Entry tags:
you do this, you do

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?
no subject
sometimes Sage wonders how much he has missed in keeping himself a step back.
wonders if keeping himself a step back has worked at all. if he ever really needed to. he has tried to make it so that he doesn't close to anyone because he really is terrified of loving them and then having to bury them. afraid of having their blood on his hands. his sister-- fuck, she was just the first. there was the elder in the north that taught him control, the twins that shared their tips for survival during the first long winter alone, the family that sheltered the witch during the war--
Sage brings death, it is a part of his magic, he knows this, and he doesn't want to bring anymore. wants to see this little house of randoms be safe, and everyone be happy and-- fuck he really didn't make Minsu happy telling him to fuck off. wonders how he even manages to be in his presence right now after what he pulled.
but Minsu hears him out, takes the apology for what it is and-- fuck. Minsu is pulling his fingers out of his hair and pressing close and Sage is choking on a wet noise before he can stop himself. ]
Fuck, I can't-- Minsu, I'm sorry. I just-- fuck, I'm not amazing, or beautiful or-- fuck. [ Sage shudders, bows his head and inhales deeply.]
Her name was Lily. [ his voice is whisper quiet. it's the first time he has said her name out loud in thirteen years.] She was... she was my twin sister. I killed her, Minsu. My magic isn't fucking flower and sparkles, you know? It needs... It needs death and blood and bone, and sometimes it just takes it. The more it hurts, the more powerful the magic.
[ I don't want you to be next.]
no subject
and then he listens, imagines a girl with mint hair and fair skin, a scattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. and still he doesn't let go, not even to wipe the tears that slide down his cheek. he cries for lily, for sage, maybe even for the younger version of himself that thought magic was all shimmers in the air and flowers springing to life. now he hears the truth. he's not even afraid of ghosts now, because the dead surely don't envy the living at all. he's sure lily would not want to be in her brother's place.
minsu would trade places with her, but he's only human, no magic to turn back the clock or do alchemy or whatever if is he'd need to do to take the pain out of every breath that sage takes. all he can do is what he's doing right now. all he can do is love someone and hope it makes them hate themself a little less.]
This isn't your fault. [minsu squeezes his eyes shut, two more tears falling before he presses a kiss to the crown of the witch's head.] This isn't something you did. This is something that happened to you. And I'm telling you that you're amazing, and beautiful, and I'm sorry if that scares you, but it's true.
[minsu whispers those last two words again as he slides into the chair beside him, cups sage's face in his hands and tries to scatter kisses against his face.]
no subject
this does terrify him. truly, because gods he could get used to this. feeling fucking safe and wanted and-- home. he could grow to want and need this kind of feeling that he feels when Minsu wraps him up and presses kisses to his head and tells him that it isn't his fault like he means. in a way, Sage already craves it. because he doesn't push Minsu away, doesn't push out of the chair and flee. he just-- shudders and lets himself be held.
and then Minsu is next to him, light kisses on his face and fuck, Sage is shaking like a goddamned leaf. so he takes in a shuddering breath, the past and regrets sticking in his throat, and moves to curl his hands around Minsu's to hold them.]
I am terrified, Minsu. I am. [ honesty. Minsu deserves that. ] I don't know-- fuck, I don't want your blood to be next on my hands. I can't-- fuck I couldn't handle that.
no subject
Would it really be such a big loss? [minsu smiles a little, eyelashes fluttering.] I'm just a human. Kind of a trashy one at that.
[because sometimes minsu doesn't feel so good about himself either. sometimes he wishes people just wanted a little more from him. sage is the first one who's shown that he might, and minsu thinks that's worth taking the risk.
he draws him closer, pressing their foreheads together.]
But it's not going to happen. Your magic will just have to get used to me.
no subject
fuck.
when Sage moves it is to crawl into Minsu's lap, eyes furious and intent as he lets his hands move all over, like he doesn't know where to put them.]
Shut up, fuck, that-- you can't possibly--- fuck. Yes! Yes it would be a fucking big loss you asshole! [ sorry he is nearly hissing in your face but he-- gods he didn't realize how much he would hurt if you were gone until right now.] You are so much fucking more than just a human and fuck, not even a little trashy. How dare--
[ strangled noise as he kisses Minsu. because he isn't good with words when they need to mean so much, when they need to convey so much, so he kisses him hard. curls around him and tries to show him how much of a loss it would be.
when he breaks the kiss he is panting lightly, eyes closed and forehead pressed to Minsu's.]
