☆ Event: Fright Night

[moustre]

Event Log: October, Fright Night

I. The Mist It starts in the middle of the night. As the bells chime for 3 am, a slow fog creeps across the city from all four cardinal directions, swirling low to the ground, shining purplish in the light of the twin moons. It goes without notice for a while, an oddity, easily brushed off as too much rain and the changing temperatures turning it to mist over the cobblestones. The first ones to get caught up in it are the night workers, the drunks leaving the bars, the sailors returning to their ships, anyone out on the streets when it begins. In most cases, the effects are not instantaneous - it takes a little time to sink in before… a. The Transformations Even if you don’t find yourself out on the streets in the middle of the night, the mist creeps its way into buildings through cracks and openings, until exposure is almost guaranteed for everyone in Aefenglom, and even some just outside the Bright Wall in the Outer City. Though a lucky few, Mirrorbound and citizens alike, will find themselves wholly unaffected by the substance and will retain their physical forms and their own right minds, many more find themselves bent to its whims, changing in ways that could never have been predicted. There is little rhyme or reason to what changes occur or how - some simply wake with new parts, uncomfortable, while others run from their homes, panicking as wings tear painfully out of their backs or claws burst forth from their hands. The mist does not discriminate. Humans and Witches find themselves gaining the parts of Monsters, or even creatures that live outside the Wall. Monsters gain parts that don’t match up to their species - Arachne with wings or gills, Turnskin with antlers and Merrow tails, Puca with the teeth and claws of predators or the horns of unicorns or the scales of lizards, such strange sights become more and more common as morning approaches slowly. Mirrorbound may find that they can even gain the features and mannerisms of creatures from their home worlds. It all seems to happen wholly at random. These parts may not even last; plenty of citizens lose their new additions after just hours, only to gain new ones in the meanwhile. In the dark, wee hours of the morning, the city erupts into chaos. b. Widespread Chaos There’s no chance of peace tonight. Some may be lucky enough to escape the mists or its effects somehow, but the vast majority of the city hasn’t -- and it’s telling, from the sounds of people in the streets, that no one’s particularly happy about the turn of events. Many are in pain, many are blind with panic and upset. How could this happen? What’s going on? Many of the shouts attribute blame to the Coven allowing the practice of at-times experimental magics, while others turn it into anti-Monster sentiment, claiming the Monster population wants them all to suffer the way they do. Other tinfoil-hat-ists spread their conspiracy theories loudly, laying the blame squarely on Dorchacht - retribution for the Monsters the Mirrorbound stole from their city. This is an attack, they shout! The actual truth remains to be seen, however. There are plenty who don’t care about the truth and pay little attention to the rumors. They’re opportunists at heart, and a city in chaos is good for lining pockets. Some less-affected and less-moral citizens take to the streets of the Shopping and Aristocratic districts, throwing rocks through windows, banging down doors, looting shops and the houses of the wealthy of whatever valuables they can carry with them. Even a gang of kids from one of the orphanages in the Harbor District, sporting their own mismatched new features, can be spotted roaming the city, looting stores and homes, stealing from people incapacitated in the streets. They can’t pass up an opportunity when they have so little to begin with. c. State of Emergency Parliament, in contact with the Coven, is quick to declare a state of emergency in Aefenglom. A magical announcement rings out all through the city, loud and impossible to miss. Those who can keep it together are called upon to help find some sort of order before things devolve too badly and more damage is done than can be fixed. People will get hurt if things continue like this, they could even be looking at casualties. Those who have learned healing magic are asked to report to makeshift first aid stations scattered around the city to help those dealing with more violent, bloody transformations. Anyone with prior law enforcement experience are tasked with helping contain and stop the looting and the muggings. More still are called to try and figure out some way to get rid of the mist, or reverse its effects. None of the assignments are mandatory, plenty are unable to assist as they deal with their own afflictions, but any help is greatly appreciated.

