Fandom ❉ lacuna＊: fruits basket

[cwosont]

 

[cwosont]

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  intro

  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  again

  
  
  
  

  beverly

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  opening.

  
  
  
  

  A

  fter learning the shocking truth of their curse, the Zodiacs have little time to process the information. The compound is bustling with event planners, movers, chefs, and an overabundance of workers by the next morning. The time has come for the compound and its Zodiacs to host their annual charity party in honor of the new year. It is a highly coveted event in Japan and its guests come from all across the continent to attend.
  
  The Zodiacs, as they do every year, are expected to dress well and put on a good show for their guests. The charity event is always a monumental success. There is rich food, live music, and an open bar. Some of the more famous members of the Zodiac make a toast, while those less suited for the limelight stick to their small talk.
  
  The God has only just made their first appearance since the abrupt announcement the night prior. Guests have begun to arrive, and so the party has finally begun.
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
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  cast

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  cast.

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the god

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  cwosont

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the cat

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  kunikuzushi

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the rat

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  SavannahSmiles

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the ox

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  peachiepalette

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the tiger

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the rabbit

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  leviohsa

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the sheep

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  Lost Echo

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the dragon

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  Steve Jobs

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the boar

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  leviohsa

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the dog

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  mizton

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the rooster

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  oishui

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the snake

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  Aquarin

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the monkey

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  Aquarin

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  the horse

  
  
  
  

  
  

  played by

  
  

  nyxievous

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

intro

cast

lacuna,

a blank space, or

missing part

time

7pm, evening

date

friday, january 27th

location

zodiac compound

status

open

cs

lore

ooc

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[leviohsa]

the rabbit.

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  mood

  
  
  
  

  the show must go on..
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  outfit

  
  
  
  

  light pink hanfu
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  location

  
  
  
  

  charity gala
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  interactions

  
  
  
  

  
  

  SavannahSmiles & Steve Jobs

  
  
  

  
  
  

"It is a delight to see you again, sir. I see this year has served you well."

The evening's festivities had merely begun, yet the famous Rabbit Zodiac was tasked with many head bows, praise, and polite greetings to all of the valued donors. White bunny ears lay relaxed one both sides of her head, adorned with ornate pink bows, ribbons draping down the length of her platinum white hair, which was pulled back into an intricate braid that revealed her heart-shaped jaw and pale skin as it lay upon the center of her back. Her makeup remained light, soft pink eyeshadow and blush carefully brushed onto her skin coupled with a simple mascara and lip gloss.

Preparing for events such as these always brought Akane a sort of methodical peace. The familiar routine allowed her mind to slip into a robotic trance of duty. It kept her nestled in a false sense of comfort, while the damning news given to her the night prior was kept neatly tucked away in the recesses of her mind. There was no time for the feeling of dread or discomfort. All that mattered now was impressing the donors and enjoying the festivities.

"I hope you stay to hear my toast. I have been eager to share it with you all!"

Her voice feigned excitement, when the reality was that she had begrudgingly written herself a speech weeks prior in preparation for this party. The tradition she knew would be awaiting them after their annual gathering.

Time passed, all the faces and names she recognized from years before greeting her. Companies, families, reputations, all methodically tucked away so that she knew what would be proper to discuss with each of the fabulously wealthy donors. Younger children of the donors anxiously approached the Akane, politely asking for photos with the idol. Despite the protests from their traditional parents, Akane never declined. The young woman only responded with a warm smile and reassuring words to let them know that she'd love to memorialize this wonderful night with them.

Wonderful. Was that really the right word for tonight?

After numerous polite conversations and photo ops, Akane finally decided that it was time for her to take a break. Red eyes scanned the room, deciding carefully on what table to sit at. She knew that eyes would be on her no matter what, so she had to choose wisely. Eventually, her gaze landed on an empty table, elegantly decorated by the compound servants with care. Akane's dress draped behind her as she began to stride over to the empty table, ribbons gently bouncing along with her step before she carefully sat down.

She kept her posture straight, hands neatly placed in her lap as she observed the others. The rabbit knew that tonight could prove to be difficult for her fellow zodiacs. Could they withstand pulling themselves together for one night? The worrying thought revealed itself in her features for a moment, a small frown tugging at her lips and willing her blonde brows to furrow. To anyone who caught a glimpse of her, the young idol would look almost like a machine, hardly moving and not even taking a drink from the many servers that passed her by.

lost soul down

nbsplv

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Steve Jobs]

The bridge between the Earth and the Heavens

Zhou Rui Xi

"Enjoy the banquet for this one will be your last."

Even after a night, the words stayed fresh on her lips, tasting of dry ice and nightshade. Rui Xi had no love for children. She'd told her partner as much three moons in their relationship, but she wasn't devoid of sympathy for her "family." How long had he and the servants known the truth? How many years of the hosts' lives did they let slip by? A year stolen from the tiger cub. A whole life from the cursed cat. All of their childhoods.

Her teeth ached to bite into Arashi's nape; her fins bristling against the stress she kept bound by her desire to save face. She could see the his blood in her mind's eye, spraying so beautifully across the walls of their prison. The taste of a human anointed "God" in the loosest sense of the word. Much to her therapist's dismay, these thoughts had become more common as her curse progressed;the temptation of the hunt made a home in her stomach.

The servants kept a closer eye on her in recent visits and this celebration was no exception. Still, Rui Xi paid no mind to the servants in her periphery and instead greeted members of the financial sector. She passed out cordial greetings her current clientele, exchanged barbs with with the law firms that she poached from, and made time for a drink with a client that complimented her ah-outfit.

"I'm a zodiac host. I'd embarrass my ancestors to wear anything less than stunning," Rui Xi smiled, reaching for another flute of champagne.

Indeed, the qipao had taken over a month to make from sketch to final fitting with regular input via video call. Yellow canna lilies for for confidence, orange peonies for wealth, and gold zinnia for friendship, all on dark red silk. She'd even gone through the effort of purchasing new pearl earrings and a clutch to truly complete the 1920s Shanghai aesthetic. If she wanted to truly adhere to tradition she could have purchased a hanfu, but she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to show off her figure.

"If you want one of your own I highly recommend Longfeng Qipao in Shanghai," she replied, sliding over a business card, "but for now I have a few other guests to tend to."

Stepping away from the clusters of attendees, the host circled the compound until she found a near-empty table.

"I see that speech prep is going well," Rui Xi stated, taking a seat across from the sole occupant.

mood | Reserved

scroll

location | Zodiac Compound

outfit | Red, Floral Qipao

tag | Akane leviohsa , Hanako SavannahSmiles

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[cwosont]

arashi.

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  mood

  
  
  
  

  angry, jealous
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  outfit

  
  
  
  

  no
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  compound
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  interactions

  
  
  
  

  kenta, rei
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

The God slept very little.

Anger flowed through them, as steady as water. The servants always had the upper hand, didn’t they? Arashi had been a fool to believe that with the last Zodiac turning eighteen, it would be his world they lived in now. Not theirs. They had promised him a full, happy life with his devoted Zodiacs. It was all that kept Arashi from succumbing to the pressure as a child. He should have known better. It was too late now.

Arashi stayed in their room throughout the day and forbade any of the servants from even hovering outside his door. He had no interest in seeing any of the Zodiacs, either. He knew they would be angry and knew even better than that that their anger would be directed towards him. It always was. They understood so little of what was really going on, but it didn’t matter now. They would soon be nothing more than animals.

The charity party approached faster than the God would have liked. Still, they forbade the servants from entering. Arashi fetched his own clothes, washed his own hair, and painted his own skin. Finding autonomy in the little things was enough to keep Arashi from bursting at the seams. He stared at himself in the mirror when they were finished. Arashi would look like the perfect doll they were intended to be, were it not for their sunken eyes.

Arashi curled his fingers into fists and squeezed tight. Until his knuckles turned white and his arms trembled, they squeezed. He gasped for air when he finally let go and held up his palms to see the indent from his fingernails. No blood. That was all that mattered. Arashi took a long, deep breath, and let the anger slip from his pale eyes. The God knew how to play the part better than anyone. The servants should be proud of the puppet they created.

