jigokulogs | July 2022 IC Mingle

July 2022 IC Mingle

1. ITADAKIMASU!

After the harrowing incidents involving the curse last month, unity is the theme for welcoming the new influx of Lost Souls. The factions are still busy with cleanup efforts and making sure their personnel are in fighting shape. What’s more, most of the usual spots that would play host to the factions’ parties are either closed until they’re repaired, or in no state to be hosting parties that big.

Thus, an agreement has been reached. All of the factions will hold their mingles together and host a food truck/yatai festival in the blocks surrounding Theater Square, in the Sutoku Alliance’s territory. This gets money into the hands of the local vendors, and allows the community to spend time together in relative peace. It’s still Jigokucho, there are punks prowling to start fights and steal wallets, like they always are, but it’s a breath of fresh air after everything that’s been happening lately. Just keep your wits about you and enjoy the food. Takoyaki is one of the most popular items and competition between the carts motivates chefs to make them flair and style!

Kushiten, yakitori, dango, croquettes, senbei, onigiri, yakisoba, taiyaki, you name it, it’s probably represented here in some form. There are even any number of your favorite treats from home, even if your home isn’t Earth. It might take a little poking around to find them, but isn’t that part of the delight of exploring a city’s food?

The falling Stardust has made its way into the food as well. You may notice that some vendors are grinding up the glowing stellar fragments and putting them into the food itself as a spice. Are… you supposed to eat that?! Oh well! When it’s time to party, you can’t go wrong with a little Stardust.

2. MUSIC GOT ME FEELIN SO FREE

In the center of Theater Square, surrounded on all sides by the many colorful food stalls, they’ve set up a stage for local artists to perform on. There are a great variety of acts who come and go to play a few songs. The music reaches all throughout the square and may be little more than background noise, until just the right tune catches your ear.

Jenny⁣ – This all-girls story of hidden love should be hitting all the ladies in the crowd a certain kind of way. Have you been admiring a friend or coworker and just never taken the plunge? Now’s the time for that kiss, the music is playing.
KONNANじゃないっ⁣⁣ – This sweet idol bop about striding bravely towards your best future fills you with inspiration and hope for the future. You may feel compelled to bring your hopes and dreams into every conversation. The future is bright!
Running Up That Hill⁣⁣ – As the singer performs some kind of interpretive dance, she sings about her frustrations with never truly being able to see from another person’s perspective. What would you do to show your true self? Maybe it’s time to iron out that ongoing misunderstanding you’ve been circling.
Love Warriors⁣⁣ – A simple act with a guitarist and singer, she sings a mellow piece about the true value of love. What a beautiful message. Your heart might begin to overflow with feelings of care and affection. Will you finally spill those all-important three words? I-love-you.
One More Time⁣⁣ – The last act of the evening is lively, colored lights flashing out across the square. They begin to play an impossibly catchy beat that no one can resist dancing too. Dance like no one is watching and enjoy the sweet catharsis of a good dance session. You’ll feel better for it tomorrow.

(Players are more than welcome to use their own song and effect. 💖)

3. BIRD BOMBS

At some point during the festivities, the Daitengu takes the stage. They’re in exceptionally high spirits. They give a shout-out to Toraguma and Tenkohime for helping to make this happen. As usual, The Enma is not present. However, the Daitengu forgoes any snide remarks, although they do seem a bit let down. Hope springs eternal, one supposes.

Next they would like to announce that they have even more reasons to celebrate: a truce has been declared between the Shuten and Tamamo clans. The war for the Underground is over (for now) and new construction has started on a new casino and adult entertainment complex in the once-contested territory. They hope that this will lead to an ongoing era of financial cooperation between the three factions.

They thank Sakamoto Ryouma for making all of this happen and give him a shoutout in the crowd. Word has spread all over the Alliance about their deeds, and what they managed to pull off; a blessing and a curse. It becomes obvious that not every tribe within the Sutoku Alliance was okay with putting the Alliance itself up as collateral to make this happen. The Kasasagi Tengu Tribe, in particular, has decided to let their protest be known by storming the party in a flood of aggressive magpies. They vulture the food, they pick at jewelry, they’re an absolute menace.

