( Sugar doesn't work like that....? How mysterious.... Paimon ogles her cup again, eyes widening further at it as though in some attempt to see the sugar inside. At The Mage's Bakery, Paimon really just follows whatever instruction Lysithea gives him, and it's always very closely monitored by her. But when left on his own... it seems he has some things to learn about the ways in which sugar works. )
I shall learn more about it.... I shall experiment until The Tea is perfected. ( Maybe Peter can be used as a tea tester....
Paimon doesn't miss a beat as to Luna's reaction about Maul. The way her face shifts, cools the way it does. He fully understands why, and he isn't here to try and convince her of anything; he's genuinely only here to ask her thoughts and opinions. Paimon won't make any important decisions regarding Peter's safety without talking to her, first. So the demon watches her carefully, listens to everything she's saying. His expression remains neutral as he listens, attentive and focused, but then Luna says what she does next, and something visibly changes in the demon.
'I want you to be careful. I don't want you being manipulated into something you're not, or used. I'm scared that might happen again.'
He blinks, that wide-eyed stare broken by the gesture. His mouth opens with a soft exhale; he's clearly surprised. Like when she'd hugged him moments earlier, but he finds himself taken aback all over again. Of course he knows his witch has care for him, that he's her responsibility in a sense. But even if their bond had initially been forged from necessity on her part, she'd always taken care with him. She's never been cruel to him. Never treated him as something to be used. Like she says — 'That's your decision to make. I can't decide this for you.' — she's always allowed him to make his own choices, to have control of himself. She's guided and commanded him, but never... taken advantage of that power.
It's something Paimon's only recently really been capable of understanding; he's still struggled with it for a long time. But after the incident with Maul back in Deerington, he began to see it a bit more clearly. How... being used works. Being manipulated. How he was so easily turned into something violent and raw, something that hurt others. Hurt her. Now he knows that Peter isn't the only one in danger of being broken; Paimon has his own scarred, carved-out places, too. Places where something could dig in and ruin him.
Of course Luna would worry about it, especially after their recent Corruption. If he becomes like that again..... dangerous to her, to others. But... the fact she says "something you're not" — as though she fully knows he's not meant to be that way. Something to that concept strikes Paimon in a way he's currently able to truly see and process. She doesn't think he's something dangerous up underneath, doesn't think that's his natural state. And it feels like some expression of trust, of care, some deeper level of it. )
I.... do not want that, either. ( He says, very quietly. ) And I never wish to hurt you, again. I know Maul is capable of making that happen again if he ever chose to....that he has such abilities. But I would not allow it. I would protect myself so that I do not become used. And so that I never again harm you.
( He looks down at his fingers for a moment, slowly fiddling with them in his lap. He's.... feeling a little shy....? His ears are a bit tingly and warm at the tips, like how Peter gets sometimes. But he continues, capable of being more eloquent than he usually ever is and fueled by that warmth inside for her, wanting to tell Luna more of how he feels. )
You are my witch. My best. You are very kind to me, and.....I wish to be with you always.
( His ears are feeling really... strange, now. Paimon blinks again, and slowly lifts his hands to lightly cup them for a moment, looking up at her. He's a bit startled by the reaction, something that's quite... human. )
......My body... ( His voice drops, almost to a whisper. ) My ears are buzzing.
Paimon: 👉👈
I shall learn more about it.... I shall experiment until The Tea is perfected. ( Maybe Peter can be used as a tea tester....
Paimon doesn't miss a beat as to Luna's reaction about Maul. The way her face shifts, cools the way it does. He fully understands why, and he isn't here to try and convince her of anything; he's genuinely only here to ask her thoughts and opinions. Paimon won't make any important decisions regarding Peter's safety without talking to her, first. So the demon watches her carefully, listens to everything she's saying. His expression remains neutral as he listens, attentive and focused, but then Luna says what she does next, and something visibly changes in the demon.
'I want you to be careful. I don't want you being manipulated into something you're not, or used. I'm scared that might happen again.'
He blinks, that wide-eyed stare broken by the gesture. His mouth opens with a soft exhale; he's clearly surprised. Like when she'd hugged him moments earlier, but he finds himself taken aback all over again. Of course he knows his witch has care for him, that he's her responsibility in a sense. But even if their bond had initially been forged from necessity on her part, she'd always taken care with him. She's never been cruel to him. Never treated him as something to be used. Like she says — 'That's your decision to make. I can't decide this for you.' — she's always allowed him to make his own choices, to have control of himself. She's guided and commanded him, but never... taken advantage of that power.
It's something Paimon's only recently really been capable of understanding; he's still struggled with it for a long time. But after the incident with Maul back in Deerington, he began to see it a bit more clearly. How... being used works. Being manipulated. How he was so easily turned into something violent and raw, something that hurt others. Hurt her. Now he knows that Peter isn't the only one in danger of being broken; Paimon has his own scarred, carved-out places, too. Places where something could dig in and ruin him.
Of course Luna would worry about it, especially after their recent Corruption. If he becomes like that again..... dangerous to her, to others. But... the fact she says "something you're not" — as though she fully knows he's not meant to be that way. Something to that concept strikes Paimon in a way he's currently able to truly see and process. She doesn't think he's something dangerous up underneath, doesn't think that's his natural state. And it feels like some expression of trust, of care, some deeper level of it. )
I.... do not want that, either. ( He says, very quietly. ) And I never wish to hurt you, again. I know Maul is capable of making that happen again if he ever chose to....that he has such abilities. But I would not allow it. I would protect myself so that I do not become used. And so that I never again harm you.
( He looks down at his fingers for a moment, slowly fiddling with them in his lap. He's.... feeling a little shy....? His ears are a bit tingly and warm at the tips, like how Peter gets sometimes. But he continues, capable of being more eloquent than he usually ever is and fueled by that warmth inside for her, wanting to tell Luna more of how he feels. )
You are my witch. My best. You are very kind to me, and.....I wish to be with you always.
( His ears are feeling really... strange, now. Paimon blinks again, and slowly lifts his hands to lightly cup them for a moment, looking up at her. He's a bit startled by the reaction, something that's quite... human. )
......My body... ( His voice drops, almost to a whisper. ) My ears are buzzing.