[Back up he goes, humming softly as he rifles through his little first aid kit to try and find something suitable for gluing membrane to membrane.]
...For the record, I don't need your previous master coming here and being a bother. You won't mind if I sever the bond, will you-- [Wait. Hm........He's not really keen on having a familiar himself still, wanting his own peace above everything else because no one will ever understand him and his desires like he does.
But even if he's playing bad cop right now for his own peace of mind...He doesn't just want to annihilate someone who just wanted their freedom. Sigh...]
--Though you'll have the option to simply return to whence you came, or become mine instead. But I will sever it, and send your master a little slap on your behalf. You have a little while to think on your choice, okaaaaaaaayyyy? [Time to start delicately painting on that 'glue', humming away as he goes.]
[...Ah. A ...surprisingly kind ultimatum, honestly. He could simply be squashed if he really wanted, or something worse, but ...well. He hadn't been sure what he would do once he managed to escape. His time to find someone else to bond him would be ticking and short, with banishment being the outcome if he failed.]
[If this person really will sever his bond, then at least he could return to the darkness and try again.]
[But he'd finally gotten his taste of the light, of this world, and he did not want to leave it behind. He could run the risk of this person being just as cruel but ...well. If he were just as cruel he might have simply returned him to his master immediately instead of tending to him like so.]
[The bat stays quiet for some time, letting Rui work in peace, before:]
...I-I'm sorry. If ...
[His voice is very small, when it finally pipes up. Like a whisper in Rui's head.]
...If it is within your power to do so ...please. I-I do not wish to return to my master. I-I will serve you- or ...if you deem me just as worthless, you may dispose of me however you wish. Oblivion would be ...f-far more preferable than the alternative.
IM GOING TO THINK ABOTU HIM ALL NIGHT OH MY GOD HES SO CUTE
[There's no way he can turn down such a plea, is there? It's going to be a real fucking pain having someone else here, having input he doesn't need, but.
But that voice cuts right to his heart. Rui stays quiet as he works, brows drawn together in frustration and apprehension, but once he's done all he can, he looks into those big ole bat eyes and finally, finally stops smiling.]
You'll stay here until you're free of that whole...system. But I don't need your input or help. We're to be towermates and nothing else. Are we clear? Now I'm going to take you back up to the workroom, and we're going to set about tying you to me instead.
[At least he waits until Mayoi has his wing in close, before he goes to scoop him up. Can't undo that repairwork, thank you very much.] ...How bad was it? That you had to fly away like this.
[It still hurts, but his wing feels ...sturdier. It's no longer a wretched sting from torn flesh and whatever strange "glue" the sorcerer used it's taken some of the edge off. It does a lot to calm him down, though he still feels on the edge of fight-or-flight.]
[He's accepted, and this is a step in some direction, but he cannot afford to settle down, yet. Severing the bond will hurt in ways a flesh would cannot compare to, and this person may yet be another form of evil, he doesn't truly know.]
[But he wraps him self up tightly, securely so that his wing is safely tucked away and he is in no lingering pain, and allows Rui to scoop him up and carry him away.]
...I did ...as I was told. I-I carried out things that were unpleasant. But ...but there was something I could not do, so I stood against him, and so ...I was punished.
[There's a small pause, before he adds.]
...I-If you have no use for me, then, I will be as quiet as I can be. Perhaps even, you will forget that I am here, if that is what you wish.
[Though the notion of being unwanted hurts in ways that's difficult for him to comprehend, it's still better than what he escaped. It's a far lesser hell.]
That's the problem with entrusting someone else with your own work; never send someone else to do a job you know you'll succeed at.
[Huff! Ridiculous.] No, you'll be put to work. Just not the traditional work of a familiar, but it won't be anything you have to wrestle with. Don't think I can't hear that miserable tone you're putting on.
[Once they're back in the workroom, still littered with coloured glass, Rui holds Mayoi up at eye level and looks at him very, very seriously.] Your first job, in the morning, is going to be cleaning up this mess you've made. But for now, we'll get to work keeping your idiot former master away from here, and you can rest. I'm not a monster.
Prepare yourself. [It's not a spell that requires a lot of reagents in the first place, the severing spell. Usually done in the heat of the moment, something that sorcerers use in petty little spats with each other, or to poach talent going to waste. No, you don't need to concoct or gather or grind for this, but...You do need a lot of your own energy to cauterise and nourish a bond in one blow.
Ugh. It'll hurt them both. So it goes. Bat in one hand, held tenderly in the universal 'he owes me money' grip, and the other hand in front of his eyes, siphoning energy out. Look, I just wanted Rui to pull the chuuni pose. That's all I wanted. Never mind if there's actual magical energy pouring out between his fingers, gushing around Mayoi in floral-scented purple neon. He's pulling the chuuni pose and making his fucked up wizard magic simply overwhelm the thread tying Mayoi back to his fuck-up of an ex-master.
The thread snaps. Then reties right to Rui. Knots, thickens, strengthens in a way that tugs directly at the heart with cold metal hooks.]
[No, Mayoi thinks maybe, it was that his Master simply did not wish to dirty his hands, but that is something he keeps to himself for now. To talk openly about his Master in a poor way would probably reflect worse on him to this person who might become his new Master.]
[But...okay. There is a frank amount of relief in him at the idea that Rui will have some use for him, even if its just menial work. He has no probably with menial work. In fact, he finds it terribly soothing. Cleaning up the mess he made is the least he could do.]
Y-Yes! I understand!
