June | Event: Trial of the Soul

[jikan_mod]

Trial of the Soul↲ OOC Plotting

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By now, most Refugees have likely experienced various side effects of Kizuna while living in Nippon. Most of these effects have been mild, but occasionally, they've produced dangerous results due to Kizuna's unstable nature as pure Sora magic. But more than just a minor annoyance, studying how to harness Kizuna is vital to the NRL's goal of fixing the refugees' home worlds. And yet the professors of MRU have been limited in what they can do to assist the scientists in Tokyo with that goal.

But all that is about to change, as MRU announces a special collaboration with the Oni Clans of Kyushu regarding ancient Kizuna practices. Although Oni are not particularly known for their magical prowess, it's believed that the concept of Kizuna bonds originated in Oni culture. As such, they are by and far considered the best source to figure out the true nature of Kizuna.

Up until now, the Oni of Kyushu haven't been receptive to MRU's requests to help the refugees, due to infighting between the two leading Oni Clans. But it seems something has changed their minds...

A Tales of Two Clans

Naturally, the MRU isn't expecting the Refugees to volunteer to head to Kyushu for free. All Refugees willing to participate in the research will be rewarded financially for their time, in addition to being provided food and lodging during their stay. Just think of it as a nice little summer vacation!

But getting to Kyushu is no simple task. Although one could certainly take the train, it'd be a two-day trip, as Kyushu is located on the westernmost island of Nippon. Thankfully, many refugees have technically already been there: Kyushu is the region above which the Tengu city of Miyazaki sits. And with a little help from the Tengu, a new teleportation terminal is added to the region below, allowing for instant travel between Kyushu and Tokyo/Kyoto.

But when they arrive, they may find that their experiences will vary greatly depending on which city their lodgings are located, as Oni culture varies greatly depending on which Clan controls that territory.

Passive Aggressions Kumamoto, Kyushu
Those with lodgings in Western Kyushu will find themselves in the city of Kumamoto, located in Ao Oni territory. The Oni here all have vibrant blue skin, and the refugees will find that the locals are both friendly and curious about them. Aside from a handful of Inu Yokai, very few other varieties of Yokai can be found living in Oni territory, and no humans whatsoever.

Refugees will be housed in a resort located near the ocean shore, where they'll be treated to gourmet five course meals, a natural outdoor hot spring, and even complimentary massages. It's the height of luxury, though it does come at a bit of a cost. Although the Ao Oni are polite, there's always a distinct sense that they're being looked down on -- a certain passive aggression, as they show wonder in the fact the refugees can do anything for themselves. Whether it be constant compliments over their ability to use chopsticks and speak the language, or outright disbelief that they can perform magic or fight, it's hard to say whether it's founded in malice or ignorance. Especially seeing as many will remark that they've never met humans before.

As one of the more popular cities in Kyushu, Refugees may wish to explore some of the shopping districts, where artisan crafts and unique fashion can be purchased. Unlike typical fashion in Nippon, Oni fashion leans towards the risque, as their vibrant colored skin is a mark of pride. Kimono are often cropped at the sleeves and left open, with minimal fabric underneath to maintain modesty. Still, men are rarely going around outright topless, and will always wear something to cover those pesky male presenting nipples, be it a tube top, thin strips of fabric, or even leather straps.

If the Refugees hope to be treated with a bit more respect, switching to the local fashion is perhaps the only way to go. And hey, it's pretty hot in Kyushu, so surely it's a win-win situation!

Tsunderoni Oita, Kyushu
Refugees staying in the Eastern half of Kyushu will instead be taken to the city of Oita, located in Aka Oni territory, where the Oni possess bright red skin. Unlike the Ao Oni, the Aka Oni are far less friendly. Even those in charge of the refugees' housing will seem somewhat disinterested, simply showing them to their rooms in a small inn without fanfare. There's no luxury to be found here, though at least the food is decent.

The streets of Oita are a very different sight than what the Refugees may be used to in Nippon. Kyushu is an island rife with volcanic activity, and all throughout Oita, thick plumes of steam can be found rising out of buildings and from the sewers below the street. As such, the entire city is extremely humid, which some may even find to be downright unbearable. And while the inside of every building is equipped with powerful cooling spells, it may discourage some from exploring.

