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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Comments

[lightduties]

He has absolutely no idea how much a pint is but it sounds like a substantial amount. But unlike flesh, blood can be more readily replenished, thus offered without large sacrifice.

Tilting his head in query, he asks, "You refer to the carbuncle?"

He gestures to the carbuncle in question, its paw coming back down to rest on the floor as it looks up at Lilja.

"'Tis but an arcane construct. You had mentioned you are unfamiliar with magic, aye? That simply means a being without life, created by magic." It's the weakest of his constructs, but the glow is useful for lighting in the dark. His lip curls in a small smile. "If you take more than I am willing to offer, it will intervene. You'd best not underestimate it."

Carby will fite u.

[gangfanged]

A pinze, probably, given hydaelyn's weights and heights. Lilja nods her answer and listens, quiet for a moment. A construct, he says. Something of pure magic. It rings kind of funny when your body is a myriad of doll pieces, so much so that she actually has to stifle her laugh.

"I see... it reminds me of Amorette a little. The... underestimation bit, that is." Her girlfriend is most assuredly not a construct. "I'm relieved to hear it. Honestly." Because something to stop her is ideal, considering the more they've talked, the more those little whispers have grown, culminating in the wonder of how he would taste, how he would look if she just moved, quick and heartless. If she just leaned in and—

Stop. Teeth grit faintly as she starts to move, a little halting and odd. "I'll have to remove the mask, but I think that's... supposed to be okay indoors? It won't hurt, either. If you're really sure, I mean. I'm hardly in a position to decline when I can barely control myself for wanting, am I?"

And there, in the softest little wobble of her voice, is the worst of it. The fear and the frustration of living as something you have no choice but to adjust to, something with a potentially violent will of its own that might be indomitable. She has no reason not to trust Rhea'li, so she will, because she's even less sure how much longer she can trust herself otherwise.

[lightduties]

Amorette... that's the second time Lilja has mentioned the name. Friends, mayhap? They sound close. He hopes he will learn more in time.

Rhea'li's face is bare, having removed his mask earlier, so he nods at her query in reassurance.

"Then let the deal be done. Blood for energy." He's not certain how she intends to drink, but he will trust in her knowledge. Expression softening, he says quietly, "I'll not turn away while I have the power to help."

He was not always this way, but the tragedy of the Calamity changed him, and the burden of the mantle from thousands years promise ensured his change of heart stuck. Lilja is hurting before him, so he will not leave her to suffer alone.

He knows full well the consequences of loneliness.

[gangfanged]

"Blood for energy." She almost sighs, nodding half to herself. It sounds a little creaky to her, perhaps because of the joints. "I assume you've been told you're too good, for that. Ah... you should probably sit down somewhere. Normally, I don't mind bending, but..."

But the cracks down her arms and visible leg are pretty severe, even though they seem solid enough to use. It's perhaps more alarming when Lilja does remove the mask, revealing the broken chunk of porcelain near her left eye, its fissure drawing crookedly down toward her lips. There's relief that it doesn't seem to have a further effect on her mental state indoors, at least.

It still bothers her, though. Just... being this way. Less the doll parts and more the nature of what she already was. He doesn't need to know that. She has to eat, he said it himself.

[lightduties]

The corner of his mouth curls up into a wry smile. Aye, all too often people have looked to him for succor.

But he also remember the looks of fear, the curses spat his way, and the furious claims murderer.

One cannot participate in war and not come out bloody.

Rhea'li glances about, searching for somewhere to sit. Lilja's state looks painful, and he's reminded of the dolls in the Antitower. But he finds an empty crate -- mayhaps this is storage? -- and quietly sits. He is dressed in the clothes Tataru had made him before sending him off to Radz-at-Han to chase rumours, so the skin of his lower arms are exposed.

"If there is aught else I can do to make it easier..."

[gangfanged]

"Unless you can think of a way to make me forget what I'm doing, I don't think there's anything to be done for it." Once he's settled, she can settle next to him, brushing her hair back with one delicate hand. It isn't painful, despite it all - at least, not generally so. Nothing else has fallen out since the first time she turned into this form.

Taking a breath, she exhales a little sigh. "I can... take from your neck, or your wrist. There are other options, but those are the easiest." Once she has her answer, it will be easy enough to move on. Before that, she does pause one last time. "... It might have a... physical reaction on you. Vampire bites usually serve as an aphrodisiac. Sorry."

[lightduties]

His tears flick in surprise, eyes widening. Oh. He had no idea...

His lips curl up into wry smile. "To make it easier to feed, I suppose?"

Well, he had offered, had he not? He holds out his left arm for Lilja, pulling the glove off his hand.

"I will cope."

Somehow.

