Early next morning - a gathering behind the house. The locals seem worried that there is a fence now and the windows are barricaded. If the monster can’t snatch the guests in the tavern - it might come for them!
So the tavern is a kind of ‘Altar of Sacrifice’ to keep the village people safe(?)...
Luckily our boys are unaware. They should enjoy their day after the sad stories they shared yesterday.
Giga: “Oh my, your eyes... was it the noise from the others tonight keeping you from your sleep?”
Ji Ho: “Oh no. It’s Luci, you know. And the worries about Vlad. I can feel through the bond how much he suffers. It takes energy from me to keep him stable as it seems.”
Ji Ho: “But I’m fine! Don’t worry!”
Giga: “*Sigh* Such a strong bond has a ‘life’ of it’s own. It is demanding as it tries to keep you two together to make you one. The advantages are that both of you become stronger - more powerful. But as it tries to keep the balance - it can harm you as well. Let’s hope the mixture will unfold it’s effects soon. And then...”
Ji Ho: “What?”
Giga: “That’s a problem the future Giga has to deal with...”
Vlad, Kiyoshi and Jeb are grimly determined to make it a fun day for poor Giga, Jack and Ji Ho.
Kiyoshi is going to ‘lend a hand - or two’ to the ‘Sports Team’ (together with Vlad) and Team Geology is visiting Wakaba, the lake region.
Jeb was just about to wake Ji Ho for breakfast as Giga and Jack left the room.
Jeb: “Have a nice day.” he murmured shyly before he went in.
Jeb: “C’mon Ji Ho. Let's have breakfast and leave.”
Ji Ho: “Hm?”
He’s so tired.
Jeb: “We are near the temple today. Shall we visit Dtui and ask if she can do something for you?”
Ji Ho: “Oh, that would be great.”
And soon the house was quiet and peaceful again.
Their destination today - the Bunny Slope!
Awww - and Vlad finally seems comfortable holding Kiyoshi’s hand!
Kiyoshi: “Let’s go for a ride Vlad!”
Vlad: “No way! I’m still not over meeting you in the shower when i returned from hell. Let’s keep our distance.”
Or not ^^’
Kiyoshi: “Will you be my partner then, Jack? Let’s teach them how to do it!”
Jack is only capable of a short nod.
Kiyoshi: “Now it’s your turn. Do it just like Jack and I did.”
Giga: “Certainly not.”
(Jack looks like if he would like to do it again
The two visuals of the group
Kid: “Aren’t you too old for the Bunny Slope?”
Jack: “Oh look at you! One day I’m gonna have a bunch of kids just as terrific as you are!”
Kid: “With him?”
TMI: Adult Jack in my other story universe lives together with his 4 terrific kids from 4 different women. He never had a relationship with their mothers.
This might explain what Kiyoshi said to Dtui the other day.
That it’s Jack or no one, in this life and all the others.
ö.ö
How hard it must be for Kiyoshi, knowing this but he can’t tell Jack and watch him struggle.
And even if he could tell him, how crazy would that sound? Like a worn out pick up line:
“Hey, we are meant to be! We even have kids together in another universe! Let’s date!”
For me it feels like that this is not a story I write - it’s a story I (need to) tell.
I know Jack for over ten years now and even in Sims 3 he never was married - but had all his kids living with him and their mothers left after giving birth (surrogacy I suppose).
And one day, just a few months ago, i knew: It’s because he was with Kiyoshi, still in secret. :,(
Maybe we can solve it in this universe... Kiyoshi has to tell Jack soon about his past. We will see if they can overcome this.
Jeb and Ji Ho went to the lake after they spent a few hours collecting geological samples for their school project.
And even though Ji Ho is suffering (together with Vlad through their bond) - as soon as he entered the water, he gained vitality.
How Ji Ho’s tail scales twinkle in the sunlight!
It’s the last day of fall and while the others play in the snow, it’s still warm in the valley by the lake.
EA did such a good job with Mount Komorebi. How clear the water is and the light there is so amazing. I don’t have to edit the screenshots a lot. It’s just so beautiful.
Ji Ho: “I’m getting a bit tired though. Let’s leave for the temple then.”
Jeb: “Ok. Let’s see what Dtui has to offer to help you two.”
Jeb and Ji Ho went over to the Temple to ask Dtui for help.
But before doing anything, Dtui insisted they had to clear their minds first.
And what is better for a clear mind than honest hard work! hahaha
(Reminds me of Mister Miyagi from ‘Karate Kid’, when Daniel San had to sand and paint the fences and floors for his ‘special training’.
“Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important.”
“Not everything is as [it] seems.”
Someone’s gotta do it since Kiyoshi joined them in the tavern.
They see it as a payment for the help they’ll receive.
I even have Mister Miyagi as a Sim. He plays various roles in my stories. Albert at DEATH’s Domain for example or even a Twilek ^^’
After work, Dtui sat down with them.
Dtui: “I wondered when i'd be seeing you, Ji Ho. Look at you. You have already waited too long. It’s draining the life out you and Vlad if you don’t tighten the bond. There’s nothing I can do for you to avoid it.”
Jeb to Ji Ho: “They can’t ask this of you! Not after all you went through at Sulani!”
Dtui: “The bond pursues completion. Even I can sense it and I’m already preparing the protection spells for the event. Look at me - this even pushes me at my limits.”
Jeb: “The event?”
Dtui: “Completing a bond like this will attract all kinds of spirits - evil spirits - wanting their share of the energy created. Vlad died for Ji Ho and went to hell and back for him. It’s the striking event of the century!”
Dtui: “Everything will be set up at winter solstice! And tell Giga and Jack -> cooking lessons: tomorrow!”
And then they met all at the tavern again... just when you think it couldn’t get any more awkward...
But they all have to eat and meals have to be prepared, so they cook divided in two groups.
It’s better anyway due the ‘anti-bloodlust-program’...
The ‘Watch over Vlad’ group is responsible for the grill and cutting the ingredients since they can’t do anything else... ^^’
Ji Ho did the dishes and now he’s rummaging the Deco Box.
He has not the slightest idea how to bring up the topic. But he has to. He’s getting weaker hour by hour and winter solstice is just a few days from now... ö.ö’
Outtakes
TMI: since teenage Jack is a clone of adult Jack, he is very skilled. He has cooking skill 9. So we thought he could finish the meals we started for the balcony screenshot. But we forgot about his (hidden) pyromane family skill -.-
(Or he takes his can-not-cook role very serious ^^’)
Since they all have their own rooms (with a bath each) at the Space Bar, they are not common with the whole ‘lock the bathroom door’ habit.
(Ji Ho doesn’t even have a bathroom door and Vlad’s’ is always open ^^’)
Kiyoshi: “You should lock that door if you don’t want me to kiss you when I find you standing there like this... unless... this was your plan?”
Jack: “What? No! I mean how would I know who would come in and I never...”
Kiyoshi: “Shhh... just teasing. You’re so cute when you’re upset.“
A little later... (Giga and Jack are zealously studying their cook books - Jeb and Kiyoshi are cooking together again - they can’t stand it anymore...)
Kiyoshi: “Where are you off to?”
Vlad: “Bathroom.”
Kiyoshi: “Wait, I’ll lead you the way.”