[Then his command comes, and Mayoi takes a deep, shaky breath. The magic flows through him in a familiar way. Familiars are like conductors in a lot of ways, and there is a lot he can glean about Rui from just the way his magic pours into him, through him, like water through sand. The magic is not pure and clean like a sage or priest, but it is not dark like his master. It's vibrant and unique, and as it builds, he feels the pressure against his very being until the thread snaps.]
[It hurts as much as he expected, like a ripcord attached to his soul, and he cries out against his best efforts to not. For a bright, terrifying moment, he feels himself start to breakdown and lose form, before Rui's thread ties them together instead, and anchors him back in place.]
[He already feels better, even if he's also tired and spent. Magic flows through him comfortably, in a way he hadn't had since he tried to escape, using every ounce of his mana to block the connection to his ex-Master. After a moment to catch his breath, Mayoi throws himself out of Rui's hand in a flourish of smoke and shadow, forming instead at Rui's feet. Smoke, fur, and wings give way to the form of a person, knelt gently before him.]
[With long purple hair, bright blue eyes Mayoi looks up at Rui with a soft grateful smile before turning his eyes back down to his feet again.]
...The bond is complete, and ...I, Mayoi, hereby pledge to serve you until our contract has completed.
--We don't need that sort of formality. [There's no bite to his words, however; not only is his wall of thorns pretty much worn down by the cute bat form's plight, but he's simply too fucking tired now to bother with being prickly. Mayoi just gets a dismissive wave for his efforts.]
How's your arm? Let me see. I want to know if the damage converts or not. And then...
[Wait, no. First, he's going to reach in and bump against that downturned chin with one knuckle, huffing softly.] And then you're going to learn to make eye contact more often than not.
[Ah, that was just how he knew to do things, so, for a moment he feels at a loss. This feels very precarious, in a way he is not used to. He does not want to misstep even if Rui is giving him some leeway. He does not want to fall into a trap.]
[But he let's Rui tip his head up, and the sorcerer will see that look of worry and uncertainty in his eyes.]
Y-yes, Master, as you wish. I-I will do my best.
[That still sounded formal. He will ...have to work to fix that. It's just natural for him. Eye contact, too, is something he's never been very good at, but, it was an order more or less so, he'll have to comply.]
...My arm. Ah, it's. It's doing much better...
[The damage did convert, but so did whatever Rui did to patch it up. It looks nasty even on human skin, but it'll heal.]
Between what you've done and ...the surge of your magic currently resting in me, it'll heal quickly. Thank you.
Alright. Progress takes time, so we'll work on it.
[He'd much rather examine that wound; it definitely still looks nasty, but it doesn't look overly red or shiny, so that's a good...Start, at least. He snatches up some gauze and winds it around the wound, a cursory marker of injury with another thin thread of protective magic wound through as he goes, but Mayoi can do the rest of the hard work.
Then he pulls off his glasses, rubs furiously at his eyesockets, and motions for Mayoi to follow.]
's alright. Your former master's going to be knocked out for a few days, so we have that long to fix the window before I start getting paranoid about attacks or spies. Come on, we need rest after that. [Back downstairs, then-- down a hidden corridor, one almost certainly made invisible with magic from the outside, and they end up in...An absolute neon vomit hellhole of a bedroom. Think Howl's bedroom from the Ghibli movie plus Rui's normal room. Trinkets, gems, all sorts of dangling, tinkling things that catch the light and overwhelm the senses.]
...Where do you want to sleep? What's most comfortable for you? You're not evacuating me from my own bed, for the record. We can share, but I'm not leaving it.
[Ah, he passed a test it feels like. He did not garner ire, at least, and that is just how low Mayoi's bar is. He lets out a little sigh and lets Rui examine his arm. Lets him do a bit more to patch it up, and then dutifully stands so that he may follow close behind him as he takes them somewhere new.]
I believe ...even with the bond severed, I may still be able to sense him if he were to come near. I c- [He cuts himself off for a moment, debating if he should say what he thought to say next with how upfront Rui was about not wanting his help in a familiar sense. He decides to risk it.]
Pardon me if this is ...out of line of me to say, but I ...I have skills in surveillance and stealth. ...ah... I was utilized often in such tasks. If spies are a concern ...I-I can help with that. B-But only if you wish.
[He winds up stumbling over his words suddenly aghast that he's already breaking one of the few rules Rui gave him, so he braces a little for it.]
[He hardly has the time to take in the room, though, it's quite a sight. It almost distracts him from his abject terror of fucking up. Where does he want to sleep?? He will sleep where ever Rui deems appropriate. In bed seems very scandalous so he does not even entertain that thought. Ah, but there are many danglies he can hang from, that will do.]
Ah ...is it really okay for me to sleep in here? With you?
Edited (swear i passed grade school english) 2023-03-17 09:52 (UTC)
Good. We'll use that to our advantage, then. You won't have to do much in the way of surveillance, however; I don't care about what other sorcerers do as long as they stay away.
[Time to start actually getting ready for bed, though. Is there any sort of like...Ceremony around familiars? He skipped most of those classes in favour of finding shit that would allow him to make his foes blow up, really. Rui just...Looks at Mayoi for a moment, even tucking his monocle (deadass thought it was glasses for a few hours last night I'm losing it) into his cloak, before swiftly turning away and getting to work getting undressed.]
Where else am I going to let you sleep? I can't say that I trust you completely yet, even if I hold your life in my hands. Look at what you did to your last master~ Already willing to turn on him for the sake of your own newly-gifted skin. No no, you're staying in here with me.
