#this creature can and will kill anything in its path

[living-in-a-fantasia]

Stiggy

[zaczenemiji]

absolutely no rush if you're occupied with other asks :D!! I love your writing so so much your descriptions and dialogue are so good 😭💓 could I possibly request a scenario where the reader (working alongside kenji as ultraman/on the sidelines as a civilian, whatever you desire!!) unexpectedly throws herself in front of kenji and takes a hit for him (bonus points of they had unresolved tension before [argument, interrupted confession, one character was sick and rejecting help etc etc; no pressure at all and pls write whatever you'd like i'm just throwing out random suggestions!!]) + the hurt/comfort to follow after? thank you so much! ☺️ i wish you the best!

In the Heart of Danger

Kenji Sato x Reader

Synopsis: As tensions between Kenji and the KDF rise, you become entangled in the conflict, leading to a dangerous confrontation that puts your life at risk.

Word Count: 2,710

Genre/Warning: Action, Angst, Drama, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Injury, Sacrifice, Violence

Author’s Note: Slight mention of themes from Too Good, Too True

MASTERLIST

For many years, Ultraman and the Kaiju Defense Force worked in harmony. But as KDF evolved under different leadership, so did its philosophy. Their arsenal grew more lethal, their strategies more aggressive. Dr. Onda's vision was clear: the complete eradication of all kaiju was the only path to true safety.

Ultraman held a different perspective. Those magnificent creatures had their own place in the natural order. He believed in protecting life; only fending them off to prevent destruction, not to annihilate them.

KDF’s methods became increasingly ruthless. Where Ultraman sought balance, KDF saw only the necessity of total elimination. The final straw came when KDF started viewing Ultraman's reluctance to kill as a liability, a hindrance to their ultimate goal of eradication.

Thus, the Kaiju Defense Force turned their attention to identifying Ultraman's human form, intent on neutralizing this perceived threat.

"Kenji, you can't keep dismissing this," you said, frustration lacing your voice. "The KDF is closing in on you. They know something's up, and they're not going to stop until they confirm you're Ultraman."

The evening air was thick with tension as you and Kenji sat across from each other in his house. It started with a simple disagreement but it had escalated so quickly.

Kenji ran a hand through his hair, his expression one of exasperation. "I know the risks, (y/n),” he replied. “But I can handle it. I've been doing this for a while now."

"Handling it?" you echoed, incredulous. "You've barely been able to stay one step ahead of them. They've got advanced technology, Kenji. They're not just going to give up."

You remember the incidents with Gigantron, how KDF was willing to get rid of Ultraman, so as to obtain Emi. And for what reasons? To use a frikking baby to lead them to Kaiju Island—to massacre, for the mass murder of those misunderstood creatures.

Kenji sighed heavily, his eyes meeting yours with a mix of determination and fatigue. "I can't stop,” he said. “If I don't transform, people will die."

"I'm not asking you to stop," you said, your voice softening. "I'm asking you to be more careful—to consider the danger you're putting yourself in."

Kenji's jaw tightened and he looked away, the weight of your words settling heavily on his shoulders, “I know you're worried about me. But I can't just sit back and do nothing."

"Then let me help," you pleaded, reaching out to touch his arm. "We're a team, remember? You don't have to do this alone."

"I can't put you in danger, too,” he pulled away slightly, his expression hardening. “It's bad enough that I have to deal with this. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."

"Kenji," you said, your voice firm. "I'm already involved. Whether you like it or not, I'm in this with you. And I'm not just going to stand by and watch you risk your life without doing anything."

He shook his head, his frustration evident. "You don't understand,” he said. “If something happened to you... I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"And what about me?" You shot back, your eyes filling with tears. "Do you think I could live with myself if something happened to you, and I did nothing to stop it?"

There came a long silence.

He never asked for any of this—you know that firsthand. You didn’t want this either. Only a fool would want to throw away the peaceful life they had in LA, away from the chaos, the danger, and the constant fear of losing their beloved.

But when Emi came and when Kenji reconnected with his dad, you both understood. Ultraman is a vital element, the pinnacle of balance, the one that would keep the world in its equilibrium.

He who holds the scale holds the lives of many. He who carries the burden also carries fear. And with it, the sacrifices to ensure the collective safety of humanity.

Your tears spilled over, and you wiped them away angrily. "You're an idiot, Kenji,” you said. “A noble, self-sacrificing idiot. But I'm not going to let you do this alone. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to help you. And you're just going to have to deal with that."

"No. You don't get it,” Kenji's expression hardened again. “This isn't about what you want. It's about keeping you safe."

"And what if I don't want to be safe?” You demanded, your voice breaking. “What if I want to be there for you?"

"That's not your choice to make!" Kenji shouted, his frustration boiling over. "I can't lose you, (y/n)!”

"And I can't lose you either!" you screamed back. "Why can't you see that?"

Kenji's eyes flashed with anger. "You should have just stayed in LA!" he snapped, his voice cutting through the night. "You're becoming too nosy, and it's dangerous. I can't have you getting involved in this.”

You stared at him, stunned. Kenji never hurt you in any way, especially not physically. But the weight of his words hit you like a punch to the gut.

Without another word, you turned and stormed off, your heart pounding in your chest. You didn't look back, even as the tears blurred your vision.

Kenji stood to follow. But with the way you ran away, he knew you didn’t need him at the moment. Still, he worried for your safety. Quickly, he rode his motorcycle and followed you quietly from a distance to ensure you reached home safely.

Everything that unfolded hurt Kenji as much as it did you, if not more. This was the time he finally truly understood his father—why he let them move to LA, why he had to endure the pain of being separated—all because he wanted them safe.

Kenji loves you more than anything, more than you ever knew. He loved you enough to have the resolve to let you go if you finally wanted to be out of all this. You deserved the best, better than a complicated life with him.

When he had seen to it that you’re home safely, he stayed in front of your house a little longer, wanting to be there in case you needed him.

You knew what he was doing. You knew that he was following you. And you were grateful, truly grateful, that he didn’t let you be out here alone. He understood the space you needed and he respected it. This was just one of the infinite reasons you love him so much.

When you arrived home, you sat by the door, leaning on it as you let your tears flow freely down your cheeks. Kenji is a hero, and heroes need saving, too. You wanted to be the one to do that.

Little did you know, you were already doing so. You didn’t know how much you were saving him by being there for him. You have been doing so since day one—since meeting you in LA, losing his mom, coming back to Japan, raising Emi, and fully accepting his role as Ultraman.

Your eyelids became so heavy from all the tears that you didn’t notice that you’d drifted off to a nap. You were awakened by the sound of Kenji’s motorcycle engine as he started it.

You stood to take a peek through your window, careful not to let him see you. He looked your way one last time before driving off into the night.

When he was out of sight, you decided to head on over to your bed but before you could do so, you heard the mechanical sounds of drones.

Your eyes widened as you quickly looked back to see KDF’s drones heading in the direction Kenji went to. With a gasp, you hurriedly slammed the door open and ran out, forgetting about the identical watch you had with Kenji that was repeatedly beeping with an alert of a kaiju attack.

You ran as fast as you could, following the drones as you were sure that they were after Kenji. Suddenly, you heard familiar screams in the distance as the neighborhood awoke to a mundane scene of a kaiju attack.

You looked to your hand only to see an empty wrist. You groaned to yourself, of all the times you could forget it, why now?

Despite being unaware of what was happening or which kaiju was it this time, still you followed the drones. Upon turning the corner, you saw Kenji parking his motorcycle aside so he could transform.

However, this time, KDF came prepared. A squadron of heavily armed soldiers arrived, their weapons calibrated to disrupt his transformation sequence.

As the soldiers closed in on Kenji, one of them set up a cannon, aiming it directly at him. Realizing the gravity of the situation, you sprinted toward the scene, your heart pounding in your chest.

The targeting system locked onto Kenji's energy signature, and the barrel began to glow with a blue hue, signaling the impending shot. Just as the operator pulled the trigger, you threw yourself in front of Kenji.

The concentrated beam of energy hit you with full force, sending a searing pain through your body. You screamed as it disrupted your bio-energy field, causing immediate paralysis and intense agony. You collapsed to the ground, feeling your strength drain away.

The soldiers, momentarily stunned by your intervention, hesitated as Kenji caught you in his arms. "No, (y/n)!" Kenji's voice was filled with anguish as he held you close.

The effects of the cannon had taken their toll on you, but your selfless act had given Kenji the precious seconds he needed. He transformed into Ultraman with a flash of light, creating a barrier to protect you from further harm.

With the kaiju approaching the city, Ultraman's form loomed large, and the soldiers were forced to retreat, their weapons ineffective against his fully transformed state.

Although hesitant he had to make a heart-wrenching decision to choose between being your lover and being Ultraman.

He carried you as gently as he could. In the palm of his hand, your fragile body lay unconscious. He quickly ran back home where Mina awaited him.

Upon arriving, he carefully placed you in the bed Mina took out of the house. “Mina! Emergency analysis, please!” He begged. “Call my dad, do everything to save her! I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

With that, he dashed off to the scene of the kaiju attack. His mind was a mess as he fended it off as quickly as he could, even if it meant hurting it unintentionally, and even if it caused more infrastructural damage.

Ultraman’s heart pounded as he rushed home, the streets blurring past him in a haze of worry and exhaustion. As he reached the familiar door, he transformed back to his human form.

Kenji burst into the house. The scene before him made his heart ache even more. You lay unconscious on the couch, pale and still, with Mina and his father sitting beside you, their faces etched with concern.

Hayao looked up as his son entered. "Kenji," he said, his voice a mix of relief and sorrow. "You're back."

Kenji dropped to his knees beside you, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from your face. "What happened? How is she?" he asked, his voice breaking.

Mina spoke up. “KDF used a new weapon, something we haven't seen before,” she started. “It emits a high-frequency pulse that disrupts the transformation process. When (y/n) threw herself in front of you, she took the full brunt of the attack."

Hayao nodded solemnly. "It's designed to incapacitate Ultraman before he can fully transform,” he said. “But on a human... it's much more dangerous. It's a miracle she's still alive."

Kenji's hands trembled as he held yours, his eyes never leaving your face. "Is there anything we can do?” He asked, tears racing their way out of his eyes. “Anything at all?"

"We've done what we can for now," Mina said softly. "She needs rest and time to recover. We'll monitor her closely. But Kenji... it's serious. The weapon has caused significant internal damage."

Hayao placed a reassuring hand on Kenji’s shoulder. "You did what you had to do, son. You saved countless lives tonight,” he said. “But we need to be prepared for what comes next. The KDF won't stop now that they know you're Ultraman."

Kenji nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll protect her. I'll protect all of us,” he said through small sobs. “But right now... I need her to wake up. I need to know she's okay.”

As the night wore on, Kenji stayed by your side, holding your hand and whispering words of encouragement. He thought about all the times you had supported him, how you had insisted on helping despite the danger. The argument from earlier seemed trivial now, overshadowed by the reality of your sacrifice.

"Please wake up," Kenji murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I should've listened to you. I should've protected you better."

The room was filled with the soft hum of medical equipment and Kenji’s quiet sobs that refused to give up on the person he cared about the most.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Kenji felt a slight movement in your hand. His heart leaped, and he leaned closer, his eyes searching your face for any sign of awakening.

"(Y/n)?" he whispered, his voice trembling with hope. "Can you hear me?"

Your eyelids fluttered, and a faint groan escaped your lips. Slowly, you opened your eyes, blinking against the light. When you saw Kenji's worried face, a weak smile crossed your lips.

"Kenji..." you murmured, your voice barely audible. "You're okay..."

Kenji's eyes once again filled with tears as he nodded, his grip on your hand tightening, "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks to you. You saved me, (y/n)."

You tried to sit up, but pain shot through your body, and you winced. “What... what happened?” You asked.

Mina quickly intervened, gently pushing you back down with mechanical hands that protruded out of her spherical body. "Don't try to move too much,” she said. “You were hit by a weapon KDF used. It was meant for Ultraman, but you took the hit instead."

Hayao added, "You were incredibly brave, (y/n). You saved Kenji's life."

You looked at Kenji, your eyes filled with concern. "I couldn't let them hurt you,” you said softly. “I had to do something."

Kenji leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "And I promise, I'll never let anything happen to you again,” he said, his tears falling down on your face.

The days that followed were a blur of pain, recovery, and quiet moments shared between you and Kenji. True to his word, he never left your side, his worry and guilt evident in every action he took to ensure your comfort and healing.

Each morning, you woke to the smell of freshly brewed tea and the sight of Kenji bustling around the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Despite his own exhaustion, he insisted on doing everything himself.

"Good morning," he greeted softly one morning, bringing a tray of food to your bedside. "How are you feeling today?"

You offered a weak smile, propping yourself up on the pillows. "A little better, I think,” you answered. “Thanks, Kenji."

He set the tray down carefully. "You need to eat,” he said. “You've got to get your strength back."

In the afternoons, when you felt strong enough, Kenji would help you sit up and move around. He'd guide you outside to the lawn, where the sun's warmth and the gentle breeze seemed to hasten your healing. He'd support you with a gentle but firm grip.

"I don't want you to overdo it," he'd say, worry etched on his brow. "Just take it slow."

As the days turned into weeks, your strength gradually returned. The pain lessened, and the color began to return to your cheeks.

The days of your recovery were not just about healing physically but also about rebuilding and strengthening the trust and love between you and Kenji.

You had faced danger and come out stronger, more united. With each passing day, you became more sure than ever that together, your love could overcome anything.

Taglist is open! Comment if u wanna be tagged on future Kenji oneshots

@eternallyvenus @puppyminnnie @wattpadsuckssohard @sakura-onesan @reggies-eyeliner @buggs-1 @miffysoo @spencerrxids @stupidbutsmart @marimargirlies @mixvchelle @lannnu @lailuv21 @christiinee @abracarabbit @youngbananamilkshake @flutterfly365 @o-schist @brazilsho @arrozyfrijoles23 @finestflora @mmeerraa @mianbaobaoo @skyeliteratures @themourningfox @despacito-uwu16 @crimson-mage-02 @vinegarjello @btszn

[frownyalfred]

In eldritch horror / immortal creature of Gotham! Alfred AU: do you think the city requires her beings to have to give up someone, a sacrifice to maintain each of them alive and since Thomas, Martha, and Bruce became important to him, Gotham was going to take baby Bruce at first?

But then Thomas and Martha found out -not horrified of Alfred because they knew, and that there was no way out of it - thus they intentionally shielded Bruce That Night, and let Gotham take them instead?

They didn't want to live in a world where they lived and Bruce died, but also importantly let Alfred live with the guilt of having Bruce's blood on his hands? (I mean he gets blood on them anyway, years later... )

And Alfred subtly flinches every time Bruce says anything like "Gotham needs me" or "This is my city, its will sacrifice what I can for it". Cause he already did.

Since the Pennywaynes has been getting to me for the last 24 hours or so, let me propose: Eldritch!Alfred, deeply connected to Gotham, not quite her true face, but very very close. The Waynes know this, and accept this, because Alfred is Alfred and they know that he'd never hurt them.

But yes, eventually the bill comes due. The good they were funneling into Gotham (charity, new development, etc) sent things out of balance. It is a cursed city. There must be Balance. And so, the city knew that taking their child would hobble that goodness. It tasked Alfred to kill the boy, the heir, knowing that it would forever limit the ability of the Waynes to alter that balance ever again.

But Alfred had grown fond of the Waynes. He didn't know the boy yet, but the boy was sacred to them and what they wanted, he wanted. Inevitably. And so he told them, with the coldness, the detachment, of an assassin or executioner, what Gotham wanted from them. What he would be forced to do.

Thomas and Martha looked at each other, looked down at the sleeping baby in the bassinet, and bargained with the devil himself. They begged, and Alfred listened. He pleaded with Gotham himself, in private. But it was against his nature to do so. He dreaded the path forward, the one that didn't end with Bruce's blood on his hands, the sweet boy that Martha cherished and Thomas doted on.

Alfred was selfish. He knew the rules, and he refused. He didn't step into the shadows that night with a gun. But Gotham sent someone regardless. And this person took both of their lives, instead of just one. It took them instead, instead of the heir. It was a catastrophic blow to Gotham, one the city would never recover from.

Until Bruce came home, many many years later, and started speaking of his city. And there was a chill down Alfred's spine that only came from fellow Eldritch, fellow creatures, fellow non-humans. There was a strange weight in Bruce's eyes. This was what the city had been trying to prevent. This eventuality. And through Alfred's indecision, through Martha and Thomas' love, it had survived after all. Ra's had awakened it and the world had fed it. Gotham would hold onto him forever.

