deercountry | i've looked at clouds from both sides now (𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥)

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i've looked at clouds from both sides now (𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥)

^{Who: Peter Graham + you! Prompts will be placed here.
What: Canon update business, potential event things, tba.
When: Through the month of November.
Where: Various places in Trench / tba.

Content Warnings: This character comes with demonic possession by default. There's a gif including nudity (non-sexual, just a couple of people shown naked from behind) in one of the posts.}^{Additional warnings will be placed in individual spaces.}

^{( On Peter's birthday and Blessed Month, he will go through a canon update that's given him updated memories. For weeks 1 - 3 he will mentally be MIA, and Paimon/Charlie may be interacted with. On week 4, Peter will return. Closed starters will be placed under the appropriate posts. Please hit me up @ plot post / plurk / large bat#2354 / pm if you're interested in a starter / if you'd like to plot for the month! )}

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[ It is he, kickflips, as written in legend....

It's not any easier to be juggling with this walking as it was standing still, but this whole cool friend has a demon in him has been an odd experience thus far. Robby's keeping an eye on him, of course, not watching out for more than where to put his feet with the other two surely keeping better attention (and then there's his omen--thanks, pal).

There's a small 'Yeah', half-amused as Robby confirms -- yes, he is...he. And, really...Robby doesn't know if the demon is watching him any more than he was before, considering his staring habits. But Robby does feel himself intentionally blink, paying attention to if the other does, in some quasi-manner of concern. (It's kind of more bearable this way, at least?)

But he does look when the gold coin shifts, transforms to the drop-sized acorn. Brows raising, because that's not something you see every day. That funny little smile still on Robby's face as he looks back up, Peter - or...his body - always having been taller than him before the floating. ]

Hey -- you really can do anything with gold. [ An impressed remark. ] Yeah. How'd the username search go? You- make any friends?

[ Was that one of the goals? Robby remembers suggesting he talk to Usagi... ]

( There's a corresponding blink in return — he's learning! Or... well... as long as he's staring Robby in the face and imitating his blinking, but at least it's a start — and Paimon almost puffs up with a sort of pride in response to the remark from the boy. It's a body mannerism that Peter's never quite worn: shoulders back, chin jutted up slightly, feeling quite in his own element. It's only a simple demonstration, and he can do far more with gold than simply manipulate it into little shapes, but the demon king is thrilled that someone's noticed him.

And really, all of this is extremely exciting. Finding and re-finding connections in this place means something to him, and his interest in the human is blossoming into new places. )

I made... connection. With many. I spoke to many. Important people. ( Other Inhuman Things, poets, scientists, witches, runists... people who hail from Japan who taught him about kaomoji.... It was a learning experience, though he had little chance to actually catch up with those people, given the whole... Peter going into a goo-cocoon ordeal. )

I found titles. To use. Many. ( He means usernames... but yes, the outcome of that whole situation was that Paimon has ended up with several network handles. )

You were one who... assisted me. ( Once again he holds up the item in his palm to Robby, from a coin to an acorn. Force isn't how he functions, so it's not so much insistent as it is just... patiently waiting. ) I was not able to.. reward you. I was made absent.

[ --Right, right, the acorn gold. Robby hadn't been deliberately putting off taking it, the distractions to his attention coming naturally. But he looks at the offering, remembering it as a reward; and there is something strange about receiving a lump of gold for talking, but he does take it, twisting it around once in his hand. There's a value to it that feels uneven for what he gave, though the value is warped when you're dealing with a demon that can just make gold. It's no different than a trinket to him, probably, with his actual crafts that he makes with his glue gun? Those likely hold more value to the demon than this. ]

Thanks. [ It's a brief thought, that leads Robby to raising his now fist with the acorn in it in gesture. ] How about if I help you out by telling you stuff, from now on, if I need anything later on, you see if you can help me out? Still need to show you how to use a skateboard, if you're interested.

[ That feels -- better. Yeah. Robby has no mind asking a bank demon with endless gold for more gold if he needs it, but getting it out of the blue? This feels easier. Useful, and -- just more chill. ]

I'll help you out with human things, [ he adds. And wow, is this not the first time he's told someone this. ] Sound cool?

