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]

[Bless u Dain for not lecturing him on the dangers of trusting gods -- though at least the ones here in Nippon have very little presence in the day to day life of the people in this world.]

...they are able to healed, actually. With the magic of this world. That's part of what we had to do to stop time from looping.

When someone dies in this world, their soul passes on to another realm. But when they're "revived" when time loops to a point where they were alive, a piece of their soul stays on the other side and becomes corrupted. And those pieces were what was stopping time from moving forward. So that god showed us how to use a special Kizuna power to purify them and bring them back to their still-living bodies here on Gaia.

[u have no idea how hard it is to summarize this event, it was the longest one in Jikan so far smh]

[But just as he said, talking about this really isn't easy for him. It'll be subtle at first. The way he crosses his arms, trying to hide the way they're beginning to tremble. And a slight weakness in his voice that he's clearly fighting to hide.]

But natives weren't the only ones affected. A friend of mine from Teyvat... he somehow died during that two week loop. So when time looped again, a piece of his soul was corrupted. So I used that power to enter his soul to purify it. And... in the process, mine was shattered.

Normally, the magic here is actually capable of healing souls back to their original state. It just takes a long time. But... between how emotionally fragile it made me, and the fact that any time a Kizuna bond broke it undid all the progress I made, eventually I just asked a healer to heal it as-is. So now it's stuck that way forever.

[As much as he may consider Dain a friend and someone he trusts, he's not exactly the kind of person you'd expect comfort from in a moment of emotional vulnerability -- which is very much the state that talking about his damaged soul puts him into, even after all this time since it was healed.]

[jarinza]

[ The limitations of his knowledge are annoying him in some regards. Back home he knew as much as needed to be able to navigate the world at large. Here it's an entirely blank slate to him and he's not terribly fond of it. The strange magic, the gods, this...Kizuna business...all of it culminating into the strange feeling of being at a loss. And now seeing Aether in such a state because of all these things was enough to make him clench his arm with his gloved hands.

Still, Dainsleif is not exactly good with emotionally charged expressions or acts of compassion. But with the twins, it's...different he can be a bit more open and accepting and available for them both. So he will opt to move in closer arms wrapping around the other's smaller, lither, frame as he draws him into a hug. ]

I'm sorry for what you've gone through here on your own. And I'm sorry that I...I was not here to help protect you. [ There's a deep sigh from before he pulls away some to get a better look at Aether again. His eyes...they look the same as the time with Half Dan's dying breath. ]

But know that I am now here and you may come to me should you ever wish to talk.

[brilliantdiamond]

[Somehow, he wasn't expecting to be comforted.]

[Not necessarily because this was Dain, but because it's been so long since he talked about all of this. After healing his soul in December, he decided to just try and forget about it. Everyone else seemed to, after all. It was healed, he didn't cry at the drop of a hat anymore -- so it didn't matter. He was fine.]

[Or maybe he just convinced himself that was the case, so he didn't have to burden anyone with it. And because it made it easier to deal with the fact that the one who broke it doesn't even remember that it happened anymore. And even though the one person he thought he could depend on for anything was here by his side-- she wasn't really the way he remembered her. And knowing that she's shouldering the same burdens that he has from his travels in Teyvat, how could he possibly burden her with more?]

[Ahh... talking about all this really did make it feel like he was broken all over again. And so, when Dain holds him, he finds himself clinging right back, shoulders trembling as he blinks back the tears threatening to fall down his cheek. Even when Dain pulls back, it takes a moment for Aether to look up.]

[But as weak as all of this was making him feel, knowing Dain was here helped put his soul at ease once more. Perhaps that's why the room brightens up, powered by the bond between them growing stronger.]

...thank you. That really means a lot.

[jarinza]

Mm, it is as I have always stated back in Teyvat, the world might have changed but one's thoughts and feelings do not. [ Especially on matters pertaining to this. Did they pass the trial then? The room has brightened considerably and yet the words scrawled along the wall still remain.

It's only after a minute that the "You cannot leave until you...fuck" message finally finishes with...well that. Dain's expression is admittedly impossible to read but those eyes of his look, well, they look mildly shocked. ]

Aether...the words. [ He might pull away fully this time. This has to be some cruel joke. He's not...this is not what he signed up for!! He clicks his tongue in annoyance because this is hardly the time for games. Such vulgar and honestly insulting requests like this make him wonder if it's not gods playing tricks on them. He was such a fool, thinking he could ever do something like this with the twins. He should have known better than to get involved in things like this, where this scenario could happen. ]

1/3

[brilliantdiamond]

Huh?