Vlad: “Omg it’s next door - I’ll have to move just along the wall! No way of you and me together in a bathroom again!”
Kiyoshi being Ji Ho’s White Knight again
Giga: “We could put some festive decorations on him...”
Jack: “That would look pretty - and less ominous.”
Outtakes
Vlad: “Don’t look at him! He’s mine!” (that pose again ^^’)
Jeb: “I can’t believe they’ll have to go through this! Vlad only wanted to save Ji Ho’s life when he created the bond and now... does this even work if Ji Ho doesn’t love him?”
Kiyoshi: “When one sacrifices himself willingly because he does not want the other to suffer and die - wouldn’t you call this a kind of love too? And of course it’s the best anyway when Ji Ho never falls in love with Vlad - that would mean certain death for both of them: there is still the curse!”
Giga: “Oh Gods Ji Ho, I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t dragged you to the Space Bar it all wouldn’t have happened!”
Ji Ho: “Don’t say that. I wouldn’t want to miss a thing. My life was far worse before I met you.”
Giga: “See? This will bring up your trauma again!”
Ji Ho: “My trauma is not about this. It was the situation around the 'House of the Rising Sun' in the slums. The violence, the dirt... My dead brother. My crazy mother. I was so alone and helpless there.
My past will help me to keep the distance.
Here and now I can rescue someones life.
Doing something right and good for once. Don’t worry. I will overcome this...
But ... Vlad won’t hurt me during the event when we're alone, right?”
Giga: “NO! No way, trust us. We will set everything up to make it bearable for you. He won’t touch you, he won’t move, he won’t talk. Everything will be under your control. I know he appears scary to you and frightens you with the attacks. But he isn’t like this at all. He would rather die than hurt you.”
Jack: “Exactly. You will even forget that it’s Vlad. If he doesn’t move or talk he’ll maybe remind you a bit of Luci and if we do the hair...”
Giga: “OMG Jack! Have you gone totally nuts now?”
Jack: “What?”
Ji Ho: “He’s only worried ^^’ Oh gods - I’m so nervous. Technically I know everything - I had to witness it often enough. But yeah... you know...
Thank you for helping me through. We will overcome this too, right?”
Vlad ‘died’ due to a mixture of regret, embarassement and worries...
(Again, Vlad, Kiyoshi and Jeb overheard everything, because Ji Ho, Jack and Giga still haven’t learned that the walls are so thin here at the tavern...)
Jeb: “Dtui is already preparing the protection spells. She looked awful.”
Kiyoshi: “Oh no! She didn’t tell me! I’m gonna leave tomorrow morning, with Jack and Giga, to help her with the preaparations. Jack’s and Giga’s cooking lessons start by tomorrow too.”
Jeb: “This is such a crazy situation. They never really talked to each other - how awkward is this! I hope Vlad will endure until the end and the bond is finally tightened...it would have been all for nothing if not.”
Vlad (with a weak voice): “I’m still here...”
All the pressure of the world upon Vlad...
Jack, the puppy: “Hug! Mee too!”
Giga: “Forget it! ... Oh, hey Vlad!”
Kiyoshi is reproachful because he let Dtui down. Even though she didn’t ask for help - she never does - he should have known better and left earlier.
He was indulging his time here with Jack and the others - away from his duties at the temple. And his stay here was important too - for him and Jack to get closer to each other. They’ll need to be - soon...
(I really found him standing there like this ö.Ö)
Kiyoshi: “You just look like Terence Hill - how am I supposed to leave you when you look so hot?”
love is blind
Giga: “Omg Jack! You should have gotten up earlier and shave - you look like the villain in a Horse Opera!”
Where he’s right, he’s right
Outtakes
I didn’t know what action ‘shove snow’ was, so we tried it. But when I saw what he was about to do, I resetted. I couldn’t watch this lol. Poor Giigs. And Jack would have regretted it too
Kiyoshi making a snow demon ö.Ö'
hahaha and here is Jack mimicking one of the spawning village people! Such a dork! He did this by himself. I told him to walk along with Giga and Kiyoshi Ö.ö
Jeb, Ji Ho and Vlad had gotten up too to say goodbye to Kiyoshi.
Jeb: “Come here and lay down, Ji Ho. Sleep for a few hours until Giga and Jack are back. I’ll watch over you.”
Ji Ho: “He looks so small.”
Jeb: “He tries hard to keep the pain to himself so the bond doesn’t drain you too much. But he is stronger than you think.”
Two days until Winter Solstice on december 21st.
(links leads to the wikipedia entry)
After the longest night throughout the whole year, the days are getting longer again.
This is/was a very important day for many cultures with many myths around it.
The sun will be reborn and takes over it’s reign again.
Giving us new hope in these dark and cold days.
When I logged in today, I found the town centre with the temple in a melancholic state. It always amazes me, how good the timing in this story is.
It is no effort for me to achieve this, it just fits!
Same with Samhain/Halloween/Dia de los Muertos.
And(!) after I logged in, I found Jack in Kiyoshi’s room! Where he and Kiyoshi lived during Jack’s stay at the temple (they brought him here because he was about to drift away after Vlad’s death). I have many good memories of the temple chapter.
There are still two beds in his room. Do other guests of the temple sleep here too? I’m not sure if Jack only has trust issues or if Kiyoshi has other boys beside Jack ö.Ö ...
Haha and I found Kiyoshi at the grill. He offers you a sausage
The manhole covers from the snowy escape pack how beautiful!
Kiyoshi, Jack and Giga arrived at the Temple where Jack and Giga have their first cooking lesson with Dtui.
Dtui: "Kiysohi will come soon, he changes into his kimono."
And there he was. Jack is stunned. He can’t imagine what a georgeous guy like Kiyoshi sees in him - the clumsy mangy wolf that he is... But he has no choice anyway - he had already lost himself to Kiyoshi - like he told Luci the other day.
Giga: “Thank you for taking the time to teach us how to cook. But... aren’t you too busy with the preparations for the event?”
Dtui: “Ah since you are here, I’m relieved and I feel so much better. I hesitated to ask Kiyoshi to come back. He deserved a time out after all the hard work he does here at the temple beside his school activities.”
Dtui: “So! - I will not only teach you how to cook here - you’ll have to help with the event too! Perparing the food offerings for the visiting spirits takes a lot of time and effort. Today I’ll teach you the basics while Kiyoshi continues with the protection spells. Like this you learn how to prepare a lot of different meals and we’ll get it all done bevor solstice! ″
Giga: “Thank you. We’ll do our best!”
Dtui: “I know you will.”
They went over to Ichiraku’s Ramen for the cooking lessons. And soon the unevitable happened...
OMG Jack! Not again!
Kiyoshi: “Ah! I wondered what you were cooking, smells interesting.”
Jack: “You are so cool, Kiyoshi.”
If we let Jack continue to cook, maybe it will really be our last christmas? ö.Ö
After Jack cleaned up the mess he caused with the fire and before he could do any more damage:
Dtui: “Jack, please fetch the other ingredients from the basement. You know where it is ”
Jack: “Ok!”
Of course he knows! It’s where Kiyoshi and him shared their first kiss!
