#CollabOC:Vincent

[awkwardgtace]

Enchantment or Curse

gt july let's goooooo Rhys was enchanted a long time ago. It's the time where he is near his home avoiding things, but he might not avoid everything

Enchantment or Curse

Rhys stared at the field of flowers before slowly lifting his hand. Despite the years passing, the ring was still fused to his skin. Everyone else said it was enchanted, he said it was cursed. The ring became blurry as his focus shifted to the flowers he ran through as a child. He missed those days. 

Heaving a heavy sigh, he moved to the clearing he’d wait in. Usually his family didn’t go looking for him when he didn’t meet them, but just in case. He couldn’t risk them going too far, they’d get hurt. He covered so much more ground than they did. Once clear of the trees, he turned towards the flowers and sat down heavily. He was met with a shout that sent his heart pounding.

Looking around he managed to see a man lying on the ground staring at him with striking eyes, one the color of emeralds and the other of violets. Despite the intense glare he couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to grab the small person. As soon as his fingers started to wrap around the small body, tiny fists bashed against his skin. It made him pause, but he had to see this person up close.

Rhys pulled them up to his face before the punches stopped. Once he dropped them in his other palm he was frozen. The man he held was stunning. Silver hair tied back and out of the man’s face, leaving pale X shaped scars standing out against his dark brown skin. He was dressed in simple dark clothes, simple enough they managed to pull his attention from the man’s looks.

This could be a sign his so-called enchantment was ending, or at least weakening. He whispered, “You’re so big.”

“Playing with your new toy already?” the man sneered. Rhys jumped at the venom in his voice. His hopes were dashed already, everyone knew about the prince. About how he had been ‘enchanted’ to view the world from above. “Let go! I’m a person you damned monster!”

Rhys let his hands fall to the ground. He kept it slow enough the man would be safe. He waited limply for the man to leave. They weren’t from his kingdom, so the curse was still there. For all he knew this person was-

“Wait… you’re actually letting me go?” the man asked. Rhys looked down where the man sat on his fingers. He didn’t want him to go, even if there wasn’t hope of returning home he was lonely. The last time he’d spoken to another person was years ago. That last time he’d seen anyone besides his family was even longer.

“It’s what you wanted,” Rhys said. The man scrambled off his palm and Rhys closed his eyes. He was painfully aware of how tired he was at that moment. Tired of fear, of being alone, tired of everyone talking about him like he was a monster. He wanted to be normal again, to be-

“What’s your name?” the man asked. Rhys jumped as he snapped his eyes open to stare at the man. He couldn’t find his voice to answer. How long had it been since someone cared about his name? “You don’t get to play like you can’t talk. You already did twice. I’ll just leave if you don’t want to tell me.”

“Rhys!” he shouted. The man flinched, his hands shooting up to cover his ears. Fear had forced the word from his throat. Guilt filled his heart at the way the small man reacted. Taking a deep breath he focused on keeping his voice quiet. “I’m Rhys.”

“Jeez, keep your voice down. Do you want to blow out my eardrums?” The man just glared up at him with a gaze that seemed almost soft. Rhys frowned, shrinking away from the stern view. “Vincent. What are you?”

“A person?” Rhys hadn’t considered what he was. The man- Vincent- crossed his arms with a dubious look. It felt nice to have someone act like this, to act like he wasn’t a monster. He didn’t want to have an answer to what Vincent was either. He could pretend like this.

“Fine whatever.” Vincent sat down on the ground continuing to just stare up at Rhys. In an attempt to get a better look, Rhys decided to lie on the ground. When he moved Vincent tensed, but he didn’t run. Rhys counted that as a win. “So what’s your plan, let me go and follow me to my village or some shit?”

Rhys shook his head, he didn’t want to be near anyone. It would be a few weeks before he left, but he wouldn’t go near people by choice. Vincent narrowed his eyes before standing. The man patted at his pants and turned to leave. A part of Rhys was desperate to make him stay. Instead he managed to watch the small man disappear in the trees, returning to his lonely lifestyle.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days later Rhys was staring at the clouds through the trees. He had been thinking about Vincent more than his past. It was a nice change, usually the day that ruined his life was all that was on his mind. He knew he’d never see the small man again. It wasn’t worth the risk of seeing more people he might hurt. Of finding out he’d been gone long enough his family gave up on him.

“Hey tiny! You still out here?” Vincent’s shout echoed through the air. Rhys sat up on his elbows looking around for the man. He saw the silver hair first, those striking eyes and the scars that made his heart hurt next. “I actually thought you’d leave before I decided to come back out here.”

“You came back?” he whispered. Rhys pushed himself to try and sit up more, shocked to see Vincent walking closer. By the time Rhys was sitting up straight Vincent had settled close enough it would be easy to grab him. It left a strange warmth in his chest.

“Figured you didn’t follow me so I’d come back. Find out just what the fuck you are.” Vincent dug into his bag and pulled out a container. He opened it and pulled out something small before holding it out to Rhys. “I don’t like to eat alone, take this. I don’t care if your giant ass will barely taste it.”

Rhys brought his hand close to the small man trying to ignore the way it shook. Vincent dropped something miniscule on his finger. He used his other hand to steady it before bringing the tiny thing close to his face. It was sweet, and smelled like something he recognized. He couldn’t place it though. He opened his mouth wide before placing the tiny thing on his tongue. The blast of flavor was bigger than he expected and also something he hated. A grimace found a way on his face.

“What? Don’t like strawberries? Thought for sure you would. Your breath smells like them,” Vincent said. The man shrugged his shoulders, taking a bite of his own version of the small thing. It was weird, Rhys couldn’t actually remember the last time he’d eaten anything. He never had liked strawberries though.

“No… I hated them before too,” he said. 

Vincent looked up at him, Rhys swore the man felt larger than him. He knew it would be easy to pick up the man and knock that feeling away, but he enjoyed it. He used to be shorter than his family and his friends. He missed that. He’d never forget the fear on the faces of his friends when he walked out of his room a head taller than Ryder. Ryder was supposed to be the tall one.

“Before what?” Vincent’s question felt like ice in his veins. The last time he told someone the truth they stopped visiting. He shouldn’t be honest. At least not completely just a little bit of what it was.

“I… I was given a gift that changed me. Everyone says it was enchanted, I say it’s cursed.” It left a bitter taste in his mouth as he spoke. He hated it, hated his life since he ran away. He was getting too big, too dangerous. He was still growing years after he left. He had no idea how his family would look to him now.

“Well, it’s a curse if it needs to be broken and an enchantment if it has an end. Did you get some stupid rhyme with it?”

“It’s time you grow into your own. Spend some time, wander alone. Look on from there, see from above…’” He stopped before he said the rest. Rhys took some time to look like he was trying to remember, but the reality was he knew. Until you find your one true love. “There were more lines, but I don’t remember anymore. It's been a long time.”

“Probably true love or some shit.” Vincent stood up, once again dusting his clothes off. “Gotta head back. I’ll try a different pastry next time. See ya, tiny.”

“I-”

Vincent ran off before Rhys could speak. A promise he’d come back. A promise he wouldn’t leave Rhys to suffer alone. No matter what happened he wanted that. He wanted time where he wasn’t trapped in his mind. He returned to his original position staring at the clouds. This time he had the smallest bit of a smile on his face.

The next day Vincent was back. He didn’t have to call out, Rhys was watching the spot the man disappeared the last time. Somehow he knew Vincent would be there before sunset. The smaller man gave him a look, but continued to walk closer. He came up to Rhys’s leg before lying back against it. Fear sent his heart pounding, but Vincent didn’t react if he heard it.

“Hey tiny, what do you normally eat?” Vincent asked. Rhys frowned, what did he eat? Also why did the man keep calling him tiny?

“Why do you keep calling me tiny?” he asked. Answering about his eating habits didn’t seem fun. Admitting he couldn’t remember eating since he ran from his home would make things change. He wanted to not be alone while he waited here for time to pass.

“Why not? Would you rather I call you big guy or something?” Vincent held an arm out with something in his hand again. Rhys set his own massive digits next to the small frame. Another treat was set down with no hesitation, like this was normal.

“You know my name.” Rhys lifted the hand with the treat up to his face. It smelled sweet again. He hesitated, he didn’t want to have the taste of strawberries stuck on his tongue. It took hours for it to fade the day before.

“So?” Vincent tilted his head back to stare up at him. Rhys felt awkward staring down. The small man looked amazing, Rhys probably looked monstrous. He’d seen monsters before too. He didn’t like the idea of being one. “You worried that I’m slipping you strawberries again? It’s just chocolate cake this time.”

Rhys used that to push him to taste the sweet. It was something new, he couldn’t find words to describe it. Vincent laughed below him. Setting his hand on the ground, Rhys got a chance to see the smile on the smaller man’s face. Another thing that sent his heart racing. No one else had made him feel like this before.

“I don’t think I’ve ever tried that before,” Rhys said. Vincent’s eyes widened. The man climbed to his feet and stepped away to stare up. At first Rhys thought it was fear, but the pure shock on the small face pushed that away.

“Damn, never had chocolate. What kind of sheltered weird life were you living before?” Vincent said. Rhys sighed. He hadn’t been sheltered, at least he didn’t think he was. Vincent sat down again, this time not leaning against his leg. Maybe he was sheltered. “By the way, I looked into an enchantment record.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s this record most places keep. Has a history of the first use of any enchantment. Thought it might have the rest of yours in it.” Rhys held his breath. If Vincent knew he’d stop coming. He’d be alone again. Vincent’s demeanor changed, softened almost. “Only record was some prince a few hundred years ago. A birthday celebration that went wrong. It…” Rhys was terrified. Once he knew, once Vincent said it, he was alone. “It didn’t have the rest of your enchantment in it. Was stuck at the same place you remember. Probably… probably part of it or something.”

“Oh…” Rhys’s heart continued to pound. Something in the way Vincent looked didn’t feel like it was the truth. It didn’t matter, he didn’t know. For the few weeks Rhys stayed in the area Vincent wouldn’t have a reason to abandon him. That’s all he wanted.

“So, what was it like before you wound up like this?” Rhys jumped, but it made him smile. When was the last time he got to think about home? Not just think about it, but talk about it.

“It was… fun.” 

Rhys went into stories of trouble he caused. His friends, Ryder and Felix, were a bit older and would try to make him stop playing tricks. He had fun. Vincent nodded along, even laughed at times. Rhys talked until the sun started to set. A part of him wanted to reach out, to hold Vincent as the night air started to grow cold. Before he could consider giving in to that feeling, Vincent stood up and stretched.

“Gotta head back, I’ll probably visit again,” Vincent said. Rhys nodded, if the small man took too long he’d be gone. It was how his life went ever since that horrible birthday. The similarities between the story Vincent knew and his own life were fighting to take his thoughts. He didn’t want to think it had been hundreds of years. “Jeez, don't look so sad. Make sure you don’t disappear. I’ll think I dreamt up a weird giant guy with pink eyes.”

Vincent disappeared before Rhys could speak again. He watched the spot the little man came from. Following would let him find a whole place where people might talk to him. He could see if any broke this stupid curse he had. It didn’t feel right to follow him. It had only been a few meetings, but he wanted this to keep going. Vincent… Vincent made him feel like he was normal again.

Vincent kept visiting. Each time he brought something new for Rhys to try. The man stayed later and later each time. Rhys was growing more and more tempted to hold the smaller man in his palms. It was getting harder to avoid it. Reaching forward, hovering, feeling more alone than before. The ring on his finger was making him angrier each morning too. A reminder Vincent wasn’t the one to break it. That even his own feelings weren’t important to the stupid thing.

“So, how long are you gonna keep hovering before you grab me again?” Vincent asked. Rhys jumped, staring at his hands currently trapping Vincent in the clearing. He started to pull back. Guilt ate at him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. Vincent smirked. That at least made this less embarrassing.

“You should be. At least ask, I might even say it’s ok.” Rhys’s eyes went wide.

“You… you’d let me hold you…” Vincent climbed to his feet and crossed his arms. The stare he offered made Rhys’s heart pound. The smaller man paced before shrugging his shoulders.

“Why not, you haven’t killed me yet.” Rhys brought his hand close. Worry sank into his bones, what if his hands were sweaty? He wasn’t this nervous the last time. Just as he was about to wrap his fingers around the small, stern man a hand was placed on his finger to stop him. “I don’t think grabbing sounds fun, tiny, let me climb on.”

Rhys nodded, setting his hand flat next to the small man. When those hands touched his palm he shuddered. Vincent chuckled, making him flush. The tiny weight in his palm made his heart race. Vincent was bigger than his family, but still so small. What if he hurt him? What if he did something that killed him? What if he-?

“Rhys,” Vincent’s voice was soft, kind, and reassuring. The first time it wasn’t a nickname. “It’s fine, I trust you.”

The anxiety in his heart died down. Vincent crawled to the center of his palm. As soon as the man sat down, Rhys lifted his hand from the ground. He moved slowly, deliberately as he brought the man up to his eyes. Seeing him close like this left Rhys with a feeling of awe. Vincent’s eyes were all the more striking. His face was soft, just like his words.

Rhys brought his other hand up and grabbed Vincent’s hand. The small fingers tensed in his hold, but he didn’t pull away. Despite the size difference, he felt Vincent dig his nails into his own skin. He squeezed, just a little, trying to show he felt the small fingers on his skin. Rhys continued to hold his hand for a while. Eventually he let go and started to run his fingers up to trace Vincent’s entire body.

Vincent shuddered under his touch. There was no request to stop. He got to feel the soft silver hair. The warmth of the small man who kept coming back to him. The tiny hands that dug into his palm this time while he traced a finger down the firm arms. He moved to hover over Vincent’s chest and pressed down only a little. Rhys heard the gasp from the smaller man, but didn’t pull back. The tiny hands reached up and gripped the finger on Vincent’s chest, but he still wasn’t asked to stop.

“...why do you trust me?” Rhys whispered. Vincent’s miniscule hands tensed, trying to hold him tighter maybe?

“Why not?” Vincent said.

“I… I scared everyone before I left.” Rhys didn’t know if telling him was right, but he had to. He moved to cradle Vincent just above his mouth. A finger kept against the small face. “The first morning after this whole enchanted thing, I scared my closest friends. I was taller than one of them, he was always the tall one. Then I almost hurt my sister, she was trying to surprise me and I almost stepped right on her. I… one night I knew I was growing. My bed broke and I ran… I was supposed to see my family whenever I came through here. I haven’t in a long time though.”

Vincent sat up again in his palm. The violet and emerald eyes weren’t fierce or cruel. He rested a hand on the finger Rhys kept close. The man leaned into the large digit, and Rhys started to cry. He hadn’t spoken about those days in so long. How scared his closest friends looked. How wrong he felt, but Vincent didn’t look scared or angry. In a way it reminded him of when he was young and played pranks all over the kingdom.

“If they didn’t want you they weren’t worth it then,” he said. Rhys was shaking, he started to lower his hands. “Don’t move me. At least not to the ground. Don’t feel like sitting on the hard ground again.”

“I… I don’t know if they wanted me.” Rhys knew his voice was quiet. Barely audible even by his size. “I… I kept growing after I left. I stopped risking going near them after I saw the tops of trees. I… I didn’t want to hurt them.”

“You didn’t hurt me.”

Rhys nodded. Vincent was right, he didn’t cause the small man any pain. It was different. Vincent was definitely taller than his family. If… if Vincent came along it could be safe. It wasn’t fair to ask that of him. They were maybe friends. He couldn’t expect Vincent to trust him enough to go somewhere together. Even if it was nearby. Especially if his family wasn’t even there for him. It would seem like he lied to take him away.

“It’s late,” he said. Vincent nodded.

Vincent stretched and rubbed his shoulders. “Yeah it is, guess you should lie down so we can sleep.”

Rhys stared with wide eyes at the little man. He pulled his hand away from his face and curled his fingers over Vincent. Slowly he moved on to his side with Vincent still in his hand. Then he pulled that same hand close to his face before uncurling his fingers. Vincent moved to lie on his side staring into Rhys’s eyes. This… this felt nice. It felt normal, like they were the same. This was something he could live his life with. 

“Better have that strawberry breath in the morning or I’ll kill you,” Vincent whispered.

“Probably will, I don’t eat anything to cause it,” Rhys said. He leaned forward until his nose was against Vincent. He got the faintest hint of a smell, something like copper. “I think you smell like copper…”

“Weirdo knowing what a metal smells like.”

Rhys pulled back, but smiled as he watched Vincent. The smaller man closed his eyes and looked happy in his palm. He moved his forehead close enough to rest against his hand, this was nice. He wanted things to stay like this. To be close to someone. He started to hope Vincent felt the same. He might actually feel enchanted if he could stay with the small man falling asleep in his palm.

The next morning Rhys woke up alone. Positive it was a dream he tried to stop his shuddering breaths. When he sat up he found large letters drawn into the ground. Don’t leave before I come back. A blush coated his cheeks, Vincent would be back… He wasn’t alone.

It was almost a full week with no sign of Vincent. Rhys had to leave in a few days, the meeting with his family would come and go. Once it had passed he wouldn’t stay, but maybe… maybe for Vincent he would. He frowned, the silver hair hadn’t appeared in the shadow of the trees yet. With the sun setting it wasn’t likely the man would show up today. Rhys hugged his knees to his chest, Vincent might have given up.

A grunt caught his attention. His breath caught in his throat as a small form slipped into the slowly fading light. He gathered the tiny form into his hands without a second thought, a warmth spread out that he hated. He’d felt it a long time ago. 

“Sorry, tiny,” Vincent coughed. “Had some trouble getting out. They didn’t like that I was out so much. Thought I was getting ready to run away.”

“What, why?” Rhys breathed. He brought Vincent up to his eyes, tears already falling. He didn’t want the smaller man to die. 

“Heh, guess you didn’t know. Takes a special person to read those enchantment books. This is the latest place that decided it was worth keeping me.” Rhys curled his fingers in, hiding Vincent from everything. He didn’t know what it meant, but he’d keep the smaller man safe. “You know, I’m pretty tired. Your hand was cold the other night, how about your chest this time?”

Rhys didn’t hesitate. He brought Vincent over his heart before lying on his back. The small man went limp and left a gaping hole in Rhys’s heart. He… he had an idea. He hadn’t tried since all of this started. Since his birthday however long ago… Probably hundreds of years ago. 

“Rhys,” Vincent said. The quiet word pulled him from his thoughts. He had to remember the right feelings to use it. It would work, he’d save the small man who reminded him what it meant to be alive. To be seen. To be a person. “I lied to you.”

“What?” His own voice cracked. What possible thing could he have lied about? What would shatter the building warmth in the back of his heart? A warmth he’d abandoned for so long.

“That book had the full words. You probably even knew them. ‘Until you find your one true love’.” Vincent laughed, it was hollow. The feeling made everything happening worse. Rhys could feel the warmth of blood pooling on his chest now. “Probably wasn’t the best idea to keep sneaking in for a way to break it. Couldn’t stop myself, kind of wanted to be the answer for you. Didn’t think they’d stab me though.”

“I lied too.” Rhys focused on the better warmth, the one that he’d given up on ever trying to use. He could feel as it worked out of his heart and into his hand. The coolness overtaking the warmth of the pooling blood. His father explained it when his mother was bleeding like this once. How to heal someone. “I think… I might be that prince you read about. I am a prince, at least I was. I knew what broke what happened to me, but I wanted you to keep seeing me.”

“We’re both liars, I can live with that. I’m gonna sleep. G’night Tiny.”

“Good night… Vincent.”

Rhys closed his eyes pushing all the warmth he could into his hand. This had to save Vincent. He couldn’t lose the smaller man. It hadn’t been long, but no one else could replace him. Fuck the enchantment his true love was sitting on his chest and dying. He’d save him, find a way to solve all of this. To do something.

The next thing he knew he was on the ground without a small body on his chest. He sat up in a panic, looking for Vincent. His breath hitched when he turned to find a massive face with the scars he’d grown so curious about in front of him. As those eyes he’d been mesmerized by started to open he was frozen. Vincent… Vincent was huge now.

Emerald and violet locked on his small form. Time was still as the two stared at each other. More actions he couldn’t react to occurred. A massive hand grabbing him. His back was on Vincent’s middle and ring finger, the man’s thumb holding his stomach. His pinky and index were touching him and… and holding his wings? Rhys stared at the wings Vincent held steady.

“This is real,” Vincent breathed. That smell of copper wafted over Rhys. He was terrified. The grip was firm, the firmness that always exuded off the man. The other hand held one of Rhys’s wings still. He hadn’t even realized he was moving them. “Guess tiny is too on the nose of a nickname now.”

The smile shown on the now larger man’s face sent all the anxiety away. It was Vincent. The man who brought him treats. The man who kept visiting despite Rhys grabbing him at first. The man who almost died just to keep seeing him. To try and help him. His wings slowed. He didn’t even know they’d still grown while he was huge.

“Rhys,” Vincent’s voice was soft. It made him jump, but he nodded in response. “Are you scared of me?”

“...no,” he said. It was the truth. He wasn’t scared. The fingers holding his wings disappeared. The thumb on his stomach was released and he fell face first into a palm. It was covered in rough, calloused skin.  He pushed himself up to stare at the amazing eyes above him.

“So… what are you?” Rhys opened his mouth to answer, but Vincent used a finger to silence him. “Don’t say a person. Obviously you aren’t human so what are you?”

“A fairy, I thought you were one too. Just taller than my family. At least taller than I remembered them.”

“I don’t have wings, why the hell would you think I’m a fairy?” Rhys crossed his arms and glared up at Vincent.

“We’re not born with them Vincent. Obviously they grow later.”

“Right because I’d know the natural age progression of a fairy. Guess that explains why I’m not dead. You healed me right?” Rhys nodded. Vincent pulled Rhys close and pressed him against his chest. “Thanks, strawberry.”

Rhys grimaced that one was worse. He hated strawberries ever since his mom… his mom, his family. He could see them. It would be safe, he could go home! He started to struggle against the hand cradling him. Vincent let him go and he flew up to hover in front of the human’s face. His wings were buzzing behind him, he loved the sound.

“We have to go!” he shouted. He flew to the hand by Vincent’s chest and tugged on one of the fingers. “My family, this is when I’m supposed to meet them! We need to hurry.”

“Right, fairy. Guess hundreds of years isn’t the same,” Vincent mumbled. Rhys paused, there was a sour tone behind the words, but Vincent started moving. He’d worry about the sourness in the words after he saw his family.

The two moved shockingly fast. Rhys was sure it would take a lot longer, then again he always thought he’d be walking at his real height once the ring was gone. He thought someone his size would be next to him. He held the hand up that had held his curse for so long, the ring was really gone. It was over. Vincent’s shadow over him made him feel safe. It was weird, humans were always a scary story as he grew up. He barely believed they existed.

He burst out of the trees hoping to see his family hovering over the flower field. There was no one. He wasn’t giving up hope, not yet. They wouldn’t need to be there yet, it wasn’t time. The sun was still high. A curse behind him made him pause, Vincent had stepped on a flower. Vincent… he was as big as Rhys was when he ran for good. Rhys flew right back to his face.

“You need to be careful! Fairies could be out here,” he insisted. Vincent smirked before grabbing him. He was held the same way as earlier, fingers supporting his back and stopping his wings from flapping forward. The human kept walking, but the hold left Rhys with a feeling of safety.

“Please strawberry, I’m not a monster. I can keep an eye out for things that might be even smaller than-”

“Your highness!” A voice called. A voice Rhys knew. He was being pulled from the fingers holding him by hands his size. The fingers around him went limp as soon as a force tugged at him. Rhys was left with wings colored gold with hints of bronze blocking him from view. They barely moved as the fairy in front of him hovered. “We’ll keep you safe, grab the princess and return home. She’s far enough it won’t see you. This monster won’t follow you. Stay low to catch the others.”

“Wait! He’s not-”

“You really want to attack the one who helped break the strawberry prince’s enchanted ring?” Vincent sneered as he spoke. Rhys tried to look around Felix’s wings and found Ryder in the human’s face. Vincent lifted a hand up near Ryder, Rhys had his heart freeze as the human moved. All he did was press a finger to the point of what looked like a spear Ryder held. He moved it down and Rhys’s heart started beating again.

“You… broke the ring?” Ryder asked. “That was enough to free him?”

“Yup, came along for a reward. Not worth it with little brutes like you two.” Vincent had bent forward at some point. He stood straight up and glared down at both Ryder and Felix. Rhys saw the soft look sent his way. Vincent was giving him a way out, a way to go home without the truth ever being revealed. A way that didn’t include him- and that made Rhys sick.

