#cause this little creature wasn't ever given a name

[theguardianace]

toem is a game that was made for me personally i think

[ID in ALT]

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Could you do a Sebastian Solace x Reader (gender neutral is fine) where he is led to believe the reader has permanently died? Somehow he receives this information. At this point, him and reader don't have to have an established relationship, but they definitely have a bond and affection for each other. Then, the reader comes into the vent the following day like always, and there's a happy ending? Angsty until then though please 🙏 Thank you so much

"What do you mean they aren't back yet?!"

"......."

"I lent them a token 'cause that was an unfair end to their run. They would've used it by now."

"I'll admit that the Harbinger's...unexpected arrival was most unusual. No one at Urbanshade knows where it comes from nor why it chose to show itself to the expendable."

"[Y/n]."

"Pardon?"

"It's...[y/n].." Sebastian's shoulders slumped as he looked to the enigmatic green man who decided to show up inside his shop, confused by his sudden presence. "And why are you here now? We agreed to only meet when--"

"You seem awfully attached to them, Solace. And that's not good for us." Mr. Lopee frowned slightly. "You're giving them special treatment, putting a name to their face. Don't you want to get out of here?"

"...of course I do! I'm not "attached" to anybody." The fishman muttered, although his nervous tapping against the crates betrayed his insistence. "They've just given me the most dirt on Urbanshade, and I'd hate to lose their business.."

"Well, unfortunately...they have not returned from the Banlands. I don't believe they ever will. I'd consider their soul to be lost in the ocean for eternity."

In an instant, he felt his heart sink into the pits of his stomach, trying to process the words he just heard. "What do you mean "lost"?? She can't find them?!"

"Death has grown weary of her duties." Mr. Lopee answered grimly. "That is all I know. I have no way to contact her, but this may be a sign that she's tired of resurrecting Urbanshade personnel. Those tokens have lost their meaning."

"No..no, no, no. That's stupid!" Sebastian snapped. "She can't just "decide" to stop now!! That wasn't a fair death!"

"Nothing is fair down here, my friend. You of all people should understand that. Now continue your work. Don't let yourself become distracted over one insignificant loss."

"....I won't, "boss"." The fishman sneered rudely, watching him disappear into a cloud of green and black smoke.

But the second he was gone, Sebastian dropped his snarky front, trying his best to stay calm despite the grim news he was told.

There was a way that an expendable can die...permanently?

Did the Harbinger have something to do with that? Or was the ferry lady simply uncaring and decided she was done reviving people?

He knew that she was going to be replaced within the next year or two, so maybe she thought it was all pointless now.

Either way, he'd never know.

And he'd likely never know what really happened to you. He only had to trust Mr. Lopee's words...and begrudgingly so.

""Distracted", my ass. They have to come back eventually. They...they made a promise.." His shoulders sagged as he glanced at the vent again, only for his ear fins to perk up at the sounds of thumping.

"[Y/n]? Hah. I knew he was messing with......me...."

Much to his disappointment, it was just another Wall Dweller infected with the rotten coral who decided to sneak into his shop. And with one swift motion, he dispatched it with his shotgun, watching its head explode into clay and gore as the remains flopped to the ground.

"Ugh..disgusting.." He grumbled, not happy that he had to pick apart the creature piece by piece, wishing he didn't have to touch the alien plant. But all of it was still edible, even for expendables who couldn't even touch the bloxy cola left behind after the lockdown.

You always joked about how it's the only way you could get "greens" in your diet-

'Shit..why am I thinking about them again?'

Sebastian's hands shook a little as he set the pieces on the table, wishing he could tear these stupid feelings out of his chest, wondering why he ever allowed himself to get so close to you in the first place.

He never should have opened up. Not to you. Not to anyone.

There were more important things at stake.

He shouldn't be mourning over you. What good would that do? Mr. Lopee had a point. Maybe he was getting distracted--losing sight of his goal and the burning hatred he had for Urbanshade.

He had to get out. He shouldn't care about some weak little expendable.

And yet...he couldn't stop thinking about how badly he wanted to escape with you, and maybe even..get to know you a lot better without having to pretend to be business partners. He wouldn't have to pretend to despise you and find you annoying.

Now he couldn't even find out your exact status in the Banlands. But from what Mr. Lopee implied...your soul was forever trapped at the bottom of that dark ocean, surrounded by thousands more.

By thousands of haunted faces and screams he himself once heard when the ferryman scooped him out of the water.

It drove him insane for the remainder of the day, and despite trying to fight his exhaustion by organizing his wares and assets...sleep managed to find him for once.

Yet his dreams were anything but pleasant.

He was forced to witness the horrific scenario of that fabled Harbinger descend upon you, tearing into the locker you were hiding in whilst he was unable to do anything but scream for it to stop tormenting you.

His pleas fell on deaf ears, and he watched the demonic entity paint the entire room red with your blood.

...........

"Huh..that's weird."

Arriving to the 50th room, you were surprised that the vent grate didn't pop open like normal. You knew for sure Sebastian was there, given the spotlights shining directly towards the entrance to his shop.

So you opened it as quietly as you could--just in case he was sleeping. The last thing you ever wanted to do was startle the sleep-deprived traumatized fishman because of some noise.

He'd rarely doze off, and funny enough it only happened whenever you were in the shop, too, indicating he'd grown to trust you deeply.

You've come a long way in your friendship, although judging by the numerous discounts he's given you, the lack of landmines and ADS devices scattered around, his scoldings becoming less harsh and insulting, and his increasing worry for your safety the further you got into the blacksite....you wondered if he felt something more.

Like..attachment, almost.

But of course, you didn't want to assume anything.

Surely, you're just a means to an end for him. All he cares about are the documents you bring him and nothing more. He's only slightly more concerned for you because you bring him the most valuable stuff and barter with him better than other expendables.

However, as soon as you emerged from the other side of the vent and dusted off your pants, you could see Sebastian was almost...writhing in his sleep, his claws leaving deep marks in the crates as he whimpered, his tail flicking violently.

You had to duck as it suddenly swung over your head, but when you heard him utter your name, you froze with surprise.

Was he...dreaming about you?

You would've been flattered, if not for the realization that he was probably having a nightmare instead. So you quietly went over to him, wondering how you can wake him up and explain your....absence.

You couldn't return to the living world for some time after the Harbinger killed you, and surely...he's gonna realize that and get pissed off at you "wasting" another ferry token.

You just pray he believes you.

"Seb? Wake up." Stepping onto his desk was a risk, but it was one worth taking as it allowed you to get close to him so you could shake his shoulder. It took him some time to get used to your touch, and thankfully he's more comfortable with it now.

Suddenly, he gasped as his eyes snapped open, his upper body sitting up with such a start. You damn near fell off the table, but managed to keep your balance as you stared up at him.

He saw you, and only your uniform, and got angry.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!! GET OUT-!!!"

"Sebastian it's me!! It's me!!" You shouted, your voice rising a few octaves as you held your hands up.

He huffed and puffed, beads of sweat dotting his hairline as he looked down and slowly began to recognize your face.

And then the realization hit him.

You were here. Alive. Breathing.

You were back as if nothing had happened.

"[Y/n]?" He shuddered. "Shit..sorry. H-How are you...? I'm not seeing a ghost, am I?"

"I'm not. And know you're mad, so let me explain.." You sighed, putting your hands down. "I tried coming back, but the portal was busted, so I got...stuck on the other side for a while. The ferry lady was nice enough to show me how to repair it, though she didn't say much else. She seemed to appreciate me expressing my condolences for her husband, and....."

You trailed off as Sebastian put a hand on your shoulder, and at first you were worried he was going to throttle you for making him wait this long...

Only for him to pull you into a quick embrace, lifting you off your feet. "Ah..I'm sorry, Seb." You hugged him back, feeling guilty. "I guess I've been away too long, huh?"

"..it's been an entire day."

"Really?" Your heart sunk as he let you go, setting you back on the floor. "God, I...I had no idea. You must have been freaking out."

"Only...a little bit.." He muttered, managing to calm himself down as he brushed his bangs to the side. "Someone has...led me to believe that you died permanently. But they were wrong, so it doesn't matter anymore."

You were quiet for a moment, debating on whether or not to question who told him that, but you didn't wanna stress him out over the details, considering how shaken-up he got.

"Yeah, I guess it doesn't." You shrugged, deciding to look at the wares Sebastian had available.

Unfortunately, you lost all the assets you collected this time, although there wasn't anything of utter importance that you needed right now. But after grabbing the keycard to leave....he blocked the vent with his tail. "Seb?"

"Why don't you stay here a while? Hm?" He coughed, trying to hide his nervousness.

"Why? In case the big bad Harbinger gets me?" You chuckled, only to fall silent as he didn't laugh at all. "Alright, bad joke. I'll stick around for a bit."

Judging from how his shoulders instantly relaxed the moment you said that, you realized he did care more for your safety than other expendables. He didn't want you running back out into danger so quickly, especially as he knew that if you were to revive again, the ferryman...won't really like that.

It was kinda sweet seeing him act so clingy with just you, even when he didn't wanna outright admit it.

[captain-mj]

Bad dog

Been a while since I did something with muzzles and had an idea

Ghost had come back from a very successful mission, the captured creature had been locked away and catalogued. Another win for him and the fucking scientists.

He lit a cigarette and watched the... things in their rooms and cells. The scientists assured them that none were human, but he wasn't sure he completely believed them. Some were very good at mimicking people.

His personal favorite was A21987028. Or Soap. Scientists liked spouting off that long string of numbers, but Ghost preferred the nickname given. It was like how the dog like creature in cell 483 was named "Riley" because of the collar it had on when it was found. And while yes, she was a little maneater, Ghost still snuck her biscuits and things to eat and she liked him better.

Soap was interesting. Brimming with intelligence, perfectly mimicking a Scottish man, and friendly.

Ghost went to his room and sat with him, likely he usually did. He sat across from him and Soap perked up. The brown leather across his face was the only grim reminder of what he was. Otherwise, he looked normal. Even his clothes were nice, of the latest fashion.

