#Aeons End

[alienssstufff]

📝📝📝📝📝🥳

I haven't drawn jrwi in laik forEVER - but then Wonderlust showed up and Aeon was dere and im like.... ohg. okayyyy

[petorahs]

[miasmaghoul]

did you guys think I was done with my swiss angst? because uhhh newsflash i am Not Okay and therefore making it everyone elses problem. fair warning, this isn't as happy as the last one was. at all.

It's the wee hours of the morning when Aether's phone chimes. Too early for the sun, but far too late for anyone with sense to be awake - but there are always exceptions to the rule.

🧀: front door in 20

Finally, the text he'd been waiting on. Aether nods to himself, sending a thumbs up and adding a ratty old tee to his pajama bottoms. His back cracks when he stands to shove his feet into the ridiculous fluffy bunny slippers Aurora had given him as a sort of reverse going away present. They're warm, he'll give her that. Aether yawns as he stares down at their beady little button eyes, debating going to wake Cumulus and Sunshine for Swiss' return. They'd taken to sleeping in Cirrus' room, and sleep has been hard enough with the rest of their pack gone. Aether decides against it - it's not like Swiss won't be there at a more sensible hour. The girls deserve their beauty rest.

Aether steps into the hall and doubles back for his robe almost immediately. It's chillier than he'd expected, and he yawns again as he cinches the belt and heads for the door of the ghoul wing. It's a bit of a walk to the main doors of the abbey from their dorms, and the place is filled with nothing but silence at this time of night. His slippers are the loudest thing around, slapping between his heels and the marble floors. He almost wishes he'd just gone barefoot, but it really is cold, so he supposes it's a fair trade for feeling a bit absurd in the things.

He makes it to the door with eight minutes to spare, and it's only then that he looks at his phone again. The screen lights up just as he goes to unlock it.

🧀: pls be there somethings wrong

Aether's stomach leaps into his throat the second he processes the words, and suddenly he's pacing in the courtyard. Slippers crunching through coarse gravel as he watches the long stretch of dirt road that connects the abbey to the rest of the world. He tries calling Swiss but there's no answer - Aether figures he must be within the dead zone caused by the wards kept in place by magic more ancient than even the building he calls home. It's good and bad news; on the one hand, it means Swiss is close. On the other, it means he gets to spend five incredibly long minutes wringing his hands over what could possibly be so wrong that Swiss had to warn him about it.

Maybe he should've woken the girls after all.

It's a moot point, he's certainly not walking back now, and Aether knows if he had it would just mean three worried ghouls pacing instead of one. He tucks his chilled fingers into his armpits to get some feeling back into them, mind racing a mile a minute. It's been doing that ever since Copia made the decision to call Swiss back, an unsettled sort of anxiety sitting at the back of Aether's mind. Easy to ignore when he's busy with clinic or church duties, but here in the dark? Not so much.

It can't be more than a handful of minutes before a telltale dirt cloud crests the hill the abbey sits on, and like a punch to the gut Aether can feel something is off. Colder than even the air turning his breath into little clouds, harsh as a steel toed boot - whatever is happening, it isn't good.

The old panel van speeds closer, the passenger door flings open before the driver even tries to brake, and a body tumbles to the gravel with a solid thud and accompanying grunt. Aether gawps for all of a second before rushing over, kneeling in the rock and reaching for what is clearly a very stricken ghoul.

"Swiss? What's going on, why -"

Now, Aether prides himself on his composure. It's what makes him so good in their little clinic, being able to keep a straight face through even the worst things. But the look Swiss gives him, wide-eyed like a beast being hunted and panting like one too, takes even his breath away. It takes a long, long moment for Aether to look past his terror and see the mask hiding the rest of his face. The veil accompanying it. The bodysuit, once covered in glittering gems, now torn, picked over and smeared with red that smells of iron to his sensitive nose. Why is he still in his stage attire? It's been at least eight hours since he started traveling, surely they would have allowed him to change...

"Are - are you bleeding?" He reaches for the other ghoul and, for the very first time, Swiss flinches away from him. Aether blinks. Twice.

Then he feels it.

The icy chill of panic, lost between the cold air and anxiety clouding his mind, bites at Aether's heart through the bond between them. A thin thread wrapped around his being itself, a connection he shares with all of his pack. They all feel different, and right now Swiss' feels like it's about to slice right through whatever ghouls have in place of a soul.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Aether soothes, like he's trying to coax something wild from one of the abbey's outbuildings. Both hands outstretched, voice low and even on reflex. "It's me, Swiss. It's Aether. Can you hear me?"

He reaches out not just with words, but with magic too. Weaves cautious threads of quintessence into the breeze and lets them snake closer to Swiss' trembling form. They meet Swiss' own power, and the sparks that burst out of nothingness knock Aether right on his ass. Something is very wrong.

"Swiss," he says again, trying to catch his attention with a wave. "I'm right here love. Can you hear me?"

Swiss won't stop pawing at the ground, digging past the gravel into the packed earth below. He's looking everywhere at once, twitchy and breathless, and Aether decides he needs to take more drastic measures.

It's underhanded to wait for Swiss to look away before he pounces, but it works. He manages to get the other ghoul pinned to his chest with both arms, locking both of Swiss' legs with just one of his own. Swiss, as Aether thought he might, does not react well. He flails as best he can, trying to shout, to bite and claw, and Aether can hear the wear on his voice. Like he'd been screaming since long before that van rolled up.

"I've got you," Aether grunts out, flooding his embrace with quintessence so strong his hair stands on end. "Just let it happen, let - Lucifer, let me help you."

Aether focuses, holds Swiss close, and with a pulse of magic so intense it scents the air with ozone the other ghoul goes limp in his arms.

Aether holds him there until his own breathing evens out, until the black spots in his vision clear, and the second they do he's moving. Pushing himself up and gathering Swiss in a princess carry without a second thought, hauling him back inside to figure out just what the fuck has happened here.

