April | Event: Skybound Travelers

[jikan_mod]

Skybound Travelers↲ OOC Plotting

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As everyone settles into a routine in Nippon, newer refugees may find that visiting the Western Kingdom is something of an undertaking. Although considerably faster than traveling by airship or on foot, the underground train that connects Tokyo and Kyoto still takes at least five hours. And not everyone enjoys the roller coaster-like experience of the Sunday-only time surge that shortens that ride into ten minutes. But lucky for them, the NRL are finally ready to release a special new travel system!

Developed in part thanks to the refugees for gathering the necessary etherblossoms back in March, refugees will now find teleportation terminals available at the NRL in Tokyo and MRU in Kyoto. These terminals only connect to each other, with plans to expand to other cities in the future.

Or at least, that's what they're supposed to do.


Nippon Traveler

With the announcement of fast travel between kingdoms quickly spreading among the refugees, many of them are clamoring to be the first to take advantage. After all, the train is rather inconvenient for those with friends and family in both kingdoms, and even more so for those who wish to work in one while living in the other.

Thankfully, the NRL took this into consideration, and made sure to add additional platforms and a timed queueing system to make things run smoothly, essentially creating a small station on the top floor of the NRL's main building. And with exclusive elevator access on the outside just for traveling refugees, it's certainly built for convenience.

Ready, Aim... Kyoto, Western Kingdom
Despite the fact that the NRL has been using these teleporters just fine for transferring between Tokyo and Kyoto for the past few weeks, the sudden inundation of users is causing the system to overload ever so slightly. As a result, the teleporter hasn't been sending people where it should, occasionally redirecting them to random areas throughout Kyoto.

On the one hand, magic is so commonplace in the West that no one really thinks anything about the Refugees popping in and out of existence, with most natives just assuming they're teleporting using the local magic. But on the other hand, this assumption means the natives will think it's intentional, resulting in a large number of refugees finding themselves in both literal and metaphorical hot water after teleporting straight into a public bath, fully-clothed. Hopefully it's a mixed bath, or they might find themselves being carried away by the patrolling samurai guards for questioning.

In addition to becoming a public nuisance for the natives, some may find themselves teleporting into the homes of fellow refugees instead. They may wind up as an uninvited dinner guest, or perhaps they'll appear during a private or intimate moment between lovers. Some may even end up appearing in a closet, giving them ample opportunity to hide until they can make their escape!

Thankfully, this bug is discovered quickly enough that it only creates a few days of chaos -- so don't let that put you off the technology forever!

Here Comes a Thought Higashiyama, Kyoto
But of all the locations the teleporters are sending people to, perhaps the most common one is Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto's Higashiyama neighborhood. As one of the most famous temples in Kyoto, its already a popular tourist destination, with beautiful gardens, a veranda overlooking all of Kyoto, and is home to a magic school that specializes in the Mizu Element.

Those who are lucky may simply find themselves suddenly standing in front of a very tall pagoda, or overlooking the view of Kyoto. But most refugees will instead find themselves standing before the Tainai Meguri, a dark underground passageway beneath one of the many shrines in Kiyomizu-dera. Naturally, it'll be assumed they want to go in, and they may find themselves ushered down by a shrine maiden or two who don't want them holding up the line.

Blanketed in an inky darkness, the Tainai Meguri is composed of a single hallway and a rope along the wall to help guide visitors down to the lowest part of the passageway, where a mysterious stone can be found. Glowing with a mysterious power, the stone is the only source of light in the tunnel. And those who touch the stone with a clear mind will see the carving in the center change, showing which magic element they have an aptitude for: Tsuchi, Mizu, Hi, or Kaze.

However, those who touch the stone without a clear mind will witness something different. Because the stone in question is a Memory Stone, an ancient magical artifact capable to creating illusions of a person's memories. Once the stone is touched, the light of the stone will jump out into the darkness, projecting illusions of their past on the walls around them. Whether these illusions appear as text, an exact replica of one's memories, or something more abstract, varies by the person.

Those whose memories are being projected may find themselves completely overwhelmed by the emotions they felt at the time of that memory. For this reason, no one is allowed into the Tainai Meguri alone, so those affected better hope that their partner in the darkness is prepared to drag them out of it.

