[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210311/cef7f0174d2fe77b652e412a4fa97c69.png[/img]
[b][color=A30000]Experience:[/color][/b] 2 ( 9/20 EXP)
[b][color=A30000]Location:[/color][/b] Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon
[b][color=A30000]Word Count:[/color][/b] 2337
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As Laharl picked his way through alleys, sequestering himself away from the unfairness of it all, the noise of his aimless trash-kicking eventually found itself rivaled by a contender. Not far away the little demon could hear another sound--a shuffling and shifting among discarded items. Laharl made a beeline for the source of the disturbance, picturing some pest or ne'er-do-well that he might be able to vent some frustrations on, but after passing an electrical unit and a few dumpsters he came upon something unexpected.

A [url=https://pm1.narvii.com/6765/0d47f713b513b7dccc092bde8aa696b8fa34294fv2_hq.jpg]white dog[/url] with brown spots the color of cheese was sniffing around in the rubbish. With a collar on but no owner in sight it seemed more like a lost dog than a stray, and when it saw Laharl it began to wag his tail and walked right up to him. It looked dirty and hungry, which lent a little extra piteousness to its cause as it begged him for treats.  

Laharl wasn't inclined to give the lost dog anything, as he had no food to give the poor animal and likely wouldn't if he even did. However something made him hesitant to just let the dog starve, he felt something sorry for it. 

[i][color=A30000]'Huh, why do I feel such things!?'[/color][/i] Laharl suddenly became nauseous at the mere thought of taking pity on the animal, deep down though he wanted to help the poor dog. [i][color=A30000]'Gah, damnable dog now I must help you so I can stop feeling this disgusting emotion!'[/color][/i] with a sigh of defeat he knelt down and let the dog sniff his hand.

[color=A30000]"Hey boy, I'll give you some food."[/color] Laharl told the dog with some effort not to look pained while saying it [color=A30000]"Look I'll get you some damn food."[/color] he pat the gold pouch at his side.

The mention of a familiar word made the dog's tail wag even harder. The nametag on his collar even started jingling. Now Laharl had gone and done it--the lost pet expected to be fed. That meant leaving the alley to find a nearby store and purchase a few morsels for the newfound animal. Luckily Laharl wouldn't even have to drag it; even without a leash the creature suddenly seemed quite intent on following his new friend wherever he might go.

[color=A30000]"Ugh, hey sit still a second."[/color] not sounding very enthusiastic Laharl took a second to check the dog's name tag before leaving the alleyway.

Though the pet was a little fidgety, the demon could read his collar easily enough. [i]Cheese Legs.[/i] The name sounded familiar; indeed, if Laharl had been paying attention at the train station earlier while the odd group went over the available jobs and bounties, he might remember a certain commission that promised a reward for the safe return of a dog by that name.

Once out of the dingy alley, the chorus of different sights, sounds, and smells confronted Laharl once again. He was spoiled for choice, since practically everywhere he looked he could see some establishment or another selling things, and even though lunchtime had passed the food stands and carts had yet to close up shop. The closest one appeared to be a multi-floor pizza joint called Pizza Install, and the aroma of sizzling hot slices of cheese and meat reached Laharl through the windows.

[color=A30000]"What kind of moron names a dog Cheese Legs?"[/color] Laharl muttered under his breath as he and Cheese Legs stepped out from the alleyway, however upon his senses being greeted by the aroma coming from the nearest shop he forgot his questions. 

Laharl's stomach instinctively growled now remembering that he hadn't eaten since he was freed by the others in Parnasse. If there was anything that the demon was known for it was his "evil" laugh and his insatiable hunger for food, especially curry. 

[color=A30000]"Alright 'Cheese Legs' let's go there, it smells good right boy?"[/color] without thinking he scratched the dog behind the ear affectionately, it took a moment to realize what he had done but for some reason he didn't feel pain. 

[i][color=A30000]'Huh, shouldn't I be puking right now?'[/color][/i] he felt a tiny bit nauseous but oddly the act of petting the dog didn't seem to cripple him in any way, shrugging it off he and Cheese Legs made their way to the establishment.

