hidden behind a smile

semi-selective indie Fai RP blog

[fluorite-moon-blog]

kurowoof:

Kurogane didn’t know how to feel about watching tears well up in those icy-blue eyes. Centuries of living, full of surprises, hardship, loneliness, perhaps regret and sorrow as well plaguing the mage’s life, yet there was something Kurogane said that struck everything down and revealed this vulnerable side of him. It was mostly protectiveness that he felt burned hot in his chest.

As quickly as he felt it, the next fearful words out of the magician shattered something inside of him just as quickly. The dragon’s pupils shrank and his eyes widened, showing his surprise.Now he felt a mixture of emotions.

And he hated it. The feeling of loss, confusion, denial, and a few other things melting together was something he couldn’t take control of. Amid this cloud of emotion, Kurogane’s hand fell away from Fai’s face, but his body remained close.

“How do you know?”  He asked low and serious. Magic could do a lot of things: it could curse, manipulate, revive, harm, it could even kill, but Kurogane has never heard about magic killing its own host without the castor willing it. It sounded more like a disease when he thought about how it must be slowly destroying him from the inside out.

Fai seemed to shrink away, wrapping his arms tight around himself and turning his eyes away from Kurogane. He regretted the words the moment they’d come out of his mouth and moreso with each passing second. The emotions that had flashed so briefly in the dragon’s eyes made his heart ache in his chest.

“Every time I use my magic, it hurts. More and more each time.” He remembered the first time he noticed it; after casting a spell it felt as though something cracked let loose a blaze of fire in his chest. It had stolen his breath away but he hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Perhaps he’d simply over-exerted himself. Then it happened again and again, growing worse each time. “I feel as if it’s burning me up from the inside out. One day I fear I’ll be nothing but ash.”

He could feel the other man’s eyes boring into him but he dared not look up. Fai doubted he could handle whatever he found in that gaze. “I could stop using magic outright, live my life like a normal man, but it would only delay the inevitable,” he said, putting great effort into ensuring his voice didn’t crack with emotion. “I’ve lived a great deal longer than any human should, yet I still fear my end.”

If he was honest, he didn’t know enough about dragons to know if they could die of natural causes. Would age one day wear away at Kurogane? Or would he remain ageless and eternal should no foolhardy adventurer with a sharp blade pierce his heart? Fai only knew that, as a human, he had lived far longer than he had any right.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

kurowoof:

That wasn’t how it was at all. Well, at least not for the dragon. If more humans came, he just killed them too. The more he killed, the more fearful humans became of him and eventually, they feared him too much to attack. Simple. The fact that they destroyed everything they didn’t understand proved how insignificant they really were.

Sure, the dragon destroyed most things that got on his nerves, but he was at the top of the food chain. He earned that right because he was the strongest.

It wasn’t the same for the magician though. He had a bleeding heart. In contrast to the dragon, who didn’t give a shit about who he burnt to a crisp, this idiot actually wanted to be kind to them and would rather run and look like a coward than face them and risk hurting anyone. The dragon would be more than happy to do the bloody work for him, but the idiot probably wouldn’t like that either. Oddly enough, Kurogane found himself actually caring about what the magician thought of him.

“Fine.” He sighed in resignation. It was obvious that the mage has already made the decision.

“Run if you want. But you can’t spend an eternity running. Whatever it is you’re running from, it’s going to catch up to you. Unless you want to die, you’re going to have to stand your ground and face it eventually.” He warned and then stood up.

“And know this…” Kurogane took Fai’s chin between his thumb and his index finger, staring down at him with a fiery determination, “…I’d come searching for you. And I won’t stop until I find you. I protect what’s mine even if I have to fly to the ends of the world for it.”

Fai didn’t tend to get flustered too easily. He was over 300 years old and he’d been through a lot in that time. Yet somehow Kurogane always knew exactly what to do to bring a fiery blush to Fai’s pale face. His eyes stayed fixed on the dragon’s, unable to look away. He knew Kurogane meant every word and it made his heart flutter in his chest.

“Kurogane…” He all but whispered it. Despite trying to keep his dignity, his eyes stung with the beginnings of tears. Damn it all, he didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to walk away and never see this incredible creature again. No one had ever made him feel so alive and so wanted.

