gonnawinagain | Animal Meme

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Animal Meme

the animal meme

Ever want to just do cute, dumb animal things? Well, here's your chance! Whether it's animal transformation or spirit animal bonding or random magical nonsense in a can that got loose, this is all about animals and characters and characters that are animals or characters that weren't but are now animals. And everything in between.

If you need inspiration, here are some options. (Conveniently numbered for those that like to rng.)

1. Spirit Animals -- what if your character was a spirit animal looking for their person to guide? or a person looking for a spiritual animal to guide them? or two spirit animals having a chat in the spirit realm about their silly persons?
2. Youkai -- a supernatural entity sometimes depicted with animal traits or shapeshifting abilities. are you causing mischief? chaos? or do you simply want to stay hidden?
3. Transformation -- did a magical spell go wrong and now you're stuck as a frog until someone kisses you? did you shapeshift into a creature on purpose to snoop around? whatever happened, suddenly you're an animal!
4. Lycanthropy -- it's a curse! or maybe you were just born with it. either way, during the full moon or whatever other trigger you're character has to transform into a large, ferocious beast.
5. Soul Bonding -- maybe the animal you've found represents a part of your soul, or maybe its just you've finally found your one true friend in all the world. whatever the case, you two are happily bonded and strengthening that bond through cuddling, long chats with one another, or going out on adventures together is the best thing ever since sliced bread.
6. Avatar -- the animal here represents a god or speaks for another entity of some sort. maybe you were a person that randomly got caught up in some epic situation and now suddenly find yourself in this strange new body and role. or maybe it was how you were created from the beginning.
7. Mythological -- Unicorns, and Dragons, and Naga, oh my! Legendary creatures from old myth. Mystical tales of mysterious beings. Terrifying stories of supernatural horrors. If mundane animals aren't enough, add some spice to the mix!
8. Lovecraftian Horror -- Old Ones mythos, tales of Cthulu and his pantheon, gothic horror stories. Like mythology but even more horrific! Things may get graphic and/or scary here.
9. Wildcard!! -- there are always other options! make one up and run with it!

So now it's time to get down to business. Here's an unnecessary guide:

→ Comment with your character.
→ Leave preferences if any or prompts if you've already got an idea in mind.
→ Pictures for prompts or inspiration are acceptable. Please leave NSFW images behind links.
→ Reply to anyone that strikes your fancy.
→ Have fun!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I. Here kitty, kitty

[There's a large feline creature laying in the middle of the way. Upon closer inspection it's definitely a coeurl. Its coloration is unusual--vibrant red all around, and with electric blue tipped main whiskers--making it quite unique. It appears to be napping with its head on its front paws. Even its deadly whiskers are still.

Disturb it, or try to get around it?]

II. The Phoenix

[[I have an idea for this but scenarios can range far and wide. Reno is the avatar form of the Phoenix, one of the Legendary Beast Summons. He can transform between full human to blend in with the human populace, a feathered human with bird features, and even go full phoenix. Size of phoenix can vary.
My brain is too tired for this tonight I need to edit this.]]

III. Wildcard

[[Anything else here! Any prompt or other scenario is good. Mix and match even. I love all this stuff!]]

Edited 2021-04-30 06:49 (UTC)

Ancient Dragon

[[What it says on the tin: Zhao is, in actuality, a dragon hiding in plain sight in his human form. Most of his background remains the same, however the particulars hold the secret of his dragon heritage. His father was a dragon that was banished from China some time ago (along with the rest of his family), the Yokohama Liumang was created relatively recently as in canon but includes the secret of hiding outcast dragons amongst its members as well, and as a member of the Zhao family Tianyou himself is an outcast that most other dragons largely dislike but tolerate as owning his tiny space in Yokohama.

His true form is a large eastern style dragon with mostly black scales, yellow underbelly, and gold trim, and with a fiery colored mane and tail (reds, oranges, yellows, and even bright blues and purples scattered in). He's proud of his antlers, don't call him a prey creature (or do because it's funny). And don't make fun of his yellow belly! He's anything but a coward. He has a high tolerance for other dragons and mythological beasts in hiding, and especially outcasts similar to himself. Eastern and western dragons don't really get along and follow a certain set of rules when interacting, traveling or passing through each other's territory, etc. They do have a truce of sorts due to the times being what they are for dragons in this modern age where they have to hide but it's shaky at best. Zhao tolerates them just fine and doesn't mind them passing through his territory as long as they're not starting any trouble. He's looked down upon such a tolerance, just one of his many faults in their eyes.

