October | Event: A Night of Moonless Splendor

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A Night of Moonless Splendor↲ OOC Plotting

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On the morning of the 14th, as citizens throughout Nippon prepare for final day of the Tsukimi festival, the refugees will receive a message on their magi-comm from MRU in Kyoto.

"To all refugees who will be staying in the Western Kingdom for the annual Sakumi Festival, please be aware that there is a curfew for all Humans and Hanyo before sundown. It is for your own safety that you heed this curfew, and remain indoors until sunrise.

The Festival will continue until the night of the 31st. It is recommended that refugees do not look at the night sky for the duration of the festival. If you must go out, make sure to hide your face behind a mask.

Should you or anyone else you know experience strange symptoms after dark, such as erratic behavior or transformations unrelated to the side effects of Kizuna bonds, please contact the MRU right away. Affected individuals are encouraged to remain indoors and in brightly lit rooms, away from any open windows.

Additionally, we have a prepared a special area of refuge for those who have not been able to secure safe transit to the Eastern Kingdom, located in Tengoku's Skytower. More information will be available in the coming days.

Please enjoy the festival, and may the gods bless you all."

Understandably, this message is not met well.

Upon hearing of curfews and strange happenings, many refugees choose to flee, flooding the last train to Tokyo and contacting the NRL to secure accommodations in Nihonbashi on short notice. But they aren't the only ones, as most of the seats have been reserved by native Hanyo and Humans, as those who can afford it are also choosing to leave until the end of the month.

But what's the big deal? Weren't people excited for this festival? Well, as it turns out: it's only "celebrated" by Yokai. For everyone else, the Sakumi Festival is the worst time of year to be in the Western Kingdom.

A Festival of Darkness

According to legend, the moon was a gift from the gods. Once a beautiful string of pearls, now only one remains, the others shattered by greed and war, their remains gathered together to form Gaia's ring. This is the story of the Tsukimi Festival, celebrated throughout Nippon.

But there's a continuation to this story, told only in the Western Kingdom. Because this gift was no ordinary gift. It's said that the light of the moon is what allowed the Yokai to evolve from mere Ayakashi into enlightened and intelligent beings. However, that same intelligence is what would prove to be their downfall, as various clans rose in power and sought the magical radiance of the pearls for personal gain. As more and more pearls were destroyed, fewer and fewer ayakashi were able to benefit from their light, with the last remaining pearl not strong enough to offer even the slightest of blessing.

As punishment for their greed, the gods took back the final pearl, with no intent of returning it. Without its light, the Yokai became twisted, devolving back into their basal instincts, and feasting upon one another with reckless abandon. Saddened by their plight, the gods quickly reversed this decision, and the final pearl returned to the sky after 15 nights of darkness.

This is the Sakumi Festival, held in honor of those fifteen days their ancestors spent in perpetual darkness. As the festival begins, on the evening of the 15th, the full moon will begin to fade away, like a lightbulb that's gradually losing power. Within an hour after sunset, it will have disappeared entirely, causing the rings around the planet to dim in turn.

All through the Western Kingdom, Yokai will be celebrating late into the night, and most of them will be wearing strange masks that are designed to reflect their inner-self. Perhaps the Refugees should follow suit?

Monster Mash Western Kingdom, Nippon
Those who stay indoors between sunset and sunrise, or who simply avoid the Western Kingdom all together, won't notice anything special about this festival. But for those who venture out into the darkness of the moonless sky, they'll find themselves transforming and turning into monsters.

The exact form of these monsters varies widely. Some simply become more monstrous forms of themselves. Others may not transform at all, instead gaining supernatural abilities or minor cosmetic changes. And even others may become entirely unrecognizable. These transformations will last until sunrise, and will return every day they go outside or look up at the night sky. And as refugees from different worlds, the monstrous forms they're capable of taking seem nigh endless.

But what now? Well, that depends.

For some, they remain completely lucid throughout the transformation, merely transformed in body but not at all in mind. This is most common for those who choose to head indoors upon transforming, away from the transformative effects of the darkened night sky. For these refugees, the transformations are just a fun quirk of the holiday or an inconvenience. Thankfully, this is generally pretty easy to avoid happening more than once, as they won't feel compelled to transform again.

For those who were unfortunate enough to stare at the sky for any extended period of time, their transformation may be more extreme, as their personality becomes corrupted. Certain aspects of their personality may completely overtake everything else, while others may act entirely out of character. But perhaps the worst part is that those who experience this corruption will feel a strong desire to trigger it again, despite the lack of a guarantee that it won't be any worse the next time.

And for the truly unlucky, they may find themselves in a state the Yokai refer to as a lunar curse. Those who are under the effects of a lunar curse will be overwhelmed with an insatiable appetite, hungering for any number of things, be it a specific type of food, a heightened sexual appetite, or even a desire to feed on the flesh and blood of others. As it turns out, this is the most common side effect, and is the true reason for the curfew: as Humans and Hanyo caught outside by a Yokai afflicted by a lunar curse may find themselves attacked or even devoured. Once someone has been afflicted by a lunar curse, they'll do whatever they can to continue the cycle the following evening, growing irrational and violent near sunset, even while wearing a mask.

