Wdrussell1 t1_iuh20g2 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:45 AM

Reply to comment by Wdrussell1 in [WP] You are a barista in a 24 hour coffee shop. Every night at 3:33am a demon appears for the Dark Lord's latte. by WarturtleWitch

You end your shift in a tizzy. You are both scared out of your witts and excited to no end. What does the Dark Lord enjoy? Could he have a nut allergy? More questions and more things to distract from the task. "Surely not pumpkin spice.." You chuckle to yourself. No, this has to be something delicious and something that he would drink every single day. Sugar? No, that would just be stupid. You spend hours thinking and thinking. You eventually fall asleep at your computer as you research what would make the best coffee. Your dreams are filled with the the information from which you were trying to derive your options. You found that coffee used to be called the "Devils Brew" because they thought it was evil. This was certainly fitting and gave you quite the chuckle when you figured it out. Almost didn't know how to take it when you found out. "No wonder this guy likes coffee, it pissed off all of humanity at one time..."

'BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!' Your alarm starts shouting at you. "Shit, its time to go to work....I better get this figured out or I am fucked." You start your walk to the shop. Plenty of time. You walk by admiring everything as you go. You then pass by a little taco and elote stand. You see the guy sprinkle different things on them. You then see him take out a zester and put nutmeg and lemon zest on them. You order one and start eating as you walk to work. The taste is perfect. You can taste the nutty and sweet flavor of the nutmeg and it compliments the citrus of the lemon. Perfect. Add a hint of peppermint and its complete. "Oh I have GOT this!" you say as you nearly sprint to work.

The night goes as expected, but your giddy. Your about to serve the devil the best cup of his own brew that has ever been brewed. You even picked up some fresh lemons. Time starts to roll faster and faster as cup after cup flies. Finally its 3:30AM. "I guess I should get started." You start making the Dark Lords typical cup, making sure everything is perfectly fresh. You set that one on the counter, and start the next. By the time your done Charles will be walking in the door. First a little dab of peppermint in the bottom. Next nice fresh hot coffee. Little dab of milk all foamed up just to specification. Now the lemon zest. It should sink through the foam. Finally, a fresh heavy handed scratch of nutmeg over the top. Almost turning it brown. Your getting so into this prep you didn't even notice the time. You peek at the clock behind the counter. Like clockwork. 3:33AM and the hands have stopped. You turn to put the cup next to the other and as you do you see Charles is sitting at a table away from the counter and someone else is sitting at the counter. Charles is drinking the first cup. The other is waiting with a simple smile on his face, ready for HIS cup of coffee.

The man sitting at the counter is a thin fellow. His skin red but slightly darker to a more red color. He too is dressed in a fine suit. He has on a green suite with very similar jewelry and accents to Charles. His however are a black and red. The glasses even remind you of Elton Johns. The pentagrams on the collar are instead horns with a crown and it looks like they are literally on fire. "Well hello Jessica, its a mighty pleasure to meet you. I am as you know am known by many names. You may call me Dark Lord, or Lord. I am told that you have offered to make me a cup of coffee that might make you favorable for a contract. I wager you are looking for the same deal that David got, but that was more pity for a dying kid who wasn't able to make coffee anymore...So what have we made here today. I only caught the last few seconds and didn't see much else..." His voice was sweet, sexy even. He never raised his voice or even had a change in tone. Like a well oiled machine coming buttery smooth over the best set of headphones you have ever worn. A very welcoming and warm set of tones.

This is something you had not anticipated. The man showed up himself. I guess you don't go toe to toe with the devil and not get a little warm. "H-h-Hello Lord, this is quite the surprise, I never thought you would come yourself. Uh what I made well..." You take a deep breath and stop your trembling, whenever that started happening. He speaks as you try to compose yourself. "Sweet child, your deal with Charles still stands and I honor it as well. You will not be harmed. I just wanted to see what you made and was quite interested in the idea you came to me for a deal. Do not fear me. This could be motor oil and I would simply leave, but disrespect is not your type so I am confident this will be good." His words again are smooth and for a moment you feel are a false sense of security. But something in you knows, he means what he says. There is no trick in his wording. "Ok Jessica, its time to do this..." You think to yourself. "Lord, what I have made well...would you be willing to drink it first and then let me know what you think. I feel like this speaks more for itself than it does from describing it. As you can see I am a nervous wreck..." You say, trying to get the words out as fast as possible but also trying to gain your confidence. The Dark Lord just laughs with a warm smile as he reaches for the cup. "Alright then sweetheart, lets see what you came up with."