I have plenty more dragon lore for such a scenario if desired.

Would love human friends eventually figuring out his secret through some sort of reveal. Another dragon coming to him for hiding or simply meeting him randomly and trying to figure him out. Or dragon antagonist who frowns down upon him. Other mythological beasts crossing paths with him. Etc, etc, the possibilities are limitless!]]

Edited 2021-05-02 14:26 (UTC)

Magic

All dragons are capable of magic though not all are proficient at it. In this modern day and age, all dragons learn/are taught basic spells in order to mask their power and transform their appearance to pass as human. Other magics are either ignored entirely or learned at an individual's discretion. Most eastern dragons are well versed in magic, both as casters and as an intellectual pursuit even when they are unable to cast spells outside their proficiency levels. Many easterns also have some connection to weather patterns or a preference for locations such as rivers, tundra, etc, or rule over some other natural phenomenon such as earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. They are considered holy or divine beasts by most other supernatural creatures. (Note: western dragons are not considered holy or divine in any way except in certain cases.) Many, if not simply all, eastern dragons can call upon the Heavens for assistance either in the form of holy magic, divine smiting, or celestial protection (extra defenses, barriers, etc). This may come naturally as if their own power or come by praying in time of need. Higher prestige easterns have the right to travel to the Heavens and many 'retire' there instead of dying at the end of their time on Earth.

--Zhao and magic (vs most dragons and magic)
--Eastern dragon living, traditions, etc (unique trait: worshiping [and lack thereof in modern age] and what it means for them [the records, etc], Zhao's status, etc)
--Western dragon living, traditions, etc (unique ability: bonding, hierarchy, colors)

More dragon lore goes here. Eventually.

Edited 2021-06-05 20:16 (UTC)

There was something about Yokohama.

Three pillars keeping a fragile balance meant any attempted influences of the outside were met with a solid wall. A world upon itself. A dangerous one, but also kept in check. Rare in this day and time, but yet it preserved for so long. Maybe it's pure luck, maybe just incredibly smart planning, but some are quick to give credit to mysterious guardian, that surely is there— that surely must be appeased. Why not a little of everything at the same time? Why not?

There was something about Yokohama they said.

And here Majima was checking it out. Because of it's location, Isezaki Ijincho hugging the sea, there was no way to enter it from North East, unless you had a boat. No kimon, no demon gate to walk through— smart, eh? Why ward off a particular spot if you can simply not have it altogether.

Majima does not have a boat, for a record, no matter how cool that shit would have be. And so he enters Ijincho in the most mundane, most modern way— being dropped out by a taxi. Being known for a particular look means, that the moment you drop it, dress differently, wear sunglasses instead of eyepatch, you fall off the radar. Naturally going incognito would only work fully if he abandoned his steel-toed shoes, but eh, you gotta have a weapon handy... or on feet, rather.

He does nothing to hide his nature though, and that means his presence must be felt clear the moment he enters the domain. On the other hand, it confirms to him existence of said domain, so— win some, lose some.

The arrival of a new presence within his domain was certainly felt the moment the oni stepped into it, indeed, though it did not cause the hidden dragon to miss a beat as he regaled his friends with a story from his gangster days. It meant he couldn't take the time to suss out more information from the presence upon its immediate arrival but that was all right to him. His friends were more important and his present life with them precious. The oni could pose a threat--or it could simply be passing through, aware of his domain and respectfully presenting its presence as a peace offering.

Zhao noted the area where the oni entered his domain and then lost track of it as the evening wore on--incapable, or too unconcerned, to maintain concentration while engaging in other antics at the bar to follow its presence through his territory. Most creatures stayed away from him directly, presenting auras from afar as way of greeting, and never bothered him beyond that much. They conducted their business and left, as simple as that. Some stayed. That was fine, too. Zhao kept the peace simply by existing. When two beasts fought, only then did he intervene. To keep everyone safe. This was what it meant to be near him, in his domain, in the safe haven he had created for fellow inhuman beasts to live peacefully hidden among the crowded human streets.

