#tlmgo

[cthulhuscrawlings]

Breaking

Have you ever had that feeling where it felt like your entire body was caving in? Like if you moved even an inch, your body would break away and nothing would be left? Twas how I felt, while I lay on cold stone. It was cracked-uneven, its roughness biting into my cheek and keeping me focused. I wasn't even sure how this had happend; but perhaps that was a lie. I did know and didn't ease the pain in my abdomen any. If i'd just listened to Raphael, I wouldn't be here-inches away from the still body of my sister. There wasn't blood that I could see, that calmed my breathing. "M..arlee". I'd managed to move my arm, the only one not trapped under a mass of rock. It didn't reach as far as i'd wanted and my fingers dropped lamely next to her face. 'Frustrating'-I thought coldly. I'd struggled slightly against the stone, and felt my ribs start to creak dangerously. No doubt some were already broken. "Griff!!" A voice i'd come to trust, sounded from somewhere beyond me and I grit my teeth. He was here, he was alive. That however, brought several questions to mind. Who'd done this, where were they now and did they possibly have Raph hostage? I'd heard his voice, but no foot-steps had approached. 'Captured then' I thought in a panic. Captured but not hurt, at least he had sounded so. "Raph..ael, who-" I turned my head, chin dragging across the ground beneath me and tearing. Or it had certainly felt that way. Once my eyes had adjusted, I could see Raph ten or so feet from me. He was held down by a man in a hooded cloak. A long blade was held just above the back of his neck and the panic i'd felt flared. How, why? "Leave him...alo..ne" I tried pushing up, my free arm couldn't hold the weight by itself and I ended up collapsing. The rock pinning me, dug even harsher-at this rate I wouldn't be able to keep conscious. I'd made to signal to Raph, perhaps create a distraction. But as I opened my mouth-Marlee moved. "Big...brother?" I saw the cloaked figure turn to her and dread coiled low in my stomach. If she stayed down perhaps he wouldn't notice, maybe I could do something...anything. As he turned to her, I knew that no amount of rationalizing would help. He rose the sword swiftly and brought it down through Raphs shoulder so quickly, raph didn't even scream. It was only as he begun to approach Marlee that a scream tore itself from his throat. "Stay the hell away from her!!!" Now that the man had left him, he'd begun trying to dislodge the blade. He couldn't turn however, and locked eyes with me-desperation and fear in his own. "This blade won't hold me! Get back here and-" But the man was already at Marlee, reaching down and gripping her by the front of her shirt. I heard her small intake of breath and screamed; pushing up again and consequences be damned. "Get away from my sister!!" I felt a rib crack and a coppery taste filled my mouth. Coughing it before me, i'd realized it was blood and my vision swam. Dying, dying, dying-it ran through my head like a mantra, but I kept pushing. "Griffi...". Her pale eyes looked around for me and I felt tears stinging at my eyes. Their presence burning paths down my cheeks and sizzling on the stone beneath me. "Griff-look at me, breathe!" My eyes shot to him, burning behind my eyelids and I watched as he gripped the blade. "I'll get her, I swear on my life". He held my gaze, then pushed to his feet-The blade tearing through his shoulder and spraying blood across the ground. I wanted to scream. "Put...Marlee do..wn". Raph grabbed the blade still stuck in the ground and rushed the man. Before the blade made contact, the man had turned and a dagger found home in Raphs' chest. Marlees' accompanying  scream had me seeing red, and then everything went black. When everything cleared and I could breathe again, I tasted ash and my skin burned. Opening my eyes, I saw Raphael laying on his back and ran to him. Everything was wrong, this wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't possible it couldn't be the truth! "Raph-hey!" I slipped my right arm behind his head and my left hovered over his chest. The dagger was gone, but he wasn't breathing and I couldn't see his eyes. Everything was wrong. "Raphael...who's supposed to be my friend if you're gone?" I let a broken laugh slip from my lips and brought him in close to my chest. It wasn't real, there was no way. I'd wake up any second now, he and Marlee-'Marlee!' my mind roared. Turning frantically I tried to spot her; any scraps of blue or her red hair. Then, there- near where i'd been pinned. A small form. "Marlee!!" With grief in my heart I laid Raph down, and was then fueled with fear. My legs felt like led as I stood to move to her. Everything was heavy, and as I knelt next to her, I collapsed. My side hitting the ground harshly and my breath leaving me in a pained gasp. "Marlee...." My arms moved and my hands settled on her head. She was so silent, so still. "Please...look at me". I used whatever was left in me and pulled her up against my chest. Broken sobs tore themselves from my throat and tears burned behind my eyes. "Please please please",  I ran my hand through her hair lightly, afraid i'd break her more then she was. "I love you, i'm so sorry". She remained motionless against me and I screamed. My ribs shifted, my heart hurt and I couldn't breathe. "Big brother is so sorry..."