Into the Unknown

As the technology powering these terminals is still quite new to the scientists at the NRL, actually releasing these to the public is still a way off. Although there's zero risk of harm coming as a result of using the terminal, they have noticed that occasionally the terminal registers another point of travel, as if another terminal exists. A reverse transfer always brings them back just fine, but little is known about where these objects are ending up.

To that end, the NRL is asking brave enough refugees interested in exploring to take the teleporter to these unknown locations and report what they find. But don't worry, they're not asking they do this for free! All participants will receive a moderate sum of money, as well as a week-long stay at the Ōwakudani Hot Spring Resort in Hakone, to be redeemed whenever they like.

Cold Cuddles Sapporo, Hokkaido
For the first mysterious location, volunteers will be bundled up in warm clothes, as objects that come back always arrive very cold. And indeed -- upon teleporting, they'll find themselves in the midst of a snowstorm, an ancient version of the same terminal below their feet, and strange ruins all around them. And stranger still, the walls of the ruins appear to be covered in dark blue ice that won't melt no matter how much heat is applied.

It seems this teleporter is somehow connected to Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Nippon. Due to an ancient curse, the land is perpetually snowy and plagued by unmelting ice called everfrost. And while those who visited the region prior may recognize their surroundings enough to know they're actually very close to the city of Sapporo, others may not be so lucky, nor willing to take the risk of missing their return window.

Worse still, they're just far enough away from the city that their magi-comms won't work! With no way of activating the terminal from their side, and two hours before the NRL reactivates it on their end to bring them back, it looks like they'll need to huddle together for warmth to ensure they don't freeze.

Thankfully, the terminal is located in a covered area, and the remains of an old campsite nearby even has some blankets and supplies. And upon their return, they'll be given hot drinks and no shortage of apologies for not considering the risk of giving them such a long window to explore.

Party in the Dark Jigoku, Shitaya
The second mysterious location is by far the most intriguing, as it's clearly somewhere that people have access to, and yet no one has tried coming back through the terminals. Instead, empty cans and half-finished drinks sometimes end up on the terminal, with no explanation as to who was drinking them prior. And as this phenomenon only occurs late at night, that's when the volunteers will be sent.

Upon arriving, at first they'll find themselves blanketed in a perpetual darkness, surrounded by some sort of stone tunnel, with the sound of music echoing from further in. They'll still be able to contact the NRL, leading the scientists to suggest that they may be in Jigoku, the catacombs of an abandoned subway system below Tokyo.

Should they be brave enough to follow the source of the music, they'll stumble upon what appears to be a secret speakeasy in the dark, run by the Hanyo who live in the neighborhood of Shitaya. As many Hanyo still possess the Yokai ability to see more clearly in the dark than Humans, the lack of lighting is more a feature than a gimmick.

Still, for having made it all the way down here, they'll be offered free drinks and a playful atmosphere -- so long as they promise to keep their illegal supply of Uki-based drinks and snacks a secret from the authorities. A popular recreational drug in the West made from the naturally sweet Uki Weed, Uki is highly regulated in the East, and causes lowered inhibitions, feelings of calm or euphoria, and even functions as a mild aphrodisiac.

Which might just be why many patrons are taking advantage of the dark and inviting atmosphere for romantic trysts in the dark, with futons set up in nearby tunnels for all your sensory deprivation needs. The Refugees can contact the NRL to return at any time, so why not let loose and join the fun?

Castle in the Sky

After a week of using the teleporters, Refugees will discover a new warp point is now listed alongside Kyoto and Tokyo: Tengoku, the nation of Tengu, comprised of dozens of airborne cities that float high above Nippon. According to the NRL, the technology used for these teleporters was developed thanks to the Tengu of Skytower, as a much belated thank you for the refugee's help back in March 1921.

And while Skytower itself remains off-limits, the Tengu Capital of Miyazaki has decided to open its doors to outsiders for the first time in centuries.

Fly High Miyazaki, Tengoku
The Tengu cities are unlike anywhere else on Nippon, comprised of a single, massive amount of land that towers upward, and numerous smaller islands that float up and around the main part of the city. Mysterious magic-powered technology can be found all around the city, though the appearance is quite different from the more modern magi-tech.

But perhaps the most notable thing is that these cities are not designed to be very accessible to those who can't fly. Very few actual pathways lead upward into the city proper, and the entrance to most buildings are located on the top floor, with only a small balcony in front to land on. But thankfully, there's a means around it!

