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what if we kissed while being chased by the ski-free yeti đł
CEREMONIES OF HARMONIZATION (MERIDIAN)
Early in the month, a brief Communion message is sent out by Cetina and Kathova to their respective factions (if youâre unharmonized, sorry, you get both!) to inform them that Harmonization Ceremonies will be taking place on December 8th. While not required, itâs strongly encouraged that you at least make an appearance at the respective ceremony. This is a time for the factions to honor and celebrate you for making your choice and to symbolically represent that commitment. If you havenât made your choice yet, youâre welcome to attend either ceremony. In fact, it would be a great honor to choose to Harmonize at the ceremony itself.
When you arrive to Heliopolis for the ceremony, the first thing youâll be asked to do is⌠change? A wide variety of Greek and Roman-styled outfits are provided, all in light shades ranging from pure whites to soft pastels. But once youâre changed, youâre led deep into Heliopolis to a great courtyard where the tree is rooted. Along the edges, large tables full of appetizing food and drink are being set up, but first, you have the Ceremony to attend.
Once most people have arrived, Cyrus takes a place at the base of the tree and speaks to those assembled. He gives a warm, charismatic speech welcoming all to the celebration. This is a time to celebrate those who have Meridianâs light within them and to welcome them. He hopes that youâll find peace and happiness here in Kenos, and just as much, he hopes the worlds you see in your Sunbeams return. One day, youâll part ways, but for now, he hopes you find new friends and family here among the Meri.
After his brief speech, youâll be given opportunity to approach the tree and touch your Shard to it in a ritualistic way. When you do, youâll get the experience of briefly visiting a happy, peaceful time in another world as if the tree itself is Communing with you. Youâre more likely to see the worlds of those in attendance at the ceremony, but it can also be random. Regardless, it fills you with a sense of belonging and resolve as if reminding you that this is what youâre helping someone return to and your own home is also waiting. From there, youâll be directed to the sides of the courtyard where craftspeople are waiting. If you give them your Iliachtida, theyâll happily craft it into a piece of jewelry or other token of your choosing so that you can always carry it with you.
After this, itâs of course time to feast and to party!
Youâll find music, dancing, food, and drink, which the Tribune himself seems to be indulging in! Eventually, an interesting drinking game will begin⌠Youâll see Meri lounging in a circle and drinking wine, but once their cup is empty, they offer a toast, and then flick the remaining sediment towards a bowl in the center. This is Kottabos! Ask a yes or no question, and its outcome is decided by whether the remainder of the wine-lees lands in the target. Alternately, itâs a traditional gambling game as well. Make a wager with another player: candy and cakes, money, or maybe even kisses in the spirit of the season. All things work as currency in Kottabos!
When you arrive to Heliopolis for the ceremony, the first thing youâll be asked to do is⌠change? A wide variety of Greek and Roman-styled outfits are provided, all in light shades ranging from pure whites to soft pastels. But once youâre changed, youâre led deep into Heliopolis to a great courtyard where the tree is rooted. Along the edges, large tables full of appetizing food and drink are being set up, but first, you have the Ceremony to attend.
Once most people have arrived, Cyrus takes a place at the base of the tree and speaks to those assembled. He gives a warm, charismatic speech welcoming all to the celebration. This is a time to celebrate those who have Meridianâs light within them and to welcome them. He hopes that youâll find peace and happiness here in Kenos, and just as much, he hopes the worlds you see in your Sunbeams return. One day, youâll part ways, but for now, he hopes you find new friends and family here among the Meri.
After his brief speech, youâll be given opportunity to approach the tree and touch your Shard to it in a ritualistic way. When you do, youâll get the experience of briefly visiting a happy, peaceful time in another world as if the tree itself is Communing with you. Youâre more likely to see the worlds of those in attendance at the ceremony, but it can also be random. Regardless, it fills you with a sense of belonging and resolve as if reminding you that this is what youâre helping someone return to and your own home is also waiting. From there, youâll be directed to the sides of the courtyard where craftspeople are waiting. If you give them your Iliachtida, theyâll happily craft it into a piece of jewelry or other token of your choosing so that you can always carry it with you.
After this, itâs of course time to feast and to party!
