[Closed Log] Bad Day

[needsmo_money]

Who: Mammon and Fran
What: Mammon is feeling down, and Fran happens to find him
When: March 29th, some time after lunch
Where: The Greenhouse
Rating: PG


It was a lovely day, Fran thought, if one were to judge it solely by the weather. However, even if it was warm for the season and the sun was shining, he couldn't help but find it all quite boring. Unable to amuse himself on his own, he decided to go for a walk, hopefully to find something more entertaining.

Now, the greenhouses probably weren't the best place to look for excitement, but Diego Alessandro liked the place, so this was where Fran now walked, the frog hopping on ahead. A very bored Fran.

Mammon was taking a rare moment of peace in this rather hectic world. While he had been rather bored the last few months, the sudden start to classes had left him feeling rather overwhelmed. This little spot in the greenhouses was one of the few places that he could be alone without any interruptions, and he was taking that time now.

Diego Alessandro bounced on, as frogs were often wont to do. Fran wandered after him, looking for something that could possibly amuse him.

And, luckily enough, found that something. "Mammon-senpai."

Mammon turned, looking at Fran with surprise. Then he groaned, leaning against one of the walls in the hothouse.

"Fran," Mammon sighed, adjusting his hood, "Why are you here? Did you not notice the illusions that pretty much said keep out?"

Fran shrugged. "Not really. I was just following Diego Alessandro."

"...You could have checked before you just walked in." Mammon gave a shake of his head and sighed again. "Well, now that you've seen that I'm here, could you leave? I'm not really in the mood for company at the moment."

Fran tilted his head. "Bad day?"

The illusionist moved to sit on the ground and finally took off his hood to run his fingers through his hair. "It's been a rather stressful week, actually. I am not the best of company right now. I'm sure I won't keep you amused for very long."

Now, Fran crouched, hands on his knees as he looked at Mammon. "You do look tired. Students giving you trouble?"

"Yes, they are." He lifted his legs, wrapping his arms around them and resting his chin on his knees. "Though that is not too unusual. I've just been expending far more energy than usual in having to deal with them. Several of my students created illusions they could not handle. I'm sure you can imagine how that went."

"Fun." Fran shook his head. "I bet they didn't learn their lesson, either."

"Not at all." Mammon smirked just a little bit. "It reminded me of a man in a frog hat that I know."

Fran shrugged. "I don't know any~" Aside from himself, and obviously he was just fine with his illusions.

Mammon chuckled a little, surprised that his mood was lightening a little. "Well, you never seem to learn your lesson." He made a move to lift his hood again, but decided against it. It was too hot to leave it on right now.

"Whatever do you mean? I am quite the quick study." When he felt like learning, anyway.

"Is that with everything or only with the subjects you wish to learn?" He cocked his head to the side, studying Fran. There were easier ways to get the information, but for once, he had no interest in using them. It was odd, but it seemed like he actually wanted Fran to talk more

"More on the latter." Fran shrugged. He was very good at indifferent shrugs, even when it should have been somewhat awkward given that he was practically curled up in a ball. "If something's of no interest to me, why bother to learn it?"

"I suppose that you wouldn't. But don't you ever learn anything for the sake of knowledge?" Mammon looked at him for a moment before sighing and moving a bit. He gave a pat to the spot next to him. "And sit please. You're making me uncomfortable with the way you're bent."

"Oh, fine." Fran plopped down. "For the sake of knowledge? Of course. But there's a ton of interesting things out there. Why would I waste my time on learning something that's neither interesting nor necessary?"

"But how do you know they are unnecessay? How do you know that you will never need the knowledge that you're throwing away?" Mammon leaned back against the wall behind him, not noticing how his body shifted just a little closer to Fran. "What if you need something that you're refusing to learn?"

"What if I need something I never had the opportunity to learn?" It was actually pretty warm in here. After a moment's thought, Fran took off his hat, setting it to the side. After all, the only people who cared about it were Bel-senpai and possibly Squalo-senpai, who had made him wear it as a reminder of Mammon, and now that his Bel-senpai and Squalo-senpai weren't there but Mammon was, it was quite pointless. "I can't just go around hoarding every bit of information that comes my way. It's neither practical nor even particularly useful. Sometimes I'll just have to wing it, but at least I'm good at that."