But the fact remained… “I think my magic is killing me.”

The words felt as heavy as lead as he forced them from his lips. Being so truthful and to the point wasn’t in his nature. He would hint and suggest and hope that whoever he was talking to would come to the conclusion on their own. Outright honesty was… difficult. Especially with something so important that could change things so drastically.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

kurowoof:

Kurogane narrowed his eyes. His opinion of humans was already as low as it could possibly be. They were insignificant—mere flies compared to other creatures in this world yet they fooled themselves into thinking they could command the wind and tides. A pyre? Please. A fire mustered up by the entire village would still be a candle in comparison to the force of nature Kurogane unleash upon them. Human arrogance grated his nerves. So knowing that they were also threatening someone that was his made a fire burn in the pit of his throat.

“ That fire you were putting out wasn’t started by you, was it? ” He growled. The dragon had been willing to set aside his distaste for the villagers after receiving the food, but now he suddenly didn’t feel inclined to leave them be.

They wouldn’t be so irritating if they were dead.

The magician’s mercy towards them was almost as frustrating. Kurogane has felt that powerful magic humming underneath his skin when they touched, sparking when he wrung him tight with pleasure. The idiot knew that he was powerful enough to defend himself, yet he refused to.

“ Why? You’re a magician. Are you that much of an idiot to run from their pitchforks instead of standing your ground? ”

Fai shook his head in answer to Kurogane’s first question. It wasn’t him and it certainly wasn’t an accident. The villagers must have known that fire wouldn’t kill him; it was likely meant as a warning.

He heaved a sigh, hearing the anger rising in the dragon’s voice. Fai was well aware he held enough magic power to level the village with barely any effort. However, murdering an entire town’s worth of people would only bring more trouble. Even without that, it simply wasn’t in Fai’s nature.

“It would be a lonely life if I killed everyone who disliked me,” Fai said calmly. “I could destroy that entire village, I know that. Then I would be alone. No one to trade with. No one to talk to. I can’t live like you, alone on a mountain eating nothing but raw meat and sleeping by a pile of gold.”

He got back to his feet, starting to pace anxiously. “Besides, then the local lord would send men to subdue me. I could kill them, and more would come. Stronger and stronger soldiers until eventually I could take no more, or one got a lucky shot in.” His gaze focused on the red eyes that watched him, smouldering with rage. “The same goes for you.”

Kurogane wouldn’t likely see it that way. Dragons were prideful creatures, convinced of their own invincibility. He’d seen enough skeletons decorating the halls of kings to know they were far from that.

“Humans are afraid of things they don’t understand,” he’d said it before but he’d say it again. “It’s simply their nature. They see power outside of their understanding and their reaction is to destroy it before it can do them harm.”

He stopped pacing, eyes darkening and staring at the ground before him. "Magic was once so common. When I was a child, I can remember blacksmiths heating their forges with a snap of their fingers. Housewives making the wash do itself. Children enchanting brooms to fly about so they could ride them.” His voice went quieter when he spoke again. "It isn’t like that anymore."

[fallenprometheus]

When in trouble, fake a smile.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

kurowoof:

He took immediate notice to the magician wandering over to the den where his bed, so like a hungry predator (or a faithful pet), Kurogane followed. Crimson eyes wandered up and down the lean body he’s come to know so intimately, remembering how sensual it looked when he’d arch and writhe in pleasure. It became a great routine for them: meeting at the base of the mountain, flying them up, and then falling for that intoxicating scent and soft skin.

The story was the scenario Kurogane figured happened. He wasn’t grumpy about it though. He just hated waiting. The dragon had little-to-no patients and a very short fuse, especially when it was something he looks forward to for days.

He noticed a difference in the mage’s posture and body language immediately when he sat down. There was something on his mind. Kurogane supposed that he could have anticipated that. After all, this was their last meeting. Plus Kurogane was soon going to cease leaving his cave for the rest of winter. With a short sigh, Kurogane sat himself down in his nest of suspended furs. His eyes stayed forward, eying an insignificant groove in the smelted, charcoal-black cave wall.  

