Floor 2, Room 6

[lustro]

GINGER

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week 2 while the southies are away

[impacter]

[does ginger hear the jaws music today??

Knock knock, here comes Solomon, waving pleasantly if Ginger answers the door.]

Oh good, you're in!

Are you busy?

[lustro]

[ Yes, he hears it so he doesn’t answer the door, goodbye -

No, he answers promptly. He’s dressed down today, outside of his work uniform for once. Just a cozy sweater and some sweats. When he sees Solomon, his mouth makes a funny sound. ]

Smlmnmn.

[ Solomon’s name through gritted teeth. ]

… Why?

[impacter]

Well, the manor is a bit quiet with the others off on that mission of theirs. I thought I'd take you up on your offer from last week.

[Aw, Ginger looks so cozy...]

...Is now a bad time?

[lustro]

No... No, you can come in.

[ He did offer. He took that shovel and started digging his own grave and set out some tea for the reaper. But he has his pride, so Solomon can come in.

The door widens some. Welcome to hell, Ginger. ]

[impacter]

Perfect.

[He at least is respectful of the space, curiously looking around at how Ginger has set up his space, but not intruding through it.]

It was kind of you to offer. I hope you haven't been neglecting your own care, have you?

[lustro]

[ The space is simple, clean lines and pale colors accenting the largely white rooms. It is very much single-guy-with-no-hobbies type of room.

Ginger gestures to the cushioned banquette bench connected to the large bay windows. A small oak table with a vase of white-pink lilies complete the nook. Solomon can sit there if he wants. That’s where Ginger sits. ]

I’m as alive as everyone else is. Come on, you’re not worried about that.

[impacter]

Why wouldn't I be?

[Since he's invited to sit, he'll oblige, but he does seem to be taking this rather seriously.]

A nephilim is outside the realm of what I know, granted. But vampirism is normally an incredibly infectious disease with demons.

[lustro]

[ Vampires are an idea born of the human mind. They’re not real when he’s from, but he does remember the lore. Still, he doesn’t seem concerned. ]

Mika wouldn’t have agreed to it if there was even a chance he could do something like that.

[impacter]

Mika was reacting on instinct. But this isn't about his intentions, instinctual or otherwise.

[He would rather not turn this into a name and shame session.]

An angel would be pretty cautious, and a demon would have more self-preservation outside of their temptations. So your choice is a curious one to me.

[lustro]

[ To me, he wants to argue. Mika had made as much of a choice as he could. ]

Not sure where you got that idea. Besides, I wasn’t in any danger, so self-preservation wasn’t needed.

[ An untruth, not a lie. The words are right, but the truth isn’t there. What happened that night was entirely selfish on his part. ]

I can protect myself, you know.

[impacter]

Just through experience.

[He leans his chin against one hand, brow raising slightly.]

What about others?

You said that was your job, as a nephilim. Protection, correct? And yet you have a strange fascination that goes beyond that. [Something off. He can't quite pinpoint it enough, and it's not as obvious as someone like Asmodeus or Mammon. But it's a start. Would that core that made a demon tick still thrive even in a being like Ginger?]

What was it you said that night?

"Only you"?

[lustro]

I can only try, right? [ He can say he wants to protect everyone, but realistically, it’ll depend on what he’s capable of in the moment. What he’s allowed. ] I do… want to protect some of you more than others.

[ Equal opportunity protection until someone important to him gets hurt. He’s pretty blatant about his favorites, and he’s not sorry about it. ]

… Only me.

[impacter]

[His finger taps against his chin, a slow and casual movement, the weight of his ring heavy against his skin.]

That's only natural. No one can prioritize everything.

You seemed so frightened to speak your mind, though. Is that not something you're proud of? Knowing what it is you want?

[lustro]

[ The smile that twists Ginger’s lips is so blatantly not one, that he doesn’t consider it fake. ]

Sure, I’m scared. But if I told you: Solomon, I only want you to think of me. Only me. For the eternity that we live.

If I told any normal person that, don’t you think they’ll run?

[impacter]

Possibly.

[Another tap of his finger.]

What if I told you that I've been asked something similar before, and that I've asked that myself?

[lustro]

[ He said normal person, SIR ]

I’m running out of this room and you can stay.

[impacter]

Hahah - you wound me!

[anyway]

All I mean is it's nothing new, dear Ginger. To be drawn so intensely to an emotion, a sin, an idea... I'd say that is perfectly normal for a demon.

You surprise me in the fact that you can even fight that part of you in the first place. I think it shows a fascinating side of you. That's all.

[lustro]

It’s because… [ Slow as he feels out the answer. ] I only feel that way about one person. Ah, no - specific people now.

I’m not - fighting. I’m… [ He opens his hand, then clenches it into a fist, one finger at a time. The end result is tight and restricting. ] Waiting.

[ Biding. ]

[impacter]

[His eyes flick to that tension, then back to Ginger.]

Hm. In that, you really seem different from him.

[Not that he would want to put Ginger through that sort of meeting.

He sits up straight with an elongated stretch of his arms over his head like a lazy cat.]

So-- mm, you plan to follow through, then? Back home, or here?

[lustro]

[ Before he answers the second question, he has to ask: ]

Who is him?

[impacter]

Asmodeus.

[Let's see if that rings a bell or not.]

[lustro]

[ It does sound familiar. He’s heard the name before - so that means… ]

Demon?

[impacter]

[He looks delighted at the recognition.]

That's the one.

[lustro]

Waaaaait a second. Is that why you feel so weird? Like a mix of -

[ Some thing - some things that are a shade off familiar. ]

Did you make a deal with a demon? I think - he might be my dad’s coworker.

[impacter]

A pact, yes.

[So Ginger could sense it after all. Good to know - maybe they could settle on a more honest playing field.]

And who would your father be, in that case? Maybe we've crossed paths.