#i just want to live under a rock and devour small animals. i don’t want to write essays

[copepods]

frankly unfair of the universe that i was not born as an eel. or perhaps a worm.

[bump1nthen1ght]

Late Night Favor (Shadow Monster x Reader)

Genre: Fluff, Urban Fantasy

Warnings: Explicit content up ahead (18+ ONLY), Oral, Fingering

Word Count: 4000 Words

Summary: A couple of small good deeds leaves you with a late night visitor, looking to repay a debt.

Request: "You unknowingly rescue a shadow monster and bring it home with you, after a couple days of lurking in the shadows of your home and recuperating it shows you just how thankful it is." I had this idea forever ago but was never able to execute it. My opening idea was that a few kids are shining flashlights at something, tormenting it, and you swoop in to save it and chase the kids away. You thought they were hurting a cat or something, but find nothing and head home.

What do you think? Would you like to take it on? I'd be honored if you would 😊

A/N: *Throws this into the street to appease for the fact I haven’t updated Out of the Woods in THREE MONTHS IM SORRY*

It was the perfect weather for a lazy day inside. The pitter patter of the rain on your window had almost lulled you back to sleep during breakfast, and the thunder had provided great ambiance for reading. You hadn’t bothered changing out of your pajamas and we’re enjoying a soap opera binge on the coach when the peace was disturbed.

At first it was just the sound of clattering trash cans, not uncommon from the alley outside your window. But then it was followed by the raucous laughter of teenagers, rocks being thrown against the concrete, and a sharp hissing.

You hoist yourself up and off the couch, meandering toward the balcony, expecting to see a bunch of kids fucking around; Maybe using the cover of the fire escape to hide from the rain and smoke some weed.

Ah, memories.

But instead, you see a huddled group of boys pointing a flashlight into the pile of garbage right by the dumpster. One of them picks up a pebble and throws it into the light beam, causing another hiss and a jerk of movement. The boys laugh even louder, the one on the right nudging the one with the flashlight.

“Dude, do it again!”

Flashlight agrees, quickly moving the light into another corner as the one on the left throws a rock in the opposite direction. A shape of pitch black hisses again, deterred by the rock and scared by the brightness. Your brow furrows.

“Hey!”

The boys jump, looking in all directions.

“What are you three doing down there?” They finally look up at you, messy-haired and bleary-eyed. They shrug and ignore you, one even throwing another rock, bigger than before. There’s a sad yelp as it collides with the blackness.

You grit your teeth, grabbing your jacket off a nearby shelf and yell again.

“Fuck off! Leave the poor thing alone!”

They all laugh insufferably, the way most stuck up teenagers do.

“Or what?”

You shrug on your raincoat, picking up the baseball bat you keep strategically placed by your couch.

“Or I’ll come down and make you, jackass!”

You kick open your  fire escape, slippers already damp, and start marching down the staircases. The boys get the message and run away, still jeering and laughing. Seems you weren’t as intimidating as you’d like.

You shuffle down the fire escape, slowing down as you approach the poor creature. You lower your back and peak under the dumpster.

“It's okay, little guy, I won’t hurt ya.” You set down your bat and crouch, kissing your lips as you hold out your free hand. All you see is a hint of glowing eyes, nervously peering out, before the dark shape disappears completely, hidden by the shadow of the dumpster. You’re tempted to sit down and wait for it, hoping to check if the poor stray was injured, but the wet concrete looks unappealing. The bottom of your sweats are already drenched.

You stand up, sigh, and go back up the fire escape. You unlatch the dusty pet door on your sliding glass balcony and make sure to leave a hot thing of milk and some water just outside. You ponder going out to get cat food, but the well-timed weather report tells you to stay off the streets. Slumping back down on the couch, you keep on eye on your fire escape, hoping that whatever it was, it’s okay.

--------------

The next day is sunny, the rain clearing away any air pollution and leaving blue skies to shine down through your window, waking you up extra early. As you sit down with a cup of coffee, switching on the news before starting work, you notice the empty bowls on your balcony.

You set down the mug, walking over to the door and checking the bowls. Seems that little stray had needed the refreshment, as both were licked clean.

You refill them, making sure to add  cat food to your grocery list.

--------------

After a long day of work, you’re feeling particularly domestic and decide to bake some cookies. Your brain is sore after staring at a screen for eight hours straight, a simple task like this is the perfect thing to keep it from melting completely.

You open up your window, letting the cool night air into your kitchen as you check  on your baking cookies. Wiping flour off your pants, you turn on the radio and throw a glance to your living room.

You had set up a tiny blanket pallet right next to your pet door, the weatherman’s warning of another thunderstorm tonight having you worried for your stray. Hopefully a full belly of milk will convince them that your house is safe enough to find shelter in.

But the afternoon is beautiful, not too cold and not too hot, only the slight tang of metal in the air hinting to rain. With a ding from the oven, you take out the cookies and set them on a cooling tray on your window. The smell of cinnamon and sugar wafts over you as you take a sip of your tea, staring out into the city streets. Small puddles still speckle the pavement, catching the headlights of nearby cars and flashy billboards.

A quick sound, something hitting your balcony door, that jerks you out of your reverie. You set down your mug and slowly peek out from your kitchen, wondering if you should’ve grabbed  a kitchen knife. But it’s just your pet door, flapping back and forth in front of two, now empty, bowls. Aww, seems your stray took a step inside. Too bad you missed it.

The gurgle of your stomach convinces you to take a crack at the cookies. If they were too hot, you could just wash them down with a nice glass of milk anyway. Maybe even put on a sitcom while you snack.

You lightly tap the top cookie; Warm, but not unbearable. Steam rises as you break it open, blowing in the middle and taking a tiny bite.

Fuck, good job _____.

They’re perfectly done, just soft enough to melt in your mouth. You grab two more, holding them in between your fingers as you hold the other half in your mouth. Maybe you could bring the batch into work tomorrow, give your coworkers a nice surprise. That is if you didn't have 10 tonight. But 20 should be just enough-

Huh, that’s weird. There's only 19, including the one still dangling out of your mouth.

You could’ve sworn you baked 20.

Well whatever. Your coworkers can handle not coming back for seconds tomorrow.

--------------

“Ow! Fuck!”

You bite your lip, trying not to yell out more curse words as you rub your stubbed toe. You limp to your kitchen, fumbling for the light switch to avoid another incident. All you had wanted was a midnight sweet snack, was that so difficult? You’d thought you could navigate your apartment pretty easily in the dark, but the pain in your foot says otherwise.

The light flickers as you finally find the switch, reminding you that you’re going to need to change the bulb sometime soon. But that's a problem for another day; Right now, it’s cookie time.

You don’t bother pouring yourself a glass or getting a plate, devouring the treat in three bites and throwing back a quick swig of milk. It’s almost midnight, not like anyone’s watching-

Oh, wait.

You slowly close the fridge door, trying to make as little noise as possible so as not to wake the little stray curled up, asleep. The little ball of black was snuggled into the pallet, tossing and turning. A flash of lightning cracks outside your apartment, washing your living room with light. The ball jerks in shock, the thunder afterwards only frightening it more, forcing it to curl up even tighter.  

You take small and light steps towards the tiny bed, not wanting to approach the scared beast too quickly. The room is lit up again by another lightning strike and the little stray forces it’s body backwards and away from the window. You crouch down real low, the small bits of light helping your eyes adjust to the layout.

“How are you doing, little guy?” You whisper, mostly to yourself, tapping your fingers against your carpet. Part of you wants to pet it, but think it might be better not to. No need to startle it. “Is the lightning scary? You can come to my room if you want, I’ll protect ya.”

Midst the black, you see two little eyes, little blips of light that open with another flash of lightning. But they aren’t yellow, nor are they slitted, nor are they anything remotely animal.

They're like the headlights of a car, blinding white with no definition at all. Not even pupils. You're startled, eye’s widening as the creature lifts it’s head. A long smile runs across their face, full of razor sharp teeth.

“Oh my, that sounds delightful.” They purr, and you find yourself losing your footing and falling back on your ass. Your fingers dig into the carpet as their body slowly begins to unfurl out of a ball and stretch into a massive form, as if their whole size had been hidden away somewhere else; Like it had been literally in the shadows.

You scramble backwards, breath picking up as the creature stretches it’s long limbs, colorless eyes still locked onto you as it stands up and up. It rolls back its shoulders as it sits on its haunches, its form still towering over you even when crouched. You notice the shades of huge antlers sticking out from the side of their head, only adding to their intimidating height.

The creature still has that terrifying smile, all canines and no molars, it’s unblinking eyes still staring deep into your soul.

You’ve heard people do weird things in times of high stress, of strong emotions, good and bad. Like the wires in your brains get crossed when trying to find the right response.

“Uh, do you want a cookie?”

You think you get that now.

The creature chuckles, a soft timbre that echoes unnaturally.

“No, dearie, I have already indulged in your confections. You see,” They creature leans forward, falling to its knees to crawl towards you. If it weren’t for the overwhelming fear constricting your heart, you’d almost think it was seductive, “You’ve done so much for me these past days, I think it’d be only fair if I helped you indulge in a far-” The creature’s face looms over yours, their arms caging your sides as they lick their lips, “-sweeter treat, yes?”

Your eyes search their face, trying to find signs of trickery or malice, maybe even some demonic sense of humor.

As if I’d even know what that looks like.

“Are you-” You catch a breath, now noticing the fine musculature of their shoulders, and the definition of their arms, “Are you propositioning me, like, for sex?”

The creature laughs again, their eyes crinkling up as they throw their head back. But when they look back down at you, you can almost feel the lust radiating off their gaze, details be damned.

“Yes, lovely, I am.”

You take your eyes off their face, a little too overwhelmed to stare directly into their blistering expression. Not to mention the blinding light which has begun to put red spots into your vision.

Instead, your eyes fall upon their thick thighs, the small tail waving behind them, and how unnervingly sexy you find the way their claws are digging up your rug.

You slowly move your head, catching the creature’s eyes.

“I-uh-I guess? Yeah, yeah I guess that sounds good. Um, what was your name?”

The creature smirks, a single claw tipped finger tilting up your chin, as they whisper,

“Nocter.”

--------------

Well, this is definitely the weirdest way I’ve gotten someone into bed.

Nocter’s antlers brush against your stucco-ceiling as it pushes you down on the bed, their shining white eyes staring deep into yours. Their lack of pupils is almost unsettling, but when they run their claws down your chest and pinch your nipples, you find it hard to care. You bite your lip, fighting back an embarrassing whimper as they trace one finger around the bud, pebbling the skin.

“Aww, has it been a while, sweetling?” You roll your eyes, but let out another squeak as they flick their thumb across your other nipple, the palm of their hand pressing against your ribcage.

“M-maybe.” You mutter, digging your finger into your bed sheets as their hands dance across your skin. One pulls up the bottom of your pajama shirt as it nudges one of their legs in between your thighs, pushing their knee up against your crotch.

“Don’t worry,” They push the fabric up to your neck, laying a kiss on the center of your stomach, then your chest, and then your jugular. When they plant one on your jaw, they lean in real close, “I’ll make sure to treat you right.”

Nocter’s long tongue splays against your jaw, licking a stripe up your cheek as one of their hands moves from your chest to the waistband of your shorts. They slip a couple fingers underneath, lightly petting the area right above your crotch. They’re such a tease, and you love it.

Nocter pecks the side of your face, over and over, while their hand moves further and further down your body at an agonizing pace. Their hot breath sends goosebumps down your neck, washing over your face as they exhale with every kiss. You catch them off guard when you turn your head toward them, catching their lips-mid peck and eagerly sticking your tongue outward. They purr with delight, their thin almost-lips quickly devouring you.

A long string of saliva connects the two of you as you detach, taking the time to shimmy out of your shirt. You pull them closer, your hands digging into their shoulder muscles and fingers just brushing over the long ridges on their back. They chuckle once again, pulling their fingers out your shorts and merely digging their palm into the fabric of your crotch.

“Eager, huh?”

“Shut up,” You mumble in between kisses, “This is for me, isn’t it?”

“Ohoho,” kiss, “Someone’s showing their feisty side a little early.” kiss, “What happened to my benevolent, saintly saviour?” kiss.

You pull away from their lips, quickly latching onto the crux of their neck and taking a nip. “S’not fair.” You say, taking a deep whiff of their skin as you suck and bite. They smell like brimstone and a bonfire, not quite what you 're expecting, but not unpleasant. “You can’t tease me like that and not-” Your cut off as the pad of one Nocters fingers presses up against your entrance, the fabric only amplifying the sensation as they begin to tease it.

“Deliver?” Nocter finishes, sinfully smug. You throw them a glare. “I’m a good guest, scout’s honor.”

You roll your eyes right before they lock you into another kiss, rubbing the pads of their fingers up and down your crotch. They use their hand to push you backwards, sinking deeper into the mattress as they situate their knees under your thighs. One they pull back from the kiss, your face and lips thoroughly debauched, your legs are splayed up on their pelvis and they easily slip off your bottoms. Nocter takes a whiff of your underwear, the crotch now slightly damp, giving you a wink before they throw it over their shoulder.

You jerk your hips slightly upward, and Nocter tuts.

“Patience, sweetling.” They roll a hand down your abdomen, fingers splaying onto your stomach, nails just teasing the skin. With a kiss to your inside calf, Nocters hand ghosts across your entrance. You can’t help biting your lip, the heat and their touch sending your mind into a frenzy.

They continue a path of kisses down your leg, now pressing their finger right up against your hole. They only pause to suck on their index and middle fingers, coating them with a heavy and blue-tinted saliva. Once they’ve reached the middle of your thigh, nipping at the apex, they sink into you.

Nocter’s fingers are long, articulated and move with sure movements. They start off slow, scissoring you open, simpering as you dig your nails into your bed sheets. The pads of their fingers push against your walls, just grazing sensitive spots as they make a slow ‘come hither’ motion. Your hips jerk forward, humping into their palm. They smirk against your skin, nipping another love bite as they retract their fingers until only the tip remains. You catch your breath, holding it until they sink back into you, shoving their fingers forward with far more force.

You whimper as their fingers pull back, only to follow with quicker thrusts. Nocter’s aim is pin-point in finding the most pleasurable spots inside you, the feeling only amplified by the pinpricks of their teeth into the fat of your thigh. The tip of their tongue licks hot trails of spit tantalizingly close to your hole, which clenches around their bony fingers. The slick sound of your juices, the skin of their palm slapping against yours, is downright pornographic.

Your legs try to clamp around their shoulders, the overwhelming stimuli triggering an instant reaction, but Nocter pins your right leg down to your bed easily, never losing focus on fingering you. The tips of their claws trace the inside of your leg, the hard edge of their wrist digging into fat.  Your fingers reach to grip around something, anything to keep you grounded as the knot in your stomach grows tighter and tighter. They find their way around Nocter’s left wrist; You’re almost afraid you’ll leave bruises, before remembering how sturdy every part of their body seems to be.

You let out a whimper as the crests of an orgasm seem to overwhelm you, nearly gasping as Nocter quickly removes their fingers. In any other state of mind you might have made a comment, look down and wonder why they’ve stopped. But the heat in your belly compels you to grip their wrist tight and to throw your hips upwards. With a desperate breath, you plead,

“P-please! Please, don’t stop.”

Nocter doesn’t chuckle, doesn’t make a sly remark about your neediness or your lewd movements. They lean forward, giving another kiss right below your navel, and pet your wrist.

“Of course, dearie.”

With a wink, they lean down a lick a long stripe up your hole, giving one last kiss to your leg before plunging their tongue inside.

You didn’t think it was possible for them to reach even deeper inside you with their tongue than their fingers, but the sparks which fly in your core say otherwise. The ridges of Nocters tongue brush against your walls as they flick the appendage back and forth, the tip pressing forward with controlled motions. It doesn’t thrash back and forward haphazardly, but reaches for those sensitive spots and plays with them.

“Oh, f-fuck!” You yelp, feeling an icy-cold liquid run down your ass. From the sound of smacking lips and muffled moans, it must be Nocter’s saliva. They let out a groan, pushing their jaw forward as their eyes clenched shut. The hand on your leg pinches skin as it tightens up, the other pressing your hips down, but the pressure they apply is phantom at best. Nocter seems to revel in your pleading humps for more, meeting each movement with a thrust of their jaw, the base of their tongue stretching you open.

The two of you keep that rhythm for what feels like an eternity, but is probably only a couple of minutes. Sweat drips down your chest and off of your belly, your legs muscles on fire as you continue to push upward and into Nocter’s face. You start feeling that impending wave begin to crest again, with your limbs shaking and your throat hoarse.

“Nocter, I’m gonna cum. I’m gonna-I’m so close!”

This time, Nocter doesn’t let up on their pace, reaching one hand down to deliver a hard slap on your ass and forcing a yelp out of you. Your speech devolves into slurred curses and your hands move to touch them, to find some grasp in reality. Nocter continues to suck and tongue-fuck your hole as your thighs clench around their head. Your humps are tiny and weak, your lower half barely holding itself up.

The knot gets tighter, a firecracker fuse about to blow in your abdomen. In the heat of the moment, your hands find their way to Nocter’s scalp and grab onto the base of their antlers. Their moan rumbles through you, right before you yank their head forward, their tongue hitting the deepest part of you as you shutter and-

“I’m cumming!”

Another moan vibrates against your hole as your body shudders and jolts, your hips still pressed firmly against Nocter’s face. But in the next moment, a heavy weight falls over your body, slumping you down onto the bed. Your chest heaves, eye’s fuzzy as Nocter’s tongue ‘pop’s out of you.

Your gaze wanders over your stucco ceiling, droplets of sweat rolling down your neck as you try and catch your breath. You can feel Nocter’s large hands rolling a massage into your thighs, their own heavy breathing brushing over your crotch.

A fuzzy shape of pure black comes into your vision as Nocter hovers over you, their body hovering just an inch above yours. They give you a small peck on the cheek.

“Feel good?” They whisper.

All you can do is nod, your shaky hands wandering over their back. There’s no sign of sweat on their skin, but you can feel the heat running off of it as they nuzzle into your neck.

As your fingers dance over the ride of their back, you can hear the rumble of a low purr coming from their chest, but they stay hovering over your body. You press your hands into their back, applying weak pressure to encourage them to relax.

“It seems I’ve repaid my debt.” Nocter murmurs into your ear, pushing themselves up onto their hands, pulling even farther from you as their eye’s look around your room. You keep your hands wrapped around their waist, stopping them from fully getting up. They look back to you, white eyes slightly widening.

“Would you-” You take another deep breath, “Want to stay? For the night?”

Nocter stares at you, the black void of their face almost unreadable. But when they run a claw down the side of your face, it burns with affection and longing.

“Would you want that?”

Your room is nearly pitch black, only the lights of the street peeking in between your curtains. Nocter’s body seems to absorb all light near it, their hot body like a heating pad. But their eyes are so bright, so full, so mesmerizing; Like a full moon on the dark city sky.

“Yes, I would.”

Nocter’s nods, their expression barely changing, but you think you can see a hint of a smile amidst all the black. They let their body relax, pressing their chest against yours as they sink into the sheets and nuzzle back into your neck.

You can smell the sweat coating your body and feel the way you stick to the sheets. Frankly, the both of you kind of smell.

But it doesn’t stop you from snuggling into Nocter’s body, eye’s heavy as you peacefully fall into sleep.

[laequiem]

kiss you off my lips - folktober day 5

Jurdannet Folktober 2021- Day 05. She who pulls the strings @jurdannet @jurdannetrevels

Fandom: The Folk of the Air

Pairing: Jude Duarte/Cardan Greenbriar but seen through Nicasia/Cardan Greenbriar? lol

Rating: mature

Word count: 2,532

The Puppet King, my subjects call me. Allegedly, the Living Council pulls the strings, controlling me from behind the scenes. They think themselves subtle, but I hear their whispers. Their words, however, slide off my armor like rain. After all, I have heard them countless times, from other’s lips or from my own mind. I was my mother’s puppet, then Balekin, and now I am Jude’s.

read on ao3

Masterlist • She kills my self-control masterpost

The Puppet King, my subjects call me. Allegedly, the Living Council pulls the strings, controlling me from behind the scenes. They think themselves subtle, but I hear their whispers. Their words, however, slide off my armor like rain. After all, I have heard them countless times, from other’s lips or from my own mind. I was my mother’s puppet, then Balekin, and now I am Jude’s.

Most days—more than a King, more than a marionette—I feel like a courtesan. Dabbling in steamy displays with courtiers I am barely interested in, all to keep the façade of the immoral king. I pretend at power, desperate for a nod of approval from my seneschal, while she does all the work. Of course, she had never asked me to whore myself out.

Until today.

I do not know who started our tumbling. Maybe I did, my anger blinding me to the foolishness of what we were about to do, in that small room behind the dais. Forgetting that touching Jude again would remind me of everything I have tried to forget since that day she rode me in her rooms. When I kissed her, that anger melted away, replaced immediately with the desire I have been helplessly fighting against for years.

Or maybe this was Jude’s plan all along. She is more faerie than she seems, at least in the way she schemes and bargains. I will charm Nicasia and get her the info she wants. In exchange, she gave me what I want: her.

Her tart taste lingers in my mouth. I did not kneel for her this time, but licking her taste off my fingers made me regret not indulging that particular thirst.

I find Nicasia easily, splendid in a pearl white gown, talking to Randalin. The small sprite does not stand a chance against her. His goat eyes shift towards me, then he bows deeply. Nicasia turns to me, unable to hide her surprise and delight that I have come to her.

“Cardan,” she croons.

Randalin chokes on nothing, animal eyes going wide. I raise a brow at Nicasia and cross my arms.

“Your Majesty,” she corrects herself, a purplish tint blossoming on her cheeks. I will never tire of this.

“Princess Nicasia.” I take her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Would you accompany me on a walk? For old time’s sake.”

“It would be my pleasure,” she beams up at me.

We make boring small talk as we walk, her arm looped around my elbow. The path leads us away from the Palace, towards the beach separating the Shifting Isles. Jude seemed to think Nicasia still liked me, and I suppose I can see it. She looks up at me with clear interest, though the conversation is as weary as can be. I work my charm up even more. A small hibiscus shrub blossoms as we walk past and I pluck a flower, tucking it in her hair with a calculated graze of my knuckles against her cheek.

The sea does not rise to greet us as we set foot on the sand.

“The sea is unnaturally calm,” I say.

I chuck off my shoes and Nicasia’s eyes dart straight to my bare feet. I hope Jude does not ask me if she was right that Nicasia still holds feelings for me, I fear I would not be able to lie.

“It is,” she says, turning back towards the sea.

I slowly uncuff my shirt for the second time today. I chase away the memories of Jude’s curious fingers on me. The way she explored and grabbed at me like she needed to figure me out, to plan out how to efficiently unravel me next time.