Do whatever you want. But we're going to bed now, because I can barely keep my eyes open. And the door locks, with only me being able to unlock it; don't take that personally, that's a standard measure~
[At least he's only going shirtless before crawling into bed and staring expectantly at Mayoi. g'on. get to it.]
...Oh, it is just, my previous master kept me in the lower levels when I was not needed. That is what I am accustomed to. S-Sorry.
[And ...that assessment isn't untrue, so there is little Mayoi has to say against it. If Rui valued safety over keeping him out of sight, then that's all there was to it. He could adapt.]
I-I understand. I am ...a rotten familiar who betrayed my last master, that is very true. Regardless of my reasons, it is still ...an unforgivable act.
[But, there is no regret in his voice, despite his waver. If he is rotten for what he did, then so be it. He still did it anyway, and he would do it again.]
[Having been given that look, which he returns with a small tilt of his head in confusion before it clicks and he looks up and around for a moment. Ah, there is a nice, heavy string of beads being strung about over Rui's bed that looks sturdy enough. He will shift again in plum of smoke so that he can fly his way up there.]
[He misses, still too injured to be flying yet, and instead rockets over with a soft Fwmp! onto the bed next Rui. UUuu....]
[please... please pretend that didn't happen, Rui.]
[But he moves to scoop Mayoi back up and assist him to the string of beads he figures he was aiming for, nonetheless.] It's alright. I don't care if you betray me, either. I'm a master of defence, you see.
But if you want to leave, just say so. I'll help you find another master. Now rest up and get that wing better, so you can pick up glass in the morning.
[It's a lot less weird now that Mayoi's Batted Out, right. ...If Rui gets the urge to kiss his little head, that is. Sometimes you just want to kiss the skull of a little beast.] Rest well. And if you want to come down, just yell at me. I'll help you down if your wing's still out of whack, fufu~
[He is scooped and he allows himself just a little drama of being sprawled out in his hands (uuuu! uuuu!) before he finds the string of beads with his little bat feet. Securely upside down now, as is proper, Mayoi gets comfortable and wraps himself up nice and good. Like a little burrito.]
[...]
[Ah ...it is still too early to tell, but ...it seems that despite some of his earlier words, his new Master may actually be quite kind. It's a funny feeling ...he wonders if he may be so lucky as to continue to see more of that from him. If so, then he would have no problems staying as long as he might be allowed.]
Y-yes, I will. Thank you very much...! I hope that Master is able to rest well, too.
[With a snap of his fingers, the candles and lanterns in the room snuff out bar one hanging over the door. Gotta have the nightlight in case of midnight piss requirements, and he'd ask if there are any objections, but also: fuck that, it's His Tower and he'll have a lamp on for as long as he wants!!
...He'll also, apparently, sleep in until mid-morning all he wants. Thankfully there's no sunlight to stream in, but the lamps do gradually brighten over the course of those few daylight hours before he sits upright and rakes a hand through his fucked up hair. Shit. Forgot to untie the bun. Fuck. Now it'll be curly all day...]
Little bat~ Silly little thing~ How are you today~
[Because he's still rubbing his face to make his brain start to function. Bleh.] Are you still aliiiive~?
[You wanna regret every choice you've made in the last 24 hours? Yeah? Awesome.]
[When Rui comes to try and stir Mayoi out of his sleep he is treated to a big yawn and a gentle reshuffling of the wings, before he finally rouses and blinks at Rui. Ohhh, so. He had not dreamed up what happened the night before. He is still here ...bound to a new master.]
Good morning..!
[He has not slept quite as much as Rui, since he will still pretty wired with adrenaline, but exhaustion did eventually take him down, and with it, he was able to finally properly heal. His wing is still ...tender, but as he shifts and unfurls his wings in a big stretch, it will be clear that they have made a lot of progress already.]
I-I am alive! I am very well, actually ...! Thanks to Master's help.
[BIG YAWN SO CUTE HE DIDN'T NEED TO BE WOKEN UP TO THIS! WHAT THE FUCK! Rui just.
Stares.
At the yawn.
Then rubs his eyes again to mentally reset into Mad Sorcerer Mode. Okay, he can do this.] Of course you are. Did you think I was going to do a bad job? Goodness gracious, what to do with you...First, a name. That'll do nicely, I think, if I have your name.
[Without further ado, time to get redressed; a different robe, the same cape, monocle on, hair simply untied and let to do what it will. Then he unceremoniously scoops Mayoi up and pops him on his shoulder; gotta go for the Breakfast Trip together, goddamn it.] And do you know how to cook? No vegetables.
[You see, the problem is going to come when Mayoi begins reading you for the absolute facade this mad sorcerer business is, and when he figures it out, he is just not going to say anything about it. but he will know. Oh, will he know.]
A-Ah! Please forgive my thoughtlessness, I didn't mean to imply such a thing... [But, for now, this bond is very new and he is still quite frightened of his situation. He does not want to upset Rui in a way that would cause retaliation, so he will be skittish for some time.]
[He does flinch a little when Rui comes to scoop him up, and trembles until he is deposited onto his shoulder. After a moment of waiting, to make sure he is safe, he lets out a little sigh and hooks his little wing claws into Rui's clothing.]
...Mayoi. That is what I am called. [Familiars, the strange entities that they can be, can have a wide range of interesting names. Mayoi's being simply the word for hesitation or uncertainty paints an interesting picture of him, probably. Perhaps his previous master simply pegged him for a coward.]
I do know how to cook, I-I am ...if I may be bold, quite proficient. If you have any favorites or requests, all I need is an ingredients list and I can sort out most anything.
