Avarus Invidia (VII): Early Rumors Around Hell

--- Booker H. Freeman ---

(Lust: Ha! And they call me a drama queen~ Now then, we need to be calm, be loose, ready to adapt to our part! Perform without the audience realizing we’re making it up as we go.)

(So exactly what we’ve been doing?)

(Lust: Exactly what we’ve been doing~)

“Booker?” Leslie asked with an odd tilt to her voice.

(Pride: Right, time is still passing. Whatever plan you two are cooking up I’d get to it.)

“Ah, apologies.” He laughed. “I’ve found I’ve been getting lost in my thoughts a lot lately!”

“Oh, you alway have been the plotting sort with all the mischief you get up to.” The seamstress confessed with an amused grin, whether because she actually knew him or just his reputation he did not know.

“Exactly my problem, my dear!” He admitted. “My recent mischiefs as it were are what led me to meeting young Lydia here in Ira Invidia.”

“Ira Invidia?” Leslie interrupted in surprise, her eyes wide as they darted between him and Lydia. “Whatever were you doing in that dreadful place?”

“Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that, a little killing, a little rioting, and all that sort of fun.” He explained without really explaining anything. “Now while getting out was no grand trouble, it did leave me cut off from the wider world for a touch longer than I like.”

“I’d think so, given how it’s been a few years since you last made the gossip wheel.” Leslie informed him with a wry grin. “Which is quite odd for someone such as yourself.”

(A few years?) He repeated to himself.

(Envy: The question is if we’ve been gone for a few years or it’s just been a few since we’ve done anything of note.)

(Pride: Please, this is us. Can we go one day without doing anything of note?)

(Lust: Yeah, the world's a stage and we are its greatest performer!)

(Envy: Right…)

“Oh, don’t worry my dear, I fully intend on fixing that little problem.” He chuckled darkly. “I’ve got something of a new lease on life. All sorts of fun thoughts are bubbling up in my mind, just waiting to steal back the spotlight, there’s just one little problem… I’ve no idea where to start the fun!”

“You don’t?” Leslie asked with a bit of intrigue as her smile grew wider.

(Lust: She loves the idea of the drama we’re going to stir up~)

That thought made him grin, even as he explained that, “As I said, I was cut off from things for a bit there, and I did take on young Lydia here. So I’m wondering whether or not you might know of any interesting going ons nearby, the sort of thing where I can have a bit of fun while introducing the dear to the wider world as it were.”

“Hmm, let me think…” Leslie requested, her eyes taking on a gleam as she looked between him and his companion once more.

(Greed: She’s trying to figure out how best to profit from this.)

(Envy: How best to take advantage of the chaos we’ll create…)

(Lust: The entertainment we’ll provide~)

“Well, if we limit things to the nearby districts… All of Wrath is getting ready for the Grand Assassin Games.” The gossip told him.

“Assassin Games?” He inquired, thinking about the death game he’d been offered by the Contracting Consortium earlier in the day.

“Oh, not the bland old Assassin Games they hold every year, but the Grand Assassin Games!” Leslie clarified. “Every district of Wrath will be involved in one way or another in these.”

“Even Ira Invidia?” Lydia asked, a conflicted -and (hideous)- frown on her face.

Leslie stiffened as her eyes darted to him, for some reason.

(Gluttony: She’s scared~)

Slowly the seamstress relaxed before answering that, “Yes, even Ira Invidia. Ever since the Kings of Sin sealed it off, they’ve opened it for the Grand Assassin Games as a sort of ‘Who’s the best killer’ with whoever kills the most nazis and racists winning that round.”

“Ha! Jolly good fun that!” He laughed, imagining the chaos in the streets.

“Ah, yes, that was the one you did best in when you tried the games back in the day isn’t it?” Leslie noted.

“You were in these Games?” Lydia asked him, a question that he had as well.

(Gluttony: If it let us kill freely why wouldn’t we enter?)

(Pride: Especially if they’d applaud our name for it.)

(Wrath: There’s honor in keeping it sporting.)