Next time.

I hope there is a next time.

“I must admit I am surprised,” I tell her nonchalantly, "I thought the Undersea always made true on their threats.”

I will the nearest tree to stretch out a branch towards me. I unbutton my shirt and remove it, then hang it on the branch.

“What do you mean?” Nicasia asks.

She turns to me. The way she devours me with her eyes takes me back to a time of shared wickedness and complicity. A time when it was us against the world, a time when she chose me over my siblings.

Until she chose Locke over me.

Now do you believe me that she wants you? Jude had asked. I suppose I do.

At one point, this look on Nicasia’s face would have set all my nerves on fire. Now, I feel the same as when strangers ogle me.

“Cleave together lest you face the rising tide,” I singsong, reciting the words from Queen Orlagh’s minion at the Hunter’s Moon revel in the same melody they used. “Yet the sea stays quiet. I take it your kind has another plan.”

I reach for the lace holding together my breeches and pull at the knot. Nicasia looks down at her hands, suddenly captivated by her nails.

“Perhaps,” she says too quickly. “Or perhaps we hope you will come to your senses.”

“We all hope so.”

Including me. Just not about this particular issue. My issue is of the mortal kind, the kind who deals in secrets and knives.

I hang my pants next to my shirt. Nicasia is still fully dressed, standing with her back straight and her lips tightly shut. I stop in front of her and trail a finger up her arm before slipping it under one of the straps of her dress.

“Will you not join me, Princess?”

My tail brushes up her spine and she arches towards me. I don’t wait for her to answer, though. I run into the sea.

The water is cold, unwelcoming. Before becoming High King, the salt water would not have bothered me as much. With only minor magic, only ingesting salt would have hurt me. Now, it grates at my skin like sandpaper, as if eating away my skin to get to the magic within. My magic recoils from any part of me in contact with the water. It’s heinous. I would rather take a dip in the Lake of Masks.

On the shore, Nicasia strips off her dress, hose, heels, tiara, everything. Then, she runs towards the water in a wave of blue-tinged skin and blue hair. She dives under, agile and more in her element than I could ever be.

She resurfaces next to me, a smile on her painted lips.

“Like old times,” she says.

“Like old times, but so much more complicated.” I sigh, then cast my line. “It used to be so easy.”

She takes a step towards me, biting the bait. “What was?”

And I reel it in.

“Everything,” I say with a frown. I take a step towards her, and put my hand on her cheek. “Us.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” she says softly.

“It does.” I sigh again. “Do you realize how hard it is to please everyone? The Living Council is always on my case. And my seneschal—”

She groans. “Why do you even keep her around?”

Because she commands me. Because she is the true ruler of Elfhame. Because I love her.

“I have to.”

Nicasia puts her hand over mine. Her fingers are webbed now, I notice. No gills, however. I suppose she knows I have no desire to ever follow her under again. Now that I am High King, I don’t have to—unlike when I was no more than the lover of the Future Queen of the Undersea.

I wonder if Nicasia notices the way I look at Jude. I wonder if I used to look at her like that, or if it was something else. I did love Nicasia, once, but it was never as labyrinthine.

I try to emulate that look just now, I try to look at her like I used to. Nicasia is still the same beautiful creature she always was: a perfectly symmetrical face composed of sharp angles and large, deep eyes. She is beautiful in the way a painting is, a piece of art to be admired. Just like art, she can make you feel things—but it’s nothing as primordial as what I feel for Jude. Like she is the beating heart I am tethered to.

“There are things I can choose for myself.”

I stroke her cheek with my thumb. She leans into my touch, angling her head towards my hand.

“… things?” Nicasia asks.

“Lovers. Consorts.” I lean in towards her ear and whisper, “A Queen.”

The words sound so wrong, they claw at my throat as they come out. I am surprised I can even say them, but they are not lies. I simply have no desire to make Nicasia any of these things.

“Ca—Your Majesty,” she gasps.

“We’re in private. Cardan is fine.”

I kiss the soft spot under her ear, then pull at the lobe with my teeth. Her skin tastes salty. Like seawater, of course, not the salty tang of sweat drying on skin after an exhausting training session. The point of her ear is unsettling, sharp like a blade.

“Cardan.” She slides a hand behind my neck, toying with my hair the way she knows I like. “Why refuse me so often then?”

I pull back to look at her, my hands roaming down to settle on her small waist.

“My subjects think me… young. Foolish.” I look towards the Palace, the grassy hill looming over the trees. “They already say I am a puppet.”

“They are the fools,” she spits.

I shake my head. “I am a fool. Regardless, if I were to marry so early after being crowned, they would think you the mother of puppets. The one who pulls my strings.”

“Especially given my mother’s insistence,” she says and I nod.

I pull her to me, her hips pressing against mine. Bone against bone. Wildly different from the soft but strong body I was exploring hours earlier.

“Politics, you know.” I sigh. “Tedious.”

I think I am overdoing it on the sighs, but what can I say? I am quite dramatic, even when I am not acting.

“Still,” I lean in, barely a hair’s breadth away from her face, “I have a say in whom I woo.”

Our lips crash together like waves on rocks. Hers are cold, which is fitting seeing how unaffected I am by this. It’s the kind of lustful kiss I give my partners, no feelings other than desire. My body is not fooled, however—kissing Nicasia has about the same effect on me as listening to Fala’s ramblings. I tip her head backward and she complies, malleable and utterly bewitched. My other hand slides from her hip to her buttox. I squeeze a barely-there cheek and she giggles against my mouth.

One of her hands is tangled in my hair while the other one slips from my shoulder down my back. As she has always done, she avoids my scars like they are made of iron. When we were together, I thought it was for my own sake that she never acknowledged them. That she was being kind, in her own way. When I had fresh wounds and I refused to take off my clothes, she understood. But when I ended it and my mind stormed to figure out what went wrong and led her astray, it started to feel more intentional. Like she sees my scars as weakness and she fears that touching them would contaminate her.

“I miss us,” she whispers against my lips.

I only hum an agreement, pulling away to kiss at her throat. Her hand continues its careful trek down my back, until she gets at the base on my spine. A dreadful shiver goes up my spine as I anticipate what she is about to do. Sure enough, her fingers circle the base of my tail. She strokes it, letting it slip between her fingers for the whole length of it. I jerk away, take a step back. As if to spite me, the sea places a slimy rock right under my foot and I slip, falling backwards into the water with the grace of a drunken redcap.

I spit out no less than a gallon of water as I resurface, choking on the salt that is sure to take days to leave my system. Nicasia’s mouth is twisted up in remnants of a smile, her eyes glinting with amusement.

“What happened?” she asks as I stand.

“Something… touched me,” I grumble, a faerie truth if nothing else.

She reaches out, moving a wet strand of hair away from my face. “The High King is afraid of a little fishie?”

I scowl, then splash her with water. “I am not afraid.”

Nicasia chuckles. I shrug her off, starting towards the beach.

“Leaving already?” she teases.

“My guards will start looking for me soon enough, if my seneschal isn’t already on her way.”

Nicasia grunts, probably rolling her eyes dramatically as she follows behind me. “That mortal has too much power.”

I stop in front of the branch I left my clothes on. I still feel the salt on my skin, drying there as the water drips away. I grab my tail and wring water from the tuft at the end of it.

“Does she?” I ask, bored.

“Yes!” Nicasia steps around and puts herself between me and the branch. “What will our world become if mortals do not learn their place? As their power grows, we ought to unite. The Land. The Sea.”

“Nicasia—” I start, but she interrupts me.

“The sea is growing impatient, Cardan,” Nicasia continues, a hint of irritation hidden under the usually pleasant lilt of her voice. “My mother thinks the Land is weak, she might act any moment.”

I inspect my nails, picking a grain of salt from under one of them. “If the Crown is so weak, why try to unite with us at all?”

“I want us to be united,” she spreads her hands, palm up.

“And I want to bathe. Your regnal birthright is quite cold.”

I step around her and start dressing up. Behind me, I hear her stop, then the rustling of fabric.

“Do not jest,” she scolds. “What she’s planning—you should take it seriously.”

“I do. And I will think it over, once I am warmed up.” I finish cuffing my shirt, then hold my arm out for her. “Will you accompany me?”

Arm in arm, we return to the Palace. Even without their High King, the Folk still partake in their traditional merriment. Unheeding of my vague promises and empty words, Nicasia spends the rest of the night at my side. We trade kisses and caresses for everyone to see. Later, we move to the rooms assigned to her to do more of the same, to bathe and exchange soft whispers. When I leave Nicasia’s chambers, she hands me notes regarding her mother’s plans to attack during Taryn Duarte’s wedding.

As I collapse on my bed, finally alone, I curse Jude’s name for being right. Still, her name is the last thing on my mind as I drift asleep.

-

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[acourtofsnakes]

Kyr’am - Rogue Chapter 5| The Mandalorian x Force Sensitive! Reader (f)

Summary: Sick of the countless failures, Moff Gideon decides to call in the big guns. 

Warnings: Not many in this one, but mentions of violence(brief), brief mention of suicide, (literally barely touching on it), does another cliffhanger count as a warning?

AN: Ooooooo, new people 👀

As always, credit to whoever owns the gif. I usually find them on Google or Pinterest, so message me if it’s yours ♥︎

Wordcount: About 2184, a short one this time for introduction purposes

Rogue Taglist: @snipskixandbeskar   @weirdowithnobeardo 

Rogue Masterlist | Introduction| 1: Solus| 2: Arir | 3: Tor | 4: Gaa'tayl | 5: Kyr’am | 

Mando’a translation: Kyr’am - Death 

The atmosphere in the light cruiser was… tense. Beyond tense, actually. The tension as almost a living thing, vibrating throughout the room and threatening to explode into destruction if someone said but one thing wrong. 

Moff Gideon stood at the head of the huge table, staring at the holo-image in the middle of it with a look of distinct distaste. His hands were clasped behind his back as he surveyed the image, a young woman wearing a cloak, fire in her eyes and a ridiculously high bounty above her head. His anger and disappointment were evident, obvious to the men and women seated around the table before him. 

There was a break in the air, and then a young woman, Gideon’s Comms Officer and assistant, decked out in the dark grey green uniform walked in. Her even, regimented steps echoed on the floor and she stopped a little way away, offering a quick salute, “Sir, I have just received the report you requested from our spies in the field.”

The air tightened in the room, the people seated around the table holding their breath, hoping it was good. Hoping it wasn’t what had been rumoured. 

Gideon looked away from the table, seeing what his people were holding out for. He turned to his assistant, nodded for her to continue. 

The woman looked across the table, a glint in her eye and a faint smirk dancing across her lips fleetingly. “They got in touch with the contact who was representing you. Apparently, the hunter succeeded in finding the target.”

The collection of people around the table sagged in relief, one even going so far as to rub his eyes as he let out a sigh. 

The assistant couldn’t hide her smirk this time, allowing it for a few seconds, “And then he went rogue.”

Gideon knew this already, but this is a punishment for the people that promised him he’d get what he wanted “Rogue? What do you mean by that, officer?”

“He found the target and began to bring her back as requested. They got into an altercation at another planet, some witnesses said there was a fight in a back alley and the last they saw was the target dragging the hunter back to his ship.”

The table was still, dread beginning to curl around the room like a snake, twining around feet and legs and flicking out a tongue to taste the danger that lingered on the horizon. 

“And then?”

The assistant’s voice came out clear, almost disinterested, “And the next thing that we have, is the tracker and puck being destroyed. As of half an hour ago, no one knows where they are.”

Gideon dismissed her then turned to the table. He sighed, looking at the man who had recommended the Hunter this time, “’The best there is.’ That is what you told me, captain. ‘He’ll have her within a week and be back here to collect his reward.’ Well, captain, it’s been a week.” He spread his hands, his eyebrows raising in a mock expression of wonder. He looked around the room, then back at the captain, “Where is she? Are you hiding her under your seat?” 

The captain swallowed harshly, a sheen of sweat crawling over his skin. He kept his hands under the table because they were shaking, “N-no, sir.”

Gideon shrugged, that false wonder still in his voice too, “Then where is she? I took a great risk in following your advice. And it hasn’t paid off.”

“Sir, please! I didn’t know this would happen. I thought the bounty on her would be enough to keep him straight. My sources said he was running out of money, that he was exchanging favours instead of credits for the repair of his ship. He couldn’t have turned that money down. I don’t know what happened, maybe she tricked him. Used her power to-“

Gideon’s hands slammed onto the table, echoed only by his snarl, “Enough.”  

The captain cut off, unable to stop the pitiful whimper. No one moved, no one looked at him. They all knew what was inevitably coming. 

Gideon pointed at the pain, “Don’t you dare try to make a fool of me. It’s on your authority that this has gone wrong again.” He straightened up, “Every single one of you is to blame. Each one of you let me down. You will be punished. As it is, I have found other means. Expensive means.”

A lady lifted her hand, trembling. 

Gideon’s eyes slipped to her, his eyebrows raising just slightly. 

The lady swallowed, “Everyone knows she hasn’t used that power since she was a child. As far as we know, it doesn’t even exist in her anymore. I.. what’s the point?” 

Gideon looked at her, his dark eyes simmering but he said nothing. 

Only for a man across from the captain to speak up, “She’s right. They say if one of those types doesn’t use their power, they forget how to wield it. The Child repressed his powers for decades.”

Gideon was impatient now, waved his hand dismissively, “And then used it repeatedly in presence of the Mandalorian. It can come back. I have proof that it has. She used her power to heal him.”

“But, sir, we don’t know that-“

The atmosphere in the room noticeably shifted again. This time, the danger became something so much more. 

It became a truly living thing that pressed against the traitors around the table. It licked down their bones, caressed their minds but it sung a song of death and destruction. 

The door slid open, and then a figure walked into the room. 

He was clad head to toe in black, a black so dark it seemed to suck the light of the room. 

His tall, lithe body was armed with weapons of every variety, everything one could possibly imagine and more that were only rumoured, weapons that had been made just for him. 

He stalked into the room with all the ease of a predator walking into the den of some small, helpless animals. And relished in the sheer power he had without even trying. 

The harsh lighting of the room glinted off the blade sheathed down his back. The scabbard was engraved with symbols, symbols that had long since been used. The hilt was as black as his outfit, and intricately carved. If he had unsheathed it, the blade would have been as deep as obsidian, and so sharp it could have sliced off someone’s hand with a mere whisper. 

He stopped at the opposite end of the table to Gideon, shoulders back, posture tall and at ease, but coiled beneath the surface, waiting to strike. 

A hood covered his face, gold embroidery picked out by the lights and snaking around the edges of the hood. 

No light pierced the shadow that fell over his face, keeping him anonymous.  

Clearly the captain realised he wasn’t getting off this ship, because he suddenly broke the deathly silence by laughing. “Seriously? Is it dress up day or something?” He looked around the room at the horrified expressions looking back at him, “What? Are we supposed to be scared or something?” His arrogance was barred by the sweat pooling into the neckline of his uniform, the frantic pulse at his throat.

The night-clad figure said nothing. Merely rested his gloved hands on the table. A simple act. 

But the air in the room vibrated, a warning. 

Gideon inclined his head toward the figure, “Thank you for coming. You understand that I would have left your services be if these fools hadn’t failed me.”

The cloaked man nodded once, a slow incline of his head that somehow said everything he needed to. That he wouldn’t even have paid attention otherwise. 

Another woman at the table, a general, inquired quietly, “His services, sir? Does this mean-“

“Yes, General. It does. Never in my life have I been so spectacularly let down by a group of people before. You were supposed to the best in your fields, yet you couldn’t give me one tiny little girl.”

The woman swallowed, nodded and looked at the table in submission. 

Again, the Captain added another nail to his coffin, “You’re giving this freak the job? If we couldn’t find her, if even Trandoshans and Troopers and two Mandalorian’s can’t get her, what makes you think he’s qualified?” He stabbed a finger toward the figure, who remained silent, a predator watching their next mean. 

Gideon glared at him, losing his patience with this captain, “Because he is the best there is.” 

A snort from the foolish captain, “Oh? And why would you bring him in just now? Why not before?” 

Gideon’s glare could have cut through metal, his words clipped, “Because he has a very unique skill set that I would rather not be associated with using. However, because of this situation and the necessity of obtaining her, it makes him the most qualified.”

“Skill set? Like what? Is he going to bed the girl and then drag her in? Or does he have a-“

The captain’s words were cut off with a gurgle, and his eyes went wide. His chair pushed back and then he was rising from his seat, as if pulled up by strings. Every limb of his body was frozen, rigid. Like he was no longer in control. 

The figure had finally moved, lifting one of those gloved hands in a gesture that was almost casual. He tilted his head within his cloak, and a voice like silk slipped out, far too soft, far too seductive to belong to anyone good, “Perhaps you’ve been living under a rock and you’ve simply never heard of me.” His voice was crooning, desirable. It belonged to the deepest pits, full of monsters and creatures. It was the very darkness that plagued you, seduced you in a voice like honey – and then devoured you. 

Undiluted terror dawned on the captain’s face. He flinched, twitching, trying to claw at the invisible hold on his throat that was slowly crushing his windpipe. 

The cloaked figure lifted his head, like he was scenting the fear oozing from the captain. 

This man was a dark legend. A rumour that you had to be crazy to whisper, for fear of unleashing his dark wrath upon the speaker. Many, many people had heard the rumours of a hunter so precise, so ruthless that he left no trace. People went missing, and then showed up days later completely unrecognisable, bodies so destroyed that even the most advanced robots couldn’t extract enough DNA to give the victims a name. 

His work wasn’t messy though, that’s what made him so terrifying. 

It wasn’t just clean and efficient. It was beautiful. This was a man that relished in his skillset, lived for the hunt and the kill. Breathed it. It ran through his veins, worked the muscles of his heart. 

The fiercest warriors had dropped to their knees and wept for their lives before him. Mere mortals had died just from the sight of him.

As soon as he got the scent of someone, they may as well have ended their own lives to spare the pain. 

Many had. And it still didn’t stop him from finding the bodies and playing.  

The rumours also whispered that he wasn’t human. That he had sold his soul but even the vilest of monsters hadn’t wanted it. They’d taken one look and given it back. He wasn’t born by the Maker; he was something else entirely. He had no trace of soul in him aside from the Force, which he had twisted and utilised for his formidable beauty and indescribable actions.  

Gideon watched him play with the Captain, “You will receive the payment on her head and more. We know your prices and are grateful for your services, you may have whatever you need to assist you.”

The man flicked a finger and the Captain dropped to the ground, some guards dragging him away, “Just stay out of my way. You can keep the kid and the Mandalorian, but the girl is mine when you’re done with her.” The possession in his voice when said the word, “mine” sent a chill down the spines of everyone in the room. There was no room for disagreement, for challenge. They would finish what they needed to do with you, and then you would be given to him. Probably wrapped in a bow. 

Then he was gone, walking out of the room in a preternatural silence. 

This man… he didn’t just exude fear. He was fear. His were the eyes in the dark that watched you walk home.  He was the voice that whispered when no-one else could hear. His breath was the kiss of ice that licked down your spine when you were alone, making you lock the doors, pull the bed covers up higher. But he was like smoke, he seeped through the cracks, through carefully built defences and invaded, slumbering like a beast within, without his host even realising. 

He was death. 

And he was coming for you. 

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[here-for-jaskier]

Jaskier (the bard named after a flower)

Read it on AO3

Jaskier means buttercup. Familiar was the small, stubborn plant found along roadsides and in meadows. As if dressed up, it shone in a bright yellow between the pale daisies or the puny grasses. Before the young bard, who followed him out of a tavern to the end of the world and had just that name, Geralt had not paid any attention to them.

It had taken Geralt some time to ask himself for the first time why his companion had chosen this name as his own. He had plucked off a single stalk because it had grown together with the wolf's bane. Wide-open was the chalice, gracefully formed from yellow curved leaves that shimmered in the sun while Geralt turned them in his hands. As the flower slipped from his fingers, slowly sailing to the ground, the question also disappeared from his mind again.

Not until on a night that stretched over their heads like a black cloth decorated with thousands and thousands of pearls that the witcher had managed to bring the question over his lips. For a split second, Jaskier's facial expression slipped away, but a blink of an eye later he smiled. A sad smile that resembled more a grimace and did not reach his cornflower-blue eyes.

"People remember it better," he had simply claimed, "Short and memorable. No one appreciates musicians with a long name."

They were loose words. Anyone would have been satisfied with that answer. The short twitch in Jaskier's hands, the way his fingers restlessly ran over the wide ring on his left hand, Geralt revealed that there was more behind it.

"But why Jaskier?", he checked once more, felt the heavy heartbeat next to him under the starry sky, intoxicated and full of uncertainty. The witcher did not receive an answer. Instead, Jaskier only reached for the opened bottle of wine, the sweet and sour taste which was still on their tongues and which wrapped their senses in cotton wool.

"More wine, Geralt?"

---

Geralt often thought back to that evening. Mostly of her conversation before that, of the jokes, of the smile Jaskier had given him and which covered him in daylight even in the darkest hours of the night. Only after his question did it fade away, as if dark clouds had slid in front of the sparkle in his iris. He had not succeeded in pushing these shadows aside that night. Only the next morning, when the sun climbed up the horizon sleepily, did Jaskier blink between his long brown lashes.

Their breakfast had consisted of leftovers from dinner and blueberries, whose sweet juice had welcomed the beautiful day as much as the birds' emerging chirping. As if he had dreamed of the strangely tense mood at night, Jaskier was awake and alert. Lively and loud as always, despite the alcohol.

Geralt couldn't remember every detail, but he knew he didn't want to see Jaskier's sad face again, the way his shoulders bent under the load like the leaves of a flower threatening to break under the weight. 

But there were things that Geralt could not prevent. Every flower faded at some point. Slowly time robbed them of the color of their blooms, let them wither and eventually the wind would carry them away into nothingness. Forgotten and that after only too short a time. Jaskier would not fare any differently. During their time together Geralt had realized that the human body seemed fragile like glass. A simple cold, a wrong step, a wound could make him splinter and the shards would bore deep into Geralt's heart. Into his much too soft heart, which lay in Jaskiers fragile and mortal hands. Desperation devoured him over the weeks, the closer Jaskier came to him.

Until he knew no other way. That day on the mountain, far from civilization, between rocks and softly whispering grass, Jaskier had looked again like the flower whose name he carried. Like a flower that had been stepped on too often, suffered too much, and which at some point looked like the muddy ground with torn blooms and leafs. Every color had disappeared from Jaskier's face when Geralt's words hit him like kicks. The glow in his eyes went out, while tears rose in them. With a feeling as if a rope had been pulled around his chest, Geralt remembered the sound of Jaskier's last words, which he whispered muffled before turning away. Even his favorite instrument had been stolen from him by the witcher. 

