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vigilante-3073 · 4 months ago

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Daddy's Credit Card

Cullen Family x Female Vampire Reader (Platonic)

PART 10

Summary: Bella endures her transition to a Vampire while Y/N's condition continues to worsen.

TW: Mentions of death/injury/illness, lack of regard for the feelings of others, medical testing, needles, blood.

The Cullen family was left unscathed after Jacob imprinted on Renesmee. The Wolves were forced to abandon their quest to kill the child, but tensions were still high. Y/N had been released from her quarantine and had finally been allowed to move about the house freely.

She took full advantage of her newfound freedom, but there were some things that Carlisle still wouldn't allow. Y/N was not to step foot outside the house unless someone was with her. She became quickly exhausted after any kind of physical activity and her heart beat would become irregular. Carlisle was strict about her having a companion in case something were to happen.

Y/N walked along the road with Jacob Black by her side. He had been focused on Renesmee since he had imprinted, Bella was still in transition and he felt responsible for the baby girl. Jacob had been incredibly tense as he watched over Renesmee and Carlisle encouraged him to take a moment away. Jacob went reluctantly and the pair walked in silence until he looked over at her.

"Why exactly do you need a babysitter?" Jacob asked.

"I'm dying," Y/N stated simply.

"What? I thought that Vampires couldn't die unless they're torn apart," Jacob said.

"Apparently they can... I bleed, I cry, I eat and my body is falling apart for no apparent reason," Y/N said.

"That sucks," Jacob said.

Y/N huffed a laugh, "Yeah, it does," She replied.

"Still doesn't really explain why I'm following you around though," Jacob said.

"Carlisle said that my heart beat is irregular. He's worried that something could happen to me while I'm alone," Y/N stated.

"Have you left your house at all since you started becoming human?" Jacob asked.

She glared at him, "I am not a human," She corrected quickly.

"Well, whatever you are then," He amended.

"No, you and your wolf friends had my house surrounded. Remember?" Y/N questioned.

"So, you're pretty new to not being a bloodsucker then, huh?" He asked.

"I guess you could say that," She replied.

"Do you want to go into town for a bit? Maybe we can get some actual food," He offered.

"I would do anything to leave that place right now. Since Bella died, Carlisle has devoted the entirety of his time to testing me for anything he can possibly think of. Then I have to sit there and watch Edward stay by his wife as she magically comes back from the dead. Don't even get me started on that rapidly growing demon that they produced... It's like my own personal hell," Y/N said.

Jacob laughed and Y/N shot him a serious look, "I didn't realize that I said something funny," Y/N said.

"It may not be funny, but it is ironic because I was in love with Bella and I was ready to kill Edward when she died. Then I went to get the baby to hand over to the pack and in some ridiculous twist of fate, I actually imprinted on her. Now I practically live in the house with the guy I hate, the girl I used to love and their daughter," Jacob said.

"If I weren't going to die horrifically, I might actually say that you have it worse," Y/N replied.

"We're just two of the luckiest people around, huh?" He questioned, she nodded.

"Where are you taking me then?" Y/N asked.

"A diner. I'm going to get you the biggest and most greasy burger they offer along with fries and a milkshake," Jacob listed.

"All of that sounds absolutely repulsive, but I'm excited to try it," She said.

"Good," Jacob nodded.

The pair returned to the house and Y/N went up to tell Carlisle that she was leaving. She returned after a few minutes with a pair of car keys dangling from her finger.

"He said no to the motorcycle," She stated.

"Maybe another day," Jacob replied, holding out his hand.

Y/N placed the keys into his palm, "I'm definitely riding on a motorcycle before I die. I'm trusting you to make that happen," She said.

"I can definitely do that for you," Jacob assured.

They made their way down to the garage and got into one of the cars. Jacob started the car and opened the garage before driving out onto the road.

Y/N settled back into her seat as she looked out the window, "Just for my own curiosity, how long does it usually take for someone to come back from the dead?" Jacob questioned.

"Usually takes about three days. The morphine that Bella had in her system could definitely have an effect on it though," Y/N stated.

"Three days of waiting," Jacob huffed.

"At least she's not awake and screaming like the rest of us were," Y/N said.

"It hurt that badly?" Jacob asked, glancing over at her.

"The worst pain I've ever felt. It was like every nerve being scorched and having your skin peeled from your body. It was misery," She said.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," He said.

"It gave me a lifetime of pain and loneliness like I have never known before. I would have chosen death a thousand times over," Y/N replied.

"Who was it?" Jacob asked.

"I don't know what you mean," Y/N said, looking over at him.

"Who was it that broke your heart?" Jacob clarified.

Y/N hesitated, "Carlisle first and Edward second," She answered.

Jacob scoffed, "Well, with that information, you definitely earned the title of having the worst situation possible," Jacob said.

"I've always been an overachiever," She deadpanned with a smirk.

Jacob smiled as he pulled into the parking lot of the diner, "Ready to eat?" He asked.

"I'm absolutely ravenous," She replied.

The pair got out of the car and made their way into the restaurant, they were sat in a booth and given a moment to look over the menu.

Y/N stared at the laminated sheet with wide eyes, finding herself overwhelmed by the options as she slowly opened the menu.

"Wow, this is a lot of stuff," She mumbled.

"Do you want me to just order for you?" Jacob questioned.

"That would be lovely," Y/N replied.

"Do you have any preference on milkshake flavor?" He asked.

"The last meal that I had as a living person was probably boiled cabbage and stale bread. You can pick whatever you want and I'm sure it will be better than anything I've ever eaten," She replied, closing the menu and sliding it to the edge of the table.

"Point taken," He nodded.

The waitress returned to their table with her notepad and pen in hand, "What can I get for you two today?" She questioned.

"For drinks, we'd like one chocolate and one vanilla milkshake. And for food, we'll get two of the bacon cheeseburgers with fries," Jacob listed.

"Perfect, I'll get that going for you," The waitress nodded, collecting the menus and moving off to the kitchen.

"Why did you get two different flavor drinks?" Y/N asked.

"So you can try both and keep whichever one you like best," Jacob shrugged.

"That's very kind of you," She said.

"It's no big deal," He replied.

"It is to me," Y/N stated.

The drinks came out quickly and the food followed shortly after. Jacob put two plastic straws into the milkshakes and slid them across the table to her.

Y/N leaned forward, taking a sip of the vanilla milkshake before moving over to the chocolate and taking another sip.

"What's the verdict?" He questioned.

"I like the lighter one more," She said, tapping a finger against the side of the first glass.

Jacob slid the chocolate milkshake back over to his side of the table, "Good choice. The vanilla one is my personal favorite," He said, taking a sip from the same straw.

"You can have it if you like it more," Y/N said, moving to slide it over to him.

"You're the one who's new to human food. You get to keep the milkshake that you like best," Jacob said, resting his hand over hers and pushing it back over to her side of the table.

They ate and chatted about their lives before reluctantly returning to the Cullen house.

"I had fun tonight. You're pretty cool for an ex-bloodsucker," Jacob said.

"I had fun too and I suppose I should say thank you," Y/N replied.

"It was definitely meant as a compliment," Jacob assured, "And you can feel free to come find me whenever you want to go on another nature walk or do something ridiculously stupid just to cross it off your bucket list," He continued.

"I will definitely take you up on that," Y/N nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow... Sleep well," He said.

"You too," Y/N replied, making her way up the stairs to her bedroom.

...

Y/N stood in the shower, lathering the shampoo into her hair before stepping under the water. She washed the soap from her scalp, allowing the warm water to run over her skin. Y/N lowered her arms as her heart began to race in her chest, she let out a shaky exhale and leaned into the wall.

Y/N suddenly felt lightheaded and exhausted, breathing heavily as she slid down the wall weakly. Her arms fell in front of her body limply as she leaned into the wall, eyelids fluttering as she struggled to remain conscious.

"Carlisle," She called softly, her voice was barely audible over the sound of the water.

The shower curtain was pulled back suddenly before Carlisle reached in and turned off the water. He stepped away, grabbing her robe before kneeling down next to the bathtub.

Carlisle maneuvered her body around easily, slipping her arms through the sleeves and wrapping the robe around her body. He tied the belt at her waist before slipping his arms underneath her and lifting her into his arms.

Y/N's head rested on his shoulder as she closed her eyes, head pounding as her heart raced in her chest. He carried her into her bedroom before carefully setting her down on her bed.

Carlisle brought over the vitals machine, wrapping the blood pressure cuff around her arm and placing the probe on her finger. Y/N grimaced as the cuff began to inflate, but she was far too exhausted to say anything.

"Your blood pressure is incredibly low," Carlisle stated, reaching over and resting his hand on the side of her neck.

His fingers found her pulse point easily, feeling the rapid pulsation of her heart against his fingertips.

"I don't feel good," She mumbled shakily.

"I'll get you on fluids and we'll see if that helps," Carlisle said.

Y/N closed her eyes, unable to do anything besides breathe as her body began to shiver. Carlisle returned with a bag of fluids and a primed line, hanging it up on the pole beside her bed.

"Are you cold?" He questioned, noticing the way her body trembled.

She nodded silently and Carlisle stepped into her closet, he returned with a long sleeved shirt and a pair of loose sweatpants.

"Not mine," Y/N mumbled.

"Alice thought that you should have something comfortable and warm to wear," Carlisle said, setting the items on the edge of her bed.

He helped her dry off and get dressed before getting her settled in the bed. Carlisle sat down on the edge of the bed beside her, tying the tourniquet around her arm and flexing her wrist as his eyes scanned her skin.

Carlisle cleaned her skin with an alcohol wipe before opening his needle and removing the cap. Y/N turned her head away as he pushed the needle into her vein, he held the cannula in place as he retracted the needle. He connected the tubing to the cannula quickly before laying a clear dressing on top of it.

Carlisle pressed the edges against her skin carefully before reaching up to grab his IV tubing and connecting it to her. Y/N looked over as he stood up, programming the machine and opening the roller clamps.

The fluid slowly began to drip as the infusion started, "You should try and get some rest. I'll be back to check on you in a bit," Carlisle said, she nodded.

Y/N drifted off into a dreamless sleep before Carlisle had even stepped foot into the hallway. She slept for hours, body shivering silently as she struggled to retain her warmth. Carlisle added a few more blankets on top of her, but nothing seemed to help with the icy chill that had come over her.

Carlisle slowly made his way into the living room where the family was sitting. Esme held Renesmee in her arms while Rosalie watched them with a fond smile.

"Jacob, could I borrow you for a moment?" Carlisle asked.

"Sure," He nodded, standing up from his seat and following Carlisle down the hallway.

"I have a bit of an odd request and you can refuse if it makes you uncomfortable," Carlisle said.

"What is it?" Jacob asked.

"Y/N had a bit of a medical episode tonight," Carlisle started.

"Is she okay?" Jacob questioned.

"She's fine, but she's incredibly cold and I can't seem to get her temperature up," Carlisle said.

"I can definitely help with that," Jacob nodded.

"Thank you," Carlisle replied, leading Jacob down the hallway to her bedroom.

He opened the door and stepped inside, allowing Jacob to make his way into the room before closing the door gently.

"Jeez, how many blankets do you have her buried under?" Jacob asked with a smile.

"Five, I believe," Carlisle stated.

Jacob moved around to the other side of the bed, stepping out of his boots before lifting the blankets and laying down beside her.

Jacob shifted closer to her and she turned towards him in her sleep, immediately drawn in by the heat he gave off. Jacob wrapped his arms around her and guided her body into his side.

Y/N let out a soft breath, her head resting on his chest as she soaked up his warmth, "She's freezing," Jacob muttered, rubbing his hand over her back gently.

"I'm not much help in that department, unfortunately," Carlisle said.

"Well, I got it from here," Jacob assured.

"Just be conscious of the IV and call for me if something happens," Carlisle said, Jacob nodded.

Carlisle made his way out of the bedroom, closing the door behind himself carefully. Jacob settled back into the pillows, brushing his hand over her back until he eventually drifted off to sleep beside her.

Jacob awoke when the sky was dark, he turned his head to see Carlisle standing at the bedside. He hung a new bag of fluids on the IV pole before connecting it and pressing a few buttons on the machine to restart the infusion.

Y/N stirred slightly in his arms as Carlisle programmed the pump, eyes fluttering open slowly. Her brows furrowed as she pulled away from him slightly.

"What's going on?" She mumbled.

"You were cold," Jacob replied.

"How are you feeling?" Carlisle questioned.

"I'm fine," Y/N replied, laying back down on her back beside Jacob.

"I can go if you want," Jacob offered.

"No, it's too cold in this place," She huffed, lifting the blankets up higher over her body as her teeth chattered slightly.

"Here," Jacob smiled, reaching out and pulling her closer to his side.

He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned her head back against his shoulder as his hand settled on her arm, "Better?" He questioned, she nodded and closed her eyes. Carlisle smiled softly to himself, quietly exiting the room and closing the door.

"I know you're not here for me, but I still appreciate it," Y/N said softly.

"You're probably one of the best living people in this house right now. Us humans need to stick together," Jacob said.

"Still not human," Y/N mumbled tiredly.

"Whatever you say," Jacob replied, rubbing his hand over her arm gently.

...

Carlisle opened the door to Y/N's bedroom and paused when he realized that the bed was empty. Jacob had stayed with her for a few hours before returning to the living room to be with Renesmee. She had been asleep when he last checked on her and the empty bed made him nervous.

"Y/N," Carlisle called.

"In here," Y/N replied softly.

He stepped over to the bathroom and pushed the door open, finding her sitting on the floor in front of the toilet with her back leaned against the wall. Y/N was incredibly pale with dark bags under her eyes, exhausted and weak as she looked up at him.

"Are you alright?" He questioned.

"I can't stop throwing up," Y/N mumbled.

"How long have you been in here?" Carlisle asked.

"An hour," She replied.

"Why didn't you call for me? I could've given you something to help with the nausea," He said gently.

"Feels like someone shoved a hot branding iron down my throat," She muttered.

"I could get you some water or tea to help," Carlisle offered.

"Just want to sleep," Y/N stated.

"Can you stand?" He questioned, looking down at her.

"No, everything hurts," She grumbled.

Carlisle nodded, kneeling down and sliding his arm underneath her body before lifting her up into his arms. Y/N let out a soft whimper, grimacing in pain and gripping onto him as he picked her up.

Carlisle turned around and set her down on the countertop. He prepared her toothbrush before passing it to her, wetting a cloth under some warm water as she brushed her teeth.

Y/N leaned over and spit into the sink, Carlisle took the toothbrush from her hand and offered her the cloth. Y/N wiped the cloth over her skin, arms falling limply in her lap as she breathed heavily, utterly exhausted from the simple act of wiping her face.

"Are you alright?" Carlisle asked.

"No, I'm not and I wish you'd stop asking me that," She snapped.

Carlisle didn't reply, giving her a moment to rest as he put everything away. He stepped back over to her when her breathing rate had returned to normal.

"Ready?" He asked, she nodded.

Carlisle lifted her into his arms carefully before he carried her into her room and placed her down on her bed. Y/N grimaced as she laid back, closing her eyes as she took a few shaky breaths.

"How bad is the pain?" Carlisle questioned.

"Terrible," She stated, growing irritated with his questions as she struggled to get comfortable.

"I'll get you something for the pain and the nausea," Carlisle said, standing up from the edge of the bed.

"Or you could just snap my neck now and put me out of my misery," Y/N offered.

"That's not an option and you know that," Carlisle replied gently.

"What quality of life do I have, Carlisle? My teeth are falling out, my body aches like I have broken glass flowing through my veins and I can't do simple tasks without feeling completely exhausted. I am miserable and it isn't going to get any better," She stated.

"There are still things we can try, Y/N. You were doing incredibly well a few days ago, we don't have to jump to extremes just yet. Pain medications, sedatives and anti-nausea drugs can drastically improve your comfort level," Carlisle said.

Y/N scoffed, "I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a narcotic haze as my body shuts down," She snapped.

"Dosages can be adjusted. It doesn't have to be that way," Carlisle assured.

"You've done as much as you can for me. It's time to give up," Y/N stated.

"That's not what you really want," He said.

"How would you know what I want? You haven't cared enough to know me for an incredibly long time, Carlisle," She said.

"You're right... I haven't been there for you in the way that you wanted, but I'm here now and I want to help you," Carlisle pressed.

"You can't help me," Y/N stated firmly, "But you can let me go," She continued.

"We can talk about our options tomorrow. You should try and get some rest," Carlisle advised.

Y/N shook her head, looking away as Carlisle made his way out of her bedroom and closed the door.

Edward stood in the hallway, "She wants to die?" He questioned.

"She does," Carlisle replied.

"We can't let that happen," Edward stated.

"I'm going to try and convince her to pursue alternative treatment options, but she doesn't seem optimistic," Carlisle said.

"I'll talk to her," Edward said, Carlisle shook his head.