The compound was swimming with early arrivals. Arashi couldn’t stand them. Still, they put on a smile and greeted every celebrity, every government official, and every wealthy benefactor. Waiters made sure to keep a glass in his hands at all times, although there was never a drop of alcohol. They couldn’t stand being drunk.

After his first rounds were finished, Arashi could feel tension coiling in his shoulders. Their anger lingered just beneath the surface and his fingers itched with the need to squeeze. His jaw tightened and he grit his teeth to keep himself from giving in. Bright eyes surveyed the party for a distraction. No socialites would do, it would have to be one of the Zodiacs. Their anger and melancholy would be a welcome change to all the white noise buzzing around him.

Arashi felt a flare of jealousy when he spotted Kenta and Rei, standing off to the side together. Of course they would seek out one another instead of him. Every one of them was content to abandon Arashi at every opportune moment, as if his entire life wasn’t dedicated to them.

“How much have you two had to drink already?”

Arashi asked smoothly, once they had made his approach. He flashed a smile and curt nod at a passing attendee.

“Is that your plan, then? To spend your last three months sulking in corners and getting drunk?”

The God sneered. It hadn’t been his plan to strike so quickly, but he still felt the heat of jealousy burning in his veins. He couldn’t help how he felt.

cry for love

백현

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[leviohsa]

the boar.

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  mood

  
  
  
  

  trying her best
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  outfit

  
  
  
  

  something rlly cute, i promise
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  location

  
  
  
  

  charity gala
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
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  interactions

  
  
  
  

  group four
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

Murasaki's muscles ached as she stood amongst the rich and influential. She did well to conceal the familiar pain of overexertion, but not even the strongest of athletes could avoid the repercussions of spending hours taking anger out on various fitness equipment.

The memory of the night prior willed her golden brown gaze to lower to her gloved hands, currently placed politely in front of her. The sight made her heart fall, whilst her features remained casual. What hid underneath the expensive fabric was a clear indicator of the inevitable fate placed in front of not only herself but every one of the Zodiacs. Yet, she hid. Letting out a quiet sigh, she looked back up, quickly greeted by a famed philanthropist,

"Miss Nakano, how wonderful to see you again!" And so began the small talk, inquiries about projects and hopes of the future. Murasaki was well-versed in the nature of the charity gala, and many of the guests were those who had practically watched her grow up year after year. Whilst mingling with the guests, the woman couldn't help but wonder if they would bat an eye when the hosts would be no more.

Saki caught herself falling into a hole, asking questions she already knew the answer to. Throughout the evening, brown eyes scanned the room to see how her fellow zodiacs fared, noting how much they've grown over the years..

After Murasaki's third flute of champagne, it became clear that fresh air was well overdue. After politely handing a passing waiter her empty flute, she briskly made her way out the doors leading to the balcony. As the door closed behind her, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. A cool breeze lifted her brown hair as she turned to face the balcony, greeted by two familiar faces.

"...everything I’ve worked for is worth nothing now.” Rima's words made Saki's heart ache, her previous look of relief quickly replaced with one of dismay,

"Oh Rima, that is not true at all.." The boar's tone was empathetic, "If anything, your work ensures that you'll live on forever." A gentle smile lifted her cheeks, which were becoming rosy from the alcohol.

Brown eyes flitted over to Masao, "Even Masao's works will ensure his spirit lives on, if you think about it." Saki was not quite sure was Rima needed in this moment, but the woman hoped with every fiber of her being that she could at least alleviate the younger zodiac's pain. So, she continued, now looking at Rima again, standing beside her.

"I think it's a privilege to have been able to impact as many lives as you had. You have fans, and people who look up to you. Isn't that worth something?" Murasaki still smiled gingerly, despite the harrowing topic at hand.

apocalypse

cigarettes and sex

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[nyxievous]

scroll

the horse

Kenta

mood

annoyed

outfit

in pic above

interactions

rei, arashi

Every year, Kenta anticipated these banquets with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. It was the one time of the year when he looked forward to returning to the compound - catch up with his friends over drinks and food, and then the next day, he’d be gone again, off to chase his next grand adventure. Savor the good memories, sidestep the messy entanglements, pretend life was a breeze. It was a formula he had mastered – simple, fleeting, perfect.

Now, three months was all he had left. And what had he to show for it? A once-promising career that crumbled prematurely? Bonds he had neglected to nurture? Love stories he'd chosen to leave untold? He’d chased the ends of wild rumors, hoping to find something to break this curse with a single-minded focus - the one constant in his life. Yet, he had nothing substantial to show for that either – only depleted funds, bogus talismans, and the disillusionment of a man whose existence felt like an eternal race.

The irony was stark – that his unyielding chase after freedom had shackled him to an unending cycle. What a cruel, cruel twist of fate.

Perhaps it was time to stop running and face his fate head-on. He pondered a life as a horse, imagining galloping freely through open fields, sharing quiet moments with fellow creatures of nature, maybe even hosting another zodiac on his back. But that was just an illusion he spun to make himself feel better. A romanticized image to grant refuge from the reality he sought to evade.

All he truly craved was to escape this moment, this truth.

Tonight, though, a party awaited. Friends were there, awaiting reconnection, memories yet to be woven. Whether they would be happy or laced with bitterness - well that was up to him wasn’t it?

A sweep of his chestnut eyes scanned the crowd, seeking an anchor amidst the sea of faces. A fellow zodiac who would serve as a distraction from this farce of a party and provide a temporary diversion of his thoughts. Reiji, the Cat, stood out to him. With purposeful steps, Kenta headed towards him, glasses of wine in hand, attempting to mask his unease behind a practiced smile.

“Reiji! I haven’t seen you in a while! Care for a drink?” Kenta's voice held an artificial cheerfulness. To his surprise, Reiji, who often radiated detachment, accepted both glasses and drank them down quickly. Kenta chuckled and signaled the staff for more. Perhaps he’d found an unlikely drinking companion in Reiji tonight. He clinked their glasses and engaged in small talk, anything to distract themselves from their true thoughts and feelings.

"Did you enjoy the book I mailed you?" Kenta inquired, breaking the silence between sips. "It isn’t as exciting as some of Masao's works, but still a decent read!"

Reiji's indifference wasn't new to Kenta, yet he persisted, hoping to chip away at the other’s reserved exterior, even if just for a while. Someone to keep him busy for a couple of minutes until he felt like he’d bothered him enough and then find someone else to bother next. It was only when Reiji’s gaze shifted behind him with an ice-cold glare that Kenta turned around.

Why was he here, talking to them?

“How much have you two had to drink already?” asked Arashi. Their fake smiles and pleasantries were saved only for strangers. For the inner circle though, it was always teeth and snarls. There was a time when it wasn’t like this, when Arashi had been someone he looked forward to seeing everyday. That, however, was a long time ago, bitter memories having replaced fond ones years and years ago.

In a gesture of defiance, Kenta dispatched his drink, its liquid bite an echo of his mood. Arashi's voice, dripping with feigned politeness, grated on him.

“Hmm, who’s counting? Maybe a glass or five,” Kenta replied, his gaze darting between Arashi and Reiji. Surprisingly, Reiji was the one between the two of them, throwing back most of the drinks. Kenta wondered if he’d made a mistake offering him the first glass and enabling this behavior. "Just enough to enjoy the evening,” he added with a nonchalant shrug.

“Is that your plan, then? To spend your last three months sulking in corners and getting drunk?” Arashi's tone was mocking, the weight of their looming authority stirring something fierce in Kenta's chest.

The smile that Kenta offered him in return was sharp, edged with a gleam of defiance. The switch in his behavior was instant. They always had a way of doing that to him.

"Ah, God's concern for our activities warms my heart," he responded, instinctively stepping in front of Reiji and staring down at Arashi with an equally cold gaze. Confrontation simmered beneath the surface. “As for our plan, well, sulking and inebriation may just be our way of celebrating your ending reign.”

The words held an edge, a masked challenge that was a throwback to their old dynamic. Kenta grasped at it, a fleeting feeling of something familiar in a sea of unknowns.

"But don’t worry, we'll be sure to save you a corner for your own sulking when you finally decide to join us."