It's a shorter walk to the infirmary than to their wing, so it's there he heads. It's empty, of course, and Aether lays Swiss out on their one stretcher with great care. It's easier to take stock of him like this - though Aether still doesn't know why he's in uniform - and the sight makes his stomach twist.

The bodysuit is torn mostly on the thighs, shredded like it had been scratched right through. A quick exam of Swiss' fingers reveals the source of the blood smearing the costume - his nails have been bitten and torn down to the quick, and multiple fingertips bear small cuts. From picking at the sharp parts of the outfit, he assumes. That would account for the small pile of shiny stones he finds in Swiss' tailcoat pocket, at least. He pulls the mask from the other ghoul's head, and -

"Oh, Swiss..."

Even in his unconscious state, the other ghoul's face holds a twisted grimace. Like he's fighting something so deep in his own head that even Aether's power can't reach it. There's only one way to find out, Aether supposes.

He sets the mask and veil aside, covers Swiss up with a blanket, and presses two gentle fingers to Swiss' sweaty brow.

"Come back to me, knives. I promise I'll help, just like you asked."

A gentler spark of quintessence has Swiss sucking air through his teeth, confusion writ large on his face and he tries to figure out where he is. That frigid panic slices through his chest once more, but this time Aether is prepared for it.

"Shh, it's alright." He presses a large hand to Swiss' chest, right over his heart. Fixes him with a warm smile. "It's okay, Swiss. You're home."

Whatever Aether thought his words would do - comfort, soothe, reassure - they have the exact opposite effect. The cords in Swiss throat stand out with the force of his scream, a haunting, visceral thing that bounces off tiled walls and etches itself onto Aether's very bones. He grabs at the rails of the stretcher, gritting his teeth so hard Aether swears he hears a crack, and the look on his face is something between terror and agony. Maybe both. Aether holds him down through the thrashing of his limbs, through another scream as bloodcurdling as the first, and does the only thing he can think of.

It's not easy to wrangle a ghoul, even in glamour, least of all when said ghoul is doing his level best to shove you away, but Aether thinks a few bruises will be well worth figuring out what's happening here. It is with practiced ease that he drops the rail of the stretcher with one knee, gathers Swiss in a crushing embrace, and pushes the other ghoul's face directly into the side of his throat. The same place he always holds Dew when he needs to ground himself, to think straight. Aether doesn't know what it is about this one spot, but he's willing to risk a set of blunted teeth to the jugular if it means bringing Swiss back to something like normal.

Even still, he's shocked that it actually works. It takes a minute, but soon enough Swiss' flailing slows. His fists cease their assault of Aether's chest and arms, gripping his robe instead. His breathing slows, and after the longest two minutes of his life, Aether hears -

"Ae...Ae..."

"Yeah, it's me," he replies, soft and gentle. He loosens his hold, one hand coming up to hold the back of Swiss' head and the other stroking his spine. "I'm here, I've got you. It's okay, you're -"

"Aeon."

It's forced out, a choked sound, and before Aether knows what's happening Swiss is sobbing for all he's worth into his robe. Loud and filled with the sort of pain that could only come with heartbreak, in one way or another. Aether doesn't dare move, wouldn't dare risk setting off...whatever is happening here again. Instead, he keeps quiet and simply holds Swiss close, as close as he can manage. It isn't hard, not when Swiss seems to be trying to crawl into his chest.

Then, quick as they started, the sobs stop. Swiss freezes, face still buried in Aether's now-soaked throat, and Aether can feel him nosing at the collar of his robe.

"Ae...ther?"

Oh thank fuck.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's me." He tries to keep his voice from shaking, but it's an impossible task. The other ghoul tries to pull back, and this time Aether lets him. Looks down at his reddened eyes and wet cheeks with such scrutiny and concern that Swiss hunches unconsciously. "Swiss, what...what happened to you?"

"Where...?"

"The infirmary." Aether doesn't take his eyes off the other ghoul for a moment, helping the suddenly dead-limbed ghoul lay back down. "At the abbey," he explains further when Swiss gives him a confused blink. "You're home, love."

Swiss stares at him like he's grown a second head, and with no warning he breaks out into the most hysterical laughter Aether has ever heard. New tears follow old tracks, the sound of it humorless and hollow, and when Swiss finishes it leaves Aether with the worst sort of pit in his stomach. At some point he'd grabbed Swiss' hand, and the grip Swiss has on it could break bones.

"Home," he echoes, voice all rasp, grinning mirthlessly at the ceiling. "S'at what you call it when you're ripped away from the thing that brings you more happiness than you've ever felt? S'at where I am, Aeth?"

Quick as anything, Swiss turns that foul grin on him. His eyes sit wide, crazed, and Aether doesn't think he's ever been so confused.

"Swiss, I don't...what are you talking about?"

"What, you didn't look?" Swiss lifts his other hand, wiggles bloody fingers at his own head. "I know you were in there, I can feel you in my brain. Don't lie to me now, I'll know."

Swiss taps the tip of his nose, winks, and if Aether wasn't confused before he sure is now.

"You know I'd never do that," he rumbles, obvious concern threading the words. "Not without permission. I'm not Phil." Maybe, in this one case, he shoukd have been. Aether tilts his head, watches Swiss' eyes flash with something he can't quite name. "Swiss, did...did something happen? I know Copia called you back, but I haven't gotten to see him since the notice went out. I don't -"

The other ghoul's face goes blank, and then the tears are back.

"They...they took me," Swiss wails, beating a weak fist against the padding of the stretcher, and Aether leans in immediately. Gathers up the hand he was already holding in both of his own as Swiss starts to shake. "They...I...Aeth they took me and - and -"

Swiss turns away from him, just for a moment, and Aether's heart breaks at the pain his next words carry.

"They took me away," Swiss finally forces out, thick and inconsolable. "And I...they didn't even let me say goodbye!"