(this kind of identity porn -- Eldritch!Alfred and Eldritch!Bruce under the same roof, working against each other in Gotham's name, but with each other as people -- that makes me crazy)

[cuppajj]

PLEASE tell me you're as disappointed as I am that there are ZERO Greek mythology references in this episode. All we got was Pavlova being Eros, which was visible from a mile away (and Eternal Sugar sends him to do a lot of her dirty work, which is what Aphrodite often did to Eros, so that's cool ig). What else is there? The ionic columns? Sugar's and the NPC's Hellenistic attire? That's all they gave us? Her area of Beast-Yeast is more like Alice in Wonderland than it is Mount Olympus. Would it have killed them to give us sugar satyrs? Sugar nymphs? Taffy harpies? A jello cyclops? Apparently it would, so they gave us these silly little ice cream doodad looking guys and these dumb candy caterpillars and a fucking sugar rainbow merry-go-round. Not even the upcoming Beast raid boss looks Greek, it's just a weird heart thing! Why not a gorgon with licorice snakes for hair, with each strand being a different color and flavor? Why not a Nemean lion with an impenetrable chocolate hide, so Hollyberry can take the role of Heracles, which she fits into a lot anyway? (They could've fit that into the little window between their first departure from the garden back into Beast-Yeast proper and Wildberry's sacrifice or something idk.) They didn't even reference the Lotus Eaters really, everyone was mostly able and willing to get up and leave after eating and drinking and resting! Nor was there a Hades and Persephone moment, with Sugar offering Holly a magical fruit that she would take and eat, not knowing it would shackle her to Sugar and the realm permanently. Holly didn't accidentally allow herself to be tricked into damning herself in her moment of weakness and doubt, she just got her shield destroyed and herself shoved into a mimic chest. Once again Devsisters takes the path of least resistance. Mystic Flour's and Burning Spice's areas were so fun, they took us somewhere new and different ("China" and "India"), now we're back to Christianity Part 2. We already had Christian symbolism with Shadow Milk, I don't want it again, I wanted Ancient Greece goddamn it (and I know it's TECHNICALLY still accurate because Greece is Christian and has been for millennia, but when I say Ancient Greece I mean the Greece that tended to hearths inside of all of its homes in honor of Hestia and never laid a hand on eagles because they were a symbol of Zeus, ykwim?)

I think a couple other Greek mythology references were present: the labyrinth referenced Theseus, and Hollyberry being locked in the box referenced Sisyphus trapping Thanatos in a box too if I’m not mistaken?

Other than that yeah not much. I was hoping we’d have more references the whole way through, and the examples you gave are really cool ideas! Still unsure why we got ice cream and candy enemies on rainbows instead of leaning more into mythical creatures. I know it emphasizes the sugary sweet paradise Sugar has but they didn’t go all in on the Hellenistic references 🥹

I can roll w the christian themes here because of the loose garden of Eden references, and as a fan of renaissance art there were a lot of Christian themes (ie. Putto, angels being depicted in classical Greek myths, etc) in them. If anything that’s what ES’s aesthetic might be going for, less pure greek mythology and more renaissance depictions of it. I’m more ehhh about the lack of rep, I wanted more lmao

Overall the ep felt like a lot and nothing happened at the same time… but I would love to see if the next chapter does more. Not disappointed with what we got though, just would’ve loved to see them lean in further. But that’s what fanon is for lol

[toxycodone]

Monster Fucker's Journal : Introduction

ship. laios touden x reader, reader x various monsters

chapter content: nsfw, masturbation + desc of monster sexual organs. reader is gender neutral but there is references to a clit and getting wet.

read on ao3 | click here for masterlist | next chapter (coming soon!)

Holding the wooden bowl up to your lips, you take the last sip of the broth, savoring the taste on your tongue.

Goddamn. Monster food is tasty. Never in your life did you think you'd be trying Giant Scorpion hot pot, but you're thanking every deity watching from above you're now able to say you tried it.

This is much better than Laios's odd first attempt at cooking these creatures. Despite his amassment of knowledge, cooking does not seem to be one of them.

Despite Marcille's claims of food poisoning and incessant whining, you still decided to give the meal Senshi prepared a taste, and you're glad you did. The flavor was rich, yet earthy...reminding you of the nice soup served at that tavern on the surface.

But this one was better. Much better. It's actually made from monsters! How fascinating!

Laios Touden thought he was the only monster lover around, often regarding himself as an outcast. That is, until he met you. You started out as a usual recruit--someone experienced enough to hold their own but green enough to not punish his wallet. The longer you spent alongside the blonde, the more his interests started to grow on you. The most prominent being monsters.

He seemed to grow quite fond of you as well, sharing his thoughts and theories with you in the little amount of spare time you shared during rest hours and between missions. Listening to him speak about the creatures always lifted the burden of the day off your shoulders. Laios is always so passionate when you get him going. His eyes glimmer with interest, tone so full of ardent affection--you can't help but watch with a lovesick grin.

You wonder if he could feel the same type of way for a person. That person hopefully being you.

Nearby, Laios sits on his bedroll. His large hands slap against the broad midriff of his armor, cauisng the sound of hollow metal to resonate in your ears. It snaps you out of your thoughts.

"That was good!"

His face is curled into a smile, a light flush on his face. You take a moment to appreciate the view. From the corner of your eye, you spot Chilchuck peering at you with a raised brow. Your eyes dart away, focusing elsewhere.

There's a nudge at your shoulder.

"Hey." Laios regards you with wide, curious smile. "How'd you like it? Good, right?"

You nod your head, then explain how different--yet delicious, the food was. In the back of your mind, you always wondered how monsters tasted, or hell, if they were even edible. Today, you can mark that off your bucket list.

His smile spreads from ear to ear now. If anything could radiate pure sunshine, it would be this man.

"Glad to hear it! You know..." He pulls a notebook from below the collar of his armor. It's comical enough to make you snort lightly. "I should take some notes."

Laios begins to scribble down what he's learned so far about the anatomy of walking mushrooms, giant scorpions, and of course--how to prepare them for consumption.

That journal...

Its cover is frayed, edges worn from overuse. There's a plethora of dog eared pages that sport tears and colorful tabs alike. Each page is covered top to bottom in notes you've been dying to read.

Laios promised a while ago let you take a look at it. However, he always seems to be too busy writing to ever give you the chance. Just looking at it makes you sigh. Oh, how you'd kill to get a peek into his mind. You're sure there's quite a bit of knowledge to be found perusing those pages.

The scribbling stops. The man shuts his book, before setting it back into its resting place inside its armor.

"Well, we should check out the path ahead. The first floor might not be too dangerous, but one should always take dungeon crawling seriously." Laios stands up, stretching a bit. The other party members move with him, but he holds out a hand.

"You guys stay here. Let your food disgest. It shouldn't take too long for me to check the path ahead."

The smile on his face is gentle, genuine. You don't understand how others have grown to ostracize the man. He's the most caring person you've met since arriving on the island.

Chilchuck and Marcille seem more relieved than anything. The two gorged themselves on monster food, so the rest is likely well needed. That speaks especially for the elf. Her stamina isn't the best, so traversing the dungeon right away on a full stomach seems like a recipe for disaster. Senshi gives a gentle nod and moves instead to pack his cooking supplies.

Laios picks up his sword and moves to the exit. You stand up too now, grabbing your things and following after him.

"Hm?" Laios, unsuspecting of your presence, is surprised. "Don't you want to stay with the others? I can handle this alone."

You shake your head. Despite his claims, you're not letting Laios venture out by himself. Plus, what if he spots a cool monster? If you can't peek at his journal, then you're gonna gather just as much firsthand experience as he has.

And the blonde doesn't fight you on the topic. Unbeknownst to you, your presence is always a welcome one to him. You both venture into the corridor leading to the second floor.

No matter how much time passes, it's always difficult to get used to the dim lighting within the dungeon. Gentle torchlight illuminates your path, which you're thankful for, but also a bit miffed about. Couldn't they have picked something larger? Brighter? If you were the Dungeon Lord, you would've replaced them with something different by now.

Wait...who the hell is lighting all those things in the first place?

Wait. Not important.

Instead, you focus on following in Laios's heavy footsteps. His leather boots tread lightly on the stone floor, barely echoing along the similarly crafted walls. There's a little tinkering noise from his breastplate, which you can only assume is the journal moving around in his armor. Thank goodness you're on a higher floor. That noise would be a dead giveaway for a monster.

This is probably the least dangerous hallway in the dungeon, no traps or other dangers to be found beside the occasional slime or walking mushroom. However, your party leader always feels the need to tread safely.

The familiar stale air surrounds your senses. To others, it's sickening. To you, it's homey. You're in your element now.

Laios halts, almost causing you to bump into him. Before you can ask a question, he turns to face you.

"I'm gonna head down the staircase real quick, then our little expedition should be over."

You nod. It's a cramped space. There's no need for you to both go down. If he needs any backup, you'll only be a shout away.

Before descending, he reaches in his armor, then pulls out the journal. Laios rests it in your hands.

"Can you take care of this?" He asks, almost bashfully. "I don't wanna make too much noise going down to the second floor. Or risk getting it damaged if a monster is waiting by the entrance..."

God, his expression is cute. He cases so much about this personal journal...why is he so adorable? Of course you'll protect it.

With an expression of gratitude, Laios takes off down the staircase, leaving you alone with your thoughts.

Its a bit of a bummer. You've been down this corridor without any sight of a monster. Hell, the entire first floor had more action. What's the deal with this place...?

Then, you're reminded of the book in your hand.

Now, you know you should be keeping a watchful eye for monsters and listening out for a distress call from Laios...but things have been so boring. There's no harm in a little light reading, right? Just while you're on your lonesome…

You thumb through the pages, starting off at his first real notes on monsters. First is walking mushrooms. You can tell these don’t interest him too much, the notes are lacking. Which is unsurprising. Laios tends to enjoy more complicated monsters. These bumbling creatures have never seemed to truly catch his interest like others. There appears to be a few notes about him theorizing their anatomy–wondering if they reproduce via spores and if said spores are dangerous. It’s interesting to think about in itself. Maybe these monsters could actually be scary if given those attributes. Laios might be onto something here.

The next page is about slimes. Some of the ink is smudged and weathered due to age. However, there’s new notes on the page in fresh ink. They document Senshi’s explanation of slime anatomy and how to cook them. There’s simple fun facts that Laios has shared with you thrice before, and the reminder makes you smile. Most of your reading is spent reminiscing on these factoids, before you hit the section titled “Reproduction”. 

It’s childish, but heat rises to your face as you press on.

The things about slimes seem to be lacking in solid truth. It’s mainly just Laios’s personal theories of their breeding habits. Asexual reproducing is one. Then there’s something about an exchange of genetic material between slimes. Apparently, Laios once found what appeared to be slime eggs in the remains of a heated bathhouse. It appears they search for a place warm and damp to lay their eggs. They likely have some sort of appendage used to lay their eggs in a safe place like this, similar to a snail.

Another note follows, something you wonder if Laios wanted to keep private?

‘What if they lay their eggs in live hosts?’

The thought makes you rub your thighs together. This is wrong. Weird. You should not feel wet at the thought of this. But you persist, letting a hand climb under your waistband. What Laios doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

‘It would explain their behavior. Slimes would grow docile as they look for a host to incubate their eggs. Ideal places to lay are rare in the dungeon, but other creatures (including adventurers), are plenty…”

Your fingers circle over your clit. You knew you liked monsters, but not to this extent…the idea of this being odd steadily starts to fade as you stroke yourself. It’s been so long since you’ve had a proper orgasm. Your body is desperate for anything at this point.

‘They likely function similar to other monsters that accommodate their prey (i.e.: “man eating” plants). Slime secretions have been used as various forms of lubrication. Perhaps during their breeding season, they contain elements that heighten arousal. That would inspire potential vessels to be more willing to their intrusion.’

It’s enthralling. The idea of a creature helping you reach a peak of ecstasy you never considered before. Your movements pick up the pace as you read on, driving you closer and closer to orgasm. As much as you wish you could make noise, you’d rather be caught dead than let Laios witness you getting off to his journal.

Would the creature treat you gently? Teasing you before eventually coaxing an intense orgasm out of you? Or would it relentlessly pound away, trying to stretch you out to accommodate its eggs and leave you a sloppy mess? 

You haven't felt this hot in a long time. It’s embarrassing how quickly you’re about to cum in your pants over something so vile.

Maybe it would cover your whole body in secretions, making your body feel fuzzy with delight, before toying with your clit. Sucking, teasing, running over the flesh until–

A wet, sticky drop lands on your head.

You’d be terribly grossed out if the dungeon hadn’t jaded you already. If anything, you’re more shocked to be snapped out of your lust induced haze. Your peer up at the ceiling to be greeted by an all too familiar monster.

This slime isn't like the one that attacked Marcille earlier at all. It's larger. And an odd color. Why is it pink....?

Your thoughts linger to Laios's journal. Didn't he make a note about this? 

‘During certain times become more docile and take on a pinkish hues. It’s theorized this may be due to a breeding season. It is unclear how slimes reproduce.’

You have an idea. 

A gross, unorthodox one. But it’s an idea nonetheless.

You have to coax the slime down here. You jump up, then wave at it, but the creature doesn’t seem to notice, causing you sigh out in frustration.

Another droplet lands on your head. You grit your teeth. This is your one chance to accomplish your newfound dream. And you’re not gonna let it go to waste. But how the hell are you gonna get this thing down without startling it into attacking you?

Wait...what exactly did that dwarf say? Slimes are attracted to noise, right? They can see your exhale, and attack when you exhale....

So you shout.

"LAIOS!"

And the slime drops from the ceiling, landing on your foot.

Just as planned, your knight in scathed, dull armor comes rushing down the hall, calling your name.

"Are you alri--?" Laios's golden eyes widen when he spots the slime. His weapon is unsheathed in a quick movement, ready to defend you against the monster with Senshi's prior slaying instructions fresh on his mind.

"Wait!"

Before Laios can bring his blade down on the creature, you hold out your hand. He ceases, confusion settling on his features.

"It's not harming me. I-if it wanted to kill me, it would've gone for my head to suffocate me, right?"

Rationalizing this seems impossible. But if anyone were to listen to your desire to fuck monsters, it had to be Laios Touden. So you're putting all your faith in him now. You've yet to judge him, so you hope he holds the same regard for you.

"I...guess." The sword in his hands lowers ever so slightly. It scrapes a shallow mark in the ground as the man steps closer. His head tilts to the side, brows furrowing as he studies the situation at hand. "So you don't want me to kill it?"

You're certain Laios will just take this as you having a healthy respect for monsters, then shoo it away to forgo violence. It takes a lot of mental fortitude, but you swallow the lump in your throat and continue.

"It's interesting behavior....you know, it is breeding season. Which is why they're more active as of late."

The slime starts to creep up your pant leg. Something appendage-like sticks out from its front, prodding at your calves and inner thighs as it makes it's way further.

Your breath catches in your throat. This is really happening.

Laios seems to notice what's going on. A hint of pink tints his pale cheeks, hands making their way to raise his sword once more.

"Laios."

He ceases his movements once more. And you seize your chance.

"Why don't we just let this happen?"

a/n. hey!! if you made it to the end thanks for reading <3 I'm really excited for this series and I hope you enjoyed it!

please consider liking/reblogging/leaving a comment *prayer hands emojis* engagement feeds me (along with other writers! so pls show some love <3)

[i-dared-myself]

Risen From The Pond

Seonghwa x reader

In which the creature from the pond turns out to not be a monster, or at least not the kind you thought.

18+

Cw: A fun fact about me is that I used to horrors! A bit of that side peeked out today lol. This includes sex (including breeding as a heads up but no actual pregnancy since reader is on birth control), violence, death, blood.

Creatures linger in the shadows. They hide in the hearts of the weak-willed. They’re often mistaken for monsters, but they are not. Many of them serve purposes after all. 

However, some disregard the tedious task of masking themselves. Some creatures choose to live in the light of day, walking right down the street.

So you force yourself to take care of those ones. The ones who don’t follow the unspoken rules.

Although some of them don’t mean any harm, they cause it. Havoc follows them and chaos falls upon those who cross paths with them.

You hate hurting those ones. The clueless, good-natured creatures.

Which is why you dread each one you’re called in to take care of. What if it didn’t want to kill that old man? What if it feels guilt for breaking that little girl’s leg?

But you’re here to protect everyone else from the creatures.

Even though they mean well. They believe themselves to be doing the right thing.

“Hello,” you say gently. You thumb at the blade hanging from your waist, using the familiar motion to calm your nerves. “I heard there was an issue around here?”

Issue meaning reckless creature.

“I’m River.” They tip their head, hair sheared to their scalp. They have kind eyes with wrinkles in the corners from smiling so much. “Yes. By the pond from the back entrance. I’ve made sure no one has gone there since it appeared.”

“It didn’t kill anyone,” a man chimes in. His shoulders are set in a way that suggests he’s confident. But you know he doesn’t have much experience to support it.

“Ah.” You look around at the small neighbourhood. It’s one of the rich ones with wide streets and gleaming buildings. “And why is that?”

“I got everyone out,” he impatiently replies. “Are you going to deal with it or not?”

“So it hasn’t harmed anyone?” You finally glance back at the pair of them. 

River clears their throat. “We figured an expert might be the best one to survey it. We don’t want to get too close, just in case it’s hostile.”

You nod your understanding. “Right. Of course.”

The man’s eyes seem to flick over the scar across your forearm, long since healed. It’s still bold enough that it gathers attention, and you can’t help but be proud of yourself for surviving.

“Please,” he says flatly, “come in.”

You enter their house and don’t bother to make small talk. You let them lead you to the back door, and they stay inside while you go out.

You survey their backyard, not surprised at all to see how massive it is. There’s a glittering pond and a garden of blooming flowers to the side of it.

“Hello?” you call out, running your thumb along the sheathed knife dangling from your belt. You keep a wary eye out for any signs of movement or anything of the sort. “I know you’re here.”

It rises from the pond, water dripping from its skin. Its long, white hair falls into its face and covers its eyes as it stands knee-deep.

“Oh.” You blink at it, quickly averting your eyes. “You’re naked.”

“Yes,” the creature responds simply, a low voice tumbling out.