Even more enticed by the delicious smell than Laharl, the dog trotted alongside him happily as he headed for Pizza Install. The demon opened the door to be greeted by a [url=https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvNjY2MjYvMzAyMDUxLmdpZg==/original/RIc%2FJL.gif]pill-shaped waiter[/url] in a blue jacket. "Welcome to Pizza Install, sir" he told Laharl. "Are you here to sit down or take out?" His eyes landed on the dog behind him. "No pets allowed inside, I'm afraid."

Laharl gritted his teeth looking between the waiter and Cheese Legs, then with a gruff sigh he said [color=A30000]"Well actually mister pill-man, he is my service dog,"[/color] he lied, the boy once heard that some human used animals as assistants but never understood why.

[color=A30000]"I'll just have take out, since..."[/color] he waved to Cheese Legs who looked rather dirty [color=A30000]"And uh, we'll take your finest meats and largest take out pizza. Whatever a hundred gold can buy."[/color] Laharl produced a pouch of coins from his side and tossed it to the waiter.

The rudeness on display instantly turned the waiter against Laharl, but its speedy juxtaposition to overwhelming overpayment left him confused. He could only conclude that the impetuous child before him hailed from out of town, suddenly come into a heap of gold that made him feel awfully self-important. A hundred gold was way too much for a single pizza, but if this kid wanted the finest money could buy, the waiter wasn't about to stop him, and he wasn't going to grumble about the dog, either. "...An extra-large Royal Meat Lover's it is, then," he concluded, his tone purposefully temperate. He removed fifty gold pieces from the sack and handed it back to Laharl. "Please give us ten minutes to prepare your pizza fresh from the oven. If you'll just wait outside...?" he asked with a rather resigned look, not expecting much in the way of discretion.

[color=A30000]"Sure, come on Cheese Legs let's go,"[/color] he called to the dog as he stepped outside the shop, the demon prince was glad the waiter hadn't immediately thrown him and his new companion away [color=A30000]"We gotta wait a bit, so sit."[/color] Laharl took a seat by the door of the shop, beckoning the dog to sit with him.

Cheese Legs followed Laharl over, although either he didn't register the command or he didn't feel like listening, since he simply stood by where the demon sat. Regardless he kept close by, and since all in all the dog had been unusually cooperative thus far, there were no problems. With food on the way the two could afford to just relax and take it easy, soaking in the desert sun's rays as they watched people go by.

One thing was for sure about this place: it harbored quite the cast of colorful characters, all going about their business despite their differences as if nothing at all was wrong. As Laharl chilled he bore witness to a [url=https://i.imgur.com/7W7ITka.png]girl with a shark-tooth chainsaw[/url], a [url=https://i.imgur.com/WFf4q1o.png]purple bird[/url], an [url=https://i.imgur.com/N9gKXyJ.png]old raptor herder[/url], an [url=https://i.imgur.com/Jn4Qprb.png]enormous wrestler[/url] , a [url=https://i.imgur.com/WyQarzM.png]beast rider[/url], a [url=https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Ratchet-and-Clank-Rivet3.jpg?w=1000]silver-furred cyborg[/url], a [url=https://i.imgur.com/UZ29AHD.png]purple-haired samurai[/url], and [url=https://i.imgur.com/OazsqRj.png]Earl[/url], to name just a few. With so much to catch his eye no time seemed to pass at all before there was a rap on the glass. The waiter was calling Laharl in to pick up his food.

[color=A30000]"Foods ready Cheese Legs,"[/color] Laharl told the dog, who seemed to understand him [i]most[/i] of time [color=A30000]"Let's go."[/color] Shortly after entering the store he wondered exactly how long he had been separated from the others, maybe they were looking for him? [i][color=A30000]'Of course not, jerks.'[/color][/i] Laharl made his way over to the counter and shook his head slightly [i][color=A30000]'Never mind those weirdos, I'm starving.'[/color][/i] he thought dismissively.

Dutifully the waiter delivered the pizza, and what a pizza it was. Easily two feet in diameter, it demanded not just any pizza box, but a specially made Royal Meat Lovers cardboard case with purple and white accents. Steam gushed from the slits in the side, and the pie's vivacious heat could be felt even through its container. Should Laharl dare to open it, he would be assaulted by an olfactory overload of sublime, carnivorous goodness as he beheld the smorgasbord of offerings piled on the supple, chewy crust and adorned with golden cheese. Truly it was a feast fit for a king. Or an Overlord.

