[OPEN] Beast Beneath the Moonlight

[beneathmoonlight]

WHO: Atsushi Nakajima and you!
WHERE: All around the city
WHEN: April
WHAT: Atsushi dealing with a sudden furry development...
WARNINGS: None yet!



I. A Tail of Woe

[Atsushi is just now getting used to the hair and eye changes, because really, if he ever felt super uncomfortable with them he could always just dye his hair or wear contacts. What he can’t hide, however, is the white, tiger-striped tail that suddenly appeared at the base of his spine overnight. After screaming and panicking and doing all kinds of hilarious google searches about suddenly sprouting a tail, he’ll resign himself to his fate and try his best to hide it from everyone...

Life must continue when you have obligations, after all!

You might catch him in the Blue Moon Bakery hiding behind the counter and refusing to come out, at Recolle University sticking to the back of the classrooms or darting through the halls, or perhaps you’ll bump into him trying his best to sneak back to Birch Hills Apartments while bundled in a thick, heavy black hoodie. That’s not suspicious or anything! Maybe, just maybe you might catch a glimpse of the tail peeking out! Will you point it out or greet him like normal? It’s up to you!

Maybe you’ll also notice something moving under his hood...]

II. Hidden in Darkness

[Some days he thinks the tail is a blessing compared to the random tiger limbs that appear. While a tail could be considered cute, muscular, fur-covered limbs with razor sharp claws at the tips of his fingers and toes are downright terrifying, and despite how awful he feels about it, he can’t go out like this. One arm and one leg transformed, he truly does look the picture of a monster.

He’ll be strangely quiet, only answering texts with short replies and completely ignoring phone calls. Maybe you should visit his apartment and check on him...]

III. By the Light of the Moon

[The night is a calm and clear one, the stars twinkling above like so many beautiful lights in the sky, and the moon makes its evening debut in its full glory. It’s a beautiful night for a walk...

Except for the giant white tiger roaming the streets.

The beast is massive, at least twice as big as a normal, full-grown adult tiger, and it’s eyes glow a beautiful gold in the moonlight. It seems to be wandering aimlessly, as if searching for something...

Do you dare approach? The beast doesn’t seem aggressive, but it also hasn’t noticed you yet...]

IV. All By Myself (or Not) [closed to John]

[When it’s become too much to bear to hang around the city, Atsushi heads outside to find some peace and relaxation in the forests of Bosuma, away from the prying eyes of others. Today he’s got both arms and legs transformed, making it difficult to wear normal clothes and forcing him into loose black pajama bottoms and a black hoodie. He looks like a cult member or something wearing that this deep in the forest, but at least it conceals his other surprise until he’s certain he’s alone.

Finally he pulls down the hood to reveal two round tiger ears that flick and swivel. They’re 100% real, and they hear every little thing going on in the forest, including what sounds like human footsteps approaching. But that can’t be, right?? He didn’t see a single person on his way out here...

Still, he looks around the area, ears twitching.]

Is someone there?

Comments

III

[ohrlyeh]

[Night has become his best friend. Especially with his new tentacle-related development, Howard has taken to walking the streets during this dark time, sleeves pulled down as far as they will go. His hands still are in tentacled form, though he's manged to force them to the size where they can't be seen by some random passerby.]

[The night is quiet and nice- Howard is glad that there's barely a soul on the streets. But this time, he has the feeling that something is around- he pauses, his superhuman hearing catching the sound of loud, clearly inhuman steps. What is that? It sounds like...like...]

[He stares, wide-eyed, at the giant tiger that suddenly steps out onto the street he's on.]

That's...

[He raises his sleeve, wiping at his eyes. The tiger doesn't disappear.]

That's a tiger.

[Holy shit.]

[beneathmoonlight]

[The beast is Atsushi, and yet it is not. Atsushi’s thoughts and feelings are like a distant echo in the tiger’s mind, a mosquito buzzing in its ear that is simple enough to ignore. It is undeniably wild, searching for something it can’t quite define, and the city is nothing more than an obstacle it must overcome to be...

Free? Is that what it seeks? Who knows...

The beast’s ears perk up upon hearing footsteps, and being the inquisitive feline it is, the beast investigates...

