seasonsrpg | [Open Log] The price to pay

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[Open Log] The price to pay

WHO: Ren Jinguji & you
WHAT: Ren starts the treatment for Vampirism
WHEN: Through February
WHERE: Around Nightwake
WARNINGS: pain attacks, fever hallucinating
Notes: Both brackets and prose work for me, I'm just writing the prompts in prose. Header coding from here.

2. The Beginning (Dance Dynasty)

Ren signed up for the treatment without talking about it with anyone, really. Why should he, when it was his decision to make? He was aware of the side effects, but he figured the end result would be worth them. He just wanted to be a human again, no matter what.

At first things were going very well. He figured since he started the treatment this early on he'd be back to himself before his birthday, especially if the side effects were so minimal.

That was until he crashed during practice at the Dance Dynasty, his dear friends' business space. He was doing a new dance routine for Rose Rose Romance when the pain hit him and he found himself kneeling on the floor as the song just kept going on. Since he was also singing while dancing it was just now instrumental song.

It's more intense than he realizes and he has no idea how long he's just keeled over. The song has definitely switched to another, some of the other songs, maybe even several times. He hasn't been paying attention.

2. Denial (around Nightwake)

After the first pain episode there was a eerie calm before the storm. Ren was hopeful that it was just that, didn't even mention about any side effects when asked - just in case they'd stop or pause the treatment.

The pains did return, but they were more subtle. It wasn't a sudden attack, but pain that lingered and made him feel tired. So he was sleeping more than usual, just to ignore the pains. He mentioned it was just because of the side effects. No pain.

He kept up his appearance, but anyone who observed him long enough could probably see the passing pain in his expression or the occasional winces. But if no one paid too close attention he was a pretty good actor and could hide it.

3. Turn for the worse (Shining Karaoke, Streets)

He realized that the worse was ahead of him when he started desperately yearn for blood. The juice boxes and pouches he had did little to help with the urges and he felt restless. Not a good sign when you were working behind the bar and constantly watched people come and go. Some with more or less exposed necks.

Someone managed to cut themselves on a paper they had and Ren's eyes flashed deep red. It wasn't a lot of blood but his fangs ached and he decided to run away before he'd do anything that he'd regret. He'd explain to Usagi later, but he couldn't stay so close to people.

Without a real plan he ended up running aimlessly until he found a secluded, empty store space where he could hide for as long as he needed to silence the urges. There was no way he was going home like this - or anywhere else.

4. Fever (Somewhere in Blossomcrown)

As if the pain and urges to drink blood weren't enough, he was also hit with the fevers. He was still set on isolating himself from people, staying in places no one was in. He woke up from a desperate nap to his face burning. Yet he felt cold. At least with some temperature control he managed to help himself feel better.

His mind was a blur, but when he opened his eyes he was sure he saw her again. So he reached out with his hands. "Kitsuno..."

5. Wildcard

Find him in another situation, take care of him back at home/someone's house, text him about his whereabouts.

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Where the hell are you?? The bar closed already, right??

[Tactful as always, Eva.

But even between Ren’s work at the bar and her evening/night lessons at the dojo, they usually still saw one another in the evenings… tonight, though? Nothing.

He’d been avoiding her too, right? Yes, he’d definitely been hiding something!! That thought and his evasive behaviour definitely set alarm bells going in the back of her mind.

And it was before she could even rationalise those thoughts that she started blowing up his phone.]

I swear if I have to pick you up from the Flower Yard I will kick you the second it spits you out!

[Eva has time to bombard his phone because he doesn't have the concentration to look at it for a while. And when he does he contemplates on not answering it. Just to keep her safe, too...

But that would only make Eva angry, right? Like he'd assume she can't take care of herself. He wouldn't be any better than the men in her life.]

sorry.
im not sure where this is. i just ran from work.
side effects.

