#Familiar Strangers

[mari-lair]

Now that the fic is done, here is some extra info on Familiar Strangers that I couldn't find a way to sneak in the story:

- The Opera Manager is already dead, he has been dead for a while so he does not age. He was not fully human while alive and he cannot leave his opera house. He has a crush on his Assistant Manager but is so god awful at flirting that his Assistant is convinced he wants to ruin his wedding and ruin his life: He hates him way more than canon Akane ever hated Teru.

- The Opera Manager was genuine in his attempt to help Akane go back to his dimension, but since Akane was in his supernatural form, which is closer to a dead body than a living one, he was sent to a place where his counterpart died at 16.

- Witch Aoi had many internal monologues where she compares Akane in his clock keeper outfit to a prince. She tells Nene about the encounter later and is teased mercilessly about it.

- Witch Aoi put a spell on her pie that would make the eater feel happy. The more pie is eaten, the stronger the burst of joy.

- In the Zombie Apocalypse world, Aoi and Akane started dating months before Teru. It was kind of awkward for Teru to be a thrid wheel since they were still close, always together.

- The survival trio made a pact that if Aoi got bitten by a zombie, Teru would kill her before she lost her mind and tried to attack a friend, Akane would kill Teru if he was the bitten one, and Teru would kill Akane. Akane also made Teru promise to keep Aoi safe at all costs if he died.

- Teru used to use a gun, cause even with the detriment of having to hoard ammunition, it was safer to keep a distance. Teru was unable to keep using it after his hand was damaged but he still had it when Akane was bitten. He shot him in the head.

[abrighterspark]

19. a reminder:

soft flows the river

where the rain remains

a rhythm of a story of old:

two entangled cosmic filaments

caught up in themselves

blind to their own estrangement

[soulinkpoetry]

Why sometimes you feel more comfortable opening up to strangers.

Idk if it makes any sense but some strangers don’t feel like strangers. They feel familiar from the very first moment you meet them.

.

.

[endless-sketching]

Reading manga off of piracy sites with comment sections gets wild sometimes

Like you'd be reading this one manga and saw this one guy commenting the same thing over and over

Then you'd see another person in the comments of a yuri manga, specifically Kase-san to Morning Glories, and then see them again in the comments of Hourou Musuko

This place's comment section has the same energy as seeing familiar strangers

[unspecifiedfigure]

his ass is NOT listening

[stevieschrodinger]

Thinking about no upside down everyone's happy and healthy and *cough* alive. Witch!Steve's happy off living his best life in his super cute cottage with his cute garden making soaps that help with itches and creams that clear up bruises and just generally being content. His best friend Robin who has convinced herself that Steve is lonely and Robin is a Meddler (TM) so she, not having anywhere near Steve's skill with magic, steals one of his books and Steve's favourite crystal and a flower from the roses that grow over his front door, and goes home with them.

And she summons Steve a familiar, except she doesn't tell Steve and when she doesn't hear anything for a bit, she assumes she got it wrong or something.

Meanwhile Steve is trying to shoo a jet black snake out of his cottage, except it keeps hiding in the cupboards. Steve ejects the thing to the bottom of the garden in a pillow case. He's very gentle because he's fairly sure the snake is magical in some way.

This is confirmed when the snake, after being told they are very pretty but 'not an inside snake' actually responds by 'hiss'ing.

It doesn't hiss.

It says the word 'hiss'. And it says it repeatedly when it's being carried in the pillow case.

"You can come back when you learn some manners," Steve informs the very male sounding snake. Not that Steve wants to make any assumptions.

Anyway long story short, Eddie is Steve's familiar and he can turn man shaped and makes Steve's magic so much stronger and the reason Robin doesn't hear anything for ages is because they fall in love and have been sexing it up with Eddie's double snake dicks.

Or something.