Upon arrival to the capital of Miyazaki, all Refugees will be offered a small backpack with a tiny pair of wings attached to it. Upon putting it on and jumping, the wings will grow larger, acting like a part of their body and allowing them to fly! These backpacks will only function in Tengoku, but they're welcome to keep them should they decide to visit again.

Of course, just because they have the power to do so doesn't mean they'll actually be good at it. Refugees may struggle to become airborne at all, or may find it difficult to control themselves in mid-air, flying into walls, other refugees, or accidentally hurling themselves over the edge of the city. Thankfully, there's patrolling Tengu who are always prepared to catch those who fall, but considering it always comes with a lecture, it's really not the best experience.

But those who persevere will be able to fly up to the very top of the city, where they'll find a beautiful garden overlooking the clouds. The flora here is far more alien than anything commonly found in Nippon, with plentiful etherblossoms, crystal-like mahougi trees, and-- is that a nuruname bloom? Maybe stay away from that one...

Liquid Happiness Miyazaki, Tengoku
Being so high up in the sky, completely isolated, meant that the Tengu cities were designed to be completely self-sustaining. Although they do conduct trade with the mainland below, almost everything they need is either grown or produced by the land itself. Which might just beg the question: where is the water coming from? Because nearly every level of the city is accented by canals and waterfalls.

But those who visit on a rainy day will get their answer. As high as they are, the Tengu cities are close enough that they can draw from the magic properties of the ring that circles the planet of Gaia, which is only visible at night. Thus, the rain that falls in Miyazaki has magical properties: in audition to a rainbow color, it can be infinitely multiplied, instantly heal wounds and certain illnesses, and seems to cause feelings of euphoria similar to Kizuna when one stands in it. For this reason, the rain that falls in Miyazaki is referred to as liquid happiness.

But for Refugees, these effects are even more extreme. Those who visit Miyazaki during a particularly rainy week at the tail end of April will begin to manifest severe Kizuna side-effects, especially the supernatural variety. While ordinarily these effects are only possible when feelings of love are present, the power of the rain will allow Refugees to share their thoughts and feelings with the people around them, whether they want to or not.

So strong are the effects of the rain that these effects will linger well after they leave, and may even become contagious to those they meet later on the surface. In the end, the NRL issues a warning for Refugees to avoid lingering in Miyazaki in rainy days until a more conclusive study on this "liquid happiness" can be conducted.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's April event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• Characters will not be allowed into the Tainai Meguri alone, and must descend in pairs.

• Sapporo is roughly a twenty minute walk away, and characters who are familiar with their surroundings will be able to go to the city proper. Magi-comms will also begin to work again. More information on Sapporo can be found on the Setting page!

• You are welcome to assume there is Uki-based incense in the underground party if your character would need an extra nudge to participate.

• Given their isolated status, the Tengu cities only contain Tengu Yokai, who range from entirely human-like with wings, anthropomorphic birds, and the traditional long-nosed variety! Although Refugees may be treated as a novelty by the people there, only elderly Tengu will treat them rudely for being outsiders.

• Characters will find that inns and hotels are both plentiful and cheap in Tengu cities, as the cities are very far apart from one another, and it's very common for Tengu to travel far from home. Miyazaki, for instance, floats above Kyushu near the Westernmost point of Nippon!

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Comments

[historicallyloaded]

[ Teeth tight, he exhales sharply as Aether's thighs tighten around his cock. It feels stupendous and he relishes in the slow, almost lazy pace. He lets his hands wander occasionally, one at a time, from Aether's cock and slide up over his hips, up his ribs, over the tops of his thighs. He doesn't want to dare break any skin contact and keeps himself as flush to him as much as possible, though wet suds and the occasional funny slap or squelch between them. Moments like that are the only times his rhythm seems to be thrown off as he nervously huffs a sound of laughter, sliding his dick up too much to tap Aether's balls awkwardly or flexing his fingers over his chest with a grope more momentarily embarrassed than needy.