If an oni wanted to check out the city, then so be it. Zhao couldn't say he was thrilled--demons often brought hardship and loss with them whether intended or not, and death followed close on their heels. But such was nature. He wouldn't deny the beast a moment of quiet, or not so quiet, sightseeing so long as no trouble arose. He had a high tolerance--Ijincho wasn't exactly top tier living on the best of days as it was, and the humans did a number of whacks jobs on themselves without the beasts of old joining in from time to time so "trouble" was pretty hard to start as far as he was concerned. He wasn't going to punish anyone for following their nature unless they let it get a little too out of hand. He could only tolerate so much bloodshed and murder without reason. And besides, hit the wrong human and it could spark a disaster among their own turf wars and whatnot. He had a duty to prevent that, too.

All that meant, he wasn't really trying too hard to keep an eye on the new arrival to his domain. He just wanted to have a good night with his friends and hope for the best. Which he did.

As the night grew long, they parted ways eventually. He didn't mind crashing at the bar some nights when things got wild but he had a home to get back to most nights. A comfortable, familiar, and protected home. He left the gang with a parting word and headed out to the city streets. He didn't mind the lengthy walk on a clear night like this one. He had plenty of energy left to burn before he turned in for the night and the walk would give him time to think as he got rid of said energy.

He hadn't really paid much attention to that new presence and it was too late to reconsider once he ran into it that night. Walking home, mostly through China town to his place, a narrow alleyway led a straight path to the lanky stranger. At first, Zhao thought nothing of it. Plenty of the Liumang hung out at odd times and sometimes in strange places. But his steps slowed as he drew closer, recognizing that this man was not a Liumang member and he did not know who it was.

Except that was not true. As Zhao got closer the bright moonlight gave Zhao a clear view of the man's face. He wouldn't have recognized the man if the one time they had met hadn't been so short a time ago. It took him a moment to figure it out, too, with the incognito look.

But there was no mistaking some things. And with the aura of an oni fresh in the air around him, Zhao gave pause as he eyed Majima Goro carefully. He kept his face neutral as he deadpanned.

"I wasn't expecting that to be you. Guess that's what I get for ignoring the courtesy call." He shifted slightly, idly. "Don't know what you're looking for in Yokohoma... but it doesn't really matter either. I won't say anything."

Majima's mouth twists, as he tries not to laugh. It's useless and he ends letting out a cackle, that ends splitting his face into a grin. One that might be a little more menacing than friendly. This dragon was downright adorable. Catching his attention the moment when he spoke back then in the Omi's HQ. Hiding in plain sight, it's always like this, isn't it? The coil, they protect, guardians in the fucking shadows— allergic to spotlight.

And that made Majima want to shine the brightest limelight, examine every move, every breath, and every scale. Pushing just a little further each time. And it's been... it's been so long since last time he had a chance to take that dance, to make a show— to see if he still has in his old bones to ruin a dragon. Well, old, by human standards. As an oni he's still only at the start of his journey. One day he will have to disappear, fade into obscurity, only to reappear in a new place with a new name and a young face. To start everything all over again.

Not yet, tho. The Mad Dog still has still in him a few years to run around and wreak mayhem.

"What am I looking for... indeed."

He hums thoughtfully as if he was wondering aloud on an answer to a philosophical question. He tilts his head and with it goes a posture change. Where was relaxed ease, suddenly is tense, unbridled energy ready to be strung. A flick of his wrist, and there is a familiar dagger in Majima's hand.

"Think you could help me find it?"

Back to mayhem—

A roll of his shoulder, a tic setting everything inside — that was not once not set to heal properly — where it should be for the lunge that follows. Without any though or warning he throws his entire body weight into the hit, but it's actually a surgical strike— meant to graze for the first blood. That, if he even gets that much— dragons are good in that, dodging. Or tanking like beasts they are.

