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Autumn comes when you're not yet done with the summer passing by
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Day 1
Oct 26, 2022 2:18:06 GMT
Post by Pieluver on Oct 26, 2022 2:18:06 GMT
꧁ ꧂ 【"Everyone else simply has bad judgement."】 ▋▋ 【Standing on her chair】 ▋▋ 【AA5F77】
Eris looked up from cramming food into her mouth when She heard that sharp, tight word from the Greed demon's mouth. Ooo? Was someone angry? Could she assist? Val spoke lazily, and Eris watched with great satisfaction as Myut's jaw bulged with annoying. She didn't have anything in particular against the olive demon, but it was still funny to watch Valramir annoy him. And then there was a distinct bang, followed by a smack, and a quite hiss through that forced-pleasant expression.
She could add that to her list of things she knew about this demon: He liked the purple one, he probably had loootttsss of shiny things, and Valramir annoyed him. Granted, he had also been nice enough to help them with the painting, so perhaps he wasn't terribly bad. But he was still a stuffy greed demon, so she didn't care that much about him either way.
Not too long afterwards, she noticed the Pride demon's eyes on her. While she disliked Pride demons as a rule, this one was one of Bez's girlfriends, so she wouldn't cause too much trouble unless Bez specifically asked her to, or the tall woman tried to start something.
It seemed like Viv had chosen the weakest target to argue with, though, her sights on Valramir. He was two for two in annoying the other demons, right after putting everyone to sleep, Eris was impressed with his skills. He stuck to the two demons trying to move him like melting candy until he was displaced. She watched with mild sympathy as Val slid promptly off his new chair and onto the ground. What funny little demons.
And then the little purple one appeared. Naturally, he made a beeline for the greed demon, and plopped right down on him. Eris expected to feel tension from Myut's side, but instead, she felt it radiating from her other side, the big lust demon's expression was neutral, but she could certainly feel some sort of intent radiating off him in waves. Was he angry that the little guy had chosen to sit on Myut instead?
The big one ended up ducking under the table to retrieve his fork, and Eris's attention was pulled away by Bez. A game? Interesting. Perhaps just the sort of thing to spark up some terrible little feelings. All the other demons perked up too, seeming to listen a little closer, especially after the first question. Surprisingly though, all of the others seemed so...naive. Willing to believe the evasive bullshit their captor had spouted. What was worth playing so demure and nice? This guy was so clearly a liar and a rat.
Eris banged he little fist on the table after the others gave their answers, gesturing at the man. "He's obviously lying!!" she half-yelled, her face growing slightly ruddy. "Don't let him get away with spouting whatever he wants!"
The guy spouted more bullshit, and Eris scowled. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like any of the others wanted to take action. Which meant that a punishment landed squarely on her head, despite Val speaking up in agreement. Bez's words made a disgruntled frown curve her face. She ignored the similar look from the purple one as she slowly unfolded her legs from her chair and stood, circling behind Cyr to get to the olive demon. Her eyes met the other's as she stood before him, profoundly uncomfortable. This man was nearly twice her size! She shot an uncertain glance Bez's way. She could take a guy like this in a fight, but sitting in his lap?
"Don't be weird," she commanded.
"Worry not," the greed muttered, looking equally uncomfortable. She'd feel offended if she wasn't relieved by his lack of enthusiasm.
Eris perched on his knee lightly as if she was a delicate bird prepared to take flight, trying not to move too much. He seemed to have the same idea, because she could feel the tension wound tightly in his body. Well, at least he was polite. Perhaps he wasn't so bad, even if he seemed a bit obnoxious.
She responded demurely to Bez's prompting. "I....I'll ask a question," she replied with her hands folded timidly in her lap. Her natural tendency towards chaos was completely interrupted by her own discomfort.
Well, there was one thing she could do. Greed demons tended to be excellent sources of interesting items to steal. And certainly it would piss this guy off to no end if she managed to lift something from him without getting caught. Two birds and one stone and all that. "Um...what's the most valuable thing you have with you now?" she asked, intent on scoping him out.
Unluckily for her, she only got a very very boring answer. Ink? Boringggg, not even shiny. Was this a lame greed demon? He seemed to relax slightly too as he spoke. Apparently this lame vial of ink was really that special to him. Ugh. Maybe the envy had some nice shinies?
The group easily declared truth (slightly disappointing, if they'd called a lie, Eris would have certainly demanded he stand for the rest of the round so she could have the chair to herself.) And then it was Val and the lady pride demon's turn.
A secret? She knew plenty of Val's secrets. He was great at relieving others of their secrets too. All in all, quite fun. She looked over when Bez spoke, followed by Myut, both doubting the story. Oh, this was fun. Accusing people was so amusing. She resisted the urge to jump to her feet (right, the greed demon) as she pointed at her friend. "Yeah!" she agreed. "You're definitely lying."
The punishment was goofy, but Eris was happy to jump out of Myut's lap and go through her paints. She didn't want to waste too much, especially since they'd already used so much on the portrait, but she had a funny idea. She plopped right down in Val's lap, straddling his knees as she went to work combing magenta through the front of his hair, reminiscent of the envy demon, who made a joking little comment about it.
Bez was too sharp for her own good, though, reminding her to return to her own punishment. Grudgingly, she got off Val's lap, puffing her cheeks out. She was kind enough to run back to her room to deposit her paint, wiping her hands off on her makeshift door before trudging back to sit down. She didn't want to make the greed demon mad while she was actively sitting on him, at least.
Oooo, and then the big lust demon asked a question that left the little purple one just bursting with rage, though he moderated his composure eerily well, considering what Eris could feel radiating off him. She leaned on the table just a little, staring. Even if it was a party drug, it'd be useful to have some poison around. She'd have to see where he had it hidden.
The other opinions in the room were mixed, and her eyes tracked the responses, and the bickering, back and forth until there was enough of a lull for her to insert her two cents. Eris tipped her head slightly. She wasn't thrilled about this guy, but he had helped her get the painting down, and he hadn't let her fall on her head. Plus he had that purple streak, maybe he was a crazy partier? "I think it's the truth," she piped up, folding her arms over her chest.
There was a second flare of anger when Val spoke, though, his seemingly innocent words igniting some irritability in the purple one. Oho? Interesting. She'd have to store that for later. What kind of history did they have?
Then there was a bunch of kissing. Gross. She was glad she didn't have to partake, though the pride lady's response to having to kiss Val was quite funny. So was Amos's reaction to Bez's kiss. It was just like her to throw him off guard like that. (And oh, this table was just lighting up with anger, if it wasn't one person it was another--this time it was the pride lady, it seemed like?)
Ino then did a very nice thing for her, bringing up that it was the end of the round. Was it really? She eagerly hopped up, hurrying back to her seat, accidentally catching the food trolley with her foot and causing it to rattle angrily. She settled back in her seat with sweet relief. Being so close to strangers for so long made her deeply uncomfortable. Especially big man strangers.
Eris settled down in her seat as Bez began her monologue about those surrounding the table. It really did seem like she knew everyone here. Naturally they were the closest partners in crime though, right? She grinned. Yeah, she did have a lot of zeal, didn't she? And lots of enemies. It was a talent. Her ears did perk up slightly at the mention of Myut's things, though it seemed he mostly collected books and such. Boring.
But Bez as a greed demon? That would be quite fun. She'd do great at it. "Truth!" She agreed with the others.
She really didn't care about the shirt exchange, enjoying a few more bites of her food while Ino complained. She was quite glad her own shirt was staying on her body.
The greed was next to ask a question, and he asked her one, which surprised Eris slightly. The worst thing she'd ever done? She tipped her head slightly, eyelashes darkening her cheeks as she considered this question. Did he just want her to brag? She had, after all, invited him to do the same with her question, albeit inadvertently. There were so many good candidates. "Worst?" She asked, kicking her legs back and forth slightly. Which kind of worst? The thing she regretted the most? The cruelest thing? The thing that had the most lasting impact?
No, no, she she should be humble. Something clever, but not too ruthless, so they'd know not to cross her, but not so much that they'd be terribly wary, just in case she needed to take some strategic action against them.
She chewed on a fingernail as she considered this. "I killed one of my neighbors once. Well, I didn't exactly mean to, he kept pushing into my territory so I hired an escort to seduce him and make his wife leave him, and while he was distracted I pushed his border and burnt his home. Not my fault he was still in there." Perhaps not the actual worst thing she'd ever done, but it was a satisfying one to brag about. Something light and easy to talk about.
To her pleasure, the others seemed to agree that she was telling the truth. She was such an excellent liar!
Oh, but she'd forgotten about Val! They had gotten up to a lot of terrible, delightful things together when they'd teamed up to take his territory back, of course he'd catch this lie. "Gonna have to say liar, Eris, dear," he sang. Val looked so terribly pleased with himself. Eris shot him a bit of a stinkeye as the others questioned his call. "Well, we've done a fair share of fun things I would at least consider is worse that that little mistake," he said.
Eris waved her hand in the air dismissively, trying to swerve his call. "He asked me the worst thing I've done, not the worst thing we've done," she replied, though she looked rather self-satisfied by his acknowledgement. "Doesn't count if I had help."
"Ah! So you admit it! It does to count. Even if you did it with someone else, you still did it. He didn't ask the worst thing you did alone. I'm definitely changing to Liar!" cried Bez.
And then it all slipped through her fingers, everyone calling lie one after the other. Booooo, no fun. And then the greed asked the worst sort of question: "Am I allowed to pocket one for later? I'd like to have a get-out-of-jail-free card in case I make a mistake and rub you the wrong way in the future."
Eris puffed out her cheeks. "You'd better not do any sort of rubbing," she retorted grumpily.
Myut's assertion that that wouldn't happen didn't seem terribly reassuring.
Eris crossed her arms and looked entreatingly at Bez. "Tell him it's not allowed!" she asked, pointing at said 'him.' She didn't exactly want someone to have something over her head for later. It'd make it harder to do things if issues cropped up.
Bez laughed, shaking her head. "Much as I want to say yes, sorry, Meu, but Eris is right. The punishments are just for the game. Not some vague long term commitment. Now," she flapped her hands playfully, "come up with something entertaining, or lucky Eris here will get away Scott free."
Scott free? She'd like that. She tried to glare at Myut, but he was already talking.
"Fair, I felt like it could have been a bit of a reach. Worth an ask." He shrugged unchagrined. "Alright, Eris can tell us about her most embarrassing social encounter. No lies allowed."
An embarrassing encounter? No fair at all!!! She scowled, but her expression was quickly growing more and more bashful.
"Well one time when I was a teenager and still living with my ma, she arranged an event thing and there was this guy there who had a really nice engraved pocket watch that I wanted, so I was trying to get closer, but I didn't know that Ma invited him cause she wanted us to..." Eris made a vague hand gesture. "You know, and so went I went for the pickpocket he uh...thought...um..." her face was turning an unfamiliar light pink as she thought about it. "So I had to set his tie on fire to get away. And he still tries to talk to me when he sees me." Eris had to sit on her hands so as to prevent herself from clapping them over her face and hiding, but her eyes didn't leave the table as she spoke, except to bashfully glance Bez's way at the end of her explanation.
"Eris! How could you not tell me this sooner! Can you imagine just how much drama we could have caused with this guy? You have such an advantage over him. I bet he would do whatever you wanted if it came to it. Oh, what fun you could have!" Bez pressed.
That was enough to make Eris hide her face. "Nooo," she replied. "It's too embarrassing. I don't wanna see that guy again."
Val chuckled and leaned forward on the table. "I could always put him to sleep for you. But I do agree with Bezzy, you could have so much fun with him."
"C'mon! Just one con or trick or prank, or anything really! I would settle for demanding a really elaborate favor!"
Eris peeked through her fingers at her two friends. "I'll...I'll tell you later," she said at length.
Bez gave her a searching look, then her brow raised and she smiled, "Deal." Then, thankfully, she dropped it and changed the subject to the next victim. Which was Ino.
