synflux | TRAVEL LOG #3

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TRAVEL LOG #3

TRAVEL LOG #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: cult-like symbols and implications, abduction.

▶ 001. TARGU MURES AIRPORT.

In the early morning of the 1st, Outsiders will receive a message in their oculars.

"Oh, seriously? You’re putting this on my plate now when I have so much to do? Tch … Outsiders currently caring for Imugi eggs, bring them to the medical bay. I’ll take over for now. Captain Yamakawa needs everyone to report to the hangar right away. There’s been a distress call from a distant land and we’re noticing some strange readings. We need you to go investigate this.

…Put some catnip on my plate, Alex. It’ll be a long night."

True enough, a SPECIAL ALERT will blare through the implants shortly after, asking those who would be willing to help with a distress call to head to the hangar. The reward will be an additional bonus pay, as this seems to be different from detecting a kaiju. There, they will see a familiar sight: the LILITH SKY CRUISER, a spacecraft capable of carrying 80 passengers. There is little time for seat assignments, so seating will be on a first come, first serve basis (hopefully you don’t get the middle seat!) and the flight will last about 10 hours. Just like any aircraft, Outsiders may stand up and walk around once the seatbelt signs turn off. There is inflight entertainment consisting of AI movies or virtual reality games (see TRAVEL LOG #2). Characters with inhuman features are required to wear their cloaking devices.

The plane will touch down at Targu Mures Airport, Transylvania, Romania, which appears to be abandoned and desolate. There isn’t a living soul to be found.

"Most of the country was destroyed decades ago, so there shouldn’t be anyone still living here. Yet, these readings ….. And we can’t ignore that call for help. We’ll need to investigate further. My Angels, go the rest of the way on foot..."

There isn’t a data portal in Romania, and there’s just no way to transport the number of cars needed for over 60 people via plane. Let’s hope you managed to get proper rest on the way here, because the hike will take about 5-6 hours through the dense forest, with the Captain feeding directions through the ocular based on where the kaiju readings are most pronounced.

All teams will be traveling together along a treacherous terrain which will include both harmful flora & fauna. Outsiders can expect to come across brown bears, wolves, European lynx, golden jackal & wild boars. Although the forest is dense, these animals are scarce to come by, but they can appear, especially when the hike takes place at dusk and into the night.

In this time of the year, hay fever is a common occurrence in these forests. Those sensitive to pollen may be sneezing and feeling fatigue through this hike. There will be steep hills, slippery ground and eerie sounds of the night to serenade the Outsiders. It doesn't help that the further they travel, the thicker a dark fog gathers around them, making the surroundings difficult to make out. Everyone will be provided with flashlights, but those with abilities to see in the dark or cast their own light will be encouraged to lead small groups. Everyone is going in the same general direction, but giving each other some space might be helpful. There will be no time to rest, no matter how tired Outsiders may be.

Just when it feels like they might need to trek through the forest forever—is that smoke coming from a fire up ahead?

▶ 002. BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.

Wander further through the bushes, and behold, it does appear to be smoke—but not from any natural fire. It’s coming from a chimney! The Outsiders will stumble upon the historic region of Brașov, known for its Gothic architecture and medieval towns. Romania has been classified as a desolate region for a very long time, and as far as LILITH is concerned, this city should be completely destroyed and abandoned. Yet, there is smoke coming from the chimneys, fresh laundry hanging on lines and the faint chatter of children playing. There are very clearly people living here, and this has LILITH completely dumbfounded.

"So it’s true … The resilience of humanity cannot be understated. I’ll need to report this to the Commander right away. My Angels, embark on the town. We need to find the source of this distress call and investigate these kaiju readings. I know we’ve had setbacks recently, but I’ve always had my faith in you."

One thing Outsiders will notice when they step into the town is how it appears to be lost in time. The date is still 2278 as far as anyone knows, but there’s no sign of any modern technology—no computers, telephones, or any sign of electricity or plumbing. Each and every house looks like it could have been plucked right out of the 1700s, and there even appear to be horse-drawn carriages parked along the pavements.

The townspeople themselves also look plucked out of time, with the women donning petticoats and aprons, and the men sporting waistcoats and riding boots. They welcome the Outsiders with warmth, delight, and over-the-top hospitality; more than happy to show the visitors around Brasov on their carriages. With how rarely they meet anyone from outside the village, the children are full of curiosity, following the Outsiders around and poking at their technology while bombarding them with questions, such as where did you come from? Do you know how to play any games? What do you like to eat?

Outsiders will be presented with food, clean clothing, and a room to stay at the village inns (2-3 people per room). They are free to roam and explore the village, where they will find taverns, fresh food markets, shops, inns, and a church dedicated to the village god.

One notable aspect of the town is the fact that they appear to have fresh, non-lab grown food. The vegetables taste fresher and are vibrant in color. The meat tastes much richer than it would back in Neo Tokyo. This is owed to the fact that the people of Brasov actually tend to their own farmlands, a lost practice in these times. Venture a little out of the city and you’ll find it: acres of farmland, growing wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, grapes and sunflowers. They even have livestock!