Aether moves like the wind, clambering up onto the stretcher to give Swiss something to cling to. And cling he does, like a baby possum to its mother. These tears are different from the last, hot and constant and full of the entire spectrum of emotions Swiss has displayed in these last minutes. Aether stays silent through every heaved breath, every gulp and hurt cry, until Swiss has exhausted what little energy he must have had left.

"I'm so sorry," Swiss croaks, trying to catch his breath. "I...I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Nothing," Aether replies, simple as anything, and it has the desired effect. Swiss goes still, looks up at him with dripping lashes.

"...what?"

"There is nothing wrong with you," Aether confirms, rubbing slow circles into the other ghoul's back. "Medically speaking, at least. Aside from your fingers, which are easily fixed. That much I did check." He taps his forehead against Swiss', gentle. Swiss blinks, a stray tear slipping down his cheek.

"How do you -"

"You just told me," he rumbles, reaching down to grab the blanket Swiss had managed to throw off. Just in case the blood sets him off again. "Goodbyes are powerful things, Swiss. Powerful things." Aether kisses his cheek, tastes body-warm salt. "If you say someone took that from you..."

"Two of 'em," Swiss almost whispers, his poor voice shot. "They...right after the show they just -" he gestures at the air with a limp hand "- and that was it. I...they took me to a car talkin' about 'official business' and then to the airport and I didn't even get to get my bag from the fuckin' dressing room so I was stuck in this fuckin' thing the whole way and the humans wouldn't stop staring and I...all I could think about was him."

"Him?"

"Aeon," Swiss huffs, miserable. "He...they all saw, but he...he just looked so sad, Aeth, I can't -"

These sobs carry no tears, the well gone dry, and Aether just holds him. It's all coming together now - the bloodied, anxious fingers, the panic, the rush of uncontrollable emotions. They point to one thing. When Swiss catches his breath, he speaks up again.

"Can I tell you something, sunspot?"

Swiss shrugs. It's good enough.

"When I first met Dew, he couldn't stand me."

That gets Swiss' attention. He peels his face from Aether's chest, looks up at him with a furrowed brow. Obvious doubt.

"It's true," Aether nods, reaching up to adjust the flat pillow under Swiss' head. "Well, at least thats what he told me. I think he just wanted an excuse to stay away from me, to be honest. I don't think he knew why, not at the time, but I did."

Swiss' eyelids have gone so heavy. Aether tucks him in up to his chin.

"When you find your mate," he explains, "you just sort of...know. At least quints do, I can't speak for anyone else. I knew Dew was meant to be mine before he even knew my name, I'm pretty sure."

Swiss manages a weak, wet chuckle. Aether gives him a soft smile, pressing a lingering kiss to his forehead before he continues.

"Anyone with a functioning brain could tell you and Aeon were meant for each other, same as me and Dew. Why do you think he's so drawn to you? Why you're never away from each other for more than a few hours? You must have felt it, even if you didn't know what it was." Aether takes hold of the other ghoul's wrist, lining their hand up palm to palm. Swiss watches, dazed and clearly exhausted, as shimmering purple energy envelops the pair of them. "You're one of us. At least a little bit."

Aether laces their fingers together, careful to avoid any injured fingertips. Kisses each of Swiss' knuckles in turn as that glow dissipates.

"S'at why it feels like my chest is full of burning cement?" Aether gives him a single, sad nod.

"Being taken away from him like that, without an intact mating bond? I'm surprised you made it back without gutting someone first."

Swiss actually chuckles at that, and Aether's worn heart soars. Just for a moment, until reality sets in again. This is going to be the really awful part.

"I can fix the pain," he offers, voice low, and Swiss gives him an eager nod. Aether holds up one finger. "But -"

Swiss visibly sags into the stretcher with a weak huff of laughter.

"Always a but."

"Always," Aether agrees. "But...the only way to do so is to sever your connection to him. Entirely."

Aether has seen some shit in his day, but he truly can't remember seeing someone look as horrified as Swiss does when the words hit him. He looks like every dream he's ever had has just been shattered, like all the world's misery has coalesced behind his eyes.

"What?"

"Yeah, I know," Aether sighs, looking at a spot just over Swiss' shoulder. Even he can't stomach the hurt on his face. "Wouldn't be the first time it's happened. Omega had to do it for Zephyr and Ifrit, back in the day."

That seems to hit Swiss like a brick, judging by the way the stretcher shudders. Aether still can't look at him.

"Zeph couldn't handle being Above for very long, their vessel deteriorated too quickly. And they knew that, if they left with a connection like that in place, Ifrit would only suffer for it. So Zephyr went to Omega one day and he just -"

Aether makes a snipping motion with two fingers, and the room falls silent for a very long time.

"But...but they hated each other," Swiss eventually murmurs, every word an obvious effort. Aether shakes his head.

"Only when you knew them, love. And this is why."

Swiss stares at him with a mix of confusion, revulsion and a new sort of horror. The kind that speaks of realization.

"Wait, so if...if I don't want to feel like this it means -"

"There's a chance you won't hate each other, if it helps." Aether reaches up, caresses Swiss' cheek with the backs of his fingers. "But it will never be like what you have now. You...there won't be any love left between you, Swiss."

The words hang heavy between them, and Aether feels awful for throwing all of this at Swiss in his current state, but he couldn't just let him suffer. Not without knowing.

"What the fuck..."

"I know, believe me I know."

"There's nothing else? You can't just...I dunno, fuckin' magic away the pain? Hide it? I don't care, I just -"

"It's this or nothing," Aether interrupts gently, the sadness in his voice very real. "I'm sorry Swiss, but it's either this or nothing. You sever this connection, everything goes back to normal inside you. If you don't, all it will cause you is more pain. More of that uncontrollable emotional state. It's not a choice I can make for you, but -"

"Will it...will it get better when -" Swiss coughs, throat raw, "- when he gets back? When he's with me again?"

Aether sighs, but nods.