If it smelled good to Laharl, it appealed to the keener nose of his canine companion even more once he got outside. That said, to let Cheese Legs chow down right now would be a cruel choice, as the heat would cause some real pain to the dog's sensitive stomach and force him to throw up. The mild-mannered pooch sat in front of Laharl, his tail swishing back and forth across the ground, his expression as pleading as could possibly be.

Looking around the demon tried his best to find a decently shaded area for Cheese Legs and himself to eat in peace away from the sun beating down on them. Laharl frowning concernedly as his red eyes shifted it's gaze from place to place.

Luckily, the street had a lot to offer for someone looking for a reprieve in public. Some stores, for instance, featured benches below their awnings or overhangs with no expectation of purchase beforehand. Other structures cast plentiful shade from their arches, or overshadowed an entire cross-section of road with a high tower. In a desert the shade could be only so much cooler than the sun, but anything was an improvement, and with no humidity the heat wouldn't cling to Laharl's skin once he found shelter.

If Laharl wanted true privacy, however, he and Cheese Legs would need to hoof it a little farther south. Moving where people weren't pointed him in the direction of a desolate church, closed to the public with shuttered windows and barred doors, but to an enterprising demon and an attentive hound it would be no trouble.

[color=A30000]"Come on Cheese Legs."[/color] Besides being hungry Laharl was interested in the abandoned church isolated from the bustling streets of Al Mamoon, why was it all boarded up? It was too mysterious for the demon to ignore, Laharl was eager to see what could possibly be hiding in the quiet of the church.

As he made his way towards the church Laharl walked at a suitable pace as having the poor dog run after him in the hot sun would cause the pooch some distress most likely, and so they made for the church. There, in the cool and lonely stillness, the pair could enjoy a meal in contemplative solitude. Though small Laharl was no one to scoff at in terms of strength thus he made quick work of the barred entryway, letting the door swing open with the rush of cool air from within. Laharl put a hand up to tell the dog to wait as he listened for any movement in the dusty old church. Once a moment passed with no sign of threats within the boy walked in the empty church, still tentatively searching the dark corners of the room for anything. 

Laharl relaxed, finally deciding to sit in a pew [color=A30000]"Alright boy let's eat!"[/color] the demon patted beside him on the wooden pew, setting a big slice of the mouth-watering pizza next to him. And the two unlikely companions shared a feast fit for royalty together, the demon was almost sad he couldn't keep the dog as Laharl had admittedly begun to enjoy the company. Still he felt like the name [i]'Cheese Legs'[/i] rang a bell, if anything Laharl would need to check-in at the commissions office.

[center][color=A30000][h3]* * *[/h3][/color][/center]

After their sumptuous meal the two had an uneventful trek further into the city and back to the commissions office, however Laharl slowed down as the office came into view. His gaze shifted to the little beagle following him, wagging his tail happily [color=A30000][i]'Why,'[/i][/color] he sighed  looking from the dog to the commissions office [color=A30000][i]'Why do I feel...Attached to this damn dog?!'[/i][/color] it wasn't like Cheese Legs was a person, he was a dog and nothing more yet for some reason the usually overcompensating demon felt as though the creature was something more than a pet. Cheese Legs was the closest thing Laharl had to a friend.

In the end he shoved those feelings deep down and locked them away then Laharl took a deep breath and entered the commissions office with the beagle in tow, the boy walked straight up to the secretary and cleared his throat loudly. The lady on staff peered down at him through his glasses, mildly curious, but in a day full of strange occurrences, what was one more on the pile? It didn't take her long to determine that yes, Cheese Legs was a lost dog, whose return was so anticipated by his owner that she offered the demon an entire seventy-five gold in exchange. Once notified the owner came running from her workplace to pick up her dog, and the two were utterly rejoiced to see one another. The display of affection bothered Laharl a little, but after spending some time with the affectionate hound himself, he felt as though he could begin to understand. With his reward in hand he set out back into the city again, on the hunt for something else to catch his interest.