secret monstars

[dyingmessage]

this secret needs keeping



By day, a normal, law-abiding citizen; by night, something fearful. We all know the stories. Getting attached is dangerous, they say, when staying alive depends on keeping a secret, on being able to sever connections at the drop of a hat, pull up roots and put them down in a foreign place. But even the inhuman among us crave connections, it seems. Why else would we all know the stories?

Someone here has a secret. Who will stumble upon it? Will they help keep it?

HOW TO PLAY:
- Comment with character. State your preferences - preferred scenarios or monsters, shipping permissions, and any pertinent information or premise ideas.
- Comment to others. Play whatever first comes to mind, mix and match prompts to build a scenario, or RNG it.
- Monster prompts are thematic categories because there are so goddamn many kinds of spooky things people can turn into in folklore that trying to amass a proper list of individual monsters would be a nightmare.
- Most scenario prompts can be tweaked to accommodate friends/family/ships or strangers/first meetings, and one human/one monster or two fellow monsters. Vagueness is intentional - go wild with the prompts.
- Have fun and play nice!

PROMPTS:

MONSTER - What are you?

1. A beast. A werewolf, kitsune, or other beastly, wild thing in human skin. Some turn involuntarily; some were beast before they ever were human, venturing into society to pick out easy meals. Tend to have especially monstrous mannerisms, and perhaps some options out in the wilderness to fall back on if they're found out - but who would ever want such a lonely life?

2. A bloodsucker. Or soulsucker, or flesh-eater: a vampire or other human-shaped thing that preys on people. The most frightening thing about these monsters is how well they blend into society, despite feeding on the people around them.

3. Fair folk. A member of a species that always has existed on the fringes of human knowledge. They may be less outright threatening than proper monsters, but their strange powers and ancient conflicts with humans make people nervous enough to do stupid things...

4. Dead. You're supposed to be dead, but something happened. As it turns out, ghosts are a little sturdier than fiction makes them out to be...but coming back comes with plenty of strings attached.

5. User of forbidden magic. You're perfectly human, actually, in terms of blood. But you have a power that just isn't popular - it might be something sinister, like calling on demons, or it might be out of favor for political reasons. Either way, you have a choice now - embrace who you are, or try never to think of it again? (Comics-style "mutants" fit here.)



SCENARIO - What's happening?

1. Monster hunter. Where there are creatures lurking in the crevices of human society, there are humans who take up the duty of finding and exterminating them for the greater good. Tonight was a bad night for you, getting into an confrontation like this. And it'll only get worse...

2. Human hunter. "Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly. (And for the sake of dramatic tension, the fly said yes.)

3. Whoops. You didn't intend to blow your cover like this. But when the choice was between keeping your nature under wraps or letting - that - happen, it was clear what you had to do. Now all that's left is to deal with the fallout. Maybe, just maybe, they'll accept you...

4. Standing with you. Secret? What secret?...Well, it's still a secret from everyone else, but having an ally makes keeping a secret so much easier. You have someone to back up your lies, and someone to rely on when the stress mounts. Like now. Now is a good time to rely on someone. Because it's been a bad time for you, and they're not like the others you've been having such problems with.

5. Bad end. A monster getting attached to a human? How did you think this was going to end? Not well! The answer is not well! Now look what you've done, there's blood all over the nice rug! How are you going to patch this one up, huh?

6. Welcome to the club. Young or newly-inducted monsters are notoriously bad at keeping themselves out of sight. That's why they need someone looking out for them. For the transmissable cases of monsterhood, the person who turned them is preferable, but there are always irresponsible sires leaving spots that need stepping into.

7. Find the tells. Nobody will be giving themselves away today. Not intentionally. No, it'll take a careful eye to unearth their true nature. A careful eye, and a cold heart, to suspect that their habits aren't just innocent eccentricities, but signs of a frightful monster lurking. To confront, or remain quiet...?

8. Caught. There's a good reason for all this secrecy, and you're smack dab in the middle of it. Found out, caught, captured, behind bars, awaiting your fate on an examinatio table or at the end of an executioner's blade. Will the next person to come through that door be your salvation, or just the face of further torment?