Youâll find music, dancing, food, and drink, which the Tribune himself seems to be indulging in! Eventually, an interesting drinking game will begin⌠Youâll see Meri lounging in a circle and drinking wine, but once their cup is empty, they offer a toast, and then flick the remaining sediment towards a bowl in the center. This is Kottabos! Ask a yes or no question, and its outcome is decided by whether the remainder of the wine-lees lands in the target. Alternately, itâs a traditional gambling game as well. Make a wager with another player: candy and cakes, money, or maybe even kisses in the spirit of the season. All things work as currency in Kottabos!
CEREMONIES OF HARMONIZATION (ZENITH)
As Kathova informed you, Zenithâs ceremony is a formal affair, and youâre expected to dress as such. Donât worry if some of the finer clothing is out of your budget—this ceremony is important, so youâll be able to commission whatever youâd like from a local tailor, and Lady Yima will foot the bill. The ceremony itself takes place in the Courtyard of Yimaâs Manor, and the twin moons shine brightly overhead in her garden. There are multiple large tables set up with enough seats to accommodate everyone in attendance and at the front of this setup is a smaller table with seats for Yima and Kathova.
However, while everyone is arriving, sheâs standing at the foot of the tree. Sheâll greet everyone who comes, and once everyone is settled, will give a brief speech of welcome: spreading her hands, she invites all gathered to be at peace among their kindred - as all are family among the Zenith. Each soul is connected, holding a crucial piece that will be carried into the new world to come. She understands there are struggles to come, that the road ahead may not be an easy one - but each of them lest but look around them. Do they see the faces of those at their sides...? These are safe hands to entrust themselves in, and she welcomes you as they will welcome you - with open arms. After this, she asks that each of you come to her with your Shard in hand.
When you do, Yima wonât take your Shard from you, but instead just hold her hands over yours. She speaks a Zenite blessing, and then leans down to kiss your Shard. The feeling ripples through you, but itâs not unpleasant. In fact, a sense of peace comes of you that will last the entirety of the night. With a smile, she tells you to enjoy your evening in the moonlight. If you received a Shard from her, sheâll direct you to one of the craftspeople to the side of the courtyard that will fashion a âhomeâ for that Shard. An elegant piece of jewelry, a box, whatever you prefer, and while inside it, itâll be magically protected. If you didnât, then sheâll instead direct you to others who will make you a âtokenâ. Much like the barista near the Tomes, give them your Shard, and theyâll create you a custom piece of jewelry or the like that represents your soul. The appearance, of course, is up to the player.
After this, the banquet begins. Gentle music plays in the background, but the focus here is to get to know your fellow Zenite Shard-Bearers. Youâll find a variety of food on the menu, but itâs all quite special, you know at a glance. Whatever your favorite food is, itâs offered at the banquet with your name next to it in parenthesis. This is a bit of a cultural exchange, but thereâs also just a little bit of Yimaâs more mischievous magic at play. While you eat, the effect is subtle, but youâll be more open to those you talk with. Itâs not so much that youâll be revealing your secrets or anything of the sort, but just a gentle way to lower those barriers between you.
However, while everyone is arriving, sheâs standing at the foot of the tree. Sheâll greet everyone who comes, and once everyone is settled, will give a brief speech of welcome: spreading her hands, she invites all gathered to be at peace among their kindred - as all are family among the Zenith. Each soul is connected, holding a crucial piece that will be carried into the new world to come. She understands there are struggles to come, that the road ahead may not be an easy one - but each of them lest but look around them. Do they see the faces of those at their sides...? These are safe hands to entrust themselves in, and she welcomes you as they will welcome you - with open arms. After this, she asks that each of you come to her with your Shard in hand.
When you do, Yima wonât take your Shard from you, but instead just hold her hands over yours. She speaks a Zenite blessing, and then leans down to kiss your Shard. The feeling ripples through you, but itâs not unpleasant. In fact, a sense of peace comes of you that will last the entirety of the night. With a smile, she tells you to enjoy your evening in the moonlight. If you received a Shard from her, sheâll direct you to one of the craftspeople to the side of the courtyard that will fashion a âhomeâ for that Shard. An elegant piece of jewelry, a box, whatever you prefer, and while inside it, itâll be magically protected. If you didnât, then sheâll instead direct you to others who will make you a âtokenâ. Much like the barista near the Tomes, give them your Shard, and theyâll create you a custom piece of jewelry or the like that represents your soul. The appearance, of course, is up to the player.