Good luck shooing them away. The vibes are counting on you to deal with these feathered buzzkills.

Welcome to the IC mingle!

If you have any questions about the mingle content, please ask them here!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
For Rewards, given both the Stardust and Turf War prompts are involved in all three, threads in the Mingle log count for TWO (2) points!

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[He wasn't thinking straight, that was true. Though that had more to do with having no inhibitions or even any sense of danger than who he was attracted to.]

I've never felt better! It's such a fun day today, and I get to share it with you.

[He's grinning, and Cain's hold on Fukuda certainly wasn't going anywhere. Now if only he could get the man to stop looking down on himself...]

You also have a very nice voice, and you're quite sweet when you want to be. And your scars make you more interesting-oh, I know you don't want me to talk about that. Sorry.

[He was running his mouth more than usual too, but in way of apology he leaned up to try and kiss along the edge of the scar running down Fukuda's face.]

[Listen as nice as most people have been to him here, it's hard to undo decades of being treated poorly. Also, the fact that, part of him suspects that if Cain and everyone else knew The Whole Truth, they wouldn't be so kind.]

Well, I just don't want people to hate me, really.
[He's polite, and accomodating, just so that people won't get mad at him. So that they'll tolerate him. Doesn't that make it inherently selfish? The voice at least, while news to him, he can at least accept.]

I don't really mind talking about it, I just worry what people think of it.

[It would take much more then that to upset Cain, honestly, though Fukuda himself did not know how fucked up some of the wizards could get. He definitely got the sentiment, though as a wizard and something that people feared and reviled.

But he didn't want to be sad, and he didn't want Fukuda to be sad, so he kept kissing along the rough skin until he decided to come back to the mouth.]

Bradley has a lot of scars and he's always proud of them, cause they are proof that he's survived a ton of things. So you should really just believe the great Bradley Bain and tell yourself that it just makes you really cool.

[Was he making sense? Probably not, but Cain's brain was fried by the stardust and he's reaching up again to start locking their lips together.]

[Listen it can just be a pleasant surprise for Fukuda when Cain doesn't care upon inevitably finding out. As Cain resumes kissing, Fukuda shivvers a little simply because he's never experienced this sort of contact on the scar tissue, and it's more sensitive to touch. It's not an unpleasant shivver though, and it's making it hard for him to try to maintain his concern about whether Cain's really capable of consent at the moment.

He's about to ask who Bradley is, because that's a cool name, but then Cain is kissing him proper again, which is very distracting. This time, he leans into it a little more, still slightly hesitant, but when Cain is so handsome and kind how can he stop? He may still see the hole and the scar, but it clearly, truly does not bother him, to touch it like that. Eventually Fukuda has to pull away to catch his breath, and continues;]

Well your friend Bradley's scars are probably cool battle scars, right? I don't think it's really the same thing.

Doesn't matter. Still means you survived, doesn't it? I like that about you.

[It wasn't always about looks, even if the scars made him unique and he likes how tall and imposing Fukuda could be. It was the fact that he was also just very sweet and lonely on the inside ~~no matter how many people he's drilled~~, and Cain could commiserate with that a little.

The stardust was making his already loud feelings overflow, and Fukuda honestly needed to stop being so depressing. He broke away again only to say more things, so Cain chased him back up and kissed again, hard, poking his tongue at the other man's mouth.

Cain wasn't going to let him talk any more badly about himself, and the strong arms that wound themselves around Fukuda's neck just accentuated this fact.]

[Cain really is so positive. Then again, Fukuda himself is very positive when it comes to other people. He wonders if Cain is the same way, if it's not a concerted effort, a pleasant front to make people comfortable. If not... he wonders how that's possible. How someone could really see the positive without the negative. Maybe if their life was far more positive than negative? But then, Cain apparently had to fight the moon and can't see half the people he has to interact with. Isn't that terribly isolating? Is he scared? He should probably be more worried that people aren't what they seem to be.

