_{a tiny display of genuine amusement crosses the face of the old demon, watching the other make their first impression. it was not the first time they have met, almost impossible for two beings as old as they were to completely avoid each other, but their paths rarely happened to cross. the denizens of hell were all motivated by personal agenda, not often aligning with another’s. if the inquisitor was to make a joke out of it, he would have worded it as ‘running in different circles’. however, it was always wise to know when intentions matched up.} 

    “ _{no, perfection is hardly easy to achieve, even for me. i do admit that it has been something i strove for before.} ” _{wistful words, accentuated with a long sigh and punctuated with the sound of the book closing in his hands. the old demon’s gaze falls along the body of the prince, eyes roaming the form that stood before him. those eyes were not staring at the vessel, however, but deeper. he needed no knives to dig under one’s skin to see just how they worked.} “ _{but, perfection is not all about becoming stronger or smarter, you know. sometimes there’s the need to… remove what hinders you. prune the blighted parts of your being with precision, like an infection. now that is something i could easily help you with.} ”

_{teeth bare to form a predatory grin, a languid stretch of his lips revealing a sharpness to the casual air. there’s a small silence before it’s broken by a coarse laugh, the lighthearted sound contrasting against the premonitory words.} 

     “ _{but you’re not here for an expects advice on bettering one’s self. as you said, you’re here for information. good thing you’re in a library} !  _{books all around} !  _{some of them are quite interesting by the way, who knows what you may learn if you take the time to be studious for once. the collector was an odd man, dead now of course, fascinated by old history. even i wonder how he held on to some of these books for so long. practically all of them are copies of course, but what can you do when the most modern of texts in here were written around the fall of the heraclian dynasty. if you’re looking for something in particular, that is another thing that i could assist you in.} ”

_{“i’ll keep what vestige’s of my humanity i have left – thanks, but no thinks.” the demon prince should have clipped his words, but alas he did not. a simple statement to just how distracted he was for the moment about the situation. 
         ky never needed to look into history before now, but there was a first for everything. more importantly, this wasn’t just about him – if this went decently, there was a good chance that he’d be able to destroy it all.
         heaven, hell, and otherwise would be playthings once he was done. yet, he needed to know just what he was up against, and how to prepare. thus, he was here, and while he had a voice screaming in the back of his mind to leave. 
    “at any-rate,” he said, taking a step forward, “you might be able to; what do you know about..” there was a gesture up above, “along with information about our lovely home.” it was easier to admit to wishing to start a war than what he was truly wishing to do, but all the same? he knew better than to lie. especially around the one in front of him.}