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 Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2024 5:02 am
 Ok…the day had finally come. Zenith had been preparing the food for almost two hours-enough to feed three people and one dragon. Just feeding Mephitis alone was always something that heavily affected the logistics of the meal since he both required plenty protein and also consumed copious amounts of calories. It was hard to think that he could keep his new girlish figure so…girlish sometimes. Then again, his true form was a dragon so the immense demand to devour so much did make sense. Zenith sighed, and continued to stir the fried rice. After this all he had to do was cut the sashimi and start setting the table. Fried rice, chicken Katsu, steak slices with a side of savory curry, salmon and tuna sashimi, and finally Barcelona street food as promised. Hopefully, this would be enough for all of them. The time it took for everything else to be ready seemed to fly by, and soon enough the entire table was set up. Now all that was missing were the guests. God…The swordsman prayed that everything would go well. If Shingen brought the cookies for Aella, then that would be a good start. Honestly he just hopes that fulfilling the man’s desire to apologize to everyone was still the right decision. Would the others be in the right mindset to receive an apology? Hopefully…as far as he could tell they weren’t going through too much. Now that he was thinking about it though, he wondered what exactly the exorcist had been doing for these last couple days. Had he gained some ground regarding the chief executives?…no…no he shouldn’t ask while everyone else was here-neither Aella or Mephitis wanted anything to do with The Watcher; he would have to practice a bit of patience and ask later. There was a soft clink on the dojo kitchen table after Zen had finally cut the sashimi, laid out the cutlery and chopsticks…now…who was going to show up first?
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2024 4:05 pm
 tab ❧ I'm the violence in the pouring rain.
Aella’s day had been a whirlwind of lights, cameras, and countless wardrobe changes. The photoshoot had gone well, but she was exhausted. As she stepped off the set, she could still feel the slight buzz of the studio energy clinging to her skin. Modelling was actually really hard and draining. You wouldn't think so since it was just taking pictures and whatever, but a lot more went into it than she realized when she had signed the contract. It should have been an off day for her, but since she'd 'collapse' the day before, the shoot had to be rescheduled. The photoshoot had gone well at least, but she was low on energy and dreading the dinner with a 'formal apology'. Ugh.
She groaned audibly and changed out of the last elaborate gown, replacing it with a pair of lose fitting white cargo pants, a black cropped take, and some plain sneakers. As she walked out of the studio, she bunched her hair atop of her head into a messy bun and slipped on her sunglasses, shielding her eyes from the late afternoon sun. Her mind drifted to the dinner at the dojo. Zenith had been so excited about it, and she was looking forward to seeing everyone, even if she was still a bit wary about Shingen’s apology.
She shoved her helmet over the messy bun, the snug fit compressing the large mass tight to her head. The smooth, cold interior of the helmet pressed against her temples as she swung a leg over the sleek, overly expensive motorcycle Levi had bought. The leather seat was cool against her thighs, and the faint smell of the city with the polished metal scent of the bike.
She took a deep breath, the air sharp with salt from the sea, and hoped the ride would ease away some of the tension knotted in her shoulders. With a powerful, throaty growl that vibrated through her entire body, the engine roared to life, sending a jolt of energy through her muscles. The sensation was almost electric, reviving her with an excited energy.
As she twisted the throttle and sped through the city, the wind whipped around her, a fierce, exhilarating rush that tugged at her clothes and sent stray hairs flying out from under the helmet. The warm air felt cool and refreshing against her skin as she picked up speed, carrying away the lingering stress of the day. The city lights blurred into streaks of color, neon signs casting fleeting glows on her visor as she weaved through traffic. The hum of the tires against the asphalt created a rhythmic, almost meditative backdrop, while the distant sounds of honking horns and city life faded into a low murmur. Aella felt disappointed that she lived not too far from the studio and was reluctant to pull into the parkinglot underneath the building. But... there was a dinner to be had, so she ignored the instinct to speed off toward the beach and pulled into the dark garage.
Her trip up the stairs was uneventful and she had the elevator all to herself. No one was in the hallway on the 4th floor and when she entered through the apartment door, she stepped into the tranquil courtyard of the dojo. Was Shingen already here? She looked up into the open sky, the city of Barcelona not present in this pocket dimension. This place was probably his vibe now that she thought of it, all eastern themed with large bonzai looking trees, tiny combed rocks, and one of those bamboo water things that tipped every so often. Veeeery Shingen vibed. Watch him kick them all out and take the dojo to himself. That thought amused her and she crossed the courtyard to the dojo entrance, letting herself in without making an attempt to announce herself.
It seemed quiet inside save for the occasional clatter from the kitchen. Aella slipped off her shoes and padded down the hallway, her stomach growling as the scents began to remind her of how hungry she was. As she reached the kitchen, she paused in the doorway, taking in the scene. The table was beautifully set, a feast laid out.
“Looks yummy,” she said, her voice warm and appreciative. Stormy hues scanned the table top for something she could pick at without anyone feeling like the spread was lacking.