"Bella could be waking up any moment now, she's going to need you. I can deal with Y/N for the time being," Carlisle assured.

"When Bella wakes up, Y/N is going to need someone with her at all times. The bloodlust could overwhelm Bella and Y/N wouldn't stand a chance," Edward said.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Carlisle replied.

"Agreed," Edward nodded.

....

PART 11

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cloakedpress · 3 months ago

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How to Write Better Characters: Roles, Motivation & Actually Making People Care

Let’s be real: your story can have the coolest magic system, the twistiness of the plot, or the hottest vampire/detective/alien—

but if your characters are flat?

Nobody’s sticking around.

So let’s break down how to give your characters real presence in your story by understanding their role, their motivation, and how to make them hit harder on the page.

1. What’s Their Role in the Story?

Every character needs a *reason to exist*. Think of them like parts in a machine. What do they *do* in your narrative?

Here are a few basic types:

- Protagonist: The one we’re rooting for. They drive the plot forward.

- Antagonist: The one in their way. Doesn’t have to be evil—just opposed.

- Foil: Someone who reflects the main character’s traits by contrast.

- Mentor: Offers wisdom, often with a tragic backstory or dramatic exit.

- Love Interest: Romantic tension? Check. But make sure they’re *more* than just eye candy.

- Wildcard: Unpredictable chaos gremlin. Every story needs one.

TIP: If you can remove a character without changing the plot? You probably should.

2. What Do They Want? (AKA Motivation)

This is the *core* of your character. Motivation makes everything feel real. Ask yourself:

- What does this character want more than anything?

- Why do they want it?

- What are they willing to do (or give up) to get it?

Bonus points if their motivation is in conflict with someone else’s. That’s where the juicy drama lives.

Ex: “She wants to save her sister. He wants to save the world. One bomb. One choice.” Now we’re COOKING.

3. How Do You Show It?

Motivation isn’t just monologues and dramatic speeches. It’s in:

- What they *notice* first in a room.

- Who they *trust* (or don’t).

- The mistakes they keep repeating.

- The lies they tell *themselves*.

A character who’s obsessed with control might organize their bag mid-crisis.

A character desperate to be loved might make themselves useful to everyone… even villains.

4. Let Them Be Messy

Perfect characters are boring.

Give them contradictions. Regrets. Bad coping mechanisms. Let them be *wrong*. Let them grow.

Characters who never fail or change = characters nobody relates to.

Let your soft boys punch someone. Let your bad girls cry. Let your villains have a point.

5. Ask Yourself the Hard Stuff

- What would break this character?

- What line won’t they cross?

- Who are they when no one’s watching?

If you can answer these? You *know* your character.

6. Level Up: Relationships Matter

Characters don’t exist in a vacuum. Use dynamics to reveal depth:

- A character might be brave in a fight but terrified of disappointing their mentor.

- A flirty rogue might go speechless around the person they actually care about.

- A villain’s cruelty might soften around their childhood friend.

People are different with different people. Show it.

TL;DR:

Great characters = clear role + deep motivation + real emotion.

Make them want things. Make them struggle. Make them human (even if they’re a dragon princess from space).

Want help building a specific character? Drop their name + vibe in my ask box. Let’s break them open together.

#writeblr #creative writing #writers #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writing community #reading #reader

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wonderjanga · 5 months ago

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Why’re You Friends With All These Psychopaths?!

Marvel is friends with a bunch of, well, to be quite honest, crazy, weird, or strange people.

Vicky Vale: “This just in, we have reports of Captain Marvel eating tacos with Man-Bat on the roof of Wayne Enterprises.”

Marvel and Man-Bat: *lowkey chilling*

Man-Bat: *getting a little jumpy every now and then when it hears more people coming*

Marvel: *patting it’s chrome dome to calm it down*

Later…

Batman: *appears out of nowhere* “Captain. What are you doing with, Langstrom?”

Marvel: “Langstrom? That’s his name?” *still patting Kirk’s head so he doesn’t fly off*

Batman: “Yes-” *does double take* “Are those blood bags?” *points to some nearby blood bags next to the two*

Marvel: “Huh? Oh yeah, they are.”

Batman: “…why do you have blood bags? More importantly, how did you get them?”

Marvel: “The vampires in Fawcett, just buy it from stores so I got some from there. And I brought it because I thought my friend here wouldn’t eat the tacos without it.”

*silence*

Batman: “Right… so let me just…” *walks over and injects Kirk with the serum*

Man-Bat: *changes back to his shriveled little old man form*

Marvel: “He’s a human?!”

After that, Bruce took Man-Bat back to the Asylum. Now, whenever Kirk would transform back into a bat he’d fly over to Fawcett so he could hang out with Marvel and every single time without fail, Bruce has to go over there and bring him back to Arkham.

Some Time When Jason was with the LoA…

Ra’s Al Ghul and Marvel: *sipping tea together*

Jason Todd: “Ra’s- Captain Marvel?”

Marvel: “Huh?” *stares for a solid second* “Robin #2?”

*silence*

Marvel: “It really is you! Come sit with us!” *pats the table and magics a chair and another teacup*

Jason Todd: *slowly walks over and sits down* “How do you both know each other?”

Marvel: “Well, I was investigating the Lazarus pits and we met each other. From there, we just clicked!”

Jason Todd: *looks to Talia*

Talia Al Ghul: *shrugs and pours Jason some tea before refilling her own cup*

Talia is just glad her father has someone to talk with that’s actually a decent human being and isn’t in the league.

Guy Gardner: *burst through saloon doors* “You’re all under arrest- Cap?!”

Marvel: *waving* “Hey, Guy!”

Alien Terrorist Group: *all see Cap wave so they think the Guy’s good* “Hey, Guy!” *also wave*

*silence*

Guy Gardner: “Cap, can we talk outside for a second?”

Marvel: “Sure!”

Outside…

Marvel: “So what’d you wanna talk about?”

Guy Gardner: “Dude…” *floats so he can put a hand on Marvel’s shoulder* “Why the FUCK ARE YOU HANGING OUT WITH TERRORISTS??”

Marvel: *confused* “Terrorists? Who are the terrorists??”

Guy Gardner: “Wha- THOSE ASSHOLES!”*points to the alien saloon*

As for how Marvel befriended all of these people/creatures. It’s his overwhelming niceness.

#billy batson #shazam #dc captain marvel #captain marvel dc #fawcett city #fawcett #fawcett comics

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dancingbirdie · 2 years ago

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Okay so on Astarion, I was reading this fic about him not knowing Tavs true intentions with him and it bothering Astarion a lot, so what if he goes to some mage or magic user and asks them to show Tavs true intentions to him, when he does the vision he sees is just... being snuggled. It's Tav on top of him and the both of you are falling asleep, his hands are under your shirt softly petting your skin as your sleepy self is contently snuggled up to him. I just start crying about him finding out that Tavs DASTARDLY and EVIL plan with him, their greatest desire from him... is to simply be held. 🥺

Hi @goblin-creatcher! Thank you so much for this BEAUTIFUL prompt. I, uhh, kind of took it and went a million miles an hour with it. This is honestly one of my favorite things I've ever written. I hope you enjoy it as well! xoxoxo

Something Imagined / Something Real

Word Count: 3.9K

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Astarion x f!Tav

Warnings/Tags: Brief but detailed description of rough consensual sex, descriptions and references to Astarion's trauma/trauma responses, minor Act 1 and Act 2 spoilers, FLUFF, angst

Suggested Song Pairing: Slow Dancing in A Burning Room (Stripped) - cover by ST LUNA

Summary: Astarion has been suspicious of Tav’s true intentions toward him. He persuades Gale to cast a spell and reveal her motivations. ANGST and FLUFF ensue. A rewriting of Astarion’s confession scene from Act 2.

The sun had just begun to set on the campsite when Astarion decided to put his plan into action. He had waited until Tav departed with some of the other party members before making his way over to the wizard. Gale was too busy reassembling the bookshelf inside his tent to notice Astarion’s approach. It wasn’t until he gave a polite cough that Gale jumped and whirled to face him.

“No, no, no,” he began all at once, hands raised in a sort of shooing motion. Astarion stared at him in confusion. “I can respect Tav’s indulging in your need for blood, but as I’ve said before: I taste terrible.”

Astarion scoffed. “Charming. Actually, wizard, I was coming to request your aid in a different, though somewhat related, matter.”

“Really? Care to elaborate?” Gale responded, still somewhat wary. It wasn’t often he found himself alone with the vampire.

“Testy, I see,” Astarion crooned teasingly. His knee-jerk response to people treating him like a monster, to behave in the most false saccharine sort of way.

But he drew up short, censoring himself before saying anything else he might regret. He knew he needed to get on the wizard’s good side if he had any chance of getting the answers he sought.

“I was hoping you knew a spell to reveal someone’s true intentions. Their… motivations for behaving in a certain way, so to speak,” he finished more seriously.

Gale pondered the question for a moment before answering.

“Hmm… yes, there is magic to determine that sort of thing… Although it’s been some time since I practiced it…” He trailed off, rubbing his chin in thought.

“Why are you asking for such a thing?” he asked suddenly.

Astarion had been prepared for this question, of course. No one did anything for free, no questions asked. He delivered his explanation perfectly, as he’d been rehearsing in his mind.

“One might say our dear sweet Tav and I have been growing a bit… closer these days, but I can sense a master manipulator when I see one. I just simply want to ensure their intentions toward me - toward the party - are true,” he replied with mock innocence.

“Ah, yes,” Gale nodded. “I gathered as much when the two of you slipped away from the tiefling’s party a few nights ago.”

“But,” he continued on,”I needn’t think you should worry when it comes to Tav. She seems about as transparent as they come. I’m sure any intentions she has toward you are true.”

Yes, but the best actors always mask their motivations behind innocence and transparency, Astarion thought to himself. I should know. I’ve been doing it for centuries.

After the party’s unfortunate meeting with that Gur in the Sunlit Wetlands, Astarion realized he would have to take potential threats from Cazador even more seriously. He wasn’t about to lose his freedom, not now that he finally had some small taste of it.

It didn’t hurt to be more suspicious of everyone he encountered, even the sweetling Tav. Anyone could be an operative sent by Cazador, and the best ones would be as skilled as he was in the art of manipulation. It was well-known at this point that the person he’d grown the closest to on their journey was their brave party leader, Tav. Unlikely as it may be that she was scheming for his master, Astarion’s paranoia wouldn’t let him indulge in interactions with her a second longer unless he knew how she truly felt.

Given Gale’s hesitation, Astarion knew he would have to kick his acting up a notch. Press on that wizard’s heartstrings. Touch the one nerve he knew he was sensitive to.

“Gale, darling, from one literally damaged soul to another, indulge me just this once,” Astarion beseeched him.

The wizard glared at him a moment, before finally relenting with a heavy sigh. “Fine. Fine. But I want it known that I don’t agree with this so-called solution one whit,” he grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Yes, yes, noted and formally documented, on my word as a former Baldurian magistrate,” Astarion replied cheerily. “So, let’s hop to it then, shall we?”

“What, right now?” Gale asked, shocked. “Shouldn’t we be, I don’t know, a little less conspicuous?”

“What better time than now?” Astarion responded. “Tav’s out gathering firewood with Wyll and Karlach. They won’t be back for some time. As for Lae’zel and Shadowheart, well…” he paused, gesturing over his shoulder.

Said two were engaged in a heated sparring session on the outskirts of the camp. Snarls and curses could be heard emanating from both warriors as they tried, and failed, to gain the upper hand against their opponent.

“That lovers’ dance could go on until morning,” Astarion finished.

“Fair point,” Gale admitted begrudgingly, grimacing at the sound of swords clashing violently. “Very well. Let’s get started.”

Clearing his throat, Gale began to utter a series of phrases completely foreign to Astarion. He watched as the wizard began moving his hands in a wavelike pattern, forming a circle before them. Suddenly, a mist began to form from seemingly thin air, taking shape according to the boundaries Gale’s hands were creating. The mist grew more and more opaque until it appeared before them like a clouded mirror.

As the fogginess of the ethereal magic began to clear, the “mirror” became a confusing blur of scenes whipping by, too fast for Astarion or Gale to really comprehend. There were flashes of Tav and Astarion, together and separate, but they disappeared too quickly to ascertain their context. It was as though the spell was shuffling through the entirety of Tav’s thoughts, assessing each one at breakneck speed.

Finally, the spell slowed to a halt, stopping on one scene in particular. Astarion was struck speechless by what began playing out in the foggy portal before them. So distracted, he didn’t even notice Gale’s tight cough, or how the wizard suddenly became intensely interested in a copse of trees nearby, rather than the revelation the spell was revealing.

Not that the scene was especially profound, objectively speaking. In fact, to anyone else, it might be viewed as the least revelatory thing possible that the spell could have shown. Boring. Inconsequential, even. But to Astarion, it was almost earth shattering.

He saw himself - he could see his face! - with Tav, lying tangled together in some immaculate four-poster bed.

That was the first shock that coursed through him, nearly causing his knees to buckle. He was seeing himself for the first time in over 200 years. Or at least, he was seeing himself as Tav saw him. And… the person he saw… Well, he was gorgeous. White blonde locks, curled and tousled in a devil-may-care sort of way. A strong, patrician nose that suggested good breeding. High, sharp cheekbones. Full lips, upturned in a thoughtless grin. Red eyes bordered by long, sweeping lashes. Delicately pointed elven ears. Smooth alabaster skin, without blemish or spot.

Astarion could scarcely believe his own eyes.

The second shock to his system was the nature of their activities. He would have been less surprised had the vision shown them fucking. Him taking her roughly from behind perhaps. His name a cry of ecstasy from her lips as he pistoned in and out of her with a feral sort of determination.

Fantasies of lust, of total domination, now those were things he was familiar with inspiring in the minds of the victims he had taken as lovers. It was what he strove for, in all honesty. Desire like that all but ensured he would capture his prey and live to serve another day for his master.

But nothing of the sort was occurring between vision-Tav and himself. Instead, they were just… embracing? What in sweet hells was this?

She lay halfway on top of him. Her hair was mussed, perhaps from sleep or perhaps from previous lovemaking. One hand was drawing absentminded shapes across his chest, her lips trailing behind, leaving kisses in their wake. He watched as vision-Astarion chuckled softly, as his hands slipped beneath her sleepshirt to caress her waist, as he placed an innocent kiss on the top of Tav’s head. Eventually, she reached for his hand. They both watched their fingers intertwine, blissfully content.

It was the purest, unadulterated expression of affection that Astarion had ever seen. Something in his heart quaked at the sight of it. He wanted that moment. He envied, he hated, vision-Astarion for enjoying such apparent happiness.

So absorbed in the vision and its implications, Astarion failed to notice the soft padding of feet that indicated someone’s re-entry into the camp.

“If the two of you are quite finished poking around in my head,” an angry voice suddenly spat from behind them, “I’d appreciate you preserving what little privacy I have left and shutting that damn spell off.”

Mortified, Astarion and Gale turned to see Tav, arms crossed and visibly seething with rage. Gale quickly dispelled the magic with a flick of his wrist. A blush was slowly but surely rising up Tav’s neck to reach her cheeks. Whether from rage or embarrassment, Astarion couldn’t be certain.

“Tav, let us explain-” Astarion started.

“It was his idea-” Gale blurted at the same time, pointing at Astarion.

Both paused, glaring at one another. But Tav would have none of their feeble attempts at backpedaling.

“The explanation doesn’t matter. Whose idea it was doesn’t matter. The fact is that both of you violated the privacy of my mind, which I’ll remind you, has ALREADY been violated by having a bloody tadpole forced inside of it!” Tav shouted. At their words, the camp became enveloped in a heavy silence. Even the crickets ceased their chirping.

Astarion cringed inwardly, knowing the other party members could plainly hear this altercation and had likely stopped whatever it was that they had been doing to listen in. He noted the sounds of swords clanging together had ceased. He was certain Lae’zel and Shadowheart at least were aware of what was happening. Nosy bastards, all of them.

But what disturbed him even more was the realization that Tav’s eyes were welling with tears. She was too proud to acknowledge them or wipe them away. Such was her nature. But they were there nonetheless, and the knowledge that Astarion had brought her to the point of tears was enough to spur a rush of utter self-loathing inside him.

Without another word, Tav turned on her heel and marched stiffly out of camp, toward the direction of a nearby creek they’d identified as a water source earlier in the day.

“I can’t believe I let you convince me to perform that spell,” Gale said as she disappeared between the trees. He dragged his hands down his face.

“How could we have been so doltish, forgetting that all of our privacies have already been violated with this tadpole business?”

Astarion didn’t have an answer to that. At least, not one the wizard could possibly understand.

The thought hadn’t occurred to Astarion, he realized, because violations of privacy had been something so intrinsic to his being for over 200 years. He didn’t even recognize it as something abnormal. Like a fish unaware that the water surrounding it is, in fact, water.