Strong. And, oh, facing against that strength makes his blood sing

Zhao watched Majima with a hint of curiosity, brow slightly furrowed in thoughtfulness as he tried to get a handle on the Mad Dog. It was like trying to unravel a tangle of yarn after having been thrown around carelessly one too many times--a hard web to suss out. The quick changes in demeanor made it hard to follow the oni.

He felt the tension enter the air though. Had a brief moment of surprise as he realized what the demon was getting ready for. Surely he wouldn't--

But they really weren't allies anymore. There was no reason not to anticipate what happened next. Yet it still caught Zhao off guard, some sense of not wanting to believe it causing him to disregard the obvious right up until the second he couldn't deny it anymore.

"Hey!"

The yelp came out startled--because it was--as Zhao tried to dodge the strike from the knife at the last second. It slashed across his shoulder as he narrowly sidestepped, not quite making it in time, and opened up a hole in his leather jacket. Damn, that blade was sharp.

"Oh, come on. This thing ain't cheap, ya know."

Half a whine, part admonishment and mostly just a way to psyche himself up. He had no idea why the oni was attacking him. He couldn't fathom a reason either. It seemed unlikely someone sent him, and it seemed ludicrous that he'd do it personally. What reason did he have? Then again, this was the Mad Dog of Shimano. Maybe the damn demon didn't have a reason.

Which was a tad bit frustrating to consider.

"What the hell, man? What are you doing?"

No retaliation. Not yet. Zhao put up his guard but made no other move. He was ready for the next attack but not ready for the fight, wanting an explanation first if he could even get one.

That was a nice quickstep, good reaction time but— but, it still felt half-hearted. As if the dragon wasn't taking him seriously, even after they exchanged the non-human business cards. So to speak.

Shame, shame, such a damn shame. He always had to work hard for what he wanted, didn't he? Didn't even got it half of the time— more than half of the time.

"..'zactly what I came here for." He drawled slowly, studying the blade, as if to check if it drew blood at all— before his attention returned to Zhao, fully. The melody of his voice rose for nearly two octaves as he pouted. "I came here to play! Word is, Yokohama's the new hot spot for entertainment! Ya can visit, pay yer respect, and have a good time. Th'guardian, they say, is a gracious host— but he's also strong enough to keep everyone in line."

Majima resumed the fighting stance, throwing his arms wide in a weird mix of excited gesture and a taunt. Face splitting into a deranged grin, as he let the bloodthirsty aura radiate.

"C'mon, don't hold back!"

Hearing that spoken out loud directly at him was a little strange feeling, embarrassing really if he was honest, as that sort of thing usually went unspoken as far as Zhao was concerned. Oh, he knew there was probably rumors to that extent floating around out there, he was the one that started them with his unusual behavior after all, but it never got said within earshot of him and he didn't explicitly tell anyone that was his game so much as let it get said about him. Zhao shifted uncomfortably, looking away briefly and almost shaking his head, before returning his gaze to the crazed oni.

"That doesn't explain why you're doing this."

Did he really just want a fight with a dragon of all things? Was he as suicidal as he was insane? Zhao couldn't be certain. But he could definitely feel that fighting aura radiating from Majima as he let loose. It gave Zhao the chills and he literally shivered in place from it. It rubbed his scales the wrong way, clashing horribly with his celestial aura, which he purposefully did not radiate in any form or fashion. He hated that sort of posturing. Only used it as a last resort or out of pure frustration. Also, he hated the whole 'divine beast' thing so he tried to avoid that as much as possible. Nothing really made him so special as to be heavenly, that was dumb, in his opinion anyway.

Zhao mentally sighed at the sight before him, a fight he apparently could not reason his way out of nor run away from. He assumed if he did the latter he would simply be hunted down again. And he didn't really want Majima wrecking his place should he decide to try to break down his barriers.

He reasserted his stance, purposefully remaining on the defensive side of the equation.

"...if you really want to do this the hard way, I suppose I don't have a choice. But that's not really how most people 'pay their respect' and 'have a good time,' just so you know. I don't find this particularly enjoyable. Let's get it over with, oni."

The emphasis on the last word was spat out rather like an insult or at least a sigh of frustration over having to deal with a blood-crazed maniac demon.