9. For their own good. Monsters can't get attached to humans! So it's for the best that you cut ties, avoid them, leave the city, the state, the country, no matter how much it hurts. Humans are very persistent when it comes to hanging onto relationships, though, so you'll have to try harder than that.

Comments

dylas | rune factory

[sullenstallion]

[amnesiact]

So, I guess this is it.

[His cover's been blown - or as good as. The hunters will be around soon. Dime is out of the house and won't be coming back for a few hours yet, so there's no better time to make his exit.

It's been a good few months. He'll miss this house he shared with Dime - and he'll miss Dime too, of course. But sticking around will put him in danger, so it's better for everyone if he slips away now. The hunters will probably track him here, but Dime isn't a vampire, so it'll be all right...he thinks?

Ahh, now he's getting worried all over again! But there's nothing he can do except hope. He can't guarantee Dime's safety either way, but if he stays, he'll definitely be putting him in danger. So it's better to leave and hope.

Eyebrows had snuck into the room while he had been busy looking around and reminiscing, and now he's twining himself around Haru's legs, asking for attention. Haru crouches down to pet him, and the little black cat purrs happily.]

Be good, Eyebrows. [The little cat will be fine. Haru had been the one to take him in, but he knows Dime will keep looking after him.] Hey, you'll take care of Dime for me, right? I won't be around, so...

[sullenstallion]

[His phone had been blowing up for the last hour. Have you seen Haru? A text from their landlord. People are asking about you and Haru. A text from his boss. Haru’s acting a little funny. Haru looked a little different, a text from the old lady next door that Dylas shares his fish with. Dylas had never been a social person, but Haru had not only brought him out of his shell somewhat, he’d also given enough people plenty of reason to text him before it was even noon.

At first, he’d called Haru, but there wasn’t an answer. Being old-fashioned, Dylas never texted himself, so he pulled his hook out of the water, packed up his gear and cooler, and loaded everything onto his bike, heading back to the apartment they’d shared ever since he’d reached out to the only other amnesiac in town.

The first sign that Dylas is home comes from the familiar sound of jingling keys immediately followed by the lock turning. This is ridiculous. He’d warned Haru he’d be back around 10PM, that he was meeting someone to see a boat. He’d even told Haru that he’d take him out to see it if he learned how to behave himself. So why does he have this pit in his stomach? He knows Haru is going to be watching TV or playing with the cat or in his room.

He opens the door and pushes it open. Relief hits him immediately. What a stupid thing to get worked up over, that’s what he’s thinking about again. Dylas’ ears even lift in that way they do when he’s happy.]

Oh, good. You’re here. [And that’s all he can ask for as he shuts the door behind him.] I mean, not that you wouldn’t be, but...I’m glad you’re here.

[amnesiact]

[Oh.

Oh no.

Eyebrows purrs and butts his head affectionately against Haru's hand, but all Haru feels is cold. Dime's here. Dime came back early.]

...

[Haru's expression twists into something complex and unreadable, the corners of his lips turned down. He's still crouched on the floor, stroking Eyebrows' back, but he can barely feel the softness of the cat's fur.

He can't lie to Dime. Dime, with his expressive ears, lifted because he's happy to see him. He can't do that to Dime.

Ahh, what to do...

He doesn't want to leave Dylas.]

[sullenstallion]

[His ears don't stay up for long. The silence drags on for what feels like forever, his heart beating so hard it feels like it might explode. Why is Haru being so quiet? He usually has something obnoxious to say about now, and...there's nothing.

But Dylas understands everything when he sees that face.

His tail tucks between his legs and he drops the bag he'd been holding onto like it's not even there. He doesn't look down or react to it, he just looks over at Eyebrows and Haru, somehow putting it all together.

He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out the first try. So he tries again.]

You're leaving.

[Everyone leaves. He wants to leave sometimes, too, so why does this hurt so badly?]

[amnesiact]

[When Dime says it like that...]

Yeah. [He breathes out, a noise that is almost a sigh.] I guess I am.

[He gets to his feet. Eyebrows lets out a quiet mrrow?, rubbing against Haru's legs, but Haru's attention is entirely on Dime right now.]

Are you going to stop me?

[He doesn't want to leave, not when it means leaving Dime like this, alone and betrayed. But there's no other choice, is there? That's the way life is.]

