[He's awfully considerate for a demon, and perhaps for that reason she feels more inclined to do just as she said.]
I wouldn't mention it as an option if I was going to get in trouble for it or if it were some great sacrifice. Maybe I'd enjoy you being a little clingy.
[The comment is made with a teasing smile, not drunk yet but decently relaxed thanks to her drink. Her head tilts to the side, cheek resting on her arm as she continues to regard him directly.]
[Eun doesn't change her appearance. She's still dressed in her stark blacks, still very much a demon from head to toe when she finally emerges from the bedroom. Maybe it's telling that she still feels the need to feel protected or guarded around him, but at this point Eun would rather cling to whatever will make her feel like she can get through the next thirty minutes or so.
Her movements are a little stiff as she heads from her room to the kitchen. Breathing in quietly, she crosses over to where Jae sorts through tea, plucks out a red tea for herself, and then backs away. He's going to make things and she...she is just going to let him. Taking a seat on a stool at the island, she lets her forearms rest on the counter and for the sake of her own comfort stares down at her nails as if debating when she ought to get them manicured once more. So many little things are telling of her discomfort, but she is there all the same, hoping that if she can get through this conversation quickly and without too much humiliation, it may never come up again.
Again, she does not say anything, deciding the silence is easier and not willing to open up the conversation, especially as it may imply a willingness to divulge anything about what he walked in on.]
[ Though he can't help that he's stumbling a little bit mentally when she talks about being okay with him being "clingy". Though he'd argue it's less clingy and more him being a bit more of an extrovert.
Jae blinks, before he shuts his eyes with a half-amused huff and shakes his head. ]
I've certainly had much less desirable company. Though What I mean is that I wouldn't mind learning more about the one who summoned me here, accident or no.
[Before, Eun wouldn't have thought much about Jae in a state of clingy-ness, or what that might entail, but having gotten used to him over the last several weeks she finds herself curious now. She trusts him, in as much as she can, and trusts the bond between them enough to feel safe around him. She sleeps at night very well, even with a demon under her roof.
Kyungja might say that she's stupid for lowering her guard around him, but Eun feels like she's a good enough judge of people, even demons, to know that if he meant her harm he would have done something before now. Which means that she takes him just as he presents himself to her.]
Me? What do you want to know about me that you don't already?
I suppose more about what you're like in the day-to-day. Outside of what we already talk about.
[ When he's feeling more charitable about sharing, anyway. Jae takes another drink as a means to give himself a few moments to collect himself. While under most circumstances, Eun's coven leader would be correct about being wary to trust demons, Jae is an exception to a few rules, admittedly.
He sets his cup down, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, fingers steepled. ]
And perhaps understanding more about life in general in the human realm. I'm generally not around for extended periods of time here on the surface.
[She hadn't expected to garner such focus from him when it comes to the subject of herself. With how he puts his drink aside and leans forward in a show of interest, or perhaps a show of respect that he'll listen to what she says, Jae seems ready to hear a lecture, even.
Granted, he follows with a comment about wanting to know about life outside in the rest of the world and Eun purses her lips together, trying to think of where to begin.]
This all feels very broad. Especially with life...I could tell you about school field trips and rock concerts all while you want to know about modern art or wedding traditions. [As for her...] We...perhaps we could kill two birds with one stone, however.
[This may be a terrible thing she's thinking of suggesting, but her gut is telling her that more good could come of it than not.]
[ Eun staying in her full demon form doesn't surprise him, especially if she's feeling especially vulnerable from what had happened earlier. They all had their defensive mechanisms, and it's not like he could really talk, considering how he had acted in the beginning while the two of them were trying to figure out the exact nature of their relationship as master and familiar.
He blinks a little in surprise when she comes in and picks out her tea already, honestly expecting her to come out much later. But he doesn't say anything, opting to let her speak only if she wants to while he finishes preparing their tea.
He pours a shot of whiskey into a shot glass to add to the tea once it's ready, and fidgets a little with his hands while he waits for the water to boil. The tension in the air from the silence is killing him, but he also doesn't want to make Eun retreat more, wanting to gain more of an understanding with his familiar. Though he wouldn't deny that he's curious about the earlier events, and especially why it was a facsimile of him that she was draped over. Logically, it could be easily explained by the fact that he's probably one of the only people she's seen as of recently, but a small voice in the back of his head says otherwise. ]
I'm sorry that I've been ... away a lot, as of late.