Edited 2021-06-18 16:53 (UTC)

"Ha!"

The dragon started to show his claws, frustration and annoyance were there— sucks giving that for a first impression, but it's actually a pretty solid way to start a fight. Start the groove, get the energy rolling. That kind of thing. Still, going for the defensive? Really? That's a smart choice, but still a little disappointing one. Majima hoped for a little clearer display of strength, but, ah, you can't get everything.

Majima's grin settled into a more sharp-edged one, but focus and cold calculation returned to his eye. Even if the laugh he let out sounded positively unhinged. He throws the tanto into the air, and catches it perfectly after spinning theatrically.

"Yet yer playin' along for lil' old me, I'm—" He lunged forward before the sentence was completed. "—TOUCHED!"

The first flurry of attacks was set out to test the guardian's reflexes, gradually becoming faster and more mean. Just how much he can go all-out? Where's the limit? Ah, shackles, shackles! That's being considerate, that's tampering own's strength, didn't he seek a goddamn dragon, because he wanted to truly let loose?

"What choice do I really have?"

He countered even as he dodged the initial attack with a deflection and a side-step. The easiest, best way to avoid getting stabbed by far was to simply not be where the blade was going. As the attacks continued, however, Zhao realized he wouldn't be able to stay on the defensive forever. The oni's continuous barrage was relentless and growing more so by the second.

So Zhao attempted to create a little bit of breathing room for himself with a gamble. He dodged the next few slashes that came towards him and mentally waited for the move he wanted. There--another lunging attack with the dagger out far ahead of the warrior wielding it. Zhao did not completely sidestep this time, instead reaching out to grab Majima's wrist as he came at him. He caught the other, barely moved out of the way of the blade, and pulled rather than deflected. His other hand came up to grab at Majima as well, essentially putting them into a close grapple as they vied for control over the blade.

The dragon smiled almost serenely, opposing Majima's chaotic nature with a calm that he maintained only outwardly. He did it on purpose to rile the other.

"I doubt you'd let me leave without this fight even if I asked nicely," he continued as if their conversation hadn't just been put on hold as they danced around one another in an intricate fight scene. "So I have no choice but to indulge a little. But don't flatter yourself. I just don't feel like running, that's all. Too much work for all that."

Finally

Oh, finally something else than artful dodges. This was a reaction Majima was waiting for, someone meeting him in the clash of fists and blades. The dragon was reluctant to fight for real, but a crack showed and he was going to latch himself onto it. Seeing just how far he can go to wake up the divine beast. —or, be left semi-conscious beaten in the pavement. That's always a possibility with dragons, the strongest, the most powerful. Especially whilst within their domain.

The results — win or lose —, didn't matter as long as the blood sung, and energy crackled in the air. Oni's sole eye glinted with crazed euphoria, his grin knife-like getting even closer— teeth parted, clanking them just before Zhao's nose in a mock-bite.

"It wouldn't fit ya. Runnin' with yer tail between yer legs, like a coward— What would people say... that the guardian is goin' soft!" he barked and instead of continuing to struggle to break free he did something opposite: his fingers released the hold on the blade letting it fall from immobilized hand, the other ready to catch it mid-air.

Zhao didn't like the closeness of the mock bite but it was his choice to trap the oni close to him rather than push him away. The oni was too quick for that anyway, always back a second later with another attack before careening away to set up for another. He tried not to show his discomfort but then all that was discarded in a split second as the oni said the one line that had the perfect sting to it to rile the dragon.

Maybe it was true: maybe he had gone soft. His friends went a long way in showing him a softer route in life. He'd adopted some of that kindness and let it show more often than he ever had in the past. That care though was easily seen as a weakness to outside forces. If this oni had pinged him for a weakling then who knew what other entities out there thought even less of him.

Perhaps it was time to lay down the law. Reassert his dominance of the area. A beat-down was old school but tended to work well.

However, Zhao was prepared for the demon to break free from his grasp--not so much for him to use the opposite momentum to push back and grab the knife with his other hand to continue his attack. Zhao released his grip and attempted to twirl out of reach before the next attack landed. He mostly succeeded, only leaving with a light cut.

