Board Thread:What Would You Do?/@comment-27303410-20180602155755/@comment-33398500-20180619173523

Well, this was certainly unexpected...

Having been sitting quietly by myself, as usual, I hadn’t expected a group of mamono to suddenly make themselves at home at my table, let alone being such high-level mamono as they were. I had come to the bar to ‘socialize’, or so I had told myself I would, but I was once again sitting here, enjoying a bit of bar food and iced tea: since I didn’t drink, but it looked enough like a drink that people would leave me alone about it.

However, as the group of them sat down, I found myself slightly embarrassed, as part of me both hoped and dreaded that they were here to hit on me, though the conversation made it abundantly clear they didn’t even know I was at the table. I was quiet enough, evidently, that they hadn’t even acknowledged my presence at the table, having a back-and-forth with each other, trying to figure out why they couldn’t land a solid relationship.

Such a thing was a responsible guy’s dream: goddess-level mamono, which any guy would beg for even a few minutes with, were trying to find someone for a long-term relationship, and here I was, in the middle of them in this moment of vulnerability.

At this point, however, they had noticed I was there, as the vampire who had just been speaking now apologized for their seizure of my table, needing a place they wouldn’t be noticed. “That’s all right...” I responded, a tinge embarrassed as I sat between the demon and the succubus. “...I tend to have that effect where I’m hard to notice...”

However, now the Lilim asked me what I thought of the whole situation, aware I had been listening in on them and their problems. A less scrupulous guy would use this to their advantage and get with one of these girls by underhanded methods, but she had set off my problem-solving mindset, which had gotten me to thinking about each of their situations.

“Well...” I started, chin in my hand at the moment “...it’s certainly a surprise to be thinking about this... but I suppose I’ll start with you...” I began, turning to the succubus. “You want to find someone to be with without use of your prowess at seduction... That’s not a very complicated endeavour... take your current attire for example...” after a confused ‘hmm?’ from her, I continued “...your clothing, like the rest of your group, puts your admittedly, quite attractive, figure on prominent display for anyone to look at... this goes for the rest of you as well, but such revealing clothing in a public place is a very strong hint toward ‘looking for someone to bang’ rather than for someone with actual common interest...”

Normally, I wouldn’t be able to speak like this toward such women, but currently, my mindset was in their problems “...dressing more conservatively is only part of the way to go about this, though... a lot of guys will panic if you bring up concepts like ‘long-term’ or ‘marriage’ right away. Such things have to be led into, but clear that you’re looking for a relationship, or you might end up with a one-night stand either way...”

At this point, the entire group was looking at me intently, as if taking mental notes. “You...” I then started, turning to the demon on my other side “...this contract you mention, if it’s basically a marriage proposal, as it sounded like from your discussion earlier, then it’s the same as I mentioned earlier... you may put off a potential husband by coming in too strongly and trying to lock someone down immediately... you should get to know the guy first, learn all you can about them. Then, if you’re convinced that he is indeed the one you want to stay with, then go for it. That’s still a general concept... get to know the guy, first... you don’t want to end up with some scumbag or asshat, or someone who sees you only as a sex doll, or worse yet, be having that guy’s children...” I commented. I would have thought one of them would stop me by now with something along the lines of ‘thank you, captain obvious’, or something perhaps worse than that, but they all seemed to be listening intently, as if these were new thoughts to have. “You don’t want to just have A husband, you want to have the right husband for you... I’ve known enough people whose marriages have fallen apart to know you want to be sure they’re the right one...”

Turning again in my chair, I then looked to the vampire “You have another concern, I think... to be wary of those who would seek to use you... in some misguided attempt to acquire wealth or power, title or something of the sort... though it sounds like you have a grasp on that with your talk of the balls and galas... I am certain it will be somewhat more difficult for you, as many people would be averse to the concept of being drained of blood, but, you know... I’ve actually known a couple of people that would enjoy that idea, so you mustn’t give up, there is someone for you out there. He might even be in this bar somewhere, waiting for you to come over and talk to him... is there a reason you and your friends chose this particular bar?”

A nod from her before she responded “Yes... this sporting tournament being aired on the televisions is quite entertaining. Though I do not know much of the games themselves, the fervour brought out in those watching it, both depicted on the television, and here at this place, are exhilarating...” cheeks flushing slightly as she thought about it. I didn’t know a vampire could turn red, but it seemed clear she was able to. “Well, then you’re certainly not alone. A lot of people get really into the games here, so you shouldn’t have any trouble breaking the ice here...” I continued.

