#|| Verse: The Future Will Bare It's Fangs

[gazelessmenagerie]

Broly shows up to the time patrollers / conton city like:

[mama-qwerty]

I tweaked "When Eclipse Met Callie" a bit and posted it to ao3. And it has a better title!

~~~

Eclipse the Darkling held his good hand to his stomach, urging it to be quiet. It didn’t work, his belly gave another rolling grumble, and he could swear he felt it actually twist in an attempt to digest itself.

It had been a few days since he’d eaten. Between the loud protests from his gut, and the suspected infection taking root in his injured left arm, he hadn’t been able to hunt properly. Any prey either smelled or heard him coming before he had a chance to attack. It was embarrassing, really.

Normally this injury wouldn’t have mattered. He would have been healed and in top form again in no time. But this planet was proving to be more of a challenge than he’d expected, for a few reasons.

First, these humans were everywhere. Even when he thought he’d found a safe place to lay low and rest, some of these tall, soft, claw-less, fang-less, pointless, noisy creatures would inevitably pass by a little too close for comfort. Ordinarily he wouldn’t be too bothered—he was the prince of the Black Arms after all, ultimate weapon and future commander of its great warrior army—but considering he was injured and barely came up to the waist of the adults, he thought it better not to take chances. So, when humans passed by, he’d kept hidden and sought out a different location. He felt he’d been on the move for days.

Second, the air was much colder here, which chilled him to the bones. He felt slow and dumb at night and in the early mornings, until the sun warmed things up enough to be even somewhat comfortable. And even then it was only so warm.

Third, the fact that he couldn’t rest and heal properly meant he had a throbbing pain in his arm for what felt like forever. He’d sliced it—from palm to elbow—after accidentally breaking a human’s window in his search for shelter on the second night he’d been here. How many days ago had that been? At least five. Maybe. His exhaustion made keeping track of time hard.

Fourth, his mind was unnervingly quiet. Normally he heard, or at least felt, the constant mutterings of the rest of the Black Arms through the hive mind link. But now there was nothing but silence. He was the only one in his head. He’d never felt so alone.

Last, he wasn’t as well versed in Earth’s customs and topography as he would have liked. The first memory he had of this world was waking up in the forest, head ringing. He hadn’t even known what planet he was on until he’d recognized the Earthlings from the surveillance footage back on the Black Comet.

Earth was a planet to be conquered, like all the others the Black Arms came upon. But he didn’t think the Black Comet was anywhere close enough to engage with this world yet.

So why was he here?

Keep reading on ao3

[birchbow]

I've just finished reading the Price of Forgiveness (ch 36) and am working my way through It Rang Like Scriptured Verse (both very good) and I'm wondering, I mean, will you get more into Kurloz and the Sufferer? either in PoF-verse or some other storyline? Or, do you have any unfinished stuff with them that you'd be ok talking about? Keep writing and worldbuilding absolutely fantastically!!!!!!

I mean I sure wasn't planning to drop it lmao. Gamzee is doing his damndest at the moment not to think about it, but that doesn't mean the Sufferer can't manage to make himself known in other ways. Especially since it's not Gamzee's head his memory hangs out in.

Anyway all that said here's a little possible future snip of Kurloz "Eternally Cursed With The Dreams And The Visions" Makara lol

-

You have him on his back in a single dreaming move, pinned to the sand with strangling force.  Frond on his choke, squeezing.  “Mouthy little motherfucking aberration,” you growl, and he chokes and wheezes, but there’s no sign of distress on his face or in his body.  He just watches you.  

“I—told you,” he says, choking whisper.  “I told you, you were capable of love.”

You kill him again.

It takes him a while to come back.  The beach changes around you as you sit there, stewing, steaming.  Arms crossed on your bent-up knees and chin resting on a forearm.  Your own claws needling at your arms, acid chewing at your throat.  The dream wavers, settles, wavers again.  Waking creeping in, sense of your own body in the soft numb of the slime.

The mutant is sitting up again, rubbing at his throatstem.

He says, “It’s scary, huh?  Loving someone that much.”

“Shut the fuck up,” you say.  Without moving, you’re sitting in your block.  Turned in your sitstub, looking over at your recuperacoon.  There’s a dark shape in there, breathing slow.  Through the opening you can see a slice of a peaceful face, bare and sleeping, thick lashes and wild curls.  A bare shoulder, a purple half-moon of your fangs scabbed into his skin.

“Do you remember laughing at me?” the mutant says.  “When I begged you to let my family go?  When you told me love made me soft and it was my own fault I was in pain over it?  Because I sure as hell remember.  You were a dick and you should feel pretty fucking bad about it!”

“That was.”  Gamzee’s so fragile in the sleeping time after you hurt him.  You don’t look over at the burning figure by your shoulder.  You could, it’s not like you can’t.  But you don’t.  “That was different.”

“It sure the fuck wasn’t.”

[gardenoforder]

headcanons expanding on the verse of my jingren psycho-pass AU oneshot, "for whom will you bare your fangs?" on AO3.

-jing yuan is criminally asymptomatic. sibyl system wants to include him in its network, but he's been able to dodge all threats and offers his way somehow. up until the system found out about his abnormality, he was able to camouflage and manipulate his own psycho-pass to match others' in order to not stand out. to sibyl, he is regarded as "one who borrows the mind of others and has no face of his own."

-blade was deemed a latent criminal from early on, so he spent most of his life confined. he was young enough to recall good times with his parents, but also old enough to realize that he was losing his future for things he hasn't done yet. when his family cut ties with him, he decided to discard his name as well.

-blade is aware of jing yuan keeping secrets from him, but he doesn't know what they're about. he's trusting that jing yuan has a good reason for it but uhh

their division:

-jing yuan and blade's unit currently comprises of fu xuan, their analyst, and ma yanqing (senior), another enforcer.

-their call signs are shepherd (inspector; jing yuan) and hound (enforcers; blade and ma yanqing)

-jing yuan and blade first met during a joint operation between both divisions. their different methods and approaches to the situation put them at odds with each other until they had to be physically pulled apart. not too long after, jing yuan recruited blade into his unit.

-fu xuan regularly has to deal with covering up for both of them. since she's their resident researcher, analyst, and medical expert all rolled into one, she's often the most exhausted of their group.

-ma yanqing (senior) is the oldest member in more ways than one. he is the only original member remaining; he was there to see jing yuan as a fresh new inspector and fu xuan being assigned as their analyst. he is struggling to dissuade his nephew, yanqing (junior) from pursuing a future job at the crime investigation department of the public safety bureau.

blade's old unit:

-this disbanded group was blade's first experience getting along with others, so the memories of them are something he holds fondly. the members were his friends, mentors, and coworkers, and even if this profession is all he's ever known, he still thinks highly of them.

-blade's old unit comprised of one inspector, dan feng, and two other enforcers, jingliu and baiheng. they are each officially marked as MIA. blade is still searching for their whereabouts, but it has proven fruitless. jing yuan knows what happened, but hasn't told him.

-jingliu was originally an inspector that got too close to the truth of the sibyl system and was demoted for her silence in exchange for her life. she has always regretted only taking the demotion for what happened to the rest of her former division members.

-dan feng became an person of interest for sibyl (just like jing yuan eventually did), and baiheng sacrifices herself to protect him from sibyl. after she gave her life to save his, he attempted to completely destroy himself to prevent sibyl from collecting any sort of data based on him, but both lives ended in vain. sibyl then created a synthetic being using what data is left of his brain, dan heng, to take his place.

-jingliu was not present due to an injury she received from a previous case. after learning about what happened to dan feng and baiheng, she escaped the country and becomes a renegade. she begrudgingly became jing yuan's outside source of information against sibyl. she hates blade for not knowing what happened to their old unit, but he doesn't know a damn thing what is he supposed to do

-if blade learns about any of this he will 100% go fucking nuts and he will be twice as berserk when he learns that jing yuan kept him in the dark on purpose, even if it was for his own good. like if that ever happens, jing yuan better have a good plan on how not to die

the jingren section:

-they're often found in the training room together. blade occasionally ends up breaking some equipment, and jing yuan always offers to pay for replacements.

-blade only has one tie for his suit and it was given to him by jing yuan. the only times he actually wears it are when he needs to cover marks the other man left on him.

-jing yuan didn't start smoking until he met blade and only smokes in blade's dorm.

-their choice in reads and philosophies repeal each other, but jing yuan has started picking up on reading blade's books whenever he visits him. blade reads as much paperback as possible.

-blade feels a lot of complex feelings for jing yuan, but he's most frustrated with him for showing him things that he's missed out on in a lot of his life for being branded a latent criminal as a child. "I would have been fine just being called a hunting dog. now that I know about all these things that I missed out on, I am growing greedy for a life I don't know of. and I resent him for that."

-their relationship doesn't have a strong feeling of romance. it's more built on the feeling of belonging, interest, and comfort, the feeling of like-mindedness despite being opposites. sometimes they use their rivaling ideologies to compete and encourage each other. they're partners that know each other well enough to understand what to do without needing to say anything, and blade will often act on his own during cases knowing what jing yuan is planning. those unspoken and unpredictable patterns have earned him the nickname of "jing yuan's wild dog"

-blade's frustrations with jing yuan often come out during sex and it's no surprise that his numbers and color go nuts. he is so damn aggressive that jing yuan doesn't really have to do anything for a while before he gets to make a move himself. jing yuan likes to satisfy blade like that, let him rage out and take his fill before giving it to him as much as he wants.

[shy-peacock]

I saw that cute post you made where Namaari has a habit of sleeping in with Raya so could you make a fic where Virana needs Namaari for something and sees her dead asleep with Raya?

And Virana leaves them and acts annoyed but she’s honestly happy they’re happy. Don’t feel pressured I just think they’re so cute 😭❤️

Fluff/silliness ahoy~

Somewhat proofread- rated G for good cuddles???? (Short! Atitaya POV and set in canon-verse)

It was a miracle that Atitaya could keep up with the woman.

Her Leader, the Chieftess of Fang, Virana.

Despite her age, she clearly was as nimble as ever as she tore down the hallways of Fang. Fury in her eyes, intention in every step. Mumbling this and that about her daughter, the future Leader of Fang, Princess Namaari.

“I broke her of this bad habit years ago!” She fumed, “Gods, please tell me she isn’t regressing at the age of twenty-two!”

The “bad habit” was sleeping in.

Late.

Being “lazy” as her Mother would put it, sleeping away the morning when she could be up bettering herself or the people of Fang. Instilling the practice in her that she should rise before the sun and be in bed late into the night when the work was done. An exhausting feat- but one they could handle as the two of them were both determined and ambitious enough to pull off the shortened hours of rest.

That- and stubborn.

Namaari used to struggle with this lesson. She used to scramble when the sun had risen and her Mother’s voice carried down the hall, commanding her to rise before the count of ten. Sometimes three if she were particularly testy that day. The Princess barely throwing on her clothes, her boots clumping awkwardly as she fell through the doorway. A sight no one in Fang would ever see, but Atitaya had the pleasure of seeing the young Princess struggle with this nearly every single day.

When her Mother had grown exasperated of teaching the lesson to her again and again, it was Atitaya who was assigned to the task to wake Namaari up and get her into the practice of doing it on her own. A simple chore on paper, however Atitaya had the worst time with it whenever Namaari had hit a growth spurt or the Kingdom was troubled with one issue or the next; her anxiety peaking and keeping her slumber at bay till early morning. Leading Atitaya to resort to physically shaking the girl awake, which could take several long minutes even after that.

Reason why Virana had called for her today. Making her do the physical work so she could save her energy for scolding her child.

