#We will sin again and again to protect the Golden Order.

[death-rebirth-senshi]

Not to gush about my own characters again but I so adore the juxtaposition of the brutal look of the great stars as a weapon and the golden Erdtree armor. Poetic.

And patches is there because this was my first playthrough and I wasn't sure if I should join Volcano Manor immediately. Kind of unfortunate that you miss this encounter with him if you go to Volcano Manor immediately upon reaching Altus Plateau.

[heavenlyraindrops]

♱Father Forgive Me (For I have Sinned) ~Chapter Fifteen♱

Lucifer Morningstar x Angel!Reader Fandom: Hazbin Hotel Chapter Fifteen Warnings: profanity, violence, gore Visit the first tag on this post to see all other chapters.

♱ In which the purest soul in Heaven falls from grace… for the Devil. ♱

[Chapter Fifteen]

Your knees knocked against the floor as two exorcists hauled you in by the arms into Sera’s office. Your arms smarted in their vice-like grip. She stood outside the window, wings spread, her silhouette a terrifying shadow, an omen of what was to come. The sky was darkening, and Heaven’s city lights glowed past her dark figure. 

The exorcists let off of your arms and you yelped as you landed in a heap onto the floor. Sera’s wings fluttered slightly as she turned, and you drew your own in protectively. 

“You may leave,” came the order, directed at the two angels behind you. They turned on their heels, footsteps clacking smartly out before the door shut.  

You looked down at the floor.

You heard Sera sigh. “Oh, [name]. What happened to you?” Her voice cut into your heart, patronizing and disappointed. Your wings twitched with the emotions raging through your gut. 

“She’s become a fucking slut, is what’s happened to her,” a voice spat from the shadows. You looked up to see Lute step out, into the twinkling lights glistening past the window. Your heart tore as you saw Emily behind her, hands clasped together so hard her knuckles had turned white. Her face was ashen as she stepped farther away into the darkness. 

Lute’s golden eyes turned to you, accusing, and she tossed something at the table. It glinted in the half-light before landing with a clink. 

The bracelet. 

Sera clasped her hands together in front of her as she turned towards you, away from the window and stepped towards you, painfully slow and deliberate. She stopped before your huddled form and another slow sigh escaped her lips. 

“Can you explain this to us, [name]?” 

You opened your mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. Your eyes searched here for any emotion, any sadness, regret, something you could latch onto and convince Sera to let you go. 

“Well?” Lute snarled.

You shuddered. “No.”

Lute whirled to Sera, fists clenched and eyes blazing as she thrust out her remaining hand towards you. “See this? This is why we need to get rid of her. A dumb whore like her that would trade away her virtue for sex-“

“Lute,” Emily said shakily.

“-I say cut off her wings, take her halo and cast her down into the pit where she belongs.”

Emily placed her hands over her mouth, shoulders shaking as she watched Lute and Sera look at each other, then you.

Suddenly a blow of pain struck you full in the face. You fell back, feeling hot blood drip down your nose and lips, a metallic tang in your mouth. The area seared with agony.

Lute had kicked you. 

“[name]!” Emily screamed, dashing towards you and collapsing down onto her knees next to where you hunched over, shaking. You gasped, palms spread on the floor to steady yourself, hair handing in front of your face as you watched golden drops of blood drip onto the pristine floor. Emily’s small hands smoothed down your back, her voice stuttering out concerned questions, but you couldn’t hear them. 

She pulled you up, gripping you by the shoulders. You noticed tears glistening in her eyes. “[name], say something!” She cried, shaking you. “Anything.” Her arms slid down yours and fell back to her lap defeatedly. “Did you… is this real?”

Blood burned sweet in your mouth. You swiped your thumb across your split lip, and the gilded liquid smeared. 

“Yes.” 

The single word dripped with your shattered dignity. Emily recoiled. She looked up at Sera pleadingly, eyes wide with horror. Sera stared back, expression saying:

I told you so. 

Your vision drifted to Lute, who’s fists were still clenched and shoulders squared.

A single tear tracking down her face. 

Emily’s arms flew around you again. “Still! She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this, no matter what she did…” her pleading face turned to you. Sera closed her eyes, which had become bloodshot from tears that she hadn’t allowed to fall, and let out a shuddery breath. 

Why was everyone crying, except you?

“It’s just love,” Emily’s voice snapped you back to reality. “How can you punish her for being in love?” You hung your head and pulled away from her. As you broke contact, a cold feeling settled over you like a heavy blanket. Emily was shaking even harder now, speaking through her sobs. “Please, Sera. Please, don’t let her fall.

“Emily,” Sera snapped, voice loud and harsh and clear as she wrenched the younger Seraphim up by the hand. “Preserve your dignity. Do not give it away for someone who has none.” Her eyes fell to you accusingly. Emily looked down, tears still dripping down her cheeks. All the hope drained from your body. Sera wasn’t on your side. 

Lute stepped forward, her face hidden by her hair as she looked down. She tilted her head up and you caught a glimpse of her expression: cold, stoic- she didn’t want to give away any emotions. 

“Do it, Sera,” she sneered. Sera heaved another sigh. Emily let out a small, broken sob as Sera released her hand and walked forward towards you. 

“Rise, [name].” 

You didn’t move. 

“Rise!”

Lute grabbed you by your collar and pulled up. You coughed as it cut off your airways and scrambled to your feet. “Get up, fucker.”

Sera folded her wings against her back neatly and pressed her hands together. “You have committed a sin, [name],” she sighed. “Multiple sins. And normally we would make you repent,” she sighed, waving her hand dismissively, “but the mere act of creating a- union-“ she spat the words- “With Lucifer Morningstar himself, is unforgivable. We trusted you, [name], to restrain yourself. And it would be very unfair to cast Lilith out but not you.”

A snake of fear coiled inside your stomach. 

Sera flicked her hand again, and a searing portal cut through the air to open a rift. You could see the red sky beyond. The snake coiled tighter. 

“Lute,” she ordered. “Cut off her wings.”

Your heart seized. “What?”

Sera’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a necessary procedure, [name].” You stumbled back, wings drawing into your back.

“Bullshit,” you gasped. Lute reached for you with her one good hand.

The dam broke.

You let out a piercing, desperate scream as you jerked away from Lute, tears streaming down your face. Emily let out a whimper at your crazed reaction, but Sera shut her up with a single glare. Lute struck out with her spear and your foot caught over it as you crashed to the floor. You groaned, heaving yourself up, but Lute planted her foot on your back and shoved you down. You gasped for air, unable to breath, and your wings flapped crazily, sending up a flurry of feathers. 

Something stabbed through the tip of your wing and you let out another blood curdling scream as golden blood pooled onto the floor. You entire body went limp. Your wing twitched, Lute’s spear still skewered through it, and Lute placed her foot on the other one, preventing it from moving. 

“Lute,” you gasped. Lute’s foot was trembling on your back. “Please, don’t- I thought- I thought we could have been friends-“

Lute bit back a sob and you froze, not expected that from her. Emily began crying again, muttering the same thing over and over like a mantra.

“I can’t watch this, I can’t watch this, I can’t, I can’t watch thi-“

Sera took her hand and guided her out of the room. She turned her head away, away from your wretched state. “I can’t watch this either,” Sera said. 

“You’re the one who ordered this!” You screamed after her back. She ignored you.

Once Emily had disappeared through the door Sera paused, addressing Lute who still had her back turned to her, instead opting to glare down at you who lay on the floor. 

“Make it quick,” Sera said briskly, refusing to meet your gaze. “I’ve infused the blade with a magic that won’t let her wings regrow.”

Lute didn’t reply, too fixated on you. 

The door closed, and then you were truly alone.

-

A/N: had real fun writing this one folks

[celaenaeiln]

so my friend, at 12 am, called me just to say that dick grayson is the only one in his family that bruce truly views as an equal and then hung up. what. what do i do.

well, call them back and tell 'em they're right 😂😂😂

I started cackling so hard I began wheezinggg oh my god that's hilarious!!!

But maybe for a more reasonable time to talk about this concept after you wake/have woken up from your dick grayson cameo dreams, I'll drop some comic panels

Dick is privy to all of Bruce because of the way Bruce treats him like an equal

He lets Dick in on secrets that he doesn't tell any of the others

I've made a post before on how Clark views Dick as his equal just as Bruce views Dick as his equal.

I'm going to drop the Bruce segment here:

When Bruce was gone the only person he entrusted any information to was Dick. He left a personalized - voice activated - message for Dick and only him that lists his worries, faults, and regrets.

"The girl, Cassandra Cain... I told her to give this file to you should I fall tonight."

"She's my greatest sin, Dick. My deepest regret. Stay alive, and please. Try to forgive me--"

He lists his insecurities to Dick as friend, as an equal.

Of everyone Bruce left behind, the only person Bruce left a message for was Dick. He relies on him unconditionally to take over because Bruce doesn't seem him as a kid like he does with the other - don't get me wrong, he still values and knows just how brilliant the rest of his children are - but he sees Dick as an equal in terms of intelligence, abilities, and leadership. Actually -

Bruce puts Dick on a pedestal.

He views Dick as the golden standard of everything he's working toward.

The reason I think Bruce is so harsh on Dick in regards to training is he doesn't see him as a kid that needs protection, he seems him equal to himself.

Time and time again he sends Dick on solo missions because of the faith he has in Dick's abilities and intelligence

In another comic there's an Arkham breakout and Bruce just. He just sends sends Dick on a solo mission to contain the entirety of Arkham and the villains inside by himself.

And Dick does. Effortlessly.

The fight for Spyral

"I know the other heroes. I know them all. I'd have them do it, but they can't. They'd fight, but eventually they'd give up, they'd give in."

We all know that Bruce despises himself when he fails at something. He thinks he's the best in the world and struggles to cope with the idea that he failed. As such, Bruce views Dick as an extension of himself. Unlike with the kids where he acknowledges their differences and treats them like children, Dick and Bruce are so intertwined that Bruce considers Dick as the "good part" of himself while Bruce is the "bad part".

He gets the angriest at Dick during times where Dick disagrees with him because he believes that Dick should understood what he's going through and what he believes in. For his part, Dick is always on Bruce's side and acts like Bruce's leash. He'll let Bruce do anything he wants as long as it's within the limits of acceptable behavior. Once Batman crosses those limits, Dick fights with him to bring him back.

As such, Bruce doesn't differentiate himself with Dick. He is the best and as a result so is Dick. Except in his mind Dick is better than him in every way possible and he took the steps to ensure it through training.

One of the reasons people in the comics call Dick the Golden Child is because he's the living embodiment of everything Bruce strived to create. It's not because he follows his orders religiously or anything. No, Dick just gives Bruce a longer leash than most.

In the Spyral fight I think he hits Dick because he is in part frustrated with himself. Imagine seeing someone you have unconditional faith in because you know they're capable of the very same things as you and can even surpass you fall to a threat. Doesn't that mean you would've fallen too? Is their failure just as much yours if you see yourself as a god? But how can a god-like being fall?

Their relationship is complicated because while Bruce sees Dick as his own person, he also sees him as the reflection of his success.

That's why Bruce is harsher on Dick than the rest of the kids. That's why Bruce makes Dick his right hand man. That's why Bruce shares his sorrows, fears, and vulnerabilities to Dick.

The way they interact, they view each other as father and son but with all the roles and responsibilities as partners.

Dick's compartmentalization and the way he mothers Bruce and Bruce allows it? He doesn't let anyone do that. I feel like on some level he subconsciously expects Dick to take care of him. As someone he can turn to with his worst and darkest sides and still be loved and appreciated and told everything will be alright. It's not a burden he places on the rest of his kids. Which is why Dick's relationship with Bruce straddles the line between son and guardian with him playing both roles and Bruce reacting/ forcing him to react that way.

Also

"Robin fuctions as support."

"Robin wasn't your idea, Bruce! It was mine! I sat in your cave and I watched you and I learned-- and when you needed my help I was there!"

"I'm not your employee, I'm not your son. I'm your partner."

One thing that differentiates Dick's robin from the other robins is that while the other Robins were worried about meeting Bruce's expectation, Dick was more worried about Bruce not seeing him as an equal. He ran away from home because he was mad that Bruce was becoming more controlling and not at all like how they used to be - partners.

There's a reason Dick is the only one Bruce views as his equal. It's because the experiences they've shared have woven them so tightly together that Bruce considers Dick his better half and pillar of strength. If he falls back, he can rely on Dick to take over. Emotionally and physically.

Still laughing at your friend lol. Wild

[katyspersonal]

I had a fun dream regarding the Elden Ring DLC!!! In fact, it was a DLC for the DLC. Apparently it was my brain's spin on "how it could have gone differently", centered around at least 3 different endings (?) that I got to try! It was hard to say whether I was playing or actually being the main character and experiencing all this (best type of videogame-based dreams!)

The focal point was Divine Gate being destroyed and Miquella being spat back out, in his accursed child body again and the "plot" started when we returned some things/feelings to him to make him active. The amount of dialogue he'd provide depended on the amount of Crosses we visited, and before returning them he was completely limp. In either case he was labeled on the map as 'Heartbroken Miquella' or something. There was one 'default', ending that needed passivity sort of. There were plenty of quests and things to do still that were required for the plot, but provided you didn't do anything "special" it ended up in Miquella basically building a Noah Arc very quickly. Yes, because some unknown force triggered the great flooding that was coming. It would basically destroy the world Greater Will and Fingers created so far, and yet let it be made anew. The good side of it was, that since Death is connected with water in Elden Ring world (souls of those that didn't die properly assume Jellyfish form, Godwyn became a sea creature, Tibia Mariners) a LOT of people were coming back with the water but in pure form. Children of the Stars without their rotten flesh and all. This ending felt bittersweet though; having done so much to 'uproot' the fundamentally wrong things Two Fingers melded into this world, he still could not find the courage to let his friends die yet there was no time to separate their bodies from flesh like Ranni and victims of Astrologers' experiments... Effectively, preserving """filth""" into new world and saving what he could save.

The second ending somehow stopped the flood by effect, granting it protection of his gentle pale yellow light (not to be confused with the oppressive gold of the Erdtree!). Protection from any Outer God and from corruption and rotting from within. That however would result in people like Malenia, Godwyn (Prince of Death), Romina etc getting sealed into yellow crystals for the 'next 1000 years' so they could not corrupt the world but alas they could not be healed still. This ending was centered on Miquella comprehending that no, Radahn wasn't "corrupted by sinful world" into becoming a warmonger compared to younger self but war WAS his nature. And for many people, alas their nature was 'necessary evil' without which the world would be a hollow place. So he accepted he could not "save" some people because that'd not be them anymore. However, he could still let the world rest in Heaven by putting it in preservation for a long time. Not cleaning, just preserving from evil, external or internal. And how this secret ending was achieved? ......by marrying Miquella, which included a large variety of activities in order to distract Leda, avoid Leda, lead him away before Leda appears, sending more friends to talk to Leda, having Dane and Leda shipped (lol okay??) etc hfhygxjjh Because if you messed up this part, she'd not let you close enough to Miquella and you'd be set back to flood ending XD

Third ending had to do with the darkness!! It was a secret one, where you would seek rifts Messmer left along the way where he used Base Serpent powers too much. The rifts were patched out by the earth itself, but you had to reopen them like wounds. Reverse Crosses collecting! Because.. if they all were opened, you could access the Lightless Abyss that Base Serpent came from and force it into the world! It would extinguish any and all light of this world leaving only blue star-affiliated one. A bit like Ranni's ending but EVIL!! Creatures of golden light would get striped from it though (Queelign copes and seethes lol). It ensured a lot of horrors being unleashed though and consuming every "weak" person. Tarnished, Albinaurics and other lightness were remotely safe, but those born of gold and under Ring and relying on it were FUCKED. Especially Marika's family. They'd remain defenseless and be the first to get swallowed, so from now on they'd need protection. And whereas blue stars remained the age would be darkness swallowing all of them until only one remained. I as a "player" knew it'd explode to bring the light again.. but other characters didn't.

.....yet when I wanted to try this unleashed Abyss ending, Miquella himself stopped me by stabbing me with Bewitching Branch (not swinging it, specifically stabbing) and I woke up from very intense feeling of love and yearning for him lol fgfggh The last thing I remember how scared he was that he barely stopped... all that. But I just suddenly found him the most appealing person in the world, as if I never loved anyone else. I can't even describe how it felt. It was like.. every cell of my body suffering and only his touch could cure this torment. I had to lay down about 20 minutes to finally calm down gjfggd I am actually embarrassed by it, especially since intrusive thoughts followed, but also I guess it wasn't my fault? Very weird type of alarm clock though 💔

[blueink01]

Ch. 4: Overtune

Charlie Narrating-

"Once upon a time, there was a glowing city protected by golden gates, known as Heaven. It was ruled by beings of pure light. Angels that worshiped good and shielded all from evil. Lucifer was one of these angels. He was a dreamer with fantastical ideas for all of creation. But he was seen as a troublemaker by the elders of Heaven."

"For they felt his way of thinking was dangerous to the order of their world. So he watched as the angels began to expand the universe in their ways. From the dust of Earth, they created Adam and Lilith."