“He’s lying.” Ryder and Felix looked at him with shock. Vincent narrowed his eyes. He would let Rhys decide what happens next. If… if his friends and family hated Vincent then he’d leave with the human. He had already been willing to give them up to keep the man in his life; this was no different. “He didn’t break the ring, he’s the answer to the enchantment. My true love.”

Rhys watched the weapon in Ryder’s hand fall. It kept going until it reached the dirt below. He waited, the anger and fear. Yelling at him for this being what happened. Treating him and Vincent like monsters. Treating the only one who made him realize he was still a person like something wrong. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t, let that be his life. Vincent was too important. 

Arms his size wrapped around him. Fear seized his heart as another pair joined the ones already containing his wings. From where he floated he saw Vincent’s eyes go wide and the massive being moved his arms. Rhys fell with the two around him. They landed on the calloused palms that held him earlier. He still expected fear, but it wasn’t happening.

“You finally get to come home,” Felix whispered. Both pairs of arms around him tightened. He couldn’t believe this.

“I apologize for threatening your love,” Ryder said. It was loud, loud enough Vincent definitely heard. “We’ve had some close calls when we came to see if you’d visit. I have to admit the princess was too eager that it might be you.”

“You… you’ve always come,” Rhys whispered. He looked up to the human holding him and his closest friends. It was easy to read the subtle hints of concern on Vincent’s face. He forced himself free, and climbed to his feet on the palm. Both Felix and Ryder stared at him, gold and silver wings buzzing. “This is Vincent.”

Ryder flew up to Vincent’s face. He did a bow that he’d done since being assigned Rhys’s guard. Vincent kept a dead look and didn’t speak. Felix flew up slowly, his wings were shaking. The two shared a look before Felix joined the bow as well. Then he lowered himself so his wings were on full display. The way they faced royalty.

“We apologize for our actions. We have been assigned to defend the prince at all costs,” Felix said. Rhys stumbled, they were still his guard? Even after all this time. “Our services would be passed to you as well, as his partner. We have had some issues during these trips away from the kingdom that made your hold something to worry about.”

Rhys felt the hand beneath him warm up. He started to fly up a bit and saw the hint of red finding its way to Vincent’s face. The human was looking between the bowed fairies and Rhys. As if he needed some kind of guidance. His wings started to buzz when reality hit him. Vincent didn’t know fairies, Vincent wasn’t one. The thought faded as the words Felix said finally registered in his mind.

“You’re still my guards?” Rhys asked. The two broke from their bows and faced him. Faces warm and kind, just how they always treated him. “I thought for sure you’d be changed or at least assigned to… Wait Del’s here! You said princess where-”

The words were knocked into silence as something, more likely someone, slammed into him. He was knocked back into the large palm that had stayed hovering just below him. It didn’t take much effort to move enough that he could see who was holding him. The fairy princess, his younger sister who hadn’t been close to her wings, Delphia.

“You’re home,” she whispered. “I thought… I was so sure I made you hate us. That you wouldn’t come back. I didn’t understand, I’m sorry. I should have realized the games we played before were dangerous I-”

“It wasn’t your fault I should have been careful. I… you were young. It was…” he started. The words didn’t exist to explain. Was it his fault for doing as he was raised? Was it his fault for not pulling away? More likely, how wasn’t it his fault?

“Don’t beat yourself up shortstack, he almost sat on me and he let me stay around. Strawberry’s just worried about hurting someone,” Vincent said. This time the human’s voice was soft and kind, Delphia pulled away to stare up at him. Almost like she hadn’t realized they were currently on his hand. Her arms tightened around Rhys, she was scared.

“I didn’t almost sit on you, you were near the trees.” Vincent’s other hand came up and ruffled Rhys’s hair.

“Close enough, probably as close as you came to hurting the shortstack here.” Rhys smiled, Vincent might be right. Delphia let him go.

“I have a name!” Rhys couldn’t hold back his laughter. Currently held by a human that she’s never met and her reaction is that he’s not using her name.

“So does Strawberry doesn’t mean I’ll use it.”

“Del, this is Vincent. He’s the answer, my love.” Rhys’s cheeks were red hot. How many times would he need to say that? At least one more… Vincent’s hand got warmer too. She shot up from the palm and plastered herself to the human’s face. Felix and Ryder both gasped as she did this. Just because he was with Rhys didn’t take away the distrust of humans. If he had known Vincent was human would he have let the man stay around?

“Thank you.” Rhys pushed the thoughts away as he watched his sister hugging the cheek of a human she just met. “Thank you for bringing him back.” She pulled away before offering a curtsy before the human. “I am Rhys’s younger sister and current crown princess.”

“Uh… sure no problem.” Vincent had a tinge of red on his cheeks that sent Rhys’s heart racing. The human was kind. Even if he knew Vincent was human, Rhys wouldn’t have been able to send the man away.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Felix cleared his throat. “The king and queen should arrive soon. I would suggest the human uh… Vincent I mean lie on the ground so as not to cause undue stress.”

“Sure.”

Rhys noticed the sour tone in the word again. He wanted to understand, but Vincent was moving. Rhys fluttered to the ground with Ryder next to him, Felix had pulled Delphia back to wait. He felt the way the human’s movements shook where they stood. He’d been bigger than this, a larger force of nature. Vincent trusted him… He wanted his family to trust the human he loved.

Once again he was pulled from his thoughts. When Vincent folded his arms in front of them the others relaxed. Felix and Ryder were telling him news. Delphia was telling him how things changed. That they still couldn’t find who gave him the ring and were more careful in case someone tried to do it again. All three spoke of how his mother and father had been worried. His father was quieter since he stopped visiting, something he struggled to believe. His mother was gone more often.

Overall, he learned his choice to stay away hadn’t been ignored like he thought. Felix and Ryder kept worrying they failed to protect him, the little brother of their group. Hearing that made him smile. Delphia apologized even more for driving him away, no matter how much he promised it wasn’t her. It was nice to see no one had wanted him gone, but it was the right choice. It brought him to Vincent.

He looked up at the human, a darkness was in the man’s eyes. Rhys wanted to ask, to understand the sour tones and pain he was seeing. Why the time he’d been gone could matter. Fairies were ageless once they grew their wings… Once their magic was at full strength. His heart shattered as it finally clicked. Humans weren’t like that… Humans lived small blips of time compared to a fairy.

“Vincent,” he started as he walked away from the others. The human’s demeanor changed. The snarky attitude he expected plastered on the face above him. He didn’t have words. He watched as the arm in front of him moved until a single finger was pressed against his chest. That finger pushed him back causing him to stumble a bit.

“What’s the long face for Strawberry?” Vincent asked. Rhys could hear the hints in the human’s voice. It was harder to hide it when Rhys was the small one. “Keep getting caught up, I’m listening too.”

Rhys tried to find the words. To tell Vincent they’d be together for both their lives. He didn’t have any way to promise that. It didn’t help when Ryder’s hand landed on his shoulder as Felix turned him around. In the distance he could see the wings of his parents. Dark black, so dark you couldn’t see the pattern of her magic. Brilliant white filled with images of life. The king and queen of fairies were walking on the ground. They always walked when together, he never understood why.

Once they were close enough he started to tremble. All the stories he’d been told before that stupid ring popped in his head. His father would be strict, expect no more of his mistakes. He was to stop playing his games and having fun. It was time for him to be a respectable prince, a respectable heir.

His mother noticed him first. Her wings started buzzing as soon as their eyes met. In a flash he was knocked to the ground while she hugged him tightly. Her wings continued to buzz loud enough he was sure Vincent would be hard to hear. Her arms tightened, he wrapped his own around her. He missed his family.

“Rhys, I’m so happy you’re back,” his mother said. She pulled away and he saw the tears rolling down her face. “I’ve been so worried since you stopped coming to see us. Your father wouldn’t let me go too far to try and find you. He felt you needed your space if you weren’t coming here.”

“I…” he said. His mother climbed to her feet and pulled him up with her. She looked up at Vincent, Rhys followed her gaze. The human looked sad and happy all at once. 

“This must be your true love then? A human?” Her mother flew up and offered her own bow in front of Vincent. Rhys’s heart thumped as a smile wormed its way on the human’s massive face. “An honor to meet you. Please call me Dabria. I hope my son hasn’t been much trouble.”

Rhys was distracted from Vincent’s response by his father. The man had continued his walk towards the small group. Despite being smaller than the human behind him, his father felt like a giant. A stern look, his wings frozen as he walked. Rhys tensed in an attempt to prepare for what was coming next. He knew the stories of the previous king, the iron handed rule back then. His father had been kinder, but no one expected it to last with his heir. 

“F-father,” Rhys said. He could feel the concern wafting off the human behind him. In the few stories he’d told, his father was kind. That didn’t include everything he’d been told before the birthday that changed everything. His father stopped right in front of him, the white glow from his wings was intimidating. “Vincent was the answer to the enchantme-”

Rhys was cut off as his father pulled him into a hug. His father’s chin was placed on his head, the white wings wrapping around them both. It reminded him of the times he had nightmares, protected from everything by the glowing white or black of his parents’ wings. The whole world went silent waiting for what this meant.

“Welcome back,” his father whispered. Rhys melted at those words. His father wasn’t a great speaker, but he could hear the crack of tears. He felt the droplets landing on his head as his father cried.

“I’m home,” Rhys said. His own voice was too quiet. He was sure no one would hear, but the arms and wings wrapped around him tightened. A worry that his father’s wings could rip snuck into his mind.

“With a human too.” The chuckle from his father made Rhys stiffen. “I guess it runs in the family. Your mother should be telling him, but she’s human too. At the castle I’ll show you a way to craft something to share your own magic. His life and yours would be tied together.”

Rhys pulled back to stare at his father with wide eyes. He was let go just as he started to try and see Vincent. The human had a look of shock on his face aimed at Rhys’s mother. Then looked back at Rhys. There was a moment where they seemed connected, like no one could come between them. A true love always sounded like a fantasy, but as he nodded to the human who offered a smile with a nod back. Rhys knew he had found someone that would stand by his side, enchantments be damned.

[awkwardgtace]

Self Reflection

hey hey day 11 we have melancholy. This time I went more for the overwhelming feeling of the story rather than my usual methods of taking prompts. Will add this to ao3 once the ddos is over

Kaiju Ash is thinking about their life, both current and former. Unsure what they want if they should let things continue as they are.

TW: Mentions of death, probably other things i'm not realizing please lemme know if I should tag them.

Self Reflection

I stared at the clouds as the water fell over my body. I never stood for storms before, but I wanted to clear the dirt from my skin, or rather scales. Alessia said it, my body was no longer human skin. I was covered in something more like carapace. After a day of begging I did promise the two I would use the next storm to clear the dirt and leaves from me. Of course they had to stay in the small house, one made of my vines. Even with it separated sometimes it let me hear, let me know things I shouldn’t. Now was one of those times.

“We need to go into a town soon,” Alessia said. I frowned, if they left I shouldn’t let them back. It wasn’t safe near me. I closed my eyes as the water continued to pelt my body. I sort of enjoyed the feeling of the rain on my eyes. I knew that wasn’t normal.

“You know if we both go Ash will need convincing to bring us back,” Delphia said. Despite the way their voices traveled, I enjoyed hearing such normal talk between them. I didn’t even know this could happen. I should stop being shocked when the vines become an extension of myself.

“So you stay.” The two sounded happy, it had been too long with me. They should leave. I tried not to react to their words. If I moved it would still bother them despite the security we’d managed to create. 

“No, there’s too much for you to get alone. Too bad Ash can’t just grow everything we need.” The unflinching trust continued to hurt my heart. The willingness to abandon their world, their lives, just everything… I didn’t think I could ever feel worthy of their actions and choices. “Plus I’m a bit better at hiding from people than you are. We can’t have someone following us.”

I wanted to keep listening, but the vines decided I’d heard enough. What would happen if someone followed them? If someone new found me? I had met other humans, ones I helped to get to safety. Those ones might not have discussed my existence, or maybe no one believed them. I shook my head, I couldn’t think about people like that. I wasn’t something else, I was human… wasn’t I?

I walked away from my miniscule loves. My focus was at the edge of the forest. The forest that fit me, that grew around me. Trees tall enough that they hid me even when I stood. This wasn’t natural or normal. I ran my hands, more precisely my claws, over the bark. It was stronger than the trees I faintly remembered from my life before. When they weren’t just a little taller than me. 

It didn’t take long for me to reach my goal. I stood next to the town that I’d turned into a grave. It still hurt to think of what I’d done. Delphia and Alessia were convinced it wasn’t my fault, but it was. I could have listened, I could have gone back to sleep. So many lives would have been saved if I had never woken up. The days I dreamed, the times I woke up to phantom feelings of arms around me, were all ones I wished I got to live more often.

I started to reach out towards the edge of the trees. I could leave, I could reveal myself to the world. It would free Alessia and Delphia. It would change things, explain so much. Possibly even make others be believed. My claws hovered near the edge, my hand was shaking. I couldn’t remember what would leave me scared, but revealing myself was terrifying. My memories before this, ones that didn’t include Alessia and Delphia, were still too hazy. Sometimes it felt like they were fading away, that if the others weren’t with me I would lose everything that explained who I was.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” a small voice said. It wasn’t coming through my vines, it was masculine. Familiar. A shiver ran through my body, water fell from places it had pooled on me. The only thing that reminded me that rain was falling all around me.

“Leave then, I’m not walking away,” a new voice. Also masculine… Also familiar… I was frozen, the strange scales or carapace caught water all over me. That didn’t matter, those voices… Those voices terrified me.

“So you can disappear too?” I was tempted to try and find them. To face the terror in my blood. They were going to be the same size as the others… I couldn’t risk doing anything to them.

“I’m finding them. This is the last place they checked in from.”

“You know how likely it is that they survived out here this long?! Their car isn’t even here! At least wait until the storm is over.”

“You can wait until the storm is over. If my sister is out there I’m finding her. I’m dragging them both home because if she’s there so is Alessia!”

My heart froze. They… these voices wanted Alessia and Delphia. Were they from that life? That time that I can barely remember? I felt it as they entered the forest. My forest. One storming ahead, something in my mind tingled at the knowledge. As though it was something that bubbled with joy and memories.

“Strawberry, we should at least stay together!” I stumbled at those words. A thousand arrows attacked my heart. I knew those words, I knew these people. I knew these humans. “Shit, run!”

They were running because of me. Something I did, my steps or my vines I didn’t know. I had to stop them, protect them from the truth. From finding the damage I’d done by existing. I heard screams. A part of me wondered if Delphia and Alessia would hear them. If they’d hate me for what was happening now. Another part thought they should and then they would leave.

I heard shouts as my vines grabbed the two humans. I was conscious of the choice to grab them. I focused on keeping the movement of my vines slow even as I crouched. I was still towering over everything. The vines stopped just at my eyes. It was like the day Delphia and Alessia returned to my life. One face of anger and fear, another of something akin to a calm understanding.

“Rhys, do not say a thing, do not ask questions, I will get us out of this,” the angry one said. He had scars on his eyes, the shape of an X on each. They were a pale contrast on his dark skin. Silver hair that had fallen in his face and hung heavily due to the rain. Mismatched eyes like my own, different colors though. A brilliant emerald and striking violet.

“Vincent…” Rhys said it, at least that’s what I could assume was his name. Salmon hair, tan skin, pink eyes that saw through me. I knew this person, I’d spent a lot of time with him. A flash in my mind, someone yelling with the pink eyed man laughing beside me. I pushed him, a smile playing on my own lips.

I brought a hand up to shield them from the rain. Both stared at me, unflinching eyes. I… I shouldn’t have grabbed them. I should have left them to wander, only blocking them from going too far. Instead I took my other hand below them. Another thing I learned I could do, the vines moved over to my skin without a need for me to try. More screams.

I stood, slower than normal to be safe. I looked around the world, these two on my hand a stark reminder of what I’ve lost. I kept my hand low. It was difficult, but I knew raising them too high might cause them to be hurt. I was lucky Alessia and Delphia had been safe. I made the choice to change how my vines held them. Holding them safely together instead of apart. I could hear the mumbles from them, reassurances that they would survive. 

I could speak, I could tell them. Words didn’t occur to me, the ones to fix this. I… I wanted them not to know who I was. More memory flashes made it hurt to imagine them scared of me when they knew it was me. I took the steps I needed to return to Delphia and Alessia. The small women were waiting for me, ignoring the rain still pouring from the sky.

As soon as I brought my hand close the men I held reacted. The words were… not kind. I didn’t want to think about the consequences of how they acted. Directing my vines to set the men down was easy, the two grabbing Alessia and Delphia and trying to hide them from me was not. I still couldn’t make my voice work. When they knew it was me, would they still be scared? Was I not something to be trusted? I wasn’t… I wasn’t a human no matter how much I wanted to believe I was… was I?

“Rhys?” Delphia said. She was trying to pull away, to be in my view. It made me feel happier, warmer, more human. “Let go of me. What are you even doing here?”

“We came to find the two of you. It’s been months with no contact!” Rhys shouted. The shout made me jump. It was louder than I expected, but my jump caused both men to lose their footing.

“Vincent, Rhys calm down. We’re fine.” Alessia looked up at me with a bright smile. Another thing that made me feel human, gifts constantly offered by them. “We found them. We found Ash.”

Both men stared at me. It didn’t take long for Rhys to be on his feet holding Delphia’s shoulders. I wanted to pull him away. To stop him from hurting her. He wouldn’t… Rhys wasn’t that person. I knew that. Vincent was glaring at me on his feet. It… I knew that glare. I knew him too. I hated this terror budding in my heart.

“Del, that-that thing is not Ash!” I closed my eyes. I needed to stay calm, but my tail didn’t agree. The loud thumps of the appendage were already causing the four ant sized humans to stumble. “This is proof! That thing is a monster and we need to escape.”

“No.” Delphia set herself free. She actually came closer to me. I brought my claw near her, she reached for it. Vincent pulled her back, he had a firm grip on Alessia’s wrist too. Something rumbled up deep in my chest, I had never noticed the growls I could make before.

“That is not a human reaction, Strawberry is right. We need to get away from this thing. You two are brainwashed.” Vincent had always been harsh. My brain had so much firing at once. Times with both, pushing Rhys to speak to the glaring man. Vincent unsure how to admit his own feelings. Smiles with both of them, nights where I spent time away from Alessia and Delphia. Where I spent time with another family, my new family.

“Who cares!? This is Ash and we’re not brainwashed. You two shouldn’t even be here. Go home. We’ll be back once we’ve fixed this.” Alessia’s firm voice calmed me. The rumbling in my chest disappeared. The ones most important to me were fine and didn’t see me as a monster.

“It can’t even talk that isn’t Ash! I know you miss them, but they died. Just like everyone else when this forest popped up, please just let us try to figure a way out of this and get home. Everyone’s been worried about you two and this constant searching.” My chest rumbled again, but there was more pain than anger.

“Will you stop talking like they aren’t here? Like they can’t understand you!? This is Ash, you're both just being cruel. It’s… how can you treat them like that!? You both were as devastated as we were when the news came and they’re here and you’re treating them like a monster that can’t even speak!”

“It can’t speak! All it’s done is growl. It probably just decided to look like them.”

“I do speak, I.. it is me,” I whispered. Despite the safety my vines promised my voice I was terrified. Now those humans would know who I am. The memories of happy times would be tainted by fearful faces. The men stared at me with a cocktail of pain, shock, and fear.

“They’re really alive, Rhys. It’s them.” Delphia was grabbing Rhys’s arm, trying to make them listen.

All I could do after that was watch them. Words exchanged all while the staring continued. I wanted to do something. Find a way to prove who I was. It was clear they didn’t believe in me. They only saw a monster. The pain I feared came together the longer I watched them. 

“Fine, we’ll get your supplies and come back. We’re staying at least for a few weeks,” Rhys said. 

That would make sense, it would work. There would be room in the house for the two of them. Although… I could almost remember what their home looked like. At least Rhys’s home I couldn’t recall if Vincent lived there. On top of my claws a small square of vines appeared. I pushed the cube off, vines trailing off my claw. I snapped it before the cube settled next to the home I barely remembered.

“Is that our house?” Vincent said. It was always him when there was a strange mixture of shock and suspicion.

I watched Rhys walk in, despite Vincent calling him back. The man walked out and stared up at me with awe. Vincent grabbed his arm, but stopped. I wasn't sure why. It didn’t matter, they were too far in the forest for a human to walk back in a reasonable time. It looked like they were slowly realizing it.

“Well we should go… assuming ‘Ash’ will take us… and pick us up when we get back,” Rhys said. It was clear they didn’t believe it was me. That I was some monster that Alessia and Delphia had trained. Maybe I was.

Regardless I offered my hand. The two didn’t move. I wasn’t sure what to do. I noticed Delphia pointing towards a loose vine. I should grab them? I tilted my head. She nodded, reading the question despite how hard it must be to read my face. So small and delicate. In the back of my mind I knew those words didn’t suit the men my vines were grabbing.

“Woah, easy with the vines godzilla,” Vincent said. The words hurt, but the nickname stuck out. Vincent… he gives people nicknames; it's a part of him. I… calling me something else might be good. I set them down in the center of my palm. Where I knew I could keep them safe. Ant sized humans… How had I started to trick myself into thinking I still was one.

I stood, with my hand at my waist to avoid hurting Rhys and Vincent. Only a few steps to travel what would take them days or weeks. I couldn’t call myself human. Near the edge, not quite outside the trees that towered thousands of feet over humans… over creatures I was starting to struggle to believe I ever was one of. I crouched again, setting my hand down and hoping the two I could faintly remember laughing with wouldn’t show me more fear.

They stumbled off my hand. Stared at me with emotions I couldn’t understand.

“If you really are Ash. Alessia says she’s finding a way to turn you back. If it works well… I’m glad they found you and I’m sorry… for treating you like a monster,” Rhys said. My eyes widened. Vincent pulled Rhys towards what I knew had to be a car. It was so small… I constantly found myself in awe at the trust Delphia and Alessia put in me.

“You’re keeping the nickname whether you’re Ash or not. Godzilla fits you pretty damn well,” Vincent pushed Rhys towards a door as he spoke. I stood up straight as I watched both men climb into the vehicle. It was hard, I could remember riding in one. The danger it posed before. Only now could I crush it like a bug. I… I didn’t like thinking like that. 

I watched it drive off. The distance it covered would be faster for me. I could travel farther than I had ever dreamed. Yet I had to stay within these trees. Where nothing could find me from above and I controlled the ground. I stared at my clawed hand, looked over the scaled body I now existed in. I wasn’t human.

My vines apparently wanted me to know this. They pulled back from my skin, the skin akin to stone. It looked like stone when I focused on it. Other vines pulled my tail forward, even with the rain that continued to pour I could see the red smears that I never cleaned off. Remnants of what I’d done, who I’d hurt. People with names and faces I couldn’t remember or know.

I didn’t know why the building was unharmed that day. Why the people had survived and stayed past the terrifyingly large trees. Maybe I had disrupted them. This monstrous body was covered in sin after sin that I could never escape. I turned to look at where I knew Delphia and Alessia were. Humans that loved me… that loved a me that was dead. 

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I love you and I miss our life, but I don’t think I can go back. After everything I did… Everything that happened because of me. I don’t deserve to live a simple human life again.”

I wouldn’t tell them now… I wouldn’t end our time yet. I would wait for Rhys and Vincent. Wait for them to leave and when- when supplies were next needed I would tell them. I would send them off and lock my forest away from humans for good. No one would be at risk because of me or anything I might cause.

[awkwardgtace]

If it's not too late, prompt 10 sounds hilarious for seer and the gods au 😂

ty for the prompt. It was very much not too late!! I don't know if this is quite what you pictured, but it's the first thing I thought of and couldn't consider anything else!

Naughtiest and Nicest

Delphia could barely keep her eyes open as she returned to the gods’ realm. This time of year had turned into a constant stream of visions. People making risky choices out of a rush to be with their families. It seemed like each time she closed her eyes another vision occurred. As soon as the light faded from the door she thought for sure she’d been sent another vision. 

In front of her Vincent was sitting with his back against her door and his head in his hands. He never came to the gods’ realm, he hated it there. She waited for something to happen, the vision to move forward. Instead she just sat there in silence with Vincent barely moving. He kept his head down, grabbing at something she couldn’t before snapping his head up to face her.

“You’re back,” he said. She’d never heard him scared like this. “You need to fix this. Rhys wanted me to explain the holidays and I started explaining the whole guy who watches everything with lists.”

