nysalogs | [open] one's home is one's.... hopefully-not-burning-like-the-actual-palace castle

Entry tags:

[open] one's home is one's.... hopefully-not-burning-like-the-actual-palace castle

Who: Atsushi (

gekkajuu) & anyone/everyone
What: A fairly subdued housewarming party! ~~Also a chance to get some activity in while waiting for the event. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯~~
When: Now. Ish. Now is good.
Where: Olympia, Noble District because tiger boy is moving up in the world~
Warning(s): None..? This is an open mingle, so tag each other with some (probably) lighter stuff between all the WAR and RAWR! Should things get some kind of naughty, please put proper warnings in your subject lines, thank you.

It's almost certainly not the biggest mansion in the Noble District - but who cares? Atsushi is honored (and more than a little surprised) that he got offered this housing in the first place. Carefully inquiring about the rent (because of course this had to be some kind of scam?), he was told that there wasn't any, and he could simply live there for free.

There is always that voice in the back of his head telling him "if it seems too good to be true..." - but he's trying to get better about ignoring it. After all, even if he has to go back to a simpler place to live later, there's nothing lost. So he moves in (together with some friends), tries to find his way - and organizes a housewarming party almost immediately. He could use something to distract him... and so could other people, probably.

Join him? The mansion is still pretty empty - Atsushi's previous possessions aren't enough to fill so much as his bedroom - but the kitchen is full, and there's enough furniture in the living room to make yourself comfortable, a long table decked out with food and drinks that took some effort to procure.

Some options:
- Enjoy the food! Enjoy the drink! Atsushi isn't big on alcohol, but he invited Chuuya to live here, so you can bet your ass there will be something to get drunk off.
- You're welcome to raid the kitchen, too! ... but, seriously, don't open that ribbon-tied box with a note that says "for Reign-san". Yes, those are some tasty-looking mochi - but they have a secret ingredient.
- Do you want to look around upstairs? The master bathroom is huge. Please don't have sex in other people's beds, though... Or do, I'm not your boss.
- Just do your thing, man. It's a party. Forget about the city being on fire for a few hours, and try to have fun. Or plot how to achieve peace over some nice snacks, that's also appreciated.

Floor plan, to help you visualize the place, is this - with the minor change that the office and massage rooms are combined into a single room: the guest bedroom mentioned in Atsushi's network post.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Reign waved a dismissive hand with a chuckle. "It's only polite. Besides, I get to put my ideas in fragrance making into your gift. You're the first to get it." He winked, a teasing grin on his lips. Reign had read about those in the Institute's library and ended up giving a try to make one. He hoped the end result turned out well and receptive not just by Atsushi, but those living in the same house as well. "You're welcome. I'm glad you like it."

When Atsushi headed into the kitchen, Reign took that time to glance around, smiling fondly as he watched the two animals playing around. It was obvious both creatures had taken a liking to each other. When Atsushi returned, Reign blinked in surprise at the box, saying a word of thanks as he pulled the red ribbon loose and opening the box.

"Oh! Are these the mochis you mentioned before? You've succeeded in making them?" Regin was utterly impressed. He took the one with the single dot and gave it a sniff, able to smell the faint whiff of blood, then popped it into his mouth. Since he'd never drank Atsushi's blood before, Reign didn't know how it taste, but he knew now as he chewed.

"This actually turned out quite well, I must say. The taste of bl— urm, you know, isn't overpowering. Let's try the other type." He hummed softly as he tasted the second type, nodding his head. "Admittedly, the second one tastes better. It's not too overpowering either, but you're right, the filling is more moist and soft. Still tasty though." If anything, Reign was already biting into another piece of the two-dot one.

"I have! It seemed a good way to give the new kitchen a test run." By including blood in the recipes. Just perfect.

Heh, Atsushi had more or less expected that more blood would be tastier... Still, he hadn't been able to resist making that 'diet' version, too. He'd made all that filling, and he hadn't been sure about tapping more blood. Even for a good reason, it was a little creepy to cut himself! Still, he'd been a lot quicker to heal himself than he'd been in healing other people before, so clearly that kind of practice was worth it!

"I'll try to put in a little more blood next time." He understood what Reign wasn't saying as much as he heard Reign's words. "I still have to perfect the recipe~!"

That was definitely one way to break in the new kitchen, so to speak. With blood.

It was a good idea that Atsushi had experimented with different amounts of blood in the mochi recipe so Reign could give feedback on it. "This means a lot to me. But I don't want you to bleed yourself too much just to try all those recipe variations. Do take care."

While Reign knew Atsushi could heal himself, he wished his friend wouldn't sacrifice himself like that, even if it might not seem like much. So for now, he'll close and retie the box, intending to enjoy the rest of the mochi when he got home instead.

"Come now, show me around. I want to see how this place is like."

"I won't! I definitely won't bleed myself too much." He was used to bleeding; he had a pretty good idea what he could comfortably spare, even if he was likely to push those limits in a pinch. That would only be when he bothered cooking with blood, though, and that would hardly be every day: he'd be fine. "I've gotten better at healing, too, so it's really no trouble."