"Equals as the first of mankind, but despite this, Adam demanded control, and Lilith refused to submit to his will. She fled the Garden. Drawn in by her fierce independence, Lucifer found her and the two rebellious dreamers fell deeply in love."

"Together, they wished to share the magic of free will with humanity, offering the Fruit of Knowledge to Adam's new bride, Eve, who gladly accepted. But this gift came with a curse. For with this single act of disobedience, evil finally found its way into the Earth. With it, a new realm of darkness and sin."

"And the order Heaven worked to maintain was shattered. As punishment for their reckless act, Heaven cast Lucifer and his love into the dark pit he had created, never allowing him to see the good that came from humanity, only the cruel and the wicked."

"But Lilith thrived, empowering demonkind with her voice and her songs. And as the numbers of Hell grew, so did its power.”

“Threatened by this, Heaven made a truly heartless decision. That every year, they would send down an army, an Extermination, to ensure Hell and its sinners could never rise against them. But Lilith's hope remained. And her dream was passed down to their precious daughter, the princess of Hell." As Charlie finishes narrating, she closes a book titled "The Story of Hell" and looks out to Pentagram City.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'lI make you proud." Charlie soberly looks out the window to Pentagram City burning to the ground, just as Yn and Vaggie come into the room.

"Charlie?" Vaggie questioned, looking at Charlie. The key Charlie was holding transforms into KeeKee who scampers away.

"Aah! Oh, shit. Did you hear all that?" Charlie looked down as she turns to Yn and Vaggie in surprise.

"Yeah. We were right there at the door.." Yn points her thumb to the doorway.

"Sorry. I get pretty worked up after an extermination happens. The story helps..." Charlie smiled.

"Don't worry. I enjoy your theatrics." Vaggie chuckles.

"Are you okay?" Yn and Vaggie sit down with Charlie

"I'm fine. Just... thinking, ya' know? Family stuff." Charlie sighs, Yn could feel how sad her girlfriend was.

"Did you hear anything from Lilith?" Charlie shakes her head in dismay. Yn sighs, Vaggie was rubbing Charlie's back.

"Oof... how long has it been now?" Vaggie questioned.

"Not that long, only... seven... years, off doing something important, I'm sure. But this kingdom was something she really cared about. Something I care about." Charlie looked at the city.

"well, at least you're not alone." Vaggie smirked.

"Yeah, even if Hell froze over, you can be sure that me and Vaggie will be by your side." Yn added too.

"I just hope that what I'm trying to do here will work." Charlie said with a small smile on her face.

"It will. We have faith in you." Keekee then leaps into Charlie's arms, Yn and Vaggie smiled as they stand up.

"Alright, come on now. Alastor says he has something interesting to show us." Yn said as she and Vaggie head to the door. As they leave, a loud bell rings throughout the city, and Charlie turns to the Bell Tower at Heaven Embassy. She looks on with sadness, knowing that it's another year before the Extermination comes again before she leaves.

-Time Skip-

In the Commercial-

The scene turns static before it fixes itself to reveal a sinner stabbing another demon to death with a knife before Alastor caught their attention.

"Well, hello there you wayward sinner. Do you like blood violence and depravity of a sexual nature? Of course you do. That's why you're in hell." As the camera rolls, scenes switches from the front of the Hazbin Hotel, to Charlie on camera and she waves at it.

"But what would you say if I told you there was a place to stay that had none of that? Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel, a misguided path to redemption. Founded five days ago by Lucifer's delusional daughter, Charlotte Morningstar! Come place your fate in her inexperienced hands as she tries to work through her mommy issues by fixing you." Angel Dust omes into view, putting two-fingers over the head prank behind her.

"Here we offer fun things such as somewhat functional staff and 24-hour pest control. Custom rooms. and just look at this tacky parlor, enjoy riveting conversation with our singular resident and our residential Overlord. Wow." The camera to the bartender, Husk, who was clearly drunk, passing out on the ground as Niffty, the hotel maid, tries to stab and chase after a bug, and then to Angel Dust, with a support beam falling close to KeeKee, scaring the demon cat before running off, and Angel Dust flipping Alastor off who films Yn who smiles and waves at him.

"All this and more at the Hazbin Hotel. Your last desperate attempt at salvation starts here." Then the poor drawing of the hotel before the commercial ends.

Back to the Hazbin Hotel-

Alastor turns off the television.

"So what do you think?" Alastor crossed his arms. On the couch, Yn, Charlie and Vaggie were surprised of the commercial being poorly misleading and very offensive to their nature, that Vaggie throws a fit at Alastor.

"I'm sorry. What the fuck was that?" Vaggie cursed at him.

"That was... interesting for sure Alastor." Yn compliment his work.

"Uh, Yeah. One note, Alastor, I mean, first off, thank you so much for making this seriously amazing, but um, maybe the tone is a bit off, We want people to want to come here. This makes it look, um." Charlie thought of the nicest thing to say.

"Bad. The word you're looking for is bad." Vaggie bluntly replied.

"It wasn't that bad, it could have been worse." Yn added.

"That was as bad as it can get." Vaggie stated.

Alastor gave a slightly annoyed face, "Funny. I was going for hilarious." He smiled.

"It didn't explain anything about how we're trying to save demons from extermination, which is the whole fucking point." Vaggie grumbled.

"Okay, Vaggie does have a point Alastor. The commercial was supposed to let sinners know we are trying to help them." Yn stated.

"Well, Darling, you know I haven't been active in hell for some time and everyone remembers me from my radio show, the proper medium to express oneself. But you insisted on this noisy picture box advertisement." He taps the Television twice with his microphone cane.

"So I had a little fun with it." Alastor said passing his cane to his other hand.

"Oh fun? You had a little fun with it?" Vaggie stands up on the couch.

"Well, this is not what we want to represent us. When you showed up here a week ago, you told us you would help run this hotel. Instead, you're mocking us. Nobody's gonna wanna come to a place that a powerful overlord like you thinks is a waste of time." Angel Dust then raises his hand from the couch, catching everyone's attention. Holding a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

"Yes angel?" Yn sighed.

"If'n ya filming a commercial, can I suggest you take better advantage of the talented celebrity you have right here?" Angel Dust takes a bottle with one arm before pointing all three arms at himself, but Vaggie doesn't like it.

"Angel, you're a porn star." Vaggie noted.

"A famous porn star. I'll have the horniest sinners knocking these walls down to get in." Angel smirked.

"We are not filming a porn as a commercial." Vaggie explained.

"Why not? Sex sells don't it? I swear if you film me going at it with either Yn or Mr. fancy talk creepy voice here, you'd be rolling in participants willing to stay at this tacky hotel." As he was explaining, Alastor appears right besides the couch next to Angel Dust and laughs with amusement.

"Ha ha. Never going to happen." Alastor stated with a creepy smile.

"Yeah, I'm not going to film a porn." Yn stated.

"Oh! What about a video of both Yn and the creepy going at it?" Hearing that both Vaggie and Alastor twitch, both for completely other reasons.

"No." Yn said bluntly with a small blush to Angel.

"Angel, I appreciate you wanting to use your special skills to, um, attract folks to the hotel, but I really don't want to exploit you... in that way." Charlie noted.

"Oh, please, baby. This body was made to be exploited. I got the arms, I got the stamina, I got the legs. I got the lung capacity." He laughs.

"Oh, I got the legs. The gag reflex, the holes, the chest fluff." Charlie chuckles nervously until Charlie's phone rings from Lucifer calling her.

"hold that thought? I'll be right back."

"I could keep going all night, baby." "Please don't Angel." While Angel drinks her beer, Charlie breathes nervously and answers the call.

"Hello? Dad?" As Charlie take the phone call, the scene switches to Vaggie, Angel, and Alastor.

"Hey, I have a question. If Yn and freaky face over there are so powerful, then why can't they just make people stay here?"

"Oh, trust me," Alastor smiles in a mischievously creepy look with dark magic.

"We can." Yn smirks with deadly glowing eyes and dark magic surrounding her.

"Why do you think I'm here?" Husker spoke from the bar as he puts his bottle down.

The camera moves to Husk at the bar.

"You actually think I'd be cleaning bottles and listening to you fucks bitch and moan all the time if he wasn't forcing me?" Husk grumbled, "Puff is the exception..." He gestured to Yn.

As Husk cleans a bottle, Niffty pops up from behind the counter with a hand raised.

"I like being forced." Niffty smiled.

"Keep that to yourself, Nif." Husk grumbled.

"What? You don't love being here with me, Whiskers?" Angel Dust pouted.

"Call me Whiskers again and I'll jam that bottle down your throat." Husk threatened, holding the bottle.

"Kinky. Come on, keep talking dirty." Angel Dust arches his back in a seductive way as Yn giggles quietly.

Vaggie sighs, "Angel. Let Husk do his job. And, no, we can't force sinners to stay here. They need to choose to." Vaggie crossed her arms.

"I'm choosing to be here and I think it's all stupid. We're in hell, toots. That's kind of the end of the road, ain' it?" Angel Dust smirks.

"Well, Maybe it doesn't have to be. Just because nobody has made it out before doesn't mean it's not possible." Yn states as she plays with Angel Dust hair.

Angel Dust places a hand on Yn's shoulder, giving her a deadpan expression while the latter makes the same one.

"Hey, whatever means I can keep crashing here rent-free. Crack is expensive." Angel Dust snickered.

"You don't have to be blunt about that." Yn said pushing Angel back down on the couch.

The scene comes back to Charlie, and after the phone call, she seemed really happy with the news her father brought to her.

"Yeah, I can totally, yeah. I'll head over there right away. Okay?" Charlie hangs up the phone and gasps in excitement.

"Yes..YES!" Charlie chuckles in excitement when she hears about the news until she calls Yn and Vaggie in gibberish, waving very franticly that freaks Yn and Vaggie out, "Vaggie! Yn! Holy, shit!"

"Ah! What?" "Whoa!" Vaggie and Yn turned to see Charlie.

Charlie whiel biting her lip with excitement waves them to 'Get over here!' for some exciting news.

Yn and Vaggie sigh happily and come to Charlie while she is jumping around in a very happy mode. As Angel Dust drinks in the background, Yn and Vaggie meet Charlie behind.

"So, what's going on?" Vaggie asked. Charlie breathes in and out to calm her nerves so she can explain, but she was explaining so fast due to her excitement. Yn pats Charlie's back, trying to calm the poor girl down.

"My dad just called, he said that the leader of the Angel Army wants to meet. He asked if I could go instead." Charlie was hyperventilating, grabbing Yn and Vaggie to get up close. Yn and Vaggie, however, were confused since the Angels were already done with their extermination and won't be back for another year.

"The leader of the Angel Army wants to meet?" Yn asked.

"But...but, the extermination just happened. What could they want this soon after..." Vaggie started. As Vaggie went on, Charlie was in the mood to get her hotel project to work, and remained hopeful that she starts singing.

Song starts here-

"~I can do this! Somehow, I know it! I'll get Heaven behind my plans!~"

"~Charlie, hold on...~"

"~There's just no way I could blow it. Not this once-in-a-lifetime chance!~"

"~It's just a meeting.~"

"~To change their minds, And touch their hearts, Or... whatever angels have!"

"~This could be bad...~"

"~Most likely will be bad.~"

"~Cheer up, girls! This could be swell! Something tells me that today will be a happy day in Hell!~" Charlie grabs Vaggie and Yn's hands and spins them around. She lets go of them and runs off.

"Okay, but just don't... sing to them."

"Charlie?" Just before Vaggie could warn her, Angel Dust, Alice, Niffty, and Keekee were already at the window where they can see Charlie singing out in the destroyed Pentagram City, as Angel Dust turns back to Yn and Vaggie still drinking from a bottle.

"That bitch is halfway down the street!"

"Is she?"

"Oh, she's dancin'!"

"Ugh, no..."

"Charlie! Come back here!" Yn runs after Charlie.

Pentagram City-

Charlie makes her way down the street, oblivious to the destruction and bodies of dead demons everywhere as she continues to sing her song.

"~There's a warm, fuzzy feeling. That wafts through the air. Every street so revealing: It's hard not to stare!~" Charlie comes to a a window of a sex dungeon where a Hellhound is humping against an Imp wearing a sadomasicism mask. They notice her, and Charlie awkwardly fees before continuing to sing.

"~It's a realm so appealing it beats anywhere. If you don't mind the smell...~" Charlie accidentally steps on a dead shark demon that was releasing a very bad smelly fume into her nose. She cautiously avoids the corpse and presses on the street.

"~It's a happy day in Hell!~" Charlie waves at a demon who was holding a newspaper before she catches his attention, revealing himself to be a meth addict with a spoon full of meth.

"Hi, mister!"

"Go fuck yourself!" One demon opens his window, revealing his apartment on fire.

"~There's an endless trash fire that's burning my soul~"

"Hello!"

"~And a ton of barbed wire to shove in his hole!~"

"Ah, excuse me!"

"~Doing what is required, we all have our role.~"

"~I'm not doin' well!~"

"~Another shitty day in Hell!~" Charlie climbs on the trunk of the destroyed car and faces the other direction.

"~If I can show them the dream I've dreamed. That any soul can change!~"

Hazbin Hotel-

From the Hazbin Hotel, Vaggie comes into the watchtower, as if she's calling out to her girlfriends.

"~Those angels minds are hard to change.~"

"~Then they will know everyone can be redeemed. From the evil to the strange!~" Yn pushes through a group of demons that run away or moved aside at the sight of Yn.

"~They're bloodthirsty and deranged!~"

Pentagram City-

"~I can hear all their stories. The lost and displaced. And I know that they're more of an acquired taste. But if I open the door and I give them a place. At my Hazbin Hotel. It'll be a happy day in Hell!~" A truck comes by, and Charlie hitches a ride from behind so she can get around the city such as the porn studios, and the Cannibal Colony. Yn sighs as she looks Charlie riding away.

"Come on Charlie!"

"~From the porn studio. Where the cinephiles go. To watch award-winning demon bukkake shows! To the cannibal town. Where they don't wear a frown 'cause.~" Charlie was shot in the eye with blood from one of the corpses that the cannibals were eating on.

"~Holy shit! Ew, my gosh! WHY?! And I don't give a crow that His brain's got in my eye! Cause I know I can spare them. From Heaven's genocide! I can do this, I just know it!~"

"~There's an endless trash fire that's burning my soul.~"

"~I'll get Heaven behind my plans! There's just no way I could blow it.~"

"~I kinda like the barbed wire that's shoved in my hole.~”

“~Not this once-in-a-lifetime chance! To change their minds.~" Right in the moment, a slug with a Trenchcoat comes into picture, exhibiting his nudist body in front of Charlie, which creeps her out.

"~And touch my parts!~"

"Uh... No thank you. I'm just gonna... ~Fulfill my destiny!~"

"Your loss, bitch!"

"~I can already tell! Today is gonna be a fuckin' happy day in Hell!~" Charlie has gotten to right where she wants to be: the Heaven Embassy with the watchtower.

Song ends here-

Yn run up the stairs and stand next to Charlie while panting a little and wiping some blood off her face, Charlie looks at her conerned.

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah... Just had to break through some crowds of sinners to get to you... You could have slowed down a little..." Charlie chuckles a little.

"Sorry." removes a piece of flesh off Yn's hair.

"No, never change." She smiles at Charlie and kisses her cheek.

"Why don't we go in, we don't wanna let the Angel Army leader wait." Yn suggested.

"Right!" She opens the door to peek inside with Yn.

"Hello!" Charlie's voice echoes.

Yn and Charlie enters through the door and finds the whole embassy deserted. She walks to the front desk to check in.

"Hello?" Charlie's voice echoes again, "Well, this is Creepy.." Yn said.

She and Charlie comes to the front desk with no one but a single bell. She taps the bell to ring it, and at the instant, a golden scroll and feather ink pen floats from above over to them.

"Oh, okay.." Charlie signs it.

"That's also creepy." The scroll and feather flies up before disappearing. Right then, the twin doors slide open to show Yn and Charlie the meeting room, and they enter inside the dark room with no one around.

"Uh... hello?"

"Is anyone here? Did the assholes prank us?" The lights suddenly switched on, revealing two angels at the end of the room, with one being a exorcist lieutenant, Lute and the big boss leader of the Angel Army, Adam, who is eating a rib in his hand.

"Sup!"

"Holy shit!" Charlie immediately falls back but Yn catches her after getting surprised by the sudden appearance of two angels in the room. Yn places Charlie back onto the ground and she readjusts herself to introduce herself properly.

"Hi, I'm Charlie, this is Yn. My dad asked me if I could meet you."

"Yeah, I know." Adam eats his rip like a buzzsaw.

"Okay, well. It's nice to meet you."

"Totally. It's nice to meet you too." Adam reaches over to give Charlie a handshake, and as she was about to shake his hand, her hand slips right through, revealing him to be a hologram, fizzing on and off after being touched, which freaks Charlie out.

"Ha! I fucking got you." He turns to Lute.

"Did you see that?" Lute nods once.

"Ha. Good shit." Adam laughs more. Charlie was trying to get something straight with Adam being a hologram.

