[ Lux seems far too okay with this development. He'd think it might be one of those shared nightmares, but as surreal as this feels, it lacks the dreamlike quality. ]
I feel like I got run over. [ A soft laugh huffs out. Honesty. They're working on that, aren't they? ] But it doesn't hurt so much now.
[ And—now that he's coming down from that pain, Akira is becoming aware that he indeed has wings. His hands raise, almost looking like they might go for Lux at first, but they shift instead towards himself. He runs fingers along the horns coming out of his head. What are these even supposed to be? They don't feel like anything that would be on an animal he knows. In his peripheral vision, he can see dark feathers; an experimental twitch of the new muscles makes the wings curl slightly around them. ]
[ She's calm because she has to be, and she is doing all she can to hold to the belief that this is just a dream. It's the only thing that makes sense. Lux isn't mentally prepared to face the alternative.
Removing her hands from his shoulders, she sits back and gives him room to breathe. Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ears, her hand lingers there for a few seconds as she blinks owlishly in surprise. Are... are they longer?
Not important; and the way his wings curl in around them is the perfect distraction. Lux turns her head to look at them in surprised awe. ]
I'm not sure what's going on. This seems a bit much, even for a full moon.
[ She begins to reach out to touch his wing before stopping herself. One would never know she was normally uncomfortable with physical contact. ]
It's like we're in another dream. But you're a Puca, so you shouldn't...
[ With that simple motion, his attention shifts back to hr. The more the pain and disorientation ebbs away, the more aware Akira becomes of his surroundings—
And that includes the long, tapered points of Lux's ears. ]
Your... [ Wait. ] ... Are you shorter?
[ While Lux might have aborted her reach before it got to his wing, Akira's impulse is a bit more uncontrollable. He reaches for one elongated ear, gently brushing against her hair as he lightly trails fingertips along the cartilage, vague awe settled into his expression. If he were in a clearer mental state, he might be able to draw a parallel back to that time she touched his ears, many months ago.
And then, as if suddenly becoming aware of the lack of permission, he jerks his hand back. In reality, it's more triggered by noticing that his claws morphed into something like hard, black talons. ]
[ Lux would bluster about his height question, but she is very quickly distracted when he brushes a taloned hand over her ear. She takes a quick, sharp breath, her heart leaping into her throat as she stares at him with wide eyes. Akira?? Please warn her first??!
She's not going to dwell on the fact that that wasn't unpleasant. Not now. (Not ever.)
Glancing over her shoulder at her wings, they open and close without any difficulty. Well, so much for them being some kind of weird ornamentation. Lux smiles wryly. ]
I thought I was a Witch. I believe I may still be one. [ She hasn't tried using her magic, but she can still feel the steady thrum of it coursing through her.
Turning her attention back to him, her eyes focus first on his horns (???), then on his wings. ]
You can move them, right?
[ He has them somewhat curled around them, but she isn't sure how much of that is a subconscious reaction. ]
[ His ears are still there, and it feels like his tail is, too. This extra stuff just grew in around it, chimera-like, only he knows that's not the case here. That doesn't develop overnight months later like an afterthought.
At the question, he shifts his attention to his wings. He can, can't he? It's incredibly foreign having those muscles there, but when Akira concentrates on moving them, the wings react. The wide sweep of them suddenly unfurling knocks a few things from his bedside time. Books, a pen, an empty glass all clatter to the floor. Whoops.
[ None of this makes any sense—but then, the dreams they've had here never did, either. This is just more evidence to suggestion that that's what is going on here. Clearly that is the only logical explanation, even if it doesn't quite fit. Lux is going to cling to that.
Wincing when he sends a few items tumbling when he spreads his wings, a thin smile stretches across her lips. Ah, she should have seen this coming. ]
Maybe we should get you somewhere where you'll have a little more space...
