Here for Rain

[0rainy0muses0]

    "Yeah...it was a surprise to me too." Allen somehow manages to keep his tone diplomatic, not wanting to set them off. He smiles when Ozzie hugs him, resting a hand against those messy locks and ruffling before he pulls back.

    But he very nearly loses it when the Earl scoops up both twins, and they hug him. They hug Mana's body, with Mana's face, that looks at him with barely disguised, gleeful cruelty. Something in his heart cracks, and Allen has to bite his tongue until the coppery taste of blood slicks across his tastebuds. He thinks he might burst into tears otherwise; seeing them where he once was in Mana's arms.

    Allen smiles. Bland, kind, utterly disarming if one doesn't know the subtle cues in his body language. It's such a normal looking thing, but to Allen it feels like greasepaint smeared across his skin ─ hiding his true self from the audience that is the world. They shout at him to dance, and dance he shall. Like a marionette on strings.

    "I see it." He nods, falling into step beside the other three. Hand clasped behind his back, head tilting ever so slightly. He cannot fully escape his true nature ─ mirror shine eyes glitter with mischief. "It was so nice of your Papa extend an invitation to eat, and to pay for me too!"

    If nothing else, Allen can drain the Earl's wallet dry or watch him try to explain that no, he won't be paying for his hated enemy to the twins who would undoubtedly be upset on his behalf. Squirm and suffer, Millennium Earl.

[waveobeans]

Oh the Earl can see his little ploy, run his wallet dry and laugh after the fact. Sure, he had money. Plenty of it! Enough to buy more than one fancy mansion, no doubt. But it was the principle of the thing now. Paying for his enemy to eat his happy fill. His brow twitched, a sign of some annoyance that would normally be hidden by that ever-smiling suit.

But the twitch went just as quickly as it arrived, and the Earl gave a hearty laugh. “I don’t recall agreeing to pay for you… I just invited you to tag along.❤️” He figured that would be that, and Allen would be funding his own bill. But while Allen had accounted for the twins being upset with that… the Earl had not.

Sylas gasped oh so dramatically, and Ozzie pushed back a bit to look at their father. “But best cousin not have money!”

Sylas was quick to follow behind on his twin’s words. “Stinky drunk takes it all!”

“Stinky drunk…?❤️” The Earl muttered, before thoughts of Cross formed in his mind. Right. That old fool that Mana fancied. That made sense, he was a bit of a mooch even back then. Before he could ease his son’s worries, Ozzie had effectively wiggled out of his arm and padded back over to Allen. He dug in the pockets of his human form, and pulled out a little pouch that jingled. He held it up with both hands to his beloved cousin, a big smile on his little face.

“Best cousin have mine, don’t need! Cousin need more.” Well. This was irritating. Either the Earl let this happen, and be perceived as the dad who would let his son give up his pocket money because he himself was too stingy. Or, he takes back his statement and lets Allen Walker eat his fill with reckless abandon.

He really should’ve just let the brat’s brain cook from that fever all that time ago.

The Earl leaned forward, Sylas holding secure as he pat one big hand on Ozzie’s back, bumping him to keep walking to the restaurant. “Oh, put that away. I was just teasing~❤️”

There was a long, drawn out ‘ooooh’ noise from Ozzie, as he tucked his coin pouch away and nodded. Then grinned once more, walking while half clinging to one of the Earl’s legs. “Best papa. Papa so silly.”

[0rainy0muses0]

    Laios wavers a little, but eventually sits as well. Across from Kabru, cross-legged. They have to start somewhere, and he's already taller than the other man. No need to make it even more pronounced by standing over him. So this is Kabru, direct and honest.

    He'll make sure to pay attention.

    "That...does seem like a thing Marcille would do." Laios agrees. Probably the rest of them as well. Laios would take the words at face value and accept the friendship right away. It doesn't make sense to him why someone would lie about that. It's so weird.

    "Oh, no. I tried doing that when I was younger...copying people, I mean." He nods, the memories flooding back. "I didn't like it. It felt weird and I would get made fun of either way, so I stopped doing it altogether. You do it all the time?" He rubs at his hair, deep in thought.

    "Isn't it...exhausting?" Laios asks now, looking at Kabru with sympathy in his pale eyes. "Aren't you tired, like, all the time? I know I would be. Having to pretend day in and day out sounds like torture. So why do you do it to yourself? When can you just be Kabru?"

[waveobeans]

It brings him some ease when the other sits down as well. And while he would normally tuck that away and keep his face a mask of neutrality… he lets that ease show. It’s still manual, unfortunately, but he had to retrain his body to react to things openly. At least with Laios.

So he leaned forward a bit, shoulders relaxing, the tension in his muscles easing. Small things, but things that he was intimately aware of.

Talking about the pure exhaustion of putting on an act all the time makes him chuckle. A slight thing, one where he dips his head down a bit, giving a nod along with it. It’s strange. Letting himself be reactive. Like his mind had associated reacting with bad things. It was leaving a tightness in his chest, a lump in his throat. But he cared enough about Laios to push the discomfort down.

“It did, at least at first. Eventually I got good at it though, and just started doing it all the time, without thinking. Then it just… became part of me, I guess. Like when you get ready in the morning. Brush your hair, clean up, get dressed… I just added a step. ‘Put on my mask’. And I just lived like that.”

The why gave him pause. Eyes moved down. “I just want people to like me, I guess. I find people so interesting, really. Elves, dwarves, tall-men, all of them. Like how monsters are for you, people are for me. So when saying the right things, and doing the right motions make it easy to get closer to people… I do it. Though, I, uh… don’t really… ‘just be’ because of it. I guess. Not really sure what ‘just Kabru’ means anymore… I’m trying though! Right now, I mean…”

Damn. ‘Just Kabru’ was… very awkward. There was even a dark flush on his already dark skin.

[0rainy0muses0]

    "Then! Why! Didn't! You! Just! Say! So! In! The! First! Place?!" Laios punctuates every word with a stomp of his foot, having to release his pent up anger somehow. It's not the most constructive way, but also not the most destructive. It's neutral. Neutral is good. He's not punching Kabru like how he did with Shuro, that's good.

    Besides, if it came down to it, he's pretty sure that Kabru would win; especially since they've both been eating and resting. He's seen Kabru fight. The other man is really good at it! Just...not against monsters.

