Thousand nights, I repeated so many times

[arbitratour]

 
(aka the placeholder for all the roleswaps that got springboarded because of this fucking performance)

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a vicious cycle of nightmares, I'll end it now - jae as a bound familiar

[arbitratour]

[ Being summoned as a witch's familiar isn't the worst thing that could've happened to him, but it's certainly not something that he would have expected. Jae runs a hand through his hair, frowning a little. The mark of their contract branded over his eye flares a little, iris turning ice blue as he skims through one of the books that Eun has in the apartment.

Thinking on it, he clicks his tongue before shutting the book softly, reaching for the drink sitting on the coffee table in front of him. Dwelling on things probably wouldn't do any of them any good. He leans back into the couch, lifting his arm and watching as a vine winds itself around it, sliding out from under his sleeves. Besides, there were other things that could be happening right now. ]

[lastcall]

[Eun still doesn't know how it happened. She's so, so careful with her spellwork. She doesn't do it often and for that reason alone she's meticulous, and yes, she'd been doing something a little above her weight class but also it had nothing to do with finding a familiar. Summoning and binding a demon as her familiar had been a mistake of colossal proportions and she still doesn't know how to undo things in a way that doesn't result in her dying horribly. Or freeing Jae to make her wish she was dead.

It's been a couple months now and she's managed to find a sort of balance with him, at least. His bindings prevent him from hurting her or working against her, and she's managed to use those same connections to keep him from destroying everything she owns and cares about in a rage. While she doesn't make a point of being polite to him (at least not any more than in is her nature) she at least doesn't go out of her way to antagonize him or needle him about what she knows is a humiliating set of circumstances for him.

They...more or less manage to coexist if not in peace then some semblance of a truce.

It's after a late night at the bar that Eun returns home to her apartment. She finds Jae on her couch, with one of her spellbooks in front of her, and her lips turn down into a little frown before she turns away to slip her shoes off.]

Use a coaster, Jae.

[arbitratour]

[ At the very least, Jae can say without hesitation that despite the setbacks, having Eun as the one who has him bound isn't all that bad. Of course there were some arguments in the beginning - it was almost unheard of not to when it came to dealing with demons, after all. Probably didn't help that his summoning was by complete accident.

He wasn't exactly thrilled with finding that particular tidbit of information out, to say the least. Didn't exactly help that for the most part, there wasn't much for him to actually do, minor assistance in everyday chores aside.

His gaze flicks back to the door a few moments before Eun enters, having sensed her approach through her magic. It goes back to him tapping his finger against the cover of the book that he was reading, only for him to sigh and roll his eyes at her request for a coaster. But, regardless, he does do it, pulling one out from a drawer in the coffee table and plunking his glass down on it once it's set. ]

Happy?

[lastcall]

[She knows that as a demon he could be helping someone more powerful. Someone who actually is trying to do enough to need his help. It might be a little insulting to him to be bound to a witch who, despite her power, has no ambitions towards greater power and prestige. It can't be helped. She is who she is, after all, and that isn't going to change just because she has an unwanted roommate.]

Yes, thank you.

[She doesn't address him again, not while she settles into home. There are work clothes to take off, pajamas to put on, her face to wash, and everything else. Ten minutes later, by the time she's done, she's padding barefoot back into the living room and tucking herself into the corner of the couch nearby. Eun looks over to Jae then, a little tired from her work shift but also too awake to fall asleep right away.]

What would you be doing if you weren't stuck with me?

[Maybe she ought to have said something to lead up to the question but the thought has been on her mind all evening. What would Jae have been doing normally if he weren't bound to her home as her familiar?]

[arbitratour]

[ It takes all sorts to make this world, but he would be lying if he weren't a little disappointed in the beginning. But not everyone wanted power for power's sake. He understood that better than most, not that he really talked much about his life in the first place to warrant those sorts of questions.

Still.

He gets up and stretches while Eun is settling in, making a drink for her real quick before setting it down and settling back into his seat.