The people of Brasov are more than happy to answer questions about their town and way of living. Outsiders who go around gathering information from the villagers will learn the following:

Why is the land so fertile? This is all owed to their benevolent village god, the Lord of the Forest. No one goes hungry because their god takes care of them. Observant Outsiders will see a common symbol plastered around town: a canine skull.
There was a distress call. Is everyone okay? The townspeople would respond in confusion and assure the Outsiders that nothing is out of the ordinary. They have been living peacefully for centuries and it’s because their god protects them. They don’t seem to know anything about what’s going on outside their town and the word ‘kaiju’ is lost on them.
Who is the Lord of the Forest? The townspeople will sing his praises, telling the Outsiders about how he has been providing for and protecting their town for many years.
Where is the Lord of the Forest? He lives in the forest and mountains that surround the village. Sure enough, if the Outsiders look around, they will see they are completely surrounded by foggy forest and mountains as far as the eye can see.
Can they go into the forest? The villagers will look worried. While the Lord of the Forest keeps them safe, the forest is still filled with dangerous creatures. Also, the thick fog and trees makes it easy to get lost. Only the most skilled hunters venture out to catch prey like deer and bears. Characters who venture into the woods will get turned around and lost but will eventually find their way back to the village, to which others will reply it is the lord's guidance that brought them back to safety.

Outsiders can do as they please. The villagers are very friendly and will try to accommodate them however possible. There seems to be very little crime in the town and the people look happy. LILITH has been quiet for some time now. Maybe this is a great opportunity to have a well-deserved break? How can you not when the people are so kind and the food looks and tastes so delicious? In fact, the longer that Outsiders stay here, the more some of them may begin to feel like they belong here.

▶ 003. BONFIRE FEAST.

On the night of the 7th, the villagers will knock on doors inviting everyone to a bonfire party! It’s just about time to harvest their crops so food is abundant. They can’t think of any better way to use it than to prepare a feast. The bonfire will be held in the council square. Tables and benches have been set up and an impressive spread of fresh food is laid out for everyone to enjoy. Outsiders can enjoy bread, cheese, fresh pork, stew, roasted chicken, seasonal vegetables and free flowing alcohol. There are live musicians on the scene as well, playing merry tunes on their instruments. Some of the villagers have even started dancing around the bonfire and they’re pulling people in to join them! At the center of the table, a canine skull is placed, and the villagers give thanks to their god before partaking in the food.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary … Full and content, everyone will feel tired and want to retire for the night. Characters that do not need to sleep will also feel tired.

Night passes, and daybreak comes. Outsiders might notice that their numbers have dwindled; certain people have gone missing and are nowhere to be found. There won’t be a trace of the captured Outsiders aside from their belongings that they may have left behind.

The villagers do not seem bothered and everything seems normal in the village. Asking the villagers about these disappearances will result in no answers—they claim to have no clue as to the missing Outsiders' whereabouts. It also won’t be possible to contact them, or even LILITH for that matter. It is almost like communications have been cut off completely and their implants receive weak reception.

Observant characters may notice that a heavy fog has descended upon the village overnight and though it gets better during the day, it never lets up.

Captured Outsiders are as followed:

Aventurine
Choso
Dan Heng
Denji
Ereshkigal
Hiyori Iki
Kabru
Kaga
Lucy/Kaede
Maki Zenin
Makima
Malkuth
Loop
Nanami Kento
Rover
Sampo Koski
Taryon Darrington
Wriothesley
Yzak Jule
Zagreus

▶ 004. THE CHOSEN (KIDNAPPEES ONLY).

A separate log for KIDNAPPEES ONLY can be found HERE.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third travel log!

There are no assigned seats this time, so characters may sit wherever they choose. Inhuman-looking characters will need to wear their cloaking devices so as to not alarm the people of the town. A separate log has been prepared for kidnappees only. An additional prompt will go up for non-captured characters before the kaiju fight. The scheduling will depend on actions in the captive log. We will announce it on plurk.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. TARGU MURES AIRPORT: There has been a distress signal. Characters caring for eggs must leave their eggs with Dr. Spim and report to the hangar to board their flight. The Outsiders will touch down in Targu Mures Airport, and will need to hike the rest of the way through the forest.

2. BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA: Romania was thought to be a desolate country but one village seems to be thriving. The town of Brasov has historic, medieval architecture and the people seem plucked out of the 1700s. They are friendly, welcoming and curious, having never seen technology like what the Outsiders have. Outsiders are provided free lodgings, fresh clothing, food and water. The villagers raise their own livestock and grow their own food, which is unheard of in these times. They don't know anything about a distress call. All around the village, the symbol of a canine skull can be found. This is the Lord of the Forest, the god of this village whom the villagers worship.