[ She knows that he doesn't like leaving his room after a transformation, but there is something that she's curious about. The last thing they need to do is have him break something with that impressive wing span of his. ]
[ The instinct to hole up is there, but figuring out what's going on is much more pressing, and they're not likely to come to any real conclusions down here in the basement. Besides—the effort to contract his wings close to his back once more sends a few more items skitteting—well, Akira really should get somewhere else before he wrecks his entire room. Why did Lux get the easy to manage wings? ]
Good idea.
[ His attempt to get off of his bed almost ends with him in a pile on the ground as there's a sharp, sudden sound of tearing fabric as something pulls and slices through the covers. Thankfully, Akira is good enough at finding his center of balance on the fly that he manages to stumble and steady on his feet.
[ Her intent was to give him some space to spread out, and potentially see how functional their wings really were. Because if they could fly in normal dreams...
But then Lux sees him flail and hears fabric rip, and immediately she takes a step back. What? Looking at his bed in confusion before following Akira's gaze downward. She stares, eyes wide as she blinks almost owlishly. What in the world..? ]
Ah... That's. Different.
[ Helpful. Are you sure you're still a Puca, Akira? ]
Can you walk like that? [ She has a sinking suspicion that they might have to figure out how his wings work here and now, if they hope to get him out of the basement. ]
[ All right, so he walks a bit like a drunken toddler, but they may be able to work with this. She doesn't feel confident about getting Akira up the stairs, but together they can probably manage. ]
...
[ Akira. Why do you have experience in walking in heels. Lux pauses for a moment, blinking once, twice, then opening her mouth. ]
I don't think I want to know.
[ Congratulations, he finally came up with something seedy that she isn't going to question! Carefully inching past him, pressing her wings as flat to her back as she can, Lux tries to reach the stairs before him. Ascending the first few, she offers down a hand to him. ]
Here. If you need it.
[ She's trying to help, but also she wants to get ahead of him so that he doesn't end up falling on top of her. ]
[ He feels vaguely accomplished for having found a subject where even Lux's curiosity won't tread. And that's fine, because there are more important things right now than explaining the source of the comment and the inevitable exposition on the Metaverse that would have to come with it. ]
Thanks.
[ He accepts her hand, careful not to scratch with the black claws that tip his fingers. Like this, he won't fall on her, but if he goes down, she's definitely coming with him. That's enough to motivate him to be more careful.
Luckily, the first couple of steps go smoothly, albeit slowly, as he makes sure he's stable before shifting his weight to move himself up. ]
Maybe this is some kind of hex...
[ There are still people in the city unhappy with their presence; maybe the pranks and harassment have elevated to a new level? ]
[ At least she's small(er), maybe it won't hurt as much if he has to break her fall. Hopefully all that practice running in heels will help him here. ]
I've never heard of a hex giving people wings or horns. They're usually more malicious. [ Like this is considered benign.
Lux takes her time, making sure that both feet are planted on both steps as she leads him up. Judging from the disproportionate look of concentration on her face, Akira might have triggered something. ]
We would have the same features as well. Hexes are extremely limited.
[ She touches her forehead with her free hand regardless. She doesn't feel anything coming in... ]
[ Yeah, Akira doesn't know much about hexes. Magic isn't his speciality, obviously—well, most magic, now that his puca abilities have been coming in over the past couple of months, slowly but steadily. He practices when he can, in quiet moments and when the opportunity presents itself.
Like now. ]
Wait... I'm— [ His features begin to shift, morphing into... hers, actually, as if Lux is looking into a mirror.
And then Akira's ankle buckles as he steps up the stairs, breaking his concentration and snapping his features back to normal. His grips her hands tighter, trying to regain his balance without pitching forward or backward. ]
[ Lux isn't ready for this. Seeing herself briefly looking back at her, she startles, nearly letting go of his hand. As soon as she feels his balance break and the disguise fall away, she redoubles her efforts, grabbing his arm with her other hand. ]
Akira—!