The question, though. That has him pausing. Considering. ]

I suppose I would be back in Hell. I don't generally come to the surface all that often, not these days, anyway.

[lastcall]

[Eun looks over at the drink as she draws her legs up onto the couch, and reaches over to grab it. She gives a little murmur of thanks before taking a sip, knowing that she probably shouldn't have a drink but also...who is she to refuse one already made?

With a sigh she rolls on the couch until she's settled her forearms on the arm of the couch, and rested her chin atop them. She looks over at Jae, head tilted to the side as her fingertips toy with the smooth surface of the glass.]

Do you like it better there? Do you miss it?

[arbitratour]

Mm, there's things that I do and don't miss, if I had to be honest.

[ It's not an easy question to answer, but Jae does do his best to try and do so despite the fact that he's not meeting her gaze as he thinks. ]

The scenery here is generally more pleasant, as well as present company. And I don't miss the amount of bureaucracy down there.

[ It's the most he's said in a while, never mind the kindest he's been in his words. Not that he'd admit it, but perhaps something about tonight has him being a little more open than usual. ]

But it's still home. And there are beings that I miss.

[lastcall]

[Eun hadn't been fishing for compliments, but she'll take it that both she and her home are better than Hell. Surely there's something to be said for that. It goes without saying that Jae would probably prefer his freedom above all else...but barring that perhaps things aren't an eternal torment here.

One hopes.

She rises up enough to take a sip of her drink, savoring the slow burn down her throat, and continues to regard him with a low level of curiosity.]

Friends? Lovers? Pets, perhaps?

[Her words hold just a little twist of humor at the end, and yes, perhaps she's tried to hide what she's most interested in hearing about in the middle of her questions. Maybe she's been watching too much reality TV lately, but could anyone blame her for wondering about the personal lives of demons?]

[arbitratour]

[ It's not like eternal torment, no. Far from it. But she would be right in that he would at least prefer the opportunity to have more freedom. The vine that was originally coiled around his arm slides back underneath his sleeve as he contemplates how to answer, taking a moment to think first. ​]

There are definitely those that I'd consider friends, yes. [ Lovers, though... that has him raising his eyebrows slightly. It doesn't help that there perhaps is at least one being that fits that particular bill. But he's not really in any sort of mood to be sharing that. Despite his openness earlier, there were limits to it, after all. Never mind that even though Eun has shown no inclination for it, it still could be used against him in some capacity. ]

[lastcall]

[Jae's vines have always been a source of reluctant fascination for Eun. She finds them a little miraculous, better than any CG in any movie or television show she's ever seen. That it slips away out of sight distracts her enough that her gaze lingers at the edge of his sleeve before her gaze slides up to meet his once more.

That raised eyebrow of his makes it clear that she hasn't been all that subtle about her actual interest, and though her cheeks color faintly she does her best to look unruffled by his noticing.]

Must be boring for you to have only me for company and only while I'm around, then.

[arbitratour]

It ... can be a little lonely, yes. But I'm also not going to force you to change your routine just because I might be in need of companionship.

[ Jae wrinkles his nose, leaning back in his seat. Eun wasn't subtle about her interest, but he does appreciate the redirection in the conversation. ]

Wouldn't exactly be very becoming of someone of my standing to be clingy, anyway.

[lastcall]

[Eun hadn't been considering changing her routine for Jae. Sipping at the drink he's made, she'd been wondering if his friends were trustworthy. Were they looking for him? Could she somehow arrange for some sort of visitations or allow Jae out? Was it inhumane to keep him cooped up in her place? Perhaps she ought to be confessing to the coven what had happened since she wasn't making any headway on separating them herself...

But Jae's response gets the wheels in her head turning. She drinks again, letting it relax her after her shift at the bar and watches him with a steady gaze.]

No one would be here to see it but me, if you were. [She points this out with a little smile.] Maybe I should call in sick tomorrow. Take a day off and help you stave off a case of cabin fever.

[arbitratour]

[ He wouldn't be surprised if some of those he had come to call friends and companions might be a little worried about his sudden disappearance, but unfortunately it couldn't be helped. It's not unheard of for someone to summon him, but generally there's more to it. He's more known for ending conflict quickly.

