#Dahlia Aquino ☆IC☆

[chaosmultiverse]

💋 Miri is looking up and making the BIGGEST, WETTEST, SADDEST EYES at all of her lovely, lovely paramours—

Kissie ask 2/5

Polly, Vera and Dahila all looked to Miranda, Polly immediately captivated, like how someone would by a sad cat photo, Dahila had a grin, she found this both cute and a little silly, in a good way. Vera was trying very hard to appear unaffected by such cuteness, such sad big wet eyes, she was stronger than this! She would not fall for this trick! She knew it well.

Vera was the first one to lean down, kissing Miranda on one cheek leaving some of her blue lipstick, Polly followed suit and got the other cheek in a sloppier kiss that left her lip gloss on Miranda. And Dahila completed the set with a kiss on Miranda's forehead, her lips firm and polite, not over staying their welcome.

[biteyourcrush]

@playnights​ replied: "SO TRUE!" Team Blue rep Dahlia here to always agree with Vicky

@royalreef​ replied: "Oh, it is only the most lovely color of all. That we can agree upon."

“Absolutely NO biases to be seen here!”

[fourthhopebesthope]

❝ I guess this is what they call a ‘hostile workplace’. ❞

“Ugh, Dee you have NO idea.”

Hope shook the lingering crackles of energy from an attack spell from her hand, looking over the school gym- less trashed than usual after an impromptu villain encounter, but... ugh, Joy was going to make them fix it pro-bono, wasn’t she? Bluh.

“Still, at least it was only a low-level arching attempt- if that guy was even associated with any of the villain guilds at all. Seriously- laughing gas? We’re a tier 8 threat, that’s some level 1 crap at most.”

She sighed, cracking her neck, and then her back. Maybe she should cut down on her entrepreneurial hours and see her chiropractor again. This “battling against the forces of darkness” thing was wreaking havoc on her.

But enough musing about that. She shot a small, only half-sarcastic smile Dahlia’s way.

“Joy’s not gonna say it, so- thanks for helping out, Dee. You do the whole “punching” thing pretty friggin’ good.”

[secondtermsurprises]

@outofthemaiinstream

“I pity him, mostly. I’d say that the typical lack of muscles on his species prevents him from making something of himself, but, I have found an entire magazine issue focused on successful Kappas...”

“I’ve tried to make casual conversation with him, but...”

“He thinks Teemo is better than Darius.”

“He thinks Teemo”

“IS BETTER THAN DARIUS”

“Good thing I proved otherwise in our match.”

“AND, I WILL PROVE OTHERWISE FOR ETERNITY, IF NEED BE!”

[royalreef]

@bestconqueror​ Valentine’s Application - Accepting

Name: “Dahlia Aquino, of Clan Aquino!” Age: "Twenty years.“ Do you like to cuddle?: “I do! You should know that better than anyone!” Can we make-out?: “… if you would like to…“ A night in or dinner out?: “I… I really enjoyed our last night in together, spontaneous as it was. I’d like to do it again.” Ice cream or chocolate covered strawberries?: “You know I’m more partial than meats than sweet, princess… save for the sweetness that is you, of course!“ What makes you a good Valentine?: “I will wage wars in your name and tear the spines from any that might offend you. Also, I can keep you safe and warm within my arms.” Would you cook for me?: “If you asked, but I doubt you would.“ Would you let me cook for you?: “I would gladly savor any meal you present to me, whether or not you made it yourself- you will have my gratitude regardless.”

      Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. The answer is so blatantly, obviously clear that Miranda’s heart doesn’t even have time to thump before Miranda knows exactly how eagerly she wants to accept it. Swooning before her bioluminescence can glow across her shoulders in pale blue, before her fins can flutter and red to shade her cheeks.

       The excitement is enough to where she can’t even think of shoving it off or denying it. Only, maybe, slightly distracting from it. A giggle coming first, soft and sweet, and growing louder as she just can’t keep that giddiness contained within herself, fins and lights and trill all fluttering along in her delight.

       A part of her knows getting this excited is showing too much, that it’s not exactly platonic - but she doesn’t care enough to listen to that part right now.

      “Dahlia --- you know you did not even need to send an application in! I would be your Valentine anytime, all you had to do is ask!”

> ACCEPTED

[rinusagitora]

The love, lead, and the undead.

Fandom: Monster Prom

Characters: Vicky Schmidt, Dahlia Aquino, Damien LaVey, Oz, Brian Yu, Lucien LaVey, OC: Hugo Aquino, OC: Berenice

Pairings: Brian/Damien/Vicky, LaVey family, Aquino family

Words: 5.3k

Summary: Canon divergent. Chapter 8/?. WARNINGS— unreality, violence, & gore; Vicky is in the hands of the Aquino.

Vicky was wobbly on her feet like her bones were fragile. Like her legs were ill tailored, or unoiled prosthetics. She braced the wall as Dahlia, the enormous blue woman, led her through the maze-like hallways of the stone castle.

“Do you remember anything? Like your name?” Dahlia asked.

She frowned. “I do. My name is Vicky. Outside of that, there’s nothing.” Well, and she remembered what she looked like. Pretty and lithe, with unmanageable hair and stitches. When she looked down at her arms, though, she saw her stitches were gone and replaced with odd, branching scars like frost, floral and frosty. Vicky was a blank slate otherwise.

Dahlia hummed. They stopped before an enormous carved door. She knocked with the enormous rings.

“Come in!”

King Hugo sounded like a storm. His voice was guttural, rumbled like lightning. It struck Vicky like a hammer to her chest. She bristled like a cornered stray. She wanted to dive behind something and hide.

