[open] and we won't eat and we won't sleep

[exsoldier]

Who: Zack Fair and YOU
When: Ieneuer / January catch-all
Where: Throughout Aefenglom
What: Event prompts and post full moon changes (someone's getting a tail...)
Warnings: Possibly violence, will edit with anything else!

i. kidnapping attempts; mid-month

[ There's something almost nostalgic, in a strange sort of way, about these nightly patrols that Zack has assigned himself to out of a sense of duty toward this city that's taken him in. Is Aefenglom perfect? No, he's already seen plenty of examples of how people here can be cruel to others simply because they're a type of monster they consider unseemly or dangerous. That's to say nothing of the clear class divides.

But is he going to stand around doing nothing while people are getting kidnapped and experimented on with the Cwyld by some weird cult? Absolutely not.

Subterfuge isn't really his area of expertise, so Zack puts his energies to making sure that people don't get grabbed in the middle of the night, only to never return (at least not in one piece). With his trusty Buster Sword strapped to his back, he moves through the rougher parts of town, eyes and ears open for any sign of foul play. He's gathered that this Evergreen Circle group has chosen to grab people they think won't be missed. Yeah, turns out they're wrong about that.

Eventually his methodical patrolling pays off, as he hears someone cry out in alarm, screaming for help. Zack races in the direction of the yelling, cutting down side streets and leaping over walls (despite how slick they might be with ice) in hopes of interrupting the kidnapping attempt. As he comes up on the pair, a hooded figure who's bodily dragging a young man away, he almost crashes into another Mirrorbound.

The only way Zack acknowledges this sudden addition is by pointing down the alley he just saw the cultist disappear down. With how thick the mists are tonight, he knows it would be far too easy to lose them. ]

That way!

ii. the infected; late month

[ As the month drags on and more people are successfully taken by the cult, Zack's patrols unfortunately turn into something else. He's saved a few people by this point, yes, but not all of them. The Evergreen Circle seems to have more resources than they could have imagined, which probably has something to do with the fact that they're connected to the aristocracy.

The end result being that he starts to find not attempted kidnappings, but the outcome of those, with severely infected "test subjects" dumped back out onto the streets.

While Zack can't imagine what the exact nature of these experiments had been, it's rough enough to see the aftermath. It makes his stomach churn, makes his blood boil. And if it brings back any unpleasant memories of his own, he'd rather not focus on that.

The hardest part is making the call: could the person be saved, still, and was it worth the risk to take them to the Coven for treatment? Or was there no better fate left to them than a swift and merciless death?

Zack and his patrol partner for the night (whether they planned this ahead of time or simply came across one another) have found one such poor soul. The woman's in the middle of a small plaza, crouched in the snow near a frozen-over fountain. Even from a distance, Zack can see that the skin on her arms has been tainted with that telltale inky blackness.

He lets out a long sigh and draws a hand down over his face before sending his partner a glance. ]

What do you think?

iii. post full moon; end of the month

[ Zack's work (not that he's been paid for it, but that doesn't matter to him) has to be put on hold when the full moons come. He suspects it's the same for a number of monsters and witches at this time, which only gives him additional concern that more people will get grabbed in the night without enough people on the lookout for the cult's movements.

There's not much that can be done about it, though. Thankfully, the full moon itself passes without incident for Zack, the strength of his bond allowing him to maintain control.

What he's not quite ready for (though he probably should have been) is what comes after, or rather, what remains even after the moons have waned slightly. He wakes up the next morning, exhausted from his transformation as he always is, but also left with something extra. Namely, a lion's tail.

That's going to take some getting used to.

The first order of business is his clothing situation. He cuts a hole into one of his pairs of pants so that he can get by, but figures that finding some trousers that are actually tailored to accommodate a tail is worth doing.

So he'll be wandering around the shopping district, bundled up for the cold weather yet unable to hide his new monster addition. If someone approaches him, he'll greet them with a sheepish smile and a shrug. But he could just as easily walk up to someone with a question. ]

Do you know where the good monster-friendly clothing stores are around here?