( It's true, the gold has no real value to the demon (besides the fact that he likes the way it looks). And there are many other types of treasures he can reward — but it's gold that humans most often request; this is something he knows deep down in his spirit, even through everything he's forgotten about himself on the surface. It's simple to grant here, in shiny coins, little things that can be used for trading and bartering. It's useful, and he likes providing use.

Though he's learned by now that some people don't necessarily want the gold — in fact, some have outright refused. It's been... strange; he's not quite certain how to handle it. He must give something.

So when Robby says what he does — expands on the concept of exchange, of helping one another and ways to do that, Paimon is certainly paying close attention, every ounce of his energy focused on the young human's words. )

Help each other out. ( It's an exciting prospect, to be shown human things by a human who is like Peter — "normal", by the standards of this place (and self-proclaimed) — but Peter will not show him things, so this... would be nice. Better than the ways he quietly absorbs information from the shadows. He could get more hands on.... with things like the skateboarding and the human speak. Already, he's been using "u" in his texts sometimes, thanks to Robby. Really.... already.... it's apparent that Robby is much more useful than Peter. )

I would like that. ( He clarifies, a little awkwardly — saying what he "likes" and "dislikes" is still odd. ) To use a skateboard. And learn about human things.

( Since he's confined to one, it's a necessity; it might make his existence easier. Plus, he's very curious. But there's a thought, because he is categorising Robby in the same place as Peter, and comparing the two, and for him to willingly offer to spend time with something like a demon, when he's not accustomed to such things.... )

....But you are not afraid of me?

[ Good... Robby is bringing more people down to his texting level, love to see it.

This guy is simple to read, or rather--on some level of it, once you ignore his intensity and the eerie feeling he gives off just to be around that makes Robby want to second-guess getting anything close to comfortable around them. He's confused, he's trying, he knows what he knows and doesn't what a human would expect someone else to know. There might be a pinch of sympathy there, but going into feelings--that's a complicated thing.

That isn't simple. It's just easier to try and find ways to make this feel simple.

And honestly, that could be a lot harder. This could be worse than dealing with a demon--he could be dealing with his dad. A demon is way easier to talk with than him. ]

I mean... I kinda am, if we're being honest. [ And actually, he can't not be, but this is a deliberate choice. ] A little? But I'm more worried about Peter than anything, and I don't really know what's going on, but.

You haven't tried to kill me, and I was cool before about talking with you. [ Yeah, there's a level of awkward present now, but while there's a second he pauses, Robby brings his hands up as he shrugs. ]

So - what the hell. Got nothing better to do.

( It's actually the first time that someone in this place has said that they feel afraid of him in some capacity, but that they are still willing to be in his presence. People generally aren't fearful of him at all (though perhaps wary), or... they're the complete opposite, shirking completely from him. It all depends on their familiarity with things like him, their associations with words like "demons". This is.... new. Once again, something new, and he's just...... sorry, he's once again just.... staring.

But he's very seriously considering those words, the shapes of them, the conflicting pieces of them. Fearful but more worried about Peter. Confused but there is nothing better to do, so "what the hell" — a phrase that Paimon doesn't quite grasp in the needed context, but "hell" is a familiar enough word, so he feels. He feels good about it. )

I do not think I would try to kill you, ( he says, meaning it to be reassuring....... )

You have worth. And knowledge. ( And he doesn't want to lose that.... Paimon casts a glance around the dark forest they're in, thinking back to the mission. He's already keeping a protective eye on Melius and Sasuke, but now, Robby's joined those ranks, and so— ) If any seek to harm you in this wood, I shall silence them. For I am a great king of Lucifer, and none shall cross me here.

( ....It might be that Peter just kind of seems insane. )

[ Oh, a great king of Lucifer. That Satan guy? Hell guy? Cool.

Cool cool cool cool cool.

It's just a cherry on top of everything before it. Robby's getting used to the staring, but it still has him looking side to side at times just for a break between it (is it rude to just look ahead and wait for demon guy to come to whatever conclusion he will or does. Such as 'I don't think I'll kill you' (thanks??); surely reassuring or a positive when it comes from a demon, and Robby will take it for all its oddity, because oddity is what he's working with her.

