deercountry | ★ MAY. (CATCH ALL); it was the calm before the storm

Ding Dong! 🔔

(comment here to visit jinx @ her home or drop her a lovely written letter!💙💙)

(EMPTY SPACE IS FOR SPACING)

The Clink n' Clank ⚙️🛠️

(comment here to visit jinx's workshop, set up appointments in person, buy her merchandise, or have your weapon(s) made.)

(EMPTY SPACE IS FOR SPACING)

( how can anyone sleep when everything is so hot? how can anyone be comfortable or concentrate when the weather feels so disgusting? how can one breathe? or maybe it's just her. the after effects of eternal slumber and now wandering in the living, could very much be her lungs learning how they operate again. she's been subconsciously brushing her hand over her chest where a gap should be, and the ceiling above her shouldn't be there, but a demonic bear in its place.

being here feels wrong and although it's been said time and time again that death isn't permanent here, this just... isn't right. jinx made a choice that night to end hers and the beast's life to save wrench and... whoever that other was in the woods. and the next thing she knew? she jolted up from the bathtub, gasping and screaming at the hundreds of voices overlapping within her head. she would had knocked herself unconscious if it weren't for her sister barging in and keeping her from severely hurting herself.

the voices had quieted down since then -- nothing but lulled murmurs she can't quite understand even if she wanted to. ... what day was that, anyway? and what day is this? jinx feels she's been in vi's room and gawking at the same surroundings for years (it's only been a day in her room). what does the outside world look like now (she's been outside)? but then jinx also thinks if it even matters. because all she wants to do is just lie here and sleep for possibly centuries. and that can be achievable, right? if she puts her mind to it, sure. )

( but one way or another, she finds herself slipping out of bed -- almost stumbling due to her legs feeling like rubber for whatever reason. probably from not using them enough. the sweet aroma of whatever is cooking in the rookery sends her stomach to sour, but the soft clanking of glass and kitchenware is oddly satisfying to the ears. it brings her back to her love of tinkering in which she is itching to do, but... questioning if she has the strength to.

and she wonders if anyone stopped by her workshop at all or how many messages are waiting for her via omni. ugh. just the thought of going through them and socializing feels exhausting -- something she really isn't looking forward to. with a hand combing through her bangs, the teen forces herself to step into her sister's bathroom to freshen up. she has to face the world eventually, right? what a crazy way of the meaning, here's to the new me. )

i. WILLFUL MACHINE . — ❝ around .❞ (daytime)
cw: partial nudity

( but seriously. how in the fuck is she meant to be out here when it's this blazing hot and mosquitoes in every turn? she is trying to sit at her favorite spot so she can gather her thoughts, but having to swat around to bat these bugs away? as if she doesn't have her own personal firelight insect to irritate her.

and if it's not the heat, the bugs, it's the locals. granted though, they have a right to stare at jinx. after all, she is sitting on the edge of a building above them and the renting docks with her legs dangling; completely topless. the people down below point up at her, gasping, and women shielding their husbands/boyfriends' or sons' eyes. the girl only snort at their reactions. such prudes. they wouldn't last a day in The Lanes back home.

but with all the annoying exclaims, it doesn't look like she will be getting her peace and quiet here. the teen is up to her feet before using her shimmer ability to dash up quickly elsewhere -- with a trail of pink string lingering behind. )

A. booths.
( given she is only wearing one piece of undergarment to cover her bottom half, she doesn't have anything worth trading. but that doesn't stop her from browsing -- leaning over trenchers' stands while they get an eye full of her chest.

but there is one particular booth that catches her interest that holds yarn bracelets. they are so many in various different colors and she would love to have a few. typically, jinx would just pocket them or at least have a thought to do so. but the booth is being run by an elderly and... something about how brittle this old woman seem reminds her of the elders in zaun. how they sit and with their knitted shawl over their shoulders with just hours away from kicking the bucket. )

( and the way this old lady peers up at jinx with her beady eyes is making her skin crawl. is she expecting her to do a good deed or something? the teen huffs through her nostrils then avoids eye contact with the old woman. )

I'm just looking. I don't have anythin' for you if you haven't noticed the lack of get up.

