A Deal With The Devil

**Date Started:** February 21st, 2020
**Date Completed:** February 22nd, 2020
**Previous Role-Play**: N/A
**Users Involved:**User:CoolBlackZ,User:GeminiVIII
**Setting:** New World
**Characters Involved**:
* **Underworld**: Grimm Viktoria
* **Black Spades**: Casper

## A Ghostly Meeting

Somewhere in the vast seas of the New World stood a large mansion that was the base of operations for an Underworld crime lord that had been rising through the piverial ladder. She had become quite an intimidating figure these past few months and her connections were growing by the day as Grimm Viktoria, the underworld broker also known as **Sable**, was seen swimming in a large pool in her private mansion.

Having enough of a swim, she emerged from the pool as the scars covering her body were in plain sight. Numerous battle wounds that each had their own story were present from her face all the way down to her feet as her luscious blonde hair that was wet covered her attractive face.

She reached a hand out asking for her robes as one of her bodyguards, a muscular short haired man, provided her with a black silk laced one and she wrapped her slim figure within it before briskly walking past him into her home.

“When is our guest arriving?” Her voice was commanding and oozed confidence as she spoke to the bodyguard now accompanying her.

“He informed us he’d be arriving today” He answered.

Viktoria frowned but knew these kinds of delayed meetings were common within the Underworld. Not everyone was as punctual as her as she sat down on her couch and crossed her legs, snapping her fingers as a butler appeared and handed her a cigarette. She reached into her robes pocket and brought out a silver lighter as she lit her cigar in her mouth and blew out a large cloud of smoke.

“I do hope he arrives soon. It’s rather troubling to be kept waiting” She complained with a bored look.

"What'cha doin!" A high pitched voice echoed around the room, bouncing from wall to wall as the lights would flicker off. Ghostly spirits would swarm the room, flashing colorful lights all over the place as playing cards fell from the sky. As a pitch-black ace card fell directly in the center of the room, a small ghost-like child appeared in the center of the room, creeping up on Viktoria, his arms up like a stereotypical ghost.

"Booooo!" The boy exclaimed, making a comedic scary face as he floated only inches from the woman's face. "Did I scare ya?" The boy questioned, a large cheeky grin on his face

A blank look appeared over Viktoria’s expression at the spectacle occurring in her own home. Even her own bodyguards looked stupefied as they motioned to reach for their firearms but a quick wave of the hand by their leader made them retract that action.

Viktoria blinked her beautiful violet eyes a few times before she erupted into a fit of laughter.

“Why, in all my years I’ve never been greeted in such a way before. Scared? Amused is the word I’d use to describe what I’m feeling right now and that’s certainly no easy feat to accomplish” She remarked with a smirk as she praised the boy for livening up an otherwise boring afternoon.

Feeling whimsical, she playfully poked his head away and smiled.

“Now then, I’m sure you didn’t come all this way to play practical jokes. What brings you here my funny friend?”

"Awww, you were supposed to be scared." The boy muttered, slightly down at the fact he didn't scare her, though he quickly perked up after hearing her next statement. "My name's Casper! I'm here on behalf of Hermes, you should've gathered that from all the black spades on your floor, no?" Casper said, tilting his head as he questioned Viktoria.

Viktoria shrugged. “Sorry kid. When you’ve lived as long as I have in my line of work, ghosts aren’t exactly the most surprising thing in the world”

When he mentioned his boss, Viktoria nodded in understanding.

“Yeah, I figured out that much. The man has always been one for theatrics and his subordinates are clearly not an exception” She bemused with a smirk as she blew out a puff of smoke.

“So, what does Hermes need from me? My door are always open to a customer of his stature”

"You say that as if I'm a child! I'll have you know, I'm 102! Hmph" Casper said frustrated, as he hated being belittled in any sort of way, but of course, he brushed it off.

"Oh yeah. Hmm, what did he want?" Casper muttered to himself, his hands on his chin as he pondered on what he was told to ask for. Just then, a ghostly lightbulb appeared above his head. "I remember now! He would like to purchase the Phantom Auction House in its entirety, along with all the current stock within it!" Casper exclaimed with a smile

Viktoria pretended as if she didn’t hear what the boy had said about his age, not wanting to figure out the logistics of such a thing, as her eyes widened at the rather outlandish request from Hermes. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the smiling ghost as she blew out another puff of smoke from her cigar.

“....Is that right?” She didn’t take it very seriously but decided to humor the messenger boy.