"Hello, Simon." Soap said with a smile, teeth flashing under the brown leather. Same one Riley wore. Same one everything in this building wore but the guards. "Come to chat?"

Ghost shifted, legs spreading to fill out the chair. He looked at Soap. "Another mission. Caught a thing that looks like a mix between a raccoon and a sparrow. Its wings are too small to fly."

"How did you catch it?"

Ghost had speared it like a fish and held it down, blade causing yellow blood to gush out until it had the good sense to stop fighting. He had thrown it in the cage and heard the useless wing snap.

"Used one of those loops on the poles. It hooked around it's neck and i dropped it in the cage. No harm, no foul."

Soap nodded and walked over. There were strict rules on most of the creatures, but Soap was different. Intelligent enough to know that fighting back was futile. Friendly enough to be able to play nice. In the fifteen years there, he had never once caused an incident.

The muzzle stayed, so did the chains around his ankles, but his hands were freed. His room decorated. Books were given to him. A tv. He had plenty of enmities.

Ghost still felt guilty. If he could, he'd let Soap leave. But Soap was not truly Soap. He was A21987028. A thing that had appeared out of the sky and ate flesh.

For now though, it wasn't feeding time. Ghost could be here, with him. In this space.

Soap leaned down and brushed the muzzle against Ghost's mask. Like an animal.

"Simon. Do they listen to our conversations?"

"Don't necessarily listen, but they do record them. If there was ever a need, they'd review them. But you won't do that. You're a good boy." Ghost meant it as a joke. A fucked up version of one, but a joke.

Soap looked at him, that brilliant blue was wrong. It happened occasionally. Soap wouldn't look like Soap. He'd look like someone or something else. Usually they were so subtle, Ghost would be unsure if they really even happened.

"Shame. Sometimes, I want to tell you things. Tell you secrets. But I can't. Things listen."

Ghost had no doubts in his mind that Soap didn't mean the microphones.

"I apologize, Soap. Lights out soon, I'm on night duty."

"Will you come say hi to me as you pass?" That wasn't what Soap really wanted. He wanted Ghost to sneak him food.

“Maybe.” Ghost smiled at him.

Soap brightened considerably. “I’ll wait for you.” He smiled and went around the room, a sway to it.

Ghost left, as always, wondering what Soap would feel like if they could touch without his gloves between them. He’d show Soap the sun. The moon.

Instead, he had to have a picture of them on the wall.

Ghost thought of the dozens of documentaries over space and human history and war. Soap requested to have a documentary over bombs, but they denied him immediately.

He'd do wonders in the human world. But it wasn't human. It was hard to remember that at times.

Ghost made sure before he went back by Soap that he had a candy bar to slip into his cell. A candy bar that was grabbed by a hand with too many fingers.

"Simon?"

"Yes, Soap?"

Soap looked at him, eyes glowing enough so Ghost would surely see him. "I appreciate the time we spend we spend together."

Ghost smiled at him and he could tell, despite the mask, that Soap could see. He pulled away and kept walking through the yard. Creatures tried to get his attention. All hoping that he'll be the one to slip up and let them free.

The night ended like all nights ended. With him turning into his own bed in a different barracks. With Simon laying down and remembering that he's doing good for the world.

He couldn't have been asleep long when the alarms went off. He assumed it was Protocol L at first, a common break they had was that particular one. But then he heard the numbers that followed and realized more than just one had escaped. He grabbed his gun and checked his gear, happy he hadn't taken much of it off, and got out the door.

Ghost put the majority of the creatures back in their cages, safe and sound. Most were intimidated by him, despite being able to grow much bigger than him.

Then his gun came face to face with Soap.

The muzzle was still securely on, but the chains had been broken. "Simon. Don't make me hurt you."

"Think you have the nerve?"

"Come with me. We can go somewhere else. Somewhere just the two of us." Soap grabbed his hand and moved closer. "I promise, I'm really not like the others. I don't want to hurt you.""

Ghost put his gun under Soap's chin. They had about five minutes to leave. "How can I trust it? How do I know you weren't playing the long con?"

"You know me. You love me. i love you. Let's go." Soap squeezed his hand tight. "Please. I want to see the world. See everything."

Ghost squeezed his hand back and made a decision.

[raymoo--hackery]

yapped a bit about Seija on twt and bsky and it prompted me to quickly sketch her ugly mug again

and now, you, folks of tumblr, get my Seija yapfest as well (copypasted right from twt and bsky lol)

One of the funniest things about Seija to me is the fact that even tho there's arguably people out there who's done way worse for Gensokyo than she did, they hated her ass so much they changed the spell card rules for a bit just to hunt her ass down AND SHE STILL GOT AWAY LMAO. She isn't escaping the depression arc tho.. rubbing my hands together evilly 😈. Now here is the part you hear me out on my insane ramblings. All the instances we see of Seija in canon? DDC, ISC, GoU. Manic episodes. I mean cmon just look at her behaviour. Egotistical bastard, having the time of her fucking life just dicking around with Shinmy and her "reverse Gensokyo's social hierarchy" scheme. Caused a right and proper mess of things, pissed people off so bad they had it out for her like crazy. Entire plot of ISC is residents of Gensokyo hunting down her ass and trying to catch her. She's still manic, but starting to wear down as things escalate. She won't let it show though, no way in hell. Not even when Shinmy finally confronts her does she back down. Nah, she doubles down instead. In the end Seija walks off scot free, with all of Gensokyo still hating her guts.. including Shinmy. Seija, prior to this point, never gave a fuck about anyone but herself. She wasn't supposed to get attached to Shinmy either, Shinmy was supposed to be just another pawn, another tool for her to use. But somehow that little inchling weaseled her way into this amanojakus heart, she didn't realize it until after their falling out. Hurt Seija more than she'd like to admit. So what happens? Depressive episode. You ever wonder why Seija suddenly vanished off the face of Gensokyo after ISC? While Shinmy is still active too? I like to think that's why, the whole mess ended up fucking with her head more than she would've liked. She's never had an episode like this before, cus she's never given a shit about anyone else before Shinmy. It's a new feeling, a new edge of depressiveness, and she fuckin hates it. I mean she won, didn't she? Fucked with Gensokyo right and proper just like she wanted. She lived exactly as an amanojaku should, she made a fuckin name for herself in this bitch called Gensokyo. So why does she feel so shitty? Well, what does that matter. What's more important is that she can't let anyone catch her being all "weak and vulnerable", so she vanishes. We never see or hear from her again until GoU. What happened in between ISC and GoU? Between Seija and Shinmy that is. Up in the air... I have ideas... We know a lot about what Shinmy was up to, that's for sure. Yet she still ends up coming back to Seija in the end, as Seija comes back to her as well. I could go on a tangent about Shinmy's side of things too, but just for now I'll leave this ramble for just Seija. But if you want the short end of it, bipolar is just "contrarianism the mental illness" isn't it lol. A creature of contrarianism with bipolar disorder isn't far fetched in the slightest I think. But well, it's still mostly just projection on my end lol.

[the-pen-pot]

It was not often that Merlin got a moment to himself. Between taking care of Arthur, helping Gaius, and protecting the kingdom from the latest magical disaster, he had very little time to call his own. If he wanted anything like peace and quiet, then he had to steal it. Once, he might have been the good, dedicated boy that his mother had raised. He might have heaved a sigh and got on with his chores.

Not anymore.

Now, he took longer getting herbs in the forest than he should. He dawdled out in Camelot's wilds and he refused to feel even a fraction of guilt over basking in the meadow rather than washing Arthur's grotty socks.

The sun beamed down from a clear blue sky, warming his face with its benevolent touch. The grass beneath him was dry and sweet, scratching against his bare skin. His tunic and neckerchief were abandoned a short distance away, forgotten. A gentle breeze bobbed the seed heads that speared up towards the sky, ushering along the bees and butterflies as they drifted from flower to flower, paying homage to blossom and buttercup alike.

It was idyllic: a rare, halcyon day, and his lashes dipped as he relaxed, content to listen to the birdsong and let all his worries simply melt away.

He must have drifted off, because he came back to reality when a rude shadow blocked the sun, plunging his face into cool relief. For a minute, he thought it was merely a passing cloud, but then a boot prodded him in the shoulder, and he grimaced before opening one eye to glare up at the intruder.

Arthur. Of course.

There was no point in asking how he had found him. Tracking was among one of Arthur's many talents, and Merlin had probably left a trail a mile wide. It wasn't like he was trying to be stealthy. Mostly, he had been banking on being back before Arthur noticed he was missing, or the prince being too busy to ride out after him. Now, he squinted at the figure above him, dressed in a long leather coat, too hot for the weather, and staring down at him in apparent disbelief.

'I should have known,' Arthur growled. 'Here I was, expecting to find you mauled by some creature or snatched by bandits, and instead you're lazing around half-naked in a meadow like some sort of sybarite. I should have you flogged.'

That threat might have had more impact if Arthur didn't sound so miserably resigned when he said it, as if he honestly could not believe he had ever expected anything better from Merlin. Of course, after the first fraught weeks of their acquaintance, Merlin knew he had been given a shocking amount of leeway. His attitude, which ranged from cheeky to downright treasonous, barely caused a stir these days. Besides, if Arthur hadn't lopped off his head when he found out he was a sorcerer, he was unlikely to react with violence to a little bit of harmless skiving.

He became aware of the weight of a gaze on his chest. Of course, he knew better than to believe Arthur was admiring his physique, though he lived in hope. Instead, he knew it was the starburst scar that had caught Arthur's attention. It was hardly the first time he had seen it, and yet every reminder of what Merlin had done in his name seemed like a fresh revelation, leaving Arthur pasty and out of sorts.

Talking about it wouldn't do any good. Arthur would bluster and bark and pretend he didn't care one whit about any of it. That was not the way to go. So far studied indifference had worked well for both of them.

'You're blocking my sun,' Merlin grumbled, just to see Arthur jerk free of his reverie and roll his eyes. He reached out, tangling his hand in the hem of that ridiculous coat and tugging on it. 'Either sit down and take that stick out from up your arse, or leave.'