Where: dojo dining room
With: Zen
Doing: what can I eat right now?
Wearing:
Do not fall in love with people like me.
I will take you to museums and parks and monuments and kiss you in every beautiful place,
so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth.
I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible.
And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people.
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2024 6:17 pm
『 It's in the air and it's all around 』xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx Location: Dojo
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Company: Aella and Zen
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Internally: Food?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wearing: Leather Jacket, red T-shirt, and jeans
A few minutes later, the door would opened yet again to reveal a tall, blue-haired beauty. A bombshell that certainly would have been turning heads and breaking hearts if she held any confidence in her step. Instead, she seemed tired, unsure of even the first step into the dojo, and held absolutely zero grace! Those wild locks framing a tired, annoyed expression upon her face. A few mirror-like scales bristling up on those pale cheeks while bright, colorful eyes were split by two pitch-black draconic slits. Mana scars still glowing beneath the surface of that tight red-shirt and mana puffing out between plush lips. There was only one ******** of a mage that could have such features but that person was male, right? Wrong. Thanks to a wondrous burst of wild magic, Mephitis had turned himself into a woman! The unwanted sex change having driving him insane lately as he tried to figure out a way back.
It was clear just how hard he had been working. It wasn't just the increased in arcane energy making his mana scars flare up or the larger plumes pushing out from his mouth. His clothes, which he just bought yesterday, were singed in a few places. His hands blackened by the constant spellcasting that ended up backfiring when he screwed up. If he hadn't been a dragon, he likely would have ended up with a missing finger or two as a consequence. Luckily, his resilience and healing factor kept him moving forward. It didn't help him get any closer to his goal though, changing himself back to a male. He just spent his entire day training and screwing up. His teacher called it progress but Mephitis saw it as another day spent suffering for nothing. Why couldn't that creepy a*****e just change him back!?
He just trudged through the halls feeling utterly defeated until he smelled something in the air. Food!? His eyes searched frantically around the hall while his nose started to lead him forward. The dragon soon realized there were sounds coming from the kitchen. Wait, was Zen here? Had to be. He was the only one who could make something smell this good. Those long legs found strength that they were previously lacking. His strides becoming quicker until the ridiculous mage was poking his head from around the corner to see that both Aella and Zen were here already. Bright chromatic eyes flicking towards Aella for a second before shooting over to Z-
"Food." Mephitis was practically drooling as he took a few steps into the room. He snapped his mouth shut after a few seconds after realizing what he must have looked like. Straightening up that curvy form and fixing his clothes, Mephitis just looked over all the food again. He resisted the urge to gush about all the various meals and instead focused on just how much there was. "Whaaat's going on?" Had they told them about some party? Had he forgotten in his rush to fix his current issue? Honestly, everything was blending together so he wouldn't be surprised if he did.
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✖✖✖
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『 With a taste of a poison paradise 』
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2024 7:49 pm
 Shingen Maeda The last few minutes had been spent helping Zenith finish setting everything up and doing some cleanup ahead of time. The door had opened and Shingen could hear someone come through. Immediately, he felt his face get warm in nervousness. Of course he continued to work, wiping down the counters and rinsing off excess food from the cutlery. He turned a stepped once just to peek around the corner from the kitchen to the dining room to see a white haired woman sitting there. At first he wasn’t sure who it was, she was clearly not elderly, but then there was no mistaking Aella’s stature. Letting a breath out, he turned back to the drying kitchen ware on the rack and pulled a pot out and began to towel dry it anxiously. The stressed look on his face was not unlike him but it was hard to face the music knowing full well you were at fault.
Shingen couldn’t quite bring himself to simply step out and greet her, not after their last encounter. Then, as he stalled further, the door opened again. Someone else coming through who Shingen knew would be Mephitis. No one else knew of the entrance since Zenith had to meet him and gather him. The voice’s tone, however, was higher. Shingen stopped drying for a second to listen. There was recognition and obvious familiarity. He leaned out a bit and saw the trademark blue hair but attached was a woman, fine, fit and true. A confusion settled over him now as he drier the pot harder and faster now, threatening to whittle the metal from the inside with the towel. Confusion and nervousness often led to panic and Shingen could feel it coming and took a deep breath.
The agent had played roles before and he could played them well, but now, he owed them sincerity at the very least and it was terrifying. Placing the pot back on the rack, he picked up his suit jacket from a stool and threw it on. Looking over to his reflection on one of the hanging knives, he fixed his cuffs and smoothed his collar. A knowing smirk crept up and he moved on.
”Hey, guys. I hope you’re hungry.” Shingen said, just outside of the kitchen portal. His hands were in his pockets as he stood there for a moment to avoid startling them before he moved towards the table. He tried not wonder about why Mephiti’s was now very visibly a woman and spoke. ”I...gathered some of this morning’s fresh catch to whip you up a couple spanish dishes to accompany Zenith’s incredible feast.” Shingen held an open hand to the large rice dish first before moving on to the pot of soup. ”Paella, a seafood rice dish and Sopa de Mariscos or seafood soup.” Stop, already. You’re rambling on like an idiot.