“ You’re not thinking about leaving the town, are you? ” He asked. It’d been something Kurogane had been thinking about for the past two weeks and he had a sneaking suspicion that it was related to the topic Fai wished to bring up. If he had a history of hopping from place to place like a nomad, what was stopping him from doing it again once their arrangement was complete? The big problem was that the dragon didn’t want that at all. He wanted the magician to stay here. With him.

Fai’s eyes widened and he blinked up at the dragon a couple of times. He was surprised Kurogane had seen through him so easily. Clearly he was underestimating how sharp the creature was. Though he supposed it was a relatively simple conclusion to come to if Kurogane had paid any attention to what Fai had said about himself previously.

“Yes,” he replied, looking down at his hands where they rested on his lap. “Things are getting worse in the village. Normally I could stay a few years, sometimes a decade or so, before this would happen. Unfortunately when one starts having it off with a dragon, tensions rise much quicker.”

He didn’t want to sound like he was blaming Kurogane, or that he in any way regretted what they were doing, but it was true that their relationship was a problem in the eyes of other humans. He’d always found any negotiation or contact with non-human entities tended to be a catalyst to disaster. Fai didn’t enjoy killing, so he always tried to find a different way to settle things when there was confrontation between humans and other creatures. Unfortunately, humans would rather he slaughter whatever the problem is and move on.

“I want to stay, but I don’t know how long it’ll be before they start building a pyre or some such,” Fai explained, wringing his hands nervously. “I know I’m fully capable of defending myself, but I’d rather not hurt anyone. Especially with…”

He trailed off very suddenly. He hadn’t mentioned to anyone what his magic was doing to him. How it hurt every time he used it, how it felt like it was burning him up from the inside out. Sometimes he could see it crackling under his skin, like lava ready to break through the surface. It grew worse every time and he feared if he wasn’t careful it would kill him.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

kurowoof:

The smell of smoke itself wasn’t suspicious, it was the fact that the magician never smelled like it until after he spent time in the cave. On top of that, he tried to brush it off instead of giving an explanation. Whether he was in a burning house or was sitting near a fire before coming here, it was obvious that the idiot didn’t want to talk about it, so the worst the dragon did was give an offhanded snarl for having his nose swatted at. It wasn’t a topic worth prodding at.  

The beat of his wings against the air seemed to ring in Kurogane’s ears. It was a sign of his need to sleep soon. For now, it was something he could easily power through, but within a couple days, flying might be too troublesome for him to attempt. Before that day, he’d need to hoard some extra food to gobble down before his seasonal nap. Nothing made him drift off to sleep easier than a full stomach.

Kurogane immediately released a powerful torpedo of fire into the cave when he returned, forcing away the cold that was gripping at his joints and heating the cave walls. Deep inside the cave where the tunnels were too narrow for him to fly anymore, the beast touched down.

Once the magician dismounted him, he willed his body to transform out of the scales and back into his warm-blooded body. At least in this form, warmth insulated him for longer. The extra muscle he gained from his increased diet certainly helped.

“Why were you so late?” He asked right away, cutting to the chase. A burning sensation from his fire breath left him clearing his throat, trying to get rid of the irritating tingle. The human body was good for some things, but it was still annoyingly feeble.

Fai found himself grinning excitedly as they launched into the air. He noticed that Kurogane’s movements seemed a little slower this time but he knew it was likely because he needed to hibernate very soon.

Once they landed and Fai hopped down off the dragon, he watched the other’s form shrink and meld down into his human form. Nude as always, but Fai found himself less concerned about it now. He’d tried to explain once that Kurogane could keep warmer longer if he’d try some clothes but it fell on deaf ears.

Fai almost laughed when Kurogane spoke. “Hello to you too, Kuro-grump,” he teased, heading towards the den where he could sit. He knew the dragon would follow behind him. Humming in thought, he wondered how honest he should be. Wrangling an angry dragon to prevent him from slaughtering a village didn’t sound like fun.

“I was putting out a fire,” he decided to say. “I had to make sure the embers were all out so it wouldn’t go up again while I’m here.” He could have easily put it out in an instant if he’d used magic, but he wasn’t interested in the pain that would bring him.

Fai sat on the edge of Kurogane’s bed and took off his gloves to pet the soft furs that lay over it. He knew they needed to talk, for once about something serious, but the thought left a tingle of nerves in his gut.

[clampersonals]

[fluorite-moon-blog]

kurowoof:

Kurogane had to admit. He was in deeper than he ever intended to be.