[ Should he have researched this in advance? Yes. Did he? No. ]

iv. wildcard

[ Got something else you'd like to do with Zack this month? I'm down! Feel free to just throwing something at me and I'll roll with it, or you can hit me up at demonology. ]

Comments

Prompt 2!

[bravers]

She's gone already- probably going to infect others, too. Gotta do it.

[ His words are stern, as if he felt nothing. But that wasn't the case- not at all- not when his eyes are as wide as they are, not when there's a small hesitance before he answers, and not when he's, Beastlord on one hand, slowed to a complete stop.

With everything going on, it'd been the plan to go across town, to Tifa, and to Aerith, and make sure they were alright. Sephiroth's on his mind too, and while the man certainly didn't need help, he knows, for damn sure, the whole situation's not something he can just not check in over. Even if like everything else, what was happening here sure as hell wasn't a threat to him.

...That, and Zack's sentiment of something like this being similar to what Hojo had done is another reason he's got to see him.

Normally, he'd ignore everything. He'd go and he'd make sure Aerith and Tifa were alright, he'd check in with Sephiroth. This woman in the street would be passed over. Seen as an obstacle to be manoeuvred around more than a person in need of help, whichever form 'help' took.

...But...
She's no obstacle. Zack's already pointed out what she is. So he's hesitant.]

I'll do it. You... shouldn't.

[The thought of doing it himself is... horrible. Infected or not, she's a civilian. But Zack doing it... is worse.]

Go on ahead.

[exsoldier]

[ All it takes is the woman shifting slightly, enough that Zack can see some of her face, and that cements it for him. Even from this distance, he can see how her facial features have been distorted by the infection, her eyes clouded over and her skin pocked with discoloration. She heaves forward then, as if she's going to vomit, but simply convulses instead.

How long before she transforms completely into a Shade? Zack doesn't know, and he's mainly only seen animals this far gone. Seeing the effects on a human is enough to make him vaguely queasy.

No doubt Cloud is feeling the same, and while his tone is steely as he announces what has to be done, Zack knows that he's affected. It'd take someone completely emotionless to not feel something, looking at the sad scene before them. Given what both of them have been through, how close they'd been to a similarly hopeless situation, it's impossible not to feel something about it.

Cloud's determination immediately sets Zack off, though. His brow furrows as he looks away from the woman to stare Cloud down instead, and he shakes his head. ]

What are you talking about? I'm not gonna leave you here to deal with this on your own.

[ He reaches behind him for the hilt of the Buster Sword, and there's something about using that sword for this, isn't it? ]

I've... had to do this kind of thing before. I can do it.

[bravers]

[He doesn't need to feel Zack's nausea through their bond. He's got plenty of his own, but it's there, perceptible, nonetheless. The feeling... it helps. It's horrible, that Zack's going through something that sure as hell isn't anything good.

But oddly, selfishly, it's good to know they're of the same mind. It's the same for a multitude of feelings. Sadness, recognition, familiarity, dread. None of the feelings are good.

...But they're on the same page. With more or less everything...
Except what he says.]

But-

[What he says, about having done it before. He... knows what he's talking about. Of course, he doesn't know what happened with Angeal. Not for sure, anyway. It's more of an educated guess, with Zack's scar, the long vacation time, that sword...

He doesn't know for sure. But he knew Shinra well enough to have a feeling. And that... that's exactly the reason why he suggested that he'd do it.]

It's not gonna take two of us.
... I don't mind. [He minds. Of course he minds. But he minds Zack more.]

...It's... your call.

[exsoldier]

[ Well, Cloud is right about one thing. This is a one-person job, and they also probably want to do it discreetly. Not because anyone in this city is bound to take issue with putting down someone so infected, as that's clearly a reality they've come to accept over time. But if this makes a lot of noise, it could attract even more trouble.

