[ Two moon cycles in, the Moonblessed are very aware of the, well, moonblessings. Apparently even people who are not native to the world still fall victim to the whims of its moons.
It was only a matter of time before Arenvald woke up one morning to find himself just as much a victim as everyone else. He didn't quite expect the grand way in which his moonblessing would show itself. An early-morning glance in the mirror causes him to double-take, and sure enough, sprouting from the top of his head are a pair of tall rabbit's ears, the same color as his hair with darker brown fur at the top.
Even if he did know it was coming, it's still surprising - a bit alien as well, though if he concentrates he can move them around a bit. There's nothing to be done for it, he supposes, and meanders out into the apartment proper. ]
Connor?
[ He assumes his new roommate is around, somewhere. ]
...Actually, though, the android isn't undertaking a grand cooking feat. He's just put a few slices of bread into the equivalent of a rather strangely-shaped toaster, figuring that keeping himself busy in the morning also entails being kind enough to make his roommate a quick breakfast now and again.
He's already heard shuffling, registered in his audio processing, and so it's no surprise when he hears his name fall off of Arenvald's lips. Connor turns his head to look at him with a faint grin.]
Good morning, Arenvald. Are you hun-
[But in his periphery, he notes something strange. It's enough to make him turn around fully (revealing Connor dressed in dark jeans and a white button-up, though he has the sleeves partly rolled up today) and blink at him in mild surprise.]
[ He wonders if this is how Connor felt with his canine ears, because he picks up the sounds coming from the kitchen area long before he even makes it over there. He’s not sure just what his friend is doing with the… toaster, was it? The toaster, but he’s sure he’ll find out.
First thing’s first, though. ]
Ah, yeah. [ He reaches up, a bit self-consciously to prod at the new developments on the top of his head. ] I just woke up like this.
[ And indeed he did, still dressed in the loose-fitting shirt and pants he uses for sleeping. His face is still bare, but Connor has seen his scars before, so he doesn’t mind letting them show when it’s just the two of them. ]
[If Connor looks like he’s staring for a moment, as if his programming is trying to parse this new “look” for Arenvald— then it’s probably because he is. It’s not so much alarm as it is curiosity, though, given that they knew something was bound to happen eventually. It was only ever a matter of what, and Connor had wondered to himself more than once how it would manifest.
Not all concern is swept away, though, because according to what he’s heard, the changes aren’t always physical.
He steps forward finally, forgetting about the toast for a second.]
Yes, eventually. But has anything else changed? [Eyes flick up to the ears again, assessing.]
[ He tries his best not to fidget under Connor’s gaze, though he only succeeds somewhat. It’s hard not to be embarrassed, even if it is only natural that his friend would be curious, since Arenvald had done as much when Connor suddenly sprouted canine ears. ]
Not that I’m aware of?
[ No tail, no fur in odd places. He certainly doesn’t feel any different, apart from his new enhanced sense of hearing. ]
That's good. After what I've heard about personality changes, or temperament alterations-
[He reaches out and up, almost automatically. Connor is too used to being able to investigate oddities when they crop up (it's part and parcel of his programming to be curious, to be tactile with that curiosity), but a sudden cognizance stills his hand. His thought is cut short, realizing he should ask permission first.]
[ Arenvald wonders if he would really notice if the Moonblessing was making him feel differently, but the ears certainly feel alien so perhaps any alterations to his mood would as well. As best he can tell, his temperament is the same as ever.
His eyes flick to Connor's hand, and he can't help but smile. He did practically the exact same thing when Connor wound up with a new pair of ears as well. ]
It's fine. I don't mind.
[ He and Connor are about the same height, but the ears easily add another foot or more to Arenvald, so he tilts his head a bit for Connor. ]
[The permission is all he needs to reach out and... gently touch Arenvald's ears, which his friend is kind enough to tilt in his direction.]
They're soft. [Comes the laughably simple reply, relaying what the sensors at his fingertips are telling him.]
This might sound strange, but they suit you.
[Connor is briefly bolder with his touch, lightly pressing with his fingers to stroke an ear. Not at all weird, okay, petting his friend. Even (or especially) as the moonlacing begins to kick in.] Do you have an opinion of them yet?
[ When someone hands Arenvald something and tells him it's for his own protection, he doesn't take that lightly, but somewhere in the chaos that followed the aligning of all three moons at once, Arenvald lost his bracelet. Perhaps he snagged it on something or someone, or perhaps one of those dog creatures tore it free. Whatever it was, his protection against the influence of the moons was removed, and suddenly the breath went right out of his lungs, his skin felt like it was crawling and he didn't know what to do.