[ She has no idea how he managed to do that, but it's unimportant. She needs to make sure he doesn't fall down the stairs! ]
[ If she were to let him fall, he'd completely deserve it at this point. But Lux's determined grasp on his arm keeps him from tumbling backwards, and the startled tightening of the muscles in his back shifts his wings out a bit, providing him a serendipitous bit of balance. Akira steadies and exhales slowly. ]
[ She isn't going to just let him breezes past what she saw, but that's a discussion for later. Helping him up the rest of the way, Lux lets go of Akira's arm when they reach the top of the stairs. ]
All right...
[ She exhales, scanning the room. There are still breakable things in here, but there is much more room than his room in the basement. ]
Do you think this will work?
[ They could try going outside if not, but judging by his reluctance to leave his room during the full moon, Lux isn't confident he will want to venture out. ]
[ He's fine from here. Slow, but after climbing the stairs, keeping upright on level ground feels like a cakewalk. Akira glances around the room, assessing the space. ]
... We should go outside.
[ The rooms in the house are spacious, for sure, but his wingspan seems to be even larger than he thought it was originally. Rather than risking wrecking the place, it's probably better to just go out into the openness of the night air. ]
[ That's a wise decision; the last thing they want to do is break something valuable while trying to figure out how wings work. Lux gives him a brief nod. ]
The courtyard, then.
[ That would give them the most privacy, and while that likely doesn't matter given the time of day, she wants to be courteous.
Heading outside, she notices the odd haze tinting the night, adding to her theory that this must be a dream. The chaos has yet to set in, so while it seems odd, Lux files this information for later. ]
[ The mist that seems to hang over the courtyard is the first thing he notices. Fog is a natural occurrence, but something about the haze seems... off. ]
Weird fog, huh?
[ But the lack of walls all around provides such a sense of freedom that he doesn't continue to dwell on it. Akira gives an experimental flex of his wings, taking note of how they react to each movement. ]
I wonder if I can fly... [ His gaze flits from the dark feathers over to Lux. ] You, too.
[ It makes this whole thing feel even more surreal than it already is, but the fog doesn't seem directly hazardous. They would know as soon as they ventured out if it was dangerous, wouldn't they?
Looking back at Akira with a fluttered blink, her attention shifts between him and the wings on her back. Could they carry her weight? ]
We could try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. [ Flight in dreams is reasonably harmless, it's probably fine. She focuses, as she moves her wings, not quite lifting off, but feeling... Lighter? Huh.
Should she be weirded out at how instinctual this is? Probably. ]
[ There's a little bit of instinct working in Akira's favor, too. He doesn't have to think too deeply about the actual movements of his muscles, quickly learning that shifting them in one way makes them unfurl and another makes them contract. If he focuses a bit more, he discovers the control goes deeper than that, down to the feathers themselves.
Well, that's a bit complicated. He'll stick to trying to flap right now. That seems like Flying 101.
Lux seems to be doing the game. He watches the way hers flutter, eyes going wider with curiosity as his own motions slow. It looks like she's getting the hang of it, but they're so thin... ]
Can they hold your weight?
[ A rude thing to ask a lady, but he isn't thinking about that right now. ]
[ They're thin, but feel oddly strong despite how they look. Each wing beat feels like it could easily propel her if she put a little more effort into it—something that Lux very seriously considers as she gets used to the motions.
Thankfully for Akira, she doesn't pick up on how rude that question could be, too focused on experimenting and figuring out how this works. She directs a surprisingly cheerful smile towards him. ]
I'm not sure, but I guess there's only one way to find out. You'll catch me if they can't, right?
[ Famous last words. Are you sure you want to be Bonded to this reckless idiot, Akira? ]
[ Seeing the bright smile she aims at him, his eyes respond with excitement. Whatever this is, temporary or permanent, dream or reality... Now that the pain has passed, they can enjoy it before going looking for answers. ]
Of course. [ A toss of his head indicate the long, angled horns. ] I'll just try not to skewer you in the process.