This...this person...there’s the undeniable scent of something otherworldly coming from him...

But wait. The buzzing in its head gets louder when it sees the human’s face.

This person...this person...is...

The beast slowly approaches Howard, sniffing the air. It looks curious rather than angry.

This person...

He knows this person. And he is not afraid.

The beast draws nearer, its eyes fixed on Howard as it lets out a curious sound.]

[ohrlyeh]

That's...a tiger. A real tiger.

[He mumbles to himself, still too shocked to really react properly. A beautiful and very large white tiger, just...here. In the middle of the city.]

[He really should feel terrified, but somehow, he...can't. At night, with the stars and moonlight cast eerily over the both of them, it all seems like some surreal dream come to vivid life.]

[Howard lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. He should go, he should leave, he should-]

Are..are you lost?

[What is he doing? This is a giant, dangerous animal. It could tear him apart in an instant. But that fur...those ears...that inquisitive noise...]

[Like...a giant cat...]

[Later, Howard will internally beat himself up over the fact that he would probably be the first one to die in a horror movie, because common sense, where is it?]

iii.

[odasaku]

[ odasaku's not sure if he would call it a beautiful night, but it's definitely a good one to clear his mind. sakura's still comatose, shuji and he won't say anything more than a couple of words...

he definitely needed some time to wander the city aimlessly-- at least to look up at the sky.

what he didn't expect to look at, though, was an actual white tiger. wait...is it really just a tiger? odasaku knows little about wild animals but...he's certain that tigers aren't supposed to be that big.

he gulps, standing still. ]

[beneathmoonlight]

[The beast knows no difference between a beautiful night or one steeped in turmoil. It only knows that rain and storms are inconvenient, but tonight is clear, and it can roam as it pleases.

The beast smells Odasaku long before it sees him.

This smell...

It’s...familiar?

The buzzing in his head, Atsushi’s thoughts and feelings, grow louder as it’s eyes fix on the man.

This person...

Is not a threat.

Slowly it approaches, sniffing the air between them, ears flicking curiously.

It comes to stand only a few feet away.

It doesn’t attack, only stares.

This person is good.]

[odasaku]

[ odasaku watches the tiger approach him slowly. he's cautious, his muscles tense in preparation to run away should the situation turn sour. can he even run from a tiger? probably not.

but as the tiger gets closer, he notices the lack of tension in the animal. if anything, it reminds him of when akage wants his attention-- except dozens of times larger. ]

Hey.

[ in the back of his head, he can already hear the people he knows calling him an idiot for doing this, but he extends his hand, palm open, as if inviting the tiger to get closer. ]

I. Birch Hills Apartments

[ingodswelove]

[When Ashura sees someone sneaking around, he's immediately curious. And with complete disregard for his safety. Which his bodyguards are used to by now, even if they disapprove. And Ashura's already trying to follow Atsushi. The fact that he's a dancer means he can be quiet when he wants to be. So he's trying to follow this suspicious character around to see what's going on.

But then, he sees that tail, and it's all over.]

OHMYGOODNESS! KITTY!

[Ashura reaches out to grab the tigers tail he sees.]

OH! OH! Are you a white tiger!? Zephy would be so happy to see this!

[Honestly, he hopes his target has ears, too. He wants to play with them.]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi almost makes it home without incident, and he’s only a few feet away from his front door when he hears that overly excited voice calling out to him. What?? He didn’t even hear any footsteps!!!

The hood falls down to reveal that there are indeed two ears on top of Atsushi’s head that flatten back when his tail is suddenly grabbed.]

Ahh!!

[It feels weird!!! He’s wiggling!!!]

P-please don’t pull it!!

[ingodswelove]

[EARS!! Ashura drops the tail in favour to reach over to the ears.]

SO ADORABLE! AAAAH! Are these real? Where did you get them?! I want some~ Do you think they come in butterflies?

No, wait, I want to be a tiger, too, so Zephy will love me even more~

Will you come home with me so he can see?

iii give me the full furry

[thesettingsun]

[That sure is a white tiger on the street in front of Shuji's apartment, and Shuji is now rethinking his earlier plan to take a walk and get some fresh air to clear his mind.