[oneforthemunny]

what we do in the shadows |familiar!eddie munson x vampire!reader|

prompt: eddie is your familiar, but sometimes, he can be more than just your supernatural servant.

based off the fx show, what we do in the shadows. a little au version with eddie and the gang from hawkins :)

contains: au. familiar!eddie, vampire!reader. mentions of murder. vampire things. blood. types of vampires (energy vampire lol). mean! bitchy! reader. alludes to smut?? sorta smut but not really but slight dom!reader x sub!eddie. language. minors dni.

“Eddie!” 

The muffled screech jolted Eddie from his mundane dusting, the feathered duster falling with a heavy thud onto the dark carpet, dust flying in a cloud at his feet. “Son of a bitch,” Eddie huffed, chains of his belt rattling when he bent, snatching the duster off the rug. 

“Eddie! Can you not hear me?” The piercing scream echoed through the hallway, echoing off the dark, wallpapered walls. Eddie knew he needed to hurry, that the banging on the coffin’s lid would come next, your fury following for the rest of the day. 

“I’m coming, Mistress!” Eddie’s teeth gritted, sliding down the dim, candlelit halls. How this place had managed to not burn down yet, Eddie wasn’t sure. The three of you were careless enough with the candles, always leaving them burning without a care. He supposed it was his job. 

“Eddie! Where the fuck is he?” Your muffled tone came from the coffin, black and dramatic in the middle of the room. 

“I’m here, I’m here.” Eddie huffed, pushing his bangs back out of his eyes. He needed a haircut, desperately, but with his new career, he supposed that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. 

“Finally,” You growled. Eddie was met with your glowing amber eyes narrowing in predatory rage when he lifted the coffin’s heavy lid. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?” You snapped. 

“I’m sorry.” Eddie nodded, swallowing back a snapping comment. “I was dusting down the hall, and I lost track of-” 

“-Nevermind.” You snapped, rising quickly into a standing position. “Help me down. I have much to do today.” 

“Yes, Mistress.” Eddie stood to the side, offering his hand for you to take as you climbed down. He always wondered why you insisted on being helped out, as if you couldn’t fly out, snap your fingers and be wherever you wanted to be. It was symbolic, he decided, a way to ensure that he knew his place. 

Your hand slid into his. His skin tickled when you brushed your long, claw-like nails that were freshly painted every Tuesday. He’d gotten very good at it, Eddie thought. A hiss fell through the room, your hand pulled back with a sizzling burn, teeth bared towards him in threat. 

“What- Eddie! What have I told you about those rings?” You pointed accusingly at his rings- silver. It was a habit, to slip them on in the morning, one he hadn’t broken yet. “Are you trying to hurt me?” 

“No, no.” Eddie shook his head frantically, tugging the rings off, shoving them in his pocket. “I’m sorry. I-I forgot-” 

“-I’m sure you did.” You rolled your eyes, lips pursed in displeasure. “Don’t let it happen again. I burn myself again on those cursed things, and you’ll not have a hand to put them on anymore. Understand?” You clipped, nose in the air as you climbed down, nails digging into his skin just enough to solidify the threat. 

“Yes, Mistress.” Eddie swallowed, following the commanding sway of your hips. “I won’t let it happen again.” 

“Good.” You chirped. There it was. The whirlwind that was your emotions. Mood swings, Eddie never understood why they called them that until he met you. How you would go from raging to sweet in the bat of an eye. Maybe it came with being a vampire. 

“Get my dress.” You waved your hand, the heavy mahogany closet door flinging open with ease. 

“Which one were you wanting today?” Eddie swallowed his agitated sigh. 

It had been a rough couple of days, the three- fuck, four, of his new found ‘roommates’ had been on a bender of sorts. A bender that would put the rockstars he idolized in high school to shame, much more metal than them. It was fun, Eddie would admit, but it was tiresome. Especially when he was still very much human, and so very exhausted. 

“The black one.” You hummed, looking into a mirror you couldn’t see yourself in. Habit, of course, even after all these years. 

“They’re all black, Mistress.” Eddie gritted, eyes pinching closed. 