3. BONFIRE FEAST: The villagers invite the Outsiders to a bonfire party where fresh food is abundant. After a night of merrymaking, they find that certain Outsiders have disappeared from their numbers and nobody seems to know what happened to them.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ooc; pre-kidnapping activities! i'll be writing out some closed prompts, so feel free to hit me up at

mochibun if you want denji anywhere before he gets dragged away into the torture chamber ♥ ]

Edited 2024-10-01 17:03 (UTC)

... what are you doing?

[ he stares upward, watching this grown man climbing a tree after he spent the last ten minutes running around a hill. at first, denji assumed his fellow outsider was doing something more useful, not that he could make any assumptions on what that might be— maybe trying to get a better perspective of this new location, steal a fruit, workout (?), or something else. who the hell knows? denji would've ignored it but the curiosity is grabbing him by the throat.

why is he so excited? denji wants to get excited too! he's into this kinda stuff. ]

What am I missing ... ?

( There is a moment of stillness from up above, and then the leaves rustle and Vash appears back into view, suspended half upside down like a bat. It's a good thing he has some very strong legs, otherwise Denji would have been taken out too. As it is, he gets a wide upturned grin, some bubbling excitement in his words as Vash sways a little. )

Climbing a tree.

( Duh. )

It's actually a lot more fun than it sounds. The one on the ship were really well-manicured. This one's all rough. The leaves are a different colour. And look! ( Flesh hand waving in front of Denji's face. ) I think I have a splinter.

[ he tilts his head, watching the other man with genuine curiosity, eyes following the sway of his body from left to right. it's a simple answer, yet one that perked a slow, growing smile on denji's features. it's so stupid to get excited over a damn tree, or some greenery, but — is he going to judge vash over it? nope. he's too busy feeling a bit impressed with the way this man slumped upside down, way too trusting that the branch won't snap under his weight.

he brushed that hand away from his face, unbothered to take a closer look at the splinter. ]

Did you grow up living in a cave or something? You're too excited about this ...

[ an honest question. ]

A desert!

( Which is slightly less cool than a cave in Vash's vast sand opinion. ) We hardly have any vegetation, and the bits I've seen are all carefully controlled aboard the ships so nothing's quite as wild as this. You have to be real careful about touching anything in case something happens to it. This is different though, look at it! It's all natural. It's so pretty.

( Is he getting teary-eyed upside down, coat flapping in the wind? Maybe. It might be the blood rushing to his head. )

I wonder if there's a river ... I've read about those. A forest sounds like the place to keep a river though, right?

... ships?

[ are there ships in the desert? or, perhaps that is a special perk to where vash comes from. by now, denji is aware almost everyone around here came from another universe or timeline, so he's not surprised if vash has a different lifestyle from his own. more importantly— denji's smiling. no, smirking. he's watching the other man's face turn red, anticipating the sweet moment when the dizziness swoops in. wouldn't it be funny if he just ... fell? heh. ]

Oh yeah. There should be a river somewhere, and guess what? nothing feels better than jumping into the cool water! [ a pause, he then considers something. ] .... shit. I think that's the only way for us to clean up in here, huh?

Spaceships!

( He's fine.

He's fine.

He's slowly turning super red, but he is also fine. Vash sways some more, does a little strange movement like he's about to drag himself back upright but then the tree makes ... a not so great crunching kind of noise and so he stills again. It's all good, he can absolutely continue his conversation like this. )

Probably! Just be glad there is one. Sometimes you'd get lost in the sand for weeks without a town in sight. Probably a good thing there was never anyone around, the stench, you know?

( Not that he's a particularly sweaty, stinky man or anything. Usually when he was stranded he was probably hurt in some way. Bleeding. Infectious. )

Yeah, the stench would suck soooo bad. Gross.

[ he heard that little crunch and another one followed and all the warning signs were unfolding like a beautiful symphony. denji is content to stay where he is, hands tucked inside his pockets and hunched forward; a relaxed motherfucker. right, they were talking about spaceships, getting lost in the desert, and body odor— ]

Tell me about the spaceships. Does that mean you're an alien disguised as a human? I knew you were suspicious ... [ says the devil. he took a step back and kept prodding vash into exhausting his lungs further by dragging the conversation with another question. ]

What else would you like to see?

( Why is he suffering? Is this because of the corset thing? Any single slight movement has the branch gently creak, he can feel his weight shifting on it. But he is not going to lose face now! He has to look like a guy who climbs trees all the time. And besides, Denji called him suspicious. )

Whu-? Why? Also I'm not disguised as a human, this is just how I look!

( If you discount the hidden markings and angel arm that is. He frowns, which loses some of it's effect when he's upside down. )

I am a plant though. I don't really hide that these days. LILITH put it out there for all to see when I arrived. But I don't think that makes me an alien ... ( It does. It absolutely does. ) But I haven't even done anything suspicious! So maybe you're the suspicious one, huh?

