Work Text:
In a dark room, sat in the middle of a pentagram painted on the floor, young Grace Chasity reaches out to the demon realm.
[Grace] "...May my melody reach the deepest depths of Hell...Bazanka if you are listening to me I summon you into this world! Let's make a bargain!"
The candles around her snuff out as the room gets unnaturally chilly, suddenly a ring of fire manifests in front of her and from within a young demon girl rises in flames.
[Bazanka] "SO, GRACE CHASITY, YOU HAVE CALLED UPON ME ONCE AGAIN! TREMBLE IN FEAR PATHETIC MORTAL FOR I, FROM THE VERY DEPTHS OF OBLIVION, HAVE BROUGHT YOU...that book you asked for last time."
[Grace] "YAAAY! Show me show me!"
Bazanka sighs and hands her a thick leather bound tome.
[Bazanka] "Here you go, 'A Comprehensive Guide To Capturing and Possessing Maidens', I'm not sure why you'd want a book aimed at Scurge-level demons and above but like whatever."
[Grace] "Of course I want it, it's important to learn what kind of knowledge they want to pass down to future generations."
[Bazanka] "Grace be so freaking real with me right now, are you secretly trying to become an Overlord?"
[Grace] "Of course I'm not trying to be an Overlord, maybe a Zealot or something like that."
[Bazanka] "Grace come the eff on I'll get in so much trouble with my dad if he finds out I'm supplying secret demonic literature to humans, especially if they're Christian girls in 9th grade."
[Grace] "Don't worry about it, I'm just trying to find a way to make friends in high school since nobody wanted to hang out with me throughout all of middle school."
[Bazanka] "That's sad but I don't see how it's my problem. By the way you know you don't have to wear those ridiculous robes every time you summon me right?"
[Grace] "Yes I do it's part of the ritual!"
[Bazanka] "Grace this is like the 5th time we've done this and I tell you this every freaking time, you made up the whole ritual yourself you only have to recite the incantation to summon me."
[Grace] "I have to be dressed up to perform the ritual Bazzy."
[Bazanka] "OMG never call me Bazzy again. Is this ritual really necessary to our original contract?"
[Grace] "If I don't set the mood then it won't be fun! Plus it gives you an excuse to make a cool demonic entrance too..."
[Bazanka] "Ugh any entrance I make is cool and demonic FOR I AM A FEARSOME CREATURE FROM THE FIRES OF HELL! BORN FROM THE NIGHTMARES OF PATHETIC HUMANS LIKE YOU!"
[Grace] "*gasp* Is that really how demons are made? Do you think I could dream a new demon into existence and then you'd have a friend to play with?"
[Bazanka] "N-No that's not- what?"
[Grace] "I dream about demons all the time but none ever manifest what am I doing wrong? Is it because I'm an angel?"
[Bazanka] "We've been over this Grace, you're not a literal angel you're just Christian."
[Grace] "So you're saying that God is stopping me from summoning cool demon friends?"
[Bazanka] "Wha- maybe I don't know, I was more meaning that we're supposed to be like a human's worst fear or something..."
[Grace] "Huh, so how are demons REALLY born then? I know how humans do it, when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much they lay next to each other in the bed and then a stork flies in through the window to deliver the baby."
[Bazanka] "Oh honey your parents really messed you up bad...Just like, forget about it okay? W-Why are we even talking about this right now?"
[Grace] "You were the one who brought it up first Bazzy."
[Bazanka] "I WAS BEING OMINOUS AND IMPOSING!...And I told you don't call me Bazzy."
[Grace] "Hehe let me get the lights," she gets up and skips over to flick the lights on revealing her pink and white room filled with stuffed animals, she changes out of her robes into her sweater and pyjama bottoms.
[Grace] "There we go isn't that nice?"
[Bazanka] "God this room always hurts my freaking eyes, I don't know why you even bother going to all the effort to set up the whole ritual thing for atmosphere just to then turn on the lights like 10 minutes later. Also I still can't believe your mom actually let you paint a pentagram on your white carpet."
[Grace] "Oh she doesn't even know, I have a big rug I can cover it up with, she would totally freak the heck out if she found out. Is it okay if I find another task for you to do so I can get started on reading this book?"