After this, the banquet begins. Gentle music plays in the background, but the focus here is to get to know your fellow Zenite Shard-Bearers. Youâll find a variety of food on the menu, but itâs all quite special, you know at a glance. Whatever your favorite food is, itâs offered at the banquet with your name next to it in parenthesis. This is a bit of a cultural exchange, but thereâs also just a little bit of Yimaâs more mischievous magic at play. While you eat, the effect is subtle, but youâll be more open to those you talk with. Itâs not so much that youâll be revealing your secrets or anything of the sort, but just a gentle way to lower those barriers between you.
QIASU (HIGHSTORM)
On December 9th, the marker of the latter half of Takiltu, Kenos comes together to celebrate unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in oneâs wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and oneâs time. This celebration is an amalgamation of many worldsâ winter festivals, and as such, is known in the two cities as the Yearâs End Festival, or Qiasu as Highstorm calls it.
This part of Takiltu is when Highstorm truly starts to hit winter. Snow is a frequent occurrence, but itâs one that the city welcomes, since with the snow comes a few of the most beloved traditions of the city. By far the most popular is heading to Greenwood Yards. The gardens themselves may be either dormant or showing their simpler winter gardens, but you may have noticed an area by the bathhouses left in surprising amount of disrepair⌠This is because during the winter months, this area fills up with a natural outdoor hot spring! Take a swim under the moonlight, and even explore some of those ruined old manors, now with their first floors warmly flooded. Itâs a tradition to bring in your favorite drinks and spend an evening sipping it in a parlor with friends, and to make new ones by sharing your drinks. Of course, do watch out for the ghosts. Theyâre mischievous more than malicious, but this is their favorite time of the year too!
You can also head to the Great Tree, which is decorated for the season with glittering glass orbs and is the current roost for the pale Moonbugs of Highstorm. Write a wish on a slip of paper and hold out your hands, and one of the Moonbugs will come sit within them. Whisper the wish to the Moonbug and itâll take the paper and fly away to find someone to fulfill it. Of course, this also means that a Moonbug is likely to come find you! Besides it being good karma to fulfill the wish, youâll be given a brief vision of the person whose wish you fulfilled and be blessed by the tree for the duration of the month depending upon your Aspect:
Of course, if these traditions arenât quite your vibe, youâll also find the city just generally set up for a metropolitan winter. The Antiques & Baubles Market is rearranged to make room for a large ice-skating rink, Tasseography (the coffeeshop by the Tomes) has a seasonal special for a hot chocolate that will fortify you from the cold for a few hours (and make you fire resistant? Weird,), and the city also hosts a full-size gingerbread house that you can indeed take a bite from, to name a few things. Generally speaking, if itâs something you could do in a snowy city at home, youâll probably find an equivalent somewhere in the city of moonlight.
This part of Takiltu is when Highstorm truly starts to hit winter. Snow is a frequent occurrence, but itâs one that the city welcomes, since with the snow comes a few of the most beloved traditions of the city. By far the most popular is heading to Greenwood Yards. The gardens themselves may be either dormant or showing their simpler winter gardens, but you may have noticed an area by the bathhouses left in surprising amount of disrepair⌠This is because during the winter months, this area fills up with a natural outdoor hot spring! Take a swim under the moonlight, and even explore some of those ruined old manors, now with their first floors warmly flooded. Itâs a tradition to bring in your favorite drinks and spend an evening sipping it in a parlor with friends, and to make new ones by sharing your drinks. Of course, do watch out for the ghosts. Theyâre mischievous more than malicious, but this is their favorite time of the year too!
You can also head to the Great Tree, which is decorated for the season with glittering glass orbs and is the current roost for the pale Moonbugs of Highstorm. Write a wish on a slip of paper and hold out your hands, and one of the Moonbugs will come sit within them. Whisper the wish to the Moonbug and itâll take the paper and fly away to find someone to fulfill it. Of course, this also means that a Moonbug is likely to come find you! Besides it being good karma to fulfill the wish, youâll be given a brief vision of the person whose wish you fulfilled and be blessed by the tree for the duration of the month depending upon your Aspect:
- Advocate: People are more likely to buy you meals/rounds and every recipe you make turns out perfectly.
