[Ain finds himself thinking. This is never a good sign, because Ain frequently does not think about anything, except lately rearranging the hospital to his specifications. They are Very Bad specifications, mind; any medical personnel that could possibly have worked here at any point would flay him for his reorganization. But, in the meantime, he's made the lobby pretty and the vending machines are full of stale chips and very warm cola, and hey, sometimes that's all you need in life!
Anyway, the point is, Ain is thinking (this is still bad). After reading some books he looted from the public library and brought here instead, he's starting to understand a little bit more about what humans in this world thought about demons — which he supposes is the same thing as a Daemon, yeah? just one letter off? — and what they were said to do. Importantly, he learns about summoning rituals for them, which are different than Elrian rituals would be — on Elrios you open a portal and say "come on in" to no specific demon in particular, only really being able to lure out particularly strong ones. Here, it looks like you need candles, a sigil, a name, and intent...
Hm.
Ain spends a little bit making a sigil for himself, deep in his books at the hospital's front desk. The only light coming in is through the windows and the candlelight, which isn't Great, and largely the whole place is cast in darkness despite his best efforts... but it does make for some spooky ambiance while he reaches out to Wolfwood through the Murmur.]
Hiii Mr. Priest~. Where are you? Did you get a horsey when you woke up from the dream? Oh, and can you come to Lenox Hill Hospital near Central Park too?
While Ain is working on fixing up his living conditions at the hospital, Wolfwood is...decidedly not doing that. He did get a horse, and after he and that horse had some time to get acclimated (she wouldn't let him ride her at first, which is fair and valid he'd be wary of him too), he'd been using her as a means to get around quicker as he explores the ruins of the city. Sure, he could learn how to fly...but he's still not super interested in breaking all of his bones. The best he's figured out thus far is minor gliding, and even that feels excessive. Granted, he's never been the best with riding creatures like Tomas, but a horse is at least a hell of a lot more stable than a bird-thing.
Anyway, he's passing through an empty sort of side road when he hears a familiar voice ringing in his ears, prompting him to slow her to a walk as he looks up at the sky for a moment.]
You think I've memorized all these street names yet? Gimme a minute.
[Looking, looking for a sign...]
...I ain't far from there. Why, what happened this time?
We've been here for many months~ you should learn how to read a map by now.
[Why are you so mean to him?]
Nothing "happened" per se. I want to ask you something in person, not over the Murmur. That feels a little cold, don't you think?
[Wolfwood will get vague flashes into his brain of what Ain is currently doing, though — books on Demonology and pacts being sorted on the shelves behind him, candlelight flickering, and one page of a book open to something about summoning circles with a carefully-drawn sigil on a sticky note stuck nearby. Ain's slender fingers are clearly hard at work, and it looks like he's stolen some nail polish for his claws too. They're currently a pretty green.
Someone has been raiding.]
If you have your horsey with you, you can park it out front by the patient entrance, which is where you should come in at. It faces Park Avenue. Mine is out there, you'll see it! And if you don't see a horsey, you're on the wrong side~.
[Wolfwood just sighs, looking up at the sky with a moment in a very sort of "Dear Lord give me strength" kind of way before he "replies".]
Yeah, I got her. I'll be there in...probably fifteen minutes.
[As much as he'd rather just like. Leave, and not socialize, he has to agree with Ain that he hates communicating via the murmur. Hates it. So...whatever it is Ain wants to tell him, it'll just have to be at his little hospital set-up.
Ain may or may not be close enough to the hospital entrance to hear the sound of horse hooves as Wolfwood approaches, bringing his horse up to the front where Ain's horse is also situated. From what he can tell these things won't run off on them or anything, and he doesn't have a rope to tie her down with, so...honor system rules, he guesses. If they leave, then they leave. Maybe the two will keep each other company.
Wolfwood makes his way inside, managing to push the door open despite the dilapidated nature of the place.]
Hello~ welcome to Ain's Hospital! Are you a patient or are you here for visitation? Haha~.
[That's what the banner out front says now. "AIN'S HOSPITAL", in big party store style letters. And, from where he's sitting at the front desk spinning in his chair, he giggles and pretends like he's taking down Wolfwood's patient info by pantomiming writing over his book before he spins again, kicks his hooves into the ground, and stills.]
Here, I won't make you play with me for too long. I found out there's something that Daemons can do, though, and I want to try it with you. Do you know much about how pacts work?
[Yeah, he gathered that much from the extravagant sign. He can't help but wonder where Ain found that...must have gotten lucky raiding a dollar store or something.