[HE'S JUST NOT USED TO COMPANY, BRO.............he's so pathetically lonely rip this man. Even just having Mayoi on his shoulder is nice, and he lets the pleasant warmth lull him into a few seconds of silence before speaking once more.]
Mayoi. That suits you. You don't speak with any certainty, do you? I'm the Great Kamishiro, fufufu~ Perhaps not so godlike, but I do take pride in my hard work. Which is why I need food that isn't garbage.
...But I don't care what you make. Consider this a test; make whatever you want, without vegetables, and if I like it, then you get another chore to keep those claws busy. [Cue even more giggles, slightly more ominous as if he'd actually punt Mayoi out the doorway or anything, as he opens the kitchen door with a flourish.
It's
normal. Just the average, homely kitchen. Well-stocked, at that.] I'm going to wash my face and hair in the sink while you work, so consider me your supervisor. Off you go.
[why is he fucking like this he's absolutely going to just dunk his head under the tap and make his hair dry fucking weird]
[It is comfortable now that he is settled. Despite his kneejerk reactions, Rui has a presence that does not make him uneasy. His ears perk up at him giving his name, though. It's true, he hadn't had it yet, though he did not feel it was right to ask. He is glad he has more than just "Master" to attribute to him now. Kamishiro was a nice, strong name, too. Very grandiose.]
--Ah!
[Oh, so then, that was probably to be expected. At his command, Mayoi flings himself off Rui's shoulder in the exact sort of grace a bat has (none). This time, though, its a little more purposeful, and before he hits the ground there's that familiar plume of smoke that gives way to his more human form.]
[Quickly, he bows his head and scurries off to go take stock of the kitchen.]
C-Consider it done!
[While he noses around in all of the shelves and cabinets, Rui can also probably get a proper look at this form now that he wasn't falling asleep. The robes he's wearing are worn, but well kept up, and when they were new, they were probably of good quality. There is a small emblem sewn into one of the sleeves that Rui may or may not recognize, depending on how well he knows the family names of certain magic council members.]
[His hair is still that soft messy purple, but Rui may notice it now sports a few streaks of a different shade, a color that closely matches Rui's own magic. His arm has also healed visibly well in this form as well, however what's more noticeable now is likely the presence of scars under those robes.]
[After a few moments of rummaging and muttering to himself, Mayoi will shyly turn towards Rui.]
....Ah, M-Master Kamishiro, I would like to ask what limits you would like placed on my magic usage...
[He would like to magic himself up a clipboard to make some notes, but ah, Rui may not want him to use magic at all!]
[Sadly, Rui's still trying to just wash his hair under the sink while Mayoi's talking to him, because he's a fucking mess and cold water feel good first thing in morning.
Once he realises that his new familiar's not taking the hint, however, he just turns, head still turned down and sopping wet, and 'looks' at him.]
...Mayoi.
[He's dripping onto the floor at an alarming rate.] I do not care about what magic you use. Use as much or as little as you want. I have more than enough to satiate your needs. Do you understand me? You aren't under my control here, past doing chores to my liking. When you aren't doing something I've asked you to, as long as you aren't sabotaging my work, safety, and solitude away from the rest of the world, I do not care.
May I resume waking up?
[he'll
he'll admire you in a minute, batsome. He's still fucking dead inside in general. Not a morning person.]
[He is being scolded, and it makes his blood run like ice for a moment. Perhaps it's good that Rui cannot see the shell-shocked way Mayoi is looking at him for the entire duration that he speaks to him.]
[His response takes a moment. He has to find his voice again, while he tries to desperately figure out how to navigate what suddenly feels like a minefield. Perhaps it seems very simple to Rui, setting these kinds of rules, but for Mayoi all he can see are traps and consequences.]
[But ...if he shows too much weakness, if he fails in being adaptable, then Rui may yet toss him away. His new master has no reason to care for what Mayoi may be used to, he needs only to learn the new rules as fast as possible. These kinds of warnings from his previous master would have dire consequences if he did not immediately correct his behavior, so he should not test his luck. Rui has been kind so far, but that kindness could run out.]
Yes. My apologies.
[It's the firmest response he's offered Rui so far. He quickly turns and resumes his task. With a hesitant flick of his wrist, Mayoi has a clipboard in his hand, and meticulously and quietly, he takes stock of the kitchen. He does not linger on that task for long, and as quickly as he's done, he begins making notes, brainstorming dishes based on the limitations he's been given, before he seems to have made a decision.]
[He's focused on his task with an unusual intensity and he exudes a confidence that has not yet been seen. He is rather talented in the kitchen, just don't pay any mind to the way his hands shake when he lingers too long idly.]
[Pretty soon the kitchen will start to smell very good as Mayoi cooks up a champions breakfast. Pancakes with a fruity glaze with fried eggs and bacon on the side.]
[Back under the tap, and he's just going to stay there for a good few minutes, lost in the sauce. It's only once he starts smelling all of that delicious food that he actually turns off the tap and starts wringing his hair out already.
He's still dripping wet, when he sits at the tiny kitchen table (clearly handmade, rustic and imperfect), but at a far less rapid rate than before at least? And his eyes are visible, visibly watching Mayoi working away like a man possessed with a subdued air of awe. Normally he just rolls out a piece of bread, slaps whatever's available on it, and makes a huge fucking pitcher of cold coffee. So to actually see a real feast take form right in front of him...
He whistles, lips curved in a faint smile and eyes wide with interest.]
I can already tell you that you passed. Even if it somehow tasted like absolute rubbish, that's more effort than I put into myself, for sure. I'll deal with the clean-up, so come sit.