The smell of his own blood seemed to enrage him further. If this demon wanted a fight then he would give one to him.

"Careful what you wish for," the dragon all but hissed.

This time it was Zhao that stepped forward into the fray before another attack could be prepared against him. Zhao wasn't as fast as the swift oni but he did have one style up his sleeve that hit hard and quick. It gave him precision as well, and he took the stance of a cobra ready to strike before doing just that--giving not much time between his stance change and the first attack to register what it was he was doing. The oni had gotten what he wanted: for the dragon to go on the offensive.

Majima registered the stance change, but he didn't get to brace himself properly for the attack that followed. He took the hit, flew down onto the ground with a muffled grunt— oho, he's clearly been used to way slower sparring partners, the speed this dragon fought when he stopped playing? Something entirely else.

Instead of just standing up, the oni spun on the ground like a madman, sending his legs around kicking until he swirled back on his feet. His way of ensuring a bubble of space.

"Careful 's not in my vocabulary" this time he remained low though, grounded in his stance. His voice fell to a low whisper as he swirled the tanto in his hand as a distraction "Did I touch a nerve? Reputation is everythin' eh? Can't have it tarnished"

Could he get the dragon to attack him first? That was the question running through Mad Dog's mind. Just playing on the defensive is not a real dance after all, but there was a possibility Zhao's heart wasn't fully in the fight yet.

Yet.

Zhao backstepped quickly as he saw the swirl of legs, wary of the display that came so easily to the oni. Not something one usually saw in a fist fight but he had the feeling Majima did a lot of non-standard moves. The dragon eyed the demon carefully.

He knew what the demon was up to. Those words were meant to provoke. Zhao needed to keep his calm. That was one of his highest traits in battle, one that kept him alive through all these years, something that many a person had praised him for. He didn't fly into a rage at the drop of a hat. He couldn't afford to. He had to stay the calm leader.

Of course, that didn't mean he didn't act unhinged enough to fool most people.

"You do a lot of talking for someone interested in fighting," he taunted the oni back with a faint smirk. His eyes were bright, challenging, keen as he eyed Majima from their new stand-off position.

"Ah, 'm just tryin' to match yer energy. Gracious as I am"

The oni noticed the challenging spark, sparkling in turn with joy. Not literally, but in how the melody of his voice flew, in the wide gestures he threw... and in the surprise attack he launched without warning. Closing the distance between them in a risky move that started with a low, easily telegraphed slash (he expected that to be easily dodged

"Ya don't seem to be much into our lil' dance—" He still continued as if they were having a friendly conversation, even pouting a little. Now that he was close enough Zhao wouldn't miss that change to his expression "—so I thought, why not?"

Instead of attacking with his weapon, he performed a damn impressive butterfly kick that (whether it landed or not) put him on Zhao's side. All the moves seemed disjointed, hit and run. Close and return to range, but there was a method to this madness. He was trying to back off the dragon to the nearest wall. With the next feinted swing he closed the distance again so close he could whisper and hiss.

"Build-up some steam— Slowly, like a gentleman."

"Dancing was not on the itinerary for tonight so you'll have to excuse me for being out of sync." He said with a sneer as he quickly stepped out of the way of the slash.

But Majima had a point. Zhao wasn't into this fight too much. He was doing a poor job of doing much that would end it, too. Then again, he knew his opponent was not an easy one to take down. So what was his deal?

Zhao took a new stance as the butterfly kick landed on top of him. He wasn't prepared for the disjointed fighting style of this oni despite the fact that he'd seen some of it before. But it was different now with only the two of them in the fight. Zhao was Majima's sole focus and he had free range to do as he pleased. Zhao was trying to remain on the defensive despite his one slip-up but it was a questionable tactic to use on Majima and his crazy style of combat. He felt more like a pigeon than a crane trying to evade the oni's attacks.

His new stance faltered as he was struck but Zhao had taken it for its power to deflect the incoming attack, blocking with his arms, which took the brunt of the attack and let it flow through down his legs like absorbing springs. Of course, he was only partially in place in time and thus the faltering steps to catch his balance and reposition once more.