"No reason to think otherwise. But Swiss, that's months from now. You could -"

"And a mating bond will...will fix it? Like you and Dew? You're apart and fine, so -"

"From what I know, yes. But I just want you to understand -"

"Then no. Fuck no."

"Swiss, please, you -"

"I said no, Aeth." His eyes have gone hard, trembling lips set in a firm line. "I can't do that. Not to him. I don't fuckin' care what happens to me, I can deal. Answer's no."

"...even if you hurt someone else?"

That makes Swiss blink.

"What?"

"The only reason I'm not bleeding all over you right now is because you're bound in glamour," Aether tells him, thinking back to the nightmare that was Swiss' arrival. "If you'd had your claws, your fangs? Love, I almost brought Lus and Sunny with me. You could have mauled any of us in that condition, nevermind if there had been Siblings around. If you stay like this and Papa - and Frater releases your glamour..."

He doesn't have to finish. Swiss looks so lost, more vulnerable than Aether has ever seen him. It hurts to see, hurts to feel that thread around his own heart go that much more taut.

"It's your decision, Swiss. I can't make it for you."

Aether kisses his forehead, a large hand cupping Swiss' hot face, and as his expression crumples Aether has a feeling he has his answer.

[vos0q]

Other than Stelle only these two caught my eye LOL

[whatwhywhowherewhen]

SVSSS au in which in denial trans woman Shen Yuan transmigrates into a not medically but very much always has been socially transitioned trans man Shen Qingqiu. Shen Yuan internalized transphobia double reach-arounds him(...her?)self into coming out to all the Peak Lords and the sect and the cultivation world because "he" (she?) can't just not reveal the Scum Villain was a woman all along?! What a plot twist that is definitely the most important and relevant thing.... she... is meant to discover. System: *side eyes*

They do not have transphobia in PIDW, but the only person who knows Shen Qingqiu isn't cis is Yue Qingyuan. The Peak Lords all think Shen Qingqiu has just come out as a trans woman, and are mostly just surprised Shen Qingqiu has a gender that isn't Rage and Spite. Yue Qingyuan is surprised Xiao Jiu has switched genders??? Somehow?? Qi divinations can do that now???? Mu Qingfang is surprised when Shen Qingqiu refuses the Ever Blossoming Transformation Peony on the basis of "of course not! Haven't I already said I have one of... those things..." and now neither Mu Qingfang or Shen Yuan have any idea what conversation they're having

Shen Yuan expects this to massively change the plot, and is actually prepared when Binghe goes goo-goo eyed. However, she fully believes she will be a plot-relevant but mostly ignored redeemed villain wife, and is still shocked when Binghe is heartbroken and pleading rather than just betrayed and seductive. "Binghe why do you care more about this old crone than all the pretty little sisters vying for your attention huh?!?! And if you want me so bad why am I still in the dungeon!?" The treatment (which she doesn't know is how Binghe acts when actually hurt and caring about a person rather than just wanting to win) leads her to fear she might have imagined Binghe's feelings and have an angst session about it, leading to the escape attempt and the self-sacrifice

She also has to contend with sexism and heteronormativity in the trial. Every motivation is attributed to romance and irrationality. Shen Qingqiu is being accused of being in love with Qiu Jianluo and murdering him out of jealousy when she was engaged to Qiu Haitang instead. Shen Yuan: "that doesn't sound right but I don't know enough about Shen Jiu to argue"

During the years when Binghe's in the abyss, Yue Qingyuan tries to talk to her about what she's comfortable with now compared to before the "qi divination", during which she gets the big hint that Shen Jiu was not, in fact, secretly a woman. Confirmation comes from a chaotic and mutually politically incorrect conversation with Shang Qinghua (tentatively, he would be a trans man in his first life who was happy with his gender presentation, but cis in the second. He feels weird about it and is on his own journey to realize gender identity and presentation do not have to match up to societal expectations. He/him gender-exploring queen.)

Shen Yuan, rather than having to accept being gay with and for the protagonist, has to accept that she is a woman even though the Scum Villain wasn't. She still grows a mushroom body with Shang Qinghua, meant to look like "Shen Yuan The Boy", in order to get back to her "real" gender (and escape all the awkwardness of Being Perceived, both as Shen Jiu (oof) and as a woman (which she really is? Isn't? Can't be??? (...always was?))). As "peerles cucumber", she then has to accept it doesn't feel right anymore, and with some deeper reflection maybe never did (but that's just because [excuse excuse excuse]!!!). Anyway she willingly returns to the Shen Qingqiu body to live as a woman, peak lord, and the only wife of Luo Binghe. The end is just her beginning.

All this chaos and Shen Jiu is just in the modern world staring at the "Peerless Cucumber" like "...nice"

[hydrachea]

I love the Astral Express crew - the exiled High Elder of the Xianzhou Luofu's Vidyadhara, a girl found in ice whose past is so dangerous it was sealed by Fuli themself, a test tube baby hosting a Stellaron, a Herrscher from another universe whose body was destroyed on two separate occasions, an aborted Aeon on the run, and a woman who managed to repair Akivili's stranded train all by herself.

[lynndoublelegacy]

the laws of tragedies.

text from this post by @annabelle--cane

aeon/the angel drawn by my friend @house-of-muses-gallery

rest of the art by me :)

I read the post this text came from and immediately started attributing it to my cursed-by-the-narrative hexblade warlock who started the game dead and will be ending the game dead unless something drastically changes. so. y’know. did the normal thing and drew about it. hope y’all like it :)

[dewdrops-whammy-bar]