They neared Namaari’s bed chambers, Virana’s face as red as a beet as she came to the door. Grabbing ahold of the handle and ripping the door open. Virana’s voice already piercing the air as she stepped inside.

“NA-MAR-“

Silence.

Atitaya had been so busy trying to catch up to Virana, that she didn’t even realize the woman had stopped dead in her tracks. Not until she bumped right into her back, an awkward apology on her lips as she expected her Leader to turn around and scold her as well. But the woman stayed still, frozen in place, while Atitaya just stared at the back of her head in confusion.

Waiting, expecting the words to spill out, and then coming around the woman and further into the room. Seeing then what had stopped her rampage so suddenly.

Namaari was asleep, as expected, but she was not alone.

Which was unexpected.

Even more so- the person who was with her.

Princess Raya, whom Atitaya didn’t even know was visiting, was propped up a bit against Namaari’s headboard. Asleep, head tilted to the side as if she had fallen asleep in the middle of a conversation. In her arms was Namaari, whom rested her entire body into Raya’s embrace. Looking so at peace, sleeping so soundly that Atitaya swore she heard her snore. Not a care in the word, happily allowing Raya to hold her as she slept. The two falling asleep- but God knows for how long. All night? Just this morning?

And how the hell did Raya even get up here?!

Her bag at the window answered that last question, but Atitaya found that while the one question was answered a million more came to mind. All of which had to be pushed aside as Chieftess Virana turned on her heels and retreated out the door. Walking back from whence they came, her step slower now as Atitaya followed after. Shutting the door gently behind her, allowing the two to sleep in peace.

Still, Atitaya asked, “would…you like me to wake them.”

Virana just stared ahead, her hand lightly touching her lips as she contemplated. A tiny twitch in her lips.

Was she-…smiling?

“No, let them sleep.” Virana stated, her tone lighter. Giving Atitaya exactly what she needed to verify how the leader of Fang felt about the Princesses’ recently discovered courtship. Pleased by it.

Atitaya found herself smiling too, happy to see the Chieftess approve.

Truthfully, Namaari had been working nonstop for Fang as of late. Reunification was a welcomed plan for Kumandra, but that didn’t make things any easier. Namaari worked harder these past few months than she ever saw her before, more than anyone Atitaya had ever known as well. Trying to prove herself, for whatever that reason may be, to not only Fang but all of Kumandra.

Seeing her sleep, so at peace as she was with the Princess of Heart? It was nice. Or so Atitaya thought, Virana clearly agreeing as well.

“She seemed relaxed.” Atitaya mentioned, “and…happy-“

Virana forced an eye roll, still her smile did not waiver.

“She had better enjoy it-“ she scoffed, shaking her head amusedly, “she’s still going to get an earful from me later!”

[hypmic-translation]

TOMOSHIBI

CHORUS Turning our hardships into flow, overcoming that which we couldn’t control (yeah) Shinjuku’s luring lights have been let go, been let go, been let go (1) Even the smallest of lights can still glow, and illuminate us So let’s go! We’ll run ahead - our fangs are ready, spitting out my verse

JAKURAI If it might keep me from tripping over my own feet I would help whoever needs me This wish, made to some unknown power No more will I allow it to consume me I’ve stopped counting the things that I’ve lost Now I will fight with what’s left of my anguish My story is unknown, concealed in darkness So I will search for what makes me “myself”

DOPPO “A renewed inspiration for musical creation Having you around, sensei, is the best kind of medicine”

JAKURAI I will put more faith in myself It is fine, you are both here by my side Keep on moving forwards, and don’t ever look back Head towards freedom from this labyrinth’s walls I will bring salvation to everyone, all over Japan No more will this goldfish tear away from my net

CHORUS Turning our hardships into flow, overcoming that which we couldn’t control (yeah) Shinjuku’s luring lights have been let go, been let go, been let go Even the smallest of lights can still glow, and illuminate us So let’s go! We’ll run ahead - our fangs are ready, spitting out my verse

HIFUMI I have a phobia that keeps me closed off like firm tofu But when I put on my suit, of course I outgrow that (2) I want to understand how you express yourself Encouraging my maternal instincts even more today Barely able to stand, staying strong on my knees (3) Don’t turn your back on my emotional instability Conveyed through these words Today may be cold, but still I can’t yet part From this suit I want to gently cover you with (uh) You’ve always been special, my only one The days I spoke those scripted words are coming to an end Sensei and Doppo, I strive to reach them both

JAKURAI “Now together, our three hands shall open this frozen door”

HIFUMI As one, we’ve come to talk and rely on one another Exposing insides, breaking shells, fighting with our scattered flow Putting everything we have into making flowers bloom in this so-called dead earth

CHORUS Turning our hardships into flow, overcoming that which we couldn’t control (yeah) Shinjuku’s luring lights have been let go, been let go, been let go Even the smallest of lights can still glow, and illuminate us So let’s go! We’ll run ahead - our fangs are ready, spitting out my verse

DOPPO I have become my company’s hands and feet In order to keep from getting fired, I work twice as hard All those times I thought “why is it always me?” Honestly, I already knew I was being bitter out of habit Overtime nightscape, there’s still darkness within moonlight Shouting out all these emotions in metropolis Tokyo Acting before speaking, I’ll muster all my courage

HIFUMI “Don’t worry, we’ll always be right here behind you”

DOPPO Good morning, sir! Let me lay out a proposal This isn’t just flattery, it’s full-fledged grovelling Instead of a train strap, I’ll grip my mic and sing So long as I finish work on time, the future outside won’t be dark To the verses supporting me, there’s only one answer Someday I’ll soak my pillow with drool instead of tears Who can I beat while beating myself down? I don’t care for tricks, just an overwhelming sound

JAKURAI With my stethoscope I also hold a “microphone” With this chord I will breathe out my “rhyme and flow”

HIFUMI Bring me any number of “ice shots” Just don’t get drunk off me and I’ll give you my “love”

DOPPO Getting the train to work, I’m “on my way” Swaying with the crowd every day “like a liveshow”

MTR If you try to run away there’ll be “no tomorrow” Determinedly facing the morning together, “life goes on”

CHORUS Turning our hardships into flow, overcoming that which we couldn’t control (yeah) Shinjuku’s luring lights have been let go, been let go, been let go Even the smallest of lights can still glow, and illuminate us So let’s go! We’ll run ahead - our fangs are ready, spitting out my verse

MTR The three of us are going to win this thing, singing without end from here on out The might of just one person won’t open this door, now is the time for us to move forward We don’t have the luxury of slowing down, constantly reaching out towards the moon Hoping that the light we see will never disappear

NOTES:

“Luring lights” is more literally “fire for luring fish at night”, which is the practise of creating a fire on a fishing boat in order to lure them closer. Obviously the fishing reference is purposeful here.

I phrased this the way I did because Hifumi uses the word “卒業” which is “graduation/moving on from something”. It gave me the impression that he knows his Host persona is more mature than his true, childlike self, and wants to grow up a little bit.

The wordplay here was difficult to convey… Hifumi says “どんと” which is an onomatopoeic word for “using all of one’s strength” - but it’s also another way of saying “drinking and vomiting”, which is a technique hosts use on the job in order to stay mostly sober throughout the night. He follows this up with “座って” which is “to sit/hold still”, so I went with the imagery of him on his knees to allude to the throwing up thing while trying to maintain his desire to appear strong.

[crystalelemental]

Violet Adventures, part 4.  I think.  Might be part 5.

Team Star Defeated.

Titan Team Arven round 2.  He beat me, barely, the first time through.  The second time through, I thought I was super clever, putting Air Balloon on Pawmot.  Greedent also knows Psychic Fangs.  So that’s just great.  We did ultimately win, but by the skin of our teeth.  Espathra thought it could sit on Toedscruel, but it knows Power Whip and of course hit the attack instantly. 

League Team Alright, show time.  The team is Quaquaval, Dudunsparce, Garganacl, Brambleghast, Rabsca, and Mabosstiff.  We are level 49.  Time to see how easy this league actually is.

Vs. Rika The gameplan is Agility/Coil/Baton Pass Dudunsparce into Quaquaval.  This lasted approximately one turn, before catastrophe.  Turns out, her Whiscash knows Future Sight.  Which meant Quaquaval was very exceptionally definitely dead.  Donphan having Sturdy just ensured we didn’t take out two with this gambit.  Dudunsparce is at critical HP, and Quaquaval is down.  Not a great start!

Mabosstiff finishes up Donphan, and just barely misses the 2HKO on Camerupt.  Which means we fall asleep to Yawn.  Not great.  Fire Blast connects twice but misses once, but that’s all it needed to win.  So, Brambleghast had to finish Camerupt.  And then Dugtrio comes in.  I won’t front.  This is ideal.  Ghosts can switch out of trap abilities.  So I get up my Leech Seed (after three misses) and a layer of Spikes.  When she puts Sandstorm back up, Brambleghast takes a swing with Giga Drain, and miraculously lands it.  Dugtrio drops to the Leech Seed chip.  Clodsire has Protect, which is slightly irritating, but nothing we can’t manage thanks to this game dropping Ether like candy.  Brambleghast sits on Clodsire for days.  Even a crit is only like 50%.  We whittle it down a bit, until Phantom Force is in range (under half HP on Clod).  Fun fact, she threw out Toxic right as I vanished.  Don’t know why she didn’t lead with that one, Brambleghast would’ve been destroyed by that.  Oh well, one down.

Vs. Poppy Second verse, same as the first; Dudunsparce, get boosting.  Thankfully, Poppy leads with Stealth Rock, which is an open invitation to some free boosts.  We make it to +6, thanks to Heavy Slam kinda just bouncing off of us.  So now you may think, oh, go Quaquaval.  No.  No, that’s what she wants me to do.  See, she has Magnezone.  And I have now learned that this is the path to death.  Because that fucking thing will fry Quaquaal, and we’ll be without boosts.  No, we need another plan.  And I know just who to bring in.

Right as she runs out of Heavy Slam PP, pass to Garganacl.  Body Press + Recover.  With the Agility boosts, it outspeeds basically everyone.  Unfortunately Magnezone also had Flash Cannon, and despite Garganacl’s fantastic special defense, it got dead.  So there goes that plan I suppose.  Brambleghast it is.  Magnezone trucks that too.  We don’t die, so Salt Cure finishes the job.  But Brambleghast is on its way out now.  Corviknight is physical, so I get the thought in my head that I can take it with Dudunsparce and try another pass.  Body Press.  2PP on Roost left.  It crit anyway.  I’m not happy with this, but Rabsca with the Revival Blessing is oh right Brave Bird.  WELP.  At this point it’s basically good game.  I have no reason to believe my team can handle the remaining threats.  Mabosstiff manages Thunder Fang KO on Corviknight, but not before it gets Body Press in and leaves us near dead.  Now, if Mabosstiff were faster than Tinkaton, I’d say there was a chance.  Unfortunately, despite the Jolly nature, it’s not.  So it’s all on Water Tera Quaquaval’s Aqua Step to finish this thing.  It barely misses the KO.  Because of course it does.  Gigaton Hammer, even with the resist, takes it out.  Honestly, that’s super annoying, because like one more point of attack on Quaquaval would’ve done the job.

Vs. Rika (Round 2) Unlike the first round, I remembered to give Dudunspace Roost so it could set up all day long.  At +5 and Tera’d out, Quaquaval one-shots Whiscash, so Future Sight isn’t such a threat.  With +5 defense as well, we’re able to blank Donphan’s damage too, so the Sturdy effect doesn’t matter.  With Aqua Step boosting, we outpace Dugtrio too, removing the Sandstorm evasion cheese.  And while Clodsire has Water Absorb, I taught my Quaquaval Ice Spinner.  A much cleaner sweep this time through.