You've Got Mail Everywhere, Nippon
But even those hoping to avoid the Sakumi Festival by fleeing to the East will find that the holiday spirit has followed them. With the advent of technology, mischievous Yokai have found ways to send curses via text message, which just so happens to overlap with the festival. Upon opening a message that will appear to be from someone on their friend list, they'll be directed a website that automatically activates the spell.

The exact spell seems to vary depending on which variety of curse they happen to receive. Some of these are quite ordinary, and will simply send salacious or otherwise overtly sexual messages to their friends or even complete strangers, with some capable of combing through their magi-comm for compromising photos to share. Of course, the latter feature is quite buggy, so the photos sent alongside such messages may in fact just be random.

But others may find themselves opening something more dangerous. Among these, one such curse will trap whoever opens it in an enclosed space alongside whoever happens to be nearby, forcing them to perform specific actions to escape. While some are relatively harmless, such as a dance more or shouting something humiliating, others will demand the pair perform particular sex acts in order to escape.

These closed spaces can occur anywhere, but to an outsider, they won't look like anything. Those trapped will look as though they've disappeared until the curse is lifted, but they'll still be able to see the world around them through the magical walls. So those who choose to browse their magi-comms on their morning commute best be careful not to open any suspicious links, lest they be forced to fuck on a crowded train.

Fly Me to the Moon

After a few days, all Refugees will receive notice that an area of refuge has been created for any Refugees who weren't able to leave the Western Kingdom prior to the festival starting. Provided by the Tengu of Tengoku, those looking to flee the chaos will be asked to meet on MRU campus on the morning of the 20th to be teleported to Skytower.

Unknown to many Refugees, Skytower is the only city of Tengoku that floats in the sky high above the Eastern Kingdom. Built long ago during a period of war between Humans and Yokai, it now serves as a watchtower to report on any danger approaching either kingdom, due to its strategic location above the Chubu region.

As the effects of the moonless sky do not exist in the Eastern Kingdom, it is believed that this location will prevent the Refugees from experiencing the transformative aspects of the Sakumi festival.

Or at least, that was certainly the intent.

Castle in the Shadows Skytower, Chubu
Perhaps due to their unusually high magical resistance, Tengu are rarely affected by the Sakumi Festival, and can often be found stationed as guards throughout more populous cities. This remains true at Skytower, where the Tengu monks who lives there assure their guests that they will not be harmed by anyone who calls Skytower home.

"For generations, we Tengu have watched over the lands of Yokai and the lands of Humans. We show no loyalty to anyone except the peace we have worked to maintain all these years.

"Rest assured, although you may be closer to the moonless sky on this sacred tower, you are not in any danger. May Tsukuyomi, goddess of the moon, grant you her protection during this time."

Refugees will be housed together in random room assignments, and although the rooms are small, every amenity they could ask for is provided free of charge. In addition to gourmet meals and access to an exclusive library that few humans have ever set foot in, extravagant outdoor hot springs that seemingly floating atop the clouds are available for the Refugees to relax in at any time of day.

Still, there are some spooky happenings at Skytower. As an ancient tower built many generations ago, many of the passageways throughout the tower are quite narrow and dimly lit. Refugees roaming the halls at night may find their shadows behaving strangely, moving on their own and even creating the sensation of being touched when one shadow reaches out to caress another. These effects are only mildly stimulating, and may even be mistaken for some kind of prank. Only those who dare bathe in the hot springs at night will encounter something more, their shadows engaging in blatant sexual acts under the water, leaving the shadow's owner to writhe as they experience every little sensation.

Curiously, this never seems to occur when the Tengu are around, and those affected may leave such encounters believing they hallucinated it.

Still, true to their word, for the first few days, Refugees at Skytower will be otherwise completely unaffected by the Sakumi Festival, regardless of whether they wear a mask or stare up at the eerily dark night sky.


Please note: Players have the option of having their characters leave for the Eastern Kingdom by airship on the 24th if they do not wish to engage with the second prompt.

Generic Horror Movie Title Skytower, Chubu
But on the 25th, as the Sakumi Festival enters its final week, those bold enough to look up at night sky will notice that the stars are disappearing. The sky will appear to grow blacker and blacker, absorbing any nearby light and appearing more like a dark void overhead than a night sky. Even with the lights on, Skytower will be notably dimmer, making it difficult to navigate the corridors of the tower at night.

Ordinarily, this would simply be yet another aspect of the Sakumi Festival, and one that should be avoidable due to their location on Skytower. But as paranoia among the Refugees grows, Kizuna powered by their fear manifests by causing the area of effect of the Sakumi festival to grow, reaching beyond the borders of the Western Kingdom, until Skytower is enveloped by it.

As the sun sets, an otherwise peaceful night will turn to chaos, as every Refugee on Skytower begins to change due to the power of the moonless sky. A number of Lunar Cursed Refugees begin prowling the tower, driven mad both by fear and by the effects of their own monstrous transformations, attacking everyone and anyone they come across.

