--Faerie--

[stripartist]

[A beautiful white fox sleeps on a stump outside the village. Most of the villagers are unsure of the fox, as white foxes aren't typical here and it might be a bad omen. But so far nothing has happened, so no one has tried to chase it off.

The only reason nothing has happened yet is because Yusuke is recovering from travel. Once he's had a good long nap, he plans on making this village part of his new kingdom and will be inspecting it.]

Comments

[hoshikiri]

[And he does. Most of the time Takame's tone contained little emotion. But some leaked into it here. Sorrow.]

I was not living... I have felt nothing since the last time I saw my mother alive... Yusuke makes me feel alive... he brings light and color into my life...

[stripartist]

I try. ...your mother?

[hoshikiri]

I've not been called by my given name since the last time I saw her. She was killed. Then I was taken to help occupy territory in the west.

I have been known as Tsurugi for most of my life... Yusuke calls me Takame. I like how Yusuke says my name... how his song sounded the day he took me here...

[He was leaning even more into the touch and not thinking about his words at all.]

[stripartist]

[It's almost as if he's forgotten he's talking to Yusuke.]

...my mother was taken from me, as well. She was sick, and my former teacher let her die. I wonder if that's why my song affected you so strongly.

[hoshikiri]

[Perhaps he has. He just knew he was talking to someone worthy of his trust and more.]

I dream about his song... I dream about him... I fear waking up and not hearing him or sensing him... I never want to be without him... I never want to see him despair... I want to give him all that I am.

[stripartist]

[Oh he is gone. And he's barely done anything.]

Would it be better if you slept with me, Takame?

[hoshikiri]

[Imagine how he'll be when Yusuke does court him properly.]

Do you want me to?

[stripartist]

I...wouldn't complain. It's very lonely in my bedroom, after all.

[hoshikiri]

Lonely...?

[Takame took one of Yusuke's hands, looking at him face to face.]

I... I don't want Yusuke to feel lonely. I love Yusuke.

I love you...

[stripartist]

[What.

Yusuke blinks, stunned.]

You--truly? Already?

[hoshikiri]

I...

[He started to shrink into himself, away from Yusuke.]

I'm sorry... Forgive me, I... I shouldn't have... said anything. I-I don't know what came over me... I was not thinking.

[He really wasn't, he was just so relaxed that it slipped out. How foolish of him.]

[stripartist]

No, shush, it's okay, Takame. I just...want to know if you mean it.

[hoshikiri]

... I do. I... I feel as though I fell for you as soon as I heard your song. As soon as I was drawn to your domain...

[He held Yusuke's hand tighter.]

[stripartist]

Then will you let me court you, Ame?

[hoshikiri]

Please... please do.

[A head tilt.]

"Ame"...?

[stripartist]

Ah. A nickname. Is that okay?

[hoshikiri]

[Probably for the first time since he arrived... Takame had a warm smile on his face.]

Mm. It is. I like it.

[stripartist]

[Oh that smile. Yusuke blushes a little.]

My Ame. Let me finish tending your scales? And then dinner and then...sleep?

[hoshikiri]

... Mm. Your Ame.

[Takame liked this. The idea of being his. It gave him... a purpose finally. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against Yusuke's.]

Yes, please.

[stripartist]

[So cute. And so quick to fall for him. Impressive.

Yusuke moves Takame to his room that evening, and they sleep the night away in each other's arms. That becomes their new normal. Yusuke loves it.

A few months pass like this. Takame's change is slow so as not to aggravate him too much, but by now he has scales and the start of horns. (And teeth, his teeth are much sharper now.) He is so clearly a dragon-in-the-making.

So it's a bit weird when he's taken from Yusuke's home by a more powerful being, talking the entire time about making Takame his.]

[hoshikiri]

[That first night is some of the best unassisted sleep Takame ever got. Every night afterwards was spent with this man he fell in love with in record time. The changes were slow and sometimes irritating if not painful. When his horns began to grow especially he suffered from headaches for a while. They're less frequent now thankfully. And he's drawn blood on his lip more than once when his sharper teeth were still new. He was adjusting as well as a human could to a complete change like this.

When he woke to being taken by this stronger being those teeth were on full display as he snarled at it from wherever he was taken to.]

Where...?! Where am I, where is my Yusuke?!

[stripartist]

[He's in some cave system, surrounded by people who are probably meant to be guards.

One them just laughs.]

Eh, shuddup. Your new master'll be here soon~

[hoshikiri]

[There's a growl. Loud and threatening and decidedly not human at all. The changes were really showing.]

Answer my questions and I may yet show you mercy. Where am I. And where is my Yusuke.

[stripartist]

I'unno, crying over missing you? Who knows with that idiot.

[hoshikiri]

Don't you dare insult him... you worthless FUCKING WRETCH.

[What followed could only be described as a bloodbath. Armed or not, Takame could make use of anything around him as an improvised weapon. Stones, crags, enemy weapons, his own developing talons... anything.

Amidst the sea of violence, there was a wide variety of "warnings" he got out. More like last rites, though.]

Never speak ill of my beloved again. I am Yusuke's and ONLY YUSUKE'S. WHERE IS HE?!

[Anyone left alive by the sheer good graces of Takame finding them useful will see a horrifying sight of a man with murder behind his eyes and his robes stained with blood like something straight out of a nightmare.]