this isn't supposed to happen. he's the golden boy, the person most likely to be chosen as his grandma's successor when she is ready to name a new leader of their group. he had made himself into a weapon for them. he had screwed up his relationship with his high school sweetheart who will surely never forgive him for hiding away pieces of himself from her when she had told him everything. this isn't supposed to happen to someone whose sole focus was to hunt.
and then college happened. it was the natural next step if he was to still acclimate in the world of regular humans. he eventually settled on game development and computer science - the best way to spend more time with one of the hobbies he still held dear. but he'd begun to tired of the life of demon hunting, tired of pulling himself away from the crowd before he got truly close to anyone. he was all but ready to hang up his crossbow when he got the call that grandma wasn't doing well, weren't sure how long she would last.
so here he is with an assortment of runes and candles and an open book in his lap, knocked over from his ottoman in the middle of his small apartment off campus, ready to prove himself to his grandma again. instead of summoning a demon follower of belial, meant to bolster his sight, well... )
and frankly, this was never supposed to happen. to her of all people, and right when she was winning an expensive hand of poker. she barely has time to get a handful of chips before that tell-tale tingle grips her spine and in one second she's in a murky, smoky room in hell and — now, she's in some room.
a voice comes into focus and she glances sharply at him, eyes bright in the dim light. almost reflective, like a cat, blinking into a normal color as she adjusts. )
Did you just summon me?
( there's an accusation in it and a sniff of indignation as chips clatter to the floor, abandoned as she starts toward him, snarling. )
( yeah, maybe he should have consulted his grandma about this before taking matters into his own hands.
still, it's not his fault that the actual jersey devil has been terrorizing people again, having hitched a ride on a passing coven. it wasn't his assignment to take, but after hearing "no marksman has ever killed a devil" - well, his not-so-secret competitive side took over. )
I wanted a weapon, ( he sneers, indignant.
this must be the universe playing some kind of joke on him. he knows better than to underestimate anything that could be summoned through a ritual, but at the moment, she doesn't look like anything more than an irritated pretty girl. )
( the sneer only pisses her off — who has the audacity to fuck up a summon and then get an attitude with her about it? if she was smart, she would remember that leaving a summoning ring means she willingly walks into subjugation, bound to the human who left it. it hits her all at once too as she passes the ring, the feeling similar to having all the air sucked out of her lungs after a solid punch to the gut.
she hesitates, eyes widening. the binding is a strange thing — for some, temporary, like a job contract. i do this for you, i go back home. she realizes all at once why she was picked for this, as a demon made and raised to house something terrible and of course a human has found a way to harness that. that's not a go-back-home kind of deal, and she doesn't have a say in it.
it's like an itch at the back of her neck as it starts and she barely manages a fuck before a mark blossoms on her chest, right at the top of her cleavage. it burns its way on and she stumbles, falling back on her ass as it finishes, the careful carving of the hilt of something, though that may not be immediately obvious in its abstract form. )
You — ( she blinks stupidly up at him, then makes a face like that wasn't just the most dramatic 30 seconds so far. ) You want a weapon?
( out of clear fascination and without an ounce of desire, he stares directly at her chest, watching as the mark reveals itself to the both of them. jules doesn't smile very often but his lips briefly quirk before he rushes to her side, dropping to his knees to try to catch her before her back hits the floor. it's stupid, maybe, but jules's protective side will almost always win out.
slowly, he drops his hand to the floor, sitting his but down to examine her without any more physical touch. he did, after all, just pull her out of a game against her will. regardless of what his family seems to think, jules will at least treat any demon with some respect if they're not immediately attacking him. )
I - yeah, ( is his eventual response, lifting his eyes to meet hers. there's more resolve in his gaze when he continues, ) Shit's bad lately. There's something or some things killing everyone here and there are too many shitty cover-ups on top of that. I just wanna get to the bottom of it.
( what a gentleman, she could roll her eyes even if it's kind of nice to be tended to. she burned too many bridges down below so to speak, she'd meet a round of laughter anywhere else. sure, she could look into the way he's looking over her but he seems concerned about something and he's being so earnest and — ew.
bibi shifts to push herself up to sitting, giving him a light shove with no intention other than to give herself space. )
Fine — maybe, ( she starts, expression pinching as she looks at him now herself, ) How much? And get me dinner first. ( she wonders if he knows what he's done and figures it's worth testing as she starts to push herself back up, ) I'll listen to your sadfuck story and see if it's worth sticking around.