Shingen’s jovial look subsided and he took a step back and away from the table. A solemn yet determined expression now took it’s place. ”But first, I owe both of you something first.” He said gravely before kneeling. One knee then the next, he sat in traditional seiza position, as the japanese do. Moving deliberately, it looked ceremonial, and to him it was. Once set, he slid one hand to the wooden floors then the next, eyes cast down but ahead. Then, after a moment, he lowered his head into the triangular gap he had made with his hands, making his profile entirely collapsed on itself as if he wished to make himself no more. ”I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. After everything you’ve both been through, I only made things worse and put you in further danger. I have sworn my life to do right in service of others and yet I failed to acknowledge you both. And for that, I deeply apologize.” Shingen remained in that position for a moment, allowing the silence to signify the gravity of his remorse.
In reverse, Shingen straightened and brough his hands back to his lap. Then, he shifted where he sat, now to face Zenith, bowing once again. ”I extend my apology to you as well, Zenith. You’ve likely experienced things no man has before and still you remain merciful. My sincerest thanks.” Shingen then straightened, refusing to move out of turn, knowing he was placing himself at their whim. If they required more, there would be more. If it was enough, he would rise.
Location: Sword Saint Dojo
With: Aella, Mephitis, Zenith
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2024 8:35 pm
tab ❧ I'm the violence in the pouring rain.
Aella’s eyes flicked up from the food in front of her as Mephitis entered the room. The dining area was bathed in the warm, golden glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the polished bamboo floor. The scent of various dishes mingled in the air—savory aromas with a hints of tomatoes and garlic. Aella attempted to pick at something white and sliced that was piled on a little square dish that was attached to another square with a clump of green s**t on it. She had no idea she was reaching for a piece of pickled ginger, but Zen smacked her hand out of the way anyway. Plush lips puffed out into a sultry pout that she hoped might entice him into giving her a teensie weensie snack before they started, but before she could really lay it on thick or guilt trip him into pampering her, Mephitis arrived.
Mephitis’s entrance was anything but subtle. His tall, blue-haired form was immediately noticeable, crazzy, colorful locks catching the light and creating a striking contrast against the softer hues of the room. Parts of him look freshly charred, the bristling scales on his cheeks, and the mana scars glowing beneath his tight red shirt indicated he was fresh out of a fight or something. Had he been going around picking back alley fights like he had in highschool? She projected her frustrations over the food onto him.
"And you say I'M the trash panda! Go shower before you come in here!" Aella called him out, hoping to turn Zen's disapproval onto the dragoness instead of herself. What she didn't expect was for Shingen to come out of the kitchen, having been here the whole time! Aella just kind of stared as he came into the room, rambling about fishy patella and some kind of soap or something. Looked good at least? Hopefully it didn't actually taste like soap. Then, to her horror, he started getting down on the ground! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
"Hey Shingen, you really don't-" Aaaand he was on his knees. "No, seriously." She leaned down and scooped a hand under his bicep with the intention of helping him up, but instead of accepting the help and getting OFF of his knees, his body bent forward. That's the wrong direction! "Ugh, Ew, stop!" Aella cried as he started apologizing all formal and s**t. This was the literal opposite of what she wanted to deal with tonight! One hand tried to wrap around his head to cover his mouth. "We get it, you're sorry, stop making it weird!" And if he still insisted on his stupid apology after that, Aella was trash panda enough to legit sit on his head with the longest stoooooooooooop her breath would allow- or until he stopped. Whichever came first.
Where: dojo dining room
With: Zen, Meph, Shingen
Doing: make it stop!
Wearing:
Do not fall in love with people like me.
I will take you to museums and parks and monuments and kiss you in every beautiful place,
so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth.
I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible.
And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people.
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2024 3:12 pm
Shingen Maeda
As Shingen was on his way down to the floor, he felt someone take him up by the bicep. Freezing, he looked up and followed along. Aella’s desperate look surprised him and all he could do was look at her as he rose to his feet. His mouth opened as if to protest but there was no hiding his confusion. It was clear that Shingen was being far too formal, something that clashed with Aella’s own style but even further still, she didn’t want to see him lower himself. Shingen’s eyes softened and a warm smile grew on him as he realized: Aella was still the same girl he knew from school. He chuckled and closed his eyes in relief but suddenly shifted gears. ”I dont know how...” He started, a devious smirk now stretching infectiously up one corner of his mouth. It sounded as if he was going to speak more of gratitude or the like but instead he suddenly looked up and pointed at Mephitis in outburst. ”...I’M MAKING THINGS WEIRD WHEN HE’S A TOTAL GIRL NOW!! I mean what the hell happened, man!” A feigned look of disbelief barely hung pinned on an amused grin Shingen could barely manage to stifle. He’d be damned if he made things worse with another sappy moment after such an intervention.