And yet Majima was right there next to him already, hissing in his ear practically, and Zhao had to resist the urge to strike out blindly. Instead he let his breath out in a hurry as he deflected the next attack only to realize he'd fallen for the feint-

"-A little rough for a gentleman. You gonna leave after and forget my number when this is all over, too?" He quipped though he doubted it would save him from whatever Majima had planned next with the dragon now open to another attack.

It was apparently a wrong answer because the oni screeched and seemingly abandoned the tactical manoeuvring, in favour of going full straight at the dragon. A mistake, because with a straightforward (and widely telegraphed) attack he got rebuffed by the perfected defensive stance. More force put, meant only stronger deflection, and— growing frustration.

Until with a swish of the blade decided to suddenly change direction, aiming for Zhao's thigh.

"If ya don't fight me, yer gonna die." Majima growled a vicious promise. Amping up his efforts to draw out the supernatural force that wasn't playing according to the rules of his game.

Kuso!

The sudden change in tactic did the job of throwing Zhao off. He thought they'd entered some sort of semblance of tactical fighting with a nice little conversation on the side--how he was wrong. The oni wasn't interested in the banter. ~~Pity. It was just getting good.~~

Well, this fit with the Mad Dog, didn't it? Lesson learned. Don't expect anything from Majima Goro and at the same time expect literally anything to happen.

"Dragon slayer would earn you quite the reputation on the street," Zhao said almost boredly as he stepped back, repressing a hiss as the wound on his thigh flared. It had drawn blood. It would slow him down. "A fair amount of heat on your head, too."

Not a threat, just a point of fact. Then again, maybe he was bluffing. Who would bother to avenge a rogue dragon that kept away from its own kind and especially the Council of Elders. Probably no one unless they just took offense to someone killing a dragon in general. Couldn't let something like that roam around unchecked.

Zhao backed into the wall and watched, waited for the Mad Dog's next move. Vaguely, he recognized the frustration in the other's movements but he didn't understand it. Not yet.

Ah, so it connected. Briefly, Majima felt a certain urge— the bloodlust covering his mind in a haze. He caught himself second too late, after already tasting the blood on the blade. At least successfully he resisted the following urge to lick it clean, and hey, it was a creepy display fitting right in, right? Gotta follow it up accordingly, to not break the scene.

"Ya clearly know nothin' about my reputation then, lil' dragon." Majima whispered sickeningly sweet, albeit that was also a bluff on his part. Hinging on the fact that if any rumors about Mad Dog dueling a Dragon reached to Yokohama omitted their allegiances to each other. Distance-wise, the cities were not far from each other, but at the same time from the underworld perspective (both the human and the inhuman one) they could have been separate islands.

This time he approached slower, long slithering moves like a goddamn viper, but leaving himself open. Letting Zhao land the first strike, choose the method of attack, anything but another deflection.

Despite the promise, he did not seek dragon's death. He just— (the hell...) he just wanted him to fight properly.

The look on Zhao's face was appropriately disgusted as Majima licked the blood from his blade. He tried to keep his face impassive but it shone in his eyes. Perhaps it wasn't so much the lapping up of the blood as the fact that it was his blood and this maniac oni was making it seem so perverted in nature. He knew oni liked the taste of blood but-

He took a calming breath and continued to watch Majima carefully. He didn't make a move, didn't leave the safety of the wall at his back.

"Only what I've heard from Kasuga," he admitted. So nothing about the Mad Dog being an oni much less that he fought a Dragon on a regular basis. It would have been useful to know, alas.

Blood, flesh— there was a reason the reputation of being downright cannibalistic stuck to them. And oni of old... the band from Kansai, of the Mt. Ooe has made it to legends for being the local menace, and sure as hell some even today, craved the feasts full of madness and debauchery.

These were the ones that everyone banded up to get rid of, quickly. These were the ones that cultivated the reputation so many hoped to finally shrug off. But no oni could keep up the veneer of civility without having an outlet. A compulsion, an obsession, something to pursue (or give into) without restraint. Many narrowed it down to an incredibly specific niche, to minimize the danger of crossing the line. A voracious one might deliberately develop a taste for the rare and expensive types of meat to avoid the temptation of nibbling on humans. A greedy one might collect and prize jewels, instead of eyes.