( but that doesn't seem to upset the old lady at all, because her attention is now to someone behind her. and that person is — )

B. market/food area.
( the scent of food is going to break her. and she is using all of her willpower to not tap someone on the shoulder then swipe their bowl from underneath their noses. but she knows the chances of her getting away with it is pretty slim; giving her appearance. long blue hair and half-naked? yeah, that's not suspicious at all. ... although. jinx does love to play on the edge and toy with risks. clicking her tongue dangerously, she is already eyeing a target of a man with a bowl of... soup? noodles? who knows and who cares. still, jinx keeps her distance as she follows him through the crowd. and she is so focus that she accidentally nudges her elbow against someone. because of that, she loses sight of the man and her stomach screams in anguish.

growling, she whips her head over her shoulder -- full blown ready to give whoever she nudged a stare down. )

C. from the rooftops.
( 'what am i doing?'

it's a question that's on repeat and it won't leave her. she is trying to go on about this day like she normally would. like... how jinx would behave. and they all seem right, the motions are hitting the points, but it all still feels so out of place because she is not meant to be here. jinx pulls her legs in to curl up in a ball -- arms squeezing them with her forehead plant on her knees. she begins to think back on silco and wonders if this was how he felt when he got brought back. not himself, disoriented, alone. and it only deepens her guilt knowing that the reason if he felt this way was because of her.

no. no, she can't start thinking like that again. jinx will go crazy if she focus on that thought. okay, maybe even more nuts than she is now. the girl lifts her head up to resume on people watching from up above. and she spots someone she knows (or doesn't know) making their way through the busy strip of willful machine. there's someone trailing behind them though and they definitely don't look like the friendly type. )

( her tongue rolls around inside her cheek; debating. but with a shrug of her shoulder and thinking it'll be funny, jinx blurts out: )

HEY, up here...! — That guy's about to rob ya! You're welcome.

ii. PRUFROCK . — ❝ sapphora (ladies only club).❞ (nighttime)
cw: underage drinking, smoking, & very light mentioning of self-harm & masochism in the narrative.
ooc: she is dressed in this! no more nakey!

( it's at night when things always seem to turn for the worst for her. for whatever reason, it's harder for her to calm her breathing and she becomes way more anxious. and although she is sitting at the bar and visually seem to be keeping her composure, her smoking hand is trembling as she takes a long drag. her gaze isn't fixating on anything -- looking straight on ahead, but barely registering the female barkeep mixing drinks for the other ladies.

and despite her mind being a fuzz due to all the wine she consumed, it doesn't stop her thoughts for tiptoeing back of the night of her death. maybe she should had tried working on something after all, but given her butterfingers right now, she'd probably stab herself in her hand somehow. ... although, not a bad idea. feeling pain will give her some indication she is still alive -- somewhere inside her.

she squeezes her eyes shut for a brief moment as the thought breezes on by. jinx is a sadist and a masochist so it's not the act that bothered her, but the line of questioning she will receive if she goes through with it. and that's something she is way too exhausted to deal with. but with her pain tolerance being sky rocket high due to her shimmer, it probably won't do her any favors anyway.

...

she should really think about something else. )

( and right on cue, a small flock of giggling girls yanks her out of her line of thinking. a slow gaze over to the group with her stick resting between her lips; silently observing them. they seem to be making their way to the darting board and discussing over who knows what -- she's not really in the earshot to pick up their conversation. but her main focus is a girl in a green butterfly neck sleeve dress with long sunray locks that relaxes at her mid-back. hazel eyes, chubby cheeks, with pink shiny lip gloss, maybe? definitely the cutest one out of the bunch. then a thought comes to her.

ah. that's right. she is single now, isn't she?