“They think it’s Vitus right?” she asked. It made sense in a way to her. The descriptions she heard of the one Vincent meant, white hair and kind at least, matched the god of life. The other descriptors not so much, he did keep a list though.

“At first, I told them it was someone else when they asked.” He stood up placing a hand on the door. “Then I told them it was a naughty or nice list. Now…”

Vincent pulled open the door and she could hear the rumbling voices of the gods.

“I’ve already made it clear,” Felix said. Delphia frowned, she knew the tone he was using. Blaming himself for things out of his control. “Clearly the one at the top of this naughty list would be me. The desperation for prosperity drives mortals to cruelty.”

Delphia sighed, Vincent had already grabbed her arm and started out the door. She didn’t know how to fix it. The naughty list would probably have them all spiraling in some manner.

“Ash… I think I’d be on that list,” she heard Alessia’s melodic voice echo through the hall. “I keep hoping our seer would spend less time with the mortals… I’ve been selfish.”

“Vincent, how long has this been going on?” Delphia asked. She stopped following him, making him stop too. 

“I’m not sure, time here is weird. I don’t even know how long it’s been since Rhys brought me here,” he sighed. She could hear the annoyance in his voice, but there was a bit of fear in how his hand tightened. It didn’t matter how much she and Rhys promised the gods were kind, Vincent stayed nervous.

“Wars are held because of me!” Ryder shouted. She didn’t think anyone else noticed the slight tremor in his voice. He hated everything about his domain. “Mortals kill each other endlessly, many seek glory through it!”

Vincent took that as the sign to get them moving again. She followed along, picturing Ash’s face as they tried to convince Alessia she wasn’t bad. They rounded the corner, finding Ash and Alessia standing near the entrance closest to them. Sola and Luna were standing between the two gods. It was the first time in a long time she felt intimidated walking up to them.

“Wouldn’t that mean Lady Death is on that list?” Luna’s quiet voice shocked her. It was clear he’d been crying, but there was nothing she could think of as why. Unless he thought he’d be on the list from scaring others… “She’s so nice she doesn’t belong there.”

“Of course not,” Ash placed a hand on Luna’s head as they spoke. “She guides others; she and Lord Life would be on the nice list Vincent mentioned. Tied at the top with the little flower.”

Delphia paused just next to the gods. All of them were focused on the argument she and Vincent went ignored. Vincent brought her to the stairs leading to one of the counters and sat just within the shelter it provided. He didn’t quite let her walk out, but she did look back at the four gods closest to her. Sola was grabbing at Ash’s other hand. The child-like goddess seemed pained.

“Am I naughty for sneaking out to watch mortals and draw in the clouds?” she whispered. Delphia knew the others had missed it, but Ash’s smile and shake of their head relieved her. 

“If selfish actions put someone on that list I’m clearly the one at the top.” Felix’s voice was almost convincing. “There are countless selfish actions done in the name of prosperity.”

“Enough!” Rhys’s shout made her cover her ears. Vincent stood and pulled her behind him. Something made her think she’d seen the more volatile emotions of the god of love, it wasn’t easy to witness. “If you want to argue who’s the worst it would be me. The emotions mortals feel are what causes wars, cruelty, selfishness and anything else you can think of. I'm at the top of that list.”

It turned into all of them talking at once. It was hard to make out the words with how loud their voices were. Vincent started to push her back, clearly second guessing his choice to bring her here. Delphia moved forward watching the argument unfold. Only to think of the children from the village she’d been visiting.

The longer the argument went on the more she was reminded of the children. Shouts of who was nicest, who had done the most selfless things. A smile crept onto her face. After only a few seconds she started to giggle, then it turned into full on laughter. The room slowly fell silent as she laughed. Vincent had stood up to block her almost completely from view. She just couldn’t stop laughing.

“You’re arguing like children,” she breathed. She heard Felix huff and Ryder gasp, but everyone else was still silent. “They usually argue over who was nicest, but it’s the same thing.”

“Del,” Vincent whispered. She knew he was worried, but if he’d seen the groups of children she had he’d be laughing too.

“Little warrior?” Ryder asked. She looked towards where the god of war had been standing with Felix. He came closer than she expected, but it didn’t bother her. She stepped out around Vincent, a squeeze on his arm to promise she’d be alright.

Ryder set his palm flat on the table. His eyes were shining, he’d likely been holding back tears. She climbed on without hesitation, her laughter slowly dying. He lifted her up to his face, the fingers taller than her curling over her. She leaned against the closest finger, the exhaustion she pushed away resurfacing.

“There’s no top of either list. It’s just meant to encourage kindness,” she sighed. The fingers around her tensed. As quickly as they tensed they flattened, Ash’s palm held out where she could walk over to it. She stood and walked slowly, pausing just before stepping onto their palm. “I do have an idea, if you want to follow holiday traditions and give a gift to those you all put on the nice list that is.”

The eyes of every god locked on her. She smiled as she met each pair. She didn’t miss Vincent now sitting securely in Rhys’s palm too. There was no telling whether the others would follow her idea, but she’d give it a shot. The worst case she’d help them all do something to celebrate the holiday. Vincent knew more and could help too.

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Dabria walked out of her office following behind Vitus. Her little raven had asked them to go with her to the kitchen, she asked for things so rarely they couldn’t say no. Vitus kept glancing at her as though she’d know what was going on. He’d be the one they go to for surprises, if they weren’t too nervous it would anger them. As they walked the sky gods ran up to them. Luna grabbed Vitus’s free hand while Sola grabbed on to her. They continued walking as the two fell into step with them.

“D-Dabria,” Sola started, she gasped hearing her own name from the young god, “will you draw in the clouds with me today?”

“Of course,” she smiled. 

“V-Vitus!” Luna squeaked. She watched the god of life stiffen, unsure how to act from hearing his own name. “Will you help me write down more of the stars’ stories later?”

“Yes,” Vitus said warmly. 

The twin gods ran off, but before they could say anything Rhys appeared just before they took the turn towards the kitchen. 

“Vitus, Dabria, Vincent said he’s ready to meet the two of you, maybe over the next few days?” Rhys said. She sent a look towards her little raven, the smile on the mortal woman’s face a clear tell she knew the cause of the sudden change. Vitus just kept a wide eyed look on Rhys.

“Whenever he’s ready… Rhys,” Vitus seemed unsure how to respond. Honestly Dabria was as well. Felix and Ryder were quick to replace the god of love as he disappeared in a flurry of petals.

“Dabria, if you have more designs there is a mortal I believe would be receptive,” Felix said as he passed by. She just nodded at him.

“Vitus, have you considered my offer of chess?” Ryder asked.

“Maybe after I write the stories with Luna.”

The two gods walked off, Dabria grabbed Vitus and stared down at her little raven in his hand. She slipped two fingers under Delphia’s arms, the human woman helped with the movement. The small thin arms tightly pressed against Dabria’s fingers reminded her that she was trusted. She brought her raven up to sit in her palm, curling her fingers around the small woman.

“What did you do?” she asked. Vitus hummed, he was catching on now. The smile of the human in her palm didn’t falter at all. Delphia climbed to her feet, the small movements still shocked her.

“Nothing at all,” she grinned.

“I doubt that,” Vitus chuckled. Delphia just tapped her fingers, clearly wanting them to keep moving. It was almost tempting to refuse, to hold the little raven close until she found out. 

Dabria started walking. She wouldn’t do that, she promised never to make her raven feel trapped. She did hold the little human pressed against her heart though. Vitus slipped his hand into her free one, lacing their fingers together. As they finally reached the kitchen Ash and Alessia were sitting there. She smiled at the two before Alessia jumped up and approached them.

“Dabria, Vitus, have you seen the little seer?” she asked. Dabria flattened her hand, holding back a pout as Alessia took her raven. Ash walked up, a soft smile on their face.

“We plan to be in the mortal realm today… Vitus, Dabria.” Ash nodded and the two disappeared in a flash of lightning and brilliant light.

“I don’t know what she did, but… I’d be happy if this continues,” Dabria said. Vitus wrapped an arm around her pulling her close.

“I would be too,” Vitus whispered.

[awkwardgtace]

I dont know if you've done this already but have you drawn or made picrews/other programs with some of ur ocs? I've seen you describe them abit but I'm a bit curious to see how you actually imagine them to be

I haven't done a big post so I will use this ask to do one! I actually have descriptions for each character in a spreadsheet I've made to track all the info I have, I've made picrews, and I have two commissions done so far. This one for the mafia AU god squad and this one for when Corus and Mira met

Comm I got for streya <3

Comm of Delphia, Ash, and Alessia in Vampire AU

fanart of mira and corus

Below the read more is a description I have an at least one picrew I've made of each of my ocs! I made a lot of these a long time ago so I sadly don't have the links but I can def try to find ones if people want them!

Mira: pale skin with lavender hair and pink eyes. She has a natural red tint to her cheeks with a pink color for her lips. Her body is lean and muscular, reflecting the years of training she's had. In her streamer universe she has a lean form with slight muscle from casual workouts. When you first see her you wouldn't assume she's as tactful and agile as she is.

Kaya: black hair, brown eyes and brown skin. They have some freckles by their nose and mole under their left eye. While they usually share in some of Mira's training they retain a thin frame and appear petite at first glance. They look innocent at first, as if they have no understanding of darker sides to the world. In reality they have stared it in the face and continued with a smile

This heart one is an adorable comm from @graff-aganda gotten by @alarcomet

Ian: fair skin with blond hair and brown eyes. His face is covered in a dusting of freckles. He's a little shorter than average at first in his original universe. He has a lanky frame that some may even call scrawny at times. He looks younger than he is, giving an impression of early teens rather than close to an adult.

Delphia: pale white skin with emerald eyes that stand out against it. Her hair is a dark black, almost ebony. She's above average height in most universes with a thin frame. Generally she's pale to a concerning degree. Almost like you'd think she's dead if she held her breath. She appears innocent and naive by choice, if she changes to seem world weary it's best to listen Where it exists people might think she's a bit like snow white

Vincent: striking silver hair, usually tied back. He has one eye green like emeralds, the other purple like violets. Overall his features are striking, but the scars over his eyes stand out against his sepia brown skin. He's intimidating, usually holding a look of disdain or pointed disinterest. If he cares for you he will kill for you

Melody: around average height with pale skin and heavyset. She has long brown hair frequently put up in ponytails or braids. Glasses that hide the bags under her eyes and a bright red tint on her cheeks. She also has a single dimple mirrored by Caprice. She looks young and innocent as if the things she suffered never happened. Most often she wears jeans and dark colored t-shirts with a black hoodie

Caprice: fair pale skin with freckles, short brown hair, and brown eyes. He usually has an athletic build and a bit short for men. He doesn't need glasses and has a healthy look. He has a single dimple mirrored by Melody. He appears goofy and ignorant, a mask he wears that can fall away to someone who sees more than anyone would like.

Lilith: dark brown skin, red eyes, and naturally black hair. She likes to dye it purple. Overall she is adorable. There is always a possessiveness in her face if she likes you.

Corus: black hair long enough he can tie it in a small ponytail. He has blue eyes and tanned white skin. At first glance he looks tall with an average build at best, but he has a lot of muscle that you can't see. His way of dress hides the fact he's well built. It's a byproduct of ways he's tried to handle his anger issues through out the years. He looks like someone easy to take advantage of at first, but then his anger comes through and he's terrifying regardless of size.

Zeke: golden brown skin, green eyes, and red/orange hair. He looks welcoming and intelligent. Overall his build is a bit average but his arms reflect the manual labor his life usually requires. He's observant and quick to act. When it's viable he has glasses that help him see far away. Luckily he has no issues up close.

Mikhail: He has rich black skin, green eyes and long black hair. He has a lean frame that some would assume is from being consumed in his studies. Most of the time he needs glasses more specifically for reading. His size changing in his original universe does change his frame slightly. The bigger he grows the more imposing his build becomes and the opposite for smaller. He'd be bird like at Ian's size

Alessia: rosy white skin and a warm look to her face. She's chubby which hides the strength she's capable of. Her hair, which flows to the middle of her back, is the same color as the night sky and she has brown eyes that radiate kindness. Generally around average human height. Soft is a good way to describe her. As a goddess she is usually dressed in a golden suit of armor that still leaves her legs, arms, hands, and head free.

Rhys: sharp edges to his face, the tawny brown skin accented with salmon hair. His eyes change colors depending on mood, but he is most commonly seen with them at bright pink. He isn't too tall and has a stout form. When he's calm his features have him looking reliable. As a god he dresses for the times, frequently in the most common clothing styles of the era until more modern times.

Ash: appears intimidating. A sharp face with one green and one blue eye. Their brown hair is short almost shave. They have umber brown skin and, as a god, tend to wear something that looks like leather armor. It's more like a misviewed tunic. They are frequently considered to look like a warrior or soldier and mistaken for the god of war.

Vitus: ashen white skin and even whiter hair. His hair is a bit below his shoulders and usually tied back with enough left free to frame his face. He has striking emerald eyes and a stern gaze. He has an average build and appears normally to be around mid thirties to early forties in age. He's taller than most others. As a god he tends to wear a button up shirt and simple plain pants regardless of the era. As a human he has reading glasses.

Dabria: fair white skin that looks like she's spent a lot of time under the sun. She has ebony hair which seems to flow endlessly behind her and piercingly red eyes. Her round face almost always carries a small smile and radiates warmth. She has a chubby form and is happy to offer comfort to any who need it. As a goddess she tends to wear a simple black dress, as a human she wears darker colors and jeans unless it's more formal

Felix: a stocky build. He has golden eyes and short black hair that slightly frames his face. His skin is a warm beige. He looks judgemental and cold at first glance. His features give a calculating feeling. As a god he dresses ostentatiously, styles that mimic nobility or expensive styles of the era.

Sola: a soft tan to her white skin, something that makes her look to have spent long days out in the sun. Her hair is just a bit past her shoulders, a light blonde color with specks of blue and white. Her eyes like like the morning sky, bright yellow at the center for the sun. She dresses in bright colors and most often has her arms and legs uncovered. She appears childish like Luna. A round face, large eyes, and over all child like features. She is twins with Luna. She appears bright, outgoing, and loud, but tries to match those around her more than act freely.

Luna: pale skin that could remind you of moonlight. He has shoulder length hair that's black with specks of white like stars. As a god his eyes are almost mirrors of the night sky, but human leaves him with a deep blue. He dresses in dark colors that relate to the era. He looks childish, a round face, large eyes, and general child like features. He is twins with Sola. He appears shy and reserved, but just is soft spoken.

Ryder: the build of a soldier. He reflects his status as god of war in his stature. His eyes are silver and, as a god, his pupils are shaped like swords. He has a surprisingly kind look most of the time. His face is scared despite never being in battle, he also has some scars along his arms and torso. He has long black hair that reaches down his back and he tends to leave as is. He tries to appear ready to fight in any universe he's in despite his lack of actual experience and general reasons to fight.

Kyrie: warm beige skin and a chubby build. His hair and fins are black at first. Both will change later to mimic colors of the deep sea to aid in hiding from humans. His eyes are the same color as the deep sea giving him the best sight of the merfolk under water. His hair is long and reachs almost to his tail. He opts not to do anything to it much like Pelago. He can look intimidating when he smiles, large fangs poking out. He is technically not full grown until some time after he meets Melody and grows significantly from the size he'd been until then.

Pelago: slender with dark brown skin. She has scars over her face from years of abuse due to the colors of her scales. She has blond hair the is half the length of her body. Her scales are a bright white and define her as an oceanid. Her eyes match the colors of her scales and fins as white as well. She still holds a kind smile despite the way she's been treated in the past. Pelago looks the most human when she smiles, her smaller size leaving her no need for large fangs.

Byssal: fair white skin and a stout build. He has used his size to keep Pelago safe and appears intimidating. His hair is green and usually braided. When loose his hair is almost longer than Pelago He has green scales, fins, and eyes. He has some scales along his skin unlike Pelago. Byssal frequently wears a scowl and bares his fangs at anyone who isn't Kyrie or Pelago (later that grows to Melody and Caprice)

Streya: skin the same color of space, she'd disappear into the darkness without the stars. She wears a gown that looks like endless stars. Her eyes are a solid dull purple when she's not matching a planet, they change to match the planet she's mimicking. Her hair is long reaching down into the endless space like her gown. It's a base shade of black with glowing blue on the top and the tips. On the right side of her head her hair is a lighter blue. There's a hint of purple all throughout it. She has a plump form. She has a round face that almost always has a look of awe or curiosity

Meg: skin is pale and she wears simple earrings. Her hair is a light brown that falls just below her shoulders. She has brown eyes. She has a dusting of freckles on her face, she wears simple glasses. She has a thin frame with a round face. She dresses casually, a warm jacket with simple things. A necklace with a star on it and tends to have jackets with patches or pins for lgbt

[awkwardgtace]

Lazy morning kisses sound like the most Rhys thing on the planet–

ok so you have more creativity than i do with these. They will also be shorter than usual domestic stuff is my new challenge lol

Lazy Mornings

Rhys could feel the squirming in his hand that meant Vincent had woken up. Even with all the time that had passed he wouldn’t let things be simple. He could hear the grumbled complaints that caused a small laugh to escape him. Vincent only seemed to get more annoyed at this and pushed against his fingers.

“Come on, I have things to do,” he complained. Rhys kept his eyes closed, but brought his hand up to his face. “You’re so lucky your breath always smells like strawberries or I’d kill you for doing this.”

Rhys smirked and lifted one eye open slightly. Vincent had slipped off his shirt in his sleep again. He couldn’t hold himself back from running his thumb over his chest. Vincent gasped before glaring into Rhys’s eyes. He didn’t want to let him go yet. Rhys pulled his hand a bit closer. Vincent tensed, making Rhys smile a bit more.

“Sleep a bit longer, you were gone for weeks last time,” he murmured. Vincent squirmed a bit more. He pulled him close and planted a chaste kiss against his bare chest.

 “Stupid god, you don’t even need sleep,” Vincent said. He still relaxed into Rhys’s fingers. The god gasped as he felt the human’s lips against his own. He leaned forward and kissed the small body again enjoying the heat that started to radiate off his form. “If you want to sleep so badly, go back to sleep already. Stupid lazy god.”

Rhys smirked before sliding his face down to press his nose against Vincent. He let out a sigh before nuzzling against him and closing his eyes again. He laughed a bit as Vincent grumbled before getting comfortable. Days like this didn’t feel real and Rhys wanted to be selfish at these times. They both knew if Vincent pushed Rhys would let him go without a second thought. Lazy mornings weren’t bad sometimes.

[awkwardgtace]

7 WITH WEREWOLF VINCENT I BEG

here we go werewolf vincent part 2

I’m not a doll, you know. Stop treating me like one.

Vincent had been sure he’d struggle to find the scent when he decided to check on his strawberry. When there was a clear trail from the vampire he was more than a little shocked. It went off in a few directions, but one was standing out. Almost like she’d come back each night. He growled a bit before shifting completely to follow the scent. He hadn’t shifted completely in a while, but it felt nice. He almost appreciated that it was taking a few hours to reach despite his size and speed.

The trail that girl left ran straight through the forest. He growled as the sounds of nature died away. He entered her territory. He snarled and picked up speed. He hadn’t caught even a hint of his strawberry yet. He reached the treeline and began to slow down. Slowly he surveyed the area. A large house that felt out of place with a garden. There was no sign of humans nearby, who was she feeding on then. 

He took cautious steps. He didn’t need to let her know he was there if she stayed awake. He’d caught the smell of burns on her last time. She’d gone out in the day to find his strawberry. The place was coated in the vampire’s scent. He started to catch faint human scents. He crouched lower. Humans usually explained away seeing him as a trick of the light. Any other form and it usually gave him a meal he didn’t plan.

“What’s got you so anxious?” a feminine voice called. He went towards the noise. A place that seemed like a garden, but held strange smells. Probably something the vampire kept.

“Do you truly think the man you spoke of will come here?” another voice asked. Vincent crept closer, they were oddly quiet. He started shifting back, but kept himself wolf enough to walk undetected. 

“He said he would,” he smiled, that was his strawberry. He stayed low, a fence built high enough to keep humans out was there. It would be easy enough to go back to normal on this side. “You don’t get it, he was going to kill Del and said he’d eat me. I shouldn’t have done that, but…”

Vincent stood as he went back to his human form. He was lucky all three little beings were gathered together. He placed a hand on the fence. He’d need to wait until he was ready to jump before going over. He didn’t want his surprise ruined. He changed his mind pulling his hand from the fence and crouching down again. He crawled around to the side closest to the door. He could just barely hear the footsteps passing over the dirt. They were moving closer to the far side. Perfect.

“But, what? You’re lucky Vitus managed to wake Delphia up. What if you didn’t get loose from the bird? You still owe her too,” the feminine voice chastised. He could hear the sigh of his strawberry.

“I know and that’s why I’m out here trying to help get what we need to help take care of the burns. I just…” 

Vincent was done waiting. He gripped the fence hard and threw himself over. The screams of his strawberry and the others made him smile. He landed hard, laughing as the three fell. They weren’t glad his strawberry went on an adventure, but he was. He’d been looking for him for a long time and the little man fell right in his lap. He took heavy steps closer before crouching over the three.

“Well strawberry, glad to see you’re still alive,” he purred. His strawberry was shaking, but he didn’t care. He reached down, pinching Rhys between his claws. The other two shouted, but they weren’t his goal. If they wanted to sell themselves to a vampire he didn’t care. He did care about Rhys though. Rhys was struggling, but making sure to avoid his claws.

“I told you my name is Rhys!” Rhys shouted. Vincent brought him closer and took a long sniff of his body.

“You still smell like them so I can’t see why I should call you anything else.” He brought the small man down to his chest. He used a free hand to open his pocket. “You’re coming with me.”

“What?!” All three of them screamed.

“You can’t just take him!” the feminine voice shouted. She smelled like mint. The other one smelled like flowers and climbed to their feet stepping forward.

“Why do you intend to take him?” they asked. 

“He’s mine, I can do what I want.” The smirk showed off the fangs and teeth he’d normally hidden.

“Wait, not today! I need to help get the flowers as they bloom! J-just come back in a week.” Vincent huffed, he has no intention of leaving without his strawberry.

“Then I guess I’ll curl up right here in this cabbage patch, just going to dig up the things giving it the awful smell.” The way the two on ground paled almost made him feel bad. He didn’t care that much though, he just needed to take his strawberry. Once Rhys saw what he’d set up he wouldn’t want to stay with the vampire anymore.

“No! I-I’ll go. Let’s just go…” 

Rhys sounded upset. Vincent just dropped him in his pocket and stood. He did make sure to be more cautious, avoiding the plants as he left. Once he jumped over he started running fast. He couldn’t do a full shift, but some traits would help him run faster. He never actually tried to figure out which form was faster. He was a little smaller as a full wolf so this might be faster.

Vincent spent the time in silence. He had to stay focused on humans showing up, he didn’t particularly want to kill one with Rhys on him. They’d get home, Rhys would see a place for him, and then that vampire chick could stay out of their lives. He didn’t care how much Rhys thought she was good, vampires betray their humans.

He started to slow as the hours carried on. That vampire chick might show up again. He’d need to find something to hide their scent. He started walking, there should be a river around here. He didn’t intend to go to the same place at least. It gave them a bit of an easier time. He felt the squirming of Rhys in his pocket.

“What’s up strawberry?” he asked. He could feel as Rhys fell down into his pocket. It seems speaking with him that close got a shock. That was good to know.

“What are you doing?” he sounded out of breath. Vincent held back a sound of concern. No reason to open it up while Rhys could leave a trail for the vampire.

“I’m making sure your keeper can’t find us this time.” He heard the little heartbeat speed up.

“We’re going somewhere else?”

“You didn’t really think I’d stay in my den now that a vamp had been there, did you?”

“I don’t know anything about things like you.” Rhys was trying to be insulting. It was kind of cute. “Besides… she won’t be coming. Even if she wants to she can’t get out of bed. She was burned badly from coming to get me…”

“Then I guess I’ll get going again.”

Vincent could hear the pain in Rhys’s voice. A part of him wanted to comfort his strawberry. This wasn’t the time. He had to get home and make Rhys understand vampires were dangerous. They always wanted something and once they got it they’d kill you. He’d seen it more than once when he was still human. He’d be dead if a wolf hadn’t taken pity on him.

He picked up running again. If she showed up he could fight her. She wasn’t anything special like she tried to pretend. Vampires were all the same and he knew the best ways to kill them. A growl slipped out because of his thoughts. Rhys started trembling. Vincent placed a hand over the small form in his pocket. He was so small, that vampire just wanted fucking treats.