“That’s- Okay.” You continue to gaze elsewhere as you converse with this ethereal-looking being. “Do you have any blood-thirsty tendencies? Any desires to kill or maim?”

“Hm.” The creature rakes a hand through his hair, revealing his eyes. They’re locked on you as his lips curl up in interest. “None to maim. None to kill.”

“That’s good,” you carefully say. Something is off. Why is he speaking that way? “But what are you feeling?”

His mouth opens to answer, but before he can, his body is slung to the side. Your head whips around and you catch a glance of the man from before. He has a set of throwing knives in his grasp, glaring at the white-haired one you had been speaking with.

“He’s evil! There’s something wrong with him!” the man snaps. “Don’t you see it?”

The creature stares at you with wide-eyes, blood oozing from his shoulder as he removes the knife from it. He looks scared. Innocent from any of the accusations that were thrown his way. 

“What?” you demand, using your body to shield him. “How could you think that? He hasn’t done anything yet!”

You kneel down at his side, pressing your hands to the wound. You pull at the very small amount of magic that you have, stitching the injury together. Your healing magic is weak, but it will have to do.

Then agony rips through your being as something is plunged into your side. You watch as the knife is yanked away and blood spills out. You collapse as the man stands over you, spitting at your feet.

“You were supposed to help us! To kill it!”

Your healing magic desperately tries to repair the hole in your stomach. But it’s not enough. You just wasted most of it on the creature, who- who-

He stands, wiping your blood off his fingers. Droplets land in the grass. “You insolent human. I will rip you to shreds and scatter your organs across the continents.”

The man takes a fearful step back, gripping one of his weapons tightly. “I- You’re a monster!”

You close your eyes and attempt to tune out the wet sounds of the man’s death. You feel a splatter as something lands on your cheek and you’re fairly certain a whimper escapes you.

But… This is self-defence, right? The man had attacked first with no reason, so the creature is merely defending himself.

“Seonghwa,” he says softly once the noises die out. You peek between your lashes at him, swallowing thickly when you feel his hands cup your face.

As if you’re delicate. As if you’re precious.

You notice his shoulder is still bleeding. You raise your fingers and direct your own healing to his.

You’re dying, so you might as well.

“Seonghwa what?” you ask as your head lolls to the side. Your chin rests against your chest.

His gaze lingers on the place where you touch him. Where your magic is channeling into him to fix and repair. “My name. What I want to be called.”

You hum as the darkness overcomes your vision. At least you think you hum. You’re unconscious before you can ask him.

Then you make a small sound as you wake, shifting slightly. You let out a heavy exhale, lifting your head drowsily.

Seonghwa smiles at you, pointed teeth on full display. “How do you feel?”

You flex your fingers as you let his question sink into you. How do you feel? You’re not dead, which is great.

But there’s not even an ache where you were stabbed.

“What happened?” you ask instead of answering. You take in your surroundings, noting that you’re still in the backyard. And that he is still missing clothes.

“I healed you.” He strokes your hair and stands. He cocks his head at you as he studies you. “Did you know that you’re mine?”

You choke for a moment on absolutely nothing. “Excuse me?”

“You protected me, so I’ll protect you.” Seonghwa turns his head back to the house. “Where do you live? We- I mean now that I’m here.”

“I-“ You stand wobbly, appreciating that he doesn’t try to steady you. He leaves you to regain your balance on your own. “In an apartment. But I’m fine, Seonghwa. You can live your life, and I’ll live mine. I wish you good luck.”

His gaze seems to sharpen as it lands back on you. “No. I’m going with you.”

River coughs from where they’re standing in the porch. “I… I assume everything has been taken care of?”

Seonghwa’s hand twitches before you nod pleasantly to River. He relaxes and glances to the man whose body he had torn apart. “My apologies for that.”

“Do you happen to have a spare set of clothes for him?” You gesture to your new companion. For life now, probably. And you have a feeling he’ll be adept at defending you.

“Uh, yes.” River scratches at their head, motioning for you to enter their home. “I think I can find something.”

That’s how Seonghwa ended up dressed in a set of black pants and an oversized sweater. You thank River again for everything, and apologize for murdering the man. Then you’re on your way, walking down the sidewalk.

“This is weird,” you eventually say to Seonghwa. You’re now just realizing how freakishly tall he is. He’s human-looking enough, but also just a bit too perfect that hints at him being a creature.

“I don’t think so.” Seonghwa’s hand slithers down until his fingers are laced with yours. “I feel comfortable around you.”

You retract your hand and tuck it into your pockets. “Well… I’m still not sure about this whole thing. I have to leave in two days for the mountains. What will I do about you?”

“I’ll go with you.” Seonghwa glowers down at your hand as if it offended him somehow. “Now take me home.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You flick your lights on, stepping aside so Seonghwa can walk inside. Your apartment isn’t the biggest, since you lived on your own until now. There’s one bedroom, one bathroom, and what your landlord considered a kitchen.

“You can sleep on the couch.” You point at it, staring up at Seonghwa. “I’ll grab you a pillow and some-“

“Why not the bed?” He tilts his head curiously at you. 

“Because that’s mine.” You stand in the doorway to the bedroom possessively. It’s a fairly comfortable mattress, and you will protect it with your dying breath. “I’m not sleeping on the couch.”

Seonghwa’s eyes narrow as his head dips down. “I wasn’t telling you to sleep on the couch.”

You frown, now understanding what he’s getting at. “Seonghwa, we don’t do that. I know you don’t know a lot about humans, but it’s generally not accepted for people with different kinds of genitalia to sleep together. Or at least if they’re not dating.”

Seonghwa takes a step closer to you. “And why not? Why is it deemed inappropriate?”

Oh. Does he not know what sex is?

“Because…” you warily say, “society disapproves of it. Babies and all that.”

Seonghwa’s lips part. “Right. But I like those. Why can’t we have one?”

You gape at him before slamming your bedroom door shut in his face. Living with him will definitely be an adjustment.

About an hour later, there’s a knock on your door. You put the book down that you had been reading and go over to open it.

“Yeah?” You raise an eyebrow at Seonghwa. “What do you want?”

“I’m hungry.” He holds his hand out.

You blink at his hand. “Okay? Go find something to eat in the kitchen.”

Seonghwa wiggles his fingers insistently. “No. I want to go to the market.”

“Do you mean the grocery store?” You squint at him, unsure of what he wants you to do with his hand. You gasp as he clasps your hands together and tugs you out of your apartment.

He drags you down the stairs and to the main floor, squeezing you gently. “Which way do we go?”

“Uh, that way.” You use your free arm to gesture down the sidewalk. Then he begins to pull you down in the direction you had instructed. His strides are so long that you have to speed-walk to keep up.

Going through the store with him is quite the experience. Seonghwa tries to touch absolutely everything and you have to steer him away from the free samples. When you reach the pastry section, Seonghwa presses his face up against the glass.

“What’s that?” he asks you, eyes shining with excitement. He pokes your side again and again until you answer.

“That?” You look at the dessert. “Chocolate cake.”

“Can I get it?” Seonghwa bats his eyelashes at you. “Please?”

You sigh and smile at the worker. Once it’s been packaged up for you, Seonghwa snatches it from your grasp and grins at it. 

“I think you like it more than you like me,” you tease as you turn to go to the fruit section. You hear the pattering of footsteps as Seonghwa rushes to keep up.

“I’ll throw this out right now,” he very seriously says. “It means nothing to me.”

“Okay, well don’t. It was expensive.” You select an apple and flip it over, frowning at a dent in it. You put it back and startle when you see how intently Seonghwa is watching you. “What?”

“It was expensive, and you bought it for me?” he slowly inquires. His tone is awed. “And- And this is food?”

“Yeah?” You shrug it off. “And yes, you eat chocolate cake. It’s delicious and I require at least half of it as payment for buying it for you.”

Seonghwa clutches it to his chest, biting his bottom lip. He seems deeply torn over something, and you feel a twinge of guilt.

“No, that was a joke,” you assure him. “You can keep it to yourself.”

You purchase the rest of your groceries and carry the bag out of the store. Seonghwa presses a hand to your front to stop you, and you frown up at him in confusion.

“What is it now?” you tiredly ask. “I’ve had a long day, Seonghwa. I nearly died.”

Seonghwa takes the bag from you and gives you his cake, handling it as if it’s a newborn. Then, before you can ask why he loves the dessert so much, he scoops you up.

You instinctively wrap his arms around his neck with a squeak of alarm. He pays it no mind and carries you with his hands under your thighs. The bag hangs from his wrist as he walks, carrying you effortlessly.

“What- What are you doing?” You bury your face against him in embarrassment. “Seonghwa! People don’t do this!”

“But I like your body against me,” he quietly murmurs. He turns his head to grin at you, sharp teeth reminding you of what he is.

And why you shouldn’t be feeling butterflies right now.

You feel so tired all of a sudden. An exhaustion that has seeped into your bones and left you with no choice but to sink into his warmth.

“So when are you most likely to become pregnant?” he randomly questions, dragging you out of your fog of drowsiness.

“What?” you exclaim. “That’s- You can’t just ask that!”

“No, I meant…” Seonghwa struggles to find the right words for a minute. “I meant humans. Biologically. I’m confused about how your bodies work.”

“Oh.” You relax back into him. Into his big hands splayed across your thighs and-

Nope. Those thoughts are bad.

“Humans get pregnant like most animals I guess. Eggs get fertilized and then the one with the uterus carries the baby most of the time.” You let your eyes flutter shut. Why are you so sleepy? It’s not even dinner time yet.

“And-” Seonghwa’s voice sounds strained. “That could happen at any moment?”

You hum, already drifting off to sleep. Seonghwa grumbles in dissatisfaction, not accepting that as an answer. 

So he approaches an old lady on the side of the road as she sorts through her purse for loose change.

“Excuse me,” Seonghwa says politely.

She smiles at him, her face wrinkling even further. “Why hello. Aren’t you nice for carrying your girlfriend home.”

“Not my girlfriend,” Seonghwa corrects. “Just the human that I moved in with. Not that I will be sleeping on the couch.”

The old lady appears confused, but motions for him to continue with whatever it was he wanted to ask.

“Do humans go into heat?” Seonghwa cocks his head. He adjusts his hold on you so you’re less at risk of falling and mortally injuring yourself. 

The old lady pauses. “Pardon me, dearie?”

“Heat,” Seonghwa clarifies. “Like, wanting to be bred?”

The old woman purses her lips. “I should get going now. Have a good night.”

She shuffles away, leaving Seonghwa’s question still unanswered.

This is why humans are irritating.

But as your soft sighs of sleep meet his ears, he can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, you aren’t too bad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You rub your eyes, sitting up on the couch. “Why- How did we get home?”

“I brought us here.” Seonghwa lays his cake out on the table, carefully unpacking it. “I’m eating it now, and you may join me if you want.”

“Wow,” you remark as you take your plates out from a cabinet. You set them down and put out utensils. “I didn’t expect you to share.”

Seonghwa cuts the cake in half and splits them between the two plates. He hands you yours and gets comfortable on the couch. “Come sit.”

You perch on the other end, bringing your fork to your dessert. You frown when Seonghwa nudges you. “What?”

“Not there.” Seonghwa wraps his free hand around your arm and drags you onto his lap. He curls his arm around your abdomen and takes his first bite of the cake. “I love this.”

You smile and mimic him, savouring the taste of it. It melts on your tongue, and why are you on Seonghwa’s lap? Why does it feel like the most natural thing in the world?

Seonghwa brings his fork to your mouth. “I like the thing on the top.”

You accept the offered bite and hum. “It’s ganache. It’s delicious.”

Seonghwa puts his empty plate down on the end table and nuzzles his nose into the column of your throat. “I’m ready for bed. Are you?”

“I-“ You shiver at the feeling of his teeth grazing your neck. “Yeah. Let me get ready.”

You brush your teeth and change into pyjamas, finding Seonghwa sprawled across your bed when you’re finished. He’s in a hoodie from one of your old boyfriends, and that’s it.

“What do you think you’re doing?” You cock your hip out, hiding your amusement.

Seonghwa pats the sheets next to him. “Lay down.”

You sigh and shake your head, but climb onto the bed. Your bed isn’t the biggest, and your legs entangle together as Seonghwa shifts. 

You shouldn’t be doing this. But your foggy mind can’t think of a reason why.

“Sleep,” Seonghwa murmurs, white strands falling across his face. “You’ll need it.”

You blink sleepily at him. “Why?”

“Your mountain trip, remember?” He chuckles and scoots even closer to you. Your bodies are aligned in a way that feels right. Not even sexual. Just intimate and perfect.

You fist at his hoodie. “I almost threw this out. Do you like it?”

Seonghwa traces your cheekbones with his thumb. His lips have parted into an expression of contentment. “I really like it.”

“Good, because Adam isn’t coming back for it.” You close your eyes and snuggle closer. And damn, you’re snuggling with him. Why is this going so fast?

“Who the fuck is Adam?” Seonghwa demands incredulously, dragging you away from the brink of sleep. He even sits up, and you nearly whine at the sudden absence of his body warmth.

“My boyfriend.” You turn your back to him, yanking the sheets up to your shoulders. You close for eyes for about two seconds before you’re being flipped to your back.

Seonghwa straddles you, eyebrows pulled together. His lips are twisted into a furious scowl. “Your what?” His voice drips with venom and his fingers flex at the pillow your head is resting on.

“Seonghwa!” you snap and wiggle in an escape attempt. 

He shifts so his pelvis is flush with yours, and he rolls his hips into yours. His eyelids flutter and a breathy sigh leaves his mouth.

“Did he ever do this?” Seonghwa demands, bending down to nuzzle at your cheek. “Did he- I’m better, right?”

You feel heat rise in your face, lifting your hands to shove him away. Seonghwa’s jaw ticks but he slides off of you and off the bed entirely. He pads toward the bedroom door before you stop him.

“Where are you going?” You prop yourself up on your elbows to stare at him. 

“Do you… Do you not want me gone?” Seonghwa rubs a strand of his hair between his index finger and thumb. His cheeks are a light pink. 

“What? No. I want to talk about what’s going on.” You shake your head at him and wait for Seonghwa to settle on the bed before speaking again. “Why did you- You got upset when I mentioned my ex. And then you, like, grinded on me.”

“Ex?” Seonghwa perks up, sliding beneath the sheets again. 

“Yeah. Why? Did you somehow know Adam?” You let Seonghwa pull you so your back is to his chest. He’s warm and comfortable and you’re quickly being lulled back to sleep.

“No.” Seonghwa throws his legs over yours and drags you impossibly closer to him. “Go to sleep.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seonghwa is gone. You don’t know where he went off to, but he wasn’t in the bed when you woke. Nor was he in the rest of the apartment.

You assume that he realized that living with you was a terrible idea and ran off somewhere. Maybe you snores and he couldn’t handle it.

So you take a shower and try to ignore the urge to weep. Why do you miss him? Did you get attached in the rough eight hours that you knew him for?

You muse about that while you rinse your shampoo out. You put your conditioner in and then hear a crash from outside the bathroom.

You shut the water off and wrap your body in the towel, stepping out. You grab your knife from the counter, because you always keep it with you. Most of the time, anyway.

You step out of the bathroom, soaking wet with conditioner still in your hair. You grip the handle tightly as you whirl around the corner and plunge the weapon into the abdomen of the intruder.

“Well, good morning to you too.” Seonghwa gently peels your fingers away from the hilt. He pulls the knife out from where it’s buried in him and examines the red-slicked blade. 

“You- I-“ Your brain goes blank as the wound smoothes over with skin. “You can heal yourself?”

“Of course,” he smoothly replies. Seonghwa shoos you away, tossing the knife into the kitchen sink with a clatter. “Now go finish your shower.”

You continue to gape at him. “Where were you? I was worried!”

“Aw, that’s cute.” Seonghwa tilts his head and smiles softly at you. “Go shower.”

You hesitantly go back to the bathroom and finish washing out your hair. You dress and go to the kitchen to eat breakfast when your stomach rumbles. Maybe eating cake for dinner last night wasn’t the greatest idea.

Seonghwa’s there first. His back is to you from where he’s standing in your kitchen, hands busy with something.

You peek around him and cover your mouth in horror. “Seonghwa! What are you doing?”

Seonghwa blinks at you, squeezing the flailing fish harder. “Making you breakfast.” He holds up the wriggling animal for you to see, chest puffed out in pride. “I caught it myself.”

“That’s- Seonghwa!” you exclaim. “Put that back from wherever you got it!”

Seonghwa’s shoulders slump. The fish gasping for air in his hand goes limp. “But… Does that mean you don’t like it?”

“Why do I need a fish?” You rub at your temples. “Get rid of it.”

When the door slams shut behind him, you can’t help but wonder if you said something wrong. Do creatures like him love marine life? Did you offend him by rejecting his fish?

You scramble some eggs and shovel them down before taking your backpack out of your closet. You stuff clothes in it, along with a full water bottle. You’re just bringing your granola out of a cabinet when Seonghwa returns.

“What are you doing?” He looks alarmed. “Are you leaving me?”

“I’m going to the mountains, remember?” you remind him. “I’m just going to be leaving early for it.”

Seonghwa relaxes. “Fine then. It’s a good thing I found these spare clothes in your closet.”

You hum, flicking your eyes over him. He’s dressed well enough for the bit of a hike that the day will be. “Yeah. So you’re ready to go?”

“Where will we be sleeping?” Seonghwa asks as you lock your apartment. He takes the backpack from you and slings it over his shoulders, leaving you with nothing to carry. 