    Laios huffs and pouts, but continues to listen. It...might not be a bad idea, to learn from one another. Falin was his go-to, but she was more of a translator than someone trying to help him understand. She may have been protecting him in the only way she knew how...

    The blonde visibly softens at the apology, sensing no sarcasm or duplicity. Of course, he can't always trust his intuition regarding humans. But he wants to. He wants to like Kabru, wants to be his friend. "I'm sorry too...for making you eat monsters. Though I'm only half sorry because that's also your fault. I want to be friends too...but real friends. Not fake friends like Shuro, or like those people who scammed Falin and I for money, saying that they were sick and hurt."

    He's dense, not stupid. It clicked eventually, but once it did it was too late and those people had already begun doing bad things with the extra money they'd gotten from the siblings.

[waveobeans]

“I’ll take half sorry.” Kabru mutters, feeling the tug of a smile at the corners of his lips. A real one, not the sort that he throws on to seem like a disarming and charming individual.

Steadily, he stretched out a bit. Legs out and no longer crossed, hands in his lap. Sitting upright. Honesty. Straightforward. If he wanted to be friends with Laios, he needed to be very direct. Which… was very, very unusual for him actually.

“I didn’t say so from the start, because most others don’t think the way you or I do. Like… say I went up to your companion Marcille, and just said- ‘I want to be friends.’ I think she’d probably assume I was up to something, or assume I was a creep. Which is what most people would figure, actually. It’s how people work, unfortunately. Many will never assume what someone says is the full and honest truth.” Kabru isn’t used to this sort of genuine talk. The breaking down of his thoughts and methods, dissecting how behavior commonly plays.

“I assumed you were the same- like most people. But you aren’t. Our brains are different… I’ve just trained myself to pretend mine works like everyone else's. I wouldn’t recommend it, really. It’s annoying… seeing an interaction between two people and picking it apart in your head. Breaking it down to the barest of bones, and mimicking it. That’s all it is really. Mimicking. Copying. I mirror them, and they like me because they like themselves. Nothing but a copycat.”

[0rainy0muses0]

    Laios doesn't want to hear it. He really doesn't. He wants to slap his hands over his ears and repeat as many disturbing monster facts as he knows until Kabru leaves him alone. But he doesn't; he shoves his own feelings aside once again because Chilchuck said he should make an effort to listen to people more. Fine.

    And he does. He keeps his gaze far away from Kabru as the other man talks. And talks. And talks. He won't lie; many of the finer details goes in one ear and out the other. What he does absorb are the important bits: Kabru was considered different and isolated because of that. A dungeon broke and his mother was killed. He doesn't like monsters because monsters killed his mother. Laios physically flinches when Kabru expresses a fear of him, because that's familiar too.

    He waits until Kabru stops talking, mulling over the facts in his head, and latches onto the one that they share in common.

    "I've never fit in anywhere, ever since I was born. I didn't talk until I was two and half years old. When I did start, it was in complete sentences. People thought I was bewitched, that I was a changeling. They would have thrown me into a fire if my mother hadn't stopped them." Laios' voice is so very bitter.

    "I've been shunned everywhere I go by everyone I meet. My parents too. Only Falin has been the one to fully accept me. She's been my translator, the peacekeeper. She explains things to me because no one else will take the time of day to do so. You all...you all...!" Laios makes a strangled noise, flapping his hands angrily by his sides. "You all act like I can read your mind! Well, I can't! I don't understand why people can't just say what they mean! They gotta play games! But you're right about two things, at least."

    He still can't bring himself to look Kabru in the eye; because he can't look anyone in the eyes. "I know there's something wrong with me, and I DO like monsters more than I like people! Because monsters are so much easier to understand than people are! Especially people like you and Shuro."

[waveobeans]

It was Kabru’s turn to listen. Head still pressed against his hands, his eyes closed as to try and not let the raw emotions he pulled out betray him with something vulnerable like tears. It made it far easier to just listen this way.

Were things a lighter air, he may have found their similar ostracization amusing. Two children, just being children, and considered something wicked being at play by those who wouldn’t try to understand. And that was just them, Kabru had heard many similar cases. Places where twins were thought to be a curse. Others where they were a blessing. Others where they would kill one outright for their worshipped gods. Meanwhile the truth was just… twins happen sometimes. That’s all. Nothing divine, nothing sinister. It was the same with them. With Laios’ sudden speaking, and with Kabru’s crystal blue eyes. Nothing. But to the fearful, it was everything.

And Kabru had become just as fearful as those awful sorts. How truly pathetic.

“We’re opposites.” Kabru said, once the other was done. “You don’t understand people. I don’t understand monsters… which is why I wanted to get to know you. To learn about you, and from you. I wanted to know your ins and outs, and see the purpose… I suppose a part of me hoped you would feel similar. Would want to learn… ah…”

A silly hope, really. How was Laios supposed to be interested in something like people, if Kabru pretended their interests aligned? Hindsight was wonderful, wasn’t it?

“There’s nothing wrong with you, though.” His words are quieter now, eyes peeking above his hands and staring forward once more. “Or, if there is, there’s something wrong with me too. Maybe there’s something wrong with everyone…. Who gets to decide what ‘right’ is in this case, anyhow? Different, sure. But ‘wrong’ and ‘right’ is so…” There’s a bitter chuckle. “So wrong. Ah… I’m hopeless at this.” There’s a beat of quiet, his gaze moving to look at the other again. Though he didn’t lift his head much.

“I’m sorry though. I treated you miserably. I never wanted that… I wanted to be friends with you, strange as that may seem.”

[0rainy0muses0]

@waveobeans asked: Being such a large, very active creature meant that Falin now required a large amount of food. Food that came from hunting in her downtime, in which Thistle did not want her present for some reason or another. Normally, she'd be right by him, or even just a room over, waiting. But... well, she was extremely hungry right now. That is what led her to the now, mighty claws dug deep into the squirming writhing body of a massive sea serpent. It thrashed around, trying to catch its fangs on her legs, but only bouncing off the thick scales. The claws sank deep, and with a loud crack the prey went still. Just in time, too, for without the sound of it hissing and flailing, she could hear the sound of shuffling feet. Someone trying to sneak. Her head whipped around, eyes focused and ready to defend her kill. Only to see a... rather familiar armored man. Falin paused, her tail lashed, and she clutched the serpent in her claws. Pulling it closer, as if to declare that this was *her* kill. And she would protect it as such.