[An early morning waking, a ten hour plane flight, a five hour hike through the shitty woods, and dumped out into an isolated village full of too-friendly people amid a creepy ass backdrop of foreboding woods. How the hell would any of the Outsiders feel comfortable here?! Couldn't LILITH have sent some damn drones over here first, scouted out the place, then called them to the field once the shitty kaiju was located? If they know shit's going on here, then the same fucking pattern's going to repeat itself. The Outsiders arrive, dick around for two weeks with some damn kaiju causing trouble and breathing down their necks, before said kaiju attacks the human settlement that NO ONE has fucking evacuated, and the Outsiders are supposed to engage in battle with them. While protecting these morons who won't listen to a single goddamn word he said about get the hell out of their shitty little village!

All things Katsuki's snarling about as he kicks the door shut behind him once Denji's inside their room. He "hell no'ed" to some old man offering them a stay in his house's guest room. Grabbing a room at the inn meant they didn't have to deal with some creepy ass guy knowing his way around the house they were in. Katsuki still shoves a chair in front of the door. Afraid? No. Wary as fuck? Yes. This is all playing out like one of those stupid horror films that occasionally bubbled up even in his superhero society.

The accommodations are nice enough. Off white walls bubble and pebble a little from manual paint instead of industry standard smooth. Wooden floors offer strong if slightly warped planks that aren't yet worn down from any regular traveling. The window panes' clear centers fade to a ghosted haze towards the dark wooden frames. Their voices have the tiniest echo caught in the room's tapered ceiling. Still... at least it's clean. Not dusty. Two chunky quaint beds sit on either side of the room adjacent to the windows, a single desk centered between them flanks its edges with moonlight. At least until two lanterns are lit and warm the room with orange glow.

Katsuki drops on his back atop a bed, glaring up at the ceiling.]

This place is fucked.

[ that old man was brave, too brave to approach two complete strangers who look/dress in a manner that should've terrified him instead. he should've run back to his cabin and locked the door. denji didn't bother to waste his breath, nothing more than staring the older man down as his boyfriend did all the work, and even then— the villager wasn't alarmed. very suspicious indeed. with that said, he's not surprised bakugou is being careful by pushing for extra support behind their bedroom door. will it stop anyone from busting in? probably not, but if someone does attempt to, it will trigger enough racket to wake them up, and that's enough.

for now, they should settle in and denji starts by loosening the strap around one shoulder and drops the heavy weight of his bag to the ground. fuck, that was a long trip, especially that hike. it left his body aching a bit, and he reached over to massage that same shoulder as he examined their room further. first of all, who the fuck designed this place and decided to push the beds so far away from each other?! jeez. denji half-scowls at the inconvenience. secondly, the window? the medieval build of it didn't scream 'safety' — anyone could break through that piece of thin glass. yeah, fuck it. he ain't sleeping. he's staying up all night on guard as bakugou rests. he does not trust this place for one second. ]

I don't like it either.

[ denji sighs, exhausted. he then squeezed himself into the nonexistent space next to bakugou's side. those beds are truly not designed to accommodate two bodies, but who cares about that? he'd leave the pillow for his boyfriend's comfort, opting to sit up and lean back against the wooden headboard; legs stretched. they still need to unpack, get out of their clothes, and slip into something more cozy— but, they're allowed to chill for a bit. ]

... Everyone is acting weird. If LILITH thinks it's a good idea to split us up in here, we shouldn't listen to them.

[should've. they all should have. and yet everyone in the damn village was friendly with open arms. even the citizens in neo tokyo treated the outsiders with caution, distrust, and the like for several months! what the hell is wrong with these isolated religious fanatics?! (maybe the last part answers that...) denji's right in assume the real value of that chair. if someone wants to get into their room, the chair's not there to stop their determination, but to wake up the occupants to the attempt. same with the windows, though these are the old kinds that don't open. considering the chilly temperature and the wooded locale, perhaps the temperature never gets hot enough for there to be a sweltering problem.

bakugo swings his bag to the ground before hitting the bed on his back. fuck... maybe they should take a dip in the lake or something to wash off. not like there's a shower around here. awww, denji. so unaware of how old-time people had such a row of modesty, they didn't want a single suggestion of two unrelated people being forced into the same bed. risking hanky panky. as for the windows, if someone breaks through, they have the same advantage as the door: noise. katsuki has similar thoughts to sleeping in rounds, but at the same time, doubts the idea too. he'd rather not ruin his and denji's sleep schedule, if they do have shit to take care of tomorrow. that plane flight and hike were exhausting.

at least they didn't have giant earth golem monsters attacking them like class 1-a did in the forest training camp.]

Ugh. [have that grunt when denji shoves himself into his boyfriend's space. the blonde scoots over a little to give him more room. if they wanna shove the beds together later, he'll be down for it. with denji kicking his legs out, katsuki ends up with said legs thrown over his lap. he drops an arm on them, fingers drumming against his boyfriend's shin. a bit of rest won't hurt. they had a busy day. unpack later. not that they really need to do more than dig out some toiletries and bed clothes.] Hell no. I'm not splitting up. They can fuck off if they order that.