Mammon glanced at Fran, surprised to see him with the hat off. He turned a bit toward him, looking over this new sight. Fran actually was rather...

He shook his head. Better not to go down that route. "So you just ignore the things that you don't want to learn for that reason?"

"Correction: I don't make an effort to learn them. Sometimes bits and pieces stick to my mind anyway, but that's quite different from actually studying something.

"What kind of bits get stuck in your mind?"

Without thinking, Mammon reached out to fiddle with a piece of Fran's hair. "You should leave the ridiculous hat off more often."

Fran shrugged. "Weird things. Anything that catches my attention. In my time I was more concerned with trying to survive; now I actually have the luxury of having the time and resources to learn all the officially recognised shape variations of guppy fins."

The hand on his hair surprised him, but he didn't move away. "Mmm, maybe. It gets hot. And besides, now there's nobody around here to tell me to wear it."

The illusionist actually laughed at that, not because it was ridiculous, but it just seemed so right for his fellow illusionist. "And how many official shape variations are there?"

The fiddling became more of a stroking without Mammon even realizing it. "I would certainly prefer you without it. You...don't need something like that."

"There are twelve standard shapes for the tail, thanks to selective breeding. With all the colouring possibilities, they can look quite fancy."

Fran shrugged. "Well, not like I was the one to choose to wear it. I mean, I like hats, but wearing one all the time can get pretty troublesome."

"And those kinds of things interest you? Is it just guppies, or do you like marine life?" He was actually curious about it, and it surprised him. It was rare for him to be interested in another, aside from using it for blackmail or other such motivations.

"The hat is a little ridiculous. You look much better without it on."

Fran shrugged. "I like most things that live in water. There was a small river near my grandma's house, and I spent a lot of time there. Guppies are just in the very pretty end of the scale. Frogs are better as pets since you can take them to places, though. At least when you've got a job as a hitman." He rarely spoke of such things, mainly because he rarely saw any reason to. However, it was not entirely unpleasant, talking with Mammon. The other actually seemed interested.

"Mmm, maybe. I guess I've gotten into the habit. Besides, it's good at stopping blades, and since both Bel-senpai and Squalo-senpai tended to get mad at me a lot..."

"Well, you're in one place right now. I'm sure that you could keep a guppy, or other types of fish now that you're staying here. If you like frogs though..." Mammon gave a little click of his tongue and put his hand on the ground, wiggling his fingers. After a moment, a small frog hopped into his hand and he lifted it for Fran's inspection, a finger of his free hand rubbing over the frog lightly. "This is Fantasma, my partner. He is normally a frog, but he changes into a salamander."

With a chuckle, he twisted a finger in Fran's hair, giving a careful tug. "Perhaps you shouldn't annoy them then. It's fairly easy to placate them, you know."

Fran waved his fingers at the frog. "Hello, Fantasma. You're pretty."

He chuckled. "Maybe. I suppose they were just set to be annoyed by me from the start. I don't think I was ever an adequate replacement."

Fantasma hopped onto the hand in front of him, looking up curiously at Fran. Mammon smiled a little. "Well, at least he doesn't seem to mind you too much."

"I'm sure that you were rather adequate. They were just searching for someone else, that's all." He gave a sigh. "I suppose in a way, that is my fault."

Fran chuckled. "That's good. I fear to think what he'd do if he hated me."

He shrugged, then. "Yeah, because you were obviously at fault for being dead." He paused. "Okay, so technically you were, but that's not relevant in this timeline."

"Oh, he just wouldn't have come near you if he hated you. Though he is a good judge of character and I tend to follow his judgements." He reaches out to run his fingers over Fantasma's head. "It's good that he seems to be fine with you."

Mammon was quiet for a moment before shaking his head. "I still find it difficult to believe that I was desperate enough to... It's not something that I wish to happen."

"What, so you know I'm not some dangerous madman or something?" He was just eccentric.

"Well, to be fair, it's not like anyone on our side was there to witness it. Maybe they just slaughtered you and decided to make you sound even more desperate afterwards." He paused. "Oh, right. That's one of the bad things to say, I guess."