Satisfied that he'd gotten his message across - and pleased that Reign had enjoyed his gift, too - Atsushi smiled cheerfully, giving a nod. "Let's start upstairs?"

Rather than a mansion the way one might see in movies - there was hardly room for that kind of country estate within city walls - Atsushi's place was a big house, simple in layout, but spacious, and sturdy in build. He'd start the tour with his own bedroom and bathroom, then cross over to the as yet unused bedroom. (He wasn't about to go into Dylas' and Chuuya's bedrooms without permission, of course - though he'd at least point out where they were.) Going back down along the other, narrower flight of stairs, he'd show Reign along everything downstairs, before finally going back to the living room.

"What do you think?"

Well, if Atsushi said so. Reign will take his word for it that his friend wouldn't bleed himself too much. "Good, good. And I'm glad you're improving on your healing skill." That definitely come in handy.

"Lead the way~"

Reign followed ardently behind Atsushi, humming or nodding whenever his friend pointed out certain rooms or sections of the house and its function. It was certainly not as big as his family home, though definitely much larger compared to the one after he'd left the clan. This mansion had all the comforts and home-ness of a proper home. He wasn't even surprised that Chuuya got a room here as well since the two men clearly knew each other.

By the time they were back downstairs, Reign had a look of awe on his face. "This place is amazing! Chuuya said he'd known you before, so it's no wonder you invited him to stay here as well. I haven't meet Dylas, but I wouldn't mind an introduction through you."

Or Atsushi could point Reign in Dylas's direction if the man was here. "Good job, Atsushi. You've got yourself a mansion!"

Atsushi's smile turned a little awkward. Yes, he knew Chuuya from before, more or less, but that was as bitter enemies. He didn't see any reason to point that out and raise unnecessary questions, though: the past was the past, and it bore no relation on the present.

"Dylas is probably hiding in the kitchen... He likes cooking. If you see a man with some horse's features, that is him! ... But please don't mention the h-word in front of him."

Atsushi only had the faintest idea of why Dylas hated being called a horse, and less understanding of it, but there was no doubt that horses being mentioned at a first meeting would doom the friendship forever. Dylas wasn't that easy to get along with as it was.

"I don't think I ever wished for a mansion, but... it's pretty nice. It feels a little extravagant, though."

Perhaps thankfully for Atsushi, he didn't need to spare any explanations since Chuuya himself had revealed bits of the two men's past to Reign. Either way, Chuuya had assured Reign that Atsushi was safe now, otherwise, there was no way Atsushi would have extended the invitation to Chuuya to live here.

Reign's eyes widened a bit at the description of Dylas, his gaze surreptitiously looking around to try to spot said-person when they passed the kitchen. "Ah, all right. I'll keep that in mind. No "h-word". Got it.

Now that had Reign grinning, playfully nudging Atsushi with his elbow. "Hey now, don't look a gift horse in the mouth." For a moment, all was silent, Reign realising the horrible pun he just used. He quickly looked around, heaving a sigh of relief to know Dylas wasn't within earshot. "Well, if you know what I mean anyway."

It was a hilarious comment - or it should have been. But Atsushi only freaked out at the mere chance of Dylas overhearing.

"D-Don't say things like that!" He looked around a lot more frantically than Reign. Thankfully there was no nag in sight. "He'll really get angry."

And upset, which was the real problem. Teasing was all right, but not when it hurt the feelings of someone who was very touchy to begin with. That Dylas could be a little hard to get along with was fine, and not something Atsushi would want or try to change - but it did mean that he'd rather not cause any additional bumps in Dylas' friendship with others or Atsushi himself.

"My mistake. Won't happen again." Reign chuckled sheepishly, though he inwardly admitted that a flustered Atsushi was kind of funny to watch.

Then again, seeing as Dylas was Atsushi's friend, he didn't want to throw a wrench into that friendship. It would make things awkward if Reign couldn't get along with any of Atsushi's friends.

Once more making sure Dylas wasn't nearby, he whispered, "He's not some kind of were-creature like you, is he? Like a were-horse or something?"

"... No..." And yes, perhaps: Dylas had mentioned full transformations happening recently. But Dylas seemed to really hate those, and Atsushi didn't think it was his place to share such information. Besides, Dylas really was different from him. "No, he always has his animal features."

The ears and tail, if nothing else. It should probably seem weirder than it did, but, if anything, it made Atsushi more comfortable with his own ability, not having to feel like the odd one out.

A fully human Dylas, lacking all horse's features... He breathed a soft laugh. "It would be strange to see him without them."

Reign hummed softly as he took in that information. So Dylas always had those animal features. He'd never really seen anyone with them before, not unless they transformed. "I should think so."

It was how Reign suddenly came to realise something. "Speaking of which, I've never seen you in your were-tiger form either."

Perhaps the citizens had spread rumours about seeing Atsushi in that form, but if there were whispers about it, Reign hadn't caught wind of them.