“The one with the long sleeves.” You waved him off. “You know the one I like.” 

And he did. Eddie knew most everything about you at this point. Which dress you liked, your preference of food source, how many candles you liked lit at a time. 

Eddie pushed through the racks, stopping when he saw the velvet garment. It was what you were wearing when he first met you. At the Hideout, where he was still bussing tables, hoping to finally get a weekend gig. You strolled in, magnetic from the moment his eyes laid eyes on you. So… intriguing in your tight velvet dress, fastened with a corset that held you up and in beautifully. Initially, he’d went to try and ask you out, and you’d humored his attempts because you were hungry. Then, after a few hours of conversation, you both decided he’d be a better Familiar than a meal.

“Eddie,” You hissed, breath whistling through your fangs. The sound never failed to make Eddie’s spine tingle, hair raising on the back of his neck in fear. “Have you hit your head? Is that it?” 

“No,” Eddie grumbled, pushing the wooden hangers. 

“Then what is it? Hm? Why are you dragging your feet today?” You snapped, hands curling around your hips. 

“My apologies, Mistress.” Eddie huffed. “I’m just- nevermind. Here. I found it.” Eddie pulled the lacy material, hanging sleeves and bouts of black fabric out of the closet, hanging it on the door for you. 

“No, finish what you were going to say.” Your eyes narrowed into his, commanding, but lacking the usual tone of challenge and threat. “You’re what?” 

“It’s nothing. I’m fine. Do you need help zipping up this one-” 

“-No, answer me, Eddie.” You lifted a finger towards him. “Do not make me use compulsion. I know how groggy and moody you get after it, and I have many plans for today. I’d rather not, but if you’re not going to comply, then I will be forced to-” 

“-You don’t have to- Fuck, I’m just tired.” Eddie’s shoulders slumped in defeat, running a hand over his face. “I didn’t sleep much last night.” 

“Why?” Your head tilted, lips pursed in curiosity, reaching for the dress before sliding behind the dressing curtain. 

“Because,” Eddie tried to focus on the carpet, on the candle wax that dripped off the table, anywhere but the curtain you were behind though he ached for even a silhouetted sliver of your frame. “I just couldn’t sleep.” 

“Maybe you should get a coffee?” You peaked over the bamboo wood, a brow lifting in… playfulness? 

“I think Robin has the lock box in her room. Ask her for it and go get yourself one.” As if draining a victim of their blood wasn’t enough, Eddie’s career consisted of stealing from them too. It always left him feeling a little uneasy, guilty, robbing the deceased. 

“I’m alright. I just need a second to wake up.” Eddie muttered, heel of his palm pressing to his eyes, rubbing so hard he saw stars. 

“Fine, but I better not hear one yawn during the house meeting.” You glared, stepping out from behind the dressing curtain. “You know how that irks me. Zip me.” 

Eddie stood, one hand holding the top together, pulling the zipper slowly up your spine, finger brushing over your spine. Your skin was cold, like ice, a chilling reminder of what you truly were. 

“Last chance.” You turned, swiping your shoes from the floor, discarded from the night before. “Before I go and wake the others.” 

“I’m fine.” Eddie nodded softly, lips curling with the hinting of a smile. “Thank you.” 

Your lips pursed, shifting at the sudden gratitude. He knew you were about to say something mean, put him down to establish your own dominance, you were predictable that way. “Don’t thank me,” You scoffed. “It’s not for you. I don’t want to hear your yawning.” You scoffed, eyes rolling hard towards him, before you were stomping down the creaking wooden planks of the hall. 

The Creel Mansion was still standing strong, despite its abandoned looking exterior. It had been your refuge for years, decades even, since Victor had first brought you there. It was his house before, but now all that remained of him was a portrait at the end of the hall, half covered by a black veil you refused to let Eddie move. 

“Robin!” Your shrill tone made Eddie wince, ears ringing at the pitch. “Nancy!” 