[Aether's gaze follows Dain's towards the wall and--]

[brilliantdiamond]

[A h.]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Well, there's the mood whiplash he really should have been expecting. And honestly? In a way, he sort of was. This was a trial for couples. Of course there would be an element like this, considering what Kizuna does at high enough levels.]

[And yet Aether was likely the one to suggest they do this together??]

Well... er. I guess this is normally a trial for couples getting married, right? But I didn't think it'd be so... blunt.

[jarinza]

The delivery could have used some work... [ This is honestly the most embarrassed he's ever felt in a very long time. The bluntness is what's getting to him if he's being really honest. But Dain also isn't exactly the person you'd expect to be intimate with many people...

He might take a step or two back to calm himself as he lets out a rather annoyed sigh. ] This was not...what I had in mind for this trial. [ He wouldn't have come otherwise?! But now they're in a real big predicament... ]

There's no other way out of this, is there? [ Dain don't sound so defeated, rude?! ]

[brilliantdiamond]

...I know the situation isn't ideal, but you don't have to sound so put out about it.

[He has feelings, wow?? His little cat ears are folded down and everything.]

If you're really that opposed, we could just-- wait it out? I don't really have a problem with it, but... I don't want to make you uncomfortable, either.

[Says the guy who pushed him under a waterfall.]

[jarinza]

[ His overall shock made him say something he shouldn't have voiced out loud, whoops. There's a sigh from him as he shakes his head. ] I didn't mean to offend. I was just not...expecting such vulgarity from an otherwise simple trial. Couples or not, why would they even begin to presume people would want to...become intimate in such a setting?

[ He's just all sorts of flustered and taken aback, he's sorry Aether!! ] There's no telling if we'll be let out if we don't adhere to the trial's guidelines.

[ He's already uncomfortable enough as is... ] But I...wouldn't want to have you have to do such a thing with someone like...me.

[ Dain's lack of self-worth is pretty high, considering he didn't even think himself worthy of saving back in the chasm. Here's no different, of course, so he doesn't even try to hide his awkwardness. Doing something so intimate should be with...someone you absolutely cherish and care for. Dain, as far as he's aware, isn't exactly someone that fits that criteria. His cursed nature doesn't exactly help either. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[It's... fascinating, really, to see a side of Dain he never imagined he would. Flustered, uncomfortable, perhaps even self-conscious. It's hard not to find it charming, given the usual air of seriousness that typically permeates his every interaction with the other man. The fact that he's still wet from his time under the waterfall only further tears down the untouchable aura that usually surrounded him.]

[But the more he speaks, the more he starts to understand Dain's reluctance. He frowns at first -- but then smiles, arms folded behind his back as he stands to step closer.]

...with someone like you?

[...]

You mean... with someone I trust? With someone whose company I enjoy? Whose helped to answer more of my questions in our brief time together in Teyvat than anyone else I've met on my journey so far?

[Aether has a feeling he knows what he really means. But beyond his curse and whatever past he may have experienced along with his sister, Dain meant a lot more to him. He was someone he considered a friend. And here in Nippon, he'd long grown used to the idea of friendship growing into something more.]

[He won't reach out to touch him, mindful of his personal space, in addition to not wanting to make any genuinely unwanted advances. But the way he moves is purposeful, clearly intending to come off as charming as playful words fall from his lips.]

Or maybe... someone whose eyes remind of the brightest star in the night sky?

[jarinza]

[ Aether no, Aether, please?? Dain had been putting up a very good front before the other went into everything like that. Now he just feels foolish because his cheeks are burning up and he might let out a scoff which turns into a dour laugh. Whether Aether meant it or not, Dain doesn't see himself in the same light, not even close. If anything he feels quite the opposite but with reason. ]

Your flattery could use some work.

[ Is what he mumbles as he looks away from Aether and his advances. ]

I'm not well versed in these types of situations. It would be better to do such things with someone more...apt for it. Whose company you can enjoy without having to...force yourself to.

[ Is what he says as those blue eyes of his look down at the ground for a moment or two. Pushing people away to keep himself from being hurt again? He would never... ]

1/2

[brilliantdiamond]

Hey, I thought that line was pretty good.

[Why can't he be suave for once??]

[brilliantdiamond]

But whoever said anything about me forcing myself? I invited you here, didn't I?

I'm not going to pretend this is exactly what I thought would happen, but... knowing the way the culture in this world works, I knew it was a possibility. And I didn't mind that-- but I figured if you did, then at least you wouldn't be stuck with a stranger trying to figure out how to get out this.

