Welcome to the Jungle [Open]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Who: Chuuya (thetaintedsorrow) & you!
What: May catch-all! Featuring adventures in Khalo village and Flona Cove.
When: May!
Where: Various!
Warning(s): Possible NSFW, but it’ll be marked.



I. Chuuya in Wonderland

[After hearing the news that Khalo Village had opened up to visitors for the first time in centuries, Chuuya had decided that it was something he definitely needed to see. Who knows if he’ll ever get another opportunity to explore the place? Visiting new places and experiencing the culture there is always fun, so he might as well go while he can!

Of course that means he’ll have to smoke fyrra, the weed that allows those who aren’t full-blood Khali to enter the village without falling into a deep slumber. It’s pretty much just fancy weed, and Chuuya feels slightly more relaxed after smoking it, but it’s definitely not as good as booze. It does, however, allow him to enter the area around the village, and so he does, not expecting anything to go awry.

So of course he ends up stepping on a large purple mushroom and shrinking down to the size of a thimble. Shit.

Luckily he’s still able to use his gravity manipulating ability, and he’ll climb up the nearest tall tree while waving his arms and shouting in a tiny voice to the first passer-by he sees.]

Oi! Over here! Hey!

II. Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi? [Probably NSFW, Closed to CR]

[Once Chuuya actually reaches the village and obtains the antidote to return him to his normal size he’ll need a break to relax, and what better way to do so than to visit one of the many smoking lounges? According to the locals, regular fyrra is available here, as well a strain that causes “an even higher elevated mood, as well as increased sexual desire and heightened sensation.”

Sounds fun, right? Chuuya already has a head start, lounging on a rather plush looking couch in a black silk robe that resembles a kimono. He seems to be in a good mood.

Care to join him?]

III. Flying High

[Temporary flight potions are readily available in Khalo Village, and Chuuya will excitedly encourage anyone who comes along to drink one so that he can have a flying buddy at long last! Will you take him up on that offer?

Oops, he’s already tugging on your arm!]

C’mon! It’ll be a blast!

IV. Tame the Beast

[The Taming Fields are an area near the village where beasts that the Khali have tamed roam free. Chuuya can’t help but wander over to one of them, a rhinoceros-like creature covered in moss with flowers on its horns (called a Mossley by the Khali), and try his hand at petting it. The creature seems docile and friendly, and it leans into his touch.

According to the locals, Mossleys are drawn to two people with positive emotional bonds, and enjoy laying between them. Will you be one of those people? Or does Chuuya grate on your nerves?

Grinning, he waves over the nearest person to share in the experience.]

Ever seen anything like it?

V. Beach Episode

[When he returns from his excursion to Khalo Village Chuuya will be itching for a trip to the beach, and you can find him on the shore soaking up some sun, in the water swimming around, or enjoying a cocktail in the shade.

However, said cocktail isn’t your run of the mill booze; it’ll turn him into an exact copy of whoever approaches him! How bizarre!

Will you hang out with him on the beach or engage in some silly clone shenanigans?]

Wildcard!

[Have something you wanna plot with me? I’m over at arcanestardust! Don’t be shy!]

Comments

[steponme]

[Mumbling a small apology as he releases Chuuya, Shell lets his arms fall slack to his sides as well, panting softly.]

...a lot better. [It's not fair how good he is at that??]

[He can't quite turn on his side to face Chuuya, but it doesn't take more than a glance to see that Shell's problem quickly became Chuuya's.]

But what about you?

[colorature]

Nope! We sink!

_{[Unless they're taught how to swim, that is.]}

It's really wonderful! You're amazing!

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Oh yeah, Keaton doesn’t really enjoy being called cute. Oops.]

Didn’t mean it in an insulting way.

[He gives Keaton’s chest a few more scratches.]

Your fur, and your ears. Your tail too. It’s not a bad thing. Promise.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Hmm. I dunno.

[He’s acting as if it’s really that difficult to decide what he wants.]

What if I asked you to bite me? Not to drink blood, just because.

[Nevermind the fact that those fangs will probably draw blood regardless.]

[notwagging]

[ narrowing his already slit eyes, he tilts his head from side-to-side as he ponders Chuuya's reasoning... ]

Oh, okay. That's fine, I guess.