🞠~☔︎~🞠 Unprompted 🞠~☔︎~🞠 Laios Touden 🞠~☔︎~🞠 Main Verse

    His sister is constantly on Laios' mind, as to be expected. He's worried for her, wants to see her again, wonders how she's doing...then there's the other thoughts. The more monster centric ones; there's no denying that Falin's chimera form looks cool as heck ─ but is ultimately unsustainable.

    Before anything else, she's likely to starve to death. If only she had another mouth lower on her body that would allow her to consume more calories to keep her moving...unfortunately, it seems that Thistle hadn't considered that. He is supposed to be a lunatic, after all...

    Though Laios wasn't expecting to run into her so suddenly; having stepped away from his party for a little bit. Sometimes he just needs a moment to himself ─ needs privacy to gather his thoughts and calm down. People are a lot; too much sometimes. Even those he considers to be close friends. He won't be gone too long, just for a half hour at most.

    And now here's Falin, hunting a sea serpent in a deep pool of water tucked away in the lower levels. It's an awe inspiring sight that leaves him dazzled. Well, up until she notices him. Then Falin very much looks like a creature ready to defend their kill.

    "It's okay...it's okay. I'm not going to try and take it from you." Laios promises, keeping his voice soft. He holds his hands up to show that he means no harm, then slowly sits cross-legged on the floor. Maybe that will calm her instincts.

[waveobeans]

The advance of the familiar warrior halts, and it does bring a bit of calm to her frayed nerves. Then he sits, and the perceived threat is reduced even further, in her mind. After all, it would be hard to steal her meal from so far, and from a sitting position no less. More confident that her kill was safe from a potential scavenger, she started out of the pool. Though, she moved no closer than needed, taking an arced path around to the stone edge.

She walked on three of the massive dragon legs, using the last one to drag her kill along. And once she reached solid flooring, she hefted the serpent body up first before pulling herself up in turn.

A shake ran through her body, from her head to the tip of her tail, shaking off the water and fluffing up the feathers for faster drying. Satisfied with what she could shake off of herself, she settled onto the floor next to the body- positioned so she was facing the fighter whose face made her mind swirl. While she wasn’t on the defensive, Falin wasn’t about to completely leave her flank unguarded next to a potential danger.

With one last wary look up at Laios- … Laios? Yes, Laios. With one last wary look at Laios, she dipped her humanoid upper body down towards the kill. A claw sliced into the sea serpent’s flesh, pulling back the layer of skin and scales, before she dug her hands into the meat greedily. Starving was an understatement of how she felt, going by how she tore into the fistfuls of food.

Though it did seem to make her happy indeed. Her wings gave a little flap before relaxing onto her sides, and her tail was thumping on the floor behind her. The defensiveness of the Chimera had retreated, now that she was getting to enjoy the reward of a successful hunt.

[waveobeans]

@0rainy0muses0 asked: { Laios for Kabru } "You know…I think I could deal with the lying. Yeah, I could absolutely deal with the lying. You're not the first person to lie to me, you know. A lot of people have." Laios looks exhausted, he hasn't been sleeping well. A lot of things have been weighing on his mind as of late. "It's the…it's the…y'know. The absolute firm belief held by everyone that I meet that I'd apparently throw all human races to the monsters if I could! Like I'm some kind of psychopath!" In fact, Chilchuck's called him that before, to his face even. Everyone he meets for more than five minutes seems to be convinced in this. It's very draining. "Nemari, Shuro, you…even Chilchuck and Marcille to some degree. The only one who doesn't look at me like I'll snap and start feeding you to walking mushrooms is Senshi. How is…how is that fair, to me? Huh? You all act like I don't have feelings; life I'm DEAF or something! I can hear when people talk behind my back, I just don't call you out on it 'cause I'm outnumbered and I don't know if anyone would defend me! It's really really really REALLY EXHAUSTING!!!" Laios stands, seized by a rare fit of anger, and kicks over the pot that's been boiling on a magic circle he drew. Nothing was in it besides water, so he doesn't feel bad for spilling the water, and he stalks off to go cool down somewhere where no one can see him cry and make fun of him for that too.

Kabru was the sort to pride himself on being able to read people well. It was a skill- no, not that. It was a talent. One that he’d devoted so many hours to while under the care of his adoptive mother. Observing, learning what did and didn’t cause a reaction. Tracing the lines of similarity until he had constructed a perfect web of how to make someone like him. It was easy. Familiar. Follow the pattern and you were in. Follow the pattern, and you could learn everything about someone.

And then, Laios Touden busted into his life with all the grace of a minotaur in a china shop.

Suddenly, his methods didn’t work. A sly smile, eye contact, and kind words didn’t do it. His pattern fell apart before his eyes, the glass mask that he kept between him and everyone else shattered. And it scared him more than anything.

Fear made him revert to the basics. The knowledge of how to kill a dangerous person. Dangerous, like someone who seemed to favor monsters over people. Who had their eyes light up with wonder at a creature aiming to kill them, but had negative interest in another human being.

He knew he recognized this fellow. Kabru saw him on the surface a few times with his old group- when his sister was still there. And every time he tried to approach, he was ignored completely. Laios never looked at him once, and every attempt to form the first threads of a bond were dashed. The other never even noticed him.

So what else was he to think, except that this person might be dangerous if placed in the powerful position of the Lord of the Dungeon? Monsters would thrive, humans would not. Monsters would reproduce and grow in population until the dungeon couldn’t hold them all. It would crumble, and the monsters would flood out… it would be Utaya all over again.

But contrary to his fear, he didn’t kill Laios. It would be easy, and humans would be safe. But he didn’t. Because he wanted to know, to understand. Kabru understood that his fear was based on trauma… And he never meant to let that show to Laios, not without context.

Only a few moments pass before he follows Laios. Stepping up alongside him when the other stopped. He didn’t look at his face, instead staring forward at a blank point on the wall. He took a deep breath in, before letting it slip away. Context was needed. So he would give it.