In return, Jaskier took Geralt's heart with him that day. If he had believed that he would not have to bear the pain if the bard disappeared from his life, Geralt had been mistaken. He felt empty and burnt out. Like a lump of coal whose energy had evaporated, the cold took over. He was incomplete, where he walked and stood. His thoughts hung on the bard, with the name of a flower, while Geralt did his daily duty without anyone waiting for him after the hunt or sharing his bed. Jaskier's scent, a mixture of pinewood and honey and something very own that belonged to him completely, evaporated from his things and his mind, was blown away, no matter how hard the witcher tried to keep him safe.

With every morning Geralt woke up alone and realized that it would go on like this for the rest of his days, he wanted to scream but he couldn't make a sound because he thought he was drowning in the cold of the loneliness that lay like dust on everything.

Until that day when their paths crossed again.Unspectacular, unexpected as if the cunning fate of Geralt wanted to play a trick that evening.Like the breeze on a warm summer day, the familiar voice welcomed him as he pushed open the door to the tavern and saw Jaskier.

He laughed, he sang. He didn't appreciate Geralt's agonizing hours not one look, while the blue eyes flashed across the room and followed the clapping and dancing of the crowd. Only his pulse told the witcher that his presence had not gone unnoticed. Meanwhile, his gaze rested on Jaskier, greedily grasping every detail as if the bard could vanish into thin air at any moment and disappear forever.At the same time, the shame was boiling in Geralt. For all the angry words resting on his chest and squeezing the air out of him like an ugly animal. Guilt weighed on him and the question if Jaskier wasn't better off without him, had more joy in a real-life without mutants, gnawed at his entrails.

But more burning was the desire under his skin. The longing for the bard, for his petty touches that brought butterflies to life in his stomach area. The desire to kiss him spread the wings in his heart suppressed everything and filled him with ease. There was nothing he wished for more than to run his tingling fingertips through his dark brown soft hair, to look into the blue eyes that were more intense than Geralt remembered and reminded him more than ever of fallen pieces of the sky.

He want Jaskier, at his side, as long as fate gave them and if he had to let him go, he wanted to hold his hand until that moment, knowing that never again would a flower attract his gaze like Jaskier.

All this was stronger than Geralt's cowardice. So his shaky legs followed the younger one, who had finished his performance and was heading for the back exit until suddenly they were facing each other.The blue doublet's fabric glittered in the dancing candlelight as Jaskier raised his head and tensed his shoulders as if preparing for a thunderous storm that was about to hit him at any moment.

"Jaskier..-", Geralt began, in a rough voice."What is it, Geralt?", Jaskier replied violently and crossed his arms in front of his chest. With this, he could not hide the trembling of his fingers.

"I..-", Geralt produced, indecisive as he could pronounce what he felt. How sorry he was could hardly be put into words, just as he felt. Ashamed, he lowered his head, fixed the worn-out floorboards on which various footprints were visible.

"Do you know why Jaskier suits me so well?", the bard asked out of nowhere. Abruptly Geralt looked up and when their eyes met, the fire cast soft shadows on the younger one's face. His eyes spoke of pain and shimmered moistly as he continued.

"Buttercups are useless," he said, almost spitting out the words, "You can tear them out as often as you want, but they always grow back where you don't need them."

The first tear made its way across his cheek, mysteriously reflecting the light before Jaskier wiped them away in anger."My parents were right, weren't they? It fits," he said bitterly, turning to leave. Without hesitation, Geralt grabbed his arm, held him tight.

Startled, Jaskier looked at him. More tears rolled, hanging on his lashes as he looked down, unable to look into the eyes that reminded him of splinters of amber."That's not true", Geralt croaked. His heart was beating up to his neck, "I need you."Doubt and shock were visible on Jaskier's face. He bit his lips for a moment when Geralt's hand was already in his neck.

Goosebumps trickled over his skin as he ran his fingers carefully through his unruly hair.

"Buttercups still glow at dusk", Geralt whispered, "They are poisonous and are therefore rarely eaten", he continued, with every word they came closer to each other.

"They do not displace, they do not grow over, they protect when they are close to other plants."With his thumb, Geralt wiped away the last tear, as timidly as if Jaskier could break under the touch.

"They can be found even in the darker swamps", Geralt said, while they stood there leaning forehead to forehead. Jaskier trembled all over his body, his fingers clawing into Geralt's shirt. He became dizzy from the proximity and the scent that enveloped him. He breathed in deeply.

"They give light and hope," he whispered. Warm, hectic breath brushed against his throat. For a second he sank into Jaskier's eyes of the deep shimmering blue that made him forget everything.

"And they are beautiful."With these words he bent over, his hand still on the bard's cheek, sealing her lips in a kiss.He tasted salty tears and hot embers, the surprise and all the colours of this world and every fibre in his body trembled. Carefully they breathed through his nose before Jaskier pulls him closer.His lips curled into a smile, the first in a long time, as a warmth spread through him as if someone had dipped him in hot water.

He only dared to breathe as they parted tentatively, hearts pounding, drunk with happiness. When Jaskier smiled at him, embarrassed and with a twinkle in his eyes, Geralt knew that spring had returned to his life. But what did he care about the other flowers?

He had found his. His only and favorite one.

[nitannichionne]

Leading Lady, Chapter 8: Sleepover (A Henry Cavill Cast Fic)

Chapter 8: Sleepover (Kitara POV)

It was sort of weird.

I glanced over at Shane from outside the living room window, just sipping a beer and watching TV as I grilled. Did I know he would be here? I had bought his favorite beer just in case. I had even bought steaks to grill, but my son Xavier would have devoured them, too. Besides, grilling meant he could relax in the house and I'd have a minute playing hostess and getting myself together.

I honestly didn't know where I stood. He was happy-or smug-when he found me at first. Then he went from that to being sort of angry and disappointed. And I went from anxious to really anxious and a bit--no very-embarrassed. Now we had this sort of truce going on. What the hell was that?

"How's it coming?"

I turned to see him standing there. He was in a t-shirt and sweats that Xavier left in the dryer. They were the same height and their build was similar.  I did tell him to get comfortable, didn't I? I had hoped he would have diminished somehow, but he didn't. The t-shirt only emphasized lines of definition and then the sweats, that five o'clock shadow...I averted my eyes and looked at the steaks.

"Kit?"

"Oh, not long now." I smiled. Was he smirking?

"Do I smell..." he frowned, yet his smile was somehow intact.

"Vegetable shiskebabs?"

"They smell delicious."

"There's tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms or tomatoes, squash, zucchini and mushrooms." I shrugged. "Give it a try, you might like it." I took a sip of my cranberry juice. I usually love it, but today it seemed drier than usual.

"What are those?" he asked, seeing I had two containers of brats.

"American bratwurst," I answered. "Those have no beer. These do."

He raised his eyebrows a little. "That's very considerate of you."

I gave him a small smile.

"As well as the beer, thank you." He toasted me and took a sip.

"Trying to be a good host," I shrugged. "I was supposed to take those to the office before I..." My voice trailed off. If I wasn't cooking I would have hit myself in the forehead. Why did I bring that up? I focused on the last of the meat and veggies on the grill, trying to think of what to say.

"Why were you trying to run from me?" He shook his head. "One more time for the class?"

My head snapped up. How does he move like that?  He was in the doorway, and now he's right here, and I detected nothing. Talk about someone being under your radar. "I told you."

"Told me what, Kit?" he asked. "I still don't understand."

I took a deep breath, and piled the last of the food into their containers. That didn't take as long as I hoped and I ruined it by referring to the elephant in the room like it was my best friend. "Okay, I said I didn't want you to be disappointed, but I didn't want the disappointment. either."

"You keep saying that." He set down his empty beer bottle. "I don't get it."

I had to take a deep breath. "Okay--"

His face changed. "Okay, wait a second. You're done out here?"

"Yes, but--"

He put the covers on the containers and picked them up. "Where do you want these?"

"Kitchen counter is fine." I scurried to open the door for him. "Thank you." I followed him in. He set them down, turned and took my hand, leading me back to the living room. We sat down, and much to my relief, Zeus walked up his stairs and sat between us.

"Go on."

Talk about comfort animal. I began stroking Zeus as I talked. "Years ago, when my first book came out, I did a video and my views went down. Talked about my life, it happened again." I decided to get up. “Let’s plate, huh?”

He didn't react. His jaw slightly tightened as he followed me. He sat on a stool as I made plates for us. “Views went down?”

"I realized I didn't look as an author should."

"And how is a writer supposed to look?"

"We are in the digital age," I told him. "It's like you can't just put a book out anymore. You need a famous name, a famous look or one hell of an internet personality. Think about it: Since when did authors start doing commercials for their books? They are, you know, even some of the best sellers." He didn't seem to have an answer so I went on. "And, I am a little older than the digital age. I don't need attention as much as I want connection and recognition through my words."

"You connected well with me," he said. "I loved your stories, every one."

He seemed so sincere. "But you never saw me. When you thought of Kendra Knight, how did you think she looked?" The question hung in the air. "I don't look like Kianna, the one who wrote the steamy stories. I don't even look like Kendra, the paranormal action writer. I'm just Kiki, or Kit."

"But they're all you."

"Remember what I said about love?" I asked. "That love--"

"Love is always a gift, but when it is reciprocated, it is a miracle?"

I gasped. He remembered that quote?! I didn't realize how much he paid attention to the books and texts till that moment. "No one will remember who wrote that," I told him. "But when you say it, that's what they will remember, get it?"

"But what about the fans who want to meet you?" He shook his head at me as if I missed something. "I wanted to."

"And now that you have?"

"I'm glad I did," he smiled, taking my hands in his.

He seemed relaxed so I chanced asking, "You're not mad then?"

He thought about it.  "I am starting to understand, but I think you don't give yourself or fans enough credit, not to mention me."

I sighed heavily. I wish I could make him understand, but I adored him for not being able to. He pulled me into his arms and just held me. "What-why-?"

"Because you need one," he said softly, rubbing my back. "I saw it in your eyes."

How often am I held? I usually do the holding. I found myself melting into him, the heat of his body, the softness of skin and firmness underneath. He rocked me gently, and I nuzzled his chest. I gasped. I looked up at him, trying to decide if I should apologize, open my mouth at all. Instead, I averted my eyes to that mat of hair peeking out that I was trying desperately not to nuzzle again. I took a deep breath, it was shaky. I didn't know what to do.

"Question," He laughed at me, and kissed my forehead, tipping my chin up so our eyes would meet. "Am I friend or foe?"

"Friend." I whispered, but I was feeling more than that, and even his eyes seemed to say more than that, but I didn't dare point it out.

"That's how it begins, they say," he said softly.

"What?"

"Everything that matters," he said softly. I suddenly felt terribly young and clueless. "Movies? Youtube? Satellite?” He took our plates. “Name your pleasure, time to veg out."

Likes, Reblogs and comments appreciated!

@mistress-of-ward @summersong69​ @kebabgirl67​ @griscka75​

[starlithan]

I Promise

Part 1

Siren Jisung/ Reader (ft. San ATEEZ)

Word Count:3519 words

Warnings: none, enjoy

Summary: I'm not good with summaries so lets do it 

prev -------- next

Part 1:

The light of the sun seeping through the curtains, the room started to get a little warm, I felt something lick my face I opened my eyes to see Darong greeting me with a small meow “Yea Yeah I’m hungry too ill go get us something to eat” I said, I got up and did my morning routine and then started to make breakfast.

 mornings were lazy for me, extremely lazy, I ate my breakfast finished up and washed the dishes, while Darong was in front of the TV watching animal planet, I still don’t know whether she even understood that or not, but I let my curiosity die there.

“Darong-ah~ I’ll be back okay, I’m heading outside” I said as I put on my sneakers and head out, the heat was hitting the sand, I squinted “I’ll take a little walk” I said to myself I started to walk by the sea, there weren’t a lot of people but a few, parents with their children, an old woman with his son, I started to head towards the rock where I saw the merman last night, I was fighting with my thoughts “did I see it or did I not?” I said in a low voice, searching through my thoughts, memories of last night coming back but they were a little hazy “mermaids don’t exist, mermaids don’t exist” I started to whisper under my breath.

“Who said they don’t?” I looked back to see an old woman smiling at me, “sorry?” I said turning completely to her “I asked that who said mermaids don’t exist?” the old woman repeated herself “I saw one, when I was your age she was beautiful, she had a beautiful voice and a blue tail, black glossy hair with a green streak, they sing a song to lure humans into the water and drown them but not all of them are the same, some like humans very much, but they aren’t called mermaids their called..” she was about to finish when a guy came and stopped her “Granny it’s time to leave, come on” he said, he wasn’t tall, he had black hair and was covered in black from head to toe, his Granny started to make her way to wherever they lived, before leaving she winked at me.

“I’m sorry, my grandma believes too much in fantasy’s” he said bowing down a little 

“I’m Choi San by the way” he said “I’m Lee Y/n” I said we both shook hands

 “you just moved in” 

“how do you know” I asked

 “it’s a small town everyone knows everyone hear” he said 

“ooh” I said nodding “umm I have to go it was very nice to meet you, you can stop by we have a chicken restaurant near the convenience store.. and if you need anything your most welcome to come by” he said smiling “thank you so much I'll make sure to stop by” I said with that we both waved and started to head to our own destination.

I wanted to take a walk around the town, It wasn’t big San was right, a lot of people waved and I bowed in response, coffee shop, stationary, fashion, this was a remote place but surprisingly had everything, I saw a paint shop so i went there, there were many portraits there of the sea, pirates etcetera but the one that caught my attention the most was of a man crying setting on the rock, his face gave off many emotions, emotions of sadness, joy it was hard to pinpoint a single out of those emotions “you like it?” the Oldman came from behind me “yes it's very..” I searched for the proper word to describe it “expressive” I said he smiled in response “you can keep it… I see your new.. Take it as a gift I would appreciate it please” he said, taking the painting off the wall and packing it “I-.. Thank you, you didn’t have too” I said but he smiled and waved it off.

Night came pretty quickly “Darong-ah your foods ready” I said as she licked her lips and came to the kitchen I put her bowl down “enjoy” I said and picked up the fresh popcorn and sat down on the sofa “a little Goblin will get my mind off of things” I said as I played the first episode, watching dramas was my second hobby … other than sleeping(if you even call that a hobby).

“Meow” I jolted up, shit I fell asleep I glanced at the tv to see it was still on and I was suddenly on the 4th episode great Y/n just great I yawned and got up “a nice walk would do it” I stretched and head outside, as yesterday it was calm no soul in sight I mean obviously it was midnight, I sat on the rock it was half submerged in water when-

*a rock falls* 

The merman “ hey don’t leave I wanna meet you this time” I said I slightly bowed in the forward direction to see what it was but it was just a crab “great I’m completely going…AHHH” I fell back on the rock, i sighed and rubbed my back when i opened my eyes, the merman was now in front of me, he tilted his head to the side and gave me a confused look, “hi” I said in a little whisper, he started to look at my feet then at my clothes, he picked up my feet as I slightly feel backwards “those are my….hahahah.. Please don’t it tickles” I said, he leaves my feet and I sit back up , I’m not crazy this time I’m up. “What’s your name, human?” he says, wait he can speak “wait you can speak” I asked “yes I can speak all human tongues… my name is Han, Han Jisung” he said “I’m Lee Y/n” you said bringing your hand to shake it but he just stares at it “you...shake it” you said he slowly brings his hands to yours and shakes it, and then he smiles and shakes it again “ooookay” you said “I've never seen a merman before” you said, he gave you a confused look and then looks behind “Merman where?” he asks

“you” I said getting more confused, did he not know, he smiles “I'm not a merman I'm a siren, mermaids and merman's are covered with scales they resemble the fishes a lot, we sirens look like humans more” he said 

“Ahhh.. okay” I said, he started to look at my feet again “how does it feel to have feet?” he asks I look at my feet then at his fins “hmm it feels like how you feel with your tail I guess” I said he makes an ohhh face “do you-” he stops then looks behind him “I have to go… will you come here tomorrow?” he said “yes i will” I said he smiles and then takes my hand and kisses the top of it, my face turns red , he smiles and then swims away “what was that?” 

____________________________

Han’s PoV

Alone I’ve been alone from the start, the sea is a beautiful place but sometimes it can be extremely suffocating, the land calls out to me, I wish to become a human but some wishes are to never be fulfilled.

I swim and I swim endlessly, unsure of my destination, of where I’m headed, of where I’m supposed to be, Sirens aren’t allowed near land there told to kill humans, but those who have a broken heart, who don’t wanna live, but I would never hurt anyone.

“I’m back” I said as I got in the cave, I lived with my uncle, the seeker. He was like the law here, hated humans, killed them whenever he saw one, and extremely extremely bossy.

“Where were you?” He asked not even giving me a single look his whole attention was on the fish in his hands, he was staring at it with extreme hunger “nowhere just here and there” I said as I sat down “my nephew, look at this fish” he said eyes on the fish as it struggled “what does it want most now?” He asks, I look at the fish, pity it was to be devoured by my uncle “freedom?” I said my uncle laughed “exactly, but food is essential, find a moment catch it and then kill it” he said as he ate the whole fish, sometimes I don’t get what he says “go to sleep” he says reading my expression that I have no idea what he says.

I do exactly as he says I lie down, clearing my head of everything my uncle leaves, and I’m left there alone with my thoughts when Y/n comes to my mind I never saw a cute human she was nice...right? She had beautiful black hair, her eyes were sparkling, I wonder how it actually felt to have feet …. Wait was I falling for a human 

My uncles gonna kill me “stupid stupid” I hit my head with my fist, I throw my thoughts away and get ready to sleep 

_______________________________

Han’s Pov:

“Wake up we need to go” my uncle said, hearing his voice in the morning wasn't one of the things I liked “where?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes, “ I want you to do something for me” he said and left the cave, “weird he never asks my help in anything”

“Please don't kill me” said the siren in front me, I looked at my uncle but all I could see in his eyes was amusement at how she begged for her life, I just stood there unable to move, it wasn't like this was the first time he was killing someone in front of me, he was the seeker he could do anything he wants “Han ” he said as I looked at him “I want you to finish the job” he said smiling, my heart stopped, I can't do this, I can't kill someone who hasn't done anything “I cant” I say my voice shaking, my uncle turned to me “say that again” he says “I can't do this” I repeat, he slaps me hard, my ears ring “you are gonna kill her and that's an order or I'm gonna kill all the sirens and lay their bodies in front of you” he said, I knew he'd do it, I swim toward the siren and look at her, she begs me not to but it's not like I have a choice I extend my hand to her slowly feeling the power of the water in my hand and then releasing it, water tore's through her stomach with force and she stops, I look at her without emotion, Sirens should be creatures with no emotion, my uncle smiles as he sees her turn into sea form “good my nephew well done, no emotion, just wanted to remind you that” he says as he pats my back and heads back into the cave, i stay there with her till her last breath, she deserves that much.

Y/n’s Pov

“Darong-ah~ I'm going out kay”  I said as I closed the door behind me, we were out of milk, it was almost night, the whole morning I was occupied with cleaning up and thinking about the siren I meet last night, I started to walk to the convenience store, he must be very lonely, does he have any family, siblings I thought, he had a beautiful tail, and eyes 

Wait-

I blinked “focus on getting the milk Y/n” i said and went in the store, i got my milk and was about to pay “I'll pay for that” someone said and I glanced back to see San smiling “San-shi you don't have too” i said but he smiled and payed “you can pay me back by having a walk with me” 

“So why did you move here?” he asked as we walked “well...because of my health” I said he stopped and looked at me “health? Are you okay?, is it serious?” he asked “no not that serious, it's just a migraine not that serious, but thank you for asking.. Were you born here?” I asked changing the topic “no I wasn't born here my Dad passed away and my mom left me here” he said, eyes sad “oh I'm sorry” I said “so I've been living here since now I'm just waiting to audition and be something” he said smiling at the thought “audition? You can rap” I ask he laughs “more like I can sing, but I can rap too a little” he said rubbing his neck and chuckling 

“That's cool you got to sing for me someday okay” I smiled tilting my head a little, he just nodded and looked away “what about you? Any plans?” he asked “well umm I just applied for a university, I wanna be a robotics engineer” he looked at me confused “wait you'll leave but you just got here” he said “its an online university, I'm not leaving” I said “Ahhh” 

“This is my stop thank you so much for walking me back” he smiled 

“It's fine if you need anything I'll be here” he said, waved and went his way

Han ’s POV:

I sat down on the sand

I wish i was a human, how could he be so heartless and to his own kind, but then again, sirens dont have hearts, I looked at my hands, I killed someone with these hands, someone who did nothing wrong, its weird how everyone longs to live, but doesn't care about the same thing, the same feeling when they kill.

“I hate the sea” i said, there's not even a soul here, i remember the warmth of Y/n’s hand how it made me feel a weird sensation in my chest, i searched through my memory for a single time i felt the same warmth as i did yesterday, i remember opening my eyes in the sea, i wasn't born i looked the same as i do now, i had no parents, but this person who claimed to be my uncle, no memory of who i was just my name.

Born of sea turns to sea form

Born of land bleeds and turns to sand

 I heard a voice whisper “who's there?” i asked looking around but I saw no one 

But cursed to be a part of the sea, doesn't break easily

Does Not remember anything 

Love can break the biggest spell

Can tame the curliest of beasts

“Who's there?” I asked again waiting for it to say something so I can follow its voice, but I hear nothing

Y/n’s POV:

It's half past midnight and yet no sign of Han  anywhere, maybe he got late or doesn't wanna come. I say to myself thinking of a proper excuse of why he didn't make it. I was kicking the water beneath me when I felt a pull on my feet. I glanced down to see the Siren boy… which almost gave me a heart attack.

“Can you not scare the shit out of me?” I said, he just laughed “you're my only source of entertainment” he said “what do you mean by only?” I ask but he ignores the question and stares at the thing I have in my hand “What's in your hand?” he asked “oh it's called ice cream its sweat here try it” he gives me a suspicious look but takes the treat from my hand, he takes a big bite and slowly chews it and swallows it.

“Wow you humans have a better taste in food then us, so this is how sweat tastes like” he said “well we have lots of seasonings here salty, spicy etc.” I say as he eats the ice cream completely “i wish you could taste them” I say “ I wish I could to” he says, my eyes were stuck on his tail “can I- can I touch your tail?” I ask he stops, eyes wide but then he looks at me “yeah” he says and slowly pulls me in the water, he takes my hand and submerge it under water where his tail is and slowly traces my hand over it, it was soft it had a beautiful red color, I wonder how it felt to have a tail and swim.

Han slowly lets me go and I panic “Hold on to me please.” I say and cling to him “I cant swim” I say he laughs at my reaction “you don't know how to swim? But you live near the ocean” he asks “nope and what does that have to do with anything”

“Okay I'm gonna put you back” he says holding my waist and lifting me up, he places me back on the rock. For a minute we stayed like that, my hands on his arms and his on my waist.