The ensuing conversation was so terribly entertaining. She forgot to insert her own opinion, so taken by the way Bez wound the boy up, angrier and angrier, so easily. She smiled when he finally jumped to his feet, stalking away, only to be chased by the greed. Interesting...she'd have to be more careful of that one if he was going to try to be so buddy buddy with the physical representation of their captivity. Her eyes flicked around the table, evaluating the expressions of the others watching this unfold.
Then, the guard was yanked through the wall, and the game resumed. Eris wisely kept her mouth shut, despite her principles. No need to implicate herself in the punishment again. Ino had a most delicious idea--a fight! Even if Val would probably lose, he'd probably yank at least one other person in after him, right? She hopped up to follow the others into the bath, crowing and cheering as the three of them got into it. Val was easily trapped between the other two, and he gave up control of his limbs too easily. "Bite her!!!" Eris tried to call out helpfully, but it was too late.
Val landed in the water with a loud splash, popping up just in time for Bez to inflate the chaos by tackling Viv, bidding the large lust demon to do the same to the greed. She grinned, watching them all splash into the water. As she laughed, she noticed Ino come over. Her expression turned slightly shy. Ah, he had been her partner in crime earlier, and he didn't seem to terrible. Maybe he would be a good addition to the team? His eyes were bright as he offered a hand, and she smiled slightly as she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the water.
For their small statures, they still made great splashes, she was quite pleased. She let go of the envy demon, though, to wade over to Val, her friend. He'd already popped out of the water and was sitting on the edge, but she held her arms out to him entreatingly. "Come back in!" Her fire didn't quite work underwater, but she could heat up her direct surroundings, turning the water to a pleasantly warm temperature.
When he slipped back in, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding on to his shoulders and letting herself float, kicking her legs a little to stay balanced. "For prison this is much like a vacation, " he mused.
"I'm not complaining," Eris replied watching the others gambol about in the water. "We'll just have to get out when it stops being fun," she said in a low voice in his ear. No amount of playing around would make her forget her ultimate goal of breaking out of here.
Bez, ever aware, drew them back to the game. The final round, wasn't it? And it was Val's turn. She watched over his shoulder as he directed his question towards Myut, but his answer quickly alarmed her.
"Wait, they stole stuff?" Eris asked, using Val to crawl out of the pool, shaking herself off before darting to her room to make sure none of the stuff she'd stolen had been stolen, leaving a trail of water behind her.
Before she stepped through her makeshift door, however, she took a moment to dry herself, her body flaring just enough to send steam wreathing around her from her clothes. Her skin grew ruddy, and her hair, the last thing to dry all the way, poofed up fluffily. Luckily for her, she didn't know how childish it made her appear. She quickly took stock of her things, but thankfully, it didn't seem like the guards had bothered any of her things. Probably because she'd hidden them well, or because they were too afraid of gleaning her ire to even try. It clearly wasn't because none of the stuff she preferred to steal had any actual value beyond looking rather shiny and fun. She checked all her paintings, just to make sure none were gone, and as she flicked through them with her fingers, she saw a particular one, and a thought popped into her head.
Perhaps it would do just well to make some careful alliances. Some...if one could say it...friendships. She could extend an olive branch, something subtle and clever. The envy boy would be the perfect one to start with. Plus she could have a nice look around his room while he was gone. So she hugged her painting to her chest and crept out of her room, darting across to the one she remembered the purple boy going into before. Indeed, it smelled like what she'd assume an envy demon would smell like --something a little fragrant, a little herbaceous, very pretentious.
She had a bit of a poke around before laying the painting on his bed. It was purple, clearly his favorite colour, and green. It was....supposed to be a sunrise landscape of purple flowers and waving grass, but no one quite understood her vision with this one. But it was special, one of her favorites. She could imagine it already, him surprised to find such a gift, wondering who possibly could have painted it. A perfect plan! A subtle thank you for him not dropping her while they were working together to get the painting down. And if he was clever enough, perhaps an invitation to work together to get out of this dump.
She was lost in her thoughts, having a last little poke around before scurrying off, when a voice nearly startled her out of her skin.
"Eris?"
Her head snapped up, eyes wide and deer-like, her face turning slightly pink. "Oh...hello," she replied.
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Dragon Keeper
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Feb 23, 2023 22:34:32 GMT
11 POSTS & 0 LIKES
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Day 1
Oct 28, 2022 20:08:05 GMT
Post by faddedfox on Oct 28, 2022 20:08:05 GMT
꧁ ꧂ 【All the lies we tell.】 ▋▋ 【beside Cyr <3】 ▋▋ 【4169E1】
Valramir was still a bit ruffled that Vivian and Myut had tossed him to the other chair. He huffed and grabbed his own plate of food and nibbled lightly on the piece of roast beef, no longer quite in the mood to eat though. He certainly wanted to go into pout mode. Val had been having so much fun teasing Myut. He would have to find a way to get back to Myut. Or maybe he could mess with Vivian until she decided to move? Ugh, that sounded like a bit of work. He wasn’t interested in her now, and she was Bez’s. He didn’t want to get Bezzy’s ire over Vivian. It wasn’t worth the trouble. Fine. He’d let it slide.
The sloth intended to ignore the other conversation, but then Bezzy decided to introduce a game. He tilted his head to the side and arched an eyebrow. Oooh, Liar? Ah, what a delightful game. A small smile touched his lips. It seemed she was trying to use the game as a cover to get Amos to spill some beans and maybe, just maybe, get a hint on who tried to kill the precious prince. He sat forward then and threaded his fingers together to rest his chin on the twined fingers. His eyes narrowed on Amos who seemed to be first on the chopping block.
Of course, Bez would come out of the gate swinging. Amos’s answer that he knew nothing of the initial suspicion and plot made Val arch an eyebrow. Amos certainly didn’t look like a captain or someone high up on the food chain. If he was, he wouldn’t be in here, mingling with he ‘schemers’. Perhaps he was telling the truth. If he was, Amos really wasn’t much use to them. He wondered whose decision it really was. That was the person they needed to talk to. That person had their life in their hands. Still, he had a question later for Amos. Maybe he would just try to earn some points on Amos’s side. “I think… you’re telling the truth.”. Most people seemed to agree as well, except Eris. Eris was quick to call the guard a liar. Without much prompting, the guard gave them a sliver of information.
The sloth demon couldn’t help but grin. So much for trying to stay on his ‘good side’. ”O-ho! So you are lying. Omitting knowledge is a form of lying,” he sang. He tapped a long, sharp nail against the back of his hand. He tsked then. ”I put such faith in you.” So maybe he did have some information to give after all. He wondered who this other person was. Why weren’t they in here with them? Wouldn’t association and knowledge of this third party indicate who the potential plotter was?
Unfortunately for Eris, no one else changed their vote and she got the punishment. He was slightly envious that she ended up in Myut’s lap. He would have enjoyed that bit of punishment. He grinned against his hands, just imagining what the poor demon would have done if it was him and not Eris perched in his lap. He could well imagine little Mew Mew jumping through the roof. He was drawn out of his happy musing when Eris asked Myut the next question about his valuable bits and bobbles. Aw, well of course Myut was going to tell the truth about that. That wasn’t all that fun. He just smiled and answered ”Boo, boring. Truth.”
That round ended quiet quickly and suddenly, he found it was his turn. And from his current nemesis, Vivian. He wondered what she would ask him. Would it be something to try and incriminate him? He wouldn’t put it past her. He tilted his head to the side as he waited for her to consider her question.
“What’s one secret you’d never want anyone outside this room to know?”
”"Oh my," he mused, his lips sliding into an easy grin. That was a good question. He hadn’t expected that. ”"Now that's an interesting question," he admitted. And what should he answer? He could say a lie, but that would mean he would have to try and come up with a good lie. Bez and Eris knew most of his life, his fears, and his secrets. They’d easily call him a liar and then they’d sway the others and he’d end up punished. There was no way he was going to tell the truth to these other demons. His secret was slightly abashing to admit to a room of demons. So, he did what any Sloth demon would do; he took the easy way out. Might as well take the punishment without putting forth too much effort or risk. He’d just play the theatrical.
"I'm a pretty open book, as Bez and Eris can attest too. I don't have secrets I’m afraid."
”Liar,” Vivian all but blurted at him. He just grinned at her. No reason to respond to her about it. She was the questioner anyway. He looked at each demon around the table as they all proclaimed him the liar he was. Now time to play the part.
”Oh boo,” he drawled, leaning back and stretching. ”Sold out by my dearest friends,” he scoffed playfully, feigning being hurt by Bez and Eris. ”I suppose even an open book has a few hidden stories.”
"Alright, Viv! He confessed so you get to pick the punishment." Bez rubbed her hands together in anticipation.
” let Eris put whichever colors she likes in your hair."
Val blinked a moment in surprise. That was his punishment? His head fell back and he just laughed and reached up to tug at his hair which was still mostly clean from the shower, save a few marks. It was his face that was covered in paint on the right side from when bed fallen asleep while painting. "Okay," he mused.
Eris did not hesitate to hop up and shuffle through her things, retrieving a pot of magenta paint. She had been shy earlier to sit in Myut's lap. Not so with Val, she sat down right on him and gave him a bright purple streak reminiscent of Ino's, a smug smile on her face as she did so.
Val chuckled and held Eris's hips so she wouldn't fall off. He didn't raise a fuss and smiled in turn when she smirked. He reached up to touch the new streak and looked at the paint that stained his fingers. "Pretty color. Hey, Ino! We match!" He chuckled.
"That's my look!" Ino joked, running his fingers through his dyed hair. "Don't get used to it~"
Valramir just gave him a please smile, a cat-who-ate-the-canary look on his face.
Bez chimed in then, "Hmmm, personally, I think he needs more color. It'll show so nicely with that raggedy mop of white hair, won't it!" Bez stuck her tongue out at the pair. And then poor Eris was reminded to go back to Myut’s lap. Too bad. He so wished that delightful punishment was his. Still, this one was surprisingly mild from Vivian. He wondered why she hadn’t had him to something more devilish. Or hell, go sit in the corner or something. Ah well.
The game moved on to Cyr and Ino then. And ooooh that tension. Very interesting. Were they both vying for Myut? Ino had been trying to stay in Myut’s lap after all. Or maybe there was some other history there? Regardless, Cyr’s question about the poison was a good one. Ino was instantly on guard. He covered it well, but Val could see it in his shoulders, the way his posture had changed a fraction. Ino of course went back to being nonchalant, but Val would remember that initial tension. It certainly made him curious. The story Ino spun then was an interesting one. Ino seemed willing to ‘share it’ and give them a taste of the accelerant, but he had to know that Amos wouldn’t allow alcohol or leave to go fetch some. Was that a calculated bluff so the theory couldn’t be tested?
Was Ino planning something far more devlish? He had vanished from social parties for a little bit of time before the current get together. Had something happened? He and Ino had been on friendly terms, though they weren’t super close like he was with Bez and Eris. There was a lot about the demon he just didn’t know. They didn’t often mingle. He liked Ino, but Val was notorious for trying to stir the pot and then sit back and watch the fire burn, so he answered, ”Hmmm, sticking with liar,” and slumped in his chair.
"Val, Bez, I thought we were friends," Ino pouted in their direction. Val offered an innocent grin. "We are. I was just curious what the punishment would be. I don't really know whether you're lying or not. You never indulged me," he mused, thinking about conversation they’d had long ago at another party. Looked like he was going to get another punishment. He wondered what it would be this time. He hoped it was something fun.
Cyr glanced back and forth between Viv, Val and Bez. "Why don't you...kiss the person to your left?" he suggested. At hearing the punishment, Val’s smile immediately turned into a Cheshire cat grin, a light in his eyes. He let Vivian kiss his cheek, extremely distracted about the prospect and what this meant. Oh this was going to be fun. He turned towards Cyr who just happened to be the person to his left. Goody. He’d been eyeing Cyr himself. Cyr was a sexy demon and he had totally been planning on making some moves on him.