Nonetheless, Vicky shuffled inside behind Dahlia. From beyond Dahlia’s arm, she saw a stout warrior king hunched over a topographical map. King Hugo and Dahlia looked very much alike: scarred, fair hair. When he smiled at them, there was something wrong. Something… sinister. Hardened.

“Dad, this is Vicky. Vicky, this is my father, King Hugo.”

“Vicky, I’m glad to see your reanimation was successful. We were worried you weren’t intact enough for the ritual. But have a seat,” Hugo said.

Vicky obediently sat. She stared at the mountains of the topographical model like he couldn’t crush her if she couldn’t see him.

“What do you remember, Vicky?”

“Nothing,” she answered. “My name, but I assume you mean something more substantial.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. It must be hard, but I should tell you… it’s for the better that you don’t remember.”

She looked up at him. Hugo’s smile was ingenuine. Like her amnesia wasn’t something unfortunate, and it wasn’t relief because she couldn’t remember something awful. It was the smile of someone with secrets. Someone who hid secrets from her specifically. It made Vicky anxious. She was among the enemy. She didn’t know who they were before she died, or what their purpose with her was, but deep down, she knew she was in trouble.

“For the better?” Vicky asked cautiously.

“When you were alive, you were involved with a pair of men who were cruel to you. But you worked despite the mistreatment, you even made enough money that you began to drift away from them. They were displeased by this, so they had you killed.”

Vicky was in disbelief. Angry, even. Someone killed her and there was only a grain of truth to what Hugo told her. How long would she root through it for the truth to be deciphered? Her reaction was visceral. Every breath was another knife in her chest, and it hurt so much, she began to openly and uncontrollably weep. Vicky squeezed her arms and blubbered uselessly. Her nails dug into her arms. Her knuckles turned white, she bled black and thick.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but we brought you back for a reason, Vicky. You deserve justice and closure.”

Shaken and clammy, Vicky asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, we reanimated you for admittedly selfish reasons. Your killers are from our rival clan, the LaVey family. They’ve been the bane of our kingdom for generations. They’ve hurt more than you. Their wanton violence has killed many good men and women, burned our land, our destroyed our supply lines. They’ve pillaged and raped my citizens. They deserve justice like you deserve justice.”

“How do you expect me to help?” Vicky croaked.

“You’re different from other demons brought here for their evil deeds in life. You’ve tasted death more than just once, and once before, you came back from it. Touching death gives people like you powers unheard of. Power like myself and Dahlia have. Do you remember when you woke up?” Vicky nodded in reply to Hugo. “Well, that lightning was your power. You can create storms to strike down like God once created storms, and we need that power to take down the LaVey clan.”

Vicky bit her lip thoughtfully. She didn’t buy Hugo’s story for a moment. His expression set off several red flags, and while Vicky had no concrete reason to disbelieve him, the feeling refused to abate.

But Vicky was in enemy territory. She was afraid to deny Hugo’s request and walk out the door, they were sure to kill her, especially if she was someone key to their plans, and someone once important to the LaVey. The best she could do in her situation was to help them.

“I’m in. But I’m tired right now, I would like to sleep.” And Vicky was. Every muscle of her’s ached as if she was slammed against a wall.

“Of course. Dahlia, have someone find Berenice so she may take Vicky to her room.”

Dahlia stood and bowed. Minutes later, minutes of silence where Hugo sniffed and muttered unintelligibly to himself, Berenice entered. Vicky flew upright. Berenice and Hugo shared a short exchange before Vicky was taken into the castle’s hallways. The entire place was a labyrinth. Vicky couldn’t even begin to memorize all the hallways.

“How’re you feeling, dear? I’ve never seen anyone reanimated like you,” Berenice said.

“I’m in pain.” Vicky stared at the scars on her arms. “It feels like I was hit by a train or something.” Or lightning crashed onto her head.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Berenice stopped before a heavy, grainy door. She pushed it open and invited Vicky inside. “You’ll be uncomfortable for a couple of days. It’s not an easy process, and unfortunately, we can’t give you anything for the pain. New demons can have awful reactions to herbs we give them.”

Berenice continued, “Anyways, this is your room. You have a private bathroom, and there are clothes for you in the armoire. We’ll have you on a strict schedule so you won’t be in here much.”

Vicky sat on the bed. Her blankets were made of animal fur, wiry and coarse, but the underside was smooth and satiny. “Thank you,” she said absently.

Berenice sat next to Vicky. “I know this is a lot, dear, but I promise you’ll be so much happier here. No one here will ever hurt you.” She took Vicky’s hands into her own. Her hands were pudgy and stout, but inviting, unlike Vicky’s room, and the rest of the castle.

Vicky decided she liked Berenice. She was different from Hugo and Dahlia. Motherly, earnest. Vicky wanted to lay her head on Berenice’s chest and be held like a baby.

“Thank you,” Vicky replied sincerely. “I’m very tired though. I would like to take a bath and go to sleep.”

“Well, alright, then. I’ll come to get you in the morning for breakfast. I’ll see you soon Vicky.”

“Thank you, Berenice.”

Vicky drew a bath. The water was cold and yellow, the towels were coarse. Vicky finally settled under her blanket.

She was so overwhelmed it was hard to think.

---

Oz watched from the cracks in the stone walls. Hugo lied to Vicky. They isolated her from people who cared about her. If what Hugo said about his village being wartorn, he understood their problem with the LaVey, but it disgusted Oz to his core that they resorted to involving unrelated people.

It made Oz want to cut down the entire castle.

But as much as he wanted to snatch up Vicky, he couldn’t sneak her through the bricks, and he didn’t want to take on an army. His first order of business was to report his findings to Lucien. On an abandoned patch on the roof, Oz drew an ornate circle with red chalk. He pushed his face through the center, and when he opened his eyes, his image was suspended in ice crystals.