“There’s a cabin up in the mountains. It has a bed bigger than mine.” You lead the way down the stairs and out of the building, taking a breath of the fresh air.

“Bigger?” Seonghwa glances down at you with mild concern. “But we’ll still cuddle, yes?”

You shrug and look both ways before dashing across the busy street. Seonghwa chases after you and threads your fingers together.

His touch is almost… possessive. But you don’t pull away, because it feels right for some reason. 

His pretty pink lips curl up at the corners, his gaze locked ahead. The wind is a gentle breeze that seems to caress his hair in a way that it never would for you.

“Have you been resting well lately?” Seonghwa casually asks you, but his voice is tinged with something. He squeezes your hand once and looks down at you for a response.

“I’ve been feeling really tired lately,” you say with a small frown. “I’m not sure why.”

Seonghwa smiles at you. “I’ve been making you tired. You need rest for the mountains, so I’ve been making sure you’re getting it. My magic is strong, isn’t it?”

You blink at him and tear your hands apart. “Seonghwa! That’s- That’s fucked up!”

Seonghwa whines and tries to bring your hands back together. “I didn’t mean it like that!”

You speed up to avoid him. Although, his legs are so long he easily bridges the gap, striding at your side. 

“I just-” Seonghwa brings his hand up to your shoulder, but before it makes contact it falls back to his side. “Please? I’m sorry.”

You purse your lips and remain silent. Seonghwa lets out another sound of regret, slowing to trudge behind you. You turn your head to glare at him before directing your gaze elsewhere.

Maybe two hours later, after reaching the base of the mountain and beginning the hike, Seonghwa sighs and whispers your name. You two haven’t exchanged any other words since argument you had, and the tension is thick. You had demanded your bag from him, and he had reluctantly given it up.

You keep sending him filthy looks, to which he returns with a pleading one of his own. He appears desperate to win your favour back, and you’re not planning to give it to him. Not after he has apparently been-

Then he blinks at you and you realize you’ve been staring. His eyelashes flutter before he smiles softly, voice gentle as he asks, “Do you need something?”

You swallow and shake your head, turning back to the trail. The woods are thick around here, and you set your backpack down. You rummage through it until you locate your thicker jacket and you slip it on.

“Are you cold?” Seonghwa worriedly asks. His eyebrows draw together in concern and he reaches out for your forearm before stopping himself.

You hum noncommittally and continue with the trek. Seonghwa makes a frustrated noise but doesn’t push the matter further. 

Minutes later, you roll your ankle on an uneven part of the path and yelp. You pitch to the side but regain your balance before you tumble off the mountain.

“Are you alright?” Seonghwa is tense, eyes narrowed on you. 

“Yeah.” Your voice comes out strained, so you clear your throat to try again. “Yes. I’m fine.”

Seonghwa’s throat flexes. “I don’t believe you.”

You straighten and put your weight on your ankle. “I’m fine.” You wince before smoothing out your expression.

Seonghwa pokes his tongue in the inside of his cheek. “Try again.”

“I’m fine!” you yell, balling your hands into fists. You want to punch him and kick him, and cry, because he’s so nice. He’s so caring.

Seonghwa presses you against a tree, slotting one of thighs between yours. His hands come under your biceps to lift you slightly, so you’re not longer on your injured ankle.

“How much further until the cabin?” Seonghwa inquires. He leans in to ghost his lips against your neck, taking a shuddering breath. “I missed you.”

You squirm as he bounces his knee into you. “It’s been two hours. You’re so needy.”

“Yes,” Seonghwa agrees simply. He presses a gentle kiss to your underjaw, a hint of tongue flicking out. “I need you. I need you so bad that I just- fuck- Where’s that cabin?”

You point over his shoulder to a fork in the road. “Left. Then only five more minutes.”

Seonghwa places you back down on your feet while you assure him that you’re really okay after all. But he still keeps an eye on you as you guide him to the cabin.

As soon as you open the door, he’s all over you. Stripping you of your jacket, shirt, pants. Everything. He follows quickly to match you, putting his hands over every inch of your body that he can.

He drags you to the floor and stares at you fondly. Seonghwa’s hair falls into his face and he leans into your touch as you brush it away.

“So pretty,” he murmurs as he layers kisses over your thighs, wrenching them apart. He lets out a small moan as soon as he sees your pussy. “Oh, I knew I chose well.”

“What- What do you mean?” You try to squeeze your thighs together, but he tightens his grip to prevent it.

Seonghwa smiles blankly. “What? Did I say something?”

You open your mouth to respond. To tell him that he did in fact say something.

But then his first digit presses into you, and your thoughts fizzle away. All that’s there is the feeling of his finger as he watches you intently.

“More,” you beg, trying to grind down on him. You lick your lips and bite your lip as he gives you what you asked for.

The second one definitely adds a bit more of a stretch. You’ve taken more in the past, so it’s not that much though. You keen as his thumb circles your clit and his long fingers scissor you out.

It’s good. It gets even better when he finds the spongey spot. Your back arches and your legs shake with the pleasure as you tip over the edge.

You reach to wrap your hand around his cock when you recover, smiling when he hisses out a breath. He swats you away and uses your wetness to cover his dick.

“There,” he tells you, eyes hooded. “Make me feel good. As good as you feel as you look at me, isn’t that right?”

There’s… something to his words.

How does he know how you react when your eyes land on him? How is he aware of how your walls seem to flutter by just the sight of him?

But he strokes your face lovingly, forcing your attention back to him. His face fills your vision and everything is right again.

You resume jerking him off and the glide is smoother now, as you work your hand up and down his length. It’s hot and heavy in your grasp and the thought of it inside you makes your stomach clench.

“Want me to fill you up?” Seonghwa bucks up into your hand, pants tumbling out of his mouth. “Hng, I’ll fill you up so good.”

“Ah- Yes, please.” You flick your thumb over his slit and slant your lips over his as he cums. You’re both covered in his spend but you continue to kiss him regardless.

Your fingers weave through his hair and you fist some to force his head away from you. “We can always try this again later.”

Seonghwa frowns, forehead wrinkling in bewilderment. “But I want to fuck you now.”

“But-“ You let him carry you to the bedroom, laying you across the bed. “But you just-“

“Not a human,” he reminds you, sharp teeth flashing as he grins. Seonghwa thrusts into you suddenly as you cry out. “Too much?”

“No,” you breathlessly say. “More.”

“Aw, more?” Seonghwa rolls his hips into you harshly. He grips your chin between two fingers, tilting your head up. “You’ll let me breed you, right?”

Your eyes widen and you nod with a miniature whine. You’re on birth control, so nothing will actually come from this. But damn, is it hot coming from him.

“Yeah?” Seonghwa toys with your clit. “Pump you full of my babies? You’ll let me use you like a good little mate?”

You pause. “I- Like a what?”

Seonghwa licks a stripe up your throat before sinking his teeth into you. He moans against your skin and you see stars when his cock hits your spot again. His motions are relentless and he fists at the sheets.

“I told you,” Seonghwa whispers, “that you were mine. All mine.”

Your orgasm hits you and you let out a strangled sound. Then it fades and you go limp as Seonghwa experiences his. He pants heavily against your chest, resting his cheek on the sweat-slicked skin.

Seonghwa pushes everything back in when it leaks out. You stare at him with glassy eyes as he props your hips up with a pillow, preventing any from spilling out.

“Seonghwa,” you softly say. “I’m on the pill. I can’t get pregnant.”

“But you’re mine.” Seonghwa kisses your forehead, then the tip of your nose, then your lips. “My mate. I waited to meet you. I waited until the perfect moment.”

You frown sleepily. “What?”

“I watched you until the time was right, then I formed in the pond.” Seonghwa presses an open-mouthed kiss to the inside of your wrist. His teeth nick the skin and you cringe at the small pain. “And now you’re all mine.”

As repetitive as his words are, it takes until now for them to sink into you. 

“Perfect just for me.” Seonghwa fluffs your pillows and brings the sheets up to your chest. “I’ll be back with dinner, my love. Stay here so my seed can take.”

“But-“ You struggle to sit up before his hand pushes you back down. “I’m on birth control. I can’t get pregnant.”

“Nonsense.” Seonghwa smiles, but there’s an edge to it. An unsettling side that makes you remember that he’s very much so not human.

“We’ll stay here as long as it takes.” He cocks his head and gazes at you fondly. “We’ll try over and over again and I’ll protect you forever and ever.”

Then Seonghwa pats your head exits the bedroom, leaving you with your thoughts. Maybe the man had been right.

Maybe you should’ve killed him when you had the chance.

The knife is in your bag, sitting only five feet away. You could grab it and use it to defend yourself. You’ve dealt with many creatures before and know how to vanquish them.

But the moment the idea enters your head it vanishes. Your mind is wiped clean and all that’s left is the memory of Seonghwa’s loving smile.

Taglist:

@velvetmoonlght @jinnie-ret @hansmic @imeverycliche @iwuberic @strawberryscentedd @lezleeferguson-120 @mbioooo0000 @life-is-a-game-of-thrones

[transformers-spike]

Random!Blitzwing vore, but it's actually a glorified cunnilingus. Yes you gotta put this on the internet for everyone to see

Idk what to say. I personally don't do vore, but I know for a fact Blitzwing's random personality is into that (even if he doesn't know what it is) So here. Come get your mush

Inside the mines you were exploring just a minute ago, you shoot Blitzwing an exasperated glare as he brings you to his eye level. The face before you is a horror movie amalgamation of shadow creature and Tumblr Sexyman, razor sharp teeth cocked into a smile. “Can’t you just let me go?” you say, having experienced the same situation for the third time this week. Nothing has been clearly established yet, but considering the many occasions he’s fingerbanged you, you’re sure your fragile human self must mean something to the giant killing machine. Admittedly, judging by the overexcited grin he’s giving you, things are bound to get weird unless his other faces intervene. He tilts his head at you like a hungry tiger observing the mouse he just caught.

“Now why would I do that?” he asks, accent thick and clear. You have to remind yourself it’s because there’s something wrong with his translator, not that he’s a giant robot built by German officials to destroy Detroit and all its inhabitants as payback for the Second World War.

You point at the metal behemoth approaching through the mine’s entrance, far enough for you to look like a spec in Blitzwing’s hand, and you wonder for a moment if it’s safer for Blitzwing to splatter you against the wall or wait until his pal gets his two massive claws on you. In a moment of pure, unperturbed genius, Blitzwing flings you into his mouth like a kid chucking a bubblegum ball.

Whirling in the air doing a full, dizzying 360, you land face first against a squishy metal mass you assume to be his tongue. It’s too dark to see anything, the kind of pitch blackness only present in underground caverns. So, you do the right thing and fish out the flashlight you brought specifically to explore the mine before your giant robot bitch plucked you from the ground. Flicking it on, you realize this could very well be a cave if it wasn’t for the stench of motor oil and exhaustion fluid prying your nostrils open. You wheeze and sputter, burying your nose in your sleeve as your teary eyes try to make sense of the other two paths perpendicular to your own, separated by a huge dark gullet at the center, deeper than the Mariana Trench. It’s then it actually hits you; “Oh shit, I forgot about the other two heads.”

Then the tongue below you starts to squirm like a worm being plucked out of the dirt.

You fall back on your ass and push yourself as far away from that thing as humanly possible, up until your shoulders hit the back of his teeth. There’s a commotion outside, and try as you might, you can’t catch his attention by banging against the inside of his mouth while yelling “GET ME OUT OF HERE I DON’T WANT TO GET PROBED BY YOUR TENTACLE TONGUE!”

The lack of an answer leaves you vulnerable to the apparatus rubbing up against your legs. You snap them shut as hard as you can, but you’ve clearly underestimated its alien determination. With an impressive if not outright criminal prehensility, it slips into your pants. Hentai flashbacks fill your mind with a giant DANGER sign pulsing bright red. You try to kick it away and conceal the arousal, leaving you especially hot in the desert that is his mouth – humiliation growing as your attempts falter and you spread your thighs just a bit to let it slip down to your entrance.

You’re going to tear Blitzwing piece by piece with your bare hands once you get out of here, but for now you can only squeeze your eyes shut and whimper as it enters you over and over again, fully aware of the embarrassing wetness having built up when he first caught you sneaking around the place. You throw your head back and groan, forgoing any form of dignity as you fuck yourself with his tongue, meeting every movement of his with jubilation.

As the noises die down behind you, you drill through your second rock bottom by taking off your pants and underwear. You tuck them under your arms like the world’s saddest security blanket and bite your lip as the tongue drags across your stomach and back to your crotch before slipping back in for just a second…

Before Blitzwing’s mouth opens up and he pulls you out. Dripping with your own fluids, the expression of shock on your face is replaced with one of righteous fury – then shame – then fury again.

“You…” you falter, red in the face, “you fucking degenerate.”

[dark-lord-of-awesomeness]

I hope you’re happy.

I can’t stop thinking about sorcerer Stan and I absolutely don’t have time to write the aus I’m thinking of.

Because I’m just imagining if he clicked and didn’t have support.

Princess Stan au- he clicks before the whole dragon thing, maybe when Rico traps him in the chest, and Ford heads down south to investigate reports about some evil spirit in the shape of a man wantonly destroying everything

Normal au- he clicks sometime during his drive up to Gravity Falls and is just so out of it when he gets there. Probably breaks the portal without thinking of it while Ford is right there

I have essays to write! You stole all my brain space!

I'm very happy >:)

If Stan clicked with no support, he'd be casting for as long as he had that battery (if on a path of whatever he clicked with). Once it goes out, or he loses it, then the magic exhaustion's gonna hit bad :) Especially if hes not close to the wellspring to help him recharge faster and more naturally. At this point in the story the only reason they gave the battery back is because Stan was so magically depleted they needed the extra jump, and then he's limited to bed time use just because they need to exhast him so he'll actually sleep. Relying on it long term is not good for anyone.

Ford hears about some spook down south and jumps at the chance to investigate a magical anomaly of this caliber. It could be a wraith, or a ghoul, or some other creature thats' been mistaken for something spectral. So they get to the last place it's been sighted, look for clues and find!

Nothing. There's no evidence of some monster of magical creature. Just human tracks, around inhuman feats of destruction. There's no explanation Ford can find, and none of the bait he's using works. Gets so frustrated until he spills all his findings to fiddleford, who squints and just goes 'sounds like a sorcerer with a bad click.'

Ford discovering the first Sorcerer in generations, hearing all these rumors and Fiddleford telling him 'sounds like a sorcerer' would be so exciting for him. A sorcerer! Who needs help (judging by all the stories and what Fiddlefords told him about how they work)! Ford's going to swoop in and help this poor individual out before they get hunted down and killed for all the destruction they're being compelled to do.

Then he finds them, and its Stan. Stan, who has no idea whats happening to him, no idea why or how he's bending reality to his will, only that he needs to keep breaking things. He's tired and sick and confused and really, does Ford need that metal guy? Or fingers? Or anything and can't Stan just smash a little more? He needs to do it or else he's pretty sure he's going to explode. Its not a pretty sight, especially since Stan hasn't had the time to fully recharge his reserves just wakes up, does magic until he collapses, then repeats it the next time he wakes up again. Which is not good! That battery isn't safe for humans for a reason, and Stan relying on it is just making him sicker.

At that point it becomes a race to drill any rune into his skull before he gets burned out and dies. Extra angst if Ford hasn't discovered the wellspring yet, so its him, Fiddleford, Emma-May, and a sickly Stan living in Fords wagon on the run from both the wizard authorities hunting Ford down for suspected illegal wizarding and from the various parties interested in the first sorcerer in centuries. Stan's not helping here, as he's so far off the deep end he's barely coherent and just wants to keep breaking things. Spends the whole time tied up in the back and gagged while Fiddleford frantically tries to teach him anything.

As for a canon Stan sorcerer... hmm..

Stan doesnt click on the way up, but he's close to it. He's tired, exhausted, on the run and last bit of rope, but Ford needs him. Ford needs him, and Stan's going to help him. Going to go back, and they'll fix it and be brothers again. Just so long as he doesnt break anything else, not like everything else in his life he's touched.

So he gets there, and its mostly the same, except they get to the basement that is just humming and singing with magical runes and power, and Stan, who is so very close to taking that step, is transfixed by it. Lets assume magics gone mostly the same way, in that it faded, but unlike Princess Stan now its coming back. Its surging back to life, and wizards are already casting verbal spells but there hasn't been any sorcerers yet, because all the old bloodlines are so faded and dry there's nothing for the runes to click with.

Except now Stan's here, and for whatever reason he's managed to find himself with a huge magic reserve, and is a second away from clicking. And Ford is saying something, something important, and Stan's trying to listen, trying to finally be there for Ford, when he hears the 'first worthwhile thing in your life' and

BREAKS

Because really? this is it? This is all Ford wants from him? To go even further away? To never see him again? To swoop in and run an errand, then good bye Stan? Just call him like a dog, and not treat him like a brother? The one person Stan thought he ever had any kind of chance for some kind of positive relationship, and all Ford sees is someone to come and kick whenever it suits him.

And to top it all off, Stan's getting his brain blasted with some kind of deep truth about the universe, about how destruction and creation are interlinked and can't be defined or done without the other. Fords yelling about something and all Stan can see is that giant portal behind him. That giant portal that Ford cares more about than his own brother, his own family.

What would it look like if it fell to pieces?

Isn't even aware of what he's doing, Fords voice a distant buzz, just has his eyes locked on all those whispering runes and writing some weird symbol in the air and thinking about the whole thing coming apart.