Wolfwood eyes the building with a sort of unusual kind of. It's not fear exactly, but he's definitely uneasy. Even with the dingy walls and dirt on the floor, it still rings very much clear that this was once a pristine, white, sterile place...and it's unsettling.
He has very, very bad affiliations with those kinds of places. But whatever's on Wolfwood's mind, he's keeping to himself, his wings folded to his back like a hunched over vulture.]
You say that like I'd know more about Daemons than you do.
[Humans wrote these books, so surely Mr. Priest, who is a human man and not a bird typically, must know! Hm... does Ain's knowledge contain gaps?
He flips through the pages to his notes.]
Whatever. Pacts would allow us to share more things. Like, when you need me — and you usually do, we keep having sex — you could summon me by etching a circle into something and lighting some little candles. Something like tea candles, which are easy to carry, would work. And we would be able to share magic powers, it looks like.
[According to what he's read, anyway.]
I came up with a sigil for myself for you to draw! It's easy. See?
[He turns the book around, holds it up in front of his face, and taps his finger against the sticky note. Green eyes peek over the top of the book.]
[Not how books work. But Wolfwood hasn't read very many books himself so maybe he's also not the best person to ask.
Either way, he folds his arms over his chest as Ain explains what he's been working on, his brows furrowing a little at the "you usually need me because we keep having sex" part, but he manages to keep his mouth shut until he's shown him everything. Because yes they DO keep having sex, that isn't something he can deny.
Frowning, Wolfwood will reach out with his claws to take the book if Ain allows, holding it closer to his face so he can get a better look.]
So how do you know this sigil will actually work for you? Is there some kinda...incantation or somethin'?
[Ain will let him look at the book with his eyes, yep! Enjoy it. It's book-shaped!]
The book says words are power and gives specific incantations for specific demons, but I think you'd have to come up with one on your own. But that's why you're here, you're here to test this with me!!
[His tail is wiggling. Danger.]
You could just say something like "Ain, I need you" orrrr something cute like... "Ain, you're really hot and I need your help". Or something dramatic! Like... "Dark Lord of Evil, Ainchase Ishmael, I beg thee: Come to me in my hour of need, and I will give you snacks." Hehe!
[He looks at Ain over the top of the book, raises an eyebrow, then hands it back.]
I'll stick with somethin' simple, thanks.
[And that's only IF he agrees to do this...which he hasn't. Yet. Obviously.]
You realize that's a lot of power to give a guy you've barely known that long, right? What if I just call you over while you're takin' a shit or somethin'?
You have this convenient thing called a Tether with me and you can reach out into my brain and say "hey are you busy" and I'll say "yeah I'm shitting give me a second". [ROLLING his eyes.] I doubt that'll even happen, though. You can summon me when I'm bathing if you'd like, but make sure we're somewhere private, okay~?
Besides, I trust you... probably more than anyone else here. [Bar Caelus, but he's not having sex with Caelus, now is he? No he is not. Therefore, Wolfwood gets priority because he's railed Ain's brains out twice now. That's how this works.] That's why I'm offering. And maybe you'll get a cool Daemon power to go with it!
This isn't an unfamiliar concept, given their Tether. Wolfwood knows it to be true, because he's actually felt it. He knows Ain isn't lying...he's being genuine here. He just thinks, maybe...Ain doesn't know him well enough yet, doesn't know what he's getting into. Doesn't realize that trusting him is the WORST thing you could possibly do.
He's not above doublecrossing, backstabbing...whatever he has to do to prioritize himself and his goals. He's done it before...no doubt he'd do it just as easily here.
Right...?
Well, whatever. It's his funeral.]
Fine, fine...
[Sighing, his feathers ruffle as he gives his wings a stretch before looking back out towards the floor of the front entrance of the hospital.]
So where did you want to try this out?
[It's dark in here...neither of them realize they're about to get fucking flashbanged by the lights suddenly working again.]
There are a lot of spare rooms for us to try this on, but maybe we could put it in the office I use as my bedroom? That way if the magic circle blows me up, at least I'll die somewhere familiar to me, haha~.
[Ain... why.]
Here, follow me upstairs. The elevators don't work, so we'll have to go up the stairs... which, if I fall down because of my hooves, you can't laugh at me. It's mean. [you're mean to him daily hello] Then we can do everything we need to.
[The Lights Will Be On In Five Minutes. Get Ready Assholes.]
Just on the second floor, at the window that overlooks the entrance you came in at.
[It's very much a corvid hopping after a goat, especially when Ain starts to sort of... hop? as he goes. There's no reason for it, it's not like he's jumping over something. But sometimes, he gets a little excited that Wolfwood agreed to do this, and every time Wolfwood feels the excitement through their Tether...
