Fandom ʚ 𝒾𝓀𝒾𝑔𝒶𝒾 ʚɞ 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝒾𝓇𝒸𝓁𝑒 ɞ [ic]

[Frownist]

outfit

clicky click

location

meeting room

Interaction

keisuke

Tag

peachiepalette

Of course her break was brief, cut short by a directionless cousin. With a roll of her eyes, the young zodiac made sure she wouldn’t return to the dining hall without a sly remark. “Kei, some of us have a life, y'know. Not everyone wants to stick around for your family’s hard on for lectures.”

As she stepped on, the heel of her sneakers squeaking against the pristine floors, she gave the dragon a simple wave, “Bye, Jiā. Don’t miss me too much.”

The lady Rie always brought with her a sense of falsely stringed authority, almost akin to a child crying for the attention of her mother. Funnily enough, she too was quick to throw a tantrum like one with the way she put on a display of such commanding ire. The weight of her glance loomed above the Circle, so sharp, so cold, so.. To the point. Entertaining was never in her nature. It almost drawed out a chuckle from Feiyao. Of course, the little cat knew better than to laugh, yet the slight smirk that graced her lips could not be contained.

And now the God wanted their time, her time. So desperate, so fearful, so demanding. Even having the sheer gall to make such a lofty threat—“disturbing the natural order.” Rie could barely contain her own fury with the way she barked like a dog.

A quiet exhale escaped Feiyao’s lips. Like a child.

It didn’t take long for the young redhead’s drifiting attention to wander across the hall. She watched the way the members' faces contorted as the words of Rie hit their ears; some seemed unphased, others with hints of terror in their glance, some serious, some irritated. Some even noticed her lingering crimson stare, in which she always replied with a foxy grin.

When the God concluded her speech, Feiyao didn’t rise from her chair. Instead she quietly watched as the gathering devolved into whispers of mayhem, quick to organize themselves into their own flocks. Instead she turned her attention to the unfortunate soul who sat next to her, an invitation to begin conversation.

Her tone was nonchalant as her arms remained crossed on the table, one hand carrying a nearly empty wine glass while the other tapped the table in no particular fashion. “Disturbing the natural order… That’s a new one.” Feiyao’s voice trailed off, a hint of amusement in her eyes as she looked over to Keisuke. “Kind of wander if you’re the one who put that idea in her head, I mean..” She chuckled quietly, “...with the way you tip-toe around her.”

Whatever the Boar grumbled back was promptly ignored as she took another sip from the glass, “No need for the theatrics. But I guess it runs in the family.” Feiyao quipped, “I guess.”

Feiyao Lin ✽

© reveriee

 

[Shadow Alpha]

U

pon the entrance of God, an almost tangible air of tension coated those that were in attendance. Shared looks that varied in confusion, irritability, and... affection? Ruònán's eyes regarded the older woman with eyes brimming with respect underlined with restrained lust. She was not one new to carnal cravings of the flesh and had acted upon them many times before, this childhood crush was one that had persisted. Her muddled brain had finally cleared up enough to actually focus on the seemingly important topic.

Ruònán chugged the remainder of her drink as her spirit seemed to accept the severity of the situation. The otherworldly gleam in Rie's eyes screamed of domineering oppression and a hidden layer of fear. An aura of anxiety seemed to roll off her, the stressful scent alone was enough to make her scrunch her nose up. And then, Rie dropped the most important information, that they would all be condemned to a life in the compound. For any outsider, it would seem like a life-long dream of the Zodiacs to be together under one roof. The reaction among those directly affected took a sour note as they realized that their lives would be put on hold indefinitely. Ruònán could see her cousin's eyes widen with the implications of a forced stay, 'Well...Lil Chen can kiss those beloved practices goodbye, poor boy.'

A sudden vibration caught her attention and slipped her phone out to check it discreetly knowing how ill-mannered Rie could get when she wasn't given the attention and respect she deserves. Separate conversation threads were being overloaded with messages from her brothers asking why her schedule for the foreseeable future had been thrown into their laps, her parents telling her that it was her divine duty to dutifully be by God's side as a loyal Dog would, and a few of her future clients that had access to her personal info spilling their guts over how heartbroken they were over their lovely guard not being available. Ruònán just sighed and shut the annoying device off entirely, one headache avoided for the time being.

The threat of unspeakable acts hung in the air as a few Zodiacs began to talk amongst themselves. Ruònán pushed her chair back and smoothly stood up at her full height, God's gaze really did a number on a Zodiac and left a stiffness in her shoulders. She lazily stretched her above her head until she felt a satisfying pop, the talk was over, so she figured she'd be free to her own devices. Before she could turn her heel, her body seemed to lock in place as she felt a piercing gaze demand her immediate attention. Her head tilted slightly to the right as she offered Rie a curious glance, one in which the woman responded with a loud snapping of her fingers. Summoning Ruònán as if she were an unruly child that needed no vocal commands.

Ruònán offered Rie's retreating figure a rogueish grin, tossed her blazer over her shoulder, and followed behind her with a newly formed pep in her step. "And what do I owe the absolute pleasure of being you first Rie? I'm not sure what type of interrogation is needed but you should know that my pain tolerance from military training is very high. As some southern American said, 'You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar'. If you were so inclined to give this obedient puppy sugar, I'd be more than happy to hound the others for any information you require."

THE DOG

Lánfēi Ruònán

location:

Dining Hall/Following Rie Wherever She Pleases

outfit:

interactions:

e v i

 

[e v i]

The God.

ミヤラ リエ

Cursed Shinshu Field

location

Rie's Study

outfit

click me!

interactions

The Dog

tags

Shadow Alpha

Ruònán's voice trailed behind her, carrying regretfully into the Dining Hall. She almost burst a blood vessel, and she could feel her fingers coil tightly around the fabric of her cardigan. Ruònán. In the old story, the The Dog took their time in making their way to The God, finishing second to last place. As a child, Rie quietly admonished those in the story who did not race to see her, but she knew this was not the case with the current Dog. As God, she exercised her steel neutrality to dispel the tension between them. The cords binding her to her animals -- nothing trivial nor stout would ever quite break them. The last time she had Ruònán alone was the Year of the Rabbit. Her shoulders heaved a sigh, and she led Ruònán to her office, sliding the door behind her shut.

"Disrespectful brat. That is no way to address me, especially within earshot of your fellow members. You are in my home now, and you will use proper honorifics as you have been doing for every gathering. This is no exception," she hissed at The Dog with little bite, brushing past her and sitting at her desk. She gestured for Ruònán to sit across from her, and once seated, Rie let her posture loosen a hair (and only a hair). Her eyes no longer glowed, but they retained their rose red hue. She let the silence linger, the pressure for an apology from Ruònán heavy, and once administered, she continued.

"Due to you and your cousin's... dispositions, I trust my judgement to suspect you both the least for now," she admitted, a rare display of preferential treatment. She pulled out a notepad and a pencil, poising it to the blank space.

"But I will ask you -- and you will tell me the truth -- has anyone approached you in the last year in a weird manner? Anyone from any of the families, even the Miyara family. Do you find any instances odd or out of place?" she asked, her eyes trained on The Dog, daring her to speculate or omit. She crossed one leg over the other, the pale skin of her ankle peaking from under the desk.

 

[izayoiix]

M

ai knew that for her own good, she needed to keep her complaints about coming to Japan to herself. It’s not that she didn’t like the country, she wouldn’t mind visiting, but the summons telling her to basically drop everything and come running didn’t work well with her schedule. She wanted to throw herself into a chair, cross her arms, pout and whine about how unfair it all was that just because someone wanted to misbehave, she had to suffer the consequences.

Truly, no one could ever think that Mai was anything but a spoiled princess.

However, despite the vapid little girl she often portrayed herself as, the young woman knew when to hold her tongue. Even if it was likely going to be the most difficult task she undertook.

Once the call had gone out, she’d thrown her tantrum in the safety and privacy of her room before composing herself and beginning to make calls to rearrange her schedule. She’d had someone pack her bags while she sat at her desk, cancelling photoshoots and interviews, withdrawing interest from an upcoming project or two, and listening to her parents lecture her on how she needed to be on her best behavior.