“When I was a kid, the village I lived in thought I was the child of a succubus. My eyes were too strange for them… so they ostracized me and my mother. I was too young to know at the time, but they did. Then, when I was just about seven… a dungeon in the area broke open. Too many monsters, not enough people managing their numbers. And… Utaya was swarmed. Everyone died. I watched them all be killed en mass. My family included. It was completely by luck that I didn’t die too. Outside of a dungeon, where we can’t just come back with a spell.”

Kabru hated talking about this. Hated baring his soul to anyone. But if he didn’t want what he’d tried so hard to build with Laios to crumble… he had to. He sat in place, crossing his legs, now staring down at his own hands. Hands weathered by combat, hands that have wielded weapons and killed people.

“I hate monsters. I don’t understand them at all. That day, they weren’t like animals, or anything even remotely similar. They weren’t eating, or surviving, or doing anything of the sort. They were killing. Just killing. So I hate them. I think they’re the worst things in the world, and I think we’d be better off without them.”

At long last he looks at Laios, crystal blue eyes sparkling a bit. His eyes were wet, his face was miserable. It felt like he was ripping open his chest and baring his vulnerable heart to this man. It hurt. God, it hurt.

“Then I meet you. Someone that sees something in these things that I just don’t. And that scares me. You are the first person I’ve ever seen speak about monsters, with their eyes lighting up and their pitch raising as they talk about something that they enjoy. And that scared me. I couldn’t see what you see. So I wanted to know you, to be friends with you. I want to see what you do. Do I believe you like monsters more than people? Yes, I do. Do I believe that you would make a dungeon that benefits monsters more than people? Yes, I do. Do I believe that you would intentionally cause harm to innocent humans for the benefit of monsters? No. I don’t. But I’ve seen what happens when a monster population grows too large for a dungeon. And I can picture it happening again. You loving these creatures, wanting them to flourish. And them flourishing. Until the dungeon collapses. And people die…”

Kabru swallows hard, looking forward again, lowering his head against the knuckles of his interlocked hands.

“You scare me, Laios. Your potential scares me. So I apologize for coming off like I think you mean harm. I don’t want to excuse my behavior. What I did was wrong, and I hurt you. But I want you to understand. My actions have not been from a place of thinking you’re bad. Not been from anything that you’ve yourself done. It’s my own past. And my own fear that is coloring my actions.”

[0rainy0muses0]

@waveobeans asked: Weird things happened quite often in a dungeon. Like encountering a delusional caster on a lower level, one likely gone stir crazy from so long in a dangerous area. The caster rambled, hissed, and cursed at the group. And when Kabru moved forward to knock them out- (just one contact to the back of the neck. A good spot for targeting tall-men and elves alike.)- the stranger spoke forth some magic and hit Kabru with it. He'd been braced for a number of things. An explosion, a shock, anything. But nothing happened. With a smile that gave away nothing, he hit the manic mage on the nerve spot and sent them to the ground, unconscious. Many checks were done, seeing if anything had happened, but even Marcille didn't find anything off. It was only when they had all been bedded down for some time that something seemed to take effect. Kabru, on diligent watch, couldn't shake this pained itching from across his body. And whenever he scratched, it only seemed worse. Not wanting to wake the group, he moved out into the hall. Kabru scratched at his arms, his head, his legs. Everything ached and itched and burned. It wouldn't stop. Kabru himself only stopped his actions when it was starting to draw blood. Wait, blood? He looked to his hand. Well trimmed nails had turned to claws. And tufts of awful fur was spilling from under his sleeves. Heart pounded in his ears, and a deep panic was setting in. What was happening?

🞠~☔︎~🞠 Unprompted 🞠~☔︎~🞠 Laios Touden 🞠~☔︎~🞠 Main Verse

    Truth be told, after Marcille had said that she couldn't find anything wrong with Kabru, he'd all but put the incident out of his mind. It was a major relief to Laios, who'd felt such panic after seeing Kabru hit by a spell. Magic casters are tricky in a way that make Laios uncomfortable dealing with; they aren't like monsters at all. They're more...people. And people are strange.

    Sure, it was odd that nothing seemed to crop up after Kabru had gotten hit, but maybe the spell caster was low on mana? The spell hadn't worked...that made the most sense. Laios filed the information away in his brain and focused on the further tasks at hand; namely making camp and getting dinner ready.

    Though the meal turned out disappointing. Kabru's group had returned with fresh provisions and seeing Marcille so excited at eating 'normal' food had Laios convincing Senshi to take a break from cooking monsters all day. Not everyone likes monster ( though they should give it a try! ) and Laios wants his friends to be happy. Besides, he'll have plenty of opportunity to introduce Kabru to good monster cuisine later on!

    It'd been in the middle of the night while Laios' instincts woke him, telling him that something was very wrong. Expecting a monster attack, the blonde hadn't hesitated to rise from his sleeping bag and look around ─ noting nothing out of the ordinary, save for Kabru being gone when it was his turn for watch. Very suspicious, Kabru takes any task he's given seriously.

    Then there's a sound like...scratching? Yes, nails upon skin and itching vigorously to the point of discomfort. Maybe Kabru had a reaction to the rations? That's not good...

    Laios steps out, leaving Kensuke behind, as he's only expecting to see Kabru being sick. He rubs at his eyes with a yawn, willing himself to wake more. He needs to be alert and ready to help out. Though he never would have thought to see Kabru growing tufts of fur out of his skin. It's brown, like his hair, and Laios can see blood on Kabru's now elongated nails.

    Not good. The magic caster did have mana, enough to cast some kind of latent curse on his friend. "Kabru, stay calm. I know it's easier said than done, but panicking will make the curse spread faster. I'll get Marcille, she'll know what to do for sure! Or Rin, if you'd prefer her! Just...yeah. Calm."

[waveobeans]

Calm? Stay calm? Oh that was so easier said than done! In most situations, Kabru could mask with calm. This? This was not most situations! This was, ‘oh dear god, I'm turning into a monster!’

In addition, the physical changes were just the start of what had Kabru's heart pounding. Other changes, internal changes, clawed into his brain and settled in like they'd been there all along. His hearing was sharp, sharper than it had ever been. Laios’ voice alone rang so damn clear in his skull that the other may as well have been standing right next to him. It wasn't just him either. The crackle of the warm fire from the other room, the sound of one of their companions shifting in the sleeping bag, even the faint dripping sound from a few rooms back where there was a leaky water basin.

