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ohmygillygoshoppler · 6 years

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I decided to write a little bit about a place where Demons and Aliens live together, a country on a planet I just made of for my DS fanfiction, which you can read here, https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11219274/1/Let-s-Draw-a-Picture

I haven’t really written a whole lot about demons and such, but I’m trying! Tell me what you think, it helps to get feedback.

Featuring Duleb, my akuma monk, and her mentor’s son, Otehp.

Duleb strode down the street, little Otehp tied tight to her breast with a sling, quietly cooing to himself. The streets here in Hena weren't as densely populated by people as Duleb would have thought. Most people rode bicycles, took the trolley, or coach wherever they went, so the roads were nearly empty. There were a few people in finely pressed suits walking down the boulevard. It unnerved her how relaxed everyone seemed as she walked on past, some were even so bold as to address her with a, "Good morning," or, "How do you do?" Perhaps these people were just so used to demons walking through the streets, they thought nothing of her. Oh well. It was nice not to get dirty looks from everywhere for a change. People seemed kind of nice here; they even seemed to know that she had infantry with her, and left her be.

People were actually out in the streets playing music. Music! Of all things! Small groups of men and women playing their brasses and singing merrily. There were times when It seemed this place was absolutely perfect and happy for a change. It was weird. Like, it made Duleb's skin crawl at first, but she watched them; watched the people preform. Some of them were older folks, a few younger men and their backup girls, one Premodana, and a child star.

Boy howdy, was the street of Platform 66 quite a show. There was literally nothing like this place. Chaotic in it's rowdy nature, yet cheerful in it's overall demeanor. Demons gathered from places from time to time and start trouble, whereas trouble seekers were looking for people to deal with among the day to day people. There were people there. Normal folks, just looking to get by with what lives they were given; there were the people who have done dark things and have a dark purpose; the innocents who have yet to make sense of what's going on around them; and the crazy folks.

Duleb felt out of place in any sort of setting, but this place was some sort of trip all on its own. Demons openly mingled with people in the streets; goodness, people were even treating some of the lesser ones like they would a companion or animal. It was weird. She made a great deal not to openly ogle at things that fascinated her, lest she do something offensive or let alone inconspicuous. But it was just such a weird place! There was no other feeling she could possibly assign this. It was just...

Angels could have walked up and down the street, and everything would have been fine, it was that weird.

Duleb watched the skies above her. Shadow Casters flew in haphazard, zig-zag patterns up above, one nearly bumping into the wall of a tall apartment complex. She'd seen those types of demons slithering around all over the Black Stone, being their planet of origin. They were the demons that flew blind and used their tongues to decipher where they were and how to maneuver through their surroundings.* The sight of a smaller shadow caster perching in somebody's window was frightening at first, but Duleb watched as the window opened and an elderly woman dumped a huge bowl of scraps onto the balcony. Duleb realized what the shadow caster had come for.

That didn't lessen her worry for that poor old woman...

She kept an eye out for other demons; tieflings, hell hounds, shard bound, and legion soldiers alike. From what she was told, there were demons from all walks of life in this particular country. Succubi and Incubi were everywhere, a few sprites here and there, but absolutely no akumas. Duleb quietly thanked Laniekea that she looked like a demon, now, or she'd be even more out of place.

The akuma woman towered over everyone that walked past, even a few sprites had to look up at her to meet her eyes. She had no clue how far and how fast she would grow, but Duleb was now almost seven feet tall, and growing. It was a serious problem that occurred to people that came from off planet and lived in the Black Stone for too long; they simply grew too big for their own bodies. Usually, sprites and succubi's hearts would grow too large for their chests, but for an akuma, the first thing you outgrow is your skull. Duleb had come to terms with this already, but one day, her brain would literally be too big for her head.

Turns out a lot of things happen to die that way. Funny.

Duleb nodded to the sleepy old man at the stairs to Reeth's and bowed, Holding the sling close as she entered the tavern. This time of day, there were many patrons at the establishment, and the overall ambiance was far different than the quiet murmurs of the handful of people and the occasional clatter of the dishes. This time, it was loud, Ladies up front up on the milk carton stage were singing a song about hexing an old friend. The way their voices carried sounded like something out of a dream, and the other men playing their instruments along were just as captivating. It was even better than the stuff going on outside, Gods, it was a small orchestra!

Duleb shrunk against the far wall and watched in blatant astonishment. Otehp began to fuss at all the sudden noise, so she started stroking his head to calm him. Cattie had actual staff; waiters and waitresses rushing this way and that, multiple cooks in the back, a god damned band, and what appeared to be security. She even saw Cattie herself up at the bar taking orders, and watched her hand out food to people at other booths. She rushed in and out of the kitchen, from one table to the next. It was busy.

