for Completion:
* Keep Spoiled Brats Alive for 2 days
* Try to teach them about living a normal life (added)
Job accepted by:
* Drim Drazah
* Phon Drazah
Additional Notes:
(Phon) Boring job. That noble prick was annoying. Would have kicked him to death if I could have.
(Drim) It was pretty uneventful besides the assassins. Nice to take it slow once and a while
==Update==
(Drim) Apparently this was all some elaborate scheme to get us to fall in love and marry them.
(Phon) Ahahahahahahahahahaha, Cosmos, they’re stupid. They clearly didn’t do enough proper research if they thought they stood a chance. Also, I would have just just murdered Victori and buried her somewhere even Drim couldn’t find.
(Drim) …………… I really shouldn’t be surprised by these things at this point.