kaisou | 1; you'll make it out my friend

[Lorenzo had settled into Meropide last month. Sure the place didn't have natural light, the rustic nature while appealing to some brought back the occasional bad memory. That was something he could solve by going above-ground though. He was free to move as much as he wanted. It was nice.

But on one of those sleepless nights of his he'd heard a request from the Big Guy in his head.

Lorenzo, there's something below I want to see.

It wasn't a huge ask. And it was late anyway. No one would notice him moving around at this time. Or so he assumed. But it's some point extremely late at night that Lorenzo started moving into the deepest parts of the fortress to find whatever the Big Guy wanted to see.]

[Lighter sighed. Standing outside of a pretty high end dress shop that definitely had some really nice ones that would have matched the red scarf really well. But he can't find it for anything.

And he was really cut up about it. Sure, he could get an accessory scarf but... it wouldn't be the same.

Well, he promised anyway he'd do some window shopping and set up a mood board for Jun to help with his outfits for that drag contest. Victory at all costs, after all.

But also.]

"At all costs", sure. But does that gotta mean at all price tags, too?

[Well, Lighter was feeling very strange and restless all day. Must be something in the water. Big Guy seemed to be having a chuckle at something at his expense just seconds from breaking into the most boisterous laugh this side of any Viking, so to speak.

He wanted to have a late night ride, but instead called it an early day and went back home.

Then the sun set, night started to settle in and he felt like his body itself was. Shifting. Fur patches appeared where they were not before. It was way too hot to wear fur and he didn't like it anyway. Then then pain set in.

Then suddenly he'd found himself shifting into a full on wolf of all things! So, dogs of Meropide you will be hearing a new Awoooooooo tonight.

If anyone was curious and came to find the source of the New Awoo, you'll find a black wolf, some torn clothes and a pair of familiar sunglasses on its head. And then Lighter's voice.]

Uh. Hey.

[...]

I don't know how this happened. Does being around so many dog people make you turn into one or something?

[It's likely at some point towards the end of designated work hours, whichever day Maxima decided on last month, when Lighter came to the other man's work space. He entered, knocking his knuckles rhythmically against a wall he was now leaning on.

He was dressed somewhat casually still save for a stylish red scarf around his neck.]

Caught up for the day? I remember I promised a certain someone I'd buy him some drinks.

[Said looking above the rim of his dark shades with an illegally charming smirk.]

[Newly arrived to Kaisou, Jane is taking in the sights and sounds.]

[And that means seeing one Lighter, looking intently at a display window.]

[Well, she's new here. There's never a bad time to start making a good impression with the locals, right?]

Oh, do you want the scarf? I'm a pro at acquiring goods, you know. No price tag required.

[She does not mean stealing.]

[But it sure does sound like it.]

Hm?

[He didn't realize someone else was window shopping with him. But seeing this mysterious woman next to him made him do a double take. Has he run into her before? He'd probably remember, right? "Thiren" came to mind immediately, but lots of people had animal ears and stuff here.

He brushed it off for now.]

Not really. I have a scarf I'm already attached to. [He just lost it and is sad about it.] I'm a pro at acquiring goods myself and sending them where they need to go.

[This can mean anything. He means this in both dubious and legal means. And Door Dash.]

I wasn't looking to buy quite yet, anyway. Just window shopping and I thought this red dress looked real nice and would suit me. [said as it's not fuckin weird for a very masc looking guy person to want a dress.]

Oh? But you were looking at it so intently.

[Jane Doe, why are you like this?]

[Jane Doe!!!]

It seems I've met my match, then. But I agree, that dress would look lovely on you. With some nice accessories to match.

[He has to be doing this on purpose. Maxima knows by now that Lighter likes men, and...a man who looks like that, sounds like that, simply cannot be unaware of the effect he has when he acts this way.

Before the changes kicked in, he would have started blushing from the ears first. That can't exactly happen anymore, but much to his eternal chagrin the response that replaces it is furry canine ears perking up slightly from where they're usually laid flat against his hair, and his tail starting to wag lazily. Someday, perhaps, he'll figure out how to keep that from happening.]

I do seem to remember that. [He stretches maybe a bit deliberately before getting up - he's in good shape, and if Lighter is going to be looking at him like that, he may as well have something to look at.] There's nothing else that can't wait for another day.

[His smile is as good-natured as ever, but the eye contact lingers a little more than usual.] Where is it that we're going?

Was I? I thought I was looking at it in a pretty normal way.

[Lighter, your normal way of looking at things is intently.]

Thanks, I thought so too. [Lighter.]

That reminds me I ought to see what accessories would work. I've never done a drag performance before. I probably shouldn't get something easily damaged, huh?

[Why are you like this.]

It's in your eyes. People's true motives always hide behind their eyes.

[Jane, be normal for once!! Jane!!!]

I could help you look, if you want. I'm a master of disguise.

... That's not a thing people normally say.

[You know when Lighter is calling you out there's a problem. But he also didn't like the idea of someone he didn't know seeing behind his shades and his eyes.]