Violations of privacy were a part of life, at least for him. So much so that his request for Gale to perform that magic hadn’t even occurred to him as an overstepping of boundaries. To Astarion, it had simply been a matter of survival. He had needed to know another potentially manipulative person’s true intentions, and so he had found a means to uncover it and maintain the upper hand.

Belatedly, he also realized that Gale’s hesitation to cast the spell had had nothing to do with being inconvenienced for the evening, but because the wizard had known that it was improper to do to another person. If he had misread that, Astarion wondered, then what other truly benevolent behaviors had he mistaken as pragmatic manipulation?

“I need to go find her,” Astarion murmured, clenching and unclenching his fists in an uncharacteristic fit of uncertainty.

“Yes, you do,” Gale asserted. “We both owe her a sincere apology… if she’ll even accept it.”

“I’ll see if I can convince her to come back to camp,” Astarion replied, making to leave in the direction Tav had stormed off.

“Wait,” Gale said, a hand on his shoulder. Astarion turned to meet his gaze.

“Look, well, I’m obviously not an expert in healthy demonstrations of affection. But I do think it’s obvious from what you saw in that spell that Tav well and truly cares about you. In perhaps the purest way possible. Treat that carefully.”

Part of Astarion wanted to laugh aloud in utter hopelessness at the wizard’s advice. Someone cared for him? Truly and purely? No hidden games, no strings attached? Oh certainly, that wouldn’t be a problem for Astarion at all. Obviously, his 200-year existence as a master-manipulator-fetch-hound for a power-hungry vampire lord had perfectly prepared him to respond to this situation in a healthy manner. Obviously.

But all that was too much to reveal to someone he barely knew and too heavy to say aloud. Rather than giving some smarmy retort, Astarion opted instead to give a stiff nod and continue walking toward the edge of camp. He had no idea how he could make things right with Tav, but at the very least he could try.

***

He found Tav sitting on a fallen tree near the edge of the creek bed. Her legs were drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them as she rested a cheek to her knees. In the waning twilight, she reminded Astarion of some misbegotten gargoyle perched on the roof of a temple, solitary and so very sad.

Her ears twitched as she noted his arrival. Astarion wasn’t trying to be stealthy. On top of everything else, the last thing he needed to do was scare her.

“Can I join you?” he asked softly, wincing to himself at the awkwardness of the question.

The reality was that there was no way to broach this conversation without some stilted beginning, and he hated it. Navigating tricky conversations was normally something he excelled at. But as he was quickly finding, when it related to Tav, nothing in his past life had prepared him to respond to her well.

“If you’d like,” Tav answered tonelessly.

Knowing it was probably the best response he was going to get, Astarion swallowed thickly and moved to sit down on the log next to her.

“I… wanted to… apologize for what you saw, back at camp,” he began.

“Apologize for doing it, or apologize for getting caught?” Tav asked as she turned her head to look at him, resting her other cheek on her knees.

Astarion balked at the question. Her piercing gaze unnerved him. He hadn’t really thought that far.

“Both, I suppose?” he answered honestly, although it sounded more like a question to Tav. She huffed a laugh.

“You know, part of me really wants to yell at you. Scream in your face. Tell you off proper,” she mused.

“So why don’t you?” Astarion asked, perplexed.

Tav didn’t respond at first, just sat there studying him. As if by staring at him long enough, she could project the answer into his mind.

Astarion didn’t interrupt her, much as he would have liked to. Part of him always bristled when people gazed at him for too long. It was unfair that they could study him, when he hadn’t been able to so much as glance at his reflection in over 200 years.

Finally, Tav released a heavy sigh, her body curling further in on itself. She closed her eyes as she spoke.

“Because then I would be just like every other bastard in your life who’s mistreated you.”

Astarion flinched in surprise. Those had not been the sort of words he’d been expecting. The truth of them cut deeper than had she raged at him like she wanted to. It left him feeling even more vulnerable, and that in turn made him want to retreat into the comfort of viciousness.

“I don’t need you to pull any punches,” he scoffed, glaring at her. “Go ahead and say what you will.”

She straightened up at his tone, opening her eyes and returning his glare.

“No. I don’t want to,” she said testily.

“I don’t need your pity,” he hissed. “It’s insulting.”

“Gods damn it all, Astarion!” Tav exclaimed suddenly, causing him to jump in surprise. She threw her hands up in defeat. “I’m not doing anything out of pity! I don’t want to rage at you, because I know that whatever I say right now, I won’t mean it come the morning!”

Astarion blinked. Once again he was left feeling flat footed by the turn of the conversation. Sensing his surprise, Tav continued on with her deluge of words.

“You hurt me tonight, and I’m angry at you - and at Gale, for that matter - for what you did. But you’ve shared enough of your… history… with me, that I realize your behavior is just… just a byproduct of centuries of abuse and manipulation you’ve endured! And I won’t be another abuser in your life. I won’t,” she asserted.

Astarion continued staring at her, as if she were some otherworldly creature that had just wandered across his path. He watched as Tav inhaled a deep breath, releasing it shakily. She turned away from him to peer out into the forest, uncertain. She opened and closed her mouth several times before actually speaking. As if whatever she was about to say was more intimidating to her than anything else she’d said tonight.

“I… care deeply for you, Astarion,” she said quietly. “You obviously saw that in the vision. I’m not playing any games. There’s no hidden motive. I’m not trying to manipulate you.”

She turned to look at him again before continuing, her breathing a bit unsteady.

“I didn’t sleep with you that night of the tiefling party as some sort of maneuver to gain your trust. Although I understand if that was your motivation for doing so.”

Astarion’s expression morphed into one of guilt. But Tav nodded soberly, as if she had already expected it, before continuing on.

“It’s okay. I’m not angry. But I’m putting all my cards on the table now, so to speak. Actually, your decision tonight forced my hand, but I had been planning on telling you soon anyway. So, there you have it. The truth of my intentions. What you do with that information is up to you.”

She turned back to gaze out at their surroundings. Like she was giving him the opportunity to bolt away without her watching him. As if she expected him to flee from her confession.

But Astarion didn’t flee. He remained seated, staring at her in complete wonderment.

“Why?” he asked quietly.

She looked back at him again, confusion evident on her face.

“Why what?”

“Why do you care for me? You’re so… well-adjusted. And I’m well… this,” he finished lamely, placing a hand on his chest.

Tav pursed her lips. “It would be a mistake to misconstrue my empathy for you as me being well-adjusted. Everyone has their own demons, Astarion,” she murmured. “Mine just look different from yours.”

Astarion mulled her words over in his mind, considering them. He leaned forward to brace his forearms on his knees, his head drooping slightly.

“I…,” he started, unsure. “That vision… what it implied… You deserve something real, Tav. You’re incredible… truly.”

Tav closed her eyes, bracing for the fallout. Even though she would accept his decision, whatever it was, she didn’t think she could bear to watch him deny her. It would hurt too much.

“Look. When we met, I had a plan. A nice, simple plan,” he blurted all at once. Rising swiftly to his feet, Tav watched as he began to pace before her, near to bursting with frenetic energy.

“Seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you’d never turn on me,” he counted off, laughing half-heartedly. “It was… easy - instinctive. Habits from two hundred years of charming people kicked in. All you had to do was fall for it. And all I had to do… was not fall for you… which is where my nice, simple plan fell apart,” he finished, stopping to stand before her.

She held his gaze, speechless.

“I want you,” he whispered fervently. “I want what was in that vision… I want us to be something real.”

Never in a million years had she thought he would respond to her like this. She opened her mouth to speak, but Astarion cut her off with another sudden exclamation.

“I just don’t know what real is,” he confessed, his tone a touch hysterical. Tav knew from his body language that being this transparent was completely out of Astarion’s comfort zone.

“Being… close to someone - any kind of intimacy - was something I performed to lure people back. For him. Even though I know things between us are different, being with someone still feels… tainted. Still brings up those feelings of disgust, and loathing. I… I don’t know how else to be with someone. No matter how much I’d like to,” he finished, staring at her with beseeching eyes, willing her to understand.

Tav rose to her feet, coming to stand before him.

“I don’t want you for your body,” she whispered. “Or to perform any acts of intimacy. We can be together, without sleeping together, for as long as you need.”

“Really,” he asked softly, his voice pitched low, rough with emotion.

“Really,” Tav asserted, giving him a small smile. “Would it be all right if…” she paused, conflicted. He eyed her curiously.

“Could I hug you?” she whispered.

The fact that she asked before doing so caused a well of emotion to spring up inside him. Eyes watering, Astarion nodded.

Slowly, Tav moved forward to wrap her arms around his waist. Her head nestled into the crook of his neck and shoulder. A perfect fit. He felt her exhale a deep sigh.

Tav hugging him was a sensation unlike any he had ever felt. At least, any he could remember feeling. The act of being touched, embraced, without any desire for something more. She just wanted to hold him, feel him close to her. It was incomprehensible to him, but utterly enjoyable, at the same time.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Astarion raised his arms to return Tav’s embrace. Drawing her even closer, he bowed his head to rest his cheek against her hair. It was soft, like the finest silk. He closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply, appreciating her sweet, floral scent.

She made to pull away after a moment, not wishing to overwhelm him. But Astarion gripped her more firmly, a silent urge for them to stay that way a little longer.

“This… this is nice,” he whispered.

He both felt and heard Tav hum contentedly in response.

It wasn’t identical to the vision from Tav’s mind that he had seen, but Astarion reveled in their embrace nonetheless. It felt like the beginning of something new. And for the first time in his very, very long life, Astarion felt excited at the prospects of what would come next.

#astarion #dancingbirdiewrites #bg3 astarion #astarion ancunin #baldurs gate astarion #baldur’s gate astarion #astarion x f!reader #astarion bg3 #bg3 astarion fic #astarion x tav #astarion x reader #astarion x mc #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 fanfiction #bg3 fic

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kiame-sama · 8 months ago

Text

Humans Are Extinct (Yandere!TWST x Reader) Monster AU pt 17

(Naga Jamil has a tendency to coil up during classes, usually sitting by windows and anywhere sunny so he can keep his reptile half warm. He is technically warm-blooded, but it does take a large amount of food and magical ability to keep the snake half warm, so he will take the sunlight's assistance whenever available. During the winter, Jamil can often be found curled up in Scarabia in the sun-warmed sands or coiled around heaters for the warmth during classes.)

Warnings: Monsterverse TWST, yandere, multiple yanderes, platonic yanderes, romantic yanderes, violence, stressful meetings, protective behavior, obsessive behavior, cruelty, somewhat brat!reader, slight violence, fem pronouned reader, redemption, backhanded comments, Nemean Lions, Hellcat, Shinigami, Cervitaur, Dragons, Vampire bat, Harpies, Drider, Toad, Rat,

~~~~~~~~

Cheka smiled and happily ate the plentiful food in front of him, sitting side by side with Grim as they feasted. You decided to have an early lunch seeing as you were going to be busy around actual lunch time. It made you happy to see Grim wasn't being aggressive towards Cheka anymore and Ortho was happy to keep the cub entertained.

Naturally, you made a simple sandwich that Silver could easily replicate as the Cervitaur was keen to help you in the kitchen especially due to your leg. Despite how you wanted to walk around and even make something complicated like fried chicken- that new deep fryer Idia made was calling to you- Malleus was keen to keep you off of your leg. It was likely a result of the diligent guarding of the dragon that your leg began to stop hurting, feeling much better than it had since you were stabbed.

All you really needed to do was wait until the actual noon hour rolled around for your fated meeting of the representatives, but you were free until then. As you watched your two young charges eat and play together, a faint cool breeze on the back of your neck had you turning to look at your company. Malleus stood with you, his tail holding you up a little above where you would stand and taking the majority of the weight off your leg. He had insisted on giving Silver a break and seemed content to just hold you.

Rook and Vil were going to be stopping by soon, wanting to choose the outfit you would wear to this deciding of fates. They were actually surprised to hear that the representatives could potentially take you away and were determined to do everything they could to stop that outcome. It seemed like everyone you spoke to about the upcoming event was of a similar mind, even Riddle swore to appear before the group to plead your case.

"You seem so happy with your cubs, (Y/n)."

"Well, Cheka isn't mine to keep, but he is a sweet boy. And of course I'm happy to see him and Grim getting along."

"I am glad. I feel much of the same when I am among my Hoard."

A slight grimace pulled at the Dragon's smile and you frowned in response. Something was clearly bothering him.

"Tsuno?"

"I don't wish to lose any member of my Hoard, yourself included. Twice I have come close to facing that reality, and twice I have been late to defend you. The Ancient One has given me excellent council that I hope to heed, and with Lilia's guidance, I have decided to bestow a blessing upon you."

"What kind of blessing?"

Malleus held up a clawed hand, shadows seeming to be drawn to the space above it and almost seemed to condense into a physical object suspended in space. The item looked like one of the magestones that the other sudents carried around on their weapons, only somewhat different. It was a bright green crystal ball that sat encased in black metal akin to briar thorns, the top of the bauble making a loop that could easily connect to the upgraded tracking collar you now wore.

"This," Malleus started, letting you observe the interesting summoned item, "is something I hold quite dear to me. It is a twin to the magestone I now use. It belonged to my mother, both stones passed into Lilia's care along with my egg before she... It means a lot to Briar Valley. It means a lot to me. Only a Dragon of my lineage can wield the unruly wild magic it contains. I have considered and agonized over ways to keep you safe, now I can do exactly that. So long as you carry it with you, I am only a breath away. Speak my name, my full name, and it will bring me to your aid."

"Tsuno, I... I don't know if I can accept this. If it means so much to you, I would be consumed with guilt should anything happen to it."

"Just as I would be consumed with guilt if anything happened to you. Indulge me, (Y/n), and wear it proudly. You are always under threat and I can't always be there. Let me be your protector and call upon me when you need me. Call me to your side even when your life isn't at risk, I adore our conversations. Allow me protect what matters to me."

This was clearly something vitally important to Malleus, so you didn't fight the Dragon further on the matter. He moved and maneuvered his tail to attach the lovely bauble to your collar, smiling as it gleamed proudly from its spot against your collarbone. It almost felt weightless on your warm skin and you vaguely wondered if it was a result of being a Magestone.

Malleus couldn't help but admire the way it adorned your soft body, drawing his affectionate gaze over your figure. He was being truthful when he said you could call out to him with it, but that was not the only role the gleaming stone played. It was the smaller of a pair of Magestones and the larger partner was always with Malleus at all times. He could now keep his eyes on you even from a distance, the pair of Magestones working as a viewing glass. On top of the added benefit of checking in on you, Malleus could now slowly begin feeding his own magic into it and you.

He took to heart the wise words of his trusted friend and advisor, Lilia, and decided to try and begin the process of extending your life. It would take time and patience on his part, but once it was ready and charged enough with his magic, your life would last as long as his own. Naturally, he wanted your approval before taking such a drastic measure, but he did not wish to live without his most precious treasure. Even Lilia would one day die before the great Dragon, he did not wish the same fate for you.

He recognized that you may see it as too much or may be upset that he acted in selfishness, but Malleus already lost so much to this world. His mother. His father. The Dragon refused to lose you too. Besides, he was certain you would carry the next generation of Draconia and he wanted you to be there to see your young grow and mature. It took almost 30 years for a Fae infant to even begin walking, let alone the slow aging Dragon Fae. If you were to carry his young, Lilia's young, and possibly even Silver or Sebek's young, you would need a long life to support those children with your ever loving and compassionate heart. He refused to let his hatchlings grow up without a mother.

"It looks stunning on you, (Y/n)."

"Are you sure about this, Tsuno? I'm still worried something may happen-"

"Enough. If I was not sure, I would not have gifted it to you. You have already given me so much, allow this Dragon to guard the treasures he values."

"Alright. It isn't like I'm going to be removing this collar anytime soon... Not unless the representatives decide to take me away."

Malleus frowned deeply at this, a sudden low rumble of lightning sounding overhead. You were surprised to hear the lightning as you had not seen a cloud in the sky earlier. It was while you glanced towards a window that Malleus gently used his hand to draw your gaze back to him.

"They will not take you. They will have to fight me for even thinking they could take you away."

"Malleus?"

"Tsuno. I am quite partial to the name you have gifted me regardless of how flippant the act may have been in the moment, I would rather you use it."

"Tsuno," you glanced from his serious expression to the rolling storm that appeared outside, "are you the one who has been summoning the lightning?"

"Yes. It is a bad habit of mine. My emotions easily impact the weather and even directly control it at times. Lightning tends to come about with my anger. Snow often comes forth with my sorrow. My joy usually brings clear skies. I must guard my emotions carefully and control them with a steady mind."

"So the lightning that second night I spent here... The storm that woke me..."

"It was a creation of my emotion. Poachers sought to take you, I refused to let them."

It always surprised you to learn the sheer strength Malleus himself carried as he seemed so gentle with you and Grim. Apparently that gentle disposition did not extend to others outside of his Hoard and it made you vaguely worry about those around you. If Malleus was that powerful, how could anyone stop him if he truly snapped one day? Perhaps that is why Lilia emphasized the calming impact the Hoard had on the Dragon. You were beginning to realize the weight of the duty that had been lain upon your shoulders.

But where did that put Grim? As far as you were concerned Grim was your boy, your child, your cub. If you were part of Malleus' Hoard, did that include Grim as well? Lilia said only Hoard members could enter a nest built by Malleus, and Grim slept in the nest with you and the rest of the Hoard.

"Tsuno, is Grim a member of your Hoard?"

"As your cub, yes. Any you choose to take under your care shall be accepted into my Hoard. I have been more than serious about your standing among the Hoard and how much your happiness matters to me. Grim makes you happy and he has managed to win over the others as well."

"Will you protect him like you protect me?"

"With all the power I have available to me."