...

what the hell, she thinks, squishing the rest of her cigarette against the tabletop. when the group disbands to go elsewhere, they leave the butterfly dress girl collecting the darts all by her lonesome. jinx slides her way over to her, using her flirtatious tone and her charming smile to introduce herself. the girl looks a little startled, unsure, but smiles politely in return. it seems so far things are running smoothly -- jinx saying her sweet nothings and the other appears to be warming up and enjoying their talk.

that is... until there's something jinx had said that the other took the opposite way. her face grows appalled then angry; those chubby cheeks puffing and twisting red hot. and before the blue-haired girl could correct herself or elaborate, her head is force to turn a quick left with a sharp sting plastered over her cheek. heaving, the butterfly dress girl storms off to go seek for her friends -- leaving jinx to chuckle softly with a slow tongue trailing along her upper lip. )

( she isn't angry over the slap or at the girl. because quite frankly, who doesn't love a girl with spunk? if anything, jinx just finds her more amusing and a little more cute. too bad her chances with her went down the toilet -- to be expected given her track record on relationships. teething her lower lip now, her pinks trail on after the girl who is now pointing jinx out to her friends. they give her stink eye while jinx exchanges a grin; then a two finger salute to wave a "hello". the flock whisper something among themselves (nothing good mostly likely) and disappear off to another floor.

thus leaves jinx to lightly stumble her way back to the bar -- raising an index to the bartender to make her another round. ... she wonders if the slap will leave a mark. be a funny story to tell. )

iii. WILDCARD . — ❝ wherever you want her to be.❞ (whatever time of the day you want)

( want to interact with jinx but none of these prompts work? this is the place to do it. whether you want an action thread or just want to text her (and too lazy to go to the inbox), do it here! )

Edited 2023-06-01 05:10 (UTC)

(EMPTY SPACE IS FOR SPACING)

Hey, Neo hadn't checked in on her friend in a while, but things seemed to have calmed down after the hot sauce incident so why not check it out? Besides, she really needed to stop by and have a look around the girl's shop at some point. Life wasn't all drinks and Sapphora. Of course, she wasn't going to be getting a replacement for Hush. She couldn't betray her umbrella, after all, but there were bound to be other things someone could make.

Prancing her way into the shop, she leaned against the doorframe and gave a little wave when she happened to see Jinx look over at her. 'Yo' was all that look said, right down to the cocky smirk she always wore.

(OOC: Opted for something light, though if you'd like something more serious toss me a line.)

( the bell chimes to let her know someone has entered her shop, so there's no real reason to look up (not yet anyway). jinx is seen placing a newly made telescope behind glass along with the rest of the knick knack for sale. the teen lifts up her head (wearing goggles) then gives her a wave back to her greeting. )

Hey, Voiceless. Welcome to the Clink n' Clank. Lookin' for anything specific?

[She gave her a salute with a tip of her hat, walking in with a bit of a saunter, having a nice long look around the shop with a curious eye. Oh, she was definitely interested the moment that she saw the spyglass, since that meant that there were things other than weapons here.]

Well, I would never cheat on my lovely little lady in lace.
Hush does not take well to having to share me with anyone else, you see.
But I was wondering what else you make.

Besides weapons.

[And also she was just catching up, but shhh.]

Well, ya came to the right place! Besides my beauties, I got some accessories to make the beauties more fashionable!

( she extends an arm out to the area for weapon polishing, cloths, carrying cases, gloves, firecrackers, emergency flares, and holsters. )

But if you want to make your home NOT be snoozetown, I got some decorations that'll spice things up a bit.

( jinx motions over to the little figurines she made: some animals like pigs, cats, rabbits, penguins, monkeys. all of them look in the cutesy side with little dot eyes as if they were caught in silly shenanigans. example: the pig figurine is looking up with a few spots of it covered in mud with a "oh no, you caught me playing in mud!" expression. with the monkey, it's wearing a banana peel as a hat. )

— Got a few paintings over there, too. The biggest thing I had got sold last month so ya missed that. But I'm workin' on another one for its comeback.

[She was blinking, staring at the pig for a second. Ok, seriously? That was so saccharine a kitch that she fully believed Jinx had made it. It was hilarious. Stifling a little giggle, she made a note to pick one of those up. Maybe the penguin though. She was definitely looking around at the decorations and also checking out the gloves. nice to find a place that wasn't the local's shop with those.]

I do like my frills.
Think you can manage gloves that are just as gaudy as they are useful?
How've you been holding up lately?

[She wasn't going to bring up Chizuru, though she had worries. However, she knew to tread lightly in terms of how Jinx could react at times, so best to keep it all light.]

Custom-made gloves for you? Sure. I just need to measure your hands and I can pin ya in. ( that behind said, she inches over to a drawer nearby to open for the tools she'll need in doing so. )

I don't have that many orders so you'll be first in line that I'll work on.

( and as for her last question, jinx will purposely let it go without an answer as if she didn't read it. she must had accidentally skimmed over. )

( It's been some time since the demon king Paimon spoke to Jinx, himself. The girl's presence has been a fluttering thing, in and out, gone and back again. He was listening when she came back again, when she contacted Peter one night: spoke of displaced feelings and strangeness, of feeling lost, alone in this place. Struggling with her connection to others here. Paimon heard it all.

And then, when Wrench came stumbling up to Peter's doorstep, upset and revealing the death of Jinx, his part in it.... Pieces have been falling into place. She died, and it seems there's some lingering unrest.

One late humid afternoon, he goes to her. It's an odd parallel to his first encounter. This time, he seeks out the treehouse instead of stumbles across it by accident. When he sees the structure, it still elicits strange.... feelings, memories (he stands on the ground staring upwards for a few long moments, the silence broken only by a clipped cluck of his tongue. A yearning stretches in him, and an ache.)

King Paimon gathers himself, not knocked loose and wild like he was the last time he was here. No, he's something much more calm and composed now, making his way up to the door where he stands tall and proud, and ready to greet the human he's so interested by, the one who calls herself monster. He lifts a fist and knocks, twice. )

( it's been two hours since her "lady of the previous evening" left her treehouse. jinx was lucky that the girl didn't want much in her return for simply spending the night with her. just to cook her something to eat in the morning, in which she did just that. the breakfast wasn't anything fancy and thank goodness the trench girl was easy to please.

out of all the chicks she brought home so far, that one seemed to be the most easiest to satisfy. and if only she can bring her back around tonight, but the other didn't seem like the type that would want this to be a continuous thing between them. jinx can't really blame her though, because who would want to spend the night in a home of someone they barely know beyond their name?

it's hella sketchy and seem sleazy, sure, but the nights has worsen for her so much that her anxiety sky rocket the moment it's nightfall. even when she drowns herself in alcohol and smokes up a chimney, it does nothing for her frantic heart. the bloodstones have been a hit and miss lately too and that is worrying. )

( and she'd hate to bother vi every evening with her scares. her big sister crashes and snuggles with her in bed some nights, but she has a duty to be over at the outpost late at night. so it leaves jinx to wander off to bars to pick up anyone who is willing to be with her throughout the night in exchange for whatever desire the other may have. but it hadn't been all successful. the girl prior to this one almost broke jinx with wanting everything under the sun in a clothing store. but thank goodness she has a business under her belt to get good trade ins. )

( jinx is in her kitchen before paimon arrives; collecting all the dirty dishes from the table to place in the sink. the teen's been fiddling with the handle for the last few seconds -- puzzled as to why there's no running water coming out of its faucet. and at the sixth twist, she can hear an unusual gargling coming within its pipe. but to her surprise, what comes out isn't water but... leaves. some fresh and some dried up. and what's running alongside the plant is thick blood with a sweet scent of berries that doesn't match at all. the two fill the sink over the dishware and jinx can only stand and watch in confusion. )

( hallucination. this has to be a hallucination. jinx shuts her eyes once, in hope maybe all she needs to do is to recenter herself to have it vanish. but when she opens them again, what she sees is still there. her muscle tightens and she attempts to swallow a large lump in her throat -- and without thinking, she quickly reaches for the handle to shut it all off. but... nothing happens. she twists and twists and twists, but the leaves and the blood run steadily with the dishes rising from its nonstop flow. her breathing grows uneven and turns the knob again in desperation. 'please, please, please', she begs in her mind -- for all of this to just stop for one second. )