[ despite his cool demeanor, his tail still flutters happily. he's cute! ]

You are too. I think. I guess out of all the humans I know, you're probably up there.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Heh. Thanks.

[He really shouldn’t ask, but...]

Could I climb on your back? I can make myself lighter if you want.

[steponme]

Bite you?

[Even if he does draw a little blood, it would be fine, right? It's a new day, after all -- he's probably at least a little hungry again.]

[He's certainly thirsty, either way.]

You'd have to come a little closer for that.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Sure thing.

[Chuuya YOU NEED AN INTERVENTION!!

He does come closer to Shell before sweeping his hair over his shoulder and removing his collar for easier access.]

You don’t gotta be gentle.

[notwagging]

[ he cocks his head to the side, a little confused... but it seems pretty harmless, not to mention that it's not like Keaton's any weaker in this form either. ]

Sure. You don't have to do any of that weird magic of yours. Just climb on.

[ meanwhile, he'll be happy sitting there and wiggling his bulky lower half. ]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Weird magic...well. Chuuya supposes he’s not wrong.

Chuuya does climb up on Keaton’s back, gripping his fluff for purchase as he settles on top of him.]

This is pretty cool. How fast can you go?

[notwagging]

As fast as a horse can when it's tired.

[ he's not the speediest. he's made of muscle, of fluff, and of some fat. not the kind of shapeshifter that'll use speed and flashy moves, but the kind that'll pound things into the ground with big ol' meaty paws and beans. ]

There are some pretty fast humans out there that I can't always hit, but I try my best anyway.

[ wag! ]

/wrap up

[steponme]

[And then Shell indulged Chuuya's vampire kink and they probably began an endless cycle of banging that lasted until someone walked in on them. It's not like this room has a lock, after all.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Heh. No need to be too fast.

[Chuuua will continue to pet and scratch Keaton as he rides on his back, and really, it’s almost like laying on a bed of fluff.]

Imagine if we went into battle like this. We’d be unstoppable.

[notwagging]

[ he starts to rock back and forth slowly, humming while in thought. ]

You think? Normally, if I'm lucky enough to be nearby a friend, we'll use each other as distractions while we attack. It works most of the time.

[ and then a gentle purr/growl? a purrowl. ]

Or I'll block a sword or an axe with my body. It's happened more than once. Human weapons just bounce off of me.

[thetaintedsorrow]

That’s a solid strategy. I used to have a partner I worked with like that.

[With Dazai usually serving as the distraction while Chuuya kicked ass.

Aww, what a cute noise! Chuuya scratches behind Keaton’s ears, hoping to hear more.]

Really? You must have a thick hide, then. Kind of like a dragon.

[thetaintedsorrow]

No shit. I know my life is different here, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna sit back and watch everything I care about be destroyed.

[Perhaps war is inevitable, or maybe a different, more dire catastrophic event will occur before Olympia and Wyver manage to tear each other to pieces, but either way Chuuya isn’t going to sit on the sidelines while others fight. If he doesn’t use his ability for protecting what matters, then why even have it in the first place?]

I’m not just gonna throw my life away, though, so you don’t have to worry.

[Chuuya doesn’t think Dazai worries all that much about him anyway, but still.

Ah damn. Chuuya was hoping to fix this ASAP, and he huffs when he sees the long line at the healer’s hut. He supposes he’ll just have to wait, but that doesn’t mean he can’t fold his arms like an angry toddler and grumble under his breath.]

...let’s come back later. I’m thirsty.

[That might seem counterproductive to what Chuuya wants, but he can put up with being tiny for a little while longer if it means not having to talk about his own faults and self-destructive tendencies as they wait in line.]

Just a drop of water will do.

[notwagging]

[ ugh, the scratches certainly do the trick! big, thick shapeshifted Keaton can't help but repeat the noise, leg twitching but not completely kicking yet. ]

I guess when you put it like that... kind of. But dragons are a lot scarier! Have you ever seen one fight? The breath and the kicking and the roaring...

[ not that HE'S intimidated by any! nope. ]

[cassus]

Seems like your itty-bitty ears aren't hearing me right! So I suppose I'll forgive the misunderstanding.

