Wishful Thinking (Thr33)

After what seemed like a millennium of silence, freedom called at last! Majid, while brooding in his study felt a new presence surrounding his cage. With a liberating surge of wind and energy, the ancient creature erupted from the pocket watch, spreading out his arms in victory and ecstasy as he spiraled quickly around the room, surrounding himself in smoke but with a wisp still connecting his torso with the pocket watch. For a moment, he forgot that his freedom had not yet been guaranteed, but the process had begun and that alone filled his chest with a delicious scent of pleasure.

Majid narrowed his empty eyes at his new 'Master' as he hovered proudly above her. This one had green hair and fleshy pinkish skin coverings around her insides along with strange clothing. "Human..." Majid spoke in a low note, making no effort to hide the distaste in his voice.

After a moment of holding an annoyed frown, he spoke his body to life with a flourish of his arms. "Small one! I am Majid! The Great! The Powerful! The Dauntless! The Incomparable! The Wise! And...who might you be."

A stoic gaze lingered on Majid's face as the girl spoke. He knew that his people had faded into nothing but legend by now. Their empires had come and gone. Their effects were nothing. Their greatest rulers, their philosophers, their musicians, their inventions, all gone...but how?

Regardless, Majid knew that their legacy still somewhat lived on through him now. If he would ever discover what happened to them, he would have to be freed from his duties and stay free. This girl would get anything she would ever want and then he would be gone. Majid looked to the pocket watch as she mentioned it.

"That isn't my home. That is my prison." The djinn snapped back quickly as he folded his arms in a serious pose. "Well...Dead Master...fitting enough. You may not be human, but you are a reflection of their influence...and that is enough."

Majid kept his gaze, drilling holes straight through the girl. "Whatever legends you've heard...my purpose here is to offer you a deal. I offer to you three wishes with which you can use to change your own life however you want...in exchange, you will grant me my freedom. You will give your word that I have proven myself a worthy slave and grant me my freedom."

The blue creature lowered himself down to become face to face with the girl. "This is a rare opportunity and I trust you will take advantage of it?"

The girl's response was...curious. She rightfully was amazed by his presence but for some reason seemed to want to separate herself with humanity and had the notion that she could pick her own terms.

"Humanity is in complete control of this realm," Majid spoke frankly, "If you're simply distancing yourself from them to put yourself in a pleasant light in my eyes, you're wasting my time. You are not a djinn so I do not particularly care for you. You can admit your association with humans or not, it does not matter to me."

As she spoke about her stance against slavery, he narrowed his gaze again. "This is the curse placed upon me. I cannot be granted freedom another way than this. You may accept it and reveal your desires, or you can leave me for my next master, there is no other option that can break my binds." Majid motioned towards the metal bracelets that hung tightly onto his wrists.

"Perhaps I could grant this desire you need in these ten minutes with a wish? Whether you look at it this way or not, you are my Master and I am your slave until the pact is fulfilled or you step away."

Majid understood the girl's confusion. She was from another time, with another complete set of rules for the universe. How would she know anything about the laws of Djinn Sorcery. "Perhaps if I explained a bit more, it will make more sense. This curse was placed on me by a powerful Djinn Sorceror from millenia ago. He was the one that set the rules of my containment and, although I appreciate your offer for an easier way, I'm afraid it would not work. It's true that you grant me my freedom, but my bindings will not be broken if the spell doesn't believe that I had provided enough. Three wishes will be sufficient. No less."

Majid stopped and waited for a reply from the girl. It was hard enough being controlled by someone, but being controlled by such a young one was...humbling to say the least. He prayed that perhaps he could help her become better. She had potential, that fact he was sure about. It all depended on what she decided from here on out, though.

The djinn found this girl to be...strange. She repeatedly revealed her desire to see him freed, even though it wouldn't benefit her directly for him to be free. She seemed to still maintain her own set of morals regarding treatment of other people. How...sweet. Majid smiled as she spoke. It reminded him of a simpler time, or at least, a more innocent time. Where he could expect just treatment from others as long as he offered the same courtesy. This girl would learn otherwise, in good time. Majid decided to allow her to learn this lesson herself, however. Life in that innocent mindset was nice for a season, he knew that.

"Just realize. You are to make exactly three wishes. These wishes are meant to be considered selfishly, with yourself at the core of it. No wishing for anything that will affect the world at large massively. Consider what will happen when you make your wishes. You might not like how life is changed, and how the wish changes you." Majid stared at her knowingly, wondering how she might choose to spend her chances at real change. "There's more rules, but that's all I want you to worry about. Keep it specific and take your time to think. This is a unique experience that is only given to a few souls in all of history. I trust you won't waste it."

Majid raised an eyebrow at the girl's suggestion and followed her to her kitchen as she prepared everything. He folded his arms and stared at her as she started to prepare her own chamomile tea. It had been a while since he had someone prepare anything for him and the idea made him excited.

"Thank you...I'm...not sure if I've ever tried chamomile tea," he spoke, reading the label.

The djinn spun around and found his spot at her table, pulling out a seat for himself. Still, he would rather move on with her wishes, but if she needed time to think, he certainly understood. Maybe he could help her think.

"Tell me about yourself...Seras, did you say? Where are you in life...Are you independent? Living under your father?"

He would grab the tea if he would be given one and stare into the small bubbles that formed in the midst of its brown ripples. Unsure of what it would taste like, he hesitated before taking a sip.

Frowning as the girl spoke, Majid attempted to surmise what she was hinting at. "Your taste for people. So you're a cannibal, is that it? Or is it the blood?" Majid's voice echoed in the kitchen as he sat there. A mystical being holding a cup of tea in a downtown apartment. Strange had earned a new entry in the dictionary today.

He leaned down slowly to test the drink. It was hot, but relaxing, a strange combination. Of all the things to carry on from his past life, tea seemed to be going strong, although it has changed slightly. Majid looked up to Seras and squinted at the girl's question.

"Well, I live in a pocket watch. Is that what you wanted to hear?" He said quickly, stifling a smile. "I'm from another time, Seras. I could say anything and you would believe me or you would not. There would be no way to check and it doesn't really matter at this point."

The ancient being wasn't particularly interested in becoming chummy with this girl, but he would have to be respectful to a point while he was stuck with her at least. "Why would you want to open a cafe? That sounds...hardly interesting..."