[fanastyfinder]

Loving this prompt sharing!! And I’m glad you liked it!

My first FLF: She gazed forward and said softly, "Just because a physical part of you is missing does not mean that you are incomplete or no longer a valid being; your soul is just having a little trouble shining as brightly, that’s all."

awwwwwwwwwwww these are some lovely words of wisdom! it sounds like the speaker is a really kind person and the person they’re speaking to seems like they really need that right now. I hope they can recover from losing part of themselves and shine bright once more!

thank you for joining in with FLF!

[fanastywhump]

Another TLMGO piece by @tenmastrousers, an old commission for a story I wrote forever ago. Premise is that Griffon (redhead) got shot with a poisoned arrow and when he gets a fever, his skin literally burns. Raphael (blond) has to get him stabilized and out of there before the second attack comes.

[fanastywhump]

Got tagged by @newbornwhumperfly to use this picrew and do another round of the gw team. That’s actually, like, a perfect Nyla??? I want to marry her.

I will tag @cubeswhump and @boxboysandotherwhump aaaaaaaand @albino-whumpee ;)

[fanastywhump]

prompt huh? Idk, hekkin infected injuries are hitting it for me right now, or maybe a whumpee scared of their caretakers if infection isn't your thing.

Griffon tried to run it though his mind, run through the crucial steps on infection control, but the brain-scrambling nature of his fever in addition to the putrid smell his leg was giving off proved more challenging than he was able to tackle currently. His bag, where was his bag again? Oh. Right there. Beside his green-tinted leg. Was it really that green? He blinked at it, mesmerized by how it shifted and swirled as he turned his head this and that way. The pus that he had could have sworn a moment ago was only seeping out of it was now full on erupting from the wound. He shield his eyes, don’t want to get that nastiness in the face. 

“Hey Griff?” Griffon started with a yelp, wrenching that stupidly heavy leg of his to the side. A monster. There was a towering monster before him. Squeezing his eyes tight, he prayed that it couldn’t see him in return. “By the Ones, firefly, that looks worse than you thought originally right?” Griffon whimpered in reply; he could sense it coming towards him. He had to fight, he had to get away, his leg felt light as a feather right now, he bet he could make a run for it. Wanting to catch the monster off guard, Griffon threw himself to the side, tumbling down the hill with his eyes still shut tight. The monster roared but he was getting away, he was getting away! Then something grabbed him and held him tightly, so tightly that he couldn’t move. Thrashing and screaming, Griffon fought to get away. He could tell his leg was gone by now but he didn’t need it anyway. Something stabbed into his arm and the life ebbed away, leaving him pathetic. Weak. Unprotected. 

“By the Ones, Griffon, this antidote better help hallucinations too.”

[fanastywhump]

Are Griffin and Raphael a couple?

No actually! I’m sure it does come across that way tho. Part of TLMGO that I find so important is that platonic, familial love that the two share. Raphael and Griffon have been by each others’ sides since Griffon was born and have been best friends since they have been able to make that choice. There is a narrative reason for that, absolutely, but the end result is them having an extremely close relationship. I see nothing wrong with being able to portray two men who express their love for one another without a thought or to have it looked down on by their culture. They are brothers and would die for one another.

Loving someone and being IN love with someone are two very different things, yet they are equally as important and I want that to come across in my writing and especially in Raph and Griff’s relationship.

[fanastywhump]

How about Whumpee learning that their parent died and completely losing it, sobbing and falling to the ground as Caretaker tries to comfort them?