( he didn't expect to have to court his weapon. fuck.
once he's on his feet again, jules rolls his eyes, brushing off the back of his jeans. if she doesn't want his help, he won't hold a hand out to her. ( but he will at least linger in case she needs help standing up. )
he considers his answer before tilting his head to the side, giving her a tiny smirk. )
I'll pay off whatever debts you have.
( and he'll probably be paying for them until he does, but it seems like a reasonable promise. of course, being thorough, jules has to add: ) As long as you help me get to the bottom of the issue.
( oh. that's — a surprisingly generous deal. this schmuck doesn't even realize the absolute bullshit she's gotten herself into. she spares an obvious side-long glance to the betting chips that litter the floor from her unexpected entrance and exhales like it's some big burden to accept his deal. please, he's going to be working that shit off until his bones are dust. stupid human. )
Maybe, ( she echoes haughtily, folding her arms and then hesitating when her chest burns for it. he reaches to tug her shirt up, hoping he doesn't actually understand what all of that means, but maybe she's been too hasty to judge. eyes narrow a little suspiciously and she looks him over, lingering on his face like she's weighing something. ) I'm — Hanbi.
( yes, she's lying. but names are precious, depending on who you're talking to. it's close enough she won't forget it, at least. )
I'm assuming dinner is a yes. Pick somewhere with drinks — do you have a cigarette? God, I miss cigarettes. ( she sniffs and steps closer to him, holding out a hand expectantly. ) I'll need an allowance, too. Am I staying with you?
( ah. he can already tell what kind of assessment she's making of him and, honestly, he'd rather have it that way. as much as it pisses him off from time to time ( call it an underlying napoleon complex ), jules finds that he succeeds when he is underestimated. )
Hanbi. Sure.
( there have been worse deals made in the past. his uncle almost foolishly signed his own life away for the sake of a weapons deal and never lived it down. if gambling is one of her vices, he can certainly try to work with that. )
You can't smoke in here, ( jules grunts, ignoring the extended hand. he gestures to the room adjacent to the living room, now mostly dark since all his candles have been blown out. it's a warm post-war apartment that reeks of 20-something boy smell but jules is at least clean if a bit cluttered, schoolwork and gear strewn about the place. ) But there's a fire escape. And I need to get the bed set up in the study. You like pub food?
( she doesn't like how he repeats the name like he doesn't believe it, but at least he doesn't push it. he doesn't seem mouthy at least, which she can work with. shit, maybe get a better bra and she can get him eating out of her hand, basically serving her. she's smiling small and pleased to herself, completely disconnected from reality for a moment before it's broken by him saying she can't smoke in his place (presumably). )
Huh? ( ever eloquent. ) What do you mean — ( her attention swings to the window and she moves to the window to stare forelornly at the fire escape. facing away, she gives herself a moment to close her eyes and accept hope might be lost at the mention of pub food. why can't it be a rich weirdo that brings her back up? )
We're not England, right? You don't sound British. ( she offers a glance back, eyebrows a flat, unimpressed line. ) A cheeseburger. I guess. Then we'll talk?
( jules can already tell there's a potential of her steamrolling him right over, so he enjoys turning expectations on their head at least for now. though, he hopes she enjoys the near-endless supply of ramyun in his cabinets. )
No, like, uh — ( he groans, gesturing vaguely. it's difficult in this moment to explain the vibe of a bougie college town, apparently. ) It's called a pub but it's not like a dingy British one. ( jules sighs in exasperation, already annoyed. ) You'll see.
( as he goes in search for his keys, he begins to make a small mental list of things that he — they — will need. more food on hand, clothes for her, etc. eventually, he makes his way to the foyer, sliding his shoes on easily before pulling the front door open )
( she takes a beat to just watch him, eyes narrowing as she takes in how he explains things, his expressions, the tension in his body, how he moves in his own space. she's lived long enough now she can tell when someone is fucking with her, or maybe trying to pull one over on her, but jules is surprisingly hard to read.
so, she decides he might just be a weird dweeb with one of those strange human missions to save the world or whatever the fuck these meatbags do. as if it doesn't end up all down the drain eventually. she tilts her head and exhales, nodding and moves to meet him, stepping delicately outside of the circle in case it intends to punish her for exiting it. )
Fine. But the food better be good. ( she grouses without bite, approaching him and offering her hand. ) You look like you don't get any, so hold my hand. Everyone's going to shit themselves seeing you walk in with a smokestack like me. C'mon. ( she wiggles her fingers with the start of a little smile, amused enough it crinkles the corners of her eyes. )
( jules doesn't bother correcting her, uncaring about what most people think about him. if anything, someone might just call attention to his... penchant for people of certain hair colors. he's already considered this and has already made peace with the potential embarrassment that might spring from this exchange, particularly when it comes to his new roommate.