But perhaps that's for the best. Those who walk the streets of Oita will find themselves being treated as an oddity, with many businesses hesitant in serving them. Some locals may even be outright hostile, picking fights and jeering at them in streets. Those bearing obvious Kizuna effects will receive the brunt of this treatment.

And yet those same refugees will find that these encounters may in fact spawn additional Kizuna effects, on both themselves and the Oni harassing them, as if a bond were made between them. Nevermind the fact that Kizuna bonds between refugees and natives are usually very rare, the fact that there's a bond at all certainly implies that their hostility isn't hostility at all. Are the Aka Oni just really bad at dealing with new people??

Revolutionary Bond Kizuna

After a few days of familiarizing themselves with the Oni and the region of Kyushu, all refugee volunteers are taken to a small region of Oita known as Beppu, where elders from the two Oni clans are waiting for them in front of a large shrine. Behind them, many natural springs filled with boiling water create a smokey atmosphere, with the water occasionally boiling over and shooting into the sky like a geyser. They certainly know how to pick location to set a mood.

"Humans and halfings have long made a habit of taking that which they do not fully understand. These Kizuna bonds were once an important part of maintaining a unified Oni nation, but fell to the wayside as Clan divisions grew deeper.

Today, only fragments of those bonds remain, carried across generations through our blood. It is a powerful magic that binds souls together, weaving their connection into the fabric of reality itself!

...understandably, it grew less popular as divorce became more commonplace."

That's right: Kizuna bonds are an ancient Oni marriage ritual.

They continue to explain that the form of Kizuna used by the refugees has been mutated due to the sheer size of the bond that keeps them in Nippon. This is what causes the severe side effects, and is likely the reason that some refugees are able to manipulate reality to a small extent through wishes or other means.

To address these issues, the Oni's plan is two-fold. First, they'll teach the Refugees a secret arte that will allow them to wield the Kizuna they produce. And then, they ask that all refugees participate in three trials once performed by all Oni prior to their marriage. This is so they can better appreciate the gift they possess, and hopefully better understand the culture behind that power.

Soul Artifacts Beppu, Oita
Kizuna magic is a type of pure Sora magic, which is magic that deals with the soul. Thus, Kizuna bonds are bonds between two souls. But that bond can also be used to summon a construct known as a Soul Artifact. This is the magic the Oni will teach the Refugees how to perform, as the act of summoning an Artifact will help use some of the excess Kizuna that would otherwise produce side effects.

Soul Artifacts are physical representations of the soul. They can take any shape or form, and some even have special abilities. While it is possible for someone to summon their own soul artifact, it is far easier to have someone else who they are bonded with summon it instead.

The spell itself is deceptively simple. Simply calling someone's name and picturing an item being drawn from their chest is enough to summon the Soul Artifact. But the simplicity of it doesn't mean it'll be easy, and for most Refugees, they'll spend the first hour or so calling each other's names while awkwardly grabbing at each other's chests.

But eventually, should their bond be significantly strong enough, the image of what that artifact is will suddenly appear in their mind, allowing them to draw it out. While the Artifact can be anything from a weapon to an ordinary household item, the color scheme and general appearance will reflect the person it was drawn from. Likewise, all Artifacts are allowed one magical ability that may vary based on the bond between the pair.

Feel free to get creative with this! A knight may draw a sword from his princess's chest capable of shooting energy beams. A librarian may draw a book from her lover's chest that can predict the future one week ahead. A dominatrix may draw a dildo from her sub's chest capable of growing three times its size. As the most powerful magic in the world, Kizuna can do seemingly anything!

Really, it's no wonder the Oni want the Refugees to learn how to control it.

The Trials of Beppu Kyushu, Nippon
Those willing to accept the Oni's terms must participate in the Trials of Beppu, an ancient rite of passage once required of all Oni before the Clan leaders could approve of their marriage. Although the tradition is no longer widely practiced, the Clan leaders insist that the Refugees take part in order to show respect for the Kizuna they wield.

As Refugees are capable of bonding with anyone, they will be allowed and encouraged to retake any trial as many times as needed with as many people as they have bonded with.


The first trial, the Trial of Promise, is the most simple. A bonded pair must enter a special cave located behind a massive waterfall in Takachiho Gorge, said to have been the very same cave where the goddess Amaterasu once hid herself away, causing all light in the world to disappear. Upon entering, the cave entrance will abruptly seal itself, shrouding the pair in darkness.