Vs. Poppy (Round 2) Okay kid, rematch time.  I have learned zero lessons and will be repeating all the same mistakes.  But this time, with intent.  The unfortunate reality is that Magnezone is a wall.  I cannot get past its shit.  Garganacl and Quaquaval both cannot manage it, and Rabsca is basically useless come Corviknight.  So instead, the plan is to go straight to Rabsca after they drop, revive, and get ready to sweep from there.  Amazingly, Poppy throws.  Magnezone uses Light Screen instead of icing Garganacl.  Salt Cure easily bypasses Corviknight, and at +6 speed too, Tinkaton is as dust.  Clean wins all day, friends.

Vs. Larry I finally, for the first time, remembered his lead is Sunny Day Tropius.  Quaquaval with Ice Spinner one-shot.  Next in is Staraptor, who I throw Garganacl into.  Unfortunately, I wildly underestimate how hard Close Combat will rock my shit, and Garganacl is barely alive, but Salt Cure does finish it.  It is at this point I get ambitious.  Dudunsparce, how well do you take Dragon Pulse?  Around 60 damage.  That’s enough for a Baton Pass sweep attempt.  Bless Altaria’s complete lack of offensive presence.  I don’t know Flamigo’s speed tier, but to be safe, I opt for a second Agility, then pass to Quaquaval.  I Tera to pure Water, just to avoid any Flying-based shenanigans.  Which it turns out I need, as Altaria, SOMEHOW, managed to outspeed.  In fact, Oricorio does too.  I double Agility boosted.  I am...so perplexed as to why I am having trouble.  But here we are, I suppose.  Rabsca, Revival Blessing my rock.  It miracle dodges Air Slash, and Rabsca actually managed to net a KO this run.  Unfortunately, that’s all it can do before Flamigo jumps in.  I decide to try with Mabosstiff, but apparently Scrappy means immune to Intimidate now?  News to me.  Admittedly, I’m kinda mad, because we do lose this one.  I just don’t understand how.  What happened there, Quaquaval?  So I decide to reload.  That one feels weird, and I’m wondering if I just forgot to Baton Pass or if I missed Altaria having Haze or something.

Things proceed similarly, except Garganacl gets crit so Mabosstiff has to save us.  It also gets a freeze on Altaria, which I decided to just kill off of.  Turns out, Oricorio is way scarier to set up on with Dudunsparce.  It knows fucking Teeter Dance.  Thankfully, Quaquaval actually is faster and stronger this time so I guess I just didn’t actually Baton Pass?  Quaquaval proceeds to hit itself in confusion fucking twice, after eating our Tera use so it didn’t die immediately, effectively throwing the match to Flamigo.

OKAY FUCKING ROUND CHRISTDAMN THREE I GUESS.  Only set up on Altaria.  ONLY ALTARIA.  Just gotta Ice Spinner Tropius and IT’S A FUCKING RANGE?!  QUAQUAVAL HOW ARE YOU THIS SHIT BRO?  YOU HAVE DROPPED EVERY FUCKING BALL.

Round 4, things proceed normally.  I pay very extreme close attention to the Baton Pass chain this time.  I am convinced I must have manually switched or something, because it clears just fine.  This was so much harder than it needed to be.  On like every level.

Vs. Hassel Alright, after that whole disaster, we enter the Hassel fight.  I am well aware that Noivern is up first, and lead Garganacl.  Astonishingly, Garganacl handles it just fine.  Dragon Pulse doesn’t do too muhc, and only Super Fang is much threat, so we can recover up without much issue.  Dragalge’s next.  I get overconfident, expecting to be able to outspeed is possibly, and it Hydro Pumps me into powder in response.  I opt for Quaquaval at this point.  Did you know it knows Thunderbolt?  So that was fun.  Less than half damage thanks to Assault Vest, but still not a great time.  Flapple is, unfortunately, quick enough to be a problem.  I attempt to do some boost passing with Dudunsparce.  It knows Leech Seed.  So this is bad.  Dragon Rush also crit, so we’re well on the back foot with very, very little headway.  The next one misses though, so I guess we’ll call it even since I didn’t die.  It crits again.  At this point I call it.  If it crits Dudunspace one more time, even with a Roost, we die.  I do the only thing left, and bring in Mabosstiff.  Fun fact: did you know that Leech Seed is transferred by Baton Pass?  This game is actually stupid.  Mabosstiff with +3 does not one-shot Bxcalibur.  But the defense boosts combined with its attack drop off Play Rough allows it to survive just fine.  And so, success.  First try.  Levels are 53-55.

Vs. Geeta Alright, time to see if Geeta can beat the allegations.

So, Espathra one-shot my Brambleghast with an immediate crit.  It is, of course, faster than Mabosstiff despite the Jolly nature, so Mabosstiff is down too.  It is only when I go to Garganacl that I realize...I should’ve just led Garganacl.  It took Lumina Crash like no one’s business.  Avalugg comes in and tries to beat me at my own Body Press game.  But I have Recover and Rocky Helmet, so she’s welcome to try.  Garganacl completely walls it, and we get to +6 defense with only 30 damage.  Veluza came in and bless it did it try.  But +6 defense just walled it too soundly.  We ended that fight with only 3 damage.  We healed, girl.  Kingambit is sadly quad weak to Fighting.  So that goes about as well as you’d expect.  So finally, it’s Gogoat’s turn.  It gets off one Bulk Up before needing to Horn Leech.  Horn Leech recovers like nothing, because it deals nothing, and Rocky Helmet hurts it.  Glimmora enters with special attack to capitalize on that Lumera Crash, and does get the KO.  Which is dangerous because frankly, we’ve been brutalized so bad from that opening crit and bullshit that there’s not exactly much left of the team.  Rabsca makes an attempt to get Brambleghast back in, but at half HP it’s not enough.  Dudunsparce manages to Agility pass to Quaquaval, who thankfully resists Rock, but couldn’t pass along a Coil boost due to the offensive pressure Glimmora has.  Blessed be, she relies on Dazzling Gleam when I Tera, so despite Quaquaval continuing to be a failure and missing the KO, we manage to win anyway.  Closer than I’d like, admittedly.

Vs. Nemona Alright Dudunsparce.  We’re gonna aim to just obliterate this girl.  Just end her entire life.  Lycanroc isn’t that scary of a-oh god a crit right away.  Okay.  Okay, this is fine, we can salvage this.  I have two Agility boosts and a Coil on Quaquaval, all we need is to get a full KO on Pawmot with Quaquaval’s Aqua Step, and we’ll be fi-oh who am I kidding, it’s Quaquaval, it always fails me.  EXCEPT THIS TIME WHEN IT SOMEHOW DIDN’T.  So okay, we might have this.  Even her Dudunsparce got 2HKO’d despite the Coil, and Orthworm despite all appearances to the contrary.  The train stops at Goodra, though.  Ice Spinner couldn’t take it out, and Orthworm’s bullshit crit on Body Press really kinda hosed us.

...anyway, Rabsca, if you would?  Quaquaval’s back in action...but somehow, is slower than Goodra.  I just.  I love how Quaquaval can’t outspeed a damn thing.  Including fucking Skeledirge, who I know for a fact is slow as dirt.  Thankfully, Mabosstiff and Brambleghast were.  So, we had Garganacl hit it with the Salt Cure, then Crunch and Phantom Force.  First try.  Weaker than Larry.  Levels 54-56.

For anyone who wants to keep the tally: all gyms beaten first try; Rika, Hassel, Geeta, and Nemona beaten first ry, Poppy got one win, Larry got three.  E4 Larry is the strongest.  Even though I would’ve beaten him first try if I apparently hadn’t gotten myself distracted by something and manually switched in Quaquaval instead of using Baton Pass.  I still don’t know what happened there.  I wound up looking up his team, and there is no Haze, so I legitimately just fucked up that hard.

Next time, it’s Area Zero and continuing the attempt at a complete dex.  I do not want to do the complete dex thing, given Slowking and Palafin, but I’ll do my best. 

[caemthe]

@ardenssolis​ said. º

“You are a quite a powerful one. I can see why Conchobar sent you to do his bidding with such confidence.” There would be no duels between kings on this day. Sending a pup to attack a lion, even an aged one, should be suicidal, but this was Conall, and he had seen his strength from the very beginning. He should be offended that Conchobar deemed him so unworthy of his time that he'd have a boy kill him, but Conall was no inexperienced warrior despite the other’s much younger age. Many must have fallen to that bloodied blade. So many, that Seti's head would be sliced off quick and efficiently as if they had fought for several seasons. Eyes turned away for but a moment to look upon the guards who had given their lives to protect him, Seti offering his own silent gratitude for their loyalty before his gaze came to shift and rest upon the wolf before him once more.

"You came for me in order to gain a great reward for bringing about my end. That much is obvious. I need not be told what has you fighting so fervently when the desperation is as clear as day in those exhausted eyes.” One only fought like that when they were trying to protect something or someone (only a fool would not know who that was). To others, they would see a beast, and Conall was a beast there was no doubt. However, there was no joy to be had from the other for all this violence.

It was an act.

The King paused to allow Conall to answer or not if he so desired, his body shifting to move into that familiar stance with weapon at the ready. "I have said enough. Time is ticking, after all, and mine is running out. Come, then, Young Wolf. Show this old warrior those fangs that you bared upon the battlefield and grant me a good death." Allow him that much, at least. Whether it be over in an instant or not, none could say that he had fallen to his knees and begged. "(fantasy alt verse)

     Conall wasn’t used to this.

     Hundreds, perhaps thousands, had fallen by his hand so the young wolf had seen all the ways in which a person faced death. There were those that begged for their life, there were those that would curse him until their last breath, and there were those that would be in denial even as his blade cut their neck. So he was under the impression that he had seen everything. But King Seti... Denial wasn’t the same calmness, the first failing to mask the particular smell of fear, while the second was... Seti. King Seti was calm and standing as proudly as always. Few could remain so regal when death came knocking on their door, and when their country was torn apart as they spoke. He couldn’t sense any fear or anger from the older man before him. Instead, they were praising his skill despite his young age for a warrior. Conall was unworthy of such recognition.

     Briefly, crimson eyes widened when the king spoke again. How did they know? As if he was an open book, a rookie whose eyes betrayed him, it made the wolf too aware of how much he still needed to learn, how much he needed to harden his heart. He couldn’t afford to show any weakness in the future as it was that very weakness that put him in this position.

     ‘It’s your son... I love him. I’m aware that I’m not strong enough to protect him... but I’ll do everything in my power to make sure he lives.’ words that died in his throat and were never said out loud. He had no right. But he didn’t drop his head, his shoulders didn’t relax and he didn’t take his eyes away from the old king. “You’re a king among kings.” Such was all the praise Conall allowed himself to say. It would be in bad taste if he said anything else since he followed the orders of a man that pretended to be friends before stabbing them in the back. “I can see why Kemet flourished under your rule.” But that would end now.

     The mactíre lifted his falcata and shifted to a stance he had only used in formal sword training. “Rest now, King Seti.” And so it happened in the exhale of a breath, the precise swing of a blade, the falling of a body to the ground in two times.

     “...”

     Conall didn’t move for a second. He cleaned the blood of his blade on his trousers before sheathing his falcata. He turned on his heel and walked towards the severed head slowly rolling on the floor. Kneeling on one knee, he looked at the calm expression of the fallen king. Ever since he was boy, he had learned to appreciate the lull and quiet moments in which a person ceased to exist. Like all other times, he didn’t feel any guilt for taking someone’s life, someone’s son, father, friend or lover. But, unlike all other times, this time he felt a profound respect for the man he just killed. Carefully, he picked up the severed head of the fallen king and closed the man’s eyes. He stared at it for a few more seconds with an unreadable expression before finally sighing and standing up. It was then that the deafening sounds of war and death made themselves present, time existed and passed at an incredible speed, he was part of the world once again.