she's not entirely wrong, though. it's been two months since he's last had any sort of intimacy with anyone.
he looks her over briefly, trying not to think too hard about how she already at least physically reminds him of his high school girlfriend, and without thinking, he obediently takes her hand and starts leading her down the hallway. it may be an apartment building for college students but it is a nice building that reeks of prestige and jules doesn't bother describing anyone or anything except to point out exits for safety reasons. at least he doesn't have to worry about obtaining another keycard for her.
the college town is bustling around dinnertime with people already drinking for the weekend on a thursday. jules ignores an invitation text in his pocket as they turn onto the street. )
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Date: 2024-05-20 03:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-20 04:14 am (UTC)this isn't supposed to happen. he's the golden boy, the person most likely to be chosen as his grandma's successor when she is ready to name a new leader of their group. he had made himself into a weapon for them. he had screwed up his relationship with his high school sweetheart who will surely never forgive him for hiding away pieces of himself from her when she had told him everything. this isn't supposed to happen to someone whose sole focus was to hunt.
and then college happened. it was the natural next step if he was to still acclimate in the world of regular humans. he eventually settled on game development and computer science - the best way to spend more time with one of the hobbies he still held dear. but he'd begun to tired of the life of demon hunting, tired of pulling himself away from the crowd before he got truly close to anyone. he was all but ready to hang up his crossbow when he got the call that grandma wasn't doing well, weren't sure how long she would last.
so here he is with an assortment of runes and candles and an open book in his lap, knocked over from his ottoman in the middle of his small apartment off campus, ready to prove himself to his grandma again. instead of summoning a demon follower of belial, meant to bolster his sight, well... )
Who the fuck are you?
no subject
Date: 2024-05-23 03:09 am (UTC)and frankly, this was never supposed to happen. to her of all people, and right when she was winning an expensive hand of poker. she barely has time to get a handful of chips before that tell-tale tingle grips her spine and in one second she's in a murky, smoky room in hell and — now, she's in some room.
a voice comes into focus and she glances sharply at him, eyes bright in the dim light. almost reflective, like a cat, blinking into a normal color as she adjusts. )
Did you just summon me?
( there's an accusation in it and a sniff of indignation as chips clatter to the floor, abandoned as she starts toward him, snarling. )
I was fucking winning, you nerd.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-31 04:10 am (UTC)still, it's not his fault that the actual jersey devil has been terrorizing people again, having hitched a ride on a passing coven. it wasn't his assignment to take, but after hearing "no marksman has ever killed a devil" - well, his not-so-secret competitive side took over. )
I wanted a weapon, ( he sneers, indignant.
this must be the universe playing some kind of joke on him. he knows better than to underestimate anything that could be summoned through a ritual, but at the moment, she doesn't look like anything more than an irritated pretty girl. )
I don't suppose you know where to find that.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-05 02:27 am (UTC)she hesitates, eyes widening. the binding is a strange thing — for some, temporary, like a job contract. i do this for you, i go back home. she realizes all at once why she was picked for this, as a demon made and raised to house something terrible and of course a human has found a way to harness that. that's not a go-back-home kind of deal, and she doesn't have a say in it.
it's like an itch at the back of her neck as it starts and she barely manages a fuck before a mark blossoms on her chest, right at the top of her cleavage. it burns its way on and she stumbles, falling back on her ass as it finishes, the careful carving of the hilt of something, though that may not be immediately obvious in its abstract form. )
You — ( she blinks stupidly up at him, then makes a face like that wasn't just the most dramatic 30 seconds so far. ) You want a weapon?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-05 03:07 am (UTC)slowly, he drops his hand to the floor, sitting his but down to examine her without any more physical touch. he did, after all, just pull her out of a game against her will. regardless of what his family seems to think, jules will at least treat any demon with some respect if they're not immediately attacking him. )
I - yeah, ( is his eventual response, lifting his eyes to meet hers. there's more resolve in his gaze when he continues, ) Shit's bad lately. There's something or some things killing everyone here and there are too many shitty cover-ups on top of that. I just wanna get to the bottom of it.
