Searching for Fear [open]

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas nodded, his shoulder accidentally brushing Belial's wing when he shifted at the same time the creature stretched. The feeling was unusual, even though his leather jacket. It was certainly imposing, all eyes and wings like that.

"My master's home's this way." He started off with a half-smile of his own, relieved that they had dodged one bullet thanks to this creature, but well aware that they were far from out of hot water just yet.

"If you are actually lost like you said, I can give you directions to wherever you want to go when we get there, if you don't mind. By the way, Reikas Esterion, happiness demon, that wasn't really an introduction earlier." He held out his hand for a solid handshake as he walked, amending the half-distracted greeting he'd given earlier.

He tried to push it back as he walked, but it bubbled up unceasingly, defying his shaky will. Part of him welcomed it, wanted it. Some days, it was what he lived for. The thrill. The excitement. The trust. Like sitting in the front seat of a roller coaster for the first time, terrified of the journey yet trusting at the end that you're ultimately going to walk away just fine, some part of Reikas lived for that thrill of safe risk. Many would call him weak for it, but at his heart, the demon was actually a human, and one who didn't like betting his life. He'd bet his body and his mind in a heartbeat, but never his life. And that encounter, that terrifying chance meeting, had been achingly nostalgic of some of his favorite owners, the really sick ones that liked to play with him to feed him.

He was quite glad this thing was staying with him. It seemed like the perfect companion to a happiness demon: needy, yet guilty. For just a few brief moments, he could pretend it was just like the old days.

[Belial Bane]

Belial made a noise when his wing was touched because the feeling was strange, he wasn't used to being touched there but he rather enjoyed it. He looked at the hand Reikas offered confused for a second, eventually shaking it with his own, feeding off the last few bits of fear. It was nice, he felt full but addiction let him always have more if it was there to take. He smiled, making sure to walk close to the other hand, his wing being used as an arm to keep him close, enveloping them both slightly, he like the idea of being close to people. "I'll happily walk you home Reikas! I was just planning to sleep in the park tonight~" He beamed, his voice full of happiness at the idea, though, he might have to find somewhere else to sleep now rather than a park bench.

There was something strange about Belial's expression when he mentioned he was a demon, a slight worry soaked over him. He always worried demons would know what he was, but considering he hadn't mentioned it, he must not have known about the afterlife being evil to him. He made a slight noise, at the idea that Reikas was a slave and he looked concerned. "Master? He questioned, being a rather curious little thing when he wanted to be.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas almost apologized at the noise Belial made upon contact, but thought better of drawing attention to it. Apparently it wasn't a noise of protest, though, since as they walked, Reikas found himself quite close to Belial. A few possibilities at this display ran through his mind, and none of them were adverse to the demon's desires. He liked this a lot. It felt...natural. Really natural. How weird was that?

Sleep in the park, though, did the thing not have a place to live? A few decades ago Reikas wouldn't have been surprised, but times had changed. Things as frightening as Belial were welcomed in this hellhole of a city. Maybe he had no money. But his outfit was rather classy...

"Yes, my master's out tonight, I was just at a movie, it got out late...I'm not really supposed to be out after dark." Self-imposed rule. He wondered what the thing would think of him being a slave. Really wondered. It probably didn't make much difference, but on the off-chance it might...

"Do you not have a place to sleep?" He wondered what Irina would think of him bringing home a nightmare he picked up in the park. That was funny to imagine. She'd probably let Belial stay over if Reikas reassured her enough. Stay over...He wondered how often Belial needed to feed.

No, stop it, he probably doesn't even own slaves. No one who owned slaves would bother hunting in the park. That's what their slaves were for! Leave it alone, Reikas...Just get home and part ways. Maybe we could have a drink together sometime. Drunken nightmares. Mm...

He smirked. He couldn't help himself. What a sick mind he had. Sick and masochistic.

[Belial Bane]

Belial was pleased the demon wanted to stay close to him, but suspicion made him wonder why, why after frightening him he let it happened, it was confusing. But right now, all he cared about was having company. He turned as they walked, to face the other man, hearing his words of his master, he spoke as if he didn't mind having one, but that can't be right? "You like your master?" He asked, his curiosity couldn't help but peak, he had met a few people that were slaves before, but none of them happy, at all. As for the place to sleep, he watched Reikas look at his clothing and could only assume he thought his sense of dress was... well, horrid..

"I've just arrived tonight, so haven't found anywhere to sleep yet. I plan to look tomorrow. I do have money mind you! I just... well hotels are not easy to come by." He made a gesture towards the shoes, knowing full well a lot of people would have made fun of him if they weren't scared to do so. " Yeah I know... you hate them!" He laughed, trying to stay positive about the whole thing, but he was always a little hurt when people thought his sense of dress wasn't great.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas grinned down at the rather stunning shoes and shook his head. "No sir, I do not judge taste," he told Belial truthfully, looking back up at him. Reikas had seen much, much worse. Demons stuck in the eighties disco era, vampires still longing for the "Free love/free blood" of the sixties, werewolves who had their body hair styled in ways Reikas could only describe as chilling. He was not going to judge a creature that looked like it should be able to spit acid at his face on its choice of footwear.