II. Damage Control The chaos of the first night dies down somewhat by noon the next day. The air of forgiveness and cleaning up for the new year that was present at the beginning of the month is gone as the violet mist still spreads, wreaking havoc with the citizens of Aefenglom. Human citizens take it worse than the Monster half of the city, but one of the side-effects hits the Monster community harder. It quickly becomes apparent that the effects of this never-before-seen magic are not only physical. Fights break out over anything from minor slights to things worth fighting about, blossoming from a few thrown punches to all-out brawls that spill into the streets. Anger and agitation increase in most affected citizens, and you can cut the tension in the air with a knife. Relief efforts have to be redirected. Some can keep it together just enough to go about their daily lives as best they can with their new ‘additions’, but others rapidly start to lose their minds in ferality, even those with strong Witch-Monster Bonds. Miss Nessie is quick to whip the Coven into action to help preserve the peace as much as possible. There isn’t enough room to contain so many feral citizens, but they try to make do. All available Mirrorbound, Witch and Monster, who are able and want to help contain the people of Aefenglom or each other are taught a simple knock-out spell, or given slips of paper enchanted with the same, to literally knock some sense into the ferals. It won’t hurt them in the long term, but it will give them a time-out and help pull their minds out of their pits of animal instinct. Plenty of citizens will be thankful for this. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy to see the Mirrorbound around town. They may notice that they get more scowls while they’re out and about, more whispers and dirty looks. They come from humans the most, but especially the wealthier people of the city, dealing with their own share of terrible transformations, who mutter under their breaths words like, “Knew they would bring trouble with them. Knew it right from the start.” Known Mirrorbound may find themselves being kicked out of higher class shops in the Shopping District, or even spit on in the streets. Poorer citizens, especially Monsters, see things differently, however: they’ve seen the refugees from Dorchacht, they know what was done for some of their kind. They’ll admit that the Mirrorbound have brought trouble with them, but a little trouble isn’t always a bad thing - sometimes you’ve got to shake things up and disturb the status quo. Though they’re dealing with bizarre changes and an increased risk of going feral, they have faith that the Mirrorbound will help solve this problem. Of course, this difference in opinion just means both sides argue louder and fight harder.

III. The Refugees For those who’d found themselves rehomed, mostly Monsters and what few Witches came with, this is not what they had expected from a “full moon”. They’d been warned that certain urges would be stronger, that magic could wax and wane like the moons themselves, but this? This rampant disorder, the odd turning present in so many citizens and Mirrorbound alike, the Coven and Parliament’s bid on attempting some sort of damage control--? Is this what they left Dorchacht for, from one far too controlling city to one that didn’t seem to have any control at all? They aren’t in chains, at least. They can choose their Bonds if they’d like one. But it’s put them on edge enough that some linger by the docks, both wanting to leave to someplace “safe” in their eyes and wishing to stay. The latter wins out in most cases, seeking to help the Mirrorbound as they were helped themselves, though they may be suffering from the mists themselves... oddly, they seem to be more aware of themselves in a way that the natives are not, likely learned behavior leftover from Dorchacht to keep themselves in check; the compulsion spell had only helped compulsion, after all, there’d been a genuine want to remain secure and safe in their minds even with the situation as it was. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of locals who see the refugees as part of the problem -- before the Mirrorbound, before Dorchacht, Aefenglom had been fine, and in continuing these thoughts, they’re not... the friendliest to outsiders. Some are more likely to retaliate violently with new-found additions to their physiology and skillset when the refugees attempt to help, with whispers, conspiracy theories, and nasty rumors all the while spreading at a rapid pace. As bad as Dorchacht had been, maybe they had a point about the strange, suggestive magic used across the city. Maybe it’s something Aefenglom should look into too, during the fuller moons, should this be the beginning of something worse as the new year rises at the end of the month. But hopefully -- and this is the hope of all -- it simply remains a one-off, freak happening at the end of the year, and they pray the new one fares better.

IV. The Aftermath Thanks to quite a bit of Mirrorbound assistance, the city is still largely in one piece by the end of the day after the full moons. The mist, an unstable alchemical compound, eventually breaks down into nothing after a day or so, and the effects all fade or reverse, leaving everyone in their normal bodies and feeling clear-headed as the moons start to wane again. There are issues of property damage, stolen goods, and political discord to deal with, but the hardest to handle is perhaps the guilt of those who went feral and attacked their friends and loved ones. Samuin preparations continue with an unusual gloom hung over the city as clean-up and reparations commence. While before, though, humans and Monsters could often be found on the bridge over the River Temese, making amends with one another, the activity almost entirely ceases, leaving the bridge empty most days from now until Samuin.