Location: Sword Saint Dojo
With: Aella, Mephitis, Zenith
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2024 8:23 am
 The first to arrive at the dojo, surprisingly, was none other than Shingen Maeda. Following the sword saint’s instructions, the agent contacted Zenith a few blocks away from the apartment; Despite the degree of trust that grew from the aftermath of their past conflict, the swordsman still couldn’t bring himself to actually walk him through the entrance of the pocket dimension. So, the next best alternative was to meet him and then warp him into the Dojo grounds to put his mind at peace. While they were allies, he didn’t know who was watching…or if measures were taken to track the agent. He had to be safe…or at least as safe as possible-hopefully Shingen understood that and wasn’t offended. Once inside, Zenith gave the man a brief tour of the grounds before taking him to the Kitchen. Paella and Sopa de Mariscos… So it seemed the master exorcist took it upon himself to donate more than just a batch of apology cookies. That was fine…actually, it was welcomed. The seafood dishes offered more variation alongside Zenith’s more Japanese cuisine while also going quite well with the patatas bravas and spinach and cheese empanadas. Zen ensured that his thanks were given. “As long as the cookies are here…oh…as for Mephitis-when he comes just…be sensitive” came the calm and peaceful hum of the swordsman’s baritone voice. It was a simple request. From there, the two of them dexterously set the kitchen table whilst also keeping the space clean to avoid the uncomfortable clutter of dirty pots and pans from the dining space. That was when the second person arrived: Aella Decalder. “I’m happy you think so,” Zen’s voice received her compliment with gentle appreciation, “Let’s hope the taste is good as well.” There was no doubt that she would see some of the same things on the table that she had when they had gone out-This time she could manage the sauces to her own liking. Then there was that look…a look he was so familiar with. The man’s eyes narrowed a little, “don’t you think about it, we have to wait for everyone else Aella.” Dad mode activated. Then, from the corner of his eye, Zenith saw a hint of blue peek around the corner of the kitchen. “Welcome Mephitis,” Zenith welcomed the dragon warmly. The swordsman had a thin black turtleneck sweater under a bamboo green apron and some denim jeans. The only person who could even possibly know why his attire was important was none other than the woman standing before him with scars shimmering lightly with fading frustration. Once the mana dragon took some steps in, allowing Zenith to catch those intricate signs of struggle, all the swordsman could really do was sigh and offer him an understanding expression. Hopefully…just hopefully…this meal could distract him a little bit from the situati- ah ah, don’t touch that Aella. *Light smack with a wooden spoon* Wait… huh? “What’s going on?” Zen echoed back gently. He swore he had told Mephitis about this, had he forgotten? “I thought I had told you, this is the dinner we invited Shingen to. He is actually alread-...”Annnnnnd then Aella started firing shots at the dragon. “He’s fine, he is more than welcome to eat as he is Aella-looks like he could use a good meal,” Zenith acknowledged and attempted to normalize the man’s condition as he tapped the wooden spoon on his shoulder as if it were a katana. By this point, Shingen finally broke free from the restraints of nervousness and ventured into the kitchen. At this point Zenith chose to stay silent-this was not something he felt like he needed to intervene on. The agent’s introduction and welcome turned into a brief synopsis of the food he had brought…and then into a traditional kowtow gesture in an attempt to apologize…which Aella felt greatly uncomfortable with. Still, the dynamic still spoke to the authentic regret the man felt and that was more than enough for Zenith to be satisfied wi-wait…WHAT DID HE SAY!?. Zenith’s calm…gentle visage shattered…and a vein bulged on his brow as he tried to appear as kind and relaxed as before, but the tension in his body betrayed him. There was a slight groan from the wooden spoon in his hand as his grip tightened around the handle…and then suddenly…Zenith vanished….only to reappear behind Shingen with an aura of irritated malice. With the swift swing of an expert swordsman, that wooden spoon intended to descend right upon the back of the exorcist’s head with a satisfying donk.  “I said be sensitive. You did not come here to accumulate more things to apologize for. Now sit at the table with everyone else!” Dad mode…maintained. “Please…everyone, take a seat and enjoy the meal. There is no need to make things any more…weird” The man shot a very parental look over at the agent that spoke for itself: don’t be rude! From there, Zenith also guided himself to an open seat after he hung up his apron. Waiting for everyone else to stack their plates with whatever they wanted and to take the time to pass any plates over for others to more easily take from before he started to do the same to his own plate. Still, before eating he waited a little to see how everyone else was doing. “Is the food alright?” he asked everyone.
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2024 12:14 pm
『 It's in the air and it's all around 』xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx Location: Dojo
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Company: Aella, Shingen, and Zen
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Internally: Are you serious!?!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wearing: Leather Jacket, red T-shirt, and jeans
An dinner with Shingen? Mephitis was still unsure if the Zenith had told him about that but it really didn't matter in the end. It wouldn't have made any of this less weird but he had far dumber concerns right now thanks to Aella.
"And you say I'M the trash panda! Go shower before you come in here!"