Like Mai wasn’t already twenty-seven years old and didn’t know what was expected of her in the presence of God.

Despite her status as the Sheep, Mai didn’t care much about the intricacies of being a member of the zodiac. Her…condition helped keep dating rumors at bay, seeing as her career thrived on her being single, but beyond making shooting some scenes or photoshoots a tad more difficult, it didn’t impact much of her day to day life.

Upon landing in Japan, everything kicked into gear instantly. She’d arrived at the Miyara Compound, had her bags taken by a servant and ushered into the dining hall, only for Rie-sama to make such a declaration.

Mai was surprised at the announcement, her thoughts first drifting to how this was going to impact her career. She already had a headache, knowing she was once again going to have to shift her schedule around. Hopefully she could move some things around so that she could still get some work done while she was in Japan, but without knowing what exactly was going to be expected of her by Rie-sama, she wasn’t too hopeful.

She should probably wait until she has a bit more information, give it a few days and see if perhaps this situation could be resolved sooner rather than later? But Mai knew that that was wishful thinking.

Truthfully, the thought of their zodiac status changing did scare her a little, but whether she could turn into a fluffy sheep or not wasn’t the biggest part of her life. What worried her more was how some of the others among the family would react. Clearly something big was going on if God was making a decree to keep them all in one place.

Mai sighed. There wasn’t much use in fretting about it like she was. It wasn’t like she could change anything.

So lost in thought as she watched Rie-sama leave the hall, she didn’t see Khanh come up beside her.

“Eep!”

she squeaked as someone grabbed her arm, pulling her along with them as they moved to the other side of the room. With wide eyes, Mai let out a breath of relief as she recognized who had taken her arm.

“Oh, thank goodness. Khanh, you scared me!”

she whined, taking hurried steps so she could catch up to the taller woman.

She hadn’t had any other plans or even a clue of what she should do next, so she had no problem following the other woman as she dropped into a seat next to Mingyue. Gingerly taking a seat herself, Mai ran a hand down the front of her dress, smoothing the fabric over her lap before she tilted her head in consideration as she looked at her companions, only to pout a moment later.

“Why are you both so much taller than me?”

"if i was you, i'd want to be me too"

somsri, nangnoi

location:

dining hall

outfit:

interactions:

leviohsa ven

 

[nyxievous]

the snake.

enzo caringal

eat your young

location

dining hall

outfit

click me!

interactions

Dakila -> Jun Jian

tags

@ user @ user

Enzo’s smirk curled at the edges, a flicker of something lighting his gaze as Jun Jian’s words settled between them. The cigarette dangled from his fingers, the faint ember glowing against the polished marble table. His eyes, half-lidded, tracked the moment Jun Jian reached for the cigarette, their fingers brushing in a fleeting but lingering touch.

“You’re not wrong,”

he replied smoothly.

“Such accusations are practically my love language. But this?”

He gestured faintly toward the rest of the room, the smoke trailing from his hand like punctuation.

“This isn’t mine. Not this time.”

As Jun Jian’s eyes flickered with questions and theories, Enzo found himself captivated. There was a spark there—a curiosity tempered by calculation. Jun Jian wanted answers just as much as Enzo did, but beneath the surface, there was a rawness Enzo couldn’t ignore. A quiet frustration, perhaps even unease, that mirrored his own.

It was rare for either of them to be caught off guard. That alone made this situation far more interesting.

Enzo’s mind worked as he spoke, layering truths with half-truths, testing the waters.

“I’d heard whispers, of course,”

he admitted, his voice quieter now, meant for Jun Jian’s ears alone.

“Something about disturbances, plans unraveling, certain events not happening when they should. But to see Rie desperate enough to cage us all here like wayward children...”

He trailed off, shaking his head.

“That’s a twist I didn’t see coming.”

When Jun Jian suggested slipping away, the words were almost too easy to entertain.

“Run away? Just us two?

” Enzo's grin widened, a glimmer of mischief softening his gaze into something almost fond. He leaned forward with fluid grace, his movements deliberately unhurried. His hand didn't reach for the cigarette, but instead, Enzo's mouth brushed close, closing over the cigarette still poised in Jun Jian's hand. Their faces were inches apart as Enzo's eyes, dark and knowing, never left Jun Jian's. He inhaled deeply, the ember flaring between them as the smoke filled his lungs. He leaned back as he exhaled, the smoke curling around them both, separating their corner from the rest of the room.

“Tempting,”

he murmured, his voice low enough that Jun Jian had to lean in to catch it.

“But imagine how furious Rie would be if we uncovered the mystery first.”

Enzo’s gaze lingered on Jun Jian, weighing his response, reading the subtle shifts in his expression. He knew Jun Jian wouldn’t leave, not really. Not when the game had just begun, and certainly not when Enzo was now a part of it.

"Tell me something,"

he said, voice pitched low.

"When exactly did you notice things starting to go wrong?"

he asked, confident that the Dragon had discovered things going awry in his bubble of the Circle.

"Because I have a theory that it all started around the same time."

 

[mizton]

the hare

miyara kōzō

T

hough Kōzō had not the ability to read the mind of his sister, the words she'd come out with were about as news to him as the sky's blue hue.

The address, to his mind, brought forth doubt as he laid gaze upon those in attendance—the disruption of The Circle's nature meant a long road ahead for the woman whose side he stood right of. A kinder soul might've empathized & shared her frustration, but Kōzō steeled, narrowly bothered for his own sake. Only when referenced as 'my brother' did his focus come to center with a smile toward their audience.

It was that smile that he carried with him off stage to approach & greet the company of one particular table: Chenxi & Ruangsak's. Rare was it for Kōzō, a man who found interest in just about anybody willing, to find himself at a loss with such plentiful choice.

As he'd been one of the last to join the crowd, a glance around the dining hall told Kōzō that the twins had both found their person to tail for the morning. Though he'd never been one for strict propriety, approaching either of the two would curb his opportunity to keep watch of the other. It was at the table he'd now sat himself down at that keeping eyes on one & at least hearing the other were both possible & in line of Rie's expectation.

Kōzō's eyes lingered through the window at Dakila,

"Friends!"

exclaimed Kōzō with open arms & a tone mirroring that of chummy manager's in addressing disgruntled employees,

"Heavy conversation aside, how are we this morning?—Pardon me, I'm sitting down."

In taking his seat, his eyes minutely lingered through the window at Dakila's.

With his lagging gaze, Kōzō turned back to his company with a sudden thought,

"Oh, I know: how were our wines? Suitable for a morning?"

Now, those not acquaintanced with Kōzō might've written such inquiries off as pleasantries while the man took his seat. However, those who'd ever held conversation with the hare once before might've wisely known otherwise.

If they didn't, his chin resting on interlocked fingers & the expectant smile that curled above it conveyed the earnestness of God's brother.

For as long as he's kept his finger on the pulse of the compound, food & drink were some of the few areas of which he liked to be highly involved in; that morning's refreshments were reflections of the marriage between Kōzō's travels & the family's traditions.

outfit:

location:

dining hall

tags:

buckybaernes , CurryFlurry

 

[Shadow Alpha]

T

he grin that began to spread across her face couldn't be stopped as she knew that she had hit a nerve with the older woman. As she received a well-deserved scolding, Ruònán tried to put on the air of someone that had acknowledged their wrongdoings. Once they had recached Rie's office, she debated on seating on the desk to spur on the teasing that she had begun. Rie's voice resonated deep within Ruònán's bones and she realized that the apology that she was seeling would be given without any room for denial. Ruònán's chin dropped down as she offered a light bow before mumbling, "I am very sorry Rie-sama for my disorderly display and lack of respect towards you."

The moments that stretched before Rie offered a weak sigh in response gave Ruònán plenty of time for her expression to break out into a playful grin once again. She knew that God had become somewhat exasperated with her childish antics and direct attempts at courting. And yet, Rie softened her tone as she began to directly address The Dog.

Hearing that she had some sort of faith in Ruònán and her athletic cousin, Ruònán began to relax even more. She would have never comitted any act that would have negatively affected God or the other Zodiac in the first place. "Of course you have my word that I've done nothing to damage the bond we have amongst the animals and God...unless my little trysts have somehow managed to affect it."

