Creatures of Habit

Alex awoke to the sensation of being smoothed, Demon had shape-shifted back into a cat at some point in the night and was now sleeping on his face. In annoyance he pushed her off his face and back onto the bed, she in turn made an equally annoyed sound and stretched, but didn't appear to wake up.

Now wide awake Alex cursed softly and slid out from under the blankets and off of the bed. In his younger years he would have run off to somewhere quiet to train with various weapons, he was most natural with a spear but like many boys he devoted most of his time to training with the weapon he thought was the coolest, which in his case was the sword.

Now, decades older and more seasoned, he took the morning to carefully clean and inspect his equipment. It was both a wise and therapeutic activity. He normally still carried a sword, and his orc dagger remained with him at all times, but otherwise he tended to fight with what was available to him. His preference was inexpensive, yet practical gear that didn't draw a lot of attention. A sell-sword with a cat was already pretty conspicuous, expensive gear would only lead to questions he didn't want to answer.

From his pack came the rags and oil, lanolin could be used to treat both the metal plates and the leather bindings, it wasn't exactly the best for either but he didn't waste space with extra inventory. Everything he owned needed to be able to fit on his shoulders. The lanolin was also quite flammable and his cleaning rags could be used to make torches or light campfires in a storm if needed.

Currently his gear consisted of his partial plate metal armor, which covered his head, chest, most parts of his arms, and the fronts of his legs. Under that he wore a heavy woven tunic with chain mail which was more flexible and lighter than plate, and would protect him from most things that weren't arrows being fired from behind him. His weapons currently included a basic broad sword, a total of three daggers, an axe, a short spear and a small crossbow he sometimes used for hunting small game.

Alex had been taught some fundamental magic, but it had always been too complicated a subject for him to have mastered more than a few very basic spells. And apart from some surprise factor his magic wasn't very effective in combat by itself. Demon had a great deal of knowledge on the subject, and when she could be coxed to share that knowledge Alex actually learned something on the subject, but mostly she chose to live as an impartial freeloader looking for a next thrill so her helpfulness was very limited when she wasn't feeling euphoric.

Cleaning gave Alex a sense of control, it was a small thing but so critical to a person who cannot support the illusions on their own. Alex knew too much to think that he had any control over his life as a whole, he was struggling without a real purpose beyond survival, facing situations that he didn't previously chose without any sort of guarantee for the outcome. But here everything was known, every rivet and buckle could be accounted for, every clump of dirt could be removed and the only thoughts he had to contend with were his own...at least until Demon woke up and...

(Mmmmm, rub me next.)

Alex sighed, "Thank you for destroying my reverie."

(I'm a demon, I'm supposed to be a little shit.)

(Any particular reason you're using thought speech?)

(My orgasms last night expended too much energy, you know I have to use my powers to project my voice in this body. But you're so stingy with the amount of power you feed me everyday so I have to save up to have a night like last night.) a yawn, (But it was sooo worth it.)

(You're a demon. If I give you more power you might melt someones brain just because you're bored.)

(I would not! I would just fantasize about it...I would fantasize about it a lot.)

(Then fantasize about it without the ability to do it.)

(That's not nearly as much fun. Knowing that you COULD is half the fun of the fantasy.)

"Well then, I suppose you get to be boring for a while too." Alex teased, "Now stop distracting me, I'm almost done here there I'll get dressed and we'll go get some breakfast."

(Eggs, I want raw eggs with milk.)

(Are you trying to get fat?)

(HOW RUDE! I'm a girl too you know! Sometimes I want you to treat me to something nice.)

A sly smile toyed at the corner of Alex's mouth, (I thought you wanted punished.)

Demon sat up and began licking her crotch, (That was last night, this is this morning and I have a different hunger.)

"Fine," Alex sighed lightly, "But not until I'm done with maintenance."

(Yay! I get eggs! Master loves me!)