( but it looks as if her prays are answered, because it's that knock on the door that brings a small gasp out of her; a sharp turn to glance over her shoulder to the door. someone is here? jinx takes a cautious glimpse back to her sink while wetting her lips. there's no leaves, no blood. nothing but running water that's going to overflow if she doesn't turn it off soon. with a quivering breath and shutting off the water, the teen pulls herself together and heads her way to the front door. it might be vi, because she doesn't usually get visitors and she isn't expecting anyone to come by either. )

( except to her yet another surprise when she opens the door, she is face to face with peter. ... wait. no. no, not peter. the way he's standing so strong and large, this isn't at all peter's posture. a glaring contrast, actually. this is...— )

Uh... hi?

( she didn't call him over, did she? jinx might had been a little tipsy last night, but she could had sworn her omni was out of reach. )

What can I do ya for?

Edited 2023-05-10 18:00 (UTC)

[She gave her a thumbs up and sidled up to the work table with a raised eyebrow. Oh like hell was she believing that Jinx hadn't read that. Someone was avoiding things, were they?

Leaning over the table with her hands out to be measured, she did a quick bit of typing.]

We should go out sometime again.
Maybe get shitfaced over at Sapphora's. All work and no play?
Makes jack a dull boy.

[...look, they'd been in a creepy hotel once that was eerily like that scene. It had not been a fun time.]

( He waits, calm and patient, unmoving. There is no guarantee that Jinx is even here; the last few times he came to find her here, she wasn't. She might be gone again, but he knows other places to check. He'll try her business next — he knows exactly where it is, now that Peter's gone there to get some weapons assistance.

But then he hears movement on the other side of the door and the demon king tilts his head towards it, spirit perking up. There she is, looking up at him, and his eyes sparkle as he greets her, proud that it's entirely of his own volition and not through Peter — the way that in the past, he's clawed his way out of his host to speak to Jinx in snippets. No, this time he came here all on his own, something planned-out. He's even dressed the way he likes, in sandals and loose clothing that his skin breathes comfortably in, although the weather is... unfavourable. King Paimon prefers the heat, but he's a creature of dry desert sands and yawning sunsets, not heavy moist humidity. The curls of Peter's hair are a little frazzled, fluffed out, and Paimon dislikes the light coating of sweat that sticks to him in places.

Still, he's thrilled to stand before her, and he speaks proudly, head tilted back and voice assured. Yes, this..... is definitely not Peter. )

Greetings. It is I, King Paimon. I have come to see you.

( It's definitely not creepy for a demon to just come to a person's home! He's looking her over carefully, with his usual intensity, but there's something intentionally concerned to it, a thoughtful frown. )

I have learned that things have been difficult for you. I desired to come check upon you.

( the player is going to skim over the details about how to measure hands and stuff for she isn't a tailor. so this is happening while they are chatting. )

Mm. ( the girl hums a response; eyes squinting to focus. ) — We can do that. I've been jumpin' between there and Earworm the last few nights. Been going on my own, but it'd be rad to have someone to chat with at the bar.

[She was listening to her as they worked, typing one handed so that it was easy enough to take any measurements. So, someoene had been hitting the bars up lately? Not really a surprise.]

Never a bad idea to find a partner in crime eh?
So, what've you been doin lately? Mostly keeping up with the work around here?

( occasionally, jinx exchange glances from neo's words and her hand, jotting down whatever she needs on her notepad clipboard to make her gloves. )

Yep. Just working and tryin' to keep business going. I hadn't been at it for a month so I got a lotta catching up to do.

Edited 2023-05-13 05:17 (UTC)

( what a grand greeting, she thinks. and it also makes her wonder if that's how he addresses to everyone he meets up with. maybe she should follow suit as a joke. she refers herself as "the loose cannon" already when she makes an announcements on deerNET, so why not add "it is i" into the mix?

but that silly thought process quickly flies by when he expresses his concern and her face falls. the hand that's on the doorknob slips off to become dead weight at her side, and then her back to turn him as she enters further into her home. )

Things been difficult with everyone.

( she points out, tone a little harsh without meaning so. ) — Didya had a one-on-one pow-wow with Pete?