Well, Fukuda had his drill now. If anyone tried to do something bad to Cain, they wouldn't get away with it. Even if he got hurt instead, it's fine. Surely far more people care about Cain's well being than his, anyway. As long as he doesn't die, it's fine. Since Cain would be upset if he died. Even though his memory from when Cain found him in the rain is a bit foggy for a variety of reasons, he remembers Cain saying that. He's never going to forget it.

So while Cain is lost in the Stardust sauce, Fukuda is just thinking entirely too much, but unlike before, isn't freezing up so much as just allowing himself to become pliable in Cain's grasp. He welcomes that tongue in with his own, and as Cain moves his hands, Fukuda shifts to lean down slightly to make Cain's job easier, while placing his hands politely at the small of Cain's back.]

[It sometimes was an act, especially dealing with nobles and politicians he really didn't like. A necessary fact of the job, but in the end Cain just wanted to like and keep believing in people like he did in the knight Roland's legacy. Even the sudden and violent discrimination suprised him, but the dream he held with Arthur remained unsullied.

Even if they proved him wrong he wanted to continue to believe, and continued to do so. None of these thoughts were going through Cain's mind at the moment, but as it often was with wizards, their feelings spoke the loudest.

He smiles against Fukuda's lips, feeling the man finally accept his affection. Chasing that, he goes against Fukuda with even more gusto. It's pretty obvious how excited he was getting pressed this close and one of his own hands starts drifting lower.]

["None of these thoughts" implies other thoughts are instead going through his head at the moment and I don't believe that. There's no thoughts in there right now.

Anyway, some small part of Fukuda knows he should probably stop Cain from doing anything in this state, but like... what if he never gets a chance like this again??? Potential consequences can be future Fukuda's problem. Cain already said it was fine, right?

That said, Fukuda isn't a fan of being perceived, so while he doesn't push Cain's hand away, he does break away just enough to ask, breath still hot against Cain's face;]

How far do you plan on going out here in public, Cain?
[HE JUST WANTS TO CHECK.]

[He had thoughts sometimes, and sometimes they were even useful! But right now he really had a one track mind and since he couldn't really see anyone in the surroundings, they didn't exist.

If Fukuda didn't want to get down and dirty in the middle of the street, he's going to have to drag Cain somewhere.]

I can't see anyone around here. I'd rather not wait any longer...

[He was unfortunately aggressive when he's high off of not-wizard-catnip.Cain's still going to be reaching for the whatever served as the belt for Fukuda's pants, continuing to pressed up tight against the taller man.

[Honestly he'd really been half expecting Cain to change his mind at this point? Like kissing is one thing, but to want him carnally?? Aim higher, Cain!!! You're a handsome and charming young man. Surely once he's come to his senses, he'll regret this, right?

Well, Fukuda still can't bring himself to do more than just give Cain chances to change his mind. He doesn't want to stop him. So he should at least break up Cain's rhythm as gently as possible. So he grabs Cain's wrist, to gently redirect him out of the middle of the street to at least ferret away in a nearby alley. It's not that he has much shame, but feels like if someone did come upon them, they'd be forced to stop.]

I'm not opposed, I just didn't think you felt this way, you know?
[It's just his nature to question anything good happening to him.]

[He was aiming higher. About 6 feet higher, obviously. But it was probably for the best that Fukuda dragged them off to somewhere less visible, since Cain was loathe to stop. Still, he let the taller man drag him wherever, reattaching himself whenever Fukuda came to a stop.

Only he seemed to not like it? Cain's stardust addled brain was not capable of very complex reasoning and the fact that Fukuda kept hesitating was probably bad.]

Ah, you don't believe me, do you? I don't like telling lies, so please believe me...I don't think I could bear it if a dear friend of mine actually hated me.

[He's leaning his head against Fukuda's chest.]

