WEEK 4 - VENUS FLYTRAP

[foundationmods]

Another week dawned.

But after the events at the trial, more than a few people would have wanted for time to stop still.

In this game, even unshakable loyalties....could be broken.🗈

If that were the case, then what was stopping even more horrible crimes from happening this thursday night?
And they knew they could do nothing to stop it from happening.

...Still, they had to continue the game, until one or both of the Witches admitted defeat, or the game itself came to a close.

Yet, they also felt as if something might change. Some big reveal felt as if it was just around the corner....but for now, it seemed as if they had to play the waiting game.

No matter how awful that felt.

MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

CALENDAR | LOCATIONS | PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS | NIRRTI PC POST | WATANUKI PC POST

Comments

[anonnomnomnom]

I'm me! Now you're getting it. ☆

[He definitely repeated that with an additional layer of cheerfulness, like it's a real compliment (or he's taking it as one), because he's apparently added vampire cuisine to his repertoire of Eclectic Foreign Food Trivia.

There's a small laugh as he absorbs Natsuno's rhapsodizing about blood-drinking despite his reluctance, soaking everything up like the ridiculous Kirby sponge that he is and filing it away under 'probably shit that they're going to victimize somebody's kitchen with at some point'. He does let the zoning out continue for a moment or two just because it's fun to watch before finally reaching forward and prodding once or twice.]

I've definitely never tasted blood like that, vampires really have like, super-powered tastebuds, huh? [at least he's going to start counting it as another skill at this point, all things considered] I'm almost jealous! Most blood just tastes like blood to me. So you're going to have to try girls, and more kinds of sweet things, and people with different jobs...?

[There's a lot here but look, he's helping.]

[sotoshini]

[ His smile does brighten briefly at the very audible star; the compliment was very much as real as the dumb look on his face.

Blink, blink. It takes two pokes before he starts from his blood trance, red irises wide. ]

Huh? Yeah, yeah. [ He totally just signed up for a blood buffet by accident, but that's fine. ]

Wait, what? [ Maybe not so fine, but- ] I don't want to get fat.

[ Nope, his brain still isn't working properly yet. ]

[anonnomnomnom]

[So maybe he took a moment or two himself to just soak everything up; it's a good respite to settle into before they plunge deeper into the topic of plunging fangs into people, so to speak. Blood buffets are definitely going to be an important part of their future endeavors -- that was probably the doomed conclusion the moment they got onto the topic of dragons.]

Yeah!

[Yeah, Natsuno definitely got himself into all kinds of things by now. It's fine, everything is fine. Anon looks way too pleased with himself, as always. His laughter gets a little louder and more amused, and he reaches down to poke a little at Natsuno's gut instead.]

Wait, wait, wait, I didn't even know vampires could get fat! Can you, really?

[Another poke like he can maybe find any residual blood sloshing around. That's not how it works, probably.]

[sotoshini]

Hey! [ That's probably not how it works, but Natsuno is as noodly as ever to the touch. As grumpy as ever too, but there's something else hidden in his consternation. The fact that he's nearly biting his lip trying not to laugh has nothing to do with this. ]

I wasn't-I never drank that much so I-I don't know!

[anonnomnomnom]

Heheh.

[Well, it's not like Anon's going to miss that opening -- he's not built to miss things like this! That is to say, he's redoubling his efforts and going for the noodle-target with both hands now. Poke, poke, poke, pokepoke.]

Well then, all the more reason we've got to try things out! What if drinking a specific type of blood gets you fatter than a different type of blood? You could totally snack on some people and then have a real dinner on other ones! Or maybe some of them are sweeter, so they're better after dinnertime.

[What he's saying is that he's accusing Natsuno of having dessert for every meal?? Terrible. A true glutton! That means it's also, apparently, Anon's duty to make it exponentially worse.]

[sotoshini]

[ He's made a mistake. He's made a mistake and he's boxed himself into a corner, literally. They've been talking so long that he had found a nice comfortable spot against the wall, which while good for his back means that he has nowhere to escape.

Drawing his knees up to his chest his only defense is flailing, because he's trying too hard not to turn into a ball of laughter. There's a string of what sounds like cursing in Japanese too. ]

Fine, fine! [ Huffing and trying to get control of the situation. ] I don't understand how people want me to eat better as a jinrou than a human.

[anonnomnomnom]

[Natsuno has made so many mistakes but hey, mistakes are evolution. He's going to come out of this some kind of beautiful vampire butterfly or something else confusingly wingéd because that's just how you do on Witchy wishing island at this point. Anon snickers as he gets some last pokes in, challenging the knee barrier by going for his sides instead and seeing if he can get some proper laughter out.

They're all the way in each other's space now, but that's what happens when you goad him on like this, he'll take a few miles for every inch.]

Yep, that's the spirit. I wouldn't know what to feed a human, so it's a good thing we only have to learn about the jinrou bits.

[Well, technically he learned a bit more about what to feed humans here, and the answer is whatever the heck happens in the kitchen. Obviously.]

1/2

[sotoshini]

[ The problem when you're a noodle is that body barriers aren't very effective. This honestly might be a decent argument in favor of him eating regularly, but it's lost in the fit of laughter he finally breaks out in.