“Yes, though all of that was a while back.” He admitted, hoping to keep things vague enough to not give himself away.

“True, you did skip the last few Games and even before then you were participating in fewer and fewer of them.” Leslie nodded before giving him a curious look. “Why ever did you fall off? That always seemed like the sort of fun you’d love to have.”

(Sloth: You can grow bored of anything with enough time… Even the things you love.)

He considered that for a moment, before saying that, “You’re right, it does sound like the sort of fun I’d love to have. In fact, it might be worth entering once more this year, give a proper go of it!” He smiled before glancing at his companion. “Why if they have a junior league maybe you’d like to try your hand at it Lydia?”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

The young woman gave him a wry grin. “Uh, maybe but… probably not? I mean, I’m still figuring things out and… stuff.”

“Well there are other things you can do in the Wrath districts such as Gluttony’s hunting, or Sloth’s amusement parks.” Leslie assured her before glancing his way. “But if none of that sounds to your liking… Invidia Gula is nearby and is always fun in its own way, especially since a lot of Overlords seem to be trying to move in and turn it into their base.”

“Overlords?” His eyes narrowed, because that sounded like a rank of some sort.

“Yes, I thought that would catch your attention.” Leslie smiled with all her sharpened teeth. “At least four notable Lords have been seen in the area, building up their power bases. Word is they’re hoping to form a new Sin Cadre!”

“Interesting…”

(Pride: If only because of how many questions that leaves us.)

“Very much so.” Leslie agreed, before noticing Lydia watching them with confusion. “Ah, an Overlord is a Greater Demon. A sinner who has gained enough power that at least one of the Sins has acknowledged them as a Lord of the territory they hold. So long as they can hold it at least.”

“The sort of people who make for great friends and foes alike.” He nodded.

“Often both.” The seamstress laughed while giving him an amused look.

(Were we an Overlord?) He wondered.

(Pride: Of course we were.)

(Sloth: Sounds like a lot of work.)

(Envy: None of us are going to actually remember.)

(Lust: Or maybe she’s an Overlord?)

“Regardless it is something I’ll have to look into at some point, but…” He trailed off trying to think of how best to word this.

Leslie’s brow furrowed. “But?”

“But that feels more like work than anything else.” He tried to explain, while covering for his general lack of knowledge. “Oh, don’t get me wrong I’m sure it’ll be entertaining in its own way, but I was hoping for something more unique than the same old, same old. I mean, how many Overlords have popped up over the years, how many Assassin Games have there been?”

The gossip’s eyes narrowed in thought.

(Lust: Tch. She can tell we’re acting out of character.)

(Sloth: Told you this was going to be a garbage fire.)

(Lust: No, no. I know how to salvage this, just tell her that) “If I’m going to retake the stage then I need to be something people haven’t seen from me before.” He spun on his heels and spread his arms wide. “Something new, something unexpected! A whole new show to leave them gaping!”

“I see…” Leslie nodded slowly, the edges of her smile twitching.

(Greed: This is harder for her to spin a profit on.)

(Pride: She was hoping we’d stick to our existing reputation.)

(Envy: That way it’d be easier for her to use us.)

(Lust: Don’t worry, I know our friend won’t risk disappointing us~)

The seamstress took a deep breath before nodding once more. “In that case you may want to take a look around the Sloth districts. There’s word of one of the Royals doing something down that way, but I’ve no idea what it is or where. Perhaps it’s the sort of thing you’re looking for… Though I will admit it’d be a bit disappointing if you went that route.”

“Disappointing?” He tilted his head. “Why?”

“Well, you’ve so many fans.” Leslie explained, running a finger on the counter as she refused to look his way. “A reputation built on nearly a hundred years of work, and while I’m sure a new performance could be interesting, you’d be going against all those who follow your work ever so closely.”

“Such as yourself?” He grinned.

The seamstress met his eyes with a coy grin. “Such as myself.”

(Pride: Well, we can’t disappoint one of our fans~)

(Envy: She’s manipulating you…)

(Pride: Is it manipulation if I allow it to happen?)

(Greed: Conman doesn’t care as long as you hand over your wallet.)

(Gluttony: Neither does the beast as long as it gets to feast.)

“I suppose that’s a point worth considering.” He conceded, if in word only. “Though if I were to go with something more classic to my style I might need to take a bit more time to make sure my return is properly spectacular.” (Time that I can use to try out those other contracts I have Hemingway holding for me and build up a little more power.)

“Oh, I completely understand.” Leslie assured him, her smile losing all tenseness. “After so long away you’ll need to make a proper splash to take over the rumor mill.”

“That I will.” He agreed, before turning towards Lydia who’d been quiet for a moment. “Though I do believe I have other more immediate priorities.”

“Of course, of course.” The seamstress nodded with raised hands. “After all, what is more classically you than bringing forth the… monstrous potential within those you take under your wing.”

(Envy: There’s something about the way she said that…)

(Gluttony: She understands that civility is merely a mask for the Beasts that HuNgEr~)

“Very good.” He nodded back before making his way towards the exit. “Come along Lydia, we’ve had a busy day and we’ve plans to make for our next.”

“Uh, r-right.” His young companion called as she followed him onto the street, after taking a brief moment to thank their host.

“So what do think?” He asked her, as much as himself.

(Pride: We’ve a reputation to maintain, but also one to grow. So long as we learn and excel -which we, of course, shall- nothing else matters.)

(Greed: There’s opportunities a plenty. The Games likely have a prize, and that thing with the Royal might be an opportunity, but we’re also a bit low on funds after all our spending today. Overlords probably aren’t worth the investment right now though.)

(Lust: Games, royals, overlords, and contracts! So many new friends to make~)

(Envy: Contracting is power, beyond that we don’t have the memories to know which way to go. Royals and Overlords are probably the same thing, and a killing game… A monster like us would be good at that sort of thing.)

(Gluttony: Let’s play the killing game, or hunt for those big fish in the little pond. The bourgeois and the contracts will fatten until we’re ready to hunt them too.)

(Wrath: There’s honor in sport. Though leaving the Overlords alone could be dangerous…)

(Sloth: All of this is going to be so much work… We need more minions to do it for us.)

“You… want to know what I want to do?” Lydia carefully asked, unaware of all the thoughts convening in his own mind.

“Of course!” He smiled. “After all, you’ll be by my side whatever we decide to do, I assume?”

“Y-yeah.” Lydia nodded, before taking a moment to think to herself and eventually telling him that, “I… I don’t think I know enough about everything out here to be making a decision on this kind of thing.”

“Perhaps, but which of our paths sounds more interesting: Assassins, Royals, or Overlords? Or if you want more time to think it over I could chip away at another contract or two?” He wondered. “As I told Leslie inside, I need something fresh and exciting to make a proper comeback! Something to tell everyone that the Rabid Red-Eyed Rabbit is back!”

His young companion was quiet for another moment. “If… If you want to make the most of this after being gone for… however long, then you should probably do some more scouting? You know, get a better idea of what’s going on while you were gone.”

(Pride: Knowledge is power, and we’re unfortunately lacking both at the moment.)

“True.” He admitted. “I wouldn’t want to blow my chance because I was impatient, and I really don’t know how things have changed since… my time away. Though if I’m too hesitant I might let more opportunities slip through my fingers than the ones I gain…”

“Well, we’ve only been out of Ira Invidia for a day. I’m sure we’ve got a bit of time before any of that stuff she was talking about comes to a head.” Lydia shrugged, her hands in her pockets.

“Another valid point my dear.” He nodded, his eyes drifting towards the sky that while still visible had dimmed a fair amount since they’d set out that morning. “Given the apparently late hour, let’s find something to eat before taking the night to think it over and reconvening in the morning.” He remembered something. “After making sure they fixed my accounts at the consortium of course.”

“Yeah, probably can’t do much if your stuff is still shut down.” Lydia agreed.

“Oh, don’t worry there’s still plenty I can do even if short on money.” He assured his companion with a smile full of fangs.