There were many more or less natural phenomena taking place around Eitherys. From ever-winter ruling in the Coerthas, gloom falling over Mor Dhona to Phantom Realm hidden behind the fog to name but a few.

But if asked, a few piqued G'raha's interest more than seasonal happenstance taking place each year in Black Shroud on All Saint's Wake. He read of it years ago as a curiosity, but it wasn't until some time after he and his lover, T'senri Tia, the former Warrior of Light, settled down into their mansion in Lavender Beds that he thought of it again. Busy as they were after the move from their previous home, they missed the event on the first year of their citizenship with Gridania, his mind drift to it accidentally nearly a moon before that specific day next year.

And once his mind stumbled upon the… possibilities of this event as described by what he read – he couldn't help but grow increasingly intrigued – despite how it made him almost squirm internally with embarrassment.

Apparently, as he read, this one specific day whoever so wished could access a cursed mansion hidden way in the depths of the Black Shroud – and while in it, for whatever strange reason, change their looks to whatever their heart desired for their stay. Until sundown the place was a playground for children – who would entertain themselves by playing their games in the skin of their idols – at night a completely different type of thing took place. The more daring adults took over to fulfill their more or less twisted fantasies – and for one night, their identity was hidden away behind a chosen glamor, nothing was off limits.

And when he thought of that… well, it did sound intriguing.

At first, he was too embarrassed to rise the subject with his lover – and gauge Senri's interest – until one day, about two weeks before the night itself, the circumstances took it from his hands.

Or rather, his immortal passenger, Damon, grew tired of his turmoil over the idea and threatened to ask for him. And while they argued about that – internally – inside their 'office,' as they called it, they were distracted by the door of it slamming open and a fuming immortal walking in with a trademark scowl on his handsome face… and five nagxian kittens floating in the air above him.

"I've had it!" Hades snapped, though the kittens landed softly on top of Damon's desk. "They snuck inside our room again. Can you, please, keep a better watch over your… beasts, Father?"

Sighing internally, G'raha let Damon take over and deal with this… again.

"The more you guard against them, my boy… the more curious they get," Damon said seriously, though they were both beyond amused as he carefully secured his arms around the kittens scrambling across the papers spread out over his desk. "Sali, would you, please, teach them to avoid my son's bedroom?" the immortal added toward the adult cat who sprawled on top of her customary nest near his chair as he carefully caught and placed the kittens near it, smiling as they scrambled toward it immediately.

One yellow eye drifted open and with an expression of typical for their Princess's boredom moved between him and the kittens before Salina yawned widely showing off her fangs and sat up in the middle of the nest as her babies surrounded her with excited sounds.

"This is not our way to stay out," she finally replied in a slightly hissing voice while her progeny snuggled against her fur with tiny 'fly!' "And the mate of his keeps letting them in secretly," she added haughtily, looking toward the scowling immortal while carefully washing her paw.

The talking cats were not a common thing – but a result of a prank gone wrong. Or right, depending on whom you would ask, mused G'raha in the back of their shared head. Hythlodaeus thought it hilarious to one day have Salina wake her owners with a very clear demand for affection while she was still barely more than a kitten – giving them a slight heart attack when they heard a female voice inside their nest – for both to simply fall instantly in love with the idea. Soon after they moved into their first house and Senri woke G'raha dumping five talking kittens on top of him (a result of pestering Hyth to repeat the feat) word got out of their pets. A child of their neighbors stumbled by their gate and heard the kittens chat in their tiny voices – and boy, but soon they were swarmed by people interested in buying the kittens for their children.

Since they weren't interested in selling their 'babies' and there were few 'brave' enough to attempt to steal them – which was a big mistake with his lover's temper – finally they settled for a compromise. In a way. When their Princess had her first litter of kittens, and they found out that whatever Hyth did to make her speak was apparently hereditary – and already with ten kittens of their own – they offered to give away the kittens of her and their other female pets next litters to a properly caring people. Which very quickly had them grow a list of thousands of prospective families to sort through and review… Enough said it kept his Warrior occupied after the disbanding of Scions – while G'raha was swarmed by letters from other cat owners that wrote long, long lists of why their pets would be perfect breeding matches for their Princess and her 'sisters'… since they hoped to make their efforts grant them the rights to the possible kittens. Not to mention the mountains of offers for the kittens themselves – each bidding higher than the other, in hundreds of millions gil currently – but rarely fitting their personal criteria. Especially with his lover and his 'gift' making sure of the perspective families intentions toward the pet if granted the honor of adopting one.

"Oh, you see," Damon chortled at his son's expression, leaning toward him against his desk. "You have to talk it over with Hyth."

Hades rolled his golden eyes, then murmured a string of profanities under his nose before turning around and stalking out of the room – maybe to have that talk about the boundaries with his lover – passing in the door apparently surprised Senri.

"What was that about?" the black-haired Seeker looked for a moment after the immortal, then closed the door and soon dropped in the seat across from Damon, smiling toward Salina as she set to wash her kittens ignoring their indignant complaints about it.

"Kittens snuck into their bedroom again," the immortal chuckled.

"Well… Hyth keeps letting them in," Senri said with a roll of his ice-blue eyes, sprawling in the seat and resting his booted feet on the empty corner of the desk.

"So says Salina as well," Damon replied, nodding toward the nest. "But since you're here, Senri, I would like to…"

Don't tell him! G'raha snapped instantly, mortified.

Silly boy, the immortal chortled, but switched with him.

"Huh?" his lover tilted his head curiously, sensing the switch instantly as he sent him a sweet smile. "What was that about, Raha?"

"Ne-nevermind," he stammered nervously, flushing darkly and cursed internally seeing instant interest spark in the eyes of his husband when Senri dropped his feet to the ground, stood up, and with a smirk stalked around the desk.

"Now, now… I know that look," he drawled, pushing his chair back and leaning against it – caging G'raha in it as he grinned at his darkening blush while he avoided his gaze. "Tell me, my prince, why so flustered out of a sudden?"

"I…" he choked, then sighed with resignation and took a deep breath, then met his mate's gaze even as his face simply… burned. "I meant to ask you something, Snark."

"Oh?" dark eyebrows drifted up slightly above narrowed in interest ice-blue gaze as he freed one hand to place it under G'raha's chin and tilted his head slightly to lean in harder and place a quick, fond kiss on his lips before he pulled back, straightened and leaned against the desk next to him. "I'm all ears, love," he chuckled, pressing his hands on the wooden surface around his hips.

G'raha took another deep breath then stood up slowly and moved to lean against his much taller lover, hiding his unbearably heated face by his chest. When Senri laughed softly but instantly wrapped his arms around him, smoothing his hand over his back soothingly, his blush went only incredibly hotter as his proximity only worked to make the idea… so much more interesting.

"Come on, my Raha," his lover chuckled, then made it even worse by delicately nipping on the sensitive shell of his ear. He couldn't help but whimper softly in a mix of embarrassment and arousal, helplessly wrapping his arms around Senri's waist and leaning against his hard body harder. "Don't be like that, teeeeell me," his beautiful Warrior whined against his ear, making him snort involuntarily, even as his big hands smoothed down his back and shamelessly cupped around his ass, pulling him even closer.

"Ummm… did you heard of… the event taking place on… All Saint's Wake in Gridania?" he finally murmured staggeringly, pressing his flaming cheek against his husband's chest and closing his eyes tightly.

"Did I…? Oh," his lover chortled, nuzzling against his hair while his hands slowly kneaded his ass… his growing arousal evident. No less than his own as he swallowed thickly, letting his hands smooth up Senri's sides to rest against his shoulder blades as he full-body rubbed against him, loving the slight hitch in his Warrior's breath at that. "You mean… the haunted house thing? I was to it a few times," he murmured, obviously distracted as one of his hands moved up to curl in G'raha's red hair, pulling his head to the side as he inclined his to place a small bite in the middle of the Archon's mark on his throat. Shivering at that with a quiet moan, he didn't mind when Senri laughed softly and then spun them around, pinning him against the desk and quickly working his shirt open while nuzzling against his throat. Moving one hand over the back of his neck and sinking his fingers in the ink-black hair, G'raha simply enjoyed it even as his face blazed harder at his lover's next words. "Not after the sunset, though… I've heard it gets pretty wild and…" he trailed off, stilling utterly as his breath stuttered. "Oh, my prince…" he chuckled, pulling his shirt open and off his shoulders as he leaned against him, trailing delicate bites down his throat. "That's got you so… flustered, love...? Is that something up to your… taste?" he hummed teasingly.

"Ah, ummm…" Wicked white, his face was completely on fire! "…maybe…" he finally whispered shyly, wrapping his arms around his lover's shoulders and hiding his blush against Senri's throat.

"Oh, my silly mate," his lover chuckled, pressing a fond kiss on his shoulder even as his hands moved between them to tug at G'raha's pants impatiently. "You know you just need to say a word, my prince… If it's something you want, I'm ever at your service," he purred, freeing himself out of his grip to fall to his knees in front of him eagerly as the material gave. And even as his face burned, he couldn't help but look down, sinking both hands into dark hair and petting his lover's ears delicately while his Warrior grinned up at him crookedly. "If you truly know… that you're up to it, Raha… I love nothing more than to please you," he purred, then proved his words by setting to swallow his cock, tearing a helpless groan from G'raha's throat.

"You're always… such a good b-boy, Snark," he gasped, then chuckled sheepishly and fisted his hands in ink-black hair, set to fuck his lover's beautiful mouth.


BEST All Saint's Wake EVER!

Or at least that was what T'senri couldn't help but think, more than eager as he pinned his 'historian' against the wall inside the empty room of the haunted house. Grinning so hard his face was likely to split, he wrapped his hands around his lover's cheeks and his heart simply wanted to burst out of his chest as he peered into red-cyan eyes while Raha snickered quietly at his expression.

Looking exactly as the day they met – so long ago now – up to his outfit, his beautiful prince simply blew his mind. Though he could earlier feel his clothes hidden under the glamor to be what they were in reality, T'senri couldn't help but admire the effect – and with a wistful smile adjust his own looks thanks to the house's strange magic, though the difference wasn't as staggering, he guessed.

"So… you like?" Raha asked unnecessarily, though his face heated up considerably between Warrior's palms as he raised his hands and wrapped them around T'senri's wrists.

"Gods, Raha…" he hummed, mesmerized by the sight of his mate's mismatched eyes as he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss on his plush lips. "If to see you like this again… is more than worth the embarrassment we witnessed."

His husband burst into a laugh at that, though his face flushed darkly as well. Finding a free room wasn't easy – as apparently the rumors of many people interested in the revelry of the mansion's magic weren't overstated at all – and while they searched, they saw things… better left unseen. With their and their friends' fame around the Source after saving it – the Scions of the Seventh Dawn were apparently highly… appreciated in this event. Seeing himself being fucked in a few different configurations… was weird enough. He couldn't protest – as embarrassing as it was to see – to not blow the fact that it was actually him, in the flesh.

To see that their pairing – him and Raha – was apparently prevalent… well, it was almost reassuring in a way. Even if his lover squealed with embarrassment and dragged him off…

"It's not like I didn't expect it," now his husband sighed, still flushed beautifully. "But it's still… embarrassing to witness. Now I'm quite relieved that it's possible only once a year…"

"They sure use this opportunity well," T'senri chortled, leaning in to nuzzle against his lover's throat, and hummed with pleasure when Raha tilted his head slightly to grant him access while wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "But they do seem to be getting one thing wrong, my heart," he snickered quietly.

"Yeah, I noticed…" his lover chuckled evilly, then almost brutally spun them around, pinning the Warrior face first against the wall. Instantly painfully aroused, he rested his hands around his sides and pushed back, eagerly bending forward at the same time. "They don't know you, my Snark," his lover purred, pressing against his back and shamelessly cupping his hand over his crotch. Mewling as he rutted into his grip impatiently, T'senri gasped when Raha complied, sneaking his hand behind the waistband of his pants and wrapping it around his already painful erection. "They have no idea that you're always so… eager for me," Raha said with a chuckle, his free hand tugging Warrior's pants off his hips. "Do you suppose it would shock them if they hear you beg to be fucked, Snark?"

"…probably," he gasped, not really caring as his lover pumped his hand along his dick. Pushing back harder, nearly bent in half now, he purred loudly in an invitation, losing his mind when Raha groaned deeply, then after a moment of fumbling his distinctively oiled fingers nudged between his buttocks, with one soon sliding inside him and working the muscles loose. "I d-don't… care," he mewled breathlessly, rolling his hips back against the intrusion. "If you w-want me to beg… I will, Raha," he whimpered needily when his lover chuckled at that, tightening his hand around his cock.

"I know, my beautiful beast," he was rewarded with another digit pressing inside him and his lover rutting impatiently against the back of his thigh. Take that back, to have his mate so wonderfully riled up… was definitely more than worth the embarrassment of the other rooms. And T'senri wasn't beyond admitting that the perspective of anyone just walking in on them… wasn't arousing as well. He had a suspicion that it was actually what had his beautiful husband get interested in this in the first place – the fake anonymity while fucking in pretty much a public place. Considering some of their earlier… escapades – it wasn't that surprising, whether Raha realized he had a kink for that or not. "You're such a good boy, Snark," his mate hissed softly, and T'senri's trail of thoughts cut off when Raha pulled his hand back to swiftly exchange it for something much, much hotter… blowing his mind as he took him in a one, hard thrust, slamming into him up to the hilt instantly.

Arching with a shout at the wonderfully rough treatment, he barely registered his lover's quiet mewl of pleasure as his fingers locked around Warrior's hips almost brutally. Feeling him press tight against his back, he eagerly wrapped his tail around Raha's waist in a possessive claim, earning a choked groan from his lover's throat. Barely giving his body time to adjust, soon his prince was rolling his hips, whimpering involuntarily as he took him in hard, almost punishing strokes. And he loved every second of it, mewling his submission desperately and fighting to stay still to let his mate fuck him at his leisure. At least until the unmoving hand around his cock went back to stroking it, in rhythm with the hard flesh spearing his insides.

"…gods, always so… incredibly t-tight," his lover chuckled breathlessly, then growled and on the next thrust made sure to slam against the spot that sent lightning along T'senri's spine, tearing a helpless mewl-purr of his name from him. "My beautiful, powerful Warrior… what would they say to see and hear you like this...?" he chortled, soon unceremoniously pounding into him. So swiftly turning him into a writhing, whimpering mess, begging in whines and whimpers for more. All too soon the hand around his dick tightened and that combined with another brutal hit against the knot of nerves had him tumble over the edge with a choked shout of his husband's name. Drowning in bliss and gasping for air desperately, he merely mewled in protest when Raha pulled back suddenly from him, but obediently complied when his lover meaningfully pressed down on his shoulders.

Still gasping as he fell to his knees, he couldn't help but whimper softly when his lover chuckled and moved around him to fist his hand in T'senri's hair and pull his head brutally to his dick. More than eager, he parted his lips with slightly staggering, inviting purrs – but almost choked when his lover growled softly and unceremoniously slammed his flesh down his throat. Whining around it, he fisted his hands in the material of his husband's pants, looking for purchase. But pulling back and looking up into flaming red-cyan eyes, he purred involuntarily, and couldn't mind as his lover petted his ears apologetically but set a brutal rhythm, fucking his mouth with obvious relish.

And seeing his husband so riled up… T'senri made sure to keep his purrs steady, shamelessly mewling his delight whenever possible. He didn't even care, merely flushing darkly, when the door behind them opened… and closed with an audible gasp. That seemingly was enough for his mate, though, as Raha mewled breathlessly above him and came, shuddering violently as thick ropes of his seed shoot down T'senri's throat. Swallowing eagerly, he smoothed his hands over his lover's thighs soothingly as he sagged against the wall behind him, gasping desperately and petting his ears gratefully.

Finally, he pulled back with a raspy chuckle and stood up slowly, bracing his elbows around his 'historian's' shoulders as he took his panting mouth in a deep, devouring kiss – humming when Raha mewled testing himself on his tongue. After a long, long moment he pulled back with a small bite to his full lower lip, grinning at the sight of the dazed mismatched irises and his lover's beautiful blush.

"So…" he hummed with amusement, rubbing the tip of his nose against his husband's. "…liked that?"

"More than I should," Raha admitted with a fiery blush and sweet, shy smile, wrapping his hand around T'senri's cheeks. "Thank you, Snark," he purred with an adorably bashful look.

"My pleasure, love," he chortled, giving him a quick, rough kiss behind backing away slightly. "Ready for the next part, my prince…?"

Raha chuckled sheepishly, straightening and closing his eyes. Kind of curious, T'senri waited a moment then gasped softly with surprise seeing the magic at work. His lover's frame grew taller, much taller than him, his Miqo'te features turned Hyur-like… his red hair grew much longer and when his long dark-red lashes fluttered open, the sight of too-bright cyan eyes stole his breath.

"Whoa," he gasped involuntarily, blinking up rapidly when his companion snickered quietly at his expression. "Twelve… but you're pretty, Damon."

"Thank you, Senri," the immortal smirked at him, then winked playfully. "Now, if you please…?"

"Sure, have fun!" he grinned, then closed his eyes and let his own immortal passenger take over.


He did… love this house, Damon couldn't help but think as he grinned wider, watching the magical transformation take over the body of his husband's mortal vessel. Soon as tall as him, but his ink-black hair much shorter, when he next opened his eyes they were the brightest, sky-blue color he loved for millennia – not to mention the trademark crooked grin Ares tossed him that Senri couldn't quite match (in his opinion, anyway)

"Now that they're out," Azem chortled, wrapping his hand around Damon's jaw and looking into his eyes with his brimming with amusement. "Admit, love… You planted this idea in Raha's head?"

"Maybe," he wiggled his eyebrows playfully, pushing his hand away to wrap his arms around his husband's shoulders. "They did enjoy it. And… I missed really seeing you," he admitted with a sheepish chuckle.

"Aww, you're such a sap, my heart," Ares chuckled, but wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him close. "I always see the beauty of you, Damon," he whispered, brushing his smiling lips against his – then winked at his blush. "But… I did miss the sight of your eyes," he chuckled, then sighed dreamily and took his mouth in a deep, delicious kiss.

Breaking apart, Damon chuckled fondly, running his fingers through his husband's dark hair, to rest his hand against Ares's cheek.

"Let's make the best of it?" he suggested with a smirk and meaningful wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Do you have to ask?" Azem chortled, then pushed him against the wall. Damon snickered like a kid, then eagerly spun around and almost sighed with bliss when his lover pinned him against the rough surface. "New tradition?" Ares chuckled, smoothing his hands down his body while nipping on his neck.

"Definitely!" Damon nodded with a laugh, then let himself drown as his husband set to blow his mind.


Soon past dawn, with a wide yawn, he crawled into their nest and splayed comfortably on top of his husband's chest, G'raha couldn't help but grin despite his blush when Senri laughed softly and wrapped his arms around him possessively.

"Ares says 'BIG thank you,' my prince… so I guess they did enjoy this as much as we did," his Warrior chuckled, nuzzling against his ears.

Oh, we did, Damon whispered with amusement, but sounding no less tired than G'raha felt… which was quite something, he figured.

"It was fun," he admitted, hiding his flaming face against his lover's chest. "…want to do it again, next year?" he murmured.

YES! The immortal assured at the same time as Senri chuckled and again nuzzled against his ears.

"Two firm 'yes' here, Raha," his lover said, tightening his arms around him. "Now… a nap?"

"Mhmm," he mumbled sleepily, already barely able to keep his eyes open. "Love you, Snark."

"I love you too, my prince," his husband sighed with bliss, placing a kiss on top of his head.

He almost drifted off, feeling so warm and loved… when a chorus of tiny 'play?' tore through the pleasant haze and he opened one eye, peering at the kittens scrambling into the nest with apparent excitement.

"…Snark?" he murmured, tilting his head to narrow his eyes at his husband's too-innocent expression and scowling at the quick flutter of long, jet-black lashes. "We talked about this…"

"But they get lonely in their room!" his brave, ruthless Warrior whined like a spoiled kit and pouted, looking toward the kittens with an enamored expression.

G'raha sighed with resignation and knowing he had no chance against that look… then sat up with effort, still grinning involuntarily when the kittens swarmed them instantly, demanding their portion of affection and proper playtime.

Want to bet this will be another litter that won't have… proper candidates to adopt them? Damon chortled.

Told you once… I don't make bets I know I'll lose, he replied, watching his husband gush over the kittens. All things considered… what was another five cats if it brought such a beautiful grin on his lover's handsome face…?

Sighing with resignation and despite the exhaustion, G'raha joined the play – not even surprised when soon the rest of their… horde, encouraged, joined in as well… and soon their nest was full of purring insistently animals.

Well… who needed the sleep, anyway…?