"Not precisely. He is good at judging people that I can...get along with. He rather likes Bel as well." And Belphegor was certainly psychotic, as well as a dangerous madman. "I am a bit...surprised."

Mammon shook his head, smiling faintly. "No, it was...it was good. Somehow, the thought of being slaughtered is nearly better than killing myself. Though I probably killed myself so no one else could do it. I'm not a...coward, so much. Just very greedy."

"Sounds like a useful quality in a pet." He smiled. "Though I question his taste if he likes someone as boring as Bel-senpai~ And why is it surprising that he likes me?"

Fran shook his head. "Still. It's not good to talk about people's death in front of them. I should know that, given the differences between my original timeline and this."

Mammon smiled back. "Well, I suppose I have a few affectionate feelings for Bel if he likes him. Though they're not anything to discuss." He paused for a moment as he thought. "I didn't like you at first. I very nearly hated you, actually. Though that has been changing as of late while I've been getting to know you."

"You're not telling me anything that I don't know already. Byakuran informed me long before you arrived." The illusionist sighed. "It's alright if you speak about it, I won't get angry."

"Hm. I guess that's a good thing. It's never wise to have an accomplished illusionist too pissed off at you." Fran chuckled.

"Even if it's something you know, most people find it quite unpleasant to contemplate, I guess."

Mammon echoed the chuckle as he carefully scooped the frog out of Fran's hand, pausing minutely when their skin brushed. Then he was lowering his hand, letting Fantasma hop away. "I suppose that it isn't. Though there are a number here who don't realize that. Your master is one of them, I believe."

"...I've already had far too much time to contemplate this already. I've decided that it isn't worth the effort."

"I figure he believes that the best way to counter such misfortune is to be even more accomplished." Fran shrugged, looking after the frog.

"I suppose."

"I suppose that isn't a terrible philosophy. Though he shouldn't try to...annoy so many other illusionists." He looked at Fran, curious about something. "Why do you follow him? Is it just because of his skill, or do you actually enjoy his company?"

"Do you have different feelings on it?"

Elle Faraday (8:30:40 PM):"A strange kind of loyalty, I suppose. He did teach me most of what I know, which in my time meant the difference between life and death." He tilted his head. "For all his psychotic, mass-murdering ways, he's really good at inspiring equally deranged loyalty." Hey, at least he knew what he had wrong.

"On thinking about my own death? I've done enough of it for a couple of lifetimes."

Mammon stared at him for a moment before laughing rather vigorously. "I suppose we're not so different. My Boss has a similar charisma to your master. Though I will admit that I have difficulty seeing it. I have never much liked Mukuro."

His brow furrowed at that. "Why would you contemplate your own death?"

"Even I have difficulty seeing it sometimes, and I went to the trouble of busting him out of Vendicare prison." Fran's lips twitched.

"I lived in a time where being in any way associated with the Vongola was basically a death sentence. For those of us who were still alive it wasn't a matter of whether we would survive but how long we could still delay our inevitable deaths."

"Yes, I know what you mean. I wonder at times why I continue to follow my own Boss. Then I realize that he can probably break me in half like a little twig." He gave a bit of a smirk, joking more than anything.

"...I'm sorry." He was surprised that he was sincere. "I had heard, and I do have the memories, but it's still...different to hear it from someone who was there."

Fran managed a laugh at that. "Exactly. Besides, I can't exactly ditch my master until he's taught me everything he knows so I can usurp his power, right?" Which was a joke. Usurping usually involved far too much effort for his taste.

"I suppose it's hard to imagine. Now that I'm here, I sometimes have to keep reminding myself that somewhere, to some people, all that actually happened."

"Or you could join up with a much better, more experienced illusionist. At least, someone who is more pleasant than your master." He was teasing a bit, though his tone was more serious than he thought it would be.

"...Now that you're here, do you want to stay?" Mammon wasn't sure if he could leave, or if he would stay, but he was curious now.

Fran actually laughed at that. "Pretty sure nobody else could tolerate me."

He blinked at the question. "Well, I was under the impression you wanted me to get lost.”

"I don't know. I'm sure there are a few others who can. You're not unpleasant to spend time with." Mammon gave him a little smile before relaxing a little more. He was surprised to find most of the tension in his body from earlier was gone.

"I'm finding that I don't like that option anymore."

