deercountry | ★ JAN. (CATCH ALL); i look inside myself & see my heart is black

Ha ha...! — Well, Trench and Zaun are a lot alike in some parts. Even the term is the same!

( jinx takes one more drag too and then decides, okay that's enough. she wants to be at least kinda coherent. and not entirely sure what to do with the rest, the girl extends it back out for him to take in case he wants more? or... maybe there's something he does special with the leftovers.

the buzz is definitely coming through for her -- now instead of slouching, she lies back onto the sofa. )

Liiiiiiike Trenchies. We were called that back home. If not Zaunites.

( The stuff he's got is pure, no weird shit in it to heighten effects — but it's good stuff, and it's strong. Paired with alcohol, he's definitely already feeling the familiar detached pleasantness, thoughts a little slower, mind gently stuffed with a couple of clouds. He likes feeling like this. It's not as numb as he usually gets — that'd take some more time — but it's a start.

He takes the joint back when Jinx offers it to him, snuffs it out and sets it back in the tin. Oh yeah, he'll definitely recycle this... Meanwhile Peter keeps taking hits of his own, slow but steady as he listens, eyes half-lulled and languidly looking over at her. Trenchies, huh. He has to wonder where that came from. Anything considered a "trench" is usually not a great place to be, and he's picked up on some snippets from Vi here and there about what it maybe was like. Didn't sound good. )

Is it... better here? Or was back home better?

Depends what you're lookin' for.

( she says this while shifting a little more on the sofa. jinx gets comfortable even further as she lies on her back -- hands resting on her stomach. )

If we're talkin' about people, this place is better. Zaunites got your back sometimes. There's still a lotta backstabbers lurking in the shadows. The city itself? Hm...

( there's a moment where she thinks this over carefully; very carefully due to having a hazed mind. )

It's good to breathe here. But Zaun has no beasts. ( a beat. ) — Well, they kinda do, but not the same thing.

( He's aware it's kind of a loaded question, but it's the sort of thing that's relevant here in this place. When you meet people.

While he's listening, he's slouching back into the cushions like a piece of melted cheese, one arm draped lazily over his stomach while the other keeps his joint pressed to his mouth. For as much as chatting with a stranger is intimidating (especially one who carries a powerful weapon around), Jinx is actually pretty easy to talk to. )

Beasts like.... monsters? Or like people?

( Because he knows the word can mean both, and there's an uneasy tug in the center of his chest for some reason (he knows the reason). )

I mean people. ( she says matter-of-factly as she drums her fingers along her stomach. )

There were some out there who just wanted to... kick all of us around. Just 'cuz it made them feel good. They were monsters to me. And always will be no matter what my sis says.

( jinx turns her head to look over to him -- quiet for a second or two. ) What was your world like? Lemme guess, cushy and boring? You kept your head down a lot and did what you were told.

( Peter listens in silence, a sobering frown tugging at the corner of his mouth, a soft nod. It's not surprising to hear, because he definitely gets it. People can be monsters, worse than any actual beast.

But Jinx's question has him freezing, something visibly wounded pinching his expression for a moment. It hurts, like a thumb pressed too hard against a bruise.

'kept your head down and did what you were told'

—He did, but it wasn't because his world was cushy and boring, no, his world was a fucking nightmare and every day he wanted to be somebody else. He had to keep his head down, in order to survive in that house. And it's because of that, because he did nothing, that his little sister's dead. He killed her.

Peter feels his stomach coiling in on itself like a snake, Jinx's words fueling the guilt that lives inside him. He feels the ghost of Charlie, small and soft and in so much pain. He pushes through a response. )

It was.... really different from this place. No literal monsters or anything like that. Just people ones. ( There's more to that, though. He could pretend there's not. But he keeps going. )

...Well, I always thought there weren't literal monsters. Turns out there were, they were just... hidden. Growing up, I didn't know they were there. ( Witches and demons and a group of people surrounded by flickering candlelight who wanted to break him open and fill him up with something else. She saw it, this girl. The dark thing inside of him. Does she recognise him? It's there, he needs to ask her, and he feels sick suddenly, lowers his joint with a shaking hand. )

Do you remember.... what happened? Do you remember me?