Ruònán's head cocked to the right as she intently listened to the line of questioning that Rie had. Her hand absentmindedly scratched the back of her neck as she tried to think of any recent interactions with any of the other clans. Nothing popped into her had so all she could do was shake her head in defeat, "Nothing really sticks out to me right now besides the usual ass kissing that the families tend to do in the presence of any Zodiac. Some of the lower branches have shown their affection towards me but I highly doubt that those confessions have anything to do with the current issue."

Ruònán was still under the impression that there was nothing on a human level that could ever negatively impact the spiritual threads that connected them all. "Even my parents have a tendency to keep track of the "high ranking" connections that attempt to reach out to me for a variety of reasons. Protection orders and any intel on their direct enemies and if we've done any work for them. Which we of course do not give up that type of information for any reason. I honestly hoped that you were calling me in here for some sort of fun or to confess your undying love for your loyal Dog."

THE DOG

Lánfēi Ruònán

location:

Rie's Room/Office

outfit:

interactions:

e v i

 

[peachiepalette]

C

onduct himself accordingly. It was what Rie had said, and it was almost immediately that a rigidness overtook his posture as she made her remarks. It was reluctant but forceful, the way that he responded to her commands. No one else in the room would be able to tell he’d be scolded despite his flushed cheeks, what with the way that he pushed his shoulders back and held his chin high like the prominent member of society he was meant to be. And then, he did exactly as he was tasked. The man’s body made its way unceremoniously to the Cat, familiarity with the redheaded woman quickening his stride. All the while, he was moving past other faces that had always remained in his memories, the most prominent people in his life. What a sad fact that his social links were, for the most part, all here in this room. And somehow, he’d already been taunted by one and set off to yet another who would offer no mercy.


Was it unfair to wish for someone else to treat him better? Anyone to give a shred of niceties, a kind word at the very least? The man’s mind drifted longingly, his lips turning in the direction of a grimace. Ruangsak was preferable even with their muddled history.


With the courage of a thousand men, Keisuke came to a halt beside Feiyao. The forced rule follower and the absolute chaotic wild beast. He gave her a sidelong glance, assuming she already knew why he was at her side.


With a huff, his head fell to the side slightly, a roll of the eyes not far behind. Evidently, his posture was bound to loosen up around a heathen like her, but he did not terribly regret that fact. Still, he groaned, pressing the pads of her thumb and middle finger into his eyes with a squeezed expression.

“Get over yourself, Feiyao– You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to be here.”

Unspoken words hung in the air between them, screaming everything that he could never say out loud. But… he had. Keisuke had told someone about his little stressors. Golden eyes landed with a piercing stare on Jiajia’s back.


Sitting next to the one he had been assigned, his foot crossed over the other leg in the uncomfortable chairs, bouncing uncontrollably. It was a habit that Rie had made sure he knew she despised, hence why he was only allowed to do it now that he was no longer in her presence. But when the younger woman spoke up again, his shaking ceased.

“What?”

Him? The reason that Rie was addressing them for what she would deem to be treacherous acts? Keisuke's gaze lowered to the floor in heavy contemplation, so much so that he hardly had anything to offer the red devil that was seated at his side in the way of words. Had it been him? His fault? Had he somehow willed the unbalance of the Zodiac into existence with his resentment alone?


It must have shown on his face - the panic- because Feiyao already had more words loaded for him. ‘No need for the theatrics.’ This set Keisuke’s brow with a crease as he leaned forward with a low voice, asking in earnest.

“Couldn't it have been you, then? Or what if we both caused this?”

"to be a star you must burn"

Miyara, Keisuke

location:

Dining Hall

outfit:

interactions:

Frownist

 

[Dicentra]

The Horse.

Ahreum Seo - 서아름

Flavour of The Month

location

Miyara Estate; Dining Hall

outfit

click me!

interactions

The Tiger, The Rooster

tags

leviohsa CurryFlurry

Pompous. Her smile practically dripped with haughty confidence. She raised her glass with languid grace, letting it clink against the others with a soft chime.

"Cheers." It was a cool reprieve; it almost cleansed the bitter taste of having to see certain individuals in the room. She let out a soft sigh of relief, content for the moment as the champagne worked its magic. With her spirits lifted, she crossed her legs where she sat, adjusting her posture with a newfound ease.

“I really don’t understand why they don’t hand out a glass of something strong the moment you step foot into this dreary estate." Her eyes scanned the room with a critical mien, lingering on the muted, uninspired decor. “I mean, the colors are so…” She let her words trail off, waving a dismissive hand in the air. “Boring.”

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she leaned back, taking another delicate sip of champagne. “Well.” She added with a shrug. "Not everyone can have my exquisite taste.”

“Speaking of which...I have a story for you two.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her tone sodden in the anticipation of her own tale. And before anyone could muster so much as a word of protest, she was already off, diving headfirst into her favorite topic: herself.

Her hands moved animatedly as she spoke, each gesture grander than the last, as though her audience were hanging on her every word - though the likelihood of this was slim. The champagne in her glass sparkled with every flourish, punctuating her words like an exclamation point. To her, there was no better subject in the world. After all, why discuss the dullness around them when they could bask in the brilliance of her stories?

And so she went on, and on, and on, recounting in excruciating detail her trip to a beauty convention. She spared no words describing how utterly appalling the decor had been - cheap, uninspired, and so beneath her standards. “I mean, can you even imagine? It was so bad, I didn’t even want to take pictures of myself. Me! Not wanting photos - it’s practically unheard of.”

“The lighting? Abysmal. The colors? Clashing. And don’t get me started on the centerpiece. Who uses plastic flowers in this day and age?” She scoffed, taking another sip of her champagne.

Ahri leaned back in her chair, her arms crossing as she shook her head with mock disbelief. “Honestly, they should’ve hired me to design the entire thing. It would’ve been revolutionary. Actually that reminds me of-"

Before she could continue her grand tale, her phone buzzed insistently on the table. Ahri glanced down at the screen to see Soojin’s name flashing. Considering her assistant knew exactly where she was tonight, the call could only mean one of two things: a family emergency or a business crisis.

She let out a sigh, disappointment evident in the dramatic droop of her shoulders - she didn't have time to finish her story. Her audience would just have to wait for the thrilling conclusion of her convention woes. The incessant buzzing of her phone was more irritating than the interruption itself, like an uninvited guest tapping on her shoulder.

With a resigned roll of her eyes, she picked up the phone. “This better be good, Soojin.” She answered, her voice clipped, though tinged with just enough curiosity to betray her annoyance. Whatever it was, it had better warrant cutting short her favorite pastime - complaining.

Ahri made her way to the main doors, heels clicking against the polished floor. She paused just outside, close enough to reenter the building on a moment’s notice if necessary - but she silently solicited it wouldn’t come to that. She hated being rushed.

Bringing the phone to her ear, she listened as Soojin’s voice poured through the receiver, her assistant explaining the situation with a careful mix of urgency and caution. Their latest delivery of styling gel had been involved in a crash. A complete accident, but devastating nonetheless. This wasn’t just any shipment - it was the prototype for their upcoming event, the product they’d planned to use to gauge interest and create a buzz before the official launch.

Ahri’s perfectly glossed lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening as she grumbled under her breath. Out of the country for less than half a day, and there’s already a mess.

Her fingers toyed with the edge of her phone as she paced a small circle, her mind running through contingency plans. The timing couldn’t have been worse, and she could already feel the irritation bubbling up within her. She exhaled sharply, straightening her shoulders as she shifted into problem solving mode.

“Alright.” Her tone sharp and decisive. “Who do we still have at the warehouse? I need to know exactly how much stock we have left and how fast we can ramp up production. And Soojin - this event is too important to botch. Fix this. Fast.”

Hanging up, Ahri took a moment to steady herself, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve. Crises like this weren’t new, but they were certainly an unwelcome nuisance. Just as Ahri ended the call, her hand dropping to her side, she caught sight of a figure approaching her from the corner of her eye. The irritation etched on her features softened almost immediately, replaced by an equanimity.

The corners of her lips lifted into a subtle, knowing smile as she turned her attention fully to the figure. She didn’t need to see the face to know who it was; the confident gait, the assured presence - it could only be one person.