"Wow, what an old trick." Yn said not amused.

"Still fucking funny." Adam laughed.

"Whatever gets you hard buddy..." Yn said, Charlie was trying to get something straight with Adam being a hologram.

"Uh... so wait. you aren't here?" Charlie questioned.

"Eh, makes senses, I hardly think anyone would willingly come down here." Yn said, Adam laughs.

"Yeah, no, I mean, I love the vibe, totally, I love your tunes. Pretty fucking hardcore, don't get me wrong. But it's such a bummer man. Everything down there's just so "ugh", ya know?" He chuckles dryly.

"Ew."

"Right. 'Snobby c**t.'" Yn insulted him mentally.

"So, I'm happy we've got this opportunity to meet. There's a project that I've been working on that I really want to talk about-" Charlie smiles nervously.

Adam puts his finger on Charlie's lips to quiet her down for a moment.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, slow down. We've got time. How about we get to know each other a little. Mmm. How about lunch? You hungry?" Adam smirked as he took a plate of ribs he's been eating toward Charlie, "Here's my personal favorite. You'll love it."

"Uh. thanks." Charlie smiled a bit.

"No Charlie, don't-" Charlie went to take a piece of a rib, but her hand past right through them, also revealing to be a hologram, as they fizz on and off from the touch, and Adam laughs while Yn stares at Adam clearly not being amused.

"I got you again! Bitch! Fuckin' hilarious!" Charlie makes a small unamused chuckle alongside Adam's hyper laughter.

Hazbin Hotel-

Back at the Hazbin Hotel, Angel Dust was constantly looking at Husk with seductive gaze while Husk was glaring daggers at her. Vaggie's feet comes into the camera before switching back to in person.

"Okay, so, Charlie is dealing with something very important, so while she's gone, we are making a new commercial. One that represents her vision and what we're doing here. So, we need a camera." Vaggie said, turning to Alastor, "Alastor?"

Alastor snaps a finger to conjure up a camera for Vaggie; however, the camera is a folding-type old camera from the 1930s with no recording films at that time. Vaggie is unamused.

"A video camera?" Vaggie questioned.

"Hmmm." Alastor's lips made a straight line in annoyance.

Despite his extreme distaste for modern technology, Alastor did what Vaggie requested and snaps his finger again to conjure up a video camera that was poorly used with tapes sticked together.

"Alright! Let's do this!" The camera switched into the camera point of view recording the bar scene with Husk behind the counter reading a script in his claws with Angel Dust at the opposite counter. The camera whirrs back to get a better focus of the two.

"And. Action!" Vaggie called. Husk carefully reads the lines on his script, bringing the script closer to read.

"Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel. Can I help with anything?.." Husk read slowly.

"I've been a bad boy, and I need a big, strong daddy to put me in my place..." Angel Dust spoke in a seductive tone before straightening himself up, "on the path to redemption!" He smiled.

Husk groans with displeasure and reads the script again, "Well, you come..."

"Oh, yes!" Angel Dust starts moaning.

Husk paused, bored, "to the right place." Vaggie has had it, and stops recording.

"Cut! Okay, Angel, I need you to be less horny if possible, and Husk, can you maybe not have a script in front of your face." Vaggie demanded.

Husk spoke angrily, "I ain't no actor! I can't memorize this shit!"

"Well, we could improve this shit, baby cakes." Angel Dust then got closer to Husk's face, "Rraww.." He purrs seductively.

Husk gets irritated by Angel Dust and shoves him out of the counter painfully hard.

"Whoops." Husk blankly he then grabs a bottle and drinks it.

Vaggie spoke offscreen, "Husk, come on."

The Embassy of Heaven-

Both Yn and Charlie look bored, Charlie propping herself on her elbows while listening to Adam exaggeratingly boosted himself and his sex life. The camera cuts to Adam.

"So, I was playin' this gig, and for some fuckin' reason, this virtue chick was diggin' on the drummer, and it's like, 'do you know who I am? I'm fuckin' Adam. I'm the original dick!' Adam pointing to his penis down the table, "All dicks descend from me. You think you want drummer dick?" Lute shaking her head, "No way! I'm the Dick-fuckin' master!" Adam eats a mouthful of ribs sloppily, "So, anyway, then we fucked, and it was awesome. What'd you do this weekend?" Charlie caught on what Adam said and realizes one thing about the boss.

"Wait, your name is Adam? The first man Adam, that means you... Oh...." Yn laughs at Adam while Charlie pieces the puzzle together and was surprised that this is very awkward and disturbingly cringy from hearing the story Adam was proclaiming, realizing that this is the reason why her mother left him, making her wince with gawkiness.

"That explains so freakin much." Yn tries to calm down.

"I know. I fucking rock, Hottie." He holds a rock pose and smirked at Yn.

"More like suck." Yn stated.

"What did you say?!" Adam shouted.

"I said. You. Suck donkey balls!" Adam scoffs, clearly feeling offended.

"What the fuck do you mean?! I'm awesome!"

"Man, you're the first human ever created, I have a long list of things you fucked up!"

"Oh yeah? What's that?" Adam questioned, Yn summons a scroll in her hands and rolls it open making it roll all across the room very comically, she clears her throat and looks down at the scroll.

"Let's see here..." Yn suddenly burns the scroll and slams her hands onto the table startling Charlie and Adam.

"Why don't we start with the fucking animal names!" Yn shouted at Adam.

"There's nothing wrong with them!" Adam

"Really?! What were you smoking when you named two insects a cockroach and a grasshopper?" Yn questioned.

"Well one of them eats its own shit, what else would I call it?" Adam said, Yn thinks about that and scoffs a little.

"Alright, cockroach is passable but what about grasshopper? You saw that bitch hopping around in the grass and thought: "Oh shit! Thing hops around in the grass like crazy! That's a grasshopper! Bet Heaven would love that." Yn looks at Adam with his eyes wide like a crazy person.

"Yeah, that's pretty much how it went. How'd you know?" Yn's eye twitches.

"You fucking... What about..." She looks down at another scroll.

"A fucking Sarcastic Fringehead! What the hell is that?!"

"It's a very fucked up fish!" Adam answered.

"A fucked up fish? A fucked up fish?! You're a fucked up fish!" He points at Adam who gasps.

"Did you just call me a fucking fish?! I'm not a fucking fish!" Adam threw his hands up dramatically.

"Wow! Congratulations! Then we have a damn.." Yn looks down at his scroll with disbelief.

"A Aha ha Wasp... Were you laughing while naming that and you decided to go for it?! There's a fucking bird called Boobies! What are you 12?!" Adam chuckles when he hears the name pissing Yn off.

"Then we have a small spider named: Sparklemuffin. Sparklemuffin! Now even I'm starting to get offended, that's a name a small girl calls their new pet cat!" Yn stated.

"You know, I'm... I'm really starting to get bummed out." Adam said.

"Oh? Is the little bitch boy getting upset? You wanna take a nap before you throw a tantrum?!" Yn said with a hand on her hip, Adam slams his hands on the table and gets up into Yn's face as the two glare at each other.

"Fuck you! I can see why you're in hell, you hotass looking whore!" Yn gasps feeling offended.

"Did you call me a whore?!" While Yn and Adam argue Charlie and Lute just blankly stare at them.

-Time Skip-

After a good 20 minutes of arguing and throwing insults at each other Charlie groans as she's slowly getting fed up with the arguing and yelling.

"At least I don't look easy to draw!" Yn insulted Adam.

"You did not just say that to me!"

"Yes I-"

"Yn!" Charlie shouted, Yn freezes when she hears Charlie yell out her name. She slowly turns to look at Charlie who is looking at her sternly.

"That's enough! You're on time out!" Yn looks at Charlie in disbelief while Adam laughs at him.

"What! Time out? But Charlie." Charlie points to a chair next to her, Yn lowers her head with a groan and sits down on the chair with her arms crossed.

"Victory!" Yn glares at Adam as she mumbles to herself.

"At least I've slept with Lilith unlike you! She must have seen how sad your dick is and that completely turned her off, you might be the original dick but mine (Yn sometimes like to change her gander during a fun time) is evolved to another plain of existance!... I mean it might not be me really fucking her, it's more like Lilith fucking both me and Lucif-" Charlie slaps a piece of tape over Yn's mouth and forces her to sit back on the chair. The whole room stays in silence, the only small noise heard is the small huffs coming from Yn who is quickly silenced by Charlie.

She brushes off the awkwardness from Adam and gets to her subject of matter in hand.

"Well, Adam, sir. Mr. Adam, sir." Charlie tried to grab Adam's attention.

"Call me, Dickmaster." Adam smirked. If looks couldn't kill, Yn was so done with this guy.

"Adam. You seem like a smart..." She paused, "well, stand up guy" Charlie smiled nervously.

Adam picking his teeth, "Uh-huh."

"And I know you are the leader of the angels. And you are a big thinker, a revolutionary. A...A genius!" Charlie noted.

"I mean, your words, babe." Adam leaned forward.

"Who would really love to put his name on something." Charlie smirked.

"Fucking love putting my name on shit! Shit's the best!" Adam seemed excited.

"It's a solution to our biggest problem!" Charlie got excited.

"Oh, Herpes. Yeah, that's a bitch." Adam sighed.

"No! Our... other biggest problem." Charlie stated, slightly annoyed.

"Oh...uh. ugly people? Math? Global Warming? Nah, wait, that's Earth's problem." Adam tried to remember.

Yn and Charlie could not believe how dumb Adam is about the oblivious fact to their overpopulation and Extermination problem, as Adam tries to make something sense only to him, and stared at him with a deadpan annoyance

"Ummm..." Adam thought.

'Now I get why humans are a bunch of morons...' Yn thought.

Hazbin Hotel-

Niffty tries to stab a bug. She tries to stab the bug, but misses, and starts stabbing the bug multiple times before Vaggie stops her.

"Stab! Stab! Stab!" Niffty smiled brightly.

"Alright Niffty, Niffty. Your line is "We have the cleanest rooms", okay?" Vaggie informed.

"Got it. I'm ready." Niffty gave a thumbs up Vaggie turns the camera to Niffty, "Action!"

Niffty freezes and stares blankly at the camera, leaving Vaggie puzzled. Angel also peers in.

Niffty freezes and stares blankly at the camera without a breath or blinking from the scene. Vaggie panels away, looking puzzled. Angel also peers in. Close up on Niffty making a blank stare with an ominous shrinking pupil. Angel slowly backs away, already creeped out.

"Uhh, cut." Vaggie stated. Niffty snaps out of it and back to her cheerful self as she giggles, "How was that?"

"Well, Niffty you actually have to say the line, so let's roll again..." Vaggie sighed.

"Ok!" Niffty smiled wildly.

"Action!" Vaggie yells as she sat in her director's chair.

Niffty freezes again staring blankly at the camera.

"You're doing great, Vagina." Angel Dust leans over to Vaggie, smiling smugly.

Vaggie seemed irritated, "Cut! Alright, uhh maybe we can try to fix it in post."

"Do you even know what that means?" Angel Dusk asked.

Vaggie sighed, "I'll figure it out!" She yells out angrily.

-Time Skip-

In a dark room with Vaggie sitting in front of a broken TV, watching the poorly edited shots of the commercial. She groans with frustration before Alastor enters the room.

"Seems like you're having a bit of a trouble there, hmm?" Alastor smirked.

"Ugh, este pendejo (this asshole)... Why are you even here?" Vaggie grumbled.

Alastor takes a seat on a couch next to her, "For the entertainment," Alastor's shadow slips out of his form before reappearing behind the couch, making laughing gestures, "I came here because I love seeing wasteful souls struggle to accomplish something meaningful and..." The shadow disappears, "..fail spectacularly, like you are doing now. Good job!"

Vaggie was getting ticked off by Alastor and his carefree insults, stands up and turns the camera toward him.

Vaggie points the camera to Alastor, "And here is Alastor, the egocentric piece of shit that..." As Vaggie was viewing the camera scene up to Alastor's face, the video camera glitches violently from green to red and Vaggie freaks out, dropping the static camera on the floor.

"UGH!" She groaned.

"I wouldn't try that, my dear." Alastor said, pointing to his face, "This face was made for radio." As Alastor explains, his pupils turn into the shape of radio dials, He had a nightmarish smile while red symbols float around him and the scene goes nearly static before fixing itself back to normal on Vaggie. She has had it with Alastor's insults and walks up to him.

"That's it. I don't care who or what you are. If you're staying here, you're going to make this work, because it won't be so..." Vaggie spoke imitating Alastor's voice, "...' entertaining'.." She went back to her normal voice, "to watch over an empty hotel, will it, shitass?" As Vaggie returns to her chair, Alastor approaches her, "Fair enough. I'll tell you what." Alastor smirked.

"Let's make a deal." Alastor smirked.

"Pfft, you think I'm that stupid making a deal with a demon like you?"

"Not for you soul, just a simple deal. I do this for you and you never ask me to engage with this frivolous television technology every again. Or my dear Yn and Charlie can come back to absolutely nothing: Your choice." Alastor crossed his arms. Vaggie glances away for a brief moment before making her decision as she sighs, "Fine" Vaggie picks up the camera and gives it to Alastor, which he evaporates it with a clap of his hand.

"Now then!" Alastor smirked. Alastor snaps his finger and transforms the hotel into a film set with the hotel staff into a 50s style film crew. Ink demons conjure up as additional background characters.

"Alright everyone, let's make a fucking commercial." Vaggie smirked.

The Embassy of Heaven-

Yn who's mouth is still taped while sitting down and Charlie looking exasperated with another of Adam's sexist rants.

"When you take her out for the fifth time and she still expects you to pay the check but you're like." Adam speaks in a high pitched-voice, "Hey, I thought you wanted equality."

"NO! our shared problem of overpopulation in Hell!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Ohh, well that's not a problem! We got that covered!" Adam said turning to Lute, "Lute, how many demons did you kill this year?"

"Got a good 275 this year, sir." Lute stated.

"275? Woah! Badass! Awesome job, danger tits! Pound it." Adam raises a fist for Lute to make a fist-bump, which she did.

"Uh no, not awesome. Those are my people, you know that right?" Charlie exclaimed.

Adam paused, "Oh yeah. That must suck for you!" Adam bursts into laughter.

"But these are souls... Humans souls just the same as the ones you have up in heaven." Charlie stated.

Lute spoke coldly, "They're not the same. They had their chance and they earned damnation."

"You're wrong. Sinners made mistakes, sure, but everyone makes mistakes." Charlie noted.

"Angels don't make mistakes." Lute noted as Adam glared at her, "Excuse me. I'm sorry."

"You really think that." Charlie exclaimed.

"I know that." Lute looked away.

'I bet to differ bitch, than what does that make Lucifer?' Yn thought.

"Yeah, I've never made a mistake in my fuckin' life." Adam smirked. Lute starts to walk around Charlie while the room starts to slowly become dark with a hit of red light inside.

"The only reason you're still here is because daddy gave you and your hellborn kind a pardon from an exorcist blade. How does that feel, to know how little you matter?" Lute looked at Charlie close.

"How does that feel, to know how little you matter?" Yn glares at her, her eyes glowing red with fire.

"Oops, almost out of time. Guess we should get into it." Adam smirked.

Song starts here-

"Oh fuck!" Charlie rushes to present her plan as fast as she could, "Okay I've got a lot to get through and not a lot of time and I feel like you weren't hearing me before so here it goes."

she opens a small portal where she takes out her drawings of her plans.

Charlie coughs as she starts making a fast-talk, which is close to singing as she gets all over stuff out on the table to show them what she means.

"~I know Hell's population is out of control. It's a bad situation It's taking a toll, If we rehab these Sinners And cleanse all their souls. At my Hazbin Hotel-~" Charlie rambles through the stacks of paper to get something. "Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself!" Charlie smiled and held up some more papers. "Right Extermination!"

"~I know you guys fly down Just to kill once a year, And it must be annoying To schlep all the way here, If they join you in Heaven That trip disappears! You can wave that chore farewell *deep breath* It'll be a happy day-~"

"~Let me stop you right there, safe us precious time~"

"Oh" Charlie gulped.

"~If what you're suggesting Is letting them climb. Up the ladder. Oh, they'd rather cross the Pearly Gates?"

"Well, uh..." Charlie tried to speak.

"~Sorry, sweetie. But there's no defin' their fates! 'Cause Hell is forever. Whether you like it or not. Had their chance to behave better. Now they boil in the pot. 'Cause the rules are black and white. There's no use in tryin' to fight it. They're burnin' for their lives. Until we kill'em again!~"

"Okay, but.." Charlie was interrupted.

"~Just try to chillax, babe. You're wasting your breath.~"

Charlie laughed nervously, "Hehe..."

"~Did I hear you imply. That they don't deserve death? Are they Winners? Are they Sinners? 'Cause it's cut and dry.~"

Charlie held up one of her drawings, "Well, actually, if you take a look..."

"~Fair is fair, an eye for an eye! And when all's said and done 'Said and done' There's the question of fun 'Fun' And for those of us with Divine Ordainment, Extermination is entertainment!~" Yn stands up and rips the tape from her mouth with an angry expression but it's replaced with a smirk as she levitates into the shadows of the room.