[ With a grin, he steps back a couple more paces and gets back to testing the flap of his wings, billowing air that rustles the grass of the courtyard. ]
[ Who says they won't find any answers by testing their limits? Being able to determine whether their changes are purely cosmetic seems like it would be helpful in figuring out what's going on, so it makes logical sense why Lux would want to see if either of them could fly.
Issuing a challenge only makes her more eager to beat Akira to it. ]
That's bold coming from someone with his feet still on the ground.
[ Jumping up, she times it with the flapping of her wings, gaining a bit of air. Lux isn't able to do much outside of hovering clumsily for a few seconds before coming back down again, stumbling but still managing to stay upright. ]
[ Even with how excited he is for the challenge, Akira jolts when she jumps into the air, half-expecting her to take off—but she only floats for a long moment. Okay, he's not out of the running yet...
It won't be so simple for him. When he tries a similar method of jumping and seeing if the flaps of his wings will provide the lift he needs, he hits the ground with only a tiny bit less impact than usual. Hm. ]
Maybe I need to run first... Like an plane. [ Lux has no idea what an airplane is; he's just thinking aloud for once. ] Or...
[ Akira's gaze shifts up towards the house, noting the bit of roofing that extends under the attic window. Maybe he just needs to start with some height? What's that saying about birds throwing their chicks out of the nest to see if they can fly? ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2019-10-18 02:11 pm (UTC)I feel like I got run over. [ A soft laugh huffs out. Honesty. They're working on that, aren't they? ] But it doesn't hurt so much now.
[ And—now that he's coming down from that pain, Akira is becoming aware that he indeed has wings. His hands raise, almost looking like they might go for Lux at first, but they shift instead towards himself. He runs fingers along the horns coming out of his head. What are these even supposed to be? They don't feel like anything that would be on an animal he knows. In his peripheral vision, he can see dark feathers; an experimental twitch of the new muscles makes the wings curl slightly around them. ]
It isn't the full moon...
no subject
Date: 2019-10-18 07:40 pm (UTC)Removing her hands from his shoulders, she sits back and gives him room to breathe. Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ears, her hand lingers there for a few seconds as she blinks owlishly in surprise. Are... are they longer?
Not important; and the way his wings curl in around them is the perfect distraction. Lux turns her head to look at them in surprised awe. ]
I'm not sure what's going on. This seems a bit much, even for a full moon.
[ She begins to reach out to touch his wing before stopping herself. One would never know she was normally uncomfortable with physical contact. ]
It's like we're in another dream. But you're a Puca, so you shouldn't...
[ Never mind her changes. It's fine. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-20 05:48 pm (UTC)And that includes the long, tapered points of Lux's ears. ]
Your... [ Wait. ] ... Are you shorter?
[ While Lux might have aborted her reach before it got to his wing, Akira's impulse is a bit more uncontrollable. He reaches for one elongated ear, gently brushing against her hair as he lightly trails fingertips along the cartilage, vague awe settled into his expression. If he were in a clearer mental state, he might be able to draw a parallel back to that time she touched his ears, many months ago.
And then, as if suddenly becoming aware of the lack of permission, he jerks his hand back. In reality, it's more triggered by noticing that his claws morphed into something like hard, black talons. ]
Um—sorry. ... Are you a Fae?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-20 06:41 pm (UTC)She's not going to dwell on the fact that that wasn't unpleasant. Not now. (Not ever.)
Glancing over her shoulder at her wings, they open and close without any difficulty. Well, so much for them being some kind of weird ornamentation. Lux smiles wryly. ]
I thought I was a Witch. I believe I may still be one. [ She hasn't tried using her magic, but she can still feel the steady thrum of it coursing through her.
Turning her attention back to him, her eyes focus first on his horns (???), then on his wings. ]
You can move them, right?
[ He has them somewhat curled around them, but she isn't sure how much of that is a subconscious reaction. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-20 11:32 pm (UTC)[ His ears are still there, and it feels like his tail is, too. This extra stuff just grew in around it, chimera-like, only he knows that's not the case here. That doesn't develop overnight months later like an afterthought.