[ denji is pretty sure during the uncivilized eras people were more freaky with their lust since their entertainment options were so limited, and he will happily argue his points if the topic ever comes up. i mean, what else to do around here aside from banging or dying from the flu? regardless of their refusal to encourage scandalous behavior, he has already decided to drag his bed closer to bakugou's once they're done with their little break and prepare for the night, content to leave this place with a souvenir of their relationship; whoever works here is free to have their own perspective of what it means to walk into two beds pushed together as one. meh.

the fact they need to clean up in the river is— something that hasn't crossed denji's mind yet, and what a shocker that would be. listen, his concerns had nothing to do with sharing the water with other naked outsiders, since they'd already done that and there was no shame in it. it's just ... he didn't fucking want to do it with the villagers. what if they had to do it with some freaks nearby? hell no. they'd need to slip out in the middle of the night or something to rinse off; when it's more private and he can walk around naked without unwelcomed stares. with that in mind, their sleep schedule is fated to be a major fuck up during this specific mission, between the night watch, bathroom trips, and cleaning up in the open river ... their resting hours will be a gamble. oh boy.

he closed his eyes and relaxed his head back against the top rail, breathing out a deep exhale. he then, raised a hand, blindly seeking the thick fluff of blonde hair, and once he felt the soft texture brush under his fingertips, the weight of his touch pressed down, lightly stroking bakugou's head. ] Yeaaaaah, they can fuck off.

[ denji doubts any of the other outsiders would be into it, too. surely with such opposition from the majority, lilith wouldn't push on it. whatever. so long as bakugou stays by his side, he'll be able to survive this hell. he rolled his head to the side, so he could glance down at his boyfriend; looking as exhausted as always. one couldn't tell if denji was being denji or if he was actually drained. ]

As creepy as this place is, let's try to have fun. It's still a new place to experience with you. So, I'm not that mad about it ...

[denji's likely right until it swings towards western religious civilizations. though even japan swung between prude eras and fuck all eras. also depended on where you lived (level of society) and course of entertainment. this place screamed western style community. the split beds likewise had some implications of that. apparently there's gardening, husbandry, hunting, building, crafting, sucking your god's proverbial dick with the way these people talk... they apparently kept busy for however many damn centuries they've been here, with little impetus to go explore or leave. though maybe denji's got a point, since this place boasts around a thousand people. that's a lot for an isolated village stuck under god watch in the middle of the creepy woods. katsuki's all for moving the beds, though he'll suggest moving one rather than shoving both. it's not because he wants to pin denji between himself and the wall to make sure his boyfriend's that much safer...

really, denji? you think katsuki of all people is going to invite himself into a bath with the rest of these people? fuck no! he'll be stealing off to a private location, even if it's in the woods, and washing off there. with his boyfriend, obviously, unless they want to make a social call and invite some companions to go skinny dip/wash off/clean up. they're not gonna do it in the middle of the night, dumbass! closer to sundown, when people are getting ready for their own beds, while it's still light outside. just because dynamight and chainsaw man can kick the shit out of a bear or wolf doesn't mean katsuki wants to invite a bear/wolf fight. they can even bring some blankets if they want to partition off an area. they've got options, denji.

yeah, their sleep schedule's gonna be shit. but considering the village doesn't have electricity, they'll likely be waking up at sunrise and going to their homes at sunset. bakugou grunts slightly when denji flops a hand on his head, groping around in that feely way before he gets a good comfortable settle. tch, he's not a dog, dammit... though guess he can rub around if he wants. a little to the left if you're gonna do that.]

Che. Fine. Don't expect me to get cozy with these stupid extras. They're creepy. [he does have some places he wants to check out, namely the doctor's office and the apothecary, as well as talk to the village leaders if possible. there are plenty of other options too, though he'll be staying out of the stores and houses if he can help it. rather not be in a shut room with these people. he doesn't trust them. bakugou turns his head to look at denji for a little while. there was something else he wanted to do, but...]

I got something for you. [now for the kicker.] You want it now or wait until we take a bath?

[bathroom gift round two.]

[ it's exactly because he wants to pin denji between his body and the wall and- ....... he won't hate it.

that's extra coziness as they share body heat in a more squishy flavor. one of the many reasons he's looking forward to the cold weather, more excuses to seek the attention of his favorite person, crawling under the blanket where it's dark, warm and full of comfort. as for the inconvenience that will follow them with their bath routines, whether it's struggling to find an isolated spot or fighting off wild animals— which denji has no issue slaughtering on sight if that meant protecting his boyfriend, denji will have to stress about it when the moment begs for it. because, at the end of the day, he did not really care if those villagers would see him naked, balls and dick out, it's fine. however— he didn't want them to see bakugou naked. that's where he will draw the line.

also, it's very adorable how his boyfriend thinks he'd wake up at sunrise. then again, they are in a foreign village, one that triggers an odd sense of caution with their abnormal behavior and rituals. so, yeah, he'd wake up with bakugou during their time here; stay close to him and he will promise him he'd ease down on the shadowing when they finally reach home. ] Fuck that. I wouldn't want you to be cozy with them, either. Let's finish up the mission and get out of here on the first flight back home.