Dtui: “Giga - tell the others they all need to be here for the event. We need every hand to keep Ji Ho and Vlad save.”
Giga: “Understood. Don’t worry, we will be there.”
(Dtui is still so beautiful.)
Jack wanted to take just short look into the room but he found Kiyoshi there!
Ah! This was a trick from Dtui to give them a little time alone
Since Kiyoshi won’t return to the tavern, they’ll have to part soon. They will see each other when they are preparing the event but there won’t be much time for them to spend together, like in the tavern.
Kiyoshi: “I’m gonna miss you.”
Jack: “But what are you doing here?”
Kiyoshi: “Preparing. This here is our sanctuary. The council raids the temple every few weeks. It’s not safe there for the guitar and the other artefacts.”
Jack: “The council? You are hiding this from the council? And the Guitar is an artefact of the temple? And this rehearsal room in the basement of a bar is the sanctuary of your temple? And Ji Ho and Vlad will tighten their bond here?”
Kiyoshi: “Yes.”
Jack: “Please tell me this has nothing to do with us. That you didn’t use magic the night we kissed.”
Kiyoshi: “...”
Jack: “So it has and you did. And you are still not going to tell me what this is all about? Why do we have to date in secret?”
Kiyoshi: “Please Jack - just wait a few more weeks...”
Jack: “No! That’s it... I - I need to leave...”
When Jack can’t even bare this. How is he supposed to tell him the whole truth?
After Kiyoshi begged him so to trust him.
(This should have been a cute kissing and goodbye scene, but Jack had other plans... they scare me sometimes...)
TMI: The Council is a mighty organisation to keep the non-magical beeings safe from all these threatening, evil occult creatures (like vampires for example. And werewolves, spellcasters, mermaids...).
(And they are very sucessful: They even managed it to strap the powers from the werewolves for 8 years! They secretly work together with EA, therefore we still don’t have fairies! And maybe we’ll never have! )
To pursue their aims, they aren’t even reluctant to blackmail occults to work for them or gather information to pursue other occults...
Vlad had them on his heels in his past at the castle, Leander worked for them.
And they are also behind the happenings in my other story.
December 20th - 1 day before the event on winter solstice.
Since Kiyoshi stayed at the temple, Jack is in wolf to keep Vlad under control, if necessary. And he’s in charge now of brewing the mixture for Vlad.
Vlad sighs: “I don’t want him to go through this. If I knew the bond would kill me first, I wouldn’t do it and he’d be free again.”
Jack: “Free, like being claimed by another crazy vampire? Free, like him feeling so guilty of causing your death - again?”
Jack: “Don’t be stupid. You all knew this when you decided to claim Ji Ho. You were full aware of what would happen when you initialize a bond with him. Maybe not such a strong one though...“
Vlad: “Yeah, I knew it all. But I thought I’d be dead before the bond demands completion. And that I would stay dead...”
Jack: “Look - we all agree that this was the best possible solution for all. We’ll have to follow this path now until the end. I talked to Ji Ho, he will be ok.”
Vlad: “We overheard it. Since when does he talk that much anyways? I barely heard a word from him before I died and now...”
Jack: “That’s your fault ^^’ It came along with your healing. He changed a lot - for the better. Don’t worry too much. You heard him. We will overcome this too. Just ... don’t hurt him.”
Vlad: “I would rather die.”
I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch)
I wanna hold you, but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much (too much)
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
Yeah, well I don't want to break these chains
Poison (poison) Runnin' deep inside my veins
Burnin' deep inside my brain (poison) Poisoning (poison)
Jack: “If you only could see him. It was your last wish, you remember?
Look Vlad, it’s not all bad. You will both live and maybe you can even see again when this is over. Like the doctor said. And if the monster comes for him, you surely want to see again to rescue him, right? Or will you leave it to Kiyoshi? ”
Vlad: “Shut up! ^^”
Vlad: “It’s better I don’t see him. I can keep the bloodlust barely under control and the bond tells me he isn’t feeling well.”
Jack: “He doesn’t sleep and I know you try hard to keep the drain from the bond to yourself - you can’t take it all from him. It will all be over after the event tomorrow.”
Vlad, overwhelmed by the bloodlust: “Oh gods - it’s happening again! Stop me!”
Oh no! And Kiyoshi is not here!
Ji Ho: “Omg! Is he going to attack me again? How am I supposed to survive this tomorrow - alone - with him?”
Jack: “Oh Princess Cordelia! I’m gonna make you mine now!”
Ji Ho: “What are they doing???”
Jeb: “That’s for sure a moment to remember ö.ö” *takes photos*
Giga: “Oh! Haha ^^’ They are rehearsing a scene for the trailer! This was no attack, Ji Ho. Don’t worry...”
Jack (whispering): “I’m gonna break your neck if you don’t come to your senses - now!”
Vlad *blinks*: “Understood - oh gods - just please don’t kiss me again!” *spits out fur*
Jack (whispering): “I had to do something and I didn’t want to fight you in front of Ji Ho. Remind me to ask Dtui for some extra behave spells for you...”
Jack (loud, to the others): “And, how was it? Convincing - huh?”
TMI: That’s my job in this story: making screenshots of Jack’s stupid ideas! It was planned that they should fight to keep Vlad under control (I thought that would be possible with maxed fitness skill, but it wasn’t... and I didn’t want them to fight for real (their friendship score still is not on the level like it was before since their last fight a few months ago...) so I thought I let them act a horror scene to maybe get some ‘fighting like’ screenshots... yeah...
Winter Solstice - December 21st
It always amazes me, that right at the beginninng of the long cold winter, the days are getting longer again. As if the sun wants to give us hope. That, if we only endure this time of hardships, the spring will come again. We can’t force it to come earlier - nor do we have to do anything to gain it. Just wait and go on - and it will happen by itself.
TMI: This is actually one thing I struggle the most with. Sometimes there’s just nothing I can do and I waste my strength and energy in useless actions and thoughts ... This story is really a healing experience for me.
Of course these thoughts are of no help for the Boys... Ji Ho hadn’t really slept for days and is nervous and frightened and the others are tense to get everything done right for and during the event.
Giga: “Don’t worry Ji Ho, we will be right there.”
Jeb: “If he hurts you, just give us a sign and he’s dead in an instant.”
Ji Ho: “Ah - ha ha ^^’ ok ö.ö”
Jack: “Don’t mess this up. I demand staying power from you! Keep your bloodlust under control and don't scare him! You can’t let us down. We had - and we will have - a hard time during this ‘event’. And it can only be done today. So just - don’t - mess - this - up.”
VLad: “ Ah - ha ha ^^’ ok ö.ö”
And, as always - of course Jack is of no help for no one...
Jack: “Plus: You’ll be the first of us making out eventually! Uh - I wan’t to hear everything about it tomorrow!”
Vlad: “Certainly not!”
Jeb: “C’mon now! Kiyoshi is waiting and I need to help Dtui with the spells!”
(It’s not often that Jeb looses his patience. They are all at their limits as it seems.)
Kiyoshi in not in a good mood too after his quarrel with Jack yesterday.