Now turning at last to the lilim, whose air made me intimidated just at the sight of her, I stammered a bit before starting with her problem “W-well... you’re the most surprising one so far. After hearing about Druella, I had this image in my head of lilim as lecherous rulers of mamono, and that’s putting it lightly... but it seems quite clear I was wrong in that regard...” a curt nod from her showing I should tread lightly on the subject. “...but you’re not over-thinking it... a normal life is something a lot of people strive for, even those whose birth would have people assume they were beyond it... it may be a bit difficult for you to get people to know you for you, especially since your level of power isn’t something that can be concealed, but even if someone is intimidated by you, you can still work your way past that by showing there is a real person under all that power, with real interests, hopes and fears, right? Once you actually connect with someone, that outer facade of the untouchable daughter of the demon lord wouldn’t be a problem, right?” her eyes feeling like they were drilling lasers through my skin at the moment.

“You know... that is quite an idea... your insight is nothing short of remarkable...” the lilim then told me, taking me a moment to notice the vampire was already gone, cheering with a group of people at the last goal to have been scored in one of the games. “But... I feel I must ask... why are YOU here alone?”

Bright red now, I slumped into my chair, out of problem-solving mode, my typical social awkwardness came back “Y-you don’t... wanna hear about my p-problems...”

Tilting her head at the sudden complete change in my character, the lilim then responded “Of course I do... you helped us when we were having problems, so I would like to hear yours... unless, of course, you are trying to claim that you don’t need my help... do you believe yourself stronger than me?” she then asked with a teasing smirk.

Taken aback by this, I responded “N-no! I don’t think that! I... well, I have a pretty hard time talking to people most of the time... in fact, the only time I don’t is when I’m fixing things for people...”

“Clearly...” the demon interjected. “...you were quite confident when you were telling us things we needed to know... why the sudden change when thinking about yourself? For example, say one of us were flirting with you?” turning slightly to ensure her still-revealing clothing showed herself off to me now.

I felt heat rising into my head so suddenly I wouldn’t have been surprised if steam shot out of my ears “N-no! I... I w-would... umm... s-shut down... I... can’t...”

“Oh, no, I think you broke him, Justine...” the lilim commented, shaking her head. “Perhaps he needs our help more than we needed his...” getting up from the table and now stepping over to me, the overwhelming presence of her made me want to simply flee from the table, but something was keeping me there. “You’ve already seen past my facade that you mentioned... and yet you still crumble at the slightest touch...” I barely noticed the succubus and the demon leave the table as the lilim bore down on me “...this, to me, is your facade... what you put up as a defence against getting close to people. It takes many forms... and your social ineptitude, I must say, is an interesting one... especially since it only came up once YOU became the subject... before that, you spoke so simply and directly to all of us... and genuinely helped us rather than try to umm... ‘get yourself some’, as I’ve heard people say... especially from such top-grade mamono such as my friends and I...”

“Well... th-that would be a real dick move... wasn’t going to do that...” I told her honestly.

“Hey, see that? You didn’t completely stammer that time... come with me...” she then started “I wish to play this game I’ve seen in the bar all the time, but never played...” the two of us then playing pool for about an hour. We only got in one game in that entire hour, inept play from two novices taking up the table for far too long, though the two of us were breaking down laughing on the final shot, which involved her losing control of her strength, sending the cue ball flying to the opposite end of the bar, catapulting into one of the televisions, breaking the screen immediately and earning a very angry response from the rest of the patrons, the two of us being kicked out of the bar after she had to pay for the TV she broke, after we had paid for our drinks.

“Well, that was... excessive...” I commented, smirk not leaving my face as the two of us now stood outside the bar, stepping down the sidewalk until we were no longer on the property. “...don’t think we’ll be welcome at THAT bar anymore...”

“Oh well...” the giggling lilim responded, walking with me now, as her face lit up, suddenly realizing something “You know... I’ve been having so much fun, I forgot to even ask... what is your name? Mine’s Caroline...”

“V-victor...” I started, now a little red at the fact that I hadn’t even learned her name.

“You know something, Victor? You were right... once you got past my facade, and I past yours, there wasn’t a problem... in fact, it was great~” she said, beaming at me. It was only at this point I realized fully what had happened: I had been on a date with a lilim! “You’re really a wonderful guy, you know?” she commented, before she conjured some manner of portal, pulling me along with her before the two of appeared in some kind of grand bedroom.

“Umm... wh-what is this?” I asked, confused as she pushed me along gently toward the bed, though even her ‘gentle’ was overwhelmingly strong, sending me tumbling onto the bed.

“Well... I may not be as unbound as my sister, and I do want a relationship, but mamono still have needs, you know? So, let’s see how you handle this~” Caroline giggled, before jumping onto me, the aura of power seeming to envelop us both.

Would never have seen THIS coming...