— 𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭

[possessum]

DEER COUNTRY — un: graham crackers
text . voice . action . delivery . omen + info

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[danserai]

That's very smart, Mr. Graham! The more you know, the better you can take care of yourself.

[ she briefly wonders what paimon is like, personality-wise. she's never met the Great Raven, but he's not written as anything other than a malevolent force. it wasn't like rue. poor rue. ]

Wait, so he's like a swimming genie?

[possessum]

That's what I was hoping for. Though truthfully... I'm still a little scared of him.

( He admits. Learning more about this thing has become a necessity; he can't ignore it the way he used to. But... it's definitely weird, frightening.

And yet, Ahiru manages to say something about it that makes him laugh, softly. )

You know what...? He doesn't sound quite so scary, thinking about him like that. A swimming genie.

[danserai]

[ that's fair. being scared of demons is no laughing matter. ]

I just think it's strange he's into water and fish but also grants wishes. Maybe he was meant to grant wishes to fish?

[possessum]

( It's nice, though. To be able to laugh a little about it. Peter hasn't ever really... done that, before. And what Ahiru says next continues to tickle him, as he smiles again. )

No, you're totally right. And you might be onto something here... He did bring home a pet fish, awhile back.

Apparently he's supposed to be able to do all kinds of other things too, though. But he uh... got kind of messed up, so he's having to remember how.

[danserai]

He got messed up? How?

[possessum]

( This is honestly the most he's talked about Paimon to someone, at least all at once. Peter pauses again, trying to work out how to word it to someone as young as Ahiru. )

Well... there were these people, back in my world. Like an evil club of people. ( ...This is how he's going to explain a cult... )

They wanted to use him for his powers, so they could get treasures and stuff from him. But they didn't... handle him right.

[danserai]

If he likes water and fishes, maybe they should have gotten him a pool. Or an aquarium.

[ this evil club reminds her a bit of the shadowy figures who went after fakir. though she never understood what their deal was. ]

Also getting treasures from demons sounds bad.

[possessum]

They really should've done their research better. He would've liked that a lot, I think. ( The people who were handling the demon didn't seem to really know exactly what they were doing with him, that's for sure. )

Yeah, it... comes at a cost. It's a little scary to think about.

( Giving some ancient entity an offering in order to receive a reward... it just doesn't sound like a good idea at all. )

But he... likes giving people treasure? Like he's been handing out gold coins all over the place. I think he wants to help, he's just... confused.

[danserai]

Oh, that's why you're working to un-confuse it! You're so smart, Mr. Graham.

Maybe you'll be the one who'll teach him better.

[possessum]

Honestly, it's mostly been other people who've been trying to help teach him. I... I guess I still don't really know how.

It's hard to talk to him. He's so... different from me.

[danserai]

Maybe you need another demon. Or a demon expert.

But being different doesn't mean you can't.

[possessum]

Funnily enough... I've actually met both of those things. ( Peter gives an almost embarrassed smile. Even after all this time, after having the right kind of help, he still struggles with it. )

And it is helping. It's just like... Well, sometimes, he acts like this big scary demon king. And then other times, he's almost like.. a little kid? Wanting to colour and... learn about the world and stuff. I don't know how to handle him.

( He's just airing some woes... )

[danserai]

[ hmm. ]

But it sounds like you are. Just slowly. Still, you're getting better at it. Right?

[possessum]

( There's a shy smile, almost like he's afraid to show it too much. Peter's not.... the most confident person, if that wasn't already painfully obvious! )

I think so. I hope so. Someone once told me that maybe.... I could try to work with him to help people here, you know? So maybe... someday I'll be able to do that.

[danserai]

I definitely think you could, Mr. Graham. I believe you're on your way.

Sometimes you just need other people to see it for you.

[possessum]

Thanks. ( Peter's smile warms, gently. ) I really... I appreciate you listening to all this. I haven't really talked about it much to anyone before.

...I'm glad you aren't scared of me, either. I always kinda worry about that whenever people find out about him. It's not fun when people are scared of you.

[danserai]

People are more than their looks and sometimes, the scary thing is what they're scared of.

I know a little about that.

[possessum]

You do? ( Peter wonders quietly. He doesn't want to pry, but she listened to him, and he's very glad to do the same. But only if she's comfortable. )

Is it... something you're okay talking about?

[danserai]

I told you about the Prince.

But there's someone else. A girl. Sometimes she also acts scary and hurtful, but I don't think she means it.

She's still my friend.

[possessum]

Is she acting on her own, or... is something else affecting her, too?

[danserai]

I'm not sure.

But — But I know she's still my friend! She's still in there.

[possessum]

I'm sorry to hear she's dealing with that.... but if anyone can reach her, I think it's you. You seem like... the kind of friend who wouldn't give up on someone.

[danserai]

And I wouldn't.

But I . . . worry about her.

[possessum]

( Peter's frown deepens sadly, empathetic to her plight. He understands, on both ends of it. )

What kinds of things does she do, when she's acting scary? Is she... aware of it happening?

[danserai]

[ ahiru wrestles with her words and her trust in rue. she loved rue. believed in rue. but was rue truly kraehe? and the things she had done . . . was it fair for ahiru to just dismiss them? ]

She's . . . trying to steal a person's heart. A pure heart to give to the Great Raven.