#oc: sheepy

[the-blind-geisha]

Lost Dreamers at the Mercy of War and Love

Pairing: Rufus Shinra x OC (Sheepy)

Rated: NSFW

Words: 5,256

Description: Rufus didn't care that Sheepy was an undercover spy for AVALANCHE. He knew what to do to keep her under control. But all that time together... he thought it meant something.. up until the failed assassination attempt at Junon, that is.

Now, Sheepy has a lot to answer for.

A/N: Had a lot of fun with this, and writing Cait Sith was an absolute joy now that Rebirth showed me his mannerisms and speech patterns! Writing that delicious angst with a Romeo and Juliet vibe is my life! I loved writing to this OC! ♥♥ So much fun!

It was a dangerously close call. If Heidegger hadn't been there to act as swiftly as he had, Rufus would have been killed. The whole ordeal was running through the president’s mind, an anger that was hard to describe bubbling within his chest.

“She has a lot of nerve to dare try…” Rufus muttered to himself, glaring out at the sea surrounding Junon from the Shinra office. “I refuse to be made a fool of.”

Having been summoned in with the director of public security, Reeve couldn't help but feel how thick the air had grown all around them. He was worried about where this could all go, but did his best to hide the desire to guide this all in another direction.

“Mr. President,” Reeve began, “If I may: it would be in your best interest to talk with Sheepy a bit more personally on the matter instead of suggesting she’s been planning everything from the start.”

Heidegger grumbled at Reeve’s passive response, especially with the injury he received in place of Rufus. “So you would willingly allow a traitor to continue to linger in our midst? Be sensible, Reeve!” The director of public security waved off the notion.

Reeve ignored Heidegger’s wish to see someone in prison over a simple slip up in return, if it was even that to begin with.  “It would be one thing if there were constant attempts of assassination or even information getting out to our enemies to show she was possibly not kept in line. But this has been one instance, and even then, it was a verified Wutai member, judging by my intel.”

Rufus scoffed, not wishing to believe such a thing. The man was determined to keep his walls up. “What intel would you be speaking of, Reeve? Is it merely her word you trust?” His back remained to the two, hands gripped tightly behind him as he kept a close watch on the seas beyond the glass. Every thought that raced through his mind in regards to how to handle this made him hiss in disgust.

Nothing made him happy.

Reeve had to bite back his desire to insist the president be more trusting of others. He knew now was not the time for being so honest. “Beyond just her word, sir. My… other creation was in the crowd and happened to take notice of it. I ran a background check on them, and they are originally from Wutai.”

For some reason, Rufus couldn't be satisfied with that. 

Taking a seat behind the ornate desk, he slouched in his chair while his fingers tapped impatiently upon the armrests, wanting better answers. “This does not dissolve AVALANCHE of any crimes…” He rested his cheek upon his knuckles, staring Reeve fiercely down. “...Least of all, Sheepy.” Rufus shut his eyes, letting his mind wander before he opened them once more to motion at Heidegger. “Escort them to me. I have a few words to say to her.”

Heidegger saluted. “Certainly, Mr. President.” And with that, he left to do so.

“Mr. President, please,” Reeve begged, hoping to speak up in Sheepy’s case.

Rufus raised his hand, halting Reeve. If there was anybody he wanted to hear the most from, it would be from Sheepy herself. “Having all these extra voices in my ear does little to sway me. In fact, I find it quite annoying.” The president motioned towards the doors. “Go. Leave me.”

Sighing in defeat, Reeve thought on the best way to approach this situation. Knowing that standing there would only make it worse, he nodded and with a slight bow, left.

Sheepy was shocked to be treated in such a way. Having Heidegger’s men pointing their guns at her as though she were a common criminal was far from what she would have imagined would be happening on her way to The Gold Saucer with the group.

“But I didn't do anything!” Sheepy insisted, flinching in annoyance the moment the barrel of one of the SOLDIER’S guns pushed into the middle of her back.

“Tell it to the president!” Heidegger snapped, the doors opening to reveal Rufus sitting at the desk still looking just as unimpressed as he was when last left.

When her eyes met with Rufus’ she couldn't help but slowly shake her head before the forceful push of Heidegger brought her back to herself.

“Enough!” Rufus commanded, not appreciating how Sheepy was being handled. While he was furious that he was possibly betrayed, this wasn't something he wished to see without answers. Taking to his feet, his fingers caressed the priceless marble of the desk before motioning to the men and Heidegger. “Leave us.”

“Of course, Mr. President.”

“And, one more thing, Heidegger,” Rufus added, his tone threatening as he spoke. It caused the head of public security to flinch, wondering if he had said or done something wrong. “If you so much as speak to anybody about what you’ve heard prior, I will see you terminated.”

He was content to only have select staff members know about Sheepy’s original alliance. While he could trust Reeve to remain quiet, given how weak he saw the man, Heidegger was something completely different.

“I, y-yes! Wouldn't dream of it, Mr. President!” With a unison salute, he and his men left the two alone in the Junon Shinra office.

Having been told the minimum of what was going on through Rufus’ mind regarding that attack, Sheepy shook her head with a furrow of her brow as the president ominously approached her. “You know I wouldn't do that,” she insisted, her voice almost shaking in disgust that he would dare incriminate her.

“I would like to believe you wouldn't.” He was soon inches away from her, his eyes looking her over to make certain that not a single breath betrayed her. “But tell me…” His fingerless gloved hands toyed with one of the curly strands of hair that had found freedom from Sheepy’s ponytail. “...what encourages you to remain at my side?”

She could hear his tone was hardened, rife with anger and resentment as if just one wrong word could cut the small bond they had.

“Is it fear?” Rufus asked, almost annoyed she didn't answer right away as he had hoped she would. “I refuse to believe it would be any duty to my company, let alone me, that binds you, all things considered.” His lip seemed to curl as he said such a thing.

Boldly, Sheepy removed her face from his grasp as she flinched in emotional agony. “What would make you believe I would ever betray you?! After everything I’ve done to show my support for you!” In all honesty, it wasn't his company she cared for. It was the man behind it.

If she could remove him from the harmful Shinra Inc label, so much of this would feel a bit easier. But he was blinded by what his father had instilled within him—what was ‘best’ for the people and their futures.

Rufus stifled a low growl of disappointment, removing his grasp at Sheepy’s command. “You are hardly loyal to my company.”

“Of course I am not,” Sheepy protested, her hand upon her chest as her eyes remained locked onto Rufus’. The moment such a thing was said, it was there she noticed the president was fueled by hurtful anger that she would dare say such a thing. “I don’t care about something that cannot care for me in return! What I care about is you!”

The president stood firm, as if wanting to retaliate angrily at such a warm and honest response. Rufus shook his head, turning from her as he stormed back to his desk. “I will see to it that you’re under close watch. The Turks will be the ones to have a tighter grip on your movements, as I refuse to have this happen again.”

“But I—!”

“Leave. Me.” Each word seethed past his teeth when he spoke them, prompting Sheepy to falter in disbelief.

There wasn't much else she could add. Rufus wouldn't listen, much to her dismay. The moment she left the room, men from SOLDIER were waiting to escort her to where the Turks had gathered only to have a Scottish accent pierce the tension in the room.

“Pardon me, lads! But may I have a moment?”

Everyone’s confusion eventually led them to a cartoonish looking black and white cat with a golden crown, brown boots, white gloves, and a little red cape. He gave a smile, hoping to sway the guards in his favor.

“I believe I can take it from here. Why don't ye head on about yer duties, eh?”

The two guards looked at one another, confused on how to even act. They were hardly told that this toy was made by and often controlled by Reeve. It felt like a trick.

“Go on, now!” he urged a bit more forcefully. “I was made by Shinra, so ye can trust me! Was even made by one of your superiors, might I add.”

The men tensed at hearing that and instantly surrendered Sheepy to the talking animatronic. “Sir! Yes, sir!” the two said in unison, allowing a confused Sheepy to walk alongside this sentient creature.

“Sorry ‘bout that! Guess ye donnae know my name, eh?”

“Yeah… and who made you…No less,” Sheepy added.

“Name is Cait Sith!” In the blink of an eye and the snap of his finger, a giant fluffy moogle with small bat wings was summoned, allowing him to at least become tall enough to look her in the eye. “I was listenin’ to everythin’ going on in there,” he whispered, hand covering the side of his mouth as if to comically make sure nobody overheard them. “I must say, the man is not what he used to be—and I mean that in the best way possible.”