Should the pair's bond be sufficiently strong, the cave will light up, revealing a hidden message carved into the stone: "You cannot leave until you"... do what, exactly? The prompt will vary based on the pair in question. Some may need to kiss, others may need to fuck, and others still may need to tell a secret, defeat one another, or even attempt to kill one another. Upon successfully completing the trial, the entrance will open, allowing them to leave at their leisure.


The second trial, the Trial of Devotion, will have a bonded pair enter a forest at the foot of Mt. Aso at night, armed only with their partner's Soul Artifact. A gently sloped mountainside home to an active volcano, the pair must ascend to the highest peak just outside the forest before sunrise. Toxic fumes pouring from the volcano's caldera aside, the forest itself is filled with terrifyingly huge monsters, including dodongo, lavahounds who combust when threatened, and giant beetles called daikabuto who can grow as big as houses.

Thankfully, there's a trick to all of this: as long as they maintain physical contact with one another, a special spell will protect them from all harm, though they can still be pushed around by anything attempting to separate them. The spell will only last until morning, but will refresh with a kiss before the morning sun -- so they best make haste to the top if they want a chance of getting back safely. Those who return with their spell intact will pass the trial.


The third and final trial is the Trial of Love, though it seems rather poorly named. In this trial, a pair will wield each other's Soul Artifacts, and must engage in combat against one another. The goal is to destroy your own Artifact without destroying the one you are wielding. Thankfully, as Soul Artifacts are only representations of the soul, destroying them will have no ill effect. But it can be very painful, not unlike a bond breaking, as one of the Aka Oni will demonstrate: shattering the sword drawn from his own soul, before falling to his knees and wheezing in pain.

Essentially, it's a battle for who can destroy their own Soul Artifact first, in order to spare their partner the pain of their Artifact breaking. But how is this supposed to work? Not all Soul Artifacts are weapons, after all!

As it turns out, the trial is a trick. Following the rules as given will still allow both competitors to pass, regardless of who wins. Likewise, should both participants come together and choose to either simultaneously break their Artifacts, or surrender the trial all together, it will still count as a pass. Because the true Trial of Love is simply the act of participating in the trial together to test their bond.

Aftermath Beppu, Oita
Once the trials are complete, those who passed at least two trials will be invited to a special ceremony, designed to mimic that of those long past. Naturally, since no one is getting married here (unless they want to??), the ceremony is mostly just an excuse for a massive feast. Taking place in a large open park just outside the city, hundreds of Oni have arrived from all over Kyushu to witness this rare event, where the current leader of the Aka Oni clan offers a few brief words.

"Time's finally changing, and after so much time unchanging, we Oni should learn to better embrace these changes. Otherwise, we're no better off than we were in the time loop. The bravery put on by these alien halfings is nothing to sneeze at. And I'd say they're as worthy of the Aka Oni name as any of you ol' farts sittin' out there drinking your asses off!"

Refugees who passed the trials will be considered unofficial members of the Ao and Aka Oni clans, and will find that from then on, the Oni of Kyushu with treat them with familiarity, as if somehow able to sense the bond they now share with their homeland. In addition to no shortage of food and booze, there's music and dancing that will last until well past sunrise.

Hot and Steamy

With the trials behind them and a new form of magic under their belts, the Refugees will be allowed to simply enjoy the rest of their vacation in Kyushu however they may please.

But there's just one question remaining: why did the Oni suddenly decide to help with the Kizuna research, despite Kizuna being such a cherished aspect of their culture?

As it turns out, the Refugees are having a larger impact on this world than they may realize.

Hellish Bathwater Beppu, Oita
As it turns out, the Trials of Beppu draw their names from a certain natural phenomenon known instead as the Hells of Beppu. It refers to an area in Eastern Kyushu where a number of naturally occurring hot springs carry unusual effects. However, unlike the enchanted pools of Hakone's Owakudani, not all of these springs are safe to enter.

Of them, one of the most popular is the Umi Jigoku, the sea of hell. A vast boiling spring with vibrantly blue water, this spring is said to be the deepest pool of water in Kyushu, with massive lily pads floating atop the surface that are believed to stretch for miles below. Brave and foolish Aka Oni can sometimes be found jumping between the lily pads to cross the steaming pool, or even grabbing passerbys to strand them on a lily pad in the middle. Standing in any one spot for too long will cause the lily pads to sink into the water, burning flesh within seconds, so those who visit may need to be prepared for an emergency rescue or two.