Give him a minute. ]

[sotoshini]

[ And when he's finally recovered, he transitions seamlessly into exasperated, his mannerisms gruff as he tries to smooth out his shirt, bangs and dignity. ]

Hnn, sweets work for humans too. Everyone likes cake, supposedly.

[ He's already been dragged for his growing gluttonous(?) taste, might as well just spit out what's on his mind at this point. ]

[anonnomnomnom]

[Anon only leans back a little bit to take in his handiwork in that extra minute or so, big ol' smug grin on his face and inescapable mane of pink hair tickling in the scant space between them even though he's put down his hands for now. He's all mischief from head to toe in this moment and his hair is apparently no exception, though there's an elusive warmth to both as he basically just popcorns at Natsuno trying to act like he isn't enjoying himself.

Anon, for his part, is enjoying himself very much indeed.]

Mmm, is there such a thing as blood cake? I know even humans eat blood sometimes, but...?

[He's probably talking about things like blood pudding, but details are hard when you're demon-adjacent and also distracted.]

[sotoshini]

[ Natsuno can't hide it, but the important thing is he tried. Or something. Nevermind that his grumbling softens under the warmth radiating from the infernal. ]

I don't think so. There's red cake, though. Red Velvet cake, it's really sweet too.

[ Mnn, great now he's even hungry for human food. Crossing his arms with a huff and totally looking in the direction of the kitchen. ]

[anonnomnomnom]

[Some days and things you should try, and try again, and other times and places you just need to accept the life and roll with it. To be fair, most things involving Anon end up being the latter. Natsuno still has a lot to learn, but they've got plenty of time right now.]

Red velvet cake... It sounds good, but why is it red, then?

[His smile ticks up at the corner as he glances over towards the kitchen too. Honestly, yeah, they've somehow been talking about food -- vampire, human and everything in between -- for long enough that his stomach has probably grumbled at least once or twice by now, even if it probably has no idea what it actually wants to eat at this point. Still!

At least thanks to Ann, they know the kitchen is regularly stocked with cake...?]

[sotoshini]

I think for Valentine's Day. [ That's not why it's red, Natsuno. ] Everything is red and heart themed, and stupidly sweet because of love or whatever.

[ He's not fully recovered, but he catches that look. Slight head nod in that direction: "Want to go have some?", they've long given up on two truths and a lie and food is a nice distraction. So what if it's Valentine's Day food with the boy who just tickled him into oblivion. ]

[anonnomnomnom]

[It's not like he knows anything about this cake so now it's just the blind leading the blind thanks. Anon does perk up a little, looking bemused as he presumably rifles around in his limited stores of human trivia--]

Ah! That's the super red holiday, I've heard about it. It never really made much sense to me, but I hear there's just a lot of candy? So having a red velvet cake for it seems like something humans would do.

[And he perks up a little more yet at the immediate prospect of exploring this; it takes him a little longer to gather himself and then bounce up onto his heels, all ready to go. There are no misgivings here -- why wouldn't he want to eat all the things with Natsuno when they've just planned enough menus for the next zillion years?]

[sotoshini]

Mmhmm, a lot of chocolate. [ He settles into a small smile as he stands, taking a moment to stretch. Partway through he not so sneakily gives Anon a little push, just in retaliation for earlier. It's all done very purposely, but what is coincidental is how their hands brush at some point in the middle. Similarly, how his heartbeat increased just then is surely happenstance.

Not lingering on it, they have food to eat. ]

Maybe we can have hot chocolate with the velvet cake to fit the whole theme.

[anonnomnomnom]

[There's a laugh in response at the not-terribly-sneaky push, and Anon does an exaggerated little hop-dance to keep his balance just because; everything is warm now and somehow hard to capture, like Natsuno's hand and the strange, momentary recollection from other trivia (vampire) that he should be cold, instead.

But then, Natsuno's never really been most vampires, and Anon's much more interested in learning from the source (or just in learning Natsuno, but that's neither here nor there).]

Of course I don't mind adding chocolate! But you really do have a sweet tooth, huh, Koide?

[That's entirely teasing as he starts leading the way to the kitchen, steps relaxed and meandering. It's wholly indulgent to go mess around with cake right now, but then again, that's what they're all about.

It's a good start.]

[sotoshini]

No. If we spent this long talking about natto I'd probably want that too, and it's gross. [ Insistent here, even if Natsuno is pretty much wrong. It's more accurate to say he had a situational sweetooth as a human that's only been further incentivized by his jinrou tastebuds. But it's much, much, easier to just deny this and then eat several slices of cake.

And that's exactly his plan as he follows behind Anon with a drawn out huff. He might actually just develop one after enjoying the cake and hot chocolate more than he thought he would—food tastes better in good company, but that connection will be lost on him. ]

[anonnomnomnom]

[Anon just throws him a silly grin over his shoulder, just a wee bit knowing even if he doesn't even know what natto is?? Natsuno being all huffy is enough context here and it's just funny to see him get all defensive over food when a little while ago he was entirely on board with eating whole dragons, OK??]

It can't be that gross if you'd still eat it. Maybe we'll have to test that sometime.

[And that's just him being a little shit, but he's allowed when they are definitely headed towards sweets anyway. (And he would do it anyway, to be fair.)]