( it's now jinx's turn to be silent and to take note of his words. monsters who were hidden? a shapeshifter, maybe? not like jinx ever met one in her life, but mages roam the world of runeterra -- some ages ago and possibly now. and with them having arcane talent, it's possible, right? not like it matters now, of course. they are in trench and past is in the past.

the question is out of left field for her. a quirk of an eyebrow as her mind is processing everything in a slower rate. remember him? like... back when? he definitely doesn't look like zaunite or a pilitie, so what could he be referring to? )

Wanna try and be more specific? ( lazily, she lifts up a digit and taps lightly against her temple. )

Sometimes... things get twisted in the noggin'. And what I remember isn't always what I actually remember.

( There's another wince, head dipped downwards, eyes on his own lap. )

I don't.... remember exactly when it was. Stuff, uh. Kind of gets twisted up for me, too.

( Names and details and faces and sometimes what he remembers never happened at all, and sometimes there's blank spaces where memory should be. He can't remember when it was... was it months ago? How long? Before Sansa's birthday, he thinks, dimly. )

I... I don't remember too much about it. But.... I know it was nighttime. Your treehouse— you were there, and Vi, and— ( Vi was the one to pull him out of it, right? She said his name so much that he broke free of the demon's control. Her arm was wrong and Jinx was sitting against a wall. He willed his body up, ran away, terrified, passed out as soon as he got back home because Paimon revved up again; the demon was upset and fitful for the rest of the night, had to be consoled down by Luna. The whole experience still feels like a bad dream. )

There's something..... inside me. I think maybe it attacked you. And Vi. Hurt her. ( He swallows, throat hoarse around the slight tremble to his words. The pot helps dull things down, but he still feels them. )

Do you remember it...?

( idly grabbing onto her braid and loosely swaying it around, she observes him and doing her best to really pay attention to what he is saying. treehouse, her, vi...oh! that incident. she remembers that now. that... whatever it was broke into her home and she attacked it. and that thing had the nerve to strike her, her omen, and broke her big sister's arm.

... )

Mm, yeah. I'm rememberin' that now.

( she reaches over for the beer can to take a quick sip before raising up from the couch completely. everything is in such a fuzz and slow-motion, but despite it, she makes her way closer to peter carefully with the can still in her hand. )

( — and then she plops herself on his lap; her pinks glistening hauntedly with such sinister intent. without breaking the gaze to him, the teen tilts the beer can upside down -- pouring the rest of the alcoholic beverage on the carpet until it's completely empty.

jinx crushes the can so it's flat and jagged before slowly edging a sharp end close to his neck. despite this whole... action, her tone doesn't match it. it's low, lazy, and eerily calm. it's the weed's doing. )

You hurt my sis, y'know. Do whatever you want with me or my home, but messin' with my sis is the one thing I don't let anyone see the light of day.

( a beat. )

But killing you would be too easy, you'll just come back and everyone will be on my ass. So. How are we gonna take care of this, hmm?

Edited 2023-02-17 06:11 (UTC)

( He doesn't know what to expect. How she might react. Angry, probably, Vi had mentioned her sister being pissed back at the party. But it's hard to know what to think of Jinx, what she might do, and how.

Needless to say, what she does do takes him completely by surprise. Peter's giving a sharp gasp as the girl drops onto his lap, eyes saucer-wide up her. The shock of it freezes him in place as he watches her slowly pour the rest of her beer out right onto the floor. He can feel a sudden lurch inside of himself, a white-hot flash that leaves him gasping again, and realises with a jolt of panic that it's Paimon rearing up (what is this desecration of his Witch's carpet!! 😡) )

Jinx— ( Peter gasps again, looking up into the cold hard pink of her gaze as she drags that jagged edge close to his throat. Fear has him paralysed for a moment, before he feels another surge of heat and nausea and tenses back against the sofa cushions behind him, his back pressed as tight as he can. )

No— Please, you can't— ( His eyes are turning weird, pupils swelling out and making the warm browns appear black instead. A growl ripples low in his throat, and his fingers twitch like restless spider legs. One aims upwards, towards her. The demon doesn't like its vessel being pinned down like this. Even if she's not planning to use that jagged edge, the gesture is threatening enough.