“No! NO!” Griffon screamed, fighting against Raphael’s grip. He could just barely make out Brayford’s still form over Raphael’s shoulder. His tears boiling and steaming as they hit his cheeks obscured his vision more but he knew. He just knew. It didn’t even register that he had crumbled against Raphael’s chest until they were both on the ground, kneeling together. “I can’t lose another father, Raph,” Griffon sobbed, “I can’t lose another parent.” He could feel Raphael stroking his hair, could feel Raphael’s tears, but it just wasn’t registering. The pain, the crushing, drowning breaking was too much. Raphael caught his wrists just as he was about to smash his fists into something, anything, something to take it away. He struggled weakly but Raphael just pulled him tighter to his chest. Whispering in his ear, Raphael breathed, “I lost your parents, I lost my own. We’ve grieved for them together. And Brayford,” he swallowed thickly, “Brayford-he...Brayford was our-“ Raphael, who always had too much to say, couldn’t finish but Griffon didn’t need him to. So they cried. They cried and mourned as they had before.

[fanastywhump]

Raphael was still for a moment, struggling to breathe. Everything burned. It was only for Z’s arms supporting him that he was upright at all. Live another day? Another day of this torture? The only reason Z had stopped this now was because they knew that any more would kill Raphael. He could feel them stroking his matted hair, purring his name, tutting at what a mess he was. He smiled wryly into the crook of their neck, where his head hung limply. What’s the fun in that?

It was then that he sank his teeth deep into Z’s collarbone.

[fanastywhump]

heyyy! May I ask what the story This light must go out is about? And can you also tell me a bit abou the characters I just found your blog. :D

Hi! This is the inner book flap/synopsis that I wrote up when it was my senior capstone in college: 

Born with the ability to create flames from his palms, Griffon Rakell must flee when his parents die in a disturbing fire that destroys the entire estate, taking with him only his blind infant sister Marlee, and Raphael, a halfling who has been his best friend since birth. Six years later, Griffon and Raphael are still on the run, doing what they can to protect those who are less fortunate with the help of the Monarch Society, an organization that does what it can to bring light into a dying world. Mission by mission, the men fight against the evil group known as the Blight-oath, As things go downhill, Griffon must accept that his powers do not make him the monster he believes himself to be as Raphael continues to fight to prove halflings are not the dirty creatures that the world sees. Griffon and Raphael will stop at nothing to protect their little family, but there are parties who are determined that this light goes out. 

Basically TLMGO is a old world dark fantasy novel that is geared towards New Adult audiences. It focuses on love and found family; regardless of the form, love is just as essential. I find that romantic love is so highly centralized in media so the most important form of love that I want to showcase is platonic love, the one between brothers. Why can’t two male best friends say they love one another and it not be weird? Beats me. 

I talk about the characters in the briefest way possible on this post (it’s so vague lol have fun) but if people want, I can definitely start uploading their visual references and more details.

Most of the content I write for this blog isn’t necessarily canon. I mean, all of it I can definitely see happening and is in character for the cast but isn’t necessarily what is absolutely gonna happen, if that makes sense. Anywho, I’m very mean to my babies, which is why we now have an entire blog dedicated to it.

[fanastywhump]

Whumptober 16. Pinned Down

(repost from @fanastyfinder )

They readjusted their position above Griffon, straddling his chest. He kicked his legs uselessly, trying to throw them off, but it was too much. Their weight combined with the pain forced him down. They just watched him struggle, smiling pleasantly. Adjusting their grip of the hilts of Remembrance and Deliverance, Raphael’s swords, those were Raphael’s swords, they twisted the blades ever so slightly, burying the swords deeper into the floor underneath Griffon’s hands. Griffon heard  delicate bones snap further, shattered pieces piercing through his palms. His hands sparked weakly, but sputtered out. He screamed, pulling everything he had from his core, but his fire refused to come.

“Don’t you think,” they cocked their head, observing the damage, “that if you actually did succeed in doing that, that you are just making it worse? I don’t really think hot metal is in your best interest right now.” They fiddled with Deliverance absentmindedly, each little flick of the wrist shredding Griffon’s palm even more. Griffon tried to reply, but each twist made him want to vomit in pain. They took that as permission to do the same with Remembrance, alternating the swords as they mutilated his palms. Griffon couldn’t even move his fingers anymore. He might never again. It took everything within him not to beg.

