4 The Man With A Dream pt 4

The effects of the deal were immediate.

A black mass the size of basketball gradually tore itself from the delusional man's skull.

Its shape constantly shifting between monstrosities so hideous it would make any observer feel a sense of revulsion and dismay.

This was the manifestation of the man's dwindling sanity. 

Slowly it hovered towards Alastor, halting just before his face.

Alastor stared at the writhing mass of black curiously. 

This wasn't what he anticipated when he said he'd take the man's ailments.

Rather, Alastor believed he'd solely gain something he could bargain with in future exchanges. 

You'd be amazed by how many people would willingly render themselves insane.

Touching it Alastor was surprised at how soft it was. He had never felt anything like it.

More confident, Alastor cupped the mass with his hand and let out a delighted smile as he felt no ill effects when doing so.

" Fascinating,"  Alastor said aloud, uncaring of the man in front of him.

Certainly, it was interesting, and not only the mass, but the metaphorical chains he could feel were wrapped around the man's being.

With the sealing of their deal, the man had become a simple tool for Alastor to control.

' Still, I wonder, what are the limits?'

Glancing at the origin of his new fixation, Alastor gave the man a creepy smile.

"So? How does it feel to have all that junk out your noggin?" The demon of deals said with mirth.

Gulping the man stared at Alastor with some anxiety, his eyes lacking the craze they had previously.

"It's gone. The voices...the monsters...They're all gone. I'm free. Thank you." 

Despite his tone showing thankfulness, Alastor could tell it was hiding the apprehension of how the man could repay him.

Properly taking in the state of the man in front of him, Alastor recognized he took a lot more than just the man's cognitive disorders.

The man was no longer malnourished, his skin was a healthy white, and the formerly bloodshot eyes cleared, revealing the spectacle of two piercing blue eyes.  

Not only that but his body was trained, toned, and athletic, far above that of the average man.

' How curious. Regardless of the taking of his physical ailments along with his mental ones, it shouldn't have improved him, only returned him to his previous peak.' 

Giving the room around him a look over, Alastor found the answer to his inquiry in the form of military Dog Tags.

Looking at the man with a renewed sense of interest, Alastor asked a question he's withheld until now.

"Tell me, what's your name?" Asked Alastor.

The man didn't hesitate in answering.

"Carl Wesley, Sir." 

With grace, Alastor walked to the corner of the room with the dog tags and picked them up.

Carl's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the dog tags, his pupils shrinking in panic temporarily before settling down.

Interestingly enough, Alastor could feel the mass in his hand grow negligibly.

Stepping back in front of Carl Alastor offered the tags to him. 

Hesitantly the man reached for them before settling them around his neck.

For a while the veteran was silent. Just taking in his revived sense of self and clearheadedness as he stared at the objects dangling from his neck.

However, Alastor wasn't as idle.

Subtly Alastor tested out the boundaries of his deal-making power.

Mentally reaching out through their connection Alastor "took" three years of age away from Carl.

The result, much like the deal itself, was instant.

In fascination, he watched as wrinkles disappeared and Carl's face slightly de-aged.

Previously Carl was forty-three, now he was an even forty.

'Amazing! To believe I could take something like age. What else can I seize from him? But first, let's try this.' Thought Alastor in glee.

Curiously, the deal maker tried to give back the three years he took, only for it to fail.

'Ah, I did say take and not give. I suppose that was my blunder.' Thought the Radio demon.

Mentally noting that for later, Alastor continued his examination. 

Only this time he was more meticulous with what he "took" from Carl.

He tried small things first.

A single IQ point.

One-fiftieth of his physical strength.

A week of his life span.

Then Alastor's moved on to more abstract subjects.

Carl's aptitude for business.

His aptitude for singing.

His aptitude for art.

As he took these things from Carl, Alastor felt the changes to his own body.

It was a strange feeling abruptly getting smarter, or being better at something without any effort on your part.

Not bad by any means, just strange.

However, he couldn't ponder the subject any longer as Wesly spoke for the first time in ten minutes.

" So, uh, what now? " Questioned Carl.

Alastor simply stared at the war veteran with his unnerving smile, causing Carl to nervously fidget with his Dog Tags.

Truthfully, Alastor didn't know what he'd do with Wesly. 

 Originally he was just going to use the man as cannon fodder for a future endeavor.

Maybe have him as a background character if he was lucky.

But with the discovery of this war vet's past, along with the unexpected effects of his deal, it made him hesitate to get rid of a potentially valuable pawn.

Thinking for a minute, Alastor idly manipulated the black mass in his hand.

It morphed and formed to his will turning into whatever he whipped up in his imagination. 

First, it was a sheep, cow, dog, and cat.

Then a Dragon, Chimera, devil, and angel.

Finally, it was an image of Batman, Superman, and the whole of the original justice league team.

His mind halted at the last form the mass took.

Slowly his smile turned excited as a notion struck him. 

' A team! Of course! How did I not see it when it was so obvious? What's better entertainment than people from distinct narratives and backgrounds coming together under a singular banner? To see ideals and morals clash until they put aside their differences to achieve a singular goal!' 

His eyes glinting in specks of green, Alastor gazed at the increasingly uncomfortable Carl.

"How'd you like to be a star in my show?"

...

A/n: This chapter gave a glimpse of what Alastor's capable of. Also shows that Al's not immune to making mistakes or second-guessing himself.

Also, the reason why Carl isn't too surprised by all this is simple. He lives in a world of superheroes enough said.

More info on what the mass of insanity can do in later chapters. After all even Al doesn't know its full capabilities yet.

Besides that, I demand your thoughts!

Alt title: Inspiration