At the question, he shifts his attention to his wings. He can, can't he? It's incredibly foreign having those muscles there, but when Akira concentrates on moving them, the wings react. The wide sweep of them suddenly unfurling knocks a few things from his bedside time. Books, a pen, an empty glass all clatter to the floor. Whoops.
He looks sheepishly at Lux. ]
... Yeah, I can.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 04:24 am (UTC)Wincing when he sends a few items tumbling when he spreads his wings, a thin smile stretches across her lips. Ah, she should have seen this coming. ]
Maybe we should get you somewhere where you'll have a little more space...
[ She knows that he doesn't like leaving his room after a transformation, but there is something that she's curious about. The last thing they need to do is have him break something with that impressive wing span of his. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 05:54 pm (UTC)Good idea.
[ His attempt to get off of his bed almost ends with him in a pile on the ground as there's a sharp, sudden sound of tearing fabric as something pulls and slices through the covers. Thankfully, Akira is good enough at finding his center of balance on the fly that he manages to stumble and steady on his feet.
Feet that have sharp, pointed heels.
Akira squints down at them. ]
Oh. Great.
itp: Akira and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day
Date: 2019-10-21 06:08 pm (UTC)But then Lux sees him flail and hears fabric rip, and immediately she takes a step back. What? Looking at his bed in confusion before following Akira's gaze downward. She stares, eyes wide as she blinks almost owlishly. What in the world..? ]
Ah... That's. Different.
[ Helpful. Are you sure you're still a Puca, Akira? ]
Can you walk like that? [ She has a sinking suspicion that they might have to figure out how his wings work here and now, if they hope to get him out of the basement. ]
he suffer
Date: 2019-10-23 02:03 pm (UTC)Only one way to find out.
[ One wobbly step later, he's managed to stay upright—a good sign. Maybe if he takes the stairs very slowly...
He glances back at Lux to check her reaction. ]
Not the heels I'm used to, but I think I've got it.
[ He offers no more context for that comment than that, just continuing towards the stairs. ]
Deserved
Date: 2019-10-23 08:23 pm (UTC)...
[ Akira. Why do you have experience in walking in heels. Lux pauses for a moment, blinking once, twice, then opening her mouth. ]
I don't think I want to know.
[ Congratulations, he finally came up with something seedy that she isn't going to question! Carefully inching past him, pressing her wings as flat to her back as she can, Lux tries to reach the stairs before him. Ascending the first few, she offers down a hand to him. ]
Here. If you need it.
[ She's trying to help, but also she wants to get ahead of him so that he doesn't end up falling on top of her. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-26 10:30 pm (UTC)Thanks.
[ He accepts her hand, careful not to scratch with the black claws that tip his fingers. Like this, he won't fall on her, but if he goes down, she's definitely coming with him. That's enough to motivate him to be more careful.
Luckily, the first couple of steps go smoothly, albeit slowly, as he makes sure he's stable before shifting his weight to move himself up. ]
Maybe this is some kind of hex...
[ There are still people in the city unhappy with their presence; maybe the pranks and harassment have elevated to a new level? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-28 06:03 pm (UTC)I've never heard of a hex giving people wings or horns. They're usually more malicious. [ Like this is considered benign.
Lux takes her time, making sure that both feet are planted on both steps as she leads him up. Judging from the disproportionate look of concentration on her face, Akira might have triggered something. ]
We would have the same features as well. Hexes are extremely limited.
[ She touches her forehead with her free hand regardless. She doesn't feel anything coming in... ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-29 02:26 pm (UTC)Like now. ]
Wait... I'm— [ His features begin to shift, morphing into... hers, actually, as if Lux is looking into a mirror.
And then Akira's ankle buckles as he steps up the stairs, breaking his concentration and snapping his features back to normal. His grips her hands tighter, trying to regain his balance without pitching forward or backward. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-29 02:32 pm (UTC)Akira—!