"~Bow-now-now-nownow Guitar solo, fuck yeah! Oh, da-ah-ah now-now-n-now-n-now-n-now-n-nownownow.~"  Adam plays a fake guitar. After Adam throws Charlie's papers at her, she gets so angry that she turns into her demon form, making growling noise.

"Ugh..." Charlie growls.

"~Hell is forever. Whether you like it or not. Had their chance to behave better.~" Four golden mirages of Exorcists appear, surrounding Charlie from all sides. Charlie seemed shocked, "Where the Hell did you people come from?!"

"~*Everyone except Charlie* Now they boil in the pot. 'Cause the rules are black and white. There's no use in tryin' to fight it. They're burnin' for their lives. Until we kill 'em again! Fuckin' Hell's forever.~"

"~And it's meant to suck a lot. So give up your dumb endeavor. 'Cause you don't have a shot!-" Charlie glares at Adam, starting to transform into her full demon form while burning her papers that are in her hands.

"~Long as I've got your attention. I guess I should probably mention. That we made the determination." Adam summons a golden scroll that he shows to Charlie. The scroll reads: FUCK YOU I DO WHAT I WANT!! with a crude drawing of Adam at the bottom flipping Charlie off, "~To move up the next Extermination!~"

"What?!" Charlie seems shocked. Yn's eyes widen in shock but her eyes narrow quickly and she grits her teeth.

"~Can't wait a whole year. To slaughter those little cunts. I know it's just been a week. But we'll be back in six months!~" Despite being a hologram, Adam grabs Charlie and throws her right out of the door.

"Um, wait, you-you Ugh, SHIT!" Charlie runs towards the closing doors trying to talk to Adam and when the doors close right in front of her she punches it with small tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yn!" She looks around and realizes that Yn is still in the room.

Inside the room Adan is laughing at Charlie, he turns to look at Lute.

"Did you hear that bitch?! She, she really thinks those cunt's could go to Heaven." Adam laughed.

"You really are pathetic, aren't you?" Adam and Lute turn to look towards a corner were they see Yn levitate out from with a smirk on her face.

"What the hell are you still doing here?!" Adam shouted at her.

"Oh, I'm here to kill you." Adam stares at Yn before he bursts out laughing while Lute smirks.

"And how are you gonna do that? Don't you remember?" He waves his hand through the table.

"We're not down there!" Yn smiles showing his sharp teeth.

"That doesn't matter." In a blink of an eye Yn appears in front of Adam and Lute, she grabs their hands but what they didn't expect happens, Yn is able to physically grab their hands.

Heaven-

In a similar room but in Heaven Adam and Lute stare horrified as Yn slowly starts to break through the "hologram". Yn's face becomes distorted, her eyes twitch with three glowing orbs floating in them, her mouth becomes wide revealing multiple rows of teeth.

"What's wrong? You getting scared bitch boy?" Yn laughed.

"Cut it!" Lute runs over to a switch that cuts off the hologram connection between Heaven and Hell.

"Ahh!" Adam screams in pain. Lute turns around and she comes face to face with Yn who grabs her arm and burns it causing her to scream, but she fights through the pain and pulls on the switch causing Yn to disappear but not without letting out a small haunting laugh. Adam stays silent for a second before laughing.

"Whoo! That was hot for a weird one! I'm hungry as hell, I'm gonna get some food." Adam walks out of the room leaving, he looks down at his arm that had a burnt symbol. Lute who falls onto her knees alone, looks down at her arm and sees a symbol burned onto it as well.

The symbol glows red and both Adam and Lute's veins turn red too as the energy travels up into their head. They groan but stop when the symbol stops glowing. Both opens their eyes that flash red.

"That fucking... Dirty... sinner~" Adam and Lute said nsync. They both held their arm and chuckles.

The Embassy's of Heaven-

Charlie is walking back and forth in the hall ways, waiting for the doors to the room to open and hopefully Yn walking out of there fine. She gasps as the doors open, and Charlie sees Yn walk out.

"Sorry I took-" She is cut off as Charlie hugs her tightly.

"You're okay!" Yn chuckles.

"Of course I am. I just had to stay for a while and show that asshole who he's talking to." Charlie hugged Yn tighter. She sighs, thinking about that Adam said.

"Can we just go home?"

"Yeah. Let's go hun."

Hazbin Hotel-

Yn and Charlie sadly return to the hotel. Vaggie runs to them and hugs them.

"Yn! Charlie! How did it go, did they listen?" Vaggie smiled.

"Oh, they sure did hear it But..." Charlie didn't get to finish.

"Oh come here, we have something exciting to show you." Vaggie leads Yn and Charlie to group, "Alastor pulled some strings and it's about to air."

"I pulled a few limbs too, hahaha.." Alastor laughed.

"Wait, the commercial? You all made a new one?" Charlie smiled.

"Yeah, one of my better performances if I do say so myself." Angel Dust fixed his fluff.

Charlie beams brightly, "That's... that's amazing."

"Well haven't you been productive." Yn smiles at Angel Dust.

"shh, it's starting." Vaggie squealed.

TV: "Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel -" The TV cuts to the News report. The group except Yn, Alastor and Niffty annoyed and angrily complain Charlie even slightly transforming into her full demon form.

"Breaking news in Hell today! We have just received word from the Heaven Embassy that the next Extermination is happening sooner than ever before. Do you know what that means, Tom?" Katie Killjoy exclaimed.

"No, what does that mean, Katie?" Tom Trench replied.

"It means we're all royally fucked!" Katie's eye twitches.

Screaming can be heard from Sinners as the time on the Clock Tower reduces to 176 days till the next Extermination.

"Wait what? Why?!" Angel Dust spoke.

Yn then stands up and starts to walk towards the front doors but she's stopped by Vaggie who grabs her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Vaggie questioned.

"I'm just gonna go talk to someone... important." Vaggie looks at Yn who narrows her eyes concerned.

"Okay.. Just be safe out there." Yn smiles at Vaggie.

"You don't have to worry about me Vaggie." Yn kisses her forehead and walks out, six wings grow out of her back and she blasts off into the sky as Vaggie looks up at her.

"But I do." Yn flies higher and higher into the air when she sees a barrier that surrounds Hell. Yn closes her eyes and after a second they snap open revealing glowing white eyes. The barrier in front of Yn breaks open allowing Yn to fly out of Hell and right towards Heaven.

Heaven-

Yn lands in front of God's golden castle but her form has changed instead of her more demonic form Yn's form has changed into a beautiful angelic being that looks like she's made out of pure light and holy energy with multiple pure white wings and a huge white halo that surrounds a huge crown made out of holy energy.

Yn walks towards the gigantic golden doors that are guarded by powerful angels. When the angels see Yn walking towards them, they step back and bow in front of her acting if she was God himself. The doors open automatically in front of Yn who walks in.

God's Throne Room-

In God's throne room a seraphim angel is talking to God when they are cut off as the doors to the throne room open and Yn marches in, her presence shaking the room. God smiles at the sight of Yn while the angel bows, Yn looks down at them.

"Leave us please." The angel nods and walks out of the throne room. Yn folds her arms and looks at God who lets out a small sigh.

"What's wrong dear?" God questioned sitting on his throne.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?! What's wrong is that the extermination was shortened to six months!" She yells out shaking the entire castle violently. But the shaking eventually dies down.

"Yeah... I heard about that..." God said still smiling.

"You have to stop that, it's complete insanity!" She starts walking back and forth while waving her arms around.

"I don't even know how that was allowed! I know it's Hell but that doesn't mean everyone should be killed without a care!"

"I know, I know Yn." Yn looks at him.

"If you know, do something about it." Yn demanded.

"I can't. It's not that dire yet."

"Not that dire. That's bullshit." Yn scoffs and crossed her arms. God sighs and walks over to Yn and hugs her from behind, putting his head on her shoulder.

"I might do something about this, I only ask if you let me have you~" God offers. Yn moves away from him with an expression that tells him 'No'.

"Then that's that. Since when did you start caring about the sinners?" God question.

"I don't. but down there are people that I care about deeply and if this continues I'm afraid that they'll get hurt. And if they do, I'll erase all of creation as a whole!" Yn said. God spins Yn around to face him as he wraps his arms around her.

"I promise you, I'lI take care of this if it crosses the line." God swears to her dead in the eyes as he held her close to him.

Pentagram City-

A drone scours an area until it finds a dead Exorcist corpse with its head missing. The drone scans the corpse.

"We found the body, sir. They've never managed to kill one of us before. We should just go down there now and destroy them!" Lute spoke, upset and pissed off.

"No, no. We can't risk them catching on. But, don't worry, when we come back, there won't be a demon left alive to pull a stunt like this again!" Adam sighed as he looked at his burnt arm as it glowed.

(At this point I’m not gonna cover up the bad words so keep in mind I’m future they will be revealed bad words for some)

Previous Page: Ch. 3: The Murder Family

Next Page: Ch. 5: Radio Killed the Video Star

Beginning: Front Cover

[bri-the-nautilus]

Blorbo Headcanon: The Tragedy of Gurranq

This is one I've been kind of mulling over, but was spurred to devote some serious thought to tonight. Maliketh/Gurranq is adorable. The best, hungriest boi. A faithful shadow, true to the Golden Order. But I think his tragedy extends beyond just feeling like he let Marika down on the Night of Black Knives. To start, we'll need some background.

Farum Azula is a crumbling city in the sky at the center of a time storm. The southern provinces are dotted with debris from Farum Azula, but the city when we visit it is not only reasonably intact, but frozen. Nothing is actively falling. There's no day/night cycle. Passing time doesn't alter the skybox and nothing changes based on when you enter. It's clear that Farum Azula exists outside the normal flow of time, and can even counteract it: when we travel to Placidusax's arena, a destroyed section of the city reforms itself and the Erdtree doesn't exist. Farum Azula is populated by a society of intelligent beastmen, who were blessed with intellect and five fingers as stated by the Cinquedea, Gurranq's clerical shortsword.

Gurranq, the Beast Clergyman, is a robed figure who makes his home in Dragonbarrow, protected by a Black Blade Kindred. He guides and leads the Hunters of Those Who Live In Death, who weed deathroot. Deathroot is said to be the source of Those Who Live In Death, and Gurranq eats it. The Stone and Claw of Gurranq incantations say that he once went by a different name, which meant "Death of the Demigods." If the player feeds every obtainable deathroot to Gurranq, he thanks them for being a friend but states that he has "done all he can for this world" and promptly disappears.

Maliketh, the Black Blade, is to Queen Marika as Blaidd is to Ranni. He wields and protects Destined Death. It was he who defeated the Gloam-Eyed Queen in battle (Godslayer's UGS) and he who was robbed on the Night of Black Knives to create the blades that slew Godwyn and Ranni. For a shadow like Maliketh, the feeling that he let Marika down and the tragedy is his fault must have been impossible to bear. He vows that Destined Death shall not be stolen from him again. We meet Maliketh in Farum Azula, where he first dresses as a Beast Clergyman and wields the Cinquedea before unchaining Destined Death and facing us with his black blade and armor.

The game makes it pretty clear that Gurranq is Maliketh. Besides their identical appearances, Gurranq's old name meaning "Death of the Demigods," and Gurranq's sanctum being guarded by one of Maliketh's black gargoyles, as you progress Gurranq's questline he makes repeated references to a "past sin" and speaks of Marika as if he knew her personally.

Upon dealing enough damage after feeding the fourth Deathroot

"Put it away. I won't forget... again... mine appetite... My sin... So please.... Enough."

Fifth Deathroot

"My thanks Tarnished.... Death... My sin... Should not be touched by the hand of man... I shall grant thee... my claws... Feed me... more..."

Sixth, seventh and eighth Deathroot

"I won't forget... again.... mine appetite... My sin... I must have more... I must consume more..."

Ninth Deathroot

"It is... it is all... consumed. Still., I am not sated... Not nearly sated..." 

"Marika... Is this... what it is... to sin?" "Will things... never be the same... again?" 

"..." 

"Tarnished... my thanks... for thy... long labor. But I have done... all I can... in this land. Henceforth, mine appetite shall be my sole companion. Farewell."

Moreover, if you complete Gurranq's quest before challenging Maliketh for the first time, Maliketh phase one has special dialogue where he recognizes you and laments that he has to fight you.

Tarnished, why wouldst thou... Why... Tis no matter. I hereby vow, that Destined Death shall not be stolen again.

On the contrary, killing Maliketh before/during Gurranq's quest doesn't affect the Clergyman's dialogue.

But this leads us to some questions about the true nature of Gurranq and the timeline of Maliketh's life. Other demigods, such as Morgott, show the ability to project illusory duplicates of themselves. The Omen King does this twice: once in Stormveil and once in the old battlefield. One could easily assume that Gurranq is such an illusion. But there's one problem: He exists even without Maliketh. If you kill Morgott in Leyndell before either Margit, the Margit(s) in question won't spawn. If you kill Maliketh before finishing Gurranq's quest, it doesn't despawn Gurranq. Now the question is, when is Gurranq? Where in Maliketh's life does he fall?

My headcanon is this: After the NoBK, Maliketh seals Destined Death in himself. Marika orders him to go to Farum. Outwardly, she says that having him in the Capital where Destined Death could be stolen was a mistake. Privately, she doesn't want him around when she rebels against the Golden order, similarly to how Iji suspected Blaidd needed to be removed before Ranni killed her Two Fingers. Maliketh has dialogue expressing a strong adherence to the Golden Order, so it's safe to assume that unlike Blaidd with Ranni, he would not have been willing to side with Marika over the Greater Will. Maliketh leaves, but he doesn't go to Farum immediately. Yet. Confused? So am I.

Marika sticks her head into Farum, sees a self-loathing ball of fur, and leaves to plot the Shattering.

Maliketh, meanwhile, feels a duty to help rid the world of the evil that he thinks he allowed the creation of. Those Who Live In Death are a new phenomenon. Godwyn being slain and buried caused his influence to spread along the Erdtree's roots, raising the dead. Although he has restrained Destined Death and no longer wields it, Maliketh is both qualified and honor-bound to fight Those Who Live In Death. And as long as he's in Farum in about half an hour when Marika goes to see him, everything's fine.

Adopting the name 'Gurranq', Maliketh heads for Caelid. There, he sets up shop leading a cadre of Golden Order adherents (eventually including Darian and the Tarnished) in weeding the deathroot that allows the dead to wake. When Marika shatters the Elden Ring, he feels lied to and betrayed, but he pushes it out of mind. The Tarnished succeeds in excising every major deathroot node from the Lands Between and feeding them to Gurranq. Gurranq has done all he can for this world, and thanks his truest comrade for their service before they part ways.

Farum Azula is a city out of time, and Maliketh is demigod and high priest of the city out of time. He arrives right after Marika dismissed him, on time for her to see him there. He knows what she's going to do, but has to bite his tongue. There he sits for all the years after the NoBK. Until one day, the Tarnished arrives.

For them, it's been just days.

For Maliketh, it's been centuries.

Maliketh was betrayed by Marika. He spent centuries simultaneously laboring to repent as Gurranq and sitting alone in a lost city and blaming himself for what went wrong as the time-displaced Black Blade. He had one companion who shared his mission towards the end of his time in the Lands Between, but they parted ways and Maliketh lived all that time again alone. But now, his truest of comrades has returned to kill him and steal that which he swore would not leave his side again.

A second betrayal, more painful than the first.

[blaiddfailcam]

Marika's involvement in the Land of Shadow

In interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki, he posits that while the player arrives in the Land of Shadow in Miquella's footsteps, another aspect of the story will pertain to Marika, and the mystery of her actions in this world apart. Knowing her to have been a ruthless conqueror of the Lands Between, might the Land of Shadow been another battleground on which she tested her faith?

To bring Order to chaos

"They were never saints. They just happened to be on the losing side of a war."

This particular quote from the trailer, spoken by a yet unknown character, stuck out to me. It isn't clear to whom the speaker is referring, but thematically, it resonates with a theme throughout Elden Ring of the enduring power of faith and fragility. Clearly, the Land of Shadow is a deeply hostile world, and with Messmer the Impaler seemingly at the heart of this suffering, it's certainly not a welcome world for the Erdtree faithful.

Given the heavy focus on fire—in particular, "the embrace of Messmer's flame"—I'm reminded of another quote from the base game, included in the Erdtree's Protection incantation:

"In the beginning, everything was in opposition to the Erdtree. But through countless victories in war, it became the embodiment of Order."

Prior to the establishment of the Age of the Erdtree, two battles were fought: first with the Gloam-Eyed Queen and her Blackflame, and the second against the Fire Giants to seal the Flame of Ruin. Fire is naturally regarded a sin in the Erdtree faith, so it's no wonder Marika was challenged with disposing of these two volatile forces before her age could truly flourish. Might Messmer's flame have been another beast in need of taming?