I need you to stay, okay? I just-- please. I would carve the fucking magic out of my marrow if I could, but-- [ a breath. in and out. ]
no subject
it wasn't a test, he's not that cruel. minsu just said the thoughts that brew around in his head more often than he's willing to let anyone else know about. he's let sage know, and his reaction to it is so much more than minsu would ever have thought.
he makes a sound when sage kisses him, when his hands are everywhere at once and his mouth presses hard enough to bruise, when he bites at minsu's mouth like kissing just isn't enough. minsu likes being kissed like this.
when it breaks, he reaches up to brush at a tear that he didn't even know had spilled, before curling his arms back around the witch.]
I'm staying. I want you, please don't send me away again.
[his voice breaks, and a little tremor has found its way into minsu's body too, so he tries to pull sage even more onto his lap.
his pan is about to catch fire in the background, but he really doesn't want to move from this spot.]
no subject
somewhere in the last few months of these people in his house, in their house, Minsu has made his way to the top of the list. Sage isn't sure how, fuck they haven't even slept together not really, but the human is one of the few Sage would pull his still beating heart out of his chest for. so to hear him think so little--- to think that he --
no.
Sage pulls back to let his thumbs trace the tear tracks lightly, to look at Minsu when he speaks. it takes a second but he nods.]
I won't. I promise, okay. [ and he means it. ] I can't-- I mean I can't promise I won't be difficult, that anything won't be hard but--
[ wait. w a i t.
Sage blinks and peers at Minsu, confused and wanting all at once. he is completely unaware of the potential fire hazard right now.]
What do you want? Like, from me. This? Fuck.
no subject
[minsu nods before sage even finishes speaking. it probably won't be easy, minsu doesn't expect it to be. he doesn't expect the witch to change either. why would he even want that when he's exactly who he fell in love with?
the question that follows clearly catches him off guard though. minsu blinks back at him, brows pulling together as he thinks but keeps drawing up blanks.]
No one's ever asked me that with their clothes still on before.
[it would be funny if minsu wasn't also entirely serious.]
What do you want?
no subject
he blinks rapidly at Minsu.]
Are you-- fuck. Okay. That--
[ well it is a hard question to answer Sage will give him that. there is so much that he is afraid of, so much that he knows he doesn't want that he has never really stopped to think about what he would want. he knows that he wants Minsu around, wants him safe. wants him to feel like he can crawl into bed with Sage or show up at random. wants to never see Minsu upset like that again.
but-- that isn't really the question, is it?
he opens his mouth and closes it again.]
I want you to be happy. However that is.
no subject
that's not what sage is talking about here. sage wants him to be happy with him, and the answer is so simple that it feels too simple. feels like there must be something that minsu is missing because he just doesn't know any better.]
I just want to be with you.
[minsu whispers before kissing him again, pulling at sage's legs until the witch his straddling him. it's a kiss that's full of intent, slow and deep, designed to take someone's breath away.
but he stops, eyes opening and mouth still pressed against sage's. there's no way he's at his most desirable right now. minsu pulls back, full of regret.]
I should - your pancakes. And I need a shower.
no subject
[ it does seem too simple, too easy even when Sage knows that it will be anything but. yet he knows that Minsu means what he says, there is no room left to doubt with the way he is kissed. like Minsu wants to burn away all other thoughts except for the ones about him and this kiss. so when it stops, Sage makes a soft noise and presses his lips softly against Minsu's.
this might be a disaster, but fuck, Sage will try. for Minus.]
Mmm, I do like this more than your pancakes actually. But , okay. [ he slides off him slowly, settling back into his own chair a little more mussed than he was a few moments ago.]
no subject
[minsu laughs, and it still has that little tremble to it, happy but terrified. this could hurt. this could be like a burn over his entire body, starting with his heart.
be brave. braver than he was under his father's disdainful looks and words, braver than when the humans tried to put a gun in his hand, braver than when he was alone and zigzagging through alleys to lose the footsteps that were following him. all of that was to prepare him for this.
minsu stands up quickly, grabs his bowl and checks his pan before pouring the batter in. the sizzle is just right, and minsu watches for bubbles and checks the edges before flipping them over. once they're piled on the plate, minsu adds more berries, a little bit of powdered sugar, a little bit of syrup...
he places them in front of sage, steps in to wipe a little excess sugar from the edge of the plate. so what if it's the apocalypse, presentation is still important.
after a moment, minsu picks up the fork himself, sliding it through and offering the bite to the witch.]
Careful, they're still a little hot.
no subject
feel special.
gods, Sage is such an ass.
when the place is placed in front of him, the witch almost doesn't want to ruin them, he gapes a moment before looking up at Minsu with a quirk of a smile.]
Amazing.
[ you or the pancakes, you decide. but he probably means both. but he doesn't give himself time to be awkward before he leans in and takes the bit offered, pink on his cheeks and--
yeah, fuck that's amazing. Sage moans and closes his eyes.] Fuck, that-- gods, Minsu that's delicious.
no subject
See? Sex noises.