[ There's no helping the line or an expectation of a lengthy wait, so it's just as well that Chuuya poses another option to merely standing around. Dazai turns to wander through Khalo's system of tree houses to a place where food and drink are readily available. Chuuya at his tiniest could be placated with a water drop, but after all their walking he could use more sustenance than the dew drops on a nearby leaf. ]

No one is asking you to do nothing.

[ Dazai isn't about to demand that Chuuya play spectator to some phenomenal ( or not ) battle that lies on the horizon. That's never been their style nor what crawls under his skin. What bothers him is the knowledge that his partner will surely try to take it on alone. Chuuya admitted as much, just moments ago, swearing up and down that he leans on no one else to get things done. Going so far as to talk about how firmly he believes his usefulness in the Mafia existed only so long as he was self reliant brings home how deeply rooted this belief extends within his psyche.

Dazai knows he shoulders at least partial blame for this. Despite however incredibly self-reliant Chuuya had always been, in order to survive a childhood spent on the streets and living hand to mouth, it isn't as though Dazai hasn't done him damage. The fact Chuuya had been abandoned and left on his own, his ultimate ability rendered useless once he was one half of a whole team, all by the only partner he'd ever had?

Yeah, Dazai isn't about to pretend his defection didn't solidify every trust issue and burn to ashes Chuuya's expectations for truly relying upon anyone enough to partner with someone again. ]

The point here is this- [ He sighs. ] You have no reason to do anything alone anymore.

[ Because Chuuya isn't alone. And no matter how completely they might have both burnt their bridges to one another, abolishing a partnership all those years ago, it's rebuilt itself from scratch without either of them expecting it. ]

Do my ears deceive me? Is the legendary drunk of the Port Mafia preferring water over whiskey?

[ Khalo's system of interwoven levels brings them to a beverage stand and eatery where all manner of local dishes are served to the sounds of music playing in the distance. It's almost a shame that Chuuya isn't full-sized enough to appreciate it all. But the novelty of his teeny-tiny stature almost makes up for it, at least until Dazai has to crouch some to guide Chuuya onto the top of a nearby table.

One of the perks of being thimble-sized: Standing atop a table and not causing a huge stir. ]

Ah, I wonder if I was hit with a hallucination spell somewhere in the forest...

[thetaintedsorrow]

...I know I’m not alone.

[He knows very well by now that he’s got people he can rely on, but he’d never forgive himself if anyone got seriously injured or killed on his behalf. Still, he’s no one’s keeper, and if the others see fit to go out and fight then he can hardly stop them. He’s only one mortal man, but at least he can try to be there for the people that really matter to him. Being free from the Mafia means that he can form bonds more easily, and he intends to cherish them all.

Oh good, at least there’s somewhere to sit and relax and refuel around here. Chuuya steps onto the table before turning to Dazai with a pissy little look.]

Of course I want whiskey, but more than a drop might actually kill me at this size.

[He plants a tiny foot on Dazai’s finger like he owns it. Just because he’s shrunk in size doesn’t mean his attitude has changed.]

C’mon. I’m dehydrating down here.

[cassus]

[ God, Chuuya. Stop bossing him around like this in public. Dazai likes it a little too much, and his first instinct is to return the bullying in full force. Unfortunately, considering his partner's exceptionally minuscule size, it isn't like they can fully enjoy reaping the rewards of riling each other up with their typical brand of taunts and teasing. Certainly not when it usually ends with both of them bloody or littered with bruises and bite-marks. ]

I think you've forgotten what an incredible help I've been to you so far.

[ Ah, well. It's not as though their height difference has ever stopped someone as prone to pestering him as Dazai is. Why let it be an issue now? So enjoy stopping on his finger and throwing your weight around, Chuuya. Because Dazai has two hands at his disposal, and he's more than willing to put the other into play by nudging against his tiny partner's side. It's not forceful enough to knock him over, nor even upset his balance. If anything, the slow brush of contact up Chuuya's torso would be nothing short of roaming if it had been the whole of his hand and their sizes more equivalent. ]

A little gratitude would be nice.