____________

“so you don't eat humans do you?” i asked “if we did you guys probably would have noticed” he said,

 “where do you live?” 

I asked i was basically asking him tons of questions since the past hour “in a cave” 

“Do sea monsters exist?”

“Not that I've seen any?”

“What's in the Bermuda triangle?”

“Do I look like I've been there?.... Enough with the weird human Questions it's my turn to ask” he laughs,

“Okay” I laugh,

 “do you have a family?” he asks “yeah my mother died when I was young, i have an older brother, and my father” he nods he had this curious and astonished look on his face and I didn't know why “what about friends”

“I also have friends a few” I said “what are their names?” he asked which i don't know why he wanted to know but i asked him a lot of weird questions and he answered so cant really complain, 

“Changbin, Chan, Felix, Seungmin, Hyunjin and Jeongin” I said he tilted his head in confusion “Why are they all men?” he asked I laughed 

“well they are my childhood friends and I was never popular with other kids or girls for a matter of fact, so they were basically my only friends” he nodded in response.

“I wish I was a human” he whispered 

______________________________________

[Author here best if you listen to this song for a better experience]

~In Your Time - Lee Suhyun~

~Flashback~

“I wish I was a human” I whispered looking at my tail and the thing i just committed, she gives me a confused look “isn't it also nice to be a siren” she says slowly, but all i could focus was on the way her heart glowed, sirens can see human hearts, her heart was glowing a bit yellow and then green, yellow means happy or it could mean love too, green means confusion or jealousy and blue means sadness.

“I mean the sea is beautiful, and you must have other sirens who love you right?” she asked looking a bit unsure “sirens have no feelings, they're creatures without a heart, without family.. So no I was alone since the beginning” i said, her heart glowed blue, a darker shade of it, “I'm sorry” she said 

“Not your fault you don't need to apologize” I say, but she avoids my eyes and looks at her hands, i was just observing her, and up till now she was a cheerful and a curious human and… different, not that I meet a lot of humans but she gave of a weird comforting vibe.

“I want to ask you something?” I said it was something that's been disturbing me since the day I met her and saw her heart glow, she hums and looks at me “I-..” I was about to say it but i felt something watching us, I turned around to see something glowing

Uncle, I should have known he’ll follow me, I cursed under my breath “I have to go” I say and dive, i hear her calling me out but I need to get away from her, for her own good

~End Flashback~

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!” my uncle screamed at me, i kept my gaze down 

“SHE'S A HUMAN, WHY DIDN'T YOU KILL HER THE MOMENT YOU SAW HER?” he asked, but I said nothing “WHAT IF SHE KILLED YOU HUH?” he said shaking me, I snapped “BUT SHE DIDN'T” i said, i could see rage in his eyes growing and growing by every moment “IS THIS THE WAY YOU REPAY ME, OR DID YOU FORGET THAT I PROTECTED YOU, WHEN YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING” he said pushing me a little 

“Protect you my foot… all you did was tell me that you're my uncle other than that you never did anything, YOU LEFT ME TO BE EATEN BY SHARKS YOU DON'T REMEMBER THAT?” I asked, but he just stared at me “you have no right to tell me what to do or what not to do” i said 

“That's for me to decide” he said and with that he went in the cave 

_____________________________

[agoracactus]

Pt4.5 - the village of Blatta

this is a short (hopefully) story happened before you met Jaskier.

cuz i forgot to write this segment. and cuz im too busy to finish my long chapters in a week, and didnt wanna keep ppl waiting, if theres ppl waiting (hopefully lmao)

Pt.1  Pt.2  Pt.3  Pt.4

Pairing: Geralt of Rivia x reader

Word Count: 1931

Warnings: lack of proofread, language, blood, death

Summary: im giving up on this part completely, names and summary, my two nemesis

§

You sat at the edge of the bed, staring at your feet, having a silent debation inside your head.

“You’re up?” Geralt pushed open the door, saw you sitting at the bed, “Good, it’s getting late, we should keep moving.” “Oh, ok.” you nodded, stood up to grab your bag.

You came across this nice little village last night, and everyone was surprisingly friendly and welcoming. People invited you to their house and share food with you. Some even offered you their beds so you can have a good rest. To be honest the hospitality scared you a little, you were used to people being mean for you’re traveling with a witcher.

Walking out of this shabby wooden house, the sun was warm and bright. Couple of folks greeted you with a smile. The village looked busy, people were walking around preparing for something looked like an event, excitement floating in the air. You returned the greetings, feeling flattered.

“Oh! You are leaving?” a woman was holding a basket full of dead chicken under her arm, blood seeped through the woven basket and dripped to the ground. “What a pity! The festival is around the corner, you should stay! We love having guests! There’s going to be a feast!” You sneaked a glance towards Geralt, he seemed to have no interest at all in this feast, “Thank you for the kind offer, but we need to go now.” you tried to be as polite as you can. Not every day you get to meet someone who’s nice to you.

“Hey, um, maybe we should consider staying for a few more days?” you suggested, watching Geralt handed out an apple to Roach. “No, we need to head south, that’s what the contract said.” “Yeahhh but, it’s a feast! Feast means food!” you tried to persuade him, “We could use some free food! People here are nice- How many times did you actually receive a warm welcoming from others?” “You can stay all you want, I have a job to do.” he gave you a stern look.

You bit your lower lip, looked back over your shoulder at the small village.

“You know what, maybe I should.” you finally made your decision, “I’m staying.” Geralt stopped to look at you, didn’t understand what you were up to this time. “I’ve been thinking about this for, quite a while now... Now that we came across a lovely place, people here are friendly and welcoming... Maybe it’s time that we part ways.”

He didn’t reply.

You couldn’t tell how he felt about this.

“Don’t get me wrong, I really like traveling with you... It was fun, the adventures... And you were nice to me... But I feel like you’d rather travel alone- I mean, I get it, I’m just a weak-ass human girl, who is better stay behind when you hunt instead of getting in your way... And sometimes I get you- us- into trouble-” you realized you started babbling, so you stopped to take a breath in. “What I’m trying to say is, you are such a nice person that you probably don’t even notice that I’m just taking advantage of you... And I don’t want that. So I’m breaking this little group up. For our best interests.”

“Very well.” he untied Roach’s rein. “...That’s it?” you frowned, “You’re not gonna say something?” “I said ‘very well’.” “...” you rolled your eyes behind his back, “...Well, I guess that’s it then?” “Mmm.” Geralt hopped onto Roach. “It was nice meeting you, witcher.” “You too.” he nodded his head. “Take care, ok?” “Farewell, y/n.”

§

“Have some soup sir, it shall warm you up.” the merchant handed the witcher a wooden bowl. The witcher thanked him. Everything was quiet except for the slight crackling from the fire.

“Where are you from?” “Sodden, sir.” “You’re going north?” “Kovir, got some business to do there.” “Still got a long way then? There’s a small village on the way to replenish if you follow along this way.” “Small village? The village of Blatta? No sir! No one should ever go anywhere near that place, especially during this time of the year.” “Why?” “Those who travel frequently on this path all know the village of Blatta. It’s the village of worshipers of the Dark Lord. They hold a grand festival in name of their vicious god every year around this season, using the blood of their livestock to attract monsters, making sacrifices of children and young women and any outsiders who happened to come across their way and call that a ‘cleanse’- Where are you going sir? It’s not safe to travel in these woods at night- Sir!”

§

He was late when he arrived at the village.

There was no light in any of the houses, all the doors and shutters were closed. The pungent smell of blood was drowning him. Several dark shadows were squatting around, he could hear the sound of munching, slurping and the nasty noise coming from their throat. He took out a small tube, uncork it with his teeth, drank it all up and jumped off of Roach. He took a few steps forward with the momentum, took out his sword and carefully approached.

The faint light from the moon was not a problem to his witcher eyes, he slowly walked closer to the necrophages, formed a sign with his fingers. Flame bursted out from his hand. The monsters screamed and ran away into the woods.

The witcher looked down. All the bodies had their wrists and ankles tied up, dried animal blood mixed with their own congealed in their hair. It seemed like the villagers poured the blood of their livestock onto these poor lives and left them here to be devoured by the necrophages.

To his relief, he didn’t see anyone resembling your feature.

He heard something inside the house. He turned and saw pairs of eyes peeking through the crack of the shutters. The witcher felt anger quietly rising within him. He held tight to his sword, picked up his pace to follow the trace of the monsters into the forest.

§

You were hurt, you couldn't tell where exactly you were hurt due to the burning sensation spreading across your torso. But you didn’t dare to slow down.

You tripped against a rock and fell hard to the ground. The pistol in your hand almost misfired with your finger held tight against it. You tried to get up, but your limbs were weak from the pain.

All you could hear was your heartbeat and heavy panting.

You thought you lost them. The monsters. But you couldn’t lose the sight of the screaming children. You shook your head to get rid of the image before it brought up more traumatizing memory, and struggled to get up.

You knew you were lost in this forest, every direction looked the same, and the dim light of the crescent moon was not helping. You wiped your forehead with the back of your hand, felt the moisture there which you couldn’t tell if its sweat or blood. You took a few deep breaths to steady your heart and picked a random direction, quietly walked towards that way, praying to whoever’s out there this is not the way back to that horrific village.

§

The witcher was panting heavily. Standing in the middle of a pit which was full of the bodies of the creatures he just slew, on a bed of human bones and pieces of cloths. The stench of rotten flesh and the necrophage was piercing through his nose to his brain, but he didn’t move. He just stood there, eyes glancing around frantically around the once-monster-nest.

There was a snap of the twig behind him, sounded like thunder in this deadly silent woods. He turned around sharply, wielding his sword, ready to strike out.

You were at the edge of the pit, eyes wide, face pale as a sheet. He saw cuts above your eyebrow and on your arms and legs, and smelled dirt mixed with blood and sweat.

“Oh my god...” you said under your breath, staring at him. He realized what he looked like now, under the influence of his potion. He instinctively turned his face away.

“Geralt...” you jumped down the pit, ran to him with effort, and threw your arms around him. Geralt stiffened. “Are you hurt?” you quickly released him, pulled back to look at his face, then gave a quick scan down his body--- but you couldn’t tell with the limited moonlight, so your eyes shot right back at his face, “Geralt?” “...No.” he stared right back at you, and didn’t see what he was expecting in your eyes.

“...I’m so glad I found you...” you hugged him again. He now realized you were trembling. He put his hand on your back, “You’re safe now.” You nodded against his leather armor, didn’t care it smelled like shit.

You released him once more, “Let’s get out of this hell hole shall we?” trying to make a joke, but failed with your now shaking, choked voice. He nodded, sheathing his sword, “Maybe next time find a better village?” You let out a nervous laugh, took his forearm to climbed out of the pit.

[chaos-ground-writing]

Intentions

Look… he’s a little confused but he’s got spirit

Warnings: minor animal injury, stalking(?), kidnapping, no yandere themes, Kiri has good intentions but bad execution. Also, this fic is pretty long lol

Reader: Gender Neutral

~

(Y/N) was a simple witch living in a nice lil’ cottage in the middle of a lovely meadow. They could hear the stream flowing nearby, the bustle of wildlife, and even greater was the lack of people. No one to steal, to lie, to interrupt and it was wonderful. Don’t get them wrong, it could be quite lonely in the middle of nowhere but small talk with a shopkeep while they purchased things needed around the house was enough. (Y/N) hadn’t even tried to entertain the idea of a lover, it was too troublesome and any person they had tried to court, hated their hermit lifestyle, that was if they even got passed the idea of them being a witch. But, it was their loss and (Y/N) stopped caring a long time ago anyway.

Now, when (Y/N) started to feel a distinct presence watching them while they harvested materials for their upcoming spell, they were only a little concerned. They were used to birds, rabbits, even full grown deer watching them from a safe spot far away, but this stare almost felt predatory, like a wolf, maybe a bear, what if it was a bandit? (Y/N) carefully but quickly collected the rest of the ingredients while keeping a careful eye out for any suspicious activity and swiftly stepped back into their home. Maybe a protection circle around their home would ease their nerves, but if it was a wolf or something, it would have lost interest and they’d have no need to waste their energy, but… that presence they felt… it didn’t even feel malicious, just determined but a little skittish. Like a young predator hunting without its mother for the first time. If it is a hungry animal, they had nothing to worry about, it has probably learned that this is not a good hunting area and would move on.

Eijiro’s eyes softened in disappointment when the attractive person in the field left his sight. He felt bad for using his hunting instincts to hide from them but not many people were very welcoming to dragons, even when he was in his humanoid form, the teeth and tail were enough of a give away to his true identity. But this person was so gorgeous and clearly had to be a witch, witches tended to be more open minded toward him. That one nice witch with the pink cheeks gave him snacks and played with him! Oh, if this witch is anything like her, he’d be the happiest dragon on the mountain. Eijiro gathered some pretty flowers nearby and started back toward his cave and determined that he had to prepare a nest for their arrival, of course he’d only work on it after he spent time admiring them from afar and collecting courting gifts.

For the next few days, Eijiro continued to watch (Y/N) and (Y/N) slowly became used to it, if the presence wanted to harm them, they would have done it already. But they noticed that since they started feeling the presence watching them, they also started finding gifts. They found sparkly stones on their porch, rare flowers on their windowsill, they even found a hand weaved basket of bread, different meats, and potatoes on the edge of the meadow. (Y/N) was sure it wasn’t a person watching them but an animal clearly couldn’t weave a basket and leave cut meats and bread in it. Despite their confusion, (Y/N) still appreciated the gifts and displayed the rocks and flowers proudly. The gifts continued for a few weeks, (Y/N) had to build a shelf to make room for all of them. All of a sudden, the gifts stopped, (Y/N) stopped feeling the eyes on them. They were a bit sad but tried to carry on as normal and prayed that the individual was safe and would return soon. 

(Y/N) traveled a little further from home to gather special ingredients for their favorite soup, just to get their mind of the mysterious entity, but still secretly hoped they’d feel the familiar stare. While lost in thought, (Y/N) cut their hand trying to harvest a tough herb. Before they could assess the bleeding, they heard a deep growl come from the trees. They looked up but didn’t immediately see danger, just every bird, squirrel, and forest dwelling animal nearby running away from the source of the growl. (Y/N) didn’t take a second further to question the purpose and trusted the animals’ instincts and ran back toward their home as fast as they could, abandoning the already collected ingredients in the gifted wicker basket they loved. (Y/N) heard a loud yelp behind them, but the thundering steps that continued in their direction kept them from slowing down or looking back. (Y/N) couldn’t help the tears blurring their vision as they tried to find home, were they crying because they could possibly die a painful death today or was it because they would die never knowing who watched them from the tree line and if they were okay. The burning in (Y/N)’s lungs begged them to stop but they couldn’t, they had to live to find that mysterious stranger, it was laughable, the ultimate introverted hermit, living for someone else. Just as (Y/N) started making out the outline of their home, their overjoyed haste caused them to trip. One thing was definite after that, they fainted, but was it before or after they felt something bite into their outer coat.

A few hours later

“God, that was a terrible nightma-” The ache in (Y/N)’s hand, the unfamiliar bedding under that aching hand, and the strange chill in the surrounding area immediately told (Y/N) that the nightmare they experienced was no nightmare, but reality. They hesitated to open their eyes for a moment, when they did, they were unsurprisingly unfamiliar with where they had just woken up. They were in some kind of large cave, surrounded by furs, precious crystals, gold, and other miscellaneous shiny objects. They were pulled from their thoughts but a deep rumbling snore at the entrance of the cave, however the fire was not close enough to highlight the large silhouette that laid across the opening. (Y/N) carefully got up and approached the large body at the entrance and couldn’t stop the surprised noise they made when they realized it was a dragon. They fell back on their butt and the dragon slowly woke up and looked back at them.

“H-Hey buddy, let’s not do anything hasty,” (Y/N) slowly scooted further from the crimson beast. The beast scooted across the stone floor trying to close the growing space with puppy-like eyes. (Y/N) tried to hold their hand out to keep some kind of distance and noticed the bandage wrapped around the hand they cut earlier.

“Wait, did you do this?” (Y/N) couldn’t begin to imagine how a giant lizard with wings could wrap their much smaller hand, yet the dragon… nodded? The dragon looked at (Y/N) and started moving it’s head in a circular, almost like it was telling them to turn around.

“You, you want me to t-turn around?” The dragon nodded again, and (Y/N) complied. Well, at least they won’t see the death coming. Suddenly, they were a bunch of crunching and cracking noises, like someone was breaking multiple bones, one after another. (Y/N) went to turn back around but the dragon let out a warning growl, causing them to stop and continue facing away from the beast. That growl sounded familiar, and so did the feeling of those ruby eyes on (Y/N)’s figure. Wait a minute…

“Hey, you can turn around now,” A raspy yet sheepish voice called out. (Y/N) turned around and took in the young man’s spiky red hair, matching red eyes, sharp teeth peaking through his lips, and his well built body, as well as the wrinkled pants he hastily threw on that he didn’t adjust over his large tail. Despite his striking appearance, he was almost cowering in front of them.

“Have you been the one watching me?” (Y/N) couldn’t help but blurt out the question, they needed answers, the red head’s face changed to utter surprise.

“H-How did you know that I was there?” Kirishima was baffled and slightly insulted, he thought he was perfectly hidden.

“I’m a witch that lives alone in the middle of nowhere, you silly lizard, I have to be very observant and aware of my surroundings.” (Y/N) chastised, now they were both offended. “Now what I want to know is why you kidnapped me”

“Kidnapped? I rescued you! You were gonna be eaten by that mean old wolf if I hadn’t stepped in, and you were injured! I didn’t even want to bring you back here until the nest was done but I had to.” Kirishima got closer to (Y/N) as they cocked their neck back. (Well now we know what made that yelp noise.)

“Wolf? Injured? I was just gathering ingredients for my soup and got a little cut on my hand, I could’ve out ran some lousy wolf.” (Y/N) huffed.

“Jeez, you sound like Bakugo” Eijiro muttered. “If I hadn’t swatted that wolf away, it would’ve devoured you when you tripped.” Hm, maybe he was right. “And I couldn’t let that happen, especially before I court you properly.” Court?

“Wait, those were courting gifts?” (Y/N) asked, exasperated.

“Yes, I didn’t give them to you directly because I was afraid of how you’d react to a dragon asking for your hand so I thought I’d leave small things to prepare you for all this.” He motioned to the furs, gems, and other gifts. “Oh, and I went back to get the basket you dropped, I’m honestly flustered that you carried it around, I didn’t think it was that well made, my momma taught me how to weave a long time ago.” Kirishima rambled.

“Oh, goodness, I didn’t realize you were trying to court me, I feel so bad. I don’t even know your name.” (Y/N) exclaimed and facepalmed.

“Ha! That’s ok, I should be embarrassed too, I went through all this and watched you for so long and I don’t know yours either. I’m Eijiro Kirishima, and you?”

“(Y/F/N) (Y/L/N). And… I happily accept your courting gifts.”

~

I went a little overboard with this one but it was so fun to write!

Thanks for reading!

(Gif not mine)

[brideofcthulhu10]

Could you please do a lost boys scenario where s/o is babysitting overnight and the boys show up for some late night lovin 👀 please

Can do, my friend! First off I want to apologize to everyone right now for the slow in my posts, I’m literally pushing my way through a writers block right now, so I apologize if it comes out a little choppy. I am doing everything I can to make sure I can still push out at least one reply a day. I still have the childbirth post and the prejudice witches post in progress, so bear with me! Until then:

Lost Boys Visit Their Fem!S/O While Babysitting 

18+ CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Situations and Themes, Mild Offensive Language

David

Happy wasn’t exactly the word to describe the sour grimace your boyfriend made when you told him you wouldn’t be on the boardwalk for the weekend.

“What do you mean? You aren’t going anywhere, are you,” he asked, arms crossed. 

“Oh stop with the suspicions!” You rolled you eyes, stealing his cigarette from his mouth for a quick puff. “No, I’m not leaving Santa Carla. My aunt has to go on this dumb business trip and her sitter cancelled last minute. So, my mom volunteered me to watch my two younger cousins.”

David scrunched up his nose at the mention of you babysitting to little brats. So for an entire two and a half days he wouldn’t see you? 

“Well what am I going to do,” he asked, wrapping his arms around your waist. You giggled, blowing a small puff of smoke his way. 

“C’mon, you’ve had a few decades without me,” you teased, kissing him. “I’m sure you can handle two days with just the boys right?”

Apparently not. 

When you were dropped off with your aunt’s you were met with a barrage of foam bullets to the face. Cue several hours of trying to wrangle the twin boys to do ANYTHING other than bug you. Water balloons, nerf darts, stealing the phone out of your hand! Eventually you were tempted to spike their apple juice with sleeping pills, but after letting them devour a pizza and run outside like psychos, and finally they passed out on the couch. Now, the task of carrying two 8 year olds up a flight of stairs.

“I... hate.. my...life,” you huffed with both of them hanging off of you. The shorter one was grasping your hair until it was practically being yanked out of your scalp while the other drooled all over you. Too bad you couldn’t toss them in the back yard, the little animals! No, you laid them in their beds much to your frustration. Half awake you sighed, trudging back down the stairs for a quick snack before bed. 

Change of plans when you heard the familiar roar of a revving motorcycle, and you made a mad dash to lock the door. He better not show up tonight! If those twerps woke up you’d be in so much trouble, there’s was no about of bribes to keep them quiet! There wasn’t much of a point to locking him out, because as soon as you turned around there David was, lounging on the couch. 

“You are unbelievable,” you huffed, arms crossed. 

The vampire only shrugged, looking at you from the corner of his eye. “I got bored after we went hunting,” he sighed, laying back like a lazy cat. You wove through the living room over to him, and before you could even lecture him he yanked you down on top of him.

“David, come on! You are going to get me in so much trouble,” you whined, trying to sit up. “I promise on Monday I’ll make it up to you.”

David leaned his head back, pondering your offer. Another day of waiting? Pass.

“Tell you what, kitten,” he purred, lifting your chin. “I get to play with you, and I’ll go.”

Your entire face turned red. “Are you nuts,” you whisper-yell, smacking his chest. He simply shrugged, laying back again with you tightly grasped against him. “David, I am not-! What if they wake up?”

“Those are my terms, kitten. Take it or leave it.” 

His gloved hands ran over butt, kissing up the edges of your neck. He kept whispering sweet words in your ears sending chills throughout your body. From your backside he slid his fingers further rubbing at your entrance between your pants. You started to squirm, caught in his grasp as he turned your legs into jelly. “Okay.. j-just please keep quiet,” you beg. 

