Open - Ayakashi Curse

[hideawayparadise]

⌛ Who: Riley and whoever comes across him
⌛ What: Riley has been cursed by a stalker ayakashi! Now he's terrified!
⌛ When: Until he's cured and after he's moved into his new home
⌛ Where: Various locations
⌛ Warnings: Riley has a lot of trauma involving being stalked and hurt and people around him being hurt. That's sure to come out here.

A. Cursed!

Coming home late wasn't unusual for Riley. Even with their new residence being in a more unsavory location that didn't stop him from his usual pathway. So it wasn't any surprise that he was out late carrying a bag of new books and sweets on his way home. It was all fine and totally like he always experienced. Well until he realized that he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

Pausing, he stared into the distance then swallowed and started to move again. There was someone behind him. He was sure of it. His heart raced faster and faster until suddenly he found himself running and rushing for his home. Anyone who saw him would see a terrified looking young man with blond hair who kept looking behind him...


B. Paranoia

He kept trying to tell himself no one was there. He did. But every time he went anywhere he was sure someone was chasing him. It was the Fae all over again and while he was in a crowded street he suddenly took off running. There were tears in his eyes as he ran full tilt into someone. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Panicked, he looked behind him but couldn't see anyone. But he knew they were there!

"I'm sorry!" He just didn't know what else to say...


C. Cure

His adopted family decided that the best way to help their little brother was with a party. That meant that they had dragged him to Pete's and, for a change, someone had shoved alcohol into his hand. At first he was too nervous to drink it, likely even needing encouragement from his loved ones. He just kept looking around like he was convinced someone in the bar was going to get him.

But after that drink suddenly he was sloshed and giggling. Someone chasing him? What was that? Falling out of his seat at one point, he blinked then laughed again as he tried to start the second glass he'd been given. (Yes, only one drink had gotten him wasted. Just Fae things.) Seeing someone come over, he'd grin and wave his drink around without a care that he was spilling it everywhere.

Getting Riley drunk? Apparently that was the cure.

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[hideawayparadise]

"Will!" The voice told him that he was with someone safe even if he was so sure he was being followed. Just like he had been for the past six years of his life. Sobbing hard, he let himself cling to his boyfriend with all the strength his slender frame could muster.

"Someone...someone's behind me. I keep seeing shadows. I know they're there! They're going to hurt me!" He didn't even know how he knew. He just did.

[floralias]

He pulled Riley tight against him, one arm wrapping protectively around his shoulders. He may be an exile, but he's not one just any other Fae could mess with. He'd been a Lord among his folk, after all. Will's face was hard and serious as he scanned the street. But he saw no sign of anyone... Still, he kept Riley in that protective embrace as he guides them to the side of the walkway so they weren't blocking anyone.

"I won't let that happen," Will assured. "You have too many allies here for them to hurt you."

[hideawayparadise]

"I should have stayed home. I should have. But even there I can feel someone watching me through the window."

Crying still, he curled into Will, letting him guide him wherever. No one ever seemed to be able to see what was chasing him which just made him feel so much worse. He knew there was someone there! He knew they were going to hurt him! Riley choked a little on a sob.

"I'm scared, Will."

[floralias]

Will tightened his arm around Riley and stroked his hair with his free hand. He leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to the scales alone his hairline.

"It's okay to be scared, love." Riley needed to know it was safe to feel whatever he was feeling with Will. And probably most of his found family, but Will could only speak with any confidence for himself.

"I'm here. I'll be here as long as you need me to be."

[hideawayparadise]

It was okay to be scared. His dad used to say that to him all the time when he was little. Hearing it now was what he needed and he let himself cling so hard to Will where he had to keep telling himself he was definitely safe.

In a quivering whisper, he finally spoke again. "Please don't let them get me..."

Did he mean the Fae? The mysterious stalker? Did it even matter?

[floralias]

It didn't matter to Will. Whoever 'they' were, he wasn't about to let Riley go without a fight. Whatever errand Will was out doing no longer seemed important. Helping Riley felt important. So that's what he would do.

"Come on, let's get home. It must feel horrible out in the open like this."

[hideawayparadise]

Nodding against him, he shakily let go to make it easier to walk. But he stayed pressed tight against Will's side. Tears were still falling as he kept looking around like he was definitely seeing something.

How could only he see the shadow? It was always there!

[floralias]

And Will kept his arm wrapped tightly around Riley's shoulders. Both to be protective but also to show his boyfriend support. If he's scared, Will's not going to discount that or brush it off. Support was what Riley needed, not being made to feel like his feelings were invalid.

So Will held him close as he led them home, his errand forgotten. Shelley was the first to greet them and lead the pack to the couch where Will sat Riley down. Shelley laid her snout on Riley's leg and the other dogs took up guarding positions around them.