While Marika eventually won her war, a key component of the Golden Order is its adaptability. Marika never truly defeated the Godskins, as we find several Apostles and Nobles wandering the world, possibly even in service to Maliketh in Farum Azula; though Godfrey slaughtered countless Fire Giants, Marika realized she could never truly eliminate the Fell God, and so cursed the last of their race to protect the secret for eternity. The Golden Order is powerful, but it cannot erase an ideology. It conquers through absorption and appropriation, enslaving all unto its will. This is once again illustrated through Radagon's marriage to Rennala after failing to defeat her in battle, a union that ultimately fettered the fate of the stars to that of the Golden Order.

Curiously, this concept arises yet again with Miquella.

"Pure and radiant, he wields love to shrive clean the hearts of men. There is nothing more terrifying."

Similarly to Malenia's quote in her gear descriptions, Miquella is described paradoxically as both loving and terrifying, wielding power over all with his ability to manipulate those who adore him. As the Bewitching Branch illustrates, he even possesses an eerie ability to inspire love in enemies to compel them to his aid. I suppose the apple didn't fall far from the tree... uh, no pun intended.

To search the depths

At the Minor Erdtree Church in the Capital Outskirts, Melina recites spoken echoes of Queen Marika:

"I declare mine intent, to search the depths of the Golden Order. Through understanding of the proper way, our faith, our grace, is increased. Those blissful early days of blind belief are long past. My comrades, why must ye faulter?"

Originally, I assumed this quote was literally referring to the region beneath the Erdtree, Deeproot Depths. After all, it is there that the heart of the Greattree resides, and where the golden star that would become the Elden Beast first landed, drawing matter from the Crucible to form the sapling that would in time become the Erdtree. However, it never quite sat right with me, as there would likely be no reason to explore the ruins of an Eternal City to better comprehend the Golden Order.

With the new knowledge that Marika also set foot in the Land of Shadow, I now wonder if this other realm is actually what she was referring to? She designates a shift from "blind belief" toward an era of reason, which almost sounds as if she sought to test her faith, as well as that of her comrades, through yet another war. It's not at all clear when she set her heart upon this introspection, but given that it's never quite explained why she divested Godfrey and his warriors of their grace, might some discovery during her exploration of the Land of Shadow have inspired this unusual plot...?

This could even mark the first instance in which Marika failed to achieve victory, even through absorption. It appears that whatever road carries us to the Land of Shadow, Messmer retains much of his power, possibly explaining why this region was somehow cloven from the Lands Between. In any case, it seems as though Messmer recognizes the Tarnished as Marika's true chosen successors, not just mere outcasts. (Might then she and her Erdtree faithful have been the alleged "saints" on the losing side of the war...?)

• • •

There's plenty left to ponder, and perhaps none of this is even close to hitting the mark, but it'll be fun to mull over and see what surprises are left in store for us. I'm not even going to begin attempting to decipher Messmer's alleged relationship to Marika, lol.

Just a few months... We can do this.

[snkts]

the first time this scene played out, josh had been a teenager. his eyes still blue, his hair still blonde, his golden hands already stained with blood and mottled with the rot of it. there in the dim lighting of a grimly dive bar he'd sat, asking for guidance and protection from the world that the man before him couldn't give. he'd been scared of himself, scared of what he'd done, and scared of what he would do -

and all the weeks and months that followed had done was prove that he was right to be scared. that he was alone in all this, that his problems were his to carry and handle and secrecy and misery were his truest companions.

maybe, had that first time gone a little better, the second would be different. maybe the gold on his skin would feel truer and less like gold plating, hiding a monster just waiting to come out.

this bar is equally grimy to last. not krakoan. some hole near enough to a gate. there's a tooth on the bartop from a still bleeding mouth. its former owner is slumped over in a booth at the back, trying to act like he'd given as good as he'd got. soon enough he'll forget himself and start another fight, but his is not the focus of this story.

the golden boy that steps through those swinging doors doesn't even spare him a sideways glance. and that, in itself, is a sign that the only advice he'd gotten that day has been forgotten.

there's no awkward bid for attention. no fumbling for words and an explanation for why he's here and what he wants.

josh merely sits down beside his former favorite hero. his eyes are no longer blue, his hair is no longer blonde, and the evidence of that first blood once so visible on his hands has been washed away by all that came after. those new folks on krakoa

he orders a drink - strongest they have. "one for me, and one for my buddy here." the drinks come and then there's... silence.

josh doesn't acknowledge the man next to him, staring down into the amber liquid of a drink cheaper than what he's paying for. of the five, elixir is the least talkative. he's not said a word to cyclops, nor to wolverine. the nice thing of being one of five is that someone else is always there to do the talking, to be the words that he doesn't want to give them.

but it's just him now. him, and logan, and the weight of the sins he knows are happening and he is once again complacent in.

after a moment or two, josh pulls up his glass and drains it dry. then leans back, pulls the latest missive from the x-force and beast himself, and slaps it down on the table in front of them.

"this," he says, his voice deceptively calm, "x-force bullshit is either gonna stop or i'm gone."

the first part of the memo is a request from the five to the x-force. the message is written in egg's careful script, their discomfort with what they've been tasked with all too clear.

the response is cold and to the point. in doctor mccoy's handwriting, but no the voice josh ever knew him to have. we order. you cook. end of story.

"i'm not doing this again," he tamps the words with one long golden finger, which flares with a power far greater than that he'd had as a teen. "not after what it did to me. not with what i can do now. and not with what it's doing to them."

( somewhere, in the back of the bar, the drunk will come to and find all his teeth have regrown. every person in this space will awaken and find themselves renewed, courtesy of his ever-expanding abilities. powers flaring whether he wants them to or not. )

It’s dark here. Quiet. Almost peaceful. Not quite, but almost. That seemed to be a frequent theme on Krakoa. Almost-not-quites piled up like Toronto’s playoff losses. … Was he still allowed to watch the NHL? It wasn't exactly mutant owned. Sure, he’d keep watching anyway, even if it meant some extra trips through the portal, but was it gonna turn into a headache? He growled quietly and downed his glass. Fuck. It already was. The rules were almost-not-quite clear. The beer was almost-not-quite good. Some special brew made ‘just for mutants like him’ that was meant to somehow bypass his healing factor and actually get him shitfaced. It sort of worked, but it didn't taste right. Nothing compared to a nice glass of Molson’s. Or, fuck, some actual whiskey…

Yeah.

Almost-not-quites. Just like he could almost-not-quite ignore the footsteps behind him. They were getting closer. He recognized the cadence, the scent that was barely masked by the reek of alcohol and sweat and bodies and floor polish. He knew who it was. He glanced up anyway, and - yeah.

There was Elixir. He was as hard to miss as he ever was, skin gleaming gold in a way that felt horribly out of place in the bar’s dark atmosphere. That much has stayed the same, but everything else about him… That was worn down. That was tarnished. Logan looks back at the bar. He breathes a sigh.

So much for a restful evening.

Logan doesn’t speak when Josh sits. Doesn’t say anything when the kid orders for him, either. Just grimaced and pushed the new glass away with the back of his hand, and tapped two fingers against the countertop to get a refill of what he’d had. The booze here was already watery piss; he didn’t need it soured by pity, too. Besides, he knows the familiar term is more of a hidden ‘fuck you’ than anything else. He could shoot it back. He has an idea of what’s coming. And when Josh speaks - yep. Right on the money. Guess they were doing this. Logan grunts, glances at the sheet of paper. He recognized the letterhead. He leans over just enough to see what it says. Oh, right - he remembered that one. That was from… Four days ago, right? Something like that. He’d had to talk to Hank about that. Argue with him, more like. They did that a lot these days. It’s not that Logan wanted to get rid of X Force. If Krakoa was going to function as a sovereign nation, they needed a defence force - especially with how tangled they were with the Skrull and how antagonistic the Quiet Council got with the humans. They’d need someone to stand between them and the shit they stirred up. (And, selfishly, it was a way to get off this rock. Yes, his family was here. Yes, the home he'd been given was warm, dry, safe, and comfortable. And yes, it was good to have everyone together. But he missed Earth, and sometimes he just wanted some goddamn In-N-Out.) But- Fuck. It was getting twisted. Things were getting FUBAR and it was hard to know where the bad seeds were sown. But he also can’t just walk away. He has a duty, to his friends, to his family, to everyone on Krakoa. And if he leaves, who keeps X-Force in line? It’s already spiralling out of control, and that’s with him yanking on the reigns. (And he hasn’t always done the best job of that. Since when the hell has he been the model of self restraint-?) And when it comes down to who’s on it…

Apparently, not Elixir.

Logan grunts and returns to his drink just in time for it to be refilled.

“So leave.” It’s blunt, and it’s callous, but he’s done arguing. He’s tired. He's pissed. And he just wants to drink in peace. “You're one of the Five. You decide which of us get to live. Why do you give a shit what I say?” And he downs his glass again.

“Do what you want, kid. You're the one who’s gotta live with yourself.”

[whatdoyoumeanitsnotcanon]

I have a somewhat elaborate request for Elden Ring, if you'd like: How about Morgott's (platonic) relationship with a GN!Reader who is another Demigod? One that, just like him, refused to take part in the infighting between their siblings, and, instead, remained loyal to the Golden Order, just like the Omen King, taking up the duty of defending the capital alongside him? For additional drama/fluff, if you are into that, said Demigod doesn't care he's an Omen at all (if they ever figure out Margit and Morgott are the same), because, while they might initially be surprised, they, similar to Godfrey, never really got into the 'purity' thing the Golden Order had, so they just see Morgott as a person, not some kind of abomination. Sorry if that is a bit outside your usual requests, but Morgott really, really deserves a member of his family that actually shows him some appreciation, or at least thinks positively of him, horns and all, while he's still alive, not just Godfrey lamenting his death when he can't hear it anymore.

Ｍｙ　Ｂｒｏｔｈｅｒ＇ｓ　Ｋｅｅｐｅｒ

You remember the day he was born, all wrinkly, tiny, hairy, and cute just the same.

You remember Godwyn's joy when he found out he was a big brother. He jumped around excitedly and listed all the things he wanted to do with his siblings.

You remember the two of you crowding around the squirming bundles, cooing unintelligibly and promising that you'd protect them always.

You cared not that they had horns.

You cared not for the hushed whispers or the looks of derision. They were family and you would love them regardless.

You remember waking the next day, hoping to see them again. But you never did. No one did.

You looked to Godwyn and saw his mouth drawn in restrained anger. You turned to Godfrey and never knew the man's broad shoulders could slump so low, and when your gaze fell upon Marika, queen eternal, there was nothing of the warmth she showered down upon you two, only the cold, distant visage of a monarch.

And in the span of a day, your world had changed forever.

You were forbidden from talking to them. That didn't deter you. You tried your damnedest alongside Godwyn. Over time, his duties as a Prince began to take up most of his time and so you dedicated yourself in his stead to reaching out.

You wrote and you wrote and you wrote, hoping one day your lost brothers would see, hoping that they would understand that they weren't unloved.

Your luck only changed when, in seemingly quick succession, Godfrey left, Marika remarried, and Godwyn was killed. The anger of a thousand years fell on to the Queen eternal but still, her cold visage remained, and your efforts doubled.

When she committed the ultimate sin and plunged the realm into war, you watched in horror. Your shoulders slumped the same as Godfrey's did and you never felt so... aged and tired. You questioned why, you wondered how she abandon you all to fight to the death, and your thoughts turned to your brothers, lost. Gone.

You failed to protect them.

You remember staring at the empty throne before you heard a deep voice pulling you from your thoughts.

"...Who are you?"

Turning, you took in the towering figure, regal, bent, wrinkly, hairy, and cute just the same. He eyed distrustfully. You remember the shock of white hair and his adorably gnarled horns. You remember his little tail and thought he and his brother were the most precious things in existence.

Your eyes blurred and you cried over your broken family.

-------

"I meant to tell you a lot," you said softly as you handed him, Morgott, a bundle of letters and journals, "we tried so hard, Godwyn and I, to find you. Not all of us are heartless, brother..."

You both let the words hang in the air.

It was some time before Morgott saw or spoke to you again. He'd taken the bundle and left just as silently as he came. You couldn't fault him for it. This was a lot to take in, even for a demigod.

You were staring up at the Erdtree, the symbol of everything that's right and wrong with your family when Morgott stood next to you.

An awkward silence ensued before he spoke and he sounded nervous. "I... will need help setting things right," his single golden eye looked down at you. The distrust in his stare wasn't as prominent as before. "...There is much to discuss and I... have many questions. Will thy sword be raised to protect our home?"

You looked from the Erdtree to him and let the tension and unease linger in the air. You cared not for the war and you cared not for power. Your only wish, your only desire, was to see your family made whole once again. If it were someone else, your nod would have been imperceptible, but you realized early on that Morgott was incredibly astute. It reminded you so much of Godfrey.

He grunted his approval and you saw the hesitant beginnings of a smile form on Morgott's lips.

You could only thank the Greater Will for this second chance.

[theeshamrocktattoo]

the *brief* biblical breakdown of dtamhd

*cracks knuckles* okay, let's get into it. and, before i start off: I'm a theology student who works as a youth pastor. that does not mean that I am right in any way, or aim to change people's opinions. this is just hella interesting to me.

strap in, cause this is gonna be a long post...

Featured in the apex of the episode we are presented with some very obvious imagery. The raw cannibalistic-like nature of the sequence itself, could allude to a multitude of things that many other people on here have talked about. But I specifically want to talk about this scene and the biblical link that I personally made. We are all aware that this occurred:

Which is, in my interpretation of the scene, dennis consuming and overcoming his trauma so he is able to continue to help the gang. He is reborn, or renewed. But what the hell does this have to do with a biblical reading of this scene?

Well, John 6: 53-54 says that: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day"

Communion is a christian tradition that has withstood the test of time and involves engaging in the consumption of bread and wine in a church-like setting. And there are a ton of bible verses that talk about communion, because of how integral it is to the christian faith:

"Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'" (Matthew 26:27-28)

Sunny actually makes quite a few references to communion, one of my favourites being from 8x06 Charlie's Mom Has Cancer:

Anyway, at its core, as briefly stated in the bible verses above, communion is the act of "feeding" on Christ's body and blood as a tangible, visible reminder of what occured before, during and after, Jesus' crucifixion. And, the crucifixion itself is a symbol for many things, one of them being a victory over death and that "the world might be saved through [Christ]" (John 3: 17).

BUT! How does any of this stuff about communion relate to dennis takes a mental health day, you ask?

Well, when looking at the episode as a whole, it becomes clear that dennis utilises a fantasy to lower his blood pressure to a normal level. There are many debates currently about which avenue dennis' delusions fall under - whether it is actually a hallucination he's having, or a calming technique - but, in order to function better as a person dennis needs his blood pressure to be a stable number. And to do this he envisions himself eating another man's heart. And only then, after consuming the flesh of the Son of man (The CEO of tsuma), is dennis truly able to feel calm. Which means he is able to help the gang once again and can save them from whatever crisis they have gotten themselves into.

Christ urges his disciples to celebrate with him, despite knowing that he is going to die on the cross. Because when Christ is being sent to be crucified unwillingly, he presents a reminder of his love and protection through the figurative consumption of his flesh and blood. Christ's blood is then poured out and in return a new covenant (commonly used in theological terminology to mean an agreement or the creation of a new bond) is formed when he is resurrected, or reborn.

Dennis utilising the explicit imagery of eating a man's flesh just seems very poignant to me. dennis as a character views himself very much in the light of Christ, and is constantly referring to his physical and mental state to be akin to God - he is the Golden God after all. Therefore, his obsession with feeling in control and Godly, can be fed into with the motif of communion, crucifixion and renewal. So, i think it's interesting linking dtamhd to a biblical context, because of the layers and imagery.

BUT i need to stop rambling before my head explodes. So, I hope this was informative and I'm not well. (if you've read this far, thank you so much <3)

[writerleo86]

Terravenger Season 6 - The Twilight Arc {End of Arc} - Episode 530 (Do Not Copy) - 03.20.2024

    The great white light finally faded as a weakened Kirk Tucson lowered toward the opening of the dark temple. The top of his attire was ripped which revealed his gray undershirt. The lower part of his pants' left leg was torn off. And his shoes as well as his socks were gone as well.

    The opening slowly closed as the tired Tucson landed on his knees at its center. He began blowing small breaths as the bright light completely vanished. But floating high in the sky was the wicked Mephistopheles wearing only his pants, socks, and slippers. And all parts of his hair were down.

    As dirt covered both of them, the two warriors faced each other.

    Mephistopheles gave a hideous laugh and yelled "I can now feel them! All the souls that have been bought to me! My power... My glorious power! Finally I have fully regenerated!"

    Tucson slowly rose as the demon replied "The souls, those precious souls! And your great light! They all have rejuvenated me!"

    Mephistopheles gave another laugh and added "Once my light has combined with the Vessel -- my young and strong vessel, I shall begin my rule by ridding the planet of all its sins! And I will continue until I have conquered the entire galaxy! I shall purify all that oppose me!"

    Next, the brave Tucson spread his arms out as the demon gave a wicked smirk. And Mephistopheles continued.

    "This world! This entire world! It shall eventually belong to me! But first, I must vanquish you -- the only one force that comes between us! Myself and my perfect vessel!"

    "You mean?" questioned Tucson.

