Curse/Kizuna Catch-All for September

[dragonrising]

⌛ Who: Runyu and anyone he encounters
⌛ What: For about a week he'll be cursed (close CR) and then he'll experience his first full Kizuna transformation...
⌛ When: Mid-September
⌛ Where: Various locations
⌛ Warnings: Childhood trauma will be mentioned as part of the dragon transformation. May include implications of child abuse/neglect.

A. Cursed (Closed to Close CR only)

The tea set he'd been given was an odd one. Still, he was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, even with knowing the curses this place had on offer. It was one chipped cup and something about that drew him in. One chipped up in a set... No, he shouldn't apply personal experiences to something as simplistic as a teacup.

Still, he prepared tea in the set and set the chipped up before his own place. The other cups were for anyone who wished to join him.

Of course he was noticing that the more tea he sipped the more bitter it became. And dry? Confused, he frowned and looked into the tea in the pot curiously. Which was likely how someone would come across him if they were at the Four Seasons Manor.


B. Transformation (Open to all)

Of the three of them living in his rooms, he was the one who hadn't yet experienced a full transformation. Probably for the best given what his transformations had been so far. However, today was about to change that fact. Because today he felt the pain in his body as he changed and quickly rushed outside. The large and unexpected dragon form meant that some things were broken on his way out of Four Seasons, rushing into the sky to go into the forests.

There he moved into a pool of water, his scales glistening. He didn't want to be seen. It wasn't the pain that caused it though. Instead it was the idea that someone could see this body of his. His true body. Only a few had been allowed to see it and now here it was on display without him having control of the fact.

Anyone coming across the water in the forest would likely see the large silvery dragon shy away from them. Between pain and panic, he was stressed. In need of reassurance honestly. But he certainly didn't know how to ask for it...

Comments

[dragonrising]

"You ask so much of me." But Ouyang was right. They were together and he didn't have to be alone in this. That was what mattered in reality. Letting out another long sigh, he very gently nudged the small frame of his love to offer him some gratitude for having tracked him down to be with him.

"It's been thousands of years since I last didn't have control of my changes..."

[theatrics]

Ouyang nodded. He couldn't say he understood entirely, but it must be frightening to suddenly lose control of something you've mastered so long ago. All he wanted to do was bring some comfort to his love, be it emotional or physical.

"How can I help?"

[dragonrising]

"Just be here. I need to rest a bit and having you here helps."

It was so much better than when he was a child and scared of what his mother would think if she saw that he'd lost control again. It was comforting. Warm. Safe. Runyu nuzzled into him a little. "Just talk to me. Let me listen to you..."

[theatrics]

"I am here," he assured, leaning comfortably against Runyu's dragon form. They probably looked ridiculous, but that was the least of their concerns. Ouyang would happily be ridiculous if it meant helping one of his partners. He thought hard for any stories or songs he could recount, but there were none. None that ended happily anyway. There were stories of battle and glory hard-won, of plotting for years against his masters, but only triggering his plans once he'd been disgraced by that damned monk. So, instead, he spoke of the places he'd conquered, of the smell of the camps, and the comfort of living in a ger instead of some fixed location. He gave detailed descriptions of the home Lord Esen granted him when they weren't on campaign. He told of the colorful clothing and truly ostentatious hairstyles of the Mongols during their celebrations and of his successes every year at their tournament before the Great Khan.

[dragonrising]

Closing his eyes again, he just listened to him. Every word and every detail. It brought so much comfort to just let himself fall into the descriptions that Ouyang gave him. There was a smooth way that his love spoke to him. A sign of how comfortable they were with each other. It was just what he needed to distract himself from the slowly fading aches in his body. "So much color. And then you fell for someone who wears all black and someone who wears all white..."

[theatrics]

He can't help chuckling softly. "Perhaps I grew too tired of peacocks."

[dragonrising]

"We have truly never been that." Even when he was at his worst, Runyu knew he could never be considered that. It was probably his own good quality back then.

[theatrics]

"That's why I love you." Even though Runyu is the Emperor of the Heavens, he's never been arrogant or boastful, never thrown his title or power around. He never once since Ouyang has known him made another feel inferior.

"You're both so grounded."

[dragonrising]

"It took some very harsh lessons for me to be grounded but I prefer to remain there."

Because at least like this he could find a way to help people rather than focus only on his selfish desires. Things that just hurt others in the end and didn't help anyone at all.

[theatrics]

"That, I can understand. I prefer who I am now, with you." In his previous life, he was colder and more calculating. Plotting revenge for the better part of one's lifetime tends to breed those characteristics. But under that icy facade was fire and a temper so hot it could burn those it fell on.

"You are my anchors."

[dragonrising]

"And you are mine."