But Peter tries to push through it, words tumbling out in a panicked, desperate rush around the unnatural inkiness to his eyes. DOWN, BOY. )

You have to listen to me, it's a demon! He'll hurt you—

And I'm a monster. He and I might get along great. ( the chuckle is dark, but she isn't dumb. jinx recalls how intense his demon was. he was able to knock her out with its scream and break her sister's arm. although, she has her machine gun resting on the floor behind them.

the teen can very swiftly grab a hold of it; aim and fire. ... well, if she wasn't under the influence. and as she stated, killing him will be too easy and more heat on her (despite loving the heat).

pulling back just a smidge, she drops the crashed can to the floor but remains on his lap. )

I like the way you wear fear. ... It's been a while since I've seen it. It doesn't haunt me like someone I know.

( chizuru wears her panic all wrong. it's so bad that whenever she sees it, it aches her heart and maybe even her soul. she can't stand that look and with it lingering somewhere in the back of her mind, it... might be peter's saving grace. )

So! Here's how we're gonna put all of this behind us. ( a beat as she holds up an index finger. )

When I need you, you drop everything and report to me.

( second digit goes up. )

From here on out, the weed is free for me. No trades offs. If I want it, you give it to me.

( and then one last third finger. )

Breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll make sure to find somethin' way worse that you'll be beggin' for me to end your life. Any questions?

Edited 2023-02-17 16:36 (UTC)

( Not many people who'd willingly call themselves a monster. It's the term Peter shudders from so deeply, the word that whispers inside himself on all those nights he can't sleep. But of course, that happened before he ever had a literal demon inside of him. He's been a monster for a long time now.

Peter stares up at the girl who calls herself a monster, tense and horrified. He's afraid of her, and he's also afraid of Paimon. And for a weird moment he's sandwiched inbetween the two of them — two unpredictable things.

The demon's there, waiting, watching. It notices how she does pull back, even if it's slight. It stares, a second pulse beneath Peter's staggered heartbeats. Paimon's not in a frenzy like he was that night in the treehouse when he was torn and strange, identity fractured by the mere sight of the treehouse and the warped memories it invoked. He's calmer now, thoughtful.

Threatening his vessel is unfavourable, but he'll allow it at times; this wouldn't be the first. As long as Luna isn't put in harm's way, it's ultimately fine if Peter is terrorised sometimes (....to a certain extent. The demon will step in if he has to. But acts of service, and free gifts of The Weed? Peter'll live. That last condition is more intense, but the demon will keep an eye out.)

So Paimon listens quietly to the girl's words, and it's all similar to how he functions, the concepts he works through. Deals. There's a soft tilt of the head at her, birdlike as those black alien eyes stare up at her. How intriguing... For everything else this girl is, she's certainly interesting, isn't she? He'll let Peter reply to her in just a moment, but first.... he speaks to the girl himself, words slow and weighted, tongue giving soft clicks around certain syllables. )

My witch... My Luna... must not be harmed. I will not allow her to be harmed.

( It's a warning of his own — he'll allow Peter to be manipulated by someone else, it's cool. But he needs to make it known up front that Luna is off-limits in all of that, just in case. )

( jinx had to do a small double-take when there's an unusual head tilt coming from him. that is... very unlike peter (the small bit she gathered from him), but it's those eyes of his what gives it all the way. oh, it's the demon. and it can speak! even more fascinating. but she doesn't let up the smile regardless paimon is now fronting. it's important to show she isn't afraid, and she isn't. the pinks only sparkle more into his darks.

and at his suggestion, jinx bites her lower lip and finally breaks their gaze to look up at the ceiling. she is pretending to appear as if she's thinking and considering (when she knows her answer to that already). a quick shot back look to peter/paimon with a bigger grin on her. )

How about I do you one better? Just so — ( she does silly wave hand gestures. ) this exchange is a lil' more fair and meaningful.

If I see your lil' Luna in trouble, dyin' on the street somewhere, or whatever whacky stuff that happens here, I'll help her out. I'll save her or protect her and bring her to you. Safe and sound, no hair plucked off her pretty head.

( a slight wiggle of an eyebrow. )

You help me, I help you. Sound good?

Edited 2023-02-17 18:25 (UTC)

( He doesn't know how the girl might react to him, and he's intense and waiting, staring unblinkingly. His energy flickering up to the surface of Peter spreads outwards a bit, making the air buzz in a strange way, the lights overhead flicker a couple of times.

But he isn't lashing out at her. The demon waits — restraining himself, cautious but curious in equal parts when the girl grins. And proposes an addition to his request, expands on it. Not only will Luna be unharmed in the middle of all of this, but the girl will protect her if she sees her in trouble...