Phantom smoking weed for the first time with Swiss and Dew and they take turns shotgunning smoke into their mouth until they’re all sweet and giggly. Surely they won’t mind if Dew’s hand slips into their boxers and Swiss’s hands slip under their shirt to grope their pretty little tits, right? They whine and chirp and purr so sweetly when Dew touches that special spot inside his pussy that he can never reach himself. They don’t even realize Swiss has pulled them onto his lap until his cock is halfway inside them. They’re too fuzzy and high to do anything other than roll their hips slowly so Dew helps out by grabbing their hips and guiding them up and down. They paw at Swiss’s shoulders and he pulls them into a kiss that’s messy and tastes like smoke. Dew growls praises in their ear- Good boy, taking him so deep, your cunt looks so pretty wrapped around his cock. Let’s see if you can cum without touching yourself, yeah? Poor sweet Phantom is a mess, the weed only heightening their sensitivity and making them feel every ridge and vein on Swiss’s cock as it drags against their fluttering walls. They bury their face in Swiss’s neck as they tip over the edge, mumbling yes, yes, so good, so warm ‘n tingly, can feel you in my tummy… Dew lifts them off Swiss’s cock and pulls Phantom’s shirt up to expose their soft tummy. Swiss jerks himself to completion and mumbles Phantom’s name as he shoots ropes onto their stomach. Dew drags his fingers through the mess and brings them up to Phantom’s lips where they eagerly lick them clean.

Cumulus finds the three of them cuddled up and fast asleep on the couch when she comes out of her room to get a snack. She sighs, opens the window to let the smoke out, and heads back to bed.

[ravenssilver]

Until you find me hiding, silently I wait.

1.3k words of aeon just wanting to help, and dew feeling bad.

cw: aeon’s anxious as always, dew has a nightmare, aeon is referred to as younger and little but he is very much fully grown

part one part two part three part four

under the cut, if you please <3

Aeon shouldn’t have been awake.

He should’ve been asleep hours ago just like everyone else was. He was just as exhausted as they were, so why in Lucifer’s name was he still awake?

A pained whimper and a quick shuffle of sudden movement sounded from across the aisle.

That’s why.

Aeon could feel the Dewdrop’s distress pouring out from the behind the fire ghoul’s privacy curtain, creating a thick fog of darkness that reeked of trauma.

Another sudden shuffle and Aeon had to peak out from behind his curtain, scared Dew was about to fall out of bed.

Aeon glanced around desperately, hoping a ghoul that Dew actually liked would wake up and help him out of his fear. When Aeon didn’t sense a single shift in consciousness from any of the the other ghouls, he swallowed harshly and got out of his bunk, shuffling over to Dew’s.

He slowly pulled Dew’s privacy curtain back, his tail coiling around his ankle when he saw Dewdrop’s eyebrows pinched together, tears leaking from his closed eyes, rolling down his temples and the bridge of his nose. He could see Dew’s eyes rapidly flitting back and fourth behind his eyelids, making Aeon’s stomach twist up with anxiety.

Aeon knew that he shouldn’t do this; that Dew would be so incredibly upset if he found out Aeon was even thinking about helping him out of his terror.

Still, Aeon couldn’t let someone in his pack struggle when he knew exactly how to help.

Aeon took a deep breath and looked down at his hands, smoky purple fog flowing from his fingertips as his quintessence sparked to life in his system.

With another deep breath, Aeon gently touched Dew’s temples, following the path Dew’s mind took to REM sleep.

Suddenly, Aeon’s breath was knocked out of him and an emotional pain like no other shot through his nervous system.

Aeon definitely shouldn’t have done this.

Flashing images of an interaction he and Dew had a few days prior crossed his mind’s eye as he finally arrived at the nightmare Dew was having.

Dew, dream Dew, was yelling at dream Aeon. Really yelling. Aeon couldn’t hear the dream, but he could see the smoke slowly pouring from between Dewdrop’s bared teeth, the tears pouring from his dream self’s lilac eyes.

The fear in those lilac eyes.

It reminded Aeon of an interaction he and Dew had exchanged a few days prior in the green room of a venue. Though, Aeon didn’t remember Dew screaming like he was in the dream. Sure, Dew could get snippy, but he never yelled at Aeon.

Aeon felt Dew’s emotions in his brain in reaction to the dream. Panic, adrenaline, fear, and guilt. The quintessence ghoul had no idea what sort of meaning this dream had, but the way it made Dew feel so awful made him feel awful himself.

Aeon watched as dream Dew continued screaming at his dream self, a frown etched on his face as Dew kept whimpering in his sleep.

Every time dream Aeon flinched, another whimper would leave Dew, the Dew Aeon was able to touch. He watched how dream Dew waved his arms around, his hand coming too close to dream Aeon, making him flinch and cower away from the seething fire ghoul.

It was when, in the dream, Dew swiped at the little quint with his claws that Aeon knew he had to get the borderline hysterical ghoul out of the dream he was stuck in.

“Dew,” Aeon whispered urgently as he gently pulled his consciousness out of Dew’s. “Dew, wake up…” Aeon poked at his shoulder, tears of his own welling in his eyes as he watch Dew begin scratching at himself. Aeon was quick to pull Dew’s claws away from himself, only to gasp in pain when Dew clutched onto him instead, jolting awake.

Aeon held his breath, his lilac eyes meeting Dew’s flaming ones. He watched the fight or flight induced anger in his eyes melt into recognition and then shame. Aeon swallowed harshly, trying not to let his hands shake as much as they were in Dew’s piercing hold.

“Aeon..” Dew whispered after a moment. Another harsh swallow came from the little quint before he nodded, taking in a shaky breath as his stomach churned with anxiety.

“Are you okay?”

Dew’s eyes widened slightly at Aeon’s words, though he didn’t exactly know why he was surprised. Aeon had always tried to gain Dew’s attention and acceptance. Whether it was Aaron hovering close to Dew after he was summoned, or doing small tasks for the fire ghoul that would make his life easier after Dew made it clear he wanted nothing to do with Aeon.

“No.”

Aeon’s stomach twisted up into a ball and gave plenty of room for his heart to drop all the way to hell when he heard Dew’s response. His mind immediately began racing, trying to piece together questions that wouldn’t annoy Dew, but would let the older ghoul know that he was there to help.

He just wanted Dew to be okay. He didn’t have to like him, he didn’t even have to tolerate him. Aeon just wanted Dew to be okay.