[ he relaxed his fingers through bakugou's hair, with no intention of treating his lover as a pet. if anything, it's a mild gesture of affection. that- ... and maybe he loved touching the other's hair? denji is not being subtle with it as he pushes back on bakugou's bangs to expose that tiny forehead of his, then watches as they bounce back to their place with a luscious swish. a small smile brightens his tired features, happy to spend the next few minutes coddling the other until the conversation took another direction. ] ... huh? [ oh, he's more awake now, and a bit surprised. ] Is it a gift? You got me a gift?!!

[ no, it's not the first time he was spoiled by his boyfriend with a sweet gesture or a purchased gift, but he's certainly acting like it. with a mild burst of energy, denji pulled his hand away, pending over the other boy, literally blocking his view to the ceiling with his face. ] You wanna give it to me during our bath? is it a romantic gift?! [ a very valid judgment to make considering the given option between doing it now or when they're both naked in the wilderness— both options had an element of courtship into it, says denji. ]

I could wait, but ... I want a hint.

[urusei. bakugou usually likes the center of the bed, but once he started sleeping with denji, he gravitated towards the side away from the wall. protective. minus the times denji has to get out of bed and climb over him in the night. luckily katsuki hates the cold as much as the rain, so denji will get a lot more tolerated snuggling as the temperature drops. expect to see more all-black sweats as well, because apparently loungewear only comes in those colors as far as katsuki's concerned.

it's not that he minds people seeing him naked. so long as it's in a locker room or hot spring with people he knows. strangers, and these people in particular, he doesn't want looking at him naked. doesn't want them looking at denji naked either. they creep him out. he'll make sure they find some secluded space for a bath. even if it means a few buckets of water with holes poked in the bottom hung up on a tree branch with sheets around. rustic, but it works.

no, bakugou doesn't expect denji to rise at sunrise. he'll keep his usual morning routine, another reason he sleeps away from the wall. getting out of bed without waking the half-devil isn't the easiest, considering the blonde likes to cling at night. but if denji does wake up, and has that serious expression on, he'll avoid telling him to go back to bed. albeit, expecting a nap from the guy later in the day. the half-devil's shadowing is going to be more appreciated in this place ~~and later the lack of it will be a rage-inducing issue.~~]

Aa. This place reminds me of a fucking horror film setting.

[of course denji's not treating him as a pet! katsuki growls about strokes and pets any time, even if he doesn't make an effort to smack said hand away, until his tolerance meter tips off. it'd be a lie to say he hasn't drifted off with denji combing his fingers through his hair and massaging his scalp. his brows furrow a little when the guy starts playing with his bangs. who the fuck's got a "tiny" forehead? it's like everyone else's! hmph. should see the times he's the one pushing denji's bangs back in the shower to mess with his hair. he can make horns with the shampoo.]

Did you go deaf? I said I did. [technically he didn't say "gift" but if it's not a punishment or repayment, what else could it be? katsuki looks up as denji curves over him, red eyes peering through choppy ashen bangs. this guy's annoyingly cute when he's surprised and happy. his eyes get wide and there's that tug of war with his mouth where it wants to curve in a smile yet hang in an 'o' of shock. sharp-toothed yam shape. questions about "romantic" get ignored! but yeah, the offer to do it naked in the woods is kind of... duh, intimate. maybe he likes the idea of doing rare things in the bath. a hint? ... hm.] You can wear it.

[ did he ever complain about the lack of color options in the hero’s closet? that will never happen in this lifetime. everything that his partner deemed as an acceptable sense of fashion denji agreed on, even if it’s all in black and oversized. if anything, the preference for shirts/hoodies being oversized made it a universal fit for all, especially to the person who tends to ‘borrow’ his clothes at all times.

it always starts with a simple text or a note left inside one of the shelves in bakugou closet, both reading ‘I’ll bring it back’ – only to never be seen again. in rare instances, bakugou will reunite with his missing clothes when he spots them either in the laundry basket, somewhere in denji’s room, or when he catches his boyfriend wearing them in public. the sole piece of garment that is protected from denji’s prying hands happens to be the hero’s uniform, for two reasons: a) he knew it was something katsuki wouldn’t tolerate being touched without his approval, b) pretty damn sure he will feel super scandalous wearing something as tight and revealing as that top. the thought of it alone makes him blush. for some fucked up logic walking around shirtless is far more timid, but to have the fabric stick to your skin, exposing every curve of your muscles, with a massive v-cut for a seductive cleavage tease is -