Then it does, one screw and nail at a time, in the form of a golden glow thats coming from Stan and might be Stan? And Fords still yelling, but all Stan can see is the wave of metal parts crashing to the ground, and all he can feel is this deep warmth he hadn't realized was there before getting sucked out of him.

Then something hits him in the head and he blacks out. (its Ford, who saw all the yellow, saw Stan not reacting and using some kind of strange magic to tear apart his portal, and panicked hit Stan in the back of the head with the journal. That, combined with the huge amount of power Stan was pumping out to break the portal, just instantly ko'd him)

Since Stan was not accidentally draining himself or suffering mega trauma from a dragon slaughter, it does not take him three days to wake up. It takes him, like, ten minutes, and in that time Ford has already tied him up in a panic, because what? What was that? And also why and how dare he and really Stan! Always breaking things and what did Bill promise you! And Why did he want to break the portal because Fords really stumped on that one.

Stan has no idea what just happened, who Bill is, or if breaking the portal was good or bad. All he knows is that a sleep deprived scientist with only ten minutes does not make good knots, and he needs to write that funny symbol on as many things as possible pronto. Breaks out, instantly uses it on the nearest surface, gets whacked in the back of the head again. This loops at least two more times, before Stan finally yells at Ford for hitting him, and how he has no idea what his brothers talking about or whats happening just that he needs to write that symbol on as many things as possible, because its telling him to.

Now Fords dealing with a pissed off Bill and a baby sorcerer without knowing anything about how sorcerers work. Bill Knows though. Bill would be happy to take this one off his hands in fact. Stan broke his other portal, but he's pretty sure he can use him to make another one.

All he has to do is teach him the right rune after all, and unlike princess Stan Bill doesnt have to be nice :)

Hope that helps your brain space!

[heartfullofleeches]

You know I can’t stop thinking about an angsty Bugman scenario where, in the Childhood best friend!Darling setting, Darling learns that one day the god living inside Bugman is going to awaken properly and essentially kill Bugman, prompting Darling to just breakdown sobbing for their first and only friend and pleading for Bugman to not die even if their fate is sealed and neither of them can do anything to stop it

Why would you do this to me, Chief. Like- good soup, without a doubt, but my heart hurts for these angels. Imagine making a really close friend as a child, but instead of you drifting apart or one of you moving away someday their body will be taken from them by one of the things you're scared <- Childhood Best Friend Reader in this storyline had a fear of bugs as a kid.

-

You still remember the day like it was yesterday. A promise made between friends upon which wove your separate futures along a conjoining path, avowedly destined to outlast the trial of time and the seasons of change as you both grew.

"Are you ready, Bug?"

Small, beady little eyes snap upwards from the large stone you finally manage to get a good grip on after several, harrowing attempts. A damp slab of smooth stone wasn't the easiest thing for your tiny hands to grasp, but the additional moisture apparently attracted more prey. Clutching the mason jar tighter to their chest, Bugman nods their head not once, but as many times it takes to give them a minor head rush - spurred on by the joy of having someone in their home, using the correct name it had picked out for itself years ago.

"On the count of three. 1....2....3!"

Driving your heals into the dirt, you pull upwards - lifting the stone inches off the earth floor as Bugman sets their jar amongst the grass to prepare for the scurry. Your skin crawls as you hear the pitter patter of tiny legs. It'd take a lot more than your friend's obsession with them to make you tolerate bugs, but the least you could do was making chasing them slightly easier for Bug whenever you visited.

"There's so many, Bug..." So many lives under one rock. You'd probably be more enthusiastic if a beetle hadn't made a beeline for your shoe, burrowing its way between your shoelaces as you do everything to avoid kicking the poor creature away. You might not have been the biggest fan, but that didn't mean you wanted to hurt them.

"Bugman, there's one on my-"

"I see her. Don't move, she won't hurt you." Bugman cups their hand, guiding the beetle onto their palm as you do what you're told. It strokes a finger along the insects thorax before carefully lowering it into their jar. Bugman gazes up at you once more, dipping their head in gratitude for your cooperation.

"Thank you, Y/n. On her behalf."

"What are you thanking me for, Bug?"

"You could have easily flung her off or stepped on her. I am aware we do not an interest in insects, but I appreciate your support."

"What are friends for, Bug? Besides, just because I don't like them doesn't I want them to suffer."

"Friends...."

The word sits heavy on their tongue. Soft laughter plays throughout the garden before they can ask the question that's been plaguing them for some time now. With the chirp of bugs and the flow of running water, the sound may have gone unnoticed had it not been joined by another voice. Surveying the area, a hand rises in the air from over by the water fountain - beckoning the two of you over.

"Forgive us for interrupting. Would the two of you mind joining us for a minute? We have something for you."

Exchange a glance with Bugman, all it takes is for you to take a step forward before the both of you race across the grass. Something you picked up on weeks into hanging out with Bug was how they liked to give you the lead. Two young women sit at the bench below the fountain. Both appeared to be in their early twenties. One had pink streaks in her hair while the other wore her sweater hoodie overhead. They smile at you, lowering their heads as Bugman matches up behind you. The one with the pink hair speaks first, patting the empty bench between them.

"Good afternoon. You two have been busy today, haven't you? I think I speak for all of Bug's family when I thank you for stopping by. I've never seen them smile quite like they do when they have you over."

Bugman hides their face in their turtleneck, mumbling into the thick fabric. "That's not true...."

You always found it so cool Bugman had so many siblings. It's like there's a new one every time you come over. Maybe their parents foster. You don't know much about them. The pink haired girl snorts.

"My bad! Anyway, like I said, we have a present for you. It's a gift for you both. Now before we give it to you, we have to ask. You two are friends, aren't you?"

There it is. The question Bugman had been dreading. You've called them by that title before, but there's a worry in the back of their mind that you are simply stringing them along until you find another, better friend. Did you really enjoy spending your days with the kid your other peers wrote off as strange and bizarre.

Assurance came to them in the pride of your voice as you happily announced.

"Of course! Bugman is my best friend!"

Best? The hooded girl spits a wad of chewed gum onto its wrapper, turning her body to face you fully. It's then you see a small box in her lap, filled to the brim with small beads and charms.

"That's all we needed to hear. If you two are really best friends you need what all best friends need?"

"What?" Bugman hides deeper into the neckline of their sweater as your voices overlap. You smile from ear to ear, furthering their embarrassment. The girls roll up their sleeves, presenting matching bands around each of their wrists.

"You need friendship bracelets. We'll help you make them."

"Whoa..." You march forward as the girls place the box within reach on the bench. So many beads and charms. There's even a few bug themed ones. Bugman will really like those.

"This is so cool, Bugman! If we never talk them off that means we'll be friends for life, yeah?"

"For life?.... You really want me around that long?"

"Why wouldn't I?" You stick out your pinky finger, holding it up for them to take. "We'll be best friends forever!"

Bugman stares at your outstretched finger. Picking up their confusion, you quietly whisper. "It's a promise, silly. Wrap your finger around mine and we have to keep it. Best friends forever?"

Bugman locks their finger with yours. "Forever...."

-

"....."

"Say it isn't true, Bug."

You always knew Bugman was special, but - not like this. How could they keep this from you for so long? Were they aware of this from the start? Did everything you say that day.... All plans and wishes you made together - did they mean nothing anymore?

"I apologize for not telling you sooner, Y/n. If it makes you feel better, I have already made sure that no harm will ever come to you. The being inside me is many things, but they will not go back on their word. I understand if this all is too much to bare. I do not blame you if you hate me now."

"Hate you? Hate you?" Angry tears stream down your face as you clutch their shoulders for balance. Sadness and rage quakes you to your very core. "Bugman, all I want is you! I want my best friend to be here with me. I don't want to lose you to some...some... bug god that's already been dead for centuries. This is your body, your life we're talking about here! Don't you want to be here with me too?"

It hurts. White hot, shearing pain rips through Bugman's ribcage as you sob pathetically against their chest. The air they breath is like sharp glass in their throat. What are you doing? This feeling - they've never had it before. Are they dying now? Is this what death feels like?

Bringing their arms around your shaking body is all that relieves this ache. Bugman realizes as you slam your fist against their chest that this is not death. It's heartbreak.

And it's so, so much worse.

"On the bright side, there is no telling when I will die. It could be any day now. It could be at the natural end of my lifetime. All we can do is hope for the best and relish the time we have together now."

"You better.... You better stay with me until we're both old and grey. I won't forgive you if you leave me before then."

Bugman rolls their fingers over the beads tied around your wrist. As children, you both made your bracelets slightly too big so they would follow you into adulthood. They fit perfectly now.

"I promised once that I wouldn't leave you. That is a promise I intend to keep."

[danswideslit]

slime video analysed thru horror with a queer pov

kay it gets its own post because im stil aaa bout it

This is just what I remember/was able to brush up on, since I studied this in 2019, so if anything is outdated I apologise, feel free to correct me, I love to learn!!

also I realized it has all become a lil rambly as I couldn’t contain my excitement soz

So this is my essay on the parallels of queerness in the horror genre and how DanAndPhilCRAFTS - Slime (2024) could be analysed in this light, especially given the creators’ personal history with the topic.

Among the classic tropes of the horror genre, is the topic of losing ones innocence.

Most emphasised is the loss of ones virginity, as a synonym for the innocence, although the innocence as such has many forms. As mentioned in Scream (1996), you may not survive if you have sex, if you drink/do drugs, or if you claim to “be right back” or in other ways investigate to satisfy your own curiosity.

The parallels to the christian church and societal norms are already obvious. If you deviate from the path of purity, it will lead to death and suffering. The only way to survive the night, is to stay pure. Do not be tempted by mere curiosities, for they will be the death of you, essentially.

In the same light, Baphomet is most often portrayed with characteristics from both the male and female human anatomy, and can be used as a metaphor for the inherent evil of gender expressions beyond the societal norm.

In the same light, monsters in various movies are often shown with a deviance in gender and/or sexuality. This role of ‘sexual outsider’ has, for years, been a symbolism that queer people have connected with. The has only further skewed the ‘stay pure’ narrative, as it brings on an ambience of kill or be killed. An either/or of sorts. But it has also made monsters and villains walk the line between sexy and terrifying, which naturally leads people to be enticed. We are sexual creatures afterall.

Often the monsters have an aura of masculine energy, as they make people cower, and the stereotypical jocks abandon their hardcore exterior. This, on one hand birthed the “the boyfriend is the killer” trope, but it also gave way for diving into morality, how many crimes can a villain get away with, as long as the character resonates with the audience.

This is demonstrated in Jennifers Body (2009) which was, at first, marketed to the male audience, making the monster Jennifer an attractive young woman, essentially getting the film marked as “Twilight for boys” by film critic Robert Ebert.

The ratings, however, were lackluster and claimed the movie was neither funny nor scary and thus was unsuccessful. Jennifer wasn’t “as hot as you’d hope she’d be” and essentially the “lesbians-for-the-male-gaze” marketing to boys 17+ failed. 

However, many women and young girls between 17-25 saw the character of Jennifer as empowering and resonated with the film. My theory is that the men did not like being the victim, being killed my something that they are supposed to be worse than. But the women saw a strength in the conflict between what is essentially two sides of the same existence - on one hand the rage of the injustice and gender inequality, and on the other hand Needy, who follows every character trope connected to the “last girl standing.” Except even she is tainted in the end, killing Jennifer and losing her innocence. (more talk about innocence, murder/virginity bla bla bla, okay but this essay aint about that)

All this plays a role in how the queerness of DanAndPhilCRAFTS - slime (2024) can be interpreted. Throughout all four installments of the narrative, Dan is seen being guided by Phil and scolded when he doesn’t do it right. Phil seems not at all surprised when Dans glitter face turns satanic, and by the third video, Phil hands the control over as he gives himself away.

Essentially, the indoctrination of Dans role in Phils devotion is cult-like. Cults are often hidden behind a facade of “found family” before the true behind-the-scenes terror is revealed. Dan is evidently comfortable in letting a more experienced person guide the way, despite his own hesitance. He knows that he cant do this halfway.

also the idea of Phil rising from the dead, during Easter… Jesus Christ, where would we even begin (lol)

But beyond that symbolism, It is the hesitance in Dans nature that seems to point to the “purity being tainted” horror trope. Phils devotion to Him is evident, but Dan seems more so to be devoted to Phil. A follower. Believing whatever Phil believes to be true. A Billy and Stu, Scream situation, if you will. The subtext of two lovers and the blurred lines of love and death, which has been analysed and discussed a whole while by smarter people than me. 

Dans hesitance to follow Phil guiding him to the other (queer) side. The penetrative stab and the menacing disarray of emotions on Dans face afterwards. This was anything but a selfish act, but he gave into the curiosity, he is not the last survivor, he has joined Him. This ritual was giving into love, without trying to contain, rationalise, or diminish any part of it. 

(Kind of how like dan, selfproclaimidly, would still be a ‘Daniel in denial’ if Phil hadn’t come into his life, because Phil ‘led him astray’ but he’s very okay with it and he has embraced it, and he’s happier giving in instead of fighting it?? Too far??)

[karniss-bg3]

The Tragedy of Faith

So between tumblr and twitter I've read various takes on Kar'niss and what draws people to him. For some it's the monster fucking appeal, for others it's the desire to fix a clearly broken individual. There are in-betweens and of course this is subjective and depends on the person. Act 2 spoilers ahead. Where my personal interest comes from is how good Larian communicated the tragedy of faith and what a cult can do to a person. Kar'niss is a creature that has been broken by not one God, but two. Lolth broke him physically, the Absolute broke him mentally. His entire identity has been lost to a deity to the point he raises her in his speech. Referring to her as "Majesty" and "Queen", two terms you don't really hear anyone else address her as, he has elevated her to his final savior and leader. He also often refers to himself as "we" and "us", cementing him as part of the hive mind rather than holding any individuality of his own. When he does refer to himself as "I", it's mostly to show further loyalty to the Absolute, to maintain a position of importance in his fractured mind. Cults are notorious for targeting the most vulnerable in society as they are the easiest to mold and manipulate to their doctrine. The fact that goblins are one of the main races that fall to the Absolute's influence is telling in that regard, as they are often dismissed by the other races. Kar'niss was ripe for the picking, an easy target to lure into her arms. No doubt he was found shortly after Lolth twisted him into a drider and banished him, he didn't stand a chance.

Not even taking those elements into account, Kar'niss came from a society that is infamous for cruelty and violence, especially toward males of their species. Drow greatest hits include, but are not limited to: -Killing their young if they are not aesthetically pleasing enough. In other words, ugly. -Sacrificing every third born son to Lolth.

-If a male finds the favor of two competing females, it often doesn't end well for the male. The rival woman will kill the male and chuck his dead body into his opponents bedchambers, just for the sake of being petty.

-Love and emotions of any sort are in short supply, if not outright unseen as a general rule. The nature of drow to backstab and seek to rise in the ranks makes it near impossible to be anything other than fierce and domineering.

With these things in mind, it's easy to assume that Kar'niss had a turbulent upbringing and likely suffered untold abuse from many around him. It's not to say that good or reasonable drow don't exist, it's just not commonplace in a Lolthite society. Unfortunately, the game doesn't give us a great deal to go on as far as his past. What little he reveals only happens after he's dead, and even then its really a cliffs notes version. What we do know is that his devotion is intense and unwavering. He's willing to die for the Absolute because in his mind the Absolute are the only ones who care about him. We even see fellow followers talk down to him, dismiss him, and verbally eye-roll the guy. To them, his fanaticism is over the top and they follow the same God he does.

All told, this leads me to the conclusion that Kar'niss has never, or rarely, known true compassion in his entire life. He's been used as a puppet for one deity or another, and likely mocked or cast aside even when he did everything right. It doesn't surprise me that there are folks who desire a romance option, or barring that a side venture to break him free of the Absolute's hold. We don't know if Kar'niss did terrible things in his past, or where his moral compass sits as his entire personality revolves around God. But I'd love to know, and I crave more background on him in one form or another.

I've spent too much time thinking about different paths that could happen in-game. I also understand it's incredibly unlikely he'll ever become a companion. The sheer amount of time and resources needed to give a character a satisfying arc is likely more than Larian can do with other constraints, but maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised. So Kar'niss lovers, platonic, romantic, or everything in-between...I gotchu fam. We stan the spooder bby. Someone get that man a blanket and a nice mug of hot cocoa. And a cult de-programming kit, one of those would be good.

[monstersdownthepath]

Monster Spotlight: Lorelei

CR 12

Neutral Evil Large Aberration

Bestiary 4, pg. 184

Despite looking like the result of a tragic irony involving a Medua and a polished silver shield, the Lorelei are massive aquatic carnivores that dwell on rocky outcroppings overlooking stretches of the ocean, from which they watch carefully for passing ships or swimmers. Filled with an inexplicable loathing for other living creatures--to the point they'll even strip their lairs of vegetation in fits of rage--Lorelei find joy only in causing others to suffer, and their immense lifespans are spent concocting new and gruesome ways to rid the world of hope, happiness, and life in any form besides themselves. They're noted specifically to be driven into rages at the sight of any creatures who appear to be joy-filled, and will go out of their way to torment those creatures for as long as they possibly can before finally killing them. Thankfully for everyone, their hatred extends even to their own kind; though Lorelei will not attack one another, they will never work together and rarely have the energy to actually enact any of the lengthy plots they conceive, sticking to spontaneous acts of evil and misanthropy.

