thirtyseventh | secret monstars

secret monstars

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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...

[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.

[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.]

[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?]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.

[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?

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?

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.]

[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.

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.

Ahh, you said it!

[There's a note of triumph in his voice. Haru is smiling, bright and genuine. Even with all that had happened, all that is happening, finally getting to hear Dime say those words is a rush that Haru hadn't expected to feel.]

I'm important to you!

H-hey, don't sound like you're bragging about it!

[His ears flick up and down again. Dylas is completely embarrassed to have finally admitted something he'd been feeling. Haru isn't just the only man he's dated, he's the only person he's ever kissed, the only person who's hand he's ever held. Even if it was cold, it was worth it to him.

He doesn't like feeling this scared.]

Take this seriously. I told you, I'm not letting you go without me. I don't...

[He casts his gaze down. Just using an "I" statement feels selfish, so he tries to start over.]

You shouldn't have to be alone.

...

[And just like that, the brief moment of laughter fades. Haru's eyes are narrowed, pale blue and cold, intense in a way they almost never are.]

Hey, Dime... Do you know what you're saying?

[Vampires are meant to be alone. Alone - except for the company of other vampires.]

I wouldn't say something if I didn't mean it!

[His hand curls against the cloth sheet next to him, making a fist just out of Haru's line of sight. He doesn't like it when all that warmth is gone, it scares him again. Dylas, never the one to initiate contact casually, places his other hand on Haru's leg.]

Even if you never get my name right, there's...there's no one else who puts up with me as well as you do.

[His ears droop again. He feels selfish for admitting that part of why he wants to go with Haru is because he's afraid, too, of being alone, of never finding another friend like him.]

Do... [He has to stop and swallow, feeling shaky with each passing second.] Do you want to stay with me?

[He likes the warmth of touch, but more than that, he likes it when Dime touches him.

He doesn't like to see that droop in Dime's ears, though.

At Dime's question, Haru blinks a little, the intensity fading from his eyes. What kind of question is that? Of course he wants to stay with Dime. It's just...]

They won't like it, you know. If they know we're together, they'll come after you too.

[He can't stay here with Dime. The only thing he can do is to take Dime with him.]

Then I'll come with you!

[The words come out faster than he can really process them. He might regret that later, but right now he can't think of anyone else he'd rather be with. He has amnesia, it's difficult for him to meet new people and be comfortable around them. The people in town are starting to warm up to him, but part of that had been because Haru started to bring him out of his shell.

And even if he's cold and his heart doesn't beat, there's no one warmer than Haru.]

I'll protect you. I'm strong enough. I've been working out, too. I can handle it.

[Dime still doesn't get it, does he? Haru doesn't blame him. It's not like he was ever open about how he had lived his life before he met Dime.

But he needs to make Dime understand.

In a blur of superhuman speed, he's straddling Dime, that intent look creeping back into his expression. He wants Dime to come with him, he does. But he can't bear the thought of Dime throwing his life away. The thought makes something hot and angry rear up in him. It's not often that he feels angry - he can't really remember the last time - but he's feeling that distinct burn of rage now, and he gives himself over to it.

Dime needs to know what he's getting into. Haru likes - loves - him too much to take advantage.]

I'm stronger than you, you know. [His voice is soft and lethal. Dime towers over him, but Haru knows he's stronger.] Stronger and faster. If you want to come with me, you'll need to be like me.

[When Haru attempts (and succeeds) in straddling him, Dylas almost falls right onto his back. The only thing that stops him is that he's able to reach out and grab Haru's shirt before he does, his hand forming a fist as he catches onto the collar.

His eyes say "what the hell." The intensity of the entirety conversation is so physical. Haru on his lap feels lighter in comparison to the way his stomach twists and the imaginary weight thrust on his shoulders.

Dylas knows he'd throw away his life for Haru in an instant. It's not even a question. But he doesn't want it to come to that, he wants to be with him. At first, he leans forward, thinking maybe Haru wants a kiss, but he's stopped by those powerful words. Trying to guess what Haru wants isn't what he should be doing, he needs to take himself seriously, too.

And the hand gripping onto Haru's shirt shakes, grip becoming tighter and then looser every few seconds.]

It doesn't matter what I am. What matters is who I'm with.

[Maybe it sounds like he's making light of a difficult decision. He lowers his gaze, taking a deep breath before meeting Haru's eyes again. He looks so angry.]

Shit, that isn't right. What matters is...what we want, dammit. And I want to come with you, even if it means...doing that.

[Argh! Why does Dime have to make everything so confusing? The constant tightening and loosening of Dime's grip seems to match Haru's feelings: a constant ebb and flow of happiness and anger.]

You'd really throw away your life for me? [His voice is still soft, but even Haru himself is no longer sure whether he's angry or simply awed.]

[His heart is aching. His stomach is in knots, he wants nothing more than to fall to the bed and feel Haru again, to just hold to him in a clingy way he's never had a desire to hold onto him before. He wants to never let him go.]

I would. [He lowers his gaze, ears drooping with him.] If it meant you were safer, I'd do anything.

[He can't tell if Haru believes him or not. He still feels like he's going to lose the only thing that's meant anything to him.]

But you can't!

[Finally, Haru understands why he's angry. He's jealous. Jealous that Dime gets to make a choice that had been ripped away from Haru himself, and angry that Dime is choosing all wrong.]

There's so much you'll give up! You like the sunlight, don't you? And what about your friends? You can't just...

[He's not worth that much, is he? He can't be.]

Like hell I'll let you tell me that!

[It's true that some people in the community and Dylas have gotten more friendly lately, but it's the man in front of him that gets him out of bed in the morning...or evening...or night, the reason why he'll stay up for hours on end just to have a chance to spend a few hours with Haru.]

Why are you making me say all these things, I'm awful at this. But I don't care about the sun. I just want to be with you.

[His ears flick down, angry, frustrated. Should he be scared? Is Haru trying to get away from him again? Dammit.]

Put your hands on me.

[His anger had always been a quick-burning thing, and now is no exception. For a moment, he just stares at Dime. He brings up all those (very valid) points and this is Dime's reaction?

...Dime really is something else.

Frowning, more puzzled than angry, he sets his hands on Dime's shoulders and gives them a little squeeze.]

Hey, you're taking this seriously, right...

secret monstars

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THIS IS SO LATE ;A;

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