    "Oh yes," replied Mephistopheles. "You, or rather your great light. Your pure and rare gift. You have formed a barrier. A perfect barrier that protects Duo Storms."

    Then both warriors thought for a moment.

In a small room at the Midas City Hospital, the color of Kirk Tucson's eyes changed from blue to yellow as the shirtless Duo Storms sat on the bed before him. A golden light shined around Tucson's left hand as a large circle of golden light was placed on the top of Duo's back.

Tucson called out "Tenebris Spiritus Signationem!"

And Duo yelled in pain as a circle of the golden light pierced on his back for a moment.

    After that, the wicked Mephistopheles spread out his arms as Tucson blew a few small breaths.

    The demon gave out another hideous laugh and told his opponent "You must die in order for me to join with my vessel."

    First, his eyes shined yellow as Tucson faced his opponent once again. A globe of yellow light gathered around each hand as well.

    Tears began to fall from his glowing eyes as Tucson responded "I may not be able to stop you. Heck, I may not survive this. But I'll make sure you don't get your hands on that boy."

    "You alone?" implied Mephistopheles. "But you appear to be at your end."

    Tucson placed his hands together and the yellow light covered his entire body.

    He thought to himself "Lord, give me some strength."

    The druid soon chanted "Dominus ac redemptor meus, plus lucis tuae tribue quaeso."

    The light started to spread around over the area as its color slowly turned silver.

    And Tucson said "It's time to end you. Or die trying."

Terravenger -- Season 6

Episode 530:  Twilight -- The Bringer of Chaos

    One the long wooden bridge somewhere in the old temple, the enemy called Wrath slowly threw his right hand out. A large purple energy resembling a skull had formed before him. And the mouth of the summoned skull blew out a barrage of small balls made of the purple energy.

    Wrath yelled  "Now Thomas Faust! Feast your eyes on another technique that I taught you long ago!"

    More balls shot from the skull's mouth as the sinister man called out "IRAM SATANAS!"

    At the other side of the bridge, the calm Leo walked away from his two followers -- Kiona Dupree and Darrin Sebastian.

    "We must end this!" cried Kiona.

    Leo ordered "Wait for the right opening, my dear Sebastian. And you will be the one to finish this conflict."

    Darrin shook his head and said "Certainly my magus."

    First, the determined Leo stopped as the right wrist of Darrin formed into a large cannon made of pure silver. The youth soon formed a large plate of red energy in front of his master.

    Second, Leo lifted his right point-finger. This caused two small orbs made of black energy to form before the protected seer. Both spheres drained each of the small purple balls as the shielded Leo walked toward his his enemy with confidence.

    Once he stopped a few more steps from his opponent, the wicked Leo spread his arms out as a circle of green light shined around his feet. The red barrier shielding him had vanished as Leo pointed his left finger at Wrath.

    Leo informed his enemy "Your time finally has come, my former teacher."

    Then the vicious Darrin aimed his cannon forward.

    He yelled "Die now! Dark Silver!"

    He fired a ray of pale-blue energy from his cannon at his target. Once it shot through his chest, Wrath slowly fell onto his knees.

    After that, Leo blew a regular-sized skull made of purple energy from his right palm which ended the life of his enemy. And the lifeless body of Wrath fell down with his face up.

    The circle of green light faded from his feet as Leo lowered his right hand.

    The seer finally gave a sorrow look and said "Farewell, my teacher. I truly had enjoyed the time we had together long ago."

    On the top of the old temple, the silver light continued to spread all over the entire area as the determined Tucson spread his arms apart. And he thought to himself.

34 years ago, two individuals ran through a large field of hanging corn during one late evening somewhere in Maine. One of them who was at the right side was the tall young man named Ivan Scorpio. The other was the older woman named Josephine Tucson who carrier Kirk Tucson as a small child.

    He thought "Mom. Thank-you for taking me away from that dreaded resort in Maine. I love you. And I cannot wait to see you again."

Moments later, the older youth Ivan had carried the 4-year old Tucson as he ran from the old long bridge.

    "Ivan," thought Tucson. "Thanks for bringing me to that boat. I wonder how you are doing these days."

Standing on the cliff of the Forest Area on the top of the Midas Academy was a determined Tucson along with the wise Alexis Sanyo standing behind him.

    Tears dropped from his eyes once again as Tucson gave a soft smile.

    He thought "You, Lady Sanyo. Thank-you for taking me to the place where everything started for me. To the Druids of Light, where I learned how to wield the great power of Light."

    The color of the surrounding light began to change from silver to blue.

    Then the determined Tucson roared "Prepare to feel the shine of the real light!"

    And the great light started blinding the area as Tucson called out "Druids of Light Sacred Art! Final Destination!"

    The wicked Mephistopheles felt a large amount of pain as he continued to float in the shining sky. Black electricity started to spark from every part of his body as the demon gave a hideous smile.

    "You may wield Light as your weapon!" He called. "But I also carry the power!"

    A giant sphere of silver light slowly formed around the entire area which stopped the blue light.

    Next, Mephistopheles spread his arms as he looked up. He closed his eyes as more of the black electricity gathered around his body.

    He responded "Now that I have regained myself fully, I am able to share this with you."

    A globe of black light which was the same size as the great demon was formed before him. The black globe slowly floated to the shining light surrounding the area.

    Mephistopheles continued by claiming "I alone have the ability to combine both elements from the Holy Spirits. I can bring together Light and Darkness."

    Both projectiles finally formed together and created a globe made of destructive red energy.

    "By combining the Light and the Darkness," continued Mephistopheles. "I can create another element that does not compare to others."

    The deadly globe floated into the sky.

    Mephistopheles claimed "I am able to create the lost element -- Chaos."

    Then he called out "Deity's Gift! Grand Sacrifice!"

    And the globe formed into an explosion that blew all over the sky.

    Running through the dark hallway at another part of the temple was the detective Mercury with determination.

[disneyfangrl100]

New fanfic: Hell Bound: A Hazbin Hotel story

I’ve decided to start posting more of my stories on here again this story is a Crossover between Hazbin Hotel and Disney’s The hunchback of Notre Dame. Here’s the first chapter.

Chapter One: Once upon a Time In Hell

“Once upon a time, there was a glowing city protected by golden gates, known as Heaven. It was ruled by beings of pure light. Angels that worshiped good and shielded all from evil. Lucifer was one of these angels. He was a dreamer with fantastical ideas for all of creation.”

“But, he was seen as a troublemaker by the elders of Heaven. For they felt his way of thinking was dangerous to the order of their world. So, he watched as the angels began to expand the universe in their ways. From the dust of Earth, they created Adam and Lilith…equals as the first of mankind, but despite this, Adam demanded control, and Lilith refused to submit to his will. She fled the Garden.”

“Drawn in by her fierce independence, Lucifer found her and the two rebellious dreamers fell deeply in love. Together, they wished to share the magic of free will with humanity, offering the Fruit of Knowledge to Adam's new bride, Eve, who gladly accepted. But this gift came with a curse. For with this single act of disobedience, evil finally found its way into the Earth. With it, a new realm of darkness and sin.”

“And the order Heaven worked to maintain was shattered. punishment for their reckless act, Heaven cast Lucifer and his love into the dark pit he had created, never allowing him to see the good that came from humanity, only the cruel and the wicked. Ashamed, Lucifer lost his will to dream. But Lilith thrived, empowering demonkind with her voice and her songs. And as the numbers of Hell grew, so did its power.”

Threatened by this, Heaven made a truly heartless decision. That every year, they would send down an army, an extermination, to ensure Hell and its sinners could never rise against them. But Lilith's hope remained. And her dream was passed down to their precious daughter, the Princess of Hell.”

Charlie closed the book smiling thoughtfully as she looked out the window at the city below. Her smile dropped as she stared down at her. “What am I going to do.” She said with a sigh. “Charlie?”

Charlie nearly jumped a foot in the air. “Aah! Oh, shit.” She said startled. However she relaxed when she saw it was her girlfriend Vaggie. “Did you hear all that?” She said referring to reading her parents story out loud.

“Uh, yeah. I was right there.” Vaggie said pointing at the bedroom door. “Sorry… I’m just… worried about the next extermination. 

“Don’t worry Charlie it will be ok. Will get through it just like we do every year.” Charlie sighed a small smile appearing on her face. “Thanks, Vaggie I…I just hope that what I'm trying to do here will work.”

Vaggie smiled squeezing her girlfriends shoulder. “It will. I have faith in you.” Vaggie handed her a book. “Here I found this in the attic.”

“What is it?” Charlie asked looking at the book. She’d never seen it before. “I don’t know it looks like some scrap book. I didn’t open it I figured you’d want to look at it first.”

Charlie opened the book. Two names were written at the bottom of the page. “Lucifer and Gavin.” Charlie read aloud. “Who’s Gavin?”

Charlie turned the page there was a picture of a wooden duck and a description underneath. “Gaven carved me a duck today he so talented for only being six years old. I wish I could take him away from this place. He doesn’t belong here, locked away by some mad man who can’t even look at my son just because he’s different.”

“son just because he’s different, son.” The words echoed in the princess’s head. “Charlie? Charlie? Charlie!”

Charlie blinked. “I… I have… a brother?” She whispered. She couldn’t believe it after all this time… how could her father hide something like this from her? Charlie turned the page there wasn’t any pictures on this page but her father had written something on it.

“Lilith visited today. I understand her being mad for me basically cheating on her but it’s been years since I’ve seen her. I thought we were done for. Even after Gavins mom abandoned him as a baby I didn’t think she’d ever want to see me again. But I was wrong she confessed she still loved me.”

“And what’s better is she fell in love with little Gavin he even calls her mama now. He so cute I wish Charlie could meet her little brother.” Charlie smiled glad her mom and dad made up. Though she wondered how old her younger brother was now?

She turned the page.“I almost got caught by “him” today. Luckily I was able to turn into a bird and fly up into the rafters before he spotted me.”

“He didn’t do much except for the boys usual reading and writing lessons. Gavin’s handwriting is getting better… though I hate the name he gave my son. It’s a horrible name to give someone just because they looked different.” Charlie frowned. There it was again “looked different” what he mean looked different?”

Charlie turned the page her eyes widening hand covering her mouth. “Charlie what’s wrong?” Vaggie asked concerned when she noticed tears filling her girlfriends eyes. Charlie read the next page aloud, voice shaking. “I’m going to kill him! I’m going to fucking kill him!”

“He hit my son!” I found little Gavin with bruises today. At first I thought maybe he fell which is what he told me though I didn’t believe him. Then during my sons morning lessons my son said something and the man snapped and started hitting him.”

“I would have flown down from my hiding place and incinerated him but I knew how humans reacted to things they couldn’t explain. Besides it was over quick. I tried to distract him from what had happened but it was difficult. I wasn’t the best at comforting my son Lilith was. But I tried my best.”

Charlie wiped away her tears smiling. She turned the page. “Lilith says it’s time we return to hell. But I don’t want to leave Gavin here but she says that Gavin should have a normal life. He’s half human she thinks he should be with the rest of his kind… have a normal childhood.”

“But he’s not a normal child he’s my son. I know it doesn’t feel right but I’m leaving him here for now. Hopefully one day he’ll find his way home when he’s older.”

Charlie turned the page. The page was blank except for a small note. “Charlie if you find this i hope you and your brother will be able to meet one day. Love dad.”

“We have to find my brother.”

“Look babe even if we could he’s in the human world which is someplace we can’t reach and even if we do manage to get to the human world we’re would we even begin to look?” Charlie pulled out the picture of the wooden duck as she flipped it over.

“I think I know a good place to start.” Charlie said flipping the card over. Paros France 1482 was printed on the back of the card. “Well it’s a start.”

“I couldn’t help but be’s overhearen you need to get to the human world.” “Angel seriously!” Vaggie said glaring at the spider demon as he stood in the doorway. “Sorry but I guess if you don’t want my help…No we want it!” Charlie shouted excitedly.

“Great because I’ve got a friend who can help.”

“Blitzi, baby come on just this once I promise you’ll get it back in one piece. And Maybe you can have a piece of me later for a reward. Yea, yea I know your dating that Stolis guy, honestly I’m surprised you bagged a prince of hell not bad. So what do you say?”

Angle turned to Charlie. He said yes but Stolas is going to be bringing by a spell scroll so you guys can do the whole time traveling thing.”

“Stolis as in prince Stolis?” Charlie said her jaw dropping. “Yeah my old friend Blitz is dating him… well I wouldn’t call it dating more like fuck- don’t finish that sentence Vaggie said. “Yeesh have a sense of humor.”

Once they got the book and they were all packed they just needed to use the book to open the portal. “You know I’d sure love to see medieval Paris it sounds like a blast you sure I can’t tag along?”

“Sorry Angel but I don’t want to many people with us when we go and get my brother I don’t want to scare him away. Fair enough. People didn’t really like people like me back then I’d probably draw to much attention… or get lynched. Good luck to guys though I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“Are you ready.” Vaggie asked her. Charlie smiled. “I’m ready.” Charlie opened the book as a glowing portal opened in the lobby. “Do you think he’ll like me?” Vaggie smiled. Of course he’ll like you babe. You ready?”

“Ready.” They jumped through the portal as it shut behind them. The only sign that it had been there was the static in the air. “Please be ok angel thought worriedly as he went back up to his room.

[sakuraswordly]

Punch: I never said I would do what was right, did I? Get out of my way or I’ll let you have it! Don't stand in front of me!

.

.

Punch: Come to think about it....I wonder why the other half of myself disappeared from me after the fake world disappeared? "Punch" disappeared in exchange for...what? In order to protect...what? Maybe....the other half of myself sacrificed himself for me and Sonic to be able to exist in this world too? I never thought he'd left me with such deep loneliness...

*Echo voice*

Gilgamesh: I like you. So, I'll see you soon again, Peter.

*Start to open eyes*

Punch: ................!!

Peter: Punch. Are you okay?

Punch: (Yeah.....I knew....you still never forget me.....you promised to find me again...and again you finally found me in this real world in Neverland. I knew that you were the only one waiting for me... searching for me for so long...and you were the only one protecting me...)

*Flashback*

Gilgamesh: You know I don't have fancy stuff like be a good stuff or a good guy. Do you think someone like me should be left alone? Peter: Again? Then I have got no choice. I'll carry your sins in your place then. Gilgamesh: *Sigh* Not again? I've just remembered...you've always said like that with a straight face. Honestly, Sonic didn't like that kind of stuff, mongrel! Peter: *Sigh* All right. I think I'm strong enough to carry one non-human. It was no wonder that Syaoran was always so diligent with Sonic. Even Danny kept a straight face and was diligent towards Punch. Gilgamesh: Heh.....One more confession...I think I carried sins so many times. But in exchange, I learned what I wanted. It's vague and risky, but I have to hold on to it. But that thing wasn't as bad as I'd thought. That makes me a little happy.........just a little......a little...murderous impules toward you. Peter: Heh.......a little murderous impulses huh..... Gilgamesh: *Soft Laugh and start to smile* Peter: ...............!! *Smiles *

Peter: Thinking back, I never saw his smile like this again after our first meeting in Babylon. This is the first truly happy smile that "Punch" showed me.

.

.

Mulder: Punch's a scary person you know. How could you fall in love with "Punch" anyway? I mean Punch's non-human. On top of that, Punch is neither a boy nor a girl. I can tell you're a boy.

Peter: Very long time we were just friends or partners but...I don't know...after I met her once again in Neverland....we started to have feelings for each other.

Mulder: "Friends" huh?

In Tsofph season 7 story

Shadow: Sonic only trusts Tails, his only best friend. Sonic is stubborn and never listens to anyone but himself. But he trusted you, Syaoran. Because you are an alternate version of Tails.

Syaoran: ....................

Shadow: No wonder Dr Eggman let you go, nor does it contradict your involvement in Sonic's life.

Syaoran: The dimensional witch...umm...Yuko-san once said "Same but different people" People who we've met in our original worlds. Did Sonic meet "Same but different people" and hurt them?

Shadow: He did.

.

.

Eggman: (In Sonic Adventure 2)I learned of Shadow and I revived him as part of a plan to conquer the world and defeat Sonic the Hedgehog. But Shadow is still different from Sonic. Even Shadow is just a tool or an artificially born hedgehog that my grandfather created him but he's not empty like Sonic.

Syaoran: Empty...?

Eggman: Sonic's empty. It's insufficient, like a hole. But no matter how much he himself can't feel it, he's still King Gilgamesh I knew. That golden king was also once empty like Sonic as well. Both me and Miles Prower tried our best for Sonic to be able to create his personality.

Syaoran: Because you want Sonic to care and create new friends, You plan to conquer the world for Sonic to be strong and be by himself.

Eggman: Yes. After all, this is what King Gilgamesh gave me his mission for. Or because I want to be my grandfather's dream even though he wanted to destroy this world, his dream maybe was the same as King Gilgamesh's?

Syaoran: And you carried this name "Eggman" for the reason you can keep moving forward to the dream both you and Magilou-san want.

Eggman: Sonic at first probably didn't feel the sensation or life itself just yet...But the time will come when he'll be able to recognize himself as "Punch".

.

.