Sheepy’s brow furrowed in confusion, still trying to subdue the pain in her heart from the earlier talk with Rufus. “Really? That’s a good thing?”

“Very much so, lass! His heart was always set on the Promised Land and other things of business, but I can gladly say, with ye around, he hasn't been focusing nearly as hard on all of that!”

She couldn't help but be hypnotized by how this cat moved. He always had to motion his hands about as if he were in a stage play of some sort. The thought of asking who made him slipped her mind during all of this.

“You sound weirdly gleeful about it; especially for someone who works for him.” She didn't forget that part. In fact, she wasn't even paying attention to the fact that Cait Sith was seemingly guiding her to Reeve’s office.

“Oh, it’s more that it’s nice to take yer mind away from business, ya know? Have a little fun here and there.” The moment Reeve’s office door was in sight, Cait Sith moved to the side, motioning joyously for her to open it. “As for who made me—ta da~!”

Seeing Reeve’s name near the door, she found it almost difficult to believe. He hardly felt like the type to make an animatronic to dazzle the crowd.

Cait Sith stepped to the side, motioning for her to go onward and through the door. “I am sure he’d like to talk with ye. So go on ahead now. I got other things to be doing!” The giant moogle hobbled off with the talking cat upon its head.

Sheepy sighed to herself, not sure what Reeve of all people could want with her after all that transpired. Knocking first, she heard a muffled response from the director of urban planning to encourage her to come in. She peeked into the room before finding the courage to come inside. 

“You asked for me? Or rather your…cat did?”

Reeve stifled a laugh. “Indeed, and forgive the little white lie I had to spare the others. I just wanted to be certain you would make it to me first.”

“I had no clue you could make such a thing, Reeve.” Sheepy noticed him gesturing towards the empty chair across from his desk, urging her to take a seat. “Is this what you do in your spare time? Make robots?”

“Sometimes.” Another small chuckle escaped him. “He was a little project of sorts, requested by the former president himself. President Rufus just has other ideas for Cait Sith at present.” Reeve raised his hands, stopping the conversation from getting off track. “Anyways, I am well aware of his feelings right now and how he wishes to proceed with things moving forward.”

Sheepy rubbed her face, trying to be rid of the sorrow that was no doubt evident upon her. “You have to believe me when I said I didn't do it… I swear!”

“I know. I know.” Reeve reclined back in his chair, sighing as he hated the direction everything had taken. After a few moments of silence, he found the courage to speak candidly. “He is battling with himself. That I can assure you.”

Sheepy’s brown eyes locked with Reeve, wondering if he was actually speaking about Rufus or mentioning somebody completely different. Hardly could she believe the president would fight with himself. Rufus always acted as though he knew exactly what he wanted or intended to do.

“We’re talking about the same guy, right?” Sheepy asked, trying to find humor in the miserable scene. “Or are you talking about your cat still?”

“The president,” Reeve corrected, giving her a playful scolding look. “He’s going to be heading to The Gold Saucer soon with the Turks. I will be there… in spirit, but I am certain he is going to drag you along for the ride as well.”

“And what are you getting at? Is there any reason why the president is heading there?” She scoffed to herself. “He doesn't really strike me as the man to want to enjoy himself or unwind with a few rides.”

“He’s looking for a Cetra artifact. We don't know for sure if it is there, but the best thing we can do is hunt for it given the leads we have.”

Sheepy’s hands clasped tightly together, wondering if she should be a bit open and honest with Reeve about her allegiance. As far as she was aware, he didn't know. “You really are very trusting…”

Reeve shrugged. “Mm, if you are implying I should be more cautious about an AVALANCHE spy working for the company—.”

Her head shot up, feeling her heart squeeze in worry the whole company knew at this point.

“—well,” he continued, “I will just tell you to not worry so much about it at current. If the President demanded Heidegger’s silence, just be aware that you have mine as well.”

Words were difficult to come by. As though a spell of silence had cursed her, she struggled to even speak. “H-How did you know about—?!”

“—I have my ways,” Reeve interrupted. It was there he motioned back towards the door. “I am sure he’s expecting you to meet with the Turks first and have them keep tabs on you over myself. I just wanted to tell you that I can help out the best I can.”

Sheepy wasn't sure what he meant by that. The whole conversation was vague, as though he were alluding to something that was far bigger than she had expected. “Umm, sure. Thanks for the talk and all.” She took her leave of the room after waving briefly to the Shinra employee. “That was the weirdest conversation I’ve had with anybody. And that’s saying a lot seeing who else I usually got direct orders from in AVALANCHE,” she muttered, heading down the connecting hall to find her way to the Turks.

Hearing the knock at his office door, Rufus was hardly in the mood to entertain anybody. His lip curled in frustration, asking for whoever was there to come in.

The black and white animatronic cat peeked into the room atop his trusty moogle. “Why ‘ello there! I came to drop by that information ye requested.”

The president leered at the toy. “Now is hardly the time.”

“I disagree, sir.” The stuffed toy joyfully sauntered in as Cait Sith was able to access Reeve’s personal files to grab the data he needed. “Ye be askin’ about the Keystone relic, aye?”

Rufus tried to find joy in that, as he needed something to bring his spirits back up after everything that happened with Sheepy. “All I care about is if you know where it’s located.”

“I can say we do,” Cait Sith gleefully responded, clasping his hands together as he brought up the file regarding the item.

The moment he saw an image of the Keystone and several words jotted down along side it, Rufus leaned forward to get a better look at the information that was soon passed to his own screen. “So it actually exists.” His tone purred with content at this news.

“Appears to be a part of Dio’s collection,” the animatronic cat explained. “We can certainly try our luck in talkin’ to the lad ‘bout it. Or the other cat can, given where ye stationed him.” It was there he curled his gloved hands and began to paw at his own face, acting out the part of a cat.

“Then see to it,” Rufus demanded.

Cait Sith snapped his fingers, standing proudly upon the moogle at that demand. “Of course, sir! I will give this warning to ye though from my research up top: there be rumors that Dio might take a wee bit of convincin’ to do so. Might not be such an easy task as it is such a priceless relic of the past n’ all.”

Hearing that, the president was hardly phased. “Then convince him. I am certain I don't need to elaborate on what I mean by demanding you do so.” Rufus turned from the talking doll, looking back out at the sea to distract his mind once more from the thought there might be a roadblock.

“I, umm, can certainly try,” Cait Sith insisted with a chuckle. “But how ‘bout this though: you and Sheepy attend The Gold Saucer as a date out to distract from whatever shenanigans I can cause to grab this Keystone of yers, eh?”

Hearing such a suggestion, Rufus wanted to grab the toy and shake him around. “I am hardly in the mood, cat…” The fury could be heard rumbling in his words.

“Sir, I must ask what ye be wantin’ more…” Cait Sith opened one hand to one side of his body. “Do ya want yer Keystone or…” he opened the other, moving both hands up and down. “...do ye want Cloud and his group to get it? If it’s the Keystone, then I hate to say ye’ll be needin’ to play along for a wee bit till I can get to it or at least plot a means of doin’ so!”

Rufus sighed, running his fingers through his blond hair as he felt this would all be awkward after the fight they just had. In the past, he would have gladly embraced this idea, but now he needed a moment to think—alone.

“Dammit all,” he muttered quietly, knowing he couldn't pass up this opportunity. “Fine. I’ll talk with them once we dock at Costa Del Sol.”

“That there’s the spirit!” Cait Sith cheered, pointing at Rufus with glee. “I’ll notify the other ‘bout what has been said here! Ye can trust the cat!” With much relief, Cait Sith turned and scurried out of the room to do as he had been asked—among other things.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

The whole talk at Costa Del Sol felt like a business exchange that Sheepy couldn't refuse. It was still so awkward… After having her ‘boss’ get onto her about the slipup she wasn't even responsible for, he was willing to try and put it all to the side for a moment to go on this fictional date?

The helicopter ride over to The Gold Saucer was equally difficult as she twitched in her seat, wondering how to even feel about any of this. “Do you want me to dress up as something special or…?”

Rufus’ eyes caught hers, his cheek resting on his knuckles as he appeared lost in thought. Only her voice seemed to lure him back to the present. “What you’re wearing is fine. We’re just here on business. Keep that in mind.”