Wdrussell1 t1_iuh20oz wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:45 AM

He takes a long drink of it, stops after a second or two and gives a small. "Hmm..." Then goes back to drinking. Before anyone can breath he has taken the whole thing down and sets the empty cup on the counter. "Hmm.." he murmurs again. "Now how the hell did you get this idea from an elote stand." He says and smiles deeply. "Charles, when you told me this girl was quite curious I thought you were pulling my tail." You hear him say as your still processing everything. "Wait, you were watching me today? I have been dreading the last 24 hours and you saw everything..." You say somewhat emotionless and slightly angered. He somehow manages to smile even wider and laughs very haughtily tapping the counter slightly. "My my Jessica, you can't have thought you give this kind of ultimatum to the Lord of the Underworld and not get some kind of curiosity. Honestly as much as you have dreaded it I have been drooling and just giddy with excitement over the details of this very moment. Not many people can get my respect but damn have you ever done so." He nearly falls out of his chair with the amount of laughing and excitement he is expressing. "So I think it is no secret that you certainly have earned the right to a deal with me. I only have one demand in this whole deal and I will be upfront about it. What are your terms! Be honest with them, don't be shy!" He exclaims and then summons a dark black book and very fancy pen. Both of which match perfectly with his style choice.

"Well, they are very simple. I will start first with my offering to you specifically. I will make you coffee for as long as I am alive and have the ability to do so. Then, my terms on what I want. My first demand is that you must always employ Charles for as long as he wishes to be employed. Second, you must treat him with respect at all times. Certainly you are his master, but you must also respect he does work for you and wishes to be treated with respect. It is after all an honor to be in your service for him I am sure. Now for myself. I only want two simple things. My bills are always paid in full and on time. But they do not come out of my bank account. House, food, cars, the works. Finally, I wish to never have what happened to me yesterday happen to me again." Your voice cracks and tears start to flow a bit. "I wish to never.....have that happen again....please.." You fall to your knees and start weeping. Full blown tears, enough to flood a desert in seconds. You then feel a warm hand on your shoulder, and a soft warm voice in your ear. "You have a deal young lady. Those are terms that are more than enough." Your crying deepens and you throw your arms around the Dark Lord as he speaks to Charles. "Charles, bring me the book of deals. The red one." Charles responds with a simple "Yes sir, right away. Be back in 5.

"A few more minutes pass and you have collected yourself slightly. The Dark Lord helps you from the floor and much the same as Charles had done previously. He hands you a bottle of water. "Take a drink and catch your breath." You do exactly that, taking a drink you realize you didn't even reconcile these feelings before. You were scared out of your mind. Now though, things seem better. You know that you won't ever have to deal with this again. After a minute you choke the words out. "W-What about your terms? Don't you want something from me? I am sure more than just the coffee you have been given for the last few months." The Dark Lord gives a smile and a slight chuckle. "Darling, you faced the Devil and went toe to toe with expectations and in the end only cracked when you were overwhelmed with other feelings. You gained more respect from me today than anyone has in over 1000 years. Your terms of coffee are more than acceptable after the display of confidence."

Just as the Dark Lord finishes his sentence Charles walks in with a rather large red book. The Dark Lord thanks him and then opens the book to a blank page and writes out exactly what was requested of him. He turns the book to her and summons his very elegant blood quill. "These are the terms exactly as you asked me. I have also taken the liberty to close any loopholes so that they stay in tact. Please to read them over." You read them carefully. Aside from impeccable handwriting everything seems perfectly in order and as it should be. You put the quill to the paper and Charles speaks up. "Be sure Jessica. This is no small ask." You look at him and smile. "I am quite sure of this. If nothing else we suffer together." You then turn to the page and take every stroke of the quill with the pain it causes and enjoy the pain that is the best decision of your life. You finish and the Dark Lord speaks first. "It is done. I am bound to this contract just the same as Charles is his. Charles, as your first assignment. Your to make sure that Jessica always has protection. I will also accept you taking moments away to deal with problems yourself. Also, be sure that those two souls are given extra duty while any new ones are given the same. Take the book back, make it so. I will work in your place for now until you return. Take your time. I would like to get to know and talk with Jessica. After all, every demon in hell will likely know her name and face."

Charles takes his leave with the book his face smiling wider than ever before and his step just as peppy. After he leaves you speak up. "So you are really going to make sure to come personally every time so the three of us can have a cup of coffee together? If I didn't know any better Charles might have asked you to to setup a date..." He smiles his tail flicking as he does. "Well, the world may never know. But certainly I would love another cup of this lovely drink you made me. Just a bit more nutmeg for me this time though. Didn't know I needed this stuff in my life."

Every night at 3:33AM the Dark Lord and his assistant Charles drop by your home as they have for the last 40 years. Stopping by to catch up on the day, talk about life and death, and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Its been 40 years, but today is different. The Dark Lord has brought a note. Its something you expected for a while. Your last living cup of coffee. But hey, not your last with the Dark Lord and his assistant. The devil's brew certainly is a good treatment for the soul.