[Bazanka] "Huh? Yeah sure whatever...um I mean, DO NOT ASSUME THAT I SHALL CASUALLY OBEY YOUR EVERY COMMAND MORTAL! THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL OFFER FOR YOUR SOUL, FOR YOUR NEXT WISH MAY BE YOUR LAST! MWAHAHAHAHA!"
[Grace] "Oh is there a wish limit? Like a genie?"
[Bazanka] "...That was supposed to be like a threat on your life or whatever..."
[Grace] "Oh I didn't get that at all. What if we did a 1 contract per day thing?"
[Bazanka] "Your offer is refused."
[Grace] "Oh no why? I thought that was a good one."
[Bazanka] "I can't let my time get monopolized by a single client, I'm just starting out doing this job and I need to get more experience with different clients."
[Grace] "So...I can't play with you every day?"
[Bazanka] "Absolutely not YOU FOOL, YOU THINK SUMMONING DEMONS IS A MERE GAME? THESE CONTRACTS HAVE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR ETERNAL SOUL!"
[Grace] "Oh I don't care about all that, whatever the price to pay to talk to demons I'll pay it."
[Bazanka] "Really? Wow you really are desperate to make friends aren't you..."
[Grace] "Alright well if asking you to with me every day is too much then...my new contract with you is to hang out with me for the next 24 hours."
[Bazanka] "Weren't you going to read that book I gave you?"
[Grace] "Oh I can find something to entertain you in the meantime, what's important is that we are together as friends!"
[Bazanka] "God you're so freaking peppy all the time, how are you not constantly exhausted?"
[Grace] "Friends should spend time with each other, we are friends aren't we Bazzy?"
[Bazanka] "I suppose due to our contract ongoing social interaction would be required, I just didn't think that 'ongoing' meant 'daily'..."
[Grace] "You're agreeing to this one though right?"
[Bazanka] "I guess I have no objections, it's a pretty fair contract. I'll spend 24 hours hanging out with you and then you give me a break for a few days alright?"
[Grace] "OKAY YAAAAY!"
[Bazanka] "Good then it's decided...I mean uh, THE CONTRACT IS SEALED MUAHAHAHA!"
Grace runs over to her shelves to find an activity for Bazanka to occupy herself, Bazzy takes out her cell phone and starts texting someone.
*Hey bro, new contract has a time requirement, won't be back until tomorrow*
*HA sucks to be you it's lasagna night tonight, more for me lol*
*Save me some leftovers*
*Nah I think I'll just eat it all haha*
*Brother you may be a demon but that doesn't mean you have to be a freaking buttmunch*
A little later Grace snaps out of her trance and runs back up to Bazanka.
[Bazanka] "Are you done reading yet? I'm so freaking bored."
[Grace] "Heheh sorry I guess I can take a break from reading for now, this book is so hecking funny!"
[Bazanka] "I'm sure Zorgromirx would be deeply insulted to hear that since it's an instructional manual..."
[Grace] "Did you finish that comic I gave you?"
[Bazanka] "Yah like an hour ago, it wasn't really that long y'know."
[Grace] "So what did you think? You know I wrote and drew it myself."
[Bazanka] "Yeah trust me I could really tell."
[Grace] "Is any of the demon lore accurate? It's my vision of the spicy parts of Hell so I need to know if I got anything right."
[Bazanka] "And you aren't in any way embarrassed to say that a comic called Hot Demon Bone Party is your vision of Hell?"
[Grace] "Oh no was it too good to be true?"
[Bazanka] "I mean I haven't done it myself yet but yeah it's pretty off the mark, I have to say though it's pretty brave to hand over your smut to someone you barely even know."
[Grace] "Well you read it all the way though so it must be pretty good right?"
[Bazanka] "I mean I had literally nothing else to do..."
[Grace] "Do you like hot demons too Bazzy?"
[Bazanka] "WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW!"
[Grace] "Hehe sorry, so what do you want to do now?"
[Bazanka] "I don't know, you're the host you think of something."
[Grace] "Hmm friend stuff...Demon friend stuff? What do demon friends usually do for fun?"