~~~~~~~~

You were a little frustrated at the ensemble Vil and Rook insisted on for your meeting with the representatives, feeling like some kind of dress-up doll. Both men had insisted that they be allowed to coordinate your outfit and you gave up trying to fight them on their choices. They took choosing your outfit rather seriously and once they finally agreed on one, you had to let them dress you up in it.

Apparently they weren't the only ones who were keen to keep you in Night Raven. Almost all of the Housewardens and their Vice-Housewardens showed up at your dorm to try and render aid, all except Leona who was oddly absent. Despite how you wanted to ease their concerns and tell them about Papa Hades' willingness to keep the representatives from taking you, you didn't want to disrupt the plan by loudly telling everyone about it. If you were going to be safe in Night Raven College, you had to at least make an attempt to expose the representative that tried to have you killed.

Now it felt almost like you were on a death march, Silver carrying you, Cheka, and Grim to where you were supposed to meet the representatives. You were flanked on either side by Idia, Ortho, and Sebek. Not only did your guarding entourage follow you, but Papa Hades and Malleus walked silently along as well, using a complex mix of invisibility spells and concealment spells to hide their presence. When you asked why they were hiding themselves, Papa Hades said the representative was more likely to act out against you if they didn't know of their presence.

It made sense, so you simply nodded along and let the Shinigami and Dragon do as they wished.

Crowley was holding the meeting in the Hall of Mirrors and your anxiety slowly raised as the Cervitaur walked you to what would be a gathering to decide your fate. If you wanted to have any hope of returning to your home, you would have to stay at Night Raven College. You fell into this monstrous world here, you could escape this world of madness here. All you had to do was root yourself in place and refuse to let the others take you away. Easier said than done.

The doors opened ahead of you as Silver walked you into the room, feeling everyone's eyes landing on you the second you crossed the threshold. It was more than a little unnerving to be the center of such intense attention. That is why you were glad Cheka and Grim were both with you during this. The cub and kit only purred reassuringly as you held onto them much in the way a child would hold to stuffed animals.

"There you are, (Y/n)," Crowley greeted you with a smile despite the fact he knew you were arriving, it was obviously more for the representatives to put a name to their wayward ideas of you being Human, "glad you could join us for this."

"I don't have much of a choice when people demand my time and threaten my peace to satisfy their own curiosity."

Crowley was silent for a moment, privy to the plan that had been put in place but somewhat thrown off by your more than clipped words. He was used to your proclivity to be a bit more goading around him- he did collar you first, after all- but he also knew you were more of a tentatively gentle disposition in most cases. It was odd to him to have you be less than understanding of the situation.

"... Anyway, these are the representatives of Twisted Wonderland. Several have come from the various Kingdoms and Queendoms to confirm you are being treated fairly at Night Raven College. Some are also here to plead their case for why you should be removed from Night Raven College."

You nodded, taking a quick look across the several representatives seated around the large table. There were various types of creatures present and one in particular stood out to you. A man with an orange and golden mane sat proudly at a spot between where you were and the end of the table, his neck, arms, and body adorned with gemstones and golden chains. The resemblance was uncanny.

"Cheka," the little cub looked up at you curiously, "is that Dada?"

He followed your pointing finger to the Lion man who looked caught off guard by you singling him out before his eyes landed on the cub in your arms. There was little to describe how surprised he looked as several representatives began murmuring and talking about the Nemean Lion you held so securely. Cheka was not nearly as thrown off by all of this as the representatives were, a wide and excited smile taking over his features as he began to wiggle in your grasp. His little paws reached out to the older Lion and you were happy to facilitate letting him return to his father.

Though it took more energy and strength than you cared to admit to release the cub, you still placed the young boy on the table and let him scamper away. A vague sadness pulled at your heart as Cheka scrambled past several others to reach his father's arms, purring loudly and cuddling into the surprised man's embrace. Clearly, the lion had not expected such a greeting but took it in stride and held the cub all the same.

"You know," you started, tone somewhat chastising, "Leona may be your brother but he is not- and never will be- a good option for a babysitter. I'm fairly sure you knew that going into this. But, I'm always game to take little Cheka on field trips if you ever need a break from him. He's a sweetheart."

The Lion man seemed somewhat dubious about your offer even as the cub cuddled into his chest and purred at him. If anything, not even Crowley seemed at ease despite how non-threatening the cub actually was. It was this unease that gave a representative- a toad looking man with bugged eyes- the courage to speak.

"No Nemean Lion should ever be allowed near a Human, not even cubs! They slaughtered Humans for food and we all know that Sunset Savana was instrumental in driving the species to extinction-"

"And we all know it happened in the past, long before this current generation of Lions. Are you truly so bogged down by history that you would hold contempt for those who are not directly responsible for the current issue at hand? Or is it simply your own racism against them that makes you speak so confidently about a topic you nor your ancestors were privy to? In fact, I've learned that other species had shown violence in the past to Humans- from Unicorns, to Naga, to Kelpies, even certain Fae- and not only that but disease and greedily hoarding my species as pets played similar roles in the death of Humanity. Can you stay with the utmost confidence that every Human was killed by a Nemean Lion?"

The toad man opened and closed his mouth, unable to respond to your direct accusation with any grace or ability to save face. In some ways, you wondered if you were being too aggressive in your responses, but Papa Hades made your role in this dance very clear. Any representative who pushed their agendas against you should be met with equal or greater pushback from you. Besides, you have been witness to the poor treatment Ruggie and Leona received simply for being born the species they were.

"They- well, they-!"

"Yes or no. Can you say every Human was killed by a Neman Lion?"

"... No."

"My point exactly. Unless you have something truly useful to add to the conversation, maybe it isn't your place to speak at all on the matter."

The man seemed to shrink back into his seet under your gaze, wanting to be anywhere but that room as your ire was clear. His silence was enough reason for you to move on from the conversation, turning to Crowley expectantly to get this 'conference' under way.

"Yes, well, let us continue with assessing her general well-being-"

~•§•~

"-which is why I petition the Human to be put into my care."

It had been at least three hours of listening to the various representatives speak and make their opinions known. Around the midway mark is when you realized it wasn't just representatives, but scientists who were clearly eager to try and test you for more information. You were mostly tolerant of the pressing and curious natures of the scientists, but your tolerance was running low.

Cheka had moved between you and his Dada several times in an effort to keep himself entertained, currently laying in your arms and batting at Silver's uniform. Despite the exciteable cub, no one was willing to reprimand him as it was more than clear you were willing to defend him from them. Even with his interruptions- which were quite welcome given the monotony of the conversations- many had been able to make their opinions and views known without too much infighting.

Few dared to speak openly against one another, especially after you promptly shut down that first toad-man in defense of the Sunset Savana King- Falena Kingscholar- and you were bored to tears. There was only a handful of representatives who had not spoken yet- the representative of Briar Valley being the most prominent- but even those who were more long-winded were losing patience with the man who now spoke.

He was a Rat looking monster that somewhat reminded you of a Gnoll given his twisted pelt stretched over a humanoid skeleton. Since he first started speaking you got a bad feeling from him and the way he seemed to sneer most of his words. You were less than amused with this creature than you figured to be possible and you were bored enough to have a bit of sport at the expense of the clearly proud Rat.

Not only had he been ranting about how 'trustworthy' he was, but he spouted off repeated flashoods. You understood that many in Twisted Wonderland didn't understand Humans and debated what species Humans were, but the Rat spoke down to you like he was doing a favor in 'educating' you with falsehoods and lies. Something you could call intuition told you that this beast was the one who hired the Wolves.

"Tell me again what species you think humans come from?"

"Pigs. Obviously."

"Yeah, well, you're wrong."

"Not possible! I-"

"We're an evolved species of great ape. Not monkey either, we don't have prehensile tails. Ape."

The Rat seemed to try and save face, glancing around at the table before back to you.

"Well, surely a blood sample could prove-"

"Furthermore, this idea of yours that claims Humans frequently consumed their young is just reprehensible. We killed for our young. True, some abandoned them or gave them to others to raise, but to dare suggest such a thing as all Humans eating their children? Absolutely vile."

He choked and tried to speak over you, huffing out the words in indignation. It was clear to you that your pushing and less than approachable behavior was unsettling the supposed 'Human expert' as you called out his falsehoods in front of the other representatives and scientists. Many of the scientists taking notes as you spoke.

"They were theories-"

"And they are wrong. That is not the issue I have right now. My issue is the fact you are trying to argue these things with me- an actual Human- who actually knows about, you guessed it, Humans. A Human who has lived among other Humans for the majority of my life. A literal world of nothing but Humans as the primary sentient species. Do I need to continue?"

The Rat man was glaring at you now and his lip curled upwards to bare his teeth at you. Despite his attempt to look intimidating, you refused to back down or let the Rat-man talk over you. If anything, he looked pathetic instead of frightening. He didn't even seem to notice you reaching up to cover Cheka's ears as he huffed at you.

"You could try to be polite-"

"Polite? When you came in here- the place I call home- and decided you were the expert on my species. Then proceeded to say the most inane bullshit fucking excuse of a theory and dare say I need to be polite when I disagree with your flat nonsense?"

"I have a degree-"

"And I am the 'creature' you claim to study. Not comparable in the slightest. If you're as educated as you claim, you would know that."

The silence that followed was thick and hung oppressively in the air, but you still sat tall and stared the man down. Cheka- whose ears were were covered by your hands- tilted his head curiously at you as he patted at your hands to move so he could hear. You weren't about to let the cub hear your angry cursing or taunting words, keeping your hands in place on his kitten soft rounded Lion ears.

The Rat was not faring well against your words, clearly becoming angry due to how his wormed tail writhed and his fur fluffed. There was a kind of tension in his limbs that made you wonder if he were really about to leap at you. He certainly seemed angry enough to try such a brazen act.

"What's wrong, Mr. 'Overly-Educated'? Lion got your tongue?"

"If only they killed you."

"Excuse you?"

"If only those idiotic hounds killed you. I pay them everything they demand to get rid of you and they had to muck it up! Wasted money and resources-!"

His voice caught in his throat as he seemed to realize the situation he just put himself in. Some of the representatives were shocked and some just seemed angry. All of them were staring at the Rat. When it seemed like he was about to back track on his words, you decided to be more than a little spiteful and threw in a light jab just to add salt to the wound.

"Go on. You were so confident before, did you run out of all that bought power and bullshit, or did you just realize how out of your depth you truly are?"

Only a singular eye-twitch told you what was coming as he threw himself across the table, his main goal being to maim and injure you however possible. He didn't even get close enough for Silver to respond before he was flying back the direction he came. Materializing out of the air was a familiar grayish-blue hand of a more than intimidating entity standing at your back. Even the Rat, who was trying to pull himself to his feet, flinched upon seeing the smoldering fury of the elder Shinigami behind you.

"Want to try that again, or have you realized the extent to which you've fucked up?"

"I'll kill you-!"

It was then another sound met your ears, one that rumbled and grew in intensity as the air around you began to spark with green lightning. Almost all representatives were unsettled by the show of power as Malleus materialized next to Silver, the rage in his eyes clear. Outside the deep sound of rolling thunder boomed across the island as his rage became clear.

The only one who didn't seem bothered by Malleus' appearance was the rather elegant woman that represented Briar Valley. In fact, she looked thoroughly amused by the rage of the younger Dragon. She had first drawn your eye when you had begun to mentally tire of the conversation a few hours ago, looking much like an effeminate Malleus. The only notable difference this woman had to Malleus was her apparent chest and thinner set face. Otherwise the two looked like they could be related.

Malleus told you earlier that day that his mother and father were no longer among the living. This meant that the woman who now smiled at the Dragon was either his grandmother or great grandmother. She certainly didn't look to be that old, but then again, Lilia didn't look old either. She sat alone at the table with no clear guards, but you figured a Dragon didn't need guards.

"Malleus, calm yourself, little hatchling."

"I refuse. He dare threaten my Hoard and even dare to claim violence towards my Hoard. He pays for his transgression with his life."

"That is fair, but also not your place to deliver punishment on this island. We are not in Briar Valley anymore."

"That makes his crime no less serious."

Talking to the woman clearly began to calm Malleus, and the Rat took this lapse of rage as an invitation. Blinded by rage at your earlier taunts, the Rat decided to try and leap at you again. The one who blocked him this time was an unexpected presence you hadn't even heard enter.

Leona stood holding the Rat by the neck, clearly amused in squeezing the fragile windpipe of the squirming creature.

"There you are, Mousey. Figured you had that brat with you, certainly had me running around campus looking for you two. Funny, I didn't think Rats had that much interest in Mice."

"Hi, Leona."

"That's all you're gonna say?"

"... You're an awful babysitter and you weren't invited to this meeting."

"Don't care and you're welcome, Mousey."

The Lion grinned as he threw the Rat back, clearly playing with the rodent man and not overly threatened by him. This sudden interjection was enough to make the other representatives answer the call to action as several rushed forward to detain the Rat that admitted to hiring poachers. It was while this uproar was taking place that several other Housewardens made their presence known, all of them entering the room and taking up posts around you in what was akin to body-blocking the representatives.

"You know," you loudly started, bringing a silent order to the chaos around you as all eyes turned back to you, "for all the talk of if I am safe here, not one person has addressed the full issue at large; am I safe anywhere in Twisted Wonderland? A representative- someone who is standing on guard for their country- had the gall to hire poachers to kill me and attacked me while surrounded by their peers. A room of people who claim to have my best interests in mind were incapable of acting to protect or aid me. Can any of you say you are doing a good job at keeping my safety in mind, or is this all just posturing? So far, the only ones who have truly acted in my best interests are those right here at Night Raven College and their associates. Judging from all of the complaints and issues brought up, it all pales in the light of reality that none of you could come to my defense when I needed it. Where I'm sitting, it seems like I'm already safest right here. Sure, poachers are here, but clearly they are everywhere. I don't think this meeting needs to continue, especially in light of the circumstances."

~•§•~

Despite the events, it still took time to wrap up the meeting and for the representatives to agree with you. Some scientists were still dubious and some wanted just a moment more to study you. It took your agreement to several research sessions in the future, visiting various Kingdoms and Queendoms personally, and Crowley's promise to give consistent wellness updates to get them to concede to your wishes.

Only a handful of representatives were interested in staying past the meeting, and it was primarily those who already had ties to the students that guarded you. Some scientists hovered around and- with your permission as well as Malleus' permission- took photos of you for reference and further study. None seemed willing to push you too much given the Shinigami and Dragon combo that hovered over your shoulder.

"Thank you, (Y/n), for keeping Cheka safe. He is an adventurous little cub, but he is still my son and I value your willingness to protect him."

"Of course, Falena! And I was serious about keeping an eye on him if you ever need a break. My door is always open to that rascal."

"At least I know better than to leave him with Leona again."

The Lion in question was scowling as Cheka ran circles around him, tugging at his arms and tail. You just smiled in response to the sight before turning back to Falena. He wasn't nearly as outwardly hostile as Leona had been and he was keenly interested in your recounting of the Wolves incident.

"Eh, don't write off Leona too soon. The way I hear it, he spent all day trying to track Cheka down. Despite how grumpy that Lion is- and the fact he will never admit to it- he has a good heart. He cares more than he will ever say, he just isn't the best at showing it."

"Then you see more in him than the rest of Sunset Savana. You seem to also see more in Sunset Savana than the rest of the world. I thank you for that."

"No need to thank. I've seen first hand how others treat your citizens and I don't appreciate it. We can only learn from history so we do not repeat it, no need to guilt descendants for the actions of their ancestors."

"Would it be too forward of me to hope you'll visit Sunset Savana some day?"

"Well, according to the representatives, I'll be visiting a lot of places in the near future. I don't see why Sunset Savana can't be included in those visits."

"Meeting you now and hearing your wisdom, it's hard to believe my ancestors were so willing to harm Humans for nothing more than a meal. Hopefully I can prove to the world that we in Sunset Savana have grown past such violence and barbarism."

"I don't blame you for what has happened, and I am glad it was Leona who saved me from the Wolves. Hopefully this can be an end to the mistreatment of your people."

