[open-ish] pain is supposed to heal with time

[eaudevamp]

Who: Reign Fear (eaudevamp) & Friends/Anyone
What: Hostage/rescue aftermath
When: 24th onwards
Where: His home, the Institute, Thesa Station, Shades Darker
Warning(s): Sad vampire, mentions of death, self-inflicted pain/BDSM, possible smut?

[ It had been a few days since the hostages were rescued, but Reign didn't feel like he'd achieved much despite managing to save them with the help of other rescuers. It was a combined effort that should have been a success, but the group Reign was in didn't quite manage so. They had guessed the wrong location, and thus lost precious time to find the correct place. But that was done now, and the extremists either escaped or were killed/apprehended, Reign didn't care.

No, he truly did care, but he found it hard to actually do so when some of his friends had ended up as hostages. That, he could deal with, but not death. It was a strange and unfamiliar situation for him to face, and thus it hit him harder than he expected.

For the next few days, Reign lived his life almost like a literally zombie, looking like an undead (though he really wasn't). He mostly shut himself up in his home, spending a bit of time with his pet giraffe, Scorch, or dabbling in his perfume research and creation in an attempt to get his mind off the pain eating into him. Sometimes he replied to messages sent to him, other times they went ignored. And yet life still must go on, so Reign returned to the Institute to work, sometimes stopping by to look into a particular office in the hopes of seeing a certain demon. But it wasn't enough.

So when travelling up to Thesa Station was finally available, Reign headed straight for the pods, standing or sitting in front of one pod containing a blond man. Anyone who noticed would either see him crying, whether silently or wailing his heart out, or mumbling and telling his friend about the events that had occurred. However, the pain didn't lessen, and so at night, Reign would go to Shades Darker for a special event, a night meant for patrons to partake in some BDSM play in one of the backrooms decorated in a dungeon setting. He allowed himself to be blindfolded, his wrists bounded to chains hanging from the ceiling, shirtless and displaying strips of red welts from an earlier session. At least this kind of pain would numb him, even if only for a while. Who's next? ]

[[ OOC : If you would like a specific starter, hit me up at miershyk ]]

Comments

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign reached a hand out to run his fingers through Mephisto's dark hair. It lacked its usual lustre, and Reign hoped it would gradually return as Mephisto's health improve. His fingers slip down the demon's face, stopping briefly at the part where Mephisto's eye had been missing previously. As if realising what he was doing, Reign slowly pulled back. He didn't want to see too touchy feely, but he couldn't help wanting to continually ascertain for himself that Mephisto was here. ]

You've apologised enough. All that matters is that you're here now.

[ His lips quirked a bit, piqued by new details about the demon. ]

Familiars, eh? You've not shown me before. What do they look like?

[meinwaifu]

[He'll actually allow as much touchy-feely business as Reign desires -- the least he could do after causing him so much anguish. Though it was still a strange feeling, to think someone would mourn him personally in such a way...]

Ah, they're rather cute, actually. They've been quarantined up on Thesa, so I haven't been able to summon them until now... they're demons like myself, of course, but the differences are rather obvious.

[Lazily, he raises up his hand and snaps his fingers. And with a little poof of smoke, standing on the desk between them is a pink bat with large button-like eyes and patches sewn into it like fabric.]

[And as soon as it's summoned, it chirps and hops over towards Mephisto to nuzzle its face against his shoulder, d'aww.]

[eaudevamp]

[ If Mephisto wasn't careful, Reign was going to spend his entire time tailing after the demon, draping his long arms all over the other, and possibly be a general menace. Mephisto's death had been quite an impact on Reign, and he had the urge not to lose sight of the demon any time soon.

Reign blinked when the familiar appeared, and it took him a while to register that yes, it resembled a bat with its pink skin and those large button-like eyes. ]

Awwww, how adorable~~~

[ Of course, the next moment Reign was almost jealous in the way the familiar nuzzled up against Mephisto. Hey! That was supposed to be his spot! But he wasn't going to complain. He was sure the bat-like familiar missed its master. ]

Does it have a name?

[meinwaifu]

It's a demon called komorigasa, but I suppose it's never had a proper name, no. It'd be rather strange for one to name his umbrella, don't you think?

[Demon culture differences... not all of them had a need for proper names, so they simply never had them. The little bat umbrella probably preferred this anyway.]

But you know... speaking of names, I never did tell you my real name. But after everything... I'd say you more than deserve to hear it now.

[eaudevamp]

Komori... gasa? [ Reign tried to pronounce the word, brows furrowing a bit, before his eyes widened. ] An umbrella? Your familiar is an umbrella that... looks like a bat?

[ He leaned forward and to the side a bit, having a close look at the bat-umbrella, now seeing its similarities.

Hearing Mephisto bringing up about his real name had Reign straightening, all his attention on the demon. ]

Wait. Isn't Mephisto your name? [ There was a twinge in Reign's chest. Had Reign not been trustworthy enough for Mephisto to entrust him with this secret? He mentally shook his head, dispelling that disappointing though. Perhaps Mephisto had a reason for it. Reign schooled his expression, listening with the utmost seriousness. ] I'm listening.

[meinwaifu]

To put it more accurately, it's a demon that possesses umbrellas. Typically demons can't exist in the physical world without possessing something in it -- and in that sense, I wasn't lying to you when I told you my body was human back when we first met.