Man, it was amazing how much better he felt now that everything was normal again. "If you learn one thing being me, it's that everyone's different and everyone's got their hidden desires, including fashion." He looked forward again. He could feel the warmth from Belial's wing around the back of his head despite the occasional breezes of the night, each one imperceptibly colder than the last. He wondered if this was the demon's typical societal display of friendship. He didn't come across many winged creatures. They weren't as terribly common as one might think, and he had no idea what their standard wing-etiquette was.

"You could probably come home with me and spend the night if you'd like. I mean, Irina'll probably have a small heart attack, but I think she'll trust me. She seems to, at least. On her good days. Yeah, I guess I like her, though. I mean, I've had better," he said conversationally, as if he wasn't talking about unwilling enslavement, "but she seems...easy. Safe." He didn't sound terribly thrilled about the prospect. "I know, a lot of slaves are enslaved against their will, but for me...it's really the best and easiest way to survive."

He almost explained what a happiness demon was, but he hadn't missed the fact that Belial hadn't mentioned his own species yet. He'd wait on the off-chance the creature actually asked.

They were almost out of the park by now. He'd chosen a path that was one of the shortest through for the sake of safety. He had a while yet to get back to his place, though. It had been a stupid move to see that movie this late at night. There was no way he would have made it back safely without the buddy-buddy wing of some friendly hellspawn at his back. Was he ever grateful.

[Belial Bane]

Belial chuckled slightly hearing Reikas' words. It was an odd thing to behold, but he now assumed his new friend must have been a lot older than he looked, like most other demons. He was however, extraordinarily pleased that his fashion wasn't being judged and it showed on his face, a grin like a child was spread across his face. He listened to the man's words intently, wanting to know everything about this man and his 'slave' life, he said it wasn't bad? Which Belail couldn't understand, he loved his own freedom, but he guessed if you are old you get used to it. That was when words struck him 'hidden desires', these words sent strange shivers down his spin, and he rather enjoyed it. "Do you get to learn a lot about desires in your... work?" Belial didn't know what else to call it really.

Belial stopped in his tracks, looking at the other man with a very large amount of suspicion on his face, he offered for him to stay. Now this was strange. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, having a good long think about what he should say. "Do you know what I am?" He asked, suddenly feeling a little more worried than he had before, no one had offered him to stay when he had been so worryingly frightening before. He let himself walk again, staying close to his new, strange friend and let a wing touch his back, as if trying to comfort him in this strange, dark hour.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas stopped when Belial stopped. What happened? He was just beginning to really enjoy the man's childlike pleasure at his shoes not being made fun of, and then it was gone.

"Haven't a clue," he said with another small shake of his head, resuming the pace as Belial did. "I assume based on your appearance and powers that you're a demon. Or maybe a shifter hybrid. Or I guess a fallen angel, I've been suspected of that before. Why, is there something I should know about you?" Besides the fact that you scare people for a living and you like physical contact? It had been a while since Reikas had been intimate with a male, he tended to be favored by the younger females looking for a reverse-cougar relationship with an experienced man, and homosexual male masters tended to favor the younger, more innocent male slaves. And he'd never been intimate with a creature with wings. He liked this wing-draped-across-his-shoulders thing, though. It was light, simple, and pleasant. He drifted close enough to Belial so their shoulders brushed occasionally in response. He preferred humans on a whole, but he had no qualms with anything that wanted to share a bit more intimacy with him.

"Because I'll let you know, I'm pretty accepting. I mean, concerning us meeting, I didn't know you and unlike most demons I'm pretty low on the supernatural strength scale, especially when alone, so..." He shrugged, again brushing Belial's shoulder. "But yes, in my line of work, as you put it...my life, really, I don't work for money or food, in my life, I see a lot of people's desires. In fact, that's pretty much what I'm there for. I feed on people's happiness, I need to make them happy to survive, and to do so, I let them act out their desires with me. Whatever they are. Sexual, sadistic, lonesome..."

Aaaand...it was out. Definition of a happiness demon. Well, that hadn't taken long. Just how badly did he want to stick with this guy? He wasn't sure if he was dropping hints or trying to sell himself all over again, but he was pretty sure he was doing a terrible job of either. Things were awkward without a master to mediate, weren't they? Well, not really, but relationships were much more...nebulous. Normal, most would probably call it.