( jinx halts suddenly to turn around to face him before entering the kitchen -- eyebrow quirking. )

Wait. Can the two of you talk to each other while you're all... ( her hand does a circle motion as a gesturing to himself. )... fused up like that?

Edited 2023-05-13 23:31 (UTC)

Hey, as long as you're still having fun? All good.
All work and no play will make Jinx a very dull girl, after all, right?

[she waited until the measurements were finished to lean up and grin over at her friend. She figured that she was being clever right there.]

Hard to not have fun in this place when it throws ya a lotta curves.

( so with that being done, she glances over to neo with a smile. )

— Got any specific color you want your gloves to be? I'm gonna guess either purple or pink.

Actually, if you can get me something white with a pink trim? Perfect
The color scheme doesn't work if I don't balance it with a lil white after all.

[Like almost everything in her life, it was all a balancing act in Neo's mind. Make sure everything was in place, nothing imperfect.]

So, what's the most fun curve ball you've had lately?

Oh, white and pink? Mmkay, mkkay. I was only half right. ( the girl jots this down very quickly in her notes before it gets away from her. without looking up, she replies: )

Gee, I dunno. Gettin' chased by the hounds was pretty fun when that was going on. Played fetch a lotta times. — I wonder if the lil' scruffies are still tuckered out from that.

[She laughed at the thought of the hounds between the sections of town being sent on wild goose chases and forced to play fetch. What? In the end, they were dogs... along with fire breathing monsters. It was definitely a solution.]

What'd you have em playing fetch with anyway?
Just a stick, or did you manage some self propelled boomerang or something for them to chase?

Whaddya mean? I just used myself!! ( the way she says this as if it should had been a no brainer answer. ) — I swung around just high enough where they can kinda get my ankles but not quite.

( what a risk seeker. but like she told a few people, what's life without a little danger here and there? )

Edited 2023-05-20 23:04 (UTC)

( The demon king, as attentive as he is, notices everything — even if he can't quite understand the meaning behind some of it. The girl's expression seems to.. change, and she turns her back to him, moving away. Paimon stands there in the threshold of her door, curious as to what may have caused the shift, the rough edge to her voice.

One-on-one pow-wow.....? His head tilts to the side, mentally chewing over the words, uncertain what they mean. Is "pow-wow" possibly referring to some sort of weapon...? He does know that Jinx enjoys weapons.

But the girl's next words help affirm what the meaning might be. Ah.... )

We could, but my vessel does not like it. He is... afraid to speak to me. So we do not.

( Paimon hesitates in the doorframe, not following her in. Unlike last time, when he was all feral and strange, breaking in, this time he's more how he's meant to be. And such a thing as himself does not enter a home unless.... invited. Welcomed. For now, he only watches her movements. )

I observed what he said to you. It seems you have been.... feeling alone.

( she huffs out a chuckle, not a crackling one that she tends to make whenever she's in a rambunctious mood. it's settling more on the silent side. )

Y'know, I'm never really lonely. ( jinx then taps the side of her temple with her fingernail, directing to the voices in her head. her arm drops down with a smirk attached. )

What, are ya just gonna stand there and let all the mosquitoes in? C'mon. I'll fetch ya some water if you're thirsty.

Edited 2023-05-22 03:33 (UTC)

[... well, uh... ok, that was a thing. her eyes widened for a second and she blinked, clearly a little surprised, right before she laughed and put her hand to her forehead. It was kind of a stress laugh. Seriously, girl, you're going to get yourself killed one day.]

You know what, I'll buy it.
I'm guessing you were a step ahead of them the whole time?

( Never really lonely....? The demon's bird-like headtilt deepens curiously, giving him a decidedly disconcerting stance there in the doorframe, head sloped far to one side, long neck craned like that. He never blinks.

Then the girl tells him to "C'mon" which he knows by now means "Come" and so he shall. Moving silently forwards, letting the door fall shut behind him, his feet sweep across wooden floorboards, and he stands tall and proud. )

It may be wise to supply my vessel with water, ( he nods, which is not exactly what she's suggesting, but—! Yes, Peter needs more water in his life. As he moves further inside, Paimon continues to study Jinx as though she is something very interesting. Of course he can't let it go, directly asking— )

You are never really lonely?