Sheepy did her best to stifle her exasperated sigh but to little avail. “Yeah. Right.”

The president caught onto her actions, not certain if he should even engage with it. His fingers clutched the white trench coat he wore, fighting with himself as well on how to say what he wanted.

All this time together, all this time even keeping everybody around him at a distance, and it had failed. He never thought he would feel heartbreak over the thought he was betrayed in some manner. Yet, here he was, mourning over the loss of something that hardly even started in his mind.

He gazed at the bright and joyful colors of the amusement park that was built so high within the sky, it might as well have appeared to be floating there. When the helicopter landed, he exited first before turning to offer his hand for Sheepy to take.

She was shocked by that. Given how upset he was towards her, she wouldn't have expected him to remain so gentlemanly. The second she hesitated, she saw him giving her a curious look—almost painful, in a way.

“I, uh-sorry!” Her hand slid into his, wishing the embrace didn't feel so rigid and cold.

The flashing lights and the loud, joyful sounds became background noise as she felt as Rufus’ hand slipped from hers with a hesitant thought of doing so. Even staring up at him, he was focused outside of her, and it brought a horrible pain to her chest.

The president sighed, rubbing his thumb against his forehead. “I need to find Dio. Or—.”

“Why, ‘ello there!”

The Scottish voice that interrupted Rufus made both search desperately for the source. It was there they found Cait Sith, sitting like a stuffed toy upon a bench not far away. He sat in such a way that he was able to kick his feet back and forth with a small hum.

Sheepy froze up, remembering that Reeve said he would be here in spirit. She didn't think he would actually have this animatronic stationed at The Gold Saucer of all places. “Hello,” she answered with a nervous wave, wondering where this would be heading.

“We need to speak in private,” Rufus ordered, closing the distance between him and Cait Sith.

“Of course, sir!” The cat hopped down from where he was sitting, summoning his moogle to hop upon this time. “If ye like, we can head on down to The Ghost Hotel and talk there. I made some reservations earlier, so they should be expectin’ us.” 

Sheepy kept quiet, not certain if Rufus should know or not that she was aware that was Reeve’s toy. Her lost expression gave the president the assumption she had no clue what was happening, urging him to explain the bare minimum.

“He��s an ally. Come on.”

His hand gripped hers once more. The once icy cold grip was far more firm, making her heart drop as it only reeked of business. Felt as though all those steps the two took together to try and move past the business barrier had been destroyed.

The ghoulish appearance of The Ghost Hotel was far more realistic than Sheepy had thought it would be. While she heard rumors about this elaborate amusement park, she never had the gil to bother going.

Admiring the animatronics, holograms and well-hired actors along the way, the three were escorted to the Tonberry Suite. Just as the outside was, the interior design was above and beyond, feeling as though they all walked right into a haunted mansion.

“I know the Turks had this place reserved, but we can borrow it for a moment,” Cait Sith insisted, hopping off of his moogle and standing upon the table near the window. “Now then, I’m gonna do my best to talk to Dio about the Keystone, see what he says. If all else fails, Cloud’s group will do for a lovely distraction of sorts as well. That I promise!”

“Seems you actually thought ahead.” The praise was backhanded at best, making Cait Sith flinch a bit from the remark but still doing his best not to take offense.

He nervously chuckled. “Aye, that I have, sir. Now then, why don't you two wait here, and I’ll get together a plan for ya both, eh?”

Sheepy felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment that Reeve would go this far just to see the two alone in a hotel room together. “Now, wait a minute, I—!”

Cait Sith hopped off the table and scurried towards the door like a regular house cat. “Remember! Stay here till I say somethin’!” Hopping back up on his moogle, he grabbed the door handle and escorted himself out.

Rufus was hardly phased by anything Cait Sith said. His fingers drummed on the table, looking from the door back to Sheepy. “Are you that displeased with having to share a room with me for a moment?”

Hearing him say such a thing, she flinched. The words hurt worse than any attack she could take in battle. “N-No! Of course not! I just…” Fingers curling into a fist, she grabbed for the courage she needed to remain strong. “I just know how you feel about me lately.”

“Oh? Do tell.” Rufus’ voice sounded unenthused, making her wonder if she should even bother.

“I know you don't want to believe me, but you have to when I say I would not command an assassination on you.”

The chair he was sitting in moaned against his weight as he leaned back to take in every word she uttered. Whether before others or in private, there was nothing that would have her plea this hard for innocence. Not unless…

“Then everything you said prior to this mess,” Rufus began, thinking back on their moments working together, “they were not a lie?”

“No!” The answer left Sheepy so swiftly that there was hardly a single thing that caged her honest emotions. Still, she felt helpless and it was there she turned and headed for the elaborate bed display not far from the table. Her back to him, she embraced herself as she slouched forward. “I’ve said it all in many different ways how I care about you, but I guess it all falls on deaf ears, huh? Do you really care more about your company than anything else?”

There was a heavy silence that filled the room before Rufus took to his feet and headed towards her. “What of yourself? Do you care so much about the planet that making the lives of others easier means nothing?” His hand rested upon her shoulder, squeezing her there tightly. “Do I mean nothing?”

She shook her head, their hands joining before turning to face him. “I care about you, but I feel your desire to see what you want through to the end is corrupted.”

Rufus nearly recoiled from her honesty, but he didn't feel completely wounded by it.

“But I will stay,” she whispered. “Till the bitter end, even if you make the dumbest choices…” Her palm moved boldly to his cheek to cradle him there. “...I will stay. And if it’s every move AVALANCHE makes that will make you happy, then I will tell you about it without pause…” Still, she froze, hating to say this to rat out her own team, but she knew there was something underneath Rufus that wasn't sinister as everybody thought. Besides, this was part of their original deal. “...Whatever shows I am not a traitor to you, I will do it.”

His grip coiled about hers, and it was there she worried he would deny her.

But he didn't.

Moving her hand to his lips, it was there he kissed her with a breath that ignited life within him once more. No matter what she thought of his choices, just knowing she would still remain beside him was enough to have the thorned barrier about his heart wither once more.

It encouraged her to fall into his embrace, her body feeling as though it were the first time in a century since she had done such a thing.

Rufus’ fingers toyed with the band that kept her curly hair up in the ponytail she often had it styled within. The moment it was let free, he found himself envious of the curls that kissed upon her skin in place of him. To sate his greed, his lips met hers and it was there the breath of her filled his lungs and enthralled his heart.

Her own raced with his, as she boldly worked on removing his coat in need to feel of him in some form. She wanted to be a part of him beyond simple words, and even his own actions would show he too desired her.

It was that fraction of him that felt caged, finally let free to explore the soul of the other he had grown closer to beyond a mere business transaction. Like a flawless dance, he escorted her towards the bed the moment he was able to remove the dress that dared mock his advances.

Sheepy sat upon the side of the bed as Rufus’ lips journeyed about her body. The mere flash of her throat when she moaned enticed him to move his lips together to gently pluck at her skin before they found their way to her breast.

Her eyes closed, leaning into his advances. She felt as his hands gripped upon her as though he worried she would dare try to get away. But now that once stone cold and emotionless grip had turned into something of wanting. Something desiring more, as it had built up over the past few years of the two working closely together.

Her mind went blank the moment she felt his fingers caressing her underwear. Even Rufus paused in doing so, his eyes catching hers as he asked without words if she wanted him to continue. Even if greed raked through every inch of him, he wasn't going to take what he wasn't allowed.

Sheepy nodded, her breathing having hastened and it was there she felt as the fabric kissed her thighs in a seductively slow manner before they soon laid to rest upon the floor along with her shoes. The warmth of his breath caressed the lips of her entrance, making a sharp cry quiver from her body.

“F-Fuck…!” she swore sweetly, fingers buried within his hair to encourage him onward.

Rufus’ own moan added to the wet warmth of her womanhood, his tongue flicking across her petals to taste of what he could only envision in his wildest dreams. To him, it was sweet like honey. He desired more. With one last slow and steady flick of his tongue against her clit did he remove himself from between her legs and motion towards the bed.

“Lie down,” he insisted, using his fingertips to dab away his saliva and her own essence that mixed with it.

Doing as he asked, she watched as he removed the rest of his own clothing. The intoxication of the moment was so strong, she could only think to open her arms and beckon for him back into her embrace. 