[gangfanged]

"Mm." And to keep prey from escaping, for some. She doesn't want to talk about that, though--

Her hands are as delicate as ever, a little more firm than normal, as she takes his wrist in them. "If it's too much of a problem, I wouldn't be opposed to assisting. I just don't like to push when it's... like this." When she's feeding, that is.

She doesn't waste more time, though. Soft lips press against soft skin, and he'll note they're much more soft than her hands, at least. Then there's a pinch of pressure, sharp teeth sinking in before the feeling of injury can actually settle in. And as she promised, there's no pain to it, just a sensation of comfort and cloying warmth. How much it will affect someone like Rhea'li, she has no worldly idea.

[lightduties]

He watches with some curiosity, the initial act of her mouth on his wrist not particularly alluring, knowing the purpose of it. The dulled prick of her teeth sinking in, the expectation of pain but receiving a lack of it filling him with morbid curiosity.

Even with the warning, it takes a while for him to realise the bite's comforting effect blanketing over his sense of danger, muting his alarm. Accelerated heart rate, dilated eyes, tail gone rigid, there's no doubt that he's affected. But he stays still, making no move to take action, fingers of his right hand curling around the edge of the crate and digging in.

Biting down hard on his lower lip, his own canines exposed, the sharp pain from that act refocuses his mind. O Llymlaen, he recites in his head, guide me through the stormy sea. But he makes no move to push her away.

[gangfanged]

It's always so easy to go overboard when she drinks from a person. Maybe that's why she doesn't like it, in truth; it brings to mind all the times her control was stripped away, the things she hides in the dark. Maybe it makes her more compassionate, too.

Whatever the case, she's gentle with him, the barest pressure of her lips and tongue picking up the pooling blood beneath them. Tinny and warm, and not... not as bad as she usually thinks. Whether that's because of the donor or the night sky, she doesn't know if she wants to know. With her eyes closed and his silent acceptance of this, she can just about pretend it's not a live body. Almost.

And before he can grow too dizzy from the blood loss, before the sensation gets too overwhelming for either party... Lilja pulls back, gasping softly as her teeth pull free of soft flesh and her tongue laps the blood one final time; it's a thin trickle, at least, already starting to clot. There's a faint flush to her face now, the cracks shoring up with the influx of blood. Not perfect, as if they're at once a marker for her hunger as well as unspoken scars. The noise she makes isn't the most pleased, but she can't help it. Imagine being a vampire who doesn't like the taste of most blood.

"Ugh... okay. I think... that's enough." Her lips are stained a brighter red in the centre from the task, head shaking. "Now how do I...?" Offer... energy, was that what he said? Something like that.

[lightduties]

Rhea'li grunts when she pulls out, blinking rapidly as his senses are properly returned to him. Still, there's a flush darkening his cheeks and his breath uneven. His head feels a little like it's been stuffed with cotton wool, senses dulled, but it's naught like those times he came away with grievous injury...

It is much easier to shake this off than all else he has endured, even with the tightness in his pants.

With a somewhat crooked smile, he reaches for the grimoire at his hip. "There is naught you must do," he explains as he flips it open, lowering his attention to the pages too dim to see clearly in carbuncle's glow. He doesn't need to see the spells to know what the pages contain; it's merely a distraction. "Normally 'tis a spell reserved for my opponents, used in the heat of battle. ...I know not what it is like to be on the receiving end but it seems painless."

Or mayhap his opponents are more concerned with the rest of the magic he may be throwing their way? Regardless, he does not have any kind of useful warning he can give Lilja to prepare her.

He returns his gaze to Lilja, observing the way the cracks in her body have largely sealed. Imperfect, but not nearly the deep grooves they were before. It helps with keeping his mind off the lingering effects of her bite.

"You look... better. Mended." For the most part.

[gangfanged]

She does look apologetic, at least - it's difficult not to notice the effects of the bites, both in her strengthened senses and first-hand knowledge of just how deeply the sensation can go. Still, he's remarkably level-headed in spite of it all.

Her own gaze is drawn to the grimoire, and still seated somewhat below him as she is, her gaze traces the symbols and designs etched into its cover. The rest, she suspects, would make no particular sense - a fact that's confirmed as he reveals the nature of the spell he intends.

"I'm sure I'll be alright, even if it's a little painful." Something usually reserved for enemies... what a life he must lead. Adventuring does seem like one hell of a job, in any case. Inhaling a deep, slow breath, she exhales it through her nose, only to blink at the comment.

"Ah... yes. The cracks don't fade completely, I've found. I've a suspicion why, but no real way to confirm it." Her gaze lowers, head shaking as long fingers brush along the mark on her face. "I guess whatever this is doesn't want to let me just tough it out like I usually do." Frustrating, that. "I haven't lost control since I started to drink even a little, either."