“Well, well.” She drawled, her voice smooth and honeyed. “And here I thought I’d be the most interesting thing out here tonight.”

 

[buckybaernes]

“Not this time.”

Said with a shake of his head and a faint smile, the words could almost be said to be affectionate. At the very least, Jun Jian sounded bemused. Far be it for him to be surprised that Enzo would own up to being the cause of many disturbances in the natural order of things. God only knows that he did that enough in Jun Jian’s life alone. At least now he was aware and swept along with it.

He could practically see the gears turning in Enzo’s head as he spoke. It was thrilling to watch. Someone at his speed, in step with him, working on the same problem. It burned something hot and bright in his chest that was difficult to put into words. Even if his expression stayed even, his attention was completely on Enzo. Head bowed in close, eyes following every movement and gesture that the other man made. Lest he miss something and fall a step behind him in this game.

Jun Jian had heard the same things. He’d experienced a few of them, himself. Though unlike the others, he hadn’t been quick to devolve them to Rie, worried that she’d use it as some excuse to call him back or hold something over his head. Considering where they were and how they were now stuck in Japan, Jun Jian thought that he was right to do so.

“She’s losing it.”

He broached the subject first. Bowing his head in and keeping his voice a matched whisper to Enzo’s own.

“Her control, her mind - but something is slipping because she doesn’t know what is going on.”

They both knew it. You did not lock your adult zodiac in a compound with you unless you were falling apart at the seams. This show of power, on Rie’s end, was really a show of just how weak she had become.

His eyebrows raised as Enzo leaned into his hand to take a drag from the cigarette. Despite being surrounded by the other zodiac, he did not pull his hand away. Instead, he tilted his hand and made it a bit easier for Enzo as their eyes locked. The fact that the rest of the zodiac were even in the room fell away. Just like every other party and night they’d spent together, the world narrowed in on the two of them, leaving nothing else in its wake.

Only when Enzo leaned away, did he exhale and blink. Breaking the focus and coming back to the room they were in. But still, the surrounding conversations seemed so unimportant now.

“She’d lose her mind.”

Jun Jian agreed, his eyes brightening with obvious interest at the idea. His body language didn’t change much, but he sat up a bit straight and his shoulders relaxed. The idea thrilled him. To be forced here, after Rie had been likely looking into all of this for months and then figured it out before her - God would be furious. Jun Jian wanted nothing more, now, than for that.

“Fine.”

He agreed, trying to bite back a smile.

“You make a convincing argument. I would very much like to figure it out before God. But I am tempted to rent a house, not stay here.”

Enzo knew him so well, there was barely an argument to make. He might not have left immediately, but now that the two of them were going to investigate it together - his patience for staying would last much longer.

At the question, he shifted his chair slightly and crossed one leg over the other, bumping their legs together.

“Personally? Eight months ago. An intern ran into me in the office and I caught her. Nothing happened.”

Jun Jian explained, pushing his hair back from his face. He should have transformed. At least partially. Instead, he was left more dazed from nothing happening than the actual collision.

“Not long after, I heard of incidents involving Khanh and MIngyue as well.”

They had come in the month after, but close enough in time that he had taken note of it.

“Have you experienced anything yourself in the last few months?”

Part of him doubted it. Enzo was always so carefully crafted. But accidents did happen.

“Or better yet, have you heard of the others experiencing something similar?”

That, was where he expected Enzo to know the most. The snake seemed to know the most about everyone. Frustrating, but useful here.

“I suspect it is random. Or random enough that Rie hasn’t caught onto the pattern.”

Jun Jian volunteered.

“If it was happening to specific people, or at specific times, she’d have it narrowed down. But if she is actually questioning all of us, she has no idea who or what is causing it.”

Which made sense. Rie was not the type to think so far ahead and bring everyone here just to make one person sweat. No, she wanted to extend her power over them in any way she can instead in hopes that someone will just confess to her.

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"

Chia, Jùn Jiàn

location:

reception hall

outfit:

interactions:

user 1, user 2, user 3

 

[e v i]

The God.

ミヤラ リエ

Cursed Shinshu Field

location

Rie's Study

outfit

click me!

interactions

The Dog

tags

Shadow Alpha

Rie was hesitantly satisfied with Ruònán's apology, but she kept on leering guard when the woman's grin got the better of her. She listened, and she wished to tap her nails on the surface of her desk out of habit, but her Dog may feel rushed. May jeer. Ruònán said nothing that would raise suspicion but rather raise the eyebrow of The God. She was quiet a long while, first taking to her duties silently. Nothing of consequence, the usual political antics and humans wishing to get ahead. As if speaking to Ruònán or animal would advance their pursuits in any way. She was mildly tiffed -- had the animals forgotten their place? They lived to serve, not to be served. Her eyes cast down to her notepad, the pen poised still at the paper.

The silence between the two women stretched. The God was not a complicated picture. She was easily comprehended, a walking antithesis of the Caringal family. She set her pen down after some time, and her eyes flicked to Ruònán, red as a spider lily.

"Little 'trysts'?" she enunciated the final word as if it left a poor taste in her mouth. Disapproval simmered beneath the freezing surface of her gaze on The Dog. She sought an explanation, and she knew whatever was said, she would not like. Her eyes dared the younger Zodiac to make light of their sin. Dared.

 

[e v i]

the monkey.

Dakila Caringal

Nardis

location

balcony

outfit

click me!

interactions

Ahreum

tags

Dicentra

The fire of Rie's eyes did little to dispel the cold disdain that possessed him when he laid eyes on The God, but he could not help his posture straightening nor the dryness in his throat when she warned them. He hadn't been guilty of a thing nor had his brother (to his knowledge), but he was not an imbecile and knew eyes were on the Caringal family. Would her tyranny halt the preparations for his brother's year? She had full authority to keep them in Japan, but would she exercise it? He was silently planning -- his little clients, his appointments, his research now all on pause for what? Dakila felt he and Enzo were at the gallows, waiting for the platform to sway under them.

He, too, went outside to make a call -- but not really. That glimpse of pink hair was always in the corner of his eye, of his heart, and he caught the tail ends of her conversation. Ahreum. She never changed since he'd known her, only becoming more and more beautiful with time. Someone so clipped and ambitious was meant to be pursued by many. He stood a respectful distance from her, a serene smile softening his lips. That squawking fool of a Rooster sullied her with conversation, and though Dakila had no right yet, he wished to make her anew. Make her forget about Ruangsak.

"That I doubt, my dear," he answered with a light laugh. She found no one more interesting than herself and that suited The Monkey just fine -- he shared the same sentiment.
"You are just as gorgeous as I remember you," he said and pulled a small burgundy velvet box from his pocket. If granted quiet permission, he gently took her hand in his own and set the box in her palms, tilting his head. His soft smile urged her to open it. It was nothing new to them -- he never approached her empty-handed. Even as a boy, his sweaty, shaking hand would always have a flower for her, pulled from the root.

 

[Shadow Alpha]

I

t somehow felt like Ruònán was presenting an important case in front of a jury that would be responsible for how her life would be spent. While she had explained all that she knew and what interactions she had had with other higher ups, she could sense that Rie had not yet found what she was looking for. A gaze that seemed distant yet focused on the prey before her. Any other person would have been left a squirming mess that tried to will themselves to appear confident, not Ruònán.

Her posture remained relaxed, shoulders slouched, and a grin that could be interpreted as either cocky or very self-assured. Her eyes were dark reflective pools that only showed the beauty of Rie without any animosity towards her like some of the zodiac were known to do. Even when Rie's own eyes seemed to come to life with a renewed vigor, Ruònán maintained her relaxed position.

This was a game of God and Dog that they had been playing for quite sometime. Rie would never be able to forget Ruònán's direct show of affection and Ruònán could never forget the night that Rie tried to place some sort of barrier to halt what seemed to be their mutual affection for one another. A constant state of one-upping one another as Rie often acted like Ruònán's physical liberties did not bother her while Ruònán questioned why she entertained any feelings of jealousy when she had turned down Dog so many times.

Rie's tone as she repeated her the word 'trysts' sent a chill of danger and excitement down her spine. Some primal part of her was warning her of the immediate threat to her livelihood but she paid it no mind. She partially placed the blame on her canid nature that enjoyed the thrill of a good hunt and capturing the prey that had eluded her for so long.

