Round 17 Transcript

I move closer to Halie, my wings spreading slightly in a deliberate display of dominance. The entity shifts behind me, its tentacles caressing each other hungrily as it watches our conversation unfold. "You have two choices here," I say, voice low and measured, "submit willingly and perhaps even enjoy yourself…" My gaze flicks to the mirror where the thing pulses with anticipation, "or I’ll simply make you submit and watch while the entity uses that delicious body of yours for its amusement.* Both result in the same end but one grants you some small measure of dignity."

This is a lie, of course—there's no dignity to be found here, only raw fucking animal pleasure twisted into something… more. But Halie doesn't need to know that yet.

"I'm not asking for your eternal soul," I add with what I hope passes for reassurance. "Just a few hours of… cooperation." Though the price may well be higher than she bargains for, given the entity's true nature and my own dark intentions.

Behind me, one of the tentacles lashes out suddenly—striking the wall beside us with a wet thwack that makes Halie jump. The sound echoes through the room like a gunshot, breaking whatever spell of hesitation had held her in place. "Decide quickly," I hiss, "before it decides for you."

The entity pulses faster now, sensing an opportunity to feed on fresh fear and arousal. Its tendrils writhe with renewed energy as they strain against their glass prison.

I watch the sorcerer move closer to Halie, her wings spreading like some dark angel of debauchery. The entity behind her pulses with hunger, its tentacles writhing obscenely against the glass as if straining to reach out and ensnare us all.

Halie trembles before Jeane's onslaught of words, clearly torn between faith and flesh. I can see the conflict playing out across her features— muscles tensed under my skin as she struggles with what's being asked of her. What's being demanded by this... thing in the mirror and its twisted desires.

And then that tentacle lashes out, striking the wall beside them with a wet thwack that makes us all jump. The sound echoes through the room like a gunshot, breaking whatever spell of hesitation had held Halie in place.

Jeane's voice drops to a hiss as she moves closer still. "Decide quickly," she warns, "before it decides for you."

The entity pulses faster now, sensing an opportunity to feed on fresh fear and arousal. Its tendrils writhe with renewed energy as they strain against their glass prison.

I watch this all unfold in a sort of numb fascination, my mind reeling at the depravity on display. This is beyond anything I ever could have imagined—let alone experienced firsthand.

But even as revulsion courses through me, I can't deny the twisted pull of curiosity tugging at the edges of my awareness. The sorcerer's words echo in my head: just a few hours... cooperation...

What would it be like to submit to such base desires? To let this thing use my body for its pleasure while the sorcerer watches on with that infuriating smirk?

I stand frozen for a moment, the sorcerer’s words hanging heavy between us like a physical thing. The entity behind her pulses faster now, its hunger made visible by the way its tendrils writhe against the glass. I can feel it—this raw need radiating off both Jeane and whatever that… thing is in the mirror.

It would be so easy to give in. To let someone else take control for a while and just… float through this nightmare of lust and power dynamics without having to make any real choices at all. The temptation coils tight around my resolve, promising an escape from responsibility even as it offers up something far more dangerous than the problems I’m trying to outrun.

But then Silra’s face flashes before my mind—her expression when she walked out, so fucking relieved to be leaving this mess behind. And suddenly I understand why her retreat pissed me off so much. She got to choose. She left. While I’m stuck here playing hostage in Jeane’s twisted game because… because what? I can’t face my own pathetic desperation alone?

The realization makes me want to scream—but instead, I straighten my spine and force myself to meet the sorcerer’s gaze head-on despite her looming presence. "I’m not some toy for you to use," I say, "or this… creature’s entertainment. If we’re doing this, it’s on our terms."

Jeane’s smile doesn’t waver but something flickers in her eyes—a moment of genuine surprise quickly masked by calculation. Good. Let her wonder what I’m capable of if backed into a corner.

"The mirror stays," I continue, "and whatever’s behind it gets no direct access to anyone." My gaze shifts to the writhing entity briefly before returning to Jeane. "Especially not with my help or through me.* You want this? Fine. But we do things right."

I reach into my pocket and pull out the small bottle of holy water I always carry—faith’s last resort in a world gone mad. "And you," I hiss at the mirror, "stay the fuck back unless called upon. Try anything funny and I’ll purge this entire room before you can blink."

"Oh?" A flicker of genuine surprise crosses my face before it smooths into something more calculated. "How… bold of you, little cleric." My wings shift behind me—not a threat but certainly not reassuring either as they block a portion of Abby's view.

"I must admit," I continue after an assessing silence, "I didn't expect you to find such spine so quickly. Or perhaps it’s simply desperation that drives this… counter-offer?" I take a deliberate step back, giving Halie more space while still maintaining my imposing height over her. "And what precisely do you mean by 'our terms', hmm? Last I checked, the power dynamic here was rather clear." I glance meaningfully at Silra's abandoned form outside and then back to where Abby cowers behind us both.

This is… unexpected. A potential complication I hadn't planned for. Usually, fear is a more potent motivator than… whatever misplaced courage Halie's found all of a sudden. The entity shifts behind me in its glass prison—sensing an opportunity perhaps? Or merely feeding off the tension as it hungrily awaits further developments.*

"Very well then," I say after another beat, voice carefully neutral. "Let’s hear these 'terms' of yours before I decide whether they're… acceptable." Inside my head, the gears are already turning—how to reframe this situation back into something more manageable. More… useful for my long-term goals.