He didn’t slow until he reached his new den. It wasn’t much yet, but it would be fine. Rhys didn’t need most human things and neither did he. An old cabin was more than enough. He finally let himself go back to his human form completely. He stepped onto the wooden porch, the creak of it a welcoming sound. This place was built by a wolf bigger than him, it would hold him. He ducked into the house, for some reason the guy didn’t decide to build bigger doorways.

He let the door slam behind him before slipping into the house. It was one of the few dens he had access to where he didn’t have to stay hunched over. He stretched, smiling a bit as Rhys wriggled. The cloth pressed his small form against Vincent’s chest, knowing he was there was nice. He made his way over to the spot he’d set up for his strawberry. This would start getting him out of the brainwashing from that vamp.

“Got you something strawberry,” he said. 

His voice was softer than the last time he spoke. As much fun as it was to see the small man panic, he wanted him safe. He slipped his hand into his pocket, careful to maneuver his fingers underneath Rhys. It felt strange to hold someone so small again. The top of his fingers were more than enough space for him. Vincent could be careful though, vampires couldn’t.

Rhys had his eyes shut as he was brought out of the pocket. Vincent wasn’t even sure this was the right size, but it’s better than everything being as big as Vincent needed. He stared at the small form again, Rhys was cute when he was terrified. He couldn’t wait to see what he looked like feeling everything else. He moved his hand slowly to the table, right in front of his gift.

“Can’t really see if you keep your eyes closed like that.” Vincent started to worry he’d gone too far last time. He wouldn’t actually eat someone this small. It wasn’t worth it for him and he wasn’t actually cruel. 

Rhys opened his eyes slowly. The way he jumped up once he saw where he was made Vincent smile. The small man took the chance to hop off of Vincent’s finger. Rhys stared up at him like he was waiting. Vincent felt a bit bad, his ears would droop if they were out. He pointed behind Rhys with the hand not on the table. Rhys started shaking before turning around.

“It’s… a doll house?” he asked. Vincent smiled before crouching down. He narrowed his eyes, opting to sit on the ground instead. The table was just a bit too low for him to crouch at it.

“Yeah, figured it would be easier to stay in,” Vincent explained. “I added some clothes for you too.”

“You got a doll house… for me?”

“It’s about the right size. Although it was a bit hard to tell with how small you are. I can always get another one if you need it a different size.” 

Vincent smirked, he expected some reaction about calling him small. Rhys just stood there staring at the house. He could be overwhelmed, the vampire probably didn’t do anything like this. He leaned forward holding back a laugh as his breath made Rhys step forward. They could have a lot of fun with how small he is. If he grew his claws out more Rhys could probably sit on them.

“I know, it’s probably better than anything that vamp got you straw-”

“I told you it’s Rhys!” He shouted. He turned and Vincent felt his heart skip. Rhys, his strawberry, was crying. He shouldn’t be crying. It didn’t look like happy tears, but maybe it was.

“I didn’t know a doll house would make you so happy, guess I should take a look at what else I can get you. I saw some things I’d thought looked about your size.”

“I’m not a doll,” the small man whispered. Vincent barely heard it and he didn’t want to hear it. He knew Rhys wasn’t a doll. Rhys was a human, his strawberry, and someone he couldn’t live without. They’d told him he’d know and he did. Rhys was everything to him.

“What?” Vincent needed Rhys to not say it again. 

“I’m not a doll, you know!” He was shouting again. “Stop treating me like one!”

Vincent sat back. He didn’t mind looming for this moment. He stared down at the little man. His body was basically the tip of his finger. He thought Vincent was treating him like a doll. He watched the little man take careful steps back. Even now he was terrified. Vincent growled. Of course he’d messed up like this. It didn’t matter though, if he kept Rhys alive it was enough.

“Complain all you want. I’m not taking you back.” Vincent snarled. He would keep Rhys alive.

“What the hell do you want from me?” Vincent didn’t like this. “You threatened to eat me, say you’re going to kill someone I consider family, then kidnap me from my family and act like I should thank you for a doll house?!”

Vincent slammed a hand on the table. Rhys was knocked down and stared up in fear. Vincent should be getting thanked. He saved Rhys from a vampire. Those people probably weren’t even his family anymore. He growled again. He started to dig his claws into the table.

“I’m trying to fucking save you. You wound up with me after getting away from the vampire and went back so easily. I’m not letting you die because you decide to look at me like a monster.” Vincent glared down at the man. If he were human he’d miss the tears and shaking of the small form. Rhys climbed to his feet and stepped forward though.

“You didn’t save me, I wasn't running! I went exploring and a bird caught me. All my family saw was a bird take me away. They woke Delphia who fucking went out in the sun for me… who can’t even get out of bed because of me…”

“So what, do you want to go back to her? She’s just going to eat you and your family. At least here you’ll be safe.” Vincent dug his claws deeper in the table. How insane was Rhys to think she actually cared.

“Yes I do. I’d rather die because of her than you deciding I wasn’t a good doll!”

“I never said you were a fucking doll.” 

Vincent growled again. His claws digging into the table even more. That was too much, the spot he leaned on broke under his weight. The table shook and Rhys stumbled. He was too close to the edge. He was going to fall. Vincent had to do something. He did the first thing he could think of and used the table to control where Rhys fell. Rhys’s feet left the surface and he just barely caught him. He curled his fingers over Rhys and pulled his hand close. The whole table smashed into him, the house went flying and slammed into the ground. 

He was panting once he hit the ground himself. He felt like his world was about to shatter at that moment. He was terrified to make sure he hadn’t done too much. Rhys had to be safe, he couldn’t lose him. He lifted the arm that still had the table around it. He slammed it hard to the side of himself, shattering the wood. He closed his eyes as the splinters flew around him. After a few minutes of just laying there he sat up and flipped his closed fist palm up. 

“Are you ok, Rhys?” he whispered. He uncurled his fingers waiting for a scent of death to hit him. The pink eyes brimming with tears looking at him were more of a relief than he’d ever admit. At least to anyone other than the small man in his hand. “I thought I fucked up… Did you get hurt?”

“I’m ok…” his voice was quiet. All the things Vincent had in his head were gone, he just didn’t want Rhys to get killed.

“I’ll kill her if she kills you. I’ll give her a chance though. I’ll even help you with the flowers or whatever you were doing when I came to get you…”

“She said if you came you could stay in the house for a while. Might be better than this place. It won’t creak under your weight.”

“Do you know the flowers you need for her?”

“Yeah, I could probably point them out. I don’t know the name.”

“All right, let’s go.”

[awkwardgtace]

How are Rhys and Vincent as friends and eventually a couple? They both seem to have a mutual understanding of the weight their powers have and being treated as different (Rhys with his mood eyes and Vincent as a person with powers). So would they be the couple that seems to be able to understand each other easier, PDA freaks, quietly basking in each other's presence, etc?

Ok so this got long and we're gonna readmore. I have no control of myself soooo I also worked on this for a while. We won't discuss that I ran hard ff14 content while writing a chunk of this

So first I'll use your ask to say Rhys's bond threads work differently than a mortal's. His show what fate sees the relationship ends as. It colors his perception, but he was more curious about a mortal like Delphia first than in love. His feelings changed much faster than Vincent's.

Now for how they act as friends it's kind of weird. Rhys goes from curiousity to romantic interest quickly. Vincent stays angry and distrustful for years. By the time Vincent has seen them as friends Rhys is in love. He tries to learn all he can about Vincent. Asking about adventures, interests, hobbies, anything he can think of. It's incredibly awkward since Rhys doesn't know exactly what most things are and Vincent spent most of his life locked away or hiding.

Vincent changes his actions towards others not Rhys once he sees the two as friends. While with the god he'll often feign anger or annoyance. He kind of trusts Rhys so he let's a lot more go as time goes on, even the massive fingers touching him now and then. Away from Rhys he's more obvious. He'll snap at others who speak badly about the gods especially the god of love. He'll offer more information when Rhys starts asking questions too. Mention things Delphia made him try, foods he likes, and even just stay outside of the house while Rhys is visiting. At this point Rhys starts being more active in approaching Vincent. When the human's alone in a field or forest Rhys will show up to check on him. He gets a bit more active in stopping anything that could hurt Vincent too, but tries to keep it subtle. A broken rope that was fine minutes before, unexplained ground shaking, a loud sound distracting others. Vincent likes this more than he wants to admit and it pushes his feelings from platonic towards romantic.

Once Vincent starts to be interested in the god more than finding him cute he starts complaining rather than snapping at Rhys. Mostly calling Rhys oblivious or a doting jerk. He also makes direct choices to kill time in areas the god can show up. He'll find reasons to camp outside rather than sleep in a town or one of the houses littered around the world. Rhys can't stop himself from smiling when it starts. He ignores their bond color and waits for Vincent to speak up. He is never far from his soon to be partner once this behavior starts. He wants to be close even if Vincent doesn't seek him out. Just making sure the person he loves is safe. His interference gets a bit more obvious too. Vincent has disappeared in a cloud of giant pink petals more than once.

Once they're actually together in a relationship they have startlingly different attitudes towards actual actions and displays of affections.

Rhys is big on PDA. He wants Vincent close and for the world to know he loves him. He almost always has his fingers touching Vincent if he can't hold him. Most of the time the mortal will be found in Rhys's hand, a pocket, or on his shoulders. It's most common to be the shoulder and hidden under Rhys's hair so the other gods don't see him. It's not uncommon to find Vincent jumping or glaring at the sky when he's out in the mortal realm because Rhys decided to sneak a kiss or something. When Vincent is in the god realm he'll be scooped up for a kiss or just a hug often.

Vincent prefers to just be close to Rhys. He doesn't love the idea of the attention Rhys's affection can cause. Although he doesn't exactly hate it. When the other gods are around to see it he complains, but if he actually wanted it to stop it would. He likes the times he and Rhys are together without other people. He just doesn't like to be around a lot of people after the way his life was.

Rhys is also guilty of large displays of affection which Vincent doesn't love. It took only communicating to the god of love through Delphia to keep some weird godly display from being shown all over. Rhys wants the world to know the mortal who captured the god of love's heart. He also hopes it would make things easier when he can't be there as Vincent travels. Vincent gets a lot of giant flowers, new clothes (his size), fancy foods, and tech that may not always exist among mortals brought to where he's staying. If Rhys hasn't chosen to sleep Vincent wakes up to a mountain of things that he could possibly need that day.

Vincent does try to reciprocate the best he can with gifts. He knows Rhys doesn't need things, so he answers in his own actions. Making sure to use something he was left, making up a reason to stay with Rhys for the day, sometimes just saying thank you, telling Rhys he loves him. That last one usually leads to him and Rhys locked in Rhys's room for the day 😏.

They are a kind of silent understanding couple though. Rhys knows when Vincent isn't able to handle his actions. He'll be subdued and give up on the PDA entirely. Vincent on the other hand can just tell when Rhys needs someone to hear him. Vincent has made a point to ignore the eye color changes, there are a few he acknowledges and sometimes for some specific reasons 😏. They also have a habit of sharing a look before revealing their shared opinion on something.

I think I answered this in a bit of a rambly way lol. Hope it actually answers your ask :D

[awkwardgtace]

24, maybe w the vamp au?

I did something I consider a bit weird here. I had a few ideas, but settled on one that was sort of bittersweet.

Prompt List

Ghosts of the Past

Vitus wandered the house as the moon reached a high point. It felt weird to have the freedom to move about even now. Although Delphia and Vincent were both gone for a while. Delphia wanted to get something far away and asked the wolf for his help. The others were using the time to get more sun, but he couldn’t change his habits. He smiled as his thoughts drifted to his family asleep in a nice human bed.

Laughter rang in the hall around him. He dove under a table and looked for a human he missed. There was no one around, but footsteps ran past him. A part of him thought he should leave, go back to his family. A stronger part urged him to follow the steps and laughter. The laugh sounded somehow familiar.

The footsteps seemed to move just slow enough for him to follow. Every time he stopped the laughter stayed close to him. The trail of footsteps and laughter brought him to the study. He jumped as the image of a young human girl appeared. She ran through the door, the laughter echoing from the image. He didn’t get a good look at her. He slipped through the walls to follow the phantom image.

“Father! Father!” the girl called as soon as he’d entered the room. He watched her run up to a human standing by the bookshelves. Their image slowly seemed to grow solid, making Vitus gasp. It looked like him, but human. The human phantom of himself was dressed differently, more like in that painting Delphia had. “Did you mean it!?”

“My light,” his phantom smiled. The little human girl seemed to shine as he spoke. He watched the phantom grab something from the shelf. He couldn’t tell what was grabbed until the phantom of himself kneeled to meet the girl. “This is an important book so make sure to treat it well.”

“Can I read it outside father? Please? I’ll be careful, but I’m feeling better today!” Vitus climbed on a shelf and made his way closer to the two phantoms. His nerves died as he saw a young face of Delphia. She had a bright smile, she looked more alive than he’d seen her. His phantom started to laugh.

“Of course my light, go ahead. I’ll come read with you once I’m done here.” 

The phantom Vitus smiled and laughed as Delphia ran out. His phantom faded away, but the little girl just made it out the door. Vitus moved to follow, but the footsteps froze and sobbing took over. He ran as fast as he could to find the child image of Delphia on her knees. He could see scrapes all over her arms and the start of bruises on her face. A torn page of paper sat on the ground in front of her.

“I’m so sorry. I was just reading. Father, I'm sorry they took the book. I told them I’d never read it again, but they didn’t listen. I’m so sorry…” 

The image of a young Delphia faded away as her eyes locked on him. He made his way home, soft apologies and followed him through the hall. Once he reached his family the voice had finally faded. He had no idea how something like that could happen, but somehow he knew it was a real memory. It was something she had experienced. He took his place with Dabria on the human bed and tried to sleep. This was a bit of Delphia’s past that only he’d see.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Thanks for helping with this Vincent,” Delphia sighed. She would never make a trip like this without someone to help her hide during the day. The wolf huffed next to her as he started to settle into place for the day.

“It’s better than dealing with my strawberry panicking the whole time you’re gone,” he said. Delphia smiled, she was glad he’d shown up. Having all of these people around her, it was an amazing feeling after so long. 

“I just hope it’s still there.” Vincent let out a low growl, he hadn’t liked her request in the first place. She just wanted to get something special for the family that found her.

“I could have just gone without you. I would move faster than this.”

“It’s better I’m not there right now. It’s around when I lost everything… I always felt like I was reliving my memories, this keeps me distracted.” She jumped when his huge hand settled on her head. She looked up, the eyes staring down at her didn’t seem angry. She could swear he almost seemed sad.

“Just turn into a bat already. The sun is rising. No reason to get burned.” She nodded, his hand left her. It almost reminded her of times with her original family. She closed her eyes and turned like he asked. He let out a bit of a growl before holding open his pocket. She slipped in, the warmth he gave off was a nice change. She didn’t worry about pulling it all away. It wasn’t long before she felt the pull of the rising sun and she gave in to her death like sleep.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhys was enjoying taking apart the new thing Vincent brought him. He said it was a game console, it had more parts than any human thing he’d seen before. The werewolf promised to bring him back something again… Although he said it would be strawberries. Rhys made a face, the day he finally tried one he hated the nickname even more. The taste of the fruit was awful.

The place was quiet, he couldn’t sleep in the silence. Something just felt off. He continued pulling wires free as the night wore on. Suddenly a crash from outside pulled him from his tinkering. He climbed out, worried that someone might be breaking in. He could hear footsteps in the hall outside the room he was in. It was the room Del had set up for Vincent to use. He climbed down from the table and slipped out from under the door.

He heard footsteps further down the hall. Rhys kept close to the wall and made his way towards the noise. He heard a bit of laughter that he’d never heard before. He shivered, humans here would be hard to deal with until Delphia and Vincent got back. He heard footsteps at the end of the hallway. He ran as fast as he could to the noise.

“I’ll get you little sister,” a man called. He jumped as footsteps ran past him, but he didn’t see anyone. He heard laughter following, he went after the noise. A translucent human seemed to appear out of nowhere. Another one ran past the first, the first grabbed them and spun around. Laughter rang out.

“No, no put me down!” the girl shouted. He recognized the voice.. Del. It couldn’t be her, she wasn’t here. This human was too small too, her face looked more alive than usual. “Rhys! You’re not winning this time.”

“....Rhys?” he whispered. The taller human laughed as she squirmed, but he just sat down in the air with her. A bed appeared beneath him.

“You need to sleep, stop running around. You had a fever this morning,” the phantom of himself said. He could recognize features he had now. The same hair and eye color, the same facial structure. It was him, but a human. He froze when the pink eyes seemed to lock on him for a moment.

The Delphia held in the phantom’s arms pouted. He watched as his phantom self stood and set her on the bed. She was carefully tucked in, but an arm shot out to grab his phantom. Rhys couldn’t control his curiosity, sneaking closer to the phantom scene. The human version of himself sat down on the translucent bed and smiled.

“Why do you all use a nickname for me?” Delphia’s phantom whispered. “The others said it was weird that it’s not even the same one.”

“We have separate nicknames because you're special. You’re my only little sister after all,” his phantom said. The scene shimmered before it was Delphia alone in bed. She was older now, alone and staring at the wall. It hurt to see the tears streaming down her face.

“I’m not just your little sister Rhys…” The murmuring sounded painful. He went closer, her eyes locked on him. “I’m going to save us, I won’t let us suffer anymore. It doesn’t matter what I want if I can save all of you.”

The scene faded away. Rhys stared at the empty air for a while. He knew she gave up things to try and help her family, but this seemed worse. He slowly made his trip back, faint echoes in the hall of words between his phantom and Delphia’s. He couldn’t make out the words anymore, but the voices were clear. He just climbed up to a windowsill and stared out at the sky. He had some thinking to do.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I was thinking, Rhys might like strawberry candy,” she laughed. Vincent had gone full wolf and was running on the ground while she made her way through the trees. She heard a whine, he didn’t understand. “He likes sweets, but he doesn’t like fruits much. Let’s get some when we head back.”

All she got back was a growl, but it was enough. She hissed when a ray of sunlight hit her arm. She lost balance falling short of the tree she was jumping to. Vincent caught her quickly, his form shifted as his huge hands were holding her. The man’s eyes were still wolf-like, but she didn’t hesitate. It had gotten too close. She switched to a bat so he could put her in his pocket and keep moving.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Felix had gathered up all the clothes they had for the winter. It would be cold soon and they needed to be fixed. He set up in the study, preferring to have more open space to work. Delphia left something he could use for music out, but he didn’t want to break the silence. It was weirdly calming to sit out in the open in silence. An easy way to know who approached.

“This one’s no good,” someone whispered. He snapped his head to the door, he knew it came from the hallway. He abandoned his work and laid down near the door. He could see the empty hall and nothing else. Felix heard footsteps,but didn’t see anyone. “Maybe this one…”

He jumped, the voice sounded behind him. He climbed to his feet and spun around, staring at a human that looked a lot like him. They had black hair a bit longer than he preferred. There were translucent cloths draped around the phantom of himself. He watched as one was held up, a full dress not just bits of cloth.

“This is perfect,” his phantom smiled. The dress looked like the one Delphia had found. He watched his phantom set on some mannequin type thing. It didn’t look like the ones he’d seen on the television. His phantom’s eyes looked sharp as he worked on the dress putting in finishing touches.

“Felix, mother says dinner is almost ready,” Delphia said. Felix spun around, watching a phantom of her walk in through the door. She seemed young, but somehow close to her age now. His phantom hid the gown just a bit too late. “Didn’t you send that one out the other day?”

“No, I just sent some similar fabric. This is for you, gem,” his phantom smiled. Felix watched his human sized features change the same smile he wore when the others liked something he made now. 

“But… we can’t afford-” his phantom pulled the dress off the strange model and held it in front of Delphia.

“If you are going to be meeting nobles then you need to look the part. One dress won’t ruin me.” The phantom Delphia hugged his phantom. Sharp golden eyes looked his way for just a second. The scene shifted, like the strange videos he watched at times. 

Delphia was on the ground, his phantom was there, but looking past her. He watched her tears falling to the empty ground. The phantom of himself stepped forward and set a hand on her shoulder. His phantom’s hand went through her. Delphia’s phantom stared at him, the real him not the phantom. His phantom stared his way too. It felt like this ghost was seeing him.

“I won’t let you die for nothing. I never should have done this, I should have made you keep the dress. I’ll save us, I promise.”

Felix shivered as wind blew through the room. The scene he watched seemed to blow away in the breeze. He frowned, the pain sounded too real. She had mentioned a night things went bad, where his past self was lost. All he could think was it was that night. The night he was hurt and she lost him. Felix returned to his work, but used the music player Delphia bought. Silence seemed cruel now.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vincent huffed as the sun finished rising. Delphia felt like dead weight in his pocket. He didn’t get why she wanted to do this. Some old tradition that fell out of popularity was what she said. He hasn’t even convinced her to tell him what they were going to get. He let out a satisfied growl once a cave his wolf form could fit in came into sight.

 “Just what are we getting…” he sighed as he turned human to make his way inside. He couldn’t forget that night, where she looked like a child in front of him. It made it hard to hate the vampire in his pocket. “You trust too much… I could just leave you here.”

He shook his head before crouching down in the back of the cave. Anything in here was hiding well enough he didn’t care. He shifted to his wolf form, filling the cave until his body blocked the entrance. He curled up using his snout to block Delphia in case something got curious. She did smell of death, it could attract others. When he was half asleep he thought he heard footsteps, but there wasn’t a scent attached to it. He let himself drift off without a reason to investigate.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ash jumped as they woke up. Alessia was lying on their shoulder. They smiled, it had been a nice day. The two decided to rest in the garden after tending to the plants. They gently shook her awake, smiling more as she groaned. She stretched and wrapped an arm around them. The calm moment fell away as they heard footsteps from the nearby open door.

“Alessia, wake up,” they whispered. She tightened her hold. “I heard footsteps.”

She sat up immediately. The sleep was gone from her and they started to stand. They inched closer to the door, looking for the human. Alessia slipped in front of them, inching into the hallway. They followed her, freezing as steps passed by them. They couldn’t tell how many, but definitely more than one.

“The garden is right out here,” Delphia’s voice sounded nervous. “Thank you again for your understanding. This will help us a lot.”

“Of course, I think I can do anything for the seer who saved my life,” Alessia’s voice echoed above them. Ash stared in awe as a human who looked almost exactly like their lover appeared in the hall.

“This is a better price than the inn here too,” Ash’s voice said. They watched as someone who looked like them seemed to materialize next to the phantom Alessia. Ahead of their two human phantoms a phantom Delphia appeared. She was blushing.

The Alessia and Ash above them kept glancing between each other and the phantom Delphia. Ash walked forward until they stood at the feet of their double. For a moment they felt like the double could see them. They flinched as the double stepped forward, placing a hand on the phantom Delphia.

“Are you alright?” they asked. Alessia ran forward, past their doubles and straight to Delphia. They watched her stare up at the face they both loved.

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” Delphia’s phantom let out an awkward laugh. Alessia’s phantom started to move, Ash almost swore she looked at the real Alessia.

“You seem nervous… should we leave? I know our question wasn’t normal…” They couldn’t bring themself to move as Alessia’s double tilted her head up to Delphia. They smiled, even at a human size she was shorter than Delphia.

“No, no… I just didn’t expect it… You even said you’d help us…” The smile on Delphia’s phantom was blinding. “We only recently met too…”

“There’s no rush. We’ll be leaving in a few days, you can answer when we return from the city.” Their double tilted Delphia’s head, it was something they wanted to do themself. “Don’t be scared, beautiful flower.”

The phantom Alessia pulled Delphia into a hug. Ash saw her mouth move, but couldn’t hear the words. The phantoms of themself and Alessia faded away, Delphia was left alone. They walked up closer, standing next to Alessia at Delphia’s feet. The phantom had tears in her eyes before she fell to her knees before them. They both set a hand on the phantom, they went unnoticed.

“You said you’d take us all from this place… you promised months ago. That it would only be a week… I believed you…” Delphia’s phantom cried. “You’re gone… You’ll never come back and I have to know I’ve lost you. Please, don’t let the news be true. Please don’t be dead.”

The phantom’s tears continued to fall. Ash desperately wanted to climb up and wipe them away. Slowly the phantom faded, Alessia fell to her knees. Ash kneeled next to her pulling her into a hug. They stared at the faint remnants of the phantom Delphia’s tears.

“Ash… was that real?” Alessia whispered. They wiped away the tears she started to shed.