And for certain refugees, the gradual loss of the stars and the moon will have more devastating effects. Those with an affinity for stars, space, the moon, or who have begin learning Sora magic will begin experiencing bouts of sudden weakness, causing them to collapse or lose consciousness. This effect escalates as the night goes on, as those afflicted will begin to fade away, their bodies growing translucent the weaker they become. Only prolonged contact with someone they've bonded with seems to have a positive effect, slowing or even reversing the symptoms. But others may disappear entirely until the festival ends, only capable of reaching out to loved ones through their dreams.

Refugees with mild symptoms will be tasked with assisting the Tengu in securing the Lunar Cursed refugees, as well as reaching the control center at the top of the tower to put out a distress signal. By the end of the night, all Refugees will be evacuated by airship to Kyoto.

Paper Faces on Parade

All of this culminates on the final day of the festival on the 31st, during which the sun never rises. A perpetual night blankets the nation, as the final celebrations of the Sakumi Festival take place.

Following news of the disaster at Skytower, Emperor Katsuragi decides to take matters into his own hands. Utilizing his own immense magical power, he cloaks his palace in a protective shield that will limit the transformations produced by the Sakumi Festival. Although negating the effects of the moonless sky using magic is borderline sacrilegious for a devout Yokai, after everything the Refugees did for the people of Shikoku last month, the least he can do is try and support them during this difficult holiday season.

And so, on that morning, all Refugees, no matter where in Nippon they may be, will receive an invitation to a Masquerade Ball to be held in the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. Those who want to attend need only wish it, and the invitation will automatically bring them to the castle grounds.

Additionally, all Refugees who disappeared as a result of the moonless sky will reappear thanks to the Emperor's power, just in time for the Ball to begin!

Kink Convention Gion, Kyoto
The Imperial Palace is much different from the Emperor's villas: a vast, sprawling mansion that seems to defy the laws of physics, with certain floors and walkways arranged in a way that makes them appear impossible to reach. Thanks to the many enchantments, those who walk the hallways of the palace won't notice if a corner suddenly twists, turns, or even has them walking along the ceiling of another room.

But the palace is far from empty! Exploring the mansion will reveal special rooms tucked away with certain enchantments, with many designed to entertain guests who happen to be staying there. Aside from generic things such as black and white movie theaters, libraries, and spas, some of these rooms seem to be tailored for this specific event.

One room is offering demos and workshops revolving around particular kinks, specifically designed to get the most fun out of whatever transformations they've been dealt by the Sakumi Festival. Refugees will be able to rent out sex toys and devices to use throughout the palace, and will even be offered a map of hidden and secluded spots to play in without getting caught.

In another room, a Yokai-turned-tentacle-monster teaches on the importance of safety during bondage sessions, complete with a live demonstration that will require volunteers. Whether this demonstration is simply about proper binding techniques, or an outright public tentacle-fuck, seems to depend on the enthusiasm of the volunteers.

And in another part of the palace, those who want to indulge in their desires anonymously will find special stalls seemingly designed for completely anonymous play, with variously shaped holes cut into the walls to reach out and touch one another. The way the room is set up, there's no way of knowing who is in each stall, as each one has a separate entrance. There's even a special stall that instead blankets the pair in complete darkness, allowing full-body touches and embraces with relative anonymity.

Just don't wander too far. Those curious enough to venture deep into the palace may instead come across a number of cursed rooms designed to trap intruders. Those captured will remain in these rooms until an attendant happens to find them to let them out. In addition to rooms filled with aphro-laced incense, some contain complex mechanisms designed to fully bind intruders, with some even doubling as fucking machines. Thankfully, there are multiple warning signs posted, so only those feeling especially naughty will end up in these corridors.

Party in a Labyrinth Gion, Kyoto
Those who are familiar with the Emperor's penchant for parties won't be too surprised by the offerings on display tonight. Although officially a Masquerade Ball, in which all guests must wear either a mask or appropriate costume, the actual theme is a bit more raunchy, and all Refugees will be welcome to choose from a selection of outfits that come in varying degrees of sensual and erotic.

Refugees will find no shortage of fun and interesting things to do at the party! A live music performance will play throughout the night, allowing guests to dance their hearts out on the dance floor. Food and drink are plentiful, with all alcoholic and uki-laced goods carefully labeled for the Refugee's convenience. And of course, those who want to indulge in their Sakumi transformations can do so knowing they're at no risk of becoming Lunar Curse and will retain their wits about them until the festival ends.

But as the night grows long, a more traditional event takes place in the palace garden, where the various Yokai attendants and aristocrats present gather around a large bonfire for the Sakumi Festival's end. They dance and sing, and then give prayers to the moon goddess Tsukuyomi, begging forgiveness for whatever sins they committed during the festival.

Refugees who are curious enough to take part in this Sakumi Festival tradition will find themselves compelled to confess their guilt for anything they may have done during the festival as a result of the moonless sky's effects. Whether these confessions are truly anything worth feeling guilty about is up to the individual, of course.

As the clock strikes midnight, all masks are thrown into the fire, and the sky lights up with a brilliant display of stars as the moon takes its rightful place in the sky once more.

But as for Katsuragi? He can be found curled up in a corner, thoroughly exhausted from using so much magic, with his head resting in the lap of a certain individual. Probably best to leave them be.