[Bazanka] "I don't think it would be appropriate to tell a human your age."
[Grace] "Oh so there's no demon games we can play?"
[Bazanka] "Of course not."
[Grace] "Well then let's play Capture the Princess, you be an Overlord and I'll be the pretty princess."
[Bazanka] "I don't think that's a real thing..."
[Grace] "Hehe I just made it up, try to catch me!"
She takes off running around her room.
[Bazanka] "So it's just Tag then?"
[Grace] "Demons play tag too? That's so cool aha!"
[Bazanka] "Very well, I shall engage this game of Tag. Ready or not here I come!"
[Grace] "Hehe oh no the evil Overlord is chasing me!"
[Bazanka] "I shall capture and imprison you Princess as a true Overlord would do!"
Bazanka chases Grace for a while before catching her and pinning her to the wall.
[Grace] "Oh no I've finally been cornered by the big bad Overlord help me!"
[Bazanka] "AHAHAHA I HAVE YOU NOW PRINCESS!"
[Grace] "Oh heavens above, what are you going to do to me?"
[Bazanka] "Um...I-Imprison you, right?"
[Grace] "And then what about after that?"
[Bazanka] "Uh I shall...wait for a mighty hero to come challenge me, a-and then I will SLAY HIM MERCILESSLY AND CONSUME HIS SOUL MUAHAHAHA!"
[Grace] "So cool, I'm could we make the mighty hero a girl? Girl Heroes are the best, way cooler than Boy Heroes."
[Bazanka] "Uh sure whatever I guess..."
[Grace] "Hehe so you'll fight to protect me huh Miss Overlord? You are really my hero."
[Bazanka] "Hold on, princesses aren't supposed to like their captors..."
[Grace] "Well this one does haha!"
[Bazanka] "That's kind of effed up Grace."
[Grace] "O-Oh, well we are just playing so it's not like you're actually my captor though...we can do something else just now if you want to...Are you hungry? What do demons eat, meat right?"
[Bazanka] "Grace please don't try to feed me anything weird like human flesh okay?"
[Grace] "OMG it's like you're a mind reader! We're totally on the same wavelength now!"
[Bazanka] "Man you're as sweet as you are crazy."
[Grace] "So what would you like me to cook for you? Or would food cooked by a human poison you? I hadn't even considered that!"
[Bazanka] "It would only poison me if you put something weird in it, maybe I'd be better off eating out-"
[Grace] "NO NO NO! You can't go outside, everyone would freak the eff out seeing an actual demon! We might be able to disguise you if it wasn't for your horns...ooh maybe you could put my socks over them and pretend you're a bunny!"
[Bazanka] "Grace how many bunnies have you seen the size of a human with red skin? Let's just order pizza or something."
[Grace] "Demon pizza?!"
[Bazanka] "I can eat human food you know, whereas I don't think you could handle demon pizza without going crazy. Anyway they won't deliver from Hell so just order a regular human pizza."
[Grace] "Got it, I'm gonna get extra pineapple since we're sharing!"
*Brother, the human is giving pizza for dinner*
*Sounds like you won't be able to eat your lasagne leftovers tomorrow*
*I swear to Dad if you eat my freaking lasagne...*
[Grace] "Whatcha got there Bazzy?"
[Bazanka] "Stop calling me Bazzy, and it's just my phone."
[Grace] "Wow a demon phone! I've never seen on in real life before, I'm not even allowed to have my own cell phone yet."
[Bazanka] "Really? You're a teenage girl who doesn't have her own phone?"
[Grace] "No my mom won't allow them in the house because she thinks they come from Satan to corrupt us."
[Bazanka] "I mean technically she's not totally wrong, smartphones were invented by the great demon Az'zoxish because he wanted personal handheld access to the Netherweb, his technology was stolen and mass produced and some genius left a prototype up here in Earth and Steve Jobs stumbled upon it on one of his nature walks."
[Grace] "Wow so humans use actual demon technology everyday and have no idea?"
[Bazanka] "Not a clue, technically it's illegal to have this technology outside of Hell but it spread so fast that our Wardens couldn't contain it."