And those hoping for a spring they can actually soak in will find it at Chinoike Jigoku, the blood pond of hell. Appropriately named, the water in this spring is bright red in color and has a strange almost gooey consistency. Relaxing in this spring is said to have powerful healing effects, and according to legend, it can even revive the dead. Perhaps it's the latter reputation that keeps it from being more popular, but Refugees who soak in the strange water will find any aches, pains, or chronic conditions healed -- including those previously thought to be incurable.

The only downside is that the strange water has a tendency to get the blood boiling in a very specific way, leaving those who soak in it for too long in a state of prolonged arousal, earning the pond a second name: Chinchin Jigoku.

Stone Dragon God™ Sakurajima, Kyushu
Those looking for a little more excitement on their vacation look no further than Sakurajima, a region perpetually blanketed in smoke and ash from the nearby volcano of the same name. Thankfully, there hasn't been an eruption for a few weeks, so the region is currently safe to explore.

And they really ought to go take a look. In fact, the Oni will insist that it's a place all refugees ought to visit.

In addition to curious ruins of ancient cities forever half-buried in old mud flows, Sakurajima is currently home to a new species of ayakashi the Oni have taken to calling Ninseki, the stone people. These ayakashi only started appearing recently, and really, calling them ayakashi feels inaccurate. Capable of limited speech and organizing themselves in quaint villages, the only reason they're called ayakashi is because Ninseki used to be Kaoseki.

It's unknown how they came to evolve at such a fast rate, but the MRU has a few leads. And perhaps the most damning comes from the Ninseki themselves, who have taken to worshipping a figure they refer to as the stone dragon god, statues of whom can be found throughout Sakurajima, seemingly crafted using some kind of Tsuchi-based power unique to the Ninseki. A gift from the stone dragon god, perhaps?

Thankfully, the Ninseki themselves are extremely friendly, and will happily invite any refugees to join them in a meal or dance, or even challenge them to a race up the mountain! Perhaps it's because they were once forever stationary, but the Ninseki enjoy any activity that keeps them moving!

And for those who happen to recognize this stone dragon god of theirs, perhaps they'll understand why the Oni thought it vital that the Refugees learn to control the Kizuna they produce, lest they permanently alter this world well after they've left it.

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

• While characters do not need to participate in the trials to visit Kyushu, they will not be provided lodgings, and may find it especially difficult to procure any on their own unless they visibly look like an Oni.

• Only characters who participate in this event will be able to unlock Soul Artifacts. Future characters will eventually be able to unlock it via Bonus AC.

• You have 100% creative control over how your character's Soul Artifact manifests. Likewise, you are welcome to have it change shape depending on who draws it from their soul. For example: Both Tom and Fred are bonded with Gloria. Tom draws a sword from Gloria's soul because he has a strong desire to protect her, but Fred draws a teacup because he greatly enjoys their weekly meet-ups at the local coffee shop. And Gloria draws a gun from her own soul because of her double life as an assassin.

• Teleporting out of the Trial of Promise will only work if both participants agree to forfeit the challenge. Likewise, agreeing to forfeit will cause the door to open after about an hour.

• All dangers in the Trial of Devotion are optional, as some may simply never come across any monsters during their hike, and all pairs are welcome to travel in groups. No climbing is necessary to reach the top, but it is a very long walk.

• There are no hints to imply the true means of passing the Trial of Love beyond the name, as the Oni will only tell them the rules and will answer no questions.

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Comments

[brilliantdiamond]

It seems that way, huh? I'm sorry, too. For making assumptions instead of just-- asking.

[It was good that they were talking about this and getting it all out in the open. Maybe this is exactly what the prompt was intending, forcing them to clear the air! And now, they can still be friends without this hanging over their heads!]


[But it's actually not what the prompt was intending.]

[Because the cave remains sealed. And instead, the carving on the wall fades away, and is replaced with something else, just adjacent of Aether, directly in Ayaka's line of sight:]

["Just do what you did with his sister already."]

[mistsplitter]

[ Clearing the air doesn't necessarily get rid of the sexual tension, does it?