He soon held her body close, clasping her in a sort of hug that felt far from erotic in nature. Sheepy couldn't help but be a bit caught off guard by it. It was a hug that she least expected from someone such as him—as if saying ‘don't go’ without a single word being uttered.

“R-Rufus…?” She didn't mean to sound so informal with him, but the moment coaxed it out of her.

He closed his eyes, shaking his head to the best of his ability as his fingers dug into the small of her back. “It’s nothing,” he whispered, but those words held a lie of sorts that she didn't bother to probe about.

His hands guided her to find comfort on the covers of the bed. His own grip trailed upon the length of her arm before having his fingers rest between the divide of her own. The head of his cock kissed her entrance ever sweetly to where Sheepy’s toes curled and her back arched in desperate want of him.

As though he were greeting her for the first time, he brought the back of her hand up towards him where he kissed her there as he slowly—inch by inch—pushed himself within her. The tight warmth was spirituous for him, causing his other free hand to grab at her thigh to keep himself steady. Her body in kind kissed every inch of him, encouraging Rufus to near madness he would have embraced, but he would not see himself harm the one he had grown close to.

Never would he see himself as heartless as his father.

Sheepy’s heels dug into Rufus’ lower back, trying to encourage him onward as her moans grew louder and closer together. Odd to say for a spy, but she could care less how obvious she was being behind those walls. “G-Gods… damn…!” she whimpered, her body moving to meet every rhythmic thrust he offered. As the welcomed, merciless minutes passed on, the walls of her body throbbed upon him, giving an early warning she would climax. “I-I’m going to cum…!” Her nails pricked at his skin best they could given their length, and it was there she felt him steady himself.

“Then do so,” Rufus whispered near her mouth, tasting the warmth she breathed and acting as though it were as intoxicating as any wine he could sample. His palm cradling her warm cheek, he urged her back into a deep kiss.

Just as before, it gave him life—chasing away his worries that weighed him down.

Sheepy’s body shook, her moan muffled by Rufus’ desire to swallow her wish to be far more vocal than she was. The moment he felt her body clamp firmly upon his length, he grunted and even steeled himself before his lips parted from hers.

Breaking the string of saliva that connected them, he moaned with a grunt to follow as the warmth of his release soon bloomed within her body.

She whimpered, the erotic temptation swelled within her and urged her to embrace the president in a duplicate manner that she felt from him earlier. Burying her face within the nook of his warm neck, she sighed heavily in relief that all her feelings weren't just delusions of grandeur. That they were indeed reciprocated. 

Rufus found rest beside her under the covers, as he cradled her hand back to him once more where he kissed her there again and again. His brow furrowed before his eyes looked at her. “I pray you know I still aim to stop AVALANCHE every step of the way.”

Sheepy hesitantly nodded, her fingers toying with the rogue strands of his blond hair that fell from place.

“But if there is one thing I will not tolerate, it is heartache.” He murmured it rather gently, but there was a small form of a threat buried within it. “No matter the ‘dumb choices I make’—Well, I am holding you to that, Sheepy.”

She didn't curl up in fear. If anything, she only moved closer to where she nuzzled against his bare chest. “Don't take my words for lies. Even for a spy, I speak honestly to those I care about.”

[sheepie-self-ships]

PART 4 | First Part | Prev Part

HERE IT IS FINALLY IVE LITERALLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE SEPTEMBER!!! This is I believe the final comic part, but (HOPEFULLY 🤞) there is a fic coming soon to say what happens next. I’m gonna start to post about the wedding a bit more, put up some polls even tho narratively they’re still not engaged but whateverrrr it’s my selfship story and I get to decide how messed up the chronological timeline is

THAT BEING SAID THE WEDDING IS JUNE 25th BE THERE OR BE SQUARE /lh

I’ll go over it more in a separate post later I’m tired (nearly 4 am)

Let me know if you’d like to be added/removed from my Taglist!!

@scaramutual @okiria @scientistkerberos @arsene-fixates @dreamwinged

@thetalesofforest @sunflawyer @l0v3sickl0s3r @charge2005 @wuffverine

@catships777 @sparkyscissorhands @natetrx-selfships-n-shit @dreamspace24 @varganardi

@moxanji-real

[sadtrashking]

a mspaint wip surrounded by doodles

The characters on the left with writing belong to @transbeeduo and @terezicaptor

[cheerleaderman]

Got inspo from Angel and Syder to do these

( @offorestsongs Silverflame? 👀👉👈)

[sprucestairs]

Lucifer: Whether you like it or not, this exchange program is happening. Also, Solomon has already managed to turn the poor human into some kind of satyr. Can you PLEASE at least TRY to be cordial?