"That's cause you are one! I'm not even that dirty." Mephitis shot back before another thought even ran through his head. Even though the reply was directed at Aella, Mephitis refused to actually looked in her direction. Instead, the dragon just started to look down towards his own hands while Zenith came to his defense. The tips of his fingers blackened by the miscasts from earlier. Hell, his own fingers still felt like they were shaking even though they were still... Were they still? He couldn't honestly tell right now given the strain he had put himself under. It would go away in time though thanks to his heritage. His bigger worry was the fact that he really did look like a mess. Even with Zenith reassuring him that this was fine, Mephitis felt a bit bad for showing up in his current condition. He felt like some lowlife invading another person's home right now.
The dragon would be pulled out of these depressing thoughts as Shingen finally made his way into the kitchen. It was so strange seeing the man again. Shingen had been his classmate, hunted him down for BoM, and now that man was strutting in after making them a meal. How did any of that make sense in the end? Granted, none of Mephitis' life made rational sense at this point. It was some terrifying chaotic mess that he couldn't even begin to put into words. For now, the dragon decided that it was just best to play nice. A soft yet forced smile pressing across those lips as Mephitis gave a little wave towards the agent. "Sounds delicious, man. If these two don't eat it all, I'm sure I will." Those eyes drifting off after saying that as Mephitis got ready to lose himself in his own thoughts. At least, that was the plan until he saw what Shingen was preparing to do!
"W-Woah, dude! No." Mephitis hated people bowing to him now. Even if it was culturally appropriate for Shingen, it was just a horrid reminder for the former king. Subjects and slaves alike bowing before his majesty in order show they were unworthy of standing before him. He hated it. Those hands started waving around before the dragon but fell away as Aella made her disdain for the act even more apparent. Mephitis just turned his head again and allowed Aella to "handle" the situation. He could already tell her way was just as ridiculous as the apology itself. As long as it made Shingen stop, Mephitis didn't care. He just refocused on the phone. One hand on that wide hip while the other just dangled by his side. His tongue slipping between his lips as he found himself growing hungrier and hungrier with each passing moment. That tall amazonian woman looked ready to just snatch all the food away before anyone noticed... Would th-
”...I’M MAKING THINGS WEIRD WHEN HE’S A TOTAL GIRL NOW!! I mean what the hell happened, man!”
"EHHH!?" Mephitis' entire face went as red as a cherry and his eyes as wide as dinner plates. Pale cheeks turning bright red as the embarrassment hit hard with the fact that now Mephitis' "problem" was the center of attention. It was bound to come up in the end. Mephitis was a tall, curvy woman now after being looking like a roughed up punk only a few days ago. How could Shingen not point it out? Still, why did he have to do that!? Mephitis mouth just hung open in shock as his brain tried to catch up with everything again. Luckily, Zenith was the one to take over from there. Daddy Zen swiftly punished the troublemaker with a smack to the head and then told everyone to sit down. Mephitis just blinked a few times, unsure what he should do for a few seconds. It's not like the mage was here for a fight and he would be happier ignoring his current "condition". Sooo...
"Wi... Wild magic." That's all Mephitis said to give Shingen any context regarding what had happened. If the man wanted more information, then he'd be completely out of luck! That's all Mephitis knew himself. Some wild magic burst while he was drunk. Poof. Hot female Mephitis that no one asked for. Those chromatic eyes just slipped away from everyone and Mephitis made a beeline for the food. The dragon showing off just how ravenous he was in that moment. The food piling up higher and higher upon his plate as he took every little thing that he could. A feast enough for two... three... Four!?! He seemed perfectly content to eat it all as he finally decided this was enough to start. It only got worse when Mephitis stepped his oh-so-sexy body over to the table and started to eat like a damn beast. Food disappearing down that blackhole of a maw without a damn word. Meat, bone, and so much more just being devoured with ease. So caught up in his meal that when Zenith asked if the food was alright, he just got a thumbs up in return.
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✖✖✖
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『 With a taste of a poison paradise 』
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 9:40 pm
tab ❧ I'm the violence in the pouring rain.
"Excuse me, but I have never been as dirty as you are now," Aella shot back to Mephitis, crystal irises flashing with playful challenge. He might have meant it as an insult but now she felt challenged. Fortunately for him, she didn't pursue a silly bout of bickering right then since she was dealing with Shingen.
As she released Shingen's arm and stepped back, she watched him straighten up. She assumed he was going to go on some tirade about trying to apologize or try and make his apology right then since she hadn't let him do it on the ground, but instead he suddenly looked up and pointed at Mephitis in outburst. She almost felt back for Meph as his face turned bright red, his eyes wide with shock but she also thought Zen would have given him a heads up or something- oh, guess he did. Well... okay then. Now she felt a little bad for poking at his appearance. At that point, she didn't know what else she should do other than follow directions and take a seat, choosing a chair at the end of the table.