- Exalt: Animals seem to think more kindly of you, and you'll find them much easier to befriend.
- Harbinger: You're given a more silver tongue as your arguments seem to be better at persuading people.
- Iconoclast: You won't be effected by cold weather in any way.
- Savant: You heal much more rapidly from any injury and are generally the very picture of health.
- Stargazer: Your indulgences (whatever they may be) are both easier to find and are of higher quality.
Of course, if these traditions arenât quite your vibe, youâll also find the city just generally set up for a metropolitan winter. The Antiques & Baubles Market is rearranged to make room for a large ice-skating rink, Tasseography (the coffeeshop by the Tomes) has a seasonal special for a hot chocolate that will fortify you from the cold for a few hours (and make you fire resistant? Weird,), and the city also hosts a full-size gingerbread house that you can indeed take a bite from, to name a few things. Generally speaking, if itâs something you could do in a snowy city at home, youâll probably find an equivalent somewhere in the city of moonlight.
YEAR'S END FESTIVAL (SPRINGSTAR)
Springstar will never turn down a chance to celebrate, but eternally Highstormâs opposite, this is the warmest time of year. With the sun always shining, some days can get near sweltering, but that just means you have a different set of traditions to have fun with it!
The ivy-like vines that decorated the city in the beginning of the month (November) are now in full bloom, and youâre now likely to learn why the Meri consider them sacred. Wherever the flowers bloom, they encourage feelings of warmth and slightly higher inclination for physical contact within those that encounter their magical pollen*. Holding hands with someone by the flowers will give you feelings of liveliness and happiness, and for a few hours, the positive traits of the person youâre holding hands with become more prominent in you and vice versa. These effects do linger a bit longer, since for a month, youâll also find that being around this person also gives you both a little boost in energy. Itâs very sweet! This also comes with a bit of a further game, if youâre at all a frequenter of PsychagogĂa...
Madame Deeâs hosts a very popular competition simply called Kiss Bingo. Approach the booth set-up outside the brothel and touch your Shard to a special card, and names will appear upon it. From there, the rules are simple. Just give that person a kiss! It can be on their hand, their lips, their [redacted], all of it counts, and once you do, a little kiss mark will mark their name out. Get a bingo, and you can pick from a variety of prizes such as a ticket for a weekâs worth of visits at a local buffet, a shopping spree at a nearby store, or a box seat for a day at the Coliseum. Of course, if youâre really an overachiever, fill out the whole card to get multiple prizes. Madame Dee might just give you a job!
With the promise of home that the Meri deeply believe in, they have their own gifting tradition. The Shard-Bearers know best that itâs possible to receive gifts from the Timestream, and for Yearâs End, itâs tradition for the Tribune to pull out all the stops. For a week of the Festival, the Tribune works just outside of Heliopolis, and with the help of priests from the Church of Helios, reaches into the Timestream to produce a gift for anyone that comes to ask. However, this is a tradition taken with great humor. For one, the Tribune wears a particular costume for the duration, said to be a figure from the first Tribuneâs world, but with some tweaks for the hotter climate. And two, this was a tradition started when the city was much smaller. Now that it's such a bustling city, pulling good gifts out of the Timestream gets more difficult. It may not be what you asked for, but Cyrus will still hand over a gift just for you with a laugh and a smile, wishing you a Meri year of prosperity to come. Thereâs no time to stay and chat, however, since the line is quite long!
On rainy days (or simply the unbearably hot ones), you can also go to Starlight Park, which offers a reprieve from the weather. Inside the dome, youâll find a idyllic, snowy valley where you can partake in all the natural joys of winter. Thereâs (highly) competitive snowball fights, sledding, and skiing to partake in, though you might be cautioned away from one slope. Head down that course and about halfway down, youâll be chased by⌠a yeti? Luckily it doesnât seem to be able to harm you, but itâs still shockingly fast and will catch you no matter how quickly you ski. You can also spend a bit of money to rent a yurt along the river for a relaxing and exceptionally cozy glamping experience. Some Yurts are even adorned with the sacred vines. You know, for no reason.