Belphie: k👍

also Belphie: *immediately starts dominance battling the new ram on his turf*

Damien, who doesn't know why he hates this guy: man fuck you.

~~~

Lucifer, setting down his cup of tea: ... and I just don't know how to make them get along! I know Belphie hates humans, but Damien seems to instigate their headbutting matches in equal measure! And he refuses to let Solomon perform any more spells on him that could turn him back into a normal human!

Barbatos, who has spent the last 20 minutes trying to figure out how to bring up the fact that if you have two unfamiliar male sheep in the same territory and don't introduce them properly they will get aggressive: mhm.

i have no energy to write so you're just getting this vague idea I've had for a while about my oc and Belphie being haters

[dr-vintura-o-serif]

“Choose Wisely…”

***TW: Stained/Old Blood***

“One weeps tears of truths…”

“The other screams laughter of lies…”

[p00kietin]

@hiimtracher I know the original challenge was to make us in the animal crossing style but then I got inspired by my childhood toy and made an oc instead lol

The childhood toy in question's original name is Sheepy but I wanted to go with a nicer name :>

Also just traced the sheep villager shape itself btw-

[sheepydwagondraws]

I love drawing Addisons tbh,,, minimal palettes my beloved <3 this one is Penn owned by @criticalgh0st !

[sheepcreature]

i offer yall more sheep posting while i continue getting ready for artfight

[maxellera]

There's an old saying that a third time's the charm. At least it's what Toji has heard. Being given another chance at life once more, his soul and body fully restored again; the man returns back to his old habits. Though lately, he's been crossing paths with a florist. On a small whim, he makes a bet with her; little did he know he would be in for the ride of his newfound given life. Or perhaps one of God's best jokes has gone on longer than it should...

Author's Note: Because I always feel inspired by @oreo-creampies and many other authors who write for JJK X reader, I decided to upload something of my own that I've only shared with a few close friends ✨️♥️ Its a collection of drabbles that l've made for a canonxoc couple ☺️ and I think you guys might enjoy it. Each drabble will be a reference to a plant, herb, or flower; I'll try to write in order of the events. But we may jump around in no particular pattern. Some of these may even be aus. Now, let's get started

Credits!!: all dividers were made by @adornedwithlight!!

✿ Pairing: Toji x oc

✿ warnings: Everything is 18+ and adult themes.

✿ synopsis: Indifference is the opposite of life and love, not death and hate. But the complete complacency that poisons all compassion and desire. He would have preferred to stay there for the rest of his life...but then he saw her.

▷ Candytuft: a European plant with small heads of white, pink, or purple flowers. Meaning: indifference.

The first and only time Toji ever felt fear was being thrown into that darken room in the Zen'in compound. The second time, he would only admit this to himself, is when his eyes open, slowly adjusting to the filtered light of the abandoned temple...Alive. He's alive again...

"-Aaaaaaaaand coming in third place is boat number 2!" A grumble of Japanese and the crinkle of paper being tossed. The stench of cigarette smoke, body odor, arousal, whiskey; delicious and enticing aromas for a normal, average man in a bar. It would have enticed him, too, minus the whiskey. And yet, the dark-haired man didn't find it as stimulating during his last two lives.

Then again, he doesn't really count his second revival as a "life"; he only recalled the small conversation he had with Megumi before stabbing himself in the head. Since he's been alive, his life has returned to his routine as it was in his first one; taking bounties, gambling, meanless sex that made him feel more used and hollow. Wandering from woman to woman...The same thing that's familiar to him.

Until he smelled her. Something foral, feminine, sweet, and warm; each time, he tried searching for the woman with the pretty scent. His thin brows furrowed down and moss eyes narrowed in mild agitation as he scanned the people in the bar...There she stood.

She wore a form-fitting outfit consisting of a cream-colored, off-the-shoulder sweater with long sleeves and a high-waisted, pale pink skirt that extends down to the ankles that were wrapped in pink silk and matching heels. Her sweater has a textured cable-knit pattern, and the skirt has a smooth appearance. Though the first two things that caught his attention: the long waves of chestnut hair that reached past her derriere and her loud and boisterous voice. Why someone like her was in a seedy place like this bar is beyond him (he was half tempted to assume she was there to find some fun) but seeing her play darts, pool, and cards; always laughing and cheering on the patrons who crowded around her.

It's then and only then did he finally get to see her face, his breath caught in his throat for a bit. Toji likened himself to have met many pretty faces and she was no different. Except for her eyes, a beautiful golden hazel color. Warm...inviting...compassionate...A flower within the bleak and cruel world. She cheers happily, her buxom body boucing for joy as she won another round of pool. Flashing a smile at the other man, she chuckles sweetly.

He pressed the cigarette to his lips, taking a slow inhale. Quite a loud and oblivious little thing she is, perhaps foolish. Scoffing lightly, he returns his gaze to the television. Ignoring when he senses another woman latch herself to him.

"Haha, that was so much fun!" Her voice has an accent, not American, it sounded...German? Probably. "Oh don't pout~ Next time, you can take me out on a date if you win. Danke, for the drinks though!" She gives the unfortunate man an airy kiss, beaming as she grabs her purse. Then her form moves with grace as she hurried her little self out the bar, heels click clacking as she escapes. Completely unware Toji's nonchalant gaze following her.

"Hey handsome~!" Hah...And here comes this cycle again...

"Hey doll."

He enjoys the routine. Nothing but good fun.

But lately, it just feels...

Empty.

And yet that small glimpse of the golden eyed woman...

He's smirking down at the other pretty lady who's blushing up at him.

Maybe next time I'll talk to her...

"Sonnenblume, I'm home~!" The buxom brunette enters her house, removing her heels and sliding her feet into the house slippers. Smiling until she sighs lightly. "Oh that's right, she's away-"

"I'm right here." The woman nearly jumps, whirling around to face her daughter, her head tilted up and hands on her hips as her foot taps. "I've told you not to do that! Seriously, how are you so quiet?"

The taller female chuckles lowly, her plush lips pulled into a smirk. "Entschuldigung, Mama. I can't help it." Finally the other woman stalks forward, towering over her mother. The brunette sighs, her smile returning.

"Whatever am I going to do with you?"

"Don't be like that."

"Then yoooou stop scaring me, I'm still young." Her daughter merely rolls her eyes playfully. Then those glowing crimson eyes observe her mom, blue brows narrowing a little at the stench that clung to her. She refrains from saying anything. She knows that her mom can take care of herself.

For now. Until it's appropriate to ask.

Straightening up, she follows Cheryl into the kitchen, her own voluptuous form leaning against the counter. Lean, muscular arms crossed under her bosom as she watched her make some tea. "Are you sure you'll be fine alone? I can stick around longer..."

"Nein, nein," the brunette waves her hand, "Your education is important. So don't worry about me, ja? I'll be fine." Those ruby hues were turning glacial. "Sonnenblume, I'm meant what I said. Don't try to change my mind."

Her daughter merely huffs lightly. The head ultramarine blue looks away. "Fine. But...Just call or text me, I'll be there." Cheryl hums softly, lifting the cup to her lips and takes a sip. Its strange. Lately it feels like she's being watched but everytime she looked over her should for a bit, those honey hues found nothing. It only confused the woman more when she would return home from the bar.

Maybe, she takes another sip of her tea. Maybe I'm overthinking it. Ja! Oh, and I should try dating again instead of constantly flirting? But oh what if I get stood up again? Ah! Nein, nein, stay focused, Cher! Get your daughter through college first, then you can have your cake too.

Renewed and feeling more assured, the woman suggested that she and the bluenette head to the front room to watch a movie. Which her daughter didn't object to.

[sheepie-self-ships]

DRESS SHOPPING!!

Time to go to the dress shop oh boy do I hope they have a dress that suits my needs and styles…

Oh…

Well… that’s not…

Wait, there is this one, maybe we could try that?

Oh!! Yep,

Taglist!! Lmk if you’d like to be added or removed!

@scaramutual @okiria @scientistkerberos @arsene-fixates @dreamwinged

@thetalesofforestsblog @sunflawyer @l0v3sickl0s3r @charge2005 @catships777

@sparkyscissorhands @natetrx-selfships-n-shit @dreamspace24 @varganardi @moxanji-real

@eternally-selfshipping @lizardposting @celestetheseaunicorn @achangelingslove @3lectro-heart

@cupid-selfships

[thefandomcassandra]

There Are Monsters in the Woods

The war is over. The Heroes have died—killed at the hands of the awful Invaders—and the Sovereign Army is falling to pieces, but the war is over. The fake moon has fallen out of the sky, a rain of Living Fire and metal and corpses, and the night sky only shows the stars again.

In their shelters, in the ruins of towns and cities, the children wait with the elders and wonder if they'll ever get to see the wider world. It sounds like they might one day, but only if they're lucky.

The elders talk about Futurum before the war. About green trees turning a myriad colors with the seasons, about the grey and green of the ocean where it met the blue sky, about the smell of the world after it rained. They sigh and paint a world that seems so nice and so far away.

The scouts say the Living Fires—the small patches that burn endlessly just like the wall that used to circle the Invader fortress like a living defense—have sputtered out to ash and embers. They say the cities should be salvageable, if the Invaders haven't taken everything and stripped the resources out of the husks. They say that the woods are healthy, that the rivers run clean, that the oceans are filled with trash but only near the shore. They say there's hope.