Welcome to October's event log! This event takes place ICly on the 12th, 13th, and 14th. The Questions thread can be found HERE! Please help us and other players out by putting the subject(s) of your questions in your header! Investigation briefs will be going out soon on the OOC Sign Ups thread to the teams who were chosen by RNG, so keep an eye out for that. And as always, while we do encourage you to use this log, you can feel free to thread things out on your own log or elsewhere.

Comments

[starseedling]

"Why did you look like that?" he asks, with a kind of dreamy distance to his tone, though it's not completely without feeling. He's definitely not quite right, even beyond the plant stuff.

None of the other mutants looked like that. Monster parts, sure, but he couldn't even connect what this creature was supposed to be. It would have been easier if he hadn't been able to feel it, too.

"What is it?"

[fiddlestick]

[She did cause this feeling. It was her and her alone. Even if there were plenty of questions about his own sexuality, this was enough evidence to show he was being genuine about his feelings towards Towa. ]

Haha... [He smiles at that wink and response. Towa showing that playfulness is hot] Yeah, you are ... you'll have me singing in no time, I bet.

[He takes a deep breath in anticipation as she leans her head down. Then he feels it, the lips followed by tongue on his shaft. Already it feels like sparks of pleasure, making him give a small noise. And what he wasn't expecting was the fingers rubbing at the same time.

The double exposure was enough to make his hips lift up with a moan. His tail that he'd been laying on uses the new freedom to move to stretch itself. The end of the tail reaches her chest, brushing against the underside of her breast]

[beariot]

[ Despite the whole act confusing and catching her off guard at first, Chariot was surprised at just how well her instincts took in, rearing up onto her hind legs and giving a swat of her own to that attacking paw...

... and immediately losing her balance and stumbling over, ass over teakettle. Being a cat may have given Chariot a bit more grace but she was still very much Chariot beneath it all. ]

[beariot]

[ Chariot couldn't help a small giggle. ] Too much? [ To be honest, she'd probably make the same protest in Kaede's position, reaching to gently place some of Kaede's hair behind her ear, offering more of her face to litter kisses across, her cheek, her jaw, and of course those lips she adored.

Honestly, Chariot was not... normally this affectionate. Something about her new nature made it feel so much more natural to be like this with her, though. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ If they are spotted, with the noise they're making and how bloody they are already, it's unlikely anyone will break them up for fear of their own safety.

To help with the size difference, Berserker lifts his hips and arcs them towards Waver's insistent affections. He's just as worked up as Waver is, eager to get any kind of sensation that he can. The bites on his throat only work him up more, growling louder. The bite against the crook of his neck turns that growl into something more guttural, a sharp, harsh sound bordering on a yelp. Despite the noise, he exposes more of his neck to these painful affections. All he can do is writhe underneath this aggressive assault, wanting more of whatever Waver's willing to give him. ]

CW: nsfw, blood, violence

[tryhard]

[ Berserker arches and exposes his throat, and his clear submission is a fresh jolt of heat and excitement for Waver. He lifts his head just enough that his teeth pull free, letting the wound bleed freely. Though he's not a vampire (probably?), the scent draws him, and the taste makes his heart race. Mouth clamping over the ragged bite, Waver licks and sicks the mark, instinctively making sure it'll last.

He marks Berserker with his scent too, arching against him in return and rubbing himself all over him, their bodies clashing clumsily with almost-painful friction.

--clothes. Too many clothes. In the way.

With a snarl, Waver pulls back at last. Mouth bloody, red dripping off his chin, he finally slides back all the way to Berserker's hips and lets go of his hands to begin shredding his shirt instead. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker's growling slowly subsides as he's thoroughly marked, another sign of submission. His throat is bloody and bruised now, a total mess and he can't mind it. His breathing is ragged as Waver finally pulls back, taking a moment to try to collect himself. He's overstimulated, nerves raw, every little touch, movement, and breath like a shock to his system. The reprieve is only momentary, though -- the tearing of his clothes brings him right back to where he was.