Eggman: Sonic. You already know, right? You're all alone now.

Sonic: ............my brothers....my other half of myself...so you knew about them.....

Eggman: I guess it was too soon. But…did "Punch" really sacrifice for you to exist in vain, Sonic Crowe?

.

.

In Tsofph season 11

Danny: In short, an empty hole must be filled with something. Not with memories. Punch will have to create a newly assembled self after she kills the last piece of human life she had.

Peter: It's hollow and no one can help her.....so they need someone that be there for them...a reason to keep going...the place that they can return when they get lost in the darkness...

Peter: Yes. Sonic's just a container once in the past. Enkidu told me about it. When Sonic awoke for the first time, he had lived as a doll until he began to create his personality by himself and desired to live. No more than emptiness, the nothingness. Just like Punch and Gil used to be.

Homura: Everyone desires to be destroyed and remade from scratch. Say Sonic. Have I ever told you about Peter first met you in Babylon?

Sonic: Huh? You knew about that too?

Homura: I once travelled with King Gilgamesh. King Gilgamesh told his story about how Peter couldn't take his eyes off from Sonics.

Sonic: Hmm?

Homura: When you start waking up for the first time in Babylon, you're nothing more than a doll with emptiness. But Peter saw something special in your emptiness. He might have been seeing "Punch" in yours.

Sonic: ..................................

Homura: Both Syaoran and Peter are the kind of people who obsess over emptiness.

Sonic: Emptiness.......

*End of Flashback*

Gilgamesh & Punch: Ah.....so there's something that won't disappear...

[elliebean714]

Okay, platonic yandere Evan is not something I considered before, but I kind of like the sound of it. Could we maybe have more of that? With Evan and Michael. Maybe this time you could make something with Evan haunting Golden Freddy. Like, he missed Michael for so long and now Michael is here again and Evan will keep him safe

Yeah I was thinking about this too, I think this is a really cool idea! Classie isnt here sorry. Also sorry this took so long I've had my exams and writers block lmao. This happens during the first game specifically. I dunno how much of this is canon or out of order but 'ere ya go. I know there is a night 6 and 7 but I decided to just to the main 5. Once again, thx markiplier for playing fnaf whilst I wrote this.

Yandere-Ish!GoldenFreddy!Evan Afton x Michael Afton (Platonic)

Angst

Pt1 Pt2

Since the accident Evan hadn't seen Michael in years, he missed him greatly, every time someone entered the restaurant, Evan felt a resurgence of hope rush through him, hope that quickly died down as he realised Michael still hadn't returned to him. Evan feared he would never see Michael again.

He often spent his time alone, a phantom in the shadows, a silent observer. The other spirits were all very angry, but Evan still envied them. They all had a physical form, they could communicate with one another, they weren't alone.

Night 1

The security guards always came and went, never staying for more than a week. So when a new security guard showed up for their first shift no-one batted an eye, they'd kill him then wait for a new one. This one was different though, they all recognised him, but only Evan knew him for who really he was.

Michael was listening to the previous guards message, he had stayed longer than any other before the unfortunate circumstance of his death. Evan felt his non-existent eyes begin to well with non-existent tears of joy as he finally saw his brother after years of longing.

Evan tried to make contact with Michael, but having no physical form ment his communication was limited to small flickers, the first thing Evan told him was

It's me

Night 2

Once Michael got settled in and picked up the phone, Bonnie quickly left the stage, on the move towards Michael. Evan began to panic, scared of losing Michael when he just got him back. His fear turned to courage as he shut the door on Bonnie's face.

Michael stared in shock at the door that closed on its own. He hesitantly turned on the light by the door, flinching as he sees the haunting silhouette of the animatronic rabbit. He feels the guilt within him rising, he knows they mean him no harm, they're just scared, and vengeful towards his father, they just can't tell the difference.

Evan can feel the sorrow within Michael, he knew his brother so well. Even though he had nothing to feel guilty over, Evan had already forgiven him, Michael still felt like it was his responsibility to atone for their father's sins.

Night 3

As worried as he was for Michael's safety, Evan was ecstatic that he kept coming back each night. He knew it was selfish, but he simply didn't care. He finally had his big brother back, and he would fight to keep him.

This was going to be the most intense night yet. This is when Freddy began hunting his prey. Evan and Michael would have to work together in order to protect him, Evan knew he was in danger, but he was secretly excited to spend this time with Michael.

Evan fought off Freddy and Chica when necessary, lessening Michael's workload significantly. Michael was greatful, but curious as to who his mysterious helper was, but he wouldn't question it, he knew how rare it was to have an ally in a place like this, that wasn't just a prerecorded message.

Night 4

The previous night guard was dead. Evan already knew, but seeing the shock and horror on Michael's face made him feel bad. Evan would never hurt Michael, nor would he let anyone else, he just had to protect him tonight, and every other night.

Evan continued to fend off Freddy and Chica, but they were getting more and more angry, more and more powerful, they were draining his energy. With each time they tried to attack Evan became weaker.

Evan knew he wouldn't have enough energy to keep going so he returned to Michael, hoping to gain enough energy to defend him from direct threats.

Once the six am alarm blared, Michael practically ran out of the restaurant, not even stopping to thank Evan for his help. But Evan understood, he must be so confused and scared. He could only hope and prey that Michael came back tomorrow night.

Night 5

Michael returned for another night, having barely any time to prepare before the animatronics became active. Evan jumped into action, keeping Freddy and chica at bay.

Now that Evan knew his limits, he knew when to fall back to Michael and regain his energy. As much as Evan liked protecting Michael now that he had the ability too, it felt very nice to know Michael could defend himself, and Evan.

They kept on fighting the animatronics until 5:57, when the power went out. Michael was paralysed, Evan knew what happened to the guards if the power ran out, and he would never allow that to happen to Michael.

5:58, loud, slow thumps could be heard getting closer to Michael, stopping just outside his door. Evan prepared himself for a fight. A classical tune began playing, small lights flash, showing the animatronic waiting in the shadows.

5:59, the tune and lights stopped and the boys were thrusted into darkness once again. The silence was deafening, occasionally being interrupted by more thumping. Michael prepared for the worst.

6:00, the alarms rang. Michael ran out as fast as he could, Evan followed close behind, gaining speed as he neared the exit. He was so excited to finally be free, to leave with Michael. Michael quickly left the restaurant, once Evan tried to leave with him, an invisible force prohibited him. He tried again but once again was unable to.

"Michael!" He called out, "Michael! Help me! I'm stuck!" Evan pleaded but Michael kept running. "Please don't leave me alone again." He whimpered before falling to the ground again, "Please, Michael, help me." He cried, like he always did. Just give up and cry.

Video Games And Characters You Can Request

Requests Always Open 💕

~Elliebean714

♤♡◇♧☆♧◇♡♤♡◇♧☆♧◇♡

[nightkarmaqueen]

Protect Me, Themis (Cendrillon) - Vyn Ritcher

----- Protect Me, Themis (Cendrillon) || Vyn Ritcher (Vilhelm R. A. de Haspran) x F! Reader (Song-Fiction)

Summary : Your only task is to kill the Young Duke Haspran. But what can you do if Themis puts a different destiny on the scales of your life? A sweet sin and crime, that's all you can feel everytime you hold the blade to kill him.

WC : 1706 Words.

Warning : Grammar errors, spoilers, using Vyn’s real name, manipulative Vyn, Medieval! AU, Medieval Suspence reference, Samurai Warriors 1, 3, 4, 5 reference, sharp weapon, religion mention, a bit spicy but not explicit dw, etc.

A/N : MY FIRST TOT FICTION! Actually I wrote this only half the song and the story. I originally intended to make this angst, but my brain just wasn't working, so I wrote half with an open ending. Here to listen to the song better. Please enjoy this work!

     “KILL the fool! Kill the fool! Kill the fool!”

     “Your wish is my command, Lord Father. I’ll bring back his heart for you.”

     You took the blade your father threw at you. As soon as you unsheated the blade, you stabbed the knife into the map spread out on the table. Most prominent house and duchy in Kingdom of Svart. House of Haspran.

Show me dreams of me and you dancing in the pas de deux. Fleeting time will break the spell of seven hues.

     “Your Grace, I am [Y/N], daughter of Viscount [L/N].”

     Among the crowds of the banquet that night, the seven colors of light from the chandeliers seemed to be a barrier between the Young Duke Haspran and the other guests. You crossed the invisible barrier and gracefully bowed in curtsey.

     “I suppose Viscount [L/N] is so desperate to get rid of me that he's willing to send his daughter to me,” the young duke commented. You lifted your gaze slightly to find him rising from his seat. "But this is so amusing."

     “Leave us!” his ordered. All his servants and aides left you and him. You were worried about something but his majestic golden eyes assures you that the guests at the banquet are quite far from him and it’s impossible to hear and see what you guys are doing.

Fingers lure me down the stairs. I whisper my silent prayers Never thought before I left it’d be too much to bear.

     “A-ah, Your Grace—” you gasped as his cold hand run through your dress, looking for something you're hiding.

     A blade with White Lily sigil, your family’s emblem. Vilhelm pulled the bladed from under your dress, revealing your plan to kill him. After the sheath of the blade came off, Vilhem dropped the blade, creating a clinking sound against the marble floor in the hall.

     Vilhelm chuckled seductively in your ear. You could feel his breath against your skin. "Your father really wants my life, I see," he whispered. "You look so pretty like this."

     "Are you seeing the same thing as me, Your Grace?" you asked, still with your pink-dusted cheeks.

     Vilhelm could only chuckle. "Of course." That's when you realize he has locked you in with his curse and you can never escape.

Cold drops on shaking hands, according to the plan. Take off the rags, transform with the smile. You bring a storm to the heart of the knight.

     You burn the incense in front of a marble statue of a female titan inside a temple. You clapped your hands and closed your eyes, praying to the real form of the titan before you. “Oh Themis, hear my prayer and show me your wisdom. Please help me strengthen my heart to end the life of Duke Haspran. Truly I’m not asking for the impossible. I would never ask for an immortality with him if that was not your will,” you prayed.

     You purposely said your prayer out loud in that huge yet empty temple. Vilhelm's smile at the banquet that night gave you chills and your cheeks burned again.

Searching for a stranger’s silhouette. I knew before we met, it was death. Persistently urging, despite my fears surging. Still, with this blade of sin I must kill.”

     But soon, you feel someone's presence. You immediately took the knife you put on the offering table for Themis. But strangely, your hands were shaking violently with fear. On the other hand, your heart keeps forcing you to look for that person, as if it knows that they are the person your heart needs.

     You know what the consequences of killing a noble are. But whatever it is, you have to do it. If that's something wrong, then let Themis' scales show you all the truth.

     You turned around to look for the stranger’s silhouette. But for the umpteenth time since that night, Duke Vilhelm's amber eyes has never faded from your mind. Since then you always feel that he is watching you from afar.

     To the end of the stairs and at every corner of the temple, in the end you can't find them. You sighed, disappointed. The moonlight shines through the temple window panes and you look up at the very dark night sky.

     You've never been so disappointed when you're hunting your prey. Or maybe, you were disappointed for some other reason? Not to kill but to extinguish the fire that burns your heart? No one knows what's in your heart and the reason you want to find them.

Palace beaming with orphaned children. Waltzing with vague smiles. Déjà vu again.

     You twirled your champagne glass. The balcony blinds became a barrier between the silence of the night and the crowds of other banquets that Duke Haspran held.

     You're getting tired of thinking of ways to approach Vilhelm. You sighed, starting to lose interest in the task your father gave you. But in the end, you still want to see the young duke's face. For the we-don’t-know-how time you think of Vilhelm, your cheeks turned bright red. In that heat, you took another sip of the champagne roughly.

     “Am I bothering you, Lady [Y/N]?”

     The moment you heard that familiar voice, you drew your blade and turned around, intending to stab the owner of the voice. But deftly, the gentleman gripped your wrist, holding the blade tightly. Your champagne glass fell, forgotten and shattered into pieces.

     "Y-Your Grace," you murmured. His warm grip on your wrist made you blush again somehow.

     “Your father’s order again?” he asked you, his majestic amber eyes gazed deep into yours.

     “You're right,” you answered him, trying to control yourself. “You are just a pawn for the King. Kingdom of Svart doesn't need you anymore. That is what Her Majesty The Queen ordered through my father.”

     Vilhelm's free hand snatched the blade in your hand. "Ah!" you gasped when you realized he had pushed you, making your back touch the cold pillar.

     Vilhelm chuckled seductively. Your nose was already touching each other's. His breath felt very hot against your cold skin. "You too think so? How about your heart? I feel like your heart is saying the other thing,” he continued to hold your one hand against the pillar, not having any intention of letting it go. His body starts to lock yours completely. You feel more and more like a butterfly trapped in a cobweb.

     “I don't care about my feelings because this is my duty as the daughter of the Viscount [L/N], the lady of the house that serves Her Majesty The Queen!” Despite the fact that your heart was already beating really fast, you could still answer it very firmly.

Engulf all my kindness and hold them within your wings.

     As if he was manipulating you, his golden eyes continue to stare deeply at you, forcing you to open up all the feelings your heart is hiding. “Be honest with yourself,” he whispered seductively into your ear. "My lady."

     Your heart couldn’t take it anymore. “I should kill you, but I'm starting to lose interest in this task of mine. I don't think I can do this anymore. Please hurry up do something with my father and The Queen,” you begged which without you knowing, Vilhelm successed to manipulate your heart.

     You immediately shut your mouth as Vilhelm put the cold blade against your neck. He leaned closer to you despite the fact that he had completely closed the distance between the two of you. “You have no idea how beautiful you are now, pinned to this pillar. And when you tried to kill me, you looked much prettier than your usual self. You're doing a really beautiful thing, my lady."

     Your heart beats faster and your cheeks blush even more. He makes it even more difficult for you to breathe.

     But out of nowhere, you widened your eyes perfectly when you felt his soft, passionate lips pressed against yours. It triggered your heart and cheeks, dusted it with a darker shades of red. The kiss felt so powerful and rough as if he was trying to draw all the air out of your lungs. You can't help but sliding down the wall as your legs became so weak. Lucky or not, Vilhelm held your waist while kissing you harder and deeper, didn't have any intention to let you go.

     It was when you thought you were about to die, he pulled himself and stared deep into your pretty eyes. His amber eyes seemed brighter than ever and a mischievous smile touched his lips.

Like a seraph in mortal blood you sing.

     He held you tightly and leaned to your ear. His warm breath caressed your ear, setting you on fire. “You will tell your father this. Even if you manage to kill me, you and the entire House of [L/N] will die. Do you understand?"

     Without you noticing again, you nodded, telling him you'll do as he tells you to. "I understand, Your Grace."

     "Good. You have no idea how sweet your voice is to my ears," he growled. “Now, sing for me more.” Vilhelm kissed you again in more sweet and soft way than before. As his tongue teased over your lips and teeth, you had given in entirely.

Shoe of glass, burning in flames of wrath. They crumble into ash. Sweet dreams they never last.

     After that passionate night, it was even more difficult for you to forget that the young duke. The cold wind tries to cool your body which is still very hot. You look up at the statue of Themis in front of you. That's when your tears broke and you fell down, crying profusely . “Themis, I can't do this anymore!” you cried, begging the Goddes of Justice to have mercy on you.

     Meanwhile, Vilhelm lay in silence in his room. His hands can still feel the coldness of your skin. Your face that night burned his body again, scorching his soul. He pressed his lips tight, still sensing the sweetness of your soft lips. "How sweet, sullying her own body for me," he muttered.

     Vilhelm closed his eyes, drifting to the land of dream and whispered a prayer. “Protect me, Themis.”

Have a nice day/night. See you at the next works!

[therealjammy]

The Lady of Half-Death

Hi, hello, posting this here for the Tumblr crowd, in case you don’t feel like venturing to Ao3. 

This work’s alternate title: “Lucky One” 

Content Warnings: Very NSFW, a brief but graphic depiction of violence. (This work is meant for 18+ only!) 

It’s also told in first person POV, the Forbidden Perspective, so sorry if that’s not your jam.... Thank you for reading xx

--

I.

November, 1937

On a bitter November day, early in the morning, I was roused by the tinkling of the bell hanging beside my bed. Being Mother Miranda’s most competent servant, I was long used to a summons during the small hours of the dark. She was night’s creature, bent over her studies and her subjects until a bitter sun lit the sky, almost unaware of time’s passage, while her servants kept in perfect time with every striking hour. I splashed sleep from my features with bitterly cold water from the basin on my dresser and wrapped myself in my warmest robe. I lit a candelabra, savoring its small warmth as I donned my silver mask. It had frightened me at first, how the servants wore these metal things elongated into an elegantly startling bird’s beak, but when serving the Lady of Ravens, one had to know to whom they pledged their loyalty, both inside and outside the house’s grounds. Though the metal was light, it still made one’s head ache after only a few minutes of wear, and was a constant irritation after many hours. But like a pain that was more a nuisance than anything, it was easily set aside.

           I walked quickly through dark hallways and creaking staircases, passing through rooms whose furniture was covered in sheets and rooms whose contents were not. Each was quiet as the long-dead.

