you do this, you do

[nunchii]

ROOK

i.
[ most of the time, Rook is aware of where he is going and what random surface he is deciding to nap on. he has his favourite spots, out side of his hoard of pillows and blankets, and they are usually in presence of other demons, the few vampires he has decided he likes, or the bar in downtown Seoul that caters to those with magic in their blood.

this couch is in none of those places.

it smells like earth and dampness and moss first off.

second, there is way less magic in the air here and it's weird. well there is magic, a kind that Rook hasn't felt in a long while, and nothing like the static feeling of too many magical creatures in one area brings to his skin. this is... calmer. more unified.

still, he has no fucking clue where he is. not that it seems to bother him. the demon hums and sits up on the couch hair a mess and eyes half lidded, standing out if only because he is clad in just loose black pants and a whole lotta gold body jewellery.

what there are standards for demons of lust okay? sometimes he cares enough to hold himself to them. kinda.

his voice is rough when he speaks.]

Mm, where 'm I?



ii.
[ Rook doesn't need to stay. he can leave as easily as he came (but with more intention), can slide between the worlds and slink back to hell where he has whatever he needs to make eternity terrible for others. but--

and isn't there always a 'but'

he kinda likes it here. this place is weird, with the people and the place. the magic that is so different in them all but also strangely similar. how all these beings are under one roof in the swamp and have found things that so many spend their whole existences searching for.

how there is more love than lust here and well fuck, isn't that something.

so yeah, Rook could leave. Rook should leave. there isn't much for him to do here with his Cardinal. there are only so many strings for him to pull on (and yeah yeah yeah, a good demon would seduce and destroy, would ruin relationships and cause hurt but-- if you ask Rook he doesn't do that because he is lazy, not because he if soft). but he doesn't. he stays.

stays and starts bringing little pieces that he likes into the home. a pillow. a blanket. a set of dishes where none of them match but they are inlaid with precious stones so who cares. today's present is a bookshelf. complete with books. mostly in dead languages but hey, it's the thought that counts right?

Rook is in the middle of the living room (or what he thinks is the living room) hands on his hips and head cocked as he tries to figure out where the shelf would look best.

feel free to help him out.]

Ros

i.
[ the early morning, Ros has found, is the best time for him to practice much of anything in this place. sure he still goes to the underworld, still has his haunts and the shadows but--

he likes this place. these people. so he has taken to sticking around whenever he doesn't have a job that needs to be done. not because he thinks that they need protecting (they totally need protecting, almost more from themselves than from outsiders) but because he likes it here.

so early morning, when the sun is just thinking about getting up and most everyone is asleep, if not quiet, Ros can be found on the grounds outside with more than a few short blades in his hands and a concentrated look on his face.

ever since the war, ever science the adaptation of science and magic and everything, Ros has found that he cannot rely on his hound form as much, cannot rely on what he is, so he needs to adjust. needs to learn. and learn quickly (which considering he is a weapon isn't very hard at all). still, practice is necessary and, since he does not need much sleep, it is a nice way to just-- exist for a while. ]


ii.
[ if you happen to pass by the kitchen, you might notice one (1) rather confused looking hellhound who is staring at what appears to be a rather fancy looking espresso machine. the machine in question is sitting on the counter, in the middle of a hastily cleared spot, with a bag of actual coffee beans next to it while Ros leans against the table and just stares at it.

you see, he learned very early on that everyone here is quite fond of coffee (well, not all but--) so, being the being he is, Ros set out to find the best of the best. apparently this machine was supposed to be one of the best so long as you had the right beans (which he did make sure to grab) and followed the instructions (which he did not have at all). which is why he is looking confused.

because how the hell were you supposed to turn those beans into liquid coffee? the hound has no idea.]

Sage

i.
[ to say that Sage feels like shit would be a bit of an understatement. he isn't sure what is worse, death maybe? but he is certainly there. ever since the night where he made the fucking brilliant choice to let Minsu into his room (and subsequently kicked him out) the witch has been no where to be found within the confines of the house.

or even the immediate swamp.

Sage has, despite knowing better, been in the darkest parts of the swamp where the sun barely reaches and humans haven't been in fucking centuries (okay, maybe they have, but shhh) with no real point to it all but to just get out. be alone. away.

maybe to punish himself a little bit but, that is neither here nor there.

the magic in this part of the swamp is thicker, is heavier and seeps into his bones and makes it easy for him to forget about fucking humans and their brilliant smiles, or their soft mouths or--

(such a soft and fragile thing, the human heart is witchling. careful.)

Sage doesn't really forget anything, but he does manage to push more magic into the wards and finds a small patch of fungus that he can most certainly use in potions so not a total loss. still, when he trudges back into the house, covered in swamp and a little paler than usual, he isn't so sure that is a good win.

the witch leaves the ingredients he found on the kitchen table (along with a note stating not to eat them because he really doesn't want to deal with that, thanks Ten) then makes his way to the washroom to clean himself off and then to his room to get dressed. and if he comes out wearing sweatpants that belong to Ros for how huge the are and Minsu's shirt, well--- shut up.

he is then making his way back to the kitchen for coffee. because jesus fuck he needs that. ]



ii.
[ inhale. exhale. inhale. exhale-- you can do this!