Her mouth hangs when she sees the words on the cave's wall change, but she has to hide her face right away with her fan. ]

It— our task changed! [ THAT'S THE SAME TASK, AYAKA????

She swallows hard, not at all lowering her fan when she addresses Aether: ]

When... I was having trouble last month, I bumped into Lumine and we... ah... [ Okay, you know what? Ayaka doesn't want to keep feeling awkward around Aether anymore. Not about this, when he's helped her so much. They've talked about their thoughts last month, so... lowering her fan and putting it away, she takes Aether's hand.

And rests it on her chest. Not low enough for a boob grab, but he can most definitely lower his hand if he wanted to. ]

... This was what I wanted you to do last month.

1/2

[brilliantdiamond]

Huh? What do you mean it--

[He turns, taking in the word's meaning just as Ayaka starts explaining--]

[...]

[Well, this is the fastest he's ever gone from embarrassment, to relief, to heartache, to confused boner. This trial's giving him whiplash, a flurry of confused emotions welling up in his chest--]


[But all thoughts go out the window when Ayaka takes his hand and rests it on her chest.]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Perhaps his experiences here weren't a boon at all. He was overthinking things-- and she was overthinking things. Perhaps rather than try to predict how their actions might harm one another in the future, they should just do what they both so obviously been wanting to do all this time.]

[And so, there's no asking for permission this time. His hand smooths down her chest and over the thin material covering her breasts, as he rests his other hand on her shoulder -- and then leans in to press his lips against hers.]

[mistsplitter]

[ If only she hadn't been so shy from the very beginning. It was a challenge, one that wasn't handled by the Shirasagi Himegimi very well at first. It helps that she and Aether have talked and understand one another, and Aether kissing her helps so much in alleviating the nervousness she's feeling now by taking a leap.

In the back of her mind, she wonders if this would have been the same feeling last month. But rather than dwell on that thought when she kisses Aether back, she focuses on the present. His lips on hers, a little taste of him, something that she'd been missing out on for a while now. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[The kiss starts surprisingly chaste, her lips soft against his own. But as his hand draws over the curves of her chest, fingertips brushing over a nipple through the thin fabric of her dress, he parts his lips and teases his tongue over hers, encouraging her to part them and deepen the kiss further.]

[There's really no good place to settle down here in the cave, save for a clean spot with an old straw mat in the corner. But Aether's already forgotten their surroundings and the reason they've found themselves together like this in the first place, his mind filled only with Ayaka. Had things been different, has his experiences here been different-- would they have been doing this for the first time together in his bedroom instead? Perhaps it's not a question worth asking.]

[Should she be too shy to touch him in turn, he'll reach out to move one of her hands to his side, where the skin is exposed. Though there really isn't all that much fabric keeping them from just being bare at this point.]

[mistsplitter]

[ Ayaka isn't even thinking of where they are right now, either. Distracted by Aether's kisses, the feel of his lips on hers, she has to quietly tell her heart to stop pounding. But she can't. To be so intimate with the traveller...

Her focus continues to be taken away from her when she feels his skin on her palm. While she doesn't pull away, Aether will feel her momentarily tense up before relaxing again. His skin feels so hot, scorching to the touch, and it wakes up the curiosity within her. Splaying her hand against his side to get a good feel of it, she moves her hand slowly upwards to rest a hand on his chest.

For closure's sake, she tells herself to let go. To let this happen, to bring herself closer to the other and let him get more of a feel of her. She breaks their kiss if only to catch her breath for a second, face already red and her lips swollen. But, god... she'd be lying if she didn't want more. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Aether is just as breathless when she pulls back, the ends of his hair long-since faded to the same blue-white as her own, and his golden eyes taking on an icy gradient of color that matches her own. But the role kizuna is playing in all this has fallen to the wayside in his mind. It doesn't matter that all of this was initiated by the trial -- because in his heart, he knows it was only a matter of time before the tension between them broke.]

[Rather than lean in to capture her lips again, he aims lower -- pressing his lips to her neck as he slides the thin fabric of her dress off one shoulder. There may not be much fabric left between them, but he wants to see all of her nonetheless.]

[mistsplitter]

[ Aether's movements does well in sending a shiver down Ayaka's body. The gasp she lets out is with hot air, red creeping up her arms and her neck when she realises that she's exposing more of herself to Aether.