Thanks to dance and the natural grace of her ancestrsy, Aella moved with a graceful, almost ethereal quality, that didn't befit her personality at all. The soft, pale strands of her hair caught the light as her body moved toward the table, shimmering like freshly fallen snow under a winter moon and when she reached her chosen spot, she paused for a moment. Silvery, blue green eyes, framed by striking black eyelashes, flickered around the room, taking in the scene with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension
She hoped to avoid sitting next to or directly across from anyone, craving a bit of space and solitude amid the gathering. Her seat at the end of the table provided a perfect vantage point. From there, she could see everyone without feeling overwhelmed by their proximity. The distance allowed her to breathe easier, the space around her acting as a buffer against the changing dynamics of the group. She could savor the scents of the delicious food and the warmth of the room without the pressure of immediate interaction and she could flee easily from the table if things got too weird or tense.
Unlike Meph, Aella didn't pile her plate high. It all smelled really good but now that she had a modeling job, she really needed to pay attention to what she was eating. You could never be too thin. So... she carefully took one bite from each thing on the table and selected a few extra pieces of sushi. That should be enough to take the edge off being hungry.
“Is the food alright?” Zenith asked, his voice breaking through Aella’s thoughts. She looked around the table, gauging everyone's reactions. “Of course,” she said, despite not having tried any of it yet.
Where: dojo dining room
With: Zen, Meph, Shingen
Doing: food
Wearing:
Do not fall in love with people like me.
I will take you to museums and parks and monuments and kiss you in every beautiful place,
so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth.
I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible.
And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people.
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2024 5:40 pm
Shingen Maeda
Shingen was too busy trying to stifle a laugh to notice Zenith appear behind him. It wasn’t until he felt the unforgiving wooden surface of the serving utensil that he flinched in a mixture of surprise and pain. ”Ah!” he cried out, holding the spot with both hands, simultaneously shielding himself from future attacks. At the sound of Zenith’s command to not be rude, he began to quickly bow over and over. ”Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
Setting his jacket on the back of his chair, he moved to take his place. He swiftly loaded his plate with everything Zenith had made, although in small portions. It was all very well done, having the utmost quality, something that all home cooked meals required. As he sampled parts of his plate with his chopsticks, he couldn’t help but keep glancing up at Aella and Mephitis. It was genuinely fulfilling to see one’s food so eagerly eaten.
Cooking was a labor of love and it spoke to the lengths that Zenith was willing to go for them. They truly were a family of their own. Shingen was reminded of his own family and the way they all used to eat together like that, once upon a time. The memory drew a coldness in the pit of his stomach that prompted him to stand up and begin uncorking the bottle of wine he had also brought along. ”The food is excellent, Zenith. I’m actually a bit jealous at how good it is.” Shingen said as he began pouring wine into each of their glasses.
”I have to say...” Shingen said as he finished rounding the table and sat down, setting down and corking the wine. ”...this place reminds me a lot of Maeda Temple. I can’t help but feel welcome and at home. Thank you again for doing this. You went all out.” He explained, looking between them all before landing on Zenith for the gratitude towards the culinary extravagance.
Shingen was doing his best to keep his mind from straying to the much darker and more serious topics concerning them and the BoM. This was something that Aella was far more adept in. He would refrain from prying, for obvious reasons, although it looked like Mephitis was having a hard time. He looked a bit tired and the coloration of his fingers might point towards explosives handling. Shingen shook his head quickly.Stop it! You’re not here for that. He averted his eyes to keep from staring.
Picking up his wine glass, he looked at it and sloshed it around. He had only brought one bottle with him, thinking the spanish Moncerbal Bierzo would pair well with the tomato based soup and shellfish. Taking a sip and pulling one of the lobster tails out of it’s shell, Shingen spoke before taking a bite. ”SO what have you guys been up to?” He glanced over at Aella and Mephitis. He figured he’d open up the floor.