[ Instead of getting up to fetch drinks Dazai sure is moving to sit down and devote the whole of his attention towards making Chuuya work for what he wants. ]

You know what I think would motivate me, right about now?

[ He's sure to answer his own question, carefully wiggling the finger underneath Chuuya's feet just enough to acknowledge the slowly building tantrum of a stamping foot. And if it's not clear that he's pushing Chuuya's buttons just to see which ones will set him off, the most satisfied, lopsided smirk that he can muster slowly spreads across his face. ]

Hearing you say: 'Pretty please, Dazai~.' Or even 'Thank you for saving me, Dazai!'

[thetaintedsorrow]

[He knows that bossing Dazai around only amuses the guy, but what else can he do in his tiny state? He’s certain that Dazai won’t just leave him like this, so he’s not too worried about reining in his attitude. Tiny but fierce, just like he’s always been.]

Tch. Are you saying I owe you?

[He grumbles when Dazai nudges him again, that giant fingertip nearly brushing against his entire body at once. Gloved hands push back defiantly, though he doesn’t actually hate the contact. He does, however, hate that smug look on Dazai’s face, and really, what did he expect?]

Me not dying of dehydration should be more than enough motivation, you bastard.

[Chuuya isn’t actually in danger of such a thing, but that doesn’t mean he can’t complain all the same. He stamps his foot against Dazai’s finger, as if that’ll make him stop being so goddamn smug.

But damn it, he’s so thirsty right now, and so sick of being small...]

Thanks for saving me. [He mumbles it under his breath with a pretty blush.] Happy?

[cassus]

You know what? ...I just might be, Chibikko.

[ It could be a trick of the light, filtering mottled spots of sunbeams through too many trees here in Khalo, or even Chuuy succumbing to the thirst he keeps proclaiming is growing worse. Either way, Dazai's expression flickers towards undeniably fond, in just the instant before he dips his head to laugh softly, pretending like it's not muffled solely to do little damage to tiny ears. ]

Okay, ankle-biter. If you're just about done walking all over me...

[ That digit which had brushed up against Chuuya's side changes tactics, ever so softly touching nothing but Chuuya's cheek, as if wishing to gather up the rosy warmth from such a rare expression and pocket it for later. It's a feat unto itself, considering the size difference. ]

I'll see if I can scrounge up the dirtiest water-drop here, fit for an angry little bumblebee like yourself.

[ Much as he enjoys being stepped on, now and in situations where the hard press of Chuuya's foot ( Stiletto-clad, bare or sporting his best loafers ) packs a lot more punch- he doesn't actually plan on letting Chuuya suffer. If being thirsty is an issue enough to warrant this much protest, Dazai will withdraw his finger, slowly enough so that Chuuya can step off, before getting up. ]

Try to stay put. [ Dazai shrugs off his coat and drapes it across the table, marking it as taken. ] I'll be back in a moment.

[thetaintedsorrow]

I’ve only seen one. It was more of a spirit dragon than anything.

[Still not something he wants to deal with ever again.]

It was a person that changed into one.

[notwagging]

Into a dragon!

[ he probably doesn't sound as surprised as he should? mostly because he's already used to someone doing that sort of thing, but... ]

... could they change back?

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Ah, now there’s a nickname that conjures up some memories. Chuuya immediately flushes the brightest red imaginable, flustered beyond belief that a nickname of all things could have this kind of effect on him. He remembers punching Dazai in the gut for calling him that before, because it’s totally insulting, even if meant in an endearing sort of way, but now he finds himself embarasssed for entirely different reasons. Even if it’s still insulting because look how tiny he is...]

Just wait till I get full size again. I’m gonna kick your ass.

[Too bad all the bluster goes right out of him when Dazai caresses his cheek like that. It shouldn’t feel as nice as it does, especially when he’s this tiny, but it’s better than being poked and prodded, he supposes. A lot better, and he almost misses the contact when Dazai pulls away to fetch him some water.]

Hurry up.

[The second Dazai turns to leave Chuuya will crawl over onto his coat and sit with his knees hugged to his chest. How is he going to live like this if the cure doesn’t work? Will the mushroom’s effects wear off eventually? It’s unsettling to think about, but at least he’s not alone.]