PCS WITH AYABE

[mammoney]

will find a meme eventually for this

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[kazokun]

[ A pretty cover that he has no idea what it's about, so he just leans back and gives Mammon some space. ]

Sorry. If I spoke up, wouldn't I have surprised you anyways? You seemed absorbed in your book, I didn't want to bother you.

[mammoney]

Still...

[He pouts a bit, letting the book fall to his chest.]

It's okay. I'm not the bookworm type, but...I was told to read this book, so here I am. Doin' just that.

[kazokun]

Told to? By who?

[ He goes ahead and picks the book up off Mammon's chest, marking the page with his finger and flipping to the previous page to try and see what he was frowning about before. Something disagreeable in the book, or a word he doesn't understand? It's hard to gauge responses. ]

[mammoney]

...

[He looks reluctant to say.]

I dunno if they would allow me to tell people...it was real personal to them.

[The book is...a play. The scene he was reading features a child Tyltyl, staring at a party from across the street from his paltry house, admiring the forest outside his window and saying how beautiful it is. Nothing...really disagreeable?]

Ask before takin' things first, will ya?

[kazokun]

Sorry.

[ He says it again, but he takes the time to skim the book too. Without context, without starting over from the very beginning, he doesn't understand what it's about. The only thing he can think to frown about is the forest in juxtaposition to the one outside their balcony windows, dead and barren with winter.

He sets the book back on Mammon's chest. ]

I was just curious. Outside of what's assigned for school, I don't do much reading. If you think it's interesting, can I borrow it after you finish?

[mammoney]

Uh...I guess?

[Its not like it belongs to anyone. Its from this library, and its not like one of Mammon's possessions, either.]

I lend it to ya. [And a slight frown again.] I'm not sure if I like it, anyways...

[kazokun]

[ He's still got to ask, in case it turns out to be a popular book and he has to get in line or risk it being snatched up the moment Mammon returns it to the shelves. But maybe not, if Mammon's saying it isn't to his tastes. ]

Thanks. But what's wrong with it? Dry?

[ Not enough pictures? ]

[mammoney]

...

[He looks like he's thinking through something.]

A question for ya. What do you find the most happiness in? Wealth and luxury? Or like, simple stupid stuff?

[kazokun]

Uh.

[ Funny. He'd had this conversation before too, what is happiness to him. ]

I find happiness in watching my siblings grow up safe and happy, I guess. I'm still a child, so I don't hurt for money. But once I'm on my own, it'll be more important to me.

[ He would need it to survive, so the happiness money brings is the ability to live. ]

[mammoney]

[So.......both, sort of. More of the latter than the former. Mammon purses his lips, lost in thought.]

This story, it's all like, a fairy tale. About how luxuries mean nothin', and the true happiness is found in family and small things and stuff.

[Another pause.]

It kinda goes against my role as a demon, y'know? So it just...bothers me, I guess...

[But it looks like he doesn't quite disagree with it completely, either.]

[kazokun]

[ Right, the whole demon thing that Ayabe has yet to take 100% seriously, but everything that had transpired over the last several days is really convincing. ]

You're "Greed," aren't you? Doesn't that account for all sorts of things? Wanting things like family and love and small things that bring people happiness outside of wealth?

[ What is a demon's role, anyways? Temptation. Money is not the only thing that tempts people. ]

[mammoney]

Not really? Wealth is where its at. People won't fall all over themselves for a chance to get stuff like that. Not usually.

[At least, its not something he tempts people with at all. It's all about the money. The valuables. Of having more objects than other people.]

You can't hoard somethin' like love, after all.

[kazokun]

Sure you can. That's what high school's like, people trying to get everybody to like them. There are people who would do a lot for the sake of being liked, and it makes them happy.

[ It's just not universal. For the vast majority of the world, he would agree that money is what makes people happy. The vast majority of the world hurts for money, for things money can buy. ]

What makes you happy, Mammon?

[mammoney]

[YOU CAN'T PHYSICALLY HOARD POPULARITY, YOU FOOL! And Mammon just perks up at the question:]

Wealth, of course! Gold, silver, Grimm, dollars, whatever! Jewels! Money, money, money! And most of all, my one and only! My Goldie! My sweet baby! The credit card that's always there for me!!!

[....Is that really it, though.]

[kazokun]

[ YOU CAN HOARD FOLLOWER COUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR SOMETHING, PEOPLE WILL FIND A WAY

This is SUCH a turnaround from the last half second, though, that Ayabe actually breathes a laugh. ]

You're like a dragon.

[ Who hoard shiny things and it does make them happy, there's no reason necessary to back it up. ]

Making money? Spending it? Both?

[mammoney]

Eh, I guess? I'm okay with bein' thought of like a dragon.

[Dragons Get It.]

Everything! Making it! Spending it! It's all part of the process, and its all exciting! Though, I prefer makin' it a bit more than spending, but hey, its all part of the process!

[kazokun]

Do you play stocks? Or... what do demons do?

[ Start betting pools? The quickest way to make money is to be some sort of businessman, but somehow, he can't quite picture Mammon being like that. Besides, it's a human thing, working for money. ]

[mammoney]

Oh, I do it all. Stocks, black market, lottery, gambling...you name it, I've done it. Also, I work from time to time to get extra cash if I need it.

[kazokun]

--Black market?

[ THIS IS WHERE THE DEMON HAPPENS ]

[mammoney]

Do you...not know what the black market is? Seriously?

[kazokun]

I'm hoping what I think is the black market is different than what you think, to be honest.

[ Please prove him wrong. ]

[mammoney]

It's like where you sell contraband stuff! People will pay to the wall to get stuff over there! I mostly use the demon market, though.

[sweats as i look over at obey me canon which barely specifies anything]

[kazokun]

Like... weapons, or organs? Are you a supplier??

[ Are you killing people or raiding hospitals for organs HOW DOES THE BLACK MARKET WORK WHAT DO DEMONS EVEN WANT ]

[mammoney]

Uhhhh, nothin' as drastic as that, no.

[I WILL ASSUME THIS UNTIL CANON PROVES ME WRONG]

I guess, besides valuables and jewels and stuff, like...human things for the demons on our market? Y'know, there are some freaky demons out there who are big fans of humans for whatever reason. They shell out cash for their belongings or stuff they own...stuff like that. Never was into that whole business with the organs or whatever on the human side. Like, I get it, but it ain't my thing.

[kazokun]

[ Please, canon. Ayabe was calming down as Mammon explained things, until he goes ahead and says "Like, I get it," and Ayabe just sort of buries his face in his hands. ]