seasonsrpg | [Open Mingle] Full moon is on the sky and he's not a man anymore

The one in Solarpeak?

[Sure, it's just an artificial sea, but it feels enough like the real thing to always make it worth a visit! Hijikata has seen the Great Ocean Lake at night, too, but they wouldn't be able to make it out there before the end of the night, so he's happy to head to the local beach with Kaeya.]

I couldn't have been able to handle staying indoors every full moon. I guess it's easier if you can sleep like this, but I always have a lot of extra energy. Are you stronger like this, too?

[He may not look all that different from usual, but he is faster and stronger, not to mention virtually immortal - unless someone were to bring out a silver weapon.]

Yes.

[Actually no, he had completely forgotten the distance in his excitement but Kaeya easily didn't let it show and simply agreed to the artificial one in Solarpeak. It wasn't the same, but he also did not really want to fly for a good chunk of the night only to miss what he ultimately wanted to see.

He took another swig of the wine with a nod.]

Mm, I do. That's why I did not go out the first couple full moons. I nearly destroyed the foyer of our apartment building the first time, so I didn't want to risk anything the other times.

[He wasn't normally willing to admit to that, but he was about halfway through the bottle of wine. He may not be smashed, but he was certainly a little buzzed right now as they made their way toward Solarpeak.]

[Hijikata snorts a little, trying to imagine the chaos of Kaeya's first transformation. He should be more empathetic, really, all the more since he lost control of himself out in the Winter Segment, when his group encountered those native werewolves... he turns more sombre.]

How'd you end up like this, anyway?

[He hopes that Kaeya wasn't experimented on in the underground casino backrooms, but much as he thinks of him as a slacker, he does trust him to have been able to fight his way out of that. He's seen what he's capable of! It seems more likely that he was unlucky and ended up ingesting contaminated food or drinks.]

[It had certainly been chaotic and it earned his partner some nasty wounds, but they healed well enough. Thankfully, no stitches required. He sighed and shrugged.]

Your guess is as good as mine. It just happened one night back in June, I went completely berserk and turned into this. I've gone through that day several times and I simply cannot find the anomaly that turned me into this.

[Completely berserk, huh... Hijikata feels bad for having taken it lightly at first. His own berserk incident also happened in June by coincidence, and it was disorienting to come back to his senses in the middle of nowhere and not understand what happened. In a way, it reminded him of the event that changed his life forever when he was a child - back then, he also didn't understand what happened in between seeing his brother take the slash meant for him and coming back to his senses with a bloody knife in his hand.]

It only happens during the full moon cycle, though? Or also at other times? Does it hurt, your transformation?

[His own, minor as it is, is still uncomfortable - his tail growing from the end of his spine, the internal part of his dog ears making new holes open up in his skull -, so he can only imagine how much worse anything more involved than that must feel.]

[There's a reason he didn't go into detail about it, the fact that the main reason he went berserk was actually due to fear, not bloodlust. And it was Diluc who not only made it worse, but was also the one to put a stop to him by using his fear against him. It was an extremely exhausting night.]

It's more uncomfortable than painful, thank goodness. But while I can't control the transformation during the full moon cycle, I can initiate it during the day if I need to. It took a bit of practice, and I don't believe I have fully mastered it yet, but this form is fairly useful so I figure why not.

That is useful.

[It definitely would come in handy to be able to turn into a weredog at will, but no such luck for him! Still, he's glad that Kaeya seems to have a good grip of his gargoyle form by now. He's curious what perks come with it besides (he assumes) resilient stone skin and flight, but first--]

Let me try that wine, will you?

[He shouldn't drink too much because he'd only end up acting stupid, but by now Kaeya probably finished a third of the bottle already. If they share the rest it shouldn't hit either of them too badly!]

Indeed.

[Kaeya grinned, fangs completely visible. He handed the wine bottle over.]

It's no dandelion wine, but it is decent.

[Before they knew it, they were at the beach. Kaeya brightened quite a bit and jogged forward to climb up onto a boulder to take in the view. Even if it was artificial, it was still very pretty under the moonlight.]

[Hijikata likes Solarpeak. Sure, it sucks to be assigned to patrol it in the heat of the day, but now at night it's still warm and pleasant, and the sound of the waves, small as they are without people and boats in the water, is soothing. Part of him wants to run around and dig holes in the sand, but he suppresses that, like so many embarrassing little impulses he gets during these nights.]

I got to try dandelion wine once. It really has a special flavour. Maybe you can splurge on a Wishing Dandelion at Riki's to import a barrel for a special occasion!

[This wine, though, is fine too. He passes the bottle back to Kaeya.]

...

I can't believe that we've been here for over half a year already... and no progress with the Darkness. Dawn said that the fairy queen knows something, though, didn't she? I wonder if she's in a coma. Otherwise we'd probably have gotten some news by now... unless it's really bad news.