"Well, well. I hope this means you wanted to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you," he purred. He reached over to bring Cyr's face towards him before he leaned in to give him a passionate kiss. He may be a sloth, but he was a damn good kisser when he wanted it. Cyr had been initially distracted, probably not realizing he had included himself in the punishment. Cyr didn’t resist him and it was nice that Cyr had reached up to grip his shoulder, so close to his neck. His lips were soft and very inviting. He tasted nice. If he had known Cyr a little better, he might have tried to get a little tongue action, but he didn’t want to push his luck and get bit or scare him off as he had scared off Myut.
He pulled back then. ”Gorgeous,” he cooed and touched his lips. ”That was nice. I would love to see where more of that goes, should you be game.” .
Cyr didn’t offer much of a response to that, but that was okay. Val got a kiss he wanted. He sat back in his chair and grinned at Bez. It was her turn to give someone a passionate kiss. She was sure to be every bit as extra as him, if not more so. He was not disappointed as she turned to Amos to give him a kiss. The silly guard offered a cheek, but he knew Bez was going to settle for that. And ooh, that kiss. He knew that kiss well. He and Bez had plenty of trysts after all. The kiss was a very hard one to resist, as was evident in the way that Amos continued the passionate exchange. Val glanced at Viv to see her response and chuckled lightly. She looked downright pissed. He wondered what she would do when she found out that Bez was quite free with affection and that the two of them had had a long going relationship and understanding. She’d probably be gunning for him. And probably just about everyone in this room.
As the round drew to a close, Val watched as Myut accepted Ino back in his arms. It was kind of cute to see them cuddled up though he could tell there was an immediate tension again from Myut at the mention of Cyr potentially accepted Val’s offer for more. So Myut did like Cyr. Ino liked Myut. Val himself liked three of them, and who did Cyr fancy? From his face, it looked Cyr might be interested in Myut or maybe Ino? He wasn’t quite sure yet. Boo. Seemed like he was the odd one out in this little love triangle forming. Ah well. Relationships were messy and hard work. He just wanted to rile them up and maybe get lucky. There was something about Cyr he liked; he wanted to know more about him. He wondered if he’d get the chance.
Val turned his gaze to Amos as he asked Bez how many people she’d kissed and chuckled. Aw, how cute. He wondered if Bez was the first person he’d kissed, or had kiss him rather. He seemed rather…. Sweet and innocent for a pride demon. He wouldn’t be surprised. The second question certainly was better than the first and he listened to Bez as she considered whose life she’d like to live. It seemed very thoughtful. At Bez’s assessment of his own life, he just chuckled. ”You’d make a great slothy. But truth I suppose,” he mused. He and Bez often sloothed around after all.
It seemed like it was going to be another quick round with ‘truths’ in the circle, but the Cyr decided to call Bez out. But, as the only one out, he got the punishment. Val was enjoying these punishments. They were proving to be fun and more like rewards. He took the time to look over Cyr’s muscled torso as the man pulled off his shirt and tossed it at Ino. Ino’s shirt wouldn’t fit Cyr so Cyr had to finish the game shirtless. That was totally fine by Val. He was enjoying the eye candy. Then it was Myut’s turn to ask someone a question. It seemed he had decided to target Eris with his question. The worst thing she’d done? He was sure there were a lot of thing she could say to regale the company. Once more, the circle was going with ‘truth’. But that was boring. He wanted more fun. The punishments were great. What Eris said certainly was a pretty bad thing. Probably true. But he had a smidge of pride too and he was going to push that what they’d done together trumped it. And boredom would always win with Val. Time to stir the pot again! ”Hmmm. Gonna have to say liar, Eris, dear,” he sang. When questioned about his decision by Bez, he gave his standard Cheshire cat grin. ”Well, we’ve done a fair share of fun things I would at least consider is worse than that little mistake,” he mused. Val watched surprised and amused when suddenly, everyone turned their verdicts from ‘truth’ to ‘lie’. He had not expected that. He’d been willing to take the punishment to spice things up. Turning the tide however was a hell of a lot more fun. He didn’t have to do anything. In the end, Val was glad he didn’t get Eris’s punishment. He hadn’t wanted to share anything personally embarrassing to this crowd. He listened with rapt attention however, to Eris’s story. She had never told him or Bez about this demon who was practically head over heels for her. They could have so much fun with this guy. Why hadn’t she brought him up sooner? Bez seemed of a similar mind.
"Eris! How could you not tell me this sooner! Can you imagine just how much drama we could have caused with this guy? You have such an advantage over him. I bet he would do whatever you wanted if it came to it. Oh, what fun you could have!"
That was enough to make Eris hide her face. "Nooo," she replied. "It's too embarassing. I don't wanna see that guy again."
Val chuckled and leaned forward on the table. "I could always put him to sleep for you. But I do agree with Bezzy, you could have so much fun with him."
"C'mon! Just one con or trick or prank, or anything really! I would settle for demanding a really elaborate favor!"
Eris peeked through her fingers at her two friends. "I'll...I'll tell you later," she said at length.
Bez gave her a searching look, then her brow raised and she smiled, "Deal. Now, moving on! Who's next? Let's see.... Ino, have you asked anything yet? I think it is you." Ah, Ino had an excellent question about loyalty for Amos. Val sat up a little more and turned his attention to the guard. The man looked exasperated. “He’s the Prince. That’s why. It’s my job to serve the Prince.” Bez seemed on top of him for the answer and Valramir agreed. Loyalty in demons was not something that demons often spouted. Demons inherently were out for themselves, to serve their sin. Maybe it was a pride thing for the guard, but something didn’t sound right. There had to be a more concrete reason for the guard to go on about ‘duty’. "So what if it's your duty? You're still a demon. Loyalty... is rare. You have to have a motivation beyond 'duty', something you get out of it, so until you really answer, you're a liar,” he answered.
It seemed everyone was agreeing that the little guard was hiding something. They all wanted to know his true motivation but the more they poked at the little mouse, the more Amos began to tense and get testy. Oh dear. He was not happy and at this rate, Val feared the game would be over and probably end explosively. He didn’t want that. Val steepled his fingers and allowed his aura to ease into the air around them to dull some of the sharpness between the two pride demons and to hopefully help Amos loosen up a little.
Val remained quiet as he digested Amos’s words. Family. The way he was acting, it made Val wonder if the prince was in some way related to him. Was he direct family? Distant family? Maybe Amos’s family had a debt to pay or was indentured in some way to the prince? All wonderful little things to ponder. And it seemed that the words around the table were a bit too much for the little guard. The man refused to continue and stood from the table and moved to leave the room. Val was sad. He had a few questions of his own to ask Amos. It seemed he wouldn’t have the chance to do so. He was too worked up.
The Sloth demon tilted his head to the side when Myut suddenly got up as well to go after him. His eyes narrowed slightly and he watched as Myut practically cornered Amos against the wall. It almost looked like he was going to lean in and give the guard a kiss. Did Myut perhaps know Amos a little more than he’d let on? Or maybe he was trying to work some sweetness on the man to get something. What deal was he trying to strike up with him? In all of this, what did Myut really want anyway? He seemed quite cozy. And then the demon was whisked away like a fish plucked from the stream. There went that.
Bez reminded them they had a game to finish; and a punishment to accept. "Oh dear. Looks like we fell for a punishment... though I still think he lied, he did have motives beyond ‘loyalty’ Alright then, what is our punishment, dear Ino?"
"You three will go to the baths and wrestle. One of you three must end up in the water~" He steepled his fingers, eyes bright. Hmm... "Someone should go to supervise too. Cyr? You're already dressed for it~"
A look of distaste filled Meu's features as Bez announced he'd get to join in the punishment. "I had meant if Amos ended up getting one with a unanimous verdict." He walked to the head of the table, crossing his arms and looking none too happy about what Ino decided they were going to do.
Ino's words made him frown a bit more. "Ah, looks like you're getting a bath, Val."
Val blinked. That was the punishment? It certainly was a huge punishment for him. He gave a pout. "Nooooo" he whined. "Wrestling without getting off is just a chore. And I took a bath already," he intoned , forgetting all the paint on him currently. "All that effoorrtt". He stood slowly then. This was not going to be fun. Hell, maybe he should just drop into the water. That would end things quickly. But he wasn’t sure he wanted to get into the water again. Clothes felt icky afterward and he’d have to actually wash up, change, the whole 9-yards. Ugh. "Fiinneeee." he muttered, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to get out of this.
Vivian flipped her hair, a little annoyed. She looked to Myut.
Bez wondered what may be going through her mind. Deciding how to take him down? He was the biggest threat, after all! But, they could also just go after the Sloth for an easy victim. This was shaping up to be quite entertaining.
"I'll come along too, this'll be fun~" Ino announced, slipping off the table and skipping ahead.
Viv moved forward, carefully avoiding being first, and moved to be behind the sloth, looking at him analytically.
Bez popped up as well, a huge grin on her face. "I'm coming too! No way I'll miss out on the fun."
Meu sighed. He saw Vivian looking back at him, and he gave a slight nod of his chin. He followed slowly behind the rest, entering the steamy room with a disdained look.
Val sighed, "So what are the rules for this punishment?" he asked, trying to drag this out a little. He didn’t want to get started. It seemed the rest of the party had other ideas however.
Vivian shifted lower, strength coiling up her muscles, setting her feet before she launched forward. In two steps, she was right behind him. They were around the same height, so she twisted down, driving her shoulder into Val’s back--he was a demon, he could take the hit--and hopefully bearing him to the ground with her own weight.
Val gasped initially in surprise. His wings snapped open however to counterbalance. He managed to catch his footing and twisted around away from Viv and let her stumble forward without him. He grinned then. Unless familiar with his background, most people didn't know he was a trained fighter. It would take more than that to knock him into the pool. He grinned then. Okay. So maybe this was going to be fun too. He did exactly like to fight, which is why he avoided it regardless of knowing how to fight, but Vivian had just turned this into a game for him. How long would it take before Viv managed to get him in the water? Before he gave up and let her do it?
Viv caught onto Val, using him to catch her balance. Now she was the one closest to the water, which wasn't great. She brought her arms up and prioritized moving away from the water first, her smile wide.
Val glanced back at Meu when the other demon inched towards his back. He'd have to keep an eye on him. "Wary of Lil old me?" He poked, trying to get Viv to charge at him again.
"I mean, I didn't expect you to hold your own. Last time you were just a rag doll~" Viv taunted, but she did get closer.
"Mmm I suppose I should lead with, 'don't underestimate me,'" Val answered. Viv didn't lunge yet but Val started to try move to keep both demons in his line of sight.
Viv turned, angling so Val couldn't get a good lead on Myut. She came a little closer, a tempting target.
Meu, on the other hand was persistent in staying behind Val's back. "Come on, we don't have to make this so difficult, yeah?"
Val's gaze flicked back and forth, trying to keep an eye on both demons. Myut was getting dangerously close, as was Viv. He couldn't back into a corner since they circled with him and kept him in the center. Then, Val lunged.
Viv got her hands on Val's shoulders and gripped hard, keeping him in place. She let Val force her a step back to stretch him out.
"Go, Viv! Get 'im!" Bez laughed, clutching to the doorframe excitedly. Once Viv had a grip on him, Meu pounced swiftly to secure Val's feet by the ankles, large hands closing easily around them in an ironclad grip. When Viv gripped him, Val in turn grabbed a hold of Viv. Initially, he was thinking of swinging, using his weight to throw Viv closer to the water or into Myut. However, before he could, the demon in question grabbed his ankles. His eyes widened in surprise. Oh shit. He tightened his grip on Viv then.
Viv let go of Val and grabbed the sloth's wrists, squeezing hard to try to force his hands open. Val hated pain. He lived most of his life in avoidance of such a thing. So, when Viv's grip on his hands produced it, he winced and his own grip slacked a little. The Sloth did not have very good pain tolerance. Meanwhile, Myut pulled his arms in close to his body as he stood, attempting to lift Valramir from the ankles and throw off his balance even further. Viv pried up and away, forcing Val's hands together and gripping them tight.
"Ack!" Val cried out when he suddenly found his legs getting lifted. He tried to grab onto anything, not liking the feeling of suddenly not being on the ground. The swinging certainly didn't help.