Majima channeled his bloodthirst directly into the fights and competitiveness. It worked, for a good long time, it worked wonders. But as time passed, years flew by, and he grew strong enough to start having trouble finding opponents. Those that he could go all out against. The years spent in hiding also starved him.

And so he was here, challenging the dragon of Yokohama, and being— fucking denied. All over again. Barely even a hint of scales. All defense, all evasion. Graceful moves, witty words— in any other time, he could still have fun with that. But right there, right now, Majima was only partially aware of how close he was to losing it.

"Maybe I already got that title" he mused, tilting his head to a side, eye opening wide and glinting with threat. What followed was a lightning-fast move that has sent the tanto flying, aimed right into his face. Not the wall, not the ground. Zhao's face.

"If you did-" But he was cut off by the flying dagger aimed directly at his face. There was no doubt that the tanto was meant to make a direct hit on his face and nowhere else. Only quick action would save him.

For a moment a flare of bright, white energy encapsulated the dragon as the divine beast let loose a smidgen of his power. Just enough to give him that reaction speed, just long enough to dodge the blade, catch it as it bounced off the wall behind him, and with a swirl of motion throw it back at the oni. It all happened so rapidly.

Then the power faded back into nothing as if it had never existed in the first place. Back to being just another human on the street. Plain old Zhao.

He hadn't meant to do that. He stood still, not following up the counterattack with any forward pressing attack. His back placed once more upon the wall. He hadn't intended to throw the blade back at the demon but fighting instinct had taken over in that moment and he'd acted without thought. It's not that he regretted it (he didn't) but it surprised him. As the direct attack had. (As this whole night had.) He took another calming breath.

"-you probably wouldn't be here before me now. Or, at the least, I would have heard about it. Don't you think?"

Truth to be told, Majima never expected Zhao to take that hit. If he did, and died right there, Majima would probably simultaneously expire out of exploding levels of frustration. (Could he do that? Sometimes it surely felt like a real risk). So the deranged grin returned to oni's face when he saw, and admired, the sheer class of the counterattack. He caught the dagger mid-air, spun around with it with such speed, as if he was only redirecting the vector of its flight, and finished in combat-ready position—

And then his smile dropped when the dragon not only failed to follow up and take advantage of the opening but also admitted his ignorance. The face that Majima made could only be described as a scowl.

"Ya show yer potential briefly and then back to this— borin' cowardice? Dissappointin' that's what it is!"

His voice wavered from the playful but disheartened tone, into something hitting lower notes. Almost resembling a growl. The next second the eye was glowing, horns in all their glory stuck out of forehead and his skintone greyed out into ashen colour. Next time he moved it was with supernatural speed, followed by a strength in his kick that left a deep crack on the wall. A shrill scream followed and he ran up the wall, only to jump off it, and descent on Zhao with all the force of gravity, blade and fangs.

Well shit, he was losing it.

Well, that was a bad sign. Zhao's whole body tensed as he watched the rapid transformation, demonic features appearing in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. Despite the obvious upgrade in strength and the sudden supernatural speed added to the already quick man, the dragon did not match neither features nor strength as the oni came at him. A fool's errand to defeat a demon while just a mere human--but if hunters faced those odds, so could he.

Another dragon would scoff at him. Another dragon would hate pretending to be human. Zhao, however, took pride in his human act--less an act and more a way of life. He loved the little humans around him, called them brother and sister, enjoyed their company. How insulting it would be to deny that part of himself.

A philosophy debate for another time, as the oni was rushing towards him with inhuman speed. Zhao couldn't hope to match it without unleashing some of his own energy, which he refused to do. Instead, he braced for the attack he could barely follow and took the beating the oni dished out.

He eventually found himself on the ground, bruised and battered and bleeding from the blows he could only partially defend against, knocked back and down like rag doll. He took a ragged breath and stood up slowly and deliberately sunk back down into a defensive stance to continue the fight.

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Animal Meme

Reno | FFVII

Tianyou Zhao | Yakuza

Lore. (Do Not Reply Here)

how about an oni

i love an oni. the best oni.

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