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

• If you do not wish to participate in this event: characters who are able to flee to the Eastern Kingdom will not experience any of the effects of the moon's disappearance.

• If your character would flee but you want them to participate, it's entirely possible that they may find themselves utterly unable to secure a ticket to leave the Western Kingdom, given there is only one train. Additionally, all teleportation terminals to Tokyo will remain offline until November 1st, and due to the lack of the moon, teleportation magic may be weakened.

• While the sky will continue to look spooky in the East as well, this annual phenomenon is explained as a scientific one. As Gaia's moon and rings are magical in nature, the increase in energy expelled during the Tsukimi festival causes them to release a gas-like by-product that blots out the sky at night for a period of two weeks. This has been proven to be true, but the reason this happens at the same time each year is still unknown.

• You have 100% freedom to pick whatever sort of monster your monsterfucker heart desires, be it from Japanese lore, your character's canon, or another canon all together. Whether transformations are painful or not is up to you, and monsters with supernatural powers or abilities will also be allowed to keep those powers! Go wild!

• As a reminder: there are roughly 10,000 Refugees in Nippon, so if you would like to utilize a random Refugee NPC for monsterfucking purposes, this is of course allowed!

• As stated above, characters who go to Skytower will have the option of leaving for Tokyo before things turn sour. These characters will still be able to attend the Emperor's Ball on the 31st!

• Please be kind to your fellow players and utilize content warnings for any graphic monster-related violence, kinks, etc! If you're not sure if something needs a warning, warn for it anyway!

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[brilliantdiamond]

[Everything feels so hot and wet, his body enveloped in hers, as every shake and shiver that courses through his body is transferred into her. Quickly growing light-headed as he forgets to breathe deeply through his nose, he allows his movements to go on, milking himself to the last drop as he feels the way she seems to melt around him. He's long since stopped thinking about how this works, about how it must look -- his mind only focused on the slow movement of her inside him, their bodies seemingly melting together into one.]

[Losing track of time, as some point, he nearly loses consciousness all together. But as the night grows long, the time they have left to spend in these forms grows ever shorter. Vaguely, he wonders what she might really look like beyond this gooey, amorphous blob of sexual energy, curious what might happen if they stayed this way, fucking until sun rise.]

[But as it turns out, these transformations are nothing dangerous -- or at least, not like this. Instead, as the darkness of the night slowly begins to brighten, Ayaka will slowly, slowly feel him pulling out from her, their bodies pushed apart as the power of the moonless sky demands they return to what they once were. And with every push and pull, she'll be able to feel him moving inside her as he backs out, drawing out ever more pleasure long after his hands have stopped moving.]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Well, that's fine. If Itto takes too long, Aether will simply go looking for him instead! But much like the earlier incident, Aether still isn't entirely in control of himself. And so, rather than simply greet Itto normally when he sees him -- he opts to instead run up and tackle him from behind, arms wrapped over his shoulders as he hangs over his back.]

Caught you!

[Although the voice and size of the person hugging him is certainly familiar -- the arms wrapped around Itto's shoulders are distinctly blue in color.]

[And while he hasn't reached up to yank off Itto's mask yet, the threat is certainly there.]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Aether gasps when he's abruptly slammed into the wall, but his recovery comes almost immediately. He's a vampire right now, after all -- and it'll take more than a little concussion to knock him out. No matter how tightly Cloud grips at his skin with those claws, it won't leave marks for long, his body seemingly healing in an instant.]

[If anything, all this does is excite him more when Cloud suddenly has him pushed against the wall, his mismatched gold and blue eyes staring back into Aether's. But Aether's eyes aren't gold right now. They're a deep red, practically glowing in the darkness of the alley. And as his expression twists into a grin, Cloud may notice a pair of sharp fangs settled in his mouth.]

[But he may not have time to think about that. Because Aether's arms are still free. And perhaps, feeling playful -- rather than a bite, he cups Cloud's cheeks in his hands and leans in to steal a kiss on his lips, almost too sweetly for the way Cloud was just snarling at him.]

[Calm before the storm, or is he still just trying to provoke him? Yes.]

[mistsplitter]

[ Ayaka can't see, which is why she's a lot more sensitive now to what she feels.

There's a good amount of lightheadedness from the pace that Cloud's set. While he's immensely hard, thrusting inside her, as if daring to breach further past her core, her clit is throbbing wildly that's almost too difficult to handle. It's all too much for her, but in the best of ways.

This way, it feels as if a bigger dick is inside her than usual. It feels like he's rougher than usual, and he is. She's doing her best to keep up. His voice sounds less calm, but when her name is dropped by his lips, it adds to that feeling of pleasure all the more. She's getting turned on even more when he calls her name, when he digs his nails into her skin, and when it feels like he's trying to give her everything.

She'd told him to be careful, but... ]

Yes... yes!