"Ready?" Viv asked, starting a light swing. "1...2..."
"3!" Myut finished.
Viv released Val, then whooped as the sloth demon went flying.
Val tried to grab onto Viv but she slid from his grasp. His wings expanded out to try and catch himself but he was not a flyer they were thin and not used to the sudden effort. It made more for awkward flapping and disrupted some of the momentum. He hit the water then, his right wing smacking the side of the pool and momentarily stunned the sloth as pain radiated through the limb as he sank. After a moment he made his way back up to the surface. He coughed from inhaling water and shook his head. That ending had not been fun in the least and he was feeling a touch grumpy at the pain he’d had to endure. "Ugh... you win," he mumbled. The appendage was still radiating with the ‘ouch’.
Viv laughed a little and waved. "Sorry Val!"
"Take it up with Ino if you've got any objections. All good?" Myut said then. Valramir was not much in the mood or he’d have made a comment about Myut caring about him just to ruffle a few feathers.
”Hurts a bit" Val admitted. He scrubbed at his face and hair to get most of the paint off now that he was in the water. When it was mostly out of his hair, he inched towards the side of the pool to get himself out. The wing he smacked shook a little when he bent it but it was just strained, nothing broken. Thankfully. He would have been a hell of a lot more disgruntled if he’d actually broken a bone. He let it droop a little. Val pouted a little and looked up at Cyr who was their "referee". Ah, maybe he could salvage the situation? Get a second kiss And rile up one of his attackers. “kiss it better?" He teased.
And… and then everyone was grabbing a counterpart and falling into the water. Cyr had completely ignored him, going so far as the rush passed him to tackle Myut into the water. His wings drooped a little more. Ouch. Well then. That had taken a turn and felt much like salt in the wound. So much for that plan. Now he was the only one out of the water and he certainly felt momentarily excluded.
Much like a sulking child who’d found out he’d been miffed a piece of cake, he sat down on the edge of the pool alone and pulled off his icky shirt. He was not willing to jump right back into the pool without a reason. Val pouted as he watched the others.
And then Eris came over to him and asked him to join them in the water. He perked up. His savior. He smiled. "Alright. Since you asked, " he mused and slid in again. "For prison this is much like a vacation, " he mused. And then Bez reminded him they had a game to finish. Oh yeah. He’d totally forgotten that.
"Ah. I totally forgot. My question was for Amos, but he's gone now. Shame. Hmmmmmm what should I ask, and who?" He mused and tapped his lips as he looked around at the demons. Hmmm. He wanted to ask Cyr about the necklace but he didn't want to gain the man's ire just yet. Ino was already under fire from the poison. Meu and Viv seemed quite cross with him already. Every question he thought of ended up with someone pissed at him. Ah well. Might as well keep picking on Myut. He wondered when the guy would realize he was pushing buttons just to rile him up? "Meuuuuuu," he called, "what is your goal with Amos? You seemed quite chummy with him." He eyed Bez as she came up behind him and decided to use him as a resting post. As long as she didn’t dunk him, it was fine.
Myut went on then to discuss the loss of his precious items to some thieving guards. Didn’t surprise him really. Still, he didn’t believe the whole thing. Myut had to want something else too. At least Bez called out liar. ”Mmmm looked to me like you wanted to kiss him at the very least.” he added. That seemed to add more fun to the game. Good. Maybe he could fluster Myut a little this way instead. Or get Cyr to react in some way since they were obviously chummy chummy now.
At least there would be one last punishment and it seemed Bezzy got it this time. What should he punish her with? Maybe something to further cause some fun. Bezzy was certainly good at pushing buttons. "Ah, it appears like you're the odd one out this time, Bezzy dear. Let's see.... since you know everyone best, your punishment is to impersonate someone in the room until someone gets it right. Not their sin, but them personally. Like mannerisms and things they'd say." He wondered what the devilish girl would bring to the table.
And oh, she didn’t disappoint. She seemed to go after the very two he was trying to play with. Val chuckled as he watched the scene. "Oh, such a sore spot for you. Mew Mew," he teased. Myut and Cyr both were out of the water now and going their separate ways. Val arched an eyebrow when Cyr then decided to strip. Oooh, fun. And he certainly was a handsome demon. He wondered if Myut would take up the, presumed, offer? Well he wasn't going to let it go by as he too pulled himself out of the water and shook off, extending his wings a moment. Myut’s loss was his gain. "Mind if I join you, Cyr? I promise to behave. Mostly." He said with a fanged grin. "Cuddle party." He’d been rejected earlier, but maybe Cyr would accept it this time.
Cyr seemed to scan the room for a moment before looking back at Val. "Alright," he said putting his pants over his shoulder before going to raid the shelf for towels. He put one on the top of Val's head before wrapping another around his waist. Val grinned and pulled off his own wet clothes and left them on the floor before accepting the towel Cyr gave him. He was positively surprised and elated the demon had agreed. He wouldn’t do anything too inappropriate this time. He wanted Cyr’s good graces for now. That seemed to be getting more of what he wanted.
"Thanks." He wrapped the towel around his waist and followed after the lust demon. Unlike him, Val had taken off all of his clothes, so he was nude under the towel. He didn’t care about showing off or not. He made sure to stay close as they got to the fireplace and got themselves comfortable. He snuggled up into Cyr’s arms and rested his head against the warm chest. Damn, he really was a handsome demon.
He grinned back at Bez when she came by to drop off the shirt and winked at him. Seemed he had her approval at least. Val’s eyes widened a moment when Cyr rested a hand on his back and caressed the skin between his wings. Unlike most wings, they were lower on his back so the content really put Cyr’s hands just above what would be his pant-line. He grinned a little, a fang sticking out over his lip. Gosh he was tempted, oh so tempted to make a comment, a move, but he’d promised to be good.
"Mmm getting a little handsy hmm? Not that I mind your touch," He said. He couldn't help it. How could he not say something with Cyr's hand so low and he nude?"You landed hard on your side, didn't you?" Cyr didn't move his hand way from his back but slowly began to run his fingers over the wing he'd smacked in the pool. Val's eyes widened a moment. So he hadn't completely ignored him earlier. He seemed to actually care. He smiled. Cyr was sweet. He snuggled closer and hummed. "Yeah. I smacked my wing against the edge." He mused and slowly extending the wing to invite the touch. "Thanks." He said softy and lightly caressed his side in return, plaything with the contours of his skin and muscles. "Ouch," Cyr replied sympathetically. He couldn't deny that he'd been quite worried about the pair missing their mark when they'd hurled the sloth demon into the water. "Does it still hurt?""Mmm not so much if I don't extend it or try to lift it too much. Just starts shaking. Most likely just a sprain or something. It will get better later. You have a nice touch. Thanks for being concerned.""I was worried you'd hit your head," Cyr replied, reaching up to ruffle his hair instead and then gently scratching off little bit of dried paint from his temple with his fingernail. Valramir blinked surprised at the touch and attention. For a demon, he was sweet. "Nope. Just my wing. " He hugged him closer and rested his head against him, listening to his strong heartbeat. Yes. Yes, he liked this. He ran a hand up the man's back and hummed softly. "Well. Thank you, handsome. We should hang out more often," he mused. Especially if they were going to cuddle like this. He certainly loved cuddles. And besides, Cyr was a mystery and he wanted to know more about the tall handsome demon. Cyr idly played with his fluffy hair. "Ah," he said softly. "I might have to spend a while time laying low after we get out here," he murmured. "But maybe some time."Had to lay low when he got out? Val looked up at him then, sleepy eyed though he was calculating. He always used his slothy appearance to pretend he was just thinking surface thoughts, wearing most of his emotions on the sleeve. Cyr just proved how much of a intriguing morsal he was. "Lay low? How come? You can always come to my territory," he offered. No one would bother him there, after all Eris had her own soldiers there. Traveling in without permission would be a one way ticket to getting a wrath demon's ire. Cyr met the sleepy-eyed look, gently rubbing the back of Val's neck with his thumb. "Ah, I think I might be in a bit of trouble with my family. Might be better not to drag anyone else into it, but I appreciate it." He smiled slightly. "I'll keep that offer in my pocket." "Mmm" he answered. His family would be angry. Why? Had they given him the cursed necklace? For what purpose? What had they wanted him to achieve? He had so many questions. Had they used Cyr as a pawn? How very demon-like. Cyr certainly hadn't known the curse on the necklace he'd brought. Val's fingers began to draw designs on the man's back as he thought about the new bit of information. But oh man was the demon's touch beginning to distract him. And it was a good way out of a conversation that could lead to some tension. He didn't want to Cyr to pull away or become suspicious of him. He had still so much he wanted to ask later about his family and the necklace. "Oohh that feels good," he mused and leaned into the touch on the back of his neck. "And just to warn you... my neck is sensitive. I promised to behave but oooh, keep doing that and you'll make me misbehave." It certainly was making him a little excited. At least with the warning, the ball was in Cyr's court whether or not things became naughty. Cyr chuckled softly. "You're quite lively when you're awake, aren't you," he replied, not moving his hand away right away, but slowly working his thumb down the segments of Val's spine. He chuckled. "Mostly. I did have a hearty meal earlier," he grinned, enjoying the memory of how he'd put everyone here to sleep and fed on their slothiness. "You know many sloths?" "Mhm," Cyr nodded slightly. "I've been around a few times," he replied lightly. "Never one quite as mischievous as you have been, though."
He chuckled. "Yes, I suppose I am livelier than most sloths," he agreed. "I do enjoy my sleep and lazing about, and just about anything "fun". I have Eris and Bez to really bring the excitement when I fall into the sluggishness. That makes me pretty fortunate.""That's an interesting combination," Cyr replied. "A sloth, a wrath, and a gluttony? How'd you three meet?"
Valramir smiled at the memories. It had been quite fun. "Well Bezzy met me at a party. Oh! I was playing a card game. I love playing cards and I was gambling for some trinkets. I hadn't eaten so I was very sleepy. I fell asleep and the other demons were trying to steal my things. She came to rescued me, won the game for me," he explained. "She helped me get home and had a nice cuddle for the evening. We became fast friends after that. She came often to nap, have some fun, and use her nature to get me to do things I ordinarily would have been too lazy to accomplish. As for, Eris, she contracted me. Well, her family did and then it was mostly her. We became friends as well, and together indulged each other's nature and got up to all sorts of mischief thanks to Bezzy's wonderful 'do it' whispers. Did you know anyone here before you came?" "Ah, that does sound like Bez," Cyr replied thoughtfully. "I didn't recognize anyone here but you and Bezabelle."
"Mmm," he answered. So many were strangers to him. He wondered what his usual crowd was. Whatever it was, Cyr was doing an excellent job of relaxing him now. The massage down his back was practically making him want to drool. Had he drooled? He was enjoying the gentle massage. He stretched just a moment as he buried his face against the man's neck and wrapped his arms around Cyr to practically glue himself to the man. He couldn't possibly get closer unless they actually got intimate. He even rested his wing around him as his eyes closed. He was warm and so very comfy. There was no way Cyr was going to be moving any time soon, not with the sloth grip and entanglement he had around him. Val made a little grumbling noise as if he was trying to say something more, but no words came out. Once more, a little fang protruding over his lip as he began to fall asleep in Cyr's arms and slowly dragged the man into slumber with him.
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Twink Connoisseur
The daydreamer
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Apr 28, 2024 21:51:55 GMT
Scheming~
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Day 1
Nov 4, 2022 8:08:34 GMT
Post by anthemum on Nov 4, 2022 8:08:34 GMT
꧁ ꧂ 【”Isn’t she dreamy?~”】 ▋▋ 【Across from lovely Bezabelle】 ▋▋ 【009874】
Viv hadn’t gotten to eat much when Bez spoke up, which made the young woman put down her fork and look up at her girlfriend. She then gave a look over at Amos when Bez mentioned him. So that’s what they’d been whispering about. This game fell into one of the categories her mother had tried to teach her about, games that were about having a poker face and a quick retort on the tongue. Demons who could lie easily could use these games to learn a lot about their fellow players.