“I’m sorry.”

Aeon’s mind went silent. He stared at Dew, shell shocked.

The younger ghoul fumbled for words, but Dew just shook his head, looking down at Aeon’s hand before slowly taking it in his own, brushing his thumb over Aeon’s knuckles as tears began to slip from his eyes again.

“Don’t say anything, please. Just.. I’m sorry, okay?” Dew spoke, his voice breaking as he tried to hold back his tears. Aeon would’ve walked away, he was so used to Dew snapping at him every time he was around while the fire ghoul was being the slightest bit vulnerable, but Dew wasn’t letting his hand go.

Aeon just stood there, listening to Dew’s request and not saying anything. He looked down at his feet, letting Dew continue to hold his hand and brush his thumb over his knuckles.

“Swiss sleeps like a rock if you want to go be with him… What you saw was a lot..” Dew muttered, catching Aeon off guard yet again. Dew knew that he used his quintessence to see his dream?

After a few moments of tense silence, Aeon shook his head and began slowly climbing into Dew’s bunk. Dewdrop tensed and backed up into the wall of the bus, making Aeon freeze and wait for any kind of sign that Dew wanted Aeon to leave.

When Dew didn’t give one, Aeon slowly continued into the bunk. Dew remained tense as Aeon settled next to him, the younger ghoul resting his head on Dew’s shoulder.

Dew’s mind was full of replaying memories of the many nightmares he had experienced, ones much like the one Aeon had just pulled him out of. It was jarring to Dew that Aeon was doing this. The fire ghoul was convinced that Aeon was terrified of him. How was this even possible.

Though, when Aeon relaxed and closed his eyes, Dew realized that the little quint wasn’t as scared of Dew as he thought. Sure, he was maybe a bit nervous, but never scared.

“I’m not who you want me to be, I know..” Aeon whispered, the words he wanted to say next getting stuck in his throat.

Please stop pushing me away.

Dew sat in the silence Aeon left when he didn’t finish his thought, knowing that it would be a while before Aeon finished that sentence out loud.

Dew didn’t respond to Aeon’s spoken words. He didn’t know how to.

Instead, he slowly wrapped his arms around the slightly taller ghoul, sighing softly as Aeon tucked his head under Dew’s chin.

Dew closed his eyes, draping his tail over Aeon’s waist and twining it with some of Aeon’s own tail, as well.

“Goodnight, bug.”

“Goodnight, Dew.”

[astral-schools]

enjoy your stay!

[daz4i]

Qlipoth: So. who broke it? I'm not mad, I just want to know.

Xipe: ...I did. I broke-

Qlipoth: No, no you didn't. Aha?

Aha: Don't look at me. Look at Akivili.

Akivili: What? I didn't break it.

Aha: Huh. That's weird. How'd you even know it was broken?

Akivili: Because it's sitting right in front of us, and it's broken??

Aha: Suspicious.

Akivili: No, it's not-?

Yaoshi: If it matters - probably not - but Lan was the last one to use it.

Lan: Liar! I don't even drink that crap!

Yaoshi: Oh, really? Then what were you doing by the coffee cart earlier?

Lan: I use the wooden stirrers as emergency arrows! Everyone knows that, Yaoshi!

Xipe: Ok, ok! Let’s not fight! I broke it, let me pay for it, Qlipoth.

Qlipoth: No! Who broke it?!

Akivili, whispering: Qlipoth... Nanook's been awfully quiet...

Nanook: REALLY??

Akivili: Yeah, really!

Nanook: Oh my God-

Mythus, out of earshot: I broke it. It burned my hand, so I punched it. I predict ten minutes from now they'll be at each other's throats with war paint on their faces and a leviathan head on a stick. 

Mythus: Good. It was getting a little chummy around here.

[miasmaghoul]

Kinktober Day 1 - High Sex

Wow, I can't believe it's already October 1st! I can't WAIT to see what normal things this month holds. I certainly hope Swiss doesn't go absolutely insane in Australia and destroy us all!

(Look, just be thankful I'm trying. Huge shoutout to @kroas-adtam for putting together this year's prompts!)

Green is the Warmest Color

Rating: E Pairing: Aeon/Swiss Word Count: 2.2k Contains: stoned, sappy ghouls, shotgunning, cock warming, lazy sex, banter, body worship, the boys being Real Fucked Up and absolutely loving it

-----

“You’re staring,” Swiss lilts, eyes crinkling as he brings the smoldering end of their joint to his lips.

Aeon's sure he's right, but in fairness, how couldn’t he? Swiss is a vision, sitting pretty in his lap in a wide straddle with a hand planted on Aeon’s stomach. The setting sun throws every inch of the other ghoul into such sharp relief; everything from the chips in his curved horns and the strong line of his jaw, to the breadth of his shoulders and the slight softness of his stomach. From the swollen, stiff peaks of the nipples Aeon had spent ages teasing once they’d finally fallen back into bed, to the flushed length of Swiss’ cock where it sits heavy against Aeon’s pale belly. Dribbling sticky fluid into his happy trail with the occasional languid rock of those incredible hips. 

"'Course I am," he replies, loose and relaxed, "you're real nice to look at."

-----

Read below, or on AO3!

Lazy.

That’s how Aeon would say his day with Swiss has been. Lazy, but in the best way. 

He’d woken late, drenched in the early summer sunlight pouring through Swiss’ windows. Wrapped in a tangle of limbs and blankets that he hadn’t found himself particularly eager to escape. Swiss seemed to agree, when he eventually cracked an eye open to find Aeon staring at him with a sleepy, besotted smile on his face.

“Finally, jeez,” he’d teased, planting a kiss on Swiss’ bare shoulder and flashing him some fang. “Thought I was gonna have to watch you drool forever.”

“You love when I drool,” Swiss had countered, raspy and thick but still playful as ever. He’d threaded heavy fingers into Aeon’s mop of messy waves, scratching at the spot behind his ear that always makes his leg twitch.