[lightduties]

He already knows where the spell he wants is, so when her determination is steeled, he simply turns to the page for Energy Drain.

"This won't be forever," he says with conviction, pressing fingertips to page, motes of light gathering around them, grimoire glowing with wings not present before. Not her vampirism, but the situation with these moon touched changes.

It is quick, life energy siphoned from Lilja in a flash of dark light. Not as much as what he would take from battle, but enough that she may feel some level of tiredness or exhaustion nipping at her consciousness.

The shape of energy is different in this place, not exactly aether, but all beings -- even ashkin, even undead -- have energy that he can use. Closing his eyes, he lets the unstable energy course through him, briefly bathing himself in unburning flame as he enters a trance. Phoenix help me, he thinks, as a glow envelops his wounded arm, what was already clotting completely sealing over, unmarred, golden feathers falling before dissipating.

[gangfanged]

"No, I imagine it won't." They talked about the month, no longer, after all. But-- her attention is drawn to the novelty of spellcasting; there's a strangeness and a beauty to it all at once, and it helps to keep her grounded throughout the accompanying sensation.

It's... different. Painless? Maybe not, but she's used to pain. The little constriction of exhaustion that seeps into her chest is so natural that it's almost forgettable that she is undead, after a fashion. There's a flash of fangs given with the effort of enduring it, but really, it's a quick thing.

The sight of phoenix feathers, golden and warm-looking as they fall and dissipate into nothing, brings more awe than it really should, probably. She can't help it, though, given how new it is. All of it is, honestly.

"... That is both convenient and terrifying." She exhales a little laugh then, pushing herself up to join him on one of the boxes. Maybe his, if there's no others available, but she's trying to give him a little space. If anything, she wonders if her reaction is too mild - if Amore, or anyone else equally unused to magic really, would be more amazed or have more questions. She just chalks it up to too many fantasy novels. "I'm a little jealous. Scarring is a guarantee for most people bitten by vampires, you know."

[lightduties]

There isn't any other crate available, at least not any that doesn't have other things stacked on top, so he sidles over to give Lilja some space to sit with him, mulling over her words.

Terrifying, is it?

His gaze falls to his hand atop his grimoire, the wings faded. Lilja might not be a Garlean, but it serves as a reminder that magic is not a plain fact of life for her. He hopes she never has the misfortune to see more of his spells.

"I am fortunate indeed, then." It's easy to lose the lingering pull of desire when his thoughts are occupied by the nature of his magic, magic designed to slay, not salve. He lets out a quiet sigh. "Were healing my field of expertise, I needn't have taken from you. Still, magic cannot fix all injuries."

His blind eye, for example.

He glances over to Lilja. "How do you feel? It was not overly taxing, I hope?"

[gangfanged]

Of course it is; to live life is terrifying in its possibilities, if you look hard enough. As to seeing more of them... she certainly hopes she doesn't, too. Not from the other end, anyway.

"Mm... that's right though - they said we all had some... affinity for some of it when we got here, didn't they?" She immediately dismissed the thought for how clumsy she actually is with things. "Perhaps it's something you could learn, if you wanted. But— I suppose it makes sense. Were everything fixable with magic, there wouldn't be much need for anything else."

Her hands lace together then, gaze drifting to him at that question. Oh... right. He said he hadn't used it on anyone but enemies, didn't he?

"Ah, I'm fine. A little thread of fatigue, but that's all. Blood is... well. I don't know what to compare it to for you, actually. Back home, we have these energy drinks that give a burst of caffeine to keep one awake and aware, but I assume that's not really a thing for you. So it's like..." don't relate it to sex, Lilja. "Well, I can't think of anything not sexual to compare it to. Anyway, I'm fine. You? Not too dizzy or anything?"

[lightduties]

Were everything fixable with magic, there wouldn't be much need for anything else. Rhea'li turns that comment over in his head. The ancients were mages unparalleled but in the end they were undone, in an oblique way, by their own hand.

He lets out a huff of quiet laughter, stretching out his legs. "I am fine."

More than fine. Taking energy, despite dissipating it through spells, always has him feeling revitalised. Even with the blood loss, he's not feeling the typical symptoms of weakness or fatigue, so as far as he's concerned he's alright.

"You need not hold back on your commentary." He explains, gesturing with a hand, "I grew up with sailors. There's little that can embarrass me in that regard any more."

[gangfanged]

"Oh, it's not about embarrassment, really." Lilja can't help but laugh, watching him quietly. "I just learned long ago that it's not reasonable to assume others are half as enthused, let alone knowledgeable, about sex as I am. Plus, after the circumstance, it didn't seem fair to put any thoughts in your head."

