☆ 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

[firewalled]

"Going... oh, you think Justine and I are..." Rich smiles again, almost fondly. Sweet Michael, trying so hard to keep his friends from making mistakes. Rich does falter for a moment, remembering the Bond they shared and how gentle Justine has been with him, but... he knows he's not making a mistake here.

"We have a Bond, but it's platonic. She's important to me... but so are you. Doesn't sound bad to think both of you are important, huh?" Rich thinks it sounds rather nice, actually.

"I think some people do get... kind of turned on. Usually I'm fine... but damn, it's hard when you're just asking me to take a bite out of you," he teases.

[twoplayergay]

Rich's reassurance does drain some of the tension out of Michael. Some of it. "Oh. I guess I just... I assumed. Sorry, dude." He starts to fidget, squirming just a bit.

"You can definitely have more than one important person..." Even if Michael is used to having only one, that's just because he's an antisocial loser.

He opens his mouth to say something about being a weirdo since he has an uncommon reaction, when Rich takes his sentence in that spicy direction, and Michael chokes on his words. He hiccups with nerves, face and neck heating up.

"A-am I? I didn't... mean... um. Since you're not..." He stops, swallows, gathers himself. You're a useless virgin, Michael, still.

"Kiss me?" There we go.

[firewalled]

"You don't have to apologize. I know you just got here... no problem with assuming a few things."

He laughs softly at Michael's flustered reaction, admiring the red that starts to dust his cheeks, reaching out to brush over one cheek slowly, taking care not to hurt him.

He certainly will be careful, knowing Michael is so shy and so new to this, but he's happy to oblige with that request. He leans in and presses their lips together, sharp fangs grazing Michael's bottom lip and longer tongue flicking over skin.

[twoplayergay]

The gentle touch has something deep in Michael's body shuddering, and just the simple kiss as a soft moan drawing out of him. He tests, sucking gently at Rich's long tongue. He kind of likes the way Rich's fangs push against his lip.

Slowly, his vicegrip on the pillow in his lap subsides. He reaches out to hold Rich's face, to brush fingers down his neck, up into his hair.

[firewalled]

Rich moans in turn, made bolder by Michael's eager response. He's glad Michael likes his tongue, because it's now curling around Michael's, careful not to bite down too hard with his fangs. He certainly can't scare his prey off...

(That's a weird term, "prey." Maybe Rich is confused, but he doesn't think so.)

As Michael's hands reach up to touch him, Rich's own move lower, down Michael's chest, curling under the hoodie to hold Michael's bare sides. He doesn't move further yet, not wanting to scare him away.

[twoplayergay]

If Rich's touch was nice, the sounds he makes are even better. Michael swallows that moan eagerly, pushing in closer to Rich. He shudders, whimpering in a way that's entirely embarrassing but Michael seems to have forgotten how to care.

As he scoots closer, trying to get nearer to Rich, the pillow covering his dignity is pushed and falls away, leaving Michael's erection open to the air.

He shivers a bit, wrapping his arms around Rich, but otherwise doesn't do anything about that.

[firewalled]

Rich doesn't waste much time letting his body seek out warmth as it's wont to do. As they continue to kiss, one hand moves along Michael's hips, over his thigh. Fingers ghost over Michael's cock, talons bent back to try to avoid scraping the other boy.

It's difficult to manage, though, and eventually, Rich pulls away, swearing breathlessly.

"Ngh... that's not gonna work..."

Soon enough, though, an idea makes his smile return, as he slides out of Michael's lap, off of the bed.

"I wanted to keep kissing you, but I can't just leave you hanging with this in the way, can I?"

[twoplayergay]

Goosebumps rise up in Michael's skin where Rich touches, nerves and arousal both fluttering in his stomach. Even the light touch gets him worked up in the state he's in, desperate for more, and starting to squirm.