Some normal part of her found Rie's reactions cute even though the older woman did not find Ruònán's joy an acceptable response. The irate expression was akin to a loving caress to Ruònán and her ego. Her elbows found a place on the desk separating them and she used an open palm to place her head in, fingers lazily began to tap on the side of her head as she sized up Rie.

"Yes Miss Rie, some simple trysts. The meeting of flesh in a manner only befitting the wildest of beasts. There's nothing wrong with engaging physically to blow off steam or for a simple night of fun right? I'm surprised that that's the part you're hung up on considering I brought up how different clans have attempted to have their hands in a pot that has nothing to do with their own family."

THE DOG

Lánfēi Ruònán

location:

Rie's Room/Office

outfit:

interactions:

e v i

 

[leviohsa]

Lý Khanh

@

khanhgoturtongue

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  00:42

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  messy

  
  
  
  

  lola young

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  20:01

  
  

  :

  Jia JIa

  
  
  

  new !

  
  

  
  
  
  

  hey are you going to japan?

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  19:37

  
  

  :

  finsta

  
  
  

  new !

  
  

  
  
  
  

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  mood

  
  

  Ready for this to be over.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  location

  
  

  Dining Hall: Nara, Japan

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  outfit

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  tags

  
  

  ven & izayoiix

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

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details

the tiger.

"When I find out who is meddling with that balance..." Khanh felt the spiritual leash tugging on her neck, willing her to not roll her eyes at her God. For someone so high above her and the others around her, Rie's angry announcement sure felt petulant. Khanh half-wondered if she herself had something to do with this, without even trying to be. The idea would normally make her laugh, but the gravity of this summoning instead left her feeling wrongly scolded, her innate spirit feeling cornered. It only made her restless, her leg bouncing underneath the table she sat at.

Dark eyes watched the room, assessing their reactions to such a bold announcement. A complete derailment of their lives. She was already deciding what to tell the lab she ran, and deciding on how meetings should be held before the experiment's deadline. Even though her life was so unimportant to the illustrious God, it was still a life. And it needed tending to if she would be held captive in Japan for an indiscernible amount of time.

She tried hard to avoid a certain Rat, who sat across the room. But it became increasingly difficult once Rie had left, and the rest of the Circle scattered. It was hard to miss the constant gaze Mingyue had on the space Rie once occupied. The sight made Khanh's brow furrow, her gut twisting into a strange feeling of jealousy and curiosity. What is there to look at? Her precious, opulent God is gone now. Khanh huffed, fighting against her inner thoughts, begging her to stay seated. Instead, she walked over to her... friend? Could she even be labeled as that anymore?

That didn't matter, especially not since Mai would be joining Khanh on this trip to the other side of the room. The Tiger ignored Mai's squeals, knowing she'd calm down quickly. "Why are you both so much taller than me?"

The well-meaning question snapped Khanh out of her haze, bringing a playful smile to her lips,

"Well, they couldn't make you pretty, kind, and tall now could they? That'd just be criminal."

Manicured hands released her grip on the actress's arm, and instead a finger poked Mai's shoulder gently. Looking over to Mingyue, she decided to finally direct her attention to the blonde beside her,

"So, what did you do to piss off Rie this time, hm?"

An obvious joke, a silent jab at Mingyue's incessant need to please Rie. And, a definite ploy to see what the two women beside her knew about this ordeal.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Frownist]

outfit

clicky click

location

meeting room

Interaction

keisuke

Tag

peachiepalette

“Struck a nerve, didn’t I, Golden Boy?” Feiyao’s lips curled at the ends, her eyebrows raising out of pure unsurprised amusement. She watched the way his face contorted in underlying fear—his words even more so. “You have the balls to lump me in with you. Lucky for you, messing with your head is too easy.” The glass dangled between her fingers as her piercing gaze rested on Keisuke’s, as unreadable as ever.

“You people all act the same, talk the same, even walk the same. Making your head rise is like a game, but it gets boring if I’m always the one winning.” Another sip from her glass took her glance from off of the other Zodiac, her blasé tone would soon come to reflect her attitude as she glanced down at her phone screen.

Clearly this waste of time has no clue what this whole mystery is. But as an outsider — she’d be stupid to not include me in one of her disturbances.

Either way she’s desperate. I’ll just have to prove my part. Feiyao’s mind turned as she set the glass down, her thumb clicking away at the screen as she did. “Mind fetching me another drink? Get me some wine. If Rie wants you to keep sniffing around my business, then at least do me some good.”

Upon confirming the text had been set, the cat tapped the device on her chin. With an nonchalant smirk her words continued on, “Get me something to snack on too. Oh, and.. Keisuke. Before you go, I think it’s in your best interest that you tell me what the inner-circle was discussing before this whole deal,” Feiyao quietly muttered, her words for his ears only. “Don’t let me find out you had my name in your mouth, okay?”

Feiyao Lin ✽

© reveriee

 

[nyxievous]

the snake.

enzo caringal

eat your young

location

dining hall

outfit

click me!

interactions

Dakila -> Jun Jian

tags

@ user @ user

As Jun Jian spoke, Enzo leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms lazily over his chest. He tilted his head, listening with an intensity that belied the easy demeanor he projected. His smirk deepened as the Dragon agreed to his plan, the corners of his mouth twitching in satisfaction.

“Oh, she’ll lose her mind,” Enzo echoed, his tone low and threaded with amusement. “Can’t you already picture it? All her carefully laid plans undone while we sit back, playing the clueless fools. Imagine the look on her face when she realizes she dragged us all here for nothing.” He let out a soft chuckle, the sound warm but edged with a venomous thrill.

Beneath it all, though, Enzo couldn’t deny the thrill that curled through him as Jun Jian described how Rie was faltering, confirming what he himself already knew. He’d told himself he’d buried the hatchet, that the endless grudge between the Caringals and the Miyara family was a relic of the past. But hearing Jun Jian speak of Rie’s control slipping, sparked something in him. Excitement. Maybe it was the spirit of his uncle, rejoicing in his grave, clawing his way to the surface, or maybe it was simply the satisfaction of seeing the cracks in a once-perfect veneer. Either way, Enzo couldn’t lie to himself—he enjoyed it.

“You may be right,” he said simply, his tone carefully measured, offering nothing more. Even in their quiet little corner, smoke curling around them like a shield, Enzo wasn’t about to let his thoughts slip too freely. Rie’s brother was seated close enough to overhear a misplaced word, and Enzo had a feeling that the Hare's proximity was no mere coincidence. Letting the conversation drift naturally, Enzo’s gaze left Jun Jian only briefly to acknowledge Kozo’s presence before sliding back to the Dragon, catching the flicker of green in his eyes.

"Oh? Is our gracious host's abode not to your liking?" Enzo asked teasingly. "Personally I might stay here. Much easier to overhear conversations with how thin Japanese walls are," he added with a knowing grin, leaning forward in his seat. “Maybe I’ll figure it out before you then.” His tone was almost affectionate, but the challenge in his eyes was unmistakable. The game was afoot and riling Jun Jian up was one of his favorite pastimes.

When Jun Jian shifted, their legs brushed, and Enzo didn’t move away. Instead, he mirrored the motion subtly, his knee pressing just enough to remind Jun Jian he wasn’t going anywhere. He listened closely to the Dragon’s account, his expression thoughtful but faintly amused as he took in the details. Pale eyebrows rose into his hair as Jun Jian described his incident. Enzo filed away the information, nodding at the Dragon. "Yes, something similar happened to Dakila," he confessed, having no qualms about sharing this with Jun Jian. Speaking of whom, he also noted the absence of a certain socialite in the room. He filed away the information for later, vowing to ask his twin about it later. "For myself, a deal almost fell through when my words weren't convincing enough." He almost scowled. And it was rare to see Enzo with a scowl. He liked his abilities. To be losing them now, when he was at the height of his career was certainly a major inconvenience.

"It might be random, but it is recent and it has been happening in the past few months to all of us, and I suspect even God herself," said Enzo. "You don't suppose... that the curse is breaking or...weakened, perhaps?" he asked with the slightest of frowns. It was not a welcome thought. He leaned back in his seat, his gaze lifting from Jun Jian to drift across the room at large. "Maybe that's what all this is. Rie thinks someone here's figured out a way to break it."