Zack meets Cloud's eyes, which seem to be glowing even more than usual on this dark, snowy evening. He's silent for one second, two, and then lets out a sigh. ]

You don't want me to do it, I don't want you to do it. It's just...

[ He's already got the blood on his hands. And when it had been Angeal, it had been ten times worse, because they were friends. At least he doesn't know this person. Not that it makes it any easier to swallow, but if he considers it an act of mercy, it helps a little.

After heaving out a sigh, Zack's expression hardens into something impenetrable. He steels himself, draws his sword, and starts a steady march forward through the snow. ]

Keep a lookout, okay? It's probably better if no one has to witness this.

III

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede was always easy to spot; the cold weather meant her feathers were a bit puffed, and moons not only lengthened her wings but brought out their iridescence. The shine had yet to dim.

Zack wasn't exactly hard to spot either, tall as he was. He was bundled up like an old man, but that smile was hard to hide. The red feathered Chimera's ears perked up, and she changed courses immediately to walk up to him instead. The basket looped over her arm was half full of knickknacks; a short, stubby length of old rope tied off at both ends, a chunk of rubber, several pieces of rawhide folded up and dried hard.]

Hey, Zack. Are you...looking for something?

[There was something moving about behind him, and Kaede had a few reasonable guesses as to what it was. But staring directly at his ass right off the bat seemed impolite. This Zack didn't know her like that. She was behaving.]

[exsoldier]

[ The moment that Zack realizes it's Kaede who's approaching him (which takes all of a split second), relief immediately washes over him as his smile grows. Their last chat at the masquerade had been good in a number of ways, and by this point he easily counts her as a friend.

On top of that, she's a fellow chimera. She can probably help. ]

Hey, Kaede! It's good to see you. [ He leans forward to look at the items in her basket, understandably curious. Though he'll answer her question first.

Which is when he turns around so that she can see the tail in all its glory. All it takes is a thought to make it sway slowly back and forth, which is weird all on its own. It's one thing to have this during the full moon, but realizing that he's stuck with it now is bizarre, even if he knew this day would come eventually. ]

I cut a hole into these pants, but I was thinking I should probably look for some clothes that were made for a tail, y'know?

[long_live_the_queen]

[At first, Kaede followed his gaze down to her basket, but before she could explain he had already turned around. The antlered Chimera blinked, attention drawn to the flick of the tuft at the end of his new tail. It was...huh. That was different than before.


...it was probably rude to keep staring at his ass, uh.]

I know a tailor. They don't mind Chimeras.

[Her ears flick as she glances back up. This probably qualified as a garment emergency, and demanded prompt attention.]

This way.

[Kaede turned and began to backtrack, pausing after a few steps to check if Zack was following.]

[exsoldier]

I knew you'd be able to help!

[ Zack's fast on Kaede's heels and already wondering if there's anything he could do to pay her back for her time and attention. It feels as if he's put into that position often in this world: feeling he owes the people around him.

Though it doesn't take him long to realize that she's heading back the way she came. ]

You sure you've got time for this? If I was interrupting something, we can do this later.

[ Again, he shoots a glance at her basket. It does sort of feel like she'd been in the middle of something, so best to check. ]

III

[twilightskey]

[Roxas is running a few errands of his own, pausing to do a little window-shopping when he's suddenly approached by the unknown man. The akita turnskin pauses, ears perking up in surprise as he takes a moment to look over the unfamiliar man.]

Uh, yeah. I know a place...

[exsoldier]

[ While Zack's never met this kid before as far as he's aware, there is something about him that's familiar. That's probably what drove him to approach in the first place. Well, that and the clear sign of a tail, one much bushier than his own. That's gotta be a pain to deal with. ]

Oh yeah? [ Zack brightens, relieved he hasn't been told to get lost immediately. ] Mind showing me the way? Or just giving me directions. Is it far?

[twilightskey]

Ah, sure. I can do that.