The magician was a treasure more valuable than any jewels in his hoard of spoils. The agreement started with the intention to exploit the villagers and get some company from the pretty thing they sent up the mountain. The dragon went from being sated by food and sex each week to wanting more. He wanted the magician to just stay here with him. Every time he left, a pang of loneliness fell over him. The blond was quirky, bubbly, sometimes irritating, but had a silver tongue and centuries of wisdom. Kurogane liked it. He liked that there was someone who could match, sometimes even best him, in wit and strength. And their sex… fuck. He almost wanted to force himself not to hibernate just so that he could keep his lover warm and satisfied in his nest all winter long.

Speaking of hibernation, the dragon was beginning to feel that tell-tale sluggishness in his bones. Daily tasks were only going to become harder as each day got darker and colder. In about a week, he wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes open anymore.

Where the hell was that stupid mage? It was the evening of their last week and he should have seen the stone glowing by now. If anyone saw the dragon right now, they might assume that he was actually sad: lying on his front, wings flat, and staring at rock that was devoid of light. He wasn’t sad, he was just bored. And hungry.

Therefore, when icy blue light illuminated from the stone, it took no longer than half a second for the dragon to speed out the cave and dart down the mountain like a piercing arrow.

As usual, he snatched the protesting sacrifice between his teeth and swallowed him first. With his meal out of the way, Kurogane gave a loud huff, showing his distaste for Fai being late. A particular smell then caught his attention, making the beast bring his snout closer and harmlessly sniff the mage. A thickness of smoke (that wasn’t Kurogane’s own) clouded the irresistible scent of flowers the mage usually had on him.

Kurogane always made for a striking silhouette swooping down the mountain towards him. When he landed, snow blasted about and temporarily obscured the mage’s vision. Fai always felt a little bad for the unfortunate sheep the villagers chose to sacrifice. At least Kurogane had the mercy to make sure it was dead before swallowing it whole.

Fai could tell the dragon was irritated with him from the way he huffed and side-eyed him. The blond just smiled and waved in greeting. However the large muzzle suddenly pressed closer and sniffed at him. Ah, Fai thought. He caught on to the smoke a lot faster than I expected.

He waved a hand to swat the dragon’s nose away. “Sniffing around me in that form, how rude,” Fai laughed. “Are you going to let me up or not?”

Without actually waiting for permission, he waved his hand and glowing runic forms surrounded his legs. With a rush of air he was lifted up off the ground and he settled onto the dragon’s shoulders.He was a lot more accustomed to flying now, even enjoying it instead of feeling terrified. As soon as the light of the magic faded, he felt the sharp pain in his chest and burning in his extremities that seemed to come with the use of his magic these days. “Shall we? Or would you prefer to stay out here freezing?”

Fai could only hope his excuses would work, though the dragon was generally too sharp for that. He didn’t exactly want Kurogane burning down the village. Not only for the sake of the people there, who simply didn’t understand magic and therefore feared it, but also because the local lord might take offense and start sending soldiers to slay the dragon.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

@kurowoof

Fai had to admit. He was in deeper than he'd ever intended to be.

He found himself looking forward to each sacrifice. Bathing in concoctions of flowers and herbs so he’d smell nice, growing his hair longer because the dragon seemed to like it, daydreaming about the absolutely mind-blowing sex he got every time they met. He found himself wondering if maybe he could simply stay with the dragon instead of returning to the village. Then he reminded himself he needed more than raw meat and a cave full of treasure to survive.

As his affection for Kurogane grew, the tension in the village rose as well. Many wouldn’t speak to him, some merchants wouldn’t sell to him. The only person he could consider a friend was the elderly woman who told him about Nihon. She taught him more of the language and customs, the wizard finding his time learning with her to be fascinating. He only hoped it wouldn’t bring her trouble later.

It was time for the last of the sheep sacrifices. It was tied up outside and Fai had been finishing his bath, smelling sweetly of roses and herbs. It was when he was pulling on his clothes that he first smelled the smoke.

Fai had hurried outside and found the thatched roof of his already somewhat dilapidated shack to be crackling with flame. Footprints in the snow trailed away from the scene, and it was all too obvious it was no accident. It took Fai a while to get all the flames out and make sure the smoking embers wouldn’t light up again. He smelled more of smoke than rose now, but he doubted Kurogane would mind.