 

[e v i]

The God.

ミヤラ リエ

Cursed Shinshu Field

location

Rie's Study

outfit

click me!

interactions

The Dog

tags

Shadow Alpha

If Rie were anyone reasonable at that moment, she would have blamed herself for asking Ruònán to clarify. Of course the Dog would conjure up an insulting description, one that beckoned the twitch of her eye. Rie used silences intentionally at times to inspire those with a guilty conscience to confess, but that Ruònán had no shame. She cleared her throat. Maintained her posture yet let her stare drift down to the paper. It dulled the mind to switch sexual partners frequently. The Circle was well aware of her disapproval towards risky behavior, specifically between man and woman.

Not that Ruònán, with her preferences, would ever have to worry triggering a transformation in the heat of the moment.

"Well, you will not be engaging in such... behavior under my roof. Blow off your steam in other ways," she huffed as if speaking a language she did not care to, and she moved on. Never revealing how or why she knew such a thing.

"Families have been scheming long since you and I existed. This is not news to me unless you have something of interest to tell me. Something new. Despite what flowery reassurances the Caringals give me, I doubt these decades-long resentments have faded. The Seo family -- I know they would step on anyone to insure the next God is born to their family," she said the last sentence almost as if she were muttering to herself.

"Are you sure there is nothing of interest you have heard? Things that stick out to you that go beyond the usual gossip and scheming?" she asked almost with a twinge of exasperation.

 

[buckybaernes]

I

t was to no surprised that when god entered, Ruònán's attention was immediately drawn away from their table. Chenxi shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His cousin was always weak for a pretty face. Their god was no different. He didn’t even fight it when their conversation died off and their attention focused on her instead. He just sipped his juice instead.

At least until the bombshell of them being forced to stay on the compound hit. His laid-back expression swiftly changed to one of concern.

“Wait.”

He murmured, perking up to try to get Rie’s attention. But she was already moving on.

“I can’t stay here.”

He said, even if it fell on deaf ears, as the two women at his table swiftly left his side to go and do other things.

Chenxi pulled out his phone, swiftly typing up a text to his coach. ‘Family emergency. May be stuck in Japan. Back ASAP.’

He received a flurry of text messages soon after. His coach immediately questioned what was going on and when he’d be back. A quick, weekend trip, was suddenly going to take much longer. Letting out a sigh, Chenxi slid his fingers through his short cropped hair, the corners of his mouth turned down into a frown. It was rare for him to look truly bothered, but right now, he did. Even though he was one of the best on the team, missing practice was a sure fire way to be benched. And while his career wasn’t his entire life, it was a large chunk of it and he was now worried.

Looking around the room, he considered whom to share his concerns with. Dakila was already busy, but KFC was free. Standing up, he walked over to the empty table where KFC had been left by his own female zodiac companions.

“Mind if I join you?”

He asked with a smile, patting KFC on the back before taking a seat next to him.

“I got abandoned too.”

Chenxi joked, sipping on his juice, but the furrow of his brow gave away that there was more on his mind than just being left behind.

“I’m a little worried, about us being expected to stay here.”

He started.

“My job…I can’t just abandon everything. I have a team that is relying on me she can’t keep me here.”

He confessed, clearly looking for advice from KFC like he’d done when he was younger.

He was surprised when Kōzō approached. But he managed to force a smile, trying to wipe the worry from his face. He did not mind the Hare. Though, he did worry that there may be some tattling about his concerns if Kōzō were to overhear them.

“Please join us.”

He said, looking at KFC from the corner of his eye to make sure the man was okay. He was completely ready to carry the bulk of the conversation if need be, unsure of how well the two would be able to get along after their breakup.

“Just juice for me.”

Chenxi said, tilting his glass towards Kōzō.

“I was going to go out and run after this, get some exercise in since I’m missing practice.”

He dropped the hint, hoping that he would get some sympathy from the hare. Maybe he would be able to help him convince Rie that whatever the issue was, he would be the one to fix it. Therefore, he could be allowed to go back to his every day work.

“How have you been? It has been a while.”

He asked, out of both politeness and because he did not dislike the hare.

“I’m sure everything going on has been a bit of concern for you all, if Rie is suddenly having us stay here. Do you have any more information about what has been going on?”

Chenxi had some thoughts, he’d noticed some oddities in his daily life. But, like always, he’d just continued on assuming that they would fix themselves, or he’d adapt.

"I'll be your mirror (reflect what you are)"

Lánfei, Chenxi

location:

banquet hall

outfit:

interactions:

CurryFlurry mizton

 

[Dicentra]

The Horse.

Ahreum Seo - 서아름

Flavour of The Month

location

Miyara Estate; Outside Main Enterance

outfit

click me!

interactions

The Monkey

tags

e v i

Ahri’s lips curled into a pleased smile, her eyes mirroring the satisfaction she felt. Of course, Dakila was a welcome sight - he always knew just what to say, just what to do. Gifts tailored to her exquisite tastes, words that dripped with adoration, and all the attention she so rightly deserved. He understood, better than most, what it meant to bask in her brilliance.

And it always meant more coming from him. After all, someone as charming and sought after as Dakila didn’t just shower anyone with such devotion. That made his efforts all the sweeter. Ahri reveled in it. It wasn’t often someone like her, so dazzling, so exceptional, found someone who truly recognized her worth.

As he approached, Ahri raised her hands in a graceful gesture, a subtle invitation for him to come closer. It was second nature now, this expectation she had of him. Dakila was predictable in the best way - always bringing her something. She had come to rely on it, to anticipate it every time they crossed paths. And sure enough, he didn’t disappoint. A neat box was placed into her waiting hands, his fingertips grazing hers in the exchange. The brief contact sent a fleeting warmth up her arm, though her gaze remained steady, locked onto his.

For a moment, her expression softened, her usually sharp, self-assured demeanor giving way to something gentler. Her eyes, for once, held a rare trace of affection as she looked at him. Of all the admirers who flocked to her brilliance, Dakila was the one she favored most. He knew exactly how to appeal to her, and perhaps that’s what made her indulgence in him feel so effortless.

Yes, he was special. Not like the others. And as she attentively opened the box, savoring the moment, her thoughts circled around a single truth: Dakila was the one who understood her best.

Curious eyes darted to the box as she pulled back the lid. Nestled within was a bracelet - pink diamonds laced in silver lining, adorned with delicate pearls. Her lips curled upward in a satisfied smile, the gleam in her eyes betraying her delight. The bracelet was perfection. The pink stones matched her eyes, a hue she often regarded as one of her finest features. And silver? Of course, her favorite metal. It didn’t overwhelm like gold - it complemented her style, her grace. She tilted her wrist, admiring the way the diamonds caught the light, the pearls adding a soft elegance to the piece.

But it was more than just beautiful - it was thoughtful. The design matched the necklace she was wearing today, another one of Dakila’s gifts. She wore it often, but today it felt almost serendipitous. He noticed her preferences, her subtleties, and tailored his offerings to them flawlessly.

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, holding his gaze for a moment longer than usual. “You’ve outdone yourself.” She said, her tone praising with approval. With a subtle, almost imperious gesture, Ahri extended her arm toward Dakila, her wrist displayed in the air. The faintest smirk tugged at her lips, a playful challenge hidden in her expression. It wasn’t just an invitation for him to clasp the bracelet around her wrist - it was a chance for him to decide his place.

If Dakila noticed the other bracelet already adorning her wrist, a previous gift from Ruangsak, she didn’t flinch or acknowledge it. She left the choice entirely in his hands: keep it there as a companion piece, or remove it and claim her wrist as solely his to adorn.

 

[ven]

M

ingyue couldn’t help but analyze the situation. She trusted Rie, but so far, she couldn’t help but think the woman had gone about this in all the wrong ways. In a time when the very order is threatened, leveling suspensions against everyone is hardly the way to create unity. Rie must have her reasons... even so, the action left a bitter taste in the rat’s mouth.

