Owner	Pose
Corben Kelly	After having managed to get in touch with Atrice, Corben closed up shop for the night. The closed sign is flipped, but the lights are on and someone is home. He's currently sitting behind the counter, back to the door. He's working on mixing some of this with some of that and a little bit of the other thing. With a POOF purple smoke wafts up from whatever it was he was mixing. Was that supposed to happen? From the muttered, "Damnit,' from Corben, probably not. Sitting on the workspace beside him is a fat little slug with wings that appear as if there's no way it could carry the weight. Corben gives it a side eye and says, "Don't tell anyone."
Atrice Duckstein	Atrice's foster parents actually had a funeral home down the way, so it is easy to just walk down to find the Cafe that Corben mentioned. She takes her headphones out when she gets the door. She tries it, but if it's locked she'll knock and wait for him to get it. Because she is definitely not wanting to scare anyone and that's probably bound to happen given other circumstances.
Loki	About one foot in length, the slug-demon looks mostly like a fat black and ochre colored slug with wings. It has a mushy 'face' of one big eyeball, an eye like a goat with yellow and brown. The wings are too small for its body, particularly when folded. The mouth, on the lower side of the head/eye/face part, is lamprey in style. Named Kib'kir, it has been mostly sleepy lately, but it wakes now, and orients on the sound of the knock when that happens, with a "Kkkkkk!" strangled warning sound, lashing both wings.
Corben Kelly	The door is not locked, but, Corben calls out, "Come in!" Even slacker potion slingers have Ring doorbell camera type things these days. He spins around on the stool he uses when working on to face front. "Down boy," he tells the little slug thing. Is it a boy? Maybe not? Are demonling slugbats even gender specific? It's something Corben tucks away to ask the little thing later. He hasn't really left the little critter alone since it attached itself to him, aside from one night. Last night and well, that night ended in a 200 mile flight back from Baltimore. No wonder he looks tired and haggard and his normally 'stylishly tousled' isn't so stylish.
Atrice Duckstein	Atrice enters in and then locks the door behind her. Because she's paranoid as well. Given ghosts and other things can go through solid objects she wasn't sure it was any use. She hears the commotion from the table and there is a brow that quirks up, "Something giving you trouble?" she signs to him. Then she looks past him, squinting a bit, "What is that?" she asks as she feels a little nausea coming on. She heads towards the table with a curious look on her face, "Look at your little wings." she coos. "Umm...where did you get this?" she continues with the signing. Her mismatched gaze goes between the little slugbat and Corben. "Are you keeping it?" she asks.
Loki	Kib'kir doesn't get cute, it gets... swollen. Like a cat bulking up to look bigger, it balloons a little, pulsing somewhat, defensively. The wings flap once and then sit tightly against the slug body. It looks with it's weird goat-eye quickly at Corben. It has no face, so the emotions are probably difficult to read. It's defensive, a little aggressive in posture in a 'don't touch me' way, but hasn't said or done anything further yet. Corben will know that Kib'kir can talk, but it hasn't spoken yet, acting more like a dumb pet.
Corben Kelly	Corben taps the side of his head, indicating that he's wearing his cochlear processors, so she knows she doesn't /have/ to sign, but he replies using his hands regardless and not his voice. After all, he doesn't want it to know that he's absolutely lost as to what it is and where it came from. He's supposed to be the 'master' right? <You mean the potion or Kibby there?>. The purple smoke is just now clearing. <Well, I kind of...> How exactly does one tell a representative of the law that he knicked shit from a crime scene? <Somehow, I ended up coming home with something on my person from that weird hoarder house from hell, I think it's this bracelet> he indicates said bracelet. <...and it honed in on it and now thinks I'm its master. It was involved in whatever ritual caused that mess.> To Kibby, he reassures, "I don't think she bites, lil dude, chill."
Atrice Duckstein	When Corben taps the side of his head there is a nod to him, "Just habit with folks." she admits a bit sheepishly. "His name is Kibby?" she asks. There is a look to the slugbat. She looks to things as he explains and there is a look to the bracelet that Corben has. "This is probably a bad idea, but..." she sighs, "Do you mind if I hold the bracelet? I can see if I can pick up anything off of it." she explains. "He's definitely from hell...I just don't know what part or anything. Someone might be looking for him. She gives a look to Kibby, "I didn't know I could sense anything from hell until...recently. I've no problem with you." she states.
Loki	"Secret handsignals, don't like," Kib'kir finally complains, petulent. It sounds small, like a demonic imp, with an odd little voice. It picked up on all the signing and understood they are communicating in a way it doesn't understand. But doesn't say much more or clarify, since it is a loyal slugbat and isn't going to spill secrets to strangers! Kib'kir most loyal demon squishie! "Kib'kir. Not Kibby." Grrr. He doesn't trust this lady.