They say they saw the Invaders walking around and that nobody should leave the shelters just yet.

There are monsters in the woods. Horrible things that look like people, naked and shambling. They have two legs and two arms, a head and two eyes, a mouth that speaks nonsense that almost is words, they have holes in their chest where their hearts should be.

They call out, "Hello? Hello?" You shouldn't answer.

They cry out, "I know you're there!" You shouldn't answer.

They scream out, "Where are you?!" You shouldn't answer.

If you answer they'll catch you.

If they catch you, they'll take you back to their den in the ruins of their fortress and eat you up, their sharp teeth perfect for tearing into meat.

If they catch you, they'll suck your blood and discard your body, broken and black, scattering it to pieces against Futurum's surface.

If they catch you, they'll make you just like them...an undying heretical thing that breaks every one of the covenants by merely existing.

There are monsters in the woods so nobody is allowed to go outside just yet.

——

Ohriro tugs on Me'szan's shirt, wet eyes welling with tears. He kneels down so that he's at her level and reaches out so that she can initiate comforting contact if she wants it. She shoves her head into his hand and he gently runs his fingers through her hair, careful to avoid pulling too hard when he catches on tangles.

"What's the matter?" He asks.

She sniffles, unwilling to talk for a bit, then answers him in a voice so soft he has to strain to hear her properly. "I saw a monster."

His hand stops, his mind catching on her seeing a monster. What monster? Where? He remembers the elders' talks about the Children of the Stars and their Invaders, yeah, but also of the Sovereign Army's Battle Chimeras and of the long-lost G'ie. Which monsters did she see? What is the danger? How does he react?

"What?"

"I was - we weren't supposed to go, I know that," Ohriro's stuttering and stammering response breaks his heart. He knows she's scared and apologetic and to think that it upset her this badly makes him sad too but he's more worried than sad. "But we wanted to go outside. There wasn't gonna be a dust storm for a couple hours and it was cool and we weren't going far, we didn't go far but it was standing there and it maybe saw us and—"

"What monster?" He needs to know. He needs to know. When he knows he can determine if he needs to tell the elders so they can decide what to do.

"The ones that look like people. An Invader."

"Where?"

——

There are monsters in the woods. Many monsters with many shapes and sizes, many dangers.

One of them has blood-red eyes and a sharp tail that cuts trees down in single swings. It laughs eerily as it does so, its cackles like birdsong echoing out in the carved out hollows it leaves behind. It never prays to apologize to God for taking lives or to Futurum for hurting her. It never stops to replace the trees it takes. It just takes and takes and takes, hauling back entire plants to its den to make large fires that blot the skies with acrid smoke that smells of meat.

We fold our hands to pray in its stead. We close our eyes and wish that Futurum will forgive us for being unable to stop the monsters.

Surely God will forgive us because what are we supposed to do? There are monsters in the woods and we are all that's left.

——

The five of them sneak out of the shelter undetected, a mixed group of older and younger kids. The younger two hold hands so tight their knuckles turn white, bloodless from fear. The older kids hold makeshift weapons—except Me'szan, who has an actual bow with actual arrows, both gifts from the elders as a coming-of-age present and a reminder that he's on the cusp of being a scout—and they all walk as a single unit. A messy blob that creeps out from under the hidden overhang that shields their shelter from detection, spreading out slightly in the midday sky.

"There won't be another dust storm for a few hours," Quix'un checks a weather reader, marking the sun against the color of the sky and the shape and shade of the clouds. "We should hurry."

"Where did you see the Invader?" Me'szan asks the two youngest.

Ohriro looks up at him, eyes filled with the same panic as before, and looks around. As she bites her lower lip, trying to remember, Xadda tugs on her hand and whispers in her ear. She turns back to Me'szan and the others and says, "That way." She points down the street, over a large mountain of rubble and past a big building whose ruined sign says 'Toys' in peeling paint. "We climbed over the hill and could see the woods."

"The woods?!" Quix'un hisses, horror obvious to all of them.

Nobody is allowed near the woods. Not even the scouts. The Invader's fortress is past the woods. There are monsters there.

"We didn't mean to be near the woods but—" Ohriro shrinks down, tears welling up again.

Thankfully, before Xadda could get any more distressed, Tanna-zal gives them a kind smile. "It's okay. We know you didn't mean to." He leans on his iron-pipe spear like nothing is wrong. It's a mask for the younger two. "But you know why we're worried, right?"

Ohriro and Xadda both nod and hum in affirmation.

"Then let's go." They don't have time to waste. Whether or not they have a couple hours before the next dust storm, the elders and scouts will notice they're missing sooner or later. Me'szan leads the charge, walking towards where the youngest kids saw the Invader.

If it's real...if it's actually there and it didn't kill them...

Maybe they can talk it out.

(But hopefully it isn't real and the little kids were just scared and jumping at shadows.)

——

There are monsters in the woods. Scary monsters who would eat us if they saw us.

One of them flies up to the mountains with wings made of blood and blackened bone, dribbling all over the land as it goes. Its wings turn into gross limbs that it uses to cling to the cliffsides, its mate or bonded other climbing off of its back to use its second mouth to bore holes into the mountain with bursts of crimson light. The two of them function as one, their range a horrifying several miles, and they're some of the most dangerous of the monsters.

They tear resources out of Futurum's body and fly it all back to their nest—the ruins of the old Invader fortress—to use in courtship rituals. Their back and forth singing is like a warning, their bright pink eyes spotlights from above.

We don't walk out in the open, worried that they'll find us if we do. After all, if the monsters can get us from above - if the monsters can see us, then they can find the rest of the shelter by tracking just one of us. All it takes is a single mistake.

We can't afford that so we don't walk without cover because there are monsters in the woods and they have keen eyes for hunting and killing prey.

——

Eventually they find the exact spot Ohriro and Xadda say they saw the monster. The two won't get any closer, huddling in the shell of a building, eyes wide. Tanna-zal kneels down and hands them both his spear.

"But—!"

He cuts Ohriro off before she can protest. "Me'szan has his bow and Quix'un has a radar and their sling. We won't be caught off-guard and if we are, I want to make sure you're safe and hidden, okay? So stay here, hold on to that, and don't move. I won't let it hurt you." It's something the Paragon of Hatred had said to him, when he rescued Tanna-zal and his elders from an attack from the Children of the Stars. It had brought him hope then and it should give them hope now.

"Tanna-zal!" Me'szan calls to him, eyes on the horizon. "Come help."

They want to be blowing things out of proportion. They want it to be the fears of two little kids playing where they shouldn't but even the scouts saw the Invaders long after the Living Fire sputtered out.

Within moments they're proven wrong.

There's a monster on the horizon. It isn't hard to mistake what they're seeing for anything other than an Invader. It could be a Child of the Stars—Invaders are Children of the Stars, after all—but the gaping hole in its blackened chest, the eerie fire that fills the hollow like a heart, is more than enough to mark it as an Invader.

It stops in place, like it's as startled to see them as they are, it.

Me'szan nocks an arrow and readies himself to fire. He doesn't draw just yet but he won't discount the need.

At his side, Quix'un slips a chunk of metal into their sling, wide eyes flicking between the radar in their off-hand and the Invader. "I didn't - it didn't register as a lifeform."

"It's okay." Me'szan is the oldest. He has to be the leader, even if he's just as scared. "They might have countermeasures. Remember the Paragon of Harmony was able to become anyone. She knew that the Children of the Stars had technology that sometimes rivaled ours. Could be a jammer."

He doesn't know what he's talking about but they can't panic. If they panic they're dead.

Thankfully, Tanna-zal understands what he's doing and echoes his energy and thoughts. "Eyes up, Quix'un. Give me the radar, okay?" The device passes hands and Quix'un readies their sling, same as Me'szan's bow.

The Invader hasn't moved since they first saw it. Why hasn't it—?

"I don't wanna hurt ya."

It talks.

It talks.

They know that Invaders can talk. It's part of why they're so dangerous—Invaders and the Children of the Stars are good at imitating people, hiding in plain sight back when nobody knew the difference—but to hear one talk is...

Its voice is rough but low. It reminds Me'szan of one of the scouts, an older girl who had part of her throat crushed when a building collapsed while she was in it. Raspy but kind.

Invaders aren't kind. This thing isn't kind. It's just trying to trick them.

Me'szan aims at the Invader, tries to keep the fear from showing. Can Invaders smell fear? Can they see through cloth to bare faces? Do they have the ability to look past masks at things only God and your loved ones should see?

He doesn't speak but doesn't move. Quix'un, in imitation, readies their sling, although Me'szan can feel them shaking slightly. Tanna-zal bumps his hand against their leg and they calm a bit.

In their hiding space, Ohriro and Xadda clutch Tanna-zal's spear to their chests, hands over each other's mouths. Their wide eyes watch on in horror as the older kids stand against a lone Invader.

There is never only one Invader.

"Look...I brought food." The Invader holds up a bag like its showing it off to them. "That's all I wanted."

Did it - did it think they would trust it?

Me'szan doesn't lower his bow, doesn't speak. The Invader turns its golden eyes to him, scarred face twisting weirdly. The fire in its chest writhes and pulses, flickering tongues curling at the exposed muscle of its burn chest.

