To Drown in Sand

He's never gonna make it. All the poor people he's forsaken

Karma stood on Sephiroth's feet as he guided her through a clumsy yet adorable waltz. Carrisimi laughed from her seat on a couch as she watched Dez coo over Sephiroth and Karma. Dez was trying her best to cycle through each and every emote and special pose in their possession. "Awwww!" Dez squealed when Sephiroth pulled out a flower crown made of deadly nightshade and placed it on Karma's head, the tiny guardian curtsying in return. "I didn't know you could add duo interactions. That's so cute." Sephiroth bowed to Dez at the compliment while karma hid behind his leg. Carrisimi laughed at Dez and the little joke she had in store. "They're a pair so of course they have matched interactions. But you've only been prompting Sephiroth, why don't you try Karma?" Carrisimi said sweetly. Dez emoted an excited nod before prompting Karma.

Karma gave a feral grin and lashed out with razor sharp claws only to be tugged back and bopped on the head by Sephiroth. Dez instinctively dove into a shadow to escape the attack. She reappeared behind her friend and peered at the two guardians from behind Carrisimi's wings. "What was that?" She squeaked into her mic. Carrisimi laughed at her friend and beckoned over her creations. "I set Karma to take a shot at anyone who prompted her. She wouldn't have done you any damage as Seph would have stopped her but it's just too funny to pass up." Karma had an eerie grin on her face as she approached. Dez eyed the little girl warily as she came out of her hiding spot and slid onto the couch next to the angel. "She looks like she wants to eat me..." The demoness mumbled as she flopped her face into her friend's lap.

"She probably does." Carrisimi said cheerfully. "Karma hasn't had the chance to eat anyone yet so maybe she'll find you appetizing." Her words were nonchalant, as if she were discussing the weather. "But she won't as you're an ally and actually have permission to be here." Carrisimi fell silent as she watched her NPCs go back into their idle mode and return to their caskets. Dez picked up her head when she heard their caskets shut with a slight thud before dropping her face back down. It'd been a week since their creation and the first time Carrisimi had invited her in since she started to log back in. Momonga had asked her to talk to Carrisimi but she couldn't bring herself to broach the subject of their concerns. Instead, she'd played with and fawned over them. But now that they were out of sight, maybe she could do this...

"Pero proposed."

Or she could dodge it.

Carrisimi squealed loudly into her mic and her avatar jumped off the couch. Dez fell to the floor before she was scooped back up by her friend. "I'm so happy for you!" Carrisimi said as she spun them in circles. "You're gonna be the prettiest bride ever! I promise!" Carrisimi sounded more excited than she'd been in months. The angel dragged her friend into her wardrobe and began forcibly equipping the many white dresses she owned onto her friend's avatar. "We're gonna find you the perfect dress!" Dez wanted to run from this dress up session, having had previous nightmares of the sheer amount of clothes in Carrisimi's closet after the last time the angel did this. But she was too weak to resist or put up a fight. Her best friend sounded so happy for once and it broke her heart that it was on her behalf instead of herself. So she just emoted a smile and allowed herself to be used as a doll.

For how could she possibly take the joy that didn't even exist on its own in her friend?

________________

Sephiroth knew something was off the second he reached his creator's doors. Yuri Alpha was blocking the way and told them Lady Carrisimi wished to be left alone that night. He could respect her wishes but he needed to reassure himself that she was alright. Sephiroth easily sidestepped the maid and forced his way in. Demiurge was left ignored as he entered the room and disappeared into the dark before the lanterns even had a chance to light. The young incubus could practically taste the confused hormones in the air as he neared his creator's bed. Sephiroth took on a slightly pinched expression as he sifted through the lingering emotions filling the air and focused on the strongest one: arousal.