“What?” Robin groaned, her voice muffled with sleep from the door of her coffin, which you pulled open, uncaring of disrupting her slumber. “What- Why?” 

“House meeting. Hurry, before he gets home.” You muttered, turning over your shoulder towards Eddie. “Eddie, go check downstairs. Make sure he didn’t slip in early.” 

Eddie nodded, grabbing a small handheld lantern- a gift from you. He kept burning himself with the candle opera you’d gifted him, and when he wasn’t searing his skin off with the flame, he was turning to quickly and extinguishing all the flames. You told him it was because he’d wake you up with his fumbling in the dark. When you’d included the batteries with the small lantern, Eddie was convinced it was because you were growing a soft spot for him. 

A creaking of a door had Eddie jumping, looking through the flickering flames with his bright plastic lantern. “Uh, hey,” Eddie stepped closer. “Anyone there?” 

The silence was an eerie answer, Eddie swinging the lantern around. It was times like this, he really wished that the electricity still worked, that he could flick a light on, and see what was lurking in the shadows. The dining room appeared empty, a few spider webs and lots of dust, but lack of any danger Eddie could see. 

“Looking for something?” 

“Jesus Christ! What the fuck-” Eddie jumped, nearly dropping his lantern, tripping over his own feet to scatter away from the figure in front of him. 

“Did I scare ya?” Jonathan’s lips curled in a half smile, standing rigidly in the doorway. “You know, they say if you get scared easily, you’re not living right. That’s a saying that’s been repeated and found all throughout history. In Christianity, oddly enough, is where they-” 

“-Alright, Jonathan. I got it.” Eddie lifted a hand, his heart still hammering. He could feel his lids beginning to droop, eyes starting to gloss over the way they always did when Jonathan ‘fed’. A shitty excuse for a vampire, Eddie thought, What the fuck even is a psychic vampire? 

“Oh,” Your face fell, contorting into a grimace when you came down the steps. “Jonathan, you are home early today.” 

“Yes, I decided to come home early today.” Jonathan droned in a painful monotone that had your shoulders tensing. “I didn’t want to miss the house meeting.” 

“Wonderful.” You grimaced, looking at Eddie with an annoyed sneer. He fought back a snicker, turning to the bat down a cobweb that he missed. You could be funny at times, when you wanted. 

“I know you three tried to hide it from me, but you always talk too loud. You forget the walls are thin. Which reminds me, did you know that back in the early nineteen-hundreds when this house was first built, that architects of that time used-” 

“-Yes, Jonathan. Please, shut the fuck up.” Robin groaned, falling into the leather armchair. 

“Jonathan, I really can’t humor you today.” Nancy glared at him lightly. “You know the rules, if you’re going to be in a house meeting with us, you can’t feed off of us.” 

“I know.” Jonathan lifted his hands. “Sorry, I can’t help myself.” He turned to Eddie with a grin. “Guess it’s just you I’ll be feeding from.” 

“Not from my Familiar either, Jonathan.” You snapped, teeth baring in territorial threat. “Eddie is off limits.” Eddie’s chest swelled with pride, chin tipping towards the floor, hoping it would hide his blush. 

“Why are we even having a house meeting?” Robin rolled her eyes, the bags under her eyes especially prominent from lack of slumber. 

“Because,” You hissed, shoulders tight with annoyance. “You three need to get your own familiar.” 

Robin scoffed, Nancy rolling her eyes in agreement. “What?” 

“You three always call for Eddie to do everything, and it distracts him from me.” You jabbed a sharp nail into your chest. “I need him to be attentive to my needs, not yours. Go get your own familiar.” 

“Oh, please-” 

“-We only ask him to do a few things that should already be done-” 

“-I have to agree with Rob and Nance on this one.” Jonathan lifted a finger. 

“Do not call me that.” Nancy hissed, her teeth baring in the dull light of the room. 

“Nan?” Jonathan turned, eyes lighting up though his expression stayed neutral, the way it always did when he was feeding. 