And let me have a better look at that arm of yours, Mayoi~ Fluffy little chef~
[He passed. He allows himself a small breath of relief, and a great deal of the pent up terror that was running through his veins finally starts to bleed out of him. It's small, but it is more praise than he is used to receiving.]
[He nods his head, grateful, and does come to sit at the little table.]
Mm...My previous master had ...particular tastes and he often entertained those of high standing.
[Obediently he will hold out his arm for Rui to see. It's closed up nicely and will probably be nothing than a dull scar in a day or two. This close, though, Rui could see that it won't be his only scar.]
...It does not bother me so much anymore. I think it is nearly healed.
Ah, one of those types. You'll have far more freedom here, and infinitely less entertaining duty to worry about. If anyone approaches and I haven't already told you about it, simply lob things at them through the window until they leave. Fufuf--
[He's actually paying attention to Mayoi's appearance, though, and that means that he does see all those nasty little details. Definitely the embroidered crest, which makes him instantly want to rip it out in a fit of petty anger. Then the red streaks in Mayoi's hair, faint but gleaming in the light.
Then the scarring that he's sure is older than last night. His grip tightens enough to be firm and authoritative, before he points at one such offending mark and clicks his tongue.]
You're going to tell me what this is, and how many other marks he left. While we eat, so your hard work doesn't go to waste. I still have enough magic in me to send him an anonymous, strongly-worded letter his direction.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
LEETLE BAT DRAWINGS? ok no death i gotta live to see those im cryin already
[Back up he goes, humming softly as he rifles through his little first aid kit to try and find something suitable for gluing membrane to membrane.]
...For the record, I don't need your previous master coming here and being a bother. You won't mind if I sever the bond, will you-- [Wait. Hm........He's not really keen on having a familiar himself still, wanting his own peace above everything else because no one will ever understand him and his desires like he does.
But even if he's playing bad cop right now for his own peace of mind...He doesn't just want to annihilate someone who just wanted their freedom. Sigh...]
--Though you'll have the option to simply return to whence you came, or become mine instead. But I will sever it, and send your master a little slap on your behalf. You have a little while to think on your choice, okaaaaaaaayyyy? [Time to start delicately painting on that 'glue', humming away as he goes.]
fufufufu soon
[If this person really will sever his bond, then at least he could return to the darkness and try again.]
[But he'd finally gotten his taste of the light, of this world, and he did not want to leave it behind. He could run the risk of this person being just as cruel but ...well. If he were just as cruel he might have simply returned him to his master immediately instead of tending to him like so.]
[The bat stays quiet for some time, letting Rui work in peace, before:]
...I-I'm sorry. If ...
[His voice is very small, when it finally pipes up. Like a whisper in Rui's head.]
...If it is within your power to do so ...please. I-I do not wish to return to my master. I-I will serve you- or ...if you deem me just as worthless, you may dispose of me however you wish. Oblivion would be ...f-far more preferable than the alternative.
IM GOING TO THINK ABOTU HIM ALL NIGHT OH MY GOD HES SO CUTE
[There's no way he can turn down such a plea, is there? It's going to be a real fucking pain having someone else here, having input he doesn't need, but.
But that voice cuts right to his heart. Rui stays quiet as he works, brows drawn together in frustration and apprehension, but once he's done all he can, he looks into those big ole bat eyes and finally, finally stops smiling.]
You'll stay here until you're free of that whole...system. But I don't need your input or help. We're to be towermates and nothing else. Are we clear? Now I'm going to take you back up to the workroom, and we're going to set about tying you to me instead.
[At least he waits until Mayoi has his wing in close, before he goes to scoop him up. Can't undo that repairwork, thank you very much.] ...How bad was it? That you had to fly away like this.
no subject
[He's accepted, and this is a step in some direction, but he cannot afford to settle down, yet. Severing the bond will hurt in ways a flesh would cannot compare to, and this person may yet be another form of evil, he doesn't truly know.]
[But he wraps him self up tightly, securely so that his wing is safely tucked away and he is in no lingering pain, and allows Rui to scoop him up and carry him away.]
...I did ...as I was told. I-I carried out things that were unpleasant. But ...but there was something I could not do, so I stood against him, and so ...I was punished.
[There's a small pause, before he adds.]
...I-If you have no use for me, then, I will be as quiet as I can be. Perhaps even, you will forget that I am here, if that is what you wish.
[Though the notion of being unwanted hurts in ways that's difficult for him to comprehend, it's still better than what he escaped. It's a far lesser hell.]
no subject
[Huff! Ridiculous.] No, you'll be put to work. Just not the traditional work of a familiar, but it won't be anything you have to wrestle with. Don't think I can't hear that miserable tone you're putting on.
[Once they're back in the workroom, still littered with coloured glass, Rui holds Mayoi up at eye level and looks at him very, very seriously.] Your first job, in the morning, is going to be cleaning up this mess you've made. But for now, we'll get to work keeping your idiot former master away from here, and you can rest. I'm not a monster.
Prepare yourself. [It's not a spell that requires a lot of reagents in the first place, the severing spell. Usually done in the heat of the moment, something that sorcerers use in petty little spats with each other, or to poach talent going to waste. No, you don't need to concoct or gather or grind for this, but...You do need a lot of your own energy to cauterise and nourish a bond in one blow.