Youâll also find the Meri heading away from the city of Springstar a bit to head down to some of the beaches that surround Springstar. Being an island within an Island (capital âIâ meaning the Kenos kind of island), Takiltu is the traditional start of Springstarâs summer season and all the fun that comes with that. The beaches are bustling, but the cool and crystal-clear waters of the ocean surrounding the city make it worthwhile. Surfing, diving, and sailing are popular activities, but just make sure to stay within sight of the shore. It doesnât take too long to hit the end of the Island and sailing outside the magical barrier that keeps Springstar floating in Kenosâs starscape generally isnât survivable.
The ivy-like vines that decorated the city in the beginning of the month (November) are now in full bloom, and youâre now likely to learn why the Meri consider them sacred. Wherever the flowers bloom, they encourage feelings of warmth and slightly higher inclination for physical contact within those that encounter their magical pollen*. Holding hands with someone by the flowers will give you feelings of liveliness and happiness, and for a few hours, the positive traits of the person youâre holding hands with become more prominent in you and vice versa. These effects do linger a bit longer, since for a month, youâll also find that being around this person also gives you both a little boost in energy. Itâs very sweet! This also comes with a bit of a further game, if youâre at all a frequenter of PsychagogĂa...
Madame Deeâs hosts a very popular competition simply called Kiss Bingo. Approach the booth set-up outside the brothel and touch your Shard to a special card, and names will appear upon it. From there, the rules are simple. Just give that person a kiss! It can be on their hand, their lips, their [redacted], all of it counts, and once you do, a little kiss mark will mark their name out. Get a bingo, and you can pick from a variety of prizes such as a ticket for a weekâs worth of visits at a local buffet, a shopping spree at a nearby store, or a box seat for a day at the Coliseum. Of course, if youâre really an overachiever, fill out the whole card to get multiple prizes. Madame Dee might just give you a job!
With the promise of home that the Meri deeply believe in, they have their own gifting tradition. The Shard-Bearers know best that itâs possible to receive gifts from the Timestream, and for Yearâs End, itâs tradition for the Tribune to pull out all the stops. For a week of the Festival, the Tribune works just outside of Heliopolis, and with the help of priests from the Church of Helios, reaches into the Timestream to produce a gift for anyone that comes to ask. However, this is a tradition taken with great humor. For one, the Tribune wears a particular costume for the duration, said to be a figure from the first Tribuneâs world, but with some tweaks for the hotter climate. And two, this was a tradition started when the city was much smaller. Now that it's such a bustling city, pulling good gifts out of the Timestream gets more difficult. It may not be what you asked for, but Cyrus will still hand over a gift just for you with a laugh and a smile, wishing you a Meri year of prosperity to come. Thereâs no time to stay and chat, however, since the line is quite long!
On rainy days (or simply the unbearably hot ones), you can also go to Starlight Park, which offers a reprieve from the weather. Inside the dome, youâll find a idyllic, snowy valley where you can partake in all the natural joys of winter. Thereâs (highly) competitive snowball fights, sledding, and skiing to partake in, though you might be cautioned away from one slope. Head down that course and about halfway down, youâll be chased by⌠a yeti? Luckily it doesnât seem to be able to harm you, but itâs still shockingly fast and will catch you no matter how quickly you ski. You can also spend a bit of money to rent a yurt along the river for a relaxing and exceptionally cozy glamping experience. Some Yurts are even adorned with the sacred vines. You know, for no reason.
Youâll also find the Meri heading away from the city of Springstar a bit to head down to some of the beaches that surround Springstar. Being an island within an Island (capital âIâ meaning the Kenos kind of island), Takiltu is the traditional start of Springstarâs summer season and all the fun that comes with that. The beaches are bustling, but the cool and crystal-clear waters of the ocean surrounding the city make it worthwhile. Surfing, diving, and sailing are popular activities, but just make sure to stay within sight of the shore. It doesnât take too long to hit the end of the Island and sailing outside the magical barrier that keeps Springstar floating in Kenosâs starscape generally isnât survivable.
NOTES
Weather summary for the second 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):
- Highstorm is out of fall and into winter. While there are some milder days, snow (and heavy snow at that!) is getting more common.