Cattie's voice rang out over the loud din of the crowd, calling Duleb's name. A hefty mug in one hand, she waved the akuma over to the bar. Obediently, she followed. The bar was crowded with men and women talking and eating their meals, but were squished aside when Cattie waved them all out of the way. Duleb took a seat and leaned close when Cattie next spoke.

"Hey, you speak with Zazu yet? Dante told me you was workin' yo butt off last night." The succubus stopped to pour a couple their coffee. " Well? You get the job?"

"I'm not convinced otherwise. I was just on my way up to see him and ask." Duleb replied dryly. She was never too loud. "I thought it'd be alright to take Otehp up there, and-"

Cattie's big bright green eyes widened, looking to the sling at Duleb's waist and about dropped the mug of coffee in her hand; her eyes went wide and she gasped loud enough for the patrons at the bar to shoot over some concerning glances. Duleb herself even shrank back a bit. The succubus peeked over the bartop and into Duleb's lap, to where she then stuck in a finger and pulled back the cloth. She gasped again and hollered gleefully, poking at the barmaid beside her.

"She came up here to see me, and she brought that baby!"

Before Duleb could protest that the baby wasn't hers, she was already swarmed by succubi and Incubi all over. Everyone and their mother wanted to get a tiny peek at the baby, so it seemed. It was especially strange, considering people in this town didn't seem to get to enjoy children much, not having them around as much, but that was weird, too. Succubi, Incubi, and various other races breed, but keeping their children was another problem in Hena lately. Demons liked Daccubi children. Like, a lot. Kids get taken in Hena, so people don't tend to see children outside much. There have been riots over it, and people have often accused demonic residents of child endangerment, leading to beatings in the streets, and there was even a Teifling that was tied up and left to wait for the train.*

Babies were different; nowadays, they were few and far between, what with women no longer wanting to bear children, only to have them potentially stolen. There was actual fear if you had a child, demons would stalk your pregnant mate, and steal away their child, or worse. Duleb hadn't seen any kids in her days either, save for Ophelia when she was young, and a supercluster of Manol's various colorful daughters.

Two women stood up at the stage, singing while Dante played. Both Succubi, one a pale cream in skin and hair color, the other a bright orange and brown with much larger and noticeable horns. Their voices harmonized in a strange and wonderful way; like the voices she heard singing on the radios on the walk over here. Drums played, flutes blasted from behind the ladies, and people were all over the tavern dancing and throwing each other around. It was a sight unlike anything Duleb had ever seen.

All the noise started making Otehp fussy. He didn't much like loud things, and this place was singing. Duleb had to remind herself not to stare so openly, but couldn't help but be dazzled. Men were literally swinging their partners round and around their bodies, kicking and flying and flipping themselves about.* It was insanity. it was hilarious! It looked like so much fun.

Otehp started putting up another fuss, crying louder than he had before. Duleb held the child up and cradled him, whispering softly as she learned Manol do earlier, and nearby patron quickly got curious. Younger ladies at the bar suddenly swarmed, all asking at once if there was something wrong with the baby, of if he was somehow hurt or upset. The band had even stopped their performance, singers abruptly silenced on the stage, staring at the freakishly tall lady the the bar.

Now that she thought more on it, it made her nervous; she covered up the blue youth again and stared at the table. Cattie started rushing and shooing people away as she next spoke, " Alright, now, Imma start setting people on fire, y'all don't back up."

Duleb never liked to be the center of attention, and this reaction from one baby starting to cry was a bit much. Duleb then reassured that he was alright, and the people at the bat and other booths that had wandered over returned to their seats, all with relieved smiles and mild chatter. The band and the ladies at the stage then agreed to play something softer, so not to cause another fuss for him. How sweet. She had no idea a baby would grant her so much attention! It made her wish she had left him with his father while she left for town, but then again, Cattie seemed happy to see him. People were actually quite concerned about him, and it was... nothing like she had ever experienced before. Cattie even wanted to hold him. Duleb said no, but after a few pleas and some free breakfast, the other gave in, handing over the sprite son.

The other barmaids took over Cattie's work so she could sit at the bar with the baby, smiling at him and talking to him in a high-pitched, squeaky little voice. "What a teeny little cutie! He looks nothin' like ya, hun."

A little shrug. "Shouldn't. He ain't mine."

Cattie's smile slowly flew from her face when Duleb said that, clutching the little bundle ever closer to her breast. "Honey, you didn't steal this baby, did you?"

"No, gods, no! I don't want him, he's too damn cute for me to take out into public, anyhow." She joked, stroking the boy's black hair back. "Naw, he's my mentor's son. Name's Otehp. I'm just keeping an watch on him today while his father goes and attends some business. It's only for a few days."