A flurry of emotions sat heavily within Mingyue’s chest, conflicting in a violent clash each time her heart swung closer to one over the other. Suddenly, the glass of wine, which it was already far too early for, didn’t feel like enough. Why must she be punished for another’s tampering? Does Rie not trust her enough to be certain that she held no part in it? Silently, she cursed Rie only to admonish herself for doing so.

A headache blossomed in time with the last gulp of her now third glass of wine. She’d allow herself to wallow today. Tomorrow was for responsibility.

Mingyue glared as two voices intruded on her space, followed by their physical counterparts. Unwanted and only adding to the building pressure of overwhelming nervousness that threatened to resurface her lunch, her eyes darted for a means of escape, only to deflate upon finding none.

“Why are you both so much taller than me?”

Mingyue’s face pinched, her mouth opening, ready to spew out the sharp and harsh words that sat on her tongue, primed and ready. Instead, Khanh spoke first, and while the words only furthered Mingyue’s nauseated state, she thought it best to leave it at that. Only humming along in half-hearted agreement. She cared not for the sweet-natured flamboyancy of the actress and even less so for those who played into it, but it was far too early for altercations.

She allowed her eyes to linger on the tiger, finding her body stiff with discomfort. It had been so long since she found herself in the presence of the tiger, someone she once considered a friend, a person who she held in a regard not many others reached.

“Me?”

she asked, her mouth suddenly dry.

“Nothing. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if I am blamed for my brother’s insolence.”

Mingyue offered, ready to ingest and dissect Khanh’s reaction to the mention of Jun Jian.

Unwaning to be caught in her subtle investigation, she shifted her gaze towards the Mai.

“While I can rearrange my schedule and do work from here, what are you to do, our dear little star?”

she mocked with thinly veiled venom.

“Hopefully, the inconvenience that is our life duty hasn’t disrupted your path to stardom.”

"What good is there in loyalty?"

Chia. Mingyue

location:

Formal Dining Hall

outfit:

interactions:

leviohsa izayoiix

 

[peachiepalette]

T

he man at her side went from unending fear to a boldfaced scowl in three second flat, only leaning forward in his chair now to show his contempt.

”My balls are no concern of yours,”

the blonde hissed to the redhead, his feathers very clearly ruffled. It was so easy to draw a reaction from him, everyone knew it to be true, and he gave them what they wanted every time. She wanted a rise out of him, and she almost always got one.

’You people.' The phrase had a scoff shooting out from his mouth, a dramatic roll of the eyes.

”No matter how much you try to avoid it, you’re one of us at your core, Feiyao.”

At least, that was how he had seen it. A Zodiac spirit just like everyone in this room. She couldn’t deny that she was stuck in this game, even if she wished no part in it or if her specific spirit was shunned merely for being the Cat. When it came down to it, Keisuke had never considered her an outsider.

Still, he watched her actions with careful observation while his teeth picked at the inside of his cheek. Whoever she was texting, and the questionable expression she wore on her face, his brow quirked with a blatant curiosity. However, the Boar offered no interest in the form of words, allowing her to do as she pleased. As he leaned back in his chair, his gaze was drawn up to her face.

”Mm, sorry. No can do. I’m not your servant, and I was told to trail you tonight, so if it’s between being bitched at by you or by Rie-sama…”

Keisuke’s head tilted to the side a little, a smirk of his own curling his lips. Initially, he had been the slightest bit excited to be pinned to the Cat tonight - if he had to be stuck to anyone - but now he was beginning to question those feelings heavily. Yes, she might refer to him as his God’s lackey, but it was a fixed position at best. There were hardly any choices in the matter for him.

”I’ll pick you. So we can either go together or you’ll have to be sober and hungry while dealing with me~”

And there it was. The smile that held him together even on nights like this, when he was pushed and pulled by his Miyara name, bound to Rie in a fruitless tie.

The Cat’s last comment was something that would have often brought out a much different expression, but Keisuke kept the same grin firmly on his lips. Easily rocked personality versus the fraying rope of a wit's end, the absolutely disdain of being a pawn in other's games. None of them had his heart in mind, and the Boar was beginning to unravel slowly despite it only being morning time. Perhaps he might have been swayed by the Cat's fear inducing tactics, if only he hadn't been so on edge. Still, his voice was somehow playful as he gave a quiet chuckle, seemingly unfazed.

”Best interest? Don’t pull out your scary voice, Fei~ I don’t like when you talk to me like that.”

"to be a star you must burn"

Miyara, Keisuke

location:

Dining Hall

outfit:

interactions:

Frownist

 

[buckybaernes]

He could picture it, actually. He could picture it so clearly, the facade that Rie put up cracking away and revealing her true self. It sent a curl of satisfaction into the pit of his stomach, and he couldn’t completely hide the way the corners of his mouth curled up at the picture Enzo painted. Jun Jian wanted that. He wanted it, like he rarely wanted anything in life.

Enzo’s laugh should have scared him. Instead, he found it thrilling. It mirrored exactly how he felt inside. His eyes brightened considerably, and truly that was all it took for Jun Jian to hook him. He looked truly alive interacting with Enzo, in a way that he can’t remember feeling before.

They didn’t need much to communicate. Not in the way that truly mattered. Jun Jian had spent enough time with Enzo to pick up on the subtle cues of his body. The way that when his tone went flat and nonchalant, that it meant there was something he didn’t want others to overhear. Or he had spotted someone he needed to pay more attention to. Jun Jian guessed it was the former. They were surrounded by people, potentially very loyal to Rie, while the pair of them were decidedly less so.

Jun Jian wrinkled his nose at the idea of staying in the compound. It reminded him of when he was younger and more helpless. Of nights when Rie would make him stay in her room so that she wouldn’t be so alone. He shuddered at the thought of doing that again. At the idea of Enzo figuring out before him, he scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“I could stay in America and figure it out before you.”

He said confidently, even if the idea of overhearing conversations and sleuthing around did appeal to him.

And he could not leave Enzo’s challenge unanswered.

“When you come knocking on my door asking for help with this problem, I’ll still let you in.”

He offered, conceding that staying on the compound was the better idea, without saying so. He didn’t want to say it out loud, but if he could get into Rie’s office, it wouldn’t take long at all for him to search through her papers and find out exactly what she was hiding. With Enzo, he thinks that could be accomplished much easier.

“I guess you make some worthwhile point about staying, especially if you aren’t going to abscond back home. The timezone difference would get frustrating.”

Being stuck here with Enzo would at least make it bearable.

Somehow, hearing Dakila had something happened to him wasn’t all that surprising. But when Enzo admitted that one of his deals nearly fell through, Jun Jian could not hide the surprise on his face. It wasn’t extremely overt, but with how close they were, there was no way for Enzo to miss it.

“That, is concerning.”

He agreed, lips pressing together. Enzo was charming and manipulative even without using his abilities. When using them, though, he should be unstoppable. Somehow, he wasn’t.

Their abilities were really weakening. There was no denying it now. The remaining question was why.

Like Enzo, he liked his powers. But he hated the control Rie exerted over them because of these powers that they had. It left Jun Jian conflicted.

“That must be what it is.”

He said with drawing realization

. “She thinks that someone knows how to break it, and are doing it on purpose.”

Hence, why she brought them all here to figure out who the culprit was. But Jun Jian wasn’t sure. Did someone have to be conscious, to break the curse?

“We have to figure out what it is before Rie.”

He murmured, voice pitched lower once more.

“She’ll force them to stop, if she thinks she found out who the culprit is and she’ll make an example out of them.”

He warned. Or, worse, she’ll crack and start taking out everyone until she can keep control of her power and the zodiac regardless of who got in her way. Jun Jian did not think Rie entirely sane. But if she began to lose them, whatever sanity could go quick.

“How much time do you think we have to figure it out before things go to hell? Once she frees us from this little show, you should come to my room, and we can plan.”

Jun Jian offered, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. His posture casual even as he made plans of treason against Rie.

“Or I can go to yours - you must have a nicer set up to want to stay here.” He teased.