There's a brief moment or two where he seems to examine his nails before he lets out a soft hum, eyebrows raising slightly as she points out a flaw in his (admittedly weak) argument. ]

Fair point. But I wouldn't want you to get in trouble because of me, either. My being here is enough of a liability as it is.

illusion is an anodyne, bred by the gap between wish and reality - demon!eun familiar

[lastcall]

[Illusion work has always been Eun's strength. Even as a witch, it was one of her greatest powers, a mixture of magic and light manipulation, all to form the most fantastic of images. It was the added boost of magic that could make it more. She could create not just visions but sounds and scents, and with more power even give something taste or fool the mind into registering touch. As a demon, her power has only grown, not that it's of any special use to Jae.

It's been several weeks since she found herself summoned and bound to him, and while she's fulfilled her duties as his familiar, she can't say that he's actually needed her to make use of her greatest skills on his behalf.

In a way, it makes them feel as though they are still for her, and so she uses them for herself in private. It started out simple. Creating rooms that looked like the outdoors, lush with flowers and fruits, or taking scenes from movies and making it seem as if she were standing right there among the characters.

One particularly lonely night, when it had been dark and Jae had been out late, she'd created a companion for herself. He'd been faceless, ageless, little more than a shape of a person, like something you'd see out of the corner of your eye. That night she'd allowed herself to curl up on his lap and play at being human again. After, she'd felt foolish and told herself she'd never do it again...but a few nights later she'd found herself unable to resist giving the person more form. It was practice, she told herself, keeping her unused skills honed for future use one day.

One night turned into another, and another, all done in the private while Jae was away. And one of those nights, when she hadn't been focusing all that much, the illusion man she created ended up looking like Jae. It felt like a dangerous temptation, and she ought to have changed him at once, but working from someone she knew was so much easier. She knew by then how he walked. How he moved and his mannerisms. She knew the sound of his voice and the things he might say...it became something of a project.

She never expected to let herself fall so deeply into illusion but with so much of her old life ripped away from her, and it being her own fault...it became impossible to resist.

Which is how she comes to be there now, with the illusion of Jae dressed casually and sitting in his arm chair. Standing behind the chair, Eun drapes over him, cheek pressed to his cheek and hands laying gently over his chest. One moves, stroking him affectionately as she turns her head to kiss his cheek. The motion prompts him to turn his head, to look her in the eyes with an expression he's never shown her in reality. One she imagines to be the one he'd give a lover, someone he feels some affection for.

So lost in the illusion, in the moment she's created for herself, she doesn't hear anything, doesn't sense anyone approaching until the front door is wide open, giving the person standing there a complete view of Eun, in the guise of her human self, wrapped around her illusion with a softness she had rarely shown anyone even when she was human.]

[arbitratour]

[ When Jae had been desperate to call upon certain forces to protect his people and his home, he wasn't exactly expecting who had come out from the summoning circle when he had finished the rite. And while he knew not to underestimate anyone based solely on appearance (himself being a prime example); there still was some degree of disbelief when it was all said and done.

Still...

It wasn't as if the endeavor was all for nothing, either. Eun had a unique perspective on things, never mind that with her skillset and background knowledge on magic, he could still make sure that they were protected.

Or at least that's what he would like to think. The two of them were still on shaky ground when it came to brass tacks, but he hoped that would change soon.

It's late when he gets back - it's been happening more and more lately, it seemed - and to Eun's credit, he doesn't generally make a show of it when he arrives, letting out a deep breath once he opens the door and runs a hand through his hair to ground himself before his gaze flickers upward -

It's the position that has him standing frozen in the doorway, something that he never thought that he'd be seeing. It feels like he's intruding on something extremely private and intimate, and under normal circumstances he would likely be turning around and shutting the door behind him quietly in order to give Eun some time alone.

But upon closer inspection, it's the fact that not only is his familiar in her human form, though still looking gorgeous and ethereal in his eyes - but also that she's wrapped around what could be an identical twin of himself, and said twin is looking at her with a fondness that he hasn't shown.