'You can't talk to me like that.' The response was companionable and resigned, as if Arthur knew it would flow off Merlin like water off a duck's back. 'I'm a prince.'

'You're a prat.'

He closed his eyes once more, feigning indifference to Arthur's decision. Either he would bully Merlin upright and drag him back to Camelot to duty and obligation, or he would surrender. The balance of the decision rested on whether anything urgent had happened back at the citadel (unlikely, since Arthur had ridden out to find him) and the strength of Uther's general disapproval (fair to middling, but not disastrous.)

After a few, peaceful moments, the sound of soft leather and whispering fabric ghosted in his ears, and Merlin desperately tried to stifle a smirk of triumph. He heard the crackle of the grass when Arthur flopped down at his side and felt the tantalising press of a bare, hot shoulder against his own.

'A candle-mark. No more. Otherwise your face will burn so badly you match my cloak.'

Merlin managed to mutter his assent, already slipping back into that hazy, pleasant place where all his concerns felt very far away. Now, the beautiful day was embellished by Arthur's weight at his side: his heat and the soft, normal sounds of another living body next to his own. It felt like the missing puzzle piece had slotted into place, and he dozed contentedly, hovering on the cusp of wakefulness where the world turned to velvet and bliss.

It was interrupted only by Arthur's steady breathing which, in turn, became the quiet rasp of the occasional snore as he found his way to peace.

'Arse,' Merlin murmured, trying to ignore how the insult felt far more affectionate than it should. Instead, he twisted, turning his body towards Arthur's presence like the flower shifting to find the sun. The grass sighed around him, soft as a sonnet, and Merlin breathed in the scent of armour oil and sun-warmed earth, traces of soap and fresh air: Arthur and the land that would one day be his kingdom, united as one.

That was the notion that would pull him away from this place, back to a bustling castle and his endless chores. It was the hope that kept him going: the promise of the golden age yet to come.

Yet all that was in the future, distant and irrelevant. For now, Merlin did not trouble himself over matters of destiny. Instead, he let the world carry on around him: a lazy whirl of summer with the two of them caught in its tranquil centre. There would be time, later, to pick up the mantle of prophecy once again. They would face the challenges of the future together, as they always had.

Now, they took their rest, curled together amidst the grass and cradled within the palm of the kingdom: safe and treasured, as they always would be.

[liviavanrouge]

Oc

Name: Kerina

Aliases:

Keefe- Sis, Little Sis, Ignorant Brat, Traitor, Ex-Sister(Former), Baby sis, Scar cheek(Former)

Sophie: Rina, Keke

-Ms Kerina, Lady Arrogant, Lady Scar, Scar face, The Missing Sencen, Sencen Girl, Keefe's Sis

Relatives:

-Lord Cassius Sencen(Father, disowned) -Lady Gisela Sencen(Mother, disowned) -Keefe Irwin Sencen(Elder brother)

Occupation/Affiliation:

-Foxfire Student/Foxfire, Black Swan/Black Swan Member

Foxfire Level:

-Level 5

Gender: Female

Age: 15

Special Ability: Empath, Polygot, Flasher, 2 unnamed abilities(Assummed to secretly be a pyrokenetic)