"And you're much more pleasant when you're smiling rather than sulking." Hey, at least nobody could ever accuse him of not being honest.

"I suppose I can sit down another moment. It beats talking with myself."

"...It's rare that I have a reason to smile." And he didn't understand why he was smiling now, actually.

Mammon chuckled. "Yes, I suppose that it does. Though some say that the best answers only come from yourself."

"That's a pity. You should smile more." As though he had any right to speak.

"Perhaps so, but Diego Alessandro isn't that good for conversation."

"Perhaps if I had a reason to smile more, then I would. Maybe you should take your own advice." For some reason though, this only made his smile widen.

"Diego Alessandro is...part of your consciousness, correct?"

"Meh. For some reason, when I smile people tend to think I'm laughing at them." Maybe because he tended to make fun of people a lot of the time.

"Right. Very useful for spying on people, and I suppose technically I could carry a conversation with him, but it's really not very different from talking to myself."

"I think that I'm starting to learn the difference." He hoped that he did at the very least. He had never been good at reading body language. It was quite different than reading minds.

"Perhaps you need a pet of some kind. Or more companions to speak to."

"You don't give me much cause to laugh at you." Unlike most people.

"Perhaps. Not sure having a pet would be wise, though. I don't exactly lead a safe life." And people like Hibari Kyouya lived in their own little level of existence. That, or his mind was still too firmly set in the world where just about everyone was literally trying to kill him.

"But I give you cause to laugh with me?" Which was, admittedly, not something that he was used to.

"I don't think that any of us do. But your life is far more stable now than it was before. At least here you stay in one place for a moderarte amount of time." That's what it seemed like to him at least.

"I think we've already established that fact." He gave Mammon one of his very rare genuine grins.

"Maybe. Guess I should look into getting some guppies or something."

"...You have a nice smile, you know. It would be nice to see it more often." He smiled back.

"Or you could find a way to have a number of different fish. That seems like something that you would enjoy."

"I rarely find reasons to show it." But then, this was not exactly an everyday occurrence, either.

"Oh, sure. I was just thinking of starting with guppies because they're pretty easy to keep alive and breed."

"I suppose that we're similar in that way." Still, it felt right to smile with Fran like this.

"Goldfish are fairly easy to keep alive and breed as well, you know."

"Sulky illusionist loners? Maybe." He chuckled.

"Yeah, but they generally like colder water than other species, so they don't mix well."

He chuckled as well. "I suppose that most would say that's what we are."

"I...didn't know that actually. I'll admit that I'm not actually very knowledgable about fish."

Fran shrugged. "Most people don't know much about them. A lot of people seem to think that anything that even remotely looks like a small tropical fish will do fine in a goldfish bowl in regular tap water.

"Oh. Well, I do know that isn't the case. But I don't know what they all need, what they all eat. I suppose that you do though."

"Not all. But some of them, yes." Fran gave a dramatic sigh. "And then I have to work with idiots who keep sharks in the air."

Mammon sighed as well. "Somehow, I'm not really surprised that he got a shark that flies around. And that he seems to absolutely adore it."

"Just don't say that anywhere he might hear it. He'll cut you to pieces if you do."

Mammon snorted. "He wouldn't dare come after me. I know too much about him and he's afraid of what I would do to him if he did."

"Well, true. But he might take it out on others by cutting them into pieces instead, and that just causes a mess."

"Ah, yes. But I wouldn't be the one suffering the consequences~" He chuckled a little. "Besides, I don't think he's actually ashamed with how much he enjoys that shark of his. He always has it about when there's enough room for it to fly."

"Oh, I'm not disagreeing with that. I just can't see him particularly approving of the word 'adore' in this context."

"Oh, I doubt he would become murderous if that were the case. Just very, very loud. And one gets used to such a thing when one is around Squalo long enough." He shook his head with another chuckle. "The only one I would worry about using such a word with is Boss, and I doubt there's anything that he actually adores, aside from his drink."

"Maybe he has some hidden depths. Like a strange love for puppies." Fran paused, then snorted. "Nah. You're right."

Mammon laughed. "I imagine that Boss would sooner kick a puppy than take one in. Unless one counts Squalo. He certainly follows Boss around like one enough."