This is fine. Caster already tore his pants earlier in the night in his haste to get them off, it's only fair the rest of his clothing gets similar treatment. Not one to just lay back and take it (not anymore, anyway), he starts to remove Waver's clothes in a similarly careless, almost desperate way. Skin contact is all he's focusing on, the most direct method to get that is the only one. ]

[overworker]

[It's still new to her, so she's trying to learn quickly the differences in reactions that come from the different kinds of contact. She's aware that she doesn't have experience and she's embraced that, so instead she can focus on her strengths. He seems to like the combination-- enough that he's having trouble sitting still. That's good.

What catches her off guard is the sudden appearance of his tail. That feels nice.

She slowly shifts her way back up from the base to the tip; gently teasing the ridges with her tongue before taking just a little bit into her mouth. One hand continues to stroke the lower half of his shaft while she treats the tip to a slow, heated exploration with her tongue. The other hand sits on his thigh, occasionally rubbing her thumb over the different sensitive areas she'd found there.]

Closed

[thirdbeauty]

[Natsuru still had her own room, of course. Weirdly, she still wouldn't quite feel right if they were sharing the most intimate part of their living space. Even though neither of them minded if the other was half-dressed in the apartment, or they might even share their floor's bath, and now even shared Monika's bed sometimes so the other girl wouldn't have to be alone if she needs the company of her Bonded...

It's a very small grip on maintaining her standards of not being deceptive and taking advantage of her unique situation to get closer to Monika. Everything they do is because Monika wants or needs her, and it's okay because they're both girls. Natsuru's not really seeing that ever changing in this place, anyway.

Even with all of this, though, and the physical affection that came more and more readily to them since becoming roommates, and then Bonded... they remained pretty chaste. Natsuru hadn't considered their changed bodies beyond needing Monika's help to even get into a bed like this, and the fact that she was only dressed in a loose shirt she may have had to borrow from Monika because they couldn't necessarily wear their usual clothes. Why couldn't she be like normal Merrow and have legs when dry???

The constriction around her body was... oddly pleasant, as she began to wake up. Being wrapped up in this warmth, her own finned tail curling around Monika's snakelike body, wasn't objectionable in the least. Even when she felt it moving around and against her... and moaned softly at the curling of the tail just under her breasts, pushing against the weight of them. She even felt the tip curl around and slip in between, the gentle squeezing starting to feel almost like groping...

She'd been perfectly content to let it happen in a half-asleep daze, but as she woke up it started to dawn on her just how much of her body Monika was wrapped around and sliding against and squeezing.]

U-Um... M-Monika-chan...

[She didn't exactly move to stop her, if she even could. But she felt her cheeks growing hotter as she realized more and more the position she was in.]

[activatingcombatmode]

Damn. You really are some fancy Emporer.

[Isn't it supposed to be Empress...? Zack's confused.]

I wouldn't want to face those guys in a fight.

[weirdnecro]

Mm, your eyes.

[It wasn't the eye color was her worry, that seemed fine.]

I just want to make sure you didn't shake your brain up or anything. I don't think you did, but just to be sure.

I don't want to be sloppy.

[activatingcombatmode]

What was that?!

[SQUEEZE. What was that about Elliot being uncomfortable? Zack lifts him up higher and crushes him to his chest and then laughs warmly.]

Wow, I thought that different types of bonds would shake it up for sure. Guess not. But still, you're a great looking dragon, Elliot.

[Zack... He gets it.]

[fiddlestick]

[Even without the experience, she's doing well all things considering. Maybe the lack of pressure between them has helped it make it more enjoyable. They were both learning, not trying to impress the other. ]

Ngh...Towa...

[The name slips out as she starts her exploration of his tip, his voice sounding heated and heavy. His cock twitches from the touch, blood rushing into it to engorge it more. Her hands only make it more intense, giving him points of pleasure from multiple spots. His tail keeps swaying, pleased, brushing along the skin of her chest. ]

[overworker]

[Her lips relax as she feels it twitch, matching it's girth as she pushes her head down a little farther, using more of her mouth to accommodate him. It's sexy, hearing his voice like that. Saying her name no less.

She remembers the one rule though, and is very cautious of her own teeth-- another reason she moves a bit slowly at first, as she grows accustomed to the way it fits inside of her mouth.

Little by little her head starts to rise and fall, each time going a little further and starting to use the motion of her lips to stroke him, even while her tongue still feels its way around him.]