"It's canned, unopened. Water too." It sets the bag down, not breaking eye-contact. "All unopened. No meat."

Children of the Stars can't really talk, they can only mimic words. Invaders are Children of the Stars but worse. Invaders can't talk.

This Invader isn't talking to them.

It can't be because if it is—

"I didn't mean to scare 'em. That's all..." The bag is by its feet and it's backing up, hands where Me'szan, Quix'un, and Tanna-zal can see them. Scarred palms facing towards them, it continues to slowly retreat. "You don't gotta - you ain't obligated to eat it or nuthin' just...I know you're hungry."

They watch it as it continues to retreat, their silence sharp as knives. It cannot know Ohriro and Xadda are there. It cannot hurt them. If anyone is going to be hurt it'll be them.

If they manage to escape, they'll tell the scouts and the elders and maybe they'll have to move again, but they won't be near the Invaders.

It'll be worth it for the safety.

"Sorry." When it says that, Me'szan almost believes it.

It disappears over the horizon, out of sight. They don't let their guard down.

"We have thirty minutes before the next storm." Tanna-zal's quiet checking of the weather reader breaks the silence. "We need to go."

"One moment." Me'szan breaks from the group—ignoring everyone's panicked cries as he tears towards where the Invader had been standing—and grabs at the bag it left behind. It's a dusty green—the type of color that easily blends in with shrubbery, easy to hide, hard to find if you're not looking too close—and made of a sturdy fabric. Probably water-repellant. Good for carrying a lot of things at once, the straps sewn on with a pattern that looks like some kind of code, criss-crossing a square so strongly that even a Hero would have issues tearing it off. Like the Invader said, it's filled with unopened cans and bottles. All of it is labeled in a weird language Me'szan can't read but it looks safe.

It wasn't lying.

"We can't take it back!" Quix'un is the first to speak up. Of course they were opposed. "What if they're poisoned?"

"They can't be." Tanna-zal points to the lack of pull-tabs, dents, or holes. "None of them are opened or tampered with."

"How do you know?!"

Food. Good food. Lots of food and water. This is...

Even if it came from an Invader it's...

"We found this while sneaking outside to scavage." It's not a full lie but—

"What?"

"It was hidden. We're pretty sure it's safe, but just in case..."

Tanna-zal's eyes light up in understanding. "The elders will check."

"You plan on trusting an Invader?!"

"It's food!"

"Invader food!"

"It could have killed us and it didn't."

"It might be playing the long con!"

"Why did it let Ohriro and Xadda go? Was that part of the long con too?"

"I—"

"Guys!" Me'szan and Quix'un stop arguing and focus on Tanna-zal. "We don't have time. Grab the bag and let's go!"

They truly don't have time to argue. The wind is already kicking up and the trip back to the shelter is almost thirty minutes if they walk. If they run, it's still pushing it.

Tanna-zal picks up Ohriro, Quix'un picks up Xadda, and Me'szan carries the bag as they dash back home.

They don't tell anyone about the Invader.

They eat really well that week.

——

There are monsters in the woods. Sometimes they don't even move and that's somehow worse than if they were actively looking for us.

One of the monsters is a giant with a dog's face in its chest and horns forking out of its head. When it's provoked, the dog unhinges its jaw like a snake and fires pure energy out for miles, turning anything caught in it into ash and dust and leaving behind only the smell of lightning in the air.

It stands in front of the ruins of their fortress and watches the horizon for hours on end. It never once moves, nor does it eat nor sleep. It remains, steadfast, an unyielding guard against any stealth advances.

Sometimes its chest opens up and a smaller Invader climbs out of where its heart should be. The smaller Invader scrambles out, the chest of the bigger Invader swinging closed, and it clambers up to the shoulder of the bigger Invader. Once there, it stares up at the sky as if it's looking for something.

Eventually they both disappear as if they were never there. How they move so silently is unknown, only that it makes them all the more dangerous.

There is no place to approach the Invader fortress from with that monster watching. We couldn't infiltrate even if we thought we could gain anything from it.

God will forgive us our fear and stagnation. Inaction born of a difference in strength isn't a sin and not all of us are Heroes. None of us have Divine Blood. None of us stand a chance against the remaining Invaders.

So, like it, we remain stationary. There are monsters in the woods and we are far weaker than they are.

——

One of the elders—an older elder, one who remembers Futurum from before the war with the Children of the Stars started—says that the Children of the Stars aren't so different from Futurans. The others quickly shush her, try and keep her quiet because what if the children get ideas, but if she's alone and someone asks nicely, she tells them about why she thinks that way.

Back before the war was really bad and the cities were all gone, sometimes Children of the Stars would take over entire buildings and start using the facilities like they owned the place. The elder was a worker at the time, a nobody. It's why she wasn't conscripted to the Sovereign Army. But the building across from where she worked got infested with Children of the Stars and, with the Heroes busy dealing with the Children of the Stars' horrible war machines, it was her and her coworkers' duties to drive them out and kill them.

She knew, of course, that Children of the Stars looked like people. She just wasn't prepared for how much like people they actually looked like.

The only one she found alive was huddled in a corner, gripping some kind of mask against its face. It was wearing a white jacket, like a scientist. It was young, although an adult. It shook with fear.

It said something. Held something up in its hand like it was warding the elder away. It looked like a container of spray aerosol.

The elder didn't know what it was saying as it screamed at her. She just knew that it had to go. It was the last one left.

The Child of the Stars shattered the thing in its hand and threw its mask at the elder, screaming. Blood poured out of its nose and mouth as it seized on the ground, coughing horribly. It wept as it died.

The elder would have died too but she put on the mask it threw at her and only suffered minor effects. She was ineligible for conscription after that due to irreparable nerve damage.

She wasn't even useful as an armature.

"That Child of the Stars saved my life at the expense of its own." She always says this with conviction. It is, after all, the most important part of the story.

The other elders and scouts talk down at her about it. They say that the Child of the Stars hadn't meant to save her, just to kill itself and her with it. They say it was a fluke. That Children of the Stars and the Invaders are unthinking, unfeeling monsters. That she shouldn't encourage fantasies like that.

What most people in the shelter don't know is that she has proof that the Children of the Stars are people.

"After I was discharged with a clean bill of health," she leans in close and winks conspiratorially, "I went back to the building with a mask and respirator. Covered head-to-toe, I looked for its body so I could pray for it. While I was there, I found this." She pulls out a picture, creased so badly that parts of the photograph are faded lines.

It's of two Children of the Stars and a much younger one. The older Children of the Stars seem almost proud of the younger one, their hands on the shoulders of the younger, a comforting smile on their faces.

"I looked like this." Her crooked finger taps the younger Child of the Stars. "I looked like its loved one and it couldn't kill me."

(The food isn't poisoned, nor is the water. Me'szan wonders for days afterwards what he should do about the Invader. Eventually he asks Quix'un and Tanna-zal for advice and they argue for almost an hour before coming to an agreement.)

(Maybe this Invader isn't a monster. Maybe their Invader is a person.)

(Or maybe they just got lucky.)

(Who can say?)

——

There are monsters in the woods. They don't always stay confined to the woods, however.

One of them rides up and down the ruined streets in a vehicle that bleeds. The engine screams like a living thing, the blood-tinted windows opaque so that nobody can see the Invader inside driving. Still, sometimes people can hear it shrieking and crying as it tears down empty streets, challenging any who dare to a race.

The death-bringers mounted to its roof are enough to deter even the bravest among us. If you were to lose, well, it's likely that it would open fire and you'd be dead.

Even if you were to win, it's unlikely that you'd be spared, as it doesn't like losing—considering the war and how hard it's still fighting.

The woods are dangerous, yes, but if you hear the roaring of something, run and hide. It's coming. It's coming.

It will pursue you endlessly.

There are monsters in the woods and we are not fast enough to outrun them.

——

They build a shrine. Slowly, in pieces, in parts, they build a small standing shrine in the city whenever they get a chance. Me'szan, Ohriro, Xadda, Tanna-zal, and even Quix'un put together a reminder of the place the Invader chose not to kill them. It's a group decision, against all odds, though Me'szan is the one who brings up the idea, to honor the elder who talks about the Children of the Stars being people.

Maybe the Invaders are people too. Maybe it'll understand the importance of shrines. Maybe it'll leave offerings there, like they plan on doing.

It's based on some of the old ones made for God, the old ones meant to thank Futurum for taking care of them, the pretty woman a representation of her to guard the offering bowl. They put together small standing table, a tablecloth that makes it look pretty, and a clay statue stand-in, like all good shrines are supposed to have. The statue is small and messy but Ohriro makes it with shaky hands and red mud she carves up with her own fingers. There's curves and whorls in the clay where she digs in too hard, baked in the sun and sandstorms, yellow-dusted from the weather, cracked in places.

Xadda covers his fingers in pigments and paints the statue in bright hues—as bright as they cane make, red and yellow and white—to make it 'good enough to be real'.