- Springstar is hot and humid, and it's not uncommon for brief thunderstorms to roll through in the afternoon.
- A new bar has opened in Springstar by the name of Punch Drunk! Located in Psychagogia, it's already seeing good business and Meri seem to especially enjoy people watching on the balcony.
- Rumors have started to circulate that A Zenite Shard is being held hostage by the Meridian. There's a slight increased tension between Meri and Zenites as a result, but it's still understated. This is a matter that's expected to be negotiated, after all.
no subject
Not interested in cuddling with some sweaty guy.
[ So he says when the bed is so cramped that his back is pressed up against Eustace's shoulder??? ]
Maybe if we're ever stuck somewhere in danger of freezing to death ... and even then, only as a last resort. [ His words are already starting to trail off, growing indistinct as sleep starts to take over him. When Gen next takes a slow breath, his shoulderblades shift under the lay of his shirt, nudging against Eustace's shoulder before sinking back down. ] Glad ... we didn't have to make Gray do that ... she would've melted from the embarrassment, I bet ...
[ The next breath he takes is slower, deeper, settling into that languid rhythm signature of sleep. Then it's quiet.
Lucky for Eustace, Gen's girlfriends were right -- he's not a kicker. Other than a few wayward shifts of the tail that brush against his legs, Gen is mostly still in his sleep.
Unlucky for Eustace, he's only mostly still in his sleep. And despite how easily he'd griped about not wanting to cuddle with a guy -- it's chilly, any extra warmth is enticing, and Gen's not really used to sharing his bed with people other than sexual partners. So when he rolls over in his sleep and his arm comes to rest against the warm shape of another person, he doesn't give it an iota of thought before pulling them close. Gen sighs in his sleep, his breath grazing warm against Eustace's shoulder when he drowsily nuzzles against him for a moment, then stills once more. With his arm wrapped over Eustace's chest in what is most definitely a gentle, if mildly possessive, cuddle. ]
no subject
Most of Gen's drowsy mumble goes unheeded, in one (oversized) ear and out the other, Eustace trying to wiggle his way into a more comfortable position on the bed. (Spoilers: there is none.) Cramped space aside, the heat that emanates off Gen's body is a nice ward against the evening chill, and enough to slowly spread a drowsy languidness throughout his own body.
His eyes drift closed, though his mind is only slightly fuzzy at the corners. His voice too is quieter, though not yet tinged with sleep the same way Gen's is. ]
Gray's tougher than she looks.
[ No doubt she would have turned as red as a tomato, but she would have trucked on through regardless. It's a nice thought thought, all of them clustered close to the dying embers of their campfire, huddled like an actual family might be instead of a ragtag trio brought together by circumstance. It's certainly a thought that sends him drifting towards sleepytime, his consciousness less and less aware of the creaks rattling through the apartment building and the light snores that occasionally permeate though the air.
It's only until extra weight slings itself over his chest that his consciousness struggles back up from the depths, desperately trying to prepare itself for sudden trouble. Blearily, he blinks and turns his head over—only to be met with a noseful of Gen's hair when it turns out that Gen is right there. Huh.
The truth of the matter is that his sleep-hazed mind is simply too tired to do anything with this revelation that Gen is a cuddler in his sleep. It's not like he's being suffocated in his sleep, or he's being forced into uncomfortable positions. Why bother doing anything about this when it's not actually impacting him in any way? Dimly, the fleeting thought of this is kind of cute, actually, floats through his mind, and then he's turning his head back over and letting sleep claim him again.
In an ideal world, they'd sleep like this until daybreak. Unfortunately, Gen's shitty apartment and shitty furniture are simply not equipped to handle two grown men, and it's somewhere around the wee hours of 2 AM that Gen's bedframe finally gives out, its already short life expectancy snapped in half in the same manner it itself snaps, sending the mattress (along with both men sprawled atop it) plummeting to the floor. ]
no subject
The only warning the two of them get is the sound of the bedframe giving a low creak in complaint, then after a dreadful moment of silence, the mattress crashes to the floor. It's briefly bent into a V-shape as the two halves of the bedframe on either end struggle to remain upright -- then those halves are also pushed out from under the mattress' weight, sent clattering to the floor as the mattress ends up flattening out straight on the floor once more.