[sullenstallion]

[It's not any of his business when Haru comes or goes. Maybe he knew Haru would leave someday, that doesn't mean he's ready for it in any way. His facial expression doesn't change, but his ears remain drooped. For once, his gaze is steady. When he's flustered or upset, he likes to look at something else, still hasn't gotten over that last hurdle of shyness...

...but he's staring right at Haru.]

Is it because of me?

[Haru's heard it all before. Dylas doesn't tend to describe himself in the best light. Even when Haru moved in, when he was new, he'd warned him that he was an asshole and that he was hard to get along with. To know it was him driving Haru away, that would be too much.

But what if it's not? He takes a step forward, gaze only flicking down once at Eyebrows before he's focused again. He takes a deep breath.]

If it's not because of me, then, yeah. I'm stopping you. Tell me what's wrong. Please.

[The last word is more desperate than the last.]

[amnesiact]

[Haru is the first to look away, eyes averted. He likes it when Dime looks at him, he really does. Just...not right now, when he has that expression on his face.]

No, definitely not--

[Ahh, wrong move! He should have said yes. Dime wouldn't chase him if he said "yeah, I'm leaving because of you". But the words had slipped out of their own accord, and anyway, he doesn't think he could really break Dime's heart like that. He always had a soft spot when it came to Dime.

It's dangerous to care for someone like this. But...isn't this what he had wanted all along? To love someone so much that he'll put them before himself?]

...Okay.

[He sits down on the bed. Eyebrows jumps up immediately, and settles into his lap.]

Let's talk.

[sullenstallion]

[It might seem like the wrong answer, but like before, there’s a small amount of relief that washes over Dylas to the point where it shows in his ears and his tail again. His expression seems mostly the same. Worried. Scared? He’s not a very expressive person to begin with, but his frown seems a little more real and his eyes look a little more tired.

Haru said it wasn’t because of him. And he knows he can be an asshole, impossible to deal with...well, so can Haru, actually, the bastard, but it isn’t him.]

I’m...okay. Yeah.

[He’s glad.]

Let’s talk.

[Dylas steps further into the room and leans against the dresser across from the bed. He still has a bad feeling about all of this, a twisting in his stomach that threatens to overpower him with worry. It takes him only a few seconds before he lifts himself from the dresser and instead takes those few steps closer and sits next to Haru, choosing not to stand above him but sit next to him.]

Me coming home early kind of messed with your plans, didn’t it?

THIS IS SO LATE ;A;

[amnesiact]

Yeah.

[He's quiet as he makes his admission, but he doesn't try to get around it. The truth is out already, so...there's no point in beating around the bush, right? And anyway, Dime deserves the truth.

There's a weak smile on Haru's face as he continues.]

To be honest, now that it's happened, I'm kind of glad it did.

[The more he thinks about it - really thinks, as much as an idiot like him can think anyway - he would have regretted leaving just like that, if he really had gone through with it. It would nag at him like a bad toothache. He'd probably spend way too much time thinking about Dime, wondering if he misses him, or if he's angry, things like that.

So, it's probably a good thing that Dime came home early for whatever reason. Actually- ]

How come you're back so early anyway?

[sullenstallion]

I figured. Sounds like the kind of asshole thing I'd do, ruin your plans like that.

[Even if Haru says he's glad, Dylas still makes fun of himself a little to try and make this easier. For who? He's not sure, it's hard for him to have so many emotions to deal with all at once. And he's still scared.

And he's a little embarrassed he can't smile back.]

I just...had a bad feeling so I came home. I felt like I really needed to see you again.

[That's not the entire truth, but he feels like bringing up that a few people thought he was acting funny right now might not be the best idea. He'll tell him later, maybe, or not at all if he decides to just leave anyways. He folds his hand in his lap, his tail lifting and falling against the bed behind him now and then.]

Why were you leaving? If you want to stay, I'll help you with whatever's bothering you, Haru.

[He sounds a little desperate, because they seemed so happy yesterday. He hadn't even realized he was happy, but as Haru attempts to remove himself from this life, he's realizing that he might have been.]

[amnesiact]

[A bad feeling, huh? Haru gets it. He's always relied pretty heavily on his intuition, after all. His sixth sense, whatever you want to call it. It's always been pretty trusty. So he nods, accepting Dime's explanation and launching into one of his own.]