He didn't hear anything about zoo escapes on the news, but he also mostly checks the news in the morning, so something could have happened in the last few hours. It could be a monster, or it could be a Retrospec user - maybe even someone he already knows.

He approaches slowly, one hand going to the book in his satchel - but he doesn't turn it into a scythe, not yet. Pulling out a weapon is a good way to turn a nonhostile creature hostile.]

Nice kitty.

[beneathmoonlight]

[The beast tenses when Shuji approaches, because how dare this human make the first move?? But the buzzing in his head, Atsushi’s thoughts and feelings, grow louder when he sees the man’s face.

His scent is familiar...

This person...

The beast approaches in turn, stopping and flattening its ears when Shuji reaches for something.

Is this person going to hurt him?

No...

Not this one...his scent is...kind.

The beast relaxes...for now.]

ii; inbox to start

[ascatic]

[ he wants to surprise Atsushi with something nice--- something that he's decided to try to make on his own. for the most part, Leon could at least make some cookies and decorate them appropriately. so with a few decorated with the faces of white tigers on them in hand, he'll first stop in front of the apartment building to make sure it's okay...? ]

Atsushi, are you home? I would like to bring you something.

That’s cute af

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi hates this; he hates it so much. Isolating himself is painful, and it’s something he never wanted, but how can he face the world like this? He’s a monster with no control. Who knows if he’ll snap and hurt someone...]

I am

But I’m sick

I

[meowchanics]

[As someone who has been teaching for literally any length of time, Sigmund recognises the signs of a student having an off day, no matter (or, you know, because of) how much skulking they do. It had to happen to even someone as outwardly chipper as Atsushi sometime, and it's not necessarily his place to pry. What he doesn't recognise are the... well, the flashes of movement from under Atsushi's hoodie throughout his lecture, movements that he feels like a hoodie should not be making. Twitching. Suspicious twitching.

Can he be blamed for being a little concerned? Yes, professionally concerned. Not personally weirded out, and if he was, he'd keep it to himself.

Professional concerns, unlike those other ones, are totally enough of an excuse to beckon the young man over at the end of class, as people are filing out.] Atsushi? One second.

[beneathmoonlight]

[It’s one thing to be called out by a classmate, but when Atsushi is asked to stay behind after class, his heart leaps right up into his throat. He did something wrong, didn’t he? He goofed on his test, or his grades or slipping, or he was being rude and not paying attention, or-!]

Y-yes, sir?

[He approaches Sigmund’s desk, wringing his hands nervously.]

What is it?

iii

[livingimpaired]

[ Groceries. Shirts. The single word is repeated as he walks through the streets. He has his hands tucked into new jeans and ignores his shirt. It's larger than what he usually would wear -- a gingerbread man with icing off to the side that has drawn on muscles and pecs.

He has a gaggle of shirts that look like this as he is now having to buy a completely new wardrobe. But because it is the middle of the month and his restaurant is still needing attention, he has to go with bargain-brand shirts until later.

Kei doesn't freeze upon seeing the tiger, but does have a moment of looking mildly annoyed. Like he is being put out. Did a tiger escape from the zoo? He wonders as he takes out his phone to quickly google, taking a step back. No? Well, then. He steps forward instead. ]

Who are you?

[beneathmoonlight]

[The beast is wary of this man at first, but it’s the few steps forward that cause its hackles to rise. There’s not an ounce of fear in this human, and he doesn’t seem to recognize that the beast deserves respect.

When Kei stops it relaxes only slightly, sniffing the air. There’s something off about this human...

But the thoughts in the back of the beast’s mind, those belonging to Atsushi, grow louder.

This man...is a friend.

The beast’s stays put, waiting to see if Kei will make a move.]

I

[kindhearted]

[With the lunch rush having died down for now, Roji's able to slip out of the kitchen for a quick break. As he steps out into the hall to stretch and have a little walk, he only barely manages to avoid walking right into Atsushi hurrying along.]

Whoops, sorry... Oh, Atsushi?

[He almost doesn't quite catch that it's Atsushi, considering the big hoodie. But once he's confident that it is indeed Atsushi...]

Is...everything okay?