With time, however, his thrusts do become more haphazard, more desperate. It feels good but leaves the more sensitive underside of his cock wanting. He debates for a salaciously self-indulgent moment of asking to stick it in but anxiously he refrains without permission. Further, the breathy sighs and moans coming from his mouth are growing louder by the moment. The sound echoes more in the shower, even over the steady patter of water and make his ears burn. Not so arbitrarily, Bricks decides it's probably easier to (attempt to) remedy that first. ]

I want to— ah, [ He lurches forward and rests his chin over Aether's shoulder, his free hand sliding up his neck and the underside of his chin. ]

Aether, may I kiss you?

[smilingarmor]

Sylv had his own method of lighting fires, but under the circumstances, a bit more control was probably better. And as the fire magic caught on the kindling and the fire began blazing merrily away, he began to feel quite a bit better about their situation, rough as it still was. Firelight always did lend a cheery glow to things.

Not to mention, the all-important warmth it provided. "You d-don't need to tell me twice, honey," he said, shifting in to try and warm his hands a bit. Then, recalling a trick Erik had mentioned to them, he added, "Say, darling... we might get a little warmer if we snuggled up a bit. Just to share our body heat, you know?"

[judgementor]

[It's always been so difficult with them. They have always fought, and even as their feelings changed they continued to fight and argue and all it did was hide what they really thought about each other.

Steak says that, and Red Wine feels a band snap from around his chest. It's like he can breathe suddenly and he lets out a sharp, shaky little laugh as he pulls the other Food Soul to him and hugs him close, digging one hand into the back of his head.]

We're both so stupid. [He says, and it doesn't carry the same tone of insult as when he usually says it. If anything he sounds... relieved.]

It's always been you.

[hypercriticals]

[ Thankfully. While Prim could make herself to fit on a pillow, she'd rather not at the moment or in the next however many comprise the night. ]

It must be a comfortable pillow to be preferred over a bed.

[ The second it's out of her mouth, she realizes that might sound rude alongside something else from experience. ]

Or is it a matter of size?

[ Just who is she asking? ]

[oneandoni]

[it's completely absurd, and a little embarrassing, but - look, that blowjob had been Itto's first and really, the first time he'd ever done something like that with someone, so of course it would, uh, have a similar effect.

The light from the memory abruptly drowns them in darkness and Itto groans again, but not out of pleasure this time. Who would have thought trying to have sex down here wouldn't go smoothly, surely not them. His head thunks down on Aether's shoulder]

Dammit. [it's muttered breathlessly] Sorry, let me just -

[so sex is out of the question, but maybe he can make up for it. And he doesn't really need light to find Aether's dick with still shaking fingers and jerk him off]

1/2

[brilliantdiamond]

[Somehow, he's not expecting to feel a hand around his cock, drawing out another gasp. The mood was weird at this point, but he was definitely still aroused. So maybe they can at least salvage things a little bit. He leans his own face into the crook of Itto's neck, closing his eyes amidst the darkness as he murmurs his name into his ear.]

Nng... Itto--

[brilliantdiamond]

[Knock, knock]

[Someone is knocking on the wooden walls of the tunnel back up at the entrance, the sound echoing down towards them as the person calls out into the darkness. "Wrap it up, boys! The next guests are coming down!"]

[They have exactly one minute to get dressed and flee.]

I-Itto. Put me down.

[HE NEEDS TO FIND HIS PANTS]

[chichichi]

[ "Floating tea cup," hm? ]

I'm going to guess most people where you're from can't see those handy appendages of yours and assume telekinesis?

[ She moves to pick up the tea cup politely, pausing to allow the heat to seep into her hands. ]

[oneandoni]

[oh yeah sure he can put Aether down.

He only almost just drops him, but he manages not to!! Even if the noise he makes is equivalent is a keysmash]

They got some really bad timing -

[brilliantdiamond]

[Aether makes about the same sound!! Please don't drop him??]

It feels like all the timing right now is bad-- hey, where did my pants go?

[They're not on the floor immediately near him. Or behind Itto. Is he going to have to crawl on his hands and knees to find them?? He doesn't want to make any light when there could potentially be someone at the entrance waiting...!]

[tightbod_bigrod]

Fortunately, Reno had nothing to be ashamed of but he wasn't as large as Rude. It was a lot easier to take him in - though he was still going to take care. He didn't want to make Rude gag.