- oooff, danger. the whole idea for these crimes is to wear something that smells like his boyfriend; for the sake of feeling all fluffy and loved, an endless hug throughout the day. it's an innocent ritual of adoration and he can't ruin it by turning it naughty.

he chuckled a bit at that comment, and he had to agree. as a proud movie devotee, despite denji’s dislike for the horror theme (his life is enough) – this does appear like the perfect set for serial killers/monsters to thrive in. so long as they have their powers and remain sober, and no one fucks with their head, the half-devil is not intimidated by those villagers. if the situation begs for it and they decide to come at them with hostility, he will not hesitate to chop off some hands. at least denji will aim to injure and not kill; bakugou shouldn’t be mad at him.

when he's reassured the surprise involves a gift, denji's cheeks warm up in a faint hue of red; even behind the bags under his eyes and heavy lids that add years to his age, denji tends to appear more youthful, or childlike when he’s genuinely happy. very few people in this city can get to see that expression. the natural, honest joy and not the empty smile that he tends to carry around while indulging in a casual conversation with their fellow outsiders. maybe other people wouldn’t get so emotional over something as simple as exchanging gifts, deeming it as a normal part of any relationship, but denji would never be able to normalize any act of kindness towards him – it will always be special. always. especially from bakugou.

he stays where he is, close to his boyfriend’s face; soon after he shifts a bit so he can lightly tug on the other boy's shirt, impatient. ]

... can we go right now? to clean up?

[ it's a soft plea, yet he will understand that his partner is too exhausted from their long trip and would rather rest a bit longer. ]

[bakugou may or may have not picked up some extra sets of his clothing while shopping, all because there's someone who likes to 'borrow' his clothes when they're together. who the hell knows if denji gives some people whiplash when he walks past wearing bakugou's clothes and they think it's the other blonde. ignoring their different hair colors and styles. at least it makes it easy to shop for things to wear. lounge wise. his other casuals are more... him.

the first time he'd found that note, he hadn't caught what it was for. until he looked around his closet again, only to find his damn shirt was missing. dammit, he waited five whole days for it to come back! never showed up. of course he knew who the culprit was, so someone got his door kicked open and a stomping burr going for his hamper. it wasn't in there either?! what about the laundry room? his drawers?! fuck! how the hell do you lose a shirt, ripcord pec?! did he get in fight with it and shred it?! alas, they'll never know. meaning his expression got real flat when a second note appeared. luckily bakugou managed to rescue this one when he found denji wearing it, but little did he know it'd become a regular thing. hence the extra purchases. thanks for not touching his costume. he would get really pissed if something happened to it. the workers at lilith have had enough time to learn his costume and are able to repair it, and his gear, as needed, since bakugou demanded that of them if they wanted him to work for them. so at least he has that as a recourse.

has he considered asking them for a duplicate for denji to wear? ... nope! sorry, babe, but there are some things his pride's too great for. katsuki's caught himself wondering what sort of hero costume denji would make for himself if he were in the hero's world. tight? armored? exposed? cool? hm. maybe he should ask someday.

tch, denji's blushing. he always likes seeing his boyfriend when he's happy like this. it erases years off his face and brings a charm that's not there in normal doldrums. he can't do anything to permanently have such an expression, but that makes it all the more treasured when it shows. it's rare katsuki's ever in a state of calm, so he's not one to talk about an uncommon expression. his chest warms as the other boy smiles down at him, prompting one hand up to trace his fingertips over denji's cheek. his tough-skinned palm settles against the soft flush, fingers grazing along the shell of his boyfriend's ear. yeah, he knows a simple thing such as a gift would be an amazing experience for the other boy. and while he's gotten denji plenty of things over the past month, there have been some, this included, that are more special than others.]

Yeah, yeah. [katsuki drops his hand to denji's chest and gives him a light push backwards. lean back so he can sit up without butting your teeth with his head, dammit. che! him? exhausted from that trip? as if! he could do it two times more without rest! (sure...) but getting a wash off before bed sounds good. it's not black out there yet, so they've got some time to look around for a nice bathing spot.] Get a change of clothes.

[not walking back in a towel either.]

[ it’s – a little unnerving how denji’s mood can take a sharp turn, from being a bit uncomfortable with the new mission and being plagued by his past failure, to feeling like everything might turn out to be okay in a split second. it wasn’t even a gradual descent into alleviation, but a harsh, dramatic whiplash. to have someone he merely met a few months can influence him to that extent— isn’t surprising to him or to anyone who knows the half-devil. denji falls for someone hard and fast; he’s pathetically starved to be loved, and anyone can see that desperation after socializing with this boy for a while. it made him an easy target of manipulation; an easy prey for any/all types of abuse, and it happened way too many times that it should’ve fucked him up to the point he couldn’t trust anyone again, breeding hatred into his core and with that comes in the desire to convey that misery with those who deserve it and do not. everyone wanted that ending for him, rooted for it, pushing denji to give in to anger, hostility, malice and allow himself to embrace those emotions, give the world the biggest middle finger – and even if that desire is there, buried deep down, denji didn't want that ending. he didn't want that life. he didn’t want to let go of what little remained of his humanity. he didn’t want to pick a side. he didn’t want to give up. he didn’t want to believe he would never be cared for; he’d still hold a hand out, hoping one day someone would reach back and grab it.