Residence: Unknown

Appearance:

~~~~

Personality: Kerina is cold and cunning, always yelling at someone and telling them to leave her alone. She's prone to many fights and getting detention which irritates her since she runs into Keefe much more than she wishes to. She's snappy towards her elder brother and refuses to listen to him whenever he tries to genuinely look out for her instead of his usual teasing, usually ending things off with nearly attacking him.

Small problems make her blow up in anger, usually attacking the source of it and even shouting after the fight is broken up. She's shown to be very bitter and lonely, closing herself off from other people and even purposefully making them hate her.

Keefe states that Kerina wasn't always like this and that she was originally a dreamy girl, who enjoyed running around outside and rebelling against their parents whenever they tried to teach her the right ways. She was open-minded and always had Keefe's back when it came to their parents, frequently arguing back even rolling her eyes all throughout the argument to show them that she held no fear of them.

An accident happened that made Kerina close herself off and even got sent away by her parents to live isolated somewhere unknown, only being seen while doing her classes in Foxfire. Her scar is from an accident that happened prior to the storyline, which she stated was her last straw with dealing with everyone around her.

She starts to slowly return to her normal self after Keefe and Sophie break through to her. Although she frequently says to Keefe, "You are so annoying" several times if he ever tries to talk to her now that their relationship was mending after the reveal that their father lied to the girl that Keefe wanted her nowhere near him.

She shows a more dreamy side to her, muttering about living in a large house and having lots of creatures to care for but she always snaps out of it and screams at herself for such thoughts.

Due to secret brutal training she received growing up, she tends to be on her guard whenever there's a fight she's not a part of and will get very snide and witty towards the people causing trouble and even snorts when someone suggest she couldn't do any better in a fight, even making a face that says "try me, oh please try me" when it happens.

She has a steely ferocity about her when it comes to Keefe, even before mending their relationship she is still protective of him and won't allow any ill will to be aimed towards him to the point she gets reckless with it. Despite her negative traits, she is very thoughtful and fair, but is usually regarded as the least trustworthy when it comes to certain things and secrets, which is why she's left in the dark until she forces it out of whoever she's with.

She's a speak for herself kind of girl and won't allow anyone else to speak for her, not even Keefe, usually getting snarky with whoever tries to do so and subtly making sure they know it's time for them to shut their mouth. Becoming outspoken and bold when wanting to talk for herself.

When it comes to her friends being in danger, she likes to give out very detailed threats that would make others think she was insane, even detailing them to the point that Sophie felt the need to throw up for hours.

She's self-conscious, muttering frequently about whether or not she's a good person or deserves the kindness given to her, even looking back on her past actions and deciding the best course for her future actions.

Despite her growth throughout the book, she is still very hot-temptered, firm, vengeful, defiant and has a powerful mentality that makes it hard for others to corrupt her despite how bad it was. She also hates waiting for permission to do something and Sophie describes her as a giant ball as big as the sun that wants to burn down everything and anything that makes her negative and murderous, actively glaring down the source of her negativity.

Sophie finds Kerina scarier than some of the enemies they've met, commenting that she would rather face their past enemies than get on the girls bad side and have her angry.

Later it's found out that Kerina likes to dance to calm herself and will shriek and scream at anyone who walks in on her, ordering them to get out an even tossing things at them to encourage them to leave her be.

[gigilalaka]

The Cliff Of Lights, Below The Sea's Waters. Part 2.

Here is Mina's part. Enjoy.

Mina don't really know when it started or happened. Maybe it has always been there and she only notice as she got older. Or it might have been how her family had slowly been falling apart that did it. She never really found out.

All she knew for sure, was that it has been a part of her for a long time. No matter if she was with family, friends from school, her pet cat or the ones down the street, there have been a feeling of miss in her.

A miss that sometimes felt it was slowly driving her mad, or cause a itch in the most annoying place ever at the best. On the really bad days, it felt like a hand trying to choke out the air in her lungs. And no matter what she did, it never left, only grow stronger.

Then she meet him, a boy her age and a loneliness around his she swore she could cut it with a knife. At night on a beach where only stars are the withness of a friendship she had not know she needed.

Or did she? When she had returned back to the summer house she and her parents was staying at, a old memory had taken hold. Of one summer festival where she had found a old fortune teller in her tent, seemingly been waiting for her.

Madam Zylpha the old woman had called herself, if her memory was right.

She been given two tellings. Both of which had left her confused then anything else.

"Three cards, little one," the teller had rumbled, her voice like pebbles tumbling in a stream. "Three cards to glimpse the threads of your fate. Pick them."

Mina, heart thrumming, reached out and carefully selected a card from the fanned deck. Madam Zylpha took it, her gaze sharpening, as she slowly turned it over.

The image that shimmered into view wasn't clear, but Mina saw a small, shadowed figure, alone, holding what looked like a miniature sword.

This is a boy, much like yourself in age, Mina," Madam Zylpha began, her voice taking on a deeper, more resonant tone. "He walks a path of silence, though surrounded by many. His spirit is as strong as the oldest oak, brave and unyielding, yet he carries a burden you cannot see. His family, though they mean well, have failed to be his shield and shelter. They tell him, no matter how talented he is with his blade – the very thing he dreams of most – that what his heart truly yearns for will never be within reach."

Mina tilted her head. "He’s lonely?"

"More lonely than the loneliest of wolves," Madam Zylpha confirmed, her eyes fixing on Mina’s. "He is drowning, not in water, but in the expectations and pressures they pile upon him. He needs a hand to pull him from the depths, a laughter to break his quiet, a loyal heart to walk beside him. Your paths will cross, little spark. Sooner than you think. A friendship, bright and true, will blossom between you."

Mina felt a pang of sympathy for the unseen boy. She liked making friends.

Madam Zylpha gestured. "Now, the second."

Mina reached out again, her fingers tingling as she chose another card. Madam Zylpha took it, her expression softening almost imperceptibly as the second card was revealed. This one showed a vast, swirling ocean, and within its depths, a glimpse of something immense, shadowed, yet with eyes that seemed to hold ancient sorrow and unexpected warmth.

"This one, child, hails from where the sky kisses the deepest blue," Madam Zylpha murmured, her voice now like the whisper of waves. "He is not of your world, nor your time. For centuries he has lived in exile, beneath the surface, his true name forgotten even by his own kind, replaced by titles of doom and destruction." She paused, her gaze distant. "He was transformed, against his will, into something that resembles the fabled krakens of old. A creature of immense power, feared by those who glimpse him."

Mina’s eyes widened. A monster?

"But look closer, little one," Madam Zylpha prompted gently. "Beneath the shadows of his long existence, he has a heart of pure gold, a kindness that few can see. He is more gentle than any flower petal, softer than the quietest feather. He, too, yearns for companionship, for a connection that transcends all his sorrow. Your meeting will come, Mina, later than the first, when the world begins to tremble on the brink of change."

"And now," Madam Zylpha said, her amber eyes now holding a deep, solemn light, "the third card. The thread that binds your fates together, a tapestry woven by choices yet to be made."

When the third card was picked, it left her breathless when Madam Zylpha showed it to her. It showed no figures, only light. A cascade of shimmering, ethereal light, dancing and swirling beneath the calm surface of a boundless ocean. It wasn’t a harsh light, but a soft, vibrant glow, a living aurora in the deep.

“And this,” Madame Zosima said, her voice filled with a quiet triumph, “is the promise. You will meet them both one day, little Mina. One encounter will come sooner than the other, when you least expect it. And these will not be fleeting encounters, no. Friendships will blossom between you and these two, friendships that will grow into something more. Something profound and lasting, a connection that binds souls.”

She tapped the card with the dancing light. “And with the gentle giant of the sea, when your paths truly intertwine, there will be a light that dances in the sea, brighter and more beautiful than the Northern Lights could ever wish for. A light of understanding, of acceptance, of shared truth. The cards have told you what you need to know, little Mina. The future awaits.”

Mina don't remember the rest, a haze seems to block what happened afterwards. All she remember is waking up in her bed in the morning, wonder of it had all been a very weird dream.

But real or not, there was a truth there. She meet Soshiro, a boy her age and fit the description of that strange memory. And it made her wonder, sometimes, if fate was really at play.

She doesn't anymore now. Not when she and Soshiro finally get to see the one responsible for the lights at the cliff, that dances and shine brigther than any nothern light. When No 8 does his dance, the marks on his octopus like form lights up in familiare patterns and colours. A low but deep hum comming from his massive form, giving the waters around the a vibration thats both warm and welcome.

Fate or not, there is one thing Mina now knows for sure. That miss is no longer with her now. Not when she now knows she is where she belongs.

@sonicasura

[valorant-drabbles]

deadlock and gekko resolving their differences and maybe spending some fluffy sweet time together 🥺

I'm loving all the requests for the newer agents- we don't have enough Deadlock content. Allow me to fix that!

Odds & Ends

Gekko & Deadlock

Summary: It's no secret Deadlock has a certain distaste towards Gekko, ever since her arm was horrifically taken by a beast similar to the ones Gekko carries with him. But being on the same team, they're forced to work together frequently. One day, Gekko decides enough is enough; he's going to prove his buddies are harmless, and hopefully make some progress in befriending the Norwegian agent once and for all.

Warnings: None

Killjoy & Cypher cameo

Word Count: 1.8k

Within the Valorant Protocol, there were bound to be a few agents who'd butt heads over small things; who's turn it was in the training simulator, who gets to have the last dumpling... And although most debacles ended shortly after starting, there was the occasional dilemma that not even Brimstone could sort out.

Cypher and Sova not getting along, Brimstone and Breach having tension... at least the troublesome agents could be civil during missions. Looking out for each other's backs, even if there's a fair amount of distrust or tension. Despite everyone's views and differences, at the end of the day, they were a team. They had to get along, for the future of their world.

And although every new agent recruited is bound to have their own share of baggage... It's fair to say that Deadlock held one of the strongest grudges in the Protocol. Can anyone blame her?

After losing her team and her arm to a terrifying beast during a mission gone-wrong, Deadlock had her fair share of struggles fitting in. She found it hard to connect with anybody around her on a deep level, out of fear of losing them as she lost her last team. Though time and patience has proven vital in her adaptation to the Protocol, it was clear she still held a great grudge towards one particular agent.

Gekko.

Despite his best efforts to get along with his fellow agents, he wasn't immune to the threatening aura Deadlock gave off whenever her eyes landed on his little buddies. She refused to call them by their given names, only muttering a cold, bitter; "... radivores." under her breath as she passed by. Ever the pacifist when it comes to internal issues, Gekko did his best to be patient and slowly earn Deadlock's trust. If she could learn to trust him, she could surely learn to trust his buddies!

So there he sat, in the commons room, Dizzy sleeping on his lap as his hand mindlessly pet the top of the little creature's head. His eyes scanning over the words on his phone; advice on 'how to conquer your fears' from various sources. He figured that Deadlock's behavior towards his pets were out of fear, less out of a bloodthirsty hostility.

"... You know, being afraid of Scandinavians is an odd fear, but I can't say I blame you." Cypher's voice caused Gekko to nearly leap off the couch; if it wasn't for Dizzy's sleepy self on his lap, that was. He pressed a relieved hand to his chest and exhaled heavily.

