>>6160605“Yes, so please just sign here listing your soul as possible collateral and we’ll be done here,” You say. Pleasepleaseplease just sign the paper, you think. When you studied contract magic in the Academy you were certain I’d have no real life implication for you, what a wistful and wonderful world that would be. But no, here you are, having to discuss clauses upon clauses with a skeleton and spider because you’re [b:lit]apparently[/b:lit] the best magician currently in the Inquisitions headquarters. Yeah right, you’re pretty certain the Lord Inquisitor just wanted you to earn your keep instead of “researching” the Strange world of Earth and relaxing all day. Oh, and Marie got to go outside and fight changelings yesterday because life isn’t fucking fair now, is it!
“I get that part, but why my soul? Isn’t that a bit extreme?” The skeleton, Mikhail, says from across the harshly lit table. He appears a lot more animated this time, which, granted, does make sense when you consider the last time you spoke to him he was apparently a puppet controlled by changelings while he and the spider next to him, Xiao, were tied up in a backroom.
You take a deep breath and put on your tightest smile, “Because neither of you have the blood needed to make a bloodpact with. And while more severe a soulbinding contract has a similar function and according to Lindan Legal Code is what should be used if a bloodpact cannot be made due to one or more of the consenting parties' biological inabilities.”
“Okay, but what if there’s a good reason why I need to leave the capital without permission or a chaperone? Like we get attacked again?”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH- “As we’ve discussed clause six dash nine already covers that exact scenario. Please remember, you’re getting a much better deal than most Strangers will ever get. And your soul will only be claimed in the most egregious of contract violations,” Please sign it please sign it please sign it.
“And if we do not sign?” The spider chitters, a clear taunt.
I’ll kill you, “You’ll be kept under confinement until further notice. Now if you will?”
“I’d like to get Usami here before we do anything,” Mikhail says.
“Need I remind you he has already signed his contract?” It’s literally still on the table.
“We’re a team we make these kind of decisions together.”
“How about we call a quick recess while I get someone to get him?”
The skeleton and spider share a look before his bony jaw opens, “We’ll stay the night just let us think it over,” Oh sweet and tender Goddess, yes!
“That is understandable, Inquisitor Abigail will see you back to the cells,” You’re free, finally free! You find your smile fading as you remember you have to meet with the Lord Inquisitor in an hour. Then you feel the weary exhaustion behind your eyes once again. Lorina de Lindan is gone, you are a husk of a body that talks over contracts for hours on end.
You need to do something to get your mind off it all.