Lucien sat anxiously at the edge of the pool of ice. He addressed Oz with a mere bow.

“I have terrible news,” Oz said, without ceremony. “It is the Aquino who orchestrated this. King Hugo told Vicky it was Damien and Brian who had her killed. They’re going to use her as a weapon against you and your family. She can now harness lightning as well.”

Lucien, like Oz, who only possessed eyes on his face, twisted into obvious hate. Oz knew that kind of hate well: the kind of hate which carried blood feuds on for generations.

He sympathized with the cause, though. Oz lived eons and was still unwise and hateful.

“If there’s something I need to know, Lucien, tell me now.”

“There’s a conspiracy to raise Vicky. Vera Oberlin and your friend Zoe are going through with a ritual of some sort in the next couple of days to resurrect her. I have nothing against their plan but… but I am scared Damien will act rashly in light of recent events,” Lucien explained. “He can be immature. And he’s in a dark period… maybe the darkest of his life. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Oz was particularly disdainful of that line of thought. Oz had his reasons to disagree, but at the end of the day, the secrecy alone was cruel to Damien. He deserved to be in the loop, if not for his loved ones than for preparation for kingship later on.

But that wasn’t Oz’s priority. Oz was in enemy territory, Vicky was trapped, and he needed to focus on that. He asked, “Will Damien interfere here?”

“I’m not sure. We’ll keep an eye on him. In the meantime, if you could obtain battle plans and destroy any intelligence about the LaVey in their possession,” Lucien said.

“I’ll see what I can do. Expect another report in a couple hours.”

With that farewell, Oz’s visage of ice shattered and he returned to the castle roof

His first order of business was Vicky’s allegiance.

---

Vicky dreamt of red spades and pigskins. It was an odd dream, where they were like people on long, slender legs, but they were missing their faces.

They held her hands and spun her like a ghost in the wind. They shrouded her like blankets and she was loved. They laid her on warm furs next to a fire. They kissed her and went down and down until her legs squeezed needily. They were so warm, their fingers, their lips. They held her when they took turns, pushed their adoration into her, up into her guts and her neck.

"I love you," she hummed. Even enormous enough to shift her hips apart, she loved them. They became so vivid, red and green, and so beautiful.

And when Vicky awoke, she was in the middle of nighttime darkness. Was it cicadas that screamed or the oppressive silence her brain had to compensate for? But she was covered in sweat and rivers of tears. Her dream evaporated from memory, only pigskins, and spades left behind for her like a parting gift. Vicky felt stranded and isolated without it. Helpless, she blubbered and futilely tried to dry her face.

Who was she? Why didn’t Hugo’s explanation satisfy her? Why did she want to pick at her brains until she had the answers she wanted?

As Vicky wept, she felt something gooey plop onto her ankle. She froze. Even her misery trapped in her tear ducts seemed to freeze with her. She waited with bated breath for something to happen, a sign for her to run, but even as more oozed onto her bedspread, she was unable to bring herself to escape.

The mattress creaked. She heard a match strike, and then her room was illuminated by the candle next to her bed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” This new person… gentleman, by the sound of their voice, held the candle between them. His body was black and oily, and his eyes… his eyes reminded Vicky of the moon. Wide and bright. “Do you remember me?”

Slowly, Vicky shook her head. “Do you know me?”

“Yes. My name is Oz. We’re friends,” Oz told her. A lumpy creature pulled itself out of the collar of his black shirt and waved. “That’s Fear. Well… more accurately, one of its incarnations. This one is the fear of death. I have many more within me.”

Oddly enough, the fear of death was adorable. Despite Vicky’s misery, she giggled and shook its tiny hand with a finger. Odder was she trusted Oz more than she trusted Hugo. Her gut was wise.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Vicky.”

Even odder was Oz’s voice came from the small incarnation. “We’re… we’re relieved to see you. Alive, that is.”

“I died. I was shot because of someone I loved dearly.”

Oz’s eyes shrank into saddened crescents. “You’ve been through a lot recently. But you have more friends than you’ve been led to believe, Vicky.”

“Who?” Vicky frowned. “King Hugo and Dahlia?” The pair were off-putting. Hugo was methodical. Calculated. Dahlia was abrasive. Vicky wasn’t sure either of them was her ally, let alone friends. She was a tool of theirs to reach a common goal. Berenice was the only one Vicky felt comfortable around.

“Nay…. No. Neither of them, I’m afraid,” Oz whispered.

Before Oz could continue, there was a knock at Vicky’s door. “Vicky! It’s Berenice! I’m coming in.”

Vicky whipped to Oz. He forced the candle into her hand and began to drip into the ceiling. “I have to go!” he said. “Remember, some of us aren’t what we seem to be!”

Just as Berenice opened the door inside, Oz was gone.

“Oh, you’re already up!” Berenice said cheerfully. “That’s good. Breakfast is ready.”

Solemnly, Vicky nodded.

“Are you okay, dear? You look like you ran a marathon.” Berenice sat on Vicky’s bed and placed her cheek against Vicky’s as a mother checked her child for a fever. It made Vicky angry as if it was Berenice who murdered her and lied between her teeth.

Cautiously, Vicky said, “I’m fine. I want to freshen up before I eat, though,” she said. “It was hot in here last night. I was sweating the entire time and I feel gross.”

“That’s fine. Go and bathe, dear. I’ll wait outside for you.”

Vicky showered, followed Berenice to the dining room, and looked unpleased at the milky porridge which was served for breakfast. She held the bowl close to her face so she was able to quickly scoop it down her throat without having to taste it.

