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As the light of the day began to fade, the front door to The Tipsy Capybara Tavern opened. Sitting around the tables, poring over battle plans and maps of the city, the finest strategic minds in Willowside looked up to regard the short, cloaked figure who had just entered.
White, fuzzy hands reached up to pull back the cloak's hood to reveal a pale kitsune visage with an unruly mop of bright red hair. Some of the patrons shouted in unison, "Midori!"
One of the mayor's aides, a middle-aged, blonde halfling woman who went by the name of Petunia Sunnyridge, called to her, "Midori! What news from the front?"
Her eyes adjusting to the ambient light, Midori turned toward Petunia and addressed the sparse crowd. "Good news! The Circus of Wayward Wonders has broken through the East Road blockade!" Scattered clapping came from various tables. "We stared down an' defeated three brontosauruses an' six xulgath roughriders." She raised her hand with two fingers extended. "I myself killed TWO of the dinosaurs!"
Some voices exclaimed, "Woo!" and "Yeah!"
"Sorry to say, but we couldn't retrieve all o' that meat to feed the town. It's too dangerous out there with all o' the xulgath patrols. But...." Midori took her backpack off and tossed it onto the bartop. She opened the flap and removed a thick parcel. "...I was able to cut a few filets and carry them myself." She turned to the tavernkeep. "Demetrius, please add these to the stewpot or whatever you can do with 'em. We gotta keep up our strength!"
The kitsune removed her cloak, revealing an olive flak jacket over a black commando sweater and cargo pants. Demetrius asked, "New look for ya, Midori?"
"We need stealth out there," Midori replied. "Guerrilla tactics. Can't go out in all o' my ringmaster splendor an' finery. Gotta be sneaky. Come in unnoticed an' take 'em unawares!" She mimed a strike with a rapier. "SHA-SHAH!"
She took a stool at the bar, placing a few silver pieces on the bartop. "Anyhow," she continued, "got anythin' wet an' stong I can drink?"
"Supplies are low, sorry," Demetrius scratched the back of his neck. "All the beer 'n' mead went to the townfolk defending the outer perimeter. The war council finished off the wine 'n' the best liquor. Got a few bottles of...hard-to-sell items left, though." He started counting off on his fingers. "Korn from the River Kingdoms. Boukha from Katapesh. Aguardente bagaçeira from Cheliax. Maotai baijiu from Lingshen."
"Hmm," Midori pondered, "Lingshen's never steered me wrong before. Let's try that baijiu." Demetrius retrieved the bottle and set it down on the bartop in front of her with a shot glass.
Midori filled her glass, threw the shot down her throat, then immediately coughed and wheezed. Catching her breath, she managed to squeak out, "YUP! That's the stuff. Nutty. Grain-forward. Savory. Leave the bottle."
Having settled in, Midori surveyed the tavern patrons, looking for another familiar face. There was no telling who she would run into on a night like this.
#feel free to join in if you know her#pathfinder#pathfinder 2e#pf2e#extinction curse#original character#kitsune#foxgirl#foxgirl friday#ic#oc rp
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The Wardens: An Unlikely Ally
Notes: Benjen Stark is a bit of a fun project for me. There's not much on him given his disappearances in the books, which means he'll be a fun canon to have join along the saga who really didn't have the chance to shine through. I know this might draw questions about Coldhands and so forth, but it's never actually confirmed that that IS Benjen.
Rating: M + Mature content, language, and violence
Masterlist | First | Next
The last thing he saw was a shadow swooping down from the sky and knocking the Other away from him. Afterward, everything was disjunct, muddled, and out of order. The woman, Tabitha was it?-she'd grabbed him and put him on some sort of mount. They had fled. How, he could not say, but he could remember the fierce burning of fiery eyes, hidden beneath the midnight cowl of the female as she'd glared at him earlier. There seemed to be quite a few things that Benjen had not seen before that night, to include wights, an Other, and a woman with eyes of fire. A blazing beacon amongst the frozen boughs of the haunted forest.
Then everything went dark and the pain ebbed away. He was floating in an abyss, nothing and everything at once. It took him a while to realize that he was dead and that there was no afterlife as the Seven preached, just an emptiness in which he conscious could float within and wonder if the woman had survived.
There would be no answers here, just eternal gripes and curiosities.
Until the darkness was juxtaposed by a flame, burning and twisting like serpentine tongues. Erring close, Benjen could see within the writhing fire, three dragons sailing overhead, toward Westeros. Death, war, famine, misery. But the dragons were not the worst of it, just a part of the machinations as the undead stole one, wielding it against their master and destroying the wall to unleash the unholy army upon the unsuspecting. No one knew that they were real. They were wetnurses' tales.
When he reached out to grab the vision, he gasped, the fire consuming his flesh and burning him. No, not burning as it should. He could feel each nerve, muscle, and fiber of his being twinging back into existence. Death had come for him, but a flaming hand had gripped and pulled him from perdition.
The ambivalence of the void faded and as he turned over where he laid, he heard voices in the distance.
"Were you told to bring him here?" he did not know this voice, but it chilled him to the bone, so youthful and yet scarred by the wisdom of centuries.
"I did what I felt was right," it was the fire-eyed woman, Tabitha. "It does not matter. He has died regardless of my help. Just as-"
"Just as intended?" the other filled in.
"I don't know! It was never confirmed, there were only theories," she hissed.
"Do you hear that?"
Only the crackling of the hearth in front of Benjen filled his ears with noise.
"No, Fang-"
But the companion had departed, leaving the woman huffing in frustration. Her footsteps drew nearer and she passed in front of the hearth, lean shoulders framed by the light as she had put away her cloak within the warmth of the room.
"What do you think, Balerion?" she spoke to another, a great shadow unfurling and tensing his heart. The creature that had knocked the Other back came into hazy focus, a thick lion's mane of feathers and fur encircling an enormous eagle's face, intelligent eyes glistening with the same bright flames as the woman who commanded him. After a moment of silence, she shook her head. "We probably won't be able to stay here much longer. Not with the Others marching. Who knows how far behind the Night King is."
"How do you know so much about them?" Benjen spoke hoarsely, his voice sounding as if he hadn't used it in days.
The both of them jumped, Tabitha whirling with her hand on her sword as she gazed down intently where he was laying. "How the fuck- " she started, interrupted only by the slapping of barefeet against stone. Turning a corner, the other voice's visage came into view, and Benjen was shocked into silence once again, staring at a boy of legend. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so startled, but clutched in his tawny arms was a miniature version of the griffin that had fluffed up indignantly. Only the feathers of the fledgling was grey dappled with black.
"Another Warden has been born," he declared, feline eyes turning toward Benjen.
"Fang, that doesn't even make sense. How could he have been..." but she didn't finish her question, dark brows snaring together. "You're still Benjen Stark, aren't you?"
He didn't understand the question, but decided to humor her. "Yes."
"I am not here to explain how things work," Fang scowled. "He has been reborn as a Warden. That means he's been given insight."
"I should get back to the Wall. If what I saw was true, I need to warn everyone," Benjen decided, sitting up and pulling back the cloak that had been strewn over him.
"Your watch ended, Warden. You died and were reborn," the creature, Fang, asserted.
"I still have a duty to Westeros, to my people-"
"Tell me, Stark, what is it you're going to tell everyone that will make them believe you?" Tabitha inquired, leaning against the forge, so that he was able to really observe the woman's face. She did not look or sound Westerosi. If anything, he thought she appeared more Dornish, despite lacking their accent. Her skin was a faded olive from missing the warmth of the sun this far north, her bright eyes framed by dark lashes, and her lips curved in a mocking manner. Dark brown hair had been shorn to fall thick and straight to her collar, parted in the middle and slightly wavy from being pressed beneath a hood. There was a roguish charm to her, nothing quite soft and dainty or willowy as most men preferred in a lady, but this woman was no flower. She had wielded a sword well enough and was tall and lean. Perhaps comely could be used to describe her, the symmetry of her face, but her eyes were also haunting.
"The Others are real and that-" he was going to express his knowledge of the dragons, that they would be coming to Westeros and that there would be war and strife, juxtaposed by the fact that the long night was looming on the horizon. Yet, as he tried to put this knowledge to word, he found himself choking on air, his voice failing him.
"That's what I thought," she remarked smugly, lifting the hand she'd injured during the fight, which was now bound. "Whatever you know, you won't be able to verbalize it. One of the Wardens' most redeeming features. For everything we know, our words shall not serve us, our actions must."
"I can warn them of the Others at the very least," he groused.
"Can you? If you return to Castle Black, they will not understand your rebirth or your need to leave on a moment's notice. We are slaves to the will of the one who saved us, the Lord of Light, R'hllor. Would it not be better for you to be thought to be dead than to have to abandon your post when the Lord of Light commands it?" Tabitha challenged.
"I don't serve this Lord of Light," Benjen rejected, shaking his head.
"Then you'd be dead. It was He who revived you. Are the words not ' Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death '? Your watch has ended and a new one has begun," Tabitha stood up, pacing the length of the room to retrieve supplies from an alcove in the stone.
"Not as if I was given the choice to make an oath in this circumstance," Benjen grimaced, wondering what else would be expected of him as a 'Warden'.