and when someone finally did, and took him in, accepted him, and treated him like an equal ... fuck, denji is so glad he didn’t give up.

he's glad he dared to open his heart again, he’s so glad he walked up to bakugou and was honest with himself (even when it was done so poorly), he’s glad he decided that maybe he deserved some happiness, be selfish enough to persuade it and hold it close. yes, he messed up in vegas, and that shattered his fragile confidence to tiny pieces, and back then denji wanted to crawl back into those doubts and let them poison his mind, but katsuki is worth fighting for. he’s trying again; trying every day to be better ... for that boy, and maybe one day he will learn he has to do it for himself before anything else. it's work in progress and he hopes his boyfriend will be by his side along the way.

at the little nudge, denji complied with a sheepish smile, pulling back and moving out of the bed. right, they should get ready for a wild plunge into the lake— while it does sound like a fun thing to do, he just hopes no one would be lingering around to ruin their time together. what a turn-off that would be. he then digs through his bag, and takes out a pair of fresh clothing, a towel, and cleaning products; nothing too fancy like their selection back home, just small containers that were designed for one-time use.

he waits by the entrance for his boyfriend to join him, and once he does— they leave behind their room, lock the door with some ancient-looking key, and exit the premises. they’re back in the open again, still passing by a friendly ‘smile’ here and there. he's pleased to ignore them, eyeing the boy next to him. ]

... The food better be good around here. Maybe we can grab something on the way back?

[there's a benefit to having such an easily-changeable mood. unlike someone who hangs onto guilt or lets past experiences color their current one, denji's able to pivot from glum to happy based on what's happening now. someone who lives for the now. bakugou's aware it comes because of his interaction with denji, because denji's so enthralled with him, but he refuses to think it's completely him. the half-devil is his own person, even outside of bakugou, no matter how much their relationship influences the devil hunter. someday, he hopes his boyfriend can see that on a deeper level. being so starved for love and affection makes denji pathetically vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. katsuki refuses to be an unhealthy relationship for him. he chooses to trust and value that glowing core inside his boyfriend, a happy boy who prioritizes protecting the people and things he cares about no matter what sort of life he leads. as long as katsuki's alive, he intends to show denji what it's like to be safe and loved by someone who cares for him too. he reached out and took hold of that boy's hand. not only as a hero, but as a person. as much as it pains him to know they'll go their separate ways when their work on this world is done, he believes a part of "them" will stay with each other. even if they don't completely recognize it.

denji makes him happy too. katsuki's under no delusion he's a hard person to be around. he expects those who want to be with him to accept that as well. weathering his attitude long enough earns someone the blonde's respect and loyalty, even if he conveys it poorly at times. he never thought the young man who walked up to him in the locker room and asked if they were partners would be the one he falls asleep beside each night now. it's why what happened in vegas did nothing to shake katsuki's opinion of the man he loves. he gave denji some time to process it, but made no secret his intention of beating the ever-living shit out of the half-devil's doubts and fears until his boyfriend was ready to stand up and fight again. someday, he hopes denji will learn to love himself as much as he loves bakugou. but until that day comes, he'll make sure to keep him anchored with his own feelings. beside him every step of the way. well, minus the times he wants to see denji walk on his own for a bit. he's a taskmaster like that. should've figured that out when they trained together.

katsuki plans to make sure their presence is left alone. he doesn't trust the people in this village not to go skulking out in the evening if they see something amiss, despite them not wanting to do so. like denji, he grabs a change of clothes from his bag, towel, lets denji handle the shower stuff (they don't need more than one bottle between them), and opts to add two sheets to his collection. yeah, he'll be making some curtains with these. and something else, which goes in his pocket. once he's set, bakugou tugs the chair free of the doorknob and leaves.

now, he does stop by two of their neighboring outsiders to knock on the door and tell them they're leaving for a bath. because fuck if he's going to up and vanish in this creepy ass place without his allies knowing.]

These people are in bed by then. They don't have electricity. Sunrise and sunset are the time they spend outside. [He's not going to knock on people's doors who are trying to get ready for sleep to get some food. Do they have pubs and restaurants here? Not sure. There's a tavern and an inn, so maybe? Anyways, they can probably get something from the inn, or message one of their friends to get something "to go" and have it when they get back.]

▶ 001. TARGU MURES AIRPORT.

▶ 002. BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.

▶ 003. BONFIRE FEAST.

▶ 004. THE CHOSEN (KIDNAPPEES ONLY).

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

denji 》csm 》everlight

》closed to vash

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》light before the night

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i'm here

mommy kun

stepson-kun

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