Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ca Thu Thi remained plastered against Paimon, emotions seeping through despite the tight grip that Ca and Manga were desperately trying to keep on their connection. But Manga seemed to manage to keep consciousness long enough to manage some weak reassurance. The mare turned her full attention to her mate, trying to comfort him in her own, silent way.

Manga's body jerked as she finished speaking, her heart--no, her soul--forcing itself into an exchange with Sebastian's. She could feel the agony of his days in slavery, the brand mark being seared into his flesh, the despair of having his family killed before his eyes... And Wrath. Almost instantly, her mental defenses sprang to her--and Sebastian's--defense. Get out. For a few moments, she was locked in mental warfare with the body-less demon. And then the pressure vanished.

Her legs buckled, but Sebastian was already in the process of pulling her onto the bed. She held him close, weakly sighing in relief. He was alright now. Now she could say that with surety. Neither of them would be moving from that spot, but they did it.

Manga fumbled for something in her coat pocket, trying to restore proper function to her fingers. She finally managed to pull out the little pouch, opening it and pulling out the healing stone that had previously been rejected. She didn't offer it to him; this time she just hugged him, the stone lightly clasped in her hand as she let it rest against his back. The stone's rejuvenative properties would run out more quickly when affecting two people, but that was alright. They'd heal together. Although she wasn't injured, she'd just experienced all of Sebastian's accumulated pain; she wasn't going anywhere.

Ca Thu Thi nuzzled her mate, getting another weak but warm reassurance from her Chosen. They were alright. She rolled her eyes as she listened to Gau's complaining and couldn't help but wonder what reaction Alfred had to the powerful Bond between the two humans. It was a little amusing to try and picture... But she'd do that later. Something was still wrong... "Paimon?" Her voice was deep, gentle and loving, but also tinted with worry. What was the matter?

Manga smiled, closing her own eyes as well. Sebastian was safe... now she could rest peacefully.

Ca cut off her link with Manga as the girl drifted off. The look in Paimon's face was a little worrying, and if it was a private matter... The news made the mare frown, tilting her head. "Did... not specify?" A "favor" could mean practically anything... What was this foreboding feeling? She didn't like it at all... But it was what Paimon had to do to save his--well, really both of their Chosen. She would've likely done the same.

Ca Thu Thi frowned at the 'firstborn' part. She was quiet for a moment, nodding to his last statement. "... If does ask... for firstborn..." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Nothing says... I cannot take back." Ruin and Paimon had made the deal--not her.

Ca sighed and nuzzled her mate, thinking quietly. There had to be some way to prevent her child from being claimed by Ruin... "... Grimm." She looked up at Paimon. "Stallion named Grimm... makes deals." She wasn't the smartest mare, but experience--mostly Manga's--had taught her how to conduct deals. If they made a specific deal about their firstborn with Grimm before Ruin specified that was what he wanted...

Ca Thu Thi nodded. "Goes by Grimm... doesn't say real name." He was infamous in his own way. Definitely different than Ruin, that was for sure. Apparently many of his deals had to do with taking in children (often the firstborn) and, unlike Ruin, she hadn't heard of any of his children defecting or trying to get rid of him... "Never breaks deals unless terms violated." It was the reason he was such a force to be reckoned with. He was a bit like her Chosen--though they definitely had different motives.

Ca thought for a few moments, then suggested, "Conditional deal?" If Ruin asked for their firstborn, the deal would stand. If not... it would be null and void.

"Protected." Their child, no matter what Ruin did, would be safe. Even if he came after Paimon and herself, their firstborn would be safe from harm. Since the one who'd told her about him was Punk, she was sure that he wouldn't harm or corrupt their child with hatred. There was just something in her adopted father's eyes that said he could be trusted.