expiationlogs | [ OPEN ] ON THAT DEMON TIME

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[ OPEN ] ON THAT DEMON TIME

Who: Hiei & Others
Where: Around Aldrip
What: General July Catch-All - Hiei open starters in the forest, the city’s roof tops, sword training, and glitch.
Warnings: None ATM! Will change if it happens!

✒ o1. NO ONE WANTS FLOWERS WHEN THEY’RE DEAD

No matter how many times Hiei’s tree naps have been interrupted, it doesn’t seem to stop him. In fact, among all of his attempts at fact gathering, even sticking to trees in the city center to snatch up bits of information here or there… silence calls every now and again. A break from the constant chatter of people that he can hear for literal miles to trade instead for nature or something like it. The closest he can get to some kind of peace and quiet while lacking the incredibly tall trees that he had grown so fond of in the demon world.

Hiei doesn’t take precautions to be particularly quiet or hidden, for the most part, deftly hopping from tree to tree with the kind of experienced and sure footing of someone who has done this for many years. Beyond that.. He has yet to run in to a being here that seemed much of a threat to him, and keeping his energy suppressed at this point is more a force of habit than an effort to hide himself. Long gone were the days of a young and potentially weaker fire demon who at least tried a little recon before taking on an opponent head on. Instead the black-clad demon drops down in to an occupied clearing in a flash, hands casually tucked in to his pockets as if this is the most normal encounter ever.

“Is there anything of note, out in the forest? Or is it all just people wandering?”

✒ o2. SOME KIND OF SYSTEM OVER RIDE

Hiei likes to be tall, one way or another.

Sometimes he can be spotted in the city center, standing casually atop a power pole, simply watching the foot traffic below before he disappears in a flash to the next one. Hopping roofs and trees is his best way to test the physical limits of his body, here, and assess what has or has not been lost. Thankfully most of his speed and agility have been maintained, though establishing that does more for Hiei’s urge to continue exploring the city via the rooftops than anything else.

Pushing through crowds, buskers, and the occasional rowdy group was not exactly Hiei’s favorite thing to navigate, despite being occasionally forced to do so in order to ‘blend in’ while accompanying his more human teammates back in their world. The fire demon is again criss-crossing the city via the rooftops in skillful little hops when he notices he’s no longer alone, cloak billowing slightly in the breeze.

“It’s peaceful up here, isn’t it?”

✒ o3. THOUGHT I’D SOLD MY SOUL BUT HE KEPT THE RECEIPT

Demons didn’t require much sleep. Hiei tended to be a special case, if only because he had taken on two energy sucking abilities in the Jagan and the Dragon. With the Dragon significantly weakened, so too have Hiei’s sleep patterns shrunken to match.

Which is to say it is insanely early in the morning when the little demon can be spotted in a clearing, sword drawn though he has no visible opponent. Hiei is no less focused, though, red eyes narrowed as he takes his forms, darting across the clearing with precision slices and dodges, at times appearing to the human eye for only a split second before he is gone again, already across the cleared space.

It doesn’t take him long to notice he has a spectator, but he makes a point to finish his current practice set before stopping, red eyes narrowed as he turns to his guest.

“If you are looking for lessons I don’t give them.”

✒ o4. GOING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Glitches are quite.. Strange, actually. Hiei has seen a few, here or there, people behavng oddly or opposite to how he had witnessed them only days before. Of course, he doesn’t consider that it may as well happen to him, until it does.

An even smaller fire demon will meet those he crosses looking a bit.. Different than before. There is no wrap around his forehead, nor a third eye to speak of, and those former large, red eyes are now threatening pin-pricks. He carries a sword that is now quite literally bigger than him, and wears a tattered cape that is the same. It’s almost jokingly big for such a small demon, but it is hard to dress such a small figure correctly in the demon world.

A slow, constant waft of malevolent energy follows him, an open and viable threat to anyone that may cross his path and possibly dare to confront him in the wrong way. Hiei hasn’t appeared this wild eyed in quite some time, but his appearance hasn’t changed enough that he won’t be recognizeable.

…. Still probably approach with caution, yeah?