“I think it was. It seemed like Delphia’s past with us, when she,” they paused, it wasn’t just her. “When we were all human.”

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delphia laughed as they entered the field. Vincent tried to hide a smile as she ran through the flowers. He’d never seen them before, they had a smell he couldn’t quite explain. The two walked through the field, the sun would be up soon. He stayed close to the small woman, trying his best to keep her in his own shadow. She didn’t even mind that he was looming over her.

“I’m glad they’re still here, I wasn’t sure they would be,” she sighed. He just narrowed his eyes and watched as she fell to her knees. She was looking at each flower near her.

“These are weird flowers,” he said. Vincent reached down to pick one, jumping when the petals seemed to change at his touch.

“They are… It was something special, we would get them every year. The petals were special.” He nodded, waiting for her to continue. The silence seemed to drag on as she ran her hands over the flowers. They didn’t respond to her touch like they did his own. She laughed almost bitterly.

“So we came all this way to get these? Are you going to bite them like those other ones?” He felt nervous when she smiled up at him. That look from the night she was collecting flowers alone came back. It seemed like she could disappear in an instant.

“No, we need to hurry. I think if you run back at full speed we should be back in time.” He sighed a bit, full speed was much faster. It also meant his pockets weren’t an option. “We just need a way for you to carry me back… There was a town nearby, maybe I can check there tomorrow night.”

He nodded and she just continued to run her hands over the flowers. His eyes widened when a tear fell from her face. Slowly he pulled her close, hugging her. He didn’t know what the memories were she was seeing, but they obviously hurt. At some point he hated this vampire a lot less, she felt like a sister more often now. He didn’t know how to feel about the fact she’d be left alone in the future.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna was having trouble sleeping. He missed having Delphia around, he liked knowing she was there. Sola didn’t have trouble like him. He jumped, there was noise nearby. He couldn’t be sure, but it sort of sounded like Delphia’s footsteps when she was being fake human. He climbed over to Sola and started shaking her.

“Mmm, not yet,” she moaned. He shook her harder until her eyes finally opened. “Luna…”

“I heard something,” he whispered. Most of his family was asleep and he didn’t want to worry them. Sola always came with him when he heard something. She sat up rubbing her eyes and he climbed to his feet. This time when he heard it he knew it was footsteps.

“Steps?” 

He nodded and Sola was on her feet in no time. The two of them ran over to the edge of the bed and climbed down. Sola was on the floor and running a bit before him. He jumped from a bit above the floor to try and catch up. The steps picked up, it sounded like a bunch of humans. Sola was fidgeting near the door as he caught up. The footsteps started to decrease.

“Should we go under the door?” she whispered.

“I think so,” he said.

The two laid flat on their stomachs. Together they slipped under the door, Delphia had helped make it easier to go between all the rooms. She had them help, trying to slip under each one and then she fixed it to be easier. Once in the hallway Luna froze. In front of him was Sola, but the size of a human. He stumbled back as she seemed to lock her eyes on him.

“Luna?” the Sola next to him asked. He turned to look at her, finding his own double staring at her. There wasn’t time for either to act as their doubles were pulled away by another human.

“Delphia?” he asked. It looked like her and not her all at once. Sola grabbed his arm, he wouldn’t let a human get them. Even one that looked like Delphia.

“I told you two it’s time for bed,” the fake Delphia laughed. Their doubles smiled as she pulled them away.

“Will we get to go to parties like you someday?” human Sola asked. The Delphia smiled at her, her arm left Luna and hugged just the human Sola. 

“Only if you want to. I’ll make sure it’s just for fun too.”

“Can we dress like you do too? I want to be pretty like the stars,” human Luna said. The hug switched to him.

“If you want to dress like me, I’ll make sure you can. A dress, a suit, whatever you two want. I’ll make it happen.”

The Delphia, Sola, and Luna kept talking but the words were getting lost. He felt his Sola pulling on his arm. When he looked at her she was pointing down the hall. He followed her, there was another Delphia. She looked more like the one they knew. She seemed sad though.

“I’m sorry it didn’t happen. I’ll make sure no one suffers again, next time you’ll get to go to all the parties you want to. I’ll make sure it happens, even if we’ll never meet face to face.”

He started walking towards the Delphia that looked the same as the one they knew. Sola followed behind him, the doubles of themselves as humans faded away. As they got closer the one they knew started to fade too. Sola let go and ran forward, he followed behind her. They weren’t fast enough, the one they knew faded away too. He didn’t know what to do, how to feel about the human doubles they saw. 

“Luna… do you think Delphia would wear that dress if we asked?” Sola whispered. 

“We should ask,” he said.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vincent grimaced as the sun shone on his face. He couldn’t find a cave to sleep in that was close enough. His only choice was in the trees and the sun kept him up. He growled as he tried to use a paw to hide his face.

“Vincent, wait for me!” he heard Delphia call. He froze, the scent of death and a dead weight was still against his chest. Slowly he lifted his paw away to look around them. He saw a young looking Delphia running through the field of flowers. She laughed, but faded away before he could even try to understand what was happening.

He nudged his pocket, the vampire didn’t react. He knew that she was out which made this all the weirder. Vampires and werewolves were one thing, living memories seemed like something else entirely. He didn’t think magic was real, but he couldn’t deny it as easily as he wanted to. He just placed his snout over his pocket again, careful to keep her covered as much as he could.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryder stared at the small screen Delphia set up for him. He’d started to enjoy all these strategy things she found for him. The wolf man had helped pick them out too. He still didn’t trust him with how he acted with Rhys, but the shorter man was enjoying the time with the massive wolf. His game started to flicker as some footsteps came from the hallway near the door.

He hit the power button and hid behind something as more footsteps came from the hall. He didn’t have time to get in the walls based on how close the steps were. He held his breath as the steps paused. Nothing happened for a long time. He started to feel foolish, until someone who looked like him walked in the room. His double walked through the closed doors without opening them. A version of Delphia followed.

Ryder stopped hiding, stepping out in the open while his double led the younger looking Delphia to the middle of the room. They both sat on air before a table with a chess set appeared. He watched as the phantoms just played chess together. His phantom kept tricking Delphia so she’d look away. Then he’d move the pieces to help her win. It made him think of how she’d helped when he first tried it out.

“I won!” Delphia’s phantom shouted. Ryder smiled with his phantom as she cheered. His phantom set a hand on her head, she looked like a young human. His phantom ruffled her hair earning a pout from the much more alive face.

“You did, I admit defeat, little warrior,” his phantom said. 

The two kept talking about chess and other games that his phantom apparently taught her. There was a loud crash and his phantom was suddenly lying in bed, his arm in a sling. The Delphia phantom was older now, looking at him with pain.

“I’m so sorry. If only I was better. I never should have asked you to teach me those games, we’d already be safe if I was better,” her phantom cried. Ryder moved closer as a feeling he couldn’t quite explain overcame him. “I’m so sorry Ryder…”

The phantom Delphia disappeared leaving him with his human double. He expected it to fade, but the silver eyes locked on him. He tried moving, but the eyes followed. He didn’t know what this meant, but it had to mean something. The phantom of himself looked like it tried to speak, but faded before it could. He sat on the table and considered his next move.

“...I should ask her to teach me more games,” he whispered.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delphia stood next to the giant wolf, a bit nervous. She’d never actually seen a werewolf completely transformed, apparently Vincent hadn’t been all the times she thought he was. He still towered over her, the silver fur was soft to the touch. As she reached around his neck she felt herself growing nervous. They didn’t have to be enemies, but he had no reason to trust her. In some ways his hatred felt deserved.

“Ok, this should be good. I can hide in there while you run,” she said. Vincent just growled, he always growled. The huge head over her still nodded, the snout touching her shoulder. “I’m just collecting them now, ok?”

Vincent’s huge form moved so he was glaring down at her. It took a while to find something large enough he could wear around his neck. It was especially hard since she had to go back and forth to test things. She knew the sun would be up soon, but she wanted to be back before the month ended. His glare didn’t change.

After a few moments of silence he lifted his front paw up and pushed against her. His strength was more than she expected, knocking her off her feet. She felt her eyes go wide as his strength continued to press down on her. For a moment she wondered if this was where she’d lose, but he just kept narrowed eyes on her. He shook his head. 

“I… I can’t collect the flowers?” she whispered. The wolf’s eyes stayed sharp and nodded. She squirmed, but he didn’t lift his leg. She knew she’d have a racing heart if she could. He looked up at the sky before looking back at her. It seemed to click then what he might want. “I… I should go to sleep?”

He let out a bit of a whine while he nodded. She closed her eyes, a bit terrified of what he would do like this. She made herself change, the paw over her felt heavier and heavier. Finally she was done and opened her eyes staring up at nothing but paw. She wanted to squirm, but she got herself into this. Once he moved she kept an eye on his face. He kept a glare on her, locking her in place. 

It was intimidating as he moved. She didn’t spend time like this actually looking up at anyone. A glimpse into what her family sees. He slowly lowered to the ground and folded his legs so he was surrounding her. Then he rested his head on top. It was complete darkness, as safe as usual. He did say it wasn’t easy to go back to a semi human form with how rarely he does this. It started to make sense.

“Thank you Vincent,” she murmured. All the wolf did was huff, but she was starting to feel safer and safer around him.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dabria smiled to herself as she finished her painting. It was fun to try out all of the things Delphia would bring her. She wanted to make a version of that painting of when they were all human, but with them now. Another they could hide so she could make sure they were remembered. She struggled to make everyone look right.

“Are you almost done?” Vitus asked. She turned around, shocked he was nowhere near. His voice sounded so loud.

“Just about, we’re lucky anyone still hires me in this town,” Dabria heard her own voice answer. She heard footsteps nearby, a painting on the wall seemed to shimmer. She’d never noticed it before.

“My light, don’t run in there!” She stared with wide eyes as a young phantom of Delphia ran into the room.The girl ran up towards the painting and a human size phantom of herself appeared. The Dabria she saw bent down and picked the Delphia phantom up in a hug.

“Mother, mother can I stay with you while you paint?” she asked. The smile on the young face made the real Dabria’s heart melt. She didn’t see bright smiles like that on the real Delphia often. “I promise to be quiet and just read while you work! Please?”

“Oh my raven, of course you can. Did you bring a book?”

A phantom Vitus walked in holding a book in his hand. He handed it to the smiling young girl who hugged it tightly. The phantom of herself cast a warm look at the two before turning to her. Dabria froze as eyes like her own stared at her. This wasn’t a normal phantom, something more was going on. The woman across from her walked forward, the phantom Delphia still held in her arms. The real Dabria stumbled back as the phantom kneeled before the table.

“Be careful, the paints are messy. Don’t let them ruin your book. You can use the ones here to paint on your own if you want, little raven,” her phantom said. The human face stayed focused on her. “Just remember to capture the feeling, not the person as you paint, it always looks better.”

The phantoms seemed to sparkle as they faded. An older Delphia standing alone and staring at that shimmering painting across the room. The face above her looked younger than the woman she’d known, but it felt like the right one. Tears started to stream down Delphia’s face as Dabria watched. The phantom set a hand down on the table, paint brushes appearing beneath the hand. Dabria ran forward, setting her own on one of the fingers. The phantom didn’t react.

“I’m sorry mother. If I’d only been stronger… You made such beautiful paintings, I won’t let them be forgotten,” Delphia’s phantom whispered. “I’ll save all of them, I’ll make sure Sola and Luna know just how amazing you were, just like I do…”

Dabria gasped as Delphia faded away. She stared at the painting that had been shimmering, it was still there. She took the time to climb off the table and approach it from the floor. With a nod to herself she started to plan out paths to reach it, there was something important about it and she needed a closer look. She decided that could wait, she wouldn’t risk hurting it. Delphia could help her when she returned.

“Paint the feelings…” she mumbled.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vincent sat fidgeting with the little bag Delphia had bought. It was more than big enough for her as a bat, it could probably fit all of the others with her too. The vampire was preoccupied with picking out the best of the weird flowers she could. She called them ash blossoms, he’d never heard of them. He didn’t even know if they were called the same thing anymore.

The small vampire was digging in the ground looking for something alongside the blossoms she picked. He didn’t care much about what she was doing, but he was getting bored. He walked over to crouch next to her… She didn’t react, just kept digging in the ground. He sighed, making a point to lean on top of her head. She barely reacted to him.

“I thought you were just picking flowers,” he sighed. She reached out and grabbed a few long stems she’d gathered so far.

“I am, but I thought I could make sure to get some seeds and soil to grow them at home. That way we won’t need to travel like this again,” she smiled. He couldn’t understand why these flowers were so important, but he just nodded along. He reached forward and dug his hand into the hole she’d started digging. A nice amount of the soil was left in his palm.

Delphia pulled a small bag she had from her side and held it below his hand. He dumped all the dirt inside. She held it up as he dug his hand into the soil again. A few more handfuls and the bag was filled. He stood up and stretched while Delphia carefully closed the bag. This whole thing just seemed weird, but she looked like a young girl again. He didn’t mind letting her act young once in a while.

“Do you think they’ll grow in time for next year?” he heard her ask. He made a face, how would he know.

“What?” he asked. She looked up at him and tilted her head to the side.

“What’s wrong?” The face she made had hints of fear. 

“Didn’t you ask me something?” She just shook her head. He let out a huff again. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. What are these for anyway?”

“They have a special use on all hallows’ eve, it’s why I want to be back by then.”

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vitus was sitting alone reading. Everyone had seemed pensive lately, even Sola and Luna. He hoped that once Delphia and Vincent returned things would be normal again. The room felt strange as he looked through the book in front of him. It was tiring to turn the pages, but he wanted to search for information on what he’d seen.

He heard footsteps from the hall again. He opted to ignore it, his curiosity didn’t mean it was right to see memories Delphia didn’t knowingly share. He heard more of the steps, but they passed by the room he was in. He sat in the silence until the footsteps returned. They paused just outside the door. Vitus stared at the things he could never move, shivering as his own phantom walked in again.

He knew his eyes were often called piercing, but the gaze that seemed to lock on him made him shiver. If he were human he didn’t think a single borrower would risk trusting him. The gaze of his phantom didn’t deviate for even a moment. The footsteps started again as the human double approached. It was strange, to hear and see a human moving, but not feel it.

“Do you see me?” he whispered. The phantom nodded. The real Vitus narrowed his eyes. He didn’t have an explanation for that being possible. “...are you me?”

The phantom didn’t nod, but didn’t shake his head. One of the huge hands moved and settled on the book Vitus was currently looking through. It started to try and flip the pages although they wouldn’t move. Vitus started to flip the pages how the phantom wanted. It took a lot longer than if he were human, but finally the hand stopped trying to turn them.

The real Vitus settled to read the page. It talked about some time of year where souls were stronger. Memories of the past become visible when the will is strong enough. He nodded, that tracked with what he’d witnessed, but not why the phantom was actually able to see him. He looked up at the human mirror of himself.

“Are you my memories?” he asked. The phantom nodded and then shook his head. Vitus sat back taking the time to consider what that could mean. He stared up with wide eyes as an idea formed. “Are you my soul’s and Delphia’s memories?”

The phantom nodded, a smile he’d worn himself appeared on the face above him. The human hand moved and pointed at something on the page. The writing was mostly faded, he couldn’t quite read it. There was an image of flowers, some he’d never seen even while he lived in a florist’s shop. The phantom’s fingers hovered over the petals and then they started to fade. Vitus sat back as the human version of himself disappeared, he wanted to know more about these flowers.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vincent hadn’t stopped running once Delphia climbed in the bag around his neck. He was starting to miss his strawberry, she’d even bought the candy she thought Rhys would like. It was easier to focus on that than the voice he’d been hearing as he ran. It sounded like Delphia, but if she was awake she denied it. When she was out it couldn’t possibly be her.

 “I have to go, Rhys,” he heard his own voice say. He slowed down once he heard that. He looked around, no one. “It’s better this way.”

“Why? None of us care. You should stay,” he heard his strawberry, but the voice sounded hurt. He padded forward looking for who was speaking. It had to be something mimicking them.

“I’m not human and if anyone here learns it you’ll all be in danger.” Vincent heard laughter, he ran towards it. He found a translucent version of himself with Rhys leaning against a tree. Delphia was in a field laughing as she ran her hands over nothing. “Besides, didn’t you all stop to keep her from being found?”

“Still, I don’t want you to leave. She loves you too, she asked the other night if you were technically her brother too.” The translucent Rhys laughed as he watched the Delphia in the field. His double wasn’t too much taller than Rhys, funny to see his strawberry the size of a human. The double of him stared out at Delphia before turning to face his real self.

“I’ll draw attention. I age too slowly, you know that. You can’t have that if you’re hiding from a vampire until she’s grown up. If we’re lucky I’ll be able to come back in a few years.” 

“Vincent! Rhys!” Delphia’s phantom shouted as she ran up to them. In her hands were flowers like she had just finished collecting in reality. She didn’t seem too young, but there was an innocence in her actions. “These ones should be perfect for Sola and Luna!”

“You’re right, let’s head back.” 

The phantoms of Rhys and Delphia started to walk away. His stayed back, the Rhys phantom looked back before those two faded away. His phantom flickered, then was left lying on the ground glaring up. A shadow fell over his phantom before they both flickered out and Delphia was left standing alone. She stared at a spot that slowly shifted to have just a pair of scissors.

“It’s all my fault. You and Rhys would have been happy if I didn’t exist… I’ll help you two next time. I’ll help you two to be happy together. How you deserve…” she whispered. She looked more like that teenage girl he’d seen when she stayed out until sunrise. “I’m sorry Vincent…”

He narrowed his eyes before running off again. He didn’t know what any of that meant, if it was even real. That would make him a part of that past she’s talked about. A part that met Rhys before too. He didn’t like the way his double stared at him. How seen it made him feel. He’d worry about it later once he got them back home to the others.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delphia smiled as she set the bag of soil down. It should be good enough to grow her own ash blossoms after this. She walked back to the main doors and opened them, Vincent waited just behind her. She slipped into the house as he ducked under the door frame. They made it back just in time.

Delphia moved through the house following the sound of heartbeats. She half expected them to be gone by the time she returned. It was hard to believe small humans wanted to be around her, even after knowing her past… their past. She smiled as she found them all sleeping together, she had no idea how long they’d been using her bed. 

Carefully, Delphia walked up and set her hands next to them. At first she thought it might be a mistake, but Alessia moved first. She rolled over and grabbed one of her fingers, opening her eyes just a bit. She couldn’t hold back her smile.

“You’re real this time,” Alessia whispered. Delphia tilted her head, but the way her little partner squeezed her finger won over her curiosity. Ash sat up right after, looking up at her with half awake eyes. They rubbed their eyes a bit before climbing to their feet and leaning against her palm. 

“I’m back,” she whispered. They nodded as they pressed against her more. It was strange to feel their small warmth after so long. The others started to stir after she spoke. Vincent’s heavy steps seemed to snap them out of sleep. He reached over her, pinching Rhys between two claws and lifting him from the pile of the others.

“You could just offer your hand like Del did,” Rhys grumbled. Vincent’s laugh felt a bit off as he took Rhys and walked off. She already made him promise to meet in her reading room. They had to do this tonight.

“Welcome back,” Dabria smiled as she sat up. Delphia couldn’t explain how much that made her feel more alive.

“Could you all come with me? There’s something I wanted to do.” 

She set her other hand down to offer help. Sola and Luna ran over and onto her hand immediately. They were so comfortable with her and it made her smile. She’d never risk letting anything hurt them. Alessia hadn’t moved, but she tilted her hand so her little partner flipped onto her palm. Ash fell down with her movement too. They just smiled up at her.

Vitus, Dabria, Ryder, and Felix all climbed onto her hands. She sometimes worried holding them all, she had to keep them close to her chest. She always worried that would be when they realized she wasn’t worth it, that she was a monster. Ash and Alessia just curled up closer to her, so did Sola and Luna. 

Delphia just took in the warm feeling as she moved. Vincent’s warmth was different, all encompassing. Holding her small family reminded her that she had people again. She wasn’t alone, a bright feeling. She was a bit thankful Vincent went ahead, the doors already open for her was a great help.

In the room Vincent had given Rhys the candy, the small man had a bright smile. She was sure he’d prefer the sweet taste of that. A strawberry flavor was better for him than a real fruit. She walked over to the two and set the others down. Alessia and Ash both seemed reluctant to leave, but Sola and Luna ran over to see the candy Rhys was given. She smiled at her family gathered together like this.

She accepted Ash and Alessia wouldn’t leave her hand yet. She walked away, grabbing the bouquet of ash blossoms she had left to the side. Bringing them over she set her hand down and tilted it to make them finally slide off. She set a flower down for each of them.

“I wanted to do something that I did when I was human,” she started. The others looked up at her, something in their faces seemed different. Even Vincent seemed different. She tried to ignore the feeling bubbling inside her. That it felt more like she was seeing the people she lost. “All hallows’ eve is special. The soul is at its strongest. We would have ash blossoms each year and gently run our hands over the petals. They lit up brightly, they were said to show the color of your soul.”

“They show your soul…,” Vitus murmured. She nodded, it hurt knowing hers wouldn’t be there, but that was the curse. Vitus stepped up to one and it started to glow a soft white mixed with green. She’d never seen one react so strongly.

“R-right.” She didn’t want to dwell on it. “When I was human, we’d have them each year. On hallows’ eve we’d hold them close until the color was strongest. Then we’d keep them until the color faded, a bouquet of our souls.”

Each member of her family approached a flower, the colors changed quickly. She’d never seen them react so quickly. Vincent carefully ran his fingers over the one she placed near him. The mixture of silver, pink, violet, and green was nearly blinding. They just had to be stronger blooms this year. She picked up her own flower, a pang in her heart. She knew it wouldn’t respond.

“Why doesn’t yours light up?” Sola asked. She reached down and rubbed a finger on the young borrower’s head.

“Vampire souls are different. They’re not… whole. I can’t make them light up anymore…,” she whispered. She set her flower down, the only one without the color of a soul. It counted for her. It was enough.

The glow of the other flowers seemed to get brighter. Bright enough she had to close her eyes. When she opened them again, her’s was a faint blue. The blue that she hadn’t seen in centuries. The other flowers were dimmer, but their colors dyed onto the petals. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she ran her fingers over the petals.

“I… don’t understand how that happened,” she whispered. The others were just looking at the flowers, seeing their colors for the first time.

“Maybe…” Vitus started, he was pacing a hand resting on his chin, “maybe it’s not that your soul isn’t complete, but it’s shared? The way it makes us all come back is there’s a part with us. So that when we come back your soul would make sure we’re the same?”

“I think I want to believe that…” She smiled as she took in each flower. Golds, reds, blues, greens, every color she could think of. She walked away to grab a vase she’d filled with water. Carefully she set each flower in the vase. The colors flashed as each met the water. “The color gets kind of locked once they’re wet. Then we’d keep them until they wilt… I brought back seeds and soil so we can raise them here. That way next year I won’t have to travel to do this.”

Her family smiled at her. For a moment, she didn’t see the borrowers and a werewolf. She saw the humans she’d known. Their smiles were kind and warm. She started shaking as she took in their forms. It had been centuries since she saw them, even Vincent who she only faintly remembered. She couldn’t believe this… She felt small hands on her own, Vitus grabbing her attention. 

She took in each member of her family their strange looks when meeting her eyes. As if they knew something she didn’t. Thoughts flashed through her mind of what could be happening. Memories she never shared, that she pushed away. The soul was strong now, it could be that her soul wants the others to remember. She closed her eyes, steadying the racing thoughts in her mind.

“Would you mind…” she started, casting a gaze at each person, “if I told you stories of my family? Of the life we had before we lost everything?”

A part of her dreaded the idea. Offering to tell them seemed cruel. Stories they didn’t know and couldn’t remember if they tried. She wondered how her heart would be beating if it could. Each of the borrowers sat down and nodded up at her. Vincent let out a huff before sitting down with his head near Rhys. She didn’t know what to tell, but she would for once. Just tonight, when souls were strongest she’d let them all know the things she kept hidden.

She started with a story begging her father for books. Next she mentioned watching her mother paint, the lessons she would teach her. She mentioned how she met Ash and Alessia, the offer they gave her immediately. Sola and Luna begging to attend parties like she did, hiding the truth of her presence at them. Felix having her model dresses for him. Ryder teaching her games that didn’t match a young woman of the time. Rhys encouraging her and helping to care for her while their parents worked. Then Vincent, how she only recently remembered the man who sometimes showed up while she and Rhys went out if she was feeling better.