[That makes it sound like Fukuda is six feet taller than Cain. Fukuda can't understand why Cain would think Fukuda was capable of hating him. As if Fukuda has any place to be refusing Cain. As if Cain isn't completely out of his league??

Well, as he thinks about it, running a hand through Cain's head as it's pressed against him, he knows why Cain's got such an odd opinion, doesn't he? He doesn't know. No, as far as he knows, Fukuda is just a man who's suffered an unfortunate accident. If Cain knew. If he knew... He really thinks about it, for a moment. He almost tells him the truth. Even if it made Cain hate him, he could probably eventually come to terms with that. But then Cain might warn others. Fukuda might go back to being all alone again.]

I don't. I could never hate you, Cain. If you knew what I really was, you'd probably hate me. That's why I'm worried.
[More hair stroking, maybe letting his hand idly trail down to stroke the side of Cain's face.]

But I really like you. I'll do whatever you tell me. Whatever you want. Alright?

[Don't think too hard about the metaphors!! He's just happy to be around his friends and definitely humans who don't want to kill him. Cain's turning his head to kiss at the fingers, not thinking about any of the words that came out of his mouth.

He didn't know if he'd regret this later, but it's not the ideal way he'd like.]

I can never hold a grudge for very long. Owen...he stole my eye and put his in its place. I don't get him, and I don't know how to feel, but I don't hate him.

You go out of your way to make others comfortable. Don't think that's the type of guy I can hate.

[And besides, Cain by virtue of being born was already seen as a monster. It was with this and so many feelings jumbled up inside of him that couldn't quite process what he wanted either.]

Don't know what I'm doing either, but....

[Without caring if he's making sense or not, he's back to nibbling along the man's jaw and trying to slide his fingers into the fabric of his clothes.]

[Fukuda just like "who the fuck is Owen" but that's a question for later. He supposes that's why Cain has two different colored eyes? Obviously one is usually covered by his hair, but Fukuda's caught a few spare glimpses. It's a strange thing to have happened, but then again. Wizards. Everything Cain has told him makes them seem a bit odd.

Anyway, given that, Fukuda isn't going to stop Cain's questing hands, but... Well, it's that instinct to stop Cain, but also, a small, more unpleasant part of him wants to test these words. After all, things are so easy to say. Actually following through on them is another. He doesn't trust human beings to be good at heart. He's seen too much of them not being so. And if there is real goodness, for it to be given to someone like him... No, no, it just doesn't make sense.

He breathes out heavily as Cain's fingers brush against skin unused to foreign hands, but;]

I killed people, Cain. I drilled a hole into their head like mine.
[If this confession isn't jarring enough, how about how Fukuda's hand rises to cup the side of Cain's head, his thumb pressing against the younger man's temple, where a hole could be.]

[The eye beneath his fringe was an unsettling red, as Fukuda has probably seen when the knight's been moving around. It's a symbol of 'source of all his problems' as Owen had put it, and an unwanted reminder.

But Cain's been on the recieving end of human cruelty, and somehow the confession didn't even make him pause at first. The finger on his temple did make him stop though, the small pressure cluing Cain in on the meaning of the words.]

Is that why you're so afraid? That I'll figure out you're a murderer? Ah, that does make sense...

[This really wasn't the time for him to have any sort of complex thoughts on the matter. The stardust is filling him with giddiness and an urge to celebrate, and he didn't want to focus on that. Was Fukuda trying to make Cain hate him.

It was rather sudden, but he let out a laugh.]

I bore witness to an entire city my teacher annihilated in the space of a single day. I can't fathom it...I can't think about how you could possibly be a terrible person either. You wouldn't hurt someone for no reason, right?

[His hands keep burying themselves inside Fukuda's shirt, the thing gradually becoming unbuttoned as he leaned in.]

I can't hate people. I don't have it in me. I want to believe in everyone, so please stay here with me.

[He can't believe it, really, for a minute. He wasn't expecting Cain to accept it, regardless of what he said. Deep down, he was expecting that to ruin everything. But it didn't? It really didn't? Wizards really are something else. Or at least Cain is. Cain is special.