Still, he tried. Tried to calm down, as the other had advised. He stopped scratching, instead arms crossed gripping one another tightly. It was all he could do to keep himself from digging his nails in to try and make the itching stop. “PlEAse-” Oh god the way his voice pitched. It was like a whine in the words. Not panic, but instead a change to his vocal chords directly. One hand moved up, clutching his own throat. “PleE- BoTH-” Even with the fear gripping him, Kabru tried to think practically. Rationally.

This was some kind of curse, a delayed curse at that. Why delay a curse? What was the point…? Unless, it had lay dormant so it could spread fully first. Spread, then activate? All at once… Oh what a nightmare. A malicious, malicious nightmare.

There was a pressure building under his armor, a gradually increasing tightness that accompanied the very painful experience of his bones changing. What if he got stuck in his armor? What if the changes of the curse didn't stop even when faced with something immovable? Would his bones shatter? They'd likely give out before the metal did. His sharp claws fumbled uselessly with the straps on his armor, frustration voicing itself as a low growl that he himself didn't seem to notice.

Eyes flicked to Laios, vibrant blue orbs pleading. Panicked. “He-l-p-” His voice was breaking apart even worse now, and he could feel his teeth growing sharper in his mouth.

[0rainy0muses0]

    Still shocked, Izaya nods dumbly in response to Shizuo's question. He hasn't quite absorbed what his boyfriend plans to do yet; still lost in the mental dial-up tone of realizing that Shizuo has actual monster blood in him. All those years he pranced about, declaring that the blonde had to be some kind of creature for his unnatural strength despite no other proof...and it just appears one random day after they've decided to stop trying to murder one another.

    Something something irony, hindsight, whatever.

    But now he sees the metal file in Shizuo's hands. The one that they keep in the bathroom for scraping away rough calluses from feet, and Izaya lets out a yelp before diving forwards. One hand grabs the file, trying to yank it out of his boyfriend's hand, the other braced against one very solid bicep. "What?! NO! Stop that, you massive idiot!"

    Like HELL is he going to sit back and watch as Shizuo tries to scrape away something that's growing on him! He can imagine the blood already, and it makes his stomach flip. "Let go of the file, Shizu-chan. I mean it. You're not taking our callous scraper to these...these...horns!" There, he said it. They're horns.

    Horns growing from Shizuo's head, that are attached to him, likely rooted to his skull! "Put down the file and go sit! We're not doing anything rash right now, Shizu-chan."

[waveobeans]

Initially he thought Izaya would go along with this. Maybe even help him. Give him the hand needed to remove these awful things from his head.

And then the file is pulled back by the swift hands of his significant other. Sure, he could quite easily tug it back, but things would no doubt escalate. He could grip too tightly, and snap the scrapper clean in half. Or pull too hard and send himself and Izaya through the wall. Even if he did just get the item back, with no harm, Izaya wouldn’t leave him be on this. He could tell just by the look on his face. Trying to file these… horns. They’d be a struggle of just trying to keep Izaya at arm’s distance while doing the action.

So, with a glare and a huff, he surrendered his grip on the file. Letting go and tilting his head just a bit. “I can’t go outside like this.” He emphasized. Just imagining it was annoying. People would stare. And point. And whisper. All things that would piss him off completely. Then he’d throw stuff and word would spread even faster.

“And I’m not going to Shinra about this. He’ll just want to cut me open. Again.”

[waveobeans]

@0rainy0muses0 asked: { Allen for Kanda, it's birthday time! } Allen had been missing from his room in the morning, no where to be found engaging in his usual routine where Kanda might have found him. In fact, no one seems to know where he is ─ perhaps sent off on a last minute mission? That would suck, considering the date… However, when Kanda orders his usual breakfast of soba and tea, instead of Jerry calling out his name once ready, Allen appears. He's smiling, carrying a tray of said usual soba and a pot of high quality, earthy, bitter matcha instead of the usual green tea blend. "Happy Birthday, Yu." He doesn't go out of his way to make a scene or announce it; just sets the tray down and sits across from his boyfriend ─ still smiling. "I hope you like it…I've never made soba before. Well, Jerry did help me and we've been up since early so I could get it just right. I also bought the matcha, there's a whole tin of it just for you in the kitchen now."

It had been a bit disappointing, not finding Allen in his usual spots. And the few he asked offered no help. Lenalee seemed rather genuine in having no idea where the Exorcist was, and even the cuddly Akuma twins were tight lipped, and strangely unwilling to track down their ‘best cousin’.

Though, Kanda didn’t think too much about the strangeness. Chalking it up to another oddity of the day.

While Kanda didn’t place much value in his birthday, he had wanted to spend the morning in his partner’s arms. A bit of relaxation before the day became full of disappointment. Realistically, what would change? What would make today any different than yesterday?

The answer to that question came to him during breakfast. Allen, walking up, tray in hand with what Kanda considered to be the perfect morning meal. It brought a smile to his typically angry face, and made Allen’s absence earlier click in his head. He must have dodged Lenalee, and bribed the twins not to track him.

So he was here the whole time, doing this for him… How sweet. It gave Kanda warm fuzzy feeling that he wasn’t wholly used to. He reaches across the table, taking Allen’s hand in his own and brushing his thumb over the other’s knuckles. “Thank you, Allen.” He says, softly. Simply.

Maybe his birthday wouldn’t be just another day this year, after all.

[0rainy0muses0]

    And now Yoichi listens; his head tilted so hair covers one bright green eye as he considers Jinwoo's words. This System...it sounds impossible, but he knows very well about impossibilities and them coming true. He was alive when quirks started to appear, after all. A small boy sat in front of an old television screen and watching reports of super powers coming to life between episodes of Sailor Moon and Super Sentai.

    It's not hard for him to believe Jinwoo at all.

    Yoichi rubs a thumb along the back of Jinwoo's hand ─ wondering just how much pain he's had to face in such a short amount of time. Going from being considered the weakest, to holding a power unique to him, and using it in ways both wonderful and terrible. Now he's reminded of his brother; bestowed with a power that could have done so much good, but ate him from the inside out again until there was nothing left but a black hole wanting more more more ─

    "I don't think it's wrong, to want to live." He says finally, cutting to the heart of Jinwoo's worries. "It's only human nature to want to survive, despite the consequences. It sounds to me as though you've only killed when faced with no other option; when your opponent refuses to back down. So this System kicks in, urging you to survive. I've never taken a life, so I have no idea what kind of weight that leaves on your heart..."