He could barely hear Raphael in the background, begging for him. Another grinding twist and Griffon did throw up this time, choking on the vomit. His head flopped to the side, towards Raphael, who was fighting from where he had been forced to his stomach. A boot on his neck and his hands bound behind him, Raphael was squirming and screaming. Griffon couldn’t really make out what he was saying anymore, his head was spinning too much. They were saying something again. He tried to concentrate through the pain.

“--what would you give to save his life?”

“My own.”

NO. Griffon screamed it, “NO! No, Raph, no!”

“Interesting.” They let go of the swords, which stood upright without them. Stepping off Griffon, ignoring him as he thrashed, they strolled over to Raphael. They crouched before him and after that, Griffon couldn’t see what was happening. He was sobbing uncontrollably now, unable to hear anything else over the noise, crying Raphael’s name, ordering him to stop as his vision started to grow fuzzy, the edges darkening. The last thing he saw was Raphael being lifted to his feet, a muzzle-like gag strapped to his face. His eyes, his eyes, that pain was so much worse. “No,” Griffon whimpered again as his vision tunneled out with Raphael being carried away in the center, leaving him to the dark.

[fanastywhump]

Marlee-Raph? Hey Raph?

Raphael-Yes, my starlight. Come to keep me company?

M-I had a bad dream.

R-Where’s Griffon?

M-I can’t find him.

R-Ah, I’m sure he is here somewhere. Would you like me to help?

M-I wanna sleep with you.

R-Okay starlight, but watch out, I snore. But I’ve been told that it chases the bad dreams and monsters away.

A torture later...

M-Raph? You were having a bad dream.

R-AHhe-Hello,my starlight. Yes, there are many monsters these past couple weeks.

M-Do I need to find Griffon?

R-He has done enough, dont worry him.

M-Can I stay?

R-yes, please don’t leave

M-I’ll try and snore extra loud, okay Raphael?

[fanastywhump]

Whumptober 21. Laced Drink

(repost from @fanastyfinder )

(Actually this comes right before Whumptober 4. Human Shield, so go check that one out for a continuation of this story from Knox’s POV)

Griffon sniffed at his drink. He hated alcohol and parties and yet, here he was, undercover at one of Alistair’s balls. Slipping the thin glass off a passing servant’s tray,  the young noble had shoved the wine into Griffon’s chest, almost spilling the liquid on Griffon’s costume. “Something to loosen you up,” Alistair had purred, winking and blowing a kiss before effortlessly melting into the loud crowd. Griffon had been half tempted to upend the foul beverage into the large vase he was standing next to, but that wouldn’t have been fair to the plant. He took a sip hesitantly. It wasn’t awful, delicate and sweet with a hint of honey. Usually he stayed away from the stuff because he was a terrible lightweight, embarrassingly enough. No, Griffon was just fine being in control of his own thoughts. Taking another tentative sip as he leaned against the wall, he glanced over at the plant again and shook his head. Leave it to Alistair to have a rare Oonaloni fern in the completely wrong habitat. Griffon had thought that Alistair had a greenhouse here at his impressive estate. Surely his gardeners would have known better. He glanced down and was surprised to see that the glass was half empty already. Too much. Handing the unfinished drink to another servant, Griffon tugged uncomfortably on his mask. It was getting chilly in here.

Raphael swirling past him and snagged Griffon’s hand, pulling him off balance. Raphael’s halfling ears were covered by the ruff of his lion costume, his long braid tucked under his shirt to come out the bottom as a tail.  Laughing, he tugged Griffon onto the dance floor for a lively waltz. After a moment, Griffon fell easily into the steps, but glared at Raphael. He couldn’t quite make out the other’s expression because of the dark film obscuring his burgundy eyes, but he assumed Raphael wasn’t too bothered. “Come now, my lord, have some fun,” Raphael teased, swirling Griffon around into his arms.

“I was fine where I was,” Griffon replied tersely. The dancing was making him extremely dizzy and he was having a hard time concentrating on the rhythm, which was odd. It wasn’t like he was unused to complicated steps with his and Raphael’s fighting practice every day. He swayed on the next step, but Raphael steadied him. He didn’t say anything, but Griffon felt his grip tighten. They finished the waltz, bowing to one another. The next dance was much slower and Griffon was grateful when Raphael took the lead, his hand on Griffon’s waist, supporting him. “Sorry,” he muttered, “Must be out of practice.”