“It seems the only one making noise is you, baby,” David teased, lightly biting your neck. Teasing you was all fine and dandy, but he wanted to get to the meat of it. With one firm hand, he yanked your shorts off and raised you on top of his lap. It didn’t take long for him to thrust inside you, hands tightly grasping your wrists in place so he could watch you bouncing atop his lap. Your voice trembled, little whimpers escaping out no matter how hard you tried to stay silent.

 “Come now, we mustn’t wake the children,” he teased, rocking his hips against your own savoring those adorable little moans. He yanked you down onto his throbbing length, wrapping his hand behind the back of your neck and yanking you down again. You buried your face into his chest hoping it’d be enough to silence your moans. Again he slammed inside you until your eyes started rolling back, filling you with a rush of heat. Your thighs spasmed, still clinging to his shirt. David simply chuckled after reducing you to a panting mess, licking up the side of your neck. “Well, I guess I could wait a day for you to get off of babysitting duty.”

Dwayne 

A late night without you never was an option. When you told him you'd have to babysit your neighbor's five year old son, he immediately offered to join you. Now you weren't exactly supposed to have guests over, but you couldn't help but make an exception for him. Besides, bed time was at 7 o'clock anyway, you were certain he'd be asleep by the time Dwayne showed up. You weren’t exactly surprised when rather than knocking he just sort of appeared in the kitchen, but things didn't exactly go as planned. See, you had only met this boy maybe three times, he was either with his parents or off at daycare during weekdays. At neighborhood gatherings or barbecues you didn’t exactly interact with the younger kids, and any free time outside of that was spent with Dwayne and the other boys on the boardwalk. Sure, you had babysat kids before. It was the easiest way to scratch up some spending money. But your younger brother was nothing like this spaz! Even after a trip to the park, a bath, dinner and playtime he was still running around like he had been hopped up on sugar for the past two hours! Any time you told him to calm down he’d just tune you out or try to run away. Dwayne showing up was the first moment of peace you’d had since you came here, just plopping the tiny monster on the couch with a sippy cup of warm milk hoping that’d be enough to calm him down.

“I honestly don’t think that kid has heard the word ‘no’ before in his life,” you groaned at the table, trying to soothe your headache with a cup of coffee.

 Dwayne raised a brow, leaning over to see the tiny terror jumping up and down on the couch screaming the theme song to Transformers while it played on their television set. “Well you could always just put him in his room and lock the door until he passes out,” he suggested with a smirk, sliding into the chair beside you. 

You snickered, lightly elbowing him with your arm. “God I wish. Got any vampire secrets? You had to have had trouble getting Laddie to sleep at some point, right?”

“Well,” he started, leaning back in his chair with a hum to his tone. “There is one way, but you might not like it.”

“I’ll do anything to get that monster to sleep. Just.. don’t hurt him, kay?”

Dwayne chuckled and kissed beneath your ear, lightly nipping your earlobe. “Relax, I’m not gonna eat him or anything.When he slunk into the living room you peered around the corner watching him squat lower so he was looking right into the boys eyes. This was definitely the first time he had been still all night, just staring back while Dwayne whispered to him with gleaming red eyes. CLimbing down the little boy walked past you.

“Good night, Miss Y/N,” he mumbled softly, handing you his sippy cup before silently shuffling up the stairs to his room. You looked over at Dwayne with your mouth open in awe, setting the cup on the table as he waltzed into the kitchen. “Okay, you have to stay the night,” you insisted, leaning against the counter. “What even was that?”

“Just a trick David and I have picked up after a few decades.” He swept behind you with his chin resting on your shoulder, brushing his mouth over the crook of your neck. “Truthfully I could use it on you, but I find that your own will is far more preferable.”

“Well,” you began, slowly turning to face him. “Lucky me.”

You trailed your lips slowly across his, stealing away small pecks from him. Each kiss deepened into something more, his hands trailing up your waist until he firmly hoisted you onto the kitchen counter. His tongue traced over yours in spirals, massaging his hands over your butt with the other trailing up your shirt tracing over the tiny lace detailing in your bra. Chills ran down your neck as his fingers dipped into your bra playing gentle with your tender pink buds. You moaned into his mouth, barely able to catch your breath as you slung your arms around him, wrapping your legs around his waist. “Dwayne,” you moan softly, pressing your chest into his calloused palms. It was dizzying being under his thumb. He knew every curve of your body, every tender space that made you melt. Shedding your shirt you quickly kicked off your shorts, Dwayne lifting you up in his arms. You could hear his belt buckle clink against itself while he scooted your panties to the side. You’d think by now you’d be internally prepared for how he felt inside you, but every time he would stretch you further than before. Waves of heat burned your body, falling into his grasp becoming a moaning mess. You struggled to keep yourself quiet, crashing your lips into his. Those rough, heavy grunts he made drove you crazy, you knew what was coming the faster he groaned. He bucked into you, grasping your butt tightly slamming himself into you one last time. The sensation made you shriek, quickly he covered your mouth. There was an awkward silence that caused you both to laugh, kissing each other softly. “Well, I’m uh,” you panted out, still clinging to him “,..I still have a day and a half here...if you wanna stay with me… All I have to do is keep the curtains shut..”

Dwayne pondered your idea with a grin, smothering your cheek with sandpaper kisses. “I guess the guys won’t mind if I’m gone for a little longer.”

Paul 

“Forget it, Paul!”

You crossed your arms, your blonde vampire boyfriend on his knees still begging you to let him come with.

“Oh come on, babes,” he whined, hugging your leg. “You’ll be halfway across town for four days! I’ll never make it!”

“No way! Last time you came to my house my brother totally saw us in the pool,” You exclaimed, gathering up your jacket and purse. “Paul please, I promise when I get back we can fuck till the ocean dries up if it makes you happy. But my parents got really suspicious the last time my brother kept talking about me ‘wrestling with a lion’ in the pool. It took an hour for me to convince my dad I was trying to fish the neighborhood cat out of the jacuzzi and B/N just thought it was a lion because he was half-awake!”

Paul groaned, lifting you up into his arms and flopping onto the dusty old couches, hugging you tight. It certainly made you laugh, but you knew that your parents were leaving in an hour. “Uuuugh! Can’t you even say tonight, kitten? C’mon I’ll even skip the hunt tonight, just you and me baby girl.”

“I know you want me to stay babe, I do too. Trust me, I’d rather be out here with you guys,” you sigh, kissing up his neck until he slowly melted beneath you. Ironically his neck was always his weakness when you wanted him all buttered up. “But, I mean, my mom and dad leave in an hour, plus I gotta pick up something quick for dinner, and I promised I’d do laundry- plus I still have my biology project before summer finishes. Besides, it’s only a couple days right?”

“Yeah, a couple days without the most badass babe in Santa Carla,” he groaned, hoisting himself up trying to grab you before you got up. No luck this time. You dodged his grip and quickly stole a kiss from him.

“I’ll see you in a bit, babe. It’ll be over in no time,” you assured him. 

It had only been two hours since you left, and the entire time Paul was sulking on the exact same couch you both had been on. He jutted out his bottom lip in a pout, fiddling with the skull ring on his thumb you bought him last month. Marko did everything he could to cheer his buddy up. Beer, a bike ride, offering to go on a hunt! Anything!

 “C’mon man, it’s a few days! Let’s go terrorize the locals! Dwayne and David wanna head out too, dude! We can shred up a few losers and crash here after!”

Nope. Paul wasn’t in the mood, rolling over onto his stomach, face down on the couch.

“Blood tastes like sadness,” he whined, thumping his forehead on the cushions.

“This is ridiculous, just go to her already,” David spoke up, chucking a book at him.

“No way, man!” Paul sat up, ruffling up his blonde hair. “If Y/N catches me she’ll be pissed!”

Marko leaned on his buddy with a smirk. “Not if you use her weaknesses against her. C’mon man, we’ve seen you two.”

“Yeah man, she’s my weakness-”

“- And you, are definitely hers dude. Trust me.”

Paul paused for a moment, then a wicked grin spread across his face. 

Meanwhile, there you were cleaning up the dishes from dinner, your younger brother securely tucked in his room. This time you hid the cookies, just to be sure if he got up there would be nothing for him to stick his grubby little hands into. Well, it was 4 am, it was time to crash. You circled through the house checking all the locks and shut the curtains, and now it was time to head to your room. Up the stairs, to the left just past the guest room, stepping over your clothes and snatching a night dress. You paused, seeing the double extra large Warrant T-Shirt Paul bought you during last year’s concert. He found the perfect one, a “Cherry Pie” album art on the front with the back reading “She’s My Cherry Pie”. It was your favorite song from the album, and he started nicknaming you as such. You preferred one that was super huge, the perfect size for bedtime! With your own rock box on full blast you sang along to Def Leppard in the shower, unaware you had left your window wide open.

You waltzed out, turning off the music and throwing on your shirt and wiggling on a pair of leopard print panties. Your steps slowed once you stepped into your room, curtains blowing in the breeze

“Damn that looks good on you.”

You screamed, nearly falling back to see Paul leaning against your wall looking down at you. “Paul,” you hissed, smacking his arm when he laughed. “It is NOT funny, I told you that you couldn’t come over!”

“But I wanted to.” You expected it to come out whiny. But instead, he was firm. This wasn’t he was asking you, he was telling you. “I wanted you baby… I need you”

You took a step back, only to have him push you back on your bed. As soon as you were down he was on top of you. “I can’t… stay away, kitten. I know you’re mad, but I just can’t.”

He ran his hands all over you, pressing his hand tightly against your panties rubbing at your clit until you were a moaning mess. “Please kitten,” his voice trembled in a heavy husk, licking at your neck “, Don’t send me away.” 

It was impossible to resist him. Clothes were thrown off, Paul pinned you down by your throat and held you up by your ass. It was fast, hungry, he thrusted over and over inside you. He leaned down holding up one of your legs so he could be closer. His moans were so loud, they rattled in your ears. You couldn’t even tell what were your whines and his roaring moans. There were mischievous chuckles, Paul could help but thrive watching you melt beneath him. “Moan, kitten. Call my name, tell me how badly you want it.”

“Paul! Paul… Paul please- d-don’t stop! More, please!” 

“There’s my pussy cat,” he growled, slamming all the way to the back of your womb until a sharp throb sent a wave inside you, spilling out onto the mattress. He panted, leaning over you with his hair falling in your face. 

“You.. are such.. A brat!” You managed to catch your breath, slapping his arm.

“I told you four days is too much,” he snickered, laying his naked body on top of you.

You huffed, still stuck under him. There was no kicking him out, he’d just pop up again. “Fine, but you get to sleep in the laundry cabinet in the hallway with all the dirty clothes.”

  “Ahhh so worth it,” Paul snickered

Marko

Well movie night went off without a hitch, just as expected. The boardwalk had a beach movie tonight at the amphitheater, tonight was a classic- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! Marko savored you nestled in his arms, your giggle giving him life. You two shared an extra large jumbo pretzel with jalapeno cheese dip snickering as a guy was run over by a bulbous red orb. You glanced at your watch. Oh shit, 7:45.

“Shit, baby I’m so sorry, I gotta head out,” you quickly apologized, throwing on your jacket.

“Wait wait wait, what,” Marko asked, watching you tip toe over the sand onto the boardwalk. “Baby girl hold on, wait up!” 

You paused, waiting for him to catch up onto the boardwalk. Oh right, you forgot to tell him! “Shoot, Marko I’m sorry I forgot to tell you,” You groaned, smacking the base of your palm into your forehead. “My mom and Dad left for two days, and my Auntie can only watch my brother until 8pm so I have to go watch him tonight.”

”You’re kidding me,” Marko groaned, knocking his head back. “C’mon baby girl, can’t I at least give you a ride back?”

The offer was sweet, but there was a roadblock. Your aunt was incredibly strict, your older cousin was twenty and still had to ask for approval when they dated new people. If she saw you riding up to the driveway on a stripped down motorcycle with your street punk boyfriend and she’d definitely pitch a fit to your parents. Granted you were sure that your mom and dad would love Marko if they met him, but hearing from someone else that your daughter is riding around the city unprotected with a biker punk with long hair may cause some premeditated negative judgement. “I can’t. But it’s only for the night, babe, I’ll be back tomorrow,” you assured him, taking his gloved hand into yours. “Meet me here, same time tomorrow? I’ll be sure to make it up to you.”

Marko sighed with a half smile, stealing a kiss from you. “You bet baby girl. Go ahead.” 

He leaned against his bike, half-waving at you as you trotted away. Paul returned to his bike with a soda in hand watching you run off while Marko waved.

“Hey dude, your date over already,” he asked, leaning over his shoulder.

Marko only smirked, biting at his thumb with a devious plan concocting in his head. “Mnah, I’m goin’ to her place a little later. I’ll catch up with you guys later, man.”

Your brother had already finished his homework and had dinner, it was just getting him to bed at this point. Once your aunt left you two hopped into the kitchen for a big ol’ bowl of popcorn and crashed on the couch for a quick video game marathon. You kicked his butt at Mario Brothers, and after a few hours he was out like a light. It was a pain in the butt carrying him down the hall to his room, flopping him onto the bed with a sigh. “Night, dork,” you softly teased, ruffling his hair. Okay, bed time.

You decided to finish the night out with a nice warm shower, tossing a bra and shorts on the back of the toilet. “Oooh,” you harmonized to yourself, kicking off pants, bra, panties. The warm water was so soothing, it pulled a satisfied hum from your throat. Slowly you ran your hands up your legs checking for any, going over any rough patches with a razor for that silky smooth finish. You paused for a moment, halfway through washing down your body when you could hear your dog, D/N, barking outside. On your tiptoes, you peeked out the bathroom window inside your shower meant to ease the steam plumes, watching him bounce, snarl, tugging at his leash. Lowering your feet down you gave a pause. There was no one outside. No one downstairs, and the doors downstairs were locked but… your bedroom window was left open

“Marko?”

“Polo,” the blonde exclaimed as he hung his head upside down from your window frame. 

You stuck your head out of your shower curtain, blowing a frustrated huff out of your nostrils. “Marko, I’m in the shower. You couldn’t handle me being gone for half a day?”

Marko chuckled and swung down, hanging his legs through your window into your room. “What can I say,” he teased, hopping down. “You’re irresistible baby girl.”

While you tried to finish up he waltzed around your room, peeking into books, staring at framed photos, until he had an even better idea. Kicking off his boots he waltzed into the bathroom, able to see your naked form just behind that (print) shower curtain. “You look awfully lonely in there~”

You couldn’t tell if you were blushing from the heat or the suggestion of showering with him, but either way you were utterly flusters. “But what about the water- Will it.. I mean?”

“Holy water, baby girl. I’m a vampire, not the Wicked Witch of the West. Normal water isn’t going to hurt me,” he insisted, shedding his jacket. 

You could hear the heavy leather slip to the floor. A deep breath dragged in, your heart racing. “Go ahead.”

The curtain rings made a metallic shhhrrrk, but you didn’t turn around as Marko stepped inside the stall with you. You could feel his hands trace up your exposed back sending a wave of goosebumps through your flesh. Slowly he pried your arms away from your torso and down to your side, sliding his hands around your waist.

 His blonde hair clung to the sides of his neck, water pelting against cold flesh soon pressed up against you from behind. “Glad I came in.. can’t remember the last time I’ve had a shower,” Marko teased. His slippery hands teased your lower half. He dipped his fingers past your lips rubbing at your entrance until they slipped inside with ease inciting a high pitched moan from you. They hooked inside you, prodding at the most tender parts until you fell forward, using the wall in front of your beneath the shower head as a support. Marko savored the image of you bent over in front of him, gently kicking your feet apart. “Promise me you won’t be quiet, baby girl,” he moaned softly in your ear. When his fingers pulled out, something else pushed in. The sensation filled a hot pressure inside you, Marko grasping the back of your neck for leverage. The entire room echoed with your cries, fluids lost beneath the water. The sensation made your legs weak, Marko’s grasp barely keeping you up. He held you close to his body thrusting further inside you, kissing your ear whispering tender words that made you weak. Secrets, three little words too quiet for anyone but you to hear. The tension in your waist spread, tighter and tighter like a rubber band on the verge of snapping. You cried out Marko’s name knocking your head back into his chest when something hot filled your insides. There was a moment of silence when you two caught your breath, the shower’s water washing away any evidence. When you couldn’t move Marko lifted you into his arms, carrying you out carefully to your room. Somehow you both managed to get dressed before collapsing onto your bed together- not before sealing the windows, of course.

[martykatewrites]

The Sandstorm

Roma woke to the smell of meat cooking and the savory odor made her mouth water. She rose from her cot and ran her fingers through her short blond curls.

Ardeth was sitting under the awning, roasting a small hare. He looked up at her and smiled. "Have some dates," he said, "This hare should be done soon. I've made some tea but we don't have any sugar, do you mind?"

"No, I don't mind. But how...?"

"Have you forgotten what my father taught you? The desert is alive and now is the time when animals come out of their burrows to hunt and find food. I used my sling to kill the hare and found a dead tree and broke off the branches for firewood. The tea I made with the alcohol stove you brought along." If his smile was a little smug, she knew he was showing off and didn't mind-- too much.

"You're hired. I'm going to have some tea; dates are too sweet; I need something to wash them down with."

The hare was crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Along with the dates, tea, and flatbread they had a good meal and were ready to travel. Ardeth checked to make sure the lead lines were secure for the pack camels then they mounted their own and began the night's journey.

It was still hot but had cooled down, a small breeze ruffled her curls cooling off the back of her neck. Ardeth was wearing his turban—how did he manage to stay cool in his robes? She had grown up in Egypt but at times the heat seemed to overwhelm her. It had been hot in Deir El Medina but it was not like this, not like the miles of sand that stretched before them.

Limestone cliffs lined the river in places and the heat seemed to reflect off them. In some places, they were dotted with caves, and she knew a few might contain tombs that had been carved in ancient times. She would like a chance to explore this place but not now.

Ardeth was trying to keep her mind occupied so she would not think of the burden they were carrying. He was pointing out Orion--the stars that made up the belt aligned exactly with the three pyramids of Giza.

"I knew that," she said irritably but tried to adopt a more conciliatory tone, "I always liked the story of the goddess Nut who gave birth to the sun every morning, how it was symbolic of the daily rebirth of the pharaoh. My favorite tomb decoration was always Nut the sky goddess surrounded by stars. How they painted the ceilings in the tombs has always amazed me."

"Well, look up and you can see that same sky." She did as he said and saw a myriad of stars, and the Milky Way overhead; it made her gasp in wonder.

"This is more beautiful than Deir El Medina," she said as she gazed at the sight surrounding her.  I used to go out and just stare at the stars, the sky was more beautiful than Cairo or even Luxor."

They continued to ride, not saying anything or needing to, until he broke the silence, saying, "Who is that archaeologist who is opening a tomb in the Valley?"

"Howard Carter? When I was in town, I heard that Lacau had come from Cairo to supervise the opening. Carter is an arrogant bastard, I'm sure he's going to give him the least amount of cooperation that he can. Why do you ask?"

"Maybe what he is doing is not such a good thing, maybe there are things in there that should not see the light of day."

"I understand, but better the archaeologists than the looters. I don't believe in curses, remember? And I would give anything to see the contents of that tomb. There are years of conservation ahead if the tomb contains most of its contents before it can be put in the Egyptian museum. I don't see how there is a curse, this is a gift that will enable us to finally see what a pharaoh's tomb looked like. If it's not empty that is."

"Are you curious about what we might be carrying for your father?"

"No, I mean yes, I mean I don't know—I'm afraid to know. Do I believe we are carrying something that might be evil, or have evil attached—maybe, but if that is true I would prefer to not know. I just want to get this stuff to Cairo and be rid of it. If he is doing something illegal, which I am afraid he is, he has made me an accessory and I don't like it. Can we please not talk about it anymore? Talking about curses during the day is one thing, but at night it frightens me."

"You are as superstitious as an Egyptian," he laughed and gave his camel a light tap. They rode until the night gave way to the colors of the desert dawn. The sky was tinted pink and gold when Ardeth called a halt.

"Why must we stop now?" she complained, "I want to get to Minya as quickly as I can and catch the boat to Cairo. It will be cool for an hour or more."

"All the more reason to stop," he replied, "I know you have worked in the heat of Deir El Medina, but you are not accustomed to the ways of the Sahara. It is best to stop now while it is still cool, we can eat and then get to sleep before the hottest part of the day begins. I wish there were some ruins we could take shelter in, but there aren't any." He raised his hand as she started to object, "Please listen to me, Roma, you will find out that I am right."

She dismounted from her camel, grumbling, but helped him set up the tent and hobble the camels. He brewed some of his strong tea and they breakfasted on flatbread and dates. It was too early for either to be very hungry, they would have their main meal when they woke.

Perhaps it was the heat that gave her the dream. She found herself in Deir El Medina with her father, looking for caches that the tomb robbers had left behind. She was about to lift a rock where she thought she had caught a glimpse of gold underneath when it was no longer her father by her side, but a man with a lion's head and claws. She began to run for her life because she knew if the lion-man caught her it would kill her and devour her.

Just as soon as she felt the hot breath on the back of her neck she woke, shaking violently. She put her hand over her heart to try to stop its rapid beating, taking deep breaths as she tried to clear her head.

It was no use trying to go back to sleep, she decided, at least not for now. She looked over to where Ardeth lay peacefully sleeping, why had he not wakened? The only thing she could think of was that she had to get out of the tent, the air was too close inside its dark interior.

Carefully she raised the tent flap and stepped outside, the hot sands burning her bare feet. She looked around, looking for what she did not know. The only things to see were only the hobbled camels trying to get what shelter they could from the tent's awning.

"What are you doing?" she heard Ardeth's voice behind her, "You need to come back into the tent."

"Not yet," she replied, "I can't," she finished, the helpless and resigned tone in her voice concerned him.

"Did you have another nightmare?" he asked and she nodded, "How often does this happen?"

"I need a cigarette," she told him, "And to answer your question, I almost never have them. It's like all my fears about Father are manifesting in my dreams. I don't care how tired I get tonight; I can't bear to go back to sleep."

He sighed, clearly not happy but understanding. "I am sorry this is happening to you. Let us sit for a while and maybe you can calm yourself enough to go back to sleep. It's too early for us to start, sunset is still some hours away. Maybe when we get to Cairo all of this will stop and you will be your old self again."

He sat with her, patient and understanding, for almost an hour then insisted she try to sleep again.

The heat was affecting her and sleep proved elusive. The best she could manage was to lie on her cot and just rest. Eventually, sleep returned and this time she had no dreams, just blessed unconsciousness.

She did not wake easily as she had the previous morning. Ardeth was shaking her, saying, "Come now, wake up, you were so eager to on your way yet you do not want to get up. Breakfast is ready and we must get going soon."

"Can't we wait a day?" she moaned although she already knew the answer. "I am so tired."

"Drink some tea and eat. You will feel better once we get going."

After their meal, she helped take down the tent and pack the camels. He offered to do it himself but the tent required two people to take it down and put it up. They packed it on one of the pack camels, along with the waterskin.

He checked the amount of water in the bag they were using. "Are you drinking enough? I thought we should have used more."

"I fill my canteen every day and drink what I put in it. I know how much water I need to drink. I do not dare become dehydrated, that would be dangerous. I do not know the Sahara, but I know how to live in hot weather."

It seemed to start innocently enough. A light breeze started blowing, gently ruffling the surface of the sand. Then the wind picked up speed and the expression on Ardeth's face told her that something was wrong.

"Sandstorm, a sandstorm is coming. We must head to the cliffs and find a cave to shelter in if we can, or at least an outcropping we can hide behind."

"I thought sandstorm season was at least a month off!"

"You can tell that to the winds that will be blowing the sand. Come, if we hurry, we will not get caught in it."

The pack camels could only go so quickly, but even they seemed to sense the urgency of their situation. Fortunately, the limestone cliffs were closer than they seemed and the time was just adequate enough to search for an opening large enough to admit them and their camels.

"Look, Ardeth," she pointed to a large opening that loomed just ahead of them, "Is that a cave or just a place in the cliff that has worn away?"

"It looks like it could be a cave, and a good-sized one that will fit us and the camels, come on." She followed as he hurried towards it.

There was indeed a large opening in the face of the cliff, but something made her pull back when she saw it.

He turned around and looked at her, "What is wrong with you, we need to take shelter now."

"This is not a cave," she said, "Look, can you not see it, this stone was worked. This is man-made, it was not carved by water, wind, or erosion."

"It does not matter," he said, "The opening is wide enough for us and the camels, we must go in, now." He lit a lantern and entered their shelter.

She followed him in with great reluctance. As she had suspected, this was no accident of nature. They followed down a large corridor of stone that bore the marks of many chisels. Whoever had carved it had intended to create a large passageway, but for what?

The corridor ended in a large chamber. She took her electric torch from her saddlebag and shone it around the walls, then cast the light down so she could see what was on the floor.

"Oh my god," she said, "What is this place?"

[witchesoz]

What we know of Oz: Book 1, Good Ol’ South

We did the East, we did the West, as well as bits of the North… Next direction is of course the South! And I will begin immediately with its Witch, for once. # Glinda. The Witch of the South, or the Good Witch of the South. 

The heroes decide to go see her after the Wizard fails to carry away Dorothy with him. Even though at first they don’t think about her – for Dorothy it is understandable given that she only heard her name mentioned briefly at the beginning of her adventure. The Scarecrow can’t possibly know her. As for the Lion and the Tin Woodman, it is unknown why they don’t think of her… the Tin Woodman in particular knows very well about the Wicked Witch of the West, and that since the beginning of the adventure. She is probably not the most well-known public figure in Oz at the time… Anyway, it is the soldier with a green beard in the Emerald City that informs them of her existence. He mentions that she can help because she is “the most powerful of all Witches”. He also mentions that she rules over the Quadlings (clearly, she is the queen of the South) and that she lives in a castle built at the edge of the desert (which leads him to assume that she may know a way to cross it). And when asked if Glinda is good, interestingly the soldier doesn’t answer right away, he merely says that the Quadlings “think” she is good, and that she is kind to everyone. So he doesn’t say that she is a Good witch, but that she apparently looks like one (even though we know that she is a Good Witch thanks to the Witch of the North description of her). He also adds that Glinda is a beautiful woman that looks young, but in reality is old if not ancient, and that she merely knows how to “keep young despite the many years she has lived”. Once they arrive in the Quadling Country, our heroes go to the castle of Glinda, located at the most southern part of the country. Her castle is said to be very beautiful, and guarded by “three young girls in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braids”. Glinda herself is found in a big throne room, sitting on a throne of rubies. She is described, as said previously, “both beautiful and young”. Her hair is a rich red in color, falling in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her eyes are blue and kind, and her dress is pure white (because remember, white is the color of the Witches). Glinda is indeed kind and benevolent, making sure that Dorothy’s companions go home, revealing to Dorothy that her shoes are her ticket back (Glinda seems to have the most knowledge about magic, along with the Wicked Witch of the West), and even kissing gently Dorothy upon first meeting her. However, when you look at her dialogue with adult eyes, you realize that Glinda is actually deeply ironic. Snarky one would say nowadays. She keeps making subtle jokes. Speaking of the Scarecrow she says that “It would be a shame to deprive the Emerald City of such a wonderful ruler” and when he asks if he is really wonderful, she says “You are unusual” ; and to the Tin Woodman she says “You are brighter than him (when polished)”. Small jokes that fly over the characters’ heads, but that are certainly not cruel or wicked. But yeah, Glinda apparently always dreamed secretly to be a stand-up comedian Xp # As for the South in itself… The land of the Quadlings, the red country, the South of Oz. Interestingly, the characters only take three days to arrive there, contrary to the longer travels they previously had (it was probably a way to shorten the book at this point, because this is actually their fourth travel). The soldier mentioned that the road to Glinda is very easy, it is a straight road to the South – but it is “full of dangers to the travelers”, which is the reason why none of the Quadlings ever come to the Emerald City. It is quite weird given that the soldier previously said that he knew what the Quadlings thought of Glinda… maybe people from the Emerald City went to the South? Among these dangers on the road he mentions “wild beasts in the woods” and “a race of queer men who do not like strangers to cross their country”. Of course, we will meet both. I personally think the land of the South begins at the episode of the “fighting trees”, because previously it was just the Emerald City territory, so I’ll begin here. The first obstacle our heroes meet is a thick wood with “no way around it” because it extends as far as can see, and when they try to enter it the trees actually move their branches – they bend down, twine around them and fling them back, tossing away whenever they try to pass. These are the trees that are remembered in Oz lore as “the fighting trees”. However, the Woodman manages to pass under one after cutting one of its branches – the tree “shakes as if in pain” but it can’t prevent anymore the heroes from passing underneath. Behind these fighting trees, the rest of the forest is actually absolutely normal. As a result they deduce that only the “first row” of trees can bend their branches like that, and that they were given wonderful powers to act as the “policemen” of the forest, keeping strangers out of it.

At the edge of this wood, they find the China Country. (As a small note, many people think that the episode of the China Country was added later, once the book was finished, due to how out of place it seems, and due to a slightly different writing style which really denotes this part). The China Country is a “stretch of country” with a floor as smooth, shining and white as the bottom of a big platter, and surrounded by a high wall of white china, smooth and higher than the heroes’ heads. This time the heroes could go around it, but they try not to, out of fear of losing their direction. This country is actually populated by people made of china, or precisely by the china figures used in “our” world as ornaments and decorations – small china houses in the brightest colors, china barns and animals, and even a china church, all populated by milkmaids, shepherdess, princesses, shepherds, princes and clowns. We actually know they are THE china figures we collect because, as a princess explains, whenever one of them leaves China Country, they lose the ability to speak and move and can only “stand around and look pretty”, ending up on mantels and cabinets, paralyzed but apparently alive (yeah, that’s creepy). It also shows that the China Country seems to be an enchanted place (or a cursed one) giving them life. Due to being made of China  these people tend to be very fragile, and break easily (this is why they don’t like having non-china beings walk around us, and also probably why the wall was built – there is a strong sense of “secluded and protected communities” in the South of Oz). However they can be mended (there is a “mender’s shop” somewhere in town) but in general they dislike being mended because it is “not pretty”, and apparently being mended too much in the head leaves one “foolish”. We also know that to cross this country, one needs roughly an hour. Right on the other side of the China Country there is a “disagreeable country” filled with bog and marshes, and covered in a tall grass and thick underbrushes that actually hide muddy holes. Right after this country, solid ground comes back and we enter in another forest – with trees bigger and older than anything our heroes saw previously (which means the Munchkin forest and the Fighting trees one). Our characters think that the forest is gloomy and “wilder than ever”, all except the Lion that absolutely adores this forest, especially the softness of the dried leaves and the “richness and greenness” of the moss – this is the forest he will want to live in. This is actually the forest of the wild beasts the soldier mentioned before, and we see them in the middle of a council, terrified because a monster installed itself in the forest, devouring them. I will jump a bit the animal descriptions, keep them for another talk about animals in Oz, but I will stay a bit on this monster, probably of the same nature as the Kalidahs since animals don’t often refer to other beasts as abominations. This one is said to be a “tremendous monster, like a great spider, with a body as big as an elephant and eight legs as long as tree trunks” (note that while this monster is referred to as the “great spider”, in its description it is always said to be a monster “like” a great spider). Its body is covered in coarse black hair, it has a great mouth with sharp teeth a foot long, but its main weakness is its neck: between its head and its “pudgy” body (it has been noted that the beast feasted on numerous animals ever since its arrival, hence why it may look quite fat), its neck is actually as thin as a “wasp’s waist” and this is how the Lion kills it, but cutting off its head (while it sleeps). We also know that this beast arrived quite recently in the forest, so it is not some sort of ancient evil dwelling there for a long time. And, next to the forest, is the ultimate obstacle of the South: the hill of the Hammer-Heads. It is a steep hill, covered from top to bottom with hundreds of great pieces of rock, and behind each rock is hidden (or lives) a Hammer-Head, the “queer men” the soldier talked about. The Hammer-Heads are short and stout men, with big heads flat at the top supported by a thick neck full of wrinkles. No female is mentioned and they also lack arms. Their danger is that their neck can stretch out extremely fast, “as quick as lightning” and thus they can throw their heads flat-side first to hit people with a great strength and send them tumbling down the cliff. And they do that with “boisterous laugh” to anyone that tries to cross their hill because, as they say, “this hill belongs to us and we don’t allow anyone to cross it”. They are not even afraid of the Lion’s roar, which says a lot. The characters again don’t want to go around the hill out of fear of losing their way, and only can cross thanks to the Winged Monkeys intervention. # Now… a big question: what is exactly Quadling Country? This is a big one, especially in this book… In later Oz books, it is considered that each of the four regions make up all of Oz. Aka, everything in the West is Winkie Country, everything in the South is Quadling Country, everything in the East is Munchkin land… However in this book, while at first we believe that the fighting trees, china country and hammer-heads hill are all part of the Quadling Country, Dorothy and the narration keep repeating that the Quadling Country actually begins behind the Hammer-Heads hill, and that everything before that is not Quadling land but… something else. Which is quite interesting, especially when compared to the other regions: as soon as the heroes set out to the West they immediately entered the Winkie lands, and in the East, while the great forest is at first implied to be part of the Munchkin country, at the end of the travel there is a distinction made between the Munchkin land and the forest… So yes, you can either chose to consider that the South Land is indeed all of the South of Oz, but that the Quadlings Country is merely the most southern part where the Quadlings live proper, a region of the South Land, or you can consider the Quadling Country to be the name of all of the South of Oz. Anything is possible. The Quadling Country proper is described as beautiful, rich and happy, “field upon field of ripening grain, well-paved roads running between, pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges” (note that this is the only country with the mention of bridges, you can find them nowhere else in Oz). The favorite color of the Quadlings is red, and thus the fences, houses, bridges and clothes are all red, “bright against the yellow grain and the green grass”. The Quadlings themselves also appear mostly as farmers. Like the rest of Oz they are described as short and “good-natured”, but they also have a specific trait: they are all “fat” or “chubby”. (This lead to some artists interpreting the Ozian races as all having a different body type, the Munchkins being small, the Quadlings fat, the Winkies muscular, etc… an idea that I personally quite like). There also seems to be an explanation for the Quadlings’ fatness hidden in the text: when they are welcomed inside a Quadling house and share their supper, it is mentioned that the Quadling family serves the protagonists “three kinds of cakes and four kinds of cookies”: it seems that the Quadling diet involves a lot of desserts, candies, treats and other sugary things. No wonder they all end up with some extra-padding on their body...

[thewildeleven]

The Titan.

"I do not know why you bother to name them, if only to place heavier burdens upon your heart," the Titan said. He was sitting on his throne in the Great Hall of Olympus, said to be the highest peak in all of Greece. His wife sat beside him, her own seat carrying equal grandeur.

Rhea learned to keep her eyes down in the Titan's presence. She avoided his gaze, then feigned endearment by firmly leaning on his shoulder as she spoke. Her tresses adorned his bare chest, the golden curls complimenting his sculpted muscles.

"My dearest," Rhea said, her voice almost a whisper, "You are my Capitol. I know that you mean to preserve us. Forgive me when I show weakness, they remain flesh of my flesh, bone of my bones."

"I do allow you this folly," the Titan said. "And yet, is it not better comfort to leave them forgotten and unnamed? Why must you remember them so?"

In her mind, Rhea held each and every one of them close. Demeter with locks like endless wheat-fields. Hestia, of the burning eyes. The even-muscled Hera, whom she imagined must grow with a strength rivaling the strongest mortal men. Hades, the timid. Poseidon, the proud. She had visions of them, of what they could be; each one a worthy successor to the Titan's throne.

And yet Cronus would not allow any of his offspring to usurp him, so he ate all of them alive as soon as they were torn from Rhea's womb.

"No, you are right," she lied. "In my mind they must fade like mortal life. Like threads spun shortest by Fate. I must not care for them."

"Good," said the Titan as he stood and faced his wife. "Look: the prophecy, salt which my father has poured over my wounds with, had me perpetually undone. My dear Rhea, in time you will bear our sixth child, and whatever you must name the creature, name it quick, for after I devour him I shall place my desires under deep slumber.

"You understand that I desire to rule only with might and be just." he added. "I did not ask for these atrocities. I will not allow my immortal conscience to plague me any longer."

Rhea looked straight into his eyes, and with a piercing gaze asked: "Why not just kill me?"

"What did you say?"

Rhea avoided his eyes once more and brought her head down. "Nothing. Forgive my tongue if it went out of turn."

Like most things Cronus offered her in the past decade, the slap on her face came as an unwelcome surprise. She could tell that his husband restrained from giving the hit its full strength, yet it brought with it the ringing of a thousand thunders; it heralded a clouding in her mind, the rumble of a great storm brewing.

The Titan took his wife's face and forced her to face him, and for the first time since the devouring of Poseidon, she saw the Monster that the prophecy created. He regarded her like she was some animal. The judging, wide eyes. The perfect set of teeth revealed by the smug smile.

"Rhea, my dear Rhea," the Monster said. "I am doing this for us, I am sure you know. And I promise… I will stop once the sixth child has been taken. Do you understand?"

Rhea's lips, even backed by the body of an invincible titaness, were too frightened to speak.

"Do you understand?!" the monster growled.

"Yes, my love…" 

"Soon, this will be all over with, and both of us will live in eternal rule." He kissed her, his tongue tasting her tears. Rhea closed her eyes as the Titan undressed her.

***

Some months later, Rhea felt a familiar stirring within her belly. It brought a concoction of delight and dread upon her being.

She planned to hide the pregnancy for as long as possible, but she knew that the Titan would notice it eventually. She could have had a lot of help, yet decided against asking aid from Uranus, Gaia, or any other being whom she thought might have an interest in taking Olympus' throne for themselves. Her plan was to consult with the creatures of the Earth, and her eyes caught wonders in the heart of the forest nymph Adamanthea.

As the stirrings became more frequent, Rhea decided to appear in the nymph's grove at once. Not as the supreme being that she was, but as a mother seeking refuge for her unborn child.

"Surely all the Earth has heard of Cronus' atrocities," Rhea said.

"Bah!" the leaf-haired nymph replied, seemingly unfazed by the sudden appearance of the woman in front of her. "If it were up to me I would put Cronus' neck on a noose that will never break. I will hang him from the Great Tree to watch his life draining away, never quite dying but in enough pain to regret his immortality. I would ask for the vultures to feast on his carcass while he can still feel! Well," she paused to smile. "You see, vultures do not really eat the flesh of those who are still alive, you know. Heh. They are scavengers, see, and they only go for helpless carcasses. They only eat dead ones, yep. In any case! I think if vultures should make an exception, it should be for Cronus! Because what he does is just disgusting and spells injustice for anyone! Except--"

"Calm down, sweet nymph," Rhea interrupted. "The Titan might hear you."

Adamanthea covered her lips. She widened her eyes and turned her head left and right. "You're right," she whispered. "Wait… who are you again?"

"My name is Rhea. I come to you now not as your sovereign, but as a mother desperate to save her yet unborn child. Will you help me?"

Adamanthea stepped back, her mouth open. "Are you serious? I mean, I DON'T not believe you! You're really Rhea, huh. Who else could appear out of thin air anyway, right? If there's anyone with some serious nature-defying abilities like that, it would be you guys up top. But hey, look at me! I'm a forest nymph! I haven't even learned how to craft a weedwhistle cord yet. I've been a bit negligent in my daily practice. Lazy. Heh. You know… butterflies to chase and petals to collect, and gazelles and fawns and hummingbirds to talk to. In any case! How could I even help?"

"Take more credit for yourself, for we always say that the resourcefulness of the forest nymphs knows no bounds," the titaness replied. "Now listen, Adamanthea. In a few hours I will bring out Zeus, my sixth child, out into this world. I only need some way to hide him until he is strong enough to stand up for himself."

The forest nymph went silent, her eyes blank and lost in thought. After a few moments, she said, "Right. You know what? You have come to the right creature.

"All my life I have listened to the whisperings of the rocks and the winds," the nymph added, "and I imagine the rest of my kin still do, as well. But I fear that they have been rather selective in what they hear. They listen to good tidings and disregard the bad ones… which I think is wrong. I do not like Cronus. Or rather, I don't like what he is doing. Is it too much to listen to what the rain clouds tell the raindrops, which the raindrops in turn tell the leaves? Perhaps. But it has been horrible up there, hasn't it?"

Rhea nodded.

"Your husband is a great ruler, you know. What with bringing all the wealth and liberation and agriculture and stuff. As humble as we are, I cannot figure out why he allows himself to succumb to a monster. I wonder why he allows himself to be a slave to some prophecy."

Rhea smiled. "You share my sentiments all too well, dear nymph."

"Do not worry. Stay until you bear your child, and I will help you hide him," the nymph said.

***

The opulence of the titans' dining hall was deceptive, for no glorious feast of honor was to be held there that night. Cronus, with his supremacy over land, sky, and sea, sensed Rhea had given birth and called for her immediately.

She emerged with the little one wrapped up in a white blanket, a lump about half the length of her arm.

"Why the blanket?" Cronus asked.

"Husband, this one turned out to be so hideous and so deformed! I would not dishonor your sight as to dare you look upon the monster," Rhea replied. "It might be best to end this usurper's life as quickly as you can." She sat beside him.

"I see. And have you named him?"

"I call him Zeus."

"A waste of a good name."

Cronus opened his mouth to swallow the child whole. A small portion of the blanket hung out from the corner of his lips as he began to chew.

Rhea stared at the ceiling as madness started to consume her child. She wanted to pray, but to whom do the gods pray to?

Cracking sounds echoed as the titan's teeth tried to crush bone. He licked his lips, pieces of raw meat clung to his tongue. "Zeus," he said while blood dripped from his mouth, "tastes really different. I do not like his form. He— uhm,"

Cartilage snapped like frail twigs. And in no time at all, the titan finished.

He used his finger to free a piece of flesh trapped between his teeth. "He may not have been a threat," he added.

The Titan licked his lips after what appeared to be a very satisfying meal. "Come, Rhea. Sit beside me."

She did, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"The prophecy says that I will be usurped by my own children," Cronus said. "You've seen my madness. I know that you see me as some kind of monster. I even find it laughable that while I have already exiled Uranus, I still act as if I am a slave to his words."

"I have no words," Rhea replied. "I only trust that as you say, this will be the last time."

"Ah, that. Not so."

Rhea's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"'I shall make my desire slumber,' I said. But love… you are my desire."

As she realized that she was no longer talking to her husband, but the Monster, the titaness pulled away. She looked and there it was: the insane smile and his dead, dark eyes. The Monster was there, clouding his judgment. Feeding on his falsely-perceived and misguided benevolence.

"My love, this is not you," Rhea pleaded. "How can you act as if you are cursed? When no curse should ever enter the House of Cronus!"

"BLAME MY FATHER FOR NOT ACCEPTING DEFEAT!" The halls of Olympus shook as the Monster bellowed. "Not content in ceding their power! Damning me with a prophecy—"

"The prophecy was no fault of theirs! It was the price you had to pay for your ambition!"

"Price?" the Monster laughed. "The 'price' of my ambition? What, the liberation of the lesser creatures from the dark clutches of tyrants? The wealth I have provided from the minerals of the soil; the… the science of organized harvestry that the once-starving mortals now benefit from?!  Tell me, Rhea, is this the ‘price’ I had to pay for wanting mankind to prosper?"

"No…. no, no…" the titaness wiped the tears from her eyes. "You could have accepted your fate gracefully… like an Immortal worthy of his throne."

"You are right, I could have. Yet the fact remains that I have done what I have done, and I must finish it now."

"Finish? Is it not already finished?"

"Dear," he took Rhea by the arm and pulled her closer to him. "You are my lone desire, and you are my weakness. You asked me once, why I should not kill you instead. Well, you made a compelling argument…"

"Let go of me, Cronus," the Titaness said.

The Monster responded by opening his mouth to take a bite off of Rhea's arm. In an instant she was dismembered, and the scream that followed was released for the entire World to hear.

"Without you," Cronus said as he chewed on Rhea's torn limb, "I would never have the urge to bear children again."

He grabbed her neck with one hand, while the other tore through her chest to take her still-beating heart. "Worry not," he said to her, "You will remain alive inside of me, just as your children are. It will be a family reunion of sorts."

Cronus held his wife's heart as he watched life leave her face. Rhea let out a final gasp and closed her eyes, and she was no more.

The Monster then consumed his wife's lifeless body starting with the toes and the feet, moving upward. He knew that she was alive, somehow, just as he knew his six children were alive, for their kin are immortal. But it did not matter; he only needed them contained inside him and he would have accomplished his end.

What he did not know was that Zeus, his sixth child, was alive not inside him, but far away from Olympus. The "child" that Rhea presented that night was not a child at all, but a newborn goat of Adamanthea's offering.

***

In Adamanthea's grove, there was an oak tree from which hung a cradle that was suspended by cords of cotton. The suspension was necessary, because the one who slept within needed to be hidden from the ruler of sky, land, and sea.

Adamanthea approached the cradle and saw the child Zeus asleep. "Hello, little boy," she whispered. "Presently your father longs for you, but not in the way fathers usually long for their children! He wants to eat you!" She poked his nose. "But don't worry. Your mother and I will protect you—"

The nymph's words were cut short by a blood-curdling scream that echoed, unmistakably, from the heights of Olympus. 