Location: Sword Saint Dojo
With: Aella, Mephitis, Zenith
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Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2024 3:54 am
﹄O, Death...Become my blade once more﹃ Zenith was quiet as he waited for everyone to be seated, surveying their subtle mannerisms constantly in order to convince himself that this dinner could actually proceed without any strains of turmoil trying to rear its head into the gathering. Most would agree that the way he discreetly observed Shingen made sense and was even warranted, given their rather turbulent beginnings in Barcelona…but the reason that he monitored the other two just as carefully and subtly was not so obvious. It was quite comical really, especially since the Maeda sorcerer felt like they seemed like a family of sorts; Perhaps one that was dysfunctional beneath the surface. It was hinted mostly in the way Aella sauntered so elegantly towards a spot farther away from the others. The truth was that the relationships between each of them had vulnerabilities that could throw things into disarray…and then there were individual sensitivities to certain subjects that also risked everything devolving into chaos…or at least that is how Zen felt. He wasn’t an exception either. His emotions and ire were also vulnerable to certain topics that made him just as much of a liability to maintaining the friendly atmosphere as anyone else, though he was quite conscious of it. He had done his best to discard and bury those parts of him-even if they had not received the appropriate closure to make it a healthy transition. Still, he would move forward through tonight’s festivities while exercising awareness of everyone and himself as well as a fair deal of caution. Zenith chuckled from behind closed lips as he witnessed the polarizing different starts between Aella and Mephitis while Shingen orbited around the table to pour each of them wine. The elementalist scantily filled her plate while Mephitis built a mound of food for himself before he let loose and practically went feral as he began shoveling it all in his mouth. His table manners really betrayed his graceful feminine form. The sword saint nodded at the dragon with a calm smile when he shot him a thumbs up between the gluttonous way he devoured what he had. “Of course” Aella returned. Zenith turned to face her, looking at her plate that was yet to be touched and then back to her. “Uh huh,” Zenith murmured sarcastically with a calm smile. He would give her some peace to enjoy her meal…which brought him to Shingen. “I’m glad you think so, and thank you for the drink.” Zenith gave the man a slight bow from his seated position as he still waited to fill his plate before the agent sat down and began enjoying the selection himself. “You’re very welcome.” Zenith answered with a smile. Honestly, the sword saint dojo didn’t evoke that kind of feeling for him. He had been trained to kill her…he had killed here-against his will. Though the fact that Aella was now living here did a fair deal to keep those memories from invading his thoughts as much as before. This was her sanctuary now…away from forces that wanted to change her. The man then followed up with a rather broad icebreaker. Hazel eyes scanned the other’s for their reaction. Would they answer? Would the question be too invasive? Zenith would measure any silence carefully and was ready to fill it if discomfort began to evolve. ╔══════════════════════╗
𝕯𝖎𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖆 𝖘𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖆 𝖛𝖔𝖎𝖈𝖊?
𝕾𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖆𝖞, 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖊,
𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖕𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖔𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖙
𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖜𝖍𝖎𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖒𝖞'𝖘 𝖊𝖆𝖗.
𝕬 𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌. 𝕬 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓.
𝕯𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖎𝖙?
╚══════════════════════╝
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Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2024 10:12 am
『 It's in the air and it's all around 』xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx Location: Dojo
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Company: Aella, Shingen, and Zen
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Internally: Food.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wearing: Leather Jacket, red T-shirt, and jeans
One would half-believe that Mephitis was in a trance right then as he devoured each and every morsel upon his plate. Gluttony becoming an understatement with the show that he was putting on before the others. There was no grace or nobility to the way he ate. It was just terrifying and feral. His manners had been pushed to the wayside over the past year as food became scarce and it drove him a bit wild. Being able to eat like this again after such a long day was heaven to the dragon. He could so easily get his fill with the feast that had been made for the group. Hell, if this kept up. He might be able to pack on some muscle again... Well, maybe after he changed backed since that was far more important to him.
With a piece of sushi in his hand and an inch away from those plush lips, Mephitis froze up as he noticed movement in his peripherals. Chromatic eyes snapping away from the food to notice that Shingen was coming up with something. Wine? Those lips closing slowly as the dragon arched his brow. Perhaps, this was a fancier affair than the former king was giving it credit. Should he straighten up a bit and act more proper? ... Nah. He was going to devour all that he could right now. Although, he still made an effort to give Shingen a, "Thank you." as the man finished pouring. After that, he went right back to being a damn monster in the form of a curvy female. Now with wine!
Mephitis was half-paying attention to conversations around the table as he ate. Something about Maeda temple and being at home. Sounds like Shingen had some history to his name, and history had been a subject Mephitis prized. Mostly, he focused upon ancient artifacts and forgotten arcana but he did enjoy stories of past generations and cultures. The dragon pondered if it wouldn't be too much to pry into the Maeda Family's past until Shingen suddenly asked his own question. One that should have been so damn simple but nothing was ever simple in Mephitis' life. Those powerful jaws slowed their chewing and kaleidoscopic eyes shifted away from the food. The mage a bit tense because he didn't know how to answer that question.
Training... No, he couldn't just do an one-word reply after Shingen went through all this effort. He also couldn't fully divulge everything he had been up to either. He was almost certain the man that he was training under wasn't exactly a good person. Still, he needed him as he was the only one that understood Mephitis' condition. Then there was Iris... There was no need to talk about that. How about how he had to buy woman's clothes for the first time? NO. ********, he had nothing good for a dinner conversation. This constant worry and indecision would give Aella ample time to give her own answer if she wanted. Eventually, Mephitis would answer with, "I've been training. That's sort of it really. Gotta get control of my magic again since uh... It's going well. Slow but good. I'm even back up to casting first level spells without any issue." Nice...
███████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████
✖✖✖
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx
『 With a taste of a poison paradise 』
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2024 1:11 pm
tab ❧ I'm the violence in the pouring rain.
Aella delicately lifted a piece of sushi from the plate, her snow-white hair swaying slightly as she leaned forward. The sushi glistened with freshness under the warm light, a small, perfect piece of culinary art. She dipped the fish into the little saucer of soy sauce, watching the dark liquid cling to its surface. Bringing it to her lips, she bit down gently, her eyes momentarily closing as the flavors burst across her tongue. She chewed very, very slowly, her mind focused on savoring the food and counting the seconds it was in her mouth to try and make this scant amount last for as long as possible.