He swallows - and is reminded of certain visions that have come to mind when he's been alone or asleep. Obviously he doesn't want to intrude, but also...

His curiosity is getting the better of him. Is this really what she thinks of him Or what she hopes from him? He should announce his presence, say something, but he can't muster up the words, instead still staring at the tableau in front of him from the doorway, surprised, but with a soft edge to it. ]

[lastcall]

[Jae is rightfully focused on the safety of his city, of his people. Summoning her had been an act of desperation and as much as Eun resents the fact that he can, and can tell her what to do, she can at least understand his motivations. If pushed to examine their relationship, she would say that her initial fury has given way for a begrudging civility. He hasn't been cruel to her or offensive in any way other than taking advantage of circumstances she got herself into in the first place.

She's certainly never consciously entertained any romantic feelings for him...

But if she were to dig deeper perhaps she would admit that in this illusion she's woven, he represents something out of her grasp now.

Eun leans in toward the illusion of Jae with every intention of kissing him, when a flicker of movement catches her eye. She jolts up at once, startled. The illusion of Jae doesn't react to the intrusion but melts away into nothing, as if it was never there. The demon, who has never shown what she used to look like when she was human, casts away the facade as she registers Jae there. Her hair darkens and the slender horns on her head jut up once more. The whites of her eyes turn black as the dark brown of her irises turn gold. While playing at human she'd been wearing a soft sweater and pants, but having Jae see her like that--having him see everything makes her feel bared to the soul she's not even sure she has anymore. She armors up, metaphorically, clothes shifting to the severe and intimidating black garments she'd worn when they'd first met.

The expression on her face is conflicted, her lips open as if to say something, but she can't. She doesn't know how to explain any of this to Jae, and can't bear to think that he's seen her in such a vulnerable moment. Drawing herself up, stiff and uncomfortable, she uses her magic to translocate herself into the room she's been using since her summoning. Out of view, she flicks her fingers and slams the door shut and locked before Jae can follow her in there.]

[arbitratour]

[ Regardless of his own late-night thoughts, it's something that the two of them should breach at some point or another. He's done his best to accommodate their situation, as odd as it is. And he wants to be able to show Eun that he's doing is good. Is justified.

But then the images melt away, the illusion-self melts away, and Eun's form shifts into the same demon that he had encountered that first night during the ritual. The form that had taken Jae's breath away when he first summoned her. His own mouth is open slightly, wanting to say something as their eyes meet -

And in a burst of magic, she's disappeared into the guest bedroom that he had set up for her after the fact. And it's in that moment that whatever held him back from moving had disappeared, and he shuts the door before moving to follow, a hand resting against the door. ]

Eun, I-

[lastcall]

[Eun's heart is beating wildly in her chest as she stands in the bedroom. She's not sure whether she wants to curse Jae for coming home when she wasn't expecting him, or herself for not sensing his approach. Or even for wrapping herself in that illusory scene to begin with. Embarrassment doesn't even begin to cover the feelings she's dealing with now, and any hope she might have had of this going unspoken of is lost when Jae calls out her name. Not about to answer, she stands there, staring at her locked door, face red and mind thrown into chaos.

Why did she do it? Why? Jae's smart, it wouldn't take more than a night or two of contemplation for him to put together what he knows of her and what he saw her doing and make some uncomfortably accurate guesses as to what she was up to and why. She's a demon now, and no part of her is supposed to show weakness. She is supposed to be using their bond to tempt him into losing himself through his own pride and folly. She's supposed to be endangering his soul...

And yet there she is instead, flaunting her own weaknesses. As if the power in this arrangement weren't already skewed so heavily in his favor to begin with...

Maybe if she's quiet long enough he'll go away and never speak of this.]

[arbitratour]

[ He doesn't know why she did this, and for all intents and purposes, he could force the answer out of her. But he doesn't want to do that. Their bond is tenuous at best already despite previous attempts, and he doesn't want to make things even worse.