[ An obedient little bunny, she lets loose as her voice grows loud when she moans. While she doesn't end up screaming for more, Cloud'll feel his girlfriend move a little, pressing her ass a little more on him while she arches her back even more. For how hesitant she was earlier, she's certainly come to enjoy the ride. ]

[brilliantdiamond]

[Somewhere deep down, those words manage to touch some small part of Aether that's still barely holding on to his sanity. But only so he can think of them later, in isolation of this night. It really did put him at ease in a way, just knowing Dain was here. For all that this world constantly threw him for a loop, Aether always felt like Dain was someone he could depend on.]

[Unfortunately, that Aether isn't the one in control right now. And as they enter the alley, Aether's hidden expression twists into a grin, as the first hints that something is off begin to slip through.]

What happened... oh, right. You really let me have it, didn't you? I had to spend my birthday in agony... did you know it was that week?

[brilliantdiamond]

really?
you don't lock your balcony?

[Oh.]

[Oh, suddenly Aether is there. On his balcony, on what is most certainly not the first floor, his shadow stretched across the floor at Itto's feet thanks to a nearby streetlamp. How did he get up here? And so quickly??]

[In any case, he's starting to try and open the sliding door to the balcony. Is it locked? Why isn't he saying anything? Itto should be able to hear him, right?]

[sultanofsquat]

[ Feeling her ass pressing more flush against his pelvis, it does act as a buffer of sorts, despite how deep he was already. Just when Cloud was about to rut into her even harder, faster, letting their mingled moans grow in volume as he damn near howls in lust—

!!

Cloud suddenly feels a shiver run down his spine, large wolf ears twitching atop his head as they perk up straight when he suddenly picks up the sound of passersby. They sound rowdy...laughing and shouting of vulgar things. His hand reaches down and flies over Ayaka's mouth for a moment, his thrusts halting despite the fact he's still grinding on her core so insistently, the bulbous knot of his cock nudging on her entrance. ]

Shh-

[ Followed by a heated pant of frustration. They didn't seem to be walking towards the park. But if they were caught now... Like hell was he letting anyone else see her like this. She belongs to him. Him alone. This was his prey. Gradually, his hand lowers from her mouth, sensing the coast being clear temporarily. And despite what he commands of her as he slowly starts to pull out of her tightening pussy, ]

Let's move.

[ Why did it feel like he was even more turned on? He already has a spot in mind. Beside the playground. A large tree. The treehouse he could so effortlessly pick her up and leap into. Behind the tree. Somewhere with just a little more privacy before he claimed her again, his massive knotted cock dripping wet with precum and pussy juices as it taps against her ass before tug tugging her along. If she finds herself a little wobbly on her feet? He'll pick her up. Either way, they weren't done. He wasn't satisfied until he had practically mated her. ]

[sultanofsquat]

[ The one downside of this space was that it didn't give the couple much room to move around outside their little invisible bubble. But to really drive home the fact that no one could see or hear them? If either one of them reached out to grab someone, their hands would phase right through. It was almost as if they...were spirits. But they can still interact with their seats, the railings, the poles for support—

The train suddenly starts turning towards the right, the pathway between Kyoto and Tokyo a long one as it almost throws the blond off his balance. ]

[jarinza]

[ Dain did not know it was that week?! Then again he had hardly even thought to ask...there's a brief moment where he struggles to find words to reply with but he finally speaks. ]

It wasn't my intent to harm you, of course. We were both not in the right state of mind. But that is just the inherent nature of this place, is it not? [ He'll bring a hand to his chin in thought. ]

Perhaps I might make it up to you somehow?

[brilliantdiamond]

[Blame it on the twins for being so accustomed to not sharing it, honestly. But really, that's not something he ever intended to share with Dain -- or at least, not in the context where he might feel guilty for leaving Aether in such a state on his birthday. Rather, he'd simply hope for better conditions the next year, should they both be here.]

[But thankfully, rather than continue to drive that point home, his mind latches on to what Dain says next.]

...you want to make it up to me?

[Aether stops, then. And the hand that was once clinging to Dain's arm instead reaches out to grab a handful of Dain's shirt, jerking him to the side and pushing him up against the alley wall.]

[It's only now that he'll look up, allowing Dain to see the way Aether's eyes are now tinted red, fangs peeking out over his bottom lip as he smiles up at him, briefly licking his lips.]

[This truly is the inherent nature of this place, isn't it? But rather than go for his throat or attempt to hurt him -- with his other hand, he smooths it down Dain's broad chest. Of course, this is all just another direction. His eyes are definitely pinpointed on Dain's neck.]

I can think of a few ways?

[scarredhorns]

[Fuck, Cloud really is like iron. No matter what she does, she can't get him to bend or flinch. Then again, she's also holding back with her vectors, or else she might accidentally kill him. She doesn't want to seriously injure him either, but with the way things are going... Would she be forced to?

She sees the sword begin to crackle with lightning once more. Is he really planning on casting that spell again after what happened last time? Lucy isn't sure of Cloud's intentions. Regardless, even if his body was able to take such an explosion before, she knows from personal experience that everyone has their limits, no matter how powerful they might be. Going beyond her limits was what killed her in the end.

Then he pleads with her again, only this time he's asking her to stop him. Lucy's hardened expression falters as she holds his gaze. Very well...]

I'm sorry.