"You know that's not what I'm doing this for." Gekko shot a look behind himself, seeing Cypher leaning against the back of the couch, cup of tea in his hands tenderly. The broker chuckled to himself in amusement, always finding some form of entertainment in pestering the younger agents. "I do know. I also know you looked up 'Scandinavian meals' last week. And 'how to comfort a female co-worker without coming across as weird'. Oh, and lets not forget 'how to-'"

"Cypher!" The younger male's hand shot forward, instinctively trying to cover Cypher's mouth, only for his hand to be caught. The information broker couldn't help but snicker; Gekko just knew this bastard had a huge smirk on his face, despite not being able to see his face. He pulled his hand back and felt his cheeks heat up. Of course Cypher knew what he'd been looking into. It was his job to keep tabs on this sort of stuff.

"If you know what I'm trying to do, then maybe you could help me instead of... whatever the heck you're trying to accomplish right now?" The green haired lad raised an eyebrow, quietly hoping that Cypher might actually provide some assistance; but alas, the man simply shook his head. "You know I'm no good at that. If I was, Sova could actually stand being in the same room as me for longer than five minutes."

A quiet groan escaped Gekko, as he rubbed his face with his hands, head resting against the back of the couch, eyes glued to the ceiling, as if the ceiling held all the answers to his dilemma. "Then what am I supposed to do? How can I get her to see what I see?..." His gaze had slowly moved down to Dizzy, who'd woken up by then at the mild commotion Gekko had caused when scolding Cypher. Seriously, how could anybody see Dizzy as a terrifying monster...? She was so sweet...

"That, my friend, you will have to figure out on your own. I doubt she'll be convinced by a simple showcase." Cypher pat the top of Gekko's head before turning to leave, cup of tea still in tow.

--------------

"Gekko, to your left!" Deadlock shouted out, a bullet rapidly firing from her gun to strike the bot that had been approaching Gekko. "Gracias, Deadlock!" He'd shouted back, the sound of his footsteps being drowned out by the firing happening elsewhere in the training grounds. He ducked down behind a wall, the lights dimming to a deep red, causing him to swallow. They'd been shoved into the training grounds without much warning by Killjoy, who insisted they test out her newest upgrades to the bots. And they were proving to be quite difficult, and relentless.

It was clear both agents were getting exhausted, as they'd been at this for what felt like ages; though it was closer to two hours. All they had to do was get to the end of the room and take out the final bot; but with all the other turrets firing, they'd barely had any time to progress. And every time that damn red light went off, it meant any damaged or broken bots were being replaced.

"How the hell are we supposed to progress?" Deadlock asked herself, head leaned back against the wall her back was pressed against, out of breath.

"I told you, if you'll just let me throw out Dizzy, we can blind them and-"

"No, I don't trust that little monster." Deadlock sneered, as she reloaded her gun- though she was very low on ammo at that point. They'd worn out almost all the guns that had been placed in the room beforehand. "Just let me think. I'm sure my tech can... figure something out."

"You can only do so much on your own, amiga. And at this rate, we're gonna get our asses kicked while Killjoy and Brim are watching. I dunno about you, but I'd like to avoid that." Gekko shot back with a hint of attitude, as a familiar blue orb flung from his belt into his hand. Deadlock's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare, Mateo-"

So threatened by the mere idea of releasing Dizzy onto the field, Deadlock failed to notice the bot that had snuck by her sensor, and was aimed right behind her.

Gekko's eyes narrowed. Instinctively, he tossed up Dizzy, whilst grabbing Mosh from his belt, and chucking it directly at Deadlock- or, that's at least how Deadlock saw it.

It all felt like time slowed down.

She'd flinched and shielded herself, expecting to get... mauled or blown up by the little green creature, eyes screwed shut as she braced for impact-

Until she heard a bot explode behind her. Her eyes shot open as she looked behind her, seeing Moshpit staring at her, clearly happy that it'd managed to keep her safe. She simply stared in confusion, before she heard Dizzy floating above her, blinding the bots with the goo it released. Dizzy happened to land right in Deadlock's hands, her little tag wagging proudly.

It reminded her of a puppy.

"Deadlock- Wingman stunned a path out!" Gekko called out to catch the Norwegian's attention, as she peeked out behind the wall to see several bots disoriented, some still being blinded as well. Pulling out her phantom, she fired with reckless abandon at any bots in their way- revealing the final bot.

"Alright..." Deadlock stepped out from behind the wall, aiming her arm towards the clear path made for her.

"My territory, My rules!"

------------------

The two exhausted agents had managed to pull themselves out of the training simulator with minimal injury. Killjoy was very quick to thank them for helping with the experiment, handing each of them a lollipop as thanks, before she'd retreated to her lab. Especially since Deadlock had been glaring at her. Two hours of testing the damn bots, and all she gets is a piece of candy?

Gekko, on the other hand, despite his own exhaustion, thanked KJ for the opportunity to test her work, and popped the lollipop into his mouth.

"Sooo... Maybe my little buddies can be helpful after all?" Gekko had piped up once silence had settled between them, the two agents walking together towards their lockers to put their util away. Deadlock kept quiet, as she fidgeted with her sensor in her hand.

"They were... less destructive than expected." Deadlock muttered, throwing open her own locker, placing her tech inside. "I suppose I can see how they'd be beneficial in an actual fight..."

"Just a shame you didn't get to see Thrash in action-"

"No, I'm quite glad I didn't see that. Thrash is arguably your most dangerous creature." Deadlock corrected, closing her locker- only to be met with the sparkling, excited gaze of Gekko.

"... What?"

"You just called Thrash by her name.. instead of calling her a monster~" Gekko cooed in a teasing tone. Deadlock's face quickly grew red as she stepped back, quickly averting her gaze from him.

"I-- It was just a slip of the tongue, that's all." Deadlock stammered.

"You also called her a creature instead of a monster!"

"Will you be quiet?!" Deadlock hissed, though it was hard to be intimidated by the Steel Hunter while an embarrassed mess. She turned on her heel, making an effort to escape the conversation before Gekko could spew more nonesense.

But Gekko simply tailed behind her with a grin. "Okay, Okay- but you saw most of them in action today. Which one's your favourite, huh?" He urged. He was treading very dangerous ground, truthfully-

"... Dizzy. Her behavior... reminds me of the halden hounds from my home country..."

----------------

"You really asked those two to test your new bots...? You know they don't get along." Cypher questioned with a raised eyebrow, his glowing blue eyes boring into Killjoy's sheepish smile as the two of them entered the commons room.

"Right! And nothing brings enemies closer to becoming friends like a near-death experience in a fight! Though it was a simulation..." Killjoy attempted to defend her actions, though her train of thought was immediately cut short as she stopped in her tracks, hand shooting over to stop Cypher from progressing forward as well.

The Moroccan did indeed stop, confused. Following Killjoy's gaze until it landed on the couch.

On the couch, to their surprise... was Gekko and Deadlock, asleep, Gekko's head rested on the Norwegian's shoulder... surrounded by Thrash, Dizzy, Wingman and Mosh, who were all comfortably snuggled up against Deadlock in one way or another.

"... Deadlock will murder you if you take a picture." Killjoy had slowly and quietly warned- only to hear the soft click of one of Cypher's many cameras.

"Doubtful. Perhaps I will print her a copy... Hmhmhm..."

[steviestits]

For WIP Wednesday:

Bioluminescence, underwater cave, predator/prey

Courtship, sea shells, sea glass, oviposition

Water deity, brainwashing

Thank you so much for sharing these, I always really enjoy seeing what you come up with for everyone's asks!

Thank you so much for the prompts! I'm glad that you enjoy them! It's honestly a lot of fun seeing which ones people pick out from the list to send to me. Sorry for saving this for next Wednesday. I thought I would try doing them only on Wednesdays, but I don't think I like doing it like this. I might switch back to how I was doing it before.

These first two are connected, with the first one being pre-Steddie and the second one being pure Steddie.

Bioluminescence, underwater cave, predator/prey:

All the merfolk city of Atlantis warn their little pups never to venture too far outside the city, that there are dangerous things that hunt them in the waters beyond. Steve grew up listening to those stories, but like most merfolk his age, he never took them seriously. In Steve's mind, the stories were there to scare pups into behaving and that only dumbasses to such tales.

Because he didn't believe them, Steve would hang out with his friends on the outskirts of town where they'd mess around playing different games. Their favorite was basketball, and they had even made a makeshift court a bit further out so the adults wouldn't see what they were doing. They didn't even consider that something might be watching them just beyond their sight.

Then one day, while they were playing, Steve missed a shot, causing the ball to float off in an unseen direction. Since it was Steve who had missed the shot, it should be him who went off to look for their ball. Steve protested, but all his friends agreed, so he was forced to go off in search of the ball alone.

Steve ventured out into the water beyond until he came across an underwater cave. He didn't think their ball would've gone in there, but a strange glow caught Steve's attention. Mesmerized by the glow, Steve found himself swimming towards the cave automatically, finding that he couldn't keep away even if he tried.

The ball wasn't in the cave, but he did find the source of the glow. It was another merfolk with bioluminescent scales. The other merfolk also had sharp claws and pointed teeth, clearly one of the dangerous creatures that Steve had been warned about back in the city. These types of merfolk were called sirens, and they ate any living being, sometimes even their own kind!

Scared, Steve tried to sneak away without the siren noticing him, but as it turned out, the siren had been watching him from the start. He started to approach Steve steadily, with a hungry look in his eyes. Steve knew that he had to run if he wanted to survive.

When Steve bolted, the siren gave chase, driving Steve deeper into the cavern. The siren knew the caves better than Steve given that it was his home, and soon, Steve was cornered. He'd cornered his prey and clearly wanted to eat the Steve alive.

Steve prepared himself for a fight, but when the siren launched himself at Steve, he didn't hurt him. Instead, he pulled him into a hug and cuddled against him, saying Steve was his prey, he'd caught him, so now Steve was his. He had to stay with him forever.

Surprised, Steve disentangled himself from the siren. The siren turned out to be named Eddie. He'd been watching Steve since his friends started to play basketball nearby, wishing that he could join them, but knowing he couldn't because of how he looked. Sirens were considered "freaks" by ordinary merfolk.

Eddie was actually nice, if not a little possessive, and Steve enjoyed talking to him. The two of them became fast friends with Steve promising to visit Eddie whenever he had time after playing with his friends. This made the siren very happy, and he called Steve the best prey that he'd ever caught.

Courtship, sea shells, sea glass, oviposition:

Even among other sirens, Eddie was different. He hadn't been accepted and had been driven out of the pod when he was young. Luckily, his Uncle Wayne had left a long time ago and was willing to take him into the caves where he lived. It had been just the two of them for a very long time until he met his prey, Steve, the most perfect merfolk in all existence.

They'd met when they were just kids, and Eddie thought that as Steve got older that the other would forget about him, but he didn't. Steve continued to visit Eddie's cave into adulthood, allowing the pretty merfolk boy grow to become a beautiful merfolk man. The two became even closer, enough so that Eddie could almost fool himself into thinking that maybe Steve liked him as a little bit more than a friend, though he wasn't hopeful.

Eddie had always known that his feelings for Steve weren't pure friendship. He daydreamed about courting Steve one day, wanting to give the merfolk all of the prettiest treasures under the sea. To be honest, Eddie had always thought it would remain a dream until one day, Steve dropped a blue seashell into Eddie's hands then swam away as fast as he could.

Though he didn't understand at first, Wayne was there to explain to Eddie that the seashell was apart of the merfolk courting ritual where a merfolk would give the seashell to the one they liked to let them know that the other could pursue them. Eddie made Wayne repeat the story a few times, because he honestly couldn't believe that Steve was giving him permission to court him. It was too unreal, but Eddie prepared anyway, planning to see Steve's reaction.

The next time they met, Eddie brought a handful of the treasures he'd collected. They weren't gems or gold, but pieces of sea glass that he'd found and thought were pretty. He gave them all to Steve as a courting gift, to show to Steve that he accepted and would begin pursuing him as a mate.

Steve looked happy, beyond happy, and Eddie fell more in love with the merfolk than he had been already. The merfolk became increasingly tactile, always finding a way to cling to Eddie when the two were together. They talked about the future sometimes, trying to figure out how to make it work before mating season arrived.

The week before the mating season would officially start, Steve showed up with several bags. Eddie had been against Steve leaving the city, not wanting him to become an outcast like him, but Steve insisted that he didn't care. They'd raise their pups together, where they could be safe. He didn't want to mate with anyone but Eddie.

Merfolk and Sirens had the same biology with both not having a specific gender, being able to change it depending on what was needed for mating. They decided (Steve demanded) that Steve would be the one to create and carry the eggs. Eddie would fertilize them and take care of Steve until it was time for him to lay them.

They chose a spot in the cavern that wouldn't be disturbed and mates there. Steve ended up creating quite a few eggs, which took Eddie by surprise when they were laid. He hadn't seen a pregnant merfolk and had merely assumed that they got bigger than average when they carried the eggs. Still, Eddie was happy despite the large brood, glad to finally have a family of his own.

Water deity, brainwashing:

Warning! The last prompt isn't connected to the previous two and is a dark fic with a dark happy ending! If you aren't into that, please stop reading this now!

In a land where gods rule, Eddie was the favored son of a water nymph. While most nymphs mated with the gods in the pantheon or other mystical creatures, Eddie's mother mated with a human. This allowed Eddie to live among them with no one ever knowing of the unique bloodline that lurked in his veins.

There was a boy in the village where he was raised that Eddie liked. His name was Steve, and he was the son of the village mayor. He was the most desired boy, not only because of his status, but also because of his beauty. There were rumors that his father was one of the gods, and though that wasn't true, it still caused others to fawn over him endlessly.

Steve never looked in Eddie's direction, even with the blood of a nymph in his veins, his father was still a fisherman. While they had a good trade because of his mother's help, that wasn't enough to gain the attention of someone from such a higher class than him. The two wouldn't even see each other if it wasn't for the fact that Steve enjoyed going to the beach, where Eddie would watch him longingly from the pier when he helped his dad and uncle load their boat.

One day, unable to take his hidden desires any longer, went to his mother for help. She said that she could in fact make Steve his lover if Eddie didn't mind her tampering with Steve's mind. Eddie thought about it, and though he wished to win Steve with his own merits, he knew that he'd never get the chance given their status, so he ultimately agreed.

The next time Steve went swimming, a strange current surrounded him and water rushed into his ears. He could only float there as his brain was washed of all other affections, leaving behind only a deep love for Eddie. Unless another god intervened, which they wouldn't, no one else would ever be able to enter Steve's eyes.

Steve was then released from the water nymph's hold and allowed to surface. When he did, he saw Eddie and instantly fell in love with him. He was determined to stay at the other's side, wanting to grow old together. Steve's family, of course, didn't approve as Eddie was not only a man, but he was also poor. The love Steve felt for his parents was gone, however, washed away by the sea's current.

Instead of leaving Eddie, Steve left his parents and the life he knew. He became a househusband for Eddie. While he went fishing, Steve would watch over the house and would sometimes even go to market to help Eddie sell his wares. They were blessed by the nymphs and lived a happy yet simple life together, which was all the two needed.

[the-demon-of-a-thousand-eyes]

Comment on Chapter 7 of The Demon of a Thousand Eyes: I'm not much for commenting but I found your story this morning and wanted to tell you I ate these chapters up faster than Theia gobbles up eyes. The eye puns are going to send me to an early grave, and when I think of Theia's ability I can't help but think of classic Scooby-Doo, and someone watching people through holes cut in the eyes of a painting. Other thoughts: Theia can only look through someone's eyes if they have a deal, but what about corpses? Or her jar of eyes? I like to imagine that amongst her contracts there are a fair number of artists. Photographers, portrait artists especially. Gotta squeeze eyes into people's homes somehow! I love that she's so careful about potential surveillance because she can see anything she wants to. Nifty being the first one in the hotel to know about Theia's powers because she's sad she can't show Theia her room and Theia can't say no to a big cute puppy dog eye so she gives her something with an eye on it and asks Nifty for a tour of the vents. Vox learning about what she can do and immediately short-circuiting, not because he's worried about being spied on but his first thought is just "that's HOT" it's not until after he rubs one out infront of the note she left that post-nut clarity hits and he realizes it could be useful/a huge problem. Also just love the being irritating/ negotiation as a form of flirting in this chapter. Can't wait for the next one!!!

Theia says, "I can't look through any eyes that belong (or *belonged*) to a living creature unless stipulated in a contract. This does include corpses. Whoever the corpse is owned by (morgue, cannibal, property owner) is who the deal would have to be made with at the time. My jar of eyes, too, is off limits because even though the jar of eyes belongs to me, the eyes used to belong to someone, someone I don't know and therefore can't make a deal. If I were to make a deal with Rosie that I could use the eyes that she has as products to peer through, however, this would change and I could use the ones I purchase from her as well.

I do have a few artists among the souls I have, but many (and most) are just people who had useful information, go useful places, and were looking to be left alone. They ask for my help when they need it but for the most part keep to themselves.

I'm very observant. It's a blessing and a curse really.

I want to tell Niffty about my abilities so badly! She's so dear to me, but given the strange dynamic I have with Alastor and her own relationship with him (does he own her soul? Probably? Would he be able to demand she spill the information about my powers and she would be unable to refuse?), it's too risky at present for me to give her an eye so I can see inside her little hidey hole in the wall. I'll get there someday, though.

Vox would accidentally cause a blackout for all of Pentagram City for a solid hour if he found out. He'd cum so hard he'd forget his own name at the thought of me watching him. Then he'd text me and *demand* I join him, both for sex and a partnership. I still doubt I'd join the Vees though. I can't stand Tino and being a free entity gives me far better options than exclusivity. He'll find out just what kind of trouble he's in when he finds out what I can do. That would be exponentially true if/when he ever found out my true secret, but *spoilers* in that regard.

As for the flirting with Alastor...dinner was fun. The night...got a little out of hand. I won't say I regretted anything, and I got a really neat knife. Things did get better eventually, though, so it wasn't all bad."

[offrozenmemoirs]

What Do You Fight For?

Seraph sits on the ground, exhaling softly. His spear and sword rest next to him, his eyes are closed, and the top half of his armor lay discarded on the other side of him. Meditation after his training sessions was how he grounded himself once more, working off stress from his duties, and the ever growing presence of Khorne within his mind.

He should be getting some sleep, but after his time with Soup, he was restless. He reluctantly climbed out of bed, redressing himself and heading out to the beachfront. The salty scent of the sea filing his nose, and feeling the sand shift beneath his boots. The moonlight itself looked rather beautiful, but bought him no reprieve from the thoughts in his mind. The beach is empty, given the narrowly averted catastrophe that just happened, Seraph understands their aversion to any midnight strolls along the beach. It was oddly quiet, aside from the sound of rolling waves.

He thinks of the future confrontation between the group and the leader of this tribe of Cetaceans. From what he recalls, they're big on honor and strength. He was banking on that to get a duel with the leader of this tribe, if he won, he would be acknowledged as strong enough to do as he wished. A duel doesn't need to end with the death of either combatant, but...

"Do you honestly believe such a proud creature like that would yield to you? How convenient would that be?"

The echo of the chaos god's words is still clear in his mind. He struggles with the urges that come with combat, to rend apart all of his enemies, and with how fiercely he can fight sometimes...To say that Khorne is pleased with that would be an understatement. Though, that's not to say he's the only one who apparently likes how Seraph gets in battle.

"Sometimes it scares me, a little... but you know what? I like it. I swear, when we were out cold... I was dreaming, wishing to experience some of what you unleashed near that lighthouse."

The words of his lover cause a faint smile to flicker across his face, before he steels his expression once more. It's odd, not having many voices in his head, to hold conversations with the Deathwatchers, or occasional conversations with his father. Seraph's mind has been mostly quiet, with the occasional comment from Khorne, or conversations with Freya. It's odd, and he misses the presence of his father and Pharasma.

"You were quite fierce in battle. Leaping into the skies to impale your foes and then scattering them...A spear suits you much better than that scythe you had. But then there's that sword of yours...What a marvelous piece of steel. Frigid to the touch, and it only seems to like you as its master. You've done well to christen it in blood as of late."

It was true that Skadi was temperamental about who touched her, giving people a nasty case of frostburn when they touched her hilt. Even Rok had spoken about how he never touched the blade after he forged it. It had been a comfort, to have a sword similar to Joseph, especially while his scythe was being reforged into a spear. It too, held a name, Susano'o, a Kitaian deity of storms, if he was recalling his studies correctly. He couldn't put his finger on it, but, it felt right to give the weapon forged from his very soul such a name. Susano'o was much like its master, seeking a purpose, to grow into what it was meant to be.

"What will you do if you cannot convince this 'Storm Thief' to stand down?"

Seraph frowns, knowing that in Cetacean culture, in some tribes, surrender was akin to being shamed. For someone christening himself as the Storm Thief, having stolen Rhalgr's trident, had the power to back up his name. Though it was a power that wasn't earned, and in a strange sense, perhaps he agreed with Khorne's assessment, another warlord looking to make a name for themselves.

"If he doesn't surrender, then I'll do what I must and end him. Nothing more, nothing less."

Khorne hums in acknowledgement of Seraph's answer.

"And if someone comes for revenge? If you kill him, you'll have to deal with the fallout."

The elf doesn't have an answer, and it's clear on his face, lips curling into a frown.

"If I can make a suggestion...Perhaps it would be better to kill him in such a way that any challengers would be petrified. Tear him apart, rip his throat out with your teeth. Bathe in his blood and let them know that challenging you is to court death itself."

Seraph opens his eyes, to see someone standing in front of him, he doesn't want to look up, knowing what he'll see. Yet, he meets the other's gaze, staring himself in the face, a wicked grin that was far too wide, filled with teeth sharpened like knives, and that damnable blazing, piercing red gaze. He wishes that Khorne didn't stand in front of him, the waves rolling past his ankles. The shadow walks forward, staring down at Seraph, meeting his gaze as he begins to speak.

"It's always better to be feared, Seraph. Many think of me as someone obsessed with killing, to see my enemies scattered to the winds. I enjoy my bloodshed, of course, but I know the power of a reputation as well. You know that you must do whatever it takes to protect the innocent. Even if they hate you for it, they will still be alive to do so. There's still honor in shedding blood for justice."

Seraph isn't naive enough to believe that. Even if he agrees that the innocent must be protected.

"I'm not foolish enough to believe that you have my best interests at heart. You tried setting Soup's blood on fire. You and I shall never be friends, nor allies. Not after all you've done to my family and loved ones."

A dark chuckle leaves the doppelganger's lips. Seraph hates looking at Khorne because he sees himself bulging with muscle, covered in ritualistic scarring and nails more akin to claws. He sees a vicious mockery of himself, and his once blue eyes are now entirely red, blazing with a crazed fury. Veins alight with an unholy glow, as if his very blood had turned to fire. Interestingly, Khorne didn't take his current appearance into account; instead, he had his original black hair, which was shorter, with daemonic horns. It's almost a mockery of his draconic heritage. It scares him more than seeing Makoto ever did. Perhaps it reminded him of the patient ward in Ingora, where that man begged him for forgiveness. It's a reminder of what he could've been had he continued on his path…Or what he could still become if he ever lost his way.

"Say what you will, Seraph. But you're a perfect candidate for my teachings. How many did you kill in that last fight? How many of your foes died screaming? Cetaceans don't often have fear struck into them, but you...You're something special. After all, I wouldn't have my eye on you if I thought you weren't worth my time. You have my favor...My blessings will give you strength beyond strength, if you would accept me."

Seraph says nothing in response, instead, grabbing Skadi. He unsheathes his blade, and cuts the mockery of himself down, watching as Khorne's form fades into the air. He almost expected blood and guts to spill out, but instead a black mist is the only reward for his efforts. He ignores the laughter leaving its lips, a deep, rumbling tone that he's come to associate with the god of blood. He would never accept Khorne's offers. Power always came with a price, no matter the source. He resumes training, not wanting to sleep any time soon, though he's sure he'll drag himself back to the shared hotel room, and get what little sleep he can...eventually.

[enkisstories]

Hawk and the Sunshadow (Part 7/7)

Outlook Mountain was the roaming hunters' salvation, but an individual hunter's dread. For as long as even one group made their home in this part of the world, they stationed scouts up here to warn of impending dangers by means of smoke signals. It was an important, but dull work, taxing on the mind, uncomfortable for the body and utterly lonely.

Except for Hazel. Just like the trees thats' name she had taken for herself, Hazel preferred an existence in solitude. She lived at Outlook Mountain all year, did her share of keeping watch and otherwise fished in the lake.

At the moment Hazel was sharing this camp with her little son and a scout from a different group of hunters (who wasn't the child's father - for all the group knew that was Hawk).

Fry: "Hawk! Sun! And Shadow!"

Hazel: "Greetings! Have you come for fish or...?"

Hawk: "Or. Definitely "or"."

Hazel: "Running away or getting sent here?"

Sunshadow: "You tell her, love!"

Sunshadow: "Hello, Fry! Aren't you getting bored here?"

Fry: "I know all the fish now! But I still can't swim like mama can!"

Sunshadow: "If anybody can hope to, then that's you, no doubt!"

Fry: "Fly now!"

Hazel: "I traded heaps of fish in for a goat from the tillers!"

Sunshadow: "A whole goat? You must have some left over?"

Hazel: "All of it! The tillers ate her calf, so now there's lots of milk to harvest every day."

Hawk: "Still with the milk? That's a bad habit, Hazel. That stuff will give you the runs."

Sunshadow: "It gives the tillers the runs, too."

Hawk: "Really? I guess that's tillers for you. Talking, upright-walking ants, all of them, and not one sane thought to be found from one end of their longhut to the other!"

Sunshadow: "They make milk-rocks out of the milk. Never showed me how exactly, but the lumps are edible."

Hazel: "A little bowel rumbling is worth it! Was whatever you two got tossed out over worth it, too?"

Hawk: "Depends. We released evil spirits into the world."

Hazel: "Will they come here?"

Hawk: "If they do, they'll be hard to overlook..."

Time passed and the duo settled into their duties, that they were sharing with ever-changing companions.

Sunshadow: "This cloud looks like a beaver gnawing at a tree!"

Hawk: "I hope the wind changes soon and disperses the clouds! After our discovery in the cave, seeing a giant long-toothed creature flying above my head is sca... not comfortable."

Sunshadow: "Speaking of, what excatly are we keeping watch for here? If a bear is behind a honey gatherer, we won't ever reach her in time before the bear strikes. And if Ember causes another wildfire with his "clearing", then those nearby can smell that without needing us to yell "fire, fire!""

Hawk: "It must be something almost as big and odd as the hornbears. I think if we see it, we'll know. Until then I'm content with what I can see right in front of my eyes."

Sunshadow: "Yes, me, too!"

Given that this is the Sims, the are definitely on UFO watch.

[anemia-rp]

Isn't there an scientific explanation for almost everything? Sometimes it feels like the humankind dislikes mysteries and they need to study everything. But I agree with you that dislikes and likes are certainly caused by influences and I would say of different kinds. Even little things you rarely pay attention to do something with you. An inner core, huh? Inner roots that determines whether you're good or bad and having a soul can both be true.

It's rare to get to do something your passionate about for a living. I'm passionate about creating games so I know how you feel even though you have more power over people with your music. The people in the other world like to party and dance as well so if you ever need a new audience let me know. Yes, the name already gives off the vibe of your clothes and I'm sure more than enough people feel good wearing them.

You're different from normal people, the whole vibe you give off is different so it's no wonder lots of people consider you special. I guess I'm special in my own way given the fact I'm not human anymore, but I'm not sure whether others find me that special. Some may be intrigued and others see just an asshole. It can be nice to stand on a wire now and then, so you only feel the fire of those that interest you. And a balance is good to have.

There are people that want to play out certain scenarios in mind and things don't happen like they have imagined it they get disappointed. And I'm also not the type that will do things they way someone else wants me to do it. I go with the heat of the moment if there is heat in the first place. Also reading the reactions of your partner can help you keep things intense.

The best dominant is a submissive, huh? It could be true, but I have yet to encounter a submissive that wants to switch roles. Maybe there are some creatures that are incapable of truly loving someone? Or as you say love themselves, all parts of them. And the things someone really craves? Maybe there is a voice in us that tells us that we can't crave certain things?

I wasn't around many supernatural beings so far so I can't answer that question at the moment. What about you?

I saw a lot of people break there, lose their minds and hope and other's simply enjoy their time in the strange world. I simply refused to be brought down and that's why I'm still here, still don't know whether that's for the better or not.

In general, yeah, guess they really hate mysteries and try to find explanations for everything. But that's only because this way they think they can gain control over what they don't understand. Everything is just about control and being in a power position after all. I'd say I've got a good core. My good intentions overweight the bad ones I'd say. But as we already said, the lines can be blurry.

Doesn't sound bad actually, to try out something completely new. To make music for people who aren't sure if they'll survive the next day. That's got that certain something. Partying as if there's no tomorrow. Guess I'm in. It's mostly the clan and fans who wear my stuff, obviously. But that's enough. Would feel weird if random people would wear it actually who don't have any connection to me.

Thanks. Always interesting to learn how people perceive you. You're certainly unique yourself, different from most others I know. And I know lots of savages who like fights. But most of them are a lil' dense, while you aren't dense at all. Good combination.

As long as someone doesn't lay in front of me like a dead piece of meat in bed I'm rather fine. Obedience, yeah, but not someone without an own will. I really can't understand guys who like giving people knockout drops and fuck them under the influence, not only not in a morally way.

I can't even imagine that there are people who are fully fine with every part of themselves. Sounds impossible. Yeah, there for sure is a voice like that which tells you you can't crave certain things. If you've got any really sick desires and morals at the same time that is.

I know lots of kinds. Mostly vampires of course, but werewolves and demons, too. I might not have the best opinion about them, but it depends on the individual. What kinds of intentions they have.

'Simply refused to be brought down'. That requires much determination and inner strength. And spite, probably. Don't treat is as something that's not special. It's a huge thing.

[loveshard]

this wasn't the formal consummation society expected or what he was prepared for, but stephen had no intention of stopping. not when she was spilling like nectar onto his tongue, not when her thighs trembled against his cheeks, and certainly not when she was begging him so sweetly. he'd dreamed of this—of her. ever since their arrangement was finalized—thoughts of how she’d sound, and how she’d taste haunted him at night, but the reality far exceeded his wildest fantasies. he found himself entirely focused on skylar's pleasure now. nothing existed beyond this bed, beyond the taste of her, beyond the soft sounds that escaped her lips. it only fed his ego and fueled his thrist for more. his usual need to be the center of attention transformed into a singular desire to be the cause of her ecstasy.

the crooked smile that usually played upon his lips was now pressed firmly against her, delivering on every promise he'd made earlier that evening. there was no arguing with her pleas, her begging. she was unraveling beneath him and he couldn't bare leaving her unfulfilled. god help him, he would do anything for her. his inexperience mattered little when instinct took over, guiding his tongue in swirling patterns that made his dear wife pant his name, chanting it loud enough for the entire house to hear. he couldn't remember the last time he'd been this turned on by anyone or anything. all of his previous flirtations and dalliances failed to compare to this very moment. they were all fleeting, forgettable attachments. surprising himself, this arrangement had somehow given him something his previous pursuits of love never had—someone who matched his passion, who responded to his touch as if they were made for one another.

breathless, he raised his head, looking up the length of her body, past the soft curves of her stomach to where her breasts heaved with each ragged breath. his brown eyes reached for hers, filled with equal parts tenderness and hunger. "you are perfect," he said in awe, his voice catching in his throat. he had to stop and admire the sight before him: her swollen lips, her hardened nipples, the slickness between her thighs that testified to her arousal. his cock strained within his britches, aching to be inside her. "so perfect for me." despite selfish thoughts swarming his head, he fought the urge to rush, to claim, to possess. he truly wanted this moment to last forever, wanted to savor every second of their sacred union. determined to continue pleasuring her thoroughly, he lowered himself back between her thighs and gripped her hips tighter, anchoring her to his mouth as she writhed beneath him.

stephen could feel her approaching the precipice, her body taut as a bowstring beneath his hands. he doubled his efforts, his tongue circling her sensitive bud before sucking gently, reveling in the way she bucked against him. her wetness coated his lips, his chin, marking him as thoroughly as he was marking her. he felt drunk with power—this beautiful, trembling creature was his wife, and he was bringing her to the edge of pleasure for the first time. the thought alone nearly undid him. "i've got you," the man groaned against her slick flesh. "let go for me, my love."

'you are so good for me. do you know that?' those words sparked something deep and sacred in her and made her feel weak with emotion. how did she ever get this lucky? the praise from him made her feel euphoric, something new coming over her, realizing she wanted to hear him praise her more. to be good for him all the time. she looked down at him, with a kind of focus she gave to anything else in her life. studied every single movement he afforded her, how he pressed into her like she was something delectable and soft. she felt beautiful like this, funnily enough. could feel the way he wanted her just from this.

skylar canted her hips up towards him, all flushed and needy for him to take in more of her, him mouth so close yet so far. just from her angle, she could make out the sheen of herself between her thighs, showing how much she needed him. shame coursed through her, for being so eager, for having her legs open wide for him, but it was the kind of shame that made her burn and burn and had her wanting to chase it instead of shy away. "please- please, yes." her tone was shaky with nerves and desire, erred on by something entirely new and intense between them. stephen was begging for some godforsaken, beautiful reason to taste her, and sky couldn't help the whimper that fell past her parted lips. "please taste me, stephen." her voice echoed his desperation, a mirror of desires that seemed to just grow as they reflected against each other.

"oh my god," she whined, her body lurching forward even if his lips barely brused over her. he was promising her pleasures she wouldn't be able to bear and god forgive her but nothing else in the world sounded better to her than that. she wanted to spend the night being ruined by him, to drown in what he could give her. "yes, please. please, stephen-" she took in a sharp breath through her teeth when he kissed her solid at her centre and her fingers closed around his hair to tug instinctively. then stephen's mouth began to work into her properly and fuck, she swore she could see stars.

she was overwhelmed by how good his lips and tongue felt. it was much better than she could have ever imagined. "stephen you feel so- so good!" could feel herself careening forward towards a peak she didn't understand. "i'm yours," she whimpered, hips beginning to grind into him, into his ministrations. felt like some selfish, dirty thing for how she chased after the pleasure he was giving her. "i'm- i'm yours." the words spilled out of her naturally, like a dam broken. her mind wasn't falling to things she'd read anymore. no, it was all her deepest desires, pushed by the simple request from him before, that he wanted to hear her. and as she was learning, she would do anything to please him. "i'm yours, i'm yours."

it took almost no time for her to feel the pleasure build into something large. this was so new. scary in its enormity and yet everything she ever wanted. she'd never gotten this close before, no. she'd touched herself before, grinded herself on pillows and desk edges, but that was it. had been too scared to push herself towards a proper edge, to feel the apparently all-consuming end of an orgasm. but stephen was doing it so effortlessly, so overwhelmingly that she couldn't help but let her body fall onto the bed behind her. pleasured tears fell down the sides of her cheeks. it was so new, so much that all she could do was writhe under the workings of her husband's mouth. "i can-" she was so loud, but could barely control her volume, not when the feelings were all consuming. "i can feel it coming, stephen." her back arched, hips pulling back and yet her hands pushing his head in. terrified of an end that almost felt like a sweet death. "please, please, don't stop."

[prose-for-hire]

okay i’ve figured out how i can make it work as a prompt, so angelus is the big bad of the moment and the scoobies are after him however he gets a spell or something put on him from some other baddie and he gets amnesia and he doesn’t remember he’s a vampire or the angel side of his memory just completely lost/afraid/almost human like and while running from the scoobies somehow gets into readers place of living cause in the depth of his mind he remembered it and reader obviously scared doesn’t know what to do

A/N: Warning for violence against reader, typical Angelus stuff and swearing but a bit of maybe fluff/angst too. Popped it under the cut cos it felt a little long. Hope this is okay love !! 💖

Love Bites:

Another night alone. Ever since your fiancé had succumbed to the curse and become the big bad, formerly known as Angel, you had been inconsolable. You hadn't felt up to patrolling with the others, in fact you had barely seen them all week. You were older than them and insisted you had some really urgent work deadline that was too important for them to understand.

You had dimmed the lights, watching some rerun on the tv and settled in to cuddle up with your broken heart. You heard a noise. The lights flickered.

Okay, you were officially spooked.

You got up to look out of the window, but there was nothing there. When you turned, though, a presence had appeared from the shadows.

Him.

"Y/n?" he asked. Angelus. You jerked in horror, frantically looking around for a stake.

The only thing he could remember was you. Your face, your name, the love you had given so freely. Memories fractured in his head but one thing remained. You. Your name.

"Shit! How did you-?!"

"I don't know who I am I just know that, uh, I'm safe here" he admitted, looking at the ground.

"Yeah, well, funny, 'cause I'm not safe here. Fucking Willow and her no good spells" you cursed loudly. She was meant to have uninvited him from your house but she had barely mastered levitating pencils yet.

He rushed over to you and you braced yourself, waiting for the inevitable pain. And it, of course came, just not in the form you expected. It was purely emotional. He had pulled you into an all encompassing hug.

He needed it. Needed you. You're the only thing he knew was right. The only good thing in his world right now.

Tears welled in your eyes as you breathed in his familiar scent. What had once meant safety had then been fear when he had turned into Angelus after the night he had asked you to be his. You had blamed yourself. But this, his embrace, his love, it brought back all the good memories. It reminded you that it had all meant something once. You knew it.

What you didn't know yet was that Angelus had been cursed. On top of his other curse. The creature that had been trying to kill the slayer that week had become a bit jealous that Buffy's mind wasn't solely on him and so had removed Angelus from the game.

It left you vulnerable, your friends knew this. They were fighting hard to try and get to you, try to warn you about what had happened to Angelus. To try and get to you before anything bad happened.

When you broke from the hug, you stared at him, frown lining your face. You were on edge but hope had taken over. What a dangerous thing hope was. He didn't like the way you were looking at him with such suspicion.

Had he hurt you? Was he a bad person? Is that why he couldn't remember anything, was he blocking out what he had done to you?

"You... you really don't remember do you?" You asked softly, tracing his cheekbone with your thumb.

"Remember what?" he snapped slightly, confusion looking like it pained him.

"Your name is... Angel, uh, Angelus and you're a..."

"A what? Say it." he moved from your embrace, turning away from you knowing that he probably didn't want to hear what you were about to tell him.

"Vampire"

At the same moment, Buffy killed the demon blocking their way to you. As the demon died, the spell broke. And they could only hope they would make it across Sunnydale in time.

He turned back slowly to face you, the confused look that had knitted his brows had darkened. His eyes black with violent desire.

"Oh yeah. Thanks, now I remember. I'm a vampire. And you're mine"

He launched at you, slamming you against the wall and roughly his possessive streak that he had felt ever since he had been cursed coming to the fore. He had loved you as Angel, but as Angelus he was obsessed. Possessed with this feeling that he had to have you.

He slammed you against the wall again, boxing you in. There was no escape. You were his. He wrenched your neck to the side, danger glinting in his eye and a satisfied smirk on his changed face.

You only had one hope left. Buffy. But you weren't sure that she would make it in time before he-

[murmiss]

A little sketch of Dead by daylight, found in my old sketches. I think I'll continue it later if you like it. (I don't know if this can be considered an introductory chapter.)

Shadow

Pairing - Evan Maccmillan/Reader, Danny Olsen/Reader, Bubba Sawyer/Reader, Anna the huntress /Reader, Herman Carter/Reader, mostly killer/reader, and a little survivor/reader.

Summary:

The entity is a brutal creature, drawing more and more new victims into its game. It feeds on despair and fear, anger and tears. But what if the "Shadow" is beyond the Essence's control? What if there, where everyone sees the emptiness, lies a light that can pull them out of despair?

We're talking about Y/N Rogers, the "White Crow," accustomed since childhood to loneliness and fear and the spirits that haunt her.

English is not my first language, sorry for the mistakes!

Part one

The fog is a slimy substance of fear, despair and hatred. Everyone who entered it disappeared. Gone without a trace. It was as if such a person had never existed. Or maybe there really wasn't. Maybe it's all just a fantasy of an evil mind. A cruel joke, or else a fake.

Stupid game of someone's sick imagination, a parasite that sucks all the juices along with your despair. "Fog" - that's what everyone calls this disgusting place. But what is fog? A dimension with a bunch of twisted and bloodthirsty maniacs who take your life time after time. But what if I told you that for someone, death is the only way out?

A beautiful baby girl was born. What a shame no one wanted her... "A child born to save a marriage" is the most common name given to such children. After all, it is better to "recreate" a new life than to deal with one's own. That's what Jack and Malena Rogers thought. Oh! The memories of their first meeting are as fresh as yesterday. They met at one of the university parties. Jack asked Malena, for a dance, then invited her back to his place, and everything spun and spun and spun. It seemed like love at first sight! A passionate and ardent love, engaging in a hot tango. A month later, the wedding, honeymoon, and everything seemed to be going uphill, and bam...

Cold. Feelings went out. Faded as rapidly as they flared up at their first meeting. Malena saw the only way out of this situation in Internet forums, where women with similar marital problems advised each other on all sorts of crazy things. And one of those things was "have a baby. An unknown person under the nickname "MisisAllens" talked on her blog about the "tragic story of a relationship" that was "heroically saved" by their child. And now, finally, it's decided: They want the baby!

The pregnancy was going hard, the Toxicosis was extremely painful, and the baby kept trying to be born ahead of its due date. What was Rogers' disappointment when, instead of fervent feelings, came screaming, diapers and snot, and the beautiful figure was flaunted not by tight dresses, but by extra pounds. Jack was no longer attracted to his wife, which caused him to have a mistress or two, hardly ever going home, leaving Malena alone with herself, self-loathing, and a month-old daughter...

-Shut up already! - Pillows and plush toys flew in the direction of the crib. The young mother was jumping between rooms, trying to get everything done in time for her husband's arrival. To which the baby began to yell louder and louder, causing the woman to become even more hysterical. Unable to endure, Malena slumped against the wall, rolled smoothly to the floor, jerked the headscarf off her head, and sobbed, whispering only words of hatred.

"I hate... I hate... I hate you!! "

The first couple of years were also difficult. The girl grew up extremely nervous, reacting to negative attitudes in the family. Jack's carousing was wearing Mrs. Rogers down, and with her hatred of her husband, her hatred of the child grew. Malena did not want to see this child, rejecting the very fact of his existence :- "Covering your eyes with a rag ." And as she grew older, nothing changed. Not counting Jack, of course. In a couple of years, the gorgeous blond hair was replaced by a classic smoothed haircut that hid the rare baldness, and the Inflated body was replaced by a tummy. Instead of lovers he was now interested only in his career, his wife, and nothing else.

After some time in the Rogers family another daughter was born, Susie, a truly angelic child. The birth went easily, Susie literally "swept through," in less than two hours, bringing great joy to her parents. On seeing Susie, Mrs. Rogers immediately blossomed, hugging the newborn affectionately, kissing her chubby cheeks, and Mr. Rogers, sobbing, hugged his beautiful women.

And so the family had a favorite. Upon noticing Susie, all the neighbors blurted out a smile: "If it isn't Sunny, there she is!" Little Sue, unlike her sister, was "perfect at everything": she sang, danced, and even drew. Everyone admired her: "God's gift! God's gift." - Everyone adored the little girl. And while "Swan" blossomed before her eyes, bathed in everyone's love, "White Crow" survived her despair by making friends with loneliness.

-Mama! Mama!" - the girl ran after her mother, tugging at the hem of her long apron, trying to get attention, but the woman did not respond. Then the girl, not noticing no reaction, jumped up to her father, who was sitting on the couch in the living room with a Playboy magazine in his hands. Standing in front of her father, the girl abruptly snatched the precious magazine from her father's hands and ran off with a loud laugh, expecting her father to chase after her, but he did not. Jack, without making a sound of indignation, took out the remote control and turned on the television, changing channels busily. But even then, a feeling of intense longing gripped the child's mind and heart. Turning around, she slowly, staggering, made her way to the couch, placed the crumpled magazine on the couch, and took one last look at her father with her deer eyes. Just as suddenly, Susie runs into the living room.

-Daddy! Daddy!" with a sweet babbling, the girl ran up to her father, smiling broadly.

-Yes, baby? - The man, reacting instantly, picked up the girl in his arms and put her in his lap.

-I love you, Daddy!"-Jack chuckled and began to tickle the little girl. - I love you, too, baby.

- Susie, stop hugging Daddy and come over here and help me bake cookies. - A mother's affectionate voice came from the kitchen.

-Now, I'm coming! - The little girl jumped off her lap and happily jumped into the kitchen.

And only a little girl standing in the distance could barely hold back tears, watching this scene. While the poor child's mind, unable to understand, "What am I doing wrong?" Unable to withstand the pressure, the girl jumped out of the house, running away wherever she could see. Where there is no mother, no father, no "Swan".

When she stopped, the little girl was very frightened. All around was a wasteland. A misty, lonely wasteland, and shadows wandered beside her. Someone was grabbing the little girl by the hair, someone was pulling her arms, and someone was screaming. Frightened, the little girl squatted, whimpering softly, covering her head with her hands. Suddenly someone's hand caressed the shaking girl's head, and then all the sounds disappeared. When Crow opened her eyes, she saw only her home.