D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Kat ---

Kat waited until everyone had eaten to bring the topic up again. She amused herself by comparing everyone's eating speed. Kat wasn't sure it would be so obvious if all three people didn't have such drastically different ways of eating. Lily was, to Kat, 'eating normally' a steady pace, chewing her food a decent amount and just… well eating.

Kamiko and Hunter on the other hand? They clearly had different ideas. Kamiko would just chew on things forever, regardless of if it was meat or veg. Kat wondered if it was a texture thing, a nervous tick, or if Kamiko was just a generally slow eater. It wasn't too extreme when you just compared her speed to Lily's but with Hunter around it was very noticeable.

Speaking of Hunter. She essentially just drank the stew instead. Hunter would, at best, swirl the food around in her mouth a bit before swallowing. There was very little if any chewing going on and Kat couldn't help but wonder how Hunter avoided issues eating like that. Sure she was a lamia and quite clearly part snake but from Kat's perspective Hunter's neck looked to be of completely normal size.

Yet there wasn't so much as a bulge every time she swallowed the her food.

Kat was almost curious to ask about that instead of the demonic fire forms… but Kat didn't feel like letting it go. Kamiko was still eating, but Hunter was done, so Kat finally decided to ask. "So, about our discussion from before?"

Hunter gave a slow nod with just the slightest hint of a frown on her face. "I had hoped you would have forgotten that conversation but I did not truly expect it. I have considered it for some time and I have decided to properly explain my misgivings before you give me any further information. Though I do note that Kamiko has not spoken of the social norms for such information outside of my clan."

Hunter paused for a moment before stating, "I am aware, Kat, that you did not grow up in a Hub, but on a more normal world. I was not given the specifics, though in truth I doubt I was meant to be given even that much information. Even then, I suspect that things may be different within my clan now that I have time to think about things properly.

"You see, my clan has had several internal civil wars and one of the most effective tactics for that is to make use of a rare envy ability. It forces someone else to use one of their abilities, so, just as an example. I could force you, Kat, into your water form and then try to freeze you solid. I am unsure if the second part would work, but that is anther matter entirely.

"The thing is, you cannot force someone to use an ability you did not know they have. Even vaguely knowing that all demons have a special ability attached to their demonic fire isn't enough to force it to trigger but obviously, once you do know that information you can trigger it with force.

"Those abilities usually come with major drawbacks if you over use them… so one of the most effective tactics, in fact the one that won the most recent civil war… was to force people to use those abilities until the damage started accumulating then offering them a choice. Surrender, or be forced to keep using that ability.

"In the worst case scenario you can permanently cripple someone that way, even beyond the ability for the Hub medics to fix it. Usually there is at least something that can be done, but demons are not watched particularly closely in the Hub. It's a matter of policy rather then capability, but it does mean that things can get rather extreme without anyone stepping in to stop them.

This is even more applicable for internal family matters such as what has happened in my clan's past.

"As such, revealing that ability to ANYONE is considered a huge deal. We usually are told to pick on of clan middlemen to point us to another trainer to quietly work on that power but it is the only training the clan doesn't force on anyone. If you wish to hide the inner form of your fire nobody is allowed to force you otherwise. It is one of the most important rules in the clan.

In fact, even suggesting to someone that they may wish to undertake the service is something you can be reprimanded for. Even if they are your direct trainer or parents.

"That should help you see why I am hesitant to allow you to give me this information. Another reason, is that the clan will expect a report from me involving the event and I would likely be expected to report your abilities. It is not malicious, or at least, not actively, but it gives us ideas for training and people to reach out for more unique perspectives if abilities seem similar.

"I am unsure if they would press the issue in this case, but as I have said, I am loyal to my clan and respect it a great deal. You seem friendly, and I appreciate your willingness to go along with things. I simply worry this is a step too far.

Not only would I feel obligated to reveal your information, but should we become real friends along the way, I would still reveal the information just feel significantly worse about it.

"It is perfectly acceptable for me to talk you into keeping those abilities secret, and what I do not know, I cannot report. Perhaps if you were less kind or less accommodating I would have allowed you to mention it without stopping you, but you have earned at least this much respect. Please do not provide me this information until after Kamiko has had a chance to say things as well,"

Kamiko looked up from her bowl, a small bit of soup stuck to her face. She looked rather stunned to have been addressed and quickly swallowed what was in her mouth. A bit of a mistake because she took to coughing a few times before spitting a piece of… possibly carrot back into her bowl. Kamiko winced down at it. "Um… woops. I'm… I'm alright now.

Um… hmm…"

Kamiko stared at it for a few more seconds as she collected her thoughts. "For… for normal demons, or well, with my family it isn't quite so big a deal. Everyone in our family knows everyone elses, or at least, I know my parents, sisters, and grandparents abilities shape and usually some general ideas but not the specifics.

"We were told NOT to tell anyone else about the families abilities. However, Mum and Dad trusted us to tell our friends if we want to.

Of course I don't really have one to share yet so it wasn't something I ever had to care about… um… from what I know it's the sort of thing you… you might share with friends but only really like… best friends that you plan on keeping in touch with for decades or centuries.

"You wouldn't like… tell your coworkers that you only hang around with at the company parties or brand new friends. Um… my parents would probably say that I haven't even known YOU long enough Kat but… at the same time it's not like I've had proper friends before you and Sue and like… I… I don't know.

Normally you don't get to Rank 3 all that quickly so you have time to find your 'real friends' I guess. You don't have that,"

*Ok that puts an entirely different spin on things. Even while Hunter was saying that her clan had issues with this in the past I'm not sure I'd care all that much if KatE came out to play. She could probably deal with any issues that cropped up… but at the same time there's a big difference between telling Hunter the overly serious lamia and her entire clan.

Which… I guess sort of answers the question? I still want to tell people…

I guess I don't know what to do about this now. The first thing that comes to mind is to just… activate the ability and then let them draw their own conclusions. That way I haven't actually told Hunter anything so maybe she gets more leeway? The problem is… I don't know if I want to just casually activate that power when I might need it for fighting the dragon.

Well, then again if it's a demonically corrupted dragon KatE hurting it might be impossible. Have to ask Hunter about that. What do you think Lily?*

[I agree that the whole 'I will feel obligated to tell my clan' thing puts a damper on things. I agree that I trust Hunter with this. If anything I trust her MORE with this information then I did before… but she's also made it very clear that it's not just her we'd be giving the information too… so I guess we should think on it?

Not too long because while KatE might not be able to hurt the drake she CAN tank a lot more damage. I think.]