Vivian was not one of those demons, preferring the blunt and rude approach.
Bezabelle, meanwhile, was clearly an experienced player, immediately asking about the reason why they were there. Amos said he didn’t know, and when Vivian sized him up, she felt like she believed him. He didn’t look like anything special, like Ino pointed out. Not only that, but she didn’t want to be on his bad side when everyone was calling truth, so she did as well.
Eris was the only dissenter, and loud and proud about it too. The new information made Viv frown before she tucked it away. Definitely not her or anyone her family associated with. Sadly for Eris, no one seemed willing to switch over their verdict, and the wrath got told to sit beside Viv—on Myut’s lap. She didn’t like it, and Viv felt bad for the girl, looking so small and anxious perched on the Greed. She jumped at the chance to ask, which was smart. It kept you safer, for now.
The Greed described a pricey ink he supposedly had but didn’t want to use himself. A clever answer, not something that would be stolen here, with them so watched and locked down. That, and it sounded exactly like something a Greed would have, so, “Truth.”
No dissent here, and that meant that suddenly it was Vivian’s turn. She took a deep breath, not wanting to disappoint her mischievous girlfriend, but she couldn't think of anything that wasn't either blasé or raunchy. But she needed something... something good... "What's one secret you'd never want anyone outside this room to know?"
That would be interesting, right?
"Oh my," Val answered, suddenly grinning, which almost made Viv pout.. "Now that's an interesting question. I'm a pretty open book, as Bez and Eris can attest too. I don't have secrets in afraid."
“Liar!” she declared immediately, then hesitated, because that was a terrible strategy, but it wasn’t like she could un-say the word.
Bezzie laughed. "Unfortunately, Viv, since you asked the question, you don't get to call out 'Liar'," Bez said cheerily. "I, on the other hand, pronounce you a Liar!" she pointed accusingly at the Sloth. Vivian smiled because at least her girlfriend had her back. The others followed suit, calling out the obvious lie.
"Oh boo," Val leaned back and stretched, "Sold out by my dearest friends," he scoffed. "I suppose even an open book has a few hidden stories."
Vivian had forgotten that a bad lie was a strategy in and of itself.
"Alright, Viv! He confessed so you get to pick the punishment." Bez rubbed her hands together in anticipation.
Huh. Viv had no idea how to punish Val. But when telepathically asking Bez for ideas failed, she swept her eyes across the table and- "Let... let Eris put whichever colors she likes in your hair". Because it was white, right? Just like a canvas.
“Okay,” Val seemed a bit surprised by her pick, and Viv looked at the table. She really should have thought of something better… At least Eris seemed to be enjoying it, giving Val a coloured streal much like Ino’s.
"Pretty color. Hey, Ino! We match!"
"That's my look. Don't get used to it~"
"Hmmm, personally, I think he needs more color. It'll show so nicely with that raggedy mop of white hair, won't it!" Bez stuck her tongue out at the pair. "Even so, Eris, once you're done, you'll need to return to your Punishment." Bez winked at Meu. "That's in affect until the end of the round for you, my friend.”
Now Bez’s punishment, that was both appropriate and a little evil. Bezabelle was amazing.
“And now, Cyr, you get to ask Ino a question." Said demon was saying.
Cyr immediately proceeded to choose a bomb of a question. No pussyfooting tactics here, just straight up bluntness that put the envy demon right on the defensive. Viv had to admire how…composed Ino was. He whisked through emotions as though he was dealing cards, explaining, joking, teasing, protesting…it almost made her dizzy.
The rest of her attention was taken up by extreme concern as Bez demanded to try the potential poison on Ino’s word alone. She gave Amos a grateful look when he denied them alcohol to test it with. If any tests were to happen, they would not be on Bez. Ino’s story made sense, though when she'd spoken to the older demon, he'd seemed calm and measured. Not the sort who searched for a high. Then again, she was the daughter of his peer, he likely wouldn't let loose around her... "Conditional Liar, if we can't test it. Sorry, Ino".
Without a means to test it, she could relax a little. And she had to support her darling Bez!
It was just too bad that that support meant a punishment. And she had to kiss Val? Ick. She only wanted to kiss Bez… Looking immensely uncomfortable, she leaned over and gave Val the tiniest possible kiss on the cheek. There. Condition fulfilled.
Val promptly lunged to magnet on to Cyr’s mouth, so Vivian looked away, refocusing on a certain gluttony. That meant she had a perfect view when her girlfriend kissed the guard, and the damn guard didn’t pull away. Viv breathed out through her nose, brows furrowing, hand creeping along her plate, finger bracing against the rim while the thumb braced on top and the rest of her fingers curled under. She had damn good aim, and if he didn’t stop taking advantage, she’d remind him…
Perhaps sensing his glare, the kiss finally broke, and Viv went about calming down as though nothing had happened.
"H....how many people have you kissed?"
Would the infernal guard stop talking about kisses?!
"Oh, Amos. No, sorry, I'm afraid you'll have to ask another question. I don't know the answer to that one. I lost track years ago. I'd have a hard enough time just answering how many people I've kissed at the gala! So no, try again."
And something about that answer didn’t sit right with Vivian, but she pushed the feeling away.
"Er...well....if....um...If...if you could switch lives with anyone in this room, who would you pick?"
"Ohh, that's better. Hmmm."
Vivian went back to paying attention, curious to know what Bez would say. Heh, Cyr was right, Bez would make a fantastic lust, a thought that made her blush as she pictured the other woman, lounging pinup style, with some angel styled wings folded around her. Lilac, maybe? Or a lovely pink? Mmm…
Her blush only grew deeper at Bez’s compliments, and she wished she could reach across the table to take Bezabelle’s hand. She could not, however, nor could she imagine Bez as a greed demon, even if greed and gluttony were cousin classes. But Bez had worked so hard and pride demons thrived on flattery. Bez had played the table masterfully. Her girlfriend was so smart and amazing. Vivian took a deep breath, letting it sink in. "Truth".
No one else seemed to want to argue after all that praise. Ino even joked about it, but that seemed to compel Cyr to answer to the contrary. No one even budged, and that meant Amos had to deal a punishment.
"Eh? Um...do twenty push-ups?"
Ino snorted. "Why don't you also ask him to sit in his chair and breath a little while you're at it?"
Viv, along with Cyr, laughed. Most of the table seemed amused.
Amos clearly didn't. "Well...fine. How about... Switch shirts with Ino then."
Ino seemed to regret the snark now. "It's not going to fit him! He's massive!" He complained, but he didn’t hesitate, stripping and throwing his shirt at Cyr.
"I won't force it," Cyr replied, also removing his shirt, tossing it to Ino and wearing Ino’s shirt as though it were a scarf. Viv caught herself admiring his body, the broad shoulders, the solid abs. She bet he wouldn’t even feel a punch to the gut. She had to fight this guy.
Meanwhile, Ino ended up looking like a little doll, small and dainty in the too-big shirt. In Vivian’s opinion, though, Bez clearly wore it better.
Eris’s story felt like typical wrath demon. Vivian looked around the table. She'd grown up with a wrath demon brother, a wrath demon father. She knew the things they could do when provoked. Honestly, accidental murder sounded entirely on brand. It was the sort her dad didn’t want Mal to be.
"You shouldn't" she murmured to Bez, before sitting up. "Truth."
Bez, as Viv was starting to realize, promptly ignored her, but it worked out fine as Eris admitted to the lie. She nodded along. "Okay, yes, lie.”
The embarrassing story, though, just reminded Viv of her hapless brother and why exactly she hadn’t been at this gala. She still thought he’d do well in this room, befriending all of these demons. He’d fit right in. Even if Viv could handle herself better than Mal could…
In the meantime, Ino had asked his question, pressing Amos for the reasons behind his loyalty. Now that was another good question, letting them know how hard it would be to get Amos to cooperate with any plans, how willing he’d be to run to the Prince at the first sign of trouble.
"He's the Prince," Amos replied, as boring as before. "That's why."
"Why does that matter to you?" Bez insisted.
Amos frowned more. "It's my job to serve the Prince." he replied, sounding a little annoyed.
"So what if it's your duty?" Val asked. "You're still a demon. Loyalty... is rare. You have to have a motivation beyond 'duty', something you get out of it, so until you really answer. You're a liar."
"Yes, what makes you care about your little job, A-mouse?"
"Protection? Prestige?" Myut offered up. Viv wasn’t sure who he was trying to help.
Viv considered it. A pride serving a pride... "Unless you're doing it for free, I need to say liar" she said, folding her hands primly. Nothing wrong with a paycheque. She'd have found it much more believable if Amos had paired loyalty with literally anything else.
Amos's eyes went right to her, and now he seemed annoyed. "My family, actually," he snapped. "Not all of us were born wealthy."
Viv straightened her back, eyes flashing. Her father had worked for what they had. Her mother had cultivated their business with care. How dare he…? "If you need a better job, I can put a word in with my father" she shot back, gracious in the worst way possible.
Amos half-lifted his chin. "I'm perfectly happy where I am," he snapped back, bristling slightly.
Viv had more to say, but at the soothing sloth vibes, she settled quickly, casting a worried glance at Bez.
Meanwhile, her darling Bez didn’t seem to care. "Oh, family you say? What, did your mommy and daddy get you the job? Couldn't snag it on your own merit, hm?"
Viv sucked in a breath. That was a terrible thing to say to a pride.
Amos felt it too, because he jumped up and left, with nothing more than a bitter “Ha”. Meu rushed after him, and Vivian watched that interaction with interest. Flirtation? Bargaining? She’d have to ask.
Nonetheless, it ended with Amos gone, and Myut taking his place in a three-demon punishment between him, Viv, and Val. The pride flipped her hair, a little annoyed. The guard had obviously lied. But...only one of the three had to end up in the water? Her and Myut had already moved Val before. Maybe they could just do that again? She tried to signal an alliance to Myut with her eyes alone, which she hoped would get through.
"I'll come along too, this'll be fun~" Ino announced, slipping off the table and skipping ahead.
Viv moved forward, carefully avoiding being first. Option two was just tackling Val straight away...she could probably take him down...
She moved to be behind the sloth, looking at him analytically.
Bez popped up as well, a huge grin on her face. "I'm coming too! No way I'll miss out on the fun." For once Vivian ignored her, just planning now. Myut gave a slight nod of his chin. He was behind them all, so he logically had the best position, but Viv was here for Val, who was standing at the water’s edge, asking questions. "So what are the rules for this punishment?"
Honestly, Vivian figured if Val hadn't been paying attention, that wasn't her problem. She shifted lower, strength coiling up her muscles, setting her feet before she launched forward. In two steps, she was right behind him. They were around the same height, so she twisted down, driving her shoulder into his back--he was a demon, he could take the hit--and hopefully bearing him to the ground with her own weight.
Val gasped at the hit, but his wings snapped open to counterbalance. He managed to catch his footing and twist away from Viv. Viv caught onto him, using Val to catch her balance. Now she was the one closest to the water, which wasn't great. On the other hand, most of her was itching for a fight, and she was surprised to find it from a sloth of all things. She brought her arms up and prioritized moving away from the water first, her smile wide.
"Wary of Lil old me?" Val taunted.
"I mean, I didn't expect you to hold your own. Last time you were just a rag doll~" Viv mocked back, but she did get closer. She needed to try to grapple him so that Myut could get a hold.
"Mmm I suppose I should lead with, 'don't underestimate me'". He answered. He started to move, trying to keep both demons in his line of sight.
Viv turned, angling so Val couldn't get a good lead on Myut. She was the fighter here. She came a little closer, trying to tempt him into a lunge.
Meu cooperated (or maybe it was self-preservation), staying behind Val's back. "Come on, we don't have to make this so difficult, yeah?"
Val's gaze was moving back and forth, trying to keep an eye on both demons. Finally, realizing he was trapped, he lunged.
Viv got her hands on Val's shoulders and gripped hard, keeping him in place. Of course, he could grab her back, which wasn't ideal. On the bright side, Myut had free access to the sloth’s legs now. She let Val force her a step back to stretch him out.