[The vector gripping Cloud's hair switches from pulling to pushing his head down. Hoping to knock him out, the vector bangs it against the ground once with such force that there's an audible sound.]

[sultanofsquat]

[ That first line sounds dirty. The sudden shift in momentum from having his hair pulled to having his head be so forcefully shoved down would have been harder to pull off if he were of a clearer mind. But with his reflexes more instinctive than honed in this bestial state, Lucy's gamble pays off. The lightning that trickles the length of his blade wanes as a sickening smashing sound can be heard echoing down the hollow street.

There's no cry of pain. No groans. Just dead silence. And the sheer impact breaking skin as his forehead is well and bloodied as he lies face first on that ground. At her feet. ...if she still had any.

As his hold upon the Buster Sword loosens as well as she successfully slams him, he barely moves. If one listens hard enough, you could hear him breathing, after he forced air back into his lungs. But he doesn't move otherwise. He doesn't crawl. His body twitches as if struggling to do anything else. It's the most vulnerable he's looked this entire accursed month... ]

[scarredhorns]

[LMAO. Oh. Oh shit.

For the first moments, Lucy panics on the inside, catastrophizing that she killed him after all. It was horribly ironic, considering how she killed so many others without batting an eyelash. However, it's not enough to completely override her sense of caution. She doesn't speedily wheel herself closer to Cloud, rather, she uses one of her vectors to check for signs of life, unable to hear Cloud's breathing from her current distance (especially over the pounding of her own heart echoing in her ears).

The vector is cool to the touch as it presses against his neck to feel for a pulse. She lets out the breath she'd been holding when she feels the pulsation against her vector's fingers. The translucent hand fades away as Lucy wheels herself closer at last, until she's right next to him.

She could stop the blood coming from his forehead. Hell, she could heal all his injuries now that she finally got him to stop. First, she should probably get him indoors. Four vectors emerge and reach for Cloud, intending to pick him up as delicately as possible.]

[sultanofsquat]

.... ..... .......

[ Just as the vectors emerge, reaching for Cloud's near motionless body... ]



[ In the time that Cloud was dazed on the floor, his hold of the Buster Sword loosened...which is why what Cloud does next is, in some ways, more terrifying. Like a feral wolf on all fours, his bushy tail flicks, his claws scrape through the concrete, and he effectively pounces for Lucy in her wheelchair. Everything happens so fast. A blur. A blinded rage as both eyes are a golden shade now, his body seemingly surrendering to the Lunar Curse in its entirety. His fingers dig and wedge themselves in the spokes of her wheelchair before he lets out a downright inhuman snarl. If she hadn't had this? He would have pounced on her. But when faced with an obstacle? All he can think of is discarding it.

Throwing it away. With a burst of strength, he lifts her off the ground, shoving her over as broad lines of blood stain down his face. In the moment, for what it seems...

He's not there anymore. He smells blood. He senses where she is. ...and he's reaching down for his dropped Buster Sword to finish what he started. He'd take his prey. He'd claim her for himself. ]

[leafwhistle]

[It's fortunate that the samurai is patient, because the alchemist's speech was quite slow. Kazuha is in good spirits now at least, glad to have run into an old friend that actually remembers him, and he hardly minds reaching out to gently slip his arms under Albedo's back and arrange him into a little more comfortable position, propped up slightly by the pillows.

Uki would keep the throb of strained limbs away for now, but when it wears off all that would come to the forefront. He knows from experience.]

Much of the West tends to use uki frequently, and combined with mainly yokai living here, the potency tends to run a bit stronger.

[He brushes the blonde's hair back from his forehead, briefly pausing there to check his temperature. His ears pin back slightly— while Kazuha is quite restrained with emotions, the ears give his concern away a bit more.]

Fortunately, you should be fine. If just a bit sleepy.

1/2

[sultanofsquat]

[ For some reason, his heart rate was skyrocketing. And while he's hardly tired? He's panting. As if it's taking all of his willpower not to just start mauling the one who got a little too close and comfortable with a wild animal. The werewolf. The human behind it. The bristling fur and rumbling growl in his throat when Aether steals away a kiss on the lips. Sweet. Lingering. Enough to make his eyes widen and his hold on the vampiric blond wane a little. But he's effectively got the man hoisted against the wall like this...their bodies radiating a mix of hot and cold between Cloud's burning form and Aether's temporary 'undead' state.

Only for the blond to tear himself back, wetting his lips as he struggles to find the right words. Something's happened to him... Was Aether even hurt? Those eyes were unsettling, and the point of fangs tells him everything he needs to know. They've both been changed by this moonless night. But if there's one thing that he refuses to do...

He can't hurt Aether. Not just for their friendship. But if Ayaka ever learnt one of her best friends was assaulted by him. If Lumine learnt that her brother was hurt. Which lends to him holding Aether tighter. Those eyes of his, mismatched gold and azure, were like the live war in his mind that beckoned him to give in and become a monster. To throw it all away for being some weak 'human'. He's torn. Provoked. ]

.........