[ She has no idea how he managed to do that, but it's unimportant. She needs to make sure he doesn't fall down the stairs! ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 03:27 am (UTC)... Thanks.
[ Time to continue up like nothing happened. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 03:09 pm (UTC)All right...
[ She exhales, scanning the room. There are still breakable things in here, but there is much more room than his room in the basement. ]
Do you think this will work?
[ They could try going outside if not, but judging by his reluctance to leave his room during the full moon, Lux isn't confident he will want to venture out. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 03:15 pm (UTC)... We should go outside.
[ The rooms in the house are spacious, for sure, but his wingspan seems to be even larger than he thought it was originally. Rather than risking wrecking the place, it's probably better to just go out into the openness of the night air. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 03:44 pm (UTC)The courtyard, then.
[ That would give them the most privacy, and while that likely doesn't matter given the time of day, she wants to be courteous.
Heading outside, she notices the odd haze tinting the night, adding to her theory that this must be a dream. The chaos has yet to set in, so while it seems odd, Lux files this information for later. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 06:59 pm (UTC)Weird fog, huh?
[ But the lack of walls all around provides such a sense of freedom that he doesn't continue to dwell on it. Akira gives an experimental flex of his wings, taking note of how they react to each movement. ]
I wonder if I can fly... [ His gaze flits from the dark feathers over to Lux. ] You, too.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 08:55 pm (UTC)[ It makes this whole thing feel even more surreal than it already is, but the fog doesn't seem directly hazardous. They would know as soon as they ventured out if it was dangerous, wouldn't they?
Looking back at Akira with a fluttered blink, her attention shifts between him and the wings on her back. Could they carry her weight? ]
We could try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. [ Flight in dreams is reasonably harmless, it's probably fine. She focuses, as she moves her wings, not quite lifting off, but feeling... Lighter? Huh.
Should she be weirded out at how instinctual this is? Probably. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 11:34 pm (UTC)Well, that's a bit complicated. He'll stick to trying to flap right now. That seems like Flying 101.
Lux seems to be doing the game. He watches the way hers flutter, eyes going wider with curiosity as his own motions slow. It looks like she's getting the hang of it, but they're so thin... ]
Can they hold your weight?
[ A rude thing to ask a lady, but he isn't thinking about that right now. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-04 11:56 pm (UTC)Thankfully for Akira, she doesn't pick up on how rude that question could be, too focused on experimenting and figuring out how this works. She directs a surprisingly cheerful smile towards him. ]
I'm not sure, but I guess there's only one way to find out. You'll catch me if they can't, right?
[ Famous last words. Are you sure you want to be Bonded to this reckless idiot, Akira? ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-05 06:26 am (UTC)Of course. [ A toss of his head indicate the long, angled horns. ] I'll just try not to skewer you in the process.
[ With a grin, he steps back a couple more paces and gets back to testing the flap of his wings, billowing air that rustles the grass of the courtyard. ]
Well, if I'm not higher up than you by then.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-05 07:18 am (UTC)Issuing a challenge only makes her more eager to beat Akira to it. ]
That's bold coming from someone with his feet still on the ground.
[ Jumping up, she times it with the flapping of her wings, gaining a bit of air. Lux isn't able to do much outside of hovering clumsily for a few seconds before coming back down again, stumbling but still managing to stay upright. ]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-05 07:47 am (UTC)It won't be so simple for him. When he tries a similar method of jumping and seeing if the flaps of his wings will provide the lift he needs, he hits the ground with only a tiny bit less impact than usual. Hm. ]
Maybe I need to run first... Like an plane. [ Lux has no idea what an airplane is; he's just thinking aloud for once. ] Or...
[ Akira's gaze shifts up towards the house, noting the bit of roofing that extends under the attic window. Maybe he just needs to start with some height? What's that saying about birds throwing their chicks out of the nest to see if they can fly? ]
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