With both hands on the pipes to hold himself up in that position, he adjusted himself as Rude's mouth slid over him, a satisfied moan escaping him as he searched for the best angle to slide himself into Rude. Really, it was more of a fantasy than anything and he was going out of his way to finish in an unnecessarily complicated position, but he didn't care. He could hold himself up and he was happy to leave Rude tied so that he had to do everything with his mouth. It just sounded hot as fuck in his mind.

And Rude's mouth felt hot as fuck. Maybe it was because of how heated their bodies were and how close he'd already come to finishing, but it was like sliding his cock into a hot bath.

The fortunate part was that after almost cumming in the last minute his cock was already a throbbing mess ready to burst. They only needed to endure all of the awkward positioning and impediments for a short time. He shakily glided in and out of Rude's mouth in short, slow strokes, legs trembling under him as Rude's tongue continuously sent a thrill through him.

It wasn't long before the floodgates burst. His wanting cock gave way and he clung onto the pipes as he leaned into Rude to spill it all out. His body was so tense that it was a wonder that he was even still holding himself up. But just for a bit longer... Just until he could feel Rude drink in all in before he let himself slump against the other man, a hot, sweaty and slightly overextended mess.

[brilliantdiamond]

Huh... the concept sounds similar enough, but the purpose behind it is pretty different.

[Is it illegal for me to slip in game lore through my characters? I'm gonna anyway--]

But if chroma is just a form of energy, then maybe they're related? I know the scientists at the NRL have been trying to harness the kizuna we produce as energy, but apparently it's so potent, it's difficult to store for very long. The closest they've gotten is channeling it into objects while they're in use, but they can't hold a charge or anything, so there's no practical use for it.

I heard one guy even offers these objects as weird swords and guns to refugees he thinks could benefit from them, since using them often enough might reduce kizuna side effects.

[oneandoni]

They're right - uh.

[okay so maybe they aren't right here. Itto squints into the room behind them and crouches down, reaching out to see if he can't help find them. Does he even have something on him to light up the room?

He could try to find the - no. No, that's a bad idea] They can't be far, right?

[silverselfie]

Maan I couldn't do that. Getting up on stage and... [He gave a theatrical little shudder.] All those people looking at me? Nope! Not for me!

But hey, if you're gonna be doing a thing, lemme know and I'll come cheer you on. Call it pay back for the great food! [And probably because whatever it was would probably be great to watch, if the guy was a pro like he said.]

[maxwellsdaemon]

Aerith had caught the look aimed her way and replied with only a smile. Protecting her was all well and good when it was needed. It hadn't been needed nor asked for this time. Sephiroth was lucky she didn't kick him in the shin for assuming!

Instead of a kick, Aerith had reached out a hand and slipped one of hers into his. She stepped up to his side, shoulder-to... well, close enough. She was very much shorter than Sephiroth but the effect was still the same. She remained quiet and watched the other two, watched Wufei attempt to calm his 'friend', hid a wince when the silly boy pulled away from Duo a little too soon.

"Sephiroth can pull his punches, once he knows just how strong his opponent is." Not weak, Aerith knew those two words could be interchangeable, but she also didn't believe that Wufei was weak. He was strong in his own way. On his world he would probably be considered very strong. But when faced with people like Sephiroth, with magic... she was pretty sure she could fight Wufei and win also. Not because he was weak, but because he had no defence against their abilities.


Duo really was angry. And when Wufei pulled away... he was hurt as well. But he said nothing. What could he say? Anything more would make him look like a hateful bastard and ruin all their good fun. So he just folded his arms across his chest and half turned to look away and let the three of them do their thing, while trying hard to calm himself and reassure the panicked child in his mind that Wufei was alive and unhurt. Now, at least.

[battlebound]

( It's a weight off his shoulders, a sudden shift of everything within him. That usual irritation subsided, replaced by relief and a giddy smile he buries in Red Wine's shoulder as the other man pulls him into a hug.

How strange, to realise the blinders you put on yourself for so long. To feel the very moment they disappear and are replaced with the truth. )

You could have said something sooner. ( There's also no real bite to those words. Just a simple, stupid prod for the sake of saying something.

It would have been nice to figure this out sooner, but Steak also knows well that he would never have been ready to admit such a thing on Tierra. There, where those old habits are truly embedded, where nothing has challenged them.