    Yoichi laces their fingers together now; palm to palm. "But I still see a man, not a monster. I see kind Jinwoo, who sacrificed much and was given a gift that is neither right nor wrong, it simply is. I know this isn't the point of the conversation, but I'd love you tell me more about it. It sounds fascinating."

[waveobeans]

It really did feel like a weight was pulled off him. He’d never told anyone about the System. Even those that no doubt noticed he was getting stronger, he didn’t tell them the cause of it. The method. Yoichi was truly the first person he’d opened up to about the System. And the best part? He was being believed.

What a wonderful feeling it was, being believed.

There’s a sigh of relief, and he gives a gentle squeeze to Yoichi’s hand. “You really are something else, Yoichi. I hope you know that.” To take Jinwoo out of his crisis of morality, to bring him back, to focus him on a new topic. What in the world had he done to deserve the company of someone as good as Yoichi?

Still, he takes a couple of moments. Centering himself. Thinking on where to start. There was a lot after all.

“So, you know how I get up early to exercise?” It had certainly disturbed many an early morning cuddle session. “That’s because of the System. It gives me a list of exercises to do. It’s ah, like a daily quest thing. If I do it, I get some rewards. But if I don’t, I get a pretty annoying penalty. Four hours in a desert with a bunch of high level centipede enemies. I made the mistake of not doing the quest the first day I got the System. It… wasn’t a fun time. Running barefoot on sand is hard.”

[0rainy0muses0]

    Nails bite into the palms of his hands, digging into the skin. The slight flash of pain is enough to keep Nea from lashing out completely ─ has no idea what this malevolent force would do to Mana's body should he attempt to break their little deal. He's not willing to risk it.

    They all used to be one; a single being known as Adam, the Earl of Millennium. For whatever reason, he had split to become two babies, and his powers had split unevenly with them. Mana forever more burdened with the dark presence that demands another three days of darkness and a world ruined. How stupid...

    "You two are not the same." Nea says firmly. "You're...something left over. Something from a dead world still moving ─ like a corpse. All of you are. Noah and Innocence...you all should have just stayed dead like that world that was wiped off the map the first time."

[waveobeans]

“You wound me with those jagged little words.❤️” Even with his dramatic tone, it was oh so clear that the Earl wasn’t serious in the least. He saw Nea’s anger as little more than a temper tantrum. A rebellious phase that would be gotten over with eventually. It was only a matter of time. And the Earl had plenty of time.

“Of course, if you really wanted me dead, you would have just killed Mana back then during your first tantrum. You had plenty of time. Plenty of chances. He probably wouldn’t have even fought back. Just stared at you as you drove a sword through his heart. How can you say you’re really committed to erasing us, if you can’t even do that?❤️”

Oh he can picture it now. How tragic. How romantic. Nea crying, Mana bleeding and crying. All for the greater good, right? “You’re willing to do anything. Except that. Apparently. You know, if I let Mana know the full truth, do you think he’d ask you to kill him? No, he’d probably beg you to. Soft hearted as he is, I doubt he’d be able to live with himself. He’d think of all my actions as his. How completely 'Mana' of him.❤️”

[0rainy0muses0]

    Yoichi feels relief; he's far too used to being told to 'shut up' with his ramblings. He doesn't mean to go on and on ─ just that sometimes his mouth gets carried away with his mind and he doesn't realize what a nuisance he's being until someone points it out. Doesn't happen as much these days, but there's always some people who can't stand being talked at.

    He just wishes they could be nicer in telling him to stop.

    "I uhhh...I analyze quirks, as a hobby. That's what I ramble about the most─"

"It's pretty cute, honestly."

    Yoichi's eyes go as wide as they possibly can, wordlessly turning away from Jinwoo to cup his blazing cheeks. The rest of the other man's words go right over his head, as he's too busy analyzing that one comment. It's been...a very long time since someone called him or anything he's done cute.

    ( And meant it in a non-condescending way. )

    'Please please please don't come off as a weirdo. Please say or do something normal. Please for once in your life, don't do something autistic─'

    Yoichi snaps back around, hiding behind his hair now. It curtains around his face, shielding pink cheeks and brightly glittering green eyes. "You must do this often, then! To be so good at it! Yes! Do you like crystals? I like crystals, I have a shelf of them, right next to my candle collection!"

    'I'm such a loser...'

[waveobeans]

With some luck, Jinwoo wasn’t looking at Yoichi as the pale other was overcome by a vibrant blush. He was looking forward, his high perception ability alerting him to the approaching band of lizardmen. With just a thought, he ordered the general soldiers to attack. And they did just so.

The shields of his shadows caught the jagged blades of the beast creatures, and their swords met monster flesh in the chaos of a battle for life and death. It was much unlike the more public battles that heroes engaged in. Most of those weren’t for high stakes; a bag of stolen money, or a purse snatcher. This fight? Where shadows failed to block, they were struck in the throat and dissolved into nothing. Each fallen represents a human that could have been killed there.

But unlike a human, the shadows did not stay down. A bit of spent mana, and the soldier would pull itself up from the shadows again and again.

It was clear. The beasts were losing to his shadows.

With the assurance that his minor soldiers were more than capable, he turned his attention back to Yoichi at last. He notices the hair in his face first. Had he been startled? That made sense. It would be the first time seeing a battle like this. Without thinking, Jinwoo reached over and pulled a portion of his white hair back from his face, tucking it back behind his ear. “Do you want some? The crystals, I mean. The beasts have essence stones in them too, if you want some of those. I don’t really need them.”

Those from a C-Rank dungeon would sell for a decent amount… but given he could clear higher ranks with minimal effort now, and he technically hadn’t been approved for this one, it felt weird to claim the spoils here for himself. But grabbing a few for someone who’d never been in a dungeon before? He could do that.

[0rainy0muses0]

    They are pretty cute, all things considered. Maybe not to the average person, but to those like Wisely and Road? Absolutely adorable. From their floof to the bone skulls to their eager to please personalities; what's not to love of the Earl's adoptive sons?