"Don't sound so thrilled. I wasn't given a choice either. Burned to death and woke up here with Balerion," she jerked her thumb over toward the magnificent beast. "Trust me, it doesn't make much sense, but I've just learned to stop questioning it. Here, you must be starving-" she returned with a waterskin, jerky, and black bread. Sitting nearby, she placed her elbows on her knees and hunched forward.
"Burned to death?" Benjen considered, glancing over her once again. "This Lord of Light really knows how to pick his champions, hm?"
The woman snickered. "I didn't feel it. Was unconscious from the smoke beforehand," her eyes flickered over toward Fang. "But this little welp is yours, just as Balerion is my partner. A Warden is a guide, a keeper of knowledge, and wargs-" The griffin was set on the floor as she continued to explain their plight, waiting on the Lord of Light to task them with their duty before sending them on the holy mission to aid in altering the future. While she spoke, the young creature, no larger than a house cat, stumbled on weak feet and tumbled unceremoniously before him, head too heavy for the rest of its tiny body.
He could not deny that there seemed to be a connection between them, the excitement palpable and rolling of the griffin in waves. The features of the little one were unlike the large obsidian one across the room, lacking the immense mane. Rather, his fur was thicker, the plumage of his feathers not as defined or prominent. In a way, the griffin had more canine features, a thick tail, and broader ear tufts.
The Wardens themselves were a rather ambiguous group, something he'd never heard of and yet here he sat with one and their griffin. Had it not been for his own revival from death and the mythical beast pawing at his leg, he might've scoffed at the information being passed over to him. One oath down and a new job set before him, Benjen resigned himself to the fact that his life was eternally destined to be interlaced with servitude. Only now, the complexities of magic and the fantastic had their own roles to play. Everything he'd thought was little more than old wive's tales, turning out to hold substance. Even the legend of the Children of the Forest was worth its salt, Fang erring near the entrance of the warm hearth room as Tabitha explained that their days were numbered.
Finally, the short being departed, leaving just the Wardens and their partners in the room. By now, the griffin had found its way into his lap and had curled up, wrapping its tail around its talons. "They won't do us much good against dragons, but so far I don't regret having Balerion by my side. We wouldn't have made it out of the haunted forest without him."
Dragons. His interest piqued, wondering how much she knew about the topic. "Dragons are dead, aren't they?"
"For now, give it a few more months' time-" Tabitha snorted, brows snaring together as the comment fell from her lips. Confusion was blatant on her face, her spine stiffening as she sat up and stared at him, almost in an accusing manner. "Dragons are going to be reborn once Khal Drogo is burned on a pyre. In which Daenerys Targaryen shall acquire 3 dragons."
He knew that name. The daughter of King Aerys, who had somehow survived the sacking of Dragonstone. Her family wasn't as fortunate. "You know then... That they're going to come here and one will fall into the clutches of the Others-" His tongue was no longer tied, the future spilling from his lips unhindered.
"I... know a lot of things," Tabitha admitted darkly. "Wardens can share information with Wardens..." she muttered, rubbing her face thoughtfully before glancing back toward him. "Makes sense, I guess... I suppose we'll also be able to tell when there's an eavesdropper or intruder."
"So Daenerys Targaryen is going to come to Westeros with 3 dragons," Benjen pieced together, the images he'd seen not possessing a narrative to go along with it.
"Yes, with intentions of taking the Iron Throne for herself. She will realize she needs to help destroy the army of the undead, but there's still a lot of unknown... how dominoes might fall now that you've survived," Tabitha sighed.
"I wasn't supposed to survive?"
"You were supposed to disappear and be presumed dead," Tabitha told him. "As far as I know, you never returned... but then again, all I know is script, not images."
"Then... if we're to be successful, I need to understand everything."
"If I tell you everything, you must understand that we have to adhere to what we're assigned to alter, because a lot of it has to deal with your family," Tabitha warned.
"I've taken oaths before and sworn myself to other causes. I think I can handle what you have to tell me."
That is what Benjen thought before Tabitha sighed and started from the beginning, recounting things that she was not around to witness, speaking in poetry like a prophet that had written the lines of their lives on parchment. She was right, he was not prepared for the intricacies of the world that he would have been better off being daft to. His derision and distrust of the Lannisters deepened, his breath quickening as he learned that it was they that hurt Bran and wished his death. But that was only the most minor of the plights to face House Stark. From the death of his brother at the hand of the Lannisters, to the rise of his nephew as a king, the betrayal and hurt was too much to bear.
Yet, Benjen sat, as it was his duty as a Warden. The web was not only woven with the Starks, but many other faces and names, some of which he was familiar with and others he was not. For as snarky as the woman seemed, Tabitha had an impeccable memory and a talent to retell this all like a story.
When she stopped, he lifted his head to gaze intently at her, his chest aching, but wondering why she'd ended so abruptly. "What happens after? With Jon, with Arya-"
"I can only speculate, that is where my true knowledge of the events of the future ends. You tell me that Daenerys will come to Westeros and lose a dragon to the Night King. Jon will likely be revived by the Lord of Light... Arya will continue her trials to become a Faceless Man, but the others--if we change the future, none of this is certain," Tabitha pointed out tenderly, remarkably softer than she had been previously.
He shouldn't have expected for all of the answers, especially given how much she knew and the years between now and when she'd ended, but... he really wished he knew what became of them. Already, he knew that many of them would die, including Ned, Robb, and Catelyn. In his gut, he wanted to go to them, to free them of their fate, but as he'd had his duty to the Watch, he had to trust in the Lord of Light to give him the opportunity to save them.
"I'll... give you some time alone. I know it's a lot to process," Tabitha stood up, stretching her back like a feline that had lounged out in the sun for too long, before striding away, glancing toward her griffin companion before departing from the chamber.
Benjen sat in silence, wondering if he would have been better off dead than with the vast knowledge and pressure he now felt.
*
"You're leaving yourself wide open," Benjen chastised, smacking Tabitha hard on the side of her arm with the flat of his blade.
"Right, well, my sincerest apologies for not wielding a sword since I could walk," she combatted haughtily, frustrated by her inability to best him.
It wasn't that she was a bad swordsman. In fact, she was quick as a whip and relentless when she was on the offense. However, she seemed to forget that her advantage in speed was outweighed by a man's strength. She often put herself in positions in which she could be placed out of balance and then open for attack. The form was there, as was the finesse, but he had learned by now that Tabitha had a bit of a temper that he could play like a harp. Against most men, she'd win, but against true savants or those that had spent years honing their craft, they'd pick up on the same chinks in her skill as he did.
The Roost was not a bad place, nor his newest companions too disagreeable. It had taken him a little while to grow accustomed to Tabitha's frank attitude and lack of decorum, but he likened it to comrades speaking to one another, not a woman to a man. Putting aside the facets of gender, Benjen found that Tabitha was responsible, reliable, and someone he would have liked to work alongside in the Night's Watch had she been a man. Now, as two Wardens with the task of saving the future that they knew, he was glad that he was with someone as capable as Tabitha, who seemed to have an uncanny memory and been given a scholarly education.
"React less emotionally," Benjen challenged, unable to stop himself from grinning as he thought of the times he'd told Jon the same thing when he was just a young boy. Or perhaps even Arya, who would have loved to be given the chance to be a warrior as a woman. He did not know how Tabitha's talents would transition in Westeros, given the fact a woman wielding a sword was nearly always unacceptable. Trying to think of her in a dress was amusing, as he'd only ever known her in trousers and armor, seemingly somewhat of a permanent fixture for the woman in place of what he'd grown up knowing females should wear.
Her nostrils flared and she came at him again, twisting Fate around in a counterclockwise motion before he parried the blow. The weight was light, barely a kiss of steel against steel, warning him that he'd fallen for the feint. Still, the man was quick enough to see as she redirected herself. Twisting his wrist to counter the next, he was astonished when she dropped beneath his blade and swept her leg beneath him, hooking a boot behind his leg and jerking him right off his feet.
Benjen slammed down hard on his back, collapsing into the remnants of an old nest, muscles groaning in protest from the hard, stone floor than embraced him. Tabitha loomed over him, pointing the triangular tip of her longsword down at him.
"How long?" he muttered, sitting up and accepting the glove she'd offered him to pull him back to his feet.
"How long what?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"How long were you pretending to cross?"
Tabitha scoffed, as if offended that she'd play that game, but sheathed her sword. "I figured it out a couple of days ago. You always pointed out my anger, so I decided to set a trap."
"It took you a couple of days to set the trap?" Benjen poked.
"Well, there'd be no fun in closing it right away. Especially when you were being wary of me calming down enough to give you a run for your coin," Tabitha shrugged. "Still don't think a trick like that will be enough to defeat an Other, but it's progress."
"Probably not," Benjen agreed.
Tabitha's head whipped toward the grin in the mountainside where the griffins could come and go as they pleased. She had a better sense of when Balerion was arriving, her warging abilities more finely tuned over the years than his own. While he might be a better swordsman, Tabitha had him in the category of magic. "Look who's brought back quite a catch," she whistled, placing her hands on her hips as Balerion flung an elk corpse in through the opening. "Let's carve it up before it decides that we're supper."
The powerful griffin landed soon after, followed closely by Torrhen, who was a little uncertain on his wings, but managed to keep up as he grew into a gawky state where his talons were becoming too large for him to know what to do with. Dropping his own prize of a fat rabbit, he glanced expectantly toward Benjen, waiting for praise.
