KAIJU FIGHT #5

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #5

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

▶ 001. LORD OF THE FOREST.

Throughout the days leading up until October 15th, the captives will be forced down to the dungeons for their “punishments” to be doled out. All of the punishments seem to be completed methodically, almost as if the followers of the Lord of the Forest had centuries of experience. While no explanation is given, it becomes clear that the sacrificial ritual has begun. While the Outsiders may not be privy to what this entails, there is one rule that will be have made clear to them: once the ritual begins, it can no longer be stopped. However, there is still a sliver of hope. On the morning of the 15th, a small message will have been pushed out by LILITH. While they haven't completely reestablished their connection to the network, they are able to get something out.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME:
HEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
CLASS: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.
ABILITIES: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃Y REǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃S, GK̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̆̃
EXTRA NOTES:

It is an incredibly sparse message. It seems to be working with any information the ocular implants were able to detect in that second, and the information gets fed back in the form of a distorted debrief sheet. However, it does act as a sign that LILITH is still actively working on gaining access to their communication lines once more, and are tirelessly working to send help. With this sudden jolt of a message, they will feel an extremely heavy disturbance composed entirely of rift energy—it appears that whatever kaiju is dwelling here is able to effectively work with the rift in order to negate abilities. But perhaps the clues all strung together have already painted a similar picture as to what is to come, and to what to continue to expect.

Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.

All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.

Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.

(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)

▶ 002. FIND THE CAPTIVES.

Due to their brief communication and joint efforts following the network post, it becomes clear that all signs point to Bran Castle as the place where the captives are being held. This becomes ever more apparent as the fog gradually begins to lift, and the outline of the castle can finally be seen from the distance of the forest’s perimeter.

If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.

In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.

Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!

▶ 003. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.

Following the pathways of the castle to the dungeons below will not be easy. All the attendants present seem to have been waiting for them behind every nook and cranny of the castle. Outsiders will be met with their fervent attempts to stop them. It is a matter of life or death for the attendants and like the villagers, they seem to have no issue with throwing their own necks out in order to preserve the sanctity of their ritual.

Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.

For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.

The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.

To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.

▶ 004. THE FINAL RESCUE.

While the battle has already started within the village and the castle, suddenly the familiar ping of their oculars will alert them to the following message from Yamakawa—

"Angels of LILITH, we have connection. Rescue your team mates no matter the cost!"

With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.

After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.

As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.

…


…

…

… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: PRICOLICI
HEIGHT: VARIES
WEIGHT: VARIES
CLASS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA
ABILITIES: SHAPESHIFTING, IMMORTALITY, NIGHT VISION, SUPER STRENGTH
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLY RELICS, GARLIC, WOLFSBANE
EXTRA NOTES: This kaiju has a malicious intent to all humans besides those who praise it. It's said it will bless all of its followers abundantly on this Earth and grant them immortal life.

The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.

▶ 005. AFTERMATH.

The remaining villagers do their utmost in attempting to ground the LILITH medical cruiser, using cannons and other primitive weapons against it. Fortunately, they do not succeed. With the LILITH medical crew all present, they begin their work promptly. Outsiders can not only use the medical cruiser as a temporary base and resting point, but those with severe injuries are ushered in for emergency surgeries and other necessary procedures. Those who can heal are encouraged to take care of the ones with less major injuries in order to lighten the load on LILITH’s medical robots... and Dr. Spim, of course.

When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.

Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.

Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.

Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.

(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to fifth kaiju log!

Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!

For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!

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

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. LORD OF THE FOREST: On the days leading up to the 15th, kidnapped characters are brought to the dungeons to receive their punishments. The punishments are administered in a way that suggests that the followers have many years of experience, and that they are all part of a sacrificial ritual to summon the Lord of the Forest; once the ritual begins, it can't be stopped. On the morning of the 15th, LILITH is able to send out a distorted monster debrief sheet that the captives will be able to briefly see before experiencing a heavy disturbance of rift energy. Captives in the dungeons will also be able to see the Lord of the Forest, but it will disperse back into the rift after being summoned.

2. FIND THE CAPTIVES: The Outsiders figure out that the captives are held in Bran Castle; the fog gradually lifts and the outline of the castle will be visible. The villagers will do everything they can to prevent the Outsiders from reaching the castle, from using the children to persuade them to stay to more violent means. Outsiders who have a poison dagger from LILITH are able to use it on the villagers without prior clearance due to the spotty connection. Vampires are among the villagers attacking the Outsiders; if they are bitten, their bodies will feel feverish. Once Outsiders reach the castle gates, they will have to break through the castle attendants to reach the dungeons.

3. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN: Outsiders must fight through more attendants inside the castle as they make their way down to the dungeons. The layout of the dungeons is much bigger than it may seem on the surface—with over hundreds of cells, some of which still contain the remains and personal effects of previous villagers who have been sacrificed. Bats, minions of the Lord of the Forest, will attack the Outsiders and those who are bitten may begin to lose control of themselves with a thirst for blood. Bitten Outsiders may attack their teammates as a result, and may also be more susceptible to psychic brainwashing.

4. THE FINAL RESCUE: LILITH confirms the main mission objective of rescuing all the captives and gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission, which includes any Outsiders who may have been temporarily brainwashed. The bodies of any fallen Outsiders must be brought back as LILITH may be able to restore them. Going deeper into the dungeons will cause side effects of rift poisoning to manifest. The Lord of the Forest appears to engage the Outsiders; its ability to weaken abilities is diminished slightly due to the phases of the moon. Five to ten minutes into the battle, LILITH seals off the rift below the dungeons, allowing Outsiders an opportunity to go all in on attacking the Lord of the Forest.

5. AFTERMATH: LILITH's medical crew arrives to begin treating injured Outsiders. Those who are able to heal or have medical experience are encouraged to treat Outsiders with minor injuries to lighten the load on LILITH's medical staff. Once the battle winds down, Outsiders are given several options on what to do next: kill the followers and the villagers, but sparing the children (who will be brought to Neo Tokyo); continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders to safety; taking any goods from the village that will benefit LILITH, including food sources. Once completed, Outsiders will leave Transylvania to embark on the journey back to Neo Tokyo.

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Comments

[blastedass]

Haa? I've seen you naked before, dumbass!

[They were fighting in the hot spring way back when in naught but little towels! Besides, highschool locker rooms. Katsuki shucks his shirt over his head and works on the rest, though he's not staring at Yuji to give him his privacy.

Guess they do both have boyfriends now, so...]

[eyescar]

Well, yeah, but this is different! It's weird if you watch me stripping!

[ Is it even that different...? Not really, not even a little bit, but Yuji is a little bit embarrassed. Cheeks red, he tries to get into the showers before he ends up neon pink and getting teased even more. ]

[blastedass]

Baaaka.

[He's not gonna watch though, even if he teases Yuji about it. Katsuki goes quiet as he finishes undressing, taking a brief moment to fold his clothes semi neat before getting into the stall beside Yuji. The divider comes up to their chests, so it's not a straight block off.

What comes next is a quiet admission.]

Every time I fight alongside you, I feel stronger.

[eyescar]

[ Oh.

Yuji ducks his head under the spray of the water to try and hide the small smile that rests on his face. He understands, though; being together like this, fighting together... It makes him grow stronger, too.

Physically, in heart, in spirit - all of it. It means a lot to him, and Yuji sometimes struggles with putting it into words. He wants to try, though, for his friends. For this friend. ]

Me too. I don't know what it is, but... [ He puts his hand over his scarred heart. ] I feel better.

[blastedass]

[Look, he's saying what he feels. Don't make a deal out of it. Katsuki rubs at the side of his head, scuffing through his hair with the water drizzling through it. Yuji's a uniquely special person to him, bringing out a lot of inner strength in many ways, both activity and emotionally. It's embarrassing, but undeniable.

Probably best if Yuji doesn't try to put it into words, since Katsuki's always Bad @ Words (trademark pending). The little response he gets is good enough for him. I don't know, but it feels better. Works.

He knows what it is. friendship Just not gonna say it.]

I'll keep making you feel that way.

[eyescar]

[ He's trying hard to focus on getting clean, getting the muck and grime off him, the mud mixing with blood down in the drain. It feels nice, to get the hot water over his body and soothe some of those aching muscles, and it's even nicer knowing that someone he cares about is safe beside him, taking care of himself too.

It makes some of that weight on his shoulders ease, just briefly, just enough.

Leaning forward, he rests his forehead on the tile in front of him, just... Resting. Taking a breath. ]

Me too. I want you to be happy, Katsuki.

[blastedass]

[Katsuki works his hand over his face, the other one taking care of his shoulder and neck. Crimson leaks away into watery pink when it trickles off his ankles and pools around the drain. Dust and sweat slough off with each rub and brush. The weight of pain and sorrow finally begins to seep into a quiet relief, muscles relaxing despite the sting of water over injuries.

Yuji's presence nearby, the sound of his voice, it brings a warmth to his chest that no one else can. He understands the sorcerer in a unique level and vice versa. Knowing he's alive... they were victorious.

Katsuki looks to the side as Yuji rests his forehead against the shower wall. Good. He's resting from the event. Letting his own tension slide free.]