     A wide and empty grin spread across the mactíre’s face as he stepped out on the balcony and lifted the severed head for all to see.

     King Seti was dead.

     The Kemet Kingdom would be no more.

     ...And Ramses would loathe him from now on.

[overburdned]

"through darkness and shadow"

open rp - myth verse

dm if interested

In a distant realm, a that land once flourished with life and greenery was now barren and brown. The very earth shook constantly as the air was filled with the howls of agony. The sun itself barely made an appearance and only showed herself when she was in the mood todo so. The Moon was of similar opinion as well though showed himself less often. Even time neglected to move at its proper speed.

In a secluded cave by the obsidian river that flowed with poison, a fallen god was chained there with the organs of his long deceased sons. The deity was clad in shreds of what was once a rich green tunic and trousers once pearly white, now stained with ages of grime and blood. His long raven locks, which were the very pride of the Asgardian folk were now a matted, bloody mess pasted upon ashy gray skin. Above the deity, lay a colossal, emerald snake whose fangs dripped poison upon his marred body. As the fatal liquid dripped upon his skin, the god let out a piercing scream that shook the earth many times over.

Loki thought back many eons ago when his wife Sigyn would place a large bowl on his prone body to shield him from the poison. He knew not what became of her any longer for he had not the strength to think when the relentless torrent of snake venom was dropped on him for eternity.

A low hiss and a slide of scaly skin echoed around the cavern. The abominable beast was taking a much needed break.

The god sighed in Relief as it left and summoned all his pent up magic. He had been doing that for awhile now, always when the snake was on his break. It was his only means of escape. And on this day, the raven haired deity had preserved enough energy for a realm traveling spell that he had only read of in books but had never done before.

Quickly and in ragged tones, he whispered the ancient words of power.

Bright light shone around him.

Proceeded by a ringing in his ears

A burst of movement. Then, as his magic drained him of energy, he fell into the realm of unconsciousness.

He dreamed of a new future filled with light and acceptance in the new world.

[jangmi-latte]

Malleus , but he is dragon so he is kinda possessive but imagine in omega verse he would be like " if i can i want to mark all over your body so people would know you are mine "

☾︎ 9:28 𝐏𝐌 ☽︎ 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎..

𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚞𝚜 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚊

warnings: slight to suggestive/implied nsfw!!! possessive malleus, marking, and yuh...geez,,,, this gonna be a lot of lizard alpha...and i'm complaining 🙄🙄 /j

your sweet scent was addicting.

and you're not even mated yet.

to think even the future king of the valley of thorns would court you. another powerful alpha within night raven college that's feared and respected by many. when he would walk down the hallway, his scent would immediately be engulfed by alpha, betas, and omegas. it was very masculine and held something musky, like there's some spice to his dark scent.

it would make omegas weak and desperate to just whiff it in. yet he paid no heed and would ignore the stares he would get from others. no one would even dare come near him.

yet as weeks would go by, they would whiff an omega's sweet scent having been tainted by his scent. a mix of sweet and spicy, that was it smelled like.

you, the omega with a sweet, flowery, pheromone, is tainted by malleus' musky scent.

due to the conservative fashion of the uniform, they wouldn't even know if you were ALREADY claimed. you smell like it, though it's not strong to ward off other alphas that wanted you.

you weren't.

but malleus wanted to test the limits before he would officially offer to mark you. so, imagine the terrifying strength of his scent when he saw another alpha pinning on you. he could smell your distressed scent. even when you told the alpha you were already being courted, he wouldn't stop.

malleus had to step in. the utter audacity to touch HIS omega when he clearly littered his scent all over your whole being.

oh fuck, imagine if you weren't able to calm him down with your pheromones. the strong rumbling of thunder was enough to scare the other students. let alone the other alpha that overstepped his boundaries.

malleus was having warning signs of being in a rut too. a week of an alpha going through sexual frustration — let alone an alpha with no mate.

lilia was about to step in but an alpha having to calm down another alpha wouldn't work. that's the omega's job — yours.

and now you were dragged back to malleus' bedroom with your alpha emitting nothing but anger and frustration. you could smell it. it was addictingly strong, you nearly purred.

"mal—"

"quiet omega."

you know he's not mad at you, that's the alpha in him talking. instead of cowering, your knees weakened and goosebumps littered your arms. silver and sebek couldn't even speak to their master.

ah, fuck you're left with him alright.

once you arrived to his bedroom, he slammed the door loudly and, with just his gaze — eyes narrowed and his pupils in slits — you whimpered timidly and obediently sat on his bed.

you knew his intentions ever since he started scenting you. it was just you, an omega, waiting for him to make his move. how lucky are you to even have the prince nearly in a rut and is being moody.

malleus approached you, every step he took felt like minutes. your smaller frame staring up at his dominating form — his lips are in a scowl and all you can inhale is him. anger, lust, frustration — it's everywhere. slick was starting to drip in between your legs are you rubbed your thighs together.

"bare your neck," he ordered, authority and power boomed his presence. submissively obeying, you tilted your head back and whined. your hands crawled up to grip on his arms when he pushed you down. hovering above you, he bared his fangs.

"alpha..." you panted. omegas could trigger a rut to alphas, yet the effect is stronger to omegas if the alpha is in a rut.

malleus might've had his rut sooner than expected.

burying his face on the juncture of your neck and shoulder, he inhaled deeply. moaning at your sickening sweet scent, calming his nerves but not his rut. he grabbed your jaw, making you face him eye-to-eye.

you were already panting, eyes hazy as you can feel the effect he had on you. "starting from this day on," he began, his voice deep and stern.

"you're mine."

"yes mal..." you whined.

"address me properly, omega."

"yes alpha."

that broke malleus' facade and sunk his teeth into your neck. you let out a cry of pain and pleasure as you arched your back, pressing your chest to his while your knees dug to his sides.

the metallic taste of your blood and skin landing on malleus' tongue marked the bond between the both of you. co-dependent on each other and being able to sense your emotion and needs. that's both your jobs as mates now.

though it wasn't time yet, you are the destined omega to give him an offspring.

his queen.

"alpha," you called, obviously in a state of a heat, "it's so hot..." you whined and tugged in his uniform.

"patience omega." though he has none himself.

he could feel your whole being now. he needs you. one mark is not enough, he wants to mark you everywhere. bite you, breed you, taste you — he was going to get out of control.

"mal...!" you begged, scent nearly the same strength as his. at this point, if someone were to open the door, the whole dorm would smell the both of you.

he growled, fingers tearing off your uniform in utter desperation to feel your burning skin on his. it made you shiver and tug his coat off. up until...

"hands off."

ah, yes.

you couldn't walk properly at the end of the week...

© 𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐦𝐢-𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞 2021.

[gazelessmenagerie]

Discord shenanigans:

Broly comes in after Goten does his ‘clean-up’ alter ego hero shtick just to throw him into the trash, flip off the audience of humans that may or may not be present and flies off.

[lildogie]

Archipelago

You were trying to stay out of the mosh pit. A minute into Marvus's fifth song, though, the crowd around you all seemed to inhale as one, responding to some signal only you couldn't hear, and as one they surged toward the stage. The average age of the audience was a couple sweeps above you, and you were stood in the coolblood section, where that made the biggest difference. Your skinny carcass wasn't equal to resisting the tide.

The first elbow that catches you in the fangs isn't meant for you, nor the knee or backhand that follow. But you wash up wrapped around some brother's fist, and he hits you between your horns so hard you see visions. You don't clock the next few siblings to hit you, but it feels deliberate. You try to get your nubs up, protect your head, but that leaves your spine open. You stagger, clutch blind at clothing and limbs. Every time the ground swims into your ken, you know: if you fall, you're dead.

It's a losing battle. The terror screaming through every limb doesn't impart enough strength to claw your way up and over the heads of the crowd, nor can it make you heavy enough to barrel between the larger bodies. As you're shunted from fist to boot, ears ringing and vision fractured, gravity's tendrils lash around you, and you feel the inevitability of your fall.

Someone seizes you by your left horn and swings. You scream, pain exploding through your skull. Your vision goes black, punctuated by fireworks in every color of the spectrum. It's over. You're going to drown in the mud under these madly dancing boots if one of them doesn't do you the mercy of snapping your neck.

A large hand closes around your arm. You don't have the balance to jerk away; you keep falling. Only it's pulling you out of your groundward arc. Off your feet. Far off. You manage to open your eyes, and the headliner coalesces, a stained glass saint at the center of your kaleidoscopic sight. Marvus catches you around the waist, pulls you through the void.

"Ah-ah," he chides. "Not you, buddy. You're plot-relevant."

Your feet touch the stage but don't hold you. His broad hand at the small of your back keeps you upright. You can't see his edges; your eyes won't focus. The world tilts harshly to the left, and you seize his jacket, claw for purchase as the metallic scent of blood lances through your sinuses into your brain.

"Oop. Not ready to walk yet, huh? I got you."

He lifts you into his arms. Your claws draw blood where you latch onto him—you smell it—but you can't let go, and he doesn't make you. The noise and the light recede, and cold air prickling along your bare arms finally tips you off that you're inside somewhere. Looking around makes you nauseous and you hide your face in his shoulder. It's wrenchingly silent. You can't see the ground anymore.

Marvus sits. His arms wrap around you. He strokes your back lightly as you shiver, gasp for breath. You collect yourself enough to sheathe your claws, but you can't relax the iron grip you have on him. 

"Hey, buddy. You gucci?"

You catch a wobbly breath and tears stream down your face. Vaguely it registers that this is your idol, the greatest slam poet still on Alternia, and even that doesn't instill enough shame for you to let go. "Thank..." You hiccup and try again. "Thank you."

He gathers you in those large arms like you've known each other for always. Like moirails do in the movies. His chest shifts you as he draws a deep breath and exhales in a sigh.

"Night's gonna come when you curse my name for this. If you remember it."

He's half right.

Sweeps in the future, more than you ever expected to witness—many of which you saw only at a distance, like the color-splashed darkness of your concussed brain that night on Alternia—you come to know what he meant. In one of the brief flashes of clarity in which you have come to reside, the islands between one set of claws dug into your brain and the next, you remember him. You remember his name, your favorite verse of your favorite song of his. You recall with sharp and bitter longing the mud in which you could have ended your existence, long ago, when you were still a person.

You start to laugh. You're alone, your lungs are full of holes, and the scent of your own blood is the only one you can bring to mind. Your laughter is a gurgling wheeze, nearly silent. It spikes the agony inhabiting you, but that's not enough to stop it. It shakes your entire frame. Imagine being that afraid of death. Imagine being so innocent of the future. Imagine thinking it might have been anything but this.

But you don't curse him. He was wrong about that. Even if dying beneath his stage would have been the greatest kindness the cosmos could afford. Marvus danced on the same strings you do. Still does, if he still exists. He had no choice but to send you onward, even knowing.

But he didn't have to hold you while you cried. In one of his islands of self-determination amid the timestream, he chose to stroke your hair and say he was sorry for what was to come. And wherever he is now—if he is—you're grateful.