That's when the shyness kicks in. Similar to how flustered she'd gotten when the two were talking about sex in his teapot for the first time, but this time, she pushes forward. Craning her neck to give the blond more access, to let him kiss her and mark her as he pleases, her hand moves to his shoulder to keep herself steady, gently squeezing him to let him know of her approval, as well. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[He won't mark her up on her neck, well aware that such things could be embarrassing to explain later -- but areas no one would be able to see as easily? Absolutely.]

[As he lavishes her neck in kisses, he moves one hand down to her hip, before smoothing it behind her to give her backside a squeeze. Every new touch is like a gradual escalation, as if testing the waters for just how much he's going to get away with -- even if the implication is surely that she's open to going all the way.]

[mistsplitter]

[ That was their task, wasn't it? That's how Ayaka interpreted it, anyway. If it means opening herself up to the Traveler in a way she never would have imagined... she'll do it, even with a shaky breath.

She still has a hand on his side, not wandering much, given how nervous and new Ayala was to this form of intimacy. Aether was the more experienced of the two, so... ]

Traveler, [ she whispers softly in between pants. ] is there anything you would like me to do?

[ If he guides her, then she'll find her way. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Hearing her voice whispered so close to his ear sends a shiver down his spine, and thoughts of what comes next begin to swirl in his mind. For all his bravado about having slept with women too, his experience in that department was still rather limited. What should come next? What would feel the best for her?]

[Continuing the wing it just sounds like the best plan, given how much overthinking everything just served to roadblock them before. And so, in lieu of giving an answer right away, he pulls his hands back just enough to pull his shirt off over his head. Even in the dim light of the cave, a few scars are visible now, with a notable one on his shoulder. And then, reaching back down -- he takes one of Ayaka's hands and rests it on his chest, just as she had earlier.]

...touch me more. Wherever you want. And...

[Somehow, saying this has him feeling a little shy, perhaps because it's not usually something he would specifically ask someone to do--]

...call me by my name.

[He's always been "the Traveler". It's as much a name to him these days as "Aether", or any other nickname he may have been given both here and back in Teyvat. But at the end of the day, "Traveler" was just a means of keeping a distance. It wasn't important for people to know his name, because it wouldn't be enough to tell them anything about himself anyway. But with Ayaka, the last thing he wants is to put any more distance between them.]

[mistsplitter]

Your name...

[ Aha, admittedly, as flustered as Ayaka may be, that sends her back to reality. A reality where... if asked if she likes the Traveler, she would have said yes. She would have talked about how important he's become to her, how much she wants him to stay with her, how much she wants to hold his hand...

All things that couldn't be said, due to her responsibilities and title. Still, a request like that? The butterflies in her stomach flutter about, her heart racing in her chest as a warm and happy feeling courses through her. ]

I'd like that, Aether. I... [ Hahah. With a hand on his chest, she lets it splay upwards so that she may touch him and explore him. But it slides back down all the same, to rest on his abs. Her touch is warm, and she's beginning to feel hot herself, too. ]

I would like to feel closer to you.

[ If only her hand can go lower... she holds off for now, instead moving to crawl and get up on his lap so she can feel his body more with her own. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Even with how hot it is here in Kyushu, Ayaka's touch feels even hotter against his skin. He won't push her to move lower, though even feeling her hand on his stomach feels exciting in a way. As much as he's gotten used to encounters like this between friends, the fact that it was Ayaka still felt all the more exciting. And suddenly, he can't help but think that his name sounds good coming from her lips.]

[Resting his hands on her hips, he guides her into his lap as she settles down closer. Even if she's not quite touching him there yet, she's sure to feel the way his shorts are starting to tent from everything so far.]

I want that, too. To feel even closer.

[With his hands already on her hips, he slides them down to her thighs, massaging them over her soft skin, his thumbs pressing in as he reaches the top where they meet her waist.]

[mistsplitter]

[ It is just the beginning, but Ayaka is finding herself more and more at the edge of her seat, wanting and hoping for more.

When she's settled on Aether's lap and feels something poking her, a soft gasp leaves her lips, the innocence and purity she normally shows in public slowly disappearing. In this cave, locked with one of the most impactful (ha ha!) people in her life, she feels...

Herself. ]

It feels hot...