You know what I am, right? [He doesn't think he needs to elaborate on what that is. Vampire. They don't really talk all that much about it, but it affects everything they do, from the way they can only go on dates under the cover of darkness, to the way Haru sometimes looks at Dylas, thirst darkening his pale blue eyes.]

Someone other people figured it out. They don't like it - [UNDERSTATEMENT] - so I thought I better leave, before they figure out where I live.

[sullenstallion]

I don't care about that!

[The outburst hangs in the air. Dylas isn't human, either. Beastmen are more common, sure, but it's not like he hasn't attracted stares of his own. It's not really a fair comparison—Dylas' diet is much different than Haru's—but it's still the first thing that comes to mind.

He's not angry, his voice sounds more desperate than anything.]

That's never bothered me. You're important to me, I'll...

[Shit, did he just make some sort of confession?]

...dammit, I'm not letting you go alone, Haru. Not if you're in danger.

more monsters \o\

[amnesiact]

[Dime is kind of an unusual boyfriend (even by Haru's standards), and sometimes it takes some effort to work around his quirks (he really wants to go on a date to the beach someday, but not seeing the sun on the surf kind of defeats the point...).

One of those quirks is just how far away Dime lives. Haru likes to think he's a pretty flexible guy, but it's so hard to see Dime when each trip to get to his place takes so long. He can't put up with it any more! He refuses!

So, why not have Dime move in with him?]

Well, this is it!

[He opens the door to his small apartment with a flourish. He had been cleaning feverishly earlier today in preparation for Dime's arrival, and the spotless apartment is even more spotless than usual, the wooden tiles gleaming. The place is kind of bare - he doesn't have a television or very many kitchen appliances or any of that - it's kind of hard to get out of the habit of thinking that he won't be sticking around for long, so there's no point in getting anything for himself.

But he thinks it's still a pretty nice place! It's the first place he had to himself, and now he gets to share it with Dime. Score!]

What do you think?

[He beams.]

[unendeering]

['Quirks' is a polite way to put it, and Dylas appreciates it every time. The first piece of his furniture that he'd sent to Haru's place had been his industrial air conditioner, after all, for when the summer hits and he needs to keep himself from smelling like roadkill. Then there's going to be awkward trips to the monster grocery store that he's dreading making with Haru. For now, his cravings are pretty light, but as a perpetually hungry depressed undead deer monster with a cute boyfriend, he's snacking on beef jerky even as he walks into the apartment for the first time.

This is it. This is it, he's a wendigo, he has a boyfriend, and...wow, it's been so long since he's been a part of a bigger city. Being a wendigo isn't illegal, but it's sure to attract plenty of stares in the coming months. Years, maybe. He wants to be hopeful, but it's hard.]

It's very you— [He takes a few steps further into the room, and immediately his antlers smash a light fixture that had been hanging on the ceiling. It's a small miracle he can stand to full height at all, okay? He winces and steps back before immediately dropping to a knee, working to brush the shards of glass closer together.] Shit. It's very you-sized. I'm sorry, I'll pay for that.

[Wendigo Dylas' occupation: writes for a fishing magazine and blog. He looks up from where he's kneeling. Even kneeling, his face probably comes up pretty high on Haru.]

It's kind of empty.

[amnesiact]

[Haru's face falls comically at the sound of breaking glass. His lights...! He really liked them.

But he likes Dime more, so maybe it all evens out?]

Wait, wait —

[He drops down next to Dime, (he's used to people being taller than him, but Dime takes it to new extremes), making a grab for Dime's hands.]

Just leave it to me. [Cut glass has to hurt, right? Even for a Wen...Wendy...

What is Dime's species again? Oh well.]

Why don't you think about what we can fill this apartment up with? It's all ours now, so we should make it feel like home! Hey, let's go shopping later. I know a few stores that open late!

[unendeering]

[He liked them, too! Before he destroyed them through virtue of being too tall too exist.

Dylas's ears flick down and stay down when his wrists are grabbed. The 'shame' position, not the 'angry' position. He's embarrassed, but he lacks the ability to blush. He'd be so boring, but his dick still works. Fantastically, too.]