( it's a good thing her kitchen isn't closed off, so the two of them can still chit-chat. she pulls out a glass from her cabinet and makes her way to the sink again. but when she turns on the handle, jinx pauses to let the water run free -- wanting to make sure the water is indeed water and not leaves or blood.

she peeks over her shoulder to the demon, smiling though. )

Well... ( she starts off, then looking back to the faucet. maybe the rushing water will drown out most of this explanation. ) — I have voices. They chat with me sometimes. Particularly when I don't want 'em to.

( with the glass now full, she twists off the water to make her way back to him -- drink extending out to him. )

That's what I mean.

Oh, Voiceless, you're such a kidder! — I was a half step ahead. A full one would had meant I had the advantage all the time.

( she shakes her head as she mutters," a step ahead, she says." like she really can't believe she asked such an insane question. )

What about you, huh? You've been givin' me twenty questions and you haven't said a thing about you. How are you doing?

( Voices. Despite the steady stream of water, Paimon picks up most of it — ear tilted intentionally towards her, every ounce of his focus wide-open and listening. It certainly catches Paimon's attention — not that his attention has ever been anything but carefully fixed on the blue-haired girl — and his eyes widen up, slow and open. That could mean... many things. There are many implications, and he's intrigued to learn more, only breaking eye contact when Jinx offers him the water.

Slowly, the demon reaches out to take it, fingers wrapping stiff and tight around the glass. He holds it a little awkwardly, extended outwards a bit, making no movements to actually take a drink from it yet. )

Do they.... reveal the future to you? Prophecy?

( wat. jinx stares at him as if he grew a second, third, or fourth head. and with him being in control of peter and knowing very little about this demon, he just may have the ability to do that if he wanted. or possibly not. either way, the teen quirks an eyebrow and replies very slowly. )

Uuuuhh....no? They just... talk shit. Or sometimes warn me of somethin' coming at me or people.

( a beat. )

They're not always right, though. So it's like a gamble listenin' to 'em.

( This is only becoming more and more intriguing...... Hearing Voices is highly important, at least to a thing such as Paimon. To him, it seems like the girl has been granted some sort of gift.

...Or perhaps it is more like a curse. Either way, it's only further proving to him that Jinx is no ordinary human, and his interest in the girl grows. )

They warn you of things.... but at times, those things are trickery. ( He nods solemnly, sorting it all out. Paimon well-knows trickery, and in fact, he has played the part of whispering voices within human minds, to manipulate them. Other times, to guide them.

Hmm. )

Do they speak to you now? Are they here?

Yeah. I mean, they're always talking.

( the blue-haired girl makes her way to the main living room now, plopping onto the couch while extending her hand to him to sit in a chair or floor if he wishes. )

But I don't always know what they're saying. It's a lotta gargling noises in my head right now. ( hmm, how to explain it? ) — Y'know when you're out in Willful Machine and there's people all around you and they're chattin' away, but you can't hear their conversations exactly? It's a lot like that. You may can pick up a word or two, but it's mostly soft and in mumbles.

( it's a little odd to sit here and talk about her voices. not many people question her what they're like or know in full details, for that matter. )

If they really want me to know somethin', they'll let me know. Or sometimes they mess with me by getting my attention, but talk all soft on purpose to irritate me.

( The demon king moves to follow Jinx, striding quietly across wooden floorboards before moving to sit on the floor facing her, long legs folded inwards and crossed, back held erect and straight. He holds his glass of water very seriously in his palms, attention remaining fixed right on Jinx as he listens to the girl's words. )

A cacophony. ( He gives a tip of his head forwards like a nod, when Jinx describes these "voices". A swell of tongues, meshed together, threads unable to be pulled apart. )

Have they always been with you? Or were they..... given to you?

( If this is a gift, or a curse, either way — is it something the girl was born with? Or was it placed upon her? ...Forced? )

I guess... given to me. They weren't always here.