"Go, Viv! Get 'im!"
Viv turned her head to smile at her girlfriend. It was safe to do so, as Myut had grabbed Val’s ankles, making him dangle in the air. Val tightened his grip, calling Vivian’s attention back to their fight.
The plan had worked, hell yes! Now Viv just had to figure out how to detach Val, whose grip had tightened uncomfortably around her shoulders. She could knee him in the face, but Ino had said wrestle, not brawl. So she let go of Val and grabbed the sloth's wrists, squeezing hard to try to force the hands open. As expected, Val’s grip slackened and Viv pried up and away, forcing Val's hands together and gripping them tight. She was grateful that Myut was doing most of the lifting, which made the maneuver much easier.
"Ready?" She asked, starting a light swing. "1...2..."
"Ack!"
"3!"
Viv released Val, then whooped as the sloth demon went flying. They were both strong enough, he should make it in fine.
Val flew through the air, his wings opening, but to Viv’s relief, they didn’t lift him, and he hit the water (and the pool wall) with a splash.
Viv winced, laughed, and waved. "Sorry Val!"
In the next moment she shrieked as someone barrelled into her. "Viv, catch me!"
She spun to catch her balance, but that failed. A shove away became an embrace as she dragged Bez down with her, not letting her get away.
She surfaced, sputtering and laughing. "Bez! I'm in a gown!"
She then planted a kiss on her, Bezabelle was too cute. Everyone else was jumping in, and the energy was much like a casual pool party now. She was ready to flirt, but then…
“BEZABELLE,” Myut was charging over, laughing. “Don’t think Viv can save you now!”
Viv, ever the hero, dropped Bez in the water so she could get in Myut's way, arms up, ready to get his head wet if he tried to go after Bezzie. Her eyes were sparkling brightly, fighting had put her in a good mood for now.
"Wanna reconsider?" she taunted. She could totally bring him down if she had to.
Bezzie moved around to Viv's side though. "Save me? I don't need Viv to save me. I could take you on my own." She put her fists up dramatically, biting her lip in mock concentration. "But..." She put a hand on Viv's shoulder, "with us together, you don't have a chance!"
Myut just spread his arms wide and tackled them both under the water again. Viv shrieked again, unable to hold against the much larger man in heels in the water. She swam back, sputtering again, unable to contain her laughter as she immediately splashed Myut in revenge.
Bez squealed, unable to flee in time as Myut dunked them. She popped back up, shouting, "Meu, you fucker!" She then joined Viv in splashing, aiming for his head to make sure the Greed was drenched as possible.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Myut seemed dismissive, "You asked for this." He grinned brightly, narrowing his sights on Bezabelle once more so that he might grab her and fall backwards into the water with her. Once again, Bez was pulled down, putting an end to her splashing. Viv gasped but stood back, since Bez wanted to handle herself. Both Greed and Gluttony popped up and Bez spat a stream of water at him, then ducked back down and swam toward Val and Eris.
Viv watched fondly as Bezzie splashed the pair. "Gotcha! Well, since everyone is here, Val, you got the last question?” Was she really still on about the game? Adorable~
Val asked Myut about his plans with Amos, which was pretty interesting information. Myut explained that it was about his missing things, and Viv nodded along. "Can confirm” she made her way through the pool, her skirts swirling in the water. "Truth for sure. If I don't get those back, my da might actually get angry."
Val and Bez just had to tease though, and soon, Bezabelle ended up with the punishment. For it, she got all close to Cyr, looking soulfully into his eyes, leaning in…and that was her girl! What didn’t anyone respect that?! But Bez was just joking…right? A bit of a glare slipped through at the lust anyway. But soon, the gluttony was back in her arms and Vivian was distracted again.
"You know, I had a thought, and I wanted to know what you thought of it."
Bez leaned forward, one hand on either side of Viv's hips, as Bez whispered in Viv's ear.
"Why don't we follow Val and Cyr's example? Let our clothes dry by the fire, and go snuggle up in my room?"
Viv turned bright red at Bezabelle's closeness, quickly distracted as she wrapped her arms around her warm wet girlfriend.
"I...uh...I..." she stammered, entirely flustered.
Unable to resist, Bez snuck a kiss. Not a long one thus time, just a quick peck, then she moved to Viv's side and pulled herself out of the pool. She went to the towels, stripping with no concerns about who was still in the room and pulling the towel around her. After grabbing another for her hair, she grabbed another couple towels for Viv, padding back to her with a casual grin as she held out the towels.
Viv was even redder than before, somehow. She checked that they were alone before pulling off the sopping wet gown, quickly wrapping herself in the towel. Underthings could wait until she had replacements. She then took a towel for her hair and wrung out the dress before making a beeline for her room, knowing Bez would follow. She had to change into something dry before the mischievous girl followed her into her bathroom...
She got on her nightdress and a dressing gown, then settled on the bed, slowly untangling her long locks of hair. It’d gotten rather messy in the pool, unfortunately, and if she didn’t deal with it wet, it’d be far worse dry. Although…
“Darling…would you like to help me out?” A win win, in her book.
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Website Destroyer
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Apr 28, 2024 18:34:43 GMT
Autumn comes when you're not yet done with the summer passing by
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Day 1
Feb 26, 2023 21:30:31 GMT
Post by Pieluver on Feb 26, 2023 21:30:31 GMT
꧁ ꧂ 【"Everyone seems to want a little something."】 ▋▋ 【On his side, on his back, on his guard】 ▋▋ 【5A8D88】
Cyr closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the warmth from the fire, but he opened them again as the pale little scrap of a demon spoke. Undressed, he looked even thinner than usual. He glanced over at the large wine-red eyes looking back up at him. He really wasn't in the mood to play, but he wouldn't be cruel without cause. So in response to the teasing comment, he merely gently redirected the conversation, his fingers tracing along his little wing.
"You landed hard on your side, didn't you?"
It was quite effective, because Val's face lit up just a little as he snuggled closer, wrapping an arms around him. He could not lie, it did feel good to be touched so softly.
He replied sympathetically to Val's explanation of how he'd landed. He had been quite worried that the two wouldn't quite manage to throw him far enough, but thankfully his head had been unscathed by the bathroom wrestling.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked.
"Mmm not so much if I don't extend it or try to lift it too much. Just starts shaking. Most likely just a sprain or something. It will get better later. You have a nice touch. Thanks for being concerned."
Cyr's eyes flicked over his face. There was still a patch of now-dried paint by his temple, softened again by the wetness. "I was worried you'd hit your head," he said, ruffling Val's slowly drying hair. Anyone would be concerned. There wasn't anyone he'd be happy to get hurt, honestly. Except right now, maybe Ino. But that was different. He redirected his own thoughts by pausing to use it nail to gently pick away the paint from Val's forehead. The boy settled further, resting his head on his chest now, so he couldn't see his face. He adjusted under him to hold him gently so his thin-bodied joints wouldn't dig into the ground.
"Well. Thank you, handsome. We should hang out more often," Val said.
Hang out more often? Cyr smiled a bit wryly. No matter how things played out, he probably wouldn't have much free time after they got out of here. Not that he'd ever had much time to go about on his own in the demon world. And Val looked a little too conspicuous to be the kind of demon that enjoyed cavorting on earth. Sloth demons rarely seemed to like it up there anyway.
He ran his fingers idly through the back of Val's hair, toying with the half-fluffy, half-damp locks. "Ah," he said softly. "I might have to spend a while time laying low after we get out here," he murmured. "But maybe some time."
Admittedly, that was the sort of non-answer his parents would use. He had learned well, after all. Up until he'd hit puberty, he'd been able to play the part perfectly. Or rather, his mother had managed to groom him just right, since naturally, she was the only one that had an inkling that he might not be a pride demon.
Val very nicely offered him his own territory. Honestly, he had no idea where Val lived, or what it was like, but he couldn't lie, he could only imagine a disordered, cluttered nest of a home. Did Val live alone, or did he have someone else to prevent himself from descending into utter chaos? Cyr's eyes lidded as the other looked up at him, wondering what people his fellow detainees had worrying for them at home.
"Ah, I think I might be in a bit of trouble with my family. Might be better not to drag anyone else into it, but I appreciate it." He smiled slightly. "I'll keep that offer in my pocket."
His parents could cause a lot of trouble if they wanted to. It would probably, if he was being honest, be earth for him. At least for a little while. Maybe he should talk to Bez again, though, see if she had any ideas about the matter. She had sounded so upset about the whole thing in general, maybe she could provide some useful insight.
He gently began to rub his thumb against the nape of Val's neck, smoothing down the small hairs there, slowly working further down to the muscles that connected his neck to his back. Val was also tracing shapes into his skin with those slight, warm fingers.
"Oohh that feels good," Val said, leaning into his touch like a cat. "And just to warn you... my neck is sensitive. I promised to behave but oooh, keep doing that and you'll make me misbehave."
Ah. Cyr chuckled softly. At least Val was very straightforward about how he felt. Cyr slowly redirected his touch, working down Val's spine slowly. "You're quite lively when you're awake, aren't you," he replied.
"Mostly. I did have a hearty meal earlier," Val grinned. "You know many sloths?"
Cyr had met several when he was younger, usually following around wrath demons with big personalities and vast territories. Usually they seemed like they didn't want to be there, sleepiness and annoyance battling on their faces.
"Mhm," Cyr nodded slightly. "I've been around a few times," he replied lightly. "Never one quite as mischievous as you have been, though."
"Yes, I suppose I am livelier than most sloths," he agreed. "I do enjoy my sleep and lazing about, and just about anything "fun". I have Eris and Bez to really bring the excitement when I fall into the sluggishness. That makes me pretty fortunate."
"That's an interesting combination," Cyr replied. "A sloth, a wrath, and a gluttony? How'd you three meet?"
Val's explanation made a lot of sense. Was there anyone who hadn't met Bezzie at a party? And a wrath demon contracting a sloth wasn't unusual. Though this particular trio seemed somehow more...dangerous than a usual group consisting of those particular components.
"Did you know anyone here before you came?" Val asked.
Had he? No, not really at all. Not that that was much of a surprise. He didn't really...make friends. Just ships passing in the night. Except for Bez, who stuck to him like lipstick to a wineglass. He wasn't sure which one of them was which.
"Ah, that does sound like Bez," Cyr replied thoughtfully. "I didn't recognize anyone here but you and Bezabelle."
Apparently his light, slow massage of Val's spine was pushing whatever buttons inside the sloth demon that made him power down. A soft mumble as the sloth wrapped his arms around him, turning his cool, tender profile into the warm curve of his neck, Cyr felt helpless against the forces that designed to drag him under. He exhaled slowly, his hand slipping from Val's back as he faded from drowsing to true sleep.
It felt good to sleep. His dreams wandered aimlessly, warm and blurry. At some point, he vaguely felt Val's warmth leave him, and he curled up on his side, facing the fire, his olive skin pinkened by the heat. The voices of the others didn't rouse him for another stretch of time, before he woke with a start, a chill racing the length of his body.
Cyr sat up abruptly, looking around, alarmed. His hair, dried haphazardly, fell into his eyes, and he hastily brushed it away to look around. Nothing. No one was near him. He was ok. Except his back, ouch. Cyr painstakingly stood, stretching his back and groaning softly. That was enough lying on the floor for one day. He gathered his things and the towel he'd been lying on, sauntering slowly back to his room.
How long had he slept for? It was dark outside now. Not that it really mattered in this place. Cyr examined his now dry clothing and groaned softly. While they were not horrible, he would not be able to wear these pieces again before they had a proper washing. The pants he'd been wearing had taken on a slight, strange discoloration, and the shirt Bezzie had been wearing had grown stiff after it dried, which he wasn't thrilled about at all.
Not to mention that, in his earlier frustration, he'd swept all his jewelry into one bag together, and now it was all tangled up. Damn it all.
