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

( Oh — she's strolling on in! This is fine! Peter awkwardly trails along after Jinx into the kitchen, eyeing her weapon a little nervously as he moves to the fridge to tug out a couple of beers.

He sets them out on the counter with a clink and can't help a lopsided little grin at the reaction. Okay, mood. )

Honestly, the school here's a total waste of time. ( Peter's... hardly an ideal student.... He just kind of goes because he doesn't know what else to do, but he barely even shows up anymore. Or just sleeps through it. ) Like, I skip all the time and no one even cares. And the stuff they teach there is totally weird.

( He pauses before reaching for the beers again to tuck them in his arms and gesture towards the nearby living room. It's a cosy space, with a sofa and armchairs, and a big rug spread out in front of a warm fireplace. )

We can chill in there, it's warmer.

I guess it's for the people who wanna know more about Trench, the Pherm-whatevers, and what they're like. But you can just ask the great ol' Sansa, who knows aaaallll~ ♪.

( the last part of it she says in a sing-song way. it's also sarcastic with her fingers wiggling in the air. but she trails along behind peter to the living room and practically bounces onto the sofa to have a seat. it's then the girl finally sheds the machine gun off herself and rests it by her feet. as long as pow-pow is close, jinx is fine to part with it for now. )

Really cutesy digs ya got here, Wet Noodle. — Guessin' the girly-girl did all the decor. How can you stand it?

( sure, jinx doesn't mind the girly things. after all, she paints her nails from time to time even if they get chipped. but unless a dress or hairstyle looks bad ass and not some prissy stuck-up stupid girl, she'll turn it down in a heartbeat. or vomit. )

( Peter can't help giving a little laugh as he moves to the living room, sets down the beers on a little coffee table. )

Y'all live together, right? You and Sansa? ( Or.... kind of. Jinx's treehouse is on the property, right? (Again, that's an awkward subject that he's going to have to round back to eventually..... You can't stall forever, Peter.) )

Oh— yeah, this is all her. She's good at making stuff look comfy, right? ( Peter casts a glance around at the decor, all the books on the shelves and cosy blankets, and a few plants draped around. It's definitely cutey-witchycore. ) A lot better than me, my room's a mess. Oh, wait, speaking of—

( Peter gives an awkward shuffle to the side, leg bumping the couch as he moves. ) The weed's up in my room. Can't forget that! I'll uh, be right back.

( Is he slightly nervous about leaving Jinx and her machine gun alone down in the living room? Yes, but, the pot's what they came here for! So just excuse Peter as he shuffles up the nearby staircase and returns after a few minutes with a little tin. He'll sit back down and flip it open to reveal some pre-rolled joints all in a nice little row. )

You want one now, or after some beer? Or both at the same time.

She's my neighbor. I use to prank her, but my sis told me to lay off her. ( and boy is she still sour over it! she really hates the fact the two of them see themselves as "sisters" (without her approval). because as far as jinx is concern, there shouldn't be an extra addition to their family. it's already different to picture ekko as a "brother" as it is.)

( jinx will give peter a thumbs up as he vanishes off to retrieve whatever he needs to get. and while he is away, jinx peeks around nosily and even swipes a few knick knacks at her reach to shove in her pockets. while her older sibling scold her so many times over her thievery, it's such a painful old habit of hers and she can't quite kick it. when he's back, the girl sits still to perform the illusion she hadn't moved a single inch while he was away. her eyes dart down to the tin with wild curiosity -- especially at the question.)

Why not both? Let's get bonkers with it! — So you smoke 'em like you do cigarettes, right?

Edited 2023-02-05 02:09 (UTC)

( Oh he can just imagine how well Sansa must have taken to being pranked by Jinx...... rip Sansa..... Jinx doesn't seem like someone who would hold back with tricks and pranks.

(He also has no idea about the swiped belongings and probably won't realise until Luna points out that something's missing.... rip to them, too.....)

There's a lopsided little smile when she says both, and he nods, not at all going to suggest otherwise (look at Peter, already being so obedient to her...) )

Sure, both's cool. And mostly, but it's just a little different. Here, I'll uh, demonstrate. ( He picks out a joint and fishes a lighter out of his pocket, holding it up to light the end. Then, pinching the thing inbetween two fingers, he places the other end inbetween his lips and draws in a slow, calm breath. He holds it, then slowly lets it out with a puff of fog. It's all just a little more intentional that regular cigarettes, working the smoke around how you need it. )

You wanna kind of... hold it in for a little bit. Not tight, just really relaxed. Let it roll around in your lungs and then come back out. You should definitely feel it.