He has to prepare Vlad and Ji Ho for the event and everything here reminds him of his time with Jack -.-
Kiyoshi is really not himself today. And this means he's of not much help for super nervous Ji Ho and Vlad either -.-
But it seems the hotspring is
Reminds me of the photos Genji shot of Ji Ho in the whirlpool
or not...
*sigh*
(I really shouldn’t laugh - but they are so cute ^^’)
Their Robes - imbued with magic - had been a gift for the temple from an emperor aeons ago.
Ah - this reminds Dtui of her own Winter Solstice...
Rita looked so beautiful in her white robe...
(Rita? Like Rita Coombes? Like Ms Coombes the Boys' teacher at highschool? Aouww she is Dtui’s fated mate! )
And they still are so sweet together! And visit concerts together!
Kiyoshi: “We are well on track, Dtui. Only the massages left. This will be done too before sunset.”
The massages? ö.ö
Dtui: “Well done, Kiyoshi. I know it was not easy for you after what happened yesterday.”
Aside from Jack’s little ‘accident’ (burning the kitchen down) - they are all doing surprisingly well with the preparations.
Dtui: “Francine can be so proud of you. We were so worried for you after that terrible incident (we will learn about that in January). It will all be well, believe me.”
Dtui seems to know about Jeb’s past since she is best friends with Jeb’s grandmother Francine... maybe Giga can ask her about it?
Kiyoshi: “You first Vlad. Let me help undress you.”
Vlad: “You are not going to lay your hands on me - again!”
(Vlad still isn't over it that someone (Ji Ho and not Kiyoshi) was in the shower with him when he came back from hell ^^')
Kiyoshi: “No problem - I’ll call Dtui and she will do it.”
Vlad: “...”
Vlad: “AaaArrGhhrrrlll!”
Kiyoshi: “Now you, Ji Ho. Let me get a grip on you ”
Ji Ho: “Can’t wait! My muscles are so tense!”
Kiyoshi: “I’m gonna knead you well then!”
Kiyoshi: “I’m finished with you, Vlad. You can go downstairs and wait there.”
Vlad: “No.”
Night falls - the protection spells start to build a ring around the temple and it’s surrounding buildings.
Everyone not involved in the event is heading homewards as fast as they can.
Dtui is the most powerful and in charge for the entrance.
Kiyoshi for the waterfront by the lake. Nasty creatures, those water spirits...
Jeb and Giga opposite of each other on the remaining sides of the centre.
It’s done!
And what is Jack responsible for?
Aouww - to protect the youngest, he is responsible to host the visiting helpful spirits who head for the food offerings he and Giga had prepared
The more puddles - the less fire ^^’
This game is really amazing, I did all this (as always) with ingame objects. No poses, no mods, no cc. I never feel limited, just challenged with what is possible
It’s time to send Vlad and Ji Ho off to the sanctuary.
Everything that needed to be said had already been said before and it’s a little awkward.
What can you possibly say in a situation like this? ‘Hang in there!’? ...better not... ö.ö’
Jack can’t keep his snout shut: “Keep up!”
Giga: “Omg Jack! Keep your snout shut!”
Giga and Kiyoshi are going downstairs with them.
The sanctuary is subterranean for a reason.
Many cultures have rituals where the protagonist is being ‘reborn’ after a stay in the womb of the earth.
Giga: “Finally I get to see the sanctuary! And you even left the Guitar here! And you painted the walls!
Omg and is this the bed where Toru and his wife...?”
Kiyoshi: “Yes, it is.” ^^
(Giga refers to the little story in this story from the Temple chapter a few months ago about the magic Guitar of Toru, the leader of the group ‘One Ok Rock’. The bar, in which basement the sanctuary is located, is the ‘One Ok Rock’ bar.)
Ji Ho: “Kiyoshi did a good job preparing us. Don’t worry.”
Giga (with teary eyes): “We are right outside.”
Vlad and Ji Ho are opposites of each other, like Ying and Yang.
Vlad represents the darkness and the shadows, the winter and the moon.
Ji Ho the light, the summer and the sun.
The little dots in the symbol stand here for Vlad and the (hell) fire and Ji Ho and the ocean. Which usually belong to the other side.
One eccelerates the other or soothes it.
And during the longest night of the year, Ji Ho and Vlad brought back the light.
The bond was finally complete!
How Jack and Kiyoshi look at each other :,(
They didn’t have time to talk after their quarrel.
(I found them like this just the second when the bolts shot up! wow ö.ö)
Giga and Jeb were standing together too
A tear had fallen from Ji Ho’s face and mingled with a tear rolling from Vlad’s eye.
Vlad hadn’t wanted their first time alone together to be like this.
But Ji Ho can’t have his beloved Luci and Vlad can’t have Ji Ho.
What ever it was between them - it had to be enough. The bond was finally complete and hummed in awe - along with the chords of the Guitar.
They were exhauseted and tired after tightening their bond.
“Forgive me.” Ji Ho whispered.
And this was completing the circle, because that’s what Vlad said to Ji Ho when he initialized the bond.
(Ji Ho was under Genji’s spell by that time and I don’t think he was able to understand what was happening, let alone hear what Vlad had said to him.)
Ji Ho felt guilty. He knows how much Vlad loves him.
Vlad doesn’t deserve to be bonded with him forever and giving up to find someone who truely loves him - no one deserves this.
Vlad had given his life for him, but Ji Ho was not able to love him. His heart belongs to Luci - always.
Ji Ho laid beside Vlad and soon his breath deepened. He was finally sleeping after being awake for days.
Vlad headed cautiously for the bathroom - he was still blind.
Vlad traced along Ji Ho’s skin with his finger, where he knew his tattoos were. And he remembered why he got them.
His throat cramped in anger. That foul place called 'the House of the Rising Sun'!
He wanted to heal Ji Ho but as he scanned trough his body he found him well, just so, so tired.
And then - when Vlad opened his eyes again - he saw him. How beautiful he was.
It was his last wish, before he had died, to see Ji Ho once again and and to show him how much he means to him.
There are no words to describe how much he loves Ji Ho. But he would show him. And even though Ji Ho would never love him, he was determined to dedicate the second lifetime he gained to him.
Vlad covered Ji Ho with the blanket, dressed and left.
Zephyr in the sky at night, I wonder
Do my tears of morning sink beneath the sun?
She's got herself a universe, gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone
And I feel like I just got home And I feel
And I feel like I just got home And I feel
Faster than the speeding light, she's flying
Trying to remember where it all began
She's got herself a little piece of Heaven
Waiting for the time when Earth shall be as one
Comments
Early next morning - a gathering behind the house. The locals seem worried that there is a fence now and the windows are barricaded. If the monster can’t snatch the guests in the tavern - it might come for them!
So the tavern is a kind of ‘Altar of Sacrifice’ to keep the village people safe(?)...
Luckily our boys are unaware. They should enjoy their day after the sad stories they shared yesterday.
Giga: “Oh my, your eyes... was it the noise from the others tonight keeping you from your sleep?”
Ji Ho: “Oh no. It’s Luci, you know. And the worries about Vlad. I can feel through the bond how much he suffers. It takes energy from me to keep him stable as it seems.”
Ji Ho: “But I’m fine! Don’t worry!”