[ Jae can't help but huff out a laugh at the first part. ]
Perhaps not the minutiae of every aspect of life, those things we do have at least some basic understanding of, after all.
[ It comes with a lot of demons being former humans, and sharing that knowledge with others. Never mind that there needed to be some base knowledge of human day-to-day life in order for some of their brethren to be able to meet any sort of quotas for corrupting and converting souls.
The proposition, however ... admittedly has him intrigued, a small smirk appearing on his face while he watches her. ]
[As the silence between them remains, Eun almost wonders if perhaps he won't even speak of it at all. Yes, he said doing so might lead them to greater understanding, but it was possible he might very well respect her wishes for privacy. Inasmuch as she can have, anyway. Eun looks up only now and again to watch him tend to the kettle, pouring whiskey for her cup in the meantime.
When he speaks, it's not what she expects, but Eun isn't so stupid as to not see where it could lead.]
You have important goals you are working toward. You're under no obligation to be here, and owe me no apology.
[He doesn't, by contract anyway. Already he treats her better than most demon familiars are in their arrangements. It's easy enough for her to see that he mentions it, however, under the premise that perhaps she created this version of him out of some sense of missing him...
...and perhaps she did. Or missed connection. Or freedom. Maybe she's missing being human and the intimacy that could come with it...or simply missing touching and being touched. All of which are things she would not readily talk about.
She decides she will broach the subject of earlier however in attempt to cut things off at the pass.]
What you saw earlier...won't happen again. Even when you are gone.
[Surely that will reassure him. Or inform him of her lack of desire to explain. Or something.]
[Eun pushes herself up from the couch, the corner of her mouth tugged up at one side as she stands long enough to cross the distance. She plucks Jae's glass from atop its coaster and draws it up to her mouth to take a sip as well.]
I think that since my attempts to figure out how to reverse what bound us together haven't really been bearing any fruit...I'll need to bring the leader of my coven in on what's happened before too long. If that's the case, there's no reason to keep you cooped up here so. So, I may as well...take you out with me for a day. Let you get fresh air from somewhere that isn't an open window, stretch your legs.
[She sets the glass down again and comes to stand, half sitting on the arm of the couch as she watches Jae curiously, wondering what his reaction might be.]
Unless you think it would be better for us to hole up together here for the day to keep you occupied.
[ For some reason, Jae's metaphorical hackles raise when Eun mentions bringing in her coven leader to help with their predicament, though he's ... really not sure why.
His eyes widen a little once she mentions the actual proposition, and he freezes as he's about to pick up his drink again. ]
No! ... No. I don't think that staying here would be all that interesting. I've already read through most of your library at this point, and I doubt I'd be too helpful in a majority of your magic.
So I'm more than okay with potentially going outside.
[It's hard not to laugh a little in response to his reaction, finding his enthusiasm rather endearing and entirely understandable.]
I might take offense that my company isn't enough to keep you entertained if I didn't know that you're probably going insane staying in here all day, every day.
[The only thing they could do inside together would likely involve meals and endless bouts of board times, internet surfing, and TV binge-watching...
Normally, for Eun, if she was spending all day inside with someone it would involve only leaving her bed to enjoy other surfaces of her apartment, but with a permanent house-guest her personal life has taken a bit of a hit. Alas.]
Still, I feel that I should be at least attempting to make your stay in this realm a little more hospitable.
[ As if he didn't summon a demon to try and help him in his goal of unification, and instead only had other dignitaries over to entertain. That this was more than what ultimately amounted to a business transaction.
Still, it felt wrong thinking of it in those terms. ]
I'm-
[ Jae's interrupted from further protest when the kettle goes off, and he cuts himself off to sigh and glance over at it like it had slighted him. At the very least, it interrupted his train of thought. He moves to pour the tea for both of them, but continues talking. Nope, he has to finish this thought or else he's not going to get the chance to again. ]
I wouldn't mind it. Being there for you in that sense in reality.
[It takes a great deal of effort to bite back the retorts she might make to him based on her own knee-jerk reaction to his words. Pride being her downfall makes her want to tell him that she doesn't need his hospitality. That there is nothing he, a mere human, could offer of her to make her deign to accept. What would he try to do, offer to find some other master who has summoned a demon and arrange a play date?