Should the fact he's conversing with a demon king really be any more bizarre? ... except it is, for every way that Paimon is. Like...odd, in an inhuman way, but strangely--if he had any expectations for the higher class of Hell, it wasn't them having a childlike curiosity.

But what the fuck does Robby Keene from Cali, USA know? ]

Okay. [ A sorta underwhelming acknowledgement to that proclamation, but, slowly: ] Thanks. I'll, uh, watch your back too. Teamwork, right?

[ He raises a fist, then sorta realises they're probably not going to understand. Looks at it anyway, and then keeps it by his stomach. ]

You want to learn another human thing?

( Teamwork... Yes, yes, that is what it's about. He knows this, understands it. More than one person's spirit, connecting with another — growing stronger as a result. And they have this team here and now, a team of four.

Paimon is pleased to hear the human boy say it like that, and gives an approving nod and an accompanying hum that vibrates deep in his throat. )

Mmmmmmmmmmm.....

( ...It's a happy demon noise... as opposed to the unhappy ones, which, fortunately, poor Robby won't have to be subjected to any time soon, hopefully. Things like clicks and hisses and spitting...! No, this is just a hum. He's happy... )

Yes. I would like to.

( This time, he says the words more confidently. He would like to. It's something he would enjoy. Yes, he knows he would! )

You may show me now.

( It's a little bossy, but he is a king... but he really doesn't mean any disrespect, and he's peering at Robby expectantly again more than anything. He's very eager to learn more from his new acquaintance Kickflips and this is all very exciting. )

[ Weird noise, but you know what, this is a weird everything. A weird everything that's in progress, we'll figure things out along the way. The bossiness doesn't even register more than a possible eagerness, and the ends of Robby's lips quirk for it. And so, he'll show, making a fist and holding it out, tilting it so the space between the knuckles show flat. ]

'kay, do this? [ He figures he might need to give the demon guy a second, and that's fine; he'll direct Paimon how to point the fist with the main knuckles pointed downward, patting the surface of his own.

And once Paimon has it, Robby will reveal the magic: of a fist-bump, from Robby to him. The edges of his lips twitching and lifting again as he considers how he's showing a demon a fist-bump, and giving and receiving one, too. ]

Do this? Just enough to connect. You can do it to say hi, not everyone does it--but you do it with friends. Show you're cool with each other.

[ A grin. Is Luna going to suffer this? Hope she doesn't mind fist-bumping the demon inhabiting her boyfriend..... ]

( Oh, we're doing something with our hands — Paimon looks down at the demonstration and slowly imitates it, though it does take him a few moments to sort it out. It's not a gesture he's done much of, and it's an odd one, to hold his fingers in and keep them there. But this definitely seems important, he can tell that much from the start. Something is happening here.

Then it reveals itself.... the other's hand makes contact with his own, knuckles to knuckles. A gesture of Literal Connection... and simultaneously of Greeting...

Learning something new is always a big thing for the Demon of Knowledge, and so he's just gazing down at their hands in awed silence for a few moments before he slowly lifts his fist up to try to do it to Robby again. ...And then another, this time lifting both his fists and holding them up expectantly for Robby to bump his against. He may have created a monster with this...

But it's simple yet meaningful, and doesn't require verbal speaking... It's a gesture. He very much likes this. It reminds him of another human gesture he's picked up on— )

There is something called.... hand shake. The hand shake. ( You might possibly have heard of it, Robby! ) This is not the hand shake. But it is.... almost.

[ ...for all the oddities, it's difficult to be focusing on the weirdness when you're introducing someone to a fistbump. The first successful attempt gets a 'See? You got it' in encouragement. And when the double fistbump is introduced?

Robby laughs, and he replies with two fists coming and bumping both. ] Nice.

[ Look at this master of fistbumps. The kind of move that surely many young boys in the playground have made to show their status of friendship (and then forgotten about by the end of the week). But it's more funny than anything, and Robby can handle funny, a small nod as the topic of The Handshake is introduced. ]

Yeah, it's a same idea. Handshakes are formal, what you do if you're meeting someone new and it's serious. Kinda like--meeting another king. We'd do it for someone we want to be on good terms with. And then this, a fistbump, [ want to do another? we can do another here, Paimon, ] is for people you're friendly with. A person at a shop you see every day, that has the right vibes. Someone you know casually, or a friend.