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"

Chia, Jùn Jiàn

location:

reception hall

outfit:

interactions:

user 1, user 2, user 3

 

[CurryFlurry]

A

s the remaining members of the family joined them in the hall his eyes were transfixed on Rie. Even as she spoke, venom and hidden malice spewed from her lips. He couldn’t help but smile softly as she talked. As Raungsak strained to catch her gaze, he could feel her eyes darted past him, dismissing him like a phantom of her past. He felt a pang of regret rooted deep within him. But he brushed it off. She looks good, no, amazing. His eyes raked over her full figure taking in every detail, his brow raising slightly in surprise. Did she gain weight? God, she looked breathtaking. It took everything in him not to mentally undress her as she spoke. He quickly sat up adjusting his position as he leaned forward, his arms resting against the table as he tried to focus on what she was actually saying. Rather than the thoughts that filled his mind at the moment. The hall seemed to ring silent, weeks? Months? The tension that rang throughout the hall suddenly felt thick enough to swim in. And Raungsak, was more than happy to drown.

As the announcement ended so did the laughter shared between his table. Raungsak merely blinked as he watched the two women who graced him with their presence get up and leave.

“Khan-”

He watched his friend turn her attention to more interesting company. Well at least Ahri was still.

“Ahre-”

His eyes drifted over to see silky strands of pink hair cascade down her back, watching her also get up joining one of the twins as they walked out of view. He sat there, mouth slightly agape, his hand outstretched slightly as he blinked in confusion. What just happened?

As he felt a firm pat against his back he crooked his neck seeing a familiar shade of red. He couldn’t help the grin that grew against his lips as his gaze met with Chenxi.

“Well look who it is! Long time no see you damn trouble maker”

He said with a roaring laugh as he watched him sit beside him. He shifted his position, leaning his arm against the table lazily, his hand leaning on his chin as he gave the man his full attention. He couldn't help but laugh at his comment, two peas in a pod. The kid reminded him of himself more and more these days. Though as the vulnerability bleed from Chenxi’s mouth he felt a pang of guilt shoot through him. He was right, not many of them had the luxury of simply dropping everything to play according to Rie’s game. His lips pressed into a tight line as he leaned forward. Placing a heavy hand on his shoulder as he gave him a firm, yet reassuring squeeze. Trying his best to calm him down.

“Hey now Xixi, don’t be worried. Okay? Rie is..Well look, if it comes down to it. I’ll find a way to get you back-”

His voice hummed between them, his gaze falling for a moment. Uncertain of what to say yet so desperately wanting to offer a fragment of comfort-

A familiar voice rang against his ears as he turned his attention away from Chenxi. His eyes drifting up towards a familiar mop of black,

“Well look who it is-”

He said almost awestruck, his tongue gliding over his teeth as he beamed a smirk at Kōzō. He watched as the hare joined them at the table making pleasantries and sharing small talk that much more fit an office setting as opposed to their relationship. He rolled his eyes, reaching over as his arm hooked around Kōzō’s neck pulling him into a headlock as he ruffled his hair with a booming laugh. Letting him go as his arm remained draped over his shoulders casually.

“Cut the act Kō, the kid’s alright.”

he said gesturing towards Chenxi. As he relaxed into his seat his arm lazily draped against Kōzō’s shoulders for support he glanced over at Chenxi, listening to the kid speak as he nodded in agreement. He wasn’t wrong. Golden hues shifted over toward Kōzō, his eyes resting on his black hair as he waited for him to respond.

“Yeah, you all were awfully late this time around. I mean you didn’t even greet me when I arrived at the estate!”

He whined, acting as if he was deeply hurt as he rested a hand against his forehead dramatically. He let out a chuckle as he tilted his head, raising a brow as his gaze remained on the Hare.

“ What’s the real reason?”

He asked plainly. The pleasant chip in his voice suddenly dropped a more serious tone settling between them. Surely if anyone had some idea of what was truly happening, Kōzō would know. His eyes glazed over the room as he pulled Kōzō a bit closer to him, leaning forward as his breath dusted against the shell of Kōzō’s ear.

“If you need to make it look like we’re having a great time at this table, just wink.”

He pulled away a smile on his lips as he winked.

“Or knock against the table, whatever works for you. But the kid’s not wrong. What is happening this time?”

He said a beaming smile on his lips, trying to appear a bit less obvious in the case of passing glances.

The Rooster

Somsri, Ruangsak

location:

reception hall

outfit:

interactions:

buckybaernes mizton

 

[izayoiix]

A

t the poke to her shoulder, Mai smiled, batting her lashes at the dark haired woman.

"Aw, Khanh, you really know how to flatter a girl."

she giggled.

With a brush of her hand, she pushed her hair over her shoulder, ignoring the few strands that fell right back in her face. Leaning forward so she could rest her arms on the table, she lifted one so she could rest her head on her palm while glancing between the two other women. Now, she never claimed to be the smartest tool in the shed - somewhere she would never be caught dead in, by the way - but she was good at recognizing people with ulterior motives. Which was to be expected, given what had just happened a few minutes ago.

But it was whatever. Mai was perfectly happy to sit back and let them play their game, she was used to seeing such matches and had even participated in a few of her own. At least these two knew how to be sneaky, compared to some of the idiots she's met through work. Although, with the goal being information, there was no doubt that everyone was going to be trying to see what the others knew, so, did being sneaky really matter at this point?

Oh! If she wasn't in the middle of a crowded room, she could've slapped her forehead! Duh, it all came down to one silly little thing.

Politics.

She was definitely blaming the jet lag for her forgetfulness. She was so used to ignoring the zodiac and family politics, focusing only on those in the entertainment industry. They were much more interesting and a lot less personal.

Mai couldn't tell if everyone truly was viewing this little gathering the same way, but she figured at least most of them were. It just felt like a safe guess.

She raised a brow at Mingyue's response to Khanh's question. A huff of laughter escaped her before she lifted her head, covering her mouth with her hand. It was clear the rat wasn't too pleased with her presence. Clearing her throat in a purposefully weak attempt to cover her laugh, Mai tilted her head ever so slightly and with an easygoing smile responded.

"I know, it was so hard to rearrange everything!"

she exclaimed with a heavy sigh.

"I spent most of the flight going back and forth with my manager and my publicist, I had so much lined up. Not to mention personal plans that had to be cancelled."

she sighed.

"I'm guessing you didn't have to worry about that, huh?"

she continued only to pause, her mouth dropping open slightly with a gasp. She covered her mouth again, eyes wide as she looked at the blonde across from her.

"I'm so sorry, that probably wasn't very polite..."

Mai whimpered, lowering her arm so she could clutch her hand to her chest.

"I don't know what came over me, oh, I'm sorry Mingyue."

"But you're absolutely right, it's why I'm here after all."

she simpered, steering back to the second half of the comment.

"Thank you for your concern, my career goals are well managed and plenty safe. But even if they weren't, I'd still be here to help take care of our shared responsibilities, as well as my own."

"if i was you, i'd want to be me too"

somsri, nangnoi

location:

dining hall

outfit:

interactions:

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[e v i]

the monkey.

Dakila Caringal

Nardis

location

balcony

outfit

click me!

interactions

Ahreum

tags

Dicentra

The selection of Ahreum's gifts lived on years of study and observation of her tastes. Certain clothing styles, types of jewelry she adored, color preferences, things that a man of sensible taste would miss. He fondly remembered their youth, of Ahreum fussing over some outfit scheme away from the scrutiny of her parents. Where her thorns could grow and prick. Dakila wished to hold her tighter even so. The praise was miniscule compared to the contentedness in her eyes. He only smiled and took her soft wrist in his hand, turning it to eye a previous bracelet she had been wearing. It suited her, but it was not something she would purchase herself.

He recognized a small Thai inscription -- one he hoped he would not find. Oh, Ahri, why? Why wear this... filth? But The Horse could wear about anything and be an eternal objective of envy. He tightened his jaw with a ball of insecurity stuck in his throat, and he gingerly unclasped the bracelet she wore. He tilted his chin up and smiled serenely through his glasses, and he tossed it carelessly off the balcony into the trembling trees standing guard of the Miyara Estate. Dakila then put on her new bracelet.

He did not yet let go of her wrist, letting it rest in his hands as he turned it, admired it.
"Let me... again. Let me do that again. I want to come see you tonight," he told her softly, still staring at her wrist. His gaze trailed up her arm, to her collarbones, and then to her morganite eyes. He almost wanted to add unless you have plans with someone else but he knew better. For now.