Ryan was drowning; an aspiring comic book artist drowning in a sea of his own ink. "Why are my ideas no good?" he thought. The deadline for his first draft, midnight, was fast approaching, and he had never worked with such a strict publisher before. Even a minute's delay would cost him his publishing deal. Ryan was sure of it. So he stared at a blank page, drowning in ink rather than putting even a single stroke of his pen to paper.
Mephistopheles appeared.
"Who's there?" cried Ryan, wondering if maybe he had left the window open. On quick inspection, he realized that only his curtain was missing. He'd meant to replace it weeks ago, but was so consumed with the task of penning comics that he'd completely forgotten. So Ryan got up to get a drink, and on his couch sat a shadowy figure.
"Hello." Said Mephistopheles.
"Who are you?!?" Ryan shrieked.
"That isn't important. I see you have a deadline coming up... care to make a deal?" Ryan's initial shock at a stranger in the modest and slightly broken apartment he paid for with the advance on his comic grew into a sense of calmness as the realization of what was happening set in. "You're..." Ryan started, and the charismatic figure interrupted, "I said that isn't important, don't make me waste words." Said Mephistopheles. "You are looking for something to draw for your upcoming deadline, perhaps I can offer some inspiration?"
Ryan's fear of the strange man in his apartment was now almost completely overwhelmed by the relief of someone who was willing to quite handsomely offer a solution to his writing quandary. "If this man could silently enter a Jersey City apartment, he clearly was capable of inking a mere comic. It was for teenagers after all." Ryan thought.
"My ideas... they are all so... mediocre. I just want something worthwhile to draw. Something that really is going to be a great work that everyone will remember. Or... I guess, I don't know, I'm so tired I've even forgotten what I want to draw comics for." Stuttered Ryan.
"That's easy." Said Faust. "You simply want to entertain an audience for a short time. You don't need some grand idea, the likes of all the great artists of the world, just a simple one would do. Everyone's first story is about themselves as either Faust or Jesus, didn't you know that? Just make a deal with me, and your deadline won't trouble you anymore. I don't even want anything you'll miss in return."
Ryan paused and reluctantly managed to say to the fantastical stranger: "I accept. What do I have to do?"
"Our agreement has already been fulfilled," said Mephistopheles.
The End.