“Ok,” You lifted your hands, stopping the attack Nancy was about to launch. “Find your own familiar. Eddie is my familiar, and is to attend to me exclusively.” 

“I’m sure he does.” Robin muttered, Nancy’s snicker making your ears burn- well, it would, if they still could. Eddie’s cheeks did burn a bright red, shifting at the innuendo. 

Your eyes narrowed, a threatening glare that neither of your roommates seemed phased by, only furthering your irritation. A sharp snap of your fingers, heavy soled steps clicking down the hall, and Eddie was following you.  

“Idiots,” You hissed, flinging the door open. “All of them. I should’ve told them no, that they’d have to find their own nest, but oh no. I had to feel fucking generous and kind that day.” 

Eddie stood in your doorway, hands rubbing down the material of his jeans, unsure of what to say, what to do. His eyes on you, waiting for your next command, for you to tell him what you were wanting, what you were thinking. 

“Are you just going to stand there?” You huffed, a lashing tone that had Eddie jumping. 

“No, wha-what do you need me to do?” Eddie stammered, uneasy with the glare you were giving him, so menacing. He knew better, or at least he thought he did, that you wouldn’t hurt him. You’d chosen him to be your Familiar for a reason… right?

“I don’t know, something?” You scoffed, eyes rolling back over his frame. “Maybe start with changing your clothes. We’re going out tonight and I’m not being seen with you in that.” 

Eddie’s lips pursed, jaw grinding tight. He’d blame the lack of sleep on his agitation. “What do you want me to wear then, Mistress?” Eddie’s tone was bitter, toying on the edge of annoyance. 

“Who are you speaking to-” 

“-You.” Eddie snapped, shocking both of you. There was a pause, realization washing over the two of you. “I just- I like what I have on, ok?” Eddie’s tone was softer, looking down at his ripped jeans and holey band tee. “It’s what people from this century wear.” 

Your lips rolled, flattening into a furious line. For a moment, Eddie thought you might pounce- fully preparing himself for the hiss, the baring of teeth, to feel his throat being ripped from his neck. Instead, you simply huffed, turning on your foot. 

“Fine.” A quipping, positively moody huff of a reply came. In that moment, you sounded petulant, human. 

“If you insist on wearing mauled clothing, then so be it.” You shrugged, a snarl still pulling on the edge of your lips. 

“Thank you.” Eddie nodded, swallowing down the tremble in his throat. “And, uh, thank you for before, too.” You turned, brow lifted in intrigue. “For- During the meeting.” 

“I didn’t do that for you.” Your reply was quick, teetering on defensive. “I did that for myself. I can’t wait for you because they’re too lazy to go out and compel their own Familiar.” 

“Right.” Eddie’s shoulders slumped in defeat. He gave up, ready to throw the towel in. Clearly, you were set on your mood and there would be no changing it. No swaying it with charming kindness today. 

“I’m going to go.” Eddie stepped towards the door. “I’ll go dust or something. Just let me know when you’re ready to go-” 

“-No.” Your voice echoed through the halls, bouncing off the walls, a sense of urgency that had Eddie freezing. 

You wrung your hands in front of you, anxiously. “No, just- stay in here.” 

Eddie frowned. “You just told me to go do something.” 

“I know,” You huffed. “But, just stay in here with me. Robin and Nancy won’t be ready for hours, and… and if you go down there Jonathan will try to feed and drain you, and-” 

Eddie recognized the ramble in your tone, a sliver of humanity breaking through the cracks of your cold, monstrous exterior. It was rare, you to turn soft like this- needy, but Eddie knew why you did it. He knew what you wanted. 

“Fine.” Eddie nodded, stepping into your bedroom, shutting the door carefully so the candles didn’t blow out. 

A lingering pause fell between the two of you, thick with an uncomfortable but familiar tension. Routine but an oddity all the same. 

“What do you want me to do in here, hm?” Eddie’s voice dropped, slow steps across the hardwood towards you. “Just sit here and stare at you.” 

“No,” Your chest tightened. It had been years since your heart had beat, but you swore Eddie could make it skip. “Surely, there’s something better that we could do to pass the time.” You declared, voice a little shaky with desperation to regain your control. 

“Yeah? What do you have in mind?” Eddie’s lips curled in a smirk, his face near inches from yours. “I’m at your service, Mistress.” 

Your body tingled with heat, the only warmth you craved, the only warmth you needed. You were shocked, when you first transitioned to your undead state, that this feeling didn’t go away. If anything, it grew stronger. 

“I think you know what I have in mind.” You glared at him, half heartedly. “Don’t make me beg, or I’ll make you beg later.” 

“I would never, Mistress.” Your thighs twitched, Eddie’s hands sliding over the lacy material of your dress, the swell of your hips. “I’m your faithful servant. You just tell me what you want- whatever you need.” 

“Hm,” You breathed slowly, your body closing in with him, chest to chest. Your nails raked over the etched skin of his forearms, dragging a sharp nail up his neck, to his jaw. Eddie shuddered, fingers sinking into your waist 

Your lip grazed over his, mouth parting just barely, your fangs hovering over his bottom lip teasingly. Eddie swallowed back a moan that you didn’t miss. Your eyes met his, darker now- nearly black, the way they always darkened when you got like this. Aroused and needy, entirely hungry for something. 

“You’ve got to be quiet this time.” You gave him a pointed look. “They heard last time. They’re starting to catch on.” 

“Sorry.” Eddie swallowed, nose brushing over yours. He wanted to press his hand to the back of your head, kiss you with an urgency, but he knew better. That wasn’t how you liked it. Oh no, you liked the anticipation, the adrenaline filled excitement that came with teasing. 

“Who cares if they know anyways?” Eddie muttered brainlessly, eyes glossing when they met yours. “What’s so wrong with it?” 

“It’s unnatural.” You whispered. “Complicated.” 

“What’s so complicated about it?” Eddie scoffed lightly, hand sliding up your spine, towards your zipper. “You’re turning me into a vampire anyways, right? Why’s it matter?” 

You hesitated, breath hitching and ghosting over his lip, chilling him. “It’s just- it makes things difficult now.” You stammered, fingers sliding through his hair. “I don’t want to talk about that now.” Your thumbs pressed lightly to his temples, his eyes meeting yours. 

“For now,” You purred, lips curling in a small grin. “I think you should thank me again, but this time,” Your nose brushed over his. “By letting me sit on your face. That seems fair, right? You thank me, I keep you quiet- a win-win.” 

Eddie blushed, lips spreading in a wide grin. “Yes, Mistress.”

[rogueddie]

Eddie trying repeatedly to make a move on Steve, sometimes chickening out himself but often the kids or Robin interrupting, and he grows increasingly frustrated.

Only for Steve to be the one who gets too impatient and finally snaps at the kids to "get out so Eddie can finally fucking kiss me, I've waited long enough and I'm not letting you brats ruin my chances again!"

Mike bluescreens, 404 error page not found

[upsidedog]

i was gonna do this meme with the original format then a much better came to mind

[lazylittledragon]

something about beginnings

[boarcide]

I truly think that one of the biggest tragedies in BEAST in regards to the Akutagawa siblings is that, at the core of it, Ryuunosuke viewed himself as a beast, and showed his love in a way a beast would, while Gin was the only person who ever saw him as human and judged him accordingly. She did not see a beast acting like a beast, the way everybody else did, she saw a human acting like a beast and it’s part of what drove her away.

The ADA saw their rookie detective at his worst, and watched—and continues to watch—him grow from a beast to a human over time. Consumed by hatred and only knowing how to be cruel, and slowly learning how to become human.

Gin saw her brother at his best—the best he could be in their situation—and then watched him grow from a boy to a beast within moments. The scraps of humanity that he had, all disappearing into rage so primal it no longer made him seem human.

[mari-lair]

There isn't anyone who knows about dimensional travel in the zombie apocalypse AU, so Akane would indeed have been stuck there forever T-T.