"And then Hibari would attack him." Fran gave a solemn nod. "That would be a fight to end all fights."

"That would be a fight I would pay to see. It'd be interesting at the very least." Mammon snorted. "It's going to happen eventually though."

"I hope I'm around to see it. That's bound to be something extreme. Especially now that Hibari's apparently trying out illusions."

Mammon gave a little smirk at that. "And getting better, from what I have seen. Whether he's up against Boss or Squalo, he would give them both a rather good fight. He is fairly evenly matched with Squalo on technique, though Boss would probably still wipe the floor with him. In a few years though, that may not be the case."

"Or if he's given enough of an incentive. Like seeing a puppy getting kicked."

He was surprised to hear himself actually giggle. It seemed today was a day full of shocks and surprises. "I wouldn't be surprised if he did."

"Wouldn't that be the day."

The illusionist smirked a little. "Maybe we could find a way to...manipulate such a fight

"Now there's an idea~ But how would that happen?"

"Now, that's difficult. We wouldn't be able to use illusions. Not only does he use them himself, I'm sure that by now, he knows both of our signatures. Manipulating Boss into kicking a puppy wouldn't be hard, but I'm not sure I'm willing to sacrifice a puppy unless I can rig betting on the fight and get a return on it." He hummed thoughtfully, trying to come up with a plan.

"Hm. This is tricky..."

Mammon gave a little chuckle. "I suppose this plan needs more than five minutes planning as we sit here and talk to each other."

Fran laughed. "That might be the case, yes."

"Though it probably wouldn't take very much to annoy Hibari. Or Boss, for that matter."

"Point. But it would be much trickier to get them annoyed at each other and not us."

"...True. We just need to do it in a way that they don't know it's us." For a moment, Mammon reflected on the fact that they were talking about planning something together, but cast it aside. It wasn't a big deal.

"I'm sure we can find a way if we keep an eye on them..."

"Well, I can keep an eye on Hibari. I have fairly regular contact with him."

"As expected." Fran smirked.

Mammon quirked an eyebrow. "And what does that mean?"

"Well, it's kind of obvious you've been teaching him."

"How so? I believe that you are the first to actually figure it out. Cavallone knows, but he sleeps with Hibari, so it's not surprising that he would."

"Illusions aren't something you just figure out by yourself. Definitely not if you're as opposed to them as Hibari appears to be. I know I haven't taught him a thing, he despises Mukuro, hates Spade, and wouldn't listen to Chrome. Furthermore, he can count on you to not only teach him but also keep your mouth shut about it for a reasonable fee."

The illusionist smirked at that before chuckling. "You've thought this through. I doubt that others have given it quite so much thought. Though many probably don't know how much he's advanced. Hibari is still rather reluctant to use illusions." Mammon nudged Fran's leg with his own. "I would ask that you keep it to yourself though. While I don't care who knows what I'm teaching, Hibari will be rather...annoyed."

"I doubt even I would know if I hadn't happened to glimpse a fight between him and Squalo-senpai. Besides, I was rather prepared to see it that way, since in my time Hibari was quite proficient at illusions." He smirked. "Worry not, I know how to be silent."

Mammon laughed. "And I don't even need a payment to do it. That is a rather novel idea, one I could get used to."

"Of course you cannot resist getting anything free~"

"Of course not~ It would be completely against my nature~"

Fran chuckled. "Greedy bastard." He didn't sound too disapproving.

"But you like it~" It was out before he could stop it, but he wasn't about to take it back.

"Obviously. You'd be so boring otherwise."

Mammon snorted at that. "I'm so glad that I can keep you entertained."

"You should. I'm terrible when I'm bored."

"So, my purpose in life is to keep you entertained, am I right?"

"I was bored and I ended up here. You do the math~"

"You didn't exactly know that I was here though," Mammon pointed out.

"No, but I did stay." Which for Fran was testimony enough.

Mammon couldn't really think of an arguement for that. "So you would have left if you had found anyone else?"

"No. I might have left if you were boring. Or if you'd attacked me."

Mammon chuckled. "So there are conditions to you staying. I'm a little surprised that I, of all people, have been able to keep your attention this long."

"You're more interesting than most people." Fran shrugged. "And not only because I got to hear a lot about you in my time."