"Do you need anything, love? Some water or something?" If not, Will was staying glued to his side.

Oh! And there's George seeming to materialize from nowhere taking up a perch behind Riley on the back of the couch.

[hideawayparadise]

Grateful to Will and pets, he tried to stoop crying now. Even if he jumped when he was sure he saw someone at the window. Covering his face, he sank further into the couch. This was...it was so hard.

"Can...can we cover the window? Please?"

[floralias]

"Of course," Will assured in a soothing tone. He stood up and pulled the draperies closed. It darkened the room a bit, but Will didn't mind if Riley was okay with it. When he returned, he wrapped his arms around Riley and pulled him against his chest. "I'm here."

[hideawayparadise]

Wrapping his arms around Will's waist, he buried his face in his chest. "Xie and P'Kinn think it's the magic of this place. So I tried to go out because it couldn't be real. But...it feels so real. I know it's there and I know it wants to hurt me."

And the fact that it felt so real was terrifying for him.

[floralias]

"Whatever it is will have to go through me first if it wants to get to you, love." Though he didn't see any sign of the Fae or anything else following Riley. Maybe Kinn and Xie were on the right track. He hasn't been here long enough to know what sort of weird things the magic of Nippon can do. Whatever was going on, he was prepared in his heart for a real threat that must be faced!

[hideawayparadise]

Grateful for Will protecting him, he tried so hard to not be overwhelmed. He fully trusted his boyfriend just like he did the other two. But it was hard when the curse had such a hold over him. His heart wanted to trust and relax but the magic simply wouldn't allow him to do that. Still, Riley was trying very hard despite that. "...thank you."

[floralias]

"Feel what you feel," he said softly, reaching up to stroke Riley's hair. "I'll be right here to look out for you." It's all he could promise. To be there, to do his best to protect him from anything. Nothing less.

[hideawayparadise]

"I haven't been this scared in so long. Almost a year now." Because he was sure that George would allow it, he gathered the cat up to hold him close and bury his face into his fur. Despite the fact that their cat was so aloof and very, well, cat, he got the cuddles that he needed right now without any complaints.

The animals knew what he needed after all. Just like Will did. "I hate it so much..."

[floralias]

They know in a way a lot of people wouldn't. George not only allowed the snuggles, but kneaded Riley and purred quietly in an effort to soothe him. He's usually aloof, but like any good cat, he knows when his people need him. The dogs, too. They were very protective of their people and currently had worried little faces. But they were prepared to keep watch over Riley!

Will, too. "I know it's not easy," he murmured, still stroking Riley's hair. "For what it's worth, love, I don't think whatever is chasing you now is Fae."

[hideawayparadise]

Not Fae. As scared as he was that was truly a relief. Nodding, he let himself sink more against Will. Maybe it really was some curse from an ayakashi after all. That meant that it had to go away eventually. They always went away eventually. Right?

"It's not the Fae. That's good," he whispered against George.

[floralias]

Will breathed out a quiet sigh and rocked a little with Riley in his arms. It hurt to see his boyfriend like this, so fearful and paranoid. But he had good reason to be, given his past. Will wished there was something more he could to, something that might actually ease Riley's distress, even a little. Instead, he just held him close and kept lookout for whatever it might be stalking him.

[hideawayparadise]

"Can...can we talk about something else? Anything? It doesn't help a lot but it's better than thinking about how I know someone is outside the door." Only if he had Will check then no one was going to be there. A fact that freaked him out more than if there actually were someone there. At least if someone were there then he could know Will would take them out immediately.

[floralias]

"I've been trying to train George to sit on Keats when he gets tired on walks. To very little success." He still can't believe their pets had the audacity to deny them such a cute thing!!

[hideawayparadise]

That was a good topic to pick. Riley listened to the couple of sentences and sort of kneaded more than pet George. Right now he was so grateful to the patience of this cat because he needed this so badly. "Does he keep jumping off?"

[floralias]

"I can't even get him to jump on," he whined softly. "Maybe I should get some treats and see if I can lure him up on his own."

[hideawayparadise]

"Keats doesn't mind? It's just George?" Maybe treats would be the answer then. Give him incentive to jump up there. It had trained George quickly enough for adjusting to their new place, that was for sure.

[floralias]

"Keats doesn't seem to mind. He sits still when I try to put George on him. But George jumps right off." He's very frustrated by this turn of events. The pets are still denying them this cuteness! How dare they?

[hideawayparadise]

"It's too bad he's almost the same size as Poe. He'd probably do it for Poe." But given the fact that the dog was only a little bit bigger than the cat it wouldn't work at all. Both would end up miserable instead.

Reaching out for one of Will's hands blindly, he found it then threaded their fingers together so he could hold it.