[Ugh, why is he getting caught up in these thoughts again? Tonight he wanted to take it easy!]

Perhaps, but I would rather not depend on wishes for that. I'll see if Diluc can recreate it here. He's the master of the winery I grew up on.

[He took the bottle back and set it down on the sand beside the rock he sat on. He rolled onto his stomach and let an arm fall into the water, letting it go with the low tide. If he found a seashell, he set it aside.

Yes, the Cavalry Captain was collecting seashells.]

I wouldn't dwell on that too much. It's much too serious for a nice night like this.

[He recalled something like that, but Kaeya was taking a "no news is good news" approach for now. Half a year with little to no information was worrying enough, worrying while in this form was simply too much.]

So, how's Brutus? Are you treating him well?

[Huh, Kaeya and Diluc grew up together..? Hijikata didn't know that! His entire lifetime of Teyvat memories originates from entering (another timeline's) Diluc's dream during Avalon's spring equinox ritual and becoming part of his world, so he could say that he owes him, but Diluc seems like an elusive person, unlike social Kaeya, and he never got to speak to him again afterwards.

Kaeya's cheerful dismissal of the heavy topic is welcome, honestly. Hijikata worries enough as it is; he wants to at least have fun under the full moon when everything seems more simple in his mind! At the mention of Brutus he grins a little.]

Oh, he's fine. I haven't taken him out into the Segments in a good while now, and I'm not sure if he's happier for it or misses it! But he can't beat the speed and comfort of a flying mount.

[Ever since he bonded with his big white bull, Brutus has been delegated back to his usual police horse work in the reasonably horse-friendly districts. Hijikata gave up the chariot he used for a while for the most part (not least because his passengers - generally questmates who didn't know how to ride on their own and therefore couldn't take their own horse - complained about the discomfort).]

[Hijikata may then be surprised to learn (maybe) how they were the exact opposite as kids. Kaeya was the quiet one while Diluc was rambunctious. But that would likely be for another time as Kaeya, as was his wont, rarely talked about his past all that much. At least, anything before he ended up at the Dawn Winery, anyway.

He propped himself on an elbow, placing his cheek on his fist as he gazed a rather shiny seashell he managed to pick up. He hummed quietly and then looked over at the other man.]

You have a flying mount now? I wonder if I should feel sorry for Brutus, then. What kind of mount is it, anyway?

[Hijikata treats himself to another sip of wine before answering. It's really fortunate that Kaeya had it on him!]

A bull. He's not really what I would've expected, but he's strong and reliable.

[He would have preferred a more badass-looking bull than the beefy, small-horned, dirty white one he got, but it's such a kind and patient animal that there was no way Hijikata could have rebuffed its interest in him.]

If we ever quest together in an area that's hard to access for horses, he'll be able to carry both of us.

[Otherwise, though, he's not against taking Brutus out there again. A flying mount will always be faster, but Kaeya seems to enjoy riding, and if he takes his horse, Hijikata isn't going to fly ahead of him. Questmates need to stay together!]

A bull? That's a strange combination.

[But hey, a free ride flying to whatever destination they needed to go to? Count him in? He chuckled and took the bottle back for a sip of his own. He caught another shiny something in the water and he excitedly reached in for it, nearly spilling the wine in the process.

His tail was quick to catch and right the bottle though as he pulled out another shiny shell.]

For an artificial beach, it sure has beautiful seashells.

[Hijikata observes that tail action with some mild envy. An extra limb sure would come in handy during these full moon nights! His dog tail is much too flimsy ~~and he can count himself lucky it didn't come pre-cropped~~. His eyes wander over to Kaeya's growing seashell collection.]

It may be artificial, but since there's sand and rock and sediment, I guess the plants and animals arrived naturally, like they do when you make a garden pond.

[He likes the little Japanese-stye bamboo fountain in the garden of the house he lives in with Shoto. It's not quite a pond, but sometimes dragonflies visit it. Come to think...]

Refresh my memory, where do you live again?

[Did he also choose horse-friendly Sunwaning? Or maybe Solarpeak, if he enjoys this beach so much?]

True, I suppose it was inevitable. I have never had a garden pond myself, though, so I will take your word for it.

[He is going to add quite a few new shells to his ever growing collection! Kaeya was clearly enjoying himself as he hummed to himself, search the water for some more and making sure he didn't accidentally spill any more wine.]

Sunwaning. It accommodates horses better than the others and I have Umbra to take care of while I am here.

I should've figured.

[Kaeya really is a horse lover (as he ought to be, given his profession back home). It reminds Hijikata of Jean, thought they're otherwise very different sorts of people, with Jean giving off far more of a down-to-earth feeling that the flamboyant Cavalry Captain.