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[mizton]

font callfont callfont call

mood | head empty

outfit | ♡

interactions | Aquarin

the dog

in a line-up of hosts, Kōki was arguably the most plainly dressed. the only difference between his attire tonight & what he might've been seen wearing a week ago being an the election of silk over cotton that evening; tonight, a clean button-up a servant had laid out for him in the morning. his silhouette, however, remained one drawn by a child, the way he liked: a massive, formless top & straight-legged pant. tonight, though, he wore dress shoes; every year, the clicking got worse. everything got worse every year, it seemed.

were it not for the blond crown he shared with two others in the zodiac, he might've easily been mistaken for a guest. the thought to dye it a steady one in his life. only then did the dull suggestion again cross him, when he felt his bangs tickle at his forehead from the ruffling of a manicured hand at it. the motion a smallish tug at him to acknowledge the state of himself at that moment.

until just then, if he had to place it into words, Kōki felt far.

as his mind wandered, dimmer grew the sight of drinks at a coffee table before them that he'd been fixating on. the time that passed he counted by the amount of times his drink got replaced whenever his ice melted. by then, it'd been thrice.

as the night went on, stronger grew a third person perspective on that crown of his; like he could look through the eyes of an onlooking servant, catching sight of the dog in passing. like that wasn't him he was seeing, but another with his hair & strained grin about them as two slip-dressed patrons sat to either side of the man, he no more than a pillow as they talked amongst themselves. in another setting, he looked a patron of a hostess bar.

yet, in his one, he was the host. in all senses of the word, the title hung especially heavier now than ever before. it weighed at shoulders, forcing his head to rest along all seatbacks that night. with that smile, though, the gazes that fell onto him that night were never any of concern; this year, like all others, was going as regularly as it always had.

it was only when a arm reached across him that the thought became not the case, that he swore he could've crossed his eyes onto a snout that -- by the lack of reaction of the two beside him -- wasn't there; that he was abruptly snapped to reality. for but a moment, his stomach sank at the outcome avoided just then; before, & especially when he was young, accidents were never an issue but tonight... well, let's just say he wanted to stay himself for as long as he could. with that thought, he found the mind to breathe deeply, fully regain his own perspective, & force himself up. the two at his side fell into a lean onto the other with the sudden absence between them. what he said exactly he couldn't recall, but it had allowed him leave toward the restroom.

his gait wavered, feeling his legs like a fawn's after having sat for - what felt like - so long. with great effort, he now found himself leaned into a bathroom counter with a great strain at his forearms to hold himself up. with a funny luck that visited him when it decided, he was alone in the men's room after bumping shoulders with someone on their way out. his idle grin was gone by the second glance in the mirror: a sight reserved for himself & his bedroom's walls.

he lingered, letting water from the sink run to drown out the outside's booming. noticing only now, the dull thumping from behind his eyes lessened now that he was able to catch a moment to himself. he counted: one, two... until Kōki finally opened his eyes to take in the sight of himself. in particular, he saw how his hands & forearms glimmered -- remnant of pearled lotions from a night of handshakes & arm clinging, were he to guess. some combination of that & himself; he hadn't noticed on top of his other senses being overwhelmed but he was burning. now especially, with a single light directly over his nape, it was hard to overlook the hair that curled at his neck & stuck flat against his forehead.

he met his own eyes again & saw them with smudged eyeliner & shadow -- were he a more unfortunate face, he might've worried but this development of his make-up instead amused him; in a nicer mood, he might've snapped a selfie. instead, he just rubbed a thumb at his lip to rid himself of the concealer that hid his mole & patted some water at the back of his neck. he could go back out now. not to those women, but to find some other crowd to float around. counting the women, he was on his fourth change of pace of the night.

like a chime to lead him to his new destination, Kōki heard a particular laugh ring out way across the hall. in the mirror, he caught his ear twitch at the sound, jingling the chain that hung from it. with a final wipe of water at his jaw & the back of his neck, he slicked back his fringe & padded across the room toward the familiar sound. with ease, he slipped past attempts to halt him & efforts to shake his hand until he was mere feet away from his target's table.

there, sat at a table in the middle of the reception with a story & atmosphere that attracted a crowd to his liking, was Tama. dragging a chair from another table, Kōki wedged it into a position across the ex-acrobat, practically stepping over its back to take his seat. he'd caught the tail end of a story regarding a Mio & bullseyes; everyone around him laughed, so he did too. although, when it came to him, nothing ever came out quietly: a practiced chuckle rivaled the laugh that had brought him here. the guests beside him joined in at the end of the story, but Kōki only had eyes for the fellow host before him. at him, his laughter settled into a smile with a brow raised with the intention to cause annoyance.

yamamori mika

night owl

 

[kunikuzushi]

scroll

THE CAT

mood: already wants to go home.

interactions:
kenta, arashi

location:
lurking in the corners of the charity gala

Fake smiles and mocking eyes held no allure for Reiji, but they were hard to avoid in a gathering of pretenders in costume jewelry. It was a suffocating atmosphere that Reiji purposely distanced himself from, leaning against the wall with a heavy sigh.

Some things never changed.

In a room full of revelry, the dark haired man remained impassive. His disinterest was evident in the way he stood with his shoulders slumped, hands stuffed into the pockets of his fine clothes — almost purposely showing off his boredom, his lack of engagement was a statement in itself. Evidently, Reiji’s attitude was ill-fitting of an attendee of such a lavish occasion, but the sole benefit of being the Cat zodiac was that no one expected him to be a role model; Already having the worst reputation since birth, he couldn’t care less about fixing his image.

Naturally Reiji was never invited to the yearly banquets, so it was a surprise to see servants showing up at his door one day, demanding that he go to the annual charity event. It was his first in years but he wasn’t the least bit interested. At the time, Reiji didn’t understand why the servants were so insistent that he attend, but now, he knows the disenchanting truth.

As Reiji surveyed the sea of well-dressed attendees, he couldn't help but feel a sense of bitter irony. The fine china and sparkling champagne flutes felt like the vestiges of life slipping through his fingers, a life he couldn’t enjoy and would never get the chance to, now that his time was running out.

In three months it would all be over.

The evening prior had dealt a cruel blow– Memories of the announcement still reverberated through his mind, drowning out the laughter and clinking of glass around him. Even the day after, he was still reeling from the news. It was difficult enough as is trying to understand his own mixed emotions but the reactions of the other zodiacs was a sight he’d never forget. Pushing down his own feelings about the curse, Reiji at least looked forward to seeing the others’ frustration grow as time passed. Or so he told himself.

With his cruel luck, he supposed he should have expected it, for his fate had been sealed long before his first breath. Cursed to confinement the moment he came into the world, what difference did it make if he was a human in a cage or an animal?

He scowled at the thought, absentmindedly scratching at the bandaid on his cheek— a small gesture that mirrored the deeper wounds within. The adhesive felt like a thin barrier against the onslaught of emotions, but it couldn't staunch the flow of thoughts that circled his mind like vultures, picking at his already raw nerves.

Reiji’s thoughts were then interrupted at the sound of another’s voice. He startled, jolting upright from his position, only to see Kenta’s looming figure before him. ❝ What. ❞ Reiji hissed, annoyed at being caught off guard.

”I haven’t seen you in a while, care for a drink?” The enthusiasm in the Horse zodiac’s voice was jarring and Reiji resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He eyed the wine glass for a moment, his initial impulse to decline, before he hesitated. Normally, he would have turned down the offer, chosen solitude over conversation and drinks. Tonight, the allure of distraction was too strong. There were too many eyes on him, too many people in the room and too many thoughts swirling around his head.

Three months left.

Reiji took both glasses, downing one quickly without a care. The aftermath was future Reiji’s problem and he needed to cull the voices in his head. He barely registered Kenta’s questions afterwards. His responses were minimal, a hum here, a nod there, like distant echoes of engagement. It was clear the pair were both ignoring the bigger problem at hand — yesterday’s reveal — and wanted to push away their worries for the time being. Reiji couldn't muster the energy to untangle the complexities of his feelings or explain the weight of the storm within him. Instead, he retreated into the rhythm of the conversation, a dance of words that required minimal participation.