It's almost impossible not to feel happier around you.

[eyescar]

I don't -

[ - he stops himself.

The obvious answer is that he doesn't think that's true. He's caused a lot of pain over the last few months, often without meaning to, and the weight of that is surely a burden that other people are forced to carry. Yuji can inspire good things, happiness and joy, of course, but at the same time?

He makes people worry, he frightens them, he causes them pain, he hurts them, he wounds them with his words and his actions, and sometimes being around him is a struggle. Yuji knows that he's an idiot, too, and that he can say things that can bruise and hurt as much as make people laugh, but...

If he makes Katsuki happy, if he can make the others happy... That would make him happy, too.

It would make it feel worth it. ]

- I don't think it's different for me.

[ Saved it. ]

[blastedass]

[He expects the instinctive response. Almost ingrained in Yuji's head by now that he's not the harbinger of happiness and good feelings. Who would be happy around someone with blood on his hands and pain littered about his wake? It's not that Katsuki ignores those things, not that he can take them away, and he's not some idealist moron who thinks bad things can't happen congruent with good things.

What he knows is Yuji makes him feel happy. When he's sad, Katsuki feels weight and sorrow, but it's sadness and pain that bring people together to help. He knows full well what it means to cause pain and make others carry the weight he should've been the only one to bear. Too weak to stop himself from getting kidnapped, he was forced to watch his classmates endanger themselves to rescue him, and directly caused All Might to burn himself out... He ended the era of the Symbol of Peace because he was too damn weak. To say nothing of what happened in Vegas and Seoul in this world.

Yuji may indeed cause pain, scare people, hurt them, but his heart isn't malicious. He doesn't do these things on purpose, and often the negatives he inflicts are natural results of people loving and caring about him. Whether he makes them laugh in good cheer or feel lighter under his care, or makes them yell in painful frustration or groan in exasperation, it's still Yuji.

No one's abandoned him yet for being a human they care about deeply.]

I know. [Not just that he saved it, but everything else insider he didn't say.] I'll be by your side, no matter what.

[eyescar]

[ For a little while, Yuji is quiet, just focussing on his shower, on getting clean. As the blood is washed away, more of his cuts and bruises become obvious; some of them are already in the process of healing, his cursed energy curling around them, but some of them are slower, Yuji's exhaustion and the gentle weakness this place puts on him making it more difficult.

It might be easier, if he was curled up with someone and his healing touch was working, but that's not something he can do right now.

When he's done, and he's washing his hair, he finally musters up the strength to reply to Katsuki, his voice a little softer, a little more hoarse. ]

You shouldn't be focussing on me.

[ A small huff of noise. ]

Take care of Denji first, idiot.

[blastedass]

[His own injures sting from the soap and water, smaller cuts not yet bandaged, bruises tender, not sure if some ribs are broken or just cracked, and the bite wound that can't decide if it still wants to bleed or not. He's had worse. Katsuki scrubs at his hair once his body's all done, clicking his tongue when he bumps into a knot. Got clunked on the head too. Tch.

Yuji's voice comes a little more ragged despite its quietness and Katsuki frowns at his words. One of those moments he can't make out if Yuji's teasing him or being serious.]

Denji's sleeping. He's already recovering. [A blood transfusion (or ingestion in his boyfriend's case) made sure of that. But his body was put through the wringer, to say nothing of his mental state, which was hit even harder. Katsuki ducks his head under the water to rinse off completely.]

You don't get... [The usual bristling about getting ordered around dies off as his eyes linger on Yuji's head, neck, and shoulders over the divide. Though more on his neck, red irises locking at a closing cut.] to...

[Shit.]

[eyescar]

[ Yuji doesn't want to complain - it's not about Katsuki being here with him instead of being with Denji, it's just that he feels uncomfortable with the attention on him right now, even from Katsuki. The truth is that he thinks that there are more important people to worry about; the people who were being kidnapped, the people who were hurt, the people who suffered, Nanami and Choso and Maki and the others...

It gnaws at him, a little, to see people fret over him when there are more important people. Yuji is not the most important person in this place, and he never will be.

Turning his head back to his friend, he starts to rub the water out of his face. ]

To what?

[ He opens one eye, looking over. ]

Katsuki?

[blastedass]

[Maybe it's a valid feeling. Katsuki's seen Choso after the battle and helped him with his injuries. Maki's contacted him for a talk. Yuji's... well, here with him now, obviously. Denji's sleeping or unconscious, but resting all the same. Should they be here cleaning off and talking while people could use more help? Ever the question. Katsuki pushed the feelin aside earlier. Focusing on Yuji has never been difficult, since he cares about him.