Jinx is wholeheartedly speaking his language right now. Paimon's unflinchingly protective of the witch, but he can't be with her always. Having extra eyes and ears (and skills; he's seen flickers of what Jinx is capable of, how she'd even saved Peter just moments ago)... it's an appealing concept. This exchange pleases him, and for a moment, there's a spark of gold in the inky blacks of his eyes. A hum reverberates from low in his throat, almost like a purr. What an intriguing human she is, not like most he's met in this place. )

It shall be done.

( With that, he shoves Peter back into the driver's seat so he can also agree to The Terms, the boy's body giving a convulsive movement, neck snapping back with a harsh gasp, leaving him panting and a little dazed. But Jinx's last words to him are still lingering, and his neck swivels forwards as he looks hazily back up at her. Did Paimon and Jinx just converse, What the fuck is happening— )

Y-yeah, whatever you say. It's— it's cool. Weed and— whatever you want.

( He's confused and horrified but he's absolutely going to agree right away.... )

( all this sudden jerk and eye switching is pretty fun to watch, well to her, anyway. it's fun and intriguing to see two beings sharing a body (because with jinx, it's sort of the opposite. her ghosts/people live in her head and don't take over her form).

and it's good news for her this little deal of theirs is now set and done. because if she plays her cards exactly right, she can get this demon to fight for her if things get too hairy. as long as she keeps her word about protecting luna and be there when things grow dire, what's the flaw in this? )

( when he is back to himself, jinx grins in a more cheery way while lightly tapping her palm on his cheek. )

Great! Glad we got that taken care of. ( jinx drags herself off of his lap and returns to the sofa -- flopping right back to lounge all over it. ) Can't wait to get to know all aboutcha and your lil' demon friend.

( Peter's blinking widely at her, just kind of ogling the girl as she pats his cheek and moves to flop back down on the couch. His heart's still pounding in that unpleasant way, a mix of Jinx Being Jinx and Paimon Being Paimon. Plus... did she really talk to Paimon just now? It's hard for Peter to tell, everything's weird whenever the demon wrenches control from him, and he feels kind of sick. Definitely going to need more weed after this.

But Jinx seems... fine now, and she and Paimon aren't trying to scratch each other's eyes out (and the demon hasn't set anything on fire, which is... a thing he often does when he's mad) so.... is everything really okay...?

It hasn't quite settled in yet that he just agreed to be Jinx's Errand Boy. That'll come later.... )

Did he....... talk to you?

Hm? ( now all super settled, jinx glances over -- showing a little confusion, but then a smile. )

Oh, yeah. What, is he the silent type or somethin'?

( because if he was, she would feel pretty honored that he opened his mouth to solely her. but that seemed unlikely with how the demon worded how luna was their main focus. )

( Peter's eyeing the girl with his own confusion and some lingering fear, but despite.... everything, he's not nearly as freaked out as he usually would be. ....Thanks to the weed.

Still. He's half-expecting to get jumped again, or for Paimon to burst out again, more aggressively. Are things actually safe, for the moment? )

I thought you'd like... be at each other's throats. After... you know. What happened.

Hmm... — Maybe he likes me! ( doubtful. but should she tell him that he is now her errand boy? did he catch that part of the conversation? it's worth asking just how the sharing body thing works. do they remember the other's memories? talks? )

Do you black out whenever he's out? I was in snooze city when we first met so didn't see the switcheroo between ya.

( and how would she summon the other? that's another thing. if she is going to use paimon as her little beast attacker, she would need to know how to bring it out of peter in those times. )

( Considering their first interaction involved Paimon trying to violently hurt Jinx and her sister, it would definitely be better if the demon did have a less volatile opinion of her now, for some reason.... but Peter can't imagine that happening so suddenly... What in the world could possibly lead to such a change between them?

(....Luna being involved, of course.) Peter has no idea about that part, though, because— )

Oh, uh... yeah. I black out. ( He gives a miserable little smile. ) ...But he hears everything I do when I'm in control. Totally not fair.

Ooooo, that's fun. Can he see what you're seeing, too? ( and to be extra silly, jinx wiggles her fingers as a "hello" on the off chance he can. )

( but if he doesn't, then well... she will still wave because he's listening as peter just stated. in some way though, this means if she ever needs paimon to do something, it won't be too hard to get the demon's attention. )

★ JAN. (CATCH ALL); i look inside myself & see my heart is black

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