[And if Dain genuinely doesn't want to, Aether won't push. He's absolutely prepared to do whatever it takes to get out otherwise. But right now, he's not entirely sure whether Dain's hesitance is because he doesn't want to, or because he doesn't feel he should be allowed to want such a thing in the first place.]

[Which is why this time, he reaches out to take his hand -- if allowed.]

Maybe me being my sister's brother makes this a little awkward for you, but... well, it's not like I've never thought about it.

[Dain is very attractive, from his face, to his mysterious demeanor, and right down to his silky sexy voice. Of course a sexually awakened Aether would have at least thought about it once or twice now that Dain was in this world -- even if he still kinda sorta wonders if the guy is actually his sister's ex.]

[jarinza]

[ There's an obvious pause from Dainsleif when Aether grabs his hand like that. tense sort of motion goes through him but it's gone in an instant as he looks back at that other. He definitely doesn't feel like he should be allowed this kind of thing. The failure of the Knight's Captain of the royal guard doesn't deserve such kindness, is what he thinks.

How long has it been since he's felt the touch of another human being? It feels like centuries... ] Why? Thinking about doing such a thing with...me of all people?

[ He can't seem to comprehend it himself. Not only was he a failure in regards to his people, but this arm and leg of his was a further testament to his failings. He can't help but laugh again, dour and almost bitter in its tone, as he looks back to Aether once more. ] You truly are her brother, especially with your way with words.

[brilliantdiamond]

[He knows it'll take more than a few comforting words to change the 500 years of pain that Dainsleif has no doubt dealt with since the fall of Khaenri'ah. There was still so much he didn't know about him, about his journeys with his sister, about his life before the fall... what sort of things did Lumine tell him about Aether in their time together? Did she ever mention him at all?]

[When Dain doesn't pull his hand away, Aether grows bolder -- this time, reaching up with his other hand to rest against the side of Dain's face, over the mask. He won't pull it away, though his fingertips brush against the discolored patch of skin that runs down along his neck. It's not hard to guess that this is what he's hiding under it, and likely what's hiding under his thick heavy clothing as well. Was this part of why he was so reluctant to dress down for the heat? Most likely.]

...is that why you're so reluctant to believe me? Because we're so alike?

[Did he ever worry that someday Aether might consider him an enemy as well? In all honesty, it's hard for Aether to promise otherwise. After all, he already knows there's another timeline where that's already the case. And he can't make such a promise without knowing what really happened between Dain and Lumine.]

[And yet all the same, he's not exaggerating right now just for the sake of getting out of this situation.]

We never did get the chance to spend too much time together. But now... we have all the time in the world. So why don't you let me show you just how different we really are?

[jarinza]

[ Dain's eyes will widen as he pulls away slightly, flinching ever so subtly at the sudden touch of the other. Though he looks pained there's a shiver that courses through him because it's been centuries since he's had anyone touch him there. He doesn't know what the curse upon his body might do to someone else so he's never actually allowed anyone to get close enough to be able to touch it. ]

That's not entirely the reason. I have had many people betray me in the past. It's not you or your sister's fault, per se, but it has also compounded things, yes. Trust is just something that I've grown wary of finding in others.

[ It's just something he's had to live with, especially when dealing with the Abyss Order. He'll look away his face burning hot as he goes to lightly grip Aether's wrist in his hand. ] I can't say that I'll make for good company. You see what has become of me because of this curse and yet despite that you still wish to...?

[brilliantdiamond]

Dain...

[Hearing the way he talks about himself causes an ache in his chest. All this time, all these years... just how long has Dain deprived himself of such simple things as a touch from another? A brush of the hand against another hand? Or even something more than that? It's no wonder he seems to be at such a loss right now.]

[Perhaps there were no words he could use to convince Dain otherwise -- to convince him that he's more than just his curse. But maybe that just means that words alone won't be enough?]

[He's still wary of taking any single action too far, not wanting to do anything that might be met with more than just aversion -- he's had more than his fair share of bonds breaking to know it's not something he wants to risk. Which is why he moves slowly, deliberately -- he stands on the tip of his toes to close some of the distance between them, looking up into Dain's eyes as if challenging him to look back again.]

...can I kiss you?

[jarinza]

[ He's not used to feeling this way, uncertain and a bit lost if he's being honest with himself. Aether and his sister are both rather dear to him, one of the only few left that he remembers with such clarity. Even though they had traveled together it was still hard to come to terms with him acting this way towards him at all. There's a slight flinch from Dain as the question is asked.

Kissing him of all people shouldn't make him feel as bad as it does. He was a cursed and broken man and yet Aether still insisted upon it? His eyes finally look back into Aether's all the withheld uncertainty and trepidation clearly resting there within them. ] If that's what you wish, then I have no qualms about it.