[Side effects…? What the fuck-]

That suspicious medicine the Research Center was peddling? Fuck I swear if that smug bitch poisoned you

[However cautious she was of Helene, she knew most other people didn’t think that way, right? Dammit- she had to find him, fast!]

I’ll find you, send me a photo. There’s no monsters around right?

its not poison.

[He would insist that even now. Research Center is trustworthy.

But he does send a picture of the store across from where he is, since he can get it into view.]

[Right, good, he hadn't fled to the Segments- ]

I'm coming, hold on alright?

[Eva grabbed a blood pouch from their fridge and rushed out, leaving her Meowscarada in charge of the house.

Please don't let her be too late-

Her legs shook. Dammit, focus on her breathing, on one foot in front of the other as she ran- she couldn't afford to let her emotions get the better of her. Not now...! Eva shoved her feelings down as her own curse threatened to transform her body- but, just for now, she managed to keep it at bay.

This street, this was it...!]

Ren-san??

[By the time she does get here, Ren's also been inflicted with fever, making the whole mess probably look even more suspicious. But when it rains it pours.]

M' here...

[Curled against a cold wall, trying to make his head feel less hot while keeping his lower body temperature up with temperature control.]

Ren-san?!

[Rinku calls out as he books it out of the bar. But the door shuts before she can get to him.

It takes a few minutes before she's finished what Ren was doing and called whoever was outside doing promo in to cover for both of them. But she has to bring him back. She heads out, still in uniform, and starts searching for Ren. I Wear My Sunglasses At Night help her see in the dark... though they aren't very fashionable, being novelty donut glasses.

If it comes to that, she's always got some of Hina's blood juice boxes on hand, but...]

Ren-san...?

[Ren stills when he hears Rinku calling for him. Why did she have to follow him?]

Don't come closer! You can't be close to me right now.

There you are!

[Rinku smiles... and then her face falls.]

What's wrong? Are you sick? Do you need potions, charms, blood...?

[His mind goes 'blood blood blood' and he bites his lip in an instinct.]

Nothing. I don't need anything. I'm just...

[Blood.]

I just need a moment. I might otherwise bite someone.

[He hasn't ever felt the urge this wrong, it was a horrible feeling.]

Ren-san...

[Rinku frets. She perches on the nearby windowsill.]

You'd bite? Like you have something telling you to do it?

[The strange distorted voice in his mind that was like his own still carries on.]

... it's what they warned about. It's fighting back... the vampire.

[Whether he told Rinku he was undertaking the treatment or not, he doesn't remember. He might have, but he also might have not.]

That medicine...

[worried noises!!!]

Does that mean taking blood for it will help, or it'll just make you sick?

I drank all the blood I had before work and on breaks... but it's not enough. And I don't want to actually bite anyone to satisfy it.

[Which is why he ran off.]

Can you explain to Usagi why I left... please? I can't go to work like this.

[Rinku climbs off the windowsill, her tail drooping. She fishes in her Hammerspace Purse and pulls out two unmarked juice boxes, unpeeling the ice packs surrounding them.]

Is this enough? I always keep them for Hina-chan. I usually bring more, but I forgot to restock...

[Ren looks at her cautiously before avoiding looking at her again, his eyes are still burning red.]

I don't know. My fangs ache constantly, which isn't normal.

Does healing help? Or potions? Wait, are you allowed to take potions with your medicine, sometimes it depends, right?

I'm allowed to use pain medicine, potions and even healing, but it doesn't erase the urges completely. So I'd rather isolate, just in case.

[worried noise]

Try the blood just in case, okay? None of us want you to get sick. I'll tell everyone what happened!

[Once Ren was back home and resting on the sofa where Eva could keep an eye on him… that came as a relief. She took a seat by the sofa with a cool flannel and water, wanting to do what she could to keep his fever down.

But when Ren opened his eyes next… Eva would appear changed. Calmer than the desperate panic from before, and younger. Almost like when they first met.

Except this Eva wore an intricate dress reminiscent of the witches from her world.]

Hmmmmm~ oh. You woke up quicker than I thought.