It's hard to have much energy when you are, technically, a sessile organism. The book actually reveals they're actually magical sea anemones, their stony exteriors natural camouflage, and their human face is almost entirely non-functional aside from the eyes. The real mouth is located on top of its body hidden by its tentacles, and a hidden fleshy disc at the bottom of their head sticks them in place for the majority of their lives. They ARE capable of moving, but most Lorelei despise the idea of meeting other creatures even accidentally, and thus will anchor themselves on an attractive rocky shoreline and remain there for the entirety of their lives. Many stories of cursed shorelines or dangerous stony islands are the results of a Lorelei infestation, because from the perspective of anyone on a ship the Lorelei has ensorcelled, it feels more like a curse than anything else.

The soothing Murmur of a Lorelei seems to promise safety and solace and affects all creatures within 300ft of the stone anemone if they fail a DC 20 Will save, grabbing hold of their mind and causing them to move towards the thing via the most direct means they have available. Entire ship-fulls of people have leapt into dangerous waters to their deaths (if the helmsman didn't steer the ship into the rocks themselves) once hypnotized by the Murmur, as those who fail the save only receive new saves against the effect if they can clearly see potential danger in their path... a clause that makes the horror's 3/day Fog Cloud far more dangerous than it normally is, as it can hide dangerous reefs and riptides, or mask the presence of other underwater predators! Notably, though the ability states creatures will defend themselves from others if attacked, they do not defend themselves from the Lorelei and will allow the murmuring stone to rip them apart. Being hypnotized by the Murmur is thus a death sentence for anyone too close to the thing, though thankfully succeeding any saving throw against it--either the initial one or the re-trigger when entering danger--renders one immune to its effects for 24 hours, and the Lorelei can be forced to stop its murderous muttering by any effect that prevents normal creatures from speaking.

Uniquely, Murmur also affects Undead, ignoring their normal immunity to mind-affecting effects. Lorelei may despise the living, but they have a few tools to populate their desolate islands and the waters surrounding them with undead thralls, kept in check with their 3/day Command Undead, which unintelligent zombies do not get saves for. Given that a single casting lasts 12 entire days, Lorelei can decorate their lairs with whole ghost ships full of zombies should they desire, though these are typically sent off to terrorize shoreline settlements that caught the aberration's eye. The undead also make getting rid of a Lorelei a multi-step process, as even killing the anemone means there's probably sitll scores of shambling zombies, gluttonous ghouls, and tragic ghosts behind like the bones and peels left behind after a feast, forcing the party to scour the beast's rocky lairs to assure there's no further dangers.

As for what Lorelei can do in a fight, first you must ask yourself "am I going to have to look up the rules for fighting underwater again?" And the answer, unfortunately, is yes. Thankfully, if the party regularly engages seaborne threats AND has reached levels 8~12, they should have more options for fighting underwater threats than they did around level 5 or so. One would hope, anyway. If not, or if the party was ambushed because the thing hijacked the guy driving their boat with its hypnotic Murmur (or its at-will Whispering Wind and +15 to Bluff), then I hope you're prepared for every turn for the next 45 minutes to begin with "make a Swim check." Lorelei have no reason to engage land-dwelling foes on fair terms and will flee into the water the moment they have the opportunity to do so... If they don't just bring the shoreline to them using their 3/day Control Water, which at their level can affect seven 10x10 blocks of water!

Once underwater, Lorelei can create a dangerous Vortex at will that can swallow smaller ships, damage medium-sized ones, and doom anyone swimming in their waters. Anything trapped in the churning column (20ft wide and up to 80ft high) takes 2d8+9 damage each round and must fight hard to escape its pull, lest the Lorelei simply wait until they drown. The best way to make the Vortex stop is to swim down towards the stone beast creating it and whacking them until they can no longer sustain it, though this means the beast is prompted to swing its quartet of powerful tentacles. They have 10ft of space but 15ft of reach, 5 more than the average Large monster, and each tentacle deals a modest 1d8+9 damage. The real danger is the poison carried in every blow, dealing 1d4 Str damage every round for up to 4 rounds, and remember that being exposed to consecutive poison doses raises not only the DC, but the duration. The DC to resist the poison is already 25, so another failed save makes it 27 and 6 rounds, then 29 and 8 rounds, so on and so forth.

Strength may seem like a sacrifice many would be willing to make until you remember that Swim keys off Strength. To say nothing of the poor guy you've got tangling with the thing in melee to try and distract it; every point they lose is another -1 to their chance of cracking the thing's 27 AC! Thankfully, that AC is the only thing they have going for them; they have decent Fortitude and Will saves at +13 each, but a miserable +5 Reflex, and no immunities or resistances to any form of status effect. They ARE immune to Sonic and have 10 Acid resist, but this matters little to the Witch beating it unconscious with Slumber, the Monk practicing their stonecutting technique with Stunning Fist, or the Rogue finding out there's flesh and organs just underneath the rock that they can Sneak Attack. Lorlei, like many sea beasts, rely on the inherent defenses they get from fighting underwater and their superior reach to attack land-bound foes to withstand most parties.

But they DO have their Murmur. Unless the party has a Bard who remembers that Countersong exists, they're going to be starting at a disadvantage of being down between one and three party members, the ones who escape the hypnotic noise plugging the ears of those who didn't... And then there's the biggest potential problem the party can have, one that they may not even consider: After the thing is dead, how are they going to leave the island they're on? There's a very good chance (100% chance, if the DM planned it) that they're stuck on the Lorelei's rocky lair because their ship either ran aground or was destroyed by the creature's whirlpool, leaving them to figure out how to return to civilization.

Impromptu camping trip...?

You can read more about them here.

[whereserpentswalk]

There is an entity in North America that wanders the bounds of the country. Nobody has seen all of it, its too large, and no soul on earth has seen its mouth has lived. It's the size of mountains, great and dark, with dark smoke coming off its endless body. Most people who have seen it have only seen its claws, long and black, reaching dow out of the sky, or seen its body as a massive shape in the distance. And it kills sometimes. It kills sometimes.

You always know when it's coming. The other magical creatures are always the first to sense it. Ghosts and spirits return to their realms and practitioners find their gods and devils quiet, cryptids migrate to lands they rarely see, things that can appear human have sudden business trips, and even the last dragons in the forests of the west know to fly away. Then the birds go, and the rats if they can, and the cats seem nervous. Then it comes. You always see it's shadow first, and hear it before anything else.

Every now and than it'll go somewhere, perhaps a dying mall, perhaps a small backwater town somewhere in the mountains, ever so often it's seen in Detroit or a similarly dying city, and even on occasion it may visit the South Bronx or Sckid Row. It will play it's little game, destroying a block or two of buildings, crushing some souls, or grabbing some to take into it's mouth. Useally it's deaths number in the hundreds. And then it will disappear. When it leaves it leaves ruins and death, children without parents, businesses ruined whose workers will be left to starve, bodies left bloody on the street, dead or forever disabled, half eaten and half crushed. There are lakes of blood, and dams of rubble.

It has a deal with the leaders of America, the businessmen, the politicians, the clergymen, that it will never kill what they care about, never them, never where they live, never what makes them money. But other than that it's free to kill, and nobody will say they can stop it. But they've made sure it knows that it's destruction will only ever reach a certain kind of community. The creature often leaves residue, it's shed scales are made of a valuable material, and the oil it leaves in its path can be harnessed. And many who've made deals with it wouldn't mind if it oh so tragically crushed a town or neighborhood where they could build a new more lucrative community, or perhaps just another mall. And so it goes. And so the creature cannot be stopped. Not for that the bombs won't hurt it, but simply that the bombs won't fall.

[kiy-anna]

Am I Feeling Love?

Part 1 (You Are Here) Part 2 Part 3a Part 3b

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: From the moment Azul Ashengrotto heard of soulmates as a small child, he had a vision of a beautiful life with someone who was meant for him - regardless of what he was or would become…

Word count: 5.3k+

Warnings: Some Yandere elements

Notes: I wanted to thank @yanderloversworld on tumblr for the yandere!Azul w/ Soulmate S/O headcanons/backstory that I saw for inspiring this piece. I’ve never written anything like this before, but I wanted to give my hand at it - especially since it involves my favorite cecaelia character from twisted Wonderland. You can check it out here: https://www.tumblr.com/yandereloversworld/718766985773760512/yanazul-with-a-soulmate-so?source=share

The two songs used to inspire this story:

Am I Feeling Love? (The Thief and the Cobbler/Arabian Knight Soundtrack): https://youtu.be/NXYnClTZ4QY

One Day She'll Love Me (The Emperor's New Groove Soundtrack): https://youtu.be/8Sv3ECj7PdY

***I have an update! Part 2 now Available to read on my side blog @ashensgrotto***

***

I close my eyes and see his eyes

So soft and warm and clear

I dream awake of holding her

I dream that she’s right here

I sense in all his silences

More than his words could say

‘Don’t fight your feelings’ says my heart

A heart I will obey

***

“Azul… we need to talk.”

The sound of his mother’s broken voice pulled Azul’s attention to the larger cecaelia as all eight of his tiny tentacles stilled, each and every one of his appendages dropping an assortment of books, quills, and shells to the grotto’s floor as the silver-lavender haired boy looked upon his mother. The typically confident cecaelian now appeared scared and upset; her pale baby blue eyes were wide with worry and her ruby lips were set in a straight line - her heavy-set body swayed with the current that entered their home while her black-colored tentacles fidgeted nervously, the lavender underbelly of each appendage curling into itself repeatedly before releasing its grip on emptiness.

Azul stood, his own appendages curling inward, “Can this wait, momma? I’m very busy at the moment-”

“I’m afraid it can’t, baby,” his mother entered his room before perching herself on his bed, tapping the seafoam cushion, “come here.”

Azul sat beside his mother, looking down at his hands before looking up at his mother, who watched him with interest.

“Zully… the neighbors have told me they’ve seen you sneaking out at night,” his mother spoke quietly, “and it has been apparently going on for a while - without my knowledge. You and I both know that night is a terrible time to be going out, especially alone - you’re smart enough to know that you could’ve been seriously injured or killed by the creatures that lurk just beyond the reef of our city. Do you know how heartbroken I would be if I lost you?”

“I know, momma… but, I promise I have a good reason!”

“What good reason would you have for sneaking out in the middle of the night?”

“My soulmate.”

His mother looked taken back, her hand reaching to clutch the Nautilus shell necklace that rested on her collarbones as her already wide eyes widened further, “...S-Soulmate?”

“Yes!” Azul’s powder-blue eyes sparkled like gems in a treasure chest as a huge grin spread across his features, “I overheard some of the merkids talking about them at school a few weeks ago - o-of course I had initially thought they were talking about me, since I seem to come up in conversation here and there… but still! Oh, momma! To know that there’s someone out there that is literally MEANT to be WITH ME! Me! Azul Ashengrotto!”

“Zully, now wait a minute-”

“At first the concept did fascinate me,” Azul continued, slowly standing and moving to the opposite end of his room while ignoring his mother’s words, “and what intrigued me more than anything was that my soulmate would love and cherish every last thing about me - not the way the other merkids see me as; a pathetic, fat… ugly crying octopus fry that can’t even excel in studies or athletics. The silly little octo-twerp that’s an ink spiller.”

“Zully, you know that’s not-”

“But you know what momma? Thinking about my soulmate has made the days so much easier, even when I’m getting bullied - I think about them seeing what those other merkids are doing and they put a stop to it, saying things like, ‘Leave Azul alone! He’s not a pathetic little octo-twerp!’” Azul turned to his mother again, his tentacles writhing with excitement, “So, to be ready to meet them, I’ve been working to increase my knowledge - I want to be so powerful like the great Sea Witch herself that my soulmate will know who I am by sight alone! I’ve studied every book I could get my hands on and have memorized every single potion recipe there is available - even learning how to improve its effects and prolong them even! I’ve even studied every law text there is in the Atlantica public library - I have every law memorized word for word.”

His mother sighed, running a hand through her silvery locks, the motions creating little bubbles that appeared as she let out a sigh, “Azul, there’s something you should know-”

“As for the sneaking out,” Azul continued, throwing his hands behind his back as his fingers twisted together while he rocked back and forth on the edges of his eight appendages, “I was searching for my soulmate. I don’t know if they are here in the Coral Sea or not-”

“Azul, please listen to me-”

“But I wanted to see if I could find them. The first few nights after learning about their existence, I was having trouble sleeping - so I started doing a short swim to clear my head. I promise I wasn’t going too far away from the house! However, on those walks, it got me thinking that maybe instead of sleeping, I should be searching for them. There was no better use of my time than to strive for a better life with someone who must sense my loneliness like I sensed theirs…”

“...If they weren’t so rare, baby.”

Azul snapped to attention, his eyes wide, “W-What?”

His mother rested one hand on her knees while the other rubbed at her forehead, “Zully, I know and understand your longing to belong and to have a friend - trust me, I’ve been there. However, you can’t fixate on a single being that you hope to encounter at some point in your life. Finding that so-called ‘other half’ is like - well - like the story of the mermaid princess and her longing to be with a human. It’s a rare occurrence that only happens once in a millennium if not longer. Many times, people - humans, fae, and merfolk alike - often settle for someone they are content and happy with, someone that isn’t their other half.”

Azul stared in shock, inky tears threatening to spill down his chubby cheeks, as his hands balled into fists, “No! No! That isn’t true! What about you and daddy when he was alive?! Both of you were soulmates!”

“No we weren’t… At least, I don’t think we were,” Azul’s mother came forward, resting a hand gingerly on her son’s shoulder, “Anyone can be happy with or without their soulmate, Azul. There’s no reason you should go to such lengths to be with someone who may not even exist. You may not even meet them in this lifetime, either…”

“THAT’S NOT TRUE!” Azul pushed her away, anger bubbling up as his tentacles writhed in anger, his vision becoming blurry as ink spilled down his face as he snapped at his mother and guardian, “HOW DARE YOU!? You DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT the CONNECTION BETWEEN SOULMATES! THEY FEEL AS I FEEL! THAT CONNECTION IS WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE!! An UNBREAKABLE BOND that CAN NEVER BE SEVERED!! And how DARE you CHEAT on your OWN SOULMATE!”

“Azul! Now wait a minute!” his mother raised her voice, “I’ve been around the bend a few more times than you have and know about these sorts of things. I WILL NOT ALLOW this behavior to continue in my house!”

“Fine! Then I’ll leave!”

“Azul! Where are you going?! Azul!!”

But the little cecaelia was gone, swimming as fast as he could away from his mother’s typically loving embrace. 

‘How could she?!’ he mind was running as he sped up to get further and further away from his home, ‘How could she say that? Why momma… why?!’

He was sniffing hard when he arrived at his hidden octopot, big ugly fat tears of black rolling down his chubby cheeks while mucus dribbled down his nose, running into his open mouth as he gasped out big grotesque sobs. He pulled himself along enough to climb into the pot, his appendages pulling him into the confined space as comfort slowly surrounded his shaking form. One tentacle came forward, wiping at the tears in his eyes as Azul allowed his hearts to calm down. 

He wrapped his arms around himself as he looked out into the darkness of the Coral Sea; the pale moonlight reflected off the caverns that surround Azul’s hiding spot, the water growing colder and colder with each passing hour as several sea creatures passed over - not that Azul noticed though. Normally, he would have been interested in what creatures came out at night - but the words his mother spoke forced a jolt of pain on all three of his hearts.

“You can’t fixate on a single being that you hope to encounter at some point in your life,” her words echoed in his mind over and over, “Finding that so-called ‘other half’ is like - well - like the story of the mermaid princess and her longing to be with a human. It’s a rare occurrence that only happens once in a millennium if not longer. Anyone can be happy with or without their soulmate, Azul. There’s no reason you should go to such lengths to be with someone who may not even exist…”

‘What if she’s right?’ he thought, his tentacles tightening around his body, ‘What if I never find them? What if they think the same way she does? What if… what if they’ve already been taken from me?!’

His eyes narrowed as a darkness slowly filled them, glaring out into the cruel twisted world from the darkness of his octopot. No, even if his soulmate was already claimed he would’ve known - he would know if they were, he’d felt it; the tangling of another soul within his if his other half were to be mated to another without his consent. However, that hadn’t happened yet.

…for now.

Azul curled deeper into himself, his thoughts growing darker and darker as he made plans to continue his search for his other half; his beloved soulmate. He wouldn’t give up the search, even if he died trying. He wanted to see them; see what they looked like and to hear their sweet voice, to feel a sense of belonging… to protect what was rightfully his.

***

I'd never imagined before that the world could be turned on its head

I'd never have thought to be here in this place

I'd never have dreamt that in love I'd be lost and so easily led

I guess I was caught by that hint of a smile on her face

***

“Azul-chan, are we almost finished here?” a figure on the cecaelian’s left muttered, “I’m bored.”

“Floyd,” the figure on Azul’s right spoke up, murmuring and pressing a finger to his lips, “There are still some students that need to be housed. Just be a little bit more patient.”

“Speaking of which,” Azul eyed the two carefully, “Any news from our sources, Jade?”

“It’s rather difficult to track down something when we ourselves don’t know what we’re looking for,” the second figure - Jade - answered softly, “A description usually helps in these circumstances, Azul.”

“Perhaps,” the cecaelian shrugged indifferently, “however, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what I’m looking for, myself.”

The two second-in-commands looked at each other, confusion crossing their features.