Eun shakes her head a little behind his back as he moves to tend to the kettle. She watches him grasp the handle and begin to pour hot water into both of their cups--and then for the first time since he summoned her, Jae manages to surprise her. He may be gratified to see a surprised look on her face for the space of a second before it's replaced with a bitter sort of wariness.]
You're only saying that because you know that I wouldn't ask that of you, and what you saw--what do you think you saw, Jae? Did you think that when your back is turned all I would do is drape over that illusion for a cuddle? Did it seem like I was fawning over my master, and that's why you're offering now? [She snorts then, pulling her teacup closer and grasping a spoon to give it a stir, mixing the whisky in with the water a bit better.] That was just the first act. You'd mind being there for me in reality, especially looking like this instead of the illusion. Every inch of me a demon you can't pretend is human.
[So much for pretending he saw nothing, for acting as if nothing happened. His offer blind-sided her and she hadn't been able to keep her mouth shut, crumbling immediately to the words she couldn't help but spit out between them as if they might serve as a wall.]
[ He doesn't notice it at first, more focused on taking care of the tea first before he looks up. Eun has been here long enough that she knows that Jae tends to be very deliberate about what he says, so while this seems to have come from out of nowhere, he's being sincere about it.
And he's watching her once he's got his tea in hand, frowning a little. Perhaps it wasn't the best thing to say, but still... ]
No, of course not. I'm under no illusion of who you are, so to speak. What you're capable of. [ He steps around the kitchen island, setting his mug down as he gently puts a hand up to cup her face. ]
I'm not saying you were fawning over me. Or whoever you've molded in your illusions. But I'm offering because I'm genuinely interested.
Even in this form, you're stunning, Eun. [ Fuck it.
He leans in, pressing a kiss against her lips, hoping to communicate his intent loud and clear. ]
[She can't deny the truth of his words. He summoned her because of what she is. He wanted her for her abilities, for the way she could shore up his power as he tried to change his world for the better.
The moment Jae starts to approach her, however, Eun finds herself straightening on her seat. The bar stool gives her just a little bit of height that she doesn't have when standing, putting them eye to eye in a way they usually aren't. She doesn't expect him to really want to offer her anything worthwhile, and she doesn't want to accept a pity fuck from someone with power over her.
But Jae has a habit of cutting to the truth. She's seen him with others, watched him wield words as skillfully as her illusions. Being his target now is surprising, and truthfully she doesn't know how to counter his sincerity. Especially when he claims that he is genuinely interested. Especially when he surprises her by calling her stunning, even in this form.
He leans in before she realizes he's serious, lips pressing to lips. The sensation makes her nerves tingle in a way none of her illusions have ever managed, and it's the slight gasp that slips from her that parts her lips against his. Mind whirling, she tries to make sense of what he's said, wondering if he's only putting up with this because he wants to get laid, or because he's attracted to the human facade she'd worn earlier, but physical cravings overwhelm her and make it hard to think. Unable to think clearly, she slowly begins to respond to his kiss.]
[ In reality, he's not sure where he was going with all this, but for once he's being impulsive and just going along with his gut feeling. He's no stranger to intimacy, of course, though his current trajectory of doing things had made it a little difficult for him to really engage in it.
And truthfully, it clearly is more than just general attraction between either of the forms that she's shown him so far. It's also genuine interest in who she is herself.
He leans in closer, putting his other arm around her shoulders, and he lets out a relieved sigh and a soft hum before he pulls away, just enough to give them both some air. ]
[She'd like to mistrust what he says and what he offers. She knows him well enough by now to know he has a soft enough heart to want to do something for someone because he feels badly for them. It wouldn't surprise her to learn that he's making this offer out of pity, something that she not only would never forgive but would also make him regret to the end of his days.
And yet...she also knows that Jae never lies to her. He is honest, and he would not cross this line with her if he wasn't telling the truth that he wouldn't mind a sort of friendly benefits arrangement and that he finds her stunning both as a demon and with the the human illusion she wore. Pride is a tricky thing, and part of her doesn't like that she would come into this from a position of weakness compared to him...but it's also true that she misses physical intimacy and Jae was the object of her recent illusions for a reason. He is stunning himself.