“Must be,” Raphael repeated, but he frowned slightly.

“It’s my elaborate plan to get out of dancing.”

“Well, you are an incredible actor.” Raphael didn’t say anything else for the rest of the dance, leading the pair to swirl in time with the other couples. Griffon couldn’t shake an urge to fall asleep that had snaked its way into his head. Usually, events like this knitted him up with anxiety, but right now, he desperately just wanted to rest. As the song ended, Griffon tugged away.

“That’s two more dances out of me than you should have gotten,” he joked. “I’m going to go find the greenhouse.” Raphael opened his mouth to argue, but suddenly Alistair was at his shoulder, running his hands over Raphael’s shoulders.

“Going so soon?” he pouted at Griffon. “Pity.”

Griffon smiled awkwardly. The lights were so bright in here, yet the temperature was definitely dropping, despite all the bodies. “Which direction is the--”

Alistair simply extended a jeweled finger towards one of the massive doorways. “Perhaps take your older friend with you. He looks like he is having hard time, poor thing.” Griffon turned and saw Knox practically cowering in the corner. His ivory dove costume was making him look rather like prey. Nodding to Raphael and Alistair, he moved towards Knox, tugging his arm gently.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“O-oh t..th-oh thank the Ones,” Knox breathed shakily, tugging on his doublet with a nervous movement. Together they walked through the halls. Guards pointed them in the right direction, but Griffon couldn’t help thinking that they were just going deeper into the castle. His head was pounding and he hadn’t even realized that he had slowed so much until Knox looked back at him in surprise from several steps away. “G-Griff?”

Griffon put a hand against the wall as a wave of nausea hit him, but missed completely, staggering to the floor. Knox rushed back and caught him under the arm. Griffon tried to stand, but it was as if the cold was creeping into his bones, freezing him up and telling him to collapse at the same time. The need for sleep was overwhelming now. He barely felt Knox dragging him into a nearby room. “Knoshh?” It came out in a slur. He started to try again, but the door banged open right behind them. Griffon recognized that Knox had unhooked a mini crossbow from beneath his costume just as he shoved Griffon into a corner. A large, very angry man stood in the doorway, gripping a much larger crossbow. Preparing for a fight, Griffon automatically called on his fire, igniting his hands with ease. Except the flames did not come. He stared stupidly at them, trying again as the man advanced.

His fire remained asleep.

[fanastywhump]

Whumptober 4. Human Shield

(Repost from @fanastyfinder )

(Directly after Whumptober 21. Laced Drink, which is in Griffon’s POV)

“P-please,” Knox begged, dropping his crossbow to the floor in an attempt at peace. “He is just a b-b-he is just a child.” Ignoring him, the man advanced, his own crossbow trained on Knox’s chest. Glancing back over his shoulder, Knox saw that Griffon was awake, eyes barely slitted open under auburn bangs. He had propped himself in the corner, appearing to be standing on his own, but Knox could see his trembling legs.

“I remember you.” Turning his head back to the man in surprise, Knox opened his mouth, but the man continued, “Knox Nikkel,” spitting the name. “You left the brotherhood and now you fight with the monster and its little master.” He jerked his head towards Griffon, growling, “He doesn’t know what he is playing with.”

Knox had no idea who this man was. The Blight-oath grew quickly, branching off in all directions like the disease it was. It was entirely possible they had never met, but maybe they had. He dared not take his eyes off the man, but he backed up even more until his back was pressed against Griffon’s chest. “J-j-just let go,” he whispered and after a moment, he felt the younger man’s shaking body slumping against him. Knox was essentially holding Griffon upright, pinned between the wall and himself. He felt the little hot puffs of breath against his neck, sweat soaking through his shirt to coat his back. So young to go through this, Knox’s heart hurt as Griffon’s beat rapidly with his, thudding against him.

“Knox…” Griffon murmured into his shoulder.

“Shh,” Knox hushed him. He said to the man, “K-kil-killing him will a-a-accomplish-will do nothing.”

“Bullshit,” the man barked. “Move! Betrayer or not, I will honor the mark you still wear, but get out of my way.” Griffon took in a sharp breath and squirmed weakly. Knox could hear shouting down the hallway, coming closer.