[Belial Bane]

Belial listened to every word, a child like curiosity washing all over him like there was no tomorrow. He was, in no small sense of the word, fascinated by everything the man had to say, and it was wonderful having someone to talk to, who appeared not to judge. He was pleased the man didn't know what he was, because there was a slight shame in it. Though it took several minutes for Belial to realise Reikas said he lived off happiness, he was thrilled to hear it. Something in common with a demon? This was something he had never really expected and all at once Belial seemed to want to touch the man, be even closer than he was, he had never cared for age, or looks for that matter and this had always led him to the most interesting people.

"So... You live of happiness, I live off fear! Though... I'm not a demon, I'm... well, you heard of 'Mara's'?" He questioned, wondering if the man had, recently only the religious and angels knew what this word meant, that and all those who knew rejection when they saw it. Though he was very interested in what pleasures people may have had, he thought it might be rude to ask, so stuck with explaining a little more. "I should have been an angel, but I disgusted someone important upstairs with the what i look, so i was kicked down here."

With a very slight sigh Belial made sure his wings kept the other man safe, less cold, because the feelings he was getting from the other man were making him feel safer, and it was nice to feel safe. He hoped the house wasn't too close, he liked walking, and talking as they were, it seemed... new.

[Reikas Esterion]

"Upstairs? You...Oh, you mean..." Reikas made a cursory gesture at the sky. "No, I've never heard of Maras. Emm...Sorry to hear about...being kicked out." Yeah, Reikas had no clue what to say to that, or if anything even needed saying.

Conversations about "upstairs" always weirded him out a little. He'd never really believed in any of that stuff, or at least he didn't practice any form of religion, but those little touches that hinted at the existence of things beyond the world made him uncomfortable. It wasn't Belial's fault in the least bit and it wasn't directed at him at all. In fact, it was directed inward. Reikas did whatever he pleased, really. He'd been a cruel businessman in human life, and now he served people for his own ends and survival, not out of any higher calling or defined virtue. The idea of heaven and hell worried him whenever he thought about them, and so he tried not to think about them. He didn't even intend to die, so in his mind, he justified the fact that he didn't really have to.

"So how does that work, though? Were you, well...cursed? And please, if I'm getting too personal, please tell me, but...How does an angel get forced to live off scaring people?" That would be funny, in a perverse way. The two of them, a perfect yin-yang. A tyrannical business man is cursed to serve others while a meant-to-be-angel is cursed to terrify them, both for survival. Reikas would take his own any day of the week, though. If anything, he didn't have to touch people as Belial apparently did. That was a plus. They didn't even have to know they were feeding him.

"Left here." Reikas turned as they hit the streetside sidewalk from the path that led back to the park. With their intimacy, he figured he might as well call his turns so they didn't bump. Some part of him almost wanted to take Belial's hand, help keep them in stride a little more easily. He didn't, but he wanted to.

[Belial Bane]

Belial laughed, feeling the slight amount of unease Reikas felt at this subject before smiling and patting his shoulder a little, he could understand how most people felt funny about the after life, it was a fact that people 'worried' about it, but in his opinion, far too much. "Not a bad subject at all." He promised, almost in a skip in his step, in fact, he missed being able to talk about it, it was a sad truth, but he would rather be down here scaring people than up there being told what to do. "Well, I was created, and I didn't look right..." He pointed at his eyes, and his pale skin mostly, wondering if it was as visible in the dark. "And I didn't have as much power as most angels, so down here I came, and found I got addicted to people's feelings very easily! Fear being the one that was around more when I was 'young'."

That word, young made Belial's little heart skip a beat, he wondered just how old or young he himself was, he's forgot to count. Then he heard the command off the other man and his legs instinctively turned the way he was told, trying not to walk in Reikas, and luckily he was successful. His wings shivered slightly as a very strong breeze came through the trees and it shook his feather slightly, letting one or two fall to the floor. He liked how much the other man felt, and found it a little odd a demon would seek happiness. The demons he had met wanted... well, rather the opposite of it.

"If it's not rude to ask..." Belial asked curiously, a slight blush coming across his cheeks with a little embarrassment. "What's the weirdest desire you've... seen?" 'Stupid curiosity' He thought to himself, wanting to physically smack himself with his own fist, strangely, he hadn't felt like this in a while.

[Reikas Esterion]

What a condescending little pat. How cute. How old was this demon? He'd ask later, but right now, Reikas was more interested in how the hell that was fair at all, that Belial was created, disliked, and tossed away, but then Belial turned the conversation back to him, and conversation faltered slightly.

"Erm..." Belial wasn't the only one to turn colors, except Reikas' was much more noticeable. He grinned darkly, though.

"It's not rude, but...Well," he laughed, "what do you consider weird? I mean, I've had people shiver at tales of dungeons and chains, but they've got no qualms about handcuffs in the bedroom. Is weird... embarrassing? I'd rather keep those to myself, but I've had Vampires ask me to wear fangs and bite them...Oh, I know the weirdest ones. Shifters. Furry shifters, they've made me wear some strange things...And done strange things to me...as animals. Things involving food are also strange."