Before the exchange could continue, Reiji’s eyes narrowed into cold thin slits, spotting a familiar figure making their way towards the pair. In an almost comical attempt at hiding, Reiji half-stepped behind Kenta’s taller frame, hissing a quick, ❝ Hide me. ❞ Naturally it was a futile attempt, as the god had already noticed them before he approached.

“How much have you two had to drink already?”

Reiji’s grip on the glass tightened at those words. He looked away but his jaw clenched against the biting retort that threatened to escape. Dealing with Arashi was always draining. Any semblance of a decent mood had instantly evaporated with their arrival, sapping the last vestiges of calm that Reiji had managed to conjure prior to their presence.

Intoxication hadn’t set in just yet, but Reiji found himself wishing it would hurry along. The weight of history pressed upon him, and he found it difficult to meet the God’s gaze, looking down as he let Kenta do most of the talking. His knuckles were white on the stem of the wine glass, while the red hue of the wine held a haunting familiarity that he chose to ignore—but he couldn’t ignore the God forever.

Reiji whipped his head back up and stared at Arashi straight on this time. With a deep breath, he managed to maintain his composure, though his patience was taut as a bowstring.
❝ If you’re here for idle conversation then you should know by now that you’re looking in the wrong place. ❞ Reiji added onto Kenta's words, a frosty calm masking his growing vexation.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Lost Echo]

It was ironic she had almost been looking forward to this this year. Not a lot of course: she hated these galas, the expectation to perform for the masses. Though over the years the guests had come to find her wallflowering adorable. But this was the first year the servants had permitted the dress she chose. No more fancy silks, she was going to be comfortable. She’d knitted the dress herself, warm and snug like a hug. Had they only allowed it because this would be the last one? Tugging the sleeves down over her palms, she scoffed. How kind of them.

Her gaze remained lowered, so she would not have to hide the anger within them. These people, forgotten each year, expected little of her. She was the shy little sheep. She played into the stereotype, keeping her responses demure. The only attempt she made at conversation with these leeches was on education reform. Those that cared would debate how overworked and stressed students were these days, and different teaching techniques. They were few and far between. Most saw her as dumb as any livestock. Cute, with her curling horns nestled amongst her locks, her large doe eyes blank behind her glasses. Her useless horns: the defense measure she could not keep from revealing whenever she even thought of going to the compound. As if they did anything. As if she could do anything.

No, she’d decided last night she would. Bolstered after meeting with Saki--her heart ached thinking of the years they missed because of her foolish fear. As if Saki would have actually reported her. She’d just been so scared she’d lose them again. Like she was anyway. No, she wasn’t going to be some listless lamb, just letting this happen. She wanted to scream. To tear apart this facade they were playing. Show the thorns the painted roses hid. And she would. She’d decided. Not here, where the servants could likely still cover it up. But the papers. Spread it further than they can reach.

To do that, she’d have to deal with her enemy. No, she might hate Rui Xi, but she wasn’t Arashi. Normally she wouldn’t dare, as the dragon had seemed quite content as the servant’s tool, but last night. Last night changed everything. For this will be your last. The bite in those words reflected the anger Konishi held. Maybe she would work with her. As a lawyer, Rui Xi would have connections beyond the bonds the substitute teacher held. Connections, possibly, to reporters. She’d know who to go to. Who would be willing to tell their side of the story. And if she agreed, then Konishi wouldn’t have to worry about the journalist being made to forget. The tool would be on her side.

If only she could find her! From previous years, Konishi knew she’d be the best dressed there. Some extravagant thing that took months to make. Tugging at the red fabric of her dress, she smirked. Well hers wasn’t the only one this year. Still, for all that she should be a beacon, she couldn’t find her anywhere. Just then, a laugh. Not Rui Xi’s no, but someone who might find her. She navigated through the crowd of people with ease. Slipping around one man, she excused herself through a couple.

She found herself at the back of a crowd, Koki among them. Any pleasure of success was muted by their entertainment. Tama. Her childhood bully who never seemed to realize they weren’t children anymore. At least there was an audience, the monkey knew the unspoken rule that even he wouldn’t cross. (Normally, but after last night would he give a damn?) Drawing a smile on her face, she shifted through the crowd to the dog’s side. Hopefully she could get her answer and leave quickly. “Hey Koki, do you know where Rui Xi is?”

mizton Aquarin

 

[cwosont]

arashi.

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"Ah, God's concern for our activities warms my heart," Kenta responded, eliciting a smirk from Arashi. “As for our plan, well, sulking and inebriation may just be our way of celebrating your ending reign.” Their smirk faltered. "But don’t worry, we'll be sure to save you a corner for your own sulking when you finally decide to join us."

The God’s gaze flickered to Reiji, whose dark head of hair whipped to look at him directly. “If you’re here for idle conversation then you should know by now that you’re looking in the wrong place.”

“If I wanted to make idle conversation, I would still be swimming with the piranhas. They’re all so hungry for something and yet all they can talk about is nothing.”

Arashi sipped their drink.

“The two of you, in all of your wallowing, are still far better company. For now, anyway. Self-pity does get boring after a while.”

They let their gaze drift back to Kenta. There was heat behind them despite his calm demeanor.

“As for my ‘ending reign’... It’s a bit poetic, isn’t it? You’ll all become nothing more than animals and I’ll slowly lose my mind surrounded by my pets until we’re all dead.”

He leaned in closer and snarled,

“At least then none of you can leave me. I’ll just pull you by your leashes if you try.”

cry for love

백현

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[mizton]

font callfont callfont call

mood | sniff

outfit | ♡

interactions | Aquarin + Lost Echo

the dog

feeling the eyes of the table's audience now on him, as Tama's focus of conversation, Kōki felt himself minutely cower & his brows fall flat. the lights above turned suddenly hot like in the restroom. for just a moment, the idea to have thought this through came to him. waving it off, he ran a hand through his fringe & brought another to wave at the host across him, lingering the wave for a few others at the table.

feeling his grin then turn forced, he huffed out a chuckle. to block his own vision, he rested his elbows at the table & brought one palm up to his cheek for him to rest on.

at the mention of the bar, the scent from Tama's glass made itself particularly clear in that moment. Kōki almost laughed, instead opting to quirk his brow at the other. with others, he might've humored the guy & replied a bit more eagerly. since it was Tama, he instead just smiled & offered lazily, "let's go."

it was then that a scent, soft & earthy, met his nose. Koki straightened up to look over his shoulder at who was making her way over. dressed in black, Koki elated inwardly at the sight of someone he hadn't seen at all that night. he greeted her with a dumb grin that fell only when a realization occurred to him.

when it came to Konishi & Tama, Kōki didn't know the specifics but knew to place himself between the two, so he leaned a bit to block her sight of the acrobat.

idly, he scooted away the chair of the patron at his side to do so & get a better look up at the sheep's host. with everyone talking, it was easy for her voice to get drowned out, after all. at the question, Kōki took a moment to consider if he'd seen the woman earlier that night; he, of course did, as the azure-haired lawyer was hard to miss, but he furrowed his brows as he tried to remember where he saw her last. coming up with nothing, he twisted his torso around in his seat to diligently sniff look around him. being him, he had something of a height advantage in seeing over the tops of everyone seated.

when he found his target sitting at a lonesome table with only one other, a host, he jerked his chin towards that direction for Konishi's reference.

uncomfortably, he swallowed the recently reoccurring urge for some kind of praise. instead, in a voice as quiet as the dog could manage — which wasn't very, at all — Kōki tilted his head earnestly at her & asked, "want me with you?"

were he more of a talker, he might've mentioned his intention of getting Tama to come along, but he didn't. would it have bothered Konishi? yes. would it have also upset Tama? also yes, which is why he kept his intentions as to himself as he could. instead, he waited for his answer & looked back at the monkey's host for but a moment. if he caught the other's glance, his idle smile became lopsided.

yamamori mika

night owl

 

[nyxievous]

scroll

the horse

Kenta

mood

annoyed

outfit

in pic above

interactions

rei, arashi

In the midst of the buzzing banquet, an electric undercurrent of tension charged the air of their conversation. If Arashi wasn’t there for idle conversation then that could only mean they were there for one other thing. A fight. There was no other possible explanation as to why God would be here, talking to two of their most disliked Zodiacs.