Giga: “*Sigh* Such a strong bond has a ‘life’ of it’s own. It is demanding as it tries to keep you two together to make you one. The advantages are that both of you become stronger - more powerful. But as it tries to keep the balance - it can harm you as well. Let’s hope the mixture will unfold it’s effects soon. And then...”
Ji Ho: “What?”
Giga: “That’s a problem the future Giga has to deal with...”
Outtakes
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Vlad, Kiyoshi and Jeb are grimly determined to make it a fun day for poor Giga, Jack and Ji Ho.
Kiyoshi is going to ‘lend a hand - or two’ to the ‘Sports Team’ (together with Vlad) and Team Geology is visiting Wakaba, the lake region.
Jeb was just about to wake Ji Ho for breakfast as Giga and Jack left the room.
Jeb: “Have a nice day.” he murmured shyly before he went in.
Jeb: “C’mon Ji Ho. Let's have breakfast and leave.”
Ji Ho: “Hm?”
He’s so tired.
Jeb: “We are near the temple today. Shall we visit Dtui and ask if she can do something for you?”
Ji Ho: “Oh, that would be great.”
And soon the house was quiet and peaceful again.
Their destination today - the Bunny Slope!
Awww - and Vlad finally seems comfortable holding Kiyoshi’s hand!
Kiyoshi: “Let’s go for a ride Vlad!”
Vlad: “No way! I’m still not over meeting you in the shower when i returned from hell. Let’s keep our distance.”
Or not ^^’
Kiyoshi: “Will you be my partner then, Jack? Let’s teach them how to do it!”
Jack is only capable of a short nod.
Kiyoshi: "Let's show them how to do it!"
Giga: “Enjoyed the ride?”
Kiyoshi: “Let me clean you up.”
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Kiyoshi: “Now it’s your turn. Do it just like Jack and I did.”
Giga: “Certainly not.”
(Jack looks like if he would like to do it again
The two visuals of the group
Kid: “Aren’t you too old for the Bunny Slope?”
Jack: “Oh look at you! One day I’m gonna have a bunch of kids just as terrific as you are!”
Kid: “With him?”
TMI: Adult Jack in my other story universe lives together with his 4 terrific kids from 4 different women. He never had a relationship with their mothers.
This might explain what Kiyoshi said to Dtui the other day.
That it’s Jack or no one, in this life and all the others.
ö.ö
How hard it must be for Kiyoshi, knowing this but he can’t tell Jack and watch him struggle.
And even if he could tell him, how crazy would that sound? Like a worn out pick up line:
“Hey, we are meant to be! We even have kids together in another universe! Let’s date!”
For me it feels like that this is not a story I write - it’s a story I (need to) tell.
I know Jack for over ten years now and even in Sims 3 he never was married - but had all his kids living with him and their mothers left after giving birth (surrogacy I suppose).
And one day, just a few months ago, i knew: It’s because he was with Kiyoshi, still in secret. :,(
Maybe we can solve it in this universe... Kiyoshi has to tell Jack soon about his past. We will see if they can overcome this.
And then they went for another ride
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Team Geology went to Wakaba today.
Jeb and Ji Ho went to the lake after they spent a few hours collecting geological samples for their school project.
And even though Ji Ho is suffering (together with Vlad through their bond) - as soon as he entered the water, he gained vitality.
How Ji Ho’s tail scales twinkle in the sunlight!
It’s the last day of fall and while the others play in the snow, it’s still warm in the valley by the lake.
Their shadows
Ji Ho: “Thank you, Jeb.”
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EA did such a good job with Mount Komorebi. How clear the water is and the light there is so amazing. I don’t have to edit the screenshots a lot. It’s just so beautiful.
Ji Ho: “I’m getting a bit tired though. Let’s leave for the temple then.”
Jeb: “Ok. Let’s see what Dtui has to offer to help you two.”
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Jeb and Ji Ho went over to the Temple to ask Dtui for help.
But before doing anything, Dtui insisted they had to clear their minds first.
And what is better for a clear mind than honest hard work! hahaha
(Reminds me of Mister Miyagi from ‘Karate Kid’, when Daniel San had to sand and paint the fences and floors for his ‘special training’.
“Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important.”
“Not everything is as [it] seems.”
Someone’s gotta do it since Kiyoshi joined them in the tavern.
They see it as a payment for the help they’ll receive.
I even have Mister Miyagi as a Sim. He plays various roles in my stories. Albert at DEATH’s Domain for example or even a Twilek ^^’
After work, Dtui sat down with them.
Dtui: “I wondered when i'd be seeing you, Ji Ho. Look at you. You have already waited too long. It’s draining the life out you and Vlad if you don’t tighten the bond. There’s nothing I can do for you to avoid it.”
Jeb to Ji Ho: “They can’t ask this of you! Not after all you went through at Sulani!”
Dtui: “The bond pursues completion. Even I can sense it and I’m already preparing the protection spells for the event. Look at me - this even pushes me at my limits.”
Jeb: “The event?”
Dtui: “Completing a bond like this will attract all kinds of spirits - evil spirits - wanting their share of the energy created. Vlad died for Ji Ho and went to hell and back for him. It’s the striking event of the century!”
Dtui: “Everything will be set up at winter solstice! And tell Giga and Jack -> cooking lessons: tomorrow!”
oh my...
Outtakes
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And then they met all at the tavern again... just when you think it couldn’t get any more awkward...
But they all have to eat and meals have to be prepared, so they cook divided in two groups.
It’s better anyway due the ‘anti-bloodlust-program’...
The ‘Watch over Vlad’ group is responsible for the grill and cutting the ingredients since they can’t do anything else... ^^’
Ji Ho did the dishes and now he’s rummaging the Deco Box.
He has not the slightest idea how to bring up the topic. But he has to. He’s getting weaker hour by hour and winter solstice is just a few days from now... ö.ö’
Outtakes
TMI: since teenage Jack is a clone of adult Jack, he is very skilled. He has cooking skill 9. So we thought he could finish the meals we started for the balcony screenshot. But we forgot about his (hidden) pyromane family skill -.-
(Or he takes his can-not-cook role very serious ^^’)
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Since they all have their own rooms (with a bath each) at the Space Bar, they are not common with the whole ‘lock the bathroom door’ habit.
(Ji Ho doesn’t even have a bathroom door and Vlad’s’ is always open ^^’)
Kiyoshi: “You should lock that door if you don’t want me to kiss you when I find you standing there like this... unless... this was your plan?”
Jack: “What? No! I mean how would I know who would come in and I never...”
Kiyoshi: “Shhh... just teasing. You’re so cute when you’re upset.“
Kiyoshi: “... and you smell so good.”
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Later that evening...
Giga is a little careless, as so often...
Jeb: “It’s occupied...”
They always seem to know when to call... about Kiyoshi again...
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A little later... (Giga and Jack are zealously studying their cook books - Jeb and Kiyoshi are cooking together again - they can’t stand it anymore...)
Kiyoshi: “Where are you off to?”
Vlad: “Bathroom.”
Kiyoshi: “Wait, I’ll lead you the way.”
Vlad: “Omg it’s next door - I’ll have to move just along the wall! No way of you and me together in a bathroom again!”
Kiyoshi being Ji Ho’s White Knight again
Giga: “We could put some festive decorations on him...”