“Maybe,” he’d purred, tipping his head into the touch, “but I think there’s better things for that mouth to be doing.”

Swiss hadn’t argued that point, a slow grin splitting his face as he hooked a finger under Aeon’s sharp chin. As he knocked their horns together and nuzzled his cheek. Brushing their lips together in the barest hint of what Aeon was asking for.

“You have eye boogers,” Swiss had informed him then, thumbing along his lashline with a crinkled nose, and Aeon hadn’t been able to hold back his laugh.

“And you have morning breath,” he’d chuckled, looping a long arm around Swiss’ shoulders. “Kiss me anyway.”

Swiss had, happily so, and to Aeon’s delight there was no urgency behind it. No rush, no invasive tongue, no gasping for breath. Just the scratch of Swiss’ stubble, the tickle of his mustache and the warmth of his mouth. A kiss they had both gotten lost in, drifting on nothing but the feel and taste of one another.

The rest of their day had been equally indulgent; a long, hot bath filled with more of those decadent kisses and wandering hands. Hours spent in their pajamas on the common room sofa, Aeon sitting between Swiss’ knees so the other ghoul could play with his hair. A late lunch at the lakeside, Swiss occasionally tossing a grape into Aeon’s mouth from the other side of the blanket they shared. An early evening stroll to the greenhouse spent talking about everything and nothing, their tails idly curling together along the way.

Aeon had busied himself visiting his favorite plants once they arrived, chatting with one of the lesser ghouls tending to the table of orchids. Admiring petals in all shades of purple, caressing stems and verdant leaves with gentle fingers while Swiss hunted down Mountain. It hadn’t taken him long - Swiss creeping up behind him a few minutes later, looping his arms around Aeon’s waist to nose behind his ear, asking if he was ready to head back. Aeon had hummed, but hadn’t made an effort to move. He’d leaned back into Swiss instead, fingers dancing along a bud that had yet to bloom. In no particular hurry to abandon the beauty laid out before him.

Then Swiss had held up a baggie of prerolls, had kissed his neck, and Aeon decided that stopping to smell the flowers could wait until tomorrow.

Besides, his current view is infinitely more enticing.

“You’re staring,” Swiss lilts, eyes crinkling as he brings the smoldering end of their joint to his lips.

Aeon's sure he's right, but in fairness, how couldn’t he? Swiss is a vision, sitting pretty in his lap in a wide straddle with a hand planted on Aeon’s stomach. The setting sun throws every inch of the other ghoul into such sharp relief; everything from the chips in his curved horns and the strong line of his jaw, to the breadth of his shoulders and the slight softness of his stomach. From the swollen, stiff peaks of the nipples Aeon had spent ages teasing once they’d finally fallen back into bed, to the flushed length of Swiss’ cock where it sits heavy against Aeon’s pale belly. Dribbling sticky fluid into his happy trail with the occasional languid rock of those incredible hips. 

"'Course I am," he replies, loose and relaxed, "you're real nice to look at."

Swiss smiles down at him, washed in warm light that perfectly matches his golden eyes. Eyes that are both blown dark and red rimmed, heavy in a way that makes Aeon throb. He knows Swiss feels it deep inside, can tell by the way his breath stutters and his lids droop. 

Aeon can't stop touching him, talented hands drifting from Swiss' knees to his chest and everywhere in between. Right now he has one on a strong thigh, thumb tracing ticklish half circles that make the muscle there jump. The other sits on Swiss' stomach, kneading gently at the little bit of pudge Swiss holds there. Aeon's obsessed with it always, but high as he is, the feel of it right now is simply exquisite.

"Easy there, kitten," Swiss sighs, his own hand gliding from Aeon's belly up towards his narrow chest. "Don't go bruising the goods." He rubs over a tight pink nipple with a slow thumb and Aeon groans.

"Can't help it," he replies, offering up a stoned smirk. "You're just so…"

Aeon trails off into a sound of faux frustration, grabbing at Swiss' tummy with both hands, digging bony fingers into soft flesh. Swiss laughs, a rich, warm sound that melts into a pleasured moan when Aeon twitches inside him. Swiss moves his hips in a slow circle and they both hiss with it. 

"Fuck, you feel so good," Aeon murmurs, tongue flicking out wet his lips, and Swiss’ only response is a rusty purr.

He’s been sitting like this for a while now, keeping Aeon’s dick nice and warm while they finish off their treat from Mountain. A comforting weight that perfectly complements the fuzziness in his skull and the floatiness of his limbs. Aeon has no complaints about the fact that Swiss hasn't so much as bounced on him, neither of them in any rush to do more than enjoy the slow, luxurious grind. 

Aeon somehow manages to pry his hands from Swiss' belly, settling them on his hips instead and encouraging him to circle them again. Swiss clamps down around him and it sends a wave of warmth through his pelvis so intense that Aeon shudders. Swiss hums his amusement around the joint, sucking down the last of it in one long pull. It's far too much at once, his broad chest puffed up to full capacity by the time he's done, but then Swiss is looking at him with a glimmer on those gorgeous eyes and Aeon really can’t be bothered to worry.

Smoke's already curling from his nostrils when Swiss leans down, dropping the roach into his ashtray before getting both hands on Aeon's shoulders. Settling his weight onto his slight chest and pressing their foreheads together. Aeon's arms snake around him in an instant, and then Swiss' mouth is on his and Aeon's world becomes nothing but scratchy stubble, soft lips and herbal smoke.

He drinks down all he can, licking it from Swiss' mouth and filling his lungs with the sweetest kind of poison. Swiss' tongue against his is heavenly, warm and wet and perfect to suck on when he's too out of breath to continue the kiss. Aeon exhales slowly through his nose while they soak in it, Swiss' nose rubbing against his and his velvety walls quivering in the most delicious way. 

It's a challenge to convince his eyes to open once he's done, but somehow Aeon manages. Cracks lavender eyes no doubt redder than his flushed cheeks. Cheeks that go two shades darker when Aeon finds the other ghoul already watching him with a gentle warmth in his gaze. 