( It might take a little bit to feel the high itself, but the smoke? You'll know if it's going in and out right. Thick and hazy and a little raw against your throat. Peter holds up the lighter and tin for her to pick one out too, giving a dumb grin. )

And before you know it? You're just chillin.

(so it's like smoking, but slower. sure, she could do that. even though jinx is all about living in the fast lane, to go slow maybe once or twice with something isn't too much to ask. after all, she's moving things slow with chizuru already -- which gets infuriating from time to time.

so with very little fear or nerves, jinx leans forward to pick the joint but not the lighter. instead, she lifts both her eyebrows and points up a single digit; blazing her up a few small electric sparks at the tip. )

Got my own.

( following his instructions, she lights up the end, places it in her mouth as she pinches it, then a slow inhale. and then she holds the smoke in place, even shuts her eyes to help vision the vapor swirling down her throat then to her lungs. then after a few seconds, she blows it out -- a quick glance to the joint then him. jinx hums with a nod before she slouches against the couch. )

You're right, Noods. It is a lil' different. ... I like it.

( Funnily enough, Peter and Jinx may be at opposite ends of a spectrum; if she's all about living in the fast lane, he's definitely about taking things slow as possible. But sometimes even two people from very different perspectives can maybe come together, with the power of drugs and alcohol!

He looks up with a lift of his own eyebrows as the girl conjures her own means of lighting up the joint, looking impressed. Oh damn, that's handy... ) Nice.

( Before he leans back to take a couple more long drags of his own, watching Jinx to see how she reacts to it. Pot's nothing too crazy, some people do cough, but it looks like all's gone well and Peter grins again. )

Right? It's real mellow. I like having one when I need to just... chill out. At the end of the day or something.

( The beers are within easy reach, so he'll lean forward to take a sip of one of those, too. Before he tips it at her, curiously. )

Coldblood? Or maybe Darkblood? That one's mine.

( The power she'd displayed. Course, it could be something she came here with, but he's seen both those blood types do similar stuff. )

Coldblood. ( short and sweet. she eyes over to the can too, debating. but then she gives herself a shrug as she reaches over for it. )

Ya know, I don't really know much about all the others and what they do. Just know Vilebloods all about toxins. Paleblood is...the pure shit? I dunno, the name itself sounds like it's for all the nice people.

( The more Peter smokes, the less visibly anxious he becomes — that nervous edge to him settling into something relaxed. He drapes back against the sofa cushions, looking much more comfortable. )

Oh Paleblood, that's Luna's. My girlfriend. She's pretty nice, yeah.

( Which is an understatement, and he gives a little smile, half-lidded eyes warming in a way he doesn't have much control over whenever Luna's name makes an appearance. )

Palebloods are really... attuned to stuff. Like on a higher level; she gets visions and stuff. Darkblood's supposed to be warping reality, or something like that. Weird.

They have stuff like that where you're from? Magic?

( paleblood gets visions (or maybe just luna) and darkblood can warp reality. got it. in the memory bank that goes. so that leaves just warmblood? she'll have to check that out some other time. as for now, jinx goes to gulp down the beer then swaps it off with a smoke. and like peter, the girl is appearing more loose and repose -- idly looking at the joint between her fingers. )

Arcane magic was somethin' you were born with back home. — But two kooky scientists believed magic can be forged with magic. And behold, it can be done...!

Edited 2023-02-10 05:55 (UTC)

( continues sipping on his own beer and taking relaxed drags of his joint, listening with an interest that's genuine. The topic of magic still scares him, even after all this time, but he's started gently trying to learn more about things like that. )

Scientists making magic... that's pretty dope. ( Not the kind of thing that'd be expected, he thinks. Science and magic seem like they're usually existing at opposite ends of a spectrum. )

I was thinking Vi must be from a world that had stuff like that. She never seemed too phased by this place.

( Not even after my demon fucking broke her arm, comes the intrusive thought, and Peter internally winces against it. Takes a longer, deeper swallow of beer, and realises he's already through with one, sets the empty thing aside. )

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)

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

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