I'll pay you.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-05 03:32 am (UTC)bibi shifts to push herself up to sitting, giving him a light shove with no intention other than to give herself space. )
Fine — maybe, ( she starts, expression pinching as she looks at him now herself, ) How much? And get me dinner first. ( she wonders if he knows what he's done and figures it's worth testing as she starts to push herself back up, ) I'll listen to your sadfuck story and see if it's worth sticking around.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-05 04:12 am (UTC)once he's on his feet again, jules rolls his eyes, brushing off the back of his jeans. if she doesn't want his help, he won't hold a hand out to her. ( but he will at least linger in case she needs help standing up. )
he considers his answer before tilting his head to the side, giving her a tiny smirk. )
I'll pay off whatever debts you have.
( and he'll probably be paying for them until he does, but it seems like a reasonable promise. of course, being thorough, jules has to add: ) As long as you help me get to the bottom of the issue.
I'm Jules.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-05 05:55 am (UTC)Maybe, ( she echoes haughtily, folding her arms and then hesitating when her chest burns for it. he reaches to tug her shirt up, hoping he doesn't actually understand what all of that means, but maybe she's been too hasty to judge. eyes narrow a little suspiciously and she looks him over, lingering on his face like she's weighing something. ) I'm — Hanbi.
( yes, she's lying. but names are precious, depending on who you're talking to. it's close enough she won't forget it, at least. )
I'm assuming dinner is a yes. Pick somewhere with drinks — do you have a cigarette? God, I miss cigarettes. ( she sniffs and steps closer to him, holding out a hand expectantly. ) I'll need an allowance, too. Am I staying with you?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-05 07:16 pm (UTC)Hanbi. Sure.
( there have been worse deals made in the past. his uncle almost foolishly signed his own life away for the sake of a weapons deal and never lived it down. if gambling is one of her vices, he can certainly try to work with that. )
You can't smoke in here, ( jules grunts, ignoring the extended hand. he gestures to the room adjacent to the living room, now mostly dark since all his candles have been blown out. it's a warm post-war apartment that reeks of 20-something boy smell but jules is at least clean if a bit cluttered, schoolwork and gear strewn about the place. ) But there's a fire escape. And I need to get the bed set up in the study. You like pub food?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-06 02:53 am (UTC)Huh? ( ever eloquent. ) What do you mean — ( her attention swings to the window and she moves to the window to stare forelornly at the fire escape. facing away, she gives herself a moment to close her eyes and accept hope might be lost at the mention of pub food. why can't it be a rich weirdo that brings her back up? )
We're not England, right? You don't sound British. ( she offers a glance back, eyebrows a flat, unimpressed line. ) A cheeseburger. I guess. Then we'll talk?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-06 03:31 am (UTC)No, like, uh — ( he groans, gesturing vaguely. it's difficult in this moment to explain the vibe of a bougie college town, apparently. ) It's called a pub but it's not like a dingy British one. ( jules sighs in exasperation, already annoyed. ) You'll see.
( as he goes in search for his keys, he begins to make a small mental list of things that he — they — will need. more food on hand, clothes for her, etc. eventually, he makes his way to the foyer, sliding his shoes on easily before pulling the front door open )
Alright, let's go?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-21 08:41 pm (UTC)so, she decides he might just be a weird dweeb with one of those strange human missions to save the world or whatever the fuck these meatbags do. as if it doesn't end up all down the drain eventually. she tilts her head and exhales, nodding and moves to meet him, stepping delicately outside of the circle in case it intends to punish her for exiting it. )
Fine. But the food better be good. ( she grouses without bite, approaching him and offering her hand. ) You look like you don't get any, so hold my hand. Everyone's going to shit themselves seeing you walk in with a smokestack like me. C'mon. ( she wiggles her fingers with the start of a little smile, amused enough it crinkles the corners of her eyes. )
no subject
Date: 2024-07-20 05:40 am (UTC)( jules doesn't bother correcting her, uncaring about what most people think about him. if anything, someone might just call attention to his... penchant for people of certain hair colors. he's already considered this and has already made peace with the potential embarrassment that might spring from this exchange, particularly when it comes to his new roommate.
she's not entirely wrong, though. it's been two months since he's last had any sort of intimacy with anyone.
he looks her over briefly, trying not to think too hard about how she already at least physically reminds him of his high school girlfriend, and without thinking, he obediently takes her hand and starts leading her down the hallway. it may be an apartment building for college students but it is a nice building that reeks of prestige and jules doesn't bother describing anyone or anything except to point out exits for safety reasons. at least he doesn't have to worry about obtaining another keycard for her.
the college town is bustling around dinnertime with people already drinking for the weekend on a thursday. jules ignores an invitation text in his pocket as they turn onto the street. )