.//and so the higher-ups decided that merchants are a higher class than the knights
She watched the aftermath of her bargain from a cliff above, the repetitive screams of No! slowly getting swallowed up by flesh being ripped apart and carnivorous bites and swallows. The scent of blood was heavy in the air, but the Musharna showed neither concern nor empathy, rather that she was more disappointed and bored.
"You never fail to amuse me, merchant."
A corrupted voice, like death and despair decided to pay a visit. The Musharna turned to the harbinger, a smile crept up to her lips. It wasn't the smile she would play when making a bargain, but the smile of accomplishment, "I put on a good show for you? I am but a living, yet the king of all dared to show up before me? Surely you must have lots of time to spare if not reaping those who failed to become proper pawns of this accursed game."
"Jest the details, merchant," The opposing psychic-type waved his hands as if shooing away the subject, "I just kept an eye on you after the events of ###, you make an excellent plot device."
"A lovely comment from the king, I'll take it."
An dull, bloodied up, and rotting Alakazam floated next to the Drowsing Pokemon. Tentacles hung from the sides of his mouth, the razor sharp teeth that normally covered it now obscure from view. Despite the disheveled appearance, the undead was intelligent compared to others, frighteningly intelligent. Knowing too much can be both a curse and a blessing. Mardröm preferred to call intelligence an obligation.
The harbinger looked at the scene below with unfazed eyes.
"They were a bit late on payments," Mardröm pointed out, "quite the shame they had to pay through cheaper means."
He nodded in a certain understanding. Out of all the harbingers of death, Mardröm knew that he would enjoy playing around with his food rather than swallow it whole.
The screams died out. The body was being mauled away by undead. She sighed, hoping it would be longer. Alas, everyone lived on top of the world when it came to the delusions. Mardröm, frankly, was but a mere merchant.
In a way, she was similar to the Alakazam. However, she wasn't satisfied with eating pokemon, she simply enjoyed watching them have at each other's throats for more delusions. She enjoyed the meals of dreams they had. That enough was pleasing.
"Yet you struggle."
"Yet I struggle."
"It seems business isn't fairing well for you lately," He murmured, wrapping one of his tentacles around his claw, "Do you require assistance?"
She laughed, "Deary me, and what benefits do you gain from helping me? In fact, business is only working well in the apocalypse. I am bound by no morals or laws, simply survival."
The Alakazam darkly laughed along, "Nothing. There is nothing gained but self-satisfaction. Your business is nothing to me but entertainment."
Of course, she finds the apocalypse just a fun game. Pre-epidemic, everyone was such a sore ass and held pity dreams at best: to be the best pokemon trainer, to defeat whatshisface at the champions... She gagged at it, how disgustingly cute.
She had to thank the epidemic for giving some spice to the desires, many wished to get back what they had once lost. At times the Musharna had to resist the laughter of how naive some can be, how have they not realized you cannot bring back the dead? They are giving into temptation by taking up her offer of delusions, she feels a sense of pride in her work.
But who could resist the offer of a good bargain?
"How about this, king,"
"Hmm?"
"If you do find customers, do me the pleasure of bringing me to them," she proposed, "It's tiring having to float around and search for them, but since you seem so willing to help out, I'll let you do the honors of gathering up potential customers."
"...Well there is one place I have in mind at this very moment, or would you rather wait till I gather up more?"
"Oh please, there is no break in business, make haste and bring me there."
"Yes, yes, your majesty" He grunted. Alhoon raised his arms, he focused his powers at the imagery of a ominous tower, the base dug deep in the earth, how the only escape from the graveyard was up.
A few clicks of the tongue, Mardröm looked at him disappointingly, "Merchant, harbinger, merchant."
And with that she was off.
What a picky merchant she was, but she had more snark than any the psychic-type had seen. Though he had no favorites, he would like to keep her under his palm for the time-being or at least a close eye. She had no motives to do what she was doing now other than entertainment. He had to admit that there was not much to do in the epidemic when everyone is too busy dying.
He teleported her to the last place he was at, recalling the pokemon he had cooped up in the tower of the dead in Sinnoh. They were experiments of his, how he stole away their memories locked tight in a box. He gave only some back earlier, sending them straight to the bottom of the tower again. Yes, she shall be there. It's perfect. They have part of their memories; to want is something strong in them.
Alhoon will give them the privilege of fulfilling those desires.
A note from your's truly: non-canon, but i assume that if mardröm and alhoon were to meet, they may have a civil conversation on how stupid everyone is. or maybe alhoon might compliment how mardröm does a better job than her harbringers on spicing up the story. maybe also serve as a reason why mardröm can float to multiple teams with ease without wasting too much energy. that's just me though. John wanted it canon, so there you go, it's canon now.