Jack: “That would look pretty - and less ominous.”
Outtakes
Vlad: “Don’t look at him! He’s mine!” (that pose again ^^’)
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Jeb: “I can’t believe they’ll have to go through this! Vlad only wanted to save Ji Ho’s life when he created the bond and now... does this even work if Ji Ho doesn’t love him?”
Kiyoshi: “When one sacrifices himself willingly because he does not want the other to suffer and die - wouldn’t you call this a kind of love too? And of course it’s the best anyway when Ji Ho never falls in love with Vlad - that would mean certain death for both of them: there is still the curse!”
Giga: “Oh Gods Ji Ho, I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t dragged you to the Space Bar it all wouldn’t have happened!”
Ji Ho: “Don’t say that. I wouldn’t want to miss a thing. My life was far worse before I met you.”
Giga: “See? This will bring up your trauma again!”
Ji Ho: “My trauma is not about this. It was the situation around the 'House of the Rising Sun' in the slums. The violence, the dirt... My dead brother. My crazy mother. I was so alone and helpless there.
My past will help me to keep the distance.
Here and now I can rescue someones life.
Doing something right and good for once. Don’t worry. I will overcome this...
But ... Vlad won’t hurt me during the event when we're alone, right?”
Giga: “NO! No way, trust us. We will set everything up to make it bearable for you. He won’t touch you, he won’t move, he won’t talk. Everything will be under your control. I know he appears scary to you and frightens you with the attacks. But he isn’t like this at all. He would rather die than hurt you.”
Jack: “Exactly. You will even forget that it’s Vlad. If he doesn’t move or talk he’ll maybe remind you a bit of Luci and if we do the hair...”
Giga: “OMG Jack! Have you gone totally nuts now?”
Jack: “What?”
Ji Ho: “He’s only worried ^^’ Oh gods - I’m so nervous. Technically I know everything - I had to witness it often enough. But yeah... you know...
Thank you for helping me through. We will overcome this too, right?”
Vlad ‘died’ due to a mixture of regret, embarassement and worries...
(Again, Vlad, Kiyoshi and Jeb overheard everything, because Ji Ho, Jack and Giga still haven’t learned that the walls are so thin here at the tavern...)
Jeb: “Dtui is already preparing the protection spells. She looked awful.”
Kiyoshi: “Oh no! She didn’t tell me! I’m gonna leave tomorrow morning, with Jack and Giga, to help her with the preaparations. Jack’s and Giga’s cooking lessons start by tomorrow too.”
Jeb: “This is such a crazy situation. They never really talked to each other - how awkward is this! I hope Vlad will endure until the end and the bond is finally tightened...it would have been all for nothing if not.”
Vlad (with a weak voice): “I’m still here...”
All the pressure of the world upon Vlad...
Jack, the puppy: “Hug! Mee too!”
Giga: “Forget it! ... Oh, hey Vlad!”
Outtakes
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Jack: “If the monster would come for us and Giga was in charge to safe us - we would be lost. Right, Ji Ho?”
Ji Ho: “But we still have Kiyoshi
But Kiyoshi is leaving tomorrow to help Dtui at the temple ö.ö'
Kiyoshi: “Vlad! Wait!”
Vlad is working hard on his self control. He’s gonna need it for the event ö.ö
Kiyoshi: “Are you hiding? Don’t be afraid. Even when I’m back at the temple - the others will watch over you.”
Outtakes: Kiyoshi being slightly fed up with Vlad’s shenanigans...
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Next morning
Kiyoshi is reproachful because he let Dtui down. Even though she didn’t ask for help - she never does - he should have known better and left earlier.
He was indulging his time here with Jack and the others - away from his duties at the temple. And his stay here was important too - for him and Jack to get closer to each other. They’ll need to be - soon...
(I really found him standing there like this ö.Ö)
Kiyoshi: “You just look like Terence Hill - how am I supposed to leave you when you look so hot?”
love is blind
Giga: “Omg Jack! You should have gotten up earlier and shave - you look like the villain in a Horse Opera!”
Where he’s right, he’s right
Outtakes
I didn’t know what action ‘shove snow’ was, so we tried it. But when I saw what he was about to do, I resetted. I couldn’t watch this lol. Poor Giigs. And Jack would have regretted it too
Kiyoshi making a snow demon ö.Ö'
hahaha and here is Jack mimicking one of the spawning village people! Such a dork! He did this by himself. I told him to walk along with Giga and Kiyoshi Ö.ö
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Jeb, Ji Ho and Vlad had gotten up too to say goodbye to Kiyoshi.
Jeb: “Come here and lay down, Ji Ho. Sleep for a few hours until Giga and Jack are back. I’ll watch over you.”
Ji Ho: “He looks so small.”
Jeb: “He tries hard to keep the pain to himself so the bond doesn’t drain you too much. But he is stronger than you think.”
Only three more days ... hang in there Vlad.
Jeb: “If you hurt him...”
Vlad: “I know.”
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Two days until Winter Solstice on december 21st.
(links leads to the wikipedia entry)
After the longest night throughout the whole year, the days are getting longer again.
This is/was a very important day for many cultures with many myths around it.
The sun will be reborn and takes over it’s reign again.
Giving us new hope in these dark and cold days.
When I logged in today, I found the town centre with the temple in a melancholic state. It always amazes me, how good the timing in this story is.
It is no effort for me to achieve this, it just fits!
Same with Samhain/Halloween/Dia de los Muertos.
And(!) after I logged in, I found Jack in Kiyoshi’s room! Where he and Kiyoshi lived during Jack’s stay at the temple (they brought him here because he was about to drift away after Vlad’s death). I have many good memories of the temple chapter.
There are still two beds in his room. Do other guests of the temple sleep here too? I’m not sure if Jack only has trust issues or if Kiyoshi has other boys beside Jack ö.Ö ...
Haha and I found Kiyoshi at the grill. He offers you a sausage
The manhole covers from the snowy escape pack
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Kiyoshi, Jack and Giga arrived at the Temple where Jack and Giga have their first cooking lesson with Dtui.
Dtui: "Kiysohi will come soon, he changes into his kimono."
And there he was. Jack is stunned. He can’t imagine what a georgeous guy like Kiyoshi sees in him - the clumsy mangy wolf that he is... But he has no choice anyway - he had already lost himself to Kiyoshi - like he told Luci the other day.
Giga: “Thank you for taking the time to teach us how to cook. But... aren’t you too busy with the preparations for the event?”
Dtui: “Ah since you are here, I’m relieved and I feel so much better. I hesitated to ask Kiyoshi to come back. He deserved a time out after all the hard work he does here at the temple beside his school activities.”
Dtui: “So! - I will not only teach you how to cook here - you’ll have to help with the event too! Perparing the food offerings for the visiting spirits takes a lot of time and effort. Today I’ll teach you the basics while Kiyoshi continues with the protection spells. Like this you learn how to prepare a lot of different meals and we’ll get it all done bevor solstice!
Giga: “Thank you. We’ll do our best!”
Dtui: “I know you will.”
They went over to Ichiraku’s Ramen for the cooking lessons. And soon the unevitable happened...
OMG Jack! Not again!
Kiyoshi: “Ah! I wondered what you were cooking, smells interesting.”