This is closer to a handshake, the same idea. Here. [ Robby's holding up a hand, this time with his fingers kept pointed up. ] Do this... and curl your fingers like I'm doing.

[ Is he showing him the diagonal bro-handshake? You bet. Though, he's not going to include the man-hug in this. That's for Peter. ]

You wanna practice these last two with friends, or people you like. We're from all over the place, so -- I don't know how many people do them.

( Robby is very encouraging and the patience is appreciated... Peter would've snapped at him.... (He's so mean sometimes; why couldn't someone like Robby have been his Vessel instead? Things to think about)

But all of this is taken very seriously. It's not that the demon necessarily wants to blend in with humankind — he's something much different, and he's proud by what he is, he doesn't want to hide it — but learning how to exist more easily among them? It's certainly on the agenda, given he's more or less trapped inside of one. Learning how to communicate with them would be beneficial to himself, to making exchange with them, connection, engaging with them. And he's also just incredibly curious by all of these new things to learn, and Robby certainly has a way of explaining it that makes a lot of sense to him...

The Handshake holds more severity, ahhhh. He understands; it'd be reserved for a fellow king, or someone else of high standing. Whereas The Fistbump is informal. Oh yes, he likes this very much. Different greetings depending on hierarchy...

But oh? There's another one to learn? Paimon's peering widely down once more as he slowly, stiffly, parrots the gesture on into the joining of hands. So this is another casual greeting.... it's a sideways one.... What valuable information he's been given. He will certainly make use of it. He'll practice with... everyone he knows..... and after a long moment of just gazing down at their hands again— )

For your knowledge.... I am grateful, human. Boy.

( Paimon reaches upwards to stroke Robby's hair a couple of times, almost like he's petting him. It's what you do to humans to show them that they have done well, and it's not at all creepy. )

We will learn and discuss many things together. Great things. Powerful. ( Like the aforementioned skateboards. )

As blessed by my Lord Lucifer, Himself.

[ ~~robby!paimon coming to a thread near you....~~

Robby's had experience with teaching, though that was always karate before, well...forms of greeting. It's kind of fascinating in its own way, however, how Paimon seems intrigued; the right amount of liveliness in his hands missing with each example, but you know, that's expected from a demon who forgets to blink unless you tell him.

But it's easy enough, and for it--...comes a pat on the head. Robby's brows shift slightly, but he hasn't forgotten he's talking with a demon (especially with the following mention of Lucifer), so he'll ''allow'' it. And maybe be inspired by it to do what he does next, which is to give Paimon a pat on the shoulder.

(it definitely is. you have to do something after a guy pets you on the head, demon or not.) ]

Cool. Looking forward to it. [ How can promising to help out a demon go wrong??? ] Alright, but we should focus on this mushroom hunt for now. And blinking. [ Don't forget! Said with a customer service grin. ] If you take care of your body real well, I bet Luna will be impressed.

( Just saying.... it's good to have some Backup Vessels in mind in case Trench pulls some fuckery...

The Return Pet is met with another pleased little hum-sound, because it's what Paimon expected should happen — that whole, exchange thing — so he's feeling very pleased that Robby clearly gets it. Many humans do not! But this one... knows what to do and say, and how.

A point that is made ever more clear at what Robby says next, which is probably the most important and helpful thing he could possibly say. Bringing Luna into it has the demon's eyeballs widening in one fluid motion, pupils re-swelling, blowing out like a cat that's spotted something particularly engaging.

Robby.... is right, of course. He's so right.... )

Yes.... Yes. You are right.... I must..... I shall.

( There's a severe nod, and then Paimon's staring straight ahead, into the forest they're moving through, attention fixed. The mission at hand.... and also the secondary mission, which is to take care of Peter's body for his Witch....

Which means that he's purposefully blinking again, and this time without even having to stare at Robby to match his! (He might start blinking too frequently, but it's okay. He'll be fine. For the rest of this little expedition, he'll look to Robby for guidance on Human Body Maintenance.)

Really, Robby, you're very good at handling and working demons! Perhaps a skill that you never imagined you possessed.... )

Edited 2023-02-04 20:44 (UTC)

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i've looked at clouds from both sides now (𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥)

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