"You haven't?" For some reason, Atsushi managed to be surprised. When he'd first arrived, he'd been a little timid about showing his ability, afraid that he'd scare people. But somewhere along the line - and fairly soon, too - he'd stopped even thinking about it. With all the refugees so different from each other and from the natives, 'weird' seemed like the new 'normal' in some ways - and that included his ability.

"Well, it's no trouble at all to show you. Here we go..." Atsushi pushed up his sleeves first and foremost - no point in ruining his clothes by hulking out of them! - and then transformed both of his arms. "I can do my legs too, as well as some other minor things, but this is about what it amounts to."

Reign shook his head in confirmation. He may have caught snippets during the rioting period, but he hadn't lay eyes on a transformed Atsushi. Even during their crystal hunting, Atsushi had merely undressed without changing his form, that was all.

But when Atsushi decided to show him, Reign waited with bated breath and giddy excitement. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in amazement. Please forgive Reign because the next moment, he had his hands on one of Atsushi's tiger arms, touching and feeling the tiger arm under his fingers.

"Oh my! This is quite something. Yes it is. Ooooh, sharp claws too." Reign moved Atsushi's arm up and down, felt the paw pads, doing the same with the other pair. "Does this mean you can turn into a full tiger as well?"

Excitement level: increasing.

... Well, at least Reign wasn't afraid??? That was a good thing... probably. Atsushi allowed all the touching and squeezing without complaints, even though it was more than a little weird to him. There had been enough people who'd appreciated his tiger features for their usefulness, but this level of excitement was definitely new.

"Not willingly, and when I do, the tiger takes over..." Which was terrible, and terrifying, and all sorts of things that should ruin his mood, but it was hard to feel anything but mildly weirded out at Reign's antics. "Should you ever see a giant white tiger, I strongly suggest you run."

Ha. Haha. What a good joke at his own expense.

It took Reign a while to rein in his crazy antics, and when Atsushi's words sang in, he blinked at the other. "You... have no control over the tiger?"

Atsushi must have faced a dire situation that warranted the forced change. Reign hoped he wouldn't come face to face with Atsushi when he was in that form, and if he did, hopefully his friend would recognise him in some ways.

"So..." He tilted his head, giving Atsushi a once over, then glancing towards where Daifuku and Scorch were frolicking together. "You're just like the big version of Daifuku. I think it would be quite interesting to meet the tiger inside you in person."

Though from the way Atsushi described the tiger side, the creature's personality was way different from Daifuku.

Atsushi shook his head. No control whatsoever. Even if the tiger and him had come to an understanding once or twice, he wouldn't - couldn't - trust it to ever listen to him. And after everything it had done before -... Well, he wasn't taking any chances. He couldn't count on the tiger to give up and surrender control every time, either.

"'Interesting' really isn't the word for it." Atsushi frowned, unhappy that Reign didn't seem to be taking him seriously. Even if Reign was a vampire, the tiger was -... It was huge, and powerful. "I'm not joking when I say it will attack you. It may even try to kill you."

Seeing how serious Atsushi was about the tiger within himself hammer in the fact that his friend wasn't kidding. Reign blinked slowly, finally nodding, the prior excitement slowly waning off.

"All right. I understand." It dawned on Reign that sometimes even having special abilities was more a curse than a blessing. "I give you my word that I'll run if I see a large, white tiger."

Even if Reign made use of his vampiric pheromones, chances of it affecting a being like Atsushi in his tiger form was slim, and Reign didn't want to take any chances.

"Thank you."

Maybe Reign could handle the tiger and maybe he couldn't, but just the thought of hurting a good friend like Reign was enough to turn Atsushi's stomach. With a little imagination, he could understand a certain fascination with creatures like the tiger, of course! He'd never blame Reign for that. But caution had to go before anything else.

"... Sorry. I ruined this conversation, didn't I?"

Reign shook his head, giving Atsushi a small smile, hoping to reassure his friend.

"No, it's not your fault. You were just trying to make certain that no one gets injured due to you losing control over the tiger. If you anything, you made me realise the severity of it."

It was at this time that Reign felt a bump on his lower leg. Looking down, he saw Scorch glancing up at him with a certain gaze. "Oh! I think someone's hungry. I best feed him before he gets lost in this huge mansion from foraging around."

It was surprisingly painful, having to convince people of how dangerous he could be. Still, while the necessity of it weighed on him, Atsushi was glad that he'd at least gotten his message across.

Thank God for cute animals saving the day.

"Of course! There's probably something in the kitchen that will suit him."

Reign understood Atsushi's worries clearly now, and he didn't relish having his friend getting worried because of Reign's own recklessness.

He bent down to pick Scorch up, giggling when the giraffe gave his cheek a tiny lick, before letting out a soft "moo" sound at Atsushi in greeting.

"Thank you. Go ahead and tend to your guests. I'll catch up with you later." He threw Atsushi a wave, a small smile on his lips, then headed for the kitchen.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[open] one's home is one's.... hopefully-not-burning-like-the-actual-palace castle

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject