esurient
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Harry looked over the financials of his company. Most would be thrilled with what they saw. Over the last year, the company had seen an almost exponential increase in profits. Everything was going swimmingly, and there was no projected end to their growth. And Harry had a single thought about it.
“It’s not enough.” He growled. Growth was too slow, profits too small. He wanted more.
“I know it’s not. That’s why I like you so much.”
Harry nearly jumped out of his skin. He had been alone in his office. At least, he should have been alone. His secretary had not buzzed him, and he did not have any appointments. And yet, standing where there had been empty space just moments before, were two people.
One was a tall, skinny woman in a crisp business suit. She had an odd kind of beauty to her. She was hardly model quality, but there was something to her. She had a certain sharpness to her. Not dangerous though, no. She had the look of someone who saw the world in one of two ways: What do I have, and how can I get what I don’t have? Harry liked her immediately.
The other was a heavyset man with an odd build. He was of average height, but not of average width. His stomach was large, but the rest of his body was filled with the large, bulky muscles of a powerlifter. His eyes though, there was something about his eyes. They seemed to want to destroy, no, devour everything he saw. Harry could get behind that, although not as much as the woman.
“Who are you and why shouldn’t I call security on you?” Harry asked.
“Oh Harry, you already know who we are. You see us every day. You speak to us almost constantly. We’re practically you’re oldest friends.” The woman said.
“Maybe you are.” The man said in a thick, heavy voice. “He likes me fine, but not like you.”
“Oh hush up you. I’m talking.” The woman snapped.
Harry thought. He was certain he had never seen these two before. He would have remembered them if he had. But he tried to think anyway but came up with nothing.
“If it helps, try closing your eyes and looking at us.”
That made absolutely no sense, but he tried it anyway. He closed his eyes and, sure enough, he saw something. Something amazing and terrible. Two beings of vast power. Both of them drew everything around them in, but what happened then was different. One gathered everything and had it simply cling to them, like a man hoarding whatever he could. Whatever touched the other simply vanished, disappearing into its form. And somehow, he knew who these two were.
“Greed and Gluttony.” Harry whispered.
“There, you see? You do know us.” the woman, Greed, said.
“What...what are...how are you...”
“Take your time.”
“And be glad she’s not charging you for her time.” Gluttony said. This earned him a dagger like glare from the taller woman.
“How are you here? You two shouldn’t even exist. At least, not in physical form. I thought the seven sins were just ideas. Things to keep away from.”
“Originally, yes.” Greed said. “But after a while, ideas start taking shape. We became very real. And now we want you for something. You see, every hundred years or so, we get together and have a little contest. We each choose a human avatar and give him or her power. Then they fight, and whoever wins get a big prize. The winner not only gets to keep the power given to him, but also gains the power of the other sins. In other words, the winner becomes the seven sins incarnate.”
Harry’s eyes widened. The very idea of that much power was tantalizing. Alluring. He wanted it. Wanted it more than anything he had ever wanted before. A wide, predatory smile crossed Greed’s face.
“So why did two of you come?” Harry asked. “Do I start with both of your powers?”
“No. Only one.” Gluttony said. “Since you apply to both of us, you can pick whose power you get. But we all know who you’re going with. Not sure why I even bothered to show up.”
“You know the rules, Gluttony.” Greed said. “He has enough of you in him to warrant the choice.”
Henry looked at each of them. “So, I get Greed, but why Gluttony? I don’t eat all that much.” Harry patted his still trim stomach.
Gluttony scoffed. “I’m not about eating a lot. Not really anyway. I’m about consumption. I’m about excess. I’m about using more than you need. And that fits you almost as well as Greed does.”
Harry nodded. That did make sense. And there was some appeal to having the power of Gluttony. It would probably be a lot more useful in a straight fight, even before knowing what the powers would actually be. But he knew what he would pick. What he had to pick.
“I choose Greed.” Harry said.
“Of course you do.” Greed said.
“No surprise there. You two get acquainted. I’m going to find a better avatar.” The large man disappeared, gone into whatever dimension they normally occupied.
Greed flashed another one of her predatory grins and spoke. “Now then, my dear avatar, let’s talk.”
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Maybe a new series or something? Maybe not here, but somewhere. Well, if I ever get around to it, and honestly, that's probably not going to happen. Oh well.
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