Ten years had passed slowly since that terrible day when Azul’s mother planted the first seeds of doubt into her son’s head, her chiding and the doubts never leaving him completely. However, that did not stop him from continuing his search for his other half - exhausting himself beyond belief. By the time Azul was twelve - nearly five years following his discovery of the existence of soulmates - he had searched every crevice of the Coral Sea with no luck; it was also around this time that he met the Leech twins - Floyd and Jade. 

Jade was the oldest of the two by a few minutes and was very resourceful as well as very soft-spoke and courteous; his younger brother, Floyd, on the other hand was unpredictable due to his mood swings - he could be interested in one thing one minute and grow bored of it the next. The two moray mers had come across Azul during his younger days when they were in the same class together, watching with awe as his eight appendages hovered about his hidden grotto, writing inscriptions on shells and flipping through pages of grimoires. Originally, they weren’t sure what to make of him, but now that they knew about his capabilities from stories they heard about someone granting wishes for a price - the two were now invested in keeping Azul close to their sides.

And vice versa.

Eventually, the question of why he was doing it came up; Azul took the time to explain the story about how he had first learned about soulmates and how he had been searching the past five years for his, eventually coming to the conclusion that his other half was nowhere in the Coral Sea.

“I have searched every nook and cranny of these waters and have yet to find them,” Azul explained, pouring ingredients into a cauldron as he spoke, “Thus, I’m ‘using my resources’ to spread out the search for my other half.”

“So, some of your deals include gathering any information about a particular person whom you’ve never met nor spoken to?” Jade asked, very intrigued by Azul’s train of thought.

“Hah… sound boring,” Floyd chimed in, reclining atop of one of the rocks in the grotto.

“It’s more interesting than it sounds,” Azul answered, popping a cork off a bottle and dumping the contents into the cauldron as the liquid turned from pale pink to eerie green, “besides, the sooner I find them, the better off they’ll be. However, the problem here lies that if they’re not in the Coral Sea - then where are they?”

Neither of the twins could supply an answer.

It was also around this time that Azul’s appearance had also changed. Baby fat melted and hardened into muscle while his gut and belly dissolved into toned skin, chubby cheeks evolved into high cheekbones; his face sharpening into arched brows, thin lips, and a pointed nose - though his eyes, now filled with knowledge and pride, remained the same. Gone was - in Azul’s opinion - the fat crying octo-twerp of his youth as a handsome, defined sea witch stood in his place; a perfect figure that his soulmate would be proud of once they set sights on him.

The dramatic weight-loss and muscle built scared, not only Jade and Floyd, but also his own mother - whom he did speak to on seldom occasions due to her connections as the owner of the Atlantica Grotto Bistro, which was slowly becoming a local hot spot and where Azul worked full time as a waiter and assistant manager. It was also where he would lure unsuspecting victims - mainly those from his youth or clients with means - into signing his newly-perfected golden contracts, sealing their powers away for his own in exchange for whatever it was that they wished for. Of course, Azul’s mother never suspected a thing about her son’s side business - now a bit preoccupied with the courtship of an older squid mer who had slowly made a presence in her life as well as teaching Azul the fundamentals of building his own business.

When Azul, Jade, and Floyd reached the age of sixteen, they were invited to attend Night Raven College - a boys’ prestigious school for young mages. Azul’s mother had been proud of Azul’s accomplishment and Azul, himself, was secretly thankful that he would be given the chance to explore a different world versus hearing things through the grape vines from his sources. It was during his first year of attending that he made a name for himself, following practically in his mother’s and the Sea Witch’s footsteps; he was now the headwarden and the owner of the Mostro Lounge that his dorm - Octavinelle - operated on the school property. He also was the student others went to when they needed help or had a wish that only he could grant. Jade and Floyd both helped as well, taking his place into luring potential clients into his clutches.

Now, the three of them were entering their second year at NRC - and Azul was barely hanging on by a thread. For the past year on land - thanks to the potion he created that would allow himself, Jade, and Floyd to attend the school as humans - Azul had used his network of informants to extend his search for his other half.

He never forgot the promise he made to continue his search for his soulmate - the contracts were just a starting point to his grand scheme for searching for the person who would love and cherish him as no other could. By building a name for himself, Azul essentially had been given enough money to spend as much as he pleased for information about any leads and his extensive network of informants were at his beck-and-call should he need them to snoop out any potential tips he heard. He had cleared out both Harveston during winter break the previous year and the Queendom of Roses as well as the Shaftlands the previous summer before he was summoned to return to Night Raven. Sunset Savanna would be next on his list during the winter break this year and he would attempt Briar Valley over the summer.

But even that wasn't soon enough it seemed.

Azul’s spirit was practically crying out with each failed search, lead, and tip - nearly to the point that his soul was exhausted and he found himself hearing his mother’s chiding words in his inner ear again. But he was stubborn - incredibly so; and he made plans before leaving his home city again to extend any knowledge to him from outside the school’s barriers.

Azul sighed as the last first year was placed into their dorm, forcing a smile as he addressed his new students, crossing his arms over his chest, "New students! I congratulate you on your achievement. As the dorm head of Octavinelle, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience.”

"Hey, does anyone know where the headmage went?" Azul arched his brow as the dorm head of Pomefiore, Vil Schoenheit, spoke, “He disappeared midway through the ceremony…”

"Some headmage he is," Idia Shroud, the head of Ignihyde, grumbled from his tablet that hovered in the chamber.

"Maybe he had a tummy ache?" the ever naive dorm head of Scarabia - Kalim Al-Asim - asked with a shrug.

The doors burst open as the head mage himself appeared, shouting, "I most certainly did not!"

"Ah, speak of the devil," Riddle Rosehearts, the dorm head of Heartslabyul, grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"If you must know," the headmage continued, pulling a cloaked figure along with him, their slender wrist tight in his grasp, "I was searching for the new student who failed to show for orientation. Come along, you are the only one who hasn't been assigned to a dorm - step up to the dark mirror and be quick about it. I'll hold onto your weasel."

Azul watched as the headmage pulled the figure along, causing them to stumble slightly, before he released them. The cloaked figure lifted their head, taking a tentative step towards the mirror as the headmage held tightly onto another being - a little gray cat creature with burning fire in his ears with eyes wider than saucer plates. Something about the shy figure had drawn Azul utmost attention as they stood before the dark mirror.

“State your name,” the mirror spoke, its voice deep and dark.

“I’m (Y/N),” you spoke, so quiet that everyone had to strain to hear them.

“(Y/N)... The nature of your soul is…” the dark mirror hesitated, narrowing its pitch-black eyes before announcing, “...unclear to me.”

“What did you just say?” the headmage crossed his arms over his chest as a murmur rippled through the crowd.

“I sense no magical power from this one,” the dark mirror answered, voice grim, “Soundless. Colorless. Shapeless. Utterly vacant… Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate.”

With his final answer, the headmage let out a cry, “Are you suggesting the black carriage went to recieve a person who cannot even use magic?! That is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence!”

As head headmage continued to squawk in surprise, Azul nearly felt his heart stop in his chest when you looked in his direction.

As soon as your eyes locked with his, Azul knew.

His soulmate was here.

You were a pretty (h/c) with tints of (f/c) weaved into locks that framed your soft features hidden under the black and gold hood of the ceremonial robe you wore, the exotic eyes of (e/c) filled with wonder and surprise - with an underlying hint of fear, likely due to the shock of being called ‘abnormal’ by a piece of looking-glass. You looked about a few inches shorter than him - a perfect height for him to rest his chin upon your head - as a pleasant pink painted your cheeks, turning them into red delicious apples that tempted Azul to take a bite, and your jaw dropped slightly, lips parting with surprise. 

Azul knew that you could feel the strong connection between your two souls - the pull he had searched the past decade for finally presenting itself in the shape of you. He found himself unable to look away, staring at you with quiet longing and lovestruck clearly written across his features.

“Azul?” Jade snickered, “What is-”

“I think octy just found what he was lookin’ for, Jade,” Floyd snickered, his eyes shifting between the startled first-year and their lovestruck boss.

“I quite agree,” Jade’s voice came out sickly smooth as his eyes shifted between the three of them, “this has just gotten interesting…”

Azul hardly noticed though the twins’ snickers in his ears, his thoughts were already running wild with ideas of how he wanted to spoil you - his found other half, his precious mate. 

The problem now was that you were a non-magic user and a female to boot - nevermind that you had just been put on display like an exotic animal. The whispers that echoed in the chamber forced you to look away from the lovestruck second-year, your body quivering with fear and unease as he himself was brought back to reality.

‘How DARE they insult her while in my presence?’ Azul felt a growl bubble up in the back of his throat, his pale blues shifting from the crowd to his mate to the headmage and back again as his hands curled into fists under the sleeves of his cloak, ‘And how DARE the dark mirror put (Y/N) in this situation!’

“Headwardens,” the headmage’s voice echoed in the chamber, silencing every whisper as he took control of the situation, “please escort your students back to the dorms as the orientation is now complete.”

“What about (Y/N)?” the voice of Coach Vargas spoke up, “Surely you are not expecting someone like her to remain here?”

‘And you’re first on the list of people who will suffer my wrath for saying something so hostile to my mate,’ Azul thought, thinking of what the best way would be to attack the coach indirectly.

“This is a most unfortunate turn of events, yes,” the headmage agreed, tapping his chin in thought, “Due to you being female and that you are a non-magic user, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to attend Night Raven College. You seem like an amicable young lady, however this is an all-boy’s school and I cannot admit a student - male or female - with no magical ability. But fear not, the dark mirror will see you safely home.”

‘NO! You CAN’T!’ Azul was barely holding himself together at this point - he had just found his soulmate and now the world wanted the two of them to be separated forever?! He would not allow it! 

Before he could act on impulse, the mirror’s deep voice echoed in the chamber, “There is no such place.”

“What?!” Crowley squawked again as murmurs rose from the crowd yet again.

“There is no place in this world where this soul belongs,” the dark mirror answered again, “None.”

“H-How can that be?!” Crowley asked, his hands shaking with an inner rage, “My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena! This has never happened throughout my long tenure. I must confess I am at something of a loss.”

Azul could sense the sadness radiating from his mate as well. Were you disappointed that you couldn’t return from wherever you had come from? And if so, why would you want to go back if now you knew of his existence?

Perhaps a little persuasion was needed…

Azul smiled darkly, before taking a step forward, clearing his throat, “Headmage Crowley, I understand that all of us are at a loss of what to do with our strange guest - however, may I offer a solution to our little problem?”

“Master Ashengrotto,” Headmage Crowley crossed his arms over his chest, “I’m not certain what you mean. We must send (Y/N) back to where they came from.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Azul countered, shrugging while keeping his eyes trained on the headmage while he faked a painful look, “It is easy to return us to our homes, but we have no idea where she comes from - or if we can even get her back.”

“T-There must be a way though… right?” you spoke up, your eyes pleading with Azul’s.

“I hate to agree with Azul, but he’s right,” a tan-skinned, dark-haired figure spoke up, “If this herbivore is from another world entirely, the chances of getting them back are slim to none.”

“Leona is quite right on the money with that one,” Vil answered with a nod.

Azul smiled, knowing that the ripples of shock and disbelief were now falling onto the headmage for being incompetent in dealing with this matter. He couldn’t turn (Y/N) away now that Azul had spoken up with two additional dorm heads also taking his side.

“What do you propose then?” Headmage Crowley asked, eyeing the headwarden of Octavinelle uneasily.

“Octavinelle, as I’m sure you remember, has plenty of rooms for rent,” Azul answered, turning to (Y/N) with a reassuring smile, “As the dorm head, I will gladly take (Y/N) into my dorm where she can stay during her time here. If she’s agreeable, she can work within the Mostro Lounge to pay for a place to sleep and to have food in her belly.”

“I’m not sure, Master Ashengrotto…” Crowley spoke, rubbing his chin with a clawed gloved hand, “a single woman in a dorm filled with boys is highly improper…”

“Improper would be the term used for the predicament your so-called black carriage put you in,” Azul snipped, his eyes flashing dangerously at the headmage, “Besides - the rooms we rent are on the opposite side of the aquarium in our dorm, quite a ways away from the rooms the dorm members reside in for that particular purpose. We also have security within our dorm and I’m usually the one to deal with matters of… problematic nature.”

“Perhaps, however-”

“Consider it one less problem on your plate as well. If (Y/N) is brought to my dorm, I will take full responsibility for her - and I might be able to find a way to get her home in the process as well.”

“You what?” your eyes widen with hope, your hand reaching out and clasping the edge of his robe.

“I have an endless network of resources at my disposal, my dear - I can likely find you a quicker way to get home than you can with anyone else here,” Azul answered confidently, thinking, ‘Though you won’t know that since I found you. I’ve searched high and low for you, I’ll be damned if I let you slip from my grasp so easily.’

“Very well then,” Headmage Crowley let out a sigh, “(Y/N), are you agreeable with staying with the Octavinelle dorm and working at the Mostro Lounge until Master Ashengrotto can find a way to return you to your world?”

“Of course! Thank you so much, Mr. Ashengrotto!” you beamed with joy.

“Azul,” the dorm head answered with a nod, “please, call me Azul.”

“Azul, then.”

The human-cecaelian smiled sweetly at his soulmate and offered an arm out, his hearts practically bursting with joy when you slipped your own arm through his - the two of you now link together via soul and side by side.

***

Azul brought you to the Octavinelle’s renting dorm after ordering Jade and Floyd to start the welcoming party for the first years as well as to get them ready for tomorrow night.

“Do what you need to do,” Azul smiled at the two.

“Of course.”

“You got it, boss!”

When the two of them were out of earshot, you looked up at Azul, “Thank you so much for your help back there. I wasn’t certain what was going to happen if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“Likely the headmage would have thrown you out of the college and left you to fend for yourself,” Azul smiled, “but I, on the other hand, would never allow something so pitifully disgusting happen to you.”

You giggled, the sound pulling on Azul’s heartstrings.

‘She’s here, she’s real,’ his thoughts quickened as the two continued their leisurely pace, ‘I knew that she was real, that she and I would meet. It will only be a matter of time now - once she confesses her feelings for me, I will make her mine.’

The two stopped outside one of the doors, Azul pulled out a key ring and unlocked it before ushering his soulmate inside.

“You can stay here,” Azul answered, peering around and wishing that it was cleaner than it was now, “There’s spare blankets in the closet in case you get cold during the night and fresh towels in the bathroom. I’ll have Jade or Floyd bring you a spare pair of clothing since you’ve brought nothing with you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“I insist,” Azul answered, “What sort of host would I be if I didn’t provide the best service?”

You giggled again, your smile even wider, “Well, thank you again Azul.”

Each time you spoke his name, Azul’s heart gave a leap of joy. 

He coughed, blushing slightly, “W-Well then, should you need anything during your time here, just let me know.”

“Of course, but - may I ask a question?”

“You already have,” Azul  snickered at you.

Your pout was adorable that Azul burst into laughter before you asked, “Why were you willing to help me? A complete stranger?”

“I have a gift for sensing someone in need,” Azul answered, his grin spreading wider over his features, “I have helped many poor unfortunate souls in my short lifetime and intend on continuing to offer my services in exchange for something.”

“What sort of payment?”

“Depends - but it isn’t something you should worry about. I like to keep a few things in my personal life private - regardless of my relationships with other people.”

“Of course, I can respect that.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Azul reached out, pushing the hood down and stroking your  soft hair gently, “Why don’t you rest now? I have to attend the welcome party for the new students and make sure no one is destroying anything in my absence. I will have Jade or Floyd bring you something to eat in a little bit along with that fresh change of clothes. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss our contract.”

“Contract?”

“I always have my employees sign a business contract before they begin work - regardless how long they work in the lounge for,” Azul answered, “It helps to have things in writing when dealing with problems later down the road.”

With a nod, you grinned, “Thank you again, Azul-san.”

The cecaelia couldn’t help himself as he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to your forehead before pulling away and leaving his other half to stare at him in shock and surprise. 

When the door clicked behind him, Azul pulled the keyring out and locked the door to prevent anyone from entering and you from leaving. His eyes gleamed menacingly in the low light as a black gloved hand stroked the doorframe gently.

‘At last… you’re here with me, my precious pearl. Forgive me, but now that I have seen you… I can never let you go…’

[fenharelsfang]

The Wolf's Heart (1/5)

The world was awash in a sea of blood, a crimson tide of red lyrium, the Blight, and the shadow of the forced solar eclipse. The smell of smoke and rotting flesh choked the air. People screamed in the city below the Archon’s palace. Darkspawn and other unholy creatures of the Blight stalked the streets, slaughtering anything in their path. Malevolent spirits flocked to the weakening Veil like moths to a flame, possessing any mage desperate enough to invite them in. The fear of death was a very strong motivator. In the sky, a monstrous Archdemon and a six-eyed wolf the size of a dragon fought a battle that shook the very heavens. Meanwhile, a swarm of Antaam soldiers and Venatori agents stormed the city and marched against the makeshift army of Grey Wardens, Veil Jumpers, Lords of Fortune, Antivan Crows, Mourn Watchers, Shadow Dragons, and Inquisition agents, all led by Rook, the man who inadvertently started these unfortunate chain of events.

All was not lost, though. They had successfully defeated and killed Ghilan’nain and now only Elgar’nan stood in the way. Well, Elgar’nan and Solas.

“Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me,” said Rook. He and the rest of the faction leaders were gathered around a grand oak table discussing their next steps. Neve Gallus, recently freed from Elgar’nan’s clutches, revealed to them that once the tyrannical god was defeated, the last of the Veil’s bindings would unravel and it would come crashing down. “Tearing down the Veil has been his goal since the very beginning. He already betrayed me once. It’s his whole schtick.”