Ugh. It'll hurt them both. So it goes. Bat in one hand, held tenderly in the universal 'he owes me money' grip, and the other hand in front of his eyes, siphoning energy out. Look, I just wanted Rui to pull the chuuni pose. That's all I wanted. Never mind if there's actual magical energy pouring out between his fingers, gushing around Mayoi in floral-scented purple neon. He's pulling the chuuni pose and making his fucked up wizard magic simply overwhelm the thread tying Mayoi back to his fuck-up of an ex-master.
The thread snaps. Then reties right to Rui. Knots, thickens, strengthens in a way that tugs directly at the heart with cold metal hooks.]
...Done.
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[But...okay. There is a frank amount of relief in him at the idea that Rui will have some use for him, even if its just menial work. He has no probably with menial work. In fact, he finds it terribly soothing. Cleaning up the mess he made is the least he could do.]
Y-Yes! I understand!
[Then his command comes, and Mayoi takes a deep, shaky breath. The magic flows through him in a familiar way. Familiars are like conductors in a lot of ways, and there is a lot he can glean about Rui from just the way his magic pours into him, through him, like water through sand. The magic is not pure and clean like a sage or priest, but it is not dark like his master. It's vibrant and unique, and as it builds, he feels the pressure against his very being until the thread snaps.]
[It hurts as much as he expected, like a ripcord attached to his soul, and he cries out against his best efforts to not. For a bright, terrifying moment, he feels himself start to breakdown and lose form, before Rui's thread ties them together instead, and anchors him back in place.]
[He already feels better, even if he's also tired and spent. Magic flows through him comfortably, in a way he hadn't had since he tried to escape, using every ounce of his mana to block the connection to his ex-Master. After a moment to catch his breath, Mayoi throws himself out of Rui's hand in a flourish of smoke and shadow, forming instead at Rui's feet. Smoke, fur, and wings give way to the form of a person, knelt gently before him.]
[With long purple hair, bright blue eyes Mayoi looks up at Rui with a soft grateful smile before turning his eyes back down to his feet again.]
...The bond is complete, and ...I, Mayoi, hereby pledge to serve you until our contract has completed.
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How's your arm? Let me see. I want to know if the damage converts or not. And then...
[Wait, no. First, he's going to reach in and bump against that downturned chin with one knuckle, huffing softly.] And then you're going to learn to make eye contact more often than not.
Then we'll deal with lodgings.
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[But he let's Rui tip his head up, and the sorcerer will see that look of worry and uncertainty in his eyes.]
Y-yes, Master, as you wish. I-I will do my best.
[That still sounded formal. He will ...have to work to fix that. It's just natural for him. Eye contact, too, is something he's never been very good at, but, it was an order more or less so, he'll have to comply.]
...My arm. Ah, it's. It's doing much better...
[The damage did convert, but so did whatever Rui did to patch it up. It looks nasty even on human skin, but it'll heal.]
Between what you've done and ...the surge of your magic currently resting in me, it'll heal quickly. Thank you.
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[He'd much rather examine that wound; it definitely still looks nasty, but it doesn't look overly red or shiny, so that's a good...Start, at least. He snatches up some gauze and winds it around the wound, a cursory marker of injury with another thin thread of protective magic wound through as he goes, but Mayoi can do the rest of the hard work.
Then he pulls off his glasses, rubs furiously at his eyesockets, and motions for Mayoi to follow.]
's alright. Your former master's going to be knocked out for a few days, so we have that long to fix the window before I start getting paranoid about attacks or spies. Come on, we need rest after that. [Back downstairs, then-- down a hidden corridor, one almost certainly made invisible with magic from the outside, and they end up in...An absolute neon vomit hellhole of a bedroom. Think Howl's bedroom from the Ghibli movie plus Rui's normal room. Trinkets, gems, all sorts of dangling, tinkling things that catch the light and overwhelm the senses.]
...Where do you want to sleep? What's most comfortable for you? You're not evacuating me from my own bed, for the record. We can share, but I'm not leaving it.
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I believe ...even with the bond severed, I may still be able to sense him if he were to come near. I c- [He cuts himself off for a moment, debating if he should say what he thought to say next with how upfront Rui was about not wanting his help in a familiar sense. He decides to risk it.]
Pardon me if this is ...out of line of me to say, but I ...I have skills in surveillance and stealth. ...ah... I was utilized often in such tasks. If spies are a concern ...I-I can help with that. B-But only if you wish.
[He winds up stumbling over his words suddenly aghast that he's already breaking one of the few rules Rui gave him, so he braces a little for it.]
[He hardly has the time to take in the room, though, it's quite a sight. It almost distracts him from his abject terror of fucking up. Where does he want to sleep?? He will sleep where ever Rui deems appropriate. In bed seems very scandalous so he does not even entertain that thought. Ah, but there are many danglies he can hang from, that will do.]
Ah ...is it really okay for me to sleep in here? With you?
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[Time to start actually getting ready for bed, though. Is there any sort of like...Ceremony around familiars? He skipped most of those classes in favour of finding shit that would allow him to make his foes blow up, really. Rui just...Looks at Mayoi for a moment, even tucking his monocle (deadass thought it was glasses for a few hours last night I'm losing it) into his cloak, before swiftly turning away and getting to work getting undressed.]
Where else am I going to let you sleep? I can't say that I trust you completely yet, even if I hold your life in my hands. Look at what you did to your last master~ Already willing to turn on him for the sake of your own newly-gifted skin. No no, you're staying in here with me.
Do whatever you want. But we're going to bed now, because I can barely keep my eyes open. And the door locks, with only me being able to unlock it; don't take that personally, that's a standard measure~
[At least he's only going shirtless before crawling into bed and staring expectantly at Mayoi. g'on. get to it.]