It wouldn’t be too long now before they'd be trying to string Fai up in the town square and light the fire at his feet instead. As much as he hated to admit it, it would be time for him to move on soon. He wondered if he should even tell the dragon. Kurogane wouldn’t likely take kindly to knowing Fai wouldn’t be there after his hibernation. The dragon looked at him as if he was the most precious treasure in his collection. He seemed to loathe letting Fai leave every time.

He was a little later than usual by the time he got to the foot of the mountain with the uncooperative sheep. He could feel the magic from the fluorite he’d gifted to the dragon pulsing with a familiar energy. Within moments Kurogane would likely be swooping down to meet him, potentially for the last time.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

ooc;;

*pokes head in* Hey guys! I live! Happy New Year!

[kurowoof-blog]

fluorite-moon:

“Well Big Doggy needs his Big Kitty, doesn’t he~?” Fai wiggled his eyebrows suggestively until Kurogane tossed more leaves on him. He yelped and then began laughing again, tossing leaves back.

Fai had made a discovery in this world. While it mostly appeared like Watanuki’s Japan, the technology was miles ahead, more on par with Piffle. In a shop full of costumes he’d discovered that they made animal ears that actually reacted to the wearer and their emotions. They melded in almost seamlessly to a point that they looked completely real. He looked forward to teasing Kurogane and watching his new ears flatten with annoyance. It would be adorable. Plus they had tails that worked much the same way. Fai had gotten himself a cat set to go with Kurogane’s wolf ears. And a collar with a bell for good measure.

That… didn’t really give him anything, but knowing the mage, it was something purposefully cryptic. He was switching out the vampire outfit for a cat one? Was he going to wear a collar in bed? Or was he just trying to make it sound seductive in order to trick Kurogane into dressing up like a dog?

One thing was for certain though: if the mage tried to pull a fast one on him, it wouldn’t go unpunished.

“Whatever that means, it better be good.” He grumbled. His eyes then drifted to the rather adorable way golden hair was sticking up everywhere thanks to the leaves stuck in it. Kurogane felt a mild sense of triumph in giving him that disheveled state.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

Kurogane had seemed to pause in his leaf-tossing, and Fai glanced curiously at him. The man seemed to just be observing him for a moment. The blond felt almost shy under the watchful gaze. Sometimes he wished he could read minds.

To break the quiet moment, he gathered up a huge armful of leaves and hurled them at the other man. Following close behind them, he pounced Kurogane like a cat. “Boo!”

[kurowoof-blog]

fluorite-moon:

“It’s totally different!” Fai laughed, trying to block the leaves from his face. He then grabbed a wad of leaves and tossed them back in retaliation. “Kuro-wanwan will look adorable!”

He paused in tossing leaves to smile mischievously up at the ninja. “Because I have something special for you if you co-operate~” His tone was teasing, clearly communicating it would be something for after the kids had gone to bed.

Kurogane’s arm stopped in mid-air, hand still clutching onto a handful of leaves. He knew what the blond meant for it to sound, and more often than not, it was what he was thinking, but there had been a couple of times when he was tricked into doing some weird arts and crafts thing instead.

“Special how?” His voice dropped, demonstrating his interest. He then dropped to his knees and resumed the little play fight they were having. After all, the leaves had nothing to do with what they were talking about.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

“Well Big Doggy needs his Big Kitty, doesn’t he~?” Fai wiggled his eyebrows suggestively until Kurogane tossed more leaves on him. He yelped and then began laughing again, tossing leaves back. 

Fai had made a discovery in this world. While it mostly appeared like Watanuki’s Japan, the technology was miles ahead, more on par with Piffle. In a shop full of costumes he’d discovered that they made animal ears that actually reacted to the wearer and their emotions. They melded in almost seamlessly to a point that they looked completely real. He looked forward to teasing Kurogane and watching his new ears flatten with annoyance. It would be adorable. Plus they had tails that worked much the same way. Fai had gotten himself a cat set to go with Kurogane’s wolf ears. And a collar with a bell for good measure. 