Spring sproing.
Anyway, when they get to the stairs — the unfinished sort of echoey stairwell, you know the kind — Ain crouches down on all fours and climbs the stairs like a little kid would.
So yeah hooves and stairs aren't friends.
They make it to the top of the landing either way, though, and then Ain shoulders open the big heavy door and leads Wolfwood down another hall to where the office he's been living at is. The file cabinets have been moved, but the desk is there still, and he's dragged a mattress into the room to sleep on on the floor. His clothes are in the cabinets...
It's not much, but it's a room. The dawn's light coming in through the window will at least light it up decently.]
See? I have a nice view, and whatever this grey box is.
[This is the computer.]
Anyway, let me move the mattress to one side... and then we can do the pacting and summoning thing!
[Tethers go a bit haywire, so oops, Ain is suddenly being Worse Than Usual around Wolfwood. Clingier. More anxious, but quick to calm after Wolfwood reassures him or hugs him or anything like that. This doesn't stop Ain from following him around like a puppy as they clean up other parts of the hospital, sticking way too close by for comfort, so close that he's almost kicking the back of Wolfwood's bird legs. Oops.
Eventually when Wolfwood sets whatever he's holding down, Ain climbs up onto his back and
[This sort of behavior does not surprise Wolfwood at all with how insane the Tethers have been, but also this just seems to be Ain...in general. HOWEVER...
This has ramped up considerably. Like, to the point where it's noticeable, and when Ain suddenly scales his back like a creature and bites him, he stops what he's doing and looks over his shoulder.]
Because— I wanted to make sure you were paying attention and noticed I'm still here. And I love you. And I want to leave my mark on you so when we go out next, people know you're mine and that you belong to me.
[There's a very strong pull at the Tether at this. It's like getting slapped in the face with a sort of possessive love, a deep feeling of pride at being unforgettable which is not remotely what Wolfwood said.]
Because I don't want you to go too far. What if you go too far and I can't follow you? Or someone else tries to take you from me? Or someone else does something crazy like they kiss you and so I have to kill them? [what]
[It's okay, Ain can cling with his wings and tail. Get koala'd onto idiot.]
Well, I guess that doesn't matter. Hey, whenever we get to go home, do you think I can take you with me? You'd like Elrios~. It's so much prettier than wormland. [That is NOT what it's called.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
breaks open your inbox // nebulously very early january?? daemon pact time
Date: 2026-01-01 09:05 pm (UTC)Anyway, the point is, Ain is thinking (this is still bad). After reading some books he looted from the public library and brought here instead, he's starting to understand a little bit more about what humans in this world thought about demons — which he supposes is the same thing as a Daemon, yeah? just one letter off? — and what they were said to do. Importantly, he learns about summoning rituals for them, which are different than Elrian rituals would be — on Elrios you open a portal and say "come on in" to no specific demon in particular, only really being able to lure out particularly strong ones. Here, it looks like you need candles, a sigil, a name, and intent...
Hm.
Ain spends a little bit making a sigil for himself, deep in his books at the hospital's front desk. The only light coming in is through the windows and the candlelight, which isn't Great, and largely the whole place is cast in darkness despite his best efforts... but it does make for some spooky ambiance while he reaches out to Wolfwood through the Murmur.]
Hiii Mr. Priest~. Where are you? Did you get a horsey when you woke up from the dream? Oh, and can you come to Lenox Hill Hospital near Central Park too?
This is Ain by the way!
[Girl he knows—]
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Date: 2026-01-05 03:06 am (UTC)While Ain is working on fixing up his living conditions at the hospital, Wolfwood is...decidedly not doing that. He did get a horse, and after he and that horse had some time to get acclimated (she wouldn't let him ride her at first, which is fair and valid he'd be wary of him too), he'd been using her as a means to get around quicker as he explores the ruins of the city. Sure, he could learn how to fly...but he's still not super interested in breaking all of his bones. The best he's figured out thus far is minor gliding, and even that feels excessive. Granted, he's never been the best with riding creatures like Tomas, but a horse is at least a hell of a lot more stable than a bird-thing.
Anyway, he's passing through an empty sort of side road when he hears a familiar voice ringing in his ears, prompting him to slow her to a walk as he looks up at the sky for a moment.]
You think I've memorized all these street names yet? Gimme a minute.
[Looking, looking for a sign...]
...I ain't far from there. Why, what happened this time?
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Date: 2026-01-05 03:27 am (UTC)[Why are you so mean to him?]
Nothing "happened" per se. I want to ask you something in person, not over the Murmur. That feels a little cold, don't you think?