"Otehp, huh?" Cattie repeated the name over and over, trying to get Otehp to look at her. She made a few strange faces and kissed his noseless face. He was smiling. He hadn't laughed at anything yet, mostly just stared and cried. She told Cattie as much, and she just explained that Otehp was a looker. He watched what he could to learn. She even said as much as he would grow up quiet and closed off from most people. Seemed like she knew a thing or two about kids.

"Do you have any children?" Duleb asked as Cattie scooped up Otehp in one arm and poured more coffee in another man's mug.

"Honey, every barmaid on this floor is my kid. The cook is my kid." She pointed over to the young Incubus sitting at the piano, playing his heart away with the music of the band. "Danté is my kid. Everyone working this floor is related to me. I hired all my kids since nobody else would, and now we're all here."

The the laborer and the alien sat at the bar and talked a long while about what the plan was for her once she was registered, and the following was a bit of a small conversation discussing what sort of benifits Duleb could retrieve from gaining citizenship in this counrty of all places.

Apparently, the demons here that ran the real Hell-controlled aspect of this country were smarter than most other, and more collaborative. Hena had something Hell wanted so badly, that their denizens were willing to be diplomatic and, in some retrospect, Considerate about this running this part of the planet in particular. Nothing like Nergal. Thea lien wanted to do what she could to stay and make a life for herself, and the laborer wanted to help. Cattie offered Duleb many numbers and addresses to visit to get the documentation she needs to get going and get settled. Housing assistance, financial aid, medical care, and even some schooling venues.

"He an incubus?" Cattie asked as she poured herself a large mug of coffee, bringing it to her lips as she cradled him. "Sure looks like one."

"No, He's sprite. He's got some sort of Daccubi in his blood, on his father's side, at least." Duleb replied around a mouthful of food.

"Oh, most definitely. Look at those eyes. He's got the fiery eyes of Death, ya know that?" she cooed, kissing his little cheeks all over, drawing out his first little bout of laughter. Both men and women at the bar alike broke out into great grins when they hear a baby's laughter over the delightful performance and din of the tavern. Duleb was one among them. Something about babies laughter was funny. It was so cute! The cutest and sweetest thing Duleb had ever rang in her ears. An alien sound; foreign in almost every way. Like hearing some person speaking a language Duleb had never heard,

Cattie pulled back the cloth swaddling him, to get a better look at him, and nearly lost it when she notices the extra pair of arms on the infant. She giggled like a giddy little girl, claiming she'd never seen a sprite baby. She clearly knew that sprites attended her establishments, she'd served hundreds in her life as a tavern owner. The sight of a baby sprite must have thrown her off.

"Somehow, I forgot that Sprites started off as babies!" she had said through her giggles. Duleb found herself laughing when a few patrons at the booth behind Cattie peered over her shoulder to see the baby themselves; taking off their hats and such.

Gee, this was such a weird and nice place.

Duleb leaned over the bar as Cattie took her plate from her. "Hey, why's this place so crowded anyhow? Not that it isn't a great business day for you, i'm sure, but, well, how come?"

"Oh, it's Saturday, honey. It's a day of rest every week, nine days, where everyone at the factories and mines and alchemical facilities got a day off, all to themselves. People like tavern owners, doctors and other services weren't so much as granted the opportunity to take a break. However, they usually got their beaks while the people who crowded their dens were hard at work.

Duleb understood how hard it must be to be a doctor or, hell, even Cattie; having to work pretty much every single day without a single day to just do nothing.

Duleb discovered that being from off-planet meant she absolutely had to go and see the doctors, since there were strict rules about demons carrying otherworldly diseases, and those people must be vaccinated to prevent the outbreak of any Hellish sicknesses. Duleb understood that completely, and actually looked forward to it. Perhaps she could get Manol and Otehp in for a shot, too. She didn't want to get sick, who did? She was aware of the fact that demons carried diseases, yeah, but had no clue this place had hospitals and doctors advanced enough to have invented vaccines to combat those diseases.

Cattie then wandered off, passing Otehp back to his "mother" and resuming her work. For a while, Duleb sat with Otehp and listened to the people lay their songs, talk to some folks, have some breakfast, and just relaxed for a while.

Duleb watched as a young man with a peg-leg was dancing with an older sprite woman. They were having a difficult time, since the woman had so many arms, but the grinning lad in the blazer was determined to make it work. They were laughing. Duleb thought about how it must be, dancing with one leg to carry you. He must have slipped a lot.

She suddenly remembered what she came in here for. The akuma turned this way and that, scanning the area for Cattie or perhaps Danté. Whichever knew Damion. She had something she wanted to give to the man whose job she took. She expected the tavern owner herself would know, since she knew just about everybody who worked and visited Platform 66.

#darksiders #fanfic #demons #aliens #oc #ooc

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