[Eva had told him about her ‘inner witch’, EVA Beatrice, before now, after the original vampire incident. Another side to her who she called upon for magical strength when she struggled.]

[She definitely looks like the Eva he originally met. Just dressed different. Was this another hallucination...? He'd seen quite a few of those recently.]

Are you... really here?

What does it look like?

[Deadpan as she was, she still rung out the flannel and laid it back on his forehead- at least, that would feel real enough.]

Well, whatever. You're seriously a mess, and my 'piece' is pretty worried about you, you know?

Edited 2026-02-08 18:41 (UTC)

[It does and so refreshing, too. It makes him sigh.]

Your 'piece'... a weird way to call someone.

[He closes his eyes, but doesn't fall asleep at least.]

I did wonder if I'd end up meeting you... one day.

[Rui has been making more of an effort lately to stay connected with his friends, which is how he's ended up taking over a conversation, somehow managing to turn the direction to theater without realizing it. He cut himself off the third time he noticed signs of Ren being in pain. He had been trying to ignore it since the other seemed to be trying to hide it, but his worry wins out.]

Are you alright, Ren-kun?

[He should have expected an actor to be able to see event the subtlest of hints.]

Ah, yes. It's just mild side effects from the treatment. The one for vampirism.

I see.

[It's not his place to tell Ren what he should do, but a friend can suggest things, right?]

Shall we change venue then? I could walk you home. Or if there is a notable trigger for your pain worsening, we can find some place without it. Or with less of it.

[Ren shakes his head.]

It's not really linked to what I do. The pain comes and goes. I guess we could sit down, somewhere?

( Syo wasn't working today, so was mostly keeping to self in the spare room at their shared place. Anyone still there at the time or passing through had probably even thought Syo was asleep because Syo hadn't come out in a while, but in actuality Syo had been reading some various things, lied out casually on top of the bedsheets,
just with the lights somewhat dimmed which had become something of a routine for Syo.
... But it was a little too quiet suddenly. )

{ It was still different being here compared to the apartment earlier but... }

Edited ({Also I'm assuming Eva didn't have time to let him know+since no messages in Inbox etc-}) 2026-02-08 20:57 (UTC)

{ ... Pushes up on arms slightly. }

( At the same time, is trying to strain a bit to listen but... )

[ The place is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. ]

.... Maybe I should make something to eat. [ Isn't exactly feeling much hungry suddenly but... ]

{ It's said just loud enough that someone close by might be able to hear, too. }

( That device/"Smartphone" for this place also hadn't pinged with any message notifications... but it was currently lying on a nearby desk too. )

[By this time, Ren's already lying on the living room couch. It's easier for Eva to fuss over him there, apparently. From there he can definitely hear what Syo says. Instead of calling out to him, he sends Syo a message.]

avoid living room.
im have a fever.

( When the sudden DING notification pierces through the room Syo nearly stumbles off the bed-- )

D-Dammit--!!

( Tries to hastily pull self up and stumbling over to the desk.

~~Might have stubbed a toe somewhere but okay its probably not bleeding~~ )

{ Fingers still shaking slightly, flips the device open enough to read the message-- }

( Before this, Syo was planning to actually venture out into the kitchen,

maybe there was still enough ingredients for fried rice or something-- )

{ -- but then saw the message. }

.. Idiot. ( it's not exactly said quietly but okay managed to not Yell-- )

... What do you mean ""avoid"".

( Regardless, Syo stood in place for a few moments longer, listening tensely just in case.

Hadn't quite encountered Meowscarada earlier yet either... )

[ beat ] { Out loud, to the empty room, in a neutral yet firm tone } If it sounds worrying I'm coming to check.

( Syo DOES have a face mask picked up since.

If it was just a ""fever"" normally that would help protect Syo at least... )

Let me know if you need something. I can make food too now, you know.

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[Open Log] The price to pay

3 ish - Text; un: ushiromiya_eva

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