2/2

[sultanofsquat]

[ And suddenly crushing his lips back against Aether's. It's anything but sweet, harnessing and willing himself to mold that that hunger for bloodshed into something kizuna knew very well. And that was a deep groan rumbling in the back of his throat, one hand steady on the man's hip while the other dips to take a more possessive squeeze of his ass through his pants. Cloud wasn't the tallest person out there, but compared to Aether, and pressed up against the cold wall like this, it almost feels like he towers over the vampiric Traveler. ]

[mistsplitter]

[ God— who cares about the table now? Ayaka's forgotten all about it now, her mind and body solely focused on the pleasure she feels from her beau fucking her hard and fast at their favourite tea house.

Letting out a little squeal, she's forced to lean forward and cling to Cloud when he begins to speed things up. She can't keep it in— as quiet as she normally is, Cloud's encouragement has made her forget about her volume, too. Calling his name, she buries her face on the crook of his neck, becoming more and more breathless by the second.

By now, soy sauce has spilled on the table. The couple seated across from each other look at the spot and the bottle of soy sauce then at one another.

"Dear?" Yeah... they don't really know, either. But the man puts the soy sauce bottle back up and then firmly places his hand on the surface of the table to see if it'll hold still. He can feel vibrations from the table, as if it's moving on its own. But why...? ]

Faster...

[ Because one little princess pulled herself away from her beau again so she can look at him as they lose themself in one another. One hand is perched on the blond's shoulder while her other is on the table. That's still using it, right? Even though she wanted to see him come undone, though, she's being brought to her climax the longer this goes on. Close, so close... her vision's getting blurry because she can barely keep her eyes open. ]

[sultanofsquat]

[ Fuck this table. More specifically, fuck Ayaka on this table. Ayaka's adorable little squeal of pleasure has his cock pulsating faster, little spurts of precum lining her inner walls and making their riding session all the more slippery. It's a good thing that she already made him cum earlier, because he would have been popping inside of her. When she leans forward to cling to him, his hands move down to her ass, roughly squeezing as she rocks and rides up and down the length of his cock. He doesn't bother being discreet about it, smelling her hair as he breathes in deep of her while the soy sauce spills on the table. He just wants to keep going. He wishes that this wouldn't end after three climaxes. Combined or otherwise.

Then she's telling him to move even faster. Something they would have reserved for the bedroom, or even before this whole month in general. That does it. It sets something off inside her beau as he watches her balance herself between his shoulder and the table beneath her. ]

Gonna wanna hold on tight-

[ Because now instead of staying seated the way he was and letting her do most of the work? He turns the tables on her completely, his movement as he shifts his legs out from underneath the table forcing him to pull out of her as he lifts her up a little higher, getting on his knees. If she looks down between them now, his cock is hot and red, dripping with the combination of their juices before he hastily realigns himself up and shifts against her again, the broad cockhead wasting no time in stretching her out on him again as he thrusts forward. She's either going to need to hold on tight to him? Or trust in his strength, lean back and use that table as he keeps a tight grip on her hips before he starts thrusting again.

Her lower half is supported completely by his strong hands now, his hips working like a piston that builds with speed and force as she's about to get a hard, fast fucking that she pleaded him for. Meanwhile the table protests, little plates shifting and the soy sauce bottle having to be taken off the damn table as the couple try calling over a server. Something's wrong with their desk?! It's so unstable! It keeps moving. And rocking.

Back and forth and back and forth, when unbeknownst to their eyes Ayaka is getting railed hard and deep over the table, the angle he drives into his arching girl leaving his cock to drag and knock on her womb over and over again, a rapid yet rhythmic clap. ]

Ayaka—!

[mistsplitter]

[ They're lost in one another again. Which technically isn't a bad thing. The two are so in love with one another that they wouldn't dare look at someone else the same way, despite the pushes and pulls in this world. It's why Ayaka's stopped caring about her surroundings or how she could possibly look right now given they're in public. No one can see them, sure, but she'd normally be a lot more self-conscious.

Yet, here she is, in her safe space. And her safe space in her Hugging her safe space tight because she'd end up covered in soy sauce otherwise. Comfortable and on edge at the same time, to the point that she wants her lover to fuck her harder out here in the tea house. She calls out his name again, more, don't stop, when—

"Let's just eat outside. The tables there seem more sturdy." The couple comes back to get their belongings before leaving. And the moment Ayaka hears the word "outside"? Her eyes jolt open and she tries to get Cloud's attention by pulling away and tapping on his shoulder. ]

Cloud— [ Oh god don't cum just yet... ] Finish outside, you can't—

[ Don't cum inside her while you're on a date 😭😭😭 ]

[mistsplitter]

[ Cloud, this is what she was afraid of!! Her little puffball tail stops its wagging and her bunny ears go all the way up when her attention is called. A little noise of surprise before she ultimately grows quiet, eyes wide as she tries to pinpoint where those noises are coming from based solely on what she's hearing.

It feels- different. Incomplete. When Cloud pulls out, there's a strange feeling in her stomach that drops. She looks back at him right away, hands dropping from where she was holding onto the bars of the playground to her sides. While her legs can still hold and can keep up with him as they walk, she can't help but feel that sense of weakness, anyway.