First, he sorted out the pieces of clothing he could still wear again. Anything not stained. Surprisingly, most of his nicer pieces had made it out unscathed, probably because he'd worn them during the day. He changed into a long, loose t-shirt and swapped for a new pair of boxer shorts, before trying vainly to fix his hair with a bit of water from the sink, dampening it and refreshing the curls with his fingers before combing it out and giving up on looking presentable for now. He'd just need to actually wash it later. There had been so many soaps and things by the pool, certainly there was at least one he could use to re-soften his hair and style it before it dried completely?
Right now, though, he didn't want to hop right back into the water. For one, one of the others might currently be in there, and he wasn't interested in being social at the moment, and for two, he really needed to fix his things while he had the energy and the will to begin undertaking such a frustrating task.
He alternated between untangling necklaces and earrings and hanging up articles of clothing, trying to shake out wrinkles and renew folds. Cyr sat on his bed, trying to puzzle out two chains that had somehow intertwined into an impossible knot. He blinked slowly and glanced up at Bezzie when she entered and offered her a wan smile. He wasn't sure how he felt about her at the moment. Perhaps that would depend on how she acted next, so maybe he should keep an open mind? he resisted the urge to look away, instead leaning back on one arm and sighing, the interwoven chains in his other hand dangling down.
"Struggling," he said a bit dryly after she asked what he was up to. "I don't know how they manage to get so tangled so quickly."
He shot her a discerning look. "I suppose you've been busy having some fun?"
"Always," the gluttony demon said. "But, I suppose that is why I came to see you in a way. A little... fun."
He watched her closely as Bezabelle drew closer, in that way she did, like she wasn't really even moving, just sort of...became nearer with no forewarning. And she liked to be close. He didn't usually mind it, but he could already feel an aura radiating from her that made him wonder how much danger he was currently in.
"To answer your question," she said, observing the chains. "They tangle because there are more ways for them to be tangled than not."
She took the tangled necklaces from him, her fingers tracing along the side of his. Her dainty hands wove through the metal, isolating the source of the tangle as she held it aloft between them, close enough to grab him. Or be grabbed.
Cyr lowered his eyelids slightly as she spoke, watching her face as she wove the chains into a child's game, then just as quickly twisted her fingers until they were even more entangled with each other. He frowned ever so slightly. Of course she'd think so, but he wasn't about to argue with her on it.
"You know, I have been putting some thought into your own tangles here."
"Ah," he said softly in response to her devious look. "Have you now?" He turned to look at his poor tangled jewelry instead of her, though that was hard, considering how close she was. He picked up another, a cuff earring tangled up in itself and it's asymmetrical partner. "What sorts of thoughts have you been having?"
"Well, I think it is high time that we come up with a plan for a certain, devastatingly handsome Greed demon, don't you?"
Cyr's eyebrows lifted so quickly they might have disappeared into his hairline. He glanced at her for a moment without moving his head, but upon catching her eye he quickly looked away, feeling a little confused. She'd been cagey before, what had initiated this change.
"And I would be more than happy to help you with said planning. For a price, of course." A price? He...had an idea of what that price may be. Was that a road he was willing to trod?
Well...it was true that he didn't have much to look forward to once they got out of this place, maybe it would be for the better if he at least gave this a shot? Especially with the envy demon seeming so hell bent on antagonizing him, maybe it would be nice to have someone in his corner.
At least, perhaps, it would be nice to indulge in the fantasy.
"A price?" he asked, looking very focusedly down at the earrings in his hands. "What sort?" his eyes finally flicked up to look properly at her, eyebrow still slightly quirked.
She skirted around his inquiry for the price, urging him to agree and start the planning as she slowly settled down on his bed, leaning back on an arm and looking up at him. She was smug. She knew she had his attention, and she would happily gloat about it for as long as she knew she could get away with. His eyes flicked over her as she settled. This girl was too clever for her own good, honestly.
Plan first, price later? Clearly she knew that he wouldn't like the price. Cyr caught his lip between his teeth, weighing his options. A rare opportunity? With the way they were trapped in here? Or was there something else Bez knew that he didn't?
And then, that line of questioning. Cyr turned slightly pink. He was not shy with the mechanics of physicality, not embarrassed by touch, but that was just it. He didn't care about that. Those were things he did to feed. What he really wanted was the attention. And the fantasy. Playacting at romance, lusting after that sort of chaste intimacy that only existed in the stories humans told each other and he read about alone at 3am, where things always seemed to fade to black and they always talked at length about how much they loved each other.
The exact sort of thing Bezzie didn't seem to care for.
He put down the earrings, cleaning underneath his nails with his thumbnail instead. "I don't know," he mumbled. "I hadn't thought that far ahead..." Which was absolutely a lie, but the truth was too embarrassing to admit.
"Liar," Bez teased, bumping her shoulder against him. "I have no doubt in my mind, you're far too easy to read. Besides, if that was true, my little Meu imitation wouldn't have made you so red. So, now for your punishment, it's time to fess up and get creative! We've got some planning to do!"
"Alright, alright," Cyr said, relaxing. He bumped her shoulder back. "What are you, my fairy god-demon?" he replied, smiling at her a little as she crossed her legs.
Then he rubbed his jaw a little, evaluating what he wanted to say. "I don't know," he finally said at length. "All I know is he's handsome, and I like it when he pays attention to me. I'm not really worried about anything else right now." Cyr turned a bit pink again. "He seems a bit shy too," he added, as if that was the most irresistible quality in a man. Which was quite true--the more difficult to obtain, the more desirable, right? Even if it was mostly just him standing in his own way.
She scoffed when he said he wasn't worried about anything else, but didn't push it. Her next words were interesting, but puzzling.
And anyway, Bez was right. he couldn't mask his expressions to save his life. His eyes lit up ever so slightly as she spoke. Unusual? he tipped his head slightly. He didn't have a lot of experience with greed demons. Although, technically speaking, lust demons could be considered commodity, affording to keep one in employ, whether through payment or contract, was quite the luxury. And he was quite unique looking, for a lust demon. And that certainly wasn't a scenario he'd played in his mind before, being headhunted by a greed demon who at first, perhaps, coveted him for his looks, but whose jealousy would melt into an insatiable desire for his attention, his affection, his everything, and then maybe they'd fall into something like love? Haha...he would definitely never daydream about something like that. And if it did, it would certainly not rank fourth on his list of daydreams, right behind being in a dramatic love triangle with the Prince, straight out of those fantasy tales with fancy dresses and knights and intrigue.
Bez was talking again. Oops, he should be paying attention, she was planning. A stronger move? Sparks flying? And soon?
"Alright," he said, thoughtful now. If he could just find the right moment... and hopefully he wouldn't mess it up since they had...how many more days trapped in this place together? But if it did work out? Okay, okay, he needed a cost benefit analysis. And a plan. Since it felt like every time he actually got close to interacting with the gorgeous greed demon, his brain shorted right out and stopped working.
"You don't think I'll mess it up?" he asked, sounding slightly unsure of himself. "Should I....should I give him something?" he looks around himself. "I didn't bring anything particularly good," he fretted.
She bonked his head. "I said Meu wasn't interested in your things. No. Not this time. If you want to give him something, it ought to be something that is You. Get my drift?" she poked at him.
"Hey," Cyr protested after he was thunked, catching the offending hand after it poked him in the chest.
"I got it, I got it, no gifts." That warm redness tinged his cheeks again. He'd never actually really done anything like this. He tended to match the energy of others, so if they flirted with him, he'd flirt back. It was fun but it didn't mean all that much.but initiating? With someone else? Someone whose response he cared about?
Terrifying.
He released Bez's hand, looking at her. "So that's the planning then, isn't it? What's the price?"
She laughed, turning to him. "Oh, so impatient! But no, we've only just started planning. But, I suppose if you're that eager, I could indulge you."
"Don't you always," Cyr replied, twisting to look at her without completely facing her. "How else will I know if I'm getting my money's worth, hm?" That expression on her face definitely told him she had something devious in mind, and he still had a bad feeling he knew what it was. But on the other hand...maybe this really would be helpful? He couldn't be too mad.
She wanted him to guess. "I'll even give you a hint. I want More." She winked. Unsurprising.
"Though, of course, we'll have to be discrete about it. Viv's a jealous one, so adorable, but more important in your case, so is Meu. Obviously. Which we could use at some point if he needs a bigger push, but..."
That was right. Hadn't Myut said something to that effect when he'd encountered them in the bath. Cyr shivered just a little. So she really was going to help him?
Well, alright.
Cyr stretched out until he was flat on his back, looking up at Bez through his messy hair. "You're so bad," he said, the ghost of a smile on his mouth. "Come here, you greedy," he said, patting his chest in invitation.
When she settled down there, he looped his arms around her hips, elbows on her thighs, clasping them loosely behind her tailbone as he looked up at her.
"You're responsible for behaving and preventing your girlfriend from eating me alive, got it?" He said, a little stern.
He had promised her, after all. And as uneasy as he felt, it was just a week, wasn't it? Could it hurt so much? Especially if she was willing to help with Myut, that meant she understood, even if she was clearly hell-bent on pushing his boundaries in all the most tempting ways.
"But I'll play your game," he relented. "You can have a little more. Just don't eat me up, please."
She was more than happy to take her compensation. Bez was, in a word, overwhelming. For someone so tiny, she had the unmistakable talent of expanding and taking up as much space as she was allowed. He held her waist, not merely an intimacy, but a useful boundary, as her hands were always quick to wander. He yielded to her mouth, to the hunger he could feel just under her skin--commingled sweetly in their breath.
He couldn't let himself go completely under the brain-scrambling force of Bez's lust, since her fingers kept hooking the band of his shorts whenever he wasn't paying close enough attention. He knew he could tell her to stop, and she would, but he only grazed his teeth over the warm curve of her shoulder and murmured a warning "Bezabelle." His hands were soft and light when they redirected hers, still with that careful gentleness as if she was made of spun sugar and glass, even though now, more than ever, he could feel how much she wanted more.
Part of his mind ruminated over the open door-frame separating them from the rest of the group, from the Pride demon who would not be as careful with him as he'd be defending himself from her, but that was the beauty of Bez--she made it so easy to not care about anything except what was right in front of him.
She continued to push his limits, though, just a little more and a little more, until it was enough to pull him out of the haze. He felt warm--certainly he was flush, skin shimmering from their nearness--but now it was too warm. He shifted, rolling onto his side to gently deposit the gluttony demon at his side before making a little space between them, breathing heavily.
"Is my payment good?" he asked, his voice a little muted, eyes glossy from satisfaction. He reached out to nudge a little hair out of her face and behind her ear. She leaned into his touch.
"Perhaps. It seems it was pretty good for you though, hmm?"
"Don't be smug," Cyr rejoined, tapping her nose with his thumb before withdrawing his hand and rolling over onto his belly, resting his cheek on his folded arms. He half-closed his eyes with a little sigh. The energy he'd gleaned tingled through his system, but already he felt a little empty again. It was unclear how much of that was his own fault and how much was hers. Bez was like a drug, after all. The more you indulged, the more there was to regret later.
He tossed a few thoughts around in his mind for a moment. Would it be weird to circle the conversation about around that way? Yes, but she'd started it in the first place. Certainly he could ask another question or two, right? And anyway, she was Bez. Monogamy was the opposite of her thing.
"Tell me," he said after a beat, golden eyes opened enough now to search her face. There were so many questions he could ask. About her, about him, about this game she seemed to be playing. What did she want? But he settled on a tamer question. "How'd you meet Myut?" Would he glean any insight there? Probably not, but he didn't want her to hop up and leave so quickly...if she could just stick around for another minute or two...
He listened quietly to Bez's explanation, lapsing into thoughtfulness. He always enjoyed listening to her regale him with stories of her adventures and mishaps. There was so much to get into, so much trouble to escape, so many games to play, and so much at stake, all the time. And she made it look so easy.
She kept it vague, though. Whatever twists and turns they'd encountered were left up to his guess. And if he knew Bez, she probably had him wrapped around her finger too, whether he knew it or not. Cyr sat up slowly, still a little punch drunk, and ran his fingers through his hair, which was probably already a terrible, horrible mess again, this time courtesy of Bez's fingers.