He wonders if they would have ever figured it out on Tierra. Though, once again, it's just a question that doesn't matter. )

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Duo gave a short little laugh of his own, surprised by the touch of humour.]

Yeah, I remembered. Didn't wanna, but I remembered. Not my finest moments...

Surprised you didn't chase me away though, guess that's why I wanna thank you. You helped me.

[ancientflower]

[Aerith knew when not to push and argue, so she smiled and when the arm was offered, slipped her arm through his.]

In that case, lets mosey!

[Laughing, she started them walking, wanting to put as much distance between herself and those bad memories as she could.]

[ancientflower]

Well colour her surprised! Wufei had moved up beside her to take the initiative. The arm around her was surprisingly strong, though the gloved hand that rubbed her arm was far gentler. She thought about commenting on it, teasing him, but recognised that if she did that the poor boy might get embarrassed and pull away. And she didn't want that at all. She wanted him to feel comfortable around her.

"Lets hope so. I could really do with a nice, hot bath and a cup of tea. This kind of snow is not fun in the slightest!"

[brilliantdiamond]

Er, it's probably just the size? When we traveled together, she'd usually just sleep next to me. And if she wasn't on the pillow, she'd just get covered by the blankets at some point.

[Accidental smothering.]

[ancientflower]

[Someone had to step up and take charge! Otherwise the Shinra Pres was just going to sit there and eat cold food and drink cold coffee and that just made no sense to her! Until Rufus admitted his limitations. And then Aerith couldn't help laughing.]

What is it with you Shinra men being incompetent in the kitchen?

Alright, then pay attention! You can surprise your Turks with making them a coffee for a change after I teach you how.

[And that's just what she did. The kitchens of this world were pretty basic, but heating water on the stove was something anyone could do. Aerith was kind and patient, going through the steps to show Rufus how to make a simple breakfast.]

[ambitiousblond]

I think they would die of shock if I managed to boil water without damaging something.

[It wasn't that Rufus didn't want to learn, he just never really had the chance to. He watches as she demonstrates, paying close attention.

He knows that he has a lot to learn when it comes to learning practical skills, the basic things that others do at a far younger age but he's not deterred as helps her finish the eggs.

Nothing had exploded or burnt so he's going to consider that progress.]

[brilliantdiamond]

They shouldn't be? I kicked them off, but they couldn't have gone too fa-- ahh!

[So maybe crouching down in the dark with a pair of horns on one's head isn't the best idea. Especially when the other person just stood up -- and thus, Itto's horns made contact with the soft skin of Aether's thigh.]

[Not enough to harm, but it does cause Aether to jump in surprise, turning right into the corner of the railing that goes down the hall.]



[One does not need to see what's happening to understand the sound that follows, as Aether crumples to the ground in a fetal position. RIP his dick.]

[bythewaves]

I like children. [ He teases fondly ]

And to one as old and decrepit as me, even a young man like you is still a child, eh? I was hardly about to turn you away! Besides, I had younger brothers, too - you were hardly more a menace than them!

/tucks this thread in!

[brilliantdiamond]

[Even without the stark contrast of how violent and brutal the vines had been, there was something particularly sensual about the way Brickston's hands moved across his body. Of course his cock was aching for the most attention, but the gentle touch of his hands against his chest, his hips, his stomach... it was soothing in a way he didn't realize how much he needed right now. He finds himself grateful that they didn't simply opt for separate showers.]

[Feeling his cock between his thighs was still a novel and strange experience, but not an unpleasant one. Still, with every jerk of Brickston's hips, he felt himself filled with a certain anticipation, half expecting him to change angles to fuck him instead -- or even perhaps slide in unintentionally by pulling back too far.]

[Perhaps that's why his request for a kiss catches him off-guard, having been expecting a different sort of request. But as he turns to look over his shoulder properly, there's a flushed smile on his face. Perhaps something like this was better after all?]

You don't need to ask.

[Perhaps he feels he does, but-- before he can offer a retort, Aether turns at his hips and brings a hand up to reach out for Brickston's cheek, turning him just enough to press their lips together for a kiss.]

[It's a moment of soft tenderness, which continues until they've both satisfied whatever urges still lingered after the plants. And then, after a little afterglow-basking in a warm bath, Aether spends the rest of the evening more or less glued to Brickston's side.]

[Certainly one hell of a way to get to know a guy.]