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[4thprince]

tbh

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First Night Bestie

[guylining]

[ Nate pushes open the door, tired and less than happy. He's dressed in a bright red mesh vest and a pair of black leather hot pants, both of which are clinging to him. He intends to fix that momentarily, but first he needs some space to work, and maybe to sleep for a while, and most of the doors he opened already had someone behind him, and--

And this one does, too. Except that this one also has a free bed, at least by the look of things, and Nate's about ready to drop.

So he speaks up. ]

Hey, uh. Sorry, but is that bed free?

[4thprince]

( Kai hasn't been here much longer than Nate himself. he found the first room that was empty and immediately let himself collapse on the nearest bed. it's been ages since he's had a proper rest. this won't be one, but it's better than nothing.

at least until the door opens.

Kai sits upright, the loose blanket he had over him bunched at his hips. while Nate's attire makes Kai raise an eyebrow over pupil-less black eyes, it's apparent that Kai is entirely undressed under the blanket. He did think he was alone. )

It is. ( he gestures Nate inside. ) Apologies. I wasn't expecting anyone else to need another bed so soon.

[guylining]

[ Well, at least he didn't walk in on a girl. Walking in on a naked anyone isn't the best, though in fairness, Nate's had a pretty full day of meeting entirely naked people hiking through the woods, so. His senses have been dulled to it.

And there's that empty bed, calling to him. He goes to it, and starts peeling off the fucking ridiculous vest and shorts even while he speaks. ]

No, I'm sorry. It's the first empty bed I've seen, and I'm just...I can look for another one tomorrow. I'm just shattered.

[ He drops down onto the bed, pulling the sheet across his lap at the same time. That brings him to his first proper look in focus on Kai's face, and there's...those eyes. ]

I, uh. Sorry for waking you.

[ Should he mention the eyes? Is it a different species kind of thing? The guy looks human, otherwise. ]

[4thprince]

No, you can stay. I was more apologetic for the state you found me in. I don't normally greet people while so exposed... ( he shrugs. ) But maybe I'm already embracing the local customs.

( he hears the slight hesitation in Nate's voice when Nate finally meets his eyes. he's not unaccustomed to that reaction. or worse honestly. ) I'm a demon. If that impacts your decision to stay, best to know upfront.

[guylining]

[ He's a demon.

Of course he's a fucking demon. Why wouldn't he be? Why would anything that ever happens to Nate be demon-free?

His shoulders drop a little. He's so, so tired. So he says: ]

I knew this was hell. If I stay, are you likely to eat me?

[4thprince]

( Kai raises an eyebrow at that reaction. ) Why? Are you likely to try to enslave me?

[guylining]

[ Nate blinks, and then laughs. ]

Not today.

[ He sounds deadpan. The demon sounds deadpan. ]

The last demon I met wanted to eat me. We disagreed, it was a whole thing. And honestly I'm tired, I don't have time for a whole thing. So if you can manage not to be evil or come for my soul, we'll be cool.

[4thprince]

Ah yes, because all demons are alike. Just like all you humans are. Thank you for the reminder. ( Kai lays back into the bed to stare at the ceiling. )

You can rest assured I have no interest in eating anyone today. We'll see what mood strikes tomorrow.

[guylining]

[ Nate sighs, and leans back on his own bed.

This is very not ideal. He's never actually shared a bedroom with someone he wasn't also sharing a bed with, and if he'd planned to do so, he certainly wouldn't have started it off with a fight.

Nor, honestly, would he have picked a demon. But the thought of putting those barely even clothes back on and going to look for a different bed is just... ]

I'm sorry. That was probably rude, and I don't mean to be, I've just had bad experiences. [ With your kind. ]

I'll find somewhere else tomorrow.

[4thprince]

Haven't we all? ( Kai responds.

then shakes his head. ) So long as you don't try to kill me, you're free to stay. Might not be able to find another room anyway. Might as well settle in.

[guylining]

[ Nate frowns, and looks over at him. Kill him? What kind of demon is worried about being killed? ]

I'm not aiming to kill anyone.

I'd try banishing you, but I can't make promises. I can't even banish myself out of here much less anyone else.

[4thprince]

( Kai sighs heavily. ) Yes we do seem to be quite stuck. Which also seems more important than whatever... else it is you're sorting out over there.

So how about we start over with less offense? ( he looks over from where he lays, then rolls on his side. ) I'm Kaiisteron, Prince of the Fourth House. Most settle for Kai.

[guylining]

[ Less offense sounds good.

Trusting a demon sounds...

Well. He trusts Thorn. But Thorn is a very special case, and every other demon around seems intent on doing them all harm.

Kai might be different. If he's worried about being killed, he's definitely different. Which could of course be a lie. But that also sounds like a thing Nate might be able to worry about later, when he's not too exhausted to perform a simple glamour on his awful clothes. ]

I'm Nate Hawthorne. [ There's a test, anyway. That's his real name, and it'd mean something to any demon who had a problem with him. ] Witch of Oxford. Actually, that doesn't sound awful. Fourth House of what?

[4thprince]

Fourth House of the underearth. It's the house I belong to. ( Kai sits up on his elbow and looks at Nate, watching him strangely. )

I don't know Oxford. But you're a witch? One that fears demons?

[guylining]

[ Nate's leaning back by now, but he's turned towards Kai. He lifts an eyebrow.

He's never heard of any houses of the underearth, which in many ways is comforting. Kai's different enough already from the demons he knows. ]

I wouldn't say fears.

[ Though, it's true enough. He's spent a long time fearing Ineroth. ]

But you remember the bit about eating me, yeah? I wasn't being a dick, it's what I'm used to.

[4thprince]

I'm aware demons can eat people. ( he rolls his eyes. ) Just as easily as another human could stab you when you sleep. Do you judge all humans for their violence? Or are only demons not allowed to be nuanced and unique from each other?

[guylining]

[ Nate gives him a wry smile. ]

I judge humans for a lot. Witches, too. But none of them have spent an extended amount of time trying to stab me, whereas demons...

[ He trails off. ]

I wasn't trying to judge you, I want to be safe. That's all.

[4thprince]

As do we all. ( Kai responds. )

Where is Oxford? ( before he goes on anymore of a tirade. )

[guylining]

England.

[ A pause. Honestly, there's no reason to assume... ]

Uh, Earth. The human realm. Or one of them, anyway.

[4thprince]

Well not my mortal realm. ( Kai leans back agains the wall his bed is against. ) We're all from different worlds from what I've gathered so far.

[guylining]

Yeah.

[ Nate sounds neither surprised nor overly concerned. You could've told him this was Tuesday and he'd react the same way. ]

Not all magical ones, I don't think. I got a lot of talk out there about monsters and rituals to keep them under control. Sounds culty, I think.

[4thprince]

They've certainly started their work indoctrinating you. ( Kai smirks a bit as he nods to Nate's whole attire. )

[guylining]

[ Nate glances at the clothes and makes a disgusted sound. ]

It was that or keep walking the streets naked.

[ He pauses, then frowns at Kai. ]

Which I'm guessing is the option you took?

[4thprince]

( Kai gives a snort of laughter, then nods his head to the end of the bed where a lump of clothes sit. ) No, I had just already stripped down for sleep.

Unfortunately I was unable to grab any nightclothes on my way to a bed.

[guylining]

Yeah, join the club.

[ god, he's going to have to get nightclothes. He's going to have to wear clothes in bed because he's sharing a bedroom. How do people live this way? ]

So what horribly revealing kinkwear did they give you? I'm glamouring mine in the morning, I can't be seen in those. Even if the rest of the town can.