“Better than last time,” he remarked, bending down to brush the thick ears of the griffin down affectionately. “You’d better eat it quickly.”
Torrhen glanced from his rabbit and then to the elk, poising the silent question as to if they needed to share his catch too.
“No, you’re growing. Eat that yourself. Balerion brought plenty enough back to share.” No sooner had he said that did the massive beast dig its talons into the back of the carcass. Twisting, it snapped the spine and helped divide the elk in half, leaving the left side of the body for them to dress. Dragging the rest away, Balerion threw an expectant look at Torrhen, the tiny counterpart hobbling after his much larger brother.
“Ruined the pelt,” Tabitha chastised Balerion, who let out a huff in disdain at her dismay. She drew her knife and began working, Benjen crouching beside her to assist. It was dirty work, but the griffins were keen on the organs and head, so there’d be no reason to dispose of the waste, instead leaving the mess clustered in the roosting area of the mountain as they divided the remaining elk and dragged it toward the Hearth.
Sitting by the warmth of the eternally burning forge, they worked in relative silence. There wasn’t always a need for conversation and Benjen was unbothered by the woman’s company. Salting and hanging large haunches in the back of the room, the work took a few hours, but would result in a couple weeks worth of food for the both of them. The griffins had been retrieving food as of late, Fang citing that it was too dangerous for them all to go out and hunt after hearing the harrowing tale of their encounter with the Other.
Tabitha sat up on one of the benches, rubbing the arm that he’d taken the flat of his blade to absentmindedly. Her eyes were fixated on the twisting wreath of flames within the forge. A forge that neither of them knew how to use, nor why it was in this mountain. It gave them warmth and protection from the darkness of the frozen north, but otherwise its existence was a mystery. Her brows pressed together and she stood, taking a few paces toward the fire.
Benjen tilted his head, gazing toward the hearth in an effort to notice what she was transfixed upon. Tongues leapt out at him, images burning a path across the fire, a dragon’s shadow lifting to reveal a beautiful city and a crowd of impressive, queerly dressed people as they gave gifts to a young girl. A rotund, greasy man opened a chest and presented three calcified eggs.
“It’s been decided,” Tabitha muttered.
Did she see what he saw?
“We are flying to Pentos.”
#game of thrones fanfiction#game of thrones fanfic#a song of ice and fire fanfic#asoiaf fanfiction#asoiaf fanfic#reincarnation insert#added lore#freeform#the ability to change the future but with a twist#romance is not the main theme#BAMF female OC#benjen stark#buirbaby writes#the wardens
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Temptation (M)
pairing: jennie / (fem) reader
word count: 3.5k
genre: smut
desc: succubus!au -- “Does it matter who I am? I'm your temptation and temptation is such an easy pill to swallow – so sweet and addictive. Become addicted, kitten, and let it ruin you. Let me ruin you.”
--
The face on the opposite side of the room looked familiar – though you couldn't quite remember. Hair tightly tied back and ostentatious bands of diamonds dangling from her wrists and ears, she leaned against the mahogany of the bar. You were sure you'd met her before, perhaps in a dream but her face was unmistakable.
You closed your eyes, struggling to recall the memories lost to you. Your mind brought a scene into focus – blurry but familiar. Colorful drinks and a bustling atmosphere splashed behind your eyelids. Familiar bars made of mahogany accompanied chairs with cushions of velvet. Your hand ghosted over the seat beneath you, the same fabric greeting your fingertips. It was the same, in fact, everything was the same.
Your twenty first birthday came back to life, playing coarsely like old film damaged by years of neglect. The sound of your friends giggling, huddled around you with childlike enthusiasm, rang in your ears. Discerning their words was more difficult than you'd imagined, their sentences a series of broken syllables. A sharp ache throbbed against your temple and you relinquished, focusing once more on the scenery. They were pointing, you realized, following the direction with a careful gaze.
Amongst the crowd, a woman leaned against the bar. A fog settled in the room and you strained your eyes, struggling to make out her figure through it. Slowly, so slowly, she drew closer and, like a camera lens finally coming into focus, you could see her clearly.
“Is this seat taken?” The proximity of her voice startled you and your eyes hastily fluttered open to reveal her standing mere inches from your body, very clear and very much palpable. Confusion clouded your mind and you wondered why it had wandered and conjured those delusional thoughts. You remembered that day just fine, after all, how could you have forgotten your own birthday? Your friends had taken you to a fancy bar and you drank a little, and then – and then – your mind drew a blank. The only thing you could remember was waking up the next morning with a sharp headache and the taste of alcohol on your tongue. The woman drew your attention back to her with a light hum, “Cat got your tongue? Can I offer you a drink then?”
She placed a wineglass in front of you, cherry liquid sloshing against the sides. Without waiting for an answer, she slid into the seat across from you. Her dress shifted as she crossed one leg over the other and you tried not to stare but you'd have been lying if you said you hadn't noticed. She caught your gaze, a smirk pulling at her strawberry glossed lips. Embarrassment warmed your cheeks as you pressed the glass of wine to your lips, expecting a bitter sting as you tilted your head back but a honey-like sweetness greeted your tongue instead and you wondered if it was even alcohol at all.
You couldn't bring yourself to look her in the eyes, finger tracing the rim of the wineglass as you set it back on the table. “Perhaps...” you began to speak, worrying the skin of your lower lip between your teeth before continuing. “Have we, perhaps, met before?”
The woman chuckled, gilded nails tapping rhythmically against the tabletop. “Curious are you, kitten?” You nodded, heart skipping a beat at the pet name. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her open palm and, for no logical reason you could place, you couldn't help but wish she's come just an inch closer and press her lips to yours. “Then tell me...” she trailed off, recapturing your wandering gaze with hers. “What will you give me for the answer to that question?”
“What is that you want?”
“What I want?” she echoed, standing from her seat to approach you. Leaning down, she pressed her lips to your ear. “You know the answer to that question already – you just need to remember it.”
Her fingertips brushed lightly over the skin of your upper arm before she turned to walk away. Rationally, you knew you should have ran in the opposite direction as fast as your legs could have taken you, yet, something deep within you – some kind of primal ache or dark desire perhaps – urged you forward instead. Even the chair screeched in protest as you stood, ignoring every warning sign and following her receding visage. You could no longer see her but the click of her heels against the glossy marble floor echoed through the room. Past the bar and empty tables, you stood before a dimly lit hallway. White walls and bright lights greeted you as you stepped further into it, yet, there was no trace of the woman you were seeking. Your legs urged you forward nonetheless, an inexplicable desperation weighing at your heart.
With each step, the walls seemed to narrow and the lights seemed to brighten until you were forced to shield your eyes lest you be blinded. Panic began to rise in your throat and your pace escalated more and more until you were sprinting down the corridor, chasing after the footsteps sounding at the other end – one that seemed impossible to reach. Suddenly, a hand grabbed your wrist, spinning you around and tugging you into an adjacent room.
Spots of white fading from your vision, you took in the dimly lit room. Walls of olive green were illuminated by scattered candles and, on the far side, the woman sat on cream colored sheets. Dark eyes holding you captive, you absentmindedly traveled in her direction until you were standing before her recumbent form. With a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, she stood. “Do remember yet?”
You shook your head and she laughed as if she'd told a joke that only she knew the punchline to. “Of course you don't. You couldn't possibly unless I let you, after all.”
“Unless you let me? What's that supposed to mean?” you prompted, nearly driven mad by the memories lost to you and your inability to recall them. “Can't you just tell me who you are? We've met before haven't we?”
“Full of questions, aren't you?” she hummed, circling you like a predator assessing her prey. “Who do you think I am?”
She took a step forward and you had to suppress the urge to take one back. “Just tell me.”
She smirked, head tilting and hand lifting to caress your cheek. “Now where's the fun in that?” she questioned, chuckling at the downward curve of your lips. “...though I suppose I could give you a hint.”
Before you could reply or even process her mumbled words, plush lips had already collided with yours almost as harshly as the memories that came pouring into your mind. You remembered colorful drinks and mahogany wood and her. You remembered her – the pretty young woman who sweet talked you into accompanying her home.
You remembered tangled sheets and desire as dark as night. You remembered pulling away with swollen lips and a cloudy mind – even with all the alcohol coursing through your veins, you knew something wasn't right. She was dangerous and you could feel it in every heated touch. You remembered forcing down the desire with fortitude you didn't know you possessed and asking her to take you home. She agreed, ending your encounter with a kiss a goodnight, unknown to you that she was taking your memories of her as she turned away.
A dull ache pounded in your head as she pulled away from you. “You were such a clever kitten back then, knowing just when to run away,” she breathed against your lips. “It doesn't seem you have the same resolve anymore.”
“You didn't answer my question...” you mumbled, the thought almost lost between the newly returned memories and the taste of her still lingering on your lips.
“Does it matter who I am? I'm your temptation and temptation is such an easy pill to swallow – so sweet and addictive. Become addicted, kitten, and let it ruin you. Let me ruin you.”
You could hear your own heartbeat in the silence following her demand. You didn't know how you'd managed to tear yourself away from her on that night but what you knew for sure was that she was right. Whether it was the alcohol slowly consuming your rationality or your touch-starved sensibility, you couldn't find the drive to do it again.
You found yourself drawn to her as if she was the source of gravity itself. With a knowing smirk tugging at her lips, she nosed against your jawline until her lips reached your ear. You exhaled shakily at the heat caressing your skin. “What's your answer, kitten?” Her slender fingers played with the button of your blouse, tracing it but not moving to undo it. “I won't do anything you don't want-” You whimpered as she pulled away. “-but if I leave this time, I won't seek you out again. This is your last chance to give into the temptation you're so desperately seeking.”
You worried your lower lip between your teeth, faking your hesitation as if your decision wasn't already made the moment you first laid eyes on her. Hands cupping her cheeks, you leaned forward, crashing your lips to hers. That's all it took for her to have you flipped over, shoulders colliding with silk as she followed you down, lips never leaving your own. She pulled your blouse from beneath your tight-fitted skirt, hand slipping beneath it to caress the warm skin. Your stomach dipped under her touch, her fingertips sending electricity straight to your core.
You breathed a curse against her lips and she chuckled. “I've barely touched you yet...” Popping open the uppermost button of your blouse, a spark ignited in her eyes at the newly exposed skin. “You're not going to come undone before I even get the chance to pleasure you, are you?” You meekly shook your head and she grinned. “That's a good girl.”
Mouth lowering, she took your skin between her teeth, sucking colorful bruises into your collarbones. You whined, fingers tangling in her chestnut locks. She hushed you, soothing her tongue over the offended area. More buttons joined the first as she made her way down, almost losing the last one to her impatience. Gently, she smoothed her palms over the warmth of your hips before directing them behind your back to unhook your bra. Pushing the lacy material upwards, her eyes darkened at the exposed skin and, with heated cheeks, you quickly moved to cover yourself with your arms. The woman tsked, capturing your wrists with her slender fingers and trapping them above your head.
“None of that now, kitten. Be a good girl and keep your hands here.” The more prideful part of you would have protested had it been anyone else, yet her command sent heat rushing between your thighs instead and you nearly begged her to hold you down and take you however she saw fit. You settled on nodding submissively and a grin spread across her lips before they descended to press soft kisses against your breasts. Her fingers danced across your skin, the tingling of a thousand tiny flames trailing behind them. Desiring more than her gentle and fleeting touches, you arched your spine towards her in the hopes that she'd take the hint. Her dark gaze captured yours at the action, eyes narrowing in a silent warning as she nipped harshly at the supple flesh of your chest. “If you want me to tie you up and take you that way just say so – although – I think you'll want something to hold onto when I finally let you cum.”
A whine caught in your throat as you let yourself fall into the plush of the comforter, body completely at her mercy – or lack thereof. Satisfied with your submission, she continued her ministrations, discarding your skirt somewhere between her delicate kisses and brief caresses. Slowly, she made her way down, lips trailing the expanse of your stomach and hips until she captured the lace of your panties between her teeth. A shudder wracked through your body as she tugged them down the length of your legs, dark gaze never leaving your own.
She let the material drop softly against the comforter, eyes trailing your exposed form, ready and waiting for whatever wicked plans she had in store for you. An impish glint came to life in her eyes at the sight before she descended, hands prying your legs apart and mouth at your core. You sucked in a breath at the sudden change. Her chaste and fleeting touches became fervent, sinful lips keen on devouring you whole and it took all of your willpower not to tangle your fingers in her dark strands and press her closer, begging her to do just that.
You gasped, seeing stars as she plunged her tongue into your dripping core. “Oh my god, I-”
She pulled away, gaze burning into yours and silencing the protest forming on your lips. “Believe me, kitten...” her voice was an octave lower and if you weren't soaked before you definitely were now. “God has nothing to do with this.”
With that, she delved between your legs once more, tongue circling your sensitive bundle of nerves with enough pressure to drive you crazy but not enough to send you spiraling towards the end you so desperately sought. Lost in the pleasure, you bucked your hips against her mouth, realizing only when you felt the sting of her palm connect with your bottom.
“Behave,” she warned, nipping harshly at the skin of your inner thigh. A whine caught in your throat, the sharp tingles sending pleasure coursing straight to your core.
“I will, just... please,” you begged breathlessly, throwing your head back against the pillows.
You could feel her smirk against your thigh. “I waited so long to have you like this – to touch you, to taste you,” she bit down once more, sucking harshly on the skin until a mark of violet bloomed beneath her teeth. “If I want to take my sweet time with you, I will, and you're going to wait just like I did. Understood, kitten?”
Choking on an objection, you nodded your head and let your eyes flutter shut. You thought you heard something akin to a praise slip past her lips before she was between your legs again, taking you over with no remorse. Hands searching desperately for the rails of the headboard and teeth forming crescents on the supple skin of your lower lip, you struggled to keep your mind grounded, afraid you'd lose it to the woman currently driving you to the brink of insanity.
A moan sounded in the back of your throat, urging her on further in her endeavor to make you taste sweet oblivion. It was criminal how well she knew your body, finding every sweet spot and exploiting each and every one without a sliver of hesitation. Her tongue was merciless, stealing every breath from your lungs that weren't a sound of pleasure. A supernova burned beneath your eyelids, threatening to burst at the slightest of contact – and she didn't seem to have any plans of stopping.
Within moments every thought and feeling besides the fire coursing through your veins was obliterated, white hot desire ripping strangled moans past your lips and sending your hips rutting up in a carnal chase for friction. Even as your legs closed around her ears, she continued, holding your waist to the mattress with an iron grip until specks of ebony painted your vision. Just as you teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, she finally relented.
Gasping for breath and grasping fistfuls of silken sheets, you attempted to calm your racing heart, failing miserably as you stole a glance downwards. You almost came a second time at the sight of her still between your legs, a lazy grin on her swollen lips as she lapped up the remnants of your arousal. A sinister chuckle sounded in the otherwise silent room as she crawled over you, hand splayed across your chest rising and falling with strained breaths.
“Are you tired, kitten? Did I wear you out?” You couldn't bring yourself to answer, blushing at her incessant teasing. Hand lifting to caress your heated cheek, a cocky grin spread across her face. “I think I got my answer.” Daring to glare at her, a pout formed on your lips that she took as an invitation to press a kiss to. You could taste yourself on her tongue as she pried your lips open, lingering for only a moment before withdrawing. “That's what you get for playing with a succubus.”
A hint of disbelief tainted your rationality but your tired mind played along nonetheless, after all, half of you expected to wake up the next morning and find it to be nothing more than a wet dream. “A succubus? Don't they usually seduce men?”
The woman outright laughed, pressing her lips to the corner of your jaw. “And miss this?” Her teeth gently grazed your earlobe, fingertips burning a trail down your torso. “No way.”
“Miss what? Women? Or me?”
She hummed thoughtfully, fingers tapping a rhythm against your ribcage. “Women, of course – their touch, their taste, their souls.” A touch of garnet colored her dark irises and you shrunk back against the pillows. “What? Scared?” You swallowed thickly, shaking your head. “Foolish human, you should be.”
“This is just a dream, you can't hurt me.”
“Oh? You're sure about that?” she cocked an eyebrow in amusement. “And if it's not?”
Squirming beneath her piercing gaze, you swallowed thickly. “You won't hurt me.”
She threw her head back laughing. “Oh but I will – slowly, so painfully slow – I'm going to break you down piece by piece and savor your soul for as long as I possibly can.” She ran her thumb over your quivering lower lip. “But don't worry, you'll enjoy it, I can promise you that.”
“And if I say no?”
Her smug expression never faltered as she regarded you. “Are you confident that you can? Even amongst millions of other humans, I haven't been able to get you out of my head since I tasted you that night, so what makes you think you'll have the drive to resist me? Are you sure you can resist the temptation, kitten?” Staring doe-eyed at her, you searched desperately for a hint of denial within yourself but found none. “And let's not forget that you drew me here with your own sinful desires.”
You choked down the lump forming in your throat, wavering momentarily between your curiosity and your fear of knowing the truth before settling on the former. “What do you mean?”
“Do you have any idea how many times I'd considered throwing you over my shoulder since the night you rejected me? How many times I had to stop myself from making you beg me to fuck you until you forgot everything but my name?” she nearly growled, fingernails lightly scraping against the skin of your ribcage. “But even demons have their manners, and occasionally rules, so I left you be. The thing about humans though is that they always squander their second chances, isn't that right, kitten?”
Her words were accusing though your tired mind couldn't place why. “I don't understand...”
“Of course you don't, I'm sure you had no idea you were a walking beacon of carnal desire. I bet you were none the wiser that every night as your fingers were wandering between those pretty little thighs of yours, every demon in the vicinity was jumping at the chance to slip into whatever sinful little fantasy was playing in your mind. If it wasn't me, another demon would have claimed you as theirs and I couldn't have them taking what was rightfully mine to begin with, now could I?” A soft moan escaped at her words and a knowing smirk tugged at her lips. “Oh, and should I let you in on a secret? This is just another of your fantasies. You're going to wake up in the morning with no trace that I ever existed except for the cum stain in your panties and your inevitable desire for me to return.”
“...Are you going to return?”
An impish glint shone in her eyes, a smug expression that proved that was exactly the response she was hoping for. “Maybe.”
“But-”
She pressed a finger to your lips. “Save your begging for tomorrow night, shamelessly beg for me so every demon and entity knows just who you belong to. I won't lay a finger on you until the whole underworld has heard my name from your lips.”
“But I don't-”
“-know my name?” she finished, pressing her lips to your ear, her fingertips dancing over the goose flesh of your breast. “It's Jennie. Remember it, kitten, because the next time we meet, I'm going to make you forget everything else but those two syllables.”
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TPR071618 - In the Serpent’s Coils
Galumak opened the door to a the smell of death and the flicker of a dozen torches in a distant chamber. A hall stretched from the back of the small open room that stood before them into a larger chamber. A clocked figure prostrated themselves before the looming stone visage of a twelve foot serpents, it’s head was that of a woman with her eyes wide and mouth agape. Fangs hung from the top row of teeth and seemed to shine with a terrible life.
“Looks like we found our necromancer.” Raam brushed a hand against one of the three wooden slab tables lined up neatly in the center of the room. Although made of new wood, they appeared older due to a dark staining. A reddish brown hue that was unmistakably dried blood.
Raam kept his voice low, eyes straight forward on the figure in the distance. “You two ready?”
No answer was offered. Instead, Galumak pulled out the shortsword he had pilfered from the assassin’s corpse. He could feel the magic pulsing through the hilt, traveling up his arm. Guiding him, allowing him to strike true. He strode boldly into the hall, followed by his companions. As they broke the threshold into the larger chamber, the figure slowly rose to his feet and turned to face them.
“You have proven quite bothersome.” The face underneath the cowl was shriveled and pale, though his eyes were bright with a youth that suggested age had nothing to do with his appearance. “Given your talents I am prepared to-”
“I’m done talking.” Raam thrust his palm forward and shot a blast of eldrich power that struck the necromacer square in the chest. Like a child’s doll being thrown against a wall, he flew backwards and struck the mighty stone alter before collapsing onto the floor with a pained groan. His eyes glared at them with a dark fury, a gravely voice muttered some magical spell and a shimmering veil appeared around him.
The air just in front of Raam’s face displaced as some dark object cut through it with tremendous speed. He was so focused upon preparing his next attack he almost missed the second projectile that followed in quick succession.
“TO YOUR RIGHT!” Lash tossed a ball of flame to the eastern wall, where shadows had collected where it met the floor. Something was growing out of the darkness, like smoke billowing from a pipe, only blacker, and thicker like ink. In the light of their flame, Lash watched as the smoke writhed into the air and collected itself, slowly taking shape to that of a ghostly figure. It had no legs that reached the ground, but it had long spindly arms with fingers like the legs of a spider. And they were reaching out towards Raam.
Forewarned by his companion, Raam through out his arm just as the smokey figure reached him. It’s hands struck his gauntlet and dissipated into smoke once more. Through the armor, Raam felt a chill that rippled through his bones, like a blast of winter. The hellfire in his blood quickly chased away the cold. Turning, he countered the creature with a blast of eldrich power that sent it hurtling towards the wall. It struck the packed earth and exploded into wisps of darkness.
Galumak pressed the tip of his blade into the invisible barrier and thrust all his might into it. It refused to budge or even bend at his might, allowing the dark priest to stand and reach for a mighty hammer left leaning at the side of the alter. The head was made of heavy stone and carved into the face of a serpent. Hefting it in one hand he dropped the veil and sent the hammer crashing into Galumak’s chest.
Pain exploded through his body, he stumbled backwards doubled over, grinding his teeth. Through strained eyes, he watched as the priest readied for another attack. He wouldn’t be given the chance. Pushing through the pain, Galumak rose and plunged the blade straight through the man’s exposed mid-section. The hammer that had been held at the ready aloft fell to the damp ground with a sickening thud. The priest fell only when Galumak withdrew his blade, eyes wide in utter shock. He had thought himself like unto god, his mortality all too evident now.
“You OK?” Lash examined Raam’s arm, where the ghost-like being had connected with him had withered the armor. It was dry and brittle, the skin underneath was even redder than usual.
“Fine, thanks for the heads-up.” He took a step towards the priest before a flash of dizziness overtook him. Suddenly he felt as though he had not slept in days, and his legs could barely hold his weight.
“You are not ‘fine.’ Here...” Lash caught him as he fell, lifting him onto their shoulders before placing a hand on his chest. The room filled with the smell of damp grass after a fresh rain, and though there were no windows, warm sunlight fell upon the Teifling. Slowly, he felt a pleasant warmth shoot through his body, strengthening his legs, and filling him with vigor.
“I have no idea what that thing was, but all it had to do was touch you to do some serious damage. Best we take a rest before pushing forward.”
“Yes...that sounds wise.”
“Galumak?” Lash turned back to find the half-orc standing in front of the 12 foot obsidian statue that loomed upon the altar. In his hands, the serpent hammer was gripped tightly though still as if some repulsive object. In one smooth arc. Galumak swung the hammer wide, striking the statue on the side of the Naga’s gaping mouth. The obsidian shattered and large chunks were sent crashing onto the floor.
Almost immediately the wooden panel behind the alter fell away, revealing a long dark hall that led into a chamber lit with a faint glowing light. The three looked at each other in confusion.
“A secret door?” Galumak examined the hammer before dropping it to the floor. “Did I do that?”
“The head, look.” Lash pointed to a clean line that ran around the neck of the statue. The head, or rather what was left of it, had been twisted on this pivot to one side. They looked back at Raam. “Still thinking we rest first?”
“Yes. We take nothing to chance down here. Remember, it’s not just our lives we forfeit if we fail.”
Both Galumak and Lash found it hard to argue with that. After claiming a set of keys, the only object on the priest’s person, they retreated to the cells where they might regain their strength.
---
The eerie green glow had awaited them patiently, it’s luminescence barely more than that of a candle only steadier, unfaltering. The three could smell and hear water in the distance, but that wasn’t unexpected. It seemed everywhere they turned in this place water had either seeped up from the ground or had flooded in by the heavy rains. Why would this new chamber be any different?
Galumak led them forward, his shortsword held at the ready, head buzzing with the memory of several gulps of wine. The fire in his veins was numbed for the moment, he just hoped he hadn’t overdone it. Unless there was an even lower floor to this place, it would not be long before they met this Naga. He would need his wits about him.
The hidden path behind the altar did not curve or bend, but led directly into a cavernous chamber beyond. The closer they got, the easier it was to see in the faint light. Another underground lake filled most of the space, ornately carved pillars rising from the waters periodically, covered in a bio-luminescent moss that provided the strange green light. But there was something else glittering in the soft light, just out of the corner of his eye.
Treasure. An immense pile of coin and gems massed in a disorganized heap on a patch of dry land to his right as they entered the chamber. It sat upon a crumbling marble dais, bordered on two sides by more marble pillars marked with age. Despite the small number of them, their arrangement gave the impression of a temple frozen in time. This temple’s god, sat coiled in wait upon her hoard of tributes.
“So they come, like all the others to bask in my glorious presence.” Explictica Defilius, Naga of the Rushmores, God to the Serpant cult, rose up to peer down at the three adventurers. Black stringy hair hung from her scalp like lake weed, wet and glistening. Her womanly features were not entirely human, the eyes larger, sharper in the corners, and her cheek bones looked as they could cut diamond. The serpentine coils of her lower half were black as night, striped with a faint olive green and a pale underbelly. When reared up at her full height, it wasn’t difficult to imagine how this impressively terrifying monster could convince others she was a great deity.
“Don’t look in her eyes!” Lash cried out and cast their eyes to the ground. Their heart pounded in their chest, the terrifying grinning visage burned into the back of their eyes.
“More informed they are, smart. Are they smart enough to accept my mercy? Accept my gift?”
“‘They’ are here to end this blasphemy.” Raam stood defiant, eyes cast downwards as he reached for the scroll tucked into the sash around his waist.
“A pity, these humans are so frail. They would have been better servants.” Explictica hissed a collection of magical words as if they were a curse. A sudden spark flared before her, growing into a massive broiling ball of flame. It shot forward with tremendous speed, the heat becoming nearly unbearable. Just when Galumak felt he could not bare any more, relief fell over him and he watched as the flames struck an invisible barrier and followed egulfed it until the three of them were inside a large orb of fire.
Raam let the parchment scroll fall to the ground, the magical words of protection fading into nothingness leaving only a blank page. As the fire subsided he tossed a ball of sulfer and smoke. It passed through the barrier with ease, striking the Naga in a section of exposed underbelly. It barely left a mark, and Explictica only offered a toothy smile in response.
A jolt of searing pain shot up her coils, her head twisted and writhed in agony. She glared down at Galumak, his short sword dripping in blood from where it had plunged within the coils. With a horrific his she struck like a viper, such terrific speed made her appear as no more to a blur to Galumak. He threw up his shield blocking stopping the unhinged lower jaw from swallowing it entirely. However, the two large fangs that hung from the top row of teeth had managed to slip past the wooden barrier, burying themselves into his arm.
Lash lunged forward and lodged the end of their quarterstaff into the corner of the Naga’s jaw. Using it as a lever, they threw all their weight downward, prying the maw open painfully wide even for it’s unhinged state. The corners of the cheek tore, mixing blood with saliva and venom before leaking past the lips in a long line of drool that fell to the ground.
The two puncture wounds in his arm oozed with blood, but Galumak was relieved to find himself neither sickly, nor weakened. Somehow, Pan only knows how, the venom he knew had been pumped into his veins had been neutralized. The fire perhaps? The very thing that cursed him, could it have burned away the toxins that threatened his very life? That was a question for later. For now, he had an opening, and Galumak took it.
Desperately trying to re-align her bottom jaw, Explictica reared up high to protect her wounded face. In doing so, she once again exposed a large section of underbelly. Galumak’s blade drew across it with ease, spilling out fat and tissue and fountains of blood. The Naga screamed in a voice both human and inhuman, a high pitched screech that pained their ears. And then, she was gone. Where a towering serpent had been, now was a void of damp cavern air.
“Where-?” The three looked at each other, as if the other had the solution, though neither offered any at first.
“I can still hear her breathing.” Galumak leveled his sword, searching for something, any clue as where the vile creature had gone. Inside the orb of protection that still shimmered like a gossamer veil Lash, having assumed the form of a wolf, bore their teeth and growled at the empty air before them. Finally, it clicked for them all at once.
“Invisibility spell...” Reaching for the second scroll in his sash, Raam spoke with confidence he did not feel. There was little doubt as to what spell she had used, what he did no know was how powerful a mage she was. The scroll in his hands was strong indeed, but would it be enough to dispel her magic?
In the very instant that Raam had uttered the last syllable, there was a rush of air and a burst of energy through the area. A dark shadow immediately fell upon the grey wolf within the party, Explictica loomed before them, face only inches away from their snout.
“They must help me. They must attack their friends for their God!”
Within their wolf brain, Lash felt something wriggling its way into their mind. A tickle, an impulse. They watched it for a moment, noting how it moved, how it teased the senses and twisted the thoughts that were already there. This charm was not like others they had heard of. It acted like one of the species of lizards within the Dim forest. It snuck into the nest, devouring the eggs that had been laid before laying their own leaving the unsuspecting bird to hatch their young. Once born, the bird would be torn to pieces. Lash’s mind however, was less a sparrow, and more a hawk. A bird of prey that was far from helpless.
With a mind very much their own, Lash lunged forward and sunk their teeth into Explicticas exposed face. Flesh tore from her cheeks as she desperately pulled away, screaming and cursing in a slurred speech.
“You vile, insignificant, creatures!” Twice now, her magic had been thwarted by the teifling. The half-orc was strong, but her coils would crush him to dust. The elf changling would get their comeuppance for resisting her charm. But if she were to have any chance to do any of it, the spell-caster would have to be dealt with first.
Opening her jaw to it’s full size, Raam stared down the gaping maw. He saw the venom sacs just under her eyes, filled like over-stuffed pillows. The ends of her fangs glistened with venomous dew, and in the blink of an eye she struck. Pain shot through his arm, his veins burning as the poison was pumped into his body. But there was another burning within him. He could feel it swell. A dark retribution from his patron, always watching him. With a vengeful smile, Raam reached out and grabbed a fistful of hair, yanking the Naga’s face towards his. In his eyes, Explictica saw a fury and flame she had not witnessed in any mortal creature before. For the first time in her life, she knew fear.
“Who’s insignificant now?” Raam forced his lips to hers in a kiss of death, the blazing inferno that erupted from him engulfing the Naga’s entire head. The room filled with the scent of scorched flesh and incinerated hair. It was only a few seconds before her strained screaming fell silent, and the smoldering lump of flesh that had once been her head fell lifeless into the dirt.
---
Raam awoke to Lash, back to their elf form, shaking him violently by the shoulders. “Raam? You OK? That was amazing!”
“Wha-?” He tried to shake the fog from his mind but found it held fast. There was a gap in his memory that began when the fangs sunk into his shoulder. The rest was darkness. He looked down at his feet to the smoldering heap for answers, but it offered him none. “I...I don’t remember doing that.”
“What do you mean?” Lash examined his wound before laying a hand upon it. Once again a burst of lavender filled the air, warm sunlight fell upon them, and the poison was gone.
“I mean, I blacked out. I...I don’t know what happened. It’s strange.”
“You sent that thing to the King in Yellow, that’s all that matters.” Galumak wiped his blade clean of the dark blood that had coated it and sheathed it at his hip. “It’s done. This nightmare is over.”
“No, not yet.” Raam stepped towards the shore, staring deep into the unexplored cavern that lay ahead. “There’s plenty more of this place. We’re not done until we search through every last room.”
“Any cultists will have snapped out of her charm the moment you barbecued her.”
“True, but the Trogs weren’t charmed. Plus, we need to be sure there aren’t any more of the necromancer’s abominations left roaming around.”
“He’s right.” Lash nodded, only half listening. Their attention had been drawn to the large pile of loot left abandoned in the corner.
“Fine.” Galumak shrugged, taking out a bottle of wine from his pack. “We go through the rest of this place and weed out any stragglers.”
“After we loot the hoard, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
Buy Me a Coffee
#Dungeons and Dragons#against the cult of the reptile god#the protected realm#role playing games#campaign diary
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She-Ra and the Princesses of Power x Spaceling: Glitch in Space
Summary: After opening the portal, it tears a hole across the dimensions giving an entrance for the New York heroes: Utopix Jones, Georgine Wilson, Gabriel Rodriguez, Oliver Schmidt and Makena Jones, to fall right through. Together, they'll need to recreate the disaster that brought them to Etheria alongside the Princess' Rebellion in order to go back home and fix what was broken... but not before defeating the obstacles on the way.
Disclaimer: Contains spoilers for She-Ra’s season 3 finale and Spaceling’s issue 10-12 events.
(Thank you so much to @catlliecal for co-writing this with me!)
Masterlist: Chapter 1 // Chapter 2 // Chapter 3 // Chapter 4 // Chapter 5 // Chapter 6 (you’re here!) // Chapter 7
Warnings: angst, implied smut; slight language
Word Count: 4k.
Check Spaceling out!
Chapter 6: The Power Within
All she could remember was silence…
The tiniest spark of light bothered her eyes, forcing her to unlock them open. Everything was white, even the floor felt white if that was even possible, but something stood out from the chalky background… Utopix. Adora, still in her She-Ra form, rushed out to him, seeing him lying on the floor and carefully embracing him; slightly shaking him to see if he was awake.
“U-Utopix? Utopix!” Adora called out to him.
The small one shifted around her arms, eventually opening his eyes to the broad figure illuminated by the great golden light around her; and yet, his eyes were filled with small tears.
“H-Hey, Adora…” Utopix jokingly mimicked the feline’s greeting. “W-Wow… I never thought I’d be back here again.”
“Back where?” Adora glanced around the place as if he was talking about an actual place.
Utopix faintly laughed at her silly examination and guided her chin towards him. “Here, Adora…”
Adora’s blue eyes lightly twinkled at his response. Were they dead? Was the explosion that they were on that grave? What about the others? …Catra. Too many questions went around her head, but Utopix’s voice broke into her clamorous mind.
“Are we… Are we inside your—?”
“Main core? Heh… no. It’s called a kuxa… and I think… i-it’s dying.” Utopix leaned his head on Adora, or She-Ra’s, breastplate. He didn’t mind how cold it felt, it still didn’t compare with the shortness of breath in his chest, hoping it’d stop anytime soon.
Adora’s eyes started to water at his words, making her blue eyes look like the deep blue sea. Small currents of water retained in her bright pair of eyes.
“Adora… I-I’m… scared.”
“Don’t worry,” Adora cupped his face, making Utopix shiver but relaxed upon knowing that the gesture was different. Very different. “I’ll get us out of here. I promise.”
Utopix laughed in his previous behavior again. “Y-You can… I can’t.”
“W-What…?”
His eyes continued to accumulate tears, slowly escaping his canals and rolling down his cheeks. “…I-I’m going to miss you, Adora.” His body slowly began to fade away, the sight of it was nearly beautiful yet frightening for the one holding him. And oh—how reminiscent of a feeling it was.
“What!?” Adora’s tears stayed on the corner of her eyes as she held him even tighter. “No, no, no, no! Utopix! Please, stay with me!”
“S-Say goodbye to Georgine for me, okay?” Utopix caressed her cheek, mildly wiping one of her tears that finally decided to escape from her left eye. “…take care… of each other…”
And there. The tears finally rolled down her face. A white maddening light began to rise up from the ground as Utopix’s body was nearly opaque. His hand reached for her face, his index finger gently touched the gem on her tiara and his thumb was carefully positioned in her forehead. The robot’s green triangle cheeks illuminated with the same intensity of the bleaching color around them.
“W-Wake up, Adora…”
Wake up.
In an instant, a vortex of sounds invaded Adora’s ears. Similarly, her eyes contemplated the machine which was still going out of control; and near it, there he was… still passed out on the floor. The hero princess grunted as she continued to drag herself across the floor, yanking his body close to her and caressed his weakened visage. Tears still flowing unstoppably.
“Aw, cheer up, Adora.” Takara laughed in her cynical tone. “You won’t have to worry about him. Not anymore.”
Adora refused to believe it. She was not going to see another person die in front of her because of her futile actions. She was not going to let it happen. Not again. “No! No!” Her hands reached for the sides of his face, energy crackling from her fingers but refusing to cooperate on her healing attempt. “Please! No!” She shook her head mirroring her words but sobbed when she realized that it wasn’t working.
Takara newly laughed, contemplating her deteriorated try. “Give it up already, Adora! He’s gone now!”
Catra observed at the two in pure shock. Seeing one robot die in the hands of a cynical murdered was one thing… but a second one? She cried out in horror and leaned her head against the ground, letting the darkness consume her as she looked at Adora for one last time. “Adora!”
“CATRA!” Adora’s hand reached out for her without moving an inch from where she was sitting, watching the darkness hide her body in the black sea of darkness.
“Adora! You have always been a pain to me! But please, get us all out of here!” Scorpia was the next one to be consumed, not getting a full-body reaction from Adora as she did with Catra.
And then, she looked at Georgine. Yes. Georgine could simply transform into her Zoulex form to save herself, save Utopix, and the others… but she decided that she’d trust Adora, letting her know with an apologetic nod. She knew what Adora needed to do to save Utopix, so she gave her the needed consent. Unspoken, yet more than enough for Adora to proceed. And with that, she was gone from sight.
Adora looked at the robot, shredding her last tears. Takara eye-smiled at the blond hero, wondering what was going through her smile and ready to see her next, possibly failing, move.
“Kuxas feed from emotion…” Adora gently whispered to herself. “Emotion…” she closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on her own words, then realized what she needed to do.
Her hand gently stroked his cheek, her face inching close to his until her lips met his. A few seconds had gone by, and just like that, She-Ra glowed with her reminiscent golden glow passing it to Utopix who quickly fed from it, cleansing the darkness all around and liberating the trio that had been obliterated by it, moments ago. Catra shook her head to recover from the strange situation and observed at the two getting friendly with each other, feeling a light clench in her stomach… unlike Georgine who had a wide grin in her face.
Utopix rapidly blinked, opening his eyes slowly to see himself in the same situation from earlier. But it was different. Verydifferent. Adora heard his quieted sobs come through and pulled away to see him fully awake.
“A-Adora…?” he faintly smiled at the one who saved him, reaching for her face to caress it.
Adora couldn’t do anything else other than embrace him even closer and shred happy tears. “Y-Yes, Utopix. It’s me. It’s me.” She whispered her last words, relieved that the small one was okay. “It’s me…”
The three gals got close to the two, but not just before Takara’s anger grew wild. “NO!” She cried out in anger, summoning a crackling sphere, glowing red as the anger within her. The five were caught up by her yell as Adora quickly got up while still carrying Utopix in her arms. “None of you are going anywhere. I’ll have that kuxa by any means necessary!”
Adora passed Utopix to Georgine’s arms and pulled out her sword, aiming it at the one threatening her friend’s safety. “Then, come and get it!”
Georgine embraced his lover close to her, summoning her golden staff out of thin air which caught Takara off guard, but it would not stop her from getting what she wanted. The purple-haired villain charged at her enemies, but a blinding yellow light caused her to stop. The other dirty blond girl had transformed into her Zoulex form, handing Utopix to Catra before narrowing her eyes and giving her a look of ‘Can I trust you?’ to which the feline one had nodded in response, running away from there with Scorpia in a blast. Takara’s anger grew wild once more, just as Hordak’s whom had been near the shadows the whole time.
“Ready to do this, Zoulax?” Adora smirked as the other one stood near her.
“Right behind you, She-Ra.” Georgine returned the gracious smirk.
===================
Catra and Scorpia ran towards the princess squad who was ready to leave in the Horde transport ship with the others. Gabriel’s face lit up at the sight of the three running towards them, presumably to join them. “There they are!”
“Where’s Georgine?” Makena glanced around hoping she’d find her. And she did.
In a matter of seconds, two beams of light had flown out of the facility, presumably Georgine holding Adora who threw tremendous waves of her magnifying power at the Fright Zone, making the Horde soldiers run away in fear and forcing them to evacuate. Utopix glanced up as Scorpia turned around to let him get a better view of the whole spectacle. The two landed in front of their companions, Georgine keeping a grasp of Utopix’s main core.
“That was amazing!” Gabriel contemplated at the two heroes with stars shining through his eyes.
“Yes! Adventure!” Seahawk cheered up, nearly flexing his muscles.
The two blonde gals went back to their normal form, one of them walked towards Utopix and gave Sabrina the main core so she could take care of the procedure. The purple-toned screen face pulled out her mechanic arms and carefully pulled Utopix’s sweater up and found the circle-shaped hole in his body, placing the main core back again as a light blue wave of energy overtook his body. And with that, his systems were functioning back again.
“Now you’re Tony Stark.” Gabriel crossed his arms, smirking at the whole situation to which the princesses where completely confused.
The whole crew got on the transport, but Adora looked back at Catra who started to walk away from there, without anything else to say.
“Hey!” Adora called out to Catra who just stopped and slightly faced her. “…thank you.”
“Don’t get used to it.” Catra said before disappearing from her sight along with Scorpia.
A contented grin appeared on Adora’s face as the transport flew away from there.
Hours have gone by and it was nearly night now. And still, the small robot was staring at the gorgeous colors that laid upon the beautiful yet mysterious sights of the night.
“You’re still awake?” Adora’s voice came from behind, nearly making him shiver. She made her way to him, leaning against the balcony’s edge and silently joining him in his night-gazing. “I’m glad everything went okay, don’t you?”
“I-I do…” Utopix’s gaze was placed upon her, scooting closer to hug her arm.
“You’re leaving tomorrow.” Adora’s grin took the other in, smiling as she hugged his side once she noticed his demeanor went down. “It’ll be okay.”
“B-But what if I don’t want to leave? T-Takara is gone now, so there’s no point in going back to Earth and… ‘defend’ it. A-And I don’t have a home to go to.”
“Of course you do!” Adora’s smile grew wider. “You already have one.” Her hand gently directed his gaze towards the one he truly loved: Georgine. The tan-haired chick was training in the middle of the night with her golden staff, making as if she was punching or fighting against someone. It only produced an inner fluster on Utopix that manifested through his green cheeks, slowly lighting up of embarrassment.
“A-Adora? Can I… ask you something?” The timid robot looked into her sea-like eyes. Her slight nod allowed him to continue his questioning. “Why did… uh…” Utopix lowered his head once again.
Adora’s immediate reaction was to do her previous movement and brought his chin towards her. “What is it?”
“…W-Why did you kiss me?” Utopix’s hands fiddled around at the question, making Adora blush instantly.
“Well, I—” Adora sighed and leaned against the balcony once again. “I saw how Glimmer’s mom, or… Queen Angella, sacrificed herself in front of me… and I couldn’t do anything. It was either her or me. There was no other way. And then I saw you thriving in pain…” she got close to him, placing some strands of hair behind his ear as she caressed his cheeks. “…and I knew that if I didn’t do anything, you’d be gone. So, I told myself that I was not going to let you go, that I was not going to let anyone else die again because of my incompetence.” She stopped and took a deep breath before her words came out of her mouth once again. “And I… I think you’re great.” Her awkward yet soft laugh came into play, making the other one smile.
“You really think that?” Utopix teared up as Adora’s thumb wiped it away.
“Of course.” Adora took him into a warm hug, gently embracing each other into the light of the moon.
She escorted him to his room, or Glimmer’s room, and tucked him in before Georgine walked in whom had just entered the room just when Utopix fell asleep. The other made her golden staff disappear into sparks and kneeled down to look at him.
“He’s great, isn’t he?” Georgine lightly smirked.
“Yeah…” Adora concurred. “Hey—uh, there’s no…” Adora waved her hand around. “…anything between us because of the…” she pointed at her lips. “…y’know, thing?”
Georgine couldn’t do anything else but chuckle. “Adora. You’re apologizing for something Takara did?”
“I-I’m just making sure.” Adora nearly blushed.
She chuckled again. “I’m just glad it wasn’t really you. I don’t think you would have heard the end of it.”
Adora slightly laughed at her statement, thinking it was a joke. But Georgine’s eyes let her know that it wasn’t. She cleared her throat and quickly stood up. “W-Well, I better go. Goodnight!” She headed towards the door, closing it gently as Georgine lied next to the small one, turning off the light casted by the crystals with a single wave of her finger.
The next day showed its presence, warmly caressing Utopix’s body as he lied near the window. It was time to go and he knew it, bringing a slight flourished sensation of pain to his chest. Georgine walked in the room, bringing a towel over her hair and rustling it as an attempt to dry. Her fresh soapy smell alerted Utopix of her presence and turned around to go and hug her.
“Morning, love.”
“Good morning, Georgie.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Y-Yeah!”
Georgine quietly chuckled as she put on her clothes, ready to go back out with him. “You’re going to miss this place, aren’t you?”
“H-How did you know?” Utopix’s cheeks immediately lighted up causing his lover to chuckle.
“Oh, Uto…” she got up and slowly walked towards him. Once she got close to him, she caressed his lower lip and stared at him. Her eyes deeply crawling into the seams of his soul. “You are so adorable.”
“G-Georgie…” Utopix nervously laughed and attempted to shove her away, but his attempt failed by her pulling him in close and connecting her lips with his.
“You and I have some unfinished business…~” she sweetly whispered in his ear, sending gentle shivers down his spine and into his heart.
“B-But the breakfast—” Utopix intervened, trying to keep his cool as his cheeks were bright with embarrassment.
“It’s not till 8:30...” Georgine pulled him even closer, if that was even possible, dipping him into her arms and carrying him back to bed, causing the small one to sweetly giggle and nuzzle her neck in response.
===================
Utopix and Georgine eventually joined the others who begun eating their breakfast and were sharing laughs amongst them. Adora noticed something wrapped around Utopix’s fingers, something flowery and colorful. It was some flower crowns that Utopix managed to finish in the nick of time. He approached the others and sat next to Adora, and then Georgine sat next to him, having the robot sit between the two ‘twins’.
“You guys could… c-could stay.” Glimmer hesitantly stated, picking bits of food with her fork. “We could build you new rooms.”
“Oh, Glimmer. We’d love that.” Makena lightly smiled, passing the silent baton to Georgine.
“But Earth still needs us to protect it. Our families and friends are there and without us… they’d be devastated.” Georgine explained apologetically.
“We understand.” Bow smiled. “We’ll still miss you, though.”
“We will too!” Gabriel hugged Bow’s side, making him smile awkwardly.
“What do you have there, Utopix?” Adora grinned at whatever he had in his hands.
“O-Oh…” he carefully placed the items on the table, bringing a smile to everyone around the table. “I made… a parting gift… for the three of you. I-I couldn’t do one for each princess with the whole… kidnapping thing.” He nervously laughed and showed the Best Friend Squad their flower crowns.
Bow’s was a beautiful arrangement of white daisies and red tulips, Glimmer’s was adorned with gorgeous cosmos flowers and delicate white daisies; finally, Adora’s was set out with fresh red roses, white petunias, and beautiful yellow coreopsis.
“Aw, Utopix…” Adora slightly leaned towards him so he could put the ornament on her head. “It’s gorgeous. Thank you.”
Yes. Of course. Adora had a friend whose whole power allowed her to summon flower crowns out of nowhere, throwing them around as if they were sprinkles, but the fact that her small friend took his time to make something for her… for her… made her feel special. She pulled him in close for a hug, gently nuzzling the top of his head. “You made it for me. That must have been so embarrassing for you.” She headlocked him and ruffled his hair.
“A-Adora!” Utopix laughed and broke free from her grasp after a few tries.
“Well, I think that they’re great!” Bow gladfully smiled, adjusting the floral headwear on his head. “Thank you, Utopix.”
The robot was beyond satisfied with how happy they were, but it would not take his mind off the fact that they’d be leaving tomorrow. After a period of time, afternoon appeared around the corners of the land, grazing Bright Moon with its gorgeous coral colors. The soft breeze on his face reminded him how magnificent this place was, reminded him how he didn’t want to leave this beautiful place, but Georgine was right: his friends had their families back on Earth, their other friends, their whole lives. Who’s to say that there was not another threat rummaging around Earth waiting for them to arrive to unleash terror once again? His thoughts revolved around his frailed mind, nearly falling into sadness at the idea of wanting to abandon Georgine in order to stay here. But he couldn’t. He shouldn’t.
“Utopix?” Adora appeared once again near him, extending her hand for him to stand up from the sharp grass. “Can I borrow you for a moment?”
“Uh…” Utopix looked at Georgine, who had been near him this whole time, with a slight frown.
Georgine chuckled at his innocent action and looked back at Adora, giving her enough trust to take care of him by agreeably nodding.
“Great!” Adora held Utopix’s wrist delicately, running away with him to the Whispering Woods.
Georgine didn’t even have a minute to let her mind wander into what she just did when she felt a hand pat her back roughly, obligating her to let out a soft yell. “Ugh!”
“I’m proud of you!” Gabriel exclaimed in pure joy, linking his arm around her neck. “You are finally trusting Adora with Utopix!”
“Is that so surprising?” Georgine pulled him away from her out of annoyance.
“Well… it took you a while to trust me.” Makena walked to duo to join their conversation. “But we’re glad you’re finally letting yourself free.”
“Finally?” Georgine slightly smirked. “I’m that amusing?”
“Well, yeah. You have always been sort of a bit—” Gabriel almost spurted out until Georgine headlocked him as Adora have done earlier to the love of her life. “Hey!”
Makena quietly giggled and walked closer to the two. “He’s gonna be fine.”
“Yeah… I figured.” Georgine lightly smiled at her, eventually letting go of Gabriel who fell to the ground, grunting on his soft landing.
===================
“Where are we going?” Utopix held onto Adora’s hand, glancing around the forest and seeing the many strange flora surrounding them.
“I figured that…” Adora ducked underneath a thick tree branch, making sure that Utopix didn’t hit his head. “…if you’re leaving tonight, you deserve to see my favorite place in all of Etheria.”
“Y-Your favorite place?” His head turned to look at her, or the back of her ponytail for that matter.
Adora guided the small robot to the deepest part of the Whispering Woods, gently letting go of his hand to draw out the sword from her back and lightly pressing the tip against the ground. “Ready to see something cool?”
She swung the sword around in a circular motion to arise the dozens of light particles hidden in the grass and covering the whole place with such a magnificent sight. Utopix’s eyes could not focus on one of the particles so he slightly shook his head to get a better look at the space around him. The tiny particles danced around him, nearly tickling his body, making him giggle. “I-It’s beautiful. It’s really beautiful.”
“I knew you’d like it.” Adora rested her arm on his shoulder, bringing him close to her.
“Thank you, Adora.” He turned around to hug her firm torso and taking in the place for a last time.
“Aw, it’s nothing.” Adora returned the hug, leaning her chin on his head, quietly sighing at the thought that the moment was getting closer.
Night was here. The moment was finally here. The three Etherian heroes, the three princesses, a noble steed and a sea warrior, the four humans, a talking computer face, and the… one artificex were ready to say goodbye to each other. Oliver nodded, giving Adora the signal to gently insert the sword into a slot designed to contain the sword’s runestone power. A soft crackling went through the machine and towards the circular entrance creating the portal. Everyone felt tense upon the nerve-wrecking sound, but their bodies immediately felt relieved upon the view of the steady blue portal emerging on the machine.
“Take care, okay?” Perfuma hugged Utopix for a last time. “Don’t forget to drink the green tea three times a day!”
Utopix lightly giggled. “I will. I promise.”
Mermista went next and handed Utopix a gift wrapped in dry seaweed. “Hey, I brought you a gift. Don’t make a big deal about it.” She crossed her arms, slightly leaning on Seahawk who happily waited for the robot to open it. “I chose the color! Mermista wrapped it!”
He carefully unwrapped to see a beautiful necklace with a golden seashell and a pearl hanging on its thread. “Aw… Y-You didn’t have to.”
“I told you not to make a big deal about it.” Mermista slightly groaned until Utopix decided to hug her.
“Thank you…”
“Yeah, sure. Don’t mention it.”
“Let’s make it extra special!” Perfuma clapped her hands together to then wave her hand that added a pair extra ornaments to the necklace: a golden sword, a golden arrow, a light purple sparkle, a white snowflake, and a rose gold flower. “That way you’ll remember us all! We will all remember each other!”
“I’m afraid not all of us will be able to…” Oliver stopped the cheering.
“What do you mean?” Adora was the first one to ask.
“All of you mentioned that the portal was unstable from the very beginning. I managed to calculate the energy to be equally balanced so the previous events wouldn’t repeat, but there’s something that I wasn’t able to do…” Oliver began explaining.
“What is it?” Bow asked.
“Instead of creating an alternate yet perfect dimension that all of you are trapped in, it will affect the memories of the ones whose dimension power is coming from.” Oliver frowned, looking back at the whole crew.
“Meaning…” Georgine looked at the princesses.
“W-We won’t remember what happened?” Glimmer clenched her fists and shook her head.
Adora lowered her head. The only hope that she had from this whole experience was to remember the ones that helped them defeat their sole enemy, to remember what she did for him and what she had been able to move past from. She walked towards Utopix to hug him for a last time. “…y-you take care, okay? Do not forget us.”
Utopix’s tears were faithful to roll down his face, returning the hug to the one that dared to save him. “N-Never...”
Bow and Glimmer joined the hug and, eventually; Makena, Gabriel, and Georgine did as well. “We’ll miss you too, Utopix… even if we won’t remember you…” Bow’s calming voice soothed Utopix.
The group hug was eventually broken, letting Adora and Utopix hold hands and letting go of its grasp for a last time. Gabriel went in the portal, then so did Makena, Oliver, then Sabrina. Georgine stood near Utopix, holding his hands as the slight vacuuming force made her hair look gorgeous in the gentle breeze. “Whenever you’re ready…” she gently whispered before stepping into the portal. The robot looked back at Adora, standing in front of the sobbing group with a kind grin, mouthing him ‘Go.’ He didn’t want to miss a minute of it, any moment from the beautiful sight. He slowly stepped backwards as the clear blue light covered his senses.
All he could remember was silence…
#she ra and the princesses of power#spaceling#a glitch in space#she ra au#she ra season 3#she ra fanfic#original fic#writing#writers in tumblr#hispydamy618#catlliecal
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