"Now who's starin'?" Aeon teases, voice honey thick, claws trailing over Swiss' back in nonsense patterns. Oh he is very fucked up.

"Is it me?" 

Well, at least Swiss is too.

"'S okay," Aeon assures him, as though Swiss would ever think staring was a problem. "I like when you look at me like that."

"Hmm?" Swiss cocks his head, squeezing at his shoulders. "Like what, starshine?" 

Aeon's lips curl into a smile, one he offers up in a quick peck to Swiss' cheek.

"Like you love me." 

He says it with such ease that it can't be anything but the truth, and despite the glazed look in his eye Aeon can tell that Swiss hears it too. He feels Swiss' cock throb where it's trapped between them, and Aeon hopes that the sticky spot on his stomach has grown larger. 

"Maybe I do." Swiss sounds so goofy, so pleased. "What're you gonna do about it?"

Aeon offers a shrug, looping one arm around Swiss' waist while the other travels south. Coasts over the curve of the other ghoul's ass - Aeon grabs a nice handful, tugs at Swiss' hole a little just to hear him gasp - before slipping over his hip. Fingertips wiggling into the space between their overwarm bodies. 

"Dunno," he answers, his casual tone a stark contrast to the way his greedy fingers worm their way closer to their prIze. "Could make you cum, I guess." 

Aeon finds the slick head of Swiss' cock and sneaks two fingers between it and his own stomach. Massages the frenulum the way he knows Swiss' likes best. He's rewarded with a deep, dark moan, one that sinks into his skin like a tangible thing. 

"Guess so," Swiss says, just a touch more breathless than he was a minute ago. "If you wanted."

Oh, Aeon definitely wants. Stoned as he is, that much is still obvious. He hums, catching the larger ghoul in a kiss that leaves him breathing heavier too.

"Sit up for me," he speaks against Swiss' lips, half into his mustache. "Wanna see you."

Swiss complies with absolutely no urgency, unhurried in the way he pushes himself upright. Relinquishes his grip on Aeon's shoulders to stretch those long arms over his head with a low groan. Aeon could watch him do this for days - could study every line and curve of the other ghoul's body for the rest of his existence and still want more. His admiring gaze travels from the tips of Swiss' fingers, down his arms, his chest, his stomach. When it settles on the swollen length of his cock, flushed dark where it's caged in pale fingers, Aeon can't help the way his own pulses.

Swiss must be so slick inside by now. Aeon can’t help but wonder, if he pulled out right now, if the mess of pre he’s been leaking for the better part of the past half hour would drip right down Swiss’ balls.

Swiss finishes his stretch with a show, running his own large hands down his torso with another roll of his hips, and Aeon sucks air through his teeth. Swiss gives him a devilish grin, hands coming to rest on Aeon's pecs, rosy little nipples pebbled under rough palms. Swiss kneads at him then, but Aeon's the one that purrs. 

"Didn’t you say no bruisin' the goods?" Aeon barely recognizes his own voice for how slurred it is.

"I'm exempt," Swiss tells him, happily pawing at him while his cock throbs in Aeon's grip. Aeon snorts, free hand moving to stroke Swiss' thigh.

"'S'at so?"

"Uh huh," Swiss confirms, catching Aeon's nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. He gives them a nice tweak and Aeon yips, an embarrassing little sound that sends a flash of heat through him.

"What a surprise," he tries to deadpan, but the giddiness supplied by the weed makes it come out a bit silly. Swiss sticks out his tongue, and Aeon bites at the air as though he could reach it. 

"What wa'zat about makin' me cum?" 

Lucifer, Swiss sounds good when he's high. Aeon hums like he’s considering the concept, adjusting his hold on Swiss' twitching length. Less of a grip, more of a flat palm pressing it to the finely muscled plane of his stomach. Swiss gasps when he does, rutting forward on instinct and spitting another blurt of pre by Aeon's navel.

"Think you have everything you need to make that happen," Aeon croons, tongue poking out between his fangs. "Go ahead, I'm not stoppin' you."

Swiss groans deep in his chest when his brain processes the words, and then he's grinding again. Hips working in achingly slow rocks and rounds, each one designed to put Aeon's cock exactly where he wants it. Aeon adores the way Swiss' brow creases every time he hits an extra good spot, a beautiful sight that goes straight to his balls. 

"Gonna take a while like this," Swiss huffs, despite the way Aeon can already feel him starting to flutter inside. Not that that’s a problem, there’s already heat starting to coil low in his gut with every move Swiss makes.  

"'S'okay," he coos, the hand on Swiss’ thigh wandering up to nestle in his chest hair. “Jus’ promise you won’t stop if I blow first."

Swiss gurgles, spurts more pre, and Aeon’s content to lose himself in the wet sound of Swiss taking what he needs. There’s nothing he’d rather hear.

[crimescrimson]

Ada Wong & Leon S. Kennedy: The History [ Resident Evil 4 (2023) ]

[alvivaarts]

So, since Leon in your mermaid AU is able to carry babies, what was his pregnancy or pregnancies like? Was it difficult?

Considering it's the default for his little species (the whole group of his pod including Ada, Jill, Chris, and his daughters fall into it!) it was pretty normal! Though, technically, his first. Things were actually pretty stable before some less-than-expected events happened. Needless to say, some things followed them from their former territory, and safe as their new waters are (and the watch of the humans researching them), merfolk still have to be wary of predators.

There was a brief scare with that a couple months before the due date, and Ada had to make the hard choice of actually trusting Luis -and a handful of his fellow researchers- to help. He was fine! Eventually.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

ASK BOX - Got questions for or about the Resident Mers? Ask here! Mersona Commission Page

[thetwilightroadtonightfall]

Ereyesterday Character and Lore Files

—Part 5: Aeon and Alistair—

read ch 5

[fruit-of-the-kaisarion]

all i have to say is, hear me out.