[liketolaugh-writes]

Kintsugi

I posted a oneshot with some associated smut a while back, but honestly I'm, if anything, far more pleased with the main story concept. This is a Kuroshitsuji/BOTW crossover where Link works for the Phantomhive family post-canon, using a base verse Crow and I call 'speedrun Link', where he does his journey start to finish in six months, does them in the order Naboris-Medoh-Rudania-Ruta, and takes a bad head injury less than halfway through.

------

Even when he stopped lashing out, disorientation and mistrust had Link skittering away from the two foreigners like an injured wolf, his fingers twitching on the hilt of his sword. Oddly enough, they kept their distance, though the taller and older of the two was examining his burnt and bloodied hands with clear interest.

Link was tempted to run again, but that hadn’t worked the first time, and the awful combination of his foggy, spinning head and the caustic burn of his body kept him from planning something better. It took all he had just to keep his hands from shaking, a two-handed grip on a one-handed sword.

“Are you quite finished?” the younger called out, sounding bored.

Link took a step back, swallowing thickly and ears twitching at the jarring sound that shattered the soothing silence of the forest. No one was supposed to be able to follow him into the Lost Woods. No one was supposed to be able to find him in the Lost Woods. What sort of magic did these two have?

It didn’t matter. He didn’t want to go. He’d done his damn duty, and he didn’t owe anyone anything anymore.

He took one hand off his sword and pointed out of the Lost Woods, bravado all that kept him in place. His meaning was silent but clear. Leave.

The taller one, the one that had held off Link’s sword with his bare hands and ripped his shield off of his arm, smirked at him, tugging on a new pair of gloves like nothing had happened. “Oh, I think not. We still have business here, after all.”

Too loud. Too loud. Was that a flash of fang in the man’s mouth?

The younger tilted his head and studied Link, one blue eye just visible through the dim light of the enchanted forest. “Heel, Sebastian. We did come to his… territory without invitation. The least we can do is offer him a meal in exchange for his information.”

Information. Just information? Link dearly wished he had the means to ask.

“Yes, my lord,” Sebastian said agreeably, and then, from his coat, he produced a blanket of all things, spreading it out across the ground quickly and gracefully. “I apologize for the fact that I cannot set up better accommodations on such short notice, but I did not think you would object to a picnic this once, young master.”

Goddess, Link wished it weren’t so damned hard to think. If he tightened his hood, would it soften the sharp edges of their voices?

“Fine,” the young boy said dismissively, sitting primly on the edge when Sebastian straightened up. He raised an eyebrow at Link. “Well? Are you going to join us?”

Link looked from the boy, seeming only mildly impatient, to the taller man, beginning to produce more things from his coat – bread that Link could smell as soon as he produced it, deep lidded containers of steamy soup, soft butter. Link actually took a short step back as the scent hit him, even as his eyes locked unwillingly onto it. His heart skipped a beat, the signals for hope and harm too mixed up and confused.

There was plenty of food in the Lost Woods, but it had been a long time since Link had eaten something that wasn’t raw or wriggling. Much longer than the month since he’d completed his journey.

Slowly, holding onto his sword more like a stuffed toy than a weapon, Link knelt just outside the very far edge of the blanket, off of the pristine cloth and on the more familiar grass. The boy sighed.

“Close enough, I suppose,” he said dismissively, demanding a container of the soup with a flick of his hand. Sebastian gave it to him, along with a small plate with a bread roll, and then gave the same again to Link, who hesitated only a moment before taking it. The boy even watched until Link took a bite, dipping the bread into the broth – there was no way he could handle a spoon – before he spoke. “I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive, and this is my butler Sebastian.”

Link let himself relish the taste of the bread and soup – better spiced than anything he’d ever had before – and then nodded, wary eyes on Ciel and his free hand still on his sword.

Ciel ate a few spoonfuls of soup himself, neat and perfect, and then a bite of bread, giving Link time to eat a little more himself before he continued, seeming to pay more mind to his meal than his words.

“Given recent changes to the political environment in Hyrule, certain interested parties are attempting to anticipate the future situation before any problems can arise,” Ciel explained, and though he wasn’t speaking quickly, Link’s head spun worse just trying to untangle that into something that made sense. “We’ve already spoken with Lady Impa and Queen Zelda.” He paused, and when Link didn’t reply, added, “What are you planning on doing when you emerge from the forest?”

Link had to shut his eyes at that point, and even after months, it hadn’t become any less humiliating that thinking too hard could make him feel physically ill. He swallowed twice, thick and wet, before he shakily set the bread down on his lap and at least tried to answer.

It didn’t work, of course. Between his trembling hands and his muddled brain, he hadn’t been able to sign properly since the Windblight had thrown him into Vah Medoh’s main terminal.

I don’t want to come out, he tried to say.

I’m never fighting for Zelda again, he tried next.

I just want to be left alone, he attempted.

None of them came out right and he gave up, dropping his hand back to his sword and looking away, blinking the sting of tears away from his eyes. He wasn’t hungry anymore. His cheek and neck throbbed where the Fireblight had seared the skin away into a blistered and bubbling mess.

“What’s the matter with you?” Ciel asked, the mild exasperation in his voice grating at Link’s ears almost as bad as the noise itself.

“The hero of the goddess is famously mute, young master,” Sebastian explained to the boy, and then paused, lingering and conspicuous, and added more slowly, “And… pardon me, Master Link, but might you also have a head injury?”

Link nodded miserably and wondered if that would be enough to make them leave.

“Hm,” Ciel said thoughtfully, and then, “You’re meant to be eating. Eat.”

Link ate.

“Alright,” Ciel said, several minutes later, pushing away his mostly-empty container of soup and his pristine plate. “Do you still serve the Queen of Hyrule?” Relieved by the easy question, Link shook his head. “Are you interested in political gain?” Shook his head again. “Will you be aiding Hyrule’s military?” Once more, Link’s head starting to pound from the motion and noise. “Taking an apprentice?”

In answer to that last, Link just gestured to himself – dirty and rumpled, clothes he hadn’t washed in over a month, hair tangled and loose around his shoulders from where he hadn’t been able to do it properly in far too long, huddled in on himself against the abrasive brush of air on his skin.

Ciel raised an eyebrow at him, like he actually believed Link could teach someone in this state, and finally Link just shook his head again. Even if he could, he wouldn’t. He was too bitter and sick with betrayal. He didn’t want friends anymore.

He hoped that was enough to satisfy them. Everything hurt, and he wanted them to leave.

“It sounds as if he’s no particular threat to England,” Ciel said idly to Sebastian, watching the man start to clean up. “Queen Zelda is perhaps another matter, depending on the extent of her power and charisma, but it remains to be seen. At the moment she seemed more overwhelmed with her task than anything.”

“Quite right,” Sebastian agreed, and then, to Link, just as he started to stand, “It would be entirely too rude to let your meal go to waste, don’t you agree? Besides, we have one more order of business to attend to.” Back to Ciel, “It’s entirely likely that if Hyrule does become a threat again, it won’t be for, at minimum, another few generations.”

Link hesitated, and Ciel glanced up at him long enough for Sebastian to look as well. The man gave him a beatific smile and produced a small bottle, holding it out.

“This is laudanum,” Sebastian informed him. “It’s a popular painkiller in England, quite effective. Since you smell so strongly of pain I can detect almost nothing else, I thought it might be of interest to you. Are you willing to lend an ear now?”

Link wavered, trying to figure out if Sebastian was sincere, and when he didn’t pull away, he took the small bottle and sat back down.

The two humans across from him exchanged an unreadable look, and then Ciel nodded at Sebastian. Sebastian turned to Link, kneeling politely on the edge of the blanket, and Link cocked his head warily.

“Since you have absolutely no interest in continuing to serve as the knight of Hylia,” Sebastian said, slow and unconcerned, his eyes never breaking contact with Link’s. “Perhaps you would instead consider working for the Phantomhive family.” Link tensed, because he didn’t recognize the name, but if Sebastian thought- if either of them thought- “You would be offered a fair wage for your efforts, of course, as well as room and board. Training in any of the relevant skills that you may lack. Days off, medical leave, and, naturally, regular access to a doctor.”

Link wasn’t expecting the way that that last offer made his throat close up like he was being choked, and swallowing did nothing to dislodge the lump.

Seven months he’d been awake now, that whole time in a body that screamed when it rained and scorched his nerves when he reached too high and seemed to fester and worsen with every passing week. The shaking hands from the Thunderblight and the head injury from Vah Medoh, every new burn on Death Mountain and the days he spent crying on Vah Ruta because he couldn’t solve a damn puzzle to save his life-

And in all that time, all he’d ever heard was hurry, hurry, hurry, you’ve taken too long already, and so any care that he couldn’t get inside of an hour, he put off.

“He ought not to start work right away,” Ciel said to Sebastian, disinterested and uncaring. “If it’s truly as bad as you say, we should wait for a doctor to clear him. Humans can’t work well under that much pain.”

“As you say, my lord,” Sebastian said, oddly smug, and Link turned wide eyes on both of them, unsure if he could even trust it. Sebastian glanced at Link and cocked an eyebrow. “I could put it into writing if that would be easier to understand.”

Link was nodding before he could think twice, still clutching the little bottle of laudanum protectively against his chest.

-----

One Year Later

-----

Link woke up where he’d gone to sleep, in the little hedged-in patch of grass hidden on the outskirts of the garden. He mumbled drowsily against the ground his cheek ws pressed against, the opium he’d taken earlier coaxing him to drift back off. His whole body was still heavy and relaxed, the pain in his skin softened to the dullest ache.

A moment later, though, his eyes popped open. The guest.

He rolled over and arched to check the sun in the sky, and then swore internally, stumbling to his feet. Link was a mess, not dressed for the little master’s company at all: his uniform jacket was half-undone and askew, his trousers wrinkled, his hair down around his shoulders and tangled from where he hadn’t even brushed it that morning. His gloves were grass-stained and dirty, and his undershirt twisted around from laying prone in the garden.

His earmuffs had fallen off too, and he tugged those back on first, covering his ears and muffling the too-harsh noises around him. Then Link pushed through the corner of the hedge and darted towards the manor house, hoping Sebastian wouldn’t be too annoyed.

He caught up to Sebastian at the base of the front stairwell, flushing a little at his raised eyebrow. After a heartbeat, Sebastian just sighed at him, turning to face him better and look him up and down with a faint frown.

“I see,” Sebastian said resignedly, and then reached forward.

Link let him, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the way his cheeks wanted to heat up with embarrassment. In a few quick minutes, he felt Sebastian’s fingers run through his hair, combing out the leaves and twigs, smoothing it down, and then pulling it into Link’s usual ponytail. Then he straightened out Link’s jacket and shirt, refastened them, smoothed the cloth down, and pulled his gloves off of his hands.

“Here,” Sebastian said at last, and when Link opened his eyes again he was holding out a fresh pair of gloves. Link beamed at him and put them on.

Thank you, he signed cheerfully, smile turning bashful when Sebastian’s exasperation didn’t ease. Sebastian tutted at him.

“Please endeavor to at least not make too much of a mess of yourself when we are expecting guests,” Sebastian chided. “The others are assembled in the entrance hall, please go and join them.”

Yes, Link agreed quickly, turning and bolting up the steps. Sebastian followed at a more sedate pace, casting a lingering gaze down the road.

The others were lined up just as Sebastian had said, idling in various states of anticipation and excitement. Link looked back and forth between them – Tanaka and Mey-rin in one line, Finny and Bard in the other – until Sebastian moved past him to speak to Mey-rin.

“Mey-rin, please keep an eye on Link this evening, he’s likely to be a touch disoriented. Baldroy, you as well, please.”