✒ o5. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Want to play something I didn’t list here, or we’ve talkd about somewhere else? Tag in and let’s go! I don’t mind tagging in either prose or brackets, feel free to respond how you’re most comfortable and I will follow suit.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Okay, Hiei was always a little short, but he's definitely not hallucinating in thinking that he's even smaller now. Not only that, but he just looks younger, like a child and holy shit. He's been affected by whatever the hell is going on with this world too, huh? He's experienced it a few times by now and fuck it's not fun. Glitching into himself but not really-- Scott is trying as long as he can to just enjoy being himself before he shifts again.

Somehow though, he looks even angrier as a kid. Maybe it's a bad idea to confront a possibly feral demon child, but here is Scott, about to do so, hands out by his sides as he approaches him.]

Hey.

[...] Looking for something? [Might as well try and be helpful at first?]

[ Hiei's head tips, curious at this friendly introduction. To be fair to the little demon, most introductions with the bandits came with a test of just how willing he was to test his mettle with them. It's exactly what he's waiting for with this human, regardless of what a fool's errand that might be. This version of Hiei doesn't have an honor code which makes it unthinkable even to bother to draw a sword against someone at such a disadvantage.

He is not quite as skilled or finely honed as the Hiei that Scott has met before, but his lack of polish doesn't make him any less dangerous. ]

Are you? [ Something like trouble? Because that's about all Hiei is ready for. That creepy little smile stays settled on his face, as if he's thrilled at some little inside joke. ]

[Scott doesn't seem too bothered by the little smile playing off Hiei's lips. Oh, it's definitely a look that screams of potential violence, but he just sort of believes that Hiei won't kill him still. Maybe because he's been on the other end of that look before by others and nothing's bad happened ~~yet~~.]

Nah, just heading over to the local noodle shop.

[He shrugs lightly, because hey he's hungry and it's about lunch time. Also look at him, trying something else besides sandwiches all the time. Ramen and stuff sounds pretty good, despite the heat of the day. Sometimes you still just want something warm.]

Wanna come with?

[ So much trust placed in this small, feral child who's barely been raised at all. Hiei blinks as if he isn't quite sure how to take both Scott's casualness and his offer. Things like general friendliness are lost on him, unfortunately, head tipping slightly to the side as he considers it.

Food, when offered, shouldn't be turned down in his experience, as one could never be sure when the next meal may or may not come, but...

Hiei hesitates to trust this random human offering him food like this. ]

Why would I want to come with you?

[His bad if the small demon child ends up killing everyone at the ramen shop. Totally on him. Hopefully him banking on the fact that Hiei hasn't killed anyone so far will pull through.]

Not forcing you to.

[Because he's really not going to. That seems like too much effort and he's willing to push his luck to some extent, but forcing a small demon to do something seems like a bad idea in general. Might lead to the whole killing people thing. Yeah, he was pushy when it came to the mutants back at Xavier's, but that was a bit different.

So, Scott lifts one shoulder in a half shrug.]

Just thought you might want something to eat. Heard the food there is pretty good, but your loss if you don't want to come with.

[ Despite all of his misgivings about why a human would decide to be so kind as to invite him and possibly treat him to some kind of meal... this little demon has always been a black pit for food.

Red eyes dart from side to side, debating what to do for a moment, checking for any possible other reasons he can think of to deny his growling stomach. He comes up with nothing, of course, and with his belly growling for food he hasn't yet tried (at this age), Hiei eventually gives a slight nod of approval. ]

Fine. I'll come with you to try.

[Scott had a feeling that he won the moment Hiei's stomach growled. Something is a little more angry than the tiny demon himself-- his appetite. That little grin on the mutant flickers upward just a little more, but thankfully, he doesn't make a big deal about it. Instead, he nods his head, as if telling Hiei to follow him.

When he starts walking, he doesn't double check to make sure Hiei is actually doing so. Call it confidence or whatever. Maybe he doesn't care in the end (that definitely isn't it).]

Ever had ramen before? It's kind of popular back where I'm from, just in a different country.

[ Hiei follows at a cautious distance. He's spent too long along in the demon woods to do something foolish like trust too quickly, particularly when it came to a random human. Of course he was reasonably assured that he had the speed to escape, but … one couldn’t be too sure.

He takes a moment to consider the question, but the answer is maybe predictable. ]

No. Only fried lizards and fish we can catch from the river. Sometimes, we get our hands on pickled eyes.