The rich, umami flavor of the soy sauce mixed with the delicate taste of the fish, creating a harmony that she relished despite the meager portion. Due to her new, strict diet restrictions, she wasn't allowed to eat much. However, she knew that the second the food hit her tongue, her stomach would roar with hunger and start eating itself. To distract herself, she counted how many times she chewed the small morsel of fish. One, two, three... each bite a small rebellion against the gnawing emptiness in her belly.
Around her, the room buzzed with the sounds of clinking cutlery and people eating but she wasn't all that focused of what the others were doing with their own food. Meph's uncouth behavior, devouring food like a ravenous beast, would never indicate he was raised as a rich boy with fine dining for every meal. It didn't really bother her; she was used to his antics. Actually, Shingen's overly polite mannerisms grated on her sense of comfort more than the garbage disposal at the table and the ever the gentleman, poured her a glass of wine. The crimson liquid swirled in the glass, catching the light and reflecting a deep, inviting red.
Aella swallowed the bite in her mouth and smiled a bit tightly as he set the glass before her. "Thank you," she replied more out of obligation than anything else. She took a small sip, the dry, robust flavor coating her tongue.
Dinner conversation began then, a forced dance of polite inquiries and rehearsed responses. Ugh, this felt like one of those movies. Drinking wine and making polite conversation. When had any of them become those people? Aella simply shrugged. "Working." Was all she offered. That basically summed it up anyway.
Where: dojo dining room
With: Zen, Meph, Shingen
Doing: the dinner party thing
Wearing:
Do not fall in love with people like me.
I will take you to museums and parks and monuments and kiss you in every beautiful place,
so that you can never go back to them without tasting me like blood in your mouth.
I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible.
And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2024 5:07 pm
Shingen Maeda
As they ate and Shingen sought to make conversation with them, it was apparent that they weren’t entirely comfortable. How could he expect them to be after their ordeal? And now, they sat with a man who’s only means of knowing them had been ordered by the BoM. Taking a sip from his glass, he leaned back in his chair. ”I had wondered how you both were fairing on that front. Mana control.” He studied Mephitis before looking to Aella. Her new look was truly working for her. She was almost someone else, more a woman now than ever. ”That’s good to hear, though. I’ll be heading back to Maeda Temple soon. I still have work in Barcelona but it can wait. I’m curious about a couple of things I’ve learned recently. Mostly having to do with my own abilities. We have great techniques for learning mana control, too. If you are interested, you could come with me and train under someone who has received ancient insights into the art.” He offered. Taking up some of the sashimi, Shingen began to chow down. The salmon was his favorite with octopus being a close second.
Location: Sword Saint Dojo
With: Aella, Mephitis, Zenith
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2024 4:51 am
﹄O, Death...Become my blade once more﹃ It seemed like everyone had at least begun to eat, which became the catalyst for Zenith to begin stacking his plate. He, rather considerately, took samples of Shingen’s meals first before retrieving the sushi rolls and assorted meats and vegetables. Once finished, the swordsman had a colorful plate of a mixed variety that spoke to the balance he sought for in his everyday meals. After that he began setting up a small fish for a mixture of soy sauce and wasabi, seeking to find the perfect harmony between hot and savory for the concoction. By then the others had already begun to engage in the agent’s inquiry…for which the man found a particular interest in Mephitis’ arcane dilemma, leaving Aella ignored-not that she likely minded the peace. The man sighed and took his chopsticks, snatching a salmon sashimi roll between the small wooden utensils before dipping it carefully into his small mixed sauce before popping it in his mouth. He had no intention to infiltrate her silence after her answer. Why would he? Although it was behind him, he couldn’t get over just how much his relationship with Aella had eroded…and while it hurt he just…couldn’t find the initiative to do anything anymore for what they lost. Once his best friend…now someone who couldn’t even understand his grief…someone who was quick to hurt with their words…someone who weighed their comfort of normalcy over the emotional turmoil of the other…and at the end of the day Zenith accepted it. They had changed over the year and things were impossible to return to what they once were. He just had to live with it. That was the reality of it. It was a sad case really, because even in her company he felt alone…even in the company of everyone present now he felt isolated. He had lived that life before, however; in fact, he had found solace in it once. He could do it again. He reached for another roll and ate it, setting aside the chopsticks to retrieve a spoon to try Shingen’s dishes. Perhaps it was easier for everyone this way…perhaps it was the right thing to stop trying after this. These were the thoughts echoing in Zenith’s mind as he modestly began to eat his meal as the other began to converse. ╔══════════════════════╗
𝕯𝖎𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖆 𝖘𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖆 𝖛𝖔𝖎𝖈𝖊?
𝕾𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖍𝖆𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖆𝖞, 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖊,
𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖕𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖔𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖙
𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖜𝖍𝖎𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖒𝖞'𝖘 𝖊𝖆𝖗.
𝕬 𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌. 𝕬 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖔𝖋 𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓.
𝕯𝖔 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖎𝖙?
╚══════════════════════╝
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