un: meffy | Forward-dated to July 1st

[meinwaifu]

[There's a video playing. There's no one speaking, but the audio is the sound of small monkeys chittering, as three plump little monkey-like creatures dance in front of the magi-comms camera. While no explanation is given, these creatures are demons known as the three wise monkeys.]

[While characters have they option of closing the video right away, those who watch for more than ten seconds will be affected by their power, forcing them to tell the truth. They may not even be aware that they're being so forthcoming until the effects wear off, and may even spontaneously reveal things that were not asked.]

My, you've all had a hell of a time recently, haven't you. I do hope most of you are on the mend now, yes? So why don't we play a little game?

I think after last month, it would be better for us refugees to get to know one another better!

Oh, that's enough stalling! So why don't you pick, hm?

Truth or Dare?



[ooc: It's a game canon truth or dare meme! Post your top-levels and tag around! Feel free to decide how honest the monkey's power forces them to be, if at all! The effects won't last longer than an hour after they put their magi-comm down.]

Comments

[acutabove]

Bite me.

[steponme]

[Son, ur triggering him.]

I don't think I can do that through text.

You'll have to pick something else.

[acutabove]

You can't, but I'll give you my address. Or I can come to you. You're the one who picked dare.

[steponme]

[....]

[In which Shell is making a terrible decision by giving his address to Childe.]

Just a bite. I'm not going to drink from you. That wasn't part of the dare.

text or w/e > action

[acutabove]

Just a bite.

[ Honestly, he's not sure why he chose this particular hang-up of Shell's to hone in on, but he's not going to back down from a challenge.

And it's not like he hasn't been bit before, just less for fun and more out of wanting to actually kill him.

but, either way, it doesn't take him very much long to sidle up to Shell's door and give it a sharp rap with his knuckles. ]

[steponme]

[And the door opens and-- now Childe will know why Shell didn't want to leave, because his AC is cranked to the max.]

[But also: does he look a little more pale than before? There's some dark circles under his eyes, too.]

...you really came all this way for me to bite you?

[The unspoken "are you sure you're not a masochist" remains unspoken, but is implied.]

[acutabove]

[ OH. oh it's cold, and he likes this very much. It reminds him a lot of back home - back home back home, not just the harbor in Liyue. It's not exactly as cold as the snow-covered landscape in Snezhnaya, but it's passable. ]

Your place is really refreshing.

[ He's just. Gonna maneuver himself inside, thank you. ] A dare's a dare, so don't think you can get out of it so easy - uh. Are you okay? You don't look so good.

[steponme]

[He closes the door behind him to keep the cool air in, before moving to find a spot to sit on the floor. Which is taking some getting used to, even if he has since fancy floor-chairs now instead of just cushions.]

Don't worry about it. I was among the kidnapped last month, so... I'm just still recovering from that.

[Which isn't wrong, but it isn't why he looks like shit.]

So. Do you have a preference? I'm not going to bite you anywhere it'd be too dangerous to do so.

[acutabove]

[ Ah - he remembers that. It felt like so long ago, really, and he was fortunate enough not to be among those that had been taken hostage. Had it really only been last month? Time certainly did fly in this place. ]

It looks like they really did a number on you.

[ But he doesn't comment further on it, since he is a guest and all, and follows Shell over to where he seats himself on the floor. After deliberating a moment, Childe follows suit. ]

Truth be told, I was expecting you to try and cite some clause about dares having a time limit or something to try and get out of it. [ This is him shifting his legs out, knee bracing up his elbow and the other folding under him. ]

Are you going to be able to hold yourself back? If so, the neck is fine. If not... I'll let you choose.

[steponme]

It's just a game, isn't it? So it's fine.

But... n-not the neck.

[He's trying really hard to convince himself it's just a game, that he won't have to swallow any, and that he won't hurt Childe. But it's hard. And honestly, he's not sure why he's trying so hard. He could insist no, and Childe would likely give in, or switch dares eventually.]

[But maybe, if he can go through with this no problem, his curiosity will be satisfied, and Childe won't bring it up again. Or at least, so he hopes.]

Your arm would be better. Maybe... your upper forearm? I've only ever done this a few times, and I can't promise it'll be a clean bite, s-so... I don't want to risk any lasting damage...

[acutabove]

[ Oh. Oh that's smart, why didn't he think of that?

Probably because he's the type that usually jumps in first and asks questions later. It probably doesn't help that he doesn't perceive Shell as any kind of threat, no matter how much the pheromones had fucked him up that first time. ]

The upper forearm? [ He questions, but he's already pulling his sleeve up a bit. It's fortunate that his Harbinger uniform already kind of shows off his arms, and with some maneuvering it's easy enough to loosen the fabric enough so he can roll it up and give Shell room to work with. ] Like this? Or do you want me to take it off?

[steponme]

That... should be fine.

[The facade he's put on to try and get through this is quickly falling away as the reality of what he's agreed to do sinks in. Could he rationalize it, because it was just a game? Or think of it like Childe offering? Did that make a difference?]

[Maybe in some respects, it did. But it didn't change the fact that the taste was going to be a reminder of what he is, what he's done, and what he has to do just to go on living.]

[He reaches down and gingerly takes Childe's arm, his own hands visibly trembling. He's only really done this twice. The last time was with One, just before he left, and only at One's instance.]