“I’m still blown away by the fact that archdemons are just dragons bound to a bunch of magical elves and there were two of them flying around out here,” Warden-Commander Cousland remarked with a whistle. The effects of being a Grey Warden for the past twenty years had taken its toll on her. Her once rich auburn hair had dulled to light grey and dark purple bags sagged under her eyes. She was close to her Calling. The song of the Blight was getting difficult to block out. All those years of searching for a way to free Grey Wardens from their burden amounted to nothing. This last ditch effort to seal the Blight behind the Veil was her only salvation. She prayed it would be enough to quell the corruption in her blood. Once done, perhaps she could finally go home to her beloved King for good and enjoy their twilight years in peace. “And I thought my Blight was bad.”

“... I think I preferred Corypheus,” Hawke confessed, face ashen. She was still haunted by the horror the red lyrium she unearthed had unleashed. Now Varric was dead and Solas used blood magic to trick Rook into thinking he wasn’t. That was sick and twisted. The tale of the Evanuris needed to end and she’d be there to write that final chapter. It would end with their death.

“If anyone can stop Elgar’nan and Solas, it is the individuals gathered here,” Morrigan proclaimed with an air of confidence. She had met each of these heroes, these paragons of light and hope, and helped steer the tides of fate so that they would succeed.

“We know how to beat Elgar’nan,” Rook said. “Solas will take care of his archdemon and, when he does, we’ll throw everything we have at him. It’s what happens after that concerns me.” He looked to Neve, her blood-red eyes sending a shiver down his spine. Ugly black veins pulsed at her temples and black blood dribbled down her chin. She was inexplicably connected to the Blight now, able to feel it and, to some extent, control it. “We need a plan to stop the Veil from falling.”

“The Veil is tied to the ancient elven gods,” Morrigan said. “‘Twill not be a simple matter to find a suitable tether once they are gone.”

“Then let’s tie it to Solas,” Rook suggested. “He’s an elven god and the only one that will be left.”

Inquisitor Ellana Lavellan, standing further down the table next to Morrigan and Dorian, clenched her jaw at the suggestion. Rook didn’t speak highly of the Dread Wolf. It was understandable, really. He had been used and betrayed. Varric was gone, truly gone, and now Harding was lost as well. She could see vengeance coiling around his heart like a viper. That same righteous anger radiated off of Hawke as well. It was horrible, but she … she wanted to defend him! This wasn’t the Solas she knew, the one she fell in love with. They hadn’t seen the softer shades of him: his kindness towards those who were hurting or the way he lit up like a delighted child when speaking about the Fade. He wasn’t so different from them. He had his virtues and vices, his quirks. They didn’t know the elf who detested the taste of tea, the elf who painted beautiful murals on the walls, who could play chess in his head, who had a secret love of romance novels and music. Only she had that privilege. Everyone else who knew the truth of him was gone.

Solas, what have you done?

“You are correct,” Morrigan continued, pulling Ellana out of her troubled thoughts, “but you will need to draw his blood with the lyrium dagger to bind him and I doubt he will approve of the idea.”

Rook smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I can be very persuasive.” A sigh. “But it will be risky.”

Emmrich cleared his throat. “What about this dagger we made while you were trapped in the Fade?” he suggested, sliding the fake dagger across the table. It was nearly identical to the ritual dagger strapped to Rook’s side. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands. There were no reverberations of magic threaded through it like the real one. “Odds are,” Emmrich continued, “Solas will need to do something else to complete his ritual. This dagger looks identical, but–”

“It can’t cut through enchantments like the real thing,” Rook finished.

“The backlash of such magic will render him helpless,” Morrigan remarked, glancing briefly at Ellana.

Taash stepped forward. “Uh, are you sure you want to try a bait-and-switch on the Dread Wolf? You know, the god of lies and trickery?”

The leaders gathered around the table all seemed sold on that idea. Trick the trickster. Poetic justice. Ellana had been quiet for too long. She may have been speaking to the void, but her words needed to be heard. “Is there a chance, any chance at all, that he’ll listen to reason?”

“Speaking from the heart, Inquisitor?” Morrigan asked. Her smile was sad, sympathetic to the Inquisitor’s plight.

“How could I not?” Ellana protested. “None of you know him as I do. Well, perhaps you do, Morrigan, sort of. The rest of you don’t. You’ve only ever seen the Dread Wolf. I’ve seen the man beneath all of that. If given the chance–”

“We’ve given him plenty of chances,” Rook said. “And he wasted them at every turn.”

“Not every turn,” Lavellan argued. “He saved you and the Dalish elves from Elgar’nan. Even though he was free from that Fade prison, he still worked with the Shadow Dragons and helped protect them from the Blight. He wants to help. It’s all he’s ever wanted to do. His heart has never been in this plan to tear down the Veil. He just … he feels like he has to do this to make up for everything that happened in the past. Everything that he did for her, for Mythal. If I can talk to him–”

“Varric tried to talk to him,” Rook said. “He died for it.”

Ellana’s heart was a stone in her chest. Her throat tightened and she closed her eyes. “I know.”

“You already tried to talk him out of it before and he took your arm for it.”

Her fists clenched and her bottom lip trembled. “I know.”

“This isn’t a fairytale, Inquisitor. You can’t solve this with the ‘power of love’.” Rook struck the table with his fist, startling Ellana so that she opened her eyes to meet his fiery gaze. “He’s too stuck in his ways. He can’t change. Actually, it’s not even that – he won’t change. Not for you. Not for anyone.”

“Rook,” Bellara said, resting a gentle hand on his arm. “That’s enough.” She had been watching the Inquisitor slowly crumble under Rook’s words and it hurt. Ellana’s struggle to save the man she loved mirrored her own trials with Cyrian. In the end, he redeemed himself, though he paid the ultimate price for it. Bellara didn’t know the Inquisitor well, but she didn’t wish that same fate on her.

Ellana glared at Rook with angry, tear-filled eyes, but she said nothing. They were good points, she wasn’t going to deny it. It infuriated her all the same. She wanted to see Solas. Ten long years she had gone without him and she needed to see him to know for sure that he was too far gone to be brought back. From what she heard, he wasn’t. He couldn’t be. She had hope that she could reach him, she just needed one more chance.

“You have options,” Morrigan interjected. “And you can make your choice when the time comes. For now, we have Elgar’nan to deal with.”

“Right,” Rook said. He let out a slow breath to simmer the boiling anger inside of him and rubbed the back of his tense, aching neck. The Inquisitor was a legend. She saved the world from a darkspawn magister and his archdemon. Thedas owed her a great debt. He never imagined someone so powerful, who made choices that determined the fate of the world could be so naive. He noticed how young she looked and began to think that maybe it wasn’t the fact that she was an elf. “Elgar’nan is in the Archon’s palace above us. We’ll all climb the tendril as soon as the archdemon is taken care of. Stock up on supplies and say your goodbyes. It’s time to end this nightmare.”

Rook was the first to leave, stalking off to check in with the faction leaders to get an update on their forces. Warden-Commander Cousland followed Davrin, no doubt burning with questions about a living, breathing griffon at his heels. Hawke disappeared into the next room to meet up with Isabela. It had been years since they’d seen each other. Most of the other members of the Veilguard left to their own factions to say goodbye to the friends and family they had made over the years. Many of these people would not be returning after this battle. Already their numbers had thinned in the first assault on the city.

Ellana meandered over to the fireplace. Morrigan watched her for a moment, poised as if ready to say something, but then thought better of it. She gripped the amulet around her neck, a sending stone, and left to a far corner to update her son on the situation. Kieran was safe, as safe as he could be with the world ending as it was. He wanted to join her, but this was a mission she needed to undertake on her own. Besides, if Elgar’nan had the power to sense the soul bound within Kieran …

Dorian joined Ellana by the fireplace. He noticed her biting her thumbnail, tapping her foot restlessly against the stone floor. Tears still shone in her eyes.

“You still love him, do you?” he asked. “After all these years?”

Ellana closed her eyes and lowered her hand. “I will always love him. He’s who I belong with.”

Dorian sighed. He reached out an arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. “What am I going to do with you?”

They stood there for a while, staring into the fire, each consumed by their own thoughts. Ellana leaned her head against Dorian’s shoulder. She had missed him. Even with the sending stones, being so far away from him was difficult. He was her rock. When everything was falling apart, he had been there for her. The Inquisition disbanding, Solas leaving her that fateful night in Crestwood and then again after defeating Corypheus, her clan exiling her when she told them the truth about the Dread Wolf … Dorian was there to keep her going. He was her very best friend.

“Dorian, when this is over–”

“I know.”

She lifted her head off of his shoulder and stared at him with wide, surprised eyes. “You do..?”

“My dear, I could see it all over your face at the meeting.” He smiled at her, tears shimmering in his own eyes, and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “And though I don’t believe he will ever be deserving of you or understand why you could love that stubborn, prideful egghead, he makes you happy. And you deserve all the happiness the world can offer.”

“Dorian…” Ellana sniffed and wiped at the tears that had slipped down her face. She felt a soft handkerchief being placed in her hand and wiped at her eyes.

“Don’t start crying, you soft-hearted fool. You’ll make me cry, too, and I refuse to be reduced to a blubbering mess.”

Ellana laughed and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too, my friend,” he replied. They held each other for a long moment and when they finally separated, Dorian left to meet with Maevaris.

Ellana stood alone in that room, facing the fireplace for a moment longer and trying to formulate a plan. She would find some way to get to Solas first so they could talk, before Rook took matters into his own hands. As she turned away, she nearly collided with Neve. The mage was staring at her, still as a statue. Her black eyes pulsed with an unnerving intensity and a sinister smile spread far too wide across her face.

“Oh, Neve,” Ellana said. She tried to remember Neve’s real face beneath the corruption. Hopefully this was temporary. Something seemed … different about the mage, though. “I’m sorry. Did you … need something?”

Neve chuckled darkly as she slowly began to circle around Ellana as a predator would its prey. “So, the Dread Wolf has fallen in love,” came a voice that was definitely not Neve’s. It was male, high-pitched and gurgling as if blood filled the lungs. Her irises were a thin white ring against a black backdrop, mirroring the eclipse outside. “And with a mortal, no less. This is interesting news indeed.”

Ellana took a step back and felt the flames of the fire licking her back. Neve matched it. She was cornered and though she had never heard the voice before, the realization came over her all the same. “Elgar’nan,” she whispered.

Her cry for help was cut short by a fleshy tendril erupting from a blighted portal in the ground. It wrapped around her throat, strangling her. She threw out her gauntleted hand and the fire within the hearth snaked around it before jettisoning out at the tendril. The gauntlet was a true marvel of engineering, created especially for Ellana by her arcanist, Dagna. It acted as a staff would, focusing her magic. The tendril shrieked as the flames burned into its flesh. Footsteps and startled voices sounded elsewhere in the building, heading to her location. Another tendril burst forth to trap her body in a vice-like grip.

“Inquisitor!” Morrigan cried out as kicked open the door to the room. Lightning crackled from her fingertips and arced out towards the abominations. The acrid smell of burning flesh made Ellana’s eyes water. She felt the relief of loosening limbs and thrashed about wildly to escape. Morrigan’s attack wasn’t enough, however. More tendrils sprouted from the growing portal around them, wrapping around the Inquisitor further. Dark spots danced in her vision as the air left her. She struggled desperately against the tightening garrote. The whispers of demons promising her the strength to free herself from this horror roared in her mind like thunder, but she fought against them. Slowly, she began to sink into the portal, its red glow casting sinister shadows on her face.

More allies showed up. The Warden-Commander hacked at the tendrils with her dragonbone greataxe, but they sprouted new growths with each strike. Dorian joined Morrigan in a magical assault of lightning and fire. Even Rook struck at the tendrils with the lyrium dagger. It proved to be the most effective weapon against the aberrations. The prison that contained the blight from which they originated was created by that weapon. Pieces fell to the ground in squelching thuds before disintegrating into ash. Instinctively, they coiled tighter around the Inquisitor's body. The last thing the heroes saw was the Inquisitor’s fearful eyes as she was dragged through the portal into the earth.

“Ellana!” Dorian cried out. He slammed his fists against the stone floor as if he could crack it open. “We have to help her!”

Rook stormed up to Neve, still possessed by Elgar’nan, and shook her viciously. “Where have you taken her?!”

The black sclera faded back into white, her irises glowing red once more. Neve blinked. She looked down at Rook’s hands gripping her arms, fingernails digging painfully into her skin, and then around at the people gathered around with their weapons drawn. “Ow, Rook, that hurts! What’s going on? What happened?”

Bellara ran up to her, shocked at Rook's increasing anger. “Elgar'nan possessed you for a minute there. He must be connected to you through the Blight. The Inquisitor is gone. He kidnapped her.”

Neve blanched. To have that horrid creature violating her body like that made her sick. Was that how Lucanis felt when Spite was forced into him? She patted Bellara’s hand to let her know she was okay. Sensing her distress, Lucanis came up beside her and held her hand.

“Damnit!” Rook cursed. He turned to the others, all staring at him with expectant eyes. “He must have taken her to the Archon’s palace.”

“Why would he take the Inquisitor?” Davrin asked. “If anything, I thought he’d kidnap you, Rook.”

Dorian paled as realization dawned on him. “He overheard us…”

“What do you mean?” Rook asked.

“Ellana and I … we were discussing her past relationship with Solas. Elgar’nan must have heard through Neve. He’s going to use her against Solas.”

“Well, shit,” Hawke muttered. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“It shouldn’t mean anything,” Rook said. “I’m sure he thinks it’ll stop Solas from killing his archdemon, but we all know it won’t.”

“Do we?” Morrigan asked.

“Don’t tell me you believe she’s more important than his end goal.”

“It is not a matter of whether or not I believe in his love for her. Solas was a spirit. He is guided by his emotions and he has not seen the Inquisitor in many years. It will, at the very least, distract him. All Elgar’nan needs is an opening, for Solas to let his guard down and he can end the Dread Wolf. Solas is not bound to an archdemon. He is mortal. It only takes one well-placed strike.”

Rook began to pace back and forth in front of the fireplace, hands on his hips, brow furrowed. “Then we need to get up to the palace as soon as possible. We need that archdemon dead and it’s too fucking big for us to kill it alone.”

“We’ve got other problems,” said Strife as he jogged up to the distraught group with Isabela and the Viper in tow. “Elgar’nan’s army is amassing just outside. Our forces can hold them off while you climb up.”

So they would have to face Elgar’nan with less forces than they planned. That did not bode well, especially if Solas was somehow taken out.

“It’s fine,” Rook said. “The Veilguard can handle Elgar’nan. Just make sure those forces stay here on the ground.”

“We will,” the Warden-Commander promised.

Rook turned to his team. “Let’s do this.”

[mysdrymmumbles]

I like to think the boar scene went something like this:

Astarion: The pig's dead, my friend. Staring at it won't bring it back.

Tav: *leaning in to inspect it, wondering what fresh hell they've stumbled into*

Astarion: And? Is it dead enough for you?

Tav: These marks are strange. Do you recognize them?

Lae'zel: No.

Gale: That's it? No signs of illness or... Anything?

Tav: It's otherwise in perfect health.

Gale: *now also inspecting the boar more closely*

Lae'zel: *if she cared less, she'd be as dead as the boar*

Astarion: *getting nervous as the wizard and cleric murmur amongst themselves* I-- It's been drained of blood from the wounds in its neck. It's been killed by a vampire.

Tav/Gale:

Tav: A vampire.

Astarion: I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to worry you.

Tav: You're saying a vampire did this.

Astarion: They are ferocious creatures. But don't wo--

Tav: I thought vampires went after people. Is this one defective?

Astarion:

Gale: Maybe it's one of the druids.

Tav: Wouldn't that be...impossible? For a druid to be a vampire? Aren't they diametrically opposed and all that?

Gale: It's no more impossible than what we currently carry in our heads, I'd imagine.

Tav: But wouldn't it be more inclined to not hurt animals if it were a druid?

Astarion: Yes, well. Muse as you like, but I doubt we will ever--

Lae'zel: Perhaps it is weak, and sought easy prey.

Tav: And it went after a wild boar?

Astarion: *growing agitated* What of it?

Tav: Do you know how much of a pain it is to fight a wild boar? Now there's a ferocious beast.

Astarion: *not arguing there, rubbing a bruise on his arm that was not there the day before*

Gale: I'm not so sure the boar's ferocity would matter much. From what I've read, vampires are more ambush predators, avoiding fights when they can and--

Lae'zel: We did not ask, wizard.

Gale: :/

Astarion: Yes, there certainly are more pressing matters to consider.

Tav: You still have to wonder--

Lae'zel: No, I do not. Whatever ended that boar's life is of no consequence to us, unless it crosses our path. Should it, we will cut it down the same as any other obstacle. We must not get distracted from the search for a creche and a cure.

Astarion: Now there is something we can agree on.

5 min later...

Tav: I'm just saying, if that was done by a vampire, then that vampire is just plain stupid.

Gale: I see we are not letting dead boars lie.

Tav: I just...was it challenging itself?

Astarion: What?

Tav: It'd be better off going after a person. I mean, the druids might put up a good fight, but the refugees? The children? Hells, it'd be easier to take me down than a wild boar.

Astarion: Noted.

Tav: What?

Astarion: Hmm?