[Roxas nods, before giving the man another once-over. His eyes linger on the lion tail for a moment before looking back up at Zack and motioning him to follow down the street.]

There's a tailor a few blocks down that specializes in clothes designed for turnskins. He's a nice man, so he can probably help you out a lot. [Then, after a small pause,] You new around here?

[exsoldier]

[ Zack is quick to follow after the younger man, relieved that he happened upon someone so willing to help. It's not like most people in this city would just drop everything like this, especially for a chimera.

Speaking of which... ]

Well, I'm not a turnskin, but hopefully that's not a big deal. Unless he's got something against chimeras?

[ It's not that uncommon of a thing, but Zack would hope that anyone who specializes in tailor-made clothes for monsters wouldn't split hairs like that. At the question, he shakes his head. ]

No, not new, but the tail is a recent addition. Name's Zack. It's nice to meet you.

iii.

[grandspark]

[Rude had only just grown into his own tail the previous full moon so while he'd had some time with it, it still gave him a spot of trouble now again. Namely, whenever he was cold and something heated was nearby--it sort of...latched onto whatever it was without Rude's conscious mind paying it any attention. This time he caught it out of the corner of his eye as it crept towards Zack seeking out the warmth of the feathered chimera. He forced it back with a sudden jerk and purposefully placed it on the opposite side of himself where the tip of it twitched idly in a show of irritation.

He looked at Zack squarely in the face as if everything were just fine and nothing just happened.]

Yeah, I know a few places. Had to get some new pieces for myself recently.

[exsoldier]

[ Odd as it might be to turn to a Turk for help, Zack has to say one thing about them: they know how to dress well. So it seems like a no-brainer to check with Rude about this. Besides, as far as Zack's aware, Reno and Rude haven't been causing any trouble that he needs to be concerned about.

Then again, their whole MO is they keep things on the downlow. Still, chances are Cloud's been keeping an eye on them too, right? He's just as paranoid about anyone still connected to Shinra.

Zack watches the moment with the tail, how it flicks toward him before Rude hurriedly tucks it to his other side. Interesting.

Zack's own tail is swaying a bit, but he hasn't had many issues with it so far, save for it necessitating a small adjustment in his balance. He's also glad his is on the thinner side. Rude's seems unwieldy. ]

Yeah, I can see that. [ Zack crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow at Rude. ] Mind telling me where? I hope this stuff isn't too expensive.

[grandspark]

Depends on where you go and what you want.

[For example, Rude's outfits were mostly on the expensive side. If he wasn't earning them from odd jobs then he was paying a good portion of cunes to purchase them. The price of looking so sharp.

But he had found some nicer cheap places for casual lounge wear and exercise outfits. Despite rumors usual appearances, he did wear clothes other than fancy suits sometimes.]

There's a lot of options if you know where to look. There's a place on the corner of Gryphon and Red... [He started a small list of places for Zack to look.]

[exsoldier]

[ Well, it's clear that Zack's come to the right person, even if this had been a meeting of chance more than anything else. He feels the need to whip out a notebook and start jotting this all down, but it's not like he's got one on him. Maybe his Watch? Argh, too much work. ]

I'm not just gonna be able to remember all this...

[ He sighs and crosses his arms over his chest. ]

Why not just show me to the place you think will suit me best? That might be easiest. Err, if you have time, anyway.

[ It's not like he thought to ask Rude what he was doing before they ran into each other. Since he's a Turk, isn't he always kind of on the clock? ]

i

[sparkstrikes]

[For Lightning, it's all about oddly perfect timing. She isn't on patrol—officially—but the soldier in her never turns a blind eye or ear to the sound of distress, especially in uncertain times like these. The missing citizens has her on edge, and so she does a lap at the outskirts when she can, whether it's on her way home from work or because she's bored. It gives her a bigger sense of purpose than baking bread all day, but without the strings attached to the city.