The child in the cradle stirred and opened his eyes to stare at the nymph. He did not cry, nor wail, as infants are wont to do. The boy simply stared at the nymph with its cold, piercing eyes.

"Sleep for now, and don't worry. One day, you shall banish your father and rule us all," she said.

A sudden flash lit up the grove, followed by another, and another. The bright knives sliced at the night sky and broke it into a hundred pieces. Soon, the evening was filled by a lightning storm.

Zeus smiled.

It was as if the bolts were giving their Master a warm welcome.

[sunshineandfangs]

I have promises to keep, And only miles to go before I sleep

Klaroline AU Week - Day One  (Mythological Creatures)

Caroline sipped at her Spritz, a sweet burn coating her tongue and throat as she toasted the red-orange glow haloing buildings across the canal. A gorgeous Venetian sunset was certainly one way to usher out the eve of her seventeenth year and herald her eighteenth.

Her peers that still called the tiny Mystic Falls home were likely taking gap years, looking for jobs, or starting college. Not globetrotting. Not being a mere 18 and having set foot on all seven continents. Their tongues couldn’t dance with a sometimes clumsy, sometimes eloquent flow of words in dozens of languages. And they didn’t have memories that burned like star fire in their minds. From the twinkling yellow of the City of Lights to the vivid green of the hills of Kerala. 

Of course her peers also lived without knowing their expiration dates. There was that.

She closed her eyes. 

Tipping her glass, the last drops of her cocktail slid down her throat. A swipe of her tongue licked the remnants from her lips and she could feel a weak breeze catch one of her curls.

And then her peace shattered, a jolt like a livewire running down her spine. Her glass slipped from nerveless fingers, though it didn’t fall far. A pale arm reached around her and caught it, his presence a static thrum of power at her back.

“Careful, sweetheart,” he murmured in her ear, “I do so hate to have my possessions damaged.”

Shock rapidly shifted to ire and she whirled around, taking a step back to gain some distance. Her arms crossed as she glowered, eyes taking in a sight she hadn’t seen in years. Short blonde curls and bright blue eyes. Curling raspberry red lips, their smirk deepening the dimbles in their cheeks.

The Devil was an angel once, it’s been said. Rather unfair he kept his stunning appearance when he Fell.

--

10 Years Ago

Dipping her small hands in the water of a stream, Caroline carefully washed the dirt from them. The cold temperature bit at the flesh of her hand, but she pressed on unflinchingly, meticulously picking out the dirt from under her nails and scrubbing at her skin. When she finished, fingers nearly numb, she pulled her hands from the water, shaking them out and spraying small drops around where she kneeled.

Hands finally dry Caroline continued to kneel at the bank, picking up each of the stems of yarrow she had just picked. With surprising dexterity she slowly braided the stems together, interweaving strands of her hair into the forming wreath. It was a strange, macabre ornament.

Yet she didn’t hesitate to press it to the brand on her side, the cruelly slashed lines still sluggishly bleeding crimson rivulets. A hiss whistled through her clenched teeth, but she only pulled the bundle away after three deep breaths.

Yellow, green, and splattered red was cradled in her hands and she gently, gently lowered it into the rock lined hole she had dug. Set in its tomb of earth, Caroline placed one last, larger river stone over top to complete the ritual. 

And then she waited.

Water in the stream trickled and bubbled. Crisp autumn air nipped at her exposed skin. Somewhere in the distance some birds chirped as a squirrel scurried up the bark of an oak. Her side throbbed, blood warm and sticky.

The water froze and the air went still and stagnant, the forest now silent.

Black smoke crept out from below the river stone, foul smelling as the wreath burned.

“Now, is this not a fascinating occurrence.”

Caroline said nothing as the voice rumbled from the earth, the sound seeming to echo all around her. More black tendrils spilled out, twining together in the air, growing darker and thicker until a cloud of smog enveloped her small form.

“Oh?” The voice taunted. “So quiet, little one. Was it bravado and not defiance I tasted?”

Blue eyes, still round in a youthful face, flashed with icy fire as knuckles bleached white in her lap. “I am young, not stupid. I am hardly going to scare you off before you give me what I want.”

There was silence for several rapid patters of her hummingbird heart, long enough that Caroline feared she had miscalculated. And then there was a bark of laughter, nearly human if not for the way it shook the world around her.

“Such fire, little one!” Amusement faded to something more derisive. “And such confidence to think I would make a bargain with the likes of you. I do not make Deals with your kind, girl.”

Had she been less prepared, such words may have shaken her nerve. Instead her lips only twitched as she attempted to smother a growing smirk.

“Oh, I know. A demon with honor? That’s funny!” She grew somber as she continued. “Yeah, I can respect that you don’t go after kids. It’s probably your lone good quality... one that the rest of your kind don’t share.” Subconsciously her hand shifted towards her side, where it hovered over the still throbbing wound. And again she was left waiting, hating that she was at this demon’s mercy. Knowing it had none.

The darkness had grown thick as she spoke, blocking nearly all the midday sun. And she hoped it was a good sign when it suddenly started moving. Shifting and writhing and converging before her.

A man (rather what appeared as a man, she reminded herself) crouched before her. His looks were unfairly pretty, all blonde and blue eyed. So, she was almost thankful when inhuman gold bled into his eyes, his pupil an unnatural black, the lines and edges of his face suddenly looking a bit wrong. Too severe, too predatory.

“Andrealphus,” his voice rumbled and hissed, its power still sending trembles through her. “A pathetic little cretin.”

Caroline couldn’t quite hide her shiver, despite the fact his ire wasn’t directed at her. And he must have sensed the spike in fear, his predatory attention now fully fixated on her. She watched the abyss of his pupil dilate and felt a dry swallow catch in her throat.

“Caroline Forbes,” he intoned slowly, rolling the syllables across his tongue. His pupil was still wide and black and consuming as he stared at her. His power prickled just shy of pain against her skin. “Do you accept the price I will demand? It will be my pleasure to hunt such vermin, but I do not offer my aid for free.”

It was almost easy now to meet the demon’s gaze, his threat not really a threat at all considering. And she said as much. “I could refuse and be forced to flee, already branded like some kind of animal, and wait for nonexistent mercy from the demon that specifically devours children. Or I could accept and deny such a creature the satisfaction. Perhaps, even gain a stay of execution from the only one of its kind to never take a child’s soul.”

She did not waver as she spoke, her voice and eyes steady as she looked at the being across from her. When there was a flicker in his expression, she noticed. Though, its meaning escaped her as it faded too quickly. His face settling into something completely impassive.

“Then, we have a bargain, Caroline Forbes. I shall remove the threats you now face, the demon, Andrealphus, and their Summoner, William Forbes. Then, upon the eve of your eighteenth year, when you are a child no longer, I shall exact my price.”

He extended his hand to her, a completely ordinary looking hand. And after a split second of hesitation, she took it.

Her screams were swallowed by the darkness. Expectation did not dull the agony that shot up her hand and arm from where they touched. Black, inky shadow crawled up her skin, burrowed into her flesh, marked the evidence of their contract.

When it was over the demon and his darkness were gone. The world once more awash with the noise of the stream and animals. Her side no longer ached and when she tugged up the hem of her shirt she found the skin clean and healed. Not even the hint of a scar could be found. But before she could celebrate the lack of a brand, the back of her neck pulsed. She scrambled to tug her hair out of the way, awkwardly craning her head to look at her reflection in the water.

Impossibly black lines traced an intricate sigil on the nape of her neck. It pulsed once under her touch before going dormant. Appearing as nothing more than a strange tattoo, out of place only in that it was on a child. She scowled, letting her hair fall and cover it, but refused to pay it any more attention as she planned her next steps.

The demon would keep their word after all, but Mystic Falls would never be home again.

--

Present

Crossing her arms was reflexive and she hated the instantly defensive maneuver. So what she said next was admittedly not very smart.

“You’re early,” she spat. And she hated the indulgent amusement on his face even more.

How he was still smirking as he spoke. “Don’t fret, love. You still have the handful of hours before I collect my dues.”

Her fingers twitched. “Then, why are you here?”

--

If he was honest, which he always was when he wanted to be his most cruel and most tempting, then he would say that he didn’t know. It was a whim to appear early, albeit by a mere 24 hours or so. 43.5 if he was feeling generous, 17.5 if he wasn’t. What a delight time zones were.

But no matter. He came because he was a bit curious what had become of the defiant little girl with her sharp tongue and blazing eyes. He wouldn’t say he was disappointed by what he found either.

A bargain with him should have strained her soul, let alone one made nearly a decade ago. And yet she was still full of light when others would have dimmed. More than her eyes blazed, and he couldn’t resist provoking her, wanting to witness the flare of her soul.

“I told you, sweetheart, I do not care to see what belongs to me damaged.” He smothered a grin as he watched her aura spark and snap like lightning. “And I despise those who try to rob me, especially in the final hour.”

She stilled, but didn’t quail. If anything she drew herself up as she regarded him.

“I certainly didn’t grow less intelligent as I aged. The cost of attempting the impossible would not be worth it.” Her eyes narrowed. “So don’t threaten me. I won’t run.”

--

He moved before she could process even a blur, his fingers tangled in her hair, his palm hot and solid just above where his mark sat. Foreign sensation set her nerves twitching with pleasure-pain, her brain unable to make sense of what had been dormant for 10 years. His lips were at her ear as he whispered.

“Oh, Caroline. That wasn’t a threat, that was a statement of a fact. You will know if I threaten you.”

His hand loosened from her curls, trailing the faintest of touches across his mark where it still burned, as he released her. An expression of dark satisfaction crossed his face when she couldn’t prevent a reactionary shiver.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, love. Have a good night.”

And then he was gone before she could regain her composure or snap any of the retorts brewing in her mind. There was adrenaline still singing in her veins and a hint of arousal to her ire and dismay. Though she wasn’t going to waste her time feeling ashamed. It wasn’t her fault his form was absurdly and unfairly attractive.

--

Morning came quicker than Caroline would have liked, her sleep less restful too. So, to say she was irked when a knock sounded on her door at - her eyes squinted at the hotel alarm clock - 8:00 AM, was a bit of an understatement. She grumbled, nestling deeper into her sheets as she tugged a pillow over her head.

A familiar laugh reached her ears. “I know you are awake, Caroline.”

Perhaps she should have thought about her actions rather than just reacting, but she didn’t. She was furious and that energy had her flinging her covers off and storming toward the door.

“Why are you here?” She asked, her anger turned cold and quiet in the moment between gripping the knob and jerking the door open. 

He eyed her, a taunting mien fading into something more contemplative.

“To celebrate, Caroline. Happy Birthday.”

She shook her head. “No. No, I refuse. You’ll have my soul tonight. Hell, you can take it right now if you so choose, but you will not make a mockery of my last hours.”

Again his expression shifted, though she still couldn’t read it nor did she try to.

“A mockery?” He echoed. “Do you really think that low of me?”

--

Her soul was near overwhelmingly bright, and she hissed out a sharp “yes” with no hesitation. And he watched the maelstrom of her being churn around her and wondered at his own reaction.

From anyone else such disrespect would be met with his fury. He would have capitalized on her words and ripped her soul from right where she stood. And yet he had no desire to do so. In fact, he was impressed rather than angered by her continued defiance.

--

She waited, her fingers tight on the now warm metal of the knob, expecting to feel unfathomable pain as he took her soul. Instead he cocked his head, his tone frighteningly calm and nearly conversational in its levity.

“Supposing I am so inclined, how would you, a mere human, hope to stop me?”

Her smile was equal parts bitter and resolved. “I would leave you no life to mock, only a soul to catch. An ability surely not beyond one such as you.”

--

It was then he decided he would not harm this brave, foolish human. This young woman who would so recklessly imperil her soul all for a modicum of control. Once he had been the Light-Bringer, and he may no longer call himself such anymore, but it would not be him to snuff out her light.

--

It seemed idiotic to think, but Caroline thought she saw something in the demon’s face soften. Her mistake. A split second later his hand was on her neck. 

She stiffened as she felt his power flex under her skin, bracing for something that never came. It was a warning, she realized, as she stared at the demon regarding her with an odd solemnity. 

“I do not allow humans control in my Bargains, Caroline. Nor would any self-respecting demon. And had I accepted what your spite so damningly offered to me, your soul would have been the least of your concerns.” To her surprise, his hand moved away again, and he even took a step back to allow her some breathing room. “You are very fortunate I have no interest in playing such games with you.”

Caroline’s lips pursed. “You’re not going to leave me alone today, are you?” She finally asked.

“In an hour, I will return to escort you to breakfast. Should there come a point today that you honestly feel I am tormenting you or making your day worse I shall leave. And I shall not return for a year to the day. Deal?”

She couldn’t prevent the way her eyes noticeably widened, all but bulging out of their sockets in her shock. Because what? He was going to give her more time on her say-so?! What happened to ‘I do not allow humans control in my Bargains, Caroline’?

His chuckle disrupted her careening thoughts. “Do you accept, Caroline Forbes?” There was his stupid, ordinary looking, utterly damning hand extended before her for the second time in her life.

It troubled her that she couldn’t see a downside to his deal, surely that meant there was a trick. But if he was going to show up anyway, then she wanted the out. Reluctantly, she took his hand, his power thankfully only a warm wave up her arm rather than anything painful.

He smiled, twisted their grasped hands around so he could kiss her knuckles. “I’ll see you in an hour, love.”

--

Author’s Note: I had intended to write more, but my muse sputtered out. Perhaps, after AU week? Maybe? I do find it hilarious that I wrote this without using Klaus’ name once. It would have come up later...

[crue-sixx]

A Study in Vampires

Title: A Study In Vampires

Author- tiddly-winx

Fandom: The Dirt

Summary: A sequel to my Vampire!Reader where she falls in love with Nikki and turns him into a vampire, based on @crue-sixx's vampire headcanons.  So the reader is taken away by a scientist to be studied to see if the vampire legends are true and if so, why.  Nikki is pissed.

Warnings: Swearing and violence.

When you woke up in a quarantined room with the bare minimum-a rock hard bed, a toilet in the corner and a table and chair set you were very confused.  You felt around for Nikki, but he wasn't there,  you took in your surroundings outside your room to see a laboratory setting, complete with monitors tracking your every move and people in lab coats processing your results.  "Where the fuck am I?!" you banged on the glass, but upon hitting the surface your skin started to burn.  You screamed and recoiled, the smell of your burning flesh surprised you.

A man with a full beard came forward and looked at you with astonishment.  You knew this man, many moons ago.  You were shocked to see him alive after at least 150 years.  You couldn't smell the decay of vampire on him, but he was Abraham Van Helsing all the same.  Yes, THAT Abraham Van Helsing from Bram Stokers Dracula some parts were embellished for dramatic effect, but the basics were true-there was a young lady who was entranced by a male vampire, who had somehow overcame her desires and granted him what he longed for-death.  You glared at him and asked "How are you still alive, Van Helsing?"

He chuckled and answered "I've discovered the Fountain of Youth, dear Y/N" he put his hand on the glass to offer a gesture of false kindness, but you didn't fall for the bait.

"You've coated the inside of this cell with holy water, didn't you?"

"Indeed" he conceded "I'm so glad to see that it worked!"

"How did you do it?  You're younger than I remember you being but I can smell that you're a plain human with a hint of embalming fluid" your fangs started coming out of your gums-you were hungry and knew this madman wasn't going to feed you.

"That's a story for a different time, dear" he pulled a lever and your cell started rotating on it's own.  You could see the ceiling open up and the sun shining brightly through.  Your rage then turned to fear as the sunlight was creeping ever closer to you.  You were only given a small corner where the light couldn't touch you and you needed to stay there or the sun would burn you.

"What's the matter?" Van Helsing laughed "Afraid of getting a tan?"

"Shut the Hell up!  Why're you doing this?!" you pressed yourself close to the corner, but not touching the glass.

"For science, of course" he grinned and pulled the lever to close the ceiling again "I want to see if the vampire legends are true and if they are then why are they so effective?"

"Whatever you did has rotted your brain!" you shouted "Once Nikki finds out, it's game over for you, asshole!"

"What can that little pup do?" he mocked you "he's not even fifty years in the blood!"

"My blood is among the strongest there is" you spat "he's stronger than most who've been vampires for centuries!"

"No need to lie to me, dear" he pressed a button and a mist began to form in your cell.  It stung as soon as the moisture hit your skin, and you realized it was more holy water.  So this is how he keeps the inside coated you thought to yourself.  If luck was on your side, you'd be able to send a telepathic message to Nikki for a rescue.  The trouble was that you didn't know your exact location, but he could follow your scent trail to find you.  But at the moment. you couldn't do anything-it wasn't searing pain like when holy water was thrown on you, but more like being exposed to a light corrosive chemical.  You had blisters over your skin and would heal and re-blister.  You just had to wait it out until it stopped.  You knew Van Helsing wouldn't let his new test subject die so quickly.

The mist stopped and you were left alone.  When you were sure that nobody was close to you, you sent a telepathic message to Nikki.  "Get up.  I've been kidnapped.  Don't know where I am.  Need help"

The message hit him like a bag of bricks, he was feeling around for Y/N when he felt nothing but old concrete.  You and him had taken to a crypt right before dawn to replenish your strength and cuddled in his arms.  How could he have not felt you being taken away from him?  He did feel a little groggy, like he used to when he was human and had a hangover.  That was a feeling he did NOT miss in the slightest.

"You alright?  What's going on?"he got up and sniffed the air for your scent.  Once he picked it up, he had to wait until dusk to do anything.

"I'm fine for now" you answered back "it's this old bastard that I met a century and a half ago, he's a mad scientist and he's experimenting on me to see if the vampire legends are true.  He's going to see how long it takes for me to die of starvation and along the way he's going to try to expose me to sunlight and holy water."

Nikki stiffened in rage, you having told him that most of the vampire legends were true, but ones like a vampire needing to be invited inside a building were false.  In his sleep, he'd stirred with a stinging sensation like thousands of bees were attacking him.  That must have been holy water "Just try to hold out for me, baby.  I'm coming to get you..."

"Please hurry"  your voice in his mind sounded desperate and feeble, something he'd never heard from you before.  It made his heart ache to know that you were suffering.  He would make that mother fucker pay for hurting you.

When dusk came he erupted out of the crypt and got on all fours sniffing the ground like a blood hound.  He had found your scent trail and followed it for a few hours, in what would take days if he were a human.  You two had taken to the crypt in New Orleans, and he followed the trail to L.A. where his old band still lived.

He crept up on the building that was well lit from the outside with fog lights.  He tried to barge right in, but he was stopped when the lights turned out to be solar UV lights that simulated the sun.  He recoiled and cursed-he would need human help, and he knew just where to go.

He approached Tommy's house and knocked on the door.  Despite the legend about not being able to come in uninvited being false, he didn't want to violate his best friend's privacy.  When the drummer came to the door, his face went ghost white and called to his wife "Hey Pam, I'm just gonna sit on the porch and have a smoke okay?"

"Yeah, whatever" the female said in a tired voice.

"It's been a long time Nikki..." he marveled at his friend's unchanged appearance while he was older and slightly worn. "About 20 years?"

"Yeah man" he tried to smile.  You and him had made social calls to his friends dozens of times over the years and it never ceased to amaze them how young and fit you both looked.  "I need your help..."

"What's up?" Tommy was on the alert now, neither of you having to ask any of your human friends for help until now.  He knew you must have been in dire straights, or you would have been with Nikki.

"Y/N's been taken by a mad scientist.  I followed her scent trail to a building deep in the mountains but they have it all covered with UV lights so a vampire can't get in or out..."

Tommy contemplated this and asked "How would I get IN though?"

"Leave that part to me" Nikki grinned, his fangs glittering in the lamp light.  "They were anticipating a vampire, not a whole bunch of his familiars" you had given him training on how to control animals to do his bidding, and he was now an expert at it-even better than you.

"Alright, so while the animals are creating a distraction, I go in and shut off the lights and security?" he asked.

"Bingo, T-Bone" he always loved calling Tommy T-Bone.  Tommy Lee was his ride or die friend to the end.

Tommy opened the door and called to his wife "Hey Pam, I'm gonna go out for a bit.  I'll be back later babe!"

There was a sigh from the kitchen as she said "Okay".  She had assumed that he was out cheating on her like he supposedly did with his wife Heather.

When they got to the facility, Nikki took a deep breath and let it out, a red mist flowing out of his mouth like cigarette smoke.  All the animals in the area inhaled and their eyes turned a blood red.  "Surround the building and kill the guards.  Make a lot of noise, draw them out and away from the doors..."

A whole herd of mountain lions, bears and wolves surrounded the area and approached the open grounds.  The fools didn't think that they needed a gate of any kind.  The guards were patrolling the perimeter when a pack of wolves pounced on one and began devouring him.  His screams alerted the other guards and they were attacked by the bears.  The remaining guards had radioed for back up before being mauled by the mountain lions. 

All the blood the familiars were drinking was going straight to Nikki, who only got stronger with each drop that was being taken.  One of the responding guard units had left a door open and Tommy knew that it was his cue to go in.  A wolf accompanied him on his journey to protect him, the thing tackling a guard and Tommy shouted "Where's the fuckin' control room?!"

The wolf had it jaws on the man's throat and he pointed to a door to the right of them.  Tommy turned to go and disable the systems while the wolf tore apart the man's neck.  He looked at all the complicated buttons and wires, him not knowing which ones controlled what.  So in classic Motley Crue fashion, he pulled the fire extinguisher from the wall and dosed the control panel with the foam.  Everything shorted out and the lights went off.

Nikki went in, stronger than he ever was and mowed down the guards that came in his path.  He was upon your cell when he saw you huddled in the bed under the thin cover to try and shield yourself from the holy water mist.  It wasn't working, and only served to spread the blistering over a wider area of your skin.  He punched a hole in the glass door and the entire frame came undone. 

"That was quick" you complimented from under the wet blanket.  You didn't want him to see you like this, and you felt him pick you up and take you out of the cell.  He ignored his own sizzling skin to take the blanket off of you and looked like he was about to cry, knowing you endured much pain while you were trapped here.

"Not quick enough, baby" he growled "You've been hurt so bad you need more than you normally take to heal..."

Then Van Helsing appeared behind you and said "You, sir are an excellent specimen!  I think I'll keep the both of you for observation!"

"Fuck you, dude" Nikki hissed, then the whole of the animal herd burst in and ripped the man to shreds, him screaming in pain all the while.

He carried you to a nearby cave, taking you deep inside so the light couldn't touch you.  "Drink, Y/N" he offered his neck to you "I have more than you need to heal..."

You bit down on him, he gasping as your fangs pierced his skin.  All the lives of the men that had died that night, including Van Helsing's flowed from Nikki to you and you knew how he was able to stay young for so many years.  He had figured out how to snatch bodies in his studies, and had his original body embalmed while he switched over the years until he was able to find a vampire to experiment on.  It was then that you remembered the very first thing your maker had taught you.  "Blood is lives".