Link rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, and then Sebastian joined Finny and Bard in their line, directing Link to the other with a flick of his fingers. Link relaxed, placed himself beside Mey-rin, and turned his attention to the door to wait for Ciel’s guest.

“Almost late, you are!” Mey-rin scolded gently, and Link shrugged, rocking on his heels as he watched Ciel go out to greet the man. Already, his adrenaline had worn off and he was tempted to yawn again, sticky with sleep.

Pain rest, he explained, then reached up to rub at his eyes. Sebastian and Ciel were pretty generous with his worse days, and when he’d woken up this morning it had taken him the better part of an hour just to shuffle into his loosest and most permissive clothing.

As long as he protected the manor when he needed to, he was doing his job. And they all knew he could push through much worse than a bad day when it came down to the wire.

Mey-rin clucked sympathetically, and then there was no more time to talk; Sebastian hushed them with a gesture, and the next moment, Ciel and his guest came through the door.

Link bowed with the rest, graceful and practiced after a year at the manor, and let his head stay low as they passed: not something he’d been asked to do, but a courtesy he usually paid Ciel’s guests anyway. He lifted it as soon as they passed, and didn’t realize until Bard grabbed his sleeve that the others were leaving too. Link hurried along after them.

Event? he asked Bard, dropping down behind the bush that he and Finny were hidden behind.

“This is what you get for hiding out all day,” Bard scolded without heat, reaching out to tweak Link’s nose fondly. Then he started to explain, and Link, not really following along with the fast-paced explanation, settled in to listen anyway.

He wasn’t too worried about it. Sebastian would take care of it; he always did.

“Did you get all that?” Finny asked earnestly, as soon as Bard was done. Link shook his head, folded his arms over his knees, and set his chin down to watch anyway. “Bard! You explained too fast again!”

“Well, we ain’t got time to explain slow!” Bard complained, shaking his fist in a way Link had already internalized as playful. Link yawned.

Mey-rin break, he pointed out idly, watching Mey-rin spill wine across the table. The other two forgot all about the explanation, panicking loudly, and Link snorted, too sleepy to laugh properly.

Instead of Mey-rin or the guest, Link watched Sebastian; the flash of crimson in his eyes visible even from here, the tension that rippled through his body, the shift of weight before he acted. No matter what it was that powered him – to this day Link still had no idea – he was a beautiful man to watch in action.

The other two cheered, and Link rubbed the palm of his hand along his itchy scarred cheek, blinking slowly. He reached out to tap Bard’s shoulder for his attention.

Fetch Mey-rin, he suggested, watching the little maid sway. Bard swore and dragged Finny out along with him to spirit her back, and when they returned, Link patted her. Sebastian pretty.

“Yeah,” she sighed, soft and dreamy, and then turned pink.

Link yawned again, wincing as the high started to wear off, bringing the throb of his scarring back in increments. Sebastian come.

Sebastian had indeed finished presenting the food to the two lords, and was returning with an exasperated expression that clearly stated he’d spotted them hiding in the bushes. Bard and Finny both yelped, and Link grimaced as he and Mey-rin were dragged along to pretend as if they were back in the kitchen the whole time.

He wondered if Sebastian would let them have some of whatever dessert he was making. All the food Sebastian made was good, but the sweets were a rare treat to the four of them.

Well, one of the others would probably ask.

[jetsetlife138]

Imaginary - Chapter 8

Rating: Mature for this chapter, but Explicit in future chapters

Pairing: Alastor x Fem!Reader

Summary: A mysterious device throws you into the animated world of Hazbin Hotel. Once an average human living in a three-dimensional world, you’re now transformed into a two-dimensional human that has been cast into Hell. Pentagram City’s residents are curious and most harbor ill-will towards you. Charlie and the staff of the Happy Hotel take you in and offer you protection while they try and figure out how to return you to your world. That is… until you come across a certain Radio Demon with different intentions. Chapter Warnings: Abuse, Kidnapping Attempt, Non-Consensual Touching Previous Chapters: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7

The walk to Valentino’s office… or… headquarters… or lair… or whatever you wanted to call it was uncomfortable at best. Angel guided you through the streets of Pentagram City, making sure to deviate from the main roads by taking back alleys and seedy shortcuts to ensure that you remained unnoticed by Hell’s residents. You were afraid to ask how he knew about the obscure alternate routes, but considering his profession, which you had learned was an adult film star who alternated as a hooker, you supposed that he would be well-versed in that sort of thing. 

“Listen, toots. If anyone asks, I didn’t set this up. Got it?” the spider demon urged, hustling down the alley.

“Why would that matter?”

“Because!” he snapped, slowing down so that you could keep up with his long legs. “I don’t wanna be the one who catches shit when the little princess realizes you snuck out right from under her nose. And I especially don’t wanna take the blame when Smiles discovers you’re gone.”

“What difference does it make if Alastor finds out?” you asked, perplexed. “I mean, I can understand Charlie. She’s giving you free housing, and you’re already on thin ice with Vaggie, but Alastor doesn’t have anything to do with you being there.”

He cackled maliciously. “Babe, you really are too much. Whether you wanna admit it or not, Smiles is obsessed with you. If he finds out that I took you to Big Vee, someone he’s not too fond of, I might add, he’ll probably eat me - and not in the way I’d like him to,” he added, grinning salaciously.

Much to your horror, you then began approaching a building with the words Porn Studios plastered on the front in bright red letters.

“Val… works in the porn industry?” you inquired, a hint of contempt in your voice.

“It’s a thriving business, baby. If you were looking for a ‘respectable’ establishment, you ain’t gonna find one a those in Hell. Get used to it.”

The more you thought about it, the more it made sense. Valentino ran Hell’s gritty underbelly, and if he was in charge of the porn and prostitution industries, surely he was in a place of power.

When you reached the empty lobby inside, Angel motioned for you to sit in one of the chairs. “I’ll go an’ let him know you’re here. Sit tight.”

The moment he disappeared through one of the doors, a slight sense of dread fell over you, causing you to stir uncomfortably in your seat. Wringing your hands nervously, your thoughts began to wander. Did you just make a huge mistake? Should you have put your trust in Angel? Why didn’t anyone else mention Valentino as a trusted source before? 

It was too much. You shouldn’t have gone there. A feeling in your gut was telling you to run and avoid this place at all costs.

Just as you had gotten up to leave, Angel came back through the doors. “He’s ready for you, toots. Come on back.”

“Angel… I--” you started to protest before he cut you off.

“You wanted answers, didn’t chya? He’s not known for his patience, babe. Come on, let’s go.”

Against your better judgement, you followed him back, swallowing thickly and trying to keep your nerves steady.

As you approached a large wooden door, Angel knocked twice before holding the door open for you. Hesitantly, you walked past him into a large office with tacky decor. Risque pictures lined the dark purple walls and a giant furry pink couch sat in the corner. Beneath your feet was a zebra-skin rug, which you were sure had been an inhabitant of Hell at one point.

At the very end of the room was a large and intimidating desk with a tall chair behind it that was faced away from you. Once you were just a few feet away, the chair swiveled, revealing a red-eyed demon adorned with a fancy flush coat and heart-shaped glasses. His outfit made him seem much less sinister than you were sure he probably was.

“Well, what do we have here?” he hissed, cracking a fanged smile. “Angie, when you told me that you were bringing me a living human, you didn’t say that she’d be so… delicious.”

Angel chuckled awkwardly, brushing past you to stand closer to Valentino.

“Don’t be shy, sugar. Come a little closer to Daddy and let me get a good look at you.”

Struggling to hide your grimace, you took a few more steps forward. Feeling his eyes scanning your form, you crossed your arms defensively, as if trying to physically hold yourself together.

The demon hummed thoughtfully before he stood up from his chair, gliding smoothly around his desk before he stopped directly in front of you.

Holy shit. He was tall. Even taller than Angel.

Pursing his lips, he circled you, inspecting you like a vulture honing in on its prey. Eventually, he stopped in front of you before demanding, “Sit still for me, sugar.”

He then placed a large hand over your chest, not in a sexual way, but as if he was trying to feel your heartbeat. Closing his eyes for a moment, you felt a strange tingling sensation where his hand was only briefly before he pulled it away with a smile plastered on his face.

Stepping away from you, he leaned back on his desk in a casual position before addressing you. “So, my little worker bee here tells me that you’re looking for some insight. That right?”

Unable to speak, you nodded your head.

“Walk me through what happened. Give Daddy all the intricate little details, baby. Don’t leave anything out.”

You wrinkled your nose as his use of the word daddy. It was incredibly off putting and didn’t at all appeal to you, but you went along with it anyway.

Clearing your throat, you started to speak, your voice shaking. “W-well… I-I was out shopping with my friends, and I saw a television that was a few decades old… probably from the seventies, at least. The remote control was next to the t.v. I picked it up, turned it on, and suddenly I was thrust into this place. That’s all I can remember.”

“Hmm,” he hummed aloud, tapping his index finger on his chin. “How very peculiar.”

“Whadya thinkin’, Val?” Angel Dust pressed, just as intrigued.

“Angie, baby… why don’t you run and get Vox. I’m sure he’d be interested to hear this little human’s story.”

“Y-you sure, boss?” Angel asked, hesitating.

Valentino narrowed his eyes at the spider. “Are you really going to waste my time with stupid questions?”

“But… you said this would be discreet-”

SLAP

You winced as Valentino backhanded Angel Dust, causing the spider to stumble back, holding his now tender cheek with a shocked expression on his face.

“Remember your place and do as you’re fucking told,” the demon snarled, baring his teeth at his inferior. “Now.”

Frowning, Angel Dust gave you a subtly apologetic glance before sauntering out of the room, leaving you alone with the pimp.

Even though you were genuinely upset at how Valentino treated Angel, you couldn’t bring yourself to act on your anger. When you had lost your cool with Lucifer, it was different because you were surrounded by Charlie and Alastor and you had the luxury of voicing your outrage, as foolish as it may have been. In your current predicament, however, you were utterly alone and at the mercy of Valentino. Clearly, you were out of your league. 

“Um,” you stammered, practically trembling where you stood and wanting to ease the quiet tension. “Wh-who is Vox?”

“He’s an associate of mine,” the demon purred. “Something tells me that he’ll be able to enlighten us to your little predicament.”

“Really?” you pressed, partially intrigued, partially terrified. “Why do you say that?”

Before he could respond, another voice could be heard approaching. “Seriously, Val? You’re gonna send your whore to fetch me like I’m some kind of bitch who’s at your beck and call? You can’t just-- oh.”

The new demon froze as he entered the room and laid eyes on you. The sight of him was just as alarming to you as you had been to him. Rather than a zoomorphic creature, it was like he was a cross between a human and a television set. He was about as tall as Alastor, sporting a striped tuxedo with a black and red striped shirt underneath. His red bowtie prominently stood out in comparison to grey undershirt.

On top of his flat-screen t.v. head, he had a black top hat with sound waves etched into it. His eyes were red with one of them containing black rings around the pupil. His entire appearance was unsettling to say the least. 

“And who do we have here?” Vox asked, his tone immediately changing from irritated to seductive.

You hadn’t realized that Valentino had moved next to you while you were distracted by Vox’s entrance. He entangled one of his fingers into a strand of your hair, twirling it around his lengthy digit, causing you to flinch. “This is the human that we’ve been hearing about all over the Seven Rings,” Val whispered close to your ear. “She has quite an interesting story. Why don’t you be a doll and tell my associate here what happened to you, sugar?”

Inhaling a shaky breath, you repeated your story about the television set. As you spoke, Vox’s eyes widened in shock as he exchanged glances with Valentino who had a menacing smirk on his face. As you finished your story, Vox had a similar expression to Val as he eyed you hungrily.