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[And ...that assessment isn't untrue, so there is little Mayoi has to say against it. If Rui valued safety over keeping him out of sight, then that's all there was to it. He could adapt.]
I-I understand. I am ...a rotten familiar who betrayed my last master, that is very true. Regardless of my reasons, it is still ...an unforgivable act.
[But, there is no regret in his voice, despite his waver. If he is rotten for what he did, then so be it. He still did it anyway, and he would do it again.]
[Having been given that look, which he returns with a small tilt of his head in confusion before it clicks and he looks up and around for a moment. Ah, there is a nice, heavy string of beads being strung about over Rui's bed that looks sturdy enough. He will shift again in plum of smoke so that he can fly his way up there.]
[He misses, still too injured to be flying yet, and instead rockets over with a soft Fwmp! onto the bed next Rui. UUuu....]
[please... please pretend that didn't happen, Rui.]
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[But he moves to scoop Mayoi back up and assist him to the string of beads he figures he was aiming for, nonetheless.] It's alright. I don't care if you betray me, either. I'm a master of defence, you see.
But if you want to leave, just say so. I'll help you find another master. Now rest up and get that wing better, so you can pick up glass in the morning.
[It's a lot less weird now that Mayoi's Batted Out, right. ...If Rui gets the urge to kiss his little head, that is. Sometimes you just want to kiss the skull of a little beast.] Rest well. And if you want to come down, just yell at me. I'll help you down if your wing's still out of whack, fufu~
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[He is scooped and he allows himself just a little drama of being sprawled out in his hands (uuuu! uuuu!) before he finds the string of beads with his little bat feet. Securely upside down now, as is proper, Mayoi gets comfortable and wraps himself up nice and good. Like a little burrito.]
[...]
[Ah ...it is still too early to tell, but ...it seems that despite some of his earlier words, his new Master may actually be quite kind. It's a funny feeling ...he wonders if he may be so lucky as to continue to see more of that from him. If so, then he would have no problems staying as long as he might be allowed.]
Y-yes, I will. Thank you very much...! I hope that Master is able to rest well, too.
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[With a snap of his fingers, the candles and lanterns in the room snuff out bar one hanging over the door. Gotta have the nightlight in case of midnight piss requirements, and he'd ask if there are any objections, but also: fuck that, it's His Tower and he'll have a lamp on for as long as he wants!!
...He'll also, apparently, sleep in until mid-morning all he wants. Thankfully there's no sunlight to stream in, but the lamps do gradually brighten over the course of those few daylight hours before he sits upright and rakes a hand through his fucked up hair. Shit. Forgot to untie the bun. Fuck. Now it'll be curly all day...]
Little bat~ Silly little thing~ How are you today~
[Because he's still rubbing his face to make his brain start to function. Bleh.] Are you still aliiiive~?
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[When Rui comes to try and stir Mayoi out of his sleep he is treated to a big yawn and a gentle reshuffling of the wings, before he finally rouses and blinks at Rui. Ohhh, so. He had not dreamed up what happened the night before. He is still here ...bound to a new master.]
Good morning..!
[He has not slept quite as much as Rui, since he will still pretty wired with adrenaline, but exhaustion did eventually take him down, and with it, he was able to finally properly heal. His wing is still ...tender, but as he shifts and unfurls his wings in a big stretch, it will be clear that they have made a lot of progress already.]
I-I am alive! I am very well, actually ...! Thanks to Master's help.
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Stares.
At the yawn.
Then rubs his eyes again to mentally reset into Mad Sorcerer Mode. Okay, he can do this.] Of course you are. Did you think I was going to do a bad job? Goodness gracious, what to do with you...First, a name. That'll do nicely, I think, if I have your name.
[Without further ado, time to get redressed; a different robe, the same cape, monocle on, hair simply untied and let to do what it will. Then he unceremoniously scoops Mayoi up and pops him on his shoulder; gotta go for the Breakfast Trip together, goddamn it.] And do you know how to cook? No vegetables.
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A-Ah! Please forgive my thoughtlessness, I didn't mean to imply such a thing... [But, for now, this bond is very new and he is still quite frightened of his situation. He does not want to upset Rui in a way that would cause retaliation, so he will be skittish for some time.]
[He does flinch a little when Rui comes to scoop him up, and trembles until he is deposited onto his shoulder. After a moment of waiting, to make sure he is safe, he lets out a little sigh and hooks his little wing claws into Rui's clothing.]
...Mayoi. That is what I am called. [Familiars, the strange entities that they can be, can have a wide range of interesting names. Mayoi's being simply the word for hesitation or uncertainty paints an interesting picture of him, probably. Perhaps his previous master simply pegged him for a coward.]
I do know how to cook, I-I am ...if I may be bold, quite proficient. If you have any favorites or requests, all I need is an ingredients list and I can sort out most anything.
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Mayoi. That suits you. You don't speak with any certainty, do you? I'm the Great Kamishiro, fufufu~ Perhaps not so godlike, but I do take pride in my hard work. Which is why I need food that isn't garbage.
...But I don't care what you make. Consider this a test; make whatever you want, without vegetables, and if I like it, then you get another chore to keep those claws busy. [Cue even more giggles, slightly more ominous as if he'd actually punt Mayoi out the doorway or anything, as he opens the kitchen door with a flourish.
It's
normal. Just the average, homely kitchen. Well-stocked, at that.] I'm going to wash my face and hair in the sink while you work, so consider me your supervisor. Off you go.
[why is he fucking like this he's absolutely going to just dunk his head under the tap and make his hair dry fucking weird]
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--Ah!