Of course, even an exhausted teenager can't just sleep through all that racket. Gen does start awake with an undignified grunt, his arm winding marginally tighter around Eustace's midriff as he raises his head and tries to make some sense of what's going on.
But as soon as all that jostling and movement stops -- he decides he doesn't care enough to try and figure things out. It's still dark, the only light in the apartment seeping in from outside past the shitty, ratty curtains, and the sounds of late-night partying from outside still a steady drone. Daybreak's not due for a few hours, right? And he doesn't have any courier jobs lined up for tomorrow morning. Like hell he's sacrificing his precious, precious sleep. ]
Whatever... [ So after a sleepy blink, he closes his eyes once more. That arm wound around Eustace's body pulls tight, and Gen sighs as he nuzzles against that warmth. With his brain still largely paralyzed by sleep, he isn't thinking at all when he nuzzles into the tantalizing warmth of Eustace's shoulder again; his tone of voice is languid and almost affectionate. ] Let's go back to sleep.
[ And then -- was that a kiss? That sure was a sleepy little kiss he pressed against Eustace's shoulder, muscle memory dictating that the only people he'd ever cuddle with this are his girlfriends, and thus worth granting that little token of affection for.
For better or for worse, Gen simply sinks back into the mattress again, snoring softly within moments. Have fun thinking about that one, Eustace. ]
no subject
The mattress slams onto the ground and Eustace snaps awake at the noise, one hand pressing against the mattress in a reflexive shove upright. Except he doesn't get too far, the tightened grip of Gen's arm around his waist keeping him largely stapled in place. There isn't any abrupt movement nearby that he can sense anyway, the apartment largely peaceful outside of the usual background noise of Kowloon.
So he sinks back into the mattress, head turning automatically to make sure Gen's alright despite the kerfluffle. (Though why wouldn't he be??) It ends up being a bad move; his eyesight adjusts just enough and just in time to catch the the way Gen's head moves sleepily forward to
,
There's a brief moment where his mind goes blank, not from sleep but from simple shock. Not so much at the kiss, though arguably two kisses in one night from Gen is unprecedented as hell, but at the casual affection on full display. It would be cute if it weren't all directed at him and if he weren't presumably some sort of stand-in girlfriend. (Because surely that's what this has to be??) Unlike before, there's no room to slide away between the arm still draped over him and Gen's face mashed into his shoulder.
He thinks about saying something, or even forcibly shoving Gen away, but his mind remains empty on the former and there's literally no room to do the latter unless he wants to end up on the floor, so he's left where he is, still on his back and staring tiredly up at the ceiling as the sound of partying echoes through the thin windows.
It takes him a long time to fall back asleep after that. Someone's going to wake up with circles under their eyes in a few hours. ]
no subject
Anyway, Gen ends up sleeping great.
He'd be loathe to ever admit it out loud, but he's been touch-starved ever since being displaced from his hometown, thus losing easy access to his girlfriend. And while he's gotten a few spare moments of relief here and there, getting to cuddle someone throughout the night is an indulgent hit of stress relief that he hasn't had access to for some time, now. Not to mention the inherent comfort and warmth of having a living body-pillow to hold overnight, through the early morning chill of Kowloon's dawn.
So while dawn might find Eustace blinking awake to stare at the ceiling, bleary-eyed and disoriented from barely getting any rest, it also finds Gen getting some of the best sleep he has in a long time, hugging Eustace close. Basically spooning him as much as a man can spoon another man determined to lie flat on their back like a plank of wood -- arm wrapped over Eustace's chest, legs practically entwined against Eustace's, head tucked into the crook of Eustace's shoulder. Even the whippy length of his tail rests loosely against Eustace's ankle, the tip of twitching ever so slightly.
At least sunrise heralds the sounds of early-morning activity, the noises seeping in through the apartment's shitty insulation as the neighborhood slowly beings its usual antics. A particularly large thump from below -- several heavy crates behind put down, it sounds like -- earns a drowsy snuffle and a grunt from Gen, though he refuses to rouse just yet.
It does have one of those pointy ears of his flick right against Eustace's face, though, the slender tip of it tickling against his nose. ]