"I would love nothing more."

As you spoke to the Nemean Lion King amicably, two Dragons watched you from afar. One elder and one younger. With both of them standing next to one another their shared blood was obvious.

"I see you saw it fit to gift her your father's magestone. You are aware those magestones are a pair and how they work, correct?"

Malleus nodded, gazing out at the Human he so greatly adored. Everything about this day had taught him more than ever that he could not bear parting with his most prized Hoard member. It didn't matter to him if he had to work endlessly to defend his soft Human, the world would fall in line for daring to encroach on his Hoard.

"You are certain?"

"More than I can convey."

"Very well. You will do well to take heed of how fragile Humans are, especially to us."

"I won't let you down."

"Lilia still has a few centuries left based on his species, his guidance will be invaluable. You may not wish to heed his words at all times, but you should still hear them all the same. I remember my court of Humans... Such fascinating creatures. Be a good Dragon and guard your Hoard."

"With my life."

#kiame-sama #yandere #x reader #yandere x reader #reader insert #tw yandere #humans are extinct twst au

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ririleil · 13 days ago

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vampire!suna and witch!reader headcanons

a/n: these hcs are actually related to a fic i wrote write right here but they could serve as a standalone! there are more hcs under the cut so feel free to check them out! i might make a pt 2 for these hcs because i still have a whole lot of stuff for vampire!suna and witch!reader. im so sorry if this was too wordy i tried to make it as short as i could but anyways, pls do enjoy!!!

cw: mentions of death, blood, and implied sh (very mild but still, do take caution!)

masterlist

you both first met on a quiet night at a library when you stayed behind to help sort through books. you saw a sleeping suna in one of the reading alcoves. he was too still, too pale, with hands that looked too cold to be alive. you also sensed no living mana emanating from him.

without knowing he's a vampire, you immediately assumed the worst. you thought he had died, or someone had murdered him and left his corpse to rot alone in the library. to make sure of it, you reached down to check for a pulse but felt nothing at all.

instead of calling for help, you took this chance to try out on a resuscitation or revival spell (you had a let-me-do-it-spell-first mentality)

you were halfway through the spell when he opened one eye and with cold hands, suddenly grabbed you by the wrist.

"could you not chant a necromancy spell directly into my ear while im sleeping? thanks"

startled, you jumped back and smacked him with the nearest book you could grab (he dodged and funnily enough, the book you grabbed was about vampire anatomy and physiology)

“you were just lying there! dead and cold!”

“uh, im literally a vampire? thats kind of my whole vibe”

you guys had a mini back and forth banter. you were kind of embarrassed by the encounter so you scowled at him the entire time while he just smirked at your reactions. he liked how unshaken you were. most people would've just ran away from him.

and that’s where it all started. he kept showing up lately after that night. around closing time when you’re there.

at first, you thought suna visiting the library every night was him being annoying. eventually, you realized it’s one of the only places he feels calm enough to fall asleep.

suna is that one vampire who will still and always ask for permission to come inside your house (except for that one time when he desperately needed your blood) everytime he visits without fail. he won't get in until you let him. even though vampires can enter and exit someone's property freely once already invited, suna still has the need to put distance. he even does it to mess with you for shits and giggles. in a teasing tone, he'll say something like:

"aren't you gonna let me in? or will you just stand there blocking the door?" "suna, stop messing around and just get in, will you?"

you guys banter like two roommates in a very “old couple way”. he called you a hag one time because you speak like an old witch sometimes and you retaliated by calling him nosferatu

you guys share the same humor in morbid things. no one else laughs at it. but you guys crack up everytime.

“if you bite me in my sleep, i swear i’ll curse you to puke slugs for a month” “bet”

asides the library, vampire!suna sleeps in weird places. the attic, his basement, crypts, your couch (his favorite). he dislikes coffins—claims that they are too outdated and too last century.

one of your specialties is making magical tea blends, whether it's for calming or for boosting effects, etc. you occasionally add drops of your witch blood to suna’s tea blend for him to recharge but not enough to satisfy his hunger. you didn't tell him about it but he knows. and he's silently thankful for that.

suna can turn into a bat but refuses to unless it's absolutely necessary. you once pestered him to turn into one because you haven't seen that form of him before. you already did though. once. when you saved what you thought was a regular bat but it was actually suna transformed into one and you tried to “adopt” him.

you cast quiet wards around his resting places so no one could stumble across him or disturb him while he's asleep. suna, without your knowledge, shadows you in town at night time when you're out searching for magic items or ingredients. he just wants to make sure you're safe and doesn't want you to be alone in dark alleys (you're capable enough to defend yourself, he just wants to be there).

suna is annoyingly fast. he moves soundlessly and appears beside people without warning, it startles them. you're the only one who doesn't flinch anymore (unless you're hyper focused with something else);

whenever he tries to scare you in that way to mess with you, it always ends in failure with you saying “you don't scare me, suna. let it go.” in a blunt tone. he's glad though, that you don't find him scary at all.

despite being dead for years, something about your exasperated sighs and your passion and dedication in spellwork make his unbeating, dead heart flicker. he likes watching you while you work and pretends not to be fascinated by you (you know he's staring but you pretend you didn't).

suna once half joked about watching everyone around him fade and die. you calmly and seriously replied “i know a few spells and rituals to stop aging or slow time if you ever get tired of being alone.” he didn't reply, but he noticed the look you gave him. it stuck with him forever.

a/n: if you've reached this part, thank you sm for reading until the end. also, did you guys catch the sinners reference?

photo credits: pinterest

dividers: @/cursed-carmine

#haikyuu #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu imagines #sunarin #suna rintarou #suna rintarou x reader #suna rintaro x reader #vampire suna #inarizaki

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jellitchi · 10 months ago

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okay now here is my vampire au… yet another au i know.. if ud like to read abt it ill write some stuff under the cut

base concept is grian gets fired from his office job so on his way home there is a little bird who he mistakes as injured. he tries to help it (savior complex) but gets a curse placed upon him instead, slowly turning him more into a bird (very specifically a great horned owl).

having been so detached from the magical culture/world he returns to his former guild (the watchers) and asks them if they can help. first of all theyre baffled by the gall grian has to walk out on the guild years ago and then return as if he hadnt betrayed them. another story for another time, they say they can lift the curse but only under the condition of grian technically rejoining the watchers and taking up bounties once more. his entrance bounty is to slay this vampire (scar) so hes like sure done deal. scar has been kept alive for centuries, the watchers have no actual intentions of grian succeeding. theyre sending him as scars dinner basically, an offering, sacrifice if you must. grian realizes this once he finds out that scar is tethered and essentially trapped in this mansion. grian tries to free scar but does so unsuccessfully, he tampers w the ward placed by the watchers and accidentally rewrites it so scar is tethered to him. a bit like double life in a way. so now these two r stuck together and have to slay monsters and whatever while also trying to find a way to lift the curse on grian while also trying to break the soul bound. yeah there's more like the watchers r gonna b hunting them down … theyre considered runaway fugitives or smth hm another ramble for another post okay goodbye..

#grian #goodtimeswithscar #mcyt #desert duo #fanart #vampire au #lizzysart

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sunseed-fandump · 4 months ago

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OH MY GOD WIZARD MY BABY BOYYY 😭😭😭

why couldnt that town just listen to his side??? I mean- he DID save them from all getting eaten! If the reaper had left and reported back to the other minions, they wouldn't have stopped until NONE of them were safe! Wizard did what he had to so he could save himself and the town- how could he have known there would be a little collateral?? (Even if some cookies were crumbled.. its better than ALL of them right..?)

Although this does make me wonder.. do gingerbrave and wild strawberry know about all this? If so- what were their reactions to learning about it? And.. does alchemist cookie regret what she did that day? Or does she stand by her decision to cast out her best friend?

Sorry for the long ask- that story just lit a flame under me (pun intended) and i had to get my thoughts and questions out

Well, it was a matter of caution for them. Users of Dark Magic aren't exactly known for their benevolence, and Wizard was already seeming a bit unhinged in that moment. Would you rather risk letting him go and him going full on psycho at a later date? Or play it safe and detain him and/or kick him out? They were already in the middle of an emergency situation, there wasn't much time to dwaddle on technicalities.

Dark Magic always comes at a price. And the town didn't want to be the ones to pay it.

As for Gingerbrave and Strawberry, yes they are aware of Wizard's previous incident. Actually, it was the rumors being spread about him that caused Gingerbrave to seek him out in the first place! He figured someone that destructive could absolutely help bust him out of the castle. Meanwhile, Wild Strawberry thinks the level of chaos was decent "for a rookie". Don't forget, she time-hopped quite a bit and caused a fair share of her own destruction! So something like destroying a town doesn't really bother her.

And in the case of Alchemist? Well... She says she doesn't regret it, but Vampire (who got out fine btw. he turned into a bat and was small enough to remain safe) can tell the whole thing had an effect on her. They live in Parfaedia in this AU, surrounded by all sorts of different magic-users, but Alchemist hasn't been able to make a connection like Wizard ever since. It's why he kept the picture. He knows she misses him, but she's refusing to admit it.

(When the wanted posters go up, he can't help but get concerned.)

#ask #sophszzz #bad batch

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ikemenomegas · 5 months ago

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Too cute

so my cats do this thing where they will groom each other, nap a bit, then start snapping at each other until they have a chase around the house

It was really difficult to cull this list, so I chose ones that seemed fun or obvious from my character list. The experience illuminated the separation and overlap between whumpable characters and ones you want to mess up with your own hands oop.

▷∥ Jihyun (V), Alucard, Joanne Harcourt, Kunikida, Dazai, Jōno, Sasuke, Itachi, Obito, Haku, Jiaoqiu, Sunday, Lucio, Asra, Yoshida

now, this list looks deceptively short, but as a vertical post is excruciatingly long. hopefully there's something for everyone, below the cut!

🐊 read until the end for a few extra treats🐊

Omegas who elicit cuteness aggression:

Jihyun (V)

Extremely biteable, extremely squishable, much more playful rather than passive after he learns how to put up boundaries. He's especially nice to overstimulate because he gets wriggly and does a particularly weird thing where he chirps at you, like calling you, and yes, it is very sweet because it's like a reassurance thing, but also it's a bit silly how it gets faster and more frequent the most overstimulated he is. He does overlap quite strongly with a whump factor. He is very pretty when he cries and when he behaves gently or pitifully this makes him even more biteable. Pounce on him. Nicely.

Alucard

Blonde goth sad boy aesthetic, especially with the season 4(?) outfit, makes you want to hug him. Harder. Harder!!! Squeeze him hard!! Luckily, he's very durable and tolerates this with good grace. Biting is interesting because of the whole vampire thing, which I like to think is mutually erotic if you both bite one another. He develops a bit of a degradation thing at some point, and he'll get cute and bratty if you tease him about being a needy little thing, letting you punish or goad him into compliance. He also has overlap with the whump part of the venn diagram but probably don't squish him when he's actually feeling down. Measure out the cuteness aggression by kissing him lots, it'll make you and him feel better.

Joanne Harcourt (before anyone gets stupid, when I talk about Joanne Harcourt he is of course aged up, having survived having the Earl Phantomhive as a friend and hopefully graduated from fantasy Eton little worse for wear)

Joanne gets overwhelmed easily, and whines and trembles when he is. It is exceedingly cute. Tall and willowy with a shy demeanor, luminous eyes, and lightly wind-blushed cheeks (oxford commas!), Joanne is a true English-rose of an omega in traditional high collars and never caught without gloves. If you want to be the one to mess him up with your own hands, you have to be a little bit willing to growl at other alphas who want to do the same but won't take responsibility for it. However, Joanne doesn't carry a strong "whump" factor. He mostly seems to elicit pity and protective instincts when he interacts with the worse part of Phantomhive's magic nonsense, or the underbelly of London.

Kunikida

I never said acting on cuteness aggression is smart with every omega. The first time you finally give in and just... nibble on him, I think Kunikida would start yelling "ouch, what was that for, what a degenerate alpha doing this where anyone can see" yadda yadda, etc etc, honestly a total diva about it, okay maybe you feel a tiny bit guilty, but that is what you love about him. He has a cranky old man attitude, no filter, and a tsundere demeanor that absolutely doesn't land with everyone, but it's extremely funny to make him mad, you get why Dazai does it, and in your case the more he puffs like a done kettle, the more you want to pin him down and make him yell more (he yells after you leave him covered in marks too 😈, it's a shame you're too tired from making them to do more)

Megumi

Triggers cuteness aggression and is just aggressive rip. Snappish, sullen, extremely shy when he reciprocates romantic affection (because it means confronting feelings besides justified irritation and righteous anger and self-effacement). You'd think he'd have Sasuke energy but he's more grumbly than outright lowkey hateful to individuals but does occasionally exhibit some like, aggressive puppy behavior, including the "gets tired and just lays tummy-up on the floor". He's also a little bit used to it. His... Gojo, Gojo's alpha, his sister's friends (Tsumiki knows him too well to be taken in most of the time), Yuuji, Maki... you get it. It's that cute face and "you can't make me admit I like attention" that draws everyone.

Sasuke

Unlike his glass doll of a brother, Sasuke can take some roughhousing and is used to it... from his brother, but also from Shisui and some other cousins/mentors (more on this later). He's sort of resigned to it when he first realizes his alpha is sneaking in some extra squishing or nibbling (as long as it's not so visible it ruins his image). Later though, he starts to expect it and will pout mightily if you don't roughhouse with him extoling both his behavioral and physical delights. This happens the first time during a heat and he is ruthless after, due to being thoroughly embarrassed. When you tone it down to give him time to calm down... he gets petty. Don't you think he's cute anymore! Why aren't you pinching his thighs or his butt when he walks by, why don't you "sneak" up behind him and burry your face in his shirt! Thus comes a rare moment of him sitting on your lap when you're reading and intentionally being cute and putting your hand on his legs to tell you to get on with it again.

Jiaoqiu

The first thing is he makes cute sounds. When he yawns it's like a kitten or a puppy yawning. If you rub his ears or massage behind them, he can make this high-pitched sighing sound that is so cute it literally can flatten someone. The second thing is that his fur parts are so soft he has to scold you for touching him too much/all the time, squeezing too hard like a rambunctious pup. If you look pathetic about it, he will show you how to grab him in ways that are not uncomfortable (and my even lead to something else 😉). The third thing is he is cute when he is cooking (or making medicine but we have to have some self-control). He hums to himself and shuffles in place like he's dancing when he's cooking, and he's so happy when something tastes good. He doesn't cry but super spicy things still make him look uncomfortable and there's something to be said for having to baby him while he's enjoying the pain.

Sunday

He is typically so stiff and anxious it is very difficult to find him doing anything interesting enough to be considered cute, unless you clock this behavior as just really strange and then it becomes sad because it's to do with the collision of personality and upbringing making him really scared to make a "wrong" move. This isn't the part that inspires cuteness aggression. When he finally loosens up (literally, like his tie isn't tight enough to choke him anymore if he's not keeping perfect posture), that's when this show of trust and vulnerability inspires a slightly unfortunate urge to do to him what you cannot reasonably do to small, cute animals. His alpha feel really badly the first time they leave bruises from grabbing his thighs far too hard. Sunday is scared by the cognitive dissonance of his sculpted persona not being the kind of person to let his happen and the marks being result of an unguardedness that felt so good it feels wrong now that he's out of that headspace. It takes a lot of work both with and without a partner to for him to accept the natural messiness of intimacy.

Levi

Oh boy, another grumpy old man. At this point, I think it's to do with my tastes, but I won't apologize for it! Personally, I find the grumpiness cute, like with a grumpy cat. Rbf-disgruntled Levi is just a cute Levi (can be drawn in for some mutual snarking if in public, otherwise just be near him so he's not awkward and alone), a sleepy Levi is a cute Levi (that needs your shoulder as a pillow stat). He's not so cute when he's dressing down a cadet who nearly took another cadet's head off but at least that's not you because Levi has a competency kink. He has this very alert yet relaxed, dare I say perky, way of walking when you tidy your shared spaces to his satisfaction, it makes his butt look very cute and he kind of knows it. Mostly he's the target of cuteness aggression when you're being intimate together. His face just makes you want to bite him and touch him and make him cry more, he needs to fall apart and let you take care of everything.

Omegas with cuteness aggression:

Dazai

He's someone who makes you want to mess him up. Those big pouty eyes, and soft, mischievous mouth, the lanky clumsiness all puts ideas in your head all too easily. However, your impulse absolutely pales compared to his. Dazai is someone who goes above and beyond the simply "want to bite, want to squeeze, want to pinch" of cuteness aggression (see exhibit A, blowing up an old partner he has complex feelings for's car). He isn't destructive with his Alpha, but he isn't above tricking them into situations he will find them cute or responding in a cute way. Innocent methods include trying on cute accessories and going extra cute cafes so his alpha get excited about the food. Less innocent methods include getting himself used as ransom or putting you in a situation where you experience other emotional upheaval (with a suitable catharsis of course).