Jack: “You are so cool, Kiyoshi.”
If we let Jack continue to cook, maybe it will really be our last christmas? ö.Ö
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After Jack cleaned up the mess he caused with the fire and before he could do any more damage:
Dtui: “Jack, please fetch the other ingredients from the basement. You know where it is
Jack: “Ok!”
Of course he knows! It’s where Kiyoshi and him shared their first kiss!
Dtui: “Giga - tell the others they all need to be here for the event. We need every hand to keep Ji Ho and Vlad save.”
Giga: “Understood. Don’t worry, we will be there.”
(Dtui is still so beautiful.)
Jack wanted to take just short look into the room but he found Kiyoshi there!
Ah! This was a trick from Dtui to give them a little time alone
Since Kiyoshi won’t return to the tavern, they’ll have to part soon. They will see each other when they are preparing the event but there won’t be much time for them to spend together, like in the tavern.
Kiyoshi: “I’m gonna miss you.”
Jack: “But what are you doing here?”
Kiyoshi: “Preparing. This here is our sanctuary. The council raids the temple every few weeks. It’s not safe there for the guitar and the other artefacts.”
Jack: “The council? You are hiding this from the council? And the Guitar is an artefact of the temple? And this rehearsal room in the basement of a bar is the sanctuary of your temple? And Ji Ho and Vlad will tighten their bond here?”
Kiyoshi: “Yes.”
Jack: “Please tell me this has nothing to do with us. That you didn’t use magic the night we kissed.”
Kiyoshi: “...”
Jack: “So it has and you did. And you are still not going to tell me what this is all about? Why do we have to date in secret?”
Kiyoshi: “Please Jack - just wait a few more weeks...”
Jack: “No! That’s it... I - I need to leave...”
When Jack can’t even bare this. How is he supposed to tell him the whole truth?
After Kiyoshi begged him so to trust him.
(This should have been a cute kissing and goodbye scene, but Jack had other plans... they scare me sometimes...)
TMI: The Council is a mighty organisation to keep the non-magical beeings safe from all these threatening, evil occult creatures (like vampires for example. And werewolves, spellcasters, mermaids...).
(And they are very sucessful: They even managed it to strap the powers from the werewolves for 8 years! They secretly work together with EA, therefore we still don’t have fairies! And maybe we’ll never have!
To pursue their aims, they aren’t even reluctant to blackmail occults to work for them or gather information to pursue other occults...
Vlad had them on his heels in his past at the castle, Leander worked for them.
And they are also behind the happenings in my other story.
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December 20th - 1 day before the event on winter solstice.
Since Kiyoshi stayed at the temple, Jack is in wolf to keep Vlad under control, if necessary. And he’s in charge now of brewing the mixture for Vlad.
Vlad sighs: “I don’t want him to go through this. If I knew the bond would kill me first, I wouldn’t do it and he’d be free again.”
Jack: “Free, like being claimed by another crazy vampire? Free, like him feeling so guilty of causing your death - again?”
Jack: “Don’t be stupid. You all knew this when you decided to claim Ji Ho. You were full aware of what would happen when you initialize a bond with him. Maybe not such a strong one though...“
Vlad: “Yeah, I knew it all. But I thought I’d be dead before the bond demands completion. And that I would stay dead...”
Jack: “Look - we all agree that this was the best possible solution for all. We’ll have to follow this path now until the end. I talked to Ji Ho, he will be ok.”
Vlad: “We overheard it. Since when does he talk that much anyways? I barely heard a word from him before I died and now...”
Jack: “That’s your fault ^^’ It came along with your healing. He changed a lot - for the better. Don’t worry too much. You heard him. We will overcome this too. Just ... don’t hurt him.”
Vlad: “I would rather die.”
I wanna love you but I better not touch (don't touch)
I wanna hold you, but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much (too much)
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
Yeah, well I don't want to break these chains
Poison (poison) Runnin' deep inside my veins
Burnin' deep inside my brain (poison) Poisoning (poison)
Alice Copper - Poison
Outtakes
Meanwhile behind the tavern at the mysterious (de)spawn spot...
Really EA? A servo named ‘Korona Pythagoras’? -.-
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Jack: “If you only could see him. It was your last wish, you remember?
Look Vlad, it’s not all bad. You will both live and maybe you can even see again when this is over. Like the doctor said. And if the monster comes for him, you surely want to see again to rescue him, right? Or will you leave it to Kiyoshi?
Vlad: “Shut up! ^^”
Vlad: “It’s better I don’t see him. I can keep the bloodlust barely under control and the bond tells me he isn’t feeling well.”
Jack: “He doesn’t sleep and I know you try hard to keep the drain from the bond to yourself - you can’t take it all from him. It will all be over after the event tomorrow.”
Vlad, overwhelmed by the bloodlust: “Oh gods - it’s happening again! Stop me!”
Oh no! And Kiyoshi is not here!
Ji Ho: “Omg! Is he going to attack me again? How am I supposed to survive this tomorrow - alone - with him?”
Jack: “Oh Princess Cordelia! I’m gonna make you mine now!”
Ji Ho: “What are they doing???”
Jeb: “That’s for sure a moment to remember ö.ö” *takes photos*
Giga: “Oh! Haha ^^’ They are rehearsing a scene for the trailer! This was no attack, Ji Ho. Don’t worry...”
Jack (whispering): “I’m gonna break your neck if you don’t come to your senses - now!”
Vlad *blinks*: “Understood - oh gods - just please don’t kiss me again!” *spits out fur*
Jack (whispering): “I had to do something and I didn’t want to fight you in front of Ji Ho. Remind me to ask Dtui for some extra behave spells for you...”
Jack (loud, to the others): “And, how was it? Convincing - huh?”
TMI: That’s my job in this story: making screenshots of Jack’s stupid ideas! It was planned that they should fight to keep Vlad under control (I thought that would be possible with maxed fitness skill, but it wasn’t... and I didn’t want them to fight for real (their friendship score still is not on the level like it was before since their last fight a few months ago...) so I thought I let them act a horror scene to maybe get some ‘fighting like’ screenshots... yeah...
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Winter Solstice - December 21st
It always amazes me, that right at the beginninng of the long cold winter, the days are getting longer again. As if the sun wants to give us hope. That, if we only endure this time of hardships, the spring will come again. We can’t force it to come earlier - nor do we have to do anything to gain it. Just wait and go on - and it will happen by itself.
TMI: This is actually one thing I struggle the most with. Sometimes there’s just nothing I can do and I waste my strength and energy in useless actions and thoughts ... This story is really a healing experience for me.
Of course these thoughts are of no help for the Boys... Ji Ho hadn’t really slept for days and is nervous and frightened and the others are tense to get everything done right for and during the event.
Giga: “Don’t worry Ji Ho, we will be right there.”
Jeb: “If he hurts you, just give us a sign and he’s dead in an instant.”
Ji Ho: “Ah - ha ha ^^’ ok ö.ö”
Jack: “Don’t mess this up. I demand staying power from you! Keep your bloodlust under control and don't scare him! You can’t let us down. We had - and we will have - a hard time during this ‘event’. And it can only be done today. So just - don’t - mess - this - up.”