Corben Kelly	"Well you dope, I was trying to protect you and not give her your real name," he admonishes toward the little thing. "I know he's from hell, I'm trying to teach him a lesson by making him figure out where the next ritual is..." Hint hint, wink wink, play along Ducky. Oddly enough that first bit, that's the truth of it. He's actually become quite attached to the thing. He fingers the bracelet for a moment and then eyes the little slug thing. <No, but I have something else. Just a minute.> Huh, he's not willing to give up his connection to the lil imp either. He scoops Kib'Kir up and takes him through a back door. He's only gone a moment or two before he comes back with a a watch, looks like it's a Rolex or at least a high quality knock off. He just kind of came out with that on his person as well. <Don't blow my cover or he'll leave, he thinks I'm his master now.>
Atrice Duckstein	Atrice gives a look to Corben and then to Kib'kir, "Who did you belong to before?" she asks him. "I'll wait here and I won't touch anything." she states. She then watches Corben go to the back with him and there is a look to the ceiling, taking a moment to try to center herself. She felt ill at ease with a creature of hell. It was new. There is a look to Corben when he comes back and she nods, signing before the watch is taken, <I doubt he's going to waddle very far.> she gives a look to the watch. She reaches out to take it. Then her eyes close. A breath being taken to sort of brace herself against whatever might appear. She clutches the watch in her hands as she watches the surroundings with her vision in the past. When things are done, the woman opens her eyes, "The short of it...this was a very 'I made a bargain now give me riches' type of deal." she states. "That bracelet was made by a demon." she points to it. "It was worn by a woman and this remembers that." she holds up the watch. "I'm not sure if she's going to be back for it...but she might be." she frowns.
Loki	Scooped like some little poodle, Kib'kir is grumpy, but allows it. "Forgets about real name thing. Used to being in hell, new-master," Kib'kir says, dismayed that it made the mistake, and then was caught. Which means it behaves a little more cowed, now, since it has been reprimanded. He observes the goings-on, but is less surly. "Not good at names," it honestly answers Atrice about who former-master was. "Humans look very same-y. Two eyes. Pink." Very descriptive of it. it observes the watch without surprise. "All these things made by demons," it agrees, as if Atrice were soft in the head. "Rituals is good trade. Very good trade. Everyone's so happy."
Corben Kelly	<I haven't bothered to look too closely at any of it myself, not really in the mood to have demons dancing in my head.> The expressions he's using seem to indicate that he knows exactly what she just did and he can do it too. Sign language, particularly for an actual deaf person, is as much about the facial expression and body cues as it is about the hands moving. "Ank'galah, is the next in line to perform a ritual, as we all know." Hint hint, wink wink. "But Kibby here can't remember where it's supposed to take place and, perhaps, shouldn't be allowed to partake if he can't remember." He mentally hates himself for making the poor thing feel bad, but this is Important Stuff. Important stuff that he shouldn't even be a part of, so why doesn't he hand the little thing over and be done with it? Because look at its little smooshy body and that one big eye! <Did you get that?> He very carefully finger spells, <Ank'galah> for Atrice's benefit. <Maybe have some way of looking into the name?> He finds himself actually scratching the little imp's head lightly with one finger. <He told me that his last master was wearing a green shirt, had ugly hair, not bald enough. That's half the soccer dads in the city.>
Atrice Duckstein	Atrice wasn't too certain about this, but, Corben seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders. She doesn't give any other details, trying to parse memories together sometimes was a chore, but needed. She gives a nod to Corben, "Ah yes." she states with a smile. She was going to ask Kibby what demons, but...yeah no. She watches Corben's signing and she nods, <Got it. I'll see if anyone knows anything on it.> she signs. <Don't get too attached to him. There are a lot of things that won't let him stay on this plane of existence.> she frowns. <Or a serial killer. Yeah.> she sighs. <I'll look into the name, run it through some things. Send you information?> she signs the question.
Loki	"Ank'galah doesn't perform, she is performed /for/," snorts Kib. The tone suggests this person is far higher above Kib, and has respect. He otherwise doesn't clarify, he can tell they are signing, and like a kid that's aware adults are spelling things, loses interest and looks at what other shiny things Corben might be wearing.
Corben Kelly	<Yeah, I'll be waiting for the call.> It's hard to tell if he's being serious or sarcastic. From his expressions, it seems sarcastic. Not because he dosen't want the information, but more because he can't believe he's wrapped up in this mess. Corben watches Kibs for a long long few moments. In those moments, Atrice might start to feel like she's invisible. But finally he lets out a 'fuck me' kind of sigh and signs <This could get bad.> Don't do it, Corben. That's his rational brain speaking. But we need information to save lives. The heart talking. Fuck that, it's not our problem. Yes it is, people will /die/. And with one more resigned sigh, he picks Kib'Kir up, closes his eyes and asks the Fates to show him what needs to be seen. Of course, doing this with a living being means he's opening himself up in the deal as well. It could go bad, really really bad. But it's worth the risk, maybe.