The fact that his loves would think to rush after him to comfort him was a wonder to him. Something he'd craved all his life and now he had. They'd saved him and he planned to do everything in his power to keep them safe and happy. "Thank you for being here with me. In this moment."

[theatrics]

"I'm glad I was able to find you." It hadn't been easy, there were many places to search but Ouyang knew eventually he'd find the right one. He leaned back just enough to peer at Runyu's true body and he let out a soft sound of amazement. "You are magnificent, khairaa."

[dragonrising]

"I believe you. But I don't feel like it, Ya'er." Something that he knew his love would understand. Like when Ouyang had been trapped in the body of a woman for a short time. Believing that Runyu loved him and wanted him yet not being able to see how. It was the complicated relationships they had with their bodies given their pasts.

[theatrics]

He did, indeed, understand. He patted a gentle hand against the dragon's scales and nodded. "I understand," he assured in a quiet voice. "However, I will not stop reminding you of it. I adore you in whatever form you take. You are always my Runyu."

[dragonrising]

Curling around Ouyang more, Runyu shifted so one of his clawed feet could reach up to wrap around that slim waist. Just to gently hold him. It was so soothing to have him there with him. "Thank you. I'm grateful I met you."

[theatrics]

He relaxed into Runyu's grip and ran his hands over scales and claw. Truly, he thought Runyu was nothing short of magnificent. Not because he was a dragon or because he was the Heavenly Emperor. It was simply because of his heart and his goodness toward Ouyang that he was so beloved to him.

"Every day I wake up to you, I am grateful."

[dragonrising]

"When I wake up feeling you and Ye'er I realize how lucky I am here. How blessed. I never take what I have with you both for granted."

Giving him the gentlest of squeezes, Runyu lifted his head so he could proper look down at Ouyang. Then he helped to move him onto his back where he would be more comfortable among the hair there. Distressed or not, he had to take care of Ouyang in this moment and make sure he wouldn't be cold.

[theatrics]

The cold didn't matter to Ouyang. Even if it made him sick later, it was worth it to bring some peace to Runyu's heart. His heart was too full of love for Runyu to mind a little cold. Ho, he would not carelessly put himself in harm's way, but this was hardly harm. Runyu needed him and he wouldn't forgive himself if he let a cold bath deter him from being at his love's side.

Ah, but he nestled into the dragon's hair, stroking the silken strands in the same way he'd caressed those beloved scales. Everything reminded him of RUnyu's usual form: soft hair, hard scales, the coolness of his body, the scent of ice and snow on him. Yes, this was his Runyu, Runyu who he'd know anywhere in any form. Ouyang laid himself against Runyu and let out a quiet breath.

"If we are somehow separated, I will find you again. I swear it."

[dragonrising]

"I would look for you too. Endlessly and through every lifetime until I found you again."

Just like Xufeng had done for Jinmi. If his love was anything like theirs then he knew he would be reunited with Ouyang. That despite all the odds they would know each other. And in that knowing they would be able to escape together. Or he could pull Ouyang with him to the Heavens to grant him a life there.

None of the how mattered. Only that it would happen.

[theatrics]

Those words cut straight to the core of him. Knowing that this man, his beloved dragon would search the oceans of time for him? That made him shudder. He’s silent for a long moment before he nestles his cheek against Runyu and murmurs quietly.

“I do not believe in soulmates. But if such a thing existed, I am sure it would be you.”

[dragonrising]

"I know soulmates are real because I have seen it for myself. I fully believe that you and Ye'er are mine."

With every fiber of his being he believed that fact. He'd seen what it was like for his brother and Jinmi. He was sure that was how he felt for these men and it was so much more real than anything he'd ever had with Jinmi those years ago.

[theatrics]

"If you say it's so, I believe you." He can't imagine feeling for anyone else the way he feels for Runyu and Mingye. Even his fraught relationship with Esen hadn't been so strong. He would have died for Esen, fate unfulfilled. But for Mingye and Runyu? For them Ouyang wants to live.

[dragonrising]

"I believe it with every fiber of my being."

Letting out a sigh, he let himself close his eyes to rest. The sooner he was able to relax his aches and anxieties the sooner he'd be able to change back. That was how he'd seen it work for his lovers which meant there was no reason it couldn't be the same for him.

"You are going to get sick from being so wet, Ya'er..."

[theatrics]

So what if he gets sick? He'll live. "A small price to pay to be with you in your time of need."

[dragonrising]

"You are too much, my love." But he meant that in the fondest way possible. He adored that the man was like this. It just meant he had to keep a close eye on him to make sure that Ouyang was taken care of. In this case he had a feeling the man might catch a cold but he fully planned to nurse him back to health after.