“Excuse us for a moment, won’t you, baby? Daddy’s gotta have a little chat,” Val snickered as he pulled Vox aside and stepped into the room adjacent to the one you were in.

You briefly wondered what had happened to Angel Dust until their whispers brought your attention back to them. Unable to stop yourself, you stepped closer to the doorway, listening in on their conversation. It was difficult to make out anything that they were saying, but you caught certain things here and there.

“...didn’t think that it would actually work! By the time I heard that there was a human…”

“...exactly what we wanted. What’s even better is that she came to us…” 

“...not going to go quietly. Her little friends at that rancid hotel…” 

“...just do it. We’ve waited too long for this…”

From what you had heard, you weren’t at all liking where this was going. Everything inside of you was telling you to run.

Just as you were looking for an escape, the demons came back into the room with venomous grins on their faces. “Going somewhere?” Vox asked, interpreting your actions.

“I-I need to get back. The others will be looking for me soon, and I--”

“Now, now,” Valentino cooed as he towered over you, running a finger down your arm. “You just got here. It would be rude to leave so soon.”

All of the courage that you had gathered over your time in hell had immediately dissipated. There was no way that you could overpower two demons. It was clear that you were at their mercy. “Please…” you begged, still looking for an exit. “I was just looking for a way home. I didn’t mean--”

“Don’t worry, fleshling,” Vox soothed with false sweetness as he also caressed your face, giving you unwanted chills. “We’re going to get you home. But first… we’re going to have a little fun with you.”

“W-what do you mean by fun ?” you asked, not really wanting to hear the answer, but trying to buy time until you could come up with a crafty escape.

“Oh, don’t you worry, sugar. We’re going to take good care of you,” the moth demon purred as he continued to fondle your clothes. “You’re ours now.”

“You know, I do really hate those who can’t show a little more respect to those of fairer means,” a familiar voice interrupted.

Relief washed over you like a tidal wave. Never did you think that you would be so relieved to hear that eerie static-filled voice.

Valentino and Vox immediately went rigid, but kept their hands where they were on your body. “It’s rather distasteful,” the Radio Demon continued, emerging from the shadows. His eyes were radiating a crimson glow and his smile was even more malevolent than you had seen it in the past. “Like bad meat.”

The tension in the room was palpable as Alastor’s antlers seemed to lengthen in height and width. The dark circles under his eyes appeared once more and his pupils turned to dials as his teeth elongated to emphasize his already terrifying grin. “If you would, kindly remove your hands from her.”

“No one asked you to intervene, Bullwinkle,” Vox snapped, tightening his grip on your arm.

“What?” Valentino asked, suddenly distracting and quirking a brow at his cohort. “Bullwinkle is a fucking moose.”

“So what? They both have antlers,” Vox countered, shrugging. “Who fucking cares?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt what I’m sure would be a fascinating lover’s quarrel,” Alastor teased, earning a growl from the other demons, “But I really must be on my way.”

“No one’s stopping you!” Vox pointed out, baring his electric blue teeth. “But you’re not taking the fleshling with you.”

“If you refuse to relinquish the human to me, I’m afraid I’ll have to take a more aggressive approach. I’m sure no one wants that,” Alastor remarked, tilting his head mockingly, his frightening appearance still in place.

“You really want to threaten us?” Valentino questioned with a chuckle, his eyes flashing from behind his heart-shaped glasses. “We’ll annihilate you.”

“Oh, ho, ho,” Alastor laughed, straightening his monocle. “As much as I would enjoy proving you wrong, I’m afraid you’re confused. You see, I’m here to ensure that the human remains safe before she is claimed by Lucifer. He has very specific plans for her, and, as I’m sure you can imagine, he won’t be thrilled if he finds out his prized possession is being held hostage in this… fine establishment,” he sneered at the last part of his statement.

The two demons exchanged worried glances with one another, hesitating before speaking. “Lucifer wants her?” Vox pressed, eyes darting between you and his partner-in-crime.

“That’s correct,” Alastor replied, not bothering to mask the smug undertone. “I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell the King of Hell that his shiny new toy is being soiled by two clueless brutes. Would you?”

“Fuck,” Valentino grumbled before gripping your shoulders and thrusting you back into Alastor, where you landed harshly aganst his chest. His arms immediately wrapped around you, his clawed fingers digging into your shoulders posessively. 

Vox glared at Val with disbelief as he stammered, “You’re just handing her over?! She’s the key--”

“Shut the fuck up, Vox,” Valentino snarled, narrowing his eyes and giving him a subtle, unspoken warning. “It’s not the last we’ll see of her.”

Fuming, Vox remained silent as his eyes flashed at Alastor. Valentino then bent down, his eyes boring into yours as he whispered, “We’ll see you soon, sugar.” Sitting up, his lip curled as he addressed Alastor once more.  “Now get out.”

With a flick of one of his ears and no other words exchanged, Alastor relinquished his hold on you and escorted you out, moving so quickly that you had to practically run in order to keep up with him. 

“Alastor,” you addressed him breathlessly, “Just… wait a minute--”

“Not here, darling,” he urged, still moving with urgent haste.

After nearly fifteen minutes of power walking, you had reached the hotel. The moment the door shut behind you in the lobby, you glared at the Radio Demon while struggling to catch your breath. After a few moments of tension, you asked, “Is that really what you think of me? A ‘shiny new toy’ for Lucifer’s entertainment?”

Alastor, who had returned to his far less threatening appearance, simply smirked while twirling his hand and summoning his microphone before leaning on it casually. “No, sweetheart. That’s not all I really think of you.”

“What the fuck, Alastor,” you blurted out, unable to stop yourself. “You’re a god damned enigma! Is this how you get your rocks off? You tormented me when I first got here by making not-so-subtle threats and touching me constantly like a weirdo. Then you suddenly became nice and supportive, and after Lucifer, it  seemed like you were actually going to help me, only to then make it seem like you’re just biding time until you can hand me over to him! What’s your game?! Is this how you drive your prey crazy before you slaughter them? Why are you such a creepy bastard?! What did I ever do to you to deserve these mind games?!”

Yikes. You didn’t mean to let all of that spill out at once, but you couldn’t help yourself. Once you started, you couldn’t stop. What’s worse was that during your rant, Alastor just gawked at you, seemingly unfazed. If anything, he was entertained, which only made you more upset.

After a few seconds of silence and him just staring at you with an amused expression, you emphasized, “Well?! Answer me!”

He then sat up straight, making his microphone disappear into a cloud of smoke before approaching you. Just as you were about to snap at him again, his long arm circled around your waist, pulling you close while cupping your face with his hand, running his thumb along your cheek. Before you could comprehend what was happening, his lips were on yours, moving against you in a deep and sensual kiss, making you forget the world around you.

Tags: @beetlewise-and-pennyjuice @edgy-drama-queen @chasingfireflies1999 @galaxy-meteor @cecidit-31 @shadowclawstudio88 @utterly-disappointing @opheliuva @trinswhimsys @skylarhedges @whogavebrynjolfpermissiontobehot @sailor-earth-1

[thebloodydame]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍 & 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓: 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨: Maria finds herself starting to get used to the company of the white beast, even though he is still a little unsociable to her.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Maria Lilith Bellona, Theodore Van Atalenta ( The Beast ), Adrian The Butler, Lord Lysander. Edmund The Knight.

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: None

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦: The Lady and The Beast & Pokémon

Maria was in the fencing training area in the mansion in the company of her colleague Edmund, he was one of the guards of his orda, the clanking of the swords was incessant until one of the swords went flying through the air and falling to the ground, signaling the victory of the Grand Duchess.

The blond man waved his hand and looked at the woman-" Is that a tactic you use to make the loser feel humiliated? "-He questioned.

" Huh? Of course not "-She replied.

" As always, Your Highness, you have a lot of talent, too bad there is never any real battle to put your tactics into play "-Edmund spoke as he watched her put away her sword.

" You could have used them against that creature "-He commented.

" Nah, I prefer to keep him as a mascot "-She replied.

" As you wish, Your Highness "-The knight agreed.

" Well, I better go, I need to go meet Adrian in the garden for my afternoon tea "-Maria spoke and with that she left for inside the mansion, leaving him behind.

Edmund had never seen that woman smile, probably because of her last six husbands, they had tired her emotionally and mentally, she didn't see any more sense in clinging to love and also, immortal life was something tiring and it had become something tedious .

Lady Lilith found herself in the garden in front of the mansion, she was seated in a gilded chair with a small table of the same shade and a beautiful white sun shade shielding her from the sun as she read a thick orange book that had the title 'Our Dog Changed', lying right behind her was The Beast sleeping soundly.

" Hmmm... there's a lot of useful information here, I think I understood the basics on how to discipline "-She spoke as she picked up the next book which was 'How a Wise Miss Cared for a Wolf', she also had to read '100 ways of raising a good dog' and 'There is no such thing as a bad dog'

' I really liked that title, it almost exactly describes my current situation... '-The auburn haired woman thought, that's when she read the first two verses of the book:

Shh!

At her gentle touch down there, she couldn't hold back and let out a moan.

His eyes glowed with fierce heat at the sight of the stern duchess and her untidy hair.

As if he were a wolf thirsty for the duchess's love, she...

Maria aggressively closed the book, taking a deep breath with her eyes closed she thought-' ...Well, that was an unfortunate incident, I just picked up the book based on the title.... I mean, technically speaking, this book shows from more erotic form a relationship between a woman and a beast '-She opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the huge white wolf.

' But first of all, he needs training '-She put the book on the table and turned to the wolf.

" Hey... give the paw "-The Grand Duchess spoke, extending her hand to him, but he simply growled and showed her his fangs, using his front paw to attack her but she managed to get her hand back in time.

' Hmm... he attacked with his front paw, does that count as following my order? '-She questioned herself as she watched him get into a defensive position-' His attitude is terrible but... ''

With a sigh she threw a piece of meat at him and he quickly snapped it up-' I shouldn't have expected too much from him at first '

" Boy... "-Maria called him which made the beast look in her direction-" Sit down "-she ordered but he simply growled at her.

' Hmm, is it harder for him to understand orders using a voice without me guiding him with my hand? '-The woman questioned herself.

Lady Lilith then placed her hand on his shoulder and then pushed him away-" Here, you sit like this "

' Ugh...! '-The wolf thought but in the blink of an eye he was sitting.

" Good job "-Maria praised him.

' If I train him like that, at least he won't hurt others in the future, I might not be able to figure out why I feel he's somehow human but I want him to be able to live among my subjects even when I set him free him '-She thought calmly as she stroked his head-' After all, he's a kind person at heart '

That's when the voice of Lord Lysander, a nobleman who always got into trouble with the Grand Duchess, infested the environment.

" THAT... THAT NAUGHTY.... ! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS CREATURE?! HE WAS TERRORISING EVERYONE AND YOU CHOOSE TO WELCOME HIM THAN KILL HIM?! "

The woman continued with her blank and cold expression while the white wolf seemed uncomfortable with the presence of that man, she listened and listened to him speak, but then finally interrupted him-" I thought you were hiding pulling strings, but finally it showed ... as I expected, you're shameless "

The man's eyes widened-" W-what!... "

" I know this whole incident was planned by you, this wolf here is Theodore Van Atalenta, The Grand Duke of the cursed bloodline, isn't it? "-She said glaring at the man.

" Your grace, you...! "-He tried to argue.