Well, if it was a fight that Arashi wanted, then a fight Arashi would get.

Kenta’s sharp gaze shifted discreetly around the room, taking in the guests engaged in animated conversations, their inquisitive glances occasionally flickering toward the trio as Arashi answered Reiji. He couldn’t see them but he was sure a servant or two was also watching them like hawks. These were the prerequisites to knowing Arashi, unavoidable eyes watching their every move. If this escalated to a physical confrontation…well, Kenta didn’t care about himself, but he had a feeling that Reiji would bear the brunt of the aftermath with his reputation. And he couldn’t allow that to happen to him.

Words would have to make do for now, a contest of wills their only weapons. Arashi unfortunately had the upper hand in such situations, knowing just what to say to pull Kenta’s strings. Amidst the chatter and clinking glasses, Kenta felt his fists involuntarily clench at his sides. The desire to just let it all out, to lash back at Arashi, simmered beneath his calm demeanor. But he knew that now, the battleground would have to be rhetorical. Perhaps, Kenta thought, if he provoked Arashi enough, the God might leave them be and return to whatever business brought him here, or they could take their argument elsewhere, away from the prying eyes of the public.

Kenta's gaze turned fiery, a flicker of anger dancing in his eyes despite his attempt to maintain composure. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" he shot back, his voice edged with bitterness. "Is it some kind of power trip for you? It's pathetic, honestly, if you think that chaining us to you is going to fill that massive void you’ve got inside.”

He took a step closer, using his height to his advantage to loom over Arashi. “Go ahead, keep pretending that you're in control," he continued, disdain dripping from every word. "But mark my words, Arashi - when we're gone, all you'll be left with is your own crippling loneliness."

Satisfied that he had driven the knife far enough, Kenta held Arashi's gaze for a heartbeat longer before looking away. With a purposeful step back, he turned towards Reiji, his expression shifting from defiance to invitation. “Want to get out of here, Reiji? The company has soured,“ Kenta asked as he grabbed another drink for himself from a passing waiter.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[leviohsa]

the rabbit.

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Red eyes looked far away, seemingly staring at nothing, until Rui Xi broke the trance. Akane flinched slightly at the sudden appearance of the older Zodiac, brief panic flashing in her eyes before she relaxed once more.

Nearly anything made the young woman jump as of late. White ears at the ready to pick up any sign of threat. It was an instinct Akane wasn't very fond of, considering that she normally wasn't fazed by much.

"Thankfully, I have been ready for weeks."

She replied, her voice much more solemn and reserved than the voice she reserved for the guests.

"Reciting it in my mind has given me quite the distraction."

Rui Xi could read that however she liked, but it was clear that the Rabbit Zodiac was thankful for the chance to make the speech and gala the only thing on her mind. A ruse to stop her from realizing that she has no idea who she really is, besides a vessel. The influx of negative thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the youngest zodiac, whose resolve looked ready to crumble in minutes. Despite her meek appearance, Akane let out a sharp gasp, her hands flinching at yet another unexpected appearance.

Get a grip, Akane.. The idol regained her composure in a mere moment, hating her new zodiac traits more and more.

"These are for you, it's important to stay hydrated." Taking the glass, Akane gave Hanako a polite nod, a small smile lifted her painted lips,

"You're too kind, Hanako."

The blonde closed her eyes as she took a sip of the water, letting the coolness of it pull her mind away from the questions beginning to pile up in her mind. Once finished, she placed the glass back on the table, red eyes glancing at both of the women now sitting with her.

"Do not worry too much about pleasing others tonight, Hanako."

Akane took another sip of her water, now looking right at the grey-haired girl,

"After all, it'll be the last time we will have to entertain them."

A rather uncharacteristic comment for Akane to make in public, but the blonde could feel the fear emanating off of the mouse, and it only made Akane feel more tense. Fellow prey feeling the pressures of the inevitable, only made Akane have a gnawing feeling in her gut, willing her to pick up and run away forever.

But that was not an option. Never was. So the next best thing to do was possibly try and comfort the younger girl as best she could.

lost soul down

nbsplv

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[kunikuzushi]

scroll

THE CAT

mood: PISSED.

interactions:
kenta, arashi

location:
lurking in the corners of the charity gala

Burning irritation.

It prickled at his sides as Arashi spoke, crawling all over him like spiders on his spine. Their tiny feet burned like fire— anger, red hot and warming his cheeks. Reiji’s grip on the wine glass quivered. His fingers trembled with the effort of holding back the storm brewing within him, desperate not to give the God the satisfaction of seeing him unravel. Oh how Reiji longed to have his claws already so he could sink them into that sneering God-

The servants are watching. He chided himself.

But the weight of the crawling spiders felt too heavy for him to bear, and without a second thought he tipped his fourth glass of the night into his mouth. Eagerly, he lapped at the alcohol’s warmth like a cat— a futile attempt to drown out the noise of Kenta and Arashi’s back and forth. Reiji was already drinking more than he’d anticipated but he couldn’t find it in himself to care. He would’ve reached for his fifth if it weren’t for Arashi’s words echoing in his ear.

“…none of you can leave me. I’ll just pull you by your leashes if you try.”

He almost slammed his drink down at that.

Leashes?

A familiar tightening began in his chest, a simmering pool of rage that threatened to boil over. Fed up was he, with the God who had abandoned him in his times of need. Arashi, who had once been his closest confidante, a friend for life, had transformed into a cruel god with no heart.

The flood of memories, both sweet and sour, intensified his frustration. Reiji’s hands itched to do something as Kenta spoke. The spiders were back and they were not letting up.

❝Just a second Kenta, I’m not done. ❞ He replied, voice cracking with emotion as he stepped around to face Arashi once more.

Reiji’s thoughts were screaming at him to stop, to turn back and accept Kenta’s invitation to leave. The servants were watching their every move and he knew they would not let this go if something were to go wrong.

Sober Reiji was long gone though.

Emboldened in his inebriated state, Reiji grabbed his own wine glass and raised it high. ❝ A toast, to our beloved God and our helpful servants. ❞ He smirked.

And then, fueled by the alcohol coursing through his veins, something inside Reiji snapped. In a moment of reckless abandon, he hurled the glass down. Shattering it into a million pieces, liquid pooling out like fresh blood. The smash wasn’t as loud as he had anticipated due to the carpet underneath them, but it was satisfying nonetheless. Maybe he’d come to regret this in the morning but what mattered was that he sure as hell didn’t regret it now. With three months left, his time was ticking.

Reiji’s reckless grin turned back to a scowl as he looked back at Arashi one last time, a crazed mix of satisfaction and rebellion in his eyes.

❝ We’re not your pets, God. ❞ He spat with so much force that the venom was almost tangible in his words. And with that, he briskly walked past, shoulder clipping Arashi’s on his way out. Kenta could follow him if he pleased but Reiji wasn’t going to look back.

He wouldn’t give Arashi the satisfaction.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Lost Echo]

Biting her lips as the dog took a moment to sort through the scents of everyone, Konishi breathed a sigh of relief at the head jerk. Following its direction, she turned to spot the lawyer, frowning as she realized her hair was blue and her dress had muted. She’d lost the color red without realizing it. She was more stressed by this decision than she thought. How was this going to work? Would Rui Xi even help her? Looking down at her dress, now a muted gray, she huffed a laugh at herself. Reaching a hand up to push at her glasses, she watched it disappear as it neared her nose. Yeah, her eyes had even changed.

Silently trying to will them round once more, she turned back to Koki. “Thank you,” she made sure to let the gratitude fill her voice. She liked Koki. There were many nights at the compound that she’d sneak into his room to get a hug and transform. Just thinking about it made her feel safe. Still, she bit her lip at his offer. She didn’t want to disturb him--or linger long enough to attract Tama’s attention--but with her eyes like this, she didn’t want to try to navigate. “Please?” Her voice sounded small, weak, cracking at the end.