VLad: “ Ah - ha ha ^^’ ok ö.ö”
And, as always - of course Jack is of no help for no one...
Jack: “Plus: You’ll be the first of us making out eventually! Uh - I wan’t to hear everything about it tomorrow!”
Vlad: “Certainly not!”
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They arrived at the temple. Omg Vlad...
Jeb: “C’mon now! Kiyoshi is waiting and I need to help Dtui with the spells!”
(It’s not often that Jeb looses his patience. They are all at their limits as it seems.)
Kiyoshi in not in a good mood too after his quarrel with Jack yesterday.
He has to prepare Vlad and Ji Ho for the event and everything here reminds him of his time with Jack -.-
Kiyoshi is really not himself today. And this means he's of not much help for super nervous Ji Ho and Vlad either -.-
But it seems the hotspring is
Reminds me of the photos Genji shot of Ji Ho in the whirlpool
or not...
*sigh*
(I really shouldn’t laugh - but they are so cute ^^’)
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Their Robes - imbued with magic - had been a gift for the temple from an emperor aeons ago.
Ah - this reminds Dtui of her own Winter Solstice...
Rita looked so beautiful in her white robe...
(Rita? Like Rita Coombes? Like Ms Coombes the Boys' teacher at highschool? Aouww she is Dtui’s fated mate!
And they still are so sweet together! And visit concerts together!
Kiyoshi: “We are well on track, Dtui. Only the massages left. This will be done too before sunset.”
The massages? ö.ö
Dtui: “Well done, Kiyoshi. I know it was not easy for you after what happened yesterday.”
Aside from Jack’s little ‘accident’ (burning the kitchen down) - they are all doing surprisingly well with the preparations.
Dtui: “Francine can be so proud of you. We were so worried for you after that terrible incident (we will learn about that in January). It will all be well, believe me.”
Dtui seems to know about Jeb’s past since she is best friends with Jeb’s grandmother Francine... maybe Giga can ask her about it?
Kiyoshi: “You first Vlad. Let me help undress you.”
Vlad: “You are not going to lay your hands on me - again!”
(Vlad still isn't over it that someone (Ji Ho and not Kiyoshi) was in the shower with him when he came back from hell ^^')
Kiyoshi: “No problem - I’ll call Dtui and she will do it.”
Vlad: “...”
Vlad: “AaaArrGhhrrrlll!”
Kiyoshi: “Now you, Ji Ho. Let me get a grip on you
Ji Ho: “Can’t wait! My muscles are so tense!”
Kiyoshi: “I’m gonna knead you well then!”
Kiyoshi: “I’m finished with you, Vlad. You can go downstairs and wait there.”
Vlad: “No.”
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Everyone not involved in the event is heading homewards as fast as they can.
Dtui is the most powerful and in charge for the entrance.
Kiyoshi for the waterfront by the lake. Nasty creatures, those water spirits...
Jeb and Giga opposite of each other on the remaining sides of the centre.
It’s done!
And what is Jack responsible for?
Aouww - to protect the youngest, he is responsible to host the visiting helpful spirits who head for the food offerings he and Giga had prepared
The more puddles - the less fire ^^’
This game is really amazing, I did all this (as always) with ingame objects. No poses, no mods, no cc. I never feel limited, just challenged with what is possible
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It’s time to send Vlad and Ji Ho off to the sanctuary.
Everything that needed to be said had already been said before and it’s a little awkward.
What can you possibly say in a situation like this? ‘Hang in there!’? ...better not... ö.ö’
Jack can’t keep his snout shut: “Keep up!”
Giga: “Omg Jack! Keep your snout shut!”
Giga and Kiyoshi are going downstairs with them.
The sanctuary is subterranean for a reason.
Many cultures have rituals where the protagonist is being ‘reborn’ after a stay in the womb of the earth.
Giga: “Finally I get to see the sanctuary! And you even left the Guitar here! And you painted the walls!
Omg and is this the bed where Toru and his wife...?”
Kiyoshi: “Yes, it is.” ^^
(Giga refers to the little story in this story from the Temple chapter a few months ago about the magic Guitar of Toru, the leader of the group ‘One Ok Rock’. The bar, in which basement the sanctuary is located, is the ‘One Ok Rock’ bar.)
Ji Ho: “Kiyoshi did a good job preparing us. Don’t worry.”
Giga (with teary eyes): “We are right outside.”
Vlad and Ji Ho are opposites of each other, like Ying and Yang.
Vlad represents the darkness and the shadows, the winter and the moon.
Ji Ho the light, the summer and the sun.
The little dots in the symbol stand here for Vlad and the (hell) fire and Ji Ho and the ocean. Which usually belong to the other side.
One eccelerates the other or soothes it.
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And during the longest night of the year, Ji Ho and Vlad brought back the light.
The bond was finally complete!
How Jack and Kiyoshi look at each other :,(
They didn’t have time to talk after their quarrel.
(I found them like this just the second when the bolts shot up! wow ö.ö)
Giga and Jeb were standing together too
A tear had fallen from Ji Ho’s face and mingled with a tear rolling from Vlad’s eye.
Vlad hadn’t wanted their first time alone together to be like this.
But Ji Ho can’t have his beloved Luci and Vlad can’t have Ji Ho.
What ever it was between them - it had to be enough. The bond was finally complete and hummed in awe - along with the chords of the Guitar.
They were exhauseted and tired after tightening their bond.
“Forgive me.” Ji Ho whispered.
And this was completing the circle, because that’s what Vlad said to Ji Ho when he initialized the bond.
(Ji Ho was under Genji’s spell by that time and I don’t think he was able to understand what was happening, let alone hear what Vlad had said to him.)
Ji Ho felt guilty. He knows how much Vlad loves him.
Vlad doesn’t deserve to be bonded with him forever and giving up to find someone who truely loves him - no one deserves this.
Vlad had given his life for him, but Ji Ho was not able to love him. His heart belongs to Luci - always.
Ji Ho laid beside Vlad and soon his breath deepened. He was finally sleeping after being awake for days.
Vlad headed cautiously for the bathroom - he was still blind.
Vlad traced along Ji Ho’s skin with his finger, where he knew his tattoos were. And he remembered why he got them.
His throat cramped in anger. That foul place called 'the House of the Rising Sun'!
He wanted to heal Ji Ho but as he scanned trough his body he found him well, just so, so tired.
And then - when Vlad opened his eyes again - he saw him. How beautiful he was.
It was his last wish, before he had died, to see Ji Ho once again and and to show him how much he means to him.
There are no words to describe how much he loves Ji Ho. But he would show him. And even though Ji Ho would never love him, he was determined to dedicate the second lifetime he gained to him.
Vlad covered Ji Ho with the blanket, dressed and left.
Zephyr in the sky at night, I wonder
Do my tears of morning sink beneath the sun?
She's got herself a universe, gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone
And I feel like I just got home And I feel
And I feel like I just got home And I feel
Faster than the speeding light, she's flying
Trying to remember where it all began
She's got herself a little piece of Heaven
Waiting for the time when Earth shall be as one
Quicker than a ray of light
Ray of Light - Madonna
(TMI: one of the best songs ever! gives me goosebumps and makes me cry omg and it fits so well! )
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