Sage isn't usually a nervous person. not even a little. but-- standing outside Minsu's door with a basket full of fresh berries (that cost him more than he would like to admit but worth it) and a new frying pan, the witch is nearly shaking with nerves.

what if Minsu left? what if he hates him? what if he tries to smack him upside the head with the frying pan and just--

Sage knocks before his mind talks him out of this.]

... Minsu? You there?

Comments

rook - 1

[hoodwinker]

[what in the fresh hell.

jiho can only stare at him, mouth slightly agape, eyes trailing over the pants, the obnoxiously golden body jewelry. it's all so much that the normal reaction that jiho might have to a stranger in the house is lost.]

Who brought you home?

[jiho needs to talk to them.]

[nunchii]

[ actually he is from the older part of hell, but it's hard to tell sometimes. he has aged really really well.

with a hum Rook turns slowly and blinks, crooked smile appearing on his face as he runs his fingers through his hair. it doesn't tame the nap hair at all, but Rook doesn't much mind; he looks good no matter what.the movement makes the bangles and chains around his wrists clink together, the gems catching in the low light.

Rook pays no mind to the fact that he is wearing millions of dollars worth of gold. please don't try to kill him for it. ]

Mmm? Dunno? I kinda woke up here. Anyone into summoning demons?

[hoodwinker]

[demon summoning. jiho turns on his heel and heads straight for sage's room.

of course, it doesn't take him long to find out that the witch didn't summon him. neither did anyone bring him home. so when jiho stalks back into the room, it's with purpose.]

Get out of our house.

[it's hissed through teeth, a quiet sort of fury. jiho steps onto the edge of the table, and for a moment he's sort of towering above rook - and then he's gone.

in the next breath, he's suddenly behind the couch, one hand pressing at the demon's body, and the other plunging a sharp blade at his throat.]

[nunchii]

[ how rude, thinking Sage would summon demons. on purpose at least.

still, Rook is still sitting on the couch when he returns looking just as half asleep as before. even when the other seems to bristle and snarling. Rook blinks.]

Um, okay I was just--

[ and then he isn't there and Rook is confused until there is that feeling of danger under his skin and holyhell, this kid can move. the demon moves just enough that he won't bleed all over the couch but lets the blade cut him. he could have avoided it entirely but-- well--]

Wow, knife kink your thing? A little warning there, doll. I mean, I'm into it if you are but a little warning first you know?

[ then Rook is ash beneath his fingers. at least that is what seems to happen. but Rook is fine, and slouched on against the far wall with his hand to the cut on his neck and a pout on his face.] What did I eve do!

[hoodwinker]

[he missed.

jiho will berate himself about that over and over again, because he can't miss like that. sometimes - fuck, most times - that first chance is his only one. he's not big, quite the opposite. he's not especially strong. he just wraps the shadows around him and comes out of them just long enough for one strike.

this time he's the one surprised, by rook's appearance and now his disappearance. jiho turns his hands over, looks at the ash on his fingertips and the smear of blood on the blade. then he hears rook's voice from across the room.]

How did you get in this house!

[jiho hops over the couch, but he needs to know. they need to seal up whatever crack this one got through.]

[nunchii]

[ don't beat yourself up too much there, candy crush. most people do miss, even when they don't. if that makes sense.

he continues to pout though, no matter how incensed you look and how you might have a small existential crisis there. Rook really isn't used to such a violent reaction. well except that one time in the Vatican but that-- well that was a long story and less about him and more about the cardinal the summoned him. oops.

Rook makes a noise and licks his blood off his fingers.]

I told you, I don't know! Either I sleep travel, which is possible, or someone in this house summoned a lust demon and forgot to leave a note about it on the fridge.

[hoodwinker]

A lust demon.

[he was wrong to just check sage's room. if jiho had known that, he would've checked in with a couple of the others as well.

the words 'get out' are on the tip of his tongue. because assuming that he is telling the truth, that he somehow ended up here accidentally, they can't afford to let him stay.

and then jiho thinks about it a little more, how he's seen the house and him and has some sort feeling for everyone else in the house for all he knows.

when he thinks of that, jiho isn't sure they can afford to let him leave either.]

If someone did summon you, are there rules? Would you have to obey them?

[nunchii]

That is what I said, yes.

[ the words are slow, like he isn't sure if that is a good thing or not. like maybe he should have kept that to himself but, well, too late now. he can see the gears turning in his head and Rook wonders if it is okay to not be so on guard for now.

slowly Rook pushes off the wall and moves back towards the couch. look it was a comfy couch okay!

he doesn't tear his gaze from the knife wielding one though.]

Usually if someone summons me the rule is to get the off in whatever way they want. Aside from that, don't kill 'em where they stand but-- that isn't my style ever honestly. [ a slow shrug. he might be a demon, but he has the lowest body count out of all of them. ] Once I start pulling on those strings, yeah I kinda do have to obey them.