Mammon was quiet for a moment. "Most of what people know, and yes, this includes Belphegor, are things that I allow them to know. Most, before I came here, didn't know that my true ability was telepathy and not illusions. And even now there are only a few who know that. The Arcobaleno know, and Byakuran. I have alluded it to Mukuro and Spade, but I don't believe they know the full extent of my abilities quite yet. I keep a number of things quiet, for obvious reasons."

"And yet you seem to have no trouble with my knowing it."

"I..." He was silent, trying to figure out his reasoning himself. "I suppose that I don't think it's a threat if you know. You would not attempt to use or manipulate my ability. If anything, you would find it vaguely interesting. And...I don't mind you knowing, I suppose."

Fran paused. "You know, I'm not sure if anyone's ever trusted me with something that big before. Well, aside from things that would get me killed as well if they were leaked. Elle Faraday (4:01:16 AM):"

"...There's only one person that I've told the whole of it to before and she isn't here at the moment." And that in and of itself was something that he didn't want to think about. "I'm not sure why I feel it's easy to speak with you about it."

Fran offered him a grin. "Maybe because even if I told people, nobody would believe me?"

"No, I don't think it's that. I don't think people would have to make a big leap to realize that I am telepathic with what I know." He shook his head. "If it were just that, I wouldn't share it with you."

"Maybe I'm just that special, then."

Mammon looked at him for a long moment. "Perhaps you are."

Fran had to admit he was vaguely surprised at the response. "You think so?"

"I...well, there's no other explanation for it." Mammon felt uncomfortable all of a sudden, swallowing hard. "I don't quite understand it myself."

"Yeah. I sometimes make people do weird stuff." Fran paused, then added, "Sorry."

"No, it's alright. It's certainly not your fault." And it wasn't. Though he didn't understand the feelings himself, he couldn't say that they had been the cause of anything intentional on Fran's behalf.

"Funny. Usually things end up being my fault even when I was never involved with them."

"Not in this case. This...is not something that can really explained with fault or blaming."

"If you say so." Far it be from him to claim he knew how Mammon's head worked.

Mammon closed his eyes, silent for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts. It was odd that he needed to. "...Why do you find me so interesting?"

"You're unique. There's a lot of stuff about you that most people don't know."

"I'm sure that's true of a number of people here. Why me, specifically?"

"Why not?" Fran shrugged. "I spent a few years of my life being told to be as close to you as possible, even though I'd never even met you. Stuff like that tends to generate interest."

"I...could see how that could generate an interest." Then Mammon snorted, shaking his head. "Those idiots. How could you be anywhere close to me having never met me and going on stories of only a small portion of my personality? That's just ridiculous." And touching, in its own way. Not that Mammon would ever say anything like that.

"Well, considering that their methods involved forcing me to wear a frog-shaped hat because it reminded them of you, it was probably the best they could do."

"Yes, I suppose that it was. At least Belphegor didn't insist that you act as his personal teddy bear, which is one of the most humiliating things that really could be bestowed upon someone."

"Probably so. I was just for target practice."

There was a snort at that. "He probably would have used me as target practice too, if he wasn't so scared of my tentacles."

"Tentacles, hmm? Sounds perverted."

Mammon blinked before chuckling. "Oh, you mean that Japanese fetish. No, nothing like that at all. They can be...useful in picking up things when you're small, that's all."

"I'd imagine that'd be a problem when you're teddy bear size, yeah."

Mammon smirked. "It's also useful for picking up Bel and shaking him around when he's being particularly insufferable."

Fran couldn't help but laugh at that. "Almost enough to make me jealous."

"Tentacles aren't a hard illusion to learn at all. And they shut Bel up for a little while. I could teach you, if you'd like."

Fran grinned. "Why not? I could pretend to be an octopus. Or possibly a squid."

The illusionist laughed at that, leaning against Fran to brace himself against the sudden peals of it. "Can you imagine the look on Bel's face if you ever said that to him?"

"What, that I'm an octopus?"

"Yes, that. Or that you learned how to use tentacles because of me. He'd think that we have some kind of...kinky club."

"That'd depend on what I told him about your teaching methods~"

"And I'm sure you would pick the most disturbing way and say it in that monotone voice of yours, just because it would bother Bel the most."