When she hears the shriek on the other side of the block, she rushes in opposite of Zack, and although it has been a while, she doesn't pause to think about it. She sees him point down the alley and with a nod, she runs in after them, the sound of metal scraping against itself as she extends her blade, readying it in case she's able to cut down the culprit.

The alley is dark and thick with fog, and that second they had taken to figure out which direction to go has given the snatcher a head start.]

Shit... [she mutters under her breath, but there's a crash of a garbage can down the alley that sends her sprawling forward again, hoping that Zack is either behind her or will be coming around to meet them on the other side...]

[exsoldier]

[ A pincer sort of maneuver might have been more useful, but Zack doesn't know this area well enough to be confident that he could circle around and cut the kidnapper off without just getting lost. Better to follow more directly, and he doesn't waste any time in doing so, fast on Lightning's heels.

While they've never worked together in a situation quite like this (at least, not so far as he can remember), he immediately finds himself relieved that he's run into her. Zack knows enough about Lightning's experience to appreciate her assistance in this situation. He might be used to working alone more often than not, but he's never going to say no to some reliable back-up. (Or is he the back-up? Either way...) ]

We can catch 'em!

[ Even if the ground is slick with snow and ice, Zack doesn't let that trip him up. If anything, he ups his pace, relying on his superior speed as much as possible in these conditions. He leaps over the knocked-over trash can they'd heard before, then comes up against a stone wall.

Which is around when he overtakes Lightning, speeding past her as he runs up the wall and then vaults over it. As he lands on the other side, he's able to see the silhouette of a pair in the distance. ]

Hey! Stop right there!

iii

[omnicrafter]

[In fairness, he probably thinks she's a turnskin or something. Not an uncommon assumption these days. But Irhya smiles a little mischievously, gesturing to his tail.]

What, you mean for that?

[There's always the temptation to offer to fix it for him, but... perhaps it's better to just answer the question.]

Well, seeing as I have a tail every day of the year, I might be able to direct you to a few places. I often just alter my own stuff, but there are times I really can't be arsed.

[Pause. She covers her grin with her hand.]

...It's kinda cute, though.

[She always did sort of like that shape of tail on miqo'te, with the fur-tipped end...]

[exsoldier]

[ Between the tail and the ears, turnskin does seem like the clear answer when it comes to what kind of Monster this stranger must be. It's just that her features are a bit more feline than canine, but who's to say that isn't an option?

It occurs to Zack only now that he could have asked Cloud about all this too, but that's neither here nor there.

What he isn't quite expecting is the compliment, and Zack twists his back and cranes his neck to look at the tail as it swishes back and forth. ]

You think so? I guess it's not so bad...

[ Especially if a cute girl likes it. A pause, and he turns back to look her over. ]

But yeah, if you've got some places in mind, I'd love to hear about them!

[omnicrafter]

[She tilts her head coyly, like she's keen on the subject. When she shifts, it becomes more obvious she's got a greatsword not too different in size from his on her back.]

Sure, there's one a few blocks down if you want to walk with me. They're good with things like holes in pants for tails, ear sleeves for hats, even zippered pockets in the back of shirts for large wings.

[And then tilts her head the other way, looking up at his face.]

...You do kind of have a leonine look to you, somehow. I'd almost say miqo'te like me, perhaps...

[exsoldier]

[ All it takes is her shifting around for Zack to spot her sword, and then he's curious. It's a pretty big sword for someone of her stature, not that Zack is in any place to judge. Which isn't what he's doing at all, actually. No, he's impressed more than anything else.

Something about this all strikes him as very familiar, too. He chews on it as they walk. Didn't someone tell him about a catgirl who wielded a giant sword...? ]

Oh! I'll probably need something for wings too, eventually, so that's good to know.

[ Though what she follows up with after that is more perplexing. Zack blinks at her a few times. ]

Miqo'te? What's that?