She's just concerned about the effects of the bite, honestly - she's already spoken her enthusiasm, but that doesn't make it alright to hedge things in that direction, even accidentally. "But, sure. I was going to say it's a little like spending most of your night on foreplay. Winding up and up, and every moment of climax and relaxation barely touches the high." Exhaling a sigh, she leans forward and rests her chin on the back of her hand.

[lightduties]

Rhea'li laughs.

"Is that so? What of keeping someone on the brink? Never quite allowing them to spill over until finally, finally..." He makes a gesture for something exploding with both his hands, fingers spread apart.

Still, they are rather stuck until the night has finished. While he could go outside with his mask, it doesn't strike him as a particularly wise decision. And huddled in storage doesn't seem to be a very good place to update his journal.

"Bite effects or no, the night is young and there's little to do while we wait for the dawn to come. I'm not opposed to having some fun."

It's not the most ideal of places, but...

[gangfanged]

"Mm, I do enjoy a good round of edging. Little harder with me, I suppose, and when you're paying by the hour, most people aren't too gung-ho about dragging things out." Too bad, really. She was always so lenient... well, not the point, really.

Lilja does pause as he speaks, considering his words with proper brevity. It isn't as though the rest of her hunger has been sated all day, and he's plainly not lost any of his own agency.

"Well, I'm not about to refuse an open invitation. But," Leaning forward to place a hand on his thigh, the vampire presses her weight against him just so, "should we try to find somewhere a little more comfortable? I'm not too impatient to wait just yet."

[lightduties]

Rhea'li leans into it, bumping shoulders with her.

"So how long does payment in blood last me?" he jokes, resting a hand over her one on his thigh.

She's not the type he is typically attracted to -- that is, people who could crush him with their legs -- but he can appreciate her looks, even with the doll-like changes to her appearance.

Carbuncle is still there, however, and the creature begins to move about the storage room so its dim glow can light other areas of it. Aside from the door they had entered, there is one other and carbuncle waits patiently outside it.

He gestures to the door. "Shall we, then?"

[gangfanged]

There's a laugh in turn, a thoughtful hum as she tilts her head.

"Well, you're cute to top it off, so... I'll figure that out later. Hard to decide when you're not back in it for work yet, you know." she jokes right back, her other hand rising to wiggle her fingers. Menacing, truly.

They're not dissimilar in their attractions either - though Lilja has a broader preference than that overall, perhaps. But, to some measure, the carbuncle beckons. Her gaze slips off toward it and she exhales a hum, brushing her skirts aside. "So we shall. Hopefully, we've some luck and it's not just another storage room." She's not that fussed at the idea, though. There are worse places for a romp. Rising to her feet, she offers him a hand absently, though he certainly has no need for it.

[lightduties]

Rhea'li laughs; truly menacing indeed. While he doesn't need the hand, he won't turn down the offer, taking her hand with one slightly calloused as he stands.

"Shall we then?"

And so he leads the way forward, hand in hand, before opening the door, carbuncle immediately bounding through it before coming to an abrupt stop.

It's crates.

So many crates.

Crates crates crates, crates all the way down to the ceiling. In fact, there's almost no space to enter. One could fit, perhaps, one more column of crates in there.

Rhea'li glances at Lilja, bemused.

[gangfanged]

It doesn't take long to get there, and it's even less time for that sense of bad luck to kick in, isn't it? Lilja arches a brow at the crates, her gaze going up to the ceiling... and back down to the floor, where the carbuncle shimmers and lights the space, as if to say "ta-daaaaah!"

"Oh, í guðanna bænum." The exclamation is a simple one ("for the love of God," indeed), and she can't help but just... giggle. It's so stupid that there's nothing else to do, is there?

Sure, she's resourceful enough to note that it's still a usable space, but considering they're not falling all over each other in lust and need, why bother? "Well," the offers instead, "now we have more choices, right? There's the crate, the menacing wall of crates, the door, the actual walls, the floor..." as she rattles them off, her fingers raise to count each one, as if any of the options matter.

"Or we could rearrange things I guess. Don't suppose you have a preference, Rhea'li?" She doesn't, hip leaning on the doorframe. Actually— "I'm always a fan of making the biggest mess someone else has to clean up." Actually, she's terrible. Also only being half honest at best, by the quirk of her lips.

[lightduties]

He doesn't need the Echo to know that the unfamiliar words are an exclamation of exasperation.

"We are in storage, not an inn," Rhea'li replies with a wry smile. "Let us save that for when we've the comfort of a bed and someone paid to launder the sheets once we are done."

It's one thing to enjoy a good mess -- and he so does enjoy a good mess -- but at least let the person who has to deal with it be someone who is already accustomed to such things.

"As for now..." He leisurely drops to one knee before looking up at Lilja, hand sliding up her leg as he grins. "I can think of much better options than moving inventory."