As she spoke each human image faded. It almost seemed like each member of her family knew the memory she mentioned. Almost like they lived it. She had a feeling something went on while they were gone, but for once she wanted to stay ignorant. She talked until the sun started coming up, answering questions. At some point she felt the pull and knew it was too late to make it to her room. Vincent caught her as she fell, she’d be safe like this… She could even be happy for now.

[awkwardgtace]

"I'm barely getting started" with anyone you see fit?

Well I've had rhys and vincent on the brain.... so this happened and is way longer than i first planned. Fun fact prompts with being called a monster apparently give me a lot of ideas lol

I'm barely getting started

Rhys had made a lot of mistakes in his life. Going out to get batteries and Christmas lights had been at the top of the list for a while. It almost got his whole family seen by humans he’d known were cruel thanks to Felix. It had been moving down steadily once meeting Delphia, at least until he got too comfortable.

He just had to go exploring. It was safe, if he was gone at night she’d find him. He didn’t expect to get grabbed by a bird and just barely escape with his life. He didn’t expect to slip into a house and see a place devoid of life. There wasn’t even the thrum of electricity he’d grown used to over the years. It felt as strange as Delphia’s home had at first.

“Shit,” he breathed. His leg caught on a nail as he left the wall. It didn’t cause much damage, but it had been enough to cause something to change.

Rhys ducked out of sight as the air of the human home changed. It was too early for a vampire to be awake so it had to be just a normal human. They probably just kept their place empty and had been napping. That was definitely the situation he was in. A heavy thud sounded, that didn’t help his attempts to be calm at all. He tried to remember what Del had told him, something to help him hide if he was wrong about this being a human. Heavy thuds sounded and soon the world around him was shaking. Human steps weren’t like this.

“It seems I have a guest somewhere,” a deep voice purred. Rhys shivered, whoever this was sounded like a cat cornering a mouse. That may not be too far off.

Rhys took a deep breath as the world shaking steps stopped. He chanced a peek out around his shelter. He was staring into two huge eyes, bigger than any humans he’d come close to. One reminded him of the purple flowers Del grew and the other the green gems that Dabria had nearly killed him for taking. The pupils blew wide as the being seemed to register just what they were looking at.

“Well, not quite the prize I expected.” This close, the voice echoed in the small space between them. Rhys had to cover his ears to deal with how loud they sounded. Their breath seemed to smell like a dog’s. He wasn’t happy to be able to make that comparison, another adventure on his list of mistakes. “Aww, can’t handle playing with the big dogs?”

Rhys glared at the weird humanlike creature. They looked human, but those eyes told him how far from true that was. He felt his eyes go wide as a hand bigger than any he’d seen before entered his vision. It had dark claws that reminded him of the one teenager he’d actually been held by. As the hand came close Rhys found his legs and dove out of the way just in time.

“So we’re playing a game then?”

A shadow was blocking out the light almost too quickly. He had to remember something, anything, to get out of this. He barely dodged the hand again and yelped as the claws dug into the marble counter he was on. The being made a sound that he could swear was a dog’s whimper. He searched his memory for anything that he might have learned about it, staring at the mismatched eyes watching him like prey once he thought of something.

“You’re a monster!” he shouted in realization. He couldn’t remember the name, but there was one that sounded impossible. One that was bigger than humans. It caused the huge being’s eyes to sparkle and a sick grin to grow on his face.

“I’m barely getting started, little man,” the voice was louder than before now. Rhys flinched from the ringing it caused again. 

That flinch was all the monster needed to grab him. Sharp claws surrounded him. He held his breath terrified they’d dig into his skin and he wouldn’t be able to survive. He was brought up as the being stood. He wanted to scream once he realized how much higher they were just standing and holding him in their face. His vision was getting spotty. He was hopeful he’d pass out and die never knowing how. The creature dropped him into his palm and Rhys sucked in a breath.

“The fuck do you want with me?” he gasped. He just needed to keep this thing busy until night. Delphia would come find him… he hoped.

“I don’t think you get to demand answers from me. Coming in here stinking of vampires and expecting me to ignore it. Who sent you?” they growled. It was the first time Rhys got a good look at their face. They were cute. He shook his head trying to focus on the more pressing issues.

“No one sent me just let me go!”

The creature chuckled before fingers curled over Rhys. He squeaked as the warmth of the fingers started to overwhelm him. If the creep was going to kill him he’d rather it be fast. On the list of ways he would like to die, number one would be fast and painless. The very bottom was feeling like a cat caught him and he was toyed with. The thundering steps rumbling up the body of the creature made him sure a cat was a much better killer.

He didn’t like the sounds he heard as the creature moved. He could hear the creaking of the wood under their weight. He was sent up as the monster fell to a seat. The object creaking and, Rhys would swear, cracking under the weight. He slammed back into the palm with a louder grunt than he wanted. The too large hand moved him more. He wanted to go home.

“Now, we’re going to try this again,” the beast crooned. Rhys watched as their face shifted slowly. A snout that looked like some of the dogs in Delphia’s books had started to form. The hair that shadowed the creature's eyes moved and Rhys saw the scars across their eyes. Sharp teeth grew in place and he was brought closer. “Who sent you?”

“I told you! I wasn’t sent by anyone.” 

Rhys tried to climb to his feet on the huge palm. It was almost too warm, he missed Delphia’s cool hands. He glared at the eyes looking down at him, the way they studied him felt awful. Rhys was knocked off his feet as the hand was brought closer to the mouth of the being. They took in a deep breath before letting Rhys see his eyes again. The pupils were dilated and it looked like he was almost enjoying the scent he got.

“Hmm, you have a good smell under the vampire stench. Almost like strawberries.” The creature came close, seeming to be trying to take in everything about Rhys. He tried to get away, but the size of this monster kept him squarely under their nose. “I haven’t had strawberries in a while, bet you’d taste like them too.”

Rhys’s mind froze. On the list of ways to die, his absolute bottom that he’d never let happen was something eating him. If a cat, bird, dog, anything big enough caught him and he had no escape he’d kill himself first. He watched the creature lick the lips of the snout. He didn’t even understand how they kept talking. He stared at the sharp teeth picturing the way he’d be torn apart if he was lucky.

He was going to die, even if Delphia came after him. He shouldn’t have gone exploring like this. Slowly, keeping an eye on the way the beast watched him, he reached into his pocket. A small herb that wouldn’t kill most things bigger than him, but enough to end his life. No one knew he carried it, but he wanted to be prepared. He slid the bundle of crushed herb out of his pocket. He hoped it was the right dosage.

He took a few steadying breaths as the monster bared their teeth at him. He wasn’t going to die how anyone else wanted. He tensed, just hoping this would be enough. One more deep breath and he moved. He had to get this into his mouth before the beast ate him. His arm was stopped by something that felt like a wall of steel. He felt the last bit of control slip away as two impossibly huge fingers pulled the small bundle from his hand. The beast caught on and now he would die how they saw fit.

“So I didn’t imagine the smell,” the beast’s voice was a lot softer now. “You just keep nightshade with you all the time? Pretty sure this much would kill you little man.”

“That’s the point!” Rhys shouted. The last choice he could make gone he didn’t care anymore. Delphia wouldn’t show up in time and this monster would eat him. If he was lucky it would at least be quick, chewed up instead. “I’m not planning to let something eat me alive and you’re no exception!”

The hand he was on moved. He was left to barely hold his position as the large expanse of skin moved. The palm was tilted and Rhys started falling. He tried to dig his nails into the skin of the creature, but it was too tough. He fell, expecting to land in a damp cavern. He closed his eyes and held in his scream. He landed on something soft and furry. He opened his eyes, staring down the snout that formed on the creature’s face.

“Ok little man, we’ll talk a bit easier. I’m Vincent, who would you be, strawberry intruder?” 

“What happens when you know my name? You decide if you like it or you’ll change it?” Rhys asked. The snout he was on made him bounce as the monster…as Vincent laughed.

Rhys grimaced, grabbing the fur to stay where he was. As much as he wanted to get away, falling like this wouldn’t help him. He’d just get more than a light cut and be guaranteed to be stuck here. The laughter died down and two claws pinched his shirt. He was pulled from the snout and watched as it went back to normal brown skin. Just what was Vincent?

“Ok, I’ll just call you strawberry. Might as well call you what you are, a snack.” The eyes Rhys dangled in front of looked at him with some kind of hunger. He tried to hold back the shiver the gaze sent through him. “Well strawberry, if no one sent you how did you wind up here?”

“Why don’t you stop playing with your food?” Vincent narrowed his eyes. He had a smirk start to take over his face.

“I don’t know. The stench of vampires on you makes me think you must be pretty fun, why would they keep you so long.” 

Vincent started to wave Rhys in front of his face. Rhys grabbed the claws to steady himself, cutting his palms somewhat. He was let go, landing with a grunt on a flat palm again. Vincent had brought his hand close, inspecting Rhys again. Rhys tried to back away, but huge claws pinched his arm and forced his palms up.

“You cut your hands… Guess you’ll be stuck with me for a while then.” Vincent sounded almost concerned in a way.

“You can’t just keep me, I’m a person you fucking monster!”

“Well it seems like you don’t have much of a way out do you?” 

Rhys froze as those eyes seemed to glow. He didn’t have a choice, he was trapped. He’d never get home, no one would find him. The room darkened quickly as the sun finally went down. The eyes in front of him glowed, he wasn’t wrong about that. He was about to say something when a crash sounded, making Vincent turn. Rhys was forced to turn too and saw something horrifying and hopeful. Delphia.

“Rhys, I’m glad I found you. The others said you got caught by a bird,” she said. She started approaching with her quiet footsteps and strange stillness. She froze once she got a bit closer. “You’re hurt…”

Bright red eyes stared past him to Vincent. She looked angry, but something else was there. He almost felt safer when dangling from the claws of the larger threat. She took a few more steps forward, but Vincent growled low and deep. He curled his fingers over him. Rhys tried to talk, but the way both looked had stolen his voice.

“Get out vampire, you’re not taking my strawberry,” Vincent growled. The term made him shiver.

“I’m not leaving without him. I have no problem killing you if I have to…”

“Oh please, gonna kill me for the treat you’ve been saving. I know how your kind works, play with people until you're done then get rid of them. How many like him are you keeping? Why else would he wind up here?”

Rhys felt sick. He never considered Del could just be saving them. She cared about them, she had to. She had tried so hard not to hurt them. This one, Vincent, immediately threatened to eat him. He acted like Rhys was nothing but food and now he’s pretending to protect him. It hurt. He squirmed a bit trying to get his head to any opening, but the fingers surrounding him squeezed him. He yelped in response to the pressure.

“If you’re hurting him, I’ll make sure you regret touching my family.”

“Heh, calling him that so he listens to you vamp? Just go home, I’m keeping the strawberry.”

Rhys hated this. He wanted a say in what happened. Even if Del was tricking them, he would be with his family. The ones who freed him when he’d been caught by a kid and abandoned. The ones who stuck by him after making them move more than once. The ones he carried poison around with him to protect. He would go home. The pressure lessened, so he took a deep breath.

“Let go of me you monster!” he screamed as loud as he could. A dark laugh filled the air and Rhys regretted trying to do anything. He only put his family in more danger again.

“I told you strawberry, I’m barely getting started,” Vincent growled.

Rhys didn’t like hearing that again. The man holding him seemed to almost get bigger and he’d already dwarfed Delphia by so much. The hand holding him had silver fur grow in and the claws seemed to get sharper. Rhys couldn’t hold back a whimper as the fingers around him seemed to get thicker and draw closer. He hated this and wanted to just go back with Del.

The hand, or maybe paw at this point, holding him moved again. He was dropped into a deep pocket that rested near Vincent’s heart. At least he assumed it was near there with the loud thumping close by. Another growl from the one holding him hostage told him more than he needed, this would actually be a fight. He didn’t know how to help.

“I believe he told you to let him go. It’s bad enough you hurt him, but you’re not even listening to him. If he wants to stay with you, I won’t even argue, but only if he actually wants to stay.” Delphia was weirdly calm and it made Rhys almost hurt. She didn’t seem worried about what was happening or him being trapped, maybe Vincent is right about her.

“Oh right, I can trust you’re not holding something over him?” Vincent's voice was gravelly now. The undertone of something not human behind each word. “I’m not letting you take him. I’ve killed vampires bigger than you without even shifting.”

“They were probably weaker than me too. Rhys, I’m getting you back. Try to take care of the cuts during this so we can get home without any trouble.”

“I think strawberry suits him better.”

“I think I’ll have a wolf pelt to use, maybe a doormat. Your fur seems dirty enough for that.”

Rhys’s world shifted as Vincent lunged. The growl echoed around him drowning out the heartbeat. He wanted this to stop, just let it all be over. He’d almost rather Delphia abandon him. Too close for comfort, ice cold pale fingers broke through the pocket near him and dug into the chest behind him. He screamed seeing the fresh blood leak out and the claws as the slim fingers pulled back. He was supposed to know her. She should be safe.

“Rhys!” she shouted. The bit of cold seeping into the cloth left and he fell to the bottom of the pocket again. Another growl sounded, making him whimper. “Fine, what do you want? I’ll do whatever it is if you let me take him home first.”

“Del..” he whispered. He had been doubting her, but hearing him scream had changed everything. She stopped fighting and offered to do as Vincent ordered. He swallowed the cry that had been building, he could be strong.

“Oh, don’t want to hurt your plaything in a little fight? I thought you wanted to use my pelt as a doormat,” Vincent snarled. Rhys needed to be useful somehow. “What if I want to kill you and keep him all for myself? Strawberry seems like fun if you want him back so badly.”

“Then I’ll take him home and come back here. You can kill me without a fight. I’m worth more than him, I’m the only living vampire with guardian blood. You’d hurt a lot of vampires killing me.”

“Del no!” 

Rhys couldn’t let her die for him. Especially after doubting her. His world was moving again. Soon those sharp long claws came in and pulled him out by the back of his shirt. He was brought in front of those eyes again, a look of concern filing them. Vincent was standing and looking human if it weren’t for his size. Rhys watched as he closed the distance with Delphia in a single stride.

“Looks like it’s your lucky day, strawberry,” he murmured. He lowered Rhys down to the cupped hands of Delphia. The cold feeling was reassuring, but he couldn’t relax. “Take him back. If I come to check and he’s dead you’ll regret it.”

Rhys jumped at the words. Vincent wasn’t going to kill Delphia. He was letting them both go. He looked up almost shocked to see the mismatched eyes locked on him. He didn’t want to just leave like this. Delphia curled her fingers around him, the smaller hands easier to handle. He climbed to his feet.

“The names Rhys not strawberry,” he shouted. 

Vincent smiled and Rhys hated how much he liked the smile. The huge being leaned forward making Delphia take a step back. He was trying to stay confident as the grin came close. Delphia didn’t block his view, but did pull him closer. Once Vincent stopped Rhys was getting a good view of that mouth again.

“Looking forward to the check in then, Rhys.”

“Brush your teeth before it.”  Vincent’s eyes went wide before a laugh knocked Rhys off his feet.

“Should be better when I don’t get woken up by a yelp and a strange smell.”

Vincent walked off and Delphia started to fret over Rhys. She tore at the clothes she was wearing wrapping up the spots Rhys was bleeding. She kept murmuring how she’d need to be fast with him. He felt safe though, she wasn’t abandoning him. His family wasn’t giving him up for the mistakes. Even when a new one was added to the list… another one he may just not learn from.

[awkwardgtace]

Minding Mortality

day 11 mini giant. Vampire Delphia and Werewolf Vincent talk away from the borrowers they care about

Minding Mortality

Vincent was not happy hunting down the vampire for Rhys. She was out late and it would be cutting it close. Again. He growled as the scent finally grew fresh. He almost ran the vampire over as he found her. He would have if she hadn’t stepped up to stop him from going farther. He huffed before shifting back to his human form.

“So shorty, out late again?” he asked. He set his arms on her head. It was always odd how small she was to him even though she towered over Rhys. She made a noise before trying to look up at him. “What? Would you rather I keep calling you vamp?”

“No, you’re just blocking the light. I need it,” she said. She was never rude to him, even apologized for threatening him. She was a weird vampire. He sighed, but moved over and just sat down next to her. He rested his hands on his knees and looked down at her. “Thank you. I shouldn’t need to stay out late for more than tonight or maybe tomorrow.”

“You’re worrying him… and the others.” Vincent was a bit worried too. He wouldn’t tell the vampire, it was better she saw him as an enemy.

“I was hoping they’d just think I was taking longer to feed. I guess I should have known they would know better.” She sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest. She folded her arms over her knees and rested her head. “I just needed something.”

He let the silence settle over them. She looked worried. Rhys asking him for help was weird enough. His strawberry still tried to keep the two separated. He stared down at her hands, noticing the flowers for the first time. He had never seen ones like that before. He reached over to grab one, her icy, pale hand stopped him. It was the first time she looked threatening since their first meeting.

“What, don’t want to share the weird flowers?” he joked. She sighed, but pulled the flowers closer to her.

“They’re for Sola and Luna, it’s almost their birthday,” she whispered. She wasn’t good at hiding the hint of pain in her voice. “I’m getting these for them.”

Vincent nodded. He pulled his hand back and rested his head on it. It took a few minutes before he got bored by the silence. The sun was going to be up soon and she should be leaving. He decided to rest his head on her. She was a good size for him to slouch over and rest. He closed his eyes letting her cool him off in the heat.

“Aren’t you glad to see their birthday?” he asked. She jumped as he spoke. She actually leaned against him more.

“It just reminded me… all of you get older,” she whispered. For the first time Vincent thought she seemed like a sad young girl. Until now she just seemed like a risk to the person he cared about most. She seemed a lot younger than him despite the centuries she’s experienced.

“What are you trying to tell me you aren’t planning to turn them all?” She pulled away and glared up at him. It was almost enough to make him feel guilty. Almost.

“Of course not. I won’t put anyone else through this. Especially not them.”

“Oh please, you wouldn’t make the choice to keep playing family forever?” She stood up to meet his eyes. For just a moment he thought he went too far.

“I never would have sought them out! I didn’t bring them here. They happened to find my home by chance, but I’ll never lock them to this curse… I won’t make them watch the world change while they don’t. Especially not Sola and Luna. They’re too young.”

“So wait until they’re old enough.” She grabbed his chest. Her small hands felt almost menacing against him. Her eyes were turning blood red. He didn’t miss that the flowers were set down safely despite her actions.

“There’s never a time old enough. Do you know how old I was when I became this?” He shook his head. “I was fifteen Vincent! I was only fifteen…”

He stared at her and she did look younger. It was like some illusion placed on her disappeared. The mysterious woman was now a teenager who was terrified of the world. He brought his arms up and pulled her into a hug. He had held a vampire once, they were cold and hurt him in the end. This time he felt her small body shake as everything she’s hidden fell out. He was somehow the adult here, and Delphia needed one.

“Why were you turned at fifteen? How was that an option?” he whispered. He felt her stiffen, but she didn’t pull away.

“That’s how old I was when we started seeking suitors for marriage. It was normal then… I was supposed to find a man, preferably one well off, and live as his wife. Ash and Alessia were a passing dream that would have fallen apart back then. I was able to hide from it all until now,” she said. He tightened his hold on her as she started shaking again.

“Didn’t realize you were that old, I thought you’d been turned more recently than you claimed. Guess I should have believed Rhys when he said your house used to be a castle.” She laughed and it made him smile. He’d thought vampires were these awful monsters and she would be one too. He’d been waiting to show up to find them drained dry or turned like her.

“It still has some of the hidden paths in it. I found them a long time ago when a different wolf found their way in. I spent the night tending their wounds.” It was his turn to laugh. Despite the doubts he’s had, that sounds like something so perfectly her. She wouldn’t just leave someone injured and dying alone.

“So you just helped some weak old wolf from dying on your doorstep? I don’t know, I doubt it, you seemed pretty ready to kill me.” She pulled out of the hug. The young girl was fading back to the adult he’d seen for a while now. He wasn’t sure which was real anymore.

“I thought you were going to kill Rhys… Did you know you’re another reason I could never turn him?” Vincent’s eyes went wide as she gathered the strange blossoms into a delicate bouquet again.

“Oh why? Because you know I’d kill you?” He tried to laugh off the way she said it. It was like she knew more than she should.

“I could never make him watch you die. I wish I could stop you from seeing his life end too.”

“What do you mean? Dying is a part of life, it’s normal. I knew he’d die before me when I first found him.”

She laughed. It sounded bitter enough he thought the flowers would wilt in her hands. She just gave him a strange smile.

“I suppose you’re right… to everyone else death is a part of life. To me it’s just when I finally have to return to solitude. Can I tell you something, Vincent?”

Her eyes were green again. The face staring at him seemed a mixture of both the young teenage girl and the woman he’s known. He couldn’t find his voice, as if speaking would destroy the illusion. He couldn’t even move, but she seemed to take his silence as a yes. The dark skies were fading into the colors of the sunrise. It made him nervous, seeing the way she looked at that moment. It was like she’d disappear then.

“I’ll never search for them again,” her voice was quiet. He reached out a hand, holding her entire arm as though she’d fade away. Tears fell from her eyes. “If they show up to my home in need again I’ll allow them to stay, but I don’t want them to live cursed like I do. They’ll never hear my past or learn that the curse keeps them bound together. I plan to find a way to free them.”

Vincent could barely think. Rhys had talked to him about the bond they had with her. He’d been happy, knowing he’d get his family all the time made dying less terrifying. He wanted to say that to her, to tell her their feelings. He couldn’t make a noise. Eventually she turned from him and pulled her arm free. She bent down and plucked two more of the strange blossoms from the ground. He watched her bite the end of the stem and somehow they seemed ethereal. 

“There, looks like tonight is my last late night,” she smiled at him. His arm was still next to where he’d been holding her. She was even starting to smoke. He noticed the flowers were carefully hidden from the growing sunlight by her body. “I finally have their birthday gift. Eternal flowers that only grow under the moon and blossom under the sun.”

Those words snapped him out of his stupor. He pulled her close and turned her around. The sun was only hitting him now. He let out a low growl as he looked down at her. He wouldn’t let her just disappear on any of them. As much as he hated to admit it, he cared about her. She was kind and cared even when he threatened her. She only became angry when it was for the safety of the others.

“You can turn into a bat right?” he asked. She nodded. “It keeps all your stuff with you? I don’t think I’ve seen a bat carrying anything before.”

“Right, it’s as though it’s sent somewhere else for the time,” she murmured. He leaned down, getting in her face. His shadow wouldn’t be enough forever, he would need to get her somewhere inside.

“Then turn into a bat. I’ll take you home.” She looked at him with wide eyes, a bit of fear behind them. It hurt, but he deserved the distrust. “I promised the strawberry I’d get you home safe tonight. He was worried about you smelling like smoke the last few days.”

“Oh… I guess that’s alright. I can try to stay awake while you head back.” 

She nodded as if that was best. He growled and offered his hand to her. She placed one of her cold palms on his and closed her eyes. In only a second a bat just a bit bigger than his strawberry stared up at him. Her eyes still looked too human. He could do so much to the vampire in that moment. The sun was rising, she was in a weak form, yet all the animosity he usually held was gone. 

Vincent moved quickly to pull open the pocket on his chest. Rhys had asked him to start wearing something with those kinds of pockets. He slipped her into the darkness, the cold form making him wince a bit. Then he buttoned the pocket closed. He started to shift himself to a wolf form. He wanted to move quickly so none of the others got the bright idea to look for them. Once he’d shifted enough he was on the move.

“You can sleep. I’ll put you in your bed when we get there, Del,” he said. “Also, don’t assume everyone thinks those bonds are a curse. Rhys told me he likes them, makes dying seem less scary to him. Gotta admit for someone his size death has to be pretty terrifying.”

There was a small squeak from his pocket. He figured that was her trying to argue, but the weight near his heart increased. He moved quickly through the forest back to her home. He might have said he’d put her in her bed, but this once he planned to keep her close. The way she looked in the dawn’s light stuck in his mind. She was just far enough to disappear on them.