"Isn't it real?" Tanna-zal asks, confused as to why they're treating it like it's just some joke. "We're thanking God aren't we? It's real, so it's always going to be good enough."

Quix'un sniffs, tilts their head at Tanna-zal. "Are we thanking God?"

"Thanking God that the Invader didn't eat us." Tanna-zal answers. Quix'un hunches their shoulders and goes back to grinding pigments for Xadda. Chunky yellow powder puffs up in their face and they turn away to sneeze, dusting their cloth mask with color.

"Fair."

They smuggle the pieces out to the roadside one at a time, in smaller groups than just the five of them. Sometimes Xadda says he wants to go get paints or clay or something from the ruins and then one of the older kids goes with him—usually Me'szan because he's 'responsible' in the eyes of the elders. Sometimes it's Me'szan and Quix'un 'practicing with their ranged weapons'—not ever a full lie—heading out to a firing range nearby. Once it was Tanna-zal and Ohriro foraging for medicinal herbs.

Eventually it's set up and the five of them scrape together an excuse to go visit it with proper offerings. Why the elders didn't immediately assume they were up to no good remains to be seen, but they bundle up, bring along their weapons for defense, and head out with a five hour grace period between dust storms.

As they walk, Quix'un checks the weather reader against the sky. "We might get rain tomorrow."

"Rain?!" Xadda looks delighted, his soft voice a rarity even with as much time they spend as a group. "We can play?"

"If the elders say," Ohriro answers, her small eyes turned up at the clouds billowing above them. The idea of rain—not storms, not floods, but the first rain of summer—is appealing. Summer rains are warm breaths of life and even the oldest kids in the shelter—Me'szan included—want to see a world awash in new life and they certainly want to smell what Futurum used to be like before they all hid in shelters. "But won't that be fun?"

Tanna-zal grins at them both. "Imagine the mud dango you can make with fresh mud? Summer mud?"

It keeps them occupied, keeps the thought of the Invader far from the forefront of their minds. Me'szan still is on-edge, bow at the ready and eyes watching the horizon for any movement, but Tanna-zal regales the younger two and Quix'un is too busy navigating to stress.

The shrine is small and slipshod, a clumsy thing made by children of course, but something about it feels sincere. Even if Me'szan isn't blessed by God, he can tell that their belief alone has made this place Important.

An Invader brought them food here. It didn't kill them and, in return, they signal it as a landmark and safe place to any who might walk past.

"Your gifts?" Me'szan turns to the others and waits for them to place their offerings to christen the shrine.

Ohriro steps forward and places a fistful of dried flowers and medicinal herbs. "For health," she says with a solemnity far beyond her age.

Xadda sets one of his favorite wheeled toys there, the fading paint and hand-carved angles of the wood complimenting the homemade statue of Futurm. "For being happy."

Quix'un rolls their eyes but pulls a waterproofed sky-chart from their pocket and places it under the offering bowl like a doily. "For guidance."

Tanna-zal unstraps a small knife from around his neck—the one made from a scrap of one of the Children of the Stars' fire-breathing death machines—and places the blade and the cord it was on next to the bowl. "For vengeance."

Me'szan sets his offering in the bowl itself. A small drawstring bag of seeds, all foraged, all edible. "For sustenance."

The five clasp their hands together and pray. They pray for happiness, for health, for vengeance, for sustenance, for guidance, and for a million other things. They pray that one day, someone will find this shrine and it will be full of offerings and gifts.

(At least one of them prays that the Invaders understand the intent and leave the shrine be.)

(At least one other prays that the Invaders leave offerings of their own, to prove that even monsters can be people.)

Then they stand and walk away, unaware of the golden eyed-monster watching from deep within the woods.

(That same monster steps out and gently leaves a banner draping across the shrine that says something in their strange foreign language. Something that might say something akin to 'we won't forget what we did to you'. Then it turns and leaves, the offering firmly in place.)

(It wanders back into the woods without another sound.)

——

There are monsters in the woods. There used to be more of them, but time kills all things.

The strongest of the monsters, the alpha, has eyes that burn bright like the flames that coat its bladed arm. Bright blue with heat, they flicker in the dark as a warning to any who might stray too far from home.

Beware, for the monster there is the same that killed the Paragon of Hope. It shoved its arm into her chest and devoured her whole. She screamed and cursed it with all of her and its body became covered in bright blue flames and it howled in pain with her.

It is the master of their fortress now. It watches with fiery eyes and stalks the grounds of its territory, a possessive beast. It wrestles and fights any of the other monsters who dare step out of line, its arm sparking bright against their fire-blackened flesh. None dare defy it.

We leave it offerings and carve out our paths to avoid its land. We dare not draw its ire for there are monsters in the woods and it has devoured their god and we do not want it to turn its hungry gaze upon ours.

——

"What are you even doing?!" Kohnsul frowns at her partner.

H'raix keeps her head bowed, keeps her eyes closed, and simply answers, "Praying."

"For what?"

"Things to stay as they are."

Kohnsul laughs, a sharp noise, and shakes her head in admonishment. "As they are? Barely eking out a living farming and foraging? Living in mud huts that almost don't survive the typhoons? How is that good? What about that is worth perpetuating? Shouldn't you want change?!"

"There's an elder in the village I grew up in," H'raix offers instead of an answer, "who remembers the war, even if he was a child when it happened. He says that things used to be worse. As it is, they're only getting better."

"Are things better?!"

"We can see the sky. The forests are growing. The Living Fire is gone. The Children of the Stars aren't a problem. We have food and water and live in villages instead of underground." H'raix counts her blessings as she rummages around in her rucksack for an offering. "So things are better. And I want them to keep getting better."

The importance of what her partner is doing is lost on Kohnsul. "By praying at a beat-up old shrine in the middle of the ruins?"

"By any means." With a bow, H'raix places a rough-made garden trowel with a fired clay handle on the shrine and stands to look back at Kohnsul. "Intent matters, doesn't it?"

"I...guess?" Kohnsul frowns at the shrine. "I don't know why this shrine is even here."

"Well," H'raix says softly, lacing her dirt-covered fingers with Kohnsul's, "according to that same elder: when he was younger, he saw an Invader here and it didn't kill him. This shrine was built to honor that and thank God for keeping him safe."

"Did it work?"

"I think it did." H'raix turns to look back at the shrine, decorated with all sorts of offerings and objects. "After all: there used to be monsters in the woods."

[cheerleaderman]

Late night talk

The Jarid list - @scint1llat3 @jovieinramshackle (let me know if you want to be added to the Jaird or Diya list)

[skriblee-ksk]

Smth based off @natsukishinomiyaswife’s fic here! READ IT!! not just for context but bc its sooo good?? Still shocked with how many people she fit in there.

I was SO happy Kiyuu appeared in there!!! But more than that, Jackiyuu friendship in every universe is smth i strive. Although there is only room for one specific Jack in her heart!!!

Time to talk more about Kiyuu!!

She actually has a lot of doubts abt her relationship with Jack, but in a really really weird way??? She got the aromantic doubts out of her system when she confessed to him, so it’s not about that.

Like if Jack liked someone else, she’d happily give him up so he can be happy, but in a relationship herself, she keeps wondering if she truly is the best fit for him?? Like she wants him to be the happiest he can be, so she treats him with care and love (and is extremely clingy, but she’s always like that), but she keeps wondering if he could be happier. And if so, then with whom?

And then she ends of saying stupid stuff she didn’t think of the deeper implications of. She’s too awkwardly honest!!!! But she just wants him to be happy, that’s it!!!!! 😭😭

I cannot wait for the next part!!! I LOVE THIS GATHERING OF OCS AND YUUS TOO MUCH now that i got jackiyuu out of my system, i’d love to draw kiyuu interacting w the other characters!!

Taglist (ask to be added!!): @kathxrat-01 @distant-velleity @scint1llat3 @elenauaurs @boopshoops

@lumdays @venaue @jewelulu @thehollowwriter

[casually-salad]

you spin them in your hand like a pen and they make noises like your scoring points at an arcade machine

(( original image is from this tumblr post : here ))

[dr-vintura-o-serif]

Meet a new addition to the Smiling Critters: SLEEPY SHEEPY

Text in Photo: Sleepy Sheepy is a calm, yet wise critter; soft-spoken and will happily give helpful advice to any of their friends. Their best advice? To get a good night’s rest. After all, you can’t have a fun filled day if you can barely keep your eyes open.

Scent: German Chamomile

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I’m gonna be doing each character in 3 different styles: the cartoon depiction, the Bigger Body depiction, & one where I basically do an overly detailed redesign because why not.

I’m not gonna lie, in order to get the proportions & style right, I used a technique I saw on YouTube where you basically use different body parts of the critters to create a character.

I also tried to use font that looked similar, but I couldn’t find one that was exactly the same, so sorry if the fonts weird.

I used Bobby’s torso, Bubba’s left arm, Craftycorn’s legs, & Baba’s right arm & head. The wool, face ears, horns, tail, & pendant I freestyle.

I really like how Sleepy turned out and I can’t wait to do the rest, especially the bigger body versions cause I like taking cute things and make them scary.

Also I know the poll isn’t over yet, but I originally wanted it to be open for a few days, not a whole week. Based off the results so far, it seems that I’ll be doing Mary Little next.