He takes the wine bottle to drink and, finding it nearly empty at this point, leaves a bit for Kaeya.]

It's kind of a waste, isn't it, for us to just idle here? Next month, we should venture out into the Segments on a quest together during the full moon cycle, and make use of our strength.

[Kaeya sat up and placed the seashells in his lap to keep them from rolling back into the water. He was going to need to find a way to get them home! Perhaps there's a store opened late at night...

His ear twitched at the suggestion, his head dropping ever so slightly.]

I would personally prefer to not have this affliction, if it's all the same to you. Although... I guess it does come in handy at the most unexpected of times.

[Like that fight with the lava monsters. Would he have lost Diluc if he hadn't transformed?]

It sure does come in handy. It saved my ass once already.

[Not that he thinks back on the fight against the native werewolves happily, given that Jean got killed... but if not for their werebeast curses, Hijikata and Mukuro would have died as well.]

I'm not going to try and talk you into liking it, but for what it's worth, I think you've got a pretty good deal here - wings, a prehensile tail, fine ears... and I bet you can give a mean headbutt with these horns.

[Kaeya could probably outright gut a man with them if he really put his mind to it! Hijikata finally notices his dilemma with the seashells, but he has no bag to offer him, nor anything else. If he were in his uniform, he might be able to spare his cravat, but he's in a casual black hoodie to go with the low trousers. Come to think, though...]

You can put these in my hood, if you want. I can bring you home.

[Sure, Sunwaning is large, but even if they live at different ends, he won't mind wandering in the night for a while longer. Under the full moon, his mind feels light and open, and every new scent in the air is exciting.]

[That wasn't the type of fighter Kaeya was, so he wasn't really keen on doing all that. But if the situation called for it, or if he was desperate enough, then he would.

He was glad for the subject change, however. Kaeya looked over and put a hand to his chin.]

Your hood? But don't you need it? I can always simply consolidate these.

[While he didn't collect that many, there was still more than a handful.]

No, I don't want to wear it while I've got these extra ears!

[Is it a ridiculous way of transporting something? For sure. But what's an unworn hood other than a pouch! He probably wouldn't have suggested something this silly if he weren't halfway thinking like a dog, but as it is, he crouches with his back to Kaeya so he can load him up on those shells.]

Ever though of creating ear holes for them?

[Still, Kaeya doesn't dilly dally much longer and scoops up the shells to deposit into the hood. It only took two attempts and Kaeya adjusted the hood to make sure it was all secure.]

You're being a lot friendlier than normal, and here I thought you didn't like me. Was I wrong? Or did I do something to finally endear myself to you? Was it the wine?

[Kaeya peered around, tail swishing quite happily as he looked up at Hijikata. He propped himself up on his hand, star-shaped pupil a bit dilated in the low light (and booze).]

[He snorts, shaking his head at the ear hole suggestion. It wouldn't be worth it for just 3 nights a month! (Or would it..?) What's more, it's kind of fun to have a hood full of shells (even if regular Hijikata would probably be rather disgruntled about it). He can feel the moderate weight in the back of his neck, and they make those little clinking sounds as they move against each other! Kaeya's words bring a grin to his face.]

If I did that, I couldn't carry stuff around for you like this anymore, could I? As for the rest, it's the moon. The wine helped, though.

[Kaeya isn't a bad guy, really. Too flashy and preppy for Hijikata's liking, but he can't say that he doesn't get down and dirty when a quest calls for it! With his fine-tuned senses he can catch his scent - a mix of whatever shampoo and other possible body care he uses, plus the wine, plus something that's unique to Kaeya. He gets up before he does something stupid like sniff him.]

Let's get going. If you collect more shells, they won't all fit.

Edited 2023-10-20 19:15 (UTC)

[That earns an outright soft giggle from Kaeya and he stood up, brushing his hands over his pants and backside of the sand.]

What, you plan to go looking for seashells with me again?

[He found a bin for recycling glass and dropped the bottle in there as they made their way from the beach. He shoved his hands in his pockets, mindful of the claws, as they walked. He couldn't help but look over his shoulder for a moment.]

Diluc and I used to do that when we were kids. Not that we went to the beach that often, but when Master Crepus found the time to take us, Diluc would always want to go hunting for them so I'd always tag along.

Do you two still find the time for that now?

[Even with day jobs and quests, they should have enough leisure time to come here often! He pauses for a momen to likewise look back at the beach, then resumes walking.]

If you do, then I don't have to go with you. Far be it from me to infringe on you guys' childhood tradition.

[Is he being a jerk just for the hell of it, or does he actually care about the shell-collecting remaining a special activity for Kaeya and Diluc only? It's hard to tell.]

[Open Mingle] Full moon is on the sky and he's not a man anymore

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