"So I like freaking him out sometimes. Is that a crime?"

"Not at all. I rather enjoy it as well, actually. It keeps him quiet for a bit at the very least." Mammon noticed hadn't moved from where he was leaning against Fran. He didn't have any interest in moving either.

Well, that was just fine, since Fran had no special interest in getting rid of him. "His reactions can be pretty funny, too, though."

"Except when he's throwing his knives at you, right?"

"I can take quite a few of those to the back without getting hurt. It's much better to let him get it out of his system than have him slit my throat some night."

"Yes, that is a rather good point." Mammon chuckled a bit. "Still, it must take him a moment when you truly shock him."

"It's not too often that I can manage that, sadly." Fran gave a dramatic sigh.

"Well, after being around the Varia since he was about eight, do you blame him for being less than shocked a good deal of the time?"

"Considering he was probably batshit insane before he ever heard of Varia, I'm surprised I am not shocked more often."

"Oddly enough, he's a fairly tame psychopath. Except when he bleeds."

"Yes, I've noticed as much." Fran shuddered.

Mammon shuddered with him. "It's a rather frightening thing, isn't it?"

"When someone makes me feel sane in comparison, it's usually not a good thing."

"...I wouldn't call you insane though. Belphegor...most definitely is."

Fran nodded. "I think anyone would have trouble arguing with that."

"Then again, I suppose that you have to be a little insane to be in the Varia in the first place. Well, at least among the upper echelon at the very least."

"You have to be quite insane not to leave, yeah. And even worse than that not to get killed."

"Or you could just prefer self-preservation, because I doubt Boss would let anyone leave unless it was in a body bag."

“True enough." Fran rolled his eyes. "Unless you pissed him off enough that he decided to shoot the shit out of you and leave you for dead."

Mammon snorted. "I wish he would do that to Levi sometime. That man is such an utter waste of space."

"I suppose he's trying to keep up with the flames. Or the symbolism or something."

"Do you really think that Boss cares about any of that stuff? He was going to let Squalo get eaten by a shark."

"Do you have any other excuse for his keeping Levi around? Except maybe a really creepy crush?"

Mammon visibly shuddered at that. "Oh god. Who would ever want that man? He's just...ugh."

"He also very obviously has it bad for the Boss."

"...I really try not to think about that. It puts all these creepy images in my head that make me gag."

"I suppose I should apologise."

Mammon chuckled. "Not necessary. You couldn't know."

"I brought up the idea of the Boss having a thing for Levi. I'm pretty sure I have no excuses."

Mammon shuddered again. "Just don't bring it up again and you don't have to apologize."

"Deal." Hey, he would have quite liked to forget it, too.

Mammon sighed and looked at his watch. "I should get back soon. I have a lesson to teach." He didn't move though, enjoying this far too much.

"Feel recovered enough to get through it?"

"Yes, I think that I am. I suppose you'll know I'm not though if there's a student dangling out of a window by a tentacle."

"If I see that, I'll arrange a fake attack to distract them from agonising you."

Mammon laughed. "I would be forever grateful for that." He stood up, brushing off his robes. "Thank you for this. I really do appreciate it."

"Nah, I should thank you for helping me keep boredom off for a bit."

"I wouldn't mind doing that again sometime."

"Good, because I tend to get bored and I now know your secret hiding place of hiding."

Mammon chuckled a little. "Who said that it's my only one?"

"Who said you would abandon the use of it now?"

"I never said I would, but it's not the only place I come to."

"Which means you also have the chance of avoiding me. Isn't that perfect?"

Mammon paused for a moment. "I don't think I actually want to avoid you."

"Then you must be already mad from all the students, but that's okay. I'll forgive you."

"I like to think that I'm not quite that mad, thank you."

"Maybe so." Fran grinned and stood up as well. "Guess I'll try and find some new entertainment, too."

"Hopefully you'll be able to keep yourself from being too bored." Mammon gave him a little smile and a nod of his head before pulling his hood back up. "I will see you later."

Fran in turn picked up his hat. "Later~"

When Mammon walked away from the greenhouse, he was surprised to find that he was smiling, his dark mood from earlier gone. He wasn't about to question it right now, not with a class to teach, but he would have to think about what it meant later.