“Mornin’. It’s good to see you got an appetite. You’re so scrawny, I thought you’d snap.”

Vicky set her empty bowl on the table. Dahlia dropped her backpack on the floor before she sat. “Dahlia, right? I met you yesterday.” Dahlia and her father, King Hugo. She was sure they were the ones Oz warned her about.

“Yeah. We were talking about you the other night. Dad thinks you’re promising.”

“Thanks,” Vicky reluctantly replied. “This… all of this is still strange for me.”

“You’ve only been here a day. That’s not surprising.”

“Do you know what I’m supposed to be doing today?”

“Training. I know Dad’s got something lined up for you, but I didn’t have time to ask what.” Dahlia finished her porridge then. “Anyways, I gotta go to school. I’ll see you tonight.”

Vicky watched Dahlia leave. Not long after, Berenice brought her to the King’s advisors, James and Robert, dressed like royalty. James and Robert were old and grey-skinned with wiry beards and chipped horns. She and Berenice bowed to them.

“This is Vicky, the subject our King told you about. I trust you’ve been informed to train her by King Hugo.”

James dismissed Berenice. Nervously, she held herself, and inwardly pined for Oz to appear and hold her hand. She felt like she was in danger in their mere presence.

“My name is Vicky. I'm…" Vicky wasn't sure what she was. Lost. Lonely. "Please train me."

James smiled. "No need to beg, dear." James stood, his bones creaked meanwhile. "Come. I'll take you to my private grounds."

Vicky obediently followed. James led her through so many winding turns that Vicky lost track of them. But when James led Vicky into a dark room, lit only by a single candle… Vicky knew she was in trouble.

“I believe experience is the best teacher,” James explained. From his horn, lightning crackled like wafers. “If you want to live, Vicky, you will learn to harness lightning.”

Vicky’s stomach leaped into her throat as a bolt raced to her head.

---

Damien was mad.

Brian was mad as well. He skipped the denial stage altogether and went straight to anger. Anger that Vicky was taken, anger that she was still living and yet out of reach, anger her resurrection was so damn complicated. After the funeral, after Brian’s conflicted feelings and formality evaporated, he was ultimately mad over every detail of Vicky’s death. While Damien was mad about the same things Brian was, he was mostly mad with his parents, Lucien and Stan. He couldn’t even look at them that morning.

Brian’s nails dug into Damien’s hand when they went to school. It broke Damien’s heart.

They idled in Brian’s pickup in the parking lot. It was inordinately chilly that day. Damien’s breath was misty and the tips of his nose and his tail ached. He hated the cold, but it was always without Vicky nearby.

“Today’s gonna be a pack of bullshit,” Brian finally muttered.

Damien fumbled with his cigarettes and passed Brian one. “Let’s take it easy today. Hide in the bathrooms or some shit.”

“I just wanna go get her.”

Damien leaned back his chair. It was difficult for him to just mull on where Vicky was too when the Aquino family were just within reach. For Vicky, Damien would have burned down villages and armies without reluctance.

The ire he felt for Dahlia, though…. In the beginning, Damien just thought she was obnoxious, clannish. But if he ever saw her again, Damien swore he would wring her like a mother fucking

“Oh my god,” Brian said as he pointed out the window, “you need to see this.”

It was like Damien was doused in pungent gasoline when he laid eyes on Dahlia. Fire and smoke surrounded his fingertips.

Swiftly, Damien kicked the car door off its hinges and broke into a run.

“Dahlia!” he roared. His shirt and jacket combusted as billowed up his arms like it lit dry kindling. “Dahlia, look at me!”

Dahlia whipped around and swirled with crackling lightning as blue as summer skies. “You lookin’ for a fight now, LaVey?” she howled.

“You killed the love of my life! I’m going to kill you too!”

Damien propelled himself with fire on his heels. He hopped over a bolt of lightning fired in his direction and then blew a lungful of his fire at Dahlia. She grabbed his pants and swung for his face. Damien’s eye caught the blow, but he brushed it off and used their proximity to burn Dahlia’s face.

They fell to the ground. Damien held her face in both hands and snarled as the smell of burnt hair and fat wafted up to him. She clawed at his hands but stayed steady for Vicky.

And then a film of green wrapped around Damien so forcefully it knocked him off Dahlia and onto the ground. He skidded across a foot of cement, it peeled off the skin off his barren back like grated orange zest. Seconds later, Hope landed at his feet.

“Get him out of here!” Amira screamed out of the blue. Damien peered past Hope’s legs and saw Dahlia restrained by Amira, Joy, and Faith.

“Hope, let me go!” Damien screamed. “I have to kill her!”

“I’m going to take him into the forest,” Hope told the trio. “What the hell are we gonna do about her, though?”

“Just get him out of here.” Amira barked.

Hope nodded. She picked up Damien, deceptively strong for her squirrely size, and then ran into the trees.

“Please, Hope, let me go! She killed my girlfriend!” Damien begged.

“Shut the fuck up, you’re making shit hard enough as is.”

“What the hell do you mean? Hope, answer me!” Damien’s squeals were silenced by the green film Hope slapped onto his mouth. Struggle as he may, the film was like a skeleton of rubber bands. It squeezed him until it hurt to breathe. It outraged Damien, but he was stuck. Helpless. Hopeless, like he was when it came to Vicky, and misty-eyed because of his uselessness, Damien squeezed his eyes shut so nothing would escape.

Hope finally stopped deep in the forest and threw Damien into a hollow beneath the roots of an evergreen. He cursed Hope’s name as he slid down and hit his head against the wall of the little hovel. When Hope skid down, she stopped right beside him, and she smacked him across his cheek.