But luck had abandoned her today. Of course Tama couldn’t just be content with the crowd hanging off his every word, no he needed to come and torment her. He never missed an opportunity. Raising her head to glare at her bully, she felt her eyes shift back so she could focus on his face as defensive anger filled her instead of the nagging worry. “I’m gonna try and do something; not just play around.” She scoffed, disgust clear in her voice, “You might be happy with last night, but some of us didn’t get smart animals, we have more to lose.” Stepping up beside Koki’s chair, she tried to snarl, “If last night is true, I’m going down screaming.” She didn’t clarify more. Knowing the monkey he would put a wrench in her plans just to make her suffer more. She'd probably already said too much

Scrunching her nose at what she knew was sarcasm, she still snapped, “What presence? All you are is an empty shell.” She needed to calm down. Turning from him, she took deep breaths to try and smother her anger. If she kept up this defensiveness, she’d never be able to talk to Rui Xi seriously. She was acting like a child. She wouldn’t apologize to Tama (unless Koki requested it), but she forcefully relaxed her shoulders and said without looking at him, “Nevermind. Like I said, some of us are taking last night harder than others.” The ‘you’ was implied. "I shouldn't have snapped." She wanted him to leave her alone, and letting him get to her would just keep him here longer, “The crowd’s waiting for you; we don’t want to keep you from them.”

mizton Aquarin

 

[mizton]

font callfont callfont call

mood | yawn

outfit | ♡

interactions | Aquarin + Lost Echo

the dog

though already wide in response to Konishi's thanks, Kōki's grin grew as the atmosphere around him brightened at the sound of free drinks. idly, his leg bounced to a degree that it gently bobbed the table & wrought a patron's hand at his thigh.

were people paying that night? surely the bar was open, right? how else had he gotten his drinks earlier that night? he'd foregone his wallet that night & the days prior now that the other zodiacs were beginning to return to the compound for new year's. it was a time of year where, if asked, those who'd foregone contact made it up to the pleading dog by buying him things; he was good at that.

figuring the election of words was just Tama's way of riling the table up, Kōki huffed a laugh in the host's direction. Tama's proximity to himself correlated almost exactly to the rate at which Kōki bounced his leg the way a dog wagged its tail. soon enough, he found himself looking up at the monkey with the easiest smirk about him, betrayed only by the shaking table that a patron - again - placed a hand at Kōki's person to calm.

"i do," conceded Kōki with a shrug when Tama prompted. though, for a voice as loud as his, his reply went under Konishi's; a first in his life, for sure.

for a moment, a pang of nostalgia shot through Kōki's chest the way his anxiety from earlier had with those women. it ached the same; he swallowed it just as heavily. from his seat, his head bobbed right to left between them - toward Konishi as she spat venom & back at Tama to gauge his reaction. all the time, neck craned upwards like he were again a new zodiac at the new year's party.

a child between arguing parents. between arguing zodiacs. servants. classmates. colleagues. practiced, his gaze slowly glazed over as Konishi went on. it fixated at a button on Tama's suit, then a stitch at Konishi's sweater-dress, then finally at the pendant which dangled from his own neck.

with his head down, propped up by a hand, his ears' - or more visibly, his fringe's - twitching was the only indication that he'd been listening to the two. he was otherwise off in a world of his own. he had to be; to stay here, he'd only invite stones casted. he wasn't one to speak; man didn't shoo away dogs like they did the other two.

it was only with Konishi's apology-adjacent remark regarding her snapping that Kōki again looked up at the scene. the sheep's breath trembled. the lingering few - the crowd Konishi mentioned - at the table held uncomfortable gazes that bore holes at the back of the monkey's head. the air's tension hung so heavy that a yawn drew itself out of Kōki.

"alright," he began when the condescension toward Tama grew a bit too much for even him. again, as he hadn't the slightest idea of the circumstance between then, he felt her anger a little misguided.

he raised his palms between them & then stirred from his seat with his arms extended above his head. with such a great stretch, his muscle even trembled. truly, a big stretch.

"we off?" he asked with a head tilted down at Konishi. without waiting for an answer, instead looking back at the eavesdropping table with a dropped grin that only reappeared when he looked at the other two hosts. he looked to Tama & beckoned him with a nod, "Tama, c'mon."

if Konishi looked toward him, so as to question his invitation toward the monkey's host, Kōki would give an uncaring grin down at those horns. again, he would chin-jerk toward Rui Xi's direction. time was a-wasting.

yamamori mika

night owl

 

[Steve Jobs]

The bridge between the Earth and the Heavens

Zhou Rui Xi

Rui Xi nodded at Akane's answer, somewhat envious that she couldn't say the same. Though her plate was still full, nothing could suppress the primal fear of regression. Deadlines could be pushed, clients could be sweet talked, and her partner would be nothing but understanding of her, but time stood still for no one. Certainly, she and Hibiki had discussed what would become of everyone once Hanako turned eighteen, but she doubted that either of them foresaw how quickly the rug was pulled from under them.

Her eyes narrowed towards a servant that stood two tables away from them, a willowy man with white hair. Despite the festivities they remained firmly in the background as if anticipating fallout from last night's announcement. This one in particular had been tailing Rui Xi since her arrival at the compound so it was no surprise that he was still here, crinkled skin demonstrating the years of mutual vexation. He wore his outfit well. The left sleeve of his kimono covered the bite marks that snaked up his forearm while the zori gave him just enough of a boost to look her in the eye.

"These are for you, it's important to stay hydrated."

Rui Xi's expression softened at the sound of Hanako's voice, turning to meet the youngest member of their "family."

"I'll have to decline but thank you Little Mouse," she smiled, taking another sip of her champagne.

Even among the more sensitive hosts, Hanako was a delicate case. Timid in mixed company and perpetually skittish, her heart likely worked twice as hard as everyone else's to keep herself composed.

"If anything, you should grab a drink of your own," Rui Xi shrugged, gesturing to one of the many waiters circling the room, "we deserve far more than what the world has given us for all these years."

mood | Life's a bitch

scroll

location | Zodiac Compound

outfit | Red, Floral Qipao

tag | Akane leviohsa , Hanako SavannahSmiles

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[cwosont]

arashi.

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"You're really enjoying this, aren't you? Is it some kind of power trip for you? It's pathetic, honestly, if you think that chaining us to you is going to fill that massive void you’ve got inside.”

Arashi’s eyes narrowed as his anger flared at Kenta’s stinging words. They lifted his head to stare back up at the horse just as fiercely as he did. Kenta looming over him, words sharp and muscles taut, felt painfully nostalgic. Arashi once held the horse in the palm of his hand. Or at least, that was how Arashi chose to remember it. God was always the one meant to hold the power, to bend the Zodiacs to his will. That’s what they told him. The truth was too suffocating to admit. It was better to ache than to bleed.

“Go ahead, keep pretending that you're in control," Kenta continued, "But mark my words, Arashi - when we're gone, all you'll be left with is your own crippling loneliness."

“You already made sure of that,”

Arashi snapped, raising their voice higher than he would have liked. God took a step back. The glass beneath his fingertips threatened to shatter under the weight of their anger. Arashi took a long sip of his drink to compose himself as Kenta spoke to Reiji.

“Just a second Kenta, I’m not done.” God lowered his glass and faced the cat head on.

“A toast, to our beloved God and our helpful servants.”

Time seemed to slow as Reiji’s glass shattered at Arashi’s feet. Deep crimson pooled under their pale gaze and Arashi felt an uncomfortable twist in his stomach.

“We’re not your pets, God.”

A thin, uneven line shot across the side of Arashi’s flute glass. Their eyes lifted from the stained carpet to it. One more squeeze and it would shatter just as Reiji’s had. It would be so easy. All eyes were already on him, weren’t they? Why not make a scene? Arashi’s jaw clenched and his hand trembled. What would they do? Arashi looked up and searched the crowd for the pair of eyes he knew were always watching. She was standing in the back, looking as grim as she always did. Arashi stared, long and hard. Would they grab him in front of the whole crowd and drag him away? Or would they try to maintain appearances and whisper threats into their ear?

Arashi was the first to look away. They always were. God heard himself laugh as he handed off his glass to one of the two waiters who rushed over to clean up the mess. He turned on his heel and walked away as if nothing had happened. Arashi forcibly released the tension from their shoulders and sought out the bar for another drink to keep himself from fidgeting. Takumi and Hibiki weren’t hard to spot from there, off in the distance.

“Are all of you alcoholics now?”

God questioned with a roll of their eyes. He then reached out to tug lightly at a few strands of Hibiki’s hair, tilting their head in observation. Arashi had always been fond of the red undertones in the rooster’s hair.

“Hm.”

They let go without explanation.

“Tell me now if either of you are feeling hostile, because I’m really not in the mood for another tantrum.”

cry for love

백현

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[leviohsa]

/* ------ left side ------ */

/* ------ left side info ------ */

mood curious, concerned

location gala

outfit this

tag mizton & Lost Echo

Nakano Murasaki

/* ------ right side ------ */

As much as Murasaki wished that fresh air would help alleviate the heavy weight pushing down upon her clothed chest, it only made things worse. The sight of the familiar compound, with its forestry surrounding it left her with nothing but memories to ponder on. The boar's heart ached, gloved hands balled into fists for a brief moment, before her fingers extended once more. With no extra noise from the party inside, her shaky breath felt loud. Especially since she could feel the eyes of a servant from behind her. It is to be expected, on a night such as this. After so many years, Saki had learned to simply accept their prescence. Tonight would be no different.

Saki knew better than to leave herself alone. Especially if she did not have a gym to decompress in, or a canvas to paint on. The thought of her favorite pastime willed her gaze to lower to her gloved hands. How much longer will she have them? Will she ever bear to look at her fingers uncovered? The thought made her grimace, finalizing her decision to make her way back inside.

The sudden onslaught of polite chatter and traditional music was the slap of clarity she needed. Cool air conditioning fanned her scarred face, brown waves lifting slightly as she brought herself back indoors. Out of all of her fellow zodiacs, Murasaki knew that she had the least amount of room to complain. They were all so young.. some not even able to have lived much of their lives at all thanks to the overbearing servants.

A familiar lump formed in her throat, prompting her to swipe a flute from a passing tray and take a quick sip. Bubbly, carbonated liquid luck would surely help shove down the odd amalgamation of feelings stirring up within her, right?

Warm brown eyes scanned the room, wondering how the rest were holding up. As expected, everyone looked tense. However, Saki couldn't help but overhear Konishi's increasingly distressed voice. The sound made the older woman's brow furrow, before making her way over to the teacher. Once she came closer, Saki realized immediately that a servant was the cause of this ordeal.

The Boar frowned, giving the elder woman a look of disgust before addressing Konishi,

"Hey, you two.." Saki acknowledged Koki with a quick glance, her gloved hand still holding onto her flute of champagne, "Is everything okay?" Genuine concern was evident in her demeanor. To further aid Konishi, Saki made it a point to casually stand in between the servant and the blonde, as if the stoic old woman wasn't standing a mere few feet behind the brunette. While Saki was used to the servants and their incessant need to observe, many of the others were not. The servants knew this too, and yet, they never cared.

The thought brought up a slight resurgence of resentment, but Saki quickly replaced it with a fierce need to be there for the other zodiac.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[nyxievous]

scroll

the horse

Kenta

mood

concerned

outfit

in pic above

interactions

rei

Tensions in the room had reached a precarious threshold, and Kenta couldn't help but feel the stifling grip of their shared fate pressing down on him. He despised the unbreakable bond that tethered them together, the very bond that often forced him to yield when every fiber of his being screamed for defiance. When would he be free of these suffocating chains, he pondered bitterly? For now, all he had at his disposal were words, and even those felt insufficient. A quick, stolen glance at Arashi revealed a flicker of success in his endeavor to provoke the God. Yet, the satisfaction was fleeting, leaving an odd emptiness in its wake.

Another wave of dissatisfaction washed over Kenta as he began to regret offering Reiji those drinks earlier. While he understood that Reiji was an adult fully capable of making his own choices, Kenta couldn't help but feel partly responsible for what happened next.

The shattering of glass against the carpet drew a collective gasp from the onlookers, their hungry eyes tracking Reiji's swift departure like vultures circling prey, and Kenta couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for his friend, caught in the spotlight's unrelenting glare. Kenta's gaze met Arashi's briefly, but the God's attention was directed elsewhere. Intrigued, he tried to follow their line of sight, yet the crowd obscured the identity of the person who had captured the God's attention. Not that Kenta had any real interest in what held Arashi's gaze, or so he told himself.

Amidst the commotion and the scurrying waitstaff tasked with cleaning the mess, Kenta made his move to follow in the wake of the departing Cat. He navigated through the throng of eager spectators, keenly aware of the suffocating attention pressing in from all sides. He usually reveled in attention, but this was a different kind - it felt as if he were a specimen on display at a zoo and he didn't care much for it.

Snagging a glass of water along the way, he finally caught up with the raven-haired man outside, where the cool night air provided a welcome respite from the stifling atmosphere indoors. Kenta couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for Reiji’s courage. He understood the weight of those words, the liberation they represented. And while it was a breath of fresh air, he also understood that it could not have been easy to stand up to the very entity they were all supposed to revere, especially in such a public setting.

Despite the disarray of emotions swirling within him, Kenta's concern for Reiji remained at the forefront of his thoughts as he inquired, "Are you alright? That was…something else." His hand extended tentatively toward Reiji's back, hovering but not quite making contact. "I brought you some water."

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[peachiepalette]

takumi

scroll

mood

Calm before the storm

location

Zodaic Compound - Charity Gala

outfit

✻✻✻

tag

Hibiki oishui , Arashi cwosont

No one could ever accuse Takumi of doing “too much.” “The most.” “Putting on a show.”

This could still be said for the Ox. Established on the edge of the charity gala, Takumi stood as a lamppost – unwavering, still, offering up about as much conversation as a wall. It seemed the same as always: these events were just a coming and going of others and particularly fake smiles, pleasantries exchanged that meant absolutely nothing, a group of people who meant nothing and yet everything to each other all the same. It was safe to say that while he had never felt quite comfortable at these events, he had never hated them either. Things often seemed to go smoothly enough for him, and the drinking and partying and catching up was enough to keep him satisfied amidst the manipulation and emotional abuse that the Zodiac so often suffered behind closed doors. With a sidelong glance at a certain God, the artist weighed his previous choices. Remaining close to home seemed to have its perks, and in doing so, Takumi almost was sure he had it much easier than the ones who had left. There would be more punishment to pay than their incoming deadline.

Arashi could make these last three months an absolute hell.

With what could only be described as mild irritation and maybe less, he settled on the fact that perhaps everyone was acting this way because the situation itself was… frustrating. Seeing it from other’s eyes, imagining what they were feeling beneath his own lack of care, it was considerably reasonable to feel the singe of anger and harbored feelings that were now bubbling to the surface. They had simmered for too long, all of them. Takumi was no longer the king of outbursts and it seemed that others had taken up the task in his stead. With the breaking of glass just near him, he realized with certainty that Arashi would be making his way to him soon. And Hibiki– Who was currently… busy.

Coal eyes landed on the Rooster, intermingling (so to speak) with other guests. In a fluid motion, Takumi had moved to the redhead’s side and murmured something akin to ”They won’t tolerate that,” in his ear. If Arashi found Hibiki in this state and was already containing anger, Takumi didn’t want to stick around for the aftermath. Steering Hibiki away from friends, the pair met Arashi with barely any time to gather themselves. In one fell swoop, Takumi downed the rest of his drink just as Arashi spoke their first words of the evening to them.

“Are all of you alcoholics now?”

Tolerant. Even in the face of taunting.

Takumi could be best described as just a witness in these charades, and since coming to the conclusion that the evening would be full of other outbursts, Takumi gave a nod to his childhood in the simplest of ways; he would make a comment at his own expense and perhaps save Arashi that trouble. Deadpanned and exchanging his empty glass for a full one as a server came around, the Ox spoke carelessly with an almost grim smile, “I’m not really one for tantrums anymore. Unless Hibiki has something to say, we might be your safest bet.”

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

 

[leviohsa]

the rabbit.

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  rui xi, tech everyone
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

The lack of small-talk from the Dragon helped Akane lessen her anxieties. Silence fell between them, over a decade separating the pair. However, her mind was buzzing with her speech, words echoing within her skull over and over again.