Akane's presence would make Aoi and Teru survive for longer than a week: He gives them the strenght to hope, a boost to their spent determination to stay alive, and his power is extremely useful, be it for escapes, to fight, or to steal supplies.

Akane would be tense and somewhat angry at the survivors on the first days, maybe for a whole week, cause it becomes increasingly more obvious that they are babying him, and that they still want him: while there is a genuine attempt to respect his boundaries Akane can feel their desire to date him, to make out. (Teru and Aoi are doing their very best but they really suck at pretending not to be down bad for Akane.)

Akane would go to his human form at some point, just to feel human again, but he spend most of his time in his supernatural form, both because his lack of ponytail and school uniform makes him look exactly like a pre-apocalypse version of their dead Akane, and because he doesn't need to eat or sleep as a supernatural, which is an insane advantage in a world with low supplies.

When Akane finally comes to terms with the fact he can't escape this world he is heartbroken, refuses to talk for a day, and is visibly low, but when he accepts reality he adapts quickly, determined to find a cure for the zombie plague.

He grows closer to Aoi and Teru. He is pushed aside if any zombie version of people he knows show up but he gains their trust, learning everything about this world, even of the uglier details like Teru shooting his previous Akane, aoi admitting she had tried to kill herself once but their Akane had saved her, and such.

Akane eventually accepts to date them and is overwhelmed by how inexperienced they make him feel: Teru and Aoi already know A LOT about what he likes (he shares a lot of preferences with their Akane) and they'll spoil him to death, they also carry a lot of guilt for Akane (they are happy akane can't go home even if they know how bad this world is) and guilt for their dead lover Akane shares a face with, so they would be happy but also feel bad if Akane did nice things for them or said sappy things (which are things Akane loves to do so he is fucked), it's way more comfortable for the survivors to fluster their pretty supernatural boyfriend than to have him take care of them.

Akane becomes jaded and more bitter with time but never as much as this world's original Akane. His hope and determination to get things done stay mostly the same.

Teru and Aoi will die far before him. Akane will be alone. Aoi and Teru are selfish but they know how heavy a promise can be, so they don't ask him to live alone in a dying world. Akane will try to find an antidote for as long as he can, he'll also be in his human form for it because he wants to feel hunger, he needs to feel something to stay connected to this empty reality. He needs incentives to stay alive.

If he didn't find anyone week after week after week, he would give up.

[dazzlingkai]

A Familiar Stranger (虚颜) Ryan Cheng & Ke Ying ─ EP6

[soulinkpoetry]

I don’t know if it was destiny. All I know is that you felt familiar from our first hello.

.

.

[matchingbatbites]

Eddie only took the job because it was supposed to be fast, in and out in twenty minutes or so. He's glad that the Lord and his family are out for the evening, because the handle he'd discovered inside the vault and the secret door it triggered was far too interesting for him to not investigate. 

The half-elf is careful as he enters the room, checking for traps or alarms along the entryway, thankful that his magical heritage gives him the ability to see in the absence of light. The place seems to be full of magical items, with bookshelves and displays packed to the brim with books and artifacts. 

And on the far side of the room away from the collection, sitting on a bed and bound to the wall by a chain, is a young man who looks fucking terrified.

"It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you," Eddie says as he holds up his hands to show that they're empty, though he realizes that the other may not be able to see the way Eddie can. With a snap of his fingers several softly glowing orbs appear around the room, and the fear changes to surprise at the action. 

Eddie takes the chance to look at the boy as he blinks against the light suddenly filling the space, and woah. His heart skips a beat, because this must be the most beautiful person Eddie has ever seen in his life. 

He's around Eddie's age and clearly of Infernal descent, if the horns curling from his forehead and the tail Eddie can just see flicking behind him are any indication. But instead of the red-tone skin and near-black hair Eddie has seen on other tieflings, the young man has navy hair and powder blue skin dotted with deep blue beauty marks. He's wearing simple, loose clothing, and his eyes shine like gold coins in the light of Eddie's dancing lights, and the half-elf is instantly smitten. 