“You idiot! You ruined our plans, and now we’re gonna have to get Vicky out before the Aquino family realizes what happened to Dahlia!” Hope snapped.

Damien tasted metal. Part of him didn’t care, all he wanted to do was shred and burn Dahlia, and Hope was merely an obstacle. No one understood how much she meant to him. No one realized how hard it was to survive each hour without her. “Do you understand how much it hurts being without Vicky? I wanted her forever. And then Dahlia walks in like she didn’t do a thing.”

“There’s no question that the Aquino family needs to be held accountable. But do you value vengeance or getting Vicky back more?” Hope said. “Because of you, we may never see Vicky again.” She fell back against the wall of the dugout. “Damien, you knew there was a plan to bring Vicky back. You knew you needed to keep your cool and keep quiet so we could bring Vicky back without having her killed. If someone saw what you just did, they could be killing her now, Damien, and it would be your fault.”

Ice flooded Damien’s spine. It felt like he was kicked in the chest, and he gasped for air against the magic which cocooned him. It was no wonder his parents refused to tell him the truth. Damien was a loose cannon.

Not long after, Hope hugged him and rubbed his back. “It’s okay. Brian’s with Amira, and we’ve got spells to disguise where we hid Dahlia. We just need to hang tight until Joy comes to get us, okay? Just get some rest for the time being. God knows what comes after this.”

Damien nodded. But as Hope drifted to sleep, he was restless. Hope’s magic melted away and he laid against the concave wall.

What was to become of Vicky? And the ritual Vera and Zoe performed? And what was to become of Damien’s lovers? The questions spun in his brain like cyclones, it made him twitch with worry.

---

Electricity pierced Vicky’s breastbone. It felt like a hammer shattered her ribs, and she screamed as she was thrown into a pillar. Blood filled her mouth where her teeth sliced open her tongue. But fatigued and disoriented, Vicky was able to ignore the awful taste. Instead, she crouched and glared at James as blood poured from her lips. Lightning arced from her burns and blood, it clapped against the damp stone.

While Vicky was able to conjure lightning, she was uncontrollable and unpredictable, very unlike James’s lightning.

But while progress was a relief to Vicky, James’s lesson was brutal and Spartan. She was barely able to stand, in and out of consciousness, drained by the lightning strikes. Vicky was so exhausted she didn’t even fear for her life any longer.

Finally, James stopped with a grunt of disapproval. “That’s enough for now. There’s a briefing we need to attend shortly.”

“Briefing?” Vicky asked.

“To fill you in, and to plan our invasion on the LaVey’s kingdom.”

She nodded and followed James.

On the way, Vicky was barely able to keep her eyes open. She braced herself against the wall and tripped over herself as she followed behind him. But Vicky forced her eyes open like glue.

The war room was expansive and barren aside from chairs that surrounded a monochromatic topographical map of Hell. Castles, townships, regions, mountains, rivers were labeled in black ink. Vicky carefully screened the map. The LaVey territory neighbored the Aquino’s, but they were separated by a range of active volcanoes. Vicky wasn’t a tactician, but she found it strange that they were at war nonetheless when they were impeded by extreme natural barriers.

“Welcome, all,” said King Hugo to his audience of eight. His counsel of generals were demons much like himself, blue, horned, adorned in furs. James and Vicky sat across from Robert and a woman more enormous than even Dahlia. Her shoulders alone were the size of basketballs.

“I apologize for the redundancy, but I trust you all know Vicky has recently joined us, so we’ll have a refresher.”

One of Hugo’s servants turned on a projector pointed at a white screen behind Hugo. “The prince is Damien LaVey,” Hugo said as he switched the slide. Damien was handsome, so handsome it took Vicky’s breath away. In their picture, he grinned with impossibly pearly teeth, and his hair was shiny and red like cherries. “He’s not as dangerous as his parents, but he is no stranger to violence. Like Lucien, he is very adept with fire magic.”

When Hugo switched to the following slide, it felt like Vicky was hit by a freight train. “Next is a lesser player, Brian Yu.”

Hugo’s voice became distant. Brian decayed like a fresh corpse, but he smiled at a woman in the picture with him, his arm slung over her shoulders, and Vicky knew that woman well. That woman was her, stitched and grinning, with her wild hair pulled over her shoulder.

And pieces came back to her. Chaotic, without pattern, but pieces Vicky managed to fit together.

They loved her. They were her best friends, and they loved her despite her tainted body and her broken brain. They loved her so much, when she saw Eugene, they stayed with her that night and told her how much she was valued.

In the last seconds before she died, they were proud because she was successful.

Vicky had the knowledge she needed that Hugo lied to her. But her worst suspicions were confirmed. She was in enemy territory, and unless she was very careful, she would die. She settled in her chair and returned her attention to Hugo's presentation.

A picture of a yellow-eyed creature in a hood came onto the screen. “This is King Lucien LaVey. He is our family’s mortal enemy. He has led the LaVey’s effort to destroy our legacy and land since his inception. He is unusually talented with magic.” Hugo flipped to the next slide, a picture of a staff topped with a fiery bird skull. “Since his magic proves to be our greatest obstacle, we will first need to destroy this staff.”

“Well, where is his staff kept?” asked the enormous woman.

“An excellent question, General Quilo. It's with him at all times. Thus, we’ll need a stealth party to invade their home and destroy it. More on that later,” Hugo explained.

“This is our target, however.” A picture of another enormous, blue demon in furs showed. “His name is Stan… Stan Aquino. He is my brother.”

---

Oz should have known that was the case. Nonetheless, he hissed to himself. Their plans were damned, and he was angry, angry enough he drew on stone and slammed his face through the circle and glared upon Lucien’s shape.

“Don’t you think it was important to mention that Hugo and Stan are brothers?” he asked.

Lucien said hoarsely, sadly, “Stan asked me to not share that with you. Our families have been genocidal for generations, and he doesn’t want anything to do with it.”

“But Hugo does.”

“We didn’t know what else to do, Oz. Hugo refused to listen to reason. We didn’t want to raise our son with our families when our efforts to compromise with them were for naught. I understand you’re angry, Oz, but we tried, and we failed.”

“And Vicky had to pay for it,” Oz said, disgusted. He understood, but the secrecy was loathsome. Lucien hung his head.

“There is unfortunate news,” Lucien said, “we have to get Vicky tonight. Damien attacked Dahlia for her role in Vicky’s murder. Amira and some of her friends have Dahlia in custody, but her absence will be noticed, and we will be rightfully blamed. We fear Hugo might hurt Vicky to get back at us.”

“I’ll need help getting her out. The guards pose a threat. I can’t take them on by myself,” Oz said.

“We’ll arrange a raid. But it needs to be now, Oz.”

Oz nodded. “Be swift. Vicky’s life is in danger yet again thanks to you two.”

---

Vicky’s eyes bugged out of her head. Their feud made sense. Her death made sense. Dahlia heard about the robbery and passed on the message to her father, and they passed on the message to the survivors. She was the head of betrayal and blood feuds, and unless she wanted all of her loved ones to die, Vicky had to do something.

But what was she supposed to do? In a room full of generals, she was a novice. They were sure to break every bone in her body did she dare move.

Thankfully, Vicky had allies.

Oz fell onto the table like water poured into a glass. The counsel stared in confusion until it was too late.

Vicky dove under the table as the slaughter began. Lightning crashed, bones crunched, blood splattered on the walls.

James, covered in blood and viscera, with his eyes gouged out, joined her under the table. He growled and grabbed for her. Vicky was quick to react. With a swipe of her crooked fingers, she electrocuted him. Her lightning fried his gored face like batter.

She kicked James out of the way. Quilo and Hugo still lived, but Oz grabbed her and they ran for their lives. Vicky honestly, to her very core, was relieved to see Oz, because while she didn’t remember much about him, she remembered he was her ally and friend without question. She held his hand and smiled.

“I want the truth,” she said, "when we're out of the woods."

“Let’s just focus on getting out of here.”

She nodded as they ran through corridor after corridor. They nearly barrelled into Berenice around a corner.

Oz cursed. Bewildered, Berenice asked, “Vicky, who is this?”

Vicky slammed her eyes shut just as fear ripped out of Oz's chest. They ran, and Vicky didn’t open her eyes until after she stumbled over a pair of disembodied calves. Berenice was her only friend among the Aquino, but Vicky was overwhelmed by the chase and carnage to grieve Berenice, and she understood the necessity to silence witnesses.

The alarm blared. Surely, it was the doing of Quilo or Hugo. The blood drained from Vicky's face. The guards were sure to swarm.

“We need to find a window! I don’t know where the entrance is!” Vicky said.

“Good idea, Vicky.” Oz burst through a door to no window avail. They kicked down door after door for escape until they were surrounded.

“Look, I don’t want to hurt any of you,” Oz said, “but you need to let us through.”

Vicky’s breath picked up. She felt lightheaded. But they needed to dispatch those guards, or convince them to let them through.

She summoned her lightning. It manifested from her knee and hairline. But it was weak like static. When Vicky tried again, her legs gave, and she fell into ash.

[chaosmultiverse]

☠️ for dahlia

Dahila had a girm look on her face, she was biting her bottom lip as she thought of how to answer this. She loved Miranda dearly and she... The idea of killing Miranda was a lot.

"If I had to? If I had to then I would do it with some honor and challenge her to a fight, weapon of her choice and we would duel, winner take all, a deal if you will. I win I get her soul and her life is forefit, she wins? Whatever it she wills as her reward, probably my life and perhaps my soul, I'm not sure she'd want that though."

[chaosmultiverse]

GRABBING DAHLIA AND DRAGGING TO HER BEACH. GRABBING DAHLIA AND DRAGGING TO HER BEACH. GRABBING DAHLIA AND DRAGGING TO HER BEACH. IT'S SPRINGTIME IT'S WARM ENOUGH FOR IT MIRANDA IS DEMANDING HER MANDATORY FISH FUN TIME. IT'S THE BEACH EPISODE NOW COME ALONG.

CHEERING AND HALLOWING FOR BEACH TIME! CHEERING AND PICKING UP MIRI TO RUN TO THE BEACH WITH HER LONG LEGS

"BEACH EPISODE HERE WE COME!"

[chaosmultiverse]

“Did I hear something about me being allowed in the Coven?” 

[chaosmultiverse]

a tentative ,  exploratory kiss between friends . + a kiss to prove you don’t have feelings for them . for dahlia because there's nothing weird about kissing ya homies

Dahila had been spending time with Miranda ather VR at camp, she had spent the whole morning on just one badge and felt a bit burned out so she knew that with Miranda she could rest for awhile and get to spend time with her dear friend.

She had been joking with Miranda about the Color Crew and their new cohorts in trying to sorce a date, Dahila did find it endearing but also really really funny when they failed. Either way that was how the topic lf romance came up.

Dahila had given thought to if there was any suitable match for herself outside of hell, and Miranda came to mind but no, that would be a mess, the LaVeys pretty much had been trying to win favor with the merkingdom from day one, they wouldn't allow an enemy to come in and date the heir, not to mention she didn't know what sorts of plans Miranda's own kingdom had for her... Still her name did come to mind, Miranda didn't have to try like so many others did to win Dahila over, she was admired without action by Dahlia.

Dahila made what she thought was a off hand comment "-I bet any of them would pass out if one of us just gave a friendly kiss, won't they?"

She had seen Miranda kiss some of her friends before, and it seemed to be something a few others did, it made sense to Dahila, for demons just raw physicality was pretty much nonthing, demons ideas of pain and intimacy were different, more tied to their souls and the less physical.

Something about what she said seemed to say catch Miranda's ears, Dahila wasn't sure what so she'd pry a litte "I mean, I've nearly knocked someone over once when I was testing their kissing skills so I guess in my case it'd be justified."

Dahila gazed at Miranda, who seemed... Unsure about something at least that's what Dahila could make out, until she spoke up, asking about what Dahila meant by 'testing someone's kissing skills'.

"Oh that's pretty simple, I have some demons within my army whose job is pretty much to be honey pots, if they can't kiss then how can they do their jobs? So I test it myself, it's not really a big deal like how some of the others here would treat it." Dahila was happy in this case to explain, it wasn't anything messy or secret, just some harmless leadership stuff.

Still it seemed to make the gears in Miranda's head turn, Dahila wasn't really sure with what though, maybe that was a very odd thing culturaly?

But then she asked if Dahila had ever considered 'testing' her friends.

If Dahila was a honest person she would say no, she hadn't, she had thought of kissing some of her friends in many contexts but not in the same context of how she'd test something meant to be weaponized...

But she knew that wasn't exactly the question being asked, it was a question related to the pior topic but wasn't that, and the answer to that question would be;

"Yeah sure I have, I mean who doesn't wonder about if their friends are good kissers? There isn't really a good way to know til you try."

Dahila couldn't help but find she was staring at Miranda's lips, she already knew that Miranda was in all likelihood a amazing kisser, she'd feel confident betting her soul on it... But yet she wanted to see where this was going, was... Was that selfish? She wasn't sure, but she was already here, doing it, not revealing her true thoughts... They were too dangerous.

Then Miranda asked for something that felt more like a dare from one of those party games, asked if Dahila could tell her if she was a good kisser. Dahila felt she could see more going on behind Miranda's eyes but she won't look into it, Miranda deserved her private thoughts, and deserved to not have her motives questioned... or maybe that was a excuse to not look into her own motives.

"Well I'd need to kiss you first." An a out, if Miranda wanted it, a catch to say 'oh well then I won't know' 'I don't want to kiss you Dahila' or anything to avoid doing it, she knew it had to be a friendly kiss, like the ones she had mentioned before but still... The weight of two crowns, even if one was more a war hlem weigh on every a small gesture between them.

Miranda gave her approval.

Dahila nodded and leaned in to kiss Miranda, she did feel her heart skip a beat but she pushed though, she held Miranda by the shoulders, keeping her steady but not too close, after all this was just friendly.

Dahila was a firm kisser, her teeth's overbite did dig a bit into Miranda's lips but broke no skin, Dahila seemed to use some sort of candy flavored lip beam, it wasn't a strong flavor but it was there along with the energy drink smells from Dahila's mouth.

Dahila hadn't been sure what she was expecting, she knew it'd feel good but she hadn't known the exacts, it felt like finally finding a firm but soft pillow, it was hard to find people who Dahila didn't feel like she had to treat like paper dolls or who were just as steely as her but... Miranda was perfect in that sense, it did feel like holding another but without fear, well no fear of physically hurting Miranda.

But it was the fear of worse pain that did make her pull away, not just melt into affection with Miranda and throw everything to thewind. that would behorrible to someone that meant so much to her, so she'd say nothing, that was better, less cruel.

"Wow yeah you're pretty good, if I had to rank it I'd say nine out of ten, and ten is basically impossible so you got the highest sorce I've given."

[chaosmultiverse]

So, given it was a yearly holiday that meant those within the student body who had been there for the last semester would have had a chance to see Miranda for themselves and perhaps one of them had a better idea on what the issue was, of course she endes up basically talking to every person who had been there during that time but a few stuck out in the fog of vague "I don't know, she gets withdrawn and upset."

~☆~

Polly was always easy to get information out of, she was friendly and bubbly and as Dahila well noted didn't seem to understand the stakes of those around her.

"Huh? Oh yeah!- Last year was like this too, I- Well I hardly saw Miranda last year around this time she... Well at the time I thought someone had died or something."

~☆~

Hope, Dahila knew well she had been at school last year, she had went to Prom with Damien after all, of course she would hel-

"I don't know anything about Miranda, don't bother her and don't bother me about it." That was all Dahila got before Hope had stormed off... Okay weird but not helpful.

~☆~

He laughed in her face when she asked, honestly that surprised her normally he'd either play annoyed and mighty or actually be decently friendly, especially when it came to a shared friend like Miranda.

"I'm not telling you shit." Damien very bluntly answered, as he got back to playing with one of his pocket knives.

"I- Why not? I swear this has nothing to do with any duels to the death or attempts-"

"Dahila, full offense but do I look like I spawned fucking yesterday?-" a little given the spicey red baby nickkname "-Even if it's not some plot against me- which I totally don't buy it isn't- you might just wanna mess with Miranda when she's 'weak'-"

Dahila grabbed him by collar, normally she would have more backing a threat like this but anger in this case overtook logic

"WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING I'D DO, PRINCE?" The room was ice cold.

Damien quickly slashed at her hands, it wasn't enough to really hurt her but enough to make her flich and drop him, the room returning to its prior temperature.

"I dunno! I just know that you could do something fucked up, and I won't let that be on my watch. I don't care if you act like it doesn't matter to you she's royalty, I've heard of how that one can play out, so just... Let someone... Less likely to get her in a different mess help."

Damien left because Dahila allowed it, she had never wanted to hurt him more than right then, but no, that won't help.

What was helpful was knowing that Damien probably knew a little more than some of the others, good she already spied on him.

[chaosmultiverse]

☕☕☕☕☕ for all of your monprom muses, even-

Under the cut due to amount of muses

“Oh, this looks nice.” The tea gave off a sweet aroma and as Sawyer drank it they found it to be a overwhelmly sweet taste, it reminded them of saltwater taffy.

20% Health Restored

“Oh hell yeah!” The tea tasted like a fruity mixed drink mixed with iced tea, the main fruit being passion fruit, the sort of thing you’d drink watching a sunset over the sea

75% Health Restored

“This should be good.” Oz had to put in effort to taste anything, but he was happy to taste this, it tasted like a fine wine mixed together with the lovely salty taste of sea water.

50% Health Restored

Joy

Joy considered the tea before taking a sip, it tasted like mx of fresh mint & a floral scent brought to taste, it tasted like the water breathing potions the coven kept on hand.

25% Health Restored

“I‘m not so sure about this...” Hope won’t be sure how to explain the smell and as she tasted it she started to gag, the flavor was odd, overwhelming, Hope would only be able to liken it to smell of tar or the taste of salt water on a dry tongue she spat out the tea.

10% Harm Done

“How odd, it tastes like pink lemonade, mixed with a mana potion... Interesting.” 

25% Health Restored

Vera knew how to drink tea like a proper lady, she enjoyed the smell of roses the tea gave off, drinking it she found the taste to be a mx of strawberries, roses and seaweed.

75% Health Restored

“Oh gemme!” Moss drank it up, it tasted like pink flavored marshmallows to him. 

50% Health Restored

Dahila slammed down the drink after one long, big goulp of it “IT TASTES AMAZING- Like if you combined the best energy drinks, dragon fruit and fresh fish.”

90% Health Restored

He stared down at the cup, it was clear he had already drank it. “To be rather blunt, it tastes like blood... And metal, gold perhaps? My pallet isn’t strong enough to be sure. I suppose this must just be the result of tasting a tea meant to taste like a person.”

0% Health Restored

Jun-Seo seemed to be licking the tea out of the cup before he was noticed. “Tastes pretty good to me, like a strong seaweed flavor with some cherry mixed in.”

25% Health Restored

“...” He was holding the fancy pink tea cup, frowning. “It tastes like pink cotton candy and tuna...”

5% Health Restored

“...It tastes like... Pink... Don’t ask me how pink is a flavor it just is, and a minor healing potion.”

30% Health Restored

Jerry

“Uhh.” Jerry did try his best to drink the tea but it seemed to be leaking out of his mask “...I don’t actually have working taste buds...”

0% Health Restored

D was sipping on the tea peacefully “...I’m not sure how to say this in a way that doesn’t sound really bad but... Sorta tastes like my girlfriend’s mouth and strawberry chapstick had a lovechild.”

10% Health Restored

[chaosmultiverse]

F-tier princess.

Miranda a F-tier princess?

Dahila is on her way to have a little talk with Damian.

[chaosmultiverse]

15 for vera, salil, and dahlia

How often do your admit you were wrong?

"Ugh... Probably not as often as I should. It's rare I do but... I do try to make a point of it if it's someone I should be treating with or expecting loyalty from."

"Well, I'm right more often than not; even if others refuse to see my side of things. I'll admit I'm wrong on some things; when others admit they were more wrong and treated me poorly due their own bullshit."

"I'd say pretty often honestly. It's a apart of being a leader, if I expect my torps to follow me into battle then I owe 'em honestly if I'm wrong on something. Better to own up to it than to try and act 'cool and pretend you weren't."

[chaosmultiverse]

💭 + sacrifice (dahlia)

“It can be one of the most noble and selfless things someone can do, to give up something of value for a greater cause... It can also be one of the most stupid, short-sighted and selfish things to do. Depends on the context, on the moment it’s used.

There’s stories of humans whom know that a loved one intends on trading their soul for something of real value, and the human does in their stead, but it depends on the story how it goes. Sometimes everything goes great for the one that gained and sometimes they can never move past what happened and trade away their own soul for the first person.

To get anything from a demon, you’ve got to sacrifice something to it, normally a soul. And most demons aren’t bothered by it, at least not much but... It’s hard to not feel guilt if people are sacrificing everything to you, for you.

...I’ve thought about it, for myself. If I were ever to sacrifice something, it’d need to do something big, it’d need to be for the many it’d be costly... And again it’d need to be for many, I don’t want a sole person to feel at fault.”

[chaosmultiverse]

💭 + for dahlia, on the aquino family

Send 💭 + a topic and my muse will tell you what they think about it.

“Oh, my family, that’s pretty easy, I’m loyal to ‘em” There were a few moments of dead silence, Dahlia slowly realizing she needed to say more than just that.

“I mean, they’re the strongest- We’re the strongest ‘family’ in hell, which means a lot since really the only reason demons normally partner up and brother with children s for the stake of power, be it magical, demonic or more vague stuff like land or social power. And at the top of those families is mine, my mother has a great deal of physical power, strength within her body while my parent has a great deal of demonic power and powerful ties with leaders all over the place, both within and outside of Hell.” Dahlia’s voice was fond.

“...I want them to be proud, when they talk about me... They always tell me about the things they expect from me one day but,  wanna hear them be proud of me; right now.”