[ They're on the floor, and yet, it's due to Aether's scorching touch that she just wants to get out of her clothes. Get rid of that itch, that feeling of being burned by her clothing... It feels hot, and yet, she presses her hips down and rolls as the blond's hands caress her thighs, getting more of a feel of what's truly burning her up. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[He doesn't hold back the dreamy sigh that falls from his lips when Ayaka rolls her hips against his own, the gentle pressure against his cock sending waves of pleasure down his spine. The fabric of her outfit is so thin, it may as well not be there -- and yet it feels in the way all the same. They're both still entirely too dressed for this!]

[Leaning in to steal her lips in a kiss again, he dares to slide one hand even higher, taking advantage of the many creative cuts in her outfit to rub his fingertips against her through her panties. It's a gentle pressure at first, Aether mindful of the fact that she may shrink away from a sudden touch -- but if she doesn't, he'll press more firmly, seeking to rub against her clit through the dampened fabric.]

[Everything feels so hot in here -- it's almost too much. And yet his body aches to feel more -- to feel touched more in return. So perhaps a little boldness on his own part will encourage her to do the same? ]

[mistsplitter]

[ Ayaka almost does, the touch so foreign to her mostly because he's not her boyfriend. Even then, the feeling of flight leaves quickly, her body more feeling the heat and wanting more than anything else. The tips of the traveler's fingers down her crotch, however, does earn the blond a little squeak. A good reward for being so patient with the white heron, because she does consider him to be so experienced, for one reason or another.

More high-pitched noises would have followed if not for Ayaka being kissed. And her body follows as she's guided, hips rolling and following the friction that once had been given her. She wants to feel more, and it shows with her panties slowly getting damp that it would be impossible not to notice. ]

Mm... [ She opens her eyes slowly, lips slightly parted as she contemplates if she wants to kiss Aether more or... perhaps take a step out of her comfort zone and get past what's stopping her from being closer than she was before to the traveler.

A look into Aether's eyes and she understands. He wants this and wants her at this time, and in the same way that she does. ] I'm going to— [ Ah, but she still can't finish her sentence.

She's going to touch him, hand on his chest sliding downwards to his stomach, lower, until her hand would be able to feel his growing bulge, too. Ayaka is gentle with the way she explores, a hand splayed against his crotch, rubbing it slowly up and down...

What would the Inazumans say if they found out such a thing happened between her and the traveler? ... but what would she continue to think and regret if she didn't get him harder and went beyond just touching? ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[When she touches him in turn, she'll be able to feel the way that bulge seems to grow, asoft gasp followed by a sigh falling from Aether's lips. For all that her touch is soft, it feels like such a long way coming that the heat between them is becoming more intense by the second.]

[But he doesn't care close his eyes as he relishes the feeling, not wanting to miss a second of Ayaka's expression. Nearly matching her in pace, he rubs over her panties for a moment longer, before slowly pushing them aside with his fingers to touch her directly. Despite constantly wearing gloves when he fights, his hands are a bit on the rough side, in sharp contrast to how soft it feels to press between her folds and feel how wet she's become.]

[But as much as he wants to continue, they really are wearing far too much for this, his shorts feeling fit to burst. And so he pulls back-- but not before bringing those same fingers to his lips to taste her with a playful smile.]

I want to see all of you. Can I?

[mistsplitter]

[ Aether's request actually gets a laugh out of Ayaka, and her red cheeks become more prominent with the way she smiles at him. ]

There is not much my clothes are covering... [ That is to say, she thinks she's already providing a good view, but at the same time? She thinks she understands... These are still in the way, aren't they, even though they're almost like underwear already. ]

A moment. I... If you would let me see all of you, as well.

[ The space she's given is enough for her to untie the ribbon that's keeping her breasts together from the front. Unceremoniously, the cloth falls forward, revealing her breasts and how perky they look. It's a sight to behold compared to how she looks like with her armour on; she definitely covers up her curves well. The little pink tassels are untied as well, slowly and carefully so as not to destroy the fabric.

Ayaka would need to stand up to be able to remove the cloth covering her legs, so she tries to pull them off as she's seated. This means it'll take a bit longer. ]

My heart is beating so fast... [ It feels... very exciting, and she's gaining more confidence with what they're about to do as seconds pass by. She's exposed most of herself to him, just in her panties now as she's kneeling on the ground. For the last piece? ] I... I should like for you to be the one to— [ Remove it. ]