"What?" Nikki asked, a little drained from you feeding off him.

"Blood is lives" you repeated "Every life a vampire takes, their blood tells their life story.  So in a way, their spirit lives on in us.  You had healed yourself and gotten your strength back, you cuddled with him and heard his heart slowly beating.

"So if we kill our friends and family, they will be with us for all time?" he raised an eyebrow, the blood from the bite in his neck drying and the holes closing up.

"Yes" you answered, knowing that Tommy was back with his wife in his house and currently fighting with her over something trivial. "But I don't think I'd like having Tommy, Vince and Mick all in my head telling me what to do"

"Hell no" he laughed and bought you in for a kiss.  After he broke it off, he said "If it came down to it and they were dying, I'd rather snap their necks and end their suffering..."

You nodded in solemn agreement, knowing that death was inevitable.  The least you could do was make it painless.  "We could remember them in our own way" neither of you knew what that way would be, but when it came to it, you'd know what it was.

[peaches-of-1]

Peachtober | Day 13: Dragon

Female!Reader x Dragon!Chan

Summary: Seventy five years after the dragon last claimed a sacrifice, he wants another. You. After fighting as much as you can, you decided to let him eat you. However, he has other plans for you. What would it feel like to be the mother of his dragons?

Warnings: HAND OF BUDDHA on the Citrus Scale, dragon sex, two peni for the price of one, cursing, magic, smut, etc

A/N: Reader is lowkey modeled after @therealredraven but I don’t describe anything physical past hair style and height in comparison to Chan.

“Let me go, you scaled beast! I’d rather fall to my death than be held by a brainless brute like you! Now unhand me!” Y/N was currently the most beautiful woman in the village, and so she was the one offered and accepted by the silver scaled being.

However, she wasn’t going to let herself be taken so easily. It did not matter that they were hundreds of feet in the air. Y/N did not want to become a meal for this ancient terror with no brain other than to capture and horde all that he found beautiful. There was more to life than simply beauty. Of course, a numskull beast could not understand that.

Your short hair with a reddish tint billowed in the wind as you were held by the dragon’s onyx talons. Still, you berated his chrome scales with your much smaller fists, bruising the sides of your own hands, but you honestly didn’t care. You wanted...you wanted. Not IT! Not this BEAST!

The Beast called Chan went through the air like a loose ribbon and finally decided to let you go. Ha, you knew it! A creature such as him only wanted beauty if it didn’t come with a fight. You were a fighter. But wait. Oh shit, you were going to die! Well, it was a noble enough death. However, as you closed your eyes, death did not come. Instead, the landing was soft and fragrant

Flowers? Maybe the death was so quick that you didn’t even feel it.

The Dragon wouldn’t be in your Heaven, though. He landed in front of you and growled at you trying to make you fear him. You rolled your eyes and folded your arms.

“Oooo, so scary.” was your deadpan reply.

He huffed in your direction and then looked away, suddenly...shy? You looked at yourself and saw that your chest and most of your skin was bared to the cave, having been torn by the high speed winds.

“This is your fault, you know. As if you didn’t want this.”

The dragon simply pointed to a dresser and left, closing the door. A moment later, the sound of a lock. Taking a glance around, you were set in a bedroom near the window. The carpet was moss, and everything appeared to be crafted out of wood or rock. It wasn’t exactly where you had thought you would be ending up at.

You stood, letting out a huge sigh and decided to keep on your ripped clothing. You would not accept a thing from him even if you were taking your last breath...but it couldn’t hurt to see what was inside the dresser just in case you liked something.

Inside were dresses that were from the previous woman that lived here, no doubt. They were still in one piece. Perhaps he had started getting careless with the later captives, or maybe you shouldn’t have struggled. Poppycock. Hogwash.

“Are you going to pick one, Miss?” a voice came behind you, making you shriek in surprise.

You quickly pulled out a super heavy dress and used it to attack whatever had snuck up behind you so silently. It was much shorter than you had anticipated. Looked sort of like a fuzzy anteater and a bear.

“No need to get ‘oll defensive naow.” It spoke.

“What the fuck are you?” The question came out.

“A potty mouth too. I guess some beauty is only skin deep.” It replied.

You threw all the hat boxes you could, and the small creature began to hop and bounce around using the branches that made up the light fixture.

“Now, now” it complained. “I’m just here to--I’m here to--Could you not? Miss, please. I’m only her to relay--oof”

Bullseye. You had gotten him mid leap and he fell on the floor. So did the remains of your dress. Quickly, you threw the first dress you had pulled over the animal’s moaning body and quickly threw on some trousers and a loose top. Seems like he didn’t care for his meals to have on bras or any undergarments in that case.

The brown creature crawled from beneath the dress, “Please. Please don’t throw any more things! I am just here to relay the message His Master has set upon him. That is all!”

“Fine. What’s the message?” You folded your arms.

“First, introductions. Hello, I am Felix. I am a human who has been turned into a tree kangaroo. Nice to meet you. And you are?” He bowed and then extended his hand towards you.

“I am Y/N, the town’s most renowned storyteller and most beautiful barmaid now that most of them are dead due to your Master.” then you sighed, “And the Dragon Chan’s next meal apparently.”

You huffed and sat on the bed. Mankind could be so cruel and selfish. One second, you can be working for them. Handing them drinks of ale in collected glass and singing songs of tradition because it helps the crud go down more easily. The next, you’re knocked over the head and bound only to wake up tied to the Sacrifice Pole in the center of the town, your speech hindered by the rag tied around your mouth.

And you beg and you beg and you cry for your life until the unmistakable glimmer of silver in the growing sunlight. By then, you’ve lost all softness and don’t even know the word forgiveness and as soon as the Dragon unties you, you kick it where you assume the face would be. It bellows and reels back. You begin to run, but you are scooped up in its talons before you reach the town’s edge.

“There there.” A smaller sounding creature said and tapped your eyes with a tissue. “Please don’t cry. I know you miss your family and your home, but Master is really a nice person.”

Then you smiled at the smaller one, “Thank you for the tissue.”

“I’m Jongin.” He smiled, a fox with darkish fur. “Nice to meet you.”

“Hi.” You sighed. “What now? How long is it gonna take until he eats me?”

Felix stepped forward, “Don’t be in a rush to be devoured, Miss.”

Jongin’s ears went flat and tucked his tail at the mention of the inevitable.

“Just enjoy the few days you have left. Dinner is always at sunset. Your bathroom is down that latter. It is a hot spring and if there is anything we can do in order to make your days here a bit better, do not hesitate to let us know.” The Tree Kangaroo said.

You nodded, “Two things, maybe three. Um. Coffee, tea, and books? I enjoy reading quite a bit.”

Jongin hopped around, “Yes! There are books! I’ll show you! I will. I have to wait until Master unlocks the door, though. You’ll be able to freely roam the Caverns tomorrow. For now, make yourself at home.”

CHAN POV:

Tired but also concerned, Chan bolted upright in front of the fire when he heard Felix come in. He had been draped across his collection of gold and skulls and bones recovering from the rough flight made even more difficult by the braying donkey of a woman he had to carry all the way here.

She had not done much damage to him in air, but when he was first going to introduce himself to her. It had hit his cheek with much force. He hated how they were given to him, all tied up like hogs on spits however vertical they might be. It’s not like he could speak to them, though. His true face was not to be known by anyone other than the one who knew his heart, that extended to his voice.

“Is she settling in well?” Asked the silver dragon.

“As well as someone betrayed by the people she grew up with can be. She’s more angry than anything.” Said the animal who transformed into his human form, sandy brown and rose colored hair being only on top of his head now.

“At me?”

Felix replied, “At everything, it seems.”

Chan used a clawed hand to tap his chin, “I’ll have to give her something for her hands and to help ease her mind. We do have some peppermint leaves left from earlier this year, right?”

“I believe so.” The younger man said. “Shall I make her some tea?”

“Please do. I’d rather not devour her while she is not at her best. The process will take most if not all of her energy.”

“It shall be done, my old friend.” Felix replied. “She’s a firecracker, hmm?”

Chan rolled his eyes, “Yes. She fought me the whole way here. I’m surprised she still has a voice to speak with from all her screaming.”

He laughed, “She threw hat boxes at me. Got me in my snout...she has a nice body, though.”

“Did she not change when you--?”

A shake of the head, “Only after it fell off of her completely. However, I did not see that part since she had knocked me down at that time. Jongin was smart to hide under the bed until he felt it was safe.”

The dragon began to ask a question about the youth, whether or not he had seen Y/N in her tattered clothing leading to partial nudity or not. However, the question was already being answered by his faithful friend.

“Nope. I made sure he covered his eyes.”

“Good. Good.” Then another question, but shy this time. “Is she a good meal then?”

“If I were you, I would’ve eaten her already.”

Chan couldn’t help but hide his smile. Mayhaps she had more to give than the dragon first thought upon inspection.

Y/N POV:

Jongin the fox, Felix the tree kangaroo, and Jisung the squirrel showed you to where dinner was, but it was not yet ready. So the youngest started to pull at the laces of your boots to get you to follow him.

Jongin stopped in front of a white marble door, “Here’s the library. I’m sure you will find your home here. Big bro will bring you some more tea if that is what you want.”

The doors opened to reveal the largest library you had ever seen, although you had not seen very many.

You couldn’t help but gasp and then went to the nearest shelf to look at what books were there. The village library would be burned down nearly every Sunday, and you had to often sell your own private stash in order to be able to eat. They smelled so old and not like charred flesh. Oh, so glorious!

It felt like you were being watched, but when you turned around, there was no one behind you at all. You grabbed several books and took a seat in the red chair to begin your evening. The only thing that would make this better would be some.

“Tea, Miss?” A beautiful square face bowed and offered you a cup.

“Y-yes.”

He set the platter in front of you, and so you mixed in the amount of cream and sugar to fit your taste before sipping. It soothed your throat from all the screaming you had done earlier as you had been carried.

A handsome young man smiled, “I am Hyunjin. Call upon me for anything. Please, enjoy the books, but be careful. Master doesn’t like his books to be ruined.”

“I care more for books than I do my own fucking life.” You replied, holding your current read to your chest.

He smiled, “He’ll be happy to hear that.” With a bow, the man left.

A bushy husky tail the only thing you hadn’t expected to see as it swished behind him as he left. Maybe these last few days of your life wouldn’t be so bad if it could be spent in the library with drinks like this.

The revelry inside the book was soon short lived as Felix came to get you for dinner. You decided to muster up your strength to do the opposite of yesterday. As you faced the Beast, you’d stay silent. You wouldn’t say anything to him. Not a word nor a sound.

Yet as your turned the corner, you gasped, stricken by how incredibly handsome the man before you was. He was the Chrome Dragon. His eyes were the same as the ones you saw yesterday just for a moment. And yet, the reason for your heart racing was completely different. Now you had no choice but to be quiet as you were afraid for your voice to give out mid sentence.

He pulled out the white chair for you to sit on, which you did. His fingernails seemed painted black instead of yesterday’s sharp claws made out of onyx rock. He sat in his own chair with a similar butterfly design on it and the beautiful man from earlier set down a silver domed plate in front for you and lifted the covering to reveal a full plate of fish, bread, and an assortment of vegetables.

The fish section on the Dragon’s plat was much larger. Well, you decided to trust him and dug in. No matter how lovely this whole thing had been, you knew he was going to devour you sooner or later. The light in his eyes would be replaced by darkness, and it’d be your eye that was glazed over and no longer able to see as death took your mind.

“Are you enjoying your time here?” He asked, his voice much more enchanting that you wanted to be.

You had hoped he had the throat of a frog or was as threatening as you believed a dragon’s voice should be, and yet. You wanted to answer him with a smile, to give him your hand and promise him your heart.

What were you thinking?!

You stayed quiet. You had to keep your wits about you lest it mean your death came sooner than planned. There had to be some way to escape. Maybe not back to your town, but to someplace where you didn’t have impending doom waiting for you in the form of being devoured by a dragon with eyes like a storming sunrise and a voice like a gentle sea.

He cleared his throat, “I asked you a question, Miss. Are you having a good time here?”

The way you set your jaw and glared him down showed him that you were in no mood for talking.

Chan sighed, “Well. Um. I saw you enjoying my library. It is rare to find a beautiful girl who also enjoys a good read. Most of my others demanded dresses and jewelry or simply did not know how to read the written word. I remember having taught a few of them before--” he held back a yelp of pain and kicked out his leg.

Nothing was there, but you noticed Jisung scurrying in the opposite direction a few seconds later and wondered if he had anything to do with it.

“My apologies.” He watched you eat and reached for his cup before stretching his jaw. “It seems as though you do not want to use your voice around me today. What happened the the fiery brunette I carried in my claws yesterday?”

You rolled your eyes.

Chan smiled, “I quite enjoy you, Miss, despite your refusal to speak to me.”

Fuck, his personality was cute too.

The night crawled in ever growing silence and sleeplessness. You felt a soft and large fabric being draped upon your frame and the book was taken from your hands and set on the table.

“It’s me. Chan. I feel like the only time I can talk to you is when you’re asleep.” He sighed. “I like you. I know it’s hard to believe but I actually chose which maiden to take this time since when I visit, my human form disguised, you are the most beautiful. The way you tell stories. It made me fall for you.”

He laughed to himself, “God. I’m such a weirdo. Ahem, anyways. I know you probably won’t think the same, but I had to confess my feelings. I’ll try to do so when you’re awake, but there is bad news as well. No matter what your feelings, I will devour you tomorrow. You seem to be back in full health, so things must be done.”

Then he began to walk away, “Goodnight, Y/N.”

The day came and you could feel it, the heaviness of the air. Even the birds did not sing and the sun was shining even though it was simply heat and not light..

You had fallen in love with the Dragon. At least his mind...and his face...and those gorgeous silver eyes of his that has seen all of the universe. Chan. His name was Chan. Not him persay, but with a library like that. It was clear it was all so very personal. From titles alone, you could tell he was not one to lie about his feelings for you.

Some of the stories had been handwritten versions of the ones you told in the tavern. It hadn’t been their choice to sacrifice you or not. He had chosen you.

Then why would he eat you? Perhaps you could come to an understanding of sorts. To make this go smoother, you planned to put on a dress. The one he put out for you. However there was nothing waiting for you today. Instead, Felix arrived alone and turned human in front of your eyes.

“Of course.” You said.

He gave you a weak smile, “I’ve come to prepare you for the ritual, however, Master said to wait after lunch to do so. I suggest you enjoy your remaining hours.”

You spent it in the library of course, simply reading until it was time.

And then it was time. There was no light other than the ones caused by flames on the walls reflecting the crystals on the top. You were led by Felix, wearing nothing but a robe over your nude and freshly washed body. He wanted his meal to be cleaned inside and out before he devoured them.

You had made your peace with life and walked stone faced into the special room that had many places to restrain a body. A wall of what looked like torture devices was near a slab that seemed like it could tilt. A den of many pillows was located on the far side near the flames. Probably for Chan to rest when he was done with you.

And there the man stood with piercing blue eyes that seemed like ice despite the fire in the room.

“Leave us. Do not return until the sun is high.” Chan said.

“Yes, sir.” Said the young man and quickly scurried out.

Then his eyes set on you, “Disrobe, please.”

You untied the knot and let the sapphire silk fall onto the ground. It took everything inside you not to cover yourself with your hands as his eyes raked up your legs up to curved him onwards to linger upon your chest before finally meeting your eyes filled with so much resignation. There was nothing you could do anymore. No way to get out.

His hand held your chin and forced it upwards to look at him lick his lips, “I shall give you a choice. Start from the top or from the bottom first?”

“I don’t care.” You said through pouting lips. “Just make it quick.”

“Sorry, dear. I like to play with my food.” he said, taking you to the slab and binding your arms and legs, making you feel even more exposed.

And you were. Nothing but skin to air and your fast beating heart. The hungry look in Chan’s eyes as he made sure you were unable to move was inciting something inside of you other than fear and in fact caused a perverse kind of anticipation inside of you.

“Mouth or claws?” He asked, grabbing a bottle of something.

“Claws?” You replied.

He shot a smile behind him, “I meant fingers since I do believe claws going inside the human form would be quite uncomfortable.”

“What the fuck are you--eep!” His fingers sunk between your folds, causing your face to blush. “D-Dragon, what the hell? What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

His eyes shot up towards you, “Massaging the meat. It’s no good when you’re tense. So please just relax. I will take care of you, Y/N.”

Chan used his fingers to curl inside of you, bringing tears to your eyes when he grazed the bundle of nerves inside of you. However, you were too nervous to make any noise even though he wanted you hear your moans. He decided to kiss your neck as well, making you moan out in surprise.

“Ah~”

He smiled up at you, “There we go. More like that, beautiful.”

“Ah, ah, that-- It’s--. You’re--oh my god!” Broken sentences tumbled out of your mouth as he caressed you with one hand and finger fucked you with his long digits. His mouth explored your neck and licked at your pert nipples. It felt so good and yet you couldn’t help but let the tears overflow in your eyes.

“St-stop!” You cried out. “Please. If you’re going to eat me, just eat me already.”  Your head leaned against your arm with salty water pouring from your eyes. “Don’t...don’t make me feel this way and then kill me.”

“What? Who said anything about killing you?” He gave a smirk. “I will devour you, but not in the most literal sense. A dragon gets lonely, you know.”

You blinked, “Wait, what?”

Chan chuckled as he wiped your tears, “I use that wording in order to get what I want, beauty, no matter how fleeting. Beautiful girls deserve to be cherished and not treated like trash or just used for a quick fuck, unless that is what they want.” He replied. “Why do you think it takes almost 100 years for me to return? Humans have a certain lifespan.”

“Then what’s all this? All this pomp and circumstance for a quick fuck?” You said coldly.

He raised his hand to be right below your ear, his breath ghosting over your skin, “Like I said, women deserve to be cherished. Especially for our first time together.” He then placed a smooch on your chin, making you shiver.

Chan then smiled, “Now then, may I continue? I know what it’s like being left on the edge of an orgasm. Not very pleasant.”

“I...I’m not just a toy, y’know.” You replied.

He growled, “Oh, I know you’ve got a brain up there, but I really want to fuck it out of you.” and moved so that he was straddling your leg, allowing you to feel his length being held in captivity by his very pants.

You swallowed and felt yourself blush, “I guess you can continue.”

“Hmm, but you’ve been so cold to me.”

“Pl-please, Chan. I wanna to cum. At this point, a well placed gust of wind could make me orgasm.” You couldn’t fight the fire which boiled in your lower stomach.

“Then I’ll show you how I properly eat a woman.” The silver eyed man got onto his knees and held your thighs as she shoved his face between then, licking at the wet heat that he himself caused.

Moans and whines left your mouth as you let go of any and all inhibitions to just become his, stars forming behind your eyes as you climaxed into the eager mouth sucking on your clit from below.

The Dragon Chan then licked his lips, chuckling, “Stay conscious, babygirl. We’ve got more in store before the ritual is done.”

The man then released you from the contraption and carried you to the pillows before promptly sticking his lower cock inside of you while the other rubbed against your clit and gliding over your stomach, coating both the inside and outside with his precum.

“Y-you’ve got two?”

He nodded with a giggle, “Yeah. Guess I should’ve told you ahead of time.”

Your fingers clenched at the pillows as he plowed deep inside of you, making you see stars. Chan reminded you to breathe as he fucked the living daylights out of you. It felt as though you mind existed on the edge of reality and Heaven. He kissed your neck praised you for being so good for him. Being such a warm hole for his cock and calling you beautiful. Calling your brain beautiful. He was so, so big. You had never felt so full in your entire life!

“Cumming. I’m cumming!” Chan said and released inside of you, the white heat spreading across your insides and on top of your torso, launching far enough to land on your breasts and face.

You wanted more, though. He seemed to feel the same.

“B-both.”

“What was that?” You asked, your hands clawing at his shoulders still.

“I wanna put both inside of you.” He panted out, his silver orbs searching yours.

Your eyes bulged, “It, it won’t fit. It’s already so tight.”

“You’ve got two holes down here, and I’ve got two dicks~” He chuckled, “But I won’t do it if you don’t want me to.”

You gnawed at your bottom lip and looked away as you said, “K...kiss me first.”

The Dragon slowed his pace, “W-what? Does my baby girl really want the Dragon to kiss her?”

With burning cheeks, you nodded. He was at least 9 inches deep inside you and you still had enough embarrassment inside of you to blush at the notion of a kiss?

“Use your words, baby girl.”

“I want you to kiss me while you fuck me, you idiot!” You looked at him with soft defiance.

After positioning himself properly, he gave you a kiss that felt like all of the magic inside of his body was now a part of you. A surprised moan dripped out of your throat as you felt both your holes being filled up with Chan. It caused you to orgasm and tighten around him. No words, but a breathy fit of laugher followed by a moment of eye contact. Icy chrome had been replaced with the blackness of pupils before a quick glance at lips followed by a dance of tongues as he claimed your entire body.

“You are mine from now on, Y/N. You are my treasure. Worth more than any gold in the world, mine to claim. Mine to devour. Mine.” He said, no doubt in his voice. However there was a tinge of a pleading sound in his vocals.

“I’m yours and you are mine.” You said.

He nipped at your neck and then sucked all over, leaving his markings in the form of bruises, hickeys, love bites.

“Chan. Chan. I love you, Chan.” You said, getting caught up in the moment but honestly meaning it at the same time.

“I love you too, Y/N.” He replied. “I’m going to mark you inside and out.”

“Please,” You said, out of breath but needing to let him know how much you wanted him too. “Gonna--cum!”

“Me too. Me, yah!”

Both of your holes became filled with the Dragon Chan’s cum and he kissed you until he went limp inside. Once he pulled out, he kissed down the center of your body to clean up all of the white liquid on your body and inside. It made your legs quiver. Throughout all of your years, you did nothing but read and work and lived in fear of the very dragon that made you finally feel loved. Your whole body felt like it was numb and vibrating at the same time. The only thing you could do was clutch the back of his head until he came up for air, swallowing his own seed that had leaked out of you with a smile.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Heh, ya funny fucker.” You said, chest heaving.

He crawled up behind you, wrapping his arm around your neck, letting you hold it, “And guess what? I’m already hard again.” his fingers rubbed over your hips and pulled your leg back over his own before spreading you and entering you once more.

You looked at him, eyes questioning if he was serious.

“Oh, did I not tell you, Y/N? The ritual doesn’t end until sunrise.” He smiled a toothy grin.

“Devour me.” you said before kissing him.

Even though you weren’t sure if your body would be able to hold up that long, you didn’t want him to stop any time soon.

Thank you for reading. This is not my best writing, but I tried not to surpass 10 pages! Still, I truly hoped you enjoyed it!