( although this is a very strange conversation and she feels a tad bit cramped with this type of subject, maybe it's something she should discuss about more. a handful of people are aware of her voices: ekko, vi, chizuru, sharon, wrench... — if they are others, then it's probably by merely observing her. if they're smart enough.

but with them, she doesn't speak about it in length. it would be just a quick brush of a sentence then off to the next thing. who knows? maybe her rambling on about them like this will get her to open up more about her mental illness (that she denies still). )

You're really curious about 'em, huh?

( Given to her.... There are many implications to that. Many questions. By whom? For what reason? But the demon king of Knowledge and Secret Things is patient, and despite his forthright questions, he also knows to be gentle.

He studies the girl, quietly. )

To hear the purl of Voices within.... It is an importance. You are a conduit for something.

( Paimon tilts his head again, still holding his glass calmly to himself. )

You died in this place, and returned. Did it affect the Voices?

( Make them louder, agitated? Or perhaps quieter? Perhaps there was no effect at all. But the restlessness she'd spoken of with Peter... Paimon wonders. )

( her lips thin at his question, debating on whether to change the subject to him or answer. jinx is trying her damnest to open up about what happened to her, because according to reaper, it's the only real way to heal. to lean on love ones, those who experienced the same, or simply understood. and paimon is none of these, unless he did died somehow and she's just unaware of it.

still though, the teen shifts around uncomfortably -- tucking her legs underneath her as she rearranges her seating. )

They were... upset when I came back. Things were so quiet and dark. It was weird, but... kinda peaceful? But when I woke up, they were screaming so much. Some were angry, confused, just talkin' over themselves. It was a real headache.

( she breaks to move her bangs out of her eyes to see him clearly. )

— They're better now, though.

[ The demon regards the girl with that same intensity, still not drinking the water in his hands but just grasping it tightly. No, he's much more invested in what Jinx is saying.

....There's something to it that is familiar. In different ways, layered ones. His head slowly tilts to one side again, thoughtful and liquid-smooth. ]

That must be..... very difficult. That torment. ....I have known it, in humans. I have.... seen them feel it. Be broken apart by it.

[ Peter's uncle..... ]

...What helps them find relief? What makes them better? Is it something you do for them?

[ He has a thought. There are things that an entity like Paimon is meant to provide for humans. Perhaps he can help Jinx in that way, as well. ]

( she shrugs one shoulder with a slight frown. honestly, she never thought about it -- to make her voices better, comfortable, or happy. they were bother to her like she is a bother to them. at least, that's how she always assumed with the harsh words they enjoy throwing at her. )

Sheesh, I dunno. They get hard to reason with. They give me advice or their opinions but they're not always right. I try to ignore 'em most of the time.

[ So there is no real method of relief... only ignoring. (Now who does that sound like....? Peter Graham. There's a reason the boy stays high most of the time, numbing himself over to things. He's tried to ignore Paimon for years and look how well that's worked....)

The demon's quiet again for a few long moments, thoughtful, before he speaks back up. ]

I can... do things. Things to help. I help the human Robby, and my witch, with their bad dreams.

I can... alter things.

[ It may sound... ominous, and it can be (certainly the demon king Paimon can mentally torment and unravel, inflict psychological terror....) but what he can do is also of use. Meant to assist, to soothe, to help. ]

I can make bad things go away. Good things show.

Oh yeah? ... How you do that? Like... enter people's dreams or somethin'?

( because how else can one make bad things go away besides maybe using the bloodstones? it's what she's been using to calm herself, but the nightmares are a completely different story. )

★ MAY. (CATCH ALL); it was the calm before the storm

➤ JINX'S TREEHOUSE. (CLICK ON THE BELL FOR FAST INBOX TELEPORT)

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➤ THE CLINK N' CLANK

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➤ TIMELINE: saturday, may 6th.

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(Likely after she's back from the dead sometime)

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cw: mild anxiety, panic attacks + hallucinations

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this is so fucking late, zero worries if you want to drop it!!

but i like peter and his demon friend. ):

They like u too, Jinx 😌

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