“My name is Eddie,” he says as he carefully steps closer. "Any chance you could tell me why Lord Harrington has a tiefling sealed away in a secret room?"

Golden eyes snap from the lights back to Eddie's face, and the other seems to study him for a moment before responding with a scratchy, unused voice. "Something about me being the 'physical evidence of our family's greatest shame.' Or something like that."

Eddie blinks, because- "Your family? You're… Lord Harrington's son?" 

The tiefling nods, and Eddie is absolutely bewildered. He’s lived in this town for years, and has never once heard of Lord Harrington having a son, only a daughter who is significantly younger than this person. Looking around the room, Eddie can see that it’s no better than a prison cell. 

The manacle attached to the boy’s wrist is bolted to the wall between the bed and the desk, and on the nearby surface are a pitcher and shallow basin, along with a drinking glass. A chamber pot sits on the floor, just within reach, and must either be cleaned often or enchanted because no smell comes from it.

Eddie can’t help the soft “How long have you been kept in here?” that escapes him, and the boy seems surprised by the concern in his voice. He watches as the tiefling pulls his knees to his chest, hears the chain rattle as he wraps his arms around them. A few locks of navy hair fall down into his face but he makes no move to fix it.

“Since my mother passed away. She was the one who convinced my father to let me at least roam the house, even though I wasn’t allowed outside. She died when I was twelve, and ever since, my father has kept me here.” He looks up then, gold eyes once again focusing on Eddie. “My mother called me Stephen.”

Eddie goes soft at the new information, and he moves over to stand next to the bed. “Stephen. Mind if I call you Steve?”

Stephen, Steve, shakes his head. “I don’t mind. Could you- Why are you here, Eddie?” 

And Eddie sighs. “Well, someone hired me to steal something from your father. I wasn’t expecting to find all of this,” he says, gesturing to the collection around him, then looks back at the other. “Or you.”

Steve's cheeks shift to a darker shade of blue, and Eddie is delighted to realize that the other is blushing. Steve waves his unchained hand around, motioning to the artifacts surrounding them. "Well, I’m sure the stuff in this room is valuable, father wouldn’t keep it hidden otherwise. Feel free to steal any of it as well.”

Eddie feels bold, can't help but ask “And what if I want to steal you?”

Steve's mouth opens in surprise, that blue blush going darker as he gives a soft “What?”

The half-elf moves closer and sits on the bed, just barely resisting the urge to touch the other. “You don’t deserve to be locked away, Steve. Your father is wrong to keep you here, you should be out in the world, living your life.”

He holds out a hand between them, an offering to this gorgeous stranger. "I'm a pretty good lockpick. I could have you out of that chain and this house in no time. Just say the word."

Steve takes a shaky inhale, he seems scared but curious as he asks a quiet "Where would I even go?"

Eddie shrugs a shoulder. "You can come with me, if you want. It's just me and my brother, Dustin, right now, but there's always room for one more."

Steve glances away, seeming to contemplate the offer, and Eddie would give anything to know exactly what he's thinking in this moment. He hopes that Steve says yes, that he lets Eddie take him away from this place, because Steve deserves to be free. He deserves to be in the outside world, to see the wonders of it, and more than anything, Eddie wants to be the one to show it to him.

It's not long before golden eyes snap back to chocolate brown, and Eddie's heart soars as Steve places his chained hand in Eddie's outstretched one. He aches when he sees the chafed skin of Steve's wrist, rough and raw from what's likely years of contact with the harsh metal. 

But Steve seems determined and ecstatic, his hand squeezing Eddie's as he says "Do it. Steal me, Eddie." 

And Eddie beams as he pulls out his lockpick kit. 

"With pleasure, Steve."

[bright-eyes-strawberry-lies]

It was extremely sexy of Percy to remember Nico after Hera wiped his memory.