" Have you by any chance forgotten who I am? I'm Lilith, the first woman in the world, I know everything and everyone and the last time I checked, I was the Grand Duchess. But you're treating me like I was your subordinate.... I can consider your rudeness as an act against me, the Grand Duchess "-She spoke coldly, making the man feel his limbs tense.

She then turned to the wolf beside her, placing her hand under his chin, saying-" What do you think, Theo? "-The wolf raised its head growling and baring its fangs.

" Until his grace regains his senses, I'll be in charge of his care, so I hope you don't cross the line from now on "-She spoke as she stroked the wolf's white fur.

" Your actions towards his grace are, without doubt, acts of mockery against the Grand Duke, how could he, as his loyal servant, let you tarnish his image? "-He said at her.

" So isn't it an act of mockery to feed your respectable Grand Duke with drugs, treat him like cattle, and dump him on an island full of creatures that are disgusting to you? Who would dare to do this to their own master? "-She growled at the man.

" ....Well, that's... "-Lysander tried to make some excuse but failed miserably.

Adrian, who was watching that, looked quite surprised-' Lady Lilith is really impressive '-He thought.

" If you already understand your place, then you can leave "-She said, turning her back on that despicable man.

" ...I apologize for my rudeness, your grace "-Lord Lyssander spoke and with that he left.

The butler then approached her and said-" You have a meeting with Baroness Rebecca and her maids, they want to show you the final result before they start making the decorations for the ball "-He informed her.

" Thank you Adrian, please, while I'm at this meeting, I ask you to send a letter to the Van Atalenta Mansion and ask them to send the head of the house and the head butler, we need to resolve this soon " -She said and then pulled the collar on which the Grand Duke was tied.

" As you wish, your grace "-He bowed and then accompanied her inside the mansion.

As soon as they arrived at her office, Adrian handed her the letter so she could put the 'Family' Bellona seal, which was an apple and around it was a snake-" There... now we just need to confirm that he is here with us "

The woman turned to the wolf and said-" Theo, paw "

The wolf sat down with a sigh and she then took his paw, dipping it in the ink and using it as a stamp, putting the mark right next to hers-" You can send the letter now "-She declared to the butler.

Theo shivered as he looked in her direction, in his view she was far more frightening.

Adrian left her office just as Baroness Rebecca and her little spiders entered, by which time Theo was lying behind her chair, watching closely the movement in the room.

" Well, we'd better start with that soon "-She spoke calmly.

The woman knew that it would take a while for the letter to reach the mainland and then to the state of that Grand Duke's family, what was left for her was just to wait.

𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜!

[lostinaseaoffictionalbliss]

A/N: Here is a snippet from my first book The Dragon Tamers: The End of Peace which is available on Amazon. And a snippet from my second book The Dragon Tamers: The Last Tamer which I’m currently working on.

This is from the first book

   One           

 Jersavian & Its Dragons

The continent of Jersavian consisted of the North which was known only as The Land of Dragons and the South; The Bad Lands, Selkia, Darmantha, Chandaloria, and Dravasta.

Little is known  about The Land of Dragons as few have the courage to travel there. Most fear that in doing so they will incur the wrath of the very beasts that call it home. For that reason alone all that is known is that it seems to be a vast and luscious land.

The Bad Lands gained their name because little can grow and live there. The ground was made mostly of sand with rocks scattered about. There were only two trees in all the area and they were near a pond; Survival Pond it was named in later years. The sun beat upon the ground and any living creature in such a way it was almost unbearable. Most animals avoided the place as little shelter from the sun and her merciless rays. Nor could they find a warm place in the dark of night, for once the sun set the terrain became almost frigid save for the sand that still held heat. Yet, a few humans braved the temperature to call it home.

Selkia falls between the large river known as Dawn River-east of the Bad Lands-and the high ranges of Glacier Point. The river was so named because with the rising of the sun and dawn's first light it glittered and gleamed; a kaleidoscope of colors coming from its crystal clear water. As for the tall mountain ranges, with only one pass (The Selkian Pass), owe their name to the snow and ice that coats their large points; points that seem to reach the sky.

Because of the river and the small unnamed forest that lies in Selkia the land is lush and teeming with life. Many birds such as the hawk, mockingbird, yellow finch, and different breeds of owl call the land home. As do a few species of deer and rabbit. Near the mountains goats would roam and climb. The light elves, called such because of their magical abilities and love of all forms of light, that call the land their home are a prosperous people. They take only what they need from the land and always give back in some form. Whether this be by planting seeds or raising animals they found a way to keep balance. They were a tall and lithe race with dark almost black skin, black hair, and either brown or dark green eyes, and had power over woodland creatures.

Darmantha lies East of Glacier Point and is full of life and wonder. It lays claim to the large lake Blarion that is filled with many species of fish; trout, catfish, bluegill, bass, and muskellunge; and the vast forest Endless Night. The trees that grew there were tall; their bark a redish hue; their large branches coming together to form a thick canopy in which little to know light and snow can come through thus giving it its name. Deer ran plenty beneath the trees as did rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, foxes, and a few bears. Birds called the large trees their home and could often be heard singing at all hours.

The Dark Elves, named for their love of darkness and the forest in which they lived, called this wonderful kingdom their home. They had always loved the darkness and could see far with their glowing eyes despite the lack of sun and moonlight that shone there. These elves had a slender build, tan skin, were of varying heights- mostly tall-with black or brown hair, dark eyes, and the ability to grow and talk to plants.

Chandaloria lies East of the Bad Lands and directly South of Selkia. The entire realm is engulfed in the Twinkling forest. The name given for the lights that  can always be seen among the tops of the trees. During the day they are barely noticeable as the bright light of the sun shines down. With the setting of the sun and the rising of the moon the lights shine bright enough to be seen a mile off. While any who visit the forest might believe the light is a magical creation they would be wrong. It in fact comes from the billions of fireflies that call the forest their home.

The Twinkling Forest also provides shelter to the woodland fairies; given their name as they loved the woods and all things that grew there. They were small, not much bigger than young teens, with large butterfly like wings, wide childlike eyes, and skin that had a pinkish glow. It is because of them that other races of Jersavian believe the lights of the forest come from magic. It is true they have magic and can do many things, but that is one thing not of their doing.

Southeast of Darmantha in a small corner of Jersavian lay the kingdom of Dravasta. Its borders marked by the Tuka River that lay across the land and the ocean. It is a small place with few trees and even fewer living things save the goblins. The foul creatures had destroyed the land all that it had to give. They cared little for other living things save what they could provide. They left the ground a dark muddy mess. The very air foul to any that breath it except them. To those that used magic and were sensitive to the earths cries (such as elves and fairies) they could sense illness in that land. An illness that didn't effect the pale green skinned, tall, hulking goblins with their beady eyes and long saber like fangs.

Long ago before the First War, before elves, humans, fairies, and goblins ruled Jersavian it was ruled solely by dragons. Tis true the beasts live in The Land of Dragons-where no man or woman has went-some, however enjoyed the land to the South.

Two species of dragon-Wyvern and Phoenix-enjoyed the hot sandy desert in the Bad Lands. The warmth felt goof upon their scaly bodies; soaking up the heat of the sun and the sand. IT was also a great place for them to nest. Eggs could be buried in the sand or placed in rocky areas that littered the desert. Despite few creatures being able to withstand the heat the dragons had snakes to feast upon or could fly to Dawn River; there they could catch fish or other animals that came to drink; or they could go west to the sea.

The mountains just East of Selkia called to the Ampithere. It could easily hide its egg amongst the rocks or in a cave. The temperature at the base wasn't that cold and it housed many goats. This gave the dragons plenty of prey for itself and its hatchling,

There was one other breed of dragon, the Ice Dragon. It liked to make Darmantha its home. That kingdom while not unbearable cold was the coldest in all of Jersavian. The forest teeming with wildlife provided plenty of food, There were also plenty of places to hide an egg; keeping it perfectly safe.

Few dragon came down from The Land of Dragons, but the ones that did ruled Jersavian. No animal could contend with the beasts and none would dare try. That is until people came.

This is from the second book

 Prologue

The night was cool with the first signs of winter. Frost clung to the grass, bushes, and low-hanging branches like a child clings to the mother after a terrifying nightmare. The air was crisp and if someone were to take a deep breath it would slightly burn the lungs as cool air is apt to do. A soft snow drifted from the sky that was illuminated brightly by the moon. The moon hung high in the sky; bright, full, beautiful, and full of power. A few stars dotted the sky around her twinkling; the others blocked by grey snow clouds.

In the midst of the forest that lay near Selkia there was a lone cottage. Herbs, strings of garlic, and other such oddities hung from the porch rafters. A bright green cloth hung upon the front door. It depicted a golden dragon perched upon a cliff with bright blue light coming from its mouth. It was a dragon of legend. Something they had only heard about and never actually seen. Many wondered if it truly existed.

The cottage was shrouded in darkness save for a lone light shinning through a window to the right of the door. The candle's flame flickered to and fro as if a breeze had blown. Yet, the night was still save for the falling snow and the occasional nocturnal animal scurrying about the forest floor in search of food.

Old Sage-though truly he didn't look old and was only named thus because of his wisdom-sat as his table shrouded in smoke, from burning incense, and shadow. It had been two years since he helped Josalin, Nimir, Jaimeson, and Rochelle become one with their dragons. Since then he had been keeping a close eye on them and the dragonlings they had hatched. He watched to see how the humans would change now their blood was mingled with that of a dragon. He watched to see what type of bond would form between them and the dragonlings; that of friendship, master and owner, pet and owner.

It was very curious seeing how they grew together. While dragons took quite some time to grow the humans were left tending to them like a parent would a child to keep them fed and safe. Once they were big enough to hunt on their own the bond seemed to shift. It became more like friendship or kinship. They talked to one another, played with one another, and continued to grow closer together.

Old Sage gazed into the light purple crystal ball sitting on the table. It was held up by a large black steel stand. Its legs were in the shape of a dragon's foot and the three dark points that held the ball in place were in the shape of flames.

The smoke swirled in the ball, forming many different shapes. Dragons could be seen; a few trees that could be Selkia, Darmantha, or Chandaloria. Once the ball even showed the beach near the Bad Lands. Sounds also came from inside the ball; birds chirping, kid goats bleating, the ocean waves crashing upon the bank. The crystal ball was capable of showing a person many things; past, present, and things that were yet to come or may not come at all; the future was fickle and ever changing after all. It constantly picked up many things at all times. Only one versed in using it could make it focus and show something specific. However even with the skill and knowledge to use it the crystal could easily show the person using it something other than what they desired to see.

Old Sage had been using the crystal to keep watch over the Dragon Tamers. Most of them lived in other kingdoms and once King Anais had learned Josalin hatched a dragon he had banished her from Selkia. Her young love Aramatis had of course followed her. It had pained Old Sage to watch the spirited young girl and trouble-making boy leave. Because he had watched the two of them grow up and cared for them a great deal he tended to peek in on their lives more than the others.

However tonight he wanted to look into the future instead of the present.

He sprinkled a pinkish looking liquid upon the crystal. Lifting his arms above his head he began chanting in the beautiful, melodic, sometimes enchanting voice of his people; the Light Elves.

Spirits guide me

Show me what I seek

Let me glimpse the future

To know the Fate

Of one who I hold dear

Let me look upon her face

Show me what becomes of her

The smoke inside the crystal swirled once more. A chilling voice like four people talking over one another came from inside. “The future you wish to see, yes. The future we shall allow you to see. But beware Old Sage for what you may not be what you desire. We guide you, but the future is fickle, the future is ever changing. Even we can not know exactly what this one will see. Nor is it set in stone. Things can change.” A small hissing laugh emitted from the crystal before it finally began to clear.