Obito (and Tobi)

I mean, you had to see this coming, right? The jokester with a savior complex, ridiculously devoted to the people he loves, puts them on a pedestal. Of course he has moments where he thinks his alpha is the cutest thing in the world. And then there's this itch in his teeth that can't be satisfied by anything except for biting, or wrestling, pushing, shoving, play fighting. A non-massacre Obito tones it down a littlem but he's well known to simply enjoy cute things, small animals, sweet old people, butterflies. No one's surprised that he chooses an alpha who matches this aesthetic sensibility of his. He has ADHD so bad (basically as bad as Naruto) and one of the things he hyper-focuses on is his mate, to the point he'll have something similar to Kakashi vs Guy level fights around the village where his blood is pounding, he keeps looking behind him, grinning like mad because isn't his alpha just perfect, so cute how they can't catch him yet, that focused look on their face, ah, that's a clone, the real one's on his left. They've got him and he's got them.

Jōno

Are all of these omegas a little scary?! Scary pretty husbands. Yes. A rarer but no less beloved breed. It doesn't matter than Jōno can't see you, since he can sense changes in your moods and hear everything (rip to your privacy when he's curious). He finds it extremely cute when his alpha is flustered, if his alpha laughs quietly and no one but him can tell they think something is funny, if his alpha gets irritated by people being rude and uses their skills to fix the problem (or even if they just grit their teeth and bear it to preserve decorum), if his alpha does silly things like stockpile way too much of a favorite snack when it's on sale... He knows some of it's silly, but apparently silly is what love makes you. His version of cuteness aggression ranges from saying he wants you to guide him and mushing himself against your side and grabbing your arms too tight to fantasizing about living his life as a vapor so that he can literally sink into your lungs and tissues. He knows this is abnormal, but so is a lot about him, so he keeps these thoughts mostly to himself and limits himself to using very small parts of himself (mostly with permission) or just pressing himself as tightly to your body as possible.

Itachi

Itachi also elicits cuteness aggression, but his reaction outweighs his alpha's and he also gets overwhelmed with others offering those kinds of outbursts at him so he prefers his alpha not to do it [too aggressively]. His cuteness aggression = his feral kitten energy showing. It started with Sasuke. Itachi finds Sasuke unutterably adorable. However, itach is also very reserved and has limited attention to dispense to others, so apart from holding Sasuke all the time when he was a baby and later finding that his hands sort of clench and his teeth ache when his alpha does something very attractive (mitigated by his shuffling closer and perhaps tugging their sleeve so they scent him thoroughly and make him melty and too weak to do anything silly), he never acts on it. Even when he knows what the feeling is, it's mildly disturbing for him to be hit with a destructive urge directed at someone infinitely precious to him, so he mostly attempts to resist it. He's happy enough with a pillow to make biscuits upon if you give it to him (but he'll also be happy to do something like suck on your fingers).

Haku

Haku has a strong affinity for dark mischief and the attitude that necessity is a good excuse for any course of action. He has no qualms about an urge to squeeze his alpha until their bones creak or shaking them until they're dizzy or gnawing on them while they pat his head or biting at their neck and chest and scratching them silly until even they struggle or, or.... okay better calm down now. Sometimes his mate catches him staring at them with this rather intense look, smiling, leaning his head on his hand. Every time you ask him what he's thinking about, he says something that is either nonsensical, or simply distracting like how he spotted a bird in the plants behind you, or something embarrassing about how much he appreciates you, or some other compliment. It's disarming because he's a teeny tiny bit concerned you'll be taken aback by what's in his head. It's better to fantasize anyway where reality cannot bridge the gap.

Lucio

Lucio has a really bad case of cuteness aggression, and he's both obnoxious and loud about it. He's also kind of a wimp though so it comes across more like his typical bratting behavior and is pretty easy to turn the tables on him. Unlike some of the others, this doesn't quiet his mind and get him to back off but makes him more aggressive. If you get him into a spare room or a dark corner, or even his room since somehow the count doesn't do any counting, trying to deal with him, he just gets mouthier and mouthier until the exertion catches up with him and the energy is all worked out. He'll openly say whatever he is thinking. To others, if they were to hear, it may seem a bit scary, but his alpha treats him more like one of his big hounds, ruffling his hair, tickling his tummy, and his teeth aren't so sharp for them.

Asra

I'm pretty sure he engages in some behavior drawn from this emotion in the game. Asra's icon is a fox and his familiar is a snake, he loves twisty puzzles and causing an innocent amount of trouble. Sometimes you catch him digging his fingers into his scarf or bag and staring at you, his lovely eyes practically predatory. He's entirely unrepentant about it. Biting his alpha is something he portions out, lest they get used to it, because the cute, surprised yelp is part of the charm. His cuteness aggression is primarily contained within his thoughts, during which he will just sit happily or wriggle around in a stack of pillows while thinking about the cute things his alpha has done.

Yoshida

He already "liked" Denji so much he ***** and helped ****** and got him*******, it might be scarier to see what he does to someone he loves. Octopi often cannibalize their mates too, as he frequently reminds you when he starts nibbling on you while you're still knotted together. Yoshida is very good at blending in, remaining just the right amount of visible, but with his alpha, he likes to flirt, to fluster, to make them slightly embarrassed or knock them off balance. He likes to cling and suck bruises on your skin, mostly for him, but it's nice when someone who's looking sees it and gets secondhand embarrassment, especially when his alpha mostly looks shy and a bit pleased, like he's given them an amethyst or ruby or a mother-of-pearl to wear rather than just a bruise.

Honorable mentions:

Fukuzawa and Akutagawa both inspire semi-infrequent bouts of cuteness aggression. Fukuzawa usually tolerates his alpha's with good grace, although he feels a bit cornered if you're loud about it out of doors, he is deliciously quiet, if that's a turn-on for anyone. If you try and bite Akutagawa without warning... you'll end up being very grateful for his good reflexes. He doesn't like it much. He's afraid he'll hurt you so probably don't startle him, okay?

Satoru has a mild case of cuteness aggression, but he isn't used to touching people, so he mainly acts annoying about it when he finds you cute. Sometimes he'll yank you in and rub his cheek on you, but it's all an act, usually to put some nosey omega off. Shisui can be an abominable menace in the same vein, eating with his eyes and storing away every memory of anything that endears him since he's unused to contact not associated with either family or violence. Before he's comfortable, he'll do it the same way, too possessive to let the one he wants completely go, but knowing he can't flaunt a claim he doesn't have with anymore more substantial than his presence. Satoru occasionally does something so cute his alpha wants to run at his screaming to bite his throat, but he usually ruins it by saying something stupid. The same impulse in Shisui's alpha scares him so he does the same, redirecting them, once by giving them a literal chew toy, which was a very low moment for their ego.

Aventurine likes to annoy people he finds fascinating. It wasn't always this way, but he likes to give real excuse to people he's worried won't like him, rather than have them hate him for his eyes or his blood or his money or his unattainability or his slutty waist or any of a dozen other things he hardly has control over. When he finally is interested in an alpha, the interest is both irritating and endearing (for him). When he finds them cute, there several layers of panic suddenly embedded under that feeling, under that desire. This ratchets his emotions up high enough that suddenly he wants you small enough to squeeze in his palms, wants to strangle you with pearls, wants you studded with emeralds and sapphires and rubies like they'd made up a stained-glass window you crashed through. The world made sure he was perfectly capable of very visceral violence and he has a very good memory. He bares his teeth in the mirror and sees if he can scare you off so he can stop worrying about this new vulnerability.

Toge lives daily with the knowledge that opening his mouth could hurt his mate very badly, a fact which easily lends itself to intrusive thoughts. He could make them do anything, embarrass them by demanding cute but embarrassing behaviors, command them to stop breathing unless they're looking at him, tell them come to me and see how far they'll go to do so, beg them to put their mouth on him just so he can see that adorable, glassy-eyed looked they get when they taste him for long enough. In some ways they're nice fantasies, where he has a voice he's able to use, where the danger sealed inside him is dangerous but also, not really because it's not his mate, it's a figment of his imagination. When he sees his mate do something cute, habit denies him, but his chest aches to say something but saying anything normal could have unbearable consequences. Sometimes, when his mate catches him in the midst of these daydreams, it helps him to just squeeze them hard and purr, making some kind of noise that tells them how he really feels.

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chevelleneech · 1 month ago

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Another perspective I have on Stack and Mary, and why I don’t ship them, is they only worked behind closed doors yet Mary didn’t care.

Stack is so deeply aware of their situation and tried to save them both from the fate of being lynched. Mary only saw the situation through the lens of her wants and hopes, and completely disregarded the risks Stack was taking by being with her. The only reason they even broke up was because Stack literally left her high and dry.

Then she killed him. Yes, it is possible Remmick forced her to, but we don’t know that. I choose to operate on that belief, because I don’t think Mary would have voluntarily killed him, but it certainly does parallel their human life stakes. Every time they were together, every time she asked him to stay with her, she was putting his life at risk. Upon becoming a vampire, aka, the moment she had the tools to overpower and harm him, he was killed and forced into immortality with her.

It’s such a complicated situation, because there is no way to know if Mary acted of her own volition or not. And there’s no way to know if she would have let him be killed by racists at some point if they’d gotten caught in their human life.

All we know is Mary was the more selfish of the two, and in the end it cost Stack his life.

But God do I wish we could see their in between to see how they reconciled that, or if it would be the typical idea that he was just too in love to blame her for not seeing him and viewing his life as worth more than her desires. Because them becoming vampires didn’t magically end the risk, it just made it so they’d survive. It just made it so they had no one else, and were forced to heal and process their grief and trauma together.

But I want to know who they were after they healed. After Mary was no longer Black because of racist fear mongering, and Stack had to process the fact that she did not actually listen to his worries back during an era when his life was literally on the line for loving her. And did they move past it by 1992 or were they putting up a front for Sammie.

So many questions.

#Sinners #stack moore #elias moore #elias stack moore #mary sinners #stack and mary

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rozeliyawashereyall · 4 months ago

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Headcanons, headcanons and more headcanons but with drawings this time.

✵One common headcanon I always think of is that literally every character ever had fucked up trying to cut their hair by themselves, it's a fun pattern /lh

✵Fucking bet you Tethys used to bully Zef

✵ Timmy and Marco would love musicals actually

✵Explained it before- but in human form; I really feel like the merfolk in human form are still stronger and faster then the average human, Zef would be too but he's still getting used to the surface lmao ✵The fish bois most likely don't understand what hair dye is

"I'm dying my hair blonde tomorrow-"

"..you're killing your hair??"

✵Sera would either tolerate or HATEEEEE slasher movies omfg. Zef doesn't like the little mermaid movie solely because of that one mom dying scene.

✵I feel like Soheil wears reading glasses..it's just a vibe

✵do you think there's video games on the ship in the rebel series, cuz I feel like Naveed would DESTROY others at Mario kart He has daily competitions with Soheil, Torvin occasionally joins and destroys both of them at it

✵Nathan also seems like he rocks at video games, specifically the horror ones. Put him in Slenderman and he's getting out of there with all 7 papers within 20 minutes if not less

✵if Zef finds something shiny he'll immediately bring it to Sera, on some occasions he *purposefully* looks for shiny objects for him

✵He also has an ongoing mission to try and sneak up on Sera, but Sera always knows. Zef refuses to give up.

✵Guys you're really gonna need to hear me out on this one. Ray reads romance novels in his free time for fun. OH ESPECIALLY THE SAME WITH SKY- He wants to know what love feels like and what better way to learn than to read.

✵Ray had those little Beyblades back in middle school. Hell he probably STILL has them actually, just for the memories. Also it's a really cool trinket

✵Mercury has a subtle limp I feel ? From getting hurt all the time—well, not ALL the time, but enough times.

✵Zef has a VERY specific and picky music taste but the problem is you can barely figure it out because it changes like, every few days or so.

✵I feel like Konrad and Sky tend to dissociate a lot ? Just daydreaming and all

✵I'm going to need everyone to hear me out on both Zef and Sera liking photography. Clemmy shows them how to take photos on their phone and it’s all over—like HOW did you take 378 pictures in the span of an hour.

Then hits the realisation that humans live for like, a third of what merfolk live up to so Zef and Sera start hanging little photos of them and Clemmy they took in the cave where they'd meet up as a forever memory.

✵Not an HC and more of a theory- but hear me out, what are the chances Sky DOES turn back into a human somehow?? Smt smt the long line of dark magic that turned the elves into vampires clashes with the holy immunity and reverses him back....But also a negative and a positive make a negative—so instead of reversing him back it could either turn that ginger into god or kill him.

✵Zef thinks jumping out of the water to startle people is the funniest thing ever.

✵Zef, Nathan, Konrad, Sky, AND Ray stim. I rest my case.

✵If Timmy hears a new word, he has to repeat it at least three times.

✵actual crossover shit—Uno night would go CRAZY with all of them. For Ray's safety and sanity he doesn't join- "no I'm not playing Uno with a vampire, a zombie, an enhanced spy and a fucking mermaid. Get me OUT of here." And you know what I don't blame him—If someone said I have to play go fish with a werewolf I'd leave right then and there....Imagine playing go fish with merfolk though- I'd do it just for the jokes i fear.

✵Do not let any of these men anywhere near horror games actually, something is getting broken and it's probably the monitor.

✵ Timmy is the resident "baby" of this AU, and Ray is the extremely unwilling babysitter.

✵it's okay though he acquires Bodie as a father figure /hj

That's all yipppeee

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leeny-leens · 1 month ago

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Act iii: Betrayal And Stunned Silence

Pairing: poly!Moonkiller x vamp!Reader

Summary: You never knew Barty's absence could be so frigid and hollow, yet you're left to pick up what he shattered after betraying your trust. Yet still, it seems that the culprit behind it all —Remus Lupin, as usual— still manages to worm his way into your defenses when he catches you off guard and vulnerable.

Warnings: MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER!! (->The murder itself isn't too descriptive but the aftermath is so read with caution!! It starts at “He’s unrecognisable” and ends at “[…] like the poacher at the clearing.”), angst, sort of depressive episode, not proofread if you read this on the 25th

Content: so much angst, Reader crashes the fuck out, Remus being actually nice for once?? A lot of confusion on Readers end, big sister Lily ftw, weird tension between Reader and Remus

WC: 8.23k

AN: this chapter would've been soooo much longer if I didn't get sick of it and decide to keep the rest for the next one lmao ANYWAYS INTERACTION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED LOVES

Disclaimer: English is not my first language! All mistakes are my own!! I do not and never will use AI for my writing, this work is completely my own

Taglist: @starrystormwritings @whimsical-mistakes @hellokitty-girl666 @lettertovera @bubblegumcat229 @daydreamandforget @justyesbecauseyeswhynot

Barty’s betrayal isn't smooth and calculated, no. It doesn't creep up on you like the shadows after the sun sets, nor does it watch you hungrily like a predator waiting to sink its claws into prey.

It comes unexpectedly, sudden and harsh, like a bombshell dropped with no warning. In hindsight, you still don't know which one you would've preferred; slow and meticulous torture or sudden and sharp wounds?

You’ve only been a sixth year student for three weeks now, sitting cross-legged on his bed in his otherwise empty dorm when it all unravels.

You being in his empty dorm room –courtesy of his demand for privacy turned into obsessive magical research that expanded his original dorm into giving him and his three roommates separate rooms– is not as weird as it might sound on paper. Sure, you very much aren't allowed up in the Ravenclaw boys dormitory, but at a certain point the both of you did master the art of sneaking in out of each other's rooms without being caught.

You hadn't seen him much today, or all week really, only ever managing to steal glimpses of him when he rounded corners and sprinted down corridors. If you were a madder person, you might have thought he was avoiding you, but that can't be. Barty never avoided you, the thought so ridiculous you immediately discarded it. Besides, you didn't give him any reason to avoid you, as far you were concerned at least.

So, in a un-vampire fashion you decide to let yourself into his dorm without invitation, opting to browse through all the books he bought from the Muggle bookshop in your village but hasn't gotten to read yet.

You don't know where he is, but he has to come back at some point, especially with that looming Ancient Runes essay he complained about the first week of school.

While Barty is reckless and incredibly unconcerned with his academic career, grumbling and huffing about the point of all the assignments, he still hands in neatly polished essays that earn him an Outstanding every time.

You're lost between the pages of some horror novel he brought with him when your ears pick up the unmistakable rhythm of his steps down in the common room. Sometimes, you suppose, having enhanced senses isn't all too bad. By now you're somewhat an expert at blending out the jarring sensory landscape around you, yet you somehow fine tuned yourself to always pick out Barty wherever you go.