Jae lets out a sigh.

Right.
Okay.
He can do this. ]

I'm not mad, if that's what you're worried about. Please, can we talk about this?

[lastcall]

[For a brief moment she actually entertains the thought that perhaps Jae will let this go as an embarrassing moment they both want to pretend never happened. And then his voice makes its way through her door and Eun's eyes close.

Of course, the words are enough to make her snort before she can stop herself, very audibly through the same door. No, she's not worried about him being mad. She tells herself she's not worried about anything. Granted, she can't come up for another word for what her concerns are now about how she'll be perceived by him. By anyone who finds out what she was doing if word gets out...and what weakness may yet be exploited by her brethren if they catch wind of this.]

There's nothing to talk about.

[This is also uttered through the door.]

[arbitratour]

[ He can't let it go, if only because of the content of the earlier images. There's likely more to it, he knows that, but at the same time, it could just be because he's one of the only people that she's seen on a semi-regular basis.

Jae blinks slowly, fingers tapping against the wood - less of a knock and more a nervous tic to keep his hands busy. ]

Are you sure about that? Your reaction says otherwise.

[lastcall]

[A voice is one thing, but the fingertips tapping lightly against her bedroom door make her startle again, and she paces away from the door before turning, looking at it. Pacing back. She's not thinking clearly, because if she was she wouldn't engage. She'd remain silent. Jae's not the sort to use his power to order her around to force her out of there to talk about this, after all. Or at least he doesn't seem the sort who would. Too honorable with a sense of fair-play. It took her only a week to realize that she'd probably never be able to wear him down, not with this greater good he's trying to serve.]

I'm sure that if there were something to talk about, doing so would only serve to satisfy your curiosity.

[It's not as if there's anything she would get out of saying a single word on the matter.]

[arbitratour]

Perhaps, but it could also help us both understand each other better.

[ It's a long shot, but she isn't wrong in that he's curious, or that he's too entrenched in his ideals to resort to forcing the truth out through their bond. And sure, they do have more important things to worry about, but something like this, something this seemingly small in comparison to the greater good that he's trying to serve and is effectively condemning himself for, it feels ... almost normal.

Even though everything else around them is far from that. ]

Should I make some tea for us? Or a nightcap?

[lastcall]

[Jae's good and honorable. The opposite of everything she ought to be as a demon. And yet...he's not all that far from the woman she used to be. Pride continues to be her fatal flaw, the one that tells her that if she's a demon now she ought to be trying to be the best demon she can be. She should not let her bond to Jae weaken her. She cannot...she cannot recapture a life she threw away in her own hubris.

But she is feeling raw and off-balance, and while tea would normally appeal to her, the thought of a drink also sounds very good. Perhaps she can maneuver through a conversation long enough to get a drink without giving away too much. Surely she's skilled enough to manage that, right?]

I'll take some hot tea with whiskey in it.

[The best of both worlds, and without any agreement to talk about what he walked in on. Eun runs her fingers through her hair, but she hasn't emerged from the bedroom yet. Maybe when he goes to the kitchen she'll let herself out. Walk in on her own terms and timing.]

[arbitratour]

[ He doesn't know what the circumstances were that led to Eun's fall and subsequent rebirth as a demon, and despite the lengths he's gone, he knows that it's an incredibly intimate question to be asking. Prodding what she did earlier, why she did that and if it had anything to do with that, it felt ... wrong. It's no wonder that she closed herself off like she did, thinking on it.

But at least here, he can show that he's willing to let her come forward about any of it on her own terms, if she so desired.

He'd like to think that his abilities when it came to diplomacy would allow him to be able to get along with his familiar. ]

Okay. Come join me in the kitchen when you're ready.

[ He lowers his hand, giving one last glance at the bedroom door before he heads into the penthouse's kitchen, pulling out a kettle and two mugs from the drinkware cabinet, and a bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet. He fills the kettle, flipping it on once it's filled, and starts rifling through his tea stocks to see what would be best. Chamomile for himself, for sure, but what would pair best with the whiskey... ]