It's not that Cain doesn't understand. He sees why Fukuda would worry about this. He is just used to murderers, apparently. Well, that's fine. Fukuda will take what he can get. Cain still likes him even with this. He intuitively knows that Fukuda had a good reason for what he did. But then it's the last thing he says that really grips Fukuda's heart. He understands that feeling, not wanting to be left alone, behind.

So he pulls Cain in closer, tighter, shifting to help Cain get him out of his shirt, his own hands clumsily moving to set upon Cain's in turn. There's no hesitation now.]

[Cain in the back of his mind knows that he really does want to ask later, to really understand, but for now that was enough. He's smiling, happy that Fukuda is finally accepting his attention, and desperately trying to free the both of them from their shirts.

At least, once it was open enough for him to be able to reach, Cain ran his fingers along the man's skin, uncaring of any blemishes he might come across. Leaning down, he took one of Fukuda's nipples in his mouth, gently teasing it with his tongue. From the way he's pressed up, Fukuda would be able to tell he was hard, but right now he seemed content on just giving the other man all his attention.]

[Cain: Further elaboration about the serial killing is not a pressing issue.

In any case, Fukuda's reactions are muted, but come easily, as if he's particularly sensitive to any touch. Which of course, he is due to how rare it is for him. He allows Cain to tease him for a bit, but soon enough, he's trying to tug Cain back up, and when he's able, his hands are moving down to Cain's belt.]

Cain, I want to make you feet good, too. Can I?

Edited 2022-07-26 14:54 (UTC)

[He had priorities right now, okay? Cain had 0 brain cells and 100 horny and he was making it work. Still, he laughed at the question after Fukuda tugged him back up.]

You don't have to ask. I'm the one who came onto you, right?

[So he was more than happy to let the taller man do what he wanted, and thankfully the belt he was wearing was already loosened from his attempts at ripping his shirt off.]

Haha, well, I just wanted to make sure!
[Consent is key, after all. But that's all he needed to prompt him to drop to his knees and finish getting Cain out of his pants.]

I half thought I was imagining it, but you really are already hard, Cain.
[Half teasing, half excited. All this for him? He really is lucky. Anyway, he may not have a lot of experience, but he's seen plenty of Internet Videos, and he opts to start slow, since someone has to keep this from lasting five seconds. He focuses on the tip, giving the shaft a few exploratory licks. Hopefully Cain was expecting this and not just a handjob.]

[It is! And Fukuda is very much a gentleman about it, even if Cain as more than likely to let less nice things happen to him. But he was feeling very giddy at the moment and well..no one had actually done THIS to him before. Cain just sort of had to go with the flow right now.

He was certainly hard as Fukuda could see, and had been pretty much ever since he started pressing up on the taller man. Now that his erection was free, he almost could breathe a sigh of relief-only to give a suprised laugh when he felt Fukuda's tongue.]

Oh, that-that almost tickles.

[Fukuda pulls off for a moment, slightly concerned.]

Ah, in a good way, right?
[... Wait.]

Cain... you've done this before, haven't you?
[SURELY SOMEONE AS HANDSOME AND KIND AS CAIN HAS HAD HIS DICK SUCKED???]

[Of course not??? Cain has been busy doing other things! He has at least kissed some of the other knights, maybe a handjob? But he never got this far.

And he's too high right now to think more coherently, instead just giving Fukuda a confused look. Why did he stop?]

It feels nice, I just didn't know...? Was I supposed to?

[Was that a requirement??? Somewhere in his single brain cell the logical thought was 'no' but this was an unprecendented situation.]

Oh, I suppose you were expecting me to have experience with things, huh?

I mean, I guess, just because you're handsome and nice... it's fine if you haven't!
[He's just surprised is all!! He gives Cain's hip a reassuring pat pat pat.]

Just tell me if you want to stop, right?
[And with that he's going to resume his Very Important Work of sucking Cain off.]

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July 2022 IC Mingle

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