[Which is something he'll mostly just gloss over, not sure how much he may have implied as much in past -- and not really caring to focus on it, if he can avoid it. More than anything else, the fact that he was possessing the body of an innocent human tended to upset non-demons the most.]

But no, Mephisto Pheles is not my real name. Neither is Johann Faust -- the name I use among those who I lead to believe that I'm human. Though there's significantly more overlap these days.

But they're both names I've used for the greater part of the past 200 years. And I've gone by countless others in the past. I've been around for a very long time, after all. Longer than most mortals can even comprehend.

[eaudevamp]

That makes sense.

[ Reign was beginning to see the connection between demons and their hosts. So likely the Mephisto he was seeing right now wasn't his true form either. Reign wondered how would Mephisto really look like.

Honestly, he wondered how long had Mephisto lived, or at least lived in this current host body. Two hundred years was a long time, and Reign couldn't even begin to imagine living that long. He may be a vampire, but he wasn't immortal like the myths. ]

I'm beginning to think that you've existed since the beginning of time. [ He'd found out that Johann Faust was the name Mephisto used at the Institute, though the latter was more amongst those whom he was close with, it seemed. Then there was that real name, and Reign suspected that perhaps knowledge of that name held certain powers over the demon. ]

So... what are you originally named as? [ Reign's question came out in a soft voice, almost afraid to ask, because this was such an important occasion, a privilege that he knew only a select few had the knowledge of. ]

[meinwaifu]

Ah, how very astute of you. The truth isn't that far off, actually.

My true name is Samael. I'm one of the eight demon kings known collectively as the Ba'al, who rule over our respective elements in our home realm of Gehenna. Before coming here, I was considered the King of Time -- and with the mere snap of my fingers, time itself would bend to my command.

[There's a reason he's developed such an ego over the years -- even without his full powers, that cockiness remains... or at least it did. Normally, he'd be telling all of this with a bit more bravado, with a powerful noted sense of pride. But right now, he's a bit more subdued, muted. The pride is there and carries in his smile, but there's a certain sense of melancholy underneath his words.]

[He's no king of time anymore, after all.]

Naturally, I'd prefer that you continue to address me as Mephisto in the company of others -- or Faust, as necessary. But when we're alone, feel free to call me whatever you'd like.

[eaudevamp]

[ So Mephisto was really that old. Reign should have known, with Mephisto being a demon and all. But it seemed to hit him now just how ancient the other was.

Hearing Mephisto —Samael— talk about himself was an eye-opener, realising how powerful Mephisto truly could be if he so wished to display his powers. It was a lot to take in, and it was actually a bit surprising to Reign to see how... almost humble, Mephisto seemed when he spoke.

Though considering what happened recently, that made sense. ]

Of course! Your secret is safe with me! [ Reign replied with conviction, then a beat later, in a softer voice: ] ...Samael. [ Oh god, just saying Mephisto's true name felt like such an intimate thing that Reign felt his cheeks turn pink and his heart to pound in his chest. ]

[meinwaifu]

I wouldn't have told you if I didn't think I could count on you... and honestly, it's been past due.

[He could have told him months ago, after all. He's trusted Reign for a good while now.]

[He leans back in his chair and covers his mouth as he lets out a yawn, the tea already starting to take effect.]

And on that note... do you suppose I could trouble you for a favor?

[eaudevamp]

[ Better late than never! It was such an honour that Reign had earned Mephisto's trust. ]

Nonetheless, thank you, for telling me.

[ Reign nodded as he got off the table, ready to do Mephisto's bidding. ]

Of course, what can I do?

[ Should he get a blanket for Mephisto? Maybe something to feed the demon's umbrella-bat familiar? Anyway, do they eat? What do they eat? ]

[meinwaifu]

Ah, take a seat right there. [He lazily raises his arm and points down at the seat across from him. But the moment Reign is sitting, Mephisto suddenly disappears in a poof of smoke!]

[...only to reappear as a dog again, hopping up from the ground and onto the desk -- a-and struggling for half a second to pull himself up when he only just catches the ledge, d'aww. Once up, he wordlessly walks across the desk, and the hops down into Reign's lap.]

[And then curls up. And closes his eyes.]

...now stay by my side while I sleep.

[It might seem like a silly request, especially with Mephisto in this form. But it's also a major sign of just how much he's come to trust Reign. There was only a handful of other people he's ever willingly slept around, after all -- ignoring all the times he was just pretending to sleep, of course.]

[eaudevamp]

[ Reign was quick to follow Mephisto's request, sitting down on the chair he'd vacated earlier in his haste to crawl across the table to the demon.

He panicked for a few moments when Mephisto disappeared, then sighing in relief upon seeing the demon's dog form. He shouldn't laugh at the way Mephisto struggled to climb onto the desk, so instead he bit his lower lip.

Even though Reign now had an idea as to what Mephisto planned to do, he still couldn't help smiling stupidly at how adorable the other was once he curled up on his lap to sleep. ]

I'll stay as long as you want.

[ Who would have thought that Mephisto could be so cute like this. Reign ran his fingers through those soft furs, giving the demon's ear a brief scratch before settling his palm over the other's body.

Mephisto wasn't the only one stealing a bit of nap time, because Reign would soon join him. This entire event had been exhausting, and only now did Reign truly felt relaxed. ]