His steps are heavy, dragging on the floor in that way that foretells the story of heavy burdens the day left on his shoulders. Quickly, you put the book away, slipping a bookmark that has both of your thumbprints in the shape of a heart painted on it. A slight smile graces your features at the memory of making the bookmark a few summers ago, when the both of you were haunted by boredom and in dire need of something to do. Your mother had suggested arts and crafts, and because you'd gone to the bookstore just days prior, you decided to make bookmarks for your little haul. The matching bookmarks were a little trinket that stuck around, a momentum that captures the essence of your friendship; two unique prints intertwined in a heart.

You can hear him drag himself up the stairs and wait patiently for him to arrive, fumbling with his wand before he unlocks the door.

He doesn't see you at first, his gaze cast to the ground, so you clear your throat to catch his attention. His head snaps up, wand pointed up immediately as his entire body grows rigid with alarm.

The whole thing makes you giggle, but it does down as soon as you hear his heart rate picking up at the sight of you. He relaxes, just a fraction, but the tension in his muscles and face remains, even if he pretends otherwise.

Your eyebrows furrow, examining his expression closer as he tries –and very much fails– to plaster on a grin.

“Fangs! Fancy seein’ you ‘round here,” he calls out, but his voice is strained, betraying the casualness he tries to emit.

It's strange seeing Barty pretend around you, because it never happens, not when you both are alone at least.

Immediately, all alarms go off in your head as you revisit every single thing you know about him. Did something happen? Did he get a letter from his father and didn't tell you? Did you miss some sort of event? Was he mad?

A million questions pop in your mind, all at lightning speed, but you come up empty when you try to answer them.

He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, eyes darting across the room in a clear effort to avoid your scrutinizing gaze.

“Where have you been?” You ask, leaning against the headboard of his bed with crossed arms. You ask the question lightly, no accusation in your tone at all, but he still flinches, like someone caught red handed committing a crime.

He paces around the room, loosening his tie and stripping the layers of clothing off his body. His movements are jerky, like he’s trying to remember how undressing works, and pointedly turns his back when he answers your question.

“Was with Evan,” he replies, “He’s been having those weird dreams again, more than ever lately so I’ve been tryin’ to help him figure out what they mean. You wouldn't believe how many divination and dream interpretation books we had to comb through!”

His voice fades into the background when a heavy and borderline ugly thought settles over you.

Barty is lying to you.

Barty, your best friend and other half, is lying to you.

It's not like he doesn't lie, because let's face it, Barty is no saint. He lies, he steals, he wrecks and manipulates like he might die if he doesn't.

That's not the point, it doesn't matter that he does those things because he's never done them to you. He lies to other people, he lies to his father, sometimes to his friends. He lies to the Professors all the time, occasionally to your parents when they ask how he feels.

But lying to you? He's never done that, ever.

Maybe that's why he's so out of his element; it's unnatural for him to try and lie to the one person he spills.his every thought to.

“Stop,” your voice sounds distant, like it's not fully yours and he freezes. Slowly, he turns around, and even without heightened senses you could've heard the way he gulps loudly.

“I asked Evan where you are today,” you state plainly, voice and expression void of emotion. You can see the panic slowly seizing him, creeping up in his pretty hazel eyes that are blown wide like frenzied animal’s.

“He said he has no clue where you've been hiding out.”

The silence that follows is heavy, filled with tension so thick you could've pierced it with your fangs. You continue watching him, he continues to avoid your eyes like they'll set him on fire any second.

Then, all of a sudden, his entire body goes slack with defeat. He pulls the shirt he's been holding in his hand this entire time over his head, trudges to the bed and settles beside you. The mattress dips underneath his weight, the wooden frame squeaks and fills the silence momentarily.

You want to reach out, hold his hand and coax him into telling you what's going on, but you can't. It's almost like there's something holding you back, instinct perhaps that warns you of what's about to transpire.

Naturally, you ignore it.

You've never held back from comforting Barty, so why wouldn't you go against your very own survival base to hold him? You would break and bend any rule as long as it meant he'll be okay. He accepts the hand you stretch out to caress his face, leaning into the touch like it might be the only thing keeping him grounded.

“There’s somethin’ I haven’t told ya, Fangs,” he mumbles, his voice tense and quiet.

You wait, racking your brain for what he might have hidden. His behaviour has been going on for about a week now; avoiding you everywhere, making excuses to not see you, running off as soon as you approach.

Then, it hits you square in the face; the welcome party he attended last week Friday.

It is tradition, a bit of good fun to welcome back everyone into a new school year. Usually, the attendees are fifth to seventh years, and after going last year and experiencing just how packed inter-house parties could get, you made the decision to not attend again. Too many people, too much going on for your brain to handle, and so much temptation that might cause an unwanted slip up.

Barty on the other hand was more than eager to go, the promise of abundant alcohol and entertainment pulling him like a moth to the flames. He disappeared that night, bidding you goodbye with the promise to tell you all about it the next day at breakfast, provided he didn’t skip it in favour of sleeping in and nursing the impending hangover.

That however, never happened, now that you think about it. The next day, he was nowhere to be found, no matter where you searched for him. And after that? He avoided you religiously, like being in the same room as you might set him ablaze. Something must have happened there, you conclude belatedly, and press your hand closer to his face, slowly coaxing him into spilling whatever weighs on his consciousness. He draws a shuddering breath, and without as much as looking up, he speaks three words that tilt your world upside down.

“Lupin kissed me.”

The silence is deafening, pressing heavily on your lungs like it’s trying to squeeze every last bit of air out of them. Maybe you heard him wrong, maybe he doesn’t mean Remus Lupin but someone else with the same last name.

You blink, rapidly like maybe that’ll change the scenery and you’ll find yourself somewhere completely different.

“What?” Your voice is strained, barely a whisper and it finally moves him to look at you. All your hopes of this being a misunderstanding are thwarted by the sheer guilt on his face, clearly proving your fears.

”Remus,” he croaks, the name sounding so foreign ins his mouth, “We were tipsy, fought at the party, then we just kept goin’ back and forth with insults and banter and- Fangs I swear to Merlin I don't know what happened, he was suddenly so close, all I could smell and hear and feel and when he kissed me-“ he chokes, the last part stuck in his throat. He looks to the side, like the sight of you alone might bring the unshod tears to flow. “When he kissed me, I didn’t push back, I just kissed him back because it was so good.”

It must be a joke, you think. A very elaborate, very shitty joke he made up to mess with you. That’s the only explanation you have for your best friend kissing the guy that has been actively and relentlessly making your life hell for the past five, going on six, years.

The laugh that bubbles up in your chest escapes your mouth, and it shakes your entire body until you're clutching your stomach, tears pooling in the corners of your eyes.

Finally, the laughter dies down and you wipe your tears, the thought of him actually kissing Remus Lupin oh so ridiculous. “Man, you almost had me there B,” you giggle, leaning against the headboard as you stare at him with amusement.

“What’s actually going on? And don’t make jokes again, that was not funny,” you muse, the smile on your face faltering when he turns to look at you, shaking his head gently.

He says your name, gentle yet firm, and it sounds almost as foreign as Lupin’s first name coming from his lips. “It’s not a joke,” he whispers, his voice fragile and quiet. You search his face for any of the signs that scream he’s lying, but there's no twitch in the corners of his lips, no quivering ears and only guilt and sincerity in his eyes.

He tries to reach out, but you recoil, violent and unexpected. Hurt flashes across his face, but you can’t bring yourself to care, not when the betrayal sits deep in your bones.

”No,” you mutter, over and over again like it might change the fact that the closest person to you just took your heart and gutted you from the inside out. The entire room spins, and suddenly everything is too hot, the walls closing in like they might cave in any second. Barty looks like he might actually start crying, and when you look at the mirror hanging across his bed, you catch a glimpse of your expression. Hurt, disgust, betrayal and anger coat your features, emotions Barty knows too well, but not from you, No, never you, until now.

You jump up, your eyes darting to the door and storm to it, ignoring his shouts and pleas for you to wait. There’s no point in running after someone with supernatural speed and strength, because by the time Barty stumbles out of the Ravenclaw tower to chase you, you’re already halfway across the castle.

The tears burn hot in your eyes, but you refuse to cry, not now at least. Somewhere in the recesses of your mind, you know you can’t return to your own dorm because that’s the first place he’ll go looking for you. Quite frankly, you aren’t sure if you can handle seeing him right now, the burn of what he has done and kept hidden for an entire week much too great for you to think about hearing him out.

”He kissed me”

“I just kissed him back”

“It was so good”

His words haunt you,halling off the walls as you run across the dark and abandoned corridors. They cling to you, like soot after a fire, and it makes you want to turn back to seek him and keep running all the same time. Where do you go now, when the one person you seek comfort from is the perpetrator of your pain?

Like a lost animal, you keep roaming the castle, running in circles until you crash into someone. For a moment, you think Barty might have found you, but you’re mistaken.

”Oh goodness, what’s going on?” Streaks of red fill your vision, and the smell of magnolia and jasmine surrounds you like a soothing balm. Lily grabs your shoulders, her voice filled with worry and concern for you as she stares at your tear streaked eyes. You realized you must’ve ended up on the patrol route of the Head Girl and Head Boy, yet your senses were too numbed and overtaken by emotions to register their approach. James Potter stands off to the side, expression torn between concern and caution as he observes the situation.

You try to answer, try to muster up some explanation as to why you’re out so far past curfew, but all that comes out are hiccups and silent sobs.

Lily doesn’t ask, only embraces you tightly and offers warmth and comfort that barely holds your crumbling walls together.

That night, you don’t sleep in your own dorm, and not in that of your Slytherins friends. Instead, Lily takes you back to her dorm, the girls welcoming you with open arms and sisterly concern. They don’t push you to talk, merely allow you to rest and give you space to breathe. Mary suggests pushing all four beds together, and somehow the entire ordeal turns into some sort of sleepover party that you barely take note of. Your mind is blank, void of any and all thoughts, only filled with the ugly feeling of having your trust shattered by the one you love the most.

Sleep doesn’t come to you that night, instead you replay every single moment of your conversation, of the last week he avoided you. It won’t stop plaguing you, and by the time you get ready for breakfast, the bags under your eyes tell a story of their own. Like your body is on autopilot, you make your way to the Slytherin table, greeting the small group of your friends with a curt nod. Regulus sips on a mug of dark coffee, constantly fiddling with a bracelet you don’t remember seeing on him before, but at least he acknowledges your presence unlike Evan. The other boy is completely distracted, eyes wandering across the hall as if in search of someone specific. He startles when you sit beside him, briefly acknowledging you with a nod before he goes back to surveying the entire room. Dorcas and Pandora join your group a little later, the both of them intently staring with questions written across their faces, ones you don’t bother answering.

You feel him the moment he walks into the Great Hall, your heart speeding up when his gaze settles on you. Barty is quick to stride to the table, your name on his lips before he even reaches you. You can’t take it, grabbing your bags and fleeing in a flash, not giving him or anyone else the chance to ask, much less comment on your behaviour.

It’s the same routine for the next two weeks, where you barely get through the motions of the day, avoiding Barty to the best of your abilities, sticking close to your girls. There’s no lack of trying on his end, finding any and all opportunities to talk to you, but you shut him down every single time. It takes one hurt look, and the words are suck in his throat, and he’s left looking at you as you turn on your heel and leave him.

It’s strange, not having Barty close anymore. You never noticed how cold the world feels without him, so quiet and muted. He was the burst of color and noise that made everything brighter, more fun, more bearable. But in his absence, you’re left with ashes and gray nothing to soothe yourself with.

You barely eat, speak or move, a ghost of your former boisterous and mischievous self. If it were not for the efforts of Lily and the other girls, you might have gone under the pressure of carrying the weight of the loss all on your own.

The whole thing makes rounds at Hogwarts of course, because why would people not gossip about you? Rita Skeeter in particular seems to chase the gossip like a bloodhound, cornering you in the library or in empty classrooms to get the scoop on your fallout. You try to ignore her, push her away or flat out insult her in hopes of having her leaving you alone, but it’s all for naught. Day after day, she publishes outrageous articles and comments in the Hogwarts Daily, filled with such absurd claims, it takes your entire strength to keep Marlene and Mary from ambushing her at breakfast.

You ignore the whispers and looks that follow you, choosing to keep to yourself especially as the full moon draws near. What little strength you already had slowly vanishes, replaced by sluggish lethargy and a gnawing hunger that turns logic and reason into primal force. You nurse packets of blood throughout the day, ones your parents packed for emergencies, but they don’t quell the thirst for violence, for hurt and rebuttal.

Each time your eyes stray from the ground, finding one of the gossipy students in the crowds, all you can think about is sinking your teeth into their neck, tipping them apart like a rag doll, hearing the bones crack under the sheer force of your strength.

It scares you, the kind of monster you seem to be turning into without Barty to keep your humanity tethered, but it’s not like you can go looking for him now, can you? By the end of the first week, he had given up on invading your surroundings, instead pulling away to give you the space to make peace with the distance.

The full moon comes and goes, and for once you’re grateful your parents are too busy to accompany you on your hunt. There’s no doubt they would have picked up on the change in your disposition. They would have probed and asked until you broke, and how on earth were you supposed to explain what happened to them? They barely knew about the feud with Lupin, because if your father, or god forbid your mother, ever caught wind of all the things he said and did to you, there’s no doubt he would not return to Hogwarts alive.

Even after you return, the scent of iron still clinging to your clothes, the restlessness does not leave. It’s almost like a second puberty, all you can think about is letting your strength run free, to bask in the look of fear your prey have in their eyes when you crush their necks and bones.

It comes to a breaking point one night, when you sneak out from the Valkyries dorm and follow the instincts that draw you into the Forbidden Forest. It’s not often that you go there, but tonight there’s something inexplicably alluring about the mystique that calls for you, like a siren that sings sailors to their doom at sea.

You wander around, expertly avoiding prying eyes as you go from wandering on foot to flying in your bat form. There’s something freeing about flying under the moonlight, soaring without the weight of pain that shackles you in your human form.

You lose all sense of time when you finally settle down on some patchy moss covered rocks by the shore of a small lake. It’s in the middle of some clearing, hidden away by the trees and bushes surrounding it, yet the moonlight filters beautifully through the leaves, casting glowing shadows and lights on the ripples of water. More than once, you can make out glowing eyes that watch you from underneath the water, some marine creatures drawn to your supernatural scent. You pay them no mind, instead dipping your legs into the water and letting the forest work its magic on your worn down nerves. There’s a sense of serenity in the air that almost fools you into forgetting about all that awaits back at the castle, about your true nature that gnaws on your insides and tries to come out each passing day.

You can almost believe you’re a normal human girl taking a stroll in the forest at night, not burdened by the weight of friendship or predatory instincts.

Almost.

The magic breaks when you hear a twig breaking, followed by a string of curses from a gruff and low voice you cannot recognise. Immediately, you get up, eyes roaming the clearing for any hiding spots or escape routes. A man emerges from the shadows, clearly a stranger from the heavy gear he has on his person. His face is covered in a mask made of bones, belts slung across his waist and legs filled with gadgets and vials you’ve never seen. He smells of blood and sweat, the blood tinged with the familiar sense of magic and it finally dawns on you as you recall the lessons of Magical History and Care For Magical Creatures.

He must be a poacher, one of the people that hunt magical creatures for their skin, bones or other features that sell for good money on the black market. You remember hazily how Professor Hedgings said they occasionally sneak into the Forbidden Forest, the most skilled meme ears of these groups bypassing and disabling the wards and safety measures for a limited amount of time while they hunt for creatures.

You calculate your chances of facing someone thrice your size, even if you had the advantages of being a vampire on your side. The msn radiated bloodlust and madness from his eyes alone, and you did not want to start a fight here, still on school grounds. You take a step back, cautious and careful so you can disappear into the bushes and transform, but the universe really has it out for you. You slip on some of the moss, the sound of your fall immediately catching the attention of the poacher. His face pulls into a grimace at the sight of you, his hand instantly on his wand as he casts a spell that immobilises you.

For the first time in your life, deathly fear grips your heart as you watch the man step closer, his stride calculated and light, almost like a wild cat ready to pounce. Your brain blanks, trying to think of a counter spell is impossible under his sharp gaze.

”What do we have here?” He drawls, his voice grating like metal on a chalkboard. He circles you, eyes taking your helpless form from every angle until he stands above you, towering and dark.

Almost in slow motion, he reaches for a knife on his belt, toying with it as the blade glints dangerously under the moonlight. He’s smirking, all teeth and danger, clearly having the upper hand and no thought of letting you leave this clearing in one piece.

Then, it happens.

It’s a small mistake on his end, just a tiny cut on his hand as he twirls the blade around, but it’s fatale enough when one faces a vampire fuelled by the will to survive.

You black out as soon as the scent of warm fresh human blood fills your nostrils, the monster inside of you that has been caged for far too long finally breaking out of its prison.