When the worst of it passed, Arenvald had hardly noticed the way his moonblessing had suddenly manifested at full force – the appearance of his rabbit ears, of course, accompanied by a subtle shifting of his facial features, softening them and lending a more rabbit-like shape to his nose – the only thing he could think of over the sound of his still-rapidly beating heart is that he needed to find his friends, needed to make sure that they were alright and not alone and...
And he needed to find Connor most of all.
In his jumbled thoughts, he forgets totally about the communication devices and just heads straight for their shared apartment instead, hoping that Connor would be there. So, here he is, in full bunny mode, bursting through the door–– surprise! ]
[The door bursts open with aplomb, so sudden that it has Connor’s processing sending alerts through his system, the same way a human body might startle. He whips around from his spot in the living area, eyes wide, scanning for any signs of danger usually associated with sudden noises, but is met only with the sight of a frazzled-looking (enthusiastic? it’s difficult to tell, the first sweep of body language reads the same) Arenvald.]
Is everything all right?
[Today’s been… difficult, after all. The festival had been innocent enough, until the moons pressed waves of their influence onto the citizens below. Then it had been something shaped like chaos for those who had neglected to put their bracelets on; Connor still has his glistening on a wrist, and his eyes sweep across his friend’s features (a little smoother, rabbit-faced), once again attempting to read his demeanor, doling out a scan to inform him of that quickened heartbeat.
Observant eyes notice the lack of a bracelet. Uh oh.]
[ There is visible relief that floods his posture an expression when he sees Connor there. With all the chaos erupting in the city, he had been so worried that something may have happened, that noble, self-sacrificing Connor was placing himself in danger without Arenvald there to protect him. ]
Yeah... yes, everything's fine, now. Did I startle you? I'm sorry.
[ He has to take a few moments to catch his breath – he may or may not have ran all the way here – closing the door behind him. ]
There were... creatures, monsters rampaging in the city. I didn't know where you were.
Right... sorry, I should've contacted you. But I didn't return to our apartment until recently; it's dangerous out there, and I had to be careful on my way back.
[He approaches slowly, steps even. Connor knows that Arenvald is of no threat (there's nothing aggressive in his stance, all concern etched into his features, giving off only anxious energy), but the effects of these changes have been unpredictable at best, and he doesn’t want to stumble into something unexpected.]
[ That makes sense, and logically he knows it makes sense. It would have put Connor in more danger to stop and try and call him, but he cannot shake the very strong urge to keep Connor safe – being here, at home with him helps that feeling to be less urgent, at least, but it still remains present.
Arenvald watches with a curious gaze as Connor approaches him almost cautiously. He has no idea why until that question is posed to him, and he blinks in confusion, lifting his wrist where he last knew the bracelet to be.
[He nods in a sort of confirmation, even though his mind is already jumping straight to what can only be the real conclusion of what's happening here.]
Those that've lost their bracelets are more effected by the moons tonight, Arenvald. I think whatever it is you're... experiencing right now is a consequence of that. Just try to breathe and remain calm, all right? Can you tell me what it is you're feeling right now?
[So Connor can confirm whether or not this is something to be concerned about, or merely an instance where he has to watch his friend closely until the effects begin to wear off.]
[ The urgency is still ebbing away from his frame in small degrees, soothed away by knowing that the person he cares about most is here and safe. Eventually, he seems to relax. ]
I’m fine. I think I just panicked a bit when I couldn’t find you.
[ Which is true enough, though were he less affected, he probably would have been thinking a bit more clearly. Less panic-panic and more sensible panic. But all that’s passed now, and Arenvald does stop to examine how he’s feeling in the moment. Nothing he hasn’t felt before, certainly, though it does seem to be a bit… amplified from the norm. It’s not like these are malicious feelings, however, so it’s probably fine, right? ]
I’m just really glad your safe. And I want…
[ A pause, as he almost shyly reaches out to brush his fingers against the back of Connor’s hand. ]
[And almost directly after that string of very confusing texts... There's the sound of hoof beats clattering a bit too loudly on the staircase, a bang that might just be a jinba rear slamming into a safety railing a bit sloppily, and then...
There's a frantic knocking on Arenvald and Connor's door.]
[...What a blessing it is that he's used to Konoha's texting by now.
Though the tone is worrying, the message is straightforward enough to translate. She's coming over because of something... dire? "Help" is concerning, but it's followed by a "GREETING" which is such a contrast in tone that it has his LED blinking quickly trying to parse it.
There's a noise just outside the apartment entrance. The knock on his door that follows is answered swiftly, a promise of an explanation hurrying his step. He opens it and is met with a harried-looking Konoha.]
[The second Connor opens the door Konoha's hand slaps onto the doorframe, looking... Excited? Harried? Shocked? Upset? Confused?
All of those things at once, and she opens her mouth to explain herself.. only to suddenly find herself at a loss for words. Struggling to figure out what to say, how to say it, her cheeks start growing red. Start puffing up. ... Is she even breathing?