A little shocked that he made a move on her all the same, Eun is slow to respond, but she does eventually nod. The weight of his arm around her shoulders is strange and new, and she shifts a little under it before tentatively reaching for him. Her hand finds his side and rests there, watching his face to see how he reacts to her touching him, even through his clothes.]
Yes. [Her leg swings forward, gently slipping behind his to hook the blunt back of her heel behind his knee.] Does your offer include more than just sex?
[ Not pity. Never pity. Not in this case, anyway. While he is soft-hearted at times, he knows that Eun has her pride on the line here as well. He respects her too much to make that mistake.
He doesn't flinch when she rests a hand at his side, and even easily goes along when she hooks her leg around the back of his knees. He gives a smile, nodding gently. ]
[She thinks better of him for his easy answer, that he doesn't stand there and make her say what she means. Eun won't tell him why she made her illusions, won't explain what she was up to beyond what she has already, but they both know he saw what he saw. He had to have realized it isn't just physical satisfaction that she's longing for.
Considering his answer, she eventually shakes her head in acknowledgement. No, that's not all she wants. Her face tilts up toward his, considering the look in his eyes, the shape his mouth, and the tilt of his cheek bones. Carefully, she closes that distance to press a soft, lingering kiss to his mouth, and then pulls away.]
I think we should take our tea into the living room where it's more comfortable.
[ He murmurs with a grin. While this is certainly not how he expected things to turn out, Jae certainly can't really complain about it, either. He bites his lip after she pulls away, and he gives a hum in acknowledgement. ]
It'll be more comfortable for us on the sofa anyway.
[ Though he is a little reluctant to pull away, he does so that they both can be more comfortable - grabbing his own mug to settle down on the couch while he waits for her to come back. ]
[Eun lets Jae pull away, arm and leg dropping so he can grab his mug and take it into the other room. Lingering behind, Eun has a moment of hesitation, wondering if this really is the right course of action. Being found before had made her embarrassed and furious, and she had truly wanted to let things disappear without a word...
But Jae's offer had been so sincere and genuine, and her lips are still warm from the touch of his. For once, she wonders if he'll suffer somehow for getting involved with her, and wonders if she'll care. Shaking her head once more, she pushes the thought aside. She wants too much to be touched, to have closeness with someone, to let worries like that get in the way.
Her garments change as she carries her own mug into the living room after him. The severe, high-necked garment gives way to something more revealing, baring her shoulders and decolletage. The form-fitting pants shift into a knee-length skirt, showing shapely ankles and bare feet as she moves toward where Jae sits on the couch. Her approach slows as she gets nearer, but in the end Eun decides to go after what she wants.
She lowers herself onto his lap, and as she lets her legs hang over the side of his, she reaches for his free hand and settles it on her hip where she wants it. Her gaze travels up after, not challenging him to say something but certainly wondering if he'll comment.]
[ While he doesn't regret what he did, Jae is thinking about things a little more now that he's apart from Eun, if only temporarily. He takes a sip of his tea, relishing the taste and warmth before he sets it down.
And when he looks up again, his lips part slightly in surprise at the shift in her outfit, and how she easily sits down on his lap and guides his hand to her hip. He raises an eyebrow at her doing so, but his smile is back and he does seem to be relaxed. ]
[While Eun wouldn't say that she's nervous, there is a part of her that feels as if she needs to be prepared for Jae to change his mind. He kissed her, he didn't flinch away from touching her in the kitchen...and normally she wouldn't expect a man who summoned a demon to shy away. Jae isn't like most people who summon demons, however, and in this situation Eun doesn't feel like most demons. It's a little unsettling, and she wonders if he'll be fine right up until the part where they might go to bed...]
Yes, very. [She lifts her cup to her lips and takes a sip. It's hot, but she tolerates higher temperatures better now than she did while still a human. Her dark eyes study Jae's features from over her cup as she gets used to the feel of sitting on the real him instead of an illusion. The weight of his hand on her hip.] Would you have made the same offer if not for tonight?
[ It's a valid concern, though Jae would hope he wouldn't be the type to go back on his word after trying to prove his sincerity. He shifts a little, if only to make sure that the both of them are comfortable, before he makes sure that his mug was set down as he frames both hands on her waist. ]
I ... eventually would have, I think.
[ It's punctuated with a small nod. ] Perhaps not this way, but ... yes.
Page 2 of 3