Her partner right now feels different. Not like a predator, despite how wolves are such, but... that hungry look in his eyes, how he didn't even bother fixing his pants, the way he tugs on her hand and leads her further away from the noise, and hopefully somewhere with a bit more privacy. Commanding— that's how Ayaka can describe it, she thinks. She hastens in her footsteps so she can match his stride. ]

Cloud?

[ Tug tug. It's not too far. He can continue fucking her away from the eyes of others. A bunch of slides and tunnels connected to one another is nearby, and it... seems private enough? ]

[sultanofsquat]

[ Thankfully, thankfully, he's not mindless despite how lost in her he's become. So her calling his name along with tapping his shoulder? That earns her the attention of her beau as his grip on her hips keeps its firm hold. As for those thrusts? They begin to slow down as they lose their rhythm. He really was on the brink of popping when she asked him to finish outside before, as he becomes aware of the fact the couple was taking their belongings and leaving, he stops. Letting Ayaka be fully seated in his lap, his cock resting hard and deep inside her, he's throbbing wildly. Like any little movement could set him off as his hands shift from her hips to her ass, giving it a squeeze as he heaves a hot and heavy sigh.

Fucking hell. You're asking for a hell of a lot from him with a pussy this good. But Cloud steels himself, breathing through his nose and out his mouth before he recomposes himself. The mood wasn't ruined. He's still as eager to continue as she was. But that's just it. ]

Can't just...leave a mess elsewhere.

[ So no cumming all over her or on their surroundings. He can hold on. As long as he has to for her as he looks into her eyes. The fact she's leaning back a little now, still within his arms makes this next part a little easier then. Because while she's still rooted on his cock, one of his hands dips between her legs, twisting his hand comfortably enough as he slowly starts rolling his hips up, rubbing more insistently on her core as he helps her start rocking again. All while his fingers circle her little clit to apply more stimulation. ]

You first.

[ That'll make two. Even if what he's doing would make it even harder on him if she starts tightening her pussy more. ]

Then I'll cum anywhere you want.

[sultanofsquat]

Right.

[ Cloud doesn't even argue. Commanding as he is, as hyperfixated he was on getting up and away from any prying eyes, her boyfriend was still in there. There's reason. Even if that reason was meant to lead him to getting his hands back on her and his urges sated by filling her back up all over again. Assessing the playground, he acts on instinct and sees that there's a tunnel opening. One that, thankfully, wasn't just some pipe. It looks spacious enough underneath the wooden structure where children would play and run around.

And thankfully, like most things here in Nippon, kept clean. Since they're counting on kids being able to run through the tunnel they're crouching into? That meant they'd have just enough space to get comfortable...in any position that didn't involve standing up. ]

Gonna take you home when we're done.

[ It's a fact. But whether or not that meant his place or hers? That's all up in the air. Regardless, despite how he's treating her and how unhinged they've become beneath the moonless sky's curse, Cloud was still going to keep his promise. He's going to watch her, and protect her. Right now, he's far more keen on picking up where they left off however, his eyes adjusting quickly to the lower light as he steals a kiss from Ayaka once more.

No hitting your heads now, you two. Just stay on your knees like this...or get lower. ]

[mistsplitter]

[ She would like it if they went back home too— his or hers, it doesn't matter. Not only because they can have privacy there, but because they likely wouldn't encounter any trouble anymore.

When they get close enough to the tunnel entrance, Ayaka's the one who crouches down first. Her skirt's far too short to cover up her ass as she crawls into the tunnel, showing the mess her beau has done to her leggings. She's still wet, her sweet scent lingering in the air made even more prominent when Cloud stays close when he follows her in.

It's dry, fortunately, and it seems clean. Ayaka turns around when she's content with where they are, that this is private enough but there's still a bit of light so that she can see him. She wants to see him, because it is with him that she truly feels safe. They're short- they should be able to at least sit down without hitting their heads. . . Her tall ears flop downwards though, but they don't hurt, fortunately. And they stay that way when Cloud kisses her, and she melts into him so, so easily. Cloud doesn't even have to say anything and she'd fold.

This is so unorthodox, but... it's not like he's the only one raring to go. Cloud's woken up a side of Ayaka that she's never even knew she had. One who is hungry and needy for touch. It just so happens that it's just Cloud's specifically she yearns for constantly. ]

[mistsplitter]

I'm sorry, but we're outside, and— [ Oh, hell, why does she have to apologise? He already knows the inconvenience of going home all... spoiled and dirty. They certainly had to experience that just the other day. Well, Ayaka did. Cloud. . . not so much. And given that there's still light out? She's going to attract attention for walking weirdly or if something starts dripping down her leg????

Ayaka isn't cut off because she realises that there's no need to actually apologise. She lets out a little yelp when Cloud begins touching her. Her everything is already so sensitive, already so close to her climax already from the pace they were going at. It's really going to be a challenge for Cloud not to cum inside, because as it is, her whole lower half twitches, her body shakes, her walls gripping his cock so tight-- ]

Oh—!

[ Her hand was just on his shoulder to call his attention, but now her nails are digging into the cloth of his sleeve as she falls back into him. All it took was a push of a button for her to crumble, her whole body giving up on her.

That's two. ]