“No,” Knox said simply and stepped forward. Without the support, Griffon’s body crumpled to the floor, safely out of the way of the crossbow bolt that slammed through Knox’s chest. It threw him back, the broadhead embedding itself into the wall. He heard Griffon scream and saw white-blonde hair flash into the room. He thought he saw the Blight-oath man collapse, his neck at an impossible angle. Braxton. His name had been Braxton. He felt hands grab his face and saw Raphael’s horrified face. “Get Griffon,” Knox said, smiling as he let the roaring pain take over his vision with black.

[fanastywhump]

8 and 18 for the bois

8. If your OC had to take the S.A.T. tomorrow with one night to prep, how would they do?  both emotionally and academically.

Griffon would academically be fine but he wouldn’t think it. The boy’s a wizard with science and biology but you’d better believe he would be cramming and doing an all-nighter on the subjects that he felt he was “lesser” in, resulting in a super cranky, high on anxiety test taker. I must say though, his notes would be gorgeous.

Raphael would go over the material once, maybe twice if he thought he needed it. He has one of those “if I don’t know it by now, I won’t ever” mentalities. He knows his strengths and weaknesses academically (being that he would get good marks but he does have to work for them)

18. What’s the trashiest item in your OC’s wardrobe, when was the last time they wore it and why do they still have it?

Not a wardrobe piece, but Griffon still has the blanket that Marlee was wrapped in from 6 years prior when they were on the run. That thing is scorched and burned and smells absolutely terrible despite constant washings from Annetta and Raphael, but he always keeps a swatch of it in his bag. You can find him rubbing it between his fingers when he is thinking or stressed.

Raphael doesn’t own anything trashy (although some few misguided souls might say the shade of crimson he wears is tacky.) He is too vain for that plus he is a good enough with a needle that he can repair or repurpose anything outdated. In modern times, he would be one hella DIYer.

[fanastywhump]

Whumptober 29. Numb

(repost from @fanastyfinder )

They had grown numb to it after a while. It used to hurt, what they had to do. Used to, every time someone screamed or begged for mercy, salvation, anything to make the pain go away, their heart broke a little. Why couldn’t those people understand what they were doing to them was for their own good? That they were helping them, fixing them. Slowly, the heartbreak went away. It got easier. They couldn’t help but wonder if that was a good thing or bad. But still they had persisted over the years. Someone had to do it, why not them? It was easier now to just watch, to just snap their fingers and make their men do the work. A snap to shut off their feelings, a snap to make sure their mask stayed on, a snap to sometimes snap others. They didn’t know when they had actually started to enjoy it. Was that so wrong to enjoy one’s work? Sometimes they felt a twinge of guilt for that, the sense of satisfaction at their handiwork.

But this one. They stood over the crumpled form of the halfling, newly tortured and barely breathing. This one they knew that they enjoyed hurting.

“Wake up, Raphael. We’ve got work to do.”

[fanastywhump]

Whumptober 27. Ransom

(repost from @fanastyfinder)

“I’ve come to trade,” Griffon said evenly, forcing his voice to be calm. He forced himself not to look at Raphael, who was kneeling beside them.

“You haven’t got anything that I want,” they said, their hand resting on Raphael’s bowed head.

“I want to trade places with him. A life for a life.” Raphael looked up at that, shaking his head violently in a no. Griffon could only imagine his protests but the muzzle-like gag covering the lower half of his face stopped them.

“No,” they said simply. Griffon clenched his fists at his sides. “Honey, it was cute the first time,” they continued, perching their chin on their palm. “When Raphael so gallantly took your place, my heart melted, I must admit. But the price is never the same twice.”

Griffon’s hand erupted into flames, his calm facade ripped apart as he said, “Give him back to me, Z!” He barely had time to register the panicked look in Raphael’s eyes as they snapped their fingers in response and the guard behind Raphael plunged a dagger into his shoulder. Raphael pitch forward, but they jerked him back, never letting go of his head. Griffon didn’t even have time to scream.

“Now,” they said calming, “don’t ever try that again, Griffon Rakell. Your little pet can only take so much.”

Z is referring to this: Whumptober 16. Pinned Down