[ He says that while looking at Aether but his eyes go back to looking downward. There's so much self-deprecation that he's not sure if he can really look Aether in the eyes at all. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[It's not a resounding "yes", but he hardly expected to hear that. After all, if not for the influence this world had on him, Aether himself might have never even suggested this -- and Dain hasn't been here nearly as long. But something about that look in his eyes, and the way he can't even meet Aether's for more than a glimpse, makes him feel like this is the right path to take.]

[Sure, it may be a path required of them should they ever hope to leave this place, but to that end, he's just glad that he's the one here with Dain. Because he can't even imagine how it must feel to be put in a situation like this, after so many years of relative solitude.]

[He doesn't speak, reaching up to rest his other hand on Dain's shoulder, gently tugging him down. And then, attempting to tilt Dain's face up to try and meet his gaze again -- he leans in and presses his lips against Dain's for a gentle kiss.]

[jarinza]

[ There is a momentary pause from him. Almost as if he wants to back away but he's faced worse things than a mere kiss and yet for some reason, a person showing an ounce of kindness to him is harder than fighting the Abyss right now.

Perhaps he wasn't expecting Aether to be so willing and knowledgeable on the subject matter at hand? Or perhaps he just hates himself for having to put them both through this. He knows he's definitely not going to make a good impression, given his rigid posture that he slowly bends and acquiesces to Aether's advancements, but only slightly as his face is tilted upward and his eyes can only look into Aether's now. This kiss is surprisingly gentle but strange all the same. It's not a motion he's had directed towards him in, well, he can't remember exactly. But it feels awkward and new all the same.

His arm instinctively loops around Aether's waist to help keep the other steady as that kiss lingers. Though Dain will be the first to break away with his face flushed from inward embarrassment. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Perhaps it's only because of who the kiss is with that it leaves the impact that it does, Aether feeling his heart do somersaults in his chest, even as Dain pulls away. But even with distance between them again, they're still far closer than before -- Dain's arm around his waist ensuring as much. Likewise, Aether isn't pulling back, though he can't stop the little grin that spreads over his face when he sees the blush dusting Dain's cheeks.]

[But as for himself-- well, of course his own cheeks are a bit red. But more notable than that is that his eyes now have the same distinct stars as Dain's.]

[And he's also sparkling in general. Kizuna be like that sometimes.]

[But far be it for him to let an awkward silence bloom between them, allowing himself a moment to run his hand down from Dain's shoulder to instead rest against his chest.]

Can I kiss you again?

[jarinza]

[ Well the sudden change in Aether's eyes and...surrounding aura?? He doesn't know what to even call it, if that, is a surprise. Seeing the other with the hallmark Khaenri'ahian eyes is a strange thing indeed. More strange made by Aether's request to kiss him again. ]

You wish to...again? [ He sounds so out of his league and depth right now, almost confused as to why the other would even want to. It's been ages since he's kissed anyone, so it probably wasn't even all that impressive... ] Your eyes...they've changed. Are these the effects of that Kizuna nonsense that this place has spoken about?

[ He'll mumble as every once in a while he will look back at Aether. He's still awkward and stiff as he's pressed up against that cave wall. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

My eyes changed?

[He briefly reaches up to his own cheek as if touching them would make it possible to see his own eyes Aether pls before smiling. Dain still seemed so out of sorts, but he didn't seem to dislike the kiss, at least.]

Well, if they changed after a kiss, then it's probably because of our bond. I've had my hair change color before, too, but that wouldn't be very obvious between us.

[He's feeling a little more playful now. For all that Dain is still a statue of awkward posturing, Aether feels some of his own tension has left with the kiss. On some level, at least -- he no longer feels quite so worried that he might offend Dain past the point of reconciliation. And so he leans in again, this time pressed against Dain's chest as he cranes his neck to look up at him.]

But we're not going to get out of here with just one kiss. So... maybe I should try kissing a little lower this time?

[jarinza]

I-I see. These effects are rather...strange. [ Dain mutters to himself before that blush upon his cheeks gets even deeper. He doesn't mean...

Dain's eyes widen as he breaks eye contact with Aether. He's so damn embarrassed as is and then Aether goes on to suggest that?! ]

No. You don't have to go that far for me. [ Aether can probably feel Dain's heart hammering in his chest. Of all the things to be nervous about this was...pathetic, really, but he's not sure if this is too fast for him or what?? He's really got to get it together right now. The main point of this is to get out of here so he'll do whatever he needs to. ]

But I will...go along with whatever will help us out of this situation. [ He mumbles as he continues to look away and that heat intensifies on his cheeks. ]