To distract herself, she brought her gaze over to Rui Xi, taking her in. Despite being told that her lifespan was dramatically shortened, the older zodiac never failed to impress. Now that Akane thought about it, Rui Xi has always been put together from the moment she met the renowned zodiac. The blonde couldn't help but admire the woman sitting across from her. Despite the lackluster news, Rui Xi knew who she was. Akane?

She didn't have a clue.

Realizing she had been staring for too long, Akane let out a quiet giggle, feigning the coy politeness of an idol, rather than a lost girl.

"Apologies for staring, Rui Xi."

She smiled as she spoke, feeling herself nestle back into the comfort of denial. A rabbit backing itself into its burrow.

"I'm just amazed by your qipao."

A half-lie. But now was not the time to wonder about how Rui Xi was so comfortable in her identity. Instead, she took another sip of her water, being sure to not lose any of her carefully applied lipstick. Once finished, she looked around again, waving at a few eager passerby with an endearing smile. Polite comments expressing their excitement for her speech and compliments on her outfit left the idol Akane smiling bashfully whilst thanking them humbly. A character so easily played, soon to be put on display once more.

A servant who stood behind the blonde leaned down next to her ear, making her gasp out of fear. The damned servant knew of her newfound skittishness, so why torture her?

"It is time."

The young woman did her very best to hide the fact that her heart was pounding in her chest from the abrupt interruption, fingers wrapped so tightly around the arms of her chair that her knuckles were white. However, the fear left as quickly as it came once Akane stood up.

"Sorry, Rui Xi, I must go. I'll catch you later though!"

Her voice now compared to when she first spoke to the Dragon were polar opposites. Light, airy, and optimistic. A Zodiac ready to celebrate the New Year of the Rabbit.

Akane waved Rui Xi goodbye as she followed the servant, who slowed his steps to walk by the Rabbit's side,

"You did not seek approval for your speech." His voice was stern, a calm rumble beside her. Akane merely laughed, smiling at him,

"Oh, sir, there's nothing to worry abou-"

"You will follow our revised version." Bubbly reassurance was cut off by swift correction. The Rabbit never faltered, even at the sight of a small stack of no more than two index cards being taken out of the servant's pocket. The pair remained out of earshot from the guests, walking along the walls of the large venue as they conversed.

It wasn't much of a conversation, though, and Akane knew when to back down. Of all days, tonight was not the night to try and play rebel. So, without another word, Akane gently took the pair of cards while she was escorted towards the small stage. The closer she got, the more she noticed the carefully selected decorum. A backdrop of red and pink orchids created an archway a few feet behind the ornate podium, which was clad with a simple chain of purple lilies hanging off the front.

It was extremely on-the-nose, and left Akane nearly feeling nauseous at the onslaught of intense smells. Especially once she strode closer and closer to her fellow Zodiacs, all radiating a type of tension no one else in the room could ever understand.

Whilst walking, Akane stole a glance at the cards in her hand, wanting to at least get an idea of what she will be saying to her audience. Smiling gently, she looked over at the servant,

"It's lovely.."

A bright smile shined bright against the man's emotionless expression, but it didn't waver. It couldn't.

It didn't take long for her to be introduced by God-knows-who, and soon enough, the idol seemingly floated onto the stage, walking smoothly towards her specially-made podium.

Akane didn't remember much. Reassurances of prosperity, togetherness, and good fortune. An abundance of thanks for those who invest in the Zodiac... And lastly,

"May the New Year of the Rabbit provide us peace, harmony, and..."

Akane faltered for a moment, red eyes looking glossy before speaking again with a reassuring smile,

"...longevity."

Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, she waved the room goodbye before making her way off the small stage. Was this some kind of cruel joke? No, Akane knew it was to save face. To keep the world from knowing the ugly truth.

What's worse, is that after all her efforts to distract herself from the inevitable, it came tumbling back at her with full force. Instead of being a good Rabbit and tending to the guests, she bee-lined it for the bathroom, locking the door after slamming it closed. Hot tears began to fall down, forcing Akane to lean over the sink so that they wouldn't leave streaks on her powdered cheeks.

All that could be heard from outside the door were her shaky breaths, and nothing more.

lost soul down

nbsplv

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Lost Echo]

She tried to stay quiet, but luck had abandoned her today. A servant, one of many she recognized but never knew the name of, approached, already frowning. When questioned why she was looking for the dragon zodiac, Konishi looked down, hunching her shoulders. Unwilling to make eye contact with the one who was still an authority figure, for all Konishi was an adult, she mumbled, “She seemed to take last night seriously. I just wanted to talk to her about it.” Biting her lip, she glanced at Koki, knowing the dog was probably curious too. Still, when pressed further, she found her voice rising in distress, “It’s just, with, with, well, what’s coming” her voice broke a little and she clenched her fists. She wouldn’t cry. “It’d be best to clear the air.”

Everything in her relaxed at the familiar voice interrupting whatever the servant would have said next. Saki was her refuge, even now. As a child, the woman was the eye of the storm, strong and sure of herself. Even now, the boar was everything Konishi wished to be. Raising her gaze to meet the brown eyes of her friend, she managed a smile as she lied, “Yeah.” Her eyes flicked to the servant, now less intimidating when seen over Murasaki’s shoulder, as they nodded and excused themselves.

Stretched her sleeves over her hands, gripping the soft fabric. It was a reminder of who she was. And what she was going to lose. But with Saki here, the burning behind her eyes had faded and she felt like she could speak again. “Koki helped me find Rui Xi. We were just gonna go see her before…” She turned her head and looked in the direction the servant had disappeared, “Before we were interrupted.” She worried what the servants would do. But with Rui Xi on her side, then what could they do?

“Will you come too?” She reminded Saki’s promises of the dragon’s integrity. She knew the boar didn’t necessarily agree with airing all of the secrets of the compound. Her presence would support her. Even after the time apart, Konishi still found strength near her.

mizton leviohsa

 

[kunikuzushi]

scroll

THE CAT

mood: sadge

interactions:
kenta

location: right outside the main area of the gala

Still nervous from the Cat’s dramatic outburst, the small crowd of onlookers parted for Reiji. Wary eyes both scornful and afraid, watched as he walked past— too afraid to stand too close, too afraid to touch him, too afraid of what Reiji represented. A bitter part of him inside sneered at the thought.

The satisfaction from stepping up to the God had already started to dissipate as he left the scene. Fists clenched, he kept his head high and forced his quivering mouth into a flat line.

He blamed the sting in his eyes on the alcohol.

Encounters with Arashi always left him on edge and on the verge of doing something stupid, even without the help of liquid courage, but what he did was unheard of. His knees felt weak as he walked but he kept his eyes steely and focused ahead. The alcohol had certainly taken its toll and he couldn’t afford being vulnerable in front of all these people, especially after such a stupid action that he’d no doubt get punished for in the morning.

Reiji finally let himself stumble when he got far enough from the crowd, his drunken steps leading him outside. He didn’t realize he was shaking until he stepped away. Cold air embraced him with a chilly flourish as he took in a deep breath. The night air did little to calm his mind but it was a welcome relief nonetheless.

His senses were muted with inebriation and he barely registered Kenta’s approach, still reeling from the confrontation a few minutes before.

“Are you alright? That was…something else."

Reiji didn’t bother turning around to face the other man. ❝ Just fantastic. ❞ He snapped, the glasses Reiji drank had sapped him of all social pretences and he didn’t care to muster the energy to be polite in his drunken state. Exhaustion was starting to take over his body and he crumpled to the ground, barely steadying himself enough to sit down on the pavement.

"I brought you some water." The raven haired man looked up in surprise at the Horse’s words. He silently accepted the glass from Kenta but inched away from the other man. He was still getting used to being in close proximity with other people. Instead of speaking, Reiji looked down at his glass. He frowned at his barely visible reflection in the cup. His cheeks were flushed red from alcohol and the lingering vestiges of anger from that unsavoury encounter.

After a long silence, Reiji finally spoke. ❝ Why are you even here. ❞ He started, gaze still on the glass. ❝ You can leave. I don’t need a babysitter. ❞

♡coded by uxie♡