[beneathmoonlight]

[He’s almost made it out of the building when Roji says his name, and immediately Atsushi’s heart leaps into his chest. Ugh, he should’ve just taken a sick day...]

Y-yes!!! I’m fine, hahaha...

[Nevermind his hoodie twitching oddly...]

I just...don’t feel well.

III OF COURSE

[informantic]

[See, the thing about this is that Heigo and Atsushi live about a block away from each other.

So Heigo can slip out at 2 am for an emergency cigarette run, still in his pyjamas and hard-soled slippers with just a jacket thrown on for the bare minimum of decorum, and climb out of his car to find a tiger lurking in front of his building.

He does, in fact. And when he does, he doesn't think of Atsushi's slitted eyes or the little round ears added to his user picture on Retrospec; he just thinks well, this is a fitting end and sits right down in front of his car, leaning back against the driver's side door. Maybe he's giving himself up, maybe his knees gave out in fear - whatever the case, he's dealt with fight or flight by taking a third option.

Resignation.]

RIP IN PIECES HEIGO

[beneathmoonlight]

[The beast can’t remember how it got here, nor exactly what it’s searching for, but it’s instincts tell it to move forward, and so it does, it’s massive paws silent against the asphalt. It’s only when Heigo makes a move that the beast catches him out of the corner of its eye. It turns its head, sharp eyes fixed on Heigo intently.

This human...

The beast slowly draws closer, sniffing the air. The scent is familiar...

Oh? The human is showing him respect by putting himself beneath him? Curious.

It draws closer still, until Heigo will be able to feel it’s breath against his face. There’s a buzzing sound in the back of the beast’s mind, Atsushi’s thoughts and feelings.

This human with the odd shield over his eyes...Atsushi knows him. Then...

The beast sniffs Heigo’s hair, it’s nose brushing over his cheek.

This man...doesn’t seem like a threat.]

iv

[vitis]

[ john can't remember precisely what he was doing here. there'd been that witch and that deal—she seemed to powerful not to cooperate with for the moment, if she was responsible for this— and then so many blanks in his memory that he'd been left reeling.

his options were few. he'd felt atsushi before he'd seen him, of course, connected as he is to this forest. and evidently, john's likewise heard before he's seen; he hadn't attempted to mask the heavy tread of his boots. at first, he doesn't answer, instead lifting an arm to part through a few low-hanging and branches. then he stops, a look of shock passing over his face as his gaze traces over the other man's features. finally, someone he recognized: those wide, two-toned eyes, that stark hair color right down to the dark stripe. but those ears, perched so neatly, like they'd meant to be there all along—



white tiger.

john holds his breath. the moment of shock forcibly passes. while he'd cursed his luck (where is everyone? lovecraft? where the hell is he, this forest is too dissimilar to what he remembers), it's hard to believe that he's potentially stumbled right into gold. ]

Yo!

[ john doesn't have to pretend how pleased he is to see atsushi. there's an inquisitive tilt of his head, stretching out a hand to lean it against a tree. there's some stir in the back of his mind, of course, that he could be incorrect and that this is just too good to be true. but... ]

You're not lost, are you?

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi turns to see John emerging from the overgrown thickness of the forest, and he relaxes with an exasperated sigh. A familiar face is comforting, at least, even if he’d originally come out here for some solitude. Granted, he and John haven’t exactly been talking lately, but Atsushi is still relieved to see that it’s him.

At least it’s not a monster!]

John-san. Hello. What are you doing here?

[He says, forgetting that he’s transformed for a split second before adding:]

Ah...I guess you don’t know about this yet. [He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.] Turns out I can change into a tiger, but I can’t control it at all.

I

[strayknight]

[It was really hard not to notice the new fashion Atsushi was sporting. More so was his behavior...

Usually Ritsu could expect the boy to blush or at least say hi now he seems a little distant. Not one to handle that well he does approach him as Atsushi gets off work. Moving towards him he notices something flicking under the hood before he taps his shoulder.]

...Hey?

[beneathmoonlight]

H-huh?!?

[Atsushi nearly jumps out of skin when Ritsu taps him on the shoulder; he was not expecting that!! He quickly pulls his hood tighter to try and hide his ears.]

H-hey, Ritsu-kun...