[ eyes of what? Don’t ask. ]

[Fried lizards and pickled eyes... does he want to know? Probably not. Sounds gross, but he is talking to some demon child. Besides he mentioned fish, he can get behind fish. Scott will just remind himself that if Hiei ever offers him food, he'll probably have to decline. He doesn't want to eat eyeballs!!

But there's still something a little more easygoing about Scott as he continues to lead Hiei to the local noodle shop, tossing a small smile from over his shoulder towards the young demon.]

Well, hopefully what we're gonna eat won't be too sophisticated for your taste buds.

Sophisticated? [ Hiei almost says it with a little sneer in his voice - again, if this were the adult version of the fire demon, he'd simply ask the teen if he'd had natto yet, or something equally likely to be something he wouldn't like out of spite.

Here... the little fire demon is annoyed at the implication he may find something like food complicated. There's hardly room for things like being concerned about flavor or whether it tasted good when he was far more concerned with filling his belly as easily as possible. ]

I'm sure I will be fine. We can't afford to be spoiled about food.

You can be a little picky here.

[Good to know that Hiei was always grumpy, even as a small child. He can picture it now, the fire demon coming into this world with the biggest scowl on his face. It's kind of an amusing thought, better than trying to imagine what his parents were like. Demons still have parents, yeah?? Probably, but he figures not to ask about that.]

Do you like spicy food? [He's a fire demon, so...] If so, you should get the spiciest ramen they have to offer. I'll even match you.

[Because he can't chicken out!]

[ if only Scott knew Hiei's origin story. He may actually be shocked that he's managed to become as tame as he is, at this point in time. At any rate the invitation to beat Scott at something has Hiei's interest a little more piqued, a smirk blooming on his face as he considers it. ]

I don't think you actually want to do that. [ Of all things that the bandits could get their hands on while traveling, pickled, spicy food tended to be the easiest to carry along. Along with dried meats, of course, and the berries that they could pick along the way, but that's not the point. ]

Your guts may never recover.

[Heh, guess even a fire demon can engage in trash talk if they're a child. It nearly gets Scott to smile, but he luckily turns it into a confident smirk as he looks at Hiei with a challenging expression. Well, it's definitely on now. A part of him honestly doesn't want to lose, even though beating a fire demon at a spice challenge is going to be hard. Probably.

No backing down though.]

It's on man. Two of the spiciest ramens, first one to consume it wins. Deal?

[And luckily, they arrive right outside the shop as Scott says that, the mutant still giving Hiei that pushy look.]

[ Poor Scott taking on a feral child who probably doesn't even know a single thing about even using utensils, much less anything like table manners or turning down food for any plausible reason. No, to his memory at this point he has never had ramen, nor does he know what he is in for.. but Hiei can put away far more food than he looks like he can.

He's a growing demon, after all.

In his typical haughty tone, the little demon decides to clarify even as he gestures for Scott to open the door. ]

As in clear the bowl consume it?

Uh, yeah? Exactly.

[Man, when did he become the friendly neighborhood mutant? Taking demon children out for lunch and everything... but guess he's kind of having fun anyway. Besides, a demon kid is still that, a kid that shouldn't be left alone. He's not that much of a dick to leave a child by themselves, especially if Hiei is hungry. So, after rolling his eyes behind his shades, Scott opens the door and steps inside after Hiei.

Luckily, there's an open table and once they're seated, they are handed menus. Not that Scott really takes much time to read it, because he's already looking at the waitress.]

Two of your spiciest bowls please.

[ Hiei hops rather non-chalantly to perch on his chair, centering his slight weight on to the balls of his feet as he looks around. Sharp eyes bounce around from people to the decor, taking it all in as much as he’s assessing everyone sitting inside and what threat they may pose.

This little habit engrosses him far more than the waitress, who received a cursory glance before he moved on to possible bigger fish.

In a way he’s much like a little bird, coiled to go if one thing strikes him as wrong. Eventually he’ll reach to drink from the glass of water at least, little claws gripping at the glass. ]

Are there places like this all over the human world?

[ not having to hunt for every meal seems terribly convenient. ]

[Thankfully, Scott doesn't comment on the way Hiei looks around, clearly still suspicious about the environment that he's in. Maybe he'd be the same if he was eating at some demon restaurant, possibly wondering if he was on the menu, so it's cool. As long as the kid doesn't create a giant scene.