[catiacchi]

★★ Happy Halloween !! ★★

[kurainui]

Bites you to show affection

[kurowoof-blog]

fluorite-moon:

Fai yelped as he was unceremoniously dumped out of his chair, landing on his hands and knees in the leaves. With a laugh, he turned and sat on the ground, grinning up at his lover. “Of course not!” he chimed. “A werewolf is very different.”

He’d found some wolf ears, a tail, and hairy, clawed gloves. Plus, he was sure Mokona still had a plaid shirt or two in Kurogane’s size. They fit the dad look very well.

“That’s barely different!” He argued as he kicked up some more leaves, making more rain on top of the mage… who was dressed as a vampire. Who was actually once a vampire. Kurogane didn’t do cute. He wasn’t cute. Cute was the princess fawning over kittens. Or kittens fawning over the princess.

“What makes you think I’m actually going to put it on?”

[fluorite-moon-blog]

“It’s totally different!” Fai laughed, trying to block the leaves from his face. He then grabbed a wad of leaves and tossed them back in retaliation. “Kuro-wanwan will look adorable!”

He paused in tossing leaves to smile mischievously up at the ninja. “Because I have something special for you if you co-operate~” His tone was teasing, clearly communicating it would be something for after the kids had gone to bed.  

[kurowoof-blog]

fluorite-moon:

Fai huffed, swatting the leaves away before they reached him. “That’s mean, Kuro-rin,” he said with a pout. Then his expression split into a grin and he moved to clear off the chair beside Kurogane’s. “Don’t worry, I’ve got one for you anyway.”

With the damp leaves clear, he flopped down in it with his legs curled under him. “You’ll look very cute~” Comfortable and relaxed in his chair, he gave a flick of his fingers and the wind whipped up. The strong breeze gathered up all the leaves around them and dumped them all over Kurogane and the chair he’d just cleared.

His arms came up to shield himself against the shower of leaves that got dumped on him, but one of the dried things still somehow ended up in his mouth. More ended up in his shirt and stuck in his hair. He gave a low growl and darted his eye over to the mage.

“And what, pray tell, would that be?” He stepped behind the mage’s chair, lifted it up, and then forcefully dumped its contents into the pile of leaves on the grass. “I swear, if you say a dog…”

[fluorite-moon-blog]

Fai yelped as he was unceremoniously dumped out of his chair, landing on his hands and knees in the leaves. With a laugh, he turned and sat on the ground, grinning up at his lover. “Of course not!” he chimed. “A werewolf is very different.”

He’d found some wolf ears, a tail, and hairy, clawed gloves. Plus, he was sure Mokona still had a plaid shirt or two in Kurogane’s size. They fit the dad look very well. 

[kurowoof-blog]

fluorite-moon:

Fai hummed, dissatisfied with Kurogane’s answer. He wiggled around a bit so his arm wasn’t in the way and nibbled at Kurogane’s neck with the fake fangs. They were dull and completely incapable of doing any harm, but it was fun. “Are you sure~?” he teased, nuzzling the other man’s neck. “Cause sometimes I miss it.”

The mage slid off Kurogane’s back and landed gracefully. “But it’s always such a pain to get you to dress up! You should enjoy yourself more.”

He flinched a bit when the dull plastic nudged his neck. It felt weird, but it certainly brought back memories of pin-prick sharp teeth sinking into his skin, which was always a prelude to dizziness of being deprived of blood in his head and heat stirring in his gut.

I enjoy watching you enjoy yourself. He thought, but didn’t say. Watching the mage, the kid, and even the meatbun laugh and be carefree was the one thing that gave him peace. “I don’t need costumes to enjoy myself.” He answered while gathering up the wad of leaves that collected on the chair, then flicked them at the mage’s face with a teasing smirk.

[fluorite-moon-blog]

Fai huffed, swatting the leaves away before they reached him. “That’s mean, Kuro-rin,” he said with a pout. Then his expression split into a grin and he moved to clear off the chair beside Kurogane’s. “Don’t worry, I’ve got one for you anyway.”

With the damp leaves clear, he flopped down in it with his legs curled under him. “You’ll look very cute~” Comfortable and relaxed in his chair, he gave a flick of his fingers and the wind whipped up. The strong breeze gathered up all the leaves around them and dumped them all over Kurogane and the chair he’d just cleared.