[Wolfwood will get vague flashes into his brain of what Ain is currently doing, though — books on Demonology and pacts being sorted on the shelves behind him, candlelight flickering, and one page of a book open to something about summoning circles with a carefully-drawn sigil on a sticky note stuck nearby. Ain's slender fingers are clearly hard at work, and it looks like he's stolen some nail polish for his claws too. They're currently a pretty green.
Someone has been raiding.]
If you have your horsey with you, you can park it out front by the patient entrance, which is where you should come in at. It faces Park Avenue. Mine is out there, you'll see it! And if you don't see a horsey, you're on the wrong side~.
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Date: 2026-01-15 12:50 am (UTC)Yeah, I got her. I'll be there in...probably fifteen minutes.
[As much as he'd rather just like. Leave, and not socialize, he has to agree with Ain that he hates communicating via the murmur. Hates it. So...whatever it is Ain wants to tell him, it'll just have to be at his little hospital set-up.
Ain may or may not be close enough to the hospital entrance to hear the sound of horse hooves as Wolfwood approaches, bringing his horse up to the front where Ain's horse is also situated. From what he can tell these things won't run off on them or anything, and he doesn't have a rope to tie her down with, so...honor system rules, he guesses. If they leave, then they leave. Maybe the two will keep each other company.
Wolfwood makes his way inside, managing to push the door open despite the dilapidated nature of the place.]
Oi. Ain? You here?
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Date: 2026-01-15 01:11 am (UTC)[That's what the banner out front says now. "AIN'S HOSPITAL", in big party store style letters. And, from where he's sitting at the front desk spinning in his chair, he giggles and pretends like he's taking down Wolfwood's patient info by pantomiming writing over his book before he spins again, kicks his hooves into the ground, and stills.]
Here, I won't make you play with me for too long. I found out there's something that Daemons can do, though, and I want to try it with you. Do you know much about how pacts work?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 01:31 am (UTC)Wolfwood eyes the building with a sort of unusual kind of. It's not fear exactly, but he's definitely uneasy. Even with the dingy walls and dirt on the floor, it still rings very much clear that this was once a pristine, white, sterile place...and it's unsettling.
He has very, very bad affiliations with those kinds of places. But whatever's on Wolfwood's mind, he's keeping to himself, his wings folded to his back like a hunched over vulture.]
You say that like I'd know more about Daemons than you do.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 01:51 am (UTC)[Humans wrote these books, so surely Mr. Priest, who is a human man and not a bird typically, must know! Hm... does Ain's knowledge contain gaps?
He flips through the pages to his notes.]
Whatever. Pacts would allow us to share more things. Like, when you need me — and you usually do, we keep having sex — you could summon me by etching a circle into something and lighting some little candles. Something like tea candles, which are easy to carry, would work. And we would be able to share magic powers, it looks like.
[According to what he's read, anyway.]
I came up with a sigil for myself for you to draw! It's easy. See?
[He turns the book around, holds it up in front of his face, and taps his finger against the sticky note. Green eyes peek over the top of the book.]
What do you think?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-17 10:23 pm (UTC)Either way, he folds his arms over his chest as Ain explains what he's been working on, his brows furrowing a little at the "you usually need me because we keep having sex" part, but he manages to keep his mouth shut until he's shown him everything. Because yes they DO keep having sex, that isn't something he can deny.
Frowning, Wolfwood will reach out with his claws to take the book if Ain allows, holding it closer to his face so he can get a better look.]
So how do you know this sigil will actually work for you? Is there some kinda...incantation or somethin'?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-17 11:17 pm (UTC)The book says words are power and gives specific incantations for specific demons, but I think you'd have to come up with one on your own. But that's why you're here, you're here to test this with me!!
[His tail is wiggling. Danger.]
You could just say something like "Ain, I need you" orrrr something cute like... "Ain, you're really hot and I need your help". Or something dramatic! Like... "Dark Lord of Evil, Ainchase Ishmael, I beg thee: Come to me in my hour of need, and I will give you snacks." Hehe!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 12:17 am (UTC)I'll stick with somethin' simple, thanks.
[And that's only IF he agrees to do this...which he hasn't. Yet. Obviously.]
You realize that's a lot of power to give a guy you've barely known that long, right? What if I just call you over while you're takin' a shit or somethin'?
[I'm sorry-]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 12:31 am (UTC)Besides, I trust you... probably more than anyone else here. [Bar Caelus, but he's not having sex with Caelus, now is he? No he is not. Therefore, Wolfwood gets priority because he's railed Ain's brains out twice now. That's how this works.] That's why I'm offering. And maybe you'll get a cool Daemon power to go with it!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 01:02 am (UTC)This isn't an unfamiliar concept, given their Tether. Wolfwood knows it to be true, because he's actually felt it. He knows Ain isn't lying...he's being genuine here. He just thinks, maybe...Ain doesn't know him well enough yet, doesn't know what he's getting into. Doesn't realize that trusting him is the WORST thing you could possibly do.