Besides, he's definitely banking that Hiei will start enjoying himself once that spicy bowl of noodles is plopped in front of him. They just have to wait until then. In the mean time, Scott himself will adopt a more easygoing posture, relaxing back against his chair.]

Yeah, pretty much? You go in, order food, eat, and then pay for it.

[Yeah yeah, he'll include paying for it. Set an example and stuff. Besides, Scott does pay for his food and everything...] I guess in some areas they don't have restaurants but that's uncommon.

Edited 2024-07-27 14:34 (UTC)

[ just wait until he starts eating like a feral animal, Scott. For now all things are peaceful, though, Hiei sort of passing his time people watching. He can smell the food pretty vividly, and his stomach gives a loud protest at the wait.

Hiei figures the paying part is simply because Scott isn’t fast enough to get out without being noticed, but notes it anyway. Be fast enough to leave without having to pay after ordering. ]

There isn’t anything like this in the demon world. Maybe in Gandara or the big cities but I have no reason to go there…

[There's no hiding the smile when Hiei's stomach growls. Uh-huh, he thought as much. He's getting the feeling that he really won't beat the young demon at the noodle bowl race, but it's fine. There are worse competitions to lose, not like he's bet his title as king of spiciness here.]

So, did you have to hunt in the woods? Killing... demon deer to eat?

[Or is it regular deer??? Scott here asking the true questions.]

Deer? [ Hiei’s head tilts a little in question, at that, sort of like a dog confused by a sound. Maybe the uncanny gesture softens the blow of what he comes up with next. ]

We hunt each other, most of the time.

People try to take my stone from me, and the game is that if they can catch me, they’ll die faster.

[So, demons do eat other demons... gross. That's like cannibalism, right? Even if there are different demons and stuff, it still counts. Scott's unable to stop the way his face scrunches, well at least he's showing Hiei the finer things in life. Like spicy ramen, apparently.]

Wow, great game.

[No hiding the dryness in his voice either.]

Okay, so, no worry about hunting or eating demon flesh. This is just noodles and vegetables and meat-- animal meat.

[ Hiei... actually manages a little laugh as Scott makes that face. Sure, it's mostly a little shit kid having a short, creepy, ha! of a laugh, but it's better than the blank face he likely would've seen otherwise. Garnering even that small bit of a disgusted reaction is enough to amuse him, at least. ]

Some eat human meat, too. That's mostly demons who can afford it.. since the gate between the worlds has been closed for a while, now.

[ And now reopened... but this version of Hiei wouldn't know that. ]

I heard King Raizen really likes the taste of humans.

[Well, a laugh is a laugh... even if it's a weird one. Although, seeing that grin on kid is kind of nice, especially since his older self is a frowny asshole. Like wow, he can actually make that sound. Incredible. Honestly, he should get a medal for this. It's easier to accept this too since he's still confident that Hiei isn't going to eat him or anything.]

Maybe you guys only eat each other and humans because you haven't had ramen or sandwiches before. Your whole mind about all this is going to change now.

[Especially since their bowls are finally delivered! Spicy tonkotsu ramen.]

Edited 2024-08-06 17:48 (UTC)

[ unfortunately for little Hiei there are yet more challenges ahead that he doesn’t know of yet that will take away this more jovial side of him. Or at least tuck it even further back in his personality.

At any rate Hiei’s rapt attention is focused on the approaching bowls of food as soon as he’s sure they’re coming their way, red eyes predatory and intent.

He even stands on the chair to take advantage of every bit of his height for eating, and also as a body block in case anyone is thinking about stealing some of course.

… Sorry Scott, but he isn’t even going to acknowledge any rules of competition as he dives in for a hand full of noodles, bare handed, to ram them in to his mouth like a starved grown man. ]

[.......bruh.

Scott barely has his chopsticks in hand (yes, he finally learned how to use them) when Hiei shoves a whole helping of noodles straight into his tiny mouth. It's a good thing he's hungry because he might have just lost his appetite seeing such a thing. Yeah, boys are gross and everything, but this is still a sight to be a witness to.

If the mutant had any hopes of winning their competition, it's definitely gone now, with Scott just lifting one eyebrow at him. His chopsticks are still hovering right above his bowl.]

Dude, it's called chopsticks.

four;

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