"Mmn?" He asks stupidly when Rich pulls away. What's he...? Oh. Oh Michael isn't ready for this again. Two times in one week now, a boy has squirmed down between his legs. Michael swallows hard, his brain a fog that's unwilling to let the nerves take control and ruin this.

"You... you could, but... I mean... if you want..." His face burns.

[firewalled]

"If I want?" Rich smirks up at him. "You're the one all turned on... you should tell me what you want."

There's a hint of desperation in there, a hope that seems to want something other than the feral intimacy his body wants.

Michael was... something special back home. He knows this Michael isn't anymore, but... he still wanted to be kissed. He still wanted touch. Rich needs to know if that's going to mean anything to him, if this shy nerdy boy from his past is even considering him that way in this moment, or if it was a lucky break that Rich even got him to agree to prom.

[twoplayergay]

"I don't..." He swallows, reaching down to play a bit with Rich's hair. "I don't want you to feel like you have to. N-no pressure, is all."

His face burns, and in spite of his nerves he can't stop smiling. He had felt something awaken in him, with the way Rich has been treating him, and even if he wouldn't normally be so shameless, he isn't likely to regret any of this later, either.

"But if you... wanna know what I want... I want... you to keep touching me."

[firewalled]

"I'm not feeling pressured at all," Rich mumbles softly around his fangs, leaning in to press kisses to the skin of Michael's thighs. He smiles gently back, when he looks up and catches a glimpse of Michael's expression, and then sighs warm breath against Michael's now uncovered length.

"I wanna keep touching you too..." His tongue flicks out, over the tip of Michael's arousal teasinly.

[twoplayergay]

Tension releases from Michael's shoulders. "Oh... good." If Rich is doing this entirely cause he wants to, that's fine then. Not just cause he feels bad for Michael or anything...

He shivers, fingers massaging into Rich's scalp in some attempt to give back what he's getting. He sucks in a sharp breath, Rich's tongue so surprisingly warm against his sensitive skin.

[firewalled]

Of course Rich wants to! He's always wanted to... he's just never had a chance before now. He seems pleased, though, to finally have this chance, smirking as the rest of his mouth follows his tongue. Careful with his mouthful of teeth, he presses a kiss along the length of Michael's cock, before lips close around the very tip, tongue adeptly curling around the head.

[twoplayergay]

The smirk sends a crackle of electricity up Michael's spine, but it still doesn't prepare him for what's to come. Rich's mouth is something else, with that not-quite-human tongue, and a strangled moan catches in Michael's throat. His fingers curl into Rich's hair, not pulling, but holding some tension. He tries to force himself to breathe somewhat normally in fear that he'd hyperventilate otherwise.

[firewalled]

Rich certainly wouldn't have minded if Michael had felt like pulling, but he's at least glad he can focus on what he's doing, only interrupted by the sweet moans Michael lets out. God, how long has he imagined hearing those sounds...? This may not be prom night, but that's fine, right? Rich sighs through his nose, tongue doing most of the work while Rich tries to relax his jaw, keep his teeth from making this moment a little less romantic and a bit more painful.

[twoplayergay]

The fog in Michael's mind warms and expands, filling him with soft, fluffy feelings and not much room for thought. All his anxiety is chased away and he's left with nothing but the basal instincts of desire. He trembles under Rich's ministrations, still so unused to the sensation of pleasure coming from someone else, especially from a mouth, that he's just left lost to the soft heat of it.

He mutter's Rich's name between soft moans, his thighs starting to twitch as the pressure gathering inside him builds.

[firewalled]

Feelings are nice. Much nicer than thinking, especially when that would likely mean thinking about the mess outside. Rich is more than happy that they're focused on just the two of them right now, on feeling pleasure, and on enjoying each other to the fullest. He chuckles deeply at Michael's quivering and moaning, not yet letting up. He knows Michael is close though, with how adept his tongue is, and so he knows if he just pushes a little harder, runs his tongue just so at the underside of Michael's cock, he should come undone in a few moments.