           The doors to the laboratory opened on soundless hinges. Inside, there was only a spotlight on the latest occupied table and the stoic figure of Mother Miranda leaning over it, her hands coated in deep crimson, her subject unmoving. Her face was drawn into a deep, displeasured frown.

           “What may I bring you, ma’am?” I asked carefully.

           “Tea, Trudy,” replied Mother Miranda. By the ancient tiredness in her voice, I knew the kind I ought to fetch.

           Staying true to her grief, Mother Miranda had a fondness for black tea, steeped for five minutes to be strong, made stronger with a dollop of Sanguis Virginis, a sweet but robust red wine made by Lady Dimitrescu. She kept the largest bottle for herself, but sent a smaller one to Mother Miranda every winter. The bottle was red and adorned with golden flowers crawling up its sides.

           By the time I brought the fresh tea to her, Mother Miranda’s hands were washed of blood, and the subject on the table was covered with a white sheet, slowly turning scarlet. I set the teacup and candelabra beside her and gave a professional distance.

           “The nature of science,” Mother Miranda said, picking up the teacup, “is to fail again and again.” She held it delicately. There was rage underneath that delicacy. “Every vessel thus far has been unfit, even if it’s accepted the Cadou, and with each unfit one I feel as if I am losing her more.”

           “You might feel like Tantalus, ma’am,” I said after a pause, “with your goals evading your grasp, but I rather think you must be like Orpheus.”

           “Attempt until death,” she murmured. “Yes, child, I believe you’re right.” A long sip of tea. Underneath her golden mask, her pink lips turned a deep red. She set the cup gently in its saucer and rose from her chair, black robes shuffling quietly. “Come. Let us begin anew.”

           I lifted the mutilated subject from the table, wrapping the sheet about her carefully, and carried her fresh limpness to the courtyard with the others. Her cooling blood seeped from the sheet and onto my robes, and it dripped onto the bricks and my feet, leaving a sticky trail. It was cloying, but it was a sweet perfume compared to the rich decay that wafted from the courtyard’s cold soil. In the dark, I saw there was already a space made for her. I lay her carefully in it. A good sacrifice deserved gentleness once the deed was done, after all. In that sense, I was more merciful than Mother Miranda. Once a body was no longer of use, she would carry it out herself and toss them hastily aside, for only one body mattered above the rest.

           “In life and in death,” I said over the grave, “we give glory to Mother Miranda.”

           I sprinkled a handful of dirt over the covered girl and left her to the bitter, near-winter air.

           Inside again, I scrubbed the table twice with soapy water and dried it thoroughly. I lit more candles, placing them around the table’s edges, away from the notes that Mother Miranda spread across the surface. While she organized them, I brewed another pot of tea, bringing it and the gifted bottle of Sanguis Virginis with me. When I had poured my own cup, Mother Miranda gestured to the wine. Pour that in, too. I obeyed without question. Grey eyes watched me drink, unchanging even when I made no face at the taste of wine and blood mixing with strong black tea. I’d learned long ago that reactions caused reactions. I remained impassive, though my stomach still curdled and rebelled at the taste of the sinful wine. To the others—Mother Miranda and Lady Dimitrescu— the wine was a sweet and prized possession. If ever it was sold, it would be incredibly expensive.

           I brought a chair and perched myself next to Mother Miranda. It was always a thrill to be at her side, to study her volumes of notes and drawings and glimpse the way her mind worked. But more than that, I cherished the nights like this, when it was only the two of us. I enjoyed her company. I desired more of it, because I desired her. At times I believed she knew this, but then she would dismiss me so easily, brush by without a care, and I’d question if she knew at all.

           Attraction, I reminded myself, was a science, too, and like an experiment gone horribly wrong, it was best if one didn’t share the results.

           I cleared my throat and straightened in my chair. “We should begin where this one failed,” I said. “Pinpoint a reason, compare it to the rest.”

           We pored over notes for hours, comparing observations, Mother Miranda writing furiously in her looping scrawl underneath a page titled Quinn. The candles burned low, and the sky lightened outside the laboratory’s several windows, revealing a cold, white-filled dawn.

           “The conclusion is painfully obvious,” Mother Miranda sighed at last, pushing her nearly empty teacup aside. It’d turned cold hours ago. “I must find a truly unique vessel. The village is rotting with diluted blood and therefore cannot be used again. Three of the Lords—those children!—were ones I found outside. Diluted in other ways, perhaps, but strong enough.”

           “Yet you declared them all unfit,” I remarked.

           “Because they were too much,” Mother Miranda said stiffly, “and the rest have been too little. They served their miserable purpose and now I must find yet another clean slate! And to think I’d chosen so carefully…” A hand curled into a fist, clenched improperly due to taloned fingertips.

           “Send me to the field, Mother Miranda,” I said. “I will search for you.” But it was the wrong thing to say, for her other hand darted quickly out and knocked her teacup and saucer from the table. They shattered on the floor, black-red tea pooling around their remains.

           “Do not be dim, child; it cannot be done by you. It must be me.” She paused for a long moment, coming back to herself with a single, sharp shake of her head. “Please,” Mother Miranda said around a breath, “forgive my outburst.” She moved smoothly to the shattered teacup just as I did. We knelt out of time but reached for the same piece, her gold-plated fingers brushing my bare ones, sending a brief, hot shock through my being that ended in my chest.

           “You need never ask my forgiveness, Mother Miranda,” I said, slowly withdrawing my hand and reaching for a different piece. “A woman in grief doesn’t know her own actions.” And it was her grief, I thought then, that made my heart ache for her. That made everyone’s hearts ache for her. Mother lost a child, they’d say. No greater tragedy exists. We must be kind.

           “Grief is some people’s undoing,” Mother Miranda said. She had stopped picking up shards of teacup, a few pieces cradled in a hand. Her gaze was on the puddle of bloody, wine-soaked tea. “It festers like a splinter left in too long, or a piece of metal unable to be dislodged, and it consumes, until its host perishes with it. I’ve known it for many stretches, but rather than give myself to despair, I have chosen determination; for the parasite cannot fully live while its host fights it. So fight I must.”

           Her face was a pale reflection on the tea’s surface.

 II.

The next morning, a snowy one, Mother Miranda went for a walk. In her absence, her rule passed to me, and then to the Head Housemaid Vera, a stout older woman who kept the other servants in strict line. I was, however, only consulted for advice or for orders. Other than that, I was blessedly alone, a spectre haunting the laboratory while I organized Mother Miranda’s notes and gave into my own musings, letting my mind take up the cluttered space. Many things ran through it: thoughts of my former life, of the people I’d once seen and never would again, and if I followed that line, I knew exactly how I’d come to be here. Sitting alone in a tepid laboratory, surrounded by paper, rotting with attraction.

           It’d been there from the beginning, for there was always attraction to a leader, and many reasons behind it. People were attracted to safety and to comfort, to promises and protection, but highest of all, a deity that preached all the above. People backed off their words more often than they gave in to them, but a deity never would; their word was given and kept. It was learned, it was ingrained, and so like everyone else, I held that same attraction. I gazed upon the same likenesses of Mother Miranda and prayed for protection, for strength. I prayed to one day work for her—the highest blessing of all!—and that prayer was answered. She came to my door in all her godly glory and the paintings held no candle to her real beauty.

           The attraction molted once I’d begun to work for her properly. She was aloof and cruel and methodical, but there was talent and beauty, too, and soon enough I began to realize there was a person underneath the deity. And it was the person whom I thought of, now, wondering where her walk was taking her, who she was talking to, what she was thinking. I imagined her underneath a cold white sky, ashy flakes of snow sticking to her black robes and veil, the harsh, mountainous landscape reflecting her own desolation back at her.

           I thought, as I filed the last of the notes away, that I would make her return easier. Oftentimes her walks changed her mood; one never knew the sort she’d bear when she walked through the doors. It could be the silent sort of rage, during which she’d seal the doors of her laboratory shut and refuse to emerge for days, or the one where she’d return with a deadly ice in her eyes and drag the nearest servant by the wrist to her chambers. Sometimes they’d be alive and shuffle from the room with their clothes barely on; other times there was an unfortunate mess to clear away.

           During my luncheon, I called Vera to me and ordered the most frequented rooms be given a thorough cleaning, excluding the laboratory and Mother Miranda’s bathroom.

           “And her dinner?” asked Vera, once she’d given the orders to four maids. “Something comforting, I assume, as the latest loss is still ripe in the courtyard.”

           “Yes,” I agreed. “A shepherd’s pie with marmite in the gravy, and the bottle of Sanguis Virginis.”  

           “Very good, Miss Bevan.” Vera bowed her head and left.

           I went over the bathroom myself, being careful to put every object in its proper place. I drew a bath, the water unbearably hot, but by the time Mother Miranda returned, it would be perfect.

           I loitered for a long while in the bathroom’s silence, sat on the chessboard floor, gazing out the window to the snow-covered hills, the occasional drip, drip of the tub’s taps serenading me into a trance, filled with visions of blonde hair and grey-blue eyes and impeccable hands.

           I wasn’t the first to think of her in this light. Far from it. Worship came in many forms, after all, and many people fell to this one. Except mine was to the woman I knew, not to the idol emblazoned on a shrine dangling from a peeling wall.

           Unable to think of nothing but the bathroom’s suddenly stifling heat and the absent Mother Miranda, I left, unaware of where I was going until I collapsed on the chair I’d occupied earlier, everything about me aching for someone who saw me only as a servant in high regard—but a servant nonetheless. The fact, I thought, unbuttoning my uniform enough to feel cool air caress my chest, made me desire her all the more.

           I propped a shoed foot on the seat’s corner to give myself better access and began my pleasure gently, my head falling against the back of the chair once the rhythm was established, my free hand indecisive on where it wanted to stay—a breast, the chair’s edge, the table; at least until my mind offered me a vision of Mother Miranda ordering me, from between my thighs, to keep it planted firmly on the chair’s edge. There it stayed while my other moved, and behind my closed eyes I saw a skilled tongue working me up, teasing, licking slowly as if to claim ownership to even that part of me; I saw intense eyes meeting my own, telling me to give myself over; in my mind I whispered my glory to her. I twitched erratically, my movements almost clumsy; a few moments more and I’d be tumbling into the blissful void—or would have, had I not heard the door open and the familiar, near-silent movement of the woman living in my head.

           The silence that beat between us lasted only a moment and yet it felt like centuries. Mother Miranda’s eyes narrowed to deadly slits, and before I could manage to stumble out an explanation, she strode to me in five heavy steps.

           “You dare defile this space with your musings?” Mother Miranda hissed, her grip on my wrist vicelike. “Do you not know how ill I find this gesture? How ill it makes me to think you care naught for the meaning of this room?” Claws slashed at my cheek, the first sting of it only surprise at first; it burned when I realized she’d cut flesh. I felt blood welling, but I could not bring a hand up to staunch its flow. Nor could I staunch the fresh wave of heat that pooled in my core at Mother Miranda’s fury. Cold eyes darted from my still-wet hand to my face. Mother Miranda scoffed, roughly releasing my wrist. “Attraction is a damned wicked creature,” she said. “It morphs perspective and thought. It makes one act rashly, makes one believe they’re subtle. You think I’ve not seen your lingering gazes, child? How you bask in my company the way you would underneath the sun? How you are afraid of my rage but it arouses you all the same?” She chuckled lightly, dragging gold-tipped fingers over my cheek, the metal blessedly cool against my heated skin. Having spent so much time in close quarters with this woman, I was no longer terrified by the talons. Their scraping made the coil in my belly curl tighter, and if she were to slip bare fingers against me, she would find me all too ready for her. I met her eyes with a steely look of my own, hoping she wouldn’t see shame, but Mother Miranda was wise in ways I couldn’t fathom. She saw through people as if they were cheesecloth.

           She hummed, fingers roving lower, tracing my pulse hammering in my throat. “Is there any shame about you, Trudy? I should think so, as you are not my equal.” Moving lower still, to the buttons I hadn’t undone, hovering like she wished to tear them—and perhaps she did, for her hand gave a small twitch. “I am higher than you will ever be, yet you stand here, gazing at me so defiantly, trembling with your want of me… Do you think it will make you rise to my level?”

           Her words were fog clouding the forests of my brain. I could think of nothing but how I wanted to serve her, to fall to my knees and pledge fealty, even if it was sworn with her hand guiding my mouth between her thighs. I said, “No, Mother Miranda.”

           “No, indeed. But,” a taloned thumb slid over my lower lip, “it’ll bring me pleasure to see you try.”

           When she kissed me, it was with a slowness that one could believe was care, but I sensed the possession. I opened my mouth to it, leaned into it, every nerve alight at the thrill of kissing someone I had once dreamed of serving under. Her hands drew me close to her, splaying across my back, bunching up my uniform, and her kisses became rougher, filled with need. I met every one with a need of my own, my shaking fingers undoing the rest of the buttons down my front. The movement caught Mother Miranda’s eye; she pulled back, her gaze intense, the color high in her cheeks, watching intently as the top half of my uniform parted and revealed bare skin. She reached out, two fingers gliding smoothly over my collarbones, my sternum, tracing the swell of a breast; gooseflesh rose in the touches’ wake, and my breathing trembled.

           “You are practically untouched,” Mother Miranda said quietly. There was, to her, no greater sin than a specimen that remained unstudied and uncatalogued.

           “Only practically, Mother Miranda,” I returned.

           She leaned down, burying her face against my bloodied neck. Lips pressed softly, tongue lapping slowly— tasting me. “Have you not known love?” she said. “Or devotion?”

           “Fleetingly.” There was the blacksmith, Cristian, in whose strong arms I felt safe. There was Tatiana, who made me feel at peace even after our desperate acts. But with this life, they were fleeting. To serve one of the Lords or Mother Miranda herself, it was until death. “The only devotion I know,” I continued, my voice growing thinner the lower her mouth travelled, “is to you.”

           Mother Miranda hummed against my chest. “You worshipped well, then, Trudy,” she said, rising, taking my chin between two fingers and tilting my face up to hers, “but what of now? How shall you prove your worth to me?”

           I grasped her unoccupied hand and pressed it against my breast, holding it there. I wanted her to feel it, to feel my heart underneath it, to know she could reach in and take it because I offered it to her. “Take what you will,” I said.

           What was left of her resolve crumbled. Mother Miranda swept me into her arms with a low growl, lifting me as easily as she would a child and setting me hastily onto the table we’d cleaned the night before. Impatient fingers worked the rest of my clothes away. She tossed them aside and pressed me into the cold wood, impossibly dark eyes drinking me in, lingering on my neck, my breasts, my thighs. Places I hoped she would kiss. Places she did, in that order, her mouth untamed, leaving harsh love-marks behind. Throughout that act, she didn’t once touch me; I was strung so tightly that even one finger tracing me would’ve been my undoing. It was a sort of torturous study, I realized, clamping my tongue between my teeth when it nearly made me beg for release; she was seeing me as a case, testing my own resolve. How long could she make me wait before I begged forgiveness? Time ceased to exist. I could not tell how long she made me hang.

           When she finally did touch me, I was relieved. Instead of a sigh, a long whimper escaped my mouth. Mother Miranda groaned in response, her fingers twitching and pausing against me, surprised at the slick want they found. Her second touch was heavier, more confident. My hands couldn’t help but cling to the back of her neck, which was covered by a thick cotton veil. I realized I’d touched her without her consent, but when I made to pull away, her free hand came to rest over both of mine, and together we slid the veil from her head.

           Blonde hair, a darker gold in the dim light of the laboratory, fanned around her face, gracing my bare forearms, soft as silk. Without the veil, it was tantamount to seeing her naked.

           “Cling to me,” Mother Miranda breathed.

           It was as much permission as I was going to receive.

           I buried my hands in her hair and leaned up to kiss her. I accepted her tongue when it slipped between my teeth. I opened for her when, at last, she slid fingers inside me.

           And when she truly took me, she devoured me, sprinkling evidence of her use across any expanse of skin she could reach, uncaring if teeth dug in too much, if my back was rubbed raw from the wooden table, if her golden talons left angry scratches. I clung harshly to her during my crisis, my cries only winding her further, for when I was barely limp, she withdrew entirely and carried me to her own chamber. Deposited on her bed, I watched through bliss-filled eyes as she undressed.

           Black robes pooled at her feet. In the blue-white moonlight, she was harshly ethereal. Everything about her seemed to glow, including her eyes. And sprouting from her back were five pairs of midnight wings. I wanted to catalogue it as a dream, a delusion caused by a mind still recovering from an intense crisis, but the wings, like Mother Miranda’s arms and legs, were very much a part of her.

           “Look while you can,” she said. “Commit it to memory, for true revelations are rarely given so freely.”

           She stood for study, allowing me to take in every inch. My eyes lingered where hers had lingered on me.

           “Do you reject me, Trudy?” she questioned softly.

           “No, Mother Miranda,” I replied. I offered her my hand. “I’d fall to my knees in prayer if I were not otherwise occupied.”

           She accepted my hand and leaned over me on her bed, naked and otherworldly, and in my long, exquisite worship of her, I met death eye to eye and thought there would never be another equal.