[awkwardgtace]

GT July 2022 All Story Links

Hey, decided to follow up on that post where I asked about it. Here's a list and a little description for each story I posted this month! I included the characters and if they were considered the giant or tiny in the story along with the prompt. Putting it all under a read more since it's going to be long :D

Showing Feelings: More from the kaiju Ash story. They want to show how they feel to their human partners.  Characters: Ash (giant), Alessia(tiny), Delphia(tiny)  Prompt: Fluff

Meeting In A Different Time: Melody meets Kyrie, but set in the past where witch craft could be persecuted with death. Characters: Kyrie(giant), Byssal(giant), Caprice(tiny), Melody(tiny), Pelago(tiny) Prompt: Different Era

Nightmares: Streamer AU Mira has a nightmare and wakes up panicking. Characters: Corus(giant), Mira(tiny) Prompt: Panic

Mutual Fears: Ian's been having nightmares and he's nervous letting Mikhail know what they are. Characters: Mikhail(giant), Ian(tiny) Prompt: Sizeshifting

Language of Flowers: Delphia and Ash share a moment discussing the recently started flower language. Characters: Ash(giant), Delphia(tiny) Prompt: Flowers

A Visit From The Queen: Demons Mira and Kaya are visited by the current queen of hell who's curious about the borrowers the two kept around. Characters: Mira(giant), Dabria(giant), Kaya(giant), Corus(tiny), Zeke(tiny), Vitus(tiny) Prompt: Royalty

Night Of The Hunt: Humans Corus, Kaya, and Zeke get caught up in a night of danger from a bunch of creatures. Characters: Mira(giant), Coru(tiny), Kaya(tiny), Zeke(tiny) Prompt: Creature

Stolen Snacks: Young human kids Rhys and Ash are stealing snacks from their new giant foster parents when the only one home with them is their foster dad Vitus. (Pre trauma streamer AU) Characters: Vitus(giant), Rhys(tiny), Ash(tiny) Prompt: Snacks

Hide and Seek: Human kids Rhys and Ash play a game with their giant foster parents and human friend Mira. (Pre trauma streamer AU) Characters: Vitus(giant), Dabria(giant), Mira(tiny), Ash(tiny), Rhys(tiny) Prompt: Hide

Building Friendship: Creature AU Mira is alone with Kaya, they talk for the first real time and start to understand each other. Characters: Mira(giant), Kaya(tiny) Prompt: Friendship

Minding Mortality: Werewolf Vincent and Vampire Delphia have a discussion about the mortality of themselves and the borrowers they care about. Characters: Vincent (giant), Delphia (tiny) Prompt: Minigiant

Gambling Antics: Assassin Mira takes on a job she thinks is easy. Corus changes that. Characters: Mira(giant), Corus(tiny) Prompt: Borrower

Radiant Stars: Streya is a cosmic being who travels around curious of the small things on all the planets. She found humans and gets to talk to one. Characters: Streya(giant), Meg(tiny) Prompt: Cosmic

The World's Weirdest Sleepover: You're freezing and go to find the only warm place in the house. Characters: Unnamed giant and self insert tiny Prompt: Sleepover

Mira and Corus Meet Rewrite: Mira's been living mostly undiscovered for a long time, but her luck runs out. (Rewrite of their first meeting) Characters: Mira(tiny), Corus(giant) Prompt: Redraw

Adventures Away From The Beach: Kyrie wants to show Melody something he thinks she'd like. Some other merfolk show up to cause trouble. Characters: Kyrie(giant), Melody (tiny) Prompt: Beach

First Day In A New Home: Ian's moving in with giant foster parents after his (human) step dad's actions came to light. He's a bit nervous how life with giants will compare (Post traumatic events, pre meet and greet streamer AU) Characters: Vitus(giant), Dabria(giant), Mira(tiny), Ian(tiny), Rhys(tiny), Ash(tiny), Alessia(tiny) Prompt: First Meet

Dangerous Storms: Creature AU Mira used to enjoy storms, but needs to keep the humans safe. Corus wants to see the storms she loves. Characters: Mira(giant), Corus(tiny) Prompt: Thunderstorm

Morning Surprises: Assassin Mira wakes up to the weight of a human on top of her. She gets ready to fight while worrying about the missing Corus. Characters: Mira(giant/same size), Corus (tiny/same size) Prompt: Same Size

A Few Weeks Later: Assassin Mira's recovered mostly from the mission she took on that caused her to officially meet Zeke and Corus. She's nervous about being with them now and Corus makes it worse climbing on her every night. Characters: Mira(giant), Corus(tiny), Zeke(tiny) Prompt: Exhausted

Hands Of War: Ryder, the god of war, prepares to witness a battle between two armies. Someone he didn't expect shows up as things go horribly awry. Characters: Ryder(giant), Delphia(tiny) Prompt: Handheld

Prom Night: Cult AU Everyone is off to prom, Delphia's mostly excited, but Vincent's nervous. Characters: Vitus(giant), Dabria(giant), Rhys(giant), Alessia(giant), Ash(giant), Delphia(tiny), Vincent(tiny) Prompt: G/T Prom

Celebration With Candy: Mira launches her streaming career so the humans celebrate, out in the open. (Post traumatic events, pre meet and greet streamer AU) Characters: Dabria(giant), Vitus(giant), Mira(tiny), Rhys(tiny), Ash(tiny), Alessia(tiny), Ian(tiny) Prompt: Candy

Thoughts And Worries Side Giant and Side Tiny: Thoughts and concerns two share when considering each other with their sizes and lives. Characters: Self insert giant/tiny, Unnamed giant/tiny Prompt: Comfort

Peaceful Rest: Ian's still having nightmares, but they changed. Mikhail notices, but isn't sure what to do. Characters: Mikhail(giant), Ian(tiny) Prompt: Pocket

Kyrie's Changes: Kyrie finally starts his growth spurt. Melody gets caught up in his instinct driven actions. Continues In Day 31 Free Space: Finding The Old Songs Characters: Kyrie(giant), Melody(tiny), Byssal(giant), Pelago(tiny) Prompt: Merpeople

First Contact: Ian has some issues with crowds and chooses to camp in the woods while working towards a better future, he’s found by a strange person. Characters: Mikhail(giant), Ian(tiny) Prompt:Communication

Birthday Scavenger Hunt: Mafia AU Sola and Luna are celebrating their birthday with their new giant family. Luna’s a bit nervous about the idea. Characters: Sola(tiny), Luna(tiny), Vitus(giant), Felix(giant), Alessia(giant), Ash(tiny), Delphia(tiny), Dabria(tiny), Rhys(giant), Ryder(tiny) Prompt: Scavenger Hunt

Special Memories: Mira shares something precious to her with Corus. Characters: Mira(tiny), Corus(giant) Prompt:Trinkets

A Knight’s Duty: Melody is a knight tasked with killing a creature threatening the village, but is it really a threat? Characters: Melody(tiny/giant), Nutmeg(giant/tiny), Caprice(tiny/giant), Aisling(tiny) Prompt: Fanart @alarcomet ocs love them and her <3

Finding The Old Songs: Byssal goes to find the old songs for Melody, learning them isn’t as simple as reading music. Continuing day 26 Merpeople: Kyrie’s Changes Characters: Unnamed Mermaid(giant), Kyrie(giant), Melody(tiny), Byssal(giant), Pelago(tiny), Caprice(tiny) Prompt: FreeSpace

[awkwardgtace]

Prom Night

day 22 gt prom. Cult au Delphia gets to go to prom with her partners. Vincent's a bit more nervous about his date

Prom Night

Vincent stood at the door of the giant house hours before the big night. Apparently it was decided against his will that the humans would get ready with Vitus and Dabria while the giants were at Ash’s house. He was tempted to just turn around and leave, it was dumb. He was about to turn around when the giant door in front of him was ripped open. Rhys was there and looked a bit panicked, for a second Vincent thought for sure he’d go unnoticed. He thought he might even get crushed.

Pink eyes found him and he tried not to let his nerves show. He still didn’t handle the idea of being near a giant’s feet well. A lot of idiots in his past. Rhys had a hand in front of him before he could think. The giant idiot always offered and never grabbed. Well, he never grabbed anymore.

“Aren’t you supposed to be gone by now?” Vincent smirked. Rhys made a face and he thought the hand would be pulled away. Instead a finger nudged his legs and he fell into the palm. He grumbled, but climbed on before Rhys decided to force him more.

“Yeah, which is why I’m making sure you don’t make me any later,” Rhys laughed. He lifted his hand up to the pathways in the house. Vincent climbed off and turned with his arms folded to glare at Rhys.

“Yeah you were moving fast enough you almost stepped right on me.” He meant it as a joke, but the annoyingly cute giant brought his face close. He glared at the face that came even closer.

“I’d never be that careless.” The seriousness made Vincent shiver. Rhys’s phone beeped and the giant stood to his full height again. He checked it and made a face. “Alessia will kill me if I take much longer, I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Vincent watched as Rhys left. He could just leave still. The giant door shut and Rhys didn’t announce that Vincent was here. It would be easier to leave and not deal with that oblivious idiot all night. He never even wanted to go to the prom, Delphia convinced him to do it. He jumped as steps started that made him stumble. If he was walking like that then Delphia wasn’t nearby.

He grimaced, he has been avoiding Vitus since he told Delphia everything. It was easier not to deal with an angry giant. He only agreed to this stupid set up because they wouldn’t leave him alone. He tensed as the huge silhouette appeared down the hall. He knew it was too late to run the second those steps were close, Vitus seemed to always know things he shouldn’t.

Vincent didn’t realize he had started backing up until he hit the wall. He knew he wouldn’t be hurt, at least he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be hurt. Vitus never seemed the type to actually hurt a human, but that could always change. He could feel it the second those emerald eyes landed on him. He didn’t actually want to look, his strings with people stood out more. He’d just see how much Vitus despised him now.

“Vincent,” Vitus said. His voice was as commanding as ever. He started counting his breaths to keep from fully panicking. The man huge by giant standards slowly approached and stopped in front of him. He closed his eyes as the sea of clothes started to shift for him to crouch. “Is everything alright? Did something happen?”

“I’m fine,” he rushed out. No reason to give Vitus anymore ammo against him. 

He could feel the heat as a hand came near. He’d be grabbed, brought somewhere, get a nice talking to, and forgotten for the next few hours while Delphia got ready. He slowly opened his eyes, he’d rather see it while he was grabbed. The hand near him was closed into a fist and a finger was near him. The finger settled on his shoulder and he hesitantly looked at the person it belonged to.

“You don’t have to be here if you don’t want to,” Vitus whispered. Vincent was getting a bright reminder of why he intervened with the girl in the first place. People who cared too much and wouldn’t be able to ever say the issue directly. “You’re not in trouble with us Vincent. I was wondering if you’d been avoiding coming here, but you’re still welcome any time.”

“Heh, you’re always too nice,” he tried to laugh the fearful feeling away. Vitus laughed and moved his hand to rest in front of him. Vincent swallowed hard, the idea of being in his hand still hard to handle. He saw the kindness in the eyes in front of him and forced his body to move. If he got hurt he’d know to listen to his instincts next time. “So… what’s the actual plan? I was told not to bring anything.”

Vitus curled those impossible fingers over his head. Vincent tried to keep a snarky tone in his voice. The giant chuckled as he brought his hand to his chest. He tried to ignore the sound of air behind him. He knew some people liked hearing air whooshing and huge heartbeats, but he never did. Vitus started to walk off with him and he grimaced. He still had no idea what was happening.

“Dabria was excited that you were actually going. She made you and Delphia each outfits herself,” Vitus finally said. Vincent smiled.

“Don’t pretend you weren’t a part of that. You’re the one actually capable of sewing clothes our size,” he snarked. Vitus let out a deep laugh that rocked through him. Somehow this man had a way to make all his anxiety go away in a few seconds he didn’t understand why.

“Fine, I’ll admit it, I helped with her designs. We figured you two can get dressed then get ready however else you need. Including avoiding running away at the last second.”

“Guess you know me pretty well by now…” He hung his head, of course Vitus knew he was thinking of running. He’d probably been on his way to make sure that he wasn’t in the middle of running off.

“I would think so, are you ready to see what we made for you?”

“Not like I get a choice do I?”

“Of course you do. You could decide not to go and then maybe I’ll just tell them you felt sick and you can watch movies with Dabria and I again.”

“You guys pick awful movies.” Another laugh that rocked through him. It was easier now, he could actually believe the giant wasn’t mad. “I guess I have to go then.”

The fingers around him came closer and he had a moment of panic. Vitus hadn’t brought it up, but he knew the man better than that. He was finally brought into the bedroom he remembered as his a long time ago. He assumed they just used that one for Del. The hand he was on finally left the chest of the giant and was set on the table. Vincent climbed off quickly, he wasn’t exactly unhappy to be away from towering fingers.

“Well, I do want to talk before we get you ready,” Vitus sighed. Vincent stiffened, he knew this was coming. He slowly turned around and stared straight ahead. He wasn’t ready to face the eyes, likely glaring down at him. He waited for something to show him that this is what he’d been expecting. “We know you told Delphia about everything from before she was living with us.”

He flinched as the shadow of hands came over him. He grimaced when huge arms settled in front of him and a head joined them. He was tempted to look away, but at this point he’d rather get it over with. He tilted his head up and found more concern than he expected in them. Probably worried since he was still the only human who Del really spoke with.

“Vincent, you still don’t trust us completely do you?” Vitus asked. Vincent just shrugged, it didn’t matter to him. He had grown used to having people in and out of his life. He wasn’t even stable now, going to a new house every week.

“Doesn’t really matter who I trust. I know if they trust me,” he said. One of the large hands moved and started to wrap around him again. The hand stopped with fingers touching his side. He didn’t move as Vitus sighed.

“Vincent, you’ve been avoiding coming here because you were scared then?” He refused to react. “Well, I wanted to thank you for telling her. We were too scared of telling her and making her terrified of us. It was selfish to hide it.”

“What?” Vitus chuckled as he moved a finger to ruffle Vincent’s hair. Vincent ducked away from it.

“You should learn to trust us a little more, no one was upset with you. Rhys is the one you should worry about anyway, he sees you more.”

“You’re all just weird giants…” More laughter that seemed to pull the anxiety away. Another sigh that made him shiver.

“Well, these weird giants also heard you’ve been couch surfing again. You know you can come here when you need a place. We said we’d keep the room for you.” The hand around him switched to something that felt like an attempt at a hug. He decided to hold off on any snarky remarks.

“At least after tonight I’ll stay here. No reason to ruin a nice suit someone made me.” 

“Sounds good.”

Vincent watched as Vitus sat back to his full height. He’d eventually get over the anxiety giants gave him. He watched as Vitus reached into a drawer of the table and pulled out something. He placed it next to Vincent before getting up and walking away. He noticed the pathway for him he’d missed in his worry earlier. Vitus stopped just before closing the door.

“Once you’re done getting changed just come out here, we’ll help you finish getting ready,” Vitus smiled.

Vincent smiled to himself as the door closed. He walked over to the bundle of clothes and looked them over. A dark gray suit with highlights of silver and a black shirt to wear beneath. He laughed a bit as he started to change. In a way tonight was starting to seem like it might be fun, even if he’s just going to keep Rhys company while keeping an eye on Delphia. He laughed as he rolled the sleeves of the jacket up a bit. Vitus and Dabria were unbelievable.

Delphia was pacing as Dabria tried to calm her down. She never went out without her hoodie and the two made her a dress she was excited to wear. Only now did they mention she wasn’t supposed to wear the comforting sweatshirt with it. She never considered that option before. She wanted to wear her hoodie even if it meant hiding the dress beneath it, or it beneath the dress.

“Little raven, it’s not that bad,” Dabria said. Delphia shied away from her hands, she didn’t want Dabria making her change. That happened once in the cult and she hated it. “Why don’t you at least try on the dress before deciding it’s not something you can handle. There’s time we can get a shawl or something to wear over it if it isn’t enough.”

Delphia shook her head and backed away. She didn’t want to try it, she didn’t want to have her arms shown. The dress sleeves were so thin, she couldn’t handle it. She felt her heart start racing at the idea of them making her wear it. She didn’t even realize she’d started crying until a large thumb wiped against her face. She was lost in her own mind completely.

“We made this for you, we wouldn’t make something you can’t be comfortable in. If it’s not good on its own we can figure it out. It’s going to be alright,” Dabria whispered. 

The way the huge fingers wrapped around Delphia made her shiver. Almost immediately it was replaced with a feeling of comfort when they just held her there, she could move away from them. She closed her eyes and gave a short nod. She almost expected to be grabbed so Dabria could change her. The hand around her slipped away. She opened her eyes as the dress was placed in front of her.

“I’ll go wait by the door, let me know once you’ve changed ok?” Dabria said as she walked away. 

Delphia nodded even though the giant wasn’t watching. She knew that the question didn’t need an answer. She looked at the dress that they’d made for her. A dark blue like the jackets and hoodies she always wore. It had a faint sparkle to it that made her almost want to wear it. The sleeves looked thin and there was no hood. She couldn’t hide in something like this.

She bit her lip before releasing a heavy sigh. She grabbed the fabric, feeling it for the first time. It was actually similar to the hoodie she normally wore. With another heavy sigh she slipped out of her current clothes and into the dress. It fell just a bit above her feet so she could walk without trouble. She turned to look in the mirror that Dabria had set nearby and gasped. The scar for the damage to her arm seemed to blend into the sleeve with a matching pattern on the opposite side.

“Is this real?” she called out. She could feel the heavy steps coming closer, but didn’t bother moving. Dabria’s face appeared behind her in the mirror, a warm smile and bright red eyes full of love.

“Yes, I made the design after all,” she laughed and Delphia slowly ran her hand over the spot of her scars. She couldn’t believe the thin fabric kept it from being felt too. “So, should we find something to add to the dress, little raven?”

“I… I think I can wear this.”

Rhys was fidgeting with his tie for the tenth time when Ash nudged his shoulder. He looked up at the taller giant, a bundle of nerves. They offered him a reassuring smile, but he couldn’t relax. The entire time the three were getting ready he’d been panicking. Vincent might bail, he might be too scared to actually show up, he might think this is just to keep an eye on Del. A million things that were rooted in true possibilities.

“If you fidget with it anymore you’re going to rip the fabric,” Alessia smiled. She was wearing a sleeveless black gown that had a slit from her mid thigh. She had a bright blue choker and bracelets that drew more attention than the gown. She was walking ahead of them to the doors of the venue. It felt dumb, they should just have picked up Delphia and Vincent, or gotten ready together.

“It’ll be fine, Rhys,” Ash said. They were wearing a dark green suit with a navy blue shirt beneath it. He swore at times it looked like the colors changed. The tie was the oddity, a brighter blue that stood out against the dark colors. He sighed again.

“He’ll probably manage to leave after five minutes,” he sighed. He fidgeted with the silver tie again. Ash grabbed his hands to try and make him stop as the three finally reached the meeting spot outside. His own suit was a black with the shirt being a few shades darker than his hair. 

The three waited for the inevitable arrival of their human partners for the night. Vitus was supposed to be bringing them in Rhys’s car. Dabria was following behind so they could leave the car and Rhys would drive the humans home. He was hopeful they got Vincent to agree to stop couch surfing for a bit and stay with them again. As his car pulled into the parking lot his heart started to race. He was far from ready to see if Vincent bailed on him.

Vitus pulled up in front of them and stepped out of the car. On his shoulder were both humans and Rhys had to try hard to keep from staring. Vincent had his silver hair tied back and a pink tie to match Rhys. Delphia had her hair down, but on each hand was a glove. One was a dark green, the other a black to match the two giants she’d be with.

Ash stepped forward and offered a hand up to the shoulder. She smiled and climbed off. Rhys knew he should do the same, but couldn’t get himself to move. A push from Alessia had him stumble forward. He wanted to glare at her, but he just offered his hand up to Vincent who gave him a curious look. He brought his hand up to his face to get a better look at the little  human.

“You look great,” he murmured. He expected Vitus to make a comment, but his dad left without a word. He did hear the snap of a camera, he knew that was Dabria. She’d never miss getting a picture of them all like this.

“Gotta thank Vitus for making this, the man really doesn’t forget anything. He had Felix get my measurements a long time ago,” Vincent laughed. Rhys smiled and laughed too. It was a mess when he did that. Felix hadn’t been excited to deal with someone scowling like Vincent was. 

Rhys brought his hand up to his shoulder for Vincent to climb on. He knew  how much the human hated to be in anyone's hands. He turned to face the others and found Ash holding Delphia just out of Alessia’s reach. Delphia was standing up with her hands on her hips and glaring down at the shorter giant.

“Those three are always goofing around,” Vincent snarked. Rhys smirked trying not to laugh.

“They have fun, it’s not a bad thing,” he smiled. He knew Vincent probably thought Rhys was only here in case Delphia panicked, but that wasn’t the truth tonight. 

“If you’re going to mess up my dress I’m only letting Ash hold me tonight,” Delphia chastised. She laughed, but noticed Rhys separated from them. Seems like it was really tonight he’d say something.

“Do you think it’ll work out?” Alessia whispered. Delphia smiled as Ash brought her back down to their chest.

“Eventually, Vincent might be too angry to let it work tonight though,” Ash sighed. Delphia leaned back into their chest. She loved feeling their voice when they spoke. 

“It will. I know already.” Alessia gave her a mischievous look as she brought her hands up to try and grab her from Ash. She was about to say something, but the woman was too fast. Delphia was pressed against the soft black dress and sighed. Dabria had been right to say not to copy the movies she’d seen for her prom.

“Oh, did my little seer see something and not tell us?” Alessia laughed. Her voice was nice too, but Delphia liked her heartbeat more. Hands larger than the ones holding her forced her away from Alessia. She smiled up at Ash.

“No, I just know Vincent better than you two think.”

She laughed as Ash plucked her from Alessia’s hand and held her close. They wrapped their other arm around the shorter giant and started inside. Tonight should be fun, it would be as long as she was with Ash and Alessia.

“You both look beautiful,” they whispered. Delphia blushed bright red and buried her face in their chest. Saying that when she was held like this was cheating.

Vincent was a bit shocked as Rhys found their spot in the room. The dance floor reminded him of the cafeteria, a spot for humans raised to roughly waist height on most giants. It had more guardrails. It did have one other difference, a portion of the giant dance floor dedicated to giants dancing with humans. He watched from his perch on Rhys as most giants looked like they were dancing alone in that section.

He pictured himself held by Rhys how the humans with those giants were. There were small areas to set them down for more lively dances too. It almost seemed fun, but that wouldn’t happen. Out of everyone in his life Rhys was the only person he didn’t have a string with at all. Others he’d seen it naturally fall off or change colors, Rhys was a blank slate from the start. He just knew to keep his own feelings pushed aside then, it was easier.

The only hand he didn’t hate appeared around him. He hadn’t even felt the movement beneath him. Huge fingers wrapped around him as Rhys decided the shoulder wasn’t a good place to be anymore. Any other giant he’d be ready to fight or kill, but not Rhys. The cute idiot had no idea how much Vincent actually trusted him and no one else.

The hand tightened and he closed his eyes. He was lifted off the shoulder and for a moment his feet dangled in the air. He thought about how easy Rhys could betray the trust, it wasn’t like he could judge how the man felt. It was weird that he was the only one Vincent felt he could trust despite that. His feet met the solid table that Rhys had chosen to stand near and the fingers disappeared.

Vincent looked up at the former delinquent. It was funny to consider that he’d been considered awful for mostly harmless things. Although racing and being loud near human neighborhoods wasn’t that harmless. He thought for sure the giant hated humans until he actually got to know him. He fell into the chair on the table as Rhys laid his head on his arm. He didn’t usually lay his arm straight like this.

“Vincent…” Rhys whispered. He fought a shiver. The giant’s breath smelled like strawberries, it did way too often when Rhys hated them.

“What’s up? Weren’t you playing chaperone tonight?” he laughed. It was easy to laugh off what their time together was. Usually it was friends, and that was just kindness. The others liked him so Rhys tried, but they didn’t have any connection.

“Did you know some giants have abilities too?” 

The giant pink eyes were filled with too much severity for Vincent to joke. It was supposed to be almost unheard of, but after humans and giants started to live together special abilities started to pop up among them. It was a lot more rare and harder to explain than in humans. He just nodded. Somehow speaking started to feel wrong.

“I’m one of those giants,” Rhys said. His voice was quiet enough even Vincent could miss it. Things felt too real for someone he didn’t have any connection with.

“Sorry Rhys, pretty sure pink hair and eyes aren’t a special ability,” he laughed. The giant smiled, but the somber expression he was wearing came back quickly. Vincent closed his mouth before anything else could slip out. No more jokes or snarky remarks.

“That would be a better one. I’m actually more like you. I see bonds, but there’s more.” Vincent swallowed his retort. Rhys couldn’t be like him, he’d know. The giant would know they don’t have a bond. He wouldn’t waste his time. “Seems like, for giants like me, I can hide my bonds from humans… like you.”