[didn't he tell you that you make them when you eat his pancakes? minsu smirks, lowering the fork to lean down and kiss him, tasting syrup on his lips, sweetness on his tongue. he's not sure what this is, just that it's different from other kisses that he's had. he breaks it reluctantly, making up for the loss by feeding sage another bite.]
It's too bad you already took a shower.
[minsu licks the fork thoughtfully, pressing his tongue against the prongs before dragging it up. he shrugs before pressing the utensil into sage's hands.]
Don't move until you finish all of them, okay?
[even if minsu is taking his shirt off in front of sage. even as he watches him while he backs towards the door closest to the bathroom, sliding his sweats down low on his hips.]
no subject
then Minsu is kissing him slow and sweet and fuck Sage might cry. there is something about it that makes Sage feel safe, makes him feel like he matters and that no matter what-- ]
Huh? I don't-- what?
[ you can't say shit like that while licking a fork and feeding him, damnit. his brain isn't working and honestly Sage has no idea what showers have to do with any of this. at least he doesn't until Minus is getting up and--
ah, showering. okay right that is fine. totally fine. completely--
fuck, fuck fuckfuck Minsu is fucking gorgeous and all lean muscle and perfect skin and Sage wants, more than he wants these delicious pancakes. Minsu is taunting him, he knows it, but also-- he can't move until he finishes. the witch looks down at the pancakes and there is a clear battle happening right now as he looks between them and Minsu. but-- time and effort went into these.
so Sage shivers and grips the fork, giving Minsu a look.] ... okay. Take your time though, yeah?
[ because it will take him approximately seven minutes to finish these and then there is going to be the faint noise of the door opening and one now very full witch padding into the bathroom while licking syrup from his fingers.]
no subject
it is a little bit of a tease. but this seems like the best way of making sure that sage gets some food in him, while also making sure that he seeks minsu out. he smiles at him before disappearing from the kitchen, and finishes getting undressed when he's actually in the bathroom.
the first couple of minutes in the shower are for actual showering. minsu soaps himself up, shampoos his hair. and then he presses a hand against his mouth and cries, always casting a glance in the door's direction to make sure sage doesn't come in during it. it's mostly a good cry, relief and finally letting the fear out that he'd never see sage again.
he takes a deep breath once he's done, letting the spray wash the remaining tears away and soothe his eyes. he's leaning back against the shower wall by the time sage joins him, able to see him through the translucent glass.
he might also be touching himself, letting out soft moans but still acknowledging sage.]
You must've been starved - ah.
no subject
so when Sage does come into the bathroom, belly full and fingers sticky, he is met with the sight that makes him nearly stumble over nothing.
this-- fuck this is not what he thought he would walk into, he has no idea what he thought he would walk into, but this? not something that crossed his mind at all. the witch pauses, fingers still pressed to his tongue as he looks at Minsu through the glass and holyfuck, that is-- fuck. fuck
he is by the shower, fingers curling around the handle of the shower before he really thinks.]
I'm-- fuck, yeah. Starving. Pancakes were divine but-- [ a shaky exhale, Sage taking the time to let his eyes devour Minsu as the water runs over him, the way he strokes himself and-- his eyes are bright when he looks at Minsu.] Can I suck you off? Please, fuck, you're--
[ amazing. brilliant. beautiful. ]
no subject
[that's halfway to dirty talk for minsu. his breath hitches before he says that last word. minsu closes his eyes now that he can be sure that the witch's eyes are on him, teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he works himself leisurely.
minsu's long and lean, graceful but strong. it's the kind of body that would appeal to both men and women, and it has. much like the tattoo across his stomach, graceful branches with pink blossoms blooming on his hip, up his side.
he moans at the request, pauses his fist to take a couple of deep breaths. when he opens his eyes, they're fixed right on the witch.]
I won't come for you as easily this time.
[sage made him wait. it seems only fair that he do a little waiting too while minsu fucks his mouth.]
no subject
his eyes follow the droplets of water, the curve of beautiful inked lines along the curves of the human's ribs, the rise and fall of his chest, and wow he needs to breathe shit. not that he really manages it when he gets back to Minsu's face and he catches sight of that look and yeah-- yeah this is fucking more than he deserves and he is going to pray that Minsu gives him time to prove how much he needs this.
laughing a little breathlessly, Sage steps into the shower completely uncaring of the fact that he is still dressed, and curls his hands around Minsu's hips. he doesn't slide to his knees right away, instead makes to kiss and nip at the lines of the tattoo, the curve of Minsu's skin. when he does finally make it to his knees, shirt soaked and clinging to him, hair far less frizzy than before, he is almost shaking.
wrapping one hand around Minsu, he drags his tongue flat along the underside, eyes sharp.] Mmm, good.
[ and that is all he says before wrapping his lips around and hollowing his cheeks, moan shaking his ribs. ]