[But the time before that--]

[Ultimately, he won't even get close enough to be leaning down before he tries tapping out.]

...I-I can't.

[acutabove]

[ Honestly... he didn't know what he'd expected. But he thinks, as he watches Shell react to something like biting, something so close to what he needed to do to live... he thinks he should have expected this a little.

Childe remembers the aftermath of the swimming lessons, how Shell had looked so small in that moment when he was crying on the ground. At the time he'd thought it was because Childe had hurt him, but now he's not so sure.

The tremble in his hands is unmistakable. He's scared. ]

I'll think of something else.

[ A quick look around the room, gears turning around in his head. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't said the dare just to tease Shell a little, really. ]

Or - we can probably just not play altogether? It's just a game, after all.

[steponme]

[The relief is immediate, but Shell sure does look like a kicked puppy right now. He'll even roll Childe's sleeve back down before giving his arm back.]

...sorry.

[It feels weird to apologize for not biting someone?? Please.]

I feel bad for making you come all this way. Even if it was... for a weird reason to start.

[acutabove]

[ To that he just laughs, the sound boyish and light. ]

Hey, it’s not my fault you’re interesting. Besides, I think I like it here a lot more, the temperature is more fitting for me.

[ He doesn’t get up though, not yet, just looking around a little more. ]

Do you live alone?

[steponme]

Really? The few people I've had over so far think it's too cold in here.

[Shell can't feel the cold at all, of course. Thankfully, he's since figured out the best way to maximize the AC's power, so he's able to stay pretty comfortable.]

Mm, I do. But it's what I'm used to. I had servants back home, but I was generally by myself for the most part. Though it still doesn't really feel big enough for one person.

[Shell's true form: the spoiled rich kid who lived in a mcmansion by himself.]

[acutabove]

[ Childe thinks of his own childhood home, in the tiny fishing village of Morepesok.

What kind of bourgeois ass… ]

For one person, this is plenty of space.

Ah… did you say you don’t eat human food? Is it just blood?

[steponme]

[He doesn't even have enough room for a sex dungeon?? Clearly too small.]

It's less a matter of "don't" but rather, "can't". I probably wouldn't be able to keep it down. So I can't really offer you anything if you're hungry.

[Makes a note to self to buy human snacks for guests?? ...makes additional note to learn what human snacks would be.]

[acutabove]

[ Yes because everyone just has sex dungeons in their homes, that’s totally normal ]

So… you don’t need to eat anything at all? [ Except blood, apparently. But if Shell was that adverse to taking from Childe, how was he..? ]

What have you been doing for sustenance this whole time?

[steponme]

[VAMPIRES DO]

[Ah... he almost feels like he's been caught in some way.]

...I-I've been adjusting to animal meat and blood. It's not quite the same, but... I can keep it down, for the most part.

[FOR THE MOST PART, HE SAYS]

[Also yes there is just a terrifyingly large amount of cow-adjacent-fantasy-creature blood in his freezer.]

[acutabove]

[ Ah yes tenderize human meat before you suck them dry

But also Childe is more than just a pretty face, and he’s starting to put two and two together. Although he hasn’t known Shell for very long, there’s something about him that… he can’t quite put his finger on it. Perhaps it’s because he reminds him a little of a past he’d just as soon forget, or maybe he really is intrigued by the idea of vampires. Maybe he’s wondering if Shell really is strong and he’s just hiding it away, like someone playing the long con to get Childe to lower his guard.

Either way, it’s enough to keep him here. For now. ]

Is that why you look like shit?

[steponme]

...y-you don't have to say it like that.

[HE HAS FEELINGS WOW]

But-- yeah. Vampire metabolisms are a little different from humans, so I don't have to drink as much as a human would need to eat, at least.

To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure if a diet like this is feasible long-term, but... I want to try.

[acutabove]

So… if it’s only a little bit…

[ Shell do you see where this is going ]

Honestly, I’d hate for you to be anything but at your best when you use your pheromones on me again, because make no mistake, I was serious about training against it.

I suppose we haven’t even really come up with a uh… [ He lets out a little laugh at the word, unmistakably fond. ] A contract regarding everything, but… I guess I could give you… some? My blood, I mean.

If you can’t drink it from the source, that’s fine. It’ll be just another sort of training, I think, to find the right places to prick.

[steponme]

[It's not Childe's fault that he keeps saying things to unintentionally make Shell upset. He's just been through a lot, and has always been pretty sensitive, for all that he used to be good at hiding it.]

[But he doesn't hide the way the word contract has his eyes grow wide, before he pointedly stares down at floor.]

It's not like human blood is hard to find here. There are even some shops that sell it, down in Yokohama.

I just... I don't want to drink blood from humans anymore. It's too hard.

[acutabove]

Even if it’s willingly given? Why pay for the milk when you can get the cow for free?

[ But he does notice that reaction, and he wonders for a moment if he’s pressing him too hard for this. While he’s pretty sure he’s not a masochist, the prospect of someone feeding off him isn’t something entirely unappealing. It’s more a curiosity of his than anything.

There’s power in letting someone willingly “eat” him as opposed to being hunted by monsters, he supposes. ]

What’s so hard about it? Did you kill someone?