No. She forgets how for a second.
Until,]
Connor... I think Gonta is here. Am I dreaming? I'm not dreaming am I?
[It's hard to decide what she is, exactly, and his programming certainly is running itself in loops trying to figure that much out. In the end, he decides it isn't anything too dire, putting her more closely in the category of "frazzled" than "in trouble".
Her question soon clarifies why that is, though Connor does have to wait a moment for the gears to start turning in her head. He's expectant.]
...Gonta? [He remembers the conversation they had about him, in what feels like a lifetime ago at this point.] Oh.
[Oh, indeed.]
I... You're not dreaming currently, Konoha. If you believe you saw him, why wouldn't he be real? Did you not make an attempt to speak with him?
[It had been a lifetime ago, hadn't it? Or... it felt like it, since it was worlds ago that she'd for some reason found it a good idea to confide in an android about her love life. And now that love life had showed up in Lunatia, and not only that-]
Connor, he's in my house.
[She points down at her ground floor apartment, back legs quaking a bit still in her current potent swirl of every emotion ever.]
And-
[And-]
Can you and Arenvald come make sure he's real for me?
[He has to set aside the temptation to launch into a logical explanation as to why, more than likely, Gonta was quite real. One of the newer arrivals, no doubt, simple as that. But Konoha seems to be in such an emotional tizzy that Connor cannot help but empathize. He thinks, perhaps, if the Lieutenant had shown up equally abruptly, he might second guess his senses for a moment, too.]
...In that case, yes. You'd like for us both to confirm that he's not just a figment of your imagination? Would that make you feel better?
breaks this post in; action - backdated to april 11
It was only a matter of time before Arenvald woke up one morning to find himself just as much a victim as everyone else. He didn't quite expect the grand way in which his moonblessing would show itself. An early-morning glance in the mirror causes him to double-take, and sure enough, sprouting from the top of his head are a pair of tall rabbit's ears, the same color as his hair with darker brown fur at the top.
Even if he did know it was coming, it's still surprising - a bit alien as well, though if he concentrates he can move them around a bit. There's nothing to be done for it, he supposes, and meanders out into the apartment proper. ]
Connor?
[ He assumes his new roommate is around, somewhere. ]
come to me
...Actually, though, the android isn't undertaking a grand cooking feat. He's just put a few slices of bread into the equivalent of a rather strangely-shaped toaster, figuring that keeping himself busy in the morning also entails being kind enough to make his roommate a quick breakfast now and again.
He's already heard shuffling, registered in his audio processing, and so it's no surprise when he hears his name fall off of Arenvald's lips. Connor turns his head to look at him with a faint grin.]
Good morning, Arenvald. Are you hun-
[But in his periphery, he notes something strange. It's enough to make him turn around fully (revealing Connor dressed in dark jeans and a white button-up, though he has the sleeves partly rolled up today) and blink at him in mild surprise.]
...Oh. Your ears.
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First thing’s first, though. ]
Ah, yeah. [ He reaches up, a bit self-consciously to prod at the new developments on the top of his head. ] I just woke up like this.
[ And indeed he did, still dressed in the loose-fitting shirt and pants he uses for sleeping. His face is still bare, but Connor has seen his scars before, so he doesn’t mind letting them show when it’s just the two of them. ]
I guess it had to be my turn sometime, huh?
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Not all concern is swept away, though, because according to what he’s heard, the changes aren’t always physical.
He steps forward finally, forgetting about the toast for a second.]
Yes, eventually. But has anything else changed? [Eyes flick up to the ears again, assessing.]
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Not that I’m aware of?
[ No tail, no fur in odd places. He certainly doesn’t feel any different, apart from his new enhanced sense of hearing. ]
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[He reaches out and up, almost automatically. Connor is too used to being able to investigate oddities when they crop up (it's part and parcel of his programming to be curious, to be tactile with that curiosity), but a sudden cognizance stills his hand. His thought is cut short, realizing he should ask permission first.]
Sorry, may I touch them?
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His eyes flick to Connor's hand, and he can't help but smile. He did practically the exact same thing when Connor wound up with a new pair of ears as well. ]
It's fine. I don't mind.
[ He and Connor are about the same height, but the ears easily add another foot or more to Arenvald, so he tilts his head a bit for Connor. ]
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They're soft. [Comes the laughably simple reply, relaying what the sensors at his fingertips are telling him.]
This might sound strange, but they suit you.
[Connor is briefly bolder with his touch, lightly pressing with his fingers to stroke an ear. Not at all weird, okay, petting his friend. Even (or especially) as the moonlacing begins to kick in.] Do you have an opinion of them yet?
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IT'S ME AGAIN - event things!