    Now if only HE could take the 'best cousin' role from a certain undeserving exorcist ─

    Wisely is all smiles when they shift, resting a hand on each of their heads and rubbing the black hair. "Good job, you two! You did do it, and you did it well! So let's go and get you both some yummy yummy food."

    Now he takes one of each of their hands, lest they go bolting off down some random hallway of the mansion and become lost. Wisely makes a beeline for the kitchen, feeling rather peckish himself. His current host body had been living on the streets for years, and he still feels the pangs of hunger frequently. "Now, what do you both like to eat?"

[waveobeans]

Sylas lets out a little laugh as his hair is ruffled, and Ozzie gives a big grin. Even if Wisely didn’t have the treasured position of ‘best cousin’, that belonged to one Allen Walker, the twins still did think of him as family. He was a Noah, the Noah were the family of the Earl, their father. Thus, family.

And on top of that, Wisely was rather nice to them! Not like Toraido, who would always meet them with a fierce glare. Or Skinn Bolic, who was always so very loud that it would cause them to panic. Though, they hadn’t seen the latter in a while…. Oh well!

With not a single care behind those big eyes, they give Wisely’s hand a little squeeze and follow his lead. Through the mansion that a number of Noah lived in, and to the kitchens.

“Meat!” Ozzie declared. “Oh! Ribs! Ribs super yummy!” And in their human forms, they didn’t have to worry about their fur getting messy.

“Oh, want sweets!” Sylas offered, giving Wisely’s arm a slight tug. “Puddings! Fancy pudding!”

Ozzie nodded along with Sylas’ words, and seemed to change his tune along with his brother’s desires. “Pudding, pudding yummy too.” While innocent enough, spending enough time around the twins did reveal something of a pattern. Ozzie seemed to base his desires around Sylas’ wants. Even if it’s not what Ozzie initially wanted himself. Sylas, meanwhile, was fully oblivious of this fact, simply seeming to believe that Ozzie just changed his mind often.

Perhaps it was good that they would never get older. That such a trait would be unable to develop into anything truly detrimental for Ozzie. Though, it meant that he would never grow out of it either.

[0rainy0muses0]

    They're being given a moment to breathe? Izaya almost doesn't believe it ─ but the sensation of Shizuo's arms around him, holding him still and steady, hands rubbing up and down, tell him that it's true. The pressure only lessens some; he's not being given the time to properly calm down from his panic attack.

    Izaya inhales suddenly, sharp and deep. He had stopped, his vision starting to tunnel until he realized what was happening. Now he coughs, lungs struggling with the sudden rush of air he's taken. Things are clearer now though, sharper, in better focus. He's staring at the broken trap and allows his eyes to shut for a moment.

    "Sorry." It comes out rough, ragged. "I don't know...I just...panicked." Explaining himself, laying part of himself bare to Shizuo and the world ─ but Izaya is too emotionally exhausted to care. "I froze up. It won't happen again."

    A lofty promise, given the circumstances, but one that Izaya will do his best to keep to. He sits up slowly, hands braced on Shizuo's chest, practically sitting on his hips. "How about you? Feeling any different yet?"

[waveobeans]

An apology. Of all things, an apology. If the situation weren’t so shit, Shizuo would laugh. Wonder aloud who this person was and what they’d done with the Izaya that he knew. The one who would trick and play and betray without the slightest of apologies.

Shizuo moves his gaze to meet Izaya’s as the info broker sits himself upright. Still on Shizuo though. Not yet standing. Though he couldn’t blame him, even he felt like standing now would drain so much extra energy. He was so tired. Physically, and mentally. Were they really almost out of this hell? Really so close to freedom?

What if it was a lie?

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and opens them again. He sits up slightly himself, propped up on his elbows. Starting the agonizing process of continuing their trip through hell.

“Yeah. I think so? It’s… weird.” How could he word his state, when his brain had trouble wrapping around it? He moved one hand up, dragging it down his face before working to wipe the blood from his eyes. Better to see clearly in this place. Though more soon started dripping down to replace it. Whatever he put into his body was keeping it from patching him up as quickly as normal. Injuries that wouldn’t be more than a passing inconvenience might now pose an actual issue if they don’t escape soon.

“I can’t do as much. Like my body just won’t listen now. But it’s not just that it’s… instinct? I didn’t think when I grabbed you. Just acted. Guess it paid off at least…” He was going to continue. To fill the quiet with the conditions of his situation. At least until he saw a panel on the ceiling pop open. Some metal device came down, and Izaya got a very clear image of what Shizuo meant by instinct without thought. After all, Shizuo didn’t have even the slightest idea of what that thing was going to do. But it was making a hissing noise, and he didn’t trust it to be harmless. So he grabbed Izaya by the upper arms and flipped their positions. Putting Izaya on the ground and himself crouched over the other on all fours. Eyes closed, prepped for some form of impact. A bullet, or needle, or blade.

Instead, it was water.

A strong spray of it, but water still. Not really something he could protect Izaya from all that well. Just a few seconds of that was all it took to have him soaked through. Then it turned off, and the voice crackled again.

“Minute’s up. This isn’t a stroll, this is a sprint. So start scampering along, or I’ll just blow up the room.”

[0rainy0muses0]

    Allen nearly jumps out of his skin when the Earl grabs his shoulder. He can feel Crown Clown shifting restlessly under his skin; urging him to invoke and lash out against the monster that stands before him...but he can't; not with Mana held captive by this malevolent presence. It rips at his heart, seeing the Earl's capricious, cruel joy on his adoptive father's features. Twisting them into something unfamiliar and nightmarish.

    All he feels is a tug in his chest, and they're suddenly elsewhere. The sense of nausea is delayed by about five seconds ─ then Allen has to fight to not double over and empty his stomach onto the cobblestones. Whatever kind of travel the Earl just put him through is something that he wishes to never experience again, no matter how convenient it was.

    He dimly hears the familiar cries of 'best cousin' through his dizziness, and is aware enough to know that they're in a crowd of innocent people. All he can imagine are screams and panic as two fluffy creatures with bone faces come charging through. They wouldn't know any better, and it seems like the type of chaos the Earl would delight in.

    What he wasn't expecting were two young boys, one of them barreling right into him and almost taking him clear off his feet. They're able to disguise themselves...just as any other Akuma can. Of course, that makes total sense. Allen blinks and lays a hand upon Ozzie's head, his nausea beginning to subside. "Hello, Ozzie, Sylas."

[waveobeans]

As a hand was settled onto his head, Ozzie smiled even brighter. He buried his face against Allen’s legs for a moment or two, before bouncing back. “Best cousin here! Not know! Not know was coming!” In a very childlike manner, Ozzie was rocking back and forth on his feet. This was clearly a very happy surprise.

“Hello best cousin!” Sylas chimed, waving with one arm before hugging back onto the Earl. While they both loved their papa, and both loved Allen, the choice in who went to who made some things clear. Sylas was a daddy’s boy through and through, while Ozzie had a deeper fondness for Allen.

Something else was clear too, as the Earl moved forward and scooped Ozzie up into his arms as well- one twin in each arm. He didn’t much like being the second choice for either of his sons.

“Come on now, Ozzie. Give papa a hug too.❤️” He chimed in that oh too cheery tone.

Of course, Ozzie obliged. Wrapping his arms around the Earl’s neck and giving him a hug when it was requested. “Sorry papa, very excited! Love papa!”

“Love papa all the much!” Sylas added in.

“Love you too, boys.❤️” Then, the Earl turned his gaze again to Allen. His smile stayed. Yes, he’d play plenty nice. With his boys here, at least. “See that restaurant just up ahead? With the sign with a dove on it? That’s where we’re going.❤️”

[0rainy0muses0]

    Allen holds his hand very still, unsure as to what Sylas' reaction will be. A brief flash of sharp teeth clamping down and trying to rip his limb off fills his mind, but thankfully all the Akuma does is give a few curious sniffs. Does his Innocence have a scent to it? He wonders what it smells like to them.

    Apparently it smells 'stinky' and 'ouchie', whatever that means. He can't help the smile that crosses his lips at such a succinct and innocent answer. Then Sylas stands on his hind legs, prompting Allen to stand up as well, watching as his sniffs the air.

    No way...could he really be ─

    "You smell the Innocence in town?" Allen asks, just to clarify. It makes sense; the Akuma seem almost drawn to the fragments, eager to find and hunt and destroy them. If the twins can sniff out Innocence, and be willing to guide both him and Kanda there...

    It's an opportunity that they cannot pass up!

    "Yes, please!" Allen accepts the offer before his fellow exorcist can even blink. "If you can find the Innocence for us, then there's no need for anyone to fight. I'll even play with you two after!"

[waveobeans]

There was a bewilderment in Kanda’s expression. The hopeful thought that maybe they could find it quickly, with no issue. That hope was quickly stamped out by the pessimist in him that figured it was a trap. Or that the twin Akuma would just grab the Innocence and run. Skitter back to the Earl of Millennium with it and that would be another of the 109 destroyed.

Still, he removed his hand from Mugen, an action that immediately made Ozzie relax and leave his defensive position. The smaller Akuma went quickly to Sylas, nuzzling under his twin’s head with their skulls clicking lightly as they knocked together.

“Am smell stinky! Can find!” Sylas assured, giving Ozzie a light nuzzle in return before one more sniff to the air. Then he dropped down to all fours, starting in the direction of the smell. While he had broken into a run, he made frequent stops. Turning about to make sure the two humans and his twin were following.

While Sylas was ahead, Ozzie stayed at Allen’s side. Still on all fours, but moving at a far more reasonable pace.

“We can smell many stinky.” Ozzie states with a nod. “Papa says not do things other Akuma do. So we no search. But this not normal Akuma thing. No no, we is fine.” While Ozzie spoke the words with such complete innocence, it was very clear. They had found a loophole in the Earl’s words. And were accidentally using it to help Allen and Kanda.

[0rainy0muses0]

    Allen is instantly kicking himself; of all the things he could ask, and he has to go and step on a landmine. What bothers him even more is the cramping sensation that crawls up his arm and to his shoulder, like his muscles are being constricted. He's hit with the distinct realization that Crown Clown is mad at him for upsetting Lilith.

    ( Suman's face flashes in his mind's eye. His terrible fate. )

    He takes a deep breath to calm his suddenly racing heart while the cramping eases. Don't bring up Adam again; that's fine, he can do that. Easy. His mind skims back to stories he bothered to pay attention to in the Bible. What other names to not mention? Eve, Cain, Abel? Better yet, chuck the Bible out of his mind entirely for this conversation.

    "I'm sorry." He replies, tone sincere and contrite. "I truly didn't mean to upset you, Miss Lilith. It doesn't make any sense."

    She hasn't been well taken care of; that's plain to see. Allen's heart aches at the thought, his stomach clenching in a sympathetic response to her thinness. "How...how long have you been here?"

[waveobeans]

Lilith’s eyes flick to meet his gaze when he speaks again. To hear the genuine apology in his tone. It was far different from the members of the Vatican who disregard her perspective completely and insist on the word in the Bible as the only truth. They did not care. But this one does. It brings a warm smile to her face, knowing that her child found someone with a good heart. This kind-hearted boy… he really suits Crown Clown.

The opposite as well. They match one another. And while, as a mother, she shouldn’t pick favorites… She couldn’t deny that Crown Clown holds a special place in her missing heart.

“Apology accepted. You are a good child. I see while Crown Clown bonded with you.” Even as the topic turns to more unpleasant things again, her smile doesn’t leave. The joy of the now far outweighs the ache of the past many years. “As for time… I’m not entirely certain. I was able to keep track for the first few years by the times when food would be brought… but then timings became irregular. And with no sun to judge the days, any sense of time left. But… It has been a long, long time. I would not doubt if it has breached into over a century at this point.”

A moment of silence, as Lilith thought far back. Back to before she was in this cell. Just before. She was clashing with Adam once again. Before the battle she’d carved out her heart and hidden it away. Making one last child with its power. Then… she’d lost the fight. Her head was severed from her body, and all turned to black.

It was good that Adam could not kill her. Just as she cannot kill him.

“I have been here ever since forming my one hundred and ninth child. I then fought the Earl of Millenium, and unfortunately lost. Whilst unconscious and recovering, I was… brought here. God above, Lucifer below, I’ve been here so long…”