"Quick question, though...can you feed on anything, and just choose fear, or did you pick one day and it just developed into your only food source over time?" That was interesting. Could Maras just pick their food source? Maybe it wasn't so a bad job, and maybe Belial just picked badly...

He continued to guide the mara down more lit streets and generally populated city blocks.

[Belial Bane]

Belial went a shade of red that didn't suit him at all and he turned his face away from him slightly, trying to hide this fact. That was a strange thing to hear indeed, he personally had not had much of life in that matter of speaking, and it was very worrying thinking about what people may have asked of Reikas, but it seemed far too scary to ask about it right now, and Belial was very pleased that his new friend changed the subject. He shivered again, noticing the emotions coming from the other man, it was strange, he hadn't thought about how he came to eat in such a long time and it was strange to think about now.

"I... well... I can eat whatever emotion I like." He admitted, having a good long think about how to explain his 'addictions'. He was slightly embarrassed, to say the least, and he had often tried to stay away from fear, as difficult as it was. "As a mara, I'm easily addicted to things, drugs, cigarettes, luckily I've stayed away from alcohol and sex otherwise I'd be a quivering wreck!" He couldn't help but have a chuckle at the thought of himself, stumbling around half dressed and smelling of booze.

He smiled at Reikas, a pure smile, and one that expressed his joy of having someone to walk with. "I am addicted to fear more than anything. It hurts not to have it, if you've ever been addicted, it's like that... but worse." He didn't like to assume his addiction was worse than any others, but he had the craving for cigarettes and certain drugs along with sugar and none of them made him hurt like fear did. None of them made him feel better than when he had it, it was better than anything he knew, finally getting the fear he longed for.

[Reikas Esterion]

Addiction. That word was one of Reikas' favorites. He liked addictions. More specifically, he liked addicts. Addicts were the fun ones, the ones that kept life interesting, the ones that were the most dangerous, who lost themselves. That wasn't surprising at all. How did this creature, this mara, keep getting better and better?If he wasn't careful, he'd fall in love.

"I can't say I've ever actually been addicted to anything. My type of demon doesn't get affected by much. But I've been around many, many masters who took out addictions on me." His smile turned slightly dark. "It's my most common relationship with my owners, addiction fulfillment. It's pretty passionate. They get what they crave, I get plenty to live off of, everyone's happy, literally, and the cycle fuels itself." He did like addictions.

They were nearing the upper class section of town now, unfortunately, and Irina's mansion was near the edge. They didn't have much longer together. Belial hadn't taken him up on his offer to stay the night, either...He'd offer again when they got there, since Belial hadn't actually refused either.

[Belial Bane]

Belial must have looked both shocked, and very intrigued, he felt the aura of pure amusement from Reikas and it was something he wanted to feel more, it turned his own emotions to that of someone more happy. He wanted to reach out and touch Reikas more, he was a very impressive man indeed, who Belial was glad he had been drawn to. He had been alive many a year and only ever found a hand full of people he would consider this... interesting. No... Not interesting, essential to existing well. He made sure his wings cupped his few friends back, having enough contact to make him feel warm.

"I'm glad you like us addicts." He half joked, feeling very pleased indeed he had made a new friend who seemed tot happy with him. "Perhaps you'd like to keep in contact with me? I don't know anyone here and it would be nice to have someone to show me around?" Of course, this was only an excuse to keep in contact, he didn't care about being shown around this city at all, but if it were with someone as wonderful as this man he would be happy.

He also began to think about when he would next crave fear. He pondered, looked at Reikas with an expression of wonder, as if he were trying to ask something with his expressionless red eyes. Something was caught in his throat, and it irritated him so not being able to ask such a simple question, if Reikas liked addicts, and liked giving people what they craved, surely he wouldn't mind helping Belial out at times with his addiction.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas grinned a bit sheepishly at the first line Belial replied with. It softened back to a real smile as the mara asked to keep in touch.

"I'd love to, yeah. I'll have to okay it with Irina, but I'm sure she won't mind. She doesn't like me to be bored when she goes out fighting, and I can't stand to go out with her, the fighting rings are concentrated oppression in a bottle for me. I know the city well, I'd be happy to take you on a...'personal tour.'" He actually winked at Belial, just for the hell of it. "Are you usually nocturnal, though?" he asked more seriously. That might be a slight problem if Belial was. Well, not really, if they spent time together in the early evening like tonight...But still.

Reikas realized with slight chagrin that he'd be slightly nervous all night if they did, which was perfect for Belial.

He pretended he didn't see Irina's mansion a block and a half away. He didn't want to yet, at least...