When the worst of it passed, Arenvald had hardly noticed the way his moonblessing had suddenly manifested at full force – the appearance of his rabbit ears, of course, accompanied by a subtle shifting of his facial features, softening them and lending a more rabbit-like shape to his nose – the only thing he could think of over the sound of his still-rapidly beating heart is that he needed to find his friends, needed to make sure that they were alright and not alone and...
And he needed to find Connor most of all.
In his jumbled thoughts, he forgets totally about the communication devices and just heads straight for their shared apartment instead, hoping that Connor would be there. So, here he is, in full bunny mode, bursting through the door–– surprise! ]
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Is everything all right?
[Today’s been… difficult, after all. The festival had been innocent enough, until the moons pressed waves of their influence onto the citizens below. Then it had been something shaped like chaos for those who had neglected to put their bracelets on; Connor still has his glistening on a wrist, and his eyes sweep across his friend’s features (a little smoother, rabbit-faced), once again attempting to read his demeanor, doling out a scan to inform him of that quickened heartbeat.
Observant eyes notice the lack of a bracelet. Uh oh.]
Arenvald…?
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Yeah... yes, everything's fine, now. Did I startle you? I'm sorry.
[ He has to take a few moments to catch his breath – he may or may not have ran all the way here – closing the door behind him. ]
There were... creatures, monsters rampaging in the city. I didn't know where you were.
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[He approaches slowly, steps even. Connor knows that Arenvald is of no threat (there's nothing aggressive in his stance, all concern etched into his features, giving off only anxious energy), but the effects of these changes have been unpredictable at best, and he doesn’t want to stumble into something unexpected.]
Where’s your bracelet? [—he asks, imploringly.]
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Arenvald watches with a curious gaze as Connor approaches him almost cautiously. He has no idea why until that question is posed to him, and he blinks in confusion, lifting his wrist where he last knew the bracelet to be.
Sure enough, it’s not there. ]
I don’t know. I had one, but I must have lost it.
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Those that've lost their bracelets are more effected by the moons tonight, Arenvald. I think whatever it is you're... experiencing right now is a consequence of that. Just try to breathe and remain calm, all right? Can you tell me what it is you're feeling right now?
[So Connor can confirm whether or not this is something to be concerned about, or merely an instance where he has to watch his friend closely until the effects begin to wear off.]
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I’m fine. I think I just panicked a bit when I couldn’t find you.
[ Which is true enough, though were he less affected, he probably would have been thinking a bit more clearly. Less panic-panic and more sensible panic. But all that’s passed now, and Arenvald does stop to examine how he’s feeling in the moment. Nothing he hasn’t felt before, certainly, though it does seem to be a bit… amplified from the norm. It’s not like these are malicious feelings, however, so it’s probably fine, right? ]
I’m just really glad your safe. And I want…
[ A pause, as he almost shyly reaches out to brush his fingers against the back of Connor’s hand. ]
I want you to stay with me.
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1/?
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help!
go now home????
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ACTION
There's a frantic knocking on Arenvald and Connor's door.]
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Though the tone is worrying, the message is straightforward enough to translate. She's coming over because of something... dire? "Help" is concerning, but it's followed by a "GREETING" which is such a contrast in tone that it has his LED blinking quickly trying to parse it.
There's a noise just outside the apartment entrance. The knock on his door that follows is answered swiftly, a promise of an explanation hurrying his step. He opens it and is met with a harried-looking Konoha.]
Konoha? Is everything all right?
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All of those things at once, and she opens her mouth to explain herself.. only to suddenly find herself at a loss for words. Struggling to figure out what to say, how to say it, her cheeks start growing red. Start puffing up. ... Is she even breathing?
No. She forgets how for a second.
Until,]
Connor... I think Gonta is here. Am I dreaming? I'm not dreaming am I?
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Her question soon clarifies why that is, though Connor does have to wait a moment for the gears to start turning in her head. He's expectant.]
...Gonta? [He remembers the conversation they had about him, in what feels like a lifetime ago at this point.] Oh.
[Oh, indeed.]
I... You're not dreaming currently, Konoha. If you believe you saw him, why wouldn't he be real? Did you not make an attempt to speak with him?
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Connor, he's in my house.
[She points down at her ground floor apartment, back legs quaking a bit still in her current potent swirl of every emotion ever.]
And-
[And-]
Can you and Arenvald come make sure he's real for me?
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[He has to set aside the temptation to launch into a logical explanation as to why, more than likely, Gonta was quite real. One of the newer arrivals, no doubt, simple as that. But Konoha seems to be in such an emotional tizzy that Connor cannot help but empathize. He thinks, perhaps, if the Lieutenant had shown up equally abruptly, he might second guess his senses for a moment, too.]
...In that case, yes. You'd like for us both to confirm that he's not just a figment of your imagination? Would that make you feel better?
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cries about konoha for the 500th time