“And what pray tell does Hermes wish to do with my auction house after purchasing it, if I may so ask?” Her voice held traces of sarcasm and whimsiness.

"I am not at liberty to say, madam!" Casper exclaimed, forcing a stoic, respectful, and commanding voice. "But, between you and me, I think he's gonna make it into a huge playground." Casper whispered jokingly, laughing about as he floated through the room happily, he was truly very jolly for a dead person.

“Ominous” Viktoria laughed at the vague wording of his comments. So Hermes had plans that involved slaves huh? It was certainly a thought that intrigued the older woman.

However, selling one of her prized auction houses was simply out of the question, at least it would be for anyone that didn’t have something substantial to offer.

“I do hope you're aware of how valuable one of my auction houses are. The Phantom House is especially one of my favorites. I’m very reluctant to part with it” She raised one of her hands and gazed at the back of her palm with mild interest and she continued.

“I’m very interested in hearing what Hermes could possibly provide for me that would change my mind” Viktoria wasn’t expecting much. She already possessed money, weapons, and countless slaves at her disposable. She was more or less just curious what the boy would say as he hadn’t failed to entertain her so far.

"Simple, he's offering a year's worth of income from the auction house he's buying, along with plans and reports on all the marine posts and paths for the next month. How's that sound to ya!" Casper said with a grin on his face, his expression not changing a bit even with the payment he just mentioned.

“....What?” The woman feared as **Sable** in the underworld was stunned as she heard those words, the cigar stuck in her mouth having now fallen to the ground. She blinked, took a deep breath, and tried to collect her mind at what the offer was. Even her bodyguards looked rattled and couldn’t believe it as the leader immediately marched over to Viktoria and whispered in her ear.

“Boss” His german accent was thick as he spoke very seriously.

“I know” Viktoria answered and she straightened up and crossed her legs once more, eyeing the boy with a professional no-nonsense glare.

“Is that a serious offer or are you just yanking my chain?”

"Yanking your chain? Of course not, I'm a ghost!" Casper exclaimed with the same grin on his face, floating around the room freely.

"You okay? You might wanna stomp out that cigar, it'll set the place on fire." Casper remarked, pointing to the burning cigar in the carpet.

One of Viktoria’s attendants was quick to snatch the burning cigarette off the floor as he left his mistress to her devices. She studied the flying ghost boy once more, contemplating how incredible of an offer she had just received.

The income from the auction house was negligible to her, she was making enough money from her other platforms that currency wasn’t her priority at the moment. Receiving reports of all marine posts and pathways in the New World for the next month on the other hand was beyond enticing.

If there was one headache that Viktoria couldn’t get rid of, it was the presence of Marines and how annoyingly persistent they were. Given her history, she wasn’t surprised they were relentless to track her down and she had expected that but these past few months had been especially hectic with all the activity going on around the seas. To have a month that would basically guarantee all of her businesses would go unhindered was a salivating thought as a malicious grin appeared over Viktoria’s face.

“If that is truly what Hermes is offering, then you absolutely have a deal. I must say I’m quite impressed with how resourceful your boss is” She praised as she snapped her fingers and an attendant emerged from one of the halls carrying with him a stack of paper along with several keys attached to a metal ring.

“This is the contract and the keys to the building. Just sign your name and the Auction House will be transferred into your boss’ name” She explained.

"Aye-aye!" Casper remarked, twirling his finger in the air, allowing the pen to float up and scribble his name out on the paper, as well as the name of the auction house. "That good?" Casper asked, raising his eyebrow."

VIktoria skimmed the piece of paper briefly before she adopted a wide smirk.

“It’s perfect. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you” She stood up from her seat and signaled for her guards to hand over the items he had requested while point towards the dinner table over her shoulder.

“Now that our business has been concluded, would you like to stay for dinner? I do hate to eat alone and would enjoy your company” She expressed with genuine sincerity, having grown to like this ghostly child.

"I can't exactly eat, but I'd love to stay for dinner." Casper exclaimed, floating around the room with great speeds before dropping back down to the ground in excitement. "I'm sure we'll have alot of fun!" Casper remarked.

Viktoria nodded. “The diner was just a pretense. I’m far more interested in getting to know how you became the way you are now and also your relationship to that crafty man”

She motioned for her men to set it up as she turned around and headed to the dining room accompanied by the cheerful ghost boy. Who would have thought that she’d find such fine company in the shape of a child?

The world truly worked in mysterious ways.