You don't have to clean up after me. It, uh. Probably won't be the first time it happens.

[He thinks it would hurt more for a human, especially since he remembers being human, but that angst is best saved for another night. He might not look like it, but he's having the undead equivalent of a racing heart and butterflies in his stomach.

Fuck, he can't help it. He leans his upper half forward so that he can nuzzle his forehead against Haru's own. There's a bit of force to it, considering he's part-animal and all, but it's an affectionate gesture coming from him.]

We need to fill it up with food. [Look, he can joke, okay. And he's just going to casually attempt to pull Haru into his chest mane. Fuck the glass.] I've never really decorated a place before. I don't really know what I want.

[amnesiact]

[Is Dime saying that the rest of his light fixtures are in danger...?

Well, whatever. It's worth it to have Dime with him. Maybe he'll just by standing lamps or something. They'll find a way to make it work!

And, suddenly, he finds himself being buried in an expanse of wendigo fur.]

Mghh--?!

[His head is spinning from the rough affection, but in a good way, he thinks. It's something so unique to Dime, like his fur and hooves and antlers. He's pretty sure he'll never be able to get enough of it. He breathes in Dime's unique sent, buries his face willingly his boyfriend's rough mane.

(It kind of tickles. He heroically resists the urge to sneeze-- Ah, he can't take it any longer! He pulls away, rubbing at his nose.)]

Mm! Lots and lots of food! [He's (pretty sure) Dime was joking, but more food can't hurt. Maybe he'll actually learn to cook? Hiroshi always says he should learn, now that he had more or less settled in his apartment permanently.]

Eheheh... I don't really know what decorations I want either - [which Dime can probably see for himself] - so let's just pick out something we both like. Let's go!

[He grabs Dime's hand, all thoughts of the broken glass forgotten. Maybe they're leaving the apartment a little too quickly (since they just got here), but Haru had never let something as minor as that stop him before.]

[sullenstallion]

[This is nice on so many levels. Ever since he'd been turned, he'd been a greedier sort of person. The supernatural doctor he has to go has informed him that greed is a very natural side effect to being a zombie deer monster that could eat his boyfriend. So the hug is nice, having Haru against him is nice. He's so warm where he's so cold. But.

Rubbing a bit of his scent on Haru is also nice, whoops. And he knows that's what he's doing, too, he just won't say it.

But it's over after a while, thankfully without a sneeze, and Dylas leans forward while Haru pulls back, sort of staying in his space just a little.]

It's pretty important. [They've already had the "i need to eat lots of meat" talk which probably ended with him blowing Haru. His ears perk up when Haru suddenly decides to go out, and he rises to his hooves. Going out to a public place makes him a little nervous, but he has to break apart from Haru's hand long enough to move over to one of the boxes he'd sent over earlier. He squats down, rifling through it long enough to pull out...

...a t-shirt. How boring. It's not even cute at all, what the hell, why didn't Haru burn it. Yet here he is, his tail wagging a little, pleased with his choice.]

I just need to throw this on before we go. [He wonders if he should say something sexy? He'll try.] The, uh...chest...shirtless stuff is only for you.

[Chest fur, claw scars, and somewhat acceptable muscles, all for him to look at and no one else.]

[amnesiact]

[The shirt has English text on it, so it must be cool, right? Hiroshi definitely thinks so, judging by his fashion sense, so Haru decides to withhold judgement.

(He's always too busy ogling Dime to pay attention to his fashion choices, anyway.)]

Huh?

[There's a few thoughts running around in a mind, chasing each other round and round, but they mostly amount to Dime's so cute! I want to touch his tail and his ears! And maybe go for another hug?

All of those thoughts go flying clean out of his mind as Dime's words sink in more fully.

Is Dime... Is his boyfriend trying to flirt?

Ahh, he's so cute!]

Oh, but what if I want to see you shirtless all the time?

i'm supposed to using this account ugh

[unendeering]

[Dylas reads Japanese. He's probably European. Look at this tall French asshole with the long blue hair. He, unfortunately, thinks his shirt is the height of humor.

He fidgets a little where he's standing, hooves digging into the carpet and leaving the tiniest mark behind. Shirtless all the time? He covers his face with a hand as he sighs, like he's blushing, but his blood is nasty and gross and doesn't color his face red anymore.