You can, but I'm not really looking for a disguise. Just an outfit for a performance. You new in town? They're doing a big drag competition at the Vogue Theater. I'd give the place a look, it's real nice.

[August seems to not have remained cursed to be an animal after leaving Kaisou, but he decided to come down to Meropide anyway to help if anyone needs it.

And also finish the last little bit of a commission, but it literally just needed hemming and he finished that pretty quickly.

So he's just wandering the halls when he finds...]

This is new, I take it?

[Maxima would be surprised, because it's a 50/50 shot on whether the flirting is intentional or not at any other moment. Otherwise, Lorenzo didn't think himself as anything special.

He found the ears and tail cute by now and he wasn't going to judge considering someone in his brain tripped the compulsion to pet a stranger again. But Maxima certainly was in damn good shape, Lighter could tell that from a glance. Fighters know fighters and he is looking respectfully. Tilting the glasses back up so the Respectfully is a little more hidden.]

A Hole-in-the-Wall type pub at the edge of the Entertainment District. The place gets shady at night, so people usually don't bat an eye at it and think it's a front. What they do behind the veil isn't my business, frankly.

A queer couple founded it in the 80's, so everyone's welcome. [Said spinning a bike helmet in his other hand.]

You ever rode on a motorcycle before?

Yeah, pretty new.

[There was a tinge of helplessness in his tone because what the fuck.]

I've been feeling off all day and thinking I must've caught hay fever or something. So I called it early then this happened. What exactly is going on?

[He sounded more nonchalant than most people do in this circumstance. Meanwhile in his head Tyr is having a field day.

Man's best friend has rubbed off on you well, Lorenzo! Hahahaha!

Yeah, yeah, very funny...]

What can I say? I’m not normal people.

[real and true]

Sure, I’d like to. I’m new in town so I’d like to see as much as I can. Really find out how the locals live, y’know?

It sounds perfect. [Exactly the kind of place he can feel comfortable unwinding a little bit. And once he's familiar with it, even if tonight doesn't go anywhere other than drinks and companionship he can go back there himself another time and look for someone to leave with.

As far as the motorcycle... (19)]

Quite a bit, actually, when I was younger. They were used as scouting vehicles in the military - quicker and more agile than the armored walkers with their mounted weaponry. But it's been years now.

[Also he was always riding alone before.]

Well, first of all, did anyone bite you recently? Or did this just sorta happen?

[...]

That's kind of a weird question, but no. The only one that's bitten me is her.

[Said gesturing at the Mini Australian Shepherd napping in the corner next to her Boxer sibling.]

I think she's a puppy, so she's still learning not to bite. But that happened a couple days ago and she didn't even break skin. This just happened out of nowhere as far as I know.

You'll fit right into this town, then.

[It's a compliment. Heck, it's why Lighter liked the place.]

You'll find a lot of them in the Entertainment District. Pride month's in full swing and no matter where you go you're gonna find people supporting each other.

[It's both the truth and a threat so thinly veiled it would take a military grade microscope to see it. This Thiren woman wasn't exactly making a good case for being trustworthy.]

It's only a weird question if you don't know how many goddamn werewolves are running around Kaisou.

[He's just saying. Also please pardon him, he has to coo over the baby puppy.

Anyway.]

Did you piss off any weirdly pretty people?

Really? I guess if you're riding them for that, it's not that surprising.

[It would genuinely floor Lighter if Maxima had gotten up to motorcycle riding as a hobby. He didn't seem like the type. Then again, one shouldn't judge a book by its cover.]

That means we can save some time going over the bare basics. You don't mind riding pillion this time, do you?

[why are you like this]

... I see. Noted.

[He knew werewolves were a thing and has for a while but good lord how many are in Kaisou and how many will he have left to pet? God help him.

Also the puppy will hear the cooing and trot on over to August with the cutest lil' wiggle butt you ever done seen. It was hilarious, honesty, how much Lighter in this new form towered over both his dogs.

Even more hilarious how he was tilting his head like a regular puppy while he was this massive wolf.]

I don't think so? I passed one real good looking guy with dark hair at the parking lot the other day, but that's it.

[The guy had a wedding ring on his finger anyway and seemed to be in a cheerful mood. Like good lord, Lighter swore he saw sparkles coming off the guy.]

[Jane is more than aware enough to see through to the threat.]

[So they defend each other. That's good to see.]

It's always heartwarming to see people supporting each other. It sounds like the people here have built a really strong community.

Then it's probably just Kaisou Level Bullshit, Furry Edition. Congrats on your paws?

[Welp.]

I guess I dodged it for long enough. I'll just have to work around it but it seems like I'll have a lot of help around the Fortress.

[Half to himself:]

I'm not gonna have to find a way to pet myself, am I?

[Ach, I'll take it easy on you this time!

... At least there's that. And okay, it is a little bit funny.]

1; you'll make it out my friend

Early June, Late at Night within Meropide

Some time before the Drag Competition, around town

Whenever the Full Moon hits, Meropide

Closed to Maxima

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject