unfortunatelysage

[unfortunatelysage]

yet another g/t thought

A giant and tiny are sleeping together, the tiny being pinned under the giant’s cheek as they rest on their side. Maybe they were inebriated, maybe they were just messing with their buddy, but either way the tiny is stuck now. They don’t mind too much; this isn’t the first time it’s happened, and the weight is more comforting than crushing.

The tiny wakes up first in the morning, eyes fluttering open as they feel a strange sensation. They lift up their free arm, noticing a thick string of saliva pulls up with it, hanging from their hand down to their torso.

“YUCK!” the tiny shouts, flicking their arm to get the spit off. The exclamation alerts their sleeping pal, who frees the tiny as they lift their head, now looking down at their friend.

“Wha…” they drowsily trail off, half-lidded eyes eventually falling on the tiny. “What’s wrong?”

“You drooled on me, you big lug!” The tiny’s arms remain lifted, not daring to touch any more sticky saliva than they already have to.

The giant hums, a small smirk spreading across their face. “I can fix that.”

They lean down toward their tiny friend as their tongue appears from between their lips, and in one massive swipe, the giant licks them from legs to head.

The tiny is stunlocked, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape once their friend raises back up and their tongue disappears.

“Got that extra spit off?”

“Yea…” the tiny finally gets out. “Sure did.”

[unfortunatelysage]

Must’ve Been the Wind (2)

Tiny hands lift a single drop of water to tiny lips, breaking the surface tension of the droplet by sucking in some of the liquid. Refreshing as it is, it has no effect on the tiny’s stomachache, which dances around their insides like there’s no tomorrow.

What is the best course of action? Go back outside? As soon as the thought hits them, one of the branches of the tree outside breaks free from the stump, beating against the window like a thunderclap. If the wind can do that to a giant tree branch, what’ll it do to a minuscule creature like them?

Is there any other option? They can’t hide from the unknown number of giants here, which is some pretty big news to the tiny. The nameless giant’s word choice reverberates through them. “You would regret running into one of them.”

Regret.

The tiny tries to swallow down their own thoughts with another drop of water. There’s no time to dwell on the repercussions of a decision they haven’t made yet.

Maybe they just haven’t hidden well enough yet. Sure, they were under a table that should’ve been out of the giant’s line of sight at all times, but they could of miscalculated, or maybe it was one very attentive giant. They can still avoid the others… hopefully.

They hear shuffling from far behind the door, though not necessarily moving toward the room. Still, it’s enough to snap the tiny out of their own thoughts. Taking in one last drop of water, they continue to scope out their area, taking note of worthy hiding places to dash into if the door happens to open.

A hoodie drapes over a chair in the room, the sleeve of which hanging freely toward the floor, just within arm’s reach of the tiny. Why not investigate? They walk beneath the hole of the sleeve and pull at the fabric, finding it gives way just a bit, flowing further to the floor over the tiny’s head. The investigation stops in its tracks when the door reopens.

Without a second thought, the intruder pulls at the fabric even more, cloaking themself in the sleeve as the lip of the fabric touches the rough carpet. The reverberating footsteps around the room feel familiar. Is it the same giant as before?

Before they can come to a conclusion, the tiny feels their cover start to lift away from them. In a panic, they grab at the inner sleeve’s fabric and grip it between their legs, pulling more of it into a tight hug as they’re lifted.

Their eyes squeeze tightly shut at the immense movement, unable to process the next move as they’re suddenly flipped upside down, feet kicking upwards. The fabric above (or below?) their head begins to contort together, and the tiny takes the opportunity to flip around, head facing the sleeve’s hole as they use the now closed end as a pseudo floor.

Once their head breaches from the claustrophobic sleeve, they’re greeted with a gigantic, blank expression. Their eyes widen. So they were right. Same giant. The titan’s arm extends beneath the tiny, bunching the sleeve beneath them in a fist to serve as their platform.

“Really? That was your master plan?”

Breath hitched and limbs shaking, the tiny looks away, face twisting up at the comment as they avoid eye contact. “I never said that.”

“You sure are lucky, aren’t you?” The giant snickers, to no response. “So, you’re sticking around?”

The tiny shakily peers over the lip of the sleeve, noticing the foliage outside the window still thrashing violently. The giant twists their neck back, noticing the same.

“Ah. Got it.” They turn back to their captor. “Well, guess I can’t stop you.”

The tiny pauses. “You won’t do anything to me?”

The giant cocks an eyebrow. “Do anything to you? What do you mean?”

“… never mind.”

“I’m not that type of person. Your presence makes no difference to me. Even if I can’t say the same for…”

The hinges of the door groan as a new figure enters the space. The tiny barely has time to process the new giant before ducking beneath the lip of the hoodie sleeve, staring up at their slackjawed captor.

All they could take note of is their smug grin, and much more impressive stature.

“Hey,” the new giant opens. “What are you doing with my hoodie?”

[unfortunatelysage]

Another g/t thought

A tiny whose been trying to adjust to being around their giant for a while now, stepping more and more outside of their comfort zone despite being a little jumpy. Their giant buddy is really kind and accommodating, taking things slow and letting their little friend adjust at their own pace (while occasionally teasing them).

The giant is lying on their back on a couch or bed, lounging around while the tiny is lying on their big pal’s tummy. The tiny found this terrifying at first but has come to really enjoy it, thinking the soft, warm surface is like a massive hug.

Out of nowhere, the giant’s tummy rumbles, reverberating through the tiny with a loud groan. In a panic, the tiny scrambles backwards, frantically abandoning ship.

The giant feels the movement and shoots upward, finding their tiny’s slipped off of their torso and fallen to their side, cowering at the sound. They can’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“Aww,” a coo slips out from them as they laugh. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”

The tiny lifts their face to reveal to their friend, clearly flustered and glowing pink. “I just got startled…” they grumble, avoiding eye contact.

[unfortunatelysage]

Must’ve Been the Wind

Like a rodent, the tiny scampers along the wall, silently running underneath tables and countertops to avoid detection. There’s no time to gain awareness of their surroundings, not in such an active living space. It was their mistake to sneak in and scope out this space at this hour, since any normal human would be awake in broad daylight like this.

Not like they had much choice. The tiny winces at the crash of a branch slamming against a nearby window. Some of the worst wind they’ve ever experienced, its consequences sending shockwaves through the empty room.

Well, empty for now. Subconsciously, the tiny’s breath hitches at the all-too-familiar tremors of footsteps approaching the room they’re in. Figures. At least they’re already hidden. One less thing to worry about.

Hinges squeak ever so slightly as the giant of the hour walks into the room, clicking the door closed behind them. They have a smaller stride. Short… by giant standards. The sudden sound of flowing water alerts the tiny to the presence of a sink in this room.

Unsatisfied with their current placement, the tiny takes advantage of the present sound and slowly and silently shuffles sideways, plastering themselves against the wall as they move away from the door and toward the sink, hidden well beneath a table occupying the space next to it.

The water stops, and the massive feet in front of the tiny step back away from the sink as the giant indulges in a drink. Chills are sent up the tiny’s spine before they can even process what happens next.

“I don’t want to tell you what to do,” the giant speaks, seemingly to no one.

“And it doesn’t bother me that you’re here,” they continue. Oh no.

“But I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least warn you.”

The giant walks slightly to the side, the tiny tracking their every movement. They stop once their feet are positioned in front of the tiny’s hiding spot. “I know my housemates well. And I know tinies well. You would regret running into one of them.”

The color drains from the tiny’s face as the larger-than-life being bends down, making effortless eye contact with the now horrified intruder. “And you aren’t as great at hiding as you think you are.”

The giant sets down their water cup on its side, allowing the last bit of water to slide down toward the lip of the barrel-sized container. “Drink up,” they tell the tiny. “What you do after that is up to you.” The titan stands up once again, exiting the room and closing the door behind them as they had when they walked in.

The tiny’s mouth and throat go dry as they stare at the supply of water just gifted to them. Nonetheless, they’re unable to move.

[unfortunatelysage]

The Giant Slayer’s Lament

cw: implied death, soft fatal unwilling v/re (indirectly depicted)

One breath in, one breath out. Weak in the knees, Adelaide pushes the wooden door forward.

“Her Majesty advised for me to come see you,” the young slayer murmurs.

Sigmund looks up from his desk, his deep black eyes meeting her hazel ones. “Did she? What ails you?”

Adelaide slowly walks into the room, sitting on the soft ottoman in the middle. It’s not her first time here, and it won’t be her last. “I have been dancing around the truth with you. With everyone.”

The shaman cocks an eyebrow, turning around and carrying his candle over to sit across from her. “Go on, then.”

Adelaide freezes. She’s been preparing for this conversation for weeks, but once the time finally comes to speak, her throat is hitched and her mind is cloudy. One breath in, one breath out. “It’s about the giant.”

Beads of sweat begin to form on the slayer’s forehead, which she quickly pats down with the back of her hand. Must she be so nervous? She has to pull herself together. “I am unsure of the proper manner to report this, but… it has not been slain. The kingdom is still in danger.”

Sigmund’s eyes widen. “Adelaide…” he trails off.

“Shaman, you simply do not understand,” she replies. “The beast alone was not enough to frighten me. There’s more to the story.”

One breath in, one breath out. She begins to elaborate.

When I had walked into the giant’s place of residence, it was sleeping. The monster’s immense body seemed to never end, sprawled across a proportionately large set of furniture. Its hand hung off the side, fingertips nearly touching the floor. The length of the hand was nearly twice that of my entire body, and I am one of the taller warriors.

Though I had prepared for fending off a waking giant, I would be foolish in not taking advantage of its sleeping state. Precariously, I scaled the immense furniture, finding myself even with the monster’s stomach, which groaned and heaved as though it had just eaten. Just when I was to run toward its neck to make the fatal blow, a sound stopped me.

Screaming. Soft, muffled screaming.

My heart sank as it dawned on me where the sound originated. Eyes widening, I began trembling as I leaned toward the monster’s stomach. The screaming grew louder… I could almost make out the pleas. Goose pimples pricked up across my limbs as my blood turned to ice. Humans. Like me.

Slowly, my sword went back into its sheath. The giant’s stomach was barely exposed, its top shifting up in sleep. Soft as a feather, I placed my bare hands against the soft flesh of the monstrous torso, lightly pressing my ear up to it to try and hear better.

Two hands immediately pressed up against mine from the other side as a bloodcurdling scream rang through the giant’s stomach.

I yelped in response, jumping backwards as my hands clasped over my mouth. Just then, I felt the entire world move around me. Fear and regret exploded inside me, drowning my stomach as it dropped to the floor.

It was awake.

I didn’t even begin to process the situation as I frantically clambered down the furniture the same way I ascended, leaving behind my rope. Leaving behind all those people.

I sprinted out the cracked entrance I came through, ignoring the booming footsteps, the floor shaking beneath me, and the hackneyed “Fee, fi, fo, fum.” I had never even made a scrape. I had chickened out.

Adelaide looks down, tearing up. “The screams have permeated my dreams. I am unable to go a day, an hour, even a minute without hearing them. I can still feel the digesting human’s hands grasping mine through the beast’s stomach.”

Sigmund blinks. “Adelaide, please look at me.”

She doesn’t. “I am aware my own cowardice has costed the safety of the kingdom, and the lives of the innocent. I cannot apologize enough.”

“Adelaide, please.”

The slayer slowly looks up, eyes puffy. “I’m sorry.”

“Young warrior,” he replies. “I understand the fear. You already know I find you to be one of the bravest warriors this kingdom has ever seen.”

“So brave of me to flee at the first sight of danger…” Adelaide stammers. “There’s… there’s blood on my hands, shaman.”

“Not the way I see it.”

She doesn’t reply.

The shaman continues. “You are the head of the fleet for a reason, Adelaide. Your consistent loyalty and bravery have gone without question for as long as you’ve been with us. Do you know why you stopped to listen to those people instead of slaying the giant?”

“I was distracted. I prioritized incorrectly.”

“Nay,” he cuts in. “You had done it out of empathy. Had you not been thrown off, would you have ever gone in for the fatal blow?”

The slayer pauses. “I suppose I’ll never know.”

Sigmund narrows his eyes. “You’re discrediting yourself, young warrior.”

“My actions have discredited me more than my words ever will,” she retorts.

He pauses, scratching his chin before letting out a soft chuckle. “So, this is the mindset you choose to hold.”

Adelaide doesn’t reply.

“The way I see it,” he continues. “You have two options.” The shaman rises, picking up his candle. “You can either let the cries of the people guide you to their justice…”

He blows out the candle, shrouding the small shack with darkness “Or you can let them go to waste.”

The slayer’s breathing deepens.

“At any rate…” the candle softly clinks against the table as Sigmund sets it down. “You will be plagued by them until you choose the next step. And either way, there is still a maneater out there plotting its next meal.”

Adelaide pauses, pondering over the darkness. At once, she stands, bustling toward the door.

“What are you doing?” Sigmund asks.

Light floods back into the room as the door is pushed open, illuminating Adelaide from behind. One breath in, one breath out. “I’m getting my sword. Thank you, shaman.”

Sigmund smirks. “That’s the warrior I know.”

[unfortunatelysage]

Reese Got Gullivered - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Opinions of Seabarrow

Summary: This is a fun little chapter where you’ll get to see Seabarrow’s perspectives on Reese. Let me know if you guys want more interviews, especially from a certain character or situation. 

Winifred sets out to get some real perspectives and opinions on the Giant of Seabarrow. 

Contains: Nothing that I can think of, other than mentions of violence.

Wordcount: 2.9K

~~~

Winifred was a reporter for Lilliput’s capital university. She was taking on a very interesting and dangerous assignment on behalf of the king. She was in Seabarrow, getting a detailed report on what it is like for the average citizen to live in Seabarrow, so close to the giant. 

It was her honor to serve King Eamon the Faithful, and it paid very handsomely when she could return with her reports. 

When she arrived in dock that first day, she went straight to the Glowing Moon Inn, one of the few visible inns from the port, and immediately began to prepare for many interviews. She knew she would need a fair amount of time to get everything sorted out and get a feel of the giant himself before she could even dream of returning to Lilliput’s capital and presenting her findings to the King and his Ministers. Winifred wanted to get to her interviews as quickly as possible.

But first, a quick meal. And since Winifred wanted to get as many perspectives as possible, she decided that she might as well interview the woman who ran the inn, or perhaps a few patrons if they were fine with it. 

“Ah, the journalist from the capitol.” The older woman smiled softly at Winifred. “What can I do for you?” 

“Can I get a loaf of bread and some meat and cheese? Also… some watered down ale, please?” Winifred put the money needed down on the bar top. “And if you have time, I would like to ask you some questions.”

“Questions?” The older woman raised an eyebrow. “What could a lady from the capital want to ask a lowly innkeeper for?” 

Winifred regretted accidentally flashing her credentials at the capital’s university, but no matter. She was a professional.  “I wanted to ask you about the giant that lives in the woods. I’m here to gather information on him.” 

The older woman sighed deeply through her nose, and she wiped her hands on her apron. “Good luck getting close enough to the giant to study him. He doesn’t like people from the capital. Scared the pants off a poor messenger not too long ago who was just dropping off a letter.” 

Winifred shook her head softly and put her leather bound book and pencil down on the bartop. “Oh, I don’t want to study him. I want to interview Seabarrow about him. I want to know what it’s like to be so close to him. What it’s like to live and work and just exist around a being like him.” 

The woman took a good long look at Winifred, and then she nodded to herself. “Very well, ask away. Though, I will admit I’m not the best one to talk about him. You’d want to talk to his little painter.” 

Winifred quickly began to jot down notes. A painter? The giant had a painter? It raised many questions. She underlined ‘kidnapped?’ in her notes. “Can I get your name and official occupation? So I can organize my notes. I promise I won’t be using any personal information unless absolutely necessary.” 

“Alright. I’m Till. And I am the sole owner of the Glowing Moon Inn.” She set a mug down in front of Winifred, and motioned for someone in the back to bring something out.  “What is it you want to know about the giant?”

“Well… anything that you think might be relevant. What do you call him? Has he interfered with any business of yours? Anything like that.”

She seemed to think for a moment. “I hear a lot of names for him from the patrons, but honestly I just call him ‘the Giant.’ Descriptive enough. He’s got a name, but I don’t know it myself.” 

“Mhm.” 

“I can’t say he’s interfered with business any. The Scouts like to stop by here and complain about him, which makes ‘em buy a few more rounds, but he’s not often too close to the ports. Mayor Alder made him promise to not mess with trade, so he avoids the ports unless there’s rumors of a sea monster.” 

“Sea monster?”

“Have you ever heard of the Plague of the Pass? Some beast that used to stalk the pass near Pidel island?”

Winifred shook her head. She wasn’t too interested in fisherman’s tales.

“Well, let’s just say Pidel’s pass isn’t being plagued anymore. It drifted too close to Seabarrow, and word of it spread to the giant. Plunged into the ocean, half naked with some sharp rock clamped in his teeth to go fight it. The sea boiled while the monsters fought, but when the giant returned to the shore, he was dragging the monster behind him. Left one of its limbs on shore for a party that lasted for days, and devoured what was left.”

Winifred’s eyes widened, and she paused in her notes. “The giant… ate the sea monster?”

Till nodded. “Better the sea monster than us. He’s promised to keep his mitts off us and our livestock, but we all know he’s a bad winter away from turning Seabarrow into his own personal pantry.” 

“Doesn’t that scare you? That the giant could just plunder the town?” Winifred was on the edge of her seat as her food was delivered. 

“Not too much.” Till shrugged her shoulders and began to scrub down the bartop. “If the winter’s bad enough that the giant can’t keep himself full with swoopers or fish, then plenty of us will starve anyway. The giant helps keep cattle safe, and earns himself a percentage of crops by lending his strength to the fields on the outskirts of town. Way I see it, if the winter’s bad enough he turns savage, we’ll be better off eaten.”

That exchange left Winifred more than a little bit shaken and her notes full of question marks. A fair amount of her cheese and bread was tucked away in her satchel for later when she left the Glowing Moon. She had a feeling that she was going to be out all day gathering information.

Winifred decided to try and find the giant’s painter. If he was even around Seabarrow anymore. She wanted to find who he might be, and why the giant had him. Having a painter didn’t seem that practical when you were a lumbering giant. 

The bustling market near the port left her with a lot of places to potentially ask around and interview. She didn’t want to bother anyone who was just shopping, but the shopkeepers, especially ones without customers, might have something to say about the giant that lived in the woods. 

Winifred stopped at a fishmonger that had nobody around. 

“Excuse me, sir?” She pulled her notebook and pencil out of her satchel.

“You lookin’ to buy some fish?” He gestured down at his wares, gutted fish packed in salt. “These were caught just last night.” 

“Uhm, no thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I was just wondering if I could ask you some questions about the giant that lives around here.”

The man raised a bushy eyebrow. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m here on assignment from the Capitol’s University. I want to gather what it’s like to live around such an enormous creature on an island like this.” She opened her notebook to a fresh page. “It would just be a few questions, if you’re alright with answering them.” 

He seemed to mull it over for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. “I can answer questions if you buy a fish.” 

Winifred shifted from foot to foot. “Uhm.. I don’t really have the capacity to… carry a fish at the moment?” 

“Bah.” The man waved his hands. “Then I won’t bother with any questions.” 

“Alright. I’ll be on my way.” She closed her notebook. “Do you happen to know where I could find a painter around here?”

“Not without a fish.” 

“Alright. You have a good day, sir.”

“Bah. I’ll have a better day when I make some sales.” 

As she was leaving the fishmonger, a man with bolts of cloth waved Winifred over. At first, she was hesitant, and when she approached, she opened her mouth to tell the man she wasn’t interesting in buying any cloth. 

“You want to know where the painter is, right?” The man beat her to speaking. 

“Uhm.. yes. I would like to know where the giant’s painter is.” 

“His name is Cade. He lives closer to the woods, so it’s a little walk to his studio, but you can’t miss it. It has a sign hanging out above the door and a very large glass window that lets you see right inside.” 

“Oh, thank you so much.” Winifred smiled, scribbling the name ‘Cade’ into her notes near the painter. “Would you mind answering some questions about the giant?”

“Sure, it’s not like I have anyone here right now.” He gestured to the people walking past his stall with little more than a glance. “What would you like to know?”

“Your name and occupation, please.”

He put a hand on his chest. “Edmund. I sell cloth to most residents.”

“Alright, Edmund.” She made a quick note. “How has a giant around here affected business?”

“Actually it’s been very nice for my business.” He turned around and shrugged off his coat. There was a bright orange thread that was stitched into a wonderful swirling pattern across the back of his tunic. “This was some thread from the giant’s clothing given as a gift. And since I am one of the few regular suppliers of cloth in Seabarrow, he pays me very well for incredible amounts of cloth to keep his clothes patched up. He wears them so hard.” 

“I see.” She made some notes while the man shrugged back into his coat. “Has it caused any problems, having a giant around?”

“Oh, plenty.” He waved his hands. “Scares a lot of travelers away from Seabarrow. Whenever he walks near the town, the windows rattle and candles fall from their holders. His voice sounds like thunder at all hours of the day. He terrorizes animals just by existing. Dirt trails turn to mud under his weight.”

“Dear Goddess… how do you handle that?”

Edmund shrugged. “Make sure all the candles aren’t over papers and that the fragile things are firmly secured. He protects Seabarrow. Darters and swooper birds aren’t terrorizing the forest. Before he arrived, my children could never stray from the city, lest they be carried off to be a monster’s dinner and herds of cattle would be lost every season. Now they can go all the way to the treeline without fear, and the giant pays for the cattle.” 

“I see.” Winifred was writing things down as quickly as she could. “Do you have anything else you would like to add about the giant?”

He thought for a moment. “Once you’re done talking to Cade, the Scouts all have opinions on him. They frequent the Glowing Moon, so if you hang around there at dinner time, you’ll be very likely to get plenty of information from them.”

“Thank you so much for your time, Edmund. This is all such invaluable information.” Winifred finished up her notes and then began to make her way towards the forest, where she should find Cade’s studio.

Cade. What an interesting name. Not very traditional. 

It wasn’t very hard to find the studio. There was a large sign, and the window was filled with all manner of sketches and paintings on display. Beautiful landscapes, and an ethereal looking portrait of a woman wrapped in blue robes. 

The door was unlocked, and propped wide open to allow a breeze in. Winifred knocked hesitantly when she stepped over the threshold. The light streamed in from the large front window, and the side window that was flung wide open, letting in light and a lovely breeze. 

Around her was colorful chaos. The scent of paint and pencil lead filled the air around her. Around the walls were an array of paintings and sketches that were inn manner of completion. 

To her left, an easel holds a half-finished portrait of a muscular man with pale skin, emerald eyes, and pitch black hair. A flowering vine was sketched out over the dried paint, twirling around his attractive body. On the right, a pile of canvases leaned haphazardly against the wall, some of them covered in thick layers of paint, others still waiting to be brought to life. A seascape with a large red splotch right over the left side of it was on top of the stack. In the center of the room, a wooden table is covered in covered boxes, brushes, and other assorted tools. A satchel and a sword were precariously perched on the edge of the table. Against one wall, Winifred notices several shelves, full to bursting with odds and ends. There were shells, rocks, bones, scrolls, bottles, anything that one could picture was present among the eclectic collection. 

Despite the clutter and chaos, there is a sense of order to the space. Everything seems to have its place, even if that place is on a floor covered in paint splatters and canvas scraps. 

“Excuse me, miss, who are you?”

Winifred jumped at the sudden voice. There was a man with long blond hair standing in the doorframe of the studio that led deeper into the building. There was paint and pencil smudged on his face and arms. He had deep bags under his eyes. 

“Oh, I’m sorry to intrude. I was looking for Cade. The door was open.” 

“Well, I’m Cade Smithson.” He moved over to the easel and picked up the palette that was sitting on the stool in front of it. “Forgive me, I’m running a little late on a client’s commission. How can I help you?”

“I’m Winifred, a journalist from Lilliput’s capitol university. I was sent to Seabarrow on assignment, to learn about the giant.” 

The man blinked and looked over his shoulder. “You want to know about Reese?”

“Is that the giant’s name?” 

“Yes.” He set the palette back down on the stool. “Why do you want to know about him?”

“I was sent on assignment.” Winifred pulled out her credentials that showed her affiliation with the university. “Many people are interested in what it is like in the day-to-day lives of those who are forced to live in close proximity to the giant. I’ve been told that you have the most information about being around the giant… someone even called you his ‘little painter?’”

A pinkness settled on the man’s cheeks and he glanced around the shop. “I am nobody’s painter… but I do spend a lot of time in Reese’s company.”

“Would you mind if I asked you some questions then?”

“Of course not.” Cade moved some things around on the table in the middle of the shop, propping the sword up against the wall and moving the satchel to the floor and moving some boxes around so there was more of a cleared off space. “Please, sit.”

“Thank you.” Winifred took a seat and prepared to take many notes. “I guess I should start with the basics. What is it like to be in the giant’s presence?” 

“Well… Reese is a lot to take in all at once.” Cade cleared his throat. “It’s intimidating, knowing how easily he could snuff you out… but it’s also something that feels so honorific, knowing that you don’t have to worry about him hurting you.”

“Because of the promises that he made to Seabarrow?” 

Cade shook his head. “No… I know that he won’t hurt anyone because he’s a good man. He’s terrifying to be around, a living mountain, but… he doesn’t want to hurt anyone…… at least not anyone who doesn’t deserve it.” Cade nervously began to play with his hands. 

“Has he… hurt people while living here?” Winifred paused for a moment while she was taking notes. “Is he a danger to Seabarrow?”

“No! He’s not a danger.” Cade waved his hands. “There were some pirates that tried to plunder the town, and some thieves that tried to rob him and he… he hurt them. But those are the only people that he’s hurt. When people shot him in the face while he was negotiating his spot in town, he just scared them. He doesn’t want to be some giant menace.” 

“Do you… talk to him often?” 

Cade nodded. “Very often… he even carries me around sometimes.” He mumbled the last part. 

“He carries you?” Winifred’s eyes widened. “What is that like?” 

“It’s like… it’s like being on a ship… but also like being on a horse.” Cade rubbed the back of his neck. That pinkness in his cheeks deepend. “You sway with every movement, but you can also hear him breathe, and his heartbeat, and you trust him to not dash you against the ground. He listens to you if you tell him to slow down or speed up or to go in one direction.” Cade paused for a moment, glancing out the window with an almost longing expression. “Reese is immovable and unstoppable all at once.” 

“You two must be very close.” 

Cade nodded to himself. “He considers me a friend.”

Winifred made a few more notes while she talked with Cade. He spoke about the deeds that Reese had performed for Seabarrow. Working with the farmers and the ranchers to protect their fields and to help cattle. How he drove off swoopers and darters away from the city to make sure that nobody would be carried off again. How he kept those who would do Seabarrow harm at bay. How he killed the Plague of the Pass, and how the town feasted as a celebration. 

There were definitely more sides to the gian- to Reese than at first could be assumed. Winifred had much to write about. And most importantly, she had many names of people that she could interview. 

[unfortunatelysage]

attracted to someone not romantically or sexually but just in the way that you think they should be 50 feet tall

[unfortunatelysage]

(content warning: this isn’t fluff. soft warnings for creepiness and suspense, but nothing intense/violent.)

——

The Person bakes only on Saturdays. Usually muffins, enough for breakfast through the next week. They tug on their apron, roll up their sleeves, and before long the kitchen is flooded with the scent of sugar and berries.

Every week, The Borrower watches them. They sit perched by a small crack in the walls, and they see this giant figure move so elegantly. A bit of flour on their cheek, their face warm from the kitchen, humming along to the oldies playing over their phone.

It’s not an obsession. It’s just an interest. The Borrower just likes to watch, that’s all. The Person is scary, but when they’re lost in their kitchen work, it makes them feel normal. As if they were two inches tall as well, someone The Borrower could actually talk to.

But they can’t, so they watch. The Borrower’s eyes never waver, not during the mixing or when they pour the batter into cups or gently slide the tins into the oven. The Borrower does not move until the muffins are cooling on the counter. And then they go home.

By design, their paths don’t cross much. The Borrower is smarter than that. They want nothing more than to watch the giant being simply exist for, well, for forever, but it’s too risky. Not yet, no matter how magical the sight is.

By the time next Saturday rolls around, The Borrower hasn’t seen The Person once. They only notice something is off when the kitchen remains dark. Nothing gets baked. The house stays quiet.

It doesn’t take long to navigate the walls to The Person’s bedroom, which is just as cold and empty as the kitchen. The Borrower perches on the nightstand, an unrecognizable emotion washing over them. Their lips press into a straight line, their hands curl into fists, and then they start looking.

They come up with a receipt for gas, a notepad with an address several states away listed, another note of things to pack, a forgotten hairbrush. A trip. A little weekend-trip, and nothing more.

A small flurry of frustration rises in their chest, feeling the distance between them and Their Person increase. They didn’t know about the trip, but they should have. They know everything going on. It’s not an obsession, just an interest. But how did they miss something like this?

The Borrower takes the receipt, folding it carefully and tucking it into the bag hanging at their side. After a moment, they step to the crack in the walls. They pause, by the hairbrush.

It’s not uncommon for Their Person to cut their hair on impulse, and the brush is filled with larger tufts and curls from their last messy chop. It’s a deep, beautiful brown.

The Borrower steps forward, and they take up a small curled lock of hair. It’s soft. It smells like honey and lemon.

They gently set the lock of hair in their bag.

The Borrower’s hand does not leave the bag on their entire trek home, guarding their cargo better than if it was weeks worth of food. As soon as they get home into their little crevice in the walls, a hollowed out section worked into a home, they make a beeline for a small box in the corner.

It’s a square pillbox, and they unlatch it swiftly. They take the lock of hair from their bag, and set it down gently, right next to a chip of tooth, a napkin with a smidge of lipstick, and two slivers of painted fingernails.

The Borrower stares down at the box, eyes wide. It’s the closest they can ever be to Their Person, and it’s exhilarating. It takes all their energy to drift their eyes up to the wall, lined with stolen photos of Their Person, all the other awful humans torn out.

It’s not an obsession, it’s just an interest.

And when Their Person comes home, they won’t let them out of their sight. They’ll know about the next trip, and sneak along. This won’t happen again.

They won’t be apart again.

Ever.

The Borrower smiles.

[unfortunatelysage]

🌻 normalgiant Follow

lol my earbuds vanished. mindfucked

3 Notes

🦀 the_tiny_in_ur_walls Follow

YALLLLL GUESS WHAT I STOLE

69 Notes

[unfortunatelysage]

You know what my weakness is, other than Himbos, DADS, G/t content and then the Giant is a Dad to everyone and everything and maybe even adopt the Tinies.

Then the Sub-Trait, is that they used to be this fearsome monster of Legends, someone that kills Tinies and eats them up, they kill Hundreds and Thousands but then when the Giant Slayer meets them, the Giant is living a Simple Life, foraging for Herbs and helping the Local Tiny Community on their health, despite his appearance to them being Scary or Menacing.

Other than that he's a Swell guy, living a life away Cities and Towns, no Technology, absolutely Cottagecore. He does look like the Intimidating Monster of the Legends but instead all you get is a Wholesome Dad that just wants to help in every way he can, what he did in the Past no longer applies.He knows it will come back to bite him in the arse, but doesn't think about it and frankly he thinks he deserves it.

After all the Pain he caused, perhaps he thinks being Slain by Giant Slayer is the only way to go for him, that's why he tries to make things right with the People around him.The Giant Slayer doesn't know this, and will try everything in his Power to kill him, but then the Giant treats him like his kid even though he knows his life is in Danger.

This whole thing could be a Child-like fantasy and Analogy of Ex Criminals trying to make things right but everyone around them never accepts what they did in the Past.

On a Side note, Coffee shop and Tattoo/ Florist AUs, both of these tropes combine but no Romance and it's Fantasy, just a Giant Bodybuilding Ex-Gang lord Dad that now runs a Tattoo and Coffee shop in the Middle of the Woods, while his Tiny Son to be, by Day a Florist and by Night a Giant Slayer.

THINK OF ALL THE ACCIDENTAL FEARPLAY AND LOADS OF FLUFF.

[unfortunatelysage]

g/t fans will see a post with the words “scary giant” and black out and reblog it

[unfortunatelysage]

Horned Shadows

Word Count: 769

Warnings: Blood, slight gore, mentions of vore

So I've been gone a while and my brain really wanted a g/t story so here are a few of my babies. I plan on doing multiple parts to this and a part of me wants to do art too but I'm kinda nervous. Anyway, enjoy💕

🌿🌿🌿

Dahnali flies out of her water oak tree home, ready to go collect a few necessities. Things have been getting low with all the rain making her unable to actually go out and get things. Today it seemed like the rain would be giving her a little time. As long as it didn't start pouring again she could probably do what she needs too. With that in mind the pink haired fairy flies to a nearby clearing she knows to have a few types of berries she can eat and use to make things. What she doesn't expect is to find another person already there. Sitting against a nearby tree is what looks to be a giant, the curved brown horns give it away almost immediately. Nali immediately freezes up, not wanting to be seen by the huge monster. Out of many of the other beings in the forest, giants are known to be dangerous. They tend to be carnivorous and though they prefer humans they'll eat fae if they're hungry enough. Being slurped down by something that big was definitely not on the small beings to do list today so she begins to leave, that is until something catches her attention.

The dark haired giant in question is covered in a red liquid. Once she looks at him a little longer she takes notice of the gash on his lower abdomen. He holds onto it, seemingly looking around for anything that may help. He seems desperate, she however is not willing to risk her life for the possibility of healing someone. That is until she sees another giant approach him, female this time with tears falling from her hazel eyes. It's clear she expects to lose her friend and doesn't know what to do. She does seem to notice the pink light that Nali amits though, staring her down with a look of longing. She knows exactly what she is and knows she can help but knows the small being has no reason to actually help them.

Nali begins to fly off, not willing to risk her life, but a voice stops her. "W-Wait…..please….I know what you are…..and I know you don't trust us but…..I'm begging you to help….please." The giantess states, her voice trembling with desperation. Nali sighs at this. Helping means physically touching them and the thought of that makes her physically sick with anxiety. The hurt in the woman's voice however…..it breaks her heart. Taking a deep breath to build up the courage, the fae flies over two the two gargantuan beings. As she gets closer the size difference truly hits her, she's no bigger than their fingernail. Her small heart begins beating rapidly as she watches them, not trusting them not to try anything. The male giant she saw from the beginning moves his hand so she can see the wound. The gash cuts through multiple layers of skin and she's surprised his intestines are staying put. How could something this bad have happened?

"C-Can you heal him?" The giantess asks, keeping her voice as gentle and soft as possible. The fae gets closer, hands trembling from fear. The two giants watch, in awe of the small being before them. The glow that surrounds her begins to encase the gash and it begins to heal. Nali puts everything she has into getting the cut to close but she can only get a few layers of skin healed before the world begins to fade in and out. She stops, trying to maintain consciousness and avoid being at the mercy of these two but the darkness finally wins. The last thing she sees is the beautiful, freckled face of the giantess from before as she falls onto an unusually warm and soft surface below her.

🌿🌿🌿

The giantess easily catches the tiny being in her hand, in awe of her size. Her brother immediately sits up, worried after seeing the small one fall.

"Is she okay?" He asks, worry in his rather deep voice. The giantess brings her hand up to her face, trying to get a better look at the unimaginably small being. She sees her tiny chest rise and fall and lets out a sigh of relief as she stands.

"I think so…..we should probably get out of here before the others come. Can you get up?" The giantess asks, putting out her free hand for her brother. He takes it she she carefully helps him to his feet. The two of them check their surroundings thoroughly before running into the nearby woods, tiny fae in hand.

🌿🌿🌿

[unfortunatelysage]

continuation to this

“You want to hurt me… don’t you?”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, the silence becomes deafening. It clings to the entire atmosphere, thick enough to choke on.

“When I try to leave,” I add on, hoping to break the silence.

Their eyes remain unwavering, with only a slow blink in response. As if taking in the question before answering.

“No,” they finally reply, unnervingly soft. “I don’t.”

I wait for them to continue, but they don’t. The silence fills the room again, basking in all its maddening glory.

Silence is a clawed creature, digging its talons into my skin and trying to rip into my insides. The beast in front of me loves it- all the more time for them to think. All the more time for me to panic. I can’t take the quiet anymore.

“You always act like it! You’re capable of it!” I snap. “I can feel it in your eyes, I can hear it in your tone! What’s stopping you?”

The creature stays in place, barely furrowing their brows as an indication of offense.

“What good would that do? You don’t think I wouldn’t have done it already if i intended to?”

I blink, perplexed. Did they willingly give me information? Or is this another power play? I can never tell. My eyes narrow as I let the silence hang. A test. Would a lack of reply serve up more information?

It seems not, as the giant takes in the quiet again. They huff slightly, as if frustrated. Maybe they know my tactic. They often do.

“Hurting you is no show of power,” they speak again. “I wouldn’t be strong to even kill something as small as you. If I wanted to exert power, I’d do it over the powerful. Not the powerless.”

I’d be insulted by the comment, but I’m left more confused than anything. Did staying quiet work?

“Why are you telling me this?” The question escapes before I can fully process it.

“Because,” the giant sighs. “I know it’s not going to change anything. You don’t believe anything I say.”

I break eye contact, trying to process everything. Do I believe anything they say? I second guess all of it, but not knowing when they’re telling the truth can’t be equated to knowing they aren’t.

“I believe you sometimes,” I finally speak up. I could elaborate more, but I’ve already said too much.

“What do you mean?” They ask, unsatisfied with the comment. Always aware.

I look them up and down. Calm composure, almost a bored expression. Tired as always. Too aware. “You know what I mean.”

They don’t reply, likely accepting that I got the upper hand this time around. It’s not worth relishing in- one step forward, two steps back. I’ll never be more aware than them. I can only dream of being that calculated.

[unfortunatelysage]

WAIT ADDING ONTO MY LAST POST I didn't even touch on the tasty fear factor of a tiny literally running into a giant

Maybe the tiny was being pursued by someone/thing else and in their blind panic, too busy looking over their shoulder at their attacker, they slam face first into the leg of a giant. They're dazed and fall flat on their back, allowing them to look up and up and up at something that is much worse than whatever was originally chasing them

Maybe they know there's a giant around, and they're either trying to bravely avoid it or stupidly seek it out. They try to set up baits and traps, keep their steps quiet, anything their lure the giant out and grant them an opening to scuttle away undetected. But when they turn the corner, the see the trap they had placed has now been moved to where they stand. Horrified at the implication, they back away, only to bump against the chest of the giant waiting for them

Maybe the giant has been after them since the beginning, chasing the tiny around in a futile game of cat and mouse. The tiny thinks they're doing pretty good, no matter how exhausted they are, always managing to keep enough distance between them. Until the giant starts getting crafty, secretly manipulating how and where the tiny can scamper off too like a maze they're too small to full see. It's not until the tiny triumphantly bursts through the doors, think they've finally made it out, do they realize they've been cornered into falling into the giant's awaiting hands

Maybe the tiny is finally acting on their escape plan that they've been working on for a while. It's risky and getting caught surely means being punished, but they have to try. And they try so damn hard, but it's all for nothing when the giant unexpectedly changes their routine in the midst of their escape, causing the tiny to panic and accidentally crash against the giant who barely catches them in time before they fall

Maybe the tiny is sprinting as fast as their little legs will carry them, knowing the giant is hot on their tail. It shouldn't be possible to lose sight of something so huge, but they've somehow lost visual and have no idea where the giant could be. They can't see or hear and feel any trace of their giant pursuer, which makes it all the more startling when the giant suddenly appears in front of them before they can't slow down, winding themself when they collide into the giant

Maybe the tiny knows it's a suicidal idea in the first place, but fuck it, if they die they die. They need protection from whatever is chasing them and right now, the giant minding their own business is their best option. So they run full speed in their direction, slamming themself into the giant and quickly burrowing against them to remain hidden, silently praying that whatever fate the giant gives them for the interruption isn't any worse than what they were already facing

Maybe the giant is aware of the tiny, but the tiny isn't aware of the giant, so they follow behind this oblivious little thing out of curiosity and amusement. It's fun to see how many close calls the tiny has to realize they're being stalked, but they never fully figure it out, not until they get themself into a sticky situation that has them dangling from a precariously high place. The jig is up when the tiny loses the strength to hang on, only falling a few feet before landing in an open palm

[unfortunatelysage]

Avery doesn’t know good music when she hears it 🙄

[unfortunatelysage]

All Smoke and Mirrors- 15 (finale)

last

first

Rico’s back to work soon enough. Though he’d been dreading it before, he feels much better about having something to take his mind off things now.

As he gets home one night, he tosses his keys on the coffee table and flops down onto the living room couch. A sigh escapes him, as usual after a workday.

Rolling onto his side, he looks at the legs of his coffee table. As if expecting something to walk out from behind one of them.

Nothing does, as he expects. A relief, if anything. Maybe wrapped in a thin layer of disappointment, but he’s not sure what he’d do if another tiny person came into his life.

He’d probably help them from the start this time around. At least, his mind would scream at him to. It wouldn’t be nearly as fun, but maybe it’s not about him.

Rico looks away from the floor eventually. Nothing’s going to pop out for him. He hoists himself up, stalking over to the kitchen. He hasn’t eaten all day.

Opening the refrigerator, lots of miscellaneous ingredients scatter the shelves, but not much to gather into a meal. He’ll work with what he has tonight, and go shopping tomorrow, he decides.

After another rough night without much sleep, Rico wakes earlier than usual. Might as well get shopping out of the way, he figures.

Partway through his trip, he stops at a shelf and looks around, but pauses. An all-too-familiar feeling creeps up on him.

Someone’s looking at him.

Quickly, his eyes whip to the right. No one. To the left. Also no one.

But he notes a quick flash of blonde hair at the end of the aisle. Every muscle in his body begs him to go after the person, but he refrains. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to give chase to them. Besides, he was probably overthinking it. It couldn’t have been her.

Rico makes sure to watch his step once he gets home as he walks around the house to put various groceries away.

It’s a silly gesture, maybe. It might just be the humanity in him.

[unfortunatelysage]

All Smoke and Mirrors- 14

next

last

first

-

After some deep searching, Margot is returned to her family. The conversation her brother has with Rico as she’s held within her captor’s hands is all gibberish to her, nonsense words flowing into one ear and out the other. All she can focus on is how she’ll soon be out of his grip for the last time. Home at last.

She deeply wishes she had the energy to pay attention and soak in his words, see where he’s lying. But she’s just too drained. Besides, she clearly can’t figure out when he’s lying anyway. She supposes she’s made it this far by giving him a second chance, but it shouldn’t have taken two chances. None of these revelations are new to her, though. Maybe she processed it too quickly. Maybe she never processed it at all.

She’s handed off to her brother, Dimitri, and the door closes. Margot is thoroughly exhausted, but remains alert. New hands. Familiar, yet entirely novel. She can’t be too trustworthy, as much as she’d be quick to trust Dimitri.

“My god,” he sighs once the door closes. “You’re alive. What happened to you?”

She looks up and meets his eyes, deeply comforting, yet just as terrifying. He’s usually so relaxed, seeing anxiety in his eyes strikes something in her. Her throat catches, unable to answer. She looks down again, eyes tracing the ridges of his hand.

“Let’s set you down somewhere,” Dimitri responds to the silence, setting her on a nearby table and squatting, backing up as to not flood her view. A nice gesture. One she doesn’t know how to take. “Were you okay with that guy? Was he telling the truth?”

Fatigue washes over her again at the thought of Rico. She didn’t pay attention. “Wh… what did he say?” she asks quietly, barely audible.

His gaze breaks further. “Oh, my god… you need rest. I’ll ask questions later. Let’s get you to bed for now. We can discuss once you’re in better shape.”

He softly scoops her up and carries her to her bedroom. It’s all the same, though much larger now. She’s set lightly on the mattress, a familiar feeling. Physically colder. Unoccupied. But warmer in every other way.

“I’ll check back in soon but let you rest up. Let’s talk about this more when Dad gets home.”

As soon as the door closes, she’s asleep.

Dimitri comes back in what feels like seconds later, lightly knocking on the door and waking up Margot. “Hey,” his voice floats through the room as her eyes open. “Feeling any better? You’ve been asleep all day. We want to make sure you’re fed.”

She looks up at her alarm clock on the nightstand. It’s almost 9:00 PM. She’s been asleep about ten hours. But she still feels her eyes drooping. Barely a wink of sleep for her.

With a yawn, she looks at Dimitri. “I guess,” she lands on an answer, not sure if he can hear her properly.

He takes her to the living room. A hundred questions are thrown to her- about her disappearance, her size, the guy who brought her back.

She doesn’t have a clear answer for most of them. Margot sits on the coffee table quietly after the brigade of interrogation, looking off into space.

“Well,” her dad caps off the session. “At least you’re back home, even if it’s in this state. It might not even last forever. Let’s just be thankful that young man was kind enough to bring you back as soon as he found you.”

Her eyes snap open wide, immediately looking to her father. Without skipping a beat, she bursts into tears.

By the end of the night, she’s asleep in bed again with therapy appointments lined up. Not that they’d matter. She can’t explain her height. She can’t explain her situation. If she talks about Rico one more time, she might pass out.

By the end of the week, she begins getting taller. She doesn’t have an explanation. No one really does. She gets a new phone too. There’s no telling where her old one went, but lost texts and pictures aren’t Margot’s biggest concern.

By the end of the month, she’s back to her normal size. If only she could go back to her normal mind.

Her therapist suggested a higher water intake. She’ll think clearer if she does, she’s told. A small suggestion in the grand scheme of things, but one she couldn’t help but laugh at. She’s been told that one before.

As she fills a glass of ice water, she looks over to the vegetables on her counter for a cucumber to cut into it. Hm, she notes. They ran out.

She’ll head to the store later to get some, she decides, rising the glass to her face and taking in the water. Once she lowers the glass, she pours a bit into her hand, letting it swirl around her palm. She holds her hand upside down over the sink, watching the small pool splash onto the bottom.

A part of her misses being able to hold a waterdrop and have it cling to her entire hand. A bigger part of her is happy she can’t anymore.