[Grace] "I wish mom would let me have a phone soon but it probably won't be until I turn 18. Were you just texting someone?"
[Bazanka] "Oh uh, that was my brother-"
[Grace] "YOU HAVE A BROTHER?"
[Bazanka] "Take it easy you're not getting to meet him. He's also technically my boss, or at least my supervisor."
[Grace] "Wow a brother AND a supervisor. Is he strict? Does he look like you? Is he even taller than you? Is he-"
[Bazanka] "Girl remember to breathe. He can be pretty strict, partly because he's my brother but also he really tries to impress our dad so he'll make him an Overlord one day. I suppose he looks like me but obviously a boy version. He's quite a bit taller than me and he never let's me forget it."
[Grace] "Gosh I wonder what the average height of a demon is, have there been any studies done?"
[Bazanka] "Male demons tend to get up to 9-10 feet tall and girls usually end up around 7 foot after maturity."
[Grace] "WOW that's so tall! That's like 3 of me all standing on top of each other!"
[Bazanka] "Do you have any siblings Grace?"
[Grace] "No my parents only wanted one kid, it's pretty lonely growing up by myself. Anyway can you access the Netherweb through your phone even when you're not in Hell?"
[Bazanka] "Uh yeah I get reception through the summoning circle. I can tell you want to borrow it so you'll need to draw up a new contract before I let you have it."
[Grace] "Oh I don't think I'm ready for the internet yet, especially the demonic version."
[Bazanka] "Alright well if you don't want to use it just now we can still like watch a movie together if you want."
[Grace] "A DEMON MOVIE??"
[Bazanka] "Sure Grace a demon movie, get comfy and I'll find something that's close to appropriate for you, if I show you the wrong movie your eyes will literally melt out of your face."
[Grace] "Well maybe I want my eyes melted Bazzy."
[Bazanka] "Let's just start with something relatively light and see where we go from there. Hit the lights and then um...BRACE YOUR VERY SOUL MORTAL MUAHAHA!"
Bazanka plays the movie, Bridge Over The River Styx, as Grace snuggles in next to her, sometime later the movie ends and Bazanka looks over to see Grace sleeping softly.
*Bro this job is pretty cool, I just watched a movie eating pizza and now the human is sleeping, it's basically babysitting*
*How old is the human?*
*Same age as I am, why?*
*Remember you're not supposed to date the clients*
*It's not a date lol, can't two people just watch a movie together in bed without it being a date? Honestly dude what's your freaking problem?*
*I'm just saying it sounds like a sleepover which is basically a step away from dating, we'll talk more when you return*
*Okay brother but just to be clear I'm not dating my client*
*Suuuuuuure you're not lol*
.
In the morning Grace wakes up to see Bazanka pacing around her room.
[Grace] "Oh you're already up?"
[Bazanka] "Demons don't have to sleep on Earth, you looked peaceful so I just left you alone."
[Grace] "I must've been pretty worn out from how exciting yesterday! So do you need to take a shower or anything? My mom says we should conserve water so I need to know if I can take one today or not."
[Bazanka] "Oh no I'm fine."
[Grace] "Wait a second, so demons even bathe?"
[Bazanka] "OF COURSE DEMONS BATHE, WE AREN'T HORRIBLE FILTHY CREATURES LIKE GOBLINS!"
[Grace] "Oh s-sorry for asking..."
[Bazanka] "No um, I'm sorry for snapping at you like that...You just ask a LOT of questions like that and I kind of flipped out a little."
[Grace] "It's fine, I do ask a lot of questions don't I? It's just that I'm so excited to have a real demon friend! Can we watch some more demon movies pleeease?"
[Bazanka] "Alright I suppose we have time for 1 or 2 more movies before your time is up."
[Grace] "W-What, already? B-But I have 24 hours with you..."
[Bazanka] "It's 24 hours from the initial summoning, we played for a while yesterday, we watched a movie and then you slept for a while so you only have a few hours left."
[Grace] "Oh...and you really have to go?"
[Bazanka] "That was the deal you made in the contract."
[Grace] "Oh o-okay...then let's just do another contract after the time runs out!"