[guillotine]

Of course life matters. Of course there are better ways than killing. Of course the Nel of yesterday or two days or three days before would frown, and shake her head with moral irritation, and act like she doesn't usually have traces of blood underneath her fingernails. Hypocrite.

Her jaw clenches at receiving an order, any order from one whose name isn't synonymous with Holy Mother, and through their connection wells stung pride.

"I remember your faces and voices." Nel's declaration carries because she wishes it to. The city's clamor and the rushing tide beside the pier don't outstrip her shout. "That will be my job. Yours is to stay clean." They hover and hesitate. Does this mean freedom? It isn't absolution.

She boils with every unnatural urge to crawl up and down her skin, blazing accusingly at Wolf when he's done nothing to earn such rebuke.

[fiddlestick]

[Goddess, feeling her wet lips wrap around his length like that was incredible. If anything, the slowness as she gets used to it only draws attention to each of the sensations as she moves across each part - especially with that tongue still feeling its way around

It's a good thing she likes the sound of his voice, because there's no hiding his moan that comes from that]

A-Ah-!

[The only downside to doing this is the urge to touch your partner in return but the reach not being so easy. He does try to sit up a little, so he can reach out and steady his hand on her shoulder blade, petting the fur there]

[darkcharge]

[ As much as he would love talking about mold and being clean - because goodness yes he does appreciate cleanliness - the fact of the matter is that Vanitas is focusing more about friendship. Everything always circles back to friendship doesn't it? ]

I'm not necessarily talking about loss. [ Though that does work, yes. However one needs a friend for that friend to have meaning, right? ] People with intent to do you harm can just use these "friends." And your "friends" can turn on you with the proper incentive or just leave you behind. They could sell you out and since they know everything about you, they can expose you.

[ It is hard for Vanitas not to be bitter. His entire life he's had to feel Ventus' happiness. Ventus with his stupid friends. Ventus who would rather shatter their heart and cast them both into oblivion than see his friends hurt... Who would rather have them than be one. ]

Not to mention it's just better to not depend on anyone but yourself. In the end that's the only person who can actually do anything for you.

[lightblooming]

[ That has nothing to do with it. ]

There's a difference between fighting and just hurting someone.

[darkcharge]

Is there? I don't really see much of a difference, considering when you fight someone you know you'll end up hurting them.

[ Just saying! ]

[lightblooming]

[ Her gaze hardens a bit. ]

When I fight, I do it to protect others. I don't do it with the intention of just causing harm.

[darkcharge]

Protection comes at the cost of hurting someone or something else. Violence is violence. Failure to acknowledge that just means you don't fully comprehend the choices you are making.

[ Smirk. ]

Or maybe your self-righteous attitude won't allow you to think about it.

I-b.

[thirdbeauty]

[It's impossible to mistake Natsuru, from her increasingly petite Fae stature and features, and that particular blue shade of hair. From the waist up, she hasn't changed much since the last time Towa would have seen her. It's mainly the fish tail and some subtler details that are different.

She's just lounging by a wheeled bathtub in town, dressed in only something akin to a bikini top, and looking a bit embarrassed about it. She doesn't want to ruin her normal clothes by constantly getting them wet, though, and this is pretty modest compared to some things she's worn...

She's trying not to notice people in general so much, that the sudden collision of another body pouncing her to the ground makes her shriek in surprise.]

[whydogs]

[The bartender's hand continued to busy itself with Lancer's ample bust. Grabbing, squeezing, and rubbing against that hardened nipple under her blouse. Her tongue and lips would remain pressed against the other woman's, deepening their kiss whenever possible.

Between her legs, Lancer would notice an obvious dampness, spreading and growing across the fabric of her underwear.

It took but a single push into her to bring out a desperate moan from the bartender.]

[juzubeads]

Yeah, with Momiji....

[He gives the address and directions if she needs them. Or as best as he can manage with his current state at least. He was on the way back home when this happened, at least. So he might not be too far. Kyo isn't sure what to make of that 'her'. Probably she has a friend that's a cat turnskin too or something?]

Friend of yours?

[showsnopiety]

No...I don't live with anyone anymore.

[She still misses Somnus. But...at least this means that Connor and Caren can cuddle and sing in the bathtub. It's a little strange, even for her but it works.]

So it's fine. It's safe.