[ It's what she is, apparently, but he's never heard the word before. ]

IV. Wildcard! (Also choose your format, prose or brackets! I'll follow the lead.)

[notbert]

Several days clear of the full moon and the various Monster populace among the Mirrorbound are mostly back on track. Save for some who might have had more of a struggle and needed time to recover or get used to a new appendage. But patrols for threats, Cwyltid and would-be kidnappers is best done in pairs at least. And since Zack's scheduled partner for today has been held up, someone who usually covers the Western Residential District has volunteered.

Naturally, a time, description, and place were arranged. And the warrior named 'Ardbert' is right on time and pretty much as described. A newly arrived Witch by all accounts, friendly-looking, and short brown hair, with gear that looks pretty archaic against the city setting, but it's comfortable and provides a layer of warmth even without the winter cloak. That particular piece of outerwear is definitely a native style, although it is the plainest definition of 'cloak' one can get.

This particular patrol is for the early morning, slightly before dawn. It is designed to catch any strange blips in the morning commute. People are easy to catch unawares when they're tired after all. Whether from just waking up or going to bed after a long nocturnal schedule. The meeting place, a small fountain at a crossroads near Haven.

Hope you're good at rising early, Zack!

[exsoldier]

When news comes of his patrol partner changing, Zack doesn't think too much of it. It doesn't seem like there's anything worrisome going on — just a scheduling conflict. Or maybe the intended person just didn't want to deal with waking up early, that was possible too. Someone suddenly going missing would have been cause for concern, but that's not the case here, thankfully.

It might be going too far to say Zack's a morning person, but he certainly has no issue with being awake and alert even in these early morning hours. His assignments with SOLDIER had often required him to be awake at strange times, so this doesn't really hold a candle to any of that.

When he spots someone lingering near the fountain, peering around as if he's waiting for someone, Zack can be fairly sure that he's found his assigned partner for the day. He approaches, lifting one hand in a quick wave as he does. His boots carry him confidently even over the icy cobblestones that have become a fixture in the city this past month.

"Ardbert?" Just to be sure. The guy's definitely come dressed for the weather, though despite the thick layers, he's wearing something that should allow him to move freely if they end up having to apprehend a kidnapper. Zack nods in greeting, then points to himself with his thumb. "I'm Zack! You ready to do this?"

There's no hiding the fact that he's a Monster, and while his feathers (in his hair, around his neck) and golden eyes might have once made someone peg him as a harpy, that's not the case now. No, not when he has a lion's tail swishing around behind him.

[notbert]

That's true. It really is early. Still early enough that the magic lantern resting on the fountain's edge likely belongs to the one who is waiting. In a half-hour or so it might no longer be needed. But for the Ascian turned hyur, it helps to navigate the spaces between streetlamps.

Getting closer, it will be very obvious to Zack that Ardbert's gear, while nice and winter-ready if archaic, is definitely meant to protect someone from and engage in dangerous conflicts. At the sound of 'Ardbert', the waiting figure turns and focuses on Zack. Likewise raising a hand, 'Ardbert' adopts an expression of easy greeting. Grin and all.

"Ah, just in time." After retrieving the lantern, the warrior steps forward to meet the other man's approach. Is Elidibus ready to do this? Well, yes. Of course. "Indeed, I am Ardbert. Shall we be on our way then, Zack?" He sounds a bit old-fashioned perhaps. But the good-natured manner, while a bit more subdued than Zack's own, appears similar enough.

At least, that's what the Ascian within that shell hopes to portray.

At least two types of humanoid races have tails like that where Elidibus comes from. So the jury's still out as to whether Zack is turning into a harpy or not. The important part is that after a cursory once-over one might expect of anyone getting a first look at a new work partner, this 'Ardbert' fellow doesn't seem to act like something's unusual. There'll be time to suss out details later as to what the ex-SOLDIER may or may not be.

"Though if you'll lead the way, I would be grateful. I'm not as familiar with this area as I would be in the bounds of my usual routes."

Elidibus has made a point of knowing as much of the city as he can. But it's still a work in progress and he had been focusing on matters in the Western Residential District over where they are currently assigned.