It's what makes the sudden lock on the other boy's neck slam his own warning flags. Heat pulses as if his blood surges thick in his vein and rushes faster as they contract. Wetness drips in his mouth and he can't jerk his attention away from Yuji despite telling himself to look away. Even with his wounds closing, there's still red...]

You got bitten too... right?

[eyescar]

[ Yuji's confused for a moment, briefly battled by the fact that Katsuki can't seem to stop gazing at him. Unconsciously, he lifts his hand to touch his neck, to stroke fingers over the curve of his collarbone to where there are a few cuts and wounds still healing. He hadn't forgotten about his vampirism, but...

It hadn't been that big a deal, not really. Not since Nanami and Raidou, at least.

Nodding his head, he huffs a weak little laugh. ]

Yeah. Luckily, it's mostly been just annoying.

[blastedass]

[Even if he closes his eyes, he can still see it. Opening them once more only accents the area, thanks to Yuji running his hand over his neck and touching the areas with his fingers. Dammit, his attention's staying right there, like a goddamn pervert. Or a predator. Yuji doesn't need to deal with this right now, but the urge to do exactly what's going through his mind is intense.

Some people said they didn't find the urge to bite someone who had already been turned. Katsuki's not able to say that.]

I attacked someone in the castle because of it.

[eyescar]

Yeah? I tried to bite Nanamin.

[ Yuji laughs a little, hoarse as he ducks his head under the shower to get the last bit of soap and shampoo away from the back of his neck before he leans towards the divider between the two of them, smiling instead. ]

Are you hungry?

[blastedass]

Don't laugh about it, dammit! [This is serious! He's practically salivating over your damn neck and the sorcerer's gonna lean over the divider all sunshine smiles and wet?!

At least when Yuji moves and takes his throat out of immediate view, Katsuki's spell seems to break and he snaps his head to the side so hard he might've broke his spine. A hand goes to his neck instantly, cussing at himself.] I can deal with it.

[Groused in a way that says Yuji hit the nail on the head.]

[eyescar]

I'm not laughing!

[ It had been a shocked, 'I hated myself for doing it' laugh rather than a genuine one... Because it had horrified him, waking up with his teeth about to sink into his mentor's neck. He's still trying to deal with it, but there's not much he can do about it other than keep apologising.

Frowning, Yuji shakes his head. ]

You can bite me, if you need to.

[blastedass]

You just did!

[Don't hate yourself, dammit. Katsuki had been on both sides of things, coming to with his mouth hovering above a warm neck, while also finding himself trying to wrestle another Outsider from sinking those teeth into his own.

Making the same mistake. Katsuki frowns at the offer, almost a cringe from the way his body throbs within his skin. The sheer thought calls to him and he grits his teeth against the temptation.]

I'm not gonna hurt you.

[eyescar]

It won't even hurt that much.

[ If it's pain, Yuji Itadori will always overcome it.

He's definitely had worse than this, given the state of his fingers and his most recent battles; a little bite isn't going to do anything to make him feel worse than they did. ]

If you're hungry, it's fine. C'mon.

[blastedass]

[It's the "any worse than he did" problem that continues to pull at his lurching chains. Of course he doesn't want to compound what injuries and feelings Yuji's already dealing with! But the invitation hits hard enough to visibly jolt him, red eyes glaring through the choppy veil of his bangs.

Luckily he has one more speed bump and slams it down hard.]

Your blood. It's toxic, right?

[eyescar]

It might be? I don't know.

[ Yuji tilts his head, as if really considering it. ]

Maybe it is, since I ate the Cursed Wombs, but that might not be an issue with the vampirism... I really have no idea what would happen.

[blastedass]

[Oh come on! Don't knock it down so easily! Katsuki growls at him, frustrated and miffed simultaneously. Now they're thrown into the unknown? This guy really loves being able to help people, doesn't he... (Yeah, he knew that.) Dammit. Should've left the second he felt that urge.]

If my jaw melts off, I'm gonna haunt your face forever.

[eyescar]

You'd do that either way.

[ Yuji doesn't even think much more about where they are, or their current predicament; he just leans over, one arm hanging down the divider as he tilts his head to offer his neck. ]

Go ahead.

[blastedass]

You're impossible. [Even after all that, he's still willing. Katsuki glares at him, less out of anger and more out of awkward incredulous, but there's no way to push back from it now. Amid the steam and water of the shower, he moves over to the divider. Is this even going to work with the wall between them? He leans across the partition, having to rise on his toes to get a better angle, and works his mouth to Yuji's neck. Shit, he feels it beating under his skin.] I should do it on your arm...