Loki	Asking what needs to be seen on a demonling of hell may not be the safest request. Sometimes the gates go two ways. When a Door gets opened, it can be hard to close. The things related to Kib are scattered. A sense of his forming, out of a writhing pile of others just like him, spawned of the intestines of a greater demon, a bigger one. All of them churning, steeped in the makeup of their parent: a demon of greed, or perhaps gluttony. The echoes of hell, of the torture related to these demons comes through in waves: forcing the gluttonous to consume more and more until they burst, for eternity, unable to sate on anything. Delicious food turns to spiders in the mouth... Kib'kir's nature stems out of this source, of things aplenty, but... Kib doesn't seem overly concerned or aware, it actually cuddles into the odd embrace, as this type of holding were normal. And perhaps it is, as a familiar, to commune in some manner. And offers some 'aid' to new-master: a feeling of being full comfortable with delicious food, just for a moment. Sins aren't purely torture, or nobody would do them. -- But that Open Door - there's a sudden piece of the vision, as a frothing pool of the intestines all open their slug-eyes, and all suddenly turn to stare deeply into Corben's mind-eye. A mutual seeing. Kib is not aware, but lightly purr-squishing.
Atrice Duckstein	"That...definitely..." Atrice starts, but Corben is already scooping up Kibby. She waits, making sure that she is aware of what is going on around the store in case they are suddenly hip deep in demonic things. Her mismatched gaze goes to Kib...is he purring?!
Corben Kelly	Yeah, he figured it would be bad. While he's still holding Kibs, Corben sits, back straight, head up, eyes unseeing in the real world turned toward the ceiling. His jaw is clenched to the point of nearly cracking teeth. It's bad enough seeing Kib's origins, to feel the torture and pain. That was horrible, but the feeling of those eyes turning to stare back is downright terrifying. But he can't close it, try as he might he just can't. It seems like an eternity to him, but it's really only a matter of a minute before he makes one giant mental heave against that door. His mentally screamed command, "Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. Head!" echos in a softer, but no less desperate, voice in the real world. He's trembling by the time he's back to the here and now, but oddly? He doesn't shove the little imp away, or drop him like he's a hot potato. No, he pulls it a little closer before settling it on one of his knees to free his hands. Hands that are shaking when he signs <It spawned from a demon of greed, maybe gluttony.> There's just a beat while he thinks about whether or not he should share the last bit. In the end, hands still shaking, he signs <And I think it saw me.> That scares him shitless.
Loki	Kib isn't dumb at all, he noticed all of the bad reaction to what Corben did, but sits there on Corben's knee, critically watching Corben now. It may be unclear how much it saw, or didn't see, or what it thinks about things at first. "Saw something?" Kib asks. It isn't mocking, more curious. "Maybe hell?" it guesses. "Don't want to go back there. Let's not."
Atrice Duckstein	Atrice tries not to sigh. She really does. But she sighs. "Corben." she shakes her head at that. His desperate voice makes her move to try to shake him, but she remembers that she might get drug into the viewing as well and NOPE. Do not want. She watches his signing and the frown deepens. <You think it saw you like in real time?> she signs with concern. <Great. Do you have a place that you can stay? In case that thing comes for you? Tom and I could stake the place out and see if it shows up and then he can do what he does with his weird bracelet.> she explains. Then to Kibby, "You don't want to go back to Hell?" she asks him.
Corben Kelly	All he really wants to do is cuddle the little thing and tell it that it never has to go back there ever again, but there's still so much at stake, too much for Corben to ruin the ruse now. "Well, if you don't want to go back then maybe we should follow the electricity you claim to feel and find the next site, if you're as devoted as you claim to be." The shortness of his own tone of voice breaks his heart a little. <This is it, this and my apartment in the back>, Corben explains. <It sure felt like here and now, it was staring straight into my minds eye with all the eyes of the little Kibs it was still creating. I'll be okay, I'm good at running from trouble>. Yet he ran straight toward this mess, didn't he?
Loki	"Nooooo," Kib answers immediately. "Not supposed to be here. Be in a lot of trouble. It is against the /rules./ Ank'galah ---and others--keep us safe here, we help them, they help us. Is good deal. Going back, alone? Nooooooo." There's a sense that Kib did censor other names. It got reprimanded before, and remembered. Not saying more names! Kib is speaking like a teenager that is currently staying out late and is aware of it.
Atrice Duckstein	Atrice looks very worried. <Look....I'm going to go get Tom and we're going to keep the place under survelliance tonight. I live right down the street so it won't take me long.> she tells him. <You don't have to do this on your own and if a big ass demon shows up my pretty ass isn't going to hit it with a chair. I'm going to throw my boyfriend at it.> she chuckles at that. It's what boyfriends were for! "Kib'kir, Corben, keep safe." she tells them.
Corben Kelly	Corben didn't miss the little imp's censorship, but right now isn't the time to address it. One: he figures Kib might open up more to just him with a little 'persuasion' and two: He just doesn't have the mental capacity for it after that hellish mental exchange. Between that and last night's trip to Baltimore and the flight back? Dude is totally spent. All he wants to do right now is suck on the hookah until his mind turns to mush so he'll, hopefully, sleep without nightmares of what was seen just moments ago. "Then prove your devotion," he repeats to the poor thing, giving Atrice a pained look over it all and a helpless 'what the fuck? Really, what the fuck?' shrug. <Fine, just don't blame me if you get a good look as my white as snow ass through a window. I sleep in the nude.> He's kidding, or being snarky or something. His apartment has no windows. But the <Thank you> that he signs is genuine and heartfelt.