When you return to your senses again, you find yourself in the very same clearing, hands and clothes drenched in blood that is not your own. With shaking legs, you walk over to the little lake, staring at the reflection of someone you do not recognise. Your eyes are red, glowing and dark, still filled with primal rage. Blood coats your face, your head and every inch of you. The taste lingers in your mouth, the taste of your first human prey. You turn around, a scream stuck in your throat at the sight of what must be the poacher.

He’s unrecognisable, limbs twisted at unnatural angles, clothes slashes to pieces and flesh hanging off in clots. His face is frozen in an expression filled with fear, eyes empty and corpse drained.

It hits you then, that this must be your doing. Your first kill, the first human to die at your hands. You stare, from your hands to the macabre sight of his cooling corpse, and you fall backwards when you back away.

It’s all over now, you think. As soon as they find him, they will come for you and you will end up in Azkaban for murder, or worse yet, chained in the dungeons of the ministry as they keep you for experimental purposes. It’s what happens to rogue vampires, your father had once explained bitterly.

You scramble to your feet, running and leaving the clearing behind as the forest slowly closes in on you. It’s dark and loud, there are eyes watching you and every step you take, distant whispers that remind you of what you just did. Your head is loud, too loud, and your heart is beating out of your chest like it wants to escape and leave you to bleed out on the forest floor like the poacher in the clearing.

Your clothes are caught on a stray branch that pulls you back, sending you flying down a hill that you didn’t notice in the dark. You roll down, gravel and sharp branches cutting through your bloodied skin and by the time you land at the foot of the hill, your body aches all over with adrenaline and incoming pain. Your ankle throbs, sharp pain shooting through your entire body when you try to stand up, so you give up and stay seated on the floor, out of breath and out of will to move. The sound of wolves howling in the distance carries through the wind, and you’re sure you won’t leave the forest tonight, not alive at least.

An eerie sense of peace fills you, now that you finally fed the monster and gave in to its demands for violence. There is no more fear, no more resentment or hate, just peace that numbs your entire body. You close your eyes, listening to the sound of the forest and feeling a presence at the edge of your subconscious close in on you, one that alarms you. You have no strength left to pay it any mind though, only opening your eyes for a fraction when someone breaks through the thick bushes, panting and huffing.

In the darkness, you could not have possibly seen his face, or made out his figure, yet his smell gives him away. Dazed and confused, you prop yourself on your aching and bleeding arms, eyes staring up at the second towering figure of the night.

”Lupin?” You call out, voice hoarse and almost too quiet for him to hear. He does though, eyes snapping to yours as soon as it reaches his ears and his amber eyes go wide. He’s tripping over himself to get to you, crouching beside you and cursing as his hands hover near your arms.

“What the fuck did you do?” He asks incredulously, surveying the extent of your injuries. The entire sequence of events is strange, something out of a bad dream perhaps, and you begin to giggle at how surreal this all feels.

“It’s okay,” you beam, clearly high on whatever adrenaline is left in your body, “the blood is mostly not mine, no biggie!”

To his credit, Remus doesn’t falter, only narrows his eyes and stares off into the distance before shaking his head, muttering something about taking care of it later, instant scooping you up in his arms with a small puff. You’re confused, to say the least, arms automatically wrapping around his neck as he adjusts your position.

He doesn’t say anything, only tightens his hold and quickly exits the forest, eyes glancing at your face every so often to make sure you’re awake. As soon as you’re in his arms, all strength leaves your body, not even able to protest or tell him to put you down.

He carries you all the way back to the castle, rushing through the winding halls until you arrive at the hospital wing where he kicks the door open, shouting for the matron of the ward with urgency and familiarity that tells the tale of years of care and closure.

Madame Pomfrey grumbles when she first emerges from her office, clearly preoccupied with something that is interrupted by Remus’ frantic yelling. Her entire demeanour changes the moment she sees you in his arms, all scratched up and bloodied. She’s in work mode in just a few seconds, dishing out commands and muttering to herself as Remus sets you down on one of the beds closest to the entrance. With steady and warm hands, she begins to inspect every injury and cut on you, her wand working tirelessly to clean you up and to bring all the different potions and balms she needs to her.

The treatment might have lasted a few minutes or hours, your sense of time completely shut down during the process. By the end of it, she rid you of your torn clothes and gave you some of the spare, ill fitting clothing in the infirmary. Your cuts are all nicely bandaged and treated, and when she makes you swallow five different potions, you don’t have the heart to remind her that as a vampire, you heal much faster than a regular human, and all you need is probably some blood.

Still, you allow the quiet thrumming of the potions to fill your body, slowly but surely breathing life back into you. The haze settles, and now that you can think clearer, you realize the sheer impact of what happened tonight. You can barely bring yourself to think about the man in the forest, but still, you have to tell someone about it.

So, when Poppy quietly asks what happened, you confess everything to her, from start to finish, your eyes avoiding her face. The situation feels familiar, the dynamic of someone admitting a harrowing truth to another and unable to look them in the face haunting you with such aching pain, but still. You push through, and by the end of your report, she’s grown still. When you dare to steal a glance at her, you’re surprised to see an expression filled with understanding and worry. She gives you a tight lipped smile, bends forward and pats your head similar to the way your mother always does when you tell her about your problems.

“Don’t worry dear,” she says warmly, but the determination in her eyes is everything but gentle, “I’ll make sure you won’t get in trouble, so just focus on getting better, yes?”

You nod, a little dopey from the medicine and watch as she disappears through the doors of the ward, leaving you all alone. The only noise that fills the silence is your breathing, and somehow, in the absence of all sensations, you miss Barty more than ever. You miss his stupid jokes, his warm hands, his steady arms, his engulfing hugs, and more than ever you miss his voice and presence. If he were here, you’re sure he would’ve given you a lecture about self preservation and not taking him on your adventures outside the castle before pulling you into a bone crushing hug.

Tears prick at the corners of your eyes, but you furiously wipe them away, refusing to cry about him more than you already have. You want to blame someone for this whole thing, and the best possible choice for that is of course —as per usual— Remus Lupin. If he wasn’t out to get you, so intent on ruining your life for no reason at all, things would be far more different.

The universe, still on a trip to drive you into more ruin than you were already suffering, decides that this is the perfect time for Lupin to come into the infirmary, his steps gentle as he approaches your bed. He looks around, presumably to look for Poppy but she’s not around. You watch him closely, observing his disheveled appearance, like he just ran across the castle and back. He pulls out something from his pocket, some sort of paper that you can’t really decipher and curses when he sees the content —or at least you assume it’s the content that makes him curse, maybe he’s just gone mad— before stowing it away.

There’s awkward silence stretching between the both of you, and for once you don’t know what to say to him. It’s not like you can insult him as you usually do, not when he practically saved your life tonight. You clear your throat, writhing under his watchful eyes and attempt some sort of small talk. “Poppy isn’t here, by the way,” you note lamely, as if he hadn’t noticed himself. Still, he coughs and makes a sound of understanding, fiddling with the bag you just notice in his hand before he sighs.

He steps closer to your bed, and you almost expect him to start yet another fight with you, but he merely sets the bag down, rummaging through it before pulling out articles of clothing you recognise as your own.

Your eyebrows shoot up, suspicion clear on your face when he awkwardly tries to explain why he has a bag filled with your clothes.

“I asked Lily,” he explains, scratching the back of his neck as you examine what he’d brought for you. “Figured there’s nothing comfortable for you to wear here, and since you’re basically moved in with the girls I thought they might have some of your clothes.”

The gesture leaves you stunned, to say the least. It’s incredibly thoughtful, and a complete 180 from the Lupin you usually interact with. Hell, you didn’t even think him capable of extending such kindness to you. It warms your heart, but you quickly remember that this was still the guy who’s actively tried to ruin your life on multiple occasions.

“Thank you,” you mutter, grasping the fabric of the blue ravenclaw sweater he brought. The sweater is one you stole from Barty, his scent still faintly clinging to it, and the comfort it brings is almost instant. You’re about to pull the shirt Poppy gave you over your head when your arms protest with an instant ache, causing you to hisss and drop them. The potions haven’t fully set in yet, and you give up on the notion of changing, despite how much you crave it.

Lupin, smarter than you give him credit for, deciphers the situation and clears his throat, voice low as he reaches out gently. “I can help you,” he murmurs, fingers brushing against the hem of your shirt. When you make no effort to move away from his touch, he takes it as a sign to go on. Tentatively, softer than you ever thought is possible for someone like him, he pulls your shirt over your head, making sure to not accidentally graze the cuts on your arms that are slowly healing. It feels awkward, and maybe a little bit wrong for you to be half naked in front of the guy who readily slammed you into a wall two or so years ago.

With unexpected gentleness, he guides your limbs into the holes of the sweater, carefully putting it on and helping you tug it into place until the fabric is warm and snug against your body. You want to thank him, almost, but the words don’t come so easily over your lips. Instead, you stare pointedly at your blanket, unable to really look into his face. You fear that if you do, he might begin to read you like an open book, the way you’ve watched him read every room and situation like a polyglot proficient in ancient tongues long forgotten.

You do, however, call out to him when he retreats, mumbling something under his breath that is impossible to decipher, even for you.

”Wait!” You blurt out, unsure what you even want him to wait for. “Sit down?” You murmure, quieter this time and with less momentum, a little fragile, a little unsure, but still inviting nonetheless.

He turns around, eyes wide for a split second, like maybe he’s questioning if your injuries messed with your head, before he relents and makes himself comfortable on the bed. He sits cross legged, knees close enough to your own that they might brush if one of you moves just a fraction, and the proximity nearly steals your breath in one swift gust.

You force yourself to not think too hard about how close he’s sitting, or how he smells like chocolate, library, and some sort of musky cologne that you swear you smelled on Sirius Black before. If you allow yourself to think about it, you’ll be left with the realisation that this is the first time the both of you have spent in a room, alone, so close without a fight. You don’t know what to do with this information, or the tingle in your hands, or his warmth that seeps into your skin through the thin material of the blanket, so you squash it down into the darkest corners of your mind.

Lupin, to his credit, tries to act indifferent to the whole situation, but clearly fails. His hands are twitching awkwardly beside him in an attempt to find the best place to put them without touching you directly. Finally, he settles on propping his chain against one of them, which in retrospect really isn’t good for your heart, because now he’s staring at you, directly and with quiet focus, like you’re the most interesting thing in the whole room.

He’s never looked at you this way, with curiously and a little bit of awe swirling in the golden pools of amber, and it’s enough to drive you a tiny bit mad. You want to say something clever, maybe a witty remark to bring back the comforting back and forth the both of you share, but nothing leaves your lips.

Instead, he makes the first move, leaning forward like he might share his biggest secret with you, but instead he stares pointedly at the ravenclaw emblem sewn into the dark blue sweater.

”That Crouch’s sweater?” He asks, like the answer isn’t already clear. Half the school knows you wear Barty’s clothes, proudly displaying your bond, just like he walks around wearing items of yours.

You haven’t been wearing his clothes lately though, and he hasn’t worn anything of yours in the weeks you spent apart. His question is like a spear piercing through your heart, reminding you why you ended up here in the first place.

If it weren’t for him making your life hell, if it weren’t for him kissing Barty, if it weren’t for the distance clouding your judgment, then maybe you would be curled up in Barty’s bed now, low conversation flowing under the dim light of the candles you always get him for his birthday.

Still, you nod, not trusting your voice to stay steady if you were to answer him verbally. He seems to understand, and the sod smirks. Like, actually smirks, lips curling sharply and features turning all sharp and predatory underneath the the glow of the moonlight that filters through the windows.

“It suits you well,” he drawls, eyes racking over your form with amusement and something you can’t really name. “Would suit you better if the two of you weren’t tragically moping apart,” he adds afterwards, casually like it’s an afterthought, but you’ve had so many verbal sparring sessions with him you can smell the coaxing strategy a mile away. “What’s up with that anyway? Aren’t you usually bound at the hip or something?” He cocks his head, messy hair falling over his eyes like a confused puppy, and something stutters in your chest. Maybe you’re getting sick, or maybe the overdoses on human blood is finally driving you to the edge, because Remus Lupin looks nearly cute like that.

You huff indigently and cross your arms in protest, like it might be a physical and emotional barrier to whatever witchcraft he;s performing on you right now.

“And what, pray tell, is it to you,?”, you throw back, with far less venom than you would usually use. He chuckles at that, sound smooth and honeyed, a little bit like he keeps it for special occasions, and nods at the underlying question you pose.

Are you being nosy right now, Lupin?

“Hard to not be curious when it’s all anyone can talk about,” he remarks, “Plus, you haven’t picked a fight in like three weeks, figured that must be why.”

It’s hard to refute the argument because, well, it is true. You can’t quite find it in yourself to argue with him or think about murder plots without Barty at your side, and without energy to even get through the day, getting even with Lupin is the last thing on your mind.

”Who’s fucking fault do you think that is, you twat?” You mumble, propping yourself more upright against the pillows despite the aching in your back. Lupin notices, because of course he notices everything with those sharp eyes that never leave you out of sight, and he quietly accios two pillows from the cot next to yours, scooting closer until he can put them behind your back for you.

He returns to his original place, like the whole ordeal is no big deal at all, but the quickened pace of his heartbeat tells you that he is not as unaffected by your presence as he likes to pretend. It’s a small victory, but one you take in stride anyway.

”It hardly can be my fault,” he quips back, “I don’t even talk to you two, let alone that mad dog of yours.”

”Oh you don’t talk alright, you just push your tongue down his throat.”

He blinks, slowly, too slowly actually, his face mirroring your own disbelief at what you just said. You didn’t mean to say that out loud, or to sound so bitter about it, it just happened. His face slowly pulls into a smirk, like a light bulb just went off and he laughs, actually laughs, full on doubled over, voice echoing back from the walls. You sit there, stewing in indignation until he calms down, fixing you with an overly amused smile you oh so desperately want to wipe off his face.

For a moment, your eyes flicker down to his lips and you suddenly understand why Barty had let Remus kiss him at that party. They look, truth to be told, soft and inviting, especially under the silver moonlight.

It’s just a moment of weakness, but when your eyes snap up, he looks as startled as you feel, like he’d been caught staring at something he shouldn’t covet. A strange sort of anticipation settles between the both of you, unnamed and inherently terrifying when it’s with the person you spent so much time hating.

This time, it’s you who tries to make the first move in clearing the air, not one to let him overshadow you even in something as petty as that. “Did you do it to get back at me?” You demand to know, like his affairs are your god given right to inquire about. You suppose they are, when they involve the person you love.

He’s taken aback by the brazen question, mulling it over more carefully than you thought he would. When he answers, you half expect a snarky response, but are left surprised by the vulnerability in his words.

“No,” he says, slow and careful, like the words might break him if he says them too loud. “I wouldn’t want to hurt you, not like that, and most definitely not by taking advantage of him too.”

Another question lingers on your lips, ready to be fired, but he answers it before you can even voice it out loud.

“It wasn’t a mistake,” he cuts off, voice firm and so deliberate, it’s hard to think he’s lying. After a few beats of silence, he adds on, a little quieter this time.

“I enjoyed it, and I didn’t do it because I wanted to hurt him, I simply wanted to kiss him in that moment with no strings attached.”

The rawness and honesty dripping from his voice, evident in his expression and body language, almost make you breathless. It truly is marvellous, how he shuts down every worry and doubt you had over this ordea, for your best friend's well being, without as much as a stutter.

There is nothing left for you to ask or say, and for once, you allow Remus Lupin the pleasure of shocking you into positive silence. The fit enjoys it too, a small smile on his lips that stretches the scar across his lip a little, the skin nearly glowing in the dark. His eyes dart down, just for a second, gleaming with something that reminds you of the way Barty looks at you when the lights are low. You wonder if that’s how he looked at Barty before he kissed him, wonder if he might be thinking about kissing you too just to see if best friends kiss the same.

When he looks up, he's clearly mortified, and so are you when your thoughts finally, actually set in. What in the world were you thinking, about Lupin no less?

He eyes the door, pushing himself off the bed with a little too much force and grabs the bag he brought your clothes in, shouldering the strap without as much as looking into your direction. For a moment, he reminds you of a clumsy baby deer trying to escape a hunter, and again, the thought of him being almost adorable crosses your mind.

When he stretches up to his full height, nervously patting down his clothes, he still avoids your gaze, but stills in his movements and looks at your sweater instead.

“You should talk to him,” he comments softly, “You both are miserable in the distance, at least hear each other out, yeah?”

If tonight wasn’t strange already, then Remus Lupin giving you friendship advice most definitely would’ve taken the crown. Alas, far weirder things have transpired, so you simply nod and watch as he makes his way to the door.

“I still don’t like you,” you call out after him, the need to clarify intense as the magic of your shared moment slowly withers.

He stops in his tracks, turning around to cast a lingering glance to you, something between amusement and understanding.

“Still don’t like you either, Bat.”

You’re stunned into silence by this guy for what feels like the millionth time tonight, but somehow, you don't mind it as much as you think you should.

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