"Is this truly necessary?" Fangyi flicks her tail's tip toward herself on 'this'—it's all she can move, with the current state of the harness, but even that stills when a familiar, firm hand comes to grasp it. Her mouth dries further when fingertips curve, resting where the smallest scales part for sleek hairs.

"Apparently, Fangyi." Their voice fondly dry, she still feels the look beneath the still-necessary mask, longer braided strands falling to reveal the shorter ones below. It's a newer look for the Endmin, but one Fangyi doesn't dislike. Far from it.

Her distraction's apparent; their other hand grips her chin, and brooks no argument in forcing her to look at their face. "What your people asked me, was to ensure that you relaxed, as your appointees settled into their roles. To ensure they properly tasted what the future would hold. I took that seriously, of course. So no one else is currently assigned to this facility." The sweep of their hand encompasses the gentle hum and hiss of the machines, their hydraulic components in steady motion, before dropping back down, down to the last piece of the harness they'd yet to place, the bands of the bridle that'd tighten over her face, about her horns, the bit that would muffle all her speech, until her Endmin determined it right. "You can simply focus, on doing what I ask.

"So will you listen now to me? 宜宜."

Pulled from here, number 48:

-

When Kanade first envisioned this kiss, it was… smoother. Legato. Sliding from a hopeful check to pleasant first touch, touch that would twine and come to slow, linger, rest.

In this theory, Kanade had forgotten the physicality of the act of kissing Mafuyu: the distance that had increased further still with Mafuyu's growth.

And this brings Kanade to where they are now, with Mafuyu, head canted with curiosity, standing beside her in the park where they were taking a break, observing. Under that gaze she can't help but flush.

"S-Sorry."

"For…? ...Ah."

Tender-eyed, Mafuyu closes the distance. Andante.

Context for others: Milky and I yapped about a volleyball AU. Mizuki's a middle blocker who slides from guess to read blocking… because Someone's become quite the reliable libero (;3c), and An's a wing spiker.

- "C'mon, Mizuki! We're up early anyway, we might as well~"

"But the sun's barely up, we'll be hot, sweaty… I don't want to spend the morning hot and sweaty!"

"Oh shush, we'll shower when we're done. Then I can back you up when Ena asks if you practiced, and she'll be all impressed that you're trying…"

"…"

"…You're. Actually thinking about it. Mizuki??"

"I mean! When everyone else is trying so hard, it. Well I'd be a real wet blanket if I was the only one standing still."

"…Oh, I see. Good luck, Mizuki~"

MafuEna werewolf AU first change

She is howling, weeping, howling and weeping and new claws tearing to shreds the forest floor about her as her body breaks, reknits, and stretches towards its final outline.

Uncertain, Ena watches for a moment, unsure if it's a time to offer the little comfort she can—physical—to this stranger who had seemed burningly cold and distant just a few hours before, and the first real shred of emotion Ena'd witnessed had been seconds ago, burdened with the distress of death so near, regret, and a desperate need for something, anything, when the one option she had would forever twine them, wanted or not.

She wrestles in the hall of the Law. She wrestles with the sight. She wrestles with the faith that has guided her through hardship and golden fields, the latter fed by former.

She wrestles until daybreak, until she murmurs aloud in that underground chamber once more, "There was nothing lesser about my life, for all its looking outside in. I had and have blessing enough."

And she walks. She walks forward, not away, even with her new understanding of the source of her faith. For it springs not just from the machine that guided and shaped the Sankta.

Her faith lies in her sisters. Her monastery, and her home. And herself.

Mos and Fia are bickering again, this time over the cinematography in one of Mos' latest slasher finds compared to a classic it purportedly is meant to be an homage to. No guessing where Fia stands on that.

But before the argument can swell out of control, her sis rolls up behind them, and all it takes is a touch to both their backs and some murmur about having a movie contest on Rhodes. They agree, Mos with some dramatic sigh about her taskmaster, but they do agree, and Lemuen's touch lingers as she murmurs some joke El can't catch.

The little smile on Fia's face matches Mos' toothy one, and El swings her feet, the desire to do a little painting, maybe an explosion fills her.

"Honey, I'm home~"

Liskarm barely glances up from her book at her partner posed in the doorframe. "Things went well, then."

"Swimmingly! Frostleaf's gotten a real good sense of her range now, and with her 'nd little Suzu around, I can take my time with things. Honestly thought I'd be able to sneak in a nap or two." Franka ambles over to Liskarm's desk, glancing over the pages Liskarm's currently on—something about pioneer history—before chinning herself just behind her horns, arms settling around her shoulders. "Kept thinking of you, y'know?"

Another glance, another turned page. "That so?"

"Mmmhm. When the last time we'd had separate missions, when I'd last had to split bonus pay—"

"—You're still on about that?"

"Bonuses are nice!"

"That was months ago now; you're so-hah." Liskarm rolls her eyes, Franka feels the motion in the slight shift of her head. "Anyway. What is it you want, Franka?"

"Rude! I can't just tell you about my reminiscence without you suspecting ulterior motives?"

"That sums it up, yea."

Mournfully Franka shakes her head. "Heartbroken, you leave me. And here I'd been thinking it'd be so nice to touch you again…"

"Ah. So that's what this is about."

"Is it so wrong to think about my dear partner when I'm all alone by a tent, with a long night watch to look forward to?"

"Not at all. But I think you can just ask." Franka's only warning is Liskarm setting the book down on her desk, before she's tugged down and to the side, Liskarm catching her in a firm kiss.

(if it pleases u... "minor jealousy")

Last time I wrote jealous Lisk so... possessive fox time.

-

She's at the lovely stage of annoyance where it's not that big of a deal, but even the slightest brush of stimulation sits like needles in her skin.

Watching Liskarm guide her current dance partner across the floor, seeing the wanting eyes that linger on her stolid, attentive frame and face... Franka knows she's supposed to be watching their mark, but it's unpleasant. Burns, really, she can admit that much to herself at least. That's her partner there. All these greedy bastards down there eager to try getting a hold, so that they can try to take possession...

Big-time hypocrite moment of her, but, well. She likes to make jokes! Not be at their expense.

She shakes herself mentally, to refocus, and finds Liskarm's gaze on her. When Liskarm sees she's looking, properly, she simply gives a little nod, before turning to the next looking for a dance.

It's enough. Reminder of what they have to do, and reassurance. Franka settles back.