[Oh, so then, that was probably to be expected. At his command, Mayoi flings himself off Rui's shoulder in the exact sort of grace a bat has (none). This time, though, its a little more purposeful, and before he hits the ground there's that familiar plume of smoke that gives way to his more human form.]
[Quickly, he bows his head and scurries off to go take stock of the kitchen.]
C-Consider it done!
[While he noses around in all of the shelves and cabinets, Rui can also probably get a proper look at this form now that he wasn't falling asleep. The robes he's wearing are worn, but well kept up, and when they were new, they were probably of good quality. There is a small emblem sewn into one of the sleeves that Rui may or may not recognize, depending on how well he knows the family names of certain magic council members.]
[His hair is still that soft messy purple, but Rui may notice it now sports a few streaks of a different shade, a color that closely matches Rui's own magic. His arm has also healed visibly well in this form as well, however what's more noticeable now is likely the presence of scars under those robes.]
[After a few moments of rummaging and muttering to himself, Mayoi will shyly turn towards Rui.]
....Ah, M-Master Kamishiro, I would like to ask what limits you would like placed on my magic usage...
[He would like to magic himself up a clipboard to make some notes, but ah, Rui may not want him to use magic at all!]
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Once he realises that his new familiar's not taking the hint, however, he just turns, head still turned down and sopping wet, and 'looks' at him.]
...Mayoi.
[He's dripping onto the floor at an alarming rate.] I do not care about what magic you use. Use as much or as little as you want. I have more than enough to satiate your needs. Do you understand me? You aren't under my control here, past doing chores to my liking. When you aren't doing something I've asked you to, as long as you aren't sabotaging my work, safety, and solitude away from the rest of the world, I do not care.
May I resume waking up?
[he'll
he'll admire you in a minute, batsome. He's still fucking dead inside in general. Not a morning person.]
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[He is being scolded, and it makes his blood run like ice for a moment. Perhaps it's good that Rui cannot see the shell-shocked way Mayoi is looking at him for the entire duration that he speaks to him.]
[His response takes a moment. He has to find his voice again, while he tries to desperately figure out how to navigate what suddenly feels like a minefield. Perhaps it seems very simple to Rui, setting these kinds of rules, but for Mayoi all he can see are traps and consequences.]
[But ...if he shows too much weakness, if he fails in being adaptable, then Rui may yet toss him away. His new master has no reason to care for what Mayoi may be used to, he needs only to learn the new rules as fast as possible. These kinds of warnings from his previous master would have dire consequences if he did not immediately correct his behavior, so he should not test his luck. Rui has been kind so far, but that kindness could run out.]
Yes. My apologies.
[It's the firmest response he's offered Rui so far. He quickly turns and resumes his task. With a hesitant flick of his wrist, Mayoi has a clipboard in his hand, and meticulously and quietly, he takes stock of the kitchen. He does not linger on that task for long, and as quickly as he's done, he begins making notes, brainstorming dishes based on the limitations he's been given, before he seems to have made a decision.]
[He's focused on his task with an unusual intensity and he exudes a confidence that has not yet been seen. He is rather talented in the kitchen, just don't pay any mind to the way his hands shake when he lingers too long idly.]
[Pretty soon the kitchen will start to smell very good as Mayoi cooks up a champions breakfast. Pancakes with a fruity glaze with fried eggs and bacon on the side.]
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[Back under the tap, and he's just going to stay there for a good few minutes, lost in the sauce. It's only once he starts smelling all of that delicious food that he actually turns off the tap and starts wringing his hair out already.
He's still dripping wet, when he sits at the tiny kitchen table (clearly handmade, rustic and imperfect), but at a far less rapid rate than before at least? And his eyes are visible, visibly watching Mayoi working away like a man possessed with a subdued air of awe. Normally he just rolls out a piece of bread, slaps whatever's available on it, and makes a huge fucking pitcher of cold coffee. So to actually see a real feast take form right in front of him...
He whistles, lips curved in a faint smile and eyes wide with interest.]
I can already tell you that you passed. Even if it somehow tasted like absolute rubbish, that's more effort than I put into myself, for sure. I'll deal with the clean-up, so come sit.
And let me have a better look at that arm of yours, Mayoi~ Fluffy little chef~
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[He nods his head, grateful, and does come to sit at the little table.]
Mm...My previous master had ...particular tastes and he often entertained those of high standing.
[Obediently he will hold out his arm for Rui to see. It's closed up nicely and will probably be nothing than a dull scar in a day or two. This close, though, Rui could see that it won't be his only scar.]
...It does not bother me so much anymore. I think it is nearly healed.
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[He's actually paying attention to Mayoi's appearance, though, and that means that he does see all those nasty little details. Definitely the embroidered crest, which makes him instantly want to rip it out in a fit of petty anger. Then the red streaks in Mayoi's hair, faint but gleaming in the light.
Then the scarring that he's sure is older than last night. His grip tightens enough to be firm and authoritative, before he points at one such offending mark and clicks his tongue.]
You're going to tell me what this is, and how many other marks he left. While we eat, so your hard work doesn't go to waste. I still have enough magic in me to send him an anonymous, strongly-worded letter his direction.
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1/2
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oh my god why is he so fucking cute, jami???
because he is an adorable wet cat with pathetic eyes how can you resist
i just want to clean his eyes and put him in a jar _(:'37 L)_
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https://images.plurk.com/4aw7QsrYOI0dZTiYtxn3tJ.png
GOD I LOVE HIM I TUCKS THIS IN MY FOLDER X( look at him holding the chicken omg
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