DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[beguiledcard]

[ Maybe none of those things have ever happened, but this doesn't prove to Akira that they never could. Never will.

Since this is before he's seen his own memories - or even anyone else's - he's not aware of how these things function. Hell, he's only just returned from having vanished for a bit, so he's still trying to play catch-up.

Either way, his mind is quickly going blank for a moment, upon his seeing all of... everything.

Perhaps it's his mind's defense mechanism.

Perhaps this is all just... too much hate for Akira to process. He's not used to wanting to slowly kill someone. He's never wanted that so much in his life. Never felt such an overwhelming surge of disgust and blood lust and readiness to make someone else suffer. He doesn't have to know what comes next, after all, to know what Karasu is capable of... or what he would want to do to Kurama.

He's quiet - eerily so. It takes him a moment to pull it together enough to move closer to Kurama and wrap his arms around him. His hold is firm... possessive. ]

[byanyother_name]

[Intellectually, Kurama knows that Karasu is nothing to him now. Even before he died and became a Composer, before he came here, before any of it, Kurama surpassed Karasu's power many times over.

The memories don't care about that. His body's reactions don't care about that. They just are. And unlike Amesta, there is no pseudo-real phantom to disperse. No walking tree to swallow Karasu whole.

He's already shaking uncontrollably when Akira's arms close around him. It's not any way Karasu ever touched him but the possessive hold makes him flinch sharply anyway. Just for a moment.

It's Akira. It's Akira. He's safe.

Kurama doesn't try to pull away. He's very still in Akira's arms, actually. Except for the shaking.]

He's dead. That isn't what happened!

[beguiledcard]

[ He feels the flinch after noting the shaking. His breath catches softly and this is enough to bring him more to reality. He swallows thickly as he slowly moves so he's still close, but with one hand very, very gently, slowly resting on one side of Kurama's face. The other reaches for one of Kurama's hands.

In the same moment: ]

You're safe... You're with me. And, as long as I'm around, he'll sooner die a slow death than touch you, ever again. [ calm, determined expression ] I promise.

[byanyother_name]

[The change in how Akira is touching him seems to work. Or maybe it's the words. Kurama's hand clings tightly to his fiance's, the shaking slowly settling as he leans into the hand on his face.

He takes a couple of slow, careful breaths.

Nods. Moves closer to lean against Akira.]

I trust you.

[beguiledcard]

[ He gives Kurama a small, gentle smile before leaning to kiss his fiance's forehead. ]

I know you do.

[ The hand on Kurama's face begins to gently caress the skin. There are a few more kisses getting brushed across his cheek... and then his lips. Softly, he whispers. ]

I love you.

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama almost melts into Akira's gentle touches and kisses. The shaking finally fades completely as he relaxes into his fiance's closeness. Green eyes close slowly, and he presses into the kiss to his lips briefly. He's safe with Akira.

His arms slip around Akira, and the next slow breath is less careful, more natural.]

I love you, too. Thank you, treasure...

[beguiledcard]

[ His smile is gentle, warm, as he nuzzles into Kurama's shoulder. ]

You never have to thank me for this... But, you're welcome.

[ After pulling back, he's brushing several kisses over Kurama's face, the smile lingering. ]

I'm just happy to be able to help someone so important to me.