Seriously, if he cuts himself, he has to sleep outside.]

All the time's...a pretty long time.

[Is he allowed to be this happy? He looks at Haru, up and down.]

If you...because it's you...told me not to wear it, I'd do it. It's up to you.

[They could be asked to leave a store. No shirt, no shoes, no service. He might even get weird stares. It makes him uncomfortable in all the right ways.]

all hors accounts are good hors accounts

[amnesiact]

[...

. . .

Huh. He didn't expect that. Dime would do something like that for him? Even though it makes him uncomfortable? Dime's discomfort is pretty obvious; Haru can hear the shuffle of his hooves, and he's even hiding his face.

He's uncomfortable, but... At the same time, it doesn't feel like going shirtless all the time is something Dime doesn't want to do.

The greedy, selfish part of Haru tells him to take what Dime is offering him without any questions. The considerate part of him holds back, just a little.

He knows Dime really well, right? If Dime is offering, then it's something he wants to do deep down. He shouldn't insult him by questioning him.

Haru nods firmly.]

Yeah. I want it.

[unendeering]

[So, that's that.

He's waiting for Haru's answer. And then the next moment, it comes to him. In retrospect, maybe he should have seen some of this coming. Some of the discomfort even comes from knowing he's putting himself out there to be pushed around a little and the fear that Haru might say no.

He might be a big, tough Wendiguy, but deep down...he sort of likes being teased or pushed into doing things. As to what extent that reaches, maybe Haru will find out someday.

But considering his ears perk when the answer comes, his body looks more relieved than worried. There's something so sexy about his partner being greedy for him. He'll get used to the odd feeling of being paraded around, and he'll probably get hard randomly in the middle of the mall. It's fun for everyone.]

Alright. If you insist on it.

[He shrugs his shirt back off and folds it quickly, placing it on the box he'd pulled it out of before standing back up. His chest fur only covers so much of his body. There's still a lot of abdominal muscle, his sides, and his lower back that are exposed. He does keep his shorts on, he can't be that naked in public. But this is exciting for him.]

Are you ready to go?

[amnesiact]

Mmm!

[It looks like he had read Dime right, he thinks? Pushing him was the right thing to do.

Even if it wasn't (which he doubts), he gets to see more of his boyfriend. He'll count it as a win in his books! He can't resist stepping close again, running his hands against the chest fur, feeling the hardness of muscle underneath. His boyfriend really is amazing. Sometimes, Haru still can't believe they get to be together like this.

Maybe it won't last forever, but right now, he's really happy. Ther's no point thinking about the future.]

Let's go!

[And he'll take Dime's hand and drag him out of the door. He can't really remember where he was planning to take Dime (if he even had a plan in the first place), so he might as well show him around the neighbourhood, right? He vaguely remembers where the 24-hour convenience store is, so he shows that to Dime first, and then...

And then......

He's lost. He stands in the middle of the street, looking from side to side, scratching at the back of his neck as he tries to remember what he had been planning to do.]

Hnngh...

[Ahh, this is so frustrating! He wanted Dime to have a good first night in his apartment.]

[unendeering]

[Pushing Dylas is definitely the right thing to do, and the walk will calm him down a little. There's a very big part of him (that part right between his legs, actually) that wants to just shove Haru against the floor and ravish him like only a monster can, but he's trying to be a cute boyfriend tonight. Besides, he's done that before. Hopefully, Haru can handle those bestial urges, because Dylas has them a lot, especially around someone so handsy.

His chest swells a little beneath Haru's touch—he's actually flexing, trying to show off a little, even if he doesn't really feel like he has all that much to show off. He is just as happy to take that hand and head out the door.

The convenience store is fun. Dylas probes the poor attendant with unnecessary questions because he plans on coming by a lot (being nocturnal and all) and buys Haru something to drink. She can't seem to keep her eyes on Dylas' face, which makes both of them a little uncomfortable, but it is what it is.

When they've made it to the street, he rests his head on the back of Haru's, wrapping his arms around him while he makes a decision. Wait.]

Hey. Haru. You didn't get us lost, did you?

[His voice is cautious, like he doesn't want to know the answer. He's not sure he knows the way back to his apartment.