Questions still jangled around in his head, but he couldn't put any of them to words well enough to say anything. Maybe they'd just have to talk later. It wasn't like he was going to end up on any sort of late night rendezvous, he didn't have to worry so much about things yet. They had the morning, hopefully with his head screwed on straight again. Though he was still terribly curious about what Bez meant when she said he acted differently around him. What was he normally like?? What even did that mean?
At length, he spoke. "I see." He glanced at her, smiling faintly still. "Thanks, Bez."
She sat up next to him, giving a little sigh. "'Thankth Bez,'" she teased, laughing. "That's it? No other questions or concerns? Hell, I'd settle for a heartfelt compliment, at the least." She punched his arm. "You're sure there's nothing else? You don't want more?"
"Hey," he said in response to her teasing, "you should feel lucky I can still talk after all that." He laughed as she tapped his arm, wrapping one of his own around her and pulling her back to his side as she propositioned him again.
"Thank you, my most illustrious and insatiable friend for your totally not suspicious meddling in my love life," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple before she could twist around and steal it from him. "Love you a million. But your girlfriend will absolutely pummel me into submission if she catches us. I'll pencil in testing my luck for day seven, thanks." He bumped her with his shoulder. "And it's not like I'm going to sneak into his room and try to seduce him under the cover of night," he teased. "Unlike a certain someone I know. We can talk more in the morning?"
"Alright, alright. In the morning then." She waved over her shoulder. Cyr turned his attention back to his jewelry, only to look up when she spoke again. "Hey, can I ask a favor? Not a price or a deal or.... just a favor? Just, when you get with Meu, or whatever happens, don't forget about me, kay?"
And then she was gone, as if she'd just fizzled out into the dim night beyond his door. Bez... He smiled softly, feeling a little reassured. How could he ever forget her? No matter what, there was someone still in his corner.
Cyr felt warm as he picked up the entwined chains, gazing at them for a moment before slowly getting to work disentangling them. After not too long, he gave up, moving back to putting clothing away. Quickly, he realized with dismay that one of his nice shirts, gold thread embroidery and all, had an earring post impaled through the stitching of the button hole. He sat down with a huff, trying to rescue his poor shirt without ruining any of the threads. His fingers were not quite delicate and thin enough for such a careful task, however, he quickly realized.
He was intensely focused on the earring, still a little disoriented and disheveled, when he sensed a shadow ghost across the empty door to his room. "I already told you," he said without looking up. "No m-" A glance told him that the person at his door was not whom he'd expected. "Oh, it's you," he said, eyes darkening even as a pink flush raced up his already-reddened cheeks. This was the second to last person he wanted to see right now. Annoying little envy demon.
The other demon quirked his head like a little bird. "I brought back your shirt." Indeed, it was in the other's hand as he strolled into the room. Cyr's eyes narrowed, the flush slowly leaving his face, as the Envy asked: "Do you need help?"
"Maybe you're new," he said, his voice flat. "But playing nice with someone you just clearly aggressed to feed off of isn't generally well received."
The little thing was so obnoxious and condescending, rolling his eyes. "No, no. Demons have been feeding off each other since the treaty was signed and we have limited options. Except for you, of course. You seem to be...quite popular."
Cyr scoffed, setting his shirt to the side so he wouldn't rip it as he leaned back, staring up at the envy demon. "Unlike you, I generally carefully consider where I feed so as to not make enemies." The sleepy warmth that Bez had left him with was fading now from his eyes. He pushed his disheveled hair out of his face. "You, unfortunately, don't seem to be that intelligent."
The envy just made a flippant sound and an even more flippant reply.
"If you want to feed on someone, go hold hands with Bez and let her girlfriend glare at you. Just leave me alone. I have enough to deal with without you being an ass to me," Cyr snipped.
"Hmm...no. I'm not into women. You, on the other hand, should watch out for her. Bezabelle does like to tease, and she is half wrath..."
"If someone's going to bash my head in, I don't think I'd mind it being her," Cyr replied, looking unbothered. "Bez'll get what she wants regardless of how well I watch out for myself." His eyes flicked back up to Ino. "I have significantly less patience for you, however."
The other only seemed amused, however, a smile crossing his face as he made yet another flippant reply.
Cyr lifted his eyebrows. "What, so you like being manhandled and threatened?" he asked, standing slowly. This was enough to make the other back up, though he wouldn't stop running his mouth.
"I don't think I understand what you mean," he replied, approaching slowly, angled just enough that when Ino backed up, it would be into the corner and not through the door. He reached out, blocking Ino's direct path to the door with his arm against the wall as he looked down at the smaller demon. "Can you explain a little more?"
It was a little satisfying to watch that smirk waver slightly into something less sure, perhaps a little more frightened. "You're a lust demon, shouldn't you know all about kinks?~" the envy responded, still annoyingly flirtatious.
"It's been a long time since I was small enough to be afraid of another demon," he murmured. "I don't think I remember how it feels." The little thing was obviously nervous. His voice dropped lower. "Look at me?"
He could feel his heart rate rise a little as the other slowly lifted his chin. It was almost like a prey drive, the desire to devour. He wasn't particularly interested in the little one, but he could feel it still, especially after Bez had frustrated him so much.
"I hope you know this is giving me some seriously mixed signals, Cyr."
"I thought that's what you like," Cyr said, his innocent look interrupted by a sly smirk. "Why don't we play nice with each other, hm?" he fixed him with a firm, golden stare. "I'm a lover, not a fighter. But I'm dealing with a lot right now, and if you keep pushing it, we're going to have a problem, you and I." That was all he wanted, after all. To not be made a fool of. Or teased. Or frustrated. Or talked around in circles.
Ino just leaned back slightly against the wall, yet another flippant remark about consent in his mouth. "Cutie, we're sort of all dealing with a lot. But sure. I have nothing against you."
"Oh, but I must have liked waking up with a little demon sitting on my chest, didn't I?" Cyr lifted his eyebrows. "Don't be a smartass. Come talk to me when you find out that your fiance and possibly also your family have been conspiring to horribly disfigure you, and you only find out because you've been apprehended for a crime you had nothing to do with." Cyr's eyes flared with the mounting frustration and helplessness he'd been battling all day. He growled out a little laugh. "Maybe I should thank you for bringing that poison. It sure saved me."
"Okay, no, don't slander me like that. I was waking you up from a god-awful hangover, not molesting you." Cyr rolled his eyes. He'd been able to feel everything that had been radiating off the shorter demon. "Second of all, if your betrothal contract is worth shit, it's broken now. Third, you're welcome! See, we don't have to be enemies!"
"My parents set the whole thing up," Cyr replied his voice suddenly distant. "I haven't even seen the contract." He stared at the wall beside Ino's head. "I'm going to have to go hide out on Earth after we get out of here," he said, fist balling up. "I don't want to be enemies with anyone. But kid...I really need you to stop, ok?"
Ino assumed revenge. Very cute of him.
Cyr stared at him for a moment. Then another moment. Then he started to laugh, an uneasy, wheezing sound. "You don't know who my family is, do you," he said at length, using the bottom of his t-shirt to wipe his eyes as he tried to catch his breath. He pointed to the suit jacket hanging on the back of his wardrobe (he was doing his best to fix the creases) where his family's crest was quite evident on the breast--the hawk's one blue-gem eye and the snake's red one gleaming at them from across the room. "I'm a bastard, they'd squash me like a grape."
The other stared after his finger, and they were both silent for a moment, but then Ino's entire demeanor changed in the most confusing way.
"You can't be little baby Cyris! When I last saw you you were still tiny! My goodness, you've grown up, and damn you did a fine job!" And he kept babbling, talking about his mother and a debut and...what???
Cyr blinked once. He blinked twice.
It was like a flip had switched, the tiny demon was now talking to him like an auntie. He'd expected Ino to recognize the name, but it seemed like...wait....
He straightened from the wall, wringing his hands nervously, suddenly a timid little boy again. 'What were they thinking?' Ino had asked. "Well...um....it was fine until I...er...I manifested, and they realized I wasn't...well...you know."
There was a more important question on his mind, however. "Uh......how old are you?" he asked, sounding extraordinarily puzzled. He hadn't pegged the envy demon, with his purple streak and his cute, slightly childish demeanor to probably not be much older than him. But.....what???
Ino blinked. "I'm the same age as Vivian's mother."
Ino was...........old? Cyr looked shaken. "O....oh." he said faintly. He wasn't really listening to Ino talk anymore, the revelation that this guy was old enough to be his dad had shocked him so deeply.
The other kept prattering on about mates and debuts and his parents, but Cyr couldn't really keep track of it all.
"I...It's not that easy," he said at length, turning to sit back on his bed with none of the enthralling grace with which he'd gotten up from it not too long ago. "Feeding might be easy for you, but it's not for me." He looked away.
He picked up the shirt again, struggling with the earring, full of frustration and embarrassment.
Ino was suddenly drawing nearer, and it was Cyr's turn to lean away. "So the debut and the better mate, right? With a proper contract you'd never have to worry about feeding." Ino pointed out. "I know why your parents wouldn't have had one, but it really would be the fastest way to get you introduced to many eligible demons. But we can take it slower as well, if you prefer to stay lower key."
"I....I don't really know how those things work," Cyr mumbled, finally managing to free the earring, but at the cost of one golden thread pulled loose, enough to make his heart twinge with the frustration simmering inside him. He always managed to mess everything up. "And...I....I don't really want my parents to find me again..."
"You need a powerful patron as you seek a new mate," Ino said. A powerful patron. Someone to protect him...
"Oh," Cyr said quietly. He wasn't sure he knew anyone like that who would be able to help him.
His mind flicked elsewhere for a moment, bidden by Bez's talk earlier about Myut, but no. He shouldn't hope for things like that. The sweetness of expectations could turn the fruits of reality sour too easily, and he wanted to be grateful for whatever did happen, not disappointed that it didn't go as planned.
But the others had been...surprisingly kind to him? Val had offered him a place to stay, Bez had lent him love advice, and here was Ino, making the future seem a little less scary.
Cyr abruptly turned quite pink. "Why are you being so nice to me?" He blurted.
Aaaand the other was right back to being callous and flippant. He wanted to cause trouble and play friendly at the same time? Not happening.
Cyr scowled a little again. "You can't have it both ways. And I know how long a demon can go without feeding." He said sulkily. This was why he didn't like envy demons. They were annoying and entitled. "If you keep messing with me, I will retaliate, I don't care how you know me." He warned.
He was a good boy with highly regulated emotions. His formative years were as a pride demon with parents who'd rather die than show a fleck of their true feelings. And then his teenaged years had been the vulnerable misery of struggling to learn how to be himself with no guidance, no reassurance, and no kindness. And despite all that, he'd kept a gentle sort of nature, something slightly soft and timid behind a well put-together exterior. Usually in the face of frustration, he'd just self-destruct.
But if there was one thing he couldn't handle. It was being made a fool. Especially by someone who had so quickly and easily targeted his vulnerability. It wasn't like Bez, who would prod and pinch and poke at him until she found his softest spots, but seemed to ultimately have his best interests in mind. Envy demons just liked to hurt people.
His eyes flared again a little as he put things together. "Who comes off worse here," he said a bit slowly, a bit carefully. "The underfed lust demon who just wants to be left alone, or the envy demon victimizing someone half his age after a full gala's worth of feeding opportunities?"
Cyr got up, crossing the room to hang up his shirt before looking back over his shoulder at the little demon, his face cool. "Try me."
The little thing's eyes flared as he replied, then turned to leave. "Very well. You've made your position clear. Who am I to tell you to change your plans?" He said, voice flat. "Ta."
Cyr glared at the envy demon as the other left, feeling very much that the other's suddenly returning hostility had come from being called out. He'd been momentarily taken in by those nice words, but he knew the moment he let his guard down the other would be back to needling him raw.
"'ta then," he replied, equally dry, turning his back to the door again.
His heart stormy and unsteady, Cyr quickly put up the rest of his things and flopped over on his bed, glaring at the wall. Why couldn't they just leave him alone? He wasn't hurting anyone.
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