He's not above doublecrossing, backstabbing...whatever he has to do to prioritize himself and his goals. He's done it before...no doubt he'd do it just as easily here.
Right...?
Well, whatever. It's his funeral.]
Fine, fine...
[Sighing, his feathers ruffle as he gives his wings a stretch before looking back out towards the floor of the front entrance of the hospital.]
So where did you want to try this out?
[It's dark in here...neither of them realize they're about to get fucking flashbanged by the lights suddenly working again.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 01:13 am (UTC)[Ain... why.]
Here, follow me upstairs. The elevators don't work, so we'll have to go up the stairs... which, if I fall down because of my hooves, you can't laugh at me. It's mean. [you're mean to him daily hello] Then we can do everything we need to.
[The Lights Will Be On In Five Minutes. Get Ready Assholes.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 02:17 am (UTC)[Because if you live on like, the twentieth floor and fall down all those stairs every time, that's a choice YOU made at that point.
He will put his hands in his pockets and start following Ain though, looking much like a massive corvid hopping after a goat as he does.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-18 02:27 am (UTC)[It's very much a corvid hopping after a goat, especially when Ain starts to sort of... hop? as he goes. There's no reason for it, it's not like he's jumping over something. But sometimes, he gets a little excited that Wolfwood agreed to do this, and every time Wolfwood feels the excitement through their Tether...
Spring sproing.
Anyway, when they get to the stairs — the unfinished sort of echoey stairwell, you know the kind — Ain crouches down on all fours and climbs the stairs like a little kid would.
So yeah hooves and stairs aren't friends.
They make it to the top of the landing either way, though, and then Ain shoulders open the big heavy door and leads Wolfwood down another hall to where the office he's been living at is. The file cabinets have been moved, but the desk is there still, and he's dragged a mattress into the room to sleep on on the floor. His clothes are in the cabinets...
It's not much, but it's a room. The dawn's light coming in through the window will at least light it up decently.]
See? I have a nice view, and whatever this grey box is.
[This is the computer.]
Anyway, let me move the mattress to one side... and then we can do the pacting and summoning thing!
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From:april yandere time
Date: 2026-04-08 06:45 pm (UTC)Eventually when Wolfwood sets whatever he's holding down, Ain climbs up onto his back and
fucking bites his shoulder.
Yeah okay.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-09 12:13 am (UTC)This has ramped up considerably. Like, to the point where it's noticeable, and when Ain suddenly scales his back like a creature and bites him, he stops what he's doing and looks over his shoulder.]
Why?
no subject
Date: 2026-04-09 12:29 am (UTC)Because— I wanted to make sure you were paying attention and noticed I'm still here. And I love you. And I want to leave my mark on you so when we go out next, people know you're mine and that you belong to me.
[Okay. Freak.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-09 01:06 am (UTC)You're gonna hafta aim a little higher if that's what you want. And maybe avoid gettin' a mouthful of feathers.
Ain't no way I could possibly forget you're still here, anyway. You've been my shadow all day.
[Sometimes literally!]
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Date: 2026-04-13 11:03 pm (UTC)Because I don't want you to go too far. What if you go too far and I can't follow you? Or someone else tries to take you from me? Or someone else does something crazy like they kiss you and so I have to kill them? [what]
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Date: 2026-04-14 01:04 am (UTC)[Come again??
He doesn't miss the feeling of the Tether pulling between them, though. It's so strong, it's enough to make your head spin.]
I can promise you that ain't happenin'.
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Date: 2026-04-15 07:20 pm (UTC)But what if it does.
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Date: 2026-04-15 10:59 pm (UTC)Can you even name one other person here I'm interested in like that? Cause I sure can't.
[Also he's going to put his arms around you now so you don't fucking fall-]
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Date: 2026-04-18 09:59 pm (UTC)[It's okay, Ain can cling with his wings and tail. Get koala'd onto idiot.]
Well, I guess that doesn't matter. Hey, whenever we get to go home, do you think I can take you with me? You'd like Elrios~. It's so much prettier than wormland. [That is NOT what it's called.]
no subject
Date: 2026-04-21 11:30 pm (UTC)But that actually gets Wolfwood to ponder for a moment, his brows furrowing...]
Well now, that depends. Would the people of Elrios be willin' to take in a bunch of orphans?