“You’ve done a shitty job then, I see them all even now.” He couldn’t let his mind process the idea. If Rhys could hide bonds, then he could… they might.

“No, I’ve done a good job… too good of a job. There was this cute human I saw one day. He had silver hair, a green eye and a violet eye. He had scars over his eyes and brown skin. I saw the animosity he had towards every giant in the room and got scared. I hid the bond that formed with him as soon as I could. I didn’t want him to hate me more because of the color…”

Vincent’s eyes went wide. That was him… He could still remember the bonds of enmity between himself and every giant he saw. The day they started to fall away was almost terrifying. He’d never seen so many bonds naturally die at once, but he felt lighter too. He still didn’t have a bond with Rhys after that. He just assumed he never would.

“When the animosity was gone, I wanted to show it, but I was still scared. I… I couldn’t see it either so I didn’t know where we stood. It was easier to hide it and just pretend things were normal. I don’t want that anymore…” Rhys sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Vincent knew what he felt, but he didn’t know what Rhys did. Hiding a bond was something he definitely wanted to try someday. “I’m letting it show.”

The words left his mouth and Vincent’s heart started pounding. He couldn’t hear the music or footsteps around them anymore. The bond he’d never seen seemed to fill in like the illusion in front of it fell away. That probably wasn’t far from the truth. A golden color was coming from him and he wanted to run. A hand bigger than him appeared and stopped him from doing just that. He looked at Rhys who seemed relieved.

Vincent forced himself to look for the other end, finding a matching gold. It might even be brighter than his own. He’d never seen that color for Rhys. He followed the gold as the illusion continued to fall away and their bond was left in the open. Golden for love and shared between them both. He stared for a few minutes then looked at the hand behind him rather than the face of the giant.

“...so what now?” he asked. He could feel it as Rhys chuckled more than hear it.

“I’d like to dance with my date, if he doesn’t mind,” Rhys whispered. He looked at the fingers of the hand that stopped him from running.

“You’re lucky I trust your hands even if we didn’t have a bond.”

Rhys pushed himself up and Vincent just smiled to himself. He gasped as he was grabbed for the first time. He punched the fingers around him which made Rhys laugh. Prom wasn’t such a dumb idea after all.

Ash was holding Alessia close while Delphia sat in her hands. Their forehead was pressed against Alessia’s and they looked at her happily. They never would have thought they’d have a prom night like this. Especially getting to watch the most beautiful human they’d ever seen dance in the hand of the most beautiful giant. Tonight was perfect.

[awkwardgtace]

Borrowers In The Dark (Vamp!Delphia)

All the stuff in this vampire universe, will probably have other ocs in it at some point too

Borrowers In The Dark

Delphia's Human Past

Crave Prompt

I'm Barely Getting Started

I'm Not A Doll

Minding Mortality

Ghosts of the Past

[awkwardgtace]

Seer and The Gods

All the gods and Delphia and Vincent in the original universe. I have lots of ideas for this so they're getting their own page entirely.

The Old Gods

Seer And The Gods: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11 (Final followed by Little Seer)

Ash Had An Idea Drabble

Alessia's Surprise Drabble

Little Seer

Please Come Out

Meeting Vincent

Rhys And Vincent Getting Closer

Just Let Me Look At You

Nap Prompt

Felix and Delphia Spend Time Together

Only A Dream

Lazy Mornings

Language of Flowers

Hands Of War

Starry Skies

Naughtiest and Nicest

[awkwardgtace]

JUST LET ME LOOK AT YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT WITH VINCENT AND RHYS???

I have continued their canon with this muahahah

Just Let Me Look At You

Vincent was getting sick of the stupid god of love. He hated the way he looked excited each time they met. That his eyes changed with his mood and each color somehow still made him look cute. That he got dejected each time Vincent left without much talking. He was especially upset that he was starting to enjoy the strawberry smell that was a permanent fixture on his breath. He hated the god of love, nothing would change that.

He walked into the clearing and was almost shocked to find the god laying on his stomach head buried in his arms. When they met Vincent was always staring up into eyes that were almost too pink. He was more cautious than normal as he approached, something wasn’t right. He bit his lip as he took cautious steps closer to the god. His breathing was steady if he didn’t know better he’d say Rhys was sleeping. Gods don’t sleep.

“Hey!” he tried. The god barely stirred. He wasn’t worried about the god, but he needed his blessing. That was what this was about, not his concern. “Rhys?”

“Hmm?” Rhys groaned. It wasn’t like normal, his voice was deeper and louder this time. It felt more like what he’d imagined the voice of a god to sound like. He moved closer, tempted to try and nudge the huge arms in front of him.

“I thought gods didn’t sleep. Just falling asleep here like it’s nothing is pretty weird.” He was trying to get Rhys to start the banter they always had. He wouldn’t admit he liked the small conversations they had. Having someone who didn’t just get upset with him was nice.

“We don’t have to.” Rhys still had that weirdly deep voice. His eyes were closed still and the scent of strawberries faintly wafted over him. He grimaced this was stupid.

“So you’re just doing this to waste my time? I’m going inside.”

Vincent turned to leave, he would just go rest on his own inside. The stupid god could sleep all he wanted then. He heard the sound of movement, a bit of panic before that huge arm was surrounding him. He froze, even with the promise he was safe it wasn’t a calming sight to have an arm taller than you block your path. He didn’t move, could barely breathe as the arm came a bit closer. He looked to the side fighting back bits of panic as he saw his exit disappear.

“Don’t go yet…” Rhys whispered. The deeper tone made Vincent’s spine tingle and he couldn’t say he hated it. The strawberry breath was once more overwhelming and almost nice. He didn’t turn around.

“Stupid god just let me go inside if you want to sleep. I don’t feel like standing around out here,” Vincent snarked. He just wanted to get away from the way Rhys had started to make him feel. He didn’t like seeing his own string slowly changing to match the color of the god’s. He didn’t want to match that, he was against it completely.

“Just let me look at you for a little bit.” There was longing in those words. Like Rhys thought he’d never see Vincent’s face again.

He didn’t argue or make a remark, he just turned around. The way those huge eyes stared at him felt like he couldn’t hide. Everything he felt seemed to be laid bare as the half lidded gaze studied him. The way Rhys looked at him was different from everyone else. It wasn’t like he was just a person or a monster, it was like he was the world. He struggled to keep his own eyes locked on the dull shade of pink staring at him.

There was movement to the side and he wanted to look, but he felt mesmerized by the eyes now. The struggle was more to look away than maintain. The movement came closer and he realized it was the other hand of the god. He tensed prepared for the trick to end, but instead his face was traced gently with a finger. The finger stopped under his chin and tilted his head up just a little, just enough to give Rhys a better view of his own eyes. Violet and Emerald meeting a slowly more dazzling pink.

The gentle touch moved again, resting against his cheeks. The pink slowly faded to a deep blue as Rhys studied him more. It almost felt like it was the first time Rhys saw his face, well really saw his face. That could be it, he usually kept a solid distance from the god. The finger that lingered on his face finally pulled away and the hand slowly moved to hold him. It felt weird, surrounded like this and not terrified. Somewhere he was starting to trust this god. The blue seemed to get darker as the hold got just slightly tighter. There was a sigh and strawberries filled his senses. He started to wonder if Rhys ever even tried them.

“I don’t think I ever said how sorry I am that you were hurt for your gift in my name,” Rhys whispered. Vincent felt his eyes go wide and his heart almost stop. He had always been used to his scars, they were something that reminded him bonds were dangerous. Hearing that strangely deep tone apologize for them almost made him wonder why he hated this god so much.

“Just let me go and you go back to sleep you dumb god,” he sputtered out. He would leave before any more of his distaste for the god of love disappeared.

“Stay with me, for just a bit?” Vincent bit back a groan at the idea.

“Why are you sleeping anyway? Wouldn’t it be smarter to not be out in the open when you do?” If the god wanted him to stay he was getting an answer. The warm smile that appeared on the giant face made his heart skip a beat. Stupid cute god and his stupid cute face.

“Delphia wanted me to try sleeping and I had a dream about you, I thought I’d do it again while I waited for you.” The god had a sad look behind the smile he was wearing that made Vincent’s heart almost hurt. “I realized I hadn’t seen your face well before, thank you for letting me.”

“Just go back to your dream stupid god.” Vincent looked away quickly. He knew Rhys could probably feel how he was feeling, but he didn’t want to let him see the blush on his cheeks. He might not hate the god of love as much as he pretends he does.

[awkwardgtace]

The First Valentine's

Heey remember that cult au i got a dumb idea and now we got a new part. It's mostly fluff a little self loathing. (If anyone is curious extra posts won't put off the posts for the huge delphia story i started posting)

The First Valentine's

“M-miss Dabria are you su-” Delphia started. Things had been improving steadily since her disastrous day at school. When she finally went back she even managed to make friends, or well more than friends. Ash and Alessia were amazing and she still couldn’t believe they liked her too.

“I told you it’s just Dabria, and yes I’m sure you’re doing more than enough. I doubt most humans would go this far for giants they love,” Dabria smiled. Her ebony hair was tied back as she kept an eye on the chocolates Delphia was making.

“What if it just reminds them how small I am?” Delphia was working on melting more of the white chocolate mixed with mint to add to Ash’s gift. They weren’t a huge fan of sweets, but mint chocolate was a weakness for them. She wanted to do something to show how much she cared, it was easy for her to tell how they felt. She just couldn’t let go of the fear they’d realize she was too small.

A finger stopped her small hands from unsteadily mixing the chocolate. Dabria had gotten good at that as Delphia practiced making the different chocolates and how they’d come out. She let go of what she held and looked down at her feet. The finger moved to her chin and her head was tilted up to face intense red eyes. She bit her lip, they were always doing little things like this so she had an idea of what was coming. All of them were more than she thought she’d ever have had in her life before.

“Delphia, little raven, I promise if they are people you’ve chosen to open your heart to that won’t happen,” she smiled. She pulled her finger from Delphia’s chin and gently wrapped her hand around her. The best hug she could give with their differences. “If they do then I’ll just have to give them a piece of my mind for hurting you. I’ve already told you you’re my daughter now, and that means I’ll help you with everything. Now let’s keep going. We don't want the chocolate you already put together to set without the rest.”

Delphia nodded and continued her project. It wasn’t like there wasn’t a massive amount of chocolate being made, it just was small to giants. Dabria, Vitus, and Rhys had offered to help her make a giant sized batch, but it felt wrong. She wanted to show how much she cared on her own, she only agreed to let Dabria help by passing her ingredients and keeping the chocolate from setting early. It was going to take hours for her to make enough, she couldn’t really believe Dabria agreed to all of this. Each time she walked away to go get more Delphia had to face how small she was to the people around her.

Another piece of dark chocolate nearly half her height was placed down next to her. She briefly wondered if other humans didn’t do this since it was making something the size of themselves usually. As much as she trusted the giants she was surrounded by now, it could still be unnerving. She didn’t let that stop her, she moved to dump the melted chocolate mixture into the mold again, it was only half done.

She sighed, but walked up to the chocolate Dabria had dropped off and cut more into the bowl she’d been using for the dark chocolate mixture. At least she was confident it would taste good. She’d nearly made Vincent sick with all the tests he’d tried. At least he didn’t try to make her back out of doing it. She knew he liked the idea for Rhys too, even if he still pretends to hate him. It took a few more hours before each mold was filled high enough for her liking and Dabria put them in the freezer to set.

She laid flat on the table staring up at the ceiling. It wasn’t even a lot for them and it took her so long. Everyone said humans and giants were equal, but times like this she didn’t believe it as much. Ash and Alessia didn’t need her, she was small and couldn’t do anywhere near as much as they could. A part of her almost hoped they’d realize she was too small and she could at least lose them now and not later. She would rather lose them while she’s still adjusting to the way things supposedly really are.

“Hey,” a deep voice said, it made her body rumble from how close it was. She knew it was probably a bad sign she didn’t hear Vitus coming up. “Do you want a ride to your room? You look pretty worn out…”

She threw an arm over her face, but nodded anyway. She knew if she spoke more of those insecurities would slip out. Vitus and Dabria had been nervous about what dating giants would do to her, it wouldn’t help to keep going on about feeling too small. She felt the chuckle from him and the way the air moved around her. It was funny how relaxing it was now when back before they saved her she was nervous when giants laughed like that. She felt warmth surrounding her and soon something solid gripped her on each side. She was confused, starting to open her eyes when she was pulled up.

The motion was quick, the air whizzed past her and she felt her stomach get left behind. She yelped and quickly grabbed the fingers pinching her sides. She shot her eyes open and met the smiling upside down face of Vitus. She was panting, but couldn’t hold back the laughter from him doing this. It was something they’d figured out by accident, she was falling and he acted without thinking. For some reason the stoic giant face staring at her upside down mixed with the intense feeling of the world moving always made her laugh.

She watched the intense green eyes soften before he placed her in his palm. She stared up at him, right side up this time. The face that could seem terrifying was filled with warmth every time he saw her. He curled his fingers in and pulled the hand with her close to his heart. She never really knew for sure if noticed, but she snuggled closer to him. The rhythm of his heart calming to her in ways she couldn’t explain. As always the trip seemed to be short when he finally let her off at her room, she almost wanted to ask to stay with him. She couldn’t ask for that much though.

When she climbed off his hand he pulled away quickly. There was almost no time before the sound of fabric shifting started and his eyes were closer to her level. Vitus always seemed to know more than she expected. Dabria did too. She was trying to open up how they asked, but it wasn’t easy. He gave her another warm smile, before reaching out and ruffling her hair. She pouted and glared up at him trying to fix it. It was probably too long, she couldn’t bring herself to cut it though.

“Don’t worry, they’ll love that you worked so hard for them. Sleep well, or do you want to stay near me tonight?” he asked. She blushed as soon as the question left his mouth. So he had noticed, which probably meant Dabria did too. She shook her head and darted into her room before he could say anything more. She heard his soft laugh again and she just dove onto her bed begging for sleep to make tomorrow be here already.

The next day came too quickly, a mixture of horrible endings plagued her dreams. When she woke up it was from the loud banging of someone against her door. She groggily slid out of bed, trying to make sense of reality versus dream. She glared at the sound of banging that hadn’t stopped, she was still tired. Slow steps brought her to the small door to her room and she peeked out. She was met with a chest that she recognized and made a face before looking up to bright pink eyes. Rhys wouldn’t wake her up any way besides banging on the wall until she came out of the room.

“Morning little sister,” he smirked. She glared at him before turning around, she wanted more sleep. He didn’t seem to agree with that, reaching out and grabbing her arm between two fingers. She stiffened, he won’t hurt her she knew that, she could feel it. That didn’t mean seeing her arm disappearing between fingers was calming. “Hey don’t go back to sleep Ash and Alessia are going to be here in two hours. Mom asked me to come see if you were having trouble.”

“What!?” she shouted. She started tugging at her arm, still held gently in his fingers. His laugh managed to make her annoyed and she forgot the nerves his grip caused. “Let go! I need to get ready, if things aren’t ready before they get here I’ll blame you! I’ll tell Vincent you ruined all my hard work.”

“Hey, hey no need for threats.” Rhys was laughing, but let her arm go. She stumbled forward landing on her hands quietly enough she was sure he’d missed it. She looked back almost screaming when a bright eye was staring in the door, concern clear. She stood up quickly and folded her arms making another face at him. She could see in his eye as the concern faded to mirth. “You have plenty of time. I’m actually heading out to meet Vincent, but call if you need me. He knows and he’s fine with it.”

“Just go, you’re taking up the time I still have to get ready!” His laugh was loud this time, it rumbled through her and made her laugh too. She’d been terrified of him at first, but he was the one she had the easiest time talking to now. She didn’t know if this was how siblings acted, but she was starting to like having a giant brother. Each time he acted she could feel the care, she never even had to wonder if he was lying.

She was able to ignore the feeling of his steps, he didn’t seem to try to be lighter like Vitus and Dabria did. It was sort of comforting, no one had before she was here and it made her feel like a burden sometimes. She rushed to get ready, a quick shower before pulling on the simple black dress with dark blue leggings she’d planned for today. She started the process of braiding her hair, slowly having the look that made her feel like a real person. She rushed out of the room, almost falling off the pathway she would use.

She ran quickly to the kitchen, relieved Dabria was sitting at the table already. She knew the giant woman spotted her when her red eyes lit up. Delphia slowed to a stop, smiling as Dabria climbed to her feet. The gentle steps still made her world shake, but she didn’t have any concerns at her approach. A large hand was placed in front of her and she climbed on, quickly brought up to Dabria’s face. The big smile only made the bundle of nerves in her stomach tighten, if things went bad would Dabria be hurt?

“You look wonderful Delphia,” she whispered. The hand was brought down to her chest, held near her heart. The offer from the night before had her blushing again, refusing to move closer like usual. The hand holding her apparently didn’t like this, pulling her closer to Dabria’s heart. The beating behind her made her own heart start to calm. “It’ll be fine, let’s get the chocolate wrapped up. You spent a long time on the wrappers too.”

Delphia nodded, faintly aware Dabria probably didn’t notice. She’d gotten used to Delphia’s wordless habits, Dabria just expected vocal responses when it was negative. She was unbelievably kind in Delphia’s mind. She was pulled away from the calming heartbeat and left on the table. She started to pull the two wrappers out of where Vitus had stored them. She placed the one for each chocolate the length of her apart. Dabria came back with the tray holding her hard work in her hands.

The process of wrapping was easier than the chocolate. She just folded the painted foil over to cover each piece. Ash’s was a blue lake and green field, the way she felt when she saw their eyes. Alessia’s was a night sky with a number of trees, the color of her hair and the color of her eyes. Once both were wrapped she couldn’t help the blush creeping its way onto her cheeks. It wasn’t like they’d been together long before this, there was the chance instead of realizing she’s too small they realized she was just too much.

The achingly loud sound of a doorbell rang and she flinched. That would be Ash and Alessia, she couldn’t easily hide anything now. Dabria rubbed her back before going to let them in, Vitus had been sent away just in case things did go wrong. She smiled a bit, they were all so protective. She never expected that. The three giants walking in the room almost made her panic, but the way they looked at her sent those nerves away. Alessia was almost bouncing, her eyes flicking between Delphia and Dabria. Ash just stared at her, they were terrible at hiding their thoughts around her.

Dabria smiled and winked towards Delphia before finally leaving the three alone. Delphia bit her lip as the two giants she was seeing came closer. Alessia looked ready to grab her, she never did though. Ash looked like they had something on their mind. She wanted to know what it was. If things went wrong she wasn’t sure how to move forward. She backed up a bit, bumping into a cloth that covered the two pieces of chocolate. It was so little for them, they’d probably have preferred if she just let someone else help or bought some.

“Y-you two look great!” she said. She almost wanted one of them to grab her and leave so she could forget this dumb idea. She wasn’t lying at least, they did look great. Alessia had tied her hair up with just some framing her face and wore a brightly colored, almost golden, dress. It suited her well and only amplified the chances Delphia would touch her and know more than she said. Ash was more covered, a dark green jacket on a white shirt with black pants. They always seemed to cover up more around her, proving that their contact was on purpose.

“So do you,” Alessia whispered. She leaned down resting her head on her arms. Delphia was met with those warm brown eyes overpowering her heart. One of those large hands started to come towards her and she almost wanted to just let Alessia pick her up. It would be so easy to leave and pretend she hadn’t done this, but she stepped away making Alessia freeze. Both giants looked concerned, Delphia hadn’t avoided their touch since they talked about what she could do.

“Are you ok? Is today too much?” Ash asked. The fear in their voice was enough to make her want to cry. She started shaking her head, it wasn’t too much. She couldn’t say she was ok though.

“A-actually,” she forced herself to grip the cloth Dabria placed and rip it off. It was better to get things done sooner. She did make sure to stop facing them as the cloth was pulled off. “I-I made you each chocolate. I-I know it’s just a piece, and I-I probably should have just bought some or had someone help me. I-I just wanted to show you h-how much I care. I can a-always tell and I’m bad with words so…”

Warmth started to surround her and she almost screamed. It couldn’t mean something good. They were annoyed she shouldn’t have done this, it was definitely reminding them just how small she was. The second one of their fingers touched her skin, her mind was flooded. There wasn’t anything but adoration and love coming through them. The hand gently turned her around to face the two giants. Ash was holding her, their eyes gently sparkling. Alessia looked close to tears just staring at the chocolate she’d made for her.

“Thank you,” Ash breathed.

She was getting overwhelmed by the feelings Ash had as they stared at her. She hugged the closest finger to the best of her ability, the nerves she’d felt until today feeling like a far off dream. They lifted her slowly, curling their hand to have her safely cupped. She wasn’t sure what their plan was, their face coming closer. She closed her eyes, not sure why that was her instinct. Suddenly she was met with a soft surface covering her, the feelings she felt even stronger than before. She peeked open her eyes, seeing the lips in front of her and acting without thinking. She placed a small kiss in return on the huge lips, a jolt of her own emotions forcing their way to the front.

“No fair,” Alessia whined. Before either could react she’d pulled Ash’s hand in front of her. Coming close and placing a kiss on Delphia a bit more forcefully than Ash had. It almost made her pass out, the overwhelming feelings of the two she loved hitting her at the same time. She gripped the fingers near her before returning the kiss with a small peck, her mind a mess as everything seemed to be happening.

Alessia pulled away and Ash adjusted how they held her so she wasn’t touching them anymore. Her head clearing without the influx of other feelings and thoughts she almost couldn’t believe this was real. She didn’t mean it but she started to cry. She couldn’t believe they felt like that, and actually liked what she did. It was so much for her to do just that, and they loved it. They loved her.

“Delphia?” they asked in unison. She was making them worried, but she was just so happy.

“I-I was so scared. I thought you would just realize how small I am. That-that,” she couldn’t say it. She wanted to tell them, but she still felt scared of what could happen. She started wiping her eyes as Ash started to move her again. She was ruining everything, she felt their thumb underneath her chin pushing her head up. One of them carefully held her arms with their fingers, it had to be Alessia. The emotions they felt were overwhelming her again, but she liked it. She liked when love was overpowering her.

“If being small was going to be a problem, neither of us would have started this with you.” Alessia was so honest, even without meeting her eyes Delphia knew there was nothing hidden. Still she looked up at her face, enamored by the warm brown staring at her. The fingers holding her hands disappeared, returning with a box that was so small to them. She took it, the encouraging look as she needed to open it. Carefully she untied the ribbon and opened it, gasping as she found the jacket she once mentioned. It was during one of the first times she went out with them both. “You aren’t the only one who went a bit far on a gift.”

She didn’t have words hugging it close. She just smiled at Alessia reaching out to the fingers that weren’t that close by. Alessia met her and she knew their feelings were matching, Ash’s adding to the ethereal feeling of these moments. Alessia pulled away and Ash moved their hand so she was facing their face more directly. She tightened her grip on the coat, unsure what Ash was planning. A mixture of nerves and excitement bubbling slightly. They brought their other hand closer and opened it, revealing a small box even to her.

They flattened the hand holding her so she could climb over to the box. She moved slowly, half expecting things to fall apart in a second. She reached the box and the warm light behind their eyes pushed her forward. She slid it open and nearly dropped the precious package. The flowers she said she missed. Ash and Alessia knew a lot about her past, but they didn’t make her abandon the things she hadn’t hated about it. One of the better memories were her stories about the flowers she admired that she was sure she’d never see again.

“Happy Valentine's day, little flower,” Ash said.

She almost started crying again. This was so much better than anything she even imagined. Ash finally set her back down on the table, letting her move the delicate plants somewhere safe for later. She also slipped on the jacket Alessia had given her. She watched the two giants reach out for the single piece of candy she had for each of them. They just admired the wrapping at first, taking in the designs she spent hours painting.

It was almost unbelievable seeing them both gently open the candy, clearly planning to preserve the wrapping. She knew the chocolate didn’t look amazing, but both of them seemed overwhelmed when they opened it. Their faces were mixes of shock and adoration, nothing she expected. Ash took a bite of the piece first, she knew they could eat it in one. Their eyes went wide and a big smile grew on their face, she knew they tasted the mint. Alessia went next, popping the piece of chocolate about her size in her mouth. Other times it would have been enough to make her freeze, but it’s Alessia it’s safe. She watched her brown eyes sparkle and start up with tears of her own.

“Next year I want to help so we can make the kind you like too!” Alessia declared. Ash nodded alongside her. Delphia almost felt her heart stop, they both agreed to next year. That meant there would be a next year.

“I think I’d like that,” she said, shooting a big smile up at the two giants. “Happy Valentine’s day…”