[Bazanka] "I've already explained this to you Grace, you only get one contract per summoning. I just started this job I can't already violate the regulations. Besides don't forget that this latest contract states that you must refrain from summoning for the next 3 days so even if you tried it it's not going to work."
[Grace] "Yeah...I know...I just don't want to stop hanging out with my cool demon friend that's all..."
[Bazanka] "So you're okay with me leaving?"
[Grace] "Yeah I guess...3 days isn't that long right? I'm feeling really tired for some reason, I think I just need to eat something."
[Bazanka] "Alright well go get some food and I'll pick out a movie to watch. Do you want something like the last one or something a bit scarier?"
[Grace] "Ooh definitely scary, mom doesn't let me watch anything scary," she grabs a bag of oreos from her pillowcase and hops back up on the bed as Bazanka finds something suitable.
[Bazanka] "Alright but don't blame me if you end up having nightmares alright? Here we go here's a fun movie with demons fighting zombies."
[Grace] "Heck yeah that sounds cool as poop! You really know the way to my heart Bazzy!"
After the movie Grace prepares to say goodbye to her demon friend as the end of their contract approaches.
[Grace] "Oh I really wish you didn't have to go, I want to play with you all the time."
[Bazanka] "I know but those were the terms you set yourself, I have a life of my own in Hell I can't spend all my time up here on the surface world."
[Grace] "I understand, hey since we're best friends now how about we part with a best friend kiss like in the movies?"
[Bazanka] "Grace I think it's a little soon to call us best friends, and also I don't think you've ever kissed anyone before so it'll probably be super awkward."
[Grace] "It's never too soon to say you're best friends, and I've seen enough movies to know how to kiss."
[Bazanka] "Alright I'll give you a quick kiss and then I need to go alright?"
She gives her a quick peck on the lips.
[Grace] "YAAAAY BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!"
[Bazanka] "Sure Grace, forever..."
[Grace] "Oh I can't wait to see you again Bazzy, we're going to have so much more fun together!"
[Bazanka] "Yeah...we sure will."
Grace gives Bazzy a big hug before she steps into the summoning circle, as the time on the contract runs out she is engulfed in flames and vanishes back to hell leaving Grace alone once again. She wipes a little tear from her eye as there's a knock on her door.
[Mrs Chasity] "Gracie are you decent? Can I come in?"
[Grace] "Uh yeah just a second mom."
She throws her rug over the painted pentagram and shoves her oreos bag back into her pillow before she opens the door to see her sweet mother.
[Mrs Chasity] "Good morning sweetheart, you know I heard the bag rustling I know about your pillow oreos."
[Grace] "Morning mommy, oh I thought I was being sneaky about it, are you mad at me?"
[Mrs Chasity] "Oh no I'm not mad at you darling, I mean I would prefer you didn't eat such unhealthy junk food but I don't want you to feel like you have to hide anything from me okay? I heard another voice in here, who were you just talking to dear?"
[Grace] "Um, I was just talking to...my friend Bazzy."
[Mrs Chasity] "Your friend? But you don't have a cell phone or a computer honey..."
[Grace] "She's kind of...not from this world if you know what I mean..."
[Mrs Chasity] "Oh you mean like...an angel?"
[Grace] "Y-Yep totally, Bazzy is an angel and she reached out to me because I was feeling lonely..."
[Mrs Chasity] "Oh that's wonderful sweetie, you'll have to let me speak to her next time she appears."
[Grace] "Oh s-sure thing, she doesn't really have a schedule as such but I'll definitely keep an eye out for her. Um what brings you up here?"
[Mrs Chasity] "I was just checking to see if you were hungry, I came up last night when dinner was ready but you were all tuckered out so I just left you to sleep away."
[Grace] "Yeah I am pretty hungry, the oreos taste great but I feel sick if I eat too many."
[Mrs Chasity] "Alright dear come downstairs and I'll prepare you some meatloaf."
[Grace] "Oh yes! Your meatloaf is the best, thanks mommy!"
She takes her mom's hand as they leave her room, Grace quickly glances at the hidden summoning circle.
(Grace) I'll see you soon Bazzy, best friends forever!